MechWarrior: Tactical Command/Butler Mission 7

Mission 7

Holloway: All stations. Stand by for Colonel Armstrong…

Armstrong: Major Beckman. I want to know why I wasn't informed about a direct threat to the civilian population. I want to know how a pirate radio station got ahold of my name. And, right now, Major, I want to know why there is a rumor circulating among my staff that one of your MechWarriors went rogue.

Beckman: Sir, MechWarrior David Lee did, in fact, take to the field in a BattleMech… Directly against my orders.

Armstrong: Success of the mission not withstanding… Lee! Are you pushing for a medal, or a court martial!?

David: *chuckles* Well, either way, I think you would have a problem, Colonel.

Armstrong: What's so amusing?

Holloway: Sir… David Lee is… technically… a civilian.

Armstrong: What!? And who let a civilian pilot one of my BattleMechs?

Beckman: We needed pilots, Colonel. General Winfield told me to find them where I could. Lee had the expertise and had proven himself capable. Under emergency orders 1-7-2 Delta, he was…I guess you could say commandeered… from civilian service.

Armstrong: No oath and no orders. Placing him outside the chain of command. Perfect! Well, Major, you brought him in, that makes you responsible for him. Fortunately, his example has led to a strengthened resistance, which gives the regiment our chance to escape. But not all of us, Major.

Beckman: Sir?

Armstrong: Prince Victor has ordered us to Twycross, but I won't sink the renewed hopes of the people of Butler. They need support and they need organization. Two qualities I believe you can impart, Major, remaining here as military liaison to the budding resistance movement.

Beckman: Remaining here? Resistance? Sir, that role is incredibly…active. My strengths…

Armstrong: Can use some active work, I'd say. You will get to know these people, share in their struggle, and think long and hard about the responsibilities of command. Dismissed, Major.

Beckman: Sir. Yes sir.

Armstrong: About time he handed me an excuse. As for you, Mister Lee. You may be a good pilot, but if you expect to continue serving under my command, you will officially enlist and take the oath. That way, I can have you shot if you step out of line again.

David: Sir! Yes sir! I'll do that.

Armstrong: Now that we're done with this circus, Sergeant Holloway?

Holloway: We have an opening to bring down the DropShip for evacuation, but there is a Clan base under construction in a remote region outside of the city, directly in our path of retreat. We'll have to destroy all Clan opposition so we can safely move our Mobile HQ to the dustoff site.

Armstrong: And that is exactly what you'll do, Commander. It's high time we got off this planet.

DURING MISSION

Objectives:

• Destroy all Enemy 'Mechs
• Destroy the Base

Secondary Objectives:

• Destroy Southern Supply Convoy

Century: This is the Century. Making final preparations for landing. We'll be vulnerable on the way down. So we're counting on you to clear out that Clan presence.

Holloway: Roger that, Century. We have a 'Mech lance moving in to secure the area as we speak.

Kendra: It's good to know that we can knock them down faster than the Clans can put them up.

Holloway: Come in Century. The Clan base has been destroyed; you may begin your approach.

Century: Acknowledged. We're touching down northeast of the base. Make sure you're ready to embark. My scanners are picking up incoming Clan reinforcements.

Century: All aboard, people. This is the last ride off Butler.

Kyle: Chased off another world. This is getting to be a bad habit.

David: This still doesn't feel right. Leaving all these people at the mercy of the Clans.

Kendra: We don't always get to do what's right, David. We can only do our best. And, right now, we need to go where we can make a difference.

CINEMATIC

Evak Mattlov: I want these freebirth surats run to ground. Butler was to be secured quickly. We endanger the Jade Falcon advance being tied up on Butler for so long.

Clanner: Star Colonel! Grid nine, coordinates alpha-three-seven. That would be…

Evak Mattlov: Our forward base to secure this entire sector! Not possible!

FedCom 'Mechs patrol through the flaming ruins of the base, sniping a surviving Elemental.

Kyle: Command ought to be pleased. This should set back the Falcons' plans.

David: Just so long as it makes things easier on the Colonel.

Kendra: Nothing about this war is going to be easy.

David: Well, aren't you the little ray of sunshine.

Evak Mattlov's Star of heavy and assault OmniMechs charges to the base, arriving to find it in flaming ruin.

Evak Mattlov: Lost! The entire base. Great Father! Always one step ahead. What inspires them to such ability?

Clanner: Star Colonel, we have a trail, do we follow?

Evak Mattlov: It is too late. We have lost our opportunity to face this enemy.

Clanner: It will be easy enough to order aerospace to pursue them.

Evak Mattlov: Nothing about this invasion is going to be easy.

Mission Success

• Destroy all Enemy 'Mechs – 1,000,000 C-bills
• Destroy the Base – 1,000,000 C-bills
• Destroy Southern Supply Convoy – 1,000,000 C-bills