BoTH Chpt 37

==Blood on the Horizon - Chapter 37 -==
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===A Space Engagement with Pirates===
Date: September 21st, 3002
Location: Star System S101535En Route to Pirate Outpost Codenamed Axylus
"Move to escort positions," Blaze ordered as the seven aerospace fighters were launched from the Leopards. "You know your jobs, so let's get to it."
 
"You know boss, it's been a while since we've done a proper dropper escort," Chopper's chipper voice echoed through the comms. "You sure we made the right call here?"
 
"It was this or we turn in our wings," Edge spoke up. "It's not like we can afford to buy new birds after Swordsman and Heartbreak had to bail out."
 
"Besides, this way we get to get paid without having to worry about the contract negotiations," Archer laughed. "God knows I hated going over the contracts line by line with Blaze and Monarch."
 
"I'm just happy that we're going to be getting some replacement birds soon," Comic laughed. "I think if Robin has to talk the techs into working on that old Centurion again that they'll revolt."
 
"She's a great training bird though!" Diplomat snarked. "We just need a couple of replacement parts and she'll be up and running the few trainees we've got in no time flat."
"Alright, stow the chatter," Monarch's quiet voice broke the noise. "We're nearing the final approach."
 
Monarch's Eagle led the Centurion and Lightning that made up the rest of his short squadron, the other three pilots not having fighters at the moment.
As the trio of aerodyne dropships coasted in for a landing on the airless moon, a handful of LRM turrets and a beat-up RFL-3N attempted to take out the dropships, only for the LRM turrets to be destroyed by Wardog passing overhead their weapons arcing out and destroying the missile boats before they could cause more damage.
 
"Alright," Hull's lance of 'Mechs ran down the ramp and into the line of fire, the enemy fifty-ton Rifleman attempting a fighting retreat as a Manticore followed the 'Mechs from the other dropships. "We're down, you guys get clear, Wardog, Hitman, keep the skies clear for us."
 
"Copy that, Captain," Blaze responded. "We'll give you a heads up on what's coming up as well."
 
"Remember to stay sealed up!" Sheppard barked. "No atmosphere means that we're not going to be happy if there's a breach. Keep your oxygen masks at the ready and be prepared to fall back to the LZ if you take too much damage."
 
"Hey Captain, I thought I saw some walking salvage around here," Mckay's cocky voice resounded on an open channel, the taunt intended to lure out the Rifleman that had seemingly disappeared as they had disembarked.
 
"Take Lamb and go get it then," Hull's 'Mech seemed to shrug as the channel swapped to laser comms. "Sheppard, move ahead, time to see just how much better that lostech works for us."
 
"Yessir!" Sheppard's smirk was evident as his Mongoose shifted into a jog at 86 km/h, the warbook updating with the enemies within the new sensor range as the computers began sharing data, the old Star League Systems being superior to what Sheppard had used in the past.
 
"Looks like we've got some Hunters salvaged or stolen from nearby Taurian worlds," Sheppard reported. "Makes sense too, any ICE would have to be left in a hanger by now."
 
"Contact!" Erika Lamb reported. "Rifleman's down and marked for salvage, but we've got some sort of bastardized vics over here. Fusion engines with lasers and PPCs!"
 
"Be careful, they'll punch a hole in your 'Mech!" Sheppard cautioned. "Keep them pinned down, we'll deal with our Hunters and then flank."
 
"This is Blaze, we've got you covered," seven ASF streaked overhead, if an atmosphere had been present, a sonic boom would have shattered windows and shook the ground. As it was, the only sign of their passing was the streak of some PPCs, and the tracers from autocannon fire as the hodgepodge of tanks found their armor low or breached in various places.
 
"Good hits, Wardog, Hitman," Lamb thanked the air support. "Drinks are on me when we get back to civilization."
 
"We'll hold you to that, Scratch," Chopper laughed. "Just remember that I like a nice dark lager and we'll be fine."
 
"Just try not to drink too much," Erika ducked under a handful of SRMs before moving close enough to place her foot on the tank. " Mom is always watching."
 
"I heard that!" Hull's 'Hammer crested over a crater as he and Sheppard regrouped, the Manticore on their heels.
 
"You have to admit the shoe fits, Mom." Sheppard chuckled. "Now let's focus up. I see a lance of 'Mechs moving in, looks like a heavy, two mediums, and a light."
 
"Any read on the tonnage?"
 
"The heavy and mediums are too close in weight for me to pick anything specific out. Could be any fifty-five and sixty tonner."
A Locust crested the hill, its patchwork armor and odd armament showcasing just how desperate this band of pirates must have been as Sheppard began chasing the scout 'Mech, the two lights pairing off as Sheppard's lasers stripped armor off and began punching through armor, the trio of mediums burning through armor and sending molten rivulets down the torso.
 
"Looks like a Quickdraw, Dervish, and something that's not registering in the Warbook," McKay's Crab fired large lasers at the missile boat, carving away at armor while Hull lured the Quickdraw away from the fight. "You want the unknown, Scratch?"
"Yeah," Lamb replied. "I'll handle it."
 
Sheppard rapidly finished off the Locust, his trio of medium lasers burning into the fusion engine and coring it, sending the twenty-toner sliding across the moon's surface, the 'mech flipping end over end as it finally came to a stop.
 
"Target down," the XO reported. "Moving to assist."
 
The unknown medium spat six missiles at Lamb's Griffin, the pilot turning so that her unarmed side took the missiles as a pair of medium lasers also carved away at the armored side.
 
"Could use some assistance here, this thing's packing some serious firepower," Lamb pulled out of short-range only to take a PPC to the knee.
 
"I got you." Sheppard darted into view, his lasers carving away at the legs of the larger 'Mech before shifting out of view as Lamb moved into physical combat with her 'Mech, driving the armored battle fist into the other 'Mech and sending it teetering as it's Gyro screeched in protest, eventually giving up as it teetered to the ground, the pirate Mechwarrior scrambling to pull his 'Mech up as Erica kicked it, sending it crashing down again. Only this time, she pointed her PPC directly at the cockpit, indicating what would happen if he attempted to rise again.
 
The unknown powered down, signaling surrender as Sheppard pushed to assist Mckay in her fight with the Dervish.
 
"Mom, you need help?" Erika asked.
 
"Negative on that," Hull replied, one of his PPCs arcing out and severing the ankle joint of the Quickdraw, sending the pilot head-first into a crater. "I've got it handled."
The seventy ton 'Mech stood triumphantly overt the lighter heavy, its PPCs facing towards the Dervish.
 
Then a PPC fired from long distance, the lone Manticore making its presence known as its man-made lightning carved away at the side torso, eating away at the ammo and ripping the 'Mech in half as the missiles within detonated.
 
"So much for salvaging that one," McKay called out. "I thought we were trying to get all of them."
 
"Yeah, sorry about that," a muffled voice came from the Manticore. "It's been a while, and I was actually aiming for the cockpit."
 
Sheppard's Mongoose turners and looked from the Manticore, all the way to the destroyed medium 'Mech.
 
"Richard, that shot was at damned near extreme range," Sheppard dropped a line showing the distance. "Remind me never to piss you off."
 
"That counts as a kill for both of us, right?" Naomi's voice cut in. "We're aiming to make 'Mech Ace by the end of our time."
 
"Well, you've only got three left, I'd say that it's a pretty straight and easy path to it there," Hull pointed out.
 
"Sure, Mom," Naomi grinned. "I'm glad you've got faith in your kids."
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===Salvaging the Remains===
"Well I'll be damned," Jewel looked at the massive dropship that lay on the surface. "You want us to see if that's spaceworthy?"
 
"Yes," I replied. "I want us to get it flying again. The Concordat owes us a bit, and if what the techs tell me is true, then we'll have basically solved a lot of logistical problems based on the inside."
 
"We'll do what we can," she sighed. "Just don't expect any miracles. And I'll likely need to borrow you in order to sweet talk some of those Star League Computers."
 
"Right," I nodded, leaning back in the chair I'd borrowed. "But first, I need a nap. Getting all of the salvage dragged in was a lot of work."
 
"I told you you'd be happy with us attaching a hitch to the Manticore," Naomi grinned. "Otherwise we'd have spent all day getting that Quickdraw and whatever the other piece of junk was back."
 
"Yeah yeah," I waved a hand. "We'll discuss other modifications to the Scorpions and other stuff later. Right now, it's time for a nap."
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Chapter 37