The Journal of Michael Bekker
by Ulquiorra9000
Entry 315: March 12, 3050
At last, journal, the Bear has sunk its claws into the flesh of the Inner Sphere!
Into the flesh of a few worlds, at least. I am reluctant to admit this, journal, but in our eagerness for conquest, we of Clan Ghost Bear weighed down the initial bidding with stubborn pride and honor. You see, the world of Thule in the Free Rasalhague Republic lay before us, and my Clan's commanders all wanted the honor of taking the first planet.
Let me say that a compromise was finally arranged: saKhan DelVillar allowed a force from each Galaxy to combine into one Cluster to assault the world. A fine idea, and personally, I am relieved that the bull-headed commanders were sated. I am sure that the bidding would have dragged on even further, putting us dangerously far behind on schedule.
I am not usually one to speak poorly of the chain of command. But I should mention that Clans Wolf and Smoke Jaguar are racing ahead while we Bears lumber our way into Inner Sphere space. Khan Kerensky is cutting deep into the Free Rasalhague Republic, and the Jaguars are making incredible progress into an old Star League state called the Draconis Combine. They took many worlds. Clan Ghost Bear has only taken four, and I have heard that only one more will be assaulted in this wave.
My own unit has not even seen action yet. The 32nd Assault Cluster sits impatiently in the Bear's Den, far removed from our 'Mechs. It is like an itch that we cannot yet scratch! Star Colonel Ivan DelVillar told us in that quiet voice of his that he will bid aggressively to find a place in the second or third invasion wave, and by the blood of the Founders, I hope it is so! Being a spectator to this awe-inspiring invasion does not sit well with me.
Nor does it with Star Captain Dean Tseng, my own Trinary's commander. Have I described him before, journal? Perhaps once or twice. WIth his large, beast-like frame, his long fingernails filed into claws, and his attitude, he is a true Bear both face-to-face and on the battlefield. I cannot imagine how he fits into his Warhawk; perhaps with a great deal of squeezing, praying, and cursing! That is a common joke in the 32nd.
I am fortunate that the Star Captain has not yet heard it with those keen ears of his.
Ursina, meanwhile, agrees with Star Commander Quentin that patience is key here. Quentin never said as much aloud, but he definitely scorns the anger and pent-up bloodlust that Star Captain Tseng, Candace, and Thonn have been showing. "The ghost bears of the wild lie in wait in the snowdrifts, and there they remain until the prey is close," Quentin reminded us. "Does it thrash about like the ice hellion, quineg?"
Neg, as I had told him. I know the dangers of haste. But Candace's lovemaking has taken on an aggressive and reckless edge, and her fingernails and teeth have cut me a few times. In the throes of passion, I had hardly noticed. But I was not happy to find them later.
Candace needs an outlet, and soon. I will not keep paying the price for her animal urges!
That is all for today, journal. In the next few weeks, I will give you reports of what is happening elsewhere. Until the day I finally meet the Inner Sphere warriors on the field. May it come soon.
Entry 316: May 17, 3050
I realize that this makes for two entries in one week, journal. That is immaterial. Tragedy has befallen us. It is with a heavy heart that I recount these nightmarish events.
Allow me to explain that the captured FRR worlds have been troubling the garrison forces with open rebellion. These Rasalhague animals, they dare to raise their hand against us after proper defeat?! This is putting our invasion even further behind, while the stravag Wolf Clan races ahead to Terra. I will save that subject for another time.
The Bear's Den jumped today to put down armed resistance on the FRR world of Damian. Upon arrival, an asteroid, probably a large one, collided with the ship. An asteroid strike, of all freebirth things that could have happened! Our comm systems were knocked out, though I presume that the other two Galaxies will send a search party to find us.
The worst damage was the loss of an entire DropShip, and the entire Cluster inside it. We of the 32nd Assault Cluster openly mourned and wailed at the ghastly news once Star Colonel DelVillar told us. His quiet voice shook with anger and shock, and not even Star Captain Tseng could find some way to blame the Inner Sphere barbarians for this. He only stood in mute silence. I can remember that look on his face, the way he went still. I am certain that his pent-up rage will explode on the battlefield once that bear is unleashed.
Out of respect for the fallen Cluster, I will not dive too deeply into the details and showcase their loss. Rather, I will certainly join my fellows in the mourning traditions once we make planetfall on Damain and put down the civilian resistance. Both Khans have agreed to hold the mourning ceremonies.
Star Commander Quentin retreated to his bunk soon after this, swathing himself in his bunk's sheets and obsessively reviewing the Battle ROMs from the first wave's battles. To some, the sight may seem comical, but it did not to me. I am sure that this is his way of coping. He did not speak to me when I quoted a The Remembrance passage that felt appropriate to this situation, nor did he respond when Candace offered a sparring session to clear his mind.
Like Star Captain Tseng, I am sure that Star Commander Quentin will be fully ready once we meet our enemies in battle.
So will I.
Entry 325: June 24, 3050
The Founders' graces are not with Clan Ghost Bear here in the Free Rasalhague Republic.
Yesterday, the invasion force pressed onwards and launched an assault on the FRR world of Last Frontier. Once again, my Cluster failed to find a place in the invasion force; despite Star Colonel Ivan DelVillar's eagerness to bring my unit into glorious battle, he was narrowly outbid, and Candace, Thonn, and I spent quite some time burning off our frustrated energy in Circles of Equals. Ursina joined us, and in a stunning move, subdued Candace in one particular bout.
I apologize. Remaining so close to my Starmates for so long makes me slow to remember the grand scheme of this invasion. I shall explain our newest tragedy: saKhan DelVillar was killed in action on Last Frontier.
I did not think it possible for our elegant and wise saKhan to fall like that. By what I heard, a lucky shot slew her. A lucky shot! On our saKhan! Does the Inner Sphere think to mock us? How many more losses must our Clan endure? Just how many?
I cannot linger on SaKhan DelVillar's death any longer, or I shall lose my mind with fury. Rather, my Clan's politics experienced a shift in the wake of that tragedy. Khan Bourjon has been the target of criticism for our Clan's meager supplies, and after a Clan council meeting, Oathmaster Aletha Kabrinski was elected our new saKhan and she channeled our Clan's frustration against Khan Bourjon. I always admired our Oathmaster, and I actually cheered with my fellows once we received the news that saKhan Kabrinski had challenged Khan Bourjon's capacity as our leader.
At last! Proper change is being effected in our invasion force. Make no mistake, journal; as you can tell from the many entries I have written in you, I prefer a slower and more deliberate approach to problems. Quick, jarring disruptions are best left for the Ice Hellions and Smoke Jaguars. But these are trying times! I would never speak out against my leaders, but my Starmates and I have, in privacy, bemoaned Khan Bourjon's leadership. Quentin, too, had weighed in, giving a tactical view of our Khan with his trademark efficiency. Even his flat, subdued tone conveyed his shared frustration at our Khan.
In short, journal, saKhan Kabrinski's attack on Khan Bourjon in the Council worked wonderfully. Khan Bourjon's retaliatory vote of no confidence utterly failed, and he was similarly defeated in single combat against Star Colonel Bjorn Jorgensson's Omnifighter on Last Frontier. Interesting, indeed, how the world where all this started is also where it ended. I mourn saKhan DelVillar's death on that accursed planet, but there, we received our new Khan Jorgensson.
Bourjon is not dead, I should mention. He is still a capable warrior, but only that.
I chuckled to myself just now as I reviewed this entry, sitting on the edge of my bunk while Thonn and Candace are daydreaming aloud about the upcoming battles and Ursina eagerly listens in. In just a few paragraphs, I summed up our Clan's worst loss and greatest victory. It hardly seems possible, but such is the power of words. Perhaps it is the adrenaline in my system that makes me so excited right now?
I, too, am anxious for the invasion to resume. The third wave has, in general, been a disappointment, especially compared to Clan Wolf's astonishing progress toward Terra. By the Founders, the fourth wave must be a success, or Clan Ghost Bear may be laughed out of the Inner Sphere entirely. I shudder to even write those words! But you, journal, are a place of honesty. It is nothing like the smokescreens, feints, and ulterior motives that no doubt run rampant in my Clan's council or the Grand Council.
If you can believe it, journal, Star Commander Quentin just approached me and challenged me to a Circle of Equals. How rare! As I type this, he is standing above me, waiting for my answer. Apparently, he wants to test my readiness and ensure that I am not feeling reckless or sloppy due to euphoria caused by Khan Jorgensson and saKhan Kabrinski's promotions.
Journal, can you guess what my answer is going to be?
