Relations between the Guard and the Hammerers had a high point in their very first mission, but worsened steadily over time. What had been friendly banter became unfriendly jibs and ended in bitter rivalry. The fact that the newly formed Hammerers had arrived and proceeded to kick ass and take names rankled with the Guard.
Things came to a head after the last real battle of the campaign. The FedCom pilot who punched out blamed his actions on the mercenaries, who blamed him in return for his cowardice, as he was under no threat when he ejected. Several brawls had to be broken up, and Zoku steadfastly refused to punish his pilots involved.
Things became so bad that the Hammerers felt obliged to hire infantry units to provide base security for themselves and their mechs – indeed, their forces foiled several not-so-pleasant pranks to outright attempts at sabotage.
The command staff of the Hammerers were looking forward to shipping offworld as soon as the contract (which the Guard had insisted had to be served out in full, whereas most other employers would have marked it complete two months ago with thanks) had finished out, and had the unit loaded up and ready to move the moment the clock ticked over to the 3rd of January. So it was an unpleasant surprise when they were confronted at midnight by the full forces of the Guard.
Insulted beyond endurance by the behavior of the mercenaries, Major Christopher Anderson of the Delevan Guard demanded a duel to the death to assuage the honor of his unit. Han’s blunt reply of “What’s in it for us?” was met with furious sputtering and ranting. It looked like the two units would kick off into a battle to mutual annihilation when Han made his offer: if he won the duel, the Guards would turn over a 260-rated Fusion Engine – exactly the part the Hammerers needed to bring their second Phoenix Hawk back to functionality. In return, he would duel the Major, matching his 70-ton Warhammer to the Major’s 85-ton BattleMaster.
Unable to back down, the Major accepted, and the bargain was made. Privately, Han ordered Jack to get the Hammerers off planet if things went against him.
The moon was full, and the Mechs rocked with the gale-force winds sweeping across the savannah they found themselves on.
(12th Bay Hammerers) Warhammer WHM-6K
Fired 2 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
(Delevan Guard) BattleMaster BLR-1G
Fired at 2 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
(12th Bay Hammerers) Warhammer WHM-6K
Fired 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
Fired at 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
(Delevan Guard) BattleMaster BLR-1G
Fired 1 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
Fired at 3 times, hit 0 times for 0 damage
(12th Bay Hammerers) Warhammer WHM-6K
Fired 2 times, hit 1 times for 10 damage
Fired at 5 times, hit 1 times for 10 damage
(Delevan Guard) BattleMaster BLR-1G
Fired 5 times, hit 1 times for 10 damage
Fired at 2 times, hit 1 times for 10 damage
In the end, it was an anticlimactic duel. The Major caught Rebel’s Warhammer in the center torso with a PPC shot, and received one to the head in return. The chance of being knocked unconscious were minimal, but continuing the Guard’s brave tradition of failing at every opportunity, the Major succeeded in passing out. His mech came to a stop but stayed standing.
(12th Bay Hammerers) Warhammer WHM-6K
Fired 3 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage
(Delevan Guard) BattleMaster BLR-1G
Fired at 3 times, hit 1 times for 5 damage
Crits received: Sensors[HD]
Destroyed parts: HD
DESTROYED (damage)
Han targeted the cockpit and put the Major out of his misery, ensuring that he wouldn’t have to face the criticism of his peers at his dismal failure.
The Guard protested the Hammerers taking the BattleMaster with them, but faced with a fully intact reinforced company and several other mercenary units arriving for their own departure from the planet, they were forced to back down. The 12th Bay Hammerers made sure to also secure the bet of the duel – a replacement fusion engine for the Phoenix Hawk that had been sitting in the bays for months now.
Departing the planet, the techs went to work on the mechs, arranging with one of the other mercenary units to buy a spare head and cockpit they had available, and fixing up the Phoenix Hawk and the Warhammer.
By the time the unit arrived on New Avalon, a new Vehicle Gunner and a new Mech Tech had been hired, the Battlemaster and Phoenix Hawk were repaired, and Han transferred to the BattleMaster. The Warhammer and the Phoenix Hawk were mothballed for the moment, and we pick up a
H-7 Warrior Attack Helicopter.
The first vehicle for front line duties joins Jack’s Recon Lance to serve as a high-speed distraction, hopefully drawing fire while staying safe due to its high rate of movement.