[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/crrlmyWm.jpg?1[/img][/center]


[b]Nui Awa Hydroelectric Dam[/b]
[b]20km East of North and South Nui Awa[/b]
[b]March 26th, 3030[/b]


[color=Lime][i]"Remember,"[/i][/color] the Sword Bearer had told them just before dawn, [color=Lime][i]"what we do today, we do for the good of Espia, whether the people realize it or not. Without the guiding hand of the Celestial Wisdom, this world is lost to chaos and disharmony. The people of Espia have lost their place in the heavens: it is up to us to [b]put them back[/b] in their place. They must be reminded what happens to those who defy the Celestial Throne."[/i][/color]

Now, the unnamed Swordsman gripped hard on the handlebars of his [url=https://www.sarna.net/wiki/M%C3%B3tu%C3%B6_Ch%C3%AB_Shang_No._2]Mótuö Chë Shang No. 2[/url], the two-stroke engine on the single-wheeled monobike snarling angrily as he opened up the throttle. Many of the other Swordsmen had chided him for clinging on to such an ostentatious luxury item, an expensive and flashy toy created by the gluttonous capitalists for the amusement of the hated bourgeoise, but while he had enjoyed the thrill of driving it in his previous life, he now wanted to take this symbol of greed and excess and use it to strike a blow to his oppressors' hearts.

[color=Lime][i]"The Nui Awa Dam has long been a symbol of the stranglehold of the capitalist oppressors,"[/i][/color] the Sword-Bearer had reminded them, [color=Lime][i]"the property of the Aqua Vitae Corporation that ransoms life-giving water for filthy lucre. The people of Espia have become dependent on them, rather than accepting the Chancellor's grace and charity. By destroying it, we will give them no choice but to fall upon the mercies of the rightful ruler of this and every other world."[/i][/color]

As he weaved between a pair of Jeeps, the Swordsman heard the whine of electric rotors overhead, and looked up to see a [url=https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Gossamer_(Drone)]Gossamer[/url] drone whizzing over them. Typically a surveillance drone meant to watch over the populace, this particular drone, as well as a half-dozen others that flew with the convoy, was instead loaded with cannisters of chaff.

The Swordsman suddenly felt his bike swerve, having taken his eyes off the road for just a smidge too long, and he fought hard to keep the monobike upright. Even with the months of practice, the extra weight of the shoulder-mounted SRM slung across his back made maintaining balance difficult, as did the blocks of plastic explosives taped to both sides of the bike.

[color=Lime][i]"The mission of the first wave is to disrupt and distract,"[/i][/color] the Sword-Bearer had briefed them. [color=Lime][i]"We expect the dam to be lightly defended, either by AVC security guards or perhaps a light NPDRE garrison. They will attempt to set up a blockade across the roads once they realize what is happening. By sowing chaos and fear, the first wave will slow their efforts long enough for the heavier assets of the second wave to smash through any defenses they might have. Together, both waves will clear the way, and the heathen pig-dogs will be introduced to [url=https://symbolsage.com/chinese-water-god-gonggong/]Gonggong.[/url]"[/i][/color]

As he raced the Mótuö Chë Shang No. 2 to the front of the pack, he felt more than heard the rumble of the engines thrumming around and behind him. Nearly a dozen [url=https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Burro]Burro[/url] trucks, their beds converted to carry machine guns and rockets. Six or seven speedy [url=https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Freedom_900]Freedom 900[/url] hover jeeps, their holds packed with high explosives. And close to forty assorted civilian cars, trucks, and motorcycles, all rigged with bombs.

In just a few short minutes, the Swordsman knew, every one of them would be dead. The thought did not fill his heart with dread, but with pride.

[color=Lime][i]"Your lives belong to the Celestial Throne,"[/i][/color] the Sword-Bearer told them. [color=Lime][i]"In your final act, you will bring glory to the Chancellor, and strike down those who sin against the will of heaven."[/i][/color]

In a previous life, this Swordsman had been the son of a wealthy banker, one of the bourgeoise who kept the working people under their hateful thumb. He had come to learn the evils of capitalism in university, and joined in several student protests, before being approached by the man he would come to know as the Sword-Bearer. He had learned his true purpose, how his life could serve the greater good rather than be wasted on excess and vice. That day, he had forsworn his name, foregone his possessions (barring the monobike that the Sword-Bearer claimed for their motor pool), and devoted the iron in his blood to help form the blade that was the Heavenly Sword.

[color=Lime][i]"Our victory is ordained by the heavens themselves,"[/i][/color] the Sword-Bearer claimed. [color=Lime][i]"And even if it were not, it is a simple matter of probability. In order to stop what is coming, our enemy will have to be lucky every time. We, on the other hand, only have to be lucky once."[/i][/color]

With a hungry grin, the Swordsman gunned the engine of his monobike, leading the first wave on to their eternal glory.

[hr]

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[color=SkyBlue]"Frackencrack,"[/color] Lieutenant Lyons gasped, looking at the signature of their newfound co-worker's Battlemech on the monitors of the Mobile HQ half a kilometer west of the dam, [color=SkyBlue]"is that a [i]Marauder?![/i] I'd heard the Cassandra Jeong was loaded, but wow. It's a good thing Mr. McCord's on [i]our[/i] side."[/color]

[color=Khaki]"Hoooo boy,"[/color] Cadet Higgins groaned, [color=Khaki]"as if you weren't going all gooey for the new guy enough."[/color]

[color=SkyBlue]"Excuse me?"[/color] the Lieutenant bristled, [color=SkyBlue]"I was [i]not[/i] 'going all gooey' for a potential ally at any point. I've just been trying to get some background information on him, to make sure he can be trusted. That's all."[/color]

[color=Khaki]"Sure,"[/color] Higgins sneered, [color=Khaki]"that totally explains why you kept giving him doe-eyes all throughout the briefing, hoping he'd notice you."[/color]

[color=SkyBlue]"That is [i]NOT[/i]--"[/color]

[color=Khaki]"Not that I blame you,"[/color] he continued to egg her on, [color=Khaki]"Lord knows it must be lonely, being surrounded by guys who won't look at you twice because they all heard about the incident with you and the month-old Aurigan sushi stinking up the latrines for a solid week. No wonder you'd need to look for a man who didn't share a DropShip with you."[/color]

[color=SkyBlue]"At least my previous boyfriends weren't [i]paid[/i] for,"[/color] Lyons retorted, and Higgins' wolfish grin turned sour.

[color=Crimson]"Look, I wouldn't bother with the new guy, Lieutenant,"[/color] Cadet Windham chimed in. [color=Crimson]"It sounds to me like Giggles is going to beat you to the punch. Honestly? I ship it."[/color]

[color=Khaki]"You would,"[/color] Higgins rolled his eyes. [color=Khaki]"Hey Lyons, I ever tell you how I found Windham's stash of creepy fan-fiction, where Grayson Carlyle and the Kell Brothers tie up Lady Death and give her a--"[/color]

[color=SkyBlue]"Colonel Wayne?!"[/color] Lieutenant Lyons called out over Higgins, [color=SkyBlue]"Do I have permission to shoot my cadets?"[/color]

From the back of the Mobile HQ's command module, the Colonel answered, [color=Olive]"If you can find two cadets who are better at reading sensors and comms, I'll take them around back and shoot them myself."[/color]

[color=Khaki]"Fine, fine, I'll drop it,"[/color] Higgins backed off, before realizing who he was answering and adding a quick, [color=Khaki]"--sir."[/color]

[color=SkyBlue]"You're lucky we don't have access to the admin staff,"[/color] Lyons chided Higgins. [color=SkyBlue]"When this is over, I'm going to bury you under so many formal complaints of inappropriate conduct that you'll--"[/color]

[color=Crimson]"Heads up, guys, time to go to work!"[/color] Cadet Windham interrupted. [color=Crimson]"Got a pretty sizeable reading on seismic sensors. Well, I don't think it's one big thing, but a whole bunch of little things."[/color]

[color=Olive]"Do we have visual?"[/color] the Colonel asked.

[color=SkyBlue]"Not yet, sir,"[/color] Lieutenant Lyons responded, swiveling her chair to face the controls for the Mobile HQ's NapFind camera drone. [color=SkyBlue]"I'm going to maneuver the drone into position, see if we can get eyes on what's coming. Maybe we're lucky and it's just some unexpected morning traffic."[/color]

Colonel Wayne keyed his comms to open a channel to the Green Knights. [color=Olive]"Look alive, Knights. Multiple bogeys inbound. Remember: collateral damage here must be kept to a minimum. Check your targets, make each shot count."[/color]

[color=SkyBlue]"Eyes on the convoy, sir,"[/color] Lyons said. [color=SkyBlue]"Count upwards of fifty technicals, wheeled and hover mostly. Looks like almost exclusively converted civvie vehicles, sir, next to no armor on any of them."[/color]

[color=Khaki]"Well, this oughta be a turkey shoot, then,"[/color] Higgins grinned.

[color=Crimson]"What's a turkey?"[/color]

[color=Khaki]"No idea."[/color]

[color=SkyBlue]"I think it's a type of fish? Isn't that an expression, shooting turkeys in a barrel?"[/color]

[color=Olive]"Not now, you three,"[/color] Gaius cut them off. [color=Olive]"We're on the job."[/color]

[hr]


[i]"Sword-Bearer, Sword-Bearer!"[/i] one of the other Swordsmen shouted over comms. [i]"I'm seeing Battlemechs! They've got 'Mechs guarding the dam!!!"[/i]

[color=Lime][i]"What kind of Battlemechs?"[/i][/color] came the Sword-Bearer's voice.

[i]"I....I don't know. Fucking big ones!"[/i]

The Swordsman on the monobike felt a lump in his throat. They had prepared for a token resistance. Security guards, a few armored cars, a tank or two at the most. They weren't prepared for fighting 'Mechs.

[color=Lime][i]"Is it the Crimson Fists?"[/i][/color] the Sword-Bearer asked.

[i]"I-...I don't think so, Sword-Bearer! They're not red!"[/i]

[color=Lime][i]"Gawain's Green Knights, then,"[/i][/color] he concluded. [color=Lime][i]"...this changes nothing. If anything, it will make our victory that much sweeter. Now, not only will we strike at the capitalist pig-dogs, we will destroy their sell-sword mercenary prostitutes as well! Go forth, and cut down the enemies of heaven!"[/i][/color]

The Swordsman felt the weight of the SRM on his back, and for the first time, it felt puny. Against infantry, he could cause mayhem and havoc. Against Battlemechs, he would be little more than a temporary inconvenience.

As he rounded the corner, he saw the dam looming large, and remembered his mission.

He was not there to fight with Battlemechs.

He was there to destroy that dam, and remind Espia of the wrath of heaven.

With renewed vigor, he sped his monobike forward, letting out a scream that was drowned out by the snarling engine.

[i]They need to get lucky ever time,[/i] the Swordsman repeated to himself. [i]We only need to get lucky once...[/i]