CHAPTER 12

Pummelo, Outworlds Alliance,
May 26, 3074

Mogami rarely visited the mech hangar during down time. She was all business, going to the hangar only to take her mech out to battle, then leaving right after returning the mech to the technicians for repair and reload. But this time she gladly violated her routine. She visited the hangar to see her 'new' mech, an ancient war machine that had been highly revered since the Age of War.

The lanky mech looked weird with asymmetrical torso, thin arms and legs, and big round feet that looked like a pair of hooves. But the hoof-like feet made the mech a stable shooting platform it was renown of. The thin limbs gave the impression of being easy to breach, but at the same time provided small target for the enemy to shoot at. The mech looked like a sickly little kid that got bullied at school all the time, if not for the two massive cannons on its side torsos.

"Sergeant! What are you doing here?" Clover's voice sorted through metallic screeches and clangs. "You should be on the bed!"

"I'm fine," Mogami shot a small smile. "I am useless in bed. I want to check out my new ride."

"So what do you think about this?" Alex said with a little cringe. "Looks like it's about to fall on its back."

"It doesn't have the range and punching power of the old Sentinel, but the lasers don't need ammo," Sam ran down the detail of the mech's offensive power. "It is more useful in protracted campaigns far from logistic lines. It also has 40-percent more armor, in exchange of 12-percent decrease in speed. But it still runs 85 kph, faster than 50-percent of mechs in its class."

"For short engagement you're probably better off with the Sentinel, but in a long run the Ostroc is the better choice," Alex mused. "The use of standard Vlar fusion instead of the ultra-expensive but fragile XL engines makes it more durable than the Sentinel, and less expensive to repair. Plus, energy weapons as main battery, so it can operate far from supply lines. Barring the SRM4, the mech constitutes a zombie."

"Well I don't have the Sentinel anymore so I'll take the Ostroc," Mogami said. "It's a fast heavy mech, meaning it is best used as armed recon, raid, or strike missions. We can still do that. Just need a little adjustment in the execution."

"As long as you like it, Sarge," Clover tapped Mogami's shoulder. "Now, customary to our unit, you need to christen it with a name."

"Name?" Mogami scoffed. "You don't want to get too attached to your mech because it will get beaten up and destroyed."

"You called your old Sentinel something, didn't you?"Alex tuned in.

"Yeah, well, I kinda did…" Mogami's cheeks turned a little red. "But it's not an official name, like… like… Promotheus or something. I just gave it a pet name."

"Well give this one a try! Who knows you like it more!" Sam chimed in. "What's ugly and flat-footed but quick on its feet and kick a lot of asses?"

"Darkwing?" Clover snickered.

"Shut up!" Mogami's blush became more prominent. "I know a girl who kicked a lot of asses. I don't know if she was flat-footed or quick on her feet, but she was pretty awesome. Her name was Joan of Arc."

Sam, Clover, and Alex looked at each other with utter confusion. "Who?"

"Jeez," Mogami shook her head. "Did any of you graduate high school? Well never mind. I like it."

"Whatever you say, Sarge," Alex mumbled. "Joan of Arc it is. Welcome to the team."

Neptune didn't check his mailbox often, but when he did, he was always rewarded with notes from Carissa. In the past Carissa wrote him a lot, stories from home across the galaxies that made him miss her more. This time, mails were scarce, and Neptune suspected she was still upset about their last time together. He thought it might be fine; nevertheless, he started to have a bad feeling about it.

When he saw one in his HPG mailbox, his heart skipped several beats. He hesitated to open it, fearing for the worst, but in the end he opened the message with trembling hand. A block of text leapt from the screen, and his throat tightened as he dove headlong into the message.

My Dearest Neptune,

Forgive me for not writing sooner. Things were a little hectic around here. The Keeneland Meet brings a lot of tourists to Lexington. Most of them are at Redmond's to sample Lexington's finest liquor, the Country Mechwarrior. I have been working overtime 6 days a week for a few weeks. Good money, but not good for mental health. I think I need a vacation.

Neptune, I wish you were not absent so much from my life. There were so much I want to share with you. I know I was the one who brought up the career change, but I was not ready for my best friend to leave me hanging for the better part of our time together. I'm happy for you that you found something that you really like, and that you're really good at. But I need someone that I know will be here with me when I open my eyes in the morning. I believe you're with me in spirit, but I can't convince myself that you'll be with me when I need you the most.

I wish there's a better way to say this, but I have a new gig at Robinson. It's a good job, with excellent pay and benefits, and a shot at managerial position, if I do good behind the counter. I have to make a decision for myself, and honestly, I can't wait for you. I don't even know when, or if, you come home this time. So I decided to accept the job. I will leave for Robinson in a week, and I will not return to Lexington.

I'm not good at goodbye, Neptune. I don't know how to say it. So please forgive me if this message sounds heartless. My heart is in pieces when I write. But I think this is the best for both of us. You are the best thing ever happened to me, and I treasure our time together, as a friend and lover. But all good things must come to an end, and it's time to move on.

I wish you the best of luck, wherever you are. Try not to be a hero, because most heroes end up dead. Just be a regular mechwarrior and reap what you sow. If life is kind, perhaps we see each other again, and maybe that time you'll decide to stick around. But for now, just live your life the best you can.

Yours truly,

Carissa

Neptune sank in his seat, feeling empty. It took him a while to accept that his relationship had ended, just as fast as it started. He knew that this moment would come. He knew that one day Carissa would have enough and wouldn't keep up with his schedule anymore. It was a matter of time before she quitted. But he was still unprepared, and the sting still hurt.

But come to think of it, it was probably for the best. They loved each other, but they didn't have the same interests in life. They were both good at what they did, and neither wanted to give up their jobs for the other. It sucked when jobs got in the way of two lovers, but he was powerless to stop it.

"Boss! Got message from the lady?" Joezen barged in. "Something to look forward to, eh?"

"Is she coming to visit?" Alec followed up. "We all miss her drinks."

"Yeah it's not gonna happen," Neptune sighed. "We're finished. She left me."

"Oh no," Ian muttered. "I'm sorry. Are you OK?"

"I feel… numb," Neptune leaned back on his chair. "It just doesn't work out the way we want it. You know, I'm here, she's there, we're set apart for a long time. Nobody expects long-distance relationship. I kinda know that it will go this way, but still, it hurts when it hits."

"Well, it's not the end of the world, Boss," Alec tried to cheer Neptune up. "Everything has a silver lining. Maybe it hurts now but in the long run you're better off without emotional attachment encompassing parsecs of systems."

"What you need is to get drunk and hook up with one of those Davion loyalists," Joezen added. "The blonde one is probably your best bet. The red hair is chic but a bit reserved. The black one is fine too. But if you really want to score high, go for the sergeant. She has the best curves and the best t…"

"Alright, alright, I don't want to hear it!" Neptune rose from his seat and pushed his lance mates out of the command center. "If anybody ever mention hooking up with the Davion loyalists again, I'll dispossess him!"

"Just a joke, Boss, to get you in a lighter mood," Joezen quipped.

"Not funny! Now get out of here!" Neptune blurted. He turned around and skimmed over Carissa's message one last time, then pressed the 'Delete' button. He would miss her. Their relationship was full of passion, but it was over. There was no point dwelling in the past. He took a deep breath, then walked out of the room to join his lance mates, most likely to get drunk until he pass out or end up in jail. Just like the last time at Redmond's.

END OF BOOK II