CHAPTER 1

Nystoll, Terra Ferma

August 28, 3135

Darkness settled in the city of Nystoll. Just outside the city, an apartment building, an office building and a couple hangars were perched on a plateau among the scattered farmhouses. A bright neon sign read "Ballard-Dukempic Foods of Keid". BDFK was a super-corporation with branch offices throughout the galaxy. Ever since the HPG network was taken out, the branch on Terra Ferma had overseen all farming on the continent of Reniki. The compound was an old Word of Blake base converted to an airfield for shipping supplies around the planet.

Darren Haines looked out over the plains, towards the city. Somewhere out there, a bright red light blinked three times. That was the signal.

"Ok everyone, let's take over a planet."

A chorus of "Blake's will be done!" followed this. All around his Hatchetman 'mech, engines sputtered to life. On his right, a Catapult powered up. The small force advanced down the hill towards the BDKF compound.

Eric Johnson was on night shift. He was guarding one of the few entrances to the BDKF compound. He lived in a neighborhood not far from where he worked, and had a wife and two kids. Unfortunately, what could have been a long and rewarding life was cut short, as Eric, his security van, and a large portion of ferrocrete were vaporized by a salvo of LRMs. Out of the darkness stepped the Catapult, followed by some tanks and Darren's Hatchetman. Behind him were some hover-tanks and trucks carrying infantry.

There was basically no resistance, and by morning, the base was once again in Word of Blake hands.

Freinze, Terra Ferma

August 29, 3135

"I suppose you know why you're here." Chief Amaker glared at me over his desk.

"Look if this is about that arm I broke, the kid was---"

"What are you talking about?" He gave me a puzzled look. "This is about you being a Mechwarrior, and us needing one."

"Oh… never mind then."

Amaker walked in front of his desk and sat on it. "Last night, a small Word of Blake force took over the Ballard-Dukempic Foods of Keid base in Nystoll, effectively cutting off food supplies to the city. Not only that, but the base used to be a Word of Blake compound, so it will be pretty well defended now that it is back in their hands. I know what you are going to ask, so here is our best guess. Terra Ferma used to be a big Word of Blake holding during the Jihad. Most of them left after Devlin Stone took over. Apparently, a few members have kept their faith, and they were living in secret until now. Someone is in charge, and we suspect he isn't a Wobbly. The toaster fuckers are pretty easily manipulated if you're smart, so he might be using them for his own agenda."

"So what do you want me for?"

"We have never had much of a military, and the militia we do have is small and inexperienced. I was ordered to take you into custody, so I could make you a deal. If you agree to command the militia, and use your military experience to help us kick the livin' shit out of the Wobblies, then you are free to go with your 'mech after this is all over. If you don't, you will be put in prison for having a 'mech that was supposed to be destroyed a long time ago."

Considering these options, I looked at him. "Will I get a shared cell in prison?"

He gave me a look that was obviously supposed to be mean, but on his chubby face, it looked quite silly. 'I'll give you a cell with the biggest, hairiest, most well-endowed guy in prison."

"Fine. I'll do it."

Reniki, Terra Ferma

September 1, 3135

I arrived on the continent of Reniki on the first of September. We set up a base in yet another old Word of Blake compound, this one a few hundred kliks from Nystoll. Walking into the main hangar, I breathed in the smell of 'mech. It was a good smell, oil, gunpowder, toxic chemicals. My Archer was in the far back, being worked on by two techs. To my right was a Shadowhawk. It was the only other 'mech here. There were also two Rommel tanks, two vedettes, a couple Condors, and a Shandra.

Looking around for someone who looked important, I spotted a man who looked like a tech, but was giving orders to the other techs. "Hey, are you in charge here?" I called out.

"Yeah, you must be that merc guy they had comin' in." He held out a grubby hand. "I'm Lance Diaz; I am in charge of keeping everything in shape."

He looked about forty, with a belly that was screaming to be set from free from the restraint that was his belt, and a receding hairline. A smelly cigar hung from his mouth.

Trying not to look disappointed, I asked, "Is this all we have?"

"Nah, there's a couple of Forestrymechs in the next hangar, but they aren't operational. Yet." He added. "There's also a Hawk Moth, some Yellow Jackets, and in a couple of days…" His voice grew excited. "We're getting two of those new M1 Marksman tanks! Special delivery, heh."

"Great, I want to know---" But I was interrupted by alarms ringing through out the base.

Over the loudspeaker a voice said, "Alert, enemy 'mechs have been spotted to the South, this is not a drill. All operational vehicles and 'mechs get your asses in gear, we got ourselves some bogeys."

Zipping up my cooling vest, I ran towards my 'mech.

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OMFG ENEMY MECHS

Too bad i'm too lazy to write a fight scene, so it will have to wait til next chapter. MWAHAHAHAH