Dieron June 22nd, 3067 Op Starfall revival DZ, 09:00 hours
The twin dropships released from the 98th's jump ship made their way towards the planet Dieron keeping the most reasonable amount of G's possible and in doing so, deep within the bowels of each dropship the crews worked tirelessly on their final flight checks. Sitting within the armored head of his atlas Colonel TKG checked his shock straps again as the techs prepared his 'mech for the landing. The roar of the dropship's engines rattled everything in the 'mech bay and just about shook everything that was or wasn't bolted down, the landing was the same.. pretty much the king of all kidney squashing thuds. In the distance the Word of Blake's own 233rd Regulars, 'Johann's Juxtaposition' was racing to attack the twin dropships before their deadly cargo could be freed of their safety netting, within the 'mech bays. Fortunately the terrain favored the 98th as the razors edge was the first out of the door, followed by the marauders, and like wise on the second dropship the avengers and Hanta yo put their armored feet into Dieron's soil for the first time. Reaching over to activate his communications toggle switch for an open channel to all his pilots Colonel 'TKG' was the first one to break the radio silence.
'All right people listen up I wont say it twice, get your checks, and watch your backs, the captain said he was a moving formation on the way down which means that we likely have been seen, that means ugliness is inbound, I wants the marauders, and the Hanta yo to take up right and left flank positions, see those hills up ahead that�s where we will engage, now get moving!"
a number of confirmations came in as the three lances moved towards the hills, and then Sgt. Jude abbot asked the obvious.
'What about us sir? your not gonna leave us sitting here while you go and get all the wobbly ass-kicking glory are ya?
'Ah no, you get the fun job of finding the light horse, we're playing distraction for once, get going they aren�t gonna waste time crawling all over us Jude, in fact I'd suggest you stay invisible for the op and lead the Erandi if you find 'em that is; back here maybe their big guns can still fire."
"Got it sir..Ok avengers lets get the going!"
The mixed medium-light lance turned and headed off westward towards Dieron�s capitol where The light horse's last known position was said to be. Meanwhile, the twelve 'mechs that formed the pride of the 98th trudged uphill nearing their destination, for this semi-wooded hill would be where they repeated the great feat accomplished in the NCR so many years prior, this is where the 98th would fight the third battle of little round top. The hill it self wasn't spectacular, but the tree cover was since the trees were so thick from the outside, but for troops hiding within them they were tall enough to hide several lances, and so upon reaching the hill the three lances of the 98th took up positions and crouched within the trees. Now was the waiting game.
Dieron June 22nd, 3067, Perth Flood basin, 09:55 hours
Looking irritably through his long-range scopes again Demi-Precentor-Lambda Paul Emillani couldn't believe it the entire force of battlemechs had vanished and plain left their dropships unguarded, it made no sense. The intel had said the 98th was known for being strange but this, it was outright peculiar. Something was surely up but there wasn't a heat spike a reactor signature nothing, well not for the last forty minutes or so. A sudden report from one of The Demi-Precentor-Lambda's own recon units broke the silence in his cockpit.
"Sir! We've got recon units bearing the 98th's Colors attacking out here near the capitol, we've already lost a mongoose to one of their 'mechs sir we can't..."
The sudden scream of metal filled the communications line as the would-be scout was no doubt gunned down by whatever elements of The 98th's forces were at play, but since when did the 98th have a scout unit?
"Karem, I want you to go and assist them, we can't afford to have losses to our slighter forces these Erandi light horse mercenaries need to be out maneuvered or else this effort will bog down."
"Got it sir"
The demi precentor craned his head to see the twelve 'mechs of the delta company move off to hunt down the troublesome light unit then turned back and began his grand titan foreword, it was time to test the mettle of these 98th non believers...
Dieron June 22nd, 3067, Big Round Top, 10:46 hours
The crouched 'mechs sat waiting as the word of Blake forces closed in and there was no doubt more then a few pilots in the 98th were getting more and more nervous, while TKG had explained why the wobblers couldn't see his unit, it was little consolation. In the distance the white painted 'mechs of the 233rd moved carefully amidst the start of the brush line that denoted the area around the hill where the 98th crouched fully hidden within the dense stands of the massive Blackwood oaks, time ticked away when the tense nature of the situation was broken by the first shot being fired, the Dropship Livid in the distance caught one unlucky Wobbler dead on splitting his bombardier practically in half with direct fire from a number of it's own laser weaponry. That was the signal to attack, the word of Blake forces had made the error of turning from the hill in distraction, and found themselves suddenly facing a double strike from forces that lay in wait from the high ground of the big wooded hill.
The 98th made it's surprise move as the command lance and the Hanta yo began to lay down heavy fire with their ranged weapons, picking off the larger enemy units starting with a vanquisher bearing commander's markings near the foot of the hill. The battle raged between the main body of the 233rd's Beta and alpha companies and the 98ths forces, near the drop zone a charger was pummeling a blakist Toyama while mere meters away twin riflemen which had been pushed back were struggling to fight off the combined efforts of a black knight with twin exterminators acting as mobile support. At the front Demi-Precentor-Lambda Paul Emillani had engaged Colonel TKG head on, years back the makers of the Grand Titan the precentor was piloting had released sales footage of the titan defeating the atlas, but now this was for real and not a test, or at least that�s what the precentor had to remind himself as he braced for another impact of his opponent's beam weaponry, but no such barrage came instead he opened his eyes to see something he never expected, from the back of the crimson atlas twelve missile contrails spiraled, then the missiles arced about the atlas and came screaming in; darkness reigned.
Things started to look bleak as the Blakists began to slowly push the 98th back, inch by inch they were gaining the ground they so desperately sought it wasn't without cost as Dalton Gate's awesome speared a White flame sending it down in a fiery explosion that consumed one champion next to it and tossed an nearby light ray a few meters he turned his Awesome and the last thing he saw what a black object racing towards his cockpit. In the distance the 233rd's sole Pillager piloted by adept Vince Bernard took aim at a better target, The Atlas which was currently Holding the decapitated head of a trebuchet in hand while the 'mechs body lay burning at the atlas's feet. It was then Vince saw something fill his view screen, something red and gold...it was a charger And in it's hand was an Mercury's leg and then the massive assaults arm came down and through the external speakers of the charger the last thing Vince heard was 'Hey Blakist! Leave the kids alone!'.
Colonel TKG looked desperately at his chronometer, it was now 12:00 hours and this was getting desperate, his remaining units took on a spearhead formation to try and fend off the Blakists who seemed to have no end or limit to their forces as they still outnumbered the 98th two to once. As The colonel prepared to tell his folks this was the Alamo, suddenly a Grim reaper in the distance exploded, missiles streaked in from he west and ripped both legs of a champion that was charging across the field artillery flew from the west but...could this mean the avengers broke through to the Light horse? On the radar the same thing showed true to every member of the besieged 98th...a wall of blue was approaching and the Blakists were running for it. On a open channel A voice crackled through the static.
"This is Captain Thomas Graeme, of the Erandi Light horse Please respond."
The time it took for the colonel to turn his 'mech to spot the speaker seemed line an eternity but as he turned his atlas he found a number of Light horse 'mechs moving towards his position led by a cauldron-born, it was then he replied.
"Good afternoon Captain Graeme, This is Colonel Thomas Sahashi, you sure picked a excellent time to remind the wobblers to watch their rear quarters."
"Wouldn't have happened if you hadn't sent the scouts."
"Funny thing, I was wondering what mischief they'd gotten to."
16:00 Hours
Colonel Sahashi paused for a moment to be sure that his assembled pilots and tank crews understood the plan, and started tot urn back towards the holo-projector marking the incoming Blakists.
"Sir are you sure of this plan, it seems risky granted what we're doing and the fact the 'mechs you want to yes aren't exactly our stock."
"Perhaps they aren't however as you well know the Star colonel needs our help, and he and his troops are allies so we must do what we can, with Abbot's Avengers taking the two gallowglas and the bulk of our big guns laid out in the repair bay we have no choice, right now it's death or glory, and honestly we cannot sit about and fend them off again this time we must defeat them but do it in such a way they will loathe to come back here because we will send so many of them back in body bags."
Sitting up front Sgt. Richard 'junkyard' Mutt cracked a evilly crooked grin.
"It's a big 'ol Dalton Special ain't it?"
"Better believe it, last time they tried this stunt we lost Dalton, this time we're gonna remind 'em what it means to be hurt so folks any other questions?"
The room sat silent as grim determination seeped into every face in the room, Thomas took a breath and turned for the door to the 'mech bays.
"Alright folks lets bust some Fanatic skulls.
As the Word of Blake forces approached ever closer seeming to find no resistance they grew more brazen, some peeked out of the obscuring forests they chose to use, while others marched their 'mechs across the open fields, they too had been told they would win.
"As intel has told us, these 98th Scum are just ahead a few clicks, I want no member of their forces spared, they always seem to come back so I want no quarter granted or asked, When I give the word, we rush them... is everyone with me?"
Deep inside the cockpit of his atlas Thomas savored the Blakists words, what he didn't know would kill him today, reaching an arm over he hovered his finger over the toggle switch to stow the extended range communications antenna back in his atlases head. "CHARGE!" Thomas laughed into his communications which was the signal, beside him was his command lance in their 'mechs, all of those were externally looking beat, but internally perfectly fine, a utter ruse. He waited a few more minutes for confused communications from the Blakists indicating they found the old landing zone, and promptly hit the toggle and Using one of the control gauntlets raised his atlases huge arm to make the signal to counter strike.
"I don�t get it precentor they couldn't have moved the dropships this silently it's just not possi."
From the Demi-precentor's cockpit he saw his second in command�s mech ripped apart by a number of blasts, with enough force to crack the ferro-glass across his own cockpit and send two lighter 'mechs nearby flying off their feet. The Precentor turned his 'mech to look foreword and saw something that would have any mechwarrior peeing himself in a heartbeat, an company of assault and heavy 'mechs had just appeared out of nowhere, and it was led by an atlas.
Newcastle Trail, 25 Kilometers south of Landing Zone Vindication.
16:45 Hours
The large Group of 'mechs trudged through the wilderness; in the center of the group was a number of emergency and salvage vehicles as well as a MASH unit, in the distance over the tree line was a column of oily-black smoke that signaled the presence of a crash.
'looks like this is where we get off Sheila, Give the star colonel our regards."
Sheila turned her gallowglases head to look at the diverging assault forces that were part of the second surprise in The colonel's plan.
"Sure thing, watch yourself too."
The assistance squad moved ahead faster freed of their slower companions as the 98th's new provisional cross-trained second company was being put to use for once, either way all Sgt Bristol could think of as she moved her mech, a Marauder II was how strange it was to be back behind the wheel, at least with tanks they had beer can holders; this thing had a goddamn keg over the seat. As the provisional smashed their way through the rapidly thinning woods it became apparent what kind of danger the Blakists were really in. Stomping in the lead were three marauder II's followed by three wardogs an awesome, one cerberus, a legacy, two blackjacks and a Trebuchet. What the Blakists didn't know is that the supposed tank company that was on the TO&E was also composed of ex-mech pilots effectively adding a full company to the roster at a moment's notice. Collectively referred to as 'Bristol's Brigade, the unit was collectively known for their high asking prices in mercenary circles but then since the 98th had the cash to blow in transit to Buckminster it wasn't such an issue to get their permanent services.
In the distance the signs of battle were showing with the lights of lasers being fired and the telltale contrails of missiles flying about that had missed their targets, occasionally a line of tracers would rip over head from some 'mech pilot or perhaps a tanker who failed perhaps fatally to kill whatever he or she was aiming at. Sarah stepped her Marauder II over the scorched remnants of what looked like a commander's persius the tangled wreckage so distorted by the heat of internal expositions that it was hard to tell if the wreckage was that or it's parent design the orion. The sound of an open communication suddenly crackled through the usual interference and radio chatter of her unit.
"Get outta my face you slobbering fanatic!"
In the distance the shame of a large humanoid 'mech formed it wound up one arm and let loose a punch, it's opponent appeared to be a black knight which staggered back headless, then the form took shape, it was a grand titan. Then another form took shape behind it, an hunchback painted in whites IFF tagged it as an enemy. Sarah Reached for her trigger to fire her PPC's, twin blue beams lashed out across the distance the hunchback apparently never knew what hit it as it's gun rack was ripped clean off. The hunchback staggered a few steps then turned and fired a swathe of unguided LRM�s her way, while most missed the medium never got the chance to fire again. From the hunchback's left a shadow loomed over it and then a number of streak SRM�s ripped foreword The mech was tossed about like a rag doll in the blasts that that set off it's autocannon ammunition buried in it's torso. Within seconds the Medium was a smoldering wreck but for good measure Thomas stepped his atlas's foot down on the burning 'mechs head section anyway.
"Glad you could join us Sarah we've been trying to leave you some wobblers to hurt but they keep insisting on being stupid."
Sarah laughed over the communications channel as did her assembled lance mates and as she turned her marauder II to fire on an gurkha that was attempting to get up close and personal with a distracted 98th charger separating it's leg from it's body sending the small 'mech flat on it's face at the charger's feet.
"The rush hour traffic is horrible Colonel how's a girl supposed to get to the upscale overpriced bars like this?"
"Well hell Sarah iffn' you flashed 'em more often they'd get outta yer way!"
A war dog ran through her field of vision, it was Lt. Skillman's 'mech and he was the smart ass of the tank company as well his oddly proportioned assault rushed in on an plainly unprepared blakist trebuchet and delivered what amounted to a 'mech slap straight to the medium's head sending the lighter 'mech to the ground. A 98th rifleman, the only one still in operational condition stomped up and needing no cue to fight Tilted it's one functioning gun-arm down and fired a number of autocannon shells into the stricken enemy's head ending that fanatic's career.
"That'll teach 'im to mess with the 98th! Bring on the Toaster Luffers!"
The victory was short lived as the rifleman suddenly exploded sending parts of the mech everywhere, Lt. Skillman turned his mech to avoid the shrapnel storm that resulted only to see a Vanquisher standing in the distance. More then a few of the assembled 98th thought the same thing at the same time 'Hello commander....GOOODBYE!." As soon as the assault made it's entrance it found it's exit as Five 98th mechwarriors brought their guns to bear and fired within the span of a mere twenty seconds, the large assault staggered as it were going to survive, that is until Skillman's gauss rifle reloaded and split the 'mechs engine clean down the middle through it's ruined left torso. The fury of the vanquisher's unleashed fusion rector sent the assault battlemech and it's pilot straight to hell in a ball of superheated plasma that sent the raijin behind it down as well. Thomas was the first to comment on the destruction.
"Bah he didn't even last long enough to introduce himself!"
"whadda you expect a overdrawn intro with fake karate moves like in the holovids colonel?"
"As a matter of fact I did Skillman, in fact I even expected exaggerated poses and ridiculous skintight outfits too."
"And don�t forget the remodeled football helmets!"
Sgt. Abbot marched his Orion up and jokingly struck a pose in the heavy 'mech as he made the comment just for the sake of it then quickly dropped it to turn his launchers on an retreating apollo that was missing an arm. The launchers in Abbot's Orion belched forth a number of Long range missiles that streaked across the expanse between himself and his target, and detonated against the already mauled rear armor of the apollo, hitting the munitions there. Ammunition within the squat torso of the apollo went off blasting out the back first sending the heavy foreword in an almost comical fall-skid that ended with the pilot managing to eject and the mech exploding violently as it's CASE systems failed entirely.
Suddenly a voice came through the 98th's central communications.
'This is Major Asano Kurosawa of the 47 Ronin, Colonel Sahashi do you read?
It was almost as if the Blakists too could hear the voice because they began to run, some mechs with damaged legs just stopped no doubt the pilots within were either suiciding or perhaps were sabotaging the crippled machines but within minutes the battlefield cleared.
"Damn Major, I've seen a whole hell of a lot in the field but this is new, Yeah I read though, what�s your ETA?"
"As soon as you can turn your Atlas about."
Thomas turned his Atlas about and saw a whole line of 47 Ronin moving in, some were finishing off the Blakists that chose to stay and fight while others were simply stepping over the scorched corpses of enemy units. The Blakists would sure think twice next time.