Chapter 18
3020 — Wolverine Territory
Ships were being moved into their assigned positions and formations. A total of fourteen Invader-class JumpShips formed the backbone of the fleet, accompanied by six Archangel-class drop-warships, eight Union-class DropShips, three Vengeance-class DropShips, twelve modified Behemoth-class DropShips (Transit Ark Type-B)—each capable of carrying a full load of 28,000 people—and four Mammoth-class DropShips.
This invasion force, assembled for Operation Snatcher, had been officially designated as:
The 1st Wolverine Strike Cluster
The newly formed Strike Cluster continued to muster its forces while, back on P19, Sibko cadets began performing their Trials of Position for the divisions they wished to join. The vast majority sought placement within the Warrior Division.
As each Trial concluded, cadets were awarded their Wolverine insignias, marking both their division and their initial rank within the Clan structure. One by one, they were assigned to their respective units, and many of them were slated for immediate deployment as part of Operation Snatcher, joining the ranks of the 1st Strike Cluster.
—///—
Eclipse One — Archangel-Class Drop-Warship
Captain Vanessa POV
It had been a long time. Far too long.
I leaned back slightly in my command chair, fingers resting against the armrest as I watched the quiet movement of crew across the bridge. After all these years, we were finally going to see real combat again. A part of me almost hoped some pirate scum would show up just to give me a reason to cut loose.
But that wasn't how this worked anymore.
I wasn't just a pilot.
I was a captain now.
One of my officers stepped forward and informed me that the crew was assembled and ready for the pre-operation address. It seemed this had become a tradition—captains speaking before major deployments.
I reached forward and activated the ship-wide intercom.
Vanessa:
[This is Captain Vanessa of Eclipse One. For many of you, this will be your first experience in combat. You are about to receive more of it than you expect. Operation Snatcher has clear objectives, and we will follow them without deviation. This is not a time for glory. This is a time for necessity. Our Clan requires resources—no matter what form they take. Some of you may face difficult choices, choices that will challenge your personal morals. Do not let that hesitation slow you down. We are Wolverines. No one is our match.]
I cut the transmission and leaned back again, letting out a slow breath.
As the fleet prepared for departure, my thoughts drifted—inevitably—back to him.
Silas.
My commander. My… boss.
And maybe, if I could finally find the courage… something more.
Once this was over, maybe I'd ask him. I had been putting it off for years, always finding an excuse, always backing out at the last moment. I didn't even know when it started. Maybe it had always been there, buried somewhere under everything else.
I wanted him.
That was probably another reason I volunteered my genetic material for the Newtype program.
The thought made me pause.
I wonder… which one of them is mine?
If I asked Silas, he could probably find out instantly. The thought alone made my face warm, and I had to suppress a small, embarrassed laugh.
…Yeah.
I'm definitely into him.
Why do emotions have to be so damn complicated?
—///—
saKhan Zesh POV
Officer: Madame, we are nearly ready. Just a few more hours until the final supplies are loaded. Operation Snatcher is ready to proceed. Do you have any further orders?
Zesh: Negative. Did you triple-check our supplies? Do we have everything? Quiaff.
Officer: Aff.
Good.
I allowed myself a small nod as I reviewed the final data on my display. Soon, we would see what these so-called warriors of the Marian Hegemony were truly capable of. If they were anything less than expected, this would be a very short campaign.
As I finalized commands aboard my Archangel-class vessel, Fury, the ship completed its docking sequence with one of the JumpShips. While Archangels were capable of independent jumps, their range was limited compared to a full JumpShip—especially one enhanced with Wolverine modifications, capable of nearly doubling standard jump distances.
Still… I was eager.
Eager to get back into the cockpit.
Eager to tear something apart.
My new machine—the GOUF Ignited—was everything I had hoped for. A perfect balance of power and control. And with the ongoing integration of mobile suit technology into traditional BattleMechs, the emergence of what we now called Mobile BattleMechs, I was curious to see how our newer warriors would perform.
I had no doubts.
They would not fail.
And those experimental battle suits from the Science Division… I was very interested in seeing them tested in real combat.
Within hours, everything was ready.
I issued the final command.
The fleet aligned.
And then—
They jumped.
We were on our way to war.
—///—
Behemoth-Class DropShips (Transit Ark Type-B)
These modified transports had been fully optimized for mass population relocation.
Core Systems:
• Advanced life support with high-efficiency air recycling
• Enhanced oxygen systems allowing higher population density
• Water reclamation and nutrient-dense food systems
• Integrated medical support using meta-gel and bacterial healing tech
Interior Structure:
Deck 1 — Intake & Processing
• Identification scanning
• Medical triage
• Decontamination
• Population sorting (family, labor, specialists)
Decks 2–10 — Civilian Housing
• Multi-tier bunk systems
• Sanitation modules
• Water distribution stations
• Nutrient dispensers
Deck 11 — Medical Core
• Injury treatment
• Disease control
• Emergency care
• Isolation sections
Deck 12 — Security Layer
• Marine detachments
• Drone surveillance
• Riot suppression systems
Deck 13+ — Storage & Systems
• Food reserves
• Water tanks
• Air processing
• Power systems
—///—