Free At Last!
Sarna News
| Free At Last! | |
|---|---|
| Story information | |
| Author | Herbert A. Beas II |
| Pages | 2 |
| Type | Short story |
| Product | Mercenaries Supplemental II |
| Content | |
| Era | Civil War era |
| Timeline | 9 October 3067[1] |
Free At Last! is a short story by Herbert A. Beas II. It was published as introductory fiction for Mercenaries Supplemental II.
Contents
Plot Summary
The short story describes the pivotal battle between William "Bud" Baranov, the "Emperor of Hall", and Elly Burton, commander of Burton's Brigade, on the eve of the Jihad.
After a decade of fierce fighting for supremacy on the Chaos March world of Hall, Baranov in his Zeus meets Burton in her Cyclops near the town of South Harley. Here, Baranov and his Republican Guard are assigned to protect an ammunition depot while his Free Worlds League allies and mercenaries of the Stealthy Tigers engage forces of the Allied Mercenary Command, which includes Burton's Brigade.
In the course of the fight, Burton's Brigade takes the opportunity to strike at the ammunition depot and Baranov. Following Burton's demand to surrender and the exchange of several rounds of heavy fire, Baranov manages to take down Burton's 'Mech after her last volley entirely misses his 'Mech. However, before he has any chance to revel in the victory, Baranov is caught in a heavy explosion and killed instantly. Burton's last volley was not aimed at the Zeus, but the ammunition depot behind it, which explodes when hit by the salvo.
In the final scene, Elly Burton witnesses the explosion of the depot and Baranov's Zeus while smiling and thinking: "Free at last", before also being consumed by the reactor explosion of her Cyclops.[2]
Featured Characters
- William Baranov, self-proclaimed "Emperor of Hall" and commander of the Republican Guard
- Force Commander Bobum, company commander of the 4th Oriente Hussars (mentioned)
- Captain Elly Burton, commander of Burton's Brigade
- MechWarrior Zappavinga, veteran 'Mech pilot of the Republican Guard
- Count Radcliffe McNally, late nobel of Hall and lover of Elly Burton (mentioned)
- MechWarrior Refazo, female 'Mech pilot of the Republican Guard
Featured Units
- Republican Guard
- Allied Mercenary Command (mentioned)
- Burton's Brigade
- 4th Oriente Hussars (mentioned)
- 3rd Dismal Disinherited (mentioned)
- Stealthy Tigers (mentioned)