Chapter VI
City of Hastina,
Carver V, Chaos March,
December 27, 30593
After Ayodya fell to Zhanzheng deGuang, the Shooting Stars and the Knell's Cavaliers moved to another city, Hastina. It was a small city about half a day away from Ayodya. Hastina did not have any strategic value, only pro-Davion civilians. They were happy to see the Shooting Stars because their lives had been hard since Liao terrorist group arrived on the planet.
"Thank you for your assistance," the mayor of Hastina said to Kyle and Sebastian. "My name is Mayor Systain, and words could not express my gratitude to you. You saved hundreds of lives of my people. We are forever indebted to you. We can replenish your logistic, but don't expect many luxuries. The Zhanzheng deGuang pillaged our town and took our food."
"We are not here to fight the Zhanzheng deGuang," Kyle replied. "Our mission is to take you out of Carver V. This planet had succumbed into anarchy, and we can't recover it. Our only option is evacuation."
"Alright, but we need a day to pack. We are not prepared for this sudden evacuation."
"Bring only important things," Sebastian added. "Leave the rest behind. We have to move fast."
Meanwhile, the Shooting Stars got the first shift of patrol, giving the Cavaliers some time to rest. It had been 2 weeks since the 'Psycho' betrayed his lance and killed 2 lance mates, but Allison still could not get over it. The image of her lance mates exploded in their mechs still gave her nightmares. So Evee and Kangpae took her to a local bar, hoping she could relax a little bit.
"To Matt and Chris!" Evee hoisted her glass in honor of her fallen comrades.
"To Matt and Chris," Allison responded unenthusiastically.
"To Matt and Chris, and Ash," Kangpae added. "May their ghosts haunt the Pshycho forever."
"We need to find out Psycho's background," Evee stated. "Hanson Roughriders were foolish not to do a background check, and we have to pay the price. I mean, how hard is it to check his true identity? He's wanted in several major worlds. He's quite notorious, you know."
"There's no need to do that," Allison sighed. "It won't bring back Matt and Chris."
"You are right, but if we know who he really is and what he wants, we know how to handle him," Evee replied. "We can trick him and eventually avenge Matt and Chris."
"I can't believe 'Psycho' did that," Allison mumbled. "You were totally right, Evee. We can't trust anybody."
"Hey, you know you can trust me," Kangpae interjected. "We've been to hell and back together. You know I will always watch your back."
Allison looked at Kangpae, then at Evee. "I don't know," she said. "I don't know anymore. I think I want to be alone for awhile." She finished her drink and left.
"What? What does that suppose to mean?" Kangpae blurted, but Evee held his hand.
"Let her go," Evee said. "She just lost 3 lance mates. Give her some time to grieve."
"In a sense, I always love her child-like gusto," Kangpae ordered more drinks. "She is the one that always says 'We are all family'. She is incredibly loyal, and it gives me some tranquility in battle, knowing that there is someone that I can count on. It's sad to see her losing her faith."
"I don't blame her," Evee sipped from her glass. "She is close to Matt and Chris, and although she did not know Psycho's background, she still regarded him as her family. Losing them is a hard blow to her faith, especially because the one that she relied on was the one that betrayed her and tried to kill her."
"Yeah, that's true," Kangpae chugged the drink. "What about you, Evee? Do you trust your lance mates?"
"No," Evee replied matter-of-factly. "I've been in similar situation with Allison. My previous lance leader left me behind in the hands of the enemy. From that moment on I realize that I can't expect much from mercenaries. There's no sense of solidarity or dedication, only greed. Not to be disrespectful to you, Kangpae, but it is true."
"Huh!" Kangpae scoffed. "Then why are you here, fighting with us?"
"Like everybody else," Evee leaned back on her chair, "to make money."
"And you expect me to believe you?" Kangpae spited. "There are a lot of safer ways to raise money. You can be a mech trader, buying mechs in one planet and selling it on another. You can be a millionaire in weeks. Or you can fight in Solaris. There's no risk of being gutted by your allies. But instead, you chose the way of a mercenary. Why?"
Evee knew that she could not conceal her secret any longer. "You're right, I am not just raising money. I'm trying to raise an army, too. The man I love is taken bondsman by the Jade Falcon. He did it to himself so I can live. I want to save him, but I don't have enough money to hire a mercenary, so here I am. I know this could take a long time, and Parker might have been dead by the time I have my army, but I don't have any other choice. I owe him my life. I have to try and hope that time is on my side."
Kangpae looked at her without blinking, amazed that a seemingly simple girl like Evee could hold a deep and complicated situation. "I wish I could help."
"Thanks, but this is my battle," Evee chugged the last drop on her glass. "You probably have a battle of your own, don't you Kangpae?"
"Well, if you can call it a battle," Kangpae sighed. "I was a Solaris jock, and a pretty damn good one… OK, not that good, but I got a decent position at a stable, and a very nice girlfriend. Some years ago I got lucky and won the quarterfinal of medium-class championship, but I got overconfident. I lost everything. So I joined the Hanson Roughriders to get more experience."
"So I heard," Evee forged a smile, glancing at her watch. "I think it's our turn to patrol."
"Yeah," Kangpae left some c-bills on the table. "Let's hope we won't lose any more lance mates."
Next on Escape from Carver V
"Four platoons of heavy armor are moving toward Hastina. They're cutting off our path to the pick-up zone."
"Dropship command, this is Captain Kyle Garret, Shooting Stars. Zhanzheng deGuang had blocked our exit and is moving to Hastina. We have about 200 civilians on our backs, so we can't fight the Capellan terrorists. Request air cover and alternate pick-up zone."
"That's a negative, Captain. Our air support is spreading thin on the front line. Defend the civilians at all cost, Captain Garret. We'll pick you up at Hastina in 20 minutes."
"Demolishers! They're bringing in the big guns!"
"The Demolishers can't do anything until 350 meters. Take'em out at range before they can reach us! Everybody, concentrate fire on the Demolishers!"