Chapter XI, by RogueBaron

Irian, Free Worlds League
April 15, 3068

"Is it coming or not?" Mario sighed, shifting uncomfortably in the confined space inside the Harasser. "We've been sitting here for hours, and there's no sign about IBMU supply convoy. Are you sure that it's scheduled for today's delivery?"

"Delivery can be late, Mister Cruz," Goran grumbled his reply. It's not uncommon, especially after your vain attack. They should raise their security. Perhaps if you approached the complex with a bit of patience, you had accomplished your mission."

"Usted no tienne cojones!" Mario hissed, almost undecipherable.

"What? What did you say?" Ilsa snarled, aware that Mario was calling them names.

"Nothing," Mario leaned on his seat. "Just talking to myself."

"At least we have cojones to not say things behind other's back!" Ilsa mumbled.

Mario's ears felt sizzling, mostly from embarrassment, but a bit from rage. He had no idea that she could understand what he was saying, and to safe his face, he coined bravado, "So what if I want to speak things my way?"

"Quiet!" suddenly Goran yelled. "My radar picks up a mech signature… Looks like a lone Locust."

"Locust?" Mario snapped his head. "Is it my lance mate?"

"At this condition, it was hard to establish visual contact," Goran throttled up slowly. "Although it is a possibility. It is wandering alone in the riverbed, most likely avoiding Marik's radar."

"Radio contact?" Ilsa suggested.

"It's better if we wait until we know what we're up against. It could be Marik's patrol, although we know the Scimitar does not have a Locust."

It was just about five minutes after midnight that the Harasser's radar picked up the Locust's condition. It was scarred, a real testament of the ferocity of the battle it endured. Nevertheless, the lone Locust kept tiptoeing on the dry riverbed, swinging its torso left and right, either watching for possible enemies or looking for its friends. As it came nearer, the bright Screaming Eagles logo became more and more apparent.

"Looks like one of yours," Goran picked up the comlink. "Rogue Locust, identify yourself. We are not from the Free World League. We will not harm you."

When there was no sign of the Locust would answer, Mario snatched the comlink from Goran's hand and addressed the lone mech, "Hey, it's Mario! I'm with these people. Don't be afraid, I'm among friends. They hate the Mariks too!"

Still it didn't answer.

"What do we do now?" Ilsa asked with a glint of nervousness in her voice.

"The radio could be broken. We box it quickly but don't make weapon contact. It's only armed with two machine guns and a medium laser. Nothing can hurt us. Show our friendly but firm attitude, and force the pilot to exit."

Goran throttled up to full speed, followed by other Harassers and Savannah Masters. Upon seeing the hovercrafts, the Locust backpedaled, showering them with machine guns, but shied away from using its medium laser.

"Unidentified Locust, we are friends of Mario Cruz," Goran put his voice to the external speaker. "Do not be afraid. We are not going to harm you…"

Before his lips dried up, the proximity alarm squealed. Goran only had a second to realize that dozens of missiles raced toward his Harasser. He stepped on the accelerator, but it was too late. The missiles slammed into the canopy, tearing everything inside.

Lucky for Mario, he was sitting on the passenger seat behind Goran. Broken glasses and metal splinters pillaged his face as the Harasser spun out of control, turning his stomach upside down. It hovered for a while until it skidded to a stop, bringing Mario smashing against the driver's seat. For a moment Mario was torn between reality and unconsciousness, until the smell of smoke awakened him.

Explosions thundered on his left and right, and Mario could see the hovercrafts scrambled something at the front. He could feel the ground shaking from mech treading, and by the magnitude of the quake, he knew they came from mechs much bigger than the Locust. It was Scimitar's ambush.

Still groggy by the explosion, Mario climbed out of the smoking Harasser, holding his bruised head. He averted his eyes from what was left of Goran. The direct impact of the missiles did not spare much of him. Ilsa was sitting beside him, moaning in pain, still oblivious to what happened to her boyfriend. With every bit of energy he could muster, Mario pulled Ilsa out of the wreckage.

"No – Goran!" Ilsa writhed against him, trying to get back to the hover tank.

"There's nothing you can do," Mario pulled her, keeping her from seeing Goran.

"No, he needs me!" Ilsa was still muzzy. "Goran! The tank's gonna blow! Get out of there!"

"He's dead, Ilsa! There's nothing we can do!"

Just then, the tank exploded, pushing both of them to the ground.

"No!" Ilsa screamed, but Mario covered her under his body, saving her from debris rain. Some of the burning chips set up minor fire at the back of his jacket, but he quickly stripped and tossed it aside.

"Come on, we have to run," he grabbed Ilsa's hand and hauled it. Bullets whizzed and ricocheted all over the place. Mario felt his legs were about to breach from running and taking Ilsa. From the corner of his eyes he watched the hover tanks valiantly, but hopelessly, took on a group of mechs, where the Locust was nowhere to be seen.