There was several confirmations and then they split up each heading in a different direction. As ordered, the 21st divided up and fell into line following behind.

The next six hours was a tedious wait for an enemy to decide when they wanted to act. The sun was now directly overhead, making the reinforced streets shimmer with heat waves. Highlander was just turning down a side street aiming for one of the bridges when an alarm sounded followed a second later by coms.

“All House Nubran units this is command, the enemy has been spotted! Repeat the enemy has been spotted! Collapse toward the hostile forces and engage at will!”

Flipping through a few views of his map Highlander finally found the red column of troops. They were marching up the largest street leading into New Tarvanna. If they followed the street the whole way, then in about 30 minutes they would reach the Southeast section of the city. Right next to the base.

“That makes no fucking sense,” highlander mused not keying in his mic.

Fireball did not have the same composure, “Why the every loving hell are they marching out in the fucking open? If they are aiming for the base, giving us this long to respond is dumber than a… Damn this may just be the dumbest thing I have seen…”

Highlander fully agreed but he cut into the chat before it devolved more, “Right folks. Gather on the central bridge.”

10 minutes later the Map on Highlanders HUD showed a massive buildup of allied forces in the bases defense ring. It looked like most unit commanders wanted to let the attackers grind themselves against the defenses. On his tactical feed the large mass that was the enemy were only 15 minutes out now.

Zooming back in to a more local view Highlander saw his group moving fast East out of the city. A minute ago the cities automated shields had burned into life. The shields dark orange glow looking like a half a pumpkin had formed to block the city from view.

Shields like this is what had created the need for advanced land combat. The shield could stand against continued orbital bombardments as long as there was enough reactor fuel. Ballistic missiles, orbital strikes, and even nuclear and fusion bombs would do nothing to such a defense. Even highflying aerospace units would slam explosively against it. The only recourse for an attacking force was to get ground units inside the protective barrier, and once there destroy the shield generators.

Now though Highlander’s unit had left the barrier and was reliant upon Fireball’s sensors for an early warning. Turning he moved off the road in massive multi-meter eating steps. Behind him, his unit followed.

Moving over the flat grasslands Highlander’s Tomahawk crunched grass, scrub bush, and small rock outcroppings under massive feet. The Hovercraft of the 21st however had to move a bit more carefully. Still at their current speed, they had plenty of time to react and then catch up if drawn out of formation. Highlander frowned, his Tomahawk while the unit’s most powerful asset was also slowing the unit down.

In the distance the flashing of weapons and explosions suddenly lit up the sky.

“Looks like we are missing da party.” Ghost said, her image flowing.

“Just hold the course. Fireball move forward and get me a better view of the enemy lines. Do not engage though. Roso, send a platoon with her for support.”

“Yes sir,” Junior Knight Roso said.

Fireball’s Red Hawk just sped up and quickly passed by, seconds later a group of the hovercraft detached and followed the human looking Titan.

Using his optics Highlander zoomed in and could see the dark shapes of the enemy lines as they spread out to begin sieging the bases walls. Flipping his right side screen over to a copy of Fireball’s view, he smiled. Her improved sensors and closer distance showed a highly improved viewpoint.

Based on what he saw Highlander nudged his Tomahawk on a slightly more East by south east direction. His aim was at a set of LRM craft that was hanging near the rear of the enemy flank. From their location, they were free to fire round after round of their missiles and remain out of range from the bases defenders.

Fireball seeing the unit’s change of direction adjusted her course accordingly.

10 kilometers out, they were noticed. Two platoons of infantry and a pair of Heavy attack helicopters that Highlandr couldn’t easily recognize turned toward them.

Checking the locations of the enemies Titan assets and smiling to see they were all still focused on the base, at least for the moment he issued his commands.

With one eye watching where he was running, he held his other on the range meter of his targeting bracket for the LRM’s. Keeping the reticule on the lead helicopter, he said, “Roso, as soon as those Copters are down you are to move forward. Swarm those LRM’s and try to capture them, destroy them if not. Titans clear the pathway for them and stay alert.

The moment his range counter reached zero the red reticules went green and he pulled the mental trigger. A Long Range Missile flew from over his head. Blue with contrails leaving a sullen cloud of exhaust in the blue sky. The targeted Helicopter did not even try to juke away. In an act of supreme idiocy, it flew head on into the missile. An impressive explosion flashed and flaming chunks of the attack helicopter rain through the clear sky.

Highlander immediately shifted his brackets over to the second helicopter. His brackets snapped on target and lit green but a red circle wrapped around it for a few seconds as the Missile rack reloaded.

The instant it disappeared he pulled the trigger.

HIYA!” Fireball screamed as her Red Hawk burst forward trailing behind the missile. Hovercraft shot past her in a beeline for the LRM carriers.

The enemy vehicles began to spin their turrets toward Highlanders troops but with a quick check at his range meter, he knew they were too slow. Already he was moving to close for the long-range weapons to track correctly, much less the faster elements of his unit.

Seconds later flaming chunks of metal and plaststeel crashed into the ground a few tens of meters from the 21st who was now swarming out of their hovercraft like an angry anthill. The eight LRM craft tried to pull deeper into the enemy units, but the Heavy Infantry of the 21st nearly drove their Condor’s down the much larger vehicles throats.

Like a pack of wolves hunting a bear, the small Condors circled around the heavy treaded LRM carriers. Here and there, a Condor would stop and disgorge their Infantry who would then proceed to draw even closer on the fleeing craft. Here and there small groups of the two hostile Infantry platoons would try to interpose or otherwise engage the 21st.

On those occasions, Highlander watched as either one of the two Squirrels or fireball would dash in, stepping over allied units and into the enemy lines like 25-ton wrecking balls… Wrecking balls with machine guns.

Turning his attention back to the larger battle Highlander zoomed out a little on his map and keyed it in with an overlay of Fireball’s Red Hawk’s sensors. A few of the nearby House Zing’Fe units had begun to turn back away from the embattled base and toward their location. However, it looked like a random assortment of the closest units and nothing organized.

Huh, I think the AI for this simulation is set to stupid… Maybe I can take advantage of that.” Highlander mused to himself.

Returning his gaze upon the 21st and his Titans, he saw the last of the LRM craft go up, exploding like an egg in a microwave. The Infantry unable to open it up had placed high yield explosive charges on the craft’s vulnerable underside.

With a quick tally, Highlander counted four of the LRm craft captured and the other half platoon destroyed or damaged enough to knock them from the fight. In the process, he had lost nearly 30 soldiers, either killed or injured and likewise out of the battle. Luckily, though his Condors were fine and of course, his Titans all looked green.

“Roso load your injured into those LRM’s and have them pull back to the roadway. Everyone else follow me.

Over the course of the next hour, Highlander led his unit on a series of Lightening raids. They would circle the outskirts of the battle and the bases walls, targeting any unit that ventured to far from the massed enemy.

When an asserted effort was directed at them, they would use their high speeds to withdraw, only to come back at a different angle of attack.

This kept his unit from suffering large numbers of casualties or damage. When the enemy finally breached the bases walls and began to swarm into the base proper, he had only lost a tenth of his Infantry assets, both in manpower and Condors. While all four of his units Titans were still green across the board.

On the other hand, he had collected a full two baker’s dozen of assorted craft. They were captured and being held by the 21st, and now stood waiting up North.

Boss we going to get in dar, now? Or we going to stay out here playing tag, wit da babies? I want to add one of dose Titan kill patches to my baby here. You know da ones? The ones those flyboys always add when they freag anenemy plane…” Ghost’s quirked smile added more joke to her lighthearted comment.

Highlander chuckled and keyed his mic,” I know the ones, but I think we are best used by continuing to help out here. You will have to wait for your first kill patch. Plus I don’t think simulated kills count.”

Fireball broke in, “I have personally led 112 Infantry, 2 Light copters and a Condor into the afterlife. I think I lead the kill counts. It is only natural of course that I am the first to kill a Titan.”

Highlander let the good-natured ribbing continue for a little while. All the while, his eyes were focused on the enlarged battlefield map. “Come on… Come on… I know you want to… Just go ahead and do it…”

The mass of red blots on his map began to shift and compact. Then in an instant like an hourglass being tipped on end they began to rush as a horde through the broken wall. Although out of range of the wall himself, the relatively small opening was making a squeeze spot for the attackers. A wise enemy commander would see the folly of trying to push all his troops into such a tight spot. However, this commander had already proven to not be smart at all. So pushing they were.

On the other side of the wall, Highlandr saw the tidal wave of red being mowed down by House Nubran loyal troops. However, every minute that passed more and more came through. Then slowly the blue dots began to either disappear or be pushed back; allowing room for more enemy troops inside the base.

The price in blood that the enemy was paying to gain that small advantage was unsustainable. Even from the distance that Highlander’s unit stood, he could see the tactic was doomed to fail. Sure enough in 10 minutes the enemies push halted inside the base. After another 5 they began to be pushed back toward the entry point. Highlander had been waiting for that moment. With a command, he sent his entire unit into the rear of the enemy force.

With the bases defenders squeezing them through the choke point and his unit urging them forward from the rear; the battle didn’t last much longer. In less than half, an hour the scenario ended with a decisive victory for the defenders.

After Mission Briefing Report.

Jock: Brandon McDew, (aka. Highlander)

Mission Status: Complete

Points Awarded 7,632.

Point Breakdown

Mission… Complete – 2000 points.

Titan status... 90% - 225 Points.

Aerospace Eliminated … Ultra-Light x12 – 600 points.

Light x6 – 450 points.

Medium x1 – 100 points

Aerospace Assists… Ultra-Light x7 – 175 points.

Light x 11 – 142.5 points

Armor Eliminated… Ultra-Light x2 – 100 points.

Light x7 – 525 points.

Armor Captured… Ultra-Light 18– 1350 points.

Light x7 – 787.5 points.

Armor Assists… Ultra-Light x4 – 100 points.

Light x 21 – 787.5 points.

Forsworn Taken… Powered Infantry x3 – 12points.

Infantry x46 – 138 points. Infantry x173 – 346 Points.

Infantry Killed… Powered x 4 - 8 points.

Heavy x 82 – 123 points.

Light x213 – 213 points.

Objective Base Damages - -276 points.

Infrastructure Damages - -274 points.

The screen appeared for thirty seconds on Highlanders view screen after the battle completed. Without a comparison to the others rankings though he was not sure if he had done good or bad. Regardless the simulation did not give him much time to consider. Soon enough Brandon found himself in the familiar Titan bay with the exact same Titans. Going to his Tomahawk Brandon climbed in. The following events were almost identical to the previous events. A series of Titan and Jock selections were made. This time however, he did not know any of the Jocks on the roster. However, he attempted to make his placements with the same criteria as before. He paired the best Jocks to their preferred Titans, or at least the ones with the most weapons in common. After his new team was selected, the mission started in exactly the same way as before.

“This can’t be an exact replay.” Highlander mused to himself after linking up with Lt. Roso for the second time. Counting on a change of some kind Highlander issued the same orders as last time. As his unit spread out to start its’ circular patrol around the city, Highlander watched the majority of the blue allied dots move toward the base.

“Shouldn’t we be doing the same? Boss?” The jock’s image showed a blonde haired man that would have been a perfect fit for any old western movie set. His square jaw and southern twang fit the moniker perfectly. Glancing at his call sign Highlandr almost couldn’t help but laugh.

“Rein in your horses there Cowboy bebop. This may seem like the same simulation as last time. But, I have never seen a repeated sim. Have you?”

Cowboy Bebop chewed on his lower lip then shook his head, “Na man. But, I hate to be sitting back here when all the fun shit is going on over there.”

Putting on his best good old boy tone Highlander smiled, “Lets just say for the one chance of a snow ball in hell. What happens if they do attack from somewhere else?”

Cowboy frowned, “Then a lot of these simulated people die.

“And?”

A new image of a dark skinned man with a Mohawk and close cut beard came on. His call sign was Buzzsaw and he was Highlanders first choice this round. One of only two Jocks with any Titan piloting skills at all. “Yo, Dumb fuck white boy! Did you not lose point’s last round for damages done? Cause I sure as hell did. Now you have your fucking orders follow them!”

Cowboys face twisted in rage, but before he could say anything Highlander overrode the coms with his command override. That’s enough. You all have your orders. I expect you to follow them and keep radio silence until contact is made.”

5 hours 21 minutes and 1 seconds later Highlander was proven correct. A Civilian Aerospace plane happened to be flying in-bound toward the city’s spaceport when it went up like a firework just two kilometers north of the city. Seconds later commands came down. City militia was reporting contact with the hostile forces over the entire northern border of the city. The enemy had used the heavy woods to move in close before becoming discovered.

Highlander wasn’t able to keep his unit as intact this time. With most of the House Nubran, forces located at the southern portion of the city Highlander had to play at delaying tactics until they could approach. This mostly meant sacrificing men and women in a slow withdraw, while trying to bleed the enemy for every step it took into the city. The only saving grace was the fact that the simulated enemy commander was not any more intelligent than the first commander. It used the exact same one plan. Move forward down the path of easiest access.

When the last attacker was destroyed, the scenario finally ended. Highlanders Tomahawk had lost one leg, was showing red on every armor read out, and was showing empty on his remaining missile launchers. He was even close to running out of machine gun ammo for his surviving weapon at the end. However, he survived. Cowboy and Buzzsaw both had not. When the points were tallied, he gain a mere 164 points, with most of the points going to the negatives for loss of civilian life and infrastructure. However if he had not racked up a totally remarkable kill count he was sure that he would have been like what must have been most in this simulation and lost points. Again, however he was not given much time to dwell on the matter.

Again, he appeared in the same exact Titan Bay as the last two times with the same Titan load outs. The scenario repeated another 8 times each time though the enemy commander was growing smarter and used a wider range of tactics.

Finally, on the last scenario the enemy commander waited nearly three full days before, it used a diversion force to assault the city from the woods while his Titans came up from under the river once the defender force was deployed afield. This resulted in the defenders being pinched by two forces in the city they were supposed to be protecting. Highlander did not even see the shot that killed him that time. Instead he heard the warning siren of a missile and hit the eject button a second too late. Red flames and pain seared his mind for countless ages. When finally everything went black, Highlander lost consciousness. Falling into the black sleep of the dead.