BoTH Chpt 47

==Blood on the Horizon - Chapter 47 -==
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===Hot Drop down on a Forgotten World===
Location: unnamed system one jump away from Bethonolog, Magistracy of CanopusDate: April 25th, 3004
"Looks like we've got some Unions or Danais parked down there. Couple of Mules too," Victoria Jewel highlighted the egg-shaped DropShips that were parked down below. "We're going to want to ground those before our Canopian scavengers clear things out."
 
"Based on this telemetry it looks like it's an abandoned spaceport down there," Sheppard noted the surrounding buildings. "We'll have to assume that about half of these buildings will be occupied by the pirates."
 
"Tanks and infantry will drop in first," I finally spoke up. "They'll be the anchor that the 'Mechs use to prevent the DropShips from taking off. If you need air support, you'll get it. Same with artillery," I glanced at the spaceport. "Actually, belay that. We're going to hot drop our 'Mechs from here. They'll secure the spaceport while the vics and arty come in afterward."
 
"It's not a perfect plan," Sheppard shrugged. "But better a good plan executed violently now, than a perfect one next week."
 
"The goal is to take them by surprise and make sure they can't escape using their Dropships. Even if we're upset with the Canopians over the salvage rights, I'm not willing to let the pirates survive and keep preying on people."
 
"Well, we're not getting all of them," Peterson finally spoke up. "Whatever Jumpship they use isn't here."
 
"That's not our problem," I sighed. "Now get to your positions and get ready for a combat drop. We're going in hot."
 
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I thought about the refits as I climbed into my 'Hammer, sealing the cockpit behind me before sitting down on the Command Couch. Plugging my cooling vest in, I then grabbed the helmet that was prepped for each of the members of the 'drop squad' and settled it onto my head, the HUD linking with my 'Mech as I went through the startup and security procedures.
 
We had used a lot of off-the-shelf parts to refit the Black Eagle class DropShip Effervescent into something that was of more use on the modern battlefield. One of those things was the drop pods used by Unions to drop 'Mechs from orbit onto a planet…<<"Major,">> a secure channel was opened by the Archer next to me, interrupting my woolgathering.
 
"I hear you, Kell," I replied. "What's the problem?"
 
<<"I've never done one of these outside of the Sims." >>
 
"Follow Betty's instructions, the Star League made sure that the computers were set for these things," I stated as I glanced at the readouts for the attached jump pods to my 'back' and legs. "Follow Sheppard's lead, he's got the most experience in this."
 
"Alpha Company, we're ready to begin launch procedures if you are."
 
"Sound off!" I ordered over Teamcoms.
 
The individuals checked the seals on both their cockpits and helmets, going through the exhaustive list before confirming they were prepared to drop.
 
"Alpha's good to drop," I relayed to the 'Mech Bay's NCO.
 
//"Launching in sequential order, standby."\\
 
The bay depressurized and the 'Mechs were gently 'Shoved' out of the 4500-ton DropShip, the unknown world 'below' them.
 
My computer showed the calculated fall route and the projected landing for my 'Hammer before the older Star League Era computer linked up with the rest of the unit, showing each projected landing site and path.
 
No one spoke for the first few minutes as we slowly picked up speed, the planet's gravity dragging the pods down and the ceramic shell heating up.
 
(("Yeehaw!")) Sheppard's laugh came over our company's comms. (("I missed this!"))
 
"Crazy fool," I grinned and shook my head as my 'mech finally began bullying the atmosphere into submission.
 
(("Don't lie! You love this!"))
 
I didn't respond as a feeling of exhilaration filled my head and heart. I had wanted to do something like this since I was a kid and first saw the Master Chief drop onto Delta Halo. And even if this wasn't the exact same thing. It was close enough for the little kid inside of me to wish that I'd brought an SMG and SPNKR with me.
 
But even if I was enjoying the ride. I still had a job to do. So I began to focus on the readouts Betty provided me, the meters rushing by.
 
3000 meters…
 
2500,
 
2000,
 
1500,
 
1000,
 
At 750 meters, the bolted-on jets ignited, beginning to slow down the landing as the ceramic shell finally fell apart, revealing the blackened paint of our 'mechs.
 
The jets stopped at fifty meters for those of us without mounted jump jets, the remaining distance being a short fall that ended with a heavy "Thump".
 
"Status reports!" I barked as I ran my eyes over the wireframe of my Warhammer, noting the slight actuator damage in the knees before stepping forward and beginning to move to the DropShips.
 
<<"Ankle joint's shattered,">> Morgan Kell reported. <<"I'm going to be limping.">>
 
"Stay at range and link targeting computers. You'll provide fire support."
 
"My 'Mech's in the same boat," Erika Lamb reported. "I'll stick with Kell and provide support."
 
Everyone else reported minor damage or none at all, and so the eight remaining 'Mechs interposed themselves between the barracks and the DropShips.
 
"Looks like they came up lacking. Make sure that none of them get onto the DropShips," I switched frequencies to the DropShips in the void.
 
"Peterson, Naomi, you're clear to approach, go clear out the city, we'll hold the spaceport!"
 
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===First Contact===
Lieutenant Hober grinned as his DroST broke through the atmosphere, the mechanized infantry in the compartment were running the last checks on their Maxims and other APCs while a Buccaneer descended beside him.
 
"Hey Vagabond," Hober called out cheerfully. "Five Bulls says that my Pinup stays intact this whole op!"
 
<<(("I'll take that action!")>> the other aerodyne replied. <<(("I think that Farm Girl's going down!")>> 
 
"Guess we'll find out," Hober chuckled. "Let's go!"
 
The two DropShips being used for this op began their run, both Wardog and Hitman Squadrons falling into escort positions as they moved toward the ground.
>="Breaking pattern,"=< Blaze reported. >="Looks like we've got some air-breathers around here. Moving to engage."=<
 
Wardog shifted to go deal with the approaching jets while Hober touched down in the middle of the town square, spinning in search of targets for his gunners.
 
"Area's temporarily clear, you're clear to deploy!"
 
The APCs roared out of the bay, the Maxims divesting themselves of infantry just as a lance of Scorpions appeared only to be disintegrated under large laser and autocannon fire from Katherine the nose gunner for the DroST. "Targets downed!" the hidden Steiner laughed.
 
"Vagabond deploying vehicles now," the other aerodyne descended and its ramp lowered, a bunch of tanks coming down the ramps and beginning to clear out the city.
 
<<"Remember people, we're not here for a prolonged fight!">> Captain Naomi instructed her tanks as her Manticore rumbled through the small town's streets. <<"Clear out any enemy tanks and move on, we're not here for an urban slog!">>
Of course, when she finished her speech, an Urbanmech appeared, its squat form had been hidden by a nearby water tower.
 
Unfortunately for said Urbanmech, the Hunters that the Marksman had salvaged from the pirates had been refitted with proper turrets for their PPCs and rocket launchers, and while half of the six tanks missed with their PPCs, the other half didn't, and the trio of PPCs melted the 'Mech's autocannon into slag.
 
Then the few Scorpions and LRM Carriers began to fire, the autocannon and missiles dropping the light 'Mech to the ground as the tanks continued heading for the spaceport, the Maxims and APCs bringing up the rear.
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(("We've got movement!")) Sheppard reported as his Mongoose fell back to the lines we'd established.
"Looks like a couple of "Locusts and a Thud," I identified. "Tagging thud for indirect fire."
 
The 'Mech was highlighted as Sheppard's Beagle Active Probe coordinated with Kell's Archer and Lamb's Griffin, the flurry of 40+ LRMs hammering the shoulders of the heavy 'Mech as it tried to push through before a bright green beam from Sheppard's Mongoose arched out tagged the Thunderbolt's knee, the combined damage sending it crashing to the ground.
 
"Mark that 'mech," I ordered. "I've got an idea."
 
Then the Locusts decided to harass us, the light 'Mechs darting in and out, evading everything fired their way aside from a handful of SRMs or a glancing blow from a medium laser.
 
"Stay still," I snarled, snap-firing my PPC instinctively and catching one of them in the cockpit.
 
(("Nice hit, major!"))
 
"Thanks, now let's kill this other bastard."
 
The pirate Locust danced through our fire for minutes that seemed to stretch into an eternity before a mistake was made. As the light 'Mech accelerated, it stepped into a hole in the spaceport's flat concrete, the sudden stop shattering the leg and sending parts and myomer into the air as the 'Mech seemed to screech in agony before the pilot ejected. But the seat didn't have a good arc, and the pilot became a bloody smear across the side of the lone Mule that was parked on the spaceport."
"That…" I trailed off. "Is not a good way to go."
 
>>"Major, enemy resistance in the town's cleared out,"<< Naomi reported. >>"The Canopians can move in and take over."<<
 
"Copy that, hold positions for a moment." I replied.
 
"Glittering Prizes, you are clear to land and begin salvage operations," I contacted the lone Canopian Triumph that had accompanied us on this mission."
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===Consolation of Magistracy===
"I know it's not much of a consolation," Colonel Jackie LeAnn of the Magistracy Armed Forces sighed. "But we're handing you guys the Thud. We're going to report it as being unsalvageable though. I think you guys have done a fucking fantastic job here, but I'm not the one in charge of making these sorts of decisions."
 
"I get it," I replied. "The Magistracy is going to be coughing up a lot of money though. This is a lot of intact DropShips. And I'm supposed to get open market prices for every piece of salvage."
 
The Colonel winced while doing the math in her head. "Well, looks like my budget's going to be short this year. Again."
 
"Well, if you're ever looking for a change of leadership," I offered as I shook her hand. "Just let me know and I'll see what I can swing."
 
"Don't tempt me," the officer sighed. "I might take you up on it."
 
"You've got our contact info," I shrugged. "We never had a problem with your or your unit, just the politicians."
 
"I'll stay in touch," She smiled. "Never know when having a merc friend in your back pocket'll come in handy."
 
"Anyway, we've pulled out all of our material and manpower. All that's left is to collect that Thud and we'll be on our way out."
 
"Lemme know if you're ever in the area again," She called out as I began climbing back up into my 'Hammer. "We'll get some drinks or something."
 
"Copy that," I finished climbing. "See ya around, Colonel!"
 
Starting up the 'Hammer, I walked the 'Mech back into the Effervescent's bay and locked it down, watching as a trailer backed the pirate Thunderbolt up and into the bay where the bay workers and techs shifted to lock the other 'Mech down and prepare it for travel.
 
"Not the greatest haul ever," Sheppard commented as I stepped out onto the gantry. "But the payday will be nice."
 
"They'll find a way to shortchange us," I sighed. "But even if they do, we're still looking at a payout of at least a quarter billion C-Bills."
 
"That's a lot of cash," he whistled. "We're going to have to figure out what to do with it."
 
"I'm sure we'll come up with something to spend it on," I laughed. "After all, our ledger was starting to look a little off after the money we spent on refitting those older DropShips. Then there's the combat bonuses and the maintenance fees. Sure, we'll have a decent nest egg, but it's not as much as we might hope."
 
"We're going to have to go over the budget again," Sheppard sighed. "More live-fire exercises?"
 
"We can't afford to not do them," I shrugged. "Especially with how effective they are."
 
"I'll look into buying the license for the training munitions," Sheppard pulled out a small notebook and wrote down a note. "That way we don't have to spend a premium buying them when we can make our own."
 
"That's for the future. For now, we're going to go back and clear out the rest of Eidolon. I have a gut feeling that we missed something important there."
 
"I'll have Rook start working on the locations we pulled from the Phoenix, too. Might be worth checking out some of them."
 
"First, let's get some rest. We've got a few months to sort everything out while we head towards Eidolon."
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Chapter 47