Ez's lance became easier targets as they slowed. The Partisan rained down AC/5 shells on the Centurion, which was staying at a weapons range that suited it (5 damage LA, LL, CT). At least it hadn't shot the Commando, thanks to the Centurion absorbing its attention, or the light mech might have been in trouble. The Panther is hit across its entire body by LRM and SRM fire from the Striker in the same few seconds (5 damage RL, 1 damage LT, 2 damage LA, RA, LT). It was still standing, but that had stripped some armour. However, much more damage is suffered by Ezmeralda who chooses to try finishing off her fellow Hunchback pilot all on her own. She ought to know better than anyone not to underestimate a Hunchback. Disdaining heat, the pilot fires everything at her as she does the same in kind. Her mech is bathed in fire. Only quick thinking prevents her arm taking more serious damage. Some of her mech now has exposed internal structure (10 damage CT, 5 damage LT, RA, LL, LA, RT, 1 edge used to reroll a critical). She fights hard to remain standing.
All the hits on her mech badly throw off her small laser and AC/20 aim. The massive shell falls to the ground harmlessly. Ez does land her medium lasers (5 damage LL, RA), but that's all. The Centurion only lands a few LRMs on the Partisan's turret (4 damage TU) while the Panther plants a PPC blast squarely in the Striker's front armour (10 damage FR).
To add insult to injury, or perhaps further injury to injury, the Hunchback then kicks Ez's mech, crunching through the armour and damaging the central internal structure (10 damage CT, 9 internal structure remaining). At least it didn't hit anything important. Ez keeps the mech upright once again. The only positive was that the enemy mech was now visibly hot.
(Centurion and Panther on 2 heat, Hunchback on 3 heat, Commando on 4)
The Hunchback puts it back up against the unmanned turret. It still wants to fight. The Striker climbs the hill for a better view of its targets, feeling emboldened by the damage done to the enemy, as the Partisan remains right where it is.