(23 February 3049)

When you start knocking in atmosphere and waiting for the defenders to open up a door o’ aerospace fighters in welcome, nothing but a ’Mech under you is gonna get it done. Sure, there’s a few outfits out there that deploy only vehicles…or the insane Black Cats and their infantry-only roll-call…no wonder they’ve disbanded and re-banded more times than the League’s had civil wars.

But gents, let me tell ya, just ‘cause you got some tin cans to kick down the doors doesn’t mean you’re gonna keep what ya got. Sure, if you’re system-hopping for a smash and grab, by all means leave the mudsloggers at home. But if you’re looking to keep territory for any amount of time, the high-n-mighty MechWarriors need to stow their pride and bring along some PBIs (that’s Poor-Bloody-Infantry for you gents without mudsloggers attached to your outfits).

There’s an old saying: ’Mechs take the glory. Men take the real estate.

Let me tell ya, gents, it’s true. And if you're a mudslogger, you better have a great weapon. Despite the League’s ability to fall apart faster than an Elsie losing a game of cards, they build solid weapons. While I hear Austen-Armstrong Industries just started lasing targets for the high-and-mighties of the Ministry of Defense, don’t put stock in brand-new. You want a weapon that’s stood the test of time across a hundred worlds and brought ya back to tell the tales.

The Starfire rifle is a beaut if you can get your hands on one. But even though it outshines the Intek rifle in almost every way, I prefer the Intek. A rifle with no stick up its stock, or bells and whistles. A weapon to lay in the mud with ya and let ya think of warm days on the beach with a pair of legs by your side and a cold one in your hand.

Keep it locked and loaded, gents.

—Jacob Hardenson, MercNet