Chapter 6:
Baiting the Jaguar
(cont...)

An area on his map began to flash as technicians updated it from news feeding in from the southern reaches. Battle had been joined near the underground OmniMech factory. This time his forces stood prepared. Ratache Osis had managed to shift an entire front-line star into the enemy’s path, manned by a set of his best warriors in that region. He did not expect the battle to last long.

He was right.

After only 10 minutes, the area flashed a dark amber and then on to red. A new red flag positioned itself at the administrative building for the factory and mine complex. The Smoke Jaguar star colonel snarled his rage in a fair approximation of the Clan’s namesake. He was at his desk in three quick strides, knocking aside his noteputer as he stabbed at his built-in communications console. The trembling technician who fielded his request made two wrong connections before establishing both an audio and visual link with the factory. Ratache Osis filed a mental note to have the tech replaced even as Star Commander Drevin-- the officer in charge of the factory’s defense -- made his report. The technician was mercifully forgotten as a new rage gripped the star colonel.

"The entire star? Lost? Incompetent surrats! I am surrounded by the dregs of the iron wombs. I should have you all wiping the noses of sibko brats, not commanding BattleMechs."

Drevin quailed, but then rebounded. "We will hold them, Star Colonel."

"You will destroy them, or your legacy dies with you. Is that clear, Star Commander? Use your charges and seal the mountain. If you have to bring it down on top of you, those vermin will not escape. Quiaff!?"

"Aff, Star Colonel. Aff!"

Ratache Osis disconnected with another violent stab at the console. With more thoughtful motion, he sent orders through his noteputer to ready his personal ’Mech and alert his star that they would be taking to the field at once.

"They might destroy the factory," he admitted to himself in the security of his planning room. "Aff, they might. If they do, it proves them dangerous to the point that even Galaxy Commander Corbett will have to take notice. The warrior who brings them down will be positioned for great things as the Clan reforms here on Tranquil." Command of a galaxy? The position of saKhan? What might not be within reach? He stood and strode from the room with deliberate energy.

"I will be that warrior," he vowed.

Previous Page | Next Page
or jump to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22
23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33
34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44
45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53