BattleTech Legends: Impetus of War by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Author:Blaine Lee Pardoe [Pardoe, Blaine Lee]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2016-06-28T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

DropShip Bull Run

Pirate Jump Point CEXC-002l-A.2122.97

Deep Periphery

6 July 3058

Loren walked into the cavernous ‘Mech bay of the DropShip Bull Run, Kerndon following close behind. Gathered here were the troops who would help him lure the Nova Cats from Tarnby to Wayside. He had called them together for one last briefing. As Loren turned to face his people, Kerndon took his place, always a pace behind, as if an invisible rod held him in place.

“Attention, people,” Loren called out, and the murmur of voices echoing through the massive bay ceased almost immediately. Usually the dingy, sweat- and lubricant-stained bay was full of the sounds of repair and effort, but now it seemed eerily empty. Even the repair gantries and winches seemed to stop and pay heed to the call for attention. “I called this meeting to let you know what we’re up against, and what I expect from you. You all know the importance of this mission to the survival of the rest of the Fusiliers, so I won’t bore you with a motivational speech.

“You’ve all had plenty of time to review known Jaguar tactics. We’ve left the Jag signals still active on the IFF transponders in the captured Omnis. What you need to remember most about what’s coming is that the Nova Cats will come at us with pure Clan tactics. They’ll square off in one-on-one battles unless you give them the opportunity to do otherwise. In their minds, they will be fighting the Smoke Jaguars, their long-time enemies.

“From what we’ve read, they’re some kind of mystics or dreamers,” said the lean Lieutenant McBride. “Yet the battle reports make them plenty savage in combat. My only question is which are they—dreamers or warriors?”

“For those of you who haven’t heard, this man is my bondsman Kerndon.” Loren gestured to the muscular man who stood mute behind him. On Kerndon’s right wrist was the bondcord, wrapped three times. “Kerndon was a Smoke Jaguar warrior until a few days ago. As my bondsman he is sworn to us, and my trust in him is implicit. He knows all about the Nova Cats.”

Kerndon acknowledged Loren with a slight bow of the head as he began to speak. “The Nova Cats believe they have a special insight into the future, and that this future features them predominantly. They perform spiritual quests for visions, attempting to recreate what Nicholas Kerensky did when he formed our—the Clans.” Kerndon caught himself as he spoke.

“I have fought them only once, but have studied them deeply. They use their spirituality in combat. It feeds them. gives them a concentration that lets them fight with a frenzy exceeded only by the Jaguar. Because they believe they are chartered by some supernatural providence, they fight without fear of harm or death. This makes them deadly foes.” Having spoken all he thought necessary, Kerndon took a step back to indicate he was done.

“As you can see, Kerndon can tell us much that is useful,” Loren said. “Now let’s get down to business.

“We exit the Wayside system in less than thirty minutes.

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