Sigma Mercenaries 0001R: Initial Public Offering REVISED

by CSS Stravag

Sigma Mercenaries Mainline story beginning, REVISED EDITION. When an unknown train lands on the vegetable garden of an American Militiaman, and the happenings in the train are revealed to be wildly messed up, four Americans swing into action to save lives and bring order to chaos. Along the way, they will meet a very odd and diverse cast of peeps from all over Existence.. (Rated M)

6. Mobile Mindset, Static Logic

(Sigma Mercenaries, Story 0001, Chapter 06: Mobile Mindset, Static Logic)

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 0530 Hours Local time)
(Hess' Quarters, Administration Building 4th Floor, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

Unloading the magazines on his old vest was the difficult part, at least in terms of keeping it silent. Still, enough time and Hess had his entire collection of magazines disarmed. Fifteen STANAG 4173 magazines (total 450 rounds 5.56), six magazines XD .45 (78 rounds total), loose shotgun shells in a Condor shotgun shell pouch (25 total), and the ammo boxes for the spare rounds in his rucksack all went into a spare 40mm grenade launcher ammunition can. The shotgun and Enfield Rifle were a bit of a challenge, but he unloaded them in the bathroom to prevent waking Toni.

With the weapons and pouches unloaded, Hess opened up the display cabinets in the southeast corner. Each weapon was hooked with clear plastic memory pegs and pressed into the backing in the display case. The rucksack, his ammo bag for Enfield stripper clips and the 40mm ammunition can were placed on the floor of the display case, in the center between the six weapons: Enfield and Remington 870 on the left, AR-15 on the far right, Springfield XD Tactical on the inside right, his Smith & Wesson Bayonet and Cold Steel Survival Knife below the pistol.

On the left of the center, Hess hung the shoulder harness, pistol belt, and drop-leg platforms. On the right heavy-duty peg, Hess hung up his old UTG modular vest system for the last time he ever expected to use it. He figured his days in the Claiborne County Militia were done. The last major objects to be placed in the bottom of the case were his personnel badge from work and cell phones, as the former were effectively useless on Terra 232 and there was no operational need to keep them active.

Silently, Hess closed the display case, locked it, and looked at the gear for several seconds in remembrance. Until five days ago, Hess had never used it in a real combat situation; when he needed it, the weapons and equipment had turned out to be the right tools for the job. Today, though, different environment, different purpose, different gear was needed; what sufficed for Militia work in a reasonably peaceful nation with little chance of outside invasion would not cut the mustard here on a world in anarchy.

Hess spared Toni a brief glance to make sure he had not awoken the secret service chief, then turned to head out the door. On the way past, he snatched his tablet from the table and dimmed the lights to allow Toni to finish sleeping.

"Morning, Sir," Secret Service Officer Anastasia said after the door slid open.

"Morning," Hess said quietly on his way past her post. "Heading down to the range."

"On your six," Anastasia said as she fell in behind the big guy. "Not wearing your gearset, sir?"

"No, I've hung all that up. New day, new locale, new purpose, need the proper equipment," Hess declared on his way down the stairs. "And I want to test some armor I read about yesterday."

"What armor, sir?" Anastasia asked.

"Dragon Scale Six," Hess said as he continued down the stairs slowly while making equipment selections on his tablet.

"Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to that!" Anastasia said. "I always heard the newer Dragon Scale sets could stop the impact of a fifty-caliber round."

"Good Gods, I wouldn't want to be shot with a Fifty-caliber under any circumstances," Hess said. "The kinetic trauma from something like that would probably be lethal even if it did not penetrate."

"Oh," Anastasia gaped.

"Fifty-caliber rounds are used to punch through cinder-block walls and kill the hiding terrorist on the far side of the wall, amongst other uses," Hess explained. "Get caught under that kind of hammering, it will end your day."

One last staircase, forward two intersections, turn left, and the second door on the right was the target range. The sign showed no occupancy, so Hess walked in with his hearing protection off and made for the storage unit. Partway there, the ScrapNet Interface latched locked for safety, the system drew the equipment that Hess had requested, and unlatched by the time Hess arrived. ScrapNet charged the purchases back to the Sigma main fund, which completed the transactions.

"All this, sir?" Anastasia asked in shock as Hess moved item after item to a folding table someone had set up next to the ScrapNet Interface to allow for faster cycling.

"And to think, this is less than I used to carry as a Militiaman," Erich said with a smile. The only thing he had not drawn was a vest to put all the attachments on, since he had to do the testing first. That meant his first priority was the ACR and two of the magazines he had drawn for this test.

"Okay, I see why Toni had us draw the ACR instead of the M4A4. It's what you are planning on standardizing on, right?"

"Yes, now load up a pair of magazines, you will help me test." Hess dropped a pair of magazines in front of her, and handed the Secret Service Officer six stripper clips of M855A1

"Gladly!" Anastasia grabbed up a loading clip guide from the M2 Ammo Can that Hess had drawn for the testing, hooked it on the back of the magazine, inserted a stripper clip, and rammed ten rounds home. Empty clip out, loaded clip in, and she rammed the rounds into the magazine by way of the edge of the table. Second empty out, third loaded clip in place, and the third ram finished the magazine. Thirty seconds and she had the process repeated for her second magazine.

Hess set down an oil bottle, closed up his ACR, and picked up two magazines he had prepared earlier in the process. "You have earmuffs?"

"Yes, sir," Anastasia slipped them on and turned the electronic microphone on. "Can you hear me, sir?"

"I hear you. Range Control, deploy 1 human analog wearing Dragon Scale Six armor, 20 meter range."

By the time the Secret Service Officer and the commander had arrived at the shooting tables, the target was up and ready for the shooters. "What's the method, sir?"

"Shooter's choice, just try to put all of your rounds on the target's chest." Hess brought his rifle up onto target. "Going hot." A flick of the thumb and the ACR was ready to fire.

Above and beyond the testing of the armor systems, Hess used the shooting session as extended training to learn how to control an assault rifle (1) properly. Much like the average American civilian, Erich had no exposure to full-auto weapons in his life, but unlike the average American, he did have an understanding of how they operated in real life (which had little to nothing to do with how full auto weapons acted in the movies or video games). Hence, Sigma One was careful to keep his firing down to short bursts, two to three rounds at a time, which allowed him to keep things on target. Anastasia, a former Multimage citizen, was more versed in common full-auto weapons and was easier able to keep longer bursts on target than the boss.

"How's that holographic sight handling for you, sir?" Anastasia asked after both had safed and cleared their weapons.

"I like it," Hess said. "It's what I traditionally use, either holographic or scope. Bolt open?"

"We're good," she said. "I notice, no blood coming from behind the armor."

"We'll see how bad the bruising is," Hess said. "Traditionally, an armor system will allow the blunt-force trauma through, even if it stops the physical penetration."

"Oh, didn't think about that," Anastasia said.

"Range control, Simulate control, pose arms and head forward," Hess said. The Simulate raised its arms and lowered its head to where Hess could easily unbuckle and slide off the armor set. "Range control, Simulate control, Vitruvian Man pose," Hess ordered after he had the vest in hand, which caused the Simulate to stand with legs spread slightly past shoulder width and arms outstretched with hands up level with the top of the head. "See here, where the body is reddened in the core and chest? That tells me some impact trauma did get through. Virtue, roughly how much impact force bypassed the armor?"

"In comparable terms, the Simulate received roughly six body blows from the punch of a welterweight boxer," Virtue reported.

"Okay, that's not bad at all. It won't feel pleasant, but it's not as disruptive as the transfer from kevlar armor," Hess said. He turned the Dragon Scale hauberk inside out and presented the back of the front panel to Anastasia. "No penetrations across 120 hits from ACRs with 5.56 M855A1. I would say it is doing the job."

"What is the heaviest round it will take?" Anastasia asked.

Hess shrugged. "Didn't you say it could take a fifty-caliber?"

The speaker in the range area popped. "It can take a fifty-caliber, once, and only the penetration component. The kinetic impact is likely to incapacitate, severely injure or kill the target regardless; persons who were struck with fifty-caliber rounds suffered numerous broken bones, collapsed lungs, and one cardiac arrest as per standard industry reporting requirements for Armor Products," Virtue pointed out.

"Huh," Hess said. "Still, if it does the job, that counts," he said. "Is there any known weakness or operational flaw with the armor?" Hess said as he continued back toward the tables.

"Some of the earlier versions of Dragon Scale, before Dragon Scale 3, had some problems with armor scale breakdown or armor scale separation after usage or repeated hits, though that has been corrected with newer scale patterns that self-interlock and are overlapped for angular kinetic shifting."

"I believe we have a winner here," Hess said. "Now to get a real set and set it up for my duty gear."

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 0615 Hours Local time)
(Hess' Quarters, Administration Building 4th Floor, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

Toni woke up to the second repeat of her alarm clock, which was fairly average for her since her days in school, lo those many decades ago. The background music was still going, this time a Japanese song that she did not recognize at all but the lyrics weren't particularly hard to understand for a Magi-born third-repeat Phoenix. A song about the appearance of love… (2)

…A song that caused a brief realization in Toni's mind. "Aww, shit, I can't believe I let that happen to myself," she groused to the blanket and topsheet in front of herself.

"Something amiss?" Virtue asked from the speaker nearest to Toni.

"Personal issue," Toni said hurriedly. "I've been moving in the wrong direction, and it is time for me to clean up my act and get on with it." A quick glance around the room showed that Hess was not in, and the bathroom was open. That meant he had already been up and on the move. "Anything special planned for today?" Toni asked Virtue on her way over to the shower.

"A manpower meeting is scheduled for 1830 hours at dinner, with catering for the involved persons. Prior to that, Hess is on the Pipelayer to place the steel Jump Engine Cradles in the jump engine pit, and then to place the first three or four of the engines, depending on how fast the disassembly crew completes their work."

"And the others?" Toni asked after she closed up and locked the bathroom so she could do her morning shower.

"Clint is on the northern METARgraphic field to train personnel for the Rail Guard teams," Virtue continued as Toni stripped down. "Victoria will be handling personnel distribution and induction for training groups pertaining to the mercenary detail. Clarence is handling the transition of the VTOL corporation purchased yesterday to bring them here, and one of the line items on the personnel meeting involves them indirectly."

"Ah, that makes sense," Toni acknowledged the point after she closed herself in the shower. "Anything on my schedule today?"

"Nothing special listed," Virtue noted. "Sidonia wishes to get together with you sometime today to arrange workout schedules for all Secret Service and high value protectees."

"That will be welcomed," Toni said.

"Also, in classic example of the changing landscape of missions and materials around Sigma, Hess had officially upgraded armor standards for the group. General Duty armor is now Dragon Scale Six, with heavy armor being Ballistic Plate Jackets for heavy combat duty."

"Oh, wow, that's some heavy shit," Toni groused. "I thought wearing the Level IV plate carrier was going to be rough, but Ballistic Plate is a whole different animal."

"The Ballistic Plate gear would only be used in the event of a prepared combat scenario against enemies using heavy weapons. The Dragon Scale Six general operations gear would weigh less than the Plate Carrier with Level IV plates, though Dragon Scale has more MOLLE connection points so you can mount more gear," Virtue pointed out. "And, unlike Ballistic Plate or Plate Carriers, Dragon Scale doesn't bind or hold solid, allowing a full range of physical movement or conformity."

Toni sighed again, this time due to the indirect reminder of her first day with Hess, and how she had tried goading him into a reaction by putting her not-insignificant chest up against the back of his head. With some clear-thinking retrospect, the indirect reaction she got from him about the contact had been the first of her buttons he had pushed that caught Toni's attention. If she had to put an explanation to it, the lack of any overt perversion on his part, while still being at least somewhat interested, was a far cry better than what she usually got out of nightclub hopping on her homeworld of Luthien. When combined with the fact that Hess intended to defend nonhumans and even do something as extravagant as allow the avian-types ready access to hangar space for transformation runes, it became the perfect combination of Knight in Olive-Drab Armor and Chivalrous Pervert, which she had never realized (until now) was her turn-on. That the guy was a quiet, unobtrusive genius with lethality skills well above civilian pursuits had only added to her downward spiral toward something she knew she was probably going to regret if she jumped at it too quickly.

"What the hell was I aiming for?" Toni berated herself as she continued showering. "I know better than this."

"The Phoenix Attraction Quirk," Virtue pointed out.

"Exactly," Toni said. "Until I heard that song this morning, I had no idea I was headed in that direction involuntarily."

"It is a defense mechanism, you were doing what your subconscious thought was right — and even with the realization, your subconscious will continue to think it is right," Virtue explained.

"Yeah, only problem is, it's an unneeded defense mechanism in the here and now," Toni groused. The purpose of the Attraction Quirk was to reduce interaction time in Phoenix with someone they perceive as a viable significant other. The defensive part of the Quirk was to increase reproduction amounts to help expand the Phoenix population — a necessary defense against poachers and genocidists throughout the ages. Amongst Magi-born Phoenix, the Quirk was reduced because the society at large was not genocidists and poaching a Phoenix was considered an annihilation offense, but as Toni had unwittingly proved, she still had the quirk loud and hard.

"All due respect, you didn't know that until just recently," the Artificial Intelligence Entity pointed out. "You latched onto who appeared to be the sure-fire ticket to safety, which is a perfectly understandable happenstance given the conditions on the Trains."

"I should say something about coming within inches of using him, but I won't. Attraction does some pretty rough things, especially when it combines with survival instinct," she commented dryly. After a moment, she leaned her head against the grab-bar under the shower head and laughed. "I'm standing here trying to think myself out of something my subconscious is already convinced is proper. I definitely don't have my game in the head right now," she said.

"Begging your pardon, Toni, but that made no sense. Did you mean, 'do not have your head in the game' when you said that?" Virtue asked.

"Oh, wow, the prosecution rests, your Honor," Toni said.

"Should I list you as off-duty for today and tomorrow?" the AI entity asked.

"No, best not. Doesn't matter if I take a week off, this will still have to be dealt with. Best I start now, and either figure out how to break it, or do it right," Toni said while scrubbing down her short-cut hair. After a moment, she realized that keeping it short was also a defense mechanism she really didn't need any more, given she was in knowing company and she always liked having her hair longer when she was younger.

Virtue was silent for fifteen seconds. "You're not convinced that your subconscious is wrong."

Toni couldn't stifle the laugh that she felt, mainly because she wasn't expecting to be called out on it. After she was done laughing, the Phoenix sighed again. "No, I am really unsure which way this should go. That said, either way, I want to make sure it's done right. At least now I know where I was going wrong and flirting with disaster."

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 0800 Hours Local time)
(ScrapNet Pad, Administration Building Railhead Undercroft, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

Hess, oddly enough, after he summoned the Caterpillar PL-83X Pipelayer, hesitated on climbing up into the cab. The problem was twofold: one part heights, always his psychological nemesis, one part large equipment, which always made him a bit nervous. Still, several jobs were waiting on someone to do the job, and Hess volunteered for it. This was not an optimal time for him to be wrought with a fear of heights, regardless of how tall the Pipelayer really was.

One foot after the next, big guy, Hess ordered himself to move. After a cold moment to size up the task, he simply climbed up, one rail at a time, until he made it up to the command deck. After the climb, it was a simple step and a stretch to get into the control booth.

"Okay, this isn't so bad," Hess groused after he was in the new machine. "Even has that new car smell. And a handy quick-ref card." Before he began by starting the machine up, Hess traded out his boonie hat for the included safety hat, then mounted his tablet in the standard tablet holder and locked it in place.

Always conscious of safety, Hess checked left, checked right, then turned the key to 'run' and tripped the engine start switch. The massive diesel engine chugged once, twice, then roared to life under its own power and settled into a smooth idle after it warmed up a bit. "Virtue, you on?" Hess asked.

"I am active. The team for the HEMTT 2 transports is forming up now, the hole is dug and they will be pulling the steel plate panels that you will be lowering into the site. Engine cradles will be second, then the engines and fusion reactors."

"Understood," Hess said. "Drive-lane clear?"

"Drive lane is good," Virtue reported.

"Rolling now," Erich said as he applied gas to begin moving. "The speed this thing rolls at, it will take me about twenty minutes to get out to the site."

"No worries, the crew is still assembling to draw the vehicle and steel plates. You should arrive at the site some twenty, thirty minutes before the plates arrive."

"80 ton lift cap, single joystick boom control, inline seat with control yoke, full throttle travel control, separate brakes on the treads, I think I could get used to driving something like this," Hess said mostly to himself as he turned right (west) to clear in front of the railhead and around to the vehicle ramp to the outside.

On a top speed of 6.6 miles per hour, it took Hess several minutes to work his way around the periphery of the railhead, but it was not a boring journey. Personnel coming and going from the Train Engine and Rail Beacon details cheered him on, and some of the Mafiosi who had pledged for security detail in the undercroft were there to cheer the pipelayer on even further. As he passed the now-disassembled front caboose of the 523 Train, Hess blew the air horn on his machine in salute to Mosley Goodwin and his team that was disassembling the all-important engines.

The creep up the vehicle ramp was slow, but when he came out to open area between the Admin Building and the barracks, he sighed at the sight of open skies and fresh air. "Now, while I follow the green dotted line, time to learn how to control the lift boom." Erich flipped over the quick-ref card and began reading over the control schema. "Okay, simple enough. Boom down, bring it towards me, boom up, push outside, cable in is the right button, cable out is the left button, hook quick-release is safety button held then depress trigger."

After he was clear of the building, he tried a few of the pipelayer boom controls while slowly driving his way toward the operations area. After he figured he had the measure of the boom control, he resumed focus forward — just in time to see some manner of portal spell form roughly thirty yards in front of his machine?

"Virtue, possible problem here. I'm seeing a gate like what LC Lightbringer used, thirty yards in front of me. Alert Nereus and Star Colonel Storme, we may have visitors." Hess picked up his ACR from next to the seat, drew the bolt back, and slung it.

"Understood, be advised that we received a transmission from Lightbringer, he was planning on delivering the first Magi representative personnel here to Star Colonel Storme's command."

"Still, I'm going to play this cautious." Hess unbuckled himself from the five-point harness and stepped out onto the standing platform next to the command cabin of the pipelayer. He did not bring the ACR up to aim, but was ready to do so if hostile parties were coming out of the Gate.

Less than twenty seconds after he stopped, he had some activity at the Gate. The first guy through was a Magi Armored Infantryman, who did not take long to spot Hess on the pipelayer. "Ho!" she shouted, her shield swung wide and her right hand up, no gun. "Is this Base Boarhound, Terra 232?" she asked at a barely-audible shout.

"You have the right base, Point Commander," Hess shouted back after he had a clear view of her rank symbol. "Is Legion Commander Lightbringer coming with your group?"

"Right here, Sigma One," Lightbringer said as he stepped through the Gate behind the Armored Infantryman.

"Legion Commander Lightbringer! Welcome back to Terra 232!" Hess reached into the cab and turned the ignition key over to 'stop' to kill the engine. No sense wasting diesel when he expected to be on the ground for some time. Not to mention the whole 'seeing to the disposition of allies' that was now at hand. As the Armored Infantryman and Legion Commander approached, Hess climbed down from the pipelayer faster than he climbed up, and moved to meet them halfway.

"So I heard you have some need of Trainers and Drill Sergeants for your motley crew," Lightbringer said as Hess and he shook hands.

"Definitely welcomed," Hess answered. "What I need most is people to train the trainers, such as it is. I've got hundreds of motivated troops, but no way to begin the chain of skillset transfer."

"That's what we're here for," a new voice said. "Star Captain Jules Peterson, 757th Provisional Training Cluster. We're here to transfer in under Star Colonel Storme for garrison and training purposes. I take it you are Sigma One?"

"Erich Hess, callsign Sigma One. I welcome you to Base Boarhound, Star Captain," Hess said as he shook hands with the Armored Infantryman, which was an altogether unusual feeling. "What will your unit need for housing?"

"If you have Battle Armor Barracks, that would do well," the Star Captain said.

"I'm here, Hess," Star Colonel Storme said. "I can take it from here, if you need to get moving."

"Big gear?" Legion Commander Lightbringer waved his finger at the Pipelayer.

"We have three engines pulled from the first Train, and that HEMTT 2 vehicle," Hess pointed to the vehicle that had just come out from the undercroft, "has the first set of steel wall plates for the Jump Engine enclosure."

"Hot damn you guys move fast," Legion Commander Lightbringer said.

Hess opened his mouth to say something, but Nereus interrupted the process by way of teleporting to the area with Victoria Williams in tow. "I heard we had some company," he said after he looked around.

"High Executor Nereus," LC Lightbringer said with a curt bow to the Executor. The remainder of the Magi did so as well, once they realized they were in the presence of an Executor.

"I have this one," Victoria said as she approached Hess. "I'll take it from here, big guy."

"Thanks, Victoria," Erich said. "Star Captain, this is Victoria Williams, callsign Sigma Four. She'll get your personnel squared away. Victoria, if you need anything, I'm on radio channel 32."

"Don't worry about me, I've got this. You get those engines laid in and running before nightfall, and we're 'head of the game."

Hess nodded. "Legion Commander, Star Captain, we're doing a dinner and meeting at 1830 tonight, my quarters. If you want in, it would be welcomed. Now, I've got to get moving before this HEMTT driver gets pissed off at the traffic jam."

While Hess returned to the pipelayer and mounted the control cab (faster this time), Victoria waved the personnel out of the way of the heavy equipment. "I was unaware he had any heavy equipment experience," Gerald noted as Hess fired up the throaty diesel engine in the machine.

"Technically he doesn't," Victoria answered after the vehicle lurched into movement. "Still, he's the kind of guy that could solve a million-dollar IT problem faster than most people can unzip their pants. I'm not surprised he could hop into the cab of an unfamiliar machine, read an instruction manual, and drive it passably right off the line."

"I suspect this is going to be an interesting posting," Star Captain Peterson said. "Where do you need us right now?"

"Provisional Training Cluster?" Star Colonel Storme asked. The Star Captain nodded. "Where's your Star Colonel?"

"Actually, you're it, Star Colonel Storme," Legion Commander Lightbringer said.

"Wait, what?" Star Colonel Storme asked. A look from Lightbringer was answer enough. "Oh, wow, okay, was not expecting that at all, but I shall make it happen."

"It's what we do, make stuff happen," Victoria said with a smile.

SC Storme nodded and smiled. "Okay, right now we have three critical needs for Boarhound. One, we need a security force down in the Railhead Undercroft. Secure the undercroft, keep an eye on the Train. Any persons exiting the train are likely to be considered refugees unless they come out guns blazing. Follow?"

"Roger that, I have a Trinary of senior troops, they can rotate through that post," another Star Captain said as she stepped forward of the other Armored Infantry. "One star in the Undercroft per 8 hour patrol."

"Excellent. Second, we need roving security in the occupied barracks and BEQ (3) areas. Nothing special, we have had very minimal trouble amongst the refugees so far, though a few of them have foul attitudes," Gail Storme continued.

"Got it," a third Star Captain responded. "Echo Trinary, fall out for dispersed security detail! I want two stars on roving patrol ASAP!"

"Third, we have a lot of sign-ups and volunteers for training for combat and support positions. Time to organize training sections."

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 0820 Hours Local time)
(Business Office, Administration Building Second Floor, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

"Place the call," Clarence said. "You are authorized to release the funds."

"Funds have been released to the creditors," Virtue reported. "As of right now, all of Vandren's debts are annulled, and their gear belongs to Sigma. Call will execute in ten seconds."

Ten seconds were quick to come and go; Clarence passed it off as the adrenaline rush of executing the equivalent of a $360 million business takeover in the United States, and it was overall barely 0.5 percent of Sigma's available funds. More to the point, Clarence had just executed the purchase of an aerospace manufacturing firm, with the intention of jump-starting their turnout.

The call connected at twelve seconds and went straight into the office of the CEO. "This is Vincent Vandren, CEO Vandren MRO. I take it I am speaking to one of Sigma One's subordinates?" he asked.

"10-4, Mister Vandren. Clarence Williams, Sigma Three and the de facto Chief Financial Officer. I take it you just received notice that the funds for the transfers have been released?"

"Just got the confirmations when your call came through, sir," Vincent said with a sigh. "Damn glad to be out from under those loan sharks."

"Glad to put a loan shark back in his pond," Clarence said. "How are things on your end?"

"We're roughly forty percent packed up and ready to move here at the shop, and two of my six personnel are reporting ready to depart with their home furnishings as well. We should be completely ready to bolt by end of day tomorrow," Vandren said quickly. "Your end?"

"We are setting up the Jump Engines now. Virtue, will we have an engine ready to test before nightfall?"

"Contingent on Sigma One managing to get the pipelayer out to the site, yes," Virtue said.

"Hardware issue?" Clarence asked reflexively. On something as big as a Pipelayer, he figured the likely problem was mechanical.

"Negative. This is worse."

-x-

Hess made sure he had a round chambered in his ACR before he popped the hatch on the Pipelayer. "All forces, situation at my location. 1 person down, no tangos apparent in area. I need some medical assistance if possible."

"What's the word, sir?" Toni asked.

"Person down, behind barracks building DG5," Hess said after he stepped down from the machine. He was careful to not simply rush over to the downed subject, he checked all the obvious and the likely avenues of approach for possible ambushes — it would make a perfect scenario to drop a downed person in the way of one of the heavy equipment operators, then whack the responder and sabotage the vehicle.

"We're on the move, sir. Stand by for arrival," Toni said. Hess waited for her arrival, which only took five seconds for her to teleport in. "I'm here."

"One person down on the other side of the machine," Erich said as he advanced around the front of the pipelayer and then over to the starboard side.

"Face down, impact trauma," Toni said, seeing bruising on the lady. "Method?"

"Don't move her," Hess ordered. "I have a sneaking suspicion about this."

"Like your sneaking suspicion about the bed and the couches?" Toni asked.

"10-4," Hess said. "Cover north," Sigma One ordered.

"Roger that," Toni reversed direction. "What are you thinking?"

"Another grenade trap. Beat the lady unconscious, dump her, drop her in a location you expect someone with high-value equipment to drive by, slip a grenade under her, when the operator drives by, moves the lady, the grenade goes off."

"What makes you think that? You are seriously paranoid, sir," Toni groused.

"It's not paranoia when the grenade pin is an inch in front of my right foot."

Toni looked down and back to where his foot was, then traced forward. "Okay, properly paranoid. But you're still paranoid."

"It's what makes me so damnably effective at complex problems," Erich explained. "I find evidence, I find the problem, I find a solution, implement the solution, check and triple-check the solution's effectiveness. It kept me employed, it kept me aware, and now it will keep all three of us alive."

"How do you find it?" Toni asked. "Could be anywhere below her."

"I don't have to worry about it, I know exactly where it will be." Hess knelt down by the downed lady and put pressure on her back. "The grenade is between her breasts. He put it there to conceal it until it was technically too late for any concerned responder to see it."

"How the hell do you know that?" Toni asked.

"I know the asshole that did this. These strike marks on her are consistent with strikes from the barrel of a tee-ball bat. When I went into the barracks yesterday to extract some of the pilots, someone mentioned the grenade incident with the slaver. He twigged to it visibly when he was staring me down."

"How do you get to it?" Toni asked.

"The hard way. She'll just have to slap me for this later, if she is so inclined," Erich said. He applied more pressure to her back at the bra line with his left hand, then reached around and wormed his hand under her stomach, carefully inching it upward until… "Bingo. Much as I suspected, it's between her shirt and her bra, compressed with the spoon up."

"You can tell that much just from putting your hand up there?" Toni asked in surprise. "Oh, wow, that sounded wrong."

"Thank you for making it sound far dirtier than it actually is," Erich grumped. This time Hess switched his right hand to her back to keep pressure on her chest, and used his left hand to go down her shirt from the top, where the bottom of the grenade was. Finding it was not difficult, but getting a solid grip on it without releasing the arming mechanism was not so easy. Judicious use of a thumb and her sternum solved the issue quickly enough, however, and Hess had a hold on the grenade with the pad of his thumb compressing the spoon.

"Got it?" Toni asked after Hess stood up. "Son of a bitch, you really are properly paranoid," she groused.

Hess pushed the pin into the side of one of the tread bogeys (4) on the pipelayer to straighten it out, then threaded the pin prongs into the locking recess on the grenade fuze assembly. Once the pin was through, Erich bent the pin tines around to secure them and prevent it coming out easily. "Fucker rendered safe. Asshole one point, fat boy one point."

"Did I just see that properly? You felt for and found a grenade, then extracted it from under an unconscious victim and put the pin back in?" Star Captain Jules Peterson asked from a respectable distance.

Hess belatedly realized that he had been so focused on the task that he did not realize anyone else was in the area yet. Still, he covered for the instant surprise and hint of embarrassment with a nod. "Ten-four, Star Captain," Hess looped the spoon of the grenade into one of his PALS webbing (5) loops. "If you will excuse me a second," he said as he stepped south and then west into an alleyway with a dumpster. Once at the dumpster, he threw open the lid, bent into it, and barfed for a good forty seconds.

"Stress barfing," Legion Commander Lightbringer said after Hess came up for air. Erich nodded twice, bent back into it, and threw a second load. "Lid! Lid!"

"Huh?" Hess gasped, though he took the hit of the descending plastic lid with aplomb. "Owfuck," he bemoaned, still partway into the dumpster at the time of the lid dropping down on him. The second time he came up for air, he stepped back away from the dumpster and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. "Oh man, that was a bit more stress than I expected. Star Captain, you have a medic to — " Erich stopped himself when he saw two troopers carefully rotating her onto a stretcher.

"Damn, kid looks like someone took an axe handle to her face," Star Colonel Storme groused.

"You said you know who did this?" LC Lightbringer asked.

"I have a reasonable guess, but no hard proof," Hess said. "No eyes on, no hard case, no dice."

"So wait until the fucker trips up, then bag his ass," Toni suggested. "He'll trip up fast enough, especially if it is that same snot-nosed bat-swinging jello-eating juvenile punk that tried goading you into a physical battle yesterday."

"Uh, sir?" A rather quiet voice asked from the alleyway. "Sir Hess?"

Hess looked in her direction, but nobody to his right (facing away from the newcomer) failed to notice where his hand was — on the handle of his pistol. "Approach slow," Erich waved her toward.

"I know what happened here," she said as she approached. "I saw it happen. I was involved."

"Go on," Hess said.

"Dianthe and I were going over notes for training standards when we were jumped by Nicholas and his gang. We were both raped for some time, then he used a baseball bat to beat on Myrna, said it is the American's physical weapon of choice for dealing with people."

"Not quite, hammers and crowbars outnumber baseball bats in crime reports, but go on," Hess clarified.

"After she fell off the couch Nicholas was beating her on, two of his associates started stomping on Dianthe's head until she passed out. They brought her here, with me still here, propped her against the wall and slipped a grenade under her chest. Said it was to kill whoever found her body."

"Classic, right out of a terrorist playbook," Hess groused. "Star Captain, do you have a Military Police detachment?"

"One of the Trinaries is MP. We'll get her checked out, and we'll get a statement from the unconscious one. If everything checks out, what do you want done with the tangos?" SC Peterson asked.

"Rape and attempted murder are execution offenses. And the base commander in control of the territory that the offenses occurred shall do the executions by preferred method or shall delegate it to a responsible person, so sayeth the law," Hess said.

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 1115 Hours Local time)
(Willow Park School, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

"This is definitely a start," Sabina H. said to the other instructors.

"Yep, we've got the basics down," Michiru X. said with a nod. "Helps that the kids are a lot less given to rebellion here. When I did middle school in 21-st century America, it was a nightmare of rebellion, drugs, gangs and politics. So far, no such problems here."

"Most of the kids are too young to even think about that, the rest are looking forward to moving up to an Academy class," Autumn E. explained the lack of rebellion away. "It helps that the law has been laid down already: do it right, or explain to the rest of the world why you failed."

"Here you go, lunches for all," Valentina said with two trays in hand, two lunch plates to each tray. The school chef sat down at the staff table after the others had their meal. "How's it going so far?"

"Mostly meet and greet," Autumn admitted. "It's a start, but a painful start for a lot of my kids. Getting them to break out of their own little shells is difficult, near impossible for some. A lot of these kids were abducted, abused, about to be sold into slavery before the American rampaged through the train and pulled them out."

"It's a different world, and most of them are still working on learning how to cope with a new life and new responsibilities," Michiru pointed out.

"And what about this Mercenary business?" Autumn asked. "Are we supposed to be beholden to a mercenary fat-boy American?"

Valentina sighed. "What country did you come from, Autumn?" the cook asked.

"England in 1971, why?" she answered.

"That fat-boy American Mercenary just saved a thousand lives, including yours, permanently derailed a Jumper Train, killed or captured all the Slavers, and put us all up in free housing and new jobs. What more can you ask for?" Valentina asked.

"Okay, we can both play this game. Where were you from?" Autumn asked.

"Ukraine in 2014," Valentina answered. "I climbed on this train thinking it would take me away from the invading Russian Ultranationalists. I was horribly right, it took me away from the Russians, but what I got in return was all wrong."

"Oh," Autumn groused, then looked to the table to avoid eye contact with the cook.

"He give us all a new life, new purpose. Only a fool would piss on that." Valentina crammed some of the roast turkey and chewed it down, then wagged her fork at Autumn. "So what if he is mercenary, or American, or a fat guy, or even if he pranced around in his underwear? He is doing the right things for the right reasons. I do what I can to support him."

"Why?" Autumn asked after a moment.

"He is de facto military dictator. He is American. He is also not the kind of guy that bends you over a train seat and fucks you in front of twenty other ladies to demonstrate the 'punishment' for misbehavior, then puts a bullet in your head. If I had to choose between the fat-boy mercenary American and the Slaver Guild Journeyman, I'd do the American every night of the week to avoid the alternative."

"And twice on Sunday, if needed," Michiru said in agreement with the Ukrainian cook.

"Maybe a bit much," Valentina said with some thoughtfulness to voice. "Still, we get better than that, with no requirement for bedtime with the boss."

"Okay, I get it. I just want back to Britain as soon as trips are available," Autumn deflected the issue.

"I want to go home as well, after the Russians have been swept from Ukrainian territory," Valentina said wistfully. "Maybe the fat-boy American can help with that?"

"Have you registered yet for the return home trip?" Michiru asked the Brit.

"Yes, already in the system," Victoria answered.

"Then it is just a matter of time," Sabina said. "The big guy is on that side-boom machine, placing steel plates down into the Jump Engine hole. And there is the other American, Jeff Evans, working on trenching out the power cable run. Things are starting to come together. I have nothing to return to; my house was torched, my husband and children shot, so I want this to work."

"A lot of our students have the same or similar story," Michiru pointed out. "We need to make sure it works out for them as well."

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 1300 Hours Star League Standard time)
(Main Assembly Chamber, Star League Administration Complex, Luna Zero)
(Day 5 of campaign)

Five raps of the gavel at the podium brought most of the conversation to an end in the Senate Chamber. "Order in the Council! This Special Session is now convened."

"Who called this session? We are in the middle of a recess!" A senator from the Dark Moon territories asked out of turn.

"Order in the council! All will be explained in due course!" the Chairman of the Senate rebuked the junior member. "The originating party is an Executor. I do not have further information at this time."

"That foul tribe again?" Senior Senator Malifox bemoaned. "Well, where are they?"

The rear door of the Council Chamber was opened by two of the Star League Praetorian (Battle Armor) troops. "Presenting Executor Lord Tenchi, Executor Lord Sephiroth, and Will Transcendent Atrebas. ALL RISE!" The Council Sergeant At Arms shouted.

Roughly a third of the 2200 Senators did not rise, either in protest to the continuing reign of the Executors over the bureaucracy or due to the continuing overall command held by the Will Transcendent Eric Atrebas. Those that did stand did so out of respect for the Executors or for the Executor Command in the room, though a marked few stood out of fear of being caught in a 'purge' by the Executors (an unfounded fear — despite rumors to the contrary, no such action had ever occurred).

After Atrebas was partway down the walkway to the center dais, most in the room had noticed something about all three Executors. "He has his swords! No weapons in the council chambers!"

"Come and take them," Atrebas countered the bleatings of an older Senator sharply. As no person was willing to actually take up that challenge, the cry of 'intimidation' died out after being proved true.

The Chairman of the Senate stepped away from the podium as Atrebas took to the dais. Tenchi and Sephiroth took station at the stairs up to the dais, given that only one man was needed for this task. The Master Executor switched off the microphone, adjusted it up a foot to match his height, and switched it back on. Everyone in the room winced after the microphone squealed from backfeed, a clear sign that the equipment was worn out and needed replacement.

Eric took a moment to take stock of the 2200 'representatives' in the seats throughout the room. This was where the largest Per-Capita payroll in the Star League was. A fresh-off-the-street Senator was granted full benefits, housing, and a 550,000 C-bill salary. Yearly, these salaries were recalculated; as a Senator gained seniority, they gained a 1000 c-bill stipend for every seniority rank they gained, all the way up to the 2199 rating — the most senior Senator in the room. In addition to seniority pay, every annual salary was increased 500 C-bills per year, which was the maximum under law — 4% or 500 c-bills, whichever was less. The most senior Senator in the room was pulling in 4.43 Million C-bills per year, not even counting personal business ventures or kickbacks from politically-favored lobbying groups.

In any other company, Atrebas would have called it corrupt business practices. In the here and now, this was standard operating procedures.

And Atrebas was about to use a not-even-heard-of Protectorate to begin disassembling this Mafia, one capo, one guild, one corruption at a time. More was the better, Hess was a happily-willing participant in scrapping the Star League down into dust and echoes, even if his group would get precious little of the credit for beating the Star League into rubble with a sledge hammer forged from their own failings.

"Wanker on deck! Who let this amateur in?" Someone from the upper gallery shouted, likely in an attempt to curry favor amongst the other Senators.

"If the conduct of this body is the measure of professional politicians, I will consider it an honor not to be counted amongst that foul tribe," Atrebas responded bluntly. He received more than a few boos and catcalls for his sharp rejoinder. "Grand Council of the Star League, I am the Will Transcendent Eric Atrebas. Listen well, for my orders are law, and my purpose here is to declare Executor's Judgment in all matters pertaining to a sovereign state."

There were some catcalls from the chamber, but few. If for no other reason than survival instinct, most persons would not challenge an Executor Lord or higher in a matter of Executor's Judgment. Atrebas took their time spent jeering to connect a data storage device to the podium and activate the projector. The device was formatted to autoplay the only file on it, which it opened up readily.

"Allow me to set the stage for this Executor's Judgment. The problem under which we Executors have chosen to act began some 3100 years ago, when we Executors requested that the Interdimensional Jumper Trains be decommissioned and removed from service or sold to private entities as scrap. The response of the Grand Council back then was to form the Jump Engineer's Guild to maintain the Trains. Every few decades, we Executors find evidence of criminal activity or detriment to Existence as a whole, and we present that evidence. No action is taken, or a veto action is issued by the Grand Council to prevent my men from taking action. Even, in Resolution 8662.0313, the Grand Council saw it proper to fine Executor Hallis a sum of 1 million C-bills and myself a sum of 5 million C-bills for daring to bring persons rescued as slaves from one of the Jumper Trains into Council to testify as to the conditions on the Trains. Penalized for doing my job by bringing someone into Council to tell you how you are not doing your job."

Atrebas paused for thirty seconds while the Grand Council exploded into a cacophony of catcalling and jeering for his indirect insult. After a half-minute, though, it petered out when they realized that Atrebas would not try to argue with them.

"Lord Atrebas will be fined again for insulting the Grand Council! I will submit the resolution within the hour!" a Senior Senator in the center seating group shouted.

"As an aside to the present Judgment, and as a result of Resolution 8662.0313, all Executors run their finances through banking establishments inside the Multimage Star Empire, and most of those accounts have a withdrawal-hold placed on them for transactions emanating from Luna Zero. Additionally, if you attempt to fine me again for speaking the truth in your vaunted presence, I will have the Star League Grand Council listed as a fraudulent banking entity on the ComStar Network. You can then spend the next three decades trying to sort that mess out while no funds are transferred into or out of the general fund," Atrebas laid out his intentions vis-a-vis their misuse of the fines systems.

The chamber went silent fast enough with his declaration. A freeze on funds and accounts for three decades would render the entire Star League derelict for a decade past the end of the account freeze — that on the assumption that ComStar actually ever removed the freeze. Some 'charity organizations' that rated below 75 percent disbursement of funds / 25 percent overhead had been declared fraudulent by the Magi or ComStar and never returned to a legitimate state.

"Excellent, now that our positions are clear on the use of the cold hard truth in these chambers, it is time to get back to the primary issue at hand. For thirty-one centuries, I have told the Grand Council time and time again that the Interdimensional Jumper Trains are a continuing hazard to known Existence. This isn't just a case of 'hazardous on jumping' or 'hazardous to environments', I mean hazardous to roughly anyone that crosses paths with the trains. Hell, even Magi citizens have been caught in these Trains and subjected to vile tortures. For 3100 years, The Grand Council has failed to act against a threat of its own creation, so the Executors have laid in motion operations to decommission and recycle the trains entirely outside the purview of the Star League."

An elder Senator shot to her feet. "These Trains are part of the Heritage of Existence! You have no authority to disrupt them!"

"This is an Executor's Judgment, Senator Smith. Sit down before you find yourself on the receiving end of that Judgment," Atrebas ordered curtly.

"I refuse to sit down! You are not the conscience of the Star League, the Grand Council is the final say in Star League affairs! I will not be intimidated by the Executors any longer!" the Senior Senator said.

Atrebas nodded twice, slightly, considering his tack going forward with the Senator. "My job is to save lives, Senator. My job is not to listen to the conscience of a corrupt bureaucracy or to obey laws that are unjust and detrimental to the Ward (6). You are not the first Senator that has pulled this temper tantrum in my presence, and I suspect you shall not be the last. Now, if you want to stand in the way of this Judgment, your call. You will be dealt with as an enabler to War Crimes and Interdimensional Slavery Crimes if you so choose."

On that, the senior senator sat down quickly. By law, the Executors had dominion over anything dealing with War Crimes, which made anyone caught in the wake of such charges likely to be annihilated for their transgressions. By and large, Atrebas and his cadre of 'trumped-up Mages' took a very dim view on anyone who participated in such actions, supported those actions, or enabled them. Not to mention, being caught in a Slavery scandal usually ended careers in disgrace, so Atrebas had two solid angles to use on anyone who dissented.

"As I said, these actions are already in motion, and the first of the Trains is being decommissioned and salvaged as we speak," Atrebas explained. "This is where the Executor's Judgment is executed. First, All decrees listing the Trains as sacrosanct are no longer applicable to the Protectorate of Sigma."

Atrebas' declaration caused an immediate explosion of protests from the Star League Grand Council. The sound and fury lasted two minutes by Atrebas' timer, but when it calmed down, one person was still standing and railing: Senator Mandy Glivenne. "I knew this was fishy! I knew there was something behind the high-level protection you were giving to that damnable carrion-crawling Protectorate! Not only have you signed over to them a whole world, now you sign over to them the Jumper Trains?"

"Aff, exactly so, Senator Glivenne," Atrebas snarked in response. "Unlike your broad and learned wisdom, Senator, the Protectorate of Sigma actually has a plan to un-fuck the problem that this Council has created and nurtured for three millennia running. The days of your pitiable excuses are done, Senator. I will not suffer this threat to the Ward any longer, and I will not suffer any person who tries to delay its systematic elimination from the annals of Existence. Now, Senator, I shall take this time to remind you that my prior offer to you still stands, and I made sure to bring more than one blade to allow you the choice of method of death should you feel so inclined."

"I yield the point, Executor," Senator Glivenne answered meekly.

"Technically, I sign over to Sigma more than just the planet, and more than just the Trains. They are a group willing to do the right thing, first time, every time. The Executors support and bless their efforts. The Magi support and bless their efforts. ComStar supports their efforts. And now, in penance for your failures over the centuries, the Star League Grand Council shall involuntarily support Sigma's efforts to correct your own fuckups. This is the Judgment of the Executors, and so shall it be written."

There were some moanings, but the protest was token. The bulk of the Senators in the room were more concerned about the principle than the funding involved.

"Second, The supply networks that fuel the trains, provide parts and provision passengers shall remain active and supplied by the Star League in all particulars until such a time as the Executors have judged that all Trains are decommissioned, destroyed or lost. This includes any and all hardware that are removed from the Trains and activated for use elsewhere in the Protectorate, and it also includes provisions supplied through those networks. In penance for ignoring the orders of the Executors, you shall pay for the dissolution of your grave sins until they are wiped clean by the Protectorate."

Again, there was a bit of an uproar, but not for the cause most were extolling. Atrebas knew the dirty little secret of the Trains, and why they were allowed to free-roam with the Slavers on board, though he would not use that reason against the Grand Council just yet. As these things happened, letting the SLGC remain in power for now, and forcing them to provision the Trains indefinitely while Sigma scrapped them down, was technically the most humane battle plan going forward. The flip-side of that arrangement, of course, would be that Sigma piled up the evidence against the SLGC in the course of clearing the Trains, a not unwelcome turn of events as far as Atrebas was concerned.

"Third, the Rite of Reciprocity is annulled against Sigma in all particulars, for all parties Star League, affiliated to the Star League, Guilds sanctioned or commissioned by the Star League, or mercenary groups contracted by the Star League or its affiliated parties. I am rescinding all legal or military recourse against Sigma except by way of filing a complaint through the Executors or through the Office of Protectorate Management of the Multimage Star Empire. Any attempt to execute direct action against Sigma, her persons or affiliated parties will be met with swift counterattack or preemptive attack by the Executors and the Magi."

This uproar was more significant than the last, and continued for some three minutes. With the annulment of the Rite of Reciprocity, the Star League had effectively no way to challenge the Protectorate of Sigma. By law, the SLDF could not take offensive action, and that regulation was ruthlessly enforced by the Executors. By yanking Reciprocity, the SLDF could not initiate any kind of military action against Sigma without going rogue, a plan of action no intelligent SLDF Admiral would even think loud about.

"Fourth, Sigma is hereby authorized to violate any Guild, Trade Union, Non-Disclosure Agreement, Contract or Trade Secret ruling that it can reasonably demonstrate interferes with its commissions or legitimate operations. The Grand Council has built a long listing of rulings, regulations and laws over the millennia to protect certain parties and hamper competition in those fields it has dominion over. I am stripping those barriers out of the path of the Protectorate of Sigma to ensure they have a clear field to do their job without hindrance from protectionist and monopolistic corrupt organizations. Again, any party that attempts to restrain Sigma with, as one example amongst multiple, a trade secret injunction against methods to entrap the Trains, shall be met with swift recourse from the Executors."

This series of jeering was from an isolated contingent in the audience box, what Atrebas could figure was the Guildmasters from their dress. Eric paid it no heed, given he expected more than half of those guilds would be annihilated by the execution of Sigma's commissions.

"These Judgments are writ as of 0100 hours this morning and have already been entered into record in the Executors Operations Log. As I am the progenitor of these policies, any challenge to the Judgments are to be directed to me. Now, off the record, I advise you all to use your brains on these matters going forward. If it sounds like it might run afoul of the Judgment, don't do it. I have a Liaison Executor assigned to the Protectorate to assist in the Commissioned Operations that Sigma is executing, and he knows that any interference is to be reported immediately to the Executor Temple for investigation. If you value your lives and your careers, do not meddle in affairs to which you have no understanding. That is all."

-x-

(Same Time)
(Pipelayer S-0001, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)

"I guess that puts an exclamation mark on the value of what we are building here, sir," Toni said as she watched the assembly meeting with Hess as he watched it on the heads-up display in his control cab.

"I think that is more like five or ten exclamation marks, actually," Victoria said over the radio.

"That's the kind of armor-plated ass-covering that would make GE and Microsoft back home envious," Clarence said with a clear smile to voice.

"I've got only one thing to say," Clint said. "Great Bozack in the sky, don't fail us now! We're going to need a bigger set to live up to the total bravo-juliet we just received."

"Ladies and gentlemen, for the record, I assigned Clint to the position TRADOC and Standards for a very good reason. Now you know why," Erich Hess said with complete gravity.

"What can I say?" Clint asked in response, even as most everyone else listening was busy laughing at it.

"As little as possible," Victoria answered back.

"Despite the totally wrongheaded phrasing, Clint has a point. The Master Executor just made a fuck-ton of noise with that gauntlet when it hit the table. Now it is our job to pick that gauntlet up and slap the hardfail out of every offending party needed while shouting demands for satisfaction."

"Last call to depart the Crazy Train before it leaves the station; once we slip brakes and roll down the rails, it's victory or death." Surprisingly, it was Virtue that had the comment de rigeur that would sum up Sigma's policy going forward.

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 1230 Hours Local time)
(Barracks Building FD-02 , Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

"GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" A voice shouted from the doorway into the Barracks building. With it, all conversation in the room died aborning and all eyes turned to the newcomer with the massive lungs.

"Holy shit," one of the denizens of the barracks building gaped at the massive chunk of humankind standing in front of them all.

"Now that I have your attention, it is time to get down to business," the massive being said. "First, in case you have not heard the good word of the day, the Multimage Empire has committed a Provisional Training Cluster to the Protectorate. Any Magi citizens in the room?" Two hands were raised. "Good. At least someone in here should have an idea where this is going. Any persons in here under the age of 16?" No hands were raised. "Also good, no need to boot anyone out to school."

"Where is this going?" A single voice asked from the far side of the barracks. "I was asleep."

"What's your name, boy?" the massive guy in BDU uniform asked.

"Akira. I own this barracks."

"Well, the Department of Training and Doctrine regrets to inform you that your barracks building has been shanghaied, and your legions of followers, all of which have signed up for a posting in Sigma, are now under my command. That includes you, Akira, given that you signed up for a Strategic Commander position?" The huge guy asked.

"I signed up for that before I knew what kind of a raging douchebag Sigma One was. I'm out," Akira said coldly.

"That simplifies matters," the massive one said. He made a couple changes on his tablet. "Get over here, sign your release, pack your shit up, and get over to Barracks Building GA-01. F-Barracks are for military trainees only from now on."

"Fuck y'all. I ain't going anywhere," Akira answered.

The massive trooper walked over to the end of Akira's bunk and dropped the tablet on his gut. "Sign off and you're out of my responsibility."

"Fine," Akira signed off on the release documents. "I'm going back to — " He choked up once the Magi trooper caught hold of his right ankle. "What the hell?" Akira asked after he had been lifted clear off the bed and was hanging upside down by his ankle.

"Like I said, you're out of my responsibility now." The trooper let Akira down to where his shoulders were on the ground, spun around, and heaved the much-smaller belligerent toward the back doors to the barracks building. Akira slammed into the top of the door, ripped it clean off the hinges on his way through, and ended up rolling into the back wall of the adjoining barracks building. His tee-ball bat joined him out in the alleyway a few seconds later, and lastly his footlocker slammed through the other back door and splintered all over the pavement between the back door and where Akira had stopped rolling.

"Holy shit, dude," one of the other trainees said.

"Anyone else think they will not be leaving this building when ordered?" The Magi trooper asked.

"No, sir!" A lady shouted.

"If you want out, and are willing to be proper about it, you will have the option of taking your stuff with you peaceably. The kid's fate was simply on his belligerence; I do not normally throw people around, unless warranted. Now, anyone else wish to release themselves from their requested courses of training?" the Magi trooper asked.

"I'm out, but unlike Akira, I'll walk peaceably," the guy from next to Akira's bed said. "Amado H., sir."

The Magi trooper dialed up the necessary form and presented the tablet to Amado. "Sign here, son. No shame in it, this life is not for everyone." Amado signed off quickly enough. "Get your gear and get moving."

"Yessir," Amado hefted his footlocker and hiked out to where Akira was just barely picking himself up.

"If anyone else wants out, now is the time to do so," the Magi trooper said. Nobody stood to the challenge. "Now, I welcome you all to Basic Training. I am Drill Instructor Prentice, and you are now in my caring hands. In the coming weeks, you will learn what it is to harden up, you and the 224 other recruits that have signed into the Sigma training groups. Now, the bar is set fairly low for Basic, so you shall not be with me too long, and some of you will test out earlier than others, but Basic Training is only the beginning of your fun."

Prentice strode the length of the barracks building while looking over the personnel. "Something wrong, sir?" one of the ladies asked.

"Quite a bit, actually. I gather you picked your bunks and buildings at random as you came off the Train?"

"We did, sir," she answered.

Prentice sighed. "This I expected. Militiamen don't always get it right on the first go. Close enough to count as a start, at the least."

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 1545 Hours Local time)
(Jump Engine site, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

"Bring it down slow, down slow, down, down, hold!" Erich immediately released the cable control button. "Damn, too far! We're down on the frame, but the locking bolts are a quarter-centimeter off! What rotten luck!"

"Keep your poncho on, ground, I think I can finesse this. Stand clear." Hess focused on the load cable that ran in front of his windshield, and specifically watched a green paint stripe on the cable in relation to a bug splat on the windshield (A particularly juicy grasshopper had decided to commit suicide on the windshield of the pipelayer, and the windshield wipers were not able to clear all the leftovers.) By keeping his head centered and eyes on the paint line, Hess was able to track its movement as he drew the cable in slightly. A traverse of a centimeter in the cable was what he aimed for on the first try. "Try it now."

"No dice yet. Give me a little more?" the Ground Controller said.

Hess again finessed the cable controls, this time to traverse the cable another centimeter. The trick was, given the Jump Engine was on a six-point block-and-tackle assembly, every centimeter of travel of cable at the motor housing translated to a fraction of a centimeter movement at the object end. "How's that?"

"Perfect! Stand by while we bolt it in place." Sigma One craned his neck to look at the process of bolting the engine into the purpose-made static cradle. Everything was engineered out of one-inch stainless steel for longevity and support purposes — every engine weighing in at 50 tons, and the attendant fusion reactor for the individual engine weighed in at 52.5 tons, with cabling and local accumulator each engine enclosure came out to slightly under 120 tons.

"Oh yeah, I love it when a plan comes together," Erich said as he sat back down properly and stretched. "Time to place the associated Fusion Reactor." The Jump Engine Accumulator was already in place, as the excavators had no problem lowering that relatively light item into place for all the cradle assemblies.

"Ready to release cradle," Sandra F. reported from down in the engine pit. Hess tripped the safety switch, then the trigger to cut it loose. "Cradle is clear, you're clear."

"Rolling for fusion pack now," Hess said. He put the vehicle in reverse gear and crawled over to where the trailers had been lined up by the HEMTT driver.

"Sigma One from Trench One," Jeff Evans prompted him on the radio.

"Sigma One, go ahead," Hess said.

"I have completed the trenching passes, will need a backhoe to finish up and prepare the trench for the cable. Do we have one available?"

"Ten-four, ordered one this morning for the purpose. Return your trencher to inventory and draw the backhoe loader," Hess ordered. "Virtue, are you ready to conduct a test on the Engines as soon as we have them linked and powered?"

The AI was silent through part of a segmented turn that Hess made to align himself with the next package he was transferring.

"Testing is possible, but ill-advised until multiple engines are available," Virtue reported.

"Oh, no, no, not intending to test it myself, yet at least," Hess admitted. "I was just planning on moving a box from the engine area to somewhere else on base. Nothing special."

"Understood, this is doable," Virtue answered.

"At the power pack for Engine One. Need a crew to hook me up," Erich declared over the radio.

"On it, give us a second sir," Glen and Scott reported. With all five engines removed and on trailers here at the construction site, Mosley's team had transitioned over to set-up rather than disassembly. Mosley, Sandra and Manami were in the pit, with Scott and Glen up top for spotting and for pack connection.

Hess maneuvered the boom as close to the optimal position for them to connect it, while Scott climbed up onto the fusion engine and started slipping connections onto the quick-release blocks. "Idle thought, ladies and gentlemen: if we have all five fusion reactors here with all five jump engines, what is powering the remnant of the Train?"

"Beat you to it, sir. I have a land-line snaked down from the fusion reactors to the connection point in loco five, keep the train cars juiced until we clear them out. By the by, how quick will we start that?" Mosley Goodwin asked.

"The first Rail Guard teams are training up right now. Clint thinks we can have the first team in the Train as of five days from now."

"That's pretty fast," Manami said with some spirit to voice.

"We received some hard volunteers, fast learners or already partially taught. A few days on the specifics of the train clearing and they should be ready to go. As always, they will have heavy firepower just a call away as needed."

"Ready for lift, sir," Scott reported after he reconnected the quick-release safety pin.

"Lifting now," Erich declared as he dropped the cable in button. "Pack is coming up clean, guys. Prep the harness for the next Jump Engine, if possible I want two sets rigged in and ready today."

"On it now, sir," Glen said.

"One thing that came up at last night's dinner party, sir, how big are you going to make the individual arrays?" Mosley asked.

"I am going to max out the arrays to the best possible." Hess brought the boom in to bring the engine out from the area of the trailer. "Clear from the trailer. HEMTT team, please return trailers to storage; don't need them clogging up the grounds."

"That would be me," Jeff Evans reported. "I'll get them pulled in after the dinner party tonight."

"Damn good," Hess said with a smile. "Ground team, lowering fusion engine now," Hess reported as he let the boom down to index the engine over the second cradle.

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 1545 Hours Local time)
(Medical Ward, Administration Building First Floor, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

Once the patient was bedded down and resting, tasks ramped down for the two MedTechs that had been assigned to this detail. The other MedTechs / Combat Medics / Surgeons had been assigned to the Base Hospital, with orders to recommission and draw supplies to get it at least partially functional.

"Not improving?" Amethyst asked calmly.

"Neg, right on the edge," MedTech Erica said. "Thankful that Sigma One found her when he did. Another ten minutes without stabilization and she'd already be dead."

"I thought she was dead when they placed her," Amethyst said with some relief.

"Kid, you're going back over your own tracks," the elder MedTech said. "We'll do what we can for her, but the big one comes down to how much abuse her brain can take."

"The stomping?" the concerned cadet asked.

"Aff," Christy checked over the monitor systems again, and was satisfied with the results. "She has serious brain swelling from the boot stomp trauma, and that in addition to the myriad broken bones and other impact issues. We're looking over her blood work and sensor scans now to see if there are other problems we need to worry about, but I think we have the bulk of them. The rest is in her hands."

In truth, the standing problem for Dianthe was not in her hands, it was in her veins. While her brain was swelling due to the trauma, and the MedTechs had already administered what treatments they had available for it, the true threat to Dianthe's life was already in motion — and conversely, the threat to her continued life was long since past, given she was now in the Administration building and not exposed to where her assailants could get to her.

A sharp pain from one of her broken femur bones caused a rush of adrenaline in her system, a natural autonomic reaction to such massive injury. The injection of adrenaline caused a massive spike in her heart rate, and with it her blood pressure. When applied to a swollen brain, Dianthe developed several cerebral hemorrhages inside the space of ten seconds. Now bleeding on her brain, she was quickly headed for death — except, her personal circumstances would change the story quickly enough.

As soon as her HR and BP spiked, the monitors picked it up. "Holy shit, adrenaline dump," Christy said after several alarms began going off.

"Senior, we've got serious problems here, my sensor pack is showing cerebral hemorrhages now. What's our options?" Erica asked.

"We have none," Christy said. "Even if she was on an operating table right now, she'd not survive four, five cranial bleeds like that without an injection of Medical Nanomachines. Gods Damnit!"

"You mean, there's nothing left?" Amethyst asked.

"We put her under a Regen spell, even, and the trauma is far outpacing that," Erica said. "It's just about over for her."

In point of fact, the medical monitors started dropping off quickly, until the all-important cardiac monitor flat-lined and with it most of the rest of the indicators. Curiously, while most of the physical indicators died out, the mental indicators spiked quickly after the beginning of the flat-line, which surprised Erica and caused Christy to gape. "Something's not normal here — " she choked up, then looked over to the lady on the hospital bed.

"What? Is she — " Amethyst asked, pointing to the area around Dianthe.

"Black halo! Everyone back!" Christy grabbed Amethyst by the back of her shirt and hauled her back. "Stay back here! She's an Astral Phoenix about to Halo!"

"Dianthe — a Phoenix? But — no red hair!" Amethyst shouted in protest.

"Red hair is a Celestial Phoenix, they're the most common but not the only ones," Erica said, now cued into what was going on. She darted into the 'danger zone' to rescue her medical monitor system and the equipment tree, though did so quickly to make sure she was back away before the halo went full-size. "Black hair, black halo — definitely an Astral Phoenix."

The Halo went to full size as someone entered the room — several someones, as it were. "The hell is going on?" Sigma Two asked.

"Phoenix Halo — Dianthe just died, technically, but killing a Phoenix permanently requires a fuck-ton more than just mashing their head with your boot," High Executor Nereus said. "May want to get back some more, magical flame halo and all that," he accompanied his warning by yanking the two MedTechs back farther away from the hospital bed where Dianthe was resting, and the two MedTechs did the same with Amethyst.

"Approaching burnoff point," Legion Commander Lightbringer said from the doorway. "Not everyone in Existence sees a Phoenix burn out, but I've seen it a few times."

"So this is it," Amethyst said in dejection. "And all because they thought she was not human."

"They were right, but their reason for the attack was wrong," Sigma One said.

The peak of the halo effect came as her whole body began glowing, and then was consumed in the magic flames that were somewhere between dark blue and black. As the body 'burnt off' from the feet up and the head down (so far as Amethyst could describe it), her center glowed brighter and brighter until the burn reached the glow. A large puff of flame accompanied a bright flash, and the light level in the room returned to normal fluorescent lighting levels.

"Oh wow, that was definitely different from the last Phoenix I saw go out," Christy commented. "Result is the same, though."

As the group moved forward to admit more people to the room, Amethyst moved forward of them all and stopped at the charred remnants of the bed. All that remained of the movable hospital bed was a pile of metal scraps that had been twisted out of expected shape by the heat. In the center of the burned out mattress springs rested a single mottled violet egg, roughly a half-meter tall from base to top.

"An egg?" Amethyst asked, shocked.

"Don't touch it yet, it's still too hot," Lightbringer said. "Remember, Phoenix are the birds that die and are reborn in their own flames. That applies even in cases where they are in alternate form and are slain."

"So, looks like we now have an egg to take care of," Sigma One said. "Anyone know how? This is something I've not dealt with."

"Couple heat lamps and move the egg to a more permanent resting spot. Will take about 6 months to hatch, and it will grow significantly in that time," Nereus said.

"One of the top-floor quarters work?" Hess asked. Nereus nodded affirm. "Move her up to the top floor southeast room. Amethyst, you bunk in there as well until further notice, make sure that Dianthe has a properly regulated environment. The Secret Service will stand guard over your room as well until further notice."

"On it, sir!" Toni said.

"And speaking of the Secret Service, we will have a group of murderers to track down tonight. Time for the Claiborne County Militia to make some noise once more," Sigma One declared.

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 1830 Hours Local time)
(Hess' Quarters, Administration Building Fourth Floor, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

"Everyone here?" Hess asked from the head of the table.

"All the senior staff is here," Victoria said. "Jeff? You have the big one, you here?"

"Down here," Jeff Evans waved from the far end of the table, given that he was concealed on the far side of a genetically engineered Infantryman and wasn't readily visible to the command section. His girlfriend (?) Cynthia Williams was present as well.

"And Mosley is here, so we're good to go. So, we start with the large matter of importance to all going forward. Star Colonel Storme, you're on," Victoria nodded to the Star Colonel.

"As you should all know, the 757th Provision Training Cluster is now bedded down and ready to go in the Armored Infantry barracks on the west side of the base. We've already assigned Basic instructors to the necessary cadre, and we have advanced instructors at the ready, but it will be some time before those advanced operations trainers are ready to begin training any of the raw troops. Sigma's standards are not all that high, but even those low bars will take a while to meet for most of the inductees."

"Deliberate on my part," Hess said. "I want the bulk of the training conducted at the mission-specific level, but I do want core competency for everyone with the basics: pistol, rifle, knife, physical work requirements, what have you."

"That makes more sense than what I envisioned was your intention," Star Colonel Storme said. "So, when do you intend to begin your Basic Training?"

"If I can ever delegate or get things moving smoothly enough that I can be spared from the complex stuff," Hess admitted.

"That might take a while," Victoria admitted.

"For now, Sidonia intends to handle the training for the Secret Service and the command level. That training continues ad infinitum, unless personnel are not physically in a position to do so, but will resume when they go to stand-down," Hess pinned Clint with a glance briefly.

"You know I'm good for it, just want to make sure you are, sir," Clint said mischievously.

"Okay, that at least gets you guys moving in a semi-professional direction. My last thing: since the education and majority requirements are much higher here than in the Magi lands, and you are providing academy or vocational services for those students above the basic schooling, I take it you will need instructors for those academy positions?"

"Ten-four, my intention is to fall on the middle line between a traditional boot camp or advanced military training group and secondary schooling. That way, when the students graduate after four years of advanced training and schooling, they're ready to hit the ground running in their field."

"Doable, I'll have some of my instructors write it up," Star Colonel Storme said. "Anything else, sir?"

"One thing. As our own security forces come online, I will pull your guard and MP formations back to do training and special operations work. Also, I have the contract guidelines set up, so if your troops want to subcontract, that is available," Erich explained.

"Some will, most won't. Not very often do the Magi forces hire out," LC Lightbringer said.

"Actually, sir, the 757th is staffed with personnel that mostly do want to do some contracting work," Star Captain Jules Peterson said. "We were informed that it would not be a requirement for service here on Terra 232, but the opportunity would be available."

"I will make sure opportunities are available for you," Clarence Williams (Sigma Three) said.

"By the by, what are the contract guidelines?" Star Colonel Storme asked.

"Contracts will be designated only that profit the Protectorate and that are considered honorable by our standards of legitimate purpose, legitimate targets or objectives, proper compensation for expected work, and do not support terrorists, marxists or their offshoots, and genocide or war crimes.

"Those are good, solid bounds," Gerald Lightbringer acknowledged.

"Operations will be conducted as swiftly as possible, with the requested forces and/or support forces deemed necessary to execute the objective. Compensation, after liquidation, will be distributed 25 percent to the units involved, 25 percent to the Temporal Psionics fund, and 50 percent into the Sigma General Pool," Clarence finished up his explanation.

"What? You are actually going to cut the troops in directly on the proceeds? No other mercenary unit does that, except as occasional bonuses for hard operations!" Star Colonel Storme objected to the appears-self-destructive plan.

Hess nodded. "No other mercenary unit expects two or three contracts per team per month, either," Hess countered. "Without the generous payout schedule, combined with benefits and salary, I would have no reasonable expectation of retaining the troops, except for maybe a few hardasseses here and there."

"A good point," Legion Commander Lightbringer pointed out. "The average mercenary unit pulls two contracts, maybe three a year. Exceptional units pull five or seven. By the metric I have seen Hess running in simulations, Sigma would pull more contracts in a month than would be cleared by the average Mercenary formation in its entire lifetime."

"The name of the game is small, short-term high-noise operations," Clarence came to the support of his boss. "Garrison contracts last for months, years sometimes. We're not doing Garrison work, except for maybe Hazardous Ops Garrison. Our bread and butter are support contracts for campaigning, such as 'mercenary unit needed to assist and support troops during prepared battle against enemy army'. Stuff like that, a classic one-bang or two-bang, collect our paycheck, and back to base."

"And thus, the necessity of paying premium for your troops," Star Captain Peterson acknowledged. "I came in expecting traditional contractor work, but I think I like this better."

"Any other questions?" Hess asked. "Okay, Jeff, Mosley, I think I should have cause to fear a conspiracy between you two, but best it be said now, rather than guessed at later."

"Sir, I propose the formation of a subdivision of Sigma Holdings, for the purpose of special projects work, engineering, technical pursuits, and for the purpose of expanding Sigma's technical and engineering capabilities as we move forward," Jeff Evans explained in his most respectful voice.

Hess thought about it for a few moments, then nodded. "I think we may have a confluence of operational concepts, but lay your plan out in its entirety, let's see what you are bringing to the table," Hess explained.

"I propose Sigma Specialist Services Group, to be initially formed of the Rail Engineer Group, The Train Beacon Engineers, the de facto Heavy Equipment Operators, and any technical staff we may induct to get the force off the ground. We have a mid-rise office building on the western periphery of the base, we can put that to use as a beginning for the group. We centralize the engineering and specialist groups, allowing us to coordinate our efforts and train up for those tasks, and when we are not working on anything specific, we can turn our engineering skills toward new equipment and systems for Sigma," Jeff said.

Mosley Goodwin cleared his throat. "Also, to bury any fears of Guild conduct from the group, this is an open group where members can come and go as they please, with no membership dues or rites, and we shall keep any nonclassified project or area open for ready inspection by members of the Protectorate forces, and any classified projects or areas shall be open for inspection by the Protectorate Command Level and Secret Services, by inspection of the Executors, and for inspection by any personnel designated by the Office of Protectorate Affairs from the Magi," Mosley said in a bit of a rush.

"That's not bad," Victoria acknowledged.

"That's not all," High Executor Nereus said. "Included in the Specialist Services Group will also be two Magical Arts that are interlinked but distinct from each other: Rune Enchanting and Relic Enchanting. I understand you have an operational concept for a Rune right now?"

"Four, actually," Hess said. "Two Runes in each hangar, two separate hangars. Call it an operational demonstration that I mean business when I say I value the presence and the well-being of the Nonhumans in the Protectorate. The events today with Dianthe will send a chill through their ranks, assuredly, but I intend to make amends on that FUBAR before nightfall. I also intend to step past that failing with the Runes in question, allowing free transformation for the Avians to or from their native forms."

"Those preparations would fall under the Rune Enchantment Group, then," Nereus said. "We keep those services under the Support Services Group to help centralize administration and deployment of those personnel, prevent confusion and sharpen our skills to the best possible. This also gives you an extra avenue of income, in that even basic Relics sell for steep prices, and our engineering services can be contracted out for contracts that require the construction touch rather than the destructive skills of the traditional mercenary forces."

"I'm sold on this plan," Hess said. "Who's going to run this subdivision? Or, alternately, who spawned this Scylla of a plan?"

"Guilty as charged, sir," Mosley Goodwin said with a raised right hand. "That said, I recuse myself from the lead position; with my work on the Jump Engines being nearly-completely consuming, there's no way I could run a subdivision. The number two man would be Luna," Mosley waved to Engineer Fallsorth.

"No way, man," Luna said immediately. "I can fix stuff all day, I can engineer solutions to oddball problems, but I'll be the first person at this table to admit that I couldn't lead a straight march to a whorehouse, much less run something like this. I just don't have the right mindset for that kind of management position."

"Who's next down the totem pole?" Hess asked. "Or… Jeff?"

Jeff looked around, but quickly came to an inexorable conclusion. "Guess that would be me, sir. I'm willing to learn, but management practices weren't part of my schooling."

"Victoria, Clarence or myself can certainly step you through the management processes," Erich answered. "Volunteer gig, Jeff, but I need a man with forward thought and technical aggression in the position, and you seem to have both."

Jeff took about ten seconds to consider it. "I'm in, sir."

"Very well, Virtue, register Jeff Evans as Division Lead, callsign Specialist One. Your task for tonight is to write up a starting list of your subdivisions and your personnel chart for those groups. Subdivision Leads will go by Callsigns as well, Specialist Two, Specialist Three, and onward. No major rush on the plan, have it ready by end of day tomorrow. I also want a plan from you to expand those capabilities by inducting personnel, either volunteers from the trains or by headhunting across the HPG Network. No advertising, but scalp from Job Sites and aggregators for likely personnel and what you'll need to offer them to get them to come to this lovely tea party."

"Understood, I'll have them written up by end of day tomorrow," Jeff promised.

"Since the cable trench is done, you're off the heavy equipment detail for now, but I'll probably need you back in the driver's seat when we start running the fusion power cables," Hess admitted. "All right, any other business?"

"I have a minor one, sir," Cynthia Williams requested.

"Hit me," Hess said.

"I would like to begin the setup of a Shinto temple and cultural center for the Protectorate, either here on base or nearby," Cynthia laid her concept out.

Legion Commander Lightbringer whistled. "Now that's definitely going to raise some eyebrows."

Hess looked at the LC with suspicion. "How so, Legion Commander?"

"The Star League, in their haste to divorce themselves from the Magi and their ways, have deliberately distanced themselves from all things Japanese, modern or past. There are precisely two Shinto temples anywhere in Star League territory, and one of those is technically a possession of the Executors. Make that a policy, and you are directly whizzing on the Star League Grand Council."

Hess shrugged. "After the face-punch the Master Executor delivered to the GC this morning, whizzing on them is simply pro forma but not an objective of mine. That said, I am wary of building a society that is devoid of culture, artistry or spirituality; do that, you end up with a Soviet Russia clone, which doesn't end well in any of the history books I read."

"Good point," Clarence said. "Never thought of it that way."

"Shinto temple and cultural center," Hess mused, his eyes flicking back and forth at parts of the table seemingly at random, but operating in tune with his thought process. "Okay, I think this is a go plan," Sigma One said after about fifteen seconds of deliberation. "Any floor objections?"

"Not an objection, but a limitation," Clarence said. "Between other critical taskings, we don't have much if anything in the way of resources or personnel to spare."

"I was going to get to that," Hess said. "I will definitely sanction such an institution inside the Protectorate, definitely inside this base, as we have some expansion room, and inside the other bases if you want to create a network of temples for the Sigma forces. That said, while I do authorize it and provide land, I can't provide resources or funding at this time. Until the income stream starts exceeding the operating expenses, I have to minimize extraneous project expenditures."

"Understood, thank you sir," Cynthia responded. "I'll do what I can through private funding and support."

Hess nodded. "Also, be warned that you will eventually have competition of sorts — the other religious groups will be along eventually to start opening up. I would like to avoid a religious war of sorts in the Protectorate, but by law I can't stop anyone from spreading unless such groups constitute a clear and present danger."

Cynthia nodded twice. "I expected someone would try. It's in my family line, and I think it will be needed sooner rather than later."

"I suspect you are right," Erich acknowledged. "Jeff, after you have your paperwork done, determine a good site for the Temple and Cultural Center and write it up."

"Understood, sir," Specialist One answered immediately.

"Any other business at this time?" Hess asked. This time, no response came forward. "If you're done with your meals, ladies and gentlemen, I bid you good evening. Secret Service and Command Level please remain, we have planning for an unscheduled operation to be conducted tonight. Legion Commander Lightbringer, if you will remain as well?"

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 2215 Hours Local time)
(Barracks Building GA-02, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

"Team two, in position," Clint said.

"Team three, in position," Clarence declared.

"Reserve, in position and on standby," Victoria said.

"Set breaching charges to two seconds and place on doors, activate on my mark," Hess ordered.

"Set;" "Done;" "Ready;" the demo-carriers in each team reported.

"Activate now!" Hess said as quietly as possible.

The toggles were pushed in on the side of the detonators, then everyone turned away from the charges. Two seconds dragged inside the confines of everyone's minds, but when the three charges went, they blasted apart the cheap barracks doors all within the space of a half-second.

"Bang and clear!" Clint ordered. Three Flashbangs entered the barracks area and detonated within a second of each other, providing a necessary distraction for the entry teams.

"LAW ENFORCEMENT! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!" Moira shouted as she entered the room. Similar shouts came from the other doors.

Moira entered first for Team one, and immediately she went left to clear her corner. Hess entered second and swept right, which turned out to be devoid of any persons. As he swept counter-clockwise, two shots rang out from the left side and were responded with four rounds from the suppressed ACR rifles in use by the Secret Service troops. As Hess came left and onto the area where the tangos were residing (with two rows of bunks, the left side was nearer the bathrooms and small galley), one of the punks that he had seen in Amethyst's memories as having assaulted Dianthe had a shotgun up and aimed squarely at Moira. Sigma One had his sights on target faster than the punk had a bead on Moira, so Hess won by default with six rounds to the chest.

"Four tangos left at gunpoint!" Moira shouted.

"Right clear!" Hess shouted his common response.

"What the fuck is your problem, fat boy?" Akira shouted.

"For once, my problem is not you or your butt-buddy," Erich answered sharply. "I'm after these two shits, Nick and his buddy Cyril."

"So what's your beef with me? And why'd you blow in here like you own the joint?" Nick asked at a shout due to the severe aural abuse from the flashbangs and gunfire.

"Not beef, fuckwagon. My problem with you is referring to poultry," Sigma One said as a bit of a wan joke. "Three team, secure and extract."

"Aye aye, boss," Clarence said. Anastasia and Sigma Three went for the surviving minion Cyril, Sidonia and Crystal went for Nicholas (the ringleader and main murderer). "Hands up, where I can see 'em, shit-ape."

"Sure!" the rising nature of his shout gave Clarence a clear idea what was coming. The punk brought his right hand out from under the covers with a combat knife, blade point aimed at Clarence's neck. It became a contest of speed, the punk versus the militiaman, and Clarence won the speed match handily by stopping the incoming arm cold. The flip side of his action was to draw his bayonet and use it against Cyril's chest.

"DAMNIT! Cyril! I can't believe you bastards did that shit to Cyril! What the fuck?" Nick shouted.

"Well, if you're stupid enough to pull guns or knives on an entry team, you're likely gonna get shot or stabbed," Clint said.

"So, what's this about? Flexing your bozack, big guy?" Akira asked Hess specifically. "Keeping the little people in line?"

"It's about a little fun this maggot and his deceased buds had with an Astral Phoenix and her study-mate," Toni answered for the boss.

"Oh, those two! Surprised you found that so quick. How did you like the gift I left?" Nicholas asked.

Hess lifted the grenade from the front of his Dragon Scale Six armor set. "Muchas Gracias for the free 'nade, punk. I'm sure I can find a use for it sooner or later." The grenade went back on his vest. "Haul his arse out of here and over to the Jump Engine flats."

"Yes sir," Sidonia answered coldly. "Move it, asshole."

-x-

(2225 Hours, Same day)
(Jump Engine Array, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)

A crowd had gathered to see the proceedings. Amethyst had made sure to pass the word around as to what happened to her friend, and hence word had begun moving around at a brisk pace.

"Got an audience on the way out. How grand," Nicholas said. "So, how many people did you have lie on the affidavits?"

"You want to accuse Legion Commander Lightbringer of perjury on an affidavit for a death warrant, well, I give you credit for your balls but certainly not your lack of brains," Star Colonel Storme said.

"Let the punk flap his gums, they all do," Gerald Lightbringer said coldly. "It never makes a difference, especially when everyone involved was subject to a Brisingamen Relic when they signed off on the affidavit." Such a relic made the matter iron-clad in any kind of Review or Trial of Refusal, as Brisingamen Relics were designed to indicate when a person in its presence was lying. If it never glowed when the paperwork was signed off, then they were not lying as seen through the background layers of Existence itself.

"Killed a Phoenix by stomping on her head? After you had your way with her? Damnable!" A rather large Elven lady cadet half-shouted at Nicholas.

"See this, Hess? Look around you," Nicholas waved around the assembly area. "Less than half the people around here are Human. One day, you'll wake up and it will be you ruled by the nonhumans, fat boy."

"And why should I consider that a bad thing?" Sigma One asked.

"Are you stupid? They take power, they commit reverse genocide!" Nicholas wailed. "Aww, fuck it, it's obvious you don't care about humanity."

"You are right, I don't care about humanity in the way you do. You remind me a little bit of the Klu Klux Klan from my homeworld, lost in a lost world, railing against a system that wants no part of their purity, perpetually in the wrong place with the wrong message. I myself never directly dealt with any of the Sheet-Heads, but in your conduct I see all their failures and their entire lack of virtues," Hess countered Nicholas.

"Enough of this shit," Nicholas surrendered by way of cutting the conversation short. "If to be done, best it be done swiftly! Let's see if you have the balls to drop the hammer on one of your own!"

Hess frowned, then scrunched his face up, contemplating something. "Nah, no need to waste perfectly good munitions. I have a better plan. You shall help us test our new systems, Nicholas." Sigma One looked over his right shoulder to his Security Services. "Leonora, hit one of the Storage Interface boxes and withdraw a Jump Gate Beacon. They are rated for the abuse I am about to put them through."

"Immediately, my liege," Leonora answered curtly before she disappeared, blinked away toward the Admin building. She was thirty seconds in the return, but with it one of the new Jump Gate Beacons that Xigon had custom-built for Sigma from a similar device used by the Multimage Commandos.

"Excellent. Time to use this for the anti-purpose of what it is intended." Hess pulled a small bit of Duct tape from his armor's general purpose pouch and cut off a 12" section. "See, we know the Jump Engines work short distance, like from the pad to the top of the Admin Building. What I want to know is how accurate it is over long ranges, say, a continental distance."

"So you're going to space me?" Nicholas asked.

"No, no, spacing is reserved for murderers who use strangulation and treasonists that I deem need to be made into a statement. No, your fate is a bit different, and far more abrupt." Hess said after he turned Nicholas around so he could tape the Jump Gate Beacon to his back. "Have you ever considered Natural Hydraulics?"

"What the fuck are you talking about? You're not making sense," Nicholas accused him.

"Water, dumbass, water. It supports life, is a necessity for a lot of things, and as it happens there is a metric assload of water on this planet. Now, the interesting thing about water is that it does not compress in the nominal fashion of most fluids: the more water you pile into a certain volume, the more pressure it exerts at the bottom, but compression is minimal. Hence, the oceans are pretty high, and water pressures get nasty high the deeper you go."

"Oh fuck," Nicholas groused. "I get to die by drowning," he half-moaned.

"Oh, no chance of that," Sigma One said. "Where you're going, the pressure will be far too great for you to have any chance of surviving contact. See, humans can acclimatize to an extent with changing pressures in water, but if you take a person from sea level or open air exposure and put them, say, 2000 meters underwater instantly, the pressure differential crushes them instantly. Your brain doesn't even have time to register your death, it is that quick and merciless."

"You are a right bloody bastard, Hess," Nicholas said. "Siding with the nonhumans like this, and now killing me in this fashion? What the fuck is wrong with you? Megalomania?"

"Megalomania is a desire and a joy in the exercise of power," Sigma One corrected the rapist. "I take no joy in executing someone, but I take less joy in the thought of letting you live with such a transgression on the unit." Hess pushed Nicholas down to his knees. "Any last words, deadman?"

"When the nonhumans overthrow your benevolent rule, I hope they butt-fuck you to death. Literally butt-fuck you to death," Nicholas said. "Then, and only then, will you properly understand my position, but at that point, too late."

"So noted," Hess said. "If that vaunted day ever comes, you may remind me of this conversation on the far side of the black gates of Hell," Erich said before he thumbed the activation button on the Jump Gate Beacon. "Beacon is live. Virtue, set cylindrical snap to 3 meters tall, two meters wide, bottom plate a quarter-centimeter below his knees, total snap time zero point two-five milliseconds." Hess pulled his tablet and set the mode to 'Jump Destination Map'. He moved the selection out over the Eastern Oceans, zoomed in, moved it over an underwater trench, zoomed in again, and found a deep spot where the water went below 3000 meters. He selected that trench point, saved it as a favorite location (for executions), and set the arrival altitude to -2000 meters. With the destination set, he triggered the jump. "Ten seconds."

"Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, adios asshole, one," Toni counted off the tablet from beside Hess, as everyone had cleared away from him ten meters for safety purposes.

The Jump Engines did their duty by way of trading all the matter in the departure location with all the matter in the equivalent arrival location. Normally this would be air-to-air conversion with some other assorted objects, or occasionally air-to-vacuum in the case of moving space-capable units out into space. In this case, however, the slice was air-to-water, and the arriving water that was under enormous pressure effectively exploded out from its cylindrical slice, showering everyone in the vicinity with sea water. "Hmm. Salty as hell! It worked!" Moira shouted.

"Virtue, do you have a cut to the beacon?" Hess asked.

"Confirmed, it arrived at the location and depth ordered. System works as advertised," Virtue reported over the external speakers of twenty different tablets in the area so that the entire audience could hear it.

"Existence have mercy on his soul, while Davy Jones' Locker holds his body forevermore," Hess said. "Put 'em on safe and let 'em hang, this one is done."

-x-x-x-

(22 March, Magi Year 14408 / Year SL 8838, 2300 Hours Local time)
(Hess' Quarters, Administration Building fourth floor, Base Boarhound, Terra 232)
(Day 5 of campaign)

"Well, this has been a busy day," Toni said as she entered quarters.

"Definitely a workout," Moira said as she entered while stretching out.

"Also not how I wanted to start this shindig, you know? Having to execute someone this early in the process worries me," Hess said.

"You saw the end for Dianthe just the same as we did, sir. He earned it," Toni replied a bit archly, and just as soon as she said it, she realized her impolitic modus operandi. "Sorry, sir, you're the one that consigned him to the briny deep, and you drilled one of his rapist cohorts. I shouldn't — "

"You have said nothing for which you need to apologize," Hess responded after he set his tablet on the conference / dining table. Moira and Toni both noticed that he set his XD Tactical on the nightstand shelf next to his bed, and his Dragon Scale Six armor system went to a hangar on the armor rack for the weapons storage. "My concern is mostly borne of who we had to engage and eliminate today."

"Four rapists and murders, so?" Moira asked.

"Rapists are not the concern, they have existed for all time. Same with murderers. Execute 'em, file the paperwork, move on with the day, nothing particularly troublesome there. My concern is the racist element. If I have to fight this now, how much of a problem is it going to be in the future?"

"In which direction?" Moira asked.

"Either direction is a concern, certainly," Hess said.

"Both, yeah, that would be a concern," Moira said as she took a seat at the table. "It's not something I discuss often, but I was Illyaris before I jumped on the train to avoid a pogrom. Two other Dragons in my county were slain by a roving band of humans-first types, and a third Dragon was able to get away from their assault and warn others in the area telepathically. I transformed myself to human form and bolted — had to cut my way out with my magic skills, and I left a good pile of bodies in my wake, but I don't regret it. Stumbled across the train, hid in the caboose, and made my way in to take residence. Between my lethality with spells and significant presence, I was able to get along with most everyone in the train."

"How long were you in?" Hess asked quietly.

"Little over three months, so far as I can guess," Moira said. "What I'm trying to get at, this is nothing new to me. It also means the Illyaris probably have a death warrant on me, given how much of the area I burned down on the way out. I was selective, threat versus non-threat, but fear and paranoia are contagious and a lot of people got real paranoid real fast about it."

"Hard truth, hard results," Hess said. "And I already know Toni's story."

"What Moira's dancing around about, we know it happens, and there will be some nonhumans that want to set up their own program of human genocide, but they are the extremely rare exception. As far as I know, there are no nonhumans in our group right now that are gunning for a takeover on race lines," Toni said.

"Concur. I have heard or seen nothing to suggest it right now," Virtue said.

"You will encounter the 'nonhuman first' crowd as well," Moira pointed out. "Deal with them the same way: ignore them if they just make noise, criminalize them if they do anything of that nature."

"Don't worry about the appearance of being unfair," Toni suggested. "You hammer on them both when they do wrong. Today wasn't unfair in any way; a Phoenix is regrowing herself and a friend of hers is dealing with the aftereffects of being cruelly assaulted. All four of the assailants are dead, one of them spectacularly publicly executed," she said with clear relief to voice.

"Using the condemned as test subjects for systems or weapons like this, in a test intended to kill them, is only a benefit to everyone involved," Moira said.

"And, you will find use for these, I daresay," Toni set a stack of what looked like paper tags on the table between herself and Hess.

"Okay, what are these?" Hess asked. The 'tags' had some assorted writing on them, and Hess figured he could read them, but wasn't sure if he should...just yet.

"Spell Amulets," Toni said. "Rather than dedicate burial or cremation efforts, I took a moment to eliminate the bodies by spellcraft and turn them into something useful. Two of them converted into spell amulets, one of them converted into diamonds that I stored in ScrapNet.

"Good thinking. Quick, efficient, and profitable," Sigma One said with a nod.

"Uh-uh, that's old hat," Moira said. "The good thinking tonight was you popping the ringleader by jumping him two kilometers underwater. That made a statement, some noise among the crew is that they like having a boss that is willing to deal with the problem children as appropriate, and do it in unconventional methods."

"I know we can't convert the true believers, but we need to make this as inviting as possible for those who are riding the fence or are willing to convert."

"Riding a fence is a good way to get splinters," Moira pointed out.

Erich winced. "Painful to even think of that," he groused.

"Sleep," Toni said.

"What?" Moira asked.

"Sleep on it. This isn't going anywhere right now, so we can take a day or three to think about it. There is always tomorrow, as Dianthe proved today."

"Second that motion," Hess held his hand up.

"All in favor?" Toni said.

"Good night," Moira said.

"Good evening," Erich said to his Secret Service officers.

-x-x-x-

(Elsewhere in Existence…)

The old story was always there, a land that simply stretched onward into the distance, the bright blue sky with no clouds, an ocean with no predators, islands as far as the eye can see, lighthouses across the lands but only one was lit. Nicholas thought it was just an old wives' tale to scare children into the straight-and-narrow, but now that he stood on such an island, he was assured of his location.

The islands of Elysium.

"Why am I here, sir?" Nicholas asked the one being on the islands other than himself.

"Part educational requirement, part final judgment, part personal amusement," Eric Atrebas answered after a moment of considering it.

"Personal amusement? What that fat boy did is supposed to be funny somehow?" Nicholas asked as he folded his arms akimbo.

"Not really, that was more efficiency than hilarity, I'll readily admit," Atrebas answered. "It was a good field test of the Jump Engines, I'll give him that. No, the personal amusement comes from the railing that shall come after the educational requirement."

"Okay, sir, hit me. What do I need to learn?"

"On an overall scale of all known Existence, it is already a lost cause." Atrebas waved toward the side of the lighthouse, which changed the shown glyphs to a series of pie charts, one chart with legend per panel. "Go ahead, take a walk around. See how hopeless your crusade truly is."

Nicholas smiled and took the walk, reviewing the populations of each known Star Empire. Much as expected, the only of the Six that was inverted Human population was the New Moon Empire, with a majority Nymph population and a secondary Elven group, where humans rated below 20 percent overall. The Negaverse and Illyaris were the highest human populations, at 84 and 78 percent overall, a fact that gladdened Nicholas.

Further past the end of the known Empires, came some new names. Mendel: Human majority (45), with Arachnids (31) and Sylph (18) secondary. Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty: Advanced Human (65), Faeries (22), Phoenix (6). Emirate of Orb: Nymph (52), Human (32), Tiger (10). USSA: Human (71), Arachnid (14), Kitsune (12). Kingdom of Scandinavia: Advanced Human (56), Dragon (31), Faeries (8). Equatorial Union: Nymph (44), Human (42), Tiger (9).

By the time Nicholas came around the far side of the lighthouse base, most of the color had drained out of his face.

"Arachnids? Big spiders?"

"Damnably big, leg span of about 3 meters overall, kinda like a Tarantula on Beefcake. I have seen and spoken to them, they are every bit as capable as the average man, just genetically stuck in a low-slung eight-legged form. And, keep in mind with the Arachnid population in this mysterious land Mendel, that 31 percent of their population well exceeds the combined populations of the Star League and its Member States."

"Why tell me this? What difference does it make? Humans were still the majority in most of those cases."

"Your quest is stillborn, Nicholas," Atrebas pointed out. "Even if you purified all six of the Star Empires to the rating of 1/32 nonhuman blood, you still lose. The aggregate birth rate of just the Arachnid population of the Mendel Star Empire far outstrips the entire birth rates of the First Six Star Empires, much less just that of the Humans. Under that metric, ethnic genocide as you desire is entirely impossible."

Phrased that way, Nicholas deflated in front of the eyes of the Will Transcendent. "So, what do I do? Just wait for the human race to be annihilated by nonhumans?"

"Never shall happen," Atrebas said before he bit into an apple. "Ragnarok will depopulate Existence before that singularity is reached. That is, on the assumption that the nonhumans actually engage in such a conspiracy, of which I have searched long and hard for such evidence and I never found any widespread movement of which you speak."

"Bullshit. It exists," Nicholas said.

"If you know of such a conspiracy, I would like to know where," Atrebas countered the punk.

"Pull your head out of your arse, you might actually smell it," Nicholas retorted. "Look, whatever my fate is, remain here, annihilation, or recycle, don't bullshit me, sir. I know it exists, you know it exists, there is no need to pretend it does not. I'm already dead, you're condemned, there's no need for you to front for them any more."

Atrebas finished up the meaty part of the apple and flicked the core at Nicholas' face. The punk was able to dodge the throw easily enough. "Nothing so insufferable in Existence as a man who already knows it all."

"From a subject matter expert, I'll take that one as a compliment," Nicholas responded.

Atrebas laughed heartily at the sheer arrogance of the deceased punk standing in front of him. "I give you credit for your bravery, but not for your brains in this case. Two problems with your logic. One, any such conspiracy to annihilate humankind would cause problems for my solution to Ragnarok, so I would have found and stopped the conspiracy long before now. Two, if I knew it all as of right now, Ragnarok would have been solved long before you were born."

"I still call bullshit," Nicholas responded with all the assuredness of a professional in his trade.

"Fine. Time for you to hear the kagamine," (7) Atrebas said. "You will learn of the lack of conspiracy straight from those who live the lack of conspiracy. A female Nymph will be conceived in the lands you just departed tonight. Time for you to hear the mirror sound in action, and here in about eight or nine decades we will resume this conversation."

Nicholas simply stared slack-jawed at the WIll Transcendent as he was released to be reborn into the body of both a female and a nonhuman.

"Adios, asshole," Atrebas echoed the sentiments of a certain Phoenix on the planet Terra 232, as the soul object of Nicholas sunk down into the ground of Elysium to head back to the living worlds.

---

Author's Chapter Afterword:

Progress in one direction, delays in another.

The big one for the chapter is the coming of the Trainers. Gerald picked the right liaison unit for the job, a Provisional Training Cluster, so as to maximize Sigma's strengths and require the least overhead. The challenge comes from the fact that while a PTC is 375 personnel with a full array of training standards, Sigma has to supply the equipment, and Sigma has to supply mobile forces for both their own training and for facility defense. Despite the defended location, a simple Galaxy of Battlemechs or Mobile Suits could put a quick end to Sigma right now, if anyone actually chose to do so.

As a secondary, the whole fracas with Nicholas and his unit is a definite second, but not really a close second. Assholes will be assholes, all things considered. The caveat in this case, a xeno-paranoid asshole stomped a lady to death and used her as the 'cover plate' for a grenade trap. While Phoenix are tough to kill completely physically (their eggs are resistant to physical harm to a degree), the fact that he managed to effectively first-phase kill the Phoenix makes it a murder case. Hess simply raided and captured him, where Nicholas declared himself guilty at least by association, but the things he said made the case for the tango groups and hence his execution.

On the matter of the Phoenix, there are two thus-far named Phoenix groups: Celestial and Astral. There will be three more, as not all Phoenix types are yet represented amongst the Mendel groups, but keep an eye out for them. Phoenix are an unusual being in that they are naturally functionally immortal — every time they die, they consume themselves in flame (or in a windstorm in the case of one as-yet-unnamed type), which produces an egg. The egg grows for roughly 60 days and hatches, releasing the Phoenix to roam free until they die again. Discounting the non-natural methods of death, a Phoenix has a rough lifespan of 200 years between 'cycles', and the oldest of Phoenix are old enough to know when exactly the Fates were born — not even Master Executor Atrebas knows that detail, and he is effectively 450,000 years old himself.

Speaking of the Master Executor, pay attention to the Executor's Judgment laid down by the Will Transcendent. With one series of declarations, Atrebas has effectively neutered the Star League in all matters vis-a-vis the Protectorate. Of course, political power being what it is, such mandates will likely not stop the Star League Grand Council from trying to get around those restrictions by any means necessary. It won't happen in this story, but some things will get a bit dirty in coming stories.

As to the remainder, there's always something going on somewhere.

This should be my last chapter of Sigma done straight-line for some time. I have work to do in AAA and JW, so those are probably my next works. Other than that, I have nothing major to say at this time.

---

NEXT UP: The next day sees the arrival of Vandren MRO and Manufacturing to their new home, with helicopters in the sky for good measure. And, as word of Nicholas' execution spreads further through the groups, some opinions are changed…

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Review Replies: 4 Reviews for Chapter 5! WHOOO!

Holy Dragoon: The guy in question (Akira) will make some noise over the coming chapters and years in the series, but there is an asshole in every bunch. And you've probably heard this one before: nobody wants to be around when an asshole is vented.

C0dy88: Not necessarily, but a perfectly reasonable guess.

Knives91: Hope this chapter is a good step toward what you expect to see :)

Guest / KPhoenix: Easiest to simply block-quote what I sent you in PM:

On your latest review, a sodding lot of employers aren't willing to work in training and proper delegation. It's a management function, and sometimes the largest chunks of brown material rise to positions of authority.

Clint is the #2 man because, outside of Hess, he is the best guy for battle and campaign strategy. Victoria, oddly enough, is the person sharpest among the four at the tactical level, but prefers rifle work over getting up close and personal. Her end of the Secret Service is eventually going to become a sniper detachment par excellence.

Sir Launcelot is hanging around because the Trains can be exceedingly indiscriminate and he pursued some slavers into the train while they were trying to capture some persons. FYI, I am using the Arthurian Launcelot, not the Fate-group Launcelot.

Akira and Amado, the two 'dissenters' are mostly contrary because they think they should be in charge. There is a wanker in every lot, such as it is. On the other hand, he's more of a noisemaker than a troublemaker, but he will continue making noise for some time. That said, there are worse groups than Akira and his sycophant, and one of them will show in the next chapter [technically, _DID_ show up in this chapter].

As to Executor lethality, well, suffice it to say, when you get past the rating of Executor and into High Executor or above, power differences between Executors effectively amounts to quibbling over how quickly they can depopulate a planet. Nereus, technically, is nowhere as powerful as Tenchi, Atrebas or Sephiroth (or the other three Lords of the Star League), but he is plenty powerful enough to wreck a mafiosi's day.

You won't have to wait long, Toni's actions are explained quite a bit in the opening section of Chapter 6 (this chapter). To what degree they change when she gets to that realization, well, that is to be seen...

Summoning works roughly the same across the board throughout my stories, so both Garnet and Eiko would have access to their full range (EXCEPTION: Odin is disavowed as a Summon, since Odin is a deity and not considered a summonable being). Summoners, by and large, have one of the fastest lethality expansion potentials in the Sigma series, and they will make quite a bit of noise after Hess realizes this.

Thanks for the reviews! The more the merrier! Reviews can and will be used for ideas as appropriate, so if you have the idea, I want to hear it!

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The Gripe Sheet:

No gripes for the reviews. As always, much thanks to Necroblade, Takeshi Yamato, One-Village-Idiot, and Sieben Nightwing for keeping my prose straight!

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Footnotes:

(1): Not sure if the author has covered this before, but this is the proper use of the term 'Assault Rifle': A rifle or carbine, using a reduced-power (intermediate) cartridge, that is select fire (safe + some combination of semi-auto and full-auto or burst fire).

(2): Song in question: Hamasaki Ayumi — Appears

(3): Base Enlisted Quarters — housing for enlisted troops that are not barracks.

(4): Bogey is a carriage that holds an assembly of multiple wheels and axles together into a single unit. In this case, the Bogeys are the tread alignment runner wheels on the PL-83 Pipelayer.

(5): Pouch Attachment Ladder System webbing is the proper name for the loop grid on the outside of MOLLE vests, backpacks, and similar equipment. PALS allows for the MOLLE equipment to receive standardized pouches and accessories securely while in use, and allow for (relatively) easy removal and reconfiguration.

(6): The Ward refers to the 'Protected Persons and Areas' of the Executor's sphere of influence. The Executors, being effectively autonomous from both the Star League and the Star Empires, operate in a territory roughly eleven times larger than all the Star Empires combined.

(7): Kagamine is Japanese for 'Mirror Sound'.

---

Included Works:

—Real Life Armaments — too many to name, that is most of the arsenal shown.
—Real Life Combat Gear — the vests and gear carried by the Militia troops are easily constructible from stuff you can buy on Amazon or Cheaper Than Dirt. No, Seriously, Look it up. Do a search for "UTG Modular 10-Piece Complete Kit", and you have a good look at a starter kit for any serious gearhound.
—Real Life Concepts
—Real Life Time Period: 1930s New York City (Shown in Chapter 2, referenced here in newspaper headlines)
—Real Life Equipment: The Caterpillar equipment showcased in this chapter is based on real life designs or equipment from said manufacturer.

—Real Life Mythology: The Phoenix race of beings are derived from the mythological Phoenix (Egyptian) and Thunder Bird (Native American). That said, I have made some serious modifications to the whole principle that will be revealed in coming chapters.

—Personal Works: The Star Empires are mentioned briefly here. Additionally, the Magi Empire is named specifically.
—Personal Works: The Star League is a derivation of the Star League from Battletech, but founded by Queen Sora Serenity (Executor-Queen Sora Takenouchi).
—Personal Works: The Executors are specialized Mages who have transcended a minimum of twice (Gods and Goddesses are a minimum Transcendance of once) and are specially commissioned to defend life and honor amongst the Star League territories or member states.
—Personal Works: The 10mm Kurz cartridge is a shortened / lower velocity / lower weight version of the 10mm BG round, developed by the Magi for 'crowd pleasing' against large masses of Negaverse troops, most of which were unarmored during the Star Empire Wars. It quickly became a favored heavy machine gun round for multiple purposes after the fact. (Shown in Chapter 1)
—Personal Works: Gerald Lightbringer is most famous for his participation in my Jokers Wild series, but his history is far stranger than either story properly shows.
—Personal Works: The last section makes it clear that the Jokers Wild, Sigma, and Multimage Chronicles are interconnected at multiple levels. This WILL come back to haunt everyone involved, in multiple ways.

—Anime General: the oddball hair colors, especially endemic to nonhumans.
—Anime General and D&D: the nonspecific concept of Elves, Nymphs, and Sylphs.
—Anime Trigun: Vash The Stampede, Millie Thompson, and Meryl Strife took the wrong train, ended up hanging out, and now are tagging along with the Militiamen.

—Game: Battletech: You are starting to see some serious discussion of Battletech units and force concepts in this chapter. They will become more prevalent as the story marches on.
—Game: Dungeons and Dragons (First Edition): A lot of the spellcraft will be drawn from D&D as well as other sources to be named.
—Game: Dungeons and Dragons (First Edition): The concept of the Dragons of many colors is drawn from the D&D First Edition Monster Manual. Some mods were made (the Platinum dragon is not unique, and the Eternal Dragon is a wholly new class).
—Game: Final Fantasy IX: The player cast of the game (Zidane, Dagger, Steiner, Freya, Vivi, Eiko, Red, and Quina) are residing in one of the dining cars, but do not have a role as of yet. That will change in a few chapters.
—Game: Infantry Online (Sony Online Entertainment): The CAW from the early section, and named in the stinger, is a different-manufacturer version of the Kuchler A6 CAW. (Shown in Chapter 1)
—Game: Call Of Duty MW2: The Remington ACR in use in this story is based on the Magpul Masada / Bushmaster ACR / Remington ACR in use in said game. Hey, even if it was pooh-pooed in real life, someone in an alternate dimension would do it right, ne?

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GEARHOUND CORNER:

I decided to start this section to cover equipment sets for the troops — discussion of standards, weapons, armor, modular systems, the works. As a lot of the action is dependent on what the troops are carrying and how they can access or use it, this is rather critical.

Today, we cover the retired gearset of Militiaman Erich Hess, Claiborne County Kentucky. Below is a listing of most everything he was carrying at the time he walked into the Caboose. After reading the below listing, you will understand why the gearset weighs so much that it could injure smaller persons than the Big Guy.

GEARSET — Hess, Erich, Claiborne County Militia
GEARSET DESIGNATION — Heavy Defense / Heavy Firepower Civilian Gear

WEAPONS — (6)
1x Enfield No. 4 Mk. 1 — Bolt action rifle, 10 round semi-fixed magazine, chambered .303 British

— 1x Knife-blade Enfield Bayonet

— 1x Enfield Sling System

1x Custom-build AR-15 — Semi-auto sporting rifle, 30-round detachable magazine, chambered 5.56x45 NATO
— Quad Rail (UTG Mfgr.)
— Foregrip (UTG Mfgr.)
— 3-point sling (Blackhawk Mfgr.)
— Tactical Light (UTG Mfgr.)
— Fold-down rear sight / fixed front sight and gas block (NcStar / DPMS Mfgr.)
— Riser Rail (Leapers Mfgr)
— Holographic Sight (Burris Mfgr.)
— Custom Pistol Grip (DPMS Mfgr.)
— 6-position stock (Magpul Mfgr.)
— Magazine Pouch on stock (Condor Mfgr.)
— Double-clamped STANAG Magazines (AR-Stoner magazines, generic clamps)

1x Springfield XD Tactical 5" — Semi-auto pistol, 12-round detachable magazine, chambered .45 Auto
— Surefire TLR-1 Pistol Light

1x Remington 800 Express Magnum — Pump Shotgun, 8-round fixed tube magazine, chambered 12 gauge
— Folding stock w/ 3-shell storage (integral)

1x Cold Steel 'Bushmaster' Survival Knife — Blade weapon
— Accessory nylon sheath with kydex insert

1x Smith & Wesson SW4B Bayonet / Combat Knife — Blade Weapon
— Kydex Sheath with belt frog and sharpening stone

EQUIPMENT STORAGE — (4 assemblies)
1x Ammo Bag — Shoulder slung carried, Rothco Mfgr. / Olive Drab
— 12x Stripper Clip, Enfield .303 (Mixed — some FMJ, some expanding rounds)
1x Rucksack — Mil-Tec Army Patrol Bag 50L / OD Green
— Nametape (Exterior)
— 100ft Paracord Skein (Exterior)
— 1 full set civilian clothes (socks, pants, belt, underwear, undershirt, shirt)
— 2x emergency blanket
— 4x MRE (MRE Star Mfgr.)
— 2x Emergency Ration Bar Pack (Datrex Mfgr.)
— 2x Lifestraw Water Filter
— 100x Ammunition, .303 British, mixed 174-grain FMJ and 180-grain SPRN rounds
— 200x Ammunition, 5.56mm, 62-grain M855
— 100x Ammunition, .45ACP, 230-grain JHP
— 25x Ammunition, 12-gauge shotgun, Mil-spec 00 Buckshot
— 1x Condor MA8 Utility Pouch / OD Green
— — 2x Road Flares
— — 8x Chemlight 12-hour glow-lights
— 1x Condor T&T Pouch / OD Green
— — 1x Titanium Cutlery Set
— — 1x East German Surplus Cutlery Set (Spares)
— — 5x P-38 Can Openers
— — 1x folded map, Claiborne County
— — Spare Personal ID set, including cards for lawyers in Claiborne County
— — 50ft Paracord Skein
— — American Flag Velcro patch (OD Green, Exterior)

1x Belt / Leg Rig / H Harness Combination (All equipment OD Green)
— H-Harness Shoulder Harness and Suspender (Blackhawk Mfgr.)
— Marine-Style Pistol Belt (Rothco Mfgr.)
— — 1x Utility Pouch (Rothco Mfgr.) — left side rearward
— — 1x Ammunition Pouch (Rothco Mfgr.) — right side rearward
— — 1x Mag-Lite D-Cell Flashlight Ring — left side forward
— — (Sheath for S&W Bayonet) — right side middle
— — (Sheath for United Cutlery Survival Knife) — left side middle
— — 4x Belt Keepers (TUFF Gear Mfgr.)
— 2x MOLLE Drop-Leg Platforms (UTG Mfgr., part of a gearset)
— — Dump Pouch (UTG Mfgr.) — Left side forward
— — Magazine Pouch, 2x Double Stack Pistol (Voodoo Tactical Mfgr.)
— — Rip-away EMT Pouch (Condor Mfgr.)
— — — (Contents will be detailed under a different Gearhound Corner segment)
— — Modular Tactical Holster System (Uncle Mike's Mfgr.)

1x Modular Vest System (UTG Mfgr., MOLLE Drop-Leg Platforms from above set are part of Modular Vest System)
(NOTE: Some components from the UTG 10-Piece Modular Vest System have been removed as redundant or unsuitable.)

— Web Tactical Vest (UTG Mfgr.)
— — MOLLE Shotgun Scabbard (Voodoo Tactical Mfgr.) — Right side rear panel
— — MOLLE Hydration Pouch (Voodoo Tactical Mfgr.) — Left side Rear panel
— — — MOLLE Sustainment Pouch (DOD Surplus) — Left side rear, attached to Hydration pouch)
— — — — 2x disposable water bottles
— — — — 2x MRE Meals (MRE Star Mfgr.)
— — MOLLE Knife Sheath, downward draw (UTG Mfgr.) — left side shoulder
— — MOLLE 8-in-line Magazine Pouch, STANAG 4173 Magazines (TUFF Products Mfgr.) — left side middle
— — — 8x STANAG 4173 Magazines, 30-rd (Various Mfgr.)
— — MOLLE Electronics Pouch (Condor Mfgr.) — left side low center
— — MOLLE 5-in-line Magazine Pouch, double stack pistol magazines (TUFF Products Mfgr.) — left side low outside
— — — 5x Magazines, Springfield XD .45ACP (Springfield Armory Mfgr.)
— — MOLLE side-by-side Magazine Shingle — (UTG Mfgr.) — right side middle
— — — 2x STANAG 4173 Magazines w/ Magpul Mag Assists (Various Mfgr.)
— — — MOLLE side-by-side Magazine Shingle — (UTG Mfgr.) — right side middle, stacked on prior pouch
— — — — 2x Stanag 4173 Magazines w/ Magpul Mag Assists (Various Mfgr.)
— — — — Admin Pouch (Voodoo Tactical Mfgr.) — right side middle, stacked on prior pouch
— — MOLLE General Purpose Pouch (UTG Mfgr.) — right side low center
— — — MOLLE Magazine Pouch, single, double-stack pistol (Voodoo Tactical Mfgr.) — right side low center, stacked on prior
— — — MOLLE Pocket Pouch (Condor Mfgr.) — right side low center, stacked on prior
— — — — 6x Earplug sets
— — — — 2x Rite-in-rain pen
— — — — 3x P-38 can opener
— — MOLLE Shotgun shell pouch (Condor Mfgr.) — right side low outside
— — — 25x Shotgun shell, 12-gauge, mil-spec buckshot (Olin Corp Mfgr.)

CLOTHING: 1 Assembly
Work Clothes
— Undershirt
— Polo Shirt
— — Work Cell (Blackberry Mfgr.) — Left side shirt pocket
— Underwear
— Carpenter's Pants
— — Belt
— — Wallet
— — Swiss Army Knife
— — Work ID badge
— — Folding Pocket Knife
— — Personal Cell (Motorola Mfgr.)
— — Pocket Change (22 cents)
— Socks (2 sets)
— Boots, Steel Toe (C. E. Schmidt Mfgr.)
— — Boot Knife (Cold Steel Mfgr.)