Okay guys.....Sorta short..and more blabbing. But the next chapter was quite differant, and I wanted to put this in ahead of time.

I look at it...Yeah..I know. I'm sorry, and I realize that I have a tendancy to overthink things. And although it didn't turn out QUITE as well as I had first thought, it moderately shows the two butting heads.

Feedback is appreciated :)

P.S. Sorry for lack of updates....Got my CrimsonSkies website moved (And rebuilt after hacking......) and I been busy on that.

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Grant was seated at his desk when Kenna entered the tent, "Commander Warrick is outside sir."

Grant waved her off, "In a moment commander," he turned back to the man in front of him, "Go ahead Merlin."

"Well. 'S I's sayin'. The Lyrins left six mechs on t'field an' we man'ged to salvage two'u'm. A Penetrator and a Wolfhu'nd," Merlin looked over his glasses at the Raiders leader, "We lost 6 mechs there...And you're DAMNED lucky you di'nt lose more."

"How bad a shape are they in?" Grant asked.

"Oh...Of'ta six, we can probably get four back in working shape. With a LHOHT of work, we can get'm back in action in a week or two. We'll be busy just repairing for the next few days . But Davis' Centurion and Kelly's Trebuchet 'r outta the war."

"We're lucky on one thing Merlin. At least the Lyrans are out six mechs, and they pulled back long enough for us to skim the battlefield."

"Ye'. Well. We'll be done with repairs in two days, they lost 'lot of the hard to replace systems. Another four days to get our damaged mechs back in service, then another four to refurbish the Lyran mechs."

"Okay Merlin. As soon as the mechs are repaired, let the mechwarriors know. They'll want their rides back. And when you get the Lyran mechs finished up, if we ain't had more losses, get Kelly the Wolfhound, and assign Davis to start getting used to the Penetrator. Jackal lance needs another heavy anyway," Grant leaned back in his chair and wiped his hands over his face.

"Ahright. I'll be leavin' now," Merlin gave a almost ruefull shake of his head, "Next time, be a little easier on my mechs."

Grant chuckled at that, "Tell the Lyrans that," he said as "Merlin" Macgregor trotted out of his tent.

Almost immediately his XO, Kenna Carns entered the tent, "Are you ready for Warrick?" she asked.

He sighed, "Yeah I guess. Probably shouldn't unleash on her eh?"

Kenna raised an eyebrow, "She did break orders to remain on the right flank. You never called for backup."

"No. And we could have beat 'em back, but we'd be out a lot more and the Lyrans might not have allowed salvage," Grant nodded, "Show her in."

Kenna disappeared, only to return a moment later with the Smoke Tiger commander. Much the same as the first visit, at attention, but with an arrogant stance. Still grimy from the battle, having remained on an extra shift on the main lines.

Grant didn't speak for several minutes, letting her stand there. Finally he spoke, "Well?"

Tanea Warrick stood and glared a moment before replying, "To what?"

"Breaking standing orders to remain on right flank. And leaving only a Star and Lance there. To come and assist a unit that did not request backup."

He smothered a chuckle as he watched her jaw muscles clench and regulate her breathing, attempeting to choke back a knee-jerk response.

"The right flank was secure. There was only 2 lances of assorted light and mediums holding at 2 klicks. My second star and Lieutenant Hoffman's lance of mediums and heavy mechs were quite ample to repel any attack by them."

"Captain Warrick, there is currently two lances of Kinsey mechs that are un-accounted for. Both by spy reports, com-sat coverage and aerial reconnaissance. The right flank was heavily surrounded by dense forest, easily capable of concealing those mechs," Grant put some anger in his voice, although he did not mean any of it.

"With due respect..SIR," she hissed through her teeth, "The fact still stands that nothing did happen. It was a risk, but the end result would have been the same. The remaining right flank forces were in a position to hold off superior forces, until my star could return as reinforcements. It was a risk I believed worthwhile."

Grant changed his attitude. Switching from his put-forward act of anger, and into his real state of mind.

"That is true Captain. And the fact also remains that the arrival of your star prevented undue casulties of my forces. I did not bring you in here to reprimand you. Although we likely would have defeated the Lyran forces, our chief tech confirmed many were no more than walking targets," he paused and stood from his chair, "However I wanted to confirm that you acted out of weighing the odds, rather than in stupidity, ignoring or forgetting the possible risk."

At this, Warrick backed down, her eyes showing that the intitial anger had worn off, "Is that all sir?"

"For now. Get your command a good night's sleep. I have a full company out on patrol tonight, and I want you stars ready to take over in the morning."

"A full company sir?" Warrick asked.

He nodded, "We kicked back the Lyrans, but between their techs and Kinsey's, I don't want to take the chance they rearm too fast and sucker punch us. Between the company, and Sheppard's infantry, they can warn us long enough to send reinforcements."

Warrick gave a small smirk, and as she walked out of the tent, he realized that she had done the same thing as he had. Testing his reasoning, and examining it.

He frowned as he sat back in his chair. Even though they were on the same side, he didn't like it when someone else scrutinized him. That possibly was a double-standard, considering he checked background, and dug deep into the history of about anyone he met. But it generally, scrutinizing meant sizing up as a foe.

Shrugging it off, he looked over the laptop. Stuff was about the same now, as it had been three days ago when they had touched down. Except the Lyrans were down six mechs, and he was down six at the moment, and only two in a week.

The Lyrans had pulled back to the Kinsey lines after the Raiders had stopped their initial offensive. Their newly taken ground not suited to defending, and likely wanting to hold off and see what their new opponent was plannin.

What he didn't like was the fact that the last battle had gone as bad as it had. Having been in defensive positions, the Raiders shouldn't have taken the losses they had. Although that was probably due to the fact that during it, the Lyrans had a three lance advantage in numbers there.

The Kinsey offensive upriver had been halted. The arrival of his forces, along with a healthy dose by his aerofighters had been enough to convince them to withdraw, albeit with only light casulties.

All that was left now, was to wait for his mechs to be repaired and then get orders to advance.