12 December 2767
New Port Royal (Tortuga Dominions)
Ships Captain Martin Zuni and his Merchant Jumpship had finally returned to the Dominions. Checking the ships plot, he was surprised to find Hyperspace Cowboy, Ships Captain Martha Pruitt sitting a few thousand kilometers away. Before he could hail her, she hailed him.
"Where the hell have you been Zuni, you old fart?" Martha Pruitt asked
"Made a trip to the Suns to conduct some business. What are you up to you old hag?" Zuni responded
"Made a run to the Concordat. Talked to Travis Malone, he said he sent one of those wayward commands this way. Said you asked him to pass the word." Pruitt said
Dammit, just what I needed, more SLDF to deal with. He had planned to just dump this band of SLDF here at New Port Royal, but he might as well go ahead and dump them with their own kind, he thought "That's good to hear, any idea where they are?" Zuni asked
"You have a couple, there is a group on New Gascony, New Haiti and Fletchers Feast. Take your pick. Lord knows I gave up trying to guess what your doing messing with this Star Leaguers. But you need to get rid of them, I am hearing some rumors that the local pirates are thinking of putting a price on your head. Seems word is getting around that the SLDF folks keep asking about you by name." Pruitt said
AW SHIT, someone got my name and now the locals might be after my hide. Time to leave the Dominions while the getting is good. Then it hit him, maybe I will personally take the SLDF to Pilon, at least I will have an armed escort to get out of the Dominions. "Thanks for the heads up Martha, you want to team up and head for greener pastures? I have asked before, and you said no before but I could use a good captain and crew." Zuni asked
There was silence for a few minutes "Sure Martin, the Concordat is still a little too dangerous to run around in. Me and my ship will tag along with you. You planning on heading back to the Alliance?"
"Sure am. But we are going to have an armed escort. We are going to convince these SLDF to accompany us, for a price, a steep price. Once we get them to their destination, we will cut out and make some real money." Zuni said
"Your crazy Martin, but damned if you don't normally come out on top. Get recharged and I will take a shuttle over and we will talk over dinner about how much money we plan to make in this new joint venture. Pruitt out."
Two hours later, Ships Captain Martha Pruitt found Martin Zuni on the Grav Deck waiting for her. He looked up as she entered the Grav Deck and smiled. Damn, she is still a looker. She looks real good for being 39 years old, Martin thought then smiled, here I am 47 years old talking about her like she is 100. He stood to greet her "Martha, you get more beautiful every time I see you."
"Martin, your so full of crap I am surprised you can float in zero G. So, what exactly do you have in mind for this joint venture?" Martha Pruitt asked as she sat down at the table across from Martin Zuni.
"First, we head for New Haiti, I will talk with the SLDF there and then we take the with us to New Gascony, we get the SLDF there and we all head for Fletchers Feast. I scored my Jumbo from one SLDF command, and I am going to demand another cargo dropper in exchange for leading them to Pilon. Once we get them to Pilon, we will scrounge up some information and then decide what we do. We will need to find a more permenant base. I been saving to buy a Star Lord Jumpship and if I sell the Jumbo, I have enough. Heck, maybe we start our own little shipping company out there. I would be willing to bet that the fighting scared all the other merchants from the region, maybe we can corner the market." Martin Zuni explained
"Damn Martin, you dream big. I don't think it can be done, but I am willing to take a chance on you." Martha Pruitt said
19 December 2767
Thazi (Outworlds Alliance)
The emergence wave caused a short moment of panic, but Commodore Barbara Coltrain quickly settled down, SLS Rhodon, Luxor Heavy Cruiser was finally fully repaired and battle ready. So when the Jumpships began materializing, she was ready for them. She cracked a smile when they began broadcasting SLDF identification. I have to agree with Rear Admiral Tanaka, this area is busier than Terra herself, she thought. "Comm, hail them and let's see who we have joining the Forgotten Corps today?"
Aboard SLS Heaven's Gaze, Star Lord Jumpship, Lieutenant General Gregory Hanesworth stared at the Luxor Heavy Cruiser. Damn, did not expect to find that out here, this is not going to end well, I can feel it, he thought as he prepared to answer the hail.
"SLS Rhodon, this is Lieutenant General Gregory Hanesworth, commander 29th Mechanized Infantry Division and this Task Force. We are on our way to help Pilon and Major General Carman and the 280th Mechanized Infantry Division. But with you here, I am going to assume that the fighting is over." He said
"The fighting is over in this area General. Major General Carman and the 280th MID are here on the surface. You are cleared to detach your Dropships and head for the surface, we will escort you to orbit where you will receive landing instructions." Came the reply
"Roger, cleared to head for the surface. SLS Heavens Gaze out." He turned to the bridge crew "Now we have to figure out how to get our asses out of this fire we just landed in. If I cannot find a way out, I am very sorry for leading us to our doom."
22 December 2767
New Haiti (Tortuga Dominions)
Ships Captain Martin Zuni and Martha Pruitt winced some at the harder than normal landing on the space port runway, but both could not help but notice the SLDF Dropships with Battlemechs walking around the space port as they taxied to their designated parking slot. When they descended the folding stairs and reached the tarmac, Martin Zuni wasted no time and led Martha Pruitt across the runway to where the grounded SLDF Dropships were staged. Beside him Martha said "I sure hope your right about this Martin, the SLDF takes a dim view on smugglers and we both are guilty of doing it."
"Relax Martha, this is not my first rodeo here. I have done this quite a few times." Martin Zuni said confidently
When they were finally challeneged by several armed SLDF infantrymen, Martin said "My name is Martin Zuni, I believe your commanding officer is looking for me. If you would be so kind as to announce my arrival, I would be grateful."
The infantryman spoke into his radio and got a reply "If you both will follow me sir, Colonel Crandal is expecting you."
When they reached a Czar Dropship, a SLDF Colonel was coming down the ramp to meet them "Mister Zuni? I am Colonel Joshua Crandal, commander 81st Mechanized Infantry Division, you are one hard man to find. I am just glad you returned."
"Correct sir. I am Martin Zuni and this is Martha Pruitt, my partner. Sorry for my delay but I was not in the Dominions and just returned. I came as soon as I could." Martin replied
"I met up with a Travis Malone and he said to look you up when we got here. Then I heard another SLDF unit passed this way and after talking to you departed. You would not happen to know where they went to would you sir?" Colonel Crandal explained
"I know exactly where they went. I am actually planning to head to that exact location myself if you would like to accompany us." Martin said, he had already seen that they only had combat Dropships with them and no way they were giving one of those up "But we have to stop at New Gascony and Fletchers Feast first, seems you have company on both of those worlds right now. I plan to collect them also."
"Let me get my troops loaded up and we will boost for the Jump Point. Be nice to rejoin some SLDF forces. Just a matter of time before this pirate band gets ballsy enough to try us. I would prefer to avoi that." Colonel Crandal replied
"We will be waiting at the Jump Point Colonel Crandal." Martin Zuni said as he led Martha Pruitt back to the shuttle
On the walk over Martha said "You did not demand any payment Martin, what gives?"
"They only have combat dropships Martha, no way they are going to give one of those up. We have 2 other commands out here, one of them is going to have a cargo dropship. If they don't, well at least we stil get an armed escort to our destination." Martin Zuni replied
23 December 2767
Thazi (Outworlds Alliance)
Major General Iris Carman watched the incoming Dropships land across the space port, having been alerted by Commodore Coltrain of their arrival in system. Until Major General Rommel arrived, it would be up to her to feel this unit's commander out. But, Lieutenant General Baxter had told her about leaving a message behind with that Merchant Zuni to deliver to any other SLDF commands, hopefully this was another of them. She spotted a man heading for her with a very young officer beside him.
"Lieutenant General Gregory Hanesworth, 29th Mechanized Infantry Division reporting. This is Brevet Lieutenant General Olivia Daniels, 54th Mechanized Infantry Division. We have been following you and General Baxter." He said
"Well, you finally caught up with us. General Baxter is on Pilon right now. Your a little young to be even a Brevet Lieutenant General, there has got to be a story there." Major General Carman stated
"Yes sir, have a complete idiot for a Division Commander, he got every Major and above nuked during a full commanders conference. I sort of got elected by the survivors to lead." Brevet Lieutenant General Olivia Daniels replied
"Well, until Major General Heinrich Rommel arrives, let's get your people settled in. I know what he is going to say, so I will give you a short version. Your past sins are forgiven, but your back in the SLDF now. Welcome to the Forgotten Corps." Major General Carman said
"Forgotten Corps, that sounds pretty bad." Lieutenant General Hanesworth responded
"It's what the troops out here named themselves and it caught on. But they, we, have held out and even gotten stronger. We just started a Infantry training center on Boulsi to train new recruits. We, for the time being, have to look out for ourselves." Major General Carman said