Chapter 10:
Cityscape Challenge
(cont...)

The assault ’Mech stumbled up against one of the canyon walls, catching itself from falling but clearing the Thor by just enough for Sinclair to bring his own weapons into play. Sapphire lasers cut into the other ’Mech’s side and down into a leg already torn apart by Dominic’s furious assault. One beam stabbed in past the shreds of armor, worrying the titanium skeleton and cutting free one of the critical actuators. The Annihilator toppled this time, the gyro and pilot’s efforts not enough to stand up under the combined assault of the commando ’Mechs. Ponderously slow it seemed, the 12-meter tall machine crashed down to the ground where it immediately struggled to right itself. Then Epona stepped in and focused her Shadow Cat’s spotting laser onto the Annihilator’s broad back. Like a divine strike of retribution, Keith’s second Arrow IV missile hammered down into the assault ’Mech. And it was simply no more.

The force of the exploding Annihilator drove everyone back several paces. The Thor’s arm finally gave way, some razor-sharp shrapnel slicing through the last of its myomer arm muscles. The limb crashed to the ground to lay among the litter of the ravaged assault ’Mech.

Allen’s Sunder, still walking on a partially ruined right leg, walked in just as the three commando ’Mechs were starting to pull back from the ruin which had been the Annihilator. "Man, talk about your big guns."

Epona echoed his sentiment, though in more direct appreciation. "Thanks for the assist, Keith. It made the difference." Pause. "Keith? Keith Andrew?"

Her only answer came from an intercepted Clan transmission, riding in on a burst of static. "They are through the gates. Striker Star, defend the north pass. Gamma Auxiliaries, hold your line at the spaceport. Any warrior who falls without taking a stravag enemy with you will never pilot a ’Mech again."

Connor ignored Star Captain Wimmer, opening the common channel to commando forces. "Keith Andrew, respond please."

"He’s gone silent, lieutenant." Sorenson, pulling forward the trio of MFBs. "The sideband Clan channels I’m monitoring reported that he broke past one picket line, but they’re after him, chasing north. Let’s hope he can make rendezvous with Eclipse’s company, because for helping us he’s now out of reach of the spaceport."

"Yeah, well we might as well be, too," Dominic said, sullen and shocked at he same time. He pivoted his Thor to stare northeast. "All this way for nothing."

Three other ’Mechs swung around to stare after the Thor’s gaze. Seen above the lip of the canyon, what looked like a large spheroid-shaped skyscraper rocketed skyward on a tongue of argent-white flame. It rose slowly at first, quickly gaining speed even as it gained more altitude, until it looked like an early star in the pale blue sky.

The sight of a DropShip, rocketing for orbit.

Previous 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