Scars
Sarna News
| Scars | |
|---|---|
| Product information | |
| Type | Short story |
| Author | Loren L. Coleman |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | BattleCorps |
| First published | |
| Content | |
| Era | Jihad era |
| Timeline | Most probably 3068 |
| Preceded by | Job Security |
| Followed by | Stalking the Legends |
The short story Scars by Loren L. Coleman was first published in via BattleCorps as a standalone product. An enhanced version was published in 2011 as part of the A Face Full of Blades compilation.
Contents
Plot summary
During the Jihad, The Unnamed Soldier has joined Erik Gray's Solaris Home Defense League and they have set an ambush for the WoB invaders. The Unnamed Soldier is using a Cavalier battlesuit while Erik is piloting a Sagittaire.
They start their ambush when their twelve 'Mechs and a few armored tanks attack a white-painted Atlas, while the infantry waits still in ambush. The blackist survives to counterattack and heavily damages an Huron Warrior, but it cannot resist a second push that ends with his cockpit destroyed.
The Unnamed Soldier acting as a General is directing all the movements through Erik as he says prima-donna MechWarriors don't want to get orders from a foot soldier.
Numbering twenty or so 'Mechs and about half a hundred armored vehicles and infantry (which is formed by a collection of streen enforces, triads, even mercenaries jump equipped) plus the big price: a company of Lyran infantry with two squads of Cavalier battlesuits, Their forces press on the attack, trying to create a gap in the WoB unit when a Saladin downs a Toyama. At that moment the Unnamed Soldier asks for DeLon Stables troops to enlarge the gap, which they do with two Komodos and half a dozen tanks. As true samurais they charge and though they loose both 'Mechs and all tanks except two Vedettes, they destroy four 'Mechs and and twice as many fire-gutted vehicles, and enlarging the gap per three.
After that action, the SHDL is free to engage the WoB forces even knowing their strength was 50% less from their enemies, but the momentum was on their side and the motivation of their troops very high as they knew that several Solaris VII media were recording this. Erik nailed a Lineholder while the Unnamed Soldier tangled with a nearby Raijin when the Blackist surprise them and using Purifier Battle Armor to finish Erik. The Unnamed Soldier is able to kill two of the attackers, but that distraction plus the combined action of a Grand Crusader and an Emperor nearly finish off Erik, downing his 'Mech with his front armor almost completely gone.
The Grand Crusader went down too and the Emperor continued on tryint to kill an Enfield, which left Erik alive. The Unnamed soldier asks a few Fenrir Battle Armor to protect him while he goes to stalking the Emperor and trying to recover it as much intact as possible for Gray. He and a full squad of Cavalier Battle Armor attack and distract the MechWarrior long enough for the Unnamed Soldier to blew the 'Mech head hatch and kill the pilot without destroying the 'Mech.
Erik Grey is escorted to the 'Mech and he takes possession of it to continue the fight another day.
Notes
The story is undated, but is is as being part of the first shots of the Jihad, putting this in 3068.