BattleTech: Icons of War by Craig A. Reed

Author:Craig A. Reed
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2020-09-24T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

CENTRAL SECTOR

KATYUSHA CITY

STRANA MECHTY

CLAN HOMEWORLDS

5 APRIL 3076, 0738 HOURS

The Katyusha Guard Conjurer reeled under the combined firepower of Stas’ Star before coming apart under the intense pounding. The dying ’Mech fell into a building, ripping the entire side off the structure.

The next Guard ’Mech, a Thug, spun toward the new threat, only to get hammered from two different directions as the Wraiths’ Phantom Star joined the fight. In seconds, the Thug lost both arms, its right leg, and most of its torso armor. The head split open, and a plume of vertical flame indicated the pilot had ejected. The remainder of the Guard Star, a Phoenix Hawk IIC and a Hermes, quickly retreated to the safety of the surrounding buildings.

“We need to pursue them!” Artemia shouted.

Stupid Falcon! Stas thought. “Neg, Phantom Leader. They are no longer a threat.”

“We need to finish them off!”

“We need to complete our mission. Destroying Katyusha ’Mechs is a means to that effort. If you want to keep fighting, go help Revenant drive off the third Guard Star!”

Artemia’s Marauder IIC quivered with rage. “Do not tell me what to do!”

“In a few minutes, you will have all the fighting you could ever want. Until then, stick with the mission!”

For several seconds, the Marauder IIC went still, then with a snarl of rage, Artemia spun her ’Mech around and strode back the way she came, followed by the rest of her Star.

“It was a mistake putting her in command,” Cuinn said over the Star’s comm channel.

“Maybe, but this cannot look like an all-Wolf mission. At least Jobina is a competent Star Commander for Revenant, even if she was a Burrock. Let us move to our first target.”

“Specter to Wraith,” Balbas broke in on the comm. He went silent for a few seconds, long enough for Stas to think he had lost contact with him. “Clan forces are assembling on the far side of the river. We have IDed them as the Adder Command and Quasar Keshiks, and they’re checking the undamaged bridges right now.”

“Force strength?”

“At least five Trinaries in the Warrior Quarter, but I am getting reports of troop movements in the adjoining Old Katyusha sectors, so it could be all of them.”

Stas felt his heart clench. Either keshik outnumbered his force five to one. But both keshiks, manned by the most elite Star Adder MechWarriors in top-of-the-line equipment against his second-line force of has-beens?

He shook the gloom away. He and the others knew this was a one-way mission—Garmen had made that clear to him from the start—and forcing elite warriors to fight them? Well, that was better than he could hope for. “How long do you think we have?”

“No more than fifteen minutes.” Balbas was silent for a few seconds. “I could order my people to delay them a little longer.”

“Neg, you have done enough. Just let me know when the Adders start coming across the river.”

“Understood, Wraith. Good luck.”

“All right, Wraiths,” Stas said over the Trinary channel, “the clock is running. Time to complete our mission.

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