Clan's Mistake on Herotitus (ATwT)

==Description==
Bases on the events triggered in the Alternate Timeline with Thanks mainstory, connecting Wild Geese Mercenary renegade Nova Cats Cluster's attack on periphery world.
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==Story==
Orbital Hot-Drop
Mercer-class DropShip, Neon Light
Herotitus, Peripheryn
12th July 3079
With words that the Liger Warriors, were actually rogue Clan Nova Cat warriors formerly of the Fifteenth Battle Cluster, Xi Galaxy under the command of saKhan Jal Steiner had been dispatched. On the 12th July they had arrived in orbit and in Clan Nova Cat fashion were intent on making their arrival known. With the NCS Blood Oath, an Aegis-class WarShip keeping an eye on things from just outside orbit. The MechWarriors and Battle Armour troopers of Xi Galaxy Hot-dropped from orbit and the high atmosphere over the planet.
As the ablative cocoon around his Shadow Cat disintegrated Jal Steiner was able to orientate his Mech with expert skill. He glanced over his weapons array class-20 Heavy Assault Gauss Rifle (HAG) - green - three Heavy Medium Lasers - Green - two Light Machine Guns - green and fully loaded - as the Shadow Cat continued to fall he cut in his OmniMech's Jump Jets to slow the fall. Unlike most Shadow Cat weapons configurations, this Mech lacked an advanced Active Probe so he was unable to monitor communications made by the enemy instead Jal had to rely on other members of his unit. "Rossei call out if you have anything."
"Galaxy Commander, we have Capellan Confederation encryption on the ground, no Clan or open frequencies." His comm. expert Lisa Drummond answered moments later her Kingfisher had advanced communications equipment not seen on normal Mechs.
"It is unlike them to have changed over to a Spheroid band, Quineg?"
"Neg, it would cost them much time and effort, which I do not believe they have had."
"So we may have a hostile Inner Sphere force on the ground?"
"And in the air, saKhan, we have a squadron of Inner Sphere Aerospace fighters vectoring on your position. My fighters are committing." Star Captain Alice Lervoux said breaking in her Sythca OmniFighter had been orbiting the entire time watching.
"All warriors be on the watch for incoming fighters, defend yourself as you are able." Jal Steiner ordered as the first fighter flew past him an ancient Trident Aerospace Fighter, he quickly switched channels to DropShip command "Star Commodore Lossey." He said calling his overall DropShip commander.
"Go ahead, saKhan"
"Find somewhere close to our landing points for your DropShips to land, looks like we may have missed the Ligers and have Capellan forces instead."
"Understood we will wait until you scatter point then land centrally for all units. Armour will stay buttoned up unless we get attacked on the ground." He quickly said the DropShips would be entering the atmosphere now but would remain in orbit until all units were grounded ensuring no Mech or Battle Armour unit was left out to dry.
Minutes past and Jal Steiner's command star finally landed, a quick role call confirmed no-one was damaged or down from the drop. The air was immediately full of weapons fire however missiles, autocannon and laser fire filling the air, soon artillery strikes were landing in the area as well adding to the confusion. "Rossei on me!" Jal shouted charging his forty-five ton Mech into the fight firing his HAG-20 as he ran the rapid fire assault gauss rifle connecting with a thirty-five ton Anubis scout Mech that had gotten in his way. The fire ripped off armor from several section making the pilot lose balance and fall on his back. Jal didn't stop running his Mech literally over the light Mech crushing it into the ground, his Shadow Cat's feet slipped slightly as he moved over the Mech as metal grinded against metal but the move paid off as he ran on the Anubis' long range missile ammo cooked off and exploded gutting the BattleMech in a red and orange fireball. "Continue to engage until our DropShips ground." Jal Steiner ordered before switching frequencies "Capellan force, this is saKhan Jal Steiner of Clan Nova Cat, we came to this world to exterminate members of our Clan's Dark Caste. We are not looking to fight you today."
"Then you should not have invaded our realm Herotitus is considered to be a Capellan Confederation protectorate world. There are no clansmen here except you and your unit."
"We have no quarrel with you." Jal said firing his three lasers at another BattleMech and his machine guns at conventional infantry forces as more and more Capellan targets arrived. "Rossei, fall back" he said switching channels "Lossey, ETA?"
"Fifty-two seconds until touch down. We are approximately three hundred meters south of your position."
"Too far" Jal whispered before clearing his throat speaking louder "Understood, Lossey, make sure my Galaxy make it out." He said striking out with the HAG, lasers and machine guns all at once hitting three different targets slowing the Capellan movements as they considered his threat worth.
"saKhan?" Lossey asked but Steiner ignored the DropShip commander his OmniMech was like an immobile titan standing blazing fire at several targets at once firing constantly keeping the Capellans back, the other members of the Rossei had fallen back as ordered but he remained firing constantly. His lone Shadow Cat was becoming a target of several Capellan designs however his constant fire was keeping them back. The HAG Rifle which made up the majority of the left arm clunked to a stop and ceased firing, out of ammo, but all three opal Heavy lasers continued to burn. "saKhan fall back, we have ninety percent all forces on board."
"As soon as all assets on board launch off world." He said throttling his Mech back several steps, on the fourth step however his Mech was hit by a heavy autocannon blast to the right knee, the actuator exploded under the stress and fire blowing the limb in half. Jal did not fight the fall instead fired his three heavy lasers one more time in defiance before the Mech fell sprawled over the ground. A green Emperor Assault Mech walked into view as Jal Steiner's sensors confirmed several DropShip launches his Galaxy was away the rolling onto his left arm crushing the useless rifle. As he raised his right arm in defiance firing his lasers again, the Emperor fired its own Particle cannon and medium pulse lasers consuming the Shadow Cat in weapons fire killing the Nova Cat saKhan.
With the Nova Cats in retreat and Herotitus' economy in shreds the Capellan Confederation made good on the Canopian Fusiliers commander's claim and made the world a Capellan Confederation Protectorate world and the new home to the Second Canopian Fusiliers. As for Xi Galaxy, unable to track the Liger Warriors and having lost their commander chose to head home instead of antagonizing the Confederation anymore.
--FINI--
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Category:Short Stories
Category:Works by Dragon Cat
Category:Dragon Cat Collection