Both shots hit the Charger'sleft arm, coring through armor and scarring the skeleton below. Rose did not notice until later that the shots had destroyed the arm's medium laser. The second attack was too much and Rose lost his battle with gravity. The Chargertook one more step, then crashed to the ground. He was sure his fight was over, but Esmeralda moved to cover him. Standing less than thirty meters away from the Annihilator,she traded a brief volley with the larger 'Mech as Rose regained his feet.

Though he'd managed to stand up, the Impcontinued to fire on him as he did. Badicus was attempting to draw the assault 'Mech's fire, but the pilot ignored him. In order to keep the Dragoon 'Mechs confined to the narrow streets of the town and to restrict their fire, Rose and Esmeralda were forced to stand their ground before the Zeusand the two assault 'Mechs. The Archerfired at Badicus on the roof as the Shadow Hawkfired down on the damaged Zeus.The armor on Rose's Chargerwas practically gone when the tide of the battle shifted.

A rebel yell filled the commlink as Hawg charged down the side street and caught the Dragoons from the right, gutting the badly damaged Zeuswith missiles and lasers. Simultaneously, Rianna and Angus landed on the opposite side of the street and began firing at the damaged Crusader.The Crusaderexploded as the two lighter 'Mechs finished off the engine's shielding with a hail of pointblank laser fire. The force of the simulated blast was channeled down the street, engulfing the two attacking 'Mechs and the nearby Imp.

Both Thorn 'Mechs flashed from green to red, then, disappeared from Rose's screen, victims of the explosion. Although they were blocked from sight by the buildings, Rose knew that the two 'Mechs had been immobilized by the practice field's myomer inhibitors. On his primary screen the Impwas briefly highlighted in red before returning to its normal color, minus its right arm. Rose fired his remaining weapons at the damaged 'Mech and was rewarded with computer-generated explosions in the right torso.

Ajax came in over the open channel. "Thorn One, the two missing Dragoons are approaching at high speed. Thorn Three, watch your back."

Rose risked a look at his side scanner and watched briefly as two swiftly moving 'Mechs came up behind Hawg. As the Zeusturned to face the new threat, the undamaged Dragoon Archergave up firing at Badicus and targeted the Zeus'back.

"Esmeralda, get the Archer."Rose staggered forward and switched his sights to the Annihilator.The Warhammerlumbered past the pivoting assault 'Mech, limping badly. Rose fired his remaining weapons at the Annihilator,stopping its movement. Again the arms came up to return fire, flaying the last of the Charger'sarmor off in a shower of sparks.

Rose risked a look at the scanner to check on Hawg, but the Zeuswas already down. Caught in the crossfire between the Archerand two MASC-equipped Wolverines,the Zeushad been torn apart in a single lethal volley. Badicus jumped off the roof and headed deeper into town, the twin Wolverinesin hot pursuit. Rose did not give much for his chances, but was forced to put it out of his mind as the Annihilatorlined up for another shot. Knowing he could not sustain another attack, he concentrated on releasing one more volley before he was tagged dead.

As Rose fired what he was sure would be his last hasty shot, Esmeralda abandoned the Archerand fired into the back of the Annihilator.As the Annihilator'sback exploded, Esmeralda's Warhammerwas rocked sideways by the Archer'slasers. Although the Annihilatorwas heavily armored, it was not able to withstand the full assault of the Warhammer.Nearly all the engine shielding was ripped away and the gyro severely damaged.

Rose and Esmeralda both knew that in a real battle she would never have been able to get close enough to inflict such damage, but since neither side was allowed to strike physical blows, she'd gotten away with it. It was a good example of breaking the spirit of the engagement by sticking to the rules. The Annihilatorstaggered forward, but quickly righted itself and turned on Esmeralda. Rose knew the Warhammerwould be destroyed by the two Dragoon 'Mechs, but he was not prepared for what happened next.

With amazing speed, the Annihilatorbrought its left arm around and clubbed Esmeralda in the chest. Although the inhibitors of the assault 'Mech softened the blow somewhat, the front of the Warhammerbuckled inward. Rose screamed a curse and tried to close on the Annihilator,but Esmeralda was closer.

Swinging from the waist, she drove the Warhammer'sright PPC into the Annihilator'shead, lancing the cockpit amid a shower of sparks and smoke. Rose continued to run, despite the fact that he knew it was already too late to prevent retaliation. The Chargertook two more steps before the Dragoon technicians activated the myomer inhibitors on all the remaining 'Mechs.

All the standing 'Mechs froze in place, except for the Annihilator.With a screech of grinding metal, it knocked away the PPC that had impaled its head. Gaining speed as it went, the 'Mech fell straight backward into an adjacent building. Unable to move, Rose watched as the building collapsed on top of the massive 'Mech, completely burying the head and shoulders in stone and mortar.

19

Harlech, Outreach

26 September 3054

 

Rose lounged with his back against the cool marble wall and watched the rest of his unit deal with having to wait. A casual glance at his chronometer showed that they'd been "detained" in this austere room somewhere in Wolf Hall for more than two hours. Patience was beginning to wear thin on some, but the Thorns managed to avoid taking it out on each other.

He knew that they were not at fault for initiating the physical combat that had put one Dragoon in the hospital, but as time wore on he began to wonder. His unit was sitting on the Dragoon homeworld, practicing on Dragoon fields, their 'Mechs sitting in Dragoon repair bays, fighting a match with Dragoon referees. Technically, he had nothing to fear, but if the Dragoons said it was the Black Thorns' fault, who in the Inner Sphere could argue differently? It wouldn't tarnish the reputation of Wolf's Dragoons if they were bested one time by an unknown mercenary force, but it could mean all the difference to the Black Thorns. The results of the match would be posted in the Hiring Hall for all prospective employers to see. News of such a win would undoubtedly help the Thorns get the kind of contract he was seeking.

Ten minutes after the Annihilatorhad collapsed into the building, a Dragoon medevac unit had dropped in on the scene, followed closely by a security company. Several 'Mechs moved to cover the immobile Thorns, as a Shadow Hawkand a Grasshopperused their giant metal hands to free the Annihilatorfrom the fallen walls.

Rose was surprised to learn that the pilot was still alive, even conscious, as a medical VTOL took him away. The security force, led by the Grasshopper,escorted Rose and his company back to the staging area, where their 'Mechs were powered down. Rose had wanted to communicate with the rest of his unit, but the Dragoons had imposed a broad-based jam on the Black Thorn 'Mechs, forcing each pilot to work in silence.

Once out of his 'Mech and on the ground again, Rose had motioned the team to remain quiet as Dragoon foot soldiers with laser carbines quickly surrounded them. Though most of the 'Mechs in his company had gone into battle armed, even for a practice battle like this one, they were no match for the armored Dragoons. Herded like livestock, the Thorns had been packed into the back of an armored van and driven directly to Wolf Hall. Once the van doors closed behind the last Thorn, the unit members had turned to him with a thunder of questions and outrage. Rose shut them off by slashing his finger across his throat.