Foothills southeast of Tharkad-city,

Tharkad, Donegal Province,
Lyran Alliance

"That's right Steve." The battlefield fell quite, "What, no found welcoming for an old friend?"

"You're dead." Cairo was hardly able to speak, "I killed you. You're dead."

"Now you know that 'ain't true." Cain chuckled, "How could I be here talking to you if I was dead? No, that wasn't me you went up against on Solaris VII: my current employers wanted a chance to get even with you, so one of their Mech-jock's took me old Champion for a spin, while I kept a low profile. I was very upset when you won: I really liked that Mech."

"But what are you doing here?" Cairo was still having trouble coming to terms with what had been said.

"2 things really." Cain explained, "1: ruining any chance you have of fighting alongside the Clan's rather than against them," His Mech levelled it's arms at Cairo's Templar, "and 2: taking care of some unfinished personal business!" He punctuated the last sentence be sending a Gauss slug into Cairo's stationary Mech.

The sphere of depleted urainium-233 caught the side of the Templar's cockpit, the force of the impact shattering the Plexiglas screen, showering Cairo with razor-sharp shards that cut into his skin. He flung his hands up to protect his face, releasing his grip on the controls. Without its pilot's full concentration, the Templar shifted to the side, it's left leg collapsing in on its self, sending the Mech crashing into the neighbouring Atlas.

Patrick reacted instantly, spreading his Mech's legs further apart, stopping it from falling. He twisted his torso to get a clear shot at Cain's Gargoyle with his own Gauss rifle, adding his six-shot SRM-rack into the attack.

This action made Cairo's Templar fall backwards, hitting the ground with enough force to make it bounce in the soft mud, rainwater seeping into the many cracks and rents in the armour. Cairo's head snapped against the back of his command couch, baking the delicate neural helmet, and knocking the pilot out.

Cain's Mech shook as the Gauss round slammed into its left arm LRM rack, destroying the weapon, and setting off the missiles already in the tubs in a sympathetic detonation. The CASE panels exploded outwards and the chain reaction reached the magazine, setting off the un-fired LRM's. The Cellular Ammunition Storage System saved the Omni, but cost it its left arm.

"Do you require assistants Major Patrick Clearwater?" A new voice cut in over the radio, "Or can you finish these Stravag on your own?"

"Any and all assistance is welcome Star Colonel Jake Kabrinski." Patrick smiled, "There are Stravag enough for us all." He started his battered Atlas forward, "Although they have no honour."

"Then we shall teach them the error of their ways." The Clan officer seemed to be almost enjoying himself, "Ghost Bear's, ATTACK!"

Night turned to day as an entire star of Clan Battle-Armour rocketed over a nearby hill, followed by more than 2 Trinary's of Mech's. Running down the hillside at full speed, they slammed into the Word of Blake's exposed flank, pushing them away from the besieged command company just in time.

Suddenly out-numbered and out-classed, the raiders attempted to fallback to their DropShip, but only one made it: using his subordinates as cover, Cain managed to get his badly damaged Gargoyle buck under the protection of the DropShip, and into it's Mech-bay. Trading fire with the Irregulars, the Overlord boosted back into orbit, leaving the battlefield far behind.

"Sneaky bastards." Jack Cameron watched the DropShip depart from his battle-worn Thor, "Trying to pull a Trogon Horse on us." He looked round, "Someone better check on the boss: that Gauss round was very close."

"Already on it." Rix's voice came over the link as he scrambled up the side downed Templar, using his mechanical claw to grip at the broken armour. He hauled himself up onto the Mech's torso and cheerfully made his way to the head, "The cockpit screen is shattered, but the main force of the impact was taken by the shoulder armour. The Colonel is still breathing, but he is unconscious and loosing a lot of blood."

"Ok, try and get him out of there, but be careful." Cameron locked his Mech down, "Patrick, you take your Lance back and try and get a message through the Central: tell them what happened and get a couple of medi-vac chopper's out here ASAP." He unbuckled his safety harness, "Everyone else secure the perimeter and look for prisoners: I want to know what happened here…"

To Be Continued…