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Post by Captain Adam "Gunman" Wolf on Nov 5, 2004 1:07:59 GMT -5
I switch the comm over to Spectre channel through my neuro-helmet, figuring I might as well use it since I won't be taking my hands off the primary controls during combat. I then activate the comm and contact the other units of Spectre lance.
Spectre Lance, this is Spectre-1, acknowledge you are ready for hot drop and fall into formation behind Castle Lance, we will drop 2.5 km north of their position, about a minute and a half later depending on how hard they push the old Thorin.
After waiting for a moment Spectre Lance began to report in.
Spectre-1 this is Spectre-2 ready for hotdrop sir, falling into formation now.Hearing the russle of an airsick bag and a slight heave before the comm went off I shake my head a bit and think What a time to get sick... I hope he can pull it together, we're gonna need him.
Tthis is Spectre-4. Ready for Hot-drop. Time to party.
After waiting a little longer I key the comm again.
Roger that Spectre-2, Spectre-4. .... Where is Spectre-3, Spectre-3 do you read me? Corporal Azovino, do you read me? Damn it Corporal respond.
Frustrated at a lack of response from Corporal Shea Azovino, I remembered his trouble from earlier and relaxed a little, hoping he was alright and would get to the 'mech bay on time. Quickly checking my 'mech's status to ensure the jump pods were functional and the cardo drop pod was ready for the Corporal's Elemental during the drop.
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Post by MechWarrior Murphy on Nov 5, 2004 3:15:59 GMT -5
Spectre-1 this is Spectre-2 ready for hotdrop sir, falling into formation now.
I finish up with my airsick bag then stashed it. Running through my 4th system check I begin to feel slightly better. Adrenaline and anticipation pushing aside the nausea and irritation of TDS.
Tthis is Spectre-4. Ready for Hot-drop. Time to party.
Roger that Spectre-2, Spectre-4. .... Where is Spectre-3, Spectre-3 do you read me? Corporal Azovino, do you read me? Damn it Corporal respond.
At leaste I'm not the only one having problems.
I sit waiting in position for the word to walk my normally non-jumping 'Mech into the abyss. I check my Jump Bosster for the 5th time and then the rest of the systems. Untill I am fully recovered from the hyperspace jump I never trust myself. I turn my comm of breifly.
"And Shepherds we shall be. For thee, my Lord, for thee. Power hath descended forth from Thy hand Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands. So we shall flow a river forth to Thee And teeming with souls shall it ever be. In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti."
I turn my comm back on and wait.
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Post by Lieutenant Victor Eisenfaust on Nov 5, 2004 7:32:52 GMT -5
As Victor listened to the comm chatter, he could only wince. Spectre lance was having a hard time with their last member, and it could hurt the mission. Victor thought for a moment, and toggled the comm.
Fortune favors the bold...guess I should through in my two kroner...
Castle-1, this is Castle-4. May make a suggestion, over?
This is Castle-1. Go ahead Castle-4, but make it brief. Castle-1, over.
Sir. Castle-4 recommends that if not all elements of Spectre lance are ready for drop in time, we switch to Clan-style organization. Use Rogue lance to bring Castle and Spector lances up to five elements each. Rouge-1 would join Castle star, while Rogue-2 and Rogue-3 would join Spectre star. It would keep similiar machines together without compromising our inital entry plan. Castle-4, over.
Victor looked over the activity in the bay and waited for the Captain's reply.
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Post by Holms Net on Nov 5, 2004 10:37:02 GMT -5
Of course. The day they shut down my internet, a whole lot of posts occur. So, lets just say I got some gear, and am now in my Raven. I'll pick up my talking from right before Sarg. Eisanfaust is talking to Captain Maxwell. I've already said that that was a good idea. But it's been about 5 minutes since then
"Castle-4, this is Castle-2. Come in.
Castle-2, this is Castle-4.
I've been thinking about that plan. Perhaps we should have Captain Maxwell approve it. Because it kind of sounds like it may be less stealthy than we could be. Remember, we have to do this without getting any unneeded attention. I would contact him myself, but I'm still going over a few things with these Raven's controls. I don't want to end up hitting the wrong thing. I usually piloted a modified Raven, meaning different controls. Oh, wait, I guess I should stop talking. I'm just making unneeded chatter.
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Nov 5, 2004 11:38:27 GMT -5
As the first rays of the morning sun began to stream from below the horizon, a sliver of silver-grey lanced out from above the clouds. Rapidly increasing in size and velocity, the shape raced toward the treeline, eventually coming into form as a sleek, zeppelin-shaped dropship which screamed past just above the tops of the tropical overgrowth, tearing leaves and branches from their trunks in its wake. Intense blue-white cones of fire exploded from the dropship's engine ports as it ripped toward its waypoints, and the 46,000-ton vessel showed no signs of slowing as its drop doors slid open and the elements of Castle lance were positioned above the opening in the ship's hull in preparation for their drop, suspended above the racing landscape by drop cranes which held fast to the jump pods augmented to the waists of the BattleMechs.
Inside the belly of the beast, I sat in the darkened cockpit of my Stalker, watching the ground race by and going over a few final checklists before the drop took place. My ancient BattleMech had stood up remarkably well - nearly three centuries old, it had seen little combat following the Exodus, having been stored in a forgotten ComStar bunker for nearly two hundred years before being re-discovered by a motley band of scavengers, who had attempted to sell their finds on the black market piecemeal before being apprehended by ROM forces responding to the intrusion alarm. Recalled to active service, it had served under the banner of the Com Guards until I came into posession of it a hundred years later. Though it had been heavily upgraded and refit over the decades, it was one of the last original STK-3R models still being used for front-line combat, and I prided myself on the fact that I posessed it. It was also one of the only remaining Stalker BattleMechs to retain its original weapon intermix computer - a device which had served me well against better-armed and armored opponents on many occasions.
That computer now glared at me with a flashing error message that demanded I check the ammo feeds for the long-range missile launchers. I had encountered an ammo feed jam during mission prep, but I hadn't had time to reset the sensors which would notify the Stalker that all was well, and the intermix computer was disgruntled.
My comm unit crackled to life with a message from Sergeant Eisenfaust.[/color]
"Castle-1, this is Castle-4. May make a suggestion, over?"
"This is Castle-1. Go ahead Castle-4, but make it brief. Castle-1, over."
"Sir. Castle-4 recommends that if not all elements of Spectre lance are ready for drop in time, we switch to Clan-style organization. Use Rogue lance to bring Castle and Spector lances up to five elements each. Rouge-1 would join Castle star, while Rogue-2 and Rogue-3 would join Spectre star. It would keep similiar machines together without compromising our inital entry plan. Castle-4, over."
"Aff, Castle-4. Rogue-3 is currently unassigned. Rogue-1 and Rogue-2 will move to reenforce Castle and Spectre lances once they've made planetfall. They'll be the last to drop, and we're counting on them to secure the landing zone and determine vector from mission area to dustoff site."
"Copy that, Castle-1."
A yellow light flickered to life on the drop bay door, indicating 30 seconds to drop. I toggled the lance communications channel open.
"Castle-1 to Castle lance - prepare for release. Operation Broken Arrow will commence in thirty seconds."
I tightened my harness once more for good measure, and wrapped my fingers tightly around my BattleMech's jump pod controls. As the Thorin passed low over a clearing in the forest, the light above the drop bay doors flickered to green. This was the part of the mission I always loathed.
My Stalker gave a lurch as the magnetic clamps disengaged, and 85 tons of man and machine found themselves in free-fall.
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Post by Captain Adam "Gunman" Wolf on Nov 5, 2004 13:17:29 GMT -5
Aboard the Throing Sepctre lance stood back behind Castle as it was lifted by the drop cranes and extended over the hotdrop bay doors, shaking my head as I watched remembering how much I hated hotdrops, I keyed the comm to order Spectre lance to continue with preperations.
Spectre-1 to Spectre Lance, Castle Lance is in postion, move up into standby location and get ready for drop. We drop 85 seconds after Castle.
As Spectre Lance units begin to move into positition where Castle Lance was moments ago, I push the controls forward and perfomr a last system check on the weapons and jumppods, everything shows as normal. Suddenly from the far end of the bay Coroporal Anzovino can be seen charging this way in his Elemental, quickly falling into position for the drop, the Low altitude drop allows him to dropped just like the rest of us under his own power. Keying the comm to a private channel to Spectre-3 I say,
It's about time Corporal, and no excuses just make sure your ready for hot drop. Spectre-1 out.
After an all green report from all Spectre Units I key the comm to the dropship.
Thorin-Command this is Spectre-1, Spectre Lance reports a GO for hotdrop. I repeat Spectre Lance is GO for hotdrop.
Thirty seconds later the sound of manetic clamps instantly releasing and blowing open resounds through the bay as Castle Lance is hot dropped, their 'mechs instantly dropping through the bay doors and dissappearing from view. Less than a moment later the sounds of gears and heavy machinery moving fills the bay as the drop cranes retract into loading position and lower onto Spectre Lance. A loud bang is heard inside my cockpit as the magnetic clamps latch on and begin to lift and extend my 'mech over the bay doors.
Alright MechWarriors, here we go, we drop in 60 seconds..."
The crane just finishes fully extending into position when the indicator light goes Yellow showing that we are just moments away from the drop. Time seemed to pass slowly for the next 60 seconds, counting it down in my head as well as the visual display on my HUD, keying the comm again one last time before the drop, I contact all of Spectre Lance.
Alright we drop in 10, ... 9 ... 8 ... 7 ... hold on to your seats boys and girls, its gonna get a little bumpy ...
With that the magnetic clamps are released any the Phoenix along with the rest of Spectre Lance and dropped into the abyss, clearing the bay doors I get ready with the jump pods to assist in landing as my stomach hits the roof.
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Post by Holms Net on Nov 5, 2004 13:17:53 GMT -5
"Castle-1 to Castle lance - prepare for release. Operation Broken Arrow will commence in thirty seconds."
It was finally time for us to start. From what I could see, everyone in the lance was doing fine. I just hoped that we didn't lose anyone on the mission. I wouldn't be able to bear losing any of my new friends. While I was mid-thought, a jolt sent my senses back to the task at hand. We were already falling.
"Well, I guess it's time for everyone here to prove themselves. I just hope I'm not the one to not be good enough. I hope no one is." I said to myself.
I didn't realize that my comm was on when I said this, however. But I hadn't really had a lot of time to think about was I was doing. It wouldn't take long to fall five kilometers in these things, even though I would probably be the last one to land.
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Post by MechWarrior 'MechWarrior' on Nov 5, 2004 14:27:07 GMT -5
Getting into my 'Mech, I pull on a cooling vest, pull on the neurohelmet, and switch the 'Mech on, not too soon, as Captain announces the mission will begin in 30 seconds. Castle-1, this is Castle-3, I reccomend you tell me now if I should snipe, my 'Mech is good for that kind of thing. I await a response as I feel the gravity of the planet pulling on the dropship...
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Nov 5, 2004 14:42:48 GMT -5
As my BattleMech and I plunged toward the planet's surface, I fired my jump pack intermittantly to slow the descent. As I did so, Corporal MechWarrior's voice cut across the comms.
"Castle-1, this is Castle-3, I reccomend you tell me now if I should snipe, my 'Mech is good for that kind of thing."
"Aff, Castle-3...take them out from range for as long as you can - but don't be afraid to get your nose bloody if you have to."
With that, I felt a heavy thump, and my Stalker eased into a crouch as its massive clawed feet made contact with the ground. The jump packs blew away, and I was freed from their confines.
"Castle-1 is down. Reporting drop zone...clear."
Planetfall!
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Post by Holms Net on Nov 5, 2004 15:10:19 GMT -5
"Castle-1 is down. Reporting drop zone...clear."
I had heard the Captain announce he was on the planet. It was fortunate he had said something, because I was thinking so intently on what was to come, I had lost focus of the drop. Not exactly a smart thing to do. But I still had enough time to activate my jump pack. I was now almost at the ground. As soon as I hit the ground. I loosened my grip around the controls, which I was holding so tightly that my hand was turning white.
"This is Castle-2. I have landed safely, and everything looks to be in one piece."
Except my hands, I thought to myself, trying to give myself a laugh after nearly messing up before the real action started.
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Post by Lieutenant Victor Eisenfaust on Nov 5, 2004 17:40:51 GMT -5
Victor watched as the countdown timer in his cockpit seemed to slow. The last few seconds before a hotdrop always seemed to be longer then the rest. As zero hit, he felt the lurch as the bay opened, and his Hauptmann was released into the atmosphere. After the inital transition, the drop almost felt peaceful, as if everything was as it should be. Victor carefully began applying thrust from the jump pack, altering his trajectory and speed. Slowly but surely, the Hauptmann reached the ground. Ninety-five tons of mech churned up massive amounts of dirt and dust as they dug in to the ground. Once the landing was complete, Victor toggled his comm.
"Spectre-1, this is Spectre-4. Hotdrop successfully completed. Requesting permission to assume point in the formation, over."
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Desparado
Recruit
MIA
In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king...
Posts: 51
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Post by Desparado on Nov 5, 2004 18:56:06 GMT -5
Rouge lance, form up on me and move out. As the clamps released my Atlas, I saw the last of the lances disappear out of veiw. I manuvered my massive feet delicately out of the bay and I paused before the threshold before me. The emerald green and orangy brown terrain spread out below, hazy through the whispy clouds that whipped around me in the open mech bay. This is Rouge 1 to Rouge lance. Stay frosty boys, we're still targets when we're in the air. I want your sensors powered down until you're approximately 800m from the ground.
I powered mine down and checked the Passive Radar, I read Rogue 2, Miyamoto in formation. I always wanted to say this... Geronimo! The signigance and meaning of this word was a mystery to me, I only know that I picked it up from Clanners when I served with the Steel Vipers. Where it came from was anyone's guess, lost in time I suppose.
My boosters kicked on and I lurched downwards as they did. I checked all of my instruments one last time, I was a little anxious. Hot drpps were the most exciting way to enter battle...
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Post by Holms Net on Nov 5, 2004 19:14:01 GMT -5
I was getting a little tense. We were just kind of...standing here. I was waiting for orders from Captain Maxwell. He had not spoken since we landed. "Castle-1, this is Castle-2. I'm getting a feeling it might not be to good to stick around here much longer. Besides, we need to find Isis's lance, and I don't think we can do it jkust standing around. Would you like us to form up? over"
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Post by Captain Gunman [In Absentia] on Nov 5, 2004 19:26:27 GMT -5
As my 'Mech plunged downward into the grassy clearing below, I scanned the surrounding area intently. We were dropping a few kilometers north of Castle lance, and I couldn't get a visual on them through the thick morning haze. Being well outside my sensor range, I could only be assured of their well-being through the constant radio chatter being broadcast on the tight-beam frequencies between units.
My 'Mech's proximity alarm began sounding off as I neared the ground. The autopilot demanded permission to fire the jump pack to slow my descent, but I had an idea. Waiting until the last possible moment, I gave the jets just enough power to avoid damaging the Phoenix's leg acuators. The descent slowed, and my 'Mech hit the ground with a jarring thud, collision warnings sounding off as we made contact with the unforgiving ground. I scanned the HUD's damage indicators to ensure that no harm had come of my rough landing, and, once satisfied, overrode the jump pack's ejection mechanism. I now had a one-shot jump jet system, which could come in quite useful in later engagements.
Looking around, I saw that the rest of Spectre lance had safely made it to the ground. I toggled the comm system open, and patched in to my lancemates.
"All right, Spectre Lance. Close up, and form on me."
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Nov 5, 2004 19:39:53 GMT -5
It was quiet. Far, far, far too quiet. I couldn't exactly put my finger on it, but the feeling was there. My sensors were quietm and all threat indicators were dark. The forest was tranquil, an ocean of calm as the morning sun began to poke its head above the treeline. Dew glistened on the lush fauna surrounding us, and the wind rustled softly through the trees. The birds...
...the birds...
There were no birds! Anywhere. No animals - in fact, no sign of life whatsoever.
Something was very wrong here.
"Castle lance...form up on me. And stay sharp...I don't like the smell of this."
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