DRASCTIS 3

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=Die Rettungsaktion - A Story of the Concertverse Inner Sphere - Chapter 3 -=
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=== Understanding Enemy's Motivation ===
Marian Hegemony Armed Forces HQ
City of Sutlej, Bolan
Principality of Bolan/Marian Occupation Zone
14 February 3034
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The tension among Yassin's officers was oppressive. All expectations had been the fall of the last Bolanese pockets by this time, but the Arcadians' forceful intervention had thrown the entire timetable to hell. The six BattleMech regiments and assorted support formations were all line formations, a massive force by the standards of the fighting the legions had known, and his loss figures showed it. Whatever edge in experience his troops enjoyed, it wasn't enough to overcome the enemy's numbers.
 
The two figures Yassin had most to be considered with were the legionary prefects. Felix Khan of V Legio knew he commanded a crack formation and never let Yassin forget it. His troops were giving as good as they'd gotten in most cases, but even they were having trouble dealing with the quick raids of the Arcadian Rangers and the flanking maneuvers of the Proctor Light Horse regiments and their advanced machines. The Arcadian Guards had likewise repulsed Khan's every attempt to break into the "liberation zone". His frustration with this state of affairs, with a legion that had previously conquered all before it, was palpable.
 
Prefect Marcellina Scipio showed a better temper. Her all-'Mech VI Legio was used to playing flank guard and dealing with tactical frustrations, and her losses were noticeably heavier. But her troops had yet to break, only bend.
 
If only we had another frontline legion, we could crack the Arcadian defenses. But the Gladiator Auxilia is a broken mess and barely holding the line.
 
"The enemy's First BattleMech Regiment continues heavy probes along the M6," Scipio noted, motioning to the road linking Sutlej to Bolan City. "The auxilia armor and infantry hold them well enough but my cohorts will be needed if they launch a stronger strike."
 
"That would pull you from my legion's flank and give the foe the position to advance on Mumbai," Khan replied. "I need the Sixth's cohorts where they are!"
 
"And if the enemy strikes directly here? The distance is great but their aerospace power and fast regiments make it a serious threat."
 
So it does. Yassin considered the map carefully. Other data came up as he cycled it over. "They continue to move DropShips in and out daily, it seems. The Navy is cautious, they fear trying to engage the enemy fleet for its size no matter how it divides."
 
"A reasonable fear given the disparity. If only the Hegemony's WarShip program were further advanced, or our allies' fleet was here." Khan lamented.
 
"They are not. Still, this traffic is too heavy to be for military supplies. If this were an invasion, perhaps, but the Arcadians would be pressing us harder."
 
"My legion's attacks keep them on the backfoot, and they are timid."
 
Khan's boast was appealing, but Yassin wasn't sure. "Perhaps they have another strategic goal. Look at how much they invested into recovering Princess Gita and her family. And their operations have been about holding roads and running convoys of civilians to their LZs. Could they be evacuating the populace?"
 
"Six BattleMech regiments for an evacuation?!"
 
For a time none answered Scipio's heated question, but a new voice spoke up. "Makes sense to me."
 
Yassin and his legionary commanders turned to the presence they'd chosen to ignore until now. "Do you have something to share, Legate Avery?"
 
Dashel nodded. Yassin noted the gladiator's cool expression. He wasn't afraid to speak among his betters, but he wasn't being intentionally obtrusive either, and was undoubtedly aware that he was only here because his commander could not be. His legion had no true prefect as CO, just the ceremonial appointment of Solaris stable owner and entertainment mogul Richard "Dick" Cox. Tribunus Flava ran his formation and was still in the infirmary. Useful, not stupid. At least he has that. Surprising for a Canopian.
 
"I'm pretty sure the Hegemony outlawed it on censorship grounds, but I saw the new holovid about the Arcadians' founding," Dash said. "House Proctor was founded by an escaped slave, Sara Proctor. She raised an army, overthrew her master, and took her world over to free all the slaves. The Free March formed around her and that whole story. So, you ask me, it actually fits that they're here to free captives and spirit them off so you can't make slaves of them. Fits their worldview and it sends the Hegemony a message that someone's ready to fight back."
 
Scipio's expression curled in disgust. "An entire interstellar ruling house built by a slave? The notion turns my stomach! What kind of wretches didn't put her in her place?!"
 
Legate Avery said nothing, but Yassin could see the sliver of contempt in his facial expression. He wasn't a supporter of the Hegemony's system either. But he was a Canopian and that was to be expected.
 
"Prefect Scipio." Yassin turned to her. "Pull your cohorts towards the M6 highway."
 
"Praetor!"
 
He turned his head towards Khan at the V Legio commander's angry protest. "Yes. I know it will expose your flank. And that's what I want. Let the Arcadians see the way to Mumbai clear. Let them send a force towards the city." He nodded back to Scipio. "And when they do, you will turn and strike their flank while the Fifth comes around their front and rear. We will catch them in a trap and destroy them."
 
The recognition of the merit of his plan showed in the eyes of both legionary COs. It is time the Arcadians learn the mettle of the legions of the New Rome, Yassin thought with satisfaction.
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=== Mistakes on the Battlefield ===
Marathi Ridge
Near Mumbai, Bolan
Principality of Bolan/Marian Occupation Zone
16 February 3034
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After two and a half weeks of heavy fighting, something was bound to go wrong for the Arcadian forces. It was Prince Mark's misfortune that it came down on his unit.
 
The 1st Free March Cavalry Brigade's charge on Mumbai to open up an evacuation route won initial successes, driving back elements of the Marians' Legio V to approach within twenty kilometers of the city. It was only as they got into the outskirts that the Marian plan became evident. Legio VI and elements of what was left of the Gladiator regiments counter-attacked on the flanks of their advance. Now the First Launum Armored Cavalry were fighting desperately to keep contact with the vanguard formation, the Hyde Lancers.
The fighting was especially fiercest with Mark's company. While their air cavalry formations and aerospace support fought over their heads, his unit was busy trying to hold the Marathi Ridge's northern face against numerically-superior Marian troops. BattleMechs and tanks provided cover for the Marian infantry trying to get in close with their satchel charges and man-portable Inferno SRMs. The battle armor company assigned to back up the First LAC fought them off as best as they could, but between the artillery shells and the fire from the 'Mechs and tanks, they were taking losses they couldn't sustain.
Mark's focus was on the enemy armor and 'Mechs, directing his lance's fire as best as he could. Vickers' Centurion's long range missiles battered a Marian Manticore Heavy Tank with the cooperation of the autocannon and long range missiles from Neumeyer's Shadow Hawk. Selassie's Crab let loose a fusillade of laser fire on a Marian Assassin drawing too close. Mark brought his crosshairs over and triggered a full strike on the 'Mech from his Fusilier's weaponry. Autocannon shells tore into the machine's shoulder while the ruby beam of his left arm's laser narrowly missed the head.
The torso-mounted weapons hit home, the other medium laser and the PPC catching the Assassin in the knee. The pilot tried to catch himself, but couldn't stop the 'Mech from toppling over. Before he could rise Selassie and Vickers pumped laser fire and an autocannon burst into the machine's thinner rear armor. Fusion plasma briefly surged from within, signaling an engine hit, before ceasing. The 'Mech stopped moving.
 
The Manticore fired its PPC… and the cerulean blast went clear through Vickers' cockpit.
Mark's heart froze. His comrade was dead. Just… gone. Like that. Inside there would be nothing but some carbonized muscle and bone.
 
His 'Mech shook from the impacts of missiles. The Manticore fired some of them, but the others came from a Centurion coming up with the rest of its lance and a fresh platoon of Marian armor. Mark checked for his side. "Bravo Lance here, enemy reinforcements, artillery support requested."
 
"Already denied," Captain Harrow said. "Hold, Lieutenant. If we get pushed back the Hyde Lancers won't make it out."
 
"Everyone, fire for effect, starting with that damned Manticore!"
 
The lance heeded the order. Autocannon shells, long range missiles, and laser fire lashed out at the machine until its front plate disintegrated. Mark's PPC blew through the remaining structure and gave its crew the same terrible end that Lieutenant Vickers received.
 
The medium lance of Marian 'Mechs returned fire with vigor, scoring several hits on all three machines. Beneath their notice, the Marian infantry was coming up on the ridge line, a number of them already preparing their SRM launchers while another set up a recoilless rifle. The battle armored troops from both sides met in a fierce collision, ensuring neither could aid the 'Mechs or stop the infantry.
 
If only one of the anti-infantry lances were here, he thought, bringing his lasers down toward the ground. A flash of ruby left two dead Marians and a destroyed rifle. A second flash caught a trooper about to lug his Inferno launcher onto his shoulder.
 
But there were more, and their missiles started firing. A few missed, but those that hit left burning napalm on the surface of Selassie's Crab, the heat of the chemicals in the payload certain to make the 'Mech unable to maintain its firing rate. Until the fuel of the reaction was consumed, the Crab was going to burn.
 
His 'Mech stuttered as recoilless rifle rounds, armor-piercing ones, started chipping his armor away. Reflexively he triggered his PPC at one of the groups, killing an entire squad with the shot.
 
Only then did he realize his mistake. Or rather, his mistakes.
 
While his comrades kept up with his orders, the firepower they had to bear only resulted in a hobbled Vindicator, and the other 'Mechs were now in close range. Had he joined them, more damage might've kept them back. That was mistake one.
 
Mistake two was not recognizing the lack of medium laser ports on the Centurion.
 
Now that it had the range, its autocannon arm came up and fired. Mark moved his machine to evade with no avail; the Marian pilot's aim was still true. Powerful shells ripped through armor and tore some of the guts out of his PPC, rendering the weapon inoperable. He switched his autocannon to its expanded burst fire mode and pulled the trigger.
 
Nothing.
 
He noted the red light on his status screens. Ammunition jam!
 
"All lances, pull back!" Harrow ordered over the line. "Artillery strike inbound!"
"Pull back!" Mark shouted, sending his comrades and their supporting forces back over the top of the ridge. Still aflame, Selassie's Crab made it first, another recoilless rifle shot striking it in the shoulder as it got over the ridge line. Neumeyer's Shadow Hawk jumped into the air, flying backward with lasers and missiles firing even in mid-air as harassment fire more than effective shots.
 
That left his machine. He backed it up, firing his medium lasers again and again at the Centurion with its menacing heavy autocannon. Laser fire melted armor from his machine's torso as he did, but his armor held against them. He felt the Fusilier's feet crest the ridgeline and took a step down.
The Centurion's autocannon fired again.
 
The shells tore through the weakened armor on the Fusilier's leg and blasted the bone in two. Mark cried out in surprise as his 'Mech toppled over, a cripple with just one leg. The 'Mech being laid out on its back at least gave him the chance to shoot back, which he did as a speedy Assassin crested the ridge first. His lasers joined with Neumeyer's autocannon and Selassie's available lasers, melting scores of armor from the machine, but they hit nothing vital.
 
The incoming artillery strike did the rest. On the opposite side of the ridge explosion after explosion sent tremors through the earth, creating a wall of flame that Mark imagined could be a gate to Hell itself. The Assassin was caught from behind by anti-'Mech cluster rounds from the incoming artillery, blasting its weak rear armor and blowing the machine apart.
 
I hope the infantry got out too, Mark thought. I'm not sure what could survive—
 
An artillery shell went off overhead. For an instant there was a shower of glass and the feeling of sharp pain everywhere… and then nothing.
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=== Aftermath of Battle ===
Dropship AFMS Galatine
Arcadian Landing Zone
17 February 3034
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Major General Armstrong was not a happy woman.
 
The Mumbai operation was a disaster. The Marians sacrificed some of their garrison-quality units, and elements of what was left of their Gladiator regiments, to bring the bulk of both their main line legions down on the Free March Cavalry. Now the Hyde Lancers were virtually gone, with not even a company's worth of machines and pilots left, and the other battalions were so damaged they were effectively hors d'combat. Good for nothing but serving as walking wounded to help keep order for the evacuating civilians.
 
The presence of Admiral Andros was another matter of instinctive contention. As far as Armstrong was concerned, she should remain in space with her ships and leave the fighting to Armstrong and her staff, and having her come down for any reason felt like an intrusion by the Navy into Army matters.
 
The final reason for her unhappiness was why she couldn't blame Andros for her presence.
 
The two of them stood quietly in the tiny observation room for the Gallatine's surgical theater. Through the glass, Army surgeons were working feverishly to keep the March-Princess' son alive, with the outcome still uncertain.
 
"It was friendly fire?" Andros asked.
 
"An artillery round fell short," Armstrong said, her voice firm and subdued. "He was covering his lance's retreat and had his machine crippled, so he was not in the absolute safety zone. We also lost two squads of battle armor covering the retreat of their comrades."
 
"And now I have to report to the Command Staff what happened."
 
"War is chance. They'll understand," Armstrong said. "He's not the only man we've lost these last two days. The Marians have recovered their poise and fighting hard to keep us from getting into other cities. We're going to need to begin the withdrawal in the next two weeks to meet our timetable."
 
"We'll be ready to cover for you. The transports we sent back to Gypsum to unload the evacuees should be back by then."
 
"They'd better be, or we're going to have a tough situation."
 
"I've seen the tent cities and camps, I know. But we'll get them out. That's what we came here to do."
 
You mean my people will get them out, with their own blood and sweat, while your spacemen watch from beyond the killing. It was an unworthy thought, but a natural one. She wouldn't feel guilt over it. Although if those Marian warships get involved, the shoe will be on the other foot. Ha, that would serve me right, wouldn't it?
 
Quietly she turned her attention back to the theater, watching the operation unfold alongside Admiral Andros, and waiting to see if she would have to write a letter of condolence to the March-Princess herself.
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DRASCTIS 3