Falcon's Rising

[MarkWarrior]

Alternate beginnings (Rewritten Chapter)

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.

A fusion generator, an Industrialmech, and a whole lot of various odds and ends were thrown into the Last of Us. With a cryopod shoved into it as an afterthought.

"It'll be good to see the ground again," I sighed. "I just wish I could have figured out how to get the drive working again."

---

"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. Maybe someday someone will be able to get you fixed up 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, I'd spent the last three months working on this physique, I wasn't going to let it go now.

–
–

It turns out that landing a dropship seemed easy, after all, all you had to do were follow the basic instructions the computer gave you.

"I'm going to die," I followed the instructions, steadily repeating the mantra. "I'm going to die, I'm going to die. This was a bad idea."

I squeezed my eyes shut and gripped the controls tightly as the thrusters of the Last of Us beat local physics into place, the dropship easing down in an open plain, the legs extended to stabilize the Confederate as she scorched the earth below, the fusion torches turning themselves off after setting off a series of small fires.

"I made it?" I slowly opened my eyes and exhaled the breath I'd been holding. "I fucking made it!"

I cheered and congratulated myself for a moment before finally calming down.

"Alright, let's see what the sensors say," I sat back down. "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 the heavy uniform dropped to the ground. 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 burnt 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 cryo 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 has been slightly rewritten. The rest of Alternate beginnings is going to follow suite.

 

[MarkWarrior]

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," I paused and considered the chicken. "After you've gotten some kids started. Then you'll be a meal, probably two," I clapped my hands together and slipped some gloves on before grabbing the chicken and throwing it out of my hut.

"I'm gonna have to air this place out," I looked at the chicken crap all over the place. "Gross," I pulled the blanket off of the bed. "Nope, I'm burning the blankets. I've got more."

After making a quick mask, I stepped inside and opened up a window. Then, grabbing a broom I began sweeping all of the crud that had been tracked in out of the house, the door and windows propped open as I began cleaning out the years of dust and excrement built up.

–
–

"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 before. I mean, it's obviously still chicken, but something in their diet is giving it a better flavor."

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. It was the one place that had been free from the dung and other filth I had cleaned up over the last few days.

"The Cabin has held up incredibly well in the ten years I was in stasis barring the nests the chickens built into it," 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. Then 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 and settled down here. Getting to spend time with some fellow humans would do a lot of good."

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. A peaceful life isn't a bad thing, after all."

I walked outside and climbed up onto the Bobby B, laying out on the shoulder and staring up at the unfamiliar stars as I tried to find a singular star out of the millions in the sky.

"I've traveled alone, made my way on my own. Searching, but not knowing where. The smell and the pines find the sea and the sings. Say's my place is right over there," I let the song trail off, a couple of tears falling down my face as I mumbled the last bit. "Who says you can't go home again. Listen my friend, I know that you can. So come plant your feet and forget how to roam. Remembering what it's like, to call a place home."

A song that pulled me back to happier times, times spent with my family. Of smoking cigars and drinking whiskey with my dad and brothers-in-law. Of working on the farm when needed and my dad showing me how to work on different parts of my car.

With a heavy sigh, I finally stood up and climbed down off of the Bobby B, opening the door to my cabin and taking off my boots before stripping down to a pair of shorts and closing the door behind me.

I moved over to the bed and eased myself in with a groan of relief, pulling the SLDF standard-issue blanket over me before laying down and closing my eyes, slowly breathing and letting myself drift off to sleep.

---

"Come on, Bobby B," I climbed up onto the Warhammer, clearing off the ivy-like vines that had grown onto the legs of the war machine. The green SLDF standard paint blending in fairly well with the greenery around it. "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 a now familiar voice was heard. "Power online, sensors online, weapons online, all systems nominal."

"Thanks Betty," I slipped the cooling vest on and plugged it in. "Let's go on an adventure."

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 flipped through a few different vision settings before the thermals picked up something that made me grin. 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 Mauser 960 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, and I still had plenty of spices to work with.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 3

Unknown world, 3049

"Sit," I gave the appropriate hand gesture and the eight legged wolf-like creature sat, its mouth open as it panted, eyeing the treat as I ran the trained pup through its paces.

"Good girl," I tossed the piece of cooked chicken to the dog, running my fingers along the snout and scratching hard enough that two legs began to pound the floor while her tail wagged.

It had been a long fifty years or so. And while I'd spent a couple of decades in Cryo, I found that I'd much rather spend time outside and learning more about this strange world I'd found myself in.

The Bobby B was regularly scrubbed clean and repainted when I had the time, and the pair of tractors were highly maintained as well, with gleaming parts from the last maintenance run that I'd spent working on them. The Industrialmechs purred when I cycled them and powered them on, the fusion engines having been fine tuned over the years until I'd dialed in exactly the way I wanted them to work.

This, this might not have been the life that I'd have chosen for myself. But, as I turned and considered my farm, the generations of tamed Octo-wolves guarding the chickens and the other creatures I'd trained over the years. With patrols of two or three circling the clearing while I walked Gray around.

I had considered returning to the Manasses a few times to see if there were anything left that I might want to strip from the Warship, but had discarded such thoughts years ago. Instead finding solace in the machinery and animals that I was working with.

"Gray," I whistled, the girl returning to my side as I walked around the fenced in perimeter of my property. "What do you say we go for a ride?" I stroked her neck as she leaned into my side.

Gray barked in return and ran to the Bobby B, waiting patiently for me to begin climbing up the ladder.

"Up," I instructed, and she bolted up and into the cockpit of the 'Mech.

"Good girl," I gave her a treat before putting the cooling vest I'd cut and fitted for her body onto her, strapping her into the jumpseat before pulling my own cooling vest on and powering on the Warhammer's reactor.

"You ready, girl?" I asked as she wagged her tail excitedly, she loved being in the cockpit with me when we moved at a full run, the XL engine of the 6Rk meaning that we were faster than any heavy 'Mech had the right to be.
Then, we stepped over the fence I'd build a few years back and walked, jogged, and ran down the now worn paths into the forests and mountains of the local region. There was more mapping to be done. And this world had so much to offer that I was surprised that it hadn't already been settled. It was obvious that DoME had spent some time terraforming it at some point and the odds were it was just another abandoned Star League Project.

---

A few days later…

"We're home, Gray," I walked my 'Mech back into the clearing, my beard having grown a bit ragged while we were gone. "Let's get some grub and settle down."

Shutting down the 'Mech and opening the hatch, I unstrapped the cooling vest from the dog and climbed down the ladder. Then I whistled sharply and Gray jumped down into my arms, her tongue finding my face before I set her down as her tail wagged fiercely.

"Down girl," I set her down and walked her through some of our tricks again. "Let's do a quick look through and then we'll see about getting some food."

We made our way through the fields, making sure that everything looked good before heading for the cabin, Gray nudged the door open with a small lever I'd put in place before sitting at her spot beside the table.

"What are we feeling today?" I called out as I pulled ingredients from the refrigerator. "Chicken? Some venison?"

I got a bark in response.

"Right, we had chicken while on the trip, so venison it is," I pulled out a couple of massive flank steaks and popped them on the grill after seasoning them properly.

"What do we want as a side?" I asked, a smile on my face.

Another bark.

"You're right, steak and potatoes do go really well together," I pulled out some potatoes I'd pre-sliced and salted before prepping the fryer. "And what'd ya think, beer or vodka?"

"Beer it is," I answered before Gray barked, pulling a giant coffee mug out and filling it with the homemade brew.

And as I cooked the food, I enjoyed the company of my dog, a guitar I'd found among the personal effects in my hand as I absentmindedly strummed through some songs I had learned and created.

Checking the steaks, I pulled Gray's out, the rare, and still bloody stake just slightly warmed up while I let mine get to a perfect medium rare before pulling it and the fries.

"For the lady of the house," I set the steak in the wooden bowl I'd carved before pouring some of the beer into a drinking dish. Then I sat down, said grace and dug into the food.

"So," I began talking. "I was thinking about that valley to the south that we started exploring last year. I think there might be some caves there. Thought we should go check it out. What do you think?"

Gray seemed to raise an eyebrow at me while she licked some of the seasoning from her lips before lapping up some of the beer.

"Yeah yeah, dinner first," I shrugged, stopping the conversation and just enjoying the food. "Exploration later."

After eating and cleaning up from dinner, I sat on the bed and patted it, Gray hopping up beside me and curling up into her regular spot as I lay down and closed my eyes.

"Same thing tomorrow?" I winked at the snoring dog. "Right," I muttered. "Same thing tomorrow.

---

I woke up to an alarm and my dog barking, and given my phone had died twenty years ago, I didn't recognize it, scrambling into my clothes, I made my way to the old comms beacon I'd set up when I first arrived, a light flickering as it shuddered when I depressed the button to switch the speakers on.

"I'll have to remember to maintain that too," I glanced at Gray as her ears stopped laying down when the alarm shut off. "Now let's see what we have here."

"This is Star Colonel Marthe Pryde of the Jade Falcon Clan, responding to the emergency transponder of the SLS Last of Us."

"This is Mark Hull, last survivor of the Manassas, can I help you with something?" I responded, raising an eyebrow at the oddness of the situation.

"Our records place you and the crew of the Manassas as deserters, how do you respond, Quiaff?"

"I was a civilian," I shrugged as if she could see me. "I was stuck in cryo and woke up a while ago on a ship I didn't know how to repair, I then made my way here and settled down. I'm not sure what more you want from me."

There was silence from the beacon for a time before a response finally came.

"Prepare yourself, Freebirth," the feminine voice finally spoke again. "I will challenge you, and if you should survive, then we will see whether you are telling the truth of the matter or not."

–
–
"Well, Gray," I sighed as she made her way up the ladder and took her seat, ignoring my command to stay. "It looks like we've got a fight on our hands."

Shaking my head at the stubborn dog I strapped her cooling vest around her and allowed her to lick my face, a smile spreading as she did so.

"Good girl," I scratched her ear as I secured her harness. "You ready for this?" I sat down and keyed the start of the Bobby B, the engine rumbling to life as the ancient Gunslinger's 'Mech roared to life, the well maintained weapons and chassis nearly gleaming with a fresh coat of SLDF standard Green.

"Let's see what you Clan warriors have got," I muttered as I set my weapons up in a way I'd found I preferred them.

"Enemy detected," Betty informed me as a Summoner stepped out of the distant trees, my eyes and aged brain reminding me of what 'mech I was facing even if the 'Hammer's warbook couldn't.

"This is going to go poorly," I sighed as s pair of lasers narrowly missed, carving burn marks into the my recently harvested fields and setting small fires among the dried out corn and barley husks that remained.

I twisted to the side as a handful of missiles arced towards my torso, the warheads screaming past as 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 some of my armor, a small group of missiles pockmarking different sections of my 'Mech's shoulders.

I cruised forward, allowing her to think my 'Hammer was stock before I slammed my feet down on the pedals and moved closer at near maximum pace for a stock 'Hammer. My SRMs were plucked from the sky by an Anti-Missile System but my lasers weren't, the medium beams burned through the air and found purchase in armor when a PPC followed up, the EMP hardened systems of the twin 'Mechs blurring out for a second before the connection was restored.

Then I was in short range, and forgoing any subtlety, I tucked into a run that bordered on 86 kp/h, 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, driving it back as its feet carved furrows into the ground.

While 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 diagnostic showed that quite a few of my double heatsinks had been damaged in the engagement, I had ignored the warning signs and trusted that my near thirteen tons of armor would see me safe. But I was wrong, and my mech began shutting down from the excess heat as sweat soaked through my shirt.

"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 a bondsman of Jade Falcon, Freebirth Hull. Surrender your 'mech and this world to us."

"Powering down now," I replied tersely, my hands shaking in anger as I began shutting down the Warhammer before popping the hatch and leaning over to unstrap Gary, 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 looked at Gray, pulling out a pair of cigars I had held onto from the Manassas. " Gray, I Guess this is as good a time as any to enjoy one last smoke."

Lighting the cigar, I puffed on it, handing the now lit cigar to Gray before lighting my own, showing the dog how to enjoy the smoke as we watched a handful of dropships began their descent, the fusion torches lighting up the atmosphere while a pair of Elementals climbed up onto my 'Hammer.

"One minute," I waved them off as I leaned back. "I'm just enjoying my last taste of freedom."

After I finished my cigar and stubbed out Gray's, the Elementals escorted me to the base of the Summoner"

"You fight well for a freebirth and old man," a woman dropped down the ladder, her neurohelmet in hand. "You will serve the Clan well, and perhaps earn a place among our warriors eventually," she wrapped a braided and corded bracelet around my wrist. "This marks you as a Bondsman, you will be learn your place soon enough."

She surveyed the surroundings, nodding at the farmland and the status of the machines.

"You have done well in maintaining this. You will find a place among the technicians if nothing else."

She then waved me off and began heading for the Last of Us, she nodded at the Elementals and they began escorting me away, Gray following with her tail tucked between her legs.

 

[Bear Ribs]

I really appreciate the guy actually losing in a reasonable way, so many stories churn out an SI that's stupidly broken and can't fail.

"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.

This made me cringe a little though. You want to eat the scrawniest, and thus slowest-growing and least meaty, of your chickens first. That way the genes for fast growth and meaty bodies are passed on and improve the next generation. When you discover you have "the big one" that's the one you want to protect and cultivate in order to make sure next year you have lots of big ones in the pipe.

 

[MarkWarrior]

I really appreciate the guy actually losing in a reasonable way, so many stories churn out an SI that's stupidly broken and can't fail.


This made me cringe a little though. You want to eat the scrawniest, and thus slowest-growing and least meaty, of your chickens first. That way the genes for fast growth and meaty bodies are passed on and improve the next generation. When you discover you have "the big one" that's the one you want to protect and cultivate in order to make sure next year you have lots of big ones in the pipe.

My thought process on this was that Hull was still slightly confused after Cryo. That, and ravenously hungry.

Edit: I can go ahead and edit or change that to make it fit better and more in line with farming techniques.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 4

“Freebirth,” Star Colonel Pryde inclined her head toward me as I was escorted through with the last of my personal effects, Gray following closely behind.

“Star Colonel,” I greeted her. “Is there something I can help you with?” I asked.

“You appear on none of our nor the Manassas’s records, explain,” She arched an eyebrow at me.

“Lots of us weren’t,” I shrugged. “There were civilians on just about every ship that was a part of Kerensky’s Exodus. You think there was any reliable way to keep track of all of us?” I laughed. “I was one of the few people willing to be aboard the Manassas that wasn’t a glory hound or crazy, and look where that got me!” I spread my arms out at the farm around me. “Alone, on a farm in the middle of a planet that’s been long lost to time.”

“Hmmm,” the lithe woman considered me for a moment. “That answer is satisfactory enough, I suppose. Now, you are my Bondsman, and as such, any of the actions that you undertake are a reflection upon me as your Bondholder,” She continued her examination of me, her face twisting in dissatisfaction at the gray that lined portions of my beard and hair.

“You will correct your speech, or there will be consequences, and your grooming standards will not be allowed to slip so far as they are now,” She turned her back on me. “See to it that your… Pet is kept away from my presence, or I will see to it that it is eliminated, Quiaff?”

“Got it,” I nodded, taking her seriously. “Are there any other rules that I need to be aware of?”

“You will remain physically able or I will have you cast in with the Solahma,” her eyes flickered to the gray in my hair and beard again. “Now go, and see what it is that the technicians will require of you once you have taken care of your appearance.”

Inclining my head, I turned and walked off, a snap of my fingers calling Gray to follow as I watched a handful of people drive the remaining farming vehicles off of the Last of Us, loading up their Elementals and ‘Mechs before the fusion torches ignited, killing the remaining dried and harvested crops in the process.

“And there goes the farm,” I sighed. “May I tend to my farm one last time?” I asked a nearby Elemental. “I would rather not give the bears an easy feast.”

The armored figure looked at me for a long moment before nodding.

“You may do so,” he replied.

Making my way around, I opened the gates and allowed the few giant Elk I’d domesticated to roam free, the Octo-Wolves, however, refused to leave the perimeter, instead they attempted to herd the elk back into their pens.

“No,” I knelt with the wolves, allowing them to surround me while the Elk slowly walked off. “They can be free. I was lavished with kisses before I stood up and told the dogs to go to their kennels where I poured out the feed I had set aside for the rest of the month.

“Gray!” I whistled, calling my favorite to my side. “You can stay here,” I whispered, pointing to the pen and the cabin.

Then I turned and followed the Elemental to the nearby dropship where they’d landed, thinking I was alone until Gray came up to my side and licked my hand, letting me know she was there.

“I hope it is of use,” the Elemental glanced at Gray.“Otherwise, it will be your undoing.”

---

“Freebirth,” A voice snarled at me. “I am senior tech Jasper,” A shorter tech gestured for me to follow him. “You must get fitted for a uniform and acquainted with Star Colonel Pryde’s mech, Quiaff? Then, you will be shown where the laws that govern the Clans are.”

“Aff?” I asked, repeating what memory and eavesdropping had told me to say. “I’m sorry, I’m still learning all of this newfangled language shit.”

The Tech glared at me for my nonchalance before shaking his head and motioning for me to follow him, his glare extending to Gray who remained on my heels

“Your lack of respect will be your end should you not amend it,” 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.”

“Respectfully,” I glared in response. “I spent nearly thirty-five years repairing my own shit. And if I read that right, it means that I have literally been doing ‘Mech maintenance since before you were born.”

“Be that as it may, you are still required to follow our established procedures,” Jasper replied. “Now, I will instruct you on the proper way to begin swapping out the pods on an OmniMech.
–
–

“You are capable,” Jasper admitted begrudgingly after testing me. “You still have much to learn about Omnitech, but your knowledge in other areas will compensate greatly.”

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. Eventually, the group of Technicians grew accustomed to my presence. Understanding that Gray was always flanking me.

“It’s a shame,” I sighed and shrugged off the small glare I got at the contraction. “We had much better food on my farm, didn’t we, Gray?” I scratched behind her ear. “The food prepared by the Clans just doesn’t compare.”

“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, grains, and other nutrient rich foods.”

“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 drooling over,” I exchanged glances with Gray as she gnawed at what was left of a steak bone.

“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.”

---

As I trained on Theseus, Marthe Pryde’s personal Omnimech, the months went by. With the trueborn Star Colonel occasionally coming and inspecting the work I was doing between combat sorties and moving from planet to planet.

“Theseus has been well maintained,” Marth glanced at the Summoner in its bay. “I assume that he has adapted well Quiaff?”

“Aff,” Jasper acknowledged before turning to me. “For an old man he has learned well. I would recommend that he continue in combat training though, he has value in the Solahma if he should be unable to continue as a technician.

I scratched at my Bondcord absentmindedly as I looked at Thesues, the other hand scratching Gray’s ear.

“I just do the work that I’m supposed to do to the best of my ability, no more, no less.”

“Continue to perform such and you will find that your cord will be removed quickly,” Marthe stated.
—
—

“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, his training session now completed.

“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 walked away, his heels driving into the deck.

“Always something, isn’t it,” I stroked Gray’s ear. “I’ll find time for us in the pod, just wait.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 5

“Bondsman!” Marthe Pryde’s voice rang out 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 the Star Colonel.

“I see that you are working on that Antique that we pulled you out of,” Marthe crossed her arms as she stared me down. “Given how well it was maintained beforehand, I assume that you are attempting to restore it to the condition it was in before our engagement?”

“That, and I-”

I grunted and cut him off.

“We,” Jasper corrected. “Are utilizing the damaged Warhammer as a teaching device,” Jasper dropped down from the ‘mech’s cockpit. “There are some techniques that he learned over his time that he was able to pass on while working on the repairs of the ‘Mech.”

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

“I was confronted by a Star Commander Byle Folkner yesterday,” She trailed off, pausing to meet my eyes. Searching for something that she did not find. “While he was impressed with a mere Freebirth Bondsman’s drive to improve, he found it distasteful that the proper schedule was not followed. As such, I was required to pay penance in your place. Thankfully, it was minor, but you will see to it that you do not disgrace me again,” She frowned. “Should you desire a time to be in the simulators, you merely have to ask and I will grant you a place among the schedule Quiaff?”

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

“As you should be, Bondsman,” she glared. “You will be trained in combat, I have requested that Star Captain Darya Pryde see to your education in this matter. You will follow her instructions as if they were my own, Quiaff?”

“Aff,” I gave a small bow.

“Return to your work,” Marthe scoffed. “We will make planetfall soon, and I will not have one of our ‘Mechs fail in the middle of combat.”

---

“For one with your mass, you are unfamiliar with how to properly utilize it to your advantage,” Star Captain Darya Pryde released me from yet another hold she had placed me in, my arm straining from the arm bar. “ How are you unfamiliar with 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. “Even if I were SLDF, which I’m not, Basic would only have covered the most basic of grappling.”

“You will need work,” Darya stood up, bouncing on the balls of her feet as her hair swayed in her ponytail. “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 the Star Captain’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, my hand tapping in the signal for surrender when on the mats.

“You have much to learn,” Darya looked me up and down. “See to it that you stretch before you attempt to shower, I will not have you unable to perform at an acceptable level in your work, Quiaff?”

“Aff,” I gasped out.

“Then we will continue in your instruction when there is time to spare,” Darya grabbed a water bottle and began guzzling it down. “Stretch and return to your post,” she turned and scratched Gray’s chin before moving on. “You will find a schedule to follow for future bouts,” she indicated the ‘Noteputer that never left my side.

---

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; 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. “ We must have missed it somehow in our last pass-through. 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.”

Climbing down onto the Omnipod of the light ‘Mech, I manually disconnected the power before moving off the gantry and signaling 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, using the gantry above, letting the forklift to the next person who waved him over.

And then, with the secondary hoist, I struggled against the hardened joint that was a part of the Omnipod’s linkage, the damage had made it harder to remove and I had to work it out of place before allowing it to dangle from the first joist. Then, I lowered the replacement linkage into place, using my tools to seal it into place before setting the damaged one to the side for repairs. Nothing could be wasted this far into Operation REVIVAL.

After ensuring the linkage was solid and secured, I climbed into the ‘Mech’s cockpit and ran a diagnostic, spiking the reactor to simulate a PPC burst as I breathed a sigh of relief when nothing seemed to go wrong.

“Everything checks out,” I ran the computer through a second 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 while I laid my head down on the pillow to try and get my brain to line up with the exhaustion in my body. Gray jumped into the bunk and cuddled up into my side, my furry companion brought a familiar comfort and peace after a long day of hard labor.

“You know, It’s odd being around people again,” I whispered to her. “But honestly, I think them being so different from the people back home makes it a bit easier than if they’d been just like they are back home.”

Gray whined and licked my face before resting her head down, her eyes flicking over at me before closing as she began to gently snore.

“Lucky mutt,” I groaned, closing my eyes. “At least one of us is going to get some sleep.”

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 6

Star Colonel Pryde's Summoner stomped into the bay, clear damage written across armor panels from where the defenders had managed to get some good hits in.

The 'Mech powered down in its usual gantry position as the woman slid down the ladder, her pace measured as she headed for the showers.

"Freebirth," she said as she walked by. "Ensure that Theseus' pods are shifted to one less dependent on ammunition, our stores begin to run lower than projected."

"Acknowledged," I replied, as I shifted the gantry over and climbed into the cockpit, Gray jumping in beside me and sitting in the jump seat as I began to run diagnostics. "Any preferences, Star Colonel?" I stuck my head out of the cockpit and yelled over the sound of the machinery.

"Alternate Configuration Delta," she responded. "See to it that it is completed shortly, I will have Jasper inspect your workmanship."

Nodding, I pulled out a notepad and began jotting down the damaged armor plates and weapons, waving over a team to assist with replacement parts.

"We have got a damaged autocannon and five tons of armor to replace," I stated. "Then we've got to swap the pods out for alternate configuration Delta."

"Armor first," Jasper stopped by to remind me. "Then swap out the configurations."

"Because we never know when combat might occur," I finished, turning to supervise the removal of the armor, directing the joists to lower as I climbed up and began removing the bolts that held the armor in place.

After spending a few hours replacing the armor panels, I set aside the damaged armor into the scrap pile where it would be recycled into new plates at a later time.

"Scraps are up!" I yelled out to the forklift operator, the wheeled vehicle picking up the pallet and driving off with it.

"I need two Large Lasers, two Mediums, a pair of MGs, and an AMS," I muttered to Gray as she wagged her tail at me "C'mon girl, we've got to go get authorization from J."

I stood up and walked over to where the man was consulting with a pair of other technicians over what looked like a damaged Timber Wolf.

Standing by patiently, I looked out of the bay at the fields and forests of the world the Falcons had conquered,

It was a beautiful world, as were many of the worlds that were out in the galaxy. Even the harshest of planets and moons had something amazing about them.

But then something caught my eye, there was something shining in one of the trees, and long, near-forgotten memories of late night videogames told me what it

"Get down!" I tackled the trio 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 attached to the Omnimech, the forest blaze sending up a torrent of smoke that would kill the sniper if the flames themselves didn't.

"You're going to be okay," I told the tech as I pulled down tight on the tourniquet, his screams filling the air as I began tightening down the windlass. "I'm sorry," I hooked it in and strapped over the windlass, writing down the time I'd applied the TQ before reaching for the medkit again.

Pulling out a roll of gauze, I ripped the packaging open with my teeth before packing the wound, the tourniquet had done its job though, and less and less blood flowed out as I began to shove the gauze in little by little. Keeping pressure with one hand, I finally had it packed before a second pair of hands took over keeping pressure on the wound.

"Good work," a medic pulled out a bandage and wrapped it around the leg before nodding at the team that had arrived. "Up and onto the stretcher in three, two, one," they lifted and put the man on the wheeled stretcher, the team leaving aside from the first medic. "Anyone else get hurt quiaff?" He asked.

"Neg" Jasper shook his head at the medic. "Good work," he glanced at me.

Thanks," I exhaled as I sat and looked at the blood on my hands. "Fuck me, man, 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 and back on my farm, not out here patching up youngsters like that."

---

"Freebirth," Martha nodded as I entered her office. "I have heard of what happened in the repair bay. "Your bondcord," she commanded, and reaching out, 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."

She then jerked her chin towards the door, indicating for me to leave.

I left the office, exchanging nods with Darya Pryde as I headed back to the 'Mech Bay.

"Star Colonel," Darya stepped into the office. "I was on patrol and am responsible for missing the assailant that targeted our technicians. I will pay whatever penance is owed."

"Neg," Marthe shook her head. "You were responsible for the vehicle and enemy threats, infantry was to be watched for by the Solahma and Elementals among us. That they missed one is shameful, yes. But it was dealt with, Quiaff?"

"Aff," Darya replied. "The entire forest was set ablaze."

"Then the matter is done," Star Colonel Pryde stated. "Prepare yourself for the next wave. We must be ready for us to be bid in an offensive as a part of Wave Two, Operation REVIVAL has more to demand of us and we must be ready."

"Yes, Star Colonel," Darya clicked her heels together and left the room. She needed to check on her Adder and ensure that it was repaired from the previous engagement.

Then she would find the Bondsman, she needed to exert energy, and training on the mat would be a good way to eliminate the excess. And if she could persuade him to couple with her afterward, that was something that would merely be enjoyable for the both of them.

Yes, that would be the plan for the remainder of the day. There was not much daylight left according to the local time, and she would rather be productive than not.


"Technician Jasper," she located the man supervising repairs to a Timber Wolf. "I would inquire as to the state of my Omnimech."

"The documentation is kept in the office," Jasper glanced up from his clipboard. "The Bondsman can show you where it is located.

With a shout and a wave, Jasper caught the attention of the old man and his strange eight-legged creature.

"Bondsman Hull," she inclined her head, showing respect to the ones who maintained their 'Mechs. "I was told that you could show me the maintenance records for my Adder. Then, I would like to train with you on the mats once more."

She leaned down and allowed the creature to sniff her hand before a smile spread on her face as she scratched it behind the ears.

"Let me go get those records," the man walked over to the office, the door closing behind him for a few moments before he reappeared with a file folder in hand. "Here you are. Let me know when you have finished going over them and then I'll meet you on the mats. I'll need a bit of a clean beforehand."

The Bondsman's hands were offered in grease from working and maintaining the weapons of war.

"Aff," Darya accepted the folder. "I will meet you there in thirty minutes, Quiaff?"

"Aff," the man nodded, leaving and calling his creature to him with a snap of his fingers as he walked over to Jasper. There, a short conversation took place before the Bondsman left the 'Mechbay, heading for a nearby shower as Darya finished flipping through the folder, nodding to herself as she found everything in order.

And now that her work was done, it was time for some fun.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 7

"Thank you for allowing me to repair her," I looked up at the Bobby B, the 'Mech once again painted in the olive drab of the SLDF, with the words SLS Manassas engraved into one of the shoulders. "I know that it's not quite up to the standards of the Clan's usual 'Mechs, but she's mine. And she's served me well for the last fifty years."
"That it was maintained as well as it was before your service with us speaks well of you, Bondsman," Jasper nodded. "I believe that some of the replacements that you requested were necessary for this 'Mech to be able to support our forces in the future should you manage to find a place among our warriors."
"I hope I don't have to use them," I shrugged. "The best blades remain in their sheaths," I butchered the old Japanese proverb.
"Why would one have a weapon that would not be utilized for its purpose?" Jasper asked.
"You'll understand one day," I let my language slip before I moved through the gantry to the cockpit of my 'Hammer. "But I do not believe I have the time to spend instructing you today.
I slipped into the cockpit, Gray nudging her cooling vest with her nose to suggest that we go for a ride.
"Sorry girl," I plugged my 'Noteputer into the computer to check the readouts. "No rides today."
She whined in response, her wagging tail stifled by me shaking my head and scratching her behind her ear.
"Everything checks out," I climbed out of the cockpit and reported to Jasper. "I will move on to checking over the Omnipods next, Quiaff?"
"Aff," Jasper replied. "Count the autocannon ammunition stores while you are at it. I believe we must encourage the warriors to swap to an energy-based armament soon."
"Are they burning through them that quickly?" I asked.
"Our missile stores remain enough for any engagement," Jasper replied. "The Spheroid's missiles may be inferior, but we can easily adjust our launchers for said missiles if required. It is the autocannon on which we are running low. In the centuries that we were gone, it seems that much has changed involving said munitions"
"Well, I hope the Warriors see it that way," I began taking note of what pods and configurations were readily available. "I'd hate to owe Surkai for refusing to outfit a 'Mech for lack of ammunition."
"Should such a thing happen I will bring it before the Star Colonel and Galaxy Commander," Jasper stated coldly. "My technicians will not pay the price for a Warrior's arrogance."

---

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," Darya Pryde agreed as she climbed out of her Adder, beads of sweat dripping down her body as the Omnimech steamed from the humid air. "Several of them have been claimed as Bondsman as you were, Freebirth. For junior warriors that were the equivalent of the Eyrie they fought with honor, and among them were many that will find a place within the Clan."
"Star Commander," Jasper stepped forward, "Did the Star Colonel give you instructions for the 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, Freebirth," 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 in their introduction to such." 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 before we depart. I would be prepared for an engagement after the events of the last world that we conquered, Quiaff?"
"Aff," Jasper responded, signaling for a group to begin working on the Adder. "Bondsman Hull, to collect your kit. We will take care of the Star Commander's 'Mech."

---

After assisting with collecting the shattered Blackjack Training Battalion, they were placed in a hastily constructed Barracks prefab that had been among the supplies.
"I'm Mark Hull," I introduced myself to the group of cadets that made up the remnants of the Battalion. "I can see you've met the new landowners."
"I'll say," the group's oldest member looked me up and down, frowning at how old I seemed to be. "You don't look like one of these Clanners. You're too informal. Why the fuck are you working with them? They slaughtered us and what do we have to show for it? Two, maybe three 'Mechs destroyed. Most of my men and women dead?!"
"For what it's worth," I offered. "And I know it's a cold comfort. You're not the only ones whose homes have been taken from them."
"As if," one scoffed. "You're one of them now, why should we take any of your words as truth? You've already given up."
He stood as if to make a threatening move before a savage bark and growl from Gray made him back off.
"Easy girl," I scratched her neck. "He's just angry is all."
"Now, most of y'all look like survivors, so I'm going to lay out the easiest way to make it out alive here."

–
–
"Be straight with me," Kommadant Dean Bristow met my eyes. "What are our odds of escape and getting back to friendlies?"
"Whelp," I scratched at my beard. "SIGINT is good, but these guys aren't exactly the greatest at HUMINT. They're just not familiar enough with regular people yet," I shrugged. "At least not yet. So you've got a chance. But you'll have to decide whether you take it or not. They're going to learn. They're not stupid, just misinformed from having been isolated for the last few centuries."
"We'll talk about it," the Kommadant glared. "Provided you can keep your mouth shut."
"Fucking traitor," he continued when he thought I couldn't hear him.
"My lips are sealed," I stood up and Gray silently padded over to my side. "See y'all around," I walked away, as a feeling I hadn't felt in a while bubbled up in my chest.
I was angry, I was not the one responsible for their losses. I had not only not chosen to join this war of my own volition. But I wasn't even a part of the Inner Sphere prior to the Invasion!
I managed to make it back to the bunk I shared with another tech before I collapsed into the bed, Gray whining as she nudged my hand, her cold nose bringing a slight bit of calm as I absentmindedly stroked her between the eyes.
I didn't belong in this century. I didn't belong in this universe. The Clans were oddly enough the place where I fit in the best after nearly fifty years on my own. They ignored my small oddities and issues as long as I was useful. Hell, for all of the comments on my age, they'd treated me fairly well aside from the snide comments about me being a Freebirth.
I scoffed. Maybe it was a version of Stockholm syndrome, but I knew that I stood a chance of making a place for myself here. And maybe even a chance to change some things for the better if I lived long enough.
"What'd you say, Gray?" I leaned up and looked at her face. "Wanna change the world with me?"
She licked my face in response before barking happily and wagging her tail.
"I'll take that as a yes," I laughed, my anger falling away as I slowly worked through her commands again. She always remembered them, but I knew that she enjoyed demonstrating just how smart she was.
"First things first," I said after we'd finished. "We've got to get this Bondcord off. Then we can work on everything else."

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 8

A few weeks later…

"What is it?" I asked Gray, raising my hand to stifle her intense barking. "Is there something out there?" I shifted out of the bed and pulled on the boots that I had resting on the ground, zipping up the side before scratching her head and reaching for the door.

"You said to come to you if we needed anything," one of the other bondsmen said as I opened the door a crack. You talked to us and explained things. While I respect that, I'm afraid you haven't stopped them and they killed my entire lance, my family."

"I'm not responsible for the actions of others," I shook my head at the crazed man. "Go get some sleep like the rest of us. Your yelling is gonna wake up the entire dropship."

"I'm sorry it has to be this way," he shoved the door forward, taking me by surprise as it drove me back, part of the door striking my dog and sending her back with a whimper before she sprang to her feet, snarling as he dove at me with a knife.

"Gray, get 'em!" I snapped as I allowed the knife to drive into my arm, the blade getting stuck in my forearm as my guardian latched onto the Mechwarrior's bicep.

Ensuring the knife stayed in place, I reached up and grabbed his head, ramming the elbow of the intact arm into his nose, a solid "Crunch!" Filling the air as he fell backward with Gray tugging on his arm, blood flowing from where her teeth were solidly secured.

"Gray, release," I commanded, standing up and driving my booted foot into his knee, a sickening "snap" following as it bent in the wrong direction.

Gray released the arm and moved to flank me, her ears laid back as she snarled at him.

"Messing with me," I pulled the knife out of my arm. "That's fine," I stared him in the eye. "But you fucked with my dog. And no one gets to do that and live."

Taking a knee, I drove the knife into his throat, and then left it there as I moved back to the bunk. He would slowly bleed out as he deserved.

"I need a medical team to room 11-C," I said tiredly as the adrenaline spike wore off. "There are injured here."

After that, I muted the intercom and began wrapping the knife wound.

"Gray, protect," I instructed, the Octo-Wolf stepping into position to keep an eye on the nearby body.

Everything hurt in some form or fashion. My knees ached from where I'd banged them up during the fight, my arm hurt from where I'd broken his nose. My head hurt from the adrenaline spike and lack of sleep. Diagnosis… I was getting old.

Voices filled the corridor as I leaned back against the bed, closing my eyes and resting a bit as a medical team and a pair of Elementals breached my room.

"He's dead," I cracked my eyes open and pointed at the other Bondsman. "He fucked with my dog," I chuckled. "I don't think he'll be getting up again."

Then the medical team put a mask on my face and I tried to push it away as I breathed in what had to be some sort of anesthesia because my eyes began closing while I tried to fight it.

"Stay," I ordered Gray as I drifted off. "Stay."

---

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.

My arm was still bandaged, only it had been changed recently as there wasn't any red leaking through. There was an IV in the other arm, feeding me fluids and helping to keep me hydrated as I wasn't able to drink water while unconscious.

"I expected we would see you in here sooner," a doctor remarked as he entered the room. "Given your age, I am surprised that you have managed to stay as healthy as you are."

"Star League Era treatments," I shrugged. "I expect to make it to at least a hundred and fifty if not more."

"Be that as it may," he glanced at my chart. "You nearly lost the tendon in your arm. And while you are on your way to recovery, you should still require a few weeks to recover before you can resume your usual duties."

"Anything else, doc?" I asked.

"No, the medtechs will see to it that you receive the medication you are to be prescribed."
—
—

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

"Aff," she stood up and moved closer to examine the bandaged arm. "Your cord was severed in your struggle," she held out a new one with only one strand and wrapped it around my wrist.

"You have earned the removal of your second cord, Freebirth," she met my eyes, a cold look on her face. "You are close to having your Bondcord removed entirely. Should that occur, I will have you moved to a garrison Cluster. Frontline combat is not suited for one of your age regardless of talent."

I merely smiled before turning and leaving when I was dismissed. At this point, she was an obstacle to my plans of reforming the Clan. And given what I knew of her, should I manage to move forward with them then she would not hesitate to shoot me in the back should it further her to becoming a Khan.

No, I would have to form my own allies within the power structures that already lay within the Clan. And then I would have to leverage them. Starting with the Technician Caste and undoing many of the policies begun by Khan Crichell. The man had done away with many of the checks on his power and if one wanted to gain support from those not among the Warriors. Well, then they would have to begin restoring those balances.

But all of that involved me becoming more than a mere "Bondsman " and a garrison position wouldn't allow me to do what was necessary.

So I would have to find a way to have my third cord cut, and then find a way to prove myself as capable as the most able of their Warriors.

"Well, Gray," I walked outside of the dropship, the cool morning air doing much to help me think. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us. Let's hope it's a bit less lethal the next time someone decides to do something stupid."

Gray nudged into my hand and sat, staring off into the distance as the first parts of the local star began to appear on the horizon.

"Some things are worth watching. No matter how many times you see it," I smiled, the heat of the local star beginning to warm the day.

"Let's head back in," I scratched her flank. "We still have work to do."

 

[Blasterbot]

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

Hope there wasn't too much damage for you.


Is his mech at least running royal standard tech or has he been allowed to refit clan tech on it?

 

[MarkWarrior]

Hope there wasn't too much damage for you.


Is his mech at least running royal standard tech or has he been allowed to refit clan tech on it?

Currently they just let him repair the Royal tech on it and utilize Clan armor. Any further refits will happen later.

 

[Blasterbot]

Currently they just let him repair the Royal tech on it and utilize Clan armor. Any further refits will happen later.

even just clan Ferro is a fair upgrade if you just up armor the warhammer with the saved tonnage. clan tech 70 ton warhammer isn't quite gonna be a warhammer IIC but you can get pretty close.

 

[PeaceMaker 03]

Just found this, looking forward to another of your BT crack stories.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Just found this, looking forward to another of your BT crack stories.

Trying a bit of an alternate take on this one.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Chapter 9

"And you are certain that this is the course of action that I need to take?" I asked Jasper, the man had become someone who I confided in over the last year or so.

"Aff," he nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "If you truly want to advance, then you must have your cord removed. Winning a challenge against your Bondholder will see to it that it is severed. After that…" he shrugged. "No one knows what the future holds."

"I am not certain that I would win in combat while piloting my 'Mech," I said after some thought. And I would need to be certain of my victory if I were to challenge her in hand to hand."

"Indeed," Jasper agreed. "It is here that your age betrays you. But what was it that you said to me a few months ago?"

"Old age and treachery will overcome youth and exuberance?" I asked.

"That one," Jasper nodded. "You need to pick your time and challenge well, but should you succeed, then you may be able to move forward in your pursuit of rising within the Clan."

"Has she been challenged of late?" I asked.

"She won a Trial of Grievance against a Star Captain a week ago. It may be that she is wounded enough for you to take advantage of it."

"So physical combat it is," I sighed. "I've got some work to do then."

—
—

"Star Colonel Pryde," I entered her office. "I challenge for the right to remove my Bondcord and join your warriors. I fought with at least as much skill as Warrior Harris when you challenged me on my world."

"You seek a further position?" She raised an eyebrow. "You lost your challenge!" She scoffed. "I accept. When you lose I shall grind you back into the place from where you came, Freebirth."

"Tomorrow then," I stated. "I will prove myself and show that I have a place among Clan Jade Falcon."

"You will try," Pryde mocked. "And you will fail."

"I guess we'll find out tomorrow, won't we?" I enunciated each contraction.

---

Marthe Pryde and I face each other as a group of Clan Warriors surrounded us, their bodies making up the substance of the Circle of Equals.

"This Freebirth desires for his Bondcord to be severed and to join the ranks of our warriors," Marthe called out. "Should he win this Trial, he shall join this Cluster in combat."

I remained silent, stretching and preparing myself for the fight ahead.

Both of us were in what my old life would have called PT gear, with Pryde wearing a crop top and looking like she'd just stepped out of a Mechwarrior recruitment poster.

As for me? I looked like the old grizzled and retired noncom with too many years under my belt. My salt and pepper beard was a bit ragged and my clothes still bore the SLDF logo, the SLDF Olive Drab suiting me more than the colors that represented Pryde and the Jade Falcons.

After she was finished explaining the Trial, she stepped forward, her eyes darting back and forth before she shifted forward into a strike.

Deflecting her hand, I drove into her, I had more mass, and I had more power to hit her with, so I shifted into a football tackle and pinned her to the ground.

I grunted as she drove her elbows and knees into me while I kept her on the ground, eventually locking one of her arms to my side as I decked her with a punch, her nose fracturing as I hit it directly before she shrimped out of my hold.

Climbing onto my back, she locked her arms around my neck and pulled tight as I tucked my chin down, preventing a full blockage as I twisted and threw her over my shoulder.

Catching her as she fell, I grabbed her arm and shifted to an arm bar.

"Yield, or I break it," I warned as blood filled up my mouth. One of her hits had knocked a tooth loose, and I spat that out with a mouthful of blood.

Pryde grunted and tried to wiggle out but I merely flexed the arm again, forcing the joints to grind together until she yielded.

"You are the victor," she finally relented as she glared at me, stubbornly refusing to touch her broken nose or nearly broken arm.

"My Bondcord," I demanded, holding out my wrist.

"I need a knife," Marthe demanded, one of the many warriors stepping up and handing her a knife from his boot.

"Your time as a Bondsman is finished," she muttered. "You are now Jade Falcon."

With that done, she turned and left the circle, the Trial was over and we still had to prepare for another invasion.

---

"You have been assigned to Star Commander Darya Pryde's Star as a replacement for one of her two warriors," Jasper informed me as I finished up some last-minute work on the Bobby B.

"I'll go see what she will have me do then," I wiped my hands off and whistled for Gray to follow. I'd left her behind during the Trial and as such she'd followed me more closely the last few weeks.

"Star Commander Pryde," I greeted as I entered her Star's barracks. "I was told to report to you, Quiaff?"

"Aff," she stood up. "You have been assigned to my star as two of my MechWarriors were slain by the one who attempted to do the same to you. "Come, I will introduce you to those who you will be serving with."

"Warriors James and Liliana are here," she opened a bunk, revealing the Mechwarriors within. "James pilots a Summoner, Liliana, a Hellbringer. I utilize an Adder, and further down we have a point of Elementals that complete our Star.

"The trial was well fought," Liliana grinned. "I look forward to fighting alongside you on the field of battle!"

"Likewise," I nodded. "Now, if there are any questions that you may possess, you should ask them now."

"How old are you?" James asked. "I have not seen gray among any but the oldest of Solahma warriors, yet you show it freely."

"I am approximately seventy-eight," I shrugged. "But given I was in cryo for some of that time and was also a victim of a misjump you could also consider me to be nearly three hundred," I shrugged. "Just call me old and leave it at that, Quiaff?"

"Old it is," James grinned. "Regardless, as long as you fight well, I care not for your age."

"Well, I need to make sure that my Warhammer is still in fighting shape," I gave a small bow. "I will rejoin once I have completed any maintenance that may be required."

---

September 11, 3050 Leskovik, Federated Commonwealth


"So, 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 hunt them down and ensure that they are destroyed," one of the Elementals clinging to my 'Hammer laughed. "We will find them and crush them beneath our talons!"

"Just remain cautious," I said as I throttled my 'Mech's speed, keeping pace with the two heavies while the Star Commander moved ahead. "They might be as good as the Battalion on Blackjack."

"He is not wrong," Darya pulled backward as Betty began speaking into my ear. "We should watch for ambushes."


"'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, but remain at range," Pryde ordered before she swapped channels. "Star Colonel, we have found the enemy. He appears to be heading toward the refinery."

"Understood," the Star Colonel 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."

"Agreed," she fired a PPC bolt, the man-made lightning narrowly missing the Commando as it twisted. "Slow to cruising speed, I will not have my Star vanquished."

As we slowed down and kept the Commando in our sights, a full Binary moved up on our flanks.

"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. "Hull, James, Liliana, remain behind them," she ordered on laser Comms. "A refinery is no place to do battle in, we must ensure every shot counts."

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.

A Clint chipped away at one of the Mist Lynxs as a pair of tanks wheeled into sight.

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

"Freebirth scum," one of the other warriors scoffed as his Mad Dog took fire, his Omnimech shining under my heat scopes as his lasers carved away at the Thud.


I backed up my Warhammer a bit, then took a knee as I began sniping at a few of the 'mechs while maintaining cohesion with the Star I was assigned.

Then there was a flash and a thunderclap, and I knew no more.

–
–

I blinked away the black dots that swarmed my vision. "Gray," I pushed the Octo-Wolf away as I shut off the screeching gyro. "Stop that."

She was wagging her tail as I allowed her to climb into my lap, the straps on her jumpseat having come loose when my 'Hammer had been thrown.

"Someone hit the fucking tanks," I swore as I restarted my gyro, the scream of the machinery 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. I have biosigns from the rest of my Star, but no confirmation from the rest of the Trinary."

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

The Elementals were either unconscious or dead, and without a better readout, or a transmission, I wouldn't be able to tell which of the two it was.

"Fuck," I cracked my sore neck as I looked at Pryde's 'Mech.

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. James's Summoner was on its back, his cockpit intact, but his armor shattered and an Omnipod radiating heat. As for Liliana's Hellbringer, the cockpit glass was cracked, and the 'Mech itself had been stripped down to the myomer and skeleton in more than a few places.

Then the Elementals began to radio in that they were conscious again. So I instructed them to begin search and rescue efforts. If my Star had survived, then it was likely that others had as well.

I coordinated the efforts, my sensors granting me an advantage before an Elemental tapped on my hatch, signaling for me to open it.

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

"Neg," she detached the cooling lines from Gray's vest and relocated them to her own, strapping herself into the jumpseat as she did so. Then she scratched my companion as she grabbed the headset. "Continue with your efforts, I will contact the Star Colonel and have her dispatch recovery teams."

 

[Artifex]

Nice going, I wonder if they'll start to listen more to Mark as he rises in the ranks due to stupidity in the ranks of the green turkeys.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Had a family emergency come up this week, as such, all fics are postponed until it's been resolved.

 

[MarkWarrior]

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."

 

[MarkWarrior]

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…