Chapter 5 - In the Halls of Avalon
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
Juan Miranda sipped his coffee as he read the latest intelligence report. Rebel activity had increased on Planting, as it had all over this region of the Commonwealth. Rasalhague was getting ambitious and, fortunately for Juan, careless.
Juan looked out his window briefly and saw Daniel O’Brian’s sand colored Black Knight march up to the side of the building. Juan returned to his reading knowing that his aide would soon be walking into his office.
Planting had been colonized in the 25th century by an ambitious group of scientists who intended to make Planting into a model of Star League-era terraforming technology. And they had been successful in transforming the desert world into a nominally fertile planet capable of supporting a wide variety of hardier lifeforms. That was before Planting’s sun went nova, blasting the top 10 meters of the planet’s crust into the atmosphere. The colony was utterly destroyed and every lifeform on the planet died in an instant.
The nova had given the planet new life however. The crust of Planting had been made up of a combination of ores and rock that foiled most equipment used to survey below the surface. Having a good bit of it blasted away gave surveyors to a chance to peak under the surface and they discovered a planet with a most unusual natural history.
Apparently, Planting had once been abundant in lifeforms, much like Earth in prehistoric times. That had left an incredible amount of fossil fuels hidden beneath Planting’s thick skin. It had also uncovered one of the great mysteries of the Inner Sphere: a series of ruins from what many believe is the sole indication of an alien civilization in the Inner Sphere. Many considered the ruin to be a hoax and everyone had a theory about the origins of the Planting ruin. Daniel had seen the ruins and, although he’d drawn no conclusions, he certainly found them fascinating.
"Someday, I’ll bring you here to see them." Said Daniel to the photograph he’d stuffed into one of the cracks on his control panel. It was of Lisa, a somewhat provocative shot of her in a two-piece swimsuit.
Daniel reached behind himself and grabbed his dossier. Inside was the report he was bringing to Juan. He also grabbed another typewritten document to add to the pile. He climbed out of his mech and pulled on a jumpsuit. Despite its desert environment, Planting had a thin atmosphere and as such had a low average temperature.
Daniel sprinted inside, reaching Juan’s office. He walked inside without knocking to find Juan reading other reports intently.
"Any news, Leftenant?" said Juan without looking up.
"Eh?" said Daniel, startled. He was still not used to Juan’s sharp powers of observation. "Oh, well, the two Rasalhague spies we captured just cracked under pressure." He handed over the report, keeping the other document. "You might find it interesting."
Juan opened the report and skimmed over it. "Says the Rasalhague intelligence corps are sending in another shipment of mechs and that the rebels plan to attack once they secure the ships."
"If I may be so bold, I sense an opportunity here."
"So do I. When do the ships arrive?"
"They’re not scheduled in for another month. Unfortunately, we don’t know the exact dates or which jumpships they’ll be using."
"Contact the Hauptmann General. We’re going to need to have the Hussars ready if those ships get through. But it’s not my intention for that to happen. We're going to put an end to this rebellion once and for all." said Juan, standing up. He paused when he noticed Daniel clutching another sheet of paper.
"What is that, Leftenant?"
"Oh, this." said Daniel, crumpling it nervously. "It’s some notes I’ve drawn up about how I’m going to phrase….."
"What’s it supposed to be?"
"I’m wanting to propose to Lisa, but I don’t know how to say it."
"Just tell her."
"What?"
"That’s just it. Just tell her you want her hand. You don’t have to make it too fancy.” Juan paused. “I presume I’ll also be receiving your resignation soon."
"Don’t worry. I’m not resigning until the end of this operation. Being a member of Loki is not compatible with married life. But, do I tender it to you? You’re a
"I’m your superior officer on this operation. I can send it through proper channels." Juan paused. "I hope you’re not planning on becoming too domesticated, Daniel."
"No, sir. Lisa’s set to graduate from NAMA in December. We hope to serve in our home planet’s militia together. Once a mechwarrior, always a mechwarrior."
"Will I be invited?"
"If you’re available?" said Daniel with a smile.
"We’ll see. Come on, let’s go see the Hussar command staff and give them your report and my plan. Then we’ll go to the Comstar station for that message. And then, I’m going buy you a drink."
"Lead on, sir."
New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
Lisa looked at the printout again. She’d read it at least a dozen times, and had viewed the holographic video it had come from at least that often. She was waiting in the lobby of the student center, waiting for Joshua.
"What’s up?" asked Joshua, sneaking up behind her. "You asked me here, so I am understandably curious."
"Read this." said Lisa, shoving it in his face before she could change her mind.
Joshua read it for a few moments. He forced his own shock and surprise down where it would not show. "You’ve just been proposed to." He muttered.
"I know."
"Congratulations." He said half-heartedly.
"Don’t." said Lisa. A frown crossed Joshua’s face.
"Um, did I miss something here?” asked Joshua with a puzzled look.
She turned and began to pace about. "I got that almost two weeks ago. I haven’t made a decision yet."
“I’ve seen you and Daniel together. You looked quite happy. I wouldn’t think this would be such a hard choice.”
“It’s complicated. I’ve known Daniel since I was a child. His father is another noble on my home planet, and an ardent supporter of my father. It was always sort of presumed that I would marry Daniel. And up until recently, I like the thought. Daniel’s a great guy, handsome, loyal, honorable, courageous. Everything any woman could ever want.”
“But you don’t love him?”
“I thought I did. But things have changed. I’m not as naïve as I once was. I grew up on a backwater planet, but now I’ve seen New Avalon, and the Federated Suns, and I’ve been hundreds of light years from home. I’ve seen a lot more of the galaxy than nearly anyone else on my planet has ever imagined seeing. The idea of going home to play the part of princess again doesn’t really appeal to me anymore. Daniel was always the Prince Charming in that story."
“So you feel like you’re just playing a part?”
“I don’t know.”
“Let me ask you something? Did you ask me here as a friend, to help you make your choice, or as something else?”
Lisa looked at Joshua intently. As their eyes met, he was once again taken by her beauty.
She smiled. "So you’re not so clueless after all?"
Joshua let out his breath. “Lisa, I can’t make this choice for you.”
“Can’t you?”
“No. God, no.” said Joshua emphatically. “It’s not that I’m not interested. You’ve been more than just a friend to me, Lisa.” He paused, collecting his thoughts. “There was…I had a lover on New Vision. Her name was Gwen, and I cared very deeply for her. But she died in the cataclysm. I never thought I’d feel anything ever again after that, but then you came along. But you have to make this choice. It’s your life, your decision.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I know that. But you still have to decide. Decide if you want to go back to the storybook, back to New Belfast, back to Daniel, and all that it entails. Or you can choose another path. But it’s up to you, not me.”
“You make it sound so simple. No matter which I choose, I hurt someone I love.” Said Lisa. “There, I said it. Because that’s the truth of it. I love both of you and I don’t want to hurt either of you.” She looked at Joshua expectantly.
"It’s your life. Your decision to make.” Joshua repeated. “I don’t put this responsibility on me. I can’t do that to Daniel. I owe him my life. He deserves better than me stealing you away.”
Lisa stood up, cleared dissatisfied and hurt. "So I don’t get any answers here?"
Joshua shook his head. She walked away. Joshua did not watch her go. He just sat there and wondered if he hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of his life.
Planting
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
"Bah! The dropship is late." said Mayor Philipe LaRoque. "Something is wrong."
"You overreact, Phil. The Kungsarm is supporting your cause. They will be here." said Agent Erik Fraga of the Rasalhague Intelligence Corps. He glanced up at the sky. "I believe I see them."
"Good, it's about time."
A Union class dropship came roaring out of the dark sky and began its landing on the vast plain. A Commando light BattleMech marched towards the ship to meet it.
The bay doors on the egg-shaped dropship began to open. LaRoque looked forward. Something was wrong.
Daniel’s Black Knight dropped down out of the open bay, its arms swung in line with the Commando. Before anyone could react, it opened fire, sending two heavy lasers and a PPC blast into the unsuspecting Commando. The light mech was obliterated.
"We are under attack. You fool! The Lyrans have us." screamed LaRoque in anger. Agent Fraga just looked dumbfounded.
"Impossible."
Daniel O'Brian marched his Black Knight forward. It felt good to take his mech in real combat again. The seven months on Planting so far had been dull with nothing but target practice to give him a reason to take her out. "Bag one Commando."
"Gotcha, Dan." It was Juan, whose Thunderbolt heavy mech came out next. "This is Arrow-Leader. All Arrow’s report in."
"Arrow-Four reporting." Said Brian Mitchell, who piloted a Hunchback. He was a volunteer from the local garrison, stuck with three intelligence agents for the duration of the operation.
"This is Arrow-Two." Leftenant Kelly Perrens, Juan's other aide from
"Bogeys incoming." said Brian Mitchell. "I count five medium mechs." Kelly scanned the area and immediately spotted a rebel Hatchetman coming out of a nearby grove of trees.
"Daniel, H-man at your six." she screamed into her comm.
The Hatchetman fired its heavy autocannon, slamming the Black Knight dead in the back. Unfazed, Daniel spun his mech around and triggered his support lasers. Kelly fired her twin long range missile launchers, blasting armor off of the 45 ton mech.
The double bombardment from the Dervish and Black Knight battered the Hatchetman, but it weathered the hits. It tried to pull back, hoping to hide itself from the fire of one or both of his opponents. Kelly didn’t give him the chance. She ran in, intending to finish her foe at close range.
"More contacts. Two lances. Unconfirmed weight." Said Daniel.
"Things just got ugly." Said Brian, firing away at the Hatchetman.
"They were ready for this contingency." Said Juan with a worried tone. "Daniel, contact the Hussars and have them move in. Those rebels reinforcements reach us before the cavalry does."
"That’s why they pay us all that hazard pay, sir." Said Dan, triggering another blast at the Hatchetman.
The five lead rebel mechs that approached were a nasty bunch. Juan identified a Phoenix Hawk, a Trebuchet, a
"Shit." swore Juan. Beside him, Kelly finished the Hatchetman with a blast from her twin short range missile 2 packs.
The 45 ton Phoenix Hawk hit its jump jets and reached Juan's unit first. Dan opened fire on it with his twin heavy lasers, but the fast moving mech was too hard to hit. Three beams of light shot out from the sleek jet-fighter like mech and melted armor off of the Black Knight.
"Bold bastards, these Rasalhaguers." Commented Dan. Dan triggered his PPC, keeping a close eye on his rising heat register. The PPC struck home, spinning the Phoenix Hawk as it touched down near Juan’s Thunderbolt.
Juan drew a bead on the Phoenix Hawk, but felt his mech shake when several volleys of long range missiles came in from the enemy mechs. The Trebuchet had arrived next. Armed with twin LRM-15 launchers, it was an ideal fire support mech, but woefully outclassed by Juan’s 65 ton Thunderbolt. He turned and fired, sending a heavy laser scorching across the Trebuchet's left leg.
Brian Mitchell marched his mech forward, firing his huge Class 20 autocannon at the Phoenix Hawk harassing Dan. The blast struck the Phoenix Hawk's left arm, blowing it off at the elbow.
The mech's arm spun out of control into the soft earth.
"Fuck you, asshole." said Brian. Dan triggered his medium lasers into the staggered Phoenix Hawk. They struck home, drilling through the battered mech’s torsos and scrapping its gyroscope. No long able to keep its balance, the Phoenix Hawk spun out of control, crashing against a nearby rock outcropping.
"Watch out for that Treb!" said Juan. The Trebuchet reaffirmed his warning by lobbing both of its heavy long range missile racks into Dan's Black Knight. With a 75 ton mech design that was not well known to the rebel pilots, Dan was an obvious target. Juan knew that if they kept singling him out even the Black Knight wouldn’t last long.
Juan sped his Thunderbolt up, moving between Dan and the approaching
The rebels began to flee, just as their reinforcements moved into close sensor range. Now, Brian could identify them. Juan could also and did so with the lead mech. His heart jumped when he saw what it was."
"A Marauder! We can’t handle firepower like that. Fall back." Said Juan.
"We’ve been cut off!" swore Kelly. "There’s no way out."
Other mechs appeared behind them, an Orion, a Warhammer, and a Dragon. All heavies and all very deadly. They were trapped between the battered mediums they’d first encountered, now joined with a lance of heavy mechs, and the trio of heavies that had cut off their escape.
"Okay, guys, look sharp. Break and engage targets. Try to bust a hole in their line and get your asses out of here."
Juan dropped his large laser’s cross-hairs onto the image of the Marauder he’d first identified. He squeezed the firing button and a beam of bright red light shot out. The beam struck the hunched-over mech’s leg, melting armor. The 75 ton mech did not slow its pace.
He shuddered as twin PPCs slammed into his Thunderbolt. His armor was already worn from the initial skirmish with the mediums. Now it had gone critical in several places.
"Battalion command, this is Arrow-leader. We’re fighting a full company of rebel mechs in sector 25. Request you double time it here, or we’re toast."
"Assistance is en route. You’ve got to hold for 15 minutes."
"We’ll be lucky to hold 15 seconds at this rate." He watched Brian Mitchell’s Hunchback go down from an autocannon strike from the Orion. He knew Brian did not eject.
"This is stupid!" snarled Juan, growing angry. "Rasalhague won’t carry this through, they never do. This planet will not change hands. Nothing will change. These people are dying for nothing!" He looked at Dan’s Black Knight, surrounded and beleaguered by three enemy mechs. "Some of us have something to live for!"
In fury, Juan triggered his LRM launcher at the lethal Marauder. Nearly all of them connected, only three exploded in the sands behind the Marauder. The attack staggered the 75-ton monster. Within seconds, Juan heard the roar of aircraft engines. He prayed the pilots were good. In these close quarters, the fighters were just as likely to hit them as their opponents.
Fear of the fighters caused the Rasalhague mechs to pull back a little. Two Lightning medium aerospace fighters roared over the horizon. To his surprise, the fighters opened up. The Orion staggered as dozens of depleted-uranium shells slammed into its left shoulder. Armor peeled away and the arm was flung off by the damage, crashing into the sands.
Juan’s Marauder did not escape the strafing run either, and neither did he. Autocannon shells tore through both mechs as they walked their fire through the closely-knit cluster of battling mechs. The Marauder stood firm, but Juan’s mech lost most of its remaining armor. A handful of internal systems went critical.
The Marauder cut loose with its twin particle cannon. Juan watched as the twin azure beams cut across the underside of the Lightning fighter. The right wing of the fighter disintegrated and the fighter cartwheeled out of control. It struck the Union dropship, blasting a huge whole in the side of the dropship and exploding.
"Shit, this guy’s good." Juan said, firing his large laser again. He missed, melting the sand to glass beside the Marauder.
Missiles suddenly exploded against the Thunderbolt’s cockpit. Juan searched for his new opponent. The Warhammer was closing with him. There was no way he could handle both mechs with his machine fully intact, let alone with critical damage. Bile entered into his throat when he saw the mech approach and realized that it had crippled Kelly’s Dervish. Her mech was little more than slag, and he prayed she’d survived.
The Warhammer fired both PPCs at Juan. One missed, but one did not. It was too much for his mech. He felt it falling backwards, most of his monitors dead. He knew he’d been destroyed. As it fell, he saw Daniel advancing on the pair. His mech was nearly completely destroyed, but he fought on like a demon.
"He knows what’s at stake. He’s fighting to survive." Said Juan to himself. "He’ll never make it against odds like that!"
The Marauder moved to point-blank range with Dan and let loose with its PPCs. They ripped into the Black Knight’s right arm, snapping it at the elbow. Without that arm, he was nearly unarmed.
Juan flipped some switched and noticed that not all of his systems were out. The Marauder moved in front of him as the Warhammer pounded on the Black Knight with its support weapons.
"Got you, you bastard." said Juan. Suddenly he heard a scream. He spun his mech to see LRMs slam into the Black Knight from the Orion. The shots had come out of nowhere and knocked Daniel’s mech against a nearby rock outcropping.
The Black Knight did not get up, and the Marauder noticed Juan’s Thunderbolt stir. He swung the autocannon mounted on his back about and fired another burst into Juan’s mech. This time, all his systems went dead, save a single alarm warning him of an impending explosion. Juan punched his ejection switch and rocketed out of the mech for the sky. Below him, the scrapped Thunderbolt began to explode as its unspent ammunition detonated.
Missiles came out of nowhere and smashed into the damaged Orion. The blow was too much for the machine and it crashed to the earth. Juan looked out across the sands to see the mechs of the Hussars arriving at last. Leading the way was a Crusader, its LRM launcher smoking.
The battle was short as the rebels withdrew as quickly as they could. Juan’s lance had battered them senseless almost and the thought of facing a fresh full company of mechs was not appealing to any of them. They fled the field.
Juan touched down in the sands and unstrapped his parachute. He gave a wave to the Crusader pilot and then headed over towards the rock outcropping where Daniel’s mech stood like a sleeping knight.
Kelly was there; she’d managed to eject herself.
"Brian didn’t make it." she said sadly.
"No sign of ejection?" Said Juan, fear growing inside of him. He climbed up the battered hulk of the Black Knight. He reached the shoulder of the humanoid mech and needed to go no further. He shook his head. "He's gone, Kelly. Looks like one of the LRMs penetrated his cockpit. Never knew what hit him."
"He was going to get married in January, wasn’t he?"
Juan nodded, looking up at the ruins of Kelly’s Dervish nearby . "She’s only received the proposal. He’ll never know her response." Tears welled up in Juan’s eyes, something he almost never did. "How sad, Daniel." He muttered, walking away.
New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
The memorial grove was quiet and calm. The statue of the Archer BattleMech was almost jarringly out of place in the midst of the trees, the shrubs, and the flowering plants, all blossomed out in vivid reds and oranges, the colors of the Federated Suns. Even without the stone warmachine, Joshua found the place more unsettling than relaxing. A handful of people were there, studying, meditating, or otherwise enjoying the serene grove, but he was not among them.
Joshua had come to this place to ease his mind and heart. It had been over a month since his conversation with Lisa and it was heavy on his mind. He had not really spoken much to her in that time. Oh, there had been exams and practice runs in the both the simulator and the arena, and plenty of excuses for them to avoid one another. But they were just that, excuses. They could have sought each other out, but didn’t.
A nagging sense of regret haunted Joshua’s heart. He knew what Lisa had wanted from him. He knew what she had wanted him to say. Those three simple words, but every time he thought he might be able to go over to her and say them, they would catch in his throat. So came another excuse, another reason to avoid her.
He knew part of it had to do with Gwen. He still missed her terribly, still haunted by that day in the hospital when all seemed to finally fall into place, when all that he had wanted at last came to pass. Haunted by the words they said to one another haunted by her touch and the consummation of their love. Haunted by the knowledge that it was all gone, that Gwen was dead and his world, all that he had known, was gone.
“And I can’t seem to get past that.” Joshua thought to himself. “I feel like I’m held hostage to a memory, a memory of Gwen and what might have been. Lisa wasn’t the only one confronted with a choice. I was too. I could have chosen her, I could have told her. Instead I kept silent. I kept silent because of that memory and also because of a silent pledge to a man I hardly know but owe my life to. Did I choose because of honor or grief? Was either one the right reason to say no to her? I don’t know anymore.
“Every choice I’ve made in these past two years has come to disaster. I murdered my father just when we needed his leadership most. I stole Gwen from Javier. And now, I’ve said no to Lisa. I couldn’t even tell her I love her. Now it’s too late. She’s no doubt accepted Daniel’s proposal. She wouldn’t have, had you asked her to. But you didn’t. Another mistake in a life full of failure.
“It’s so much simpler when I’m in one of those.” He thought, looking at the statue. “You know your enemies and you know your allies and you know what to do with both. Not so down here. All’s fair in love and war, they say. War is a lot simpler.”
Joshua turned from this thoughts once again to his surrounding. Amidst the various students in their books, he heard only one sound, quiet, barely audible. The sound of someone crying.
Curiosity took over. He began to look around.
“Maybe that’s what I should do. Just let it all out. God knows it’s tempting. My whole life is a mess and I’m just lost in it. I don't know why I'm interested in this person's sorrow. Maybe I'm just looking for someone who feels as miserable as I do."
Joshua stepped outside the hedge that bordered the memorial grove and immediately saw her. Sitting off to his left, near a tall and ancient oak tree was a young woman with her face down in her arms, crying. Joshua recognized her instantly.
He went to her and spoke her name. “Lisa?”
She looked up, quickly dried her eyes, and tried to regain some semblance of composure. “I…” she stammered.
"What's wrong?" asked Joshua, sitting down on the grass beside her.
Lisa looked down. "Another message from ComStar." She paused. As she had with the other, she handed it to him to read for himself.
“Her majesty, Archon Melissa Steiner, regrets to inform you…” Joshua read silently. He went no further. He knew what the rest had to contain.
“My God, I’m so sorry.” He reflexively pulled her into his arms. Whatever composure Lisa tried to maintain, she lost at that moment and the tears began to gush forth. Joshua said nothing and just held her, remembering a similar scene with Gwen after her brother committed suicide. "Funny thing about the name Daniel," thought Joshua. "Everywhere it goes, tragedy seems to follow."
After a few moments, she pulled away and came to herself. “I’m sorry. I should be…”
“Don’t apologize. You’ve lost a dear friend.”
"He never knew my answer.” She confessed. “I took forever to make up my mind…about his proposal. He died never knowing my answer.”
“So you said yes.” Said Joshua. “Or would have.”
She nodded and broke down again. “But now it doesn’t matter. Daniel’s gone.”
Draconis March, Federated Commonwealth
Captain Robert O’Malley tossed and turned in his bunk. It was the dream again, the same dream he’d had for twenty years. He saw himself, a ripe young twelve years old. He and his mother had returned to their family estate after the long exile of the Northwind Highlanders from their homeworld. It was in perfect order. Even when the O’Malley’s were not present in the physical, they had always been present in spirit. The manor had been ruled by an appointed steward for nearly two centuries. Now the O’Malleys had come home to claim their barony once more.
Robert was the youngest son of the current Baron, Ian O’Malley. His father was off fighting with the Highlanders that night, trying to track down the last remnants of the defeated 5th Sword of Light, a Kurita mech regiment that had attacked the planet. The 5th Sword had poisoned the water supply of the city of
Unfortunately, the 5th Sword had already fled the world, leaving behind only a few stragglers and saboteurs whose job it was to make the Highlander’s homecoming anything but pleasant. He and his mother were exploring the manor house when they both heard the sounds of gunfire. His mother drew her weapon, but before it was even waist level, two figures burst into the room.
Robert did not remember clearly what happened to the first. He was struck by one and sent flying. He remembered hearing a gun report, and had always presumed that was the fate of the first figure. When he got up, he saw his mother in a desperate struggle with the second figure, an ISF DEST shocktrooper. Trained assassins, the DEST soldiers must have been waiting for them, or perhaps for Robert’s father.
Robert knew the DEST soldier was female, even the largely sexless ninja garment they wore could not hide the bulge of her breasts. Robert stood just as the two women split apart. Robert’s mother raised her gun, but not before the DEST soldier slashed with her katana.
Robert watched as his mother’s hand came off at the wrist. Blood sprayed from the open wound, some of it splashing onto him. He screamed. And the ISF trooped slashed again, this time catching his mother in the throat. More blood. Robert jumped up to fight the soldier, blind with grief and rage, but she swatted aside his 12-year old body with ease. She raised her weapon to kill him when……
Robert awoke with a start. The dream never lasted into the next scene, where his older brother Richard shot down the ISF assassin mere seconds before that katana would have struck. He sat up, his body aching and feeling much older than his 33 years.
"The dream again?" said a voice. It was Richard, his brother.
“Every night. No wonder I’m half out of my mind.” Robert took a second to remember where he was and why he was there. He was in prison. There had been a woman. He remembered her vaguely, remembered them making love Then his memories were hazy. But he knew what they said he did, how he’d beat her half to death.
"Is that why you did it, Robert?" said Richard emotionlessly.
"I don’t know. I wasn’t in control." Said Robert. "She…God, what the hell is wrong with me?"
“You’ve suffered from that nightmare for 20 years. I watched the rage at what happened build up within you. Up until two weeks ago, you never acted on any of that anger. But, now you have. What you did was horrible, shocking, scandalous.”
"So what’s going to happen to me?"
“We, that is Father and I, thought it best if you were to leave Northwind. As the local intelligence liaison, I’ve pulled some strings. The charges will stand, but they will be conveniently buried under a mount of red tape to prevent anyone checking on your background from ever finding them. You can go where you wish, but you must leave.”
“I’m being thrown out, disowned?”
“No, you will always be my brother. But you must get away from this place. Northwind is your home, but it holds many memories, dark memories. A new start is what you need. A place where you can leave all those tortured thoughts behind you.”
"Where will I go? What can I do?"
"You’re a mechwarrior, and a very good one." Said the elder O’Malley. "You have command experience. Sign on with a mercenary command. Or seek out a world looking for a seasoned commander for their planetary militias. The possibilities are endless. But you cannot remain with the Highlanders.”
"I see. When do I leave?"
"Soon. If we are to play fast and loose with both the court of military justice and the court of public opinion, it is best that you are gone as soon as possible. Not much either can do to you when you’re a hundred light years away."
“Where do I go first?”
“Galatea, or Outreach if you wish. Both worlds where prospective employers will come looking. Or even Solaris, if you want to try your hand at the games. Your call.”
"Thank you, Richard. As usual, I owe you one."
"That’s two you owe me now. Someday, I’ll come calling for repayment."
"And you will get it. Never fear."
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
"Please pass on our gratitude to Minister Allard." Said Hauptmann General Ivan Terokopf. "Your assistance in crushing that rebellion was priceless."
"I'll do that and thank you, General." said Juan Miranda, taking the officer's hand.
"Unfortunate about Daniel. Of all the men we lost, I sense you were most affected by him. He was one of the best young mechwarriors I’ve seen in a long time."
"As my aide, I got to know him pretty well. God, I hate to lose men."
"I feel for his family."
"And his fiancée. I can't imagine what she is feeling. There was barely enough time for her to transmit back her acceptance of his proposal from New Avalon before he died. I never really found out what her answer was, but I presume it was positive since he was always in good spirits. Even when we faced those mechs that day."
“This is the price of war. The price we all pay, sooner or later. Good luck with your new assignment on Here with the 8th Arcturan Guard. They're a good unit."
A rapid knock came at the door. "Enter." said the General. Kelly Perrens walked inside.
"Our dropship is departing in 15 minutes, Juan. We’d best be going."
"All your things aboard?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, I'd rather not let the Prince's navy wait on me. Farewell, General." Juan saluted.
"Same to you, Hauptmann. Good luck." Terokopf returned the salute and watched as Juan departed with Kelly.
New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
Three weeks. It had been three weeks since Lisa had received her news about Daniel. Three more weeks of silence between her and Joshua.
Joshua’s regrets continued to plague him. He now knew that his fears had come to pass, that Lisa had said “yes” to Daniel’s proposal. But now Daniel was dead, and Joshua had no idea how to proceed.
He sat in the cafeteria and picked at his food, lost in thought. Suddenly a tray slammed down next to him and he jumped with a start. Daisaku was standing there.
“God, will you get over it? You’ve been moping about for two months now.”
“What the hell do you know?” snapped Joshua.
“We know what you’re going through, Joshua. We all went through it. You are burdened enough without carrying Lisa’s grief too. I’m worried about you. The rest of us have started to move on, all but you.”
“I love her, Daisaku, and she suffers. I should have told her.”
“When are you going to get over all these regrets? You blame yourself for everything that goes wrong in the world. If you had told her, what would it have changed? Would Daniel still live? Would she be happy and not mourning?”
Joshua said nothing. “No, she still loved him and he’d still be dead.”
“What you don’t realize is that everything isn’t your fault. You’re doing as well as any of us, better perhaps, since you’ve been fortunate enough to find someone with whom you can bear your own burdens. I know you care about her, and I know it hurts you to see her in pain.” He paused. “What I don’t get is why you’ve been avoiding each other for months now? If you care so much about one another, why aren’t you together right now?”
“She rejected me.”
“For a man who now lies dead. And yet you still sit here. It’s like you get pleasure from being miserable and alone. It would one thing if she wasn’t out there, if you were truly alone, but you’re not. Just stop worrying about honor and duty and all the excuses you are using to hold back. I’m one of your closest friends. We have been through hell together. And I know what you really want to do. Just go, and do it, stop second guessing yourself. You love Lisa. Start acting like it.”
Daisaku gave Joshua a shove out of his seat. “Go.
Find her. I want my old friend back, not this sad self-pitying fool you’ve
become. Go, get out of here and do what your heart tells you.”
Joshua rapped on the door of Lisa’s dormitory room. “Enter.” Came the response.
“Hey,” said Joshua as he opened the door. Lisa was at her desk, working on her computer. She turned and looked at him.
“Hi, Joshua.” She said casually. “Come on in.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Still kinda numb.” She answered. “Trying to keep my mind off of it by focusing on our class work. Only a few more weeks to go before the end of the semester.”
“Yeah, we’re almost finished.”
“Any idea what you’re going to do for the July break?”
“Depends mostly on who I can spend it with.”
“I’m sure your friends will find something for you to do…”
“Lisa, you know what I meant by that.”
“You’ve hardly said two words to me since I found out about Daniel.” She said angrily. “You told me, that no matter what happened, that you’d be there. That you’d be my friend.”
“This was not what I expected. Neither of us did. No, what I expected was to be helping you celebrate your engagement.”
“Don’t lie to me. That’s not what you wanted at all. But you lacked the courage to say it.”
Joshua looked at her. Her eyes were filled with pain and fury. “No, you’re right. That’s not what I wanted, but what I said was true. It was your decision, not mine.”
“No, your mask your cowardice in respect and honor.” Sneered Lisa. “You want to know why I said yes? Because you said nothing. I couldn’t wait for you to make up your mind, Joshua. I needed to give him an answer.”
“But now it’s all moot.”
“Yeah. And you’ve still not been there, still afraid, still a coward. You abandoned me, when I needed you most.”
Joshua sat there and said nothing for a moment. “Yeah, I was afraid. Afraid of what might happen. Afraid of taking advantage. Afraid of being hurt, like I was with Gwen. Afraid of a lot of things. It’s sad really. I’ve faced death on the battlefield a dozen times, but opening up to you terrifies more than any enemy. You call me a coward? You’re right. That’s what I’ve been. It’s time that’s changed. I’m here to do what I should have done months ago, if it’s not too late. But only you can answer that.”
“What do you want of me?”
“To beg your forgiveness. Everything you’ve accused me of is true. I’ve wronged you. I’ve broken my pledge to you. I’m at your mercy. Do with me as you wish.” He stood there with his head bowed.
“I should throw you out on your ass.” She stood up and took him in hand. “You have no idea how angry I have been at you. But I do love you, Joshua Messer. In spite of all your flaws. There was never a question that I would forgive you. Just don’t do it again. My heart can’t take it.”
“Never again.” He said, and a smile crept onto his lips. He made to kiss her on the forehead, but Lisa reached up and pulled him lower. Their lips touched.
“I love you.” He whispered when they released from the kiss. “I will never again be afraid to say those words to you. Never again.”
Lisa smiled. “About time you came to your senses, Joshua Messer.”
Oberon Confederation, The Periphery
Captain Jael Mangalore marched his Crusader forward. His mercenary unit, the 41st Independent Hussars, had been called out to repel invaders from this mostly undefended world. Elsewhere the 2nd Oberon Guards, the planet's garrison regiment, had engaged the invaders.
"Who the hell would try to conquer this God forsaken rock?" said Jael.
"Beats
"Doesn't make sense. There's nothing here anyone would want to capture." said Jael. "Just a population of 100,000 and a handful of cottage industries."
"Bogey's closing from the north.
"Great, here they come."
The four mechs, which included Kirk's Warhammer and two medium mechs: a Cicada and a Wolverine, marched over the ridge and spotted the approaching unit.
"My computer can't identify the approaching mechs. Unknown designs."
True enough. Jael saw a Warhammer-like mech in the lead, which his computer registered as a heavy class mech. The four others looked nothing like anything he'd ever seen. The computer tagged one as an assault, two as mediums, and one light. All five had a bright red and yellow insignia of a wolf's head on their torsos.
"Lock and load, boys. Never seen that insignia before."
"Probably some new merc unit."
“Never seen most of those designs either. Computer’s baffled as well.”
The assault mech fired its main weapon. The weapon released a huge burst of static electricity before hurling a watermelon sized piece of metal into Kirk's Warhammer.
"What the hell was that? It removed a full ton of armor with one hit."
"Looked like some sort of magnetic autocannon. Watch out for it." said Jael. "Must be some sort of lostech weapon." Jael felt bile enter his throat at the thought. Lostech armed opponents could make short work of his unit.
The Warhammer-like heavy opened fire with more familiar weaponry, PPCs. The PPC beams sliced across Jael’s Crusader.
"Wait a minute." said Jael, trying to keep his mech upright. "He's 632 meters away. A PPC can only reach 550 meters. And he did 50% more damage than normal. Guys, these guys have definitely got lostech mechs. Pull back." Jael squeezed the firing studs on his LRM launchers, sending 30 long range missiles at the Warhammer imitation.
The missiles hit home, splattering the heavy mech with explosions. His lancemate marked the enemy light with his autocannon as the Hussars began to withdraw.
The light fired its arm weapons. Jael’s draw dropped when he saw two PPC beams fly out of the light mech. Both hit home on the Wolverine, disintegrating almost two tons of armor in less than a second.
"My God. A light with two PPCs?" Panic entered Jael’s voice as he backpedaled his mech away from the strange attacking force. “What manner of monsters are these?”
One of the two mediums began to take the lead, firing its PPC at the Cicada. A Cicada was a fast mech, but the enemy was keeping up with it.
"Oh no, you don't." said Jael, firing his twin six-pack short range missile launchers into it. The hits blasted armor off of the medium mech, but it kept going. With another shot, the medium blew the leg off of the lightly armored Cicada, sending it crashing into the earth.
Another PPC blast brought Jael back to reality. The Warhammer imitator was closing rapidly. He gauged its speed at 86 kph, over 20 kph faster than his own mech. The medium in the meantime had turned to open fire on him as well. Jael found his courage and charged the medium, firing his short range missiles and medium lasers into it.
Under normal circumstances, he should have overwhelmed his opponent. But the medium stood firm under the heavy barrage, returning fire with its PPC and short range missile launcher. The Warhammer caught up with him, but was not firing. Jael realized that his back was to the Warhammer, making his Crusader a sitting duck.
"Why doesn't he finish me?"
The medium fired its PPC, striking Jael’s mech in the leg. He felt his mech jerk and tumble over, his leg snapped off at the knee. The mech hit the ground and Jael blacked out for several seconds.
When he came to, he tried to signal his lancemates, but no response came. Swearing, he unstrapped himself from his seat and struck the hatch open switch on his cockpit. The metal panel slid back to reveal a man in a beige jumpsuit, pointing a laser pistol at him.
Jael calmly raised his hands. "Who are you?" asked Jael.
The man merely smiled. "The end of your barbaric civilization. We are the Clans."
Next Chapter
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