CHAPTER 18

Halstead City,
Halstead Station, Ashio Prefecture,
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine,
November 22, 3074

The quiet was deadening. Five Dieron Military commanders sat motionless, frozen in time, pouring their judgmental stares upon Scarlet. They seemed like telepathically discussing the punishment for Scarlet. The lack of activity felt like the punishment itself, for Scarlet couldn't stand indecision. Punish her, cut her off, declare her as ronin, whatever. Just do something and be done with it.

"I have been following your career, Sho-sa Scarlet," one of them finally spoke. "You have an outstanding record as a soldier and a commander in the DCMS. You fight with honor and dignity under the banner of House Kurita. This decision put the Ryuken-go battalion to shame. I do not believe this decision is your brainchild."

"It was everybody's decision, Kanrei," Scarlet maintained her stoic appearance. "The Ryuken-go was done-in. There was nothing more we could do against the Word of Blake and Markham's Marauders."

"There was one more thing to do," another one tuned in. "The way of the sword. The way of samurai. The way of Bushido. Have you forgotten about Bushido, Sho-sa?"

"I have not forgotten about Bushido!" Scarlet growled. "Neither did Theodore Kurita when he started his reform."

"Be careful with your choice of words, Sho-sa!" the oldest commander boomed.

"He tricked Hanse Davion on Quentin and he trapped the unstoppable Smoke Jaguars on Wolcott, both times using strategies that would be considered shameful by DCMS standard at that time. He said it himself about his campaign – not honorable, perhaps, but we achieved a great victory and won hope for all the Inner Sphere."

"And by what standard you call your campaign a 'victory'?"

"I have never claimed victory. I only called for hope." Scarlet paused for a deep breath. "Our exit was the prerequisite for the Markham's Marauders' exit. The Markham's Marauders was the strongest force at Ashio, an elite battalion who had been in wars for decades. They have fought with Kuritans and fought against Kuritans. They knew how to manhandle Kuritans. We were completely outclassed, and it was only a matter of time until we were wiped out."

"And you chose life over honor?"

"I was not afraid to die, nor my men. But our death would not change anything. The next Kuritan force you send to Ashio will have to fight the Markham's Marauders, and will most likely share the same fate with the Ryuken-go. DCMS may have to commit 2 regiments to unseat the Markham's Marauders from Ashio, if the only way to victory is by 'fight with honor'. I struck a deal with Lt. Col. Dultom Markham, that if I took the Ryuken-go off Ashio, he would do the same. I shed honor in exchange for victory for the DCMS, because the next unit you send to Ashio will only have to fight a crippled Word of Blake battalion."

For the first time the high ranking commanders talked with each other. In the end the oldest one said, "Your unorthodox approach saves DCMS from potential disaster, but it is so far removed from DCMS doctrines of warfare, you and your unit are not to be granted commendations."

"None expected, Kanrei. I did everything for the Draconis Combine."

"And you are not to receive reinforcement as well."

This one was tough. The Ryuken-go sustained 70-percent casualties. Without reinforcement, the Ryuken-go couldn't do anything. "Kanrei, I was hoping that you would send the Ryuken-go back to Ashio to finish what we started," Scarlet said, half pleading. "Without reinforcement, we cannot possibly fight."

"You are not going back to Ashio," the commander replied. "Send your battleROM to Tai-sa Tsagoi Sandokan. His 16th Legion of Vega is ready to go. As for you and the Ryuken-go, you can have 6 months of R-n-R at any planet of your choice."

"Kanrei…"

"That is all, Sho-sa. You're dismissed."

Scarlet knew the decision was final. Any attempt change their minds would damage the Ryuken-go even more. The only thing Scarlet could do was to follow direction, and to hope she could find another way for reinforcement before Operation SCOUR commenced.


It took Scarlet a few minutes to establish comlink with Tsagoi, something that never happened before. When his face appeared on her noteputer, she noticed he was out of shape. His hair was shaggy, and his headband was rashly made, as if it was put on at the last second. Scarlet had an idea what was taking place, and she was thinking of disconnecting the comlink, but he already picked it up.

"Am I interrupting something, Sir?" she asked.

"As a matter of fact you are, Sho-sa," Tsagoi replied coldly. "I am in a meeting with Dieron intelligence. But since you are already in the meeting, let's listen to what you have to say so they can appreciate the good work of Ryuken-go at Ashio."

"Many apologies, Sir," Scarlet bowed her head. She had no idea she just interrupted an important meeting. "I'll be brief. Dieron High Command asked me to deliver the Ryuken-go's battleROM to you. They are thinking of sending the 16th Legion of Vega to take Ashio back from the Word of Blake. It should be in your inbox in a few minutes."

"Sure, I'll take it. Thank you, Sho-sa. The meeting went well, I presume?"

"As expected, Sir. Dieron High Command did not approve what we did at Ashio, but they accepted the consequences of our action, which is a depleted Word of Blake garrison, easily beaten by even the weakest planetary militia in DCMS roster. They seemed to lean toward your unit, Sir, but whomever they send should not have a problem with the Word of Blake force at Ashio. Of that, I am sure."

"Good work, Sho-sa." Tsagoi punched in a few keys on his end. "I see your battleROM. I will study it to prepare my unit."

"Thank you, Sir. Good luck. I will take my leave."

"One more thing," Tsagoi said brusquely. "There is something that is off a great interest to me. What do you think of the new recruit?"

"Tai-I Noloty, Sir?" Scarlet frowned. "I made her my 2nd in command. I think my action speaks for itself."

"Why did you do it? Is it because she helped Major Fernandes at Mesartim, so you feel obliged to return the favor? Is it because she performed above and beyond? I mean, Kiyomi is your second most senior officer, and if I remember correctly, you didn't even want Noloty on your team. Then suddenly, she is your 2nd in command ahead of Kiyomi?"

"I don't even know what to do with her, Sir!" Scarlet let herself be consumed with rage. "This whole mess was her idea! She convinced me to trick the Markham's Marauders into believing that the Ryuken-go was actually bigger than it was! She put me in a position where I can NOT refuse Dultom Markham's term to leave Ashio before I completed my mission! Now the Ryuken-go suffers for that! We are not getting reinforcement, as a punishment for our action! Now the Ryuken-go cannot take part in Operation SCOUR! I'm still debating if we were better off fighting to the last man at Ashio.

"However, the more I think of her, the more I'm convinced that she is the perfect model of Theodore Kurita's reformation. I didn't want her in Ryuken-go because of her Black Dragon background. Yet Ashio campaign was a reenactment of Black Dragon – Theodore Kurita conflict, with me as the Black Dragon and Noloty as Theodore Kurita. She perfectly understands what it takes for the Draconis Combine to win the war, and she is willing to pay the price. It sucks that the Ryuken-go has to suffer, but the end result should be the glory of Draconis Combine, a fact I foolishly overlooked because of my vanity and devotion to the Ryuken-go. As much as I hate her vision of war, she is the best mechwarrior I have."

"You are a wise commander, Sho-sa Scarlet," Tsagoi earnestly said. "The Ryuken-go will get back up in no time under your guide. You don't have to rely on DCMS to replenish your ranks. Recruit personnel on your own. The quality might not be on par with fresh graduates from Sun Zhang, but you can pick your own personnel to match your fighting skill, and the Ryuken-go's tactics."

"Thank you, Sir, I will keep that in mind," Scarlet nodded politely. "I won't keep you from your meeting any longer. Scarlet out."


As Tsagoi turned off his noteputer, Noloty peeked from the pile of blankets and pillows, making sure that he had wrapped up his conversation.

"Did Scarlet see me?" she coyly asked.

"She knows I'm with you," Tsagoi stripped his shirt, flaunting his Elemental-like musculature. "I told her I was in a meeting with intel, but I'm not sure she bought it. Why do you care?"

"I don't know, I'm just concerned that people would associate my sudden change in position with my relationship with you."

"Now you know why I didn't take you in my unit," Tsagoi climbed the bed and slowly peeled the blankets off Noloty, layer by layer. "I knew you were capable of climbing the ladder the moment I saw you on the field. If you climbed the rank as a Legion of Vega, people would never accept you as you are. This way, as a Ryuken-go, nobody can say you cheat your way to the top. You did this by your own merit."

Noloty cooed as her fingers traced Tsagoi's brick-hard muscles. "Aren't you the wiseman."

"Spending time in the battlefield for too long tend to do that to people."

"Is that so? What else did you notice the first time you saw me?"

Tsagoi pulled the last layer of blanket to reveal Noloty's nubile body. "That you had the best sets of rack in the entire military district."

"Really? Better than Scarlet's?"

"Depends on who you ask. If you ask the Davions, they may throw their money on Scarlet's."

Noloty burst into laughter, then pulled Tsagoi to lie on top of her. "I love you, Tsagoi-kun."

"I love you too, Noloty." Tsagoi swiped her bang and traced the stitch mark on her forehead with his finger. "You have earned your badge of honor."

"Are you put off by it?" Noloty muttered.

"Not even close." He kissed the mark. "Kayoko told me how you got it. It makes a nice counterpart for many of mine. Now tell me you're not put off by them."

"Pain heals, chick dig scars, glory last forever," Noloty smiled and ran her hands on his scar-ridden body.

"That's my girl," Tsagoi kissed her, and the two of them got lost in each other's arm. Noloty's arm went up and down Tsagoi's back while his hands found home on her shoulder. Their breaths became labored as it was more and more difficult to take air. But the feeling of their skin rubbing each other was too addicting to break, and they continued their passion for a few minutes.

When Noloty started burying her nails into his biceps, he broke the kiss and started grinding into her. "Now let's see if you are ready for your new position!" he growled into her ears.

"Ow… Ouch! Ouch! No! No no no, I'm not ready!" Noloty put both hands on Tsagoi's chest, stopping him from making his advance with all her might. She had not forgotten that he was 'blessed' in his physique, and rushing would only end up ruining the night. Especially that she hadn't seen him for months.

"What?! You are not ready as the 2nd in command for the Ryuken-go?" Tsagoi pulled himself up, mischief bleeding from his eyes. "What kind of answer is that, Tai-i? You will bring shame to your entire unit!"

"Bastard!" Noloty slammed her heels into his waist, causing him to keel over. "I am ready for that! I am not ready for you! You're a lot of man to handle, you know that!"

"Then let's get you ready," Tsagoi snickered and went back to business, much gentler this time. "We have all night for ourselves."

Noloty suspected she had to call in sick the next day.


END OF BOOK IV