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Chapter 27 - A Long Journey[]
6 November 2785
Bamburgh (Federated Suns)
The Star Lord Jumpship materialized at the Zenith Jump Point and released three Dictator and two Triumph Dropships which began their burn for the planet three days away. The Battered Brood had been a bane on human existence since 2766, when the 11th Hussar Regiment had declared for the rebels and managed to avoid being caught by the SLDF during the Periphery Campaign. After fifteen years of roaming the Periphery, they had settled in the Tortuga Dominions where they raided the Taurian Concordant and Federated Suns space at will. They had used their knowledge of SLDF resupply caches to maintain their equipment though they could not replace any equipment losses easily. They preferred to just conduct smash and grabs, avoiding battle when they could.
Colonel Albert Crapo, 2nd Garrison Brigade, was alerted to the arrival and ordered his troops recalled from any passes and raised their alert status to it's highest level. He didn't have any Aerospace Fighter support so the incoming would make it to the surface, but he still smiled an evil smile, they might make it to the surface, but they will not be leaving here. He entered his attached Mobile HQ and had the communication techs send a HPG message to Mackolla requesting the cavalry to respond.
The 2nd Garrison Brigade was based not far from the Capital of Penrose Town and the only space port on the planet.
14 October 2785
Mackolla (Federated Suns)
SLS Second Chance, Vigilant Corvette, made the jump towards Bamburgh a half day before SLS Bronco Buster, Star Lord Jumpship, had even taken on the first Dropship. The four Dictator Dropships and Titan Fighter Carrier Dropship were still 7 hours from docking for their jump. Major Vance Brown was in command of SLS Second Chance while Commodore Patricia Mitchell and Major Paulina Flores were occupied elsewhere. An experienced officer, he had fought in the war like all the others, first as an Aerospace Pilot and then as an officer aboard a Luxor Heavy Cruiser surviving it's destruction in the Battle of Terra. He had jumped at the chance to be in temporary command of SLS Second Chance.
10 November 2785
Bamburgh (Federated Suns)
The Battered Brood made their landings 35 kilometers from Penrose Town and began their movement towards the space port. Led by two companies of Zephyr Hover Tanks, the Battlemech Regiment rapidly covered the 35 kilometers. From camouflaged positions, the men and women of the 2nd Garrison Brigade waited silently. Colonel Crapo gave the order and his Battalion of Thumper Artillery began raining down a mixture of FASCAM and Cluster munitions on the advancing pirate force. As the shells began detonating, the Battered Brood sped up their advance, the medium Battlemechs outpacing the slower heavies. As they entered firing range, the leading Battlemechs were being tracked by the guns of a platoon of Demon Heavy Tanks, when the order to fire was given, eight medium Battlemechs were sent crashing to the ground from the massed Gauss Rifles of the Demon Regiment.
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Turhan Combat Vehicle
The Zephyr Hover Tanks tried a flanking movement only to find themselves being targeted by multiple Turhan APCs and their twin Large Lasers. Six rapidly were brought to a halt but not destroyed.
The commander of the Batter Brood ordered a withdraw but still managed to lose another six Battlemechs to FASCAM or Gauss Rifles before getting out of range. The loss of over a Company of Battlemechs was too much for whatever they might gain pushing the issue here. He had only targeted this area to avoid tangling with the Davion Light Guards which were operating around Frankson and Merowinger.
11 November 2785
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Vigilant Class Corvette, SLS Second Chance
SLS Second Chance, Vigilant Class Corvette, materialized at the Zenith Jump Point and began a hard burn for the Star Lord Jumpship. Major Vance Brown ordered his Aerospace fighters launched as he had the Star Lord hailed.
"Unidentified Star Lord Jumpship, this is SLS Second Chance. You are ordered to surrender and prepare to be boarded. We repeat, surrender and prepare to be boarded."
The Star Lord knew it had no choice and swiftly surrendered to the incoming warship which slowed just enough to launch a pair of shuttles carrying two platoons of Marines to secure the pirate Jumpship. It then continued towards the planet to intercept the launching pirate Dropships.