Clan Smoke Jaguar - Nov. 9^th, 3068.

In an effort to save their Clan honor from another defeat, Smoke Jaguar challenged the 328th to an energy weapon only battle for the fate of Hanover. The SLDF mechwarriors quite happily agreed and a proxy battle, known to the Clans as a Trial of Possession was scheduled.

General Kronos negotiated the terms and allowed the Jaguars time to re-equip their mechs to energy configurations while the SLDF removed their anti-missile systems and its ammunition from their mechs.

The battle began at approximately 2100 hours, TST and ended 3 hours later. After brutal fighting in and around the charred remains of Hanover's largest industrial center, the Lion Hearted Division emerged from the ruins, victorious. The Jaguar saKhan, beaten but not in spirit, personally surrendered Hanover to the SLDF high command.

The Jag warriors were allowed to board some of their dropships, dispossessed, and return to a Jaguar held world while the SLDF kept the remaining mechs as "islorla."


And so an end to chapter 1 of the Net BattleTech 3068 league has come to pass. 3 of the 5 great houses have disbanded. The Draconis Combine, Lyran Commonwealth and Capellan Confederation have all either disbanded or just completely been burned out on constant attacks from many many different units.

A vote was taken, and a restart won by a large margin. While the league is not ending, many groups are shifting around. The current map will remain the same, all planets captured and lost will remain as is. Units however will most likely have different income and mech levels and several new factors have been added into the fray. Monthly maintenance costs will keep things on a realistic level while making units work much more closely together.

Chapter 2 promises to hold many new surprises and hidden dangers for the unwary. Unit leaders will be required to "earn their keep" this time around by properly managing their units.

Clan Smoke Jaguar - Nov. 2^nd, 3068.

"Open a wide beam channel to the surface" General Arioth said.

"Aye sir, channel opened."

"I am General Arioth, commander of the task force you are picking up on your scanners. I intend to take this world in the name of the Star League Defense Forces. What do you wish to defend yourselves with?" Arioth said confidently while looking about the dropship's bridge and shrugging.

Several moments later the response came,

"I am Nova Colonel Max Demian, garrison commander of Hanover. I will use whatever means necessary to defeat your dezgra freebirth mercenaries!" Demian snarled back.

"Ahh, I see. Well in that case, I will use my entire compliment. I'll see you soon. Out." Arioth replied, nodding at the comtech to close the transmission.


Once again, 5 Overlord-C class dropships descended into the atmosphere of a Smoke Jaguar held world. All 5 landed without incident on the plains of Hanover's northern continent within a few kilometers of Hanover's largest industrial center.

SLDF mechs disembarked from their dropships, taking up defensive wedge formations while scanning the horizon. The SLDF soldiers expected lasers to light up the sky at any moment, but were a bit unprepared to see swarms of LRM fights heading their way. AMS cannons errupted into action, spreading sheets of explosions across the sky as they feebly tried to shoot down the approaching missiles. The missiles found their targets, cratering and gouging out chunks of armor, sending several mechs to their knees, now only smoking ruins.

"Into the city! All units, into the city!" General Arioth screamed over his Grizzly's tactcom freuency.

The SLDF mechs advanced into the industrial center at flank speed, using what little cover they could find to dodge yet more missiles raining down all around them.

As the SLDF mechs filtered into the city, taking up ambush positions ready to lay waste to any pursuing mechs, General Psychlone announced to the 328th mechwarriors that he had discovered a way to make the Jaguar's weapons less effective. The plan was immediately put into action.

By the end of the week after the successful use of hit and fade attacks, the Smoke Jaguar garrison was reduced to less then half its number. Of the 91 mechs being fielded, only 44 were being estimated as operational. Close to 3,510 tons of Jaguar machinery lay in ruins accross Hanover's surface, a testiment to the determination of the Star League Defense Forces. The SLDF lost approximately 42 mechs for a total of 2,940 tons.

General Arioth delivered a combat readiness assessment to the SLDF unit commanders stating that the reason for the Jaguar's heavy dependancy upon missile systems was that many must still be sibko cadets in training."

Still under siege, Brocchi's Cluster and Coudoux are expected to have similar results, being liberated after much heavy fighting.

Clan Smoke Jaguar - Oct. 26^th, 3068.

After a week of dodging missile assaults by Jaguar mechs, the SLDF forces managed to usher the clan units into a difficult to defend position. The Jaguars having lost the benefit of superior numbers quickly succumbed to the SLDF advance. The Smoke Jaguars initiated a tactical withdrawl, hoping to lure more SLDF mechs to their doom, but the 328th's commanders had grown wise to many of the Jag's tricks and outflanked them, catching them in a deadly vice. By the time the dust had settled, all remaining Smoke Jaguar mechs had been destroyed.

Star League forces are currently taking "bondsmen" and enlightening them in the meaning of the Star League Accords in the hopes that these men and women realize that war and conflict are not the only reasons for life.

The people of Almunge demanded vengeance upon the bondsmen being taken, but General NightRaven refused to allow them to be harmed stating that by doing so makes them just as bad as the clans. He was quoted as saying, "We must help teach these misguided people what it was that made the Star League so great and proud. We cannot drop our standards for the sake of revenge. We cannot forget the crimes the Jaguars have done against humanity either. We will destroy them in battle, but we will teach those who survive that there is a better life ahead."

The people grudgingly accepted the Generals request of showing mercy to those who fought valiantly, but the glares that were aimed at the POWs were staggering.

As dusk was settling over the planet, elements of the 328th RBM Division raised the Star League standard at half mast. General Kronos dug out his bagpipes and played a haunting tune in honor of those who had died fighting against the Clans.

As a memorial, a plate of ferro-fibrous battlemech armor, presumeably from the Jaguar Khan's mech was engraved with the following, "A Promise given, a promise kept. FREEDOM!"

While happiness and joy carried the day, the SLDF troops were tired at the bitter siege in low gravity. They had been fighting throughout the week and wanted only a well deserved rest for a job well done.

The final tallies for the engagement was 91 Jaguar mechs down, amounting to 7,030 tons, and 72 lost SLDF mechs amounting to 5,190 tons.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, Almunge could go to sleep at night and know they were no longer the slaves of a dictatorship that believe human worth was purely genetics. From this day onward, Almunge was free.

Clan Smoke Jaguar - Oct. 19^th, 3068.

5 Overlord-C class dropships descended into the atmosphere of Almunge, deep within the Smoke Jaguar occupation zone earlier today. They touched down uncontested and disgorged their load of 2 regiments (almost a galaxy) of mechs close to a nearby city.

From hidden positions, Smoke Jaguar mechs opened fire with their LRM racks, raining fire from the sky upon the debarking SLDF mechs. The first wave of SLDF mechs fell to the onslaught, their AMS systems quickly overwhelmed with the sheer volley coming from the Jaguar positions. Lances of the 328th's mechs fell, pelted into oblivion by hundreds of LRMs. In an attempt to minimize further losses, SLDF forces used Almunge's low .5 gravity to rush into the city and use it to their advantage.

Jaguar mechs stubbornly pelted the SLDF invaders from maximum range, refusing to close with the attackers, but the SLDF was able to turn the tables on the Jaguars by fighting fire with fire. The counterattack was devestating, surpassing the Jaguar's initial exchange. General Ryan led the charge shouting "FREEDOM!" over his Executioner's loudspeaker. Perhaps it was Ryan's battle cry that can be accounted for 328th's determination increasing 10 fold by the end of the day.

Before the dust settled for the evening, the Jaguars had lost 45 omnimechs ranging from 70 to 100 tons for a total of 3,460 tons. The SLDF in turn lost 43 mechs amounting to 2,970 tons.

It is being estimated that the mechs garrisoning Almunge were recently moved from Bangor to reinforce the planet after the raid the SLDF staged on the planet just a week before.

In the meantime, elements of the 328th RBM Division have also landed on Brocchi's Cluster, Coudoux and Hanover and are preparing to dislodge the Jaguar garrisons stationed on those worlds.

Clan Smoke Jaguar - Oct. 6^th, 3068.

At approximately 9pm TST, SLDF dropships touched down on the Smoke Jaguar planets of Almunge, Brocci's Cluster, Coudoux, Hanover, Idlewind, Richmond, Rockland, Schwartz and Turtle Bay within minutes of each other. The 328th and 331st RBD mechs hurriedly and efficiently disembarked, secured their LZs and began reconnoitering the vicinity of the dropship touchdown sites.

SLDF forces quickly noticed a lack of any kind of enemy transmissions, or jamming operations within the LZs. Recon patrols discovered no mech activity aside from friendly forces.

General Sutek, in command of Task Force Alpha, was overheard saying, "All too easy." Similar remarks as well as grumbling about the Jaguars' vacation of the worlds were heard throughout the rest of the day. One soldier was overheard saying, "We should've expected nothing more from pussies anyway..."

Intelligence data obtained earlier in the week is currently being decoded with high tech decryption machines. Due to their age, dating back to the Star League era, malfunctions have kept the decryption process at a slow pace. It is being speculated that the Jaguars have pulled their forces towards the DCM spearhead to launch a counter-attack. If true, the Jaguars could have slit their own throats by leaving their captured worlds completely undefended. No word has been issued from the NRA Clan alliance. It would seem that the NRA is an alliance only for the sake of convenience as no pledged support has been offered.

The populace of the 9 worlds embraced the soldiers of the Star League Defense Forces, cheering them on and humming the old SLDF anthem. Spirits were high within the 328th and 331st RBD ranks as well as the people of the 9 planets liberated who have suffered under Smoke Jaguar occupation since before Turtle Bay was razed from orbit.

New hope is quickly spreading accross the occupation zone, giving former FRR and DCM people something to look forward to and an end to their torment under their Clan oppressors.

It has also been confirmed that the SLDF combined forces acquired over 1.2 billion C-Bills with their attacks which will be used to aid the suffering of the victims of this war.

Clan Wolf - Aug. 4^th thru Aug. 16^th, 3068.

We have a headache this big and it's got CW written ALL over it. Since before we officially entered the league CW was having a cow. This continued when they attacked Terra, whining and sniveling the whole way. They didn't like the missions we picked. Then they complained about our mechs minus two arm actuators. Never saw it was illegal till they complained about it and it was ruled as such. No biggy. We got along without that before, we can do it again. Many other units have been using it much longer then we have. Yet more bickering about our mech designs (which will be reinstated as they are not only FASA mechs, but very stable and passed all legality tests) so we had to change those too. Then after picking a new mission, yet MORE complaints. Back when some of us were in WC, others joked it was the "Whiner's Club." I'm starting to agree with that. Anyways the whole mess was basically how NOT to do a battle. In the end WC demanded that the league administrator be rigidly strict, so he warned us all a week in advance that he would be at the battle and not a single thing had better go wrong.

We expected them to find something else to complain about so we set up 2 hours early and made sure everything would pass even the toughest scrutiny with an A++. WC ended up launching with a mech 1.5 tons overweight and was called on it. The admin made his ruling, and in the midst of that the WC Khan flew off the handle. That was what sealed their fate. Had he not done so, we'd have agreed to the 20 on 20 batchall that was suggested as an alternative. His temper tantrum was just the final straw that broke the camel's back. There's a saying, "What goes around, comes around" and it sure happened. There's also a saying that goes something like thus, "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."

Moral of the story: Treat others how you wish to be treated.

Pirates of Butte Hold - Aug. 2^nd, 3068.

Fighting this group of guys was a lot of fun. They made off with quite a bit of loot, but as compensation we took down 2 heavy and 2 assault Clan mechs to our 2 heavy and 2 assault IS mechs lost. They fought more like clansmen than pirates and as such they have our respect. Well done guys. Wouldn't mind fighting you all again, either with or against ya. ;) We'll bring the beer next time, heh.

Battle Update

September 5^th, 3068.

The battle for Sirius has begun. Clan Wolf found themselves facing yet another well organized and highly skilled unit. WC was unprepared and paid heavily. HR's heavy Inner Sphere mechs faced off against WC's assault Clan mechs in Sirius' low 0.25g environment and were blown to pieces. HR lost 19 mechs, while WC lost 19. Value of the WC losses amount to at least 4 times the value of HR's lost mechs. Once again WC used an illegal mech, boasting four LRM15 and 2 Inferno SSRM launchers, and of course NARC had to be crammed on there too. After their last fiasco, you'd figure they would make sure everyone knew the rules... The highlight of the night was the Wolf saKhan cussing out several people online, including the Captain-General of the Free Worlds League, the Coordinator of the Draconis Combine, General Sutek and myself. That was when we determined WC was not doing so well. We were right. :) From this day forward, WC can only be Clan Hyena. Perhaps another clan will step up and take upon the pride and honor that the wolves were so famed for. The current wolves have shown no hope of ever reaching the greatness they had once held so long ago.

September 13^th, 3068.

Clan Wolf failed to show for a pre-scheduled battle, thus forfeiting an estimated 130 mechs in the process. Rumors abound that Clan Wolf intends to retreat. Likewise, ilKhan Mistwolf Ward has disappeared. It is being speculated that the Wolves, in an effort to increase the value of their genetic materials, purged Mistwolf's Ward blood from their genepool to clense their honor and assigned him to a Solohma unit based somewhere in the periphery.

September 18^th, 3068.

Although they were facing overwhelming odds, Hansen's Roughriders executed an almost flawless defense on their home world of Sirius.

The Roughriders' 1st Battalion broke through Clan Wolf's front line units and proceeded directly to the Wolf Command Cluster while the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions occupied the Wolf troops deployed on the front line. The 1st battalion managed to take out the Wolf Clan's Khan leaving the remaining Wolf units in complete dissaray. This breakdown in command gave the Roughriders the upper hand! The Wolf sakhan hastily ordered an unorganized retreat, and the Roughriders capitalized by dissabling a number of Wolf Clan dropships and capturing their payload of mechs.

Running low on ammo and morale, the remaining Wolf troops eventually surrendered. They were charged and found guilty of crimes against Hansen's Roughriders and the Inner Sphere, and executed the next morning.

Battle Update

September 6^th, 3068.

The first annual Martial Olympiad to take place in 300 years began on schedule at 8pm TST as both Minnesota Tribe and SLDF dropships decelerated their 3g burn towards a remote and highly classified location. After a furious set of intense mock battles, both units made camp for the evening, breaking open cases of Coronas and various other alcoholic beverages, slapping each other on the back and cracking jokes about how clanners are all inbred, which both units found highly amusing despite their Clan backgrounds. One General was overheard saying "10 months ago I thought all Clans were great. How attitudes change. Now I think they all suck c**k for breakfast, lunch and dinner." The general staff of both the 331st and 328th at first did not know how to respond to this before they burst into laughter. Exact data on the battles is being kept classified. The SLDF lived up to its unit's namesake, the Lion, as the Minnesota Tribe lived up to their reputation as Clan Wolverine. Both sides fought each other with a high degree of determination, skill and savagery. Fortunately all weapons were significantly powered down. No casualties have been reported yet, although one pilot did suffer minor injuries on a failed jump jet landing. Another was reported to have broken their arm when the pilot's Phantom crashed head-on into a charging Executioner. Continuation is expected within the next week or so as both units reposition for mountain warfare (not to mention recovering from their hang-overs.)

Firefight

"Ranger 1, no contacts reported. You take the high road, I'll take the low."

"Roger that Ranger 2. See ya at the drop site." NightRaven replied casually.

General NightRaven surveyed the surrounding terrain in vislight, magscan and infrared visual modes hoping to pick up the telltale silouette of a mech, but found nothing but hills and mesas.

He watched as General Sutek's mech moved across the plains below in his jet black Grizzly before urging his black and grey Summoner to it's top speed of 86kph.

These mesa canyons were known for their strange, mineral rich properties that caused odd radar reflections and massive amounts of "ground clutter." Radar being next to useless, the only way one could detect an enemy mech was visually, which was made difficult due to the thunderstorm that unleashed its fury from the heavens.

Somewhere out there in the darkness waited a Clan Union-C dropship and a company of Minnesota Tribe mechs. No data had been obtained on their specific target, but it had been estimated to be a raid on an SLDF supply cache hidden within the canyons.

Garbled curses came over NightRaven's intercom as Sutek manuevered his Grizzly up a bank, only to slide back down as the muddy ground gave way. The slide triggered a sensor that linked to the computer status display and registered a 10% decrease in myomer ability in that leg.

"I sure hope they're having as much fun as we are." Sutek grumbled.

"Could be worse. At least we don't have to worry about how we're going to get a foot or two of mud out of the dropship bay." NightRaven replied as he laughed.

Sutek chuckled a bit before the intercom went silent.

As the Summoner crested the mesa it has been traversing, NightRaven ignited his mech's jump jets, pushing him back into command couch as the Summoner soared upwards.

He sent the mech moving in a gentle arc and braced for impact as the Summoner touched down several hundred meters away atop another mesa. As the mech touched down, it's right foot slid to the side slightly, almost causing the mech to topple before NightRaven regained balance.

A warning light appeared on his damage display indicator that the right foot actuator on his Summoner had been damage, giving his mech a distinct limp when it walked. He watched as the mech's top speed slowly dropped down to 78kph and frowned.

He moved the Summoner towards the edge of the mesa before bringing it to a halt while scanning the horizon. He couldn't be sure, but he could have sworn he saw something move off in the distance. Switching to infrared, the blurred silouettes of 2 mechs running at high speed could distinctly be seen. As he watched, Sutek's excited voice came across the intercom.

"Ranger 1, I have contact with 2 inbound mechs bearing 284."

"One looks like a Mad Dog, not sure what the other is."

"Roger that 2, I see them." NightRaven responded as he watched his mech's computer cycle through possible target IDs. Within seconds it identified one as a Hellbringer and the other as a Timber Wolf.

He dropped his mech into a crouch as he moved it away from the edge of the mesa, cutting off his view towards the charging mechs.

"Lion Den, enemy formation spotted heading in your direction, be ready, out."

Slowly, the Summoner stood as NightRaven spotted a glowing blur not far from Sutek's Grizzly.

"2, new contact, bearing 316. I read one, no two mechs flanking your position. Moving to engage, take the two heading for base." NightRaven barked hurriedly.

"Roger, enaging."

He watched the Grizzly's jets ignite, sending the mech high up into the air as it quickly closed with the advancing enemy mechs.

The duo of mechs that had been trying to sneak around the Grizzly turned to pursue, passing beneath the vantage point NightRaven was watching from.

A quick check showed all weapon systems fulling operational. The Summoner launched into the air and descended quickly, flaring it's jets briefly just before it touched the ground. The mech landed with a thud, causing NightRaven to fight ferociously with the controls to maintain balance while he brought his crosshairs onto the nearest mech.

The computer instantly identified the mech as a Stormcrow. He tapped the trigger quickly 4 times, sending bright green beams of coherent energy from his mech's medium pulse lasers. The lasers cut deeply into the Stormcrow's thin rear armor, leaving gaping, smouldering holes in the armor, at least that's what the computer projected over the normal visual display. The Stormcrow lurched to the side and crashed to the ground in a heap as it's onboard computer system registered the damage and acted accordingly.

The other mech, a Hellbringer whirled around bringing its weapon pods to bear on NightRaven's mech. He jammed his control stick to the side forcing his mech into a run as he turned away.

A warning klaxon blared off as a flight of missiles came arcing towards the Summoner. A loud chaingun burst to life as the mech's anti-missile system kicked in, blasting the missiles in middair. NightRaven dropped the glowing crosshairs onto the source of the volley, the Hellbringer, and fired off a volley of his own missiles.

"Ranger 1 this is Katana 1, enemy sighted, we're moving to engage. Gummy 1 and 2 are flanking." General Ryan said in a deadly calm tone of voice.

"Roger, good hunting." NightRaven replied as the Hellbringer's missiles slammed into the side of his mech, forcing him to compensate for the added momentum as his mech's computer system forced the mech's gyro-stabalizer to become unbalanced.

He fired off several quick bursts from his pulse lasers as he hit the jump jets. Huge gouts of molten metal streamed down the Hellbringer's leg, exposing the ferro-fibrous endoskeleton on the computer enhanded display. The Hellbringer pilot fought madly to keep control and managed to remain upright, returning fire. The shots blasted through the space NightRaven's mech had occupied just moments before.

Pulsing his jets slightly, NightRaven twisted his mech in middair, aimed down at the Hellbringer and fired off several pulse laser shots at the stricken Hellbringer. Only two hit, leaving small gaping holes on the Hellbringer's chest as it returned fire, hitting the Summoner's left arm with multiple laser hits.

The computer calculated the arm as severed and shut down all of the components located within it.

"S**t!" NightRaven muttered under his breath as he watched the Hellbringer pilot launch another flight of missiles.

The loud chaingun errupted once again, but failed to destroy more then a few of the missiles before they hit the front of the Summoner, leaving pocked marks across its chest.

He gunned the trigger multiple times, sending searing green bolts of energy at the Hellbringer, hitting it across the arms and chest. He hit the jet controls and sent the Summoner flying backwards slightly to avoid the counterfire he knew was surely to come. The Hellbringer pilot missed but not by much.

Pushing his control stick foward, NightRaven centered it on the Hellbringer's damaged leg and fired three quick bursts, shattering the leg and sending the Hellbringer face first into the mud.

He cycled through communication frequencies and sent a tight beam signal to the wounded Hellbringer.

"Good fight. See you back at camp tonight. Beer's on us."

He switched back to non-enhanced computer mode and watched as the seemingly destroyed mechs miraculously reverted back to their normal shape covered with mud, as he cycled the com channel back to it's former setting.

"Lion Den, two bandits down. SitRep please."

"Den secure, enemy mechs are falling back."

"Roger that Den, good job."

"Ranger 2, what's your situation?" NightRaven asked worriedly.

"Kicking it here with the MT guys. What took you so long?" chuckled Sutek.

"What can I say? I never was one for quickies." NightRaven snickered in response.

 - 9-7-97, W. Ingram

- Anastasius Focht, Whitting Conference, 3058.

I would daresay that Michael Stackpole and I do indeed think much alike. The SLDF in NBT was formed for those very same reasons. I just finished Grave Covenant this evening (Sept. 11^th) and had quite a few laughs on just how ironic many of the situations in the novel compare to those in NBT. Suddenly Phelan goes from his usual preference of Wolfhound IICs and Novas to an Executioner. Odd considering Wolf in Exile's new Werewolf. Or the new emphasis on pulse lasers which have become far deadlier then in past novels. One would almost suspect perhaps that Mr. Stackpole is moonlighting as a mechwarrior, eh? One never knows. ;)  Clive Cussler once said, "When researchers had finally located the Titanic, I was happy to know in my heart that I had found her first." referring to his novel, Raise the Titanic (also a movie.)  I feel the same way concerning the SLDF.