BSC10

==Chapter 10 - Best Served Cold==
----
Mech Bay 
Dictorator Class DropShip Arcadian Mercy
Cabanatuan System, Clan Wolverine Staging Area 
November 4th, 3050
----
"What the hell is that?" Lilly asked incredulously.
"It is a Stalker." Chief Mech Tech Ho-Yin Svenson answered.
"I can see that.  What did you do to it?" Lilly asked
"Well, we heard reports that the Capellans were fielding a new Catapult that replaced all the missiles with an Arrow IV system."
"And what, you said 'hold my beer?'" she asked
The Chief flushed.  "Well. . . not in so many words. . . but look, taking the Stalker chassis let us mount two Arrow IVs and three tons each of standard and homing missiles for each launcher."
"And only three medium lasers for backup." Lilly noted, spotting the firing ports spread evenly on the 'Mech's torso.  The slim, rectangular weapon pods on either side of the rounded body had been expanded greatly to hold the massive artillery launchers, giving the 'Mech a flared, ungainly appearance.
"Medium pulses, actually."
Lilly had been keeping a running tally of the 'Mech's mass.  "So no additional heat sinks, then."
Chief Svenson shrugged.  "Should not need them.  If it is close enough to be firing lasers, it should not be firing artillery anymore."
"At least the Pochtlis can defend themselves if they get rushed." she commented
"But this only takes a single MechWarrior, not a crew of six." Chief countered
"The Pochtli crews are going to love hearing that."
"It's not meant as a replacement." the Chief said, clearly upset that his creation was being criticized.  "It's just supposed to be a perhaps less resource-intensive option.  And the pilots have drilled extensively in artillery tactics -- they'll drop those missiles anywhere you want, every time."
"I'll believe that when I see it." Lilly replied.  Her Trinary were experienced at danger-close artillery fire, guided or not, but she was still careful to keep her troops out of range of any mis-aimed shells.  As a result, they'd adapted a "let them come to us" approach.
Still, if the W3 Stalker performed as advertised. . . "We will see how it does."
"We will not let you down, Star Colonel.  You can count on it."
Lilly moved on, surveying the rest of her new Trinary.  The lead 'Mech of the command Star was a Hatchetman Star Captain Mi-Jung Chon had found and fallen in love with while posing as a mercenary in the Federated Commonwealth.  Hatchet Two was, naturally, a Wolverine.  Hatchet Three, Four, and Five were a Centurion, Crab, and the Clan Wolverine original Stag II. Stonewall Star was centered on massive Behemoth tank, which housed the C3 network linking Hatchet and Stonewall Stars together.  The rest of Stonewall consisted of an Ontos, a Schreck PPC Carrier, and two different versions of Partisan anti-aircraft tank, one with four Ultra Autocannon/5s, the other with an absolutely excessive seventy-five LRM tubes.
All had been upgraded to Clan Wolverine's latest tech standards, though the Schreck had proven the most difficult.  It was simply not possible to replace the three PPCs with the Wolverine's ER versions (along with the heat sinks they required) and retain anything resembling speed or armor.  In the end, it was decided that having the same damage output as the stock Schreck, but putting it put in two volleys instead of three, was an acceptable tradeoff.  Though there was apparently a "Schreck LPL Carrier" undergoing testing that was showing some promise, and a “Schreck II” which did carry three ERPPCs, as well as TAG and a C3 slave. . . but was ten tons heavier.
The five new STK-W3 Stalkers formed Quake Star, rounding out the Trinary.
Lilly nodded.  "Seems a solid lineup.  I look forward to meeting the warriors."
That night on Ebon Fury's grav deck, the warriors of Command and Striker Trinaries met.  It went well; introductions were made, drinks were had, war stories swapped.  Warrior Crewman Angus Yatsuhashi, still walking with a cane, was telling anyone who would listen about putting a Gauss rifle slug cleanly through the cockpit of a running Jenner at range.
As the party wore on, Lilly noted several warriors slinking out in pairs and sighed to herself.  It may not be against regulations, but as CO, Lilly felt it inappropriate to consort with her subordinates on a physical level.  Plus, back on Homeworld, Andrei was waiting. . . 
Eventually, Lilly excused herself and returned to her quarters, where she began planning her renewed campaign against the Clans.
This time, with an objective in mind.
-----
;*Note from Author: I messed up my logistics a bit.  My upgraded Fortress only has five 'Mech Bays and ten Vehicle Bays, insufficient for Striker Trinary.  The Dictator has twenty 'Mech Bays and fifteen Vehicle Bays, so Striker fits comfortably on that, though their Ferals ride the Fortress.  P.S., every time I type "Ferals" in relation to Wolverine PowerArmor troops, I like that name just a little bit more.  Not bad for something I thought up because nothing better was coming to me.
-----
Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter
Category:Works by ErikModi
Category:Best Served Cold Chapters