Hello everyone! It's me, Theo, again. First off, before we continue to the
story below, I'd like to make a few things clear.
I am NOT a professional writer, so the format that I use for my stories will have some flaws in it. Don't be surprised. For example, I ALWAYS leave a space between character speech and story sentences and/or paragraphs. I do this because I find it easier to understand who said what. And it doesn't confuse the reader into thinking that someone's words were part of the story's paragraph. I just wanted to clarify this little bit of understanding to you out there who finds it strange and/or unusual. Thanks.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Mechwarrior or any of it's units. (Mech's, vehicles, jumpships, ect.) I only own the idea for this fic and all made-up characters I add.
----------------------
Chapter 2
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more." - Shakespeare (Henry V)
Swordsworn Command Post Tepha, Schedar Prefecture IV, Republic of the Sphere 15 October 3132
They were mostly Green, Vincent mostly thought about those in his Cavalier unit. Most Commanding Officers would think the same after seeing their scores in simulation training. Some of them had potential, that much he knew, it's just a question of which ones they were. His unit was mostly made up of Green Mechwarriors, with a few Veterans as well. He was perhaps the only one in the unit with enough battle experience to be considered an Elite pilot. But one has few chances to think of such things when they are too busy with the present situation. Upon his order of attention, his troops fell in at full attention, awaiting him to speak his piece. And he didn't wish to disappoint them of that.
"Listen up."
His strong voice carried,
"The Lord Governor himself has issues our new orders. Apparently, the Steel Wolves, also stationed on Schedar, have been relocating themselves along with their supplies at an alarming rate. Lord Sandoval finds it suspicious and would like to know why."
He noticed the eyes of his troops followed him, understanding his words.
"Our new orders are to locate the Steel Wolves new supply depot, and capture it. If capture is not possible, then we are instructed to destroy it. Perhaps then, we'll understand the reason for all their deployments."
"Question sir!"
Came the voice of Private Tomas Flynn. A young Mechwarrior that had lost more Mechs in simulation training than anyone else in the Cavaliers.
"What is it Flynn?"
"These new orders seem a bit too aggressive, sir. If we strike the Wolves in such a way without a reason, then aren't we provoking a war?"
"We're already at war."
Vincent snapped.
"Understand this, there are two kinds of wars. The one on the battlefields, and the ones spoken with politics. Just because you do not see any laser fire or smoking craters, doesn't mean there isn't a war happening. But you are half-correct. Our orders are too aggressive; however, they came from the Lord Governor, Duke Aaron Sandoval himself, so there is little choice in the matter."
"Yes sir. Sorry sir."
And Flynn stepped back into line. Giving Vincent the opportunity to address his troops yet again.
"I am well aware that we are not much suited for scouting parties or recon. But there is a chance we will encounter Steel Wolf forces, and perhaps receive hostile intentions. Should we be fired upon, it is our duty as Cavaliers to respond in kind."
He saw smiles appear on their faces. Most of them were hotheaded rookies who can't wait for battle. They never seem to think that they may never leave the battlefield alive. Vincent has seen more solders die in front of him in the past to last him two life times. Unfortunately, killing is one of the few things that become easier the more you do it. Even if it is in a war. Vincent knew this because he's fallen into that trap as well.
"This may be one of the more difficult challenges we've ever had people."
He tapped a few buttons on the control panel and a holomap appeared behind him. He pointed to a north-south red dotted line several miles east of Tepha.
"From the reports we got from our recon units, this is the closest route the Steel Wolves have taken their supplies. They don't seem too concerned about using a trail that would pass by Swordsworn territory so closely. Either they don't fear an attack from us, or they're on a dead line. Either way, this will be out first mission objective: To follow this route to the Steel Wolves first depot, eliminate any resistance and capture the supply building. As I said before, if acquiring the depot is not possible, then we are to destroy it by any means necessary. Are there any questions?"
He figured at least one or two of his company would speak up, but their silence was all he heard, which was fine by him.
"We are calling the ball here people. Our Lord Governor has selected us to do this mission and we must NOT let him down. Report to your Mechs in 30 minutes. Dismissed!"
And upon his order, the men and women who called themselves the Cavaliers obeyed.
In the hanger, members of the Cavaliers began their final checks on their Mechs before their mission. Corporal Britney Agrice was making one final maintenance run on her Legionnaires power plant. Though she was young, she is one of the few talented Mechwarriors in the Cavalier company. In battle, only her hair color could match the fire of passion she felt when engaged in combat. Many would believed she was bred for war, much like the Trueborn warriors of the Clans. Dressed in only combat boots, shorts, a light tank top with a coolant vest, Britney reached behind her head and settled her neurohelmet on her head. Though bulky, the padding on the coolant vest on her shoulders help kept it from being too heavy for her. After pressing a sequence of buttons, a computerized voice asked her for her voiceprint.
"Legionnaires fight for pride and honor. I fight for both with a really big gun."
She said, and the computer accepted the code, giving life to the 50-ton machine she sat in. She glanced at her secondary systems and found them all satisfactory.
"It's strange,"
She said into her neurohelmet's mike. She was sure someone heard her and her suspicions were confirmed when Gunnery Sergeant Kilees' voice asked.
"What's strange, Agrice?"
"The whole operation. Why were the Wolves in such a hurry to move everything they got?"
"That's what we're going to find out."
"But the Lord Governor has ties with Kal Radick. Why not just ask him about it instead of giving them a reason to start a war?"
"And you think the Clans are going to give us 'Inner Sphere Trash' an expiation?"
Gunnery Sergeant Kilees laughed. Though his tone was sarcastic, he did have a strange sense of humor in his bald head.
"Face it girlie, they hated us ever since Prince Victor Steiner-Davion invaded Strana Mechty and completely destroyed the Smoke Jaguars. Hell, they hated us LONG before that even. I won't be surprised if this is a trap for us because they hate us."
"Just another reason for me to be concerned, that's all Sergeant. I still think we should try to realize the potential dangers there are."
"Listen Corporal, just because you have a relationship with the Lieutenant, doesn't mean your opinions mean the same as his. Got that?"
"Yes Sergeant."
Britney would've beaten the Sergeants face to a bloody pulp if he said that to her face-to-face. Her relationship with Vincent was nobody else's business. The mere mention of it used against her angered her to the point where she had to grit her teeth shut to keep from screaming out in pure rage. However, the sound of the Mech's coming alive in the hanger would've drowned out her voice anyway.
-------------------
Well, That's it for now. Hopefully I can get the next installment up soon.
Like I said before, I don't know much about locations of the cities or how policy works in the 32nd century (Since I don't live in it.) And if I you spot something VERY wrong with the story, please inform me so I may make the necessary changes. And please remember that this is the format I choose to write in, Thank you.
Until Next Time ^_^
Theo~
I am NOT a professional writer, so the format that I use for my stories will have some flaws in it. Don't be surprised. For example, I ALWAYS leave a space between character speech and story sentences and/or paragraphs. I do this because I find it easier to understand who said what. And it doesn't confuse the reader into thinking that someone's words were part of the story's paragraph. I just wanted to clarify this little bit of understanding to you out there who finds it strange and/or unusual. Thanks.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Mechwarrior or any of it's units. (Mech's, vehicles, jumpships, ect.) I only own the idea for this fic and all made-up characters I add.
----------------------
Chapter 2
"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more." - Shakespeare (Henry V)
Swordsworn Command Post Tepha, Schedar Prefecture IV, Republic of the Sphere 15 October 3132
They were mostly Green, Vincent mostly thought about those in his Cavalier unit. Most Commanding Officers would think the same after seeing their scores in simulation training. Some of them had potential, that much he knew, it's just a question of which ones they were. His unit was mostly made up of Green Mechwarriors, with a few Veterans as well. He was perhaps the only one in the unit with enough battle experience to be considered an Elite pilot. But one has few chances to think of such things when they are too busy with the present situation. Upon his order of attention, his troops fell in at full attention, awaiting him to speak his piece. And he didn't wish to disappoint them of that.
"Listen up."
His strong voice carried,
"The Lord Governor himself has issues our new orders. Apparently, the Steel Wolves, also stationed on Schedar, have been relocating themselves along with their supplies at an alarming rate. Lord Sandoval finds it suspicious and would like to know why."
He noticed the eyes of his troops followed him, understanding his words.
"Our new orders are to locate the Steel Wolves new supply depot, and capture it. If capture is not possible, then we are instructed to destroy it. Perhaps then, we'll understand the reason for all their deployments."
"Question sir!"
Came the voice of Private Tomas Flynn. A young Mechwarrior that had lost more Mechs in simulation training than anyone else in the Cavaliers.
"What is it Flynn?"
"These new orders seem a bit too aggressive, sir. If we strike the Wolves in such a way without a reason, then aren't we provoking a war?"
"We're already at war."
Vincent snapped.
"Understand this, there are two kinds of wars. The one on the battlefields, and the ones spoken with politics. Just because you do not see any laser fire or smoking craters, doesn't mean there isn't a war happening. But you are half-correct. Our orders are too aggressive; however, they came from the Lord Governor, Duke Aaron Sandoval himself, so there is little choice in the matter."
"Yes sir. Sorry sir."
And Flynn stepped back into line. Giving Vincent the opportunity to address his troops yet again.
"I am well aware that we are not much suited for scouting parties or recon. But there is a chance we will encounter Steel Wolf forces, and perhaps receive hostile intentions. Should we be fired upon, it is our duty as Cavaliers to respond in kind."
He saw smiles appear on their faces. Most of them were hotheaded rookies who can't wait for battle. They never seem to think that they may never leave the battlefield alive. Vincent has seen more solders die in front of him in the past to last him two life times. Unfortunately, killing is one of the few things that become easier the more you do it. Even if it is in a war. Vincent knew this because he's fallen into that trap as well.
"This may be one of the more difficult challenges we've ever had people."
He tapped a few buttons on the control panel and a holomap appeared behind him. He pointed to a north-south red dotted line several miles east of Tepha.
"From the reports we got from our recon units, this is the closest route the Steel Wolves have taken their supplies. They don't seem too concerned about using a trail that would pass by Swordsworn territory so closely. Either they don't fear an attack from us, or they're on a dead line. Either way, this will be out first mission objective: To follow this route to the Steel Wolves first depot, eliminate any resistance and capture the supply building. As I said before, if acquiring the depot is not possible, then we are to destroy it by any means necessary. Are there any questions?"
He figured at least one or two of his company would speak up, but their silence was all he heard, which was fine by him.
"We are calling the ball here people. Our Lord Governor has selected us to do this mission and we must NOT let him down. Report to your Mechs in 30 minutes. Dismissed!"
And upon his order, the men and women who called themselves the Cavaliers obeyed.
In the hanger, members of the Cavaliers began their final checks on their Mechs before their mission. Corporal Britney Agrice was making one final maintenance run on her Legionnaires power plant. Though she was young, she is one of the few talented Mechwarriors in the Cavalier company. In battle, only her hair color could match the fire of passion she felt when engaged in combat. Many would believed she was bred for war, much like the Trueborn warriors of the Clans. Dressed in only combat boots, shorts, a light tank top with a coolant vest, Britney reached behind her head and settled her neurohelmet on her head. Though bulky, the padding on the coolant vest on her shoulders help kept it from being too heavy for her. After pressing a sequence of buttons, a computerized voice asked her for her voiceprint.
"Legionnaires fight for pride and honor. I fight for both with a really big gun."
She said, and the computer accepted the code, giving life to the 50-ton machine she sat in. She glanced at her secondary systems and found them all satisfactory.
"It's strange,"
She said into her neurohelmet's mike. She was sure someone heard her and her suspicions were confirmed when Gunnery Sergeant Kilees' voice asked.
"What's strange, Agrice?"
"The whole operation. Why were the Wolves in such a hurry to move everything they got?"
"That's what we're going to find out."
"But the Lord Governor has ties with Kal Radick. Why not just ask him about it instead of giving them a reason to start a war?"
"And you think the Clans are going to give us 'Inner Sphere Trash' an expiation?"
Gunnery Sergeant Kilees laughed. Though his tone was sarcastic, he did have a strange sense of humor in his bald head.
"Face it girlie, they hated us ever since Prince Victor Steiner-Davion invaded Strana Mechty and completely destroyed the Smoke Jaguars. Hell, they hated us LONG before that even. I won't be surprised if this is a trap for us because they hate us."
"Just another reason for me to be concerned, that's all Sergeant. I still think we should try to realize the potential dangers there are."
"Listen Corporal, just because you have a relationship with the Lieutenant, doesn't mean your opinions mean the same as his. Got that?"
"Yes Sergeant."
Britney would've beaten the Sergeants face to a bloody pulp if he said that to her face-to-face. Her relationship with Vincent was nobody else's business. The mere mention of it used against her angered her to the point where she had to grit her teeth shut to keep from screaming out in pure rage. However, the sound of the Mech's coming alive in the hanger would've drowned out her voice anyway.
-------------------
Well, That's it for now. Hopefully I can get the next installment up soon.
Like I said before, I don't know much about locations of the cities or how policy works in the 32nd century (Since I don't live in it.) And if I you spot something VERY wrong with the story, please inform me so I may make the necessary changes. And please remember that this is the format I choose to write in, Thank you.
Until Next Time ^_^
Theo~