Ch. 1Kai Lampur
Tikonov, Prefecture IV, Republic of the Sphere
20 November, 3133 Sunlight began to reflect off the sides of the Dao Xi office buildings as Major Geoff Skillman of the Swordsworn began to review the day’s reports and requests. As one of the higher ranking members of the department responsible for allocating forces across the RotS, he was in charge of the larger requisitions that came into Tikonov.
He frowned as he read the first one; a
Spider ‘Mech had been lost on Towne. But as he perused the memo further his mood became better. First off, it was one of the older models, almost a relic by today's standards. Second, the loss was covered by a bond from Towne’s planetary government. But most important, the opinion of the Swordsworn on Towne was markedly improved.
Now this is how it should be done, Geoff thought.
Not that ham-fisted method used by others that had caused the Swordsworn to get kicked off a number of planets. He reviewed the specifications listed at the bottom, then scrolled through one of the files on his computer screen.
There, this one should do, he decided. He then began typing out the commands to have it moved to the garrison on Towne.
Prince John Spaceport, Port Howard
Towne, Prefecture III, Republic of the Sphere
30 January, 3134 Wilton DePriest climbed out of the transport that brought him from JFB1 to the spaceport and looked around. A break in the off-and-on rain had occurred, and the bright sunshine that shown down from the sky now matched his mood; after all, today was the day that his new ‘Mech arrived.
From where the transport had dropped him off, he could take a shortcut via the passenger terminal and wind up about 100 yards or so from a Customs’ checkpoint. As he was walking through the Prince John spaceport he thought he saw a familiar face in the passenger arrival section. Looking twice, he noticed that it was indeed Michael Strong, but in civilian clothes.
“Hey Mike,” Will greeted him as he walked up. “What are you doing here? I don't remember seeing you on the transport this morning.”
“Hi, Will,” Mike replied. “My little sister is coming to spend a few days here in Port Howard, so I’m going to spend some time with her. I came in yesterday to set up some things for us to do. What about yourself, are you expecting someone?”
“Not someone, but something; my new ‘Mech arrived on one of DropShips that came in this morning. I know that I have to wait for Customs to inspect it first and then transport it out to JFB1 before I can pilot it, but Scott arranged it so I can at least get a look at it.”
“So, what kind is it?”
“Actually, I have no idea. The communique didn't state a type. I suppose that Tikonov felt that--”
A female voice from behind Mike interrupted them by calling out his name. He turned around and wrapped his arms around the girl standing in back of him, giving her a large hug. “Hey sis, how have you been? Did you have a good trip?”
“‘Not bad’, and ‘not bad’,” she gave in response. “I hope you didn't get bored waiting for me.”
“No, I was just chatting with someone when you walked up. Sis, this is my friend Will from the base. Will, meet my little sister, Koki,” he finished as he stepped aside and Will extended his hand to her.
As Will got his first look at Koki, he had no problem believing that she was related to Mike. Although a foot shorter than the Highlander commander, she had the same Strong facial features (framed in this case by long, straight black hair that reached to her back) and a similar posture that conveyed a no-nonsense attitude.
“A pleasure,” she said as she shook Will’s hand. Then she noticed his uniform, and the handshake went weak as she withdrew her hand. “You're Swordsworn,” she stated with a hard edge creeping into her voice.
“Yes. And?” he asked, trying to figure out where she would have encountered Swordsworn units, since Mike hadn't mentioned anything along that line before.
“Oh, just that I was vacationing on Achernar last year when the Steel Wolves showed up. Luckily I wasn't near River’s End at the time, but from what I heard you guys weren't a lot of help with the defense there,” she said with an accusatory tone.
Will knew about the conflict on Achernar very well. As he recalled the official report, Swordsworn forces were there to conduct live-fire drills when the Steel Wolves invaded. The Swordsworn were given foreign-auxiliary status as part of the planet’s protective force and fought in the ensuing campaign, which ended after a battle near the spaceport when the planetary militia panicked and set off the spoiler charges on the HPG. But more important to him, one of his relatives had been killed in the fighting. “Sorry you feel that way,” he replied, starting to move away. “I need to go check on that package; I'll see you later, Mike,” Will said with a wave as he turned around. He heard the two siblings begin a rapid-fire discussion, but because he was walking away from them fast he wasn't able to make out the conversation.
A few minutes later, Will reached one of the security gates around the Customs area. Presenting the verifax from Scott along with his identification, he was soon being driven across the tarmac in an electric cart then down a ramp to an underground tunnel that led to the service areas. The CSO who was behind the wheel threaded his way through the subterranean corridors, then up a ramp into one of the cargo bays of a Union-class DropShip.
“There she is, Lt.,” the CSO said as he pulled up to an alcove inside the hold. “We should be able to get her out to you in a few days, definitely within a week.”
Will looked up at the ‘Mech there, already decked out in the green and blue colors of the Swordsworn. While about the same size as his old
Spider, it had more of a boxy look to it. Also, he wasn't able to identify much about it except the SRM-4 located near the left shoulder.
No wonder they didn't say what type it was, he thought as he got out of the cart to walk around and take in the full view of his new ‘Mech.
I wouldn't have known what they were talking about.
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Will’s new ‘Mech is one that I created called a
Boxman. The stats for it are here:
http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=54940.0