(D9, EE, Hangers) Coming and Going

[Mary Macharu]

The hangars were abuzz with activity for the days attacks. Mechs that had been damaged in combat earlier in the day were powered down and awaiting repairs, but those had lower priority than the mechs that were getting prepared to head out and fight. Mary hadn't expected to be deployed again so soon, typically command liked to spread out the combat as evenly as possible to cut down on battle fatigue, but this was war, not an office job. The techs were making the final preparations for her lance's mechs, and Mary was filling her lance in on the details.

"this is the final strike for today. we're expecting to encounter at least two of the camp's instructors piloting mechs. we're also going to receive some support from another lance en route, so we're hoping for a good haul and less damage" she briefed them.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

The sound of heavy footsteps announces a returning lance and soon enough Catherine's Clowder comes into view. The third Raiders lance has returned. All four Battlemechs are intact and not missing any limbs. None of them are unscratched though, but it seems all hits went into armour, although the Trebuchet has a blackened and cracked cockpit. The state of the Centurion is alarming, with its left torso stripped of armour, exposing the many rows of long range missiles it carries there. And it looks like barely any of them have been fired. There is surely a story behind that. Especially with the slightly banged up front being covered in dirt like that.

Up the ramp the heavy machines stomp and back into the respective bays. The cockpits open with an all too familiar hiss and their pilots emerge. All in good health, except for Mouse, who does look a little banged up. Once back on the ground, she is quickly joined by the others. A quick examination and a hug from everyone later, Wildhog and Ostrich escort her out of the hangar. Towards the medical facilities it looks like, but not in a hurry.

The three of them smile and give a quick wave to Hellcat, who remains. She smiles and waves after them and jogs over to there Mary's lance is being prepared. Nothing to do but watch and wait, until the busy mechtechs are free for the post action handover.

Not wanting to interrupt, Catherine just gives the group a quick smile and wave when they notice her.

[Mary Macharu]

The sound of heavy footsteps announces a returning lance and soon enough Catherine's Clowder comes into view. The third Raiders lance has returned. All four Battlemechs are intact and not missing any limbs. None of them are unscratched though, but it seems all hits went into armour, although the Trebuchet has a blackened and cracked cockpit. The state of the Centurion is alarming, with its left torso stripped of armour, exposing the many rows of long range missiles it carries there. And it looks like barely any of them have been fired. There is surely a story behind that. Especially with the slightly banged up front being covered in dirt like that.

Up the ramp the heavy machines stomp and back into the respective bays. The cockpits open with an all too familiar hiss and their pilots emerge. All in good health, except for Mouse, who does look a little banged up. Once back on the ground, she is quickly joined by the others. A quick examination and a hug from everyone later, Wildhog and Ostrich escort her out of the hangar. Towards the medical facilities it looks like, but not in a hurry.

The three of them smile and give a quick wave to Hellcat, who remains. She smiles and waves after them and jogs over to there Mary's lance is being prepared. Nothing to do but watch and wait, until the busy mechtechs are free for the post action handover.

Not wanting to interrupt, Catherine just gives the group a quick smile and wave when they notice her.

The salient points were reviewed and Mary's lance mates when to their respective mechs for their own final details.

Mary waved at Catherine.

"welcome back, it looks like you all made it back in one piece. how was it? she asks, curious to get a report from someone fresh from the field.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

Catherine absentmindedly runs one hand through her still helmet shaped hair, to keep fluffing it back up.

"Thanks, Headshot. Yeah ... it was a real mess out there. Ran across a column of vehicles. Tanks and APCs. One of them a real scary big one with triple pepper! Wasn't planned, so I went for an impromptu ambush. We ended up fighting them up close. All those long range weapons in my lance, and it was a brawl."

She shrugs and giggles, noticeably losing some post combat tenseness, while she gets it all off of her chest.

"There were scary moments. My combat instincts saved me from a nasty hit to my cockpit, but Mouse was less lucky. Fortunately it is only some bruises, but it was a real scare. Still, she held up and finished the battle. I'm proud of her. Right afterwards things went scary for Wildhog. Somehow all the armour on his Centurion's left torso ended up stripped away early into the fight. Exposing all his LRM ammunition. While surrounded by enemies. Had to send him running like a scared bunny, with his back to them. He didn't like it, but he did and he is back safe with us now. But yeah. A real mess of a fight, but we did well and came back on our own feet."

[Mary Macharu]

Catherine absentmindedly runs one hand through her still helmet shaped hair, to keep fluffing it back up.

"Thanks, Headshot. Yeah ... it was a real mess out there. Ran across a column of vehicles. Tanks and APCs. One of them a real scary big one with triple pepper! Wasn't planned, so I went for an impromptu ambush. We ended up fighting them up close. All those long range weapons in my lance, and it was a brawl."

She shrugs and giggles, noticeably losing some post combat tenseness, while she gets it all off of her chest.

"There were scary moments. My combat instincts saved me from a nasty hit to my cockpit, but Mouse was less lucky. Fortunately it is only some bruises, but it was a real scare. Still, she held up and finished the battle. I'm proud of her. Right afterwards things went scary for Wildhog. Somehow all the armour on his Centurion's left torso ended up stripped away early into the fight. Exposing all his LRM ammunition. While surrounded by enemies. Had to send him running like a scared bunny, with his back to them. He didn't like it, but he did and he is back safe with us now. But yeah. A real mess of a fight, but we did well and came back on our own feet."

Mary nods.

you accomplished your objectives and everyone made it home, that's what really matters. After all, armor can be replaced...at least as long as the salvage stays good." she agreed.

"pretty good thinking on your feet like that. after that thrill you going to be able to stick with the long range weapons or will you be switching to all melee all the time?" she asked, though there was a hint of levity in the response.

[Catherine Maia Hayes]

"Yeah." The small redhead smiles. "The Clowder comes back home whole. That is what really matters."

Then she lets out a sigh. "Not much salvage to speak of, I am afraid. Just a bunch of vees we had to pummel into so much scrap, because they wouldn't surrender any other way."

Relaxing a little further, she shuffles one foot in thought. "I will try to cover all ranges best I can. That is what the idea I showed to our Chief Mechtech is all about. I think I will try to stay at mid range though, hopping from there into long or short range as needed. My lance is mostly mid to long range, with all the pepper and LRMs we carry. This way I can also plug any holes and no matter how the mech line up of my lancies changes in the future, I will fit right in and keep it all together. That is the big idea at least."