10/03/3051
Bootsteps echoed within the darkened corridors of CSV Running-Elk as a young woman with three white stripes wrapping a pentagonal arm patch shone her flashlight around. In a weak voice she squeaked out, “Is anyone there?”
A woman’s voice and headlamp came out from the darkened engineering equipment causing the woman to jump back. The stranger’s slate blue jumpsuit showed the symbol of the Steel Viper Watch, her lean face and long brown hair showing in the light.
“Diana, what are you doing on the lower decks? In the middle of the night?”
“I was curious.”
“About?”
“Why the Hell’s Horses changed the Lion dropship’s quad landing leg arrangement to a five legged one.”
“That is an odd question to occupy your mind in the middle of the night Watch Team Leader.”
“Do you an answer for it Savanna?”
“I can look it up.”
“Would you?”
Savanna pulled out her technical computer and searched through the notes for the Hellgate remakes of the Lion Dropship. “The quad arrangement was not as stable on uneven terrain because of the top heaviness of the design.
An additional leg also made it easier to adjust the infantry disembarkation ramps and provided redundancy for battle damage.”
“What would happen if two legs were damaged?”
“It would probably crash into the ground, and we would not get any liberty for months because we would be fixing all the damage.
If we keep it clear of the enemy, the Running-Elk should be fine.”
“That is the purpose of a military dropship.”
She looked nervous in the dim computer light while Diana cast a harsh shadow from the flashlight, “The Star Captain would not drop us right into a hot landing zone, would she?”
“Her Goshawk can hot drop in. As long as we prevent any saboteurs from reaching us and do not land within artillery range the Running Elk should remain intact.”
“You will take care of that right? The Saboteurs, not necessarily the artillery.”
“I can handle both, of course. We have parachutes and Nighthawks.”
“That is a relief. You had me scared there for a bit.”
“Everything is under control.”
“Great, can you leave now? I must complete my rounds and I have had my nightly allotment of freakouts.”
Lake Kroeger was dimly lit with a rainbow of pre-dawn light as an old fisherman rested his elbows on the wharf’s railing as Diana approached the Starport’s lakeport terminal. Laborers and Technicians milled about just outside waiting for their assignments for the day when the office officially opened. A similar line to the one on the other side as Astrapolis’ civilians went across the lake to work with the Clans.
“Do you have authorization to be here?”
He dipped his head and hat to conceal his eyes, “Sure do lady, otherwise I wouldn’t be here would I?”
“Show me.”
He reached out to five her a gloved hand with his ID card which cleared. Then she looked at the shimmering silver lake trout in buckets within his small boat. Something still seemed off about him, she just couldn’t put a finger on it. “Very well Misha.”
“Care for some? I’m selling the whole batch to your INTER-LOGI fella anyway. He’s already weighed it.”
“I will wait for the cooks.”
“Suit yourself, I’ve become quite the sashimi fan over the years and in my travels.”
“Having recently eaten and gotten sick from undercooked food and bad water I will politely decline.”
“Good day to ‘ya then.”
INTER-LOGI, the Clan’s extensive ‘integrated logistics' service, operated out of the former harbormaster’s office. A local Merchant Factor stood behind a desk and sheaf of papers. “Diana, thank you and your team for returning most of your equipment intact. Far better than the regulars,” his voice dropped to a whisper, “or MechWarriors.”
“Regrettably one of our solar rechargers was lost, Durgan. The wilderness is harsh.”
“I am amazed that you managed to stay out in the field for so long on so few provisions.”
“The Watch is resourceful because we must be.
Speaking of provisions, the fisherman outside, who is he?”
“Misha? He is a chill fellow, lives in the woods and on the river as he says.”
Durgan put his finger to his chin, “Little odd, but provides a great product, I just keep forgetting to tell Illusha where her dinner comes from. He stops by a few times a week, but you have been away so long. You are in for a surprise tonight.”
“I have a request for you Merchant Factor. A big one, so you might want to sit down.”
He dropped back into the chair at her request, “You have the authority of the Watch behind you so that does give you some discretion and heft. What do you need?”
“The Kell Hound’s dropship, repaired, refueled, provisioned, and ready to depart on an independent mission I am proposing to Command.
I would also like to requisition a Hansa or OSF crew to man the ship.”
“That is a mighty big ask. The Star Captain would not want her people tasked with it.”
“I am less picky with personnel. You have Astrapolii and COMSTAR personnel that can perform these tasks, quiaff?”
“Aff, technically the Junkyard is isorla of all the Clans as neither Star Commander Cote, nor Star Captain Kearny claimed it, or could reasonably staff it. I will need you to sign for it though.”
Diana handed the man a list of other goods. He peered over them with his glasses. “Fairly normal fare, but I have some questions.
Why do you want the Kell Hounds’ personal effects?”
“They might provide value in operations planning.”
“Ten Mauser Twos, Avenger CCW, Gauss SMGs, Pulse Laser Pistols, Five Nighthawk suits, basically a full Small Arms Armory with boxes of ammo, spare power cells, and tooling.”
“It will be necessary for my mission. We have plenty of spares.”
“Three hundred kilos of Pentaglycerine, one hundred of C-eight, and other miscellaneous demolitions equipment reserved for Elissa’s civilian blast mining. Do you need that much explosive Diana?”
“I may.” Diana leaned in and batted an eyelash, while letting her hair slide down between them, “Durgan, would you rather have it on my dropship or in your warehouse where it could be accessed by saboteurs?”
“You make a very persuasive argument. If it does not involve Touman Capital assets and Illusha does not countermand me. I can get you what you request. It will however take time to restore the Junkyard to operation.”
“How long?”
“A week maybe six days provided we have the right parts.”
Diana did the math in her head, “That is fine, I will not need it until my operation has been approved. It will keep the locals busy though, and out of trouble.”
“Yes, I suppose it would.”
“Thank you Durgan.” She turned slightly away and departed slowly to the door, “I will see you for dinner.” Leaving the door slightly ajar she glanced back at him before walking through with a bounce of her hair and slight smile, “Looking forward to it in fact.”
