STEEL WOLF
A/N: I have edited the last scene of chapter 5 concerning Abby hiding her Clanner nature. Now, Alfonso Vargas does know that Abby and her fellows are Clanners, but the nations allied with the Vargas Estate do now know this. The Alvarez brothers now plan to reveal Abby's true nature and intentions to the Estate's allies at some point in order to turn those nations against the Estate, since there is strong anti-Clanner sentiment on Korla. Alfonso and his men, however, don't hate Clanners.
Chapter 6: Forged in Fire
Outskirts, Heldav, Vargas Estate, Korla,
Lyran Alliance,
July 24, 3075
The constant booms and whistles of Long Tom artillery rounds and Arrow IV missiles were already ringing in the air by the time the Arctic Wolves arrived on the front line around midday. Kyle Goyua eased forward the throttle of his Shadow Cat, swiftly walking his 'mech down the open ramp of the Hunter's Insight dropship that was parked on the dunes outside the silver-colored city. Kyle squinted at the sandy horizon, looking past the shimmering heat and mirages to get a grasp of what was going on. Beyond the Vargas Estate bunkers and fortified positions, countless scorched craters littered the dunes and rocky ground, evidence of the artillery exchanges between the defending forces and the Alvarez Country guerrilla invaders. Every few seconds, a new fiery explosion bloomed on the ground, creating another crater.
Nikolai's Marauder led the twelve Arctic Wolves Battlemechs across the battlefield, and his voice spoke clearly in the Vargas battle channel. "What's the situation, Colonel?"
Colonel Ruiz, the commander of Heldav's defense force, responded sharply. "We've been forced to give a lot of ground to the Alvarez forces. We had to give up some good flanking positions to the east, and our artillery spotters keep getting attacked. At this rate, only the Alvarez forces will have the ability to fire artillery with any accuracy. Report suggest that they have an airstrike coming in from the north, but that is yet to happen."
"Is the current line of defense holding?" Nikolai asked.
"It is," the Colonel responded firmly. "We outnumber their Battlemechs and vehicles nearly two to one, and our bunkers and fortifications are keeping the invaders back. But we can't cover the entire city's perimeter at once, and the superior maneuverability of the Alvarez forces will let them exploit our weaknesses sooner or later. We have to inflict maximum casualties on the Alvarez forces to disrupt their plans."
"Right." Nikolai trotted his 75-ton 'mech toward the other Vargas 'mechs and vehicles, and Kyle and the other Wolves stayed close behind him. Close by, a quartet of friendly Long Toms all fired one after the other, rattling the air with the sheer force of their shells. Four explosions blasted into the outlying desert, scattering the Alvarez Battlemechs out there. Countless Vargas Battlemechs and vehicles surged forward, sticking together in lances and companies to confront the Alvarez invaders. As Kyle watched, bright red lasers, streaks of Autocannon shells, and clusters of missiles flew back and forth in a stunning display amid the Long Tom explosions.
The heavier Vargas 'mechs often found themselves surrounded and pestered by speedier Alvarez 'mechs, and Kyle realized that all over the battlefield, the Alvarez forces could take down several Vargas 'mechs and slip away before taking return fire. Kyle activated his zoom and watched a stranded Vargas Awesome lumber around, its heavy armor smoking and chipped all over. A trio of 30-ton Alvarez Razorbacks scurried onto the scene, stabbing the Awesome on its left leg with their large lasers. The hulking Awesome stumbled and swayed as the three deadly beams sliced through its armor, cutting apart its myomer muscles and inner metal bones. Before the Awesome could return fire with its PPC array, the three Razorbacks quickly fled the scene, escaping the Awesome's PPC range. Meanwhile, the Awesome slumped limply to its side, collapsing on its left arm, crushing the limb into twisted steel and torn myomer muscles. The pilot of the 'mech streaked into the sky in his ejection pod, knowing better than to stay in his ruined machine.
"It's like this all over," Nikolai lamented, apparently watching the same Awesome that Kyle was. "All right, Wolves, here's the plan. Colonel Ruiz needs a heavy artillery barrage on sector D-7, but all spotter 'mechs went down and the Alvarez forces are quickly getting into flanking positions. The Alvarez guys are tearing apart the Vargas 'mechs from that position, taking no return fire due to their long-range weapons and superior speed. So, we're going to escort a few lances of spotter 'mechs into position so Ruiz gets his artillery barrage."
"Roger that," Samantha responded crisply, her Marauder turning to face the specified sector. Her voice took on a slightly playful and energetic tone. "So, Kyle... ready to dance?"
Kyle smiled. "Lead the way, Sam."
"You kids don't get cocky out there, you hear me?" Nikolai joked, but his Marauder walked toward sector D-7 with utter military precision. Along with him marched Thomas Jones' Marauder, equipped with primarily SRM's and medium lasers. Near Thomas' 'mech walked Fury's humanoid Atlas, another 'mech designed for medium to short range combat with an array of ballistic weaponry. Kyle and Samantha, meanwhile, would make sure that their Gauss Rifles would soften up the enemy from a safe distance.
A new, accented voice entered the comm. "Arctic Wolves, this is Hector Derosi, commander of the new spotter team. My men are prepped and ready to go. Cover us."
"Understood," Nikolai told him. Up ahead stood twelve light 'mechs, mainly Stinger and Wasp designs. The twelve light 'mechs broke out into a brisk trot toward sector D-7, going slowly enough so that the Arctic Wolves' heavier machines could keep pace. Kyle kept his fingers tense on his joysticks' firing buttons, feeling nervous sweat bead on his chest and face.
A sudden blast rocked Kyle's Shadow Cat, throwing the 45-tonner to the right. Kyle wrenched his joysticks the opposite way, forcing his 'mech back into balance before it crashed into the sand. The damage screen indicated that five LRM's had exploded against his left torso, chipping away a little armor. His heart suddenly hammering, Kyle twisted his torso to the left and spotted a cluster of Alvarez 'mechs and vehicles moving to intercept the Wolves convoy, mainly medium 'mechs and various tanks. Several Bushwackers led the way, their LRM 5's and large lasers slashing apart the Arctic Wolves' armor bit by bit. The Wolves' 'mechs turned to fire back, PPC's filling the air. Spotting the bright blue PPC beams from afar, the Alvarez 'mechs scattered and fell back, letting the beams pass harmlessly past.
Annoyed, Kyle slipped his crosshairs onto one enemy Bushwacker and mashed his thumb on his firing stud. His 'mech jerked back from the recoil, but Kyle grinned in satisfaction as his Gauss slug flashed through the air in a blur, and then the Bushwacker reeled back from the slug's impact. Armor chunks flew off the Bushwacker's torso, scattering onto the battle-churned dunes. Even better, a hideous impact dent on the Bushwacker's torso, throwing the 55-tonner off balance. Samantha raised her Marauder's twin arm pods into position and her 'mech spat out twin Light Gauss Rifle slugs. One shot through empty air while the other slammed into the Bushwacker, punching into the dent Kyle had created. This time, the Bushwacker lost its balance, its legs scuffing uselessly on the dunes. The 'mech flopped flat onto its back, and heavy missile fire from nearby Vargas 'mechs destroyed the Bushwacker for good.
Nikolai's Marauder moved to block a pair of Alvarez Centurions from attacking the spotter 'mechs, and his 'mech's left PPC tore into one Centurion, frying its center torso armor. Two seconds later, Nikolai's right PPC lit up, the sizzling blue lightning slashing even more armor from the Centurion. Acting fast, Nikolai triggered his top-mounted Autocannon 5, peppering the Centurion yet again, this time with ballistic shells. Flakes of scorched armor scattered from the injured Centurion's chest, exposing delicate inner machinery.
However, the Alvarez fighters were far from finished. The other Centurion slipped to the side, easily evading PPC beams from other Arctic Wolves. Getting revenge for its lancemate, the Centurion hammered Nikolai's Marauder with its LRM 10 and Autocannon 10, blasting chunks of armor plating from the left torso. Nikolai's lumbering 'mech ambled to the side, but the large Battlemech was too slow: a large laser from an Alvarez Bushwacker sliced into Nikolai's Marauder's right leg, melting layers of metal off the limb.
Then, a pair of large Alvarez tanks rolled onto the scene, their bulky, heavily-armored hulls giving Kyle the chills. He recognized them as Challenger tanks, each armed with a Gauss Rifle, LBX-10 Autocannon, and LRM 10 as their primary firepower along with other small weapons. The Challengers aimed their turrets and let loose, their Gauss slugs wreaking havoc. One slug smashed into a Vargas Wasp, shearing off its left leg in one blow. The hapless light 'mech toppled to the ground like a drunkard, tumbling down a dune. Another Gauss slug pummeled the left torso of Fury's Atlas, shattering the armor like glass. The Atlas regained its balance a few seconds later, however, its armor far from depleted.
"Get it together, Wolves! Don't let them destroy any more spotter 'mechs!" Nikolai growled as sis PPC beam narrowly missed an Alvarez Razorback. Meanwhile, an Arctic Wolves Griffin landed a solid blow with its LRM 10, pushing back an Alvarez Bushwacker in a burst of flames. Samantha's Light Gauss slugs smashed apart the nose armor on the the Challenger tanks, but the huge vehicles easily withstood the blows and rolled closer, returning fire with a vengeance.
One tank's LBX-10 burst shredded the armor on Samantha's Marauder's right arm, throwing the 'mech off-balance and exposing the limb's inner systems. Aggravated by his girlfriend's plight, Kyle stomped into position with his Shadow Cat, aiming his reticule on the Challenger. Before he could fire, however, an Alvarez Trebuchet's LRM's exploded across Kyle's 'mech, blinding him with fire and smoke. Kyle strained against the controls again, his stomach lurching as his Shadow Cat rocked back on its feet, and he was painfully aware of how much armor he had just lost. Damn it... can't afford to fall down! Stay with me, 'mech!
"I've got you, Kyle," Thomas Jones' reassuring voice said on the comm. Kyle heard a 'mech stomp around close by, and then the sound of dozens of missiles being launched filled the air. Kyle forced his 'mech back out into open air, watching Thomas' SRM's streaking through the air. The missiles caught a nearby enemy Razorback, throwing the 'mech onto its back and blasting away its torso armor in a surge of flames. The other Alvarez 'mechs backed off, and Kyle shook his head to clear it, lining up his reticule once again. His Gauss Rifle spat out another metallic slug, and Kyle felt a thrill of elation when his slug tore into one Challenger, adding to the damage Samantha had dealt earlier. An internal explosion rocked the heavy tank, blowing its LRM 10 launcher out of commission. Smoke leaked from the gaps in the tank's hull, but the huge vehicle wasn't done it. Its Gauss Rifle slug pounded into Thomas' Marauder, tearing away armor from the 'mech's left torso.
"Damn it," Thomas muttered as he pulled back, unable to return fire from this range. Kyle pushed up on his 'mech's throttle, trotting into a new position on the battlefield. As he went, another Vargas spotter 'mech, a Stinger, vanished in a fireball of LRM's launched from Alvarez forces.
"Keep it together, folks!" Nikolai demanded as the Alvarez 'mechs wore down the Arctic Wolves and spotter 'mechs with their relentless hit-and-run tactics, dealing heavy damage while taking little in return. At some point, Nikolai simply turned his guns away from the slippery enemy 'mechs, instead turning to face the twin Challenger tanks. One PPC beam from his 'mech slashed into the more heavily-damaged Challenger, the energy bolt adding to the damage that Kyle and Samantha's Gauss Rifles had dealt. The tank rolled back as fire and smoke leaked from its wound, its turret spinning like crazy. Nikolai's second PPC raked the Challenger, triggering even more internal explosions. The tank's armor plates fell off in flaming chunks, the tank's crewmen frantically scrambling out the hatch before the vehicle fell apart entirely.
"Enemy airstrike incoming!" Colonel Ruiz's voice boomed on the Vargas battle channel.
"We'll cover the north flank, sir!" reported the Rifleman-heavy anti-air Vargas unit.
"Negative! Change to the west flank!" Ruiz snapped back. "We broke into Alvarez battle channels and they're changing their assault vectors, trying to catch us by surprise. I repeat, cover the west flank! Now!"
Kyle's Gauss Rifle slug punched into an enemy Razorback's thigh, throwing the 30-tonner off its feet and sending it tumbling down a dune. However, he still checked the west vector, hoping that the incoming Alvarez airstrike wouldn't hit the Arctic Wolves. He could already hear the roar of the enemy Aerospace fighters as they arrived on the battlefield.
The Alvarez airstrike came from the north.
Kyle winced as the Vargas battle channel was flooded with confused shouts and status updates. Six Lucifer fighters roared across the fields, unloading their LRM 20's and large lasers all over the Vargas forces. Multiple Vargas 'mechs and tanks toppled and burned part from the barrage, and none of the Vargas forces were able to fire back. The Lucifers soared away before they could take return fire, and the Vargas AA 'mech lances stood dumbly in the western area, unsure what to do.
Unable to help himself, Nikolai tapped into the comm. "Colonel, this is Nikolai Kerensky of the Arctic Wolves. I thought you said the airstrike was coming from the north?"
"Watch your tone, Arctic Wolf," the Colonel barked impatiently. "I am just as surprised as you are right now. The Alvarez comms were cleanly hacked into, and their officers clearly ordered an airstrike to the north!"
"May I hear it?"
"Fine, for all the good it will do you." A few seconds later, a recorded message played out on the Arctic Wolves' comms. "This is General Dupont. Bomber team, you will redirect your airstrike to the west. The Vargas forces will never see that coming."
"Sounds legit to me," Samantha commented. "How did the Alvarez bombers know to change direction? Or did they disobey orders?"
Nikolai huffed. "It's not our problem. We just have to survive this weirdness. But the Alvarez forces' range is still a problem." The words had barely left his mouth when the Alvarez forces came back in force, with multiple Razorbacks, Bushwackers, and Centurions raining fire on the Wolves. Kyle and the others dodged as best they could, but the Alvarez 'mechs clearly gained the upper hand. Already, two Wolves Marauders and the Griffin went down, and the surviving 'mechs were all in bad shape. "We could really use a short-range battle here!"
"I can help you with that, Nikolai," came a breathless but cheerful voice.
Kyle recognized that voice as belonging to Morgan Wynne, the commander of the Morgan's Marauders mercenary company. He watched as twelve mercenary 'mechs came up from behind the Alvarez 'mechs, hammering them with fire. Caught off-guard, the Alvarez 'mechs backed away from the Marauders, but that moved them much closer to the Arctic Wolves.
"Now! Pulverize them!" Nikolai boomed. His PPC's and Autocannon 5 sliced into an enemy Bushwacker, shearing off its left arm. Fury's Atlas marched straight toward an enemy Razorback, raising all guns to fire. The deadly Autocannon 20 mounted in the 'mech's left torso roared to life, its shells ripping into the Razorback's thin torso armor like a hungry shark. The Razorback stumbled and reeled from the sheer kinetic force, fighting to stay balanced. Showing no mercy, Fury raised his 'mech's arms and both arm-mounted LBX-10 Autocannons blazed fire Twenty LBX cluster shells showered the Razorback, obliterating its armor and inner machinery. The blazing 'mech slumped in a confused heap, its legs bending and twisting under the pressure as the 'mech collapsed.
Thomas Jones' SRM's pummeled an Alvarez Bushwacker, blasting off the 'mech's arm and destroying its shoulder-mounted LRM 5 launcher. Before the Bushwacker could react, Samantha's Marauder cut loose with a fierce, close-range medium laser barrage that sliced apart the injured Bushwacker. The 55-ton Alvarez 'mech fell to pieces, its pilot barely ejecting in time. A badly-damaged enemy Centurion wandered close to Kyle, and Kyle took careful aim, finishing off the Centurion with his three ER medium lasers.
The remaining Alvarez vehicles and 'mechs in the area slipped away to regroup with the rest of the Alvarez army, leaving the Arctic Wolves standing with Morgan's Marauders. "We owe you one," Nikolai said on the comm. "Good work."
"It was nothing," Morgan said cheerily, waving her Rifleman's arms. "You guys were fighting well, but too many Alvarez guys were surrounding you. We need those spotter 'mechs in position, so my men came to help." The various Warhammer, Rifleman, and Catapult 'mechs of Morgan's Marauders marched over to the remaining spotter 'mechs, offering protection. Nikolai assumed the lead, and he led the entire convoy closer to sector D-7 for the artillery strike.
"Enemy bombardment incoming!" Samantha noted, noticing the Lucifer fighters approaching from the east. This time, however, eight more Aerospace fighters roared onto the scene, propelled by the booster pods developed by Lyla Lister. Four Rapier fighters and four Stingray fighters bearing the Arctic Wolves logo intercepted the six Alvarez fighters, showering them with LRM, MRM, and large laser fire. Three Lucifer planes erupted in flames, spiraling down toward the dunes and crashing to the earth. Quick on the upkeep, the five remaining Lucifer returned fire, focusing it expertly. Two of the Wolves' Rapier fighters, overwhelmed by LRM and large laser fire, blew apart in chunks and the pieces rained down on the battlefield. The Lucifers roared past the surviving Wolf fighters, intending to turn around and make another pass.
Colonel Ruiz came onto the comm. "AA lances, take out those enemy fighters! Support the Arctic Wolves' aerial assets!"
Kyle watched in glee as the Vargas Rifleman lances opened fire with their large lasers and Autocannons, showering the Lucifers in firepower once the Lucifer planes made their return strike. Two more Lucifers succumbed to the combined fire of the AA lances and the Arctic Wolf fighters, and realizing that they couldn't escape, the three last Lucifer planes simply focused their fire again. Their combined LRM's and lasers sliced apart one Arctic Wolves Stingray, shearing it in half. The Stingray's two halves fell to the earth, smashing into the dunes. Then the last three Lucifers went down, their armor torn apart by the combined fire of the AA lances and Wolves fighters.
"We're here!" Morgan announced at last. Kyle checked his radar and confirmed that this was sector D-7, and from here, the ten surviving spotter 'mechs had a clear view of the Alvarez flank.
"Thanks for the escort. We'll take it from here," the commander of the spotter team announced. The Stinger and Wasp 'mechs trotted into their positions, their TAG lasers painting key Alvarez 'mechs. The Arctic Wolves and Morgan's Marauders all backed up, knowing what was coming. Twenty or so seconds later, nearly a dozen Long Tom artillery shells arced through the air, whistling like angry banshees. Then, the very earth erupted in a roiling pit of fire as the shells landed. Dozens of Alvarez 'mechs, vehicles, and infantry platoons vanished in the inferno, taking a lot of pressure off the tattered Vargas defenders. Before a second artillery strike could be called in, the surviving Alvarez forces turned tail and fled, their superior speed quickly putting them out of the range of the Vargas forces' guns. A ringing silence fell over the battlefield as both sides ceased fire from all 'mechs, vehicles, and artillery.
"That's it, men. They're in total retreat. Fall back and regroup at the fortifications," Colonel Ruiz announced crisply. "We've done it. Heldav remains ours. Those Alvarez bastards got what they deserved."
"Do you need us to reinforce the city for now, Colonel?" Nikolai asked, referring to his Wolves.
"Affirmative. Arctic Wolves, Morgan's Marauders, I need you all to keep the city secure for a while. Further details pending," Ruiz told them heavily. "Do you realize that we were nearly beaten by a force only half the size of ours? Pound for pound, the Alvarez army dealt 2.56 times as much damage as ours did. We don't yet have a good counter for their superior range, speed, and intelligence. But we're working on it."
Kyle felt his stomach knot. This is pretty tense, he thought. How long and bitter is this war going to be from here on out? Us Wolves are good, but this is going to be a real test of our mettle. A thought occurred to him and he grinned as he followed the rest of the Wolves and Morgan's Marauders back to Heldav's city limits. Then again, the sharpest swords are forged in the hottest fire.