Slackers of the Inner Sphere
Chapter 37: A New Deal
Montañas de la Muerte
Shoreham
Federated Commonwealth
18th October, 3064
The rain slackened and died as the battle damaged convoy made its way back along the high way and up into the mountains beyond. It was slow going as the gradient increased, and at several points that had to slow to a crawl as the edged along crumbling roads build into the sides of near vertical cliffs. It was touch-and-go on more than one occasion, but they managed to reach the high mountain pass where the Bulldog had set down. The units lighter Mech's were arranged as a screen half way down the valley, supported by the heavier units and the DropShips own weapons. Swindelli was surprised to see a pair of Clan-built Hachiman fire-support tank's in the units colours.
"They belonged to a J&R patrol that found itself the wrong side of the lines when the fighting started up again." Kobayashi explained when questioned, "Captain Steele agreed to let them pass, but only if they handed over those two as payment. I think he objected to having anything his people built in the hands of those assholes."
"That I can understand." Swindelli jumped down from the APC, the cold mountain air cutting into his lungs and sending an involuntary shiver down his spine, "We pick up anything else?"
"Lieutenant King's Cicada was a right-off, but we did pick up a Hatchetman and a Commando, but we need a tech of Baker's calibre if we're going to get them operational." The lawyer shrugged, "Going to have to sober him up first."
"Yeah, well, from now on he's dry." Swindelli shook his head, "Normally I wouldn't care less if he decided to destroy himself, but we need that brain of his. Not to mention his wife owns the controlling share in our DropShip."
"Ye Sassenach bastard!" Lieutenant Sharpe stomped over with a face like thunder, "Yee divvnae tell me me farther wez the one whee sent yee te find me!"
"I didn't realise it was an issue." Swindelli blinked, finding it hard to understand the other man when he was so angry; his accent seemed to grow thicker as his temper worsened, "What's it matter, anyway? I was paid to get you off of this planet, and that's what I'm going to do."
"Leik hell ah am!" The tall Capellan roared, "If it's a choice between staying heor, or having te face tha smug bastard, then I'll tyek me chances heor, thank yee very much."
"There are two problems with that plan." Swindelli smiled, "Firstly, I have your Mech on my DropShip, thanks to Colonel LaFollett, and I don't think anyone's going to be offering you a new one any time soon."
"Well, we'll just see aboot tha." Sharpe loomed forwards, towering over the Major, "If Ah want te tyek me Mech off of tha DropShip, then there ain't ne power in the 'verse can stop me!"
"Oh, I think there is." The recoilless was in Swindelli's hand before Sharpe had even seen him move, "You see, I don't get paid unless I present you to your father, dead or alive. I get paid the same, either way, so if you start causing my trouble..."
"Gentleman, gentleman, please." Kobayashi stepped between the two men in a bid do avoid bloodshed, "I think there might be a compromise that will keep everyone happy, except maybe our employer."
"Oh aye?" Sharpe seemed to calm down and lighten up at the prospect of getting one over on his father, "I'm listening."
DropShip Wabash Cannonball
Eavesdown Space-Port
Shoreham
Federated Commonwealth
18th October, 3064
"You know, I think it's a pity that we had to encounter these mercenaries the way we have." Hawksmoor stood looking at the screen that was replaying the keyhole-satellite footage of the highway battle, "They are most tenacious and resourceful."
"They are Mercenaries; hired guns. Nothing more, nothing less." Jamal seethed, barely maintaining his composure, "Their loyalty is to the highest bidder, but unfortunately we do not have access to the needed resources to make them an offer. And that only leaves one option: we must destroy them."
"But the test subject?" Hawksmoor asked, "She was the most promising candidate for the next phase."
"The Blessed Blake sends these little trials to test our faith in his word." Jamal was suddenly serene, his previous anger vanished, "He understands that we are imperfect beings, but it is in rising above these imperfections that we praise him." He shook his head, "No, it is time to draw a line under this sorry mess once and for all, before the others with in Blessed order try and use it against us."
"Then what shall we do?" Hawksmoor looked confused, "They have eluded our every trap."
"In the immortal words of the Blessed Blake himself, 'The time to hesitate is through.'" The Demi-Precenter's expression changed to one of total resolve, "Contact the Righteous Indignation: I have a mission for them."
Recharge Station
Nadia jump-point
Shoreham system
Federated Commonwealth
1st November, 3064
The bar was as deserted as it had been the last time Swindelli had visited, but at least all of the internal lights had been turned on, banishing the deep shadows, and allowing him to make sure there were no unpleasant surprises awaiting them. Kerensky and Steele followed closely behind, with Sharpe between them. The two Clan warriors were armed with heavy needler pistols that, while not capable of piercing the stations hull, were still deadly when used against humans. Two of the hired goons were standing watch by the door, while the other pair were standing with their employer, who was looking out of the panoramic windows at the collection of JumpShip's that had brought LaFollett's reinforcements from across the Capellan March.
"Well now, Major, I was begging to give up hope of ever seeing you again." William Sharpe turned round, his eyes narrowing as he looked at his son, "You've even managed to bring young Ian back to me in one piece. I am impressed."
"You hired my unit to find your son, and here he is." Swindelli shrugged, "I do the job and then I get paid: It's how business gets done"
"A refreshingly pragmatic outlook." Sharpe senior held out a thick manilla envelope, "The remainder of your payment, in ComStar bonds, as requested."
"Much appreciated." The Major examined and counted the documents to make sure they were all there, "The Toaster worshippers are messing with our bank account."
"They do love their little games, don't they?" the older man laughed, "I've gone to great lengths to remain under their radar, until now: it remains to be seen if they're going to take offence to my employing you."
"That's your problem." Swindelli turned and started to walk off, "Our business is done."
Kerensky, Steele and Sharpe junior followed after him.
"Ian!" the old man called out, "Where the hell do you think you're going, boy?"
"With them." his son smiled, "They offered me a job."
"Like hell!" his father snapped, "That wasn't part of our deal."
His bodyguards went for their weapons, but the mercenaries were faster. Staring down the barrels of the needlers, the guards decided that discretion was the better part of valour and backed down.
"Our deal was that I'd go to Shoreham, find your son and bring him to you." Swindelli smiled, slipping his mirrored shades on, "If you feel that I have failed to complete that contract, then by all means feel free to lodge complaint with the M.R.B.C. But I should warn you that my lawyer has already forwarded a copy of said contract to the Commission, and is streaming the feed from this bars security cameras to the local ComStar station, to be uploaded to MercNet for safe keeping."
"I do not take kindly to being played, Major." the businessman hissed, "You haven't heard the last of this."
"Mr Sharpe, I've been threatened by professionals." Swindelli smirked, "You don't even come close."
SLS Wildfire
Nadia jump-point
Shoreham system
Federated Commonwealth
2nd November, 3064
"I'm giving Sharpe command of Taplin's Lance; O'Hara just hasn't got the experience to run it full-time." Swindle explained as he made his way along the corridor leading to the ships bridge, "He'll be taking Cain and Humansquish with him."
"That'll leave the Command Lance at half strength." Kobayashi pointed out as he kept pace, "Bit of a risk, isn't it?"
"No, I'm going to fold the Fire Lance in to make up the difference." The Major shook his head, "They always were under strength, and I want to keep a closer eye on Baker; he's not been the same since whatever the hell happened back there happened."
"Yes, I'll talk to Hitomi, See if she can get through to him." Kobayashi nodded, the smiled to himself, "You know, one more Mech in Captain Steele's Lance, and people will start to mistake us for a Clan Trinary."
"Anything that keeps the enemy guess, Ethan." Swindle grinned, "Something tells me that Blake's faithful followers will be a little harder to fool."
"In my life I've seen horrendous acts carried out in the name of some religion or another by men and women with no true faith, and I've seen great acts of kindness and humanity from those who follow no single creed. And after much consideration, I have come to the conclusion that you do not need faith to be religious, and you don't need a religion to have faith." Kobayashi looked philosophical, "Religions demand that you believe a certain thing, follow a certain path. All faith requires is that you believe that there is some higher power at work in this universe, and that ultimately, things happen for a reason. That can be a god, or just karma, but in the end it comes down to each individuals own relationship with the universe. Now I was raised New Avalon Catholic Church; my family, at least on my fathers side, have been that way since it was started in 2772. But that's just my religion, and I'd like to think that my faith is, well, a little less narrowly defined."
"Well, my daddy raised me to be a good old fashioned 'fire-and-brimstone' Baptist, like his daddy before him, and his daddy before him, going back as far as anyone knows." Swindle laughed, slapping the lawyer on the back, "And he'd tan my hide if he heard me say something like that."
To Be Continued...
The Slackers of the Inner Sphere:
Bah-weep-Graaaaagnah wheep ni ni bong!