AWF Chpt 68

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=Chapter 68=
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===Combating with a Stubborn Man===
Battlefield, St. Ives
St. Ives Compact
February, 3030
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"Commander" Fiona said, "What do you see on the chest of the Kintaro? Do you know that symbol?"
Ansatasia carefully stood up to glance at the broken Kintaro. It was missing both arms and part of it's right shoulder, but the Immortals sigil was still recognizable. "I am not familiar with that symbol, but it appears to be a winged lion." Commander Zhang said.
"It's Ahmed's Immortals. They're a small-time mercenary unit and that's their insignia. The important thing is they're mercenaries. As you've pointed out, mercenaries are here to make money, not get involved in the client's politics. Unless they're under a long term exclusive contract, most mercenaries won't put a house's symbol on their 'mechs."
"Your point?" Commander Zhang said.
"This UrbanMech doesn't have an Immortal's symbol, it has the Capellan Confederation insignia."
>>"So?"<< Commander Zhang said. >>"It's obviously Capellan."<<
"Did your insurgents move into the city? Are they working with the Immortals?" Fiona asked.
(("We had moved our operations away from the city in the hopes of luring the partisans away.")) Chyou said, (("It worked for a while. The attacks decreased, though, once the other mercenaries arrived, we had only limited raiding, while the cities with our supply hub became inaccessible to us."))
"So, again, the intel is incomplete." Fiona said, "What the hell, Zhang?"
>>"I do not know what intel you were given by the Federated Suns."<< Commander Zhang said dismissively.
"Commander Zhang, you're the source of my intel. You keep giving me nothing but shit. I'm trying to do my best to help you here, but you're either going to get us killed because you're stupid, or I'm starting to think you're trying to get us killed."
>>"You keep complaining, why are you still here?"<< Commander Zhang said.
"I'll explain this to you, one time, in the hopes you stop calling us whores. Kelly McFinnigan believes that the reputation of his company is the key to his success." Fiona said, "He has a few simple rules to maintain and improve our reputation. First, if we agree to a contract, we follow the contract, unless it is absolutely impossible. Second, we get paid. If we are going to risk life and limb for the client it's going to cost them something. This leads us to the third rule, we try not to die in the process of getting paid. Fourth, we do all of that while turning profit." Fiona said.
>>"His priority is off."<< Commander Zhang said, >>"Survival and profit should be all that matters."<<
>>"You don't get it, brother."<< Crow said, >>"Being a mercenary is almost as much about reputation as it is about making a profit. If you have a good reputation, you get good jobs. You can talk some enemies into surrendering. You get the help you need. It all comes back to making sure the client understands your value, not taking stupid risks, but remembering the work is inherently dangerous. Finally it's still a business, but if you're doing the other things, the business part always works out."<<
>>"I think I understand."<< Commander Zhang said, >>"Mercenaries are whores that take pride in whoring."<<
"I'm really not sure you know much about whores, man. You ever been with a woman?" Crow said.
>>"How dare you. I have a wife. I have three children."<< Commander Zhang snapped.
"Logically those children only represent her liaisons." Anastasia said as her scanners showed a large hazy Battlemech shaped anomaly. It was tall, close to fifteen or sixteen meters, but it seemed more humanoid shaped than the hunched over bullet shaped Stalker or King Crab Assault 'Mechs.
>>"What are you trying to say about my wife?"M<< Zhang snapped
"The same thing you keep saying about mine." Harold replied. "Zhang, I don't give a damn about your opinion of mercenaries, but you call any member of this company a whore again, and you and I will have words after this operation. I gauren-damn-tee you won't like it."
There was an uncomfortable silence. Anastasia was glad Harold said something. Harold wasn't easy to provoke, but she was glad he had enough of Zhang's rudeness. She watched the hazy image of the 'mech move and she started to see more a hunched over almost crab like shape. She could almost make out the large claw like arms that held the AC 20s. "I think I've found the KGC-000."
"Alright, remember if we're lucky we hit his left side hard, touch off his LRM or AC20 magazine and then we just have to deal with Ebrahimi." Fiona asked. "Keep looking for Ebrahimi's Stalker."
Anastasia could see something large causing interference but she couldn't identify the 'mech. "There is something else large causing interference, but I can't definitively identify it.
"Professor, Hap just keep pushing forward, nice and smooth, I want to detect that King Crab first. Zhang, once we neutralized the King Crab you get your team up and get what you need, understand?"
>>"Yes."<< Commander Zhang said slowly.
Anastasia stood her Valkyrie up and jumped down next to Hap. Without speaking they started to trace a path through side streets. As they walked Anastasia could see Fiona, Crow and the Compact units following roughly a hundred meters behind them. Being on the street level and moving made it difficult for her sensors to use the radio wave interference, but she could still see the large objects near the supply warehouse.
"Chyou, I am detecting a lot of interference around the supply depot, is there something unique about these buildings or that area?" Anastasia asked.
(("Those buildings extend into the sub-city, and they were hardened during a previous war to withstand aerial bombardment or direct 'mech and armor combat.")) she said.
As they moved Fiona asked, "Chyou, or Lieutenant, what do the resistance forces normally field?"
(("Harassers and Pegasus hover tanks and loudong 'mechs.")) Lieutenant Mung said.Lieutenant
"Loudong?" Crow said.
>>"Loudong means bug, as in 'bug' mechs. Locusts, and Wasps, these miscreants also field a few Spiders, and Cicadas. Fast but thin skinned 'mechs."<< Commander Zhang said.
"Oh now you want to give us good intel." Crow added.
"Crow don't start. Thank you, Commander Zhang. So loudong mechs and hover tanks, What about UrbanMechs?" Fiona asked.
(("They were reported in urban areas and on a few vanguard details.")) Lieutenant Mung said.
"So we got the Immortals and your Capellan insurgents operating in the city. Hap, Professor, no more wandering underground. Stay close."
Anastasia concurred as her sensors indicated a 100 ton 'mech. She motioned with her Mech's hand for everyone to stop. Her sensors also highlighted a few other inconclusive items of interest. She waited a moment before sensor locking the King Crab. The Mech was facing them but Hap ran his Griffin to the left jumped to the top of a building, and launched a salvo of missiles at the assault 'mech.
The King Crab turned slightly and answered Hap with its own volley of fifteen missiles. As it re-positioned and started to move to bring its large bore, but short range, autocannons into range Crow and Fiona dashed down a side street and launched their combined full barrage of seventy missiles. Anastasia could see they had the left side angle on him, and watched as her sensors registered significant damage to the left arm and torso.
Hap watched from his building top perch. The King Crab pilot tried to raise his arm to fend off the missiles, realized that wasn't helping and tried to keep his balance. Hap could tell this pilot was a novice. A more experienced pilot would have half-crouched to drop the 'mech's center-of-gravity, and maybe even leaned into the barrage. This MechWarrior seemed confused. The 'mech started to slip and the pilot took a half-step before it slipped to the side and collapsed into a building.
"Good contact, target is down." Harold said, "All weapons still intact. No joy on hitting the magazine. Repeat fire."
"Acknowledge stand by for repeat-" Fiona said as multiple red icons appeared on Anastasia scanners. "Shit. Where were these hiding?" Fiona cursed.
(("The under-city")) Lieutenant Mung answered grimly.
Anastasia's sensors warned her of multiple contacts including a CDA-3C Cicada in her rear arc. She swung her mech around and put the cross hairs on the oversized cannon in the mech's right torso. A hurried shot from her medium laser lanced across the barrel as her missiles impacted around the cannon and the 'mech's chest. There was a flash of explosions and sparks as cannon and the 'mech's arm and machine gun were blown off the 'mech. The Cicada continued to charge her and used it's secondary machine gun to chip off armor and paint on Anastasia's left torso.
Anastasia saw a Wasp in her peripheral vision. She tried to reorient her Valkyrie as the Wasp's medium laser carved a furrow in her left leg and a short-range missile hit her arm. Before she could react there was an electric blue flash and the Wasps head and cockpit evaporated. Harold jumped his Griffin next to Anastasia's Valkyrie. A small trail of smoke rose from his PPC.
"Fiona, we're getting overrun." Harold said. Anastasia's scanners told her a Locust and Spider near the fire support 'mechs and multiple hover tanks was racing down the street and headed toward them.
"Same problem here. Fall in on my position" Fiona said, "Commander Zhang, get your lance in a defensive formation and protect your vehicles. Crow, get eyes on that crab and crack its-"
>>"I will defeat the King Crab."<< Commander Zhang said as he jumped his Blackjack on top of a building and sighted down the prone assault 'mech, "Lieutenant, move the vehicles to-"
"Zhang, you son of a hundin, nicht-" Fiona said more in German then her tirade interrupted with " Shizer!" Anastasia's sensors indicated the Locust was destroyed, "Zhang, get your ass back in line."
The Cicada tried to flank Anastasia as it sprayed her left arm with machine gun fire. She jumped her mech to a roof top as she spun her 'mech around, put a medium laser and over half a dozen missiles into the 'mech's ruined right side. More of the mech's center torso and internal structure were ruined, but it didn't seem to affect any major system.
A Harasser tank went rocketing around Harold and raced in the direction of the Compact units. As it sped by it launched a dozen short range missiles at Harold's Griffin. A few of the missiles hit his leg as the vehicles passed. Harold took a moment to aim and put a PPC bolt directly into the rear of the vehicle. Flames and thick black smoke poured out of the rear of the vehicle as it started to fish tail and ultimately crash into a building.
Harold also peppered the Cicada with missiles from his LRM-10 rack. The missiles struck around the cicada's center torso. The 'mech swayed to its right and the pilot had to fight to keep the mech upright.
Anastasia glanced around from her new perch on top of the building. She was closer to the supply depot than she wanted to be. She could see Fiona's Jagermech and a broken Locust about a hundred meters from her. Crow was on another building with the Capellan Spider hopping around him. Lieutenant Mun's shot a PPC at the Spider and struck its left leg. Crow kicked the mech which seemed to snap the light 'mech's leg in two. The Compact tanks were close to the flatbed truck and exchanging fire with a Pegasus hover tank as another Harasser came to the Pegasus's aid.
Anastasia could see Commander Zhang firing his sub-caliber class-two autocannons at the King Crab. One round hit the mech's ruined right torso and the other seemed to harmlessly bounce off its center torso.
"I was not able to hit the King Crab's magazine." Commander Zhang said, "I will close with the 'mech."
"Damn it, Zhang, get back here." Fiona said as she stomped on a Harasser Hover tank.
Anastasia watched as Zhang jumped his Mech down and approached the gigantic prone mech. The pilot was struggling to right his Mech. Anastasia's scanners indicated there was an 85 ton mech in one of the large buildings near the supply depot. Her sensors seemed to be picking up an anomaly but it couldn't resolve the 'mech type. Even more disconcerting it would periodically indicate there were two assault mechs or nothing there.
Harold destroyed the Cicada and jumped to a building near Anastasia. The building was fire-gutted, but was still holding the Griffin's weight. She was glad to have him near her so they could cover each other as they bounded back to Fiona's position. "Zhang, brother, this is foolish." Harold said.
"Commander Zhang, you're in danger, I'm detecting another 'mech in the building west of your location." Anastasia added.
>>"Valkyrie sensors are notoriously unreliable and prone to show 'phantoms'."<< Commander Zhang answered as the King Crab leveled it's weapons and fired his massive cannons and large laser. The first autocannon round hammered the BlackJack's shoulder while the large laser cut through the armor on his leg. The second autocannon round went wide and struck the building Harold was standing on. The King crab launched a flurry of missiles but most of them hit the building Harold was standing on.
Beyond reason Commander's mech was still fully operational. Anastasia could see holes through his armor from back to front, but her sensors indicated all his systems were still operational. It took her a moment to notice the cloud of dust and debris as the building Harold was standing on collapsed. She jumped and felt her command couch straps lock as she watched in horror as the building folded in on itself and her husband and his 'mech fell several stories to crash on the ground. She sat back down and turned her 'mech to see Harold's mech sprawled out in the rubble of the basement of the building.
Zhang shouted in triumph as he fired his four medium lasers at the King Crab's exposed flank. The lasers carved into the internal structure and melted the metallic bones severing the shoulder and arm from the 'mech. It may not have been the dramatic explosion of an ammunition magazine, but it did significantly reduce the combat effectiveness of the 'mech.
Before Anastasia could jump down near Harold as the Stalker emerged from the building next to Commander Zhang. As it came into view the Stalker fired its complete complement of weapons. Missiles and lasers engulfed Commander Zhang's Blackjack. Whatever luck Commander Zhang had enjoyed against the King Crab was now gone and his mech was knocked backwards as critical systems and weapons were destroyed.
"Commander Zhang's mech is destroyed, and Harold is down." Anastasia said robotically. "Ebrahimi's Stalker has entered the field."
Before she could say anything else Crow's Catapult's two LRM 20 racks rained down missiles on the Stalker. The 'mech's armor easily absorbed the damage, but it was now thinned in key areas and it wouldn't be so fortunate if it came under fire like that again. Fiona fired her own salvo of thirty missiles. These struck the mech's shoulders and a few even hit the Stalker's cockpit. The 'mech's pilot fought to keep his mech upright as missiles tore into it's left arm and destroyed an LRM.
Anastasia lined up her crosshairs on the Stalker hoping to tip him over with her own missiles. She saw the King Crab stand up and begin walking. At first she thought it was approaching her but then it became clear it was headed directly toward Harold. She was dismayed as he leveled the autocannon directly at Harold's cockpit.
Anastasia swallowed hard as she switched over to the guard channel, "I am Anastasia Capetian Calahad, nee Valois. Daughter of Je'anne Capetian Valois, High Lady and Protector of Hazelhurst, Countess of Calais Parmi Les Étoiles, and heir to the same. I am piloting the Valkyrie."
The moment she said Valkyrie the King Crab immediately fired on her with his cannon and laser. She was out of range from it's autocannon but it struck the building she was standing on. Anastasia had to lean her mech back to dodge the laser. At the same time a large humanoid 'mech emerged from the building the Stalker had hidden in. It fired twin large lasers and autocannons at her as she jumped down from the building. The lasers missed her, but the autocannon struck her 'mech in the shoulder.
Anastasia landed heavily in a side street, she could see the King Crab was moving under full throttle to her position. The second 'mech was also moving as quickly as it could. She glanced down at her scanners and it seemed to be struggling to identify the Battlemech. She pushed her 'mech away from the two assault mechs chasing her as her scanner finally reported, "CRK-5003-0 Crocket."
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