Wolf's Free£ancers - Info

Wolf's Dragoon

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Web novel by LtCol[W£]GrinnerWolf

Templar

MechWarrior Chronicles

Winds of Change
A proud Khan. A rebellious warrior. Together, they must strive against all odds to ensure the survival of their clan.
A Web novel by A Garang Wolf, copyrighted by AFAR (©AFAR 2003) (ahfaiz@nstp.com.my). Other copyrighted materials belong to their respective owners.

Synopsis:
Due to unrelenting pressure from rival clans, the Ðreaded Legion faces total annihilation. In order to survive, it must adapt to new ways and leave clan space before it is too late. However, the Ðreaded Legion can never trust Inner Sphere surats completely. Thus it must prepare for the day when it needs to draw on its reserve fighting force no one suspects exists - the Wolf's Free£ancers mercenary unit.

Chapter 1: Rebel with a cause

Chapter 2: The long journey begins

Chapter 3: A question of faith

Chapter 4: Death Comes on Swift Wings

Chapter 5: Lull before the storm
Cadet Juan manoeuvred his Cauldron Born between the trees to prevent Cadet Jenny from obtaining a missile lock. And true enough, Jen's Timber Wolf MKII had great difficulty distinguishing Juan's Cauldron Born from the trees, thus preventing an otherwise quick missile lock.
This allowed Juan to approach Jen without the risk of suffering substantial damage from Jen's Thunderbolt-equipped MKII, and Juan's fast attack Cauldron Born needed to get as near as it could in order to employ its powerful short range weapons to maximum effect.
"Stravag!" cursed Jen as Juan kept coming closer. "Hide behind the trees, will you? I will fix that," declared Jen as she fired off all four of the Clan Ultra Auto Cannon 2 (UltraAC2) continuously. Only some of the shells made contact with Juan's Cauldron Born, but then, it was not really Juan she was aiming for.
The continuous spraying of UltraAC2 shells had the desired effect of clearing the trees which provided Juan cover and, with that, Jen's MKII targeting computer registered a lock on Juan's Cauldron Born. Immediately, she fired off two Thunderbolt missiles and, about second later, they connected with Juan's Cauldron Born, visibly rocking it back and stumbling it a little.
Jen kept spraying Juan's Cauldron Born with Clan Ultra AC 2 shells, but while they continued to add damage to Juan's Cauldron Born, they could not keep the fast attack Mech at bay. And when Juan's Cauldron Born came within short range weapons distance, Jen's MKII rocked violently due to the devastating effects of two Clan LBX20 weapons fire, two extended range medium lasers (ERMedium), and followed closely by 12 Clan Streak Short Range Missiles (2xSSRM6). Almost immediately, Jen's MKII sensors showed it to be red at the centre torso area, and yellow in the arms and missile launchers.
"Now that is how the Cauldron Born is supposed to be employed!" declared Juan excitedly, as he kept pummelling Jen's MKII while staying as best as he could in Jen's rear and flanks. Jen tried desperately to respond with her UltraAC2 but her MKII was just too slow. And getting a target lock for the Thunderbolts was also proving to be extremely difficult with the Cauldron Born managing to stay out of Jen's direct line of sight most of the time.
"Eject or die!" taunted Juan.
"Never!" replied Jen with a trace of laughter in her voice.
"You are asking for it," responded Juan with a wide smile.
And surely enough, Jen's MKII exploded with a brilliant flash. Jen did not eject.
A few seconds later, her disembodied voice came over Juan's neuro-helmet speakers. "Alright, you have proven your point," declared Jen.
Both Juan and Jen had scheduled this training session to take place during their spare time, as they felt that they could score better using the techniques taught to them by Wolf for the Trial of Position that would be taking place just before their graduation. Ever since the handing over ceremony, they had been training in Mechs configured with a standard mixture of extended and close range weapons most of the time and, as a result, they felt they were losing their edge.
"One more round, Jen?" asked Juan.
Sighing audibly, Jen sounded bored, but then she responded, "Sure, one more. But this time, I pick the terrain."
The simulator interface screen showed Jen selecting a snow covered valley with tall but climbable mountains on both sides. It was the sort of terrain that gave Jen's MKII long-range striker advantage.
"Let us see how well that Cauldron Born of yours stands up to my MKII in this kind of terrain," said Jen.
"Aff," responded Juan. "It can stand up pretty well, I believe."
"Haa!" replied Jen sceptically. "We shall see."
The simulation screens in the Mech simulators for both Juan and Jen went blank for a few seconds. Then they showed a brightly lit valley; so bright that both Juan and Jen winced.
"Come get me," taunted Juan.
"Neg," replied Jen. "You come get me."
Starting on opposite sides of the valley, both Juan and Jen immediately sought each other out using plain sight. Juan was running passive and while Jen would still have her radar on active mode for use with her Thunderbolt missiles, she had reduced its sweep range significantly in order not to alert Juan easily as to her whereabouts. The only way their respective targeting computers could verify each other's IFF signatures in this situation would be by direct line of sight.
Slowly, Juan moved into the valley, careful not to churn the snow too much so as not to cause small avalanches. For those would surely attract Jen's attention.
But somehow, and in spite of Juan's Cauldron Born's camouflage, Jen managed to spot Juan anyway.
"I seeee yooouuu!" taunted Jen, as she fired off all four of her UltraAC2s continuously. Juan's Cauldron Born rocked visibly as the auto cannon shells slammed into his Mech.
Realising that his cover had been blown, Juan throttled up his Cauldron Born in the direction of what appeared to be Jen's MKII at the end of the Ultra AC 2 tracer fire. However, no sooner had Juan's Mech picked up speed, it was rocked violently by Jen's Thunderbolt missiles.
Juan glanced at his damage readout and saw that his Cauldron Born had lost one of its SSRM6 launchers and was showing deep red on its left arm which carried a Clan LBX20. Everywhere else was yellow and turning progressively orange.
Juan wove left and right, and changed his weaving pattern as best as he could while continuing to close the distance between his Mech and Jen's. But this only delayed the inevitable, in that by the time he reached Jen, he would be left with too few weapons to cause much damage to Jen's MKII.
"Haa! Ha!" Jen laughed aloud as she too realised Juan's predicament. And when her Thunderbolt launchers finished reloading new missiles, she lobbed off another round at Juan's Cauldron Born.
When the missiles made contact, the Cauldron Born's left arm was severed completely, denying Juan the use of one of its Clan LBX20s. The missiles also smashed against the Cauldron Born's centre torso, destroying nearly all of the armour there and turning one of the extended range medium lasers (ERMedium Lasers) into slag.
"Eject and live," said Jen, as it was now her turn to taunt Juan about his survival prospects.
"I would rather die," replied Juan with a smile. And when his Cauldron Born came within short range weapons distance, he fired off whatever weapons that were left to him. Then, he manoeuvred his Cauldron Born to the right in order to begin encircling Jen's MKII.
But it was too late, Jen still had him under missile lock. So, although Juan had moved out of Jen's direct line of sight, all she had to do was fire off her Thunderbolts.
The effect was devastating. Juan's Cauldron Born's left leg was crippled at the knee, its right arm was severed, along with its remaining SSRM6 launcher.
"Damn! Lucky shot," exclaimed Juan.
"Bye! Bye!" said Jen, as she turned her MK II to face Juan squarely and fired her UltraAC2s. Stripping away the last of Juan's Cauldron Born's centre torso armour, the UltraAC2s made short work of internal components like endo-steel support structures and engine shielding. A few seconds later, Juan's Cauldron Born exploded with a blinding flash, collapse sideways and prostrated in front of Jen's MK II.
Unfortunately, before Jen could savour her victory, the simulator screen went dark. She tried to communicate with Juan, but her communicator appeared to be offline also. Hesitantly, Jen reached for the cockpit hatch release lever and pulled. When the hatch swung upwards, she spotted Star Captain Argamemnon standing on the main simulator gantry with his arms folded across his chest, icily staring at her. The gantry had extended itself toward Jen's simulator in order to allow her to disembark. Quickly, Jen unbuckled her restraints, got out onto the gantry and stood at attention in as stiff a manner as she could manage.
Across her simulator, she spotted Juan doing the same on his side of the simulator gantry. 'We are in for it now,' Jen thought.
"Cadets Juan and Jenny!" shouted Argamemnon. "Front and centre!"
"Aff! Star Captain!" replied Jen and Juan in unison. And they quickly ran and came to attention in front of Argamemnon.
"I approved your request for extra simulator training not for you to fool around!" remarked Argamemnon angrily. "Not only have you wasted precious time and resources, you have betrayed my trust!"
"We did not mean to..." Jen began to explain.
"Silence!" Argamemnon cut her short. "I did not give you permission to speak." After a long pause, Argamemnon continued, "You two are the most undisciplined cadets I have ever had in my training cadre. No wonder you can barely make the grades. From this point forth, you can bid your future as MechWarriors goodbye."
Hearing that, Jen looked defeated. Juan, on the other hand, looked defiant. Then, Juan snorted and smiled cynically at Argamemnon.
Amazed by Juan's response, Argamemnon asked haughtily, "You find this amusing, Cadet Juan?"
"Aff," replied Juan. "It is ironic that the reason why we need extra training time is because we have been using your battle methods. And because they are deficient, we have to be the ones to pay the price."
"How dare you!" responded Argamemnon in shock. "I challenge you to a circle of equals here and now! I will make you eat your words!"
And with that, the Mech simulator bay became deathly quite. There were not enough warriors around to form a circle of equals, which meant that the techs had to help form one. However, being unaccustomed to witnessing circles of equals, let alone partaking in one, they all seemed unsure and, so, none of the techs made the move to help form the circle.
"And what would that prove?" Jen interjected, seeing an opportunity for her to drive home the importance of what she and Juan were doing in the simulators. "I believe that the chances of Cadet Juan beating the life out of you is pretty good, Star Captain."
"Stay of out this!" snapped Argamemnon at Jen, but the fact that Argamemnon looked a little disconcerted signified to Jen that her argument registered in Argamemnon's mind well enough. Although Juan was of the same height as Argamemnon, Juan was definitely better built and was supremely adept at hand-to-hand combat.
"Well? What are you waiting for? The circle will form itself once we begin," said Juan mockingly while spreading his arms wide, which was of course a feint that was all too familiar with those who had sparred with him before. "I am only half as good as MechWarrior Wolf, but that is more than enough for dealing with a pseudo-warrior like yourself."
Juan's use of Wolf's name and his referring to Argamemnon as a pseudo-warrior had the effect he desired. Argamemnon was clearly seething with anger and was about to lose control of his temper. And while Argamemnon would end up fighting furiously, it would also cause him to make small mistakes which Juan would be able to take advantage of.
But just as Argamemnon was about to shoot off the first blow with his clenched left fist, Star Commander Shotlock, who was watching the exchange from below the main simulator gantry, called everyone's attention to himself by saying, "If I may be so bold! I suggest that this matter be settled in Mechs on the battlefield."
Shotlock had been accompanying Argamemnon on his inspection rounds but was told earlier not to interfere with anything that could transpire between Argamemnon and the two cadets, but Shotlock could not allow his commander to make a fool of himself in front of all the techs who were also watching the heated exchange intently. "That way, we can all know for sure whether or not the Dreaded Legion's tried and true methods are 'deficient'," Shotlock continued.
"My point, exactly," Jen chimed in. But then, she quickly added, "Well, maybe not exactly," in realisation that 'tried and true methods' being deficient was a contradiction. It was also Shotlock's subtle, witty way of stating whose side he was on.
Argamemnon relaxed visibly in response to Shotlock's suggestion, although he did not look as though he was going to back down. Then, turning to a tech manning the master computer for the simulators, Argamemnon shouted his orders for two training Mechs to be primed and prepped for battlefield simulation. Argamemnon would have preferred for the Mechs to be fully armed, but Khan Voltage had ordered the conservation of resources in light of the coming battle with the Black Mamba strike force. "I want an Executioner in standard weapons configuration and the Cauldron Born Cadet Juan was using in his simulator runs."
"At once Star Captain," replied the tech, but then he continued somewhat hesitantly, "Emm...we do not have a Cauldron Born, Star Captain. It was taken away for frontline rotation."
Looking very much annoyed, Argamemnon turned to face the tech and asked, "Well, what do we have, then?"
"Emm...a Timber Wolf," replied the tech.
"Fine!" responded Argamemnon. "Just be sure to outfit it only with short range weapons," said Argamemnon, after which he coolly walked off the gantry and headed toward the simulator bay exit.
Juan smirked and then smiled knowingly at Jen. Not only was the Timber Wolf ten tons heavier than the Cauldron Born, it was also more deadly in close quarter fights, especially when configured using MechWarrior Wolf's Battle Cat configuration.
"He is really going to be in for a surprise," remarked Jen.
"Cadet Jenny," interjected Shotlock. "I challenge you to a trial of grievance for being an agent provocateur in this matter."
Blood drained from Jen's face visibly, as she realised the implications of Shotlocks challenge. She had never been able to defeat the Star Commander in the field of battle before and she was not sure that using tactics as well as Mech configurations taught to her by Wolf would make much difference. Shotlock was the sort of warrior who adapted well to rapid changes in the battlefield. And her defeat could only bring added shame to herself and to those who believed in Wolf's methods.
"Prepare an Executioner in standard weapons configuration and a Timber Wolf MKII according to Cadet Jenny's configuration used in her simulator runs," said Shotlock to the same tech whom Argememnon had issued orders to earlier.
"Aff, Star Commander," acknowledged the tech.
Shotlock then turned toward the exist. But just as he was about to walk off, he hesitated and then turned to face Jen again. "On second thought, belay the second order. Allow Cadet Jenny to configure her MKII for battlefield simulation as she deems fit, as long as the configuration is not standard Legion configuration."
"Aff, Star Commander," acknowledged the tech, after which Shotlock turned toward the exit and left.
Jen looked utterly demoralised. "I am doomed," she said.
"No you are not," assured Juan. "We are better than them."
"You, maybe. Certainly not me," said Jen.
"What do you mean?" asked Juan. "Did you not just beat me in that last simulation run?"
"Aff," agreed Jen. "But I was fortunate and the terrain was almost entirely in my favour. The proving grounds are nothing like that terrain, and I certainly cannot rely purely on good fortune to defeat Star Commander Shotlock."
"Have faith, Jen," assured Juan. "Were we not the top two Cadets in our class when Wolf was our trainer?"
"Somehow that feels like a long time ago," said Jen.
Fifteen minutes later, Argamemnon, Shotlock, Juan and Jen were all at the Mech training launch bay, working up the chain ladders of their respective Mechs. Argamemnon and Shotlock were each piloting an Executioner equipped with an ERPPC, ER large laser, two ER medium laser, Clan UltraAC20, jump jets and electronic counter measures (ECM). Juan was piloting a Timber Wolf with Battle Cat configuration which was basically six ER medium lasers, four streak short range missiles 6 (SSRM6) launchers, two streak short range missile 4 (SSRM4) launchers and ECM - since the Executioners did not mount missile launchers, Juan substituted the laser anti-missile (LAM) system with a heatsink. Jen was piloting a Timber Wolf MKII and since she was at liberty to use whatever non-standard configuration she preferred, she equipped her MKII with four LRM20 launchers, one LRM10 launcher, Clan LBX20, Clan LBX10 and beagle active probe (BAP) - like Juan, she put in an extra heat sink in lieu of LAM.
When all them were securely in their respective cockpits, Argamemnon radioed for everyone to head for their respective "drop" zones. Once there, the trials of grievance would begin in earnest.
"All the best to you, Jen," said Juan over a direct laser communications channel with Jen.
"Thanks. I am going to need all the best that I can get today," replied Jen. "And you too," she added, almost as an after thought.
"Aff," replied Juan.
The proving grounds was a vast landscape of rolling hills with definitive peaks. While there were no deep gullies, there were miniature valleys that Mechs could hide in and the hills were ideal places for them to take cover. Argamemnon and Shotlock would use their range weapons to snipe at their respective opponents from behind the hills, whereas Juan and Jen would use the protective cover of the hills to get in close for short range combat.
Having reached their individual drop zones, they signalled the tech manning the battlefield simulation primary console of their situational readiness. In acknowledgement, the "All Systems Go" icon turned green on their HUDs.
As before, Juan switched off his radar to help mask his approach. He would turn his radar back on in order to use his streak missiles later.
Argamemnon and Shotlock also switched off their radar since they would do better without it when sniping. Jen, however, kept her radar at maximum sweep range in order to increase the chances of early detection of her opponent.
All four worked their way toward where they thought they would find their respective opponents. While the shortest distance between two points was a straight line, Juan kept his Timber Wolf running through as many mini-valleys as he could whilst being mindful of what could be behind each hill he passes by. Jen was also keeping to the mini-valleys but her lumbering MKII looked as though it was not going anywhere fast. Argamemnon and Shotlock kept to the hills as best as they could, making their move to the next hill only when they were satisfied that their respective opponents would not see them.
Juan made contact first, but he held off rushing forward until he was sure that it was Argamemnon. Using his Mech's laser identity verifier, he was able to determine, just before an Executioner disappeared behind a hill, that it was not Argamemnon but, instead, Shotlock. Juan contemplated warning Jen but before he could decide, his HUD fuzzed as his Timber Wolf rocked forward due to simulated rear hits from Argamemnon's ERPPC and ER large laser. Juan turned his Timber Wolf's torso quickly to visually detect where Argamemnon was firing from and spotted Argamemnon's Executioner as it was descending from its jump-snipe behind a hill it was hiding. "Big mistake," said Juan as he manoeuvred his Timber Wolf toward Argamemnon. In the time the Star Captain took to refill his jump-jets with plasma, Juan was able to cover a lot of distance by making a run for Argamemnon in the open. And by the time Argamemnon made the second pop-snipe jump, Juan was safely behind a nearby hill and there was only about 500 metres left between them.
At that point, Juan turned his radar back on to verify Argamemnon's position and, when it was confirmed, Juan broadcast his amusement over the general frequency with mocking laughter. He then continued to taunt Argamemnon by saying, "You pseudo warrior. You would have done better to sneak up on me from behind and used all of your weapons on me instead of sniping only with an ERPPC and large laser."
"Come get me, you Inner Sphere surat-loving scum!" countered Argamenon.
"Oh! I intend to," said Juan as he made a dash for the open space between himself and Argamemnon. And at 400 metres' distance, Juan exchanged fire with Argamemnon as the latter pop-sniped from behind the hill he was hiding.
The left torso of Juan's Timber Wolf turned deep red on the damage sensor for being hit by an ERPPC, ER large laser and two ER medium lasers. And while all six of Juan's ER medium lasers delivered a lot of damage to the centre torso of Argamenon's Executioner, the damage sensor only showed orange at that area. Only a few streak missiles made contact as Argamemnon descended behind the protective cover of the hill, and those that did, did not do much damage.
Juan pressed on despite the near critical damage to his Mech's left torso. He needed to get a clear shot at Argamemnon in order to use his streak missiles to maximum effect. And the opportunity came as he managed to clear the small hill Argamemnon was hiding behind around the right side. Again, Juan exchanged fire with Argamemnon but, this time, Juan's was far more devastating. All six of his ER medium lasers were concentrated on the centre torso of Argamemnon's Executioner, followed by streak missiles, most of which also made contact on the centre torso area. Almost instantly, that area turned deep red on the damage sensor indicating near critical damage. Juan's Timber Wolf fared better as Argamemnon could only level two ER medium lasers and an UltraAC20 at it, and they were aimed at the Timber Wolf's centre torso instead of its extensively damaged left torso.
Juan did not try to encircle Argamemnon, since he wanted another clear shot at the centre torso area of Argamemnon's Executioner. Although the risk was that his Timber Wolf would be hit critically at the damaged left torso area by the Argamemnon's ERPPC and large laser when they finished cycling, it was a calculated risk he was willing to take. So, Juan stood his ground and waited for his own weapons to cycle. Unfortunately, when Argamemnon fired his ERPPC and large laser, his aim was true.
"Warning! Damage critical," cried the overly concerned male voice of Juan's Timber Wolf onboard computer. One more hit there and the trial would be over.
"Come on!" shouted Juan impatiently for his weapons to finish cycling. And when they did, he fired. No fiery explosions ensued as all his weapons made contact with the centre torso area of Argamemnon's Executioner. Instead, the Executioner merely slumped and fell down the side of the hill, simulating the effects of a destroyed Mech.
"Damn you!" cried Argamemnon over the general frequency.
With an audible sigh, Juan slumped in his Mech's cockpit seat. The air in his cockpit, raised almost unbearably high by the simulated heat waste, burned his lungs and stung his skin. After swallowing to moisten his throat, Juan responded over the general frequency, "The student is now the Master," after which he powered down his Mech to cool it more rapidly.
Meanwhile, the trial of grievance between Shotlock and Jen was far from over. Shotlock's Executioner was considerably faster than Jen's MKII and, so, he has been able to stay out of range of Jen's short range weapons. Shotlock has also been able to avoid giving Jen a lock for her LRMs for the most part, and when a lock was obtained, he would quickly manoeuvre behind a hill in order to avoid the full impact of Jen's LRMs. As Shotlock manoeuvred his Executioner away from the hill he had been pop-sniping from, he asked over the private frequency he had been using to communicate with Jen, "Why is it that you rebel so?"
"Because conformity with 'tried and true' Legion battle doctrine is senseless when it has reached its limits," answered Jen in a way she thought Wolf would answer.
"Ahh, you echo your former trainer," remarked Shotlock. "But you forget, that he had served under me and, therefore, I know him better than you."
"Do you, really, Star Commander?" Jen asked sceptically. "Do you also know of his conviction that the primary reason for the Clans' defeat in our first jihad against the Inner Sphere to reclaim Terra was our arrogant belief in our ways?"
"More that you know," replied Shotlock.
"Which is why you are the most adaptive traditionalist warrior in our Clan," acknowledged Jen.
"Huh!" snorted Shotlock. "Flattery is not going to win you this trial."
"It is merely an observation, Star Commander," assured Jen. "More importantly, just how many have been able to reach your fighting standards?"
"That is not relevant," countered Shotlock.
"Neg, it is poignant," said Jen. "How many 'Shotlocks' are there in our Clan, Star Commander? Too few, for I can count them with the fingers on my hands." After a short pause, Jen continued, "One of them is my sibkin, Juan, who has defeated Star Captain Argamemnon whom you have been so loyal to."
"My loyalty is not in contention, Cadet", said Shotlock flatly.
"Aff, perhaps you are right. We all must do the best to follow the chain of command," acknowledge Jen. "Nonetheless, for those of us who are not 'Shotlocks', we need something more." Before she could continue elaborating, her radar bleeped, warning her that Shotlock had somehow manoeuvred his Executioner to her rear, and before she could turn her MKII to face him, her HUD fuzzed as her Mech rocked forward simulating a simultaneous hit from an ERPPC and ER large laser. Her damage display showed that her rear armour was almost gone. And almost, as soon as he appeared, Shotlock vanished from her radar.
"Star Commander, it is perhaps destined that a warrior like myself will never be as good as you, but warriors like me outnumber warriors like you greatly," said Jen, pleading her case as best as she could from a different angle. "And if you force us to fight like you when we cannot, our Clan will meet an untimely end."
Shotlock did not respond. And the silence between them stretched uncomfortably.
However, just when Jen was about to resign her fate to an unbending opponent, Shotlock said, "Meet me at NAV Centre."
"Aff, Star Commander," Jen replied as she turned her MKII in that direction.
NAV Centre was a small clearing in the middle of the proving grounds. Although it was not entirely flat grounds, it had fewer hills, many of which could ill afford much cover to a sniper mech. It was the sort of terrain that Jen's MKII was fitted for. As she reached NAV Centre, Shotlock's Executioner appeared on her radar and within LRM range.
"Show me," ordered Shotlock.
"Aff, Star Commander," Jen replied. And with that, she obtained a target lock on Shotlock's Executioner and fired her LRMs.
Moving sideways and then firing off his jump jets, Shotlock did what every sniper jock was trained to do when fired upon with LRMs. The manoeuvre would cause many of the LRMs to miss as they would have difficulty changing course to compensate for their target moving in several directions at once. And at the apex of his jump Shotlock fired off his ERPPC and ER large laser just before Jen's LRM duds could throw off his aim in simulated hits.
Jen's HUD fuzzed again as her Mech rocked backwards by Shotlock's simulated hits, but at this rate and, on this sort of terrain, Jen would wither Shotlock's Mech down if he kept his distance. So, as expected, she saw Shotlock closing the distance between them in order to employ all of his weapons. This, however, also gave Jen the opportunity to use her LBX weapons. As soon as Shotlock came within range, she fired them at the same time Shotlock fired all of his.
The damage on both their Mechs were extensive but Jen's MKII damage sensor showed it as suffering worse damage than Shotlock's Executioner. Nevertheless, she stood her ground and braced herself for another round of punishment while she waited for her LBX weapons to finish cycling and her LRMs to achieve target lock.
To her surprise, Shotlock did not try to encircle her. Instead, he came straight at her and fired off his jump jets. Jen shrieked at the terrifying sight of an airborne 95 ton Mech lining up itself to land on her cockpit. And in her terror, she fumbled for the throttle in her desperate attempt to move her Mech aside, but anything she tried would have been too little, too late anyway. In an amazing display of skill, Shotlock landed the feet of his Executioner not on her MKII cockpit but on its boxy LRM launchers, ripping them off with such brute force that her MKII was thrown forward and crashed.
The impact of the crash jarred almost every bone in Jen's body and the restraints that held her in her cockpit seat bit deeply into her flesh, but she hardly felt the pain, since the extra adrenaline pumping through her veins as a result of sheer terror had numbed her considerably. "Get up! Get up!" Jen yelled at her MKII as she rocked it, so that it would be able to collect its spindly feet into a position that would allow it to get up. At this point, Jen knew that the trial was as good as over, for all it would take for Shotlock to finish her off was a shot at her already weakened rear. Nevertheless, Jen was determined to show that she would never give up willingly.
Having brought her MKII upright, she quickly turned it to face Shotlock's Executioner. But just as she was about to fire her LBX weapons, Shotlock warned, "I would not do that, if I were you," giving her reason to pause.
"Why is that?" Jen asked.
"You have proven your point, Cadet Jenny," said Shotlock. "So, let us not over do it."
Surprised, Jen asked, "H-How? How have I proven my point? By being so thoroughly shamed?"
With a touch of laughter, Shotlock replied, "Under more favourable circumstance, your MKII would have ruled the battlefield."
"I do not understand," declared Jen.
"Come, come, Cadet Jenny," said Shotlock in mock disappointment. "While you may not be as skilled a warrior as I had hoped, you exhibit remarkable analytical ability. Can you not figure it out for yourself?"
Jen did not reply, although she was beginning the see what Shotlock was getting at.
"Well, let me explain it to you then," Shotlock continued. "When used along with fast attack Mechs, your MKII would be the most annoying, most destructive Mech because it is heavily armoured and armed with LRMs. And your LBX guns would be enough to keep most fast attack Mech jocks worried. These were the sort of things the Inner Sphere surats used against us and the only reasons why they did not defeat us entirely was our ability to adapt and our superior weaponry."
"But what if they had our fighting skills and weaponry?" asked Jen.
"Exactly," replied Shotlock. And with that, he turned his Executioner around and headed in the general direction of the Mech bay.
"Woo-hoo!!" Jen whooped in excitement as she realised what she had accomplished. If a conservative Mech jock like Shotlock could see her point of view, there would be hope yet. "Wolf, wherever you are, I love you," she said aloud.
"I heard that," said Shotlock.
"Ahem!" Jen cleared her throat in embarrassment. "My apologies, Star Commander," said Jen trying to sound serious and professional. Then, she quickly turned off her cockpit communicator.
Several hundred light years away, Wolf was making his way to the ready room of the Captain of the Space Urchin Queen. He had been summoned on a moment's notice and was all too grateful for it, as he had been pulling double duty scrubbing plasma manifolds. Upon reaching the entrance to the ready room, Wolf knocked.
"Come!" answered Captain Nasser, after which Wolf opened the door, entered and closed the door behind him securely. Then he stood at attention.
"Ahh... MechWarrior Wolf," acknowledged Nasser. "I trust that the life of a Tech 3rd Class agrees with you."
"Quite frankly Captain, it does not," replied Wolf with a touch of anger in his voice.
"At ease, Wolf," said Nasser, upon which Wolf stood easy. "Well, if you are going to masquerade as a Tech 3rd Class, you might as well make the best of your role."
"Aff," acknowledged Wolf. "But making me pull double duty to scrub plasma manifolds is nothing short of exploitation."
"Haa! Ha!" laughed Nasser heartily. "The Space Urchin Queen is an old merchant ship. It needs a good scrubbing," continued Nasser with a wide smile.
"Indeed," agreed Wolf. "I'm surprised, I mean, I am surprised that it is still in service."
"Ho! Ho!" Nasser laughed at Wolf's use of a contraction. But sensing Wolf's discomfort, Nasser assured, "Don't worry about it, Wolf. The faster you ease into your role as a Tech fully, the better for you."
Turning to squeeze some ice cool water into a drinking container for Wolf, Nasser continued, "This old ship is just the thing to slip in and out of Clan Jade Falcon territory without attracting too much attention. That is why Voltage keeps it and an old solahma Star Captain like me around." Nasser then passed the container to Wolf, who accepted it appreciatively.
"I am curious," said Wolf, after drinking half the water in the container. "Why do they tolerate our presence? I mean, why allow us to have an outpost in the Damien Asteroid Cluster which is right beside their invasion corridor?"
"Well, it is a small token of appreciation for our Clan lending a helping hand during the jihad against the Inner Sphere for Terra," replied Nasser. "And we help supply them with all the quadrolithium crystals they need almost for free."
Wolf nodded in acknowledgement. Quadrolithium crystals produced by a mine such as the Dreaded Legion mining outpost in the Damien Asteroid Cluster were necessary as catalyst for Mech fusion reactors. Without them, the reactors would need far greater amounts of radioactive materials, which, in turn, made the risk of each reactor meltdown equivalent to a nuclear explosion that could level a small city.
"Do they know that we are also smuggling Inner Sphere technology and covert operatives?" asked Wolf.
"Well, I'm sure they suspect as much," answered Nasser, "But we've been careful not to draw too much attention. Besides, as soon as we suspect that they are on to us, we vary our jump points. There are just too many pirate points in the cluster for the damn Jade Falcons to patrol without committing a whole lot of resources. And there are a few that they don't even know of."
Wolf nodded further while drawing a mental picture of the Damien Asteroid Cluster and its many gravity anomaly phenomena in his head. After a short pause, he remarked, "Well, I am sure you did not ask me to your ready room for an intellectual exchange."
"Indeed, Wolf," Nasser responded. "This coded transmission arrived half an hour ago," continued Nasser while putting the message on the wall display. "It's from an old friend of yours, Star Colonel Darkstalker, and all it needs is your verification."
Wolf looked at the display eagerly.
"I'll leave you to it," said Nasser, and with that, the aged Star Captain left Wolf alone in the ready room.
Wolf walked over to Nasser's desk, set his drinking container into a holder on the desk and keyed in his authentication code using Nasser's embedded desk keyboard. Almost instantly, the message decrypted into "Eyes Only", followed shortly by the image of a smiling Darkstalker.
"Greetings Wolf," said Darkstalker. "Attached is an update of your contacts at the Damien Mining Colony. I hope all is going well. Our Clan's rebirth draws near." Then, the display showed lines of text and pictures of Wolf's contacts. He committed everything to memory, turned the display off, effectively erasing the coded transmission, and then left the ready room.
As Wolf stepped out, he caught Tech 3rd Class Charlotte standing idly in the corridor looking at him. Wolf hesitated and then made for the direction opposite from Charlotte but stopped in his tracks when she asked, "What were you doing alone in the old man's quarters?"
"I...uh... I was fixing his PC," replied Wolf as he turned to face her.
"Like he doesn't have enough repair techs of his own on this tub to have a look at his PC?" asked Charlotte sceptically.
"Well, I am a tech of the Scientist Cast even though I am a mere 3rd Class," replied Wolf. "And that makes you automatically superior to us Merchant Cast techs?" retorted Charlotte, as she closed the distance between them. "Careful, Tech 3rd Class Grinner. That's exactly the kind of attitude that would get you into trouble with Chief Tech Ramirez."
"I am not looking for trouble, girl," said Wolf. "I just do what I am told."
"Do what you're told? Well, let me tell you this," said Charlotte. "I don't know what you were doing alone in the old man's room, but I'm willing to forget I ever saw you coming out of it if you'd buy me lunch," added Charlotte with a coy smile.
"Is that all?" asked Wolf.
"No, but it's a start," replied Charlotte. She then grabbed Wolf by the collar and gave him a light peck on the lips. Slipping a hand into Wolf's, she pulled him toward the direction of the ship's small, dank cafeteria and said, "I'm famished."
When they both reached the cafeteria, they saw that it was filled almost to the brim with off-duty techs and labourer cast crew.
"Come on," said Charlotte while pulling Wolf along. "I'm sure my girlfriends would love to have you for lunch too."
When they reached a table crowded with girly-techs, Charlotte announced, "Look what I brought for you girls. Make room, make room." She then plonked Wolf into a seat at the table filled with giggling girls.
"Tell me, Tech 3rd Class Grinner. What's it like working with MechWarriors," asked one girly-tech in between giggles.
"Yeah, Grinner," said another. "Tell us what it's like. You ever got lucky with one of them lady MechWarriors?"
"What do you mean by 'lady'?" remarked yet another giggling girly-tech. "I bet those testosterone filled, frigid women don't even know how to please a man," she continued sparking female shrieks and laughter of the sort that was meant to attract attention to themselves.
At that point, Wolf's memory of Jen flashed through his head. "I hardly think that they are frigid," said Wolf, sparking 'oohs!' and even more shrieks and laughter among the girls.
"So, you have been lucky," said Charlotte.
"Well," Wolf began to explain, but before he could say anything further, he felt a heavy hand land on his left shoulder and then he was yanked out of his seat. The hand did not let go. So, Wolf grabbed it to steady himself on his feet.
The person who grabbed Wolf was a barrel-chested tech about eight inches taller than Wolf. And his face was grimy with dirt and sweat, and his teeth were a sickly yellow.
"Let him go, Space Hog!" screamed one of the girls.
"Yeah! Let him go," the other girls yelled.
"I'm sick of this piece of shit," said Space Hog. "Ever since you came on board, the girls haven't even given us the time of day."
"Like we ever did," said a few of the girls in response.
"Shut the hell up, Carla!" said Space Hog. "You and me have had a few nights, so don't go denying things."
"You and Space Hog?" Charlotte asked Carla in disbelief. "Eeeewwww!"
Space Hog then gave Wolf a hard punch in the stomach and let go, causing Wolf to crumple into a foetal position in sheer agony as he was thrown back against a bulkhead. Wolf tried to deflect the blow as best as he could but Space Hog was just too strong.
Wolf's pain then turned to rage. But just as it was about to boil over, a deep voice bellowed, "What the hell is going on here?!" It was Chief Tech Ramirez.
"Space Hog!" yelled the girls. "It was Space Hog!"
"Not me Chief," said Space Hog while feigning innocence with an exaggerated expression of sincerity on his face. "It was that damn trouble maker over there."
"Grinner! Report to engineering," said Ramirez. "You're on the next shift for plasma manifold scrubbing duty."
"Hey! That's not fair," protested the girls in the midst of cheerful approval by most of the male techs and labourer cast crew.
"Quiet all of you!" ordered Ramirez. He then walked over to Wolf, grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him out of the crowded cafeteria.
After a short distance away, Ramirez allowed Wolf to regain his feet beneath him in the zero-gravity environment by firmly placing his magnetic boots on the deck plating. With a stubby finger stabbed in Wolf's direction, Ramirez then said, "Now listen, you. If I hadn't come by to break up that fight, you'd be dead. I don't care how long you've been serving with MechWarriors. You're not a MechWarrior. So, stop behaving like you're special."
"Chief, I am not putting on an act," pleaded Wolf.
"Just listen to yourself," said Ramirez. "'I am not', you said. Techs only talk like that with warriors."
"It's been so long, it's a hard habit to break, Chief," said Wolf.
"Well get over it!" said Ramirez angrily. "And you'd better learn to make friends and I don't mean with the girls."
"Roger that, Chief," acknowledged Wolf. And with that, Ramirez left him. After the Chief Tech had turned the corner, Wolf said, "I can't wait to get off this damn ship," and headed toward engineering.

Chapter 6: The Crossover

Chapter 7: Rebirth

Chapter 8: The Gladiators

Chapter 9: Here be Pirates

Chapter 10: The Good Fight

Chapter 11: Price of Freedom

Chapter 12: Heart and Soul

Chapter 13: End Game