BattleTech: The Animated Series/Warriors of Light and Steel

This transcript of the third episode of BattleTech: The Animated Series, Warriors of Light and Steel, is based off a VHS recording from the initial airing.

Scene 1[edit]

Wotan

[Scene pans to a cratered moonscape with a city in flames. Nicolai Malthus blasts his way through hapless FedCom 'Mechs.]

Nicolai: Another pitiful display of Inner Sphere weakness! By the Blood of Kerensky, I was hoping for at least a small contest.

Scene 2[edit]

Romulus

[The Kwaidan descends towards the outskirts of a city. Adam Steiner's Axman emerges.]

Adam: Now listen up, Strikers. We need to prepare if we're going to get back to Somerset. The Romulus Militia has been kind enough to lend us their training field. This might just be an exercise, but I expect us all to work as a team.

Ciro: I would rather practice on a real enemy with weapons that work, not these depowered lasers and simulated missiles.

Val: Look out, Hoss. Ciro the Hero's talking tough again.

Hawk: Whooo. If you want to get blown to bits, Ciro, you're going to have to wait your turn like the rest of us.

Kylie: Oh, leave him alone, guys. Or he'll sic his mummy and daddy on you.

[Ciro rages while the other Strikers laugh. Sakamoto supervises the unloading of the spare Banshee from the Kwaidan.]

Franklin: So much time has passed since I was required to perform tasks so menial.

[Patch approaches him from behind.]

Patch: I guess that's why you're so sloppy at it, eh?

[The Romulus Militia training center commander gives the Strikers a tour.]

Hartmann: Well, back in the Star League days, this base used to house the 208th Striker Regiment. When the FedCom troops moved on to the Clan front, they left this place to the Romulus Militia. Most of us are too busy tending our farms to use it, though.

[He speaks the password to activate the training simulator program.]

Hartmann: Kerensky Will Return

[Holographic 'Mechs appear on the training grounds, including a Thug, Champion, and Crab.]

Computer: Activating holographic emulator.

Hartmann: This is one of the few Star League holo-simulators still operating.

Adam: It's amazing how much has been lost since the Star League crumbled.

Hartmann: We've forgotten a lot in two centuries.

Ciro: When General Kerensky's descendants return, the Star League will rise again.

Val: That old fairy tale? Give me a break! Where was the great Kerensky when the Clans invaded?

Scene 3[edit]

Wotan

[A tattered FedCom flag is lowered, and a Jade Falcon one rises in its place. Nicolai Malthus addresses a crowd of prisoners.]

Nicolai: Citizens of Wotan, as the commander of the forces that vanquished your army, I welcome you into Clan Jade Falcon.

Natalya: The last embers of resistance have faded. This planet is secure.

Nicolai: Excellent. I will now take the honor of conquering our next objective, a world commanded centuries ago by the founder of my bloodline. A planet called… Romulus.

Scene 4[edit]

Romulus

Commander: Hang on to your neurohelmets. I'm firing up the training sequence.

Ciro: Spooky! According to my sensors, they're the real McCoy.

Adam: Now, they may just be holo-'Mechs, but your computers will register hits just like in a battle, and, oh yeah, it'll feel as real as it looks.

[A holographic Thug materializes and opens fire on Adam's Axman.]

Adam: All right, Rachel. Feed me some info from up there.

[The Katana holds position at the jump point. The solar sail is deployed, and is decorated with a Draconis Combine insignia.]

Rachel: Tactical Operations Officer reporting. You've got three enemy 'Mechs just beyond the ridge.

Ciro: What's she talking about? They're right in front of us!

[A holographic Champion and Crab close in on the Strikers.]

Rachel: Watch out! They're grouping together.

Val: You got any fresh info?

Adam: There's some kind of time delay that's…

Rachel: Adam, I'm routing the signal through too many satellite relays. I think it's causing a time delay.

Ciro: Way to go, Major. Our tactical operations officer's useless.

[Hawkins' Mauler destroys a Thug.]

Adam: Learn to work through it, Ciro. Kylie, what can you tell us?

[Adam's Axman pounds a Crab with its hatchet.]

Kylie: To start with, I'm getting my butt kicked!

Hawk: Leaving our TacOps officer in space? Are you trying to get us killed?

Ciro: Forget this chaos. Attack formation Delta! Everybody!

Adam: Ciro, what are you do…

[Ciro mutes Adam's frequency and blows apart a Thug.]

Adam: Captain Hawkins, Captain Ryder, resume your positions!

Hawk: School's out, kid. I want to survive this skirmish.

[Combined fire destroys three holographic 'Mechs.]

Adam: Get back here now!

[Ciro fires at a retreating Champion and hits Kylie's Banshee by mistake, downing it with simulated damage. It lands in VTOL mode.]

Kylie: Hey, Ciro, watch your aim!

Hartmann: So much for the aerojock.

Kylie: Thanks a heap, "hero."

[Ryder's Centurion is the next to go down with massive (simulated) leg damage]

Hartmann: That's two down.

Val: Hey, I can't move my leg.

Hawk: Your computer thinks its legs are blown off. Your 'Mech's dead in the water.

[The Mauler, Centurion, and Wolfhound are surrounded by the holographic 'Mechs and suffer simulated destruction.]

Adam: So, are you proud of yourself, Strikers? This simulation was based on the Clans' field maneuvers.

Hawk: Hey, our tactics defeated the Dracs and the…

Adam: We're fighting a new enemy, and they aren't impressed with your quaint little defense formations.

Scene 5[edit]

[At the jump point, a Jade Falcon WarShip materializes. Nicolai Malthus, Pytor, and Natalya are on the bridge.]

Natalya: Hyperspace jump complete.

Nicolai: Pytor, Natalya, prepare all OmniMechs and Elemental units. The birthplace of the Malthus bloodline will be mine.

Scene 6[edit]

[Back on the surface, the Strikers commiserate after the exercises.]

Ciro: Hey Kylie, how do you know when your new CO's a Steiner blueblood? When he's a royal pain in the…

[Ciro cuts off as Adam approaches.]

Hawk: Uh, Major? The shrimp may actually have a point. You're trying hard to live up to that name of yours, maybe too hard.

Adam: They didn't make me a Major for my name, much as you won't believe.

[Adam's communicator receives a transmission from the Kwaidan.]

Franklin: Major Steiner, unless you require us to witness more of your…battle prowess…I request leave to take the DropShip to Remus Spaceport for supplies.

Adam: Affirmative, Kwaidan.

Ciro: How do you know the Dracs won't abandon us?

Adam: If that was their big plan, why did he call first instead of just leaving?

Ciro: We can't forget, they're enemies. As Kerensky said…

Adam: Kerensky's dream was to keep the Inner Sphere united, Ciro. Wouldn't he want us to work together?

Scene 7[edit]

[The Kwaidan lands at Remus Spaceport just as the Jade Falcon invasion force arrives.]

Patch: Think we came at a bad time.

[OmniMechs rain out of the DropShips as they pass over the port.]

Nicolai: I am Nicolai Malthus of Clan Jade Falcon. What forces oppose us on this planet?

[The port's security lance attacks.]

Nicolai: So, you Inner Sphere barbarians wish to forgo the formality of a batchall? Very well, all units, initiate enhanced imaging!

[The defending lance is swiftly dispatched.]

Nicolai: Another barren victory. Where are your real warriors? Who among you offers a real challenge?

Nicolai: The spaceport is ours!

Scene 8[edit]

[In orbit, the Falcon WarShip blows apart a communications satellite. Aboard the Kwaidan, Captain Frestadt tries to establish communications with the Katana.]

Frestadt: It's no good. All communications are down.

[Aboard the Katana, Rachel continues to broadcast blindly.]

Rachel: I say again, I'm intercepting specific Clan transmissions. Do you read me? Adam!

Scene 9[edit]

[At the training ground, the Strikers realize something's wrong.]

Adam: Rachel! Lieutenant Specter! Please respond! Mister Hartmann, end the program!

[The holographic 'Mechs disappear.]

Hawk: Bah, you can't cancel the war just because you lost touch with your mommy.

[Adam sees plumes of smoke rising from the direction of Remus City.]

Adam: Something is very wrong here, Captain.

Scene 10[edit]

[Pytor reports to Nicolai at the spaceport.]

Pytor: The WarShip spotted several 'Mechs on a ridge thirty kilometers due east. Permit me to lead a Star of 'Mechs to engage them.

Nicolai: I need young, vital warriors, Pytor, not your aging cannon fodder. Star Commander Natalya, your Elementals will handle this piddling matter, quiaff.

[Aboard the orbiting WarShip, Natalya suits up.]

Natalya: Aff, Star Colonel.

Nicolai: Star Commander Pytor, you may search the spaceport for pockets of resistance, that is, if you are up to the task, old man.

Scene 11[edit]

[A Jade Falcon Overlord lands near the training center and broadcasts a message.]

Nicolai: Warriors of the Inner Sphere, I am Nicolai Malthus of Clan Jade Falcon. The conqueror of Somerset, Wotan, and Romulus.

Adam: So you're the monster who destroyed my homeworld. My family!

Nicolai: I hereby issue a formal batchall.

Adam: How did you get on my viewscreen?

Nicolai: How many warriors do you bid in this battle?

Adam: I'm not bidding anything, pal. I'm hitting you with everything I've got!

Nicolai: How amusing.

[A second Overlord descends onto the training field and disgorges Elementals.]

Ciro: What are those?

Hawk: I don't know, but our fearless leader just committed us to battle them totally unarmed.

Ciro: They think we can't beat these puny things?

Adam: Ciro, wait!

[A point of Elementals swarms Ciro's Wolfhound, and it goes down. More head for Ryder's Centurion.]

Hawk: What now, schoolboy? We can't press reset on this battle!

[Ryder retreats.]

Val: Later, kid!

Adam: Don't be fooled by their size, people. They're packing serious heat!

Hawk: Get off of me, you ugly little…

[Natalya forces open the cockpit of Hawkins' Mauler and laughs. She reaches in with her claw, and Hawkins draws his sidearm and fires. The bullet ricochets off the battle armor, and Natalya crushes the pistol with her claw. Kylie's Banshee swoops in and scatters the Elementals standing on Ciro's downed Wolfhound.]

Kylie: Yeeeeehaaaaa!

Ciro: Thanks, Kylie. I owe you.

[The Elementals flee the Axman's wildly swinging hatchet.]

Ciro: We beat 'em!

[Natalya emerges from the cockpit of the Mauler.]

Natalya: Next time, you will not be so lucky!

[A Star of OmniMechs, led by Nicolai Malthus, approaches the Strikers – they were apparently in the first DropShip.]

Kylie: I wouldn't celebrate yet, Ciro.

Val: Just out of curiosity, is it too late to request a transfer?

Adam: Here's my bid, Malthus. I challenge all of your 'Mechs, alone.

Hawk: Uh, kid? You gone nuts?

Nicolai: At last, a freeborn whelp with spirit! I shall destroy him myself.

Adam: Now heads up, people. We're moving out!

[Adam turns and strikes a nearby rockface with his hatchet, causing a rockslide. The Axman jumps free on its jets, but the Falcon 'Mechs are kept busy shooting falling rocks.]

Hawk: Nice distractions, schoolboy. I just hope we survive it!

Nicolai: The dishonorable dogs have fled!

Scene 12[edit]

[Later in an outbuilding on Hartmann's farm, the Strikers camouflage their 'Mechs.]

Adam: This ought to do, as long as they aren't looking too closely.

Val: I've got to say, Major, that was one sneaky maneuver.

[Hartmann (the militia training center commander) and his family approach with some blankets.]

Hartmann: Anybody for some chow?

Kylie: Thanks, I'm starving.

Adam: We deeply appreciate this, Mister Hartmann. You're risking a lot by hiding us.

Scene 13[edit]

[At the spaceport, the Kwaidan rests in its docking berth. Captain Frestadt tries to raise the Strikers.]

Frestadt: Major Steiner, do you copy? Come in Major Steiner!

Patch: Argh! Can't even get a message out on the emergency frequency.

Franklin: The longer we wait, the lesser our chances of escape.

Patch: What, without the Major?

Franklin: If necessary.

[The hatch slides open, and Pytor enters with two guards.]

Pytor: Attention, this vessel and its contents are hereby the property of Clan Jade Falcon. Show us your cargo at once!

[Sakamoto escorts them to the cargo bay.]

Franklin: We are simple produce merchants. We have nothing of value in here.

Pytor: Silence!

Frestadt: Franklin-san, let us cooperate fully with these men, ja?

[Franklin touches a button on his tunic. In the cargo bay, panels slide shut, concealing weapons caches and the second Banshee fighter. Nothing is visible when Pytor and the crew enter.]

Pytor: Nothing out of the ordinary here.

[Pytor and his guards depart.]

Patch: How did…?

Franklin: At smuggling, I am not so sloppy.

Scene 14[edit]

[At the Hartmann farm, a flock of ostriches makes bleating noises in the night, under the light of three moons. Hawkins works on repairing his Mauler.]

Hawk: It'll do.

Val: Got my lasers back at full strength, but nothing in my autocannon or missile launcher. Still, I've won with less.

Kylie: Really?

Val: No.

[Ciro approaches Adam, who is working on his Axman.]

Ciro: Why did you make us run?

Adam: If we had our butts handed to us by the little guys, what chance did we have against their 'Mechs?

[Ciro removes a gold medallion from his tunic.]

Ciro: Aleksandr Kerensky didn't hand out medals like this one for cowardice!

Val: How about putting a lid on that Kerensky garbage, short stuff!

Ciro: The only garbage I see is a mercenary lowlife.

Val: Yeah, a lowlife who just happens to outrank you.

[Ciro and Ryder begin fighting]

Adam: Kylie, give me a hand.

[Adam and Kylie separate the two combatants]

Hawk: All the Clan's got to do to win is leave us alone with each other.

Scene 15[edit]

[At the spaceport, Pytor's Star oversees the loading of the Kwaidan's crew onto a truck.]

Pytor: Take this Merchant Caste refuse to the reeducation camp. Perhaps they can learn their proper place in society.

Frestadt: At least they didn't find the weapons we have stored in there, ja?

Patch: Major Steiner will be happy to hear that.

Franklin: Major Steiner is the least of my concerns.

Scene 16[edit]

[A Star of 'Mechs led by Nicolai Malthus approaches the Hartmann farm.]

Nicolai: Inner Sphere warriors, by hiding in this farmhouse, you endanger its occupants and incite my wrath. Stand and fight, or their fates will be on your hands.

[Nicolai destroys one of the farm's outbuildings. An SRM explodes against his Summoner's rear armor. The scene pans to show Hartmann standing in front of a quad WorkMech holding a portable SRM launcher.]

Hartmann: Threaten my family? I'll give you a fight!

Nicolai: A Labor Caste drone taking arms against a Trueborn Warrior? Obliterate this place!

[The Summoner fires, destroying the WorkMech. Hartmann runs.]

Hartmann: Kaaren, Gretchen, run!

[Hartmann's wife and daughter emerge from the farmhouse just before a Timber Wolf destroys it. A Hunchback IIC opens fire on the ostrich flock. A Mad Dog destroys a greenhouse. As the Hartmanns flee on foot, the Strikers emerge from the flames in their 'Mechs.]

Hartmann: We're going to be all right. Look!

Nicolai: So, the kittens have found their claws. Initiate Enhanced Imaging.

Ciro: They lose their nerve if you stand up to them, like common bullies.

Adam: Don't get cocky, Ciro. Stay in formation!

[A missile strike knocks the Axman down. Hawkins' Mauler interposes its bulk between a second missile and the Axman, taking the hit.]

Adam: Much obliged, Hawk.

[Battling a Hunchback IIC, Ryder's Centurion overheats.]

Val: Come on! Come on!

Computer: Heat warning! Fusion plant shutdown imminent.

[Adam's Axman uses its lasers to topple a water tower onto the Centurion, cooling it down.]

Val: Thanks, Major. Do you do windows?

Hawk: My kingdom for a working autocannon!

Adam: I've got an idea. Everybody, assemble in parade formation.

Ciro: Uh, begging the Major's pardon, but have you flipped your royal lid?

Adam: I noticed that each Clan 'Mech only engaged one of us at a time.

Val: So they're big on ego. What's that got to do with us?

Adam: So we're gonna corral them, and Kylie's gonna brand 'em.

Kylie: Believe it or not, I copy that!

Hawk: Oh, I got you, schoolboy. You want to make 'em overheat!

[Kylie drops inferno bombs on the lined-up Clan 'Mechs.]

Computer: Heat sinks at saturation. Catastrophic failure in ten seconds.

[A Hunchback IIC goes down.]

Adam: Nice teamwork, Strikers!

Kylie: Look out, guys! Reinforcements!

Adam: Come on, people. We're pulling out.

Hawk: Major, what about the Hartmanns?

[Ciro turns and sees the Hartmanns fleeing right towards Nicolai's Summoner.]

Ciro: No! Not that way!

[Ciro moves his Wofhound to intercept.]

Adam: Ciro, get back here!

[Ciro charges the Summoner, knocking it over just before it could step on the Hartmanns.]

Ciro: Noooo!

[The Clan OmniMechs mass their fire on Ciro's Wolfhound.]

Computer: Warning, fusion reactor breached! Critical failure in fourteen seconds.

[The Wolfhound explodes.]

Adam: Ciro!!

Hawk: I'm not picking up any emergency signal. He must not have fired his escape pod.

Adam: I'm going back for him.

Hawk: Hey, let's focus on the others.

Adam: We gotta find him!

[Hartmann points the way to Adam.]

Hartmann: That way, Major. We've got some empty mines that haven't been used in years.

Scene 17[edit]

[Later, in the mines.]

Hawk: Learning when to cut your losses is what leadership is all about. It ain't pleasant, but in war, few things usually are. You earned your first stripe, Major.

Adam: So long, Ciro. Looks like you're a hero after all.

Scene 18[edit]

[Back at the farm, an ostrich checks out the wreckage of Ciro's 'Mech. In a nearby tree, Ciro regains consciousness and falls to the ground, hurting his leg. He looks up to see Nicolai standing over him, laughing.]