CHAPTER 10 – ROYALTY & ROGUES; THE CONCLUSION
Starring: El Barone Pepperoni (Graham)
Judas Storm (PhilM)
Turkey Creek Jack Johnson (Sukh)
Zeus Voyager Bond (PJ)
Jacques Scarfe (PhilJ)
Co-Starring: Jennifer Penelope Jones (Rich) – played by Sukh
Ferdinand of Altringham (Kell) – played by PhilM
‘Hawkins’ (Dabe) – played by PhilJ
Having determined that the only option left is to head out into the wilderness to find the Slayers base, El Barone comes up with a plan. Rather than ‘walk’ out to the base and risk the Mechs being identified, the group will fly the Dropship out to a safe area near the base. From here the group will go on foot to the Slayers base.
The flight was uneventful, not even ground control questioned their flight path.
The Dropship landed about 20 klicks from the base, behind a group of hills. The group moved out in their Mechs. Turkey Creek donned his Battle Armour Suit and attached himself to Bonds Mech. As the group reached the crest of the hill, the Slayers base came into view. It was in the middle of a vast expanse and was surrounded by 12 metre tall walls. There is a large ferrocrete area just outside the wall. It is obvious that sneaking up would be tricky.
Your Mechs scanners soon pick up 4 targets between you and the base. These are quickly identified as Mechs (Panther, Griffin, Whitworth & Awesome).
El Barone orders the group to hold on the ridge, and advances his Hankyu towards the Base. He opens a comms channel: “I am here to talk to Vince Silver and Samantha Davion-Harland”. The opposing Mechs remain in position, and no-one replies.
“I come at the behest of Duke Morris Davion-Harland” Says El Barone.
After what seems like an age, a voice replies “Who are you and what do you want?”
“I am Baron ..... Pepperoni. I have come to discuss the Duke’s concerns that his daughter has been kidnapped by a band of pirates”.
“What!!”, a female voice interjects. “Is he alright?”
“I would prefer to discuss this face to face”
“Yes of course. We will escort you into our base. The rest of your group may approach the base, but should wait outside the walls.” Replies the female.
El Barone switches channels. “Okay guys, follow me to the base. I’m going in but you are to stay outside.”
“Are you sure thats wise?” asks Bond. “It may be a trap?”
“Just carry out your orders, Private”
“Yessir”
El Barone moves off to the base, the Slayers Mechs escort him in. Inside the base you see 5 more Mechs; 2 Warhammers, an Enforcer, a Zeus and a Catapult. A man and a woman approach your Mech and from the info you have these are none other than Vince and Samantha. El Barone dismounts and greets them.
After the introductions, El Barone is taken to the main building to continue the discussion. Samantha again asks why you are here.
“We have been hired by the Duke, your Father, to locate you and return to Bryceland with you.”
A lengthy exchange between Samantha and El Barone ensues covering what is happening on Bryceland, the Dukes health and welfare.
“I would appreciate it if my colleagues outside can be allowed in to rest” El Barone says.
“Oh, yes, of course. We’ll open the gate and let them in” Vince says.
The rest of the group enter the base and see the other Mechs inside.
“I’m glad we didn’t do anything rash, like attacking. We’d have got creamed.” says Storm.
“Umm, could have been messy” says Turkey Creek.
Back in the main building. El Barone plays the ace card.
“We have positive proof that someone close to the Duke is behind the attacks on Bryceland”
“How could that be. The Slayers are the ones doing the raids” Samantha exclaims.
“True, but who do you think has been paying Vince and his Slayers to carry out the raids?”
“No-one hired Vince”
“I beg to differ. I can prove that General Freeder is behind this sorry mess with the aim of taking Bryceland for himself.” Says El Barone.
“WHAT!” shouts Samantha. With that she flies into a rage and starts screaming at Vince.
Vince manage to take Samantha out of the room. One of the other Slayers enters and shows you to the barracks , where your group rest.
After a few hours Vince and Samantha (now calmed down) come to see the group.
Samantha says “I commend your tenacity in tracking me all the way here from Bryceland. My father is a good judge of character ... most of the time. I’ll tell you right now, I have no intention of leaving Vince to rule Fantos Island. I’ve had enough of playing duchess but I love my father. I won’t leave him to the mercies of a traitor like General Freeder. You and I and the Slayers are heading back to Bryceland to crush General Freeder and give my father his world back.”
With that Samantha gets up and walks out. “Well, I guess we better load up and head out” says Vince.
The Slayers techs get busy fixing up their Mechs as best they can. That evening the Slayers Dropship returns – an Overlord class called the Silent Cut, loaded with another 12 Mechs. The Slayers work through the night to get themselves ready to leave in the morning. About 2 hours before lift off, the remaining Lance of Mechs returns from patrolling the wastelands. The total strength of the Slayers is now up to 24 Mechs.
Part Two – Liberation
The two Dropships take off and head to the jump point. Samantha’s Mech has been loaded into the groups Dropship. Samantha will join them on arrival in the Bryceland system. El Barone contacts Trini Bezz, still waiting at the jump point. She is only to willing to take you back.
The next few weeks pass slowly, jump after jump, but finally you arrive in the Bryceland system. In order to gain maximum advantage you have entered the system at one of the pirate points used by the Slayers.
The plan is for Vince and the Slayers to take on the Royal Guard, giving the group and Samantha time to get into the palace and confront General Freeder. As the Dropships part ways for the final approach Vince calls you one more time. “Good luck. We won’t be able to hold them off for long, so make it quick – and look after my wife.”
Before you can respond you Dropship touches down and its time to get on with the job at hand.
It soon becomes apparent that only a skeleton force is defending the route to the palace and command bunker. The first level of defence is easily dispatched – consisting of a lance of Hover tanks and a company of Infantry.
The second level is somewhat more determined to stop you. It consists of the Royal Guard Command Lance (Caeser, Crusader, Griffin and Marauder). There are also a couple of vehicles as well.
The fight is brutal. Scarfe in the Panther takes heavy damage as does Storm in the Cougar. The Caeser, piloted by Major Alison Robinson attempts to take out Samantha, and nearly succeeds until Bond and Hawkins join up to take her down.
By now Scarfe has got close to the command bunker. His SRM launcher is damaged so he decides to dump the unused ammo by the bunker and withdraws to a safe distance. He turns and fires. At the third attempt the ammo ignites and a massive explosion rocks the whole area. When the dust settles the bunker is still intact, just. (most of the bunker is underground.)
The remaining defenders are out of action and the group dismount to enter the bunker only to find the main entrance totally buried.
“Follow me! I know a secret way in!” Shouts Samantha.
With that the group find a ‘back door’. Samantha punches in a combination, but nothing happens “Damn it. He must have changed the codes”
“Wait, let me have a go” El Barone steps forward and connects up his security kit. After 30 seconds the door opens. The group go in.
Turkey Creek leads the way in the Gnome Battle Suit. A couple of guards shoot from the end of the corridor but the shots just bounce off. Turkey Creek keeps moving forward. The group spreads out down several corridors. Resistance is light.
Eventually, after searching several rooms and taking out some of the guards they find the entrance to the command centre. The group enters and finds the Duke, General Freeder, the Guard Captain and 6 guards inside.
The Duke turns, sees your group. “Samantha!”, and starts to move toward you. However, General Freeder’s shout from behind stops him. Freeder has his pistol drawn but you can’t tell who he’s aiming at.
“We have evidence that General Freeder is planning to overthrow you Duke” says El Barone.
“That’s rediculous. These intruders are in league with the pirates.” Responds Freeder.
“There is documented proof that Raymond Fitzgibbons hired the Slayers on behalf of the General. Its all here.” El Barone holds up a laptop.
The General starts to get very agitated and finally snaps. “Guards, Kill them!” he shouts.
With that a firefight breaks out. The Duke manages to take cover just as Freeder takes a shot at him.
“Father!!” Samantha shouts, seeing her father fall.
Turkey Creek leaps across the room, aided by his jump jets, and pins the General to the ground. Almost immediately the fighting stops.
The Duke gets up, unhurt.
A call over the communicator from Vince indicates that the Royal Guard have given up fighting now they know the truth.
Part Three – The Rewards
Father and Daughter are reunited again, but only for a brief time.
Samantha explains to the Duke that she intends to leave Bryceland with Vince, her husband, and turn the Slayers into an honourable Mercenary unit.
The Duke thanks you for finding his daughter and real reason behind the pirate attacks. You are paid the rest on the contract agreement and given free usage of the repair facilities to fix your Mechs.
Whilst relaxing in the palace grounds, waiting for your Mechs to be repaired, Vince & Samantha come to see you. “We are going to head to Outreach and get our unit officially registered” Samantha says. “If you need somewhere to operate from you can have our base on Antallos”
“I can’t possibly take that. You’ll need it yourselves one day” El Barone replies. The rest of the group are stunned by the comment.
“Accept it as a long term loan then, I insist”
“Well, okay then. Thanks”.
The next few days were quiet. The Mechs are repaired as best they can be with no Clan Tech spares.
Samantha’s Slayers depart for Outreach and you depart for .....
Tune in next time for the continuing adventures of Tin Tin.
No, I mean, well you get the picture...... Antallos beware!