1/1 Dragoons Wild Horses: Redemption Side-Story
Disclaimer: I do not own the things that I write here. Well at least not most of them. There are a couple of things that I do, but it was mostly thought up during times of massive tiredness. That which I don't own, I pay homage to those that do, and give them great respect and honor for the great works that they have done.
Author's Notes: Well this is a side story. I'm sure some of you have been asking what about Kodachi in your minds a little. Even if you haven't, it's been burning in my mind for a little, so I thought that I'd let ya'll know what has happened to her.
Wolfman: No the Clans still hit the Successor States in 3050, but remember, as I stated in the prologue, the Star Kingdom is in a different area spatially compared to the Inner Sphere. While the Clans are Galactic North East of the Inner Sphere, the Star Kingdom is Galactic North West. So looking at it that way, it is indeed possible for them to be attacked by the Clans well before the Inner Sphere is.
Side Story One: Trial, Awakening, Betrayal, Sentence
Part One
Place:
3rd Battlemech Division Headquarters, Fort Lorwood, Planet Manticore
Date:
Tuesday 26th Day, 6th Month, 3045 TY
Time:
0900 Hours Local
Things were quiet at the Division Headquarters of the 3rd Battlemech Division. Since their return from Mersedas it had been that way. Most of the members of the division thought that they could have fought off the invaders that had come. Others still were counting their blessings for still being alive.
One such person was the aide to the division executive officer, Captain Kodachi Kuno. Not only was she glad to be alive, but she was also happy that the one person she hated was going to get his soon if she wasn't mistaken. Ever since their teenage years she had hated Ranma Saotome. First for dismissing her as a suitor, then for his fast track up the rank ladder. She was from a much better family than his, after all she was noble born, and she hadn't advanced beyond captain in her twenty years of service.
As she sat there grumbling darkly about how unfair the world was the door to her office opened up and four men came in. Two of them were tall, dark and handsome, and dressed in sharp black suits, and were she in a better mood, would be very tempted to trying them out, the other two were obviously military police, and armed ones at that. The two suited men walked up to her desk and looked down at her.
"What can I help you gentlemen with?" She asked politely, yet a bit snobbishly.
"Captain Kodachi Kuno?" The one on the right asked her, as their gaze seemed to bore holes into her.
She looked down at her desk, where her name was there in a display board, and then to her uniform where it was printed there, before she snorted at the obviously slow witted men. "Yes I am she."
The men's expressions didn't change in the slightest, though if one looked carefully a small tick could be seen beside the eyes of the left hand man. "Captain you are under arrest." The right hand man said.
Kodachi shot up in shock as she stared at them, not believing what they had told her. "What!? Impossible!! Under what charges?" She demanded with all the haughtiness of her birth.
"Falsifying government records, lying to a superior officer, slander with the intent to ruin a fellow officer's career and two counts of attempted murder." Was the response given.
"Are you going to come quietly Ma'am or are we going to have to restrain you?" The left one asked in a snarl, giving no illusion that he wanted her to resist them.
Kodachi gave him a glare that would have killed lesser men, but nodded. "I will come peacefully, but I protest these charges. They are false and my father will not allow this travesty to go any further than this." She told them coldly.
The two MPs came up and cuffed her before they started to walk out of the office. As they came to the door, the one on the left spoke up. "Oh before you go Kodachi, I have a message for you from the Colonel, 'Nice try you loon, but you won't escape this time.'" He told her with a vicious smirk.
As the MPs continued to carry the now thrashing captain out, the two men smiled in satisfaction as she screamed bloody murder the whole way.
"That was a cruel thing to say Mark, especially when you know the Colonel never gave any kind of message, he doesn't even know this is happening." The one on the right said.
"Yeah I know Steve, but I hate what she's done to our buddy, so I figured I'd yank her chain a little before she left." Mark responded.
Location
Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 1st BattleMech Regiment
Fort Victory, Planet Manticore
Date: Wednesday 27th Day, 6th Month, 3045 TY
Time: 1000 Hours Local
Tatewaki Kuno, scion of the Kuno Family, a minor noble family with more power and wealth than most thought that any of them should have. Also a mere captain in the Royal Army. Once he was a Lieutenant Colonel, until he had pushed his obsession with pretty young women too far, and paid the price for it. Now, instead of being the proud mechwarrior and battalion commander that he should be, he was relegated to being the S1 Officer In Charge of the 2nd Battalion, 1st BattleMech Regiment.
Not five minutes before he had received a call from his father. The man had ordered him to support him in the defense of his twisted sister in her upcoming court martial. He had been told to make it look like his sister was the victim of circumstance and misunderstanding, and to put Ranma Saotome in as bad a light as he possibly could. Had his father ordered this five years ago, he would have gladly followed those orders, but now he wasn't so pleased to receive them. Much had changed in him over the last five years. Most of it had happened because of the young Saotome.
As he sat calmly at his desk, he thought back to two incidents over the last five years that had completely changed his outlook in life. The latest was his demotion from Lieutenant Colonel to Captain, something that he thought would never happen. All because he couldn't keep his mouth shut and his manhood in his pants around pretty women. He cursed himself for his inability to do what he now realized was the honorable thing to do. He should have followed the example shown to him four and a half years ago, or even realized it far sooner when he had first gotten to know the one who had taught him that lesson four and a half years ago.
The other incident that happened four and a half years ago was during a training exercise on Mersedas. He had been a Major at the time and was a battalion executive officer. He had boasted in one of the local establishments that his battalion could defeat any two battalions of the 3rd BattleMech Division, whom they were fighting against in this training exercise. Of course he had had a few drinks before saying that, and certain members of said Division had taken offense to his words as well. But what surprised him was when a man about his age walked up and stared him down. Oh how he clearly remembered the words that were spoken to him that day.
"My Squadron will wipe you off the face of Mersedas Kuno." Was what he had been told.
At the time, he had been greatly offended and responded in anger, especially after he recognized the man as he old arch-enemy, Ranma Saotome.
What had followed during their month long training on that planet had been one humiliating defeat after another, and always at the hands of the 9th Squadron. On top of that, Kuno himself had been killed each and every engagement by the young Saotome, no matter what he had done differently, Saotome always was there to kill him. It had been an eye opener for the young noble. After all the training was done, he had run into his old enemy one more time, also in a bar. The words that Ranma had said to him had stayed in his mind like none had before, not even the works of the Great Writer himself.
"Your battalion fought well Kuno. Next time don't brag in another man's territory quite so loudly. Be happy, your division commander was quite pleased with how the exercise went. He was afraid that my unit would tie up a lot more of his people, but you unwittingly caused us to concentrate ourselves and ended up saving the division a lot of pain and suffering. I suggest being a bit more thoughtful and think ahead as to what you are doing." Ranma said to him as he clapped him on the shoulder. "I look forward to facing you again, or maybe fighting beside you. You're a tough opponent on the battlefield Tatewaki."
After he had said that, Ranma left the bar, leaving him to his thoughts. Now five years later Kuno sat in his office and thought about what he should do. He knew what his father had ordered him to do, but he just couldn't bring himself to follow through with it. If he was going to go against the general though, he'd need allies. Powerful ones at that, and if the latest rumors were true, then Ranma Saotome had been not only elevated, but given a very prestigious posting.
His mind made up, Kuno stood from his desk and walked into the main area of the S-1 office. He looked around, and saw one of the clerks, a young female private, sitting at her desk typing away. He walked up to her desk and gently cleared his throat.
"Excuse me Private Rawls." He said gently.
The young woman paused in her work to look up cautiously at him. She had heard the rumors about him, and was wary of what the Captain wanted from her. "Yes Sir?" She asked softly.
"I must step out of the office. There is some paperwork that I must take over to Fort McWilliams as soon as possible. I fear that I may not be back today, could you please let Sergeant Smithers know that I have left?" He asked politely.
The young woman smiled softly at him, happy to see that the rumors were wrong about him. "I can do that for you Sir." She said cheerfully.
Kuno bowed slightly to her. "Thank you." He said before he left the office to get into his vehicle.
Location
Headquarters
1st Battalion, 1st Dragoon Regiment
Fort McWilliams, Planet Manticore
Date: Wednesday 27th Day, 6th Month, 3045 TY
Time: 1330 Hours Local
Kuno pulled his ground car into one of the parking spots available in front of the building. It had taken a few hours for him to get here, but he desperately needed to talk to someone inside this building. He slowly got out of his car and locked the door before heading inside.
As he entered he saw that the Staff Duty desk was properly manned. As he approached, the young woman who was sitting behind the desk looked up at him.
"Welcome to Wild Horse Headquarters Captain, how can I help you today?" She asked cheerfully.
Kuno smiled at the cheerfulness and professionalism. "Is the colonel in right now Sergeant?" He asked politely.
"Yes he is Sir. Just give me a second and I'll get you an escort." She said respectfully as she picked up a phone and dialed a quick number. "Hey there Michelle, I've got a Captain here requesting to see the Boss. Uhhuh, sure, all right, see you soon. One of the Colonel's personal guards will be here in a second to escort you Sir." She told Kuno.
"Thank you Sergeant." He said simply as he waited.
When Michelle walked in, she walked up to Kuno and looked him up and down. "I'm here to escort you to our Colonel Sir." She said shortly, yet respectfully.
"Thank you Sergeant. Please lead on." Kuno responded.
As they started to walk, Michelle kept an eye on him. "Sir, what is the reason that you wish to speak to our Colonel?" She asked, trying to find out why this man wanted to see her boss.
"I've come seeking advice, and hopefully assistance in dealing with an issue that has come up recently." He told her.
"What kind of situation has come up that you would require the assistance of a knighted Lieutenant Colonel?" She asked, very curious about this whole thing.
"I would rather not say at this time, except that it has put me in a very difficult position. Your commander is one of the most Honorable of men that I know of, and I'm sure that he will be able to assist me in getting out of this quandary." Kuno answered.
"Most likely he can. Our Colonel is a very resourceful man, and I've never seen him turn down someone who was in need of help." Michelle commented back as they came to a stop before a heavily sealed door with an intercom next to it. Michelle walked up to the intercom and pressed the button next to it.
"Sir, a Captain Tatewaki Kuno is here to see you, he says its very important." Michelle said.
"I see, please bring him in Michelle." Ranma replied.
"Of course Sir." She responded as they both heard the door buzz before she reached over and opened it, allowing the two entry into Ranma's office.
As they entered the office, Kuno looked around and noted the sparse, plain, yet comfortable furnishings. To him, if he had been a knight and lieutenant colonel, his office would reflect as such. But then he remembered whose office this was, and knew that this man preferred much simpler things, and wasn't one for ostentatious things and the usual trappings of wealth and power. When he looked at Ranma, he noted that nothing had changed in the years since he had last seen his former arch-enemy, except for a new hardness in his eyes. Gone was the carefree look in the man's eyes, and in its place was an implacable will to destroy that which threatened all that he held dear.
"Sir, Captain Tatewaki Kuno." Michelle said as she came to attention next to the door, behind Kuno.
"Thank you Michelle." Ranma said as the door shut, locking the three in the room, as he looked up at his guest. "So what brings you out here Kuno? It's been a long time since we've seen each other." Ranma said as the two stared at each other.
"Yes Sir it has been." Kuno replied simply.
"I noticed that you're a captain now, care to tell me how that happened?" Ranma asked politely.
Kuno flushed with embarrassment but nodded. "I failed to follow your example on how a military man and gentleman should act, and for that I was charged with sexual harassment and was demoted from lieutenant colonel to captain. My father was able to save my career, but not my rank." Kuno explained.
"I see. That is most unfortunate that you had to suffer like that, but I did warn you. It's good to see that you have learned from it though. So, I hear that you're in a bit of trouble, what is it, and how can I help?" Ranma asked politely.
Kuno glanced over his shoulder at Michelle before turning back to face Ranma. "I would like to discuss this privately Sir." He said stiffly.
"Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of Sergeant McKay. She won't repeat anything said here unless I tell her she can." Ranma countered.
Kuno seemed to take a deep breath before he nodded. "If she has your trust, then I'll trust her Sir. This morning my father called and ordered me to defend my sister in her upcoming courts-martial. And while defending her, I was to cast as bad a light as I could on you, all but claiming that it was actually your fault for everything that happened." Kuno told him.
Ranma's expression darkened dangerously. "He gave you an illegal order?" He asked carefully.
"Yes Sir. He was most emphatic about it. He ranted about how this was all your fault and that he would see to it that you paid for your part in my sister being charged for attempted murder and other such crimes." Kuno continued.
"He can't do that!!" Michelle exclaimed as she reached for her comm. link. "I have half a mind….."
"At Ease Sergeant and take that hand away from that comm. link. This is a military matter, and you will not involve your cousins in this." Ranma said coldly to her.
"But SIR! This violates everything that a serving military member and noble is supposed to stand for!" She cried.
"Be that as it may, there is a time and place for telling your cousin things. This isn't one of them. She only wanted to know about things that hinder this unit, this does not. If I find out that you've informed your cousin against my orders, you will not like the consequences, am I understood?" Ranma told her, still radiating a cold fury.
Michelle bowed her head, her body shaking in anger as she nodded jerkily. "Yes Sir, I don't agree with you, but I'll do as ordered." Was her reply through clenched teeth.
Ranma nodded before he turned his attention back to Kuno. "I apologize Captain, but that had to be nipped before things got out of hand. Now then, I have a feeling that you know that I'd tell you to not obey that order, so what brings you here, aside from informing someone of this order?" Ranma asked.
"You're right Sir, I am going to ignore this order, but I'll need protection from my father after the fact. He won't take the betrayal very well, and I want to be in a position that will be unassailable by him or his allies." Kuno said.
"I see. That is a difficult thing to request." Ranma said softly as he stared at the man. He then looked over to Michelle. "Do you have any suggestions Sergeant?"
Michelle blinked, not expecting the question after she had been reprimanded. "Ummm. Well Sir, there are several ideas he could take. The first would be to tell the Inspector General about this. The second would be to go above his father. The third would be to side completely with you." She said after she thought some.
"I can't go to the IG, nor above my father, without this all coming back down on me hard. I don't understand about the third choice though. Am I not already siding with you by ignoring this order?" Kuno asked confusedly.
Ranma groaned as he figured out what his guard was meaning. "Actually Kuno, there is a way to side with me in such a manner that removes you completely from the chance of retribution by your father." Ranma said slowly.
"If that is true, then I will gladly take that choice Sir. Since my demotion I have realized how dishonorable the Kuno family has become, and I find myself ashamed with this. I want to show that there is some hope for the Kuno family, and that I can hopefully redeem my family name." Kuno said, looking a little excited at the chance to be honorable again in his eyes.
Ranma sighed. "I was afraid you'd say that Tatewaki. Would you be willing to go so far as to swear and Oath of Fealty to me?" Ranma asked.
Kuno paused for a few seconds, thinking deeply on all the ramifications of this choice. Finally he nodded firmly and looked into Ranma's eyes, his expression as serious as Ranma had ever seen. "Sir Saotome, I swear upon my family blade to serve you. Let me be your sword against your foes. My sword is yours to command, my life is yours." Kuno said as he went on one knee before Ranma, proffering a beautifully crafted katana and sheath to him.
Ranma came around the desk and received the blade, drawing it out just enough to see the stamp just forward of the guard, before he reseated the blade and looked down at Kuno. "I accept your Oath. Arise Tatewaki Kuno, and join the ranks of the Wild Horses of Manticore." Ranma said formally.
As Kuno stood back up, Ranma handed the blade back to him. "Here Tatewaki, you'll need this in the coming days. Carry it with pride like your samurai ancestors did." He said to him.
"Thank you Sir." Kuno said softly as he took the blade back and slipped it into his belt.
Ranma returned to his seat then looked back at Kuno. "So where is your mech stored so that we can get it over here to our motor pool area?" He asked casually.
"Due to my removal from active combat, it is currently stored at the family estate along with the other mechs of our family." Tatewaki responded.
Ranma looked thoughtful before he reached out and punched a number on his console. "Major Hakubi, Staff Sergeant McRory, Lieutenant Liao, report to my office as soon as possible." He said into a mic pickup.
After he finished talking he looked back up to see the curious faces of his two subordinates. While Tatewaki stood there silently, waiting for his new commander and liege to tell him what was going on, Michelle had no such restrictions on her thought process.
"Excuse me Sir, but why all three of them? I can understand Major Hakubi and Lieutenant Liao, but not Sir McRory." She said confusedly.
"There is a very simple explanation Michelle, but I'm going to hold off on it until everyone is here. I don't want to repeat myself any." Ranma said with a slightly evil grin.
Michelle and Tatewaki both accepted their commander's reasons and patiently, or impatiently depending on the person, waited for the other three to arrive. When the others had all arrived, Ranma looked at all of them and smiled at Xian's reaction to seeing Kuno in his office.
"Lieutenant Liao, I am pleased to inform you that you can now step down as the Executive Officer of the Commander's Own. Captain Kuno here out ranks you, and as such I am afraid that I must remove you from that position." Ranma said to her as a form of greeting.
"Sir? Are you sure that is a good idea?" She asked, not caring that she just insulted the man.
Before Ranma could respond, Tatewaki turned to look at her with a flat glare. "Lieutenant, while the Colonel and I have not gotten along well in the past, I have come to understand him and I have learned a lot about him and why he is the way he is since we were young. I also have a great deal of respect for him, and am deeply honored that he accepted my Oath of Fealty. If it is his decision that I am to become his right hand man within his Own company, then it will be as such. I pray that you will assist me in settling into that position smoothly, and without any problems. I look forward to working with you in the future." He said calmly to her.
Xian stared at him slacked jawed, not believing it all at first, until she saw Sergeant McKay nodding her head slowly out of the corner of her eye. Her jaw snapped shut and she looked the captain dead in the eyes. "Of course Captain. I will do my best to aid you as you settle into your new job. It won't be easy as we don't have an official MTOE, nor do we really have much in the way of support personnel. We get most of our support directly from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company." She told him.
"All right, now that that is out of the way, why did you call all of us down here sir?" Angus asked as he looked at them.
"Well that's simple Angus. I've got a little mission for all of you. It seems that the good Captain's 'mech is currently under lock and key at the Kuno estate. I see this as a large problem right now. I also see this as the perfect opportunity to hit the main Kuno family right where it hurts the most." He told them all.
"And how are we going to do that? I think just by having his son as one of ours would be enough, after all, rumor mill has it that his daughter is on the chopping block right now with the higher ups. And now his son has defected to the Crown Loyalist's side? How can we possibly hurt them more than this?" Washu asked curiously.
"They still have their 'mechs Major. That is where we are going to hit them the hardest. All of our transport vehicles are unmarked, as are all of our other vehicles and 'mechs. I want you to get a transport platoon of M-947 HMET's, Sergeant McRory, mobilize the Guardians, full spread, combat loaded. They are to escort the transports to and from the target zone. Lieutenant Liao, get your Amazons airborne, they are to secure the target zone as well as provide forward recon for the ground element. You are also going to go in hot, fully loaded. Also corner Lieutenants Jurai and Tomoe, have them fly top cover. Take everything people, I mean everything. Every 'mech, every spare part, every gram of ammo. I don't want the main Kuno branch to have anything at all. Make clean and don't leave a single thing that gives them the idea that it was us that took their things." He ordered.
"Umm sir, I don't mean to burst your bubble, but what you're ordering is considered illegal and if we get caught we will be in deep shit." Angus said hesitantly, trying to be the voice of reason for once.
"I know Sergeant, but what is the job of this unit? What is our primary mission?" Ranma asked in response.
"To infiltrate an enemy held planet and, using guerilla tactics, do whatever it takes to lower the moral and fighting ability of the enemy." Angus responded promptly.
"And what is a good way to do that if you have the opportunity?" Ranma asked.
"To take from the enemy that which they need to conduct the fight Sir. Such as their spare parts, ammo, and equipment." Tatewaki said, speaking up and adding his two cents, wanting to show that he is willing to be a part of this unit.
"Exactly right Captain. Now then, the main Kuno family has been an opponent of this unit and its purpose since before its creation. That makes them the enemy, therefore they are a perfect opportunity to show the Army and our Commander that we are ready for the next step of our training phase. See to it that this mission gets pulled off people, and there will be no stopping us after that. We'll show them what the Wild Horses are capable of and that you can never defeat us, no matter what you try." Ranma said, trying to encourage his people.
"YES SIR!!!" They all yelled, getting excited at the idea that they were going to be spitting in the eye of their detractors.
TBC
Next time on Redemption: More training! The Battalion shows what they are made of and starts to move from planet to planet, training. New equipment, new ships, and new enemies. But what about Kodachi? Does she go to jail for her crimes? Does she get off scot free, proving that nobility isn't what it should be? Who else will join the Battalion, and the Commander's Own? For all these answers and more, stay tuned for the next episode of 1st Dragoons Wild Horses: Redemption!
This is Lieutenant Colonel Ranma Saotome signing off
Wild Horses! Screaming Eagles!
End Authors Notes: Sorry for taking so long, but life has been rather hectic for me as of late. I'm in South Korea, as my last posting stated. I hope that ya'll like this little side bar from what I'm having the main story line going towards. I'll be writing the next main line chapter next, at least I hope so. It all depends on how my muse decides to take me. Until then Please R&R. Flames will be used to keep me and my soldiers warm during these cold Korean nights.
YIS,
Cptdave
