To Serve and Protect
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| To Serve and Protect | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Short story |
| Author | Herbert A. Beas II |
| Pages | 15 |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | BattleCorps |
| First published | 27 February 2007 |
| Content | |
| Era | Jihad era |
| Timeline | 11 January—14 March 3068 |
| Series | Case White (series) |
| Preceded by | By the Sword |
| Followed by | The Good Fight |
To Serve and Protect is a short story by Herbert A. Beas II that was published online on BattleCorps on 27 February 2007 as the sixth installment in the Case White series. It was later also published in print in the fourth BattleCorps anthology, Fire for Effect, in 2013.
[edit]
| “ | TerraSec Special Security. Where the Word of Blake Militia fights for the Word, TS3 exists to protect Terra and her citizens. So it's no surprise to Alex Lancey, one-time police officer, when they're called up during the ComStar invasion. But police work is one thing; fighting a war is another... | ” |
Plot summary[edit]
An eager officer in TS3 TerraSec Special Security, Alec Lancey is excited to receive 'Mech training and celebrates with his comrades. Warned by his Lieutenant that "to serve and protect" is not something BattleMechs are built for, Lancey only begins to understand what the Lt meant when his paramilitary force is thrown into battle against ComStar BattleMechs during the Case White invasion months later. Poorly equipped and trained for a military confrontation, Lancey's unit is overrun in short order on 14 March 3083. Lancey cannot prevent civilians from being caught in the crossfire.
Upon seeing the carnage—a heavily wounded woman and the lifeless body of a young child from the car—Lancey flies into a rage and charges the enemy 'Mechs, achieving little except the destruction of his own 'Mech (and, it is implied, being killed in the process).