Aid and Comfort
Sarna News
| Aid and Comfort | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Jason Schmetzer | |
| Publication | |
| Published | 25 May 2011 |
| Published in | Handbook: House Liao |
| Publisher | Catalyst Game Labs |
| Illustrator(s) | |
| Pages | 4 |
| Chronology | |
| Era | Civil War era |
| Timeline | 12 April 3067 |
Aid and Comfort is a short story by Jason Schmetzer that was published as introductory fiction for Handbook: House Liao.
Plot Summary[edit]
On 12 April 3067, Sao-wei Tzu-Chien Hao of the Capellan Confederation leads a pursuit mission into the Nuwa Badlands on Hunan to track down a group of resistance fighters led by a man called Sanchez. Hao pilots a Vindicator and is accompanied by a platoon of infantry led by Si-ben-bing Howard, as well as two Condor Heavy Hover Tanks.
During the day, Hao receives confirmation that Sanchez and his men, around a dozen with large trucks, passed by at a local farm. When the farmer admits to have given them food, Hao accuses him of aiding a criminal, while Howard argues the farmer acted to protect his family. As Hao's forces move on, he orders the Condors to scout ahead and prepare for contact.
Later that day, the Condors locate Sanchez's men in a narrow canyon at the base of the Bloodrime Mountains. One Condor is disabled, and the second is damaged under fire from machine guns and light handheld missile launchers. Hao enters the canyon in his Vindicator, using its Particle Projection Cannon and missiles to destroy enemy emplacements. After sustained fire, Sanchez finally raises a white flag. He then contacts Hao via radio and reveals that the canyon has been mined. He threatens to detonate the charges and bury both forces unless he and his men are allowed to escape on foot. Hao can verify the explosives with his sensors and then orders Howard and his men to retreat.
Despite the threat, Hao chooses to prevent Sanchez's escape. He uses his PPC to collapse the tunnel behind the enemy, then triggers the canyon wall explosives. The resulting rockslide buries Hao, his BattleMech, and Sanchez's forces under tons of debris, thus ending the threat from the resistance.
Featured Characters[edit]
- Sao-wei Tzu-Chien Hao
- Si-ben-bing Howard
- Sanchez