Mech Battle 15 - Blood Oaths
Written by BlackPhoenix
His name was Reddragon and he
was the Khan. The Khan of the Clan PENDRAGON. The most honorable
clan in the universe, they held honor and honorable behavior as
the most important quality a man, (or woman), could offer. With
out honor, life was meaningless. This code of conduct was brought
about by years of tempering in the cruel crucible called life. It
started with Rouge Wolverine a man of his word. If your word was
given it must at all costs be kept. This honor cost Wolverine his
life. Reddragon was a young Star Captain with a hot stick and
smoking AC’s when he saw his leader fall before his eyes. He
was the first into the ambush and took no prisoners. The entire
Comstar delegation paid with their lives for their treachery.
This was the start for the deep-seated feeling of honor above all.
As a Nova colonel Reddragon led
successful attacks on Comstar forces. The sense of dishonor
placed on Clan Pendragon by the cowardly attack would not be
erased until total victory. The regard for honor held by
Reddragon found its way into his men. On a mission where
Reddragon was in command, everyone came home, injured or dead, no
one was left behind. To leave a comrade to the enemy was the
highest form of disgrace that could befall a clansman. Reddragon’s
great loyalty to his men causes them to give their unrestricted
loyalty to Reddragon as a leader. His word became law backed up
by the most dedicated soldiers to ever pilot a mech.
As SaKhan of the great Clan
Reddragon once again was confronted with the specter of dishonor.
The poisoning of the Khan Darkmist, the assassin failed to kill
the young leader, but the illness caused by the attempt forced
him to withdraw as leader to attend to his health. A health that
was left decimated by the molecular poison introduced into his
system in an attempt to disrupt the leadership of the Clan.
The response to this act of
dishonor was swift and unfeeling retribution. The Pendragon
forces launched an all out attack on every Comstar base or
outpost. Reddragon himself led a crack attack unit of hand picked
warriors against the homeworld of Comstar.
There were no warnings, the
first signs of the attack were during the festivities of the
Comstar leaders birthday. They were quickly overshadowed by the
news of the multi-pronged attack on their forces. Standing on the
balcony of his palace the Leader of Comstar watched as the first
of 20 atomic explosions rocked his home planet. Barracks, power
stations, and mech facilities were vaporized. Even the sacred
hall was hit by a direct hit even though it was of no military
significance. This was to show the contempt for the Comstar
forces that the Clan Pendragon now held.. With very little left
to defend themselves the enemy leader watched as the Pendragon
dropships filled the morning sky. The large Warhammers hit dirt
firing. Nothing was safe. Every building was destroyed. Every
trace of Comstar was being erased. Sitting at his large
ornamental desk where he had made the discussions that had led to
this moment, the Comstar leader sat and awaited for the
inevitable. The ground rumbled as multiple Warhammers landed just
outside. The roof came away as a large command Direwolf ripped it
from the rest of the building. Covering his head to protect it
from falling debris he never saw the small Elemental land in
front of him. As he looked up, it was just there, as if by magic.
As he watched in shock and horror the armor opened in the front
and a man stepped out. It was Reddragon, the two opponents locked
eyes for what seemed an eternity. Slowly Reddragon pulled an old
well-worn pistol from his tunic and spoke.
"This was the sidearm of
Rouge Wolverine it was never used in anger, and is not used in
anger now. You and your house have NO honor and will not be
allowed to infect the noble houses with you treachery. I
Reddragon of Clan Pendragon sentence you to death for your crimes
against humanity, and may God have mercy on your soul."
Without another word and with
eyes of darkest obsidian the small pistol barked and the Comstar
leader fell dead with a bullet in the head.
Reddragon re-entered the light
armor of the Elemental and sealed himself in. He turned and
looked up at the three large Warhammers standing behind him and
in a voice as cold as death its self said only 3 words.
"Burn it all."
Without looking back he hit the
jet controls and left the area. The three Warhammers left to join
their units and the fires were started. Nothing was left of the
Comstar home world. The burned out planet was given to one of
their planet-less victims, in replacement for the one taken by
Comstar. The new inhabitants want to erect a monument to the
victory, Reddragon refused the request stating,
"…This is not
something to be remembered, but it is to be forgotten…."
As Darkmist stepped down
Reddragon was propelled into the leadership of the Clan. Wanted
or not the men under his command would stand for nothing less. He
was the KHAN!