Dying Breed
Sarna News
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| Dying Breed | |
|---|---|
| Story information | |
| Author | Geoff Swift |
| Type | Short Story |
| Product | Shrapnel Issue 12 |
| Content | |
Dying Breed is a short story by Geoff Swift that was published in the twelfth issue of Shrapnel.
Plot summary
The 14 March 3099, on planet Galicia, Clan Goliath Scorpion Warrior Lishi observed a pack of Ice Hellions hunting prey. She liked the view, as it was the totem of her original Clan, Clan Ice Hellion. After seeing a DropShip landing, she approached it until her superior called her. Nearchos, her commanding officer, informed her of his failure as a Seeker to find ProtoMech pieces for her. For that, he was forced to transfer her to a solahma Cluster; something she feared and expected. Before she is reassigned, he informs her that she had become the last ProtoMech pilot of the Empire.
The 5 July, Lishi was arrived at new colony-under-construction on Greystone to replenish the loss of manpower the local garrison cluster had suffered from Hansa raids. After a meeting, her superior officer, Star Colonel Rossiton, talked her in private. He, as she, was a former Ice Hellion. Thy both talked about how they were forced to kill their own former clansmen when the latter refused to return from their life of piracy. Additionally, they conclude that their former clan's culture and memory is dying. And in spite of Khan Connor Rood's efforts to preserve it as a former Ice Hellion, both considers themselves to be a dying breed.
The 22 October, a Hanseatic League unit, Regional Defense Force 5 attacked the planet and the Solahma cluster quickly mobilized. The attackers which were raiding the colony used only second line BattleMechs. Meanwhile, the solahma cluster consisted only of infantry besides Rossiton's 'Mech, but he managed to cause losses to the invaders before dying. Lishi boarded her ProtoMech while satisfied that she will die in battle. Using its great mobility, downed several 'Mechs.
After enemy fire cripples her, a Hansa Hunchback approaches and remarks over the comm that he doesn't know what she is but that it won't matter once she's slain. Mortally wounded, Lishi answers than she was a dying breed as is he. As he opens fire, she shoots him at the same time that he does the same. It is implied than both kill each other at the same time.