SOLARIS CITY, SOLARIS VII – Welcome back, fight fans, to INN’s Season Recap of the 3132 Solaris VII Grand Championship. Winding down to the semi-finals now, one-hundred and twenty-eight MechWarriors have become three, and only one champion will be left standing after it’s over! Today’s Recap brought to you by ComStar Interstellar News Network; “INN: Always first on the scene”

Just one day remains of the 3132 Grand Tournament, and as we entered the semi-finals tonight, all eyes were on Galahad Stables’ Omar “Demolition” Durand, a man known far and wide for his award-winning combat style and his unwavering sense of sportsmanship. Slated by chance to face “Roaring” Ronald Ghost Bear, the devastating champion from Zellbrigen Stables known for his ferocious combat style and merciless tactics, last year’s fourth-placed MechWarrior could not have found a more intimidating match.

“I have to admit,” said Durand, in his pre-fight interview, when asked if he was concerned about facing the Solaris Champion, “I never planned to face ‘Roaring’ Ronald at all. I mean, sure I was having a very good run here, but there were more than enough close calls that told me this match was out of sight. So, yeah, I guess you could say I’m a bit nervous. I’ve seen his style.”

The scene for their epic clash was none other than the fierce and deadly man-made tunnels of Iron Mountain. With both MechWarriors eager to face their remaining challenger, Shayne Kirkpatrick, tomorrow night in the Factory, at the helm of their most favored machines, both Durand and Ghost Bear entered the arena in command of machines no less lethal. Durand, driving a rare customized Cygnus, faced off against Ghost Bear’s Mad Cat II in the winding tunnels, often delivering devastating hit-and-fade strikes with his paired heavy autocannons that ripped massive slabs of armor away from the Clan-born Champion’s machine. Yet, despite a severe pounding, Ghost Bear gave as good as he got, relentlessly blazing away with a quartet of heavy lasers at every opportunity.

The two gladiators continued this lethal game of cat and mouse for over ten minutes, an endurance record to any warrior who’s ever squared off against “Roaring” Ronald, but in only half that time, it became clear that Durand’s style was beginning to wear down his foe’s patience. Ghost Bear, eager to end the duel with every volley, often overheated his ’Mech, pushing its sinks to the very point of shutdown several times. Indeed, it was only Durand’s sense of chivalry, according to some, that spared the Champion from a more ignominious defeat.

Durand’s victory clears the way for the final match tomorrow against Shayne “Shockwave” Kirkpatrick of Blackstar Stables. Kirkpatrick managed to proceed to the finals unchallenged this day, thanks to the mutual disqualification of Zelazni Stables’ Olivia “Queen Liv” Tyler and DiNapoli Stables’ “Daring” David Strauss, who incited a minor riot in Silesia two nights ago. The Marik Arena, known to all as the Factory, will be the venue for this final winner-take-all match. Kirkpatrick. Durand. Only one will take home the Championship.

So, stay tuned, fight fans, and visit our link-site for all the box scores, fun facts, and betting odds for the 3132 Grand Championship. As always, I’m Dennis Stanzio for SBC, an affiliate of INN, with your Championship Recap, and I am out of here!

+Uh-huh. Figures that the Blackstar favorite doesn’t have to face a real opponent in the semi-finals, eh? No, someone *else* had to fight the Clanner Champ!
:-TVBluFist

+Griping about the unfairness of it all won’t help you, TV. Your boy lost in Round One! You think dePaik stood a chance against “Roaring” Ronald?
:-BNCFanatic

+Doesn’t change the fact that *your* girl got herself a free ride to the top. Durand was the one who took out Ghost Bear, after the Clanner zapped holes through just about everyone else on the way up. Way I see it, the guy who takes down the last year’s champ should be this year’s champ.
:-TVBluFist

+Man, I still can’t believe Durand pulled it off, no matter what came after! And in a gunboat like the Cyg, no less!
:-GropoM

+Ack/20s versus a ’Mech that wastes tonnage on jumpers in a cave system is quite an advantage, especially in tight confines. And running hot didn’t help Ghost Bear either. “Demolition may not have wanted to take him down during a shutdown, but I’m sure he didn’t wait till that monster cooled down completely before going at him again.
:-Chungabunga

+All true points, but still, the Bear was proving himself in any machine he had. I think stringing him along the way Durand did really won the match. Most Clanners can’t stomach a drawn out duel like that.
:-LevEOsa