Teniente: Fox's Child
Saves Dragon's Heir!

BattleTechnology News Service

by Hilary Ayer

March 21, 3052, Fort Ian Training Ctr, Port Moseby, Federated Commonweafth

One of the most dramatic missions of the last three centuries goes into training phase today. A unit of Federated Commonwealth Troops, The Revenants, an experimental reinforced battalion of fifty BattleMechs made from the remnants of the Tenth Lyran Guard, began training for a mission into Draconis Combine space. The Tenth Lyran Guard, traditionally the Steiner family unit, is no stranger to raiding the Dragon. But this time, the unit isn't going to tweak the Dragon's Tail. It's going to rescue the Dragon's Heir.

Prince Hohiro Kudta is behind the lines in a desperate fight on the planet Teniente. There are no troops available as relief in this sector; Kuritan forces are worn too thin from the fight for Luthien. Princess Omi Kurita asked a friend for help. The friend is Prince Victor Steiner Davion, commander of the Revenants. Rumor has it that Prince Victor allowed the MechWarriors of his unit to vote as to whether they were willing to risk their lives for the Hohiro Kurita.

The grim realities of the last two years' desperate fight against the Clans has shown MechWarriors of both Houses that neither force will win if they fight alone. The Revenants have agreed to fight. It will also be a test of the unit's capabilities; the Revenants have been training for irregular hit-and-run tactics.

This mission does not violate any promises to keep FedCom troops out of Draconis territory because it is being performed at the direct request of one of the Royal House, a lady who will someday be Keeper of the House Honor. In practical terms, Teniente is not part of the Combine any more, but part of the growing Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone. In emotional terms? Well, we suppose it's a Dragon planet until the last of its defenders Surrenders or escapes. Or dies.

BattleTechnology's Alyson Brune is allowed along as an observer on two conditions. Nothing is to be published until the mission is completed. And MechWarrior Brune is training on the same simulators that the Revenants use. She will serve as an alternate 'Mech pilot should someone be injured in battle, leaving a useable 'Mech. Aside from the JumpShip crew members, the Revenants have no noncombatants on this mission.

March 24, 3052, Fort Ian Training Ctr, Port Moseby, Federated Commonweafth

Alyson Brune here, filing a quick update before we take ship for Teniente. The Revenants is an impressive unit, and it is impressively equipped. Both as a veteran of the Clans fighting and or Jaime Wolf's special tutoring on Outreach, Prince Victor has fine-tuned the specs of his unit to a perfect fighting machine.

The Revenants are a reinforced battalion of fifty-odd BattleMechs, organized into a fire support company, an assault company, and two fast-response 'Sprint' companies. Prince Victor's command Company is one of these Sprint companies..

Prince Victor's Daishi was a present from Colonel Wolf. Other unusual BattleMechs in the unit, are Marauder Its, Axmen, Hornets, and Imps. The 'normal' BattleMechs of the unit, every one of which is a survivor of the heavy fighting on Alyina where Kai Allard-Liao was killed, have all been refitted with the best and newest weapons packages. The Crusader simulator package I am assigned to work with is equipped with 2 Magna Longbow-15 LRM Launchers, 2 Hovertec Streak SRM-2 Pods, 2 Intek Medium Lasers, 1 Lindblad Shotgun Anti-Missile System, and a LFN Lindblad Machine Gun. Streak in particular is a whole new ballgame. I have to learn to think where my opponent is going to want to be, as opposed to where he is going to want to fire.

May 4, 3052, Teniente, Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone, Draconis Combine

We are actually two days from entering atmosphere and plans are complete. It seems that ComStar is aiding the Clans, so we are going in as ComStar ships. I'm in the 'ComStar DropShip Valiant Wisdom' ' Because we don't know the exact location of Prince Hohiro, we are to enter the system, get the news feeds, send a message in a code we're certain that the Kurhan intelligence services started busily changing as soon as they had given it to us, and ... there must be more to the plan than that. There must be.

May 5, 3052, Teniente, Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone, Draconis Combine

How did Prince Victor know? How could he have known? Our disguise turns out to be the perfect one; for some reason, in an undeclared campaign, ComStar is fighting the Clans in this system. We have pinpointed Prince Hohiro's position by simple deduction. There's heavy fighting in the Comprador foothills which is not covered in any of the ComStar situation briefing feeds! He can't have more than a company left.

May 5, 3052, Teniente, Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone, Draconis Combine

The luck gods that sometimes help madmen must be with us! ComStar assigned us a LZ close enough to do our rescue. I'm dictating this from a 'Mech recovery transport; I got pressed into service because I used to work for a rescue unit during Summer vacations. We've seen a bit of action just now; Prince Victor personally ordered us in to pick up two disabled 'Mechs which the pilots would not abandon.

We got in close enough to hear the radio account of the rescue. As Prince Victor's lance advanced down toward the plain, we heard his radio call, "Whoever got that Thor, thank you very much!" and Prince Hohiro's voice on the Pesht Regulars frequency that we've all been using, "It was my pleasure, Victor Davion."

(later) We've got our guests safe. The mission is to get in-system, accomplish our mission, and leave. No heroics. Nobody wants to abandon the people of Teniente. Nobody has a choice. We haven't won a war here, but we've struck a blow. That's all we can hope for here and now.

May 14, 3052, Teniente System Transfer Orbit, Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone

I am transhipping here to accompany Prince Hohiro and his men to Luthien. Once they have touched ground on their capitol planet, I am free to file this report. Prince Hohiro is still walking with a limp from the battle, but his men's morale is excellent. The two princes parted with a lot of friendly banter. Prince Victor was even invited to accompany Prince Hohiro to Luthien for the welcoming festivities. There was much speculation as to which intelligence service head would explode loudest and longest if the invitation were to be accepted.

While I am glad to report a successful conclusion to the mission, I am torn at leaving my comrades of the Revenants. My copy editor is the first to know that I have added my request to the growing waiting list of MechWarriors waiting for a slot in the Revenants. Prince Victor's aide, Galen Cox, says that I have a good chance.

BattleTechnology News From the Front

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