Chapter VII, by RogueBaron


Irian Plain,
Irian, Free Worlds League,
April 11, 3068

Trough his binoculars Mario watched pillars of smoke rose up from the IBMU complex, ten clicks away from his position. His power scope was not strong enough to pick up the wreckages, but he was certain most of the smoke came from the Screaming Eagles. The defending mechs were strong and well organized, and even though Major Chip Taylor always pulled the Eagles out of bad situations in the past, the chance of him doing it again was bleak.

Contrary to the information provided by the FedCom, the defending mechs were strong and well organized. This made Mario wonder: Why wasn't FedCom aware of this development? Why weren't they informed that the defenders were, in fact, heavy mechs with up-to-date technologies? Or, most disturbingly, did FedCom know about this fact? If they did, then what was the purpose of sending the Screaming Eagles to Irian with false information? Did FedCom have a hidden agenda?

Mario reached his pocket. He still had an operational portable comlink, but he paused a moment before pressing the button. The defending party could pick up his signal and pinpoint his location. But considering his situation, Mario didn't have many options. He dared himself to click the 'talk' button and put on general frequency, "Command Lance, this is Mario Cruz… can you read me? Command Lance, please respond."

The portable comlink only burst out static. Mario folded the radio in exasperation and walked back toward his mech that he hid on a dry riverbed. Suddenly several Harassers emerged from behind a hill and quickly closed in his position. Mario ran as fast as he could toward his mech, but he couldn't beat the Harassers. The hover tanks blocked his way to his mech, and three more Savannah Masters surrounded him.

"On your knees!" somebody ordered through the external speaker. "Hit the grass, or we'll open fire!"

Mario saw no other choice. He knelt on the grass. The hatch of the Savannah Masters popped open, and half a dozen men with guns climbed out and pushed him to the ground. From the corner of his eyes Mario saw that these guys didn't wear Marik uniforms, just before they rooted his arms behind his back, and covered his head with a cloth bag. They forced him to get up and dragged him into one of the vehicle. Mario couldn't see, but he knew the guys drove him somewhere. His guess was they were bringing him to their HQ.

After a long ride, the vehicle stopped and several guys heaved Mario out of the chamber. They pushed him and made him walk, and after a while, they forced him to sit on a chair. They bound his arms and legs on the chair, then took the bag off his head. Mario saw a man and a woman standing in front of him. The man was in his mid thirties, well built with brown hair and eyes. The woman was in early twenties, petite with short yellow hair, but she reflected the same confidence as the man. He could only guess that they were the leaders of this group, whatever it was.

"You don't look like a Marik agent," the man asked. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

It was a good sign, because at least these guys didn't work for the Free World. But they could be working for anybody, so Mario chose to be careful about revealing his contract with FedCom. "My name is Mario Cruz, Screaming Eagles mercenary unit."

The woman hit him in the face. "Who are you working for?" she snarled.

"My name is Mario Cruz of the Screaming Eagles mercenary unit."

She hit him again, this time with a full fist. "Who are you working for? Where are your friends?"

Mario licked the blood on his lips, "My name is Mario Cruz of the Screaming Eagles mercenary unit. Whatever you're doing, you're doing at the wrong man. So stop wasting time with me and let me go."

The woman raised her arm, but the man stopped her. "Enough! He might be of use for us! Throw him into the brig! Let see how he deals with starvation."

Two muscular soldiers released Mario from the chair and dragged him on a long corridor, until they arrived at the jail. There are dozens other prisoners that stared at him, most of them were wearing Marik uniforms. So Mario learnt that this group was anti Marik, which might work for his advantage. But he opted to observe more before he decided to reveal his contract with the FedCom.

The soldiers opened up a cell and threw Mario into it, locking him together with an old man. The old man stared blankly straight ahead, didn't care about Mario. Mario sighed and buried his head between his knees, wondering what might happen next.