The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the arid plains where the field test was about to commence. A squadron of thirteen mechs stood ready—one Lee at the forefront, its lean frame bristling with advanced sensors, and twelve Goblins flanking it in a staggered formation. Their compact, aggressive designs starkly contrasted with the sleek lines of the Lee, and their spiked fists and modular weapons gave them the look of predatory creatures waiting to strike.
Jackie stood inside the Lee’s cockpit, her hands steady on the controls. She was nervous, but she wouldn’t let it show. This wasn’t just another test—it was the first real deployment of the Goblins, and all eyes were on them. Her job as the Lee pilot was to scout ahead, identify targets, and feed data back to the Goblins so they could strike with precision.
“Squad, check-in,” Jackie said, her voice calm and professional over the comms.
“Harland here. Systems green.”
“Torres, good to go.”
“Lorne reporting. Ready to roll.”
One by one, the Goblin pilots confirmed their readiness. Most were former Iron Wind players, raw recruits Jackie had trained herself. They were young and untested in combat, but their simulations had shown promise.
“Command,” Jackie said, switching channels, “Lee and Goblins are in position. Awaiting final orders.”
The response came immediately. “Your objective is simple: neutralize the enemy fist operating in the area. Five mechs. Light and medium configurations. This is a live engagement, so expect resistance.”
“Understood,” Jackie replied, her fingers tightening around the controls.
The squad advanced, the Goblins following Jackie’s lead. Their movements were swift and fluid, the Rawlins 70 KW engines humming softly as they spread out to maintain a loose formation. The Lee’s sensors swept the area, clearly showing the terrain and any potential threats.
“Contacts,” Jackie said suddenly, her HUD lighting up with signatures. Her voice was calm but edged with urgency. “Five enemy mechs. Two mediums, three lights. They’re holding position at the ridge ahead.”
The faint hum of her Lee’s reactor filled the cockpit, but Jackie’s attention was razor-sharp on the readings. Her enhanced sensors provided detailed telemetry—the enemy mechs were spread out, with the mediums hunkered down and the lights running a predictable patrol route.
“Five on thirteen?” Harland’s voice crackled through the comms, laced with a confidence Jackie hoped wouldn’t turn into overconfidence. “We’ve got this.”
“Stay sharp,” she said firmly. “This isn’t a simulation. Follow my lead.”
The Goblins began to fan out, their Rawlins 70 KW engines purring softly as they moved with practiced precision. Their low profiles and agile frames made them perfect for sneaking through the rugged terrain, hugging rocks and dips in the landscape to stay out of sight. Jackie directed her Lee into a forward position, its sensors scanning ahead while she stayed just outside the enemy’s firing range.
Her HUD flashed with a new alert. Jackie’s eyes flicked to the east, where a second cluster of movement registered. She frowned. The patterns didn’t match the patrol routes she’d seen before. Was it another enemy squad?
“Command, we’ve got additional movement to the east,” Jackie reported. “Pattern doesn’t match standard patrols. Recommend a cautious approach.”
The reply came swiftly. “Confirmed. Proceed, but do not engage until necessary.”
Jackie tightened her grip on the controls, shifting the Lee into a higher gear. The mech responded instantly, its speed and agility allowing her to dart between the rocky outcroppings. The Goblins followed in her wake, their smaller frames making them nearly invisible against the jagged terrain.
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The ridge came into view, a jagged line against the orange-tinged horizon. Jackie’s sensors painted a clear picture of the enemy formation. The two medium mechs were entrenched, their autocannons and missile racks sweeping the open ground below in overlapping fields of fire. The three light mechs patrolled the area, their movements methodical but predictable.
“Targets confirmed,” Jackie said, her voice crisp. She sent the telemetry to the Goblins, their HUDs lighting up with target designations and paths to optimal positions. “Harland, Torres, Lorne—flank left. The rest of you take the right. Wait for my signal.”
The Goblins moved like a pack of wolves, splitting into two groups and using the terrain to mask their approach. The Rawlins engines hummed quietly, their efficiency allowing the mechs to creep undetected as they closed in on the ridge.
“Enemy patrol closing in,” Lorne reported, his voice low but steady. “One light mech, forty meters out. It’s coming right toward us.”
“Hold position,” Jackie ordered. She toggled to her secondary channel, syncing the Lee’s advanced targeting system to the Goblins’ HUDs. Her fingers danced over the controls, marking the enemy mech’s weak points. “Harland, Torres, take it down. Quickly and quietly.”
Harland’s Goblin darted forward, its compact frame a blur as it closed the gap. The Fokker medium lasers mounted on its arms pulsed with a bright blue light, twin beams slicing through the air and hitting the enemy mech’s leg joints. The enemy staggered, its movements faltering.
Torres followed up immediately, her Gremlin small laser spitting precise bursts of energy that targeted the enemy’s weapon systems. Sparks flew as the mech’s right arm was severed at the joint. A final strike from Torres’ spiked fist crumpled the cockpit, and the light mech collapsed in a heap.
“Clean takedown,” Jackie said approvingly. “Nice work. Now, let’s take the ridge.”
Jackie signaled the attack, and the Goblins surged forward. Harland and Torres led the left flank, while the other Goblins swept around the right. The enemy mechs on the ridge barely had time to react before the Goblins were upon them.
One of the mediums turned its autocannon toward the approaching mechs, but the Goblins’ speed was too much for the turret’s sluggish tracking. A volley of medium laser fire from three Goblins tore into the medium mech’s shoulder, disabling its primary weapon. Another Goblin leapt onto the mech’s back, its spiked fists slamming into the exposed reactor housing. The medium mech collapsed, its systems going dark.
On the right flank, two Goblins closed on a patrolling light mech. One of them fired a barrage of laser shots, forcing the enemy to retreat directly into the path of the second Goblin. The ambush was perfectly timed—the second Goblin’s fist connected with the light mech’s cockpit, shattering the glass and leaving it lifeless.
The remaining enemy mechs scrambled to regroup, but it was too late. Jackie’s Lee provided overwatch from a higher vantage point, feeding real-time data to the Goblins as they pressed the attack. Her targeting system highlighted weak points, allowing the Goblins to exploit vulnerabilities with surgical precision.
The last medium mech tried to retreat, its missile pods firing sporadically, but a focused barrage of laser fire from the Goblins tore through its legs. It toppled to the ground with a thunderous crash.
The battlefield fell silent. Smoke and debris lingered in the air as the Goblins regrouped near the ridge, their engines purring softly. Jackie’s Lee descended from its overwatch position, its sensors sweeping the area for any remaining threats. None appeared.
“Command, this is Sergeant Stewart,” Jackie said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her. “Objective complete. All targets neutralized. Goblins performed as expected.”
“Copy that, Sergeant,” Command replied. “Excellent work. Return to base for debriefing.”
As the Goblins began their journey back, the comms buzzed with chatter.
“Did you see that?” Harland said, his voice brimming with excitement. “These Goblins are insane.”
“Fast, precise, and they hit like a sledgehammer,” Torres agreed. “Kovacs outdid himself.”
Jackie allowed herself a small smile. The mission was a success, and the Goblins had proven their worth. For the recruits, it was a confidence boost. For Jackie, it was validation. And for Kovacs, who would soon receive the mission reports, it was another step toward cementing his designs as the future of mechanized warfare.
Jackie allowed herself a small smile. The recruits had performed admirably, and the Goblins had proven their worth. The mission's success wasn’t just a tactical victory but a validation of the countless hours spent designing, refining, and training.
Back at the base, the debrief was brief and to the point: the Goblins were a resounding success. The recruits walked away with bolstered confidence, while Jackie felt a renewed sense of purpose.
It was more than a victory for Kovacs, who watched the mission playback from his workstation. It proved that his designs weren’t just ideas on a screen but machines that could win wars.