Antelope Union Class Dropship
Zenith Jump Point
Sarpsborg system
Federated Commonwealth
25 October 3059
17:30:00 ship time
"Attention! Officer on deck!" Sergent John Green called as Colonel Allen Martius entered the Antelope's Mech Bay wearing his dress uniform. Behind him, the entire senior staff. Most of the unit had gone to the Mech Bays of their respective ships, being as they were the largest spaces. However, there were groups in all the lounges, mess halls, and any other gathering spaces available on any of the 3 Dropships and the Holstave's Dream Jumpship. Even on-duty staff were watching on note tablets or station displays.
After days of reviewing the message for any subterfuge and analyzing every angle of this offer, Allen decided it was worth exploring IF the Unit agreed. There was too much at stake not to put this to the unit as a whole.
"Privateers," Allen began, "By now, I'm sure you are all aware that I was contacted by Star Colonel Christopher Showers of Clan Smoke Jaguar. The same Clan officer we encountered on Astrokaszy. He has put forward an unusual proposal. While we are not a democracy, the implications of this proposal would affect us all. So, with that weighing heavily on our next course of action, we, soldiers, officers and civilians, are going to vote to decide if we pursue this. At its most basic, the Star Colonel is asking that his Cluster unit join the Barrett's Privateers."
Allen took a moment to let that sink into the assembled groups.
"To accomplish this, we would need to initiate a Clan Trial of Possession. Not all of his Cluster are aware of this proposal, and to make the Trial carry the weight necessary, the Star Colonel would respond to our batchall with a quid pro quo bid, meaning based on the outcome, the winner would possess the loser. He stated that this should be a single Mech to Mech battle. However, he informed me that his champion would not "throw the match," in fact, expect their most aggressive warrior to use any means at their disposal to win."
Again, Allen paused to let the audience absorb this information. Scanning the people in the Antelope's Bay, everyone was focused and thinking hard.
"So, we can agree, and potentially double the size of our Unit, at the risk of becoming bondsmen. Or we can walk away and continue as we have; it's that straightforward. Thoughts? Questions? This is non-formal; anyone can speak freely." Allen finished.
Many questions followed, and there was a good, honest discussion. At the end of the discussion, the vote was held using everyone's personal electronic devices.
The results were displayed on the main vid screen in the Bay and accessible by anyone else on the same device they used to vote.
Allen stood passively; either way is acceptable, he thought earnestly.
Finally, the tally was completed, and 97.6% voted to accept the proposal. But before Allen could speak, a voice with a strong Australian accent beat him to it.
"So, when does Striker kick their ass?" Dingo called, sitting on an ammo crate against the Bay wall.
Captain Wendy Davis glared at the ever-irreverent Mech warrior from her own command. The rest of the unit, however, laughed, releasing the tension.
"Hey!" Exclaimed Michael Arthur, Navigator from Holstave's Dream, from the Jumpship's bridge, "if it all goes sideways, we can always loose Chrissy on them!" his voice rebroadcast by the inter-ship comms.
Without missing a beat, and before anyone could react, Angus MacGillivray, chief engineer on the Antelope, responded in his own thick Scottish accent from the Antelope's main lounge, "Ooh, Great! Then we'll all be branded war criminals for using a weapon of mass destruction!"
Everyone roared with laughter as Chrissy, held in her mother's arms in the Antelope's Mech Bay, waved the purple Mr Cuddles menacingly, thrilled to be the center of attention.
"Does ComStar do exorcisms?" Chrissy's mom asked the woman next to her.
Lobby 2
Antelope Dropship
Zenith Jump Point
Trent
Federated Commonwealth
28 Oct 3059
02:43:55 ship time
"So, there we were sitting' in the' briefing room with our unit, a bunch of other merc units and the Free Worlds League officers, when the' General walks in and starts giving' the final go plans. After the usual rhetoric, General finally finishes with "We're coming in hot over Camperdown, you all know your assigned targets. We'll have the latest intel and updates in the next hour. We look to make planet fall in 24 hours. Are there any questions?" Well the words weren't out of his mouth when this League Lieutenant shoots to his feet… Our unit's coordinating Lieutenant mind you… and asks, "Is that 24 hours our time or 24 hours their time?" Windigo finished his recount with a flourish of his arms and an expression of absolute astonishment, his thick Australian accent adding character to the already colourful tale.
Dingo rocked his head back in laughter and pounded on the small card table between them with his free hand, "And you were expecting better from a League Louie, mate?" Dingo's own accent had been getting stronger ever since he managed to convince Allen to hire two of his former pirate mates while they were on Canopus.
To Dingo's right, Warrigal Warrawong, aka Windwalker, was laughing heartily, bobbing his head in laughter at Windigo's retelling of the story. The warrior, of proud Koori decent, frightened most people on sight; at 6 foot 4 and almost half that across at the shoulders, Warrigal took one whole side of the table by himself. Despite his size, he was nimble as a panther and prided himself as one of the deadliest close combat fighters in the Periphery, in or out of his Mech.
"Fair dinky," Windigo said saluting Dingo with his beer in agreement, "Either way, Windwalker and I went straight to our unit's XO after and resigned our contracts. The brass threw a holy fit, and in the end, we agreed to guard the landing site and wave any salvage rights, but it was worth it. Damned Louie managed to lead his team, including the rest of our unit, right into a blatant trap; got 'em all blown to hell. Afterward, we made our way to Canopus. Oh, and full house, by the way." Windigo tossed his cards on the pile of C-bills in the centre of the table with a broad smile. Windwalker swore creatively and threw his cards down in disgust, then looked up slowly, smile returning from the humour of their shared story.
"Easy, Drongo, " Dingo said, waving his mug of ale at Windigo as he reached for the money pile, "Last I checked, my Straight beats your House every day." And with that, he neatly tossed his hand on the table, faces up.
Indigo's face flushed red, "How does he do that?" He asked, looking at Warrigal for support.
Warrigal shrugged, "No idea, mate, seems the gods love crazy Dingos." He finished with a grin.
"Where the hell have you three been? Those Mechs were to be primed 2 hours ago!" Wendy Davis, aka Striker, recently promoted Captain of the Privateers Striker Company, barked from the lounge door, glaring at the three who didn't seem to notice she'd stalked into the room.
"Gods my arse, " Windigo responded, glancing to Warrigal, then fixing Dingo with an accusatory stare, "he's cheating' if he's breathing."
"ATTENTION!" Wendy barked, irate that the three Mech warriors under her command were completely ignoring her.
"In a moment, " Warrigal said nonchalantly in his deep base voice, "Man's been accused of cheating' at cards; such accusations must be resolved before we're leaving' the table."
"GET TO YOUR FEET SOL—" Wendy began.
"Captain, " Windigo said, finally turning to face Wendy, "this fella is pulling' an out-of-no-where straight after 5 rounds of winning hands, where we are from that get's addressed right here, right now, before non-combat whatever."
"Not that we'd expect a Sheila to understand," Warrigal added matter-of-factly.
The sound of metal on metal scraping caused both of the men to spin around, Windigo noticing the table, now empty of winnings, as he turned, "Where the hell are you going' mate?!"
"Just getting' clear so as I can enjoy the show Yobbo," Dingo responded with a smile.
"Wha'…" was all Windigo got out.
Wendy's left leg launched high over the table, angling in a spinning back-kick angling for Warrigal's face. Warrigal caught the leg just above the ankle with his massive right hand with equally blinding speed, letting a quick smile play on his lips. Warrigal loved fighting hand-to-hand more, truth be told, than in his battlemech. His size belied his speed, and his strength and skills were second to none. Well, almost none.
The smile twisted toward confusion mid-formation, as the leg he caught spun in his grip using his own strength as a pivot counter. Impossible as the act seemed, Wendy's right leg was coming up from behind Warrigal, Wendy having spun in the opposite direction after anticipating the catch. The heel of her combat boot connected with the back of Warrigal's head with bone-crushing force, driving his face forward to where his forehead bent the metal table, nearly folding his head into the structure permanently, before continuing in a wide arc to catch Windigo neatly on his chin.
The decisive scuffle ended nearly as fast as it started. Warrigal remained embedded in the table, unconscious, bleeding out of the front and back of his head. Windigo fared worse, much worse. Having survived the initial kick, dazed but not out, he'd actually attempted to engage with an impressive array of high-speed martial arts. More impressive were the sounds of mashing bones and dislocated joints as Wendy countered.
Finished with the first two, Wendy spun in place, locking into a combat stance and glaring at Dingo, who hadn't moved from his initial seated position. Dingo raised his hands in surrender, "Easy Striker, I think if you check, my girl's been primed since 1800 hours. Seems these Blunger's needed two lessons tonight." He added with a smile, lowering his hands.
Wendy didn't move. Minutes passed, and a bead of sweat formed on Dingo's brow as he began to wonder if Wendy was simply going to finish the job while the others bled out. A slight shift in her eyes was the only indication that she'd decided which path, then she slowly uncoiled. Reaching for the comm panel on the wall, without ever taking her angry glare from Dingo, she punched in a code, "Medical emergency in Lobby 2," Was all she said before the medic could speak, then stalked from the room. "Training in 30 minutes, " she said menacingly over her shoulder as she disappeared down the corridor.
Dingo smiled as the lobby doors slid shut, "As my Capt'n commands," he said slyly to the doors, "I assume you boys are going' to sit this one out?" He asked the unconscious forms of his friends, with a wink they couldn't see.
Antelope Union Class Dropship
Nadir Jump Point
Porrima system
Federated Commonwealth
2 November 3059
21:10:00 ship time
I'm forgetting something, Allen thought, leaning back in his office chair to stretch. The Privateers were making their way to the coordinates out in the Periphery the Star Colonel had provided in the wake of the vote. Asuming we win this Trial, how are we going to absorb a Clan unit at least as big as we are!? And where will we keep everyone? We don't have any landholdings. We'd need….
"Oh, Crap!" Allen said aloud, remembering what he'd forgotten. The damned SLDF contract he'd signed right before the universe went mad!
Allen keyed his comm, "Jess, Ryan, please report to my office!"
10 minutes later, Jess and Ryan knocked once and then entered Allen's office without preamble.
"Let me guess, Victor Steiner-Davion called; he wants us to lead the SLDF," Ryan said humorously as the 2 settled into the office chairs opposite Allen.
"Close," Allen replied, getting his two senior officers to sit a little straighter in their chairs. "Jess, I signed and transmitted the SLDF contract you sent me on the 22nd, right before this Clan crazy began. I completely forgot until just now. We have to either detach a Dropship and send part of the unit to Asgard, or break the contract and pay the piper. I really don't want to lose a whole Company before we know how this will play out with the Star Colonel, but it might be a way to send the civilians somewhere safe. Thoughts?"
Ryan smiled, "We could just send the Mica Company."
"Who the hell is the Mica Company?!" Allen replied, incrediously.
"Chris' new unit from Mica Majority," Jess answered, then looking at Ryan, "he never reads the reports."
"What am I missing now!" Allen emplored.
"Well, the timing is unreal, but so is everything else these days. Chris sent a report today, he's managed to throw together a lance of Mechs on Mica. The details he encoded in the background say he needs to get the two girls we rescued on Astrokaszy; off planet but can't share why electronically. Both have Mechs now and want to join. He's also managed to pick up 2 more Mech warriors, which has something to do with continuing the cover story. The Majority has been backing whatever is happening, and he's got a $500K contract to use to train them, plus a bunch of supplies, equipment and transportation wherever we need them to go." Ryan finished.
Allen thought for a moment, "he'd need to get 4 more Mechs to meet the minimum requirement, is that possible?"
"I'm sure Chris can make it happen if that's what we need," Ryan replied upbeat.
"Jess, what do you think?"
"Chris is a great leader, and it would let us keep our core together to address this latest mess. He's in line for a promotion. Think he's ready to be Captain, Ryan?" Jess replied.
"I think he'd make an excellent Company commander!" Ryan nodded as he replied, "First lieutenant to Captain in 6 months; that'd be a unit best, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Chris!"
"Ok, do it," Allen said. "Ryan, you are his commanding office; the honour goes to you."
"On it," Ryan replied, giving a half-salute. "Shall I get to it now, or does the Primus of ComStar need us on a call?" he added mischievously.
"Get out, Ryan. Jess, update the roster. Oh, and someone resend me the details of Chris' little adventure. It sounds like a good read." Allen said, standing for the first time in hours.
An hour later, Ryan was adjusting his uniform, desk and other telltale visual indicators in his comm office to send Chris additional information.
"Ahh, and for the "Piece de resistance," Ryan said, fishing around in his desk drawer and finally plucking out Frederic II Better-you-than-me and placing the colourful troll figure on the bookshelf behind him.
Sitting at the desk, he scanned the surroundings one last time and then triggered the recording.
Hi Chris. Well it seems like you've been having all the fun. We agree with all your decisions and assessments. I will say, if timing is everything then yours is uncanny.
The unit has expanded to a battalion in your absence, and there have been a number of new promotions. Your number has also come up. So, the Colonel has given me the green light to officially promote you to Captain; we've designated your unit Mica Company until you give us the final name.
Right place at the right time; congratulations, Chris! Your new papers are attached.
Now for what you know is coming! We have a new garrison contract on Asgard that lines up with your travel; a detailed file is attached. However, we are going to be delayed, so I need you to take your unit there. The contract calls for a minimum of 8 mechs, so round up at least 4 more. Should be no problem with your knack for growing a unit out of nothing.
The contract should be a great testing ground for your new team. We'll contact you with an update as soon as possible.
Happy hunting, Captain!
Antelope Dropship
Mid-Northern Hemisphere Plains
Finmark
Periphery
10 December 3059
10:00:00 local time
Well, everything has gone according to this crazy plan, Allen thought; now it's up to Striker.
Allen stood with his senior leadership on the bridge of the Antelope, watching through windows and monitors at the Trial of Possession that would, one way or another, change their fate. Per the Trial batchall, the Antelope grounded on one side of the agreed battleground, while the Smoke Jaguar Overlord-C grounded on the other. Jumpships remained at the Nadir and Zenith jump points, respectively. All other Dropships stayed in orbit.
Allen thought he did pretty well navigating the Clan ritual to the desired outcome, given he'd never done it before, and the outcome was what he and Star Colonel Showers agreed would be the ideal. 2 warriors, one open battleground, winner-take-all.
Outside, the two combatants stood motionless on the barren plain, 2 km apart. Wendy, in her upgraded Atlas AS7-9SA, opposite her, the Clan Star Captain representing the Smoke Jaguars, had chosen a 75-ton Timber Wolf in a standard configuration.
At the Trial start, both Mechs charged directly at each other, racing at top speed.
Bear pelt Dropship
Mid-Northern Hemisphere Plains
Finmark
Periphery
10 December 3059
10:00:00 local time
"This Freebirth at least has the honour to face her fate head-on, a rare quality in mercenaries." Said an Elemental towering over his Clansmen to the right of the Overlord Mech Bay, where most had gathered to watch.
"The speed does not look correct for the Atlas Star Colonel," The young Sibko Star Captain observed.
The indicators on the display showed the Atlas moving at over 63 kph, nearly 10 kph faster than Atlas' is rated for.
"That Atlas, Kit, is driven by willpower," replied Star Captain Natalie Freelander from the other side of the Star Colonel.
Star Colonel Christopher Showers stood, arms crossed, and simply nodded.
The Timber Wolf hurled a full spread of 40 long-range missiles, all of which struck the charging Atlas. The giant Atlas did not waver; from the video streaming from the Timber Wolf, the Atlas emerged from the smoke and fireball, unphased by the attack, reminiscent of ancient video of Aleksandr Kerensky breaching the defences of Unity City.
A giant Gauss projectile sprung from the mighty Atlas, the compressed supersonic concussion wave billowing dust behind it as it reached over the tundra for a victim. The Timber Wolf fired its ER Large Lasers, a second wave of long-range missiles half out of their launch tubes, when the Gauss slug hit the boxy right launcher dead center, igniting the missiles and destroying the right launcher in a spectacular fireball. The heavy impact and explosion ripped the Timber Wolf to the right, spoiling the laser assault and throwing the remaining long-range missiles into an ineffectual spray far off course.
The Atlas veered right 30 degrees, racing slightly off the direct path. The Star Captain struggled to compensate for the damage and loss of the launcher weight, attempting to turn back to bring his opponent back into his sights.
30 medium-range missiles impacted the left side of the Timber Wolf in rapid succession. The Star Captain reversing his turn instinctively to prevent heavy damage to the cockpit.
The Atlas reversed the previous turn to put it on a direct collision course with the smaller OmniMech. The distance between the two war machines dwindled swiftly. The Atlas fired its Large Laser, keeping the Star Captain maneuvering to avoid the well-placed cockpit shot.
"The mercenary is going to collide with the Timber Wolf!" exclaimed a Clan aerospace pilot mid-gathering in the Overlord-C Mech Bay.
The Atlas leaned into the run, like a linebacker charging, the massive war machine impossibly approaching 70 kph! People on ships from both sides of the Trial throughout the system gasped as the 100-ton Atlas slammed into the side of the 75-ton Timber Wolf and lifted! Allowing the enormous kinetic energy of the charge to add to the lifing effect and arrest her momentum, Wendy ripped the OmniMech off the ground, then when the entire body of the Timber Wolf reached her Mech's chest height, she dropped the left arm and continued lifting with the right.
The 75-ton OmniMech flipped completely over in mid-air! Wendy finished by pushing down on her now inverted adversary.
The OmniMech slammed into the ground, 75 tons drawn by gravity and shoved by adversary; the impact was felt through the Dropship decks! Both boxy missile launchers crushed, and the top of the elongated Timber Wolf frame buckled inwards in the impact.
Silence permeated all the ships of the gathered fleets. Everyone trying to process what had just happened.
"Command; Striker." Captain Wendy Davis' voice transmitted unencrypted for the Trail, "Enemy neutralized." She stated in a clear, confident tone. Her Atlas turned from the Clan wreck and walked back to the Privateers' grounded Dropship.
On the grounded Clan Dropship, the audience was stunned; never had such a thing been done.
"Freebirth," swore a solidary warrior in the gathered Clan crowd.
"Yes, she is," announced Star Captain Natalie Freelander matter-of-factly, "and I would not make her angry." With that, she nodded to her Star Colonel, turned and strode out of the Mech Bay.