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BattleTech Player Boards => Fan Fiction => Topic started by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:54:15

Title: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:54:15
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 19-10-2009, 02:00:21]]


For your amusement.  After reading Living Legends again, and groaning at the poor execution I though to myself what would happen if The Warriors of Kerensky met Cameron's Sledgehammers.

Ghosts of the Dead
A Shattered Dawn AU story
By Blacktigeractual
Chapter One: An unlikely series of events.

Discontinuity…
My first thought was that this jump had taken way too long.  My second was that the stars were totally wrong.

“Status report.”  Emily Hayes barked on the bridge of the SLS Tiger Claw.   Bridge crew staggered around us as sparks shot from  various consoles.

Dieter Malin the Tiger Claw’s XO staggered to his feet and ran through a dozen pages of his holographic console.

“Captain we have emerged from Jump in good order, IFF’s are reporting all ships accounted for…”

The twenty seven year veteran of the Star League Navy gasped suddenly.

“Dieter what?”  Emily croaked through a voice raspy from smoke and ozone.

“Captain, star charts indicate we are at a pirate point in the Tamar system.”

“What?”  I wasn’t sure if it was Emily or I who spoke but that put us way off course.

Dieter looked up at a loss for words.  My limited knowledge of Naval systems backed him up though and the world glowing dime sized on the main screen confirmed it.

“Captain we have multiple unknown contacts heading for the planet!  Unknown vessel types.  Fighters matching known Lyran designs are engaging.”

Samuel Winters, Colonel of the 90th Heavy Assault climbed in through the hatchway woozy from our apparent misjump he looked over at me.

“We’re in the Tamar system boss, don’t know how or why, but it looks like someone’s hitting the Lyrans.”

As I spoke the Tiger Claw’s comm officer called out.

“We have communications from both sides.”

“Let’s hear it.”  Captain Hayes ordered.

The speakers crackled with a Russian accented female voice.

“Defenders of Tamar know you that Clan Wolf claims your world, what forces contest our claim.”

Huh? I thought who the ****** is Clan Wolf?

“Approaching vessels you are encroaching on the Territory of the Federated Commonwealth, heave to and prepare to be boarded or you will be fired upon.”  Came the voice of the Tamar Planetary Control.

Before I could ask who the hell was the Federated Commonwealth the Russian chick came back on.

“Honey we’re gonna do a hell of a lot more than encroach so you had better do better than that.”

Ballsy bitch I thought.

Sam was more on the ball than I was even at that point and he turned to Captain Hayes.

“Em these idiots are invading Star League turf, can we get in thier way?”

“Sam half my systems are out of wack, so’s half the fleet; the best we can do is launch fighters and get your kids planetside.”  She answered.

“Do it.  B get everybody together for a hot drop.”  Sam ordered.

“Gotcha Boss.”  As I raced along the hand holds for the Cat’s Eye calling out orders over the TACNET I thought to myself; Don’t know who the guys are but they’re going to learn what happens when wolves ****** with tigers.


Wolf Clan DropShip Lair
Inbound Tamar, Tamar Pact
Federated Commonwealth
07 November, 3051


Natasha Kerensky grinned at the Lyran command’s banal reply to her challenge.  The forces on world, the 26th Lyran Guards RCT and the Duke’s collection of household troops and cadets would be a fine match for her Golden Keshik and the Wolves Alpha Galaxy.  Stretching she relished the fight to come.

Warden or not there is something about violence that is good for the soul.

“My Khan, the Lair’s sensor operator called out, “We have unknown contacts bearing two eight six mark five we are receiving IFF transponder signals now.”  As the Wolf Clan Khan looked at the sensor tech the woman stiffened and gasped.

“What is it?”  Kerensky barked.

“My Khan this is impossible, sensors read ships as the SLS Tiger Claw Kimgure Class Heavy Cruiser, SLDS Cat’s Eye Union Class DropShip, SLDS Sledge Hammer Dictator Class….”  The technician’s voice rattled off an impossible list of names which repeated themselves in the Holotank in the center of the Lair’s bridge.

Information scrolled across her screens none of it helpful.  The SLS Tiger Claw listed as destroyed in the big furball above Terra three hundred years ago while escorting the doomed attempt by the SLDF to rescue thirty hostages of noble blood held by Stefan Amaris in New York City.  The North American SDS had shot the hell out of the Star League troops and their escorts in orbit.  None had made it to the planet.

What the hell, did Com Star salvage her?  On the main screen the proud WarShip gave lie o her computer’s data glowing brightly in Star League colors.  Suddenly around both the WarShip and the lesser vessels around her dozens of bright lights flared in what Natasha recognized as fighter launches.

“Inbound fighters unknown types, my Khan they read like Star League craft, but something is not right.”

“Show me!”  Natasha snapped.

The image of a swept wing fighter appeared in the holotank its designation read RPR-10T Rapier.  Where normally a tech readout would have been displayed there was only the legend “So sorry you can’t see this puppy dog.”  Followed by a symbol familiar to all Clan warriors.  A wolverine’s head and claws.

“Straavag The Not Named Clan here?”  Star Colonel Marco Hall’s voice came over the TACCNET.

“I do not think so Marco, look at the insignia.  You know they screwed with the database before they left.  Those are not Wolverines, they’re Terrans”

Before Hall could respond to the wonder in his Khan’s voice a strong male voice came over the comm channels.

“Unidentified vessels this is Colonel Samuel Winters of the 90th Heavy Assault Regiment, you are invading the sovereign territory of a Star League member state power down or be destroyed.”

Advanced Clan computers matched the Colonel’s voiceprint and displayed a picture of a strong Afro American male in his early fifties dressed in a SLDF uniform.   A service record and bio were available.  Neither of these caught Natasha’s attention so much as the computer’s probability of an accurate match based on vocal patterns and nuances of speech.

99.8976%

“****** me.”  Natasha hadn’t realized she had spoken until her crew stared at her, shocked by her profanity.

At a loss for words the saKhan of the Wolf Clan was struck by a sudden thought that ripped a feral laugh from her.

The Black Tigers, Terror of New Vandenburg, Kerensky’s Sledgehammers.  Well ‘Tasha you wanted interesting, it don’t get better than this.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:54:49
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 02-11-2009, 17:55:40]]


Jake Melendez cut thrust to his Rapier’s port engine to spin the big fighter around to bear on the cruciform fighter trying to get on his six.  Getting the buzzing tone of a weapons lock he cut loose with all his nose mounted weapons.   Lightning spat to rake the fuselage of the other fighter.  As it spun into an evasive maneuver the Wolf clan vessel ran straight into a gauss slug followed by a salvo of Phoenix long range missiles. 

As the stricken craft spun out of control, Jake rolled in on another larger craft settling in on Peggy Galloway’s six.  The large fighter with a pair of forward canards spat a fusillade of laser fire at his wingman’s ship.  The flare of drive plasma showed evidence of major engine damage.  Before the predatory craft could fire again Jake’s particle cannon converged on the machine’s cockpit.

As the dead fighter arrowed on in a straight line for outer space; Jake ordered Peggy to head for the barn.  Before she could a bolt of lightning cut her ship in half.  Another of the cruciform ships flew through the wreckage and performed a victory roll.  Snarling in rage Jake pulled his craft in pursuit.


Giving a wolf cry in victory; Carew whipped his Visigoth into a victory roll.  These interlopers; flying machines out of legend; were way tougher than the Federated Commonwealth and Free Rasalhague Republic flyers that the Wolves had fought before.  They also fought in greater numbers than standard spheroid formations.

It doesn’t hurt them that their ships are almost as good as ours.

Snapping his head around he caught sight of a big fighter that looked nothing like a Star League Rapier settling in on his six o’clock.  Particle fire snapped into his port wing.  Knowing what was coming next Carew spun his craft into a gut wrenching series of twists and turns.

I do not think so my friend.  He thought as the other craft’s gauss fire slashed a few meters from his cockpit.

Carew, those Hammerheads are carrying anti ship missiles!”  His wingman Martin called out as a wave of long range missiles snapped around him.  As Carew watched in horror almost fifty heavy warheads began to hammer the DropShips of the 328th Assault Cluster splitting the Overlord Class Daniel Express like an overripe fruit.  A brilliant flash shattered the Union Class Lion’s Heart taking with it the Golden Lion’s command staff.

“Cowards!”  Spat Star Commander Gunars Ch’in of the 328th’s Bravo Fighter Star.

No not cowards, Carew thought with a chill as he spun his Visigoth in yet another series of evasive maneuvers to shake his pursuer, that was a textbook Star League ant shipping strike.

One of Ch’in’s comrades in a Jagatai dove at the black and red arrow that was causing Carew so much grief.  Coming in on the enemy’s blind spot, Carew was surprised to see the Terran craft spin on its axis and spit a gauss slug and pair of particle bolts at the Jag.

How by Kerensky did he…  Pushing his fighter into a tight curve designed to get on the other’s tail, Carew remembered the virtual cockpit the Terran Royal’s were rumored to have.  The Clans’ own craft had no access to the technology; pre exodus sabotage had destroyed both data on the virtual control systems and the equipment itself.  Likewise the “Black Magic” control systems used by some Royal BattleMechs also had been lost.

Royal collaboration had been a sore point for much of the Exodus.  Carew thought as one of his own particle cannons spiked the Rapier’s wing.  Pushing such thoughts into the back of his mind he concentrated on taking down this very unique very tough prey.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:55:14
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 03-11-2009, 17:12:00]]


The TGR-1-T-H Tiger rumbled to life around Elizabeth Hazen.  The new design was only now being placed in production and the cockpit with its linear frame control system still had that “new car” smell.  Tied into the Cat’s Eye’s comm net she was still trying to make sense of what she was hearing.  The Lyrans on the ground were as confused as the Tigers were.

The only reason the troops of this “Federated Commonwealth” weren’t firing on the Tigers was the space battle currently going on.  Meanwhile the Tigers were getting confused orders and requests from the ground.  The issue of who was in charge seemed up in the air.  The Duke of Tamar Selvin Kelswa (Never mind the name didn’t match the database.)  was issuing grandiose proclamations demanding the 90th wipe out these foul invaders.

Saner requests came from Marshal Joy Corelli of the 26th Lyran Guards so that was what the Terrans were listening to.  And then there was ComStar.  The “Robes” as everyone was calling them had tried to contact them multiple times.  After the first abortive conversation with the guys running (So they said.) interstellar communications the Tiger commtechs had put them on hold.

And then there is me, just had to run off with your boy toy on a milk run mission, didn’t you Liz. 

At least Scott’s company commander had offered her use of one of the Tiger’s spares on the trip.  So once again Liz Hazen was going into battle in a ‘Mech.  And once again her life had taken a strange twist.

“Liz we’re hitting the face in ten minutes, you up?” Major Gilmour’s voice crackled over the TACNET.

“Gotcha B, ready when you are.”  Feeling the power of her new machine around her, Liz grinned savagely.

It’s been too long.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:55:36
[[Posted by 03-11-2009, 18:13:13]]


Colonel Sam Winter felt the change in the vibrations rocking the Sledge Hammer as she descended into Tamar’s atmosphere.  The Wolves, stymied by the space battle had drawn back under the cover of a massive Sovetskii Soyuz heavy cruiser.  As the huge ship maneuvered for the planet, the Tiger’s own fleet had fallen back to defend the stricken Tiger Claw.  The Claw’s Essex class escorts were also damaged although still battle worthy, but until repairs could be made to the Claw, they simply didn’t have the firepower to challenge the Wolves.

The invaders would come, and the Tigers would resist them.  But the question of who they were lay still open.  The Wolves’ commander had contacted Marshal Corelli politely enough.  In an almost businesslike manner this Khan Natasha Kerensky had announced her intention to add Tamar to the possessions of Clan Wolf.  The opposing commander had then asked if the Black Tigers of New Vandenburg would be joining the party.

When Marshal Corelli had, having already spoken with Sam, told her yes the Khan had laughed.  “Fine, I will look forward to testing the mettle of Terra’s finest.”  Sam didn’t know if the woman was insane or merely stupid, but she’d gone on to give Corelli a full list of her forces.

It’s almost like a game to them.  Sam thought.  And the order of battle, the names of the units.  Sam still couldn’t belive it was coincidence.  The 328th Assault Cluster, the “Lion Hearted”, sounded like the Royal BattleMech Division of the same name.

And then there is the date…3051?  What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?




Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 03-11-2009, 19:12:02
ok, a time paradox question:

If Liz Hazen was with the 90th when the misjump occurred, who helped found the Green Chickens?
Quote from: blacktigeractual, 03-11-2009, 19:21:29
This is Shattered Dawn Liz, she's not there yet.  So your answer is stil Elizabeth Hazen.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:56:19
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 07-11-2009, 17:17:06]]


“They’re grounding now.”   Scott said over the TACNET.  “Boss, I…”

“Yeah ‘Rat, I know, I heard.”  I answered hoping he couldn’t hear the nervousness in my voice.

3051, are you ****** kidding me?  I didn’t want to think about it, but my mind kept returning to what I saw and heard around me.   If it was true…Gods damn it…Sarah, Syn.

Shaking my head to clear it I gave the order to move out.  Around me the Black Cats’ ‘Mechs began to rumble forward.  We had orders to anchor the Tiger right where we met up with a combat command of the 26th Lyran Guard.  Our air support was busy carving up theirs, for whatever reason that big ****** cruiser was staying out of it.  Ever one to take small favors, Jake Melendez and his crew were working with the Lyrans to keep air superiority in our hands.

If these puppies had ‘mechs anything like their fighters we were in for a tough fight.  According to Geoff Winger; the Guards Hauptmann commanding the mixed company on my right they did, and some kind of super power armor too boot.  No armor though so the combined arms nature of both us and the 26th should balance that out.

The crash and thunder of battle sounded from up ahead.  The Lyran...FedCom positions (Whatever) were well sited and dialed in to our frequencies.  A wave of Copperhead shells ripped across the sky with a tearing sound.  I said a prayer to Athena to keep Didi and our Nighthawk teams safe as they TAGged and bagged the Wolves.

Fire support calls were coming in fast and hot now as both our Long Tom and Chaparral batteries along with those of the Lyrans spoke thunder.  My secondary screens showed the unfamiliar Clan designs and their squat battle armor flowing forward under murderous fire.  This Kerensky was going for the gusto hoping to overwhelm us.  The Lyrans were not having it, good troops although I felt an odd twinge when I thought of them.

Like we’d met before and it hadn’t been pretty.

Hauptmann Geoff Winger came over the open channel then, reporting a breach with calm urgency.

“Boot Four Six, this is Cat Six were on the way.”

“Roger; Cat Six glad for the help.”

Suddenly Hussy threw herself to her left as a pair blinding cyan laser bolts flashed by.  The other ‘Mech, the ones everyone called a MadCat, looking like a Catapult with a Marauder’s arms bolted on tried to track me and I threw him a gauss slug for his troubles.  I couldn’t waste time wondering why Hussy seemed to move with such fluid grace as the MadCat sent a wave of anti armor missiles my way.

Waiting for the gauss rifle to cycle I spat two streams of charged particles at the Clan machine.  One found a flaw in the Wolf ‘Mech’s armor where the gauss slug had hit and his heat spiked.  Undaunted the Clan warrior struck back with his full complement of energy weapons.  Red telltales began to show as a heat sink blew out.

“Boss these guys are serious", Gracie shouted, "Tina’s down, those power suits crippled her before we could shoot ‘em off.”

Okay ******, this ends now.  Ducking to the right I stopped suddenly.  Bracing I sent Hussy’s full complement of firepower downrange.  The MadCat caught in the middle of overshooting her angle of attack took everything I had right in what had to be the engine casing.  Golden fire spat out the hole for a brief moment.  Then the ‘Mech crashed to the ground.

The Clanner must have been knocked out because she didn’t eject.  I spotted Didi’s team nearby and made a snap decision.

“Didi, get me that pilot if she’s still alive.”


‘Tasha sent a wave of laser fire at the Pillager facing her.  Rearing back the black and red ‘Mech spat gauss slugs back at her.  The Wolf Khan was getting the worst of the engagement having already fought through the storm of artillery fire the defenders of Tamar had greeted her Wolves with.  Instead of pushing through the defenders on a wide sweeping front the two forces were now grinding each other in a war of attrition.

One that no longer favors us.  She thought.  Her 279th Battle Cluster had managed a breach with its Trinary First, but no word had come after the initial call from the Whirlwinds.  Engaging the full scale Star League assault battalion in front of her she hadn’t time to check on them but when Star Commander Lonna’s battered Adder staggered out of the woods she knew what had happened.

A black and red Marauder stalked out of the woods and pointed a claw at Lonna’s Adder.  Slashing a whip of charged particles across the Adder’s flank the Marauder sent Lonna’s ‘Mech down.  Lara Ward spun her Warhawk to send four particle streams back at the Terran machine.

The Marauder dodged.

Before Natasha could get over her astonishment a second machine, unfamiliar to both her and her warbook program stepped up next to the first machine and loosed a volley of missile fire and laser bolts at the Wolf assault machine.  More heavy ‘Mechs arrived, a mix of Marauders and Bombardiers volleying wave after wave of fire.

Spitting more laser fire at the Pillager she crowed inwardly as it fell backward.  It was then the ground split open around her.  A roar of fighter engines thundered past and she saw a squadron of Hammerheads vanish into the clouds.  One was slashed down by a wave of missiles, but the others were no doubt heading back to rearm.

Time to try something else; this definitely isn’t going to work.


Star Captain Katya Kerensky woke with a jerk.  Looking around she saw she was in a mobile field hospital.  It was the symbol on the uniforms of both the doctors and many of the wounded that told her she'd lost.  The Cameron Star.  A lean form rose from the side of one of the wounded.  Through a drug hazed fog she noticed the crossed pistols on his lapel.  The warrior’s single good eye narrowed as he saw her.

“Doc, my guest is up!”  He called.  Katya realized this had been the man who had defeated her.  As the haze from the pain killers deepened she smiled wryly at the only thought to pop in her head.

If I had to be shot out of my ‘Mech by some saavishri sphereoid, at least it was a Gunslinger.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:56:49
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 09-11-2009, 18:50:30]]


Chapter Two; Plans, plots and Robes


Joy Corelli, Marshal in the service of the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth, shook her head in disgust.  Nothing she had done had gotten Selvin Kelswa to even acknowledge her presence let alone come out of his impenetrable fortress.  It had take the arrival of an honest to God Star League Defense Force unit to pry the intractable bastard out of his city.

Then again if that doesn’t get your attention, nothing will. She thought in amazement.

  Along one wall of her command hut the command staff of the 90th Heavy Assault stood in combat fatigues or in the case of their Gunslinger an advanced MechWarrior combat suit.  Almost as unbelievable as their presence was the slim woman with white blonde hair and icy blue eyes; dressed in a SLDF jumpsuit.

The woman was a Wolf Clan officer.  Despite sparse intelligence to the contrary and the appearance of the infamous Black Widow; Natasha Kerensky among the invaders; theories still abounded that they were aliens.  Well the Tigers’ prisoner belied that.  The woman stayed close to Major Gilmour, not out of fear so much as self preservation.  Around her wrist was a bracelet braided out of what appeared to be three different colored rubber bands.

The report she received from her new allies said the Clans called captured warriors bondsmen.  If they showed promise doing the tasks their new masters set for them they would eventually be accepted into the Clan.  Joy didn’t know if she believed it or not, but the woman’s captor had for some reason decided to honor the Wolf Clan custom.

When the Duke had swept in he’d tried to seize the woman, but her captor had gotten right in the Duke’s face and to Joy’s surprise backed the man down.  She had to hide her smile as she thought of Major Gilmour’s response;

You want one, your Grace; go get your own.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:57:17
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 14-11-2009, 18:20:50]]


Cheese warning, I am not above cheezyness for the sake of humor.   >:D

Selvin Kelswa’s voice snarled out another series of questions.  The Blonde Clanswoman ignored him and stared stoically ahead.  The Duke swallowed his anger and turned to the Star League MechWarrior.

“Major, would you kindly instruct you charge to answer my questions.”  The long haired young officer gave a slight bow.  Turning to his charge he spoke in low tones.

“Aff, Major, I will answer, and my name is Katya Kerensky not Kitty Kat.”  The woman answered.

She turned to the assemblage and began to speak.

“In answer to your question, Duke Selvin; who are we?  We are the Star League Defense Force.”

After the shocked gasps and angry denials had died down under Marshal Corelli’s orders, Katya Kerensky told the tale reciting from a poem she called the Remembrance.  She told the tale of the SLDF’s flight from the Inner Sphere, the settling of a series of poor worlds far from the strife of the Succession Wars.  Then she told of the war that followed, when the SLDF tore itself apart.  In the end it all came out.

“So you’re here to restore the Star League then.”  Kelswa said in wonder.

“Aff Duke Selvin, which ever Clan reaches Terra shall be declared the ilClan and will rule over a reborn Star League.”
The meeting went downhill from there Joy thought later.  What convinced her to end the meeting was the Duke accusing the Tigers of being Clan collaborators.  Major Gilmour had to be restrained from decking the noble.  Surprisingly his “Bondswoman”, if she was to be believed the direct blood descendant of Aleksandr Kerensky had jumped in front of him and called upon his honor.

Afterwards she sat down with Colonel Winter over a cup of really good coffee the man had brought with him, something called Jamaican Blue Mountain.

“Hell of a day,” The man said.

Joy nodded then unable to resist.  “So you’re really who you say you are?”

Chuckling the Terran Colonel nodded saying; “I know, I’ve had some of my intelligence guys going over the records you sent, plus what little we’ve gotten from the Wolves.”

“You were supposed to have died over Terra.”  Joy said carefully.

“But we didn’t, we liberated New York and chased Amaris’ boys all over North America.  Then when it was all over we served as part of Amanda Cameron’s guard unit.”

“Here Amanda died on Terra, there was no Last Cameron.”  At least that we know of.  Joy thought.

“So not only did we misjump in time and space, but I don’t think were in Kansas anymore.”

Joy chuckled; “If you call me Toto, I’ll slap you in the stockade.”

Smiling wryly Sam sipped his coffee.  Looking up his smile vanished.

“You have to understand our dilemma, Marshal, it doesn’t matter when or where we ended up,”  He fixed her with a despairing gaze, “I know the basics of a misjump, or at least the theory, we were in hyperspace way too long so we ended up here.  But you can only go forwards, not back.”

“You can’t go home.”  Joy stated flatly, barely able to comprehend the magnitude of that simple statement.

“So we’ll fight for you against these Clan barbarians, and we’ll figure out the rest.”  Sam said grimly.

“Then we have a battle to plan…oh by the way, your Major Gilmour, he’s not Bruce Nicolas Gilmour is he?”

“Yes why?”  Sam asked puzzled.

“He had mentioned his wife; her name wasn’t Sarah was it?” Joy smiled warmly.

“Yes; Sarah Elisabeth Davion.”  Sam answered.

“One of you did survive and was captured, and after the liberation of Terra did marry…here.”  She handed Sam a data disk.  “This might give him some closure.”

Sam, glancing over the title on the disk, looked back up eyes wide.

“So he has descendants in this world?”  He asked.

“In a manner of speaking…” Joy said rising.  “And they want to meet him.”
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:57:48
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 01-12-2009, 23:35:11]]


SLS Tiger Claw....

Dieter Malin noticed a change in the big Wolf cruiser's aspect.

"Boss, the fuzzies have changed bearing and are on an intercept vector."

Emily Hayes cursed, then her eyes snapped open a vicious smile flahing on her face.

"Coms, transmit prefix code inquiry, authorization HAF-N-1."

The communications officer, John Rayes looked startled for a moment, then as he carried out the order; understanding blossomed on his face.

Wolf Clan Ship Dire Wolf...

Deep in the bowels of the massive cruiser computer systems whirred and beeped.  The operating system ignored the activity, sending a brief warning to the electronic warfare officer's panel in the ship's Combat In formation Center.  The BIOS however, unchanged for the past three hundred years....listened.

Before the human crew onboard the Dire Wolf could react the Wolves found out the Hard Way just why Stefan Amaris' Navy was so ineffective against Terran WarShips.



Since this is the storyline I'm messing with for shits and giggles I decided to use something from our origninal campaign.  The WoB lost a whole lot of ships to he Tigers.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:58:10
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 02-12-2009, 14:59:54]]


Star Admiral Mitchell Leroux snarled in anger as the Dire Wolf shuddered and began to drift off course.

“Report!”  He growled at the cowering technician at the engineering console.

“Star Admiral; we have lost helm control and weapons, the Terran warship transmitted something at us.  Crews in the computer core reported it having no effect on our systems, then every system went haywire.”

“How is this possible?!”  Leroux sat back in his command chair searching the lower caste engineer’s face for signs of deception, but now delivering his report the man straightened and his demeanor spoke of nothing but competence.

“Unknown Star Admiral, but it almost cost us the ship; whatever the Terrans were able to activate in our systems tried to open all hatches interior and exterior.”  The technician paused as Leroux’s eyes widened in realization.

Snapping out of his shock he caught what the technician left unsaid.

“Your team was able to stop this from occurring.”  A statement not a question.

“Aff, Star Admiral.”

“Hold one, we must discuss this…Sensors  what are the Terrans doing?”

“Holding position sir, they have taken no offensive action.”

“Hmmph…so much for taking an aggressive posture.”  The idea had been for the Dire Wolf to test the Terrans’ response and prevent any orbital support, be it in the form of bombardment or air support from the WarShip’s air wings.

Turning back to the engineer he smiled.

“You have done well here, get us our drives back, find out what the Terrans’ hit us with and I will see you have a place in the next trial of position.”

Leroux could sense the man’s pride as he acknowledged the order and went to work.



Quote from: Muttley, 02-12-2009, 17:25:07
   
16309... you have to know why things work on a starship; not just why.   >:D
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:58:59
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 02-12-2009, 18:18:12]]


Katya Kerensky waited as Hussy’s cockpit hatch opened, Major Gilmour handed her his combat neurohelmet as he unstrapped the five point restraints.  While the neurohelmet was familiar, nothing else in the Royal machine was.  Instead of a command couch with joysticks and throttles the Marauder had a cradle that supported the pilot’s rump, back, neck and head.

Legs and arms strapped into a linear frame much like an exoskeleton.  The Terran MechWarriors didn’t so much pilot their machines so much as wear them.  Joysticks and petals tipped the frame members and a holographic hands on throttle and stick set up completed the arrangement.  Almost as an afterthought a folding jump seat was just aft of the linear frame.

“Yeah, I know it’s a lot different than what you’re used to  You sure you've got nothing like this?.”  Bruce said a wry smile on his face.

“Neg we do not, and there are no records of anything like this.”  The question in her voice was obvious.  As the cherry picker lowered itself down to the ground, Bruce stretched and looked at the battle damage scarring the seventy five tonner.

“No I don’t have a clue why your friends don’t have proper Terra tech, maybe the Royals sabotaged the records, or maybe here in this timeline it was never invented.”

“Timeline?”  Katya was puzzled, she was a warrior not a scientist after all.

“Yeah, too many things here don’t add up, we’ve talked about that.”

She nodded, she sometimes wondered why Bruce didn’t talk about this with his own people.  Then again sometimes the Tigers acted like they were made of broken glass.  There was pain there that Katya was ill equipped to deal with.

Bruce was looking at a series of holos on his pocketcomp.  A beautiful red haired woman appeared in most of them along with a little Eurasian girl.  His wife and adopted daughter; Katya knew.  She understood the theory of marriage of course and the lower castes still practiced “natural” child birth, but she had no frame of reference as the warrior who’d shot her out of her ‘Mech and stood against the finest warriors of Clan Wolf shuddered and stifled a sob.

Katya had for some reason put her hand on his shoulder, a gesture of comradely support.  He’d looked up at her then and smiled sadly, a single tear rolling down his cheek.  A Clan warrior should have scoffed at his weakness, but something in Katya responded with sympathy.  Some battles just cannot be won .

Bruce had after a moment motioned to her to sit down.  He’d shared a little of his life with her then.  Pictures and movies of blessed Terra seen just after the Liberation.  Unity City, New York, Tahiti places out of myth and legend all seen by someone who’d lived there.

It had been the pictures of his wedding that had affected her the most, the chestnut haired girl with the heart shaped face who was Sarah Davion’s Maid of Honor.  Amanda Cameron, daughter of Richard.  The alien feel to the history the images and video represented, from a living Cameron heir to a “back yard Fourth of July party” with Aaron DeChevalier in an apron emblazoned with the words “Kiss the Cook” to Elizabeth Hazen sharing a kiss with Lieutenant Mackenzie were a shock.

A shock that the most revered figures in Clan history were as Bruce had put it; “Just Folks.”


Still they remained hideously effective against her former Clan.  After two weeks the battle was stalemated.  Although both sides had taken severe losses, the Battle for Tamar had turned into a war of attrition and the defenders had far deeper reserves than the Wolf Clan.

Something had to give soon.  And strangely she hoped it wouldn’t be the Terrans.  Looking down at the Cameron Star on her shoulder, knowing what it represented, Katya felt strangely at home.  And then there was her bond holder; honorable, strong, skilful, yet broken at the same time.

Perhaps in time she could fix him.  Looking down at the two bond cords remaining on her wrist and at the her own Timber Wolf sitting repaired in the gantry across the way.  He’d promised her a place on the next raid.  Katya wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

Trepidation warred with an urge to be recognized as a full warrior again.

Soon you will have to make choices, Katya, important ones.

“Okay, we’re off duty, Misha’s told me you’re doing well… so the gang’s rigged up a clubhouse of some sort.”  He paused, thought for a moment.  “Umm…you guys do drink don’t you?”

“Aff…we do and I could use a drink, thank you.”  As they walked past Elizabeth Hazen speaking softly with her technician at the foot of the Tiger heavy BattleMech she piloted, the red haired woman glared harshly at Katya but held her tongue.

Stravvag Falcon. She thought meeting the woman' glare with her own clear blue gaze.  After the pair had left the hanger Katya chuckled.  But then she’s no Falcon, or at least this one isn’t.

“Penny for your thoughts?”  Bruce asked.

“Nothing important, major…” She considered him for a moment.  “Bruce Gilmour after we have that drink would you like to couple with me?”

Bruce stopped dead and stared at her.  Later thinking about his reaction; which was a polite and cautious negative; she would grin…After all his reaction was priceless.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 21:59:31
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 24-12-2009, 08:57:49]]


The Triad, Tharkad
Federated Commonwealth
17 November, 3051


General Nondi Steiner knocked on the door to the Archon's personal office.  At the Archon's bidding she entered.  Melissa Steiner looked up from her desk and smiled warmly.  The younger woman's eyes looked tired.  They all were.  The enormity of the situation threatening the Federated Commonwealth was like nothing anyone could have expected.

"We have the latest reports from Tamar, Mel."  Nondi said.

"From your tone, I take it's actually good news."  Melissa looked hopeful.

"The battle's stalemated, not won but we've done better there than anywhere else, looks like a full; what the Clans call a Galaxy; roughly analogous to a reinforced regiment has been bogged down there.  The 90th Heavy Assault has taken prisoners and we are getting reams of information back..."  Nondi's face took on a grimace then.

"What Aunt Nondi?  I know that look."

"These so called Star League troops won't let us interrogate their prisoners, the LIC agents assigned to Tamar have been allowed to interview the captured Wolves, in some detail, I'll admit but the 90th is retaining custody…something about having honored the Wolves custom of becoming bondsmen."  She looked up at Melissa then.

"Some of them, like this Katya Kerensky have even been allowed to fight against their former comrades."

Melissa's look of shock mirrored Nondi's when she'd first read the news.

"So they fight their own?"  Melissa shook her head.  "Can the Star League Defense Force really have changed so much?  They're so…Alien."

Nondi got a cup of coffee from the side board and at Melissa's nod poured her another.

"Marshal Corelli has said the 90th have pretty much accepted their situation weird as it is and have offered their services to the Commonwealth.  They have a lot to offer, which brings us to two problems."
At the Archon's gesture she continued;

"First, we may not be able to keep Tamar."  Nondi's voice was flat, businesslike, it had to be to quell the anger the statement brought up.  Melissa nodded and Nondi, not without pride for the fine ruler Katrina's daughter had become, knew she had seen it.

"The Wolves and the Jade Falcons have already almost surrounded it, I know…but to pull them out seems so wrong."  Melissa's voice was sad at the thought of any more of her people being under the thumb of a conqueror.

Nondi sipped at her coffee and nodded.

"Ja it is wrong, but we cannot support them for much longer.  If the Clans pass the line of worlds marked here…"  Nondi pulled up a star chart on Melissa's desk.  "We have to pull them out of there or risk losing both units."

Leaning back in her chair, Melissa closed her eyes and nodded.

"Do it, then."  She said.  "And may God forgive us."

"The second problem, is a bit thornier, but I may have a solution…"  Nondi paused her features darkening at the memory of her meeting with Precentor Tharkad.  "ComStar is requesting; as they put it; the repatriation of all Terran nationals and equipment in the unit known as the 90th Heavy Assault Regiment at the earliest opportunity."

"What?!"  Melissa was aghast.

"The Black Tigers scare them, Mel, don’t ask me how I know, but they do."

"Scare them, how?  A few thousand men and women, some advanced hardware and okay three WarShips but…"

"It's not their equipment Archon, it is who they are, while the computer core provided by Colonel Carlyle has all the information we need to catch up to the Star League era, the practical applications will take years to get us up to speed, unless we have help.  The support staff of the 90th alone has the practical knowledge to jump start our armaments programs by years.  Their Chief Technician Misha Vinson has more degrees to his name than I can count and at least two works on Particle weapons on the GDL core were authored by him…Melissa the MechWarrior that has your husband all in a bustle has a degree in fusion technology for God's sakes, learned on the road to Terra during the liberation back in the 2770's!"

As Melissa looked at her aunt in shock, Nondi went on;  "Then there is this; they are Terrans, their databases hold locations and command codes to dozens of bases used by the SLDF Royal Command, including this one…"

"Camelot Command…a Naval base?"

Nondi grinned; "I've sent Cranston Snord to check it out, the little bastard already knew about it, said they were going to try for it anyway, he was the one who sent me the solution to the ComStar problem."  Tapping the touch sensitive hologram Nondi brought up a file.

SLDF Support Command Regulation 11071-3  In the event of a collapse of regular SLDF pay and support channels any Member State requesting aid from or making use of SLDF personnel and or equipment must provide a support structure to maintain…

Melissa chuckled.

"General Steiner, the Lyran Commonwealth is hereby requesting aid from the Star League Defense Force…"
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:00:26
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 28-02-2010, 19:54:50]]


Tamar, Tamar Pact
Federated Commonwealth
20 November, 3051


“Okay boys and girls, the puppy dogs are on the move.  That Dire Wolf is staying put…”

“Gotcha Didi, Alpha Bitch is still in the ten ring.” I subvocalized, rolling my shoulders in the Nighthawk powered armor.

 The Puppies are gonna learn what happens when you try to get sneaky with us…

Two days ago…

Katya laughed at something Scott had said.  Her performance in the recent raid on Clan Wolf positions around the town of Helgasten had led to me cutting a second strand of her bondcord.  She’d seemed surprised when I’d first told her she’d be running her Timber Wolf with us, Bondsmen don’t traditionally take a warrior’s role so quickly, but I had a good feeling about her.  Taking a swig of Gatorade; I walked over to share in the joke.

That was when it happened.  A burst of machine gun fire mixed with the hiss snap of lasers was followed by screams and the blare of alarms.  The misshapen form of one of those damn Elementals flowed with a strange grace around one of the Lyran’s mobile headquarters.  A headhunter ****** me, I cursed, we should have expected something like this from the red haired she-bitch.

‘Rat pulled his pistol and ducked back, but I was caught in mid stride.  The clan trooper had leveled the 3cm laser on his left arm at the back of the HQ vehicle, but his right pointed a built in machinegun at me.  As I tried to bring my Colt Half Rife in line he fired.  An impact slammed into my right side and a scream followed the Clanner’s burst.  Rolling away from the pale blonde form (Damn it Kitty Kat; don’t you die on me; you’ve become a friend.) writhing in pain next to me I dialed the Colt up to its max setting and fired.

 Enough energy to pierce ’Mech plate sliced into the Clanner’s shoulder cutting off his right arm.  As the form staggered back I pulled the trigger twice more, emptying the battery and leaving empty space where the massive armored figure’s faceplate had been.  Allied security and at least three ‘Mechs were active and I could see we were pushing the Wolves back.  Dropping the Colt, I knelt quickly and pulled a press on dressing from my med kit to place over the wound in Katya’s abdomen.

“Medic!  Stay with me Kitty Kat, c’mon talk to me!”  ‘Rat came up next to me and put a second bandage over the wound in the stricken bondswoman’s shoulder.

A wan smile spread over her face made red from the blood she’d coughed up.

“Keep calling me that…” She bit back a wave of pain.  “And I will regret jumping in front of a bullet for you…you straavag moron.”

Truk Tranh hustled over with a his platoon of NYNG rangers and I had him hold the pressure on the wound I had bandaged.  He looked puzzled as I drew my KBAR and cut the last cord on Katya’s wrist.  I brushed sweaty hair out of her eyes and smiled down at her.

“Welcome to the Star League Defense Force skootch.”  I said just before she passed out.




Quote from: Jimmyray73, 01-03-2010, 18:52:21
Gotta tag this now...

Bruce seems to have adopted Kitty Kat into the Tigers, and he and his merry band of malcontents have their own ideas about justice from what I've seen...
Quote from: MechRat, 02-03-2010, 02:41:32
Yes, the Tigers take care of their own... Evil Natasha is dead meat. Probably not immediately, but you can bet the Tigers won't rest until justice is served. Remember what happened to George Donner. >:/!
Quote from: Headshot, 02-03-2010, 04:49:38
While Elemental Headhunter missions are pretty standard for the Clans, doing that against the Tigers just begs for trouble.
They have their own SAS company (in stealth suits led by Blackhearts no less) with years of Loonie exposure...
Quote from: Taron Storm, 02-03-2010, 17:18:33
I think the analogy of putting a M80 in a hornets nest is going to be mild compared to the Tigers reaction.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:01:07
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 02-03-2010, 17:57:49]]


Now…
I leveled the Philips M77 Target Acquisition Laser at the idling Ice Ferret.  A series of clicks came over the TACCNET.  Now.  My pull on the TAG’s trigger would light my position up if any of these guys had active probes, but with all the electronic interference from the repair gantries including work being done on a Thunderbolt…err…Summoner’s fusion engine would help blanket the emitter’s location.

The Ferret began to react then, too late.  Flying at nape of the earth, arrowing in on the unique light frequency from the SAS company’s M77s, eighteen Arrow VI guided missiles hit both the pair of ‘Mech stars on guard and tents and gantries marked out as command and control or important repair targets.

Smokey flowers with bright golden centers blossomed throughout the encampment.  Scythes of shrapnel reaped a bloody swath of technicians, ‘MechWarriors and elementals.  I saw Kerensky’s Dire Wolf topple to the ground no having been hit but simply knocked over by the blast waves.

Little or nothing moved in the murk and smoke, some screams and cries for help sounded out as Didi and her team rose and ran out under the cover of my section.  Her shooters would hit the headquarters tent and complete the mission.  Somebody should have explain to the Puppies that we ****** invented headhunting damn it.

Okay not really, the tactic of a stealthy strike to decapitate your enemy’s leadership goes back to the dawn of warfare. But still we are pretty good at it.  Mike Kelso’s team swept in to plant booby traps and leave our calling cards.  As the volume of fire died down and the smoke began to clear I allowed myself a small smile of satisfaction.

“Shit, no dice B, that redheaded bitch ain’t here!”

“Gods damn it, okay Didi you know what to do…let’s finish this…” A flash of movement caught my eye.  “Wait one I’ve got movement grid n-105.  Sally, Grims lets go…”  Sally Leonards and Jay Grimsby took to their feet behind me.

Flash of red hair, should have worn a field cap bitch.

Natasha…
Wiping her bloody nose, ‘Tasha ducked out of the burning tent.  At the first warning of attack she’d given the order for the techs to scatter.  Dalton Ward, the 328th’s new commander had rushed out to get to his Summoner only to flattened by a concussive blast wave as one of the guard binary ‘Mechs brewed up.

Little bastards, she almost grinned, they must have moved out right after we hit them.  Shit, I bet the follow up strike is on the way now.  I’ve got to warn the rest of Alpha.  Her short ranged comlink was not enough to reach the nearest unit a trinary of the 4th Wolf Guards.  As she hit the tree line a trio of blurry machines about two meters tall leapt after her.

Nighthawk team, oh that’s just wonderful.


Bruce…
We’d close the distance soon; I’d confirmed the identity of our prey the moment she’d spotted us.  The look of annoyance, not fear on her face made me laugh.  Well if she had even half the character Katya had (…has, she ain’t dead yet!)I wanted her check off the target list one way or another.

Unfortunately a nova of assault and heavy ‘Mechs and Elementals from the Fourth Wolf Guards had other ideas.  Grimsby and Leonards froze along with me.  I knew the remaining fighters tasked to cover our retreat could have engaged them directly, but they would take a few minutes to get here.

Standing off at Arrow range meant they could stay within out air defense umbrella and it would cost the Wolves heavily to take them out.  If they came to engage these guys directly they’d be low on fuel and vulnerable.  Already those Elementals were close enough that if I tried for a TAG on a machine they’d spot me.

It wouldn’t be like our strike on their camp, we’d taken a full day just to creep up on them.  They knew we were here; if they wanted us there was a decent, not great but decent chance they’d get us.  Crap, well honey, the gods do love somebody with balls, and you’ve got them in spades.

The Elementals went to ground just outside TAG range.  On a hunch I zoomed in on the ‘Mech carrying Natasha Kerensky.  And didn’t you just know it, that nasty girl was staring back at me through a pair of binoculars.  I could hear Sally cursing me out as I stood up and bowed.

Looking back at me with a lopsided grin the Black Widow gave me the bird.

They left and so did we, when we reached the extraction point and climbed on the Ripper VTOLs to go home I had a text message from Samantha Wynndham that Kitty Kat was out of surgery and in stable but critical condition.  Likewise she was awake enough to be grousing about being confined to bed.  Our strike against the Wolves had knocked them back damn near to their DropShips.  That was good news.  The bad news was really really bad.  Between them the Wolves and the Jade Falcons (where the ****** do they get these names, I mean really?) had between them almost cut off the Tamar system.
We were being given our ROWing orders. Y’know Retreat Off World.
Crap.[metalhealth][metalhealth][metalhealth][metalhealth]

HHC, 2nd Battalion, 26th Lyran Guard, Tamar...

Christian Traumentieri felt his brain begin to numb as he signed off on the 'nteenth load of 80mm free flight rockets bound for the Tigers' Bombardiers.

Easy now Chris m'boy you'll be back in the saddle soon enough, those Wolves ain't lettin' up despite the drubbin' we gave them.

Still Chris was a brawler, a battle leader, he was never one to enjoy the paperwork involved with command.  He'd forced himself to become not just proficient in the bureaucracy of command, but as good at it as he was behind Harbinger's controls for one reason and one reason only.

The men and women who relied on him.  Not just for leadership in the heat of battle, but outside of it, food, water, ammo, a reassuring nod or a kick in the ass; all these things were required.  To fail in even one was to fail everyone who looked for him for leadership.  Turning to Eddie Martinez his senior company boss he stopped dead.

HOLYJESUSJOHNANDMARY...it can't be...

"Boss; what's..." Eddie started to say following his commander's gaze.  "Holy shit."

"I gotta know." Christan said as he stalked towards the Lyran Hauptmann seated casually on the foot of a nearby Griffin.



Quote from: blacktigeractual, 02-03-2010, 23:13:05
Spoiler Alert:
This is an open one since I don't do this often. I wont be killing Nasty off, In this storyline she is an older Clan version of Bruce.  Sorry guys nostalgia here....Aiden Pryde however... >:D
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:01:58
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 04-03-2010, 23:03:19]]


[heee!!! i'm invited!!]
HHC, 2nd Battalion, 26th Lyran Guard, Tamar...

"...SLDF guys are tough as hell..." someone commented.  Hauptmann Patrick Ngo looked up from his letters to see Grimes and Baker watching the officers from the 90th Heavies inventorying ammo pallets.
"Yeah." he said, "They're tough."

One of the foreign officers, looking in that half-idle 'alert' that combat officers get, noticed him sitting at the foot of his 'mech.

The man's expression did a double-take, and he apparently got the attention of his companion.

"Uh-oh, Paddy, looks like they they saw you wrote ******' on your 'mech."  Grimes commented, as the two Terran officers started walking across the quad.

"Yeah, well, they can take it up with the Liason officer, like everyone else." Pat said, and went back to reading-casually, though he watched over the top-rim of his sunglasses as the foreign officers walked over.

"Excuse me..." one of them said.

Pat looked up.  "Sir?" he asked, keeping the relaxed pose, 'If it's about the chest-art, It's in-reg."

"Where are you from, son?"  the taller one asked.

"Kowloon." Patrick said, "Not that I've seen it much."


Twelve Hours Later...

"DIDEE MAOGODDAMMITMOVEMOVEMOVE!!!"  Pat shouted over the Company frequencies as the Clanners' little toad-bastards appeared from the dust-cloud of the spaceport's outer permieter.  He beaded on one of them, and triggered his PPC.   the little bastads could take hits, but...

He pulled up a light-tower from the approach way, and swung it like a bat-sending one jumper tumbling off into the distance.  "Fall back by ranks, lowest to highest, those dropships need time."  he scolded.

voices of assent echoed in his ears, and his status-board showed that most of his Company was moving retrograde, while the view out his cockpit showed they were still firing.

he tongued the frequency for the long-toms on the sole Fortress class still on the ground, "Grid Two One Nine, I need HE and Cluster, my position, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat, Over!"

The status-indicators showed that the tanks weren't falling back in order on his right.  "Charlie Third, Get your ****** asses in GEAR, god-dammit, Mosovich, you dilly-dally and I'll have your-"

his world was white flash, heat, and pain, as something didn't just shred his cockpit armour, but pulverized it into white-hot powder, and then, the cool air of outside wrapped around him.

the 'mech that did this, stepped around from behind the perimeter wall.  Hunched and turkey-looking, with a Marauder's arm-joints and shoulders under the box-launchers of a Catapult and a glassine cockpit jutting from the thing's chest.

His leg-actuators were seizing on the left side...not NOW not NOW...  the thing's secondary 'chin mount' weapons licked fragments from his staggered 'mech.

"Okay, ******..." he lifted his improvised club, looked at the cracked and barely working heat-guage, and shrugged.  "I got something you can't do"  He stomped his jump-pedals, bounding forward at the enemy 'mech.  the artillery warning alarms sounded as the snap-crack of enemy fire echoed in his ears.

At the ending arc of the 150 meter leap, he brought the club down, and cut his jump-jets' retrofire, bringing the entire mass of his machine down as additional leverage and power.

This move took whoever was driving the MadCat by surprise-the ELED light-arrays shatttered off the thick, high-intensity alloy post, which drove down on the Clanner's ferroglas cockpit, shearing off support struts and pulverizing panes of transparent armour.

The world turned white, and he felt the thunderclaps into his bones, as the battery-strike came down.

something lanced through his chest....and it was even harder to breathe in the darkness...


Fourteen minutes after...

"...dead, we got here late."  The AFFC firebase had been right on the edge of the 90ths' area of responsibility, and the Tigers were the first unit to react to the Clanner probe.

Truk Tranh  squatted on the edge of what was probably the head assembly of a Griffin.  He reached into the mess in the cockpit, and retrieved a set of tags.

"Patrick  Ngo.  Catholic, Blood Type B Negative." he read off, "There won't be any celebrating back home from this."

"You sure it's him?" Kelso asked.

"You saw him, same as I did....there can't be too many Hauptmanns named Ngo around here." Truk said it without emotion, "and none of them would probably call in artillery on their own position to cover their men." he looked at Kelso.  "It's him.  We gotta send him home."  Truk started cutting straps, and gingerly extracted the shattered, burnt corpse from the cockpit, laying it out on a poncho-liner, "Get the ****** Chaplain, right ****** now." he said it without looking up.

"Truk, they're probably coming back..."

"I don't care, get a ******' Chaplain, last rites..."



Quote from: MechRat, 05-03-2010, 02:55:37
Welcome Cannonshop! More great stuff! O0

Question: What was written on Ngo's 'Mech? Either you or the censotron blocked it.
Quote from: Cannonshop, 05-03-2010, 09:18:37
Quote from: lowrolling71, 05-03-2010, 03:08:31
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Welcome aboard and I second the request for what was on the Griffin.
"Don't ****** with the Funk."  the redacted is a gutter term referring to reproductive/recreational activities that are, after some two hundered thousand years, still rather popular among humans and other mammalian forms... 'The Funk' is, of course, because Pat Ngo was a fan of a style of Rythm-pop music often played at all-night dance clubs.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:02:56
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 05-03-2010, 21:37:17]]


Broadmoor Street, Dependents Housing, Arc Royal


Quote
To: Mrs. Alice Russell-Ngo
From: AFFC High Command, Personnel Section

Dear Mrs. Ngo:
AFFC High Command regrets to inform you of the death of your son, Hauptmann Patrick James Ngo, in combat on the world
of Tamar.  Patrick Ngo died a hero of the Federated Commonwealth...

"What is it, mom?" Elizabeth asked.

"Your brother Pat." Alice told her, "He...won't be coming to see you for your birthday."

"Like dad won't, or like Henry won't?" Elizabeth asked.  The thin shard of hope for Henry's return was all that was left.

"Like your Father." Alice said.

"So...they can't find a body? he might still be alive?" Liz asked.

"Pat's remains are...in custody, Liz." Alice told her, "He's confirmed."

i'mnotgoingtocrynotgoingtoburblenotgonnacry... Dad was like a stranger most of Elizabeth's life-even when she'd gotten into trouble and they put her in the rehab, it was always her big brother who came...now he was gone.

"They're shipping his remains, I just have to tell them where." Alice told her.

"Pat liked it on Kowloon, mom, the summer house." Liz said.  It was true, the best summer they'd ever had as a family was visiting her father's world...

"We'll see." Alice told her, which, in Alice-ese, meant 'no way in hell you'll talk me into even visiting that lousy planet'.  Alice Russell hated her husband's 'landhold', and made little secret of it when he wasn't home...before he'd gone missing in the first attack of this new invasion.

"you should think about it...for Pat's sake." Elizabeth said, and went to her room.



Quote from: MechRat, 06-03-2010, 02:45:09
Thanks for the info, Cannonshop. Without the context, it really could have been any number of "redacted" words. ;)

You and BTA make a great writing team!  O0 The Tigers and Kowloon make a great combination.
Quote from: lowrolling71, 06-03-2010, 14:19:20
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Looks like a new generation of Loonies has found their hate-filled obsession.
Quote from: Jimmyray73, 06-03-2010, 17:29:57
Looking at this from the Tigers' perspective:

"I just travelled across a few centuries of time distortion and the 'Loonies are still loony?  What the heck did we fight in an alternate timeline for anyway?

From what I've read of CS' work up to this point I have a sinking feeling that althoughthe Tigers may respect the Ngos, Liz and company may not return those affections.  I think both sides may just be victimized by the prejudices the Kowloonese have sufferred over the years when the Tigers were "Lost in hyperspace".
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:03:37
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 07-03-2010, 01:39:00]]


Evac Point Echo, Tamar...

"...problem, Truk?" Didi Moran asked.  The support units were still loading, but the infantry were basically on 'standby'.

"Yeah, you could say that." Truk Tranh replied, "I got word back on the next of kin."

"You're still worrying on that guy?" she was surprised, "You only saw him for, like, five minutes, twelve hours before he bought it..."

Truk shrugged, "Old habits, Dee.  I remember when the Colonel approved my transfer request-he said Me or any of the other guys could come home any time we felt like it...that he'd make sure Home was still there."

"And?" she asked.

"Duke David Ngo is confirmed KIA in the Falcon zone, Pat here was the Heir and he's dead, word has it there's a brother who might be alive as a POW, the dead Duke's wife is living in military dependents' quarters on Arc Royal, there's a daughter, but she's like, Twelve...and word has it, Mrs. Ngo hates going to Kowloon so much she hasn't as much as visited in the last six years." Truk said, "My homeworld, it's a nice place, y'know? or it was."

He held up the jar of ashes.  "And the Commonwealth would just as soon leave the ashes here as spend the budget to hold a funeral on his homeworld or return the remains to the family."

Deedee took a sip from her water bottle, "SO what's got your knickers twisted, is a foreigner in charge of Kowloon." she said, "and an absentee landlord situation."

"Both, yeah." Truk said, "Guy's letters to his little sister and her letters to him talk about problems..."

"I read 'em with you, remember?" Didi said, "I pointed out that was one disfunctional family... kids don't end up in drug rehab at eleven when everything's normal."

Truk sighed, "Dee, everything's wrong." he said, "Not just us being...in the future, and the future looking like Mad Mel, but...we gotta do something to make it...right Dee."

"Well, we're going to have to live through this first-hear that?" she cocked her head, and raised an armoured glove.

"Perimeter alarm. Got it..." Truk grabbed his 'hat' and started organizing his men
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:05:14
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 07-03-2010, 18:28:02]]


Evvie...
The pain was muted, still there but in the background.  Evvie, that was her name she remembered just then, Evvie then, drifted in a drug induced haze.  Where she was Evvie didn’t know, but she knew how she got here…

“Charlie Three Six watch it you’ve got a Black Hawk real interested in you.”

Kommandant Evvie Mosovich swore as she ordered her command platoon to target the fast moving Clanner.   Four Rommel Main Battle Tanks cut loose with their main guns.  Rapid fire 120mm cannon buzzsawed armor off of the medium Wolf Omni and Randy Prinz her gunner crowed with triumph.

The TACCNET crackled to life then; “Charlie Third, Get your ****** asses in GEAR, god-dammit, Mosovich, you dilly-dally and I'll have your-” A flash of light and fire cut Patrick’s voice off as an enemy ‘Mech laced his Griffin with fire.  The howl and crump of an artillery strike hid the aftermath in smoke and dirt.

“Charlie Third, Wendigo Six, pull back to grid three oh six four and get you gone, we’ll cover for you.”  On her secondary screens she saw the icons of the 90th’s Hungry Tigers surging forward to engage the Wolves.

As she started to relay the orders, Randy screamed; “Toads, they’re all over us.”  A clang hammered through the turret as something landed on it.  As she turned to face the vision block fire filled her world.


“Jesus Christ is she still…”  A young sounding female voice intruded on Evvie’s haze.

“Kelly, keep your mind on business girl! I need her in the regen tank right now.”

SLDS Sledgehammer…
Samantha Wynndham pushed back her mass of dark braids and collapsed back in her chair.  She could forgive Kelly her outburst, the Lyran Kommandant was barely alive, the laser shot the Clan soldier had fired had been partially deflected by the armored glass of the vision block.  But Evvie Mosovich would be in the tank for the better part of four months.

The woman had lost her eyes, tongue, most of her nose. Her larynx had ruptured and Samantha was sure she had at least some brain damage.  She shook her head, three hundred years and nothing had changed.

Well, we’re still dumb enough to be blowing ourselves to hell and before the days out I’ll be lucky if the Kommandant there is the worst.

The sad thing was that the Lyrans had looked at her like she had two heads when she’d mentioned regenerative therapy.  They’d lost so much it made Samantha, who’d been raised to revere life, want to cry.  She’d be willing to bet the Lyrans would have put the poor woman out of her misery rather than trying to fix the damage.

The worst part was in the Kommandant’s shoes, with only the degraded medical technology available, she didn't know if death would have been preferable.



Quote from: Muttley, 07-03-2010, 18:47:02
Black magic to the primitives..
Quote from: MechRat, 08-03-2010, 04:20:12
It seems that this is the first appearance of Evelyn Mosovich, except here she will have the benefit of the Tiger's black magic superior medical technology. O0
Quote from: lowrolling71, 08-03-2010, 13:51:13
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Now we see the true lost treasures of the Star League.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:05:48
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 08-03-2010, 21:08:16]]


Transit Quarters, SLDS Sledgehammer

"...not sure saving her was that bright an idea."  Corporal Alan Hoffritz said.

Truk Tranh looked at the Lyran tanker, "What?"

"Her, an' Hauptmann Ngo, right? crocodiles on the radio or in the field, but We all knew what they were into off-duty, you can't keep secrets like that from your crew, right?"  the enlisted man told him, "She didn't hear him go-at least, I don't think so, anyhow...they were plannin' to elope, get hitched...he was gettin out, an' she was gonna follow him-give up her career, pension, piss off gott-knows how many of her old friends in the command.  she was gonna help him take back his legacy, get shit straightened out on that planet they both come from."

"You know this for certain?" Truk asked.

"Yeah, I played driver when he went to get the rings, an' Corporal Days from the Charlie Four track drove her down to get fitted for the gown...they swore us to secrecy-officers inside the same unit ain't supposed to be...well, y'know, right?"  Hoffritz said, "Only we knew, helped 'em hide it from the brass."  Hoffritz shrugged, "Hauptmann Ngo dyin'? when she finds out, she's gonna be devastated."

"She's a noble?" Truk asked.

"Baroness of the Golden Lake area-the Mosovich family's been there...well, she said her people been there since the Amaris war.  a few thousand hectares, her dad runs it, but..."  Hoffritz said.

"But?" Truk pressed.

"Somethin's wrong with her old man, it's kind of...had her on edge the last few months.  She wouldn't talk about it, but it had her on glass..."  the tanker passed a PADD to the SLDF infantryman.  "I cracked her diary." Hoffritz said, "She was worried her daddy wouldn't have 'nough marbles left to recognize her-Alzheimers ****** people up."

"You shouldn't crack a person's diary, Corporal." Truk admonished, "Handing it over to...a stranger, that's even worse."

Hoffritz shrugged, "She's my track-boss, been my track boss a long time, she's family, we worry about her-you want to turn me over for charges, you go right ahead-I bet Your guys would do the same for you."

Truk tapped his nose, "Keep it quiet, Corporal.  Just inside your crew, and with me, okay?"

"Aye sir."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:06:42
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 08-03-2010, 22:29:06]]


Quote
Dear Captain Truk Tranh,

My mother declined to answer your last message, but she's...not been well the last few months, and I hope you can forgive her for this.

I am Elizabeth Anne Ngo, daughter of David and  sister to  Hauptmann Patrick Ngo.  I appreciate your sensitivity in handling the matter of my Brother's demise and final resting place, as well as your taking charge of his personal effects.  Having a Hero of Elbar as guardian and executor would have made him proud, as it makes me (though a bit astonished at the same time.  Coming three hundered years into the future must be quite a shock.)   My grandfather had a bit of land on the Little Mekong, and as the third child, it was that portion that I was set to inherit upon my majority.  I would appreciate it greatly if you could find the time to bring my brother to that place, at the base of a Lemon tree overlooking the river, and lay him to his final rest where he was, I think, most happy.  We only spent one summer there as a family, but it was, to my knowledge, the best summer-after that, Grandfather died, and we never got to visit it.

I would be deeply honoured if you, and any of your Marine Veterans, could meet me here on Arc Royal, Mother's duties in the Theatre Logistics office will keep us here until late next year, or until the Clanners over-run this world, whichever comes first.  If you answer to this 'yes', I promise not to get myself incarcerated as an in-patient until after we have met.

It's important.  AFFC says Dad's dead, and with Henry still MIA and presumed captured or dead, I think a visit with Legends would...it would honour the family greatly.

If you do come, don't mind Mom-she's from Kwangjong-Ni, and does not really understand. Grandfather once said that Dad married her to spite grandma, and sometimes, I wonder if that is more right than even HE knew.

If you go, watch out for jackals, and sharks.

Thank you,

Elizabeth Anne Ngo



"What's that?" Didi asked, pulling the message out of Truk's hands, "I didn't think you'd be getting letters..."

"Dee, I need to see Colonel Winters." Truk said.

"Why?" Didi Malone asked.

"Because two animals don't live on Kowloon." he said, "Sharks, or Jackals.  Sharks the rimjobs tried to introduce, they were wiped out by Brassfish, and Jackals is slang for corrupt officials. she wrote this in english, which means she's assuming someone would be reading it besides me."

"How you figure that?" Dee asked.

"Kowloonese?" he said.  "besides, I've read Patrick Ngo's journal, their letters,everything-they were passing a code, and she's assumed I've cracked it."

"and you did." Dee said.

"Yeah.  I did." he said, "My homeworld's in heap-bad-trouble, Patrick Ngo knew it, his little sister knew it, she's warning me about it...and she's asking for help dealing with it...and she doesn't trust her own mum about it."

"Don't take  it straight to Sam, take it to Bruce first." Didi told him, "I'll go with you."

"thanks."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:07:55
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 09-03-2010, 00:26:21]]


Nha Tranh, Kowloon...

Jim Lee Condit was a long way from Kirklin and the 7th Crucis Lancers.  "Hecanocheires?"  his guest asked, "Where were they hiding these?"

Jim just shrugged, "Does it matter, Mister Ryan?" he asked, "THey were hiding them, now they're not hidden. That's got to be worth something to you?"

"Worth something? Oh, yeah.  Worth a Lot, Meself wonders if you're trying to screw with me, though-why sell 'em?" the guest asked.

"Oh, a few reasons come readily to mind-your group's behind Clanner lines, and you need materiel, and if you've got it, your folks can keep them at least somewhat occupied-that's the reason I'll give if anyone from the AG office or Loki or DMI shows up...the real reason, of course, is the Germanium you're offering-enough to buy the extra support I need in the Estates General."

"What makes you think I won't turn around and use 'em on YOU?" the guest asked.

"Well...first of all, because raiding us costs you, second, I'm selling you munitions, and third, you're not stupid." the Governor-Regent said, adding, "Now, if you raid the neighbours, say, I won't mind too much-gets me additional financial support from AFFC, and it's to be expected...but you're an idiot to fight to steal what you can buy for less."

"True that." the Pirate said with a nod, "You want maybe I should pull a demonstration or something on those hinterlands that're giving you trouble? I mean, we ARE here, after all..."

"I'm not entirely opposed to the idea, but we should make it look good, maybe get those troublemakers to come into line if they're afraid of bandits..."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:08:55
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 14-03-2010, 12:06:17]]


In-Transit,  8 December, 3051

Truk Tranh waited while Bruce read through the documents.  "You're sure about this?" Gilmour asked.

"I'm sure." Truk told him, "Dee passed it to Sweetie to make sure I'm not reading into it, Sweetie cracked the cypher in about ten seconds-called it 'amatuer', which fits with a kid writing secret notes to her big-brother."

"Supporting evidence?" Bruce asked-Sam would want something more solid than the word of a young teenage girl.

"Well...public records show that the late Duke David Ngo consented to an appointed regent when his father died-and the FedCom Development Agency's got public accounts showing that Kowloon's been in a recession since 3041, drawing more development and support money than they generate in tax revenue."  Didi said, adding, "They've also been hit almost annually by pirates since '41, though..."

Bruce nodded, "What else-you wouldn't bring this to me to take to Sam without more."

"She asked for help." Truk said quietly.  "Even if the rest of it's just frustration and fantasy, everything I've gleaned off the public record and Pat's Journal supports the idea that..." he looked frustrated. SOmetimes, his english slipped trying to convey some concept-even after years of study.

"Heroes." Didi said quickly.  "Bruce, they remember us.  Not from 'records', but as heroes, and it's something...a kind of...well, a touch-stone, something we can get under our feet."

"I'll take it to Sam-you want to do this as a recon?" Bruce asked.

"I think that's the best way to go into this-until we know for certain what's really going on..." Didi Moran said,  "A few of our guys, we can use a funeral detail as cover, if it's as bad as the reports?"

"That's Sam's call." Bruce said, "If he asks ME, you'll have full support-assuming things really ARE that bad."



11 December, 3051, Dependents Quarters, Arc Royal...

"...turn left, it's the left side of the third duplex."   The provost trooper said, "Watch yourself."

"Why? you go in there a lot?" Truk Tranh asked.

"Let's say we used to  get disturbance calls two or three times a week."  The trooper said, "the daughter's...a problem kid."

"Problem kid?" Didi asked, as they walked up the street.

"Legal trouble, she's been mostly good the last couple months, but I've had to escort the daughter's Rehab counselor a few times, and then, there was this morning." the Provost trooper said.

"This morning?" Truk asked.

"Word came down-a rescue mission went pear-shaped, they lost another son."  The Provost trooper said, "The mom's pretty broken up, she chased off the Grief Counselor."

They reached the walkway, and...

Bang!! The gunshot was muffled, Truk and Didi were moving, sidearms drawn.

Bang!!  Thud.

Didi Moran applied the universal lockpick-in this case, the heel of an SLDF issue combat boot, and the door slammed open.

They rushed in by twos.


In the living room, there was a small mess-half-eaten pre-cook meals, papers.

The hallway to the bedrooms was orderly and neat, there were pictures on the walls...and a woman's body on the floor.

Dee knelt down, "Dead." she said.

The dead woman's thumb was jammed into the trigger guard, and the hole in her chest...

Something was moving in the bathroom.

Truk and Dee lined up, and entered.

"MEDIC!! GET A ****** MEDIC!!"  Truk shouted, scooping the damaged little girl out of the bathtub, and he began treating the sucking chest wound...

"She's in shock, Dee, see if there's a first-aid kit..." Truk worked frantically, but in the back of his mind...too late...we were too late...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:09:31
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 14-03-2010, 19:50:05]]


SLDS Sledgehammer
I watched them take the little girl to our med facilities.  A chill ran down my spine, she looked so much like Syn, it wasn’t funny.  Sam joined me in the Cat’s Eye’s passageway.  He put his hand on my shoulder.

“I know.”  Was all he’d said.

Shaking myself out of the fugue, I nodded and looked down at the datapad in my hands.  Funny it was all cloudy.  After a moment I could speak normally.

“Preliminary reports forwarded to us by the LIC internal security boys don’t come out and say it, but if you read between the lines…”

Sam nodded; “They don’t wanna rock the boat with the Kerenskites rampaging through their space.  Okay look the local Duke here Kell like that Elliot guy back home, he wants to talk to us, something about setting up a support structure,” the Colonel paused then came to a decision, “Take the Black Cats and Truk’s crew when Miss Ngo gets out of regen.  Call it an Honor guard.  You’ll have two jobs; first check out Kowloon if there is a problem; fix it quietly.  I don’t want the Lyrans to think we’re going to play Hegemony with their internal politics but we need somewhere safe to base out of.”  He fixed me with a steady gaze as he went on.

“After you’ve secured the planet for Miss Ngo; check on the feasibility of our basing out of there.  This is priority one Major…”

Looking back towards the infirmary he said softly.

“The Tigers need a home.”
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:10:23
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 16-03-2010, 21:29:59]]


2 January, 3052, SLDS Sledgehammer, Med Bay, 1430 Hours...


One of the most human moments in wartime, is the sharing of grief.  Sometimes it is shared loudly, sometimes silently, with dignity, and without.

"Can you count my fingers?" the doctor asked.  Evelyn looked at the hand, "Three." she said,  then, she looked beyond the healer...and saw a face she'd only seen in pictures.

"Elizabeth?" she asked.

"Yeah." Liz said, "You must be Pat's girlfriend."

"We kept that-where is he?" Evelyn demanded.

Elizabeth Ngo looked up at the Star League Doctor.  "You didn't tell her?"

"We couldn't, she was in deep-regen."  The doctor said.

"Tell me what?  What aren't you telling me?" Evelyn tried to stand, and the room spun as she lost her footing.

Evelyn saw the girl's face...harden.  "I'll tell her." she said, and looked at Evelyn, "Pat died on Tamar, he was fighting to protect...a lot of people."  the girl said it so...calmly.  "You've been in that tank-thing, and apparently nobody could tell you."

"How..long?" Evelyn asked.

"We're two jumps from Kowloon." Liz told her, "I need to know you're with us."

"With you?" Evelyn asked, "What do you mean?"

Liz straightened up, "We're going to fix what my father neglected, what should have been Patricks-and yours, for our people, and our home...and for Patrick."

"and Henry?" Evelyn asked.

"That's the other reason you're here, Baroness." Liz said, "Right at the moment, I've got lawyers and lobbyists working Tharkad and New Avalon to get you appointed my legal guardian-they're meeting resistance from...friends of Jim-as a Minor, I'm not legally permitted to assume the Ducal seat, as non-Lyran citizens, the Black Tigers aren't qualified under Federated Commonwealth Law to assume full legal parental authority, and I'm a year too young to qualify as a 'liberated minor'-I'd rather have someone Patrick trusted overseeing my legal affairs, than Jim Condit or one of his cronies."

The girl hopped up onto one of the medbay benches.

"Your mother-" Evelyn asked.

"Dead. She almost killed me in the process." liz told her bluntly, "It took them a couple of days to fix me, when I found out who you were, and who you were to Patrick I called one of Grandfather's lawyers and had him start the paperwork. After that, it was a matter of the Tigers organizing the...ah...funeral detail."

"Um...Duchess Elizabeth, your grace, why do you need me again?" Evelyn asked.

"Because I'm firing the regent, and if I don't have a suitable replacement, it won't stick legally." Liz stated flatly, "You're from Kowloon, you're a landed noble recognized by Fedcom law, you're an adult, and you've completed your mandatory five years, plus extra time, and per AFFC MedCom regulations, you're patient-status, which makes you non-deployable personnel, but you get promoted in your zone."



Quote from: Werehawk, 17-03-2010, 05:17:39
I wonder will this version of Liz Ngo be more stable than the mainline Ngoverse Liz? Or will she have her own issues?

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 17-03-2010, 12:03:16
This version would have the Tigers and "Big Sister" Evelyn to sit on her and make it stick during the 'firing' of the previous Regent.  Also they have at least a year, possibly more (if she doesn't push for early liberated minor status) to straighten her out mentally and pharmacologically.  Particularly if they position themselves as voices she can listen to and trust, even and especially when they are telling her she is wrong.  IIRC she had nothing like that brake on her darker impulses in Cannonshop 'canon'.

Quote from: Cannonshop, 17-03-2010, 13:43:57
Exactly.  In the original stories, if not for her intellect, Liz could easily have wound up a serial killer.

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 17-03-2010, 16:58:09
I seem to recall Miss Liz managed to build up a considerable body count anyway.  Or because she was a head of state is that just a statistic?

Quote from: snakespinner, 17-03-2010, 20:54:40
Crimes against the head of state. A statistic. >:D

Quote from: Cannonshop, 17-03-2010, 20:58:56
Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 17-03-2010, 16:58:09
I seem to recall Miss Liz managed to build up a considerable body count anyway.  Or because she was a head of state is that just a statistic?

Quote from: snakespinner, 17-03-2010, 20:54:40
Crimes against the head of state. A statistic. >:D

ehm...not exactly. in the original series, for those who've read it, recall where, and under what conditions, she finally expired. Premeditated, aggravated murder is still premeditated, aggravated murder, even when you're the head of state-especially if you do it with your own hands instead of ordering an underling to carry it out.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:12:03
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 17-03-2010, 14:47:46]]


Truk Tranh's quarters, SLDS Sledgehammer...

"...kid is a damn iceberg."  Didi commented. 
"Yeah, I noticed."  Truk said, "Nate found half a deck of stimmies under her mattress."

"Half a deck? that's all?" she shook her head, "I'd think running like that, she'd have more in her stash than that..."

"Expired stimmies." Truk clarified, "Probably been there since we left Terra."

"So...nate didn't find her stash." Didi clarified.

"Probably not.  He found a pack of nic-stix, that's recent." Truk said, "so, do we play parental figure, or turn it over to Mosovich?"

"Evvie's just got out of regen, she's still talking to the grief counselor..." Didi said, "Kids shouldn't be using that stuff...still, it's a good sign she's not using anything harder than nic-stix considering her history."

"You're awful permissive..." Truk commented.

"I saw a lot worse with less justification in the lower manhattan welfare islands." Didi said, "at least our vapid little rich girl's not doing mindshred, bluerock, or Neuroin."

"You really think she's vapid?" Truk asked.

"No...but, y'know, I think I've seen a VR personality with more...feeling." Didi said,  "when she snaps, she's going to be in real trouble."

"You think she will?" Truk asked.

Didi scraped her ration tray with the spoon before answering.  "Yeah.  Her frikking mom tried to kill her, and she probably witnessed the suicide too."  she tossed the tray into the receptacle, "I'd say that kid's a sure case of PTSD, and I don't see her taking anything LIKE a normal outlet."  she paused, and an idea seemed to form, "Wait, I take that back...jesus, she's fourteen..."


Elizabeth Ngo's quarters, passenger accomodation area, SLDS Sledgehammer...

Liz checked to make sure, then, she opened the vent, pulled out her reading light, PADD, and the half-pack of Shangtao nic-stix.  She shook one out and popped the tab on the end, drew in a long huff, and switched the room's main lights off.

she activated the PADD. 

She focused on SLDF procedures as they applied to carrying out summary courts-martial tribunals, and field expedient execution regulations.




Quote from: Muttley, 17-03-2010, 15:20:02
The accused received a fair trial...

Quote from: lowrolling71, 17-03-2010, 15:40:44
Did everyone remember to pack enough rope?

Quote from: Werehawk, 17-03-2010, 16:15:14
Whoa they are about to figure out just how Liz copes with problems aren't they...

For a fourteen year old girl she sure does have a capacity for holding a grudge. And nice reading material as well.

Quote from: Headshot, 17-03-2010, 21:06:59
Quote from: Cannonshop, 17-03-2010, 13:43:57
Exactly.  In the original stories, if not for her intellect, Liz could easily have wound up a serial killer.

Serial killers can be pretty intelligent you know... #P

Anyway, i found it funny how she practically steamrolled Evelyn out of the first grief reactions...
Made me wonder if she even realized the "Pat is dead" part of the news.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:12:38
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 17-03-2010, 23:19:25]]


"Elizabeth, Honey?"

"I'm in the bath, Mom."  the water was warm, soothing...

"Open the door, honey."

She got out of the water, and walked to the door. the brass was cold, she turned the knob.

something...exploded in her chest, and there was a sound of thunder.

as she fell backward, her mother stood in the doorway,  "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO COME WITH ME YOU LITTLe BitCH!!" the cadaver sneered, the hole in its blouse black with dried blood, it levelled the service automatic at her, "I wOn'T mIsS tHiS tImE!!"


Elizabeth woke up.  The chronometer read 0320, she felt her self, the throb of the dropship's systems in the bulkhead next to her, the bunk...

"Hell with sleeping." she muttered.




Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 18-03-2010, 00:57:49
Quote from: Cannonshop, 17-03-2010, 23:19:25
"Hell with sleeping." she muttered.

Thus begins her departure from reality.

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 18-03-2010, 03:27:12
Well this time she has an entire SLDF Division to write her a reality check.

Quote from: lowrolling71, 18-03-2010, 05:01:08
Well sleep is over rated anyways.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:13:27
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 19-03-2010, 18:37:16]]


Spider Moon, 3rd body circling Gas Giant Boojum, Kowloon System, 5 January, 3052...

"...last patrol by Condit's 'Planetary Militia' was about a month ago, Alicia."  Dao Cu'ong of the Pham Co-op said,  "About the time that Bandit unit hit Ia Drang."  she handed Alicia Li a datadisc, "This is what we picked up-the so-called Militia pilots  flew cover for the Bandits' jumpship during the raid, then moved to the Nadir point just in time to completely miss the raiders' dropships."

"You didn't let Rick try to pull his plan, did you?" Li asked.

"Not this time.  Pham's steamed about it, but the pirates plus the Regent's boys are too much to tackle with a few squirrelled away SB-27's, smallcraft, and a slinger."  Dao said, "But we got plenty of visual with the telescopes, and radiotelescopes picked up most of their transmissions-I want to know if the rumours are true."

"What rumours?" Alicia asked.

"Rumour has it, the absentee-Duke's gone, and his Heir's taking over." Dao said, "Rumour has it Patrick Ngo's coming home."

Alicia pulled a press-bottle from the rack, and stepped into the airlock, "Dao...I don't know." she said,  adding, "If I did know, I wouldn't be talking about it-you're sure the codes are valid?"

"Pretty sure.  We intercepted a lot of chatter." Dao said.

"Okay, then, um...we may be a little late meeting your customer on Jessenica, the Rachel Zabel's  KF controller's been acting up again."  Li said.

"It's okay, I booked the delivery a month after you'd normally arrive." Dao said, "I figured you'd take another of your diversions after hearing about the raid."

"Thanks.  your cargo's ready for drop." Li said, as the lock cycled to vac, and they stepped outside.

Li raised her right hand, and made a '3' with her fingers.  they turned off the suit radios, and put their helmets together.

"Pat's dead, his little sister Elizabeth's the new Duchess, she's coming in with some troops to put Jim Condit's little syndicate out of business." Alicia said.

"Why couldn't you tell me that inside?" Dao asked.

"Mole." Li told her, "Someone leaked the Nguyen shipments, I made damn sure that I only mentioned those in the station this time."

Dao scowled.  "You think they have a listener, or a bug?"

"Not sure which. Pick people you trust to tell-stick to people who're in the Association." Alicia said.

"You're going to meet her..." Dao said.

"Maybe." Alicia told her, "Keep THAT under your helmet."

Smallcraft Trâu nước, en-route to Boojum/mặt trời đỏ lagrange point, Kowloon system...

"...told Chao we were meeting up with Duke Patrick Ngo at Jerangle,"  Bianh Pham said.

"good, that makes three possibles, each with a different location.  If our contact people bump into Condit's friends at one of them, we'll know who our leak is." Alicia said with a sigh, "and if WE run into them, then I know it's inside the Association."

"I hope it's not inside the Association.  we sure as hell don't need  kẻ cướp cộng tác viên in our ranks." Denh Vu said, "It's bad enough that someone in our normal circles is informing."

ahead, the merchant class Rachel Zabel loomed.  "I know."  Li said, "take us in, Denh."




Quote from: MechRat, 20-03-2010, 01:30:30
I'm curious to read how Condit is removed from office. It's certainly not going to be the same way as in the "canon" Ngo-verse.  >:D

Quote from: Aceraptor, 20-03-2010, 10:09:42
Hm, maybe this time a SLDF firing squad?  >:D

Quote from: lowrolling71, 20-03-2010, 17:25:00
Well I see there is more than one way to throw a surprise party.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:14:18
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 20-03-2010, 19:42:02]]


1st Class quarters, SLDS Sledgehammer, 0530 Hours, Bruce Gilmour's cabin...

"Hey, uh...?" Elizabeth was standing in the hatchway.  "if  the conditions, they match what we've got on the Regent....should I wear a shower-cap or a hair net when I blow his brains out? which would look better on Tri-dee and television signals?"  she asked, "I mean, I've reviewed the regs, you guys would have to arrest me for crucifying him, but the reg shows he can still be shot.  I lost one brother because of late delivery to Blackjack, and I'd suspect that there are a lot of other orphans who'd still have dads and homes if he wasn't ripping off the FedCom-I think there's a good chance of Treason sticking in a Tribunal..."

Her eyes were glass beads, doll's eyes, utterly without feeling.

"It's simple kid, you don't do shit."  I said, "you're the ruler, by then we'll have the jury stacked, we won't need to but we will and you let the firing squad handle the Regent."  I smiled coldly. Damn she's what Synthia would have become if fat boy had won on Terra.  "First rule of politics let others do your dirty work for you, not as satisfying but it's the only way if you wanna be taken seriously."  I kept my voice light and hoped I kept the horror off my face.  Calm cool and matter of fact was the only way to go with Elizabeth.
Thank god it was me and not Katya she'd asked.

"You're the senior officer, I'll leave it in your  hands, then.  Could you communicate to the vessel commander, I need a rendezvous at our next charging stop at Arluna." Elizabeth said.

"Who are we meeting?" I asked.

See, here's where she stepped in to my cabin, and closed the door.  "While I can't assume my ducal responsibilities thanks to Commonwealth laws regarding the excercise of power, I am also hold controlling shares in one of the larger interstellar industrial trusts in the Commonwealth-and as long as I don't draw salary, I can, and intend to, assume that responsibility."

"Why can't you draw a salary?" It was an idle question, but this path seemed less...horrible.

"Because I have no intention of breaking, or fighting, child labour laws-but there's no law against being a sole propietor." she told me,  "But that's not the contact-our contact is with Alicia Li, she runs a freight circuit  from mainstreet to Melissia-at least, since the Regent dismantled the Coast Guard's official operations in Kowloon's outer system."

"What was she...before?" I asked.

Liz shrugged, "an officer of the peace-before that, she was an officer in the Commonwealth Transport Command."

"Not a background that can afford a ship." I commented.

"I know, I own the ship we're meeting." Liz told me, "it is...part of the business half of my inheritance-I own the note on Alicia's vessel, through my late Uncle Truk's half of the family-he died without issue.  I have an Aunt-by-marraige on that ship who's serving as the Chief Engineer.  The crew are all former Coasties."

I leaned back in my chair.  "Technically, right?"

Liz nodded.  "They have the most up-to-date info we can get,  they'll be arriving straight from Kowloon, and diverting to Arluna instead of going on to Jerangle."

she reached into that little jacket, and handed me a PADD.  "Personnel and vessel specifications.  I don't know these people personally, Evelyn's vouched for most of them, but..."

"You're not taking chances." I said.

"Correct." she stated,  "If Pat were here, he could take a chance.  He knew...people.  You guys are bringing me home, I'm responsible, so I don't want to take any un-necessary risks."

"What are you worried about?" I asked her.

"Police that are forced out often become criminals." Liz told me, "While the records don't indicate it, and Evelyn thinks they're clean, the chance does exist that Li's ship may have gone pirate-the Mainstreet-Melissia run isn't exactly known for being a lucrative trade route, and if she hasn't gone dirty, then there is the alternative possibility that news of the diversion and meeting may have leaked to Jim Condit-and if he's as deep with the Bandits as we suspect..."

"Another possible ambush." I said.

"Yeah.  You're the military professionals, it's best if you have the information to do...what you do." she said,  "Based on risk-analysis numbers, this meet should give our side a leg up, but..."

jesus. she's too young to be that old. "You worked this out yourself?" I asked her suddenly.

"Most of it." Elizabeth told me, "Well...sort of anyway-I placed some calls, and talked to a few people in grandpa's black book, and I ran what I could by Evelyn-especially about Li..." she stopped, "Yeah, I did it." 

I looked at the files.  "WHere'd these come from?" I asked.

"Corporate Security." she told me, "Mister White didn't want to hand them over, but I...made him."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:15:49
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 21-03-2010, 13:58:33]]


Nadir Jump Point Arluna…
“…scared the hell outta me Truk, she really wanted help planning an execution.”  Bruce said as he poured a shot of Jameson into the squirt bulb.  “Prosit.”

“Cheers…Gaah…At least you set her straight.”  Truk knocked back half a Coke as a chaser, a thought occurred to him, not a pleasant one.  “She seems to trust you tho’, think you can manipulate her.”

Bruce stiffened and rounded on him, but then relaxed.  Truk had seen him mad as hell, in sorrow over losing friends, but this…this was different.

“Isn’t about that T, she’s a…a ****** kid man, I mean yeah she’s the same age I was the first time I raised a rifle, but damn it she needs to have a ****** chance…hell I don’t know what I'm saying.”

“It’s Synthia isn’t it?”  If there ever was a man who could tame a Shark…  He looked up into Bruce’s wide green eye; the other one covered by a patch and realized he’d spoken aloud.

“You knew…I mean…?”  The Terran stared off into space.

“Lots of people did, I mean c’mon we all knew you went off on that commando just before Unity, rumor was some deal with Amaris to end the war.”  Truk shrugged and pulled on his Coke. Love this stuff hope the robes let us import it.   As Bruce digested the revelation that Synthia’s parentage, she was Stefan Amaris’ youngest daughter after all…, was an open secret, Truk idly wondered if Coca Cola was still in business.

“Remember when Lanh mustered out so suddenly,” Truk went on as Bruce nodded annoyed at the memory; they’d been close friends Truk recalled.  “He figured it out, B, was gonna do her on general principle, Jimmy Qua talked him out of it.”

 He chuckled at Bruce’s narrow glare, “He said to me later that we have to let go of the past…Smoke?”

“Yeah.”  Bruce tossed him a Marlboro.  “Only got a couple of packs left, man these nic-stix suck.”

“Well these colonials can’t even cure cancer so what do you expect?  Liz reminds of Syn doesn’t she?”  Tran asked carefully.

“Yeah, damned if I know why?”

“You like to take in strays.”  And you’re so clueless about it that it works.

“Huh?”  Bruce’s expression was to dammed funny and Truk bit back on the laughter.

“All you Tigers do it, us on Elbar, Satoh’s Dracs, Taurians from New Vandenberg, hell you’re doin’ it now how many Clanners you got running with you?”

“Dunno, fifteen or so maybe, what are you getting at?”

“You guys take in hard luck cases from a bazillion different cultures, adopt what’s good about ‘em and make them yours…hell Bruce you make them believe.  And that’s powerful, real powerful…and the bitch of it is you don’t even realize what you’re {hic} doing.”  Bruce started to reply but Truk cut him off.

“Hell that’s why we all loved your daughter, even though she was the spawn of the Fat Man, she became one of us.  Even if she was a sorceress.”

“A what? Truk my man you’ve lost me…”

“When you were in a coma after that damn fool Donner had you shot, my team pulled guard duty over your family, Lanh was there too…Synthia was sleeping in the hospital room back then, shit, she’d scream bloody murder if anyone tried to take her home.  Anyway {hic} I heard talking from inside and when I went in there she was carrying on a conversation with you.  I told her somethin’ like “I'm sure he hears you kid.”  You remember how bad my English was…”  Bruce nodded carefully, that was always a sore point with the Kowloonese marine.  “Well she looked at me and said “Sure he does Uncle Truk, he’s right there.”  And she pointed at the corner of the room, and damn it Boss, I knew you were there and I knew you were laughing.”

Truk shivered and he could see Bruce wrestling with something, a vague memory.

“Whatever…It don’t matter now Boss we’re here and they’re not, so look Liz needs to be on the straight and narrow, you, me and Didi we gotta fix this {hic}.  Evey Mosovich is gonna be too much of a basket case for a while and any of our people are gonna treat her like the ****** messiah, so its gotta be us.”  ****** I’m hammered wanted to have this conversation sober.

Bruce sipped at his own Coke collecting his thoughts.  Then he grinned that Cheshire Cat grin of his.

“Hell Truk, we’ll fix this shit, you said it, it’s what we do…Ohh man I gotta hit the head.”

As Bruce rushed out he missed the small slender form hiding behind the bulkhead door.

Damn, these guys are really going to try, Elizabeth Ngo clamped down on an odd swelling in her throat and went back to her room to think things over…she was surprised when for once sleep came on her without her even trying.




Quote from: Werehawk, 21-03-2010, 14:13:00
Bruce sure seems to have a talent for picking up strays doesn't he. And Liz seems to have picked out a father figure.

Quote from: Muttley, 21-03-2010, 14:37:11
Yeah but if the Clans get a DNA sample of Syn- they'll go absolutley bug nuttier....

Quote from: Headshot, 21-03-2010, 19:36:25
Syn didn't come with them.
And Bruce' reaction to this Sandra will be... interesting...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:16:19
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 21-03-2010, 16:19:05]]


I almost forgot the robes....

Black Tigers Compound Arc Royal…
Jackson Davion nodded to his companion and started down the access way to the Drop Port.  Three men waited at the end, Jackson recognized Morgan Kell and he guessed the other was Patrick’s son Christian, the other a tall dark skinned man with graying close cropped hair wore a uniform not seen in three hundred or so years.  Archduke Kell nodded to him as the others saluted respectfully.

“Morgan good to see you, and Christian if I'm not mistaken?”  He smiled and extended his hand the grip from the other man was firm as was his gaze.

“Major Kell is bossing one of our battalions; Jack, Dan wanted to be here but with the Jade Falcons wave of attacks…”  Jackson nodded as Morgan spread his hands.  The damn Clanners are just eating everything we have, but the key might just be here…  “And if I may introduce Colonel Samuel Winters of the Star League 90th Heavy Assault…”

As they shook hands, Jackson took in the man’s weary eyes despite his strong grip and ramrod straight spine.  This is someone who’s seen too much war, had too many of his illusions shattered.  He smiled warmly for the man’s benefit and brought his own companion into the mix.

“Colonel I can say without regret that the entire Federated Commonwealth is glad you and your troops are here.” He motioned his companion forward.  “Allow me to introduce your liaison officer Kommandant Sandra Gilmour-Davion Baroness of Landing.”

As the woman stepped forward he saw the shock in the Terran Colonel’s eyes.  The slender woman with the fiery red hair and almond shaped hazel eyes saluted smartly.  Her coffee au lait skin had a slight flush as she shook hands with Sam.  Her voice was even when she greeted him.

“Colonel, my pleasure and honor…” She looked around sheepishly then.  “I bring greetings from the Family on Chesterton.  I was wondering…”

“He’s on detached duty Kommandant,” Sam answered knowingly, “Call it a matter of honor.”

“Jack, why don’t we get you settled in, Chris would you show the Kommandant to her quarters and we can adjourn to the Hound Pit for a meet and greet before we get down to business.”  The Archduke smiled and gestured them along.  Jackson nodded and turned to Sandra.

“Sounds good, Sandy a little later.”  The woman nodded and said; “Okay Uncle Jack, see you later,” She turned to Christian Kell and smiled dazzlingly.  “Okay handsome show me where I can bunk, then maybe I’ll let you buy me a drink.”  She then proceeded to drag the bewildered major off.

“Jesus, there are two of them…” Sam said quietly then looked an apology at Jackson.

“My brother’s eldest kid so yeah I can guess, by the way Sam is it…call me Jack.”

ROM Compound, Olympus Mons
Mars
Two days earlier…


Demi Precentor Cameron St. Jamais stroked his goatee thoughtfully as he went over the pocketcomp’s display.  So it’s confirmed, Terran troops almost turned back Clan Wolf at Tamar.  And not just any Terrans, the Butchers of New Vandenberg, Kerensky’s Sledgehammers…interesting.

“Your thoughts Cameron?”  The voice rasped out of the darkness.

“Yes,”  Cameron chose his words carefully, “The most fanatical Terran regiment in the Defense Force, equipped with the best and most advanced technology in the Hegemony…Waterly is wrong to antagonize them.  We should bring them to us, slowly with great care.  What they know about our hidden resources, even though they don’t realize it could be damaging to our plan, but…”  He looked up into the darkness in the far end of the room.  “…If they were brought into the light…”

“Our thoughts are one; my chosen one; the Primus is a misguided fool shield your actions from her and bring them to us…if not well one regiment, their destruction should be of no moment.”

Cameron bowed low and once again felt the pride of his leader’s favor in him.

“As you wish…my Master.”
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:16:46
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 21-03-2010, 22:58:04]]

   
The screams woke me. Katya was up, her sidearm ready.
"Go back to sleep hon, this one is mine.". She muttered something sweet, I guess even Clanners need some lovin from time to time.  I booked down to Liz Ngo's place and found Didi and Tranh outside.

"Security Overide Oh-One-Delta!". I yelled, turnng to my crew I said; "Chill!"

Liz was contorted in her covers.  Her face a rictus of pain.  Her mouth snarled;  "Kill them all, Patrick!  All of them."

I grabbed her shoulders and shook her.  "Liz, kiddo wake the ****** up!"

SNAP! Just like that a cold steel cylander pressed against my neck.  Instinct led my hand up to sweep the Baretta M18 out of her hand with a practiced twist of my wrist.

I smacked her across the cheek and growled;  " Liz, really, I mean REALLY!"

She woke then and took a second to collect herself.

"'Zup B?" her eyes focused on me.

"You OK kiddo?"

"Yeah, gimme my gun."

"Bite me, you can have it tomorrow."

She growled at me then paused.

"Did I shoot...."

"Nah kid you didn't but what's say I hold the piece for now."

Liz yawned sleepily and nodded.

"'Kay,  S'okay you stay here?"

"Yeah kid, I'll be right here.". I looked back at Katya in the doorway and smiled.  She nodded and gave a short bow (that damned Clan honor thing.) and shooed everybody out closing the door.

I stayed by the kid's bed all night thinking to myself; Zeus above how come I always end up in these messes.

After a while Liz fell asleep, bitch, I never did.




Quote from: Headshot, 22-03-2010, 01:24:28
So Bruce and Katya are officially involved now?
That will make meeting Sandra even more interesting...

Quote from: Muttley, 22-03-2010, 13:30:40
And maybe freak out a few Davions
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:17:14
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 21-03-2010, 23:52:02]]


Elizabeth's sleep wasn't entirely peaceful....

"Pat...mom burned itI'msorry..." she mumbled. "couldn't stop her...burned the journal..."
 
the mumbling dropped down to a soft snore, and then, she started shifting...followed by tossing and turning.

and the mumbling picked up again.  "stopit..make them stop it hurts...make it stop hurting i didn't do anything wrong..." there was fear there, and suddenly, the fear seemed to evaporate from her tone.

"Tôi sẽ làm họ Dừng lại."  After years working with Truk Tranh, Bruce knew that phrase.  I will make them stop...stop what? what is she going to stop, and who? whoever it was, at least, in her dreams, she was very angry...

"Họ sẽ không đau bất cứ ai khác, đã bao giờ trở lại."  They won't hurt anyone, ever again...?  it was, in a way, more disturbing than the shouting had been earlier...

eventually, the nightmares slid back down, or she went so deep into sleep that it didn't surface in mumbling and thrashing.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:17:50
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 22-03-2010, 01:10:04]]


Arluna System, Nadir point, 13 January, 3052

The MS Rachel Zabel slid into existence well clear of the safety boundary of the SLDF transport waiting to meet her.  Alicia Li immediately ordered a perimeter scan.

To the 'eyes' of the Star League crew, the ship that arrived carried a kind of 'home-made' look to her-as if someone had taken parts from three or four ships, pulled them together, added buttressed stiffening ribs and additional fuel tanks, and extended the 'dome' at the bow of the ship with a welded structural ring holding modified cargo-containers-each one with a door.

The bristles of added antenna mounts along the length of the ship would be of no use to most merchanters, but sweeps showed she carried only a light defense against meteors.

This probably fooled LCAF officials, or AFFC officials, or most Pirates, bandits, or anyone else who had only the loosest hints of vessels used during the Amaris War.   Crew and officers from the 90th Heavy Assault, however, had seen ships just like this during the war-carrying supplies and acting as coordination vessels for the Kowloonese volunteers all the way to Terra.

"look at that...it's a Sampan class....signal inbound."


"...Merchant vessel Rachel Zabel, Lyran registry 0U812ID10T out of Kowloon."

"This is SLDS Sledgehammer, I verify your signal India Delta ONe Zero Tango MS Rachel Zabel, are you carrying Papa Uniform Fife-fife Yankee, Over?"

"Lima Oscar Two-Tree Romeo, we are, but you can't have any, Over."

"Roger that."  Bruce visibly relaxed-the passwords were juvenile in the extreme, but the encryption on the side-bands confirmed the signals Elizabeth gave him-and with the pattern established, for a short time the two vessels could communicate with little fear of being over-heard (and understood) by outsiders.

"Alicia Li, I presume?" He asked.

"Show me the Duchess, Sir."   the woman that came up on the video was of asian descent,but obviously both tall, and lean-almost a scandinavian build accentuated by hair that was clearly bleached blonde.

"Liz?" Bruce motioned, and Elizabeth Ngo moved into the coms-camera view.

"Hi." Liz said, and waved.

"I about shit my pants when you sicced that Lawyer, Moriarty, on me at Jessenica." Li said.

"Sorry about that, I had to use the legal department because...I had to." the girl said, "you're here, you got my request, so it worked."

"Next time use someone out of Underwriting." Li told her.

"Next time, I'll just issue an order to my Coast Guard." Liz countered, "Assuming you and your crew are fit for duty."

"We're fit.  You want a face-to-face?" Li asked.

"Better ask Major Gilmour, Captain." Elizabeth said, "I'm just the passenger, he's the boss on the trip out."


Aboard the Rachel Zabel...

Alicia Li ran the face of the SLDF officer through a recognition database going back more than three centuries, while they were talking.  She also ran 'Elizabeth's' face through the same program, on a different server.

While she chatted with them amicably, she was stalling until the recog-programmes were done.

The results were...surprising-both came up positive- Major Bruce Gilmour of the 90th Heavy Assault was either a superb example of some really invasive surgery, or the genuine article.  Elizabeth Ngo's face, well...there was zero doubt-at least, according to the computer-she was, at minimum, a Ngo, and shared parental feature influences with Allison Russell-Ngo, and David Ngo.

"So...do you guys want a face-to-face?" she asked.

"Better ask Major Gilmour, Captain." Elizabeth said, "I'm just the passenger, he's the boss on the trip out."  The girl said it, and Li took the reply, and ran it through a voice-analysis programme from the security detail archives of Elizabeth's last trip to Kowloon, six years ago.

The match came up positive there too, accounting for known tonal drift as children age.

"Major Gilmour? I've got more than a few folks here aboard the Rachel Zabel who only know the Black Tigers from their history books." Li said, "I'd appreciate the chance to meet some legends myself." she added.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:18:29
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 22-03-2010, 21:25:16]]


Grange Hall, Vin Drin Lap, South Golden Lake sector, Kowloon...

"...urban areas, he's promising them an expansion of social services, to be paid for by a levy on real-estate."  Aung Suu Kham folded the notes, and looked at the gathered Grange members,  "In case you're wondering, that means they're going to raise taxes on land-owners, which would be, well...us, plus anyone who still hasn't sold out in town."

"What kind of 'expansion?"  Deng Murphy asked.

"Good question-the promises so far are everything from rent-rebates to free health care-totals out to about a third of the regional domestic product-using the REGENT's numbers, and assuming a two percent economic growth that runs directly against the four percent decline we've seen the last four years."

Laura Vanh stood up, "What? How is the man in Nha Tranh getting those numbers?"

Aung shrugged, "Pulling it out of his ass, maybe?  Maybe he's counting on FedCom Development Authority to cover the shortfall..."

"My Husband is on the front-lines, how in hell can they afford the war, and cover this??" Laura asked.

"Don't know-you're technically a military dependent on FedCare, the offer excludes you..." Aung said.

"Are we excluded from the tax?" Laura asked.

"Um...no."  Aung said,  "every land-owner's got to pay in."

"I pulled a four percent loss last Harvest, Aung-and we did better than most..."  Mrs. Vanh said, "You're telling me, that the Regent's going to levy a Land-tax, plus the export and processing taxes, plus business taxes being increased, How in HELL are we going to pay that?"  she crossed her arms, "I've got two sons and one on the way-we can't afford this!"

Saul Goldberg stood up, "You're not supposed to-it's a land-grab." he said, "First, they'll assess your property for what it would be worth if the economy'd been growing, then they'll lay that assessment, plus the increase, and when you can't pay, they'll seize it for non-payment, and he'll gift it to someone who'll become your land-lord, since it was a tax seizure under FedCom law, you still have to make up the difference-so you become essentially serfs-I saw the same thing on Filtvelt."

"I won't pay." Gordon Vu announced, "I won't pay, and if he sends someone out to take my property, I'll shoot them."

rumbled assent swept the hall.

"If we're going to fight this, we need a better plan than that."




Quote from: lowrolling71, 23-03-2010, 07:32:10
Nice work and thanks for sharing. I think we need to suggest to Liz that some of her bureaucrats need to be required to wear a uniform neck tie [searches storage lockers for ropes successfully].
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:19:08
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 25-03-2010, 09:15:05]]


Thanks to Cannonshop for the translation :)

MS Rachel Zabel, docked to SLDS Sledgehammer, Arluna system...

The hatch hissed open as the pressures equalized.  Two men came through first and Alicia’s eyes widened slightly.  Both were dressed in tiger striped fatigues over their shipboard skin suits on their shoulders were a unit patch well known to the Kowloonese woman.

The red yellow and green patch of the 171st Volunteer Regiment of the Star League Defense Force. 

The two marines took station at the hatch while the Major from the 90th stalked through with Captain Tranh at his side.  It was the little things Alicia would reflect later, that made up her mind.  The Terran style pocketcomps slung on the officers’ belts; Hewlett-Packard tx99-7732kx models, man we can’t even make the cases for those monsters.  Even ComStar didn’t have them.  In the one-eyed Terran’s pocket a pack of Cigarettes showed.  A lifetime in space gave one a discerning sense of smell and she caught the tobacco scent wafting from the other ship.

Terrans were known for their conspicuous consumption, can’t smoke in space?  Just build a more effective air scrubber.  Constant air flow and high efficiency life support systems all to support a bad habit…of course the Terrans had eliminated cancer, emphysema and a host of other diseases…but still.

Then there was the Dictator Class Sledgehammer.  Once again even ComStar didn’t use the design.  The only ones she’d heard of were non functional museum relics.  The Sledgehammer was pristine, and if the scans were right she was a Royal Command ship for true.  Shipwrights in the rocks would be drooling over her.

Elizabeth Ngo stepped around Major Gilmour before any one said anything, a grin on her face.

“Trust me Alicia, they’re the real deal okay?”  She said reaching out and dragging a bemused Major Gilmour along towards the Sledgehammer's lounge.  Truk traded glances with a pale blonde woman in Star League fatigues and shrugged.
 
As they walked after the two Alicia looked over at Truck and whispered;

"Nữ công tước đã tìm thấy một bố đường, huh?"<The Duchess has found herself a sugar daddy, huh?>

He looked at her with a grin and shook his head.

"Không, cô nghe anh ta mặc dù, và đó không phải là một điều xấu, và cẩn thận với Việt xung quanh"<Nah, she listens to him though, and that’s not a bad thing, and be careful with the Viet around him.>

"Ông nói nó?"<He speaks it?> She asked.

"Tôi không đi mà xa, tồi tệ xé nó Thích hợp hơn nhưng ông ta hiểu nó, hầu hết bộ binh Hổ và về nửa MechJocks' và nhân viên hỗ trợ làm như giếng"  <Ahh…I wouldn’t go that far, badly mangles it is more likely but he understands it, most of the Tiger infantry and about half the ‘MechJocks and support staff do as well.> He looked at her with a steady stare. "Chúng tôi đưa kết cục thực sự trong thời gian sự Giải phóng, hiểu" <We got real close during the Liberation, understand?>

She nodded, not really understanding but accepting.

Saul Fortuna, Ceres born and bred looked around the MS Rachel Zabel with a practiced eye as he took part in the meet and greet.  Pristine, but you can tell she’s no longer stock.  He’d gotten to know the Sampan class pretty well during the several dozen unreps and long months between Elbar and Earth.  They had several parts that when modified could be used by the Dictator class and vice versa.

”’Scuse me, you the Star League ship boss?”  A badly accented voice asked.  Saul turned and looked up at a bear of a man.

“Yeah, Saul Fortuna, Star League Defense Force, you?”

“Jake Kronenburg, dis is my ship, Miss Ngo may own it and ‘Licia may run it, but…”

Saul chuckled and nodded, the engineer of course, he nodded towards the ‘Hammer visible through the porthole.

“My own engineer’ll wanna talk to you, join us for a drink?”

The big man laughed and nodded.  Cocking his head he asked; “By the way y’got any spare DXY-7 interchangers?  Ours wear out pretty fast”
Saul though about it…they shouldn’t unless…

“You don’t have crystal aligned ceramet for the guide valves?” He asked.

“Nah, can’t make it anymore.”  Jake said glumly.  Clapping the man on the shoulder Saul grinned up at him.

“Hell, let’s see what we can do.”




Quote from: Muttley, 25-03-2010, 13:48:44
Engineers... they're all the same. >:D

Quote from: lowrolling71, 25-03-2010, 16:27:35
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Now we know the real reason for Terran advancement.

Quote from: blacktigeractual, 25-03-2010, 19:36:20
Yep nicotine and alcohol will conquer the 'verse.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:19:51
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 25-03-2010, 21:26:36]]


MS Rachel Zabel, Crew Lounge...

Watching Elizabeth work the crew was...interesting.  The girl seemed to ricochet from awkward teen to seasoned politician and back again at random.  "Was she like this the entire trip out?" Alicia asked Gilmour.

"Like what?" Bruce answered offhandedly, "You asking if she's this hyper all the time-she gets about six hours of sleep on a good night-most of the time about four."

"Actually, I was asking about her...ah... 'Schmoove'." Li said, "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you planted a thirty-year-old poli-sci major's  brain in that head."

Bruce grimaced a bit, "That's new." he said,  "Not completely new, but new."

Elizabeth was googooing over baby-pictures from one of the crew, slipping from english to Viet to Hebrew and back again.

The girl looked animated, and Bruce got the distinct feeling he was the only person in the room besides Li who wasn't buying into the act for a second.

"...should I wear a shower cap, or a hairnet when I blow his brains out? echoed in his mind as he saw the same girl doing a convincing job of seeming to care about... he pushed the thought aside.  maybe she really DOES care? ever thought of that?  for a moment, she looked like Synthia, or a girl similar to, anyway...

Bruce glanced over at Truk, who was just...watching, and realized the little marine was looking smug, like he'd won a bet or something...

Eventually, the crewmen returned to their duties, and a bottle of plum wine came out for the Officers.

"I'm not sitting at the kiddie table." Elizabeth stated flatly, and passed the bottle to her right-which put it in Bruce's hand, unopened.

"Nobody's asking you to-what's your plan?" Bruce asked.

"Welll...if we go storming in there with all the right and mighteous fury, thunder and guns from the get-go, we're going to make a mess that, even if we win, is going to be bad for everybody." Elizabeth said, all the child-pretense evaporated from her face and her tone.  "Among other things, we don't know who's going to be on our side down there, Condit's had six years to build up influence and dismantle the self-government mechanisms, and three years where he could use the war as an excuse for a state of emergency-and unless your intel people have some political pentaglycerine, showing up and kicking the door in will draw a FedCom retaliation and set the Tigers up for something BAD."

At this, Li nodded agreement.  "We need to organize the resistance first-there are already little pockets, the Kahanists, Mormons and H'mong on the Ia Drang plateau, the Granges in the Western districts, and some of the Labour Unions that he outlawed, but without coordination..."

"Right...so we go in 'soft'?" Bruce asked.

"Soft.  find out who's on our side, who'll stay out of the way, and who'll oppose a regime change."  Truk said, "It's like when we threw the RImjobs out-it wasn't all cut-and-clean like the history books probably say it was, and there were times it got downright messy-we really can't afford for it to get AS messy this time, reasons or not."

"Right now, as the Duchess-in-waiting, I can show up with a bodyguard contingent, and put my brother's ashes to rest." Liz said,  "His people won't prevent that because he hopes I'm more like my dad, than my grandfather-blind and bored and uninterested in more than a few empty rituals."

"What about your lawsuit?" Bruce asked.

"What about it? ever seen a Teenager-especially a 'troubled' teen, who wasn't flying a full fury of rebellion at my age?" Liz asked, "a little hair-dye, and some wild clothes, and he'll buy the act for as long as I need him to...because it will feed his vanity."  she drew out a bottle of water, and filled her own cup, "Meanwhile, I think Truk, Didi, and Evelyn need to do some poking around with the other spec-ops types, find us some friends, get a general lay of things on-site, and make connections...lay the ground-work and put Condit's people off their guard."

Truk spoke up, "A lot of the guys have descendents running around, might be a good time to re-establish family connections."

"Exactly.  When the time is right, we'll need to have a pretext-some kind of emergency we can use against him to justify it to a FedCom court...something BESIDES the evidence we've already got."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:20:17
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 26-03-2010, 20:02:02]]


Elizabeth Ngo's quarters,17 January, 3052...

"...who's your friends?" Evelyn Mosovich asked, looking at the holo as Liz finished packing her rack.

"This, is Daphne Rowe, and this is Emma Doons-we met in rehab." Liz told her,  "Emma was in for doing Phreak,  Daphne's a stimmie-head."

"Nice tone there, Liz, if you don't like them, why do you keep the picture?" Evelyn asked.

"Emma overdosed six months after we got out-and she got the stuff from one of Daphne's people." Liz said, "I keep it as a reminder that I owe Daphne Rowe some pay-back for that-Emma was a good friend." Liz said, "I didn't get to go to the funeral, but Daphne just skipped on it."

"Pardon my saying so, Elizabeth, but you might need to put that juvenile shit behind you." Evelyn told her, "You've got real responsibilities now-petty revenge isn't going to do it."

"I know." Liz told her, "Doesn't mean I won't take the opportunity if it presents itself later, okay?"

"Just keep your priorities straight, and speaking of priorities..."  Mosovich sat down on the opposite bunk, "You still have home-work to do- differential calculus doesn't do itself, and you still haven't finished unit nineteen in your statistics course."

"You're taking this job pretty seriously." Liz said, pulling up the files on her PADD.

"Yeah? well, you drafted me in, I'm of a sort that doesn't shirk-so get to work, young lady."




Quote from: lowrolling71, 27-03-2010, 11:24:50
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Nice to see a politician that intends to keep her promises.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:20:44
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 27-03-2010, 15:32:05]]


Eire Mech Works, Arc Royal
Federated Commonwealth
10 January 3052


The Kell Hounds BattleMech factory was; Misha Vinson thought; quaint.  The factory equipment was lovingly maintained, indeed in many cases brand new.  It was however to a man who grew up surrounded with Earth technology, a hundred years out of date.  What was missing was not as interesting as what was there, however.

Working the virtual reality CAD/CAM system with a practiced ease, it was Tiger equipment after all, but it interfaced nicely with the copy of the IBM 22c the Hounds people used to handle R&D.  The VR world swam around him on an atomic level as he manipulated chains of molecules to (Hopefully) give his short companion what he needed to complete the coolant needed for a cut rate copy of the DHS-22x3A “Freezers” that were standard in Earth designs.

“Whoa,” Clovis Holstien whistled as he peered, virtually over Misha’s shoulder, “I think we can do this…”  The dwarf rezzed out of the VR world and Misha followed suit.

He found the other man pouring over a PADD full of calculations.  Clovis looked up puzzled.  “Y’know we might take a look at the original Davion work from the early twenties.  They were more compact but the coolant was highly corrosive.”

“Mmmm, I was looking into that, what research those NAIS boys sent your way, the problem is with the coolant, but to get that kind of performance that’s the stuff we need to use.”

Clovis nodded soberly.

“So better to stick with what we can produce for now.”  He said wistfully, then flashed a grin.  “Okay, so let’s see what we can whip up.”

Throwing ideas at each other at a pace that had the technicians in the room shaking their heads the pair began to come up with a plan.




Quote from: blacktigeractual, 29-03-2010, 19:37:24
Okay general apology time; things have been kinda nuts at work and with my life lately so the updates in both stories won't be all that frequent on my end.
For the record I'm okay just really annoyed with life in general.
Regards
Bruce

Quote from: Cannonshop, 29-03-2010, 20:53:47
No worries, life comes first.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:21:42
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 29-03-2010, 22:44:42]]


Internal Communication-Text, SLDS Sledgehammer...

Quote
To: Major Bruce Gilmour
From: Elizabeth Ngo, Duchess in waiting, Kowloon

RE: Request for Briefing Materials.

Considering after-mission conditions, it might prove useful to start putting together
a profile on the Clans of Kerensky, as well as determining a statement of needs for
re-constituting the 171st Volunteers to address this new threat.  You're in command
of the last survivors from the original unit, and have frequent personal contact with
a person from the Clan Background.

Particularly, I am interested in an over-view of how the Clans work, as well as any
documents from their Founder, Nicholas Kerensky, as well as psychological profiles
from SLDF records you may possess on Aleksandr and/or Nicholas. 

In exchange, I will provide you with preserved copies of Tranh Truk Ngo's personal
war-Journal, as well as surviving documents from the Presidency of Marjorie Ngo on
through to the present day.

I'd ask Katya directly for the Clan info, but she's not one of my people, and frankly,
I don't feel like spending any more time in regen-three weeks was quite sufficient.

I'm particularly interested in how their laws and economy are structured, as I suspect
there may be an exploitable weakness there.  (It's only a guess, based on some info
my corporate spies prized out of LIC and DMI sources.)

Once my world is back on track, we're going to need to think about the future, including the
probability of a long, drawn out conflict-a head-start on preparing might be of some use,
especially if, as I hope, Kowloon is suitable as a home-base for your people.

Naturally, I will provide any and all intel from corporate and other sources to this end to
assist the 90th in their work.

-Liz

Liz sent it over the ship's P-Mail system, keyed to Bruce Gilmour's listed private account, then, she turned back to her 'homework', hit refresh a couple of times, and forwarded THAT to Evelyn Mosovich's personal account-after re-checking the data she'd entered three weeks ago for accuracy.

note to self: find a tougher course. she mused.  sooner or later they'll triip to the fact I've been done with this year's coursework for the last six months...

Then, she forwarded a set of instructions to Arluna's HPG for retransmission to the corporate office on Coventry...


Quote
To: Mr. White
From: Elizabeth.

Red Queen to King's row, flip green Pawn to Silver,  Silver Pawn to Knight's level four, hex 22, Convert to Bishop.
Corporate Order 15.
Queen of Diamonds, Draw one Card.

Happy Birthday.

Liz.




Quote from: Wildfire, 30-03-2010, 00:18:53
Like the code, completely incomprehensible without the codebook.

Quote from: Trace Coburn, 30-03-2010, 00:50:33
  I'm just scared that Liz has sent out a coded message in the first place.  Okay, she's yet to become the unholy terror she was in the original timeline (and with the Tigers and an unscarred Mosovich about she may never get quite that bad), but we know all too well what she could do or become when/if she slips those leashes.
  So the question becomes the same one we've always asked of Elizabeth Ngo: "Dear God, Mizz Liz: what have you DONE?!"  :o

Quote from: Wildfire, 30-03-2010, 06:55:46
Whatever she's done i'm sure it will be interesting :)

Quote from: Paladin1, 30-03-2010, 07:24:35
Yeah, "interesting" like a plane crash.  Those who see it will be glad it wasn't them.

Quote from: croaker, 30-03-2010, 07:26:51
Ancient Chinese Curse: "May you live in interesting times."

Liz Ngo: "Yeah, yeah, at least I'm not bored..."

Oh, and:
Quote
note to self: find a tougher course. she mused.  sooner or later they'll triip to the fact I've been done with this year's coursework for the last six months...

Heh. :)
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:24:44
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 30-03-2010, 21:45:24]]


Lagrange  point, Boojum Gas Giant, Kowloon System, January 22, 3052...

The neat thing about having lots of moons and a large gas-giant, is that points of gravitational equilibrium aren't too hard to find, if you have an accurate chart, a good stop-watch, and a good number-cruncher working in Navigation.

If your number-cruncher is REALLY good, he can even time your arrival so that the thermal bloom from your emergence wave is shielded by the mass of said gas-giant...assuming it's the right time of year, that is.

The stars Have to be right.

It helps, if your navigation console wasn't jury-rigged by successive generations of crews on your antique jump-ship, if your navigation officer 'made his bones' in Academy days doing practice-hops between Jupiter and Saturn, and it also helps to have current astrogational data from a reliable source, rather than trying to work it out on your own without these helpful things.

Of course, when you don't have the advanced hardware an SLDF jump-ship captain trained on warships would have, it helps to have a native who makes this run frequently, knows what she's doing, and already has the calculations done in advance.

"Welcome to the Boojum Belt." Alicia Li stated, closing her console.

"What were the odds you'd hit exactly right?" Didi Moran asked, "Just curious..."

"One in one." Li said, "Someone else might be running a five percent chance of making the jump without killing their ship, crew, passengers, and cargo-but I know the secret."

She turned, and un-buckled from the Nav station, "and no, I'm not sharing-ask your Navy guys sometime, they might know it too." she palmed a glittering stopwatch back into her oversuit's pocket.

"Timing." Bruce Gilmour observed, "it's timing, isn't it?"

"You can go anywhere, if you know the math." Li said, "of course, the math doesn't help much, if you don't know where things are going to be ahead of time.  I know both, and that's the secret."

She looked at the clock, "Local time is three A.M. belt standard, about two in the after noon Nha Tranh time, or midnight spider-moon time..." she stretched, "Best get acclimated, you'll be wanting to meet the local coops and stakeholders in the local morning."




Quote from: lowrolling71, 01-04-2010, 08:14:06
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Well it is getting time for the surprise party, did everyone remember to fill some balloons?

Quote from: Muttley, 01-04-2010, 13:22:58
The party favors are packing PPCs...

Quote from: Paladin1, 01-04-2010, 23:04:54
"Is that a PPC in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?"

Someone write another chapter before the puns get worse...  [brew]

Quote from: croaker, 02-04-2010, 09:48:07
Will there be Cake?

Or perhaps Ultra Rotary Gauss Cake?

Quote from: Paladin1, 02-04-2010, 09:54:05
No.

The cake is a lie.

There is no cake, just like there are no fish in my pond.

Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 02-04-2010, 15:30:20
But ... if you have no fish in the pond, how can I thank you for all the fish?

Quote from: Paladin1, 02-04-2010, 23:35:23
That's easy.

42.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:25:37
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 04-04-2010, 23:05:52]]


0930 Spider Moon Local Time

The Spider Moon annex looked more than vaguely familiar-as it should have, being a former Star League missile site built to the standard pattern used prior to the Amaris Coup.  The surprises, though, did not stop at the airlock-inside were fittings for a very specific sort of prefab base-the sort used by SLDF research groups when handling dangerous biologicals.

"...you say this was found after the war?" Bruce asked.  Li nodded, "Yeah, post-war, under President Marjorie, during the negotiations with the Lyrans in the mid twenty-seven eighties.  The previous occupants must've un-assed around eighty-three or so, and in a hurry-they left a lot of gear lying around, but made careful precautions to remove whatever was in the silos."

The UV decontamination lamps were still active inside most of the site, and there was the same obvious signs of constant, careful maintenance that he'd seen on board the Rachel Zabel.

"and you've got no idea what they were doing here?" he asked.

"Core was physically pulled, so were most of the station's data link hardware, anything that might've contained remnant data was yanked, but they left a lot of lab gear behind, most of it was still in the shipping wrap."  Li said, "they also left quite a bit of construction gear lying around, tunnel bores, cutting lasers, work-lights and such-most of THAT we ended up having to sell over the years to make up budget shortfalls."

"Shortfalls?"  Bruce asked.

"Yeah-after the first succession war, there were added taxes and duties put in, Kowloon's had to pay somewhere on the order of forty percent of tax reciepts to the Province since 2950 or so-the Coast Guard owns the base, so we had to figure out how to keep the books from going bad-which meant occasionally having to auction off equipment to make operations budgets without hammering the rest of the system wide services." she told him, "That, and making up breakage from Bandit raids means we had to strip out a lot of gear that isn't mission-specific to the primary role of system search-and-rescue, Law Enforcement, or quick disaster response."

"I'd think Construction gear would be darned useful for disaster response." Gilmour observed.

"Yeah, but you gotta GET it to the disaster scene-we ended up selling the last tunnel-mech to an outfit on Coventry to keep the Rachel Zabel running, back in...oh, '49, using the current crisis and 'needs of the State' as justification for letting the Rockjacks hang." she said, They turned a corner and entered the obligatory SLDF issue Briefing room.

The Rockjacks assembled here weren't 'military' by most definitions-but they were, to a man, obviously 'belter' stock- everything connected to a lanyard or folded into a pocket on their overgarments, skinsuits poking out of said overgarments, and helmets in easy or immediate reach, with that weird 'bubble' of personal space that only long-term spacers seem to be able to hold in cramped conditions.

Conversations were muted, and he realized he was being stared at... then he realized it was Truk Tranh who was the focus of the staring.

"Meeting to Order." Li announced, striding up to the podium.  "You're all probably wondering why I called this meeting today-or not, if you've eyes, you've seen the Star League dropship parked on the apron outside the fuel dock."

this elicited quietly polite chuckles here and there.

"What's this about? is the Governor threatening to pull the last of the Coasties OUT?" someone asked from the back of the room.

"The Governor-Regent is on the agenda, but first, I want to introduce to you someone you ought to know...Captain Tranh, I know this is kind of...well, not your thing, but would you?"

Truk looked at Bruce, who shrugged damned if I know?

He walked up to the front of the room.

"Um...hi?" he said, "My name is Truk Tranh, and I've been...away for a while."

"Rumour's true guys." Li announced, "The Ninetieth Heavy Assault, with members of the Kowloon Coast Guard contingent of the original One Hundered Seventy First Volunteers, have...well, they've come out of the past, and they're here to help put things right."

"How did you get here?" a woman in her thirties sitting in the third row asked, after the nearly full minute of silence.

"Misjump." Truk stated, "We left Terra in the 28th century, and arrived in the NOW a few months ago....things are...well, they've been damn confusing.  When we left, Kowloon was negotiating a trade pact with the Lyran Commonwealth, we arrive, and Kowloon's a member world, and apparently being taxed to death-from what I've been told, and what I've seen, it's as if the Revolution of '69 didn't even happen....and, of course, there's the fact that when we left...Marjie Ngo was President, Thanh Truk Ngo was Duke, and now we've got no president of Kowloon, and a duchess on the ship who shouldn't have to be facing doing what she's got to do to fix the damage of a Regent appointed by...foreigners."

"Wait...you brought Elizabeth Too?"  another Rockjack, an asian woman with gray streaks in her hair, asked, "where is her mother? What happened to her Brothers?"

Li motioned for calm, and nodded to Didi, who stepped out of the room for a moment, then returned with Elizabeth.

more stares, more comments and murmurring.

Elizabeth's walk was...well, it was NOT the dignified floating stride of a born ruler.  it was the determined step-step-step of a girl who's never been allowed to walk her own pace thanks to small size, and it seemed to carry in it an 'impatience', like one of those small dogs people use to hunt rats.

Liz stopped at the dais, turned, and looked around.  "Mom killed herself when she found out Henry was dead, Pat died on Tamar, Dad's been dead going on three years now." she trip-hammered the news in a kind of monotone, rushing through it.  "I got shot, I'm fine.  Kowloon isn't.  There is a cancer in Nha Tranh, and it's eating our people, our homes, our livelihoods. It has a name: Jim Condit, and we're going to remove him from office...peacefully if possible, but if peacefully isn't possible, we're going to remove him by whatever means are, in the end, necessary."  she stopped the monotone, and let emotion slip in, "I will not let anyone abuse my people, not anymore, and never again."




Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 05-04-2010, 05:27:38
Awwww, Kowloon's own ruling psychopath has come home to rule.

Quote from: Muttley, 06-04-2010, 09:38:10
Interesting- wonder what was up at the base?
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:26:15
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 06-04-2010, 23:13:46]]


AFFC Medical Base 19, Melissia...

"Leutnant?" Charles Vanh asked, staring at the orders, "Sir, I'm not a Leutnant, I'm a Sargeant, these aren't my orders, sir."  His stump itched, the ill-fitting prosthetic didn't let the skin breathe, and the Orhotics guys were slammed with patients coming from the front.

"Your service number, correct?" the PAC-Clerk said.

"Yeah, it's right-just the rank listed isn't mine." Charles said,  "Something ****** up the paperwork, I'm just an E-6."

"Lemme run a check..." the Clerk said, typing the service-number in.  "Um, you were given a brevet to Leutnant back in October of Fifty, Operation Redfoot?"

"Yeah, the Ell-Tee went marbles-that shit didn't stick, did it?" he was incredulous.

"Um, yeah, it did." the Clerk told him, "you've got an angel in Personnel Command, the promotion was confirmed after the Son Tay operation."

"You mean, it was confirmed...during the operation where they sent three Loki teams in, and extracted a grand total of five of us from Jade Falcon holding?" Charles said.

"Yeah, let's see...awards...yeah, that op-it's got you listed with a POW medal and a citation for Meritorious Conduct." the Clerk said, adding, "Sir."

"Crap...I was Short!" Charles growled, "I was six months from finishing my enlistment..."

"You can probably get a bump to a Reserve slot-I mean, you're having problems with your Prosty, right?" the Clerk, a Warrant, asked.

"Yeah...will that get me a ticket home?" Charles asked.

"It should.  what's got you hot to get out now? I mean, other than spending six months on a clanner chain-gang?" the Clerk asked.

"Baby on the way, and my wife says there's trouble with the farm." Charles told him, "I was already filing for a hardship...and LT's pay is less than E-6..."

"Sure is.  Too bad they didn't just hack you a warrant slot-you've got Combat Engineering experience...well, sir, I can re-file your Hardship under 'expedite' for now, come back around noon, I might have something you can use then."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:26:42
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 08-04-2010, 22:38:40]]


1600 Hours, Mainstreet Theater forward command, Melissia, Lyran State, Federated Commonwealth...

"...took some doing, but I've managed to secure you a slot at the AFFC Recruitment office on Kowloon, it's in the Capital, but it's a hell of a lot closer than the staff-job they WERE going to assign you."  Warrant Mason Gearing said, handing Leutnant Vanh a packet. 

"Thank you...thank you a LOT." Vanh said.

"I looked into your story first," Gearing confessed, "We get a lot of sob-stories around here, but the Brevet and the decorations lent some credibility, so I called a couple buddies up to confirm the rest, after that, it was a matter of finding you an open slot, and getting it wedged-you're right, some crazy-bad-shit is going down out there."

"How bad?" Charles asked.

"Well, for starters, LIC domestic reports look like there's some brewing tiff that could cook over into a civil disturbance-an uprising against the Regent-Governor, the whole situation's class Yellow, then there's the Lawsuits,  and there's a brewing power-struggle coming up, something about the Ducal Heir planning a regime change."  Gearing told him, "I'd normally tell a man to try and steer clear, but you've got your family to worry about, and they're probably in the middle of it."

Charles sighed unhappily.  "Any advice, Chief?"

"Be a book-soldier when you get there-it's probably the only way you won't get lynched by your neighbours or court-martialled by the service." Gearing advised him,  "There is a Heap-bad-trouble brewing on that planet, could be worse than Skye in the thirties."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:27:23
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 08-04-2010, 22:55:16]]


1100 local time, Maccabee Collective Farm,  Ia Drang Plateau, Kowloon...

The firestarter made short work of the barn and outbuildings, the pair of Stingers continued covering the main building's entrance, while a pair of Heavy APC's deployed infantry to storm the main house.

"Just like you thought they would." Gwendolyn Ngha commented, lowering her binoculars from the hide in the apple-orchard covered south hill.

"yup.  The Rabbi got them out in time, we put some heat-packs and mannequins from Loeder's store in town around the place to make it look like someone was home."  Judah Nguyen said, "You make the markings?"

"sure did.  Got it recorded too." Gwen said, "Whether we can get the info offworld is another question entirely, the Comstar people aren't letting anyone into the compound right now-some kind of problem going on they aren't talking about."

"Keep recording, it looks like they're about to hit the first booby traps." Judah told her.

The rose-bushes ruptured in a storm of sound down below, as improvised antipersonnel mines detonated along side rebuilt surplus fragmentation weapons dating from any one of a hundered conflicts in the last three centuries.

"Oh, they are MAD now..." Judah commented, as the 'mechs rushed the building, no longer making a show of covering their now depleted infantry.

"How much did you use?" Gwen asked.

"Oh, only about four kilos of actual explosive-the rest is from the stored gas-fuel we piped into the main house before they arrived..."

the explosion of the fuel-air weapon was big enough to be felt on the hillside as a warm rush of air with a flat, thunderous boom.

What it did to the 'mechs as they waded in, however, was more spectacular still-basalt from the central fireplace slammed with the force of a 55 ton 'mech's punch, striking the two lights at close range in multiple areas.

"Okay, more than two kilos, that had to be Penta in there." Gwen assessed, "So, in addition to your aunt making high-quality soap..."

the raider survivors milled about down there, trying to address their wounded, form a security perimeter, or just trying to shake off the sudden influx of damage.

Judah picked up a mic, "Okay, Benyamin, Thomas, Dinh, I think they're distracted enough.  Hit them."

"I thought your plan was to catch them?" Gwen asked.

"Plan changed.  We're not letting ONE of those bastards get back to Nha Tranh or Hue now."




Quote from: Wildfire, 09-04-2010, 00:21:46
And the fuse is well and truely lit, waiting to see what little tricks the Kowloonese have this time :)

Quote from: MechRat, 09-04-2010, 01:04:11
With the arrival of the Tigers, things are about to get a lot more interesting... >:D

Quote from: lowrolling71, 09-04-2010, 02:41:05
When is the AFFC going to do the smart thing and make these guys their instructors at their unconventional warfare schools?

Quote from: Headshot, 09-04-2010, 08:06:50
What was that about history repearing itself?
None of the Regents people ever seen a "History of Kowloon" book?
These guys made the Rimmers wimper when angered, and the fools keep pushing and pushing...

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 09-04-2010, 12:27:51
If he read it he might be stuck on the pre-Amaris Coup chapter, where the Star League came in to knock heads when the locals got too hot for the Rimmers.  IOW he's expecting the AFFS to put a big old boot on the 'wogs' neck if/when they get 'uppity'.  Hell he might be half banking on it to allow wholesale confiscation of the assets of 'insurgents'.

Quote from: Headshot, 09-04-2010, 12:51:32
Cause the SLDFs "knocking heads" was soo successful. It took a frigging divsion and orbital fire blowing up the capitols fission reactor (and with it the rest of the city) to end that party!
By the end of the Amaris war life insurance companies probably counted "provoking Loonies" as suicide...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:28:03
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 09-04-2010, 22:43:19]]


Nha Tranh...

"....sorry, but the network's experiencing a temporary outage, we can archive your message for transmission later."  Adept VII Dianne Kroh explained, "The current conflict's played hell with the traffic."

"Adept, this is an emergency." Governor Stonecipher insisted, "Jesus, you guys NEVER go down!"

the Comstar acolyte shrugged, "I'm sorry, governor, we can get transmissions in, briefly, but until we get that shipment of parts, we're not calling out, you'll just have to be patient...Now, would you like to review your archived messages?"

The governor regent of Kowloon nodded, and accepted the data chit, then left.


"How long are we keeping this up?" Diane asked after the FedCom official was safely outside.

"Until we get orders otherwise-the blackout's been ordered by the Primus." Adept IX Ahmad Moussaui told her, "Besides, you saw the destination codes-he's trying to call someone in the Black zone anyway-it's not like we could transmit that call even if we weren't under special orders."

"I wonder why we've got special orders, in the first place?" Diane speculated.

"Better not to ask too many questions, Adept, just be glad we're not important enough to have more than one Regular Operations Manager on-site." Moussaui told her,  adding, "At least Glenn Fitz is reasonable."

Like a perverse magic trick, mention of the 'Regular Operations Management' officer assigned to the Kowloon HPG brought him wandering into the comshack.  "Hi Di, Ahmad...listen, I need one of your people to take a shuttle up to Spider Moon, check the local Comnet relays with the Boojum Belters."

"They like to be called 'Rockjacks'." Diane said.

"Good, a volunteer."  Fitz grinned at her,  displaying perfect teeth on a face that, were it just a bit more masculine, would be 'rugged' instead of being 'acne Scarred and nerdy', "I've got a package for you to deliver to the Pham Cooperative out there, and fresh capacitors for the boojum relay, you can handle that?"

"Um...yeah, it's acolyte work." Diane said.  They stepped into the tunnel from the comshack to the landing pad.

"Shuttles have to be piloted or commanded by Adepts or above." he recited, "I'll be coming along, but I'd rather have someone along for the trip-it takes about eighty hours."

The doors hissed closed.

"Right..." she sighed with a grimace.  "If it's not prying, what's our REAL mission?"

"It's prying, but I'll need you to know details that would otherwise be outside of your duty-It's a rare day when the Order can put right a wrong, Diane-rarer still, because fixing THIS wrong is going to piss some of our higher ups off if we don't do it just the right way."

"You didn't really get orders to shut down transmission, did you?" she asked.

"nope.  I took the initiative, and if you blab, you won't see the next morning." Fitz told her, "you keep it quiet, and I'll owe you a significant favour."

"Enough of a favour to get a transfer OFF this dirtball?" she asked.

"Probably." the ROM man told her.  "If Condit can call his friends, things here will only get worse, and he's not a reliable asset to the long-term path laid down by the Blessed Blake.  Removing him is, assuming Comstar's hands are kept clean, and making things easy for the Black Tigers works to our purposes in the long term."

"The Black Tigers?" Diane asked.

"Ninetieth Heavy Battlemech, STar League, and they had a misjump, wound up arriving in the present about eight months ago-there's a contingent of them, and my sources say they're on Spider Moon.  The Order's had no luck at all making contacts with them in the usual ways..."

"So...this is about doing THEM a favour?" she asked.  "One that the First Circuit thinks will be collectable?"

"That's from my orders, the side benefit, that's what's got me grinning like a fool." Fitz said, "Not often I can arrange two favours for the price of one-cutting off Condit's access to his allies, when Elizabeth Ngo, his ostensible Leige Lord, is lurking in the system with Star League Troops, preparing to take him out of office?"

The doors hissed open, "...and then, Frye fell into the paint barrel, it was hilarious!"  Glenn Fitz shifted instantly to the vacuous frat-boy persona, seamless, even.




Quote from: Paladin1, 09-04-2010, 23:56:43
Wow, a Futurama reference...nice.

Quote from: Muttley, 10-04-2010, 08:49:55
Picturing a 'Mech shaped like Bender....
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:28:55
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 12-04-2010, 19:06:45]]


Nha Tranh, Governor's Mansion...

"...battle of Khe Sanh ridge, Percival." Governor Jim Condit commented,  "Scrub militia agianst professional soldiers don't stand a chance."

"Sir?" Percival Moltke inclined his head, "I don't understand the reference?"

"okay, history-time...back during the Age of War, Kowloon was conquered by the Rim Worlds Republic's 11th, 22nd, and 15th Divisions-the eleventh had a short battalion of 'mechs, the rest of their forces were varying-weight conventionals up against a one-planet 'republic' whose primary defenses were just as infantry-centric as the Rimjobs of the time...or anyone else, for that matter." Condit said, "Now, the natives, they had a few key 'strongpoints' that had to be eliminated before the main landings, and that job fell on the 11th division's second regiment, who were tasked with taking out the primary air-defense control site buried behind Khe Sanh ridge, about where Hue is today."  He brought up a map.  "That nerve-centre was the locals' best defense-all their aerospace forces linked through it, and it controlled a field of silos loaded with surface-to-orbit missile batteries.  Getting in required the Rimjobs to use smaller landing craft, and in a straight infantry fight, they knew the natives had the advantage-'loonies always make good cannon-fodder in the right hands, see?"

"So?" Percival asked.

"Well, what General Rowe of the 11th Division concluded, was that, while the RWA probably wouldn't be able to take the Loonies in a straight infantry fight, they COULD take them with more modern vehicles-they bought 'security' grade Tankettes from Donegal to stiffen their forces up and bring some extra punch to the party, and made clandestine landings near their target-he used about half his regiment at the actual target site, while he deployed a company of 'mechs from orbital drop positions to menace something the natives would have to defend.  The 'loonie chiefs of staff swallowed it whole-and left only a light infantry Regiment with some artillery support covering the control centre while the rest of their regulars were chasing Rimjob 'mechs around the countryside. The result? predictably-the 'security tanks' wouldn't have been much use against a modern armoured column, but they made short work of native defensive positions and broke through the defensive lines long enough to trash the control centre, throwing native defenses off long enough for three divisions of the RWA to hit Dinh Diep, New Saigon, and Ia Drang-all cities whose defenses were also out chasing 'mechs in the back country when they should've been digging in."  Here, he sighed a bit, "Not that digging in would've been much good-the Kowloonese had K-3's, basically 21st Century armour and light Rifled guns instead of autocannons, once the Rimjobs made it down to the surface, their Manticores and Merkava VII's made short work of the obselete defending vehicles, and those same 'security tanks', once in a position to work with REAL tanks, shredded infantry units wholesale with their machine-guns."

"And this applies to the problem in Ia Drang how, exactly?" Percival asked.

"WE don't have to use second-hand junk, Percy-we've got 'mechs, and they do not, we also have advanced combat vehicles, and they don't, and we've got real-time sattelite recce that they don't." Condit said, "AND we know what they must defend, and where it is-we can force 'em into a confrontation that they can't win."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:29:19
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 12-04-2010, 21:04:27]]


Ia Drang, Miquela's Cafe, back room...

"...try and Khe Sanh us, I think." Judah Nguyen said, putting his beer down.  "Condit's no dolt, at least, not as a military man, and it's what I would do."

"what would his diversion be attacking?" Cliff Smith asked nervously.

"Well, my guess would be the grain-elevators about harvest time." Nguyen said, "Second guess would be the Mormon's Temple, and the Synagogue-though attacking holy sites would put him in bad odour with the FedCom people, especially since most of your people are white, and LDS is technically christian."

"Hey, can the racist crap." Smith snapped, "it's unproductive, more than a little bit stupid, and totally off-base."

"Sorry, Cliff, but Condit's combat record was up against the Cappellans-a notably asian-influenced bunch, according to AFFC training terms, with a second tour fighting Dracs near Benjamin, and he went up against Azami between wars as a Merc.  Azami use a six-pointed star, and most of his enemies have asian or asiatic surnames-we have to assume some, most, or all of his more repressive policies are based or rooted in personal racism-and that that racist sentiment might extend beyond his revered governorness, after all, someone had to have read his psyche profile before they tapped him to sit as Duke David's Regent."  Judah stated.

"So, they might try a hit on the temples." Smith said, "Not good, not good at all."

"I said they might.  Not that they will, or that he can get Al Green's Green Machine to commit or Permit an atrocity-those mercs have a good rep, as Mercs go-so I think it's going to be the wells, and the Grain Elevators-sites we must have to keep the farms producing grain-and sites they have to have, if they want the Plateau to be anything other than semiarid scrubland."

"Most of the Green Machine have been off-world for the last three years-chasing bandits." Cliff observed, "I don't think Colonel Green's even spent a full month in his contracted garrison post..."

"Which is why we've been getting hit like clockwork, isn't it?" Judah said, "The mercs the FedCom hired to defend the planet havent' been ON planet long enough to get a solid read on the situation-not when pirates are hitting Main Street, or threatening Hood IV, anyway..."

"Your source with the Merc Liason still there?" Cliff asked.

"Jen's still working in their admin center, yeah." Judah said, "she tells me they're spread out in penny-packets for sixty lights in any direction, the FedCom's pulling other units to bolster the Clan front, and they're leery right now after Fuchida's people violated contract and went Pirate, so they're on a tighter leash than possible and getting their orders straight from Theater Command."

"So...they're not really in a position to interfere either way...good. I've been talking to some friends in the Valley, down by Vin Drin Lap, they're planning a rising down there, seems we're not the only Kowloonese getting screwed by the Regent." Cliff said, "The Granges down there are starting to dig into the root-cellars over the new Property taxes."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:29:49
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 12-04-2010, 21:12:42]]


Governor's Palace, Nha Tranh...

"...no, hitting the religious sites is totally un-acceptable." Jim Condit planted a hand on the table, and glared at his senior officers, "First of all, it's a bloody Atrocity,  especially if there are women, scared villagers, and kids there-and there likely WILL BE.  The Wells are a legitimate military target, we can take them, and we can hold them, and once we've GOT them, we can force the insurgents out into the open-where they can be dealt with. I will NOT have my family honour tarnished with an open act of...of...that.  we are NOT Cappellans."

He glared at Percival, "and NO, I will not make excuses if someone violates the hands-off policy regarding religious sites like the Mormon Temple or the Kahanist Synagogue, Percy.  You take the Wells, the pump-stations, and the substations, and hold them-and I want it double-time, we need that area pacified before Elizabeth Ngo arrives-if she sees that we're doing our jobs with a minimum of trouble, or that we've at least got a handle on the domestic problem, she's much more likely to follow her daddy's example and go away."




Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 13-04-2010, 07:55:34
Quote from: Cannonshop, 12-04-2010, 21:12:42
-if she sees that we're doing our jobs with a minimum of trouble, or that we've at least got a handle on the domestic problem, she's much more likely to follow her daddy's example and go away."

This reminds me of a quote from a sci-fi novel (The Long Run by Daniel Keyes Moran) used to preface a section.

"If you can keep your head while all those about you are losing theirs, then you have totally misunderstood the situation."  >:D
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:30:30
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 14-04-2010, 21:12:36]]


Sick Bay, SLDS Sledgehammer, 1500 Hours, 20 January, 3052...

Bruce sat when Dr. Wynndham invited him to.  "You're not going to like this, Bruce, but I think I know why Elizabeth isn't sleeping well."  Samantha said, "and it's only partly the PTSD."

she brought up scanner images.  "I took these a couple days ago, after the meet-and-greet with the Rockjacks that Li set up."

"THIS, is the brain of a normal fourteen year old, the 'average' in the medical text books...and THIS is a composite of a female child in the precursor stages of Cholmann's syndrome, roughly six months from Stage One symptoms...and THIS, is Elizabeth Ngo."

"Christ..." Bruce said, "are you sure?"

Samantha frowned, "Not absolutely-but she's got all the genetic markers, and I did a few extra tests when I gave her the follow-up physical that I told her she had to have after the gunshot, I'd put certainty at about ninety Seven point five percent-sometime later this year, she's going to start having bouts of trembling, fatigue, and the chronic pain will kick in-she's already showing signs of losing the ability to process sleep-related neurotransmitters-her Melatonin levels are appropriate for a speed-freak in their forties right now."

"Jesus, Cholmanns turned Colonel Ngo into a Neuroin head..." Bruce said, "Anything we can do?"

"I've got a few ideas on buffering her in the transition, but best chances give her about twenty to twenty five years before she goes terminal." Wynndham said, "after that...well, nobody ever figured out how to deal with short of euthanasia-the Mayo clinic and the Al Saud foundations couldn't even come up with a means to keep the patients coherent when they hit stage three, and one of the down-loads I picked up was the NAIS study in 3035-Elizabeth's uncle Truk lasted eighteen months in stage three before they shut the study down for humanitarian reasons."

Bruce swallowed, hard.  "What about worst-case?" he asked.

"Worst case on record went from precursor through all three primary stages in the space of five years-that was back in 2271, in South Africa."  Wynndham said, "Luckily, Liz's metabolism isn't geared that way-she heals slow, and she grows slow, so there's a slower-than average rate of cell replacement in her body."

"Why are you showing me this?" he asked.

"Because...you're our Gunslinger, Bruce.  I need to talk to someone before I tell her she's going to be dead before she hits middle age." Samantha said, "and before I tell her there's nothing we can do about it."




Quote from: Wildfire, 14-04-2010, 21:24:04
Nice to know even the star league couldn't fix everything.

Was wondering when this would rear it's head in this timeline :)

Quote from: Aceraptor, 14-04-2010, 22:25:39
Well the disease is a genetic one, so unless the person has had their genetics scrubbed before he/she was conceived you cant really cure a genetic disease, you can treat the symptoms but you cant cure it. You can eliminate future cases by screening the genetics and keeping the gene from spreading, but you can only treat the symptoms for those that already have it
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:30:54
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 15-04-2010, 20:37:15]]


Elizabeth's quarters, 1200 Hours...

"You knew."  Major Gilmour said.

"I guessed." Elizabeth answered, "it's not the same thing as having it confirmed, but I had my suspicions."  She turned around, "It means I don't have a lot of time, Major-not a lot of time to grow up, no leisurely teen years, I can't afford the baggage of waiting for mister right or long vacations to 'find myself' that normal people have, because I've got the projected life-span of a damn dog compared everybody else.  No wonder mom shot me."

He could feel the anger and the resentment there, it wasn't aimed at him, but he could almost smell it in the air around her.

"Maybe there's something-" he started, then stopped. 

Elizabeth shrugged, "If there is, we've got twenty years projected to find out-right now, I've got to fix my homeworld-for people who must not be told that anything is wrong with me."  she sighed, "by the time I'm finished, they won't need me anymore-or anyone like me."

"How are you going to do that, Liz?" he asked.

"First, I'm going to break a bunch of laws." she said, "The militia restriction act among them, and if the Commonwealth objects too strenuously, I'll see about implementing the Secession sections of the treaty of annexation Marjorie Ngo negotiated in 2789."  she snapped the tip of a nic-stix, "If they don't, then maybe I can un-do enough of the damage, and get a constitutionally based government actually working, with adequate defenses and a strong economy, before the War gets too much more terrible than it has already gotten.  The Commonwealth needs its front-line forces on the front-lines, not out here in the backwater putting down brushfires.  The Black Tigers need a home they can trust not to screw them over, I think I can set that up and make it stick, and my people need their dignity again... I'm of the opinion that every sin I commit getting things in order, will be paid for in spades when I hit Stage Three-the funny thing is, knowing you're going to die in great pain, makes a lot of other concerns pretty minor...I only fear that I won't be able to finish it."

"And?" he asked.

"If I hit stage two before I'm twenty, having kids the normal way's totally out of the question." She said, "Three percent survival rate-something about pregnancy accellerates the damage and amplifies it-like maybe god doesn't want people with what I've got to have children-but there has to be an heir unless I can wean them off the Feudal structures-which is a process that takes generations of time I don't have.  Having a kid now, while biologically feasable, isn't much help-I haven't even finished puberty yet, and it cuts my work-time significantly."

'You have a plan for this?" he asked.

"I have an idea-I don't have near enough information for an actual plan.  I'm thinking we need to steal us an Iron Womb and some Clanner scientists to run it." she said, "but that's long-term and in the immediate, we've got to liberate my homeworld, put the Regent in front of a duly constituted judge, and repair the damage he's done in case every other plan or option fails-and doing that is only the easy part-the hard part, is dodging the Tax man long enough to rebuild the economy and the infrastructure, without being declared in rebellion and having every spare RCT the Lyrans and Feddies have nearby dropped on my head."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:31:21
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 15-04-2010, 21:11:12]]


Hallway, after their talk...

"Ice princess." Truk said quietly, "Jesus,  I thought she was just being self-centred when she broke the news to Mosovich like that..."

"We keep it quiet." Bruce said, "Nobody outside the unit unless we need them to know, and as few as we can inside the unit-it's a lot easier to keep it quiet if it isn't common knowledge."

"Who's on her detail?" Truk asked.

"I'm putting Louie on it for now-he's good at keeping his trap shut, We're twenty eight hours from detection range of the planet, so I guess I can't get hammered..." Bruce sighed, "and after what I learned today, I really, really wish I could."

"Bruce?" Truk looked more serious than he had since this trip began, "She meant it, you know-she wants the Tigers to base on Kowloon."

"How do you know that?" Bruce asked.

"Because she wants us, the 171st survivors-we come as a package, so she wants the Tigers...and if that little speech of hers is half-right, she needs us and she knows it."

"I hate this." Bruce said.

"I know...god, she's a kid, kids shouldn't have that sitting on them."




Quote from: lowrolling71, 16-04-2010, 07:34:12
Well for her to be a kid I think we can all agree that nobody wants to get messed up with her "Big Brothers". Nice work and thanks for sharing.

Quote from: Paladin1, 16-04-2010, 07:38:16
Considering her "Big Brothers" may very well step on you with a 'Mech, yeah, I would say that's an understatement.

Quote from: lowrolling71, 16-04-2010, 14:06:47
With both the 171st and a unit of Blackhearts nearby and that is all you get, count your blessings.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:31:46
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 17-04-2010, 21:21:58]]


Nha Tranh Spaceport...

January is mid-summer in Nha Tranh, indeed, mid-summer across the entire primary settled landmass of Kowloon.  The original settlers here had chosen the southern hemisphere in part, because the Northern land-masses were huddled near enough to this world's arctic circle, or had other problems that made them un-suitable for first stage colonization, including intemperate climate, poor soil, and enough toxicity to be problematic.

So,  a mere three weeks after Christmas, midsummer sun glared through the cloudy murk of the wet season.

Jim Condit sat under an awning, and stared at the drop-port.  The temptation to lay an ambush here had been a powerful one-dropship accidents happen all the time, and Kowloon's port is one of the less well-developed ones- little more than ferrocrete aprons and landing strips, with chain link fences and prefab buildings housing second-hand equipment.

Percival even suggested it-and he'd rejected the idea loudly.  "What I"ve done, I've done for the Commonwealth, I won't add the stain of such dishonour." he'd said.

As the seconds dragged into minutes, Jim Condit's heart wavered-doubt gnawed at his soul-doubts about his choice to put on 'a good face' and try to persuade the girl to leave.

I am a Knight, dammit.  a peer of House Davion's service, a 'mechwarrior...I don't arrange the assassination of little girls!

The pride rang hollow within him, but I sell the crown's weapons to thieves and murderers-who DO kill little girls...

The sonic booms of a re-entering spacecraft echoed across the 'port.

I still have my honour. he sighed, tarnished, but I still have it.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:32:09
[[Posted by Cannonshop,  17-04-2010, 21:27:04]]

   
[out of story]

One of the changes wrought by the arrival of the 90th into this timeline, is that Liz is reclaiming her birthright at a time BEFORE Jim Condit had fully been corrupted.  In the original period, her return was delayed by five years (the Second version) or nearly ten (the first),  both periods after he'd finished plunging from a loyal and honourable man with a difficult job, to a corrupt tyrant interested only in his own profit.

Whether retaining his vestige of personal honour is enough to save him, is still in doubt, but unlike previous incarnations, there's actually something THERE to save.

[/out of story]




Quote from: Muttley, 18-04-2010, 02:49:17
But can he be saved...

Quote from: lowrolling71, 18-04-2010, 03:17:07
If not saved, he can be replaced.

Quote from: Jimmyray73, 18-04-2010, 17:44:54
Maybe every choice, every flip of the coin, every little happenstance creates another divergent reality, a parallel universe just the same except for that one little, but destiny changing difference.  Is it not possible then that we see just one of an infinite number of possible existences?  In one (or several) Condit lost his soul, Evelyn lost her face, and Elizabeth lost her sanity.  Maybe in this one they can all hang on to those things (at least for a while...).
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:32:46
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 18-04-2010, 22:47:18]]


Nha Tranh Traffic Control

The dropship descended majestically, landing jacks down, and settled to the ferrocrete with hardly the normal ratcheting thunder.   "Whoever they've got, he's better than the typical merc-jocks."  Sara Lin Moskowicz commented.  "Smooth."

"Thermals?" she then asked.

"Still in the yellow, ma'am, should disperse when the rain starts."  Tien Pha observed, watching the thermal bloom on the infrared-a re-entering spacecraft picks up a LOT of heat.

"Send out the coolant trucks then, I figure they're not going to want to wait for the afternoon shower to come out." Sara stated, adding, "I sure wouldn't."

Three fire-trucks rolled out of the prefab on the north side of the pad, and sprayed down the hull of the drop-ship with liquid helium-a process that wouldn't affect the structural integrity of the armour, but WOULD bring the passenger exits down to a temperature that would only mildy redden flesh with brief contact, instead of cooking it down to the bone.

The trucks stopped ten meters short.  "What's going on?" Sara demanded, "This is Port Control, why aren't you cooling that hull?"

"Ma'am, it looks like their coolers are actually working!" the voice on the other end announced, "damnedest thing-they haven't scrapped those out, apparently."

"Fine...Tienh, what's the temp on that dropper's hull?" she asked.

"About forty Celsius and dropping, damned efficient cooling-I think they're almost at ambient."  the sensor-op stated.

"Radio?" Sara barked.

"Still no chatter, boss, you want I should try 'em on emergency freqs?"  Perri Martens was born off-world, she'd gotten the job here with her discharge papers and a recommendation from the Phams out in the Belt.

"Yeah, do that-if their coms are down..." Sara began, as the speaker crackled.

"Port Control, this is SLDS Sledgehammer, are we safe to debark, over?"  everyone in the control tower relaxed.

"Sledgehammer, this is Port Control, you're clear to begin offload of passengers, Over." Sara said, taking over for the radio-op, "Welcome to Kowloon."

"Port control, this is Sledgehammer, um...what's with the fire-trucks, over?" the voice on the other end asked.

"Sledgehammer, nothing to worry about, we get a lot of visitors with 'hot hull' issues and broken cooling systems, they're a standard precaution." Sara told them.  "Proceed to the red-and-white prefab to your southeast, about five hundered meters distance, for customs, med-screen,  and in-processing, Over."

"Understood, Port Control, be aware, we're flying a pennant today, Over." the dropship captain said.

"Authenticate Pennant, Sledgehammer, Sequence India Echo." Sara stated humourlessly.

"Authenticate Victor Sierra five, Over." came the reply-quickly, very quickly.

"In that case, you still need to check in, but we'll handle it on the pad, Sledgehammer. Port Control out." Sara clic'd the coms.  "Expedite their paperwork." she ordered, "they're VIP and exempt from standard inspections, got it?"

"Who are they?" Teddi asked.

"That's the ship that is carrying the Duke...er, Duchess, of Kowloon herself-with bodyguard." Sara stated,  "Security is to assume protective posture, not search-and-impound."

"Right. Got it.  Relaying orders now..."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:34:14
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 20-04-2010, 22:45:57]]


1400 Local, Nha Tranh, Kowloon...



Elizabeth did make concessions to common-sense here-she rode in the jeep, towing the casket, that contained the jar that contained her brother Patrick's ashes.

the little fuel-cell electromotive vehicle bumped over the lip of the debarkation ramp,  and zoomed clear to make room for the SLDF 'mechs.

"Say, Truk, I remember...didn't we improve this port back in Seventy-three?" Bruce asked.

Truk keyed his mic, "Yeah, we did-there should be heat-sink pits, and a full terminal here-hell, I embarked for Eagle's Nest from those terminals..."

"So, what happened to 'em?"  Bruce asked.

"Dismantled." Elizabeth interjected, "During great-grand-dad's time, Allessandro Steiner had the main facility 'salvaged' under the governorship of Liam Whatkins, while great-granddad was doing a stretch in Bougainville for Sedition."

"Sedition?" Bruce asked.

"Great Granddad accused Archon Alessandro of gross misconduct and placing the nation in jeapordy-it wasn't a popular move at the time, his 'concentrated weakness' strategy appeared to be working." she clarified, "Grampa was serving on the Draconis Combine front, so a military governor was appointed by the Archon.  After Katrina's coup, Grandpa was sent home to quell the insurgency."

"oh."  Bruce looked at the horizon for a moment, "So this has happened before."

"Yeah."  Elizabeth said, "It's happened, according to what I've read so far, around six or seven times-the Duke is either serving the State somewhere, or locked up with an Heir who's doing military service, so Tharkad appoints someone, who then makes a mess that has to be cleaned up after-the fact."

The jeep formed the vanguard of a formation-technically, they were, after all, there to 'bury a comrade'-that was the cover story, and there was no overpowering reason to change the story at the moment.

THAT, after all, would come later.

A group of police-cars rolled out and formed a line.  After eight months of seeing 'police' rolling around in half-assed armoured vehicles and full riot gear, seeing ordinary patrol-cars and only lightly armoured policemen was...odd.

They rolled to a stop in front of an awning, and elizabeth Ngo jumped out of the jeep-a feat of dexterity in two-inch heels, and walked up to an old, bullet-shaved gentleman in an AFFC uniform.

"Governor." she said.

Bruce looked at the man carefully, as he followed her in.  Looks older than his file...and in decent physical shape, unlike the Fat man...

Jim Condit, in another era, had a look to him that would have fit well in Aleksandr Kerensky's staff-old, but made of hard lines of lean muscle, with a weather-strained face like old leather, and laugh-lines that gave off the impression, not of a tyrant-in-the-making, but of a kindly old grand-father.

"Your Grace, Welcome home, I apologize for the...lack of a proper honour guard." he said.

"Yeah, I heard the radio intercepts." Elizabeth said it with the same blunt lack of tact that was fast becoming her trademark.  "You should pull the Militia out of Ia Drang, while we still have a Militia, and an Ia Drang District-we need those farmers farming and the miners mining, we do NOT need to be replacing infrastructure and scaping the budget for 'mech parts."

"Your Grace, it is more Compli-" he started,

Elizabeth interrupted him, "Complicated? No, it's simple. Pull the Militia out of Ia Drang, put them back in barracks, and rescind whatever acts you enacted that have my citizens shooting at what is, at least on paper, MY Militia, Governor.  Per the terms of your appointment, You Work For Me.  Also per the Treaty of Annexation, there is supposed to be a Citizens' Assembly handling day-to-day operations, I understand that they have not met in...what, three years?  You're my governor, call the Assembly, or submit your resignation.  I came to bury my brother, but that's not the only reason I came here-I'm also here to make certain that his rest is...restful, and that won't happen if half the back country is burning in a civil war..." She gestured to Bruce.  "This is Major Gilmour, Star League Defense Force, equivalent ranks make him a Kommandant, but the status-of-forces agreement of 2691 makes him senior, he will be suprvising a survey of military readiness for the AFFC forces stationed here on Kowloon, in particular the organized Militia, on behalf of the Duchess-which, as you know, is me.  You will co-operate with this survey, or you will explain it to the General Staff at Mount Asgard, and possibly Her highness the Archon Melissa Steiner-Davion."

She then turned to Truk, "THIS, Governor, is Marine Captain Truk Tranh, First Kowloon Marines, assigned Star League Liason to the 90th Heavy Battlemech Division.  He and his men will be my escorts while I'm...participating in Pat's burial, you know Kommandant Mosovich already-she's Patrick's Widow-she will recieve all honours due her as the widow of the late Duke, and as a Peer in her own right."

Condit stiffened, "Of Course ma'am." he said, Jesus, I've missed it somewhere...where in hell were they hiding you?  The girl in front of him may have lacked the polishing, but she bore down like a Broken-Wheel duke, and child or not, He expected her to somehow be carrying a pistol, with the will to use it if she were balked.

"I'm going to need some...time to disengage the Militia." He croaked out.

"Fine.  I'll give you a week." Liz said, "and a week to get whoever's locked up from the Assembly, or on the run, or hiding, or just shirking, sitting in Assembly and briefed in.  We don't have a lot of time, Governor-the Clans are eventually coming this way.  Every hour wasted not preparing is paid for in lives lost later."

this calmed Jim's irritation and nervousness-okay, so she's abrupt, but she's still distracted...I can use this...  "I see." he answered. 


Inwardly, Bruce flinched-everything she'd plotted and argued in favour of, she'd just turned on its head-this was NOT the plan, not the ones she'd snarled and ranted in private, nor the compromise... it is, however, damn close to the one Louie suggested-just without a lot of the politeness...

That stopped him for a moment.  yeah, it IS the plan Louie suggested...  some of the knots untied themselves.  Willful, angry, vengeful little Liz, but she listens...




Quote from: lowrolling71, 21-04-2010, 03:12:35
All right the party has started. Who is going to have the "honor" of being the Tiger's first dance partner?

Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 21-04-2010, 13:36:17
Condit's pirates. They are no longer useful and are a loose end that needs to be trimmed.

Quote from: Muttley, 21-04-2010, 14:08:20
De-"Improving the port".  I like the cycle...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:34:49
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 22-04-2010, 09:19:28]]

   
Nha Tranh Best Western, Executive Suite B, 1900 hours...

"...changed the plan, Liz." Bruce Gilmour said grimly, "Why?"

"You're right." Elizabeth said, "I can't come in kicking down doors or shooting people summarily, but the presence of YOU guys means I probably won't have to."  she nodded to the techs as they finished sweeping the room and departed.  "Popular or not, if we can get things together whole and ease Condit out without killing people, there's a better chance for everyone."

"Takes time, doing that." Louis Alvarez commented, "You don't have a lot of it."

"I'm aware-but if I'm going to get sicker, and die, It's a better use of my time remaining doing it this way, than spending that time rebuilding after a civil war-even a small one." she said calmly.

"You're not dying tomorrow." Katya Kerensky snapped.

"Right, but worst case is five years, best is twenty-five." Liz told the former Clanner, "I'd as soon not go in the middle of rebuilding after a collapse... I still think the Blackhearts and special forces groups need to get as good a handle as possible on local trouble spots, though-we can't afford mistakes."




Quote from: MechRat, 22-04-2010, 12:11:51
Katya's seems to have assimilated very well since she's using contractions... ;)

Quote from: Muttley, 22-04-2010, 14:09:54
Slavish adherence to formal rituals...

She IS a Kerensky...  cousin, daughter, gene-sib or something to THE Black Widow

Quote from: Cannonshop, 22-04-2010, 22:05:52
Or, it could just be that I made a mistake with the dialogue.

Quote from: damourc, 22-04-2010, 22:09:45
Nah...  That can't be it.  Clearly it is some deep and clever plan on your part.

Quote from: Cannonshop, 22-04-2010, 22:13:22
Nope, I made a mistake with the dialogue (actually, I've come across SEVERAL mistakes-it's what happens when you start a story with somebody, then they're forced to disappear for a long time, but the damn story keeps evolving in your head...)

I really wish BTA would come back, I've a hell of a time getting his characters (and his versions of Canon characters) voices right, but the key scenes are all theirs.  I feel like one of those 'replacement hacks' the networks used to hire during writing strikes (the ones that kill series by jumping the shark because they don't have the right grasp of the series bible...)
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:35:31
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 22-04-2010, 23:09:25]]


"The biggest shock, was seeing the familiar from an outsider's context..."

Captain Truk Thanh Nguyen, "Coming Home: the story of the return of the 171st." Kowloon Press, 3059

New Saigon, north coast, main continent, Kowloon, 20 January, 3052...

Lance Corporal Dinh Chuan left Kowloon with the 1st Marines in 2775, for him, it has been ten years and forty six days since he'd been back.  For Kowloon, it had been just under three hundered years.
"Where the hell is the progress?" he mused aloud, hefting his space-bag over his shoulder.

"Pardon?" Private first class Tommy Waters was an Earther, a recruit brought on just after the defeat of the Tyrant.  "It looks okay to me..."

"Yeah, you didn't leave your home looking just like this and come back two hundered and change years later." Dinh cracked quietly, "look-see those docks?"

"Yeah?" Waters hefted his own ditty-bag.

"Those are the same docks that were there when I left-hell, the boats look the same...only dirtier." Dinh said, "Open-air fishmarket over there-they were going to put in a refrigeration plant where that vacant lot is...and I'd swear most of those houses were built before I was born."

The pair started walking.  "I'd swear, it's like I never Left, except..."  he stopped, and pointed, "That's new."

"What?" Waters almost bumped into his partner.

"The church there." Dinh said, "Didn't used to be a NACC church in New Saigon-old Roman Catholics, sure, but not Davie heresies."

"Things changed a little bit, then..." Waters said, "Hey, um...Dinh?"

"Yeah?" Dinh looked at the Earther.

"Um, not to be indelicate or anything, but...ah... where are the people?" Waters asked, "It's noon, the boats are tied up at the docks, you guys do your fishing in the dark hours?"

"not from what I remember..." Dinh realized he didn't see very many people as they walked down the street, and almost no auto traffic.  His neck-hairs tingled.

"Graffiti, Dinh." Waters added, "um..."

"Yeah. that's new too." Dinh said, noticing the 'tagging' on several buildings.  "You got your sidearm?"

"Yeah...you made sure." Waters replied.

"Good, it's loaded, so's mine. Down the street, look confident." Dinh said, "Wish we'd brought more guys..." he added, unsnapping his own holster, and casually pulling his entrenching-tool out of its carrier.

A modified Gieneh Roadster rumbled from the alley between two buildings.  The car had a stylized version of the tagging on it-this done with the polish of a professional artist, and lnked to a gaudy, and more than a teensy bit obscene image of a blonde girl doing something unspeakable with a dragon-fish.

"Gang-land." Tommy Waters said, "Your ******' home town's been taken over by a gang."

"Looks like it." Dinh commented calmly, "I guess we got here just in time to put a few things right of our own."  He smiled grimly, and opened his jacket, revealing the summer PT uniform shirt he'd picked out (mainly for cleanliness) this morning. On it, was a ten-times regulation image of the 171's shoulder-patch. "jackets, Tommy, show your colours."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:36:06
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 22-04-2010, 23:32:42]]


"In the end result, all politics are local politics.  A Great House may have the reputation of being benevolent, or tyrannical, but Great House character means next to nothing to the lives of any People on any given Planet at any given time.  Forget this at your peril."
-Elizabeth Ngo, "Facing a Local Future,  Understanding the flow of House Warfare and its impact on a civil society." Polhouse Books, Coventry, 3059

Vin Drinh Lap, Western zone, Golden Lake district...

Evelyn wasn't completely healed-but she was healed enough.  Cheryl Vanh met her at the airport, with the rest of the Vanh family.

"How's dad?" she asked.

"Worse. He doesn't recognize Audrey anymore."  Cheryl said, "He spends a lot of time with Neumann's man.  We've managed to keep him from signing anything..." Cheryl said, "So far."

"I'm home, that should put paid to that." Evelyn said firmly, "How are the farm families holding up?"

"Nine foreclosures so far,  the Grange managed to stall another ten." Cheryl said, "but that's not reaching far enough-they have us over a barrel and they're going to keep pressing."

"Not anymore they aren't." Mosovich told her, "I can't do much for the rest of the district, but I can assert privelage to the boundary markers of MY territory."

"and the taxes they're using to push this?" Cheryl asked, "Last I looked, you don't have THAT kind of authority..."

"Something will be done. Who's the Assemblyman for the district?" Evelyn asked.

"um...last election was...Evvie, it was thrown out, and Arnold died last week." Cheryl said, "There was supposed to be a special election, but then there was trouble up on Ia Drang, so we're under a state of emergency, no large public gatherings, no elections..."

"The hell you say." Mosovich muttered, "I guess I'm going to be talking to Neumann, then, about a great MANY things...not the least of which being where, exactly, an import officer sits in relation to a full Kommandant with Peer's rights."




Quote from: MechRat, 23-04-2010, 00:54:13
My comment about Katya was not meant to be harsh, just a small reminder. As for what you have written, keep it up.  O0

I know it's tough with BTA out of the picture for now, however I think you're doing a fine job. I'm having a similar problem as I'm waiting for him to get back to me on some questions for the current storyline. I'm planning on continuing on what I have written so far, but like you I need some more info before I write something that wasn't in his plan. If I hear from him I'll let you know.

Quote from: lowrolling71, 23-04-2010, 02:14:22
Nice work and thanks for sharing. The story has a right "feel" to it, please keep rolling along.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:36:35
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 23-04-2010, 09:20:57]]


Golden Lake District, Truong Ranch, Dam' Lap township, grid 44...

Karl Neumann stepped  his Centurion over the fence-line and strode up to the main house, while his support troops worked over the gate to admit their Brutus heavy tank.  "Come on, Truong, it doesn't have to be this way." he announced over the PA system, "Just come out!"

there was no response from the concrete-and-stone structure.

Thermals wouldn't work through the building, and anyone inside apparently had sense enough to stay away from windows.

"You can't hold out forever!" he barked.

still, no response.

"Echo Two, you have that gate down yet?" he switched channels to the Militia Frequency.

"Sir, we've got it down...but the tank's bogged now. Some kind of pit-trap." was the response.

Neumann turned around and swept the gate area.

The tank was sitting at a bad angle- and apparently high-centred enough that the treads couldn't find purchase to either pull forward, or back up.

"How the fu-?" he started to mutter, when there was a flash, and screams and curses filled the channel.  Thermal showed the pit was burning...

"Get OUT OF THERE!!!"  little spark-like infantry were running away from the inferno.  Oh, you are so going to pay for this...  Neumann turned his 'mech back around, and targeted the main building with his autocannon, and his LRM rack.

The missiles slammed out first, as he walked fire from the big Imperator across the stone and 'crete front of the house, blowing chunks away and powderizing the structure's facing wall.

his sensors suddenly lit up, incoming fire warning  and target lock alerts chimed.  "Display."

the fire was coming from an orchard nearly five hundered meters away...one of the high-angle rounds hit his 'mech, and the sensors classed it-an infantry portable missile.

"ah...pathetic."  he walked his fire into the orchard, looking for signals indicating someone running from it.

With no signals coming from the area, he decided to stroll over and take a look.

at one hundered meters, he realized why there hadn't been anyone trying to escape.  The LRM fire had come from a makeshift remote site, the container was nothing more than a standard 'mech ammo-pack, which had been crudely mounted to a cheap trailer-the sort of improvised weapon one might find...

hIs left leg's damage alerts sounded, and he nearly lost his balance.  "Mines??"  another detonation, and this time, his sensors went dark, and the 'mech stopped responding.

Neumann rushed through his restart sequence, without his sensors...

there was a whinging sound, and suddenly, he felt cold air-the 'mech still wasn't starting.

"Hi there, you can come out with your hands up."  Neumann looked upward.

The man squatting over his now-open emergency hatch, was NOT Truong, nor one of his men.  Not unless the Farmers somehow got themselves power-armour suits with SLDF markings,anyway.

"Or, I can reach in there, and crush your skull like a walnut, your option."  the voice said.

Neumann stopped trying to powr up, and unfastened his harness, then, hands up, he stood on the couch.

The trooper reached in, and gently lifted him out.

"WHo are you?" he asked.

"I'm the guy in the power-armour, who's going to pull your arms out of their sockets if you make any trouble." the suit-trooper told him,  "Extortion and fraud are still criminal offenses. YOU are under arrest."




Quote from: lowrolling71, 23-04-2010, 11:32:14
COPS starring the men and women of Law Enforcement, all suspects are innocent until proven guilty. This story just gets stronger and stronger, thanks for sharing.

Quote from: Muttley, 23-04-2010, 12:08:22
RE Katya- nah- she's just been exposed to bad influences  >:D
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:37:05
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 23-04-2010, 21:58:42]]


Grid 44, 1600 Hours local time...

"Good cop and bad cop?" Didi Moran asked lightly.  Truk nodded, "Good cop," he pointed at her, "and BAD cop." he slapped his own chest, "That way you don't get in dutch with Sam."

"I wouldn't even playing 'bad cop', he expects it." she told him with a grin.

"Let's just wing it then." Truk said.  they walked up to the orchard-house.   Outside the small stone and wood structure, was a makeshift holding pen-chain link, barbed wire, and posts,  with guards from Truk's headquarters platoon watching the captive "Militia" troopers.

He tipped his hat to Mary Truong, the owner of the ranch, as they passed.

"Not much family resemblance." Didi commented.

"They're descended from my aunt's kids." he told her, "Probably some refugees from Elbar too, we were Buddhist, they're Jewish, and have been for generations now, but they're still family."

"Ah."  the two stepped into the cabin, and confronted their prisoner.

"Hauptmann Neumann, I'm Captain Truk Cao Ky, you're trespassing on family property, threatening my kin, and worst of all, you're doing it under false colour of law."  He pulled up a straight-backed chair, and sat on it backward,  "Now, if you can tell me why you think it's a good idea to shake down farmers, or who told you it was a good idea, I might be able to do something about the charges against you."

"Who?" the prisoner looked confused.

Truk looked at Didi, who looked back, and shrugged.  "Hauptmann, you graduated from the New Avalon Mechwarrior Academy, you mean they don't talk about Elbar?"

"That was centuries ago!" Neumann spat.

"Yeah, so they tell me.  Ever heard of a misjump, Hauptmann?" Truk asked, "You do remember what we did to Rimjob officers on Elbar, or did they edit that out?"

Neumann stared, and paled a bit.

"I don't think they edited that out." Didi commented lightly.

"Even if I'm a psycho, Hauptmann, you have to ask yourself if I'm that insane...and if I am, maybe you should start telling me a story to convince me not to sharpen up some fence-posts, neh?" Truk asked.




Quote from: Wildfire, 23-04-2010, 22:02:37
Sometimes having a reputation is all it takes :)

Quote from: Muttley, 24-04-2010, 16:22:55
Sometimes having a reputation is all it stakes?
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:37:26
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 23-04-2010, 23:29:57]]


2000 Hours...

Truk lit a cigarette, and looked out over the river.  "It doesn't stop, does it?" he asked, "Was it like this for you when you got back to New York, Didi?"

Moran sat down on a log.  "Like what?" she asked.

"Like...like being an alien." Truk said,  "I don't know where I belong anymore."

"You're a Tiger now." She told him.

"yeah...but that's not something you can be forever." Truk said  "Eventually you've got to hang up the rifle and the boots, eventually I'll get so old I'm a liability, what then?"

"You're getting morbid, Truk.  It's creeping me out..." Didi told him, "You're missing Jennings, aren't you?"

he sighed.  "Yeah... I guess I am."

"Get over her, Truk.  She's a thousand lights and two hundered and seventy years ago....she wouldn't want you moping over her like this..." Didi nodded at the river below them, "besides, you two broke up before we left, didn't you?"

"Trial Separation." Truk said, "something about my not being able or willing to let go of playing soldier or some shit..." He laughed, "Leave it to me to get stranded centuries into the future before I start having second thoughts about staying with the Tigers..."

"Seriously?" Moran asked.

"Not reallly-where else could I fit in?" he asked, "I mean, come on...I just realized that the only real home I've got, is in the Service, makes looking forward to retirement kind of bleak is all..."

"Long time to retirement." Didi observed.

"Not really-when the pay catches up we've all got two hundered and change years' back pay coming." he chuckled.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:38:28
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 24-04-2010, 08:51:53]]


New Saigon, 1530 Local time, Cowboy Street...

The car rolled to a stop in front of them, and four well-dressed young men climbed out.

The front-seat passenger was  a tall blonde with a side-shave,  his suit was an improbable puke-green and purple getup.  The driver wore 'enbloc' sunglasses and had what had to be a quart of motor oil holding his hair slicked back, and a blue and green suit decorated with enough gaudy jewellery to fill a pawnshop.  The rear-seat passengers were a bald, dark-skinned skinny kid wearing tan cargoes, a blazer, and another ridiculous quantity of gold.

Tommy Waters picked them off mentally- bodyguard, bodyguard, driver, the second one's probably also a tech-weasel...

The one Waters pegged as the 'leader' was red-haired, and not 'natural red hair' either-this was fire-engine red, cut close, and swirled with elaborate designs offsetting a too-thin face.  the one Tommy figured as 'boss' was also wearing a suit that covered everything from the neck down, this one was yellow-canary yellow, with an emergency-site orange collar shirt and a black onyx neclace-pin.

Dinh shoved the handle of his E-tool down, and leaned on it like it was a cane, sizing them up.

"bạn đang làm gì trong khu phố của tôi?" the red-and-yellow asked. Tommy heard the voice, and looked at the face. Holy shit, that's not a dude..!

Dinh smiled slowly, "Tôi lớn lên ở đây." he said, "Này được nhà đầu tiên của tôi."

The leader stared at them.  "You're not a Dragonfish." she said, shifting to english.

"When I lived here, your little gang didn't even exist." Dinh said.  "I thought it was a dump when I was KID, I guess I didn't realize how much further it could fall."

She gestured, and purple stepped forward, pulling a gaff-hook out of the car as he moved.

"You must be an old man, or a liar." the lead ganger said.

"Old enough." Dinh hadn't shifted his weight.  Tommy held back-if the fireteam leader needed help, he'd signal.  Nonetheless, Tommy dropped his go-bag, and let his jacket fall open a bit more to make it easier to grab his sidearm.

"Not that old. My grandfather started this gang." the leader said.

"Kids." Dinh added, and gave Tommy a sidelong glance, "aren't they just adorable, Waters?"

Gaff-hook didn't challenge or speak, he just swung the weapon-and Dinh stepped into the swing, and slammed his E-tool into the big blonde's crotch,  roll-stepped around, and brought it up, backhand, on top of the bodyguard's head.

"Tôi đã giết chết Rim-việc làm lính trước khi ông nội của bạn là một ngứa trong quần ông nội của!" Dinh barked.  The blonde went down, the other two started going for guns, and Tommy drew first, popping a warning shot into the hood of the car that left a smoking hole from the laser's passage.

"Three on two, lady, let's talk before someone dies." Tommy barked, "Unless you can get enough friends in to make this a fair fight."

"WHo the ****** ARE you, I Paid the ****** vig to the Miliz Already!!" the leader-girl was staring at them wide-eyed.

"We're not them.  We're also not a mob, or a gang...well, technically anyway." Tommy said, and added, "boss, you don't need to kill the guy. could you NOT stand on his throat while I'm negotiating?"

"THis is my HOME TOWN, Tommy!" Dinh fumed.

"Yeah, and you've been gone for two hundered and seventy years, this is Street, I know streets-they're the same whether you're in Winnipeg or Tikonov, let the kid breathe before we have a ****** feud." Tommy said, "Hell, she might be one of YOUR descendents."  Tommy turned his attention,  "So the local LEOs are taking bribes, or have they actually advanced to proper extortion?"

"Not one of mine, I didn't get laid until we hit Terra." Dinh confessed, "Oldest virgin in the unit."

"Shyness, or you just kinky?" Tommy asked.

"Shy." Dinh admitted, "Had a hell of a time talking to girls.  I had to hire a whore in Vegas."

"bummer." Tommy watched the other three, as Dinh stepped off the blonde, and knelt down to see if the kid would wake up.

"Extortion..and you still haven't told me who you people are, why you're disrupting my territory, or-" she stopped, as if something were calculating down through a haze in her head.

"We're on leave, but our day job is with the Star League's 90th Heavy Assault division." Tommy told her, "We just got here from Tamar by way of Arc Royal-we're also part of the burial detail for the late Duke Patrick Ngo.  Dinh here wanted to take a look at his old home-town, see if anything's changed since he left it."

"Apparently not for the better." Dinh groused, and looked at the three now-very-nervous gangers, "Ambulances run down here?" he asked.

"No." she told him, amending, "Sometimes, if there's a fire or something, but usually they stay out."

He looked at Tommy, "Call the ship, tell 'em we need a medevac and a trauma pack soonest, I think I hit that kid a little harder than I was planning to..." He looked at the girl, "Send one of your boys post-haste, I need a bag of ice, you know, frozen water? and hurry it up, your buddy's got a concussion that is probably going to kill him if you don't hurry."

Tommy cursed, "I've got my Medic-kit in the go-bag, should be a stint of J-17 in the front pocket, you take up holding the gun on these kids, I'll see to your busted man, boss."

"Boss?" the girl asked, "Doesn't sound military to me..."

"I'm a medic, he's a fireteam leader, you only say 'sir' or 'Ma'am' to Officers, and 'Lance Corporal' sounds doofy." Tommy replied snippily, "besides Boss works faster in the field."

Dinh drew his sidearm, and Tommy dropped down to look at the kid, while he pulled out his bag.  "Any Drug Allergies?" he demanded.

"Um...don't know..." the leader was even LESS sure of herself NOW.

"Habits? I need to know this shit!"  there were definite signs of brain swelling... he dug out stints and a trauma-blanket that crinkled loudly as it unfolded.

"N-n-no...Hektor's clean...not very smart, but clean." she told them.

"Excellent, now where is that ****** ICE?"  he barked, pulling out a small bore laz-scalpel and tearing open decon-swabs.

"Jesus, Tommy, you're going to operate HERE?" Dinh asked.

"Gotta relieve the swelling, need the ice to numb the area when I'm done...shit...shitshitshitshit shit..." he one-handed a length of IV tube with a thumb-knife.  "Dinh, you always take me to places I have to work, can't we just find some place to  ****** Party sometime?"
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:38:57
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 24-04-2010, 09:16:30]]


Ia Drang...

Sgt. Moshe Dayyan stepped out of the chopper at five hundered meters and parachuted down.  That was last night.

This morning, he was eating breakfast with a Rabbi named Nguyen and a Christian preacher with too many wives.

Both men had a lot of other men with guns.  "So...they're not withdrawing?" he asked.

"Nope. We caught the order over the radio, looks like Percy's decided he can ignore the order if he's somehow more successful than he's been." Nguyen said, "You were really at Elbar?"

Moshe nodded, "I was born there, that's where they recruited me after..." he stopped himself.  "Yeah. I was there.  This is good Corned beef.  What's the actual situation, Rab Nguyen?"

"Well...they've got three clusters of well-heads around Ia Drang city, plus the irrigation locks south of Tel Aviv and Neshaba, figure about a ten kilometer radius patrol zone each, with outposts north of the Mormons' temple on Provo ridge.  The best we can figure from their deployments, they're trying to seige us out."

"How're the bystanders handling the water shortage?" Moshe asked.

"Well...it helps that our Elldees are pretty doctrinaire-most of the smaller settlements around Provo Ridge have a year's worth stored away, but that relies a lot on secrecy-if Percy's bastards figure out where the water's been stockpiled, things could get ugly for our people, worse though, is that without the irrigation locks open, the crops will start dying when we hit the dry season, and with 'em, the cattle."  the Preacher told him, "I'm already working on getting non-combatants out of the area and down to the lowlands, but it's pretty tough when the occupiers control the main roads down, and they've got ADA positions that they move around a lot, so there's no sure way of avoiding detection and a shoot-down of a small plane."

"Which is what you've got up here.  got it." Moshe examined the map.  "I'm going to report this in, and see if we can't get something official moving to get these ****** off your neck. In the meantime, we're going to need to arrange supply-drops..."




Quote from: Headshot, 24-04-2010, 14:34:56
Loonies with military "advisors" with a certain history and experience.
Holy shit, those goons have no idea what they've stirred up there...

Quote from: Aceraptor, 24-04-2010, 15:40:29
No, the Innersphere has no idea what will be/has been unleashed by giving loonies battle hardened, tech savvy, and most of all: trust worthy people. Kowloon troops armed with weapons that are actually up to snuff instead of old weapons, and the increase in living standards and better survival rate for babies due to upgrades in medical tech will mean Kowloon can field a much more potent army. Kowloonese masses of tanks armed with PPCs  :D

Quote from: Dave Talley, 24-04-2010, 16:43:47
didnt I read of the Kowloonese apropriating a warehouse of Amaris mechs durign the clean up?

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 24-04-2010, 16:45:05
Quote from: Aceraptor, 24-04-2010, 15:40:29
No, the Innersphere has no idea what will be/has been unleashed by giving loonies battle hardened, tech savvy, and most of all: trust worthy people. Kowloon troops armed with weapons that are actually up to snuff instead of old weapons, and the increase in living standards and better survival rate for babies due to upgrades in medical tech will mean Kowloon can field a much more potent army. Kowloonese masses of tanks armed with PPCs  :D

IIRC Kowloon is already producing munitions (or at least it was in earlier iterations) as well as spare parts for the Rommel/Patton tanks, which is why a Patton Chassis was chosen as the common vehicle when 'Miz Liz' built her 'dirt bag militia' army by the division, upon division.  They might tech up some, (plug and play omni turrets?) but I suspect that they'll be recognizable Patton variants in the armor pool.  Maybe with an LB-10X or Gauss Rifle replacing the old autocannons, but still the armor brick from hell.

Quote from: MechRat, 24-04-2010, 16:52:40
The Kowloonese are experts in taking outdated, obsolete, but functional military equipment and using it very effectively to hand their oppressors their backsides.  >:D
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:39:22
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 25-04-2010, 20:57:14]]


New Saigon, 16:46 Hours...

An SLDF Ripper is a fast bird, and quiet-still, it was loud enough that it drew attention when the Medevac flight arrived.

"Head trauma, some intestinal damage too, he's shocky and non-responsive." Tommy Waters recited, assisting the stretcher party.  "You know, Mosco's going to have a shit-fit over this."  Sgt. Yao told the young medic, "Not to mention the Captain's probably going to shit kittens himself, and you know this is going on the Major's morning reports..."

"I know.  I didn't hit the kid, but we don't get him to a trauma centre with competent docs soon, he's a dead kid." Waters said, climbing into the chopper with the patient.

"So, it was a bystander?" the Sgt. asked.

"No Sargeant, it was Dinh-the kid came at him with a gaff-hook and he nailed him with an E-tool." Waters told the senior medic.

"Why isn't he running to the chopper?" Yao demanded.

"He's negotiating with the kid's friends." Tommy told him, "He told me to get my ass back to base and make sure the Heinrich here doesn't die on the trip out."

"...****** better and better..."  The bird lifted and hauled ass out.


Dinh put his sidearm away,  as the ganger kids watched the Medevac bird pull out.  "Believe me now?" he asked.

"You're high-end, that is for damn certain, but you being a time-traveller?" the girl shook her head, "THAT is just plain nuts."

Dinh shrugged.  "You don't have to believe that part." he told her, "I didn't catch your handle, anyway..."

the girl laughed, "You can call me Red, it's good enough, I don't know you better enough for more."

"You can call me Chu'an, then, or Lance Corporal."  He said, "I am a Marine, even though I've done the last four years or so as part of...an army."

"Your docs any good?" she asked.

"Best available anywhere-at least, today." he said, "They put a face on a tanker who got hers burned off on Tamar. only took four months."

"You drink, Lance-Corporal? You might as well take the offer, if my boy dies, you're dying next." she said.

"I do, as a matter of fact, you know a good bar?" he responded.

"As a matter of fact...I do." she smiled, and suddenly, Dinh had zero doubts- 'Red' was actually a very pretty girl, if you ignored the buzz-cut and she bothered to smile...

"Let's have a drink, then."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:39:53
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 27-04-2010, 08:35:07]]


Nha Tranh, 21 January, 3052...

Elizabeth Ngo sat behind the large,  Bluewood desk in the Duke's office.  The overstuffed leather chair looked huge, as did most of the other furnishings in this room.

"I told you to withdraw the Militia from Ia Drang."  she didn't speak above a conversational tone.    "Do you want to explain to me why Percival Kruegar's still sitting on the Plateau, still chasing MY farmers, and trying to become a one-man drought machine in the most productive wheat and barley producing area on the continent?"

"That isnt the report I got-" Jim Condit began.

"That's the report I got, Governor." her tone slipped snake-like into cold menace.   "I tend to believe reports from the man I sent to intervene in the situation over reports from the man whose mistakes have CAUSED the situation."  she dropped a file folder on the desk between them.  "You're a fine 'mechwarrior, and according to AFFC files, a good soldier-apparently, the standards of discipline in the AFFC have degraded considerably-or are absent in the Federated Suns state.  You issued an order, your chief leutenant has disobeyed that order, I want him in this office by noon to-morrow, either under his own power, or in chains as a prisoner."

Condit frowned, "You can't order me to do that." he said.

"If you don't, I'm sure, given Sgt. Dayyan's report, Major Gilmour will be more than pleased to effect the removal and delivery-I probably won't even need to say 'please'."  Liz told him, "I already have material witnesses to misconduct on the part of your subordinate officers, including two being held pending courts-martial for extortion in rural areas west of the Iron Hills-one of which was caught red-handed in the act.  Outside the window, there?" she gestured to her left, "There's a fairly large yard, I'm sure we can put up scaffolding in short order, and rope has never been particularly expensive."

"Now see here, young lady..." He stood up, and leaned across the desk.  Elizabeth stood up, matching his menace with her own.  "I'm the governor!"

"You serve at the convenience of the State." she hissed back, "I have enough on you, Governor to put you in front of a tribunal for piracy, brigandage and treason.  Diverting military resources to the black market in the middle of an invasion, delays and lost munitions shipments that may well have cost the Commonwealth several worlds, and that's not even touching on charges of misconduct on domestic issues."  she glared hard at him.  "I'm half-certain I can find a replacement Regent who can add two plus two without putting four in his pocket to collect the national taxes, the only reason you've got any grace at all, is that, according to your file, you used to be a pretty good soldier and you served your nation once with distinction and honour-before I read that personnel jacket, I was going have you summarily executed as soon as I arrived.... now sit down, do you REALLY want to be known as the man who picks fights with little girls?"

Condit's face flushed,  and contorted, and then, he kind of 'slumped' back into his chair-broken.

"Bring Kreugar in, bring in his men." Elizabeth told him, "For now, I'm willing to overlook some irregularities in your administration as being the result of inadequate preparation and small misjudgements in selecting your subordinates-I'm more interested in un-doing damage, than carrying out punishment for past mis-deeds, make no mistake, I'm not going anywhere,  Mister Condit, the question being only a matter of whether I have to use this..." she laid a revolver on the table, "or if we can be civil about the transition, and in being civil, save the Federated Commonwealth billions in reconstruction costs."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:40:31
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 28-04-2010, 22:14:59]]


Nha Tranh Defense Centre, Three hours after the meeting with the Duchess...

"...can't do what she asks, we've almost got this won!"  Percival's face on the comm-screen was pale with frustration.

"Demands, Percy-and those damn Tigers are always nearby, not to mention her marines." Jim Condit stated,  "And she has black-mail as well-your contacts were not as thorough, apparently, as her people were, in shadowing the arms-sales."

"She's bluffing. She has to be-Dammit, Jim, the cut-outs should have worked, the ****** 'mechs alone were completely off-books, hell they didin't even know they HAD them!"  Kruegar's voice was emphatic over the encrypted channel.  "DMI scrubbed the data!"

"Well, if she knew, or if we could say it was a sanctioned op...but we can't. this is supposed to be totally black-bag, nothing leading back to DMI at all...and yet, she knows, and I think that Major knows too..." Condit was certain of it, in fact.

"We could make her disappear..." Percy said speculatively.

"Yeah, and bring what? a full investigation?  Percy, you've GOT to pull back from Ia Drang, the mission is bust, we've got to make sure it stays off-books, you remember the ****** on Glengarry? these people, they're worse, they're competent."  he stopped, and looked at his 'subordinate' (handler).

"No, we break the local resistance cells first Jim-the FedCom needs this planet pacified, hell, you remember what they did at Elbar-something like that today would bring in the REST of the Clans, Intel says there's about twenty of them, we've only seen five and look what they've done! fifteen more and the FedCom is just a memory."  Percy noted.

"So...we have to kill her, and we have to make it look like someone else." Condit said, "I hate you, Percy...I'll get our boys ready, you get your contacts to give me a riot that HAS to be put down."

"Be ready to-morrow at nine." Percy said, "I've got to make some calls..."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:40:59
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 28-04-2010, 22:50:04]]


New Saigon, Cowboy Street, Giao Vu Vao's Bar and grill...

"...not just a protection racket, then, you guys really do keep the neighbourhood...safe?" Dinh asked.

"Someone has to." Red told him, "It sure as hell isn't the Miliz who keep the muggers out and take out the pervs, rapists, and thrill killers from uptown-those hèn nhát show up once in a while with their armoured cars to collect protection money, or to squeeze the businesses for taxes, but they'll sit there and ignore an armed robbery in-progress-even right after they've been paid for the month."

"You only ignore it when you haven't been?" he asked.

"Gotta pay my people." Red told him with a shrug, "gotta eat my own self, it's not like WE get any of that tax."

she crooked a finger at the bar, and signalled two more drinks.

"My sister, she owns this restaraunt, right? she pays about half her official income to the Government, not including bribes to the various inspectors, or the vig for the Miliz to leave her alone...I get about ten percent of what's left, but we keep the place safe and open."  Red told him, "you clubbed Hektor, who's probably my best threat-man, he probably had it coming, he doesn't think much, but he's damn useful for scaring off the crooks who don't belong down here, and he's a good collection-agent for people who try to default on loans."

"Loansharking too?" Dinh shook his head. 

"Hey, I know Usury's a sin, but it's expensive maintaining patrols when there's a residential school here, and the pervos from up-town come stalking for poor kids who'll do anything for a Kroner." she told him,  "Some things you do not find in my territory-one of them, is underage prostitutes.  The other, is child-molesters. when we catch them, they go right into the river, in pieces, as chum."

"Things have gotten so bad..." he mumbled.  "When I left... I know you don't believe me, but when I left, New Saigon was going to be a...good place.  My uncles were going to build  a refrigerated warehouse, to process all the food from the farmsteads and fishing fleets that were going to be here..."

"Warehouse?" she asked, suddenly interested, "What was your uncle's name?"

"Li Vu Truong, he was going to call it 'universal Foods'..." Dinh was quite drunk, "his wife wanted to name it ..."

"...Đại tiệc."  Red interjected, "where was it going to be?" she asked, looking decidedly LESS drunk than she had a moment before.

"That vacant lot, on fourth, across from the docks." Dinh said.

"You think it wasn't built?" she asked.

"The lot is still vacant." he told her.

"It was.  It was destroyed about eighty years ago, our family lost...everything." she told him, "Taxes ate the insurance, there was nothing left to rebuild with, which is why Grandfather started a security firm, that had to go under-ground..."

"Makes me related to one of your ancestors, then." Dinh said.

"Yes, it does."  she answered.

"Wait...you don't think I am who I said I was..." Dinh started.

"Too many details, you've been babbling things an outsider wouldn't know, and not-knowing things an outsider would've known with a simple records-search." she told him, "I've been paying attention, you know...have another drink, and tell me some war-stories, please?"

"I don't have any good war-stories." Dinh told her, "only bad ones."

"bad ones work." she said.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:42:40
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 28-04-2010, 23:13:55]]


0700 Local, Mosovich Farm...

"dad?" Evelyn Mosovich looked in to her father's eyes, but there was no recognition there. 

"Where's Jeff?" the old man asked. 

She looked at Cynthia Vanh, who shrugged.

"he's not coming here today." Evelyn told him.

"I've got to get these papers signed..." he said plaintively, "For the good of the country..."

She reached down, and took the papers from him.  "I'll take care of this." she told her father, "not to worry."

"They're very important..." her father told her.

"I know." she told him, "they'll be taken care of..."

Cynthia followed Evelyn out of the den, and closed the door.

"That was close." She said.

Evelyn looked at the deed.  "yeah...too close.  Who's 'Jeff', because I know it isn't my brother-he died in the war of '39."

"Might be Neumann, or one of Kreugar's people." Cynthia told her.

"ah...well, 'Jeff' is no longer welcome on this property." Evelyn said, "and Dad's not to see anyone from town, nobody who isn't in the Association, as a matter of fact, and nobody without you, or me in the room."

"what about the deeds?" Cynthia asked.

"Those are staying with me for now." Evelyn told her, "Dad can't sign away the lands if he can't find the paperwork."

"Right."




Quote from: MechRat, 29-04-2010, 01:29:30
Poor Jim, he had his easy way out... ::) He and Percival will be lucky if they die in combat.  >:D

One thing I've always liked about the Kowloonese - they take care of their own. O0 I think that the Tigers will make a great addition to the world because they believe the same about family.

Quote from: Hadrian, 29-04-2010, 03:06:29
The Black Tigers are probably the only SLDF unit in history that can take and hold Kowloon with little, if any, trouble.  They could even get the loonies to pay their taxes.

Pity the house lord who wants to raise the taxes unfairly though. >:D

Quote from: Headshot, 29-04-2010, 03:20:17
Because they wouldn't TAKE Kowloon.
They would be invited....!  ;) ;)

Quote from: MechRat, 29-04-2010, 04:15:13
Precisely! I think that the Tigers and Kowloon are a very good fit. Both believe that you take care of family. If you want a fight, they'll be happy to oblige. However, if you mess with the civilians, all bets are off and they'll do whatever it takes to remove you from existence. In the process, they'll make a great example of you to make sure everyone else gets the hint. >:D

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 29-04-2010, 04:54:26
Unofficial propaganda/recruitment poster, a Kowloonese child cuddling up to a very big lounging Tiger.  On the official version there is blood and green feathers around it's mouth.  The underground versions replace the feathers with scraps of local pirate insignia, or bits of FedCom BDUs.  If you look closer you see the 'child' also has an equally bloody knife.

Did Kipling's works make it to Kowloon?  You could give the above a bit of 'The Jungle Book' feel.

As a more practical matter the 90th is using old SLDF regs that let them request support, including covering their payroll, directly from a member state while being 'out of contact with central command'.  Could Liz and Kowloon provide direct support to the 90th and claim it against their taxes?  "We already gave at the office."  O0

Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 29-04-2010, 11:30:13
Quote from: MechRat, 29-04-2010, 01:29:30
Poor Jim, he had his easy way out... ::) He and Percival will be lucky if they die in combat.  >:D

One thing I've always liked about the Kowloonese - they take care of their own. O0 I think that the Tigers will make a great addition to the world because they believe the same about family.

You might want to change that to "most likely".  ;D

Quote from: MechRat, 29-04-2010, 12:09:15
I suppose you could. However, my intent was that they would be lucky if they did die in combat, because if they don't and Liz finds out, they might find themselves on the receiving end of an "Elbar toothpick" or something equally "fun".  >:D

Quote from: Hadrian, 29-04-2010, 13:05:24
If ever you needed proof that the average IQ of an IS citizen is only slightly higher than a cabbage, it has to be when people in authority (who probably got there by been smarter and more cunning that everybody else)

1. Pick a fight with the Loonies
2.  Pick a fight with an Ngo
3. Do either of the above when the 90th is in orbit "visiting their old friends"

Doing all three pretty much states loud and clear that the gene pool is less a pool with you at the shallow end, more a puddle.

I'm curious just how "crazy" Liz is given her bloodline.

Colonel Ngo who served with the 90th against Amaris was an honourable, respected, disciplined and stable man who though up the "Elbar toothpick".  Ngos in general have almost iconic status among those people that they don't terrify yet not one (among those mentioned anyway) has any short term problem using methods that are "ANY means to an end".

Quote from: Headshot, 30-04-2010, 06:50:05
Quote from: Hadrian, 29-04-2010, 13:05:24
1. Pick a fight with the Loonies
2.  Pick a fight with an Ngo
3. Do either of the above when the 90th is in orbit "visiting their old friends"

Makes you wonder if the Darwin Awards are still around in a thousand years...  ;D
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:43:06
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 29-04-2010, 21:58:02]]


Nha Tranh, những vườn đẹp housing project, unit 22...

"You're buying a house."  Bruce Gilmour said.  "You're the Duchess of the planet, you've got a ducal palace, and you're buying a House?"

Elizabeth nodded, "yeah, a house, Major."  the car rolled to a halt in the middle of  a cul-de-sac in what was clearly going to be a suburban crackerbox development.  "Consider: one of the best ways to drain a noble's income is hospitality, correct? and you've GOT to know how much maintaining a twelve-thousand square meter fortified  residence costs-if you don't, it's more than the Star League paid your unit in a year, and it's a recurring expense."  she opened the door, and they stepped out, onto the new hot-top pavement.  "Modern electronics allows us to network sites across continental land-masses, even across whole star-systems, there's no reason to LIVE in the middle of a military base, if your job isn't directly in the military...and fortresses draw fire, and cost a bloody fortune to repair after a raid..." she walked across the new sod-based lawn.  "Meanwhile, the government of a planet should not be something requiring twenty-four-hour supervision from a micromanagement position, but even if it did, civilian-grade communications can be handled through any one of a thousand brands of multirouter server farms, the more dispersed said farms are, the less likely they are to fail due to a single event-such as, say, an enemy slamming missiles into our aforementioned twelve-thousand-square meter fortified residence...on the other hand, there are defined advantages to being able to see the people one is responsible for governing-and not just when it's most convenient."

"What about the Ducal residence, then? you're going to let it fall down?" Luis Alvarez asked.

"Nope.  THAT is going to be the home of the elected legislature, and as a museum, some of the old ducal grounds will also be converted to provide educational opportunities as a university." Elizabeth said, "We haven't had a proper university since the destruction of Dinh Diep."

"bad place for a military academy..." Alvarez observed.

"of course." Liz told him, "THAT is going to be somewhere out west-where there's room.  I'm thinking maybe Vin Drin Lap or Ben Hoa, probably Ben Hoa since it's got a variety of terrain and climate, and a very low population density in spite of access to three lines of travel in and out...the Nha Tranh university will be focused on the arts of peace, and more specifically, on governance and philosophy, with a business school on the side to teach realistic economic models...I intend to leave a functional, ethical, and effective civil service when I die, rather than the mish-mash that crippled Kowloon when Marjorie Ngo's term as President ended, it's the lack of an effective civilian government and...god help me... Bureaucracy that has kept this world swinging wildly between short terms of prosperity, and long stretches of...not prosperity."

"and the House idea?" Bruce pressed.

"Simple enough-Duchess is a job, Major.  It's what I do, if I let it decide who I am, I'll end up making the kind of domestic errors Condit's made.  Dad was right about that, but not the way he thought he was-the trappings of power can become a straitjacket of the mind.  To govern Kowloon, you have to at least TRY to grasp what the people are really thinking-you can't do that behind ferrocrete walls with guard-towers, surrounding manicured gardens and populated by those with a defined need to agree with you in order to remain employed, healthy, or at times in our history, alive."

"Dangerous.  an area like this is free range for assassins." Alvarez pointed out.

"Yeah, I know...if I do my job right, those assassins will be stopped before they get in range...because they'll have to move through an area where the people KNOW who belongs, and unlike a Palace, uniforms or other typical disguises won't be much use-an offworlder would have a hell of a time blending in without years of training, with luck, by the time I really NEED to worry about that, I'll already be dead, or in so much pain the death would be a release, and it would profit them not-because I intend to build a system into being that doesn't need me, or anyone like me, to function."



Quote from: MechRat, 30-04-2010, 07:56:46
Quote from: Cannonshop, 29-04-2010, 21:58:02
those with a defined need to agree with you in order to remain employed, healthy, or at times in our history, alive."

A very eloquent way of defining a "yes-man". ;D O0

Quote from: Headshot, 30-04-2010, 06:50:05
Makes you wonder if the Darwin Awards are still around in a thousand years...  ;D

If not, they should be.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:44:06
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 30-04-2010, 22:48:01]]


Nha Tranh Hilton, Suite 223...

"...stalled the project five years ago." Elizabeth finished, and looked up.  "That development I took you to, Bruce. it was stalled at Regent's order after an argument with the developer partnership."

"What was the argument about?" Gilmour asked, bored out of his mind.

"Fees." she said, "apparently, the regency government wanted some additional fees levied, the developers called them unfair, there was a court-fight, they were fined, and fined again...until they were insolvent, then the land reverted to..." she put the reader down.  "Okay, now that shit is just wrong."

"What?" he looked at her.

"The land was shuffled into Condit's wife's accounts." she said, "There's an injunction pending at the Province court on Coventry, which is why nobody's been able to finish it...and there's back-taxes owed, but nobody's willing to claim them until the lawsuit's settled...there's more, there's some odd 'imminent domain' cases going on out west."

"Not in Ia Drang, though?" he asked.

"Not there, this stuff's around Evelyn's place." she said.  "Hinky stuff-most of that area's cattle country, mineral-poor, so why would the AFFC consider ANY of it to be 'strategically significant'?"

"Show me a map, maybe I can tell you." he said.

she passed him a map. "These areas in red? they were grabbed last year, there are bills of lading for logistics units moving in, and coming out over a two week period, there hasn't been anything since...but the DO correspond to a Bandit raid about a month later-whatever was pulled out of there was left at a storage depot outside Vin Drin Lap..."

"Which was hit by our bandits." Bruce finished.

"Yeah.  Precise too..." she said.

"We knew he was dealing with Bandits, what did they pull out of that area, I wonder..?"  He frowned, "Got any vid from the Bandits?"

Elizabeth sifted through the data for .Vid files...

"Yeah, one shot taken by a schoolteacher in VDL." she said, "and some stills taken by residents near the attack site."

He took the files, and opened them.

Bruce Gilmour cursed... he cursed a LOT.

"What?" Liz asked.

"Sam gave your illustrious ancestor the contents of a capture depot when the rest of the one-seven-one went home." he said.  "I know those 'mechs, Liz-they must've felt a need to hide 'em, then forgot where."

He reached over and grabbed a small, leather-bound book off the table-a book Liz had shown him, Tranh Truk Ngo's war-journal.

He thumbed through the pages to to the date...

"There-son of a bitch...Liz..." he handed it to her,  "Those were supposed to be for YOUR people-they're yours."

"I think we can dispense with the formalities now." Liz said.  "Screw looking 'legitimate' to outsiders, Bruce, screw trying to make nice.  I want him arrested, I want his man Percival arrested, I want trideo cameras present..."

"watch it, kiddo." he cautioned, "You've got a lot to lose in this."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:44:38
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 01-05-2010, 09:16:14]]


Ia Drang...

"I've got a comms intercept, Sargeant."  Radioman 2nd Amy Vu was a treasure Moshe had spotted during their brief stay on Spider Moon.  While being slightly overweight, acne-scarred, and nearsighted, she was a first-rate slicer-or as close to one as anybody in these degraded times. 

"talk to me, Vu." he said, sitting up.

"They're going to move on the Duchess." she said, "They're also going to try and move on the Tigers."

"When?" he asked, pulling his web-gear on.

"Tonight or tomorrow, early.  We picked it up on the encrypted Miliz channels." she said.

"Forward it to Sledgehammer, then put in calls to the Rabbi and the Preacher..and kick a copy to Dee-Dee."

"Did that already." she said.

"Good.  any orders from Bruce?" he asked.

"Not yet, then again, two-way leaves us exposed to detection, right?" she asked.

"Right. Okay, I guess it's my judgement..."  wish I had a staff officer...shit, wish I had a properly trained officer...oh well, Cap'n said this was my show...  "We're going to go out and play, get me a tac-map up, and see if you can't get a link to the Rachel Zabel on TacNet."

"What's the first target, Sargeant?" she asked.

"We need to suppress their airfields, preferably take 'em intact so our air-support can get in for a refuel." He said,  "The Plateau's big, Percy can't keep all that armour out in the field without aerial resupply, and if we've got air-support, it might offset the advantage he's got with his 'mechs."




Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 01-05-2010, 10:30:31
We start with refusing to follow lawful orders, with sides of barratry, rapine and treason, and rapidly descend to mutiny and (hopefully attempted) regicide.

You know at this point Condit is handing Liz all the excuse she needs to legitimately have him summarily executed.  Hell in some circles of the FedCom she might be applauded for doing so.

Quote from: Paladin1, 01-05-2010, 10:51:41
He'll be lucky if he's "summarily" executed.  More than likely he's got a date with a pike now.  Wonder when it's going to dawn on the Miliz that they've just opened up a whole case of whoopass and spilled it all over themselves.

Quote from: Muttley, 01-05-2010, 11:40:12
Sheesh you guys are amateurs.  The only appropriate method is an Elbar Toothpick.

Quote from: Hadrian, 01-05-2010, 11:49:45
Quote from: Paladin1, 01-05-2010, 10:51:41
He'll be lucky if he's "summarily" executed.  More than likely he's got a date with a pike now.  Wonder when it's going to dawn on the Miliz that they've just opened up a whole case of whoopass and spilled it all over themselves.

Hopefully, about the same time they discover that theirs mechs were junk when they faced the 90th the first time.  Several centuries have NOT improved them.

The 90th's Light mechs can claim to killing what would pass today as decent heavy mechs (hecs and such).

Quote from: MechRat, 01-05-2010, 15:08:53
Quote from: Muttley, 01-05-2010, 11:40:12
Sheesh you guys are amateurs.  The only appropriate method is an Elbar Toothpick.

You hit the nail on the head... >:D
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:45:06
[[Posted by blacktigeractual 01-05-2010, 18:00:32]]


So to sum it all up we’ve got top of the line Rim Worlds gear in the hands of the Regent all out playing a big extortion racket…and you know they ain’t the POS claptraps even the best of these FedCom kids are playing with.  You remember how bad a 7J Heck could be in the right hands….Anyway look I’ve got a little problem, you remember that disease Colonel Tranh had, the bad one, our future landlord has it too.  I’ve got an idea…it was Kitty-Kat’s idea really…it’s called a Trial of Possession…

I attached the file Kat had prepared to the file and zipped it off to Petey Graves, the Sledgehammer’s comm officer to send up to the Rachel Z.  It’d get to Sam in a week or so, plenty of time, through the lovely little smugglers network we’d hooked up with through Lizzie.

“You’re really suggesting the Old Man goes after the Clans…”  Even after knowing me for almost a decade I still manage to freak out ‘Rat occasionally. 

“I think the feddies won’t mind getting their paws on some cutting edge Clan medtech…”

“Dude the puppies won’t just let us waltz in there and walk off with their toys.” 

“Not if we were run of the mil spheroids as they put it, but y’know we’re us and all, ‘sides Kat gave me a list of stuff to grab and people to steal,” I grinned my “pirate” smile then.  Sarah, Zeus what I wouldn’t give…  I held on to that grin despite the pain that never really went away.  “Plus she gave me how to go about it and who to talk to.”

Catching my look ‘Rat’s eyes widened.  “You mean, that Nasty bitch.”

“Yup, the Widow her own self.”  I shrugged and shook my head.  “C’mon we’ve got an op to plan.”




Quote from: Jimmyray73, 01-05-2010, 18:07:37
Well, Mechrat does have a weakness for redheads doesn't he?  >:D

Quote from: wolfcannon, 01-05-2010, 18:40:37
*beats image out of my head with sledgehammer*

Quote from: RRCavscout, 02-05-2010, 05:36:30
Quote from: Jimmyray73, 01-05-2010, 18:07:37
Well, Mechrat does have a weakness for redheads doesn't he?  >:D

Yes, he does. >:D And not always to his benefit...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:45:33
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 01-05-2010, 20:55:04]]


New Saigon...

The Rimjob soldier kicked at him, checking to see if he was dead.  Dinh held still, while the enemy trooper poked him again, then, he felt the ground shift and warm, and the ****** started pushing the hair away from his forehead. cold metal touched his forehead... he opened his eyes, and the enemy trooper's eyes went wide with surprise, knife still in hand...

Dinh sat up suddenly, but this wasn't... instead of a damp swampy forest, he was in a dry, whitewashed room, for a few more moments, he didn't know where he was.

"mmm..hey you okay there, tiger?"  a female voice asked drowsing.

And Dinh knew where he was...and who was in the bed next to him.

"Just...bad dreams." he said, and glanced at the alarm chrony on the bedstead.  0300 hours...

"Want to go again?" she asked, cuddling up to him.

why not?  "Sure, you up for it?"

Sex, after all, is better than nightmares.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:46:11
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 01-05-2010, 23:06:09]]


Grid 22, Mosovich Ranch area, next door to Vanh Farm...

Evelyn lowered her optics, and looked over at Cheryl Vanh.  "Get riders up to the Truong place, tell 'em there's a column of trouble coming, then start making calls to the other ranches in the area-move families out to winter quarters...GO!"

she raised the optics again, and muttered a curse under her breath.  In the distance, about twenty five kilometers out, a column of Scorpion light tanks were rolling out of the Militia base at Vin Drin Lap, above them, Ferret scout helicopters buzzed like wasps, and at the rear of the column, a short-lance of 'mechs trundled along escorted by personnel carriers.

Tracks and 'mechs can follow horse-country, but those APC's are strictly wheeled jobs...  she looked over, watching as Cheryl's pickup rumbled out of the hide, and started accellerating down the logging road.

She reached down, and pulled out the comm-unit.

"Tiger Six, Tiger Six, this is Scarface Actual,  we have a situation, Over."  come on...need an airstrike...

Benjamin Ranch, Grid 34...

"Dust cloud...looks like...shit!" Dallas Benjamin grabbed the reins, "Jordan, get back to the house-looks like the Extortion racket's moving on the Truongs, an' they're gonna need help, and get the kids out into the Folly, this is probably going to be messy."

"Where are you going?" Jordan Benjamin asked.

"I'm going to see if I can get a better look at that armoured column, keep the chicken-band on channel sixteen." Dallas told him,  "Someone's got to keep eyes on that bunch..."

Chu'an place, Grid 40...

"...Cheryl called, there's an armoured column with chopper support moving up from town."  Ing Chu'an told her husband.

"Honey, take the kids up into the high country, I'm going out with our hired men, we're going to drop some trees on that road." Dinh Chu'an said, "and pass word to the Benjamins and the Sarofsky's, we may need help extracting our dumb asses from what's on the way."

"You're going to go play ARMY? at YOUR age??" his wife barked.

"Dear, just get our daughter and her children up to the east range, I'll come get you when it's over, I promise not to do anything excessively stupid..." he said, reaching into the barn's cache, and pulling out  bundles of explosive.  "Now go."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:46:42
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 01-05-2010, 23:34:51]]


Ia Drang, old tunnels...

"...nice bunker complex." Moshe commented.

"leftovers from the independence years." Rabbi Nguyen told him, "not much use now, except as a place to store things." 

They reached a circular room ten meters across, with a walkway and railing around the perimeter.  "Like water?" Moshe asked.

"Yeah.  Old missile silos make pretty decent cisterns." the Rabbi said, "best of all, they're not on the maps."

"maybe not, I'd not count on Percy and friends ignoring history books over-much." Moshe commented.

"Well...there is that.  We're not keeping any civilians in these old complexes, so we only have to worry about the water." the Rabbi told him, "Now...what's your plan, why did you need to see this?"

Moshe looked at the roof.  "Ten meters across, and twenty deep, Rabbi, and it's water.  I want to make a trap here, then lure their 'mechs into attacking it."

Nguyen thought a moment.  "Might work, might work better if we had enough ECM going to jam their sensors so that they don't know where they're walking, or what on..."




Quote from: Hadrian, 02-05-2010, 09:44:32
Of the list of things that the loonies and the tigers have in common, I didn't expect "if your equipment isn't good enough, steal some from somebody who has some" to be one of them. ;)

If ever a match was made in heaven (or hell if your on the other side), then the loonies "make the best of what you've got" attitude and the tigers "we've got the best, what you got" is it.

While the "deux ex machina" feeling of the best SLDF division in history finding a home on the only planet in existence where the people are practical born to be Tigers is obvious, got to say, I don't care since I like the story (and any story involving either the loonies or the tigers) too much. :)

All I need now is for Clan Wolverine (or 331st SLDF Division) to turn up and thats all my favourite story arcs in one story.  Please :)

Quote from: lowrolling71, 02-05-2010, 12:51:54
Now this is why I love this thread. Only the 90th would be crazy enough to plan an objective raid against the Clans while simultaneously overthrowing a corrupt government.

Quote from: Paladin1, 02-05-2010, 13:29:44
You know, lack of a decent core force of 'Mechs has always been a weakness that the 'loonies have had to deal with but with the Tigers here now to fulfill that role, I'd hate to see just how dangerous this crew can be.

Just hate to see it, understand?  ;)

Quote from: ferret825, 02-05-2010, 23:46:56
@lowrolling71: I'm not sure whether they're the only ones crazy enough to try, or just the only folks with the equipment on hand to have a shot at pulling it off.  I've got a funny feeling that a lot of spheroid factions would have the chutzpah to try this sort of stunt given the royal grade mechs and other technical advantages available to the Tigers.  Either way, the Kowloon regent's lads should be a rollover before the main event with the Wolves.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:49:38
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 03-05-2010, 14:53:43]]


Quote
HPG ROUTING ARL1312LCNW10/HESP2410LCSW8200001033052

Class: BUSMILROUTINE

To: Management liason Tom Brewer, Plant supervision and maintenance, Defiance Hesperus
From: Ngo Industries Billing and Contracts Deptartment c/o Elaine Moriarty, Counsel

RE:Delinquent Payment Past Due negotiations.

Review of Contract# 616837, update of DefHes 1 to Star League standards shows an outstanding balance of 1.237 billion
Kroner, with a contract penalty of 15% per annum for past-due accounts.  Your last payment rendered was October, 3051,
with service contracts past-due.  Defiance is a valued customer of Ngo Industries and we would hate to be forced to
pursue legal action in collecting this un-paid balance, particularly in light of the current national emergency.

As your firm has not submitted any complaints or issues with the tooling we have supplied them with, and as balance sheet
reports for 4th Quarter, FY 3051 shows both increased orders, and increased revenue, as well as an increased pace of
production at DefHes#1,  we do not find any issues which might justify this oversight.

Contacts with your accounts pending offices, as well as a review under the open-books agreement, indicate that Defiance
Hesperus certainly has the funds to pay this outstanding invoice.   

If there is an adequate reason prompt payment can not be rendered in currency form, I am authorized to negotiate
payments-in-kind for the value of the outstanding balance, on behalf of my Employer, Ngo Industries.

 
Quote
HPG ROUTING HESPLCSW8070001133052/2410/ARL1312
Class: BUSMILROUTINE
 
To: Elaine Moriarty, Counsel, Ngo Industries Billing and Contracts dept.
From: Manager Tom Brewer, Defiance Hesperus

RE:Contract #615837

My deepest sincere apologies as to the mix-up.  Our records show that a request was tendered on behalf of Her Grace
Elizabeth Ngo, by her (then) legal guardian Sir James Condit, Regent of Kowloon,  to divert payment to account #A1325C22 Bank
of New Avalon. 

While a subordinate of mine questioned the instruction to transfer, the paperwork looked perfectly legal and legitimate.   
It has come to my attention that this is not the case, and that Her Grace, the owner of your firm, is currently in a somewhat
unstable legal status, pending a ruling by the Commonwealth Courts as to her right to pursue legal Emancipated Minor status.

It is not the policy of Defiance Hesperus to short-change our contractors, sub-contractors, or suppliers.  Payment on the
transfer has been halted, and legal action is pending to recover these funds.  As the current national emergency HAS
created something of a bottleneck, and inter-state funds transfers may be delayed (not the least of which pending a similar
ruling in the FedSuns state regarding the legality of the transaction), Defiance Hesperus is willing to discuss alternative
Payment structures to satisfy the outstanding balance due Ngo Industries for the refit of the Defiance Hesperus #1 facility,
as well as negotiations for a contract extension to build additional capacity to meet new orders, as we are finding it some-
what difficult to keep up with demands imposed by the current military emergency, and the flood of new orders.

I would like to take this opportunity to submit both mine, and my family's condolences to Lady Ngo, and our sincerest
sympathies on her loss, as well as my personal hope that the long business relationship our two firms have shared
continues.

Tom Brewer




Quote from: croaker, 03-05-2010, 15:50:36
... he stole HOW MUCH???

Right.

Sorry, but an Elbar Toothpick's too good for him.

'Lowered one centimeter per hour into a vat of hydrochloric acid' is starting to sound good.

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 03-05-2010, 15:55:54
Embezzlement, interfering with critical Defense Industries in a Time of War (If Ngo industries gets into a snit with DefHes, who really wants them to upgrade another line to LosTech standards, and turn out those weapons to fight the Green Turkeys).  Any friends Condit (or his handler) might have in high places are gonna deny they ever knew the man.  They'll be to busy ducking the shit hitting the fan.

Quote from: Muttley, 04-05-2010, 16:11:41
thats Billions with a B...

Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 03-05-2010, 16:30:37
Whether it's "1.237" or "1,237" billion, Condit has to be one greedy bastard be to be also going after a few 1000 acres. Geez, one wonder he got caught.

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 03-05-2010, 16:43:07
Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 03-05-2010, 16:30:37
Whether it's "1.237" or "1,237" billion, Condit has to be one greedy bastard be to be also going after a few 1000 acres. Geez, one wonder he got caught.

I'm getting the impression Condit is the front man for some kind of operation.

Quote from: Headshot, 03-05-2010, 17:18:33
Yup, the way they discussed "nothing" leading back to DMI earlier...

Quote from: Jimmyray73, 03-05-2010, 17:40:26
The only time that "nothing" ever truly leads to "nothing" is when nobody has actually done anything..  When somebody has done something and convinced people (perhaps including themselves) that nothing leads back to them it just makes the fall from grace that much funnier...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:50:29
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 04-05-2010, 17:34:47]]


Chapter 3; Business as usual
In which we learn no matter how things change most stuff never does
.

I asked Sam to send me Kelly and Marissa from medical.  Not for their medical knowhow, but because they’d been through hell during the occupation and recovered way better than anyone could have expected.  Somebody closer to Elizabeth Ngo’s age might help.  Damnit that kids throws me sometimes.  Just once she needs to break down, just once she needs to be a ****** kid.

Sent ‘Rat and Elizabeth Hazen down to the plateau to hook up with Moshe, good man, but he needs more firepower thus ‘Rat, and well Lizzie Hazen…you figure it out.  Okay gotta go, The Terrible Two are yipping at my heels (Sound of a smack) Yaaah, Zeus above Yuri….


Bruce’s private journal made available by ComStar April of 3100

Mallory Vinson-Tollenson stretched in the cockpit of her HET-7D Hecatoncheires; the three hundred year old machine was in perfect condition, having been sealed up in its shipping crate in an underground bunker.  What struck Mallory was her ride was so damn cool running.

A live fire exercise the ‘Mech barely hit the yellow zone.

I’d have loved to take this baby girl up against the Clans…but I guess these Terrans will have to do.

The thought made her nervous though, somebody had leaked guncam footage of these Tigers from the battle for Terra.  Jock one of Condit’s computer people had actually vouchsafed them.  Nasty bit of a toss that… Still Mallory was or had been a member of the 4th Davion Guards…no has-bens from the past were going to faze her.

It was then her sensors spouted a warning just as a disturbingly familiar shape appeared on the horizon and her speakers crackled with a strangely accented voice.

“Warrior, I am Katya Kerensky, warrior of the 90th Heavy Assault, face me!”  With that the MadCat opened fire.




Quote from: Headshot, 04-05-2010, 18:47:17
Lol, if anyone knows how to beat up Hecs, its the Tigers...

Its quite funny really. They kicked the Rimmers across the Sphere, when they showed up again bitch-slapped the Black Widow herself, but here comes little Molly in her cool new ride! A ride the Tigers know better than she ever will...

Quote
I’d have loved to take this baby girl up against the Clans
Be careful what you wish for... >:D
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:50:59
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 04-05-2010, 20:53:59]]


Brigham Young Village, Ia Drang Plateau, Kowloon...

The Madcat on the south edge of the village common was laying down a massive stream of long-range fire, meanwhile Moshe was helping the local elders in getting the civilians moving out of town, in the opposite direction-the Rimjobs...scratch that, these aren't Rimjobs, dammit! he reminded himself fiercely, the Militia had finally gotten tired of waiting at the well-head, and were actively moving to suppress the 'soft rebellions' of the farming communities.

Thunder and violence pealed through the air, as he hoisted a runny-nosed little girl into the back of a 7 tonne produce truck that was now, for the time being, taking the place of something more suitable.

"Careful..." he said,  lifting the rear gate and securing the latches.  He walked up to the driver's door. "Drive Northwest and keep going until..."  another crack, and the roof of a house ignited-a missed laser shot, probably.  "...Until you don't hear that anymore." he said, "Follow the route as best you can, but don't stop for anything that you don't have to until you're clear of the fighting, now GO."

The truck lurched and rumbled off, the faces of children and women peering between the slats of the stake-bed.

"That's the last of them?" he asked the Preacher.

"Yeah, we've got riders out in the outlying farms, but that's everyone from the ville itself...everyone, that is, who ain't fit to fight." the Preacher told him.

"Right...okay, we don't have a lot of time before the support-forces following that Hec get here, get able-bodied men working on unloading those pallets and..." He pulled out a map-flimsy, "Teams setting up mines here...and here...every location marked red on this-got it? they MUST go in those locations, friendly forces are coming, and we can't have friendly-fire incidents with this stuff."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:51:23
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 04-05-2010, 21:23:01]]


Chu'an Access Road, Grid 41, Golden Lake District Southeast, foothills of Iron Hill range...


The column of vehicles rumbled up the narrow roadway, choppers on the flanks and a pair of 'mechs bounding along the verge, occasionally the 'mechs would go fully off the road, and into the forest, likely to flush anything  or anyone hiding there.


The Chu'an place had old-growth forest on it, much of it kept along the main road as a noise buffer.  In the Grid 41 area, the access road was cut into a steep hillside, during round-up season, they had to use unmuffled Motorcycles and cub airplanes to keep the beasts on the road until they reached the lowlands.  Yearly, of course, tehre were losses, but in general, this link between the summer range and winter range worked well enough...

"They must think we're stupid."  Dinh Chu'an commented dryly.  "Who would try to ambush anyone from down hill?"

"Maybe that's how they do it on Filtvelt?"  Sam Wong speculated,  "Could be why they get hit by tortuga so often..." the hired foreman added, "You were right-they're going to try and back-way it into the Truong place across your land."

Dinh just scowled, and nodded.  "Everything is exactly where I told you to place it?" he asked.

"Within half a meter." Sam said.

"Better be, or I'm cutting your damn pay." Dinh Chu'ang said, "Tell Raktaja and Smith to get ready, I'm about to widen the roadway a bit."

"Well, once you have us clear the debris..." Sam mock-complained.

"Hey, I'm reliving a youth wasted in service to the Lyran Commonwealth, you keep that in mind..." Dinh said, and closed the contacts.


speaker-wire, more commonly referred to in military circles as "Commo wire" costs about 5/100ths of a Kroner per meter, it doesn't carry much of a charge, and with the old barbed wire fencing in the area, doesn't show up well on 'mech sensors.

Ammonium-nitrate based fertilizers make a fine "Low energy" explosive-lots of 'Push', very useful for road-building, quarry work, or any other job where you need to break something strong, but brittle.  Nitroglycerine, of course, is the first HIGH explosive, and while not much compared to Pentaglycerine (its five hundered years of development descendent), it is quite sufficient both to initiate AnFo, and to generate "Shearing" forces when a small amount is placed into a hole drilled in the base of a tree...


The detonations didn't sound so much like in the movies-there were some loud 'Cracking' noises as the forest-giants along the road were cut down by blasts near their roots-blasts carefully plotted to lay them across the road in a stitch pattern-both inflicting damage on the lighter vehicles, and forcing the column to a halt.

The AnFo, on the other hand, generated a low, grinding rumble.  This rumble coming from a good deal further up-slope,and increasing in intensity, as the landslide picked up speed and additoinal material.

"Now, if I did my math right, the felled logs, and the trapped vehicles, are gonna be JUST enough mass to slow that down-so it'll pile up on top."  Dinh lectured,  "raises the roadbed a good six meters, I reckon, and makes a nice, wide spot we can put to use later..." 

For the Militia force, the Hill itself just...

moved, rolling down on top of them with crushing force, boulders the size of light tanks, and a wave of sandy earth and splintered wood mixed with alluvial gravel, burying vehicles and felled trees, filling air-intakes with dust and weapons ports with packed grit in seconds.

"I think them choppers are going to have a new job-getting their men out of those APC's before they suffocate, don't you?" Dinh commented with a delighted tone.

"I think so..." Sam just stared, as the hill finished burying the middle of the armoured column.

"Keep an eye on 'm a bit, Sam, if they start looking like they're getting their act together, look for the guy with the Pistol, or a guy with a radio, and put one right...here." he pointed at the base of his own throat, "it won't kill 'm right away, they'll have to stop what they're doing and get him help."

"Right sir..."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:52:15
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 04-05-2010, 21:35:46]]


Militia Command Centre, Vin Drin Lap...

"...repeat, avoid all narrow passes, they've started using mines!"  Leutnant Phlip Heiser wasn't really trained for this-his job, for the most part, was sitting in the command centre, relaying information to the Hauptmann (who wasn't present, going on three days now) and subordinate units in the zone.

That was before Leutnant Helver and Lt. Norton were ambushed by insurgents while making a surprise flank run at the place the insurgents were suspected of holding  Neumann's platoon.  Kruegar, the commander of the garrison, was also missing, leaving Heiser in nominal command with the loss of all three combat-arms officers.

"dammit, I got a 'D' in Tactics..." he muttered, "barely graduated...god-dammit!"  one of the enlisted looked up from a terminal.

"Sir?" the soldier asked, looking concerned.  Heiser treated his people well-they were friends...  sort of, as much as the chain of command would allow, anyway. 

"Anything from Air-Recon?" he asked.

"Isolated heat-sigs, sir, but they're...fuzzy. could be people, could be animals." the young soldier said.

"See if you can clear up the imagery." Heiser told him,  "We don't have the firepower now to just blast away at anything that MIGHT be a legitimate target."

"Yes sir."  the young specialist replied.

Heiser sat back and fumed, if only they hadn't taken our best up on the damn plateau! if only...if only I wasn't such a screw-up that they send me here to serve these imbeciles!

For a brief moment,  he realized what a shitty job he had, working for the Regency.  over-ranked tech weenie...yeah, now I'm in command and I'm ****** collapsing!  he sighed again.  "Any word from our comrades?" he asked.

"No sir, at least, nothing for US-I think they ignored your request for support, sir." Sargeant Leslie O'Brien said-as she said everything, primly.

"****** them." Heiser said, "Who wants to fight the people we're supposed to be protecting, raise your hands?"

"Sir, that's mutiny..." someone said.

"So it is, raise your DAMN Hands!" Heiser commanded.

Nobody moved.

"Me either. ****** this shit...Lennart, who's on the 'bad list' with OUR commander? who's a 'troublemaker and potential leader of troublemakers'?"

"um...you want the whole list, or just the top three?" Lennart asked.

"Top ONE." Heiser said.

"That would be..." he pulled up the list, "Locally it would be Evelyn Mosovich-she's just back from the Clan front, there was an order to see if we could detain her for anything...suspicious."

"Get me her on the telephone, or the radio, and see if you can't find that Coast Guard officer, what'sername, Huyn?"

"Why, sir?" Lennart asked.

"Because, I'm sick of this.  I'm sick of looking away while senior officers violate their oaths, and I'm sick to death of drinking to a stupor every night because I'm duty-bound to support them." Heiser said, "I think most of you are, too-and if we Do NOT get a cease-fire out there, we're going to be dealing with a lot of dead friends who didn't have the chance to reconsider what they were doing, or whether the orders they were obeying were legal and right."

"Before we do that, sir..?"  Private Duncan was a meek, often bullied computer systems tech.

"Yeah?" Heiser asked.

"I think we better draw arms and ammo-I don't know, but I 'spect that the guard-force on-site might have a word or two to say about your decision to talk to the insurgents."  Duncan said, "THEY have guns, you know, and it might be a decent idea if we have guns too-just sayin', sir."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:57:04
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 04-05-2010, 22:47:17]]


Yellow Queen, Little Yangtze River, 13km north of Tributary 11...

Mai Huyn used to be a Commander.  Now, she was just another river-boat captain along the 'trunkline' of the Kowloonese west.   Her boat, The Yellow Queen, used to be a light cutter-she'd managed to pick it up at a salvage auction for about one tenth the original cost of the build, and after replacing most of the mil-grade hardware that had been stripped with civilian grade equipment, she made a small living working SAR and fire-watch along the major river-systems, and delivering packages and mail-a polite way to say 'smuggling contraband' whose owners did not want said contraband found by nosey civil-servants.

The crane-mount sat where the old autocannon used to be.   she watched as her crew lowered a pallet of something explosive on to the temporary dock.

"Ma'am?" former Chief Petty Officer Hap Vo said, clearing his throat.

"what's up, chief?" she asked.

"Um...I've got a call on the emergency channel from VDL, ma'am." he said.

she turned around, "What? who is it?"

"It's...it's the 'acting commander of Militia forces', and he wants to talk to YOU personally." Vo said.

"What if I don't want to talk to him?" she asked.

"Um...you WANT to talk to him, ma'am." Vo said,  "Probably a LOT. He's offering to switch sides."

"who, Norton? Neumann? Helver? Those guys wouldn't make that offer-not seriously, anyway." she said, "Much less Kruegar..."

"No ma'am...it's Heiser-apparently Neumann's MIA, Norton's dead, and Helver with him...and rumour has it Kruegar's been captured by hill people." Vo said.

"Opportunities never cease to amaze me, Chief.  I'll go talk to our scared Leutnant, see what he's offering for myself." Mai told him,  "Meanwhile, see if you can't scare up some ex-Marines from our customers, if the offer's genuine, they probably need us to pull their asses out of the fire-or at least, deal with their 'minders'..."

"Aye-Aye, Ma'am."  Vo said.

"Oh, and Cheif? get that contraption off my deck-gun, would you, and have the gunny look it over to make sure we didn't ****** the barrel up when we wrapped it in a crane."




Quote from: Andrew C, 05-05-2010, 00:23:38
Quote from: Cannonshop, 04-05-2010, 22:47:17
"Oh, and Cheif? get that contraption off my deck-gun, would you, and have the gunny look it over to make sure we didn't ****** the barrel up when we wrapped it in a crane."

Kowloon, where you can count the unarmed indigs on the fingers of one foot. 8)

Quote from: Hadrian, 05-05-2010, 00:44:00
Didn't you know, sea piracy on Kowloon is conducted using Iowa class battleships since anything smaller is considerably less well armed than the average kowloonese rubber dinghy and bandits travel in battalion strength so they can raid the little old ladies cottage in the woods (who just happens to be ex coast guard spec ops).:)

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 05-05-2010, 03:43:05
Quote from: Headshot, 04-05-2010, 18:47:17
Lol, if anyone knows how to beat up Hecs, its the Tigers...

Is the Hec a canon mech, or something fan made?

Quote from: Centurion03, 05-05-2010, 04:06:55
The Heck is a Battlemech that exists solely - for the moment I think - in the Battletech Shattered Dawn fanon, its meant to be a RimWorlds design, the idea is that that AC20 is connected using a system similar to the Mercury. So its not uncommon to find a LRM 20 or even gauss rifle in the same slot.

[Stat-block relocated to Fan Designs] (http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,33534.0.html)

Quote from: MechRat, 05-05-2010, 05:05:33
Centurion03 is correct - it is only found in the SD universe at this time. The Heck-7E is the standard model and a product of the RWR. The -7D piloted by Mallory mounts 2 LRM15 in place of the AC/20 in a semi-modular mount.

Quote from: Redshirt, 05-05-2010, 08:30:04
Quote from: Centurion03, 05-05-2010, 04:06:55
The Heck is a Battlemech that exists solely - for the moment I think - in the Battletech Shattered Dawn fanon, its meant to be a RimWorlds design, the idea is that that AC20 is connected using a system similar to the Mercury. So its not uncommon to find a LRM 20 or even gauss rifle in the same slot.

[Stat-block relocated to Fan Designs] (http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,33534.0.html)

It kinda reminds me of a Shootist on steroids...

-------------------------------------------

Quote from: lowrolling71, 05-05-2010, 11:00:32
Okay who's with me on planning the victory parade/ fitting Condit with his necktie party?

Quote from: Jimmyray73, 05-05-2010, 12:44:58
Not sure I'd get too far ahead on that, Cannonshop has a way of writing competent villains who find a way to make the heroes pay for their victories.  The parade might be a somber affair with a few hearses amongst the floats...

Quote from: Paladin1, 05-05-2010, 13:15:05
Very true, Cannonshop has been known to utilize that rarest of characters, the intelligent and cunning Clanner...  [cue dramatic music]

I'm just glad he's not my GM.

Quote from: croaker, 05-05-2010, 14:08:40
Quote
the intelligent and cunning Clanner...  [cue dramatic music]

I thought that was what Katya was in here for?  #P

Quote from: Muttley, 05-05-2010, 16:07:10
Nah- she's 'Rats latest love interest.  A proto-clanner replaced by the real thing...

<<Ducks!>> ^-^

Quote from: MechRat, 06-05-2010, 02:18:26
You'd better duck!  ;D Not going to happen though. We already established that 'Rat prefers redheads and Katya is blond. Now if the Tigers were to somehow take Natasha K as a bondsman, who knows? >:D

Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 06-05-2010, 06:34:01
Natasha K is more gray haired than red. At this point in the timeline, she's gotta be 65-70. Does the 'Rat really wanna hook up with a cougar?

Quote from: Kwic, 06-05-2010, 06:42:06
isn't Mechrat a couple hundred years old?  technically anyways, so he's robbing the cradle.

Quote from: Jimmyray73, 06-05-2010, 18:19:13
If ya want to get technical I'd say "robbing the test tube."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:57:36
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 09-05-2010, 21:53:41]]


New Saigon, Khon Tum District, Northeast, 0830...

The knock at the door was loud.  "mmmhhh..." Dinh mumbled, and patted the mattress.  It was still warm, but she wasn't there.

The knock was louder, more insistent.

"Mmmmh...Bỏ đi!" he barked.  HIs mouth felt like it was full of cotton, and his head thumped.

The knock was more insistent still.  He rolled over and forced his eyes open.

"Giữ con ngựa của bạn, tôi tới, dammit..."  He blurrily felt around, and pulled on his boxers, then stumbled to the door.

"Who is it?" he asked in english.

"Dinh! Jesus Christ, dude, open the ****** door, there's trouble, they've cancelled leave."  it took him a moment to recognize Tom's voice...

"cứt, làm tình, chúa trời- lời nguyền rủa nó..." he fumbled with the door, until it opened.  Tommy was in field-gear, and had an extra bundle with him.

"Dinh, you look like shit, dude, come on, we gotta sober you up..." Tommy said, and two troops from the MP platoon pushed their way in.

"wha?"  One MP on each arm, they dragged him into the suite's bathroom, and put him under a cold shower while Tommy prepped a scrubbing dose out of his bag.

"Where am I?" Dinh asked blurrily.

"Your girlfriend told us where she stashed you after you got yourself thrown out of the club last night, mate, and if the shit hadn't hit the fan, we'd be looking to Brig your violent ass."  the big, black MP had a name, and it took Dinh a moment to retrieve it...

"N'kruma?" he mumbled, ******, they sent N'Kruma to pick me up...what did I do last night?

"Yeah, doc, you got the dose yet?"  the big MP asked.

"Coming up..."

Dinh felt the shot go in just over his carotid artery, and the headache immediately eased.

"Drink this...Dinh, big ****** trouble, okay-the ******'n Regent's dirtier than we thought-he's tripped off a ******' civil war and everyone's Leaves are cancelled."  Tommy told him, "Gear's over there."

"What about my ****** Suit?"  Dinh asked.

"Still on the Dropship, and we're going to have to figure out a way to cross seven hundered kliks on our own hook to get there, the ****** local Miliz shot down the chopper when we came in-right now, we're all under the tender ministrations of Sargeant Vao-seein' as he's the ranking Tiger in the district."  Tommy filled him in.

"You mean we're under the control of the ****** Provost?  shit."




Quote from: cklammer, 10-05-2010, 00:27:05
The Provost isn't so bad: lotsa CI experience for sure ... in an environment of civil war that is an advantage in terms of survival ...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:58:00
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 11-05-2010, 08:02:34]]


Ia Drang City...

Percival Kreugar looked at the map, and swore again.  "Sir,  Alpha Alpha and Alpha Bravo are both being pressed hard, shouldn't we pull reinforcements to help them?"  Leftenant Strand, his aide, commented.

"IF we do that, it's going to take the damn cork out of the bottle on the north side." Percival said grimly, "We can't let that happen, Strand-if the Kahanists or the H'mong get rolling south, we'll be between the jaws of a vise."  He nibbled his thumb, "Send the artillery battery south into range, and order Bravo and Alpha to start backing north by northeast until we can get them under the artillery's umbrella."

"Yes Sir!" his aide went to the commo station, and relayed the order.

Kreugar looked at his HHC commander.  "Paul, get the boys up-if their next move is what I think, now that they've got 'mech support from the ninetieth working on the southern sectors, we're going to see the northern and western sectors get even hotter for Charlie Company and their detachments.  They may need to fall back to the positions they had last december-detail our engineering platoons to move out and get some of those minefields active again."

"Yes sir!"
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:58:24
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 11-05-2010, 21:45:33]]


Firebase India, North sector, Ia Drang Plateau, 1500 hours, local

"so...you're saying there's been no activity at all for the last twenty-four hours?" Gennifer Viers-Dupont asked.

"None.  We sent out a patrol looking for 'em, found a couple abandoned camps, but no Charlies, and no Joshuas." Sgt. L'mons reported.

"Damn strange-any sign around the camps?" the acting CO of Company C, 137th FedCom Militia asked.

"No ma'am...well, there were signs they left, but direction? no.  Either they've figured out a way to cover their tracks, or they've suddenly evolved teleportation." the Sgt. stated, "My money's on a new way to cover their damn tracks."

"Villagers still not talking?" Gennifer asked.

"No Ma'am.  Something big must be in the works." L'Mons grumped, "They haven't so much as taken a potshot..."

she stepped up onto the berm, and looked down across the high plains.  "What about the water situation?" she asked.

"our guards on the well heads reported no activity." he told her.

"They're up to something..."  she thought for a moment, then..."Double the guards tonight on the wellheads, and we're going to six hour rotations at the main encampment-six on guard, six on patrol, six for other duties, adn six hours downtime-except for the VTOL crews and 'mechwarriors, 'mechwarriors are twelve-on, six off backing up the armour-with six hour rotations as QRF standby."

"You think they're going to try something when it gets dark?" he asked.

"I would." she replied.  she turned from the berm, and walked back down to the 'mechpool, where techs were servicing her ride.   "Something about this whole situation stinks." Gennifer groused.

"Yes Ma'am..." the Sgt. agreed.

"You're doing it again." she said, "What did I tell you about being a 'yes man', Sargeant?"

"Not to do it." he allowed.

"That is correct...so, if you're agreeing with me, then you also think there's something smelly about this situation?"

"Yes Ma'am.  Word's getting around that Bravo's had a bunch of the draftees deserting." he said, "Not in big lumps, but, like, a seven man detail goes out, and six come back..."

"Well, OUR draftees aren't doing that." she asserted.

"No, Ma'am, they're not, but some of the ex-Fedsuns troops think we've got infiltrators inside the wire, wearing our uniforms..." he said.

"Like the Cappies did?" she asked, "We don't have 'Death Commando' out here, Sarge, nor Nekekami."

"No ma'am." he agreed, "We have religious fanatics, nationalists, and a pissed off population, but no Cappie death-squads."

She stopped.  "They aren't 'fanatics', Sarge.  Fanatics strap bombs to themselves and blow up markets-these guys are sneaky-bastards who don't fight fair, but they also don't target civilian populations in contested zones," she snapped, "They target soldiers, and the occasional Government Official, but they're surgical about it with the Officials-that hit on the mayor of Hung Thiep was right in public, and messy, but nobody got hurt except him-at least, nobody was hurt by THEIR actions except him."

"You sound like you respect 'em, Ma'am?" the NCO's tone carried a question.

"I do. When irregular forces are that precise, and they're able to tie up as many troops as they have being that precise, they're worthy of respect-which is why we're going on the assumption that they've got some major move planned soon-whether it's hitting the well-heads, or hitting the firebase, I don't know yet, and it's useless to speculate, but every time they go quiet like this, they're prepping something..at least, that's been the pattern."




Quote from: Hadrian, 12-05-2010, 02:09:13
I'm guessing but are "charlies" Kowloonese and "Joshuas" Tigers.

If so why because while "charley" is pretty apt for Kowloonese South east asian style, I don't get "Joshua". ???

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 12-05-2010, 04:33:09
I'm guess the 'Joshua's are the religious settlements.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:59:03
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 11-05-2010, 22:08:00]]


1 KM west of Firebase India...

"Coast Guard four six, this is Coast Guard Four Eleven, I've got Packet in my sights, should I engage, over?"  Duk Raktaja's 'hide' was a piece of two-sided blanket-the top layer was an organic canvas, the liner, a carbon-nanotube impregnated fabric-on the dusty highlands of the Plateau, the dirt on the canvas side worked with the nanotubes-suppressing his IR and other emissions-it wasn't quite full-on sneak-suit quality, but it worked here.

"Eleven, Six Actual, Weapons Hold, Over." came the reply over his headset.

"Six Actual, this is Eleven, may I ask why, over?" he inquired.

"Eleven, you may not, Six Over."

"Recieved and understood, Six Actual." he sighed, took a sip from his bladder-bag, and remained where he was-where he Had been for the last two days-pissing into a hole under his crotch, and hoping the low-residue rations weren't killing his kidneys.

He spent the time watching Leutnant Gennifer Viers-Dupont's blonde hair bobbing in his scope.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 22:59:33
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 12-05-2010, 15:40:57]]


Grid 38, Tru'ong place, Golden Lake district, 1800 hours...

"They surrendered the garrison in Vin Drin Lap."  Evelyn Mosovich announced, hopping out of the cab of a pickup.

"Imagine that." Didi Moran cracked, "Your neighbours buried most of their heavy assets on the access road."

"Where's Truk?" Evelyn asked, "I thought Captain Tranh was coming up with you."

"He's inside." Dee said, "You should leave him alone." she added.

Mosovich looked confused, "What?"

"He's trying to get sitreps from a couple dozen sites across the continent, while advising Bruce, and today would've been his wedding anniversary-so he's doing it while dealing with the fact that his gal's been dead for two hundered years, his homeworld's under yet another hostile occupation, and everyone he's ever known outside the Unit's also long gone...so, unless you've got militarily useful info that you can't just give to me, leave him alone."  Dee clarified.

"What about you?" Evelyn asked.

"I didn't have anyone to leave behind." Dee stated, "I already lost most of my people by the time we hit Terra-Truk, on the other hand, has just been hit with it.  I'd rather not have him drop further into the hole than he's already gone."

The door on the shack banged open.  "Speaking of the devil." Dee commented.

Captain Tranh walked out.  "Dee, Kommandant Mosovich...I want an inventory of what's recoverable from the ambush site at grid 41, a list of wounded prisoners, and a separate list of prisoners who aren't injured, then I want a detail put to work setting up a stockade to hold 'em and some bodies to put on guard detail-for now, we're going to treat them as enemy combatant prisoners under Star League rules.  Then, I want rosters for combat-trained personnel from the rural areas here, anyone that we know for certain can understand and obey orders or follow written instructions, an inventory of miltary capable equipment...and a guide into Minsky's Folly."

"The folly?" Evelyn asked.

"Bruce thinks there's a cache of equipment inside the Folly, if there is, we're going to need it, and we're going to need bodies who can use it." Truk said,  "The Major wants it priority one, preferably by noon to-morrow at the latest."

He paused, "What in hell are you waiting for, engraved invitations? Didee-Mao dammit."

Dee fell in behind Truk as Mosovich got on the chicken-band calling up the neighbours.

"What's the plan, Truk?" she asked.

"Well...depending on what we recover, we're either going to have an infantry unit, or a Cav unit, I'm hoping there's enough vets and potential recruits out and about to turn up at least three troops of mixed Cavalry." he said, "given who's already joined the party locally, we should be at minimum able to field a couple platoons of mechanized, but if we can find enough crews, and the gear's actually where Bruce thinks it is..."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:00:02
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 12-05-2010, 19:29:17]]


New Saigon, Giao Vu Vao's...

"These are good ribs." Sgt. Kham Vao was saying, as Dinh came down from the apartments, "I haven't had anything this good since I was in Hanoi."

"Thank you." Clara Vu smiled brightly at the Earther NCO.

"Look what the cat dragged in."  Vao announced, spotting Dinh as the latter straightened his jacket.  Red was sitting with the Provost NCO at the breakfast counter.

"You've had him a week, does he always end up looking like that?" Vao asked her.

Red shook her head, "nope. Usually his eyes are a lighter shade of red and he's not trying to pull the creases out of his uniform." she said brightly.

"Cherry Blossom Vu!" Clara scolded, "You shouldn't lie about your man like that."

"Coffee?" Dinh asked, plopping into a stool next to Red, who flinched and muttered something about his breath this morning.

N'kruna and Patterson found a booth, and sat down.

"Bet you can't guess how many of our boys are in here, or nearby, Corporal." Vao said.

"Lance Corporal, Sargeant, remember? I got busted down in rank for that mess in the Petrofsky NCO club?" Dinh muttered.

"Remember? I testified at the court-martial, shit I remember...Listen, we've got twenty of our guys and they're all from the Cherry platoons, Cubs, you tracking?"

Dinh nodded,  "Yeah, you've also got Thompson, me, N'Kruna and Patterson-so what? I count you, two corporals, and a Medic, and me a ******' enlisted puke."

"Not anymore you're not." Vao said, flipping a cardboard with rank-tabs on it down the bar.  "Fact is, I need combat-NCO's, so I asked the Major if I could give you back your stripes."

"What??" Dinh stared at the Provost, "You didn't."

Vao shrugged and spread his hands, "No, not really-actually, the Major managed to get a link down to the Captain-he's down playing guerilla with some angry farmers, he told me that 'exigencies of the service' dictate that your crazy ass gets back enough rank to do your damn job."

"I can shoot as a Private." Dinh said.

"Yeah, but you can't take over a greenie platoon of indig volunteers as a Private, you CAN as an NCO." Vao said, "You get one, N'Kruna gets one, Patterson gets one, I get to run the Company, which is going to be a bitch since YOU took the Pre-Officer courses and I didn't...so you get to be my XO, which is to say, my backup NCOIC-congratulations, Corporal, you get to not only do a Sargeant's job, but a Leutenant's job on top of it....for Corporal's pay, while I get shafted having to play both Captain, and First Sargeant unless and until we get some Indig troopers who can do the job."

"Yay...where is this company of volunteers?" Dinh asked, "I see...um...us, and maybe a platoon's worth of Tiger Cubs."

"Never you fear, my boy, you're at least not having to do recruiting duty-your lovely gal here knows a bunch of people just ITCHING to go pound on Militia Ass-they just need competent leadership and a little guidance on the Operational Arts."  Vao said sarcastically, and then winked at Red.

"Did he talk YOU into this, or did you talk HIM?" Dinh asked.

She smiled enigmatically, "It won't be hard to get people to fall in with a bona-fide hero of the Revolution and Elbar, Corporal."  she said evenly, "especially since you're also a local boy...sis, could you get Dinh some breakfast? He's got a busy day ahead of him."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:00:23
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 12-05-2010, 22:27:46]]


ia Drang plateau, grid 128NW...

Travel on the Plateau by road, and you're not going to reach most of the bigger ranches and farms without spending many hours in a haze of dust.  Most of the larger outfits use one form or another of light aircraft, but the most popular one, is a single-engined two seat, high-winged monoplane powered by a four cylinder multifuel wankel rotary, called the Hummingbird.

Backzone bush-pilots fly these fixed-wing machines into areas that many aviators would be hesitant to take a helicopter.

While not much faster than an automobile (managing a mere 60 kph in level flight at operating altitude), the Hummingbirds are almost insanely reliable machines, easy to fly, and can (and usually do) carry more than the manufacturer's recommended loads.

In the lowlands, one might use a truck.  In the Northern highlands of Ia Drang, it's usually a choice of pack-horses, or a Hummingbird.

Today, Bianh Dao and her brother Denh Mikulski Dao, (aged 11 and 14) are going to do something rather unwise...with a Hummingbird.

The reason they're going to do something so thoroughly ill-advised, is because yesterday, by shortwave radio, they found out that their father and mother were killed during a visit with their father's business partner in the Dao Mining Company-a one-hole germanium prospecting venture that just this week turned up a vein of 60% pure ore-a strike that could possibly have made the whole family very wealthy.

"Is that going to work?" Bianh asked.

"Well, the barometer senses air-pressure changes, it's set up to make contact when the air pressure goes up suddenly, which connects to the torch batteries, who provide power to the blasting caps, setting off the Pentaglycerine." Denh explained, "the watch I rigged as a secondary means of closing the circuit, I'll just start it going, bank the plane, and the whole thing should fall out-hopefully right on top of 'em."

Children.  Aren't they amusing?




Quote from: Muttley, 13-05-2010, 02:29:52
Well-raised children  ;)

Quote from: lowrolling71, 13-05-2010, 04:22:08
They should at least get a "B" for their science fair project.

Quote from: Wildfire, 13-05-2010, 05:38:35
An A at least if they can show it works and include their working.  :)
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:00:44
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 13-05-2010, 08:22:48]]


"...took a leaf from the history of the American Green Berets-which, on the balance, was pretty ironic, given the ethnic composition of the planet in question.  Use highly trained professional military personnel to organize and lead irregular troops in low-intensity warfare, rather than trying to brute it out conventionally against an enemy with more (if lower quality) assets on the ground than they had... perhaps unsurprisingly, it worked..."

-Earnest Lynch, MIIO case officer, Special Report to the Archon Prince, August 3053.


"There's always a risk of spreading chaos when you disrupt the orderly function of a state-even if that orderly function is atrocious.  The fine line between what is justice, and what is revenge, can be blurred by anger to a degree that makes reconciliation impossible...and yet, we must reconcile, or there will never be a presence of justice, and without justice, there can be no peace.  It is THIS reason, then, that I signed the Pardon Act..."

-President of the Assembly Marjorie Ngo; My Husband's War, Nha Tranh Press, 2789

Nha Tranh Spaceport, SLDS Sledgehammer, Command and Control deck...

Elizabeth listened to each sitrep in turn, hanging back in the rear of the room as units called in, she took notes on the reports, and on Bruce Gilmour's responses to those reports.

There was a large display map, showing the main inhabited continent.  Regions were marked in one of three colours:

Green: Friendly held territory
Yellow: Contested zones,
Red, Enemy territory-zones under the control of the Regency.

"Major Gilmour?" she piped up.

He glanced over at her, irritated by the interruption.  "What?"

"Amnesty, Major." she said, "I want to offer an amnesty-that should split the draftees, or the officers and men who had...issues with how Condit's regime ran things, away from the hard-core problem personnel."

Bruce looked thoughtful.  "Let me run that past Alvarez and my people on the ground, Liz." he said after a moment, "It might not be feasable."

"Of Course, Major."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:01:05
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 13-05-2010, 18:37:03]]


Maybe in another life
I could find you there
Pulled away before your time
I can't deal, it's so unfair

-Offspring: Gone Away (c)1997


Mess Deck, SLDS Sledgehammer...

Patrick loved chocolate cake out of a foil bag.  The officers were busy, and really, Elizabeth was just getting in the way.  She stared at her plate.  a wave of utter hopelessness crashed through her, a void of fire and a feeling like drowning engulfed every sense.  "IT'S NOT FAIR!!!" she threw the tray, she was shaking and it wasn't fair, everything was wrong, and it wouldn't be right again.

"Hey, you okay?" someone asked. 

Elizabeth turned at the voice, and screamed "GET AWAY FROM ME!!!"  her face was red and blotchy and tears nearly blinded her. "It's not FAIR, it's not RIGHT! HE'S GONE AND I'M HERE AND..." the rest devolved into blubbering.

"Perkowski, get the chaplain, I'll get a cook's mate to clean up the mess."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:01:51
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 13-05-2010, 21:16:24]]


New Saigon, January 24, 3052...

"this is what they think alert means?"  Corporal Dinh looked around the Militia's day-room, and then turned to look at the officers.  "You people think this is how you maintain an alert status?"  he kicked one, an Infantry Hauptmann, in the groin, causing the already kneeling man to double over with the pain.

"I walked a green platoon in here, and took your damn Operations base, in the MIDDLE of an alert."  he knelt down in front of the groaning officer, "Do you have any idea how ****** up that is?  The ****** Rimjobs were better prepared. No wonder you people couldn't handle pirate raids..."  he turned, and kicked another officer-this one wearing the tabs of a Leutnant.

"Who's got family?" he asked the room, "Speak up...if you've got your breath back."

Several of the Regency officers muttered and identified themselves.

"Okay, most of you-then it's too late to exclude you from the gene-pool, you sorry, lazy, clumsy bastards."  He turned to Private Kim.  "Đặt chúng trong các tế bào, cô lập các Sargeants cấp cao và các sĩ quan, sau đó nhận được một lính cứu thương để xem xét trong hai tôi khởi." he ordered, adding, "Chúng tôi đang chơi này bằng cách quy định SLDF, không có nghi ngờ họ sẽ muốn biện hộ. giả vờ bạn không hiểu chúng."

Kim straightened, and saluted, "Khăn thánh Đúng!"

The command staff of the New Saigon police militia would be guesting in cells, the two he'd brutalized would be seen to by a doctor, and Dinh fully intended to stonewall any demands for a legal advocate-for the time being.

That left him with the question of what to do with the lower-enlisted men, middle-rank NCO's, and civilian staff.

Time to call the boss, maybe Vao's got an idea what to do with these guys...  He looked over at the half company or so of lower enlisted who hadn't been killed during the operation-there were expressions ranging from grim satisfaction, to utter shock.

"Now that we have the lickspittles out of the way..." Dinh announced, "Will one of you fine, fine gentlemen tell me exactly why you didn't have patrols running, and what utter jackass thought that a ferrocrete wall, code-locked and equipped with outdated commercial-grade sensors was a safe place in the middle of a violent uprising?"

Nobody volunteered to speak up...

Forty minutes later...

Sgt. Vao looked over the consoles in the command centre, pushed aside a half-eaten danish, examined the surveillance controls, and grunted in disgust.

"Military Police should NEVER act like...this." he announced.  "We're professionals god dammit."

"What I'm wondering, is what the ****** they were waiting for, Sargeant."  Dinh pointed out,  "The only reason for infantry to fort up like this, in an urban situation, is if they're waiting for a rescue or reinforcement-these guys should've been out in the streets, where it's hard to catch 'em..and where they'd be theoretically doing their ****** job."

Vao grunted his assent.  "One teensy riot..." he said.

"Yeah. I wonder...have these ****** gotten used to letting the 'mechs do all the work or something?" Dinh speculated.

"Could be.  What did your trainees find in the armory?" Vao asked.

"Lots of dust, not a lot of ammo, no heavy weapons." Dinh said, "The wheeled APC's are in pretty good shape, and there's teargas ammo for the grenade launchers and lots of rubber-bullets, but damned little live ammo."

Vao looked at him, "Would YOU trust these bozos with live ammo?"

"Not if my life depended on it." Dinh agreed.




Quote from: cklammer, 13-05-2010, 23:08:09
Sounds like ARVN to me.

Edit: The Militia so far behaves like a regime-protection force and not a field force and rarely you meet armed forces (units) who ably fulfill both of these missions. Usually the twain shall never meet ...

Quote from: Paladin1, 14-05-2010, 05:53:14
Wait, these militia troopers know about the Clans and battle armor and this is how they act?  Something's not right here.  Could be incompetence or could be intentional but something isn't kosher here.

Quote from: lowrolling71, 14-05-2010, 06:46:21
The first thing a military unit loses is discipline when they start acting like thugs instead of soldiers. The second thing lost is initiative (jokers become lazy) and lastly courage. Nice work and thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:02:17
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 14-05-2010, 07:06:18]]
   
Quote
JSX/00010100011100101111001000111001001000111110010111/SOCOM
PROVOST REPORT IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

MILITIA COMMAND SECURED NEW SAIGON
MINIMAL LOSSES
 
REGENCY MILITIA FORCES DEMONSTRATE LACK OF
DISCIPLINE, TACTICAL PROFICIENCY.  INTERROGATIONS
INDICATE OVER-RELIANCE ON PUNITIVE BATTLEMECH
STRIKES FOR CIVIL DISTURBANCE CONTROL.

REQUEST DELIVERY SOONEST, HEAVY WEAPONS AMMUNITION
COMPATIBLE WITH SPERRY-BROWNING 12.7MM ROTARY MG AND
COVENTRY TWIN SRM SYSTEM.  LOCAL MILITIA STOCKS CONTAIN
VERY LITTLE LIVE AMMUNITION.

VAO.




Quote from: Paladin1, 14-05-2010, 08:04:00
A rotary .50 Cal?   I know its just fluff, but that's some serious gun pr0n there.

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 14-05-2010, 09:24:52
The US Army has had that for about 35 years, the GAU-19/A.

Quote from: Hadrian, 14-05-2010, 11:05:54
The Gau-19 is only just classed as a machine gun.  Those people who hear it from the wrong end class it as a laxative ;)  Even MBT crews (who don't normally worry about light arms fire) show understandable concern if they know the enemy have these.

Not much of a gun nut myself but the GAU-19 (and indeed the rest of the minigun family) would be an EXCELLENT christmas present (hint, hint) :)

Quote from: Paladin1, 14-05-2010, 15:22:29
Seriously?  I thought that miniguns were 7.62mm by nature, I didn't realize that they were .50 cal also.

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 14-05-2010, 15:34:11
Properly speaking the Minigun is a 7.62 NATO weapon, but that is the M134 (GAU-2/A to the USAF).  The M134 is a six barrel weapon, the GAU-19 has only three to keep the weight down.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:02:44
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 15-05-2010, 07:58:17]]


Vin Drin Lap...

"Leutnant, your sword?" Truk Tranh extended his right hand.  Heiser handed over his Academy Saber.

"Let's take a look at your people." Truk added, leading the surrendered officer down onto the tarmac, where the remains of the garrison were under guard-not ranchers this time, but coast guard people.

"The Formation will open ranks."  a Petty Officer announced.

"I was afraid you guys would live up to your reputation." Heiser confided.

"You should know better than that, Leutenant." Truk stated bluntly,  "I started in the one-seven-one as a member of the Marine Recon group, first Marines,  a little higher professional standard than the bulk of the Volunteers were drawn from."

He looked over the AFFC militia personnel as they trooped the line.  Some of the captured troopers were filthy from the 'burial', others were not.

He stopped, turned on his heel, and picked out one troop who seemed older than the rest.  "Where you from, son?" he asked.

"Coventry, Sir." the captured man said.

"You're aware you only have to give me name, rank, and Org Number, right?" Truk asked.

"Yes, Sir." the 'older' (though, really, who can beat two hundered years' continuous service? not a salt-and-pepper tech specialist... Truk mused with humour...) man replied.

"I see you're a Tech-Four, aren't you a little old to be a tech-four?" Truk asked, using the man's branch and paycode instead of his rank.

"Yes sir, I was busted down by the Hauptmann."  the man said.

"Why?" Truk asked.

"It's in the records, sir." the tech-four said, "I'd as soon not go into it out here, sir."

"Mysterious..."  Truk turned to Heiser, "any light you can shed?"

"Refused an order." Heiser told him, "Not that Grambly here had much choice-the order was a physical impossibility-there's only so far you can flog the sensors on a light 'mech..."

"I see."  Truk looked Grambly over again, "You're a 'Mechtech, then, not a commo guy?" he asked.

"Yes sir."  Grambly said, "Active service with the 10th Skye Rangers back in the thirties, a stint working for a couple merc outfits that didn't pan out, and back in the reserves, they shipped me here."

"Family?" Truk asked.

"Ah...that's how I lost the second stripe, sir." Grambly said.

"DO clarify, this should be amusing, was the divorce real bad?" Truk asked.

"No divorce sir, I...ah...kind of didn't get the CO's permission..." Grambly said.

"Where's the Missus?" Truk asked.

"Tailor's shop down-town-at least, until four." Grambly replied.

Truk motioned to one of the Coasties,  "Grambly, go with this Chief, answer his questions honestly and completely, remember, we're going to back-check any answer you give, so don't try to sugar-coat or lie..." Truk said, Grambly hesitated.  "The correct Response, Tech-Four Grambly, is 'Yes Sir, right away sir'.  Am I clear?"

Grambly replied, "Yes Sir, Right away Sir." and followed the Coastie back up to the unit orderly room.

Truk looked at Heiser, "Commander of prisoners, I want married men separated from single men, same with the women, I want personnel files on anyone who's consistently pissed off your former commanding officer, and i want them segregated by MOS..." Truk paused, "And I want them in my hands by tomorrow noon at the latest."

"May I ask why, sir?" Heiser asked.

"Because when this is over, Kowloon is still a FedCom planet, and the Duchess does not need a non-functional Militia.  We're only after the criminals, Leutnant, criminals and conspirators here, I'd as soon not have to guard quite so many prisoners when there's a daily risk of large-scale bandit attack, or god-help-us, a Clan assault with the defenses unprepared."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:03:06
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 15-05-2010, 08:53:44]]


Minsky's Folly, Grid 264 SE

14 year old Eric Vanh reined his horse to a halt, and looked down into ravine 46 with a pair of binoculars.  "Cavern entrance, ten meters elevation, north side." he reported, "I can see metal fragments around it-smooth oval, might be mines, but it's definitely sheltered from above by the overhang."

"Hold position until we get up there." Evelyn Mosovich's voice came over the radio.

 
Half an hour later, the rest of the team were up at the site, including Didi Moran.

"Mark eighteen mines." she said, "anti-armor with secondary EMP effects.  I think we found it."

"Can you disarm?" Mosovich asked, "If you can't, we might need a new plan."

"Let's see if there's anything other than the mines to recover in there-it's been sitting for two centuries." Moran said.

"Scale in from the far wall?" Mosovich asked.

"Sounds like a plan.  We sure as hell can't approach from ground level."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:03:23
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 17-05-2010, 21:53:21]]


Cavern One, Grid 264, Minsky's Folly...

Two hundered meters down the tunnel, they found a pair of blast doors-laying on the floor.  The frame around them eroded by water.

"Doesn't look good..." Mosovich commented. 

Fifty meters further in, and they found the main chamber.

"We're going to need heavy equipment to get those dug out."

there were 'mechs, probably standing, but the rubble and dust on the floor was high enough that Evelyn could walk to the heads, lean forward with a light, and look inside the cockpits.

"Ten meters of debris deep, probably the ceiling's unstable." she noted.

Dee just looked around in silence for a minute, then cursed. 

"Twelve 'mechs,mostly buried."  a small creek ran through the chamber, from above.  During spring, that creek would be a small torrent.   "Probably a lot of corrosion too, water damage..."

"Marjie Ngo wasn't a Geologist, she was a politician." Mosovich said.

"No shit.  what would shake hte roof down like that?"

"My guess? there's a layer of limestone-that Karsts, Karsts eventually break down-might've been the earthquake of '22 or even earlier." Mosovich said, "Might just be that the seepage finally caused the roof to fall in,opening this level to the cavern above...they didn't take the time to buttress-see? no artificial structures besides the door leading in..."

"None we can see." Dee corrected her.

"None we can see." Mosovich agreed.  "I don't think we can get these out any time quick."

"Agreed."  Dee looked around, "That one-it's a Heck, and those're bulky, I don't think they could walk it through that tunnel."

"Maybe an exterior door somewhere else?"

"Maybe."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:03:49
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 17-05-2010, 22:13:42]]


New Saigon...

Jorge N'Kruna walked the ranks of Training Platoon Bravo in perfect imitation of the SLDF Drill Instructors he'd been trained under at Pretoria, in another Century on a world hundereds of lightyears away.

"Empty out those duffles and pockets, Douchebags." he snarled, putting every ounce of menace he'd ever seen or dreamed of into his tone and expression.  "Double time."  He spoke straight from his diaphragm, the way he'd seen Sgt. Lincoln do it over two hundered years ago.

"you have been selected, douchebags, to serve your people, and you have been rendered into my tender care-now, some of you, no doubt, think you're pretty special-god's special children, I am un-interested in that, I am un-interested in what you think your rights are, I am un-interested in how tough you think you are-because unless and until you prove other-wise, you are douchebags, douchebags that have been turned over to me, in the vain, and I would say hopeless idea, that you can be turned into soldiers."

He stopped at the front of the formation, "You are going to learn to hate me, but, if you are NOT douchebags, you will learn to be Soldiers."  he smiled, "At any time, if training is too tough, if you feel your heart will break, you may ask to leave.  If you do so, you will NOT be returning."

He assumed a Parade-Rest stance, "NOW, which one of you douchebags thinks he can knock my hat off?"

North Beach, New Saigon area, Training Platoon Alpha...

"...discipline is one of the chief hallmarks of a Recon Marine.  The ability to endure the otherwise un-endurable is the bedrock upon which you build.  This water's cold, and by the time we are finished here, we will all be suffering."  Dinh sat cross-legged as the ten degree cold-current water of the surf began splashing his back.  "We will leave this beach, we will leave these seats, when the tide goes out again in six hours." he added, "those of you that make it through this will proceed to the next training phase-those that do not, will be cycled to a regular Militia training command, or back to civilian life-no questions asked.  as with last week's and the week before, you can simply declare your intention to depart the program, at any time, and leave."


Quote
00100111010011101010011010101/SLDF90H(I)MACK-SOG6

RE: Training Program

"experienced" troops overseeing standard infantry training now-with Cadre assistance.  Basic Training group running fairly smoothly-there were quite a few LCAF vets in the outlying areas.

Advanced training has two groups already in the pipeline- the alpha platoon is about a week ahead of the Bravo, but Denh insists on extending the pre-selection to eliminate certain undesirable traits.  I can't say he's abusing the men-he puts himself through everything he's putting them through, but he's washed-out fifty percent so far-all voluntary resignations from the advanced course.  N'Kruna's doing a better job on retention when comparing metrics, we'll see whose approach gets the kind of people we need to finish this.

I'm forwarding testimony and files, including medical data, on current enrollees and those washouts from group A that might still be useful.

Vao.




Quote from: Hadrian, 18-05-2010, 05:12:00
50% wash-out of Kowloon volunteers??  Either Kowloon got soft in the past three centuries or the Tigers are putting them though training that is truely hard core.  The kind of stuff that would make most of the "failures"  suitable for your normal elite spec-ops unit.

Quote from: lowrolling71, 18-05-2010, 10:05:01
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Please note this special forces/ hyper advanced infantry training, anything less than a 80% failure rate is viewed as actually "giving it away". These recruits are tenacious.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:04:12
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 19-05-2010, 09:16:12]]


Yellow Queen,  En Route To Hue....

"...rimjobs set up their puppet government in Hue back in 2740, during the Revolution, we actually encountered real resistance from the city itself." Truk mused, looking out at the shoreline whipping by.

"So, you think our absentee Regent's marshalling there?" Didi asked.

"Makes sense." Lt. Cdr Mai Huyn said from behind them.  Truk and Dee turned around.  "Hue's basically Feddie City-more immigrants and camp-followers brought in by the Regency have been settling there than anywhere outside Nha Tranh itself, and it's one of Condit's new 'welfare islands'."

"Welfare Islands?" Truk asked.

Dee grimaced "Welfare islands-the government provides a base lifestyle funded by the taxpayers in exchange for votes and public support-the machine-pols back when I was growing up could generate a riot or rig an election by making sure that they had public-supported followers concentrated in certain neighbourhoods.  They're on the dole, so they've got all kinds of time available to work for the Party..."

"And party they do." Huyn commented, "We had a wildfire in the hills overlooking the city-it ended up being Coast guard and some professionals from VDL and Ben Hoa-the locals claimed no funding-that was back in '40, it took us five weeks to get it under control, and afterward, the agency was served a class-action suit for not responding fast enough-from the Mayor of Hue...the Old Duke (Elizabeth's Grandfather) threw it out, but every visit by the Regent has been met with balloons and flowers since he started dismantling the Coast Guard."

"I take it you guys aren't real popular there?" Dee asked.

"About as popular as any cop going into a gang slum." Huyn said bluntly.



Quote from: Paladin1, 19-05-2010, 13:54:44
So, if faced with a heavily entrenched enemy in an urban environment who is actively receiving guerrilla support from the locals, would a SLDF trained unit resort to scorched earth tactics designed to force an enemy out?  I'm thinking Firestarters, Hermes (both models) and Vulcans (or any other designs with flamers on them) turned completely loose here...

Quote from: Hadrian, 20-05-2010, 03:35:59
It is intrinsically against SLDF conduct to practice scorched earth tactics against civilian areas.  They remember with infamy, the nuking by the SLDF of Kowloon. :'(

Their allies, and in this case, the local duchess, are Kowloonies who have legendary operating principles - they take total war to a whole new level.  They're willing to nuke their own city if it's the most effective way of clearing it.  You'd think EVERYONE would know what the Loonies did to people they didn't want on their planet. Evil

I wouldn't put it past the loonies to napalm the place from orbit.

Quote from: Headshot, 20-05-2010, 04:52:21
Why not, if all the "loyalists" bunch up in one place by themselves, thats... convenient >:D

Quote from: lowrolling71, 20-05-2010, 07:15:04
Might as well really rub salt in the wounds of any survivors by making them fill out the enviramental impact report.

Quote from: cklammer, 20-05-2010, 08:58:57
Hey, you! Behave yourself! That's cruel and unusual punishment!

Quote from: Dave Talley, 20-05-2010, 15:27:29
nah
simply drop a few small rocks ( about 100 meters or so in size) from orbit in a ring
around the city, and dare the bastards to come out, park a few large rocks in orbit with a shuttle
to move them and then starve  them out

eventually they will turn on each other and there wont  be anyone
left to defend the place when you go in
most of the real estate will be undamaged
DT

Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 20-05-2010, 18:21:31
If you're going to start dropping stuff from orbit, why not drop a big enough one in the first place to level the city, then start all over again. The city is already a nest of vipers, why waste time on pacification when the Clans are coming?
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:04:42
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 20-05-2010, 20:51:33]]


Nha Tranh, SLDS Sledgehammer...

be careful what you wish for...  Bruce Gilmour mused unhappily, looking into the ship's ward.  Elizabeth Ngo was curled up in the corner, having a nice, quiet nervous breakdown.

Only, without the drugs, it wouldn't be nice and quiet, would it?  Colonel Ngo's voice spoke across the span of time, space, and memory.  "you let the pressure off, let her relax...let her think about what's happened to her."

Subtly, Major Gilmour nodded.  WE did...how did you deal with it?

"Check my journal.  I stayed too busy to let it bother me.  First the uprising, then organizing the one-seventy-first, then running the outfit through a decade of combat-when you're dying, sometimes the only therapy is to be a workaholic."

"She's just a kid." he muttered.

"that she is..."  the Colonel said, "She might come out of it on her own, but I think you'd better snap her out instead-before the drugs stop working."


Bruce Gilmour sat up in his bunk.  The clock said 0330 hours local time.  He'd been asleep for only a couple of hours.

"She'll be better off if you put her to work on something, you know."  Colonel Ngo was sitting at Bruce's desk, snapping a deck of cards.

"I'm still asleep." Bruce said.

"Right.  This is just your brain having brain-farts, I'm just a figment of your imagination, Major."  the long-dead Kowloonese leader said, "Probably something you ate-those rations are a couple centuries old, after all-too bad you're not dreaming about your old lady, or that kid of yours...what'sername, Synthie or something?  Instead you dragged me up... what's really bugging you, Bruce?"

the dead man turned on the desk lamp.  Bruce could see the dirt-streaks on a dress uniform-grave dirt, a corpse's uniform.

"You're afraid she's going to end up like me?" the Colonel asked.

"Maybe." Bruce allowed.

"No you're not." Ngo shook his head, "You know she's going to die, and die young too-there's no cure, if the Clans had one, Kat would've told you when you found out."

"IF she knew about, Colonel." Bruce countered, "She's a warrior, not a doctor."

"Touche'." Ngo nodded.  "Still, why waste your REM sleep on me?"

"What did you hide that stuff for, Tranh?" Bruce asked, "Sam gave you better than a regiment's worth."

"I didn't.  Marjie did-check the records for why." the dead man said, "Think about it, what would Bobby Steiner have done with us after the treaty was signed, if he knew we had that much gear? or some of the others?"

"Elbar was a freak incident." Bruce said.

"You sure about that? you read the background, what Jinjiro did at Kentares-was that a freak too?" Ngo asked, "Or New Dallas-I understand it's still too hot to land there-strontium 90 bombs leave quite a mess...but that's not why you dragged me out-you're worried about the girl." 

"yeah..." Bruce replied.

"You know the right answer, it just turns your guts, doesn't it?" Ngo asked.

"a bit..." Bruce nodded.

"Well, that's why they pay us the big money, Major-to make those calls.  I'm dead, I"m also imaginary, I can't really help you or tell you anything you don't already, at some level, know and understand."  The dead officer leaned back, "You'd better figure it out, though-she's running out of time."




Quote from: lowrolling71, 21-05-2010, 04:02:40
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Looks like our Gunslinger needs to drink stronger whiskey before bed. This just gets worse for poor Liz.

Quote from: Muttley, 21-05-2010, 13:02:24
Yup, Bob the Slob would've pulled out all the stops on the Loonies...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:05:08
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 21-05-2010, 21:46:29]]


New Saigon...


"They're not ready." Dinh insisted.

"It doesn't matter, we don't have any time left." Vao told him, "The question isn't whether you've got them fully prepared for SLDF service, the question is only..."  he looked at the map again, "Can they be used?"

The icon on the map blinked as another call came in-the lance of 'mechs was crossing Bao ridge.

"I'll need a radioman." Dinh stated, "So will N'Kruna's group and Thompson's people.  We'll have to play this one dirty as hell-we're going to lose a lot of men."

"I know that." Vao told him. 

"We'll mix in the experienced reservists with the greenies and the pogues, we'll have to use stick-and-run tactics-lots of demo." Dinh said, "Red's people promised me some composition twelve, if we can lure one or two of them into these areas-" he highlighted the map, "blind 'em with radio-chatter from the cell network and broadcast stations, we can maybe isolate 'em one at a time-they'll still burn the shit out of the city."

"No way around that."  Vao made some notations, "You're going to be a busy man, Dinh." he said.

"Dead people aren't busy, sir." Dinh replied, "I'll get my people to take as many as we can, but my confidence is low-even if everything goes well."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:05:26
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 21-05-2010, 22:01:33]]


For those playing at home...

New Saigon

Map(s) qty six, dense Urban

Special Rules: Double Blind, Night operations, Forced Withdrawal (attacking forces)

Defending forces:
6 plt. Light infantry (foot) Mixed type
3 plt. light infantry (anti 'mech)
4 "Standard" Wheeled APC
2 Light SRM carriers
4 squads SRM infantry (Motorized)
1 Warrior H-7
* Hole Card

Attacking Forces:
BJ-1 Blackjack (4/5)
FS-9 Firestarter(4/5)
Stinger STG-3R (3/5)
Wasp (4/4, Infernoes)
Scorpion Light Tank (5/6)
Scorpion Light Tank (4/5)
Heavy APC (Tracked, 5/4)
1 Plt.foot infantry (Rifle)
2 Plt. Mechanized infantry (Rifle)
1 Plt. Mechanized (MG)


* Hole Card: After turn three, defending forces may call in 1 airstrike every 2 rounds, Airstrike is SB-27 with standard HE bombs.  "Hole Card" lasts for three airstrikes, after which, fighters must RTB.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:05:46
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 22-05-2010, 20:43:11]]


Hue, Northside, 2000 hours...

Ferrocrete apartment blocks rose from harball streets like the rotting teeth of a dead giant.  Artificial lights blazed in the early evening darkness.

"Weird." Truk commented, "Streets are empty."

"Curfew?" Didi speculated.  He nodded.

"They're more aware than the rimjobs were." he said, "I thought Huyn was just being cautious."

"It's like putting up a laser-show holosign that something's going on here besides normal civic life." Dee pointed out.

"Yeah...that it is."  He raised a pair of binoculars, and searched the street.

"Cameras." he said, "Traffic cams, looks like.  Probably cams in the stores too-whoever's doing their security knows his shit, and whoever's running the city must have serious pull."

"Sneak-suits?" she asked.

"Sneak-suits." Truk nodded, "We're also going to need ECM support-I will bet a shiny star league dollar that they're marshalling forces here, maybe a serious logistics point too."

they dropped down behind the ferrocrete bulkhead that marked the edge of the river here.

"Daylight." she said, "We'll have to get into the city in daylight-when there's traffic...without being noticed."

He nodded.  "Civilian clothes, cover story..."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:06:23
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 22-05-2010, 21:45:04]]


For those playing at home...Hue

Scenarios for Hue can be played out using your favourite role-play system, or, we can twist the rules of Battletech to actually get the damn thing over with in a single evening/afternoon in your favoured gaming venue (kitchen table, game store, conventions or what have you...)

It's a tough mission- you get a selection of teams going in, against a unified, heavily armed defender, and your only chance of success, is NOT to fight. (or to fight as few times as possible.)

Mission: Hue, January 27, 3052
Attention To Orders:

Mission: Recon environs of Hue City (grid 261 Southwest), if possible locate and mark military targets for airstrikes.

Insertion is to be by water 15km north of Hue City limits

Extraction by VTOL support (2nd Coast Guard Air)
Secondary Extraction by riverine vessels
Tertiary Extraction option overland/improvised.

Game conditions/special rules:

Double-Blind play, Squad deployment of infantry, Recon Rules (see below)

Defenders outnumber attackers 4 to 1, Attacking forces may not employ Battlemechs, as they don't have them at this time.

Defenders:
1 Lance from FedCom Light table, "F"
12 Vehicles
12 platoons infantry (may be deployed as squads).





.

Attacking Forces: 8 squads infantry, 4 light vehicles (on map), 2 VTOL in reserve (Ferret Infantry Variant)

Primary Mission: Recon each map and mark targets.
Secondary ("Holy Shit") Objective: survive long enough to be extracted by reserve VTOL forces.

Each Objective "Marked" is worth 50 Victory Points. 

There are 16 "Objectives" in Hue, these represent fortifications, munitions storage areas, Barracks, repair points, and logistics points.

Attacking forces lose 5 VP for each time they are detected and engaged by defending forces.  Each squad destroyed is -25 victory points.

Defending Forces collect 10 victory points each time they detect and engage a squad of attacking forces, and 25 for each attacking force squad that is eliminated/destroyed.

Maps: 4 (or more) dense urban/skyscraper mapsheets positioned however each player deems necessary.  Each map contains no less than one, and no more than four, "objective" hexes (determined by the Defending Player and marked down on a sheet prior to play).  When an Attacker squad gets within 3 hexes, AND has line-of-sight, of an Objective hex, that Hex is to be 'marked' visibly on the board.

The only condition in which an attacker gains VP for engaging in combat, is if he is able to capture a 'mechwarrior-either by forcing an ejection and then moving to the hex the pilot lands in, or successfully swarming the 'mech and inflcting two or more head hits with infantry.  Captured 'mechwarriors are worth 100VP, but must be 'extracted' by Reserve VTOL to be counted as captured.

The idea, after all, is to get in, mark the targets, and get out without arousing the defenders-i.e. to be "SNEAKY".



Now, because most smart folks don't take the in-character views entirely to heart, it is recommended that night/darkness and weather be used-unless you're playing it as "in Character" ROLEPLAY!  (the reason for this is simple-playing in-character, your characters can lie to people and employ disguises and such to move about inconspicuously during the day...)
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:06:44
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 23-05-2010, 21:14:11]]


VMFA-12, Soc Trang Coast Guard Naval Air station, Giap Island, Tonkin Bay

"Are we ready? I've got a company of Marines need air support in a hurry, Chief." Lt. (O-3) Huang Duk San asked his Crewchief.

"Well, we had some storage rot, but it's taken care of-we managed to get six fighters operational out of the cache-site, Sir."  the Chief said, "With spares we can get maybe two of the remaining birds operational-the rest are writeoffs."

"Fifty Percent ain't half bad for two centuries in a leaky bunker near salt-water, Chief...I'm putting pilots in the birds you've got up-what about munitions?" He asked.

"That...could be a problem, sir-the iron-bombs are good to go, but the specialty munitions-the Nape, the guided bombs...not so good."

"No clusters?" He asked.

"No sir." the Chief said, "My ordnance techs might be able to pull something out-but I'd give the iron bombs only about an eighty percent chance of detonation..."

"It'll have to do-arm 'em up, we're going out."

"Aye Aye, sir."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:07:13
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 25-05-2010, 20:45:05]]



And it feels, and it feels like
Heaven's so far away
And it feels, yeah it feels like
The world has grown cold
Now that you've gone away

-The Offspring, "Gone Away"

New Saigon, 1600 Hours (aftermath)

"The really horrible part, is that this is how I remember it."  Denh muttered.  "It's like I never left."

"Stay with me, Denh."  Red told him, pressing both hands down on his wound.

"It's just like when I was a kid...during the revolution." he said, "We were supposed to end this..."

"Hang on, Denh, Tommy's on his way..." she insisted.

"...just like home..."  he rasped,"Damn it." then...

Cherry Blossom "red" Vu watched the life go out of his eyes, just as the medics made it past the wreckage at the intersection.


"Ma'am, ma'am...Ma'am, we can't do anything for him, but you're hurt."  Tommy insisted.

"NO.  NO dammit, no..." she was crying, and she lashed out.  Tommy did what training told him to do-he hit her with a sedative 'stick' to knock her out, so that she could be moved to the aid station for treatment.  Then, he looked at his friend.

Denh was half-in-half-out of the twisted rubble of the New Saigon Bank building, It's going to take a crane to get the body out... he looked around, a few of the newbies were gathered on the sidewalk, looking stunned and confused.  "Hey, Dumbshit! who's senior?" He barked.

one of the trainees looked up.

"Yeah, YOU, get your people straightened up and moving to the rally point, Vao's looking for you lost lambs."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:08:13
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 26-05-2010, 22:15:25]]


Hue...

Truk squatted back, and switched to the tac-air frequency.  "Kết hợp 135264 chỗ pháo binh, yêu cầu những hai chuyển qua, qua."  one street over, he could hear a Vedette moving-the governor's militia were aware that something was going on, and they were HOT to find out what.

It was getting close to zero time.

"Kiểm tra trong tất cả các đội."  Dee's viet was smooth, with a slight Ia Drang nasal-she'd learned it from Truk's team, so it wasn't much of a surprise-her accent almost sounded native.

"Đích được xác nhận, Đội Alpha."  He replied, and looked at the Coastie sniper who was with him, he added, "Không có VIP nào trên chỗ"

"Ghi nhận, Những trận không kích đi về nước hai phút."  this time it was Lt. Commander Huyn's voice over the comm.

"Chuyển đến bìa cứng, hai phút cho đến khi thép mưa."  Truk ordered.

He and his sniper moved to a handy storm drain, and slid down into the city's underside, pulling the stainless steel structural grate closed.

About a minute later, he heard the Vedette that had been rolling through the other street cross overhead.

"Sixty...fifty...forty...thirty...twenty...ten...nine, eight seven six..." he opened his mouth wide, and assumed a posture to absorb (and maybe even survive) the coming overpressure wave.

At 0430 hours, the battle of Hue opened with coordinated airstrikes on eight locations, courtesy of most of the remaining Coast Guard air assets, and two fighters from the Black Tigers.




Quote from: Taron Storm, 27-05-2010, 14:20:56
Wait for my signal.

What's the signal?  I don't know what the **** signal is!

Don't worry, it won't be hard to figure out >:D


Gotta to love it when the festivities start in a way that every one understands.

Quote from: Jimmyray73, 27-05-2010, 16:39:25
Heh, that reminds me of working for a fireworks company back in the day.  After about a week on the job I was at the site for a show when the boss said "You're the safety crew.'

"I'm on the safety crew?"

"You ARE the safety crew. If you see something you think is wrong yell really loud, OK?"

As I was digesting that idea the local fire chief came up and asked "Where do you want our guys?"  The reply from the boss was "stay where you are, way outside the taped off area unless you get a signal from my safety crew leader" as he pointed at me.

So the Fire Chief asks me what the signal would be and I smile and reply: "If you see me running around with my head on fire, that's a pretty good sign."  His comments as I walked away aren't fit for print...

I kinda miss that job.

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 27-05-2010, 18:08:41
Ah one of those T-shirts

Police Bomb Squad (or Explosive Ordinance Disposal Specialist) on the front.

On the back "If you see me running try and keep up."  :D

Quote from: Deathrider6, 27-05-2010, 21:51:47
Nothing shows that you care more than a stick of Iron bombs. I almost feel sorry for the Vedette crew. Hopefully they are close enough that the blast or the falling buildings get them rather than the massive trauma of being bounced around likw a BB in a box car.

-------------------------------------------

Quote from: Hadrian, 28-05-2010, 10:36:52
A question regarding Liz (any appropriate version).

It's declared that she's a dangerous sociopath who enjoys killing people in cruel and unusual ways.

Has she ever killed someone who was actually innocent of whichever charge she made?

How many people is she supposed to have killed?

My reason for asking is - is she more dangerous than any other Ngo or for that matter Kowloonese?

Punishments on Kowloon are brutal but they ARE the law and you get a relatively fair trial (depending on who controls the planet).  Just because you don't like somebody else's society doesn't mean YOUR right.

Colonel Ngo who served with the 90th SLDF division used pretty inhumane methods when dealing with prisoners and traitors and was ignored by the 90th if not Kerensky.  I can't imagine him doing much differently to Liz but no one called him insane.

It appears to me that all Ngo tend to be very smart and very cold blooded when needed.  They all appear to be ultra dedicated to Kowloon as well.

Quote from: Deathrider6, 28-05-2010, 18:09:23
  Liz  is notable as far as the Ngo's in the previous story set she is ruthless to a fault in both business and military matters. To truly appreciate Liz's personality traits/flaws reading the previously written stories does help. Some readers of the saga may or may not have an archive of past stories. The Ngo family overall is very dedicated to Kowloon and not all of them are raving mad sociopaths. As for her death toll it is well into the thousands at the time of her death. Cannonshop may be able  to better answer your questions but as an aside in the previous stories she had someone to work as a brake to her sociopathic tendancies at various times. That person varied depeding on the time period in question.

Quote from: Cannonshop, 28-05-2010, 21:20:09
Quote from: Hadrian, 28-05-2010, 10:36:52
A question regarding Liz (any appropriate version).

It's declared that she's a dangerous sociopath who enjoys killing people in cruel and unusual ways.

Has she ever killed someone who was actually innocent of whichever charge she made?

How many people is she supposed to have killed?

My reason for asking is - is she more dangerous than any other Ngo or for that matter Kowloonese?

Punishments on Kowloon are brutal but they ARE the law and you get a relatively fair trial (depending on who controls the planet).  Just because you don't like somebody else's society doesn't mean YOUR right.

Colonel Ngo who served with the 90th SLDF division used pretty inhumane methods when dealing with prisoners and traitors and was ignored by the 90th if not Kerensky.  I can't imagine him doing much differently to Liz but no one called him insane.

It appears to me that all Ngo tend to be very smart and very cold blooded when needed.  They all appear to be ultra dedicated to Kowloon as well.

The difference comes from this:

Liz in most stories is sociopathic in a pretty classical sense-she enjoys hurting/killing people-but she's smart enough to know she can't afford to indulge that urge.  This is different from Colonel Ngo, who did his atrocities out of anger, and regretted them later-Elizabeth lacks (in most versions) the ability to feel guilt over her actions, this is what makes her sociopathic, the typical 'brake' on her behaviour comes from two sources:

1. an understanding that actions have consequences, and the ability to understand intellectually that indulging her darker urges too often will result in severe consequences to herself and her goals.

2. Because of (1) she tries to surround herself with advisors whom are moral in a conventional sense-she's smart enough to realize she lacks the standard moral compass, so she relies on a close advisor's.

Notably, THIS version of Elizabeth may not be as damaged emotionally as previous versions as she progresses, so she may actually retain/develop a 'normal' concept of right and wrong internally, instead of having to rely on external sources.  Only time will tell.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:08:47
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 28-05-2010, 23:38:44]]


Hue, Riverside, 3052/02/15...

The airstrikes had been point-on with the targets, creating one of the larger Tet fireworks displays on record-(particularly when iron bombs hit the three munitions depots scattered throughout the city's core...)  perhaps not appreciated, mind you, by the residents.

The problem with a mid-summer fireworks display (especially in a built up urban area) is, of course, fire.  The welfare blocs in Hue are ferrocrete and fire-resistant ceramic structures, but....

fire-resistant isn't fire-proof.

"Someone put those fires out!"  Leftenant Harold Ayer-Morgan pulled his Dervish out of the wreckage of the MSA.  his sensors showed the tenements outside where the wall had been were starting to burn.  "And get those civilians out of those buildings!"  his heart was racing-They've gone TOO FAR! it was a nightmare all proper sons of the Federated Suns endured-Collateral damage, Civilian Death.  He would NOT let that happen on his watch.

The command frequencies weren't working-there was no access to the Company headquarters on the north side of town.

"Grimsby, Barnaby, Howe! STatus!!" he barked over the (apparently) unjammed lance frequency.

"Grimsby here, I'm almost free of the gantries."  the Hatchetman pilot reported, "Howe's still down, I think she's out cold."

"Barnaby here, I'm getting red on my right leg actuators, but Skullkrusher's operational." the Wolverine pilot announced.

Sarah Howe's voice was coughing, "i'm trapped, Leftenant, I think most of the bay must have fallen on top of me, and I'm getting a breeze."

"Understood, Howe, we'll send help when we can-first priority HAS to be the Civilians." the Leftenant told her.

"Understood sir." she said, and coughed again, "I think that blast got my techs..."




Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 29-05-2010, 04:59:27
Quote from: Cannonshop, 28-05-2010, 23:38:44
Hue, Riverside, 3052/02/15...
"Someone put those fires out!"  Leftenant Harold Ayer-Morgan pulled his Dervish out of the wreckage of the MSA.  his sensors showed the tenements outside where the wall had been were starting to burn.  "And get those civilians out of those buildings!"  his heart was racing-They've gone TOO FAR! it was a nightmare all proper sons of the Federated Suns endured-Collateral damage, Civilian Death.  He would NOT let that happen on his watch.

What, they weren't supposed to touch the military targets YOU put right next to a bunch of civilians?
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:09:34
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 29-05-2010, 09:17:18]]


Xiao Loc village, 2km south of Hue on Highway 3...

What is the rage of a people? how is it expressed?  farm trucks interspersed with combat vehicles-some dug out of caverns, towing guns and carrying men rumbled through Xiao-Loc in long columns packed with men carrying everything from Star League relic laser rifles to hunting pieces.

Within the village itself, homes and street-sides are displaying a banner unseen for decades-the gold banner divided by three red stripes-the banner of Kowloon's independence years.

The Regency imposed an administrator in Xiao Loc, but that administrator is in no shape to object to the display of local patriotism-he and his staff are hanging from a six hundered year old Oak in the village common.

It's not really an army, and it's not really a riot.  News of the fierce combat in New Saigon, Hue itself, and the word that their Duchess has come home with heroes of legend has awakened a spirit unseen in generations.

Kowloon is rising.




Quote from: lowrolling71, 29-05-2010, 10:35:23
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Anyone from the Regency interested in keeping their head and shoulders both together and functional might wish to consider a quick long permanent off world vacation.

Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 29-05-2010, 14:45:11
Quote from: Cannonshop, 29-05-2010, 09:17:18
Xiao Loc village, 2km south of Hue on Highway 3...

The Regency imposed an administrator in Xiao Loc, but that administrator is in no shape to object to the display of local patriotism-he and his staff are hanging from a six hundered year old Oak in the village common.

Geez, you take a marginal administrative job at some pointless state bureaucratic office as a nameless office drone to feed your brood of crumb snatchers and ungrateful wife, and you end up doing the air dance

Quote from: Kwic, 29-05-2010, 15:15:13
It could have been worse, they could have been pole dancing... you know... like the do in Elbar...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:09:57
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 30-05-2010, 08:40:56]]


Highway 3, Ia Drang to Hue Route, 11 KM west of the Ia Drang suspension bridge...


"Don't fire."  Moshe ordered.  Bennie Nguyen looked over at the Tigers advisor with a question in his eyes.

"Don't fire.  Pass it down the line, the refugees can go." Moshe said, "we're only after military assets, those aren't military, they're dependents."

"They could have-" Nguyen began.

"Listen, we used live enemy prisoners as bayonet practice until Sam Winters put a stop to it, what we do NOT do, is fire on fleeing civilians, and the first man I hear trigger a round at those people down in the gorge, I'm going to make an object lesson out of, understand?" Moshe stated it with the tone of a man commenting about the weather.  "For that matter, I want a squad of your engineers down on the bridge, make sure it can handle the weight."

"You're not serious?" Nguyen asked.

"Dead serious-if it can't handle the weight of those fleeing people, it won't hande our reinforcements coming up the other way."  Moshe said.




Quote from: lowrolling71, 30-05-2010, 10:49:16
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Practicality: the other reason for observing the tenets of war.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:10:33
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 30-05-2010, 16:21:56]]


“Liz, get up…”  I hated myself for saying it.  But the Ngo-image rattling around in my subconscious (Now there’s a disturbing thought.) was right.

For maybe the first time Elizabeth Ngo’s eyes weren’t black doll’s eyes devoid of life.  August Martine backed away, putting the hypo back in her kit.

“No…g’way.”  The Duchess of Kowloon said still groggy.

“Can’t, you said it yourself you don’t have a lot of time left…”

“I don’t care!  It’s not fair, Bruce you…don’t know… Patrick….”  She choked back a sob.  “He should be here.”


The Throne Room of the Court of the Star League smelled like death, old death.  The corpse at my feet is mummified, desiccated but I can still recognize the face of my father. 

“Patrick is dead, you aren’t.  You are here, and you are needed.”  She opened her mouth to say something, but I growled low in my throat.

“No, Duchess it ain’t fair…but life sucks that way.  Good people die…better ones than us.”


Acamar’s cold wind chilled me through the rents in my combat suit.  I can’t feel it.  Rachel Miller’s eyes stare without sight, blue as the purest Terran sky.   Better people than me.  I push on relentlessly.

“The only thing you can do try to set things right, and pray you don’t ****** up.  Life isn’t fair, but it is what you make it.  Now your people need you, and I need to get back to the war.” Liz straightened and pulled her hair back.  Without looking at me she said simply;
 
“I’ll hold it together, you go storm the castle.”

I turned and headed for the door.

“Bruce?”  Liz’s whisper was so soft I almost missed it.

“Yeah kid.”

“We’re not good people are we?”

“No, Liz, but we can fake it well enough, maybe long enough to fool ourselves.”  I turned away.  “Maybe long enough to do some good.”


Hussy dodges the autocannon fire from a Zeus.  A feral smile lights my face as I pull on my triggers.  Hell bathes the Lyran built machine and it staggers back, two unfamiliar machines stride forward tracers spewing from their torsos and axes raised.   Axes? Oh this should be good.

They outnumber us considerably.  Chaos reigns.  Never am I so alive.

No Liz, we are not good people…but maybe just maybe…




Quote from: Taron Storm, 31-05-2010, 04:07:23
Something tells me those axe weilding mechs (Axeman or Hatchetman?) have never seen a Marauder move like Hussy before.  It's going to be a knife fight with a couple of thugs against the likes of Jet Li or similar and against a pilot who needs to work out some serious aggression on somebody.  Almost makes you feel sorry for them, don't it ;D

Quote from: Hadrian, 31-05-2010, 05:53:18
Axeman 1 - "It's a Marauder, get in close and chop it up." :)

Axeman 2 - "He won't know what's happening to him" ;)

*5 minutes later*

Ex-Axeman pilot 1 minus mech - "I didn't think it was possible to do that with an axe, I mean, mechs are Humanoid machines, not Human or biological." :o

Ex-Axeman pilot 2 minus mech - "What are you complaining about, I never expected to need an armoured seat before."   :-[

Kowloon soldier guarding the two POWs - "Be glad there's no trees around here".  >:D
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:10:59
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 31-05-2010, 18:24:47]]


Over Hue, 0900 hours...

WO2 Bianh Dao brought her Sabre to a high-angle left turn, listening with half an ear to the chatter on the group frequency.  Hue was  a hornet's nest, and the Regent's militia were making a serious fight of it on the ground.

Data streamed across the ancient fighter's HUD display, showing red, yellow, and green highlights.  One thing about the Leaguers, they DO have the most wonderful coordination software...  she noted, and nosed over into an eighty-degree dive into the flailing madness of the city.

Crossing mach as she pulled up barely two hundered meters from the dirt, windows shattered in the sturdy welfare-island tenements of Hue, as her lasers blazed a path of fire across the rubble-strewn madadam of the street below, lashing into the rear armour of a Valkyrie.

Her wingman's pass against the same target happened less than a second later-from ninety degrees west of her own vector-finishing the medium 'mech as it turned to engage her.

Missile warnings sounded, and she kicked into burner and started flat-hatting at one-fifty meters, leaving scorch-marks on taller buildings-and behind that, came the little fire-flowers of LRM rounds trying to chase her through it.

a rope of tracers from a Vedette sited in a parking structure passed within only a couple hands of her cockpit canopy.  Her sensors detected the shot, and sent data straight through the network to the Tigers' pair of Aerofighters-bigger, heavier, and carrying heavier weapons, she noted unconsciously that they were logged into the tac-net.

a billboard loomed ahead, oulined and highlighted, she pulled up into a vertical climb-out-and roll-back, as the SLDF's single lance of aerofighters crossed her vision in a blur to take out the structure and lay more havoc on the enemy below.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:11:27
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 01-06-2010, 16:41:01]]


The axe wielding 'mechs came on in a rush.  No way to avoid the rush.  My Gauss takes the one on the right in the leg and to my surprise my follow up PPC shot takes the limb off at the knee.  The spindly machine flopped on its face just as the pilot triggered the rapid fire cannon in its chest.  Blasts rocked the stricken ‘Mech and it lay limp.  Hunching in my linear frame I took the left hand machine's hatchet in the bulky armored heat sink housing on Hussy’s shoulder.

The heavy armor took the blow and I used the momentum to spin a punch into the crested machine’s midriff.  As it staggered back Hussy’s clawed left foot shattered its knee joint.  Yuri's Gauss Rifle cored the smaller machine.  Her wave of missiles crushed and dented armor on the Zeus now rushing back into the fray.

In the back of my mind I saw the radar symbols of the Regent’s troops begin to waver and break.  The way to Hue lay open, the city and whatever Condit had waiting for us.

One of the Feddie militia pilots had crawled out of his machine and was staring up at me.  Crouching down over him I keyed my external speakers.

“So tell me dude, who the hell puts and axe on a damn BattleMech?”

He shrugged.




Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 01-06-2010, 17:00:55
Quote from: blacktigeractual, 01-06-2010, 16:41:01
“So tell me dude, who the hell puts and axe on a damn BattleMech?”

My first guess would be an engineer who have never piloted a 'Mech.  ;D

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 01-06-2010, 18:33:51
Dr. Banzai actually, and given the time frame they are more likely a pair of Hatchetmen, the newer Axeman would be rare, a pair on a Periphery Border world would be highly unlikely.

Quote from: Headshot, 02-06-2010, 04:03:45
... back in the 3020s, when the Hatchetman was developed, the axe did make some sense. A bit at least. If used right.
Unfortunately the Mech itself sucks and would be a lot better if it just dropped the axe for some armor and ammo...

Quote from: lowrolling71, 02-06-2010, 11:41:56
Nice work and thanks for sharing. He should have asked for directions to a decent restaurant as well.

Quote from: Jimmyray73, 02-06-2010, 19:46:50
Y'uns are concentrating too much on the mechs and the pros and cons of mech scale axes.  I figure any time a pilot can get punched out of his ride, look at a Marauder (especially one performing beyond current specs) and shrug in response to the MAD pilots smart-alec query (as opposed to soiling himself in response), then we're witnessing pure comic relief or the introduction of another bad-ass.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:11:56
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 02-06-2010, 20:06:52]]


East of Hue, 5 km...

Ernie Williams watched the SLDF Marauder a moment longer-and reached down to see if he'd crapped his shorts. 

Luckily, the shorts were dry.  okay, I'm alive...  His lancemate Bennig...well...not a lot I can do about that, sorry Ben. 

The sound of engines rumbled closer, and he turned to dig out his rifle, survival pack, and a set of pants.

"Hold it right there, 'mechboy."  the sing-song voice was native, and female.  Ernie turned around.

"I'm unarmed." he lied.

"I'll give you a choice, junior-you can be under arrest in Coast Guard custody, and face charges with a chance o' beatin' them, or we can let the locals have you-they lynched a bunch of people in Xiao Loc." she was standing on the back of a pickup, with a pintle-mount sperry-browining.

He raised his hands.

Two coasties jumped off the truck, "You have the right to remain silent, if you give up that right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law, you have the right to an attorney..."




Quote from: Jimmyray73, 02-06-2010, 20:15:22
Wise choice Ernie.  Mom always said "Make sure you're wearing clean underwear in case you're in an accident."

Quote from: MechRat, 03-06-2010, 01:10:11
That's all fine and dandy until the accident actually happens and then, as Bill Cosby noted, "first you say it, then you do it". ;D
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:13:30
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 03-06-2010, 08:17:44]]


Mayoral Residence, Hue city...

Jim Condit stared at the map, What went wrong?  He knew, of course-the SLDF "Auditors" had joined the local insurrection, and Max Greene's people had told him to piss up a rope-the Green Machine wasn't joining the uprising, but they were also NOT joining his forces in putting it down.

"...Contract was pretty specific-we're garrisoning against OUTSIDE aggression, Governor. You don't like it you can call your boss on Tharkad." Green had told him, and had added, "We've been sending reports for the last two years, helping you would be helping perpetuate crimes against our mutual employer, sitting it out I've at least got a UNIT, and I'm pretty sure I can win any MRBC hearing."

That had been over a week ago, when he'd left Nha Tranh to rally forces.

The situation had degraded more in the last forty hours, than it had in the previous month.  The counter-strike at New Saigon had failed catastrophically, the battalion holding Ia Drang was collapsing, and now...

now, we're pinned in at Hue.  They're driving for the HIGHWAY....  The good news, was that from what he'd seen, the only 'mechs the insurgents had were split between Ia Drang and Hue,  and he had them outnumbered on both fronts.

The bad news, was that the Coasties and the Tigers' air-arm had effectively negated his single squadron of Sparrowhawks, and unlike his Militia, the ground troops working with them were being effective.

If I break their 'mech forces, we can still turn this...  It was time to get into the battle.  He stripped off his jacket, and began barking orders for the Headquarters Lance to deploy.

Jim was a Marauder driver, and his ride, Emmaline was nearly pristine, with kills on the Cappellan front in '28 and the Drac front in '39 marked across the nose.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:15:08
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 03-06-2010, 08:34:36]]


Nha Tranh...

"Colonel Green, I assume you're here on business." Elizabeth said, as the Mercenary took a knee.

"I am, Your Grace." Max Green was old-for a 'mechwarrior or a Mercenary.  For a man whose 'ride' was a collage of salvaged parts... "I'm wondering if you intend to file a complaint with the MRBC."

"For your inaction over the last five years under the Regent?" She asked, "I can't fault you for that, Colonel, as much as it angers me, I understand your position."  she said,  "But that's not the only reason you're here, is it?"

"No ma'am." the Mercenary replied, "We've been sitting this one out."

"I noticed." Liz said, "If you want to join in, you'll have to wait for Major Gilmour to return, or speak to his commo people-I'm not...I don't know anything about military operations, and my senior advisors on such matters are busy fighting this war."

"We're probably going to be hit with a breach of contract in spite of our attempts to report the Regency's violations." Green said, "I have copies of the reports..."

"Give them to the Tigers." she said, "In the meantime, I'll have my contracts people go over your position...provided you do something for me."

"Which is?" Max asked warily.

"I want your testimony, Colonel, I want your testimony, and I want your oath of service." she said, "If you give those, I will do whatever my resources are able to protect you, and your men, from the blow-back off of this."



Quote from: lowrolling71, 03-06-2010, 11:35:01
Nice work and thanks for sharing. Smart thinking by Liz, send in the lawyers to allow the warriors to act.

Quote from: Hadrian, 03-06-2010, 13:44:53
The mercs would have been hired to serve the legitimate planetary ruler in the interests of the state and when the Duchess turned up, she was an official ruler and Conduits' superior so the mercs would just serve her instead.

Given that Conduit is opposing the return of his superior, this would make him a rebel wouldn't it.

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 03-06-2010, 15:50:00
The Dutchess is underaged, and AFAICT the Green Machine was not hired directly by Kowloon, either via the Ducal office or the Regnant.  If I'm reading it right they were hired through the AFFC to garrison Kowloon, specifically to do so against external threats, meaning when it comes to be ordered to perform riot duty, or act against one side in a succession dispute they can legitimately tell Condit to go piss up a rope.  Colonel Green aparently did his homework and got that clause inserted so when the peasants started revolting he could hope to stay out of it, and pray the nasty locals would feel the same WRT his people.

On the flip side since the Tigers are here it could, by a very large stretch, be called an 'external threat'.  So to cover his backside with the AFFC and MRBC he has to be strictly neutral.

Quote from: Headshot, 03-06-2010, 19:49:38
OTH Green seems to know Condit is dirty, even reported it, though apparently those reports got "misdirected" on their way to Tharkad...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:15:30
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 03-06-2010, 21:47:13]]


Tharkad, 19 February, 3052...

"Why didn't anybody tell me about this?" Melissa Steiner-Davion was, for her, in a rage-a rage made of soft, quiet, no-more-please-and-thank-you polite fury.

Kommandant-General Alicia Savinson didn't look surprised, but she was the only member of the advisory council that didn't quail under the Archon-Regent's glare.  "I just did." she said smoothly, adding, "Your Majesty."

"Yes, you did...and you've been on the job what, a few months?" Melissa snarled it so smoothly that even Marshall Ian Cromwell looked nervous.  "We have a civil war, on a Lyran planet, because of what someone in this room approved, and did not bother to inform me of." Melissa continued,  "In the middle of an invasion...what are you all being so quiet for? start talking-how did this happen, and how are we going to resolve this?"

Cromwell cleared his throat, "Majesty, we shut down the operation on Kowloon eighteen months ago-the operation wasn't yielding sufficient results."

"YOU WHAT??" Savinson burst out, "You were running guns covertly off Kowloon to Pirates?"

"I take it you didn't uncover that part." Cromwell noted.

"I brought the evidence of someone running guns through there-we didn't know who." Savinson was livid, "You son of a bitch...what the ****** were you thinking?"

Melissa flinched a little at the language, and Savinson looked down, realizing she'd stepped over a line.

"What was the plan, Mister Cromwell?" Melissa said, emphasizing the 'mister'.

"The plan was to create a chaotic situation behind enemy lines, gather intelligence, and do so through deniable means." Cromwell said, "It wasn't working sufficiently well to maintain the operation."

"I see... I should have you imprisoned and stripped of rank for this." Melissa barked.

"Hanse approved of it in theory, Majesty..." he offered.

"That's the only reason you're not going into the darkest hole in the Federated Commonwealth, mister Cromwell." Melissa said, "Instead, I'm going to relieve you of your position.  You will resign, cite something like health, or stress, or family issues, you'll recieve your pension, and you'll clean out your desk, turn over your access codes, files,  sidearm, and uniform.  You will NEVER speak of this. ANY of you, or you will share a rather unpleasant fate."

She looked over at Savinson, "Get this sorted out, and keep it out of the press....in the meantime, I am going to have to organize relief efforts for the worlds impacted by this supremely stupid operation and its aftermath."

Savinson made a note, "What about the...ah...duchess?" she asked.

"She's a minor child and she's had to remove her Regent. Find someone local-someone who can govern, Alicia, and a responsible adult-the last thing we need is more chaos-they'd better be acceptable to the locals." Melissa stated, counting off, "I'm going to issue an Archon's order to repair some of the damage."

"Yes ma'am...about cleanup..." Alicia started to ask.

"Clean it up, Savinson-use Loki, Lohengrin, Molehunters, I don't really care-I want the criminals removed with a minimum of press-a few heads for the newsies, but they'd better not be able to give an interview,understood?"  she stood up, "The last thing we need is to have it get out that FedCom intelligence put a tyrant in place on a member world to run a failed intel operation."

"Yes ma'am."
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:15:55
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 04-06-2010, 01:48:54]]


I don't want to fall too far behind in the story, but RL has been overwhelmingly busy lately. :( This is the first part of my portion of this part of the story...


Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
2km outside Brigham Young Village, Ia Drang Plateau

Hauptmann Mallory Vinson-Tollenson pushed the throttle forward on her Hecatoncheires as she stared in disbelief at her tactical display. The ‘Mech that this Katya Kerensky was piloting was a MadCat – a Clan design! The Terrans are working with the Clans now? She didn’t have much time to dwell on that thought as she moved her ‘Mech hard to the right to avoid the incoming missile strike. It was partially successful. Mallory could hear and feel the multiple impacts scoring her left side armor. She attempted to pivot left to meet her enemy head on, but the ‘Mech was much faster than she had anticipated.

Just as Mallory was able to snap off a shot with her own heavy laser and long range missile complement, her ‘Mech shuddered with the blows of the two heavy lasers and another missile strike. In moments the status board went from green to red; her ‘Mech’s left arm had been virtually severed from the damage. ‘This Clanner is too damn fast!’

Mallory opened the general command frequency, “First Lance! Form up on me and let’s kick this Clanner’s can! Second Lance, take out the rest of the Terries.”

*****

Scott took a glance towards Katya, noting the speed at which she was tearing apart the Militia Heck. Another glance at the TacNet showed him that they were outnumbered almost two to one in ‘Mechs and that one of the lances was maneuvering to surround Katya. Damn Militia fools, they have no idea what they’re getting into.

He keyed the lance frequency. “Eleanor, get over and support Kat but don’t fire on the Heck attacking her! Liz, Jen, and I will take on the other lance!”

“Yes, sir!” Eleanor wheeled off in her Tiger and promptly launched a spread of missiles at another Hecatoncheires trying to move behind Katya. The strike caught the ‘Mech by surprise; apparently in his haste to get the quick kill he forgot about the other Black Tigers and offered his thinly-armored rear to Eleanor. It was a fatal mistake. Almost thirty long-range missiles and a heavy laser ripped through the back of the Heck, shredding the plates of protection and savaging the internals of the machine. Fortunately for the ‘MechWarrior inside, the CASE system activated and prevented a devastating ammunition explosion. Unfortunately, it didn’t prevent the destruction of the ‘Mech’s engine and gyroscope. Like a puppet with its strings cut, the humanoid form jerked once and fell forward, never to rise again. She shouted out to no one in particular, “Take that, you bastard!”




Quote from: lowrolling71, 04-06-2010, 04:32:13
Nice work and thanks for sharing. I t would seem that the Loonies will be receiving a second-hand Mech battalion, some assembly required.

Quote from: cklammer, 04-06-2010, 05:46:18
No manuals available but assembly assistance provided ...

Quote from: Aceraptor, 04-06-2010, 14:53:14
Eh, I think Kowloon will still go with mass army doctrine, instead of focusing on mechs Kowloon will get tanks, using a more advanced/better design then the Patton as a baseline for variants, but still lower tech enough to produce en masse. Though, yeah, those mechs may be useful, but they will be probably used as the OpFor in training excercises and mock battles.

Quote from: cklammer, 04-06-2010, 16:41:37
Kowloon always was in conventional forces but also in combined arms warfare. In the Kowloon "canon" 'Looniie forces were cooperating always quite well with allied 'Mech forces ("Never coming home" as a prime example comes to mind where they worked in alliance with the Green Turkeys). Now they'll have 'Mech forces of their own.

I am pretty sure that the 'Mech forces they'll get will be best assigned at Brigade level in company-sized or platoon-sized formations (and 'Loonies will call a 'Mech lance a platoon IMO) dpending on how much 'Mechs they'll get/salvage. That'll reflect best the numerical force structure of 'Loonie forces whilst still allowing integrated 'Mech forces to react with tactical speed and flexibility.

And I'll give you any odds that 'Loonie forces will not permit their COs to park their arses in 'Mechs, too.

Quote from: Headshot, 05-06-2010, 03:51:29
The 171st did have Mechs too you know. Not exactly up to SLDF specs (mostly old Shadow Hawks i think), and not a lot of them, but they used them mainly for infantry support and diversions before...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:16:34
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 05-06-2010, 09:07:32]]


Camp Norman, 22km  inland from Tributary 20, in the Dinh Diep Highlands...

Jenny Walters walked up to the razor-wire fencing, and stared out across a wasteland.  "Shit won't make me sterile, will it?" 'Mechwarrrior Earnest Williams asked.

"Pardon?" Jenny looked over at her fellow Prisoner, "Oh, probably not-they cleaned up the fallout centuries ago, rad-count's well within safe limits, as long as we don't try to live here for YEARS."

"That's good..." Ernie said, and an aging Karnov flew over, carrying a trailer-mounted water-tank into the prison compound.

The guard-stations here weren't like the typical POW camp-the guns were pointed outward, except for a central tower, and the prisoners were largely left to their own devices.

"Why the light security?" Ernie asked.

"You've been here about a day, right?" Jenny asked.

"Yeah." Ernie said.

"Guns're pointed out, because there's things live out there that a rifle doesn't touch-and they'll eat anything they can catch." she told him, "big stuff, Brower beasts-there was one got caught in the outer wire a couple days ago, mean, armoured, fast, and they've got redundant nervous and circulatory systems.  It took the Coastie guards about ten minutes, using sperry-browning track-mounts, to kill it."

"Oh."  Ernie stepped back from the perimeter.  "You've seen it?" he asked.

"Watched it-the thing made it through the outer perimeter wire in about three seconds, and was about halvers up the centre ditches with three legs tangled in the wire by the time they could finish it off."  she gestured for the 'mechwarrior to follow, "it was over here..."

The patch was burned, and the wire was new, with added coils and angle-bar.

"Burned?" he asked.

"Burned it after it was dead-Brower beast young are carried dormant-they eat their way out of mommy's body after she's dead." Jenny told him, "SO...here's how they keep order-we play nice, or the Coasties leave us here for the wildlife...including the shit that eat Brower-beasts-the shit that's the reason the outer moat's full of insecticide."

"Ants." Ernie said, "I heard about the Ants."

"Yeah, there's two colony-armies within about fifty kliks, they have to re-fill the bug-juice in the moat about once a week." Jenny told him, "Locals outside the valley use flamethrowers on the nests, but they're-"

"Still a problem. I know about those-I thought Brower Beasts were more of an urban legend from the gulf area, though..." Ernie told her.

"Apex predators, 'mechwarrior-the Coast Guard apparently keeps tabs on where they turn up, and go after them when they start hitting settlements." she said, "one of those 'public safety' jobs-but they're probably leaning off the local population to keep us pinned in."




Quote from: Hadrian, 05-06-2010, 11:25:50
The best prisons always have the locks on the inside.  That's because fear makes much better walls than stone.

Kowloon prisons must have a reverse Darwin effect - those that cause the most trouble or are most capable of escape are simply ignored until they do escape at which point....... >:D

One question - is there anything the Coast Guard DON'T do.  They operate both water and space ships (mentioned in various stories), very effective spec-ops troops (fought alongside the 90th SLDF), firefighting and pest control units, police units, rescue units, aerospace units, mech, standard infantry, tank, and artillery units, land based missile bases, etc.  Even the various duchesses, etc have Coast guard bodyguards.  Either everybody in a relatively small organisation is extremely multi-skilled or this is a Kowloonese method of having a massive invisible army.  Everybody is in an official civilian unit that just happens to contain many off-duty, retired or on secondment, coast guard personnel.

So what DON'T they do.

Quote from: cklammer, 05-06-2010, 17:30:30
I can claim to have all of cannonshop's stuff - that is (still) on-line, that is.

My take on the coasties is that they are a mixture of a military force and public security setup with the additional twist of being massively rooted in the general populations through a truly stupendous amount of (active) reserve cadre. Like any conscript-using outfit they can just call up reserves with the civilian specialties that need to be employed militarily at a pinch.

Usually in my personal experience such an outfit combines the worst of both worlds when it comes to administering itself and reacting to external stimuli from outside the organization. Not so with the Coasties - they are responsive, mentally flexible and efficient at all levels. Truly great if they are on your side - truly scary if go  up against them.

Quote from: Kwic, 05-06-2010, 18:02:42
iirc, there were limits placed on the size of the Military armed forces of colony planets, but not on the Coast Guards as they are not quite technically classified as Military.

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 05-06-2010, 18:28:55
IIRC they are classified primarily as LEOs, not Militia.  Also the other advantage is that by calling the the "Coast Guard" and outfitting them with boats (to be fair on undeveloped worlds most settlement will grow up along water transport routes, so the boats get used) they are less attractive to draft as a local levee.  Since their gear is specialized and not easily transportable they are less attractive to pluck up for a House Campaign than say, a Militia with even Scorpions and 10 ton APCs, since to use them as other than leg infantry the House would have to issue them vehicles.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:16:55
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 06-06-2010, 09:30:06]]


Dockside, Hue...

Truk crawled out of the smashed street, straight into a group of Regency Militia under the command of a scared looking teenager with Leutnant's tabs.

"Do you know who I am?" He asked.

"Sir." the Leutnant went to attention.  "I want to surrender my command, Sir."

Truk looked at the soldiers.  "What about them?" he asked.

"They don't want to fight anymore, sir...look, the guys know how this is going to go down, now that the Mercs have announced they're siding with your lot.  We didn't sign on for this."  the Leutnant said, "Frankly, I would rather not be on-record as resisting the Leige Lady's forces, not with what's been happening since things went hot..."

"Go on." Truk prodded.

"I've heard shit, sir...we gotta find someone with your side who's 'official', nobody wants to be lynched when the dirt-farmers get here."  the scared looking soldier told him.

Truk mused for a moment.  "That's a vedette over there?" he asked.

"Yeah.  We've got two of 'em, we were planning to make a break for it across the highway bridge..." the young man said, "Then we got word that the...locals...already have the pass under their control."

"Okay." Truk almost laughed.  "Okay, Junior, you did the smart thing-find a Tiger or Coastie officer and surrender.  That was smart, it means you're under legal protection as POW's...gimme your radio."

"Sir?" the Leutnant asked, handing over the mic from his RTO's backpack unit.

"I have to make a call, so they know not to kill us." Truk told the soldier, "and so that we can get you and your men a ride out of the war-zone-I'd as soon NOT have my career capped with a freindly-fire airstrike because some scared kids wanted to surrender to me... how many of you child-Sunday-soldiers you got?"

"I'm nineteen, sir..." the Leutnant protested.

"Yeah...protest after your second century kid." Truk told him, and got on the horn...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:17:17
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 07-06-2010, 15:22:38]]


Kei and Yuri flanked me as I strode down the highway.  Gracie’s lance cored a second combine arms force a few klicks behind us.  I had one of Nerva’s Beagle equipped Mongooses pacing us checking for mines and infantry support.

“Boss it’s a go, the Milz got themselves caught out of position. The bulk of their gang is spread out trying to suppress the uprising.  Condit’s only got his headquarters lance and some support troops.”  Erika Von Manstien reported over the TACNET. “They’ve still got more machines than we do, but ‘Rat says we’re grinding them down at la Drang.”

“Alright, it’s time to end this I’m not loving the idea of digging out Jimmy-boy from the middle of a city but we’ve gotta get this done.”

Boss,” Truk came over the ‘net. “Just took possession of a mixed bag of Milz…passing ‘em over to a recovery team now.”

“Good; I need you on point on this one, Condit’s no moron we’re probably heading into a shit storm.”

“On it, boss man, we’ll be your eyes and ears…just keep the Terrible Two frosty.”

“We heard that!”  The MechWarriors in question came over the net in stereo.




Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 07-06-2010, 15:42:38
Kei and Yuri?  And the planet is still there?  :o :o :o ;)
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:18:05
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 07-06-2010, 16:17:36]]


@Nikas_Zekeval  ;D

Emmaline stalked through the empty streets of Hue.  Jim Condit called up the info he’d gotten over ComStar’s info net.  With the records of the SLDF’s members a matter of public record, records safe in data files on the capitol worlds of the Successor States, Major Gilmour’s service record had been easily obtained.

Lieutenant Bruce Nicholas Gilmour, 90th Heavy Assault Regiment.  The image file showed the fresh faced young man the Tiger officer had been before the battle of Acamar.  The file had obviously never been updated, but even without the eye patch he was recognizable as the man he’d met a few short weeks ago.

Jim had little time to scan the document before the uprising started, now what he read sent a spike of disbelief.   SLDF Ranger school, Infantry action on New Rhodes, MechWarrior training West Point in Exile, fought major actions at New Home, Acamar, Elbar, and Terra.  Captured by Rim Worlds forces during abortive assault on New York City.   Released after the liberation of Chicago.   Married Sarah Davion, Duchess of Chesterton in 2782. 

A storied career, but that was not what chilled him.  One passage screamed out louder than the rest.  …Number of kills confirmed by guncam footage; 322 BattleMechs, 38 aerospace fighters, 117 armored vehicles, 59 personnel kills out of ‘Mech…Unconfirmed Kills…

Jim shook his head in disbelief.

Impossible!  Then the call came over the TACNET.

“Sir; we’ve got movement!  Sector Six approx one thousand meters…looks li…”  Static interrupted Kevin Leighton’s report.

“Leighton, status…!”  Condit shouted.

“Sir…the sergeant’s down, something took his Crusaders head clean off, we’re under fire…”  Came a panicked report then silence.

“Command Lance, move out, it’s time to end this…”  The Regent of Kowloon ordered with a calm he didn’t feel.

One way or another.




Quote from: Headshot, 07-06-2010, 17:25:44
He missed the "Gunslinger" entry? And i'd just love to see the "unconfirmed kills" number...
Hmm, wasn't the killcount Bruce told Kurita a bit higher?

Quote from: blacktigeractual, 07-06-2010, 21:54:12
Remember in Shattered Dawn the 90th wasn't fragged in mid drop over Manhattan, they fought all the way to Unity City.

Quote from: Headshot, 08-06-2010, 05:49:15
Ah, now i get it, they just have their version of the records, the ones that have the Tigers gutted during the drop, not the ones the Tigers brought with them.
That means B got 204 kills during the Liberation... (unless he's counting the "unconfirmeds" for himself)...ouchi  #P
Thats a lot of Jackrabbits ;D
And nobody "here" knows he's also a Blackheart now? Jimmyboy really should have read those records before pulling any stunt against the Tigers...
If he'd done his homework about Bruce and his merry band, he'd have at least prepared a bit more.

Quote from: Muttley, 08-06-2010, 10:08:28
Yup- Condit knows enough to get that nasty feeling in his gut but he's not smart enough to run for it...

Quote from: Hadrian, 08-06-2010, 11:31:21
Conduit may be classed as something of a mechwarrior, but can he claim to have confirmed kills of THREE mech regiments including  attendant fighter and vehicle support?

Because that's what the CONFIRMED numbers mean.

The unconfirmed might as well be confirmed since, not only is Bruce a gunslinger and thus expected to be honest and honourable, after a certain number of kills, which Bruce has definitely passed a couple of times, claiming kills would be like stealing from a baby.

"Bruce got another vehicle.......!!!"

"So..........the regimental cook killed a vehicle."

"Bruce killed an aerospace fighter ........!!!"

"Ok,,,,,,but you know those things drop like stones with light damage."

"Bruce killed a battlemech...........!!!

"We've been marking his kills on the side of the battleship coz we ran out of room on his mech years ago, it's that large black patch on the nose."

"How about the Union class dropship he's kicking the crap out of at the moment?"

"On the ground or in the air?"

"I give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 08-06-2010, 12:38:19
"You make him sound like he just stepped out of the latest Immortal Warrior vid?"

"Who do you think they based that series on?  They had to tone the protagonist down though or no one would believe it."

Quote from: blacktigeractual, 08-06-2010, 13:10:31
Hadrian I'm still laughing.  You are now the official Black Tiger's satirist!
Honestly I was thinking of the insane numbers of kills the German pilots had during WWII.  Like those guys Hussy has been rebuilt so many times the only original piece of gear on her is her DI module and so has Bruce (there is a regen bay with his name on it!) But put Kai, Phelan, or even Andy Redburn (the base for the character) would have similar scores.

Quote from: Hadrian, 08-06-2010, 22:59:23
The main thing with a high kill score is WHAT you kill.  The German pilots with the big scores tended to be on the Eastern front facing the Russians who used seriously under trained pilots in some really bad planes.  Those same pilots facing the Western pilots found their kill rates go very low since their opponents were vastly better.

It's like somebody wearing a real tiger skin jacket.  If he got it using a high powered rifle from half a mile away, he shouldn't be allowed to wear it since he didn't earn it.  If he got it using a knife or even better, his fists, then he DESERVES to wear it.

As a gunslinger, I would assume that a good proportion of Bruce's kills are elite Kuritan pilots (the reason for the gunslinger programme),  and fanatical and capable rimjobs using star league level equipment (the retaking of Terra).  This version of Bruce has added Clan kills.

The man with a single dragon kill is much more dangerous than a man with a hundred ducks.

As for the satirist, thank you muchly. :)

 Most people don't like my sense of humour :'(

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 09-06-2010, 03:53:34
Quote from: Hadrian, 08-06-2010, 22:59:23
The main thing with a high kill score is WHAT you kill.  The German pilots with the big scores tended to be on the Eastern front facing the Russians who used seriously under trained pilots in some really bad planes.  Those same pilots facing the Western pilots found their kill rates go very low since their opponents were vastly better.

My brother told me a of a paper he did at the Air Force Academy about some of those German super aces.  A few factors to consider.

One, the real high scoring ones, I'm talking 300+ kills here, started flying as 'volunteers' during the Spanish Civil War.  So roughly a solid decade of combat flying.

Two, unlike the Western Allies who rotated pilots and aircrews to training and cadre assignments after a fixed number of missions or cruises Axis pilots flew in combat till they died.  Or they were so seriously injured they had to be taken off flight duty to recover.  So they had more combat flying time than any Allied pilot could rack up.

Three, one of the German Aces had what he called the 'coffee method'.  If he found a single P-40 bumbling among the clouds like he hadn't heard there was a war on, he'd swoop down and get another kill.  If OTOH he saw a squadron of P-51s with their fangs out just looking for a Messerschmidt to kill, well he'd fly back to base and have a cup of coffee.  ;)

Quote from: Headshot, 09-06-2010, 04:42:00
Quote from: blacktigeractual, 08-06-2010, 13:10:31
Honestly I was thinking of the insane numbers of kills the German pilots had during WWII.

I was thinking of them too, especially Erich Hartmann (http://'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Hartmann'), 352 kills within three years, and no, he didn't even fly before the war. And while nearly all of them were russian planes, the few times he fought americans they didn't fare much better (unless you count him being out of fuel and ammo against 8 Mustangs as "doing better"...).
And regarding that "untrained russian pilots" excuse, there was Marseille, with 158 british fighters downed in barely two years!

By contrast, allied pilots were living legends with 20+ kills...

Quote from: Hadrian, 08-06-2010, 22:59:23
As a gunslinger, I would assume that a good proportion of Bruce's kills are elite Kuritan pilots (the reason for the gunslinger programme),  and fanatical and capable rimjobs using star league level equipment (the retaking of Terra).  This version of Bruce has added Clan kills.

I'd be surprised if Bruce had even a single Ronin in his score, by the time he became a Gunslinger, the Hidden Wars really weren't of concern anymore, he was fighting Rimmers for pretty much his entire adult life, from PBI to Mechwarrior.

Quote from: Hadrian, 09-06-2010, 05:20:01
Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 09-06-2010, 03:53:34
My brother told me a of a paper he did at the Air Force Academy about some of those German super aces.  A few factors to consider.

One, the real high scoring ones, I'm talking 300+ kills here, started flying as 'volunteers' during the Spanish Civil War.  So roughly a solid decade of combat flying.

Two, unlike the Western Allies who rotated pilots and aircrews to training and cadre assignments after a fixed number of missions or cruises Axis pilots flew in combat till they died.  Or they were so seriously injured they had to be taken off flight duty to recover.  So they had more combat flying time than any Allied pilot could rack up.

This is pretty much the same method both the army and navy used as well.  Veteran soldiers led by an excellent officer cadre should win a war - unless their led by a really bad CIC who sends them to do impossible tasks.  Do I hear the Lyran anthem in the background?

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 09-06-2010, 03:53:34
Three, one of the German Aces had what he called the 'coffee method'.  If he found a single P-40 bumbling among the clouds like he hadn't heard there was a war on, he'd swoop down and get another kill.  If OTOH he saw a squadron of P-51s with their fangs out just looking for a Messerschmidt to kill, well he'd fly back to base and have a cup of coffee.  ;)

The "ace" is just proof of what I meant by ducks and dragons though.

That's why I always considered RAF and Russian pilots that survived the entire war with high scores as "better" than most since both numerous long periods where they must have felt like they were in a space invader game.  Every time you took off, you expected to run into a lot of enemy planes all at once.   

My personal favourite RAF pilot had 22 kills in one year before he was shot down and spent the rest of the war either in or escaping from POW camps.

Why would 22 kills make someone my hero you ask.

He lost both legs before the war but still managed to fly a fighter, get 22 kills and escape from POW camps.

He was friends with a German ace who was half blind but still managed to fly early German jets and picked fights with squadrons of US fighters (no choice really, they were protecting bombers).  He had a considerably higher score but he had been a fighter pilot for 10 years serving in Spain and the western front until the end of WW2.

 I could easily imagine either of them getting on well with Bruce.  Oh to be a fly on THAT wall. :)

BTA - They became living legends because they actually managed to survive fighting the Luftwaffe who have been noted as been rather good.  Like I say, judge a man by his enemies.

After a quick check, none the those pilots I would consider true aces have massive scores.  They just earned the respect of their enemies and many became friends after the war.  Talking the talking means nothing if you can't walk the walk, especially in this company.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:18:48
[[Posted by MechRat, 09-06-2010, 06:25:05]]


Here's another update...

*****

Scott briefly studied the tactical map, smiling as the second Heck winked out. A 'Mech Boom-Boom's computer identified as a Zeus joined a ShadowHawk and were closing on on Katya. He was confident that the two of them could handle themselves. Branching off from the command lance was a another lance consisting of two Griffins and two Commandos. As the Militia 'Mechs closed, the two Griffins launched their missile complement at Scott and Lizzie. While a few missiles cratered the Tiger, all of them missed his Bombardier. 'Ha! The bastages haven't seen a Bombardier before!' He sent a full spread of thirty missiles at the lead Griffin. Most of them hit, causing the 'Mech to stumble.

Liz and Sargent Jenna Thompson each contributed their part; the Gauss Rifle on Liz's Tiger cleanly removed an arm from one of the Commandos and Jenna's Bombardier hit the other Commando hard enough to knock it to its knees.

*****

Hauptmann Vinson-Tollenson blinked to clear her vision. The last hit from the MadCat had hit the cockpit and rung her like a bell. Everything was still intact, for now. She heard Williams’ scream as one of the unknown Tiger 'Mechs savaged his 'Mech. Still, it was three against two; if she could just get a good hit on the MadCat the odds would that much better. Suddenly, her own tactical display warned her of the imminent destruction of the two Commandos in the second lance. “Support Lances, move forward and engage the Resistance rear elements while their ‘Mechs are occupied.”

“Roger, Command. Support lances engaging as ordered.” From the behind the Militia 'Mechs, twelve Vedette and four Manticore tanks surged forward.

*****

Scott and the others had done their jobs right; the TacNet showed that their attack on the Militia had spooked them enough to call out their armor reserves. Now that the Militia tanks were driving hard for the Tigers and the Kowloonese reserves, Scott called out over the comm, “OK folks, we've got their attention, time to bring the kids to the party. Fall back according to plan.”

“Gotcha, Boss,” answered Jenna.

“Acknowledged, sir,” came Eleanor’s reply.

“Right behind you,” said Lizzie.

Nothing from Katya. According to the TacNet she was still engaged with the Milita Hecatoncheires. He waited almost 30 seconds before shouting out, “Katya! Fall back now! That’s an order!”

A few seconds of static greeted him until she replied, “This is not an honorable tactic.”

Scott felt his face get red. “I don’t give a flying crap what you think! Move it!”

“Aff.” ‘B needs to talk with her about this damn Clanner honor crap. I’m sure there’s a place for it, but not here with me.’

*****

Mallory’s broke into a grin as she watched the Tiger ‘Mechs fall back. ’Must have been the tanks. As flimsy as Vedettes can be, being outnumbered almost 5 to 1 must scare those furballs.’  “First and Second lances, advance and engage those damn pussy cats. Support lances, get your ass in gear and support my right flank.” It never occurred to her that all of the Tiger ‘Mechs were virtually undamaged; she was too busy riding the high of pushing the Resistance forces back. As far as Williams was concerned, he was stupid enough to expose his rear to the Tiger ‘Mech and they were lucky to hit him. The Commandos were lightweights – they had no place here with the big boys and girls. She’d protested when Condit assigned them to her but was overruled.

*****

Lieutenant MacKenzie keyed Sgt. Dayyan’s frequency. “OK, Sergeant, our guests are headed to the party.”

“Understood, sir.” Moshe looked over at Rabbi Nguyen, “Crank up the noise, Rabbi, its time for our surprise.” The Rabbi turned around and circled his hand in the air, indicating to his small group of Engineers to start up the generator for the crude and hopefully effective ECM gear they had set up in the back of one of the remaining panel trucks.

Nguyen turned back to face Moshe, “If it works, we should have an effective radius of almost 150 meters. And that’s a big if.”

“It’ll have to do, Rabbi.”

When Scott was within about 150 meters, his tactical display started to fuzz as it reacted with the ECM shield. ’Great job, Moshe. This is gonna be great.’




Quote from: cklammer, 09-06-2010, 06:35:10
Meh, too much effort for some squashing light-weight baggers. The guys (including the girl) must be shooting for artistic impression ...

Nice update.

Quote from: Muttley, 09-06-2010, 09:37:51
Doing it with style...

Quote from: Hadrian, 09-06-2010, 11:23:34
I know that tech has decreased over the centuries but it appears history and common sense have too.

Even if the 90ths reputation is ignored, there are still the Kowloonese militia who noted for been VERY stubborn.  Both retreating at the same time in apparent panic without casualties couldn't say ambush more if you put up a 50ft neon sign saying "Ambush this way, please hurry to your doom!"

How come Rimjobs (who are the official bad guys in most 90th stories) have competent leadership but the Lyrans (who appear to be good guys most of the time) have leadership bordering on a load of inbred, farm-animals-in-the-family-tree, morons? ???

Quote from: Aceraptor, 09-06-2010, 12:14:19
I would guess because the Lyrans ARE incompetent, at least the top level/upper mid, it wouldnt be until the Jihad that the higher ups would be purged by baptism of fire of the incompetents and political generals

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 09-06-2010, 15:11:50
Quote from: Hadrian, 09-06-2010, 11:23:34
How come Rimjobs (who are the official bad guys in most 90th stories) have competent leadership but the Lyrans (who appear to be good guys most of the time) have leadership bordering on a load of inbred, farm-animals-in-the-family-tree, morons? ???

Because that is the Lyran officer archetype.  The Rimjobs aren't dumb enough to throw an officer's commission to anyone willing to spend enough cash for it.  The more you spend, the higher your rank in the LCAF.  If you know Gilbert and Sullivan the LCAF has institutionalized promotion based on 'polishing up the brass knocker faithfully'.

Quote from: cklammer, 09-06-2010, 15:49:30
Quote from: Hadrian, 09-06-2010, 11:23:34
I know that tech has decreased over the centuries but it appears history and common sense have too.

Even if the 90ths reputation is ignored, there are still the Kowloonese militia who noted for been VERY stubborn.  Both retreating at the same time in apparent panic without casualties couldn't say ambush more if you put up a 50ft neon sign saying "Ambush this way, please hurry to your doom!"

How come Rimjobs (who are the official bad guys in most 90th stories) have competent leadership but the Lyrans (who appear to be good guys most of the time) have leadership bordering on a load of inbred, farm-animals-in-the-family-tree, morons? ???

German nobles. And I am a real-life German myself. Back in 1919 we should he wasted everyone with "von", "van" and "zu" in the family name.

Quote from: wolfcannon, 09-06-2010, 16:44:12
but herr hindenburg was not incompentant.   just in his latter yrs did he slip.

Quote from: Jimmyray73, 09-06-2010, 18:18:21
Quote from: Hadrian, 09-06-2010, 11:23:34
How come Rimjobs (who are the official bad guys in most 90th stories) have competent leadership but the Lyrans (who appear to be good guys most of the time) have leadership bordering on a load of inbred, farm-animals-in-the-family-tree, morons? ???

Because the example set by the "Social Generals" is often enough to drive the competent ones out of the service and into the private sector (either as Mercs or businessmen)...?

Quote from: lowrolling71, 10-06-2010, 02:57:54
Nice work and thanks for sharing. I agree with the portrayal of the Lyran leadership's effectiveness (or lack thereof), in that if they were the competant cream of the crop they would be up to their shoulders in either Falcon feathers or Wolf fur. While this is going on the Lyran High Command is having real problems (The invading Clans) and they assigned the marginal and borderline officers somewhere that it was hoped that they would not get to many soldiers killed or to much equipment destroyed. In this case, the High Command's hopes were dashed. Hence Archon Melissa's housecleaning and hastily put together relief package that is in the works. All of the officers fighting against Liz's assumption of authority are dead but just having had the good grace to stop breathing yet.

Quote from: cklammer, 10-06-2010, 03:57:22
Quote from: wolfcannon, 09-06-2010, 16:44:12
but herr hindenburg was not incompentant.   just in his latter yrs did he slip.

Hindenburg was one hell of a General - no question. But for every good one you had lots of inbred chaff. And they were glass ceilings in the Kaiser's Military for non-Nobles - make up your own opinion on that.

And that is not the worst: the NSDAP did only have the parliamentiary majority in the Reichstag after January 29th, 1933, in coalition with the German Nationalist Party which was the party of the big Industrialists and the Nobles ... Hitler never could have formed his Government without their MP's votes, never could have set himself up as a Dictator without their MP's votes for the "Ermächtigungsgesetze" ... the rest is the worst part of Human History.

There was actually Civil War after 1918 in parts of Germany: Check the "Bavarian Soviet Republic" article on the English Wikipedia ...

Quote from: Hadrian, 10-06-2010, 05:25:34
Quote from: cklammer, 10-06-2010, 03:57:22
And that is not the worst: the NSDAP did only have the parliamentiary majority in the Reichstag after January 29th, 1933, in coalition with the German Nationalist Party which was the party of the big Industrialists and the Nobles ... Hitler never could have formed his Government without their MP's votes, never could have set himself up as a Dictator without their MP's votes for the "Ermächtigungsgesetze" ... the rest is the worst part of Human History.

Hope you include Stalin in the worst part of human history.

Hitler was failed mass murderer (he was stopped) with approximately 11 million dead to his name while Stalin was a successful murderer with upto 60 million deaths regarded as his.  Not specifically death camp victims but mass exections of anybody he thought might be a problem.

Quote from: cklammer, 10-06-2010, 06:45:41
I had Stalin down for anywhere between 8-15 million inside the Soviet Union between the two World Wars - but I am the first to admit that I may be wrong. Anybody dying in WWII gets flat out attributed to Hitler which would make approximately 55 million. Regardless to say that the exact numbers will never be known ... numbers become moot anyway past a certain point.

If you agree I'd like to leave our dialog as it is In Memoriam of all the victims of crimes against Humanity.

Quote from: wolfcannon, 10-06-2010, 13:15:22
yes i just wish that the rest of the world would share this view instead of gloryfiying these two men.   a bitter pill to swallow.   unfortunately history will repeat itself as humanity is currently not remembering or learning from its recent past.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:19:22
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 11-06-2010, 21:34:50]]


3 KM southeast of Brigham Young Village....

Sgt. Moshe Dayyan watched the Regency Militia fall for a stunt that he, Scott, and even Kat thought they had to be too smart to fall for.

"Wait for it...are they stupid?" he muttered, and then, he got his answer- the lead 'mech stopped right on top of the buried silo doors.

"Open it up." he said.

The 'mechwarrior's sensors alerted him or her to the movement-a hair slow.  The Rampage dropped down the hole in an instant, as the first pass by fighters slashed overhead.

"Hey, Leutenant, did we order up an airstrike?" Moshe asked over the unit comms.

"Um...no, I don't think so, Sargeant."  Scott's response sounded puzzled and slightly alarmed, as a flight of six SB-27 Sabres wagon-wheeled almost directly on top of the Regency's mechanized formations, slashing down with lasers and iron bombs.

"Well...who the ****** ordered it?" He inquired, "I sure as hell didn't-"

"Tiger Thirteen Ace, this is Coast Guard Four-One-Alpha, requesting entry into the net, Authentication Victor Zulu India, Over." the accent was crisp-school trained english.

"Coast guard Four One Alpha, this is Tiger One Three Ace Actual, Authenticate Zulu Echo Delta."  Lt. McKenzie's voice over the common channel intoned.

"Tiger One Three Ace, this is Coast Guard Four One Alpha, I Authenticate Bravo Charlie Sierra to your Zulu Echo Delta."

"Welcome to the net, Four ONe, what is your chop, over?"  the Lt.'s voice asked.

"I make Five K North northeast of your current position, we ordered a Pizza by air, those are our birds, One Three Ace, Over."




Quote from: cklammer, 11-06-2010, 23:51:12
Ah, I just love it when everybody's comms are setup to work together. I love it more when everybody has the newest, current codes. I love it when everybody has the same codes ... :)

Quote from: Cannonshop, 12-06-2010, 08:56:29
  Remember that the Coast Guard was the first point of contact for the Tigers on arrival, and they're probably using SLDF standard crib-sheets...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:19:41
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 20-06-2010, 14:15:09]]


…Arc-Royal, same day.

Justine Sinclair popped another kroppkakor dumpling in her mouth, munching on the pork filled potato dumpling she went over the PADD’s data.  The restaurant in Arc Royal’s newly invigorated Rasalhauge district, which had been dwindling since the formation of the FRR, but had begun to get bigger with that states gradual dissolution under the Clan Invasion.  Justine liked the food and the atmosphere so did many of the Kell Hounds and a fair number of the Tigers.  Bruce’s report of the coming offensive against the Regent on Kowloon was delivered with his usual brevity.

…so we’re gonna play bait and switch, then waste the Regent’s machines as quickly as possible.  Should be done in a week.  Data follows.

Sam agreed with his Gunslinger’s battle plan, but the Colonel believed in hedging his bets.  Thus Justine and her Hungry Tigers would take ship for Kowloon along with a company of the New York National Guard Mechanized Infantry, the destroyer Warspite and Gold Squadron’s Hammerheads.  Jackson Davion had been surprised at the level of the response.
But the Tigers take care of their own.  In this case their own was a certain psychotic little duchess.  To boot Sam wanted the matter on Kowloon done.  If the Tigers were going to pull off this Trial bullshit they’d need their Gunslinger and his merry little elves along with Liz Hazen.  The plan was based on the insight given to Justine by Katya and the other bondsman from Tamar and it was politics.

And that is my arena.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:20:12
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 20-06-2010, 15:48:46]]


“This table taken?”  A pleasant contralto interrupted her thoughts.

“Baroness, of course, please sit down.”  The slender red haired woman sat across from her and nodded to the waitress.  Sandra Gilmour-Davion looked over her own PADD for a moment, then looked over at Justine.

“So you’ve signed off on this Trial of Possession business.”

“Pretty much…We’ll ship out for Kowloon and settle this business with the Regency, then go hit the Wolfies up for some meds.”

Sandra shook her head in amazement.  “Just like that?” She said wonderingly.

Justine swallowed another dumpling and nodded.  “Just like that.”

“I want in.”  Sandra said suddenly.

“With all due respect Baroness, while your record shows you’re a fine pilot…let me be candid…we are short on spare ‘mechs and your Colonial tech machine…”

“I own a MAD-2Rb-H Marauder, a Terran machine.”  She handed over her PADD.

“I’ve never heard of…”  LBX class 100mm autocannon, paired Extended Range 8cm’s riding side car over 5cm’s…  “A different design philosophy than ours, we’re really not in Kansas anymore.  How does she run.”

“Not bad for being in mothballs for a couple hundred years.  Misha Vinson’s checking Hussy out now.”

“Hussy?”

Sandra grinned.

[[Link MAD-2Rb:  [[Link broken during forum migration(s), and accordingly deleted by re-poster.  :(]] ]]
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:20:39
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 20-06-2010, 16:26:57]]


Kowloon…

A spray of autocannon fire spat down the boulevard narrowly missing Hussy’s left side heat exchanger.  I sent a whip of a charged particle fire across the Regent’s machine.  Condit ducked down the street, but not before I saw the damage.  No more mister bang-bang.  The trail of 120mm shells in their cassettes showed me Condit knew it to.

Gonna be a little hot there Jimbo, no ack-ack to back your PPC’s up.

Switching to the private channel I had with Truk, I sent a burst of 6cm laser pulses to chase a squad of SRM toting infantry back under cover.  I really didn’t want to hit any of them, but damn it Hue was crawling with the little bastards; Truk’s marines had taken a shitload of them from behind.  The key was our own teams had worked into a position to ambush Jim Condit’s heat hog of a machine.

“T, Jimbo’s on his way ETA thirty seconds, and he’s running hot and Winchester ammo, shut his ass down.”

“We still taking him alive?”

“Yep, need his punk ass.”

Truk’s cursing brought a smile to my face as I stalked Hussy after my prey.




Quote from: Hadrian, 02-07-2010, 11:49:03
I really don't like the Lyrans.

Kowloon would have been much better as a member of the FWL.

Quote from: Jimmyray73, 02-07-2010, 16:48:59
As if the FWL doesn't have enough issues...

Quote from: Hadrian, 02-07-2010, 20:56:26
The Ngo's are important and powerful industrialists with their own personal and VERY loyal "personnel".  They're important to the Lyrans who aren't exactly weak or poor and this is with a level of mismanagement bordering on "removing your nose to spite your face".

The level of freedom allowed them in the FWL would make them MUCH more effective and practically a mainstay of the FWL.

Quote from: Jimmyray73, 03-07-2010, 14:51:12
And thus much less tragic, and less of a story...

Quote from: Cannonshop, 03-07-2010, 22:43:25
Honestly, the Ngos wouldn't work in a setting more attuned to their style of operation, the stories wouldn't be as exciting or interesting to write. (Dunno about reading...)

It's "Pink monkey effect"-without the clash of values, there's no real story there...
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:21:05
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 26-07-2010, 01:32:53]]


I staggered Hussy out of the rubble and flames.  Sweat stung in my eyes as the heat edged down from the red zone.  Stupid, stupid I thought.  Condit had just tried doing to me what I had Truk trying to do to him.  Get me all heated up then plaster me with infernos.

He'd added one simple refinement, he done dropped a building on me.

Red lights glared at me from Hussy's secondary screen.  A full third of my armor gone, right arm limp at my side the weapons in it useless.  Hussy's emotionless but oddly sexy voice sounded in the cockpit.

"B, I'm hurt, B, my arm…"

"I know girl, I know…just a little bit longer, I promise."

Great, now I'm hallucinating and my own 'Mech is talking to me…  Hussy's superior heat exchangers coped with the small patches of burning gel still coating her and soon the heat level dropped into the green.

Thank heaven for small favors, the rubble scraped most of that shit off.

A particle whip slashed at my ass and I spun to face Jim Condit's own battered machine.  Pulling on my triggers I sent both a gauss slug and a cyan lightning bolt down range.

His second shot was thrown off as the silvery streak of the railgun caught his left arm snapping it out to slam into the building. My own particle fire punched into his Marauder's oval torso snapping off one of his sensor arms.  Condit staggered back but snapped another bolt into my right leg, ripping off the last of the armor.  The dull chunk of another gauss slug being chambered was almost lost in the din, so deafening through the cockpit that if I hadn't been wearing a neurohelmet I'd have been deafened.

My slug punched clean through the heat exchanger above his right shoulder to tear it and the useless autocannon clean off.  It didn't prevent him from lashing both of his particle cannons at once over Hussy's much abused torso.  The explosion of green smoke and fluid signaled the death of a heat sink and a sudden shudder and high pitched whine spoke of damage to my gyro.  The whoosh of a half dozen rockets from the building above me made my heart skip.

Sorry kiddo, I guess I go before you.  I willed a silent apology to Liz Ngo.

The rockets however were aimed at Condit.  They split open just before impact spreading burning gel all over the other 'Mech.  A "Mech already in the red.  With at least five heat sinks shot away and dealing with the alpha strike there at the end, Jim Condit's battered "Mech gave up the ghost.  As it toppled forward he ejected, the cockpit's panels blowing his path clear of the firey goop.  As his chute sailed overhead in the direction of the park, I loped Hussy after him.

Truk's voice came over the TACNET then.

"Hey B?"

"Yeah?"

"Didn't your momma tell you not to let people drop buildings on your head?"

"Truk?"

"Yeah B?"

"Bite me."

Why the hell is it I get all the smartasses.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:21:27
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 26-07-2010, 18:58:51]]


Peace Park, Hue City...

Forty degrees Celsuis, and it felt icy and bracing after the incredible heat of the cockpit.

Not that Jim cared much-ejection hurts.

So does landing afterward, and he wasn't the young man he'd been in '28. 


"Good afternoon, Mister Condit."  the asian face looking over the sights was wrapped in an SLDF field uniform, and the Mauser 960 was no relic.  "I'd stay right there until Major Gilmour comes to collect your happy ass."




Quote from: Comedian, 28-07-2010, 10:08:50
Quote from: Cannonshop, 26-07-2010, 18:58:51
Peace Park, Hue City...

Forty degrees Celsuis, and it felt icy and bracing after the incredible heat of the cockpit.

Thats 104 °F. . If it was hotter in the Cockpit the Pilot has been cooked.

Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 28-07-2010, 12:45:38
The human body without a cooling vest can handle temperatures as high as 130 F. Above that temperature, sweat evaporates so fast that it doesn't provide any cooling effect.

So I figure with the 'mech running in the red, plus the Infernos, Jimmy Boy's cockpit had to be atleast 160-170F. After being in the environment, 104 F would feel chilly.

Quote from: Steve Ronin, 01-08-2010, 17:33:05
just suffered thru several 100f+ days here in central VA.

110F is bearable, but miserable.
Staying hydrated is a must.

Gatorade must still be in business in 3025  :)

Quote from: Comedian, 01-08-2010, 20:19:31
You are correct. I had that disturbing pleasure a couple of times in Namibia and South Africa.
It is not really fun. Especially if you are trying to get work done.
Which is what a Pilot has to do.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:22:11
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 30-08-2010, 17:17:43]]


Hussy, Truk reflected looked like a child’s toy that had won a fight with a trash compactor.  As Kei and Yuri rumbled up and took position to cover the small group of people in the clearing, the big battered Marauder, smoking from rents in its armor crouched on its back canted legs, bringing the machine’s cockpit closer to the ground.  The clamshell armor over the cockpit opened and Major Gilmour popped out like an unlikely elf.

“Well Jimbo, seems you’re in a bit of a bind here.  Keep this up and a lot of folks’ll get killed, or at least a lot more then already have anyway.”

“You want me to surrender then?”

“Yeah, pretty much I mean, you could continue to fight, hell you might even win against us. But what you’ve got left ain’t gonna be worth a can of beans…”  The younger man looked at him curiously a small smile on his face.

“You can’t tell me you wanted this to happen, I’ve got a read on you, a pretty good one, an honorable career for the most part, service to the state…hell they made you regent of a whole world, man.”

Jim Condit looked around; he couldn’t concentrate on the Terran’s face.  A squad of Tiger infantry slipped into view herding a group of fifteen or twenty of Condit’s milz.  A young infantry man caught his eye…Peter McKinney, just turned nineteen.

Turning back to the Major he asked, already knowing the answer; “What happens to my men?”

Following Condit’s gaze, Major Gilmour nodded.  “The ones who weren’t involved in any atrocities will probably end up reassigned.”  He shrugged.  “The rest?”  The Tigers’ Gunslinger spread his hands.

The Regent of Kowloon reached for the offered comlink and performed his last act for the Archon.

Chapter 4 Cleaning up the shit
…all units Kowloon Planetary Militia, this is Regent James Condit.  Stand down, I repeat, stand down.  All units hold in place and fire in self defense only until relived by elements of the 90th Heavy Assault Regiment.  We have surrendered…It’s over.”
Broadband surrender transmission, Kowloon

Justine Sinclair looked around in annoyance.  I stifled a grin. All dressed up and nowhere to go, eh Sin.  The Hungry Tigers commander had come expecting a hot drop and a stiff fight.  She didn’t get one and now she was grousing about it.

Talk about fightus interruptus.

Jim Condit had been the one to end most of it peacefully, although some of the partisans had tested the limits of the Milz definition of self defense.  He was in the brig aboard the Cat’s Eye.  It was the only place we could keep him safety.  Lizzie Ngo wanted him shot, but I convinced her of a trial a real one first.

I really wanted John Zazula’s engineering wizards here, but Sasha Vinson had them crawling all over the Kell’s factory on Arc-Royal.  Still using Sin’s troopers and Josh Harding’s New York Guards we were making progress with the reconstruction efforts.  Also having a battalion of heavy ‘mechs around really went a long way towards keeping everybody playing nice.

That and having Liz Hazen around worked out pretty good.  Her experience with being a partisan herself worked well with Justine’s spin doctoring.

Likewise having a destroyer in orbit wrecked the plans of the bandits Condit was sponsoring from escaping.

“Still haven’t heard from the Lyran’s?”  I asked.  Justine shook her head.

“Nope other than that they are sending someone, and to have the Duchess and Baroness Mosovich there when he arrives.  That and a personal request from the Archon to hold off on the trial until her representative gets here.”
I snorted.  “How’d Little Bit take it?”  I asked referring to Elizabeth Ngo.

“About like you’d expect, she just smiled but damn it Bruce that smile could cut glass, then she put putted out of there with that walk she has.”

“So have you met your great, great granddaughter yet?”

I groaned as Sin smiled devilishly.

Pat…pat…pat…pat

Gracie Liu closed her eyes and prayed for patience.  Bruce’s little surrogate Synthia could stress out the creator himself.  Pulling guard duty for the little nut job was supposed to be easy duty while her broken arm healed, helped by the nanites in her blood stream.  At least she mused this one wasn’t psychic like Bruce’s adopted daughter was.

It doesn’t help that Sandy Gilmour looks like a mix of Sarah, Bruce and Synthia.

Pat…pat…pat…silence.

“Gracie?”

“Yes your grace?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No your grace.”

“Just checking.”

Pat…pat…pat…pat.

Gods just shoot me now.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:22:34
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 07-09-2010, 17:37:27]]


The AFFC DropShip landed on the tarmac.  The overpressure rattled the ferroglass of the shelter we stood in.  Didi and Truk took up position at the head of Liz Ngo’s honor guard. As the tarmac cooled, a tube extended and locked to the ship’s airlock.  A slender blonde man in an immaculate suit exited at the head of a team of faceless types that screamed spook from their suits to their sunglasses.

The group arrived at the head of the access way and the leader bowed formally to both the Duchess and Baroness Evvie Mosovich.

“Your Grace, I am Antonin Valery, special envoy of Archon Melissa Steiner, my bonafides.”  Valery handed an ident card to Didi Moran.

Slipping the card into her pocket comp she nodded at the verification.

The man introduced his aides and exchanged pleasantries with the noblewomen.  When the round of introductions got around to me, I got an uneasy feeling in my gut.  It wasn’t till later as we sat down to hammer out the induction of Evvie Mosovich as Regent and coordinate Lyran relief aid to Kowloon that it hit me.

The man was affable, pleasant even, but behind his eyes was an emptiness as if he was nothing more than a husk of a man.  He felt my gaze and returned it coolly.  I'm not a person who spooks easily.

Something was up, and I didn’t like being in the dark.


James Condit sat on the couch in his “cell” listening to the crowds hailing the end of his Regency.  Major Gilmour had kept him under house arrest in an apartment within the government complex.  It was better than he deserved.  It also gave him ample time to reflect.  In some ways it was worse than a jail cell.  His failure here meant somewhere down the line a debt would have to be paid.  Jim wondered if it was going to be in front of a Kowloonese firing squad or…

A bland looking man in a black suit stepped out from the kitchen.  Condit jumped up from his seat, opening his mouth to call the guards.  His voice died in his throat as the intruder shook his head and smiled.

Of course, the debt must be paid.

James Condit former regent of Kowloon in the name of the Federated Commonwealth nodded his understanding and sat back down on the couch.  Outside the celebrations went on into the night.




Quote from: Aceraptor, 07-09-2010, 22:03:56
Well there goes the chance to interrogate Condit.  #P

Quote from: Muttley, 08-09-2010, 03:53:35
Loki strikes again...

Quote from: lowrolling71, 09-09-2010, 19:59:34
Well wouldn't want any truth to come out now would we?
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:22:58
[[Posted by Cannonshop, 10-09-2010, 22:29:45]]


"...do realize, Mister Valeri, that this has been going on for years?" Elizabeth piped up.  She met the man's dead eyes with her own.

she smelled cinammon, and the headache was getting worse.  keep a straight face-don't let them see...

"The damage from the extremely necessary actions taken to remove the Regent is only the tip of a fairly big iceberg." She added, "My father would have a lot to answer for what he let Jim Condit and his cronies do here-and there is a fair amount of culpability among the Federated Commonwealth as well-aren't Regencies supposed to have oversight?"

Didi could see something was wrong-for one thing, Liz was starting to...list, like a ship-like a drunk, when she'd clearly had nothing to drink.

"There must be an accounting." Elizabeth said, "I owe it, and so do YOU."

hold it together...

"Liz, um..."  Dee said quietly, catching her by the arm.

The girl was taut as a guitar string.

"yeah...long day, bid you good-day sir." Elizabeth said, "Not feeling well right now.."

They made it out of the meeting with the girl upright, down the corridor, and into a side room...

and then, she was shaking. 

the 'fit' was mild, but it was a definite precursor...




Quote from: Muttley, 11-09-2010, 02:05:18
That'll be in his report...

Quote from: lowrolling71, 15-09-2010, 21:45:32
Only if he doesn't have a terrible "accident" while crossing the street first.

Quote from: Mike DF, 24-09-2010, 04:18:43
Yeah...they won't be suspicious about a thing like that in any shape of form.  We all know how reasonable and forgiving Loki is.

Quote from: Taron Storm, 24-09-2010, 09:16:51
Wouldn't matter what Loki thinks, if something happens.  Do they really want to piss off the Tigers?

Quote from: Headshot, 25-09-2010, 10:53:32
Wouldn't be the first to make that mistake... 8)

Quote from: Taron Storm, 25-09-2010, 15:49:54
That old yarn about grabbing a tiger by the tail just popped into my head.  I don't think Loki realizes that this tiger is a hell of a lot smarter than they give them credit for.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:23:30
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 17-10-2010, 18:36:55]]


Didi Moran handed me the report in silence.  I understood her anger, but there was nothing to be done.  The damage to Jim Condit’s nerve system was massive, no trace of the toxin would be found.  Even I could tell you half a dozen poisons that would dissolve into nothing after use.

Of course we know who was responsible…but even if we had proof…

I shook my head and blew out a breath.

The rapid pat, pat, pat of her footsteps heralded the arrival of Elizabeth Ngo.  I knew what was coming.

“Who killed him?” She spat.

“You know who, Liz, and you know why.  Pisses you off I know, you wanted a trial.”  I smiled bitterly.  “But that ain't gonna happen and you know that too.”

Whatever she was about to say never made it out of her mouth as she jerked as if slapped.  And just like that a wave of cool serene calm washed over her face.

“Pick my battles huh?”  She said.

“Yep.”  You don’t wanna mess with the Archon on this, she seems all sugar and spice and everything nice, but she’s still a house lord.  God knows I’ve got experience to burn in that area.

“Sooo…what’s with the confab?”

‘Rat answered from where he was lounging on my office’s couch.

“We’ve refitted and rested up; kid only one thing left to do…”

Simple words, hell kiddo knew we were gonna take a shot at the puppies, but her face fell just the same.

“So you’re just gonna go…”  She started.

I gave her my pirate smile and came around to lean my hip on the front of the desk.

“Justine and her battalion’ll be here.  She’s really good at the whole diplomacy thing, plus she can be a mean ass bitch when someone ****** with her…”  That at least got me a wan smile.  “And we’ll only be gone for a couple of months.”  I nodded to the rest of my crew and they filed out, Didi and ‘Rat giving me knowing looks.

“So,” I asked when the doorway closed, “what’s really wrong?”  I fixed her with a steady stare.

She was quiet for a long time, but raising Synthia had taught me loads of patience.  Finally she looked up at me with a wry grin.

“I guess I just got used to having you around…”

Reaching behind my desk I pulled out a bottle of Jameson and two glasses.  Pouring two fingers of whiskey in each I handed her one.  None of the meds she was on reacted badly with alcohol.

“You know you’re committing a crime right now.”  She said, looking at me like I had two heads.

I shrugged.  “Fine so if we find a cure with the Wolfies you can throw me in jail, but as it stands now…”

Liz laughed.  “As it stands right now I guess I’m middle aged.”  She raised her glass and clinked it against mine.

Taking a respectable slug she gasped out.  ******…how do you drink this shit?”

I raised an eyebrow; “Language young lady…language.”

Hey, you gotta have some rules!




Quote from: Hadrian, 18-10-2010, 11:32:31
If I was the Archon, I'd probably invade clan space myself and take the equipment then give it free of charge to the tigers.

Why you may ask!!! ???

The Tigers main problem is that though they can take on and beat practically any equal force in the inner sphere because of both their advanced tech and serious abilities, they are VASTLY outnumbered.

The clans have both advanced tech and superiour abilities.  They also have a tradition of "bondsman".

Would you give a unit like the Tigers access to a massive supply of advanced tech and troops that would come pre-trained and totally loyal to the Tigers (I've not seen any signs that clan bondsmen betray their captors).

That's a scary thought - The Black Tigers Clan - The best defence against them is NO defence since they won't attack civilians, the best attack is someone channelling Ghandi.  Be their ally and they WILL come to your aid at any cost but be their enemy and - well - since your obviously from the shallow end of the gene pool!, your imminent extiction improves the human race no end so carry on (but don't come to me for help, I'm a civilian now, didn't you know Wink.

Can you imagine sharing a border with them - you wouldn't need to defend it since you couldn't stop them even if they did attack which they wouldn't.  All these extra troops just became free to use on other fronts (just make sure it's a target that wont cause the tigers to look at you funny).
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:23:59
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 18-10-2010, 14:57:06]]

Chapter 5: The Setup
He either fears his fate too much,
Or his desserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the touch,
To win or lose it all.

James Graham, 5th Earl of Montrose
Sometimes you’ve just got to go all in.
Jackson Davion, Marshal AFFC

Hey Al, wuzzup?

So Isokoru got here today, he’s gonna set up a professional training program here on Kowloon.  Got a surprising turn out from the ex-AFFC milz boys and girls we caught.  Ernie Williams, that Hatchetman (Stupid ****** design.) pilot who tried to take my head off during the final push, explained it.

“We signed on to defend the Commonwealth, it’s time to actually do it.”

On the home front, Lizzie Ngo seems to work well with Justine, the two feed off of each other.  Justine’s diplomatic training and leadership experience balancing Elizabeth’s raw intellect and fervor.  Looks like we might just have a stable place to settle.  Not that the Kells’ haven’t been great hosts, but between us and the 26th Lyrans we were straining the Arc-Royal economy.  Misha’s team is gonna stay on for a bit to fix ‘em up to produce freezers.  Range and efficiency of their weapons aside, the biggest problem facing the FedComs is their lack of efficient heat exchangers, and that we can fix.

We’ll have to if we want resupply ourselves.

I’m putting together the team for the Wolf raid.  Seems the fuzzballs are setting up Tamar as their headquarters in the Inner Sphere, we’ve got reports of a massive build up of infrastructure and logistics. (Sigh) Still hate that we had to retreat from there…at least the Wolfies don’t abuse the civilian population.

Geoff Winger came in with, Isokoru; he’s the Hauptmann (Kommandant now.) who held the line with us when we first got here.  Marshal Corelli gave him leave to come join us.  Sam figures it’ll be good if we make this a united effort.  Between Katya, Geoff, and Garfield’s Elementals (What the Clanners call their Armored Infantry, he’s a big guy talks real slow…thinks really, really fast.) we’ve got what Katya calls a “Nova” of ‘Mechs and armored infantry plus two Stars of five ‘mechs each.

I’d wondered about the size of the unit, the fields of the war against Amaris were home to massed divisions and here we were going to challenge the Big Bad Wolf with a reinforced company.  Katya just smiled and told me that Natasha Kerensky, the Wolf Clan field commander we would be facing would be honor bound to match our forces.  This was after all an affair of honor, not total war.

It puzzles me at how Katya, Garfield and the rest of the former Clanfolk adhere to such strange rules of war, yet so readily adapt to life among the Tigers.

And then there is the matter of Sandy.  My great, great granddaughter is the final member of my team.  Great pilot, but damn annoying at times.  So confident of her invincibility, not even her field experience against the Capellans and Jade Falcons shook her.  And the mouth on her…

‘Rat and Didi had a good laugh about that, apparently she reminds them of me back before Acamar.  Shit, I was never that bad was I?

Nah, they just messin’ with me.

At least Jackson, who I think is my…cousin (?) keeps her in line.  He wants to go too but the High Command overruled him.  Anywhoo more training today, we’ve got to get used to having Armored Infantry riding on handholds we’ve rigged on our ‘Mechs.  (Yeah, I know right?)

Catch ya on the flip side, bro’

Bruce
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:24:17
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 18-10-2010, 15:45:50]]


“We should be destroying them in space!” Conal Ward snarled.  “Not treating them as equals in an honor duel, Natasha you go too far.”  The Crusader warrior turned to the assembled trueborns his face red.

“What care we holders of Kerensky’s vision if some spheroid, a Ngo to boot has some disease!  Cursed Kowloon should be dealt with as we deal with bandits, not coddled.”

A few of the assembled muttered darkly, but most seemed amused.  When the Terrans had issued their challenge, most to the Wolf commanders had issued challenges to Natasha’s troops for the right to face the 90th Heavy Assault’s Gunslinger.  Oddly Conal was the only one who took offense at the object of Terran’s challenge.  Doctors, medical and gene sequencing equipment and researchers.

The members of the scientist cast she’d spoken to had educated her on Cholman’s Syndrome.  Several of them seemed almost keen to be part of the isorla the Tigers would, if they won, receive.  But while several had what they considered promising theories, there was no magic bullet cure.

Natasha had told neither the Terrans, nor Conal.  Her troops had defeated all comers, and would be representing the Wolves.  Deception yes, but Natasha knew she had to be the one to meet the Tigers.  Not for any notions of glory or honor, but for something far more important.

Ulric and she had discussed the opportunity the Tigers provided the Warden cause.  The risk the loss of some medical resources represented was insignificant.  The rewards however…

Natasha just smiled and let Conal Ward drone on.




Quote from: Muttley, 18-10-2010, 17:17:24
Somebody loan Bruce a black marker for Conal....
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:25:02
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 26-10-2010, 16:50:01]]


A big bad battlecruiser traveling at .99c
Elliptical Orbit, New Dallas System
Present Day.


“Steve, we just got conformation on the data from Lyran space.”   The lean scar faced man in the crisp blue and grey of a dead empire collapsed in the chair across from his boss.

The muscular Eurasian man behind the cherry wood desk stretched and shook his long black hair out of its pony tail.  Reaching behind him he grabbed a bottle of Terran bourbon and a pair of glasses, pouring out two fingers in each glass.  As they both sipped at their drinks, the man called Steve went over the file.

His sudden laughter startled the other man; let’s just call him Greg.  Ohh crap, what is it now.  He thought, not that he regretted following his oldest friend on his epic, if mad quest…but sometimes the man could be annoying as hell.

“Malcolm’s boy, you remember Mal?”

Greg started to shake his head then paused.

“Shit, Mal Gilmour’s boy…but he died during the Second Succession War, only lasted that long ‘cause he had the same little bitty nanobots in his blood we do.”

Steve grinned, say what you want about the Terries but their medtech meant at eighty (real time, not the three hundred or so relativistic years) he looked in his early forties.

“Hmm, our friend on Mars is trying to involve the Gilmour kid and his pals…”

“What are you thinking?”

“The assets we have in place in the Sphere are too ideologically bound to appeal to the Black Tigers, or to anyone of Mal’s family.”

Steve called up the file marked Apollyon on his desktop.  Typing on the touch sensitive hologram he saved his alterations and hit send.

“Syn is done with her assignment in the Free Worlds League; let’s see what she can do.”

“You’re sending your daughter’s clone…”  That Steve’s daughter had been left behind on Terra had always bothered him, but the clone…in the twenty subjective years the plan had taken thus far, the clone had become her creator’s pride and joy.

Stefan Amaris smiled warmly.  Whatever these Terran’s story was, Mal’s son had raised Synthia Amaris as his own.  The Lord of a dead empire and master of a new one figured he owed the kid something.
Title: Re: Ghosts of the Dead (a Ngo/BTSD AU-story by blacktigeractual and Cannonshop)
Post by: Trace Coburn on 23 September 2013, 23:25:33
[[Posted by blacktigeractual, 26-10-2010, 17:22:02]]


Grand Hilton Arms Apartments
Atreus, Free Worlds League
A week later.

Synthia Amaris (Okay 2.0, but still…) stretched out on the silk sheets as she sipped her mimosa.  God, I hope I’ve earned some down time, the Plan is one thing, but is a little luxury too much to ask?

As if in response her PADD chimed from the night table and she blew out an exasperated sigh.  Reaching out she took the damnable machine and resisted the urge to toss it across the room.  After decoding the seemingly meaningless missive she chuckled.

It seems Leena Calloway; darling of the Free Worlds’ Solaris circuit is going on a trip to Kowloon.

Shrugging into a short robe she called Daniel Mainez, her personal assistant to set up the trip, then settled back to read the rest of the file.  Humming to herself, she smiled as she read about her target.

Now this should be fun…




Quote from: Muttley, 27-10-2010, 15:28:29
There are many copies, and they have a plan!

Quote from: Ajax_Wolf, 27-10-2010, 15:44:51
Quote from: blacktigeractual, 26-10-2010, 16:50:01
A big bad battlecruiser traveling at .99c
Elliptical Orbit, New Dallas System
Present Day.

That has gotta be one very interesting orbital path.

Quote from: Nikas_Zekeval, 27-10-2010, 17:36:13
And how viscous will the bidding and Trials be for the Clan and Warrior to have the honor of throwing the 'kitty litter of DOOM!' in front of it? >:D

Quote from: Cannonshop, 27-10-2010, 19:59:55
Could get sticky...damn sticky.  Looks like Synthia 2.0 is an assassination model, since there's only a couple people on Kowloon worth assassination...

Quote from: lowrolling71, 28-10-2010, 16:08:11
Well at least Loki is finally going to be educated on the art of killing.



[[ Complete as archived.  ]]