Freeport System

Aboard MCS Annapolis

2145, March 09th, 0800h

"Fuck, this water smells like recycled piss." Vlocke choked and sputtered spiting out water vehemently.

"Yeah," Chung laughed, "That's 'cause it is man."

"Yeah, well fuc' off," Vlocke scowled, "I didn't become a bloody hero to just bathe in people's piss!"

"For you Vlocke," Talea laughed from the other side of the room, "Bish personally pissed in yours."

"Oh yeah, really funny." Vlocke slapped an arm against his bicep and raised his fist in her direction.

"Don't worry hero, water's clean."

"I don't even want to think about it. Haven showers are havens. Just gonna let all your shit wash away mate." Vocke closed his eyes.

Chung grinned waited a few seconds and then said, "Still smells like piss though."

"Fuck you Chung, you little cocksucker!" Vlocke roared. Talea cackled in the background.


"Attention all personal. My name is James MacAllan." The Annapolis's hanger rang with the new General's voice. All the Pilots had been assembled into neat lines and column ranks. Besides MacAllan was Bish and Sarah, showing their complete support. Sarah was still reserved though, her arms and legs crossed but her being up there showed everyone she was playing ball.

"You have saved lives this day," MacAllan continued, "And we all in your debt. I'm gonna help return that debt and help you beat the IMC. Any small victory has been offset by the IMC's superior numbers. With daily reinforcements arriving from Demeter. I believe we can bring the fight to them."

Oh man, I should write this down. This is history! A Pilot next to Charlie blurted out and started looking through his uniform for a tablet to type it on.

"I believe we can change the balance of power on the Frontier! We're heading to Angel City to acquire an old compatriot of mine: Barker. Who believes as I do that the IMC's reign cannot last forever. Pilots, prepare to deploy. Let's get it done."

Sarah and Bish then started barking orders.

"All Pilots report to your designated hangers. All Squad Leaders will meet Bish in the briefing room for mission specifics and chalk designations." Sarah shouted.

"Alright crew, you heard General MacAllan return to your jump stations and prepare for warp in twenty." Bish announced via the loud speaker across the ship.

Hamish patted Charlie on the shoulder and moitioned his head toward's MacAllan. The two of them and Abigail got up and walked over to MacAllan who was finishing a talk with Sarah and Bish and few other Militia higher ups. When they reached him, he put a hand up to the Militia Captain he was talking to and smiled at them. The Captain saluted and walked off.

"You still got it old man." Hamish chuckled.

"Got you guys you come make trouble with me, didn't I?" His smile fell a little.

Hamish clasped MacAllan's shoulder, "Hey man, we'll get Graves for what he did. She didn't deserve to die that way. No one does."

"Thanks Hamish," MacAllan nodded, "But this is bigger than just us. If we want to pay back Graves, this is our best shot."

"Their capabilities are under what we anticipated back in the day." Abigail noted.

"Indeed," MacAllan agreed, "General Anderson led them well but the IMC have the whole Core Worlds backing them. Staying active as long as they did is impressive."

"Impressive or not Mac, how're we going to get them to Demeter?" Hamish asked.

"We're just gonna have to trust the Playbook."

Hamish gave a resigned sigh, "You still think that Barker's gonna wanna help?"

MacAllan chuckled, "Want to? No."

"The Seventh don't need to be a part of this. You're already heroes. You can sit this one out." Captain Venick addressed Talea. He was one of the oldest Pilots in service at around thirty four. His knees weren't what they used to be from the rampant stim use and the scars that pockmarked his face from poor surgery gave him the presence of an even older man.

Talea adjusted her helmet under arm, "We're going."

"Don't be an stuborn. Your team survived three back to back missions over three days. They team needs to rest."

"You care, how touching." Talea brushed him off. She tried to walk past him but he stepped in front of her.

"Listen. You've lost one of your own and another's in the hospital. Then you have that new guy who is practically off rails. So that just leaves you with two left and you can't deploy under strength."

"Watch me."

"Attention on deck!" A Militia Officer announced. Bish walked in followed by MacAllan. All the Titan Pilot sqaud leaders snapped to attention and saluted.

"At ease." MacAllan said with an informal tone. The Pilots relaxed and took a seat.

"Pilots, General MacAllan has a good indication of where our target is located." Bish said, "The primary mission goal is to locate Barker and extract him via the local sewers. While a diversionary team keeps the IMC busy up top."

"That's suicide!" Lieutenant Foyer from Phoenix squad spoke up, "You can't expect us to stand up to the whole IMC."

"Barker's intelligence is vital for our plan to succeed." MacAllan said.

"What makes him so vital?" Venick spoke, his chin resting on his hands as he leaned forward.

"He's been to a top secret facility that created the dog whistle towers that guard the airbases around Demeter." MacAllan replied.

"So he's a scientist?" Venick asked.

"Not quite," MacAllan shuffled, "Uh, Barker was the top IMC ship pilot that helped me compile the Playbook back when I worked with Graves."

"Wait a minute, we're working with Ex-IMC?" Foyer jumped up, "No way, that's bullshit!"

"Sit down Foyer." Talea rolled her eyes.

"What? Like I'm supposed to just forget all the horrible shit those people did to us?" Foyer shouted at her.

Talea grabbed him by the cuffs, lifted him off the floor and slammed him back down, "I said: Sit. Down." She released his cuffs and stood back up. Bish was already stepping over to settle everyone down.

"Alright alright, break it up." Bish yelled, "Is this how you want us to be seen? Arguing and fighting with each other, when now we have the best chance we've had in a long time to actually hurt the IMC? Well is it?" Bish stared Talea in the face with a hard stern look. He helped Foyer off the ground. Talea continued to look straight ahead, completely rigid. Foyer did too, though the back of his head was bleeding a little. Bish grunted, shook his head, and began to walk back up to MacAllan.

"Sir?" Talea blurted out.

Bish turned back around.

"Sir, The Seventh volunteer for the mission. Where ever you'll have us."

"Absolutely not." Captain Venick now took his turn to stand up, "Commander Cheung, the Seventh have been in combat missions straight through the last 72 hours. In addition to being the ones who helped bring aboard MacAllan. Whatever, Lieutenant Talea's crazy idea is, I must insist that they have a minimum rest period of 24 hours. They're heroes not cannon fodder, sir."

"I agree with Captain Venick. Lieutenant Talea, General MacAllan and I are grateful for what the Seventh did back on Planet Troy. What we need in this war are more heroes, not martyrs."

"Yes sir." Talea said flatly, while Captain Venick eyed her suspiciously.


"Hey top, what's with the urgency?" Grissom sat down at the table with the rest of the team in the cantina.

"Hey, grab a drink." Talea said.

"Uh, yeah sure. What's up?"

"We've been put on mandatory 24 hour leave."

"But you're not smiling." Chung shot her a sidelong glance.

"I'm going down to get Barker with the rest of them and the rest of you are welcome to come with me." She sat back smiling to herself.

"Ah, there it is." Chung chugged his drink.

"So, what's your plan?" Vlocke said bottle firmly in hand.

"We get aboard a dropship heading out, get to Angel City, and kill bad guys."

"Mmm, I like it. Simple, easy to remember." Vlocke took a swig.

"What's this about?" Chung leaned over.

"It's about," Talea drew herself up, "about being apart of the best chance we've had since Ares. A real chance to get back at the IMC."

"Yeah but our life expectancy is short. We've all survived several back to back missions, ma'am. I'm out." Chung said, "I want to see what the hero life is like. Just for a little."

"Grissom?" Talea asked.

"Ma'am, Bartusky is still in the med ward. If we all wipe out on a mission... I dunno, I can't do that. It ain't fair."

"You're with me?" Talea looked at Vlocke.

"Yeah, totally. Can I bring Eve?"

"Your shotgun? I would think so." Talea asked a little surprised.

"Yeah, and my wingman. Lucy?"

"Yeah..." Talea said quizically.

"Oh, and charlie."

"Who's charlie?" Chung scoffed, "Your data-knife?"

Vlocke looked at him hurt, "I don't name my data-knives, I'm not a psychopath! No, Charlie's that bloke from the colony. I bet ya, he'll be sentimental to our cause."

"That's a good idea." Talea agreed.

"Look you're both talking crazy, if you need me, I'm going to visit Bartuksy." Grissom stood up to leave.

"Yeah, I'll come with." Chung got up too and followed Grissom out.

Talea watched them both go and then turned her attention back to Vlocke. Vlocke was stroking his mutton chops thoughtfully.

"What?" Talea folded her arms.

"Oh, uh nothin', I was just thinking how I was going to get Zeke to come with us."

"We can't. Obviously. Sarah'll have that whole area under mission only drops. It'll just be us and our jump kits."

"I know. I just... I feel better having him around." Vlocke conceded.

"It's just a machine Vlocke. You can always get another."

Vlocke sighed and looked contemplative for a second, if that was even possible. Talea thought to herself. He perked up and got up from the table, "Right, well, I'm gonna gather mah gear."

"Right, see you soon." She watched Vlocke leave. Someone at the doorway to cantina stopped Vlocke and started chatting him up. Talea saw that Vlocke looked apprehensive. A few seconds later, Vlocke decided to just bump past the guy to get out. Talea saw the figure turn into the Cantina.

Venick.

The captain came over to her table almost immediately and sat down. She glared at Venick over the rim of her cup as he sat down. He chuckled dryly and folded his fingers together.

"I see your guys left. Surprised you're still here."

"I just leaving." She said putting the cup down.

"Oh were you?"

"What do you want Venick?" Talea asked giving him an impetuous look.

"You to stop whatever it is you're doing. It's crazy and you're going to get killed."

"I can handle it."

"What happened? You were always a conservative leader. What? Did you get a taste for blood now? The past three days weren't enough for you?"

Talea kept silent and just glared at him.

Venick sighed, "Look, I can guarantee that you won't make it down there."

"Is that right?"

"Yes. I've seen this before. Pilots get thrown back into the shit over and over and they can't live without the high. Broken bones, brain deficiencies, and a bunch of other things that'll crush your lifespan. You're heroes and given us a serious new contender better than Anderson ever was. Just rest on your laurels for one day."

"Three days ago," Talea looked down at her glass, "we were so low on fuel that we jumped right into an ambush hoping to come out on top. We did. Barely. One week before that, we raided an installation for ammo. One month ago, we attacked an IMC flotilla just so we could get another civvie ship. One year ago, we were raiding Ares to get our entire fleet!"

"What's your point?" Venick grunted.

"Every day, every life, every bullet matters. Anderson lost in the Titan Wars and look where that got him. MacAllan survived 15 years off the IMC's radar and we have the best chance now then we ever did. I'm not going to miss a second of what's happening now."

Venick leaned back and shook his head, "That's why we need you here. Soldiers like Foyer aren't going to just let bygones be bygones. They'll oppose MacAllan each chance they get. We need to be united on this. We need a hero to tell them what they need to hear."

"No, goddamn way." Talea snapped, rising out of her seat.

"Hey, now wait a minute!" Venick said hurriedly.

"I'm not putting up my kit. You or anyone else can go fuck themselves."

"No one's asking you to. Just on the ground, we need people to like this."

"If you want a hero so much, why don't you just elect Bish?"

"Sure, he's already a hero but sure what's another pat on the back? The Seventh is already respected. Your team on the ground pulled a win out of your ass and got the locals to work with you. Everyone else has had 48 hours to regroup and process since Operation Fracture. Your team has been on the front lines three times in three days. So sorry to say it but yeah, you get special privileges once in a while. My advice, take the goddamn 24 hours and be a fucking hero or spend the next 24 in the brig! But either way you're not leaving this ship.

Venick got up to leave and threw a couple credits on the table, "Here, get yourself drunk." With that he left the cantina for Talea to stew in. She waited for Venick to leave before she scooped up the credits and pocketed them. It was only twenty credits worth but if she score some more, it might be enough to bribe someone to look the other way. She wondered if Vlocke was getting as much shit as she was.


Vlocke's fist could feel the jaw bone snap out of place. He admited he enjoyed the sound. The poor Grunt twirled as spit flew from his mouth as he careened backwards. The landing sounded much nicer and Vlocke was sure the Grunt's nose must've broken. He shook his hand and winced a little.

"That 'urt more than I thought it would've." Vlocke chuckled to himself, "well mate, now i'm gonna take your uniform if you don't mind. Of course, you don't! Ya knocked out, yeah?"

The Grunt mumbled. Vlocke's eyes went wide with surprise.

"You what?"

The Grunt mumbled again.

"Yeah... I'm not getting any of that." Vlocke leaned in closer to the Grunt's broken jaw.

"Ayy... oo ou... kap... hedding... ma."

Vlocke looked thoughtfully at the Grunt whose nose was dripping blood onto the deck and sighed, "Yeah, I got none of that."

The Grunt groaned frustratedly as Vlocke hoisted him up and shoved him into a nearby closet. After trading a couple of the key garments with the Grunt, Vlocke squatted down and leveled with the hapless Grunt. The Grunt's jaw was getting puffy and swollen. Vlocke touched his own cheek and sucked his teeth, "I'm really sorry about that ya know. But you had one of those faces. You know, the one that looks like it really needs to be hit. Have you been hit before?"

"Ureh bow ou."

Vlocke nodded gently a half smile on his face, "Yeah, still not getting anything you're saying."

The Grunt groaned, "Ay ar ou... tuch... un... orsehol."

"Horse bowl?" Vlocke looked confused, " I think I hit cha too 'ard, hurt your brain mate."

"Orsehol! Orrsee. Holll."

"Well..." Vlocke snagged the id's off the Grunt, "Nowg- Nou- Newgton. Listen, Newgton."

"Es... Noughton."

Vlocke tittered, "No it's not, there's a 'g h' in it, you cheeky cunt. Noughton." Vlocke laughed out loud, "Nah, listen, Newgton-"

"Noughton!" The Grunt insisted through his broken jaw bone.

"Look, I'm just saying, you're the one with the broken jaw. Not me, mate."

The Grunt growled and then moaned in pain.

"Actually... that's a better ider." Vlocke grinned looking at the miserable Grunt.

"Oi," Vlocke whistled to a passing Grunt on the hanger, pushing Noughton in front of him.

"What is it trooper?" The hailing Grunt asked him.

"I found this Pilot, trying to sneak his way onto one of the Dropships."

"Ah, that must be the one Venick was after." The guard said.

"Yeah, Venick." Vlocke said, "He the old one with the uh..." Vlocke made vague hand motions around his face.

"Urm nahtt uh piewoht." Noughton said.

"Yeah, he's the one with the scars. Badass dude, that's for sure." The guard nodded to Noughton, "What's he trying to say?"

"Who knows," Vlocke said quickly, "I punched him as he turned around, been like that ever since."

"Well, we'll take it from here..." The guard looked down at the ID tags around Vlocke's neck, "Newgton."

"You're the first one to get that right." Vlocke laughed, "People always try to say Newton."

"Looks just like it spells." The guard chuckled proudly. Noughton glared at Vlocke, who grinned broadly at him in return.

"Well, I gotta catch my ride. Later fellas." Vlocke waved and turned around to look for a dropship with Charlie attached.

The hanger bay was full of activity. But Vlocke imagined that if MacAllan was going to be anywhere, Charlie was going to be close behind. So MacAllan then should be where things were thickest. Vlocke made his way through the crowds and the fuss keeping an eye out for the gorilla of a man.

The civies stood out easy amongst the crowd. The Militia was already a patchwork of all walks of life but the guys they picked up on Troy. They looked like ragged shit in comparison. Their silver uniforms were dull and patchy, most looked like it came straight from the '20s. Which it most likely did. As Vlocke got nearer he could pick up snippets of conversation.

...He's not dead Hamish.

Charlie...

He's not. I know he's not. He was with Al. They're alive. We have to go back.

Even if he's not Charlie, we can't go back. You know that.

"That's bullshit!" Charlie roared, "That's my son, Hamish!" Vlocke was close enough now that he could hear them normally. Though everyone had stopped and stared at Charlie and Hamish.

Hamish playfully punched Charlie in the shoulder, "Come on big man, hold it together."

Charlie's face had turned beet red, "I'm- I'm sorry Hamish. He's my son. His ma and I, we don't-" Hamish took a deep breath, "He's a good boy, he doesn't deserve that kind of fate."

"I know man." Hamish comforted his friend, "Al will know what to do."

The big man wheezed and his face became puffy, "You don't think he'll..."

Hamish just shook his head, "Come on man, you gotta put your mind at ease about this."

"It's my son!" Charlie yelled.

"'Ey mates," Vlocke interrupted, "This the dropship headed planet side?"

"Who's asking?" Charlie turned his chin up.

"What? Me, mate. I was one of the pilots with you guys on Troy."

"I thought you were all put on 24 leave." Hamish folded his arms.

"Yeah," Vlocke acknowledged, "But fuck all that. The fights down there and you're going into the thick of it."

"You sure about that Pilot? You so sure you want to go back down on the sod?"

"Damn right."

"Well fuck it, I say." Charlie thumped his chest, "if he wants to go down to hell with us. Why not take him?"

"It's not up to me really," Hamish protested, "MacAllan has to green light it. And where we're going there isn't gonna be much use for a pilot."

"Huh, why's that?" Vlocke asked.


The Harbor District was one of the first places locked down by the IMC on their return to frontier. It was a dense urban sprawl and from the docks you could see glittering skyline reflect the light from the other buildings. Vlocke had never seen anything quite like it before. The largest building he'd ever seen was the skyport back home and that was from miles away. Seeing the building stretch up before him gave him a small irk of dizziness.

MacAllan hardly seemed to notice. Vlocke didn't know how he'd know that his old friend Barker was here but he was unshakably confident. MacAllan, Hamish, Abigail, and Charlie with Vlocke bringing up the rear, headed towards a strip of shops.

"He's in there." MacAllan nodded towards the bar near the end.

Hamish chuckled, "Well his tastes haven't changed much."

MacAllan grinned, "The best liquor in the shittiest place." He turned around back to the group, "Back when Barker and I finished our tour in the Titan Wars, Angel City was still a city. Now its become so locked down that it's basically a prison for forty thousand people." MacAllan started walking towards the bar again, "And all we have to do is breakout a single, probably very drunk, and probably very angry man."

"Oh so easy then." Vlocke mumbled under his breath.

"Fox One, this is Macaw Actual," MacAllan spoke into his wristcom. On the way down planetside, Hamish had explained that the Militia using code words similar to the IMC was allowing them to break their communications easier. By switching to Animals, MacAllan reasoned it would bestow a sense of identity in the Militia and distance themselves from using the outdated IMC phonetic alphabet.

"This is Fox One, go ahead." The radio crackled back.

"We're entering the Den. When Black Bear is secured start the party."

"Understood, Fox One on standby."

"Okay," MacAllan said, "Let's go find Barker."

The outside of the bar advertised holo-companions with the image of a woman's torso slinging a gun behind her. The bar was thick with pink halogen lights and wide open on the other side. It was sparely crowded, with a couple of patrons nursing drinks with glib expressions. As soon as MacAllan entered the bar, the crowd began whispering and some got up to leave. The bartender, a thick set korean man with auburn hair and an excellent handlebar mustache named Nicholas, set the drink he was cleaning down on the counter and eyed MacAllan warily.

"We don't serve your kind here."

"Don't worry, we wont stay long." MacAllan drawled, "Where is he?"

The bartender simply nodded up the stairs, "He said you'd come ya know."

"Oh yeah?"

"He wanted me to tell you something when you did." Nicholas leveled with MacAllan.

MacAllan grinned, "Let's hear it."

"He was on his ninth drink when he said it but he swore me to tell you: 'I'm through with the Frontier and that son of a bitch MacAllan."

MacAllan turned back to rest of the group with a knowing look, "Yep, that's Taube. Thanks we'll be on our way." He said to the bartender.

"Macaw, to Fox One, en route to Black Bear, copy?"

"Roger that Macaw. Putting Eagles on the table."

The group went up a flight of stairs to another room that was immersed in pink light. There was a single bed with a man in civilian grays. The room was a mess of sheets, bottles, drugs, and old boxes of take out. The dock next to the bedside was playing music that Vlocke was positive wasn't from this century. MacAllan looked about the room and motioned for Charlie and Hamish to pick up Barker from the bed.

"Abigail look for something to splash water on him with."

The intelligence office searched the bathroom and came back with a cup filled with water. Barker was draped over the shoulders of Charlie and Hamish sagging awkwardly. Vlocke peeked over his shoulder from the doorway keeping a look out for IMC and other dangers.

"Hey, what?" Barker said half-awake. MacAllan nodded for Abigail to splash him with the water. "Aghh, hey! Hey what is this? What're you doin'?"

"Time to get up, Barker." MacAllan prodded him.

Barker groaned, "I'm up... you son of a bitch."

Abigail splashed him again.

"Hey, hey! What was that for?"

Abigail grinned sheepishly, "That was for the smell."

Barker rolled his eyes. Hamish sniffed a bit, "Yeah, he's a bit ripe ain't he?"

"Well, he'll blend in where we're going. Let's get him moving." MacAllan said.

"Wait! I ain't goin' no son of a bitch, I ain't goin' no where!" Barker tried to protest but was unable to break free.

They moved down the stairs, Vlocke covering the wide open side of the bar as MacAllan and the rest walked out the back and towards the sewer entrance. There to greet them was a squad of Militia troops and three Titans. The closest Atlas Titan opened it's cockpit and the Pilot stood up and saluted.

"General MacAllan, Captain Hainey of the SRS. It's an honor, sir."

"The pleasure's all mine, Captain. Does your squad understand what we're asking of them?"

"Yes, sir! We'll cover your escape with Barker and make those IMC bastards pay for every inch!"

"God speed, Pilot." MacAllan saluted. Hainey shut his hatch and began ordering his Pilots to take positions. MacAllan and a Grunt unlatched the sewer entrance, "Captain, can you give me a hand?"

"Aye." Hainey gently plucked up Barker from between Hamish and Charlie. Barker tried to swat the Titan's arm to break free.

"I'm through with the Frontier! Ya hear me MacAllan? I'm through!"

"Damn this guy smells," The Grunt covered the breath part of his mask, "you know him or something?"

"Yeah," MacAllan grunted as the sewer grate handle lurched, "Barker was my... wingman in the Titan Wars." MacAllan heaved the grate open allowing Hamish and Charlie swung down the ladder.

Barker glared at the Militia troops watching him as Hainey slowly dipped him into the opening, "I'm gonna kick ALL your asses! Hey what do you think you're doing?"

MacAllan chuckled, "He may not look like much , but trust me, we're gonna need him, he's a helluva pilot."

Barker was still complaining below them, "Frontier Whiskey? You can't drink that piss! Hey, Lemme go!" Hamish and Charlie had seized him as MacAllan, Abigail, and Vlocke climbed down to join them.

"Ok, let's move people! Let's buy them some time!" Captain Hainey ordered as the grate shut with a loud clang.


Talea was relaxing on the brig's cot as best she could. Her legs were crossed with her foot wiggling back and forth to the song playing in her head. She had her hands under head resting against bare cushion. Talea had a small grin on her face.

"So that's what a hero looks like?" Venick dryly commented.

Talea ignored him.

"Just so you know," He continued, "Your Pilot got planetside. With MacAllan of all people."

Talea grinned.

"It's not something to be proud of. We're really onto something here. Now more than ever, we need to be on the same front. This maybe our best chance to really bring about freedom on the Frontier. But no, you'd rather be in the thick of it, micromanaging."

"I have Ryn."

"You want her for command one day don't you?"

Talea opened one eye and then shut it.

"Ha. I thought so." Venick pulled up a stole and sat on it. He pulled out his data-knife and a polishing cloth and began to clean his knife with care. "You still clean your weapons before battle?"

"Every drop and after."

"Good. You still remember something I taught you."

"Give yourself some credit." Talea replied.

"I would... if I knew what the hell had gotten into you." Venick examined his work before going back to polishing his knife.

"You gonna sit out there all night?"

"No, I was just gonna keep the seat warm for the next guy who's gonna sit here all night."

Talea scoffed.

"But Bartusky's good. A little green but these last few months have been especially difficult. Hard to find experienced Pilots these days."

"Look, why don't you skip straight to the lecture, huh? Save us all... a little trouble."

Venick grinned to himself as he sheathed the knife, "Alright, fine. Here's the question: Between the combat, adrenaline, stims, piss and bloodshed, do you still remember how to a step back?"

Talea scoffed again, "Of course."

"Oh? Name it."

Talea breathed in and exhaled, "I brought Frisko and Vlocke aboard as acceptable casualties. Chung is an excellent sniper, Bartusky shows promise at command, and Grissom he's clever. Really good at rigging that one."

"Do you remember what I told you about Old World knights?"

"The guys on horse back?"

"Hah, you do remember. Yes, exactly. Back in the ancient era, Knights would train their squires in the way of combat. Much the same we train our Pilots nowadays. We don't have the luxury of massive training grounds like the IMC."

"I see."

"So, if you get yourself killed, who's going to pass on that knowledge. We all want to fight and kill the IMC but you'e in a unique position now, yes as a hero, means your valuable to our efforts here."

"I'm not putting up my jump kit."

"And as I said at the cantina, I'm not asking you!" Venick got up and gripped the bars of the brig, "Talea, in all honesty, you would have to give up the Seventh and do lower-risk ops but you would still see combat."

"You want me to do this now?" Talea sat up on the cot, "When this is the best shot we've had since Ares?"

"Take a step back and think. Will four Pilots resting for 24 hours, really change the outcome of the war? I hardly think so. And if it did? Well, I think we already lost then." Venick let go of the bars and picked up the stool, "MacAllan's a long shot but if he fails. Concord and Harmony might as well be lost too. Think on that. We need you here, training Grunts in the Pods, putting Titan's through their paces, honing Pilot's skills. And if Bartusky's injury makes her lame and she can't jump anymore, you can keep the Seventh. But otherwise, I want you in the rear." Venick put the stool back against the wall; Talea listened to his footsteps echo on the metal grating as he left.


The holo-board was awash with blue and orange icons. Sarah watched each zone of the harbor district with rapt interest. It wasn't the grand uprising she had hoped for. Leaks of the Colony Massacre had reached this far out in the Freeport System but the IMC had done their best to suppress it. Kodai had held up their end of the bargain handsomely with weapon caches being hidden all over Angel City. Using the uprising as a smoke screen to hide their extraction of Barker had been MacAllan's hope. Sarah had half-hoped herself, that seeing the green of the Militia openly fighting in the streets would be enough to ignite more of an upheaval. However, the IMC already had the city firmly districted and walled off that it was hard to get news to the next cell.

"Ma'am," An attendant interrupted Sarah's thoughts, "Projections show us at 89% on the ground all nearby IMC garrisons are moving to intercept."

Sarah focused in on MacAllan's position in relation to the battle. They were moving at a steady pace almost outside the district. "Bish, I'm tracking MacAllan's team in the sewers. They're doing OK so far. Our topside diversion is definitely working."

"Copy that. Keep your fingers crossed..." Bish replied.


"S-soo what happened to you, Mac?" Barker hiccuped and swayed.

"Me, Barker?" MacAllan said coldly.

"H-hey, what's with the tone? Come on, man! After we split ways, you's and Graves were at each other. Ha ha ha uhh... drink?" He looked around the group looking for anyone with a flask. Hamish and Charlie both shook their heads. Barker groaned.

"He gave me the ship, Barker."

Barker's eyes almost blew out of his skull, "He did what!?"

Abigail gripped Barker's mouth tightly, "Shh." She whispered in his ear, shaking her head slowly and deliberately.

"That's right, Barker." MacAllan stopped walking and turned around to face Barker, "Right out in IMC free-space past the Denver system."

"But how? What'd'ya do?"

"He said he could change the IMC from the inside but I didn't think it was possible. So I forced him off the ship. These folks around around you here, let's just say, asked him to leave nicely."

"Well that's incredible! And Claire?" Barker asked.

MacAllan's face pulled tight, "Claires's gone Barker. Graves' men killed her when they attacked our Colony."

"That sonuvabitch!"

Abigail grabbed Barker harder by the mouth this time, "Quiet. Or I'll gag you."

"Yeah yeah, I get it." Barker wiped his mouth with the side of his hand, "So that's why you're with the Militia."

"Yeah Barker. That's why. And I'm gonna help them take down the IMC."

Barker laughed, "Mac, you're insane."

"I don't think so Barker. We're using the Playbook."

"What the hell-ez-at?" Barker slumped again.

"Quiet." MacAllan threw himself against the side of the sewer behind an obstruction. The rest followed suit. Vlocke pulled up his shotgun aiming towards the junction in front of them. It was all quiet but the sound of running sewage water. After a moment, a light hum became audible and slowly it built into a whine.

Slowly the dark tunnel began to fill with a soft blue glow and a drone rolled into view. Vlocke quickly snapped back behind the metal support to hide from view. He could hear the drone hum as it hovered in place scanning the tunnel for signs of life. Vlocke thought his breath was too loud and he tried to stop it. Time seemed to stretch on forever. He was getting antsy and wanted desperately to shoot the damn thing.

It moved forward a bit and begun to scan side to side. The high pitched whirs of the fans seemed to whine anxiously as if the drone itself knew it was on the brink of some discovery. Vlocke tightened his fingers around the pistol grip of the Eva-8 shotgun. He could feel his fingers sweat under his gloves. Was it stim withdrawal or actual fear? He actually wasn't so sure anymore if there was a difference.

Suddenly, the drone peeled away in a hurry and the ground shook and rumbled. The team stood up curious as to what was going on above them. Barker suddenly looked very worried.

"What the hell's gotten into you, man?" Hamish asked.

"Ah shit. Wait! We have to go back. I left my shotty at the bar. I ain't leaving town with out it!" Barker begged.

Hamish grinned, "Like we'd give you a gun. Look at you you're nuts."

Vlocke came up to Barker and handed him Eve, "I want her back." Vlocke twirled out Lucy, his wingman sidearm, and kept on moving.

Hamish looked on after Vlocke and shook his head, "I hope you didn't give him any bullets."

"Sarah, this MacAllan, give me a sitrep, over." MacAllan radioed.

"We're doing good. We have almost full control over the harbor district and riots have erupted in the housing blocks and in the market district. But they won't hold out for long, the IMC are bound to come in force sooner or later."

"We'll try to be long gone before then. MacAllan out."

"A lot of people are going to get hurt for this Mac." Charlie said somberly.

"I know, Charlie. In the end, this will be worth it. Trust me."

"I do, Mac." Charlie replied.

"Alright then, let's get Barker out of here."


"Understood Captain," Sarah spoke into her headset, "Dig in around the harbor district. We still need to buy MacAllan more time."

"Ma'am," an adjutant handed her a datapad with a readout on it.

"Get that over to Bish to clean it up." Sarah handed the datapad back.

"Yes, Ma'am." The adjutant replied.

"Bish?" Sarah asked over the radio.

"Go ahead, Sarah." He replied.

"Bish, I'm picking up a massive incoming jump signature directly above the city. I don't know what it is, but it's... big... and whoa, heads up!"

"Oh great. An IMC carrier just jumped in. Mac, you better get Barker outta there quick! Mac? Mac! Sarah I can't reach MacAllan."

"I'm still reading life signs. Maybe they went radio silent? Keep trying."

"Will do. He better still be alive or we're QSF."


Heyyy... a month isn't bad time at all to put one of these out. Part B will pick up where this part left off, so keep an eye out for it. My beta noticed that there's an issue with the transition from processor to posting. I went through and cleaned this one up. So sorry ebing lazy and not checking over the stories as they post. ^^' And as usual, I hope you guys are enjoying the story and I love hearing from you.