Chapter One Hundred and Eight: Stalling for Time

Chapter One Hundred and Eight: Stalling for Time

Tikonov, December 30th, 3025

"What a way to welcome the new year." I said to Natasha and Yvonne Hazen as we observed the drive plumes. "Looks like Candace didn't decide to limp back to St. Ives after all."

"Do we have the Vali's ready?" I turned and asked Natasha. "This would be the time to use them."

"We do," But they already started dropping their forces." She pointed out what looked like shrapnel falling from several of the dropships as they descended.

"TAG them anyway." I said with a shrug. "We can always try and salvage their dropships later, but we need to make sure they can't leave to reinforce Sian."

"Yes, those look like Warrior House dropships, not the St. Ives Lancers." Mathis said, as he dialed in his binoculars. "I'm pretty sure that Candace did end up falling back to St. Ives."

"Well either way, we've got to deal with them." I said, "Well, if two Warrior Houses want to commit suicide then we should ablige them." I didn't smile, there was nothing happy about the last few months. "Take them down." I ordered, and it was relayed to the Artillery Battalion.

I watched as the Dropships lost thrust and crashed down at terminal velocity into the landing areas that they had been aiming for, thankfully not in any majorly populated areas though.

"We need to move while we have the advantage, they know Tikonov, it was their world for centuries." I climbed the ladder into my Warhammer. "Let's go kill these bastards and move on, I'm tired of being stuck here."

Capella, December 8th, 3025

"I want this done quickly folks." Peterson said as they cleared the drop zone. "We brought extra infantry battalions from Davion space to act as a garrison force so that as soon as we're done with the main elements of the Branford's Grenadiers they can hold it down while we move on"

"Remember that we're up against an Elite Battlemech regiment." Peterson's XO spoke up after Peterson was done speaking. "That means that even though we fully expect them to act like the typical Mechwarriors we face, we also don't need to be cocky. People have died for lesser things in combat."

"Yessir." The assembled senior staff said.

"Dismissed, you know your jobs, I'm not going to repeat them to you." Peterson said as they all went to their duty stations.

December 10th, 3025

"Hammer them with artillery." Peterson said from the mobile HQ. "We need that company pinned down while we finish off the one over here."

"Sir, there's a lot of LRM's being thrown our way." Major Hathaway reported. "If we didn't have the AMS systems we'd be getting wrecked out here."

"I'm diverting a couple of Mithril companies over to your area to pinpoint some artillery and Sting strikes, just hold them off for a bit longer."

"Aye sir, holding position until support arrives." Hathaway responded. "Just try and make it quicker if you can."

"I'm diverting the Stings now." Peterson said. "Watch your fire and make sure to target any remaining enemy forces you see after they're done clearing the way."

The mobile HQ rocked as yet another SRM strike got close.

"Militia again?" Peterson asked his HQ staff. "Divert a couple of fireteams to make sure that it doesn't happen a third time."

Northwind, November 20th, 3025

"We've got a live one here!" Godbolt yelled out as she used the enhanced strength provided by the Mithril to lift a concrete wall off of a trapped Kentares soldier.

"Coming Ma'am." A fireteam joined in and helped her lift the block off of the wounded soldier.

"Did I do good Colonel?" The infantryman asked. "I tried to get to cover, but it was so fast."

"You did good, Corporal." Godbolt winced behind her helmet as she looked at his pulped arm. "We're moving the Argo into the system, we'll get you back up and fighting in no time."

"How many have we found alive so far?" Godbolt asked.

"We found all of the tankers and 'mech pilots." Someone reported. "A few broken bones, some internal bleeding, but give them a few months and we'll have our 'mech and vehicle sections filled back out."

"How many infantry have we recovered?" Colonel Godbolt finally asked. "We had three hundred power armored infantry, and I only recall seeing fifty of them intact before we started our sweeps."

"Ma'am, we found pretty much all of the bodies, but we're down to seventy five of the original three hundred." He reported quietly. "And a third of those are WIA and will need months to years of surgery and therapy before they'll be anywhere near fighting shape again."

Rachel muted her external speakers and cursed in English, French, Spanish, and Russian for a solid two minutes before she felt comfortable speaking through her speakers again.

"Those were all Elite Infantry." Rachel said after she was relatively calm again. "And we just lost over three quarters of them to a single nuke."

"Yes Ma'am." He responded. "But we've recovered over a hundred thousand civilians so far."

"That's good news." The Hispanic woman said. "But there were three million people in this city, and we only found a hundred thousand." She sagged against the ruined building and slid down to a sitting position. "Now matter what we do right now, we're going to get crucified by the media for failing to prevent this."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Romano Liao said as she stepped into the building. "You did good work here Colonel Godbolt, and here in the FedSuns, and Northwind in particular will understand and appreciate that."

"I got a third of my people killed." Godbolt said, "I should be stripped of my command."

"That dedication to your people." Romano said after the last of the fireteam working on recovery operations had left. "That's the kind of thing Hull looks for in his COs, I could tell from the moment that I met Colonel Packer that he had that same sort of drive." Romano chuckled, "Even Colonel Peterson and his grudge doesn't hold a candle to the love he has for his men, that's why the men and women under your command are willing to still follow your instructions and commands." Romano laughed a bit. "I didn't get it until I had to defend Northwind from the Combine, but it clicked then that the reason they were willing to follow my sometimes insane plans was because I was right there beside them shoveling and getting things ready."

"You did a good job here Godbolt, never forget that." Romano chuckled. "I'm pretty sure Hull won't let you forget anyway."

January 3rd, 3026

"This is the last battalion that managed to make it out of the trap we set." Mathis reported. "Are we going to offer them the chance to surrender?"

"No Mathis," I shrugged after I took a swig of water. "The time for surrender has past." I climbed back into my freshly reskinned Warhammer and got ready to take on the next enemy that would try and kill my people."

Taurus, January 7th, 3026

"I'm taking the Concordat Commandos and the rebuilt Calderon Red Hand to go invade the Capcon." Zarantha told her son. "You might want to raise some Garrison units to come along behind us."

"Edward is going with you, he's in command of the reformed 17th Concordat Chasseurs, and you might need the extra forces." Thomas said, "I hope you've got a good operational plan."

"I'm taking Grand Base, and Halloway, and striking out towards Sian." Zarantha said, "Anything we manage to take along the way is just things that we can use for later."

December 15th, 3025

"Ian, if you don't let me take the Crucis Lancers to reinforce the 1st Marksman I might stage a coup." Hanse said. "This is the chance to completely change the board for the rest of eternity, how can we not seize the opportunity?"

"Hanse, I'm going to seize the opportunity, just give me a minute to process everything." Ian responded, looking at the current map of the inner Sphere. "Katrina's going to try and hit the worlds around Terra. She's having Frederick and the 4th Royal Guards RCT along with units of the Skye Rangers take everything around Terra through to Outreach."

"And you know the Taurians have built up enough to take clear to Grand Base and beyond if they want to." Hanse said.

"Fine, take the Crusis Lancers and the Davion Assault Guards, and don't come crying to me if you can't take Sian." Ian said.

"Thank you, you won't forget this." Hanse said as he cheerfully left the First Prince's office and walked casually over to Yvonne Davion's office.

"I need the Potemkin, and a couple of Lola III's." Hanse smirked, "And we'll want as many of the Vengeance AMS builds as possible."

"You convinced Ian to let you take Sian." Yvonne said with a grin.

"I convinced Ian to let me back up the First Marksman." Hanse corrected, "Who I'm pretty certain will be heading straight there after they're finished up on Capella."

"Well then, want a cookie while we plan the demise of an interstellar nation?" Yvonne asked.

"I'll take two actually." Hanse said with a fox-like grin on his face. "I might need them after all."