Part 323: Political Vote 13 Results and Combat Theater Vote 12
Combat Theater Vote 13PTNs Notes: Im sorry this update has taken me so long, I really needed to clean house a bit since my list of dramatis personae has been neglected and Ive forgotten the names of several minor personalities (accursed vacation). Nobody important mind, just several Clan Khans, several of the DCMS warlords, some First Circuit members, etc). This has been corrected but it did eat a lot more time than I was expecting.
****************************************
I consider myself an honorable man, Duncan Marik began simply, and as a man of honor I feel it is important to explain why I can make no official response to your request for free passage through my realms.
Duncan paused briefly, giving time for his words to sink in. He held up a conciliatory hand, as if expecting outrage. Please understand first: I am not rejecting your request for passage through my realm. I know nothing of you, your people, or your ways; and I suspect you know little of ours. The Free Worlds League values the distinct cultures of all the worlds and nations who make up our peoples; and we strongly believe in respecting not only our own varied cultures but those of any outsiders who seek to trade or war with us. You say you have the capacity to level worlds, and I believe you; but there are many in Parliament and the House of Lords that may not.
He held his hands wide and low, palms facing the cameras, his stance suggested openness and honesty; or so he hoped. If one of your warriors were to strike out at a rival; would that rival hold your entire nation responsible or only is the onus on that offending warrior? If one hotblooded young warrior resists your passage, does that doom us? If a League world decides, against my directive, to impede your progress does that doom the entirety of the League? Or will only that one world be destroyed? Several of the worlds you seek to pass through are currently being contested by the underhanded Capellans, who struck us without warning--which is an act we consider dishonorable but they do not. Will we be held responsible for any resistance given by those contested worlds? These are things I must know, before I can make any decision. I can speak of the honor and valor of my people, but not always of their sense; and I cannot speak for the Capellans at all. As leaders yourselves, Im can only hope you understand.
You say you wish to fight a trial for the right to pass through my realm unmolested. If left to my own devices, I would be forced to assume a trial is some sort of formal contest rather than a true pitched battle; but I simply do not know and to make a decision in ignorance risks offending you and your people. What does this trial entail? Are the forces even? Would you allow us to provide the BattleMechs to insure that this Trial is not a test of the differences in our technology but instead a test of the valor of our warriors? Is there a minimum number of participants required to make the trial valid? Would a single lance on either side be sufficient; or would you require more? Most importantly: if the forces of the Free Worlds League are victorious, and you do not win the right of free passage how will you comport yourselves? Will that mean war with your peoples, or would you simply be compelled to offer us payment for the passage you currently request we give you?
It is my hope that we will be able to conduct this Trial in a manner which satisfies both your honor and our own, Duncan finished with a warm smile. He raised a fist across his breast in a warm salute, but as it fell away his warm and friendly demeanor changed. A subtle shift in his stance, the set of his jaw, and the balled fists at his side leant him an air of, if not menace, at least the grim determination of a young man attempting to stare down a schoolyard bully.
Please also understand, he added in tones reminiscent of a Tharkad winter, that if taking the time to answer my questions is enough for you to judge my realm unworthy then we will respond to your ultimatum with one of our own: If you choose to devastate even a single Free World of the League; if you choose to make this a test not of the valor of men but of the expediency of weapons of mass destruction we will retaliate in kind.
Duncan killed the recording with a wave of his hand, and handed the disc to a white-robed ComStar adept. Harrison Kalma watched in silence as the man bowed and departed. Duncan turned to face him, his fists tensing. As soon as the adept was out of earshot, he said simply:
Harrison. I need to speak with the Regulans.
****************************************
Of all the participants of Clan Goliath Scorpions unusual trial, only Star Captain Baatarand three of the four-man crew of the Epona tank the Hells Horses had enteredlacked bloodnames. The assembled Clans had laughed: Were the Hells Horses so crippled all they could send was one puny vehicle? Were the Star Adders so certain of their own defeat that they had sent a warrior who could not be shamed by a loss?
And yet, as Khan Djerassi had introduced the assembled pilots, Baatar had seen the mans knowing smirk. Although the Goliath Scorpions had not been prohibited from joining the race themselves, they had announced that they would not be doing so. Likewise, their allies among Clan Burrock who had already announced their participation had announced that they were withdrawing from the race, explaining that they had not participated in the fighting and had lost none of their own stockpiles.
Baatar smiled: the Goliath Scorpions had understood his intent, and had shown their tacit approval. They would defend his actions, provided he followed the letter of the rules. The Scorpions simply did not care who won, they only cared that the Widowmakers lost. Baatar understood. He was not here to win either.
His choice of `Mech for the race had raised a few concerned eyebrows, concern which had only intensified when his counterpart from the Steel Vipers strode out of their dropship with an identical design. Their opponents had all made sensible choices: the Ice Hellions had brought a Fire Moth for its unadulterated speed, the Jade Falcons one of their agile Cougars, the Hells Horses an Epona, and the Widowmakers had hedged their bets on a Stormcrowwhich should have been enough to out-armor and outgun any other `Mech on the fieldhad Baatar not been piloting one of the Task Forces new King Cobras.
The rules protected the other pilots, of course; he could only attack the `Mech placed directly ahead or behind him, and only with a single weapon at a timebut the pilot in last place could attack the pilot in first with impunity as they struggled to make five full circuits of the track; and compared to the little Fire Moth Baatars `Mech was practically invincible. Of course, Star Colonel Serris Zalmans own King Cobra made an easy target. Baatar trailed it by a few scant meters. A shot from his Gauss Rifle would probably punch clear through the Assault `Mechs rear armor; but that wasnt the plan. Zalman had, of course, been free to engage the Widowmaker Storm Crow, though shed scored only one hit before the swift `Mech had swiftly outpaced her.
Strictly speaking, the two werent working together. The competitors were forbidden from communicating, but that hadnt stopped the Clans of Task Force Serpent from working out a plan in advance. It all hinged on the most salient rule of the race: the Goliath Scorpions didnt care whether the competitors followed the course or not, provided they passed through each of the five gates in the correct sequence. Failure to pass through a gate would result in a disqualification, and so at key points around the track the Baatars opponents were vulnerable.
Baatar could only smile as the two assault `Mechs of the Task Force slowly closed on the Cougar. A lucky hitlikely from the Eponas Streak SRMshad crippled its right leg. The leg plowed a deep furrow in the soft soil as it struggled to find some cover from the approaching doom. Zalman didnt bother with a shot from her Gauss Rifle, and just smashed the small, birdlike `Mechs foamed-steel spine with a single blow of her mace. Baatar had been prepared to do the same, but it was unnecessarythe blow had knocked the Cougar off its feet and driven its beaklike cockpit a good meter into the soft earth. He didnt mind the inactivity, his own time was almost here.
Canyon walls rose on either side, and Baatars smile widened. This was the other key to the plan: the canyon walls were just as steep as theyd looked on the document the Goliath Scorpions had provided: blind turn after blind turn of rock, and among that rock one of the gates the competitors were forced to pass. The one `Mech that could have easily bypassed most of the twists and turns had already been eliminated. Zalman passed first, and stopped to deter flanking maneuversa `Mech would have to go through her before it could attack him, so in one regard he was safe. Baatar stopped in the gate itself, and turned back the way hed come.
His radar flickeredsomething small and swift had entered the canyons, though its signature was badly distorted by the stone walls. Baatar felt a moment of surprise as the Hells Horses Epona swerved into view. Hed been expecting the Fire Moth, but the light `Mech must have gotten bogged down in the southern swamps. The Epona was an interesting threat, too low to the ground for his mace to hit; but it had slowed to make the tight turns in the canyon. A cloud of dust wafted from beneath as the driver threw his little tank into reverse.
Baatar stomped on its sloped frontal armor, driving the little tanks prow into the soil. Armor shattered under the weight of his assault `Mech, and with the casual air of an executioner he bathed the little vehicle with his flamer; seeking out rents in its buckling armor. With a flash the little tanks turret disintegrated as its SRM ammo exploded. The tank blew itself apart, leaving only shards of twisted metal that vaguely resembled a hand reaching skywards.
The Fire Moth followed perhaps half a minute later, but Baatar also took it by surprise. The awkward `Mechs arms were mounted too high to ward off a blow from Baatars mace, and the little `Mech crumpled as the weapon smashed into its left torso. The blow crushed the Fire Moths chest as though it were made of mere aluminum. Baatar kicked the `Mech away, and it simply fell lifeless, its engine crushed by a weapon that massed twice what the engine itself did. Serris Zalmans own King Cobra looked on dispassionately, a grim reminder that even had the Fire Moth managed to take down the bigger `Mech, it would be forced to take down a second immediately after.
The Stormcrow took longer, a single blow of Baatars mace wasnt enough to put it down in a single hit. The medium `Mech cut loose with every weapon in its arsenala clear violation of the letter of the rules, but where was the fun in calling the pilot out when Baatar could simply crush him? A second blow of his mace crushed the Stormcrows shoulder, and the third stove-in its torso. Although its return fire blistered the King Cobras armor and even penetrated in some places, it didnt survive a fourth blow. Baatar turned, regarding Serris Zalmans King Cobra in silence. They were the last two `Mechs on the field, she was his only competition and he hers.
He raised his mace in salute, then ejected, leaving the victory to the Steel Vipers.
As a bonus, heres the map for the Death Race in case anyone wants to take a shot at replicating it in MegaMEK:
Combat Theater Vote 13:
1 January 3034
PTNs Note: The map has been updated to better represent how much territory the Capellan Confederation has actually taken.
V Steel Vendetta
Backed by the might of the TCS Vendetta, II Corps of the Taurian Defense Force has become the vanguard in an invasion of the Duchy of New Syrtis. The battlemechs of the Hyades Light Infantry stand ready to deliver the Concordats vengeance to the man responsible for the assassination of Protector Calderon: the hated Duke Michael Hasek. With the TCS Vendetta in orbit and supporting their assault, their victory seems almost assured.
B Steel Will
The Sirdar New Syrtis Militia have spent months locked in combat with the Capellan Confederation; but their rest-and-refit assignment along the Duchys periphery border came to an unexpected end with the arrival of the TCS Vendetta. Although the Vendettas nuclear bombardment was brief and poorly targeted and the ship has now retreated from the system, the regiments scattered survivors have been left in total disarray.
C Interference
Bannockburns Bandits have been many things over the years: mercenaries, pirates, and murderers. Although too few in number to take a world, the scattered companies of the Bandits are perfectly suited to weakening enemy defenses in preparation for a full Taurian invasion.
D Hostile Takeover
Driven from the Tortuga Dominions by the pirate captain Theresa Cordeaux, Lady Death Trevaline and the remnants of her Deaths Consorts have set course for the Pirates Haven cluster. The Lady Death will must carve a new kingdom for herself before she can return to Tortuga and seize her revenge.
E Resisting the Reich
Far from Inner Sphere politics, Umayyad-Castille had lived in peace for centuries before the coming of the Hansa. Now pressed nearly to the breaking point, the UCDF is struggling to hold their ground against an army they were never prepared to face. This mission exists because someone in the Word of Lowtax challenged me to use the Umayyad Caliphate. Except I despise all the nations that are clearly just throwaway copies of real world nations, so the Deep Periphery has been given a bit of a stir.
F Wasteland
Although still technically independent, the Outworlds Protectorate is now firmly under the thumb of the Draconis Suns. With the bulk of their aerospace assets conscripted to fight the Clans and under pressure from New Avalon to eliminate the pirates hiding in the barren Outworlds Wastes, the Protectorate has done the only thing it could: it hired mercenaries to root out the pirates plaguing the tradelanes.
V) Steel Vendetta (2 lances, II Corps TDF)
B) Steel Will (2 lances*, Sirdar New Syrtis Militia)
C) Interference (1 lance, Bannockburns Bandits)
D) Hostile Takeover (2.5 lances, Deaths Consorts)
E) Resisting the Reich (2 mixed lances, 2nd Corps UCDF)
F) Wasteland (1 lance, Vandelays Valkyries)
*2 lances fighting on 2 different maps.