Chapter 7:
Superior Firepower
(cont...)

In her time on Tranquil, the MechWarrior had salvaged and returned to service a Clan-design Shadow Cat similar to the one Dominic had lost, except that this one had been configured for two extended-range large lasers and a six-pack short-range missile system. Now her ruby beams speared out, but not at the Annihilator. She ignored the titan and the damage it visited on her, targeting instead one of the smaller ‘Mechs: the 70-ton Thor. Her tactics had thrown the floor into confusion as the Thor ran around trying to avoid her rather than fire on the ’Mech which Star Commander Drevin had chosen for his current target. In the much faster Shadow Cat, Epona sprinted around the large chamber, making herself a very hard target as she continued to punish the Thor and chase it in any direction that took her away from the Annihilator -- delaying tactics as she waited for help.

Which had just arrived. Sinclair’s first flight of missiles bracketed the Annihilator’s back, blasting away armor but unable to penetrate. Though the back was weaker than other locations, the assault ’Mech could withstand a few solid hits before opening itself up to debilitating internal damage. The Orion’s autocannon peeled away protection from the other’s right leg and his lasers concentrated their emerald energy into the left arm, unfortunately spreading the damage rather than taking advantage of the already savaged rear armor.

If the weapons barrage hadn’t been enough to prove him a threat, that the Orion was nearly of a height with the Annihilator would call attention to Sinclair as the commando’s leader. No Smoke Jaguar officer worth his heritage would refuse the call to battle. As the threatening ’Mech turned to face him, the lieutenant could not help the shudder which shook him for a second. His Orion was not a match for the Annihilator, and everyone in the complex knew it. Especially the Jaguar MechWarrior, who raised both arms to level a quartet of autocannon Sinclair’s direction. Against the slower moving Orion, there would be little chance for Star Commander Drevin to miss. The spark of tracers flared in the cavern, drawing four lines of destruction to the Orion where the heavy-caliber slugs tore across its chest and both arms. The 75 ton ’Mech shook under the onslaught much as Connor had trembled the moment before. It stumbled backward, the commando leader fighting to keep the BattleMech upright by strength of will as much as by his piloting -- failing.

And the Annihilator juggernaut lumbered forward with slow but deliberate strides.

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