Here
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
Juan looked up from his drink to see if his friends had arrived yet. He’d been on Here only six weeks when he received notice that his old partners from his station on Quentin in the 3039 War were in the area and wanted to meet. He headed out to the refueling station to meet their ship as it came in. Now, he was sitting in the lounge, looking out the porthole into space at two massive Star Lord class jumpships that hovered nearby. One of them was the ship carried his friends, en route back home from their assignments.
The intercom intoned the arrival of a shuttle from the Orion’s Pride, his friends’ jumpship. Eagerly, he ordered another round and glanced towards the docking gates. He then saw two men enter the commons, one dressed in a Lyran Intelligence Corp uniform, the other in civilian clothes. He signaled them over.
"Why the hell are you all the way out here in this backwater, Richard?" he said to the one in civies.
Richard O’Malley shrugged. "Family business. My brother has taken assignment on New Belfast. I came with him to assist him in moving and getting his affairs in order. Typical mundane family matters."
"So you dragged Kerem along for the ride?"
"Actually, Juan, I was on assignment in the Tamar sector." Said the
"Hope you had a cleaner run of it than I." Said Juan dejectedly.
"Lost two mechwarriors under your command?" asked Richard, searching for confirmation.
Juan nodded. "Two very bright young men. One, my Loki liason, was about to retire from the service to get married. He died never knowing his girlfriend’s answer."
Kerem winced at the thought. O’Malley said nothing and his face was expressionless.
"God, I hate this life." Said Kerem, signaling for a waitress to get him a drink.
"Bullshit!" said Richard. "You relish it as much as the rest of us."
"It’s not the same anymore though. Not like ten years ago, the three of us struck fear into the hearts of the ISF. They were a worthy challenge. Now all we do is play chicken with the
"I’ve had that feeling too." Said Juan. "When I saw Daniel die, I asked myself why? I knew the Republic wouldn’t commit to a full invasion. They sold out those rebels and they sold out their own men. They killed some of us. We killed some of them. And for what?"
“You two are too damned sentimental." Snarled O’Malley impatiently. "You already know the answer to that. Same crap that’s been going on for three hundred years, just different players. Rasalhague wants our worlds. Kurita wants our worlds. We want their worlds. We attack them, they attack us. Same crap as always. But unlike when it was the Dracs we were staring at across the border, Rasalhague is no challenge. As you say, their heart’s not in it. Just an elaborate game of whack-a-mole. They start fires so we’re too busy putting them out to actually invade the worlds we want back from them. That’s all this is."
"We’ve blocked the revolts on four worlds completely,” Said Kerem, “but a lot of them have flared up again. I’ve been reassigned elsewhere, but I would guess, Juan, that since you’re here that…."
Juan shrugged. "I go where they order me. It’s a nice change of pace. I was getting like Richard. Too comfortable sitting on New Avalon. You think Northwind is dull? At least here in the Tamar backwater, the rebels keep things interesting."
"Not all of it is Rasalhague, I’ll wager." Said Richard, steering the topic back to the revolts themselves.
"Don’t be pointing the finger at the Lyrans." Said Kerem defensively. "We’ve been through this before."
"Oh, it’s not all of them." Said Richard in retort. "I’m not exactly a born-and-bred Davion like Juan here. I’m a Northwind Highlander and I was born in the Capellan Confederation. Morgan Kelswa and Ryan Steiner have not been completely quiet." He paused with a slick grin, as if he’d figured out something obvious and was about to embarrass his colleagues. "The revolts are predominantly on worlds garrisoned by Federated Suns units. I don’t think that’s a coincidence."
"So is Rasalhague playing off of the two dissenting Dukes or vice versa?" asked Juan.
"That I can’t answer for you. This isn’t my assignment." Richard leaned back. "I’m on vacation, remember?"
New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
"Yes!" said Joshua, walking outside of the classroom. Daisaku Hayakusora was waiting outside.
"That's a good sign."
"Final exams are over at last."
"Which scenario did the computer give you for Tactics and Strategy."
"Sarna 3028. The Fourth Succession War. Three regiments versus five. Routed the enemy in two weeks of intense fighting. Professor commented that I pushed my men too hard, but I won."
"I had another rough one. Mallory's World 3016."
"The death of Prince Ian Davion?"
"The very same. Since I was in his shoes, he didn't die. The Kurita forces were routed in three weeks."
"We have changed history yet again and made the universe safe for the Federated Suns.” Said Joshua with a tone of exaggerated bravado. “If only we had been here for real…what victories could have been .”
"On that note….." said Daisaku gravely.
"Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it too.” Said Joshua, reading Daisaku’s intent. “We still don’t have any clue where the Clans might strike the Inner Sphere.”
“If they return by the Exodus road, it will be the Draconis Combine that will face the brunt of it.”
“The most direct path from the Clan homeworlds would them take through Rasalhague and
“And how are we to do that?”
“My hope is that the Prince will have a sympathetic ear. I want to assemble all of us and discuss what I have in mind.”
"We’ll not have the time tonight." Said Daisaku. "Perhaps tomorrow."
"Can you arrange it?"
“I’ll see what I can do. Erik and Ryan should be waiting at the NAIS Grill. Let’s eat dinner."
Joshua and Daisaku headed out of the building. "Sounds good." said Joshua. "I'm hungry."
The Grill was on NAIS’s campus about two kilometers from the building Daisaku and Joshua were coming out of. The cold November air buffeted the pair as they made their way to the Grill.
The NAIS Grill was the local hangout of most of the students of both universities. During the week of final exams, it was pretty much a seniors only place.
Joshua walked inside and was immediately struck by a flying party favor. "SURPRISE!" The room was filled with friends, mostly the seniors he'd gotten to know pretty well.
"Damn you, you remembered."
"Of course, they remembered, brother dear. I had to keep reminding them." said Marta stepping up with an unnamed male senior under her arm.
"Did you really think we would forget your 19th birthday?" said Ryan.
"No, I suppose not."
Erik Iolair marched up. "Besides this is revenge for getting me last month."
Joshua laughed. "Alright, we're even."
Daisaku smiled. "’Tis time to be festive. Let's us consume large amounts of food and act like maniacs."
"And drink large quantities of alcohol." said Iolair, holding up his glass.
Such ill disciplined behavior might have been frowned on among the Wolverines on New Vision, but after 15 months in the Inner Sphere, Joshua and his fellow exiles had learned much from their new world. Not the least of which were new festive ways to relax and blow off steam.
Joshua glanced about the room. He saw Ryan Smith sitting with Matthew Jiwe and an attractive blonde. Joshua knew it was Mary Peterson, Matthew's girlfriend. Isaac was talking with Mike Koren and Kou Fairchild in another part of the room. All the Wolverines were here.
"So who's this?" asked Joshua of his sister.
"Oh, this is just Michael. He's a friend of Isaac’s from their Battlemech training class. He set me up on a blind date."
"You took him up on the offer?" said Joshua incredulously. "I didn’t think you’d trust any of my friends that much."
"Excuse me, but I'd like to think I'm not such a bad fellow." Retorted Michael. His accent indicated a New Avalon upbringing.
“I’m teasing. That’s my sister. Deal.” Said Joshua to Michael. He looked to Marta. “Enjoy yourself, you little devil.”
"I intend to, brother dear.”
“Hey, you!” Said a voice from behind Joshua.
Joshua did not turn. “I wondered where you were hiding.” He said.
“Hiding? Not anymore.” Lisa spun him about and planted a kiss on his lips. “Happy birthday, my love.”
“Well, this was unexpected.”
“Got ya!” said Lisa.
“Your idea?”
“Pretty much.” She pulled him close. “Your friends were not hard to persuade.”
“They’ll find any excuse to carouse and drink. Guess that’s part of the whole military upbringing. You get a little stiff when you’ve been training to be a mechwarrior since you got out of diapers.”
“All the more reason for you and your friends to enjoy themselves. Come on, let’s get you a drink.”
“You just want me drunk so you can have your way with me.”
Lisa
shot him a sly smile. “Oh, don’t you worry. There will be time enough for
that.”
Joshua was reclining on a sofa along the back wall of the Grill. To his left was Erik and his sister sat at his right, chatting with her date. Joshua had just finished another drink and was enjoying a good buzz. Lisa approached him.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Joshua asked her.
‘It’s your party. I should be asking you that.”
“Oh, yeah. Great time. Great idea, especially after finals.”
Lisa nodded over her shoulder. “Let’s take a walk.”
"Sure." Joshua sat up. “I have been duly summoned, my friends. Carry on.” He said playfully to his friends.
“Get out of here, you idiot.” Teased Erik. “I’m sure her fun is better than ours.”
Lisa blushed at that comment and quickly took Joshua by the hand. They darted outside in the November air.
“You know my friends…” chuckled Joshua. “They love to tease.”
“Yeah.” Said Lisa quietly. She pulled him next to her and held him.
“So is this what you had in mind or something more?”
She kissed him quickly. “Don’t talk. Don’t say anything.” She said sadly.
“Is something wrong?”
“I have to tell you something. Something you’re not going to want to hear. We graduate in two weeks and then we get shipped to our ‘postings,’ as you already know."
“And?”
"My father has already pulled all the strings necessary to bring me back to New Belfast. I’m going home. You, wherever you go, are going to a line unit somewhere in the FC.”
“You’re saying I can’t come with you. I had this plan. I’m going to talk to the Prince.”
"The New Belfast militia is not part of the AFFC. Even if the Prince grants you an audience and gives you all that you wish, he can’t change this. My father is a Lyran noble. Even with the alliance, Prince Davion has no authority."
Joshua’s light-hearted demeanor grew heavy. "So, we get two more weeks together and then I never see you again?”
“I don’t know. But we won’t be together, not for a long time.”
Lisa pulled away from Joshua and turned her back to him. "I lost Daniel. You lost Gwen, and now we lose each other."
“You can’t change it? Talk your father out of it.”
“This has been arranged for a long time. A lot of strings were pulled, favors granted and promised. It’s not that simple.”
“Politics.”
“Yeah.”
Joshua nodded confidently. “We will find a way.” He took her in hand. “Somehow. We will find a way. We’ve been together for 5 months now and I’m not going to let a few light-years of space come between us. I’ve come this far. I’m not losing you.”
“Somehow I knew you would say something like that. Guess that’s why I love you. But I wish I had your confidence.”
“I have confidence enough for the both of us. Stop worrying.” He pulled her close and kissed her passionately. “Now, this is my birthday. I’ll have no more of this talk from you. This is a time of celebration and you didn’t just bring me out here to get all sad and mopey on me.”
Lisa blushed. “Not really.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
They set them down beside his collection of vid-chips. Those chips contained films from every era of history, from the early 20th century up to the last years of the Star League. It was a priceless collection.
The ComGuard expeditionary force had done more than loot New Vision for lostech. Daisaku and the others returned to their barracks to collect what effects they could recover, which wasn’t much. Most of their extensive music collections and Joshua's collection of ancient films were recovered and brought with them.
"I didn’t think copies of some of these films still existed. Ben-Hur? That’ll be almost 1100 years old." Said Kou.
"Ten years hence, it will be." Said Isaac. "Have you not seen his collection?"
"I’d heard of it. Never seen it. Where did he get all of them?"
"Our people kept archives of the greatest works of art, film, and literature throughout history on our homeworld." Said Daisaku. "Sad to say that most of it was probably lost when our world was destroyed."
“You are a strange people. But that loss was tragic.”
"Uh, guys," said Erik. "Has everyone forgotten why we came up here?"
"Yeah, but Joshua’s not here." Said Isaac, restating the obvious.
"No shit." Said Erik flatly. "He ran out on us and left us with all the gifts."
“With Lisa.” Reminded Daisaku. “I’m sure she gave him quite a gift.”
“Yeah, my guess is that if we went over to the women’s dormitory…”
“Never mind that. They deserve a bit of privacy.” Said Ryan. “Let’s get these gifts in here.”
“This is one time when I wish Joshua was as unpopular and disliked as so often thought he was.” Grumbled Erik. “Man, this is a lot of crap to haul in here.”
“Complaints. Would you like some cheese with that whine?” said Ryan.
"You were in far too harmonious a mood last night to complain about anything." teased Matthew. "As I recall, after a few beers, you could have cared less whether the birthday boy was there or not."
Ryan Smith chuckled. "You even sang to him after he had left."
"So what?" said Erik defensively. "It was a birthday party. We’ll sing Happy Birthday without him if need be, damnit!"
"Your devotion to that tradition did nothing to help our ears, Erik." Said Daisaku.
"Oh, shut up! All of you." Everyone was laughing by now. “God, I love the respect I get from my ‘friends.’” He said the last word sardonically.
“Oh, you come on, you know you love us.” Said Ryan. “Let’s get these last gifts in here and head out.”
"Did you think I ran off without you, dear?" came her voice from the next room. Lisa walked back inside, wearing nothing and carrying a long wrapped package. "I didn't get to give you my gift for your birthday last night."
Joshua’s eyes went up and down her lovely figure. "Something more than a night of passionate lovemaking with you? God, I really must be the luckiest man alive.”
She sat down on the bed next to him. “Daniel told me that your friends went back and recovered a lot of your personal effects when they evacuated your home planet.”
“Yeah, my film collection, some music, stuff like that.”
“That wasn’t all that they recovered.” She handed the package over. “Open it.”
"What is it?" said Joshua with curiosity. It felt familiar.
Joshua unwrapped the package to reveal a finely crafted broadsword. It was his broadsword, Anduril, the one that had won him his trial.
“How...how did you get this? I thought it was lost forever.”
"Daniel had it. He left it with me to give to you and I waited to find the right moment to return it. This was as good as any.” She pulled him into her embrace. “I knew all along what sort of man you truly were. But what happened on New Vision, what happened with Gwen, even what happened between us, made you lose yourself. But you’re a fighter in more than just a BattleMech. I knew you would find your way. I knew you’d become what you were meant to be. I loved you then and I love you now. This sword is who you are, and just as you have found yourself, so you have found it again.”
“I never took you for the philosophical type.”
“You know I’m right.” She let go and lay down on the bed next to him.
Joshua held up the sword. It shone in the sunlight from the window.
“You know, there’s something vaguely phallic about this.” He said with a quirky grin.
Lisa blushed and laughed. "God, your mind is in the gutter."
“Can’t let you get too serious on me.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Well, shall we follow up our night of passionate lovemaking with a morning of it?”
“You are insatiable, Joshua Messer.” Said Lisa with a smile.
There came a rapid sharp knock at the door. Joshua slumped onto the bed.
“The game is up. They know where we are. Be prepared for childish snickering and teasing from the peanut gallery.”
Lisa grabbed a robe. “You’d best get some clothes on.”
The knock came again and Lisa headed to the door. “Alright, you bastards, I’ll give him back to you.” She snarled playfully at those on the other side of it.
New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
"Your Highness, the NAMA cadet, Joshua Messer, has arrived. You granted him an audience." Said the intercom.
“I remember.” Said Hanse Davion playfully to his secretary. “See him in.”
The short young man with Hanse gave him a disgruntled look. Beside him was a taller man in his early thirties, but much like the younger man in appearance.
“His timing could be better.” Said the shorter man.
“You’ll like this guy, Victor. He’s one of a rather unique batch of cadets at NAMA. Part of a group of Periphery refugees one of our pirate hunting expeditions uncovered.”
Joshua entered the room. "Your Highness." Said Joshua with a crisp salute. Hanse waved him off.
"I’m sorry, your Highness.” Joshua apologized. “I did not realize you had visitors."
“Actually, it’s their arrival that is somewhat unexpected. Cadet Messer, this young man is my eldest son Victor. And this is his aide, Galen Cox. They have just arrived from the
"Hauptmann, Leftenant." Said Joshua in turn, saluting both.
Victor seemed displeased that Joshua had addressed him by military rank and not his name. "Just Victor." He said. Joshua looked him over. The young Prince was probably no more than a year or two older than Joshua.
"That would be improper, both by standard and military etiquette." Said Joshua.
"As my father can attest, I am anything but proper."
At that Hanse smiled. "My son and his friend are home for the Christmas holiday. As I said, they had just arrived.” Victor nodded.
"I knew his Highness had five children, but you are the first I’ve had fortune to meet. It is an honor."
"Father tells me a bit about you. Says you’re somewhat unique. Refugee from the Periphery?”
“Scored as high as our top-of-the-class senior cadets on NAMA entrance exams.”
“My people were a warrior people. I’ve been trained as a mechwarrior since I was a small child.”
“Remarkable. I’ve heard of such societies existing out in the Periphery. What’s the name of that one we read about, Galen?”
“The Brotherhood of Randis, I believe is what you’re thinking of.”
“Yeah, that’s them. Well, Cadet, I’m intrigued. Would you care to meet later for a drink?"
Joshua shrugged. "I don’t see why not. Might I bring a guest?"
“Another of your people.”
“No, I was thinking my girlfriend actually.”
"If my guess is correct," interrupted Hanse. "you may already know Cadet Messer’s guest, Victor."
"Lady MacLeod?" said Victor, looking exasperated.
"You know Lisa?"
"Um, yeah. We’ve met. Piece of unsolicited advice. Never let your father arrange a blind date for you.”
“I’ve had that experience. I know what you mean.” Said Joshua grimly.
“You will have time enough to share stories with Cadet Messer later. We have business.” Interrupted the First Prince.
“By your leave, Father.” Said Victor. He and Galen turned and departed.
"What can I do for you, Cadet? I’m not normally at my leisure to have audience with all my subjects, but you are something of an exception under any circumstance."
"This may seem an unusual request, so I hope you think it not too forward of me, your Highness. It concerns the postings we will receive after our graduation.”
“Go on.”
"I would like for us, the refugees that is, to be somewhat scattered."
"You don’t want to be together? I would think that would be your wish."
"No, and I have my reasons."
"Can I ask why?"
“If I may be presumptuous, I think you already know.”
“Is there something you’d like to share with me? You and your friends are quite a mystery.”
“I can’t share everything, and all I truly have are suspicions. Let’s just say the group that attacked my world will likely come for the Commonwealth sooner or later.”
“You know them intimately then?”
“No, not as much as I would like. But we’re the only ones in the Inner Sphere who have ever faced them and your armies need to be prepared.”
“You think them a credible threat to the most powerful military in the Inner Sphere?”
“I’m not so naïve as to think that you didn’t recover samples of their technology when your men came to my planet. Only you can answer whether an army so armed is a threat or not.”
“Our top intelligence people went over all the data we recovered from your planet. We also noted that the force that attacked you fled in haste when our ship showed up. They didn’t seem inclined to be discovered.”
“I may be bold in saying this, your Highness, but if you think that’s just because they want to live and let live, you’re wrong. They annihilated my planet, killed thousands. And sooner or later they are coming.”
“So, I’m to believe that not only do you are right about these technologically advanced raiders where my best intelligence experts are wrong, but you also wish to instruct my generals who have been at their posts for more years than you’ve been alive."
“I have spoken the truth, your Highness. The decision is still yours.”
“You continue to be secretive and evasive and now demand that I trust that what little you’ve told me is the truth.”
“My people hold secrecy as a virtue. To be blunt, your Highness, when I first encountered one of your men, he was trying to break into our arsenal. What would your generals have done had he been successful? Those mechs do not belong to you, they belong to my people. And if you had known about our world long ago, known that there was a planet populated with people who still understood how to use and manufacture Star League era armaments just off your borders, what would you have done? I’m sorry, your Highness, that my secrecy prevents you from trusting me, but we have long since learned the dangers of being too open when the powers of the Inner Sphere are involved.”
“If you so dislike us, why try to help us against these green bird warriors or whoever they are?”
“Because no planet, no people, deserves to undergo what we went through. Look to your own history. Imagine a hundred Kentares. That could be what we face. But know this. However you choose to act, your Highness, my colleagues and I will fight to prevent that fate. Together or separate, we will stand with you and the
“I will give it some thought. You have my leave to go.”
New Avalon, Crucis March
Federated Commonwealth
“I trust you are now settled in, your Highness.” Said Joshua.
“Please, just Victor.” Corrected Victor Davion.
“Very well, Victor. So, what intrigues you about me?” asked Joshua bluntly.
“Anything that gets my father’s attention gets mine.”
“I’m not interested in politics, Victor.”
“Nor am
“Good, because there are bigger threats out there to be dealt with.”
“And that’s what you told him?”
“It’s why I’m here. My people were a formidable force in that region of the Periphery. We had an army equal in number to anyone of your father’s regiments, with armor and infantry support, and we were equipped with Star League era technology. The group that attacked us swatted us aside as if we were nothing. And as I told your father, that same group is coming for the Inner Sphere next.”
Victor took a sip of his drink. “Who are they or do you not know?”
“No, I know who they are. They are ancient enemies of my people. Now they have just about finished the job.”
“And you and your friends are all that remain?”
“As far as we know.”
“Have you spoken of this threat to my father?”
“He’s known. His people found samples of their weapons when they found my friends and I. He knows their potential.”
“That’s not what I asked. What did you talk to him about?”
“As you suspect, I warned him. Told him of the danger and how we, that is my friends and I, might help.”
“But you shared few details.”
“So, he’s spoken to you about it.” Joshua paused. “The simple truth of the matter is I don’t know any of the details. My people hadn’t had contact with these raiders in over 200 years. My greatest fear is that they come for the Inner Sphere next, for your people, for your worlds. I want to do what I can to stop that. Do what I can to make you ready.”
“Don’t underestimate my father. He may be frustrated by what little you have told him, but he’s not stupid. You’re right. He knows these bird warriors are a threat and he will take measures appropriate. But until we get an inkling of where they are and where they are coming from, he will be subtle. He has to be. Threat from beyond or not, there is still the Draconis Combine out there. And if we open ourselves up in one place to defend against this new foe, they will strike.”
Joshua took a drink from his cup. “So, on another matter, how is it that you know Lisa?”
“I noticed she wasn’t with you. I thought she was coming.”
“Something came up last minute. In truth, I think she’s avoiding you.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. No, this was a couple of years ago. I was still at Nagelring doing what you’re doing now. Lisa had gotten extended leave to return to New Belfast for Christmas and Father persuaded her to join us on Tharkad for a few days as well. Public appearances, top Lyran student at NAMA, all that. Nagelring had a winter ball and I needed a date, so Father set us up. It was cordial, but little more. I think Lisa was a bit overwhelmed by it all, being wined and dined by the First Prince, the Archon, and their son…me.”
“So, I don’t have to compete with a Prince for her affections?”
“Oh, no. Cordial. That’s all it was.”
“You’re not telling me the whole story.”
“Nope, and that’s where I’m leaving it.”
New Avalon, Crucis March
Federated Commonwealth
The canopy of the Stingray medium aerospace fighter opened to reveal a very delighted Erik Iolair. "Mine? Really?" he said, looking to Prince Hanse Davion.
"Yes, it is. We've refit it with some of the experimental lostech we've been redeveloping. It carries upgraded lasers with pulse technology and double power heat sinks to deal with the extra heat. Its particle cannon has an enhanced targeting system that lets it hit at extended ranges as well. As I understand it, that technology is not new to you, but it is to us. This fighter is state of the art."
Erik slid down the boarding ladder. "What about the others?"
"Inside." said Hanse with a wave of his arms. Assembled with Erik and the Prince were all of the Wolverines, along with Lisa, Kou, and Michael. They all followed the Prince inside.
Inside were 8 giant BattleMechs. "These are your graduation gifts." said the Prince.
Joshua knew immediately which design was his. Although he was fond of the Warhammer, his personal favorite was still the Shadow Hawk, the predeccessor to his old Wendigo. Prince Davion must have been paying attention, since there was a brand new Shadow Hawk standing there.
"All of these machines are the standard models used in our armies, with some modifications. We used these mechs for field tests, and now that those tests are completed and the weapons are soon to begin construction at our factories, these mechs are in need of a purpose. I suspect that won’t be difficult for you.
"I think you'll like that Shadow Hawk, Joshua." said the Prince, as Joshua began to climb up to the cockpit. "Your mech carries an extended range particle cannon instead of the light autocannon, plus the medium laser system on the one arm is now a twin system. It also has increased jump and heat dissipation.
"Lisa, your Phoenix Hawk is a prototype of a new production model that will soon be produced in your own
"I didn’t think we could produce mech-sized pulse lasers?" said Lisa, who’s puzzled look had been on her face since she’d heard the description of Erik’s fighter.
"The Star League has the technology and we've been able to duplicate it. Daisaku Hayakusora, since you have a preference to lights, we've given you a Wolfhound which swaps the heavy laser for an extended range laser similar to the PPC on Erik's fighter.
"Isaac, your Zeus assault mech swaps its autocannon and large laser for an extended range PPC and extended range large laser. Adds some extra missile ammo for the rest of the extra tonnage."
"Matthew Jiwe, we granted you a spoil of war. When we invaded the Draconis Combine ten years ago, we found ourselves facing unknown mech designs bearing Star League era technology. We managed to capture a few of these mechs, but we unable to unlock their secrets until recently. This is a
"Ryan, you have a modified Marauder, which strips some heat sinks to upgrade your autocannon to a class 10. But it's not an ordinary class 10, but one of our new LB-X models. Greater range and lighter materials. You also have ER PPCs and double heat sinks."
"Sounds like a Grand Marauder to
The Prince apparently overheard. "Ah, yes, we fashion this design after one we found on your colony world. I doubt its constructed as efficiently as the mech you describe, but you ought to feel right at home."
"Kou, your
"Finally, Mike, your Wolverine will lose a heat sink to carry an Ultra class 5 autocannon. Ultras can have their ammo force-fed at twice the normal rate for double damage with a greater risk of jamming. Any questions?"
There was a great deal of commotion, but none of directed at the Prince. Hanse wondered if any of them had been listening at all. "Listen up, guys, one last thing to take care of before I let you run loose in your toys on the mock battlefield. I have your unit posting orders here." He held up several folders. "Please take a look at these before you go out. And for God's sake don't lose them."
Joshua headed over and picked up his. He broke the seal and read where he was to be posted. His unit was going to be the 10th Donegal Guards, currently stationed on Chateau.
"Chateau is on the Tamar-Rasalhague border, isn't it?" asked Joshua of the Prince. Hanse did not answer, but his eyes said volumes. He had honored Joshua’s request to scatter the exiles and he had done it discretely.
Lisa's eyes grew wide when she overheard that. Joshua looked back at her. "Are you thinking I would share the same fate as Dan? Would it devastate you as much?"
"You're sending me home, your Highness?" said Lisa, as if she hoped it would be something else.
"As was arranged through the Lyran State Command. You seem disappointed.” The Prince paused. “Ah, of course, Cadet Messer is going elsewhere. Well, Chateau is not that far from New Belfast.”
"Joshua, you're going to Chateau?" said Daisaku, peaking over his taller friend’s shoulder.
"Yes."
"Excellent! I've gotten posted there too. The devil duo is back in action." Daisaku raised his hand for a high five, which Joshua returned.
After consulting with everyone, Joshua found that only Erik Iolair and Isaac would not be stationed somewhere in the Tamar March. Isaac was being sent to Helen, not far from Terra and very close to Kurita space. Iolair had gotten posting a special posting with the 21st Flying Tigers, an independent aerospace commando unit.
"We're all being separated." commented Iolair. "This will probably be our last week together."
Joshua looked across the group as Erik's comment sunk in. Their delight over their new mechs faded rapidly as they realized that their practical friendships would most likely soon be at an end. His own expression was stoic. They had all known that this would come.
“This isn’t the end, guys.” Said Joshua to his fellow Wolverines. “We knew this would come. We know this is what’s best. We came here with a mission and now it is time for us to begin it. For all the light-years between us, we will always be brothers. We will always be Wolverines. And maybe, depending upon where fate turns, we will be together again.” He turned to the others, to Kou and Michael and Lisa. “And that goes for you as well, my friends.” He went to Lisa. “And you also.”
Lisa smiled but said nothing.
Joshua looked back over the entire group. “Alright, the Prince has been generous and we have some new toys to play with. Let’s suit up.”
New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
Joshua tightened his belt and looked at the time.
"Don’t be so nervous." Said Lisa. "I’ve got several hours still." She gestured to the near empty room around her. "Seems I’m ready to go."
"I guess I don’t really want to admit that today is the day."
"Neither do I." Lisa ran her fingers across the scabbard of Anduril, before handing it to him.
Joshua shook his head. For all of his confidence and bravado, now that the moment of parting was soon at hand, Joshua felt nothing other than a horrid sense of dread.
"Hey," said Lisa, pulling him into his arms. "You’re not making this any easier on me, you know."
"Sorry. I just hate the thought of this being good-bye."
“It’s not. You said so yourself.”
“I believed it then. I’m not sure I do now.”
“I do.” She said, kissing him. "I love you, Joshua. As you said, we’ll find a way."
“Hope springs.” Said Joshua, looking into her eyes.
"In some ways, it’s good that I’m going home." Said Lisa, kissing Joshua again. "I can pull strings with my father. You’re going to Chateau? As soon as I get my parents content and happy, I’ll come and see you." She gained a devilish grin. "Maybe we’ll elope or something when I do."
“Um, we’ve not really talked about that.” Said Joshua surprised. "Do you mean it?"
Lisa nodded. "I do." Lisa turned and picked up one of her bags.
“Is that a promise?”
“Yeah. I’ll come. I’ll find you. Let my father rant and rave all he wants. You’re the one I want to be with and I will find a way.”
New
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
Lisa looked out of the dropship porthole towards the ground far below. The clouds thinned and she could see the emerald green plains of her homeworld. She saw the rocky peaks that separated
New
New
There were disadvantages. New
For such an exceptional world that it was for growing things, it was not settled for that purpose. During the 21st century, there was a manufacturing firm on Terra, called Kelly Engines, that built fusion engines for spacecraft. As the generations wore on, control of the company passed to three families: MacLeod of Edinburgh, Scotland, O’Brian of Belfast, Ireland, and the DeTerre of Marseilles, France. The three families emigrated off of Terra and headed out to the
It did not take the three families long to discover that New Belfast was better suited for agriculture than manufacturing. So they sold their portions of the company to the government. The MacLeods were appointed as the ruling family of the world, gaining the noble title of duke, while the DeTerre and O’Brian families gained the titles of barons and the lands entitled therein. It had remained as such for almost 500 years.
Lisa felt the dropship touch down. She took one last deep breath, savoring the stale air of the dropship. She knew that the atmosphere of her homeworld took getting used to, and she had not been home for almost two years. She knew she would probably choke on her first few breaths.
The gantry dropped down from the dropship entry hatch onto the spaceport tarmac. Lisa MacLeod stepped out onto the gantry and took a deep breath, hoping to get it over with. Sure enough, the air seemed to bite at her and she hacked the air back out. It took her a few minutes to force herself to acclimate to the mix of the atmosphere.
She looked out upon the capital city of the planet she called home. All around the buildings were covered in a light blanket of snow, too light to see from above and therefore something she had not noticed during her descent. Off in the distance, she could see the ancient castle her father ruled from. She smiled at the sight, forgetting any and all feelings of sorrow over the departure of her friends.
"I'm HOME!!!!!" she screamed and ran down the gantry onto the tarmac. Upon reaching the bottom, she dropped to her knees and kissed the concrete landing pad.
"Really, Hauptmann MacLeod." said the next person out of the ship, the dropship's skipper.
"I haven't been home in two years. I feel wonderful."
The skipper smiled. "You still have business to take care of before celebrating."
Lisa stood up. "I know. You will arrange for delivering my mech?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then I will go report to headquarters. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The duty officer at the militia headquarters told her that her new commander, one Robert O’Malley was down at the mech hangers inspecting his mech. She learned that he too was a recent arrival, relatively speaking, on New Belfast, having been in his current post only since September.
She marched into the mech bays to see her own Phoenix Hawk being placed in its repair alcove, its paint scheme bright and shiny compared to the mechs around it. It even looked the technological marvel that it was, looking distinctly different than the older Phoenix Hawk only two alcoves over.
At the end of the hanger was a mech design that she had never seen before, only heard about. It was a CTF-1X Cataphract, normally a design of House Liao and the Capellan Confederation. Standing near it was a husky man in his early thirties, wearing a militia uniform with the rank insignia of Leftenant General.
"Hauptmann Lisa MacLeod reporting for duty." said Lisa with a crisp salute. She held out her assignment orders to the Leftenant General.
"At ease. Welcome home, Hauptmann. I am Lieutenant Colonel Robert O'Malley."
"Colonel?" said Lisa with a note of confusion.
"My last station was with the Second Kereny Highlanders on Northwind. Like most mercenary units, they use English ranks. I use the English 'colonel' out of personal preference. Please use it as well."
"Yes, sir."
"Everything appears to be in order." He said, looking over her orders briefly.
"How long have you been stationed here, Lt. Colonel?"
"Only six months. I replaced Leftenant General Patrick O'Brian when he retired last summer. Damn shame about his son."
Lisa winced at the reference to Daniel. O'Malley shook his head. "Oh, yes, I had heard. You and he were romantically involved. My condolences."
"Dan and I were going to married, but he died in battle." Said Lisa quietly.
"If the condolences of a man you’ve just met are worth anything, you have them. Your family is waiting.” Robert looked at her with a puzzled look. “Frankly, I’m surprised you didn’t go there first."
"I’ve attended a military school for four years. Duty becomes second nature, I suppose." Lisa smiled. "I guess I shouldn't let them wait any longer."
"I reside at the castle. I'll drive you up there."
"Thank
you."
A young man was walking down the stone stairway to the courtyard. His smiled broadened when Lisa set foot outside of the car. Lisa spotted him immediately. "Chris!" she cried, bolting towards him. O'Malley stood up and smiled.
Chris swept Lisa up into his strong arms and kissed her. "You're home." He said, letting her down. He tapped her Hauptmann's bars. "And a Hauptmann at that."
"I had to make my older brother proud, Chris." said Lisa with a grin. "How have you been?"
"Same as usual. Tasks as the manor chamberlain."
"All in a day's work for the heir-apparent. Where's father and mother?"
"Father is out for his daily ride. Mother and Marian are inside, doing something to make ready for your arrival. I came down to greet you."
"Well, lead on, Chris." Chris turned and headed back inside.
"I see the decorations haven't changed." She said as she walked inside the entry chamber. She took a tapestry and rubbed it between her fingers.
"Of course not. Do you really think Father would ever redecorate this place?"
"No, probably not." Baron von Patrick O'Brian was walking down the hall towards them, apparently expecting the Duke to be present. Lisa stopped, as did the Baron when he saw her.
"Hello, Lisa. Good to see you home at last. I had heard you were coming in soon."
"I just arrived about an hour ago, mi’lord.." Said Lisa, speaking to the man who would have been her father-in-law if not for tragedy. "Thank you. I wished I could have come home for Daniel's funeral."
"His grave is on the north side of O'Brian manor. You may come by at anytime." The Baron paused. "His last thoughts were of you. We received all of his personal effects, including his letters. We know you accepted his proposal for marriage. I'd like to think.......to think that knowing that made his last moments his happiest."
Lisa looked down, trying to control her emotions. Chris leaned over and placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked back at him and patted his hand.
"Thank you for telling me that, mi'lord. I'd like to think so too."
"Good day, Lisa." said the Baron. "And to you, Lord Christopher." Chris just gave him a short nod as the Baron departed.
"A broken old man," said Chris. "It's sad. You missed his retirement from command of the march militia. He didn’t handle Daniel death well, and that prompted his retirement. He’s never really adjusted to it, made him feel helpless. He’s not fond of father’s choice of his replacement. He considers O’Malley to be an 'undisciplined upstart' and an outsider. That’s made it worse. Always complaining about how Colonel O'Malley was running his unit. He's not been the same. Just runs his collective and waits to die."
"I really don’t need anything to make me more depressed." said Lisa. “I miss my friends.”
"Yeah, I’m sure Daniel being among them. I’m sure that was hard for you. By the way, you didn't tell us you had gotten engaged. We only learned after Daniel’s body was returned to New Belfast."
"There wasn’t really time. I told him 'yes' but didn't have the funds to send another message that month, so I waited to send one to you the next month. But by that time, I'd received word from the military that Daniel was dead." Saying it so bluntly was like getting punched in the gut and tears began to well up. She quickly wiped them away. “I thought I was done grieving him, but being here, seeing his Father, talking about him. It just brings it all back. All the memories. All the thoughts of what could have been.”
"That kind of pain, Lisa is always with you. You learn to live with it, but you never get rid of it."
“Well, I thought I had learned to live with it. I moved on and everything.”
“Does that mean what I think it means? That there’s another man in your life now?”
Lisa nodded. “Yeah. Well, sort of. He’s not here on New Belfast and that’s a bit of a problem.”
“Nothing beyond your resourcefulness I’m sure. Tell me about him.”
“His name is Joshua. We were friends. He was my rival, we always competed on exams and on the practice field. He’s gorgeous: blue eyes, blond hair. Strong, smart, passionate.”
“I get the picture.”
“He’s on Chateau.”
"That's not too far. Messages will be cheap and you might even get to visit him every now and then."
"Yeah, if I can leech father for money."
"Good luck with that. The last harvest did not merit as much as he hoped. Come on. Our sister and stepmother are waiting."
Lisa's family consisted of her father, Duke Jameson MacLeod, her stepmother Lauriana, and her siblings. She had one older brother, Christopher, and two sisters, one younger, Marian, and one older, Miranda. Miranda had been born to her father's first wife, Carlina, who died when Miranda was two. Lisa and Christopher's mother, Shannen, died when Lisa was six. Tragedy did not prevent Jameson from marrying yet again, he married Lauriana and had Marian.
Marian was now sixteen and Christopher was 28. Since Chris was the heir-apparent, he remained on New Belfast. Marian was not yet old enough to leave, but Miranda had left for
Chris pushed open the door to the audience chamber. Lauriana and Marian looked up and their smiled broadened. Walking through the rear entrance at the same moment, still in his riding gear, was Duke Jameson MacLeod.
Lisa smiled and started towards her family. In that one moment, she forgot all her troubles. "It is truly good to be home."
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