The Path Back, a Battletech story

[Mabberton]

July 28, 3026 – MechBay, Dropship Hysteria, Lyreton

Wil stood in the mechbay across from his Centurion watching as Yang’s mechtechs completed their survey of the damage. I am never going to hear the end of this, he thought resignedly. As he heard footsteps approach him from behind, he prepared for the worst.

A hand dropped down on his shoulder, Miguel sighed dramatically and spoke, “Doesn’t look like they’ll be able to salvage the autocannon from the arm, does it?”

“Yang doesn’t think so.”

“Don’t worry, Wil. Could’ve happened to any of us. Those Locusts are tricky customers.”

Wil dropped his head down and tried to soothe the oncoming headache by rubbing his temples. “You can be replaced you know.”

August 1, 3026 – Commander’s Quarters, Dropship Hysteria, Outbound from Lyreton

Wil was adjusting the picture on the wall of his cabin when a knock came from the door. “Enter,” he responded.

The hatch opened to reveal Muskrat standing the doorway with her chess set under her arm. She saw the painting on the wall over Wil’s shoulder and asked, “So what are the chances of you finding an actual painting of your family mech in a bar on Lyreton? Did you ask the barkeep where it came from?”

Wil stepped back from the picture, then turned to face Kat, “He bought it locally in a pawn shop. Wanted to cater to the mechjock crowd. The pawnbroker didn’t have any more idea who the seller was. He bought it with a batch of other items.”

“And you’re sure it’s the painting from your parent’s estate?”

“I know it’s crazy, but I walked by that painting a million times growing up. It’s the same one. And that’s my brother in front. He trained on that old Blackjack before I did. Before he joined up in the LCAF that is.”

“Was he with your folks on the Juniper?”

“Huh? No. Alfred died before we left Loric. His regiment was involved in the fighting to retake Coventry in ’06, and he died fighting the Free Worlds raiders. That was the final straw for Dad. I think he started to make plans to move out to the Periphery almost as soon as he got the news. Within a year we were on our way, and we settled on Fronc in ’08.”

Wil grew quiet as he wrestled with conflicting feelings on his youth. Finally, Muskrat spoke again.

“Do you want to postpone your chess lesson for today?”

“No. No, let’s get set up. It will be good to focus on something else for a while.”

 

[Mabberton]

August 20, 3026 – Badlands, Kimi

“Commander, I gotta say, I’m not 100% comfortable with this mission,” Glitch called over the radio as the Roughnecks’ sensor began to pick up enemy contacts, “I mean, pirates sure and even government troops, they’re all fine as targets, but a holo-vid star?”

“Well, just between you and me, I sort of agree with you, but a job is a job, right?”

“Yes, sir,” replied Glitch, but she did not sound convinced.

“Visual contact, two Strikers,” called out Peanut Butter as she let fly with a bolt of man-made lighting from her Panther’s right arm at a Striker light combat vehicle. The bolt missed, and the Striker and its twin both launched long-range missiles at Wil’s Centurion. Wil shrugged off the missile impacts and launched his own LRMs and an autocannon round back at the second Striker. The vehicle blew apart from the salvo. Glitch’s Vindicator and Behemoth’s Shadowhawk combined fire to dispatch the first Striker, even as two mechs climbed over the ridge in front of the Roughnecks.

The Spider and Firestarter tried to split left and right to flank the Roughnecks, both singling out Wil’s Centurion as their target. Glitch and Behemoth both split fire at the two enemy mechs in an effort to throw off their pilot's rhythm and slow them down. Peanut Butter added fire to the Spider, snapping off its right arm, and Wil sent out a salvo at the Firestarter.

The Firestarter sprinted in fast enough to let loose with all its weapons at Wil’s mech, but Wil was able to dodge the worst of the flamers heat. Focused fire and punches from the Roughneck medium mechs quickly knocked the Firestarter to the ground and destroyed its left chest and right leg, while Peanut Butter fired at the enemy Spider coring out the light mech’s chest. Glitch finished off the Firestarter as Brock Armstrong’s Hunchback drew into range.

The Roughnecks connected with hit after hit on the actor’s mech until finally it fell to the ground from a brace of SRM’s from Peanut Butter’s Panther. In a tribute to the actor’s mechwarrior skills, the Hunchback bounded back to its feet and took off at a run, even as Darius called out a warning that a dropship was on its way to extract the Hunchback.

Watching the retreating mech, Glitch deadpanned, “Well, that never happens on the show.”

“Well don’t everyone just stand there, after him,” ordered Wil, but Armstrong was some sort of demon pilot. He dodged and weaved the Hunchback as he retreated. The Vindicator and Panther were out of position and too slow to make up ground. Wil’s Centurion had been closer to the Hunchback’s line of retreat, but even he was having a tough time maintaining distance and firing. Only Behemoth's Shadowhawk had the speed to keep up with the retreating mech, but in the end it wasn’t enough. Armstrong made an impressive hop onto the ramp of the hovering Leopard, which immediately boosted for orbit.

“Wonder if they’ll make that into an episode?”

Wil shook his head at Glitch’s remark, but truthfully, he didn’t really mind that Armstrong got away. The Roughnecks should earn a good faith payout from taking out the escorts, so not a total loss. And in the end, it was a pretty good show.

August 24, 3026 – Dropship Hysteria, Outbound to Nadir Drop Point, Kimi System

The comm rang in Wil’s cabin as he went over the pending end-of-the-month financial report. “Yes?”

Darius’ voice over the comm circuit sounded worried, very worried, “Commander, you might want to get up here. We just got some troubling news in the daily upload.”

“Understood, on my way.”

---

A few moments later, Wil entered the command deck of the Argo. “Well, what have you got?”

“We uploaded a news batch from a recently arrived jumpship. They blasted out an “All Ships” message in the clear. The Davions have launched something called Operation Galahad. They say it’s a defensive deployment exercise.”

“I am guessing there’s a but coming.”

“Yessir, the AFFS has mobilized 10 mech regiments and over a hundred armor and infantry regiments and sent them into the Capellan and Draconis Marchs. Nobody sends that many troops for a damn exercise.”

“As if I can’t guess, but what have the Capellans and the Dracs done in response?”

“According to the news drop, the CCAF and the DCMS are on high alert and initiating callups of their reserves.”

“What about Davion reserves, any word of a general callup there?”

“No information in the news drop either way, but considering where we are now, we’re pulling news mostly from Capellan sources.”

“Well, not much we can do about it at the moment. We’re headed for Weldry at the moment, away from Capellan space. Our plan has been to head across Restoration territory towards Smithon to rendezvous with Kamea in early November, so I think we stick to that plan. Hopefully by the time we’re done there, we’ll know if there is still an Inner Sphere or not.

 

[Mabberton]

September 8, 3026 – Highway 83, 8 km outside Hudson, Weldry

Sumire approached Wil as he looked out over the battlefield. The remains of two Directorate light mech lances lay strewn across the highway. Their timing had been bad, and they hit the Roughnecks separately. If all nine mechs had arrived as the same time, things might have gone differently. But lucky for us they weren’t able to link up. Let us pick them apart separately. I guess we would have won anyways, but they could have shot up the convoy otherwise. Or us. Wil turned as Sumire walked up beside him.

“What’s the word, Sumire?”

“Yang just reported in. The salvage party is finishing up now, and we should be ready to lift within an hour or so. He also said his initial estimate was correct. We should be able to complete at least three mechs out of the scraps. A Spider and two Commandos, one 1B and one 2D.”

“Excellent. We should be able to sell the Spider here on Weldry before we head out to the jump point. We should have weapons and equipment in inventory to fit out the Commandos. Looks like Miguel and Witness have rides again."

October 19, 3026 – Pirate Manufacturing Facility, Mechdur

“Hey ‘Dusa, you don’t seem very happy to be back home.”

“Well, ‘Hemoth, it’s not like I grew up around here, y’know. I was born on one of the lunar colonies. I didn’t exactly walk barefoot through the grass too often growing up. In fact, this much green makes me twitchy.”

“Alright you two, let’s keep the comms quiet, we’ll be at this factory complex in 20 minutes or so.”

The Roughnecks marched the rest of the way to the target in quiet. Witness stayed in the lead in his Commando 1B with his eyes on the sensor readouts until contacts started to appear.

“Contacts, skipper. Two lights, and two vehicles. Best guess on the mechs is a Panther and Jenner. The vehicles are less clear. One tank, and one wheeled, most likely,” called out Witness.

“How the hell does he get all that at this range. All I got are big generic blipson the scope.”

“Just gotta know how to tickle out the details, Behemoth. I can show you sometime, if you like.”

“Doesn’t matter how he knows. Let’s get ready. Assuming Witness is right, concentrate on the Panther first. I want the PPC out of the fight first.”

The two sides closed the distance into weapons range, and the fight proper started. Witness slid out wide right while the rest of the Roughnecks focused on the Panther. It dropped to the ground before it even got a hit in; then Witness streaked in before it could stand up to surgically remove its right arm and PPC. The Panther rose shakily up on its legs, but Wil’s autocannon tracked up the light mech’s left side and removed most of the left torso and the left leg. The Panther dropped back to the ground and did not get up again. Meanwhile, Medusa and Behemoth reduced the Jenner to nothing more than a one-legged pogo stick. With a final punch from the Shadowhawk, the Jenner also dropped to the ground and stayed silent.

Showing more nerve than common sense, the Galleon light tank and the Striker attacked next. Wil destroyed the tank with one salvo of autocannon and missile fire, and Witness was able to put the finishing touch on the Striker vehicle.

As the Roughnecks regrouped and marched up to the factory, Darius called out that the pirate lance out on patrol was returning as anticipated. Apparently angry that the Roughnecks had taken the facility while they were away, the mixed pirate lance rushed in and were picked apart quickly. Two more Strikers, a Spider, and a Locust joined their brethren in the dust.

----

“Witness, your performance today was everything I expected based on Miguel’s praise. Nice job, particularly on the spotting. Always nice to know what’s coming over the hill.”

“Thanks, Sir. Don’t know what it is, but I’ve just always been good with reading the sensors. Tonnages and movement patterns and such.”

“Well, hopefully it will rub off on the others a bit.”

October 20, 3026 – Grasslands, Mechdur

“Well, Darius, looks like we’re going to be able to sell the Commando 1B already. Barely got the new paint scratched.”

“Yes, Commander. Even with all the pounding that pirate Shadowhawk took, Yang was still able to salvage enough to Frankenstein us up a new mech. Behemoth and Peanut Butter will have matching 2H’s now.”

“Yang says it will be ready just in time for Smithon. The Directorate has to be getting its feet back under it at least a little. I’m worried this is going to be a tough fight.”

“Well, we’ll know in a couple weeks, right?”

“Yes, we will.”

 

[stnylan]

Just read through this at one sitting. I especially like how you've woven the main story into sone of the side missions.

 

[Mabberton]

November 8, 3026 – Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, Blain Township High School, Smithon

“Behemoth, you better eject. Even pulled all the way back there, those bastards are still focusing on you!” Wil ordered over the comms. Behemoth’s Shadowhawk was missing its right arm already, and the armor was more holes than protection at this point.

“I think I can hold on, Sir.” The voice on the other end of the comm seemed groggy.

“I can cover you Behemoth, go ahead and eject,” yelled Glitch from the top of another leap, courtesy of her Vindicator's glowing jump jets.

“You’re not in much better shape, Glitch. Pull back for cover! And Behemoth, eject now!”

Glitch called out again, “Behemoth, I got ya cover..<schrrrrttchhh>.” A bright light bloomed in Wil’s rear-facing monitor.

Wil jumped at a touch on his shoulder. Coming awake slowly, he realized that someone must have placed a blanket around him at some point. The school the MASH unit had commandeered still had power and air conditioning, and the corridor was cool in his light mech gear. Shifting upright, Wil could feel the dried blood on his cooling vest pull away from his chest and arms.

“Commander?” Sumire offered a hand to help him sit up on the bench where he had fallen asleep. “I brought you a change of clothes from the ship,” she offered quietly, “Is there any word?”

“The Docs said the worst danger is past. Miranda’s been out since she got here, but they want her to rest and awaken on her own. Could be soon, or it could take a while.” Wil paused a moment to rub his face. His eyes were probably as red as Sumire’s as he looked up again. “I wanted to wait here until she woke up. To tell her about Jess.” Sumire’s eyes started to mist over at the mention of Glitch’s name.

“I understand, sir. I am sure she’ll prefer to hear it firsthand from you, rather than someone else,” she finished awkwardly.

I’m not so sure of that, thought Wil, but he asked “How are things back at the ammo dump? I’m sorry I left you to organize the cleanup. I wanted to be in the medevac with Glitch in case she…” What? Recovered? Woke up? Wil’s couldn’t decide how finish and just let his voice fall off.

“No problem, Sir. I understand. Everyone does. PB got her ‘Hawk loaded on the Hysteria and your Centurion as well. Yang and some Restoration techs got Behemoth’s Shadowhawk loaded up, and now they’re combing the wreckage for salvage. Thought there would be some good pieces. Yang went on and on about it, but I think he’s just trying not to focus on Glitch’s death.”

Despite already having lived through it, hearing Sumire speak it out loud hit Wil hard. Harder than he expected. Closing his eyes, he leaned back against the cold corridor wall.

Standing up finally, Wil looked at Sumire and held out a hand. “Thanks for the clothes, Sumire. I need to get changed before Miranda wakes up. Don’t want her first sight to be me looking like this.”

November 9, 3026 – Command Deck, Dropship Argo, Orbit, Smithon

“We’re all set for Glitch’s service tomorrow morning. Alex confirmed that the Restoration can make the final arrangements to ship her remains back to her family on Hobson.” Darius spoke softly to the small command crew in attendance. “Kamea also arranged a shuttle to get Behemoth back up to the ship.”

“No,” spoke Wil, “We’ll pick Behemoth up on the way back from that straggler mission this morning.”

“Commander, why don’t we give the crew a break. Alexander said our participation in the wrap-up was optional. I think we’d be better off settling things down a bit, take a break until the Newgrange arrives on its next run.”

“No, we’ll take the mission. Combat team is Witness, Muskrat, Medusa, and me. I’ve already given them the head’s up. Forward the briefing to the team. Hysteria drops in 2 hours.”

Darius appeared somewhere between shaken and concerned with the coldness in Wil’s voice, but he continued with his report anyways, “Final item on the agenda is for you, Yang.”

“Our salvage from the ammo dump will allow us to put a FS9-H and a JR7-D on line. Per your orders, Commander, we’ll shop the Jenner around to the Restoration folks and keep the Firestarter ourselves.”

“Sell the 2D Commando as well. Miguel will take the Firestarter from now on. Unless there’s anything else important, I am going to prep for the mission.”

Noone replied as Wil turned and strode out the hatch.

----

As Wil let the heat sinks catch up with the temperature in the Centurion, he looked across the battlefield. The fight should have been more difficult. The Roughnecks had been outmassed almost 2 to 1, but the Directorate stragglers had been in poor shape from the beginning and trapped on a hilltop with nowhere to go. The only Directorate mech left functional was a ravaged Wolverine. The mech was down on its knees, its right arm and autocannon lost over cliff behind it. Its other weapons appeared off-line, as the mech hadn’t fired while the Roughnecks finished off its last lance mate. It just remained in place with the stump of its left arm raised up as high as it could go.

“What do you think he’s trying to do, Commander?” Muskrat’s voice broke into the silence in Wil’s cockpit.

“I don’t care,” replied Wil and triggered a final autocannon round into the Wolverine, sending it tumbling back over the edge.

November 10, 3026 – Command Deck, Dropship Argo, Orbit, Smithon

Wil approached Alexander Madiera’s workspace on the Command Deck, “Alex, why are the Roughnecks off the mop-up mission available force list?”

Alex looked up from the reports on his desk, and scrutinized Wil a moment before responding, “Officially, you off the list to be on alert in case the Newgrange arrives early.”

“And unofficially?”

Alex paused again before speaking, “Unofficially, Kamea is concerned about reports from your mission yesterday. A recon flight caught some of fighting, and some concern was raised about how …, shall we say thoroughly, the opposition was dispatched. Kamea does not want any appearance of reprisals being taken over the Directorate stragglers. Especially from such a high-profile outfit as the Roughnecks.”

“So, she doesn’t trust us, eh?”

“I think it more accurate to say that she is concerned about you, and your people.”

Wil choked back an angry retort, while Alexander continued, “Commander Steinitz, please. Take a well-deserved rest. Make repairs. Heal up. There are still substantial Directorate forces on Anvelt. Ambushing the Newgrange will be a tough mission. Kamea still trusts you, I assure you.”

Torn between arguing his case further and recognizing a hint of truth in Mediera’s words, Wil turned on his heel and left the Command Deck behind.

 

[stnylan]

Hard to argue with Kaumea. Will is pushing himself eight up to the limit, and perhaps right past it