Briefing room, Fort Calsden 
Schuyler, Rasalhague Dominion
20 October 3095

Cade sat in the lower tier of the briefing area, beside his fellow Star Colonels and staff of Beta Galaxy. At the central podium, Loremaster Boris Jorgensson conferred with his staff, headed by Star Colonel Erikk Tseng. 

“What is your bet, Cade?” Judea leaned over and nudged him. “Ten Bear-krona say we are jumping off for Albiero.”

“You think?” Cade cast a sideways glance at his aide and lover. “Albiero is hardly the most strategic target, quineg?”

“I am not so sure,” Judea replied. “It does have a recharging station, making it important to take so as to prevent a Combine counter attack.”

“Perhaps,” Cade agreed. “Though I would think a lesser force than the 12th could be assigned to that task.”

At the podium, Boris stepped up and a holo display appeared behind him. Conversation died away as the Dominion’s Loremaster began to speak. 

“Beta Galaxy,” he called out. “You have had some time to rest and re-equip but we have need of you on the line once more.”

There was a murmur of agreement around the hall. 

Clan warriors and our Rasalhague brothers are not content to sit idly by. There is a war going on, we wish to be in it. 

On the screen behind him, a world flashed into being. It slowly rotated, displaying the continents and various cities marked prominently. A tag over the world pronounced it to be Hanover. 

“With the second wave proceeding on task, the Dominion is prepared to start our next phase of the offensive,” Boris continued. “For Beta, this is the invasion of Hanover.”

The holographic display lit up, highlighting a jump point over the world. Dotted red lines showed the projected deployment of four clusters of forces. Cade noted the 12th’s line of deployment led directly to a region near the city of Cologne. 

“The initial invasion force will consist of the 12th Bear Guards, 14th Battle, 332th Assault and 140th Strikers,” the Loremaster explained. “The 18th Battle Cluster will be held in reserve.”

Across from Cade, Star Colonel Xavier Hall made no attempt to disguise his displeasure at having his command relegated to reserve status. 

The 18th took heavier losses than the rest of Beta. They need time to retrain, even if Xavier doesn’t like it.

“Star Colonel, Erikk Tseng?” Boris looked to his left. His aide, a powerfully built warrior with salt and pepper goatee and short trimmed black hair, stepped forward. 

“Expecting the Combine will have taken precautions to defend Hanover,” Erikk began as Boris yielded the podium, “the initial assault will be risky but should yield a substantial initiative advantage.”

He gestured to the holographic display and a tech zoomed the image in on the landing zones. 

“The landing will take place in two phases,” Erikk explained. “The first phase is the 12th Bear Guards who will touch down near midnight. The landing will be a hot drop covered by your Aerospace forces.”

On the holographic, the landing zone was highlighted in blue. 

“Your objective here is to seize control of the city of Cologne and the nearby airfield,” Erikk said. “The initial landing zone will put you in close proximity to the city. You will have to move fast. Secure the airfield and the city, which has a small starport capable of acting as a supply base for the rest of the operation. The airfield is not large but is sufficient for limited numbers of Aerospace fighters to stage from.”

He looked up at Cade, nodding curtly. 

“The area is not large enough for all of Beta to land here,” he continued. “The rest of the Galaxy will set down in a dry lake bed fifty kilometers to the northeast at Oh Four Thirty. The 140th will be the first on the ground to secure the LZ, then the 14th and 332nd. Star Colonel Ariel Bekker, your Iowa Blacklancers will then form up and lead the drive to link up with the Growling Bears. You should be on the move by Oh Six Hundred.”

Ariel glanced to Cade, giving him a nod. The quiet Star Colonel rarely spoke up in meetings but her results commanding her assault unit could not be questioned. 

Erikk turned his attention back to Cade.

“We will be jumping in to a pirate point in the system, cutting quite a bit of time of transit,” he continued. “However, we will still have a three day burn in. That is more than enough time for the Combine to raise the alarm and track flight paths. Expect a hot welcome, Star Colonel.”

“Understood,” Cade replied. “We will give them more than they can handle.” 

“I am sure, Cade,” Erikk nodded. 

He looked out over the other warriors. 

“Once Cologne is secured, the 332nd and 14th will drive on Wexler,” Erikk said. The screen behind him showed the planned routes of march. “We expect to meet heavy resistance on this assault from both mobile and static forces. There are a number of passes through the Worldspine Mountains but we expect them to be heavily defended.” 

Star Colonel Chyanne Kabrinski raised a hand. 

“Cologne and Wexler both are located on the Niedersachen continent,” she pointed out. “Is it necessary to pass through the mountains at all, quineg?”

Erikk shook his head. 

“Initially, no,” he agreed. “However, there are two large military bases on Sylvania, here and here.”

Lights on the display showed the locations. 

“The first is Yoshiteru Mountain,” Erikk explained. “It is a full functioning base with repair facilities and two landing pads capable of landing Overlord class ships. The Watch indicates it has well prepared defenses in depth and will be difficult to take in a direct assault. If not taken, it gives the Combine a staging base to bring in reinforcements. In addition, the mountain contains an airfield built into the side of the mountain itself, all but untouchable by bombing.”

The second indicator light flashed on the display. 

“This is Frieburg,” Erikk continued. “It is a fortified city with a pair of well-maintained air bases. It is also a major supply point for the continent and has the potential to be a major hold out. The Watch reports the primary command center for the southern continent is here, in a bunker buried beneath the city. Heavy anti air defenses means a hot drop would be costly.”

“This is going to be a slugging match,” Star Colonel Dietrich Forrester spoke up. “At some point we will have to fight our way through those passes.”

Erikk nodded sagely. 

“Eventually, yes,” he agreed. “Though if we can establish air superiority over the world, taking those two bases will be much easier. For that, we need a presence on world.”

Dietrich nodded, leaning back in his chair. 

“We know the Combine will not make this fight easy,” Erikk said. “And we have learned enough about them to know they will disrupt our plans. I believe we can reasonably expect to pull off our initial objectives. Concentrate on that for now. Then we will see what we need to do to counter the Combines actions.”

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Eugene’s Grill, Tsurara City
Schuyler, Rasalhague Dominion
22 October 3095

Kien idly peeled the label off his bottle of Timbiqui dark. Sitting at the bar, he took in the other patrons of Eugene’s Grill. A mix of civilian and warriors occupied the restaurant that was more bar than eatery. 

Still, does have some decent food here. They make their own fries and those turkey sandwiches are better than anything we have on base. 

In the weeks since the Dominion had taken control of Schuyler, the citizens had taken well to their new rulers. There had been an initial burst of violence, as there always was, when the world changed hands. However, as the former Combine citizens came to realize very little in their lives had actually changed, they settled down. 

They still go to the same jobs, live in the same homes, eat at the same restaurants and get drunk with the same friends, Kien thought as he took a sip of his beer. They’re paid in Bear Krona instead of Yen now…and their work benefits the Dominion instead of the Combine, but these are minor things to the average citizen. 

There was still a bit of tension in the bar. Kien and his fellow warriors would have to be blind not to see it. The civilians gave the warriors a bit of space. The two groups didn’t intermingle…yet. 

Give it time and eventually they will, he surmised. They’ll get curious about the Trueborns and find common ground to speak with the Rasalhague warriors. 

Granted, we won’t likely be here when that happens, he reminded himself. Word had come down three days before that the 12th Bear Guards would be shipping out again soon. The war with the Combine continued to rage and scuttlebutt said another wave would be launched soon. 

Kien felt someone take the stool beside him. Turning to see who his new neighbor, the pilot was surprised to find his commanding officer signaling for a drink from the barman. 

Clad in a steel gray jumpsuit, combat boots and a black leather jacket with the tribal bear emblem of the 12th Bear Guards, Cade looked the part of the military commander he was. Though only 5’8, a bit short for a Trueborn, his eyes carried an intensity that told of combat that had shaped him. 

“Cade,” Kien nodded to his commander. “Welcome to the best bar in the city. What brings you off base?”

“Your techs told me I’d find you here,” Cade replied, accepting a beer from the bartender. 

“They know me well,” Kien nodded with a grin. “If Aldus didn’t have things for them to do, they’d be here with me.” 

“It’s a rare warrior in the Clan that spends so much time with lower castemen,” Cade remarked, taking a sip. “It says a lot about you.”

Kien shrugged. 

“It’s a rare Star Colonel who so casually uses contractions,” Kien quipped. “Makes you a lot more likable to the Freeborn.”

Cade grinned. 

“I know,” he said. “That’s why I do it.”

Kien chuckled and took another swig. 

“So why look for me? I’ve been behaving myself recently.”

“Or so the reports say,” Cade answered. “But I’m here because of a shakeup in the Growling Bears. After the fight to take Schyuler, it was painfully evident we were understrength in terms of air support. We are expanding the 55th Fighter Star to the 17th Pursuit Binary.”

Kien nodded, considering that. 

Having only a binary of fighter support is still light for a Cluster, but it was a start. 

“What will we have for planes?”

“Our techs have been working wonders at the Wakizashi Enterprises facility,” Cade explained. “In record time, they have retooled the factory to build Sai 4-Cs. The first ones off the line are set up for our new star. I also have a handful of other fighters on the way; a pair of Turks, a pair of Visigoths.”

“Not a bad group,” Kien replied. “Mostly interceptors.”

“Aff,” Cade said. “The heavier elements in the Binary will concentrate more on hard targets or ground support.”

“So why tell me,” Kien asked. 

In response, Cade pulled something from his jacket pocket and placed it on the counter. It was the insignia pin of a Star Commander. 

“To see how you want them configured, Star Commander Kien,” Cade replied. “They’re all yours…” 


Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Yoshiteru Mountain
Hanover, Draconis Combine
10 October, 3095

Aaron Yamato looked up as the door to the briefing theater opened. Other warriors and officers turned in their seats to watch the group of men coming through the double doors. At their head, General Noiru Kitamura strode down the stairs. Tension in the amphitheater broke and Aaron felt a smile he could not suppress play over his face.

He did not know who started the cheer but he enthusiastically took it up as the old general passed. A grin tugged at the corner of Kitamura’s mouth but he held his composure as he took the podium. He let the troops cheer a moment longer then motioned for silence. The cacophony held only a few moments after this, quickly dying down out of respect for the old man’s wishes.

“Troops of the Combine, listen up,” Kitamura called out. “There is a lot to discuss today. I will start by saying thank you for your continued support. I am told many personal appeals were sent to high command, asking that I retain command of you. Your words reached the Coordinator’s ears. He has seen fit to overlook this unworthy servant’s failures. I remain in command of the Schuyler forces.”

Kitamura looked out over the assembled warriors. 

“The Coordinator also believes that the combined Schuyler Guards need a new name and a new purpose,” he said. “As of today, the Schuyler Guards are no more. We are now the First Schuyler Lancers.”

Cheers started in the back of the hall and washed forward. Kitamura grinned, letting the newly named unit celebrate for a moment before waving them quiet once more.

“In the past month, we have worked to build a structure for our unit,” he continued. “The Coordinator sees no reason to change what we have done. The Lancers are formally acknowledged as a reinforced combined arms regiment. New equipment is on the way to bring our battalions up to full strength.”

Kitamura looked back along the lines of men and women, seeking someone out. His gaze paused as it fell on Aaron. 

“Tai-i Aaron Yamato,” he called out. Aaron stood at attention. 

“Hai, general,” Aaron replied confidently. 

I don’t know why I’m being summoned but I suspect the DCMS has finally remembered I am not part of the Schulyer units. My warriors and I are being sent back to the Regulars. 

“Tai-i, you and your Regulars performed admirably during our last battle,” Kitamura said. “I have requested you to be assigned to the Lancers on a permanent basis. The Coordinator has granted my request. You are hereby assigned to the Lancers at the rank of Chu-sa…my executive officer.”

Aaron’s shock felt like a physical blow. 

I did not hear him correctly. I could not have.

The half dozen warriors around him, all that remained of his company of Regulars, cheered and whistled. One mechwarrior slapped him on the back, congratulating him. 

“Chu-sa Yamato, would you please join me?”

Kitamura indicated a place beside him. 

Bowing deeply, the smile starting across his face, Aaron drew a deep breath to steady himself. The warriors beside him stepped aside to let him pass. Moments later, he was mounting the stairs to the podium, turning to face the warriors he had fought and bled beside on Schuyler. 

Then they were fellow soldiers, brothers in arms, but not truly mine. Now, they are the men and women I will call family. Though I was one of the Regulars and I was not unhappy there, I have shared combat with these troops. It is a bond I never had with the Regulars. 

“Now then,” Kitamura continued. “We have been given a new assignment. The First Schuyler Lancers will be assisting with the defense of Hanover. The world lies directly in the path of the oncoming Dominion forces. We have a matter of weeks until they hit the system. There is a lot to do…” 

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Hanger Bay, Dropship Hartford
Schuyler, Rasalhague Dominion 
24 October 3095

Cian stood in the Hartford’s hanger, looking over the sleek lines of the last fighter to arrive for the 17th Pursuit Binary. Lean and lethal with flaring wings in the front to add lift to those in the back, it was a predatory built for space. Beneath the forward wings, a quartet of large lasers were arrayed like fangs. Six medium lasers carried in weapons pods on the wings added even more firepower. 

The omnifighter, a Sabutai, was built as a dogfighter. Fast, maneuverable and carrying enough lasers to swat any enemy fighter from the skies, it was a true space superiority fighter. Cian’s only regret was that the 12th Bear Guards could only get one before they jumped out for Hanover. 

Perks of being a Star Commander. This one is mine. Turning from the fighter, he looked at his new star of pilots.

The assembled group of warriors standing between a pair of Sulla A’s chatted idly. The nine men and women were an eclectic mix. Cian counted both Trueborn and Freeborn in their number. He took a moment to look them over. 

Standing at the front of one Sulla, a slender blonde woman spoke with a man with dark skin and angular features. The two were not yet having an argument but Cian suspected they would get to that level soon. Beyond them another man, stockier with fair hair and bright blue eyes looked on with interest. 

He’s about as Rasalhaugian as you can get.

Another pair of pilots sat on the wing of the other Sulla. Both female, one was describing some previous battle, using her hands to simulate positions of fighters. That woman, with Asian features and hair pulled back in a long braid, finished her story on a humorous note sending her companion into a fit of easy laughter. 

The second woman, taller and lean like a track star, wore her light brown hair trimmed short, buzzed on the sides for easier connection with her neurohelmet. Though some women couldn’t wear short hair well, it seemed to suit her and Cian couldn’t easily imagine what she’d look like with it longer. 

Standing between the two fighters, the last four pilots, all male, were engaged in an intense discussion. Leading the conversation was a broad shouldered warrior with close cut dark hair. Though his shoulders were broad the rest of his body tapered down in classic fashion with narrow hips and muscular legs. His hawk nose gave him the look of a martial bird of prey that any pilot would be proud of. 

To his left was an unassuming man who Cian almost missed entirely, so easily did he seem to blend into the background. He held himself at ease and his neatly cut light brown hair and nondescript features caused the eyes to slide off him to someone more interesting. Cian studied him a moment to really take stock of this warrior. 

He seemed to keep quiet, offering little to the conversation but his deep blue eyes were focused intensely on the speaker. Cian doubted much escaped the notice of this man while he casually avoided attention. 

The third man in the group would have a hard time not standing out. Powerfully built with his head shaved to the skin, he looked like he’d be more at home in Elemental armor than in a cockpit. A thin, jet black goatee gave him a roguish quality. He constantly seemed in motion, shifting from one foot to the next and flexing his hands as though possessed of an energy he could not quite contain. 

Finally, a lean warrior with blonde hair pulled back in a stern ponytail finished out the assembly. Dark eyes contrasted sharply with the light skin and hair, hinting at a bit of Asian ancestry. However, the blonde hair gave away the Scandinavian heritage of a son of Rasalhague. 

Cian grinned at the pilots. They had not yet seemed to notice him but what he saw impressed him. 

They are not a team yet but as individuals they are impressive. If I can get them working together, they will be a formidable force. 

Adjusting the star commander pin on his lapel, Cian strode around the nose of his Sabutai. As he came more fully into view, the conversations died away as the pilots turned their attention his direction. 

Cian stopped even with the noses of the Sulla As. The pilots sitting on the wing hopped down, turning his way. 

“I am Star Commander Cian,” he stated. “I’m sure you already know we’ll be jumping out in a few days. I would have hoped for more time to train together but it seems we won’t have the luxury.”

As he spoke, the pilots moved up forming a rough semi-circle around him.

“You’re all good pilots,” he continued. “Either veterans or at the top of your sibkos. That’ll help as we form up. I’ve reviewed your records but I’ve met none of you before. Let’s have some names.”

It didn’t surprise Cian when the dark haired, hawk nosed warrior spoke up first. 

“I am Aaron,” he said confidently. “Formerly of the Eight Bear Cuirassiers.”

The Eighth is a prominent frontline unit in its own right. Makes me wonder why he was transferred. 

“Richart,” the shaved headed warrior stepped up. “Aaron is hopeless without me, so I came along with him. 

Two warriors from the Eighth? Interesting. 

“My name is Ayako,” the Asian woman spoke up. “Just out of the Three Arrows sibko on Orestes. Top of my class across the board.”

She had a casual and comfortable smirk as she flicked her braid over a shoulder. 

“Almost sounds impressive,” the blonde man with the ice blue eyes grunted. “If you weren’t in the company of real warriors.”

He shot Ayako a grin. 

“I’m Sven, of the Gunzburg Eagles,” he added. “First tour, four kills.”

“I am Marc, also of the Eagles,” the Rasalhague man with the pony tail added in. “I was about to start my third tour.”

That makes him six years in the Eagles…and as I recall, he’s our only ace. Seven air to air kills and no need to brag about it. 

“Vanessa,” the lean track star spoke up. “Attached to the Ursa Major.”

A fleet pilot? Rare for a transfer there. I wonder what kind of favors Cade had to call in for that one. 

“Gregori, from the Devil’s Own sibko,” the dark skinned pilot spoke up. “Best of the new breed.”

There was a confidence in Gregori’s voice which made Cian consider that it might not be bravado. 

I think he legitimately believes that. Confidence is good. Overconfidence is fatal. Time tells which he has. 

“I am Miranda, of the Hall bloodhouse,” the slender blonde woman spoke up. “It is an honor to join the 12th Bear Guards.”

That left only one warrior, though it again took a second for Cian to realize which. The unassuming warrior he’d nearly missed before had drifted to the back of the pack, blending into the background. For just a moment, Cian had assumed he was a tech rather than a pilot. 

Cian nodded to him and the blue eyed man stepped forward. 

“I’m Kinnison, from the 56th PGC,” he said simply, offering nothing beyond this basic statement. 

Cian looked around at the warriors he’d been given. 

Well I wasn’t wrong. There’s some impressive talent here. 

“Welcome to the Growling Bears,” he said. “Specifically, you are now part of the 17th Pursuit Binary, led by Star Captain Aldus Vong. Vong and his warriors are the heavy hitting star for us. You and I, form the space superiority star.”

Cian gestured to the Sulla A’s flanking the pilots. 

“We’ll be flying mostly medium fighters with a couple heavies for support,” he said. “I’ve reviewed your records and have some ideas for who will be assigned where. We’ll go over that later. For now, there’s a decent bar called Eugene’s that we’re going to.”

Several of the pilots glanced at one another, uncertain if they’d heard him right. 

“We don’t have long to get to know each other,” Cian said with a grin. “And I’m a firm believer that if you want to know someone....get a drink with them.” 

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Fort Calsdan Starport
Schuyler, Rasalhague Dominion
23 October 3095

The auburn-haired warrior stepped out ahead of her companions, crossing the terminal with purpose. Her grin matched Cade's own as she met him for a fierce hug. 

"Cade! It's been far too long!"

"Stravag but it has, Jacqueline," Cade replied, holding his sibmate tight for a moment. 

As she stepped back, Star Commander Jacqueline tossed her thick braid over a shoulder. The rest of her star stepped up behind her. 

"Meet your Star Colonel, Cade Mackenzie," she said over her shoulder. 

"The 'Hunter' himself," a muscular dark skinned warrior with a shave head commented. "Quite a reputation you have, Star Colonel."

"And quite a bit of influence to pull experienced warriors out of their units to use as replacements," the short, blonde woman on Jacqueline's other side quipped. "Certainly makes your unit look good when you get credit for victories bought with the blood of other warriors."

Judea pegged that right, Cade thought as he regarded the woman coolly. She thought there'd be resentment at transfers. 

"You have complaints, Elena? I would think a true warrior would relish the chance for battle," Cade replied. "Or is the safety of guard duty on the capital more your style?"

Elena seemed taken aback that Cade knew her name. Her face flushed red at the insult. 

Jacqueline merely smirked, watching the exchange. 

"Let me set things straight," Cade said calmly. "The Combine is an experienced and powerful enemy. To keep them off balance we need to keep pressure on them and give them no chance to take the initiative. If that means cycling our warriors to front line units, so be it."

He glanced at the other warriors. 

"As it stands, you are the exception, not the rule," Cade continued. "Stars from second line units have been cycled up as well to give them combat experience. You can expect the Combine will launch a counter attack as soon as they're able."

Elena bristled at the contraction. 

"I warned you, Elena," Jacqueline commented. "You are a good warrior but you are not on Cade's level."

The other warriors chuckled. Cade motioned a slender Asian woman in the combat fatigues of the 12th over to them. 

"Takano, show these warriors to their quarters," he ordered. The former samurai bowed her head and led Elena and her colleagues away. 

Jacqueline and Cade watched as they crossed the terminal. 

"It has taken a long time, but we get to keep that promise from the sibko," Jacqueline commented. "Commanding forces against a common enemy." 

"Aff, though you seemed convinced you would be calling the shots," Cade smirked. 

"Yes well, some things did not go according to plan."

The pair of warriors laughed. 

"It's good to see you, Jackie," Cade said once the others were out of earshot. "I trust the trip wasn't too hard."

Jacqueline shrugged. 

"Long and uncomfortable as most repositioning is," she replied. "Worth it though. I have not seen a proper battle in near two years. Despite Elena's complaints they are eager for the fight."

Cade nodded with a grin. 

"Good," he replied. "They'll get one. The Genyosha are the Combines best."

"Aff," Jacqueline agreed. "But we can talk about the operation later. For now I thought perhaps we could go someplace a bit more secluded...like your quarters...to catch up."

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion


Dropship Susquehanna
Schuyler, Rasalhague Dominion 
24 October 3095

Jacqueline stood on the shoulder of her omnimech surveying the mechbay as the technicians scrambled about, seeing to the last needs of the war machines before the Susquehanna lifted off. Below her, three techs worked replacing a faulty actuator on her Stormcrow. She watched them idly for a moment before turning to face Elena. 

She had seen the mechwarrior cross the mechbay minutes earlier. Jacqueline knew what was coming. 

The only surprise is that it took Elena as long as it has before she came to me. 

“Let us have it, Elena,” she said as she glanced up at the mechwarrior standing on the catwalk above, arms crossed firmly over her chest. 

“I am sure you know what I would say, Star Commander,” Elena replied, the blonde woman glaring across the bay at the mechs lining the far wall. “We were transferred to this unit, which is unusual in the first place, but to be relegated to medium mechs? This is unacceptable.”

Jacqueline arched an eyebrow at the blonde warrior. 

“You have been trained to pilot everything from a light to an assault mech,” she replied. “Are you saying you are not up to the challenge? Other warriors will be willing to take your place, I am certain.”

Elena bristled but she stood her ground. 

“It is not that and you know it,” Elena replied angrily. “We are to be part of a major assault…likely without surprise. We need heavy and assault mechs for this operation. Star Colonel Cade uses mostly mediums and some heavies. Doctrine indicates the 12th Bear Guards are too light. We will be slaughtered.”

“Neg,” Jacqueline said, turning to face her fully. “The 12th is exactly what is needed for our role in the operation. We are not to shatter the Genyosha. We are to take a city quickly and hold it. That requires a light and flexible force which can drop directly on the target.”

Jacqueline gestured with one hand, taking in the other mechs in the bay. 

“A Linebacker, two Stormcrows, a Pouncer and a Shadow Cat,” she listed the star. “All are configured for short range brawling. We are expecting to fight in close quarters. Lighter elements are superior if we must fight an urban battle.”

Elena shook her head.

“Executioners and Timber Wolves in an ‘S’ configuration would do much better,” she said. “And the Combine would have no chance.”

“And if we must move out of the city for some reason?” Jacqueline crossed her own arms as she regarded her warrior coolly. “Like if we have to run down withdrawing forces? If we were too slow we would lose the Combine.”

She shook her head, looking back at the other mechs. 

“Ultimately, your complaint does not matter, warrior,” Jacqueline remarked. “One goes to war with what they have. This star is what we have and it is not a bad star. I see no issues. If you have become so defeatist, you are welcome to request a transfer to another unit. I will approve it and so will Cade.”

Elena stared down at her commander, angry and silent. 

“That will not be necessary, Star Commander,” she said in precise, angry tones. “I will see to my Pouncer. I will be ready when we jump out.”

Jacqueline nodded once, curtly and watched Elena stalk away. For a moment she thought she was alone with her thoughts. 

“She’s a headache for sure,” Cade remarked. 

Jacqueline turned sharply, surprised to find Cade and a lean, powerful Elemental standing on the gantry on the opposite side of the Stormcrow. 

“She is alright,” Jacqueline replied. “It is just battle nerves. A good warrior, Elena, if high strung.”

“I know,” Cade replied. “I’ve read her files. She’s just this side of insubordinate but a hell of a fighter. Keep her under control and she’ll tear up the Combine.”

“Aff,” Jacqueline nodded. “Is there something you need, Star Colonel?”

“Just to bring you to a meeting,” Cade said. “I also thought you should meet Star Commander Locke, your Elemental commander. Stanzach is a Nova, not merely a star.”

Jacqueline gave Locke a respectful nod. 

“I have not commanded a Nova before,” Jacqueline remarked. “Are you sure I should not place myself under Locke and not the other way around?”

Locke shook his head, massive muscles flexing with the movement. 

“Neg, Jacqueline,” he says. “I will act as advisor if you wish but I have the mind of an infantryman. You know best how to deploy mechs. I will tell you when I think my units should be deployed.”

“I wish we had the time to have you train together,” Cade added. “However we leave soon. I’ve had battle footage and after action reports released to each of you so you can familiarize with each other. I’d say you should have your Stars meet and get to know each other as much as possible during the trip.”

“Aff,” Jacqueline replied. “Locke, if you are willing, I will have my mechwarriors join your elementals for dinner this evening.”

“It sounds like a good place to start,” Locke agreed. “I shall leave you to your configuration and maintenance. “

Cade and Locke strode away from the mech gantry as Jacqueline turned back to the Stormcrow. 

“This is not how we should run this operation,” Locke commented as they got out of earshot. “I had thought we would have time to fully integrate.”

Cade nodded as they passed into the corridor. 

“That was what I had in mind,” he remarked. “I did not count on the reinforcements taking as long as it did….nor did I expect to jump off for the third wave and not the forth. Still, we will make this work.”

Locke nodded. 

“We always do,” he replied. “Though I wonder what the cost will be…”

Cade did not answer. He did not trust himself to. 

Facing the greatest threat we have ever had and trying to build the unit as we go…the cost is the last thing I want to think about. 
Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

2153
24 October 3095
Tsurara City, Schuyler
Rasalhague Dominion 

Star Commander Brett walked down the alley, hands in the pockets of his jumpsuit and not paying much attention to anything, especially the banter of his Star-mates. Most of them anyway… MechWarrior Mason had opted to stay at the barracks to practice his combat skills. Having bested him twice in augmented combat and several times in unaugmented combat, Brett smiled and wished him luck before taking the rest of the Star into Tsurara City. 

They were seeking a bar known as “Eugene’s Grill”, which had been recommended to them by some of the Aerospace pilots. Having lost their way enroute… thanks to navigational errors made by MechWarrior Anderson… the four Clansmen had stopped to talk with a group of young men that seemed to have nothing else to do but lean against the walls and streetlamp of that street corner. Luckily, their supposed leader had a fluent grasp of English, which was good because no one in the Star knew Japanese well enough to make conversation.

The young man had grinned broadly when he found out that the Ghost Bears were lost and offered his services in escorting them to their destination. Brett had warily accepted the offer and the four MechWarriors had followed young Keishi down the street. Things seemed to be going well, despite the neighborhoods becoming slightly less than friendly, up to the point where Keishi vanished from sight. Brett had no idea what had happened; only that the young Kuritian had been there one moment and then gone the next, leaving the Clansmen lost and looking it. 

Now much more lost than they had been, the Clansmen attempted to trace their route back to where they had first met Keishi and his friends, but were having problems. First, the light of day was fading and while the streetlights were coming on to dispel the dark, things just looked different in the early evening light than they had even in the setting sun. 

Second, the route that Keishi had taken them on had been very convoluted and twisted… he’d even doubled back once, saying that the route he’d started on was not the best. While Brett had been suspicious of the youth from the start, he’d relaxed his guard some as the evening progressed and paid more attention to the conversations the rest of the Star had gotten into. 

“I know that sign.” Anderson said, pointing to blue neon sign in the shape of a flower that folded and unfolded with the movement of the lights.

“Yes… we all do.” MechWarrior Rebecka replied dryly. “This would be the third time we have passed it since losing our ‘guide’.”

“That stravag freebirth!” Anderson cursed, seemingly ignoring the presence of Raze in their group. If the freeborn MechWarrior had taken offense, he didn’t show it, and Anderson continued. “I will wring his neck with my bare hands if I ever see him again.”

“Get in line.” Rebecka replied and tapped Brett on his shoulder. “Do you know where we are at?”

“Neg.” Brett replied and looked about the neighborhood. All of them looked nearly the same… large grey buildings meant to house the numerous workers that lived there and designed to be built large, cheaply, and quickly. Brett decided that the Combine should have used grey instead of red for their banners… it would have more properly represented the buildings they all lived in. “These neighborhoods all look alike.”

“We must get clear soon.” MechWarrior Raze rasped out. The burn marks on his throat and face made him look almost demonic in the harsh streetlights. “It is very possible we have been lead into an ambush.”

“Aff.” Brett agreed and glanced up. Most of the stars were obscured by the lights of Tsurara City, but he was able to find the local ‘north star’ and make a good guess on which direction the Growling Bears’ barracks were located. He pointed off to their left. “The barracks should be in that direction… so that is the direction we shall go.”

“What about the bar?” Anderson asked. 

“Assuming we make it to the barracks in one piece, then we can always get a ride to the bar.” Brett said. 

“As we should have instead of relying on the navigational skills of a certain MechWarrior who wanted a ‘bit of adventure’ for the evening.” Rebecka said, glaring at Anderson while crossing her arms over her chest. 

“Later, Rebecka.” Brett said in a soft but firm voice. His eyes were tracking several shadowy figures in the alley across the way from them. “Right now, we need to get moving.”

“Aff.” Rebecka agreed as she followed Brett’s gaze. “That would probably be prudent.” 

“Why?” Anderson asked, his feet planted firmly on the pavement in a broad stance. “They are only a few freebirth… not even warriors, children most likely. As that ‘guide’ was.”

“I would remind you that at that age, we were also children and many of us had made at least one kill already.” Brett said. “And we do not know if this would be just children or not… who is to say that the Dragon did not leave some of its people behind just for this sort of occasion.” 

“Then they would be bandits and still not warriors.”

“Bandits can kill you just as dead as a warrior can.” Rebecka said. “Which way, Brett?”

Brett nodded in the direction that he believed the barracks to be in. “To the left… stay at a steady pace for now. Do not hurry, but let us not stand here in one spot any longer.”

The group started to move, keeping a wary eye out for movement. They spotted it here and there, but always in the shadows and never in the light. Rebecka paused for a moment and looked around quickly before regaining her stride, moving slightly faster than before.

“Rebecka?” Brett asked.

“There have been no moving vehicles in our vicinity us for almost ten minutes. And no other people either… for at least that long… excepting our shadows.” She explained.

“Then something is about to happen.” Brett replied and slid his hand down to the weapon on his hip, unbuckling the flap of the holster. He did not draw the laser pistol on his hip, but he made sure the holster flap wouldn’t impede him if he needed to. The others in the group did the same, but also kept their firearms in their holsters. Brett caught a flash of steel in Raze’s hand but said nothing. The rules of engagement said no drawing of firearms without the need to defend yourself, but said little to nothing about other weapons.

“My comms are jammed.” Anderson said in a low voice.

Brett checked his, finding noting but static or a high-pitched whine on any channel he tried, and then nodded. “Same. Whatever they have planned, it’s coming very quickly.”

A large hover truck with a canvas tarp over its bed slid in front of them from a side street, blocking their path. Flood lights from the side of the truck flipped on, blinding them all with their bright beams just before at least three automatic weapons opened fire from inside the canvas shrouded bed of the vehicle. The hammering of the submachine guns shattered any sense of quiet that had been the norm of the evening up to this point.

Brett had started moving when the truck showed up and grabbed Rebecka’s arm to pull her into cover with him as he did. The two MechWarriors tumbled to the pavement and kept rolling until they were behind a set of concrete stairs that lead into one of the apartment buildings. Rounds from one of the automatic weapons chased them, setting off sparks as the bullets ricocheted off the concrete. Brett rolled Rebecka over him and then rolled himself on top of her, trying to cover her body with his and make the most of the little cover they had.

He and Rebecka exchanged a look from centimeters apart before nodding and shifting their positions and the positions of their limbs for best movement when the time for action had arrived. When the submachine guns’ firing stopped for a moment, both MechWarriors untangled themselves and took firing stances. Brett stood and leveled his laser pistol at the truck, while Rebecka stayed low and brought her automatic pistol to bear from behind the cover of the stairs.

Both of them fired at the first target they could see, a man leaning out of the cab of the truck, waving a pistol at someone and yelling in loud Japanese. Brett’s laser beam punched a hole in the man’s chest and set his coveralls on fire with the heat of the beam. The man started to scream but went silent as Rebecka walked three rounds up his chest, the last removing most of the man’s face with its impact.

The submachine guns opened back up, two of them sending streams of bullets at Brett and Rebecka. The third was firing in the opposite direction, giving Brett some measure of hope that either Raze or Anderson or both were still in the fight as well. His hope was given life when Brett heard the report of Anderson’s favored sidearm, a large caliber revolver with rounds that were powerful enough to punch through most of a civilian ground car. One of the gunners’ head snapped to the side and a gory spray of organic material showered the man to his right before the head-shot man dropped to the ground. 

The one that had been sprayed acted in a very normal fashion and tried to wipe off the gore of his comrade from his face. His actions cost him his life as Brett put two shots into the man’s chest, sending the man backwards, screaming. Even if the shots did not kill him, which they should, the man would at least be out of action for the next several critical minutes. The last gunner dropped into the bed of the truck and stayed there as the truck lurched forward and went down the street and away from the firefight.

He reappeared a moment later, firing a heavy machine gun that had been mounted in the bed of the truck out the back of the vehicle. The heavy rounds chewed up a section of concrete stairs then walked up the building itself, punching out craters in the cinderblock walls and shattering glass from one of the apartments. Terrified screams echoed from inside. Brett couldn’t tell if the gunner had been hurt or simply lost control of his weapon because Brett was certain the man hadn’t meant to fire into the building as well.

Brett ran from cover to the corner of the building the truck had gone by and peeked around the corner. He could see the taillights of the truck as it sped away, but the heavy machine gun was silent. He heard running feet and spun around, going to one knee as he brought his laser pistol to bear. The weapon was quickly pointed to the sky as he recognized the shape of Anderson moving towards his position, the man’s heavy revolver held in a two-handed grip and pointed towards the ground.

Both men turned then checked themselves as Rebecka appeared from behind her cover. The other two MechWarriors joined Brett in his position. Brett looked around the area for a moment. “Where is Raze?” 

“He was hit in the leg by one of the gunners during the initial burst of fire.” Anderson reported.

Brett blinked. “I am surprised he was caught so unawares.” 

Anderson turned to look around the corner as he said. “He was wounded because he shoved me to the ground.” 

“Ah.” Brett said, realizing that Anderson was less looking for a target and more hiding the flush of shame that was sure to be creeping across his face. 

“My comms are working.” Rebecka reported, breaking the sudden uncomfortableness of the situation. 

“Excellent.” Brett said and opened a line to the base. “I will get us an evac and medic… you two check on Raze.” 

“Aff.” Anderson replied and started towards where he’d left the other MechWarrior. Rebecka gave Brett a quick nod and followed Anderson.

“This is Kempten Actual to Calsden Security. Requesting medical evac at my position immediately. I have one MechWarrior down from automatic weapons fire.”

[[Calsden Security to Kempten Actual… requesting day’s password.]]

“Alpha, nine, three, tango, seven.” Brett replied. He returned the wave from Anderson, who had reached Raze and found him to be in good health, despite the two 40mm holes in his left leg.

[[Password recognized, Kempten Actual. Security teams and medical evac enroute now. ETA is one-zero minutes. Do you have a smoke marker with you for the LZ?]]

Brett closed his eyes for a moment. “Neg, Security… I did not think it necessary for dinner.”

[[Duly noted, Star Commander.]] A new and more commanding voice replied. [[ETA is one-zero minutes.]]

“Acknowledged.” Brett replied and ran to where the rest of his Star-mates were at. He crouched down beside them. “We have medical evac in ten minutes.” He looked at the injured MechWarrior beside him. “How are you doing, Raze?”

“Well enough, Star Commander.” Raze growled out. He had his belt cinched around the top of his leg and above the two wounds. Shreds of Anderson’s shirt were wrapped around the wounds, but blood was soaking through despite the pressure that both Raze and Rebecka were putting on them. “But this is going to ruin my appetite.”

“Mine too.” Brett agreed. “Remind me to put you on report for that.”

Raze gave a half grin that pulled wickedly on his burn marks, making the grin into something ghastlier. “Aff.”

Beams of bright lights stabbed towards them and Brett turned to fire at what he was certain would be returning enemies. The lights were instead from an armored personnel carrier that settled down on its plenum skirt as a point of five Elementals disembarked from the hover vehicle. The spotlights settled on the ground about two meters from the MechWarriors, marking their general position without giving them away or blinding them in the process.

Four of the Elementals spread out to cover the area with their weapons; the fifth approached the MechWarriors at a trot. “I am Point Commander Alex.”

“Star Commander Brett.” Brett replied. “You arrived much sooner than expected.”

“We were responding to the shots being fired. So were enroute.” Alex explained and looked at Raze. “I do not have a medical team with me, but they will be here very soon.” 

“I can wait.” Raze growled out.

Brett just shook his head and looked at Alex. “We shall wait here.” 

“I shall join my point in providing security then.” Alex replied.

“Please do.” Brett said, releasing the point commander to his duties. His gaze swept across the neighborhood where the street was now flooded with lights from the apartment windows and porch steps. A few people were hanging out their windows, yelling to each other in Japanese. Silently, Brett watched all of this and wondered what would happen next.

Star Commander Brett
Hellbringer Prime
Kempten Star, 101st Battle Binary
12th Bear Guards (The Growling Bears)


Dropship Hartford, Nadir Jump Point
Schuyler, Rasalhague Dominion
2 November 3095 

“So what can we do,” Kien asked, looking to Martel as the crew chief leaned back out of the access panel on the aerofighter. 

Martel looked grim as he shook his head and accepted a rag from Kinnison to clean his hands.

“Nothing with what I have, Kien,” Martel replied. “This second Sabutai needs a replacement engine. It’s only running at eighty five percent capability and the more we use it the less reliable it will get. We have a lot of parts with us, but no reserve Three Hundred XL engine for a fighter. 
There’s probably one in the follow up convoy but that won’t help us much.”

“Well…stravag…,” Kien shook his head. “We’re down a fighter before we even start.”

“Not entirely,” Kinnison replied, leaning against the fuselage of his Sabutai. “We still have our reserve fighters.”

“But none are Sabutai,” Ayako replied, kicking her feet idly, seated on the aerofighters wing. “We have only Sai fighters as a reserve.”

Kinnison shrugged with an easy grin. 

“That’ll do.”

Ayako frowned. 

“The Sai is a fine fighter but it is not in the same league as a Sabutai,” she replied. 

“I don’t need to be in the same league,” Kinnison said casually. “I just need to keep people off Kien’s tail. I can do that in a Sai.”

Kinnison seemed unperturbed at the idea of taking a Sai into combat despite training with the Sabutai. 

That’s to his credit. He losses a lot of firepower with the smaller fighter though it’s nimble and should have no problem keeping up with my Sabutai.

“I have faith in him,” Kien replied to Ayako. “We’ll see how fast we can get a replacement engine for that fighter but for now, if a Sai works for you, it works for me.”

Kien looked to his friends and technicians. 

“Martel, Lorna, let’s get this Sabutai moved to storage and bring up the reserve Sai,” he said. 

“We’ll have to move fast, Joker,” Lorna said, using Kien’s call sign. “We jump out in a few hours and it’ll take a bit to get them switched out.”

Kien nodded, unzipping his flight suit and peeling the sleeves down to the waist then tying them off. He wore a navy blue sleeveless shirt underneath though with his tattoos it seemed he had a full length shirt at first glance. 

“More hands make for less work,” he said, clicking on his comm. “Bravo star, report to Bay Two immediately. We have a fighter to move.”

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Dropship Aletha’s Legacy, Warship Great Bear
Hanover, Draconis Combine
5 November 3095

Cade fought down the dizzying sickness that always accompanied a jump. While uncomfortable and disconcerting, he’d always been grateful he handled interstellar jumps relatively well. Plenty of his fellow warriors were not so lucky. 

Gripping the railing, his feet tucked under the metal strips on the floor to keep in him place in zero gravity, Cade focused on the planet displayed on the main view screen of the bridge. Star Captain Farrell called out commands from his command chair, in front of and below Cade. 

“Secure from jump,” Farrell called out. “Begin uncoupling procedure. Give us a sensor sweep.”

“Aye, sir,” one of the techs called back, busy at a terminal off to Cade’s left. 

An alarm sounded, a warning Klaxon screaming as sensor panels lit up along the bridge. Crewmen leapt to their stations as Farrell turned sharply. 

“Kill that alarm,” he called. “Status.”

“Feed from the Great Bear,” the communications tech replied. “Contacts near the jump point. Warships. Destroyers… a cruiser…and a 
battleship.”

Cade’s blood turned to ice at the news. He watched his dropship captain take it in stride but knew the man had to be just as worried. 

“Get us a visual,” Farrell snapped. “Let me see them. Accelerate that uncoupling. Prepare for emergency release.”

The screen winked out. For a long few seconds it stayed black then it snapped back into focus, the world no longer displayed. Against a field of stars, a few miniscule dots moved barely discernable at this range. 

“Magnify that image,” Farrell said. “Let us see them.”

The image cleaned itself up, focusing in sharply. Two destroyers, the arrowhead shape giving them away as Tatsumaki class, accelerated toward the Great Bear and the other Dominion ships. Behind them, two more ships, another Tatsumaki and larger vessel with rounded prow and blocky aft section spread out to flank a monstrosity of a warship. Cade recognized the larger ship as a Kirishima class cruiser from a briefing he’d attended earlier. 

The battleship was massive, almost ponderous but still moved smoothly as it turned toward the Dominion fleet. Bristling with weapons, it dwarfed its fellows. 

“A Mount Nikita class,” Farrell said, staring up at the giant warship. 

“Captain, the Great Bear is releasing all ships in thirty seconds,” a crewman said. “They are turning to shield us.

“Multiple launches from the Great Bear,” another crewman called. “Fighters launching. Sensors are picking up fighters deploying from the Combine ships as well.”

“This is going to be a slugging match,” Farrell said, looking back to Cade. “And we do not have the upper hand here.”

The dropship bridge shook as a series of loud clangs sounded. A barely perceptible shift in gravity pulled at Cade. 

“We are away, Captain.”

“Thank you, Friedrich,” Farrell nodded. “Helm, rotate us to orient toward the planet. Have the Susquehanna and Hartford match our course.”

“Star Colonel Cade,” Friedrich turned away from his station. “Star Admiral Anthony Ortiz is deploying the Star Commander Kien’s fighters as part of his screen.”

Cade nodded.

“Understood,” he replied, looking up to the screen as the first fighters appeared, whipping past the dropship and burning toward the Combine vessels.

“Luck and Skill, Kien,” he murmured. 

Looking back to Friedrich, he unhooked his feet from the clips as the Aletha’s Legacy started to burn toward Hanover providing artificial gravity. 

“To all Growling Bears,” he said. “Begin landing preparations.”

“Farrell,” Cade nodded to his captain. “Get us on the ground as fast as you can.”


Dropship Hartford

Kien reveled in the feel of being shoved back into his seat as his Sabutai hurled down the launch tube, assisted by the Great Bear’s catapults. Soaring into space he felt gravity shift as the fighter came under its own power. Rolling port, he pulled back on the stick and brought the craft parallel with the warship. Kinnison slid his Sai into position behind him. 

“On you, Kien,” Kinnison announced.

Behind him, Kien saw the dropships breaking away from the Great Bear as the Leviathan II warship turned toward the Combine fleet. For long minutes the two forces burned silently toward one another. Sensors updated regularly, information fed to him from the Great Bear indicating Combine fighters had been launched as well. 

On a one on one fight, the Great Bear can take any of these ships, Kien thought as he maneuvered his fighter to point at the lead destroyer. But 
against a full task force? We have to inflict a lot of damage very quickly and convince them they don’t want this fight.

Lances of light and missile blooms announced that the two forces were drawing in weapons ranges. Ranging shots seemed mostly to miss though Kien counted several hits on one of the lead destroyers. With the Great Bear behind him he could not see the accuracy of the Combine gunnery back at the Leviathan II. 

“Fighters coming into range,” Star Captain Pietyr ‘Villain’ Del Viller, commander of the Great Bear air group, called over the comms. “Light and medium stars, engage fighters. Heavy fighters make runs on the warships. Sensors, comm stations and weapons are priorities.”

“Aff, Villain,” Kien replied, then switched to his Stars channel. “Break off and deal with their fighters. We create a hole so the heavy hitters can get to the warships.”

“Joker, that’s going to be a tough fight,” Aaron A.K.A. ‘Snaproll’ said. 

“For sure,” Kien replied. “This is how legends are made. Break by pairs!”

On Kien’s command, the lighter omnifighters leapt ahead of the heavy hitters. Led by Kien’s Sabutai, the mix of Sullas, Sai’s and Turks charged the Combine fighters. As ranges rapidly diminished, Kien dropped his crosshairs over the second fighter in the oncoming swarm, letting one of the other Dominion warriors take out the lead. 

Flares of light emerged from the wings of the fighter, a Slayer, as maneuvering jets fired. The Combine pilot slipped his fighter into line with Kien, setting up a head to head pass. 

Bold move, Kien saluted the man’s courage. Foolish though. I’ll hit you long before you have range on me. 

The targeting computer toned with a solid lock as the Sabutai’s large lasers came into range. Kien fired immediately, sending four bloody lances of light at the samurai pilot. Three of the four sliced into the hull of the incoming fighter and something exploded one the port side. The force of the explosion kicked the craft into a half roll and shoved it violently off course, making it impossible for the Slayer to return fire.

Around Kien, the rest of the 17th fighters cut loose. The light Sulla Omnis broke off, the alpha variant letting fly with LRM flights. The Deltas, like the one Kien used to fly, bored in for close range assaults with medium lasers and SRMs. Off to Kien’s Starboard side, something exploded in the distance. 

“Scratch one!” Kaley ‘Mechanic’ called out. The expanding ball of flames, previously an Oni, flashed out leaving a twisting mass of wreckage. 
Rolling and vectoring after the damaged Slayer, Kien kept on the Combine fighter. The enemy pilot tried for evasive maneuvering but the initial hit clearly damaged control surfaces. As the Slayer tried slipping right it turned very sluggishly, right into Kien’s sights. 

With an eye on the heat spike already making him sweat, Kien switched out his large lasers for his secondary battery of medium extended range models. He triggered four of the six as the range closed. More beams of coherent energy slashed at the wounded warbird. 

Lasers sliced deep in to the fuselage and two burned into the Slayers port engine. Flames burst free from the side of the cowling and the flare of engine thrust died away. Seeing the writing on the wall, the Combine pilot punched out as the fighter started to break up. 

“Joker’s got one,” Kinnison said calmly over the comm. “And I could use a hand.”

Glancing at the sensor screen Kien noticed Kinnison was not with him. The pilot had turned into a pair of oncoming fighters to protect Kien and now he was rolling and looping defensively while the Oni fighters tried to pin him down. 

“I’m on ‘em,” he said, whipping the Sabutai around and throttling up to max speed.

Pointing back toward the space battle shaping up, Kien noted the Great Bear had turned broadside to deliver punishing fire on the Combine Task Force. The Kirishima cruiser had turned with it, trying to bring as many guns to bear as possible. The audacity was costing it as the Leviathan II poured fired into the Combine cruiser. 

“Roll high right,” Kien slipped his Sabutai to get an angle on the trailing Oni. “Bring them to me.”

“Got it,” Kinnison said, following Kien’s direction and pulling the nimble Sai fighter up and to the right. As the Onis followed, one drifted right into Kien’s sights. 

A moment later, the solid tone of a sensor lock sounded. With an eye on his heat curve, Kien had switched to his primary TiC but cut two of his large lasers out of the mix. The paired large lasers reached out at the lean Oni, catching it as it twisted after Kinnison and burning away layers of armor on its belly. 

Though solid hits, neither shot punched through to critical workings on the fighter. They did spoil the pilots aim however. Twin ruby lances burned toward Kinnison’s Sai but passed wide as the Dominion pilot pulled a tight loop. A flight of MRM’s leapt from the Oni’s nose but scattered without scoring a hit. 

The wounded fighter snapped left and pulled away, starting a wide circle. The other Oni stayed on Kinnison, forcing Kien to make a decision. 

“Chase the wounded bird, lose Kinnison,” he whispered. “Stay on the second one to protect him, the first gets on my tail.”

He shook his head, keeping the Sabutai on the Oni’s tail. 

Kinnison is too good a pilot to lose like this.

“I’m still with you, Razor,” Kien called to his wingman. “Bring him left and I’ll get him.”

Ahead, the Sai rolled sharply to port, pouring on speed as it juked. The Oni stayed tight on the lighter craft, drifting with it and firing a volley of MRMs. 

Kinnison saw them or his sensors detected the launch. He reacted by pulling straight up and gunning his engines. The missiles passed below his fighter, barely. As they did, the jetwash from his engines shoved them into one another, starting a series of explosions as detonated from impact. 

For a moment, Kien thought Razor had avoided damage entirely. But as the Sai pulled away from the explosion, he noted it was scorched and there was some damage to the wing though it didn’t seem to slow down Kinnison. 

In the process of setting up the shot, however, the Oni had held its course for one second too long. Kien’s targeting computer sounded a solid lock as he tied all four large lasers together. Needing no further encouragement, he fired. 

All four of the beams sliced into the wings and fuselage of the Combine fighter. Though the Oni was a tough fighter very few machines could take concentrated hits from four large lasers. 

The Oni juked left, trailed smoke and flame then exploded spectacularly. 

Kien didn’t have time to celebrate. He shoved the stick forward, slamming his left foot down on the rudder pedals. Though Aerospace fighters didn’t make use of their rudders in space, the pedals directed thrust to the maneuvering ports along the sides of the fighter. The nose dropped and the thrusters shoved Kien’s fighter into a spiral.

A large laser passed a meter wide of his canopy glass. A second burned into the forward wing, leaving a gouge of damage easily visible from the cockpit. 

“You’re clear, Razor,” Kien said, fighting against the Gee forces his maneuver was throwing at him. “I have one me.”

“Coming around, Joker,” Kinnison said. Out ahead, Kien saw the Sai twisting back to help but it would be a long minute until Kinnison would be able to help.

“Juke right,” Ayako ‘Bushido’ called suddenly. 

Kien did as she said, snapping right and pulling away. Lasers and missiles filled the space he’d been angling for as the Oni dove on him. 

Damn! He feinted at following me then tried a high angle side pass. If not for her, I’d have gotten hit. 

“Scratch one,” Bushido said savagely. 

Behind Kien, the sensor contact for the Oni winked out. 

“Thanks, Bushido,” he replied. “Form on my wing. Razor, you too. Let’s see what kind of damage we can do.”

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

ropship Aletha’s Legacy
Hanover System, Draconis Combine
5 November 3095

Standing with his feet firmly planted against the gravity generated from burning at nearly 2 Gees, Cade MacKenzie watched the battle unfolding on the main screen at the front of the bridge. There was no sound accompanying the images but he did not need to hear the lasers and cannons to recognize the intensity of the firefight in space. 

One the right side of the screen, the Great Bear hung in space, blazing away at the oncoming Combine warships. Star Admiral Anthony Ortiz had shifted course to shield the dropships with the bulk of the Leviathan II warship. The tremendous volume of fire from the Rasalhague Dominion ship only increased as the Combine ships closed in. Medium Naval Gauss Rifles and Naval Auto Cannon 35s pounded rounds at the Combine task force. 

One ship had pulled ahead of the others. The Kirishima-class cruiser had taken lead then turned broadside to engage the Great Bear with as many guns as it could. It was a courageous move but not a tactically skillful one. Though they were inflicting hits on the Dominion warship, the Great Bear was also pummeling them and doing a far better job of landing hits. 

“She will not last long,” Farrell said, looking up from the helmsman station. “But unless the Great Bear can close with that battleship it does not matter.”

“Star Admiral Ortiz has ordered the fighters to make strikes on the battleship,” a tech called out. “They are trying to keep it busy.”

As the commtech announced this, Cade spotted a series of explosions and the flare of laser fire across the hull of the Combine battleship. The fighters were making strafing runs along the flanks of the massive ship. But they were too few to effect a great deal of damage. Most of the aerospace pilots had their hands full with dogfights against the Combine fighters. 

“It will not be enough,” Farrell confirmed. “We are winning the fighter contest but it is taking too long. The Great Bear needs to get out of there.”

“Or we need more firepower to support it,” Cade said. “Can we divert our escort dropships to help the Great Bear?”

Farrell considered that, then nodded. 

“It would add a lot of damage potential though it leaves us vulnerable,” he replied. 

“Do it,” Cade ordered. “Everything that can help the Great Bear needs to happen.”

“Aff,” Farrell replied, turning on his heel and pointing to the comm officer. “Relay the message. All escorting dropships for the 12th break off to assist the Great Bear.”

Cade glanced to the sensor station and saw the monitors indicate several ships in the armada slowing, then rocketing away toward the titanic struggle behind the Aletha’s Legacy. 

“They are away,” the comm tech called. 

“Additional dropships from the other Clusters are following suit,” the sensor officer added. 

“Star Colonel Chyanne Kabrinski has deployed her fighters to screen them,” Farrell said, looking over the shoulder of the comm tech. 

Cade nodded appreciatively. 

“That should give the Combine something to think about,” he said. “I just hope it’s enough to turn the tide.” 


In the heart of the battle

Kien banked hard avoiding a pair of lasers from a Combine fighter. Rolling back to starboard his sensors tagged the incoming fighter as target ‘charlie’. It had been a long range shot and it had come close to hitting Kien’s nimble Sabutai. 

Close isn’t good enough though.

With the shot coming from so far out, Kien had a split second to target the enemy fighter. That was all he needed. 

Tying three large lasers together he chanced a snap shot at the fighter as they zoomed past one another. One of his ruby beams hit nothing but space. The other two, however, burned into the approaching Samurai with a terrible fury. 

Bloody beams of energy slammed into the fuselage right behind the cockpit. The Combine fighter, already showing signs of damage from an earlier encounter, simply peeled apart under the onslaught. Kien had just a glimpse of the pilot looking back in alarm before flames erupted in the cockpit. The engines detonated and the aerospace fighter exploded in a brilliant cloud of flame and debris. 

“Good shooting Joker!”

Kinnison’s Sai was still tight on Kien’s tail as he pulled up from the fireball. 

“Two at our four o’clock, trying to get on a heavies tail,” Kinnison continued. 

“Take the lead, I have your wing,” Kien replied, banking his fighter and slipping to cover the smaller fighter.

Out ahead, the Great Bear pounded the Kirishima cruiser with another punishing volley of autocannon and laser fire. A series of explosions starting at the stern began erupting along the length of the warship. At first, Kien thought they were just missile hits. As they gained intensity with each blast, he recognized them for what they were. 

“Ammunition explosions and oxygen venting,” he said, watching the dying ship as he stayed glued on Kinnison’s wing. “She’s done for.”

Another explosion, this one much larger, erupted from the tail section of the bulbous cruiser, blowing parts of the stern completely away from the hull. Lights along the cruiser flickered and died as did the return fire. For what seemed an eternity, the darkened ship hung silently in space lit only by the oxygen fueled fires along its starboard side. Then escape pods began jettisoning along its spine as the crew desperately tried to flee their dying vessel. 

“We got the cruiser!” Joker exclaimed, elated. 

“It does not matter,” Bushido replied solemnly. “Look at the Great Bear.”

Kien craned his neck to see the flagship. 

“By Kerensky….”


Aboard Leviathan II Warship Great Bear

Star Admiral Anthony Ortiz gripped the railing as the Great Bear shook violently from another series of hits. 

“Hull breach, Deck three, frames thirteen through seventeen,” the Damage control officer reported. “Emergency seals deployed.”

“That takes out a pair of guns,” Star Commander Whalen called out. “Firepower down almost twenty percent.”

Anthony Ortiz nodded, looking up at the main screen displaying the line of Combine ships. Though his own warship was taking damage, the Kirishima cruiser closest to the Dominion vessel was in much worse shape. With the last volley it had lost power and begun breaking up. 

“That cruiser is finished,” he said to Whalen. “Shift target to that battleship and tell your port side gunners to be ready.”

Turning to see the navigation and helmsman stations, Anthony tightened his grip.

“Helm, begin axial roll,” he ordered. “Get our port side to the enemy.”

“Aye, admiral,” the helmsman replied, his hand dancing over the holographic controls. The Great Bear responded to his commands and gravity began to shift slightly as the warship began to roll, bringing the untouched port side to face the Combine fleet. 

“Gunnery directors locked in,” Whalen called out. “Begin firing in three….two…”

The ship jolted violently, throwing the bridge crew against their seat restraints. Those no strapped in were hurled against rails or consoles. Whalen tumbled across one of his gunnery officers, knocking the man against the side of his computer terminal. 

Anthony’s grip broke and he was flung up and over the rails. Slamming hard to the deck, he felt something give in his shoulder and his left arm immediately went numb. 

“Admiral!” Star Captain Tennan Tseng was beside him immediately, helping him to a sitting position.

“Stravag! What was that?” Anthony asked through clenched teeth. His arm was a dull ache from fingertips to shoulder. He did not need to look down to know it was dislocated or broken. “Damage Control?”

The damage control officer did not reply. Anthony turned and noted the man slumped in his chair. Tennan darted over to the console, slipping the man’s headset over his own ears. The ship rocked again as Tennan listened to incoming reports and checked the monitors. 

“Naval Gauss and Autocannons,” he said. “We took a full volley to the spine of the ship. We have multiple breaches and one reactor offline.”

Bad but not fatal. 

“Get damage control to get that reactor back up,” Anthony ordered. “Give them a full volley as we complete the roll.”

“Sir!” the helmsman called, turning in his station. The man sported a nasty cut on his forehead but he barely seemed to notice. “I’ve lost helm control!”

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Dropship Aletha’s Legacy
Hanover, Draconis Combine
5 November 3095


Cade stood rooted to the deck on the bridge, watching the massive warship on the screen. 

“They have lost steering,” Farrell said, shaking his head. “They are stuck with their thrusters firing to complete that roll. Until they restore helm control they cannot hope to maintain fire.”

On the screen, the pair of Tatsumaki-class destroyers accelerated toward the wounded Dominion warship. Missile batteries sent waves of LRMs in all directions, chasing off the Dominion aerospace fighters trying to intervene. A pair of explosions marked the death of at least two fighters as the warships advanced. 

Cade was torn, looking from the screen to the comm officer.

“There’s nothing more we can do,” Farrell said, watching Cade. “You have given what aid you can, Star Colonel. This is Anthony’s battle. Let him fight it.”

“He is right, Cade,” Judea said, stepping up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We are three days out from Hanover. Regardless of the battle here, we have a Trial on the ground to prepare for.”

Nodding solemnly, Cade turned back to the screen. Assault dropships moved around the slowly spinning Great Bear, trying to screen it. 

“How long until we touch down?” Cade looked to Farrell. 

“Two days and sixteen hours,” the dropship captain replied. “It is as fast as we can get there but you should be prepared for a hot landing. The Combine will have more than enough warning to move forces to oppose you.”

Cade nodded. 

“Then we will have to come up with a way to take the initiative and hold it,” he remarked to Judea. “This is just the opening act of what is likely to be a very hard fight…”

Rasalhague Dominion Warship Great Bear 

“Damage control says it will take half an hour to restore helm control,” Tennan Tseng called to Anthony Ortiz. 

The Star Admiral had taken over a seat at the gunnery station, strapped in now. A medtech was checking his arm but he barely noticed the woman going about her work. He was still fighting a battle. 

“No pain killers,” he said without looking away from the screen. “I must be sharp.”

“Aff, Star Admiral.”

“We do not have half an hour,” he barked to Tannen. “Tell them to do better than that or we lose our ship.”

Whalen looked up from the gunner station. 

“Those destroyers are moving in for the kill,” he said. “The battleship seems content to stay at range.”

Stravag bastards.

“Bring our escorts up to flank us,” Anthony ordered. “Have them concentrate on the Destroyers.”

“Dropships against destroyers will not last long,” Tannen said, looking up from the damage control console. “They will be gutted in minutes.”

“Aff,” Anthony agreed. “If they stand and fight. Tell them to stay at speed. Inflict what damage they can but do not stand and slug it out.”

“Relaying sir,” the communications officer replied dutifully. 

“Whalen, have your gunners check fire until they are all unmasked during the next roll,” he said. “Then give that battleship a fully volley of everything that will reach. Any weapons that do not have the range, target the destroyers. Let them know we are not a helpless target!”

“Aff, Star Admiral!” Whalen’s reply was filled with determination and he turned back to his gunnery stations, his jaw set in concentration. 

“Sir, additional dropships coming up from the invasion force,” the comm officer called out. “The Winter War and Odin’s Vision are moving up with the Endless Night right behind them.”

“Those are the Twelfth Bear Guards and the One Fortieth Strikers escort ships,” Anthony said. 

“Aff, sir. Star Colonel’s Cade MacKenzie and Chyanne Kabrinski detached them to help.”

Anthony grinned at the thought. 

“If we survive this, I will have to buy them several rounds of drinks,” he said. “Have them make a high speed run on the closest destroyer. Give it everything they have.”

“Aff!”

Glancing to a nearby sensor monitor, Anthony noted the trio of dropships forming up in a wedge to begin their run. 

The Great Bear shuddered violently as another round of autocannon strikes tore chunks from her armor. Anthony gritted his teeth against the impacts. 

I do not know how much more my ship can take.

“Three….two…one…firing!” Whalen announced. 

On the main screen, PPCs, autocannon rounds and Gauss slugs arched out toward the Mount Nikita. Slugs pounded into the thick armor on the ship, gouging holes in the plates while autocannon bursts detonated against its hull. Naval PPCs superheated armor which ran like butter then immediately froze in globs. 

Though the volley hammered the Combine warship, no serious injury had been inflicted. At best, Anthony suspected, it made the Combine commander flinch but not stop. 

Another violent jolt threw Anthony against the restraints, causing his arm to scream in agony. Somehow he bit back against the pain and kept from crying out. The medtech was thrown to the deck, dazed but alright. A sensor screen exploded in a shower of sparks and the lights dimmed then cut out. Within a few seconds, red emergency lights flickered on.

“Main reactors off line,” Tannen announced unnecessarily. “Emergency power only and we have lost intership communication with everything below deck three.”

“Gunners are still get targeting information,” Whalen added. “I still have signals they are ready for the next rotation.”

“We may not get one,” Anthony said. “Another volley like that and the Bear may start to break apart.”

Star Captain Tannen looked up from his monitors to the Admiral. The pain on his face was evident. 

This ship has been his home for years. He is working damage control and listening to reports of his ship dying. 

“The Nikita is going to hit us again,” Whalen called out. “Brace!”

On the screen, autocannon and gauss rounds burst from the Combine ship toward the wounded Great Bear. But as they fired, the blocky shape of an Aesir dropship cut across the screen at impossibly close range. Half the rounds meant for the Great Bear detonated against the hull of the dropship.

The Great Bear still shook considerably as more rounds pounded into it but it was not the devastating broadside it should have been. 

“Stravag!” Anthony shouted. “Who was that?”

“Sensors say it was the Winter War,” Whalen said. “They took the worst of it but we will get another volley off!”

As the ship continued rotating, Whalen leaned in, hands dancing across the gunnery controls. 

“Firing!”

On the screen, another set of PPC and Autocannon tracers cut toward the Mount Nikita. They slammed into the hull of the heavy warship, gouging more armor away. Near the bow, something exploded though with the sensors damaged, the Great Bear’s crew did not know what it had been. 

No Gauss rounds Anthony noted about the fusillade. With the main power out, there is no way to fire them.

“Communications! What’s the status of the Winter War?”

“She is wounded but still moving,” the comm officer replied. “Pulling back behind the line.”

Anthony nodded slowly, looking at the sensors again and noting the contact for the Winter War moving away. 

“Tell Captain Amelia Snuka, that was insanely stupid…and we are grateful,” he ordered. “Where are those destroyers?”

Whalen checked over his computers, more difficult now that two of his monitors were out.

“Our dropships have them contained for now,” he said. “One has taken some damage though nothing serious. Our dropships are keeping them busy but that will not last.”

Anthony nodded, staring up at the warship pounding his into scrap. 

“Whalen, have your gunners set up the next volley, then link everything you can to the bridge,” he ordered. 

He looked to the communications officer. 

“Send word to all sections you can reach,” Anthony ordered gravely. “Prepare to abandon ship.”

“Sir?” The Comm officer looked up questioningly.

“Send it,” Anthony ordered. “Once those guns are tied to the bridge, the rest of you get moving.”

Whalen shook his head, slowly. 

“Neg, Star Admiral,” he said. “With all due respect, I’m not leaving my guns…no matter what orders you give. And the Dominion fleet cannot afford for you to go down with the ship.”

“He’s right, Tony,” Tannen spoke up. “Get to the escape pod with the bridge crew. This is my ship…and Whalen’s. We will fight her to the end.”

“Sir, the Endless Night is maneuvering nearby, ready to pick up escape pods,” the comm officer relayed. “They are standing by to take you aboard.”

Anthony looked from his captain to his gunnery chief. Though he wanted to argue and stay…they were right. The fleet needed coordination.

“Stravag!” he spat, letting the medic unsnap the restraints. 

Standing, he turned to Tannen, shaking the man’s hand. 

“It has been an honor, Star Captain,” he said. “Your sacrifice will be immortalized in the Remembrance….both of you will.”

Whalen nodded.

“I have never served with a finer officer, Star Admiral,” he said. “But you must go…now!”

Two of the bridge crew moved to pull him to the escape pods. 

“Strike with the fury of the Bear,” he said, leaving the bridge for the last time. 

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Drop zone Alpha
Hanover, Draconis Combine
8 November 3095

Stravag but this is a firestorm!
Cade gritted his teeth as he stepped his Summoner into empty space. Around him, other omnimechs leapt from the doors of dropships, triggering jets to control their descent. The midnight skies of Hanover were lit with tracers and laser bolts cutting toward the Rasalhague Dominion ships. Several connected but the thick armor on the Legacy and Susquehanna shrugged off the paltry damage.
Somewhere off to his right a gun emplacement exploded, victim of return fire from one of the descending mechs. It was some impressive shooting to nail a target while hot dropping. 
Most likely Judea. 
A pair of fighters swooped on the descending omnimechs , making an attack run while they were vulnerable. Missiles detonated against one of the silhouettes dropping to the planet but the fighters broke off early as a pair of Dominion aerospace fighters dove on them. 
Cade triggered his jets again as he reached the ground, easing the landing to a gentle bump instead of a jarring impact. Immediately he throttled his Summoner into a run, sweeping the area with his sensors. 
Behind him and to his right, Shane's Karhu D touched down and jettisoned the cumbersome jump pack. 
"Six, Active probe has two contacts moving in from the southwest," Shane reported. "They are using the hangers to mask their approach."
Cade turned his Omnimech southwest, scanning the area. He had landed at the Eastern end of the airport. A collection of buildings including a small terminal stood to the south. The majority appeared to be hangers and storage buildings. The control tower stood on the north side of the runway. 
"Alshain, form up," he replied. "We clear the hangers. Thule Six, deploy your Trinary to secure the field and knock out the turrets."
"Aff, Alshain Six," Judea replied immediately. In the dark, her mechs began breaking off. 
The skies continued to light up with laser fire and tracers as more omnimechs descended from the dropships above. On Cade's holographic display, an indicator flashed to inform him Stanzach Star had landed. 
That's the last of the 173rd. Some hits but no one lost in the drop. That's something. 
Ahead, Shane's Karhu stalked the night, torso swiveling back and forth as he scanned the buildings for the threats he knew were there. As he neared first hanger, a huge shadowy form stepped clear. 
Bird legged and with arms that ended in the barrels of weapons, the mech sported an oversized cylindrical missile launcher on its right shoulder. It cut loose with a large and medium laser backed up with the chatter of a fifty caliber machine gun. Lit from its own weapons fire, Cade recognized the mech as a Chimera. 
Machine gun rounds sparked across the Karhu's chest. The lasers burned into the right thigh and left leg of the 65-ton machine though Cade could not tell how serious the damage was. He doubted it was worth noting. 
Good hit but a Karhu is a tough machine...and far more lethal than you are ready for. 
Shane's return strike immediately vindicated Cade's thoughts. An ER PPC lashed out, a volley of short range missiles and two medium lasers with it. Between the close range, Shane's skill and an advanced targeting computer, nothing missed. 
The particle beam melted armor over the mechs chest, liquefying the protective plates. Molten armor ran like blood as missile warheads slammed into the medium mech, peppering the torso and left arm. The impacts violently spun the mech left as the medium lasers carved gouges from the Chimera's flank. 
Cade's targeting computer indicated no critical damage but the savage assault was more than the Combine pilot could handle. The Chimera staggered into the hanger it had been using as cover, rebounded after smashing a corner of the building then crashed to the Tarmac. 
Shane stalked wide of the building, turning his mechs torso to keep his fallen foe in his sights. 
From further in the small maze of hangers a second machine emerged from cover. The squat, hunched form and broadly spaced legs gave away its identity before Cade's computer announced it. He was tying his large and medium lasers into one interlock circuit and lining up his crosshairs as the targeting computer tagged the newcomer as a Komodo. 
An Elemental killer. 
Cade squeezed the triggers and sent twin ruby and emerald beams burning into the Combine mech. His mediums played hell across the mechs chest armor but it didn't matter. One large burned a deep gouge into the mechs left shoulder. The other caught the Komodo square in the face. 
The beam was there less than too seconds but plenty long enough to burn through the armor and ferroglass shielding protecting the pilot. As the last armor burned away, kilojoules of energy filled the cockpit with fire, incinerating the warrior within in an eye blink. 
Without a mind controlling the war machine, the Komodo collapsed against a hanger, sliding down and coming to rest on its back. From a distance, the mech looked like a man taking a nap against the wall. Up close, the cinders of the ruined cockpit burned orange, a funeral pyre for a gallant if foolish warrior. 
"Contacts coming in from two o'clock," Anike announced, already trading fire with a Combine Talon. 
Ahead of Cade, Shane delivered the coup de grace to the savaged Chimera. 
Something exploded behind a hanger nearby. 
"Target down," Dillon announced coolly. 
On Cade's monitors, one of Anike's contacts winked out. 
The night sky lit up, accompanied by the booming, rapid report of a heavy autocannon. Cade recognized it as the sound of Anike cutting loose with her 203 millimeter autocannon. He caught just a glimpse of the Talon reeling back, disintegrating under the impacts from Anike's attack. 
"It is like they are not even trying, quiaff?" Dillon asked, marching his Summoner into a flanking position with Cade's. 
"These were scouts," Cade replied. "Meant to inflict damage if they could but get information out to the Combine." 
"Perhaps," Dillon said. "But it was a very expensive report."
"Aff," Cade agreed. "I wonder how much of such coin the Dragon can afford to spend..." 

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Cologne Airport
Hanover, Draconis Combine
8 November 3095 
0030 Hours

Jacqueline grunted as her Stormcrow touched down in a jarring hop. Gripping the control sticks she shoved the throttle forward, lurching ahead and bringing the Omnimech up to its 97 kilometer per hour top speed. Around her, missiles and lasers cut through the night. 

As sensors adjusted and reached out to the surrounding area her monitor updated, showing locations of friendly units and suspected positions of hostile contacts. Turning the Stormcrow to the left, a pair of medium lasers burned through the night toward her. One missed wide while the other torched armor on her mechs left arm. 

Jacqueline sidestepped her mech, switching to light amplification visual settings to catch a glimpse of her attacker. The top heavy silhouette of a Lynx, only one hundred fifty meters away resolved itself against the backdrop of the control tower. A second shot from the Lynx, this time a PPC beam missed so narrowly Jacqueline felt the hair on her neck rise from the static. 

Bringing crosshairs over the outline, the clan warrior fired as soon as she heard a tone, sending a dozen Streak SRMs and her own pair of lasers cutting back at the fifty five ton Combine machine. 

One laser missed low, burning unbroken into the night. The other sliced into armor on the mechs belly but left plenty in place. The dozen high explosive warheads slammed the mech however, detonating across its broad torso and arms and forcing the Combine pilot to take a back step to remain on his feet. 

Before Jacqueline's weapons could cycle, the Lynx ducked behind the tower, trading a chance for more shots for the safety of cover. 

Movement in her 360 display, drew Jacqueline's attention. A Linebacker stalked up beside her Omni, alertly twisting at the waist. The cagey movements gave away Elena's piloting style even if Jacqueline hadn't already known what mech she piloted. 

Elena let fly a pair of missile volleys and bolts from her mechs twin medium lasers. The barrage tore into a nearby laser turret that was trying to target the Dominion mechs. It's armored she'll glowed orange a moment then it exploded as the SRMs battered through its weakened armor. 

Ahead, the Lynx stepped partially clear of the tower and hit Jacqueline with another PPC shot, tearing up armor on the Stormcrows leg. Before it could step back, she nailed the Combine mech with her quartet of pulse lasers. One drilled into the mechs chest, finding only armor. The other three played across the right arm, devastating the limb. Armor ran and one pulsed beam destroyed the PPC housed there. Jacqueline noted the limb jerk and knew at least one actuator had been destroyed as well. 

Not that it matters with the only weapon in that arm gutted. 

The Lynx hastily ducked back. Jacqueline let it go.

"Stanzach two to lead," Elena's voice sounded across the battle net. "Long range sensors are picking up intermittent contacts several Klicks to the west. Permission to check them."

"Neg, Two," Jacqueline replied. "Stay with us and help secure the field. It could be a trap."
Elena remained silent but Jacqueline knew her second in command well enough to know she resented the order. 

"Three, Five," Jacqueline called. "Locations?"

"Three here," the deep voice of Malakai replied. "Missed the DZ and am in the city. My Elementals and I are plating cat and mouse with some infantry two Klicks from you." 

Malakai's [i]Pouncer is a good machine but not set up for hunting infantry[/i]. 

"Break off and make your way to us," she ordered. "Leave your Elementals to handle the infantry."

"Aff, Star Commander," Malakai responded crisply. "Complying."

Off in the city, light flared like a nova. Jacqueline recognized the telltale burst of jump jets firing as Malakai broke contact. 

"Five? Position?"

There was no answer to Jacqueline's query. 

"I do not have a read on him, Lead," Elena said. 

Damn it. Battle is less than five minutes old and I can't find one of my warriors. 

Ahead, the Lynx broke from cover, sprinting away. 

"We will find him later," Jacqueline said, bringing her cross hairs over the outline of the running enemy. "We have a runway to secure."

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Cologne airport
Hanover, Draconis Combine 
8 November 3095 
06:20 hours

Dawn came slowly over the city of Cologne. As Hanover's sun crept up and over the horizon its first rays shone down on the runway. The Union C dropship at one end cast a long shadow across the debris strewn landscape. 

Cade paced his Summoner along its length, trailed by Shane in his Karhu. 

I can smell myself, Cade thought. I'm glad mech cockpits are only meant for one. I wouldn't want to submit others to this reek. 

I could go for a long shower and a cup of coffee right now, he yawned, rolling his shoulders and trying to find a more comfortable position in his command couch. There was not a lot of resistance here but what the Combine had fought ferociously. 

Movement in his 360 display caught Cade's attention. Judging by the way Shane's mech twisted, it caught his as well. 

The boxy shouldered silhouette of an Arctic Cheetah emerged from the shadow of the hangers. One of the structures still smoldered from the battle early that morning. 

"Alshain Six," Jasen said, tight beaming a message at close range. "Thule Lead has established secure connection with the task force. They are asking for you." 

"Aff, Arcadia Three," Cade replied. "Take over my patrol."

"Yes sir," the Freeborn warrior moved his light mech into position with Shane. 

Turning his Summoner, Cade throttled up and jogged his Omnimech across the runway. Ducking the machine between the buildings, he slowed to maneuver beneath the doors of a central hanger. 

Piloting one of the tallest omnimechs in existence meant Cade had to duck to enter the hanger. A pair of Elementals stood guard atop the building while several others were strategically placed outside as a security cordon. 

Inside the hanger two dozen techs were at work reloading the mechs of Arcadia star. Two temporary gantries had been hastily erected and a third was being constructed. Cade noted a few of Locke's Elementals were out of their armor and lending their muscle to the operations. 

I doubt they were ordered to do that, Cade thought. Locke's troops just understand how critical getting a base set up is for our survival.

Powering down his Summoner, Cade popped the hatch. As fresh air entered his cockpit for the first time in hours, he drank it in with a deep breath. Slowly letting it out, he pulled off his cooling vest and retrieved the thin, slate gray jumpsuit from a storage locker behind his command couch. 

A shower would be better but I'll settle for semi clean clothes for now, he thought, pulling the jumpsuit on and zipping it up. 

Exiting the cockpit, Cade scrambled down the ladder holds to the ground. Techs that noticed him gave a respectful nod but continued working. They had served with the Growling Bears long enough to know he did not expect them to stop working merely because an officer was nearby. 

He was halfway across the Ad hoc mechbay when Judea spotted him and waved him over to a bank of computers and a portable holotable. A few techs and some of the 173rd's Warriors manned the stations that served as the Trinary's headquarters. 

"Star Colonel," Judea motioned toward the holotable. "Things are heating up."

Cade nodded, stopping beside his lover and fellow Dominion officer. 

"What do we have?"

"Our part of the operation went about as well as expected," Judea said, gesturing to the displays on the table showing Cologne in cool blue, indicating a friendly location. "But we are the exception rather than the rule." 

The display zoomed in on the lake bed the rest of Beta Galaxy was using as a landing zone. 

"Star Colonel Erikk Tseng predicted a hard landing and he was right," Judea said. "As the 140th touched down the Combine fired FASCAMs over the LZ. The mines damage a lot of the initial wave of mechs and forced Star Colonel Chyanne Kabrinski to devote aerospace assets to silence the artillery."

Images of savage night fighting appeared over the holomap. Cade noted one of the battleroms came from Chyanne's Elemental suit. 

"While they were destroying the LRM launchers, Combine aerospace fighters hit the LZ, doing more damage and badly mauling the Stormbringer. The dropship made an emergency landing east of the lake bed." 

"Did they secure the LZ?" Cade watched as a few hover tanks engaged the battered Dominon forces. 

"Aff," Judea replied. "But the 140th lost a quarter of its strength doing so."

"Stravag," Cade muttered. "Ariel Bekkers Cluster?"

Judea nodded. 

"They were delayed but have landed," she said. "The Iowa Blacklancers and The Maulers have elements down. However...the mines need cleared and they have had to dispatch forces to guard the Stormbringer."

That's not good.

"When will they begin their drive?"

Judea glanced up and Cade read the frustration in her eyes. 

"Ariel Bekker hopes to be moving by ten hundred hours," she said. "Dietrich Forrester suggests eleven hundred is more realistic."

Cade took a steadying breath at the disheartening news. 

"A lot can happen in four hours," he commented. "Even more in five."

Judea nodded. 

"And it will, Cade," she remarked. "The task force has orbital scans showing a force of mechs and armor moving to block the rest of Beta...and a second force on their way here."

Cade nodded, looking to the holomap as Judea updated the map to reflect the most recent Intel on Combine movements. 

"ETA?"

"We have less than two hours," she said. 

"Barely time enough to rearm and no time at all to repair," Cade commented. 

"War is hell, Cade..." 

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Cologne Airport
Hanover, Draconis Combine
8 November 3095
8:40 hours 

'War is hell' may be the greatest understatement in human history!

Cade fought the controls of his Summoner as a Gauss rifle slug shivered half the protection from his mechs right leg. He staggered left, nearly overbalancing before the Omnimechs gyros caught his sense of balance and fed it into his ride. 

Twisting back toward the Combine Dragon Fire, Cade slashed back with twin ER Large lasers beams. The hellish lances of emerald light cored more deep scars over the Dragon Fires battered carapace but didn't put it down for the count. 

Anchoring the center of the battle line, Alshain held its ground at the edge of the runway in the face of a determined attack. Off to Cade's right, Thule's warriors were locked in a bitter fight with a lance of assault mechs. To his left, Jacqueline and Stanzach Nova were in a fast moving duel of maneuver as lighter Combine elements tried to get around the flank and behind the main line. 

The Dragon Fire surged forward, letting loose with another shotgun blast round from its LB-X 10 autocannon. The giant pellets sanded armor from Cade's rides left arm and torso. 

Keeping the heavier mech in his crosshairs, Cade aggressively jetted left to throw off the samurai's aim. To his credit, the Combine pilot seemed not to notice, twisting and hitting with a medium laser as Cade was in mid-leap. 

The laser burned only armor but Cade was painfully aware he was losing protection quickly against the skillful Combine pilot. 

Triggering his own medium lasers, their accuracy heightened by the advanced targeting computer, Cade struck back. The pair of bloody laser bolts burned into the right torso of the Dragon Fire, punching through to melt internal structure. Yellowish-green coolant burst from the wound as one beam severed a coolant line. 

The Dragon Fire shied away, twisting to protect its damaged flank. 

"Two, Three, push through the gap there!" Cade stepped his mech forward to press the Dragon Fire. "Break their line and isolate the left!" 

"Aff," Dillon barked, his Gauss Rifle pounding out another slug into a Combine Ninja-to. "This is a glorious battle!"

The former Jade Falcon rushed forward to deliver a volley of missiles into the staggering Ninja-to. Anike stepped into the breach beside him, leveling an Avatar with a burst of 203mm shells. The assault tore the left arm completely off the Inner Sphere Omnimech, spinning it to the ground. 

At the sudden rush of Dominion machines, the Combine warriors began pulling back. Despite the damage they had taken though, they remained collected, staging a fighting withdrawal as they attempted to reestablish their line. 

Exactly what I'd expect from the Genyosha. 

Tying his Extended Range large and medium lasers into one Target Interlock Circuit, Cade sidestepped his mech to continue herding the wounded Dragon Fire. 

The Combine pilot got his attack away first but either from Cade's maneuvering or as a result of the damage his ride had taken his aim was off. A Gauss rifle slug zipped high over Cade's head while the Exostar large laser caught only a glancing hit to the Summoners side. Much of the beam passed between the mechs chest and its arm. 

Cade's quartet of lasers raised the temperature of the cockpit several degrees but the effect on the Combine mech was much worse. Large lasers again found the weakened armor over the mechs right breast. 

More coolant burst free in a greenish mist as the lasers gashed deep into the mechs flank. Superheated armor and internal structure liquified and peeled apart under the assault. The mechs endo steel collarbone collapsed inward. No longer given enough support, the weight of the right arm ripped the limb free of its socket. Gauss rifle capacitors overloaded and exploded, causing further damage as the mech lost its torso and arm.

With catastrophic damage tearing away a third of the Pitban 300 XL engine, the mech was doomed. Emergency shields slammed into place to contain a potential fusion reactor overload, killing the power supply to the mechs systems. Propelled by the Gauss Rifle explosion and no longer controlled by the pilots sense of balance, the Dragon Fire slewed around then slammed to the ground hard enough that Cade felt it in his cockpit a hundred meters away. 

"Another Lance moving in from the south," Shane reported through gritted teeth. "Coming in fast."

Cade glanced that way, temporarily ignored by embattled opponents now that his foe was felled. 

A fast medium Lance was sprinting around the edge of Jacqueline's star. Led by a Nightsky, they traded a few shots with Elena, anchoring the far left of the Dominion mech forces. 

"Locke, are you in position?" 

"Aff, Six," the Elemental boomed. "On your word."

"Go!"

As the Combine lance swept past Elena and tried to ankle toward the rear of the Dominion line, laser and missile fire arced up at them. Elementals leapt up from a dozen concealed positions, firing as they jetted toward the startled Combine pilots. 

It took most of our two hours to dig those pits. Time well spent. 

Cade saw one of the Elementals swatted from the air by the Combine Nightsky but many of the others caught grips on the onrushing mechs. As the Elementals swarmed the samurai pilots the charge faltered. Within seconds a Combine Wight fell as Locke's troopers tore it to pieces with lasers and claws. 

With the initiative lost and casualties mounting, the Combine mechs began withdrawing. They kept good order and fire discipline as they pulled back. 

"Let them withdraw," Cade ordered. "But keep them under fire as long as you can."

Suiting deeds to words his large lasers sliced armor from a badly mauled Crab. The machine stumbled but stayed on its feet, backing away from the Dominion warriors. 

"We could crush them," Dillon remarked, sending another Gauss rifle round streaking out to hammer a No-Dachi. The round snapped the mechs sword in half. 

"Only by letting ourselves get pulled out of position," Cade rebuked the Falcon. "Keep firing but hold this position."

Far to his left he noted only the Nightsky had survived Locke's ambush. 

That would be satisfying if there were not gaps in our own roster from this fight, he thought. 

"Do not worry Dillon," Cade commented. "They will be back..." 

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

1.3km West of Cologne Airport
Hanover, Draconis Combine
8 November 3095
0903 hours 

A string of curses erupted over the commline right before they changed to a scream. Star Commander Brett knew that a scream like that over the commchannel it came from meant that someone in his Star had just died, but he didn’t have the luxury of trying to figure out who right then. Unfortunately, like the rest of his star, he was much too busy trying to make sure he didn’t follow whoever it was into death. Much as it had been for the past ten minutes or so.

About twenty minutes previously, Brett led his Kempten Star around the left flank of Jezersko Star, looking to gain high ground to best rain LRMs down on the damned Combine MechWarriors pushing into the Cologne Airport. They had met resistance in the form of several squads of battle armor that were apparently there to screen the tree line that ran across the base of the hill. 

The Raiden troopers had fought well when they sprung their trap, but Kempten Star had been able to disengage from the fight and get some range on the troopers, who were apparently not going to leave the safety of the trees. Given that, Kempten Star engaged them at range and blew them to hell rather than get back into close quarters where the Raiden would have a chance to cause damage. 

Part of his warrior-self raged against that, wanting to test the meddle of the Inner Sphere’s answer to Clan Elementals but the soldier in him also saw the need to clear the hill N-O-W and that blowing them to hell with LRMs was the quickest way to do it. After a couple of salvos from Kempten Star, the Inner Sphere battle armor was either dead or scattered. However, they seemed to have done their job as nearly two lances of Combine BattleMechs were quickly picked up moving towards the hill. 

The six BattleMechs that had run smack into Brett and his Star was composed of four Grand Dragons along with an Ostroc and a slightly slower No-Daichi. The Ostroc was a OSR-5C with torso-mounted extended range medium lasers and two PPCs, one light and one heavy. The No-Daichi had been tagged by his warbook as being a NDA-2KC model with an array of pulse lasers, a flamer, and the sword the Mech was famous for. Both were infamous close-in fighters but a known quantity. 

The Combine’s workhorse heavy BattleMech for centuries had been the Dragon and, later, the upgraded version called the Grand Dragon. The 60-ton Mech normally carried a “nose” mounted missile launcher, a PPC or autocannon, and a couple of medium lasers. The Mech had the best speed possible for such a heavy BattleMech and decent armor for protection not to mention a name that would call out to any MechWarrior of Combine ancestry. Of course, as the Draconis Combine got new technology, they upgraded the Grand Dragon but kept to basically the same weapons load as previous versions. 

That had apparently changed at some point. 

Of the four Grand Dragons on the field, three were known units. One was a DRG-9KC, carrying a snub-nose PPC, medium lasers, an MML5, and a master command and control computer. Two were DRG-7KC with the same mix of weapons as the 9KC excepting an additional medium laser and the computer was a command and control slave unit. Obviously these three Mechs were from the same lance. 

The fourth Grand Dragon was an entirely different animal. It was slower than the other Grand Dragons and five tons heavier as well. Its appearance was also different as it looked like it had a hump on the back of it… which it did. Carrying an Arrow IV artillery system as a supplemental weapon to its ER PPC and medium pulse laser. The Mech was not personalized to the tastes of the MechWarrior inside or a variant of the standard Grand Dragon, the thing was just a different animal entirely. 

Kempten Star poured LRMs into the advancing Combine Mechs, looking to kill or cripple them to both even the odds and not engage them at the closest of ranges. None of Kempten Star could be considered close-in fighters, three of the five Mechs in the unit were LRM boats. Brett’s Loki and Raze’s Cougar were the exception, but the Loki was also more of a ranged fighter and the Cougar much to light to go toe-to-toe with the heavier Combine Mechs. 

It worked in part. With a decided departure from normal Clan battle tactics, MechWarrior Anderson’s Mad Dog, MechWarrior Rebecka’s Huntsman, and MechWarrior Mason’s Crossbow concentrated their fire on the No-Daichi. They peeled away much of the Combine Mech’s leg armor and damaged an actuator, slowing it down further. Meanwhile Brett did his best to engage the Ostroc and one of the Grand Dragons at range, drawing their firepower away from the rest of the Star. Raze took his Cougar around the flank of the enemy, looking to worry their rear and drawing away at least one of the other Grand Dragons.

With the No-Daichi crippled, the trio of Clan LRM boats shifted their fire to the Grand Dragon that Brett was engaging, looking to capitalize on the damage that Brett’s twin ER PPCs had already caused. The effect was minimal as they were suddenly forced to scatter due to the unexpected Arrow IV bombardment that came their way. Which was, of course, when Brett realized that there was a unknown factor with one of the Grand Dragons.

He targeted the odd Grand Dragon, tasked an exterior camera to collect data on it, and then did the only thing he could think of at that moment: charge. He shoulder-rushed the Ostroc, planting his left shoulder into the Mech’s right torso with the sound of mountains meeting each other. His Hellbringer was only five tons heavier than the Ostroc, but between that extra tonnage and surprise, Brett managed to shove the Ostroc back and make it stumble. 

It wasn’t much but it gave him some room to think and the chance to pour the energy from both of his ER PPCs into the back of the Grand Dragon he’d been fighting. Caught between the cascading explosions of the LRMs and the hellish energies of the twin ER PPCs, the Grand Dragon’s MechWarrior ejected only moments before his Mech exploded.

Brett’s Hellbringer staggered as the Grand Dragon’s engine overloaded and ruptured not thirty meters away, sending debris and concussive force across the area. Brett rode it out as calmly as he could and that was when the cursing was cut off by a scream and he knew that someone from his star had just died. It was then that something had slammed into him, tossing Brett inside his command couch and staggering the Hellbringer sideways about ten meters and down to one knee.

Brett looked out his view screen to see the Ostroc was back up and now looming over him with a fist upraised. Brett caught the fist’s blow on the weapon pod of the Hellbringer’s right arm, but nothing was available to block the rest of the Mech’s attack. Both PPCs carved into the Hellbringer, battering away and melting off armor from the OmniMech’s left arm and right torso. The two ER medium lasers missed, one cutting through the air less than a meter from Brett in his cockpit and the other shooting into open space before emitting a torrent of smoke as it failed entirely. 

Brett smiled slightly then, knowing that his charge had done something constructive and fired all the torso mounted weapons on the Hellbringer. The twin machine guns chattered away, splintering off bits from the Ostroc’s view screen. All three of Brett’s ER medium lasers cut into the Ostroc as well, causing more damage across the already crushed-in right torso as well as the Inner Sphere Mech’s right leg. 

When there was a solid tone from the Streak SRM system, Brett let fly with those as well. Five of the six missiles cut a swath of destruction up the Ostroc’s right side, further damaging the right torso and carving armor away from the right arm. The last missile impacted against the Ostroc’s head, probably rocking the MechWarrior inside around some because the Mech stepped backwards a step or two instead of trying to follow-up on its advantage. 

Brett brought the Hellbringer off its knees and leveled both ER PPCs at the still recovering Ostroc. He started to check his heat gage, but then Brett decided he didn’t care and stepped the Hellbringer closer until the Ostroc filled his view screen. Again, Brett waited for a moment as the advanced targeting computer locked on, then he fired. Both beams of man-made lighting punched through the head of the Ostroc, vaporizing both the head and the MechWarrior inside it.

As the Ostroc dropped to the ground, Brett turned his Hellbringer back to the rest of the fight, surveying the damage as quickly as he could both visually and through his sensors. He saw the ruin of a Mech but couldn’t be sure which it was from the remains. Something had punched through the Mech’s armor and must have found the ammunition bins. Even with the CASE system venting much of the force of the explosion out, the OmniMech would have been gutted. 

A quick visual showed Mason’s Crossbow dueling with a Grand Dragon, both Mechs were damaged and trying to keep their weapons on the other while attempting to shield their damaged areas. Mason was giving as good as he got, but the fight would only end with the victor being almost as badly damaged as the loser. That would not help anything with the numerical disadvantage that the star found itself in.

MechWarrior Anderson in his Mad Dog B was slowly giving ground to the No-Daichi and a Grand Dragon that was moving in support of it. MechWarrior Raze was playing tag with the design that Brett’s warbook had tagged as a “Grand Dragon 2.” The only one that he could not find was MechWarrior Rebecka in her Huntsman C… until his eyes landed again on the scraps of a Clan OmniMech scattered across the ground. 

Brett visually swept the battlefield again as he started advancing back into the fight, looking to engage one of the two Mechs that Anderson was fighting. As he did, Brett came to a decision and opened a commchannel.

“Kempten Actual to Jezersko Actual… requesting support at coordinates Mike-Mike-Kilo-Seven-Nine. We are engaged at close range with enemy Mechs and battle armor.”

[[Negative support, Kempten Actual.]] Star Captain Darian’s voice came over the comm. [[Jezersko Star is engaged with enemy Mechs and armor and cannot disengage. Fight well.]]

“As you command.” Brett said and laid into the No-Daichi with both ER PPCs.

Star Commander Brett
Hellbringer Prime
Kempten Star, 101st Battle Binary
12th Bear Guards (The Growling Bears)

12th Bear Guard HQ, Cologne airport 
Hanover, Draconis Combine 
8 November 3095

"Things are not as bad as they could be," Cade said, joining the group of mechwarriors and Elementals around the holotable. "Though that doesn't make them good."

For lack of a better option the Growling Bears headquarters was still set up in the same hanger being used for repairs. Towering over the Dominion warriors, Ilsa's Black Lanner was being repaired and rearmed. 

"We threw back the first Combine attack," Dillon replied, crossing his arms. "They will not soon forget our fury, quineg?"

"Neg, Dillon," Cade nodded. "They will not. But this was only a probe not a determined attack." 

"I might disagree," Star Captain Darian commented. 

"A heavy fight, Aff," Cade conceded. "But not the knock out punch."

"They hope to keep us off balance and wear us out," Judea added. "Keep us awake and at alert...give us no time to rest. Even the best troops crack under such extended pressure."

There was a rustle of movement as Locke stood, stepping over to the Holotable. The Elemental dwarfed the mechwarriors present, studying the holomap.

"Even for a probe that was a fierce fight," he said, nodding to Darian. "We will not last long without support on the ground."

"Throwing back the Genyosha we lost six mechs and nine Elementals," Cade confirmed. "We destroyed nine enemy mechs but they can afford such losses. We can't."

"What's the story with the 332nd," Ilsa asked, idly adding a braid to her shoulder length platinum hair. "Will they be here soon?"

"Unknown," Judea replied. "We know they started their drive but have run into opposition. Apparently a sizable force got between us and LZ Bravo."

Locke frowned. 

"On their delayed schedule they were supposed to be here three hours ago," he pointed out. "We are lucky there has not been another assault on the airfield."

"Well, that luck is about to run out," Cade said, bringing up a series of aerial recon photos. "Combine forces have been quietly circling the city the past two hours."

The assembled warriors studied the images. 

"A siege," Jacqueline commented. "We
Could break out if we concentrate one direction..."

"But they would pour in behind us and retake the city," Cade nodded. "Though it's not the siege I'm concerned with."

He selected two images and zoomed in. 

"Artillery," Locke commented. "They mean to bombard the city."

"More likely the airport," Judea replied. "Crater the runway and sew more mines. Hanover is worthless if we cannot use it for supplies."

"Aff," Cade said, looking around at his commanders. "So we are forced to break a cardinal rule of warfare....dividing our force in the face of superior numbers."

Several of the warriors looked uneasy but they kept their attention on Cade. 

"A force of fast mechs will break out to knock out the artillery emplacements before they can be made operational," he explained. "The Combine will almost certainly launch an assault when they see us sortie...so our heaviest mechs and most Elementals will hold."

He glanced to Star Capitan Darian. 

"Your 101st Binary will head up the defenses," he said. "Good Luck Star Captain."

Darian nodded.

"You can expect a heavy assault as soon as we break out," he said. "Get your people some rest and your mechs are first up for repairs. We make our run tonight at 2130."
Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Mount Yoshiteru 
Hanover, Draconis Combine
8 November 3095
1040 Hours 

Aaron Yamato looked over the battle report sent to him from the Genyosha. 

Two companies tried to recapture the airport...or wreck it. They lost a third of their mechs with the rest damaged. I'm sure they did damage to the Dominion force holding it but it was a stupid move to attack without overwhelming force...especially if intelligence is right and it's the Twelfth Bear Guards holding Cologne. 

"You're perturbed my young friend." 

Aaron looked up sharply. He had not heard General Noiru Kitamura enter his office. 

"I'm sure you've seen the reports," Aaron replied, gesturing to the hard copy report on the desk. "The Genyosha rushed to counterattack Cologne and were torn up doing so. They are elite troops. They should have known better. It was a fools mistake."

"Oh? Why is that," the old general asked, a slight grin on his weathered face. 

"We are fighting the Dominion," Aaron replied. "We have good sources saying its the Bear Guards holding Cologne. Two companies could never take the field from them. The Genyosha should have waited until they had enough troops."

The general shrugged. 

"Attacking early was a gamble," he said simply. "The Genyosha bet on the Clanners already being exhausted from fighting all night. They hoped to destroy the runway more than take the city back. The longer they waited the more prepared the Dominion would be."

He shook his head but the grin remained. 

"It did not work but they made the attempt for valid reasons," he said simply. "And given the same situation, I'd do the same." 

Kitamura looked past Aaron and out the office window. 

"Soon, we may be taking similar risks," he said. "The First Schuyler Lancers are moving out. We are to head through the Worldspine mountains and join the defense of Niedersachen."

"Would it not be faster to use dropships?"

The general nodded. 

"Hai," he agreed. "But we do not have air superiority. A Dominion task force is overhead. If we launch our dropships they will be shot down long before we clear Sylvania."

Aaron nodded his understanding even if he did not like it. 

"What is our objective?"

"We will reinforce the Genyoshas attempt to retake the city of Cologne," Kitamura replied with a slight grin. "I believe we will be facing our old friends the Growling Bears."
Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion
Dry Lake Bed
Hanover, Draconis Combine 
9 November 3095


Ariel Bekker gritted her teeth, riding out the impact of missiles against her Executioner. The volley of LRMs barely dented the thick hide of her assault Omnimech but it still wasn't a comfortable experience. 

"Javier, shift your Trinary left," Ariel ordered as she turned her mech back towards the offending Combine Naginata. "The more of those tanks you smash the faster their line will falter."

Her computer sounded a solid tone as her STREAK LRM 15 and ER PPC cycled to ready status. Squeezing the triggers on her control sticks, Ariel struck back at the Naginata, shattering armor over its right thigh with a concentrated volley of missiles. Her PPC melted a savage gash across the Assault mechs chest. 

Neither wound was fatal but the Combine machine backed up, a Grand Dragon stepping up to cover the withdrawal. 

Naginatas are command mechs. Could it be this is your leader and that is why you guard him?

Off to Ariel's left, Javier pressed forward trying to pin down the elusive hover tanks harassing that flank. One of the Dominion warriors tagged a speeding tank and it exploded in spectacular fashion. The others started to pull back, still firing. 

"Push them," Javier ordered. "Do not let them stand!"

On Ariels sensor display the mechs of Javier's Trinary surged forward. The light and medium hovertanks held for a few seconds but under the determined thrust they wilted, fell back...and broke. Tanks scattered, running in all directions except ahead. 

The Combine mechs fighting alongside the tankers halted, uncertainty. They started a retrograde move, pulling back and trying to shift to cover the gaping hole in their line.

"Do not let those mechs link up," Ariel barked, slamming a Daikyu with more LRMs and PPC fire. "Keep driving and the line will break!"

Aggressively, her warriors poured on fire as they drove a wedge into the Combine line. For a few seconds it looked like the Iowa Blacklancers had achieved the breakthrough Ariel had been seeking. 

Then it all came crashing down. 

The lead Dominion mech, an Arcas, was suddenly engulfed in an explosion. As dust cleared, if crashed to the ground with a shattered left leg. For a moment Ariel thought it had just been a lucky shot...until a second blast savaged the right leg of a Timberwolf. 

"Hold! Minefield," she called. Across the line, Javier's mechs pulled up short. 

"Begin retrograde move," Javier ordered. "Stay in your own footprints. Requesting suppressing fire."

A series of detonations overhead drew Ariel's attention. Exploding artillery rounds littered the ground behind Javier's Trinary with mines. 

For the second time in under two minutes the assault mechs halted. With mines completely surrounding them, they were hemmed in. The tanks, previously running, suddenly turned back and threw a wall of laser and missile fire at the stationary mechs. 

Though none of the damage was serious, it distracted the pilots enough that the first arriving artillery shells caught them off balance. The damaged Timberwolf came apart as a pair of artillery rounds nailed it with direct hits. 

Ariel started to order a scatter but the command caught in her throat. 

A perfect trap. If they scatter, they will hit mines. If they stay, they will be torn apart.

The assault Trinary returned fire , slagging a Harasser but taking more punishment in return. They would not last long. 

Unless...

"Star Commander Severi, I need a strafing run," she ordered. "Danger close. Directly behind the assault Trinary. Clear those mines...now!"

"Copy, Star Colonel," Severi replied instantly. "ETA three minutes."

Circling high over the battlefield, Severi had his star ready for action. But three minutes could be an eternity in a mech battle. More while under artillery fire. 

To the right of Javier's beleaguered command Combine mechs advanced, slowly outflanking him and exposing them to crossfire. 

"Iowa Command, on me!"

Ariel throttled her Executioner forward, drifting her holographic crosshairs over a battle-scarred Victor. As the computer registered a solid lock, she fired another mix of PPC and LRMs. 

The hellish energy beam evaporated armor across the thin mechs chest, probing into internal structure. Long range missiles battered the Combine machine, tearing armor from the left arm and leg. Impacts and loss of armor staggered the Victor but it's pilot had a steady hand. The machine did not fall. 

Instead, the Combine pilot sent a silvery gauss slug whipping across the battlefield to slam into Javier's Gargoyle. The round skipped off the mechs left shoulder, ricocheting up and right...smashing the top of the Omnimechs head. 

Javier's mech took two more unsteady steps, then collapsed right. As eighty tons of savaged metal and myomer crashed to the ground, an explosion engulfed the mech as it struck a mine. 

Stunned at the sudden loss of her friend and Star Captain, Ariel stared at the shattered mech. The battle seemed to slow before her. For a moment, she seemed to be detached from the struggle, a mere observer. 

A Combine tank took a massive hit and careened out of control. Artillery rounds erupted across the trapped Trinary, smashing limbs and shattering armor. Savaged by the attacks, a Dominion Mad Dog fell with a dozen smoking wounds. 

My troops are dying.

Anger washed over Ariel Bekker like a tidal wave. Stabbing her feet against the jump pedals she launched her 95 ton war machine forward. 

Her leap caught friend and foe alike off guard. The massive Omnimech, its face giving the appearance of a technological God of war, set down beside Javier's fallen mech. Even before touching down she was firing. 

The battery of medium lasers in the right arm cut back at the Victor. Energy beams cut and burned across the Combine machine. As though searching for vengeance, one sliced a deep scar across the mechs face. The others were far more devastating.

Two lasers cut through the already weakened chest armor to damage the Victors engine. Black smoke billowed and yellowish coolant poured from the hole. Two others severed the right arm, cutting the Gauss rifle from the mech. 

The final laser fused the right knee, dropping the crippled Combine machine to the ground. As it fell Ariel knew it would not be rising again. 

Behind her, as though channeling her rage into their weapons, Ariel's command star laid down a heavy volume of fire into the Combine force. PPC, laser and missile barrages tore at the Combine mechs. The Tai-sho at their head came apart in spectacular fashion as ammunition and engine exploded. 

"Commencing run!"

Ariel was so concentrated on extracting vengeance she had forgotten about Severi's strafing run. In pairs, aerospace fighters dove behind her, firing lasers and missiles at the mine strewn ground. The planet itself seemed to detonate as mines were struck and set one another off in sympathetic explosions. 

As the last pair of fighters pulled up, twisting away from return fire, Ariel throttled her Executioner back. 

"469th Trinary," she ordered. "Begin withdrawing. Everyone else, suppressing fire."

The Combine troops continued to fire but also began pulling back. Artillery rounds continued falling but seemed more intended to shield the remaining tanks and mechs than to inflict injury. The Genyosha seemed content to let the battle wane. 

And why not? Ariel looked to a secondary monitor displaying information about her Cluster. Only seven warriors are coming back from the 469th. The Draconis Combine may be withdrawing but they won this battle. We are in no shape to press them. 

She gripped the control sticks tightly in frustration. 

I hope you are having better luck than I am Cade. 

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion
Outskirts of Cologne
Hanover, Draconis Combine
9 November 3095
0100 hours 

Cade had his Summoner at a full sprint as his sensors picked up the first Combine picket mech. It was a 30 ton Hitman, clearly checking out the heat signatures of the force of Dominion mechs. 

The scout pilot most likely died before he could make a report. 

Cade's advanced targeting computer got a lock on the light mech as it slowed, turning toward the clan force. Twin large lasers cored through the thinly armored scout, burning out its heart instantly. Though it was slowing, the mech was traveling at over one hundred kilometers per hour when it lost power. It slammed to the ground with such force the feet came up over its head in an flailing roll. 

As it slammed onto its back, shattered almost beyond recognition, Cade and his Dominion warriors shifted course. 

"Expect resistance," Cade announced, breaking radio silence. "If he did not get a report out they will send someone to find him soon."

No one replied but he did not expect them to. They were warriors on a mission. They would not speak if there was not reason. 

Cade glanced at the lower corner of his holographic display. A glowing number there was rapidly counting down the distance to the artillery positions. 

Not rapidly enough.

The night lit up again as lasers cut toward the onrushing Dominion troopers. 

"Contact," Dillon reported. "Three mechs. Two light, one medium. Engaging."

A Gauss rifle round tore past Cade, a silvery blur that knocked the silhouette of a Combine mech right off its feet. 

"Do not stop to fight," Cade reminded the aggressive former Jade Falcon. "We have a more important mission." 

"Aff, Star Colonel," Dillon's reply was sulky but he did not slow his Summoner. 

Shane hammered another Combine mech with twin PPC shots. One of the light mechs vanished from Cade's sensor monitor as soon as it appeared. 

"Kabuto down," Shane reported, his advanced sensors giving him the make of his opponent even at range in the dark. "More contacts at long range."

SRMs suddenly erupted from the ground ahead of Cade. His antimissile system growled to life, spitting hour thousands of high speed rounds to swat at the incoming missiles. Though several were shot down there were too many to handle. 

Missiles exploded against the Summoners arm, flank and chest. Though not enough to do more than dent armor, the hits concerned Cade. There had not been time to fully repair his Omni from the last fight. 

"Infantry with SRM launchers," he announced, switching his machine guns to his current TiC. Stroking the triggers he sent bursts of fifty caliber rounds back at the troops in their fox holes. In the dark he could not tell if he hit anyone but he was more interested in making them duck. 

Not wanting to risk being swarmed, Cade hit his jump jets, leaping one hundred fifty meters ahead. He turned slightly as he landed his jump, not wanting to expose his mechs back to SRM fire. 

The heavy mech rocked as a pair of missiles hit the left shoulder. Had he not turned, they would surely have been back shots. 

Judea was charging after him, machine guns chattering at the infantry. 

Perhaps it was the more terrifying reputation of the Timber Wolf but Cade saw some infantry cut and run at her rush. Further down the line, laser fire traded as some of the 173rd engaged an unknown force in the night. Though the Combine forces were resisting it was clear they'd been caught off balance. 

That surprise will not last long. 

The ground ahead sloped upward, informing Cade he'd reached the bottom of the first incline toward the last known artillery positions. 

If recon is correct, I'll have to cross over this ridge, down into a shallow valley than up a steeper hill. At the top is where I will find the Long Toms. 

Behind him the intensity of the firing escalated. More missile and laser fire tore the previously peaceful night. 


0110 hours 

Jasen sidestepped his Arctic Cheetah, barely avoiding the backhanded slash from a Valiants axe. Twisting back, he fired a pair of ER medium lasers backed by twin pulse lasers. 

One medium missed high over the axe wielding Combine pilot. The second cut into the armor on the mechs left shoulder. The pulse lasers drilled holes in the Valiants thigh and right arm. 

With the damage mounting quickly, the Valiant accelerated using its MASC system, sprinting off into the night. 

Turning his attention to the sensor monitors, Jasen kept his mech at a jog while scouting the area. The Active Probe picked out a further pair of mechs. 

"Arcadia, Raptor and Owens moving in from two five five," he reported. 

"Three, Four, keep them busy," Ilsa ordered. "Give them something to worry about then catch up."

"Aff, lead," Jasen brought his mech around with a snappy turn, leaning far into it to keep his balance with the quick maneuver. 

A quick glance in his rear display showed Natalie falling in behind him, her Hellion matching his speed. He fed sensor data to her through a tight beam message, updating the range, speed and heading of the Combine mechs. 

"I have the Raptor," Natalie replied, also on tight beam. 

A moment later LRMs leapt from the Hellions shoulder missile rack, arcing toward the lighter of the two Combine omnimechs. Less than half, scattering bits of ruined armor in the bird-legged mechs wake but barely slowing it. 

The Combine pilot zig zagged on his approach, trying to make himself a harder target. Jasen saw no evidence this helped him. Natalie struck with a trio of ER medium lasers. 

The first beam hit the ankle joint on the mechs right leg, severing the clawed foot. One stabbed into the mechs belly, burning through the protection there though fining no purchase on internal workings. The last caught the laser barrel right arm, melting the large laser housed there before the pilot could bring the weapon to bear. 

Despite the damage the Combine pilot managed a shot even while his mech began falling. The bloody beam of a large laser carved a deep scar over the Hellions chest. 

Any further exchange was cut off as the Raptor hit the ground, rolling twice and stripping armor from itself as it tumbled. Missing a foot and with a savaged arm, getting the mech to its feet again would be no easy task. 

Missiles arced out from the Owens as Jasen's computer gave him a lock. Ten MRMs rocked his mech, all hitting with impressive accuracy. For a heartbeat, Jasen felt his mech start to topple, then the gyro synced with his sense of balance and he got the mechs weight centered again. 

Through the stumble, the computer held its lock and Jasen returned fire. Medium pulse lasers burned parallel holes in the chest of the nimble Combine machine but the ER mediums missed high. 

A ruby, pulsing beam slashed back, narrowly missing the Arctic Cheetahs head and making Jasen see spots from the intensity of the blazing light. He heard the warbling tone of the computer losing the lock and as his vision cleared the Owens had vanished behind a rock formation. Sensors showed the machine retreating behind the rocks.

"One down, one pulling back," Jasen said. "We'd better catch up."

"Aff," Natalie agreed, turning to sprint in the direction of the larger battle. "There are more enemies to deal with."

Another tone sounded from the sensor monitor, drawing Jasen's attention. 

Oh hell....

"Nat, you have no idea."


0115 hours

Cade paused after he'd passed the ridge, just far enough down the far side to keep from skylining himself. Looking back he watched a moment as heavy fire traded between his forces from the 173rd and Combine mechs. Something exploded out beyond his line of mechs. 

"Thule Lead, leave a few warriors to keep the fight going and get everyone else moving," he said. 

Within seconds a number of Clan mech silhouettes accelerated away from the skirmish on the plain.

Satisfied the rest of his raiders were keeping up, Cade turned his Summoner and throttled back up. The numbers on his display showed he was a little over a kilometer away.

Just over this hill. 

"Arcadia Three for Alshain Six."

Cade glanced at his sensor display, noting Arcadia three and four at the rear of the advance, catching up from their fight with the recon mechs.

"Go ahead, Three," Cade replied, leaning his Summoner forward as it began climbing the steep slope. 

"Contacts, over a dozen, coming in to cut us off," Jasen said. "Mechs and armor."

"Types?"

"Unknown but all heavy," Jasen responded. "Orders?"

"Get clear," Cade ordered. "We'll have to deal with them on the way out."

There was nothing else Cade could do. Jasen and Natalie would be torn apart opposing that much force. 

Troops behind us means we'll take losses on the way back. I hope like hell this is worth it. 

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Cormac mountain
Hanover, Draconis Combine 
9 November 3095
0125 hours


Cade leapt the last hundred meters to the top of the rolling mountain. The flare of his jump jets lit the positions of infantry and armored infantry guarding the battery of mobile Long Toms. He cut loose with machine guns before touching down, cutting down several infantry as his assault started. 

Antimissile systems roared to life as infantrymen fired back with SRM launchers. Several missiles were swatted from the air by the rapid firing chain guns. Still, the Summoner rattled and shook from a trio of warheads detonating against its hide. 

Despite the attack by SRMs, Cade kept his focus on the task at hand. Swinging his left weapons pod into line with the nearest Long Tom, he triggered both lasers. The emerald and ruby beams melted part of the barrel and played across the breech mechanism, destroying the artillery piece. Something burst on the massive gun, spraying shrapnel in all directions and cutting down a pair of infantrymen. 

Machine gun rounds and small arms fire skipped of Cade's mech, creating a horrible symphony of ricochets. Then a pair of ruby laser lances scored hits on the Omnimech, signaling the first Battle armor troopers getting into the fight. Cade's sensors tagged them as Raiden armor suits. 

Slow but tough. A good choice to defend an emplacement. 

Behind Cade, the night lit again as another mech leapt up behind him. Missiles arcing out and the flash of a gauss rifle discharge announced Dillon's arrival. His Summoner stumbled as it landed but it did not seem to phase him as he nailed a Raiden trooper with his large pulse laser. 

The battle armor trooper disintegrated in the hellish light of the pulse laser. Cade's sensors updated the damage his opening volley had done. Another Long Tom was shredded by missiles and the gauss round. 

Cade targeted a third artillery tube and carved it up with medium lasers as more mechs summited the hill behind him. Shane's Karhu cleared the top with Anike in her Ebon Jaguar. As Judea's Timberwolf came over the top, Cade throttled up and moved past the tattered artillery battery. 

On the reverse slope, two more positions were set up. Each contained a separate battery. 

There's an entire battalion here!

"Spread out and destroy those other batteries then let's get clear," Cade ordered. "We do not have much time if we hope to get back to Cologne."

Around his Summoner, the swifter units of the 173rd, Stanzach and Arcadia stars, rushed forward to execute his command. Some mechs were missing from the formation, victims of the early fighting. Some of those present showed damage or unpainted armor patches where they'd been hastily repaired. 

Another small laser melted a chunk from his mechs left leg. Cade spotted the Raiden trooper crouched in the twisted wreck of a Long Tom. He sent a medium laser shot and a burst of machine gun fire back in retaliation. 

The laser missed though Cade noted several sparks as the machine gun bullets skipped off the armor. The trooper ducked back, the attention more than he wanted. 

Missiles and laser fire stabbed back at the light and medium mechs of Arcadia as they reached the furthest battery. Jasen's Arctic Cheetah took a pair of SRM hits and a laser pulse but the nimble Mechwarrior danced away from several others while swatting an armored trooper down with a pair of pulse laser shots. 

Ilsa's Black Lanner marched down the line of Long Toms, hurling large and medium laser bolts, SRMs and LRMs into the mobile artillery pieces. One after another they were sliced apart. An errant missile touched of a stack of shells and a monstrous explosion rent the air. 

The mechs in Arcadia were knock clean off their feet by the blast. Even Cade's Summoner swayed under the massive, earth shattering shockwave. He kept the machine on its feet but saw Shane drop his Omnimech to a knee to ride out the tremor. 

"Arcadia, status," Judea called over the comm. the battle seemed to have been paused in the wake of the detonation.

"We are all active," Ilsa replied, her Black Lanner slowly getting to its feet. "Three lost his Active Probe and Four damaged a shoulder actuator. "

"Begin pulling back," Cade ordered. "We've done what we came here for."

On his sensor monitor, a threatening line of red squares advanced inexorably towards the Dominion warriors. It was past time to go.

01:45 hours

We nearly made it. 

The thought irritated Cade, nibbling at his concentration as he herded his warriors away from the smoking wreckage at the top of the ridge. Even from a kilometer away he could see the pall against the night sky. 

If we'd been just a bit faster. 

The return to Cologne was becoming far more of an ordeal than he'd expected. On the way back the Dominion forces attempted to edge around an incoming company of heavy and assault mechs. Using superior mobility, they'd succeeded only to run into more hovertanks. 

Unable to outrun the fast harassers, Cade and his warriors were forced to turn and deal with them. Only a Lance of the damnable vehicles had escaped but they'd succeeded in damaging most of the omnimechs and slowed down the escape. 

Now the assault company was nipping at the heels of the damaged and tired clan warriors. They had forced Cade to run parallel to Cologne until he could outdistance them. 

Every time they tried to turn back to the city, ranging shots from the Combine mechs harried them. Already two mechs had fallen during the withdrawal. 

"Keep moving," Cade ordered, twisting the Summoners torso to fire another laser shot back at the pursuing assault mechs. If the Akuma pilot noticed the damage, she did not show it. 

Laser and missile fire erupted again in the night. A series of explosions marked the accuracy of the Genyosha pilots.

"Stravag!" Judea snapped out the curse and Cade heard the twinge of pain in her voice. 

"Thule Lead is down," Conner said. "Leg damage."

Cade's heart stuck in his throat. 

We're barely keeping ahead of this assault company. If we stop to cover her, they'll catch us. If we don't, she's dead.

"Thule Lead, status?" Cade turned his Summoner, firing another pair of lasers at the silhouettes chasing his command. He saw one hit. 

"Knee is fused," Judea replied, voice still pained. "Another hit and I lose the leg. Took a hard fall. Might have cracked a rib."

"Get up," Cade said. "We'll cover you."

"Cade," Judea's voice was resigned. "You know I will slow you down too much. We will not get away with me crippled. You must leave me."

"She's right Star Colonel," Anike said. "You will not escape without someone buying time."

Cade knew what they were saying was true. He swallowed hard, knowing what his next order would bring about. 

"Alshain Three, what are you doing?"

Shane's voice over the comm drew Cade's attention. On his sensor display, a single blue diamond marched directly toward the line of red squares. An identifier marked it as Anike's Ebon Jaguar .

"Buying time," Anike replied without emotion. "Get out of here. I will give them something to worry about."

The Akuma turned toward Anike's Omnimech, its arms rising to target the insolent heavy mech that dared challenge it. 

ER large lasers cut into the Akuma as Anike got off the first shots of the confrontation. Armor ran on the Genyosha mechs left arm and chest. Though the Durallex Special Heavy armor held up under the assault, the hits spoiled the Combine pilots aim somewhat. 

The PPC beam lit the night sky but missed over the shoulder of the low built Ebon Jaguar. A scattershot of LB-X 10 pellets sanded some armor from the left arm of the Omnimech but Anike shrugged it off, rapidly closing the distance with the Akuma. 

Cade was barely aware that Judea's Timberwolf had regained its feet and begun limping away again, his attention focused on the uneven duel behind them. 

The Akuma pilot fired again, starting to circle to the left. Anike matched the move, ducking and weaving her mech. Again, the ER PPC missed wide. SRMs, at extreme range, corkscrewed out, several detonating against the Ebon Jaguar, rattling it but doing no serious damage. 

Anike planted the broad feet of her mech, twisting to keep the Akuma in her forward arc. The demonic roar of a heavy autocannon on double fire boomed across the battlefield. A line of 203 millimeter tracers pounded into the Akuma. The first burst reduced armor on its right leg to dust, shattering most of protection on the limb and unbalancing the ninety ton machine. 

The second volley capitalized on the already damaged chest of the Genyosha mech. Smashing through the remaining armor, armor piercing rounds punched into the internal structure. Pieces of metal spewed forth, spraying in all directions in the telltale fashion of a gyro tearing itself apart. 

Stumbling left, the Akuma went down hard, the connection between man and machine severed. 

It had barely hit the ground when Anike struck at the next mech in the Combine force. Her large lasers slagged armor on the Sunders right arm and flank. 

But the unofficial truce that had existed while she dueled with the Akuma was broken. Heavy autocannon rounds, missiles and a Gauss slug smashed into the Ebon Jaguar, savaging the Dominion heavy mech. At least three Genyosha mechs fired into the beleaguered clanner. 

The Ebon Jaguar went to a knee, somehow still up despite a half dozen savage wounds. Anike triggered the autocannon again, bowling over a Victor with the impact of rounds. 

Then a volley of MRMs slammed into her mech, wreathing the shoulders and head in explosions and flame. 

Anike's mech collapsed to the ground of Hanover. 

"No!" 

Cade did not immediately realize it was his voice shouting on the battle net. He was throttling up without conscious thought, crosshairs drifting over the Nodachi that had fired last. Emerald and ruby beams were carving deep wounds in the mechs torso as he rushed it. 

Gauss rifle slugs, missiles, autocannon tracers and lasers stabbed out all around him. Detonations and the harsh flare of lasers burning into armor lit the line before him. To his left, Shane's Karhu sent PPC beams out to probe the Combine force. On his right, Takano's Nova bounded along, delivering salvos of ER medium lasers into the Genyosha mechs. 

The Combine advance faltered as a Trinary of enraged Dominion warriors charged recklessly into them. 

Cade barely saw the other combatants from his side though he was vaguely aware of their contributions to the battle. He dashed his Summoner forward, firing at any and all Combine mechs as he advanced. 

He switched TiC settings without conscious thought, hitting a Nodachi with two large lasers then a Battlemaster with a large and a medium. Machine guns chattered every time he drifted close enough to a samurai warrior. His antimissile systems whirred as missiles were swatted from the sky around him. 

Armor ran from laser hits and the mech shuddered under autocannon fire but he didn't care. An alarm blared, warning of internal damage then the loss of two heat sinks and a large laser. The Nodachi loomed ahead, sword raised. Cade ducked the swing and backhanded the mech with his damaged weapon pod, knocking the Combine warrior aside. 

Reaching the fallen Ebon Jaguar Cade stopped his advance. 

"Locke, go get her," he ordered. "I'll cover."

There was a pause as Cade fired twin mediums into the savaged Nodachi, chasing it further away. 

"Star Colonel..."

Cade interrupted Locke. 

"Get her! We'll not leave her body to the Combine!"

Cade heard the metallic clicks of the Elemental point detaching. Three power armor suits leapt away on his 360 monitor. The bounded across the ground to the fallen Dominion mech. 

The Combine machines pulled back before Cade. Four of them were down and the others all showed signs of damage. The Nodachi lay sprawled nearby and only shards of the Akuma remained. 

Cade fired his remaining large laser and both mediums into a Ninja-to. Energy beams burned into its chest causing flame and smoke to burst from the MRM launcher. The pilot returned fire, slagging the last armor on the right leg of Cade's Summoner. 

The onboard computer calmly informed him the leg had taken internal damage. It was the parting shot of the conflict. The Combine mechs continued backing away and opening the range.

"Check fire, " Cade ordered. "All stars report."

"Four operational, three heavily damaged," Shane said for Alshain. Cade recognized he was one of the heavily damaged. 

"Thule reporting, four standing, two just barely," Judea added. 

"Stanzach," Jacqueline weighed in. "Three operational." 

"Arcadia reporting in," Ilsa finished up. "I have three still moving. None very well." 

Cade drew a ragged breath, suddenly exhausted by the fight. 

"Alshain Six," Locke's voice boomed over the comm. "We have Anike. We can evac her on the top of Judea's missile rack."

Cade didn't have to answer. Judea painfully lowered her mech on its damaged leg, kneeling to let the Elementals up. 

Cade's communications console showed an incoming tight beam. 

"It is not good, Cade," Locke said. His voice sounded mournful. "She does not have long..."

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

NE quarter of Cologne
Hanover, Draconis Combine 
9 November 3095

“Stravag…” Star Commander Brett growled out and fired his ER PPC again. “… hold still, dammit!”

As if it heard Brett’s curse, the Jenner jinked to the left pouring on a bit of speed as it did. Brett spat out something incoherent and fought to not bring his Hellbringer Prime out of its position in pursuit. That was what the Combine MechWarrior wanted, Brett knew, and he would not fall for that trick as MechWarrior Mason had done. 

Mason’s Crossbow A was still emitting a stream of smoke from where it had fallen. Mason had chased one of the Combine Mechs and been punished for his audacity by multiple strikes from artillery and LRMs situated farther back from the battle line. He was not sure if Mason lived or not, but the Crossbow was destroyed in the other MechWarrior’s wasteful display. Instead of dwelling on that, Brett instead felt some comfort that the Jenner had turned back from the position that he was holding. That was was enough for him right now. 

The Jenner was a part of a company’s worth of light and medium BattleMechs that were probing the front of 101st Battle Binary’s position. They had begun the probes by coming in hard and fast with weapons blazing across most of the position’s front, two lances of Mechs running in at top speed and blazing away at anything that looked like it might be a Clan OmniMech. The third lance would come in just as fast, but behind the other two, looking to exploit any weakness in the Clan line. 

They had done this twice, losing three Mechs in the process. While the lights were very fast units, they were also fragile. The wreck of two Jenners, both missing at least a leg, and a beheaded Daimyo had taught the Kuritans that charging straight in was just not a good idea. They had become more cautious after that. 

The Kuritans had then swapped to a leapfrogging tactic that was more something that infantry would do, but it had gotten them close enough to the Clan line that they could snipe at the Ghost Bears’ positions from cover. Plus, it allowed them to hold the attention of the Clan force while other, heavier forces started to close in. Brett let his gaze wander over the long-range display on one of his monitors, frowning at what he saw.

A mixed battalion of Combine Mechs and armor was moving up, slowly. Given their speed and the information being displayed from the satellite’s feed, none of the battalion was lighter than 60 tons and the Mechs were almost all much heavier than that. That battalion was here for Jezerko Star, situated in several positions on Brett’s left flank, more than his own battered Kempten Star. The heavier OmniMechs of Jezerko Star had stymied several pushes by the Combine as they tried to penetrate the defensive line that the binary had established.

“SITREP.” Brett barked into the commline.

[[Functional…]] MechWarrior Anderson replied. [[My munitions were just topped off but this damned leg is only just holding on.]]

“Copy that, Two.” Brett replied. He knew that Anderson’s Mad Dog B had been savaged by a swarm of SRMs and lasers from a trio of Jenners that broken through the line for a few moments before being driven back out. The two shattered Jenners that were sprawled across the front of the Binary’s battle line were a part of that push. Still, they had done their job and all but immobilized Anderson’s Mad Dog during the fight.
[[Five reporting…]] MechWarrior Raze’s voice growled over the commline in a low tone. [[I can see the enemy Mechs and they are looking to push again.]]

Brett nodded, despite knowing that Raze wouldn’t see it. The heavily scarred MechWarrior normally didn’t turn his cockpit video on for communications with his lancemates. Brett understood the man’s lack of desire to not be seen even by those used to the burn scars across his face and it had not interfered with operations, so Brett said nothing about it. “Noted. How is your Cougar?”

[[Armor damage across the board, but no breaches so far. I am almost bingo on muntions.]] 

“Pull back to rearm.” Brett ordered. 

[[Neg… I am too close to the enemy to do so.]]

Brett frowned. Was Raze too close to safely withdraw without catching too much enemy fire or had the loner MechWarrior decided his position was too good to lose until he’d added another notch or two to his kill count? Either was possible with Raze. Brett knew that Raze was a good MechWarrior, arguably better than Brett himself, but thinking he could stay out in the middle of the battlefield indefinitely without getting overwhelmed was lunacy. 

“Five, as soon as you have a clear path, withdraw to our lines and resupply. Copy?” Brett’s tone made it an order that could not be ignored. 

[[Aff, One. As soon as the way is clear.]] Raze replied. 

Again, Brett frowned. Raze’s reply was appropriate but still left much up to the interpretation of the other MechWarrior. He pushed the reply out of his mind and brought his Hellbringer forward through the rubble. Raze reported that the Combine’s company was getting ready to move towards them again, it would be better if he wasn’t in the same spot as he’d been during the last push. He glanced at the long-range scanner again.

If the company they were engaged with now pushed again, it would almost certainly tie up the remains of Kempten Star enough that they would not be able to support Jezersko Star when that battalion came in. A pair of Aerospace fighters streaked across the sky and Brett smiled because they were on his side… the Ghost Bears had maintained at least local air superiority which meant that some of that battalion wouldn’t make it to the city. 

There was a flash of flames and the muted sounds of explosions reached Brett as he watched flames blossom along the line where that battalion was moving. Secondary explosions followed as beams, missiles, and hard rounds chased the pair of OmniFighters across the sky. Both OmniFighters seemed to escape the ground fire with minimal to no damage and rolled in victory of the damaged they had inflicted on the Combine forces.

[[Jezersko One to Kempten One.]] Star Captain Darian’s voice erupted from the commline. 

“Kempten One.” Brett replied as he dropped his crosshairs on an oddly shaped object that seemed a bit too warm versus the surrounding area.

[[I have lost Jezersko Three and Four is heavily damaged." Dorian explained. Both officers knew that Jezersko Two, MechWarrior Victor in his Orion IIC had been lost earlier. Though the MechWarrior had survived, his Mech was lost leaving the already outnumbers binary even more shorthanded. [[We must pull back to Line Bravo or we will be overrun by that stravag battalion.]]

“Copy Line Bravo.” Brett replied. “Kempten Two is limping badly and will need more time to withdraw. Five is in the enemy’s area of operations and cannot withdraw.” 

[[Damn.]] Dorian cursed and the line went silent for a moment. [[Have both withdraw at best speed. We are too thin already.]]

“Aff, Jezersko One. I shall hold the line until the others are withdrawing.” Brett announced and swapped channels before the other could reply. “Kempten All… withdraw to Line Bravo at best speed. I shall hold position until you have withdrawn.”

[[Jezersko Two complying.]] Anderson replied. He fired a wave of LRMs across the front of Brett’s position. The ground there fountained with plumes of dirt from the impact of multiple objects but there were no explosions. [[FASCAMs deployed.]]

[[Five enroute.]] Raze said. Brett could hear the rattle of an autocannon firing in the background of the transmission before hearing a loud clunk sound, signaling the emptying of the weapon’s ammunition bins. 

“Come to my position, watch for the munitions.” Brett ordered. The FASCAM munitions that Anderson fired had deployed a field of anti-Mech mines across the front of Brett’s position. The tactic may not be entirely honorable, but it was a valid one and effective, which counted for much today.

[[Aff.]] Raze replied. The crackle of a too close PPC beam made the transmission pop and crackle from the electrical interference.

Brett spotted the swiftly moving Cougar as it headed towards him with a pair of Jenners in pursuit. Both Combine Mechs were firing on Raze with their medium lasers. Brett dropped his crosshairs on the first Jenner, which happened to be the one he’d been shooting at earlier, and opened fire with both ER PPCs. The blue bursts of lightning leapt from the Hellbringer’s weapon pods. The left arm bolt scorched the ground in front of the Jenner, but the right arm bolt intersected with the Jenner’s body.

The light Mech lurched to the right as explosions ripped across the Mech’s body. Brett grinned. He’d penetrated the Mech’s SRM ammunition bin and ruptured any remaining missiles in the bin. While the CASE built into the Jenner’s body shunted the force of the explosion out of the back of the Mech instead of letting it incinerate the MechWarrior inside, it didn’t save the Mech. The MechWarrior ejected even as his Mech plowed face first into the ground. The second Jenner broke off its pursuit after firing another volley of lasers at Raze’s retreating Cougar.

Feeling gratified at both the return of another of his Star-mates and the destruction of the elusive Jenner, Brett smiled and waved Raze past him then began moving towards Line Bravo. At least something was going right for them. 

Star Commander Brett
Hellbringer Prime
Kempten Star, 101st Battle Binary
Growling Bears

Cologne General Hospital
Hanover, Draconis Combine 
9 November 3095
0635 hours

The trio of Elementals outside nodded grimly, standing vigil along the wall to the hospital room. Cade stepped aside as a nurse came out of the room. She looked to the Clansman, clearly startled he was there. 

"She is in no condition to have visitors," the woman protested as Cade ducked past. 

He ignored her.

Inside, Conrad, the Elemental chief medic of he Growling Bears consulted with a civilian Doctor. Neither looked optimistic. On an antiseptically clean bed lay Anike. Blood stained the sheets through bandages and half her dark brunette hair was burned away but she looked back at Cade clear eyed. 

"Morning Cade," she said, her voice raspy. "Do not look so glum."

Cade shook his head, forcing a grin. 

"Now you find a sense of humor?"

With effort, Anike shrugged. She winced as she did so. 

"I was always...a little slow..." She replied. 

"You are many things Anike," Cade said. "Slow is not one of them."

He glanced at the doctor and medic. 

"They will fix you up," Cade's words were as much an order to the medical personnel as it was a reassurance. 

Conrad looked forlorn. Anike gripped Cade's hand, the brunette Mechwarrior shaking her head as she did.

"No, Cade," she answered softly. "There is no saving me...you know that...the same as I do."

"She's right, sir," the doctor spoke up. "There's too much internal bleeding..."

"Aff," Conrad agreed. "I am sorry, Anike."

The Mechwarrior gave the massive Elemental a reassuring smile. 

"I am not, Conrad," she said. "I...chose my battle...and will die....as I wished..."

"A warrior," Cade murmured. 

"Aff," the broken woman grinned. A coughing fit racked her and she spasmed in pain. She squeezed Cade's hand painfully. He did not notice.

"You will be remembered," Cade promised. 

"A warrior....can ask ...for no more....than....that."

"Seyla," Conrad said quietly. 

Cade felt the grip Anike had on his hand slacken. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the inevitable. As the Star Colonel stared down at her, a tear fell to land on her blood streaked face. 

The last of Cade's original Star was gone...

0710 hours 

"Star Captain, a word?"

Judea turned, her braids writhing across her shoulders as she did. She had not heard Takano approach but the lithe former Combine Mechwarrior stood at her elbow. 

Even in the dim light of the hanger, Judea could see Takano looked tired. Still, she stood tall, as though in defiance of the weariness that threatened them all. 

"Speak," Judea replied, looking back to the equally exhausted techs currently replacing the knee of her Timber Wolf. 

"Alshain Star is not at full strength," Takano said. "The Star Colonel should have a full compliment of body guards."

"Perhaps," Judea responded. "Yet there is nothing we can do about this. There are no warriors unassigned."

"Aff," Takano agreed, stumbling slightly on the word. It was one element of clan speech she had not gotten used to yet. "I request a transfer to Alshain."

Stiffening, Judea turned to face the Japanese woman. It was the last thing she'd expected to hear. 

"What?"

"I request a transfer to Alshain to bring the Star up to full strength," Takano repeated.

"That would leave Thule at only three mechs," Judea pointed out. "Not exactly ideal."

"There is no ideal here, Star Captain," Takano said simply. "But there is a degree of logic."

She looked impassively up at the Timber Wolf. 

"The Star Colonel will continue to lead from the front," Takano stated. "It is his nature. It is yours too but you have the rest of the 173rd who will stand with you. Cade may not always be attached to us so his command star needs to be complete."

Judea shrugged a tacit agreement. 

"There are others I could send," she replied. 

"Not really," Takano said. "You would be ideal but you have your Trinary to command. Now is not the time for a new commander if we can avoid it."

"I have fought beside Cade several times," she continued. "I also fought against him. He knows me...and I fill out a requirement for his Star it does not currently meet."

Judea nodded slowly. 

"A freeborn warrior."

Takano nodded. 

"And a warrior who understands our opponents, intuitively."

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Cologne Airport
Hanover, Draconis Combine
9 November 3095
1140 hours

Cade stood in the hanger, Elementals and Mechwarriors surrounding him. Anyone not on duty patrolling the perimeter was here. 

It was difficult to face them. The pain of loss was so fresh. But there was no time for grief on the battlefields of the thirty second century. 

"The fight was a lot harder than we expected," he began, his audience falling silent as he spoke. "But we succeeded in destroying the Combines artillery. That will buy us some time."

"And wrecking a Combine assault company will slow them down," Dillon called out. 

A few warriors nodded their agreement with the former Jade Falcon. More remained silent and still, listening. They acknowledged their success but also recognized the cost. 

"Aff," Cade agreed. "The Combine has been active this morning, shifting forces. Scouts from Arcadia believe this is to even out their siege force after those losses."

"Should we try a breakout?" Jacqueline and her remaining warriors were clustered by Judea's Timber Wolf. "This might be our best chance."
"Possibly," Cade agreed. "But we do not have enough Intel on their strength. If we overextend we could lose the city."

"And the Starport," Jacqueline nodded. 

"On that note," Cade said, looking at his tired warriors. "The Legacy touched down half an hour ago. Supplies and replacement parts are being offloaded, along with additional techs." 

That brought a smile to a few of the warriors faces. Additional help in repairing their machines went a long way. 

"We should be able to get two additional gantries set up within the next two hours," he added. 

Turning to his left, Cade found the trio of aerospace pilots in the group. 

"Kien? What's your status?"

The fighter pilot, his flight suit peeled to his waist so his tattoos were visible beneath a black tank top, stepped forward. He ran a hand through his thick shock of black hair. 

"Been one hell of a fight, Colonel, but we're holding. We've got local air superiority," he said. "We've also started running into flights from the 140th Strikers. We've started linking up to form an air corridor from the lake bed to here."

He glanced at his other pilots. 

"In terms of pilots and machines, we've given better than we've got...but we've taken losses," Kien explained. "We're currently at about sixty percent strength. We have a couple fighters down that we may get repaired but we've lost a few pilots." 
Cade nodded his understanding.

"I will see if I can get a star shifted over from the 140th to bolster us here," he said. 

"In terms of holding the perimeter, our approach will have to change," Cade explained. "Star Commander Locke has set up some advance positions for Elementals. You will be our advance defenses. When the Combine comes again, Elementals will engage to slow them. Our mech forces, kept ready in the city, will sortie to intercept...giving us a defense in depth."

The weary Mechwarrior looked around at his fellow Dominion warriors. 

"Individual commands will be rotated out for a rest and repairs," he explained. "The 101st was hardest hit. You are rotated out first. Darian, Brett, get some rest." 

Cade nodded to the pair of officers. 

"The 181st is in the hot seat right now," he continued. "With the 173rd backed by Alshain on standby." 

"It's not an ideal set up, but it gives us a chance to effect some repairs."
Jacqueline raised a hand. 

"And if they hit in strength in more than two places?"

Cade somberly acknowledged with a grim look.

"Then we make them pay dearly before we die."

None of the warriors looked disturbed or put off by this macabre reply. They were Dominion warriors. They knew the score. 

"Star Colonel," Arianna interrupted, striding into the midst of the assembly of warriors. "Report from the Star Commander Marcus."

Cade turned to the tech, accepting a Datapad from her. He quickly scanned it, relief spreading across his features.

"Mechs coming in," Cade announced. "Led by an Executioner and a Warhawk. The Iowa Blacklancers are six kilometers out and moving fast."

The exhausted warriors, energized by the news that the siege was over, cheered. 

Cade placed his hands on the holotable, grinning and finally giving into the weariness sapping his strength. A moment later, Judea's hand landed atop his, his executive officer and lover at his side. 

"We should go greet them," Judea said. "Less they think they actually saved us..."

1810 hours

Cade marched his Summoner, recently patched, along the edge of the airstrip. Three days prior, Cologne and its airport were sleepy features on a map. It had been a beautiful small city, the kind of place someone went to get away from it all and find peace. 

The last forty eight hours had changed that. 

Looking out toward the ridge in the distance, burned out patches of grass and blackened trees stood like scars. Hulks of a dozen war machines, broken and blackened, littered the landscape.

At the edge of the runway lay the wreck of a Dominion Sai fighter, one wing jutting skyward. It looked like a banner, displaying the emblems of the Dominion and the 12th Bear Guards. 

The control tower of the airport sported burn marks from grazing hits by lasers. Its windows were shattered. Cade was reasonably sure that had been the concussion from mechs firing nearby. He hadn't heard the tower had taken any direct hits. 

Despite the damage and signs of war, Cade felt relaxed for the first time since Beta Galaxy had arrived in system. Two kilometers distant, a star of assault mechs marched down from the ridge and onto the plains. Beyond them, a second star of heavy mechs marched stalwartly. 

The 332nd Assault Cluster had finally arrived, two days later than planned though Cade did not fault them. The Genyosha and these new Schuyler Lancers had put up a dogged resistance. Scouting reports now showed them withdrawing in good order away from Cologne, conceding the city to the Dominion forces. 

We accomplished our objective, Cade thought. But the cost was too Stravag high.

"Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie," Ariel Bekker's voice sounded across the battlenet as the lead Executioner turned toward Cade. "Is that you I see prowling along the runway?"

"Aff, Star Colonel Ariel Bekker," he replied. "Welcome to Cologne."


Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Schyuler Lancer HQ, Falkerk
Hanover, Draconis Combine 
10 November 3095


Aaron felt fury welling up in him as he listened to the reports. Only Kitamura's calm demeanor kept him from speaking out as the Genyosha Chu-sa Uzakito outlined the situation. 

"The failure of the Lancers to hold the line and defend the artillery emplacements caused the siege to fail," Uzakito finished, setting his laser pointer aside. "An hour ago, the 332nd Assault Cluster broke through and linked with the 12th Bear Guards. On order of Tai-sa Hachiro Ito, the elements of the Genyosha and the Lancers have begun pulling back."

Uzakito glanced toward Kitamura and Aaron.

"Already, a second dropship has landed near the airport and begun offloading supplies," he said. "The Dominion has established a foothold and we are not in a position to drive them back now."

Fool! You ignored my requests for heavy support to defend the artillery. Now that your trap failed, you place the blame on a company of medium mechs and tanks under the Lancers command. 

"What is Tai-sa Hachiro's plan?"

Uzakito brought up a display of the continent on the holoprojector. 

"The Dominion forces are expected to begin a drive on Wexler," he said. "It is the only city with the spaceport and infrastructure to accommodate their needs. Cologne is just a stepping stone."

On the map, a line of blue appeared between Wexler and Cologne, two thirds of the way to the occupied city from the capital. 

"A battalion of the Lancers will take up position here, supported by local infantry," the Genyosha officer explained. 

Kitamura shook his head, rising smoothly. Uzakito, caught in mid sentence, stopped. 

"Tai-sa Kitamura?" 

"This is not a tenable position, Kitamura said. "Not in the time we are given combined with the speed of the Dominions advance."

Uzakito looked angry that he had been interrupted. 

"These are your orders, Tai-sa," he sputtered. 

"Yet they cannot be carried out and I will not waste the lives of my men," Kitamura said flatly. "They will die for the Dragon if it is needed. But I will not sacrifice them on a fools errand."

A deep voice behind Aaron responded to Kitamura's words. 

"It will not be a fools errand, my old friend."

Aaron turned quickly. Standing in the doorway, a trio of Genyosha officers watched the proceedings. The man in the center, tall, tanned and powerful, wore his Tai-as rank easily. 

Ito," Kitamura nodded, a slight grin across his craggy features. "I did not expect to see you here." 

"Sometimes a personal visit is needed," Ito Hachiro said. 

"Such as to tell a man he and his troops must die?"

The Genyosha colonel shook his head. 

"No," he motioned to the holoprojector. "To explain a plan with risks."

Kitamura nodded, granting Ito a chance to elaborate. Aaron found his own curiosity, both at the relationship between the colonels and for the plan, growing.

"The Dominion forces will move toward Wexler...soon. We lack the force to stop an all out combine assault of their Clusters," Hachiro explained casually. "So we need to deny them the chance to concentrate. My plan is to give them a force to fight, a battalion of your Lancers bolstered with a company from my Genyosha. The goal, slow them down while a second battalion of your command and a battalion of mine creates a second, more powerful defensive line here."

On the display, a new line appeared on high ground between the two cities. 

"I do not expect your troops to stand to the end," Hachiro said. "They may even begin a controlled retreat as the Dominion reaches them...it just needs to be a fighting retreat." 

Aaron frowned, watching. 

That makes no sense. The second line would have more time to fortify but it gives the Clans the chance to hit two weaker forces rather than a large concentrated one. 

Kitamura saw that too. 

"The advantage of defenses is not enough to make up for the loss of forces from the first line."

"Not if they can concentrate on us, no," Hachiro agreed. "But we will not give them the chance. Two reinforced companies of mechs have broken away from the Genyosha. They will act as behind the lines raiders, striking at the Dominions flanks and supply trains."

Arrows appeared on the holoprojector, displaying the raiders. 

"They cannot overwhelm the Dominon mechs, but they force them to dedicate forces to protect their rear areas and guard supplies...so they cannot concentrate on our defensive lines."

Hachiro gestured to the map.

"I hope many of your warriors will survive the fighting retreat," he said. "The more that do, the better off we'll be. I need my men and women as raiders though...I'm sure you can see they are better suited to it."

"Perhaps," Kitamura agreed. "There are some skilled raiders in my Lancers as well though. If we were to form a third raider company, perhaps it will help with morale. My Lancers will not feel they are being thrown to the wolves if some of their own are raiders." 

Hachiro shook his head. 

"We cannot afford to dilute the forces more."

"Then let it be a single Lance, not a company," Kitamura pressed. 

"Let Chusa Aaron Yamato take his Lance and give them hell," he smiled. "Seeing him in their midst should definitely get the Ghost Bears attention."

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion
Hanover, Draconis Combine 
11 November 3095
0925 

"Dagda Lead, Alshain Six," Cade said, moving his Summoner at a moderate pace through the broad, forested river valley. "Anything?"

"Neg, Six," Feng replied. "Grid section seems clear."

"That makes fifteen kilometers," Cade said, twisting his omnimechs torso as he visually scanned the area. We have to run into defenses soon."

"I do not like it, Six," Feng agreed. "This feels like a trap." 

"That's what I'm thinking too," Cade replied.

Cade twisted back, looking over the valley. The river was shallow and lazy but with broad reaching floodplains on both banks. Though there were some large thickets, the area had few trees. There was little cover there.

Further up the banks, trees grew densely up the slopes. Some reached heights twice that of Cade's mech but they grew fairly close together. Concealing the movement of mechs through the forest would be next to impossible. 

"Push forward another half klick," Cade ordered. "High speed pass. Stay alert."

"Aff, Six," Feng answered, kicking his Omnimech into motion.

The scout star spread out again, Feng's Kit Fox in the center while the Mist Lynx and Owens took the flanks. The scouts darted forward in an inverted 'V' with the flankers first and Feng following up in the rear. 

Cade watched the scouts, signaling for his own star to spread out with his Summoners weapon pods. Dillon shifted left with Takano while Shane moved right with Conner. Takano and Conner were on loan from Thule Star. Judea and her star had insisted Cade have his full Nova with him. 

For all intents and purposes, Judea made her command into a Binary to reinforce me. 

On the left, the Mist Lynx piloted by Haris slowed just a hair. 

"Contact, long range, just inside the tree line," Haris reported. 

He accelerated away from the trees, the rest of his Star shifting course for a high speed turn. Missiles cut from the trees, one smashing armor on the Mist Lynx but not inflicting telling damage on the scout. 

"Hovertanks and battle armor at two o'clock," Takano called, her Nova already bounding forward to engage. Dillon was mere meters behind. 

Dillon's first gauss slug passed a meter over the speeding Harasser. The tank replied with a double volley of missiles. Twelve missiles corkscrewed toward the Summoner but Dillon jetted left and half the missiles missed wide. 

Those that hit rocked the Summoner but the former Jade Falcon kept the mech on its feet without much effort. 

A second tank darted forward, firing off a second wave of warheads at Takano. The samurai planted her mechs wide splayed feet and rode out the eight missiles that smashed into her mech with murderous force. 

The trade off became apparent when she unerringly tagged the fleeing Harasser with four ER medium lasers. The tank skidded out of control, it's operating surfaces shattered. Clipping a tree it flipped over and skidded across the plain on its roof. 

Battle armor troopers leapt clear as the tank lost control. Cade's sensors tagged them as Raiden suits, the predominant Battle Armor of the Combine. The armored troopers snapped off laser shots at Takano then bounded into the trees. 

Turning with the river, the first tank accelerated out of sight. 

"Let them go," Cade ordered as a pair of Dagda mechs started to give chase. "The battle armor too. There is nothing they can do to us and giving chase will undoubtedly lead to an ambush."

Feng's warriors slowed their rush and returned to formation as Cade switched to the private frequency he shared with the Star Colonels of Beta Galaxy. 

"Cheyenne, Ariel, we've made contact with skirmishers," he informed the others, sending the coordinates to them. "I think you can expect to hit opposition any moment."

"Aff," Cheyenne replied, autocannon firing in the background. "A Lance of light mechs engaged, trying to pull us into a minefield."

"I have seen nothing yet," Ariel added. "But I am a bit behind your advances. Warning taken."

"My fighters are finding a lot of activity above us," Cheyenne said. "Seems the Combine does not want us seeing what is coming up." 

"That sounds like a trap to me, quiaff," Cade replied. "Keep your eyes open."

Switching back to his Clusters frequency he caught the tail end of a conversation. 

"...they will drive a wedge between the 332nd and us," Judea was saying. "Keep an eye on them and when they move, we will hit them."

Cade tight beamed a message to his executive officer. 

"What's the situation?"

"Recon picks up a large group of tanks with mechs off to the left," Judea explained. "So far, they are just biding time...probably for us to overextend."

"Aff," Cade said. "When they move you and the 332nd pinch them?"

"Yes," Judea said. "I am playing a hunch though. I think we have another minefield ahead."

It makes sense. They let us wander into mines, activate them remotely, send in hovertanks and light mechs to harass as we try to extract ourselves. 

"It's similar to what the did with the artillery," Cade replied. "The scorpion pinchers and tail tactic. Claws hold the pray, then the tail stings."

"Exactly," Judea agreed. 

"Then let's turn the tables on them," Cade replied. "Be ready to start your turn." 

Glancing skyward, Cade keyed his mic again. 

"Kien, you up there?"

0930

Soaring over the battlemechs, Star Commander Kien saw the brief eruption of fire below. Banking, he kept an eye on the fight but was mostly concerned with scanning the skies for enemy fighters. 

"Kien, you up there?"

Keying his mic, the fighter jock rolled back toward the tip of the advance. 

"Of course I am, Cade," he replied. "What can I kill for you?"

"The hopes and dreams of the Draconis Combine," Cade responded. "I think we have a minefield ahead. Give me a flyby of the next two grids and see if there's any disturbance."

"On it, Cade," Kien grinned, throttling his Sabutai to combat speed. "Razor, you with me?"

"You cannot lose me that easily, Joker."

"I haven't even tried yet," Kien quipped back. "We are taking a little look ahead. Snap Roll, you have top cover."

The swift little Sai rolled into position on Kien's wing as he angled for a low pass across the river valley. Trusting his second flight to watch out for Combine interceptors, he kept his attention on the sensors, focusing them in and magnifying the image as he started his flyby. 

At first, he spotted nothing except the speeding tank, fleeing the recent firefight. It kicked up dust as the hoverskirts whipped across the grasslands. Nothing about the ground it traversed looked unnatural but Kien did not immediately buy into first appearances.

Scanning the ground in the first map grid he found nothing unusual. Still, something in the back of his skull screamed at him that all was not as it seemed. 

"First grid clear," he reported, banking around to start a run on the next grid. "Beginning second run."

"Joker, the tank altered course," Razor said. 

He was on a strait track to get through the valley. Why shift it...unless there's something you want to avoid.

"Specifics," he replied. "Where did it shift and what is the new course?" 

A secondary display indicated incoming data feed and Kien flicked it on. The map showed the previous course and where the tank veered off. An update a moment later showed the tank shifting again, toward its original course. 

Even as he began the next run, Kien sent the information back to Cade. 

"I think we have something for you, Cade," he said. "Looks like that tank you let go just said 'thank you'."

0935

Cade grinned at the information streaming to his holographic display. 

"I'm sending you some coordinates," Cade replied to his aerospace pilot. "Give me a strafing run, northeast to southwest. As much firepower as you can manage."

"Aff, Cade," Kien replied, as usual ignoring radio doctrine of calling his commanding officer by his code designation. "Always wanted to try my hand at arson."

Cade shook his head, still grinning as the wildcard he'd made a Star Commander winged over and started firing a battery of pulse lasers. The Sabutai's firing was staggered so that weapons were firing through the entire run. Close behind, Kinnison's Sai added ER PPC fire and a barrage of short range missiles. 

Smart man, Cade thought as the arrowhead shaped fighter delivered the explosive warheads. He either switched off the targeting protocols for his Streaks or he targeted the ground itself. 

Explosions rocked the ground, smoke and flame from lasers setting trees ablaze leapt skyward. Not everything hit natural targets however. Oily black smoke drifted up as well and a secondary explosion rocked the tree line as the fighters banked away. 

"I do not think they liked that, Cade," Kien commented. 

Instantly, Cade's sensors lit up. 

"I have multiple engines coming online," Haris reported. 

"Same," Shane added. "Over a dozen...all tanks."

Cade looked to Judea's Binary. 

"Thule Lead," he said. "Happy hunting."

Judea's mechs surged forward like hounds unleashed. The tanks were just bursting free of the woods when the Omnis hit them. 


0940

Kien pulled back on the stick, performing an Immelmann turn to come around. He had a great vantage point over the combat erupting below. He nearly laughed aloud as he saw the Combine tanks, taken by surprise, try to rally and skirt the minefield. 

Judea's mechs simply angled around it, following the path of the hover tank that had fled earlier. The ambush was not turning out as the Combine had planned and the casualties were going to be high. 

"Tally Ho! Tally Ho, bandits bearing Two Five!" 

At Snap Rolls warning, Kien banked around, angling toward the incoming Combine fighters. 

"I have them," he replied. "Sensors say Sais and Shilones. Four of each."

"Call it Joker," Kinnison said. "Who do we hit?" 

With only two pairs of fighters, Kien and his pilots were outnumbered two to one. Though he didn't doubt his warriors were superior, the Combine had proven they were no slouches in air to air combat. 

"Stay in pairs," he ordered. "Do not go for kills. Just keep them from strafing Cade."

"What if we absolutely MUST kill something?" Snap Roll asked. 

"Well if you must....just make sure you guard the mud bugs first."

As the fighters closed, head to head, the Combine Sais pulled ahead of the Shilones. They spread out, shielding the heavier fighters.

The Shilones are here in a ground attack role. The Sais just want to tie us up. 

Kien brought his targeting crosshairs over one of the Sais. It was a challenge to keep it in his sights as the cagey Combine pilot juked and wove at random intervals. Just as he entered into range for his Sabutai's large lasers, he achieved a lock.

Knowing that the Combine pilot would dodge to break the targeting solution, Kien fired immediately. Four blood red energy beams leapt out toward the arrowhead fighter. Two missed as the samurai pilot rolled to dodge. The other two cut into the swift fighter. 

Armor ran as one beam burned into the fuselage, drilling through the protection there. The second laser cut into the port wing, slagging more armor. 

Judging by the nimble roll the pilot performed to bring Kien back under his guns, the damage was minimal. 

The Sai pilot's return fire was just as accurate. Kien's damage indicator lit up as the ER PPC cut deeply into the Sabutai's fuselage. Though not enough to get through the fighters hide, it didn't leave a lot of protection remaining. All systems remained fully operational. 

Kien was grateful the range had been too great for the fighters SRMs on this first pass. 

Then the fighters were whipping past each other, the two formations colliding and individual craft taking rapid evasive maneuvers to keep from hitting one another. Missiles and lasers filled the sky with a spiderweb of energy beams and missile contrails. Explosions and flying bits of molten armor indicated some shots had registered hits during the chaotic encounter. 

Behind Kien, a flaming object trailing black smoke passed on his 360 display. There was an explosion as the fighter passed below his line of sight.

"Stravag! They got Richart!"

Kien felt Snap Rolls anguish at the loss of his wingman. The two had been friends for years and had transferred to the Growling Bears together. 

Now he's lost his friend in the first campaign with us. 

Personally, Kien felt the loss of one of his senior veteran pilots. There was no time to dwell on it now, however. 

Throwing his fighter over and banking sharply he came around, rolling to make himself a harder target. 
A pair of Shilones whipped past at close range. The azure beam of a PPC arced out and burned into the wide wing of the trailing fighter as Kinnison snapped off a quick shot. 

Twisting the fighter back the other direction, Kien spotted a pair of the Combine Sai fighters angling away from the swirling dogfight. 

"Two setting up for a strafing run," he said. "I'll take them. Razor, cover Snap Roll."
"I am your wing, Joker," Kinnison replied. "I cannot leave you."

"Go," Kien ordered, accelerating his fighter to full power and diving on the pair of Sais. "I can manage and you two are in the same fighter type. You're a better match up."

Not waiting for a reply, Kien stood the fighter on its wing and dove at full thrust, spilling lift from his wings. He triggered all four large lasers at the lead fighter. 

One missed ahead of the Combine pilot. The other three cut into the thick body of the fighter. Two burned the fuselage, melting a ton of armor from the nimble craft. The last washed over the starboard engine, playing across the vents and melting them. 

The sudden shift in thrust as the starboard engine engaged emergency shut down caused the fighter to skid to port. His wingman rolled to avoid colliding with his damaged friend, breaking off from the strafing run. 

With his plane wounded and fighting damaged control surfaces, the Combine pilot angled away from the fight. 

I want to get that kill, Kien thought, breaking off and heading back to the swirling melee. But I'll settle for him heading home.

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

Dominion Occupied Zone, Hanover
14 November 3095

Cade slid his Summoner left, narrowly avoiding a Gauss Rifle slug even as a pair of medium lasers blistered armor on his omnimechs torso. 

It’s a small victory, but I’ll take it. 

Centering the holographic crosshairs over the Genyosha Shadow Cat, Cade heard a solid tone as the crosshairs glowed gold. Depressing the firing studs he sent kilojoules of energy back at the former Clan mech. 

Though a solid scout and decent raider, the Shadow Cat was never meant to get in a stand up fight with a mech the size of a Summoner. The Genyosha pilot had been game, dodging and evading, never standing in one place long enough to get pinned down…until now. 

It only takes one mistake.

Emerald and ruby beams cut into the hide of the Omnimech. Guided by the advanced targeting computer both large lasers converged on the right shoulder of the Cat, burning armor and myomer away in an eye blink. The medium lasers struck as well. One gouged armor from the mechs right leg while the other stabbed into the belly of the machine. 

The large laser hits did the most telling damage. As the Shadow Cat staggered and the pilot darted the nimble mech away, Cade’s battle computer updated the suspected damage on the target. 

The right arm is hanging on by a thread, coolant lines were cut and there’s a seventy percent chance the Gauss rifle is out of action, Cade noted as he glanced at the sensor information. Even if it still functions, the shoulder is destroyed so aiming the cannon will be next to impossible. 

He pivoted his seventy ton machine and triggered the jump jets, hopping sixty meters left as an evasive maneuver. Cade had long ago learned never to stay in one place long on a fluid battlefield. One could never tell who was targeting who half a mile away. 

“They are pulling back, Six,” Takano reported. “We pursue, hai?”

“Neg, Four,” Cade replied, checking the positions of his Starmates. “Take ranging shots but do not pursue. We will not catch them anyway.”

Already the Combine mechs were sprinting away, taking advantage of their higher speed to outrun Cade’s heavier machines. It had been a sharp but short skirmish.

The same kind of fight we have been dealing with the past two days, Cade thought. Hit and run on the flanks while the front slowly gives way. If we could concentrate our force on the defensive lines we would shatter them…which is exactly why these raiding forces are here and we have been pulled to defend supply lines. 

“Convoy Charlie One Seven,” Cade glanced at the trucks behind his mech, guarded by Shane and Conner. “Status?”

“Charlie One Seven here,” the lead truck driver replied. “I have two trucks hit but none disabled. Three wounded, one dead.”

“Understood,” Cade said. “Continue at best speed. Shane, take point, Dillon with me. Conner and Takano, on the right.”

The trucks jolted into motion again, arranging themselves in a line and continuing on the dirt road toward the forward firebase the 332nd Cluster had set up that morning. Cade and his mechwarriors fell into position to escort them. 

As they marched, Cade pulled up the data his battle computer had gathered during the skirmish. Directing it to a secondary display on his holographic, he checked it against the data a star from the 14th had provided the previous day. After a moment, he switched his comms to a private channel. 

“Shane, did you get makes and models of the Combine mechs?”

Shane, the lead scout for Alshain Nova, had gotten quite adept at pulling information from a battlefield with his Karhu’s advanced electronics. 

“Aff, Cade,” the younger warrior replied. “Six mechs. A Talon 5Z, Shadow Cat Prime, Owens Prime, Centurion D3D, Grand Dragon 7K and a Firestarter D.”

A moment later, data on each of the designs appeared as Shane tightbeamed the information to Cade’s battle computer. The Growling Bears commander frowned as he checked the information. Though familiar with many Combine mechs there were simply too many to know all the details for each variant. 

“Some of these mechs are barely above our speed rating,” he commented, checking the Centurion’s information. 

Not a mech often seen here. A Davion design I believe. Probably isorla. 

“Aff,” Shane agreed. “Those that were not terribly fast stayed further away and sniped at us. They were also the first to begin withdrawing.”

Cade nodded, pulling up data on the Firestarter. He had seen the machine lingering in the back of the fight, engaging only with a PPC even though it carried a sword. 

“There’s a lot of missiles in those mechs,” Cade pointed out. Shane was quick to see the path he was taking. 

“They need a place to reload,” the Karhu pilot agreed. “There must be an outpost somewhere.”

“Aff,” Cade agreed. “And they can outrun us, but they have made no attacks on Stanzach or Arcadia…”

“But Stars of the 332nd have been hit,” Shane finished. “Because they are slower. The base is probably not far away. Just far enough for them to outrun us and got to ground again.”

“Aff,” Cade said. “We cannot catch them. But we can track them.”

He switched channels on his comm, opening a new line. For nearly a minute, there was no reply. Then he heard the popping static of someone answering the call. 

“Stanzach Lead here,” Jacqueline said. 

“Jackie, mount up,” Cade ordered. “I am sending a set of coordinates to your mech. We were attacked there. Take your Nova there and track the raiders back to their base…and destroy it.”

“It will be done, Star Colonel,” Jackie replied with evident enthusiasm. 

12th Bear Guard Barracks, Cologne
Dominion Occupied Zone, Hanover
14 November 3095

Jacqueline closed the line and set her communicator aside. Sitting up she ran a hand through her auburn hair, pushing it back out of her face. Tossing the sheets aside, she rose and stretched. Looking back at the bed she frowned. 

“That means you too,” she said, opening a drawer to get a pair of mech shorts. “If I have to get out of that bed, so do you.”

A moment later, the lump in the middle of the narrow bunk stirred. Elena pushed the sheets aside, looking up at the Star Commander. 

“You really know how to treat a girl,” she said grumpily. “We are supposed to be on stand down for another four hours.”

Jacqueline shrugged, pulling on a tank top. 

“You heard Cade,” she replied. “We have some hunting to do.”

Striding back to the bed, she ran a finger lightly along Elena’s jawline. 

“And you were not complaining about my treatment of you a couple hours ago, quineg?”

Elena grinned and nipped at Jacqueline’s finger. Jacqueline pulled her hand back with a laugh. 

“Now come on,” she said tossing a shirt toward the bed. “I will arrange for us to have a few hours off later tonight.”

Dominion Occupied Zone, Hanover
15 November 3095
0120 Hours

Aaron Yamato stood by the portable comm unit in the tent his lance was using as headquarters. Around him, his three best mechwarriors stood impassively with a half dozen techs. No one said a word as they listened to the radio traffic coming from the speakers. 

The comm tech sitting at the station was equally silent, though Aaron noted a tear slide down the man’s face. Aaron pretended to not notice.

In all likelihood, he knows the men and women we are listening to. Men and women we are hearing die.

“Hatusko, pull back! Watch that Ryoken!”

The chatter of autocannons overwhelmed the line for a moment. 

“Damn! She’s gone,” someone replied. “Autocannon ripped the head clean off her Talon.”

“This is Chu-I Matsuko, requesting immediate assistance at following coordinates!” 

Aaron stared at the radio as Matsuko rattled off a series of numbers. One of Aaron’s warriors bristled as the man repeated the coordinates, weapons fire threatening to drown him out more than once. 

“Sir,” David Mueller looked to Aaron. “We can get there. Ten minutes at most if we leave now.”

“Anyone receiving this,” Matsuko continued. “Dominion force is a Star with Elemental support. Requesting immediate support.”

Aaron glanced to David but said nothing. 

“Sir! We can save them,” David said, turning to face Aaron. 

“We cannot,” Aaron replied, his voice barely above a whisper. “By the time we got there, the fighting would be long over.”

“We cannot just let the Genyosha warriors die,” David spat. 

Aaron rounded on his warrior. 

“Chu-I Mueller, they are the Genyosha,” he returned, an ice to his voice that almost scared himself. “They are the finest warriors in the Combine. We are the Lancers, a hodgepodge of militia and regular guards. All we will accomplish by racing to their aid is to die along with them.”

“Between our two units, we would crush a star of Dominion mechs,” David refused to back down. 

“Perhaps,” Aaron admitted. “But we do not know if there are more Clansmen on the way…and I must assume there are. We have our own mission here…to raid and harass and keep the Dominion from concentrating forces. If we are defeated or badly damaged, we cannot complete our mission…and our comrades on the main lines will die.”

“For the Coordinator!”

The weapons fire intensified as Matsuko shouted over the comms. The snap of lasers was clearly audible, indicating they were firing very close to the mechwarriors cockpit. There was a shattering sound then the line went dead. 

“I do not like it either,” Aaron said, shaking his head. “They were good men and women. Now we honor their loss by continuing the fight in their stead.”

Turning his back on the radio, Aaron strode out of the tent as a gust of wind made it shake and snap. In the small grove of trees, surrounded by boulders, the quartet of Lancer mechs were shielded from view. All were knelt down to make them harder to spot. 

Chu-sa Aaron Yamato looked up at the war machine he had swapped for his Shugenja. The Ninja-to was similarly armed to his old ride with MRMs and laser weaponry, though Aaron missed the range of the ER PPC. Still, twin large and medium extended range lasers were considerable firepower. 

The other mechs in his lance were all similarly fast mediums. They had to be a rapid force to escape the heavier Omnimechs of the Dominion force. 

He looked back at the tent as David and his fellow warriors stepped outside into the chill night air. 

“Mount up,” he said. “If the Dominion is out here hunting, they cannot be guarding everything.”
Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion

4 kilometers West of Wexler
Hanover, Ghost Bear Dominion
23 November 3095 

Cade stood in the shadow of his heavily battered Summoner. The left arm was completely gone and he was uncomfortably aware of a series of shell holes across the right torso, the last of which had chipped a deep gouge in the ferroglass of his cockpit. Other mechs of the 12th Bear Guards, all in similarly rough condition, stood nearby. 

If needed, the warriors standing near Cade were prepared to rush back to their cockpits and mount back up. Judging on their view of the ensuing battle below the ridge they stood on, it was unlikely. 

The Combine forces were slowly withdrawing, providing a withering covering fire with light autocannon and ER PPC fire. Marching toward them at roughly the same pace, the Iowa Black Lancers and a Battle Trinary of The Maulers advanced inexorably. 

The Draconis Combine gave it their all. This has been one of the hardest battles I have ever fought but without reinforcements this was the inevitable conclusion. 

Turning from the fight, Cade looked over his warriors. He felt a pang of despair at the warriors he did not see standing with him. 

A few meters away, Jacqueline and Elena stood side by side, looking down at fighting. Dried blood was on Elena’s arm. It had leaked from beneath the bandages on her bicep, the result of shrapnel that had punctured her cockpit. Jacqueline looked fine, physically, though she was clearly as worn out as Cade himself. 

Beyond them, Ilsa, Natalie and Jasen were talking among themselves. To her credit, Natalie seemed more at home with the pair of freeborn warriors than she would have been a year prior. The three had worked together on Schuyler but it was Hanover that forged them into a team. They needed two more pilots to fill out their Star but there was a solid base there now. 

Standing near Cade on his other side, the members of his Command Star mixed with the rest of the 173rd Trinary. Judea was nearest, watching the battle unfold dispassionately while idly toying with a pair of her braids. Having left the cockpit, she had let them hang free. 

Cade noted she held the remains of her old bondcord in her hand. She was still using it to tie her braids back when she was in the cockpit, even after being a warrior for years now. 

Conner, massive and muscular, dwarfed Takano, slim and toned. The former Combine warrior stood out yet seemed at home with her Trueborn compatriots. Her performance in the campaign had earned their respect and vindicated Cade in bringing her into the ranks of the warrior caste. 

Shane was with Dillon. The Ghost Bear and the former Jade Falcon did not like one another but they worked well together when the shooting started. Dillon looked slightly worse for wear, bruised and scraped along his left side. In the closing moments of the fight that had sent the Combine forces into retreat, a Gauss rifle slug had taken the leg off his Summoner. He’d emerged from the downed mech with no serious injury but no one rides a mech to the ground completely unscathed.

Beyond them, Feng and his recon star stood. Elementals still in their armor were at the edges, keeping a wary eye on the surrounding areas. 

The pounding of mech feet approaching drew Cade’s attention. A pair of machines marched up the hill toward him. As they neared, they slowed to a stop, coming to rest beside his Summoner and Judea’s Timber Wolf. 

Both bore the marks of recent combat, laser scars and missile damaged armor. The Executioner was missing a hand as well. The Gargoyle seemed to have little in terms of armor anywhere but was still reasonably intact. 

Stepping away from his pilots, he met the mechwarriors descending from their cockpits at the feet of their rides. 

“Star Colonel Tseng,” Cade nodded to Erikk. “Star Colonel Bekker.”

Ariel nodded back. 

“I am surprised you are not up front, leading your troops,” Cade said to Ariel Bekker. 

“I was,” she replied, jerking a thumb toward the Executioner. “But Erikk has reason to call me back.”

Erikk nodded, pulling a datapad from a pocket in his cooling vest. 

“The Combine has abandoned Wexler and is pulling out,” he said. “Our recon says elements of the Lancers are already in the mountains, heading through the passes for Yoshiteru. We are not sure what they plan to do when they get there but they are abandoning this continent.”

“Good news,” Cade replied. “They fought hard for it but I know my troops can use a rest.”

Ariel shook her head. 

“You may need it but I do not think we will get it,” she said. 

“Neg,” Erikk agreed with the 332nd’s CO. “Alshain has gone dark. Completely dark.”

Cade frowned, immediately disconcerted by the news. 

“When did this happen?”

“Three days ago,” Erikk replied. “At first we did not think anything of it. But their continued silence is troubling. We have reached other units without trouble but they also report they have received no word from Alshain.”

“Communications trouble at the capital?”

“Perhaps,” Ariel nodded. “But there is something more sinister.”

Erikk held up the datapad. 

“The Combine is reporting they have landed an invasion force on Alshain.”

“Impossible,” Cade replied, glancing at the datapad. “There is no way they could hit our capital.”

“I want to agree,” Erikk said. “But there are confirmed reports of raids on other worlds. Orestes was hit though the raiders were destroyed. A raid on Schuyler and another on Jezersko are confirmed.”

Cade glanced to Ariel, who chewed her lip in thought. 

“Do you really think they have the ability to get to Alshain?”

“Personally, I do not know,” Erikk replied, shrugging. “Howerver, high command cannot take the chance. You are being pulled off the line and sent back to Alshain. Your dropships are being sent to Wexler as soon as it is secured.”

Cade was rocked back at this. 

“If Alshain is actually under attack, we aren’t in condition to turn back an invasion.”

“I know, Cade,” Erikk replied. “Khan Sarah Vishio knows. But even as damaged as you are, the 12th Growling Bears is our best fast reaction force. You’ll have to rest and repair en route. Ships are being rerouted to get you there as quickly as possible.”

Cade looked over his shoulder, catching Judea’s attention. He motioned his executive officer over.

“We’ll get moving down into Wexler,” he said to Erikk. 

Extending a hand to the senior Star Colonel, Cade gave the man a firm handshake. 

“We will kick them off our homeworld, Erikk,” he said. “You give them hell here.”

Turning to Ariel, Cade took her hand in a warrior’s clasp. 

“It has been an honor, Star Colonel,” he said. “Until next time.”

She nodded once, curtly. 

“Kerensky’s speed to you, Cade MacKenzie,” she said. 

As he released her hand he turned to Judea. 

“Judea, we’ve lost contact with Alshain and there’s a chance it is being invaded,” he said, not mincing words. “Get everyone mounted up. We head for home as soon as our ships get here. Our work is never done.” 

Star Colonel Cade MacKenzie
12th Bear Guards (Growling Bears)
Beta Galaxy
Rasalhague Dominion