[dcs_p]However the enemy’s Gauss weapon had completed its cycle, and once again it
lashed out at the Direwolf. Devon’s luck had run out. The Gauss rifle’s slug,
which did most of its damage due to its terrifying speed, smashed into his left
torso once more. Stravag! Devon cursed under his breath as his Direwolf began
to leak bright energy from its damaged fusion housing. He had to do something
fast. He refused to let luck best him today.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Watching his own Gauss rifle complete its loading cycle, Devon fired once more.
At nearly the same time, Paul fired another of his PPCs. Devon’s Clan targeting
computer was doing its job, and apparently the Blakist’s Gauss attack had failed
to damage the bulky computer with its last slug. The Banshee shook under the
terrible blow, looking as though it might stumble in its path towards Devon’s
location. However the machine stayed upright.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Unfortunately for Devon, the enemy’s PPC stabbed deep into his cockpit, melting
away his entire cockpit’s armored ferroglass in less than a second. One more
like that and my men will be Blakist bondsmen.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Before he could fire his own particle projection cannon again, another PPC
jumped into his left side, destroying all but the last of his fusion engine’s
shielding. The temperature in the Direwolf’s cockpit jumped several degrees,
making Devon wish he had installed a coolant flush system in the assault Mech.
The blazing wind that now rolled off the Stricken desert’s sands into the open
cockpit did nothing to help either. Last chance.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Devon fired his PPC again, nearly pressing the firing toggle before the weapon
had completed its cycle. In a final blow, the blast cut the Mech’s left torso free of
its body. The Blakist assault Mech’s left arm fell to the dusty ground, forcing a
deep imprint into the soft burning sands. Seconds later, the whole Banshee
joined the arm, burying its belly into the terrain. Its large protruding Gauss rifle
barrel snapped in half as the 95-ton machine came to an immediate rest. For
several seconds, the battlefield was quiet. Both sides watched as the sand and
dust settled back to the desert floor, revealing the destroyed Banshee half buried
in a sea of tan. Suddenly one of the Blakists shouted over the general frequency.
“Take him down, take him down. I want his head on a platter!”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Having suspected the treachery long before it was revealed, Devon called out to
his own men. His general broadcast spoke of less emotion. “Fire at will.”
As he took aim and fired both of his weapons at an incoming Dragon Mech,
Devon armed his ejection system. He wouldn’t last long in what was left of his
proud assault Mech. The machine was already taking a great deal of additional
enemy fire, after being declared the primary target for the encircling Blakist
forces. The remaining Gauss rifle was now taking critical hits to its internal
structure and would detonate inside the Mech’s chest at any moment. Noticing a
nearby Blakist Hatamoto Chi, Devon suddenly realized something wasn’t quite
right. It didn’t make sense that the Blakists were fielding Kuritan machines.
Making a mental note of this anomaly, he tried to stay calm as he lined up his
final shot before ejecting. Punching his Gauss rifle and ER PPC one last time,
Devon blew off the approaching Dragon’s already-damaged right arm.
Time for a speedy retreat, as Duo might say.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]He thought about his rival and the other Striker members as the ejection system
fired. When the Nova Cats and Strider’s Strikers have triumphed over their
foes, we will investigate just how the Word of Blake was able to obtain Draconis
machines.[/dcs_p]