Omake: Cracking an Egg

3rd Royal Guards Field CP

150km SSW of Hamnarr

Sudeten

Jade Falcon Occupation Zone

October 7th, 3056

"Damn: they're dug in deeper than a Sian tick," observed General Harrison Bradford, as the holotank zoomed into the schematics of the island that the Falcons had turned into a fortress. A simulated attack run by DropShips screened by fighters was met with a barrage of naval-scale lasers, PPCs and swarms of more conventional missiles. "With those turrets, there's no way we can drop a force big enough to dig them out: it's like a mini Castle Brian!"

"Hitting them from the sea is out too: they've got a sensor net that would warn them of our approach along the sea bed," added Colonel Cooper, the commander of the 3rd Royal Guard's 'Mech regiment, tapping on his noteputer. "And those walls are too heavy for even our massed artillery to smash through, anyway. Best way in is the docks ... and they've got at least a Trinary of 'Mechs and hundreds of Solhama infantry massed there, under cover."

"All in all, they've got the better part of two Clusters in there, made up of garritroopers and Solhama 'Mechs for the most part and the remnants of the fucking Doberung," Bradford continued, referring to the brutal and bloody Garrison Cluster who had murdered the crews of the ferries that had transported them to Maakar island, "but according to Wolf, there's at least a full Trinary of front line 'Mechs: Khan Chistu's bodyguard."

"Goddamnit," said an aide in the background, and no one complained. They were all thinking it.

If it were simply a field battle, they certainly had the forces to overwhelm the Falcon troops. However, the fortifications, the heavy weapon turrets and the isolation of the island meant that even getting boots on the ground would be a bloody and expensive affair ...

"Isn't this Zeta Battalion's forte?" asked one officer, but the commanding general shook his head.

"Wolf says they took heavy casualties routing the Guards: they're still reconstituting, and won't be ready for combat this heavy any time soon."

"But don't we have WarShips in orbit? I mean, I'm all for the Ares Conventions, but surely a limited bombardment, aimed at a military installation that's removed from any population center -"

"That too came up when I was talking to Wolf," Bradford sighed. "He pointed out that with the sibko elements being used as riflemen by the Falcons ... by a strict reading of the Ares Conventions and the rules of war, we are prohibited from simply flattening the place from orbit."

"That's ... ridiculous, sir!"

"Maybe, but I conferred over HPG with Marshal Steiner: she agreed with the mercenary." He shook his head: having so much of the Sudeten task force's might being under control of a mercenary, and a former Clansman at that, frustrated him. Surely Commonwealth forces would have been more reliable ... "He did offer the Athena's guns to reduce those turrets ... but even without them, any regiment we drop on Maakar will be on their own until reinforcements can be moved up, against a small Galaxy of Falcon troops. It's basically a forlorn hope, and that's why I've been hoping Wolf's ultimatum would work. Damned Chistu virtually spat in his face, but we had to make the offer."

Cooper picked up his noteputer again. "Alright. I guess I'll start drawing up a list of volunteers, pull together a scratch regiment so we can -"

"No, Colonel, I'm afraid that's not happening either." The colonel blinked, looking over at his superior's dark expression. "When I conferred with Marshal Steiner, I received orders direct from the Archon, co-signed by the Archon Prince Designate. A fresh unit is being deployed to assault the island, dig us out a foothold, then hold until our troops can land."

"... permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Granted."

"What kind of lunatics did the Archon dig up to send on a forlorn hope mission like that?"

"Us."

The officers and staff in the command center turned to see a petite redhead in a light-eatingly black uniform approach. Upon recognition more than one officer recoiled, making way as she strode confidently across the room, to stand in front of the General. Instead of saluting, in a typically disrespectful display of mercenary contempt for tradition and good orders, she smiled, showing off small but clearly sharp fangs. "Juliette von Strang, General. My lunatics, madmen and monsters are ready to deploy."

"We have a Khan to kill."