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

Chapter 6: The Crossover
"Unidentified Kappa Class freighter," said Star Commander Hawk, "you are in violation of Clan Jade Falcon space. Heave to and prepare to be boarded."
No response.
"I repeat," stressed Hawk. "Heave to and prepare to be boarded."
Still no response.
"Star Commander?" asked Zeus, Elemental commander of the boarding team.
"You are good to go," responded Hawk. "Take prisoners, Lance Colonel. Use any means necessary. We need to know what in Kerensky's name is going on in this sector."
"Aff, Star Commander," replied Zeus.
"Disabling engines now," said Hawk, as he swooped in on the freighter from the rear with his Starwing fighter-interceptor. His wingman, Crow, followed his exact manoeuvre.
Lining up the freighter in his gun sights, Hawk opened fire with two ERPPCs and two ER large lasers, disabling the starboard engine, and pulled away. Crow then disabled the port engine and pulled away, cutting off the freighter's slow but steady pace of acceleration. And that was more than enough for the Elemental assault transport to catch up with the freighter and dock with it.
With practised efficiency, the assault transport pilot docked his craft with the freighter. A few seconds later, the Elemental assault team began cutting through the freighter's docking hatch with laser torches. Several minutes after that, seven Elementals boarded the transport in full armour and with weapons at ready. A brutal fire fight ensued, but whatever token resistance the freighter crew could offer was quickly put down.
The Jade Falcon Elementals then worked their way toward the freighter's bridge. Unfortunately, they could not gain access to it, as it was sealed tight behind a thick military-grade durasteel door, which had been reinforced further with ferro fibrous armour. Cutting through the door with laser torches would take several hours at best.
"Lance Colonel, there is an output spike from the freighter's main reactor," said Zues' second-in-command Lance Captain Lawry, after inspecting a readout from his arm-mounted scanner. "The freighter's self-destruct sequence has been initiated. Estimated time to reactor meltdown is 4 minutes."
"Star Commander, did you get that?" asked Zeus knowing that Hawk would be listening in. And to make the situation clearer for Hawk, Zeus explained, "We have a problem. The bridge is sealed tight and the freighter is set for self-destruct in less than four minutes."
"Get your men out of there, Lance Colonel," ordered Hawk. "And take as many prisoners with you as you can."
"Aff," replied Zeus. With a quick hand whirl in the air, he signalled for the other Elementals to evacuate. Along the way, they rounded up those who have surrendered as well as those who have been wounded in the fire fight.
The Jade Falcon Elemental assault team managed to disembarked with less than a minute to spare, suffering no casualties or injuries whatsoever.
"Jade Falcon assault team all accounted for," declared Zeus over the Jade Falcon frequency. "Plus eight prisoners - five wounded, two severely."
"Aff," acknowledged Hawk. "Now, let us put some distance between ourselves and that freighter."
Almost leisurely, the Elemental assault transport began moving away. And not a moment too soon, the freighter exploded with a brilliant flash, rocking everyone on the assault transport a little.
"Lance Colonel," said Hawk. "Please begin the interrogation process."
"With pleasure, Star Commander," replied Zeus.
Several thousand kilometres away, the Space Urchin Queen has finally reached the Dreaded Legion mining colony in the Damien Asteroid Cluster.
"This is Captain Nasser of the Space Urchin Queen," declared Nasser to the colony space traffic controller. "Requesting permission to dock."
"Permission denied," responded the traffic controller.
"I beg your pardon?" asked Nasser with incredulity clearly in his voice.
"Sorry Captain," said the traffic controller. "The Balls Buster colony is now under martial law due to a recent security breach by Jade Falcon infiltrators. I am transmitting Outpost Commander Orlando's coded message to you now. Priority One - Eyes Only."
Signalling his communications technician with the point of a finger, Nasser ordered for the coded message to be redirected to his ready room. Then, reaching for his public address system button on the armrest of his command chair, Nasser pressed it and, somewhat hesitantly, said, "MechWarrior Wolf, report to my ready room," resulting in a few surprised gasps from the bridge crew. Depressing the button, Nasser said to them, "Well, it appears that the cat is out of the bag, chaps and chapettes. So, let's just get on with the program, shall we?" And with that, he got up from his command chair and proceeded to his ready room.
Wolf was in engineering when Nasser called for him. Setting his tools aside, he quickly made his way to the exit.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" asked Space Hog in surprise.
"Exactly where the captain asked me too," replied Wolf without slowing his stride.
"What the...?" said Space Hog in shock.
About a few minutes later, Wolf was at the entrance to Nasser's ready room, knocking courteously on the open door.
"Come," responded Nasser.
Wolf entered and closed the door behind him.
"Now that the charade is over, can I have my own quarters?" asked Wolf without preamble.
"Later Wolf," answered Nasser. "We have more important things to discuss."
"Aff," acknowledged Wolf.
"About an hour or so ago, the Balls Buster colony received a distress call from a Kell Hounds Kappa class freighter," said Nasser. "That's the freighter that we were supposed to rendezvous with. The Old Nelly was boarded by Jade Falcon Elementals and in order to ensure that her secrets remained undiscovered, Captain Dwight activated her self-destruct mechanism.
We can only assume that most of her secrets blew up along with her. And I say 'most' because we must also assume that the Elementals managed to capture prisoners. It's only a matter of time before they put two and two together from the bits of information tortured out of those poor souls."
"Which means...?" asked Wolf
"Which means we now have to move quickly," continued Nasser. "The reason why the Space Urchin Queen was denied permission to dock was because the Balls Buster colony security managed to sniff out and kill a Jade Falcon spy. They don't know just how much information that spy managed to retrieve and send back to Jade Falcon Intelligence. And what's worse, her accomplice managed to give colony security the slip. Commander Orlando doesn't think that it is safe for us to dock and I agree."
"So, what now?" asked Wolf.
"Now, we rendezvous with a couple of fighter-interceptors stationed on a secret Legion base nearby and we proceed to one of the 'uncharted' pirate points for the cross over to Lyrian space, and hopefully into the arms of friendly Kell Hounds space forces," explained Nasser. "In the meanwhile, I'm assigning you new quarters."
"Thank you," said Wolf with a touch of relief.
"Take this," said Nasser as he handed over blue jump-suits to Wolf. "You and I are about the same size. Although they are Space Force blue, the jump-suits are more fitting of a warrior than that dirty yellow technician's jump-suit you're wearing right now."
"No kidding," said Wolf with dry laughter in his voice.
"Dinner is at 8.30pm," continued Nasser. "Don't be late."
"Aff, Star Captain," Wolf responded and then turned to leave.
A few hours later, Wolf made his way to the Captain's dining room. All cleaned up and dressed in a Space Force warrior's jump-suit, Wolf looked every bit the warrior that he was.
He had to pass through the dank cafeteria, and although it was filled to the brim, as usual, with off duty technicians and labourer cast personnel, it was deathly quiet. No one dared make eye contact with Wolf, not even Charlotte and the rest of her girlfriends. It was as though they all had suddenly realised their true place in the Clan hierarchy.
But just as Wolf was about to reach the Captain's dining room, Space Hog said, "Piece of shit."
Wolf stopped in his tracks. A light smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Unbuttoning the leather holster of his service auto-pistol, Wolf made it clear that he registered the insult as being directed at him.
Although generally, technicians who struck warriors would be severely punished, and warriors were allowed to retaliate with any means necessary, those who managed to defeat warriors in combat would be allowed to go free. And knowing the kind of person Space Hog was, Wolf was not about to let his guard down even for a second.
Slowly, Wolf turned and walked toward Space Hog who was sitting with his feet proudly propped on a cafeteria table.
"What did you say, freebirth?" asked Wolf, daring Space Hog to challenge him face to face.
Casually, Space Hog placed his feet firmly on the deck plating as though to get up and challenge Wolf to a fight. But then he hesitated and kept silent.
"That was what I thought," said Wolf in a self-satisfied and condescending sort of way. Wolf then walked a few steps backwards and slowly turned, careful to ensure that Space Hog would not jump at him from behind.
Upon reaching the Captain's dining room, Wolf knocked, entered and closed the dining room door behind him. Dinner had already been laid out on the Captain's table and the Star Captain was waiting patiently for Wolf to appear.
"You're late, MechWarrior Wolf," said Nasser.
"My apologies Star Captain," responded Wolf.
"Settling an old score?" asked Nasser.
"Sort of," answered Wolf, as he took his seat opposite of Nasser.
"They're a good bunch," continued Nasser. "A little rough, but good nonetheless."
"Are they?" asked Wolf with a note of scepticism.
"Yes or, rather, aff," said Nasser. "Shall we begin?"
"Aff, I'm famished or, rather, I am..." said Wolf correcting himself.
"Haa! Ha!" laughed Nasser out loud. "It can get rather confusing being around these lower casts, can it not? Which is why I've ceased to worry about not using contractions."
"It is very un-Clan-like," said Wolf.
"You think so?" asked Nasser. "You don't get around much, do you? Us Warriors are taught to believe that we are the ones who define what is 'Clan' and what is not, but if you have been around the lower casts as much as I have, you will realise that Clans are made up of more than what Warriors think a Clan should and should not be."
"And I thought that I was rebellious," said Wolf dryly in respect of Nasser's non-Warrior-like attitude.
"Aff, well, being confused may work to your advantage, Wolf," said Nasser, unperturbed. "After all, you're headed for the Inner Sphere. The more un-Clan-like you become, the better for you."
"Interesting food for thought," Wolf acknowledged in earnest. "No pun intended."
After that, neither Nasser nor Wolf said anything else of any real significance.
Several hours after dinner, and after a good night's rest, Wolf met up with Nasser on the bridge of the Space Urchin Queen. Walking up to the holographic three dimensional map that showed the scaled-down representation of the Space Urchin Queen and its virtual position in the Damien Asteroid Cluster, Wolf spotted something that surprised him. They looked like something Darkstalker had showed him once, way back when Wolf confessed to having a fascination for aerospace fighters.
"Whoa!" remarked Wolf. "Is that the fighter-interceptor wing we are supposed to rendezvous with?"
"Aff," answered Nasser.
"I thought we never got around to building those," said Wolf.
"Well, now you know where most of the credits we get from our mining trade has gone to," said Nasser.
"I heard they were jump capable. Is that true?" asked Wolf.
"Why don't you ask Wing Commander Siddiq of Stealth Wing Alpha yourself," said Nasser. Signalling to a communications tech, Nasser brought Siddiq on the main view screen.
"What can I do for you, Star Captain," said Siddiq.
"Siddiq, let me introduce MechWarrior Wolf. Wolf, Star Captain Siddiq," said Nasser.
Wolf snapped to attention and said, "Star Captain, it is an honour."
"At ease, MechWarrior," Siddiq said. "So, you are the valuable package we are delivering to the Kell Hounds."
"Aff," replied Wolf, as he stood easy.
"You had better be worth the effort, MechWarrior Wolf," added Siddiq.
"Yes he is, Siddiq," Nasser interjected.
"What would you know of it, old man?" asked Siddiq with a friendly smile. "Khan Voltage does not tell us enough to know with any degree of certainty."
"Well, so long as it keeps you flying in the cockpit, what do you care, 'old man'?" retorted Nasser.
"Haa! Ha!" laughed Siddiq good humouredly.
"Don't mind my sibkin, Wolf," said Nasser. "All the high Gs he's pulled has finally affected his senses, not to mention his old age."
Wolf could not help but smile at the exchange between the two aged Star Captains.
"Well, did you want to ask him something?" Nasser prompted Wolf.
"Aff," acknowledged Wolf. "Star Captain Siddiq, how is it that your fighter-interceptor can be jump capable?"
"I did not build it, Wolf. I just fly it," replied Siddiq, seeming a little bored by the question. "But I can tell you that the scaled-down Kearny-Fuchida drive each DX-1 is installed with is about the cost of your average dropship."
"So, it is not just quadrolithium crystals we are mining, quiaff?" asked Wolf.
"Very good, Wolf," remarked Nasser. "Which was why we were willing to give the Jade Falcons as much of the quadrolithium they wanted. And they thought they had the better end of the bargain," Nasser finished off with a little snigger.
"'Were' being the operative term," chipped in Siddiq.
"Yes," acknowledged Nasser. "Now they're on to us."
"It was just a matter of time before they found out," remarked Wolf.
"Indeed," affirmed Nasser. "And now they're wondering what else we could be transporting to and fro."
"Which is why you, MechWarrior Wolf, must never be caught," said Siddiq.
"No worries there, Star Captain," assured Wolf while tapping his service auto-pistol placed securely in its leather holster by his side. "One pull of the trigger and whatever valuable information stored in here is turned to goo," added Wolf while tapping the right temple of his head with a forefinger.
"Well, I am sure it will not come to that," responded Siddiq. "Not while Stealth Wing Alpha is here to cover all your behinds," added Siddiq with a self-confident smile. "Alpha 1, out," and the main view screen went blank.
"Arrogant bastard," remarked Nasser with a smile, but just as Nasser finished what he was saying, the view screen came back on again, showing Siddiq's cool, confident face.
"Long range sensors detect the presence of a Koreo Class jump ship along with eight fighter-interceptor escorts and what appears to be an Elemental assault transport riding piggyback," announced Siddiq.
"Our sensors detect nothing," remarked the bridge tech manning the Space Urchin Queen's sensors console.
"They wouldn't because we don't have the kind of range the DX-1 sensors have, you idiot," remarked Nasser irritably. "How long till they detect us?" Nasser asked Siddiq.
"At your current speed and trajectory, I would say in about 30 seconds," replied Siddiq.
Nasser took a few seconds to consider his options.
"Captain?" prompted Nasser's helmsman.
"Maintain your speed and course, helmsman," ordered Nasser. "They obviously know
where we're headed, somehow. Thanks for the heads-up, Siddiq."
"We will be close by," said Siddiq. "Alpha 1, out," and the main view screen went blank again.
Several seconds later, the sensor tech announced, "The Jade Falcon space force is within sensor range."
"And no doubt, they have detected us as well," remarked Nasser.
"Captain, we are being hailed," informed the communications tech.
"Onscreen," ordered Nasser after Wolf had moved out of sight.
"Identify yourself," ordered a stern looking Jade Falcon warrior from the cockpit of what appeared to be a Jade Falcon fighter-interceptor.
"There is no need for such hostility...Star Commander...?" said Nasser trailing off with a question.
"This is Star Commander Hawk of Clan Jade Falcon. I repeat, identify yourself."
"Why, I am Captain Nasser of the Dreaded Legion merchant ship Space Urchin Queen," declared Nasser.
"You are in restricted space," declared Hawk. "Heave to and prepared for inspection."
"My apologies, Star Commander," placated Nasser. "I did not realise we were so far off course. We have been having navigation difficulties due to equipment failure. This is an old ship. If you would kindly help point the way home for us, we would gladly be on our way."
"Neg," replied Hawk. "Heave to and prepare to be boarded."
Nasser signalled the communications tech to cut off communications, and the view screen went blank.
"Damn Jade Falcons," remarked Nasser. No way could he allow them to board the Space Urchin Queen, for they would confiscate anything that appeared even remotely suspicious, and that included encrypted files, ship logs, communication transcripts; not to mention that the Jade Falcons would detain everyone almost indefinitely or worse torture every crew member for any morsel of information that might prove useful. "Battle stations, bring out the auto-turrets and charge them," Nasser ordered.
Klaxons began blaring throughout the ship, prompting everyone to move quickly to their assigned battle stations, while retractable auto-turrets swung out from their concealed positions.
"Sir, we are being hailed again," announced the communications tech.
"Onscreen," ordered Nasser coolly.
"Captain, what kind of merchant ship carries military-grade auto-turrets?" asked Hawk cynically.
"The kind that keeps Jade Falcon scum at bay," answered Nasser. "And it is Star Captain to you."
"Well, 'Star Captain'," said Hawk exaggerating the importance of Nasser's rank by the mocking tone of his voice. "Prepare for death." And the view screen went blank.
"They are coming in fast," announced the sensor tech excitedly.
"Maintain your course but reduce your speed, helmsman," ordered Nasser.
"Aff, Star Captain," the helmsman responded.
"We don't want to look too eager," said Nasser.
"250 kilometres," announced the sensor technician.
Several seconds later, "150 kilometres," announced the tech. Two seconds later, "They've stopped or, rather, broken formation and appear to be flying in several directions and their strength is down from eight to six."
"Surprise, surprise," said Nasser in a pleased manner, as he walked over to the holographic 3D map to inspect the real-time data that was being displayed there.
"Stealth Wing Alpha," remarked Wolf.
"Yep," acknowledged Nasser. "Helmsman, make for the pirate point at best possible speed while keeping us as far away from the battle as possible."
"Aff, Star Captain," acknowledged the helmsman.
About 170 kilometres away, "What the freaking blazes was that?!" exclaimed Crow on the Jade Falcon frequency.
"Talon 1 to Talons 5 and 7, report!" ordered Hawk. There was no response.
"Talon 6, here," said Glen, sounding a little weak, as though injured. "Main systems are down. Sensors, down. I am flying on backup generators and directional thrusters only."
"Hang in there, Talon 6," said Hawk. "Did you see what hit you?"
"Neg," replied Glen. "Well, all I saw was a bright flash, followed by PPC static discharge."
"Our sensors should have detected something," said Crow in puzzlement. "Unless...."
"Advanced stealth fighters," Hawk finished off for Crow. "All Flights, vary your flight patterns and cover Talon 6 as best as...." But before Hawk could finish, Talon 6 went up in a ball of flames and shrapnel. "Damn it!" shouted Hawk in frustration. "Talon 8, form up on me," ordered Hawk. "2 Flight, head for the Space Urchin Queen but continue your weaving pattern. We will be right behind you."
"Aff," responded Flight Leader Justin.
"There! Can you see them?" asked Hawk as he spotted what appeared to be two advanced stealth fighters in pursuit of 2 Flight.
"Barely," responded Crow. "I cannot make out their forms and they are still not showing up on our sensors."
"How many can you see?" asked Hawk.
"I make two...." But before Crow could finish, there was a horribly loud explosion and his cockpit was engulfed in flames. Although Crow tried to scream his pain away, his throat was choked by his chest fluids bursting to come out as a result of explosive decompression.
"Break right!" Hawk ordered his remaining wingman.
"Jade Falcon pilots," announced a cool, confident voice over the Jade Falcon frequency. "This is Star Captain Haroon Siddiq, Wing Commander of Dreaded Legion Stealth Wing Alpha. You are out-classed and out-gunned. Stand down and live to fight another day," ordered Siddiq.
"Never!" shouted Hawk. "You cowards! You fight like Inner Sphere scum, sneaking up on us and opening fire unannounced. Have you no honour?!"
"My honour should be the least of your concerns, pup," replied Siddiq condescendingly. "I suggest you power down now, or join your friends as space debris."
"I would rather die than surrender to the likes of you," answered Hawk.
"So be it, pup. So be it," responded Siddiq as he fired off all six of his ERPPCs. Siddiq's shot nicked the main starboard wingtip of Hawk's Starwing fighter-interceptor, sheering the primary starboard stabilising thrusters off and causing Hawk to spin out of control.
"Stravag!" shouted Hawk. "Talon 8, cover 2 Flight as best as you can."
"What about you, Star Commander?" asked Hoiro who was Talon 8.
"I am already dead," declared Hawk as he fought to bring his fighter out of a lateral spin. "Now, go!!"
"Aff, Star Commander," responded Hoiro. No sooner did he break away from covering Hawk, ERPPC fire flashed by his cockpit, missing it only by a few bare centimetres. Weaving his Starwing fighter-interceptor madly, Hoiro tried desperately to catch up with 2 Flight and provide it with fire cover.
"80 kilometres to target," announced 2 Flight Leader Justin or Talon 3. "Stay with me, Talon 4,"
"Aff, as best as I can, Talon 3," acknowledged Silver. "But my rear stabilising thrusters are nearly gone and my wings are ripped to shreds. I do not how much longer I can keep this up."
"Arming Swarm Missile pods. 40 Kilometres to target...20 kilometres... 10... 750 metres, FIRING!" said Justin and, just as he did, Talon 4 took a large hit from ERPPC fire and burst into a ball of flames.
"Come on! Come on!" yelled Justin as though that would help his missile pods cycle faster. As soon as they did, he fired his swarm missiles off again. And no sooner than he did, ERPPCs punched through the fuselage of his Starwing fighter-interceptor triggering off system wide failures.
Fortunately, although his fighter-interceptor was on fire, it had not exploded yet. So, Justin did the only thing he could. He punched out. His entire cockpit module blasted away from his damaged fighter-interceptor and, a fraction of a second later, his fighter-interceptor exploded, sending his cockpit module tumbling end over end.
A large chunk of debris from Justin's destroyed fighter-interceptor smashed into the already damaged Space Urchin Queen and caused a minor breach on C-Deck, but that was the least of her captain's concerns. Although the Space Urchin Queen was heavily armed with auto-turrets, there were just too many swarm missiles to pick off. The unfortunate result was that most of them reached their intended target, which was the engineering deck, causing a massive breach there. The emergency magnetic atmospheric shield kicked in, preventing the engineering crew from being sucked into the hard vacuum of space. But the fire suppression system failed to kick in due to the heavy damage inflicted by the swarm missiles. As a result, many crewmen were either dead or dying, if not from the deadly explosive impact of the swarm missiles, then from the sheering heat from a ruptured secondary plasma conduit.
"Engineering, report!" ordered a clearly shaken Nasser. No response.
"Star Captain, reactor meltdown is in progress," announced a bridge crew manning the ship's damage control console.
"Fire and damage control crews, report!" ordered Nasser.
"We've reached the engineering bay hatch," reported Space Hog. "It won't budge. We're cutting through."
"We have a reactor meltdown in progress," informed Nasser. "Get in there, now!"
"We're working as fast as we can, Captain," responded Space Hog.
"I had better get to engineering, too," said Wolf.
"Wolf, it's dangerous down there," cautioned Nasser.
"I feel useless here. I know engineering. I have spent enough time there to be of real help," said Wolf as he launched himself toward the bridge's main hatch.
"Be careful, Wolf," cautioned Nasser further. "If you die, all this will be for nothing."
"Huh!" snorted Wolf. "If the reactor goes, we all die," said Wolf as he opened the main hatch and left.
Wolf took several minutes to put on a pressure suit and cover the distance between the bridge and the engineering deck on the 500 meter long Space Urchin Queen. By the time he got to the engineering deck hatch, the damage control crew had nearly finished cutting through. Smoke was seeping through the rants in the hatch where they had cut through, but that was the least of their problems.
"Damage control to Captain Nasser, we're about to finish cutting through," informed Space Hog. "We need to vent the atmosphere in the engineering deck to prevent a back draft."
"What about the injured?" asked Nasser.
"There's nothing we can do about them," answered Space Hog. "They're probably dead already from that ruptured secondary plasma conduit."
"Aff," responded Nasser. "Cut off the power to the magnetic atmospheric shield on engineering deck," Nasser instructed the tech manning the damage control console. "Damage control crew, secure yourselves. Secure secondary hatch."
"Secondary hatch secured, damage control crew ready," responded Space Hog. The engineering deck's main hatch burst inwards when the atmosphere there was vented into space. The only things that kept the crew, including Wolf, from being sucked into open space was the tensile strength tethers they all used to keep themselves in place.
"The fire is out, we're through," informed Space Hog as he and the rest of his crew started making their way onto the engineering deck.
"Reactivating the magnetic atmospheric shield but we won't be re-pressurising engineering deck," Nasser informed them.
"Affirmative," responded Space Hog.
Surveying the damage with a portable sensor, Space Hog determined that the console which automatically maintained the balance of quadrolithium and radioactive plasma was damaged beyond repair. That meant, the main reactor had to be shut down manually from two separate points using the manual overrides for the quadrolithium and the plasma injectors. Unfortunately, upon closer inspection, both manual override levers were found to be jammed tight due to intense heat.
"Team 1 on the plasma injector override, team 2 on the quadrolithium override," ordered Space Hog while working to free the plasma injector lever with brute force.
Wolf went over to the others on team 2 and helped them pry the quadrolithium override lever lose. Slowly and with brute force, the lever started to move. Several seconds later the quadrolithium supply was completely cut off.
Everyone on team 2 were visibly worn out because of the stifling heat of their pressure suits. Made for Merchant Cast personnel, the pressure suits were far inferior to those used by Warriors and Scientist Cast techs, but no one on team 2 could rest just yet. Team 1 was still having trouble with the primary plasma injector override. So, they slowly moved toward team 1 to lend their help.
Wolf felt like passing out. So, he hung back a little, took several deep breaths and shook his head a few times in order not to black out from the heat of his suit. Feeling slightly better, Wolf proceeded to walk toward team 1, but no sooner than he did, he saw an intensely bright flash and heard a horribly loud bang mixed with the groaning of twisted metal, and was thrown back against a bulkhead.
Wolf braced for the moment of his death as he thought that the ship's primary reactor had gone critical, but it never came. 'Am I dead?' Wolf asked himself. Forcing his eyes to open, he saw, through his fogged up face plate, dead mangled bodies and severed limbs. He could also see others who appeared to be alright but he could not tell whether they were dead or alive.
"Wolf! Are you alright?" Wolf heard Nasser say over the pressure suit helmet speakers.
'The override!' Wolf's inner-voice screamed. So, he tried to get back on his feet quickly but winced in pain and paused for a moment. From the familiarity of the pain, Wolf knew he had broken a few ribs.
"Wolf to bridge," said Wolf over the pressure suit's communications system. "I am... fine, but I need help immediately."
"On its way," responded Nasser.
Slowly, Wolf got on his feet and worked his way to the plasma injector override.
On the Space Urchin Queen's bridge, Nasser was yelling away at the ship's main view screen. "What the hell were you people doing out there?! You were supposed to keep them off our backs!"
"The Jade Falcon pilots were more determined than I expected," responded Siddiq coolly. "But we managed to get them all."
"Not before they nearly destroyed my ship!" shouted Nasser. "I have a reactor meltdown in progress, damn it!"
"Aff, that last Jade Falcon pilot was rather tricky. We almost did not get him in time," said Siddiq.
"Well, he just might succeed in killing us all anyway," retorted Nasser. "Engineering is shot to hell, and I've lost communication with most of the primary damage control crew."
Turning to the tech manning the damage status console, Nasser yelled, "Where the hell is my damage control backup team?!"
"They are making their way to Engineering, Captain," replied the tech. "They should be there is less than five minutes."
Down on Engineering deck, Wolf was trying with all his might to get the plasma injector manual override to budge, but with no success. He just was not strong enough to do it alone.
"Come on!" Wolf shouted, summoning whatever strength he had left in reserve as he tried yet again to move the lever.
Although there were other survivors, they appeared to be in a state of shock as a result of the hit from the last Jade Falcon fighter-interceptor. It blew out a tertiary plasma conduit, and while that was not enough to set the Engineering deck on fire again, the explosion was big enough to kill and maim those who were right next to the tertiary plasma conduit. The fact that the explosion did not blow out the primary plasma conduit was nothing short of a miracle.
Suddenly, a big hand landed on the lever next to Wolf's hands, much to Wolf's surprise and relief. It was Space Hog. Turning his head to face Space Hog, Wolf tried to communicate his sense of gratitude, but was taken aback by the mixture of pain and determination on Space Hog's face. Wolf then noticed that Space Hog's right arm had been severed just below the shoulder.
The only reason why Space Hog had not bled to death or died from decompression was because of the pressure suit's emergency tourniquet and breach sealant systems. Nothing, though, could be done about the pain, and it showed on Space Hog's face distinctly enough.
"Push harder, damn it!" Space Hog shouted at Wolf over the pressure suit's communications system.
"Arrrgh!" Wolf screamed, trying to block the pain of his broken ribs while pouring more of his own strength into moving the lever.
Slowly, but surely, the lever moved. And just as the override valve was two thirds closed, more hands joined in to help move the lever. The damage control backup team had arrived to help.
"Sokay, guys," said a reassuring voice over Wolf's helmet speakers. "We'll take it from here."
But Wolf and Space Hog did not ease off until the override valve had shut entirely and the lever stopped moving.
"You can let go now," said the reassuring voice, as gently as a metallic sounding voice could over the helmet speakers.
Looking at the face behind the voice, Wolf recognised it as being familiar, but could not put a name to it. He found it amusingly strange, considering that he had photographic memory and rarely forgot who was who. "Aah! It's 'cause I'm about to..." said Wolf out loud while falling sideways and then blacking out.
Back at the Space Urchin Queen's bridge, "Reactor stabilised, Captain," informed the damage sensor tech.
Hearing that, Nasser took a deep breath and sighed audibly in relief.
"How long will your repairs take, Nasser?" asked Siddiq who's helmeted talking head was projected onto the bridge's main view screen.
"We need at least two hours before we can refit Engineering with a main reactor replacement console," answered Nasser. "Till then, we're 'dead in the water'," added Nasser, using an ancient Terran phrase which meant that the Space Urchin Queen was not going anywhere.
"We have managed to destroy the Jade Falcon Elemental assault transport and chased away the Jade Falcon jump ship," informed Siddiq. "So, you should be safe till then."
"You have my gratitude and the gratitude of my crew," said Nasser with a curt nod.
"More importantly," continued Siddiq, "I have just received an encrypted communiqué from Legion Intelligence saying that a sizeable Jade Falcon space force is on its way to The Balls Buster colony. My orders are to return to base to prepare for an intercept mission to buy the colony time to evacuate."
"I see," responded Nasser. "I was hoping you'd be able to make the jump to Lyrian space with us. There's no telling what's waiting on the other side."
"I wish I could, old friend," said Siddiq. "But you are on your own."
"Aff," acknowledged Nasser. "Good hunting, Star Captain."
"Safe journey, Star Captain," replied Siddiq. "And take care of my bondsmen for me till our paths meet again," he added in reference to the captured Jade Falcon pilots. "They are outstanding pilots and, at the very least, they will help keep the plating on your decks squeaky clean."
"Oh! Don't worry," assured Nasser. "I've every intention of taking care of them, PERSONALLY; especially that arrogant bastard, Hawk."
About two hours later, and in the Space Urchin Queen's sickbay, Wolf woke up with a start. He unbuckled the restraint over his chest and tried to get up quickly but stopped midway when the pain from his broken ribs winded him.
"MechWarrior Wolf, you should not get up yet," said Medical Tech 2nd Class Tasha as she put her hands on his arm and shoulder in a bid to gently coax him to lie back down.
Refusing to give into the pain, Wolf continued to sit up. It was excruciating, but his training as a warrior simply would not let him ease back.
Gasping and clutching his busted ribs with his left hand, Wolf savoured his little victory as best as he could.
Clad in nothing more than his skin-clad MechWarrior shorts and the bandage wrapped around his ribcage, Wolf suddenly felt naked. And all he could think of next was returning to his quarters to get some clothes. So, Wolf unbuckled himself from the bed's restraints and started looking for his magnetic boots.
"MechWarrior Wolf," said Tasha gently as she held on to his hand. "You need to lie down."
Wolf snapped his head to face her and demanded, "Where are my boots?!" And just as he was about to add something nasty, he spotted Space Hog several beds away from his. Turning his head to face Tasha again, Wolf said coldly and in a menacing sort of way, "Do not make me repeat myself, Medical Tech Tasha."
"Yes, MechWarrior Wolf," replied Tasha with fear clearly in her eyes. "I will get them for you right away."
Wolf wished he did not have to be so unkind to someone as gentle and caring as Tasha but showing his displeasure was the fastest way of getting results from techs who were in awe of MechWarriors.
A moment later, Tasha returned with Wolf's boots. He took them and slipped them on.
Turning to face Tasha, Wolf softened his expression and said, "Thank you, Tasha."
Tasha merely nodded in response without making eye contact with Wolf.
Slowly, Wolf made his way to Space Hog's bedside. Space Hog had just undergone surgery to close up ruptured veins and remove shrapnel embedded in the stump which was all that was left of his severed right arm. And he was still unconscious.
"What will happen to him?" Wolf asked the sickbay medical techs in general.
Those who heard him looked puzzled and did not say anything in response.
"Will he be able to get a cybernetic arm?" asked Wolf further in clarification of his earlier question.
"I am afraid not," replied Tasha. "Cybernetic replacements are rare among Scientist Cast techs. We are Merchant Cast. It is unheard off."
Hearing that, Wolf made for the sickbay door and left.
Several minutes later, Wolf was at his quarters getting cleaned up. Looking at himself through the mirror attached to the cupboard, he noticed how dishevelled he looked.
'I need a shower and a shave,' he thought to himself and moved toward the refresher but stopped short.
"Create letter," Wolf instructed the PC in his quarters.
"Beep!" it acknowledge.
"To Star Captain Nasser," said Wolf.
"Beep!" acknowledged the PC.
"Subject heading 'Commendation for Valour and Recommendation for Cybernetic
Replacement Arm'," continued Wolf.
"Beep!" the PC acknowledged again.
"I, MechWarrior Wolf, commend the valour shown by Merchant Tech 1st Class Howard or better know as Space Hog during the reactor meltdown crisis on the Space Urchin Queen, today. Despite having his right arm blown off and suffering from severe pain, Howard continued to perform his duty unswervingly. Hence, I recommend strongly that a cybernetic replacement arm be provided to him at the first available opportunity. Sincerely, MechWarrior Wolf of Clan Dreaded Legion - end letter."
"Beep!" acknowledged the PC.
"Send letter," instructed Wolf.
"All hands, brace for jump in 1 minute," said a voice over the ship-wide public address system. The Space Urchin Queen was repaired enough that it could finally make her crossover to Lyrian space.
Interstellar jumps take almost no time at all. When a ship makes a jump, it simply vanishes from one point in the time-space continuum and reappears almost immediately in another. Still, the crew is informed because jumps cause momentary queasiness.
And in some cases, the effect can be so bad that the individuals affected would have to report to sickbay prior to each jump and need more than several minutes to recover from one. Fortunately, no one on the Space Urchin Queen suffered from that.
Slowly, Wolf stepped into the refresher and turned on the sonic shower. Gently and soothingly, the sweat and grime on his skin is removed.
"All hands, brace for jump," said the voice over the ship-wide public address system. And almost instantly, Wolf felt like he had lost his sense of balance but regained it a fraction of a second later.
Normally, Wolf would have simply shrugged the sensation off. But having been injured and under a lot of stress, he clutched his busted ribs, bent over and threw up. It was a good thing that he was in the confines of his refresher. And with the sonic shower turned on, his floating globules of vomit was quickly sucked away by the refresher unit's waste retrieval system.
But just when Wolf was starting to feel relieved, klaxons blared throughout the ship.
"All hands! Battle stations!" said the voice over the ship-wide public address system. "MechWarrior Wolf, report to the bridge at once."
Hearing that, Wolf turned off the sonic shower, scrambled for his jumpsuit, auto-pistol, belt and holster, and put them on hurriedly. About a minute later, he was out of his quarters and headed for the bridge.
On the Space Urchin Queen's bridge, Nasser paced the length of the bridge, weighing his options.
"Five Starwing fighter-interceptors, 250 kilometres out and closing," announced the bridge sensor tech.
Just then, Wolf entered.
"Star Captain?" inquired Wolf.
"We have hostile company on the way, Wolf," replied Nasser.
"Who?" asked Wolf.
"We don't quite know. Possibly Jade Falcon," informed Nasser.
"This far out?" Wolf asked.
"Probably a reconnaissance force," said Nasser.
Looking somewhat dejected, Wolf recalled his conversion with Khan Voltage, particularly the part about them both agreeing that this mission of his was a crazy long-shot. Slowly, Wolf unbuttoned his service auto-pistol holster and took out his auto-pistol. He cocked it once and turned the safety to off.
"That may not be necessary, Wolf," said Nasser. "I've set the ship for self- destruct. I'm just trying to lure them in closer so that we can take some of them with us when we go."
"I am not taking any chances, Star Captain," said Wolf.
But before Wolf could say more, the communications technician announced, "Star Captain, we are being hailed. Audio only."
"Open a channel," ordered Nasser.
"Kappa class freighter, identify yourself," said a voice over the communications system.
Nasser did not reply.
"Kappa class freighter, identify yourself or face hostile action," ordered the voice again.
"Bring out the auto-turrets," ordered Nasser. Let them see what we think of their threat."
A moment later, when the Space Urchin Queen's auto-turrets were fully deployed, the voice over the communications systems announced, "Kappa class freighter, know that warriors of Clan Wolf in Exile do not take kindly to threats. Prepare to be destroyed."
And with that the expressions on the faces of everyone on the bridge turned into a mixture of surprise and relief.
Immediately, Nasser pressed the com-switch on the armrest of his command chair and announced, "This is Dreaded Legion merchant ship Space Urchin Queen. We are standing down! I repeat, we are standing down!"
"Space Urchin Queen, this is Star Commander Nathan Ward of Clan Wolf in Exile. Welcome to the Inner Sphere."
"The Starwing fighter-interceptors are peeling off from their attack run!" announced the sensor technician excitedly and with that the bridge crew cheered. Nasser looked especially relieved and, in that instance, appeared aged beyond his years.
Wolf turned the safety of his auto-pistol back on and placed the sidearm back into its leather holster. He then walked over to Nasser, put a hand on Nasser's shoulder and said, "Thank you, Star Captain, and your crew, for getting me here."
Smiling appreciatively, Nasser said, "You are most welcome Wolf, you are most welcome."

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