<div class="floatright">(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/jillvader/mw-nmfkmpkarimonero_zps55a1bf27.jpg)</div>Kari’s ‘Mech was heavier then the<em>Shadow Cat II</em>, but it was half again as fast and, thanks to its jets, far more mobile in this dense forest. More to the point, it was near-fresh, while her<em>Black Knight</em>was battered and worn already. She also couldn’t let it pass, as the fleet-footed Clan ‘Mech could easily harry and savage their retreat, and was likely one of many more to come. Ignoring the heat, she opened up on the<em>Shadow Cat II</em>as it stepped forwards, determined as much to stop it as she was to avenge her fallen compatriot.<br/><br/>Another wave of heat hit her with almost physical force as her lasers rippled off, brilliant, scorching red beams leaping out to strike at the Jade Falcon ‘Mech. Several of them did hit home, slicing armour off its flanks and limbs, an impressive show but not enough to stop or even wound it by any means. It did do enough to throw the MechWarrior within off, however, their return fire proving far less accurate. A smattering of missiles and metal shards from its HAG peppered the<em>Knight’s</em>body, with most of the rest serving to do little but devastate the surrounding forest, reducing trees to splinters.<br/><br/>Doing her best to focus on the enemy and not the heat, Kari continued to backpedal into the forest, glancing around as she did for either more of the enemy or the rest of her unit. One was becoming more and more evident as she could see traces of other shapes moving deeper in the forest as the<em>Shadow Cat II</em>continued to advance. The other was worryingly lacking in evidence. “This is Bravo Lead to Black Sun Actual,” she began over the command channel as she let loose another volley at the Falcon ‘Mech, this one far more restrained. “Bravo Lance is pulling back. Requesting rendezvous location”<br/><br/>The result was silence, punctuated for a moment by the rattle of more HAG rounds peppering the ‘Mech. “Repeat, requesting rendezvous location,” was all Kari could think to add to the empty air on the command channel.<em>We have to be jammed,</em>she told herself.<em>That’s why I can’t get through</em>. It was what she wanted to believe, and what she wanted to be the truth. The simple alternative, why she couldn’t read her commanding officer and father, was just too horrible to consider.<br/><br/>“Repeat, this is Bravo lead-“<br/>