Taking a deep breath Valentin began to speak. "I am going to be direct. Is there a problem between you and Donnelson?" Valentin raised his hand to indicate James to let him finish. "I ask because Captain Takeda asked... ordered me to speak to you and her about it. I have noticed the... coolness between you two ever since I joined. Actually, I have seen it between you and a few others as well, but it seems it is worse between the two of you. Personally, I think he is a little off base. You can work together, and it does not appear to be any actual hostility. But at the same time, it is noticeable and it is a bit of a distraction. If it is something you do not feel comfortable enough to talk to me about, I understand."
James rubbed his forehead and chuckled. Number five. This was the fifth time, directly or indirectly, he'd had to set one of the new guys straight. He was genuinely puzzled by their attitude on the matter. Maybe it was because James was generally considered the Cav's “class clown”, and they didn't understand him having a side that wasn't up-beat or jovial. In all likelihood they just needed to be educated, so James didn't mind giving another lesson.
“It's okay, really. You're new, so you don't know. Or at least, you don't
really know, so I won't hold it against you. You know the story behind Donnelson and some of the others, don't you Sarge?” Valentin nodded. James asked his tech to take a break, and offered Valentin the chair that had been vacated. James was content to stand and lean against the leg of his
Gladiator.
“Let me ask you something, Davideko. If you met a girl, and she left her boyfriend to be with you... would you be mad if she cheated on you in the future?”
Valentin replied as any normal person would. “Of course, who wouldn't?” [sorry Grey, kinda have to here. -GM]
“Well yes, emotionally, anyone would be upset. But what I mean is, would you be surprised by her
actions? I mean, if she cheated on her old boyfriend to be with you, doesn't that kinda set the precedent for her cheating on you to be with someone else?”
“You never said she cheated on her old boyfriend, James.”
“Don't be nieve, bro, of course she did. If she had someone to leave, then that means she got to know you while she was in a relationship. You need to read past the book's cover to know the story. If someone cheated on the one they loved in the past, or in our case a unit, then you need to be ready for that person to do the same again. It's as simple as that.”
[that's all I feel comfortable saying for you, Grey. You can reply as you see fit -GM]
Dropship Wayward Son
Deep Orbit, Loxley System
Coventry March, Federated Commonwealth
18 November 3037 About fifteen minutes after the call had been put out, the
Son's C3 was packed to the gills with the unit's senior officers. MechWarriors, pilots, tank commanders, platoon leaders, even Gillian Albin and Chief Paul Ryan. Justin was sitting on console mounted to the bulkhead, and Ken was standing beside him. The room's old life support system was struggling to scrub the CO2 being thrown into the air, generating a rhythmic clunking sound that Justin had to speak over.
“Good morning, Cavaliers.”
“Morning, skipper,” came the unified reply.
“As you are all no doubt aware, we will be breaking atmo in roughly twelve hours... it looks like the arrival estimate was a bit off. So, since we will be getting to shore a few hours early, there are going to be some changes to our schedule. We'll touch down just before midnight local time, so I want you all to proceed to your racks after we unload our heavy gear.” Justin continued to scan the crowd of familiar faces as he went. “I'm serious about this, people. I will not tolerate anyone giving me any 'drop-lag' excuses. We've been tuning the cycle on-ship and are arriving around bedtime. Get your heavy gear, park it, and find your room in the barracks. Local crews will be getting our personal effects for us tomorrow night, so make sure to pack your duffles and leave them on your cot. And don't leave your room a mess. These guys are not a cleaning service, so the
Son's crew will be locking down your quarters after you depart. They've been very good to us these last six months, so the least we can do is not leave litter for them to pick up, yeah?
“Speaking of quarters, you heard me right. Everyone will have a single occupancy room, the base is just that big. That also means it's tough to navigate. As per standard SLDF security protocols none of The Rock's corridors are marked. Make sure you keep your pads handy in case you get lost.”
“The Rock, sir?” called someone in the crowd.
“Oh, right. Fort Worth is known locally as 'The Rock'. This is due to the location and architecture of the base, particularly the outside. The base is built into the foot of the Grey Mountains, and the only thing visible from orbit is the airstrip and DropShip landing pads. The entry is unmistakable from the ground, though. It's a perfectly sheer rock face about twenty stories high and at least as many wide. The passage into the base spans the entire face and is always open during operational hours, though there are blast doors in case of WMDs or orbital bombardment. That entryway puts you right in the vehicle bay, which is quite literally cavernous. The bay is also a hub for the massive tunnel system that leads into the mountains. These tunnels are large enough to accommodate a lance of mechs marching line-abreast but are extremely dangerous and prone to collapse.”
“Are there other facilities linked to the base, and are the AeroSpace hangers part of the vehicle hanger?” asked Sergeant Aisaka .
“Every few years some off-worlder comes to Loxley, claiming that they've 'decoded a Star Leagug memory core' or some other nonsense... most of the people who wander into the tunnels don't come back. When I was a kid there was a famous case involving a local. He ran a distillery in the mountains, found a passage, and was wandering the tunnels for the next six months. I shit you not.”
“What did he eat?” Kushieda asked, transfixed by the story.
“There are some nasty critters that live in the mountains called Vols. They're like a Terran armadillo, but decidedly less friendly. Apparently he hunted them and found underground aquifers to get by. Had to eat'em raw. By the time he got out the daylight nearly blinded him and he was borderline insane. As you might imagine, there haven't been any treasure seekers in a few years. Anyway, you and Tiaga will be punching atmo with us. Land at the base and the ground staff will walk your
Chippewas into the AeroSpace cubicles inside the base.”
All too late he noticed Kushieda's horrified expression. She looked like she was actually on the verge of tears. “That's horrible, skipper...
horrible!” Taiga threw the Major a look that could have melted mech armor, and Justin instantly regretted sharing that particular story. Since the rest of the people in the room were also giving him disapproving looks, he tried to move on as quickly as possible.
“Sorry, Minori. Where was I... right. As you've probably gathered by now, The Rock was designed to accommodate a combined-arms regiment, so that's why we'll have so much free space. The base is staffed full-time, but doesn't have much in the way of recreational facilities. Fortunately New Dallas is minutes away and there is a dedicated maglev line connecting the base to the city. There are cargo and commutator trains, so be careful which one you get on. For the most part you'll be free to come and go as you please when not on duty, and your quarters will be yours to do with as you see fit.
“While the base may be staffed, we will be providing our own security. Captain Takeda, Commander Hong Yu, Lt. Buggerman, and myself will be creating detailed duty rosters after I get a chance to familiarize them with the New Dallas area. In all likelihood the Armored and Mechanized Cav will be split between base and city defense, rotating between various government and industrial instillation. The Heavy Cav will patrol the city limits and the mountains, freeing the rest of the Metal Thunder to cover the various mining operations of strategic importance deeper in the mountains. We're also going to be doing various PR and civil service jobs, starting with friday's parade. After we march down to Sundance Square from the base we'll be meeting the locals... you know, letting the civies take pictures and get a close look at our mechs, cockpit tours, let the kids check out our gear, that kind of thing. I'm sure you all went to unit parades or airshows when you were younger. That evening there will also be a gala at the Sundance Hotel, which you will all be attending.”
There were some groans from the crowd, but the reaction wasn't as negative as he had expected. “Now before anyone starts bitchin', I'll tell you the same thing I told Captain Churchill. Events like this are standard in Lyran space, and are posh affairs. You'll be treated to top-notch food and drink, rub elbows with local nobility and celebrities, and generally have your ass kissed all night. All you need to do shake hands with people who introduce themselves and thank them for their hospitality. It's a party, and it'll be fun, so I don't want to hear complaints.
“Oh, and before I forget you're not supposed to go to these
soirees alone. If you don't find a local or another Cavalier to partner up with for the night, Duke Samuel Norse has arranged for a variety of male and female escorts--”
“Woohoo!” Yelled someone hiding in the back of the room, which naturally got a laugh out of everyone.
“Not
that kind of escort. Seriously,
whatever you do don't try to bed anyone who's last name is Norse, McDowell, or Steiner-Latimer. That's really not something I want to have to deal with. I've included information on Lyran protocol in your briefings, and directions to the stores that will be providing our social attire.
“Remember folks, New Dallas is going to be our home for the next three years, so please don't try to crash this party like a pack drunk frat boys. If I have any disciplinary problems I won't bother disciplining you... I'll just hand you over to the Captain and let him use his imagination.
“Questions?”