Chapter 12

Camp Cavalier

Planet Kokpekly, NingxiaPrefecture

Draconis Combine

18 June 3076

As the sun broke the horizon Cain's Cavaliers came to parade rest. Eleven Battlemechs stood silently, the ones so equipped had their left arms locked over their chests. Five MechWarriors stood at the feet of their 'mechs. The support personnel standing in a tight formation to the left of the Battlemechs with Sergeant Major Templar standing at its head. The Soldiers of the DCMS assigned to the camp in formation to the right of the massive war machines.

"Company, ATTEN-TION!" The Sergeant Major bellowed echoed by his Kuritan counterpart and both units snapped to the position.

In lock step Captain Cain, Lieutenant Baxter, and Lieutenant Matsumoto marched to the podium and faced the bare flagpoles that flanked the headquarters building. Alexander marched to one flagpole and Chu-i Samuels to the other.

"Present, ARMS!" Templar ordered.

Over the loud speakers set on poles at each end of the parade field, Reveille began to play. As the opening notes of the ancient bugle call echoed off the buildings, the flags of the Cavaliers, a blue knight's helmet over a red shield decorated with stars set on a black shield, and the Draconis Combine's roaring black dragon on a red disk, rose to the tops of the flagpole.

The Warhorse came roaring out of the sky, hovered briefly and came to rest on the small ferrocrete landing pad.

"Order, Arms. Parade, Rest." Templar called and the assembly snapped again to the rest position. Taking three steps forward, Templar faced his commander and saluted again. "Sir, the Company is formed and ready."

"Thank you Sergeant Major," Cain told the man in front of his as he returned his salute. "Take your post." Templar moved to the back of the formation and Baxter took his place at its head.

Cain took a step up to the podium, drew a deep breath and paused for a moment. He took a few seconds to survey his people and equipment. His heart swelled as realized that his goal and dream of bring the Cavaliers back was coming together. At the same time he was saddened at the thought of the speech he was about to deliver. He had spent the last few hours writing and rewriting the words he wanted to say. He looked down at the paper he had clutched in his hand and decided to speak for the heart.

Taking another deep breath he started, "Cavaliers," the sound of his voice firm but unexpectedly loud, "We are assembled here today to honor our fallen. Private Samantha Kwok Ahn Yi has only been a member of our family for a year but she is exactly that, a member of our family. When she first joined us, she was quiet and shy. When my wife and I interviewed her we could barely hear her as she answered our questions. She told us that she had wanted to be a MechWarrior her entire life but her family could not afford to send her to any of the academies. She had mastered every simulator program she could find and qualified as an expert Wasp pilot.

I was hesitant to hire her but Penny saw something in her and told me to give young Samantha a chance. I'm glad I did as she quickly blossomed and began showing great potential. She was always quick to complete any task given to her. She was always cheerful, even at the end of a field exercise when everyone else just wants a shower and a bed. She was loyal and kind, willing to give her last c-bill to anyone who needed it. She was a Cavalier and we shall miss her."

Cain paused and scanned his people again before continuing the he pointed to the Cavaliers flag. "It is fitting that we are here today as this date marks the day that the Cavaliers ceased to exist. As most of you know, the last time the Cavaliers came together like this was to honor the loss of almost an entire regiment. There were only ten of us left then. Ten out of more than two hundred warriors standing together. I made a vow then, as I do everyday, to return the Cavaliers to their rightful place as warriors serving the Inner Sphere.

Though we currently can only deploy a company sized element, eventually we will be back to full strength. My wife and Lieutenant Menlo are training another group of soldiers right now on Terra. At the conclusion of this contract we will be able to field a company of infantry and battle armor to enhance our effectiveness. Soon we will be back to battalion strength and I count on each of you to form the backbone of our corps."

"There are five words printed on our unit's crest. Loyalty; we will bear faith and allegiance to our comrades, our families and our employer.

Integrity; we will be fair in our dealings with each other. All will know that when dealing with a Cavalier they will be treated with respect.

Honor; our word is our bond.

Cavaliers; we will live by our code like the knights in shining armor of old.

Cain; I give you my name as my personal bond to you. You all know that it is my duty and honor to lead you. You all know that you are members of my family."

He looked at his son for a second, "When the time comes that I retire or am no longer able to lead the Cavaliers, you all know that Alexander will take my place. I promise to you here and now that I will train and guide him so that when his time comes he will be ready and able to take up the mantle of your leader.

Today I will speak to you all individually and I will ask each of you to renew the warrior's oath that binds us."

Tears in welled in Cain's eyes as he stepped back, came to attention and saluted. Without being ordered to, the assembled warriors mirrored his salute.

At some unheard signal, Taps began to play. Alexander and Samuels lowered their respective flags to half mast. Somewhere in the back of his mind Cain heard the words that were meant be sung with the call:

Day is done,

Gone the sun,

From the lakes,

From the hills,

From the sky,

All is well,

Safely, rest,

God is near.

As the first stanza was completed, the coffin of Private Yi came in to view being pushed on a null-grav platform and draped with the Cavaliers flag. Yi's Lance mates, Lieutenant Stout and Sergeant Rogers marched at either side as her Honor Guard.

Fading light,

Dims the sight,

And a star gems the sky,

Gleaming bright,

From afar,

Drawing near,

Falls the night.

Cain knew that this was not going to be that last time he would stand in front of his people and have to hear these words, but he was determined to do everything in his power to make sure that the Cavaliers were able to protect themselves and live up to their reputation.

Thanks and praise,

For our days,

Neath the sun,

Neath the stars,

Neath the sky,

As we go,

This we know,

God is near.

When the last mournful notes died away and Yi's coffin had past from sight, Cain lowered his salute and once again stepped up to the podium. Looking across the field to the proud men and women that he had once again sworn to lead his heart was bursting with pride.

"CAVALIERS," he commanded, "DISMISSED!"