Falcon's Rising

Chapter 1(rewritten)
    • MarkWarrior

    MarkWarrior

    Well-known member
    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.
     
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    • Chapter 2(rewritten)
    • 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.
     
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    • Chapter 3(Rewritten)
    • 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.
     
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    • Chapter 4(Rewritten)
    • 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.”
     
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    • Chapter 5(Rewritten)
    • 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.”
     
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    • Chapter 6(rewritten)
    • 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.
     
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    • Chapter 7(rewritten)
    • 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."
     
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    • Chapter 8(rewritten)
    • 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."
     
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    • Chapter 9(rewritten)
    • 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."
     
    Last edited:
    • Chapter 10(Rewritten)
    • Chapter 10


    "There will be an investigation," Darya cautioned as I escorted the recovery vehicles back to the dropships. "I expect they will exonerate us, but until then we will be under suspicion."

    "I am just grateful that we managed to locate the majority of the trinary," I glanced at my sensors at the few Omnimech limping ahead of us. "Real shame about Roshak though," I said sarcastically. "I was hoping he wouldn't make it."

    "Roshak genestock only rarely produces reliable warriors," she replied. "That he was arrogant enough to ignore the advice of his scouts means that he will likely find himself stripped of his position."

    "Half of the trinary will be unable to fight for at least two months, and that includes almost all of our Star," I checked the sensors again, if I were one of the defenders, I would hit us now while we were wounded.

    "The investigation will determine whether we are Dezgra or not," Darya scratched Gray's ears. "Regardless, there will be consequences for all that were involved."

    We entered the area under direct control of the 2nd Falcon Jaegers. A Binary falling into an escort position, led by the Star Colonel's Summoner.

    "Once you have reached the Mech bay you will power down and surrender your 'Mechs," a stern voice ordered. "This Trinary is being detained pending an investigation."






    "Written reports are to be submitted within the next twelve hours," the Star Colonel stood with her arms crossed as Darya and I climbed out of my 'Hammer. "The trinary is to be detained until the investigation is completed."

    A point of Elementals confiscated our sidearms and any blades we possessed before escorting us to an enclosed room with the standard report forms before us.

    "There is to be no speaking of any kind until you have submitted your report. After it has been completed, you will be escorted to a cell where you are to be held until the investigation has been completed."

    I sat down at the table and cracked my neck and knuckles before petting Gray for a bit, tapping the pen between my fingers nervously for a few seconds before I started writing.

    It had been decades since I'd written an incident report, but it's you never forget once you've been properly taught.

    After documenting everything that had happened in the patrol, I set the pen down, rubbing at my sore wrist before raising my hand to signal that I was finished.

    "Follow me," he filed the report away before gesturing for me to follow him, Gray padding silently beside me as we reached the designated cell. "You will be here until further notice, any wounds will be seen by physicians based on order of severity."

    –
    –

    "I see they have placed us together," Darya raised an eyebrow as she entered the room under the watchful eyes of the Elementals.

    "Seems like," I shrugged from where I lay on the ground, Gray's head resting on my chest. "I assume that everything in the cells is recorded."

    "Indeed," she said as she stripped off the light jacket she'd been wearing, revealing her tank top and shorts underneath. "Now, tell me, what was life like outside of the Clans? I have heard that you were found on a remote world alone, and I would know what your experiences were."

    "Whelp," I sat up, shifting Gray's head to my lap. "I spent a lot of time alone," I began. "Prior to the Exodus, I was just your average civilian. But after the Manassas suffered a misjump…"

    —
    —

    "Your tale is interesting," Darya sat on the other bunk, her brow furrowed as she thought about my story.

    "Now, I have made several attempts to couple with you after our bouts of twining," she glared at me. "I would know why you have avoided such."

    "Don't get me wrong," I looked her up and down. "You're very attractive. But I'm old enough to be your grandfather. And it'll take a bit more than a bit of eye candy to make me break down and decide to pursue a romantic relationship again."

    "What would coupling have to do with a romantic relationship?" Darya asked, a bewildered look on her face. "It is merely a an enjoyable experience."

    "Maybe for you," I leaned back against the bunk, allowing Gray to warm me in the cold air of the cell. "But I did not start out accustomed to your ways. And I will not acclimate to all of them. Particularly your custom of coupling with no other recourse," I smiled. "The only way we engage in recreational activities is if we start with a relationship."

    "I will not pretend to understand at the moment," she locked eyes with me and smirked. "But when I do, you will be mine."

    "Lord save me from horny Clanners," I closed my eyes and laid back on the floor, the cool ground easing some of my lower back pain as Gray curled up into my side.





    "Hit," Darya said, tapping the floor.

    "And that's a bust," I laid out a jack. "Dealer's win again."

    "This is such an interesting game," she said as I reshuffled for another round of Blackjack. "Do you have any more games that we may use to pass the time? Or do you have more stories?"

    "Well, I didn't used to like card games all that much, but I do know how to play a few others," and did I tell you about how I encountered and captured her kind?" I gestured towards the Octo-Wolf curled up in the corner.

    "Neg," she shook her head. "None are familiar with how you tamed her. And few are willing to approach after the tale of how she assisted with you fighting off your assailant."

    "Here girl," I instructed, patting her down and offering her a treat when she obeyed. "This is Gray, I know her species is not actually canine in nature, but given their characteristics, I named them Octo-Wolves. Given they have eight legs and all."

    "That much is obvious," she snarked.

    "I first encountered a pack when I was tracking an isolated Elk, and when I had followed it for a few days, I noticed that there were other tracks around. So I laid a few snares, and accidentally caught the pups of the litter. Both a male, and a female. Unfortunately, the pack fled after I captured them and they also managed to get the Elk I was after, so I brought them home and began feeding them, and after twenty years of training and breeding, I had a full pack that would assist around the farm. Gray here, she was the runt of the litter, so I had to baby her a little so she would survive."

    "She was the runt?" Darya looked at Gray, realizing that her shoulder came up to the middle of my ribcage . "How large were her pack mates?"

    "They are only a bit larger than she is," I replied. "Given I nursed her, it meant that she was not as stunted as she would have been otherwise. But she did bond to me in a special way, so I trained her more than her siblings," I scratched the aforementioned dog's neck and she thumped the floor with the legs on the opposite side. "But she got a bit spoiled in the process."

    "Would you mind showing me some of her training?" Darya asked. "We will be spending a large amount of time here, after all."

    "Might as well." I shrugged. "It is that, or more cards."
     
    • Chapter 11(rewritten)
    • Chapter 11

    "Investigation is over," an Elemental opened the cell door. "Report to Star Colonel Pryde for further instructions."

    "Ugh," I stretched, a bit of my spine popping as I leaned back before standing up. "Need help?" I held out my hand.

    "I do not require assistance, old man," Darya smirked, spinning up and onto her feet.

    "Fine," I laughed. "Let us get moving."

    We left the cell and followed the Elementals until we reached the Star Colonel's office.

    "The investigation has been completed," the Star Colonel stated as Darya and I stood at attention. "Star Commander, your Star has been exonerated from any wrongdoing and we have identified the cause of the explosion. There was a stray missile from Star Captain Roshak's Mad Dog. Said missile impacted one of the natural gas tanks and the resulting explosion is what caused the damage to the Trinary."

    "What of my Star?" Darya asked. "How is their recovery?"

    "Your warriors are intact, and their 'Mechs have been repaired," Marthe glanced up at the two of us. "And Star Captain Roshak has been demoted to Star Commander. Should you challenge for his position, you may take command of the Trinary, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," Darya replied. "I will Trial for it."

    "The Trial of Position will be held at dawn tomorrow," the older Pryde stated. "It is unaugmented and will be between you and the other three Star Commanders. Should Roshak prove himself capable of winning, he will be allowed to regain his rank."

    She then dismissed us with a wave of her hand, the Elementals showing us out as we headed for our quarters.

    "Star Commander!" James and Liliana stood up as we entered. "It is good to see that you remain alive and unharmed."

    "We were found to be not responsible for the destruction of the Trinary," Darya said after a moment. "But I suspect that we will still be found Dezgra for taking such losses from our own. After all, is it not shameful that the damage was not from our foes in honorable combat, but was instead an accident? Neg, I believe that we will participate in this next wave and will then be relegated to garrison duties.

    "I guess we will have to try and avoid that fate then," I shrugged. "And if we are considered Dezgra, we will simply have to pull ourselves back into a frontline unit."

    "Regardless," Darya sagged as she sat in a nearby chair. "We will need to rest. And I have a Trial of Position tomorrow."


    —
    —

    "I'm pretty sure what you are thinking of doing is not resting," I woke up as a feminine form crawled into my bunk.

    "I do not desire to couple at this moment," Darya sealed herself against my side. "You have made your wishes absolutely clear. I merely desire comfort and a good rest."

    "Fine," I closed my eyes. "Don't try anything though. I'm not anywhere near ready for that sort of thing."

    "In time," she replied, shushing me with a finger on my lips. "Now hush, I am trying to sleep."






    "Darya," I gently shook the Star Commander awake. "It's time to get up, the Trial of Position is in an hour."

    She slowly stretched and removed the covers, standing in a sports bra and a pair of shorts before she walked over to the nearby closet, removing a fresh uniform and carrying it into the nearest restroom with her.

    "Hull, should I succeed in this Trial, I expect for you to challenge for my position," she stepped out after a few minutes. "Neither James nor Liliana are the sort that I would trust to lead the Star. And I would not entrust my warriors to one like Roshak."

    "Would he be the one to take your place?" I asked.

    "Not if you managed to beat him in a trial of Position," she replied, a smirk on her face. "If you think you can accomplish it, old man."

    "I'll certainly try," I shrugged. "I'm not doing unaugmented unless I'm forced to though. I'm not in favor of having to try and compete at a disadvantage like that."

    "Wisdom," Darya turned to leave. "Only a fool would attempt to fight at a disadvantage."

    "And is Bidding not fighting at a disadvantage?" I asked. "After all, you try to eliminate the number of forces which you are allowed to use."

    "Neg," She replied. "It is designed to eliminate waste, and only bring ruin on those who are challenged."

    "It fails when it comes to reality though," I commented, lacing up my boots and following her to the Trial's location. "Instead, the system fails to allow for upward movements. If you are not one of the Warrior Caste then you cannot bring a Grievance against a Warrior or one of the Scientists."

    "Aff," Darya frowned. "It was not always so, but the Khan did away with the Inter-Caste Councils and reinstated the Grace of Preeminence Clause. Something that many disagreed with. Now, enough of such talk, there is a battle to be fought and glory to be won."

    –
    –

    The local star began to shine over the horizon as the Circle of Equals assembled around the four combatants.

    Only two of them were known to me though, Darya and Star Commander Roshak were the two that I had become acquainted with.

    All four were placed at cardinal points around the circle, with Darya facing Roshak and the other two facing each other.

    At the signal given from Star Colonel Pryde, the four closed in on one another, with the two ganging up on Roshak before Darya struck from behind, taking opportunity to drive her foot into the back of a knee before jabbing her elbow into the back of a skull as he fell, the man's eyes rolling up into the back of his head as he fell from the blow.

    Then there were three, and the field ran with blood and sweat as first Roshak fell, then the last unknown, leaving Darya triumphant.

    "Star Captain Darya Pryde," the Star Colonel stepped forward, her voice ringing. "You have succeeded at this Trial of Position, and as such will take command of Trinary Gamma. You will be responsible for rebuilding your forces and ensuring that you are combat capable. Should you not accomplish this in a timely manner, you and your Trinary will be relegated to one of the garrison Clusters, Quiaff?"

    "Affirmative," Darya inclined her head. "I will see that it is done."
     
    • Chapter 12(Rewritten)
    • Chapter 12
    One week later…

    The Trial of Position for command of Darya's old star was much smaller than the one that She had participated in a week prior.

    But all the same, I had chosen augmented combat, and Roshak had shown up with a knife.

    The man still had bruises from the previous Trial, and it was clear that he wasn't fully recovered.

    But all the same, he had fifty years on me, and as I had learned a long time ago, it only takes a few seconds for a grown man, even one who was beat up to cross thirty yards.

    So I blinked and he was about to stab me, the knife headed for my stomach before I shifted out of the way and snapped a fist into his face.

    Roshak Grunted as he shifted with the blow before bringing the knife around and into my arm, the blade carving a bloody furrow through my right bicep before I snapped my arm down around the hand that held the knife.

    Driving my left palm into his wrist, I forced him to drop the knife onto the ground below. Then he withdrew his hand and drove his elbow into my ribs and I felt something give before I snapped a kick into his leg, the already weakened ligament giving way as I wrapped an arm around his throat and pulled tight, weathering his blows until he finally stilled.

    "Damn," I glanced at my bicep, a wince forming as I looked at the wide line running through the tattoo.

    The worst part was, I wouldn't be able to get it fixed. Tattoos weren't a common thing in the Clans, and those few that existed were normally small things.

    "Roshak," I said after the Trueborn finally woke up. "You are a good warrior, but you have much to learn. If you are willing to learn from my instruction, you will find yourself more capable, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," he blinked rapidly, his brain catching up to what was happening. "I have been found wanting and will submit to your authority."

    "Come on," I extended a hand. "I will introduce you to the rest of the Star. And then we will work on the rest."

    –
    –

    "There will be limited support from orbit and aerospace wings on this op. " Darya informed us as she moved her rebuilt Adder out of the Overlord-C that had recently set down, the escorting fighters still fighting off the enemy ASF overhead. "The defenders have fallen back and we aren't aware of there position at the moment. But regardless, we are to avoid damaging the mines as much as possible. Their contents will assist the Clan in maintaining our Touman. Now, sound off."

    "Beta Star, ready status?," I queried.

    "Elemental point, Ready op," Point Commander Eustace reported.

    "This is Roshak, Ready op." The Mad Dog was kitted out in Alternate Configuration S, as we wanted to prevent logistical strains.

    "Liliana, Ready op," Her Hellbringer was slightly modified from the Prime Configuration, the machine guns having been stripped along with the ammunition for extra armor after the events on Leskovic.

    "James, Ready op," the last Mechwarrior reported.

    "Star Commander, this is Beta Star, we are Ready opI reported, my 'Hammer moving forward at a steady pace, my point of Elementals clinging onto handholds that had been welded on.

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

    "Keep your heads on a swivel and your sensors on," I informed my Star. "No one wants a repeat of the gas explosion, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," the Star repeated.





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

    "No ID on what kind of hovercraft they are, the Warbooks are coming up blank" Roshak reported. "They appear to be of shoddy manufacture."

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

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

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

    At the same time, Liliana's Hellbringer nearly fell to the ground as a burst from two autocannon stripped the armor from the legs, her only saving grace that some of the fire missed.


    As the last of the craft passed, James, Roshak, and I fired our long range weapons, my PPCs swatting one out of the sky as the other two each targeting others, their targets spinning out of control before hitting the ground.

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

    "Liliana, status!" I barked.

    "Armor state red," she reported. "I can see daylight through parts of my armor."


    "Pull back for a rearmor" I ordered. "And try to doge next time, you are not in an Atlas and able to rank hits like that, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," she responded. "Pulling back now."

    "What about the rest of the fast movers?" Roshak asked. "Should we not pursue?"

    "They are being handled," I replied as distant explosions sounded. "The Star Captain assigned us to our position for a reason.

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

    "Good kills, Quiaff?" I asked Darya.

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






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

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

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

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

    Stepping out of her office, she headed for the 'Mech bay, Theseus hungered for a solid battle.
     
    • Chapter 13(rewritten)
    • Chapter 13
    September 25, 3050 Parakoila


    "Gamma Trinary, remain powered down, if we are to sell this ruse, then everything must be perfect," The Star Colonel instructed as Theseus moved through with a star for an escort.

    "I really hope they take the bait," I tight beamed over to Darya. "Otherwise this could go very wrong, very fast. And we already had to piece the Trinary back together."

    "Aff," she sighed in response. "There is no telling what lies hidden in the depths of those mines. Nevertheless, we must do as we are bid."

    "I have got everything tied to a hot switch," I leaned back and scratched Gray's chin. "Just waiting for the command to move."

    It was a story that had happened throughout history, of troops assembled and relocated and then told to wait.

    I unstrapped and moved back, opening the small refrigerator that was kept in the back and pulling out a sports drink.

    "Here," I grabbed a small bowl and filled it with some water. "Drink up, girl, it might get a little hot in here soon."

    Gray wagged her tail as she lapped up the drink, jumping back onto the Jump Seat before barking at me.

    "I'll strap you back in," I secured her harness and cooling vest before sitting down on the command chair. "Now let's see what we have to do."

    After I sat back down, explosions erupted in the distance and I nearly reached for my start-up button as a voice came in through my Comms. "Wait one," Darya seemed to have read my mind. "It is not yet time."

    So I stopped and waited, the sounds continued and my heart pounded in my ears as everything inside of me wanted to join the fight.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    "Davion?" I asked, my own missiles tearing away at his 'mech. "Neg, this 'Mech was the property of the Star League Defense Force and was stationed aboard the Confederate-Class dropship Last of Us."


    As we continued our duel, a tight beam communique pinged my Battlecomputer, the ancient tech responding to the handshake as the original IFF for my 'Mech was displayed on the enemy's computers.

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

    The man's 'Mech burned white hot as he launched a savage alpha strike, and then he vanished from our sensors as if he were a ghost.

    Thankfully, his shots were scattered across my armor, and the wire overlay only flashed orange in most places, barring my SRM rack that winked out as the openings were sealed shut.

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

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

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

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

    "This failure is noted, but not disastrous," The Star Colonel's voice cut into our comms. "We have eradicated much of the enemy forces, and as such may now move our garrison forces on site while we prepare for the next wave."

    Author's note: Not much to change for this chapter. More some minor tweaks and changing tone in a few places to match that of the rewrites.
     
    • Chapter 14(Rewritten)
    • Chapter 14(Rewritten)

    "Ugh," I sagged into the lone chair in my quarters, my knee reminding me that I wasn't young anymore as I dropped my report and the sensor data from the fight on the small desk.

    Thankfully, I had kept a heated rag in a nearby steamer, and opening the drawer, I pulled it out and set it on my knee, a sigh of relief escaping as some of the pain and tension eased.

    Then I began combing through the sensor scans from my Warhammer, the Bobby B had a Star League Era sensor and computer suite, and there had to be something I could use to take down a Phantom 'Mech user buried deep within somewhere. Psionic bullshit or not, I would figure out how to take them down without artillery.

    "Entering!" Darya walked through my door without knocking, pausing to glance at my knee and what I was inspecting. "The techs said that our sensors were working perfectly," She commented as she looked over my shoulder. "And what occurred does not look like Null-Sig or any of the other methods that the Star League or the Clans possess."

    She paused, and then began removing her clothes, stripping out of her Tank top, sports bra, and shorts, completely ignoring modesty as she reached into the small shower and turned the water on. "What do you think it was? And how would you combat it?"

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

    "Let me finish up, and then I will join you," Darya stepped into the still cold water as I picked up a notepad and began jotting down potential ways to deal with the new threat, getting absorbed in my thoughts before a slender arm dragged me away from my headspace.

    "Hmm," Darya stepped out of the shower and considered the report, a new pair of shorts and a bra now covering her up. "Arrow IV's rely on a 'Mech's sensors or TAG," she hummed. "TAG does not rely on a 'Mech's sensor suite. "However, you are failing to consider something crucial in that," Darya leaned over my shoulder, pressing herself into my back. "Elementals do not require sensors to fire their weapons, they are able to aim with nothing more than their own senses if needed."

    "So artillery or Elementals," I stroked my gray-streaked beard. "How many Elementals will be left behind for garrison duties though?" I asked. "I fully expect for this mechwarrior to appear and wreak havoc once we have left, and I would rather not sacrifice any of our people if it is unnecessary."


    "It will largely be Solahma that remain behind," Darya responded, pulling on one of my shirts, over her current gear, the sight doing things to parts of my anatomy that I would rather remain still at the moment."Still, we should document the ways that this can be defeated and leave them behind. If the garrison commander does not listen or heed our advice then it will fall upon his head, not ours," Darya closed my notebook. "Now, you need a turn in the shower, you reek."

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

    I finished up and dressed myself in a set of PT gear,the SLDF logo embroidered onto the olive drab shirt and black shorts.

    Then I stepped out of the shower and glanced over at the table.

    Darya was seated in the chair I had vacated and was correcting my notes and analyzing the sensor data I had printed out.

    Everything in her focused on figuring out the mystery that lay before her, to the point that she ignored Gray padding up beside her and laying down at her feet.

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

    "I'm not sure this is tech," I sat on my bed, scratching Gray's chin as I laid down and stared at the upper bunk.. "It seems too organic for it to have been something triggered on purpose. After all, if he had possessed this technology, he would have used it to ambush us before that battle. He could have killed us off one by one via Trial of Possession if he had it."

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







    "Star Captain, your report," Star Colonel Pryde glanced up from her terminal, her fingers continuing to fly across the keyboard.

    "It is all in here," Darya handed the folder to her Commanding officer. "As are those of my Trinary."
    "Excellent," the Star Colonel looked back at the terminal.

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

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

    "Aff," Darya replied a bit hesitantly.


    Then the Star Colonel stiffened as a message flashed across her terminal."Star Captain, select someone to take charge of those who are not Bloodnamed in your trinary," she met Darya's eyes. "The IlKhan is dead, and we are to return to Strana Mechty to elect a new one."

    –
    –

    "How did it go?" Mark asked as he moved around the small kitchenette, pulling a small plate of bacon out of a toaster oven.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    "Stranger things have happened," Darya raised an eyebrow. "After all, is there not a Ristar among Clan Wolf that began life as a Bondsman?"

    "That is fair," I shrugged. "I guess we will see what happens while you are gone."

    "Indeed we shall," she stood up and cleaned off her plate. "Let us hope that things move swiftly, there is still much to be done, after all."
     
    • Chapter 15 (Rewritten)
    • Chapter 15(Rewritten)

    "Ricardo, how goes the training?" I asked the temporary commander of the Elementals that made up several points in Darya's Trinary.

    "We have analyzed the documentation that you and the Star Captain provided," the giant man replied. "We believe that you were correct in our odds of facing and taking this attacker. Even if he does possess equipment that makes him invisible to your sensors."

    "There are other ways to attack," I shrugged. "I have been over our 'Mechs with the Technicians, and we believe that we have happened across a few workarounds."

    "Regardless, we are training to take them down should they show themselves," the muscled mass stroked his chin. "But I suggest we wait until the garrison commander has made his decision. After all, regardless of whether we are frontline combatants, he remains in charge of this world, quiaff?"

    "Aff," I yawned. "Thank you for the update. Try and get some rest, I do not believe that we are finished fighting for this world as of yet."

    –
    –

    "I have overcome both Samurai and Free Worlds League Mechwarriors, I made 'Mech Ace in the war of '39, And I, Captain Ralph Oliver challenge the Jade Falcon Clan for the right to this world."

    "Well?" I glanced at the Star Colonel with a raised eyebrow. "How are we to respond?"

    "What is your bid?" the Star Colonel asked.

    "I bid three lances of 'Mechs and vehicles," Oliver stated. "What would you bring against me?"

    "Sir," I spoke up. "I bid myself and my binary."

    "Neg," the Star Colonel shook his head. "I will go with my Binary, should we fall in battle, then you will ensure that they do not retain a hold on this world, Quiaff?"

    "Neg," I disagreed. "I will hold to the results of the Trial."

    "Then you yourself will command one of my Stars," the Star Colonel stared at me. "We will succeed, or we will all perish."

    He then turned on the comms device.

    "I bid one Binary, now transmit the designated area and time. We will decide this on the battlefield."

    "Respectfully," I glared. "You're wasting these people's lives."

    "You are dismissed, Star Commander," he turned away.

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

    "The Star Colonel has decided that you will not be participating in the upcoming battle," I sighed as I looked at the Trinary. "He is bidding his personal Binary, and to ensure that we succeed or fail, he has placed me in command of his second Star."

    "It is nothing that we did not expect," James shrugged. "There was always a high likelihood that we would be ignored."

    "Beta, Epsilon," I looked at the two points of Elementals that were a part of the Trinary. "I still want you suited up and ready to go. I'm concerned that this may end up with me shot in the back should things go sout."

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

    –
    –

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

    The Star that I led consisted of my own Bobby B, an Archer C, a Griffin IIC, a Lupus, and a Shadow Hawk IIC. Despite my reservations about this mission, I was going to do my job.

    "Star Commander, you will provide support, array your forces as needed."

    "Archer, you will take the hill and hold, Lupus, you are to provide support, Griffin, you're with me," I shifted to cruising speed as we followed the Star Colonel's Star the battlefield where the three lances awaited him.

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

    "Arrogance," I scoffed. "I see barely two lances here, where's your third at?"

    As I spoke, a quartet of hovercraft sped through the battlefield, a mixture of missiles, lasers and autocannon flashing before they left the battlefield, armor melted and blasted off in their wake.

    "Griffin, Shadow Cat, focus on the hovercraft," I ordered, moving to back up the lighter 'Mechs of the other man's star.

    Unfortunately, I was too late to do anything as the enemy's Warhammer strode forth, Twin streams of lightning crossed the field, the beams melting armor to slag on the lone light 'mech among our forces.

    The Talon limped, one of it's actuators having been damaged as weapons fire was exchanged between the lines, each 'Mech and vehicle pairing off to face another.

    Captain Oliver, meanwhile, didn't care. As he turned and stripped the knees off the Talon before focusing on the Timber Wolf.

    The Archer pilot saw a window of opportunity as forty missiles streamed from his 'Mech, a pair of emerald beams following suit as a Demolisher was hammered by missiles, the lasers melting off the tracks on one side as the 'Mech destroyer stalled in place.

    But the guns were not silent, and the Demolisher's turret rotated, twin bursts of ack-twenty fire coring out the Clint IIC that was on the battlefield, an ejection seat leaving as the medium fell to the earth.

    So far, it was an even exchange, as the skirmishing hovercraft made another pass, their weapons finishing off the crippled Talon even as the Griffin IIC pilot hit one with a large laser, the hovercraft spinning out before detonating against a nearby cliff.

    I focused on the other 'Hammer, relying on the bypass that the techs and I had worked out earlier, my missiles and lasers only scoring armor as the other pilot dueled with the Timber Wolf.

    Then, the unthinkable happened, an SRM carrier detonated, but not before dumping every single one of its SRMs into the lone assault 'Mech among our forces, the gauss rifle detonation sent the 'Mech falling to the ground as the Gyro gave way.

    The crippled Demolisher then shattered the cockpit glass before the Lupus finished it off with a pair of lasers, the turret melting into slag.

    "Star Commander, requesting permission move in for engagement," the Archer pilot stated over our comms channel.

    "Neg, remain on overwatch," I replied. "We may have need of both you and the other heavy before this is done with."

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

    "I want that Demolisher's crew as Bondsman," I ordered as I squeezed off a pair of PPC bolts into the last SRM carrier, the vehicle going up in flames as the ammunition detonated, crippling the nearby Wolverine as it did so.

    "Finish off the rest," I ordered. "I've got the 'Hammer."

    I pushed my 'mech's reactor up to full speed as I moved into brawling range, the enemy I was facing seemed to be a mirror of what I might have been in another life.

    "I see that you didn't get enough before," a weary voice greeted me over the comms "When I bring you down, the Clans will be forced to leave."

    "Unfortunately, I don't think we're ever leaving," I replied.

    Ducking underneath the barrel of a PPC, I used the pre programmed settings to fire the medium lasers in my torso, the beams carving away at his already weakened armor as the trio of hovercraft met their ends.

    "You just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you?" Oliver's voice seemed to soften as his 'mech took a full brace of missile fire and lasers now that we were too close for me to miss. "I didn't want to have to do this, but Sometimes, needs must."

    "Fuck my life," I backpedaled, driving my 'Mech as fast as I could, a foot forcing the enemy back as an ejection pod lifted away from the enemy 'Hammer seconds before a white flash erupted.
     
    • Chapter 16(Rewritten)
    • Chapter 16(Rewritten)

    "Warning, reactor compromised shutdown eminent," Betty warned as I slowly came to, the straps of my command the only things preventing me from falling to the cracked cockpit glass below.

    The displays were still functional, if barely, and the wire framework display of the Bobby B's layout and armor was flashing red, indicating that everything was barely functional.

    The gyro spun, but only barely as I used the bare stubs of my PPCs to stand. Where the enemy Warhammer had been was only a crater, and everything within it was gone. "Star Commander, what is your status?"

    "Armor state is critical," I replied. "I have received injuries as well. Likelihood is that my reactor is going to shut down momentarily."

    "Standby, we have recovery teams moving in, the Batchall has been won, and there is glory to go around."

    "Copy that," I responded as the post adrenaline crash began to set in, the reactor on my 'Mech finally shutting down as I popped open the hatch and cool air began to fill my cockpit.

    "Whelp," I sat down and let my legs dangle out. "I'm alive. That's more than I can say about more than a few people."

    I laid my head against the bottom of the cockpit and exhaled slowly, closing my eyes and drifting off as I waited for a recover team to come and collect both me and my 'Mech.

    –
    –

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

    "I don not remember falling asleep,"

    "You were just outside of the blast radius of a 'mech's reactor going critical," the nurse explained. "If you recall, you managed to get your 'Mech back up onto its feet before you passed out," she sat down and pulled out my chart. "Right now, your leg is in a cast due to a minor fracture. We should have it off in a month, but until then, you're not to participate in any Trials, augmented or otherwise."

    "Oh," I glanced down at my left leg, finally realizing that it was bound up, the cast extending from my ankle to just below my knee. "Any other injuries of note, doc?"

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

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

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






    "Star Commander," The man now in charge of the Garrison nodded as I limped into the office. "How fare your injuries?"

    "I am going to be limited ot paperwork for the next month or so," I took a seat as the Star Captain gestured. "You wished to speak to me of something else though?"

    "Yes," the man nodded. "We have reviewed the Battleroms and were impressed with the way you led a star into combat. Unfortunately, it is believed that you are too old to continue serving given the injuries that you sustained after the other Warhammer's reactor went critical."

    "Then what is to be done?" I asked.

    "You are being folded into the Nega Garrison Cluster on Quarell," The Star Captain sighed. "It is against my recommendation, but I am not able to hold a Trial of Refusal for you."

    "Am I allowed to keep my 'Mech?" I asked. "I would not see it scrapped if I am capable of repairing it."

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

    "Your Warhammer is currently with the Technicians," the Star Captain met my eyes. "You will be shipped out after it is repaired."

    "So I am now Solahma?" I raised an eyebrow.
    "It has been decided by those who are above me," the other man sighed. "Given your combat record of late, I would rather have you among my warriors, but I was rejected, and the bidding did not favor me, so I withdrew my objection."

    "Will any among my current Binary be shifted with me, Quiaff?"

    "Neg," he shook his head. "It is just you that has been remitted. However, I believe that two of the pilots that were among the Star you commanded in the Trial of Possession wish to depart with you."

    "Thank you for the information," I inclined my head. "Now, if there wasn't anything else?"

    "No, you are dismissed."






    "We're going to have a lot of work to do," I glanced at Jasper, a frown on the technicians case at both the contraction and how damaged the Bobby B was.

    "How?" He asked, his hands gesturing at the exposed myomers and nearly destroyed chassis.

    "Enemy reactor went critical," I shrugged. "Now, can we fix her?"

    "We can," he sighed. "But I am uncertain if it would be worth it instead of simply pulling another one from the depots."

    "I know there were spares on the Last of Us," I referenced the dropship that had been with me when the Clans had found me. "May we not utilize those if they are available?"

    "You would use inferior technology?"Jasper asked.

    "It is not so inferior as you might think," I shrugged. "Besides, I only need the myomers and the structure. I can utilized the PPCs that were onboard my old ship. They will serve me as well as any of the most current technology will."

    "We will take what we need from those spares," Jasper replied. "But I will not removed the weaponry that you are currently making use of. You will have need of it in the future."

    "I'm being shifted to a Garrison Cluster," I chuckled. "I doubt I'll be using them all that much."

    "We shall see," Jasper then turned his full attention to me. "Now go and see to it that your Binary is well taken care of. We will handle this, Quiaff?"

    "Aff," I replied. "I will help out where I am able."

    "You are injured," Jasper looked at the leg that was in a cast and then glanced at my torso where a hint of white peeked out from my uniform. "There is nothing you could do to assist us at present."

    "Fine," I grunted. "But I'll be checking in regularly."

    "You know that we will do good work," Jasper smirked. "Instead, enjoy the time that you have with your fellow warriors. It is not often that they are able to spend time with one who is as old as you are."

    "Asshole," I began to limp away. "Take care of her!" I called back out. "She's one of the only things I've got left."

    I slowly limped into the barracks for the Trinary, a bark and a dark figure panting as Gray met me, her tail wagging fiercely.

    "Hey girl," I leaned down and stroked her head behind her ears. "I'm sorry I left you here, I'll definitely be bringing you with me next time. I missed our adventures."

    Gray licked my hand before following me to the assigned bunk where she climbed into my lap and curled up, her warm body bringing me peace as I slowly petted her soft fur.

    "Let me get some rest," I rolled over and curled up with the Octo-Wolf. "I think we're going to have a busy few weeks."
     
    • Chapter 17
    • Chapter 17

    "Mark Hull," a voice greeted me from where I was packing up my meager belongings into a small duffle bag. "

    "Yes?" I turned to where a man and woman were cautiously eyeing Gray. "I am trying to pack, is there anything I can do to assist you?"

    "We requested to join you in the Nega Garrison Cluster," The man entered the room. "We were a part of the Trial of Possession."

    I threw the last of my clothing into the bag before standing up fully and looking at both of them.

    The woman carried herself differently than the man, there was more of a certain… Aura of confidence that surrounded her.

    "I apologize," I offered as I slung my bag and whistled for Gray to come to my side. "But it seems that you have me at a disadvantage, for you have my name, but I do not seem to have either of yours."

    "Anastasia," The woman considered me.

    "Thomas," the man nodded. "We are already considered old, and though we are not dezgra, we can see that you are a Ristar. We would follow in your quest."

    "Quest?" I asked, straightening my clothes a bit before glancing around the room to make sure I hadn't missed anything.

    "You will surely seek to join a line unit, Quiaff?" Anastasia asked. "We would join you. We have been a part of the Solahma for long enough."

    "And we are not like the others, content to laze about in their places," Thomas continued. "No, we want more. So, Star Commander. Where you lead, we will follow."

    "It's not going to be an easy route," I looked at both of them, my hand falling to stroke Gray's silky fur. "You will face many challenges if you wish to follow me."

    "Anything is better than remaining stagnant and languishing here until we are discarded," Anastasia muttered. "In our pursuit of youth, we have fallen into the folly of forgetting that age has merits. I would change that."

    "So," Thomas looked me in the eye. "What do we do next?"

    –
    –

    "Try to keep Darya alive," I told Liliana and James. "She shall need some good backup if Marthe decides that she does not appreciate being challenged, Quaiff?"

    "Aff," James replied. "See to it that you live. It is a sad world where a warrior is removed from the field of battle."

    Liliana remained silent, simply exchanging a nod with me before turning and heading back to their barracks.

    Walking up the ramp, I boarded the dropship and headed to the quarters that had been assigned to the two warriors who had decided to accompany me. There was much to discuss and plan, and never enough time to do it in.





    Date: December 1, 3050
    Location: Paulus Prime

    Darya quietly observed the massive fleet as they began to wink out of existence on the path back to Strana Mechty.

    "It's a sight, isn't it? All of those ships and 'mechs and warriors heading off to one place," an unfamiliar voice said as an older woman stepped up beside Darya.

    "It is not the first time I have seen it," Darya replied. "But it is interesting to see so many gathered together instead of competing."

    "There'll be plenty of time for competition later," the woman laughed, her red and gray streaked hair tied into a loose ponytail. "Now, I've heard some rumors that your cluster happened upon an incredibly rare find," the older woman grinned. "And no one else will tell me anything except that you're his commanding officer. So," the other woman shifted her arms across her chest. "I want information, little bird."

    "And what would you have to offer in return, Wolf?" Darya asked, turning her gaze to meet the slightly taller Kerensky's eyes. "I am not one of those who worship the very ground that you stand on. But neither am I set against you. So, I will repeat myself. What do you have to offer in return?"

    "I like you," Natasha grins as she leans against the wall. "How about this? I've still got a bottle of 3010 Glengarry Reserve. You and me polish that off while discussing the old man you Birds picked up on your way in."

    "I suppose that would be an equitable exchange," Darya replied, gesturing for Natasha Kerensky to lead on.

    –
    –

    "And the wolf, she is always cuddled up with him," Darya giggled a little bit as both her and Natasha drank another shot, their faces flushed bright red. "But they both are deadly."

    "And he was just living on a farm?" Natasha asked.

    "It was as if he was content to simply enjoy his life on the world without a care in the world," Darya leaned back against the bunk. "But he was obviously a warrior at sometime. Because he nearly destroyed the Star Colonel's Summoner in the Trial. Had he been a bit more accurate, he would have dealt with her and been left alone once more."

    "You brought him with you, right?" Natasha tossed back another shot. "I want to meet someone who once would have known the life before all this shit."

    "Neg," Darya shook her head. "I left him in command of my Trinary, He was the most capable out of those who remained."

    "Damn," Natasha grunted. "And here I was hoping to meet him," She shrugged. "Oh well. So, you tried anything with him yet?"

    "He is surprisingly resistant to such advances," Darya sighed. "I have indicated on multiple occasions that I would like to couple, but he refuses to engage in such."

    Natasha sat there silently for a moment before continuing.

    "He's going to be different," she finally said. "Spheroids aren't the same, and sex is more to them than mere pleasure. It'll take more than a pretty face and a pair of nice tits to catch somepeople's attention. And don't even get me started on people who haven't had sex in years," Natasha rolled her eyes. "Lemme tell ya, some people just refuse to enjoy a good time when it approaches…"
     
    • Chapter 18
    • Chapter 18

    Author’s Note: I do not own the Jade Phoenix trilogy that portions of this chapter are lifted nearly directly out of. I have tweaked passages to somewhat reflect the changes, but the real change hasn’t happened yet…


    “What do you think, Horse? Should I have gone in and razed Vreeport the moment the people Rebelled?”

    “That is what I would have done. But that is all in the past. Why do you still think of it now?”

    “I am wondering about Khan Chistu’s representative. Why send someone here? Does it have to do with some policy of mine for which I am to be reprimanded? It is a long trip to take for a simple bureaucratic censure, after all.”

    –
    –

    Several hours later…

    “The Shuttle from the dropships has landed,” Horse informed Aidan. “I would have come for you sooner, but they gave us no advance warning. The Khan’s representative is on his way here in a VTOL.”

    Aidan immediately stood up from his desk and made his way to the parade ground where he watched the tilt-rotor craft appear in the west above a small cluster of trees before settling down onto the landing platform.

    There, an aide assisted the Khna’s representative in disembarking the VTOL, for he seemed to be in barely one piece. He limped and one of his arms was held stiffly at his side, as though it was useless. A half-mask covered one side of his face.

    Aidan did not recognize the Khan’s representative until he was but a few steps away. He might have noticed something familiar in the man’s posture or bearing, but that would have been all.

    Now that he was before him, though, he was easily recognized. No matter how disfigured, this was obviously Kael Pershaw, a man that Aidan could never forget.

    He and Kael had hated each other almost on sight when they were on Glory. And if the steady glare was any indication, then the other man’s sentiments had not changed much.

    Looking at Kael, remembering him, Aidan discovered that his own sentiments were equally unchanged after all these years. From the moment he recognized his former commander, Aidan despised him all over again.

    “May I offer you a drink?” Aidan asked after he and Kael were settled into his office.

    “You can offer, but there is no point in my accepting. My stomach, is well, reconstructed, and my sens of taste is useless now. I am completely sustained by pill and injection. When I have thirst, I merely suck on a wet cloth, and it does all I need. But go ahead and serve yourself.”

    “No,” Aidan replied. “I have only occasional use for spirits. Now, seeing you again, I prefer to remain cold sober. I notice that you are a Star Colonel.”

    “A mere Star Colonel,” Pershaw’s remaining eyebrow rose. “Do you mean? Yes, if I were still in command of a fighting unit I would have a higher rank. But age, as well as—” He made a gesture that seemed to take in all of him. “-- Injuries have made me unfit for command. Officers of an advisory capacity may not outrank commanding officers still in the field. Thus, I am demoted to Star Colonel, the rank, I believe, I held when we last encountered each other.”

    The two continued to reacquaint themselves for a few moments more before Pershaw finally got to the point.

    “I can do nothing to remove this taint, Aidan Pryde, and I am here to convey a decision that will no doubt add to it. As you know, the Falcon Guards Cluster was nearly demolished by the action in the Great Gash on Twycross. This is the only major defeat that Clan Jade Falcon has suffered in this invasion, and it has tainted the Falcon Guards, just as you are tainted. Dezgra.

    “Yes, but were the guards not the victims of secretly planted demolition charges and–”

    Pershaw nearly rose out of his seat in anger. “You do not make excuses for yourself, nor do you make excuses for the Falcon Guards! Adlet Malthus was too arrogant. He should have scouted the pass properly before leading so many ‘Mechs into a confined area. He should not have accepted an honor duel with an Inner Sphere Freebirth, not stopped his command in the middle of the Great Gash.”

    “Kael Pershaw,” Aidan continued. “Who knows what command decision another commander. Myself included, might have made in the same circumstances, with the same intelligence data.”

    Pershaw’s visible eye blazed with fury. “Good! Good! Then perhaps, in your own arrogance, you are the proper choice to command the new Falcon Guards!”

    Now, Pershaw did attempt to rise out of his chair, but as he was unable to achieve the proper balance, he fell right back into it.

    “I am to command the new Falcon Guards, Kael Pershaw?”

    Pershaw laughed. “That was the gist of the message for which I am the messenger. All survivors of the former Falcon Guards will be transferred out and a completely new contingent will be formed, with you at its head. Do you see, Aidan Pryde, what I meant about taint? You are the only available officer who would not be insulted by such a command, and I can see in your eyes that you are not.”

    “The assignment means front line duty, does it not?”

    –
    –

    “But how you handle this new duty is your responsibility. My task is merely to inform you that you are detached from your present duty to meet with your new, uh, warriors. They will be assembling on Orkney’s southern hemisphere, at a training field called Mudd Station. You will not have much time to form up your Falcon Guards and whip them into any kind of shape. You will soon go into battle.”

    “How soon?” Aidan asked.

    “That has not yet been decided. The Khan has authorized me to brief you, but until all announcements are official, you must regard our conversation as secret. I have your rede, quiaff?”

    “Aff.”

    “Comstar is no longer neutral. The ilKhan informed them that our objective is Terra, and they refuse to allow us to occupy their home planet.”

    “Then we must be concerned about the Comstar Administrators on our planets rising up against us,” Aidan protested.

    “No. The Comstar Percentor Martial has issued a batchall to ilKhan Kerensky, which has been accepted. Comstar has arranged with ilKhan Kerensky for a single battle between the Clans and the Comstar military forces on a planet named Tukayyid. A Clan victory will mean the prize of Terra is ours. But if we lose, the ilKhan has agreed that our forces will not advance for a period of fifteen years.”





    Location: Mudd Station, Orkney, Jade Falcon/Steel Viper Occupied Planet

    The rain fell around us all as I stepped off of the dropship, my uniform instantly transforming from pristine to muddy and wet as I walked toward the base.

    Gray’s coat dripped water as we entered the base, and her shake slung water over the walls before I pulled a towel out of my bag and wiped it up. Then, I shifted and began to pat her dry for a moment.

    “There,” I stroked her head. “Now I get to deal with my own clothes.”

    “Star Commander,” I glanced at the voice that greeted me as I wiped mud off of my boots.

    “Star Colonel,” I snapped to attention as I noticed the ranking pins.

    “Come with me,” the man instructed, his face still as if it had been carved from stone.

    “Take a seat,” the Star Colonel ordered, gesturing as we entered an office, he himself taking a seat across from me while his shadow stood leaned up against the wall. “Now tell me. How did you manage to convince anyone to allow you onto the Falcon Guards? A unit that is known for only rarely allowing freebirths.”

    “I pointed out that you lacked people willing to serve,” I shrugged. “I am old, but I am not incapable. And I lack the Dezgra of many of my compatriots. I have fought with the 2nd Jaegers with distinction and I have challenged and won against those who would attempt to stop me.”

    I then went silent as the other man first considered me, and then glanced at the Octo-Wolf sitting patiently next to me.


    “Report to your Trinary, Star Commander,” he finally said. “I believe that you are next upon the training block that Star Commander Joanna has set. See to it that you remain fit for duty. And ensure that your… Pet, as it were, does not interfere with your duties.”

    “Yes sir,” I stood up and left the office where someone showed me the direction of the Trinary’s barracks.

    The two warriors that had chosen to travel with me originally had not been assigned to the Falcon Guards. Instead, they had been shifted to replace warriors that had been lost against the Steel Vipers in the last year, which left me alone in a new unit, and no back up to speak of.

    –
    –

    While I didn’t agree with everything that our two Falconers (Read: Drill Instructors) said during our training, there was one thing that they got damned right. And it was that it wasn’t enough to fight as an individual when you were a part of a military force. No, you were a part of a unit, and it was high time that these people acted like it.

    It was with this in mind, that I helped make sure that everyone in my Star performed up to the tasks that were required. We were on time to drill, and our uniforms were immaculate before we participated in whatever it was that the Drill Instructors had called for.

    It was miraculous what could happen over a period of two short weeks, but it seems that even in a military as broken as a Clans, that all that was needed to bring a force back into fighting shape was to remind them of their roots. Provided they were willing to learn once again, that is.

    But I could feel something, a tension in the air. There was something brewing on the horizon, and while I didn’t know what it was yet, I had a feeling that everything would come to a head soon. And that it would end with either me alive and well among the Jade Falcons, or dead and my concerns over and done with. Regardless, something was coming, and I would be ready for it.
     
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    • Chapter 19
    • Chapter 19

    “Well,” I muttered as I tossed my few meager belongings back into a rucksack. “I never thought that I’d be fighting for the Clans if it ever came to Tukayyid,” I scratched Gray’s chin. “It’s a bit odd, isn’t it?”

    I then stood and whistled for her to follow as I headed for the dropships, regardless of how things might have turned out, this was my life now. And I had a plan to reform at least Jade Falcon. Either that, or I would die trying.

    –
    –

    “Star Commander,” Joanna greeted me as I entered the room that I had been assigned.

    “Star Captain,” I replied as I stored my duffle before resting on the bunk that I had been assigned. “I was unaware that I was to be roomed with you.”

    “It was at my request,” the woman frowned. “You are not like the rest of the Guard, you have not been deemed dezgra, for all that you are Abtakha, your codex speaks well of you and the engagements that you have been engaged in.”

    “So?” I raised an eyebrow. “I am far older than most solahma. The only units that would take me were garrison clusters or the Falcon Guard. I desired a front-line post. This was what was available to me, there is nothing more to it than that.”

    “Freebirth,” Joanna rolled her eyes. “I am watching you. You have no place here, and should you fall behind… Well, that is where we will leave you.”






    I climbed into my Warhammer, Gray settled into the seat behind me as I began to power cycle the ‘Mech and prepare it for an orbital drop. My Star had been designated as part of the path-finding Trinary, and as such, I would be responsible for leading a third of the Omnimechs that would be securing the landing for the Raptor.

    “Alpha Trinary, signify status!” Joanna barked.

    “This is Bravo Star, Ready op,” I reported as I received the status of my Mechwarriors.

    “All Stars are ready op, Raptor, begin drop.”

    The Bobby B shook as my ‘Mech was slowly ‘shoved’ out of the dropship, the ceramic pod beginning its descent through the atmosphere as it slowly burned away, my sensors guiding me along the path that had been designated for me to follow.

    Then, at a safe distance above the ground, I ignited the pack that was bolted on, the jets flaring as they slowed my path enough for me to hit the ground with a solid ‘Thump’, the explosive bolts sending the pack to the ground as I regrouped with my Star.

    “Star Captain, Bravo Star is ready, following previous instructions,” I reported as the star scattered around me to clear out the immediate area, our normally silver and green ‘Mechs scorched as black as the darkness around us.

    After a few moments of each Star securing their area, Star Captain Joanna reported. “Falcon Guard Trinary Alpha has landed, sir. Area is secured and marker beacons are up. Your orders?”

    Star Colonel Pryde then gave his orders and Joanna’s followed shortly afterward.

    “Bravo and Charlie Stars, I want a three-kilometer security zone set up around the LZ. Bravo, once that is done, prepare to assist in disembarking the incoming Battlemechs. I will transmit deployment patterns shortly.”

    My Star secured the zone with Charlie as the Raptor continued her descent, the Overlord-C eventually setting down and beginning to offload ‘Mechs, supplies, and Elementals. The newcomers moved to locations ordered by Joanna as my Star shifted to direct the disembarkation while Alpha relieved us of our security duties.






    Sometimes, the way that the Clans waged war was modern, the tactics somewhat resembling the sort of things that I’d seen in the past in my own training and research. And then sometimes, it was nonsensical bullshit.

    I didn’t know whose bright idea it was to have the entirety of the Jade Falcon Forces march through a field in formation, but if I ever did find out, there would be hell to pay. I understood the direct approach, hell, I loved the idea of just kicking someone's door in instead of trying to sneak up on them. But this? This was stupid. And I felt like a target.

    But I wasn’t going to fight it for now. Especially given how quickly I’d find myself cashiered if I did so.

    Instead, I maintained the formation as ordered, the Falcon Guard had shifted to secure the right flank of the overall forces, and both Bravo and Charlie Stars from Trinary Alpha had been molded in with a Nova from Echo.

    As we moved through the night, we eventually encountered the Comstar forces arrayed against us, their hit-and-run tactics claiming both meat and machine throughout the night.

    By the time that day had come, we had slowed to a crawl as we neared the Prezno River, the damage to the Falcon Guard was minor, but our battle lines grew thin as we were slowly ordered to spread out.

    Then, ten kilometers shy of the river, we were ordered to halt. Many of the Warriors popped their cockpits and shifted to a relaxed position, but I did not. I allowed my Star to enjoy the break, but I merely continued scanning as dawn broke across the horizon, Star Colonel Pryde had dismounted and boarded a VTOL heading for Command.

    “Star Commander, you may rest,” Star Captain Joanna’s voice came over a private line.

    “Neg,” I replied. “Someone needs to stay on alert, and the rest of my Star is eating at the moment. I will step down once one of them can take my place at the watch.”

    “Understood,” Joanna responded after a moment. “As you were, Star Commander.”

    And so I stayed on standby, my Warhammer’s sensors scanning the fields and skies for any sign that Comstar might be lurking in ambush.

    Then, after about an hour of this, two of the members of my Star boarded their ‘Mechs and powered back up.

    “Star Commander, We will take over your watch, quiaff?”

    “Aff,” I replied, putting my ‘Hammer into a soft shutdown before popping my hatch, the fresh cool air greeting me as I lowered the ladder down and began to descend. Then, when I reached the ground, I held out my arms and whistled sharply, Gray then jumped out of the cockpit and into my arms where I set her down.

    “Thank you,” I nodded at the technician who had a meal set aside for me. “You can go get some rest too.”






    After a few hours of rest and rotation of the watch, the Clans finally shifted forward, with the Falcon Guard pushing along with the Twelfth Falcon Cluster, the Twelfth’s ‘Mechs pushing forward to take the bridge ahead of us.

    “Falcon Guard, press forward at best unit speed,” Pryde ordered, his voice coming in clear through the comms as my Star pushed forward in a staggered formation.

    Then, as we reached the area around the bridge, the Star Colonel surged forward with a few members of his Command Star, their jump jets alight with fire and fury as they forced Comstar’s forces back while the rest of us pushed forward and then held our positions.

    Then, as Comstar fell back, the Twelfth surged forward, their Star Colonel pushing to cross the bridge as the bridge vanished into the rapids below. Comstar’s forces then reappeared, with combat vehicles and ‘Mechs sniping at us while Aerospace fighters streaked across the sky.

    “We hold,” I commanded my Star as a VTOL vanished in a beam of manmade Lightning.

    Unfortunately, we of the Falcon Guard stood alone as the Twelfth fled with the loss of their Star Colonel.

    Unfortunately, while my ‘Mech was capable of fighting for a long time given my reliance on energy weapons aside from my lone SRM pack, the same could not be said for the remainder of the unit, and as the ammunition stores drew low, Star Captain Joanna ordered us to fall back, eventually leaving me in my Warhammer and her in her Stormcrow to cover the retreat.

    Slowly, the entire force of the Jade Falcons was pushed back by Comstar’s forces, and for all of the aggression that the Clans had displayed when they first invaded the Inner Sphere, they seemed to lack that killer edge in this case.

    “Star Captain,” I opened a private channel to Joanna. “Why are we falling back? It is only in advance that victory is won. If we continue to fall back, they will continue to have the momentum and the eventual victory.”

    There was a pause as Joanna’s Stormcrow seemed to hesitate for a second before my comm crackled. “We do as we are instructed, Star Commander. Lest we forget that we are a part of the whole Clan.”

    “Understood, Ma’am,” I replied. “I will do as you command.”

    –
    –

    As day turned into night, the senior officers were once again summoned to Command to begin planning for the advance now that the bridge had been destroyed.

    Before he had left though, the Star Colonel had given the order that all of our ‘mechs should be equipped with Jump jets.

    But I did not have an Omnimech, and as such, If I wanted this done in a timely, I would have to assist my technicians with both the calculations, as well as fitting the required pods to my ancient ‘Hammer.

    “We are going to have to pull the six-pack, and a Heat sink,” I did some napkin math side by side with a main tech. “But if I am doing the math right, we can remove half a ton of armor to just shrink it down to a four-pack and we should be able to add three jets, quiaff?


    “Neg, Swap the pulses for smalls and keep the sixes,” the tech modified my math. “That leaves you with the extra armor,” he sighed. “But it is going to take time. Time that the others will not.”


    “I am going to help,” I reached into a nearby footlocker and pulled out a set of coveralls. “Now, we should get started.”

    I headed for the nearby gantry and began climbing up the ladder as I headed for the ‘Mech’s shoulder, there was a lot of work to be done, and not a lot of time to do it in.

    –
    –

    “Star Commander,” Joanna’s voice resounded through the ‘Mech bay. “What are you doing?”

    “Outfitting my ‘Mech with Jump Jets as ordered by the Star Colonel” I pulled myself out of the jets that we had installed on the legs. “Run the tests!” I called out to the tech. “I think we’ve got it calibrated correctly.”

    “And why are you arms deep in your ‘Mech?” She inquired, her arms crossed.

    “Because otherwise it would not be finished in time,” I wiped my hands off on a nearby towel. “I have not been granted an Omnimech, and I will not request one when it would be better in the hands of someone more accustomed to it. Neg, I will do the work required to perform at whatever level to my own ‘Mech.”

    “Is it ready?” Joanna jutted her chin at the Silver and green painted Warhammer. “I warned you that if you fell behind we would leave you.”

    “Star Commander,” The tech approached. “All tests are green, the jets are properly installed as are the lasers.”

    “Yes,” I replied, turning to face the Star Captain. It is ready for whatever task it is that you require of us.”

    “Get yourself cleaned up,” Joanna scoffed. “We are to set out with the 2nd Falcon Jaegers at Dawn.”
     
    • Chapter 20
    • Chapter 20

    I arose with the sun, the meager four hours doing little to rest my weary body, but I understood that needs must, so I quickly brewed a pot of coffee before drinking it and climbing up into my ‘Mech, Gray following me as I climbed the ladder and secured myself into the command chair.

    I hadn’t powered the machine off fully, so it was a simple matter to input my security passphrase and code before the full power of the extralight fusion engine rumbled underneath me.

    “Star Commander, gather your Star,” Joanna ordered as her Mad Dog passed by me. “You are to attempt scouting the river for a place where we can make our way across with our Jump Jets.”

    “Understood,” I signaled my response as my Star’s ‘Mechs began to power up. “Bravo Star, give ready status and follow me, we are acting as recon, quiaff?”

    “Aff,” they replied and signaled ready status, the other four ‘Mechs following me as we moved the thirty kilometers back to the river.

    The rapids were beyond what I would have classified as ‘Class V’ Back home. With the river moving swiftly enough that most machines would be swept away, and the remainder being heavily damaged. And worse, there were very few places where even a Light ‘Mech would be capable of jumping across with no issue.

    “Star Commander,” a familiar voice pinged my private comms. “I thought I told you to be careful.”

    “Hello Darya,” I grinned. “I was careful, unfortunately, it was not enough, and they wished to send me to a garrison cluster.”

    “I see that has been rescinded. Are you now a proud member of Pryde’s Pride, quiaff?”

    “Neg,” I shook my head. “I am a member of the Falcon Guard, but I am not a member of his… Cult of Personality.”

    “An interesting turn of phrase. I shall have to borrow it at some point in the future. Regardless, we are summoned, it seems they have found a point to cross, and we are needed. And Mark, I expect to see you after the battle.”

    “Should we survive, we shall see,” I replied before ordering my Star to follow as I headed for the coordinates that had been transmitted to me.

    –
    –

    We neared the place where the crossing was to take place, the ‘Mechs clustered already beginning to jump over as the Star Colonel’s Timber Wolf jumped first into a tranquil part of the river, that had been created by sacrificing several Omnimechs to the river. Then, he jumped clear to the other side.

    He was followed by lines of four ‘mechs, each jumping as he did, first into the calm, and then across where they were assigned defensive positions. Unfortunately, two ‘Mechs failed the jump. One, a Summoner, had its jets malfunction and send it rocketing into the artificial breakwater, the pilot drawing as his cockpit seals failed, the other, missed the location and ended up downstream, where his ejection seat didn’t clear the cliffs, and left him as a bloody smear on the wall.

    But then it was my turn, and I could almost feel the stares as I leaped, the jets igniting my older ‘Mech and arcing me into the middle of the river where I carefully stopped and measured the next jump before igniting the jets again and clearing the other side with meters to spare.

    “Bravo Star is clear,” I reported. “Shifting to defensive positions.”

    Once the remainder of the ‘Mechs had crossed, both clusters split into their respective groups, with the 2nd Falcon Jaegers moving to assist the Plough Bridge, while we shifted and began moving towards Robyn’s Crossing.

    Star Colonel Pryde ordered us to spread out, each Star following the battle plan that had been laid out beforehand. “Slow to half-speed” came over an open channel as the gleaming white ‘Mechs of Comstar appeared.

    I held my breath as I watched Comstar take the bait, thinking that we were about to begin one-on-one combat, then I flipped up the cap on the button that I had assigned to my Jump jets.

    “Those who are to speed up, advance at double rate. Those who are to jump, do so in ten seconds.”

    One heartbeat, two, then I counted to ten and jumped in sync with the rest of the group, my lasers arcing out with my SRMs to find holes and punch through armor as I floated through the cluster of Comstar's Mechs. We poured through the gap that had been created in their ranks, as everything seemed to slow. It was odd, despite the advanced warfare, and the new weapons, we had just mounted an old-school cavalry charge and broken through infantry lines.

    Then time accelerated, and I melted a Griffin with a PPC, another ‘Mech finishing it off as it slumped to the ground.

    Then we were through the ComGuard lines, and heading towards Robyn’s Crossing, the ‘Mechs left behind attempting a pursuit as a few Falcon ‘Mechs covered the rear.

    New white gleams appeared, shining in the sunlight as they turned to face us, the ‘Mechs guarding the crossing now fighting both the Seventh Falcon Cluster across the river as well as the forces that we had brought to bear.

    Now that the heat had left my ‘Hammer, I triggered my PPCs, both beams of man-made lightning arcing out and striking a Rifleman, the autocannon ammunition going up and sending what was left of the ‘Mech crashing to the ground.

    The ComGuards held firm at first in the face of our advance, and then they began to give way, eventually retreating and allowing us to have the crossing.

    “They are retreating!” Joanna crowed.

    “And we have the crossing,” I muttered as I took up a guard position. “Star Captain, requesting permission to advance.”

    “Negative. Hold until given further orders.”

    “Understood,” I looked at my tactical overlay and sighed as I realized that one of my star’s Omnimechs had been taken out in the fighting earlier. “Guess we’re short now, huh Gray,” I reached back and stroked her head as I kept an eye on my screens.

    “Good to see that you are alive and well.”

    “Darya, I assume the battle at the bridge went well?”

    “Aff,” she replied. “As well as could have been expected. I am still expecting you tonight. After all, there is much to catch up on. It has been over a year since we last spoke, after all.”

    “Agreed,” I relaxed for a brief moment. “But there are still battles to be fought and won before we meet again.”

    –
    –

    I listened to the channels as they began debating over what and why Olalla looked abandoned and deserted, with nothing appearing on sensors or even close.

    Then Alpha Heavy volunteered to go down and check out the town, and I felt a pit form in my gut as the one fully intact Star moved through the deserted town, the sun beginning to set behind the mountains.

    I tuned out the conversation as I flipped through various sensors and vision modes, trying to find out the location of the ambush.
    “Remember the first ambush, when Mechwarrior Faulk lost his leg? The ComGuards came out from underneath the orchard.”

    “We must get Alpha Heavy out of there!” Joanna roared as Comstar began to attack.

    “Bravo, push!” I ordered as I began to move into the city, my PPCs striking out with alternating beams of lightning interspersed with laser fire.

    I focused on a King Crab, its back turned away from me as I hammered its rear torso until the assault ‘Mech tipped over, its pilot ejecting as I shifted to a Highlander.

    The Highlander tried to kill Star Commander Jula Huddock’s Executioner, but I shattered its knee as I moved close enough for my missiles and small lasers to carve away, my Star falling in as we moved to relieve Alpha Heavy.

    “Star Commander, what are you doing?” Joanna asked as I stepped in front of the Executioner, taking autocannon fire intended for the assault ‘Mech before returning fire, a Shadow Hawk falling prey to my missiles as the SRMs cratered against the cockpit, the medium halting in its tracks before LRMs from the other forces hit it in the rear.

    The Star Captain had decided not to hold back anymore and had moved through the ComGuard forces, shattering ‘Mechs with missiles and lasers as she neared the small circle of ‘Mechs that made up the remnants of Alpha Heavy and Bravo Star.

    Then I heard something that made me stutter step, and narrowly avoid a flurry of missiles that would have impacted my cockpit, instead cratering and rendering one of my lasers inoperable as molten metal dripped down and closed off the opening.

    A Dropship’s fusion torch lit up the sky as Kael Pershaw began to give us the bad news.

    “-- The Falcon Guards are needed back at the bridge. Our Warriors are pinned down. We are to retreat to the Dropships, and I must ask-No, order- the Falcon Guards to provide cover for the withdrawal.”

    I listened as Aidan Pryde eventually won the war within himself and ordered us to move back to Robyn’s Crossing to cover the retreat.

    “Star Colonel, Star Captain,” I opened a channel. “Allow me to take a Star and take Humptulips if they have left no defenders. I can at least plant our banner and then retreat.”

    “I will render aid as well,” Darya broke into the channel.

    “If Kael is correct, we cannot spare a full Star,” Pryde sighed. “You two may go, but know that there will be no support provided.”

    “I will go alone,” I finally stated as the dropships began to fall on the other side of the city.

    “Then go now,” Joanna’s Mad Dog seemed to salute me. “We will cover the retreat.”

    I shifted my ‘Mech into passive sensor mode and took off at a full run, it would take an hour to make it to the next city, and I doubted that I had enough time to take it and hold it before the rest of the Falcons fell back and left Tukayyid behind.

    “Well Gray, I always wanted to go out in a last stand. I might as well make it an epic one.”
     
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