Disclaimers: I do not own Battletech.
A/N: So this is kind of awkward. You know that preview I posted earlier? Well, by the time I realize where I was in writing the chapter, I already had around 9000 words and I haven't even gotten to the coronation yet. So this chapter and the next involve no action but chapter 5 will.
P.S.: Check out my Fairy Tail, Warframe, Shadow of Mordor/Game of Thrones, or my Harry Potter/Shadow of Mordor if you can.
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Chapter 3
Bringing the Dragon Up To Par
The duo made their way back through the halls of the Royal Palace, flank in both the front and rear by the Royal Guard all the while Kamea was punching information into her data slate while rambling off a list of changes that Nico was going to have to implement onto the Dragon Raiders.
"We're going have to somehow incorporate your company's logo with Coalition's colors but still allow it to be recognizable to the public for morale purposes", she states.
"Kamea", Nico says.
"I suppose we could allow you to keep your mechs' color scheme all-black seeing how you're special forces and it will definitely help you avoid detection should the need arise."
"Kamea", his voice getting a little louder.
"Actually when you stop and think about, finding a military mech suit big enough to fit Behemoth is going to be the hardest obstacle to overcome, a woman her size is a rarity out here in the Reach."
"Kamea!", Nico yells as he puts a hand on her shoulder and spins her around to face him. The sound of safeties being switch off and guns cocking remind Nico of his surroundings as Kamea's hand shoots up to stop her guards from doing anything hasty as they all point their guns at the mechwarrior.
"Captain Saber", she calmly addresses the Royal Guard closest to her, "You and your men are free to return to your posts. I will summon you again when I am done with my meeting with Colonel Strong."
A moment of silence passes with the guards still having their guns focus on Nico, not a single one of them willing to take their sights off of him. During this time, Nico slowly moves his hand off of the future High Lady's shoulder and puts it into the air. It was at this moment that he notices some of the guards' eyes flicker downward toward his waist every few seconds. Following their line of sight, the now colonel realizes that the hand that didn't go on Kamea's shoulder was still grabbing the grip of his Laser Pistol for all the good it would have done for him in this situation.
"Pure reflex, must have happened when I heard the guns cock", he tells himself as he takes his hand off of his grip, "Can't even begin to count how many times it has saved my life"
"Captain Saber", Kamea says again, this time with more force in her voice, "Return to your post."
The man makes the signal of his hand closing into a fist and all of the guards holster their guns and disperse, leaving Kamea and Nico alone in the hallway.
Kamea turns and marches down the hallway toward her main office with Nico following close behind her. She enters without a word and closes the door once the mech pilot comes through.
Nico turns around to say something but stops upon finding Kamea directly behind him, glaring up at him.
"Nico, know that I am extremely grateful for everything you have done for me and also know that I consider you a friend despite what you may believe sometimes", she started in a low voice, "But from here on out you are going to be required to understand certain procedures and protocols of an official military."
"Let me guess", Nico started.
"It is Lady Kamea, soon to be High Lady Kamea, whenever we are around anyone besides just Alexander", Kamea said before pondering on something for a moment, "And I suppose whenever we are alone with the senior staff of the Argo, I consider them close friends as well but I will need you to inform them that any other time they are to use my title. Also, know that my future fiance is the only male allow to touch me, unless under certain circumstances, such as our handshake in the garden. Not even Alexander can do that now."
"With the whole name thing, is that going to change down the line?", Nico wonders.
"I see no reason why it would, now onto other matters", Kamea says as she walks over to her desk, "First and foremost, we need to discuss the changes to the Argo."
"What changes?", Nico asks.
"Well, first off, it is going to be upgraded", Kamea answers, "And by that, I mean it will actually have weapons added to it along with it being resized to fit a larger crew."
"How much larger of a crew are you talking about?" ask Nico just to have Kamea throw a thumb to the balcony behind her.
Moments Later
"What the hell is this?!", Nico yells at Kamea while pointing down to the vast courtyard of the Royal Palace where a large formation of Aurigan Coalition soldiers was standing at attention.
"That is nine companies worth of the most seasoned troops of the Arano Restoration now of the Coalition. Eighteen hundred men who will embark on the Argo as a permanent army detachment all standing by for inspection by the Head Captain of my Royal Guard", Kamea answers, "Their main objectives will be ship boarding and establishing beachheads in front of a main attacking force.", she said only to notice the look that she was receiving from Nico, "They were here to get inspected anyway even before you made your decision, I swear. They'll be providing the extra security for the coronation, as well."
"Be that as it may, that is nearly double the crew of the Argo in size! There's no way the ship is going to be able to fit them all!"
"All of them and more once the modifications are done", Kamea boasted, "I mean, I am still lacking a full company to bring the Argo's army detachment up to my expectations and that is not even counting the aerospace fighters, their vehicles, or even the special forces ground units you will be taking on as well."
Nico only stares at Kamea in shock as she rambles off once more, "H-How many people are we talking about here?"
Kamea stops for a moment and puts her hand on her chin in thought, "Well, Alexander and I ran the possible numbers yesterday after you left-."
"You mean before I made my decision?", Nico questions.
"It was fifty-fifty", Kamea started before noticing the look Nico was giving her once again, "Seventy-thirty chance you say yes so we thought it best that we get the numbers in order just in case", Kamea says, "Anyway, let's see, with all of the infantry, the combat vehicles, the aerospace fighters, their support, and logistics, along with other elements that should bring your overall crew, plus counting up the crew of the Leopards to just around five thousand men and women, give or take three dozen."
A resounding slap to his own forehead was Nico's response, "That is way beyond the max capacity of the Argo."
The future High Lady nodded her head, "In its current state, yes, but Alexander found some old blueprints of the original Argo design and it shows that a lot of space can be open up to carrying more personnel and equipment. though some people may have to hot rack to save space."
"You're not getting rid of the pool", Nico growls all of a sudden.
"I am not getting rid of the pool", Kamea repeats as she wasn't even going to attempt to argue that point.
"Or the library, or the garden, or the lounge, or the arcade, or the gym", Nico listed off only to be stopped by the woman next to him.
"All that gets to stay, I swear", Kamea promises, "We will just be adding more space to the Argo along with moving some stuff around. It should only take about two months to complete."
The Dragon of the Reach raises an eyebrow in disbelief, "That's a pretty short time for major renovations."
"It will be Coromodir's shipyards primarily focus. Though not as large as the ones at Tyrlon, they will get the job done. Alexander is on his way there now, but he just messages me in the hallway that the yards crews are standing by and making preparations even as we speak. They are just waiting on...", Kamea then turns her eyes toward the communicate device Nico had on his wrist, "You know, for the ship to show up."
Nico easily picks up on the hint and rolls his eyes as he brings it up to his mouth, "Argo, this is Dragon. I repeat, Argo, this is Dragon."
After a few moments of static, a voice cuts through, "Dragon, this is Argo. What do you need?"
"Sumire, bring the Argo into the Coromodir's shipyards for military refitting and modifications", Nico command and readies himself for the response.
"Does this mean what I think it means?", the navigator asks and Nico could feel her smirking.
"Yes", Nico sighs, "Yes, it does", as he tries to ignore the smile that was forming on Kamea's face as well, "Might as well make this official…."
Nico takes a breath for speaking, praying to God that the next words out of his mouth sounded better out loud then they did in his head as he processed to give his first official order as an officer of the Aurigan Coalition….
"Commander Meyer, you have my permission to bring the ACS Argo around to the Coromodir's shipyard, that's an order. Colonel Strong, out."
Roars of laughter and cheer could be heard on the other end and Nico quickly figures out that quite possibly his entire senior staff and then some were on the ship's bridge listening in.
"Oh, they're going to have such fun when I get back", he grumbles before turning his attention to a chuckling Kamea, "You too?"
"It is good to see them in such high spirits. They no doubt deserve to be", she states and she turns around to walk back inside, "Now regarding the new command structure of the Argo...", she stated before a knock at her door interrupted her.
"Enter", she declares and a royal guard enters the room alongside a woman who looked vaguely familiar to Nico. She had jet black hair along pronounced cheekbones and a sharp jawline. She towered over Kamea though she was still shorter than Nico along with being a bit thinner than the Lady of the Reach. She was deck out in an army uniform and carried the rank of captain; amazing seeing how she looked to be a bit younger than Nico.
As the guard turns and leaves the woman pops to attention and salutes, "Lady Kamea, Captain Karen Andris reporting as order!"
Nico's eyes widen slightly upon hearing the name, "That sounds familiar", as he ponders the name.
"Ah, captain, you are early", Kamea states as she takes a look at the clock on the wall, "I was not expecting you for another fifteen minutes."
The captain drops her salute, "Ma'am, I figure that you have other matters to attend to, so I took the initiative to see if I could get our business out of the way so you could attend to them, Ma'am!"
"Hmm, initiative, I like that", Kamea says before turning her attention to Nico, "I'm sure you're familiar with Nico Strong of the Dragon's Raiders", she says.
"Ma'am, I am quite familiar with the Dragon of the Reach, the Hero of the Aurigan Civil War, as is everyone, ma'am!", Karen replies, still at attention.
Nico snaps his fingers and points at the captain, "You were the one I was talking to at the spaceport of Panzyr; a lieutenant with the 2nd Decimis Fusiliers and you ask me to protect your troops."
Captain Andris' face light up and Nico swore that he saw her eyes sparkle.
"I-I didn't think you would remember me", she confesses, "I'm honored."
"You asked me, a mercenary, to protect your wounded men. Any military officer who is willing to swallow their pride for that is okay in my books", Nico tells her.
"Thank you, Mr. Strong", she answers with gratitude as she slightly bows, "From me and my men that day. All of them live to fight on in the civil war because of what you did even though you didn't have to."
Nico simply nods before turning his head to Kamea, "You had something to tell her, Lady Kamea?"
"Oh, yes. She is one of the liaisons for her division during their turnover to House Arano", Kamea answered, internally relieved that he remember to use her title.
"Excuse me?", Nico says.
"House Arano's forces were devastated in the war, but House Decimis' forces are mostly intact to a degree, so as a show of good faith, Lord Decimis is giving me the revived 2nd Decimis Fusiliers to bolster my forces", Lady Kamea explains, "Though I will allow them to keep the Decimis part of their name for unit heritage reason."
Nico stares at Kamea for a moment, "Can I speak to you outside for a moment, Lady Kamea?"
"Captain Andris, wait here for a moment, will you? Make yourself comfortable", Kamea says.
"Ma'am, yes, ma'am!", was the reply from the officer as she sat down at attention at the couch while Nico and Kamea made their way outside once more, closing the door behind them.
"That is suspiciously gracious of him to give you a full army division just like that", the mechwarrior points out as he leans on the rails and looks down at Kamea.
"Not everyone is out to stab me in the back, Nico. He offered it to me in front of the rest of the Founding Houses the other day and I couldn't exactly tell him no or else I would have seemed paranoid to them", Kamea explains while looking out toward the city, "I have to trust the new heads of the nobility or else another civil war might break out or worse, I look weak to the Taurian or the Capellan."
"So you're just going to trust them like that?"
"One hundred percent?, No.", Kamea says, "But to a degree that makes it look like I completely trust them but I will be keeping an eye on them."
"I guess that's something", Nico says, "Be careful, politics is just as dangerous of the battlefield."
"Trust me, I learn that lesson during the war", Kamea says as she walks back inside and Captain Karen shoots up off of the couch.
"Now concerning you and your company posting here on Coromodir, captain", Kamea began, "To be honest, while most of your division have already been assign we are still trying to figure out an appropriate posting for you and your company. Most of the outposts and bases are at max capacity, so you might be filling a-"
"How about you put her company on the Argo?", Nico suddenly interrupts causing both women to turn their attention to him.
"I beg your pardon?", Kamea says.
"Put her and her company on the Argo", Nico repeated, "You said you were looking for one last company to put on; why not her and her men? I could use good soldiers like them."
Silence passes for a moment between the trio.
"Um, Mr. Strong", Captain Andris slowly starts, "I don't mean to be rude, but it's going to be hard for me to fulfill my duties if I'm on a mercenary ship."
"Oh, that's right, you haven't heard the news", Nico says as he turns and smiles at Kamea, "Perhaps it would be best for you to tell her, my lady."
Moments later, the captain nearly stumbles out of the head office of Lady Kamea and quietly goes down the hall, a thousand-yard stare etch into her face. If one was close enough to her, they would hear quiet mumbling emitting from her lips.
"I-I just got put on the Dragon of the Reach's ship and he is now my commanding officer", she says before her face suddenly lights up and she starts jumping up and down in a matter unbecoming of an officer in uniform, "And he remembers who I am!"
Back in the office Nico and Kamea were struggling to keep a straight face after hearing the captain's outburst in the hallway.
"Well, she seems happy", the mechcommander comments while shaking his head.
"I'm sure she will fit in quite nicely with your crew on the Argo", Kamea adds.
"Speaking of which, I should probably be heading back in order to make sure this transition goes smoothly."
"Oh, we should take the Royal Shuttle", Lady Kamea recommended, "I have to go there myself to speak with the shipyard manager."
Nico turns to look at Kamea with an annoyed expression, "Won't that require a ton of unnecessary procedures, security, and preparation?"
"I am the future High Lady of the Reach in case you forgot. It comes with the territory."
"Yeah, but I don't have time to wait on that and neither do you. Come take a ride in the shuttle I brought with me. You can call for the Royal Shuttle to come and pick you up later, that way you can get on with the rest of your day", Nico suggests and Kamea took a moment to consider his offer.
An Hour later onboard the ACS Argo
"So….", Darius started to say within the command center to all who were present, "How again is Dragon and I having the same rank going to work out? You know, with him being a colonel and me being a navy captain."
"I'm glad you ask that Captain Olveira", Alexander answers as he pulls up a hologram display the rank structure of the Aurigan Coalition, "First and foremost, you are not the Executive Officer of the Aurigan Special Forces."
"Oh, darn", Darius said while snapping his fingers, "And here I thought I was in the big leagues."
"Sorry to rain on your parade, but Kamea and I thought it best that we assign a member of the nobility to that title in order to appease some of the naysayers. We are still deciding on who it will be by the way.", Alexander explains, "To be blunt, officially, you are the Commanding Officer of the Argo, and Sumire is your Executive Officer while still filling her Navigator position. The thing is though since the ship falls under the Aurigan Special Forces which Nico is the head of."
"And since the Argo will no doubt be his mobile headquarters...", Darius started.
"When Nico is on board he is in charge of everything,", Alexander finishes, "Also, I notice a certain trend during my time onboard during the civil war."
"That Behemoth benches more weight than any man on the ship, but somehow was the one who came up with the monthly "Girl's Night" gathering in the lounge?", Medusa says only to dodge a coffee cup thrown at him by the large woman, "What? We were all thinking it!"
"Fuck you!", the mech pilot responds while flipping him the bird.
"No", the head of House Madeira answers but after a moment, "Actually yes, the thought did cross my mind far longer than it should have."
A glare from Behemoth quickly puts the meeting right on track.
"Anyway, what I saw was a unique style of leadership never before seen out here in the Reach", Alexander continue, "One where Darius was in charge of the day-to-day operations of the ship to a extend while Nico was in charge of combat, which just so happens to be a major role in your job."
"But Dragon was still overall in charge", Glitch points out, "So I don't see the point in all this."
"Well, Captain Chernovskaya", Alexander started only to be silent upon a girlish squeal escaping from the 3rd Lance Commander's lips and resounding throughout the command center.
….
"Um… Do I do something wrong?"
"She's has been doing that ever since Dragon told us that he had accepted the deal. She has been having everyone put captain at the front of her name and she squeals like a schoolgirl when they do", Yang answered while rolling his eyes, "She somehow even got a name plaque already on the door to her room."
"Oh, well at least she's embracing her new rank with enthusiasm.", Alexander says, taken slightly aback, "Didn't Dragon just accept the offer an few hours ago though?"
"Darius had to literally provide her with a list of reasons why it wasn't practical for her to have "Captain Glitch" embroil on her personal mech", Dekker finished.
"But then how are people going to know that I'm piloting it?", Glitch states causing Alexander to look at her in astonishment.
"And to think she is one of the top five mechwarriors in the Reach right now."
"Moving on!", Feng shouts, "You were saying, Mr. Madeira?"
Alexander shakes his head and returns to the matter at hand, "Yes, well, Kamea and I believe that by allowing Darius to have the same rank as Nico but belonging in a separate branch of the military, we can keep that dynamic going without undermining anyone authority, because I noticed a few times that Darius had to override Nico's decision but it worked out. Mr. Strong is overall in command, but his main focus will be combat situations while Darius handles the Argo."
"What about the rest of the crew?", Medusa asked.
"Excluding the mechpilots, who as you know now have army ranks, all other crew members of the Argo will be given naval ranks", Alexander answers.
"Okay, all problems have been addressed", Darius claps, "Y'all can start the remodeling process and we get this ball rolling."
"Actually, there is one other thing", Alexander says as he calls for his assistant and was given a stack of data-slates, "I have been tasked by Lady Kamea to bring you up to speed with military procedures."
Silence engulfs the room for a few moments before Yang and Dekker slowly raise their hands.
"I am well aware of your military backgrounds Lieutenant-Commander Virtanen and Captain Kowalski but that was with the Confederation", the right hand of the future High Lady smiles, "The Coalition procedures are….a bit different", he states.
He hands out the data slates to everyone and started lecturing, "Now as you can see, each of the four lance commanders will retain their positional authority along with their new rank and in keeping with Lady Kamea's promise of your semi-independence, we will let you four decided the make-up of your overall lance structure command, that way-", he started before an incoming call interrupted him.
"This is Lord Madeira", he answers.
The entire senior staff of the Dragon Raiders watches in silence as the head of House Madeira's eyes slowly widen right before…
"SHE DID WHAT?!", echo throughout the command center and into the hallway outside.
A/N: Hope you enjoy the next chapter: Nico and Kamea have a nice long overdue talk. I'm trying to turn to Argo basically into the type of ships that the modern US Navy uses, the amphibious assault ships that carry both naval and Marine Corp personnel around the world for beach assaults.