STEEL WOLF
Chapter 1: Arrival
Dropship Hunter's Insight, Orbit, Korla,
Lyran Alliance,
June 16, 3075
19-year-old Alphonse Delarosa knew that becoming a technician would be a lot of hard work, but he wasn't quite expecting this.
"You're almost done, Al! Keep it up!" cheered dark-haired Lyla Lister as Alphonse panted for breath, heaving yet another crate of her mechanical odds and ends across the lower cargo deck of the Hunter's Insight. The somewhat petite but mischievous Lyla reclined in a fold-out chair, watching as the newest tech labored to finish the rather long list of chores she had assigned him. The Arctic Wolves mercenary gang could always use more hard workers, Lyla figured.
"This had better be worth the stuff you're going to give me," Alphonse huffed, referring to the sealed box of mechanical items Lyla had set aside as a prize for all the hard work. "Everything in that box will be mine?" He set the crate down with the others, then hurried off to fetch another. He wondered why Lyla had to scatter all her stuff everywhere in the 'mech bay.
"Oh, it will!" Lyla smiled. "You're such a great sport."
Alphonse seized the handles of another crate and heaved it up. "Yeah, easy for you to say."
The elevator doors to the lower 'mech bay slid open and the brunette Cassandra Goyua wandered in, already clad in her overalls and boots for work. A bright yellow ribbon was woven into her chestnut-colored hair, giving her a bit of flair. "Hey, everyone!" she greeted. "Oh, hard at work, Al?"
"Been working all morning!" Alphonse told her. "But in exchange, Lyla is giving me a lot of free stuff from her work labs. See that box sitting by her? I get whatever's inside."
A smile crossed Cassandra's face, one that Al couldn't read. "Really? Sounds like fun! Keep it up, but don't strain yourself, okay?"
"I'll try not to," Al huffed, and he finally set down the last few crates, wiping his brow and rubbing his hands together. He approached Lyla and the locked crate. "So, now for the reward."
Lyla sprang to her feet. "Of course!" She undid the lock on the prize crate, then stood back as Al knelt by the prize.
A look of shock spread on Alphonse's face when he opened the crate's lid, revealing the empty interior. "There's nothing in it!" He turned to face Lyla. "You said there would be stuff in here!"
"I said you'd get whatever is inside," Lyla smiled again, waving a finger. "But 'nothing' counts! Thanks for all the hard work."
Al sputtered as he stood up. "Then what was the point of that?"
"It made for a great incentive to get you working," Lyla said wisely.
"That's unfair," Alphonse slumped his shoulders while Cassandra suppressed a giggle.
"You're new around here, but you're kind of lazy, too," Lyla commented, wandering over to the prize crate and closing it. "I need to prod you along."
"You could have just told me..."
Lyla put her hands on her hips. "This way is more fun. And besides, this will earn you a little leeway for the next few days since you've done so much work!"
Alphonse made a face. "You make me sound like a little kid. I was in college just a few months ago, you know... I even played football there..."
Lyla's eyes widened as Cassandra watched in amusement. "What? You never told me that. How could you play sports but have so little energy? I mean, you take naps every day!"
Alphonse bristled. "I have a lot of stamina! It just doesn't last very long."
"How did you manage sports, then?" Cassandra smiled. "I've seen videos of you playing for your college, and you seemed to do just fine on the field."
"Combination of energy drinks, dedication, and a tough but good coach," Alphonse grinned, puffing himself up a little. "I might have lost my edge since becoming a tech back in January of this year, but whatever. I have a better future with this career than with throwing a pigskin around anyway."
"That's the spirit!" Cassandra cheered, clapping a hand on her friend's back. "You've got a long way to go compared to Lyla and I, but you're doing fine. And besides, this planet we're going to land on, Korla, is a tech's haven."
Alphonse looked back and forth between the two young women. "You both have been here before, right?"
Lyla nodded once. "Mmm-hmm. Back in 3074 we accepted a contract for one of the feuding nation-states on Korla, the Vargas Estate. It's the largest and wealthiest nation on that world, and they certainly showed their gratitude to use and the other mercs they had hired."
Alphonse looked around at the well-lit 'mech bay. "Is that how you Arctic Wolves could afford a Fortress-class dropship?"
At those words, Lyla winced slightly. "Ummm...yeah, and even though the Vargas family sold this dropship to us at 30% off regular price, we're really in debt now. Gotta complete several more contracts just to get out of the hole!"
"But it's worth it," Cassandra added confidently, playfully tossing a lock of her hair with a smile. "Nikolai, the CO, plans to expand the Wolves from a 'mech company to a full battalion someday, and this ship is going to impress future employers. Besides, we get more elbow room on here than we'd have on a ship like a Union-class. Not to mention we need room for our squadron of Rapier aerospace fighters, as well as the fighters Nikolai plans to obtain in the future."
A glint of approval sparked in Alphonse's eyes. "I'm glad I signed up with an ambitious and capable merc squad. You work with good people, Cassandra."
"It was my brother Kyle's idea for me to join the Wolves for this year," Cassandra admitted. "Normally I'm working with the Mechwarrior academies like the Nagelring, but since the Wolves' next contract is going to be on Korla, Kyle encouraged me to come. I couldn't say no."
Alphonse recalled Kyle Goyua, Cassandra's rather timid but reliable older brother, a Mechwarrior who piloted a Shadow Cat with elegance and skill. According to Cassandra, he and fellow Mechwarrior Samantha Smith were a bit of an item, but Al was here for the technical work, not social networking.
A voice spoke on the intercom, that of Nikolai Kerensky. "All crew, prepare for descent into Korla's atmosphere. We've locked into a landing vector for the Vargas Estate's capital city, Elessium."
The three techs looked at once another. "Better buckle up," Lyla commented. "The adventure is about to start."
*o*o*o*o*
Spaceport, Elessium, Vargas Estate, Korla,
Lyran Alliance,
June 16, 3075
Although Alphonse couldn't see anything that was happening, he certainly felt it when the Hunter's Insight settled on solid ground. Moments later, all the Mechwarriors, aerospace fighters, and other crew of the Arctic Wolves gathered at the dropship's entrance bay ramp as the ramp lowered itself, its pneumatic systems humming and whirring. At once, bright sunlight and hot, dry air washed into the 'mech bay, at once making Alphonse's mouth feel dry. He blinked and shielded his eyes as the ramp lowered itself entirely, revealing a vast tarmac outside where several small dropships were parked.
"And here we are," announced Nikolai Kerensky, spreading his arms wide in emphasis as he descended the wide ramp. His elbow-length hair, dyed blue and held together in a ponytail, started whipping side to side from the strong winds that blew across the spacious tarmac. His black leather jacket creaked slightly.
Alphonse swallowed as he and the other Arctic Wolves followed their commander. Here I go, my first real adventure with the Arctic Wolves! Now, stay cool. I have to make a good impression to – whoa. He flinched when he saw four burly men standing in a cluster near the ramp, all clad in black and red jackets, military-style pants and boots, and dog tags. Each of the big men had an identical patch on their sleeve shoulders: a black circle with the profile of a shouting skull, flames raging from the back of the skull. The men returned Alphonse's started look with contempt, especially the biggest. That man had short blond hair and dark sunglasses over his eyes, plus an elaborate cross-shaped tattoo on his neck. Getting chills down his spine, Alphonse turned away and found the actual greeting party: five men in business suits. All around the three parties, the skyscrapers, hotels, and apartments of Elessium rose high into the sky in all directions. A hot sun shone directly overhead in the cloudless sky.
"Welcome, Arctic Wolves," greeted the foremost businessman, a portly man with slicked-back dark hair. He heartily shook Nikolai's hand. "Good to see that you had a smooth landing, si?"
"No problems at all, Alfonso Vargas," Nikolai grinned politely. "And I look forward to my second visit to Korla. Well, Lyla and Cassandra will probably enjoy it even more for all the tech goodness, but still..."
"And I see that you're treating the Hermes III quite well," Alfonso commented, looking up at the Wolves' dropship.
"Actually, I re-named it the Hunter's Insight when I bought it," Nikolai corrected. "And it's part of the reason I'm here: I may be paying off my debt to you in installments, but it's a large sum either way."
Alfonso looked forgiving. "It is fine, Nikolai! You Wolves are reliable and disciplined people. I will look forward to finalizing a contract with you back at my mansion downtown. I need good soldiers at this time. I have many enemies."
That man has a similar name to mine, Alphonse thought idly, regarding the head man of the powerful Vargas family. He sounds Spanish, like I am!
Samantha Smith, the 2nd in command of the Wolves, glanced at the four burly men over her shoulder and back at Alfonso. "Who are the gorillas?"
Alfonso burst out laughing, a hearty sound. "Senorita Smith, they are the representatives of the Screaming Skulls mercenary gang. They too will be working for me and these four members wanted to see you all in person. Please play nice with them. I have enough problems as it is."
"Harry Saxon," offered the blond man, extending a meaty hand to Nikolai. He did not smile. "I'm the CO of the Screaming Skulls. You heard Mr. Vargas. Don't cross me or steal any of my kills, and we can get along all right. Hear me?"
"Relax, I hear you," Nikolai responded, unfazed as he shook Harry's hand. He frowned slightly at the larger man's strong grip. "Is this your first time on Korla?"
"For a combat contract? Yeah, it is," Harry grunted back, folding his arms and tilting his head slightly. "Bought some 'mechs and tech to start up my merc gang here, but I have no official ties to this sand ball. Mr. Vargas pays well, though, so my guns are his."
"Is this a desert planet?" Alphonse blurted. Some people turned to look at him.
"It is, Alphonse," Kyle answered quickly before Harry could make a rude answer. "This world is mostly arid, but there's some temperate grasslands, inland seas, and scattered oases. There are some mountains and valleys, too. But yeah, most of the surface is sand dunes."
Alphonse nodded, making a note to not say another word for a while. Harry Saxon, meanwhile, made a huffing sound and cracked a slight smile. "Never been here before, have you, Alphonse? Lemme tell you, Korla isn't for the faint of heart. Violent feuds, guerrilla warfare, cut-throat competition for mines and technology patents, and the goddamn heat of the desert are the features of this world. Better suck it up fast, boy. Just warning you."
"I would have put that more elegantly, but yes, that is what can be expected here," Alfonso said in Al's direction. Then back to Nikolai, he added, "Are you ready for transport?"
Nikolai nodded. "Yup."
Three lengthy white limousines all pulled up, each one bearing a hood ornament shaped like the letters "VE". The Arctic Wolves, Screaming Skulls, and Alfonso's party all approached the limos and climbed in one by one, enjoying the air conditioning. According to Mr. Vargas, there existed a number of dorms for mercenaries on the Vargas mansion's grounds, where the Wolves and Screaming Skulls would live for the duration of their contract.
Alphonse tried to get a seat next to Cassandra so he could ask her more about Korla, but someone was already sitting beside her. Cassandra's companion was a man with light brown hair and excitable eyes, a few years older than Al himself.
"Who are you?" Al asked as politely as he could manage.
The young man puffed out his chest importantly but smiled kindly. "I'm Carlos, son of Alfonso Vargas. I'm a 'mech jock, too. Been fighting in the arenas for years."
"He's a nice guy," Cassandra assured Alphonse, wrapping an arm around Carlos'. "He's also my boyfriend."
Alphonse climbed into a seat behind Carlos with a slight scowl. "Wonderful."