Difference between revisions of "Commitment"
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==Plot summary== | ==Plot summary== | ||
| − | + | Lance Corporal Candace Lynn is a [[VTOL]] pilot with the [[2nd Magistracy Armed Forces Militia Armor Guard|Second Magistracy Armed Forces Militia Armor Guard]], stationed on [[Andarmax]], a [[Capellan Confederation]] world conquered by the [[Magistracy of Canopus]] in [[3033]], and is in a relationship with [[Lieutenant]] Alphedra McGowan, one of the members of the [[Killer Bees]] mercenary unit hired by the Magistracy to act as a cadre unit. The [[Second Canopian Cuirassiers]] had easily conquered Andarmax, and had moved on to [[Drozan]], leaving Andarmax to be guarded by the Armor Guard - a MAF militia unit consisting of two [[platoon]]s of VTOLs and a mix of tanks and mobile artillery - and MacGraw's Marauders, a mercenary unit. Candy is a recon pilot, flying a modified [[Ferret]] which has had the machine gun and ammunition of the standard model stripped out and replaced with armor; half of the Armor Guard's VTOLs are unarmed variants like her own. | |
| + | In August 3034 the Capellans deployed the mercenary unit [[Rob's Renegades]] to recapture Andarmax; while MacGraw's Marauders are fighting against half the Renegades around the planetary capital, Candy and the Armor Guard are half a continent away, fortifying in the Alamance Wastes and deploying remote sensors. Faced with certain defeat, the Killer Bees have cited a clause in their cadre duty contract and announced their intention to withdraw, making the prospect of the Magistracy forces holding out for reinforcements tenuous at best, particularly when deprived of the Bees' aerospace forces. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Phredi and Candy argue about the Killer Bees plans to withdraw, with Phredi repeatedly emphasising that the Magistracy forces are looking at certain death if they stop; she repeatedly asks Candy to come with her, arguing that a single Ferret can't make a difference, but Candy is determined to stay and fight for her home and her country - despite Phredi pointing out that she's throwing her life away trying to hold onto someone else's home. The two part ways after arguing, with Phredi and the Killer Bees withdrawing through the Alamance DropPort while the Armor Guard prepare to fight in the wastes. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Fighting in the foothills of the Alamance Mountains, Candy and the other VTOL pilots act as observers for the Armor Guard artillery, guiding in strikes as best they can against the advancing Renegades 'Mechs. The Armor Guard manage to damage or disable some Renegade units, but steadily take casualties; tracking a [[Catapult#Variants|siege variant ''Catapult'']], Candy discovers that it's managed to secure itself in a position which the Armor Guard's artillery can't target it. The ''Catapult'' dismisses her Ferret as a threat, but Candy instinctively decides to use her Ferret to inflict damage the only way she can - by making a ramming attack, targeting the ''Catapult's'' canopy. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A day later, aboard the [[DropShip]] ''[[Honey Bee]]'', [[Captain]] [[Tom Smith]] of the Killer Bees comes to brief Phredi on the situation on Andarmax. The Second Armor Guards had taken heavy damage and fallen back to their holdout position, and there's no word of the Armor Guards having any VTOLs still active. Worse still, there will be no reinforcements for them; the Second Canopian Cuirassiers have been driven off Drozan by an assault launched by [[Kincade's Rangers]] and [[House Dai Da Chi]]. Phredi bitterly declares that they abandoned people who counted on them, but Smith rebuffs that argument by saying that they didn't abandon the Armor Guard - they failed them. The Killer Bees' responsibility was to do everything they could to ensure the safety of their employers, a duty they failed when they didn't teach the Armor Guard how to choose their battles. | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Featured BattleTech == | ||
| + | === BattleMechs === | ||
| + | * ''[[Hussar]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[JagerMech]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Catapult]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Vindicator]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Combat Vehicles === | ||
| + | * [[Ferret]] | ||
| + | * [[Manticore]] | ||
| + | * [[SRM Carrier]] | ||
| + | * [[Vedette]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | === DropShips === | ||
| + | * ''[[Leopard]]''-class ''[[Honey Bee]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | === JumpShips === | ||
| + | * ''[[Invader]]''-class ''[[Queen Bee]]'' | ||
[[Category:BattleCorps publications]] | [[Category:BattleCorps publications]] | ||
[[Category:Short Stories]] | [[Category:Short Stories]] | ||
[[Category:Works by Kevin Killiany]] | [[Category:Works by Kevin Killiany]] | ||
Revision as of 06:30, 10 April 2017
| Commitment | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Short story |
| Author | Kevin Killiany |
| Pages | 14 |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | BattleCorps |
| First published | 14 September 2007 |
| Content | |
| Era | Succession Wars era |
| Timeline | 11—13 August 3034 |
Commitment is a short story by Kevin Killiany that was published online on BattleCorps on 14 September 2007.
Contents
| “ | It's never easy being a mercenary; they don't think the same way as regular soldiers, and when a relationship is added to the mix, things are more than complicated. | ” |
Plot summary
Lance Corporal Candace Lynn is a VTOL pilot with the Second Magistracy Armed Forces Militia Armor Guard, stationed on Andarmax, a Capellan Confederation world conquered by the Magistracy of Canopus in 3033, and is in a relationship with Lieutenant Alphedra McGowan, one of the members of the Killer Bees mercenary unit hired by the Magistracy to act as a cadre unit. The Second Canopian Cuirassiers had easily conquered Andarmax, and had moved on to Drozan, leaving Andarmax to be guarded by the Armor Guard - a MAF militia unit consisting of two platoons of VTOLs and a mix of tanks and mobile artillery - and MacGraw's Marauders, a mercenary unit. Candy is a recon pilot, flying a modified Ferret which has had the machine gun and ammunition of the standard model stripped out and replaced with armor; half of the Armor Guard's VTOLs are unarmed variants like her own.
In August 3034 the Capellans deployed the mercenary unit Rob's Renegades to recapture Andarmax; while MacGraw's Marauders are fighting against half the Renegades around the planetary capital, Candy and the Armor Guard are half a continent away, fortifying in the Alamance Wastes and deploying remote sensors. Faced with certain defeat, the Killer Bees have cited a clause in their cadre duty contract and announced their intention to withdraw, making the prospect of the Magistracy forces holding out for reinforcements tenuous at best, particularly when deprived of the Bees' aerospace forces.
Phredi and Candy argue about the Killer Bees plans to withdraw, with Phredi repeatedly emphasising that the Magistracy forces are looking at certain death if they stop; she repeatedly asks Candy to come with her, arguing that a single Ferret can't make a difference, but Candy is determined to stay and fight for her home and her country - despite Phredi pointing out that she's throwing her life away trying to hold onto someone else's home. The two part ways after arguing, with Phredi and the Killer Bees withdrawing through the Alamance DropPort while the Armor Guard prepare to fight in the wastes.
Fighting in the foothills of the Alamance Mountains, Candy and the other VTOL pilots act as observers for the Armor Guard artillery, guiding in strikes as best they can against the advancing Renegades 'Mechs. The Armor Guard manage to damage or disable some Renegade units, but steadily take casualties; tracking a siege variant Catapult, Candy discovers that it's managed to secure itself in a position which the Armor Guard's artillery can't target it. The Catapult dismisses her Ferret as a threat, but Candy instinctively decides to use her Ferret to inflict damage the only way she can - by making a ramming attack, targeting the Catapult's canopy.
A day later, aboard the DropShip Honey Bee, Captain Tom Smith of the Killer Bees comes to brief Phredi on the situation on Andarmax. The Second Armor Guards had taken heavy damage and fallen back to their holdout position, and there's no word of the Armor Guards having any VTOLs still active. Worse still, there will be no reinforcements for them; the Second Canopian Cuirassiers have been driven off Drozan by an assault launched by Kincade's Rangers and House Dai Da Chi. Phredi bitterly declares that they abandoned people who counted on them, but Smith rebuffs that argument by saying that they didn't abandon the Armor Guard - they failed them. The Killer Bees' responsibility was to do everything they could to ensure the safety of their employers, a duty they failed when they didn't teach the Armor Guard how to choose their battles.