A New Breed
Topic: ToS Chronicles
GYZMOTECH is approached again to find a replacement for Kull...

After some negotiations, Mauler was able to sign on a new recruit from GYZMOTech.
A Cyborg named P.J.
Code Name: CYBEN.
Unlike Kull, CYBEN has no use for hand-to-hand combat. He is a skilled ranged fighter, almost equal in skill with cannons or lasers. Talking it over with Wolf, they decide to purchase a WrathChild titan for CYBEN. With it's pulse laser and Neutron gun (which affects most pilots), the plan was to have Wolf with his EM Pulse work with CYBEN as a team - shut down the mech - shut down the pilot. Sounds good in theory...

The patrol mission they got this time was in an environment that the team has never been to before. Pools of acid ran like rivers, and the heat level was higher than normal. What could be worth fighting for in a place like this? - was Mauler's thoughts.
No matter; money is money - and his team needed it now.

Deployed to the east, CYBEN and Wolf paired up immediately and trotted forward. Tensile hung back a bit using the little cover that was available. Mauler moved up beside Tensile and started up a gentle slope.... contact... 2 enemy recon mechs darting behind a mountain. Then a third recon shows up. Then a light mech. Too far for visual id, Mauler quickly tries to lock and scan, but they're gone behind the mountain before the scan is complete.

CYBEN and Wolf stop short of a river of Acid, just in time to see all four enemy titans emerge from the hills on the other side. One enemy recon titan ignited his jump jets and started to jump across the river. The other three marched unflinchingly into the acid bath and proceeded to cross.

Tensile was the first to get a good lock - he targeted the first recon mech wading through the acid - an Enigma mech - and fired - hit.
The mech stumbled and fell - completely submerged in the acid.
Mauler, who was also locking the same mech smiled - but cursed as he lost sight of the mech.
Switching his target, he picked the Light titan - an Atilla. His initial scan attempt failed.

CYBEN and Wolf targeted the airborne titan - a Pest. Both of them however failed to get scan lock. They fired anyways, missing completely.

Mauler fires on the Atilla and scores a hit even without the lock. No return fire so far from any of the enemy mechs. Seems they are concentrating on getting across that acid river - or taking their time to refine their scan locks.
Out of the depths of the acid, the Enigma mech rose to its feet and walked out onto the other side. Wolf immediately turned and ran towards the nearest cover on a small hill, and was about to order CYBEN to start retreating away from the oncoming mechs, but noticed CYBEN had already thrown his WrathChild into reverse.

Once they came across, the four enemy mechs ran past Wolf and opened up on CYBEN, forcing him to retreat even further. CYBEN scored two hits on the Atilla, one with the Neutron Gun - no effect. Wolf grimaced as his now third scan lock attempt failed – he checked his computer for signs of possible jamming. He opened fire with his weapons and scored a hit with the pulse laser on the Pest.
The four mechs, having driven CYBEN back, then turned to face Wolf. Wolf had a flash of panic as he realized the position he was in. Behind him was the acid river, and in front in a semicircle came the four enemy titans. One after the other they peppered Wolf with laser fire and missiles. Wolf's TripWire shook and recoiled, but he was able to keep the mech standing.

Mauler's lock came up green on the Atilla - his scan showed two power axes - not good. He opened up with his autocannons and scored hits - but it didn't deter the mech. Tensile started to move forward, firing his lasers at the Pest and Enigma.

Turning north, Wolf tried to get away from the net closing in on him, but the Atilla caught him. One power axe swooped down and missed. The other dug into his right leg. Again, Wolf was able to keep his feet.
CYBEN failed his lock attempt, but started heading back towards Wolf, firing his weapons at the Pest. Pulse Laser – hit. Neutron gun - miss.
The Pest and Enigma turned to face CYBEN and Tensile. Wolf broke away from the Atilla and headed for some cover. Mauler switched his target to the Pest, knowing Wolf should be able to out run the heavier Atilla.
Firing on the Pest, Mauler blew away both left and right torso. The resulting explosions rocked the recon mech. Mauler's smile disappeared as the Pest emerged from the smoke still on it's feet - unbelievable.

”Heat level Red” - both Mauler and Tensile were now hearing the alerts in their cockpit.

The Enigma scored critical hits on CYBEN destroying his Heat sinks. CYBEN's heat started to climb just from movement.

Mauler checked quickly to see where Wolf had reached. Wolf was just about to enter cover - good. Then he saw it - smoke trails from the hill behind Wolf.
Staying close to the Atilla, the enemy Firefly let loose it's missile salvo into the back of Wolf’s retreating TripWire. Wolf's right torso disintegrated and the mech stumbled but did not go down. The Attila turned and fired its laser weapons, hitting Wolf in the leg. The left leg twisted and crumpled sending Wolf to the ground.

This was bad. Mauler got on the comm line and ordered CYBEN to retreat from the battlefield. Tensile started manoeuvring with the Pest and Enigma, drawing their fire. Mauler pushed his mech into a run and closed the range on the Atilla.

Cyben hadn't moved even 600yds when the alert came - "Heat level Critical". With no choice, CYBEN stopped his mech and patiently waited for the heat to go down.

Tensile continued his dance with the two enemy recon mechs, his firing impaired by his heat level.
Mauler too could not fire all weapons, as his heat was too high. This gave the Atilla and Firefly the time to close in on the fallen Wolf. Standing over him, they began to pound on his mech.
Not to be beaten, Wolf swung his only functioning weapon from his prone position - his pulse laser - and fired on the Firefly - hit - weapon recycle - hit. Mauler opened up with one autocannon, hitting the firefly in the left torso. That was enough for the Firefly - he ran off into cover leaving Wolf.
The Atilla dropped the power axes again... and again - Wolf's pulse laser was destroyed. He took laser fire to the cockpit. Lower torso destroyed. Wolf started the eject sequence...

CYBEN tried to move again - but had to stop shortly after as his heat level hit critical.

Wolf's cockpit exploded outwards as the eject sequence completed. Wolf landed hard, but radioed in that he was ok. Bleeding, he crawled off to cover.

Mauler switched his target to the Pest, which was still chasing Tensile. Tensile's armour was holding, but the two enemy mechs were wearing him down. Mauler ordered Tensile to start after CYBEN and leave the battlefield. Mauler fired both of his smaller autocannons and scored one hit.

"Heat level Red" - screamed in Mauler's ears - he pushed his mech into a run to follow Tensile.... and was thrown sideways as the remaining ammo in one of his auto-cannons exploded from the heat build-up!
Struggling with the controls, he kept the 70 ton titan on its feet. His fingers danced over the control pad as he rerouted more coolant to the arms and torso where the remaining ammo was stored - narrowly averting more explosions (here he had a 29% and 28% chance to save against two more and made them!!)

CYBEN slowly pushed his mech forward and was finally able to leave the battlefield.

Tensile and Mauler ran through what cover they could find. Tensile took a critical hit to his hip, slowing him down. The three enemy recon titans were closing fast. Behind them, the 70 ton Atilla could be seen coming with the Power Axes swinging at it's side...

Mauler radioed Tensile and told him to turn left. Once they made the turn, they both swivelled their torso's and fired on the run at the approaching recon mechs. Tensile hit the Pest squarely in the cockpit with his large laser, then the right leg with his small laser. The Pest slowed to a halt and the pilot ejected!
Mauler looked and saw his heat level had come down considerably (as he was just running and hadn't fired in awhile). He smiled and let loose with the three autocannons... The Enigma's right leg disappeared under the onslaught and the mech smashed face first into the ground.
"Heat level red"

The Firefly let loose it's missiles and tore off more of Tensiles’ armor. Mauler slowed to turn and face the Firefly, trying to buy some time for Tensile. The Atilla opened up with its lasers on Mauler, hitting him.
Still a good distance from the edge of the battlefield, Mauler sized up his chances against the two remaining mechs...

Then over the broadcast channel a voice - a female voice was heard...
"This is Prowler on the Atilla mech. I offer we cease hostilities and allow both sides to recover their wounded pilots and damaged mechs"

Tesnsile's DragonFly had a wounded leg, and holes showing in his armor. Mauler's heat was in the red and one autocannon offline.
The steady warble of a missile lock from the Firefly buzzed in his headset...

"Agreed"

A Draw!!!

Yes, the AI can offer draws... sadly the human player can't.. lol
Once offered, you get a choice of "OK", "NEVER" or "Not Yet".


The damage to Wolf's TripWire was so much; the team's budget could not repair all mechs.
Wolf's mech was repaired as much as possible, but had armor missing on his left and right torso.
After some discussion, it was agreed to sell CYBEN's WrathChild to finish the repairs on Wolf's TripWire. CYBEN would have to sit out the next mission. Money is needed.

Mauler contemplates a campaign once again.... but will have to re-evaluate the team tactics. Wolf getting cut off like that was not good.