CHAPTER 6

Author's Note: I have to bump this story to 'M' because of the nature of this chapter (and many others to come) ;)

Review Corner

The Colonel: I will keep that in mind :)

Guest: Soon. Stay tuned for more.


Halstead City,
Halstead Station, Ashio Prefecture,
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine,
January 21, 3074

As soon as the dropship doors open, the civilians flowed out of the hangar, creeping down the ramp like water. Local Guard and Pacifier securitymechs directed the civilians to various pickup destinations, while paramedics treated the injured and sick ones. About a third of the civilians were taken to the MASH units scattered around the landing zone.

Noloty stood by the ledge overlooking the hangar, watching the civilians slowly disembarked the dropship. Oblivia was already out, assisting the civilians to their next destinations. Tsagoi was on his comset since they touched down at Halstead City, a metropolitan covered in a gigantic dome to protect the inhabitants from the toxic atmosphere. His voice stood out, sorting through the cacophony of civilians and the rumbling of the dropship. Yet she couldn't make out any words. Everything jumbled up in one convoluting dissonance.

Twenty minutes passed and the dropship was almost entirely deserted. The civilians were out and the dropship crew were soon to follow. Noloty looked at Tsagoi just as he mercifully ended his conversation. He folded his comset and put it in his pocket, grinning wolfishly at her. "All set," he said, "your potential boss agrees to meet you."

"Here?" Noloty said while following Tsagoi like a puppy following the leader of the pack.

"Here," Tsagoi replied as he blitzed through the stairway. "A few units are at Halstead Station in preparation to attack the World of Blake. Oblivia told you that."

"Right," Noloty cringed. She ran through her experience, picking up the highlights of her short career to impress her potential employer, and coining a few excuses to mask the low points. To her understanding this was a Kuritan unit, so showing off as being a staunch traditional Kuritan might boost her credential, but her connection with the Black Dragon Society could undo her high points. She made a mental note to gauge the reaction of the interviewer before playing her cards. After all, job interview was nothing more than a poker game.

Leaving the dropship on foot, Tsagoi led her to a short tent across the field. He swept the parka and let Noloty in. Inside the tent 2 individuals greeted them. One was a woman, a hawk-eyed lioness with flowing red hair and a bang that almost covered half of her face. She wore a sleeveless gray vest, showing off a tattoo on her upper left arm. The other one is a tall man, as tall as Tsagoi but with leaner physique, short-cropped hair, and a stare that stabbed Noloty's soul from across the tent.

"Tai-sa Tsagoi," the woman greeted him. "Enjoyed the flight?"

"Not that much different than any other jumping and recharging," Tsagoi replied halfheartedly. "Noloty, this is Sho-sa Scarlet, CO of Ryuken-go, and Tai-I Seether, Scarlet's 2nd-in-command and right-hand man. Scarlet, Seether, this is Heishi Noloty."

"Hajimemashite," Noloty bowed.

"Heishi Noloty was briefly attached to my lance at Ashio, and I am impressed with her skill, resourcefulness, and devotion to the House Kurita. She is currently looking for a unit to serve. She has hands-on experience with the Markham's Marauders, which can be a critical addition for you and your battalion. She already has a mech, a Sagittaire, though it needs serious TLC." He gave Noloty an assurance nod. "I'll be outside."

Noloty felt like she was standing naked in front of the two officers. The woman's skeptical glare seemed like peeling off her skin, and the man's cold, borderline indifferent stare gave her a hint about his stand for this meeting. Everything pointed out to a bad, maligned 'interview'.

"You have a transfer letter?" the redhead woman, presumably Sho-sa Scarlet, growled.

"No, Ma'am."

"Then why do you come to me? What happened to your old unit?"

"I was part of the 2nd Sword of Light task force to Lyran spa…"

"The Black Dragon Society," Scarlet curtly interjected. Loathe bled from her eyes. "I have no place for traitors in my unit." She stood up and walked straight at Noloty. "The Ryuken-go has a long history of unwavering loyalty to the Coordinator of Draconis Combine. What makes you feel that your narrow-minded traditionalism would fit in my unit?"

"I am not a traditionalist, Ma'am," Noloty buckled under Scarlet's intense pressure. "I joined the Black Dragon Society for the wrong reason…"

"I'm not interested in the logic behind your history," Scarlet muttered, "or lack thereof. If Tai-sa Tsagoi didn't refer you, I wouldn't even waste my time."

"What happened to your task force to Lyran space?" Seether, the black-haired tall man, broke his silence.

Noloty pondered if telling the story would make a difference. They were not interested in her. Whatever she said wouldn't matter. Seether probably took pity on her for having to endure Scarlet's insults. She might not join the Ryuken-go, but she had a chance to make her true allegiance clear, and she was not about to pass it.

"We were ordered to strike a Lyran war college and kill a high-ranking officer. We failed, and the entire task force was decimated. I was lucky to survive."

"Survive?" Scarlet threw daggers from her eyes. She was barely half an inch taller than Noloty, but the gravity of her stare made her look like an 8.5-feet Elemental warrior bearing down on Noloty's small frame. "Or abandon your comrade?"

"Three of us survived. I stayed behind so the two could escape with a few Black Dragon operatives. If they manage to return to DCMS, they might have rejoined the 2nd Sword of Light. I have their ID numbers if you want to confirm my story."

"Do you expect us to believe that you covered for your comrades' retreat, then escape yourself?" Seether showed sparks of interest. "What Lyran unit were you fighting against?"

"Strantor Training Cadre, Sir, backed up by Striking Tigers Battalion."

"That's an elite Lyran battalion. You're claiming you escaped from an elite unit?"

"You can confirm my story with the other two survivors, Sir. They will vouch for me."

"Why are you leaving the 2nd Sword of Light?" Scarlet said.

"I was too naive to see their true intentions, Ma'am. I thought they wanted the best for the people of Draconis Combine. I want to serve House Kurita. I want to fight the Word of Blake, because the Word of Blake is wrong for the Inner Sphere and poses a great danger to the integrity of Draconis Combine. The Black Dragon Society and the 2nd Sword of Light care none about those."

"We are going to liberate Ashio," Seether tuned in. "We are fighting the Markham's Marauders, a mercenary unit renowned for its brutality. We are not particularly looking for a Heishi to fill our rank."

"I just came from Ashio, Sir. I fought them. I know how they use artillery. I know how they move. If you let me join your unit, you can use my knowledge to beat the Marauders."

"So now you're claiming you fought Dultom Markham and lived to tell the tale?" Scarlet scoffed jeeringly.

"It uh… it did happen, Ma'am. Tai-sa Tsagoi will confirm it."

Scarlet spent some time looking at Noloty, weighing if she should go for Noloty or gamble with another prospect. Her knowledge of Ashio would be a tremendous asset for the Ryuken-go, but her track record as a Black Dragon operative belittled her high points. In the end Scarlet gave Noloty a dubious answer. "There are a lot of Kuritan units with skeleton crews getting ready to fight the Word of Blake. You are better off with them."

Noloty felt Scarlet's decision was unfair, but she couldn't do anything to change that. She took a step back and bowed. "Thank you for your time, Ma'am. I wish you good fortune."

Getting out of the tent, she went straight at Tsagoi, who was talking to a few people. "So?" he said.

Noloty shrugged. "They don't want me."

"Bullshit. Did you tell them you escaped from the Lyrans?"

"Yes."

"Did you tell them you fought Dultom Markham?"

"Yes."

"And they still sent you off?"

"What can I say, Sir? I am an ex Black Dragon. I'm a traitor in their eyes."

"Scarlet is a proud but opinionated warrior. It is not easy to persuade her."

"So what now, Sir?" Noloty sighed, dejected.

"Let's go to town for quality food. I'm getting sick of military rations."


After months of eating refrigerated food, Noloty craved for nice, hot, bubbling Japanese soup, and a bottle of sake to wash away the insults of Sho-sa Scarlet. But Tsagoi's eatery of choice was more like a pub of western culture rather than a traditional Kuritan restaurant. The customers were mostly FedSun operatives. It made her a little disappointed. But it beat dropship rations. She could settle with burgers, fries, and cheap Davion beer.

Tsagoi, however, wasn't really thinking about food. Not a minute after they arrived, he hooked up with a haggard man with spiky hair wearing 1st FedSun Armored Cavalry fatigue. His right cheek was decked with some kind of a tribal tattoo, spanning from the bottom of his eyes down to his jaw.

"Tai-sa Tsagoi told me you were looking for a unit to serve," the man greeted Noloty with a warm smile. "Major Fernandes, 1st FedSun Armored Cavalry. Nice to meet you."

"Heishi Noloty Malche," Noloty threw a quick salute. "I hope I can find a good DCMS unit."

"Scarlet met up with her," Tsagoi shot a devious smile. "I don't think she's impressed."

"Hell I take her," Fernandes said lightheartedly. "My unit has holes I need to plug."

"She already has a Sagittaire, survivor of Jormungandr."

"Well there you go! As far as I'm concerned, you're a Davion. Do you want to serve the Federated Suns? We pay better than DCMS."

Noloty threw a 'what-the-hell-are-you-doing-I-don't-want-to-join-Davion' look at Tsagoi, but the big man mercifully rebuked Fernandes' aggressive advance. "Her heart has but one desire: to serve the Draconis Combine."

"Too bad," Fernandes clicked his tongue. "Well if you change your mind, have 'him' call me. I can make transfer arrangements."

"I'm honored, Sir, but no thank you," Noloty forced a smile.

"I gotta get going. Nice to see you buddy," Fernandes punched Tsagoi in the shoulder. "See you around."

Noloty waited until Fernandes exited the restaurant, then bore down her anxiety on Tsagoi. "Permission to speak freely, Sir."

"We are not in the same chain of command, Noloty. You can always speak freely with me."

"Did you offer my service to Major Fernandes?"

"No. Why would I do that? I know where your loyalty lies."
"Then why do I get an impression that you are offering me to Major Fernandes' unit?"

"Let's just say I know things you don't."

"Why are you making this complicated, Sir? Why can't you just take me as a member of the 13th Legion of Vega? Are you not satisfied with my performance?"

"Listen to me, Heishi," Tsagoi turned around and grabbed Noloty's arms. "You have no idea how much I want you in my unit. But in doing so I am being selfish. The Ryuken-go needs you more than the 13th ever would. Sho-sa Scarlet needs you more than what she is willing to admit. And Scarlet knows this. Don't think she is not thinking about taking you in, because I know she is." He let her go and gave her a smirk. "Now… let's not the encumbrance of allegiance hold us from enjoying our meal."

Noloty had no idea what was going on. She felt like she was trapped in a political or military power play between leaders. But she had this feeling that she could trust Tsagoi's judgment. He would not put her in a difficult position. She didn't know why he just wouldn't tell her everything, but rather than pestering him like a little kid, she would just wait for things to unfold.


Sho-sa Scarlet tried to enjoy the evening, but her mind wouldn't let her rest. She had this adorable man, utterly enamored by her curves and her double-D packages, striving to make her feel like a goddess for the last half hour, but all she could think was Tai-sa Tsagoi Sandokan and that little dark-skinned wench he brought with him. Not even her lover's warm and teasing lips could wipe the image of Heishi Noloty Malche from her mind.

Why did she hate that girl so much? Was it because she was a Black Dragon? Was it because she reminded her of her younger self, with tighter curves and smaller but more proportionate breasts? Or was it because Tai-sa Tsagoi threw his reputation behind this unknown mechwarrior, something she wished somebody had done for her?

"I never see you enjoy life anymore," her lover finally picked up her lack of enthusiasm. He climbed out from under the blanket and lied down beside her. "You don't even smile these days."

"What do you expect, Fernandes?" Scarlet rolled over to her side, exposing her bare back at the man. "We are in the advent of a major operation at Word of Blake Protectorate. I'm going to Ashio in a few months. You're going to Styk Commonality even sooner. Are you not burdened by the thought in the slightest?"

Major Fernandes lit up a cigarette and puffed a long cloud of smoke. "Is this because of that new girl?"

Scarlet shot up from the bed. "Where did you get this information?"

"I met them at the pub," Fernandes' lips curled into a smile. "Tai-sa Tsagoi and her, Noni Ray Cyrus…"

"Noloty Malche," Scarlet snarled.

"Whatever. Tsagoi said you met her but not interested."

"She's a Black Dragon," Scarlet sat on the bed and hugged her legs. "A thorn in DCMS flesh."

"If you're not interested, I want her. We Davions have no quarrels with them Black Dragons."

That statement jabbed Scarlet straight on the heart. "No you can't!" she said, half yelling.

"You're being unreasonable," Fernandes ran her fingertips on Scarlet's back, dancing around the threads of her long red hair. "If you don't want her, let me have her. The 1st FedSun Armored Cavalry is operating at only 60-percent strength. Tsagoi spoke highly of her, so she should have some value. Not to mention she already has a Sagittaire, Robinson's newest assault."

Scarlet could feel her blood boiling. "No, you can't. I'm taking her."

Fernandes let out a long chuckle. "You're never a good liar, Scarlet."

Scarlet turned around and painted Fernandes with her death glare. Undaunted, Fernandes reached to cup her jiggling breast, but she violently slapped his arm. She reached for her comset and dialed a number. "Heishi Noloty? Sho-sa Scarlet, Ryuken-go. Meet me at Ryuken-go camp tomorrow morning, sharp. I'm giving you a tryout." She slammed shut the receiver and threw the comset to the night stand. "You call me a liar again, I will kill you!"

"I like it better when you're mad," Fernandes threw himself at her. Scarlet gyrated to her right but Fernandes was faster. He pinned her to the bed, grinding his midsection at hers, letting her know that he was more than ready. "We always have a good time when you're angry at something."

"You Davion bastard!" Scarlet writhed and squirmed away from Fernandes, but every attempt she made only made him slip deeper into more comfortable position. She resisted his advance, but in the end she let his warm skin joined hers in the cloud of pleasure. He was right, after all. Everything was better when she was angry.