Despite the damage taken in the ambush, the Death Commandos continued to push their way up the hill toward Yare Industries. They've stripped off their medium 'Mechs to tie us up while most of their heavies head toward the target. I don't want to, but I'll have to commit my reserves.Andrew punched a button on his command console. "Now, Craon, bring Gorgon, Hellion, and Jackal lances in. We have to stop them now!"
Craon led the three Kathil Militia lances out from hiding to cut across the Liao line of march. Gorgon lance, composed of four UrbanMechs,fired their autocannons in unison on the Ostsolleading the Liao advance. Armor exploded from the 'Mech's torso, blasted away by twin sprays of depleted uranium projectiles. One hail of shells ripped off the Ostsol'sright arm, half twisting the heavy 'Mech around with the ferocity of the attack. The fourth 'Mech's fire blasted armor from the Ostsol'sleft leg, yet the Ostsoldid not go down, despite heavy damage.
The Ostsolconcentrated its return fire on one of the UrbanMechs.Two large laser beams shot from the Ostsol'schest, impaling the smaller 'Mech. Armor evaporated under the laser's hellish caress, then internal structures, half-melted, exploded outward in a gout of black smoke. The smaller 'Mech staggered back, sagging into a building, more of its guts running in molten streams down its torso than actually remained in place.
Hellion lance, a matched quartet of Javelins,launched flights of SRMs at the Liao Marauderfollowing the Ostsol.Half the missiles corkscrewing in on their target blossomed into fiery clouds of napalm that covered and clung to the Marauderlike a burning skin. The other missiles exploded after impact, ripping away chunks of the 'Mech's armored flesh, but they neither hurt nor slowed the birdlike 'Mech.
Andrew's mouth went dry. They mixed their SRM loads . . . they're carrying inferno rockets! Are they crazy? That's like strapping plastique to yourself.Even as the thought came to him, Andrew found himself grimly pleased with their action. At least they hit the right 'Mech—damnedMarauders run hot anyway. . .
The Marauderpilot had already picked out his targets and fired both PPCs before he knew what he was facing. The blue fire from his right claw hit one Jennerdead-center, stripping the armor from its chest as though it were a paper label. That Jennerstaggered, but remained upright. The other PPC bolt flayed the armor from its target's left flank, spinning the second Jenneraway and into a small house.
The heat buildup from firing both PPCs and the inferno rockets ignited the autocannon ammo stored in the Marauder. Aseries of explosions bulged the armor on the 'Mech's left side, then burst outward in a jet of silver flame. The blast spun the Marauderaround, tossing it through a building like a ragdoll. Its flaming corpse ignited yet another fire in Yare's corporate township.
Jackal lance moved its four Commandosup to block the roadway, but the next Liao 'Mech scornfully ignored their threat. Heedless of the damage done as their SRM volleys peppered its hide, the hunched-over Cataphractraced forward, battering the two central Commandosaside and bursting free of the Davion lines. Behind it followed an entire heavy lance.
Craon stepped his Hunchbackinto the breach and let fly with the shoulder-mounted autocannon. The heavy gun vomited a stream of metal that blasted armor from the Cataphract'sleft leg, but failed to cripple or stop the 'Mech's headlong charge. Swatting the Hunchbackaside, the Cataphractcontinued its race to the top of the hill. The blow crushed the Hunchback'scockpit.
"No! Robert!" A burning rushed up from Andrew's stomach to his throat as he saw the Hunchbackcrumple. He raised both of the Marauder'sarms, directing them toward the Cataphract'sback, but the Liao 'Mech slipped over the horizon before the computer would give him a lock.
Andrew slapped a button on his command console, opening a channel to all Davion defenders. "They're through our lines. Move it if you're able and harass them. They can't get to the plant! Morgan, do you copy?"
Andrew looked up as four strobing explosions lit the horizon. For half a second, he thought the Cataphracthad managed to destroy the generating station, but then he saw the 'Mech appear again at the top of the hill. Staggering backward, then twisting around like a drunken sailor, the Cataphractcareened down the street it had conquered just moments before. As it rolled down the hill, bits and pieces of it littered the ground behind. Finally, the 'Mech came to rest against Craon's Hunchback.
Over the open radio channel, a militiaman's hushed voice filled Andrew's neurohelmet. "Whatever the hell it was that did that, I hope it's on our side."
40
Kathil
Capellan March, Federated Suns
7 September 3029
Curtains of oily smoke twisted and parted enough to let the flames glint from the 'Mech's skullface. The tall, broad-shouldered Battle-Mech looked to Andrew for all the world like the Grim Reaper himself had ascended from Hell to gather souls.
The autocannon muzzle over the Atlas'sright hip swiveled down, targeting an advancing Liao Warhammer.Flame flashed from the gun as it sent a sizzling stream of metal at its victim. The projectiles tracked up the 'Mech's right arm like a tailor slicing open a seam. The armor protecting the Warhammer'sarm dropped away in a tattered ribbon.
The Liao Warhammertriggered both its PPCs. Twin azure bolts raked their needle-sharp tendrils over the Atlas'sbroad chest, clawing away sheets of ceramic armor. One bolt lingered for half a second on a spot over the Atlas'sheart, exploiting a weakness. The giant 'Mech staggered, but never even came close to toppling.
Andrew smiled openly. "Thank God you showed up, Morgan. Hellion lance, flame that WarhammerDemon and Archer lances, walk your LRMs down the main street. Cat lance, if you're done, get down here. Gorgon, Jackal, Fox, and Bullseye, targets of opportunity! This ends now!"
Andrew marched his Marauderforward. A Liao Centurion,fire trailing from the muzzle of its right-arm autocannon, reeled beneath the impact of an SRM volley. It staggered right into Andrew's sights, so he dropped the crosshairs onto it, flashing the PPC in his right arm to life. The blue particle beam stabbed deep into the 'Mech's right elbow, vaporizing the last of the protective armor, then melted the joint. The pilot, suddenly aware of Andrew's Marauder,lurched his 'Mech off into a sidestreet.
As ordered, Demon and Archer lances launched volley after volley of LRMs onto the main street, concentrating on the knot of Liao 'Mechs toward the middle. A birdlike Catapultsent two LRM volleys arcing back toward its tormentors, but that did nothing to squelch the long-range fire. In fact, the next barrage wreathed the Catapultin fire, crushing its armor and dropping it to the ground.