CHAPTER 11

Pummelo, Outworlds Alliance,
May 25, 3074

The plunge into the icy water gave Neptune into all sort of problems, but thanks to medical technology, he was back up and running in 2 days. He was still a little groggy, and the medics didn't allow him to go back to the cockpit for a while. Which was a good thing, because his Jagermech needed serious TLC from extended battles with the Kuritans. If the Kuritan returned for more blood, he would definitely sit out.

Fortunately for the Legends and Davion loyalists, the last 3 battles were decisive victories. That was what Neptune hoped to achieve in the first place, that the engagements were so costly for the Yakuza invaders that they had no choice but to withdraw from the world of Pummelo. Now that they were running low on assets and personnel, the Legends was in a position to dictate the course of the war with the Kuritans.

But it was his to concern. Right now Neptune's sole interest was Sergeant Mogami. He had not seen her for 2 days, and last time he remembered, she was out cold in a prolonged exposure with cold water. He wanted to know what happened to her, and he wanted to tell her how the course of the conflict had swayed toward Davion's favor, which would make her excited.

The room contained only one simple bed with a post to hang IV bottles. No beeping electronic sound, no monitors of heartbeat, nothing. Mogami lied on the bed, wrapped in thick shroud to regulate her temperature. Her face was pale as a ghost, but her eyes didn't lose its spirit. They sparkled in excitement as Neptune entered the room, because his expression gave out what he was going to say before he said it.

"How you feeling?" Neptune sat on the bed.

"Like shit," Mogami smiled weakly. "Sam, Alex, and Clover told me what you did. I never expect such act from a soldier of fortune like you. I don't know what to say, except maybe 'I owe you my life'."

"You don't owe me anything," Neptune scooted over and put her feet on his lap. They were as cold as ice. "You would do the same." For days he had been tortured by her exquisite look, and he had been dying to know how her skin would feel. He caressed her feet, and the feeling gave him a jolt. It took him a few moments to regain composure, and to hide the growing bulge in his pants. "You're ready for debriefing?"

"Fire away," Mogami rested her head on the pillow.

"We destroyed more than a battalion of Kuritan war machines. One company of armor assets at the mountain, a company of boats at the refinery, a company of gunships, a company of battlemechs, and some additional tanks and mechs during the first skirmish at the mountain plant. I don't know the number of casualties, but I reckon it's in the hundreds. That's a very expensive loss for them, one they may not recover. Our side only lost 1 battlemech. Yours. No casualties, just a few WIA's."

"Not bad for Davion-Guards wannabees and 2nd-rated mercenaries," Mogami quipped.

"You have a demented low self esteem," Neptune smiled. "Now the Yakuza is in deep shit, and they have to abandon their operation, leaving the Okita family open for counteroffensive. This is the time to drive the nails in their coffin, but unfortunately our mechs are in bad shape, so perhaps negotiation is a better choice. We control the battlefield, and we still have the POW, one of Okita's member. Whatever we demand, they are in no position to refuse. But in any way. your patron can return to this world and reestablish lost settlement."

"They'd better have their bank account ready," Mogami giggled.

"No. They don't hire the Lexington Legends. 1st Federated Suns Armored Cavalry did."

They made eye contact for a brief moment, and Neptune felt bad for giving in to his lust. Granted, he had been away from his girlfriend for a long time, and his body ached for her touch, and it tried to scratch the itch with the closest thing available. But he should've had more self control. More rectitude. More fidelity to the one that gave her heart to him. The longer he looked at Mogami, the smaller he felt.

However, he couldn't stop. There was something in the sergeant that captivated him and wouldn't let go.

"Ma'am, there's an Austin Merriam to see you," the nurse mercifully interrupted their visual bonding.

"Austin," Mogami hissed bitterly.

"I'll leave you two alone," Neptune stood and started walking toward the door.

"No, no, no, it's not what you think," Mogami quickly rebuked. Her cheeks turned pink and her voice shook with nervousness. "Austin is my long-time friend. We had a deal to back each other up during this conflict, then he left me hanging. Perhaps it's high time to hear what he has to say about his 'non-showing-up'." She looked at him; her eyes pleading. "Stay here."

Neptune acknowledged the sincerity in her eyes, and he nodded. He scooted over when a boy entered the room. He stood half a foot shorter than Neptune, with medium build and spiky red hair that looked like that of a punk rocker. His stare, however, was full of remorse; the kind of stare that a kid had when he knew he did something that would get him in a big trouble.

"Well, Austin," Mogami sneered. "Very convenient of you to give me a visit after everything quiets down."

"I heard your distress signal," Austin replied. "I knew you needed help, and I am sorry for not coming to your aid. But my father sent me off world to negotiate a contract with a mercenary unit. All comlink was controlled by my father. My hands were bound. There was no way I could reach you in time." He threw a glance at Neptune, inspecting him from head to toe. He turned to Mogami with quizzical stare. "Who is this guy?"

"This is Lance Commander Neptune, Lexington Legends mercenary command," Mogami puffed. "1st Federated Suns Armored Cavalry sent them to assist Langmore family and Davion loyalists. If they didn't come, we would've been wiped out by the Okita and the Yakuza."

"Which side are you on, Kid?" Neptune threw barb at Austin.

"My allegiance is to Merriam family, but Sergeant Mogami is my friend," Austin returned the insult. "I don't expect you to understand my position, because the only language you speak is money."

"I understand loyalty," Neptune walked up to Austin. "I understand commitment. Even when money is the driving force, I stay true to my words and finish what I start. And I understand camaraderie." He looked straight into Austin's eyes. "I do not leave my friends behind."

"Alright, Neptune, that's enough." Mogami pulled herself up the bed. "Austin, I appreciate you coming down here to visit me, but there is nothing you can do. The battles have been won. The Okita has been defeated, and soon we will force them to relinquish land they occupied with the help of the Yakuza. The Yakuza lost so much assets they are expected to leave this world soon. That's all there is to it."

"Congratulations on your victory," Austin replied solemnly, "but the war is far from over. As you may have noticed, the Navarro family has been quietly observing this conflict. They are waiting for the other two crime families to destroy each other, so their job to dominate Pummelo will become easier."

"I expect that maneuver," Mogami sighed.

"My family struck a multi-million deal with the Navarro family, and part of the deal is to bring a mercenary unit to wipe out the remnants of Okita-Langmore conflict in the name of the Navarro." Austin pulled out his noteputter and punched in some codes. The thing put out a hologram of battlemech formations, painted in black white cross accent. "Redfield Renegades Mercenary Unit. They are 2 jumps away from Outworlds Alliance border. Estimated time of arrival 2 months."

"Redfield Renegades is usually associated with Successor Houses," Neptune stated. "Outworlds Alliance is too far from the center of the Inner Sphere, don't you think?"

"Everybody has interest in the world of Pummelo," Austin retorted.

"So where is this Brian's Cache?" Neptune went straight to the point. "Does it even exist? Or is everybody wasting time and energy on a myth?"

"As of now, everything is only speculation. But everybody wants to be ahead of the game. Surely this effort weighs nothing compared to the technological advantage provided by the Brian's Cache, even if everything ended up to be a waste."

"So what's your plan, Austin?" Mogami asked incredulously. "Where do you stand in this whole situation?"

"I cannot defy my father's will to support the Navarro family, but I am here for you," Austin said, shooting a dirty look at Neptune. "You are my friend. I share the information about what's coming to Pummelo. A new storm is looming on the horizon. I also bring in logistics. Armor platings. Weapons. Ammo. Food. And this." He punched in different codes on his noteputer, and a hologram of an antique mech appeared. "You lost your mech, so I bring in a new one. This is an old Ostroc 2D. I salvaged this from my Blood Game arena. Sixty ton fast mech, runs 85 kph on a straight line, 2 ER large lasers, 2 medium lasers, and an SRM4. It may not be the 95-kph blitzer your old Sentinel was, but it depends less on ammunition. In a long campaign where supply is scarce, the Ostroc values more than a Sentinel."

"That's a nice upgrade," Neptune grinned. "Unless you just have to have Gauss rifle."

"I am dispossessed, so any mech is better than nothing," Mogami said in a better mood. "Thank you, Austin."

"Given everything that has happened, this is the best I can do," Austin nodded. "Good luck, Mogami. Y invitation to play in my Blood Game arena still stands. When everything is over, I'd love for us to get together again, for old time sake."

"For old time sake," Mogami flashed a small smile. "Maybe after the Redfield Renegades."

"I look forward to that." Austin smiled. He gave Neptune a quick dirty look, then left the room.

Neptune waited until Austin disappeared behind the door, then turned to Mogami. "Do you trust him?"

"He's my friend," Mogami sighed.

"He has as much interest in this matter as the Yakuza or Major Fernandes. The way he treated you, he probably had hidden agenda."

"I know Austin since childhood. He is not interested in world domination or Brian's Cache. He's all about music, party, and mech games. Solaris-style mech games. He has his own arena and invites warriors from all around Outworlds Alliance to play in his arena. Him being here, supporting our cause, shows how much he cares about us." Mogami threw a blank stare at the white drape. "He's a good guy. I still trust him."

"I don't share your sentiment, but if you trust him, I'll follow your guts," Neptune stated. "I'll scramble the pieces after the battle and raise another defense against the Redfield Renegades."

"I'll go with you," Mogami strained to get up from the bed.

But Neptune pinned her shoulders back to the bed. "I need you to be the center of my defense, and I can't do it if you do not deliver your best. Rest for now. There will be plenty of time for kicking ass."

"I'm fine!" Mogami swiped Neptune's arm.

But Neptune persisted. "Stay or I'll have you chained to the bed!"

Mogami twisted and turned, but even in the picture of health she couldn't match Neptune's power. She let out a sharp puff and stopped struggling. "Fine!" she grunted.

Neptune smiled and released her. "I'll get back to you tonight and get you up to speed."

Mogami begrudgingly watched Neptune walked out of the door.