Falcon's Rising

Original Chapter 1
    • Blood on the Horizon (Alternate beginnings)

    Unknown Star system, Manassas March 15, 3000

    "It's a good thing I'm descended from generations of farmers," I sighed as I looked at the seed stocks that had been stowed away in vacuum-sealed containers. "I'm gonna have to load up some of those tractors too."

    Thankfully, the Star League Engineers had long since figured out how to move cargo from Warships and Jumpships and into the dropships docked to them, and I simply had to follow directions to transfer the equipment over.

    "I'm not going to need the ASFs," I removed the Stuka and other ASF from the Last of Us' bays and began moving over what I would need to live down on the surface below. "So let's do something useful."

    Two multipurpose tractors were relocated into the bays, with seeds and everything else that would be needed, stowed where the munitions once would have gone.

    Then, I carefully moved the specialty gear that I was bringing along as well, a computer core and some other advanced tech. The Nighthawk might be somewhat bulky, but it could make the difference if I needed to do some heavy lifting.





    "Sorry, old girl," I patted the Manassas before moving into the Last of Us, the emergency lighting dimming out into an inky blackness as the generators ran through the shutdown sequence I had started. "You did good, I'm just not the man to get you working again."

    I floated downward into the dropship as a tear fluttered away.

    Hitting the switch, I detached the dropship from the docking clamps and sat down in the pilot's chair before strapping in.

    Using the controls, I triggered the maneuvering thrusters, the small jets pushing the nose of the dropship away from the Manassas and settling on the course the autopilot plotted out.

    Once the minimum safe distance had been reached, the computers triggered the fusion drives, the acceleration slowly increasing the gravity until it reached a pleasant 1G.

    Unstrapping myself from the chair, I made my way into the ship's gym. A weeklong journey was no excuse to let my discipline slack.

    –
    –

    It turns out that landing a dropship was easy if all you had to do were follow the basic instructions the computer gave you. But I didn't even want to think about attempting a landing under a combat scenario.

    The thrusters of the Last of Us beat local physics into place as the dropship eased down in an open plain, the legs extended to stabilize the Confederate as she scorched the earth below.

    "Air's breathable," I looked at the scans. "Looks like 1.1Gs, and a thirty-six hour day."

    I pulled the SLN uniform off and sighed in relief as I slid a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt on, the tennis-shoes finishing the wear as I lowered the ramp and walked outside, the fresh air and sunlight bringing a grin to my face.

    "She's a bit of a fixer-upper," I looked out over the field at the distant trees. "But I think she's home."






    Two years later…

    "This is the life," I leaned back against the log cabin I had built and chuckled as I looked at the planted field in front of me, the nearby chicken's clearing out the few insects that had made their way into the crops I had planted.

    The handful of buildings that I had constructed over the last two years were powered by a spare fusion generator. The chickens had come from fertilized eggs that had been stored on the Manassas, and the first batch had barely made it with the jury-rigged incubator that I had made. After a year or so, though, I had enough chickens that I could eat both eggs and chickens when I felt like it. The few roosters that I had kept around and out of the cooking pot took care of the flocks while I tended to the wheat and vegetable gardens.

    The planet was too cool to grow coffee beans, but I didn't find that I needed them anymore. My life was content, even if it was a lonely one. Maybe after this harvest, I would hook up the cry pod and see if I could sleep away some of the years.

    Shaking my head, I stopped woolgathering and used the nearby ladder to climb into the Warhammer that was parked outside of my cabin, the view giving me a vantage point over most of the valley.

    Taking a sip of the water I had with me, I closed my eyes and leaned back against the missile racks before opening them to see the local sun dipping below the horizon and showering the area with streaks of purple and blue.

    "Some things, are worth watching, no matter how many times you get to see it."

    After watching the sun set, I climbed down and went back into the cabin, the lights coming on as the darkness settled over the planet, the stars becoming visible as the alien sky stared back at me.

    –
    –

    "Year two," I spoke into a small voice recorder as I sat down to eat my dinner. "Rescue beacon is good and apparently able to last for sixty to seventy years before needing service. I'm going to look into going for the stasis option once I've taken care of this year's harvest."

    I took a bite and chewed thoughtfully as I thought about what to say next. "Chickens are probably going to need to be set up for the future if I do so. While I haven't seen any local predators that doesn't mean they don't exist."

    I drank some more water before turning to my science experiment and pouring a small glass.

    "Vodka test forty-five," I muttered as I sipped the shot, a small grimace on my face as I swallowed. "We're closer on the distillation process," I coughed. "But they should have written the directions better on the data core."

    I drank some more water to wash down the taste before moving over to my bed.

    "I'll have to go check on the dropship tomorrow," I made a mark on the rough wall to signify another day having passed. "Make sure that it's faring the elements well."

    And so, closing my eyes, I drifted off to sleep, the sound of the wind and creek acting as my lullaby.

    Author's Note: This is the other way I considered writing Blood on the Horizon. It's not quite as fantastical. No Warship piloting, no merc unit. Just someone trying to Robinson Crusoe his life as he's stranded. At least… That is until the Clans show up.
     
    • Original Chapter 2
    • Unnamed world, 3015

    "I hate that thing," I coughed violently as I glared at the cryo-pod while rubbing away the cold.

    Grabbing the clothing I had stored away in this section of the Last of Us, I got dressed, the cargo pants and flannel bringing some warmth as the socks and boots insulated my feet from the cold.

    "That's better," I poured a small cup of my precious coffee stash and sipped at it as the warm liquid began to heat my body. "Now it's time to check and see how the Chickens fared."

    Leaving the Dropship, I walked the quarter mile, nodding to myself as I saw how the wild versions of the crops I had been growing took over my previously nicely kept fields.

    "And there are the chickens," I absentmindedly noted that they had increased in overall size before pushing on into the cabin. "Holy shit! I stumbled backward as a chicken the size of a turkey looked at me from where it had been eating away at a small bit of feed that I had left in the cabin before I went into stasis.

    "You're definitely going to be dinner. And probably tomorrow's meal too," I clapped my hands together and slipped some gloves on before grabbing the chicken by the feet.

    –
    –

    "So, a lack of any major predators has meant that the chickens were able to grow to an extraordinary size," I bit into the fried chicken breast that was in my hands. "And the flavor is like nothing I've had."

    I shrugged and continued eating my meal. The rest of the chicken pieces were safely stored in the refrigerated section of the cabin I had built.

    "The Cabin has held up incredibly well in the ten years I was in stasis," I continued dictating to the voice recorder on my phone. "There isn't a lot I'll have to reinforce, but what little damage there is can be easily fixed. I'll clear out the beginnings of the field this week and then go explore some more. I've got some fairly decent maps, but I want to see if there's any chance some of the Manassas' crew took one of the small craft that was missing from the hanger."

    I stood up and brought my dishes to my small sink before washing them and setting them aside to dry.

    "Five years of farming, and ten years of stasis," I looked at the markings I had made on the wall to indicate the months that had gone by. "I think I made the right decision to come here instead of trying to get the Manassas working."

    I moved over to the bed and eased myself in with a sigh of relief, pulling the SLDF standard-issue blanket over me before falling asleep.






    "Come on, Bobby B," I climbed up onto the Warhammer, clearing off the ivy-like vines that had grown onto the machine. The green SLDF standard paint blending in fairly well. "Let's get you awake and running. We've got some exploring to do."

    Running through the steps, I brought the mech online and grinned as Betty began telling me that the systems began working again.

    Booting up the mapping software that was included in the mech's programs, I looked over the old maps I had taken before going to sleep and nodded. It was time to see if there was anything else worth finding on this planet out in the middle of nowhere.

    Flipping the weapons suite offline, I pushed the mech into a moderate pace and speed and began to retrace my previous mapping session steps. I wanted to know everything about my new home."

    –
    –

    "Well, we've got some sort of mineral deposits," I said as I flipped through the magscan. "No clue what they are, but they're there."

    Making a note on the map, I looked up and grinned. So there were predators on this planet. They just lived in a different area than my cabin.

    "Looks like I get to have a bear skin rug," I cycled the mech down into an idle before grabbing a rifle and slinging it over m shoulder. "And where there's a predator, there's a prey animal around."






    I followed the massive brown bear from a safe distance as it seemingly tracked some sort of prey animal, the five meter long bear pausing periodically to sniff the ground and other areas before continuing on.

    "What are you tracking?" I asked from my perch in a tree that overlooked the entire area, using the rifle's scope to try and see if there were anything ahead of the bear that I was missing.

    "Oh," I removed my eye from the scope to look at a giant elk. "Looks like we're eating good for a while, I tucked the laser rifle into my shoulder and lined up the sights, gently squeezing the trigger before swapping to the bear. "I'm gonna need Bobby B," I muttered as I turned to go grab the Warhammer. The equipment I had slung over its shoulder before leaving would be needed for this.

    –
    –

    "Whelp, I'm pretty sure that hands would have been a better option," I smirked as the two animals hung from the 'Hammer's shoulders. "But I think this works."

    "I need a picture," I made sure to get a solid picture of both animals and their comparative sizes to the 'mech. "No one would believe me back home. They'd think it was photoshopped or something."

    Climbing up the ladder and back into the cockpit of the Bobby B, I began a slow walk back to my camp. I had some new meat to try.
     
    • Original chapter 3
    • Alternate beginnings 3

    Unknown world, 3049

    "This is Star Colonel Marthe Pryde of the Jade Falcon Clan, who do you bid for the defense of this world?" A voice broke into my dreams as I stumbled awake.

    "Any chance you can repeat that?" I asked after I woke myself up with my last cup of coffee. "I'm afraid you caught me while I was asleep. Thirty-six hour days are killer on a sleep cycle." I yawned.

    "This is Star Colonel Marthe Pryde of the Jade Falcon Clan, who do you bid for the defense of this world?"

    I started awake as the realization hit me. Even if they were Clanners, real, live people would be here, and soon.

    "This is Mark Hull, I bid myself and my Warhammer to defend this world," I finally replied, leaving my cabin and clearing off the new vines that had grown onto the mech while I was in stasis.

    The modified 'mech struggled to start at first, the years having been somewhat unkind to it as the weather had beaten it down, but in the end, the fusion engine rumbled to life as I stripped down to my shorts and hooked the neurohelmet and cooling vest into the bipedal war machine.

    –
    –
    A Summoner stepped out of the distant trees, my eyes telling me what 'mech I was facing even if the Warhammer did not.

    "This is going to go poorly," I sighed as Ia pair of lasers narrowly missed, carving burn marks into the my overgrown fields and setting small fires among the dried out corn.

    With a twist, I snapped off a PPC bolt, the shot going wide and tearing a tree in half as a slightly smaller pair of beams melted off armor, a small group of missiles detonating against my armor.

    I moved closer, my SRMs getting plucked from the sky as I alternated fire with my PPCs, the lack of practice obvious in my lack of accuracy.

    I finally reached short range, and forgoing any subtlety, I slammed the throttle down, accelerating from my moderate pace to max in a few short seconds, and then tucking down, I slammed my 'mech's right shoulder into the Summoner.

    As the Clan 'mech rocked back, I slapped the button that was carefully labeled "do not touch!", all of my weapons carving away armor and revealing the reactor on the other 'mech before a handful of my double heat sinks failed, my mech shutting down from the excess heat as sweat dripped off my bare torso.

    "You fight well for a freebirth," Marthe said as she kicked over my unresponsive 'Hammer and pointed her lasers at my cockpit. "I hereby claim you as my bondsman, Freebirth Hull. Surrender your 'mech and this world to us."

    "Powering down now," I replied, shutting down the Warhammer before popping the hatch, the cool air washing over me as I pulled a fresh pair of jeans and flannel from my footlocker and onto my body.

    "Well," I sighed and pulled out a cigar I had held onto from the Manassas. "Guess this is as good a time as any."

    Lighting the cigar, I puffed on it as a handful of dropships began their descent while a pair of Elementals climbed up onto my 'Hammer.

    "Come with us, Bondsman," one of them spat.

    "One minute," I replied. "I'm just enjoying my last moment of freedom."

    After I finished my cigar, the Elementals escorted me back to the Last of Us while a salvage team began working over my 'mech.

    "This dropship is ancient," A woman in typical mechwarrior gear said as I was shoved aboard. "As is the signal that we received when we arrived in this system."

    She turned to face me. "You are clearly a survivor from the SLS Manassas. The graves nearby indicate that you are the last to remain. So tell me, relic of the past. How have you survived where others did not?"
     
    • Original Chapter 4
    • Chapter 4

    “So tell me, relic of the past. How have you survived where others did not?"

    “Honestly,” I shrugged. “I have no idea why I’m alive when others are not. I’m only able to maintain what I have here. And barely at that,” I shook my head. “ I guess I was just lucky. I’ve simply been here farming, It’s all that is left to me after leaving the Manassas. If I’m honest, I didn’t expect to wake up having to fight for my life after spending so long here alone.

    Silence fills the Last of Us’s cargo hold as Marthe considers me.

    “Come,” Marthe Pryde gives a gesture and the Elemental behind me pokes me forward a bit. “Your bondcord,” She holds up a woven bracelet. “You will need this if you are to serve.”

    Grabbing my right hand, she secured the Bondcord on my wrist and nodded as she did so.

    “You will serve as my personal technician,” Marthe said as she stepped back. “One day, you may earn your place among our warriors, but for now, you will serve under me. She gives me a considering look. “You are not weak or feeble, so you will train with my Cluster,” Her eyes narrow at me. “And you will learn to speak properly, or there will be… Consequences, Aff?”

    “Acknowledged,” I replied. “Anything else?”

    “Yes,” She looked at my face. “Your beard and hair are… Unkempt, rectify it, or I will do so. A Bondsman reflects on the Bondholder.”






    The Jade Falcon Clan techs cleaned up the Last of Us, removing the personal effects and stowing the equipment properly before a handful of pilots climbed in and ignited the Fusion torches, the spheroid lifting off to join a war once again.

    “Come, relic, I am senior tech Jasper,” A tech gestured for me to follow him. “You must get fitted for a uniform and acquainted with Star Colonel Pryde’s mech, Quiaff?”

    “Sure,” I absentmindedly stroked my now closely cropped beard, the lack of length somewhat bothering me. “Lead the way.”

    The Tech glared at me for my nonchalance before shaking his head and motioning for me to follow him.

    “Your lack of respect will be your end, relic,” the tech sighed as he gestured to the repair gantries. “I will assume that you are not familiar with more than the basics, and as such, begin your instruction. You will do everything that you are told or I will ensure that you are dealt with harshly by the Star Colonel.”

    “Understood,” I looked the slightly larger man in the eye. “Now, are we going to get started? Or are you going to stand around and bitch at me all day?”

    –
    –

    “You are not as illiterate as I had thought,” Jasper finally said begrudgingly after testing me. “You still have much to learn about our systems. But you are… Acceptable for one who was a freebirth warrior.”

    After that, the days passed with me learning how Omnimechs worked in detail, with Jasper walking me through setting up the connections and testing me on everything that he taught.

    “It’s a shame,” I sighed and shrugged off the small glare I got at the contraction. “I had much better food down there.”

    “We secured what food stores you left behind,” Jasper looked at the food we were eating. “There was nothing exotic about them, all that was there were basic proteins and grains.”

    “You just don’t get it,” I chuckled wryly as I ate a spoonful of the tasteless soup. “Good food is more than basic sustenance. It is about connecting with others and bonding over a great experience. Give me two hours with some of my chicken and potatoes, maybe some spices. I’ll have you a meal that you’d be salivating over.”

    “I shall take your word for it,” Jasper finished his bowl before standing and bringing his bowl to the washing area where he quickly cleaned his eating utensils before sealing them in a bag that he carried with him. “Come, our sleep cycle will begin soon.”






    The months went by as I trained on Theseus, Marthe Pryde’s personal Omnimech. With the trueborn Star Colonel occasionally coming and inspecting the work I was doing.

    “I do not follow the standard configurations,” Marthe informed me one day as both she and Jasper looked over my work. “I find that they are not what I desire for most forms of combat. Jasper will provide you with the likely configurations that I will use. But be prepared to modify those should it prove necessary.”

    I remain silent as I look at the Summoner in the dropship’s bay, a frown on my face.

    “Continue training him as you have,” Marthe turned to walk away. “We shall be in combat soon, and I require my technician on the ground prepared to do as is required of him.”

    “Aff,” Jasper acknowledged before turning to me. “Your training shall be increased, I will not accept one who is inefficient on the battlefield.”

    I scratched at my Bondcord absentmindedly as I looked at the Omnimech.

    “Lots of work to be done,” I chuckled. “I doubt I’ll be used all that much.”

    “The Star Colonel does not make idle statements, Relic,” Jasper disagreed. “You will see.”

    —
    —

    “What is it that you are doing here, Bondsman?” A stocky brown-haired Star Commander asked as I climbed out of the sim pod. “Were you granted permission to utilize the training pods at this time?

    “Neg,” I replied as I pulled my technician’s uniform back on. “I only have a few time slots in which I can train. So I take advantage of it when I can.”

    “There is scheduled time for the pods,” the man stared intensely. “Seeing as you have failed to make yourself aware of such, minor surkai is owed. Should you ever wish your cord to be cut, you must show responsibility, for one without awareness cannot be trusted on the battlefield.”

    “I understand, Star Commander,” I responded. “What would you have me do?”

    “Run a maintenance cycle on the pods when I am finished,” the man replied. “I will seek counsel with your Bondholder for your surkai.”

    I nodded and stood waiting until the Clan Mechwarrior left the pod.

    “Bondsman, who holds your cord?”

    “Star Colonel Pryde,” I leaned down and began running the standard maintenance on the pod.

    “I shall consult with her,” he redressed himself in his uniform. “Continue performing your assigned duties.”

    With a sharp turn, the Mechwarrior walks away, leaving the room in silence as I continued working.

    “Clanners,” I sighed. “At least it’s not the Mist Kittens.”
     
    • Original Chapter 5
    • Chapter 5

    “Bondsman!” Marthe Pryde’s voice rings loud over the noise of the repair bay.

    “One minute!” I yell out from my position elbow deep in myomer muscles. “I think I found the issue, test it now!” I called out to Jasper.

    The Myomer muscles flexed as Jasper spiked a bit of juice from the reactor down to it, the muscle finally reacting as it was supposed to now that a piece of debris had been removed.

    “Yes, ma’am,” I turned to face my Bondholder.

    “I see that you are working on the relic that we pulled you out of,” Marthe crossed her arms as she stared me down. “While it is clearly functional, this ‘mech requires much before it could be considered equal to any mech among our warriors.”

    “I am utilizing the damaged Warhammer as a teaching device,” Jasper dropped down from the ‘mech’s cockpit. “It is useful as a base for instruction.”

    “Continue working,” Marthe said to Jasper after a moment. “Relic, come with me.”

    “Your drive to improve is impressive,” She said after we had exited the bay. “But due to your lack of foresight, you now owe me Surkai for intervening on your behalf. As such, you will be training with me in both close-quarters combat as well as receiving instruction on your place in the command structure. Should you prove yourself capable of learning, I will see to it that a place is cleared on the schedule for you. Should you not, then I will ensure that you face the consequences of your actions, Quiaff?”

    “Aff,” I nodded. “I am at your service, Star Colonel.”

    “As you should be,” she smirked. “And Freebirth,” She turned to face me. “See to it that you do not put me in a position of owing Surkai again or you will greatly regret it.”





    “For one with your mass, you are unfamiliar with how to properly utilize it to your advantage,” Marthe said as she released me from yet another hold she had placed me in, my arm straining from the arm bar. “Are you unfamiliar with any of this? According to our records, all who were members of the SLDF were at least somewhat trained in hand-to-hand combat.”

    “Basic training only covers the most basic of self-defense,” I rubbed at my left arm where it had been strained. “It was a bit of grappling and that was it.”

    “You will need work,” Marthe stood up, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “But I believe you can be taught, even if you are an old man,” she taunted before darting in and hammering my side with a quick jab.

    “I am not that old,” I protested.

    “Neg,” she shook her head as I barely dodged a snap kick. “You are nearly three hundred years old. Regardless of what methods you have used to survive, your age does not change.”

    I lunged forward and attempted to grab onto Marthe’s wrist, narrowly missing as she twisted away and drove her elbow into my solar plexus, driving the air out of my lungs and folding me over as she used my weight against me, throwing me over her head as she latched on and wrapped her legs around my neck while her arms locked my elbow into place.

    “Aggressive,” she commented as she breathed rapidly. “While you should be aggressive, your center of gravity was not low enough to prevent me from using it against you,” She released her hold as I gasped for air. “Jasper is trained in hand to hand, you shall learn from him before I instruct you again, Quaiff?”

    “Aff,” I gasped out.

    “Come, the medtechs shall check you over,” Marthe pulled me to my feet and pointed towards the infirmary. “Permanent damage would harm your value to the Clan.”





    April 10, 3050 Bensinger, Federated Commonwealth

    The dropship burned for the planet ‘below’ as all of the techs continued working hard to ensure that the ‘mechs and elemental suits were ready for combat. Even the slightest mistake could spell disaster here, and there was much to do.

    “Go check on those connections,” Jasper pointed at a nearby Adder. “We have been dealing with issues with the omnipod in that one.”

    Using a nearby gantry, I climbed the stairs and settled into a position where I could take a look at the inner workings of the ‘mech’s pods.

    “PPC link looks like it took damage!” I yelled over to the chief tech. “Might be a simple swap or we might have to change the unit out entirely.”

    “Check the linkage first,’ Jasper instructed. “We’ll work our way up from there.”

    I disconnected the power from the omnipod before I moved off of the gantry and signaled a nearby forklift operator.

    “I need a PPC linkage!” I yelled out over the beeping of his machine.

    The operator nodded before spinning around and heading over to where the racks of spare parts were. The operator then grabbed the pallet with his forks and brought it over, lowering it to the level that I needed.

    Grabbing the hoist, I strapped the linkage to it and pulled it off of the pallet, letting the forklift go back to the other job he was doing.

    And then, with the secondary hoist, I pulled the current link out and began replacing the connections, the repair hopefully working if the omnipod was not further damaged.

    Restoring the connection to the reactor, I breathed a sigh of relief as nothing seemed to go wrong.

    Climbing over the shoulder of the light ‘mech, I popped the hatch and began running systems checks, the ‘noteputer that I plugged into the Adder giving me a more detailed readout than the cockpit.

    “Everything checks out,” I ran the computer through the simulated test firing, the readout telling me that everything went smoothly.

    “Adder is fixed!” I reported to Jasper. “Where else do you need me?”

    “Your rotation is up, go get some rack time. Star Colonel Pryde will need you on standby to repair her ‘mech.”

    Giving a sharp nod, I cleaned the dirt and grime from my face and arms before moving through the cramped dropship to my shared bunk.

    The other mechtech I shared the bunk with finished zipping up his uniform and gave me a brief look before walking out and down the corridor.

    “I might hate hot bunking,” I sighed. “But at least it’s a bed.” I stripped down to a pair of shorts and crawled into the still-warm bed, my eyes closing as I laid my head down on the pillow as the exhaustion caught up to me.

    “Night world,” I yawned. “Next stop, war.”
     
    • Original chapter 6
    • Chapter 6

    "It looks like you took some damage," I mused to the Star Colonel as she climbed down the ladder of her Summoner.

    "Some of the defenders showed great skill," Marthe agreed. "Ensure that Theseus is rearmored. And see to it that my pods are swapped to my default configuration. I see no need to expend more ammunition than is necessary for each foe."

    "I will get them swapped over," I nodded. "Theseus will be ready when you get back. Are we expecting more combat?"

    "We have eradicated the local defenders," Marthe shrugged. "I expect that my cluster shall be repositioned provided that we are a part of the next bid."

    She moved to leave before pausing and turning around and meeting my eyes. "Tell me, Bondsman. How would you move to take Terra?"

    "Do you want my honest opinion?" I asked, setting down the tools I had collected to begin working with.

    "Aff, I desire to hear how you would begin," She folded her arms over her chest.

    "Give me a minute," I muttered, moving over to my work area where I had a map of the Inner Sphere that was dated from when the Exodus had begun.

    "So," I began as I spread the map out over a worktable. "If your ultimate goal is to take Terra only, then you should stick to as few jump points as possible," I pointed out worlds that would take a direct path to the birthplace of Humanity. "All of your Jumpships have Lithium-Fusion batteries, so you can move through, hit the few worlds that are on the outskirts of Terra to provide you with a buffer zone, and then take Comstar by surprise." I used a marker to draw a small circle around Terra. "But if your goal is to completely take over the Inner Sphere…" I trailed off. "Then you are going to end up grinding to a halt. It might not be now, but eventually, the Federated Commonwealth will build up enough to take back everything that was lost and push you back. The advantages you possess can only take you so far."

    "Hmm," Star Colonel Pryde leaned over the map and considered what I had said. "Interesting. I am not the Khan and do not claim to know the mind of my Khan and SaKhan. Your opinion is noted, and I will take it into consideration."

    "I may be wrong," I shrugged. "Your momentum might carry far enough to push through clear to Terra. But I would not be certain of it."

    "I may seek your opinion as we push further," Marthe said as she allowed me to roll up the map again. "As you were."

    Nodding, I glanced out into the trees as the sun began to set, catching a small glint of light reflecting.

    "Get down!" I tackled the smaller mechwarrior to the ground as a sharp "Crack!" echoed and a bullet bounced around the interior of the 'mech bay, eventually finding purchase in another tech's leg. Bolting up, I grabbed a medkit and began tending to the other mechtech as an Adder filled the nearby copse of trees with flames from the fixed flamer.

    "You're going to be okay," I told the tech as I pulled down tight on the tourniquet, his screams filling the air.

    Tightening down on the windlass, I stopped the blood flow before packing the wound and wrapping a bandage around it, and putting pressure down.

    "Good work," the medic nodded at me as he and a small group lifted the mechtech onto a stretcher. "A reaction like that is to be commended."

    "Thanks," I exhaled, releasing the breath I had been holding while working.

    After they carted the wounded man away I sat down and breathed, the adrenaline fading and leaving me a wreck for a moment.

    "I'm too fucking old for this shit," I rubbed bloodied hands through my hair as I began to bring my breathing back into control. "I should be retired, not out here patching up youngsters like that."






    "Theseus is all setup and ready to go," Marthe Pryde considered her bondsman as he stood in front of her desk.

    "Relic," She inclined her head after a moment. "You have shown yourself worthy of having one of your cords cut," a knife appeared in her hand as she pulled it from a sheath on her waist. "Your wrist."

    Holding out his hand, she grabbed his wrist and cut the first section of the Bondcord off, the braided fabric falling to the ground. "You have shown yourself as courageous after the events of yesterday, and as such, are one step closer to becoming Jade Falcon."

    "You are dismissed," Marthe instructed after a moment of silence. "You may continue your duties."
    Marthe turned to her terminal and continued working on her paperwork.

    "Star Colonel," a knock came on her office door as Darya Pryde entered.

    "Star Commander," Marthe greeted the junior officer. "Is there something that I can assist you with?"

    "Aff," the other woman entered. "I owe you Surkai. I was on watch and failed to notice the freebirth that nearly killed you."

    Marthe thought about this for a minute.

    "There is no penance owed," the Star Colonel replied. "We were all found lacking in perception yesterday," she stood up to look the other Pryde in the eye. "We must remember that just because we occupy a world, does not mean that we rule it yet. We must expect that many will not immediately adhere to our ways, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," Darya nodded. "They are as bondsmen, and must be instructed properly."

    "We will see how long it is before they accept their place among the Clan," Marthe agreed. "But that is something that the occupying forces will have to consider. We shall be pushing forward to our next objective as the Khan commands."

    "And where are we to move to?" Darya asked.

    "It has not yet been decided," Marthe responded. "First, we are to establish the foothold here, then we move to strike."

    "Let us hope that we meet good foes," Darya grinned. "The forces we faced here were barely enough to cause armor damage."

    "I believe we will face more capable opponents as we move further," Marthe stated. "If the Scavenger Lords have been at war since the Great Father left, then it makes sense that their lesser forces are here."

    "Their elites are likely positioned on the borders then," Darya agreed. "Just as we position lesser Clusters to those clans that we are engaged in trade with."

    "Aff," Marthe paused as she thought of something. "Star Commander, how long would it take for us to bring extra forces to bear if we were caught by surprise with a foe that has forsaken Zellbrigen?"

    "It would depend on who we were facing," the other Falcon said thoughtfully.

    "It would indeed," Marthe replied, her brain running through various scenarios. "Star Commander, you are free to leave. I have much to consider."
     
    • Original Chapter 7
    • Chapter 7

    "I think she's up and running again," I wiped my hands off as I looked at the Warhammer that I had finally finished repairing.

    "The 'mech does seem to be working properly," Jasper sighed at the contraction. "Should you ever reach a place among our warriors, you may even be allowed to pilot it again. But I do not foresee that happening."

    "I have already had one of my cords cut," I replied. "What are two more when faced with the potential to be free?"

    "Neg," Jasper scoffed. "You are too old to survive as a warrior, even if you do accomplish your task of having your cord cut."

    "We will see," I climbed up the side of the Warhammer and began to check the readouts. "I am confident that I can do whatever it is that I set my mind to. Can you say the same, quiaff?"

    "You shall see," the lead technician gestured for me to leave the 'mech. "We have more work to do still, the Omnipods must be changed to suit the preferences of the warriors."

    "They are going to run out of ammunition if they're not careful," I noted. "I wish we could convince them to switch to energy-based armaments."

    "They will use what they see fit," Jasper shrugged. "We do not dictate what they are to use."

    "No, but we get a say in what happens," I shook my head. "They rely on us to maintain their machines, and I won't see us take the fall when they fall short of objectives because they are unwilling to listen. A proper warrior understands how important the weapons at their disposal are, and how to use them most effectively."

    "You are calling them wasteful?"

    "If they continue to disregard all logistical needs, yes," I replied. "Eventually, something will break. And I'm not looking forward to seeing what happens when it does."





    August 21, 3050 Blackjack, Federated Commonwealth

    "Damn," I looked at the Adder that limped back from combat, closely followed by a savaged Mad Dog. "Whoever they fought this time really put up a fight."

    "They were excellent warriors," Star Commander Darya Pryde agreed as she climbed out of her Adder, beads of sweat dripping down her body. "Several of them have been claimed as Bondsman as you were. For junior warriors, they fought with honor, and among them."

    "Star Commander," Jasper stepped forward, "Are there any instructions for us technicians?"

    "Aff," Darya shifted her gaze to the lead tech. "You will need to mobilize to recover our assets from the field. Several of our warriors have fallen, and their 'mechs will need to be retrieved."

    I nodded and moved to climb into one of the recovery vehicles.

    "Not you, bondsman," Darya called out. "You are to return with me to the field of battle. We will acclimate the new bondsman to our ways, and you will be useful." She turned and looked at the mangled mess of the ankle actuators on the Omnimech's left foot. "See to it that the actuator is replaced and that I am rearmored, I doubt that we will face serious opposition after the events of today, but I am not a fool."






    "I'm Mark," I introduced myself to the group of clustered cadets that made up the survivors of the Blackjack Training Battalion. "I can see you've met the new landowners."

    "I'll say," the group's oldest member looked me up and down. "I am, was Kommandant Dean Bristow."

    "Looks like you gave them hell," I chuckled.

    "Tried to, at least," Dean shrugged. "Mark Harris actually managed to take one of them down, and we got two others, but the rest of the unit's dead, and we're what's left."

    "I take it you want to know how things will go from here on out?" I asked.

    "Seems like you're our best chance of getting a straight answer around here," Bristow shrugged. "Not that our captors have been shady about answering, but it's hard to grasp what they're saying sometimes."

    "You're now a member of a caste-based society…"

    –
    –

    "So, we're better off than if we were in Drac hands?" Bristow summed everything up.

    "For the most part," I nodded. "There are a lot more cultural differences than you might think though. Their society is about as far from what we're used to as you can get. So, my advice is to listen, try to keep your heads down, and make a difference once you get the chance. You can either try to make a break for the Commonwealth or stick around here. The choice is yours."

    "Think we've got a shot?" one of the kids asked.

    "SIGINT is good, but these guys aren't exactly the greatest at HUMINT," I shrugged. "At least not yet. So you've got a chance, whether you take it or not, that's up to you."

    "We'll talk about it," the Kommandant replied. "Thank you for being willing to be upfront with us."

    "I'm in the same boat you are," I said with a sad smile. "Only difference is that I'm probably a bit more pessimistic than you are."

    "See y'all around," I walked away, feeling like a stranger to everyone I had met so far.

    The Clans, it made sense why I didn't fit in quite well with them, but it was when I met the Lyrans that it truly settled in for me. I was a stranger to this time, to the lifestyle, everything. It was one thing to have a 'mech or some tools that you used to carve a life for yourself out on a lonely rock. It was something entirely different to meet people that you've only ever read books about, who feel like they should be familiar, and yet are so alien and distinct that you feel like you're an entirely different kind of Human.

    "Heh," I grunted. "Guess Marthe's right, I am a relic of the past. And I don't know where I fit into this future."
     
    • Original chapter 8
    • Chapter 8

    "What?" I rolled out of bed, sleep still heavy in my eyes. "I just got in the bunk."

    "I'm sorry," one of the bondsmen from Blackjack incline his head. "You helped us all out, and I respect that, but I'm afraid you haven't stopped them."

    "Because it's possible for one man in a battlemech to stop an invasion," I rollled my eyes at the trainee. "There anything else you wanted to complain about?"

    "I'm sorry it has to be this way," he lunged forward with a knife.

    Twisting to the side, I deflected the blow to my arm, the edge carving a bloody line through my arm before the man's momentum carried him too far forward.

    Rotating, I grabbed his wrist and attempted to lock his joint in place as the blood dripped down my arm.

    Driving my elbow into his side, he dropped the knife before catching it in his other hand and stabbing at my side.

    "Fuck," I grunted as the knife stopped on one of my ribs.

    Adrenaline spiking, and my enemy's knife stuck, I took my chance. Driving my foot into his knee, a sharp "Crack!" Resounded through the air as his knee bent at an unnatural angle.

    As the man screamed in pain, I spun behind and pulled him into a choke hold, wrapping my legs around and pinning the rest of his legs while I squeezed as tight as possible.

    Only after he had slumped over did I release the hold.

    "Medkit," I muttered as I dug through my duffel bag, grabbing my emergency supplies and stemming some of my bleeding before tapping on the intercom system. "I need a medical team in 11-C," I glanced down at the body on my floor. "Might need a body bag too."

    As voices began chattering over the speakers, I began wrapping my arm up with gauze, tightly binding it before looking at the knife embedded into me.

    I didn't know how to deal with that wound, so I left it alone for now as I took stock of everything else.

    He had gotten my leg sometime in the struggle, and I was starting to get lightheaded.

    "Not sure if he's dead or not," I slurred. "But he got me pretty good."






    I woke up to the sound of medical devices beeping, and the smell of the cleaning agent that hospitals have used for over a thousand years.

    Blinking away the black spots, I noted that the room was darkened, and the slight light that shone through the window was that of a distant moon.

    An IV was embedded into left arm, and my right was wrapped in bandages, with the Bodcord that had been there missing entirely.

    "I see you are awake," a doctor entered the room. "You lost quite a bit of blood. And, had his knife been a centimeter up or down, you would not be among the living. As it is, you are healing nicely. I expect you to be back and able to perform most of your duties in two weeks."

    "Is there anything else?" I asked.

    "Neg," the doctor shook his head. "Rest and recover. The Clan needs all of its warriors."

    —
    —

    "Star Colonel," I nodded at Marthe as I entered her office. "You wanted to see me?"

    "Aff," she stood up and moved closer to examine the bandages. "Your cord was severed in your struggle," she held out a new one with only one strand. "Your opponent killed two of my warriors in the night before attempting to do the same to you," she brought out a knife and cut the cord. "You are no longer a Bondsman, but are one of the Jade Falcon Clan. When you are capable of it, you will be piloting your relic into battle as a member of my Star, Quiaff?"

    "Star Colonel," I interjected. "What if I do not desire to be a warrior? I have found peace with working as a technician."

    "You are wasted as a mere technician," Marthe's voice brooked no argument. "I will not waste resources," she paused. "But I understand that a replacement will need to be trained. I will allow you time for that, and then you will take your new position."


    Author's note: A handful of smaller chapters after the hurricane. But at least I'm up and writing again.
     
    • Original Chapter 9
    • Chapter 9

    "Jasper," I nodded at the lead tech, moving to do a final inspection of my 'Hammer. "Just the armor, right?"

    "I do not understand why you wish to continue utilizing outdated technology," Jasper shook his head. "But yes, we have completed the armor upgrade."

    "My Warhammer already has better tech than most of the Inner Sphere," I shrugged. "I'm not quite the warrior or pilot that the others are, and I'm not going to take weapons away from those who might use them better."

    "Will you never learn to speak properly?" Jasper sighed.

    "Not if I can help it," I chuckled, turning and walking away. "I've used contractions all my life, Jasper. And I'm an old man, I'm not likely to change the way I speak now."

    "Fine," Jasper bit out. "Now leave, Warrior, I have to train your replacement."

    "Alright," I turned and began to walk out of the bay. "Let me know if you need any help with the Star Colonel's or my own 'mech. I'll be willing to help out wherever I can."

    "We shall see," Jasper began working again. "We shall see."





    September 11, 3050 Leskovik, Federated Commonwealth

    "I take it they did not respond to the Batchall?" I asked Star Commander Darya Pryde.

    "Neg," her Adder shifted as it pulled ahead of my 'Hammer. "They have not, and aside from the few that contested our landing, there were none to face us."

    "Which means that we are to find them and ensure that they are destroyed," one of the Elementals clinging to my armor laughed. "We will find them and crush them beneath our talons!"

    I merely sighed and followed the Star Commander's lead, my 'Hammer keeping pace with the Summoner, Hellbringer, and Adder.

    "'Mech powerup detected," Betty informed me, the computer identifying a Commando as it raced ahead, the 'mech dodging the few shots that were fired as it moved away.

    "Begin pursuit," Pryde ordered before she swapped channels. "Star Colonel, we have found the enemy. He appears to be heading toward the refinery."

    "Understood," Marthe replied. "Dispatching a Binary to assist, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," Darya shut her comms off before taking off, her light 'mech taking the lead as the rest of us followed, the Elementals clinging onto our 'mechs.

    I slowed down as I scanned the area, something felt off about this situation, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

    "Star Commander, I believe we should slow down, there is the potential for this to be a trap."

    "Are you a coward?" Darya asked, her Adder pulling ahead as it struggled to keep pace with the Commando.

    "Neg, I merely believe that we should exercise caution," I began flipping through my various vision modes, scanning for anything that might be present. "This is their home, and they will be prepared to do what is necessary to defend it."

    "This is Star Captain Roshak, I will be taking command from here," an arrogant voice sounded on our channels.

    "Aff," Pryde's Adder dropped back as a pair of Mist Lynx overtook her, followed by the rest of the binary.

    As the now trinary moved further into the refinery, my 'mech's sensors screamed at me, twenty-four targets appearing as the light 'mech's active probes fed us intel.

    "You ready to die?" A grim voice asked over the open channels as a Thunderbolt stepped forward, a pair of lasers burning away armor and forcing the light Mechs to evade directly into prepared lanes of fire.

    "Demolishers!" I barked. "They'll core a 'Mech if you're not careful."

    "Freebirth scum," one of the other warriors scoffed as his Mad Dog took fire.

    I backed up my Warhammer, sniping at a few of the 'mechs and vehicles as I tried to keep track of everything around me.


    As the Star Commander's Adder darted in front of me, the entire complex seemed to vanish in a wall of flame before us, the explosion sending my 'Hammer flying backward as the Elementals struggled to hold on to the handholds that had been added on while my head slammed into the console in front of me.

    –
    –

    I blinked away the black dots that swarmed my vision as I shut off the screeching gyro, hitting the switch before taking a deep breath.

    "Someone hit the fucking tanks," I swore as I restarted my gyro, the scream continuing for a minute before evening out and allowing me the balance to stand upright again.

    "Damn," I looked at the dust cloud that had been kicked up. "Anyone else alive out there?" I broadcast.

    "My 'mech is crippled," Pryde coughed. "But I am here."

    Checking my magscan, I moved to her 'mech, noting that there were still a few Elementals that were attached to the handholds.

    The Adder's legs had been shattered in the explosion, the Omnimech face down in the concrete where it had been thrown.

    "I see you, Star Commander," I replied. "I'm going to see if the Elementals are able to help get you out while I search for more survivors."

    There wasn't much left for me to find. The Summoner was on its back, the evidence pointing to the pressure triggering the ejection, and the Hellbringer's armor was charred, the pilot within unconscious and unable to respond to communications.

    A loud sound hit my cockpit as I continued searching, an Elemental signaled for me to open my hatch.

    "Star Commander," I greeted the lithe woman as she unfolded the jumpseat in my 'mech and allowed the Elemental to leave. "Are you wounded?"

    "Neg," she attached the cooling lines to her vest and grabbed the headset. "I should have listened. No one would have expected a defender to sacrifice themself in this manner."

    "We should probably contact the Star Colonel," I sighed, turning to face the younger Pryde. "She'll want to know that most of a Trinary is gone."

    "Yes, she will," Darya began tuning the comms gear, not even bothering to correct me on the contraction. "Continue coordinating with the point Commander, hopefully, we shall find some other survivors in this."
     
    • Chapter 10
    • Chapter 10

    "Star Commander Pryde, Mark," Marthe nodded at the two of us as we dismounted my 'mech, what was left of the Trinary being towed behind us on recovery vehicles and what few 'mechs that could move under their own power limping back. "You two are to give me your reports immediately, and I will be sending a team to conduct an investigation, this waste of lives is unacceptable."

    "Star Colonel," I stood at attention once we made it to her office. "I accept full responsibility for our Star's failure to pull back at the appropriate time, I was not able to properly convey my suspicions to the Star Commander in time and as such was unable to act in a timely manner."

    "That is for the investigation to discover," Marthe frowned. "I merely wish you to give your reports on what happened in your own eyes. We will be pulling the recordings from your Battleroms and verifying what you have said as well. Be warned, everything you say in this room is being recorded, should either of you lie, the truth will become known."

    The Star Commander and I exchanged glances before she gestured for me to speak first.

    "We began as a routine patrol after they refused the Batchall-"

    –
    –

    "So, same room?" I asked the Star Commander after we had been escorted to temporary quarters while the investigation was conducted.

    "The Elementals have been placed into their own cells, and they wish to monitor everything that occurs while the investigation is conducted," Darya shrugged. "It is the way that things are."

    "They didn't even let me bring my books in here," I sighed. "How long are we supposed to be here for?"

    "Until the investigation has been completed," Darya stripped off her cooling vest, leaving her in shorts and a tank top. "Now tell me, why do you insist on allowing your speech to be befouled in such a manner?"

    "How old are you?" I raised an eyebrow at the Jade Falcon Mechwarrior.

    "I am twenty-five," she said proudly.

    "Yeah, that explains it," I leaned back against the wall. As I pulled off my own cooling vest. "While I look younger than I am due to good genetics and use of a cryo pod, I'm really closer to seventy than I am your age. I'm not going to be able to magically change speech patterns that I have developed over my life without some major effort into it," I closed my eyes and let my head sink back against the wall.

    "I see," her voice sounded closer. "Now, I find you somewhat attractive, and we have nothing else to do."

    I opened my eyes to find the much younger woman stripping down even further before slamming them shut.

    "Where are your clothes?!" I asked.

    "Are you opposed to coupling with me?" she sounded genuinely confused. "Is there something wrong?"

    "Girl, you're young enough to be my granddaughter," I kept my eyes shut. "You're attractive, but I'm not going to be engaging with any sort of 'recreational' activities with anyone for a while."

    "Explain," she demanded. "I will put my clothing back on if you will explain your reluctance to me."

    "Alright," I opened my eyes to find her seated back on her bunk, looking at me with an oddly hurt and curious look in her eyes. "There is nothing wrong with you, darlin'," I sighed again. "Now, in order to make you understand, I'm going to have to give you a bit of backstory, and this will take time."

    Pryde just gestured to the room we were currently locked into.

    "Right," I chuckled a bit. "Not like we don't have time."

    "So, way before you were born, before the Clans were even a thought in Nicholas Kerensky's mind-"


    —
    —

    "You freebirths are strange," Darya says after I finish explaining. "But I understand that you are reluctant to couple. Should that change, I will be eager to engage in such activities with you."

    "Lord save me from horny Clanners," I closed my eyes and laid on the floor, the cool ground easing some of the slight pain in my back as I drifted off to sleep.






    "Come on," a massive Elemental gestured for the two of us to leave the quarters we had been locked into. "You are both ordered to report to Star Colonel Pryde's office immediately."

    Still clothed in our mechwarrior kit, we made our way to where the Star Colonel waited.

    "Take a seat," Marthe didn't look up from her 'noteputer. "We have completed the investigation. Star Commander, your Star has been exonerated from any wrongdoing regarding this situation, and the other members of your unit are being tended to by the medtechs as we speak."

    "Star Colonel," I raised my voice. "If I may ask, what did cause the issue?"

    "One of the missiles from our unit went awry," Marthe sighed. "There was a leak in one of the natural gas tanks, and the spark from the missile caused the entire facility to explode."

    "Were there any survivors from the rest of the Trinary?" Darya asked.

    "Aff," Marthe nodded. "We have recovered enough warriors to make up a Binary. However, due to a lack of frontline omnimechs, we will be repairing what we can, and the rest of the warriors will have to wait until resupply."

    "Understood," Darya nodded. "I will see to it that the best warriors receive a 'mech, quiaff?"

    "Aff, Star Captain," Marthe tossed a new rank insignia at the woman. "You are being promoted due to Roshak being indisposed. Should he desire his old position, he may trial you for it. Mechwarior," she turned her gazed toward me. "You will continue as you are, should you prove yourself, you may command a Star of your own in time."

    "Roger that," I replied. "If there is not anything else, Star Colonel, I might see if there is any assistance I can offer the technicians."

    "You are dismissed, Mechwarrior," she waved me away. "Star Captain, remain behind as we discuss your duties."
     
    • Chapter 16
    • Chapter 16

    "Ahh good, you are finally awake," a cheerful voice greeted me as I opened my eyes to nothing but blurs. "You took quite a blast. So take it easy for a minute."

    I blinked some of the blurriness away, allowing my eye to resolve the room around me.

    "Now that you are awake, we are going to have to run through some basic memory tests," a cute blonde nurse smiled as I finally looked at her. "What's the last thing that you remember?"

    "Pulling the handle on my ejection seat," I found my hands reaching for an ejection handle that wasn't there. "I remember getting clear of my 'mech and then a brilliant white flash, then nothing."

    "You were just outside of the blast radius of a 'mech's reactor going critical," the nurse explained. "If your parachute had opened any later, you would have had a near-lethal dose of radiation. As it is, you are suffering from some whiplash and you will be in a cast for the next two months."

    "Oh," I glanced down at my left leg, finally realizing that it was bound up. "Any other injuries of note, doc?"

    "Take it slow, you nearly tore the cartilage between a few of your ribs," she glared. "I have asked your Star to ensure that you rest and recover until you are healed. You are far from the first warrior I have dealt with, and I do not want to see you back here again with an injury because you refused to acknowledge orders from my caste."

    "Fine," I leaned back in the hospital bed. "May I request for some of my books to be brought to me?"

    "That will be acceptable," she nodded. "Should that be the only thing you do, I will be pleasantly surprised."






    "Star Commander," the new garrison commander greeted me. "You seem to have quelled much of the remaining resistance on this world. If at the expense of the Star Colonel."

    "I did as I was ordered," I replied. "The review found me to not be guilty on any charges."

    "I am not upset," the Star Captain smirked. "You have opened a path upward for me. But you are now without a 'mech, and we have few replacements for something as outdated as your previous 'mech."

    An aid stepped forward and whispered into the Star Captain's ear for a minute.

    "No, while we could place you in another 'mech of similar age, I believe you have earned a place in this Clan, and as such, you will be gifted the Star Colonel's Omnimech provided you can ensure that it is repaired up to the Gyrfalcon Galaxy's standards."

    "I do not need a Timber Wolf to be effective," I looked the Star Captain in the eye. "I am perfectly capable in a 'lesser' machine."

    "You misunderstand," the Star Captain's voice dipped lower. "This is both a reward and a punishment in one. Due to your leadership, the enemies were finished off, but you also allowed a Star Colonel to fall while you remained idle. So you will bear this chain with both pride and shame.

    "You are dismissed, Star Commander," the other man looked back down at the paperwork he had before him. "See to it that you have learned this lesson."

    "Star Commander," Point Commander Thastus stepped beside me after I left the office. "Do you have any further orders for me or my point?"

    "Nothing for now, Thastus," I began heading toward the repair bays. "I've got a 'mech to repair and get set up." I glanced at the Elemental. "You and your Point have a week of leave, I should be fine working on my new ride."

    "No, you will not be fine," Thastus glared at me. "You are not allowed to do that sort of movement at the moment, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," I sighed. "I just need something to do."

    "There are plenty of exercises that you can organize for our Star," the Point Commander began steering me away from the mechbay. "None of them involve you contributing physically until you have been deemed capable by the medical caste."

    "And you're listening to them, why?" I raised an eyebrow.

    "You do not dishonor those who have dedicated their lives to ensuring that there is no waste among the Clans," he replied. "They are those who are responsible for the survival of many who would have otherwise perished. I am an Elemental, I understand that it is both my duty and privilege to give my life to the Clan if necessary. But if possible, it is better to live so that we may serve longer. They ensure that those of us who can survive to have that second chance."

    The Elemental paused for breath before meeting my eyes.

    "You do not yet understand. But given time, you will."






    "Are you certain that this is the way you desire your 'mech to be set up?" Jasper asked as he looked at my plans.

    "Aff," I replied. "Configuration N is a good base, but it lacks much in the way of mid-range and close-range firepower, this will fix that."

    "You do work in a mixed Star," Jasper mused. "I suppose you will not specialize in anti-infantry tactics?"

    "I have others who can change their pods for that," I shook my head. "I am restricted to whatever configuration I choose at first. According to those in leadership, I shall have to earn the privilege of changing Omnipods."

    "So if this will be the final configuration you will use," Jasper nodded. "Then you may want to adjust the weapon placement."

    "How so?" I asked.

    "You have a long-range punch, but this won't be enough of a mid or short-range punch to get what you want," He erased some of the calculations I had done and replaced some of the weapons I had planned on using. "Instead, you will want to use this configuration," he jotted down some new calculations after running them through a calculator for reassurance. "You will still have much of the long-range firepower, but will also be able to engage targets at close range. Watch the heat curve though, and remember that your cockpit will be in a different placement than you are used to and you will be fine."

    "Once I'm able to pilot again, you mean," I looked at my leg.

    "Yes, once you are healed up you will be ready and prepared for when the Galaxy Commander returns."

    "Alright," I looked at the damaged Timber Wolf. "Go ahead with your plan. I think it'll work out a bit better than what I had planned originally."

    "I will let you know when it is finished," Jasper smirked. "Remember to remain clear of exploding 'mechs in the future, Quiaff?"

    "Yeah yeah," I flipped the technician off. "Everyone's a critic."

    "Get good enough and no one will be able to criticize you anymore," Thastus snarked from behind me. "But I do not see you becoming Khan in the next day or so, if ever."
     
    • Chapter 15
    • Chapter 15

    "I challenge you for possession of this world," the voice of the Phantom 'mech operator played on a device in the Command Center. "I bid two lances of mixed forces, who do you send against me?"

    I glanced at the Star Colonel who was in charge of the garrison as we listened to the recording.

    "Sir," I spoke up. "I bid myself and my binary, we have prepared for his tricks, and are the most prepared to fight against the Ghost."

    "Neg," he shook his head. "You and two points of your Elementals will be joining the binary as my second, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," I nodded.

    "You are dismissed, I will respond to the Batchall once I have decided on the rest of our forces."

    Turning smartly on my heel, I left the building the Star Colonel was using as his HQ and headed to the small cluster of prefabs that had been set aside for the remainder of Darya's Trinary and left under my command.

    "Which of you are the most confident in facing down the Ghost?" I asked the Elementals once the Trinary had been briefed.

    "I am confident that Points Beta and Epsilon are the most capable," One of the Point Commanders informed me. "They are less reliant on their Sensor Suite than the rest of us, and will be able to handle the Ghost should he make his appearance."

    "Alright," I nodded. "Beta and Epsilon are to suit up and come with me. The remaining defenders have issued a Batchall, and we will answer."

    "Understood," Beta's Point Commander gave a sharp gesture and his four warriors began moving to their suits. "We will be ready, Star Commander."

    –
    –

    The Binary assembled and began moving towards the battlefield on which we had encountered the defenders in the last engagement, the Star Colonel led us in his Timber Wolf, while the rest of our forces were made up of older model, second line and solahma unit 'mechs.

    The Star that I led consisted of my own Warhammer, an Archer C, and a Griffin IIC, supplemented by both points of my Elementals riding on my 'Hammer.

    "Star Commander, you and your Star are to wait," the Star Colonel ordered. "My star will engage and return victorious, you are merely here to act as witnesses."

    Bringing my 'mech to a stop on top of the nearby hill, I powered down everything but my sensors and reactor, ordering my Star to do the same as we watched the Star Colonel and his personal Star walk into the battlefield where the two lances awaited him.

    "Arrogance suits you well, scum!" a duo of Demolishers backed by a pair of SRM carriers rolled out of the mine entrance, closely followed by the Warhammer and a pair of clearly damaged medium 'mechs. "You and your warriors die today, God as my witness."

    Twin streams of lightning crossed the field, the beams melting armor to slag on the lone light 'mech.

    Then the two forces closed in on each other, the Phantom 'Mech operator finishing off the Talon before focusing on the Timber Wolf.

    A Demolisher stopped as it's tracks were struck by a handful of missiles, rendering the 'mech killer immobile, but no less deadly as the twin AC/20s boomed, the barrels flaming as the rounds punched through a Clint IIC, the 40-tonner falling to the ground as its reactor failed.

    But things were not going well for the defenders, with a Medium 'mech lying face down in the dirt and two tanks in flames to the two 'Mechs of the Star that were down.

    But then the tide seemed to turn, with the lone remaining SRM carrier lending its support to the immobile Demolisher, cratering and shattering the armor on the lone assault 'mech that was a part of the Binary, crippling the Victor as the carrier itself was vaporized by the lasers of the Timber Wolf.

    "Star Commander, we should move in," the Archer pilot stated over our comms channel.

    "Neg," the Star Colonel cut the other pilot off. "I will handle this," he turned his Timber Wolf to fire upon the crippled Demolisher before a brace of lasers cut across his vision.

    "Your opponent is me," the Warhammer closed in on the Omnimech, ignoring the rest of the battle around it as it vanished from all sensors, the lasers and machine guns honing on the Star Colonel and shattering his cockpit, the 'mech slumping to the ground as the immobile Demolisher finished off the last of the Star below.

    "I want that Demolisher's crew as Bondsman," I ordered as we began to move in. "Bet and Epsilon, you have your orders, I shall run interference while you deal with the Ghost, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," I pushed my 'mech's reactor up to full speed as we closed in, the enemy a mirror of what I might have been in another life.

    "I see that you didn't get enough before," a smug voice greeted me. "When you fall I shall ensure that no one lives to speak of your existence, you are worse than these Clanners, you're not even worth a proper duel."

    "That's funny," I chuckled. "I was about to say the same thing to you," I allowed my armor to absorb the fire from the enemy 'Hammer while I got close enough to slug it out.

    Ducking underneath the barrel of a PPC, twisted and ordered the Elementals to take out the enemy, the bright beams of the enemy lasers carving away at my armor, rivers of molten metal ran down my torso while I ensured none of my men were killed by stray fire.

    The ten Elementals began ripping apart the enemy Warhammer, their lasers carving away at actuators and other bits before they began jumping away.

    "Reactor safeties are blown!" Epsilon's Point Commander yelled. "Get clear!"

    They moved away while the enemy tucked in closer to me and tackled my 'mech to the ground while I pulled at my ejection handle, the rockets sending my hurtling into the act as everything seemed to vanish in a flash of light.
     
    • Chapter 14
    • Chapter 14

    "What do you think that was?" Darya asked as she ignored my need for modesty once again, stripping down before stepping into the single shower my quarters possessed.

    "I have no idea," I shrugged as I turned my attention back to the sensors scans from right before the Warhammer operator triggered the most bullshit ability in this universe. "He was still clearly visible to the mark one eyeball though. So there's got to be a way for us to handle him if he appears again."

    I picked up a notepad I had picked up on my way back to my quarters and began jotting down potential ways to deal with the new threat, getting absorbed in my thoughts before a slender arm dragged me away from my headspace.

    "You are failing to consider something crucial in that write-up," Darya leaned over my shoulder, pressing herself into my back. "Elementals do not require sensors to fire their weapons, they are able to aim with nothing more than their own senses if needed."

    "How many Elementals will be left behind for garrison duties though?" I asked. "I fully expect for this mechwarrior to appear and wreak havoc once we have left."

    "Then we shall document the ways that this can be defeated and leave them behind, should the garrison commander not listen or heed our advice then it will fall upon his head, not ours," Darya closed my notebook. "Now, you need a turn in the shower, you reek."

    "Alright," I stepped into the shower and pulled the curtain closed before stripping down. "Don't erase my ideas!" I called out as I turned on the spray of icy water.

    I finished up and dressed myself in a set of PT gear with the Manassas embroidered onto the shorts and shirt before stepping out of the small restroom area.

    Darya was correcting my notes, and analyzing the sensor data I had printed out, everything in her focused on figuring out the mystery that lay before her.

    "We shall have to report your findings to the Galaxy Commander," the Star Captain said after she snapped out of the strange state she had been in. "If the rest of the Inner Sphere has portions of this technology, then we will encounter them when we least expect it."

    "I'm not sure this is tech," I sat down by the half-naked warrior on my bed. "It seems too organic for it to have been something triggered on purpose. After all, if he had possessed this technology, he would have used it to ambush us before that battle."

    "You are correct," Darya closed the notebook. "We shall bring this to Marthe's attention in the morning," she snuggled under the thin blankets and was fast asleep on the shared cot while I lay there staring at the ceiling for a few moments before allowing sleep to claim me as well.







    "Star Captain, your report," Marthe glanced up from her terminal.

    "The Star Commander is acclimating well, and is a good fit for my trinary," Darya replied. "He is intelligent, and capable at the very least," She grabbed the official write-up that both Mark and her had worked on over the last few days.

    "We also have documentation on potential ways to combat the technology that we encountered," Darya offered the Galaxy Commander the papers. "I would advise we leave this for the Garrison Commander as well as distribute it to the rest of the Clan. Should they encounter anything similar, it would ensure that they are capable of dealing with it."

    "One example of such technology does not matter in the grand scheme of things," Marthe tossed the write-up onto a small section of the desk. "Should we need it, it is available, but I do not expect for us to encounter the likes of such again, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," Darya replied a bit hesitantly.

    "Star Captain, select someone to take charge of your trinary," Marthe changed the subject. "The IlKhan is dead, and we are to return to Clan space to select a new one."

    –
    –

    "How did it go?" Mark asked as he pulled a small pan of bacon out of the oven.

    "The Galaxy Commander dismissed our concerns," Darya sagged into a chair as Mark slid over a plate ladled with food. "She did not consider this incident worth taking note of."

    "Then it's on her head," Mark sat down across from her and bowed his head for a moment, his lips moving briefly before he began eating. "We brought critical information to her attention and she ignored it. Anything else is beyond our responsibility. Unless we are able to directly speak to the garrison before we depart."

    "That is an option," Darya began eating, pausing to enjoy the flavors that were unfamiliar to her. "But I do not believe that it will work. The Galaxy Commander's word is as law unless we are willing to challenge her decision."

    "Like I said," Mark shrugged. "We did our jobs. If people above us aren't willing to listen then it is on their heads," he went completely silent as he ate the eggs, bacon and other breakfast foods that he had made.

    "The IlKhan is dead," Darya finally stated. "All Bloodnamed warriors are to return for the election of a new one. I am leaving you in command of the Trinary while we are gone, you will likely answer to the garrison commander," Darya sipped at her coffee. "I expect to find this 'Phantom' dead upon my return," she smirked. "And you in charge of the garrison should things go poorly."

    "God, I hope not," He leaned back and stretched, a few cracks coming from his spine as he tilted his head from side to side. "I have enough to do without getting into politics or more paperwork."

    "We shall see," she replied. "We'll see."

    "Was that a contraction?" Mark stood up.

    "No, I misspoke," Darya tried to steer away. "I have never spoken anything other than proper Star League English, Quiaff?" She raised an eyebrow.

    "Neg," Mark shook his head. "I'm corrupting you!"
     
    • Chapter 13
    • Chapter 13
    September 25, 3050 Parakoila

    "Gamma Trinary, remain powered down, if we are to sell this ruse, then the image must be perfect," Marthe instructed as her 'mech Theseus moved through with a star for an escort.

    "I really hope they take the bait," I beamed over to Darya. "Otherwise this could go very wrong, very fast."

    "Aff," she sighed in response. "I believe that the Galaxy Commander is moving too fast. Patience would have seen us through, this haste… I do not believe that it will produce the results that she is looking for."

    "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast," I muttered. "I think you lost those words somewhere along the way."

    "What do you mean?" I could almost imagine the young woman's head cocked to the side as she asked the question. "How can slow be faster?"

    "In training, they always had us start off slow, and as we smoothed out the motions, we naturally became faster at it the more we trained," I explained. "Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. It basically translates to this. "A well trained motion done slowly will always beat a hurried action that's poorly trained," I shrugged. "Or at least that's how I interpreted it when I learned it."

    "It doesn't just apply to what we're doing here though," I continued. "Any task you need to perform or skill you need to acquire needs to start off slower, as you develop a proficiency in that task you'll find that it naturally comes faster. It is how the human brain works in conjunction with muscle memory and other things as well."

    After I said this, explosions erupted in the distance and I began to start my power-up cycle.

    "Wait one," Darya seemed to read my intent. "It is not yet time."

    So I stopped and waited, the sounds continued and my heart pounded in my ears.

    "Gamma Trinary, power up and move to Nav Point Beta," Darya commanded. "Beta Star, you are on overwatch, do not allow any of them to escape our net."

    We all powered up and moved over the hill, and could now see the battle before us. Intel had said that there was only a battalion guarding this world. Intelligence was wrong, there were over two battalions of 'mechs, assisted by the odd vehicle and converted technicals mounting one shot SRMs or LRMs.

    And in the middle of the combat, was Galaxy Commander Marthe Pryde. Her Summoner, Theseus was laying waste to every enemy that crossed her path as her Trinary fought for survival.

    Shifting my 'Hammer into motion, I commanded my star to take positions to block the enemy from reaching the mine shafts if they attempted to escape.

    Darya's Adder moved into the melee, her omnimech configured for close range for once, foregoing the PPCs entirely in favor of a brace of Medium lasers and a few pods devoted to SRMs.

    Spotting a Blackjack trying to limp away, I twisted my triggers and lined up my twin PPCs on the center torso, the twin beams of Man-made Lightning carving into the weakened armor and setting off the autocannon ammunition that was stored within, the pilot ejecting as his 'mech exploded around him.

    "Good kill," James confirmed, his LRMs hammering at a Locust that skirted the edge of the battlefield. "Shall we move in, Quiaff?"

    "Neg," I replied. "We hold here. If we move and they are able to escape into the mineshafts we could be stuck fighting them for weeks, months, or years."

    As I spoke, a Grasshopper, Thunderbolt, and Warhammer broke off from their engagements to swing toward the mine entrances.

    "Point Commander Thastus, I want that Grasshopper intact as salvage, Quiaff," I ordered the point of Elementals that was holding onto the bars welded onto my 'mech.

    "Aff," the lead Elemental replied, he and his comrades waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

    The Thunderbolt faltered as an autocannon hammered at its knees from behind, revealing Darya Pryde's Adder as it shredded the heavy 'mechs armor until she stood and pointed a trio of lasers at the cockpit.

    The five Elementals jumped from my 'mech toward the Grasshopper, two of them being burned out of the sky by medium lasers before the remaining three shifted to the head, dodging the arms of the heavy 'mech as it tried to shake them off.

    And then there was one, the enemy 'Hammer was low on armor, but it focused on me to the exclusion of all else, and I was fresh.

    As my doppelganger drew close, his PPCs splashed against my shoulder and left leg, damaging armor but sending his heat rocketing up.

    "Two can play that game," I smirked, squeezing the trigger on one of my PPCs, the beam melting armor off before I staggered my lasers across his 'mech's torso.

    "Why is a goddamned Davion 'mech fighting for the Clans?!" The enemy roared as his missiles scattered across my armor.

    "Davion?" I asked, my own missiles tearing away at his 'mech. "Neg, this 'mech was property of the Star League Defense Force and was stationed aboard the Confederate-Class dropship Last of Us. Said Dropship was attached to the Star League Navy ship Manassas of which, I am the last surviving crew member. Confirmation can be sent via handshake if you require it."

    A tight beam communique pinged my battlecomputer, the ancient tech responding to the handshake as the original IFF for my 'mech was displayed.

    "So it's true," the voice grew angrier. "You are the revenge of Kerensky for our sins. Well, if I'm going to hell, I'm taking as many of you down there with me as I can!"

    The man's 'mech burned white hot as he alpha-striked, and then he vanished from our sensors as if he were a ghost.

    "Fuck," I breathed. "Fucking Phantom mech bullshit."

    I could see the other Warhammer through my cockpit, steam was rising off of it as any moisture in the air boiled away. And then it started moving, its lasers carving away as I tried to close into melee before something hit my gyro, seizing up my 'mech as the enemy moved into the mines behind me.

    "Star Commander, do we have confirmation that the enemy has been destroyed?" Darya asked as I restarted my gyro, a screeching noise coming as I limped forward.

    "Neg," I shook my head. "The enemy disappeared from all sensors after we began engaging. I believe he managed to escape into the mines."

    "This failure is noted, but not disastrous," Marthe cut into our comms. "We have eradicated the enemy, and as such may now move our garrison forces on site while we prepare for the next wave."
     
    • Chapter 12
    • Chapter 12

    "Whelp, this sucks," I glanced down at my right bicep, the blade of Roshak's knife having cut through a large portion of the tattoo that was there. With the word Valle having been nearly erased by the gash and the Certamen at the bottom taking damage as well.

    "Hold still," a medtech glared at me. " If this wound is not dealt with then you could lose an arm to infection."

    She continued to clean out the knife wound before putting an some sort of antibacterial cream inside the wound and wrapping it up in a bandage.

    "This is all that I am allowed to do," she moved to a sink and began washing her hands. "You are to allow it to heal as it is or you may be challenged again before you are fully healed. I do not recommend you attempt to accelerate the healing process. You are well enough to utilize your 'mech, Star Commander, that should be sufficient for your needs."

    "Thank you," I nodded to her. "I'll take good care of it."

    I stood up from the stool that I had been on while the medtech treated me and left the medbay, a sigh leaving my lips as I headed toward the mechbay.

    –
    –

    "There will be limited support from orbit and aerospace wings on this," Darya informed us as she moved her rebuilt Adder out of the Overlord-C that set down. "We are to avoid damaging the mines as much as possible. Their contents will assist the Clan in maintaining our Touman. Now, sound off."

    "Beta Star, ready op," I reported, my 'Hammer moving forward at a steady pace, a star of Elementals clinging onto handholds that had been welded on.

    "Trinary is ready op," Darya reported. "Be advised, the warriors of this world have refused our Batchall. They may attempt to ambush us."

    "Keep your heads on a swivel and your sensors on," I repeated to my Star, they were young, replacements for the ones we had lost in the gas explosion. "We don't want to lose anyone due to a surprise attack."






    "Contact!" I reported. "I have fast movers on sensors, looks like they are heading for us."

    "No ID on what kind of hovercraft they are," a Kit Fox pilot reported. "Looks to be of shoddy manufacture."

    "We got an ID on the weapons they're packing?" I asked.

    "Neg," was the last response before the hovercraft were on top of us.

    Twisting my torso around, I watched the massive tracer rounds of an AC/20 pass over my shoulder when the hovercraft passed by, the Elementals holding on seemed frozen before one jumped onto the hovercraft as it passed, the laser on its wrist eating away at the craft.

    At the same time, a Stormcrow fell to the ground as a burst from two autocannon tore the knees off.

    As the last of the craft passed, the Kit Fox and I fired our long range weapons, my PPCs cutting two of the craft out of the air as the light Omnimech downed one with a one two punch of his laser and LBX.

    Then, the fourth of the eight hovercraft began smoking, and an Elemental leapt from the wreckage as the craft spun out, his jump jets carrying him back to the handhold on my 'Hammer.

    "James, 'Mech status!" I barked.

    "Legs are out. I will need a recovery vehicle Quiaff?"

    "Aff    " I replied. "Next time, do not assume that you can take a direct hit from anything. Avoiding the hits is more important. Resources are scarce, and if you waste them consistently like this, there will be consequences."

    "What about the rest of the fast movers?" The Mad Dog next to me asked.

    "They are being handled," I replied as distant explosions sounded. "We know where they are coming from, and so if you know where they have to return then you can plan certain things."

    A flurry of LRMs erupted from over the horizon, and distant explosions erupted as the other four hovercraft we dealt with.

    "Good kills, Quiaff?" I asked Darya.

    "Aff, solid kills. Gamma Trinary, begin sweep for more sensor contacts. We have yet to fully eradicate the rats that have overrun the mines."






    Marthe Pryde considered the information before her and sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose to stave off a headache.

    The mines were a thorn in her side, the local defenders had moved all of their gear deep inside and could not be detected until they popped out to fight. Her galaxy was whittling them down over time, but they had stalled out here over the last several weeks.

    "We cannot afford to remain here for long," Marthe muttered as she considered the Wave 5 plans. "But we also cannot have such an enemy remain to attack us."

    "I will take to the field, perhaps we can lure them out with the appropriate bait…" Marthe muttered, standing from her desk and heading for the 'mech bay. "After all, pests are always caught with the right trap."
     
    • Chapter 11
    • Chapter 11

    "I wish for him to commit Surkai," Newly demoted Star Commander Roshak glared at me, his fists clenched in anger.

    "What penance would I offer?" I asked, my hands spread out. "I have done nothing wrong. In fact, I warned you of the potential for an ambush, it was your own hubris that led to your downfall."

    "He makes a valid point," Marthe grinned. "In fact, should you decide to settle this in a circle of equals, it will be for your position, Star Commander."

    "As if he could compare to a blood-named warrior," Roshak scoffed. "Let us settle this."

    "Star Colonel," I turned. "If we do this, someone is not walking out of this alive. And it won't be me that's dead."

    "He cannot even speak properly," Roshak spat, "What can he do to me? I shall grind him beneath my talons."

    "Tomorrow, at noon," Star Colonel Marthe Pryde looked around. "As the challenger, you may pick the ground on which you are to fight."

    "In the flats," Roshak smirked. "He shall not be able to run from me."

    "I'm good with armed or unarmed combat," I shrugged.

    "The Trial of Position shall take place tomorrow," Marthe spoke over the blood-named warriors. "You are dismissed."

    "Whelp," I stretched. "This old man's gonna try and get some rest."

    I left the briefing area and went back to my bunk, only to find Darya there laying on the mattress.

    "Still on that, huh?" I asked.
    "Eventually you will cave," She shrugged. "Should you win tomorrow, you can expect challengers to attempt to take your position."

    "I know," I sighed. "But I aim to live, and I'm not planning on dying anytime soon."

    "Why did you answer the Star Colonel's Challenge in the beginning?" Darya raised an eyebrow. "You had no reason to, and she would have had no reason to take you as Bondsman."

    "But then I would have been left alone, again," I sat on the edge of the bunk. "And I had already tried that for the last fifty years. It turns out, you can remove humans from the kind of environment that they're used to, condition them to believe things other than that which makes them human and you know what they still end up being at the end of the day? Human."

    I chuckled.

    "Even fifty years of being alone didn't make me enjoy it, I need fellowship to live, and so does everyone else, no matter how much they enjoy being alone."

    "You are rambling again," Darya threw the pillow at my face. "You always act like this when we speak about something that you do not wish to actually discuss."

    "I thought you hadn't noticed," I closed my eyes tiredly. "Now, you can cuddle as long as you promise you won't try anything," I opened my eyes long enough to mock glare at the smaller woman.






    "Let's get this over with,' I sighed as I stood across from the angry Mechwarrior across from me. "I want to get back to my nap."

    "Do you not take me seriously?" Roshak pulled a knife from his boot and settled into a stance. "Then I shall rid the Clan of your filth."

    I yawned and tucked a hand into my pocket, glancing at my watch before settling into a relaxed and grounded position. I was old, and going on the offensive would only ensure my death at this point, so I waited, making sure that my body language told the other man exactly what he wanted to see.

    As the man rushed me confidently with the knife in hand, I casually sidestepped, allowing the edge of the knife to trail up my right arm as I deflected it before grabbing his wrist as it flew by.

    He fought me for control of the knife before I brought his arm in and tucked it down into my hip, driving my left arm down onto his elbow with a sharp gesture, making him release the knife and giving him enough leverage to pull away from my hold.

    I glanced at my arm before grimacing.

    "You scarred up my tattoo," I snarled as I wiped way the blood to reveal that the knife had cut through the word Mortis. I then drove my foot into the ground and kicked the blade behind me to the Circle of Equals.

    The other man cradled his arm for a minute before letting it dangle into a slightly defensive stance.

    I pulled my shirt off of my torso and tore it into a couple of cloth pieces while I waited for the Star Commander to push, acting as if nothing were wrong the entire time. I wanted to bait him, to lure him into trying the same thing. If he could learn, then he might live. But if he couldn't learn…. Well, there was a reason for the weapon tucked into my boot.

    Roshak didn't wait for me to finish treating myself, he pushed off with his strong foot and lunged into a smooth kick that I backed away from before driving myself forward while he was slightly off balance and tackling him to the ground. I might be older, but a ground fight was about leverage, and if i could get that leverage first, then it was over for the arrogant Falcon.

    As I brought him to the ground, I drove my elbow into his kidneys, and as soon as we hit the ground I hit him in the solar plexus, driving the breath from his lungs before leveraging him back into a choke hold.

    One heartbeat, two. I waited until the body stilled before releasing him, checking his pulse before standing up and limping away.

    "Star commander," Marthe smirked. "I see you have left your opponent alive."

    "I'm hoping I can make something of him," I shrugged. "Guess we'll find out, won't we."

    "Yes, Marthe looked at the warrior's unconscious body on the field. "Yes we shall."

    Author's note: Did not start this chapter originally with a Trial. But the Jade Falcons had other plans…
     
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