Last Stand
Ouside Hidden Word of Blake Compound
Free Worlds League, Unknown Planet
3065
Seven pearl white mechs stepped out of the hidden hangar and into the sunlight, the Tarantula battlemech in the lead. A pair of mining mechs stood out from the rest of the forestry mechs.
"Report in all units," broadcast the Tarantula over his squad frequency.
"Red 1"
"Red 2"
"Red 3"
"Red 4"
"Recon"
"Support"
"Copy. All units accounted for were ready to go. Command and Control this is this is Demi-Precentor McCauley we are ready to engage, do an active scan of the area please and mark all enemy targets in red. Red 4 and Recon break-off and cover the dropship," McCauley ordered.
The group of mechs continued forward as one of the mining mechs and a Forestry mech broke off and headed northeast.
A single bullet flew from the ridgeline and pierced the cockpit of the Tarantula. The loss of the pilot caused it to stumble forward and fall. A squad of infantry moved out and placed charges on the mechs underbelly; an erie red covered the cockpit windows from the inside. The charges went off and peeled open the chest like a tin can. Another infantryman returned and placed a second charge inside the chest cavity. The mech exploded in a ball of flame and fusion particles.
The Forestry Mech behind it was caught in the blast and knocked to the ground one leg hanging limp and broken. The pilot ran from the fallen machine, pistol in hand towards the dropship. The three remaining mining mechs charged forward. The diamond cutters roared. A Rifleman walked out of the tree line and cut lose with its large pulse lasers. Two more mining mechs went down under the barrage. The first was lost to a blow to the cockpit the second had arms legs blown off before being knocked down and swarmed by infantry.
"All units left alive this is McCauley break off and head for the ship. Repeat, head for the ship"
The remaining mech wheeled away and headed at a dead run towards the dropship.
A few hundred meters to the northeast the mech found the burned out shell of the other mining mech. A pile of burning scrap metal more then 200 feet to the left was the only testament to its passing.
"All units this is McCauley," the mech broadcast. "If you can hear me report in I'm heading towards the perimeter I want the dropship ready when I get there."
"Is that you John, this is Daniel I have two pilots here who said they saw your Lancelot go down."
"Only two pilots?" he asked.
"Yes sir, I'm sorry."
