Part 805: Let's Read Warrior: En Garde - Part 15

Let’s Read Warrior: En Garde (part 15)

Book 3
Chapter 45
Styx
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
23 May 3027

Melissa is being a jerk and making Clovis Holstein uncomfortable by staring at him. Clovis is a dwarf, you see, and since this is the medieval space 80’s, everyone is an asshole to the poor guy. Anyway, Danica and Clovis are trying to figure out why everyone wants the Silver Eagle hijacked, and think it has to have something to do with Andrew Redburn (understandable) or “Joana Barker.” Melissa, if anyone spending ten seconds of time realizes there’s something up with you; you might want to try something less stupid next time.

Anyway we then learn that House Kurita is attacking. It’s an ISF Assault Force.

AN ISF ASSAULT FORCE OF ZERO-G TRAINED DEATH NINJAS HAS ARRIVED IN A KURITA BACKWATER ON THE VERY SAME DAY THAT SUBHASH INDRAHAR DISPATCHED THEM.

That is why Subhash Indrahar is goddamned terrifying. He keeps dropships full of 1980s movie ninjas just waiting at random jump points so he can quickly send them places and fuck things up.

Melissa then deduces that House Kurita know who she is and that she’s now in the Draconis Combine. She almost passes out from fear for a moment and the crazy in the back of her head taunts her. Yes, Melissa Steiner is still hearing voices in the back of her head. Andrew Redburn wants to hail the Kuritans to find out if they want him. He’s more than willing to turn himself over, but the ISF couldn’t care less about a Davion Lieutenant (no shit, really?)

So Melissa reveals her identity to everyone, Danic and Clovis shit bricks, and Heimdall scrambles to save the Archon Designate of the Lyran Commonwealth.



Book 3
Chapter 46
Pacific (Chara III)
Isle of Skye, Lyran Commonwealth
24 May 3027

Remember that changing-the-date subplot? Well, it’s happening and the ISF troopers on Pacific shit bricks because they thought yesterday was the 22nd! Rather than doing any fact checking, they launch an immediate suicide assault on the Kell Hounds that’s supposed to be timed with Yorinaga Kurita’s landing. Instead, because the Hounds are already on high alert doing practice drills, they’re armed and armored.

Dan Allard shoots several ISF ninjas with a shotgun while they run at him with swords, and since nobody had decided that ISF troopers have armor that blocks most small arms yet, this is wildly successful. Patrick Kell gets shot in the lung, and oh no the Panthers that the Kell Hounds have known were on-planet for months are finally attacking. SURPRISE.



Book 3
Chapter 47
Styx
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
25 May 3027

Melissa is coordinating the Heimdall guards, but since they’re volunteers with no military training and the ISF are goddamned ninjas it’s not going well. This is from Melissa’s perspective so the battle pretty much consists of “lost contact with Bravo team” and “lost contact with Delta team” and “Pink squad, man down!”

And then Andy volunteers to lead a suicide defense and blows himself up with a satchel charge to seal a tunnel.

Melissa gets maudlin about things for a paragraph and a half and then the chapter ends. Spoilers: Andy is fine.



Book 3
Chapter 48
Pacific (Chara III)
Isle of Skye, Lyran Commonwealth
24 May 3027

The first two pages are from the Kuritan perspective, and they’re feeling pretty smug about their assault except OH SHIT THE KELL HOUNDS HAVE `MECHS AND ALL OUR SOLDIERS ARE DEAD WHAT IS GOING ON. So they try to run away.

As they run away, the Kell Hounds shoot them in the back while the as-yet unmentioned Kell Hound Infantry shoots them with infernos. End result? All Panthers down since 12 slow-as-hell 30 ton `Mechs can’t fight a battalion of mixed mediums and heavies worth shit.

Anyway, the Kell Hounds then decide to abandon Pacific to House Kurita which is technically a breach of contract I think? But they’ll get away scott free since they just jumped into Kurita space to a secret Heimdall base Patrick (and everyone else in the Inner Sphere apparently) knows about. They’re in a perfect position to rescue Melissa Steiner.