Battletech Legends: Jade Takahashi

 

CHARACTER PROFILE: JADE TAKAHASHI

Name: Jade Takahashi

Born: 8 May, 3121 Luthien

Titles/Rank: Sho-sa, 13th Sword of Light Regiment

Positions: MechWarrior, Battaltion Commander - Sword of Light

Affiliations: Draconis Combine

BattleMech: Tenshi TN-10-0B

Education/Training: Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy

EARLY LIFE

                    Jade Takahashi was born on Luthien to a prestigious family. Her Father owned a high end electronics manufacturing concern that helped supply the Combine's growing rearmament program. From a young age, Jade knew she wished to serve the Dragon as a MechWarrior. She thrust herself into her studies, particularly that of History and Philosophy, always making sure to have the proper school of thought to advance her along in her way towards her goal of becoming a Mech pilot. Though she did not excel at athletics, she made sure to push herself hard enough to be able to master Mech piloting.

                    Through familial connections, money, and hard work, she was able to secure herself a position at the coveted Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy on New Samarkand She excelled at Mech piloting and displayed an innate handling of tactics. She also worked hard to develop her leadership skills, wishing to further her career and assure a quick rise through the ranks.

                    It was also during her time at Sun Zhang that she acquired her love of Kendo, quickly taking to the sport and using it to help her marital prowess grow. She was son at Championship levels of competition, and acquitted herself well and brought much honor to her school and classmates.

                    While many cadets were plucked quickly from the school to help bolster the ranks of the DCMS, she remained behind to serve in 18th Sun Zhang Cadre upon graduation in 3143. She served admirably, if uneventfully during this time as the Cadre was relegated to a support role during the early days of the invasion of the Federated Suns.

SWORD OF LIGHT

                    She would be plucked from the ranks of the 18th Cadre to serve in the prestigious Eighth Sword of Light Regiment in 3146. She would Serve with the Eighth Sword on Robinson during the occupation of that world, and participated in putting down striking workers who seized the Atlas production line at Robinson Standard Battleworks in 3147. 

                    It was during this incident that she came to the attention of an up and coming Sho-sa by the name of  Okamoto Goro. Her ability to get things done endeared her to Goro, and during 3148 he became somewhat enamored with her. She welcomed his patronage, and was adept enough at deflecting his amorous advances without scorning him that she was picked to move along with him when he was given command of the newly formed Thirteenth Sword of Light in 3149.

                    With Goro being promoted to Tai-sa of the Thirteenth, Jade was promoted to Sho-sa of the partially completed Third Battalion just in time for Task Force ERUPTIO to drive the Sword of Light regiments from Robinson in 3149. She fought valiantly in the fighting withdrawal, and acquitted herself well in the eyes of her Commander. 

GORO SCORNED

                    After the defeat at Robinson, the Thirteenth was recalled to Luthien for a time while they rebuilt and rearmed. They would see  light action against the Rasalhague Dominion through much of 3150-51. During this period, Goro once again became enamored with her, and it became every increasingly difficult to deflect his advances in a politically sound way.

                    Finally, things came to a head one night when the Tai-sa was mildly inebriated, and she could do nothing but outright reject his advances. Now scorned, he was in danger of revoking his patronage, which soon happened. Her battalion was still in the process of building, and he began to make it harder and harder for her to get equipment for her troops and expansion.

                    Things became even worse for her career in the beginning of 3152. With the Rasalhague Dominion now at open war with the Combine in order to bolster its own internal politics, there was a chance for some action against the Bears. The Thirteenth was sent to Asgard to defend that world from the attack of the Third Freemen. However, her Battalion was not to be included in the fight, instead being sent to garrison the agricultural world of Caripare, with little potential to see any action.  

                    The Sho-sa is frustrated with this assignment, but luck may have recently smiled upon her. While she languished in garrison duty, the Third Freemen, with the help of young ristar Star Captain Thor Bekker, drove the Thirteenth from the planet. Bekker and Goro fought each other to a standstill, with each simultaneously incapacitating the others Mech. The in-system forces were simply too much, however, for the Thirteenth to hold and they were driven off to Avon. 

                    Spared the embarrassment of this defeat, her luck might also have begun to change, as unknown forces have entered the Caripare system and are burning towards the planet. The stages are set for an epic showdown when House Po Ding lands and engages Jade's forces. Will she be yet another in a long line to fall afoul of Master Po's plot armor? Or will she prove to be the Po slayer with her partial Battalion?    

THIRTEENTH SWORD OF LIGHT (HOMEBREW UNIT)

                    Jade's Battalion of the Thirteenth is currently only at fifty percent operational readiness. The unit features a mix of Combine-flavored mechs that embrace a wide range of combat philosophies. Several are Triple Strength Myomer equipped units and make extensive use of physical weapons such as swords, maces and vibro blades. In addition, many sport exotic armor types, ECM, and Jade's own Tenshi features a pair of TSEMP cannons for shutting down enemy mechs in the midst of a battle. 

                    Will this exotic blend of skill and equipment spell an end for Po's winning ways? Or will the Tai-sa be added to Po's long list of enemies with a grudge? 

Battletech Legends: Maxwell Ma

 CHARACTER PROFILE: MAXWELL MA

Name: Maxwell Ma

Born: 8 October, 3120 Harloc V

Titles/Rank: Lien-zhang of House Po

Positions: MechWarrior, Aide to Master Po

Affiliations: Capellan Confederation/Mercenary

BattleMech: Hierofalcon (Custom)

Education/Training: Sian University (Officer Training Program)

EARLY LIFE

                    Maxwell Ma was born to a relatively poor family of commoners on Harloc V. His father abandoned the family and fled offworld when Max was a small child, leaving Max's mother to care for the entire family of Max and his three sisters. She worked doing menial labor for the Ding family and it was here that Max would meet Po Ding at a young age. In spite of the differences in their social status, Po and Max quickly became inseparable friends growing up. Even at a young age, Max helped to keep Po grounded, while Po pulled strings for his friends' family to better their existence.

                    He earned his citizenship through his work with other poor families, using his connections with Po and the Ding family to help right many a social and economic wrong among the community. When it was time for Po to leave to go to University on Sian, Max assumed he would never see his friend again. Po however would have none of it, and personally pulled strings and leveraged his family connections to earn Max a coveted slot at Sian University alongside Po.

                    Grateful to his friend, Max would remain loyal to Po and worked hard to earn his respect. While Po focused on philosophy, Maxwell excelled at sports, becoming an accomplished Tennis player at Sian University in addition to his studies. The two helped each other work on their weaknesses, making both of them stronger students and each pushing the other to excel at whatever task was put in front of them. When it was time for graduation, Po once again leveraged his family connections to get Max assigned to the same unit of the Dynasty Guard so they could continue their friendship.

MILITARY SERVICE

                    Po rose through the ranks more quickly than Max, due to his focus on leadership, while Max focused on scouting and reconnaissance. Still, Max fought at Po's side throughout their term during CELESTIAL REWARD, always having his friend's back, just as Po looked out for Max's career. 

                    When tragedy struck the Ding family, it stung Maxwell nearly as hard as Po, and he would return with Po to Harloc to help his friend through his time of grief. It was during this period where Po began to write and teach on Philosophy and develop his tenets of balance and centeredness. Max learned at the foot of his new Master Po, and wholly committed himself to the ways of Po's teachings and philosophies. He helped Po develop what would become the final challenge of House Po Ding initiates, the trek through the Mirewood as he and Po were the first to complete it as their own rite of passage into a better future.

                    Max continued to serve loyally at Po's side, always keeping him grounded. He aided in the initial training of the first batch of aspirants to House Po and was instrumental in helping many of the initiates pass through into the new warrior order.

                    When it came time to dispatch someone to Galatea to begin the process of actually incorporating House Po Ding as a Mercenary force, there was no one that Po trusted more than Max, and thus he was sent to Galatea to help secure the foundations of the unit.

                    

RASING GALATEA

                    Max handled the initial incorporation of the unit with the Mercenary Bonding Commission and sought out contracts. During this period, with the Inner Sphere in chaos with the collapse of the Republic of the Sphere and the fracturing of the so-called Hinterlands, Max smelled opportunity. His senses proved to be correct, and he earned himself and audience with Merena, the Syndic of the newly founded Alyina Mercantile League. Desperate for mercenary commands to help secure her  borders, Marena offered Max a contract with the AML, sweetening the deal with a haul of military supplies to bolster the TO&E of the fledgling Mercenary unit, including a pair of Jade Falcon OmniMechs, a Jade Phoenix and a Hierofalcon.

                    Upon completion of this task, Max returned to Harloc and presented this new contract and haul of equipment to Po Ding. Po would reward Max's efforts by gifting him the Hierofalcon as his personal ride. The Mech fit with Max's aggressive style of recon and hit and run tactics. Final preparations were made, and House Po would mount up and make for the territory of the AML, finalizing many things en route and arriving just in time to see action against the advance of Clan Hell's Horses. 

TAMING THE HORSES

                    Max would serve at Po's side, as he always had, now acting as executive officer and personal aide to Master Po. During their initial conflict against the Hell's Horses, Max led the recon detachment tasked with finding the Horses positions and reporting it to the main force. He ran headlong into a Horses recon Binary and thus would be the first to lead House Po forces into battle. His quick thinking and hard hitting tactics won him victory over the Horse binary, and it was during this engagement that he would take a bondswoman of one of the surviving Horses ProtoMech pilots. Point Commander Nyxie would prove to be an invaluable assistance to Po throughout the campaign, helping him to grasp the Horses combined arms tactics and allowing him to administer defeat after defeat to the Horses in the AML zone of influence.

                    During this period of time, House Po Ding would earn the ire of Horses Star Colonel Colleen Ravenwater of the 11th Mechanized Cluster. The two would continue to clash as Po Ding led a daring series of raids into Hell's Horses territory. Each time, Max was pivotal in providing recon and cavalry roles to the unit, allowing them to outmaneuver and outfight the Horses at nearly every turn.

                    

REBUILDING

                    With their contract fulfilled, House Po would seek to return to Harloc to refit and rebuild, recovering from the losses of their campaign. Along the way, they would trial for several Sea Fox technicians, bolstering their technical capacity and allowing some integration of their new bondswoman Nyxie. Max helped her adjust to life in the House, giving her insight into Po's ways that made it easier for her to transition to her new role as a member of the warrior order. HE would also fight at Po's side during the honor contest with Lao Chen for the fate of the House and even Harloc itself, helping Po to earn the title of Refrector. 

                    Soon the betrayal of the Andurien and Canopian allies to the Confederation would see attacks and raids pouring into the Sian Commonality. With this going on, Po felt an obligation to the Confederation to help, and so House Po would go into the field under the banner of the Capellans to help blunt Andurien raids. During this period, Max's ability to reconnoiter would prove invaluable in combatting the massed indirect fire tactics of the Anduriens. 

                    Max would even lead the team, along with Nyxie, to help rescue Death Commando Sheena Li from the clutches of the nefarious Colonel Alfonso Humphreys, once again earning them a powerful enemy in the form of Humphreys patron, the Duchess Emerance Meyers of Conquista.

WAKING THE DRAGON

                    Their next missions will see House Po facing off against House Kurita, having taken a contract from the Rasalhague Dominion to raid an agrarian world on the border of those two realms. With new enemies to be fought, Max's talents will doubtless be needed to help Master Po fight the mighty forces of the Draconis Combine.  

  

The Coordinator's own...

Caripare

Irece Prefecture

Draconis Combine

28 July 3152 

                    Sho-sa Jade Takahashi set the noteputer aside, closed her eyes and sighed. She let the warm water of the bath embrace her body as her mind wandered. The subtle hints of spring had long passed, and now the full aroma of Summer on Caripare filed her nostrils. She had just finished reading the reports that had come her way via courier of the fate of her brethren in the Thirteenth Sword of Light regiment. Her commanding officer, Tai-sa Okamoto Goro reported that he had fought to a standstill a young ristar of the Rasalhague Dominion, Star Captain Thor Bekker.

                    While their personal fight had been a draw, the Dominion forces had overwhelmed the Combine defenders. The Combine had been driven from the world, and the rest of the Thirteenth was retreating to Avon.

                    She silently cursed her luck. The Tai-sa and the majority of the regiment had been in battle, and she was stuck guarding this agricultural world with her rump battalion of forces. They were not on the axis of attack toward Black Luthien, and she would likely find herself out of the fight unless recalled.

                    Where others might relish the easy garrison duty on this agrarian world, she chafed against it. Her career was at a standstill, and there was little room for advancement if she was not seeing action. She still entertained dreams of one day running her own regiment in the DCMS. She would not get there by guarding grain silos on some farming planet.

                    Her reverie was interrupted by a beeping sound in her right ear. She tapped the earpiece she was wearing, activating the comm system. "Yes, what is it."

                    "Forgive me for interrupting you, Sho-sa, but this news is important. System Control reports that an unidentified JumpShip has appeared at the Nadir point and a Dropship has begun burning towards the planet. They do not answer any hails, and have no recognizable markings. Speculation is that it is some kind of raiding party, perhaps mercenaries in the employ of the Dominion, as it is a military vessel. "

                    It was as if her prayers had been answered. Finally there might be some action for her on this backwater! 

Not Just Now...

Dropship Xiao Ting

Conquista (outbound)

Duchy of Andurien

Free Worlds League

20 June, 3152

                    Sheena Li laid back in her bunk and tried to relax. She tried to let the stress of the past week go, but it was not easy to simply move past having failed in her mission and the humiliation of falling prisoner to the enemy. She had begun resigning herself to her fate in captivity when the mysterious Po Ding had swooped in to the rescue. There was much to unpack and much to process.

                    Not the least of which was how she was going to deal with her second in command, Alexander Tam. She knew she could not punish him directly, as he had technically followed orders, but she still felt betrayed by his abandonment of her to her fate. She knew he was ambitious, but she had not judged just how ambitious he was indeed. She would have to keep an eye on him going forward.

                    And then there was the matter of how she would have to spin her failure to complete her mission. Failure was not an option for a Death Commando. Although technically she had not failed, she had completed the raid and bloodied the enemy forces as she had been ordered to do, there was no escaping the fact that getting captured was failure. She would have to find a way to keep that out of her report. 

                    Unfortunately, that meant she could take no direct action against Tam, as he had knowledge of the situation and she would require his complicity if she as to salvage her career. In was an unenviable position to be in, but it was still better than being in a cell. She was a survivor, she would survive this.

                    Just then her reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Come in!"

                    She was surprised to see Nyxie, Po's bondswoman-turned-warrior step through the door. Her heart rate increased. This was yet another thing she had to deal with. She had maneuvered to get Nyxie on her team for purely selfish reasons, but over the course of the operation, nothing had really become of her attracting to this diminutive Clan born woman. She wasn't even sure why she was so attracted to her, but it was undeniable.

                    Still, they had a lot of work to do, and she hadn't let her feelings get in the way of the mission. The mission had to come first. And now the mission was over.

                    She sat up in her bunk allowing a minute smile to reach her face. "I am surprised to see you here."

                    Nyxie showed no change in expression that Sheena could read. "I can go if you wish?"

                    Sheena shook her head. "No, you are welcome here." She paused. "Just as your rescue of me was welcome. I never told you thank you for that."

                    She gestured for Nyxie to take a seat at the lone chair at the small desk in her cabin.

                    "So, what brings you here?"

                    Nyxie allowed herself to relax back into the chair. "I wanted to check in on you. You treated me most fairly, and I enjoyed our time working together. I wanted to see how you were doing."

                    Sheena sighed slightly. "I appreciate that. I am fine. I was not harmed very much in captivity, the Anduriens were soft. To tell you the truth, I expected much worse."

                    "A pleasant surprise then, quiaff?"

                    Sheena nodded. "One of many surprises, that is for sure, some pleasant, some not so pleasant. I was shocked by the appearance of Master Po and his warriors, but I will be forever grateful."

                    Nyxie smiled softly. "I have come to learn that Master Po is most wise, and to expect the unexpected from him. I was surprised to see him send me along with you on the mission, and at first I was unsure of why he did it." 

                    Sheena furrowed her brow. "And why exactly did he do that? I am not quite sure why he acquiesced to my request so easily."

                    Nyxie shrugged. "He knew you would need the help. And I do not mean that you needed me on the trip. I believe he sensed that you would need his help, and having me with you gave him an excuse to follow you on your mission, albeit without our knowledge. It put him in the position where he needed to be. For himself, for The House, for the Confederation."

                    It made sense. She had not seen it that way, but now that it was explained to her, it made perfect sense. It was the perfect cover for Po to come along. Had he tried to come along, Sheena would have bristled at it. Knowing that, he needed a reason to follow her, and having one of his warriors embedded in the Death Commando's force gave him the perfect excuse. 

                    "That makes a fair bit of sense. That crafty, crazy man."

                    Nyxie chuckled slightly. "He is indeed that." She paused for a moment. "That does not, however, explain why you wanted me along so badly."

                    Sheena blushed ever so slightly. "As I told you and Master Po, I needed someone along with knowledge of the situation. Your help was invaluable, and had I listed better, perhaps things might have been different planet side."

                    Nyxie shifted almost imperceptibly. Had Sheen not been so focused on her, she might not have noticed, but as it was she did. 

                    "May I ask you something, Sheena?"

                    "Of course." She was caught off-guard somewhat by her use of her first name, but she did not protest. 

                    "You wish to couple with me, quiaff? And yet you never made any such move on me. Was there something wrong?"

                        Sheena was stunned. Her heart was now racing a mile a minute. "You are quite forward, Nyxie, aren't you?"

                        Nyxie nodded. "Yes. It is the way with us born among the Clans that we are direct about such things. I sensed from an early time on that you were attracted to me and presumed that you would ask me to couple at some point. I was surprised when you did not. Did I give you some inappropriate signal?"

                    Sheena shook her head. "No, of course not. Things are just more complicated among my people. Much less....open and direct. There are many things that must be considered. There is a difference of cultures, a difference of rank, so many differences. I did not want to act inappropriately, especially with you being alone in a new place."

                    Nyxie smiled. "I understand and appreciate all of those things. Where I come from, it matters only that we are both warriors. That is all that is required to validate things. And I would point out that I am no longer alone amongst strangers, we are now on our ship. I would hate to see you leave with regrets. Especially now after all that we have no been through."

                    Sheena raised an eyebrow. "There is still time. How do you say....quiaff?"

                    Nyxie stood up want walked toward Sheena, sending her heart racing even faster.

                    "Aff. Very much Aff."

                    An hour or so later, Sheena found herself tangled amongst the sheets of her bunk with Nyxie curled up beside her. "I believe there is some wisdom in your Clan way of doing things after all."

                    Nyxie did not move other than to snuggle closer up to Sheena. "Inhibitions are foolish amongst warriors. Life is too short to deny simple pleasures."

                    Sheena let her fingers trace delicately over Nyxie's Enhanced Imaging neural tattoos. "Can I ask you something personal?"

                    Nyxie nodded. "Of course."

                    "You really do feel at home among House Po, don't you?"

                    "Yes. I did not at first, but I very much do feel at home with the House now. I did not think I would ever find a closeness like my pointmates again. And to be fair, being a member of the House is closeness in a different way. But I am feeling even somewhat less lost now than I did amongst my old Clan mates."

                    Sheena kissed her forehead. "What do you mean by 'lost'?"

                    Nyxie rolled up onto her elbows. "We connect to our machines in a very different way than you MechWarriors. We do not pilot the machine, we almost become the machine. And then when you are not merged with it, you can feel lonely and disconnected, even around your peers. Master Po has taught me ways to connect with myself and with others to mitigate that feeling of loss or loneliness. I did not grow up with a concept of family, but I am slowly building one and realizing it's overall positives on my life. Balance in all things, as Master Po would say."

                    Sheena chuckled. "Yes, I know, I read that crazy man's book when I was preparing for my mission. I know some of his ideas, and they have some merit. But to dedicate your life to such a way of living....it takes a great deal of courage."

                    Nyxie shook her head. "You do much the same. You have devoted yourself to duty to the Chancellor and the Celestial Throne."

                    "Not really. The State has given me everything. It is a small price to pay to serve the Chancellor loyally. "

                    Nyxie nodded. "And just as it is a small price to pay, so too it is a small price to pay to find connection where before there was emptiness. It allows me to live a better life, to be a better warrior, which is what I was born to do."

                    "I am glad you find it so."

                    "You sound as if you feel lost yourself? Like you are looking for something greater as I was."

                    Sheena chuckled. "Do not worry, I was not tempted by your recruiting pitch. I serve the Chancellor and that is my path. But I am coming to see that you and Master Po serve the Chancellor, only along a different path. I am just happy that our paths have crossed."

                    "As am I, Sheena. As am I."

                    The two laid in silence for several minutes. Sheena was beginning to think that Nyxie had fallen asleep, when suddenly she spoke up. "May I ask you a question, about a totally different natter?"

                    Sheena nodded. "Of course"

                    "Not to bring up bad thoughts, but you seemed distracted when I first arrived. Like you had a lot on your mind. Do you wish to discuss anything? Nothing makes a better conversation than after coupling conversations."

                    Sheena sighed. "Yes. I was pondering the fate of my career. I will have to account for my failure."

                    "You did not fail. The mission was a success, the Anduriens were bloodied and taught a lesson."

                    Sheena shook her head. "But I was captured and defeated. There is failure there."

                    Nyxie chuckled. "As was I. That does not mean I am a failure. May I make a suggestion?"

                    Sheena nodded on the affirmative. 

                    "I would discuss the matter with Master Po. He is most wise in the ways of these things. Perhaps he has a way of looking at it that can provide you with greater clarity."

                    "Yes, perhaps. It can't hurt. You're right."  

                    Nyxie looked at her devilishly. "But let us not ask him just now."

                    Sheena smiled. "No, not just now." 

The Rescue...Part 3

 Gamble Plains

Conquista

Duchy of Andurien

Free Worlds League

18 June, 3152

                    Master Po stood astride the crest of a judge in his Jade Phoenix and surveyed the scene around him. Down in the gently sloping valley below, two of his BattleMechs, a Timber Wolf and an Archer had just crossed the shallow stream than ran from left to right as Po was facing. They were engaging an unknown number of enemy Battlemechs that were emerging from the woods about a kilometer away from Po's position. He had already spotted a Thunderbolt and a Crusader, and the enemy commander lurked behind the treeline in his deadly Atlas.

                    Po's BattleArmor and infantry were dismounting from their Maxim transports and were taking cover in and around the creek bed in protected positions. Specialized combat engineer units were helping to throw up crude entrenchments for the infantry to give them cover from the fight that was about to come. 

                    Po glanced now to his left, where his own forces deployed a Crusader and a Blackhawk KU in addition to a massive Atlas which served as the anchor for that flank. To his right he had deployed his lighter elements, with a Griffin, a Vindicator, and a Shadow Hawk IIC. Each flank had it's own contingent of BattleArmor and infantry to assist the BattleMech forces. Each was doing their job of holding firm against the gentle but definite Andurien push.

                    Turning his attention to the conflict directly in front of him, he noted the enemy Colonel Humphreys' Atlas emerge to the edge of the woodline and firing on his troops with it's deadly Gauss Rifle and extended range large lasers. He dropped his crosshairs over the hulking form of the enemy mech and dialed his zoom up to maximum. He pulled into two of his triggers, sending a bolt from his Plasma Cannon hurtling toward the Atlas. It impacted with little damage, but Po knew that it had dealt a not insignificant amount of heat to his enemy. A hail of slugs from his Hyper-Assault Gauss Rifle rang downrange, but the heavy Ballistic Reinforced armor of the enemy Mech shrugged it off as little more than an annoyance.

                    "Center element, bait them into us. The colonel has an advantage with that Ballistic Reinforced armor of his, we must rely on the help of our infantry. Trap group One, remain hidden, all other infantry, feel free to engage as the enemy Mechs come into our lines."

                    Po was a firm believer in combined arms tactics, and he tried to put his infantry to it's best possible use. In this case, he was hoping to leverage the damage and heat from the man-portable plasma rifles carried by his heavy foot infantry. But that would require baiting the enemy closer, and for that, he had just the right idea.

                    He slammed his foot pedals to the floor, triggering his improved jump jets and sending his Mech hurtling hundreds of meters forward. He cushioned his landing into the creek with his legs and brought his reticules up looking for a target. He could make out the enemy Crusader and that was a good enough target for him. He triggered more of his weapons, sending HAG rounds downrange followed by pulses from his Large Pulse Laser. HE added the fire from his Plasma Cannon, connecting with all of his shots to make for a bad day for the enemy Battlemech, which withered under the fire.

                    But it was enough to draw out Colonel Humphreys' Atlas which lumbered out of the woods and bore down on the House Po lines. It shrugged off missiles and autocannon shells with seeming reckless abandon as it came on and on. Po fired his Large Pulse laser and a trio of Medium Lasers at the onrushing beast, but husbanded his HAG ammo for the time being. There was little point in wasting it. Besides, the enemy commander was just now coming into range of....Yes, there it was!

                    A hail of tiny plasma bolts erupted from the entrenched infantry troopers. Though each was tiny and insignificant in and of itself, the combined volume of the fire inflicted a withering damage to the enemy's armor plates, and more significantly a tremendous amount of heat to the target. At just that moment, Po triggered his own Plasma Cannon, adding to the conflagration. Under this withering fire, the enemy Mech ground to a halt, shut down from overheating.

                    As if on queue, a squad of Fa Shih BattleArmor bounded forward and leapt onto the vulnerable machine and began the process of ripping it to shreds. Po leaned back in his seat, allowing himself a moment to collect his thoughts and savor the victory.

                    But it was to be short lived. Just as the enemy Atlas crashed to the ground, a deadly accurate PPC bolt blasted one of the troopers off of the fallen hulk. From the woods, two more highly accurate bolts of manmade lightning shot out and cored into the upper torso and cockpit assembly of the Mad Cat beside Po. His allied mech fell to the ground, it's pilot either wounded or killed.

                    From the woods, the hulking form of a Regent OmniMech emerged at a slow walk. Over an open comm channel, Po heard a woman's voice. "Enemy commander. I am Duchess Emerance Meyers. This territory is mine. Who invades it and dares to raid my lands?"

                    Po keyed open a comm line. "I am Po Ding. Shiao-zhang of House Po Ding. I believe you have possession of something that does not belong to you. I am here to retrieve it in the name of the Celestial Wisdom, Chancellor Daoshen Liao. We appear to have incapacitated your pet Colonel here. The day is yet young, but my patience is short. Why do you bother me?"

                    "You speak of the Death Commando that invaded my world and tried to kill the Colonel in retaliation for some slight against your Confederation? You could have asked, Po Ding."

                    Po triggered a blast from his HAG-30, pelting the torso of the Regent with small nickel-ferrous slugs at high speed. The damage was not insignificant, but far from crippling. The Duchess responded with three Targeting Computer assisted shots of her PPCs, each dealing a staggering amount of damage to Po's armor. He withered under the shot, but fought to control his balance. He noticed a small light flashing on his comm board and smiled before turning his attention back to the Duchess.

                    "It is my understanding that her underling asked for Parlay and was denied it by your buffoon of a Colonel. I am here for more fruitful negotiations."

                    Po returned fire with his HAG and Large Pulse Laser, cutting more armor from the frame of the Duchess' Mech. 

                    "Negotiations? What do you have to bargain with, Po?"

                    He slammed down a button on his console, and at that signal, his hidden stealth Tortoise quad BattleArmor suits unleashed a wall of Pulse Laser and Short Range Missile fire onto the enemy Regent.

                    "I offer you the chance to survive, Duchess. You see, even now, I have already gotten what I came for. Withdraw and we can call an end to all of these unpleasantries." 

                    She answer with another trio of PPC shots, which Po managed to dodge by leaping ninety meters to his right. Landing and recoiling, he let his mech drop to a knee and fired another blast of Gauss slugs into the nor dangerously damaged torso armor of the Duchess' OmniMech.

                    "What are you talking about? Speak plainly!"

                    Po laughed into the comms. "Have you tried reaching your headquarters recently? Go ahead, I will give you a moment to try."

                    There was a few moments of silence as Meyers tried to pick off some of his hidden stealth suits with shots form her PPC's, but to no avail. 

                    "What have you done, Po Ding?"

                    He fired a burst from his Large Pulse laser, which melted armor from the Regent's right leg.

                    "I have merely claimed what I came here to claim. I have in my possession all that I want. There need be no further bloodshed between us. Once again, I offer you the chance to withdraw and save face."

                    There was a long pause, before the enemy mech began backing up towards the woods. "This is far from over, Po. You have made a powerful enemy today, and my memory is long. Your Confederation is floundering. We will meet again."

                    Po leaned back in his seat and breathed a sigh of relief. After a moment, he pressed the flashing button on his comm board. "Go ahead, Max. You have retrieved our guest?"

                    "Safe and unharmed, Master Po. We are almost at the LZ. Will you be needing us to reinforce you?"

                    "Negative, Max. We have blunted the enemy drive here, and will be withdrawing shortly to meet you. Give my regards to the Sao-shao and as always my friend, you have my thanks for a job well done." 

                    

Battletech Legends: Po Ding

 CHARACTER PROFILE: MASTER PO

Name: Po Ding

Born: July 4, 3119 Harloc V

Titles/Rank: Refrector of Harloc, Shiao-Zhang of House Po

Positions: Nobleman (Mandrinn), Mechwarrior, Philosopher, Freelance Author

Affiliations: Capellan Confederation/Mercenary

Battlemech: Jade Phoenix (Custom)

Education/Training: Sian University (Officer Training Program)

EARLY LIFE

                    Po Ding was born in 3119 to noble parents on the Capellan world of Harloc V. He grew up as an only child and the sole heir to the Ding family heritage. He showed an early aptitude to his studies, especially in philosophy and the martial arts. He received his citizenship without the need for pulling family strings by showing a particular concern for the people of Harloc. He was able to secure a position of study at Sian University by the age of sixteen. There he learned the martial trade, participating in the prestigious Officer Candidate Program in addition to his studies in philosophy.

                    

EARLY CAREER

                    Upon graduation he was posted to the Dynasty Guard, and served with them through Operation CELESTIAL REWARD. Shortly after CELESTIAL REWARD ended, his parents were lost in a Dropship accident and he was granted special dispensation to leave the Guard and return to Harloc to take up the reins of leadership of House Ding. 

                    During this time he delved deeply into philosophy to deal with the grief of losing his parents. It was around this time that he began forming his core philosophy of Balance in all things. He began work on writing his initial tome, The People's Principles at this time. He showed an early relative disdain for the courtly life of nobility, and this initially caused him considerable troubles upon taking the reigns of House Ding.

                    He was notably outmaneuvered politically from attaining the position of Refrector initially by his arch nemesis, Lao Chen. Focusing mostly upon his philosophy and writing, he was looked down upon as something of an affectation by his fellow nobles on Harloc. 

RAISING HOUSE PO DING

                    It was around this time that he began the formation of what would ultimately become House Po Ding. As he was increasingly shunned by the local nobility, he began amassing a small following among those who shared his philosophy of  balance. He often taught and lectured on these principles, and in 3148 released his work, The People's Principles. As he neared the third decade of his life, he began to form the core of what would become his mercenary company, House Po Ding. Initially he took only the best and most dedicated of the House Ding militia into his inner circle of warrior philosophers. This core began training and drilling, and Po began delegating much of the running of his family holds to trusted advisors and focusing on the raising of his new unit. He began lecturing at the Duchy Regional Training Center. 

                    At this point, he began open recruiting, seeking out the best and most adherent to his ways to build up the ranks of House Po Ding, even recruiting from amongst the general population people he thought could fit in with his new vision for a unit. Training began in earnest around this time, and this is when he began styling his new unit as "House Po Ding", basing it's structure and martial philosophy upon those of the Warrior House Orders. Initiates would need to be as schooled in philosophy as the martial arts, and he focused heavily on combined arms and cross-training amongst his initiates. 

                    By 3150, it was time for him to initiate the first and most ready of his initiates into his new warrior order. Po himself designed the final training exercise, a journey through the subtropical forests surrounding the Ding family compound in a region called the Mirewood. Aspirants would have to traverse the forest, with it's array of deadly predators including a large pony-sized spider called the Dire Spider. Killing of the creature was forbidden due to it's revered status, aspirants would have to focus on evasion to escape these and a host of other deadly beasts. Several aspirants were lost in this vigorous training regime, but those who survived would be initiated into the ranks of Po's warriors.

                    By 3151, Po was ready to take the next steps to raising his unit to the status of an active mercenary unit. He had the core of troops and materials, he now lacked a patron or an employer. While Po finalized the training of the House, he dispatched his aide and second in command Maxwell Ma to Galatea to seek out a contract for the unit. Max was a commoner, but had been Po's friend since childhood, and he trusted that his friend would get the job done.

EARLY HOUSE PO DING

                    Max succeeded not only in finding not only a contract, but was able to procure two brand new OmniMechs for the unit from the Alyina Mercantile League. This would include a factory new Jade Phoenix for Po himself. He would give up his old Hunchback IIC and begin training anew on the Jade Phoenix while they finalized the unit for battle.

                    With their contract now secured for a series of raids against Clan Hell's Horses, they set out for the Hinterlands. They met with initial success against the Horses, raiding several worlds in the name of the AML. During this time he would make both new friends and new enemies. During one raid, he captured a Horses Protomech and it's pilot as a bondswoman. Over the next year, he would work hard to integrate her into the unit, even going so far as to trialing the Sea Foxes for a handful of technicians to help maintain the Clan tech in his unit.

                    He also made a powerful enemy in the form of Star Colonel Colleen Ravenwater of the Hell's Horses. Ravenwater was embarrassed by her defeat at the hands of Po, and would seek to exact her revenge against him over the next years.

                    Upon completion of his initial contract and subsequent trials with the Sea Foxes, Po would return to Harloc with his warriors to repair, rest, and regroup. With his success and victories, he found himself suddenly in favor and in demand among the nobility of Harloc. However, at an evening gala and gathering of the local nobility, Po's nemesis, Refrector Lao Chen would confront Po. The argument quickly turned heated, as Po slighted Chen. Eventually things escalated to the point where a duel was required. Po Ding would take to the field with a handful of his best warriors against the champions of Lao Chen.

                    Po would defeat Lao Chen's champion, sending the nobleman fleeing in disgrace and granting the title of Refrector to Po himself. With this newfound popularity, Po would rebuild his order from it's losses and be ready to take on new contracts in the very chaotic era of the ilClan.

The Rescue...Part 2

 

Gamble Plains

Conquista

Duchy of Andurien

Free Worlds League

18 June, 3152

                     Nyxie triggered her Protomech's jets and extended her wings to glide forward with the pair of J Edgars that were making best speed toward the facility where Sheena was likely being held. Maxwell Ma had reported contact with a medium lance of enemy Battlemechs, likely the main garrison force left behind to guard the Headquarters building while Master Po engaged the main enemy body. It was a game of distractions within distractions.

                    She landed just behind the cover of a slight hill interposed between her position and the enemy base. "Hold"

                    At her command, the pair of J Edgar hovertanks came to a stop beside her. She wanted to be sure before making the final run. She crouched her Protomech to ensure she was not visible, and blinked herself into the gun camera of Max's Hierofalcon. Her neural enhanced imaging implants allowed her to pop into selected Battlemechs and vehicles that the House had upgraded with the help of some newly won Sea Fox technicians. It wasn't quite the same as operating in her Protomech point, but at least she did not feel blind. She realized it gave her an incredible awareness advantage over the average MechWarrior or vehicle pilot.

                    She watched as Max's Mech traded fire with an enemy Trebuchet. "Maxwell, do you believe you have them fully distracted?"

                    "I should hope so. This medium lance is looking a bit heavy, but we can handle it. We should have pulled out any forces guarding the facility. I would recommend that you start your approach now."

                    "Aff. Understood!"

                    With the blink of an eye, she brought her perspective back to her own Protomech, feeling at home with the machine once more. The forces were waiting her command.

                    "Let us do this. Go, go, go!"

                    The J Edgars spun up to speed and bolted out from cover. She crested the ridge and zoomed her view in on the main gate of the facility. She watched as the guards raised their rifles and began shooting at the approaching hovertanks. The J Edgars replied with a hail of laser pulses from their X-pulse laser turrets, tearing into several of the guards and sending the rest diving for cover

                    Nyxie triggered her jets and glided up and over the gate as the hovertanks crashed through it. "Get to the main entrance point. I will cover you from out here."

                    The hovertanks sped away to a side door of the main facility, and when they were close, the Gladiator suits that were clinging to them leapt free. Making short work of the door with their vibroswords, in and instant they had breached the building and disappeared inside.

                    The J Edgars were incredibly vulnerable, and so did not remain stationary for long once the troopers had dismounted. They sped off in a circle, spiraling around the facility at high speed to make themselves difficult targets.

                    Nyxie scanned the area visually. Several people had scurried for cover, but none seemed foolish enough to want to tangle with her winged Protomech. That was fine with her. She listened over the comms as the Battlesuits reported their progress, fanning out throughout the facility looking for Sao-shao Li. They reported engaging light security elements, but nothing that threatened their armor seriously.

                    She was about to urge them to go faster, when a soldier appeared from behind a stack of crates and leveled a short range missile at her. The rocket fired, and she was just quick enough to elude it as the warhead spiraled past her and struck a side building, exploding and tearing a hole it the wall.

                    She fired her hip-mounted machine gun, sending a hail of bullets towards the soldier who had fired at her. He tried to dive for cover, but her aim was faster and she cut him down to the pavement in a fusillade of heavy slugs.

                    "Any progress, breacher teams? It is getting a little hot out here."

                    

######

                    Sheena had actually been asleep when the sound of an alarm woke her. At first it was calm, but then she could sense an escalation in the panic level of the guards around her. She felt more than she heard the pop of concussion grenades going off. Someone was attacking them!

                    It did not immediately dawn on her that she was being rescued. She had not held out hope that anyone would come. The mission orders had been quite clear that they were to evacuate as soon as the initial raid was over, and her subordinate would likely carry out those orders to the letter. She had resigned herself to her fate as prisoner, but now that was all changing. Suddenly she realized that someone was coming for her.

                    She would have to chastise Tam for launching such an operation, but she was more surprised than anything else. She was sure that Tam was anxious for her job, and leaving her here would likely mean advancement for him, even in the failure of the raid, if he could spin it properly. 

                    But apparently he was coming to her rescue. "You might want to see to that. It sounds like something is going wrong." she taunted the two guards who were left watching her.

                    "Quiet you! This is none of your concern!" one of them yelled at her.

                    She laughed openly. "Don't you see? They are coming for me. You might as well let me go. If you do, I will let you live."

                    "Stop talking!" The one guard was now visibly anxious. He came over to the cell door and opened it, walking inside. She wasn't sure what he was actually doing. Was he going to let her go? These Anduriens were more cowardly than she had thought, perhaps. But then she realized her error as the man raised his auto-rifle towards her.

                    "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

                    He was now visibly shaking. "One more word out of you and I'll shoot! I don't care if you're the Colonels pet prisoner or not!"

                    Her mind was racing a mile a minute as to what to do. She had to act, this was her only chance. But she didn't know what she could do. The distance between them was too great, he would be able to cut her down if she made a move towards him.

                    Just then, the door burst off it's hinges. She heard the clatter of something on the floor, and instinctively covered her ears. With a loud bang, the concussion grenade went of, sending a ringing through her ears. As smoke began to fill the room, she took her opportunity and lunged at the guard in front of her. The man was stunned from the grenade. She struck him square on the jaw, sending him reeling. At the same time, she drew his sidearm. As he stumbled to the ground, she pulled the trigger, sending several slugs into him. He dropped his rifle and writhed on the ground in pain and agony.

                    She looked toward the other guard in time to see a Gladiator Battlearmored trooper burst through the opening where the door had been. With a quick and silent stroke, he cut down the other guard with his vibrosword. 

                    "Sao-shao, are you injured?" the voice was metallic through the suit's external mic.

                    "I am fine trooper. But who are you?" She was suddenly aware that her unit possessed no Gladiator Battlearmor. 

                    "Master Po sends his regards, Sao-shao."

                    "Po Ding?!" She was dumbstruck. 

                    "The House Master is otherwise occupied at the moment, but sent us to rescue you while he fights the Anduriens. We must move quickly. Can you move with us?"

                    She nodded. "Give me a moment." She was currently clad only in her Mechwarrior shorts and tank top, and was barefoot. That would not do. She quickly made her way to the corpse of one of the fallen guards and stripped him of his boots, donning them as quickly as she could. They were a bit large, but they would do better than trying to exfiltrate in her bare feet. She also grabbed his autorifle, and turned to the armored trooper. "Lead the way!"

 

The Rescue...

Dropship Firebee

Gamble Plains

Conquista

Duchy of Andurien

Free Worlds League

14 June, 3152

                    Nyxie slammed her fist on the table. "It is our duty to rescue the Sao-Shao! We should be planning an attack, not seeking an escape!"

                    She locked eyes with the Death Commandos executive officer, Alexander Tam. "I appreciate your concern, but you have no rank or authority here. My orders are clear. We have struck the Anduriens and bloodied them. Our mission is accomplished. That the Sao-shao was lost is irrelevant. She knew the risks of this campaign, as did we all. The mission comes first. She would say the same."

                    "You are a fool, Tam. Do you really think you will be welcomed back after your failure? It is correct, I know relatively little of your ways in the Confederation right now, but what little I know does not make me believe That the Chancellor will embrace failure. Better to risk our lives here in a rescue operation to salvage something from this operation than to return with our tails between our legs."

                    Tam snarled angrily. "You're right, you do not understand our ways. If you did, you would know how dangerous your position is, defying one of the Death Commandos does not often end well."

                    Nyxie laughed. "I am not afraid of you, Tam. If I die, I die, I was raised in the Clans. If this were our way, I would challenge you to a circle of equals for your foolishness, and take command of this failed operation."

                    "Do not press your luck. I might take you up on that offer if you are any more insolent towards me."

                    Nyxie was about to respond when the hatch slid open and a junior officer came in with word of a transmission incoming. She followed Tam to the bridge of the ship, where the communications gear was located. 

                    As she entered the bridge, she suppressed a smile. The central holotable showed the image of a man she had not imagined she would see just then. Tam hesitated when he saw the transmission.

                    "What are you doing here?" he asked of the man.

                    The image of Po Ding smiled. "Greetings Sang-wei. I am Shiao-zhang Po Ding. I have been monitoring local broadcasts which have told the tale of a failed Capellan raid. I see the Sao-shao is not with you. I take it that things have not gone according to plan. How may I be of assistance?"

                    Tam threw up his hands. "You are most arrogant, Po Ding. I do not recognize your rank, I am in charge here."

                    "As I can see."

                    Tam pointed at the image. "Do not mock me, Po Ding! You are a mere mercenary. Do not forget that."

                    Po nodded. "I forget nothing Sang-wei. I am merely here to help. What is the status of your commander?"

                    "She was captured by the enemy when they overran our position. I attempted to parlay with this Colonel Humphreys, but he refused to exchange prisoners and merely restated his claim to this world."

                    "I see. Then what is your rescue plan? Perhaps we can assist you."

                    Tam shook his head. "The raid is concluded. We engaged the Anduriens and bloodied them. Our mission is complete. We are preparing to withdraw."

                    Po frowned. "That is most unfortunate. With our combined strength, we can defeat these enemies. While I can appreciate that you sense a promotion at the loss of your commander, this is not a time for squabbling. I intend to rescue her. You may assist me if you wish. If you do not, then I ask merely that you stay out of our way as you retreat."

                    "You are as insolent as your bondsman, Po Ding. We will take that up later. If you wish to throw your forces away, you are free to do so. I am returning to Sian."

                    Po smiled once more. "Thank you for mentioning my warrior that is attached to you. I trust Nyxie has served you well from what I can glean from your comments. But alas, she is my warrior, and I would have her with me as we fight. We make planetfall in three days. I expect her return then. You are then free to flee the area while we conduct our operation."

                    Nyxie could not stifle her smile at Po Ding's comment. He was having none of Tam's foolishness, but was playing it off in such a way as to seem above the fray, rather than defer to Tam's authority. 

                    "It will be good riddance Po Ding. I will see you in three days."

                    

 Gamble Plains

Conquista

Duchy of Andurien

Free Worlds League

18 June, 3152

                    Maxwell Ma readied himself in the cockpit of his Hierofalcon. The time had come for him to make his strike. Sensing that the Death Commandos might need help, Master Po had ordered The House to mount up and follow their path to the planet of Conquista. Master Po had been correct. The Death Commandos, while making some early successes, had run afoul of the nefarious Colonel Alfonso Humphreys. The lead Death Commando, Sheena Li, had been captured.

                    Her replacement was less than helpful, seeking simply to flee with what little honor he still had intact. But Master Po would have none of it, and so Max found himself leading the strike team to rescue the Sao-shao.

                    The plan was a simple one. Po would engage the main forces of the Anduriens, bringing them a fight to catch their attention. While he was doing this, Max would lead a small strike team in to rescue Sheena from the enemy headquarters. Timing was everything. He had received a coded transmission that indicated that Po had engaged the main Andurien force far out on the plains.

                    With that, Max had moved his team into place. He had three 'Mechs with him. There was his own Hierofalcon, plus a Wraith, a Commando, and a Locust. The  Hierofalcon and the Wraith also carried a squad of mounted Fa Shih battlesuits. He trusted all the warriors with him to do their job. But even among the strike force, their job would be to distract any enemy forces remaining gaurding the Headquarters. The real elements were her team of Gladiator BattleArmor troopers, attaching themselves to a pair of J Edgar hovertanks that would infiltrate the facility and rescue the captured Death Commando commander. They would be accompanied by Nyxie in her Svartalfa ProtoMech It was all they had to accomplish their goal.

                    "Let's roll"

                    

######