CHAPTER 9

Pummelo, Outworlds Alliance,
May 21, 3074

The damage to the command center was not severe, but it was a deliberate attempt to take down the building, even though the Kuritan knew there was a chance that the POW was held captive there. Neptune knew Kuritan regarded their MIA as lost causes, but the POW was a ranking officer, the field commander of the plant. Talon Sergeant Drake knew that the POW was still alive. The fact he didn't make further effort to extract the high-ranking POW was befuddling to say the least.

"The turret control tower is completely destroyed," Mogami said in heavy tone. "Half of the turret were still intact, but completely useless without the control tower. We don't have the resources to restore the turret grid. If the Kuritans attack again, we will be sitting ducks."

"I know," Neptune sighed. "I think we need to abandon this base. Shame, though. These turrets were still operational, if only we have competent techs and logistics."

Mogami nodded. "Look, Lance Commander, I do not agree with your plan, but for all its worth, your lance performed admirably during combat. We dispatched a mix company of tanks and mechs, with no casualties on our side, and that's no small feat. I take back everything I said about you being a glory hunter. In fact, your professionalism deserves recognition, and I will see to it when this is all over. Thank you, for sticking with my lance."

Neptune let out a small smile. "I think the blame is on the Kuritans, Sergeant. There's an old saying that 'When you surround an army, leave an outlet free. Do not press a desperate foe too hard'. You know why? Because the deadliest enemy of all is one who fights with his back against the wall."

Mogami scoffed unamused. "Sun Tzu?"

"The real one, not the Capellan backstabber," Neptune offered a handshake. "We're in this together. Perhaps we can turn attention to the matter at hand with more civilized recourse."

Mogami grabbed Neptune's hand. "I will prepare my lance for departure."

"Good. I will question the prisoner some more."

Mogami shot a quizzical look. "Question?"

"Something doesn't feel right. The Kuritans seem to forget her worth all too quickly. I just want to cover all the basis, make sure we're not missing anything."

Mogami stood dumbfounded, and a couple of times it looked like she was going to start another dispute. But in the end, she just turned around and walked away.

Neptune caught the flame of jealousy in Mogami's eyes, and he thought he was just hallucinating. But he couldn't deny he was intrigued. He developed a lust after the hot sergeant, and perhaps it was just war stress, with him being away from his girlfriend and things not progressing the way he wanted. It would soon pass. Yet, he wondered if she felt the same about him. His mind brought him further, exploring the possibility of them to come to more 'agreeable' terms and 'compare notes' in a more 'intimate' circumstances.

Get it straight, you horny bastard! Neptune shrugged it off and proceeded to the command center.

The heat in gym was barely sufficient for the POW, who was still shackled to the exercise bench. She was still wearing her mechwarrior gear. The Davions left her half naked in the cold to break her. Her lips were turning blue. Steam wafted weakly from her mouth, and her body shivered. Her lids fluttered. Yet despite hovering on the brink of hypothermia, she maintained her dignity, never once asked for the Davions to relieve her from her torment.

Neptune put his tactical jacket over her. He observed her for quite some time, then bent his back so he was face to face with the captive. "Who are you?"

The captive answered with a short glare, laden with malice.

"Come with me," Neptune cut her ties, then coaxed her to stand. She staggered, summoning all the strength remained to stand tall in front of her enemy. But she was severely weakened from the torture and the cold, her legs shook and her knees buckled, barely able to support her body. Neptune tied her wrists behind her back, slung his tactical jacket on her shoulder, then put his arms under her armpit to support her. Then he led her outside.

Outside, he took a few paces then turned her around to face the command center. "Your comrades made attempt to take out this building, knowing that you are inside. You are dead to them. There is no point keeping up your resistance."

"We have been at war for hundreds of years and you're still unaccustomed to Kuritan soldiers," the POW finally responded, weakly, but defiantly.

"Is that so?" Neptune let out a wry chuckle. "Or perhaps it is you who are unaccustomed to current situation in the Inner Sphere. Davions and Kuritans have been close allies for the past 30 years, fighting hand in hand against common enemies. First the Clans, then the Word of Blake. Do you know about this? Or are you still living in the Fourth Succession War?"

"Politics is fickle," the POW sneered. "Davions and Kuritans may be allies in the Word of Blake front, but the Periphery is a different game altogether. Everybody wants a piece of the cake."

"And what cake is this?" Neptune dug deeper. "What is so important here that Davions and Kuritans risk their jihad collaboration?"

The POW gave Neptune a derogatory look. "What soldier goes to war not knowing why he has to put his life on a line?"

"My job is to relieve Davion loyalists from being massacred by Kuritan organized crime group."

"Massacre? You think so little of your own ally," the POW smiled.

"Then you're not looking at the same fact as I am," Neptune said carefully. He was going into a dangerous territory, and although it promised a good result, it could hurt him just as much. "I could show you graphic footage of Davion casualties, but knowing you, you're just going to dismiss it, because nothing values more than honor for the Draconis Combine. Which in this case, I doubt it was for Draconis Combine, because the Yakuza is driving your war effort."

The POW didn't answer. She just gazed blankly at the damaged command center.

"Isn't it a custom in Kuritan honor system that you introduce yourself to your enemy?" Neptune said.

"You watch too many movies," the POW scoffed. "We don't do that. Only to the worthy opponent."

"My name is Lance Commander Neptune, Lexington Legends Mercenary Command. You fought an honorable battle before you fell. I consider you a worthy opponent."

The POW didn't answer for a long time. When Neptune thought he should go back to torture, she sighed and whispered under her breath, "Master Sergeant Kasumi. I am 6th in line of Okita family."

Neptune always knew she was a ranking officer. He had no idea she was also a noble woman. "That's why that Drake guy asked for you."

"Talon Sergeant Drake?" Kasumi looked at Neptune.

Neptune nodded. "He asked us to return you. I dismissed it because I thought it was a trap."

"Drake is a fool," Kasumi sighed heavily. "As you have said, I am already dead to them. He did what he did to impress me." She looked around to observed the litters of Kuritan tanks and mechs on the field. "And look what he did."

"Well well, this is more interesting than I thought," Neptune grinned. "Seems like I just stole a face that launches a thousand ships… or in this case, a company of mechs?"

"I'm sure after this disaster you will never see him again," Kasumi huffed.

"I don't think so. I saw his eyes. Nothing will stop him from trying again. And that, Master Sergeant, makes you our very valuable spoil of war." He turned to tease her. "How do you feel about him, by the way?"

"I regret the day that we met," Kasumi dipped her head. "His actions are driven by his desire, and his men pay for it with their lives. And I am responsible."

"You could stop it by telling me what the Yakuza is looking for in here, so we can stop further killings."

Kasumi gave Neptune a dumb stare. "The Davions didn't tell you?"

"They employed the Lexington Legends to prevent a massacre."

"Then you are being used. There has been no massacre, and even if there is, the Davions do not care about it. They only care what everybody cares about in this planet."

"Which is?" Neptune grimaced.

Kasumi took a deep breath. "Brian's Cache."

"You're telling me there's a Brian's Cache in Pummelo?" Neptune raised his brows.

"That's the only reason why the Yakuza is here, why you are here, why the Outworlds Alliance is here, and why half a dozen crime families from neighboring planets are here." Kasumi shook her head in disappointment. "Everybody wants to be ahead in their war effort. Brian's Cache is one of those things that will put you at the top of your game, if only for a short while."

"Do you know the location of this Brian's Cache?"

"Even if I do, why should I tell you?"

"So be it, then," Neptune nodded in agreement. "Thank you for your cooperation."

"Cooperation? I merely educate you in doing your job," Kasumi still maintained defiance.

"Information is information. I cannot release you yet. With you in my possession, Drake will return, with more assets than before. It is a chance I will take to kick the Yakuza out of this world, thus putting the Davion loyalist and your family back in equal footing. But I promise, when we get to that point, I will release you."

"What's the weight of a mercenary's word?"

"You don't know until you see it yourself. In the mean time, for sharing information, I will make your situation a little comfortable." Neptune zipped the jacket. "Keep this to make you warm."

Kasumi looked at Neptune in the earnest. "Thank you."

Neptune led her back to the gym, secured her back to the exercise bench, then immediately contacted Korra "Commander, I have information regarding our mission. Seems that the Yakuza is after a Brian's Cache."

"Well I didn't expect that," Korra snickered. "Where do you get this information?"

"A POW."

"Is this reliable?"

"Don't know, but it makes sense. Why would the Yakuza visit this podunk hollow of a planet, spending millions of c-bills and hundreds of personnel if they can't get anything out of it?"

"Then why not the Kuritans themselves?"

"Maybe because they're tied up at the Word of Blake fronts. Operation SCOUR is boiling up, and Devlin Stone needs every good unit to bring jihad to an end. Yakuza seems to be a good alternative, just like the Lexington Legends for the Davions."

"One of our objectives is to gather intelligence. Do you think Major Fernandes and the Federated Suns already know that there's a Brian Cache in Pummelo?"

"Yes, Ma'am. So I suggest we do not rely this information to Major Fernandes. We don't know his real intention with the Brian's Cache."

Korra didn't say anything for a brief while. "You're probably right. Fernandes is a maverick, a rogue who walks among the Davions in his own drumbeat. I will hold this information while waiting for new development. What's your sitrep?"

"We occupied a mountain facility and took hold a POW. Turns out the POW is a noble. She's 6th in line to lead the Okita family. The Kuritans came for her but we managed to turn the turret grid against them. We managed to keep them at bay. They lost a company of tanks and mechs, in exchange of the turret grid. The leader of the attacking force is somehow linked to the POW. He will come back for her, guns blazing, and we are low on armor and ammunition, and we can't hold the Kuritan the second time. We are going to evacuate the base in a matter of hours."

"Nobody can put the turrets back up?"

"The control tower is down, and we don't have the resource and manpower to can put them back up quickly. The only way is to evacuate."

"How sure are you that the Kuritans are coming back for the POW?"

"Pretty sure, Ma'am. We just slapped them in the face. They're not going to let it go unavenged."

"Alright, there's an offshore refinery with several turrets going online. I will send you the coordinates. Lead the team there and wait for the Kuritans. Once they attack, I will order the rest of the team to hit their rear flank. If their casualties mount up, hopefully the Yakuza will think about their campaign in this area."

"Acknowledged, Ma'am," Neptune replied.

"See you at the offshore refinery. Good work, Lance Commander."

"Thank you, Ma'am." Neptune turned off the comlink, then called Mogami through his personal comset. "Sergeant, we'll move out in 6 hours. We'll rendezvous with Commander Korra at an offshore refinery, and set up a trap for the Kuritans. Have your lance ready."

"Affirmative," Mogami replied with a hint of excitement in her voice. "I pray for this day for so long. The Kuritans won't see it coming!"

Six hours later eight Davion battlemechs left the mountain facility through the small pass, exactly where they came a few days earlier.