Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Clan?

Two full stars of battle ‘mechs

Advancing in a line.

One pilot fainted when he glimpsed the Hollow,

And now there were only nine.

Nine brave, little battle ‘mechs

Hurrying on to meet their fate.

One caught a couple of Thumper rounds,

And now there were only eight.

Eight brightly painted battle ‘mechs

Started raising their prayers to heaven,

One stepped into the Phantom’s mine field

And now there were only seven.

Yes, seven little battle ‘mechs

Asking who’d be next to take their licks,

One found a hidden ‘mech trap pit,

And now there were only six.

Six worried, little battle ‘mechs

Each hoping they would survive.

One took the Horseman’s LRMs,

And now there were only five.

One full star of battle ‘mechs

Bravely knocking at the Hollow’s front door,

One caught the Horseman’s rifle ball,

And now there were only four.

Four scrappy, little battle ‘mechs

Working their way around a tree.

One saw the Horseman’s large, pulse laser,

And now there were only three.

Three trembling little battle ‘mechs

Asking, "is this really a smart thing to do?"

One played catch with some SRMs

And now there were only two.

Two frightened little battle ‘mechs

Shaking badly as they came under the gun.

One tried to dodge a pair of lasers,

Now sadly, there’s only one.

One battered little battle ‘mech,

That’s right, there can be only one,

Lost his head to the Horseman’s blade

And now, my friend, there were none.

A BattleTech Halloween Treat,

Michael David

October 31, 1997