Northwind Board of Inquiry

BattleTechnology News Service

by Bob Carter

Testimony of Lt Kahil Holt, Team Banzai

Prosecutor: Why did you follow the routed 'Mechs from the 36th Dieron Regulars?

Lt Holt: I felt it was necessary after the Highlanders arrived. We'd just found out about the Snakes poisoning the water supply for three civilian cities. We felt they needed a lesson.

Prosecutor: So you took it upon yourself to do a SADIE (Search and Destroy Errand) after six 'Mechs?

Lt Holt: Well, not by myself. I had a Battlemaster from the Bravos and a couple of Highlander 'Mechs with me.

Prosecutor: That explains the extra three 'Mechs on that final battlefield. So why weren't there any survivors?

Lt Holt: Well, as each of their 'Mechs overheated, they sacrificed it to continue their attack on us. The same as later, when the Snake Warhammer turned to face me knew I'd have to overload my 'Mech if I wanted to take him out.

Prosecutor: What happened first?

Lt Holt: The other three 'Mechs went ahead to engage the enemy. I guess they were overconfident because the Highlander Archer and Vindicator engaged four of the six Snakes by themselves. The Bravo Battlemaster went looking for the other two, the big 'Mechs we'd detected earlier. I switched my sensors from Infrared to Magnetic Anamaly Detector. That showed the last two 'Mechs hidden on the Island in the small lake.

Prosecutor: I ask you again, Lt Holt, why there were no survivors?

Lt Holt: When I tried to contact my team leader, my transmitter was malfunctioning; I saw my comrades in arms getting wiped out. So I had to do my best to take out those murdering Snakes! After everything they did to the people of Cromarty! Bacterial warfare on civilians is forbidden by the Ares Convention! Doc Banzai, you know they blasted him! My friends were getting blown apart! You want to sit here and....

(Spectators' uproar drowns out recording)

BattleTechnology News Service

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