Blackwatch

[Ironwatsas]

The chaotic scene which erupted immediately upon the Mechs' landing was worthy of a movie spectacle. Tracers, energy bolts, rockets, and grenades flew every which way, the pair of infantry dropships orbited above the factory, raining plasma bolts and rockets onto the defenders, while high above, the defending fighters were now desperately trying to evade the Consortium scimitars, which had them heavily outnumbered.

Detrich's mech shuddered as another rocket impacted, inflicting little more then superficial damage. He wheeled his machine around and leveled the mech's rifle on a pile of mangled cars which several defenders were using as cover. He depressed the trigger on the right arm control handle and felt a dull vibration and heard the muffled sound as a long burst of 25 millimeter high explosive shells tore the cars, and the defenders beyond them, to ribbons, leaving a cone of wrecked metal, blood, and oil on the far side.

He then turned his attention to one of the anti-aircraft guns firing on the Dropships, which were orbiting just far enough away to avoid accurate flak fire. He walked his vehicle closer, despite being peppered with small arms fire and the occasional hand grenade, which had virtually no affect on the armored battlemech. Another long burst aimed at the gun emplacement was all it took, the force of the impacting shells knocking the remains of the gun on it's side.

To Detrich's left, the mechs callsigned 'Landown' and 'Astoria' were now both operable and quickly opened up on the opposing infantry. Both walked to flank the lead mech and sprayed continued bursts onto the infantry. The second anti-aircraft gun was desperately trying to draw a bead on the ASCA lance, but due to it's positioning and the limit of it's gimbal, it was hopeless. A burst of autocannon fire was all it took to destroy it.

"Rockets..." Landown yelled.

Several infantry fired a simultaneous barrage of rocket propelled grenades and more complicated munitions at the mechs. Now however, the ASCA's active protection systems were functional, as they were no longer in flight. Small laser emmitters began firing on the missiles, detonating several. Invariably though, some made it through. The mech codenamed 'Astoria' took several direct hits and was once again immobilised. Unfortunately, the defenders' victory was short lived, as the remaining mecha sprayed the area with their rifles, for a full 20 seconds, repeated, rapid bursts of fire went out.

"Ceasefire, fire zone is clear."

In the wake of the onslaught, little remained except the twisted remains of cars and speeders, and few bits of what could be identified as human remains.

"LZ is cold, routing dropships to position."

"Delta lance, proceed to coagulate hardpoint. Assume position around the facility."

Detrich was taking in the data from the various other elements of the Consortium strikeforce. Two of the three black dragons were still fighting in the skies above, although despite destroying two of the Scimitars, they were being overwhelmed, and desperately looking for a way out. Finally, one of the dragons collided with a Scimitar in a head-on pass, causing the mangled wreckage of both ships to fall to the surface with a dull thud.

"Splash two." Came the voice of whomever was monitoring the drones' progress.

Detrich and Landown moved toward the large bay doors at the back of the large warehouse. The dropships were moving in and the re-inforcement platoon which had landed while Detrich's squad secured the warehouse was on the way. Everything had become quiet all of a sudden...

"Conveyer 5-1, on final approach, clear LZ."

"Astoria, report status."

"Still immobile, will require engineering support."

"Alright, Alpha lance, get ready to breach the doors..."

"Energy spike, inside the warehouse."

"What the...!?"

Suddenly, the doors of the warehouse exploded outward, and forth charged a Samura-built attack mech, which immedietly opened up on the Consortium force. Landown and Detrich doubled back and returned fire with inhuman reflexes, but were now suddenly facing down a superior foe.

In contrast to the strictly utilitarian Consortium machines, the Kusari mech was designed with an asthetic touch similar to their space vehicles. Though it was by no means weak, being a much heavier armed and armored vehicle then the ASCA.

The Kusari mech opened up with it's twin arm mounted photon cannons, which forced the Consortium mechs to go evasive while returning fire with their autocannons. Their shells however had little effect on the dense composite-ceramic armor of their foe. Seconds later, the Kusari mech primed and fired a pair of shoulder mounted antitank missiles, which flew toward Detrich and Astoria respectively. The former's superior reflexes gave a split second oppurtunity to punch his jumpjets and fly upward, narrowly avoiding the missile.

Astoria was less lucky, unable to move, took a direct hit from the missile. An orange-white gout of flame erupted as the remains of the mech were strewn about the parking lot. The threat of death did little however to phase the rest of the Consortium soldiers. Detrich thrusted and landed to the right of the attacking mech, and primed his own shoulder pod, launching a missile at the Kusari mech. Landown did the same. Unfortunately the Kusari mech also had an active protection package, easily shooting down both missiles.

"Delta lance, we need fire support at hardpoint. Now." Detrich replied, calmly yet sternly, continuing to evade the deadly bolts of energy launched by the opponant.

His primary weapon was beginning to overheat as he and Landown in unison fired a second missile barrage. One of the missiles however did hit it's mark, breaking the left arm of the attacking mech. However, ASCA were out of missiles, and the Kusari mech focused it's attention on Detrich.

"Secondary target detected."

From within the open wearhouse building, from an underground lift concealed in the floor, emerged a second Kusari mech identical to the first, which rushed as fast as it could to join it's partner, opening up with it's own photon cannons as it locked it's missiles on for the kill. Unfazed despite near certian death, Detrich continued to fire his primary weapon in vain, to the point where the barrel was nearly red-hot, and his ammunition reserves nearing depletion.

"Yeah, Yeah! Who's the big man NOW! Gaijin Scum!" Yelled one of the Kusari mech's pilots over the open comms.

"Delta lance in visual range of target facility. Friendlies clear fire sector." Came another emotionless voice over the comm channel.

Detrich and Landown both activated their thrusters to evade, and before the Kusari defenders could react, a streak of plasma flew from outside the facility and tore into the first mech, knocking it clear off it's legs.

On a small rise just outside the facility, Delta lance approached. A pair of Cyclops walkers and a number of smaller scout cars, mobile anti aircraft guns, and Guardian bots. While the ASCA were designed mainly for mobility, speed, and stealth, the Cyclops' were walking tanks in every aspect of the word. The intimidating vehicles' slowly strode forward, emmitting an inhuman orange glow from their main sensor opening.

The second Kusari mech quickly turned to face this new threat as Detrich and Landown fell back. A third Kusari mech quickly emerged from the building and joined it's ally. Both fired Photon cannons and a salvo of anti-tank missiles. But the Cyclops' active protection system easily shot down the missiles, and their armor and shields sloughed off anything that got through.

Within less then a second of one another, both of the Cyclops' fired their main weapons, a pair of multi-gigawatt plasma cannons. The Kusari mechs stood no chance, both being instantly obliterated, and their molten remnants scattered about the now cratered and scorched parking lot.

"Sector is secure. Condition Yellow."

"Damage report."

"One unit down, others suffered damage, need resupply." Detrich replied

"Affirmative, engineering teams rearm Alpha lance. Delta lance, secure the perimiter. Conveyer, clear to land."

One of the Cyclops mechs moved to cover the doors of the facility incase of any other surprises, while Delta squad's AA guns and Guardians moved to occupy the area. The scout cars parked alongside Detrich and Landown's battered mechs, and several occupants jumped out and began field servicing the ASCA. Replacing ammunition and several external panels, as the mechs' nanobot system repaired what damage it could.

Finally, the dropships touched down and Shamshir's infantry team began to disembark.

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All that begins must end.