Editor: Chapter 60)
16th July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

The Illicit Enterprise was a shambles.
"Just tell me what IS working?" demanded Ravezero.
"Communications, life support, thats about it." replied Chrome. He gestured around the bridge, full of smashed and shorted consoles, smashed glass, hanging wires, loose gratings and injured crewmen limping away.
"Sir, I can confirm that we're in the Bluedot system." reported Atticus. "I'm in contact with the 'Knights Own'. It appears that the bulk of the Knights and Comguards are fighting with jaguars on the planet." he paused, listening into the comms. "They're winning so far, but there seems to be an awful large amount of Jaguars. The situation could go either way."
Ravezero took all this in.
"It's not like we're in a position to help..." he said flatly, imitating Chrome's sweeping gesture.
"We could send down warriors in the Dropship..." suggested Chrome. This ship may not work, but the dropship still did. Ravezero considered it. The situation on the ground was still grave.
"Ok, do it. Grab as many 'Mechs and mechwarriors as you need." he ordered. Chrome indicated to js and they left the bridge.
Ravezero looked once more around the bridge. Where to begin?

"Where do you need us Medron?" asked Chrome. The controls reverberated as the Dropship descended through the atmosphere. A hold full of mechs, the Dropship under his hands. Just like old times...

The delerious, singed, rad-suited man was carried on a trolley through the field hospital. As his sanity began to more fully reassert itself once again he began to notice the world about him. The trolley, the ladder they passed under, the black cat crossing their path, the Dropship descending...
His memories returned with a jolt. He grinned at the miracle of his survival. No custard vats, no rabid dogs...
"Whoah! I have GOT to do that again..." :)
By David Richards Nice save, Pyro
I just dread to think whats going to happen to young David in the Clams of Kerensky.

Jojo, Bob Charade wrote all this, and scattered it across the world. If you, Paramount, Glen Morgan or anyone else wants to sue him, go ahead.
By Owens
(Editor: Chapter 61)
The Catacombs
Butt Hold
Uninhabited System for all Legal Purposes
Combine-FS Border


Joe Shmoe applied the Cestus' mechanical arms to tear off the door to the metal coffin Sumi had been locked in. Thuggees all around him wreathed in agony. Most of those who had survived the one-side slaughter had booked like bats outta Sian.

Joe reached over, opening the cockpit hatch with his left arm as he picked up the girl with his 'Mechs right hand. Lowering her onto his Cestus' shoulder, she quickly crawled into the cockpit. Joe pulled open the visor to the neural-impulse helmet.

"Hi there!"

It was all he could think of. He saw tears begin to glisten as her eyes locked with his.

"Joe, you came back for me....no one ever.." Her face hardened into the mask that he had come to know all too well. "It's about frickin' time. You ABANDONED me, even though you promised..."

He cut her off. Joe didn't feel like getting into a moral flame war with the girl. Instead he felt like getting out of the fiendish hell hole as fast as possible.

"Why don't we worry about that once we get back to the dropship?" He raised his eyes into his best puppy dog look. "Please?"

"Fine." She looked away indignantly, but then glanced back into the 'Mech cockpit,

"Where am I supposed to sit??"

"Umm..." Joe pretended he didn't know the answer to the question. "On my lap?"

Joe chuckled inside. He had always wondered why in 500 years of BattleMech development no one had ever bothered building a more roomy 'Mech cockpit. Now he knew the answer.

"Fine!" She muttered, climbing in. As he felt her weight drop onto his lap, he smirked. Of course, she would never see it through the helmet visor. Joe shoved the throttle into reverse, and exited through the passage way it had made coming in.
By CodeRed Yeah Joe!! lol

~CR
By FokkerYou can bet your a$$ that I would never trade my Shadow Hawk, not even for a Medron`s LAM.
By Medron Pryde
(Editor: Chapter 62)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

McQueen stood in the holotank to get a good look at the 'Illicit Enterprise,' the massive gashes showing even from this distance, and grunted. He glanced over at the 'Fire,' still trying to come back fully online after the jumpships swamped her with the energy surge of their arrival. As for the jumpships. He turned over to them to see the 'Arthur' and 'Merlin' slowy towing them into a stable orbit. And of course their was the 'Kai' still holding one of the highest orbits possible.

Out of a task force of six warships, one ship was battleready. SNAFU didn't begin to cover the situation.

An energy flare rip space apart in the distance and he frowned in concern. He measured the amount of time it would take the ship to arrive at 1g acceleration. Five hours. Out here on the rim he never thought it might be just a jumpship. Only a warship would have any business in this system.

"This just gets better and better," he mumbled and walked out of the holotank.

**********

Fokker sat beside Medron, watching 'The Dropship' land within a hundred meters of the other dropships, and had to second look at her. It had been two years since he'd seen her last and he'd forgetten just how big she was. No wonder there's only one of her, he thought. No one could afford to make two of her. Her engines, each the size of Leapord class dropship, shut down after burning deep into the topsoil, and he let out a deep breath. He shook his head and wondered how many dropships would be showing up in the future. This was turning into a small colony of ships.

"As I was saying, we have about two regiments right now," Medron said, bringing Fokker's mind back to the matter at hand. "About a regiment of those are LAMs," he continued, nodding towards Archmore. "Thanks to your reinforcements there. We have a slightly battered battalion of Comstar forces," he nodded towards Pyro, "a battalion of the Arrow's Guard, and a battalion-equivalent of Pitwolfs. Now 'The Dropship' is bringing in another regiment so we should be sitting pretty good here."

He put his hand on the map showing the fortress and tapped it slowly. "But this is still going to be hard. We have no idea what they have in there, what fortifications they have, or how many 'Mechs they still have available."

"Excuse me," Archmore interupted. "If things are going to be so hard, why don't we just burn the fortress down around them with warship fire?"

Medron nodded slowly. "Because we don't know who else is out here," he said slowly "For all we know, these Jags are simply allied with a bigger force out here. Whether they are not, we have to find out if there is someone else out here. We can't destroy them, only to be attacked by one of their allies in another two years."

The others at the table nod in agreement and Medron continues with the briefing.

*********

"Sir, the contact has accellerated up to two gees," the sensorman said to Commodore McQueen. "She'll be here in less then two and a half hours."

McQueen bowed his head at the news. "Move 'The Knight's Own' out to intercept the contact before it reaches the fleet or the planet," he ordered his helm officer.

**********

Ravezero turned his Toyama into the trees and began marching towards the fortress in the distance. Brute force to break down the enemy's resistance might not be the most interesting way to defeat them, but it worked in a pinch, he thought with a smirk as the Warriors of The Dropship arrayed behind him stepped forward to follow his lead.

He hadn't fought in battle with many of the troops here since the Goldfish incident. And some were new to him. Now it was time for everyone to see if this new group of Warriors was as good as the old one.

********

"We are in position, sir," the helmsman said.

"Hold position," McQueen ordered and looked over at the time-to-intercept moniter. Two hours to go.

********

"Here they come!"

Slacker jerked his Templar to the right in response to the nameless voice and aimed his doorknob firing RACs towards the Jaguar 'Mechs rushing out of the fortress. He squeezed the trigger and a burst of doorknobs shattered the plastech 'Mech into spare parts. To his side he saw a JagerMech with a FedSuns logo on it's breast take out another enemy 'Mech and a Berzerker beside it take another Jag out of the picture with one swing of its hatchet.

But the Jags weren't going down alone. The LAMs swooped in to fire on the onrushing horde of Jaguars, then pulled away, leaving behind ten of their number ripped out of the air by autocannon and laser fire. A Rifleman next Slacker exploded as a Jag laser found it's ammunition bay, and a Commando lost its head to a Gauss round. He winced at the losses, but lined up on another target and sent another stream of doorknobs down range. The Masakari fell to the ground, its right leg severed at the hip.
By Medron Pryde ew...forgot to double check that before posting...sorry for the typos... :(
By Medron Pryde
(Editor: Chapter 63)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

Miguel's Uber Urbie Supreme waddled into range of a Jaguar 'Mech and blew its leg off with a concentrated salvo of doorknobs. Beside him, Barak's Rifleman, "The 188th," fired a salvo of lasers and doorknobs into the hapless enemy and it crashed to the ground, dead for the rest of the fight.

Above the battle, Fokker fired another stream of doorknobs into another 'Mech from his Shadow Hawk LAM as he overflew the battle. His two effective companies of LAMs followed, sending lasers, missiles, and mini-doorknobs into the enemies below. He pulled his stick to the side and his gold-striped LAM turned to the left to fly back over the Warriors as another gold-striped LAM exploded in mid-air.

Pyro's Flashman stepped back to brace itself and fired a particle beam into another Jag 'Mech seconds after it reduced one his men into an expanding ball of nuclear radiation. The oldtech 'Mech weathered his assault, and the laser barrage that followed, to turn and unleash more hellfire on Pyro. He took another step to keep from falling and alpha striked his enemy. The heat level rose high in his 'Mech but he saw the Jaguar 'Mech stagger. One more salvo was it would take.

**********

"We can't hold them much longer, sir. Our troops are taking too much damage out there."

"Unleash the secret weapons then."

"But, sir. The Khan wants them saved for the final assault!"

"If we don't use them now there won't BE a final assault."

"Yes, sir. I shall inform the forces. What level do you wish to use?"

"Level One. For now."

"Yes, sir. I will order Weapons Level One now."

*********

Paladin and Wild Ride stood side by side in their twin Wolfhounds, one painted black, the other blue and yellow, firing lasers into a wounded Mad Cat. It fell to the ground, its engine cored, and they looked around at the slowly advancing Warriors and the LAMs buzzing overhead. It was working. Losses were heavy, but the enemy lines were collapsing.

"Incoming!"

They jerked at the shouted warning to see artillery rounds fly up out of the fortress and down onto the battlefield. Any 'Mech they hit was slammed into the ground by the force of the heavy projectiles. A Griffen near them spun and fell, then an artillery round slammed into Paladin's cockpit and his 'Mech fell back on impact. He shook his head to clear it and saw his cockpit was cracked and a red substance was leaking through.

Intrigued, he reached up, put his finger into the substance, and brought it to his nose to sniff it. It can't be, he thought and took another sniff. Then he experimentally took a taste of it and shook it off his finger.

"I don't believe this," he muttered. "They're givin
By Medron PrydeDumb fraggin' board wiped out the last line...ugh....here it is again...

"I don't believe this," he muttered. "They're giving us the rasberry!"
By Fokker They`re giving us WHAT!?!?"
By Medron Pryde rasberry pie artillery shells....;-)
By EvilTarq Oh dear... Medron Medron Medron Medron Medron...

How COULD you?

*Picks up a trout and beats Medron with it*

Of all the...

*sigh*

oh well

*Gets back into his chimera and goes to sleep*
By David Richards
(Editor: Chapter 64)
16th July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

Orderlies retreated as the sight of a slightly singed man shouting at the doctor.
"You can't just get u..."
"IS there a 'Mech?" he demanded of the doctor, pulling on a jumpsuit.
"Yes, there's some outside. But we still don't know what happened to you..."
"I'm alive. The rest of the warriors are dying out there. Do you expect me to sit back and rest?"
"N..no.." stuttered the doctor.
David turned on his heel and walked out of the filed hospital. Turning around he caught sight of the 'Mechs. Most were scrap, or damaged. Some, however, were largely intact, the mechwarriors having taken the damage. And there, with barely a scratch, was a Raijin...
David checked himself over once again. His incredible streak of luck seemed to be holding. But what would happen when it turned?

Artillery rounds continued smashing down on the warriors. A red mist was thrown up, a mixture of the deadly cargo and blood.
js pulled his 'Mech company back in the face of the withering fusillade. The forest around them was reduced to splinters as the Jaguars pushed forward once more.
The Falconer twisted, snapping off shots into the advancing enemy. The rest of the company continued to plod past him into the clearing.
A Mad Cat pushed forwards. js beat him back with some las fire, and stepped backwards into the clearing. He noticed, with soma annoyance, that his company had stopped dead. He twisted his 'Mech about.
"What do you apes think you're..." he trailed off as he saw the line of hills about them. Starting from the left, star upon star of Jaguar 'Mechs appeared above the ridge line. js would later swear he could almost here drums. One of his company piped up.
"There's THA-SANDS of them!"
By David Richards HEAR drums!
Sorry, I'm getting sloppy.
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 65)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery
ComStar Mobile Command Center

A whistle split the air, followed by the sound of shattering glass, and a sizzling sound as the radar displays conked out. A sticky red substance slid down the screen. The radar operator stared in confusion, then looked up. "Sir, we're being jammed."

Pyro stepped up, put his finger in the red stuff, then sniffed it for a few seconds before tasting it. "Raspberry. There is only one Smoke Jagaur would dare give me the raspberry! Raoul!"

The Comms officer looked back. "Yeah, but the message we just got a few hours ago said Raoul was dead... that he was on board the Robin Reliant when it launched the Starfish Device."

Pyro glared at the dead radar screens for a few seconds, then looked up. "Unless... remember that man in the radiation suit? He babbled about having been in Regularcuboid... if Raoul had climbed into the jump systems of the Robin Reliant, the ship's destruction may have had the side effect of shunting energy into the drive... which may have catapulted him to Bluedot as well."

*****
Several Hours Ago,
Bluedot, Periphery

"STAAAAAVAAAAAG!", the vortex echoed as soon as it appeared over the Castle Brian. A single from dropped form the glowing white hole as it closed. "AAAAGGGGHHHHH!" *CRUNCH!*... the figure fell through the roof of the cafeteria... *SPLORT!*... and into a vat of custard being prepared for dinner.

Khan Raoul hauled himself out of the vat moments before the AutoWhisk would have hit him and dragged him under, its frappe setting would have been his undoing. Raoul wiped the custard off his uniform as the Castle Brian's guard dogs surrounded him... all of them foaming at the mouth.

"Freebirth! This is not my day!"

*****

Several minutes later
Bluedot, Periphery, Castle Brian, Medical Ward

Khan Raoul slowly came to as the machines pumped the transfused blood into him... without those machines, he would have died from canine wounds, and the nasty torn-up area on his chest where the 50 needles consisting of his rabies shots had been poked through. An Elemetnal stood over him and informed him of the day's battles.

Raoul sat bolt upright in the bed, only to be pushed back down by the MedTech. Still glowering with rage, Raoul bellowed. "Aff, I approve. Fire the secret weapons, and give them..." *Cue dramatic music* "... the raspberry."
By Owens
(Editor: Chapter 66)
Tannenburg Homes Complex
Butt City, Butt Hold
Uninhabited System for all Legal Purposes
Combine-FS Border


Ron Limburger was about to cheat on his wife. His blonde secretary snuggled closer to him as the sounds of ordnance detonations grew closer.

"What's that noise? It sounds like a war out there!" The girl asked, trying to move for the window.

"Uhh...Its just kids playing with firecrackers," he tried to say in a dismissal tone.

"Oh, really?" She asked.

"Uh...I mean yeah!" He hadn't counted on her being that, well, blonde.

The ground shook repeatedly.

"Then what about those then?"

"Probably just a bunch of teenagers pumping the bass on their cars."

"Oh," she said.

Getting her to calm down seemed to be becoming a little more troubling than it was worth.

To reassure her, he went to the window, opened it and leaned out, yelling at the imaginary kids in the street.

"WILL YOU KIDS KNOCK....." His voice trailed off.

An enormous metal object filled filled the view from the window. One of its gigantic feet stomped his brand new Smokin' Jaguar convertible into a pancake.

"...it...off...."

The gigantic ferro-steel monster opened fire with its autocannons, the thunderous staccato booms blotted out the blonde woman's scream.


"Owens, break left!" Shouted Uraikha. The Panther leapt to the right on its jumpjets, while Owens' Wolverine jumped left. The four bursts of automatic cannon fire sent contrails burning through the air in between them.

The Pirate Jagermech had situated itself at the end of a cul-de-sac. Being able to flee no further, the pirate had cut all movement and planned to fight to the death.

Owens and Uraikha returned fire almost simultaneously, sending SRMs, Laser and Particle beams back at the Jag.

The JagerMech was clouded by the thick black smoke that burst out of its torso when the 46 points of damage dished out by the Warrior 'Mechs struck.

It torso twisted involuntarily, and then toppled backwards into the second story of the house behind it. Its decent was assisted by a flattened Smokin' Jaguar convertible that slid out from under its foot like a banana peel in a cartoon.

To Owens, who had grown up on Martigues, a planet in the Grand Duchy of Oriente, a province of the Free Worlds League, the 'Mech resembled a slouching bar-fly drunk.

To Uraikha, the enigmatic warrior, it looked like a heavily damaged JagerMech.

To Ron Limburger, the mujeriego, well, he was a little beyond caring since the JagerMech was sitting on top of him.

To Suzie Kruger, the secretary, it looked as if an anvil had just fallen on top of her boss. Or was it her boyfriend? Or lover? She was so confused!

To Zippy, the Pirate 'Mechwarrior, it looked like it was turning out to be a really bad day....
By Medron Pryde
(Editor: Chapter 67)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

"Uh....they're already sending them out, my Kahn," the elemental said slowly, shifting his feet like a nervous child before his leader.

"What?" Raoul's voice could have melted 'Mech armor by itself. "I'm the only one who can authorize their use!"

"They......they thought you were dead," the elemental responded reluctantly.

"Bring them to me. Now."

"Yes, sir!" The elemental saluted and turned to walk out the door, a true spring to his step as he left his slightly unbalanced leader's presence. The door shut behind him and he let out a deep breath. He'd survived another close encounter with Raoul. Things just might be looking up after all.

*********

"The HQ's been jammed, boss," Fokker said as he banked his Shadow Hawk LAM over the vehicle and the damaged Flashman standing beside it. "Literally."

"That must stink," Pryde responded over the comms, his voice partially scrambled by the obvious distortion of both particle cannons firing.

"Actually, boss, I'm betting it smells sweet," Fokker quipped as another shell flew down from the fortress and smashed into one of his LAMs. The sticky substance spread all over the LAM as it fell to the ground. The impact sheared a leg off and the nose crumpled as it slammed into a hillock. Fokker winced and pulled back around to return to the battle proper.

*********

"Intercept in one hour, sir," the sensor officer said to Commodore McQueen.

McQueen nodded as he looked at the enhanced 2-D image on his chair's monitor. The other warship, painted all in white with no identification marks, didn't appear very large, but also didn't look like it had the majority of its weapons space filled with empty hangers where fighters should be. It looked familiar, but he couldn't place it. "What is it," he asked his sensor officer.

The officer shook his head slowly. "I'm not sure," he said as he ran his fingers over the panel and a view of the warship showed up on the panel. "It looks like something from the Star League though. That style is hard to miss. The Houses don't make anything like it and you know how ugly the CLAN models are."

McQueen grunted in agreement and the officer continued. "It looks like its been modified though. That's a KFC drive there that has probably wiped out all of her dropship hardpoints. Except for the one that brought in the Overlord of course."

McQueen swiveled the view over to take in the equally white Overlord next to the warship. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the crown of the ship. "That's a Clan variant isn't it?"

"Yes, sir," the sensor officer responded. "Definately Clan."

"Reinforcements then."

"Yes, sir."

***********

"Charge!"

Marshal William "Rapier" Kruger's shout carried across the comm channels as his Berzerker sliced the head of another Jag 'Mech off with his giant axe. The JagerMech that had shadowed him throughout the battle shattered the arm of a Kraken that had lined up Rapier's 'Mech and sent it spinning to the ground with a stream of doorknobs. He looked up at the disconcerting optical illusion on the cliffs above and swallowed before slamming his throttle forward.

The Warriors followed at a run.

**********

Khan Raoul held the neck of the insignificant little surat in his meaty hands, slowly crushing it and enjoying the sensation of each crack. The surat jerked and trembled, its feet dangling above the floor, then finally fell silent. Raoul flung it to side and its body bounced off the wall to fall to the floor. He looked at it coldly and kicked it to make sure it dead.

"Apology accepted," he finally uttered in a pleased tone, then turned to the other surat before him. The mechanical device helping him to breath after the accident clicked and wheezed as he took in the abject terror in the man's eyes. "I hope I make myself clear. Only I order the secret weapons into use!"

The coward before him simply nodded and quaked in response, and Raoul grunted in pleasure. He reached up and flipped a switch on a comm panel in the wall. "What is our situation?"

"The enemy is approaching the line of our second level secret weapons, sir," the voice on the other end responded.

"Activate the second level secret weapons then," Raoul ordered and clicked off the comm panel. He looked at the surat cowering before him in disgust. "Come with me," he ordered and began walking towards the door.

***********

Akira kicked down on the foot pedals and his Phoenix Hawk rose up into the sky on its flaming jets, soaring over the few remaining trees to land in a clearing. He pulled up his ER Large Pulse laser and stitched a salvo of laser bursts into the nearest enemy. Smoke poured out of its torso, and the 'Mech turned sluggishly to deal with its new enemy.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw js's Falconer step up and raise its arms towards his enemy. A single massive doorknob erupted from its right arm and slammed into his enemy's right arm. It spun around, unprepared for the massive impact, and js's follow up particle beam caught it square in the back.

The 'Mech simply disappeared as its fusion plant went into overload and exploded before Akira's eyes. He looked in disbelief for a moment at the impossibility of the occurance then grunted. "Damn Stackpole and his novels!" he shouted into the comm. "That's impossible!"

********

Soltic's camoflage brown Griffen stepped forward towards the fortress and locked in another Jag 'Mech. He caressed his target with a particle beam before slamming a salvo of missiles into it and smiled in anticipation. He looked around at other Warriors marching forward around him. It wouldn't be long before they had breached the walls. He grimaced as another artillery round jammed one of his companions and stepped forward to fire another volley at his enemy.

Suddenly the ground around him exploded and he lost his balance before falling to the ground. He looked out through his blue-tinged cockpit at the sticky substance covering his 'Mech as he tried to move it. His arm slowly moved for a bit, then stuck in location. Another strain resulted in no movement and he looked at the substance closer.

Suddenly it clicked as he remember what it was and he switched his comm to a blanket frequency. "Look out people! They've got Taffy mines!"
By MacAttack So the Warriors of the Dropship are in a sticky situation.

How will they survive?
By Medron Pryde Oh.....I have plans.........;-)

I hope nobody minds me slapping them in here....hehehe....

Everybody...feel free to post whatever you want as far as stories go...just please don't break through into the fortress....that would make things messier for me....;-)

BTW.....what are those little retangular candies? They are seethrough, multiple colors, multiple flavors. Very small, they usually cost less then 10 cents....you suck on them...watermelon and fire are two major flavors, as well as green apple....and um....they are very, very hard...;-)

Just looking for a name because I can't remember it....hehehe
By EvilTarq Jolly Ranchers?
By David Richards YES! Once more someone else gets what was coming to me!
No rabid dogs, no custard vats. I've never got my comeuppance, and I never will... (sound of fate being audibly tempted).
By David Richards
(Editor: Chapter 68)
1th July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

js tracked the movement of a Vulture with his doorknob cannon. Depressing the trigger he felt the recoil as the massive projectile shot forwards towards the target. It caught the Vulture's knee, snapping the leg in two. The Vulture lost it's balance, falling forwards onto the ground. A Taffy mine exploded, trapping the crippled 'Mech.
"MOVE IT, YOU APES!" he bellowed into his Comm. His company was getting bogged down in the minefield. As they advanced, ever ever so slowly, the Jaguars continued to rain fire upon them.
js' old Axeman, piloted by one of his mercenaries, led the advance, plodding across the shattered landscape. His foot fell forwards, and hit another of the dreaded Taffy mines.
"Sir, my foot's trapped!" yelled the panicking pilot. A Cauldron-Born took it's chance and a gauss rifle smashed the cockpit, reducing the unfortunate mechwarrior to jelly.
His company began to hesitate.
"Keep moving!" ordered js. "if you stop, I'll shoot you myself!"
A Raijin jetted down from above, snapping off a shot from it's ER PPC at the retreating Jaguar 'Mechs.
"Hello js. Nice day to be out, isn't it?" The voice was familiar.
"DAVID!" js was stunned. " But you're dead! Or vapourized, or something!"
"Oh no, I made it. And you know what?" asked David rhetorically, sanity slightly slipping. "I'm INVINCIBLE!"
"Er... right." said js. Whatever David had been through would probably require therapy after this was finished. "Then by all means, lead the way..."
By EvilTarq Therapy involving high voltage, therapy involving a lot of screaming, or therapy involving clubs?

Or, for a limited time, all 3 for the price of one; Screaming people beating you with electrified clubs. FUN!
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 69)
16 July, 3082
CSS Righteous Fire
Command Deck

Admiral Church stared at the data feeds coming in from the Knight's Own, cursing as the holotank flickered occasionally from the massive damage done to the ship's computers. A smaller warship hung in space. Various lines of data scrolled across the screen, displaying mass and tonnage.

It fit the profile of an older Star League design, perhaps destroyer class. But it had modifications to it that suggested KFC. ComStar hadn't refitted any of their older destroyers with KFC...

A nagging feeling of doubt crossed her mind and firmly rooted itself. It couldn't be good. But what was it? It wasn't Clan, it wasn't marked.

"Computer, cross-check databases. Check records for any Star League design, destroyer class ships unaccounted for within the past 25 years."

The computer scrolled through several lines of information before settling on one entry... marked as WoBS Deliverance.

"No... this can't be possible..."

The uneasiness clawed deeper. "All hands, battle stations. Prepare to move to support the Knights' Own, we may be in bad shape, but we still have guns."

The ship slowly turned as the engines roared to life. Though working at four-fifths power, the Righteous Fire still had speed comparable or superior to many other warship classes. Plastic armor had been quickly bolted to cover where the old metal plates had been. It would be better than nothing.

"Comms, signal the Knights' Own, tell them that the target is likely hostile." The comms officer quickly picked up the headset. "Righteous Fire to Knights' Own, target is believed hostile, I say again, target is believed hostile. Advise caution."

The ship surged forward, slowly reeling in the distance to the Knights' Own, but far too slow to arrive in time for the opening shots if the target was indeed the Deliverance.
By Medron Pryde Oh you nasty nasty boy.....I never saw that coming....thanks for idea........;-)
By Owens
(Editor: Chapter 70)
Rundown Factory District, Butt City
Butt Hold
Uninhabited System for all Legal Purposes
Combine-FS Border


The clan of steel against steel had the attention of everyone who happened to be in the area. Excesstacy tossed popcorn into his mouth as he watched the swirling fight take place. The Baalrog and Hatchetman had tumbled their way out of the CBD, through a Near-SouthWest Suburb, and finally came out in the industrial sector. Excesstacy was one of hundreds who had stopped his car on the Skyway, watching as the titanic warmachines duked it out.

"Five bucks on the big one!" Someone to the rear shouted.

"I think I'll put my money on the little one." Excesstacy said.

"Why?"

"Call it a hunch." Exesstacy said with a shrug as he turned back to watch the fight.


The Hatchetman's hatchet slammed home hard against the grinder in the Baalrog's hand. BBjr struggled hard, putting the Hatchetman's weight into pushing back the larger 'Mech. As the Baalrog staggered back, Brainburner Junior cut in with the RAC five, draining the last of its ammo.

The Baalrog executed a beautiful back flip over the volley of shells, its wings extending, slowing its decent. It fired its two arm-mounted PPCs down toward BBjr, who was nibble enough to leap out of their path. The beams blasted into the siding of a rusty old oil refinery, sending black smoke billowing into the air.

BBjr's weary Hatchetman missed a step, sliding to a halt on the ground.

He glanced at his monitors, discovering a veritable cornucopia of problems with his Battlemech. Actuators not responding. Sensors malfunctioning. Coolant leaks, damaged heatsinks. Gyro damage. "This can't go on for much longer," he thought.

Drunkenly, the Hatchetman rose back to its feet. BBjr turned the 'Mech until the Baalrog was in the center of the view screen.


"Die, 'Mech warrior!" Pachinko Finnzy hissed into his Mic. He had not the foggiest clue if the Hatchetman pilot heard him. It wasn't really important. There was only revenge now. And Pachinko Finnzy would have it. Pushing down on his JJ peddles, the Baalrog rushed towards the Hatchetman


"Come...get...some.." BBjr puffed into his mic, equally unsure if his opponent was receiving him. He pushed the throttle forward while hoisting the Hatchet back. The Hatchetman dashed straight at the Baalrog.


Joe Shmoe had a tough time seeing around Sumi. As small as she was compared to him, she still took up most of the prime viewing space.

"What's that?" They were the first words she had spoken since they evacuated the Catacombs.

Joe killed the Cestus' speed. He then took off the Neuro-helmet and strained for a better look.

Junior's Hatchetman and the flying Baalrog passed by each other in a second that seemed like a minute.

The Baalrog landed on its feet, while Junior's Hatchetman toppled, sliding to a halt on its knees.

"NO! BBJR!" Joe screamed.

A very startled Sumi yelped as his words hit her smack in the left ear. "A FRIEND OF YOURS?" She yelled back as loud as possible.

Joe didn't answer...


Both 'Mechs were motionless for moments that seemed to stretch on for eternity, both in perfect follow-through poises from their dramatic club swings.



Then the Baalrog began to spew bluish bolts of electricity.

"No, no it can't end like this! I..Can't..Lose! Not now! Nooooo...."

The slice wound through the Baalrogs plastic armor spat unbridled energy. The Baalrog disappeared in a perfectly spherical explosion. The explosion threw little bits of collectable plastic bits miles in every direction.



No one had ever bothered to do research on the impact of longterm UCS usage on the minds of boys BBjr's age. With the UCS engaged, BBjr was a swirling avatar of death itself. An Unstoppable War Machine. As the 'Mech shut down, and his connection with the UCS ceased, BBjr was momentarily afraid that he was returning to being a fragile human being. But that sensation passed as he came to the realization that he had won. The last Goldfish had been baked by several millions of degrees worth of fusion energy.

It was over. BBjr's still youthful, over-taxed mind surrendered to fatigue, and he fell fast asleep.
By Medron Pryde Nice Gundam scene there.....;-)
By craigtro_McEvedy great guys. this is wounderful. now with that said ill go back to my me v.s. me battle from my tales of widow book...heh heh heh. (please survive natasha)(gotta love a warhammer) lol
By Medron Pryde
(Editor: Chapter 71)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

"Arrow's Guard leader to Pryde. We are refueled and incoming on your position. You may fall back and refuel now." Medron glanced down at the fuel gauge showing near empty and flipped the comm switch.

"Roger, dudes. Keep the kitties busy while we're gone." Another tap switched the comm over to the Knight's frequency as his Zero tipped to the side on flaming jets to turn back to the resupply shuttles. "All Knights, fall back and refuel." He grunted at the scattered responses from his men and slammed the throttle forward.

The jets on his LAM's back flared to maximum burn and he fell back in his seat as it accelerated up to nearly 200 kilometers an hour, leaving the battle lines behind in his haste to get more fuel.

********

"We just got a signal from the 'Fire' sir," McQueen's comm officer exclaimed. "She did a database search and thinks we might be facing a Wobblie."

McQueen relaxed back into chair, watching the warship and her dropship approach the planet on plumes of flame. "Just what we need," he responded. "TWO enemies rising from the dead to fight us."

"The 'Fire' is starting to move," his sensor officer commented. "She's making a course to meet up with us about two minutes after the projected intercept."

"Good. We could use the help." McQueen taps his fingers on the chair's arm, still watching the ship approaching. A glance through the viewport showed him the thrust plumes, but not the ships, and his eyes returned to the screen on his chair. Another glance to the side took in the projected time to intercept.

Fifteen minutes.

*********

Archmore lined up another target and sent the last of his missiles downrange onto the Jaguar 'Mech. It stumbled back into a taffy mine and fell to the ground, unable to move and he turned to slice the leg off a damaged Uller with his twin ER medium lasers, letting a smirk take over his face. The Jags didn't have much left. He could feel it.

Of course the Warriors weren't doing much better. Whittled down to little more then two battalions effective, he knew the battle would be decided in the next few minutes.

No surrender, no retreat. For either side.

He triggered his lasers and scored another Jag seconds before one of the Pit Wolves wiped it off the face of the planet with a double barreled particle beam blast. He winced as the remains of the 'Mech fell back to trigger another taffy mine.

*******

Raoul strode into the 'Mech bay, confident in his ability to turn back the barbarians. He flipped a switch on the wall and spoke into the commlink. "What is the situation up there?"

"The Warriors have nearly breached the mines, sir," came the response from the technicians manning the fortress's defenses.

"What about the jammers?"

"Those LAMs have taken out most of the launchers!"

Raoul smirked at the obvious fear in the lower-casteman's voice. It was their inferiority that gave him the right to rule and he knew it. "Nearly through the mines? So they are within range of the tertiary weapons gride?"

"Ah....yes, sir."

"Then bring it online. I will deal with those who survive it personnally."

He turned off the commlink before the technician could respond and look up at his Dire Wolf with pride. His gaze rested on the hand placed on the OmniMech's right arm and the weapon it held. How fitting it would be to kill the barbarians with their own barbaric weaponry. He for once would enjoy stooping to their level. There was a certain satisfaction to feeling the enemy die after all that a particle beam just couldn't match.

**********

Wild Ride brought his Wolfhound about and blasted another Jag back into a taffy mine and looked at the fotress's gates less then 200 meters away. He slammed the throttle forward as Ravezero's "Charge!" came over the comms. The Warriors following behind him, he approached the gates at full speed.

Then he saw a weapons turret unfold from the top of wall and point a giant barrel at him. He jerked his 'Mech to the side to see Raverzero's Toyama blow a turret away, then his Wolfhound flew off its feet, hit by a massive volley of shells from the turret. Many of the shells shattered on impact, but some of them got through the armor to shred interior electronics and his 'Mech went silent around him.

One last volley shuddered through his 'Mech and he felt something fly past his cheek to imbed itself in the seat behind. With nothing else to do in his dead 'Mech he turned to dig it out with his gloved fingers and gasped at what he found.

"I don't believe it...now they're shooting jolly ranchers at us!" He slowly unwrapped the small candy and took an experimental lick of it. "Mmmmm, watermelon," he muttered to himself and popped the candy in his mouth to start sucking on it.
By EvilTarq I understand now! I see their grand scheme. If they fail to stop you, they'll cause you all to develop tooth decay!

Ooooo... They are SOOOOOO fiendish...

They probably replaced your toothpaste with whipped-cream squeeze dispensers.

that's just wrong!
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 72)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery
ComStar Mobile Command Center

A weary Pyro walked up to the man standing behind the holotank. "Precentor Jacobs, I need you to take over down here. I'm needed on the 'Fire. You can pilot my Flashman since David ran off with your Raijin."

The Precentor nodded. "How are you going to get back?" Pyro smiled. "Easy, but if I told you, you would probably have me restrained and drugged."

*****

Hangar deck of the Holy Flame

As badly damaged as the ship was, the hangar decks on the top deck were nearly pristine. It had been a master stroke of design that the hangar bays were placed on the top of the long, narrow ship. It essentially gave the fighters a short airstrip to take off with in the atmosphere. It could launch its fighters squadron where no other ships could.

Pyro climbed up the ladder to his Jengiz and pulled the canopy shut. Placing the helmet on his head, Pyro quickly activated the hangar doors. Slightly bent inwards from the pounding the ship had taken, the doors sqealed and kicked up a cloud of sparks as they retracted.

Once the doors were clear, Pyro pushed the throttle as far forward as it would go, then activated the catapult. The fighter surged forward across the top deck of the crippled ship, then the ground fell out from under it. Ship ended quickly, and the OmniFighter dipped sharply as he attempted to climb. Pyro thought its rear end was going to drag against the swamp, prematurely ending the trip, but the engine thrust finally caught up. A plume of silver fire shot out the back of the OmniFighter, vaporizing swamp water as it pushed the fighter higher into normal flight.

Precentor Jacobs merely stared as the fighter came less than a meter from slamming into the swamp. "Damn. That guy is crazy."

*****

Atmosphere gave way to space as Pyro found himself staring at the grim picture on his radar. The Knights' Own was burning in hard on a new arrival, and the Righteous Fire struggled to catch up. A bizarre patchwork of white metal and blue plastics formed the ship's armor, a change born of desperation and need.

Pyro's fighter grew closer to the ship, and he angled to land on one of the emptier hangar decks as the controllers indicated he had clearance.

*****

Righteous Fire, Command Deck

Pyro stepped onto the bridge, still wearing his flight suit. "Heard there might be some Wobblies around here. Had to see this for myself. Medron already had control of the situation on the ground, so I figured I would be more useful here."

Admiral Church nodded. "We are going to need every fighter we can get when we finally get close enough to launch."

The ship grew closer to the unknown bogie as Pyro paced back and forth. "Hail them."
By David Richards I think I'd better just take a step back and see where you guys are taking this. Meanwhile, I can have a look at epilogues.
By Medron Pryde Hehehe

Don't worry everyone....this won't go on much longer....only two or three chapter's from me should finish this....maybe one long one......no...prolly one long one and then a short one......

then it will be time for epilogues......;-)
By David Richards or epitaphs ;)
By EvilTarq Either way, we're gonna have fun.
By archmore boy my ammo goes fast....:-) so many targets so few missiles
LOL
ok where are all those J-27's?
By Owens
(Editor: Chapter 73)
Zyzyggy Hair Salon & Fake ID Vendors
Butt City, Butt Hold
Uninhabited System for all Legal Purposes
Combine-FS Border


"So I says, 'Girl, you best watch yo self, or I'm gunna bust my boot up yo behind!'"

Sumi stared at her reflection in the mirror as the stylist gave her a makeover.

Joe looked on, perfectly content. With the new outfit and looks, she wouldn't be a neon sign for every half witted Maskirovka or Thuggee assassin.

Owens was sitting back, thinking to himself.

Uraikha was poised as usual, staring aggressively at nothing in general.

BBjr. sat alone. The loss of the Hatchetman had hit him like a ton of bricks. Like losing a loved friend. Combined with it though, the search for his father had not even begun already.

Junior sipped slowly on his Myndo-Cola, with a Toyama dog clutched firmly in his hand. Owens felt sorry for the kid. BBjr had been through a lot for a 13 year old kid. Owens, Uraikha and Joe only hoped that they could be guardians worthy of the job.

Rolie, the blue robed Word of Blake adherent sat watching the news. On the tri-vision set above juniors head.

The stylists voice broke the erie silence. "There you go, sweet heart,"

Sumi Liao stood up as Joe looked on.

Her unkempt hair had been edited down to her shoulders, and instead of red highlights she now had green ones. Along with the natural black of her hair, the combination hinted at Capellan nationalism. She wore loose fitting jeans with a Good Guy (TM) tee-shirt that was several sizes too small. Over the top of her head was a Black baseball cap.

"I look horrible!" she complained

"I think you look, kinda..er...hot.." Joe stuttered, blushing all the way.

Her solid frown momentarily broke into a grin, but as usual receded once again.


Just then, a man walked through the door of the Hair Salon.

"Hello gentlemen.." he was cut off.

"Oh, my God!" Owens exclaimed "STC!"

"SC T," Uraikha corrected.

"Wha.." the man quirked an eyebrow before being cut off by a moody Junior.

"Hey, it is STC!"

"SC T," Uraikha repeated.

"Uh..I don't know what you're talking about," STC-looking man began, "My name's Excesstacy. I saw you guys in battle. I made a lot of money yesterday."

The man grinned like a hyena.

"So," he started again, "What's his problem?"

He pointed at BBjr.

"Oh, he lost his 'Mech." Joe said, looking back over his shoulder. "We're trying to cheer him up."

"Yah know what might help.." the man said. He stared up at the ceiling as if looking for words to say. "A while back, I won one of those walking tanks in a poker game with a Pirate. I've never had the time to use it. You can have it if you want."

BBjr.'s ears perked up, then his head rose, and the sullen mood evaporated.

"Really??"

"Yeah, I think it's called a Thunder Axe TDX-02l, but I forget. It's been a while."

"Oh, boy!" exclaimed a newly invigorated BBjr.


Owens sighed. "All's well that ends well. "

"Um, Mr. Owens.." Rolie's voice seemed far closer than it should have been. Owens turned, finding the Wobblie standing smack in front of him. Rolie motioned towards the Tri-vid

"I'm sorry to trouble you, sir, but my brothers have decided to travel down a very foolish path. Only the will of Blake can save us now. I think I will be taking my sick leave as of right now."

"Okay, okay. Have fun Rolie, may Blake protect you and all that."

The smaller man bowed and darted out the door.

Owens smiled as he looked around the room. BBjr. and this Excesstacy guy were going to go looking at the new 'Mech. Joe and Sumi seemed to be hitting it off fairly well. Rolie would be out Owens' hair for a while. And Uraikha was as...well...Uraikhaish as always.

Owens thought about going home. Not to Martigues, but to Atreus. Compared to Maritgues, Atreus was a paradise. The Food and Family were always on Martigues, but for everything else, Atreus couldn't be beat.

Owens smiled introspectively. "I doubt Med will be giving me my job back, but we'll have to see. He's probably just waiting to give me a lecture about dereliction of duty. I wonder what he's doing right now.

Owens thought hard.

Then the smirk fell from his face.

"Oh, my Lordie!!"

The exclaimation made everyone looked in his direction.

"Everyone to the dropships! WE FORGOT ABOUT RAVE!!"
By Brainburner Owens you crack me up. :)
By Owens
(Editor: Chapter 74)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery


The Warriors of BBjr's lance had found themselves in luck. A passing FS Warship, The 'We Despise: Katherine, Cappies, Clanners, Wobblies and Occasionally Dracs and/or Mariks' had been passing through the system.

Upon hearing their story, the Captain of the Ship made a dramatic U-turn, taking them to the periphery at nearly ludicrous speeds with the help of the KFC drive.


As the MechWarriors of the company raced to their waiting 'Mechs, Excesstacy, Hannah Lee, whose real name of Sumi was being concealed, and the dispossesed Black Dugong 'Mechwarrors were rushed to a sound stage in the bowels of the Warship.

"Hurry, there's no time to lose!" Shouted a technician as the reached the stage area.

"What are we doing?" Excesstacy was puzzled.

The tech turned to Excesstacy as another handed Hannah a microphone.

"It can't be a Jap 'Toon unless there is a girl, preferably Asian, singing an up-beat song in the background during a battle!"

"Isn't that...Japanese Cartoon?" Excesstacy asked.

"Japanimation," Hannah corrected him.

"Anime" One of the Black Dugong Warriors corrected her.

"Shhh!" The Tech was insistent on preparing.

A digital clock counted down as the Warrior's Confederate class dropship began to accelerate away from the WD:KCCWODM.

The technicians voice was the only noise on the stage, "And 5, 4, 3..." His voice trailed off for the last two numbers, while his fingers curled back instead

Bridge officers connected their transmitter to all the Jaguar communication lines.

Hannah began to sing from the script.

"Life is only what we choose to make it...let's just take it...let's just be free..."
By Medron Pryde oh boy...........

Oh and Archmore....the battles been going for a couple hours now.....your ammo didn't go fast at all.....;-)
By Ric Owens - love the name of that FS Warship

Ric
By EvilTarq you forgot "And Old-School ComStar"
By Pyro . Owens. :) Nice warship name. (I think I added the and/or Mariks tag to the end of it a while back when it somehow came up during one of our weirder discussions.)
By Owens Pyro-Yes, yes, the Warship's armor seems to have several patches in it that are vaguely Chippewa shaped :)

ET- Old-School Comstar = Wobblies :)
By Atticus Longwalker Owens,
So you would let a 13 year old boy go off with a man claiming to have a BattleMech worth a couple of million credits, that he is giving said young man, and not question his motives?
By Owens Atti- Only if I'm writing the story :)
By EvilTarq hehehe
By Medron Pryde
(Editor: Chapter 75)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

"Of all the......" Pyro looked over as Admiral Church's voice trailed off.

"What?"

"Look at that code sir and tell me if it's what I think it is please," the admiral said, motioning at the characters coming across the monitor. Pyro stepped forward and took in the transmission quickly.

"I'd say it's what you think it is," he said slowly.

"How could the wobblies obtain THAT particular code? We only brought it online two days before the jump out here and its never been used."

Pyro shook his head slowly. "They couldn't," he mutters.

"What should we do then?"

"Whatever it says."

*********

Raoul stalked out of the fortress gate in time to see another Warrior 'Mech jammed. One of the unknown but dangerous new LAMs flew overhead, scorching the ground beneath with the flames from its jets, and blew one of his Jaguar's away with a double particle beam blast. A second later, a jolly rancher cannon ripped its right wing off and sent it falling down into a taffy mine.

In the distance, he saw a paired Berzerker and JagerMech blow another of his warriors away and he raised his left arm to aim at the lighter 'Mech. A single salvo from the four particle cannons in that arm blew the 'Mech off its feet and sent it into another taffy mine. He thought for a moment about taking out the Berzerker too, then saw his real prey.

"MacAttack!" he shouted over the open comms. "I challenge you to a circle of equals. Now!"

**********

"I just decoded a message from the intruder, sir," the comm officer said to McQueen and he turned to her.

"Yes?"

"Its a level one code, sir. We're being ordered to let them through to the planet."

McQueen tapped his chair as he looked at the ship on his monitor. "Interesting."

"So what do we do?"

"Well," he commented, pausing for a moment. "We do what it says."

**********

MacAttack pulled his Claymore around to dodge the downswing of the massive sword carried in the right hand of Raoul's Dire Wolf and felt it clip his 'Mech's heel. He stumbled forward and turned to hit Raoul with a backswing. His claymore caught the Jag in the left arm and the Khan stepped back to take in the two shattered particle cannons.

"My shwarts is bigger then yours, old man," he shouted over the comms and stepped forward for another mighty swing of his sword, puffs of dust rising from his 'Mech's feet. MacAttack stepped inside the sword's arc, brought his claymore up high, and chopped down and through the Dire Wolf's wrist, sending the sword and hand flying through the air to dig into the ground thirty meters away.

"That's sword ye idiot," he shouted back at the Jaguar Khan, wondering how someone too stupid to pronounce even THAT correctly could ever have led anything more then a schoolyard riot. He brought his claymore up again, grabbed it with both hands, and brought it down on the Dire Wolf's right shoulder.

The claymore passed through and the arm fell to the ground.

*********

The newcomer and its dropship passed 'The Knight's Own' with less then a kilometer to spare, the glimmering white hide showing off the massive barrels of rank upon rank of capital class weaponry capable of leveling a planet. The warship's engines finally fell silent, the mammoth slowed to orbital speed, and her reaction thrusters, each one the size of fighter, came to life and began pushing her into a full fledged orbital path.

Six mid-sized fighters launched from the small fighter bay emplacement on the top of the warship and turned on flaming drives to escort the overlord class dropship as it entered the atmosphere.

********

MacAttack weathered the twin particle beams slashing deep into his 'Mech's armor and brought his claymore down in another mammoth swing that split the right arm from Raoul's Dire Wolf. He stepped back away from the Jag 'Mech, now weaponless after his earlier hits that silenced the massive autocannons in its torso. "Yield now. You are helpless."

"Nonsense, 'tis nothing but a flesh wound," came the response.

MacAttack stared at his enemy in shock. He was even dumber then he thought. And considering how stupid he'd originally thought Raoul, that was saying a lot. "I cut yer bloody arms off!" he exclaimed seconds before the assault 'Mech began charging at him full speed.

He stepped aside, dodging his enemies charge, and swung the claymore in a massive blow that took off both legs. The torso of the Dire Wolf flipped through the air to land in the ground right-side-up and MacAttack turned to face the fortress gate. "Idiot," he muttered and began walking towards it.

"Hey, get back here! I'll chew yer bloody knees off!"

**********

"Looks like our fearless leader has finally gone bonkers."

"Yes, sir. What do we do now?"

"All we can do. Active the final defense. Now."

"Sending out the command, sir."

**********

Air boiled over the dropship as it fell through the atmosphere at breakneck speed, escorted by six fighters dwarfed by its massive bulk. Flames burned from its massive engines, sending plumes of smoke roiling through the air to obscure the dropship from all visual sightings.

One of the fighter pilots, clothed completely in the outfit still known as the "biker gang" look, glanced at the landing countdown and grunted. Five minutes to go. He pulled his stick to the side and began circling the dropship as it finally began going straight down to the objective.

***********

The last of the Jaguar 'Mechs still alive lined up in a row and started dancing back and forth, shifting from foot to foot and spinning. The Warriors of the Dropship simply looked in shock at the sight of Clanners dancing in 'Mechs. And then the singing began. Rough voices blared over the comms and out through speakers across the battlefield.

"We're men! We're men in 'Mechs! Big 'Mechs! We are the home guard defending the people's rights!"

The signing and dancing continued and the Warriors just stood their, entranced by the absurdness of it. Medron's LAM stumbled to a landing as he lost control and started to laugh. A jolly rancher turret shredded his 'Mech and dropped it to the ground.

Another Warrior, slack-jawed at the horror of dancing Jags never saw the jamming round coming down from the artillery launchers to slam his 'Mech to the ground. Warrior after Warrior fell to the ground, unable to defend themselves against this insidious attack.

********

Those on the dropship looked down on the battle below as it slowly lowered itself to the ground. "It is worse then I ever could of imagined," one said and the others nodded in response. They looked up at their 'Mechs and nodded to each other.

It was time.

*********

The dropship settled onto the ground, dust and smoked rising around it on all sides, obscuring it from vision. It's massive engines fell silent and the ramps lowered to the ground with a thud as the first mighty 'Mech stepped out of the transport. A Warhawk painted with the colors of the Steel Viper's Triasch Keshik, it slowly made its way down the ramp as 'Mech after 'Mech followed it.

A Turkina painted in the battle colors of Clan Jade Falcon, a Dire Wolf painted gold and black and adorned with a snarling wolf's head laid their feet on the ground in unison. Two Timber Wolves, one painted grey, black, and blue, the other black and gold, and both proudly showing the symbol of Clan Wolf stepped around them to see their enemy.

Star after star of omnimechs filed out of the dropship, at least one from every Clan, and began marching towards the battle before them, dust stirring with each step. The ground rumbled as scores of clawed feet pounded it again and again and the cloud of dust left the dropship once again impossible to see. The Warriors simply stood there, entranced by the danceline of Jaguar 'Mechs, never even seeing the new 'Mechs.

The Warhawk came to a stop and the rest of the omnimechs followed its lead. It raised its arms to point at the enemy and paused. "Die surats!" Freefall's voice ripped through the comm channels, bringing the Warriors out of their trance, as his weapons fired. One Jaguar 'Mech crashed backwards off the fortress walls and fell to the ground beneath, its torso simply gone.

"Kill them all!" Tel Hazen's shout followed Freefall's shout and his Turkina blew away another Jaguar.

"No mercy for the filthy bandits," Abbas Ahsan chimed in as his Dire Wolf reduced another to its component molecules.

The twin Timber Wolves of Legend Slayer and Frank Vickers sent a wave of missiles boiling down on two more hapless enemies moments before the rest of the omnimechs charged the Jaguar line at full speed. There were no challenges. No one-on-one battles. No honor. No mercy.

They were simply exterminating vermin who had long ago shown themselves unworthy of any honor at all.
By Paladin Woohoo........clans killing the jerkwads.
That's what they get for hittin me with rasberry crap (hate that stuff).

-Paladin
By Abbas_Kerensky/Abbas_Ahsan

(Editor: Chapter 76)
July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

"This is your Khan to any and all available units. We have have enemies on-planet. Clan Warriors of thte DropShip. Mostlty using Wolf colors. Time to show our age-old enemy the fury of the Jaguar. Repeat, all units, devor the Wolves!"

Raoul's call sounded through out the three sub-terranean bases. The Jaguars had plenty of forces left, but only enough warriors to command a fraction of them. For the first time in the history of the Smoke Jaguar, technicians, scientists, and even servants began donning the Elemental armor, loading into the Fightercraft, driving the tanks and vehicles above ground, and sitting in thte cockpits of thte massive BattleMechs that had for so long dominated the battlefields of the universe.

A lone, Elite Elemental Binary that had been placed on standby at the temporary underground Alpha Complex, led the small Cluster of non-warrior forces out onto battlefield. To die, or to succeed for a long lost cause.
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 77)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

Raoul crawled out of the cockpit of his downed mech, spitting foul curses as he looked around the field. Near him, a nearly pristine ComGuard Timberwolf lay on its back, face savaged by LB-X cannon fire.

Climbing onto the mech, Raoul threw the cockpit open, pulled the unconscious pilot out, and threw her off the mech into the swamp.

Climbing into the cockpit, Raoul quickly linked his helmet with the computer and stood. It was not over yet.

Running across the battlefield, he ran over to where Medron's LAM had been downed. Laughing, he carefully lifted his mech's foot.

A couple hundred meters away, the dazed pilot grabbed her communicator. "This is Acolyte-III Erika Carson. Someone stop that Mad Cat, I'm not in it."

*****

About 1 kilometer above the battlefield.

Descending rapidly, Pyro caught the transmission and cycled through the targets. Sure enough, a ComStar Mad Cat was quickly approaching Medron's mech.

*****

"You may yet be victorious today, Medron Pryde, but you will not live to see it."

Medron flipped the comms switch on his console. "You're pathetic."

"Heads up jerka..." The rest of the transmission blurred away as a loud rumble crossed the battlefield and harsh white light filled Medron's viewscreen.

Raoul's mech shifted and fell drunkenly on its side as its left flank and arm sheared away completely, its back armor savaged by the unseen assailant. The foot of Raoul's mech lifted up and away from Medron's prone cockpit and accompanied the MadCat in falling with a terrific crash.

A white aerofighter circled overhead as Medron aimed one of his crippled mech's PPC's at the Mad Cat and cut loose. The beam bored deep into the Mad Cat's centerline, burning through the last of the engine shielding. Raoul's mech vanished in a flash of silver fire as the engine within impossibly exploded.

Riding away on an ejection chair, Raoul laughed as he drifted away from the battlefield on the parafoil. He laughed as it continued to carry him away. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew him sideways.

Raoul cursed as the trunk of a large oak filled his field of vision and grew larger. *Ka-TUNK!* Dazed, Raoul peeled himself off of the downed parafoil and laughed giddily. "I AM INVINCIBLE!"

Right about this time, a familiar pack of rabid mutts appeared around him. "Stravag! This is really not my day!"
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 78)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

Pyro gasped as the heat within his Jengiz soared far past operational levels, shutting down its fusion plant to prevent an explosion. Minus its engine power, the fighter continued to fall as Pyro let loose a string of curses.

The full Alpha-Strike from his energy-loaded Jengiz had failed to kill Raoul's mech, leaving Medron at his mercy, and now he was left roasting in a flying oven. A silver flash brightened the sky as the MagScan told a singular tale. Only one of the mechs was still intact. And somehow deep down, he doubted that it was a savaged LAM.

Distraught over seeing what he believed ot be the death of a respected comrade and friend, Pyro lined up his Jengiz against the line of dancing Smoke Jaguar mechs. Though unpowered, the OmniFighter still had plenty of momentum still. The entire line suddenly looked up from their dancing and cut loose with everything they had.

With only a split second to react, the Jaguar warriors fired everything they had into the air. Impressive clouds of energy, autocannon, gauss, PPC, and missile fire sailed past the fighter, few of them actually hitting. Though with the large volume of fire that had been unleashed, relatively few was more than enough to savage the Jengiz, which wobbled and dropped several dark metal objects against the sky.

The Jaguar warriors looked upwards in terror as they continued trying to maintain their dance. The cluster munitions exploded, creating a cloud of smaller metal objects. The doorknobs rained down across the Jaguar mechs, tearing through the plastic armor of many of them and stunning the pilots within. All appearances of dancing and comedy ceased as the frightened Jaguars stumbled, trying to regain their composure and their grip over the laughing Warriors of the Dropship.

The wounded fighter wobbled and spun out of control, smoking and belching flame as it righted itself moments before slamming into the swamp at high speed, skimming off like a stone. The fighter skimmed several more times before coming to a rest against the shore of a small island.

Somewhat dazed from the landing, Pyro breathed in relief as he opeend the fighter's canopy and stepped out onto the squishy ground. In the distance, a smoky haze kicked up by the cluster bombs obscured the main battle, leaving Pyro to wonder whether or not his diversion had actually worked.
By Owens
(Editor: Chapter 79)
16 July 3082
Tundra area,
Bluedot, The Periphery


A lone Vulture OmniMech dashed across the ice.

"Jag 3 to base...I'm not picking up anything.."

"Keep looking, Jag 3."

Mechwarrior Roth was angry. Being left out of the battle was a dishonor he couldn't stomach. Just to be out here looking for 'Possible Hostiles.' What a waste of a genetically enhanced warrior.

"Neg, base."

"Aff, Jag 3."

Roth pounded on the arm of his command chair. 'Why can't I be fighting!' He thought violently.


As if answering his prayers, his radar lit up.

"What in the name of Kerensky...I've got heat signals all over the place!"

Suddenly, a huge axe-weilding BattleMech erupted from the ice in front of him.

"Base...It's a Thunder Axe!"

Roth fired off his LRM's, watching as the missles exploded, chipping small bits of armor off the enemies pristine hide.

The Thunder Axe retaliated with a PPC shot that ripped off the Vulture's left arm.

"Base I'm going to need reenforcements now!" Roth watched as the 70 ton battlemech rose on pillars of flame..

The Smoke Jaguar could only watch in horror as the shadow of the 'Mech fell over his cockpit

"FREEBIRTH!!!!"

It was the last word Roth ever said.
By Medron Pryde
(Editor: Chapter 80)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

Medron rolled his LAM over onto its hands and knees slowly, each movement sending shivers through the wounded 'Mech. He looked down at the shattered right particle cannon and disengaged it from his hand actuator to give him better purchase while standing up.

The machine jerked and whined as first one foot, then the other, lifted it up off the ground. It slowly stood tall and he turned from side to side to make sure everything still worked. Warning lights flickered all over the place and the joints ground in place. "That's not good," he muttered as he looked out on the battlefield.

Clan OmniMechs filed past him, one by one, firing on any Jaguar that showed its face while the battered Warriors collected themselves for the final battle. Half of his monitors shattered by the damage, he turned slowly to look for enemies. His heat trackers located a small pack of objects nearby. A quick look showed the Jaguar Khan surrounded by a pack of rabid dogs and he raised his one remaining particle cannon to lock on the target.

"Die you vat-born bastard," he muttered slowly and squeezed the trigger gently. The particle beam left nothing behind. He turned slowly and began limping towards the fortress gate, half of his jets offline and the wings shredded. The right hip ground alarmingly at each step and he winced in response. "Come on baby, hold together," he muttered again, trying not to feel guilt at pulling the trigger.

The dogs didn't really deserve to die after all, did they?

**********

Frank Vicker's Timber Wolf blew away the gates with a sustained blast of twin lasers and Freefall's Warhawk stepped through them into a new warzone. Lasers and particle cannons fired, turning three vehicles into burning tombs, as weapons fire from dozens of vehicles converged on the space his 'Mech inhabited. Luckily for him, the gunners were bad shots and only a handful of the weapons connected.

Tel Hazen's Turkina stepped through after Freefall and burned down two more vehicles. He was followed by Ravezero's Toyama, battered and out of ammo, but still able to fire its lasers. Another vehicle went up in flames.
By David Richards LOL!
By EvilTarq new clan omnifighter: Daisygiz
By Medron Pryde
(Editor: Chapter 81)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

Freefall turned his Warhawk from side to side, looking for a new target amidst the flames that filled the inside of the fortress, Archmore standing beside him, a thin trail of smoke rising from his lasers. The Warriors simply stood there, torsos whiring back and forth. Other Warriors inside the fortress did the same, some walking around, over, or through shattered Jaguar vehicles.

Fokker's Shadow Hawk LAM slowed to a stop overhead, transforming into 'Mech mode, and dropped to the ground, its jets blackening one of the few gray spots left inside the fortress. He let go of the control stick and looked up at his passenger, very glad that Shadow Hawks were made with large and comfy cockpits so HE didn't have to sit on his lap. "Looks like the battle is over," he commented.

"Yeah," Pyro responded. "Now I want to know how they got here. And whether that warship up there is the one I think it is," he continued with a glower over at Pryde's damaged LAM.

"Hey, don't look at me," Fokker protested, waving his hands in the air. "I know nothing, I say nothing."

************

Medron Pryde opened his cockpit and dropped his emergency rope ladder, watching it uncurl to the ground. There was no way he was going to trust the footholds in the side of his 'Mech after this battle. A careful step out, and a minute of taking each step carefully on the swinging ladder got him down to the ground in one piece and he looked around the wreckage littering the inside of the fortress.

Patrols were searching the rest of the base for further resistance, but for now at least everything seemed quiet. "Pryde!" He turned at the angry shout to see Pyro stomping towards him and Medron sighed in resignation. "Pryde! Is that a Riga up there?"

The question was more of an accusation, but Medron feigned confusion and looked up as six grey and black fighters, with two smoking particle cannons protruding from their noses, flew overhead. "Well," he started innocently. "I really wouldn't know. I haven't exactly had a chance to see it. But I presume you have so would trust your judgement."

"Don't give me that bull, Pryde," Pyro responded angrily. "Is that 'Comstar's Pryde' up there?"

Medron looked at Pyro, then back up as one of the fighters returned, moving at just above stall speed. Suddenly arms folded out from the fuselage, holding the particle cannons in each hand, and the engines folded down to slow its descent as it came down to land next to Medron's LAM. It continued transforming as it dropped, and by the time it landed Pyro saw it was an exact duplicate of Medron's LAM.

He looked accusingly at Pryde as the cockpit opened and the pilot stepped out onto the undamaged footholds to crawl down the leg quickly. "Hey Medron," the pilot said, happily. "Hope you liked the help."

"It was great, Ratboy," Medron responded. Ratboy had been a good friend for a long time. And had been an even more loyal Warrior since the Goldfish's personality overlay had been decoded and wiped. "Do you think you could have brought them in with any more fanfare though? I don't think everybody on this side of Terra knows they are here yet."

Pyro took in Ratboy's black leather combat boots, trousers, jacket, gloves, and helmet and glowered even more. Another glance showed him the chains he'd expected. "Pryde," he growled. "You haven't answered me."

Medron smiled graciously at Pyro and turned back to Ratboy. "So how was the trip out to the Clan Homeworlds?"

"Out was good," he said, smiling at Pyro just as innocently as Medron had been. "The way back was a bit rough though. The Clanners were a bit hard on the bulkhead you see. Too much partying," he finished with a wink.

"Pryde?"

Medron looked back at Pyro and cleared his throat, continuing to feign innocence. "So how'd Tel take the name of the ship," he asked Ratboy.

"How'd you expect him to take it," Ratboy commented, smiling broadly at Pryo, playing along with Medron all the way. "The whole Pryde thing kinda got him hot under the collar."

"Pryde?" Pyro's eyes had narrowed at Ratboy's choice of words and Medron kept on grinning at them both.

"So you did take 'Comstar's Pryde' then," he asked brightly, truely enjoying this, and the small audience that was collecting to watch the confrontation.

"Oh yes," Ratboy answered just as innocently. "Its not like we have anything ELSE with a KFC drive."

"Pryde!" Ratboy and Medron finally turned to look at Pyro and stopped talking between themselves. "You were ordered to scrap her TEN YEARS ago! You TOLD me you scrapped her! I told my superiors you scrapped her! They told THEIR superiors you scrapped her! You lied to me Pryde!"

Medron lifted one hand and smiled back broadly at Pyro's rant. "Actually, Pyro. If I remember correctly, I told you 'the Pryde's been dealt with.' I never said she was scrapped."

Pyro just stood there, looking at Medron, his mouth hanging open in shock.

"Medron!" The three men turned to watch Tel Hazen shoulder his way through the crowd, bellowing at the top of his lungs. "I need to talk to you about that ship!"

"Get in line," Medron responded with a smile, waving his hand towards Pyro. Tel Hazen and Pyro exchanged a glower, then turn to look at Medron and Ratboy, both smiling back mischievously.

In the growing circle around them, the Warriors of the Dropship starting passing C-Bills around, betting on who would win if it came down to a fist fight.

*********

Medron walked into the underground command post, holding a bruised rib carefully and showing a big black eye to all the world, and turned to face Freefall. Ratboy, Tel Hazen, and Pyro, all sporting similar "battle scars" followed him in carefully, all seeming to favor various limbs.

Freefall looked them over carefully, then turned back to the console he was standing in front of. "I'm sure you heard that the facility has been secured," he commented slowly. "Even with your....recreation." The four battered men nodded only seconds before Ravezero, Archmore, and MacAttack walked in, MacAttack patting a suddenly thick wallet with one hand, a satisfied smile on his face. Ravezero and Archmore didn't look nearly so happy about the situation.

Freefall considered his own depleted wallet and glowered at MacAttack as strongly as the other two did. The scotsman simply returned the three looks with an innocent smile.

"Anyways," Freefall proceeded. "We found this data disk hidden in Raoul's safe. I think you'll recognize the person who recorded it." He pushed a button on the control panel and the display built into the far wall came to life.

Everybody but Freefall gasped as they saw the figure come into focus. "I thought she was dead," Archmore mumbled.

"Whoever you are, I assume the Smoked Jaguars are no more," she said primly. "I just want you to know that they aren't my ONLY assets out here. No where NEAR my only assets. They did have one thing going for them though. They were my dumbest. And they've done a good job of keeping you busy while my TRUE plan has been completed.

"But look on the bright side. One of these days, you'll find out what my plan was. Of course, that will be the day MY wishes come true. The day I will get to see all of the Warriors' heads on a row of pikes and I will stand before each one and wave....just....like....this." As she finished, she lifted her right hand up and wiggled her fingers at the camera wickedly. "Have a nice day."

And with that, Katherine Steiner-Davion disappeared as the screen faded to black.
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 82)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

Pyro stared at the screen coldly as the image of Katherine Steiner-Davion faded away. "I wouldn't worry about her. She isn't the only one with hidden assets, or plans."

The other Warriors looked confused. "Well what are they?"

Pyro shook his head. "I promised an old friend that I wouldn't reveal it. It will become known very quickly after it happens, however."

*****

27 July, 3082
Miami, Terra
BlakeBurger Corporate HQ

Katherine lauged giddily. Her followers had acquired her a copy of the Starfish Device. There was nothing in the universe that would stop her now.

A knock on her chamber's door sounded, and she merely barked. "Enter." A blue-robed man slowly strolled forward. Katherine looked up. "Adept Rolie. It is good to see you again."

Rolie smiled, bowed, and handed her a bouquet of flowers. "I brought you a gift." Katherine giggled "How nice of you.", as Rolie's communicator started beeping. Rolie scowled. "I'd better step outside and answer that."

Rolie quickly exited the room. After a few seconds of waiting, Katherine grew impatient and examined the bouquet. A little note was scrawled on a card attached.

"Dearest Katherine. I hope you experience these flowers the same way our mother experienced the ones you sent her. -Victor"

Katherine gasped and dropped the boquet milliseconds before it blossomed into a ball of golden fire that quickly consumed the Primus's chamber.

*****

Outside of the BlakeBurger Compound, Pyro put down his communicator and grinned evilly as Rolie stepped up, trying to contain his obvious amusement. "That was fun, anything else?"

Pyro shook his head. "Not for today. You've done the Inner Sphere more good than you can possibly imagine, Precentor Rolie. The real Precentor-Martial sends his thanks. We'd better get going before BlakeBurger Security shows up though."
By paladin
(Editor: Chapter 82 addition by Paladin.)
Paladin walks out from behind the equipment he was using to hide.

"Pyro......you do realize I wanted to kill her and am currently under contract to do the job?"

Paladin leaned against a wall and faked an irritated expression. he then returned to his normal expressionless face. "So what do we do NOW? I have a feeling she didn't do this alone. She's dead now so we can't question her as to any others involved."
By MacAttack I think I like the jive version better.

[MacAttack dumps the half finished manuscript for "Clams of Kerensky" into the trash and goes off to consider his options.]
By Owens
(Editor: Chapter 83)
16 July, 3082
Miami, Terra
Blakeburger Corporate HQ


Kathrine stumbled through the smoke filled room. The smell of burnt flesh filled her nostrils, and she could feel the soot and grime all penetrating every pore of her body. Pain assaulted her senses in a vain attempt to stall her. But she was a Woman on a mission. "No one can stop the Ice Queen..ever!" A fierce grin of determination appeared on her face.

At the last moment, before the bomb blew, she had dived behind a table. The blast, however, had claimed her left arm, and the left side of her french maid's outfit.

Heedless of her own pain and suffering, Kathrine Steiner-Davion crawled over to were her Versache purse lay.

As she saw the diamond encrusted purse, she allowed herself a moment of relaxation.

Leaning heavily on the wall, she was careful not to spill any blood on her precious purse. It was her dream, really. Historians had claimed she was after power..it wasn't true.

Kathrine, as a child, had seen the purse in a store. However, its cost was astronomical, and her parents wouldn't buy it for her. She had needed the highest office of the Federated Commonwealth simply to purchase it. Now she had it, and would never let it go.

Katherine looked on wearily as the doors on the far side of the room opened. Through the doors steped a young man, one Katie had never seen, inspite of the fact that he wore a Blake Burger uniform.

"Quick, get help!" she screamed with all her remaining strength.

"Uh, I had infiltrated this organization to kill you," Paladin said, "But it seems someone else beat me to it. Do you have any idea how many hours I worked at the register just to get access into this building? Jeeze!"

Katherine didn't know what to make of him "So, you're not going to kill me?"

Paladin thought for a second. "No... I suppose not...."

Katherine smiled mischeviously.

Then Paladin continued "But I am going to splash acid on your face!"

Katherine was terrorized into complete shock as Paladin produced a vial of Acid, and proceeded to spill the contents of it all over her head.

"My face, my gorgeous, youthful, valuable face! It's melting! Melting! What a world, what a world!"

Paladin fled into the night, his insane laughter flooding the Miami skyline.
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 82 Addition- Again.)
Pyro simply shrugged. "Orders are orders, Paladin. It suffices to say that ComStar is never without a plan, though. With her death, her conspirators will do the only logical thing... and send messages to each other trying to coordinate. Need I remind you who controls the HPG networks?"
By Pyro Hmm. Note to self. When AFK for a while, hit refresh before writing a message.
By Owens
(Editor: Chapter 83)
27 July 3082
Miami, Terra
Maimi Beach


Angelino Rolie walked slowly through the sand of the beach. All around him, citizens of Miami were having some fun in the sun, running, flirting, sunbathing, playing volleyball and swimming.

Rolie stood contemplatively. The heavy robes of his Percentor uniform were perilously warm in the summer, but he had long since gotten used to it.

But something else worried him. Rolie was a firm believer in the sanctity of the Blessed Blake, and His vision. And he had just assisted the agents of Reform against his Brothers.

But his brothers were psychopaths, their vision as much bastardization of Blake's dream as that of the Reformists.

He remembered a conversation he once had, long ago, during his acolyte days, with an adept.

"Blake's vision is one of peace and serenity. Of respect for technology and the power of the human will!"

"Rolie, you are young and naive. The Word of Blake was not created by FASA to be an organization of peaceful, reclusive do-gooders. Nor was anyone ever supposed to like our Ideology. We were created to be a non-ethnic specific group of fanatical religious terrorists, so as not to offend any specific way of life."

"But..."

"Rolie, please. Spare me the 'Blake told us to be nice to others' routine. Or the, 'The Word of Blake should stand for more than just terrorism' speech. Look at our history. How many times did we try to take over the inner sphere? We were designed to be conspiritorial terrorists who wear Bad Guy (tm) tee-shirts all day long. Period."


Rolie looked up at the sun. His head jerked involutarily as pain peirced his eyes. Rolie then made sure to close his eyes FIRST and THEN turn towards the sun.

"There has to be a middle path," he thought, "The Word of Blake must learn to endure without the nutcase, psychotic elements, or else we are doomed."

"Yes," he said solemly, "This is the task that my life has been waiting for. And with Jerome Blake as my witness, I will accomplish it."
By Pyro (Alright, Katherine isn't dead. But by the time everyone gets their licks, she'll probably be the next Kael Pershaw.)
By EvilTarq I thought the universe could only hold one (barely)...
By paladin I actually WOULD do that to someone if I had a little motivation. (especially with HER track record).

-Paladin
both "The Dark Paladin of Death"
and "The Master of Insanity"
By Medron Pryde
(Editor: Chapter 84)
16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

Medron listened to Pyro's comment and sighed. "Well, I'm sure things will work themselves out," he commented lightly and patted Pyro on the back.

He hissed in pain and pulled away from Medron. "Hey watch that," he said quickly, taking another step back.

"Ooh...sorry." Medron winced with sympathetic pain from his ribs. "Well dudes, as soon as we get done searching this facility, I suggest we turn it over to Comstar's gentle care. Or we could just bomb it to oblivion from high orbit. Makes no diff to me." Medron shrugged at the last comment. "But for now, I suggest we start figuring out what 'Mechs are salvageable, get Pyro's dropship back online and ready to make like a bat on fire, and all that jazz."

MacAttack nodded slowly, listening to the conversation branch off into a full discussion of the steps to be taken to get back off the planet, and patted his thick to bursting wallet again. To think that no one else had thought they would stop beating each other senseless over a silly name. He clucked quietly and shook his head at the idiocy of some people.

********

20 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

The engines of the 'Holy Fire' roared to life, belching flame nearly a kilometer behind her and burning what little vegetation had survived her landing. The dropship slowly pulled itself out of the muck and began rolling across the solid ground on the edge of the swamp. She bounced as she sheared off the top of a small hillock and the pilot winced at the sound as he ran his ran hands across the control board.

The engine roar doubled in intensity and the dropship accelerated down the makeshift runway cleared by the other dropships as they'd landed. Finally reaching flight speed, the pilot engaged the thrusters and the dropship pulled up, the thrusters digging deep furrows into the ground and throwing dirt in all directions. The dropship clawed for space with all the grace of a brick with a rocket engine strapped to it, but it still rose.

On the ground, the last of the shuttles slammed their engines to full and exploded forward towards flight speed. They made for air nearly a kilometer before the rips the 'Holy Fire' had made in the ground.

Then the other dropships began reaching for the sky. First, the Overlord Freefall was on exploded into action, main engines sending flaming rocks nearly a kilometer away to clang against the hull of The Dropship. The ground rippled as the behemoth lifted off and flew.

Next went the three dropships belonging to the Arrows Guard and the Pit Wolfs. Leaving behind a shattered landscape, they followed the first two dropships up into high orbit.

And final came The Dropship. Engines the size of the Leopard class dropship roared to life, all but evaporating the ground underneath. Scientists sampling the soil outside the fortress, ten kilometers away, would later wonder how sediments from the swamp had splattered all across the walls.

************

Medron Pryde stood aboard the bridge of 'The Knight's Own' and watched as the massive carrier began a slow turn to arc it out of planetary orbit. There he saw the two jumpships from the Arrows Guard burning down towards the planet at max acceleration. Their slingshot manuever would put them out to jump range within two days. Not bad for jumpships, he thought in admiration.

As the jumpships rotated out of the viewport, his warship's turn brought the 'Righteous Fire' into view. Still damaged, she had more then enough thrust to burn out to jump range without any trouble. He watched her engines catch and cough, then flame to life and begin pushing her out. Then the 'Illicit Enterprise' came into view, battered engines pushing her away from the planet.

The 'Knight's' turn finally rotated that warship out of the viewport, but replaced her with views of the last four warships in system. The 'Kai,' hovering far above, had finally been able to bring minimal power online and her engines flamed up to one gee as he watched. Then the 'Arthur' and 'Merlin,' only a few klicks off the 'Knight's' bow, engaged their drives to escort her out.

Finally, the white warship, 'Comstar's Pryde,' began to pull away from the planet, her engines sending back 100 kilometer long plumes of flame as she accelerated. Medron shook his head and crossed over to the comm station. "Put me through to the 'Pryde,'" he said to the operator on station and she complied within a minute.

"Hey Ratboy," he said. "Where ya going now?"

"Taking the Clanners back to their homeworlds of course," came the reply. "And now that Comstar knows she's still around, I suppose we can go back home again. Wash up the bulkheads a bit. I can just imagine what the party will be like on the way back." Medron could hear the wink this time.

"Sounds fun," he said with a smirk. "I need to stop off at Atreus. Then I think I'll take a trip home. It's been too long," he finished with a long sigh.

"Trust me," Ratboy responded. "I know exactly how you feel."

Medron laughed at the comment. "Well, seeya dude. Seeya back home."

"Back home." Another smile crossed Medron's face as he cut the connection. He shook his head slowly and walked back to his chair, beside the captain's chair, and sat down carefully as he thought about home.

A day later, every warship in the system jumped. A day after that, the jumpships followed.

**********

30 July, 3082
Atreus, Free World's League

"One battalion?" The question fell out of Isis' lips as she read the report. "One battalion," she repeated in disbelief.

"Yes," was Medron's simple reply. "Though we did salvage enough damaged LAMs to bring another battalion online. It'll just take a while to rebuild everything."

"And it will take a year to rebuild the 'Kai.'"

"Yes."

Isis put the report down and looked into Medron's eyes. "Was it as bad down there as this report looks," she asked carefully.

"Yes," he responded, returning her gaze for a moment. He pulled his eyes away and looked at the floor, taking a deep breath. "I need to go home, Isis. I have a lot to think about." His head rose back up and he met her gaze again, his face betraying no emotion.

"OK," she whispered with a nod. "Just don't stay away to long. I need people here that I can trust."

Medron nodded and stood to walk out. Suddenly his hand came up and he smiled at her with a sadistic glint in his eyes. "You know....I totally forgot to congratulate Ravezero on his new position," he said, his smile growing wider. "I was wondering if you could rectify that serious error on my part," he continued with mock concern.

"Hmmm." Her posture showed the same mock concern as his, and eyes mirrowed his mischevous glint. "And how might such an error be rectified," she asked slowly.

"Well......I was thinking maybe we could ask one of our better sculptures to make a small replica of the new totem animal for his realm....oh...about this size." He finished with his hands seperated by a meter of air and Isis giggled with delight.
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 85)
31 July, 3082
Hilton Head Island, Terra

Pyro leaned back in his chair as his fingers flew across the keyboard.

Mission File: RC2763082X
Outcome: Marginal Failure

The old Precentor-Martial's last order was carried out, but the bomb type specified apparently lacked enough power to neutralize the target. Katherine is confirmed to have survived, though she is horribly disfigured. Our bean counters estimate that the WoB will spend an enormous amount of money on reconstructive surgery for her, which will, perhaps, restore her physical form to some degree. On the up side, we have caused her a great deal of physical and emotional trauma, which will likely add to her revenge complex. With any luck, her rage will blind her better judgement when she moves against us in the future.

Pyro sighed, then tapped a few more keys, adding his name to the report, then shut down the computer.

Victor had said he would return one day... and deep down, Pyro knew that he was going to be really cheesed off at him for screwing this up.
By archmore mmmmm I think I had better head for my home planet...some funny things are going on there.not to mention explaining about all the destroyed mechs........I shouldn't be in too much trouble (I hope ) as my Mom is on the military council......ps if there are any Wolf Clan warriors of the DS they might be wondering abouth the Pitwolf's (have to get them out of here fast.:-) )
by Owens_
(Editor: Chapter 86)
20 July, 3082
Bluespot, The Periphery

The Condfederate class dropship slowed to dock with the 'Illicit Enterprise.' All 12 memebers of BBjr's Company of Burner 'Mech Stables stumbled their way out of the air lock, and proceeded toward the waiting reception area. All around, people were eating small fingerfoods and sampling assorted ethnic delicacies.

The well known faces of Ravezero, Akira, MacAttack and many other Dropship warriors smiled and cheered as the triumphant Company entered the room.

Owens and Uraikha shared a moment of intense giggling as they saw Ravezero cross over to greet them. The way he looked in his japanese outfit with the black on red sea manatee printed over his heart made him look more comical than they had ever expected.

BBjr. shouted extatically, "Hey! Rave!"

"Junior, Joe, Uraikha, Owens! I'm glad you made it, even if it was at the last moment."

"I would never pass up a fight!" Junior laughed.

An all too familiar voice could be heard over the din "Hey there, Junior.."

BBjr's face twirked in disbelief, but quickly relaxed into joy "DAD!!!!"

BrainBurner spread his arms wide open to recieve his charging son.

"Wow Dad, I really missed you. Mom misses you too. She's not angry anymore. Where'd you disappear off to?"

"Well, the only place I really could." he replied

"Which was?"

"I decided crash over at Rave's. He gave me a couch to sleep on. Then he became Coordinator, and gave me my own room in the palace. It was a really great place."

BBjr hugged his father even tighter "Let's go home."

BB shook his head. "Uh-uh. We still have a party left to attend."

BBjr smiled. Everything was great again.


Joe Shmoe found a convienient place to slouch along the wall of the gravity deck/party lounge. He tossed back his root beer, slamming it onto the table and then requested another.

He could feel the presence of another person, but was too busy feeling the effects of caffine dulling his senses.

"Ahem" came a shy sounding female voice.

Joe turned and found himself face to face with Hannah Lee.

"Hey there," He said, only loud enough that he could be heard over the rest of the conversations, "You made it over from the warship alright?"

She nodded. As impassive as always; her eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses.

"Well, thats good." Joe didn't understand this girl. Maybe she was manic depressive or something, but it seemed like every time he tried flirting she always became angry with him for some reason.

Well, what the hell, he thought, why not try one more time..

"I heard you singing over the radio," He looked back towards her concealed eyes, "You have a beautiful voice...you should sing more often."

Hannah looked down at the ground. "I was..."

Joe quirked an eyebrow in her direction. "Yes?"

Her head shot up, and Joe couldn't tell if she was angry or not. "I was..." tears began to roll down her cheeks from beneath the tinted glasses. Joe gave her the biggest hug he could, and he could immediately feel his shoulders becoming damp from tears.

She lifted her head up and whispered in his ear. "I was singing for YOU Joe..."


Joe's smile could be seen by Owens, Uraikha and Excesstacy clear across the room.

"You da man, Joe." Owens chuckled under his breath.

Uraikha, who was just about the least emotional person Owens had ever seen, was smirking as well.

Owens leaned sideways. "Uraikha, don't smile too much, your face might stay that way."

Uraikha's smile dissapeared for a moment but reappeared shortly thereafter, and then he returned to crowd watching.

"Another day, another dollar." Excesstacy sighed.

"What's a dollar?" Owens asked.

"Don't worry about it. By the way, Owens..."

"Yes."

"Why does that guy look exactly like me?"

Excesstacy was pointing at one of the other Warriors.

"Oh, yeah, STC.."

"SC T." grunted Uraikha.

"I think," Owens said with a wink, "That's a story for a different thread.."
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 87)
Epilogue: Bad Guys (TM) Edition

16 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery, Smoking Jaguar Swamps

Nutrient-rich ash fell to the ground, blanketing scorched areas of swamp. Raoul had finally done something productive, though it was posthumous and out of everyone's notice. As fertilizer, he would be responsible for erasing the scars of war from Bluedot.

*****

17 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery, Civilian Caste Enclave

The party rolled on into its 23rd hour. Ever since the Star League banner appeared at the top of the Castle Brian, the once-oppressed, from scientist down to laborer, took to the streets in celebration. They had much to be happy for. With the Jaguar warriors removed, peace and calm would finally come to their lives.

*****

17 July, 3082
Bluedot, Periphery

A small group of ComGuard garrison MechWarriors laughed as they enjoyed their newest sport. A Clan Smoke Jaguar giftake canister was crudely duct-taped to the wall. "Your turn, Bill.", one other said.

The shorter warrior stepped up, and threw the dart with all of his might. The dart hit a previously existing dent, rupturing the canister and causing its contents to spill all over the floor.

Bill's teammate gave him a high-five as the other team's leader grudgingly handed over 10 C-bills to pay off the bet.

*****

WoBS Deliverance

White pain flooded into Katherine's body as she awoke with a jolt. Her left arm tingled. Using what little energy she could muster, she looked over towards it. Shiny metal glistened in the low light. Katherine scowled as the doctor entered. "What is this thing?"

"It is your prosthesis, my Primus."

Katherine scowled. "Get this ugly thing off of me! Or at least make a convincing sheath for it. Ugh. And why am I wearing this ugly red wig!?"

The Doctor sighed. "Your hair was burned off either by the explosion or the acid. A man named Rolie recommended red before we lifted."

Katherine snarled at the mention of the man's name. "Rolie. $%#&* He is going to PAY! And those little Warriors too."

*****

BlakeBurger Corporate HQ, Miami, Terra

Precentor-Sanitation Homer Lenny Carlson moved the mop over the floor of the Primus's chamber, trying to sweep the last of the ash off the floor, grumbling as the carbon marks left by the explosive stubbornly clinged to the floor. He had to get the room spotless before BlakeBurger would choose a new Primus. Grumbling, he sat down in the Primus's chair to take a breather, then noticed a little red directional control stick. He pushed it, and the chair accelereated around in a half turn, then continued spinning out of control. The chair ejected him headfirst into his bucket of mopwater. "D'oh!"
By Brainburner The perfect ending, of this chapter of the lives and crimes of; the Warriors of the Dropship.
By EvilTarq Was that trip REALLY necessary?
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 88)
Epilogue: ComStar Edition

31 July, 3082
Hilton Head Island, Terra

Acolyte III Erika Carson stared at the plain white ceiling, barely aware that the door had just opened. Getting hit by several LBX rounds, an SRM, and then dropped out of a 'Mech hadn't done her much good. One of her legs was in a cast and raised, and she was still suffering the effects of a serious concussion.

A familiar white-robed form appeared in the doorway. "Hi Pyro". Pyro nodded. "Brought you a BlakeBurger. I kinda figured you'd be sick of the hospital food by now." Erika grinned. "You're danged straight I am. One more bite of that sludge and I'd seriously consider a hunger strike."

Pyro chuckled as he opened the bag and handed her the food. "Sorry I ate half the fries on the drive here."

"So what brings you here, anyway?", she asked.

Pyro shrugged. "To get away from the paperwork mostly", he said with a grin. "Without you handling most of it, I'm already up to my armpits in it. The temp isn't nearly as good."

*****

31 July, 3082
Hilton Head Island, Precentor-Martial's Office

Former Star Colonel Ryan Furey glowered at the stack of forms as he brandished his rubber stamp. "Stupid Raoul." *STAMP* "I wish *I* had a leader with foresight." *STAMP* "By Kerensky's Ghost! You have to fill out a form to change a lightbulb!?" *STAMP!*


*****

02 August, 3082
Titan Yards

The CSS Righteous Fire coasted in as its engines coughed and died. A small tender vessel pulled it to its proper mooring, and boarding ramps extended. Several crewmen fell to the deck in relief at having returned alive. Others were carted away on stretchers. Within minutes, the enitre ship had emptied.

*****

Chief Tech James Beam looked at the ship through the bubble of his space suit's helmet and let out a low whistle. "I got my work cut out for me."

Jetting around the ship, he noticed a small metal sliver sticking out in between a plastic and a metal armor plate and stared curiously, then pulled it out. As if in response to the seemingly insginificant act, half of the top deck collapsed, crushing the galley and some empty quarters. James cringed. "Ah Crap! The Primus is gonna have my legs broke."
By Medron Pryde hehehe...so MacAttack....how badly did I kill your story.......;-)
By MacAttack Just need to find duct tape to fix things.

Lets just say that two of the three plot threads I was developing are looking somewhat in danger...
By Medron Pryde Well...if it has to do with Ratboy still being a traitor...good....;-)

If it has to to do with everybody's favorite nominee for pikedom...she could have been lying.....hehehe

Those are the only two I can think of that could have been fragged by the last round of posts....;-)
By Fokker I`m REALLY glad that Shadow Hawks do have large and comfy cockpits.

thanx for that one boss, and sorry Pyro you are just not my type :)
By Pyro I don't get that last comment, Fokker?

*Pyro stares in obvious confusion.*
By David Richards
(Editor: Chapter 89)
3rd August, 3082
Illicit Enterprise, orbiting Luthien

The ship was largely deserted, many of the few remaining crew having ventured down to Luthien during this short stay. The bar too was unoccupied, apart from David Richards, sitting at a table.
He threw ten dice. They all came up ones. He threw again. Again, ten ones.
"I've gotta work off this luck..." he muttered.

3rd August, 3082
Luthien

Ravezero walked through the doorway, pacing himself as he approached the delegation.
"Ah, Admiral Ravezero." Smiling One addressed him. "The Combine thanks you for your efforts on our behalf. But..." He looked down at his feet. The others of the party did the same. "... our genetic tests have conclusively proved you are no blood descendent of Shiro Kurita. You cannot be the Dugong."
"What a pity. Still, it was nice." inwardly Ravezero was elated, but he knew better than to show it. Even Akira took this seriously.
"We ah, also sorry to inform you that the Star League has demoted you to Captain once more." Smiling One handed him the communique.
D*mn. Ravezero had liked being an Admiral. Still, at least the communique demoted everyone else underneath him. And he still had the Illicit Enterprise. He looked up again at Smiling One.
"We do, however, have information on who should be heir. We have heard on one 'Mishima'. He must be the heir. We know your duties are pressing, but would you er 'keep an eye out' for him?"
Ravezero considered this. It wouldn't hurt just to be observant. Still, he planned to extract as much from this as possible
"Sure, if you'll do me a favour..."

18th August, 3082
Atreus, Free Worlds League

Two suited men stopped Medron as he was leaving the palace.
"Excuse me, sir? Are you Medron Pryde?" asked one.
"Sure, yes." replied Medron.
"I'm Sergeant Friday, this is Sergeant Streebeck." said one, flashing a badge. "Luthien Allied Police Department. We would to ask you a few questions."
"Sure, fire away." replied Medron
Streebeck flashed a book in his face, bearing the title 'Heir to the Dugong'. Friday 'fired away'.
"Did you write chapter three?"
"How many times did you use the word shapely?" asked Streebeck.
"In reference to the Duchess and her Prosterior?" asked Friday.
"Where in the Field Manual: Free Worlds League does it contain any information on Duchess Isis Marik's prosterior?"
"Do you often fanatasize about fictional royal prosteriors?"
"Wha..er.. I mean.." stuttered Medron.
The two officers looked at each other. One raised an eyebrow.
DUM-DEE-DUM-DUM
"Would you please accompany us to the station mr Pryde?"
DUM-DEE-DUM-DUM-DUM
By David Richards Aaarrrggh! 9TH chapter.
By EvilTarq Uh-oh... thrown out on a technicality.
By Abbas_Kerensky
(Editor: Chapter 90)
18 August 3082
Bluedot, Periphery
Medron Pryde Plains (The blown up place)

An Atlas bearing Clan Wolf colors lifted a large portion of an HPG uplink and loaded it onto a Flatbed truck with its powerful hands. A Phoenix Hawk grabbed a Naval Laser turret in both of its little arms and brought the weapon over to the hundred-tonner 'Mech. The 45-ton Medium 'Mech almost tripped over a BattleMaster's right arm, still left over from the battle a month ago. The Atlas helped the smaller 'Mech back to its feet before both the 'Mech and the weapon could be damaged.

"Hey watch it with that thing, you freebirth stravag!"

Abbas hated to see clumsiness in any form. Most of all, he hated this planet, but he was left as property manager for the Warriors of the DropShip on Bluedot, which included all salvage operations. Because there were still token forces of Jaguar resistance on planet, there was a lot of work to do that had not been finished in a month. The battlefield had been named the Medron Pryde Plains in honor of Medron Pryde, who had not been heard from in some time.

"We need that salvage in pristine condition so we can take it back to the Inner Sphere next week."

A messenger arived, carrying a noteputer and handing it to Abbas. Abbas looked at the image taken from sattlelite scans of the area nearby. Based on the information given, Abbas was able to assume that there was a fairly large BattleMech plant underground, just four kilometers west of his position. According thermal scans, it was still active, and producing heavy to assault class bird-legged chassis', most probably OmniMechs. One way the Jags probably stayed on the battlefield for so long, and continued to harass salvage trucks and lone units.

He made a note to take a Trinary up there tomorrow, capture the facility, dismantle it, and put it on board the DropShips. He frowned. The existence of a BattleMech plant would keep him and his men on planet for another week at the best.
By Owens
(Editor: Chapter 91)
20 August 3082
LGAO HQ, Atreus
Free Worlds League


Owens adjusted his tie as the elevator moved up to the 11th floor of the office building.

It was good to be back, he thought, as he stepped left the elevator and walked over to his office. His key card opened the door, a sure sign that he hadn't been fired. That, at least, was a good sign.

As he walked into his office and tossed his trench coat on a chair, he reflected on the fact that the building had seemed curiously uninhabited.

Shrugging it off, he walked over to his desk and sat down in the leather chair. He flipped on his computer, and shuffled through the pile of papers that were waiting for him. "That's bureaucracy for yah," he mumbled.


"Hello, Owens! Nice of you to return!"

Owens was startled as the mustached, frizzy haired, glasses wearing face of Nerdlinger, aka Nerd, appeared on the monitor.

"Hey, Nerd, so nice to see you again. Who's that in back of you?" Owens was talking about a rather pudgy man to the rear of Nerd.

"That's Frodo."

"Why is he hitting himself in the head with a trout?"

"None of your business."

"Oh."

"Our first order of business to day is a present from the Captain General. She's showing her gratitude for your loyalty to her."

Owens was suspicious. He had backed Corrine during the succession crisis. "Meaning?"

On cue, the entire building began to rumble. Objects jumped on his desk, pens and paper tumbled to the floor.

"What's going on Nerd?" Owens shouted frantically at his collegue

"Go to the window, Owens." Owens dashed to the window, and looked out.

The city was growing smaller beneath him. The office building was blasting off into space!

"WHAT!?!"

"Hee hee!" Nerd laughed excitedly. "Don't worry, we're only putting you in low orbit."

"What? How can you??"

Nerd began to speak very solemnly. "I have been instructed to send you cheezy movies, the worst I can find. You'll have to sit and watch them all, and we'll monitor you mind."

The building, now in orbit, stopped all motion.

Owens was furious.

"Don't worry too much, Owens," Nerd said with a disturbing grin. "Your first movie is a stirring documentary about families torn apart during the War of Andurien Succession..."

"It's an asinine Kurita propaganda film!" Frodo pipped up in the back ground.

Nerd turned to Frodo, "Shut up, imbecile!" He then continued. "Now, Owens, the name of the Film is 'Gausszilla versus the monster from New Avalon'...Enjoy!"

Alarms blared in Owens' office

"Oh, no!" Owens exclaimed, "I've got Movie Sign!!!"
By EvilTarq *Army guy from Monty Python walks on screen*

"Alright. That last piece was a bit too much. We'll have no more of that. Do that again and it kill be KP for you for an entire month!"
By Medron Pryde
(Editor: Chapter 89 addition.)
"Did you write chapter three?"

"Yes"

"How many times did you use the word shapely?" asked Streebeck.

"None in Chapter Three, though twice in Chapter Nine." (had to look that one up)

"In reference to the Duchess and her Prosterior?" asked Friday.

"I never referred to this Duchess, whoever she is, in anyway."

"Where in the Field Manual: Free Worlds League does it contain any information on Duchess Isis Marik's prosterior?"

"Never, though the Crapolan Field Manual does show a very nice picture of Captain-General Isis Marik. I don't know who this Duchess is that you are talking about though."

"Do you often fanatasize about fictional royal prosteriors?"

"Nope."
By David Richards I'll think you'll find that now 'Captain-General' Isis Marik also happens to be a Duchess.
Case closed.
By Fokker Pyro I thought of driving together in the cockpit of my Shad LAM (waaaay back in thread, Medron`s post-Sunday, June 10, 2001 - 03:03 am). I mean don`t get offended or something, but Joe Shmoe get to ride a chick in his tight, small cockpit.

And thanx to my boss Med I get to drive you. Thank God MacAttack gave me that Shad long time ago, otherwise I`ll have to fly with you in my lap and believe me that wouldn`t be a nice experience for neither of us.
By Medron Pryde Hehehe....yup.....remembering little bits of fluff text (like the Shad haveing a REAL nice and comfy lifesupport system that leaves the pilot well rested for long periods of time....no guys....that DOESN'T mean holos of Lara Croft....or Natasha Kerensky...hehehe) can be a real lifesaver when writing stories.
By Fokker Way to go Med, way to go!
By Pyro Some mechs even have a little foldout passenger seat. Those have been mentioned in a few stories.
By Pyro And naw, I ain't offended. You just confused the hell outta me :)
By Pyro
(Editor: Chapter 92)
Epilogue: Mysterious Loose Ends Edition

01 August, 3082 (around midnight)
Hilton Head Island, Terra
HPG station

A lone figure sat hunched over the terminal in the darkened room, typing away. A display on the wall slowly showed an (C)HPG array coming online, capable of broadcasting the message far into the deep periphery.

The figure spoke. "General, the mission is nearly accomplished. The Inner Sphere are again returning to the old ways of war. New and old-style metal designs have entered production again. There is a good chance that they will be able to stand up to the coming storm... to the Clams of Kerensky... but it is uncertain."

The shadowy form's hand flew over and hit the send button, then proceeded to go about the normal memory wipes. HPG station memory cores had to be wiped occasionally to keep them functional. No one would notice that there was a wipe mere minutes before the scheduled one... Since no record would exist of it afterwards anyway.

*****

07 August, 3082
WoBS Deliverance

Katherine glowered as she pressed the button to sit her bed in the upright position. Sparks flew from the small fob, and the bed shot forward, leaving her uncomfortably crushed with her chest against her legs. "MedTech Evil!"

The Doctor scowled. "I did not go to WoB Medical College for so many years to be addressed as MedTech. You will refer to me as Doctor Evil."

"I don't care nitwit! Get me out of this death trap."

The Doctor pried the bed open, and Katherine stood beside it. "Good. Now that I am out of that thing, I need you to bring me something. Get me my purse."

Doctor Evil complied, and brought her the purse. Katherine opened it, and produced a little manila envelope marked as Plan B.

She opened it, and read it silently. "Mwahahah! Those Warriors don't stand a chance!"

Katherine reached the intercom button to contact the bridge. "Precentor Ramius, make preparations..." *INSERT DRAMATIC MUSIC* "... and initiate PLAN B."

*****

11 August, 3082

Kali Liao, Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation laughed maniacally as her most evil scheme to date formed in her mind.

Kali looked over to the goldfish bowl and smiled. "It will be a great day for the Confederation."

As if in response, the little fish did a backflip. Kali grinned. With the approval of the wise fish, the plan was sure to work.

*****

TO BE CONTINUED*

(*Though not in this story. C'mon, guys, let Mr. Stakpole write Clams of Kerensky first.)
By archmore ok I got a question for this (and the other thread that I can't find) has anyone edited this story together yet and if so put it on a web site?
am looking for a .doc file for it. thanks.................................. am Gonna keep all the stories that are made here at least for a while.
By Medron Pryde I would like it to for inclusion on the story site I still plan on making...;-)
(Editor: Chapter 93)

30 September, 3082
Atreus, Free World's League

Medron Pryde stepped off the dropship ramp and unto the pavement of the spaceport. It had been good to go home, but he would be welcomed at his family's estate here on Atreus too. His new black leather boots creaked as he walked towards the administration building, and his eyes tracked another dropship dropping down for a landing a kilometer away. He smiled as he wondered how Paladin was enjoying his trip out to the Clan homeworlds. Hopefully he hadn't partied too hard with the Clanners on the way back, he thought with a laugh.

The doors opened on automatic sliding rails and he walked into the cool, air-conditioned building to step into the line devoted for new arrivals and wait his turn before showing his ID to the clerk. She nodded, had him place his eyes over a scanner, and gave him his baggage claim ticket. With the ticket in hand, he took the five minute walk to the baggage claim area and waited for his luggage to arrive.

This time the luggage handlers were fast and he only had to wait fifteen minutes before he picked up the single duffle bag with Marik eagle emblazoned proudly on its side. A quick walk took him through the crowds to the admin. building exit and he looked around for the ride he assumed would be waiting for him.

Two men came up on either side of him, each wearing black suits and sun glasses. "Mr. Pryde," the one asked and Medron nodded. "Please come with us, sir," the obvious leader said and took Medron's duffle bag. The other man took the carry-on bag off his shoulder and the three of them walked towards a nearby black hoverlimo.

Medron slide into the back seat as the two men placed his bags in the trunk before sitting in the front seat. The leader started the engine and Medron felt the car lift up on a cushion of air before slowly beginning to move forward and out of the spaceport. As they exited it and flew through the city proper, he noted to himself that it was good to be back on Atreus. Home was nice, but he'd truely become a man of Atreus over the last few years.

Home. The word and the visions it brought to mind rang through Medron's head as he watched the rolling metropolis scroll by outside the windows. Teenagers strolled down the streets, laughing as they teased each other while shopping. There a group of suits clicked down the sidewalk purposefully, probably going to a meeting. Across the street, a sidewalk sale had garnered a strong showing of shoppers. He nodded as he considered that life was good here.

The limo finally arrived at the capital building, and came to stop, lowering down onto its skids as the cushion of air leaked away. Medron stepped out of the limo as the security guards at the door watched and he walked towards the building as his escorts unloaded his luggage from the trunk to follow him. He showed his ID and put his eye up to another scanner before the guards let him through and walked into the building, his escorts close behind.

"Mr. Pryde," a voice called and he turned to see a young man hurry up to him in a painfully crisp League uniform. Medron couldn't help but smile at the youth's equally painfully crisp attitude and stance, but returned his salute quickly. "The Captain-General would like your luggage sent to your room," the young man said, partially to Medron and partially to his escorts and they nodded, turning away to take them. They knew where his quarters were. "Now if you could follow me, sir," the eager voice continued. "The Captain-General would like to speak with you."

Medron nodded and followed the young man through the grand halls of the capital, taking them in slowly. He'd walked through the halls many times before, but had never really looked at them. He wondered how many other times he hadn't looked at things but simply seen them and decided it had probably happened far too often. A slow sigh escaped as he walked around a corner to look at the doors that opened into the audience chamber.

Medron walked forward towards the doors, showed the two guards his ID and let them scan his eye again, before they opened the door for him. He walked in, his boots echoing in the chamber with each step, and the doors shut behind him. He looked up to see Captain-General Isis Marik sitting in her throne and swallowed as he walked towards the dias. She stood up as he stopped, and then walked down the double-width steps to his level.

She took in his civilian attire with a practiced gaze before speaking. "So how did you find your trip home," she asked softly.

Medron looked down at the black marble floor, then over at the beautifully carved walls, before turning back to meet her gaze. "I've found that you can only have one home," he said slowly. "One place where you can say 'this is where I belong.' But times change. People change. Homes change. I've changed. Home isn't out there any more." He looked down again, then clicked his heels on the floor and looked back up at Isis. "This is my home now. Atreus. And this is where I will stay."

The Captain-General took in his gaze for a moment before turning around and walking back up the stairs to sit down on her throne. She looked back at him and nodded. "Good."
By EvilTarq Awww... he's getting sentimental.

*sniff*
By Frank Vickers Oi Medron! I have a bone to pick with you! :o)

First, a Timber Wolf? Jeez :o)

Second, a Clanner thug? Jeez :o)

Third, I liked the imagery of me knocking open the gates but couldn't I have had my Apocalypse? (see bone 1) Jeez :o)

Fourth, thanks :o)
By Medron Pryde Sorry dude....I looked at your notes on the Memory Core's painting area, took your favorite 'Mech, gave it the colors of your favorite unit, and went from there. I actually did that for quite a few people.

If your tastes have changed...well...sorry....;-)
By Frank Vickers My favourite Mech in the MemCore is my Apocalypse....and I'm the one with the Black and Gold paint job, not Abbas :o)

Still, I am honoured to have been included even if I was only there to blow away some Smoked Kitties. What more can a Wolf ask for? :o)
By Medron Pryde I said you were in the colors of Golden Keshik...I think...let me check....ok....your 'Mech was black and gold....Abbas' was gold and black...there is a difference...;-)

Note that for both of you, I took what appeared to be your favorite 'Mech based on your notes in the Memcore and looked at your painted minis where applicable....I wanted to have some fun after all.....hehehe
By Frank Vickers Oh, sorry. I thought you had me in a all gold Timber Wolf. Must have mis-read the post :o)

I am not trying to give you a hard time, and I really am thankful to be included, even as a highly skilled thug-like person :o)

You know me too well, especially if you put me on FF's wing :o)

Does this mean I am now one of the 'Warrior of the Dropship' or do I still have tro pass a test of some kind? :o)
By deathshadow Hey Owens, I haven't been reading these threads, but it's nice to see someone likes the TDX-02L.
By Medron Pryde I'd say you are a Warrior...though I suppose the final decision should be made by our tablecloth wearing scotsman....;-)

Hmmm...who wants a toga party?
By Frank Vickers *Dances around the room hopping shouting "TOGA! TOGA! TOGA!"*
By deathshadow Shall we make that BYOB&B. (bring your own booz and bimbos?)
Editor: So ends the Heir to the Dugong Project. I hope you have enjoyed this story. If I had known it would have taken (Editor: Post ends mysteriously.)

Editor: And now that you have read this, please read the epic Clams of Kerensky, found in the Fanfic message board of HeavyMetalPro.com!