Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Six: Revenge?

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Six: Revenge?

January 8th, 3021

"Good impact Ma'am!" The gunner and spotter called out. "The Battlemaster is down for the count."

"Good work, mark it for a salvage team to come check on later." She ordered, "We need to move our fireteam to assist Alpha Battalion."

"Moving at maximum speed, aye ma'am." The driver responded. "Are we sure that we're going to make it through this ma'am?"

"We're the 1st Marksman corporal, we're all that and a bag of chips!" Carter laughed. "We've already managed to take out the light and medium enemies we were up against, and have still maintained most of our machines." Carter's grin was a little bloodthirsty. "And we've still got ammunition for the artillery, as long as we're able to maintain our edge, we can hold out and win this."

"Yes Ma'am!" The tank crew replied.

"Colonel Carter!" Came over Colonel Zoe Carter's personal comms channel. "We've got an officer here offering a temporary ceasefire. What do you want me to do?"

"Hold tight Major Davis," Carter replied. "We're about ten mikes out."

–

–

"You have fought well." Came a voice over the open comms channel. "But you will fall beneath the might of the Dragon."

"I'm sorry Tai-Sho Kingsley," Carter replied with snark in her voice. "I can't quite hear you over the sounds of your two destroyed battlemech regiments."

"You are excellent warriors." Kingsley replied. "But it will not be enough to save you, I believe that you are nearing the end of your ability to maintain a defensive position against myself and the Ryuken-San."

"Well, you'll just have to try us and see exactly how much we've got left in reserve won't you?" Carter asked with a smirk. "I would have already left if I thought that we couldn't win this."

"Fine then, your men's lives are on your own head." Tai-Sho Kingsley replied. "You have one day to reconsider before we come back in force."

–

–

"We have a day to repair and rest." Carter told her people. "Let's make sure that we get our heaviest equipment back in the fight, and everyone needs at least eight to twelve hours of bedrest. I fully expect the ISF to try something."

"Good call Ma'am." Major Davis said to his CO. "We're going to have to hold out for longer before reinforcements get here"

"Reinforcements?" Carter asked. "I don't need reinforcements, we're going to handle them all on our own."

Kentares IV, March 30th, 3031

"Please tell me we have everything ready?" I asked Sheppard and Packer. "I've got the Ducal Estate acting like Natasha and I have come down with the latest variant of the flu and that we won't be able to meet with anyone."

"Commodore Frye is ready and waiting with the fleet." Sheppard said. "And both the 1st and 2nd Kentares Guard are just waiting for confirmation to lift off and make for the Age of Discovery and Manassas, along with the Vanguard." (Texas Class Battleship that we restored)

"Did Jewel manage the refits yet?" I asked, not quite remembering reading any of those reports.

"Yes, the Manassas and Age of Discoveryhave AMS systems in place now, but we don't have time to refit the Vanguard in time before you head out." Sheppard said. "Godspeed Mark, and make sure that they pay for this."

"We're going to make the Kuritans wish that they hadn't crossed the line here." I said, "Keep an eye on Ian for me, something feels off."

"Will do Mark, will do." Sheppard replied as he snapped together for a salute. "You're bringing the Ducal Guard with you?"

"Everything except for the 3rd Kentares and the Militia are coming with us." I said. Returning his salute. "Hold down the fort for me."

"Yes sir!" Sheppard replied. "I still think you should send a message to Hanse though."

"I already did." I said, "It's on its way with Rook as we speak."

"Good to hear." Sheppard said. "Good to hear, maybe he can retask some assets to help cover Kentares while you're gone."

–

–

"We got our course plotted in?" I asked Frye. "I made a list of the Dead worlds I used when bringing the Manassas through the Combine and Federated Suns the first time."

"We're using quite a lot of the systems that you used the first time." Frye said as she showed me the general path that we were going to take. "I can't believe that you were within ten light years of Luthien thirty years ago." She shook her head.

"I was an idiot who was just figuring out how to make a jumpship work in the first place thirty years ago, Frye." I said with a sigh. "Not that I'm much better at it now."

"You did fine," Frye said with a smile. "Not everyone is cut out for advanced physics and calculations like that."

"I don't want to have to do that again." I agreed, "I prefer reading and writing over math anyway."

"I think we all know that by now." She laughed. "Now, we've got a bunch of jumps to make if we're going to pull this off properly, so strap yourself in and get ready to go."

New Avalon, June 25th, 3031

"Rook, Dunham" Hanse greeted the tech specialist and chief intelligence operatives of Hull's group. "I didn't expect you and Dunham to be here, shouldn't the two of you be on Kentares IV helping Mark and Natasha?"

"Yes, but we were sent with some important intel for you." Dunham said as he handed over a slate. "There's a six digit code that I'll input for you." He input the correct code and opened the file that Hanse was supposed to see.

"Good," Hanse said as he looked over at the operational plans that Hull had sent to him. "I expected something like this to happen, and I'm hoping that Mark and Nat pull it off." He flipped through. "I'll send Duke Sandoval a small memo to have the Draconis March forces prepped, and have Duchess Romano Senn-Liao's house forces ready to move as well."

"Morgan will be moving with the Davion Heavy Guards to reinforce Kentares while the majority of your forces are gone." Hanse said. "Here's the written confirmation to give to Yvonne for authorization."

"We'll make sure to get it all done sir." Rook said. "We brought David Alexander here for safety as well, Mark was hoping that your security umbrella was better than our own given the fact that Sapphire just died."

"He graduated from the Marksman academy right?" Hanse asked.

"Yes, he did indeed." Rook replied.

"Good, he'll join my bodyguard detail until further notice." Hanse said. "If you'll have him meet with Allard, he'll get everything set up."

"We'll set it up." Dunham replied. "Thank you for your assistance Hanse."

"It's always a pleasure to interact with competent people." Hanse smiled. "And Mark doesn't really handle idiots well."

"That's very true sir." Rook laughed. "Very true indeed."

Kentares IV, June 30th, 3031

"Are you ready for your yearly Qualification sir?" The Fireteam Sergeant in charge of the 'mech range asked. "We've got everything set up and ready for you to run through, we'll start off with the simple scenarios, and move the difficulty up as we go."

"Sounds like fun!" Ian said with a chuckle as he responded through the communications systems. "I'm going to walk it to the range and then go weapons hot."

"Sounds like a plan sir, please follow the designated path until you reach the target area." The Sergeant replied.

"I'm at the designated area," Ian responded. "Flipping the master arm switch on now." He relayed. As soon as he flipped the switch, he started convulsing and seizing up. "Need help!" he called as loud as he could through the still open channel as he rocked back against the chair.

"We need a medical team for the First Prince!" The sergeant called as he raced to the Titan. Triggering the jump jets built into his Mithril he flew up onto the shoulder of the assault 'mech before he moved to the hatch. Grabbing on, he yanked, but the hatch was reinforced and he couldn't get it open.

"I need a breaching charge!" He called out to the militia fireteam training in mech takedowns.

"Aye sergeant!" They responded and one of them flew up with a 'mech breaching charge in his hands. "I've got this." The militiaman set up the charge and both of the men braced as he set it off.

"Thanks Private, I'll make sure to note you down." The Fireteam Sergeant said as he pulled the remnants of the pilot hatch off of the 'mech and reached the First Prince. Yanking the Neurohelmet off of Ian, the Sergeant began to run through the basic medical training that all of the soldiers on Kentares were given.

"I've got a pulse, and he's still breathing, but there's no response." The Sergeant muttered to himself. "He's actually unconscious, and not just asleep." He said as he gave the man a sternum rub with his armored knuckles. "Potential brain injury." He said as he grabbed the Neurohelmet. "We'll have to take this in for analysis to the Argo."

"You called for a medical team?" He heard the voice through the open cockpit door.

"Yeah, I'm jumping down with the First Prince now!" He called back through his external speakers. "I've also got the neurohelmet that I believe caused this."

"Bring it all down," The medical team lead called out. "We've got a Sting inbound for immediate transfer to the Argo."

The Sergeant leapt down and used the built in jump jets on his Mithril to slow the fall. "He's still got a pulse and is breathing, but otherwise he's unresponsive."

"I'll relay all of this to Dr. Hale." The medical team lead said. "You did good work."

"Thanks, so much for a relaxing job." The Fireteam Sergeant snarked. "I thought this was supposed to be my retirement job and instead I get stuck doing shit like this."

"You'll live old timer." The Medical team leader replied. "You'll live."