Blood on the Horizon (Battletech SI)

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-One: Execution

Tigress Zenith Point, August 30, 3036

“Ma’am!’ The sensors officer yelled out from his station. “We’ve got a massive contact fast approaching, and our Battlecomputer isn’t identifying it.”

“Get our transit drives spinning up, and detach our escorts,” Admiral Jewel ordered. “That doesn’t look like it’s a friendly Warship here to deliver a message.” Turning to her XO she signaled for him to begin the proper procedures.

“All hands, proceed to your battle stations, this is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill,” most of the lights dimmed as the ship immediately transitioned into the preparations for a fight deep into the void. “All fighter pilots proceed to the launch bays, and Dropships prepare for detachment.”

–
–

“I hate being stuck in the void,” Natasha snarled as the two of us huddled inside the most secure room in the Manassas. “There’s nothing I can fight and rarely something for me to do about the enemies that we might be facing.”

“Hey, at least we have two little ones to keep calm for this one,” I pulled her in for a hug while helping her to console one of the Cameron twins. “We would only be a distraction on the bridge or as a member of one of the gun crews.”

“It’s just so damn frustrating!” Natasha slammed her fist into the bulkhead before stopping to calm down the little girl seated in her lap. “I’m stuck, and there’s nothing for me to do except wait for us to either win or lose.”

“Sometimes we have to put our lives in the hands of those that we trust, and then we just hope and pray that they manage to fulfill our faith and trust in them.”




New Avalon, August 30th, 3036

“Vesar Kristofur, this court finds you guilty, and the jury has ordered that the execution be carried out immediately following your final words and meal.”

“I have no need of a final meal, and I wish to state my final words here, where everyone can hear them and they are a part of the public records,” Kristofur stated before standing up from his chair.

“You have no clue what you have unleashed upon the Inner Sphere with my death, for there is death coming, it may not be in your lifetime, but your children will suffer, and all of the unity in the universe cannot save you from what is coming!” The man began to rant wildly for a long time before a certain sense of clarity came upon him. “Take me away, I have become mad, and I should be put down like the dog that I am.” He offered himself up to the military police that was his escorts and they took him outside to the place of his execution.

–
–

“What exactly was all that about?” Hanse asked Allard once Kristofur had been escorted to the firing squad.

“Given that we have the information of Primus Sims’ visions of the Clans, we expect that given the state of his mind after our interrogation that he may have been suffering from delusions,” Quintus replied. “But we will be investigating all the same.”





“That’s not a Texas or a Mckenna,” Jewel said to her crew as the Manassas spun around to face the unidentified battleship. “Get us facing them, we need to start hitting them with everything that we got.”

The Manassas triggered its maneuvering thrusters and spun around to face the oncoming enemy, lashing out with its new Heavy NPPCs and NAC/35s as soon as they entered extreme range, the massive guns reaching across the void and carving away tons of the enemy battleship’s Ferro-Carbide armor before they passed each other in the void, the enemy’s return fire missing all the while.

The Manassas spun around so that its broadside weapons were facing the enemy battleship and began exchanging fire with the larger Warship even as their escorts battled it out in a vicious furball in the void in between.

“Ma’am, we’re taking some hits but our armor is holding for now. Our return fire is causing some damage, and we’ve managed to close their ASF bay doors, and it looks like they won’t be able to repair and refit their fighters.”

“Good, spin us around and have us give them a fresh face of armor, see if we can get our nose pointed at them for part of our rotation to bring our heavier guns to bear against the enemy,” Jewel ordered the bridge crew. “Can any of our escorts get close enough to board or cause damage?”

“That’s a negative ma’am, they’ve got standard Gauss Rifles that nearly tore one of our Sting’s to pieces when it got close enough.”

“Well then, it looks like we have a good old-fashioned slugfest on our hands then,” Jewel replied with a smirk. “Get our gunnery crews aiming for critical areas, see if we can knock something critical loose so that we can board the Battleship.”

The Manassas spun around to give its forward arc of firepower a chance to open up while also transitioning to the freshest armor that it had, while the enemy battleship seemed to wallow in place before trying to run.

“They’re running, give chase!” Jewel ordered. “Get us to enough thrust to beat their acceleration and then slow us down to match them.”

“Aye ma’am, pushing the crew to the limits,” the navigation officer replied.

The Manassas rocketed forward, the improved transit drive pushing the crew to their limits while firing their forward arc into the thrusters of the enemy battleship until the battleship turned and began to open fire again.

“Get us out of their firing arcs,” Jewel ordered. “We’ve got nearly the same range as them, but our accuracy is better at range.”

“Pulling back, prepare for chemical thruster boost,” the navigations officer warned before the Manassas seemed to leap upwards, out of the range that the enemy battleship had been consistently hitting at and returning fire with its broadsides.

“We just lost one of our NAC/20s, I’m rerouting damage control teams over now!”

“Keep the pressure up, they’re starting to slow down their return fire,” Jewel ordered. “Once that ship is disabled I want Marines on standby for boarding actions.”

The Manassas spun around and its trio of heavy NPPCs lashed out and arced through the enemy battleship, striking one of the primary power conduits and causing the battleship to darken, its lights and everything else going dim aside from emergency power.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Two: Raids

Victoria, Taurian Concordat, September 1, 3036

“How are our patrols going?” Edward Calderon asked as he sat at his desk across from the current naval commander.

“They’re going well, we’ve currently got four gunships in various flight patterns in the system backed up by a couple of the new Vengeance models that Sharpshooter and TTI are putting out,” The Taurian Navy commander replied. “They may have cut down on the ASF bays, but twenty-six fighters and just over 2000 tons of Cargo space mean that they can operate in the void for a good deal of time for the long-ranged patrols.”

“That’s good to hear,” Edward leaned in. “I’ve got a feeling that something bad may happen over the next couple of weeks and I want us on a higher alert status if at all possible.”

“I’ll send out the signal governor Calderon,” The commodore replied. “Is there anything else you needed from me?”

“Just wanted to touch base and make sure that all of our security measures are in place,” Edward said as he paused to look over everything the commodore had just sent over to his slate. “We’re finally making real progress on getting the citizens here acclimated to the new system of government.” Edward sighed. “And, PPL has finally started production runs off of the factories that they’ve been researching and restoring, and I want to keep them in business for a long time,” Edward leaned in and looked the commodore in the eyes. “These facilities are going to be critical in the next few years, both in our armed forces and in the eyes of the people of Victoria truly becoming citizens of the Concordat. We cannot afford to lose them. So I want any potential attack stopped well before it hits the ground.”

“I obviously can’t make any promises Governor, you’ve been in combat before and know that,” the naval officer replied. “But me and mine will do the best that we can.”

“Then that’s all that I can ask for,” Edward replied. “Have a pleasant rest of the day Commodore.”

The Commodore walked out of the office and left the potential heir to the title of Protector sitting there to finish his paperwork and sweet tea by himself.

“Let’s take a look at those specs shall we,” Edward smiled to himself as he looked at the specs on the first Taurian Concordat mech that had been designed and manufactured by solely the concordat in generations. The Bison was a bit of an odd duck, but given the fact that it was an assault mech that would be produced by and more importantly for the Taurian Defense forces first was something that he and his father would be pointing at explicitly to make the people who still believed that their alliance had been a bad idea look like fools.

“Let’s hope that the reveal will be a good thing,” Edward muttered to himself as he began to pack up the things that he would need at home. Then, as he was leaving his office his phone began to ring off of its hook.

“Hello, Governor Calderon speaking,” Edward answered the phone. “What do you mean you just destroyed a pirate raid in orbit?! I had no idea that there was even a pirate presence in the system!” Edward took a few breaths to calm himself down and then spoke again. “I’ll be right over to the command and control center, goodbye.” Edward slammed the phone down on its hook before running out of his office, barely remembering to activate the security procedures on his way out before he jumped into his armored hovercar and sped through the highways.




Bolan, Lyran Commonwealth, September 4, 3036

“Good hits Stag, that dropship is toast!” the Sting’s ASF escorts cheered. “I don’t know why they thought that Bolan wouldn’t be protected, but pirates have no place attacking any worlds in the Lyran Commonwealth.”

“Let’s have recovery teams make a sweep and then RTB,” the gunship’s captain responded with a grin in his voice. “We did good work out here people, now let’s bring it on home.”




Adhara, Magistracy of Canopus, September 5, 3036

“We should have bought those fucking gunships when they were offered at a discount!” The militia commander yelled as pirate aerospace fighters streaked across the skies. “Someone get that Taurian corporate rep on the line!”

“What good will that do commander?” The comms officer asked as she began sorting through the frequencies.

“They hired a short battalion of mercs to protect their interests,” the commander replied as she coordinated her forces. “I want to see if we can borrow them for a little while.”

“I’ll contact them, Commander,” the comms officer replied. “But I’m not sure if we’ll get a response.”

“Give me the damned comms device!” The commander ordered as she stomped her way over to where the comm officer was moving glacially slow. “We do not have the time to fiddle around, I need to be in contact with them now or we may lose people and resources to a bunch of damned pirates!”

–
–
“Are you sure this is a good idea, Colonel?” The Lone Star Regiment’s XO asked as they moved through the flat grassland the pirates had landed their dropships in.

“The Taurians have their own security forces, and they gave us the go-ahead,” Colonel Samuel Granger replied as he moved his older Guillotine around a boulder in the middle of the field. “Besides, we get full salvage of anything we take from the pirates, and we’re in need of that war material.”

“Agreed sir,” the XO replied. “I’m just concerned that we may be in breach of our contract is all.”

“We’re ironclad,” Granger replied as they finally saw the four Union class dropships and the Mule that accompanied the pirates onto Adhara. “Now, let’s get this salvage train packed up and ready to go people!” He ordered the rest of the short battalion with him. “Be careful and pick your shots, we want to take as much of their gear with us as possible.”

“Copy that Colonel, moving to engage.”
New Syrtis, Federated Suns, September 10, 3036

"Pirates are officially stupid," Morgan Hasek-Davion said to his mother as they watched the recording of their lone Aegis heavy cruiser and its escorts dismantle the pirates that had tried to jump and raid the system.

"Well, I don't think most pirates actually understand the level of force that a full nation can bring to bear," Marie Davion replied with a shrug. "After all, until recently even the Taurians had a pirate problem to deal with."

"Well, once the Outworlds Alliance front has calmed down I think I'll be taking the 6th Syrtis Fusiliers on a pirate hunting expedition," Morgan grinned at the thought of finally seeing some action. "It's time to eradicate the pests for the time being."

"I'll see if our Taurian allies have any information on local pirate's nests that they haven't gotten around to clearing out yet," Marie said with a sigh. "But I would ask for permission from both Hanse and the Protector before crossing any borders," she cautioned.

"I'll follow all of the proper diplomatic procedures," Morgan replied. "Besides, they are currently our allies and they hate pirates just as much as we do, if not even more just because of the sheer amount of attacks they have had over the years."

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Three: Newton’s Third Law

New Avalon, November 21, 3036

“Dad!” David ran up and hugged Natasha and me as soon as we left the dropship. “You can’t vanish on me like that again. I wasn’t in any way prepared to handle everything that you do.”

“I’ll work on easing you into the responsibilities,” I laughed as I squeezed my son back. “But first, I’ve got two little ones to introduce you to.”

“I read the letters you sent me, and honestly,” David paused to breathe for a minute. “I’m glad that I’m going to have some little siblings to spoil again.”


“Well, when it’s time for them to wake up from their nap they’ll be able to meet their new big brother,” I replied as we began to walk to the armored truck that we would be taking to the Davion Palace complex. “I’ve got some information to share with our liege lord before we start getting things set up to transition you to the lord of the Terran March.”

“Is it about the battleship that attacked you while you were on your way back to New Avalon?” David asked curiously. ‘I knew that you had made some modifications to the Manassas, but I don’t think that anyone thought that a heavy cruiser would be taking on a full-sized battleship anytime soon.”

“Well, the Manassas has one of the best crews in the Inner Sphere,” I replied with a wide grin on my face. “And they were pirates who had merely managed to get most of the power conduits running the way that they were supposed to by sheer accident,” I scoffed. “I don’t know where they found the original prototype of the Stefan Amaris class prototypes that Amaris commissioned before the Amaris Coup, but it seems that they found it and managed to get it moving again.”

“Well, it doesn’t look like it helped them all that much,” David observed as we pulled into the palace grounds for an inspection.

“It didn’t,” I replied as I let the staff of the palace run through an entire identity check and removal of weapons before allowing us to pass through. “And it turns out that it was a pirate lord that I offended long before my entrance onto the main stage of the Inner Sphere.”

“I take it he didn’t survive?” David asked as we finally made it through the first security entrance.

“No, most of the atmosphere was vented when our Marines breached the Bridge,” I replied. “But all of their data was able to be retrieved and we towed the ship to an area where one of our Faslane’s can get to it.”

“Well, while you were gone we managed to finish off what we believe was the main force of the Comstar radicals,” David informed me as we made our way to the next checkpoint. “There may be a few small pockets remaining but there’s not much we can do about that.”

“I managed to track down where the pirates were coordinating everything from,” I said in response. “But it’s going to have to wait until I can speak to Hanse and possibly Katrina Steiner.”

–
–

“The Marian Hegemony has access to the Black Boxes,” I told Hanse once we were secluded inside his office. “They and the pirates have been reading the Lyran Commonwealth’s mail and have been using it to coordinate their raids.” I looked at Hanse once again. “The Marian Hegemony has been a haven for pirates for a long time, but now they’re making their bed with them.”

“I’ll pull the Commonwealth and Concordat in on this,” Hanse said as he looked over the data I had just handed him. “Morgan has been chomping at the bit to go on an antipiracy operation anyway, so I’ll greenlight it should I get the go-ahead from our allies.”

“Good,” I replied. “Is there anything specific you need from me or Sharpshooter?” I asked as I leaned back in the comfortable chair.

“Not currently, no,” Hanse shook his head before pausing. “There is one thing.” He said as he grabbed his slate. “I need Natasha here before I expand on it though.”

“Well, while we wait for Natasha to arrive can I get the general info on the rest of the Inner Sphere?” I asked. “I’ve been deep diving in specific data for the past couple of years and haven’t quite had the time to play catch up yet.”

“The Free Worlds League has mostly been gobbled up by the Marik brothers,” Hanse told me bluntly. “It seems that Janos and Anton work together fairly well when they’re not arguing. Andurien and the state that it created is the only state that remains outside of their influence for now.” Hanse sighed. “The only reason that Andurien has managed to stay separate is that they’ve managed to make some trade deals with both the Concordat and Magistracy for the things that they are not able to source from their own suppliers.”

“And the rest of the Inner Sphere?” I asked. “I know that the Outworlds Alliance is going to take years to rebuild if not decades.”

“The Combine has shattered into four different factions,” Hanse said as he brought up a holographic map of what was left of the Draconis Combine. “The first faction is trying to put Marcus Kurita’s children on the throne of Coordinator. They’re trying to make the argument that Theodore’s children are not able to inherit because he was captured alive instead of committing seppuku the moment he was able.” Hanse sighed, “The second faction and possibly the strongest is the most pragmatic of the bunch, they’re being led by the Generals that you faced on Al Na’ir. They’ve rallied a bunch of the military together and are holding a neutral power bloc together around the remaining industry. They claim to be waiting for a true coordinator to rise from the ashes of what is left of the Combine. And the other two factions are what is left of the ISF along with the Black Dragons trying to kill each other off.”

“What are the optimal projections?” I asked, knowing that Quintus would have put together an intelligence briefing.

“That they’ll kill enough of each other off that they won’t really be a threat to the rest of the Inner Sphere for another two decades or so,” Hanse said as he tossed me the paper file folder. “The Canopians are likely to completely join in our alliance, and the Wolf Confederation is making roads towards full membership as well.”

“Let’s hope that everything goes well on that front,” I said with a hopeful gaze. “I’d hate to get dragged back into another war after the two that we just fought.”

“We’re going to have to rebuild our reserves,” Hanse nodded in agreement. “Me diverting and building up resource centers and factories in the Periphery March will help in the long term, but we’re going to be hurting in the short term,” Hanse raised an eyebrow at me. “Unless you feel like pulling something else impossible out of your bag of tricks that is.” He trailed off.

“I’m all outta tricks, Hanse,” I laughed. “I’m just an old man who’s beyond ready to get his son trained up to take over for him.” I leaned forward. “I’ve actually been thinking about retirement a lot lately, Hanse. We’ve just adopted the twins, and we want to give them a good childhood before they get thrust into the politics of everything. It’ll be a good five years or so, but I’m thinking about retiring in four or so years. David needs his own chance to shine, and so does the rest of his generation. They’ve got a lot of potential, and I want to see how they do!”

“I’m holding you to that four years,” Hanse glared at me. “I’m going to have to find my own time to retire now.”

“It’s up to you, Hanse,” I told my friend as I got serious. “It may not be the right thing for you, but I’ve essentially lived through two separate timelines, and even though I don’t look it, I’m feeling every single one of my sixty-three years.” I cracked my neck. “I’m tired Hanse, I’ve done a lot over my lifetime, and It’s nearly time for me to pass the torch on,” I laughed. “Hell, even Sheppard found someone to take over for him as the one in charge of the Marksman Academy. It’ll be a bit, but he’s planning on stepping down too.”

“I’ll look into some precedents for First Prince’s retiring,” Hanse said thoughtfully as he took it all in. “If nothing else, Jonathan will have a good support system. But it will have to wait until he’s served his time in the AFFS, that’s a requirement for a reason after all.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Four: Weddings

Tharkad, September 15, 3037

“Marriage, is what brings us together today. Marriage, that blessed arrangement, that dream within a dream, and Love, true love, will follow you forever, so treasure your love,” The priest paused for a breath and looked at the young couple getting married today. “Love, to love one another is the second greatest commandment ever given by the Lord, the only one above it is to love the Lord your God. This emphasizes just how vital love for not only our significant others is, but also how important it is to love our fellow man.”

I was struggling not to laugh or cry at the choice of words that the priest had used for the ceremony. While Natasha physically restrained me from belly laughing until David turned his head and gave me a wink. He had planned this! And I had only encouraged it by introducing him to the movie in the first place.

The rest of the ceremony had me in tears at the thought of my son being grown up. And while I had tried to contain them at first, one look at Nat had me start up again. Despite all of the hardships that she had endured, and the emotional growth that had been stunted by an upbringing in the Clans she was overcome by emotion as well. The only other time she had ever cried before was when Sapphire had died. Now, she was just letting the tears stream from her eyes as she tried to keep the twins from acting out.

Finally, we got to the reception, and I sat down at the table assigned to me and watched the troublesome duo that we had adopted so that they wouldn’t ruin part of the ceremony. Then Elana Susanne (Elsa) Hull-Steiner came up to my table.

“Can I have this dance?” She asked with a small curtsy and a big smile on her face.

“Of course!” I replied with a grin. “Just as soon as I can find someone to watch the twins here.”

“I’m certain that we can have a servant take care of that while I have a dance with my father-in-law,” Elsa smiled and then gave a small signal to one of the servants that were on standby in the Triad.

“Thank you,” I told the servant. “ I or Natasha will be back in a little bit to take them off of your hands.”

Elsa then led me to the dance floor where we began to dance to the tune of the classical orchestra that was playing in the background.

“I’m really glad that you and David have been able to grow to love each other,” I said as I led my now daughter-in-law around the dance floor.

“He’s an easy man to love,” Elsa said with a laugh. “He may be a bit stubborn at times, but he’s willing to learn and listens to what I have to say.”

“Natasha and I have done our best to raise a son who would be not only a good noble. But someone who would also be a good father and husband,” I replied. “Would you be willing to take some advice from someone who has been married twice and raised children as well?”

“Of course I am!” Elsa scoffed at me. “You’ve been a part of my family for as long as I can remember. So of course I’m willing to take advice from you.”

“Just checking,” I chuckled in response. “I was your age once, and I don’t remember always wanting advice. Nor do I remember receiving advice well all of the time.” I shrugged. “Always remember to keep your relationship with David at the forefront of everything else. Don’t put your children ahead of it, don’t put your responsibilities ahead of it.” I looked into Elsa’s bright blue eyes. “If you keep your spouse as a priority you will enjoy your relationship a lot more over the years and you’ll find it to be more stable in the long term as well.”

Elsa just hummed as she considered my statement as the song came to an end.

“I also told David the same thing,” I told her as we walked back to my assigned table. “It’s something that my parents told me when I got married the first time and I figured I should pass it on.”

“Thanks,” Elsa leaned in and gave me a hug and a peck on the cheek. “I’ll keep everything in mind.”

“They grow up so fast,” I told Katrina as I made my way over to her. “I remember when they were still trying to get in trouble during Christmas on Kentares IV.”

“Time does seem to fly by doesn’t it?” Katrina offered as she sipped a little champagne from her glass. “It feels like a couple of weeks ago we were doing anti-piracy operations in the Magistracy, and now we’re here watching our children get married.”

“Yeah, it really puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?” I asked. “We’ve changed an awful lot over the last three decades.”

“Indeed we have,” Arthur cut in. “And I heard that you were planning on retiring.”

“Yep,” I replied with a shrug and a small smile. “I’ve got two to three more years and then Natasha and I will be passing on the torch in order to settle down and finish raising the twins we adopted.”

“I’m starting to get Melissa involved in the Government,” Katrina said with a small smile. “But I don’t think I’ll be retiring just yet. There are still some nobles that need to be taught that the new way is the best way forward.”

“I’m not pushing anyone else into retirement,” I replied with a small smile. “I’m just explaining my reasoning.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to retire right now,” Katrina said with a look of longing on her face. “But there are still some things that I need to accomplish before I turn over the throne to Melissa.”

“Hanse basically said the same thing about Jonathon,” I replied. “We’ll just have to wait and see what the future brings.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Five: The Unexpected

January, 3038

“Coordinator,” Tai-Sa Joseph Izuzu inclined his head and came to a bow before Franklin Kurita.“What is it that you desire for us to accomplish?”

“We are going to crush our opposition and rebuild,” the young man clenched his fists together. “The dragon may need to change with the times, but it will restore itself to new heights given time and space.”


“Your will be done, coordinator,” Tai-Sa deLetereau responded, “I shall call all of our senior officers and the officials that are left for a full accounting of your realm, my lord.”

“Good, prepare what is left of my Otomo as well,” Franklin stated coldly. “I believe that there are spies and traitors among us that will be revealed when I institute some of my planned reforms.”

—
—
“I have brought you all here in order that you may begin to implement the reforms that I have planned,” Franklin announced to the group of assembled nobles and people who held important office on the worlds that he still ruled over. “But first, there are traitors and spies that must be dealt with.” Franklin gave deLetereau a nod and the woman commanded her troops to come into the massive chamber. “We are already aware of who the traitors and spies are, and we are giving you one last chance to reaffirm your fealty to the true coordinator.”

“Death before dishonor!” One of the nobles that was a member of the Black Dragons rose up and tried to shoot at Franklin with a single shot laser pistol, only to miss by a few centimeters before Franklin rose up with his katana and walked over to where the noble had been seated.

“So you have chosen death,” Franklin spoke softly in the now extremelyl quiet chamber. “I will grant you your desire.” Franklin unsheathed his katana and killed the noble before turning to address the rest of the nobles. “Does anyone else have a burning desire to commit suicide?” Franklin asked as he returned to his throne. “I would prefer that you all live, there is no greater honor than to return unbroken and able to live to fight another day.”

Franklin stood before his throne and flicked the blood off of his katana as he spoke. “Our Samurai are few in number, and we have long forgotten what honor truly is,” Franklin sheathed the sword to emphasize his point. “Honor is more than dying for the combine, but it is in everything that we do. I am a bastard yes, but I am more than capable of leading the Dragon to prominence again.” Franklin sat down on his throne. “But there are things we must change first. We do not have the numbers nor the capability of waging war long term if our soldiers believe that honorable retreat and living to serve another day is not something that will be honored. We need every single on of our soldiers. But we also have great need of civilian minds and bodies who will be willing to die for a greater cause if the need is great.”

“But this will change the very fabric of the Dragon,” one of the oldest nobles there stated. “Will we still be the same after this?”

“I should hope not,” Franklin spoke passionately. “Everything in nature adapts or it dies, and we must now do the same or our enemies at the gates will break them down and come in to burn our houses and families down.”

“I see,” the elder noble inclined his head. “If you were Takashi or your father I would request the use of your garden, because I am not certain that I am capable of adapting,” the old man met Franklin’s eyes. “But you have made your stance on such things clear, and so I offer myself and my house to be of use to you in the way that you see fit.”

“Shogun, I would be honored if you were to be my advisor,” Franklin inclined his head. “I will have great need of the wisdom of a man who has seen four coordinators in his time.”

“I am at your service, Coordinator Kurita,” Shogun Mikhail Friedrich replied. “My world lies ready to beat the drums of war, and our factories are ever yours.”




February 3038

“Coordinator!” The plant manager of the local Bergan Industries plant paled when he saw that Franklin Kurita had paid his factories a visit.

“Still yourself,” Franklin spoke softly. “I have no need of your head, I desire to see what improvements might be made, and what we might be able to restore to full use here.”

“Coordinator, we are only currently able to produce more Locusts at this time,” the plant manager informed him. “We do not possess the licenses for much more than that.”

“I am going to be arranging a meeting between all of the companies that are within our sphere of influence,” Franklin informed the plant manager. “I desire for you to be there, I have need of someone with expertise from the ground floor. I read the file on you and you have worked on every machine in here and are a capable engineer are you not?”

“I am, my lord,” the plant manager bowed low. “But I would never dream of being able to educate the Dragon.”

“The Dragon has need of education,” Franklin spoke honestly. “You work for me now, I have need of a man of your talents.”

The plant manager hesitated for a moment but didn’t want to speak lest he offend the new Coordinator.

“Speak up, I will not slay a man for his opinions,” Franklin stated.

“I have an excellent team here my lord,” the man rubbed his palms together nervously. “I do not wish to leave them behind.”

“You will remain here then,” Franklin said after a moment of thought. “I will send for you when I have need of you, and then you will return to this factory.”

“You are most gracious!” The manager prostrated himself before the coordinator.

“Get up, I will not take a man from the place where he has found peace in,” Franklin picked the man up off of his knees. “I wll send a messenger with the details of what I have need of your for.” Franklin turned and left the plant the way that he had entered it, with a sudden burst of speed and energy, as if he had little time to accomplish all that he had need of.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Six: Progression of Time
January 31, 3040

“Alright, it looks like you’ve got most of this handled,” I told David as he finished off the paperwork that I was helping him get familiarized with. “You feel ready to take over for me yet?”

“Not at all,” David shook his head with a wry smile on his face. “There’s still so much that I don’t know, and I’m worried I’ll screw it up.”

“You will,” I replied. “Screw it up I mean. But the thing about it is that when leaders screw up we have to be the first to admit fault and try to fix them,” I sighed. “Most politicians and public figures aren’t going to admit that just by being honest they could avoid many of the scandals and other issues that arise at times,” I looked David in the eyes. “People like it when their leaders are willing to admit when they are at fault and are willing to look for help to address and fix the situation.”

“At least you’ll still be around to advise for a while,” David said as he filed the paperwork he had just finished. “And Elsa is good for bouncing ideas off of too.”

“That is one area where you’re probably ahead of me,” I admitted with a shrug. “I love Natasha, but she doesn’t want anything to do with how things are run from the top.”

“You still planning on retiring at the end of this year?” David asked me. “‘Cause I’m not sure that I’m ready to take over for you.”

“You’ll do fine,” I told him with a smile. “You’ve learned everything that I’ve been teaching you and got to learn quite a bit from Hanse while you were on his bodyguard detail.”

“It never feels like it’s enough though,” David sighed. “My decisions will affect billions of people, and some of them could die if I make the wrong decision.”

“It’s good that we’re getting to work on this now,” I told my son. “Yes, you will be ultimately responsible for the overall well-being of the people in the Terran March. But at the end of the day, most of the people responsible for the day-to-day choices that can and will get people killed will be on the more local level, it’ll be the mayor or sheriff who decided not to dedicate the funding they receive to the right areas and people ended up paying the price. You are in no way able or even capable of fixing every single problem that might kill someone,” I shrugged. “And no one expects you to even try to accomplish that”

“Why not?” David asked me with a raised eyebrow. “Why don’t they want me to try and fix all of those potential problems?”

“Because then you will have become a tyrant,” I said simply. “By interfering in every little thing and dictating exactly how you want people to live you start down the very slippery slope of liberty and individual choice,” I shrugged. “It is one thing to ask people to die for a cause or people they believe in. But it is another thing altogether to ask someone to give up their individual liberty for you.”

“Why the focus on individual choice and liberty though?” David asked me. “Wouldn’t people prefer comfort and not having a choice?”

“Of course, people prefer that,” I replied. “But the path that your thought process is taking you ends in another state like the Capellan Confederation or the Draconis Combine. And while there have been periods when those nations had civil liberties and where their civilians had more rights they were far and few in between. They were always punctuated by the times when they had very little opportunity to do anything about their place in life. Is that what you would wish for the people that we have liberated from both of those nations? The people that have only just begun to realize that there is more to life than being a servitor or a slave to the Dragon?”

“No,” David shook his head. “I would not force anyone to live the way that they were in the Combine or the Capellan Confederation.”

“And that,” I said. “Is precisely my point. None of those nations started with tyrants and dictators, and they each thought that their way was best. In the beginning, the Capellan Confederation and the Combine could have been called places where you could find learning and wisdom. But their descendants didn’t believe the same things, and it led to the state that we found them in a few decades ago.”

“I’m gonna have to think about this a bit more,” David said. “Thanks for the help dad, I’ll finish off the rest of the paperwork for the day.”




February 15, 3040

“Dr. Rogers,” I stood up and hugged the scientist and engineer. “How is everything going at the SLC up in the mountains?”

“I’d appreciate it if we got to keep more of our graduates,” she glared at me and then sighed. “But I also like that most of them end up going back to their homeworlds to hopefully improve things for the better.”

“Yeah, the Terran and Periphery Marches need all of the help they can get on that front,” I replied. “The worlds of the old Terran Hegemony are mostly in ruins, and it’ll take decades of work to get them back to the level that they were at before.”

“I’m sure that’s not all that you wanted to talk to me about though,” Rogers said as she looked into my eyes. “So, what is it that you have planned?”

“We’re going to be turning most of the Warship fleet over to the AFFS in a couple of years,” I said bluntly. “We’re going to be keeping the Stefan Amaris, the Narukami, and the Manassas. I want to know how much longer it’ll be before the battleship and destroyer are ready to be crewed and tested in the void again.”

“Three years before the Stefan Amaris Class is spaceworthy again and the refits that you requested are done,” she sighed. “And two before the Narukami can do anything more than just float out in space.”

“So five years before the two Warships are capable of doing anything that I would need the for?”

“That sounds about right,” Rogers replied. “Why? Is there something important that you need them for?”

“Let’s just say that I’ve got something planned, and you might want to be on board when we attempt it,” there was a grin on my face.

“They managed to get it working?!” Rogers asked excitedly. “I thought that it would be another five to ten years before they managed to replicate the experimental drive on the Manassas.”

“They’ve had three confirmed working test runs,” I replied. “We’re going to be refitting the Warships with it and repairing the unit on the Manassas. We’re going to be having NAIS triple-check everything, but any new jumpships rolling off of the yards will have a range of forty light-years instead of the usual thirty.”

“That could cut travel time down by quite a bit!” Rogers began to get excited once more. “Are there any plans for a long-term test?”

“They’re going to be performing a test run from Tharkad to New Avalon and then over to Taurus this year,” I confirmed. “That’ll be the final test to make sure that everything runs smoothly.”

“It’s a brave new world out there,” Rogers grinned. “With the chance for discovering new or lost worlds around every corner.”

“Indeed,” I lifted up my coffee in a salute to her remark. “The face of the galaxy is ever-changing.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Seven: The Future is Now
June 15, 3047

"You're sure that's what you want to do for the rest of your life?" I asked my adopted Cameron, daughter, Amanda.

"You've got Mathis, but David doesn't have anyone that he trusts to have his back like that," Amanda stated firmly. "He needs someone who he can rely on to look after him and his family the way Mathis does."

"It's your life," I replied as I looked my daughter in the eyes. "If this is what you really want then I'll sign the paperwork and we'll have Mathis and MacIntosh start training you," I smiled at my daughter. "This won't be the same kind of training as you got while going to the Marksman Academy," I told her bluntly. "Bodyguard details are an entirely different kind of warfare and mental space to be in than most people are used to."

"I know," Amanda replied with a smile. "But it's what I want to do."

"Then we'll start transitioning your training away from regular warfare and get you working on a lot more CQC and Mithril-based training," I told her. "We're not going to do away entirely with battlemech piloting or being able to drive a combat vehicle, but your focus won't be on those things for now."

"When do I start?" Amanda asked eagerly, her eyes sparkling in delight as I granted her request.

"In a month or so," I laughed at her eagerness. "You still have to convince Ian that this is what you really want after all."

"But dad, he wants to go do sciency stuff," Amanda complained in the way that only teenagers did. "And that's boring, why can't he want to blow things up with mechs, tanks, or explosives like a normal person?"

"Some people enjoy science and engineering, like your brother or Dr. Rogers," I shrugged. "And then there are people like you and your mother, who would rather do anything but sit and do math or engineering."

"I guess," Amanda responded as she stood up from where she was sitting across the table from me and made her way over to next to where I had been eating my brunch. "You're pretty cool sometimes, you know that?" Amanda leaned in and gave me a hug before darting away quickly.

"I'm only cool sometimes?!" I playfully roared and began to chase her around the house as she made her escape while giggling the entire time.




July 4, 3047

"So, what are we changing the name of the ship to?" I asked Commodore Bruce as we took a small shuttle around to look at the ship that would soon be under his command.

"Well, I was thinking something poetic," Bruce replied with a grin. "We've got the Manassas, and they've renamed the Narukami class the Defender II in honor of the first ship I captained."


"We're also changing the name of the ship class," I told Bruce bluntly. "All three of our Warships have the L-F batteries and the booster so we can go eighty light-years before we need to recharge."

"I think I'll call it the Redemption," Bruce said after going quiet for a moment. "I think it's fitting."

"We'll christen it later," I replied. "There's still some work to be done after all."





September 25, 3047

"How go the preparations?" Natasha asked me as I went over the logistics of everything once again.

"Looks good," I replied with a grin. "But it'll be hard work even with all of the gear we're packing into the Warships and the two Mammoth dropships."

"Don't forget that we're going to need civilian personnel with us," Natasha reminded me. "Quite a few of the freebirths from Clan Wolf are planning on joining our expedition as well."

"If Hy-Brasil was hidden like that then there have to be other habitable worlds and possibly even Star League or Hegemony remnants," I said as I looked at a map. "Why not spend our retirement hunting for them?"

"As long as I get to shoot at pirates, I shall be happy," Natasha sat down in my lap to distract me from what I was working on. "But it's more important to me that I spend our retirement with you." She leaned down and gave me a deep kiss before playfully hopping off of the chair and giving me a "come hither" look as she left the room.

"This can wait," I muttered to myself as I got out of the chair and followed my wife. "There are more important things."





December 21, 3047

"You're sure I can't persuade you and mom to stay?" David asked me while we sat down at the desk in his office.

"No, we're going to check out the ruins of that old Taurian World for the Defender II and the Redemption's first test runs and then we're going to be seeing if there's any colonies or habitable worlds above or below the common line of the Inner Sphere," I told David. "And you've got this well in hand, your twins are a bit of a handful, but the Terran March is making good progress under your rule."

"If I can't persuade you otherwise then can I at least ask you to run one side trip for me?" David asked as he looked at his schedule for the year that we would be leaving.

"Sure, what's the side trip?" I asked while twirling one of his pens between my fingers.

"Melissa is supposed to be visiting from November of 3049 through the end of December," David relied. "She'll need a ride back to Tharkad, and I'm sure both she and her bodyguard detail will feel safer if they're on a Warship headed back instead of just a jumpship."

"Sure," I replied with a smile. "I don't mind taking Mel back home."

"And, I need your advice on something Hanse asked me about," David pushed an intelligence report in front of my eyes. "Franklin Kurita has managed to unite what's left of the Draconis Combine and has closed off all access to his borders for six months while he "prepares his nation to be capable of interstellar trade". Hanse wants my opinion, and I have my own written down, but I wanted to include yours as well."

"Franklin seems to be pushing for massive reforms in the Combine," I said as I flipped through the reports. "If he says he needs six months then it's probably time that he's taking to get rid of people who are still firmly chained to the old way of doing things," I shrugged. "Monitor the situation and wait, I'm not sure that what emerges will be recognizable as the old Draconis Combine anymore."

"That was pretty much my take on it as well," David sagged in relief. "I just wanted to see if you had any other thoughts on it."

"Franklin is Theodore's son, he's intelligent and I'm fairly certain he was trained by the ISF," I said after a moment of thought. "Don't be surprised if he acts in a way that seems contrary to what it looks like he's trying to accomplish. Because he might just flip your expectations on their head and then you'll be left scratching your head."

"Thanks dad, I'll keep that in mind," David said as we stood up and gave each other a hug before I left to go spend time with my grandchildren. "Don't spoil them too much!" He called out as I began to close the door. "They've still got the noisy toys from the last time you visited!"

"Irritating, isn't it?" I asked smugly. "I'm just carrying on my family's example. My grandmother gave me noisy toys to mess with my parents, and my dad gave them to my children before I time jumped."

"You could have decided not to carry on that tradition though," David tried to argue. "New timeline, new life and all that right?"

"You'll see," I laughed. "One day you'll do the same thing I did, and you'll have this exact conversation with your son."

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Eight: Preparing for Departure

October 25, 3049

“No!” I yelled at the forklift driver that was moving a pallet. “This one goes here!” I pointed at the section of the Mammoth where I wanted that particular set of supplies stashed. “That one goes there!” I pointed at another set of supplies.

“How goes everything?” David asked me as he walked up to see the sheer amount of work being done. “I know that you filled up the cargo space on the Argo along with the two Mammoths that you’re bringing with you.”

“Well, we’re taking the Argo, the Mammoth, and some extra Sting gunships along on the Leviathan that we salvaged all those years ago,” I replied. “Some of these people are going to want to settle down on that old Taurian world, and we’ll need the supplies.”

“And you’re bringing along the 1st Marksman,” David sighed. “Carter wasn’t too happy about having to rebuild the unit.”

“She’s only up to half of an RCT,” I said as I supervised some more cargo placements. “We’re taking her and her people along as both defense and to assist with getting some of her more green troops up to speed.”

“Well, let me know if you need anything,” David said as he clapped me on the back. “You might die on the trip old man.”

“Just try and keep the Inner Sphere in one piece for me while I’m gone,” I chuckled. “I spent years putting it together and don’t want to have to come back and fix it.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” David laughed. “But I’m not making any promises.”

–
–

“You sure we’re going to need all of these extra munitions?” Carter asked me as she looked over the manifests of what her dropships and jumpships would be carrying.

“No, I just have a feeling that we might end up needing the spare parts,” I replied. “And we have the capacity so we’re bringing them.”

“Fair enough,” Carter replied. “I’m glad that you managed to get AMS mounted on all of my dropships this time.”

“I’m sorry that I didn’t manage to get it done before the War of 35,” I said as I took a sip of my water bottle. “I’m glad that you’re still willing to come with us on the trip though. The Marksman is your unit now after all.”

“It’s become almost tradition at this point,” Carter said with a smile. “Every CO of the Marksman has to take a contract for the founder of the unit,” shrugged. “I’ve got to set an example for my daughter after all.”

“She’s coming with?” I asked. “I thought she hadn’t graduated yet.”

“She’ll turn seventeen on the trip, that’s early enough to start learning the family trade,” Carter replied. “I think she wanted to aim for the Ducal Guard though,” She sighed at me. “For some reason, every girl or woman in the Terran March thinks that if they’re just good enough to impress Natasha that she’ll make them a part of her Marauders.”

“Yeah,” I chuckled. “That’s not how that works, the Marauders will be limited to her group of six, and maybe their children.”

–
–

“Why does he not notice?” Yvonne Hazen asked Natasha as the two of them watched Major MacIntosh leave the mech bays that were used by the Ducal Guard.

“You have to make it extremely obvious,” Natasha stated. “Mark refused to acknowledge that I was even desirable until I force him to take notice.”

“And how did you get him to take notice?” Yvonne asked. “I have tried everything short of bluntly asking for him to mate with me.”

“That would work in the clans, but the men and women from the Inner Sphere are a different sort of breed sometimes,” Natashas said and then grinned and leaned down to whisper in Yvonne’s ear.

“I can see how that might work,” Yvonne said after a moment of consideration. “I shall try it before our departure, and we will see if your words are proven accurate.”




November 25, 3049

“You sure that I can’t convince you to let me come with you?” Melissa Steiner pleaded with me and Natasha. “If Adam can get away with disappearing for a little while then I should be able to as well.”

“Your mom would have me killed by the end of the week,” I replied. “Besides, you’ll get to tag along with us for a little bit while we’re on our way to Tharkad.”


“I guess that’ll have to work,” Melissa pouted. “But you owe me an adventure, Uncle Mark. Everyone else has gotten at least one and I think it’s my turn.”

“Sure,” I waved Melissa off. “Go bother your nieces and nephews for a little while, I’ve got to finish up the last of the paperwork before we head out.”

“Fine, but you owe me one,” Melissa threatened with half a smile in her voice.

“When did I turn into Zuko?” I shook my head. “Did I start taking people on life-changing adventures somewhere in all of the stuff I did?” I leaned back in my chair for a minute and thought back over all of the things that I had done over my career. “Fuck, I did, didn’t I?” I sighed. “Well, not much I can change about it now except to accept it and move on.”

–
–

“We’re ready to head out on January 1st,” I told Natasha as we ate a late dinner together. “All of the prep-work is done, and all we’ll need to do is a final roll-call and lift off when it comes time to leave.”

“Good,” She said as she dug into the dinner I had made the two of us. “It has been quite some time since we went on an adventure together.”

“How’s your little matchmaking scheme going?” I asked, shifting the topic of conversation.

“It seems that Major MacIntosh and you are built much from the same cloth,” Natasha smirked. “I think we’ll see the results of my actions shortly though.”

“What did you do?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I didn’t physically do anything,” Natasha smirked again. “I simply gave her the same advice that worked for me.”

“You sent her into his room to wait with lingerie on, didn’t you?” I asked bluntly.

“You’ll find out in the morning.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Nine: Departure
January 1, 3050

“Last roll call, manifest, and systems check before departure,” dozens of voices repeated the same lines across dropships.

“I know that we still have around fourteen days before we reach the jump point, but it’s still exciting that we’re about to do something that hasn’t been done since the era of the Star League,” I said as I looked out at the clusters of dropships that were beginning to lift off from the spaceports.


“Our own Exodus,” Natasha said as she leaned into me. “I’ll try not to go crazy and turn us all into a caste-based class system while we’re gone.”

“Don’t even joke about that,” I elbowed Natasha in the side. “We’re not leaving for good after all.”

“I think we’ll do fine,” Natasha strapped herself into the seat next to me as we began to lift off towards space.

–
–

“Well, off they go,” David said to Elsa, his siblings, and his children. “Looks like everything went well with the roll call and manifests.”

“So, what do we do now?” Ian asked his older brother.

“We continue the work that Dad started,” David said with a smile. “There are still many worlds in the Terran March that need rebuilding, and we still have to see if we can bring the rest of the nations in the Inner Sphere into the fold.”

“And how do you plan on getting Franklin Kurita to agree to be a part of the alliance that is holding his father captive?” Elsa asked her husband.

“I thought we’d start by seeing if he’d accept a dinner invite,” David said seriously. “It’s hard to be angry with someone when they’re feeding you good food, and dad left his recipe book behind. There’s a really good recipe for ribs in there that I think would be enough for someone to declare peace over.”

“Only you and your father would try to do something that crazy and expect it to work,” Elsa rolled her eyes at her husband.

“Have you had those ribs?” Amanda asked her sister-in-law. “They’re the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”

“I think it might work,” Ian offered as he shyly raised his hand. “Food and sharing a meal has been proven to produce favorable results on even the people who are enemies.”

“I chose to marry into this crazy family,” Elsa reminded herself.




January 14, 3050

“How’s the new ship?” I asked Bruce as we docked with the Redemption “She do well on her maiden voyage?”

“She’s like a brand new ship,” Bruce smiled. “A bit heftier than my old boat, but I’m still satisfied.”

“That’s good to hear,” I replied. “The rest of the Dropship fleet should be docking within the hour and once we’re all set we’ll be jumping out.”

“You going to transfer over to the Manassas?” Bruce asked, knowing that the Heavy Cruiser was my ship.

“Yeah, I just wanted to check in with the fleet commander, first,” I replied. “Nat and I’ll take a small craft over and get ready for the rest of the trip.”

“Well, everything has been through a dry dock in the past two years, so we shouldn’t see any real issues pop up,” Brue replied. “But we’re triple-checking everything just the same.”

“I’ll leave you to it then, Admiral,” I patted my friend on the back before making my way to one of the small craft bays.


–
–

“All dropships and jumpships of Expedition Alpha, this is Duke Hull speaking,” I said over the open channel to all of the ships in the fleet. “We’ve got a long journey ahead of us, and I know that problems will arise, but remember that we’re a part of something special. We have people from almost every nation in the Inner Sphere cooperating to make this work, and we are laying the foundation for something that will last beyond us. Take pride in the fact that we’re going to explore new places and rediscover old ones. Think about the legacy that we will be leaving behind for our children and grandchildren. Of the stories that we’re going to have to tell when we return. And more importantly, think of the good times that lie in the future, and remember that we’re all here trying to make this work.”

–
–

“A bit long-winded,” Dr. Rogers said as she entered the bridge of the Manassas. “But a fine speech nonetheless.”

“We are jumping in five, four, three, two, one,” The navigation officer called out. “Beginning jump.”

Space folded and everything blurred as it normally did when one entered a jump, but instead of appearing on the other side, everything went black.




March 5, 3050

“Thank you,” David said as he hung up the phone in his office before sighing and burying his face in his elbow.

“What’s wrong?” Elsa asked as she rocked their toddler to sleep.

“The fleet has missed their second check-in,” David replied. “And they haven’t shown up on any world in a hundred light-year radius.”

“Could they have misjumped?” Elsa asked as the toddler finally drifted off.

“The odds of a misjump affecting the entirety of the fleet are slim to none,” David replied. “But given the luck that my dad has,” David trailed off.

“And Melissa was with them too,” Elsa reminded him. “Adam’s on Tharkad, but Melissa being missing or dead could lead to some political issues.”

“The Alliance is going to be sending ships out to see if we can find any trace of them,” David said exhaustedly. “But we may have to operate on the assumption that they’re not going to return. Dad’s last misjump stranded him over two centuries after where he left after all.”
–
–

October 31, 3050

“Nothing?” Elsa asked her husband.

“Nothing, they can’t even tell that they jumped out of Kentares,” David said as he buried his face in his hands. “I’m in talks with the Archon and with Hanse, and they think we should have a public memorial service if we don’t find anything by the end of December.”
“Then let’s pray that we find something before then,” Elsa said as she pulled her husband in for a close hug. “But we should also continue moving forward, you are not your father and need to carve your own path.”

"I'll go ahead and plan out the ceremony," David sighed. "He didn't want a gravestone, but I don't think he'll protest if I do something else and leave it as a reminder."

"I'm behind you," Elsa kissed David on the cheek. "Yours, always and forever."

"Until the end of time itself," David finished.



Author's note: I'm not going to be doing an epilogue. This is the end of the story that I had to tell for Blood on the Horizon. I will answer any questions for the next couple of days though before I close off the thread.

 

[MarkWarrior]

The sequel to Blood on the Horizon can be found here. https://www.the-sietch.com/index.php?threads/beyond-the-horizon.9329/#post-322080

 

[MarkWarrior]

Kentares IV Marksman Memorial Cemetery, Kentares, Federated Suns, September 11, 3075

"You know," Hull leaned on his cane as he stood over a coffin about to be lowered into the ground. "I used to joke with my late first wife that I was planning on living to a hundred and twenty. And she would always respond with that she didn't want to live to be that old. Well, it seems that Natasha felt like continuing the tradition."

The old man's breath hitched for a minute as he considered the closed casket before him.

Hull set aside his cane and picked up a shovel, straightening his back as he tossed the first bits of soil into the grave.

The other family members began doing the same, slowly filling the grave until it was level with the ground they were standing on.

After they were done, a crew came in and began placing the headstone, the heavy stone seated next to another that bore the name of a family member.

An assistant brought Hull's cane to him, allowing him to lean on it again as he caught his breath.

"You good?" Hanse Davion asked his friend as he walked up next to him. "I know it's tough, but I think she'd be glad that it wasn't too sad."

"Yeah," Hull smiled a bit. "I'm surprised your doctor let both of y'all come to the funeral."

"Well, we've got NAIS looking out for us," Hanse smirked. "And besides, we're only in our nineties. We could make it to a hundred and fifty or more if we do it right."

"And I'm nearing four hundred if you count the time spent outside of normal time," Hull shrugged. "I think I'm going to have a cabin built in the mountains and spend the rest of my years there. I'm tired, and the kids have things well in hand."

He looked over at the kids and grandkids that were walking over to him.

Hanse stepped away as the older man was swamped with grandchildren of all ages, a sad smile on his face as he glanced over at the nearby graves.

"You should be over there," Hanse nudged David. "I think your dad is going to get a bit overwhelmed in a minute."

"I know," David stood up from where he was kneeling and brushed some dirt off of his knee. "I just had to say my own hellos and goodbyes for a minute."

"Just remember to take it easy on him," Hanse pulled the younger man in for a quick hug. "Your old man might not show it, but he's hurting pretty badly right now."

"I'll keep an eye on him," David nodded. "I'm pretty sure that Elsa's gonna make sure he doesn't have time to do anything but spend time with the grandkids, anyway."

"Give him some space to grieve," Hanse cautioned. "But just remind him that he's not alone."

---

I leaned back in my rocking chair, a glass of sweet tea resting on the table beside me as I looked out over the mountains of Kentares IV. A handful of tears coming to my eye as I looked at the empty chair beside me.

Closing my eyes, I forced the tears back down and took a deep breath before exhaling slowly, wiping the few droplets that had escaped away as I rocked back and forth.

"They said I'd find you here," a familiar voice slid into my ear while my eyes were closed. "What are you doing alone?"

"Just spending some time resting," I opened my eyes to see a friend there waiting at the bottom of the stairs. "I've live a long time, Katrina. I've seen more things change in my lifetime than I could have ever imagined."

"Well, I figured you could use some company," the once blond, now silver haired woman sat in the other rocking chair. "I've been in the exact same place you are right now."

"Yeah," I exhaled. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"What do you have?" She asked.

"Well, it's not every day that you have the greatest Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth drop by for a visit," I groaned as I stood up, my bones aching as I grabbed my cane and used it to stabilize my gait. "So I'll break out the good stuff. Come on in, I'm not gonna leave you outside, even if the view is great."

"Cozy," Katrina looked at the inside of the simple and rustic cabin.

"Natasha and I thought so too," I opened up a cabinet and brought out a couple of decanters before turning and opening a glass door and pulling out a full bottle.

"You've got the good stuff," Katrina spotted the label.

"I've never opened this," I shrugged. "It's from just before the Amaris Civil War. But, I'm old, so why not?"

Katrina got some ice out of the freezer and helped me pour a couple of fingers into each glass before I put the bottle of whiskey away.

"So, I'm retired, you're retired," Katrina said after a few moments. "And, I find that I'm bored more often than not nowadays."

"So you have a plan?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I do have a plan," Katrina smirked. "You still got your old 'Hammer?"

"Yeah," I shrugged. "I don't drive it all that much, but I've got the one I used back when I started stashed away somewhere."

"You still have that personal Dropship?"

"What are you planning?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Just because we're retired, doesn't mean we're not dangerous," Katrina stood up. "You trust me?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "I trust you."

"Then get your 'Hammer loaded up onto the Messenger and I'll tell you what we're doing when we get there."

I felt a nudge in the small of my back, as if Natasha were still here and pushing me to do the spontaneous thing.

"You know what?" I stood up and set my cane aside. "Fuck it, let's do this."

"That's the spirit!" Katrina tossed back the rest of the whiskey before standing up and walking to the door. "Let's go. There's still plenty of life left to experience!"

"Yeah," I looked at the mountains. There is still a lot of life left to live. I turned and looked at the empty rocking chairs.

"I'll always love you and miss you," I whispered. "But It's time to move on."

A honk came from Katrina's SUV.

"Come on! Adventure awaits!"

I walked down the stairs, throwing a glance over my shoulder and for a brief moment, I thought I saw Natasha and my first wife smiling at me, waving goodbye before turning and walking away, disappearing into the light.

"So," I strapped myself into the vehicle. "Where to?"

"We're dropping by the spaceport to pick up Morgan and Patrick," Katrina put the car in reverse. "There's a few more people I'm grabbing before we leave."

"You're just making me more curious as to what your plan is," we moved through the winding roads down the mountain.

"You'll figure it out when I do!" Katrina laughed. "I'm making it up as I go along for once."

And so we rode off towards the spaceport, the mountains of Kentares behind us, and a whole new adventure waiting for us to jump into it.

Author's note: Needed an outlet for what I've been feeling over the last few days with my daughter in the hospital. This is basically a "What-If?" tag ending to Blood on the Horizon if I had played it straight.

 

[The Whispering Monk]

I hope your daughter gets well soonest.

 

[AmosTrask]

You'll figure it out when I do!" Katrina laughed. "I'm making it up as I go along for once."

This reminds me of DeNiro's Last Vegas film. Or Pacino's Standup Guys. A group of old men with skills going out on one last adventure looking for a good death.

 

[PeaceMaker 03]

Hope your daughter is recovering and getting better each day.

 

[ATP]

@Markwarrior ,herbs sometimes could help in many situation.Polisz monk,Czesław Klimuszko,discovered many mix of herbs on barious illness,and they really worked.
Here,polish site where you could buy them:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj1n8Pgx7GBAxX_ExAIHW5tDQgQFnoECB8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fziolowa.pl%2FZIOLA-I-MIESZANKI-OJCA-KLIMUSZKO&usg=AOvVaw3XE73QUFqY9sa7WhrmElle&opi=89978449

Unfortunatelly in polish,but,i am sure,that you could use some program to find what could help your doughter.
Or,you could ask doctors.