Blood on the Horizon (Battletech SI)

[MarkWarrior]

That does sound like a interesting read. most people when writing the clans slot them in as an enemy. getting picked up as a bondsman and not really having a connection to the inner sphere as a whole you might end up actually adapting to the clanners and their way of life as long as it was a more nice clan like the wolves or ghost bears.

I haven’t written it out, but it would have almost literally been a slice of life akin to Robinson Crusoe, with Hull literally learning how to piece Mechs together and other stuff via manuals on the Confederate that he took down. Ends up making one of the WHM-6Rk into a Royal piece of machinery and takes out three-fifths of a Star before having to punch out.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Three: Militia Madness
Haynesville, June 30th, 3035

“Alright, this should be deep enough into the tunnels to avoid notice,” Lieutenant Dan told the rest of the militia soldiers. “Let’s get our supplies sorted out and our sleeping arrangements finished.”

“Yessir,” the militiamen and women responded as they dismounted their combat vehicles and ‘mechs.


“Alright, I want every single ‘mech that has hands to begin moving the trailers with Ordnance over to this area,” Sergeant Smith ordered.

“I want the Scorpions to back up their trailers over to this area,” Dan ordered. “Our food supplies need to be stored in a safe location, away from the munitions.”

“You don’t like your steaks well done LT?” One of the soldiers asked with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Medium-rare is the only way to eat a steak,” Dan yelled back. “And if anyone suggests different then they can go play bomb-maker with Exciter.”

All of the soldiers chuckled and then got back to work, setting up tents and sleeping areas first before hooking up portable heaters to one of the mech’s fusion reactors.

“We should be deep enough underground that the fusion reactor won’t be detected,” the lead Astech told them as they hooked everything up.

“Remember that we’re going to have to head to the surface in shifts,” Dan cautioned. “From here on out we only leave to gather intel or launch a raid.”




July 2nd, 3035

“What do you have for me Exciter?” Dan asked the Lyran as he cooked up some more explosives.

“I just finished putting together an ANFO and homemade Napalm bomb,” Exciter responded. “I’ve rigged a delayed charge to it using some of our shaped charges.”

“I think I know how we’re going to put this to use,” Dan grinned before moving to pat the Lyran on the back.

“Don’t touch me, this mixture is sensitive,” Victor cautioned. “I would rather not have us burned alive due to a mistake.”

“Agreed,” Dan began to back out of the restricted area. “I’ll let you get back to making bombs then.”




July 4th, 3035

“I’m not sure this is a good idea LT,” the pilot of the Warrior VTOL cautioned. “We only have the one IFF.”

“If this works, then our infiltration team will be stealing more than the one IFF,” Dan responded with a calming smile. “We’re just running the distraction here.” The Lieutenant climbed into the copilot’s seat. “Now, let’s see how panicked we can make these bastards.”

The VTOL climbed into the air while sticking low to the ground, just because they were going to be using an enemy IFF didn’t mean they wanted to be detected too soon.

“Base, this is Warrior Sierra Gulf One, we’ve taken some moderate rotor damage from the enemy militia units, and are requesting permission to land for repairs.”

“Sierra Gulf One, you’re early on your check-in, you weren’t supposed to be back from your patrol for another hour.”

“Base, we came back early because of the damage, we can run the confirmation package if necessary, but we’ve got smoke coming from our rotors.”

“We see you Sierra Gulf One, come in for repairs.”

“Thanks, base, we’re going to coast in now.”

“Ready?” The pilot asked Lieutenant Dan.

“Ready,” Dan nodded as he flicked the switch to make their simulated problem go away. “We’re ready to drop the bombs now.”

“Ready boss,” the one crewmate in the rear spoke up. “I’m opening the doors now.”

The side doors opened, and the man that was strapped in threw the homemade napalm bombs out of the doors when he was instructed to.

“Detonating, let’s get out of here,” Dan said as he clicked the detonator and watched as flames spread throughout the enemy facility.




July 5th, 3035

“You’re late!” The Word of Blake Battalion Commander screamed at Captain James Daughtery of the Wolf’s Dragoons. “While you were busy landing yesterday the militia killed more of my people and destroyed more of my equipment!”

“No, I arrived exactly at the time that I specified that I would,” the Captain replied before glaring the other man into submission. “Let me be perfectly clear, I am not here to help you in any way. I am here to finish off the militia that you seem to be having problems with, and then to prepare for an assault from the Davion forces that will be moving to retake the worlds that we managed to take from them.” James calmly sat in his chair. “I am not in your chain of command, and I will refuse to render assistance in its entirety should you speak to me like that again. Am I clear Colonel?”

“Very clear,” the other man responded with fear evident in his voice.

“Now, I need information on all of the engagements that you have had with these units so far,” Daughtery said. “If you will provide me with those then I will be on my way.”

“Here, just take them and go,” the Word of Blake Colonel said while holding out a bunch of file folders.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” Daughtery replied as he took the files. “I will let you know when we’ve finished the militia units off.”

–
–

“Well, these blokes are clever,” Daughtery said as he moved his Archer into the trees. “It looks like they have more forces than they started with.”

“What do you mean?” The lone WoB Mechwarrior accompanying them asked.

“They are using Industrialmechs,” Daughtery responded. “Those trees over there have partial cuts in them where the person missed their target or went too far when they cut through the mechs.”

“We did lose an entire company in this forest,” the lone Mechwarrior responded. “But we managed to find pieces to six of them.”

“Then you gift-wrapped six mechs and handed them over to the enemy,” Daughtery said. “I need a current map of the area and a list of all of the attacks that have happened over the last few months.”

—
–


“Despite how much people try to make things seem random, they cannot fix certain things,” Daughtery explained. “If you are operating out of a base then there will be signs that we can trace. Now, where did all of the attacks take place?”

The WoB Mechwarrior pointed to various places on the map where the attacks had taken place.

“Alright, I will have some of my people do an analysis and we’ll move out tomorrow," Daughtery rolled up the map. "We will deal with the militia soon."

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Four: Realizations
New Avalon, August 10th, 3035

"The second wave launched earlier this week," Yvonne said to Hanse as he sat down in her office. "The civilian contractors are going to be following close behind."

"Good, we're going to have them focus on factories and repair facilities that can be used for both civilian and military purposes for now, with possible expansion to make use of local mines and resources," Hanse replied. "Seeing as Mark is still off-grid somewhere, David and the other chief executives of Sharpshooter agreed to license the revamped fifty-ton Tiger to as many planets as we can build the factories on."

"That's a lot of tanks Hanse," Yvonne said as she looked at the data. "Anything else regarding your logistics plan I should know about?"

"Archon Steiner is giving us the plans for a Marsden III," Hanse replied. "We're going to be building factories for that as well if at all possible."

"I notice we're not building anything that requires advanced tech in said factories," Yvonne noted as she glanced over the entirety of the plans.

"No, but what we are building can and will be more easily upgraded later," Hanse replied. "It's why we're building Swordsman and Gladiator factories as well."

"Easy to produce, and will be cheaper overall," Yvonne agreed. "I thought I saw something about the Talos though."

"NAIS is working closely with the Taurian Concordat to produce a more survivable variant of the Talos," Hanse stated. "I'm not up to date on the entirety of the project, but I think it had something to do with the CASE systems that were implemented when we converted all of our SRM and LRM factories over to their Clan Variants."

"We can discuss that later," Yvonne said as she continued looking through the files on her slate. "We're going to have to dedicate some extra manpower to fight of pirates though, we've seen a great deal of well armed pirates pushing and targeting both us and our allies."

"We're being backed into a corner," Hanse muttered as he looked at the areas being targeted by pirates. "And it doesn't seem to be targeted at the Federated Suns or our allies specifically," he pointed at the worlds being hit by repeated waves of pirates. "All of the worlds that are being struck are worlds that Sharpshooter is investing in," Look, Achernar is rebuilding some plants not even one jump over and the pirates haven't attempted to strike there yet."

"Do you think this is a vendetta against Hull specifically?" Yvonne asked as she considered this new information.

"I think that we shouldn't rule anything out," Hanse replied. "Stranger things have happened after all."

"But Hull has been missing for the past six months," Yvonne said. "Why target his facilities if he's not even around to react to it?"

"Because most of the pirates have been erased from existence long before they reached the ground," Hanse replied. "Hull made absolutely sure that his assets were protected by both Sting gunships as well as ground assets."

"As long as Sharpshooter has the forces in place for their own defense then I would leave them be while we redeploy some units to strike at the source of the pirates," Yvonne offered. "But we're fairly locked logistically right now Hanse. All of our units are either moving to the Periphery March, or locked down in the worlds taken from the Dracs and the Capellans."

"I know," Hanse replied. "But we're on our own until our allies show up." Hanse sighed as he sagged in his chair. "Katrina is sending resources our way, and Thomas shook free two regiments that he couldn't really afford to in order to back us up. But I have a bad feeling that all of this is but a distraction."

"An invasion is a distraction?" Yvonne asked, a touch of concern filling her voice.

"Yvonne, look at the data we were provided," Hanse gestured towards the holographic map. "The only elite unit there is the remnants of the Wolf's Dragoons," Hanse scoffed. "The only reason that our militia got steamrolled was due to the numbers the enemy was fielding along with the element of surprise."

"The report provided by Ms. Fischer did say that they were mostly green," Yvonne agreed. "With only one or two decently rated units."

"That's my point!" Hanse exclaimed. "Why would the Comstar Radicals commit to this kind of attack so soon? They could have spent more time building up and preparing to take us on." Hanse looked at the data again. "But they didn't, and it was based on the promise of this mysterious "ally" of theirs." Hanse stroked his chin, feeling a bit of stubble. "I just can't figure out what the endgame here is," he began to pace back and forth. "We have intelligence reports from the LIC, TMI and the other agencies, yes?" Hanse asked, a grin on his face.

"Yes," Yvonne replied. "I'll have Sortek meet you in your own office," She looked at him pointedly. "You can brainstorm past my bedtime in your own office," the older woman chuckled as she began to put away her work. "But I need my rest."

"I'll get Ardan on my own," Hanse replied before he gave her a small hug. "Go get some rest."

—
—

"There's a connection here, Ardan. I can feel it," Hanse told his friend.

"There's a connection between Duke Hull, Pirates, and Comstar fanatics?" Ardan asked while sorting some of the files that Hanse had asked for.

"Not as in Hull was being paid by them or anything like that," Hanse explained. "More like he's the one thing they hate the most."

"The only Antipiracy operations that Hull has ever done is for the Taurian Concordat though, and there weren't any survivors when he was finished," Ardan said while reviewing Hull's (extensive) file.

"By his own words though, he misjumped and time-traveled while serving as an SLIC plant among the crew of the Manassas. Hanse reached into a folder and placed a file on top of his desk. "But the Manassas was in the system of Schwartz before it vanished,"

"So how did he get from there, all of the way over to Pierce?" Ardan asked.

"I think he jumped all the way from Schwartz to a hidden Star League depot of some kind on the border between us and the Concordat," Hanse said as he traced a potential journey with his finger. "Hull already proved that he knows enough dead systems that he can launch a deep raid with no one being the wiser when he sacked Luthien," Hanse said as things started to click. "So, something he did In that early period pissed someone off, and it only grew from there. Now, they're out for revenge, and they're willing to sacrifice an entire nation to get it."



Author’s note: Mainly wrote this on my phone, so the quality may not as high as usual.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Five: Black Site
Hy-Brasil, May 3rd, 3035

“Is there a reason you’re loading up every technical manual and textbook that was on the planet?” Major MacIntosh asked as he watched me and my team load up massive stacks of books into all of the air and watertight crates before loading them onto a Sting II.

“It’s because even though we have access to data cores from the Star League and Terran Hegemony along with the Clans Data core, they operate off of either teaching you things based off of the First Principles, or off of you already being advanced enough to skip to the end of the development tree,” I responded as I sealed yet another crate. “While Sharpshooter and Comstar have been working to fix that, there’s still a lack of middle ground educational materials,” I shrugged. “This will help to fix that gap and hopefully help us churn out more scientists and engineers.”

“It is still hard for me to believe how far the Inner Sphere has fallen,” MacIntosh shook his head. “I earned my degree while on deployment,” he chuckled. “I’m not quite sure what a historian has to offer in this day and time though.”

“A lot more than you might think,” I responded. “STEM is important, but not as important as knowing why or how something happened,” I looked at him pointedly. “People forget that it’s important to know how you got to a specific time and place.” I sighed and went back to packing up books. “I think you’ll understand a bit more once we return to the Inner Sphere.”


“Which will be when exactly?” One of the Black Watch Lancemates asked. “Because we’ve been here for over a month since you woke us up.”

“We’re leaving as soon as we’ve finished salvaging everything useful we can from here,” I replied. “But there’s a lot of useful stuff here. We’re all working shifts to pack it up, but even after the destruction there’s still so much stuff that we can make use of that we can’t afford to leave it behind.”

“Why not just make a return trip?”

“Because we are not the only ones with copies of the coordinates,” Natasha said as she walked up and handed me a bottle of water. “We did not kill the man who sold us the information, and I doubt that was the only copy he had given the fact we dealt with pirates here already.”

“Then where do you want us to start?” MacIntosh asked.

“We need any data you might have on the more important sites on Hy-Brasil,” I replied with a smile. “I can only analyze so much data at once, and this is an unfamiliar world to us.”

“Then let’s get started, I don’t want this place to become my tomb,” the Major replied as he took the slate I handed him. “Get me a map, and I’ll take care of the rest.”




May 15th, 3035

“Is that the last prototype?” Mathis asked as we loaded up one of the prototypes that the black site had stored in its facilities.

“I think so, either way, though we’ve got to leave,” I replied. “We’ve been here long enough.”

“Are we taking the pirate point out?” Mathis asked. “The standard point is twenty days out.”

“We’re taking the standard point,” I responded. “Seeing as there are going to be children aboard we figured it would be better to err on the side of caution.”

“Probably for the best, especially considering we’re two jumps away from the closest friendly system,” Mathis responded.





May 25th, 3035

“Any other hidden sites that you might know about?” I asked as we began preparing to jump out of the system.

“I don’t have any of that information currently,” MacIntosh replied. “But many of the truly “hidden” sites were located in locations ''up” or ''down” compared to the usual flat maps that we use for the inner sphere. For example, let’s take a paper map, and then hold it to where it’s flat with your vision. That’s the typical representation of the Inner Sphere. The truly hidden things would be located three-dimensionally as if you added a Z axis to your standard X/Y graph.”

“This was common knowledge?” I asked as I considered the implications.

“Not exactly,” the Black Watch Major replied. “As far as I know the Star League emphasized the flat view so much that most of our higher-ups, including the First Lord, began to believe it. I didn’t know about it until this site was revealed.”

“Do you think there would have been many installations like this?” Natasha asked.

“Probably one or two more, but not many, the more people involved the greater the chance of discovery,” MacIntosh replied, stroking the reddish-blond beard that was starting to grow in. “Despite how much funding the Star League and Terran Hegemony had, there’s only so many things you can hide in a budget before someone notices it, they probably had two more sites like this that were designed to be self-sufficient, so as not to draw on more resources and funding.”

“And the Hegemony was also concerned with keeping the other members of the Star League at bay,” I replied. “So I guess they slowly forgot about these sites.”

“Not exactly,” MacIntosh smiled. “These black sites were also designed to be emergency escapes for the Cameron’s. The main family isn’t even aware of them until certain protocols are triggered. What you don’t know the enemy can’t get from you.” He shrugged. “That’s the way I was read in, anyway.”


Author's Note: Took it through Grammarly and went back over everything. Not a whole lot has changed for now.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Six: Tunnel Rats
Haynesville, July 10th, 3035

"Exciter, are you sure that this will work?" Lieutenant Dan asked as the Buster loadermech began to mount the first of the homemade 'mech-sized claymores that the short Lyran had been making over the last few days.

"Yes, it should be effective on just about anything that might come through the tunnel entrances," Exciter replied. "I'm rigging them to be triggered to specific detonators, and I will be giving everyone a safety brief before we start luring the enemy into our trap."

"I just finished placing the first claymore," the Buster pilot announced. "I'm moving on to place the rest of them."

"I'm going to triple-check everything before we move on," Exciter said calmly. "Given the number of resources that we poured into these we need to make sure that they'll work."

"Agreed," Lieutenant Dan replied. "I'll go start briefing our "rabbit" team while you finish this up."

"Go ahead, we'll be an hour or two on this," Exciter replied. "Have to make sure that not only are the detonators wired properly but that they're placed well too. I'd hate for any of the bastards to survive the welcome mat."

"Exciter," The Buster pilot said as he picked up the next claymore. "You scare me sometimes, but right now that's exactly what we need. Now tell me where to put this so we can move on."

"Angle it thirty degrees to the right, we want to be able to hit the cockpit and main weapons if at all possible," the Lyran said as he supervised. "Let me check the connections before you move on."

–
–

"Alright, you know your jobs," Lieutenant Dan looked at the six militia that was going to be piloting their stolen WoB 'mechs. "Just try to make sure that you come back alive, I don't want to have to pull you out of one of their work camps."

"We'll do our best to make sure that it doesn't come to that sir," Sergeant Smith replied as he climbed into the lone Orion that would be leading the pack of six Mechs.




"This is Captain James Daughtery of the Wolf's Dragoons," came over the comms in Smith's Orion. "You have been leading us on quite the chase, but now you have your backs to the wall, so we can see how you really fare in battle."

Smith and his remaining two teammates began to back up towards the tunnel entrance. Smith covered the rear of the formation while his two remaining Griffins launched LRMs over his shoulder.

"Come and get us!" Smith taunted as he finally began walking into the tunnel. "If you dare."

The trio vanished into the darkness of the ancient Star-League tunnels. Moving past the prepared explosives and the areas where their tanks were hidden to the area where they were directed.

—
—

"Are we really going into those tunnels sir?" The lone Word of Blake Attaché asked as he followed the company of Wolf's Dragoons towards the tunnel entrance.

"We are here for a good fight, and this militia unit seems to be the only fight to be had in the nearest three jumps." Daughtery replied. "Most militia units were eradicated by the superior numbers that you landed with early on. That this unit is still putting up a fight, much less as much of one as they have is rare."

"So we're going in and fighting them in their own bolthole?" The WoB Mechwarrior asked nervously. "This doesn't seem like a very good idea."

"It is not about whether this is wise or not," Daughtery chuckled. "They have issued us a challenge, and we shall respond." He twisted his modified Archer around to peer at the Phoenix. "Or else hang our heads in shame and no longer be called warriors."

"They're all mad," the lone Mechwarrior muttered to himself after making sure that his mic was off. "We're all going to die down there."

But he shoved his fear back and walked his medium Mech forward, making sure to keep a heavier Mech ahead of him at all times as they began to enter the pitch black tunnel.

"The metal content is high here," one of the Wolf's Dragoons MechWarriors muttered over their channel. "Looks like our magscans are out."

"Just keep an eye out for heat sigs, they'll glow bright as day in this tunnel," Daughtery replied as he walked his Archer around a corner. "I think I see one …."

A thunderous noise echoed through the tunnels as the upper torso of his heavy Mech vanished underneath a hail of rapidly moving ball bearings, the Shadow Hawk behind him taking damage as well.

Then it seemed as if the walls opened up with explosives, the first six Mechs of their thirteen Mech column vanishing under a hail of metal and the remainder taking some minor to medium damage.

"Let's push through!" Daughtery's XO yelled after the explosions had stopped. "We've got a lance of heavy Mechs here that should be able to take them on."

The Wolf's Dragoons began to move forward at a faster pace, eager for revenge while the lone WoB coward stayed in the rear of the formation.





"Nice hits!" Dan patted Exciter on the back as they took turns peering through a set of modified binoculars. "Looks like we got six of them."

"We need to fall back," Exciter said as he took a turn peering through the thermal scope. "They're still moving forward."

"You got any more surprises like that one waiting for the rest of them?" Dan asked as they climbed into a truck.

"No, unfortunately that was all that I had time for," Exciter shook his head. "You can't rush explosives or you have accidents."

"Fair enough," Dan replied. "Let's hope that we can survive this, I'd hate to have to write a letter to your mother after all."

"My mother is still in the Lyran Commonwealth," Exciter growled. "She has no idea where I am, and you will keep it that way."

"Why? It wasn't that hard to figure out who you are," Dan replied, " So why not contact your mom again?"

"Because I don't want to be known as Adam Steiner, the third child of Archon Katrina Steiner and Arthur Luvon," the now named Noble stated coldly. "I love them, but I don't want to be a noble, I would rather eat it here in the dirt with a militia like you, then to die of old age a happy noble."

"We're not dyin' today!" Dan laughed. "Now let's waste these arrogant Wolf's Dragoons MechWarriors and retake our planet."

"Best words I've heard all day LT," Exciter laughed. "The absolute best."


Author’s note: Surprise! A little twist at the end here…

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Seven: Whispers in the Dark
Haynesville, July 10th, 3035

“All units, prepare for combat,” Lieutenant Dan shouted over the military truck’s communications suite. “We’ve got seven walkers coming in behind us.”

“Copy that, rolling out the welcome mat,” Sergeant Smith spoke as he crouched his Orion down on one knee while the two Griffins behind him loomed over his shoulders with their PPCs and LRMs at the ready.

The six remaining black and red painted battlemechs continued moving down the tunnel, spreading out as it widened to as to avoid any fire from the militia.

“Let ‘em have it!” Dan ordered as his truck rolled behind the industrialmechs.

“I’m climbing into the Lumberjack, we’re going to need the close-in firepower,” Exciter said as he grabbed onto the rungs of the ladder. “Just buy me some time.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Dan replied as he moved up to one of the two Scorpion tanks that were left.

“Get in boss,” the hatch on top of the tank opened up. “We don’t have much time.”

Climbing in, Dan sat at the communications suite and began to observe the skirmish, content to let the tank crew do what they did best.

–
–

Climbing into the cockpit of the ICE-powered Lumberjack, Adam Steiner then began to run through the checklist of things to be done to power up the seventy-ton machine.

“Come on you old piece of scheiß!” Adam cussed at the several century-old machine that refused to turn over. “Start already!” He slammed his fist into the starter for emphasis and sighed in relief as the old Wagner Internal Combustion engine turned over and throttled to life.

Slamming his feet down on the pedals now that the old mech was active again, Adam began to walk it over to the battle lines where there were already militia units taking heavy damage from the half company of Wolf’s Dragoons left alive. “Sergeant Smith, we’re on your six.”

“Good, we need you and the Busters to take some of the heat off of us for a second,” Smith replied as he limped his Orion back towards the dug-in lines.

“We’ll do what we can,” Exciter replied as the ICE engine of the Lumberjack roared while he moved as fast as he could in the tunnels. His right hand throttled the massive chainsaw a bit while his left flipped the arming switch to the two SRM four packs that they had jury-rigged to the industrialmech.

“We’re going to draw the fire from the enemy so that our boys can get some good shots in,” Exciter told the two mech pilots flanking him. “Make your SRMs count and get in close, we want to maintain our advantage as long as possible.”

While the Lumberjack could only move at a top speed of 54 Km/h that was plenty fast enough in the dark tunnels. A fact which the lone Black Knight among the remaining mechs quickly learned as Adam’s Lumberjack grabbed a hold of the slightly heavier war machine and began to tear into it with the massive chainsaw while firing a volley of SRMs at the same time. The flashes of light as the missiles exploded temporarily blinded Adam, but he continued sawing away at the other heavy mech, confident in the fact that he was doing the best that he could to ensure that his militia teammates survived.

“Exciter, we need you to pull back, you’ve done enough damage and now it’s time to finish them off,” Smith said as he moved forward in his Orion.

“I’ve got this one on the rails, you can have the rest of them,” Adam responded as he hauled the Black Knight around and threw it against the wall. “Nail the rest of them for me, but this one is mine.”

Exciter triggered another wave of SRMs at the Black Knight as it began to pick itself up off the ground where it had been thrown. The enemy mech fired its medium lasers in an attempt to keep him away but merely melted some of the armor off of the Lumberjack as Exciter brought the industrialmech in for a kick to the cockpit, sending the Black Knight sprawling against the wall where it stilled and shut down its reactor, signaling a surrender.

“Black Knight is down, I repeat, Black Knight is down,” Exciter relayed as he turned to the rest of the battle. There were only two enemy mechs left, a white-painted Phoenix, and a lone Blackjack being all that remained of the force that the Wolf’s Dragoons brought with them.

“Power down and surrender, you will be treated as POWs in accordance with the Ares Accords,” Sergeant Smith instructed the two medium mechs as he stepped forward in his heavier Orion while flanked by two slightly smoking Griffins. “If you chose not to then we will destroy you.”

“We’re surrendering,” A somewhat shaky voice came from the Phoenix. “I’m powering down now.”

“I am following suit,” The Blackjack pilot said after a moment. “I know when I am defeated.”

–
–

“Now for the hard part,” Sergeant Smith said as he climbed down out of the damaged Orion. “I need everyone who is foot mobile and intact to start pulling survivors out of the destroyed vehicles!” The grizzled NCO barked. “Exciter, have your two Loadermech friends help us shift some of the debris, we need to get our people out of those deathtraps.”

The Lyran ensured that the remaining enemy mechs stayed powered down while the rest of the militia began standard rescue and recovery operations.

“Sarge! This Scorpion’s engine is about to blow!” A voice yelled out as he pulled people out of the mostly destroyed tank.

Lieutenant Dan was helping push the other two crew members out of the tank before the flames started to spread. “Get me out of here! It’s getting worse!” Dan yelled as he tried to pull himself out of the tank.

“I got you,” A corporal said calmly as he pulled the Lieutenant out of the tank as his pants caught on fire. Throwing the LT down to the ground, the noncom jumped down after him and began putting the fire out with his canteen before dragging the nearly unconscious man away from the burning vehicle.

“Doc! I need you over here now!” The corporal yelled, hoping that the medic was within earshot and not dead.

“I’ve got it from here corporal,” Doc said as she opened her med bag and began to work on the LT’s burns. “Go help the rest of them.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Eight: The Liberation of Haynesville
Haynesville, July 20th, 3035

“You sure you want to keep that Chainsaw mounted on your new Black Knight?” Dan asked Exciter as he limped around the hastily repaired militia vehicles and mechs.

“I’m sure,” the Lyran nobleman smiled. “It served me well, and it’d be a shame to leave such a potentially useful weapon behind. Besides, dropping the damaged Large laser freed up enough weight for it to be feasible, and it gave me a better cooling loop.”

“We’re still bringing the industrialmechs along,” Dan reminded Exciter. “They’re a part of our militia forces now.”

“Good, because that Lumberjack would scare off an Atlas at close range,” Exciter grinned. “It’s a short-range beast!”

“Good thing too, otherwise the tunnel situation could have ended differently,” Dan replied as he limped back over to the new tank he was using as an HQ. “I’ll be coordinating our offensive from our remaining Hunter light support tank.”

“You sure you don’t want to ride in the Jump seat of my Black Knight?” Exciter asked. “It’s built to coordinate a whole company after all.”

“I don’t ride in or use ‘mechs if at all possible,” Dan stated firmly. “I’ll stick to my tanks and combat vehicles for now.”

“It’s your loss,” Exciter shrugged before he began to climb up into the heavy mech. “Patch things through to me if we run into any issues though.”

“Wilco,” Dan replied as he began to climb into the Hunter. “Let’s move out, it’s time we kick these bastards off of our world.”

“Oorah!” The militia responded enthusiastically.





“Where are the enemy mechs?” Exciter asked as he maneuvered his Black Knight through the main city’s streets. “LT, I don’t have any enemies on my scopes.”

“Our VTOL isn’t seeing anything either,” Dan replied as he coordinated the slightly overstrength company. “It looks like there’s a big crowd over near the Governor’s mansion though.”

“Heading that way,” Exciter responded as Sergeant Smith’s Orion and the rest of the mechs followed him down the roadway.

“Damn!” Exciter said as he looked at the light poles leading up to the mansion. “I don’t think we’re going to have to worry about the invaders anymore.”

“Why? What do you see?” Dan asked as his Hunter began to move through the city at a decent pace.

“They’ve caught and hung all of the invaders that they could catch,” Exciter replied. “They’ve strung them up on the light poles and it looks like they have the dropship crews too.”

“I see some of the bodies now,” Dan replied. “Let me do the talking, I’d hate for things to go south for us.”

The massive crowd of people that were gathered in front of the Governor’s mansion all collectively turned to look at the Hunter and the eight mechs that were painted in the closest thing they still had to militia parade colors.

Lieutenant Dan popped the seal on the tank and poked his head out cautiously, not wanting to startle the civilian populace. But he need not have worried, as soon as he appeared out of the support tank the crowd started clapping and cheering, showing that they knew who the remaining militia was.

“Lieutenant Dan Rawley?” What appeared to be the leader of the mob asked as he stepped out of the crowd.

“Yessir, that’s me,” Dan replied as he leaned against the tank to give his burnt legs a chance to rest. “I’ve got some good men and women still with me.”

“What you and your people did was nothing short of a miracle!” The leader said with tears streaming down his face. “They didn’t expect the Wolf’s Dragoons to lose, and when they did…”

“They panicked,” Dan replied. “Allowing you and the city to get rid of them.”

“Scum!” The leader spat on the ground. “They thought that just because we used to be a part of the Outworlds Alliance that we would roll over! We may not like war, but we are always prepared to defend our homes and family.”

“That’s good news, but I hope that you managed to capture everything that they brought with them intact, we may need it,” Dan replied. “But we can worry about that in a little bit, can I see the office of the enemy commanding officer? It may have important information on who we are dealing with.”

“Sure, we’ve got to start cleanup anyway,” the mob leader replied. “And let the militia know that we’re providing the food tonight.”
“I’ll get right on that,” Dan replied as he climbed back into the Hunter. “I’ve still got a job to do after all.”




Class B HPG station, Haynesville, July 29th, 3035

“Was that the last of them?” The local Comstar Precentor asked as the militia cleared out the rest of the WoB forces that had prevented the HPG from sending out any transmissions.

“Yes Precentor, that was the last of them,” Exciter replied as he slung his rifle back onto his back and lit up a cigar. “We need to know how soon the HPG can send a transmission back to New Avalon.”

“Give me and my staff twenty-four hours,” the precentor replied. “And we’ll be waiving any potential charges.”

“That’s good to hear,” Adam Steiner said as he puffed on his cigar. “We’ll be back tomorrow.”

“It could take a week for return transmission to be received,” the Precentor cautioned. “But we’ll do our best to expedite things.”

“Like I said,” Adam Steiner chuckled. “We’ll be back tomorrow.”

The young Lyran simply continued smoking his cigar in peace for a little while. Enjoying the lack of gunfire and stress that came with having been underneath the stress of fighting for the last few months.

“Don’t rest for too long,” Sergeant Smith cautioned as he entered the courtyard. “We’ve still got repairs to finish on our salvage and new people to train up.”

“The work is never done,” Adam chuckled. “Let’s get back to it then, those mechs won’t fix themselves.”

Author’s note: I’m about to be putting some designs that Achernar had been working on bringing back in the BOTH ‘verse up.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Nine: Transmissions
New Avalon, August 8th, 3035

“You have something for me?” Hanse asked Quintus as the man handed him a data disc.

“Yes Hanse,” Quintus Allard replied with a smirk. “Comstar just sent us this via priority delivery.”

“Did we finally manage to get a bead on Mark?” Hanse asked as he inserted the disc into a Tri-Vid player.

“No, unfortunately not,” Quintus shook his head. “But this may be the next best thing.”

“This is Lieutenant Dan Rawley of the Haynesville Militia, we managed to repel all of the invaders that landed here and are currently digging in,” The man in the recorded message sighed. “We’ll be awaiting further orders from you while we try to make Haynesville a hard target.” The Lieutenant looked at someone out of view of the camera. “I’m going to get back to work, I’ve got one more person that you folks on New Avalon will probably need to see.”

“First Prince Hanse Davion,” Adam Steiner walked into view of the camera with his head held high. “I’m sure that my mother has been pulling her hair out and driving her intelligence agencies to insanity trying to find me since I disappeared from the academy.” The younger man pulled out a cigar and began chewing on the tip while thinking about what he was about to say. “I know that you are obligated to tell the Archon where I am, and if it means that relief gets to Haynesville faster then I’ll gladly pay that price. But either way, relay to my family that I’m doing well for myself here, and that I’ll do my best to visit once this is all over.”

“I take it that we didn’t know that Adam Steiner was in the Outback?” Hanse asked as the recorded message turned itself off.

“Negative, he managed to steer clear of any of our agents,” Quintus replied while shaking his head. “I’m sure he’s giving the LIC a proper headache right now though.”

“We’ll pass on his message,” Hanse said after some thought. “It’s a good thing that the Marksman are the ones making landfall on Haynesville in October though.”

“Lady Steiner is riding with the 1st Marksman though,” Quintus said as he went through his memory of the troop redeployments.

“Indeed,” Hanse grinned. “I think young David and Elsa will put our wayward son’s head on straight.”

“Speaking of wayward sons,” Quintus looked at Hanse and met his eyes. “You have Jonathon serving in the 2nd Davion Guards as part of the first wave. Are you certain that you are okay with that?”

“You’re never really okay with sending your children off to war,” Hanse says after a moment. “I understand that it must be done for him to be a seasoned leader of men, but he’s my son.” Hanse stopped speaking for a second. “And he’s a Davion, which means that when his men start dying, he’s going to be the first one on the line to stop that from happening.”

“Davions, you all make us want to pull our hair out,” Quintus smiled at his friend. “Jonathon is in good hands, trust that he’s going to do well and he will.”

“I’m more concerned about Julian once he is out of the academy in four years,” Hanse sighed as he looked at the photo of his wife and children“He’s going to insist on being his brother’s Champion when he’s old enough and then Jennifer is going to take the political world by storm.”

“She has taken to your lessons fairly well,” Quintus said as he stroked his chin. “Do you think she’s going to play spymaster for her older brother?”

“She has her brothers wrapped around her finger,” Hanse chuckled. “But she adores both Jon and Julian.”

“You and Dana have done well,” Quintus smiled. “And I hope that your children follow your example.”

“I just wish that Hull had a couple more kids,” Hanse sighed. “David is going to do well as the leader of the Terran March once Mark retires, but if something happens to him then we’re going to have to find someone else to fill in those shoes.”

“And they’re pretty big shoes to fill,” Quintus agreed. “Not many people work as hard as Hull has to get where he is.”

“Let’s hope that David survives because if he doesn’t then Mark and Natasha will kill everything that stands between them and revenge. And they’ll damn the consequences.”

“Agreed,” Quintus shivered. “They sacked a national capital the last time something like that happened.”

“We should probably move some discrete assets over to add to his protection detail,” Hanse said after a moment of considering the potential ramifications of David Hull dying.

“I’ll get in contact with Dunham, he’ll probably be able to help out with that,” Quintus said before turning to leave.




Haynesville, August 21st, 3035

“We got a response from New Avalon,” Adam said as he brought over the recorded message. “I figured you’d want to watch it first LT.”

“You figured right,” Dan replied as he stretched out his legs and resisted the urge to scratch the peeling skin from the burns on his legs. “Let’s see what they have for us.”

“We got your message,” a recording of First Prince Davion appeared in front of the two men. “We’ve already got people on route to reinforce both Haynesville and to retake the other worlds that were not as successful in resisting as you were. The estimated time of arrival is the end of October barring any accidents involving the jumpships.” The recorded figure of Hanse had a savage grin on its face. “We’re going to be providing you the gear to go on the offensive as soon as you’re up and running at near full strength once again. Good work, and remember that we’re coming in force to throw out the invaders and eradicate the Word of Blake once and for all.”

“Oorah!” Dan and Adam cheered as the message ended.

“Let’s get back to work,” Adam said as he popped a cigar into his mouth and began to light it with a match. “We’ve still got a ton of salvage to go through, and I want us ready to move on the offensive as soon as the reinforcements get here.”

“Took the words right outta my mouth kid,” Dan said as he swiped the cigar out of the younger man’s mouth and threw it in an ashtray outside of his door. “No smoking in my office.” The officer got to his feet and walked out of the building. “I’m going to go get some meds for my burns, and then I’ll meet you at the armory.”

“Copy that, I’ll meet you there,” Adam replied as he retrieved the battered cigar and lit it up once again. “Now, let’s get cracking!” The Steiner man hopped into his truck and sped all the way to the repair bays, eager to get back to work.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy: Surprises
Haynesville, October 31st, 3035

“So, we get to play host to the Marksman,” Lieutenant Dan observed as the many dropships began to ease themselves down. “Any idea of what I should expect?” The lone militia officer asked the younger nobleman beside him.

“I’ve met Duke Hull, and I’ve read the reports on the unit, but I haven’t met any of the personnel in person as of yet,” Adam Steiner shrugged. “Considering that this is the mercenary unit that along with the Eridani Light Horse set the standard for elite units, I would be wary of offending them.”

“Well, it look like their CO is coming with some of her command staff now,” Dan replied.

“Lieutenant Dan?” A blong woman asked a she left the Excalibur class dropship behind her.

“Yes Ma’am,” Dan replied. “That’s me.”

“I’m Colonel Zoey Carter, commanding officer of the 1st Marksman RCT,” She shook the lieutenant’s hand. “You’ve done some damned fine work here, and now we’re going to expect some more.” Carter said with a small smile on her face. “We’re going to be here for a couple of weeks and will be leaving some extra supplies and people here to help you out. I am going to need your people’s input on where the supplies are needed the most though.”

“We’ve got a fairly detailed list of the supplies that we need,” Dan said. “Medical supplies are what we currently have the most need of though.”

“We’ll get on it,” Carter replied, “We’ll offload the extra medical supplies first before we do anything else.”

“We don’t need to conduct a debrief or anything?” Dan asked, his brow raised in a questioning look.

“Not today,” Carter replied. “We’ve been cooped up on our dropships for over half a year, and if my people don’t get to stretch their legs and get some solid rest they’ll start causing issues.”

“Hey Carter!” A voice called out as two people walked down the dropships ramp. “I’ve got the logistics sorted out, just let me know what else you might need me to do.” A young man said as he walked next to a tall platinum blond woman.

“You okay?” Dan asked Adam, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Adam Leopold Steiner!” The blond’s voice rang out as Adam turned to walk away quickly. “Don’t you run, you’ll only die tired!”

“Older sibling?” Dan asked the man as he continued to walk calmly down the ramp while the other blond began to chase after Adam.

“Yeah, he’s the youngest and dropped off the grid for the past year or so,” the other man replied with a shrug. “David Alexander Hull-Kerensky at your service but most people just call me David.”

“Lieutenant Dan Rawley,” Dan shook the other man’s hand. “I take it you’re a noble?”

“Son of one actually, but I’m here for the logistics side of things for once instead of being on the front lines,” David replied. “Normally I’d have been deployed with the 3rd Kentares Guards, but I’m currently running the logistics corps for the AFFS while they redeploy enough regiments to pin down the Word of Blake.”

“David and myself served against the Combine, and now we’ve been shifted to help liberate and secure this region,” Carter said. “Let’s get everything unloaded and sorted. David, Lieutenant, you’re with me, we’ve got plans to make for how we move forward from here.”

“Should I go rescue my XO?” Dan asked as young Adam Steiner was berated by his older sister.

“Nah, I’d just leave him be for now,” David replied with a grin. “He left without even writing a note for Aunt Katrina and Uncle Arthur, he deserves whatever he gets.”

“Yeah,” Dan winced. “I’ll go pick up the pieces after that young woman is done. I might be safer that way.”

“You better believe it,” David laughed. “Now, let’s get down to the brass tacks…”




November 1st, 3035

“You didn’t need to yell at me for so long, Elsa,” Adam complained to his older sister as he pinched the bridge of his nose in order to stave off a headache.

“You still haven’t apologized,” the other blond glared at her younger brother. “You’re lucky I don’t drag you onto one of the Stings that we brought and ship you back to mom.”

“I’m sorry,” Adam mumbled quietly under his breath.

“Excuse me? I’m afraid I don’t speak whatever language that is,” Elsa replied with fire in her eyes.

“I’m sorry for making all of you worry,” Adam spoke up. “I didn’t think about any of that until I was already settled down here, and by then it was too late to do anything because we were under attack.”

“Come here you knucklehead,” Elsa pulled her brother in for a hug and squeezed him tight. “We just wanted to make sure you were safe. If mom had known that you were serious about not wanting any noble responsibilities she would have done anything to help you out.”

“I know that,” Adam replied with a sullen expression on his face. “I just wanted to see if I could make it on my own.”

“Well, I’d say you’ve done a pretty good job at that,” Elsa smiled. “Now, tell me all about your adventures getting here and what happened after.” She settled in for a story.

“Well, I went by the name of Victor Wagner in order to evade the LIC and MIIO while I was travelling,” Adam started his story. “Bulk haulers are fairly easy to find work on, and being even slightly talented in any sort of machinery work can get you a spot as a tech on one at least for one trip.” Adam took a sip of his scotch and then brought out a cigar that he lit up. “I may have picked up some bad habits along the way, but it was fun. When I would reach one planet I would stay and see the sights before hitching a ride on the next hauler that I could find until I ended up here.” Adam puffed on his cigar. “I decided that this place was where I was going to stay for the next couple of years before I moved on and so I joined the militia last year, ended up rising decently up the ranks and then the Word of Blake invaded.” Adam shrugged. “I can give you the gritty details later sis, I’m going to go get some rack time before I get called in to do some more paperwork for the LT.”

“Alright, but I’m getting the rest of the story out of you later little brother,” Elsa dragged her brother in for another hug. “I love you, please don’t drop off grid again.”

“I love you too sis,” Adam squeezed back. “I’ll try not to worry all of you like that again.”

“Yeah,” Elsa let go. “Next time I’m letting Mel come get you, she won’t be as nice about it as I will.”

“She’s not here is she?” Adam looked around fearfully for a second.

“Not yet, she managed to break off a battalion of the 4th Royal Guards to back up the Fedsuns, so she’ll be in the neighborhood soon enough,”

“Fuck,” Adam swore. “Where do I sign to be on the next offensive?”

“Go talk to your lieutenant Dan and Colonel Carter,” Elsa chuckled. “I’m just an attache to David while he runs the logistics.”

“Gotta go!” Adam tosse back his tumbler of whiskey before getting up and hurrying out of the bar.

“Little brothers,” Elsa shook her head. “Always getting themselves into trouble.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-One: Strike One

Kennard, November 20th, 3035

"I want those Rampages out of commission!" Carter ordered from her Von Luckner. "That assault lance will tear our lighter elements apart if it manages to get in close."

"Moving to engage, Colonel," came the response of the assault company. "Be advised that we are receiving transmissions from potential allied forces that remain."

"Copy that," Carter replied. "I'll dedicate my comms team to it."

"Can someone please take out those Archers?!" Carter yelled as her Von Luckner's AMS managed to only take out a handful of missiles. "We're going to get shredded out here if we don't take out their supporting elements."

“We've got Mithril on target now ready to initiate TAG, colonel," came the response from Major James Lee the Marksman's infantry CO. "Just waiting for the arty to roll out their party favors."

"Won't have to wait much longer Major, we're firing on the lased targets now."

"Wait one," Major Lee replied. "Good effect, but some of the targets are still standing, hit them again."

"More fun headed your way," the artillery commander responded.

"Enemy fire support is down and out. We're heading in to finish the job, Colonel," Major Lee gave his updated. "Skies should be clear of enemy rain for now."

"Ma'am, I've isolated the transmissions that you asked me to look for," the comms officer relayed to Carter. "Looks like there's still some survivors of Lindon's Battalion here, I'm patching them through now."

"This is Colonel Sarah Lindon, it's good to hear some friendly voices," came the tired voice of the mercenary commander on the encrypted frequencies given to AFFS affiliated mercenaries.

"Good to hear that you're still alive, I'll start shifting some people around to get you some relief," Carter responded. "Your IFFs the same as the last time we worked with you?"

"Haven't needed to change them since we worked with you last," Sarah Lindon replied with a heavy sigh. "You got bunks and repair bays that we can borrow?"

"What's mine is yours Colonel Lindon, the Fedsuns are footing the bill after all," Carter laughed in response. "I'll have a company meet up with you and bring you back to our current FOB."

"Much appreciated Carter, we owe you one," Lindon replied. "Lindon out."




Haynesville, November 25th, 3035

"Aright, we've got two Mammoth's and four Mules to cross check inventory and manifests," David explained to the logistical staff he had borrowed from various units in the Terran March. "We're supposed to be ensuring that all of the regiments in our area remain supported with spares and supplies, we've got jumpships waiting at pirate points for rapid resupply if needed by any of said units," David sucked in some air and looked at the staff. "But first we need to ensure that every item actually made it here, I don't want a single soldier to die because we screwed up and lost their spare ton of missiles or their medium laser." David gave Elsa a side glance. "I'm going to be working right alongside you, so if you have any issues you can come straight to me."

The room remained silent for a minute while they took in the information that they had been given. Then began to disperse as another officer stepped up and began to assign teams to different areas and dropships.

"Why so many supplies?" Elsa asked as David held the door open for her to enter his commandeered office.

"We're not just here to retake the worlds that the WoB took from the Federated Suns," David explained as he sat down behind his computer screen. "We're going to be pushing into the Outworlds Alliance as well." David signed as he took in the critical information. "We had an intelligence source that made it out. She informed us that the people of the Outworlds Alliance are being treated as slave labor and put into camps with horrible conditions. We're going to liberate those people and help them get back on their feet, the civilians we rescue will be our main priority."

"Yet another conquest of the Federated Suns?" Elsa asked. "That's what a great many nations and people will see."

"No, we're going to be leaving after the OWA has set up their own government," David explained. "We're already eating away at supplies intended to go into the Periphery March as is, while we're using this to jump start the industrialization of the Periphery March we're also going to be hurting in the short term for some supplies the other marches might need."

"But long term this will help the Fedsuns, yes?" Elsa asked. "Assuming that the Periphery can start manufacturing their own equipment to fend of pirates and to start exporting"

"Long term predictions put us at twenty years before the Periphery March is really going to be economically viable on a national level," David sighed. "And that's the optimistic predictions where everything goes smoothly. Uncle Hanse is really playing the long game with this one. I've even heard rumors that he's sponsoring a new shipyard to be built."

"Hopefully everything goes well," Elsa said as she stood up. "Should we not get to work now?"

"Yeah, those inventory lists won't generate themselves after all," David snarked.





Kennard, November 26th, 3035

"I'm telling you, we were about to be completely wiped out when an older model Highlander painted in green appeared and began killing the enemy units, making a point for us to break through," Sarah tried to explain. "Literally my entire unit saw it happen, Zoey, the entire unit."

"I believe you Sarah," Carter replied. "It's just a bit hard to process."

"Look, I couldn't make this shit up even if I wanted to," Lindon continued. "I've never laid eyes on that model of Highlander outside of old Tri-Vids, and the ones I've seen in person are all the new builds that Sharpshooter manufactures."

"I just don't know how to put "friendly unit was saved by a ghost Mech" into my report without sounding crazy," Carter tried to explain to her friend. "I'm watching a copy of your battlerom and I'm having trouble believing it."

"I'm just glad the standard cameras picked it up at all," Sarah sighed. "I know that my whole unit sounds crazy, but all of the evidence is pretty consistent. I'm fairly certain that we were rescued by Great Gaffa's Ghost."

"I'll write it up for the debrief, but I'm still on the fence, Sarah," Carter responded. "We'll see what the MRB and AFFS think, it's their opinion that matters more anyway."

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Two: Where Were You?(Intelligence gathering)
Outreach, November 26th, 3035

“Brace for Impact Nat,” I told my wife as we prepped the HPG on the Messenger to receive an incoming HPG communication. “I feel that our going AWOL may have happened at an awful time.”

“Where the hell have you been?!” Hanse asked angrily as soon as the HPG established the connection. “We’ve had people looking for you since February!”

“We went out chasing a rumor of an old Terran Hegemony R&D facility,” I replied after Hanse had vented a touch. “It wasn’t on the standard star maps so we had to navigate carefully lest we vanish entirely.” I smiled, “I’m sorry that we were off-grid, but we did find the facility, and we recovered some of the things we have been missing in our attempts to get us back up to the level of technology we’re trying for Hanse. That alone made the entire trip worth it, we found the middle ground finally.” I grinned from ear to ear. “We’ll be able to finally instruct the intermediate levels without having to individually tutor every single scientist and engineer that we have.”

“That’s good to hear, Mark,” Hanse sighed. “But I need you to change gears entirely. We’re at war, and while we’ve got the war front handled I need you and Sortek to be working on the intelligence gathering portion.”

“What do we lack intelligence on?” I asked as I began looking over the data that was being transmitted along with the actual audio.

“The Word of Blake, (which is what we’re calling the radical elements of Comstar) has some sort of mysterious ally. I need you and Ardan to begin going over everything that we have available to track down these allies. The last thing we need right now is another enemy that we know nothing about to strike from the shadows.”

“I’ll start compiling everything and begin sending out some of the available spy Jumpships and dropships as soon as I get in contact with Dunham,” I replied. “But knowing how this kind of work goes it may be months before we find anything useful Hanse.”

“We’ve got the Outworlds Alliance handled, you don’t need to go get in direct combat for now, but this, this is where I need you the most at present,” Hanse explained. “That and making sure that David can focus on logistics while he’s out in the Periphery. He’s been trying to run both the Terran March and the logistical needs of the campaign.”

“We’ve got that handled Hanse,” I replied. “I’ll get to work and send you a response once I’m back on one of the planets that are more able to handle the processing power that is required.”

“Copy that,” Hanse replied. “Oh, and Mark, if you ever pull anything like this again you can expect a visit from me personally to deliver your punishment. Davion Out.”

“Well, I guess we better get to work right?” I asked Natasha who was seated next to me.

“No, I believe it is you who has to get to work in that area,” Natasha smirked at me. “I have to finish the paperwork documenting the two new Hull children.”

“Fine, but I expect you to help once we reach Luyten,” I replied. “Because we’re heading there next to make use of the computers that we installed there all those years ago.”




Moving to Outreach’s zenith point, November 30th, 3035

“Are you sure that you’re okay with this mission, Major?” I asked MacIntosh as he and two of his lancemates began to do quick checks on the mechs that we had refitted for them.

“I’m positive,” MacIntosh replied. “You have enough people guarding the twins for now, and my people need to get some action. We have been cooped up in cryostasis for far too long.”

“Well, here’s a letter for my son,” I handed MacIntosh a sealed envelope. “This is confirmation of your orders, and I’m sending Regina Levi and Janice Viola to round out your fireteam.”

“I want your word, Hull,” Major Ian MacIntosh of the Black Watch met my eyes directly. “I want your word that you’ll ensure that those children live no matter what happens.”

“I swear that I’ll do whatever is possible to make sure that they live Ian,” I responded while gripping his arm in a warrior’s farewell. “Those are my kids now, and I’d do just about anything to avoid losing another kid.”

Seeing something in my eyes at that response, Major MacIntosh gripped my arm in return before turning to finish his preparations.

“Godspeed Major,” I said as the Confederate class dropship detached from the Manassas and began to speed towards a waiting Jumpship with a Lithium-Fusion battery. “Godspeed.”




Lutyen 68-28, December 5th, 3035

“I hate sitting at a desk like this,” I moaned to myself as I combed through data with the aid of some basic search engines that Rook and I had created ourselves. “Data collection is easy, it’s figuring out what’s important that’s the hard part.” I reminded myself as I continued to sift through the massive amount of data that MIIO and Dunham had been collecting over the last year and a half.

“Did you find anything yet?” Natasha asked as she entered the office that I had commandeered.
“No, but maybe a different viewpoint might help,” I replied as I showed her some of the main data points that Dunham, Ardan Sortek, and myself had agreed on were critical areas.

“Why are you focused on this?” Natasha asked as she pointed to things that we had sorted as linked together.

“Because we’re fairly certain that those are things that are tied to specific known groups,” I replied.

“Well, take them out of that and shuffle them in with the rest of the events that you noted as important, and then trace them back in time,” Natasha gave me advice. “Don’t just use the most recent timeframe, but see if there are other similar events in the past as well to help you make an informed decision.”

“Sometimes I forget that you are good at this kind of thing too,” I said as I brought my wife in for a kiss.

“Just because I do not enjoy it as much doesn’t mean that I have forgotten how to properly do the things that I was trained in,” Natasha scoffed at me. “I enjoy the thrill of combat, but I cannot get to the point of combat if I cannot chase the enemy down where they are laired at.”

“Huh,” I said as I tapped the pen that I was using on my lips. “Laired at?” I wrote it down. “Why is that important?” I began to go through the files again, but instead of sorting them, I threw them all into an unsorted spread to see if different potential points might be linked together instead of just assumed and grouped together that way.

Natasha just smirked and left the room while I was deep in thought.

“I’m going to need Rook’s help,” I decided after a moment. “There’s something here that I’m missing.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Three: Strike Two

Tancredi IV, November 30th, 3035

"Have Gamma Battalion start folding in," Romano Senn-Liao ordered. "The enemy is pushing forward into our center exactly how we planned it. With our flanks closing in we should be able to pin this regiment in place and finish them off."

"Aye ma'am, relaying orders now," the comms officer responded.

"Once we have them surrounded I'm going to ask if they would like to surrender," Romano stated.

"And if they don't surrender ma'am?" The officer asked.

"Then we keep going until one of them catches sanity," Romano replied. "And we don't stop until they either surrender or are dead."

The HQ personnel then went back to their individual tasks, getting information on the tactical situation and relaying it to whomever needed the information.

"General Liao, a battalion of militia have managed to take out the guards of one of the work camps, they're asking for further instructions,"

"Reroute some APCs to their location, let's get the civilians out of there and make sure that they get taken care of," Romano ordered. "And divert one of our two Stings to provide support, we need to make sure that they live."





Sergeant Major Kent looked at the hundreds of civilians that they had rescued from the camps with horror that was hidden behind a visage of steel. While his fellow platoon members were trying to process everything he walled it all off in a corner of his mind to deal with later.

"Let's get our packs open, all of our rations, blankets, and extra clothing go to the civilians;" Kent ordered his platoon while he grabbed his own heavy pack that he had on his Mithril suit and dropped it on the ground.

"What are you waiting for?!" He barked at the still frozen members of his platoon. "Are you waiting for gorramed Santa Claus to show up and fix things? Or are you gonna get your asses in gear?!"

The platoon then moved quickly, unslinging their packs and handing out extra rations, blankets and clothes to the crowd of civilians.

"Women and children first," Kent ordered the line crowd. "There isn't enough here for everyone yet, but we have more on the way."

"But we're all starving, we need to eat," the leader of the group said. "Will there be enough food?"

"We'll make sure to spread it out as evenly as possible for now, and I'll get on the horn with command and get some support here," Kent said. "You're the third camp we've liberated in the past two days and we're still working out the kinks in our plans."

Overhearing the conversation, the Corporal who had the extra comms gear began to get everything set up. "Command, this is Alpha-Nine; we need one of our Triumph class dropships, we've got over 500 civvies to transport over here,"

"We've got one available for tasking, Alpha-Nine estimated wait time is forty-five mikes."

"Solid copy, Command, Alpha-Nine out."

"Forty-five minutes til pickup Sarge," the communications tech relayed to The Sergeant Major.

"I copy," Kent replied as he knelt down by a family of four and placed an emergency blanket around them.

It was like something out of the ancient World War Two documentaries, the skeletal people, the ragged clothing, and the shivering children. The camps were made up of thin prefabs that didn't keep the cold of winter out, and the clothing they had was ragged as well.

"Easy on the soup, if you eat too much now you'll end up worse," one of the combat medics instructed. "Drink water and get warm, we'll be giving inspections for frostbite later."

"Tear down some of those buildings, let's get some fired started," Kent instructed, pointing at some of the buildings that were made out of wood.

A squad moved over and with the enhanced strength of their Mithril began to tear away at the wooden walls, the lack of insulation making the job easier. Then, stacking the wood up in one massive pile and several smaller piles they began to set portions of the piles of wood on fire, bringing warmth and relief to many of the civilians that were shivering.

"Get as close to the fire as you can bear, we don't want any of you to die of hypothermia here," the medics instructed.

The civilians huddled together around the fire, enjoying the warmth from both the fire and from the food that was being distributed among them.

"What kind of man or woman is willing to do this to other people?" One of the younger soldiers asked over the privacy of Alpha-Nine's internal comms.

"The kind who is willing to view other human beings as somehow being "lesser",, or "barbarians"," Kent replied. "This isn't the first time that mankind has committed an atrocity of this magnitude, and I'm afraid that it is likely not the last," Kent sighed loudly. "Man's capacity for self-delusion is nigh infinite under the right circumstances, and makes us capable of many dispicable things." The man began to portion out some food to several families. "But sometimes that same capacity for self-delusion brings about greatness, men and women lifting vehicles many times their weight, the Black Watch versus the Rim Worlds Republic, and many other stories and legends about us breaking past the limits of humanity." Kent then chuckled a bit. "But that's not of critical importance right now, we've still got these civilians to take care of."

"Roger that Sarge, getting back to work,"





"The children are in better shape than the adults?" Romano asked the Chief Medical officer of the 1st Terran Guard regiment.

"Yes, and it makes sense as to why," the CMO replied. "The parents and adults would set aside food and would tear their own clothing in order to make sure that the children were better taken care of. This led to the children needing far less recovery time than the adults that we've rescued."

"While that's good to hear, it still leaves us here on the defensive instead of pushing the Word of Blake even further back," Romano said angrily. "Luckily we won't be waiting here long, We've got supplies and garrison troops en route from Haynesville coming in a month or so."

"We'll need to start documenting the names of everyone that we've rescued," the CMO responded. "It'll make it easier to get them back to their families."

"Aye," Romano said. "It'll also help us figure out if a child has been left orphaned or an adult made a widow or widower."

"Tragic times we live in," the CMO responded as she shook her head sadly.

"Still, we're probably the best unit to have on this assignment, we have the experience from dealing with MASK and rescuing survivors from the nuclear blasts," Romano muttered. "The stresses put on the survivors is something we know how to handle better than most."

"I'll have the medics and doctors start distributing the names of the people that we've treated so that we at least have a place to start from," the CMO stated.

"Good, it's better than starting from nothing," Romano replied. "Reunification is always the hard part anyway."

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Four: Logistics

Haynesville, December 15th, 3035

"Look, we need those supplies loaded up on the Mules and sent off to Kennard and Tancredi IV," David Hull-Kerensky instructed. "They've got massive amounts of civilian refugees to clothe and feed."

"Look sir, we can't take off without the proper authorization from AFFS Highcom," the officer in charge of the two Mules said bluntly. "We're not a part of your chain of command so I don't have to leave until I get confirmation that you're now my temporary CO."

David just stared incredulously at the dropship captain for a moment before turning and looking at his Mithril clad bodyguard that had been assigned to him by Mathis years ago.

"Please tell me that you're just making an off-color joke," David stated coldly.

"No sir, I can't load up the supplies and take off until I have the proper authorization."

"James, please throw this man in the fucking brig and get me his XO," David ordered his bodyguard detail. "We're loading up these dropships and getting them on their way if I have to do it myself."

"Sir, you asked for me?" A young woman was escorted to David.

"You're the XO for the Screaming Wind?" David asked.

"Yes sir. What seems to be the problem?" She asked.

"Your Captain has been relieved of command, so you are the captain now and will be overseeing the loading and departure of both dropships within the next couple of hours," David explained bluntly and without even a trace of emotion besides anger. "Congratulations on your promotion, now get these dropships loaded up and those supplies to the people who need them."

"Aye sir!" The newly promoted captain responded. "I'll get my crew working now."

"Good, I'll send someone out to get your records before you lift off," David responded before turning and heading back to his vehicle.

—
—

"People can be stupid," David groaned as he planted his face in his hands. "I just wanted him to do the job that he was supposed to do."

"Some people operate by the book so much that they forget to be flexible," Elsa reminded her fiancé. "Most of the people that you have worked with in the past understand that sometimes you just need to do something and sort out whether it was by the book or not later."

"I guess I have been spoiled in that regard," David agreed. "Care to help me go through the list of supplies again?"

"David, your math is perfect, and we've triple checked everything, aside from the minute amounts of missing material that probably vanished before it left the original starports we've got everything accounted for," Elsa said as she moved to stand behind David's office chair. "You're doing everything right, just relax a little bit before you blow up at someone."

"You might be a bit late for that," David chuckled. "I just had someone thrown in the brig."

"Were they doing what they were supposed to be doing?" Elsa asked.

"They wanted to wait for the transfer paperwork to come through the HPG," David sighed. "But the people that we've rescued from Kennard, Tancredi IV, and half a dozen other places can't afford to wait for that specific paperwork to come in." David sighed. "I'm literally in charge of all of the logistics for this campaign and he wouldn't listen."

"Just push past it," Elsa said. "Let's go get something to eat, it's around lunchtime anyway."

"Alright," David replied. "I need to talk about something with your brother anyway."




December 20th, 3035

"I'm pretty sure this qualifies as poaching sir," Lieutenant Dan chuckled as he read over the proposal that David had given both Adam Steiner and some of the militia.

"You act like I care," David replied. "I just need a yes or a no, and then I'll take care of everything else." David then smirked and crossed his arms. "Besides, it doesn't begin until your stint in the Haynesville Militia is over with."

"Well, the pay looks good, and it would work to our strengths," Adam told Dan. "And we could always do something else after this contract is up."

"We'll accept it, but we will be finishing our time in the Militia first," Dan told David. "And I'll go see if the rest of the battalion is in."

"That's all I can ask for," David said with a smile. "Make sure that your people are taken care of first, that's what's important."

"We'll get back to you in a bit David," Adam Steiner said. "I'm going to have to go over the contract with everyone individually, and it's not like most of us own the machines, aside from a select few they're all owned by the Haynesville Militia."

"We've got that part taken care of should you decide to accept," Elsa said with a side glance to David. "I'll pay for it out of my own pocket if necessary."

"Which it won't be," David assured both Dan and Adam. "We've got the machines, I just need the right people to be placed in them."

—
—

"I'm going to read over this again to make sure that this is a good offer," Sergeant Smith told Adam Steiner and Dan Rawley as the trio perused the contract over a case of beer. "But I'm pretty sure that this is as solid as you can possibly get for a contract."

"Well Sarge, we trust you and wanted a third opinion just in case it was too good to be true," Dan said as he took a swig of his beer before flipping over a steak on the grill.

"I'd triple check some of the legalese with a lawyer, but this looks pretty airtight and solidly in our favor," Smith responded as he continued working on his own beer.

"But why offer such a good contract?" Adam asked. "What do we have to offer that makes Hull-Kerensky want us for this specific job?"

"Fuck if I know," Smith laughed. "Why don't you go ask him directly instead of trying to just figure out his motives? Duke Mark Hull seems to be a straight shooter, it's likely that his son is as well, and if you ask he might just tell you the answer."

"Fine, we can go ask once we're finished with our hangovers," Adam replied after he chugged down the last of his beer and let out a great belch. "Last one to get drunk pays for the next round of food and drinks!"

—
—

"You are very hungover," David observed of Adam Steiner as he worked on rates of estimated ammunition consumption and the amounts that he would be shifting towards the front shortly.

"And you're too loud," Adam replied as he gripped the bridge of his nose. "But you don't hear me yelling at you."

"I'm not yelling," David cut himself off. "You know what, never mind. You came in here with a question?"

"Yeah, why do you want us for that contract?" Adam asked as he laid his head against the back of the couch in David's office.

"There's several reasons, but I'll start with the selfish one first," David replied. "The first reason is that you're going to be my brother-in-law in the near future, and I want you close enough that my fiancé and future wife can club you over the head if you try to do something stupid again. The second reason is that my parents are legends." David paused there and sighed before placing his paperwork to the side. "You ran off because you didn't want the responsibilities or the prestige of being a noble, but I'm stuck with a mom who is known as The Dragonslayer, and a dad who decided he didn't like the way the Inner Sphere looked and changed it." David inhaled and physically calmed himself down. "And it's up to me to not fuck up everything they've done over the last thirty years. Helping Hanse Davion now and Jonathon Davion in the future is how I'm going to keep everything standing. You thought this war was just about the Word of Blake?" David scoffed. "We're gearing the entirety of the Federated Suns to move to a unified logistics structure, with all of our weapons and ammunition being the exact same models and brands. No more will we have logistics nightmares, and we're talking it down the corporations throats along the way. The other way I'm going to be establishing myself as separate from my parents is this. Our militia will be rated as Elite, and will be outfitted with everything I can throw at them, the Terran March will be any invaders biggest nightmare because our militia will not only be better trained then the invaders, but better equipped too. I'm going to set up a spare parts factory on every single world that is in the Terran March and ensure that we don't lack the materials to continue production." David realized that he was ranting and cut himself off. "Does that answer your question? Is that enough for you?"

"We'll take the contract," Adam blurted out after David asked. "You've got a deal and I'll make sure that the others agree."

"Don't do that to them," David shook his head at the younger man. "Give them a choice and let them pick, it doesn't have to be decided anytime soon anyway."

"Have you told Elsa about all of this?" Adam asked David. "This sounds like something that she should know."

"Who do you think is helping me get everything arranged properly?" David chuckled. "She's been helping me get everything planned for years now, half of our letters were discussing how to do it properly."

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Five: Black Water Revival

Banon, February 28th, 3036

"Alright people, we are one jump away from the capital of the Outworlds Alliance, and we are going in loaded for bear," Carter briefed the senior staff of the 1st Marksman who were seated at a holotable in her main dropship. "Commodore Bruce will be taking it from here."

"Thank you Colonel," Bruce replied as he stood up and took control of the holotable, bringing up some data for the staff. "We have managed to get some intel on what awaits us there, and it's not going to be pretty.

The Warships will be jumping in first, we have confirmed at least one Battleship, a cruiser or two, what seems to be a destroyer and several corvettes. We'll be bringing a Jumpship with a Lithium-Fusion battery along to use as a relay for when the void is clear for the invasion forces to come on through." Bruce sighed heavily as he looked at the staff. "I'll also be stripping you of half of your Sting escorts and aerospace assets, we're going to need them for the fight ahead."

"We lift off at the end of the week," Carter told her staff. "I'll be personally handling the distribution of escorts. This is it people, our chance to liberate the Outworlds Alliance from the boot of the insane Word of Blake and to help them get set up so that it never happens again."

"You heard the lady, move like you got a purpose!" Colonel David said when the staff hesitated on leaving the briefing room. "We've all got jobs to complete before we move on, now let's hop to it."


The staff dispersed, leaving the two ground commanders alone with Commodore Bruce.

"You brought some relief supplies along in your Warships right?" Carter asked. "I meant to ask you earlier but I got busy."

"We brought some, but not enough for the whole city," Bruce grimaced. "We're lucky that it's warm here, otherwise they'd have had even more issues."

"Bruce, the people were already near starvation on most of the worlds of the Outworlds Alliance before the Word of Blake took over," Carter explained. "The reason that the Wobbies were able to take over so effectively is because they actually made it better in the worlds of the Outworlds Alliance. If people are being fed when they were near starvation before then they're more likely to let you rule over them." Carter sighed. "The supplies are for the POWs, they've not been treated well, if at all."

"We'll offload the supplies," Bruce responded after a minute of processing. "I assume that young Hull-Kerensky is going to be following close behind in order to support the invasion from here?"

"Yeah, he's been handling the logistics incredibly well for the most part," Carter replied. "Hanse did send a letter that reprimanded him for excessive force when he tossed that Dropship captain into the brig though."

"Bad optics," Bruce shook his head. "He's got a good head on his shoulders he just doesn't have the same level of experience as the rest of us do yet."

"That's why he's only getting a slap on the wrist for this," Carter began packing up her gear. "It turned out that the captain did have the proper authorization stored away on his dropship's computer, but he had locked himself out of the systems and hadn't been able to access them yet."

"I.T is going to have a ball with that one," Bruce shook his head with a wry chuckle and a twinkle in his eye. "It might even be forgotten by command that David screwed up if the captain actually lost his command encryption keys."

"If that's the case, then we'll hear about it at the end of the investigation," Carter replied with a half shrug. "And while David is still in charge of the logistics, Yvonne Davion has stepped in over the military side of it now while he handles the actual distribution of supplies."

"Either way, it's going to be something to keep an eye on," Bruce agreed. "I'm heading back up to the Vanguard, there's a lot of prep work to be done."





March 1st, 3036

"Thanks for coming to assist Admiral, we will definitely need the help,"Bruce said over comms to the Admiral over the Davion squadron of Waships that had just entered the system.

"We're ready for a fight, Commodore, and while we didn't bring the whole fleet, we did bring some of the nuclear arsenal to hopefully help even the playing field a bit."


"I'd say we have a fairly solid chance of taking out the enemy fleet sir," Bruce replied with a small smile. "But I'd rather have the canned sunshine and not have to use it than not have it and need it."

"Then you'll be glad to hear that the pilots that will be holding and potentially using said nukes will be pilots from the Taurian Concordat," the Admiral replied. "They've lent us the use of one of their corvettes as well. We've also got the Lyrans pitching in with the Invincible, we've got a lot riding on this, so let's make sure that we coordinate properly."

"Yes sir, I'll be placing the Vanguard and the Age of Discovery under your command," Bruce replied. "I'll offer what advice I can, but there's not a whole lot of people that have been a part of Warship battles in the recent past."

"And you're one of those people," the admiral spoke up. "That's why you're the XO and in charge of the tactical planning for this op, because I trust that you'll have good judgment on these things."

"Aye sir!" Bruce responded. "I was XO in the last naval battle I was a part of as well."

"We'll broadcast the new chain of command before we get underway," the admiral stated. "Now let's get the planning done, the Word of Blake has stood for long enough."




Haynesville, March 3rd, 3036

"Thank you again ma'am," David said to Yvonne Davion. "I was nearly at my wits end with some of the more by the book people."

"You have to learn how to manage them properly," Yvonne explained to the much younger man. "They have their place and are typically good at their specific jobs, but blowing up at them will typically change nothing."

"I'm starting to understand that now, and that's why I'm thanking you," David replied. "I haven't quite been taught this sort of thing yet."

"It was something that would have been handled by you remaining in the Kentares Guard for longer," Yvonne said with a small smile on her face as she handed David and Elsa a cookie. "But this crisis changed that when we couldn't find your father."

"Either way, this has been an eye opener into why my father hates politics," David chuckled. "I never understood it until now though."

"That Mark has managed to avoid the courts for as long as he has is unusual," Yvonne said as she leaned back into her chair. "Most of us have to make much more regular appearances."

"He always managed to be doing something else unless it was an incredibly important event," David recalled.

"That, and the fact that his Ducal Guard have thwarted no less than fifty assassination attempts from various sources in the last fifteen years," Yvonne frowned. "Given that most lords and ladies didn't want a small army to land on their planets without good reason.." Yvonne trailed off. "The only bigger protection details in the Inner Sphere are those of the House Lords. So most people would rather he not pay them a visit."

"Great, my father has terrorized an entire group of the nobility," David snarked. "Now all I have to do is smooth over the ruffled feathers until they're willing to cooperate."

"I would caution you to take it slowly," Yvonne replied. "A lot of your fathers soft power lies in Sharpshooter, and the fact that no one wanted to be cut off from a premier military supplier, so keep in mind that as long as your family owns the corporation you will always have those sorts of problems."

"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," David replied. "Now, what is your advice for handling brown-nosers?"

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Six: Strike Three

March 15th, 3036

“Shake off the dust people!” Bruce commanded the bridge crew of the Texas Class Battleship the TMV Vanguard. “Let’s get our escorts detached, we need those fighters and gunships out in the void.”

“Sir, the rest of the fleet just jumped in, they’re launching fighters and assault dropships now,” the sensors officer reported. “The LCS Invincible is coming alongside us now.”

“Get me a comms link to the Invincible,” Bruce ordered. “We’re going in to take out that Monsoon before it tears up the rest of the fleet.”

“Aye sir, establishing encrypted comms now,” the comms officer replied. “Link is solid, we’re ready to coordinate with the battlecruiser.”

The two massive Warships sped through the void, already set on an intercept course with the other Battleship.

“Estimated time of intercept is two hours,” the navigation officer stated. “Get settled in and ready for combat after that though.”

—

—

“Get ready to spin us around,” Bruce ordered. “We didn’t put the chemical maneuvering thrusters in for nothing after all.”

“Getting ready to chase, aye sir,” the navigation officer replied as her fingers danced across the controls. “I’ll give a broad warning before we activate them.”

“Firing PPCs now,” the weapons officer stated. “Autocannon to follow we pass by each other.”

“Spin is around to nearing 250 on my mark and then course correct to 000 after that, if my math checks out we should be able to remain in their aft,” Bruce ordered from the captains' chair as he typed in calculations on his slate.

“Bearing 250 aye sir!” The navigations officer responded before a warning claxon sound carried through the ship's hallways. “Firing maneuvering thrusters now!”

The Texas class battleship that Mark Hull had recovered all those years ago spun around like a top in space. The emergency chemical thrusters spun them around with some extreme G forces before the ship straightened out and advanced at flank speed to continue its momentum and catch up to the enemy battleship.

“We’ve taken minor damage, no hull breaches, just armor damage for now!” The damage control officer reported. “It looks like three of our PPCs hit and some of the Invincible’s Gauss hit as well.”

“Good, keep us on their six, and let’s rip them to shreds,” Bruce ordered as the forward guns continued to fire into the enemy battleship.

“Sir, the Invincible couldn’t keep up with our maneuvers, they’re breaking off to engage targets of opportunity.”

“Tell the Kaptain of the Invincible that we’ll join him after we’ve dealt with this pest,” Bruce replied. “And have our escorts on standby, they should be losing thrust soon.”

“Aye sir,” the comms officer replied while making sure that they had a solid connection. “Relaying your instructions.”

“Sir, the Monsoon’s thrusters are giving out, she’s drifting.”

“Have our Marines begin boarding actions, and spin us around, we’ve got more targets to deal with,” Bruce said as he made some more rough calculations.






“Sir, we’ve dealt with the majority of the enemy fleet, but we’re playing a game of cat and mouse with those corvettes, they just have more speed than we do,” Commodore Bruce told the admiral in charge of the fleet.

“I have an idea about that,” the Kaptain of the Invincible said over the encrypted comms channel. “Didn’t our Aegis take some moderate damage?”

“Yes, but our field repairs should hold fairly well,” the admiral replied. “What do you have in mind?”

“We all saw the cruiser take some minor thruster damage, what If we made it look like it was accelerating out of control and flying away from us, but have a full complement of Stings ready to face them.”

“It could work, but we’ll have to make sure that they’re all volunteers, the naval scale weapons will rip the assault dropships to shreds if they’re not careful.”

“You have two hours to develop something workable,” the admiral instructed. “We need to move on to liberating Alpheratz asap.”

“Aye sir, we’ll get it done,” Bruce replied before hammering out a plan with the Lyran Commonwealth’s Kaptain.





March 16th, 3036

“There should only be two corvettes in place to hold us off, and we’ve got a lot of Warships playing escort,” Carter said to herself as the Jumpship she was on winked out of existence and then appeared in the Alpheratz system.

Warning klaxons sounded as the Dropships all detached as one and began rocketing down towards the planet “below.”

“Four days, and then we hit the wobbies with guts and cold steel,” Carter muttered as she left her assigned quarters to head down to the ship's gym.

–
–

“What the hell is going on?!” Carter asked her Overlord’s captain. “I thought we were being escorted!”

“It’s just some minor damage, colonel, the Warships were finally able to take out the last of the Pinto corvettes due to us being a distraction,” The captain reported.

“Well, just keep us in one piece,” Carter replied as her anger began to slowly fade away. “And let me know if the damage will keep us from landing. We can cram aboard our Stings and be delivered piecemeal if necessary to get onto the ground.”

“We don’t have any breaches, but it was a close thing, and we’ll be doing what repairs we can before we hit the atmosphere,” The captain replied. “We all want those bastards dead, so I’ll do whatever I can to get you down there.”

“Good,” Carter gave a savage smile. “I’m a ground pounder anyway, I’d rather die with my boots on the ground and a rifle in my hand than in the void of space.”

“I’ll take my chances in the void, colonel,” the captain replied with a grin. “But I’ll still get you on the ground.”

“Thanks, captain, I’ll be prepping for a combat drop if you need me,” Carter replied. “I’ve never gotten to ride a tank down from orbit before,” she mused. “I wonder if it’s as fun as dropping in the infantry pods.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Seven: Invasion of Alpheratz(First steps)

March 20th, 3036

“Yeehaw!” Carter yelled as her Von Luckner plummeted through the atmosphere. “They won’t know what hit them!”

“Ma’am, we’ve at AA tracking us, Warships are taking them out with precision orbital strikes, but we could still take some hits,” The communications officer relayed. “Colonel David is heading down in the Fortress, he’s going to coordinate operations from there until we’ve established a beachhead.”

“Alright then, have our fireteam come down in grid Delta-Four, we should be able to flank from there,” Carter said after she collected herself back together and began looking at her tactical map. “Our Toro will draw out whatever defenders that they have.”

“Twenty seconds to landing!” The driver shouted. “Brace for impact!”

The tank shook and then came to a violent stop as it hit the ground, the heat shield that they rode down on acting as the platform from which they could drive off.

“Kick it in gear, let’s not wait around to get hit by enemy artillery,” Carter ordered as she continued going through the tacmap.

“Rifle Actual, this is Sniper lead, we had a clean landing, we’re en route to assist.”

“Copy Sniper Lead, we’re sending out our skirmisher to draw out the Arty’s defenses before pushing in and clearing them out,”
Carter responded. “I need you to move to Hotel-Nine and use your long-range weapons from there.”

“Understood Lead, we’re Oscar-Mike to Hotel-Nine.”

True to their namesake, Fireteam Sniper mainly consisted of units that mounted Gauss Rifles, PPCs, or LRMs. Notably, the leader of Fireteam Sniper had brought his family’s Rifleman with him when he joined the Marksman and had paid extra to have it mounted with twin Gauss rifles and enough ammo to snipe at whatever he pleases.

Combined, the two fireteams pinched the artillery and defenders in a hellish crossfire, gauss slugs, missiles, and autocannon rounds streaming with tracers in the dark of night.

“Artillery is gone, Colonel Davis, the LZ is clear for landing,” The comms officer told the 1st Marksman’s CO.

“This is Duke Ran Felsner lord of the Periphery March under the direct command of his Highness First Prince Hanse Davion,” A voice echoed on every open channel across the planet and the void. “You have attacked my people, and while I am prepared to show mercy, I am also prepared to show you the sword of war. Lay down your arms and you will be treated well, if you should decide to reject this option, then I’ll be sending you to hell myself. Choose wisely.”


“Ma’am, we have confirmed Nuclear launches, they’re aiming to take out our dropships!”

“Hold on Davis, don’t go out like this,” Carter whispered inside her Mithril’s helmet as she watched the Alamo missiles streak across the sky via her tacmap. “Fuck!” She shouted and nearly threw her slate across the enclosed interior of the Von Luckner.

“We’ve got a half-dozen dropships in an uncontrolled descent! Brace for the shockwaves!”

The trio of tanks that made up Fireteam Rifle immediately shut down their motive systems, not willing to risk damaging them while at the same time the mechs of Fireteams Rifle and Sniper went prone, hoping to avoid the shockwave from some of the dropships that were crashing down from high orbit.

–
–

“Get us over to the downed dropships, we may be able to still get some of our people out of there!” Carter ordered before turning and patching her Mithril into the Von Luckner’s long ranged EMP hardened comms. “This is Marksman Actual, I need all available units to fall back to our fallen dropships, I’m authorizing a general withdrawal and Search and Rescue units to be launched. Any heavy units are to guard until further notice.”

“We’ve got you covered Marksman Actual, it seems that they targeted your dropships for the most part,” Ran Felsner’s voice came over their comms systems. “Get your people out of there, we’re starting to see some radiation signatures from some of your dropships.”

“Copy that sir, we’ve got our remaining Stings flying CAS while we do search and rescue,” Carter replied. “They may try focusing on us seeing as we’ve lost a good amount of metal.”

“If they decided to focus on you then they’ll have sealed their fates,” Felsner replied. “I’m authorizing limited orbital strikes in lieu of artillery until we’re more firmly established on the ground.”





March 21st, 3036

“There’s not a whole lot left of the Motherlode ma’am,” a salvage officer stated. “Most of the ‘mechs jumped out, and they packed their jump seats, but we’re still short on the personnel count. Colonel Davis is MIA and is presumed KIA until we have confirmation, as are a decent amount of staff officers.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant, you’re dismissed,” Carter said before sitting down in the rubble of the Fortress class dropship and driving her fist into the wall once the other officer had left. “Damn it, Davis!” Tears formed in her eyes for a moment before she compartmentalized and shoved her emotions into a little box in her mind. “I can deal with that later, I’ve got a job to do right now.” She said to herself before taking a deep breath and mentally kicking herself back into the right mental space to assume command of what was left of her unit.

“Colonel, we’ve got enemy fast movers approaching, looks like they’re a mix of fast mediums and lights,” the Von Luckner crew’s sensors officer reported. “You may want to get aboard before we make sure the hatches are locked down.”

“En route now, ETA is one Mike, Carter replied as she left the wreckage and began sprinting towards her command tank. Quickly reaching it and climbing in via the top hatch before securing it and moving to look at her tactical map. “Focus fire on the enemy Phoenix mediums, they’re probably carrying infernos, so don’t let them get close. The enemy bugmechs are a secondary priority, let’s take out the enemies that are able to make us burn first, and then move on to the rest.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Eight: Invasion of Alpheratz(Night fight)

Midnight, March 22, 3036

"Come and get some!" Carter yelled over the open comms as another small wave of white-painted war machines charged what was left of her unit. "I've got enough armor and ammunition to put you into the dirt!"

The driver of Carter's Von Luckner pushed the Vox 225 Fusion engine to its maximum, sending the heavy tank rocketing forward towards the enemy Mechs and vehicles closing in. A flurry of missiles left the missile tubes on the turret at the same time that a Gauss rifle from a nearby Highlander impacted the first of the enemy Mechs, sending the medium-weight machine to the ground.

"Pick your targets wisely, this is probably the first wave of the night," Carter told the two battalions that were what remained of the 1st Marksman.

"Ma'am, we've got thirty minutes before the techs and engineers are done with what you asked for," an infantry officer relayed. "Requesting permission to redeploy and drop on these guys from above."

"That's a negative, Captain," Carter told the other officer. "I need those engineers and your infantry alive for the rest of the party. After all, there's no sense in spending all of our favors right now."

"Copy that, holding our party favors in reserve ma'am." The message came through punctuated by the sound of autocannon pinging among the wreckage of the Motherlode.

Carter's tank shuddered as a series of enemy missiles struck the front of it, the detonations shaking the tank but not phasing the crew, who proceeded to wheel around an enemy medium Mech and tear its rear armor to pieces before moving on.

"Where the hell is our CAS?!" The Highlander that was backing up Carter's tank asked as he got blasted with two PPCs from a duo of Griffin's. "I'm losing armor here!" He punched a hole in one Griffin's ammo bins with a Gauss round and watched it explode before turning and laying into the next Griffin with his trio of ER Medium Lasers and his six-pack of SRMs, causing its armor to melt off and the missiles to carve into the holes made by the lasers.

Then, the second Griffin stumbled, the PPC that was charging went off as it hit the ground and caused an explosion that blew off its arm.

"Get some!" The Highlander pilot crowed as he celebrated his two kills.

"Good work," Carter told the pilot. "But be wary, there are still more of them out there."

"Ma'am, we've got the spare fusion engines hooked up to the Motherlode's weapons and sensors, we're running a systems check now," the infantry Captain reported as he shifted in place. "We are ready to open fire when given the command."

"Open up the heavens and let it rain down hellfire!" Carter ordered as the weapons on the Fortress powered on and began to lash out at nearby enemy Mechs and vehicles while the last of the Sting gunships started their strafing runs.


"They're falling back, Colonel! What are your orders?" One of the battalion majors asked via the comms systems.

"Let them go for now, and get salvage and recovery teams out there, we've got to repair and rearm before we push them further," Carter told what was left of the 1st Marksman.





March 23rd, 3036

"Your people did damn fine work out there, Colonel," Field Marshal Ran Felsner told the mercenary commander. "I'm sorry that your people paid the price for being the vanguard."

"We knew what was at stake," Carter stated. "Now we just want to put these assholes six feet into the ground."

"You're going to our second line," Felsner told Carter bluntly. "Until you can put a third battalion out we're going to need you to patch holes in our first line. So you'll be our QRF until further notice."

"Copy that sir," Carter's voice didn't show the relief that passed through her, but her eyes relayed the message. "We'll make sure that the gaps are filled in."

"Take care of your people, Carter. We'll handle making sure that these bastards pay," Felsner consoled the younger commanding officer.

"As long as we get called on to actually fight then I can accept that sir," Carter replied with a sad smile. "It'll take a couple of years to rebuild from this."

"It's never the machines that are hard to replace," Ran Felsner agreed. "It's the people that pilot them."

"I'll be assisting in the repair bay if you need to find me Field Marshal," Carter finally said as she stood up. "Have a good night."




March 24th, 3036

"This is Field Marshal Ran Felsner of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns, I am offering the enemy forces in the city one last chance to surrender, should you choose to surrender than you will be given a fair and just trial, should you fail to surrender, you will be all be treated as terrorists and we will come into the city to root you out."


"I have a counter challenge," a confident voice rang out over the same communication channels. "I am Colonel Joshua Wolf of the Wolf's Dragoons, and I challenge whomever you choose as your champions to a duel for the fate of the planet and of the forces remaining. I will be bringing three lances of my elite MechWarriors, let us see what you will bring in comparison."

"Has Kerensky and the logistics personnel arrived yet?" Felsner turned to his aide-de-camp.

"Yessir, they made landfall six hours ago."

"Good, I need him and his bodyguards to report to me right away, if we're going to do this, then we're going to do it right," Felsner said as he considered the unit roster in front of him. "Let's coordinate with the Marksman and with the other units on planet, I've got an idea."

"Copy that sir, getting the other commanders on the horn now."

"You're a good man Charlie, keep up the good work," Felsner replied.

"Just don't tell Lucy that I'm running all of your errands again," the other man chuckled. "I'm not sure I can live through another dose of her "therapy".

"I'll see what I can do," Felsner replied. "Now let's get to work on destroying a terrorist organization, they won't shoot themselves after all."

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Nine: Invasion of Alpheratz (Trial of Patience)

March 25th, 3036

“You’re sure that you’re okay with playing bait?” Ran Felsner asked David Hull-Kerensky. “Because we can find someone else if we need to.”

David turned and looked at the Ducal Guard members that had shown up a couple of weeks ago with a letter from his father. “I think I’ll be just fine, sir, we can run distraction for as long as you need us to.”

“I’ll be joining him as well,” Elsa spoke up. “I will not allow David to expose himself like that without me there to back him up.”

“We only need you to hold their attention for a couple of hours,” Felsner continued his briefing. “That’s how long it should take for us to move everyone into position for what we have planned.”

“We’ll either distract them for the amount of time necessary or we will kill them,” a gravelly voice with an old Northwind accent spoke up. “Major MacIntosh,” the man introduced himself. “I’ve heard some good things about you, Field Marshal. Now let’s see if you measure up to them or not.”

—
—

“It’s an open field with limited forests to use for cover,” David muttered to himself as he moved his Crockett in formation with the seven other Mechs. “We’re going to have to make every single shot count.”

“We’ve got you covered,” MacIntosh spoke up. “Just make sure you connect your shots and we’ll take care of the rest.”

“I can pull some of my weight,” David replied. “But I know I’m standing on the backs of giants, and I hope that one day I can stand on my own.”

“Well, we’ll just have to wait and see about that,” Macintosh grinned as his Highlander moved to take point. “But first, let’s take out this scum that believes they are worthy of honor.”

The trio of ‘mechs painted in olive drab with the Black Watch Tartan began to pull away from the rest of the small unit, supported by two of Natasha’s Marauders.

“You asked for a duel, and you have yet to appear! Where are you, Joshua Wolf?!” David taunted on open comms, playing up the bloodthirst and youth to drag the charade out for longer. “You are no soldier, but a scavenger, and a coward.”

“Fine words from the son of a man who loots everything down to the bedrock when he leaves a planet,” Joshua Wolf’s smug voice responded. “It’s not as if you’ve done anything but contribute to the state of war in the Inner Sphere. You and your father, you’re a plague upon the galaxy, and I am the cleansing fire.”

“A touch dramatic aren’t ye?” MacIntosh spoke up as his Highlander moved effortlessly through the trees and undergrowth surrounding the clearing. “I’m afraid that yer opponent is ganna be mae.”

“Major,” Elsa sent a message on laser comms to the Black Watch Major. “Your accent is coming through a touch strong.”

“Come face me and die,” the three warriors of the Black Watch stood facing the twelve mechs of the Wolf’s Dragoons.

“You think three mechs and their pilots can stop me?” Joshua scoffed. “I have with me eleven elite mechwarriors equipped with the best gear in the Inner Sphere, and you think that a mere eight or nine of you can stop us?”

“Stop ye?” MacIntosh leaned into his accent. “Nay, I intend to kill you. And to leave you broken and scattered across the field of battle.”

“You may try,” Joshua countered as his Black Knight walked over a slight hill and into view. “You may try.”


Major Macintosh had decided that the time for talking was over, and instead spoke up with his Highlander’s weapons, his first gauss round impacted Joshua Wolf’s, Black Knight and sent it reeling back.






“Field Marshal, we are in position and ready to launch when you give the command.”

“Begin operations,” Field Marshal Ran Felsner ordered. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Copy that sir, beginning the descent now.”

“Make sure to take Kristofur alive,” Felsner ordered. “He has information that we can use, anyone else that isn’t an HVT I want to be terminated.”

“Romeo-Foxtrot copies, we’re on task now.”

“Godspeed,” Felsner turned to his comms officer and gestured for her to change it over to the next channel. “Carter, you got your dropships in position?”

“We’re ready to drop, Field Marshal,” Carter’s voice came over the comms systems. “Our Stings are a little over-encumbered, but we’re about to fix that.”

“If you can hold out for another fifteen minutes or so it’ll be the opportune moment,” Felsner replied.

“We can hold, but I wouldn’t say that our dropship personnel will be happy with me later,” Carter replied with sarcasm rich in her tone.

“Well, I’ll foot the repair bill should it come to that,” Felsner smiled at her words. “Just get your people ready to drop.”






“We have a go,” Captain Price, a member of MI6 along with the rest of Task Force 141 dropped down from low orbit. “The Field Marshal wants the leader of the Word of Blake captured and brought back to New Avalon in chains, and we’re going to bring Vesar Kristofure back to First Prince Hanse Davion exactly as ordered.”

“Hooah!” The rest of the Task Force responded.

The two companies of Infantry dropped quietly onto the roof of the HPG complex. What had once been the center of learning for Alpheratz had been turned into a military base and had a massive amount of security guarding it.

“Keep it whisper quiet and comms silent for the rest of the operation, the Word of Blake has good SIGINT, even if their HUMINT is lacking,” Price cautioned his men and women as they activated the M-11J prototypes to begin sneaking through the compound towards their HVTs.

Sticking to the shadows to assist in the cloaking devices, Price and his teams went through the camp, quietly exterminating every single soldier that they came across while making sure to inject any VIPs with a specific cocktail of drugs to keep them unconscious until they could retrieve them.

Nearing the head office of the HPG, Captain Price and his battle buddy prepped to breach the room. Doing rock, paper, scissors, to decide who would be the point man. Price lost and shrugged before gearing himself up mentally to enter the next room. Then counting down with his fingers, his battle buddy threw the door open and tossed a flashbang in while Price polarized his Mithril’s visor and went in, shooting the trio of guards in the room before grabbing the HVT and hauling him down to the ground. “I have the HVT, checking for suicide measures now,” Price told his teammate while yanking out the lone suicide tooth that he found. “Injecting cocktail now, let’s get the VIPs rounded up and spin up our ride out of here.”

“This is Romeo-Foxtrot 141, we have secured the VIPs, and are evacing now. Be prepared to cover our exfil,” Price told the officers that were in charge of his operation.

“We read you, the party has already started, just make sure you evade the people dropping in, they have an invitation,” the response came back as drop pods filled with infantry, mechs, and tanks all began to drop into the middle of enemy formations.

“Roger that command, we’re leaving the party now that the crashers are here,” Price replied. “We’re taking a superheavy VTOL on our way out, make sure not to shoot us out of the sky.”

“We’ll be sure to miss just enough that they think you’re one of theirs,” came the response. “Happy trails Romeo-Foxtrot, see you back at base.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Nine point five: Nemome Impune Lacessit

Major MacIntosh casually sidestepped a PPC from Joshua Wolf’s Black Knight and then turned to face the enemy Annihilator approaching from the side. Twitching his twin sticks to the left and squeezing the triggers, Macintosh’s Gauss Rifle blew open a hole in the side of the enemy 100-ton war machine which was followed by a flurry of SRMs. Then, hitting his jump jets, MacIntosh floated out of the way of yet another PPC from Wolf while he began systematically shredding the enemy Assault mech with his trio of ER medium lasers.

“Kerensky, would ye kindly take care of this one for me?” MacIntosh asked as he turned and moved away from the Annihilator to deal with a Marauder that had been worrying one of his lancemates.

“Solid copy lead,” David replied as he and his Fiance began to engage the enemy assault mech. “We’ll take care of it for you.”

The Northwind Native didn’t respond at first, and when he chanced a glance at what MacIntosh was doing he almost stopped pouring fire into the Annihilator.

The Major and his Lancemate in an Atlas were ripping the Marauder to shreds with their mech’s hands while also avoiding fire from some of the other war machines.

“Annihilator is down, Major,” Elsa spoke up as she finished off the heavier mech. “We’re proceeding to engage other targets as the opportunity presents itself.”

“Good, make sure that you leave Wolf for last,” MacIntosh said as he once again triggered his jump jets. The Highlander spun rapidly and the Highlander’s knee came up and struck an enemy Grasshopper. The lighter machine shuddered from the hit while carving away at MacIntosh’s Highlander with its medium lasers before being forced to stop due to a reactor breach caused by one of Natasha’s Marauders.


“Alright,” MacIntosh finally spoke up on the open comms channels. “I have time to deal with ye now.” the massive olive drab Highlander turned to face Joshua Wolf’s Black Knight and instead of stopping simply engaged its jump jets again before a gauss round left the chamber of the massive gauss rifle. Moving rapidly over the battlefield and impacting the head of Joshua Wolf’s mech. The heavy mech continued running until it no longer received input from the user, causing the Black Knight to bury itself in the side of the small hill.

“Is Wolf dead?” David asked as he moved from enemy mech to enemy mech, making sure that each one was down for the count.

“Nay, he’s a bit rattled though,” MacIntosh chuckled. “We’ll have to dig him out and get him some medical attention, but he should be fine after that.”

“I’ll get the salvage and recovery teams out,” David said while making his Crockett shrug. “I guess the Black Watch really does live up to the hype.”

“No one Provokes me with Impunity,” was the only response that MacIntosh gave as they surveyed the wreckage of the battlefield.




Author's Note: Here's the battle that occurred while the rest of the invasion force was dealing with the standard forces. I wanted to leave a lot of it to your imagination without getting super critical in the details. I have this listed as a half chapter as a result of the length as well.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty: Everyone is the Hero (in their own story)

In the void, April 4, 3036

"We got the power supply issues fixed boss, we're ready to move to engage whenever you are."

"Good, we have finally have a confirmed path in which we can intercept Hull," the man replied. "We need all of the fleet repaired and ready for when we engage and destroy him."

"Boss, why the focus on Hull? I'm not trying to correct you or anything, but we have a Warship, we could raid just about anywhere we wanted to and get away with the loot."

"Hull has personally offended me," Pirate Lord Kalvin Bar-Dyness replied. "We shall seek him out and utterly destroy him and his lineage before we move to raid the regional capitals."

"We're behind you sir, you brought all of the pirate bands together after all."

"We all seek profit, all I did was make sure that we were more effectively able to make use of what we had stolen by finding us a safe harbor," Kalvin replied. "The Marian Hegemony was grateful that we chose to do business with them, and they accepted the remnants of the factories that we had found as an acceptable trade for us making them our new home after the destruction that Hull visited on our previous safe haven."

"Why lie to that Kristofur fellow then?"

"I did not lie, I merely distorted and twisted the truth. He asked for us to distract the rest of the Federated Suns Allies and prevent them from committing their forces," the pirate lord had a wicked smirk on his face as he thought about the trick that he had pulled on the Word of Blake. "We did provide a distraction, but it was not enough to prevent their destruction, and instead opened up corridors to what we wanted."

"We have places that are normally heavily guarded now opened up for raiding," Kalvin smiled. "We are going to seize the opportunity and take everything that isn't nailed down. But first, I want to get my revenge, and then I will go and join in the raiding parties."





New Avalon, July 30, 3036

Vesar Kristofur slowly woke up from his chemically induced slumber, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as he tasted the strange chemical aftertaste that always was left behind from modern sedatives.

"Well, it seems that you've at least given me a five star prison cell," Kristofer smiled to himself. "I love the decor. After all, what better way to taunt me than to have the evidence of my failures on the fielding."

The ceiling, walls, and floors were all mirrored one way glass. Which meant that everywhere that Kristofur turned was an image of himself. The only thing that wasn't mirrored was the lone bed in the corner next to a toilet.

"Well, is anyone going to speak to me?" Kristofur asked and then waited. "Ahh, isolation to see if I will break." The man folded his arms and sat down on the flat shelf that sufficed as a bed.

—
—

"How long are you planning on leaving him in there?" Hanse asked as he looked down on the man who had ordered and orchestrated the death of his brother.

"We're going to give him twenty-four hours of isolation and no food until the time is up," Ardan Sortek replied. "We managed to locate and bring in your nephew, he should be arriving in a day or so."

"I want every single piece of intel you can pull out of Kristofur cross analyzed and gone over by both our people and that of our allies," Hanse said stroking his chin where the beginnings of a beard were growing. "I'm bringing Dana with me to meet the boy and his mother. It is not their fault that they were caught up in this scheme of the terrorists after all."

"Just try not to let your emotions run wild," Ardan cautioned. "It's going to hurt a little at first."

"I'll have Dana with me," Hanse said. "She'll help me out if I get overwhelmed."

"Mark is supposed to be arriving in a couple of months," Sortek said. "I would consult with both him and with the Steiners before making any decisions about bringing him into the official line of succession."

"I'll take that into consideration," Hanse replied. "I'll be in my quarters should anything that I need to know about happen."

"Have a good night Hanse," Sortek said as he moved to sit at a desk nearby. "I'll keep you posted on everything."





August 6, 3036

"Ms. Avellar," Hanse greeted the woman who was his nephew's mother. "I take it this is little Michael?"

"It is," the woman answered curtly, eying Hanse and his bodyguards with suspicion. "Are there anymore tests that you would like to run your highness?" Venom shown in her voice.

"No, and I apologize for anything that may have distressed Michael during this entire process," Hanse knelt down to get a look at the three-year-old that was hiding behind his mother's legs. "Hello there Michael, I'm your Uncle Hanse, would you like to see the rest of the palace? I have a couple of Mechs that you might want to see."

Michael's eyes lit up at the thought of seeing a real life Mech and he walked around the front of his mother before looking up with a questioning look at her face. "Can I go look?"

"I guess so, but stay close to your uncle, I don't want you getting lost," the Avellar lady replied before Dana diverted her attention while Hanse took the boy away to see the rest of the palace.

"You look so much like your father," Hanse said as he picked the child up and sling him onto his shoulders. "Let's get you into a Mech, and see if you take after him as well."

—
—

"Now Kristofur, can we go over this again?" Ardan asked the man who was being chemically interrogated.

"I told you to call me Kris, we're friends after all," the once Precentor ROM spoke to one of his reflections.

"I'm not sure he has anymore information to give us," Ardan whispered to an aid. "Let's ease him off of the drugs until he's lucid again. He'll need the ability to focus in order to communicate with his lawyer after all."

"We're actually giving him and the rest of them a fair trial?" The aid asked incredulously as they left the mirrored room and sealed it behind them.

"We have laws, and despite my wish to bypass them sometimes they are still necessary," Sortek replied. "So they get a trial, and then an execution of their choice."

"That's too good for scum like them," the aid replied. "But I guess I somewhat understand it."

"It's less about whether they deserve it or not " Sortek replied. "And more so that we are a nation under the rule of law, and must conduct ourselves as such or lose the moral high ground against our foes."