Scars
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| Scars | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Short story |
| Author | Loren L. Coleman |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | BattleCorps |
| First published | |
| Content | |
| Era | Jihad era |
| Timeline | ca. 3068 |
| Preceded by | Job Security |
| Followed by | Stalking the Legends |
The short story Scars by Loren L. Coleman was first published in via BattleCorps as a stand-alone product. An enhanced version was published in 2011 as part of the A Face Full of Blades compilation.
Contents
Plot summary[edit]
During the Jihad, The Unnamed Soldier has joined Erik Gray's Solaris Home Defense League and they have set an ambush for the WoB invaders. The Unnamed Soldier is using a Cavalier battlesuit while Erik is piloting a Sagittaire.
They start their ambush when their twelve 'Mechs and a few armored tanks attack a white-painted Atlas, while the infantry waits in ambush. The Blakist survives to counterattack and heavily damages a Huron Warrior, but it cannot resist a second push that ends with his cockpit destroyed.
The Unnamed Soldier acting as a General is directing all the movements through Erik as he says prima donna MechWarriors don't want to get orders from a foot soldier.
Numbering twenty or so 'Mechs and about half a hundred armored vehicles and infantry (which is formed by a collection of screening forces, trikes, even jump-equipped mercenaries) plus the big prize: a company of Lyran infantry with two squads of Cavalier battlesuits, Their forces press the attack, trying to create a gap in the WoB unit when a Saladin downs a Toyama. At that moment the Unnamed Soldier asks for DeLon Stables troops to enlarge the gap, which they do with two Komodos and half a dozen tanks. As true samurais they charge and though they lose both 'Mechs and all tanks except two Vedettes, they destroy four 'Mechs and twice as many fire-gutted vehicles, and tripling the size of the gap.
After that action, the SHDL is free to engage the WoB forces even knowing their strength was 50% less than the enemy's, but the momentum was on their side and the motivation of their troops very high as they knew that several Solaris VII media were recording this. Erik nailed a Lineholder while the Unnamed Soldier tangled with a nearby Raijin when the Blakists surprised them by using Purifier battle armor to finish Erik. The Unnamed Soldier is able to kill two of the attackers, but that distraction plus the combination of a Grand Crusader and an Emperor nearly finish off Erik, downing his 'Mech with his front armor almost completely gone.
The Grand Crusader went down too and the Emperor continued on, trying to kill an Enfield, which left Erik alive. The Unnamed Soldier asks a few Fenrir battle armor to cover him while he stalks the Emperor, trying to recover it as much intact as possible for Gray. He and a full squad of Cavalier battle armor attack and distract the MechWarrior long enough for the Unnamed Soldier to blew the 'Mech's head hatch and kill the pilot without destroying the 'Mech.
Erik Grey is escorted to the 'Mech and he takes possession of it to continue the fight another day.
Notes[edit]
- The story is undated, but is noted as being part of the opening shots of the Jihad, probably putting this in 3068.