ALJ Chpt 53

frameless|right|300px|link=A Long Journey
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==Chapter 53 - A Long Journey==
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22 August 2786
Morgan's Holdfast (Tortuga Dominion)
Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell had made his first visit to Morgan's Holdfast and had been on the surface for two days touring the small city of 21,184 people. It seemed that Major Jameson and his people had been working hard to make sure no one ever mentioned the Battered Brood ever again since every person he spoke to said that the 11th Hussar Regiment had always protected them from pirate bands roaming the region. Power for the small community was supplied by an ancient, grounded Manatee Dropship. It had definitely seen better days, but its power plant was still functioning which was the most important thing.
There was a small clinic in the small city that was being supplemented by one of his MASH vehicles deployed with his troops stationed here. Not far a small space port and airfield had been constructed by his two Engineer Battalions. A new roadway led from the space port to the small city. A semi portable concrete plant was setup and functioning around the clock to provide the much needed material. They would have to resurface the landing pads every time a Dropship took off until such time as they could replace it with Ferrocrete. Regular concrete just could not withstand the fusion drives.
Currently the engineers were working on setting up the new training grounds complete with barracks for 1,000 recruits but could be expanded to house thousands if it was needed. Several firing ranges had already been built and 20km by 20km area had been set aside and marked out as an impact area. The first recruits would be arriving in less than a month, 827 in this first training class. During their enlistment every recruit was fitted with the skull caps to move a small Battlemech, any movement and the recruit was identified as a possible Battlemech or Aerospace pilot. They currently had identified 17 recruits as candidates. It had been decided that most of this first class were going into the Infantry. 
His tour of the area was interrupted by his portable communicator. "General, SLS Broadsword had detected an incoming emergence wave. Reading shows it is heavy."
"Acknowledged. Inform Broadsword that nothing reached the surface. They surrender or they die, but nothing leaves the system."
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At the Nadir Jump Point, Major Christian Nobles had SLS Broadsword, Tracker Class Gunship, at battle stations and was ready to make the jump to the Zenith Jump Point the minute the incoming Jumpship materialized. Newly promoted he might be, but he was a veteran of ten space battles. His ship was running slightly undermanned, but he had two fully equipped platoons of Marines for boarding actions.
The Invader Jumpship materialized at the Zenith Jump Point and undocked a single Dictator and two Lion Dropships. On the Dictator, Baron Henry Whister was finally going to be done with the Battered Brood. They had not made their tribute payment and Duke Leo had granted permission for him to take them out. He was looking forward to finally being done with the Battered Brood. They had barely gotten under thrust when a ship materialized extremely close to the small cluster of ship and began broadcasting.
"This is SLS Broadsword broadcasting in the clear. You are order to power down your engines immediately and surrender or you will be fired upon."
Sensors on all the ships identified it as a Merchant Jumpship carrying no Dropships. There were quite a few laughs aboard all the pirate ships. The Invader class Jumpship's captain could not resist and keyed the radio to respond.
<<"A Merchant? Your really threatening us with a Merchant? You anti-asteroid guns cannot even scratch the armor of a shuttle. How about you surrender and prepare to be boarded.">>
Major Christian Nobles could not help but smile, it was a smile a cat gave a poor trapped mouse. "Weps, I don't think they are taking us serious. I would like a single 55 fired at one of the Dropships. Should be an easy shot, they are barely 300 kilometers away. Give them a little love tap to show them we are serious."
"One 55 coming right up, let's see if they think the loss of a few tons of armor is funny."
The NL/55 hit the Dictator Dropship in the aft left section and removed three and half tons of armor in a single shot. There was a chorus of voices over the open channel trying to figure out what had just happened, how could a Merchant Jumpship pack that kind or weapon and what the hell do they do.
"Launch the shuttles and let's close the distance on those ships. Weps, if we get into a chase, I want one of those Dropships to vanish as quickly as you can manage."
The real panic started as SLS Broadsword fired up its drives and began maneuvering actively. Cries of warship were clearly heard. The Invader Jumpship was the first to realize he was doomed and quickly surrendered. The Dropships were more stubborn.
Major Nobles keyed the radio. "If I have to chase you down, you will be destroyed. If you think you can outrun me, think again, your cannot outrun my main weapons. Last chance, power down and surrender."
The Dictator and one Lion Dropship killed their engines and surrendered. The last Lion poured on the coals and tried to make a run for it. Three NL/55 reached out and ripped almost 11 tons from the Lions hide and a minute later another 11 tons of armor was removed before it killed its engines and surrendered. "Prepare to accept a boarding party."
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