[dcs_p]Drake’s body grew heavy with sadness as his conscience began feeling the
burden of the afternoon’s casualties. After losing his command Pack Rat vehicle
to the Breaker reinforcements, he now faced the task of coordinating the battle
on foot until another friendly vehicle could reach him. And to think, it had all
started with the local government hiring the Breakers to calm the rebellion that
him and his pirates had helped lead on Labrea. The pirates had planned to pay
back a few old debts by striking military targets, then capitalizing on any of the
government’s losses, and finally jumping out of system to leave the planet to its
own machinations.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]However the pirates’ rebel allies had disappeared in the face of their loyalist
enemies’ increasing strength, fading away into the social-political background like
an early morning mist. The loyalist military seemed determined to display their
power, and the pirate forces who were aiding the rebels would make the perfect
example. Looked upon as common criminals, a pirate massacre would be
considered justifiable given the victims’ weak code of morality. By the time the
pirates were destroyed and the rebellion had failed, the loyalists hoped their
hands might still be clean of their own people’s blood.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]The late afternoon sun in the Merutian Highlands had turned the battlefield into a
haze of white. Only after concentrating for several moments was Drake able to
spot the nearest threat to his pirates, a 35-ton Breaker Firestarter `Mech. The
machine’s fiery-red silhouette became clearer and clearer as it trod through the
snow towards Drake’s position. Bearing a close semblance to a human figure,
the Firestarter stepped across one of the highland’s many icy ridges. It
maneuvered carefully to keep its solid footing on the slippery terrain. Apparently
the giant machine’s pilot had noticed the nearby pirate platoon, though most of
the pirate soldiers were either dead or hidden from view. Given the `Mech’s
terrifying anti-infantry weapons configuration, it wouldn’t be an easy job for the
pirate foot-soldiers to stop it. Drake felt a knot forming in his stomach. The
situation was likely to get even worse before it got any better.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“Treadmark Two, I want whatever fire you can bring to bear on that Firestarter.
It’s closing fast and will be here sooner than any of us want.” Drake spoke into
his helmet’s mic. The heavy steam of his own breath momentarily blocked out
the image of the Firestarter as he spoke. Briefly expecting the image might
vanish with the fading steam, Drake mentally kicked himself when he realized he
was losing valuable time to fear and empty hopes.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“Roger that Carrier A. Everything we’ve got at the Firestarter.” said Jonathan
Heinstrik, Drake’s second-in-command. For all that Jonathan had proven in his
four years as a pirate, Drake still failed to see how the man would ever be able
to assume his position if a situation were to go sour. Jonathan was famous for
being the perfect follower, always accomplishing whatever was asked of him.
However he had never developed any skills as a decision-maker in the years
Drake had fought alongside him.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]As a chilling breeze blew down between Drake’s helmet and flak-vest, he noticed
the wind direction changing. On most planets, this sort of a change would matter
little. However Drake had done his research before attempting a raiding
campaign here in the highlands, and his previous three months in the southern
Merutian valleys had taught him a lot about the region’s climate and weather. A
sudden change in wind could often mean a possible avalanche. One more thing
to worry about…[/dcs_p]