The crick was still persisting as they assembled in the lightly guarded mining camp of the Independent Prospector's League: IPL, a trio of light turrets situated in the corners of the camp with the generator powering them in the center. It was every bit as run down as Will had expected it to be. Darius and the IPL were doing the usual contractor exchange, Will couldn't be bothered to care as he checked the overhead map of the Opfor Sumrie had sent him after her flyby of the area. The miners wanted blood for the slaughter of their comrades by the Majestic Mining Corporation and the job was to smash up two of MMC's mining platforms plus the planetary HQ of their operation here. The reports cited light BattleMech presence and a grid of turrets protecting the sites. They'll have to destroy the generator powering the whole grid if they'd want to keep the repair bill low.
"Are you ready Commander?" Darius' voice filtered into his comms. Will bent his neck to the side, popping the crick.
"Been ready for last the ten minutes. That IPL guy sure likes hearin' himself talk."
"Maybe so but he's our employer so play nice."
"I'm the definition of nice." Will laughed, applying throttle. "Marauders, fall in behind and match speed. We got a payday to earn."
"Right behind you commander." Dekker intoned for the lance as his Spider took formation on Will's six. The other two followed suit.
The first target was situated at the top of a long road flanked by two steep rock walls on the left. And to the right was a sheer drop into an open plain that lead to a gentler slope but offered no cover whatsoever.
"Dekker jump down into that plain, I'll provide cover from the ridge. Behemoth, Glitch: follow the road and stop just as the MMC's platform gets into sensor range. Hold until I give the command." Will ordered, breaking his BlackJack right onto the outcropping as Dekker fired his jets and leaped down into the lowlands.
"Understood!" replied Behemoth as her ShadowHawk and Glitch's Vindicator broke left up the canyon's dirt road.
"What's the plan Commander?" Dekker asked as soon as he landed making his way to the base at a slow cruise.
"We're gonna draw the garrison's attention, I want to you get into sensor range and book it back to me as soon as they send someone to check out the blip that just popped on their radar." Will had Jackie take its gunnery stance. Legs apart and braced for sustained fire. AC/2s were the lightest of the AutoCannon family but they tended to climb when fired rapidly.
"I'm on it!"
Dekker gunned his throttle, sprinting to the base of the slope that the platform overlooked. Just as Will expected the BattleMechs guarding the platform came running to the top of the slope. There was just two, a beat up Spider and a fresh looking Commando. The Spider wouldn't be much of a threat but a fresh Commander with its SRMs is an entirely other matter. Dekker's Spider spun on its heel as he gunned the jets to avoid the Spider and Commando's opening salvo as they barreled down the slope.
"I have their attention Commander!" Dekker yelled as the fulliside of lasers and missiles cratered the earth his "Mech was standing just but a split second ago.
"Bring 'em a little closer Dekker I almost have lock." Will replied drawing a bead on the shoddy Spider.
Dekker made short, zig-zagging hops with his jets to keep his pursuers form doing anything more than light damage with their lasers, SRMs to the back are no joke. He was relieved when he heard his commander's ACs come to life. Fing off three bursts into the running Spider. First staggering it and the other two slamming into its center torso, coring it out in a spray of sparks and smoke.
"Dekker jump behind that thing and make a break for the generator! Glitch, Behemoth; Move in now!" Will barked as he jumped down into the lowlands, pulsing his ACs at the Commando.
Dekker swung wide around the Commando, firing off all of his 'Mechs jump jets to gain distance. Narrowingly dodging a salvo of missiles from the Commando's arm-mounted launch tubes. It would've turned to pursue if not for of Will's bursts chewing up the ground next to it. The Commando broke into a full sprint, juking side to side while angling its torso. Not that it would save it. Will chuckled as he drew a bead and pull the trigger. A great bang rocked his cockpit and his neural helmet's feed lit up red in his eyes.
WARNING, AMMO FEED MALFUNCTION.
The crick was right.
Glitch was laughing as she and Behemoth fired their long range weapons into the generator. PPC, AC rounds, and missiles slammed into the structure. The half dozen sensor blips around them died down as their power source went up in smoke.
"That's that for this area, c'mon Behemoth we got a tower to bring down." She hooted as she spun her Vindicator on its heel.
Behemoth was inclined to follow were it not for Dekker sprinting pass her.
"Hey, Dekker! Where's the Commander?" She barked as Dekker came to a sliding stop in front of Glitch.
"He's tangling with that Commando, he should be ok by himself. He had range on it."
"And you didn't think to go back and check?"
"Aw c'mon Behemoth. The Commander can pop a sprinting Locust's cockpit at seven hundred meters. I think he can handle one light 'Mech." Glitch implored, she was getting bored just standing there. There were things to shoot!
Behemoth resisted the urge to pinch her nose, mainly because her bulky neural helmet would be in the way. She pivoted her ShadowHawk around and bounded off toward the plains.
"I'll go check on the kid, you two finish the job."
"We're on it!"
Behemoth shook her head as she jetted to the top of the rocks overlooking the plains. Her jaw dropped.
"The hell!?"
Slamming his fist into the BlackJack's ammo eject control Will heard a groaning as his ACs slides were forcibly drawn back, ejecting the dude shells, and test firing each one as they were chambered. All duds so far. Will swore harshly.
The Commando was in SRM range now and fired an Alpha. The laser burned a line in his armor as he sidestepped as quick as the 'Mech could to just avoid taking ten missiles to the face. Hopping back a short ways Will brought his lasers to bear. Firing two at a time he aimed for center mass but the Commando proved to be no amateur as it bobbed and weaved; effectively dancing in front of Will and ensuring his lasers were only burning fresh armor. He swore again.
The Commando pivoted on its foot and swung into practically knife fighting range as it burned its laser into WiIl's right torso. A single laser wouldn't put him down, bring his body to bear on the Commando he pulled the trigger only for his aim to be thrown off as six SRMs buried themselves into his glowing side jolting him in his seat.
WARNING ARMOR BREACH.
Swearing again Will whipped his head around to see the Commando's arm mounted tube launcher rising to point at his cockpit. Swearing yet again, he forced the BlackJack to fall backwards while kicking it's foot up making it knock the murderous arm upward its payload just missing his head by an inch at best. Kicking on his jump jets he sailed backward only just barely righting himself at the end of his flight. Upon landing he pulled the trigger, three beams burned into the arm that almost put an end of his career. The blast took out one of his lasers, he realized, four would have taken the arm out. His heat gage was kissing the red and jumping would cause a shut down leaving him sitting duck. More swearing.
The Commando pointed both arms at him, it's torso squared on him as well. Will pushed his heat fatigued myomers into action as he tried to sprint to the side and twist so his left would take the blow, praying his heat would dissipate enough to let him jump out of SRM range before they could reload again.
The universe decided to have mercy for once as three barrages of LRMs slammed into the Commando's back, sending it face planting into the ground while firing. Four SRMs went flying off in the distance and six detonated in their blocked tubes, cooking off the ammo in the reloading racks. It would've been more satisfying if not for the pilot ejecting out the last second, their pod sailing off into the air.
The sound of his panting and the BlackJack's ammo feed ejecting dud shells Will looked up to the rocky outcropping spying Behemoths ShadowHawk silhouetted against the horizon; waving at him.
"You ok boss?" Behemoths deep voice sounded like an angel of mercy at that moment. Will shakily thumbed the comms button.
"Y-yeah, bit of hairy situation there. Weapons jammed."
"Ouch, we'll have Yang look at it on the ship." Will nodded and started to make his way to her position.
"Among other things."
They all reconfined in front of the IPL's platform. Dekker and Glitch had handily taken care of the reinforcing tanks the MMC had sent to defend its tower.
"Like stompin' bugs!" Glitch had intoned as she and Dekker came up the slope.
"Brilliant work, Commander. Clearly, you were the right people for the job!" The way the IPL representative talked made Will almost wish he were still dueling that Commando.
"We should have no trouble mopping the rest of the other platforms now."
Darius's voice toned in over the radio. "We get the job done, Now about our-"
"I wasn't finished."
What?
"Clearing them won't matter if we can't hold them."
The turrets swung around to face his lance. Son of a
"So we'll be needing your BattleMechs."
"You might wanna reconsider that…" Darius's voice was wary.
"Why? Our turret system has your mech lock-" an explosion cut the IPL rep's voice off as the turret generator went up in flames.
"I tried to warn you."
A thoroughly miffed Will walked his 'Mech into the Dropship's open bay as he turned into its mooring. Fisting the ammo eject switch his 'Mech cycled all the remaining duds onto the 'Mechbay floor. Powering down he exited his 'Mech. Securing Wilma's plushie to his hip he ripped his neural helmet off as he hopped onto the lift. Glitch, Dekker, and Behemoth were already on the floor comparing kill counts.
Hopping off the lift he walked over to the pile of shells around the BlackJack's feet. Picking a few up before the lifting off Leopard caused them to scattered he started to examine them. The first red flag was that the primer was missing. The second was that the armor penetrating head was made of casted zinc of all things with a series of holes? His frown deepened as he pocketed the other shells and bit into the tip, ripping it free with a pop and poured the contents of the shell into his hand. By then the lance and surrounding 'Mech Techs were worriedly looking at him as his face become more and more furious. His taste test didn't result in the usual nastiness of propellant but of...salt? His eyes widening in disbelief and dropping his helmet he tossed the open shell aside, narrowly missing Yang's head, and grabbed another shell from his pocket. Stomping up to the nearest white surface he tipped the shell over and started shaking it, sure enough, the black powder came out in small dashes. His ammo bin had been full of AC/2 shell shaped salt shakers. He was shaking at this point. His teeth bared in what in certain parts of the Periphery in the past had been known as the Hessian's grin. The sound of objects hitting the floor and scuffing of boots filled the 'Mech bay as his lance mates and terrified 'Mech Techs starting running to the far side of the room.
"The Commander's gone critical! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
Ignoring them he made a mad dash through the ship and up the ladder to the bridge, a single word on his lips.
Darius Oliveira was having a bad day. A three hundred and fifty thousand C-bill payday wasn't going to happen and he just watched his young boss tear their former employers a collective new one. On top of that, he could practically feel the holes Sumire was boring into the back of his head with her gaze. He was gonna ask what else would go wrong when he heard yelling under them and someone climbing the ladder faster than humanly possible.
"DARIUS!" Will's furious visage popped up the hole like a demented whack a mole, earning a yelp of terror from both Darius and Sumire.
Before Darius had a chance to speak Will crawled up to his feet and rounded onto him. Grabbing his collar and lifting him up slightly. Will locked eyes with him as he pulled something from his pocket with his free hand.
"Do you know what this is?" Will's voice had gone unsettlingly calm. He gulped, Will may have been twelve years younger than him but at that time he was only second to a coffee deprived Sumire in terms of the pants-shitting horror he was feeling.
"An AC/2 shell boss?" Will sneered and pointed the tip of the shell to him, showing the holes.
"Sure looks like it doesn't it?" Will brought the shell to his teeth and ripped off the tip. Shoving the contents down into Darius' mouth.
"BUT IT'S NOT! That ammo you bought last week wasn't ammo, it was F $*in' novelty salt shakers!" He tossed the empty shell over his shoulder forcing Sumire to duck under its arc. He started shaking Darius, who was sputtering and spitting as he tried not to swallow an unhealthy amount of salt.
"I almost died 'cause you cheaped out!"
"Sumire help!" Behind WIll's back, Sumire was on the floor grasping for something with weight to it.
"There's no help to be had. Not till I'm done shoving the rest these things right up YOUR AS-" Clang!
Will's head jerk forward his eye's crossing as he let go of Darius and slumped over. Over him was Sumrie, her favorite metal coffee mug in her hand, she was panting. Darius straightened out, taking a calming breath. He was about to thank her when her open palm snapped across his face with a deafening Whack! Dazed Darius slumped back into his chair and stared dumbly at Sumire, who had somehow looked angrier than she had before.
Turning on her heel she walked over to her side of the bridge and thumbed the comms.
"Yang, collect the Commander's tea set, an ice bag and come up to the bridge. I'm calling an emergency staff meeting."
The sound of metal on ceramic filled the bridge as Will stirred in the four packets worth of sugar into his second cup of tea. The first one was to help him calm down and clear his mind of the image of Sumire holding him up and pressing an ice bag to the back of his head where she hit him. He was still holding the bag to his head. Least he had a front row seat of Sumire chewing Darius out.
"Three years and we're still stuck in the ass end space up to our necks in debt!"
Will took a sip of his tea. House Davion blend: hot, black, strong, and sweet. Only way to drink it. The perfect beverage to go along with watching his XO squirm.
"I'm well aware of that Sumire but I can't conjure up well paying clients out of thin air," He looked over to Will, braving the gaze of him and he swore even the toy was giving him a dirty look. "C'mon Commander back me up a little."
Will raised an eyebrow as he looked between the two. Yang was sitting on the crate next to Sumire a bemused expression on his face.
"This why you put me in charge? Breaking up arguments and signing off financial reports?" Will ask, draining his tea and pouring a third, five packs in this one, gonna need it.
"Ya damn right it is! " Yang chuckled. "Sides having a young good looking noble helps with the image when Canopus banks come ringing." Will rolled his eyes, if he had to put on his camera face for one more banker with more cats than brain cells he'd eat his foot. "Even then when we made you leader we all agreed to follow your lead, so far you haven't done us wrong on that front."
Will nodded his head. He was being buttered up but he needed a mood boost.
"So Darius, mind telling us how deep this hole is?"
Darius scratched the back of his head. "Well point one: none of the C-bills we make belong to us, but to the banks. Point two is that the clients out here are terrible; plain and simple. So unless you want me to sidestep the Mercenary Review Board entirely, my hands are tied." Yang was not pleased.
"Go around the MRB? That's asking a for a knife to the back!"
"We just got a knife to the back" Will intoned, halfway through his fourth cup. Six packets.
"That's the exception, we go around the MRB it'll be the rule." Yang countered, how much sugar can that guy intake? "Remind me again why we can't skip town again."
"The jumpships are in bed with the banks. And they're keeping us on a very short leash." Sumire answered, looking at the pitiful amount of systems open to them for travel. Yang sighed.
"Good reason, well you better find us some real money soon Darius. 'Cause soon something's gonna break I can't fix with duct tape and good intentions."
"If you need tips on how to handle betrayal, my door is always open to you Yang." Will raised his cup to Yang, the flash of hollowness in his eyes betrayed his mirth.
"Guess I better mentally prepare for that knife in the back then."
"Now you're getting it."
"It's settled then." Darius clapped his hands together. "Not much to lose at this point. I'll start digging around and see what I can find. Till then we do regular jobs to stay afloat."
Will finished his cup and set it down on its saucer on the console next to him and stood up. Fastening his Atlas plushie to his hip.
"And with that, I do call this meeting to a close," Will said nodding to Sumire. "I trust you'll see my set down to the cupboard? Me and Yang have a date with the ammo store." Sumire nodded. Will grinned. "Knew I could count on you, unlike some people." He kept that bit under his breath. "Set course for the nearest system, Darius!" Darius jumped as he watched Yang climbed down the ladder with WIll following after him only to stop just before his head disappeared. "Line up a contract for us in the next system, maximum c-bill payout."
"Yes, Commander."
"Also," Darius gulped. And gave a tentative "Yes?" Will locked eyes with him.
"For every crate I find with bogus ammo down there is a paycheck I'm docking fifty percent from, do you understand me?"
Darius shuddered. Sumire gave him a look of zero sympathy only a Drac woman could muster. He sighed.
"Yes, Commander."
"Good. Now get to work XO." Will's head sunk down into the ladder well. Darius let out the breath he'd been holding.
He needed to find that contract fast.
AN: Well this one was fun writing. To my one follower and anyone else joining me here, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how I've handled things thus far, specifically how I write my Mech engagements, which let's be honest is why most of us are here, to begin with.
As per usual writer wank, Read and review. I can't improve if I don't get feedback on what I'm doing wrong.