"The Menagerie at Twycross", Part 10
- Date: June 18, 3050; 1:52 Local Time
- Planet: Apolakkia, High Orbit
- Location: Black Eagle-class DropShip 'Aquila', Commander's Quarters
Just remembering that particular duty had her close her eyes and sigh. Brandon hadn't needed to stay in the battle with that Hunchback, but he had - and he'd died. At least there was something left of the body to recover, that wasn't often the case. Where was his family... she needed to sort through the files dumped onto her datapad during the exit. She wanted to get this done before she forgot the details, so she touched the controls for her console to activate speech-to-text mode.
"Resume recording. On June Seventeenth, 'MechWarrior Brandon Laurel was killed in action on Twycross against enemies called 'Clan Jade Falcon'. Orders were issued to my pilots, only to engage at their own risk. His actions proved to be a significant help in allowing civilians to evade capture, and Priam Company to successfully defend the DropShips carrying them to safety." She took another drink from her cup before continuing. "Death benefits will be issued with a hefty bonus in recognition of his bravery, though we cannot replace the dead. I am truly sorry for your loss."
There was a knock on the cabin door, and Olivia opened her eyes to glance over at it. She touched the control to stop recording, before speaking. "Come in." The door swung open, colliding with the strapped-down crates behind the door rather than opening all the way.. Otto looked behind the door briefly, and she shook her head. “Had to put it somewhere, luckily the floor here still has tie-down anchors.”
“Well, if it works ma’am.” He closed the door behind him and held up his datapad. “It took most of yesterday evening but we have some preliminary reports. What do you want first?”
“The bad news.”
“It’s almost all bad news.”
Olivia fixed him with a long stare, taking a drink from her cup’s straw and letting the silence stretch on. Finally she spoke up slowly. “Let’s start with the worst bits then, and try not to make it sound good.”
“Okay, then.” He sighed, and fixed himself into the other chair in the room. “First thing to talk about is our people being scattered across five DropShips. The Lord Commander is being a good sport about it, but we’re going to need to discuss compensation for him ferrying our ‘Mechs. The Helpers have been assisting us in sorting through the noncombatants who got off the surface, and we should be able to make sure our personnel are in one place before the JumpShips finish recharging. The Captain and Hechek forwarded you plans earlier to review.”
She took a quick glance down, reading a few sentences before feeling she got the general idea of what was being said. “That’s almost good news, then.”
Otto held up a finger and shook his head. “This means our technicians aren’t all in one place, so repairs are on hold. We’ve only made sure nothing critical is going to get worse through transit, but our ‘Mechs won’t be battle-ready until we can spend at least a month on a planet’s surface.” He hesitated. “Preferably one where we can get replacement armor and spare parts, or we’re going to need to be really picky about what order things get fixed.”
“How are we doing on spare parts?”
“Not great. We didn’t prioritize them, except for rarer parts. The Black Knight has spare parts, so we can fix that. But your Warhammer and the Awesome don’t have replacement actuators, and we are not going to get a replacement for the Condor we lost.” He hesitated, and shook his head. “Which brings me to the updated casualty listing-”
'Casualties, right,' Olivia closed her eyes, leaning her head back. “I've already started working on the letters, but I don't know how long I can do this. And until we hit a safe system, I can't transmit them - or the compensation packets.” ‘I’d expected much worse than what we got, but still… he’d say any losses were too many. And yet also assert it sometimes the risk is necessary... I hate he's still right.’ Her fingers quietly pulled out her datapad and set it to receive a file. “What’s next?”
“The techs left a lengthy report on… our salvage.” Otto hesitated. “I’d recommend reading it in full later.” She opened one eye to glare at him, and he looked back to his pad. “Short story is, they can’t fix it.”
“Can’t? Lacking parts?”
The hesitation again, and a slight twitch of his face into a grimace. “Boss, I recommend-”
“Summarize for me.”
“Okay then.” His face moved into the impassive mask she’d come to recognize as Otto sinking into the role of executive officer. “According to the tech crews, there’s a half-dozen reasons why they can’t work on these ‘Jade Falcon’ BattleMechs. Least of all, it seems the tools are the wrong type.”
She blinked, finger pointing at him casually. “Come again?”
“The tools are the wrong-” Olivia now focused on him intently, but this time he didn’t flinch or grimace. “According to them, and dispensing with the technician-talk, every measurement our tools have is wrong. It’s either too small, or too large, by enough of a margin they can’t reliably use our available tools. Our most experienced teams shot down the first rumblings of it being Star League technology, on the grounds this stuff looks newer and it doesn’t fit what they’ve seen. Whomever these Jade Falcon people are, they’re either using their own custom tools for this or they developed a different set of tool measurements.” He waved the datapad casually. “And this is just talking about the nuts, bolts, and screws.”
“Huh.” Her mouth had gotten dry as he talked, even as she felt confusion setting in. “If we talk past this?”
“The weapons resemble the type of equipment which started filtering out of New Avalon, but where the base designs and functions are the same? Everything else is different. A few benchmark tests proved the materials used are lighter, the heat exchange is more efficient, and it’s more compact. The cooling systems they had a chance to investigate are much better at handling waste heat than ours, about on par with the New Avalon stuff. However, again, more compact.”
“And the conclusions drawn from this?”
“I am quoting, here.” Otto glanced into the datapad and scrolled with his thumb. “They refused to speculate on the grounds they ‘just fix things when the ‘Mech jocks break them’.” He heard Olivia snort amusedly, and shook his head. “Most they can say is how they’re unable to work on it without an understanding of what they’re dealing with. And proper tools, which they can try to fabricate once we’re on the surface.”
“No, we’re not going to waste time on that yet. Besides, if my hunches are correct, the spooks and military will try to relieve us of the salvage at first opportunity.”
“Let them talk to Kelly?”
“I’m sorely tempted. She’s been haunting the ‘Mech Bay around that Heavy ‘Mech she killed.” Olivia leaned herself forward, and waved her hand. “So the time spent hauling those three ‘Mechs up was wasted?”
“Wouldn’t say that.” At her scowl, he coughed and glanced down to his datapad again. “Moving on. We’ve gotten reports from the ‘Namida’ infirmary.”
“Hold on, why are we hearing from the ‘Namida’? Our infirmary-”
He made a dismissive motion with the datapad. “Is critically low on supplies after we issued painkillers and stimulants last night. As in, that was all we had to give people. On top of that, the medics are short on sleep. We don’t want them working on our wounded.”
‘But Sofia-’ Olivia fought down her thought before it could reach her lips. ‘If they do more than a simple medical evaluation on her, Hechek will want to peel my skin off with a laser scalpel.’ “Tell me there’s good news.”
“Well, ‘MechWarrior Garrido is showing signs of recovering from her fatigue. Vandal and Ellen-” He caught himself. “That is, Specialist ‘Vandal’ and Lance Commander Raster are still not in top form. It’s expected all four of our wounded will need another few days of rest before they can return to light duty. About a week for active duty.”
“And our… guests?”
“Ah.” He glanced down, but not at the datapad. “All we get from them is name, rank, and volleys of insults. I’m told the restraints are almost unable to hold them, which is good news. Ours wouldn’t be up to the task, and we’d have two pissed-off strangers free to roam. I expect we’ll need to dip into interrogation tools.”
“I’m not authorizing that.” Otto seemed to relax, until she finished speaking. “I’d leave them in a room alone with Kelly for five minutes and see how cooperative they are after that.”
“Boss…”
“I’m joking.” ‘Are you though?’ She made a face, and shook her head. “Anything else?”
“Yeah.” He took in a deep breath. “We’ve had more than a few people execute their clauses to leave the outfit. I’m sorting out the paperwork right now, but I’ll need funding released before we hit the next stop for those who want out now.”
“How many-”
“Four pilots, half of our total technician staff from Salmacis, and almost every one of our non-combatant support staff.”
She felt her heart skip a beat at the list, and tried to find her voice again. “I knew Simone and Casey were heading off.”
“They’re waiting until we hit Phalan, then said they’re probably striking out for the Magistracy. I’m almost sure they’re joking.” He cleared his throat. “The other two said they were quitting after getting a good look at the enemy. They think it’s better to go back to stomping out pirates and Free World raiders.”
“They’re welcome to go, if this sort of thing-” She waved vaguely off outside the DropShip. “-is normal for these invaders then I don’t expect they’ll be easily stopped.” Otto seemed about to speak, so she slapped her hands down onto the desk. “We were lucky, we were underestimated, and they paid the price. Once word gets out, we won’t be given as much slack. They’ll come at us with everything they have to spare, maybe even UrbanMechs if they’ve got ‘em.”
“Don’t joke about that, boss.”
“I’m not.” She sighed, settling back into the chair with a glower focused on the desktop where her hands had hit it. “What’s the next move, Otto?”
“You’re the boss-” He shut up at her head turning to focus on him instead. His eyes focused past her as he let himself think. “If the FedCom wants to pay for it, there’s work we can do. If we want to jump the border to the Free Rasalhague Republic, we could maybe find work. If they’ve gotten desperate enough to swallow pride and hire mercs again.”
“I don’t want to risk that, we might get caught without an exit strategy. At least FedCom will be more receptive to the idea of dragging us out of the fire if we get in too deep.”
“We could try to shadow the Helpers for a while.” Otto leaned forward, focusing on her again. “Act as escorts. You know they’ve got a good record.”
Olivia looked away, thinking for a while. “No. I’d miss the autonomy we’d have, and we’ve already leaned on the Captain’s compassion enough. It might be best to part ways as co-workers rather than outstay our welcome. Besides, from the stories I’ve heard… I don’t want Kelly getting ideas.” She quietly unfastened the straps holding her into the chair, and pushed herself clear. “Let’s get started with our guests, it’ll give me something different to worry about.”
A flash of memories overwhelmed her on the way across, reality shifting into the memory of a time decades before. A cramped little office where Olivia was staring down her nose at her old Commander. He was seated behind a desk, paper maps and reports scattered everywhere. The White Reach campaign had taken a turn for the better, in a sense, but now he was proposing the unthinkable. There were prisoners to process, and the local militia couldn’t handle hardened ‘MechWarriors. Which left his proposal hanging in the air. “You can’t do this.”
“Olivia, I can’t keep them here.” The Commander was running his hands through his hair, dark circles under his eyes. “This place doesn’t have a brig, we were never intending to take on prisoners.”
She waved her hand out at the west side of the building. Outside there, a kilometer away, was the edge of the spaceport. “So put them on a DropShip out of the system. Civilian transport. You can probably afford the tickets, hell the Senate-”
Finally his face looked up at her. “The Senate wants them executed. If I turn them over, if they leave my custody, they’re dead anyway.” Silence followed his words, and he ducked his head again. “I need to focus on the Epirus-”
“You know Simone and Casey have it handled. We need to discuss this now. Before you do something you are going to regret. You’ll pick the wrong answer.” Her past self had no clue how ridiculous she sounded, but her present self knew the hard choices would only end in regret. There wasn’t a “right answer”, only a path to choose.
And the look in the Commander’s eyes as he looked up again said he knew. She remembered him standing up slowly, and speaking softly. “Sometime in the next month, I am going to have to make many decisions which you’ll disagree with, but I need you to follow anyway. You told me once you’d knock me senseless if I was an idiot. You get that chance now. Only now. Not later. Not when I have to make a decision which is going to have lives hanging in the balance.”
Olivia recalled turning away, not wanting to meet his gaze. Being ashamed of herself, for not standing up for what she believed. “Brand and Duchen won’t go for it.”
“Brand is a soldier. Duchen is a spook. They’ll understand the concept of necessity dictating unpleasant orders.” The Commander sat back down heavily, almost falling into the chair before waving his hand. “You’ve won this time, Olivia. Get some of the technicians to secure a bunk and put the prisoners in there. Bring them a hot meal, tell them you successfully bargained for their lives.”
“I… why me?”
He let out a long sigh. “I want you to see what happens when you tell a captive Kuritan they’re going to live in dishonor instead of dying.”
- Location: Invader-class JumpShip 'Namida', Infirmary
“Very well, I can’t force you to speak to me, but I would like to say this will go a lot easier if you do.” Olivia folded her hands in front of her, and Otto tried his bland expression on again. “Where are you from?”
“I am Star Captain Evlan of Clan Jade Falcon. I have nothing to say to you, freebirth mercenary scum.”
“And I am Commander Olivia Garrido of Priam Company.” She leaned just slightly forward, noticing his eyes dart towards her for a moment. “If you won’t talk to us, there isn’t much point to keeping you with us.” Her implied threat seemed to find no reaction, just the eyes staring back at the ceiling. ‘This one is almost as bad as a Kuritan prisoner,’ she thought to herself. Trying to move to more invasive interrogation was an option, but not one she really considered. For one, she doubted Captain Hatchy would permit it in her infirmary. And while Olivia was certain either Vandal or Kelly could find something to get through… the value was questionable.
“Which leaves me to ask, where would you like us to leave you?”
The question seemed to puzzle the ‘MechWarrior, and his head turned to look at her steadily. Unblinking eyes focused on her now, not looking past her or at a point on her uniform. “I do not understand. You do not wish to keep me?”
“If you’re not going to answer questions, and you’re going to avoid being useful, then what point is keeping you? Murdering you isn’t something I’m going to do, and you’re my prisoner. The Lord Commander might want you, Captain Hatchsune would probably be curious, but in the end-” She spread her hands before her. “What happens is my decision. My call. And turning you loose to go home is a better fate than others might give you.”
“She’s right, you know.” Otto put in, using a causal tone of voice. “There are some mercenary outfits who wouldn’t hesitate to kick you out of an airlock. I could tell you stories for days over drinks, if it wasn’t too ghoulish for me.” Strangely, the warrior’s eyes remained focused on Olivia as he spoke. It didn’t seem to be a case of ignoring Otto, but rather not acknowledging he was speaking.
“So I want to repeat the question.” Olivia cleared her throat, and dialed for her ‘Commander Voice’. “What would you have me do with you?”
The Star Captain now closed his eyes and turned his head away. “It is dishonorable to be taken prisoner by lowly mercenaries, and even worse to be discarded as though I had no value. I should be killed rather than bear this disgrace.”
‘Death before dishonor? Are we sure he’s not from the Combine?’ She sighed softly, and folded her arms. “Are you asking to die?”
There was a long period of silence, Olivia listening to the sound of the medical equipment beeping in the silence. Otto shifted, looking like he was about to speak, until she lifted a hand and she gave him a look to keep him silent. Finally, the captive took a breath and spoke slowly. “I need time to consider your words.” He turned and met her gaze intently. “All of your words.”
“Do you speak for your companion?” Her eyes flickered past to the sleeping form on the next infirmary bed. The female ‘MechWarrior’s wounds had been more severe, with what looked like a concussion and a fractured forearm. From what was in the quick glance at the medical report, the infirmary of the ‘Namida’ could handle it, but it would take some time.
“Neg.” He closed his eyes. “She must speak for herself.”
“Then I will speak with her when she wakes. For now, let me explain what’s about to happen.” She leaned forward. “We are in the Apolakkia system currently waiting on the JumpDrives to charge. In a few hours, the DropShips will make for the inhabited planet. We’re going to move our gear and people so we’ll only be using the ‘Sunset’ for transit. You have about a week of transit time between now and the planet surface to reflect.”
Hechek had already worked out a way to send her company’s ships along with the ‘Namida’ so the Helpers could resupply at cost. The Trellshire refugees would be under Hatchy’s care, as she had more experience than Priam Company dealing with such things. However, Miss Reisel had opted to travel with her JumpShip and return towards the heart of her company’s operations ahead of schedule. Ostensibly, it was to prepare an increased production for medical goods for refugees and the FedCom Armed Forces. Those who had doubts would say it was to flee to as far a place from the impending invasion as possible, since Rysel Pharmaceuticals was based from Rigil Kentarus. The truth was different, as Hechek was headed to the offices on Alexandria to use them as the primary office.
That the system was two Jumps away from Phalan was not lost on Olivia, but she elected to avoid thinking the worst. So far Hechek had only shown a neutral reaction to Sofia’s position, even if she disagreed with Olivia on putting Sofia in harm’s way. But the time had come to move past old wounds and ghosts of the past.
As much as they wouldn’t leave the living in peace.
- Date: June 24, 3050; 11:43 Local Time
- Planet: Apolakkia
‘Just as well, they’d hate what we’re going to end up doing once we start bidding on contracts again.’
“Your attention, please.” Olivia raised her hands, and the quiet discussions in the crowd stopped. “Thank you. Before we get to work today, I want you to know I’m very proud of what we accomplished. We’re not finished, not by a long shot, but as of the eighteenth of June we no longer have a home on Twycross.” The crowd began murmuring again, until Otto cleared his throat loudly.
“Currently we are en route to Phalan and our training grounds there, in order to repair and resupply. Some of you have been there more recently than others, and let me assure you it is still not safe to drink the water.” A chuckle spread through the crowd, and she joined in briefly. “No, I’m serious, stick to filtered and distilled water. I’m not going to be responsible if you ignore the advice.”
“It’s not pretty.” Casey called out, and the chuckle became a laugh which eased tension out of the gathering. All the veterans knew what was up, but the newbies had no clue where this was going. They were picking up on the tension all the same, but now their guard had fallen.
‘It’s time.’
Olivia straightened her back, and made her voice as strong as she could. "For a great number of you, the battle at Salmacis was your first combat action. Congratulations are in order, because that means you earned your coins." She threw up her hands, and there was a moment before someone led a cheer from the crowd. "Some of the techs stayed up making sure we had them all ready, so be sure to thank them when you pick them up. See Team Gamma for your coins after we finish here." Her hand vaguely motioned to the non-combatant side of the gathering. "The good news is, this means you rookies can stop buying the drinks. The bad news is, someone else is going to have to pick up the tab." Cheers started up, and a few people exchanged handshakes in congratulations. "And now on to some more serious notes."
"The generosity of the Lord Commander Mason Garrilac has been extended to get us to Phalan with all your 'Mechs." She motioned to the older gentleman standing to the side of the gathered officers. He managed a distinguished nod, but kept silent. "This is going to be the last time we touch dirt before we reach Minos, so be warned. Otto will have your assignments to make sure everyone knows where they're sleeping tonight after we lift off. Don't forget to see him, because if you wind up on a different ship than your stuff... that's your own fault now." The laughter was back, and the crowd had stayed relaxed even a little bored about the topics. Olivia looked around and noticed Captain Hatchy had joined them, smiling pleasantly but being content to stand just behind some others. That pink hat, though, was hard to miss.
The Commander took a deep breath, and then raised her hands. "I know it's not been a long time since the battle, but I don't want to wait any longer for this." She inhaled, and let out a slow breath to calm herself. "In the last couple weeks on Twycross, we lost people. Comrades. While we've not all had time to process the losses, I don't want to wait too long." She held up a hand. "As is tradition, we toast the dead... but due to having only what we could grab when we left, it's a single shot of Argeith Reserve." An organized wave of disturbance began through the crowd as a few people carried glasses and bottles through. "Hold your toast until the last name is read.” She cleared her throat, and started to read.
“Eric Boleyn…" Each name rolled off her lips with a solemnity which landed like a full DropShip, and the silence was now total. Almost everyone had bowed their heads, eyes closed, letting her read one name after another. And then the next. Then the next. The veterans knew what was coming, and were keeping people who hadn’t yet experienced this from breaking the moment.
She'd forgotten how long ago she'd made this process up, when she made remembering the dead worth more than a spot on the 'Aquila'. More than a little wall to place messages and photographs of the dead, gifts from the living to honor those no longer around. It had been Ellen who came up with the idea of making special coins for those who died and leaving them linked together by titanium wire. The techs weren’t thrilled to add it to their workload, but they said no words in protest. They understood it might eventually be their own names in the memorial.
But this part, where someone read out the names, and the last toast for absent comrades? Olivia had started it, though she couldn't exactly recall when, anymore. She couldn't even remember the first time, other than the nervousness of a new thing. Nobody had objected, however, and thus it had become a sort of ritual after every contract officially finished.
She yanked herself out of her thoughts as her mouth finished the last name, and she lifted her shotglass with a sigh. "May they be long remembered." A murmur ran through the crowd as she tipped the whiskey into her mouth and held it for a moment. "Okay, people, in ten minutes we get back to work. I'm sorry we don't have more time, but I don't want to get caught out."
Otto sidled up next to her and tapped her on the elbow, speaking in a murmur which barely sounded like it left his lips. "Head's up, three-thirty." Her eyes glanced that way and saw the two Jade Falcon 'guests' standing there with two Lorelei guards next to them. Star Captain Evlan was silent and his companion was stoically trying to avoid making eye contact with anyone. And yet, this time they were not looking at the mercenaries with disdain. If anything, it was hard to read their expressions. "They showed up about a minute after Captain Hatchy did, probably discharged so they could get off her ship."
"I wonder." Olivia murmured back. She approached, and noticed the ‘little captain’ wandering off toward the line forming for coins. The Jade Falcon warriors looked at Olivia, but only Evlan gave a slow nod acknowledging her presence. “I trust you are recovering well?”
“Aff.” Again, those strange words. Olivia didn’t understand the words, but the sentiment was clear. “What is it you were doing here?” His hand vaguely motioned around. “You are mercenaries, you fight for money. There is no honor in this.” His eyes narrowed, and she got the feeling she was being judged. “And yet you show it to those who are led to die.”
“Of course.”
The intensity of that feeling increased as he let out one word. “Why?”
“Why?” Exasperation bubbled to the surface as she leaned on one foot, and motioned around. “These are people, Star Captain. These are people who I am responsible for, who I might one day have to send to die. I’ll do it, knowing some of them won’t come back, but not knowing who exactly. The least I can do is respect the fallen for laying down their lives.” She turned her head upwards, chin out as defiance took over. “We weren’t fighting for money. We were fighting because we were leaving our home behind, and protecting those who also didn’t want to stay.”
He didn’t respond for a long time. Those eyes remained on her as the moment stretched on, and he finally spoke up. “They should have stayed behind. Clan Jade Falcon would have made use of those who could work.”
“It’s their choice. They can’t fight, they’re not warriors. And-” She hesitated, not sure she would offend but plowing ahead anyway. “And they had no idea if you were going to let them live. Nobody explained it to them. They only know your Clan Jade Falcon had come, and was taking over.” She opened her hand toward him, shaking her head. “You must understand.”
“I do not understand.” Finally Evlan broke eye contact, and gazed over the crowd. “I find I do not understand anything. You people frustrate me.” He looked back, a slow blink mitigating that intense stare. “There was no honor in your victory. Yet you celebrate it.”
“We don’t celebrate the victory. We celebrate being alive.”
“You are not making sense. This is not how people should behave.” There was a moment where his composure dropped, and frustration of his own bubbled to the surface. “You are alive, but you live without honor. Why would anyone celebrate such a thing?”
“I suppose it depends on what you find honor in.” She turned away, and motioned to the crowd. “They’re my people. My responsibility. I find… honor… in making sure I read off as little names as possible every time I do this. I don’t find it in victories which don’t mean anything. There was a period of three years, when all this began, when I thought maybe we were going to do some good.” The dam was open, and now there spilled forth memories which had been buried. “Maybe the madness could stop, just for a time. But it never does, there’s always another enemy to fight. Either the Draconis Combine, the Free Worlds League, pirates, rebels, criminals…” She turned her eyes back to Evlan. “And now you. It never ends, does it?”
“You believe you will be destined to fight forever, quiaff?” He spoke casually, dismissively. “If you only fight for money, then there are always those who will pay. It never will end.”
“It’s not about the money.”
“What do you mean?”
Olivia opened her mouth, and bit at her lip briefly before turning to face him again. “Why don’t you find out for yourself?” She offered her hand to him, meeting his gaze once more. “Would it be too much of a dishonor to learn about your enemy Star Captain Evlan? If not, take my hand.”
“You would make me a bondsman?”
“I don’t know what that is.”
He snorted derisively, but his hand grabbed past her hand and took her forearm. She grabbed his in turn, before he spoke. “Then I will have to teach you how to be civilized, freebirth. And you will teach me why any of you are worthy of respect, aff?”
“As you wish.” She noticed Sofia hovering a dozen meters away, watching them curiously without trying to be seen watching. “When we reach Phalan, we will discuss this further… aff?”
A wry twist to his lips, before he nodded once and released her arm. “Aff.” He walked to one side and his comrade followed, talking in a murmur. From the tone, it was not a pleasant conversation. Olivia left them to it, shaking her head. A problem for another day, as she had another headache to attend to.
Sofia had noticed the Jade Falcon ‘MechWarriors arrive during the ceremony, and kept a close eye on them. Why were they still here? They didn’t want to be here, that much was clear. But her mother wasn’t doing anything about it. She remembered, hazily, an argument in the infirmary which ended with silence and anger. ‘And for once it wasn’t me on the receiving end.’ Right now, her mother was speaking to them and looking like she was ready to send Kelly over. The short, intense woman was probably busy sharpening a knife somewhere; Sofia didn’t want to know where, though. That one was scary, and it was always impossible to get a read on her.
The conversation was ending now, and Sofia noticed her mother walking over. Emotions welled up, fighting each other for dominance until she decided to joke around. The new challenge coin was warm in her hand now, and she held it up to catch the light. “Well, Commander, I guess I’m a real ‘MechWarrior now. Sold my soul for coin.”
Her mother’s expression was annoyed at first, then she shook her head. “That coin isn’t what makes you a real ‘MechWarrior.” She hesitated and then reached up to poke at the two points where the neurohelmet’s nose rest would sit. “When you get the indents?” She put her fingertips on either side of her own nose, grinning past her hand. “That’s when you know you’re a real ‘MechWarrior.”
“I guess you don’t have them anymore, so you’re not a real one either.”
“Don’t start with me, child.” Her mother laughed, and then glanced around the crowd. “Lance Commander Raster is interested in keeping you in her Lance, once we reorganize. If you’re willing.”
“You could just order me.” The words made her mouth taste dry, as she tried not to scowl. “You’re the one in charge.”
“For now, until I die and they find someone else to hold this albatross.” ‘What the hell is an albatross?’ “I don’t want to order people to do what they don’t want to, when lives aren’t on the line.” The older woman hesitated, and then looked up again with renewed gravity in her expression. “It makes it harder for them to obey once it is a life or death situation.”
“I… see?”
The Commander rubbed at her shoulder idly, before looking away. “I had to learn the lessons the hard way. So taking that coin means you’re staying. Not running off to Zulu-” Her hand motioned towards the Lord Commander and Coryphee absently.
“Zathras.” Sofia corrected automatically, blinking a bit at how quickly her memory recalled that.
“Wherever the hell they’re from. You’re sticking around?” Sofia nodded slowly, and her mother seemed to lose some of the tension in her body. “Good. I’d be worried even more not knowing where you were, only that it started with a Z.”
Sofia snorted, and waved that off with her free hand. “Oh, thanks.” The other hand tucked the coin into a pocket on her uniform, patting it carefully. “What’s Phalan like? I’ve never heard you talk about it.”
‘Don’t you remember?’ A voice out of the depths of her mind, quiet and oily. ‘You should know, you were born there. But you don’t even remember your birthright, do you?’ She shook her head to clear the voice, noticing her mother was on again about something from her ‘glory days’. What did this ‘White Reach’ have to do with anything? It didn’t seem important, just one more place they’d had contracts in the past. There were barely any records in the simulator system for battle exercises, and the BattleROM access was restricted to officers.
Finally, her mother noticed the blankness in Sofia’s eyes and stopped talking. “You’ll find out when you get there. Just… don’t drink the water.” She started walking off towards a spot where the cooks were putting together a quick meal.
“Why does everyone seem to say that like it’s important?”
“It is important.”
“I’ll stick to the bottled water, then. Why do they call it ‘from Anywhere’? I mean, isn’t water everywhere?”
“Wow, I just… how do you say something like that with a straight face?” Olivia turned her head, and jammed a couple knuckles into Sofia’s ribs playfully. “How are you my daughter? Fine, I’ll explain. Once you’ve finished moving your ‘Mech over to the ‘Whisper’.” Sofia’s stride paused as she realized what had just been said, before the Commander continued speaking. “Yes, yes. The Warhammer’s yours, just remember to treat her right and keep her from getting too cool.” She snapped her fingers on the other hand. “And don’t let Kelly near her.”
Sofia lengthened her stride to catch up to her, and shook her head. “The ‘Mech’s a her now?”
“Always has been. Tradition, where I’m from. Regardless, since you’re staying on and I know I can trust you to behave?” The words caused a slight twitch along Sofia’s spine, reminding her of the bad decisions during combat. “I am going to trust you just a little bit further. We’re not done with Clan Jade Falcon.”
“What, the prisoners?”
“Our guests are off-limits.” The Commander voice was back again, even though her mother was smiling. “Once we get to Phalan, we’ll do exactly as I said and run through the three R’s.. Resupply, repair, and reorganize. And then we’ll start looking at contracts to be useful in keeping these invaders from having a leisurely stroll through the Federated Commonwealth.” Olivia jerked her head at the crowd. “Go have fun now, because once we get moving it’ll be in short supply.”
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