The Beginning
What you are about the read is the chronicles of Red Cell. The abandoned unit in which Alexander Kerensky left to die after the retaking of the pentagon worlds. Suspected of being a rebel unit Red Cell was rejected a chance to join Kerensky’s dream of the united clans. In response Red Cell called upon the clan council for a Trial Of Refusal. But instead Red Cell was refused even that chance. Red Cell was labeled Dezgra before the chance even to prove themselves was even thought of. But in an effort to remove the so called "cancers" of the clans newly formed Society from everything associated with the Innersphere, Red Cell was sent as shock troops for even the Free Birth unit Wolf’s Dragoons. True Borns under the orders of Free Births! A true sign of the expendability of rejected souls to a military war machine, in the eyes of our so called savior.
Boo: You call this, this.... JUSTICE! I would venture to say this was a death sentence!
IlKhan Kerensky: Those of DEZGRA! Speak of JUSTICE!?! HA! Those with no honor will be treated with no honor. You have been given your orders to aid Jamie Wolf and Natasha Kerensky.
Boo: We have NO Honor?! Jamie and Natasha are free birth what have you say to that.!
IlKhan Kerensky: You are Dezgra there is no reason to give you an answer to what is not your responsibility.
Boo: Maybe Clan Wolverine is right. Independence from this hell, dreamt up by a madman, hmmmmm, yes, maybe it is the right way to go.
IlKhan Kerensky: Well like all cancer, it spreads to cells that were once productive, but then twist them and then destroy them for its survival in the host. In due time all of this cancer will be removed.
Boo: KISS MY LILLY WHITE IRISH…….
IlKhan Kerensky: Your drop ship, leaves in 0600 hours, Be ready to leave!
-Last known plea before Red Cell’s Ejection from clan society-
Treachery
***Warship Direwolf in orbit of Butt Hold***
"Come in Red Cell, your kinda fuzzy! Captain we lost contact!"
"Suits me fine, how bout you Natasha?"
"Oh no problems here Jamie, unless I break a nail pressing the button for the ok of the jump out system."
"Awwwwww, that’s ok I will do it for you then."
Meanwhile on Butt Hold....
"INCOMING! Watch your ass Warlord those Long Toms are getting more accurate!"
"Well at least they don’t have Arrow IV’s yet!"
"Warship Direwolf come in, this is Galaxy Commander Boo, we need that back up, requesting immediate reinforcements! We got arty flying everywhere down here, they knew we were coming!"
"DAMNIT! Boo sensors say that a ship just jumped out system! That must be our Great friend’s Wolf’s Dragoons!"
"Oh great just what we needed. Those damn free births and that 5 alarm fuck-up Alexander Kerensky. Can’t wait to see him again. Warlord what’s there estimated strength here?"
"A Reinforced Mech Battalion and an artillery section. Did I mention a regiment of infantry?"
"Hmmmmm," Tapping her fingers on the console, "we can take those 4 lances now. We got three times the strength, the artillery section has to go right now though before they fortify a city, and the infantry there, that’s a bad combo."
"Roger that. Delta Trinary, head for the arty section, Alpha and Beta Trinaries reinforce our Keshik Trinary and lets head off those mechs!"
Then a series of affirmatives streamed through the com-link waves, like a rushing river. Only that later to be known less then half of those voices will be rejoicing after the burning of the capital city and defeat of Red Jack Ryan, on the battered dropship as they left.
-Excerpt from the battle roms of Galaxy Commander Boo on Butt Hold-
Ready ForWar
This was to be the first of many battles Red Cell fought at Dire consequences to achieve in order to gain there freedom as well as survival. But Red Cell had no idea what the heights that cost would reach until the campaign "Operation Discover" set forth by Nicholas Kerensky, Alexander’s successor after his death, for the Explorer Corps.
Unwittingly Red Cell stumbled upon a planet with an unnaturally high inhabitable rate. With no readings from the dropships sensors of anything other then plant and animal life they landed. Soon the unit was back to full operational health. Well... as good as it is going to get for the Keshik Command Trinary of Red Cell with enough spare parts that they were better using can openers on any mechs they may encounter. Three months into this peaceful environment the can openers were to be used. The Explorer Corps were found on the southern hemisphere. While mapping Red Cell scouts found a small camp. There was a science team a few light trucks and a few squads of infantry but that was it. Taking the chance, the scouts torched the camp and all the rest of the team. On further reports there was a outpost that was found. The bad news? Those scouts, had alerted the only garrison unit on the planet into action to build up a fortified base and was actively seeking Red Cells blood. More bad news. The Garrison was a special task force with all-new equipment that was only recently developed, and only rumors were floating of what they could be. The New Omnimechs made by the Diamond Sharks and the new Elemental armor developed by Clan Coyote.
***3:30, Continent of Pacifica, Helix Forest***
"Aff commander, executing sensor sweep now."
"Good, Alpha, Beta stars, continue your sweep ahead, Epsilon Command Star will maintain sensor operations here. No more then 1 kilometer distance between stars, we need to watch our backs out here."
"On our way commander."
Now Red Cell was on the move. The Explorer Corps have been identified, and their base of operations found. Now Red Cell was ready to begin to exact its revenge. All that was left was to wait, it was just a numbers game now.
"Commander! I just saw something jet by!"
"What was it?"
"Not a mech, but not infantry... I don’t Think!?!"
"You think? Its your job to know! Our whole mission could be compromised now."
"Commander they are heading your direction and fast!"
"GRRRRrrrrrr... Times like this I wish I had a stiff drink. Alpha, Beta converge on this nav point, what ever it is out there I want backup. Its time to move in."
Minutes into the sprint the unknowns are encountered.
"What the hell is this!?!"
"Well commander it appears to be our little pest problem."
"I figured that, quite the smart ass are we not Kellion, quiaff?"
"Damn, you didn’t hire for the entertainment? I am hur... OH CHRIST! DROP THE GROUND BOO!"
Seconds later Boo finds her mech grounded from the push of the neighboring Timberwolf in which Kellion piloted. From what little she could see, Boo saw the hail of srm fire that was meant for her, and beyond the rest of the star jetting of the way and conducting evasive manuevers
"Get a lock on that Warlord!"
"There is nothing to lock commander! These... things don’t appear on radar!"
"ECM suites?"
"Neg, the sensors are not being jammed."
"Well ain’t that a bitch," Boo jets to her feet, "WELL! Get to it troopers, we got midgets to fry!"
Moments later the unknowns came clear out in open and engaged the star. Almost constant laser and machine gun fire could be seen streaming from the muzzles of the troopers below, hitting any target that was convenient.
"Warlord, what’s the count on those little things?"
"Total count? 25 Total."
"OH-NO BOO! I know what these things are now!"
"Nice of you to bring this up now Gimlet!"
"These must be some of those new Battle Armor that Clan Coyote just perfected. I got the files right here. Let me see... they are called... Elementals, they all have small lasers, single shot srm’s and machine guns, and some pretty damn good jump jets!"
"Warlord, what’s the count on them now!"
"Welp... hmmmmm... let me see."? Then a stream of Ultra AC is heard,"18, 17, 16... About 15 now!"
"DAMNIT!!!" Then three of the elementals jetted onto Boos torso. Then proceeding to rip off shard after shard of armor and blasted the internals with their lasers. Molted metal drip like water from the mechs wounds and oozed out of the rest of the cracked armor on the torso.
"AHHHHHHHH! GIMMY GET’EM OFF ME!!" Then the elementals steadily worked their way up. One reaching the view screen.
"HURRY!" Boo flailed her mech’s arms about to shake off the assailants, but to no avail. The Elemental threw its fist straight through the view screen
.
"GET THE HELL OFF ME DAMNIT!"
Unholstering a laser pistol, Boo exhausted round after round until the energy clip emptied. The elemental held on for one brief second and gazed into Boo’s eyes. In that second she could tell these were no robots but the next wave of genetically altered super troopers developed by the clans.
"Status!"
"Not too good Boo, the elementals nailed my gyro good, Kellion’s leg actuators are frozen up in the left leg, Gimlet lost an arm and has severe damage to the torso. Roper’s sensors are gone and his jump jet exhaust ports have been destroyed, he has no use of jets."
"Well Warlord, I have no view screen, and the sensors are screwed. Plus my torso has taken numerous internal afflictions. From what I can see the rest of our damage is all armor."
"Boo…."
"But other then that we should be fine when Alpha and Beta stars get here."
"Boo…."
"Then we can finish these lame excuses for warriors off."
"Boo…."
"Damnit! I was on a roll Warlord! What’s the problem?"
"Its the radar….. Boo we have to move now!"
"What is it!"
"They are some kind of new mechs, the computer can’t ID them. But they read to be a 100 tons each from the seismic sensors."
"ALPHA, BETA! MOVE YOUR ASS’S WE GOT INCOMING!"
"There’s five of them to the North East. All are identical."
"Well lets go meet our friends…."
"Commander this is Alpha star, ETA 7 minutes, Beta star in 10."
"That’s too long. Move to engage Epsilon!"
"Boo, there moving into a diamond formation, and weapons are powering up."
The Stone Rhinos were ready for a fight and are dead set on destroying the command star. Without them they would have time to get reinforcements or possibly destroy the rest of the unit easily. After clearing some trees, they opened up on the star in blaze of red, green, and blur lasers blast searing through the sky. The first hits melted away armor on Kellion’s left leg, and his already damage torso, piercing the internal structure.
"Oh yeah….. sure…. Pick on the cripple!"
Then the lead Rhino took careful aim……. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, Three 250 pound Ball Bearings, came speeding in, Dead straight on Kellion’s Torso. The shells slammed into the torso and ripped right through the engine and out the back of the mech. The mech stopped, lurched forward…. Stumbled then collapsed to the ground. The Lead rhino as if sensing Boo’s next move, jets out of the way the freshly launched Lrm’s, Hitting an unprepared slow moving Rhino in the back of the diamond. Knocking it to its knees. The other three identified Boo as the leader, and proceeded to lock on……
"Boo its time to get out of here…. We are no match, were damaged, out tonned, and I don’t even know if Kellion’s alive."
"ETA on that Backup!"
"2 Minutes commander!"
Boo through the mech into overdrive and began her assault. Series of small pulse laser peppered a near by rhino, melting armor plate after armor plate away. Under the barrage the Stone Rhino jetted back, landed softly on its feet, then the familiar sounds of the triple ‘thump’, and the sight of the rifle shells. Two of which missed, the last hitting the Timbers Wolves arm. The Shell slammed into the arm and bounced off, shattering armor plating all over the place, in some areas entire plates popped off. Knocking Boo off balance again. Just enough to avoid three other shots from the lead Stone Rhino.
"We got this commander, back off!"
"NO! I WON’T LET YOU GO ALONE," struggling to her feet, falling once, and then finally jetting to a stand, "I AM IN THIS LIKE YOU ARE!"
Three of the five Stone Rhinos are now found creeping up behind a dense stand of trees, While the other two are found at the flanks of the command star causing a diversion. However, Warlord picked up on the plan.
"Commander get out of here! NOW! THATS AN ORDER!"
He moves closer to Boo.
"DO NOT TELL ME WHAT TO DO……."
"For give me Boo, but it has to be done."
Aiming point blank at her left leg, blasting laser after laser until the leg snapped at the knee. Now off balance, the Timberwolf fell to its side, sliding into a tree.
"I won’t let you kill yourself"
At this point Roper and Gimlet had manage to eliminate the flanking Stone Rhinos. Now the final three came charging out of the trees directly towards Boo and Warlords position.
"Damnit! Move it Gim they are charging us!"
"ARGHHHHHhhhhhhhh…….."
The far right Stone Rhino had impaled gimlets mech with one of the arm mounted Rifles.
"Ejecting….. EJECTING!!!!!!!"
"ETA 15 seconds Commander"
Dropping Gimlets mech to the ground, the Stone Rhinos locked onto the falling mech in which, Boo, used to be able to pilot…..
"Damnit hold them off Roper! I am Moving to engage!"
Too late….. at ten seconds warlord’s run turned into a sprint and he tripped on a tree stump. At nine the Rifles powered up. Eight, Warlord’s mech continued at dangerous lurch forward. Seven, the power levels reached their pennicles and the shells were loaded. Six, the shell entered the chamber. Five, the power of the magnetic build up is now put to use to propel the shell forward. Four, Warlord stumbles three more steps, and regains a balance beginning to raise he mech again. Three, the thumps are heard from the Stone Rhinos as the shells fly through the air. Two, 5 of the 9 shells hit. A horrible twisting screeching metallic sound is heard. Then the exit of the first shell from the back of Warhawk’s head. One, two of the four left enter knocking the Warhawk, fully up right and standing, also ripping through the back torso due to the close range. Another grazing the right shoulder, the final ripping through the leg. Zero, the mech fell to its knees in almost execution style position, then as if its soul finally leaving, the engine’s core let lose. The shielding broke and then the nuclear explosion. Eighty-five tons of scrap litter the ground.
"Holy shit Commander….. Alpha, Beta, lets send these bastards to HELL!"
The Stone Rhinos were easily overwhelmed afterwards. The Barrage Alpha and Beta let off, lit the night sky like it was daylight. Boo was freed from her Timberwolf, Gimlet was found a few hundred yards away. Later that night, Kellion was found wandering around with a srm launcher on his shoulder and Laser rifle strapped around his back looking for any other Explorer corps.
Joe Mayville’s Body was never found. A memorial service was held however and after the fires died out, what was left of his mech was buried instead. The world was now theirs and the only city was now their next destination. When they arrived they received a gracious welcome for ridding the explorer corps from their planet. In honor of Joe Mayville, the planet was to be known as Mayville’s World and exchange for protection, the inhabitants allowed Red Cell to govern the planet.
"Standing in front of a roomful of people, I didn’t know what quite to say. All I could tell was three old friends on some long, lost summer day.
So your memory is all I have left now, these words are all I can give and from time to time, I’ll turn back in my mind to the place where you’ll always live"
-Boo’s reflection, of the days events at the dedication party to Red Cell-
A New Beginning
Now Red Cell was safe. Safe from the clans, safe from the innersphere, safe from intruders. Now Red Cell is beginning is resurrection as unit, not scraps of a broken Galaxy. The own fully supported Red Cell’s cause, and helped to rebuild the unit by anywhere from mech repair to providing the workers and resources for the construction of a military base.
Red Cell was now firmly established on the northern continent of Astartes, which was cut in half by the Helix forest from west to east. The north containing the port city of Fuchsia. The south containing a sprawling landscape.
Under the Helix forest was the primary focus of the workers. From there underground facilities were being installed, factories and storage space was to made here for the protection of this sought after equipment. Above ground the other workers were building up the barracks some defensive turrets and a repair bay for mechs and vehicles.
Slowly the town changed to a growing metropolis. New towns began to pop and in time, Mayville began to industrialize. In time a massive undertaking was started to complete Fuchsia’s spaceport, along with a new fighter base.
The Good Years
The Population steadily rose and all three of Mayville’s continents were sparsely populated and construction of space platforms in orbit was undergone in this period of time to produce a Jumpship much needed by Red Cell.
Red Cell also found itself in a predicament. All the resources spent to rebuild Red Cell came from the inhabitants. Khan Boo, decided that it was time to pay the people back for their hospitality. The need for c-bills was apparent, and living off the population did not sit well with Red Cell. However, there was no source of income that Red Cell could get for two reasons: One, There was no other populated worlds for a long distance that was worth trading with. Two the clans was the life blood of Red Cell, there was no problem with equipment and resource. Mercenary work seemed to be the only way to go.
From Clan To Merc
In orbit around outreach, Red Cell’s newly built Jumpship is found docked at a space station. Soon Boo and the rest of Keshik are busy with the numerous forms and paper work needed to be filled out in order to register. Three hours later, Boo, had earned the unit a B+ rating. Now recruits were needed to fill the ranks of those who were lost. But many were suspicious of the new unit. The prime equipment, unknown origin, and Wolf’s Dragoons denial of Red Cell being within the ranks of the clans at all. Being a trusted and respected unit most believe them, about that mythical fact. The news spread like wild fire.
One would think, that the word of mouth of a new unit was good, free advertising, right? Instead one after another the employers looked down upon the questionable loyalty of Red Cell. Still Red Cell pushed through the suspicion and continued to look for recruits. They came however, slowly trickling in, filling the ranks. Now, there was another problem. There was more qualified recruits then available space. Although, the unit had a perfect chance to expand, but it would be at cost of time and money. To expand would mean that another star of mechs would be needed to be brought back to OutReach. That only brought Red Cell closer to Hire.
2:45am in orbit of Fire Mandrill fringe worlds...
"My Khan, all is quiet on the Mandrill front. The light Cruiser Fire Spirt has apparently finished mining and returned to the asteroid belt and there is also other warship signatures reported to be in that area too."
"I believe they are bluffing, how many signatures did you detect again?"
"17, including their flagship."
"Against our 15... I still think they are bluffing out there. Send a fight detachment out there. I want to know whats there."
"Yes my khan." turning to the comlink, "Phoenix! Get out there with an aerolance and scout the asteroids!"
"Proceeding Galaxy Commander!"
After a half hour of scouting, all that was found was numerous sensor devices to fool warship sensor sweeps. The cruiser had jumped out system to escape, sensing the battle was already lost. Within six hours, Red Cell captured the two target planets. The rest of the fleet except for four warships jumped out system. They were on their way to Ghost Legion.
12:30pm Front Lines of Ghost Legion Space...
When the Red Cell flagship and the cruisers arrived in system a bloddy battle ensued. Ghost Legion forces were engaging a crippled Red Cell jumpship and its fighter support.
"DA get them fighters out of there! Were going in!"
As the battle roms showed, the Red Cell Jumpship jumped right into a preparing assualt force ready to jump for Phoenix space.
While trying to escape, the engine was damage and the KF drive was destroyed. In the hopes of stalling for reinforcements, the fighters were luanched to hold off the warship, with little effect, however. But the fighter wing was being chewed apart by Kraken missile Launchers and Auto Cannon fire.
By the time the Flagship, "Mayville" and the rest of the fleet arrived, the Heavy Cruiser was moderatly damaged and the fighter wing under half strength.
The Crusier was defeated with little effort, and another planet fell too Red Cell.
Red Cell found itself with too much to lose now with saying merc. While it may be less strian on the unit, the huge amount of territory Red Cell was able to colonize, enabled them to boost their current position and expand their space.
With that, Red Cell was elevated to an equel of the other houses and clans alike, while still being a neutral to both. The Inner Sphere interpreted them as a threat, to the clans, a key factor in the Inner Sphere's ability to route the clans. The war has begun and the borders have been fortified. The clans had invaded, were halted, and began again ever stronger then before.
Boo: "Sooooooo...... Khan ward must be really pissed by now."
Gimlet: "Yeah, I'm sure, not only did we survive the ambush, but we took one of his planets and lived this long."
Boo: "Not only that, but we scared off his Ice Hellions and Steel Vipers without a fight. Even left Fire Mandrill with a bloody nose before they left."
Gimlet: "But we did do it at a cost of......"
Boo: "YES, and it wasn't a price I was willing to pay. We lost half the unit, and Warlord. But without them we would have been destroyed. I wish I could have saved them, but IlKhan Ward will pay for that in blood. The final solution is now retribution."
Gimlet: "So you mean Ghost Legion gets to live a little longer until we kill the clans?"
Boo: "WHAT! HELL NO! (smiling maliciously) The Ghost Legion's ruins will pave our path to the clans that we will crush."
Gimlet: (with a smile)"WAITER!! MORE BEER AND PIZZA FOR OUR KHAN!!"
Clan Phoenix Territory, in orbit of Huntress, 11:03am
"Break right! Break right!" Another barrage of lrms flys past Punisher."Damn this planet! I can't see where they at."
"Oh Shit!"
Punishers mech is knocked flailing to the ground. Another volley of lrm peppers his mech.
"Boo head for Nav Beta, I'll catch up to there!"
"Aff, but hurry up I don't know whee they'll strike next."
5 minutes later Punisher comes into view of Nav Beta.
"I'm here Boo, I'm looking pretty bad here, I'm lucky I made it."
"Well lets go, we need to get out of here."
"On my Waaaaaaay.....!"
At that moment another series of lrms rocked the mech. It fell to its knees and Punisher ejected. The mech sat still for a brief second, then exploded like a grenade, shards of metal and equipment were blasted everywhere.
"PUN!"
Another mech jets in from the right, lasers and ac streaming all the way.
"Shit"
Pushing her mech into overdrive and torso twisting to meet the enemy, spraying ac fire into the ground and air. Then the auto-ejection system sent Boo flying into the air, and the dead carcuss of a destroyed Timber Wolf litters the ground.
"Damn this planet."
"Aff GTX, Heading to Nav Beta."
"Kell, watch the door, I am going to the computer core and check it out."
Sprinting through the twisting tunnels of the maze GTX finds his way to the computer core.
Meanwhile....
"Would you look at this place Pun!"Opening her arms up wide, taking in the whole cavern"Its huge! I'm surprised at its size."
"Well believe it, and were stuck here."
"You hear that?"
"We got company! We need someplace to hide."
"Over there behind that rock!"
Meanwhile at the Cavern entrance......
"Bingo!" GTX looks around"Kell! I found the core, proceeding to download data."
"Well hurry up, its too quite out here."
"Aff"
Back to the rock.....
"A TimberWolf, you think it saw us?"Boo hefts a srm launcher
"Dunno, u see the emblem on the mech?"
"no...."
"Be right back!" and Punisher darted off towards the mech.
"PUN!" Boo said in a loud whisper "Damn him!"
"Well son of a gun!" Pun quickly scaled the mech, onto its head and spread eagle on the cockpit."Hiya GTX!!!"
"WHAT THE HELL!!" The mech lurched suddenly, accidently firing a ppc into the wall. "PUN! What is your problem!?! Get in the mech."
With a big smile "How ya doing GTX!"
"Welcome aboard. If your here wheres Boo?"
"Shes just outside behind a rock."
The mech turned to find Boo with the Heavy Srm launcher pointed at the cockpit.
"WHOAH! Chill Boo with the Srm launcher its GTX. Besides, get up here I am finished downloading the core."
"Thought you were going my way!" she said with a smile.
"Kell I got the core."
"Hurry up man, I still haven't seen them!"
"And Guess who I found."
"Well it wasn't Clan Phoenix, your still alive."
"Say Hi guys."
"Hiya Kell!"
"Whats up dudesy!"
"Greetings. Ok you guys done partying?"
"Ok, I am on my way."
Five minutes pass by and the long range sensors pick up two mechs. A light and a Heavy.
"We got incoming."
"Ok I'm here lets move out."
The Warhammer and the Timberwolf lurch into a sprint and head for nav gamma. The four vollies of Lrm slam into the side of the Warhammer. The visibility was bad and no one could get a lock on their attackers. The Warhammer stumbled and and turned, firing racks of Lrm 20's and laser fire.
"GTX keep moving, I'll hold them off."
"KELL!"
"NO, Boo go! Get the hell out of here!"
Another volley of Lrms slammed into the Warhammer completely shattering the arm and breaching the armor. The Warhammer continued its sprint towards the drop zone. Then the Warhammer stopped as if it sensed its impending destruction. It lowerd its self to one knee and leaned forward. The pursuing mechs launched another deadly barrage. Kellion slapped the ejection button, sending him arching through the air like an artillery shell towards the drop zone. He then used the jet boosters to further propell him. Having used all the fuel, the landing was rough. He slammed into the dropship and bounced off and landed on the ground, just as GTX was too board the dropship. GTX turned picked up the pod and jetted aboard, while the watchful guns of the drop ship kept the pursuers at bay. They then lifted off to the Warship Mayville.
"There you have it people of Mayville! You have defeated Kerensky's Clans! We rose from the ashes, we were attacked by the clans, did we fall? Did we backdown? Did we let Kerensky win? HELL NO! We fought back, and we whooped their ass's! I asked you for Blood, Brains, and Body Bags, and what did you do!?! You Brought me back Salvage to boot! I am honored to be your leader, and to be the one to stop kerensky's Clans from destroying my people, and destroying my family Red Cell!"
Boo Shuffles into the command bridge with her pair of bunny eared slippers, still zipping up her jumpsuit and adjusting her belt and holster, containing a laser pistol.
Still looking at the incoming reports, Roper is visibly fatigued and his movements are slow.
Good morning Boo, sorry to have you wake up this early."
"Roper, its 3:30 in the morning, whats so important?"
"Well it looks to be CLan Phoenix and Clan Dragon Wind forces are currently mass producing warships, and at this rate in two months they will each have navies in which could rival ours."
"Oh, is that all? I'm going back to bed"
"Well, no it isn't, there is a third unknown clan."
"What!"
"And nobody has an idea who it is. Clan Phoenix and Dragon Wind have already been moving forces from our borders to reinforce the front"
"Well get on it, it must be something big to have them spooked that bad to leave our borders unprotected."
"Aff, I'll get right on it."
"Good, you do that." and she shuffles off.
A small troop carrier comes into long range sensors. As it comes close it looks more and more visibly batterd. Punishers voice comes through the mic.
"I got a positive on the unknowns. Unfortunately the got me too. I was getting ready to ambush CP here, when they attacked. They call them selves House Ronin. And well it just so happens, me, oogiwawa and Luckshire got to be friends really quick. All three of us lost to just two of their pilots. We're lucky we made it to the dropship and got out."
"Well that confirms it, dock on bay five."
"Aff, on my way."
"So, what are we going to do?"
"The Khan will decide."
she frowns "which means execution doesn't it?"
"No idea Luck, I just follow orders. You don't have to like it, you just have to do it."
"Thats what I'm afraid of, this is war and I'm the enemy."
"No luck, your not the enemy, your a servant of the enemy. A distinct difference. Your just like me, just on the other side of the spectrum. Come, lets see Khan Boo."
"Welcome aboard the Flagship Mayville, fellow CP's."
"Hail Khan BooBoo of Red Cell, its a honor to meet you, although I wish it was on friendlier terms."
"Oh but your wrong, we are on friendly terms."
"So we are not going to be executed?"
"HELL NO! I I wanted you dead, I would have already done it. It just so happens, I already contacted your Khan and you will be returned when convienent."
With a sigh of relief."We are honored again, thankyou for the hospitality."
"My pleasure," winks "can't kill all their good pilots, need someone who is a challenge."
"Honored yet again, your Khanship, hello Roper."
"Hiya Luck, they didn't beat you up to bad did they?"
"The ride was bumby, thats it."
Then the center wall to the rear of the bridge, a door slides open. Kellion steps in, snaps a salute to Boo and Roper and bows to the rest.
"Greetings my Khan, I have came as you wished."
"Good, right on time, Kell you and the Kell Hounds suit up and get ready to leave form docking bay 7, your going pirate hunting."
"Aff."
"Nice to see you again Kell." She says with a smile.
"Hiya Luck, sems like you are a little out of place ain't ya?"
"Just a little...."
"Ok, Scratch that Kellion, were going to the Phoenix border. Luckshire, your flagship is under attack."
Surprised "What! By who?!?"
"By House Ronin."
"Phoenix! Get your AeroGalaxy out there!"
As the Warship Mayville homed in, fighters streamed from all of the 32 fighter bays along the sides and belly of the ship, engaging the Ronin fighters. However Ronin did not run. The fighters fought back and the Ronin Warships fired back not caring who they hit.
Weapons fire poured from the Warship Mayville. Ripping a hole through the bridge of one ship then severing it in half. A nearby Jumpships liquid helium tanks were hit causing the ship to super nova.
Then as the Heavy Naval PPC's slowly swung towards the last ship, it jumped out system, just before the deadly weapons fired, narrowly escaping.
Afterwards, realizing the greater threat, the Khans had a unspoken agreement, that Ronin will be a great task to overtake. The CP Flagship was escorted back to its spcae and LuckShire and Oogiwawa said their goodbyes and where shuttled back to thier ship. The Flagship Mayville jumped out system on a course for home.
"Capture"
Eazy LZ
The world McCaffarry was next on Red Cell's list. Although it was a strategic staging area for further assaults on Red Cell, it was currently under-defended.
The flagship Mayville approached along with a light cruiser escort. A drop point was mapped out and the operation began. It was very quiet and an unchallenged drop. The situation was obviously a trap and Red Cell was the target.
The Hunt
Red Cell proceeded slowly, calculating every step of the terrain, expecting an attack any moment. The idea that this resource rich would be devoid of garrison units was a foreign, not to mention that it would be stupid to leave this world open. There mustn't be a chance for Red Cell to be ambushed, slow and watching, the galaxy moved. On a long shot Khan BooBoo decided to cut through a narrow canyon. The light and medium mechs moved with ease while the Heavies brushed the rock and the Assaults out-right and to cut through the rock with laser fire.
The path taken slowly rose up into a wide flat area and the path leading to a forest stand over looking the valley below. To the keshik's surprise, they stood about a klick out from countless numbers of Naga Artillery omnimechs, with their missile bays open and ready for attack. Khan Boo called forth her few mechs that had inferno srm's. The missiles arched through the air, and exploding into a fiery gel that just swarmed and wrapped around trees, mechs and whatever else was in the way. Several large explosions marked the direct hits causing immediate ammo explosions. The whole forest was ablaze, burning, searing. The shear heat of the flame set off the ammo inside the unscaved mechs. The galaxy was defeated in with 24 infernos in 15 minutes
Within 10 minutes, a galaxy of second line mechs came charging, weapons blazing. The hail of fire started and scattered the troops in front that took the brunt of the attack. Weapons fire slammed into the mechs, a short lived attack. Red Cell rallied and hit back with ferocity. But the Phoenix galaxy pressed on, splitting the Keshik from the main galaxy. A cluster swarmed the Keshik in hopes of severing the head of the assault team. The battle field was in chaos, weapons fire no longer needed targets, they flew, menacing anything in their path.
Within the clashing galaxies, there was little to no room to maneuver. Boo found herself jumping from the center of the conflict towards the outer circle. Mid-jump her leg was severed by AC fire, the jumping mech spun off, crashing to the ground. After several long minutes, Boo found conciseness. She unstrapped the couch restraints and pulled out her laser rifle from the back of the cockpit. She hoped out and made her way to a small stand of trees near by to wait out the fight. Reaching the trees, she found a place to hide and watch. The battle continued most of the invaders had been crushed and very few Red Cell mechs were down.
However, she wouldn't see the end of the fight.
"FWAP!!" she landed with a thud. Numbing then blackness. Then the elementals carried her off into the forest.
"Death Angel, wheres Boo?"
A long chain of AC fire, "Dunno, finish them off and we'll trace her mech."
5 minutes later Red Cell was on the lookout and the far off sight of a dropship is seen. Sprinting, the galaxy moved to engage. The elementals were carrying Boo off. At even that moment, a green, battle-damaged cluster of 2nd line mechs commenced a combat drop out of the 4 main bays of the dropship and surged forward. The dropship hovered above the ground, presently about 75 feet high. The elementals sailed into the air towards a open bay. They landed on the bay door and walked inside, the dropships massive doors closed and burned towards the waiting jumpship on the other side of the planet out of reach of the warships. The Phoenix forces were crushed, but at the price of their Khan.