Thank you for the update!
You're quite welcome. Hope you all enjoy this mule-puke I laughingly call "writing".
New Canton System, Chaos March
October 20th, 3067Erin sat in her office in front of her computer reviewing personnel logs. Now seven months into her pregnancy, she had been reduced to light clerical duties for a month now and was chaffing at her physical restrictions.
I’m a warrior, she thought.
Not a bloody incubator! Arching her back to try to relieve the ache as the
Comstock made its burn out of the system, her com panel toned. Reaching over to the console, she snapped, “McKenna here.”
Joe’s voice came over the com line like a soothing drink of honey. “How you feeling sweetheart?”
Wrinkling her brow into a knot, the soothing effects of Joe’s voice were vaporized by his words like armor under heavy laser fire. “Ah feel like a useless beach ball, love. Dinna be askin’ stupid questions!”
His response was clipped and short. “Sorry dear. Kevin needs you in the briefing room ASAP. We have important news.”
Erin grumbled. “Fine. I’ll be there in a minute. McKenna out.” At that she flicked off the com line and managed to stand. Making her way to the briefing room, she entered slowly as Joe helped her to the seat next to his.
Turning to Kevin who was standing at the back of the briefing room facing the large view-screen, his back to the rest of the room, Joe added, “Randall will be here in just a few sir. He’s on approach in one of the
Cheetahs now.” Kevin only nodded silently.
Erin turned to Joe with a puzzled look. “What is it, Joe? Way’s so important tha’ Randall’s comin’ o’er from th’
Zutsuu?”
Joe just looked at his expectant wife and frowned. “It’s best if Kevin handles this, love.” At that he kissed her forehead and took his seat.
Several minutes later, Randall came storming into the briefing room, along with Captain Friedrich. “Ok, I’m here. Now what was so damned important that I had to shuttle myself over?”
Finally turning around to face his senior staff and taking a deep breath, Kevin began. “One hour ago, New Canton sent up the following transmission that was sent via HPG from Outreach.” Kevin walked around the table to the side of the room and nodded at Joe. Hitting a single key on the briefing room table, the symbol for INN displayed briefly followed by the caption, “Harlech, Outreach, 20 October 3067”.
What followed over the next several minutes was a news report and video footage of the attack on Outreach by Waco's Rangers, Smithson’s Chinese Bandits, the Tiger Sharks, & the 51st Dark Panzer Jaegers. As the report from Emilio Sanchez finished, Kevin turned back to face the senior officers and owners. “Comments?”
Erin spoke first. “Bluidy rat bastarts!”
“WoB’s behind this!” Randall said definitely.
Joe turned to Major Thorpe. “You think WoB is behind
everything Randall.”
Randall shrugged. “It’s not paranoia if they really
are out to get you, Joe.”
Joe shrugged while he lit a cigarette. “While it
is true that WoB has the most to gain from a successful attack on Outreach, as of right now there is nothing connecting them to this attack. Waco’s had a grudge against Jamie Wolf since his son was killed by the Dragoons way back in ’08 on New Aragon.” Joe sat back and pondered a moment. “If Waco were able to beg, borrow, and steal everything he could, he
might be able to pay enough for the other three units to side with him. It’d be a stretch, though.”
Col. Silver shook his head. “Enough! We don’t need wild speculation right now. What we need is a plan of action.” He turned to Erin. “Colonel? What is our operational readiness?”
Erin sat up and looked back at Kevin. “We be at 100% o’ operational capability. We need some re-supply o’ basic resources like food an’ spare parts, but nothin’ mission-critical. Major Vahzenov can give ye details.”
Kevin turned to Randall. “Major Thorpe. How is personnel readiness?”
Randall sat back. “The unit is restless after a six-moth babysitting job with nothing to do except clean their rifles. What we
need is some action, sir.”
Col. Silver sighed. “We may be getting some. The report says that some renegades are still operating on Outreach.” Turning to Captain Friedrich, he asked, “How long until we link up with the
Dionysus?”
Darious shrugged. “Nineteen hours, thirty-five minutes...” He paused a moment as he looked at a data pad. “...and 182 hours charge time at the Zenith point over Hsien, plus five-and-a-half hours furl-unfurl time.”
Kevin nodded. “And 80 hours transit down to the surface. That gives us almost exactly 12 days until we can render aid.” Kevin thought a moment. “Can we trim the charge time any?”
Darious shrugged. “We could chop a day off if we quick-charge the drive with minimal risk, but not with zero risk. Anything more than that and we run a real chance of some sort of mishap.”
Kevin nodded. “Ok, so our first order of business is to decide if we risk quick-charging to get to Outreach sooner to render aid.” He looked at Erin. “Colonel?”
Erin shook her head. “Too risky. It would nay save enough time ta’ be worth th’ chances we’d be takin’.”
Kevin turned to Randall. “Major?”
Randall thought a moment. “The clock is ticking. I vote we drop our charge time low enough to get us there within six-and-a-half days, almost half the time. Statistically that’s a one-in-four chance of something going wrong. That’s within operational guidelines for an emergency situation.”
Kevin nodded and turned to Darious. “Captain Darious?”
Darious Friedrich shuffled in his seat. “I vote no quick-charging. It’s dangerous and we can’t help anyone if we get stranded over Hsien with a blown helium tank.”
Kevin nodded once more and spoke. “For my part I vote in favor of quick-charging. We are needed and as Randall pointed out, the clock is ticking. As members of the AMC not currently on mission, we are required to render aid to all other members as possible. I don’t know about shortening up to only a three-day charge time, but I vote in favor of quick-charge. That makes the vote two for and two against.” He turned to Joe. “Lieutenant Faller? How do the minor shareholders vote?”
Joe stood up and paced a moment before speaking. “In a different set of circumstances I might be in favor of forgoing the safety issues and vote in favor of a quick-charge, but in this circumstance I am forced to vote against. The time saved is not worth the risk of not arriving for several weeks, which is the real expectation if we suffer a mishap over Hsien. It’s already been five days since the attacks and twelve more won’t make much of a difference.” He turned to Major Thorpe who was about to voice his opinion. “Six fewer won’t either.” Joe turned back to Major Silver. “The minor shareholders vote against quick-charge, Colonel.”
Kevin nodded in resignation. “Very well. With the vote against quick-charge, the unit will arrive over Hsien after transit there and await normal charge cycle before jumping into Outreach.” He turned once again to Captain Friedrich. “Darious, do we have any plots for an in-system jump close to Outreach proper?”
Darious shook his head. “No sir. And even if we did I would vote against using them, if for no other reason than the volatile nature of the situation.”
Joe nodded in agreement. “There is also another factor involved. Remember that the 51st was
supposed to be an AMC unit. If we show up at a pirate point, we could easily find our motives in question.” Joe shook his head as he crushed out his cigarette. “No. I say we make for the Zenith point, on time and ready to assist.”
Col. Silver nodded in agreement. “I have to agree there, Joe. I withdraw my suggestion of using a pirate point.” Looking up at his officers he sighed. “Now we have to break the news to the Unit. We’ll have a general assembly in the lower decks on each Dropship. All personnel not essential to Dropship operations are required to attend.” At that he nodded to his senior officers and they departed to fulfill their tragic duty.
Nadir Point, Hsien System, Chaos March
October 29th, 3067Major Silver floated on the bridge of the
Dionysus, waiting for the ship to finish preparing for jump into the Outreach system. Captain Johnathan Thatcher turned to him and nodded. “Colonel, the sail is furled and charge cycle complete. Navi-computer has been loaded with the jump sequence and we may commence jump at your discretion.”
Kevin nodded and turned to the communications technician and nodded once more. Clearing his throat, he spoke into the microphone. “This is Colonel Kevin Charles Silver to all Silver Eagles. We are ready to jump into the Outreach system and render aid to the Wolf’s Dragoons and all other AMC units in-system. Due to treachery within the AMC itself, we may be under scrutiny while rendering aid. All Silver Eagles are to display prudence and comply with the dictates of the Dragoons. Prepare to jump.” At that he handed the microphone back to the ComTech and nodded to Captain Thatcher.
Nodding in turn to his navigator, the sequence was initiated. Over seven terajoules of energy poured into the Kearny-Fuchida drive, vaulting the
Dionysus a distance of nearly 22 light-years in just over 30 seconds. As Col. Silver regained his senses, he looked around the bridge. Captain Thatcher turned once more to the ship’s navigator. “Report position.”
Senior Petty Officer Larry Matlock examined his instruments carefully before reporting. “Star-fix has us just 30 meters off destination point. We’re adrift over the Zenith point above Outreach, sir.”
Captain Thatcher nodded. “Spool up the drive and make ready to deploy sail.” Turning to the sensor operator, he queried, “Contacts?”
Petty Officer Mohammed Raab shook his head. “Still blinded by our emergence wave sir. No contacts to report. Give me a minute.”
Sixty seconds ticked by like an hour before the operator reported. “Contact! Bearing 172 mark 87, distance 500,000 kilometers. Large contact, mass exceeding half a million tons. IFF reports her as a Dragoon warship. Warbook pegs her as a
Lola III.”
Col. Silver spoke up. “ComTech, open a channel to that ship.” A moment later, the channel was opened. “Dragoon vessel, this is the Silver Eagles’ vessel
Dionysus, Colonel Kevin Silver in command. We are here to render aid to the Wolf’s Dragoons and any other friendly AMC units in distress. Respond please.”
An eternity seemed to pass before the reply came. “Silver Eagles Jumpship
Dionysus, this is the Wolf Dragoon Warship
Darius. Power down and prepare to be boarded and searched.”
Col. Silver turned to Captain Thatcher. “Well, you heard the man. Send orders to the Dropships that we’ll be here a while.”
Outreach, Chaos March
November 3rd, 3067Col. Silver sat in the back seat of Erin’s ground car as they sped toward their appointment with the Wolf’s Dragoons near the remains of Harlech City. They had landed outside the city under the strict guidelines set down by the Dragoons following their clearance to approach the planet. For almost a full day after they jumped into the system, the dedicated marines and officers of the Dragoon warship had searched every corner of the three Dropships of the Silver Eagles before clearing them to proceed.
As he looked out the window toward the ruins of the former jewel of Outreach, he could understand the Dragoon’s caution.
It looks like holo-footage from the First Succession War. he thought. Kevin shuddered at the thought of the carnage that had taken place there less than two weeks earlier. What he found most interesting was that the Dragoons were not concerned much about the war materials aboard the Silver Eagles’ Dropships, but the crew and personnel of the unit. Countless hours spent answering questions to which the answers lie in the public records.
Obviously they were fact checking, but what were they looking for? They seemed to keep going back to the incident on Clipperton a lot. Kevin’s mind wandered as the car sped toward its destination.
Two hours later, the car slowed as it approached a security checkpoint. Rolling to a stop, Joe opened his window. “Command staff of the Silver Eagles Mercenary Battalion Incorporated to meet with our AMC liaison.” he informed the checkpoint guard. The dragoon soldiers spent several minutes searching the vehicle (for the third time) before allowing them to proceed into the camp. As they moved on, Col. Silver could make out their destination, a largish tent in the middle of the makeshift compound.
Exiting the ground car, Col. Silver was joined by the very expectant Lt. Col. McKenna-Faller, Major Randall Thorpe, Captain Darious Friedrich, and finally Lt. Joe Faller. The five senior officers and owners approached the headquarters tent slowly, yet purposefully.
As they closed, they were met by a squad of Dragoon infantry who searched them yet once more before permitting them to enter the headquarters tent. After they entered the tent, Erin turned to Col. Silver and quipped, “Paranoid much?”
Kevin shrugged. “They have every reason to be...” he paused before finishing his retort, “... to be cautious, Erin. You saw Harlech City as we drove by, right?”
Erin nodded solemnly. “Aye, Kevin. I did.” A shudder of a nearly forgotten past ran up her spine. “Sorry, sair. I’ll keep me quips to meself. I just be nervous, is all.”
As the five entered the tent, they saw it was partitioned into several smaller areas with smaller tents within the larger. Motioned onward by a Dragoon infantryman, they made their way to the small tent they were told to wait in. Entering the small ‘room’, several folding chairs and a small folding desk were the room’s only contents. Taking seats, they waited for their liaison.
After several minutes, two Dragoon officers entered the small room and nodded as Kevin and the other Silver Eagles rose to greet them. Kevin noted the rank of Major on the uniform of the first officer. “Colonel Silver and the Silver Eagles reporting to render aid, Major.”
Gesturing to the folding chairs, the Dragoon Major nodded. “Thank you, Colonel. Please be seated.” As the five took the offered seats, Erin helped into her seat by Joe, the Dragoon offer looked at the assembled officers. “I understand you just completed a garrison on New Canton?” Seeing a nod of ascent from Col. Silver, he continued. “Reviewing your report from there it looks like the Blakists made several attempts to coerce the government into joining the Protectorate. This may be very useful at some point. More importantly, your presence kept the Blakists from getting any ideas at making a military move. Good job, Colonel.”
Tossing the report on the small folding desk, he nodded at the second officer who handed him another folder. “As of this moment, we’re not in much of a position to be worried about much beyond immediate survival and our intelligence unit is concentrating their efforts elsewhere. What we have for you now is a mission of high importance to the AMC.”
Opening the folder and handing a bundle of papers to Col. Silver he continued. “Wolfnet was able to follow a money trail from the Blakists to several accounts based out of Solaris VII, but we were attacked before we could trace where the money went from there. It’s possible that the Wobbies are buying Merc services through a dummy corporation on Solaris, but we cannot afford the distraction of chasing a money trail right now.” Pointing at the papers, he concluded. “Your next mission is to get to Solaris VII and find out where those payments went. We need you to find out who is
getting that Wobbie money.”
Kevin examined the orders before passing them to Erin. “So you’re hoping we can find if there are units operating under WoB’s payroll that don’t show up on the Hiring Hall records, right?” Seeing a brief nod from the Dragoon officer, Kevin continued. “So you’re trying to catch future turncoats
before they turn?”
“Essentially correct, Colonel Silver.” The Dragoon officer admitted.
Kevin sat forward before he asked his final question. “Does that mean that you suspect
WoB is behind the attack here?”
The Dragoon Major folded his hands and looked at them as though they were crucially important to his answer. “We have no way of tracing the attack on Outreach to WoB... yet. But it’s just a matter of time. Wolfnet
will find the link, Colonel. And once we do...” The Major stopped. “Well, suffice it to say that the Dragoons and the AMC may be injured, but we’re far from out of the game and we have a lot more damage to do before we cash in.”
Erin examined the orders and finally spoke. “Major, th’ orders have us o’er Solaris VII as o’ th’ new year, but Solaris be less than 40 days away.” Noting down quickly, she continued, “After figurin’ transit times, tha’ gives us almost two weeks in oor schedule.” She paused a moment and looked to Col. Silver for assent. Seeing him nod once, Erin concluded, “Major, th’ Silver Eagles offer their services for disaster recovery in Harlech City.”
The Major smiled a slight smile. “Your concern is welcome, Colonel. To be honest, we actually could use some help at basic disaster recovery. Permission granted.” At that he stood and offered his hand. “Good luck, Colonel Silver.” Glancing at the other officers briefly, he turned and left the tent.
Following him out after a moment, the five made their way back to Erin’s ground car and were soon off. Over the next twelve days the Silver Eagles busied themselves with digging out buried buildings, distributing food from the Dragoon reserves to the near-starving populace, and organizing the refugee camps into orderly disaster relief centers. When the Silver Eagles left Harlech City on November 15th, 3067, moral was running high and the Eagles were proud of the job they had done and the lives they had saved.
As the Silver Eagles prepared to land on Solaris VII on December 31st, all that dissolved into nothingness when word arrived of the nuclear hell unleashed on Outreach.
Solaris VII, Lyran Alliance
January 1st, 3068As the Silver Eagles landed at the starport of Solaris City, the command staff met once more in the briefing room. Standing at the head of the room, Col. Silver faced the assorted Company Commanders of his Mercenary Regiment.
We’ve come a long way from a Lance on Irian. But now... Gathering his notes he took his seat at the head of the table as Joe stood and began his report.
“As Intelligence Officer of the Silver Eagles Mercenary Battalion Incorporated, I hereby convene this emergency meeting of the command staff of the Silver Eagles. This meeting will only be a briefing on the events leading up to our mission here.” Pressing a key on the table, Joe continued. “As you all know, fifteen days after we left Outreach, the Whitting Conference convened on Tharkad. What was to have been a vote for a new First Lord became a vote of no-confidence for the restored Star League.”
Joe took a sip water from the cup in front of him he continued. “Starting with Chancellor Liao, the Capellan Confederation withdrew from the Star League on the premise that it was a sham built only for the destruction of the Smoke Jaguars. He was quickly followed by the withdrawal of the Lyran Alliance and the Federated Suns by their respective regents on the grounds that the recent Civil War had so drained their nations that they could not afford to remain members. Without a two-thirds vote to continue, the Second Star League dissolved on November 30th.”
Letting the concept sink in for a moment, he finally continued. “Four days later, two Word of Blake fleets appeared over both Tharkad and New Avalon. The fleets engaged the defenders of those worlds and launched a coordinated assault that ended in the destruction of the Triad of Tharkad and widespread damage over New Avalon. Both systems are still under interdiction by Blake forces.”
Whispered voices encircled the room as Joe paused in his briefing. “Two days later, December 7th, the Wolf’s Dragoons launched a full-scale assault on Mars which included the majority of their warship fleet. Word of Blake reported that the fleet was completely destroyed; the fact that the fleet never returned from the Sol system is a good sign that the Dragoons
did in fact fail.”
As murmurs of disbelief arose, Joe continued once more. “Just over a week later, Blake warships arrived over Northwind and blockaded the system while the Highlanders were gathered there to select new Clan Elders in the wake of the deaths of several of their former leadership. Less than a week later, yet
another WoB task force materialized over Outreach and destroyed the ships defending the system. Once over the planet, the Blakists began a systematic assault on the planet, which included nuclear bombardment. A few of the Dragoons managed to escape the system, but it effectively rendered the Allied Mercenary Command defunct. This concludes my report on the most important of current events.”
As Joe finished his report, Col. Silver stood. “It seems we are members of an alliance no longer extant. In point of fact, the mission we were sent here to accomplish is for an organization that is for all intents and purposes defunct.” Kevin paused a moment and reviewed his notes. “Later today, the owners will be meeting with our AMC liaison, Captain Ward Greenwood to discuss if there is still a mission here. Until we know what our employment status is, the Silver Eagles will be on downtime duty.” Looking around the room at the assembled officers, he concluded. “Hopefully we still have a job. If not, you can be sure that Colonel McKenna and I will see to it the unit will continue on, AMC or no AMC. Dismissed.”
January 4th, 3068I was a fool. Kevin berated himself. Looking up the ramp leading into the
Hadrian toward the stretcher that carried his wife, he shook his head as anger boiled up inside him.
They nearly killed me today... as well as my wife and children. His daughter clung to him as he looked off toward the
Comstock where his aid had taken the other two of his three children, his self-deprecating seething inside him as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning quickly and raising his fists in a fighting stance, his gaze of fury locked with Erin’s, melting the fury into helplessness. “Sorry Erin.” he stammered.
“Tis’ alright, Kevin.” She absolved. “Yer angry n’ frustrated. I understand.” Looking at Kevin’s daughter clinging to him, she smoothed the girl’s hair back. “I kin take her to me quarters fer th’ time. I need ta’ be gettin’ back ta’ little Jamie, anyway.” She turned to the 10-year-old girl and queried, “Would ye like ta’ see me little boy, Erin?” The girl looked toward her father who nodded encouragingly. Hesitantly, the child took her hand and Col. McKenna led the girl back to the
Comstock.
Kevin looked back at the
Hadrian and slowly began to walk up the ramp.
One hour later Col. Silver entered the briefing room on the
Comstock, the Silver Eagles’ command staff already assembled. Taking his place at the head of the table, he began, “Thank you for gathering together on such short notice. I’ve called this meeting to discuss the recent attack on myself and my family.” He cleared his throat as he took his seat. “At 1300 hours this afternoon, while taking R&R at a local amusement park, a gunman attacked my family, wounding Captain Hernandez-Silver. While the gunman was killed, unfortunately his body went missing before the local authorities could secure the area.”
He regarded the assembled officers for a moment before continuing. “Lieutenant Scott has arranged for a press conference in three hours with most of the major media services. In that press release I will be stating our intent to remain on Solaris VII to complete the 6-month contract we were hired to fulfill here as representatives of the AMC. After speaking with our AMC liaison Captain Greenwood it has been determined that we can still fulfill our mission here.” Kevin hid a pang of guilt over the fact that the Wolf’s Dragoons had set up the Comstar holding account for their pay prior to the attack on Outreach.
It almost feels like taking money from a dead man.Swallowing hard, Col. Silver looked out over the assembled officers. “With WoB attacking members of the AMC at every turn, as members of the AMC, albeit new members, that makes us a target. Therefore, until further notice, the Silver Eagles will be on standby alert for combat operations. Security details will be at highest threat condition, and R&R requests will have to be approved by a Staff Officer, Colonel McKenna, or myself.”
Standing slowly, he concluded. “I want to minimize our exposure to potential threats. Stay alert and be ready for
anything. Dismissed.”
Col. Silver approached the podium overlooking the lower bay of the
Comstock where several dozen reporters had gathered. “Thank you for coming.” he began. “The past month has seen a dramatic upheaval for the AMC. With the attacks on Outreach by several rogue mercenary units, the blockade of Northwind by the Word of Blake, and the deliberate use of weapons of mass destruction by the Blakists, it has become clear that The Word is attempting to destroy the AMC.”
Kevin blinked as the bright lights made it difficult to see the assembled crowd. “Word of Blake has made their intentions clear. They are systematically attacking members of the AMC in an attempt to destroy those who defend independent systems so they may take the Chaos March for their Protectorate and form a new Terran Hegemony.”
He paused a moment to allow his words to take root. “The Silver Eagles Mercenary Battalion joined the AMC to defend the rights of independent systems to retain their independence. We have ever fought for the right of worlds to determine their own place in the Inner Sphere, be it as a member of a Great House or as a separate and equal sovereign nation. At every turn, The Word has attacked the AMC in their blatant power-grab to form the Blake Protectorate. They have bullied, threatened, and now committed crimes against humanity against their neighbors, all for the goal of carving out their own realm built on the backs of independent systems too weak or too poor to defend themselves. And when the AMC offers it’s services to these worlds, The Word responds by using any means necessary to destroy us, from nuclear attacks on Outreach to assassins on Solaris VII.”
The gathered reporters began clamoring for answers. Nodding at one reporter in the front of the crowd, they rushed to question. “Marlena Pulk, INN. Colonel Silver, are you accusing the Word of Blake of arranging the assassination attempt on you earlier today?”
Kevin nodded solemnly. “Yes, in point of fact I am. While they were very good in coving their tracks, the writing on the wall is clear. The Word has isolated or destroyed the top members of the AMC. All that stands in their way now are the smaller units such as Always Faithful, Grim Determination, the Wild Geese, The Furies, and yes, the Silver Eagles. Alone we are of little concern, but no doubt the Word’s greatest fear is that we combine our forces and begin joint operations to halt their invasion of free systems.”
As the crowd of reporters began to clamor for further questions, Col. Silver held up his hands. “I have said all there is to say on this. The Word must be stopped. As members of the AMC, and as Commanding Officer of the Silver Eagles, I will pledge everything to that cause. Thank you for coming.” At that he turned and walked off the dais.
Over the next three months, the Silver Eagles began broad anti-WoB and pro-AMC publicity campaigns, even as WoB made inroads with assaults on Tukayyid and Dieron and the bolstering of their assaults on Tharkad and New Avalon. When word reached Solaris VII of the disaster of Case White and the attack on the Free Worlds League by the Bolan/Skye alliance, not even the good news of Wolf in Exile rescuing survivors on Outreach could bolster the sinking spirits of the Silver Eagles.
As the months ground by toward June and more news of the devastation unfolding around them rolled in, Col. Silver called for a final meeting on Solaris.
“The time has come to figure out what the Silver Eagles are going to do next.” He began. “Our contract here ends June 1st, and once that hits we’ll need to find gainful employment.” Looking toward McKenna he querried. “How are the books looking, Colonel?”
Erin rolled her eyes. “We’ve only 5.3 million in oor Comstar account, sair, but once th’ mission is done, we’ll have o’r sixty in th’ bank.”
Turning to Cap. Vahzenov he continued. “And supplies, Major?”
Vahzenov smirked. “Ve have enough on hand for zix months of heavy combat duty or tvelve months of light duty, comrade Colonel.”
Nodding he turned to Joe and Ben. “And how goes the propaganda machine, Lieutenants?”
Joe smiled as he lit his cigarette. “Not bad, Colonel. We’ve made some friends out there loosely referred to as ‘The Resistance’. While the AMC is shaken up, independent units opposed to WoB are cropping up all over the place. We’re not talking large units mind you, but all together it would make one hell of a task force.”
Lt. Scott interjected. “I should point out that while true, there is no leadership among the Resistance, just a loose collection of like-minded Mercs, House Units, some Clanners, and assorted riff-raff. Decent numbers, but without leadership?” His voice trailed off as he shrugged skeptically.
Kevin took in the information and looked toward Randall. “How’s combat readiness, Major Thorpe?”
“Lagging, but easily recovered once we see action against WoB.” Randall replied. “Moral is very low and the troops are itching for a fight. The sooner we kill some Wobbies the better, Kevin.”
“If we face off against The Word, Major.” Col. Silver reprimanded. “That has yet to be decided. Let us not forget the lesson of the Wolfs Dragoons... and we only have
one Regiment and
no Warships.” Looking toward their AMC liaison, he concluded. “Major Greenwood? Once the Silver Eagles conclude our mission here representing the AMC, what are your plans?”
Major Greenwood mildly shrugged. “I haven’t heard from my AMC contacts in over two months. I can only assume they are dead. Standing orders in this situation were to return to Outreach for reassignment. But now...” he paused and exhaled before finishing. “...the only place I can think of to go is the AMC satellite office on Galatea.”
Standing, Col. Silver bowed slightly. “It would be the honor of the Silver Eagles to escort you to Galatea, Major. In point of fact, with Outreach gone, Galatea is the best place to find steady work for the Silver Eagles.” He looked at Captain Greenwood sorrowfully. “I am not at all certain if the Silver Eagles will be able to remain members of the AMC, given the current situation, Major. But even if we leave the membership officially, the Silver Eagles have always stood against WoB, even before the AMC existed. Rest assured that we
will continue the fight against The Word, even if the AMC is no more.”
Cap. Greenwood nodded. “I appreciate and accept the offer of transport to Galatea. As to the future of the Silver Eagles, I have no doubts that once you find a place you can strike, The Word
will regret it.”
Ten days later, the Silver Eagles left Solaris VII for Galatea. Two weeks after their departure while recharging over the Lyran world of Gacrux, the news of Word of Blake's attack on Solaris VII only served to further convince Col. Silver of his worst fears.
They're hunting us.
