The Journal of Michael Bekker

by Ulquiorra9000

Entry 356: December 26, 3051

I have something interesting for you, journal: an unabridged transcript of my conversation/questioning session with the DCMS bondsmen who were captured here on Daitsuka IV. Our DropShips are still situated here while scout Stars ensure that this world is completely under control. The samurai warriors of the Draconis Combine have certainly proven themselves as the most worthy opponents for any of the invading Clans. Caution is certainly warranted!

Earlier today, I visited the bondsmen's holding cells and brought an audio recorder with me. The bondsmen are placed three per cell, and although they are treated humanely, I could easily see the resentment smouldering in their eyes, and in the tension of their movements. We have subdued their 'Mechs, but not the warriors inside. Good; the Ghost Bears deserve such opponents.

Star Captain Tseng thought that this is a waste of time, but once I was off duty, I made my way here. I will now write down a passage for my audio transcript.

Me: Good afternoon, bondsmen. I am Michael, a warrior of Clan Ghost Bear. I am here only for my own interests; do not consider this an interrogation.

DCMS warrior: I know what Clan you're from, invader! You proud Clan bastards...

Me: I see. Again, I am here not to interrogate you, but to satisfy my curiosity. All of you proved worthwhile opponents. I would like to see how you think, where you come from.

Second DCMS warrior: Didn't think you invaders would care.

Me: My commanding officers might not, but I do. Now, how does House Kurita produce such fine warriors? The Free Rasalhague Republic certainly does not.

First DCMS warrior: Bah. Stupid Swedenese runts thought they could stand alone in the universe. My uncle fought in the Ronin Wars, y'know. Didn't come back. I ain't gonna cry that you Clan bastards ran them into the ground.

[general laughter]

Me: I saw little action against the FRR, actually. I am more interested in how bushido shaped you into the warriors that -

First DCMS warrior: Hey, kid. You're really a MechWarrior? Surprised you're allowed to fight on the front lines like this. Took me six years to get any real front-line postings along the Federated Commonwealth border! How'd a punk like you get here?

Me: A Clan warrior's career starts as soon as he or she turns twenty. After training all my life, I was immediately ready for proper combat assignments. Barely two years after my Trial of Position -

Second DCMS warrior: Your what?

Me: My... life-fire graduation test, that is. Not long after I earned my rank, the Grand Council voted to launch the invasion. Operation REVIVAL.

First DCMS warrior: Revival? Of what?

Me: Of the glorious Star League. The Great Houses shattered mankind's greatest achievement. So, it falls to us Clans to set you straight and reinstate the old Star League.

Third DCMS warrior: So, that's what this's about? You're conquering all our planets and taking our freedoms so you can what, bring back the Star League? Bullshit! Three centuries of fighting didn't decide who'd rule it. Why would you outsiders get a chance?

Me: That is the whole point; Stefan Amaris' body was barely cold when the House lords started fighting in the power vacuum. I know the history of it all. Put simply, we Clans need you Inner Sphere warriors to step aside so we may return Aleksandr Kerensky's vision to the Inner Sphere. But you oppose us, so we fight.

First DCMS warrior: You gotta be kidding me! What gives you the right?!

Second DCMS warrior: We'd die before letting the Clans rule us. You don't belong here! Get out of our space!

Me: It was not my decision. Are you aware that the Clanners are divided between the Crusaders, who support this campaign, and the Wardens, who oppose it? Direct your anger to the Crusaders in general, not to me.

Third DCMS warrior: What the fuck does that mean?

Me: Not everyone in the Clans is the same, you see. Do not assume that we are hive-minded aliens.

Second DCMS warrior: So, what about you, kid? You one of these Crusaders?

Me: Yes -

Third DCMS warrior: Then fuck you! You're one of them, wanting to rule us!

Me: The decision to invade the Inner Sphere was not mine. I figured that if we invade anyway, the campaign may as well be quick and decisive. Minimize the losses on both sides, so we can proceed to the Star League's revival.

First DCMS warrior: Bullshit. You're one of them. Your kind is killing us. That's all we've got to know.

Me: I know that you all are angry. But I advocate a quick end to the war! Believe me, I would prefer that the Inner Sphere's armies step aside and alllow us to do what we must. I am proud to be a warrior, and I will fight whoever I must, but I do not spill blood for sport. Only for duty.

Second DCMS warrior: Is there supposed to be a difference?

Third DCMS warrior: Kid doesn't know what he's talking about.

Me: I want what is best for humanity, and that is the Star League, my heritage. Your heritage. If not for the Inner Sphere's armies' pride, this could all already be over. But you insist on stopping us. I would rather you not. Only the Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars actually want you to resist with all your might, so there can be maximum fighting and glory.

First DCMS warrior: Don't even say shit about the Smoke Jaguars, Clan boy. You weren't there on Turtle Bay! Edo, totally wiped off the map. How can you sit there and tell us that you want minimum bloodshed?

Me: I am not with the Smoke Jaguars! Warriors do not transfer from one Clan to another except for bondsmen who join their new Clan's warrior caste. That is not the case for me.

Second DCMS warrior: A Clanner is a Clanner.

Me: A Crusader wants to tear your heart open. A Warden wants to block all Crusader aggression.

Third DCMS warrior: You told us that you're one of those Crusaders!

Me: Well, I did. But I am not as militant as most of the others. I approve of this invasion, but only if it can come to a quick end. I consider Operation REVIVAL a grim necessity. The Smoke Jaguars think it is great sport. They will almost be disappointed when it is successful and finished.

First DCMS warrior: All you Clanners can go to hell.

Me: I had hoped to learn more about you as warriors, rather than the invasion itself. But that seems lost now.

Second DCMS warrior: Fine, you want to know? We train to defend our homelands and for the glory of the Coordinator, and the black dragon on our flag. Bushido tells us to balance inner peace and outer combat, to remember honor, to keep ourselves a sharp blade. And we're going to use every fucking bit of it to send the Clans to hell. That's what every man and woman in the Mustered Soldiery is going to do.

Me: I suppose that is all I will get from you. Thank you. I -

[The door opens. Footsteps.]

Candace: Michael, I knew I would find you here. Get moving.

Thonn: We are due for an early patrol. The whole Star. Star Commander Quentin sent us to find you. Ursina is waiting for us in the 'Mech bay.

Me: Aff. I could not get anything else from the bondsmen anyway. I will meet you in the 'Mech bay.

Thonn: Star Captain Tseng thinks that there is a pocket of resistance near the capital city. What do you say, Michael? If they are there, glory to whoever kills the most rebels!

Candace: Me, too. I can outshoot either of you.

Thonn: Neg! And I shall prove it!

Third DCMS warrior: Fuck you!

Thonn: If you faced me in a Circle of Equals, bondsman freebirth, you would not have that tone with me ever again!

Candace: Oh, I would like to see that.

Me: Forget it. They have already fought well once.

Thonn: Not well enough, quineg?

Candace: Neg. Michael, why would you defend them?

Me: Their bushido spirit is commendable, even if these warriors lack the finer points of zellbrigen. House Kurita is the closest to a proper match any of the invading Clans can find. I believe that we should keep that in mind.

Thonn: Well... maybe. I do not care that much, really. Let us go, Michael; we should not keep the Star Commander waiting.

Me: Of course. Allow me to shut off this recorder.

[Audio transcript ends.]

I definitey would like to delve deeper into what produced such relatively skilled warriors in the Draconis Combine! But I seem to have the dissenting opinion in the 32nd Bears Assault Cluster. Star Colonel DelVillar and Star Commander Quentin only see battlefield maps to exploit, and Star Captain Tseng only sees freebirth blood to spill. I see a chance for deeper learning and new philosophies to explore. I do not have to be a Snow Raven mystic to think that we are on the verge of learning a great deal more about humanity, and ourselves, by studying our opponents in-depth.

I only wish that the DCMS warriors did not speak so crudely.

That is all for today, journal. The patrol was uneventful, so there is no need to recount it here. Perhaps another battle in this invasion wave will produce a story worth telling.