MechWarrior 4: Vengeance/Defend Exodus

Defend Exodus

BRIEFING

Jen: Hi. Are you all right?

Ian: I'm fine, thanks.

Jen: I thought, maybe, you weren't going to come back. I thought, maybe, everything was over.

Ian: If something happens to me, the team has what it takes to finish things.

Jen: Well, maybe, but I'm not sure we could go on if we lost you. I couldn't.

Ian: I appreciate it, Jen. I do. The team's already shown it can handle the sacrifices, because we honored what they were fighting for. If I don't come back, Jen, honor me. Keep fighting. Free Kentares!

Transmission: This is the Voice of Freedom! While Lord Roland and his puppet Duke talk of peace, they threaten atrocity. Now the resistance moves openly to silence their threats and lies. Across Kentares, resistance groups no longer operate in secret, instead moving openly, and in force, against Steiner occupation troops. Last night, several of the Meer Province border towns and garrisons have been retaken. In Hardra, the prison camps that once held our Duke Eric's top military personnel now lie in ruin, the prisoners free to help carry forward the battle for freedom. James Kulin, the hated architect of Eric's murder and the abduction and execution of the innocent now lies dead. In Jeteel, resistance forces under Johanna Dresari have won repeated battles in heavy fighting with Lord Roland's forces, striking key targets and crippling Lord Roland's campaign of oppression. And, on the Meridian Coast, Ian Dresari fights to save Vale, threatened with destruction by Lord Roland. Already, the deadline imposed by Roland has passed, yet Vale still lives. One by one, Roland's lies are silenced, his threats answered, and, with your help, soon his rule will end. Act, citizens of Kentares! Rally behind your ruling family! Free your world and yourselves!

Rathburn: Sir, extraction operations are continuing. We've gotten out most of the locals, but we still have refugees being loaded onto ships. We ran into some delays last night. Some of Roland's coastal patrols have been rerouted to Vale. We need to take them out, or the evac is in trouble. They're no threat to us, but there isn't much question they'll fire on civilians. They hit a refugee staging area last night. We drove them back, but it's clear they'll shoot at anything that moves. Worse, we've sighted the destroyer Indomitable. It'll be in range to shell the shoreline and sink any ship that tries to escape. We'll have to destroy her, or the refugees are dead. Karl wanted to talk to you prior to your heading out. Good luck, sir.

Karl: Young Duke, you'll need to take the heaviest equipment we can muster. The Indomitable is a heavy frigate. She'll be operating in water too deep for you to get close, so you'll have to take her out at a distance. Take some smaller weapons to deal with the patrols at the docks, but reserve space for armor and heavy weapons to deal with Indomitable. I think reactive armor would be best. For longer range weapons, I recommend the Gauss rifle. It has the punch you need to send her to the bottom. Perhaps some ER Large Lasers would be good as well. Since you'll be in shallow water for much of your fight, heat will dissipate quickly. Be careful, young Duke.

OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW

Defend Exodus: The city of Vale is endangered, in spite of our best efforts. We have been evacuating civilians, but time is short. Two civilian ships remain at the docks, still taking on civilians. We need to buy these ships as much time as possible and guard them as they attempt to get out to sea.

DURING MISSION

Rathburn: Key recon units deployed. It looks like Roland's mustering everything he can to get to the area. There're still a couple of civilian ships being loaded at the docks. You're their only protection. We haven't sighted indomitable yet, but she'll be here shortly. I'll warn you once she's in range. Omega Recon, what are you seeing?

PE49: Private Eye Four-Niner. We've got to get these people out fast. Steiner units are firing at anything in sight. We have some patrols and a tank unit sighted – Nav Point Alpha. A couple of fighters flew over about a minute ago.

Ian: Roger. Moving to engage at Alpha.

Rathburn: I've designated the docks as Nav Point Beta.

Terra: Blowing up civilians? And they call themselves soldiers! Let's see how they do when somebody's shooting back.

Gonzales: Looks like at Steiner Heavy, at range.

Gonzales: You got their attention.

Jen: Steiner Nova Cat, dead ahead.

PE49: Private Eye Four-Niner. We have Steiner 'Mechs moving through the town. They're shooting at noncoms!

F25: This is Forward Two-Five. We've sighted some fast patrol boats moving in on the docks.

Rathburn: Ian, you need to take out those patrol boats for the sake of the refugee ships.

Ian: Roger.

F25: Omega Control, we've just sighted two bluewater capital ships moving into range. Repeat, two bluewater ships moving into range.

Ian: Two?

Verdun: Omega! This is Captain Verdun of the Ailouette. We're not gonna last against this onslaught!

Rathburn: Calm down, Captain. We have 'Mechs en route. They'll take care of the Steiner hostiles. Just stay focused on getting the remaining refugees aboard.

F25: Forward Two-Five. Second frigate is designation Thunderchild. Same class as Indomitable.

Rathburn: Roger that. You copy, Omega Lead?

Ian: I copy.

Jen: Serves 'em right if nobody gets out!

Gonzales: All right! There she goes!

PE49: Four-Niner confirms, first frigate going down.

Rathburn: That's one. Take out the second, and the refugees should have a clear path.

Jen: There goes the second frigate, to the bottom.

Terra: That boat's going where it belongs. Murderers!

Rathburn: Omega Lance, Forward confirms second frigate is sinking. Omega Rescue, once you finish with the friendlies, sweep the area where the frigates went down and see if you can pick up any survivors.

Rescue: Roger, Control. We'll head out as soon as we can.

Verdun: Omega, we're loaded. Casting off!

Rathburn: Ian, the refugees are away! They're safe! Head back, and we'll get set for lift. The resistance has been broadcasting the battle live. I'll patch you in.

Transmission: This is Alison Long aboard the Ailouette. We're just off the Meridian Coast now, and headed for open water. We have just witnessed a pitched battle between the occupation forces and Dresari loyalists. Vale is all but destroyed, but even as Steiner shelled the town and fired on civilians attempting escape, Ian Dresari stood with us and silenced Roland's murderers. The Ailouette is the last of the flotilla that evacuated the entire town. We're now following the rest of the ships heading out to sea, and to safety. Vale is no more, but Lord Roland's threat against the people is now an empty one. People of Kentares, unite with us! Today, it's been dramatically proven that Roland can no longer oppress us. Kentares will be free!