The massive quadruped Goliath'Mechs looked more like conventional tanks that had sprouted a leg at each corner of their boxy chassis. Their low, flat turrets swiveled side to side as though the muzzle of their PPCs spied out targets before blasting them into oblivion. Nearly twelve meters high, the 'Mechs stood a third again as tall as any of the light 'Mechs opposing them. Like a solid line of mechanized war elephants, the Goliaths,drove their fleeing enemies before them.
Andrew Redburn narrowed his eyes as he settled the targeting crosshairs for his Firestarter'stwin arm-mounted medium lasers. It was just like they said at Warriors Hall on New Syrtis. Every 'Mech had two flaws. One was the designer, who believes he's created an invincible machine, and the other was the pilot, who believes the designer."Archer and Demon Lances, let fly!"
The two Valkyrielances released their flights of LRMs while the other three Delta lances raced in beneath the missile umbrella. As the missiles arced overhead, ten ruby shafts of medium laser fire flashed forward like arrows at two of the Goliaths.The lasers slashed long, deep gashes in the giant 'Mechs' armor, and the incoming missiles gnawed at the holes like maggots feasting on an open wound.
The two rearmost Goliathsshuddered. Missiles blasted chunks of aft armor from the torsos of both 'Mechs in a fiery rain of debris, then Andrew saw explosions carry further into the Goliaths'hearts. Subsidiary explosions wracked both machines, and a flash of white light on Andrew's infrared display told him that the 'Mech on the right had lost some of the shielding surrounding its fusion engine.
The pilots of both 'Mechs, reacting to the assault from the rear, tried to turn their cumbersome machines to face the threat, but Delta company's initial attack had damaged them more seriously than they had realized. As the 'Mechs began to come about, their legs, no longer coordinated because of destroyed gyrostabilizers, splayed out, sending each machine crashing to the ground.
Redburn fought the earthquake-like tremor triggered by the 80-ton monsters slamming into the earth. Hope our luck holds and Stone can rally his forces."Move it, Delta. We're here."
Staying out of range, yet moving to make themselves difficult targets, the Valkyriesof Archer and Demon Lances concentrated their missile and laser fire on carefully chosen targets. Bullseye, Cat, and Fox Lances, consisting of light 'Mechs designed for close-in combat, streamed into the midst of the Liao force like a pack of wolves hunting caribou. Working in close concert, each lance picked out a target, then took it apart.
Fox Lance, led by Hugh de Payens in a Firestarter,attacked the first Goliathto complete the turn and engage Delta company head on. As Hugh closed, two of his three flamers bathed the large 'Mech in orange fire. The Goliathpilot cranked his PPC muzzle down, releasing a savage bolt of blue lighting that stabbed the left side of the Firestarter'schest. Armor peeled off like butter rolling up a knife, but it failed to fully breach the Firestarter'sarmor.
Hugh's lancemates swept in beneath the PPC's azure beam. The three ungainly, birdlike Jennersreleased flights of short-range missiles that spiraled out at their massive target. Brilliant explosions blossomed over the Goliath'storso, and two of the SRMs pierced the 'Mech's chest armor to sow havoc in its heart. Black smoke began to pour from the hole, indicating damage to the engine shielding.
The Jennersand both Firestartersof Fox Lance raked the Goliathwith relentless ruby beams of laser fire that shredded armor on the 'Mech's left legs. Through the ragged holes, Andrew saw the massive, corded myomer fibers that made up the artificial muscles driving the Goliath. One more barrage and that 'Mech is done for.
Andrew turned his attention to the Goliathjust forward of his position. It had begun to turn in an attempt to attack Delta company, but all it had managed to do was expose its left flank to Cat Lance. Without a second thought, Geoffrey St. Omer and his MechWarriors made the most of the opportunity.
The two humanoid Javelinslaunched two dozen SRMs at the ponderous Assault 'Mech. The missiles, augmented by another dozen SRMs from the lance's three Jenners,peppered the 'Mech's left flank and long legs. They spawned a fire-torrent whirling around the Goliath'sleft foreleg. As the twisting column of fire changed to dark, greasy smoke, it spat glowing, half-melted shards of ceramic armor to the frozen ground.
The Goliath'spilot fought valiantly to bring his machine around, but Cat Lance gave him no quarter. Even as the Goliath'sPPC muzzle tried to find a target, the Jennersfired their wing-mounted lasers. Like surgeons in a field hospital, they concentrated on the Goliath'sobvious injury.
Andrew dropped his targeting crosshairs onto the Goliath'sweakened forelimb. In concert with those of Cat Lance, his lasers stabbed out. The scarlet beams vaporized what little armor remained on the leg, then cut up into the Goliath'sshoulder. In a font of burning metal fragments, the joint melted and the left leg slipped. The Goliathtottered to the left, then the limb snapped off, spinning the 'Mech to the ground. The assault 'Mech tumbled back into half a somersault, crushing the cockpit, before it fell heavily onto its wounded flank.
Andrew pivoted his Firestarterto the left as a searing white fireball shot from the holes in another Goliath'sright flank. Andrew watched as the miniature sun of the Goliath'sfusion engine sent superheated plasma tendrils throughout the 'Mech's body. Looking like a DropShip blasting for the stars, the Goliath'sturret shot into the air on an argent jet, then exploded into a million smoking scraps.
Poor bastard. Never got out.Andrew felt a pang of sympathy for the Liao pilot, then glanced at the tactical display on his auxiliary monitor. FourGoliaths down and three badly hurt.
Suddenly, a spiral of oily smoke dissipated, giving Redburn a clear view of a Goliathin the middle of the Liao formation. Riding just above the stylized white castle marking the 'Mech as a member of Cochraine's Goliaths,Andrew thought he saw an insignia. He punched a command for magnification into his command console. The holographic display refocused closer, showing sunlight glinting off the bronze triangle boldly emblazoned on the 'Mech.
Typing hurriedly onto his command console's keypad, Andrew labeled the 'Mech's image with a digital ID tag, then sent the information out to his command. "Archer and Demon Lances, that's Colonel Fiona Cochraine. Hit that Goliathwith everything you've got!"
At his command, the two lances unleashed a hundred LRMs at the Liao commander's Goliath.Explosions saturated the 'Mech, flaying ribbons of ceramic armor from its surface. One flight wreathed the turret in flames, crumpling previously unmarred slabs of armor. The Goliathstaggered as the pilot fought against the detonation's Shockwave. Smoke poured from a hole in the 'Mech's chest.