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Chapter 91 - What Could Go Wrong[]
7 April 3042
Inner End (Federated Commonwealth)
It was just past 3am local time and Adept Leon Hernandez slowly moved across low cut grass near one of the large barracks buildings. He moved slow to allow his suits systems to adjust to the different shadows and lighting conditions. A slight noise caused him to pause any movements except to move slightly closer to the wall. He watched one of the small roving patrols come around the corner and pause near a T intersection of the paved over sized sidewalk. If they went right, they would walk right past him. One lit a cigarette and the patrol kept moving down the sidewalk after the pause. Not very professional, he thought.
He had no sooner thought it than the patrol stopped and one bent down. He was examining something on the sidewalk, his head slowly moving left and right. The other three in the patrol unshouldered their weapons, the cigarette was quickly extinguished. The one kneeling pulled a small handheld radio and brought it up to his mouth. Something moved slightly nearby, a shimmer, and then flashes as the shimmer fired on the patrol. There was a short cry of anguish from one of the patrol before everything was silent again.
"Patrol down. They spotted some muddy footprints on the sidewalk. They did not make the call." The shimmer moved back into the deeper shadows to continue its own particular mission. Adept Hernandez also returned to his own mission. Reaching the door to the darkened barracks, he cautiously turned the handle and slipped inside. He paused and saw a large board identifying the inhabitants of the building and their room number. How nice of them, he thought as his eyes locked on some of the names.
Mitchell, LTC, RM 400
Pullman, SGM, RM 401
Caldwell, MSG, RM 402
Davis, SGT, RM 403
He keyed his encrypted radio "Got the prime targets at my target. Back me up."
It only took a few minutes before the rest of his squad linked up with him. Nodding, they slowly began moving deeper into the building passing through what could only be called a plush day room. Finally reaching a pair of elevators. He pushed the up button on both elevators. Just as the elevator doors opened, so did one of the exterior doors. The entire team pressed up against the walls. A pair of soldiers entered, talking in normal voices. "Can you believe we ate dinner with the First Prince? Man, that was awesome." "It's not like we sat at his table." "Close enough, only four tables away. I almost lost it when he burst out laughing."
Adept Leon Hernandez could clearly hear them. First Prince Hanse Davion was here, what kind of cursed luck do we have., he thought. Both men moved even closer. "Hey, what the hell is that. Shit, they are back!!!" The lead soldier did not even unsling his weapon, just snatched a grenade off his utility belt, pulled the pin and tossed it. The second it left his hand, a burst of fire literally cut him and his startled partner in half as a Needler Rifle cut loose at close range. The grenade landed almost at his feet and detonated. The explosion tossed the stunned Adept Hernandez down the hallway. As he slowly returned to his senses, he could hear alarms blaring across the compound. Several grenades exploded outside the barracks building.
"It's those invisible ****** again. Grenade them and shoot them in the face at close range. It's the only thing that works." He heard someone say. Automatic rifle fire started firing all across the compound, most shooting at shadows. He now had his senses fully back and started to get up. His eyes focused on the elevator doors, which had closed but were coming back down. He never heard the door behind him open up and something slammed into him from behind. "HOLY SHIT!!! HES RIGHT HERE!!!!" He had barely turned when the soldier emptied his rifle into his suit at point blank range. While the armor prevented any penetration, the sheer velocity of the close-range shots threw him off balance. He staggered back just as the elevator doors opened and a full squad filled the hallway. One tripped over one of the downed but still slightly "invisible" agents and put the muzzle of his rifle to the helmet and pulled the trigger.
Adept Leon Hernandez returned his focus to the soldier now before him who was reloading his rifle. He pointed his Needler at him and pulled the trigger, the rounds chewed into the soldier. The squad in the hallway heard the Needler and opened fire from 3 meters away. He felt the massed fire slamming into his suit, its systems trying valiantly to adjust to the rapidly adjusting shades and surrounding colors as he was staggered by the volume of fire. Something hit his foot and then he saw darkness.
A large explosion blew out a large section of one of the warehouse/barracks killing 31 and injuring 48. Another large explosion blew another landing leg from the Lion Dropship causing it to crumple and roll to its side. The newest Infantry troops had no clue what they were facing and took 42 dead and 27 wounded during the furious fire fights that spread across the compound. Those from Alpha and Bravo Companies seemed to grow grenades and used them with abandon when they managed to locate one of the intruders.
First Prince Hanse Davion and his Battlemechs of the Davion Heavy Guards stalked the Space Port and surrounding area in an attempt to find and destroy the invaders. He halted his Battlemaster and blinked hard, something was parting the waist high grass, like a boat left a wake in a lake. He aimed his PPC and fired. he called out "They have sneak suits or something like it on. I think I got one. Heading for the tree line." He turned his head slightly "You okay back there, Quintus?"
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BattleMaster Assault 'Mech
Sitting in the small fold out seat and firmly strapped in, Quintus Allard replied "Dammit Hanse, I don't have a cooling suit on. You trying to get out of paying off your debt by cooking me alive?"