AWF Chpt 77

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Chapter 77

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Raid on the Surface

Outskirts of Research AeroDome
Necromo System, Capellan Confederation
April, 3030

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Anastasia's Valkyrie stood next to the Phaidin. They were on the drop zone designated a kilometer south of the Necromo aerospace research and development facility. In front of Anastasia was a sparse forest with a trail leading up to a mountain pass. Among the trees and hills she could see the smoking remains of a defense tower that she had just helped her lancemates destroy. The breaks in the trees revealed a few sections of reinforced wall. Occasionally she caught a glimpse of her lancemates moving through the pass or jumping over a terrain feature.

Anastasia could see the battle unfold around her from her scanners and tactical display as she listened to the command net. Her lance mates were tracing their way through the mountain pass. The rest of the task force was engaging the enemy north of the Capellan R&D facility. She was nowhere near any of them.

After ten days of grueling rehearsals, a harrowing jump into a Pirate Jump point and days of flying on a cramped DropShip with a bunch of psychopaths and a coyote it all came to this. Anastasia was waiting in the drop zone while everyone else fought. Anastasia couldn't wait for the operation to be over. She tried to make the time go quicker by watching the combat on her tactical display and listening to the radio.

The radio crackled, <<"Hammer lance, I got an Archer and Rifleman setup on the ridgeline given us a lot mischief.">> Patrick said.

"Give me a grid or a sensor lock, and I'll make it feel like they got a bag hammers dropped on them." Fiona replied

"Wait one. Dullahan four, move forward into that draw and try to get a sensor lock on the Archer."

There was a nervous affirmative from Connor as Anastasia watched his Shadow Hawk's icon move forward and turn slightly to follow the terrain feature.

"This is Coyote 1, we're coming up on phase line gold and objective lion. Request artillery on the following lat/long. Target is a hardened military wall and 'mech gate." Hap said. Anastasia could see the quadrants flash across her system and a TRP showed up on her tactical display. According to the plan this should be the back gate for the compound.

Long Tom Artillery Piece combat vehicle

"Copy Coyote 1. I see TRP and target is hardened construction. Splash over." Luther, the commander of the Long Tom artillery gun crew. answered Hap. The raid had been rehearsed so many times Anastasia was certain that Hap could have just put the TRP up and the gun crew would have done the rest. There was a pause followed by a small trail of smoke from the north and then Anastasia could see the impact and the ground shook a little.

"Splash out, good contact, repeat" Hap said.

>>"Splash over."<< Luther said, and the process started again with the same trail of smoke followed by a ground shaking explosion.

"Splash out, good contact. Target destroyed. Coyote and Det 3 are crossing phase line-"

Rommel Main Battle Tank

"Oh shit, there's two Rommels back here." Joker yelled over the net.

"Luther, Same TRP, Adjust fire 100 meters north, tank in the open." Hap said. Anastasia wasn't surprised as she watched Hap's mech move to take cover, she could almost hear his PPC fire as she saw him skillfully moving his Griffin in her mind's eye. This wasn't rehearsed but everyone knew there would be some resistance at the rear of the compound.

<<"Two Rommel tanks?">> Kelly said, <<"Oh, Colonel Norton, yer intel had been golden till jest now.">>

<<"Honestly this is still some of the best intel we've had for any job, ever.">> Fletch said, <<"Most clients usually just give broad guesses and it's often laughably wrong." Fletch paused then added, "That recon lance is trying to skirt us and move around to the artillery section. Fiona get ready for some company.">>
thumb|Locust Light 'Mech in combat "I am starting to think Colonel has man on inside." Tatyana said.

>>"Something like that."<< Colonel Norton said. >>"What's important is you are all doing well and we're on the glide path for success. Keep focused."<<

"Guzzy, you see that Cicada on your sensors?" Willard asked, "Move your SRM Carrier down the hill and when he comes around you give him a wall of SRMs to run into."

<<"Dillon follow in your Dervish, that Locust is right behind the Cicada, and that gun crew may need a little breathing space.">> Fiona added.

Dervish Medium 'Mech jump jetting

Anastasia watched as a Dervish and SRM Carrier moved to intercept the Cappellan Cicada and Locust. The Cicada moved around the hill where the artillery lance and fire support vehicles were set up. It was destroyed almost instantly. Anastasia was certain it had met a "wall of SRMs". The Locust managed to score a few fits on the Dervish before it was also neutralized.

Anastasia sighed. She felt annoyed that she couldn't do more to contribute. She had left Selene with Mike and the other techs, and now she was wishing she could have been playing with her coyote. It was obvious she had nothing better to do.

<("Colonel we got marks coming from the north, looks like a squadron of TR-7 Thrushes. They're coming in real fast.")> Thomas said.

>>"They're a little behind schedule, looks like the gamble on pirate jump point is paying off."<< Colonel Norton answered, >>"Banshee flight need you to assist White Tails. Need these taken down quick before the next wave of aerospace fighters arrive."<<

Cicada Medium 'Mech

(("Affirmative Colonel.")) Kate said.

Anastasia adjusted her sensors to get a better look at the air picture. She had to zoom out her view and move it north and east before the red triangles representing the enemy fighters were revealed. She watched for a moment as the six fighters changed their formation and angle to engage the White Tails and Banshees.

The Thrushes were a very fast and lightly armed and armored aerospace fighter. According to the brief this would be the first wave of aerospace defense. They wouldn't be a challenge, but it meant the rest of the planet was now aware of the raid and were starting to organize a response.

Anastasia started to recenter her scanner and zoom back in on the local area when she noticed three red triangles to the south. They were several kilometers away so she tried to re-tune her long range sensors but all they could reveal at this range was three 50 ton Aerospace Fighters.

"Ops, be advised, I'm tracking three Aerospace Fighters approaching from the south." Anastasia watched the fighters move and tried to calculate how quickly they would be within range.

>>"Oh?"<< Colonel Norton said sarcastically.. He paused, >>"Coyote 2, you're correct.. I confirm three 50 ton fighters. Not sure where they're coming from. Banshee Squadron break contact with the Thrushes, and move toward Drop Zone Beta. I'll vector you in as you get closer."<<

(("Affirmative Colonel.")) Kate said.

>>"Subaltern Vallois, try to keep those fighters away from the DropShip, try bull fighting."<< Colonel Norton added. Anastasia could hear Hawkins talking in the background to his co-pilot, Sarah, about the Leopards defensive weapons.

"Sir?"

>>"I need you to 'bull fight'"< Colonel Norton said. >>"An aerospace fighter is going to strafe, and if you're paying attention you should be able to dodge them as they come at you. It's like they way a matador waves his cape at a bull and steps out of his way. Most aerospace pilots can't resist a 'mech in the open. Besides, if you don't do it, we might not have a way home."<<

Mk1 version of the Phoenix Hawk LAM in AirMech Mode

"Acknowledge, Sir." Anastasia replied as she moved her 'mech away from the DropShip. She scanned her topographic map looking for a terrain feature or something to help her. In spite of what the Colonel said, the likelihood of her surviving more than one strafing run seemed small. She could see nearby rock and hill formations that would provide her some cover and make it hard for an aerospace fighter to easily engage her. She'd still need to get their attention though, and then she'd have to survive until air support arrived.

Anastasia started to make a plan, and review her NAIS training. The colonel was right, a strafing aerospace fighter would create a 100 meter wide by several kilometer long avenue of destruction. They would hit anything in that avenue with all a hellacious barrage of lasers, but it was only in that narrow avenue. If she could wait till the fighter started its run and clear the avenue, there was a chance she could probably make it to the cliffs and rocks.

Corsair Medium Aerospace Fighter

Her scanners gave an alarm and Anastasia looked over as her displays showed her two CSR-V12 Corsairs and a Phoenix Hawk LAM. Anastasia looked long and hard at the sensor read out. She knew this had to be the same Phoenix Hawk LAM that had been in the ambush on Monehegan and she was almost certain it had been the lead 'mech for her lance back in Klathandu. On Klathandu this 'mech's pilot, Captain Shaffer, had ordered her other lance mates to abandon her. The Phoenix Hawk was too rare of a 'mech for this coincidence.

The two fighters and the LAM barrel rolled and formed up side by side. Anastasia realized they were going to do a side by side strafing run. This created a much wider avenue of destruction. She needed to move now to escape the strafing avenue. She had her 'mech nearly spin on the balls of its feet as she turned hard to the right and began to sprint.

The aerofighters flew close to the ground and Anastasia could feel the multiple laser blasts pounding into the ground burning vegetation and scorching rocks and earth. She saw the trio of fighters pull up and break formation. The Phoenix Hawk banked hard to line up another strafing run as the Corsairs continued to climb. Anastasia considered they were either trying to cut her off from cover, or they were going to dive bomb her.

Valkyrie Light 'Mech on the run

She touched off her jump jets to alter her Valkyrie's course. She made her 'mech zig-zag toward the rocky area. She jumped slightly to the right for 90 meters. As she turned her 'mech her firing computer confirmed a lock for her LRM. She confirmed it was on the Phoenix Hawk and fired as she turned her mech back to the left and jumped for another 60 meters. As she leapt one of the Corsairs dived and dropped two bombs.

The first bomb hit in the area she had just bounded from but the second bomb impacted as she jumped and the explosion destroyed the armor and part of the internal structure on her 'mech's left arm.

"Banshee flight, this is Coyote 2, I could really use some air support." Anastasia said.

(("Keep 'em distracted, Kitten, we're almost there.")) Kate said

"If you could down that Phoenix Hawk I'd be most appreciative." Anastasia said as she sprinted for the rocky outcropping.

<<"Need to prioritize the Corsairs, Coyote 2.">> Swanky said, <<"Those bombs are a bigger threat to the Leopard DropShip.">>

"Did Giggles just call the Professor 'Kitten'?" Joker asked.

Anastasia altered her mech's direction as the Phoenix Hawk descended on another strafing run. Anastasia realized too late she wasn't going to dodge the attack this time. She let out a surprised "oh!" as her 'mech's right arm, torso and center were struck by a barrage of laser bolts. She locked her missiles onto the LAM's afterburners and let a salvo fly as her laser melted armor off the nose of the LAM. She hurried to the cover of cliffs.

"Coyote 2 you need help? I can have Coyote 4 there as fast as Jenner will go."

>>"Belay that Coyote 1."<< Colonel Norton said. >>"Banshee flight has just closed with the new bandits. Continue Mission."<<

Anastasia saw a flashing light on her radio, and flipped her radio to the private channel she shared with Hap. "What's happening?" Hap asked

"Three fighters came from the south. I'm trying to keep them away from the leopard by making myself an attractive target. Which, once more, I'm finding catastrophic success."

"Well you are attractive and successful." Hap said. Anastasia could tell he was worried, but he was trying to hide it by flirting.

"You might be putting that on my gravestone." Anastasia glanced down at her sensors. The Phoenix Hawk and the Corsairs were circling back around but they seemed to be turning at different rates. She assumed they were going to try to attack all around her in a staggered pattern to prevent her from dodging again.

She turned to face the first Corsair that was coming toward her. It was trying to gain altitude to dive bomb her. She looked at her sensors and tried to calculate what the other two aerospace fighters were going to do while she lined up the shot. Before she could get the crosshairs lined up the aerospace fighter side exploded as lasers and missiles pounded into the wings and fuselage.

Stuka Heavy Fighter

Anastasia felt relief as two all white Stukas flew overhead. The damaged Corsair pulled hard away from the Stuka, but still had enough control to climb for higher atmosphere. Anastasia watched as the Stuka's pulled up in response. The large 100 ton Stuka seemed to almost float as it pursued the 50 ton fighter. They had no problem keeping pace with the smaller craft, but the Stukas were so large they seemed to moved with an illogical gravity defying indifference as they chased the smaller fighter.

Anastasia remembered she was still on the wrong side of the fighters. She glanced down to confirm the other Corsair was also gaining altitude in order to better engage the Stuka, she also saw the Phoenix Hawk was now barreling down on her. She jumped her mech up and over a rock formation and found another narrow spot in the rocks as the Phoenix Hawk went screaming by narrowly missing her as its lasers scorched rocks and burned vegetation.

"Well my fortune just changed. I'm still in a fight with a 'mech that out classes mine, but at least it's a one-on-one competition." Anastasia watched as the Phoenix Hawk dodged a few of the larger rocks and hills. The LAM pulled its nose up and started to rapidly climb. As it came out of the cliff area the LAM was struck by a LRMs as it barely dodged multiple large lasers.

"The LAM just took a broadside from the Leopard. Which is likely a mistake she won't make again."

"Think the LAM will transform and just attack you 'mech-to-'mech?" Hap asked.

"That's what I would do." Anastasia glanced down at her 'mech's system monitor. She had lost a lot of armor from her right side, and her left arm was hanging on by a few skeletal steel threads. Her targeting computer indicated the Phoenix Hawk had sustained similar damage, but it still was going to be a challenge. "The LAM is damaged, but I'm still outgunned."

"When the aeromech transforms you should get a free shot."

Anastasia studied her tactical display, "I'm not sure a free shot will be enough."

"I'm sending Mags, the Colonel will chew my ass, but this is stupid. Stay alive till she gets there."

"I'll certainly try." Anastasia could see the LAM was moving into position for another strafing run. It had taken a long turn to steer clear of the Leopard and kept low altitude to avoid the Stukas. Anastasia positioned herself near a low cliff and waited till the Phoenix Hawk LAM weaved into the canyon and started to strafe.

LAM in AirMech Mode

Anastasia used her jump jets to rocket to the top of a low cliff and then made a short hop to get to a higher point as the Phoenix Hawk jetted past her. As the LAM entered an opening in the canyon it took a hard turn and spun around as the legs dropped out of the Aerofighter fuselage and the wings half swept back to reveal the arms.

The LAM transformed into an air-mech hybrid. It took the form of an Aerospace Fighter with arms and legs, as illogical and absurd as it looked it was still effective. In this configuration it could hover around on its jump jets for long distances and bring all its weapons to bear on Anastasia.

Anastasia knew the LAM was an engineering marvel and represented some of the height of star league technology and ingenuity. She also knew it created a Battlemech and an aerospace fighter that were slightly inferior for their weight. Further, it required extensive training and production facilities to reap a few niche tactical advantages. It was in the category of "things engineers can do, but probably shouldn't". Still she hated to do what she was about to do.

Anastasia fully gunned her jump jets and sent her 'mech in a high arc right toward the LAM. The LAM pilot had just pulled a high-g turn and it would take her a moment to recover the ability for her blood to pump properly, and the mech's change in posture and configuration would also keep her distracted. Anastasia locked her 'mech's heels and brought them down on the long aerospace fighter nose and cockpit. The 35 ton Valkyrie struck the cockpit and drove the nose of the LAM down into the dirt.

There was a disconcerting crunch and Anastasia could feel the 'mech break under her. Anastasia's own 'mech was warning her of damage to the feet and she could see that her leg armor was now compromised. She also had to backpedal quickly to keep from falling over. After she regained her 'mech's balance and the dust settled she could see the LAM was kneeling awkwardly and its nose was bent resting on the ground. The Valkyrie's targeting systems confirmed the 'mech was no longer functional.

Anastasia kneeled her own mech down and tried to peer into the ruined LAM's cockpit. The aerofighter's canopy was too darkly tinted and badly cracked for her to know for sure. She quickly popped the quick egress hatch on her mech and disconnected her neuro helmet. She reached for her go-bag and grabbed the combat survival ax as she climbed out of her 'mech. Soon she was sprinting the short distance between the giant combat machines and in record time she had climbed up next to her former opponent's cockpit.

Anastasia could now see the pilot, and she thought she saw movement. Anastasia shoved the pry tip of the ax handle under the canopy's broken metal frame and tried to pry it open. Her initial efforts to muscle it open were ineffective, so she just stomped on the ax. There was the sound of crushed glass and then something metallic snapped and fell away and the glass canopy swung open.

With the ruined and tinted glass canopy gone Anastasia could finally confirm what she knew. "Shafer!" she shouted.

Shafer shook her head and seemed to be half awake. Drunkenly she reached for her side arm. As she pulled it out of her holster Anastasia smacked it out of her hand and sent it flying away.

"Why, Shafer, why?" Anastasia demanded as she pulled out her own laser pistol.

"God I hate you." Shafer said. "Why couldn't you just die." Even through the neurohelmet Anastasia could see the look of rage and hatred, "Are you going to shoot me now? Do it."

Anastasia shook her head, "No. I want to know everything, and I want ComStar to stop this."

Shafer snorted, "You think we're just going to sit here and have 'girl talk' and solve all your problems? Your DropShip is going to leave in a few minutes, with or without you. I'll waste your time if that's what you want."

Anastasia looked into the cockpit, she could see that Shafer had been banged around and one of her arms had a bad bruise, but there was no excessive blood and she didn't appear to have any broken bones. "No, you're coming with me?"

"Why in Blake's name would I do that?", Shafter questioned

"Because if you don't come with me, I'm going to leave you hear for the Capellans to find." Anastasia paused, "And I'm certain you'll eventually find yourself talking to Maskirova agents."

"I'm not afraid of them." Shafer replied. "I'm a ROM agent, I know how to resist torture and interrogation."

Anastasia put the barrel of her laser pistol into the women's neck, right under the neurohelmet, "Don't move" Anastasia warned as she felt around the woman's cooling vest and minimal clothing, she found a hidden pocket and pulled out a small blue vial. She noted it was similar to the one Colonel Norton had offered her. She threw it as far as she could away from the LAM.

She turned back to Shafer, "Alright you can come with me, and you'll probably be interrogated by AFFS and I'm sure we can all work out a way to stop ComStar from hounding me and threatening my family."

Shafer seemed to be looking to see where the suicide vial went. "Damn, you're so naïve. This won't work out the way you think it will. You should also know your MIIO and DMI can be just as ruthless or brutal as Maskirova."

"Well if it's all the same to you and I'll leave you for Maskirova to find." Anastasia replied. She could see the fear in Shafer's eyes now.

"What makes you think I won't kill you once you turn your back on me?"

Anastasia reached into a pouch on her tactical vest and pulled out several plastic disposable "zip-tie" style handcuffs. "I have enough of these to secure your wrists and ankles, and if you do manage to break free I'll just eject and you'll be maimed or killed in that process. Finally, given that this is at least your third failed attempt to kill me, I rather like my odds."

A Jenner 'mech came hurling over the rock wall and landed so hard it almost felt like it was crashing into the ground next to them. Anastasia nodded toward the Jenner. "Also my friend just arrived."

Shafer gave Anastasia another murderous look, but kept her hands visible as she slowly and deliberately removed her neurohelmet and climbed out of the cockpit. She kept her hands visible as Anastasia guided her to the Valkyrie.

Jenner Light 'Mech

Mags joined them at the base of the ladder to climb into the Valkyrie cockpit. She helped Anastasia properly secure and zip tie her prisoner. Anastasia was a little surprised how compliant Shafer was, but she figured she didn't have too many choices, and Mags generally had an air about her that she wouldn't hesitate to empty her sawed off shotgun into anyone that crossed her.

In a few minutes both the Jenner and the Valkyrie were headed back toward the DropShip. Mags had warned Anastasia they needed to hurry as Det 3 had nearly secured the objective before she sprinted back to find Anastasia.

As the Leopard DropShip came in sight Anastasia could see the Karnov VTOL speeding to DropShip with a large metal shipment container slung underneath it. The shipment container was 10 meters long and about 3 meters wide and 3 meters tall. She still couldn't guess what it was, but she knew it was something AFFS wanted quite badly.

The air picture indicated the Corsairs were destroyed and the Banshees had moved back to help the White Tails with another wave of Capellan fighters. Anastasia glanced over her shoulder to see Shafer looking quietly enraged at her situation.

"Ops, this is Coyote 2. I have a prisoner. I request prisoner reception once we arrive."

Karnov UV transport VTOL in flight

<<"You have a what?">> The Colonel demanded

"I captured the Phoenix Hawk LAM pilot. I believe she is ROM agent and I want to-"

<<"You bring her to me once you arrive.">> The Colonel seemed angry.

Shafer leaned to get closer to Anastasia and said, "I'll warn you again, this isn't going to end the way you think it will."

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