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Dragon’s Tale, A
The story of a Clan warrior. (Note: Many homegrown universe references)
by Dark Dragon |
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I knew where to find him. As usual he would be in the simulators. Like an excellent Khan, I knew my clan mates, and Tiamat was no exception. The man was obsessed with bettering himself, even if he was quickly becoming one of the best mechwarriors in the clan. Oh well. I have no objections to any of my pups wanting to better their skills.
I got to the sim pods and strapped myself in, then over the built in communications system "Tiamat is that you in there?"
"Yes my Kahn it is I, Tiamat Carns."
"Well then you want a sparring partner?"
"Yes, my Kahn."
"Then here I come!"
The system spawned me in a Timber Wolf on a generic world with a plateau 700m in front of me and a forest 500m to my left that stretched all the way to the base of the plateau. I checked my radar, and seeing I was still in active mode and that I had no readings as of yet I proceeded to head towards the plateau to get a better view off the terrain. As a came with in 300m of the plateau I heard my onboard computer announce "enemy detected." My radar showed the blip off to my left. I turned to my left in time to see a Shadow Cat running full tilt and then suddenly leap into the air firing its jump jets
"What the?!?" I shouted
Reacting quickly, I brought all my weapons to bear on the 45 ton Mech, but due to his velocity and deft maneuvering, my shots missed their mark.
"Damn you, DD," I cursed under my breath as the Shadowcat fired its 10 ERS laser into my right torso, than landed on top of me, putting a foot through my simulated cockpit.
"Damn you DD!" I exclaimed again as my screen went blank, but I wasn't angry.
It was more out of admiration then anything. "That was some sweet piloting out there.
How did you get the drop on me like that?"
"Simple really. I switched to passive radar and engaged thermo graphics. Mechs show up bright as day on all but the hottest worlds when using thermo"
"Damn you DD," I said with a genuine smile. This kid was good. It's too bad his former clan decided to denounce him.
"Well, unfortunately I'm not down here for good news."
"What happened?" He said in a concerned voice. I knew what was on his mind. his best friend and my Sakahn has gone missing since I sent him out to a meeting with clan dragon shadow, who we've been at war with for the past 3 years, on a mission of diplomacy.
"It's about Lobo." God I hate doing this sort of thing, He was my friend as well as Tiamat's, and it hurt to think that he could possibly be dead. "If he was still alive I'm certain he would have contacted us by now.. I'm going too announce him killed in action tonight. We are holding a funeral ceremony tomorrow. DD, I know this is hard. It's hard for me too. After all, he was a good friend and leader. That was why I wanted you to know before I told the rest of the clan."
"Th-thank you m-my Kahn. I must go now" And with that he walked off
The next day I called the clan together in the Ghost Wolf hall. I had to make my announcement.
"Fellow wolves I have grave news. As some of you may recall Lobo Connors went on a diplomatic mission in order to try to bring this way to an end two months ago. Nothing further has been heard from him since. I can only conclude that he was murdered by the shadow dragons. There will be a funeral held tomorrow in order to see him off to the skyland.
"My Kahn may I give his epitaph?" said Tiamat from the crowd
"I was hoping you would Tiamat."
The next day, outside the main entrance of the Clan Ghost Wolf strong hold stood two Timber Wolves and two lines of humans about 50 meters long, with about 3 feet of space between the lines of people. The rest of the clan stoodup on the main wall of the strong hold
Tiamat and I stood on a large platform about 10 yards east of the Timber Wolves. Tiamat stood at the podium that was set there, head held high, hands on the podium to steady himself despite his posture. Lobo’s death had shaken him badly.
"Long ago, an old wolf came to that time when his life on earth could last no longer. ‘My people,’ he said, ‘You can follow in my Paw prints when the time comes for you to join me in the sky land.’ Than he left the earth, climbing higher and higher, and each place he stepped the sky filled with stars.
“We gather here to see of one of our own to his rightful place in the sky land"
As Tiamat said this, I ordered the pall bearers to begin the process of handing the casket down via potable radio.
"He was a great Sakahn. He fought with honor and valor, I will miss hunting by his side, and it grieves me to think Clan Dragon Shadow is capable of such treacherous dishonor"
At that there was a shout from the crowd. "But Dragon Shadow is your former clan was it not?!"
I knew that voice and I am sure Tiamat also knew. It was none other than Hound, who had since received his blood name of Canis Mellondis.
"Yes it is true I once belonged to Dragon Shadow but they are NOT my clan I am no longer a dragon of shadow I am a GHOST WOLF! But enough of me. We are not gathered here for me to claim my loyalties. I did that long ago. We are here for Lobo! The shadow dragons will pay dearly for this even if I have to take down their Kahn's Mech with my bare hands!"
This wasn't going well. It was turning from a funeral into a lynch mob. I had to do something. So I turned to him, in a level that the crowd would not hear, "Tiamat, now is not the time to stir them up. I will take from here." I then took Tiamat’s place at the podium.
"Children of the Wolf! Do not despair! Lobo may have left this world, but you only need to look to the stars for his guidance! Lobo my friend, may your journey to the sky land be swift and your hunts successful!"
As I finished my speech so too did the casket finish its trip up the lines of people. The four pall bearers on the end closest to the 75 ton Mechs walked the casket the rest of the way to its resting place between the two Mechs.
Then the entire clan bowed there heads in a moment of silent reverence. Even the Mech pilots crouched their Mechs in order to pay their respects to the fallen leader
After a brief period the clan lifted their heads, and the Timber Wolves ignited the casket with flamer fire. To my left I heard Tiamat whisper, "Rest well, my friend. You WILL be avenged."
A few days later I went to find Tiamat. As usual he was in the simulators. This time I caught up with him on his way out.
"Tiamat!" I shouted
"What my Kahn?"
“I need to know something. With Timber.. well .. you know.. we don't have a Sakahn. Now I know this may be a little soon but, I want to know if you would like to take the position."
"I-it would be an honor" he said awed. "But what of the rest of the clan? Surely someone will object." We both knew he was talking about Canis.
"Well if there are any objections, we will hold a trial for the position, with you against whoever objects to your ability to fulfill the role. It's that simple. I will make the announcement tomorrow. See you in Ghost Wolf hall."
Well I knew Canis was going to be a thorn in the side at tomorrow’s meeting. But I also had no doubt as to who would win between him and Tiamat. I guess I would find out tomorrow.
I headed back to my quarters and tried to sleep, but was having trouble due to the fact that my thoughts kept drifting back to Lobo. God how I missed him. I wasn't sure who this had hit harder, me or Tiamat. I was never really sure just what was going on in his head at any given moment, but one thing I knew was that Lobo was one of Tiamat's first and closest friends, and that in itself was probably tearing him to shreds.
The next morning, I called the clan together to announce Tiamat’s nomination, but also to set up the eminent challenge.
"My fellow pups. I know some of you may not like what I am about to say, but I have selected the new Sakahn. Tiamat Carns. Unless there are any objections, I now declare you Sakahn of Clan Ghost Wolf." I waited five beats, then I began to count silently to myself. Five, four, three, two...
"I object to him being made Sakahn," shouted Canis.
"Right on time," I said under my breath, then said to the crowd of my Clan mates, "Well then, Canis. Who do you propose be my new Sakahn?"
"I believe I could do a fine job of it, my Kahn," he said.
"Well then, meet me in the sim pods in an hour. You two will fight for it!"
When I got down to the sim pods, Tiamat was waiting for me.
"Well then, as soon a Canis arrives we will be ready," I said to him.
"I am ready now, my Kahn."
As I looked him over. He didn't seem to be his usual self. While always with drawn and slightly secretive, he had an aura of enthusiasm and confidence about him that was utterly infectious, but not so today. Today he seemed like his very essence had been drained from him. Now I know it's not proper for a Kahn to pick favorites, but I really wanted him to win this fight. Honestly, I never trusted Canis in the slightest. He always seemed to have his own agenda, and I was never able to truly figure out what made him tick.
"My Kahn I am ready to fight!" I heard Canis say to me
"Well then, because of what is on the line here, this trial will be done with a modified batchall. And since you are the challenger, you pick first Canis. Will you choose the weight limit or environment or will you defer?" I asked him.
"Weight limit. 90 tons."
"90 tons it is then," I said, wincing inwardly. Canis was looking to cut out his assault mech variant by choosing a 90 ton limit. Every one knew the chassis that Tiamat preferred were 100 ton, 60 ton, and 45 ton chassis. By going with an in-between weight limit, he cut off access to one of Tiamat's most devastating designs, his long range Dire Wolf.
"Tiamat?"
"Generic jungle 3," he said. I recognized it as the world he fought me in when I went to tell him about Lobo.
"Ok then strap in and get ready" I said. We all climbed into a pod, and strapped in. The system spawned me back about 300m north of Tiamat and 500m east of Canis.
Over the comm system, I heard Canis taunt Tiamat. "Ok, Shadow Dragon! Lets see what you've got!"
I pulled up the system interface and changed my "Mech" over to a camera ship. This way, I could watch without being picked up on their sensors as a third Mech. From my HUD, I could see what Mechs they were running. Canis was using a 90ton Supernova armed with 2 ultra auto cannon 20's, two 20 round Long range missile launchers, and two six round short range streak missile launchers. Tiamat was using his 45 ton Shadowcat with its 10 er small lasers.
This will either be a very exciting match or an all out slaughter, I thought to myself.
You know, the cam ship is not only a good tool for training green mechwarriors with its tactical readouts, sensor feed from all Mech in the current sim program, but it was also a great way to watch Mech battles.
From my tactical readouts and sensor feed I could tell exactly what Tiamat was doing. He was switching between active and passive sensor modes, a good stealth tactic in it because it makes the Mech appear to be a sensor echo but in this case, he was most likely doing it to bait Canis.
"Please, the sensor echo trick will not work on me in this environment. You're the only other target here."
Checking my tactical readout I could see Tiamat had already engaged thermo graphics, and was trying to lead him towards the forest.
"Ha ha ha!! Not very smart, Tiamat!" Canis shouted, then launched a volley of long range missiles at the base of the outer trees of the forest. The missiles detonated, incinerating the outer tree line and igniting what ever else was not immediately turned to ash.
This was not good. Never in my life have I seen such a dishonorable tactic.
"CANIS!!!" I screamed into the comm system. "What is the meaning of your dishonorable fighting!!"
"My Kahn I thought honor had no bearing since all he does is run?"
"I run no more!" Tiamat said over the comm. I looked down to see the Shadow Cat leap over the wall of fire, utilizing jump jets to control trajectory, I watched the Shadow Cat leg clear Canis' cockpit by mere inches and land behind the mech. Next it opened fire. 10 er small laser ripped into the Supernovas armor, damaging its center torso heavily but, alas, it did not destroy the 90 ton monstrosity. Canis' Mech was, after all, twice the size of Tiamat's.
As Tiamat began to back away and attempt to circle round the other Mech, Canis fired his auto cannons. Auto cannons were some of the deadliest weapons in existence, and this particular barrage knocked the 45 ton Shadow Cat to the ground as if it were a rag doll.
From the tactical readout I could see Canis taking aim on Tiamat's cockpit, and I thought it was over for him. Then Tiamat's Mech began to right itself, and I knew I would hear the computer announce "target destroyed." Instead, I saw a flash of blue light from the Shadow Cat as it fired it's lasers again at the center torso, doing more that just chewing armor. This time it chewed all the way through the Mechs torso and out the other side.
"Target destroyed," came a computerized female voice. The pods shut down and opened to let the cool air of the Pod Center in. As they stepped into view, I could see both fighters had worked up quite a sweat from simulated heat build-up.
"Well, DD? How does it feel to be a Sakahn?"
"Not bad. Not bad at all."
"Congratulations on your victory my Sakahn," Canis said with an unmistakable venom about him. "I just hope your half as good a Sakahn as Lobo was." With that, he walked off.
That battle was the first time I was able to get a fleeting glimpse at just who Canis really was, and what I saw disturbed me deeply... |
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