St Cmd John Sorenson,

Lightning Force Recon Command Star.

Supplies Raid

Arcadia Moon.

2^nd November 2823

Mission Status: Successful

Our raid upon the Cache in the Arcadia system was successful; we touched down on the dark side of the moon three clicks form our intended target. Preliminary reports had shown only light defences, which with luck would be drawn off by the armour, allowing LFR’s ‘mech assets to hit the base and withdraw with the supplies we were looking for.

All was going to plan; our armour had the defensive forces occupied in a futile pursuit over much of the lunar surface. As yet we had taken no losses and we had gained the required supplies from the base.

Exiting the compound we met our first sign of trouble, Jason picked them up first, his mongoose’s sensor array detecting 5 magnetic anomalies cresting the hill bearing 035. Ordering everyone into cover I jumped my shadowhawk back behind the wall of the compound. Locking the Armstrong into its firing position I switched my sensors to Vislight to ID our approaching foes.

Stepping over the hill in front of us was an unscathed heavy battlemech lance, the Ghost Bear Crest gleaming in the light of the compound. Becky comes over the comm. and verbalises what we are all thinking.

“Oh shit! We are screwed”

Internally, I agreed wholeheartedly with her, we were heavily outgunned and the more or less cut off from our DZ, but we had a mission to accomplish.  I called for radio silence and pulled up my topographical maps. To my dismay there was no way we could simply outrun them, the terrain in the area would allow them to bring us down with long range fire before we could escape. 

“OK listen up” I said to everyone “Becks, go to air mech mode, you are getting out of here with as much of the gear as you can carry.” I watched as the Stinger LAM began its transformation. “ Everyone else. We are going to have to fight our way out of this one. Best bet from the terrain is that we cut through the compound. If we blow through the back wall we can head into the hills behind it, with luck they will follow us through too close to the aero gas tanks.”

Marshal, my 2IC cut in at that point.  “I see where you are going with this boss, give us a sec to load up Becky’s stinger and I will rush everyone to your position. We are going to need some cover fire from you if we are going to make it over that courtyard though”

At that point a broadcast message came across all of our channels.

“This is Star Captain Amon of Clan Ghost Bear. Enemy raiding party identify yourselves.

“Star Captain Amon, you face the lightning force recon star of Clan Wolverine’s Alpha Galaxy, prepare for the transfer of our Codex. Accept my apologies for the lack of a formal batchall, however under the circumstances I am sure you understand, Quiaff?” Quickly flicking back to the star channel I practically screamed my orders. “Marshall GO! You too Becks get the hell out of here!”

I stepped out from behind the compound wall staffing the Armstrong across the ridgeline. The confusion of hearing that they faced a unit supposedly destroyed less than a week earlier obviously shook the Ghost Bear star, for only one mech returned my fire.

“Bear Guards! Hold your fire!” Star Captain Amon’s voice came over the comms. “Wolverine Star Commander Please hold your fire, none of my star will fire upon you”

I held my breath until the last mech of LFR was behind the compound wall and sure enough no mech opened fire.

“Clan Wolf has obviously failed in their appointed task of annihilating you and your trothkin. That they have failed is no concern of Clan Ghost Bear. The honour of your destruction was denied us, had the wolves been determined to wipe you out they would have. None of Clan Ghost Bear shall speak of your presence here. I bind all under my command to this rede.  Collect your forces and leave this moon.”

True to his word Amon allowed us to leave the surface unhindered, we returned both successful and without loss.