"There's our mark," Fuhito called over his company's channel as he forced his 'Mech forward, out of its concealed position. "The Zeusis prime target. Hit 'em!"
The "Katana Kat's" arm-slung particle PPC cracked forth a bolt of blue lightning. Fuhito watched the PPC's ravening energy catch a fire-blackened scar in the cylindrical left-shoulder assembly of the Zeus.Dark shadows evaporated under lambent light as the destructive beam vaporized more of the 'Mech's ceramet armor and melted part of the exposed structural frame.
Laser pulses from the other Kurita 'Mechs gnawed at the giant's armor, exploding incandescent globs of metal off into the trees. Small pocks appeared across the Zeus'schest as the concealed infantry opened up with their heavy-caliber machine guns. Fuhito admired their audacity; those weapons were little more than annoyances to the behemoth.
Busek's
Griffin
Fuhito saw the arm actuators begin to shift as the Steiner pilot tried to bring up the Defiance 75 mm cannon mounted in the Zeus'swounded arm, but the damage was too great. The stress of the movement snapped the titanium alloy bones, sending the autocannon crashing to the forest floor. Coolant fluid leaked out to soak the humus as though the arm had been torn bleeding from the shoulder of a giant.
Distracted, Fuhito almost missed the Steiner pilot's other move. The Coventry launcher in the Zeus'sright arm vomited forth a spread of fifteen long-range missiles. The LRMs streaked across the clearing, underlighting the overhead leaves with the hellish light of their exhaust. Only his fortuitous position behind a brella bole saved Fuhito from catching the center of the spread. As it was, three warheads exploded on "Katana Kat's" right thigh, blasting away shards of armor.
Fuhito throttled up, dodging among the tree trunks. Whenever an opening occurred, he sent out a blast from the "Kat's" PPC, never knowing whether or not he had scored. His attention was centered on guiding his warriors; only with careful coordination could they hope to survive this encounter.
Fuhito could see the company's two Locuststearing wildly among the trees behind the Atlasand the other Ranger 'Mechs. He even thought he could hear Gutherie's strange, whooping battlecry echoing from the external speakers of the senshi's'Mech. The light 'Mechs were distracting the Ranger pilots by running around behind them, placing shots against their weaker rear armor. The company's light 'Mechs had used the tactic in the skirmish outside Massingham. Here in DonnerBrau Forest, they had traded some of their speed for the protection of the massive trunks of the brella trees. So far, to Fuhito's relief, the Elsies had failed to connect.
With the main body of the Steiner lance occupied by Fuhito's diversionary forces, the rest of his team concentrated on the lone Zeus.Energy weapons savaged the tottering giant.
Trying to gain time and recover from the surprise, the Zeusstarted back the way it had come. As it lurched through the miring humus, the 'Mech's unexpected staggers made it an even more difficult target than had the pilot's deliberate evasive maneuvers.
Amid the eye-searing pulses of the Kuritan fire, an HK-17 armored personnel carrier appeared, the bedraggled rat of the Legion emblazoned on its dented and ragged side armor. The vehicle's treads churned through the muck, spraying grayish gobs in high roostertails behind vehicle. The APC slipped between brella boles, heading toward the Zeus.
The Zeusswiveled its torso at the APC's approach, but the Ranger, apparently disdainful of a mere infantry carrier, twisted back and loosed a laser pulse at the Legion 'Mechs. The APC careened in under full power, slamming into the Zeus'sleft leg. The 'Mech staggered under the impact, and flailing its right-arm missile launcher, toppled face-first into the muck.
As the Zeusstruggled to stand, the APC driver shifted into reverse, his bravado apparently replaced by good sense. Before the APC could extricate itself, however, the Zeusrose at its side, the bulbous shape of the 'Mech's Coventry StarFire launcher held high above its blocky cockpit. Smashing its arm down on the APC, the Zeuscrushed the tank's passenger compartment. The APC's treads still moved, and so the Zeusstruck again and again until the vehicle was a twisted, motionless hulk at its feet.
Busek's
Griffin
Fuhito loosed a blast in support of his lancemate's reckless charge. Ionized air screamed as the artificial lightning tore at the wounded Zeus'storso. Then the Ranger 'Mech's rear-mounted laser suddenly began to fire wildly, the pulses increasing in frequency until they merged into a solid beam and melted the lasing crystal.
The
Griffin
The Zeusstrode to its downed opponent and halted by the armor baffle on the downed 'Mech's left shoulder. In a slow, deliberate movement, the Zeusraised its right leg and stepped down on the bubble canopy of the Griffin .
Fuhito screamed his outrage, his voice lost in the sizzling crackle of "Kat's" PPC. The bolt slammed the Zeusin its already weakened left chest. Flames licked out and a new cloud billowed from the 'Mech's destroyed shoulder. From the external speaker of the Ranger 'Mech came the hacking laughter of its pilot.
Azure lightning shattered the tree at Fuhito's left. Two more particle beams sizzled past. The other Elsies had given up chasing Kurita shadows in the woods and were joining the fight. Growling his rage, Fuhito threw "Kat" into a dive, seeking the cover of a deadfall.
Busek had been helpless. There was no honor in killing a helpless opponent. No true warrior would ever consider such an action. The Zeus pilot deserved a messy execution for his dishonorable act.
The Zeuswas badly damaged. Another charge by Fuhito's company could finish it off. But the other Rangers had arrived, which would make such a charge lethal for the Kuritans.
There would be another day.
Fuhito brought "Katana Kat" to its feet, heading for the treeline.