Chapter 10:
Cityscape Challenge
(cont...)

"Keith ran into trouble with an enemy patrol," Sorenson informed the lieutenant at once. "He’s trying to get in the clear to launch an Arrow IV strike, but it’ll take time."

"I can launch soon as you’re ready," Keith Andrew interrupted on the commando’s common channel. The transmission did not rob his voice of the tense determination. "Just say the word."

Connor dropped his jaw, closing a circuit built into his neurohelmet chin strap to transmit hands-free. "Keith, you get clear of any Smoke Jaguars before launching. They’ll see the missile launch and try to trace it back." He stepped his Mad Cat up to the head of the pass, facing it back toward the city.

The MFBs finished their work and began to roll forward, into the relative safety of the canyon. "Dominic, back up Allen," he ordered. Though the assault ’Mech pilot had yet to say so and wouldn’t until seriously injured, the lieutenant knew the autocannon had to be exacting a toll against Allen’s Sunder by now. "Epona, with the MFBs." Then, his commando safely into the canyon, Connor backed up the Mad Cat to block the entrance.

Almost at once an enemy Puma raced up from behind, likely hoping to catch one of the MFBs or a smaller commando ’Mech by the backside. Instead it found Sinclair’s Mad Cat holding the defile entrance. Recovering quickly from any surprise, twin PPC strikes arced out and slammed into the Mad Cat’s side. Molten armor ran to the ground as large sections sloughed away, baring the right arm to its titanium skeleton and leaving a red-tinged scar angling from shoulder down to hip. The 75 ton ’Mech rocked back, but righted itself under Sinclair’s touch. The Puma spun around in a tight turn, ready to race back the safety of the city.

Sinclair was not about to let it off so easily. His heavy missile launchers speared out a full flight of 40 missiles, raining destruction over the upper torso of the Puma. The ’Mech staggered but did not go down. Following up with the large lasers carried in each arm, both sapphire beams stabbed into the Puma’s left leg. The intensely concentrated fire demanded more than the Puma had to give, slicing through just below the hip and amputating the leg. The 35 ton Omni plunged forward headfirst from its 90 kilometers-per-hour sprint, tearing itself apart against the ground as it rolled into and through a nearby warehouse.

No time for congratulatory thoughts. On his HUD, the Annihilator and a second Puma maneuvered into the outskirts of the city directly facing the defile. The assault ’Mech had finally cleared itself from the collapsed building and come looking for the commando, picking up some support along the way.

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