My AU, Katherine, White Wolf of Ragnarok (Complete, Comments welcome)

[mikecj]

Nice, this should be good.  Love the call sign.

[DOC_Agren]

Well I have to say my $$ is on the CGB Ursa Major taking down 1 of the Thera Carrier.  Just because in canon that ship has kicked much butt and kept on ticking 8)

[marauder648]

Excellent stuff, one hell of a battle for sure!

[AlphaMirage]

Fire Base Aerie

Commanding General Photon Brett-Marik’s brow was covered in sweat as his Orion’s Gauss Rifle shot a hypersonic ferrous slug of metal into a Rho Galaxy Phoenix Hawk C’s right arm.  A whorl of debris came to a crash as the slug curved into the dirt some 90 meters back.  His five medium lasers and four Streak SRMs found the clanner's heavy machine gun ammo which blasted its left torso apart.  The PHawk jumped away and broke contact returning to the Ghost Bear's temporary repair depot 82 kilometers away according to latest Chameleon recon flight.  The Bear's 20mm cannons and lasers had severed his own machine’s left arm which was thoroughly ventilated from the missile launcher to the shoulder actuator exposing Endo-Steel bones and tortured myomer muscles.  It was no big loss, he had already expended all the long range missiles in the magazine but those holes were starting to gather on his left torso where his remaining ammo was. 

The rest of his mech was heavily damaged most of his leg armor had been stripped away by the Grizzly that had been his first opponent and laser burns and missile strikes added to the holes from auto-cannons and machine guns.  His lance mate had evacuated to inside the Barcella Beta facility after her Hammer had taken heavy hits from a Ghost Bear Ryoken and powered up her Cicada to continue the fight.  A motorized company of the 14th Regulan Militia sped out from the facility to hold the defeated Ghost Bears in custody pending the conclusion of the battle.  A Battalion of the 6th Abbey Armor Regiment including rumbled forth from the factory's hangers to their prepared firing positions.  A platoon of both Strike Hovertanks cleared the perimeter in pursuit of the retreating Ghost Bears trying to bring them down before they could be repaired to fight again. 

One Trinary down, Clusters to go 
 
Taking a moment to cool down his mech he watched as the Hercules and Apollo mechs that were part of his lance finished off a Hellhound which broke and ran joining the fleeing Trinary.  A lock of his raven black hair stuck to his forehead blocking his vision for a moment before he brushed it away.  The Nova Cats had routed the Ghost Bears though they had suffered greatly and were at 40% capacity.  They regrouped and grabbed fresh Mechs from the factory's storage yard leaving the damaged ones to be repaired and made ready to fight again.  Their proximity to the Barcella Beta factory meant they could repair faster than any other unit though and nearby retreating units were heading their way trying to keep ahead of the Ghost Bear units that sought them out to defeat them in detail. 

The 2nd Battalion of the 23rd was en route to reinforce the facility with the 1st moving to support Alpha Galaxy who were heavily engaged with the Ghost Bear's Tau Galaxy.  The 15th and 6th Marik Militias were holding the line and working with Beta Galaxy and DCMS forces on planet to defend other targets and prevent the Ghost Bears from massing using striker lances, hovercraft, and conventional fighter support.

The Hercules and Apollo were both nearing the end of their magazines and endurance with another Trinary en route having dropped in 16 kilometers from their position aboard a Union-C dropship.  The fighter screen was starting to disperse as they hit bingo fuel and were forced to return to their bases.  That meant the Bears were pulsing again while attempting to remove them on the ground.  The longer he held this position the better off the Airbases were because they would send better forces in an attempt to capture this factory given other Militia units a chance.   

The CGB Ursa Major had moved into position above the AO and the whole of Delta Galaxy was still aboard it.  Only Rho, Sigma, and Tau had touched down so far and they had pushed the Marik Militias and Nova Cat defenders almost to the wall.  The FWLN Theras were unable to maneuver and recover all of their strike forces and were still heavily engaged with the Ursa Major's escorts and S&R operations so the air wings were rerouted to Nova Cat ground bases.  The 4th Arkab Legion's local commander Tai-I Yasir Al'Algedi had executed a massive deception operation with fake or booby trapped airfields and supply depots that kept the Ghost Bears' density down enabling the defenders enough space to maneuver.  Photon was grateful that a non-clanner had been on planet to lay that groundwork, it had made his job much easier.

The damaged Orion walked into the perimeter of the Barcella Beta facility and toward two Paramour Mobile Field Bases, six 135M Coolers (There is a lance of Awesomes and Supernovas on-site), and a collection of supply trucks and industrial exoskeletons.  Photon's mech took a knee, he deactivated it, and activated the ladder that would allow him to descend to ground level from his 5 meter tall mech.  He detached his White and Purple Neuro-helmet from its mount, attached it to his cooling suit, and descended to be greeted by a man wearing grey and purple coveralls and the badge of the 23rd Marik Militia who snapped a salute
“General Marik, we’ll get this fixed and ready to go again in no time” 
“Thank you Sergeant Bren, is my Anvil ready?” 
“Yes sir, all you need to do is plug in.”  MSGT. Bren offered the General a bottle of water, “By the way you look like you need this.”  Chugging the bottle in one go, General Brett-Marik returned the empty, “Thank You Sergeant, keep up the good work.” Photon returned the tech’s salute and walked a short distance to the back-up position where a Thunderbolt and Crusader both awaited their pilots, Laser Two and Three, who were holding positions until he got back into the field.  The Nova Cats knew this facility was going to eventually attract Ghost Bears.  Khan West was holding the line at Barcella Alpha having drawn the Ghost Bears into more confined terrain and forcing them to slow and clear the area with Elementals.

Photon climbed up the Olive Drab Anvil Battlemech bearing the 2nd SLDF logo on it with five stars adorning the mech's head, UV-005 was spray-painted in bright purple halfway up the chest-plate.  He reached the cockpit and plugged his Neurohelmet back in, looking around he noticed that one of the techs had left him a sandwich, “Now that's what I'm talking about, you guys are the best”  While the mech powered up and sealed itself he enjoyed his lunch and then marched past the platoon of Olive Drab Longinus Battle Armor that were guarding the Ghost Bear Mechwarriors the Nova Cats had brought in, each of the suits snapped a salute to the Anvil with their battle claws.

Given a moment of respite Photon Brett-Marik checked the latest down-links but a high priority message flashed across his comm panel, he keyed it in, “General Marik, this is Watch Captain Yern, The Ghost Bears Delta Galaxy has finally started their ground operation.”

“Where are they coming in Watch Captain?”

“Look for the shooting stars General, they are going to be everywhere soon”

As the Anvil cleared the factory's perimeter all the Battlemechs looked up and saw the Nightlord CGB Ursa Major in low orbit, dozens of drop pods were inbound taking advantage of a lull in Aerospace coverage to drop in and begin a push that might break the defenders' backs.

“Well it's about time”

[AlphaMirage]

03/22/3063 17:19 Location – Fire Base Aerie

General Photon Brett-Marik's sat outside the Mobile Headquarters truck within the factory perimeter watching the Field Repair teams work.  He was exhausted, his black hair greasy, his face covered in stubble, uniform tattered, Neurohelmet placed next to him on the cold steel bench, visible scratches and wear marring its formerly glossy finish.  Sparks from cutting torches and whirs from the pneumatic tools were interspersed with explosions from artillery, the rush of conventional fighters, and chop of helicopters flying nearby. The General had been in the field for a week of near constant combat, it was a war of attrition which was unfortunately the best way to defeat a clan force or at least it had been.

A whole company of Marik Militia and binary of Nova Cats were undergoing repairs at the same time.  If he pulled this one it it would be to the Tech's credit they were doing a hell of a job. It had proved prudent that he had forced every Mechwarrior in his force to take the AsTech II course the extra manpower was the only thing that could match the omnis ease of repair in the field and it was paying off, the Ghost Bears grew more ragged as the days wore on. 

Heavily damaged units were stashed away forming an impromptu parts depot where industrial exoskeletons forcibly removed portions from the fallen to keep the current mechs online with their unfeeling steel claws.   

All of the Nova Cat mechs had serious damage, their ammo and clan grade armor were running out as the battle raged through its first week of heavy combat. A 135M half-track and its trailers of cooling oil went from mech to mech, its three man crew hooking up to Nova Cat or Marik mechs alike.  It gave them just enough coolant to not burn their lasers to a crisp as coolant was a scarce commodity just like missiles, clean water, good food, and anything else that a modern army needed to achieve victory.  Having factories was no good if there were no inputs and the Ghost Bears had effectively blockaded Irece and cut the supply links that connected its surface sites even as their own supplies were depleted and their capabilities became more compromised. 

The forces at Photon’s position were still going strong having utilized rare lulls in the action to drop K-1s into the perimeter to replenish their stocks.  The best Lances and Stars were dispatched to spoil Ghost Bear formations that were threatening to overwhelm the outlying positions.  A Karnov was due to arrive in fifteen minutes to add more supplies and take away the injured from the Aid Station that had been set up within one of the factory outbuildings. 

Almost everyone was walking wounded and no one had gotten more than three hours of sleep for the past five days. 

Cracks of hyper-sonic bursts betrayed the presence of the Mobius (45t, LGR, 2t ammo) tanks that kept Ghost Bears honest beyond the engagement range of most other weapons.  The Bears kept probing with their hovercraft and fast movers trying to get an Elemental task force within the heavy ferrocrete walls and rings of earthworks that were broken in places.  If they took this factory the whole sector would fall within a few days and the facility was effectively under siege, even the generous stocking of consumables was running dry as more survivors from other sectors made their way to Aerie. 

The doors of the Mobile HQ opened up and Colonel Borichev stepped down and handed a printout to General Brett-Marik,

“Here are the latest reports General, six Sectors have fallen to the Ghost Bears so far but the remaining four are holding firm. 

All units are heavily depleted but within our expectations, dropships and small craft are unloading the Warship’s cargo bays as quickly as possible to replace our ground losses and our fighters have been tasked to escort them.  Admiral Fontini is running out of fighters so we can’t expect Air Support from here on out. 

The Cat’s Watch expects the Ghost Bears will run out of momentum soon as their supplies thin by the day.  Nova Cat and DEST Strike teams have prioritized their supply depots at the highest level, if they can't restock they can't take the planet. 

The 2nd Free Worlds Guards came at just the right time to give us a second wind, they have taken up positions in the busiest Sector and allowed the Marik Militias to reorganize themselves. 

Tai-Sa Sakamoto reports that his DCMS forces have managed to break several worlds free from the Ghost Bears and saKhan DeValis reports the same. 

Admiral Fontini reports that the Theras and their escorts are at 47% integrity, the result of the space battle has a third of the Aerospace pilots and half the active fighter wings lost, flight teams are bringing the reserve unit online but that will take a few more days.  The Ghost Bear's Aerospace units took similar casualties but we don't know what they have in those warships.  They no doubt knew taking Irece would be a long campaign but I think we are close to turning this battle in our favor General.”

“No doubt, Colonel what do you think of our chances?”

“General Marik, we're not dead yet.  We have thus far managed to live through a force equal to an entire Clan Invasion for one week.  I trust that you can do it as long as necessary to win”

“Thank you for the vote of confidence Colonel”

“Yes Sir, just so you know our sensors picked up more inbound contacts and Ghost 5-3 has diverted until we deal with them”

“Damn!  He knows we are running out of missiles and armor right? Won't be much longer till I have nothing but laser wielding skeletons to fight off the Ghost Bears.”

“Yes sir but I'm afraid this unit is in the best shape out of any in the Sector.” 
 
Photon grabbed his Neurohelmet and boarded his Anvil again, the sixty ton machine walked up to a grey eight ton truck and grabbed the handheld 4x cLRM-5 launcher that lay in its bed from its crudely finished grips.  The handheld had been an idea that Photon had thought of desperate to give his Anvils some long range punch.  A ghost sight interface appeared under his mech's own targeting reticule for the handheld's internal system.  The armored shell of an omni-pod made a surprisingly good secondary weapon, he was amazed that no one had thought of its widespread use before.

As the Mech cleared the perimeter it walked out into a cratered hell-scape filled with Mech and Vehicle shells that were still burning, acrid smoke rising off the fallen war machines.  Three Schrecks remained of the initial eight, the others’ turrets shorn off from the vehicle, the wrecks still in their fighting positions.  The remaining vehicle group showed signs of heavy damage and shell casings were piled up behind the tanks, their turrets scanning the horizon for new challengers behind hastily erected earthworks.

Photon was joined by the rest of Laser Lance and a reinforced mixed company of Nova Cats and Marik Militia. 

Just another day in Hell.

04/11/3063 Location – Imperial Palace, Luthien

Commanding General Photon Brett-Marik returned to Luthien with a hero’s welcome and a major culture shock.  The black kimono he had been given felt strange and there had been two days of introductory classes that he had suffered through prior to making landfall   He had fought hard against the Ghost Bears for three weeks and had six mechs shot out from under him but had avoided major harm.  His actions and the sacrifice of so many soldiers had given the DCMS, Nova Cats, and 2nd SLDF the time they needed to stem the Ghost Bear assault. 

However now his legs had long since gone numb as he engaged in meeting after meeting with First Lord Theodore Kurita and his son, the SLDF General of the Combine Theater Hohiro aided by a rotating cast of characters that included Nova Cat Khan West and ISF Director Ninyu Kerai Indrahar who was suitably terrifying to see in person.  .
 
Mercifully the meetings ended after seven hours with only short breaks in between. His cousin Isis Marik arrived to finally save him, the two Mariks hadn’t seen each other in years, long even before she was sent to Sian by her father to dangle in front of Sun-Tzu who callously cast her out.  She looked nothing like her father which was a blessing, still vital and pretty her blonde hair was styled just like a Kurita woman and she wore a colorful sakura print kimono.  He felt a slight twinge on sorrow that she had chosen exile rather than returning to the Free Worlds League. 

Attempting to stand on numb legs Photon crashed forward onto the Tatami mats and Isis laughed before stepping forward to assist and steady him while he patted his legs attempting to restore circulation. 

“You get used to it in about six months though I still have trouble.  Omi forced me to do it for hours on end when I first came here, she is quite a stickler when it comes to decorum.  Though it hurt at first I must say I've never had better posture.”

“You look good cousin, Samantha told me you were going to show her and Anthony around the city.”

“I did, it was so nice to see your family Photon.  Anthony really liked the Koi pond and Samantha was watching artisans do watercolors until they invited her to join them.  You will stay for a little while right?”

“I will go when I need to, but we can stay for a little while longer I guess.  They can’t expect me to fight forever, sometimes you just need to take in the sights.”

Isis hugged him, “That’s great!  I have so much I want to talk to you about.”

[mikecj]

Isis is a very well-travelled lady.

I'm glad Photon survived.

[AlphaMirage]

04/12/3063 11:17 Location – Imperial Garden, Luthien

A black suited figure skulked through the shadows of the cherry trees in the Imperial Garden toward a young boy skipping rocks across a pond.  It moved like smoke drawing closer with every silent step across the cherry blossoms until nearly on top of him but then it stepped on a twig.  The boy turned and swiftly threw the figure into the pond.

A howl of fear erupted from the small figures' lungs, “I can't swim, help!” as he flailed wildly in the water.  Anthony Marik jumped in to grab the smaller boy and succeeded in dragging his would be attacker out of the water.  His ninja outfit had come apart in the struggles and revealed a boy a little younger than himself maybe six with striking blue eyes and black hair. 
“Hey why did you try to attack me?” 
“I am a ninja! If I was going to attack you, you would have been attacked.” 
“You're not a ninja” 
“Yes I am, I am ultimate warrior”
“Oh yeah what is your name ultimate warrior?”
“I am Kit” 
“That sounds like a girl's name, I am Tony”
“You dare to insult me Tony!?” 
Kit dropped into a martial arts stance and the two boys engaged in a wrestling match throughout the gardens

16:13

Samantha Marik was painting a landscape scene in watercolors, her easel and stool positioned at the head of a the Imperial Palace's grand Zen Garden.  The pinks of the cherry blossoms and lacquered red and black ceremonial buildings gave her plenty of material to work with.  Her friends were going to be so jealous when she returned to Tamarind with this collection.  Her concentration was interrupted as her son Anthony pulled on the sleeve of her purple kimono, she looked over to see him and another boy both dirty and scratched up.

“Hello Anthony, who is your friend?”
“This is...”  Kit interrupted him and stepped forward bowing slightly, “I am Kitsune Samantha-sama” “A pleasure to meet you Kitsune...” Kit filled in the blank, “kun”
“Kitsune-kun”
Kit looked at her painting, “I see that your beauty extends all the way to your brushstrokes, surely you have an artist's spirit”
Samantha blushed at the compliment, “Thank you, where is your mother? I must compliment her for raising such a polite boy.” 
“She is working in the Palace” 
“Mom, Kit and I are going swimming tomorrow, if you are okay with that.” 
“That sounds like fun Anthony, do I need to come along or will Kit's mom watch you?” 
“I do not think my mother will show Okaasan, but one of the palace staff will supervise us.  I would not wish to impose upon a guest if you wish to be elsewhere.”

20:39

Omiko and Kitsune Kurita both were dressed in white, heads bowed as a pair of incense sticks burned in a sand jar.  A picture of a young man occupied a niche in the Shrine of Honored Ancestors within the Imperial Palace Complex.  The bell rang and the Miko waited respectfully until they were both finished before closing the Shrine up for the night.  Mother and Son returned to their room, Omi carrying the picture within the bag that she carried in front of her.  Kitsune went to sleep quickly having played all day with Anthony.  She remained awake kneeling at her desk, a low power light shining over missives sent from the Order of Five Pillars.  She composed the appropriate responses wrapping them in ribbons based on their priority and placed them in bins outside the room where an O5P courier would pick them up and transmit the messages.

As she quietly walked past the shrine with the picture, she teared up and looked at it once more, “I miss you Victor-Tosan”, she closed the shrine and walked into the room where their son slept, watching his peaceful face that reminded her so much of Victor.   

Before she went to sleep she leaned down and kissed him on the forehead, “I love you Kitsune, my little fox.  Your father would have loved you too, never forget that.”

04/13/3063 10:58 Location – Otomo Training Grounds

Kit and Tony sat in one of the trees that overlooked the Otomo's training grounds, Tai-Sa Franklin Sakamoto was engaging six other soldiers in a Kendo match.  The other soldiers, all experts in the martial arts engaged but were soundly beaten by the man. 
“That's my uncle” 
“He's really good with that sword”
“He is a Kurita, one of our first gifts as children is a sword.  One day I will be a Warrior just like my father.”
“My dad is a General, he just came back from fighting the Clans.”
Kit looked down tears forming, “My father didn't come back from fighting the Clans.  I never got to meet him, all I have is stories.” 
“I'm so sorry, I didn't know.” 

04/12/3063 05:19 Location – Steiner Family Crypt, beneath the Cathedral of the Heavenly Host, Tharkad

Archon Katherine Steiner carried an electric lantern as she walked past the bones of dozens of Steiners with a bunch of flowers.  Every Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth who died in office (and good standing) was buried within it's granite blocks.  She walked past the coffin carrying the remains of Melissa Steiner-Davion and felt a chill wind.  Speaking to no one, “You will haunt me no longer woman, had you proven a better mother your remains might not be lying there yet”, only the silence of the grave answered.

She stopped in front of her brother's coffin, “Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion” printed in a bold gothic font on the coffin; the man born to rule the Inner Sphere but who had fallen short.  Katherine placed the flowers on the coffin,

“I'm so sorry Victor, that you should hear these things only after your death.  I wanted to tell you so badly but could never work up the courage to. I was afraid, I never wanted it to end like this, things were supposed to happen differently.”

She was still working up the courage pausing and taking a deep breath before continuing.

“I helped kill our mother Victor, I thought she was making things worse between all of us and in a moment of weakness helped Robert kill her.  If I could take it all back I would!  I pray everyday that I could take it all back!  It cost me everything!  You, Peter, Galen, our son, all lost because of what I did. 

A single mistake that I will pay the rest of my life for making.  I had no idea what was going to happen.  We weren't ready even though our entire life was spent preparing. 

Mother wasn't ready, I can see it now but couldn't recognize it at the time.  The pressure was too much after Father died, the burden that we bore was not meant to be borne by a single person but we were all caught up in ourselves thinking we could do it.  So disconnected from each other that we hardly know one another. 

I thought you could do it.  That you could choose the best path for trillions of souls scattered across hundreds of worlds.  That you could bring a new Star League back and unite the Inner Sphere into a new Golden Age.  I just wanted you to come back the conquering hero so that I could take a step back,  I never wanted to be Archon-Prince.  You were always the better person. 

I'm so sorry for all the anguish I caused you.  I had to pause the Commonwealth unification, everyone wasn't ready yet; I don't know if they ever will be.  I didn't want another war, was angry that you didn't trust me enough to tell me about Joshua.”

She pulled out her codex running her fingers along it's engraved Wolf's head,
“I guess I can't blame you.  I've told so many lies I'm not even sure what is real anymore.  That this isn't some kind of hallucination and I'm really locked up on Gallery lost in my own mind or some fever dream that I will snap out of and wake in a hospital, Galen at my bedside with a wedding band on my finger.  I could accept either of those, both would be better than this.

That I would have done all of these things, killed all of those people, that I can't stop.  That's the worst part of it, I can't stop.  I don't want to invade New Avalon, be forced to bring war to my home to save my family, that I should have to kill my own countrymen, and issue the order for others to die fighting on my side. 

That I should be forced to turn to the Wolf Khan Vladimir Ward to secure my legacy, be baptized in the blood of Warrior and Innocent alike.  To have the gnawing hunger, the yearning for combat, it is madness, and it takes all my will to hold it at bay.  I don't know how long my will will hold it in check or if I would have the courage to end it before it's too late for me, that I won't decide to embrace it instead.”

Katherine broke down and cried right next to the coffin, “I don't know what the right path is anymore brother!  Please forgive me for what I have done and what I have yet to do.  Pray for your sister's wicked soul, that she finds the right path before its too late.  I will pray...that its not too late.”

[mikecj]

Very well written!

[marauder648]

Superb stuff, a great mix of big battles and lots of inter-personal issues as well as a superb portraying of Katrine's guilt.

[AlphaMirage]

02/19/3063 21:19 Location – Isle Azul, New Hebrides New Avalon

“Ah Nikolai how did you end up in this situation?”, he placed another cam into a crack in the wet stone, “Dmitri is surely laughing his head off in hell knowing”, three meters, “you are climbing a sea cliff”, another three meters, “during a cyclone”, three meters more slipping twice, “to save a Davion princess”, five meters more, “guarded by an elite jump company”, he pushed forward nearly there, “unarmed.”

Clearing the edge he flattened out taking a moment to catch his breath, coughing when the rain went down his throat.  Taking a moment to unharness and position the climbing rope for rapid rappelling if that became necessary, afterwards stashing his climbing gear and wet-suit in a waterproof bag then placing them within a nearby bush.  Then he donned his Sneak Suit over his under-layer and powered up his multi-spectral optics.  Taking a moment to look around and verify that everything was working creeping through the dark palms whipping in the wind.

The Villa belonged to Wilson Lycomb, an executive of Lycomb-Davion IntroTech, Nikolai Vasiliev didn't know whether or not Mr Lycomb was aware that it now held Princess-Regent Yvonne Steiner-Davion but it didn't matter.  He climbed a small shed near the gardens crouching then zoomed in and saw two squads of the 2nd Necedah Jump Infantry on patrol.  They clearly hadn't brought proper MilSpec foul weather gear with them, instead the reflective stripes on their civilian gear marked them in his goggles.  There was a whole company on this island but his intelligence had been correct that the majority of them were located near the port village.  There was probably only a platoon at the villa itself, after all their captive couldn't run anywhere.

Nikolai used the landscaping to avoid the patrols which were moving around in pairs and reduce his exposure time to the surveillance systems, visible because they were recent additions and didn't fit with the villa's Neo-Revival architecture.  The Cheka operative stuck to the shadows avoiding the pools of light emitted from the mobile light towers and settled beneath an illuminated window where a towel hung out on a balcony.

Princess-Regent Yvonne Steiner-Davion sat on a chair surrounded by piles of books wearing a red top and grey capri pants.  She had screeched and whined long enough that her captors had bought her whatever she wanted to keep her quiet and she figured she might as well try to complete her studies.  The island had its own power generator so there was no threat that the Class 3 Cyclone howling outside would cut off her reading light or air conditioning.  She had just finished reading the biography of Reynard Davion and was beginning to work on Reunification War Historicals when she heard a tap at the window.  “Shut up! stupid storm”

The tap occurred again, and again in a rhythmic pattern, eventually she got up and looked out the window.  There was a figure beneath it that she recognized, she opened the window and the sopping wet man cleared the window frame.  Yvonne kissed him, Nikolai paused for a moment, that was unexpected but not unwelcome they had already gone way further than that. 

She was about to speak but he put his finger to her lips and whispered directly into her ear, “Yvonne, can you put some music on?”  Confused for several moments while she worked her way through possible scenarios she nevertheless did as asked playing popular music in the FedSuns from the room's speakers.  Nik adjusted the volume and went into the bathroom, it was an elegant room the walls a light pink with a very large bathtub and glass shower stall, Yvonne followed confused. 

His sneak suit was still wet and dripped rainwater onto the white floor tiles and he pulled the mask off placing it in the sink, then adjusted his hair and she got really close. 
“I'm happy you're still alive Yvonne, but we have to speak quietly, if I was your captor I would have an audio recorder somewhere in the room, that's why I wanted you to turn the music on.” 
“Nikolai you found me.  How are we getting out of this?” 
“I don't know; your sister is on her way, she already has a force near Tikonov but she can't launch an invasion without cause.” 
“A Ferret should be coming in tomorrow and you know I can pilot it, we can get off this island you can take me to her.” 
“I know you can but I can't get you off-world, even if you could off the island.  Marshal Sortek has everything locked down, I only managed to sneak in via a refrigerated meat container.”
“Well if you can't get me off world.  What are you doing here?”
“I'm here to smuggle a message back to Katherine, I can't send it back via the New Avalon HPG.  If you were in immediate danger I would have busted you out but the whole Guards Brigade is on planet.  You are safer here than free unfortunately.  Especially since Bishop has been launching a very slick campaign trashing you and your sister trying to convince people that Conrad or George might be a better choice than either of you for First Prince.”
Yvonne's eyes went wide, “The Whole Brigade?  That's nearly sixty regiments plus the Militia.”
“I think the Militia will be loyal to you if they knew what was going on, the Guards too but they don't know everything that has happened.  If they don't however, three other Crucis militias and the 1st Armored Cavalry are already mobilizing since we convinced them that something was wrong.  The Admiralty is with us as well, they are already positioning themselves to negate George and James if they try to support Bishop.”
“Where's Ardan or Jackson?  Why haven't they done anything yet?”
“Ardan is still in the Capellan March overseeing the end of the St Ives conflict on behalf of the Star League.  He has no reason to distrust Bishop and still thinks you are taking time off to deal with Arthur's death.  I don't know where Jackson is, he apparently hasn't made any public appearances in the past few weeks.”
Yvonne looked concerned, “Do you think Bishop killed him?”
“I don't think so, Jackson is a long time friend and General of the Armies but then again Bishop isn't acting like himself. I've poured over the scuttlebutt and archival videos I picked up the last time you had me spy on him again.  I just can't figure out who might be influencing him or to what end, he has to be compromised in some way.”
“Why would someone do that?”
“I think someone is trying to collapse the Federated Suns, the Black Dragons are already sabotaging the Combine, the Confederation is a weak state barely able to overcome a breakaway province, the League is on the rise if they can get over their many internal problems.  The only state that is still hanging on is the Alliance and they still have the clans on their borders.  There were plenty of opponents to the Federated Commonwealth, people who opposed your father's marriage.  You know that, we used them to weaken Bishop's power base and remove potential enemies from the field before they turned on you.”
“Could it be Tancred?”
“I don't think so, this conspiracy is far deeper and more expertly executed than anything he is capable of.  We both know he's no Quintus Allard, that is why I'm here after all.  Although maybe...it doesn't make sense though, the moves are all wrong.  Arthur wouldn't have been killed if he wanted to be First Prince, your brother and him were so close, he would have been on the shortlist to be his Champion. 

He would have tried to convince Arthur to get you to marry him, then once that happened, killed him.  His dad too, he's not the most stable of men but he treated your brother like a son.  Even with all his hatred for the Combine he wouldn't have used Arthur as a pawn like that, he could have come up with any number of reasons to attack the Combine.”
“I'm really scared Nikolai, I want to leave,  I don't want to be the Regent, I don't even want to live on New Avalon anymore.  I've spent my whole life here but it feels like a changed place.  Why is this happening to me?”
Nikolai had spent years cultivating agents and spent more than a few months as a prisoner but it was something else when it was a friend that was breaking down under the strain, “I understand Yvonne.  You know I'm doing everything I can, but you have to hang in there.  I'll be back and Katherine is on her way.  You are not alone or forgotten, you will get out.”

Nikolai spent a few more hours with her before heading out and re-boarding his mini-sub clearing out the climbing cams on the way down.  He smuggled himself to Argyle and then boarded a Loki vessel to transit back to Tikonov and delivered it to the Loki commander there personally before heading back out into the Outback.

11/18/3063 Location - O.C. Selene above Niops VIII (Boreal), Niops Association

The K-1 Shuttle M.J.V. Eos' Dawn 3 begins its docking sequence to the large orbital construct.  The gas dwarf Boreal's deep blue atmosphere filling up the view-screen as Lieutenant Commander Alera completed the sequence.

“Selene, we are docked.  Prepare for entry”
“Affirmative Echo-Delta Three, everything is green, N.M.B. is en route”

Alera walked back into the Cargo Bay, Three soldiers were at full attention their hands on their Ebony laser rifles guarding the cargo, three medical pods, one of which bore the Sword of Blake while the other two were emblazoned with the Black Bird (Ebon Magistrate).  Another woman with caramel complexion wearing a white and gold jumpsuit was flitting between them. 

“Doctor Selaj, how are our passengers?”
“They are well Commander, your network is exquisite.  I must commend your team on their professionalism.  I didn't think you could snag Mr Alpha here”

Madhavi touched the pod marked by a Sword of Blake

“It was a difficult extraction I unfortunately lost five agents and two operatives acquiring him, the Foreign Affairs Corp does what it can with what we have”
“I will speak with General Eliiot when we are finished here, if you can interdict such a sensitive shipment I'm sure we can furnish you some more funding to support your operations”
“That would be appreciated. Doctor, if I may, who is he? and why did the Blakists want him so badly?”
“I am afraid that is classified Ultraviolet Commander”
“Understood”

As their conversation concluded, the three soldiers walked toward the load-master waiting near the cargo bay door.

He opened the bay door which split horizontal revealing a large air-locked receiving dock where three vac-armored soldiers, a pair of heavy duty flatbeds, a manned cargo exoskeleton, and five red suited medics were ready for them.  Doctor Selaj went and spoke with the leader of the red suits and signaled both sets of soldiers and the cargo exoskeleton to pick up the pods.  The fractional gravity (0.62 g or 6.07 m/s^2) made these large and heavy pods (nearly 1 MT, a piece) much easier to move and secure and they were finished within ten minutes.

Commander Alera and Load-master Rafael walked alongside Doctor Madhavi Selaj and the olive skinned Dr. Talib Narinder of the Niops Medical Bureau through the construct.  It was a maddeningly plain and antiseptic facility, all white walls except on the "floor" and "ceiling" which were bright green and light grey respectively, it did however smell of lavender which was a pleasant surprise, much better than the "sweat and sour" smell of most drop-ships.

They arrived at a heavy bulkhead marked with a series of arcane symbols guarded by a pair of Niops Association Militia Marines and watched by the ever present security cameras that she had just begun to notice.  This facility was as well guarded as the Mirror Palace in Crimson which began to make her uneasy.  The Marines opened the bulkhead but stopped the non-medics from entering, several N.M.B. personnel took over the pods, the Marines and the security detachment departed. 

Another N.M.B. person this time dressed in a Grey Jumpsuit with Purple Stripes arrived from one of the side corridors.

“Greetings Commander, I am Corporal Sajjad, I'm afraid Dr. Narinder has such terrible manners considering this facility would not exist without the Magistracy.  Welcome to Orbital Construct Selene, let me take you for a tour while they conduct their business”

[mikecj]

Now there's a twist

[DOC_Agren]

A I have to ask, is there canon reference to Cheka in the Battletech?

[AlphaMirage]

Nope it would technically be Maskirovka in most eras but Tikonov (and what was the Grand Union) enjoys a strange semi-autonomy in my AU because Sun-Tzu isn't strong enough to take it back, the FedSuns see it as tainted and don't care for them, and Katherine has the Tetrarchy convinced that she is gonna be on the winning side (also lots of L-Bills, like dropship loads).

[DOC_Agren]

Thanks for the quick response
I have to admit I like the Cheka Operative..

[AlphaMirage]

4/22/3063 Location – AFFS Simon Davion in orbit around Kathil

“This is Admiral Hogan Bren of the AFFS Simon Davion to Colonel Dunn of the 1st Capellan Dragoons”
“Roger Captain, this is Colonel Dunn.  What do you want?”
“Colonel I want your formation to stand down and remain in their barracks while the Eighth FedCom makes landfall to take over the garrison and the shipyard's ground facilities.  My marines will occupy the Cageworks for security purposes, of course.”
“What!?  You can't be serious Captain, why would I do such a thing?  Who gave you those orders?  Duke Hasek and VanLees will hear about this immediately.”
“Colonel I have Fourteen AR-10 launchers and dozens of naval lasers between my ship and those of the Antrim and Murmansk that can turn your reinforced bunker into cinders before your very eyes.  We are taking over whether or not New Syrtis approves on the orders of Archon-Princess Katherine Steiner-Davion.”

5/11/3063 Location – Fort Whitestone, Briefing Room A, Remagen

The Commanders of the 1st and 2nd “Royal Cavaliers” (Tsamma and Remagen CrMM, Bremond and Milligan DMM), 1st FedSuns Armored Cavalry, and Filtvelt Fusiliers (Warrior Cabalists, but on the down low, don't tell anybody) were gathered, each sitting at a workstation in the auditorium.  Rear Admiral Lawrence “Long-haul” Homestead of the Federation Navy and Captains Nikolai Vasiliev, TNGB “Tikonov Independent State Security”, and Rosemary Kramer, LAAF, serving as liaisons for the Archon's Task Force.

Marshal Loren Reitmann, as Ranking Officer stepped to the front of the room and faced the sub commanders.   The room darkened and a large display came to life showing small Mech, Aerospace Fighter, Warship, Naval, Tank, and Infantry icons on-screen and a rotating 3D Photo-grid of New Avalon. 

“We all do not take invading New Avalon lightly, such a thing pushes our oaths to the limit.  However it has come to this; Prince's Champion Bishop Sortek has refused to abdicate in the wake of the Princess-Regent's message and Archon-Princess Katherine has issued her ultimatum, either he steps down and surrenders himself to custody or we will be dropping on New Avalon.

Gentlemen, the entire Davion Brigade of Guards is on planet; we have roughly twenty-five regiments under our command, the Archon-Princess has brought around forty-six which means that we are roughly on par with the Guards, not the best of odds but we do have all the Warships. 

With any luck Captain Vasiliev is correct that some of the Guards are wavering in their dedication to Bishop.  They may choose to stand down rather than fight, nevertheless we have several objectives; our primary objective is of course the rescue of Princess Yvonne and Marshal Jackson Davion.  Close behind that is avoidance of civilian casualties, after that we want Bishop Sortek, alive if possible.

We don’t expect you to go and tear down Castle Davion to get the Princess.  Agents are already putting themselves in the proper position to free her before the main battle starts.  Captain please present your latest information.

I want everyone to remember we have a few weeks before the assault so some of this information may change.”

Nikolai stepped up and plugged a data-chip into the projector, he went over the latest dispositions and shared some of the information he previously had gathered on Marshal Sortek including some suspicions about what is really going on. 

“Thank You Captain, very fine report.  Alright everyone check your terminals to see what the current plan is for your units.  We are all professionals here, I want your input, the faster we can get this over with, the better for the Federated Commonwealth.” 

5/27/3063 04:39 Location – Union-X LADS Avalanche, Zenith Jump Point, New Avalon

Katherine watched on the screen as her Task Force cleared out the Aerospace fighters that had been stationed at the Zenith recharging station.  The Eclipse Carrier {Fox Corvette but with 54 ASF, more Anti-Fighter Weapons, and no Cap Lasers, originally the hull was the Robert Kelswa} LAS Tamar cleared the way and a Fury orbital assault drop-ship deployed a company of battle armored marines onto the recharge station.  Follow on units from the Warships’ Marine detachment landed close behind via Void Raider Small Craft. 

The Yggdrasil and the Foxes Katrina Steiner and Robert Marsden started their burn while the remainder of the Task Force’s jump-ships docked to the now Loyalist Recharge Station.  With that the invasion of New Avalon had begun and a massive fleet of Dropships vectored toward the planet at Max Speed.  Katherine didn’t want to give Marshal Sortek any more time than necessary and all of the Dropships could keep pace.   

Katherine turned off the personal view-screen in her quarters and moved it back into the storage position with great difficulty, she was laying in her bed just like you were supposed to do when executing an extended 2.5g burn.  She was really hungry and could feel the pressure of the thrusters beneath her and grew more uncomfortable as time passed despite the fluid filled mattress displacing her extra 200 pounds.  She watched the timer count down, Six hours until they returned to normal thrust, and then it would be ten hours of 1.2g burn before doing it again, for an average of around 1.6gs.  It would be very uncomfortable but would shave maybe 26 hours off the otherwise week long transit based on the astrogator’s math.  Her own math was not based in physics but she could hold her own with any economist in the Inner Sphere.  It felt strange but being on a combat mission did alleviate all of her concern for the Kroner’s exchange value against the Yen and Eagle or what the Commonwealth Bank of Tharkad’s Director was doing right now. 

She really wished there were viable pirate points she could have used. This was no fun but her task force was too large and the New Avalon system too busy for such a shortcut.  Time was of the essence she didn’t want her little sister held hostage for any longer than she had been already.  If she could have gathered an army earlier she would have but this operation was huge, on the other side of the Inner Sphere, and arguably in enemy territory.

She had too much time to think and the fact is that it was unsafe to do anything else.  She couldn’t even get some sleep although she sure could use it.  Out of sheer boredom she looked around her cabin which was quite spacious being roughly four cubes, although she was rather small compared to some of the crew. The crew quarters were a little less than half the size but they were filled with Clanners.  Humorously they thought the cabins too large even though they were packed in like sardines from her point of view.  Win some lose some, she made a note to never be a passenger aboard a Clan Dropship if what they said was true. 

Her cabin was painted a bluish taupe with built in gunmetal blue lockers marked by gold paint around the seams where her (massively pared down) possessions were stowed.  She looked down over her supine body with momentary concern, her chest had gone flat, she relaxed and chuckled for a moment.  “Very funny girls, we have never gone quite this fast before but you better come back up once this is over, I would really miss you otherwise.  You know we do not do fake.”

Mercifully after six hours the Captain eased the drop-ship back to 1.2g and while her soldiers quickly recovered she was still a little woozy from the TDS and had to take a long moment hanging onto the bar in her room.  She still walked like she was drunk and wearing heels even though she wisely hadn’t any liquor or food before jumping and was wearing a grey and red jumpsuit with deck boots like everyone else.  The common corridors had burnished steel walls with many panels augmented with recessed handholds built in for accessing vital systems.  Each one marked with appropriate symbols that pre-date the Terran Hegemony known to everyone who has ever been in space.  The “ceiling” and “floor” were both grated, made of the same material as the walls, but painted blue and green respectively and you had to climb to get anywhere.

She believed that she could hold down food now, she hated Space, and Space clearly hated her right back.  It didn’t matter how nice the drop-ship was; she was always pissed when underway. Her normal traveling companions gave her a wide berth but these Whites Wolves were not aware of her peculiarities and she snapped at a couple of them which almost led to a few confrontations.  She preferred to remain on Tharkad whenever feasible. “Damn you Peter!  You should be running this operation, you loved space”, she muttered to no one in particular as she headed to the galley.

The Avalanche’s Galley was a third larger than that of a typical Union drop-ship, a side effect of the extra Armored Infantry platoon over the normal Union’s 28 Bay Personnel.  It was a welcome change in her opinion, Katherine grabbed one of the magnetic trays from the serving area.  She had observed standard Lyran Protocol for this operation and made sure that the rations on-board her vessel were top notch even if the cook was not quite up to her standards, a necessary sacrifice for war. What a grand pity that the Clan Warriors should torture themselves with such terrible rations.  Every time she went to Tamar she brought a full K-1 Dropshuttle of premium foodstuffs, it had caused Vlad to develop a sweet tooth.

She received her portion of Eintopf, Saptzle, and Rote Grutz from the galley cook and went to a stainless steel carafe near the end of the serving line retrieving a magnetized cup before filling it with mint tea.  Settling back to the metal table she began to eat, she hadn't spent much time with the White Wolves, or any military unit really, but they were going to need some socialization if they were to be a showcase unit for Clan-Spheroid unification.  Every one of her instinctual rules of etiquette was being broken here, she blamed Sister Jocelyn and Headmistress Sauer for being too good at their jobs.  The Cook Kendra had even asked her how to prepare some of the “exotic” rations she allotted for the vessel, poor girl she had spent almost her whole life under Wolf rule on Tamar.  She knew, but it was still strange to be working in a kitchen; she hadn't done that since she last talked back to Gilda Sauer at Tesseraburg Women's Academy.

She looked around the galley, it could seat twenty comfortably and was filled with a motley mix.  The Ice Hellion Mechwarrior was obvious if you knew what to look for, all the Aerospace Pilots were Wolves, there was a Coyote mixed in with the Wolf Mechwarriors.  The Fenrir “Operators” were some of the best armor crews that Clan Hell's Horses had to offer, apparently Khan Fletcher wanted to thoroughly evaluate the Fenrir Mark II armor for later development into something shaped like a horse. 

She just shrugged her soldiers and humored them.

Clanners were crazy.

[mikecj]

Nicely descriptive

[AlphaMirage]

05/18/3063 Location – New Avalon Nadir Point

Right on time the Merchant Jumpship FCM Victoria Dreams arrived in the New Avalon system. The Mule FCM Old Yarrow detached and burned for the Nadir Station to drop off cargo containers marked for New Avalon and pick up the ones bound for the next leg of its transit.  The station's solar sail was massive, gossamer thin membrane protected by a series of Anti-Fragment lasers to weak to damage anything larger than a small stone.  Three Jump-ships of varying makes were maintaining parking positions while being recharged from the station's batteries.  The Merchant FCM Black Charlie was undergoing repairs in the station's large refit yard and a Condor and Triumph drop-ship were “under the dome” undergoing an overhaul to their drive systems.

12 hours later, Aboard the FCM Old Yarrow

Customs Officer Aaron Toren and his inspection team walked the cargo decks escorted by two squads of VacSuited Infantry from the 4th Huron Heavy Infantry armed with shotguns.  “Sorry for the additional security procedures Captain, things have gotten a little difficult lately.”

Captain LaChapel walked with his load and cargo masters while the customs officials checked the manifest, “I understand Officer, I heard about the Archon's task force but if Corean doesn't get these components the factory is gonna idle for at least a month, customers are gonna get pissed, and they might lose contracts to Earthworks.  The Victoria Dreams is leaving with or without me in four days and I need my containers to take to Torrence or I'll miss my payments.”

“I'm sure you will be docked and depart with plenty of time to make it to your destination Captain.”

The Old Yarrow docked with the Olympus Recharge Station NARC NAVFS-N3 and transferred its cargo containers to the station's expansive pressurized cargo decks.  Robotic cranes sorted the containers according to a vast interconnected network of RFID and bar codes, mag-clamps holding the containers in place to prevent them from drifting in free-fall.  Five other drop-ships engaged in a carefully choreographed dance around it, careful to avoid the plasma tails of each others' torch drives at such a close range.  An Avenger and Leopard CV Drop-ship as well as 3 New Avalon Customs Gunships patrolled the area around the station ensuring nothing slipped the net.

Marshal Sortek had drastically increased security in the wake of the Archon's “Invasion” and the fact that “Traitorous Elements” had seized the worlds of Kathil and Galax and unknown to him gathered near Remagen.  As such a Battalion of the 4th Huron Heavy Infantry plus the station's customs platoon were aboard and only allowed critical shipments in and never aboard the traders' own drop-ships.  Everything was opened up, checked, and sealed before being approved to continue on; and it would be unloaded to one of the three Capitol Battle Stations (Castle Rock, Black Prince, and St George Stations) orbiting New Avalon and checked again before being approved to go ground-side. 

Within a day the Jumbo FCM Avalon Heavy Lift VI was loaded up and a launched from the station with her 10 kilotons of cargo.

6 hours later, Aboard FCM HL6, Deck 6, SV Quadrant

Load-master Darleen Holvin walked with purpose, in her hands she carried a comm-pad that was synced with the containers she sought.  As she neared it the signal increased and finally she found them.  Each one of the six bore the Corean Enterprises logo, getting closer she keyed in a low power radio message, portions of the containers came apart and 24 men exited from the secret doors built into their containers.  One of them, a handsome brown haired man dressed in a gray jumpsuit and speaking with a rolling Tikonov accent stretched and walked up to her. “Sorry to be a bother miss but where's the head,” she pointed and he began walking, looking back briefly at the container, “also I am never traveling coach again.”

05/25/3063 Location – FCM Avalon Heavy Lift VI

Captain Nikolai Vasiliev stood while the remainder of his team sat on folding chairs in the Jumbo's huge cargo bay.  The dull hum of machinery buzzed around him as he stood with one foot on a large hard shelled container. “Alright gentlemen we have a very simple mission, we are going to save a princess.”  One of the Republic commandos chuckled, “Yes it sounded better in my head but this is our contribution to the mission, we are to rescue Yvonne before Katherine jumps in system and ensure her safety during the campaign.  Loki commandos are already in place to disable the Capitols before the task force arrives on planet, but we are going to be the first assets in play.  I trust that everyone had time to get over being stuck in a container with three other chaps for six days.  Call it a team building exercise when you tell your children and comrades at the barracks.” Three commandos laughed at that included Nikolai.

He removed his foot from the container and opened it, inside were 24 laser rifles carefully packed in their own frames. “We didn't get a chance to practice with the new Mauser II system but you are the best commandos in the republic so I trust you can shoot a laser straight.”  He grabbed one of the matte black rifles, pulling the laser blocking goggles on his head down, “This baby right here is top of line Loki tech, don't know where they got it,” he rested the weapon's stock on his hip, “didn't care to ask.  One grenade launcher per squad, everyone else gets the slick version, the battery is in the stock,”  Nik removed the stock plate showing the molded battery, “battery is good for twenty shots.”  He replaced the stock plate, “If you want to know your charge, press right here,” he pressed a button near the safety illuminating a red stripe along the polymer frame which could be seen while looking down the sight, “Every one of you will have three more of these batteries, if you run out the standard plug is in the grip.  Rules of engagement are simple, try to take them out nonlethal if possible but use your judgment.  Katherine will not go easy on us if her sister comes to harm because we failed our mission, so be smart and watch each others' back.”

05/27/3063 00:00 Location – Isle Azul, New Hebrides, New Avalon

The blue-green sea around Isle Azul was calm, storm season had passed and summer would soon be upon the sleepy island.  The three moons were full as they danced across the starry night sky, gentle waves lapped along its wide white sand beaches.  A black suited figure appeared out of the surf and removed the re-breather from his mouth, then another, and more cleared the ocean, quietly dashing across the sands to the cover of the dunes before a Pintel PVC-141 ATV drove by bearing the markings of the 33rd Federation Motorized Infantry.  The gunners scanned the dunes with spotlights panning their heavy machine guns, on the look out for anything suspicious, not finding it they continued on their patrol.

Captain Vasiliev donned his goggles, readied his weapon, and whispered, “Zero Hour”

[mikecj]

I am never letting you book my travel.

A Jumbo?  Cool.

[snakespinner]

Travelling coach 3rd class.
Could not afford to pay for extra's like a toilet.
Alpha Mirage is your RL job a travel agent. :D O0
Nice write up.

[AlphaMirage]

05/27/3063 01:11 Location – Villa Azul, New Hebrides, New Avalon

Princess-Regent Yvonne Steiner-Davion couldn't sleep anymore, she was shaking, this place had become more a prison everyday, they were trying to break her will, she wasn't even sure who they were anymore.  The only people she saw were masked and showed up with guns and a script for her to read, or else.  She resisted at first but they beat her until she did as they asked, now it was just reflex. 

Radio addresses to her loyal and loved Federation citizens that were concerned about her well-being assuring them that she would return when she was ready; that they were never far from her thoughts.  That Bishop Sortek was doing what she asked of him, not a rogue general that had kidnapped her and imprisoned her on a remote island, that likely planned to murder her. 

She couldn't eat either, she eyed the plate of cold food from dinner but refused to touch it despite her hunger.  She was sure they were drugging her, since she had stopped eating the food her thoughts had cleared but rapidly turned back to food; fancy parties at Castle Davion, exquisite state dinners, lunch meetings with important ministers, now all she wanted was something to quiet her growling stomach. 

Six months of near isolation was taking its toll on her body and mind equally, her will was beginning to falter as it became clear just how little the universe cared for her.  All of her friends had abandoned her.  Why weren't they pushing Bishop to release her?  To be allowed to visit?  Maybe they weren't her friends at all, she had grown up with them, trusted them with her heart's desires, and believed it to be true.  Maybe they were just using her, like Katherine said they would. 

When she got out...if she got out

The balcony and windows had been barred and shuttered with metal, the only sign of time was the clock that ticked relentlessly like a metronome.  It's constant click was slowly driving her mad, many times a day she walked up to it and almost broke it to quiet the noise.  She could hear birds sometimes, but most had moved on with their migrations or were driven off by the sounds of construction around her.  Her captors had taken all her books, stereo, everything but a bare chest of clothes, the gaudy colors of this resort's walls mocked her in this now barren room. 

Soon they would have to finish the job or move her to another location, she almost wanted them to finish it.  All it would take is a moment of pain to free her from a lifetime of nightmares.

She heard a faint crash in the hallway but dismissed it, maybe her guards dropped something.  However, she heard the lock turn and froze, whispering to herself, “not again, I can't take it anymore, please go away”

Three camouflaged, armored, and masked men holding pistols at the ready entered, their rifles hung forward from the slings.  One moved with purpose toward the bathroom, he low kicked the door then entering with his pistol up.  A fourth came behind them carrying a duffel bag but his rifle is strapped behind him. 

Yvonne stood up, defiant.  The three men in the room look at her through gray tinted goggles, “If you are going to shoot me at least let me see your face.”

The three men looked at each other apparently confused, the fourth returned to the room weapon down.  The leader carrying the duffel takes his goggles and mask off, “We are here to rescue you Yvonne.”

Yvonne ran and embraced him almost knocking him over he only managed to stay up by crashing into the wall behind him, “Nik you came back.”

“I said I would, Katherine will be arriving at the Zenith point”, he checked his chronometer over Yvonne's shoulder, “in four hours, give or take thirty minutes.”

“Really!?”, Nik covered her mouth and she quieted down

Yvonne let go and Nikolai handed the bag to her, “Really, but lets get off this island alive first.  I need you to change.”  She hesitated looking at the rescue team for a long moment, Nik made a hurry up motion, but she looks at them again, understanding finally developed in the Captain's head, “Gentlemen lets give the lady some space.”

Nikolai's squad left the room and she opened the bag on the bed it was filled with gray combat boots, camouflage uniform, flash goggles, head cover, Ablative/Flak vest with a knife on it, some TRG rations, first aid kit, and a pair of canteens.  She ripped open the rations and chowed down on the nutty and sweet snack bars inside, it was the best thing she had ever tasted.  Yvonne redressed in the uniform and took a moment to collect herself and breath.

She exited her prison into the simple corridor eating a cracker pack from the rations, she was still so hungry but this made it a little better.  One of the commandos adjusted her vest and web gear tightening it in the right places so it wouldn't shift and impede her movement. 
“Yvonne, are you ready to go?  If not tell us right now.  We can bring the way out to you but it will get messier.”
“I'm fine Captain, I can walk.”
“Good, do as I say and stick close, if everything goes according to plan this should be an easy extraction.”
“When does anything ever go according to plan?”
“Princess, I always try for the best and plan for the worse. If we run into more trouble than we can handle take this.”  Nikolai removed his drop leg holster containing a L110 Semi-Auto pistol and magazine carrier handing them to Yvonne who attempted to strap them onto her own legs but not to Nikolai's satisfaction.  He knelt down, adjusting and tightened them which drew looks from the squad, and The Look™ from Yvonne.  “Don't you have more important things to be doing?” 

They turned away and Nikolai was satisfied having confirmed with Yvonne that the rig was comfortable and secure.  He ordered the squad to form up and move on, his rifle at the ready.  Yvonne stayed right on his back, one hand on his armor's carry straps as they moved in the center of the formation.  She tried to stay clear of the FedArms M42B Carbine that also occupied that space as well having been taken from the fallen jump infantry after the commandos dealt with them.  She didn't know how many guards had been staying in the house but there were no bodies, just dark pools that she saw in the red tinted lights attached to the commando's rifles.

As they slowly walked through the manor Yvonne secretly seethed.  If Tancred Sandoval had any balls he would have ordered the DMI's Rabid Foxes or one of MIIO's Covert Ops teams to bust her out and eliminate Bishop Sortek.  Instead he was off world supporting the Capellan and Draconis Marches in their unsanctioned wars against the Combine and Confederation.  That's what she gets for trusting Victor's friends rather than Katherine's agents, she at least got the job done.  I mean DOPPLEGANGER; who thought that was a good idea?

Once the lead commandos neared the exit, one of them whispered to Nikolai “wait here, we'll deal with the sentries”  Three of the squad drew their pistols and screwed on the suppressors, their rifles were put over their shoulders and they held their narrow daggers in the other hand and crept out into the darkness. 

They returned in five minutes, “we're clear now”, the Captain nodded and signaled for them to continue.  The squad regrouped with one of the others and headed out toward the village.

02:07

Yvonne watched as Captain Vasiliev spoke with his subordinate squad leaders, she was happy to be outside again and the stars were beautiful tonight, untainted by big city lights or concealed behind the near constant storms that had whipped the island during her captivity.  All she could make out was that they were going to have to move soon, the elimination of her guards would not go unnoticed much longer.  The village below was dark, only the long pier showed any lights and those were from the NASDF auxiliary ship Blue Harvest and the pair of Sea Skimmers alongside. 

A Karnov was on the Blue Harvest's fantail and a Marten and Ferret were painted in Coast Guard colors on the ground of NASDF Air Station Cliff Key.  She looked through a set of Rangefinder Binoculars and followed three PVC-141s on their patrol routes near the barbed wire fence that formed the perimeter of the base but didn't see any other lights or movement.   

“It's so dark where is everyone?” she asked
Nikolai looked back at her, “Most of the houses are summer rental properties, so they weren't occupied while you were here, Colonel Bareis asked the few full time inhabitants to leave for an extended military exercise.  There is a reinforced company of troops mixed between the 2nd and 33rd on the ground and most of them are aboard the Blue Harvest or at the Air Station.  Problem is...we need to go there.”

[AlphaMirage]

05/27/63 02:28 Location – NASDF Air Station Cliff Key, Isle Azul

Yvonne and three squads of the Tikonov Republic Commandos waited in the palms outside Cliff Key's perimeter, standard AFFC procedure was a 30 meter clearing from the fence-line but there was plenty of tall grass for them to get within 15 meters of the fence.  The gravel ring roads around the facility was worn with tire treads from the 33rd's patrol vehicles but was still in good condition.  Captain Vasiliev's flash goggles were on his forehead as he looked through the rangefinder binoculars.

“Foot patrols are light, they have a gun truck coming once every five minutes, we need to get rid of those sensor towers.”

Nikolai pointed them out to his 3rd squad who took up firing positions.  Yvonne noticed they were wet but didn't know what they were doing while the first two squads busted her out.  She felt better not knowing what was going to happen, or where the 4th squad was.

“Blue squad with me, Green take out those sensors on my mark, Red prep charges to blast that fence.  After the blast Green you move to us we'll cover your approach”  The squad leaders confirmed and the Blue and Red squads crouch walked into the tall grass.  “Yvonne, stay down and stick with me”

Yvonne's legs burned as they approached, her drop leg rig had slipped and was uncomfortable, she was in poor shape and would need to hit the gym after this, and stretch more.  The masked group stayed low and moved slow making as little disruption as possible as they threaded their way through the clumps of rough grass. 

Nikolai called for a stop and dropped prone, he whispered, “Yvonne draw your gun now, things are about to explode, watch my back and keep up we'll get through this fine.”  She did so nervously, the last time she had fired a gun was with Nik nearly a year ago, he was amazed that The Guards hadn't taught her how to defend herself, afraid she was to delicate.  “I know you're nervous but keep that weapon toward the bad guys and your eyes open.”

Nikolai signaled to his team to ready their weapons, “when the next Pintel comes by take it out”, the squad was ready to pounce.  “green mark”, six invisible laser beams disabled the three sensor towers overloading their optics with light focused into a deadly lance of energy.  Everyone wearing the flash goggles saw the targeting strobe as an orange flash reflecting off the tower.  “right on target, green move up”

A Pintel from the 33rd Motorized approached slowly its large off-road tires crushed gravel beneath them, the searchlight and machine gun panned across the grass.  As it neared the grass moved as muffled bursts from the commando's carbines tore into the lightly protected troopers, as the riders crumbled, and the ATV lost control and rolled into the berm that protected the fence from charging motor vehicles.  Thirteen individuals rose up out of the grass, six rushed forward and primed satchel charges at the base of the fence.  The other seven took cover on the other side of the berm and watched for more signs of movement and lights.

Six more ran through the grass toward them, their rifles up and ready to fight, stealth was no longer needed now they needed speed.  An alarm blared as the central security office realized someone had disabled their sensor masts.  “Right on time.  Everyone go loud!”

Yvonne laid prone behind the berm with the other commandos, Nik covered her as the satchel charges went off and blasted the fence to pieces, the pressure wave rolled over and deafened her.  Debris fell down around them and she locked up, paralyzed in fear.  Nikolai stood and swung his laser rifle around to fire over the berm, holding the weapon steady before releasing a lethal stream of invisible light somewhere downrange.  She turned and looked up, he was yelling something at her, a moment passed before she was pulled to her feet.  The ringing in her ears stopped and was surrounded by the crack of gun fire around her, “We have to move Yvonne!  Keep up!”

One of the squaddies pushed the body of the gunner out of the Pintel and fired its machine gun at the approaching vehicles, she could feel the air around her and saw tracers streak out across the night sky.  Illumination rounds were fired from a mortar nearby, the base lit by a pale white light as vehicles and men began stirring to deal with the intruders.

The three squads moved constantly firing at their attackers in single fire with both suppressed rifles and their lasers whose barrels steamed.  Yvonne could see the orange targeting strobes through her glasses as the commandos held the trigger before releasing it and sending the laser downrange into human flesh and metal.  Taken by surprise the FedCom troops were unable to achieve a solid defense but began to rally and solidify their positions forcing the commando assault to slow.

Blue squad was pinned down in a small block structure by a pill box where a light machine from the 2nd Jump was firing upon them.  Every member of the squad had been hit in the vest, by glancing shots, or shrapnel so far, even Yvonne was bleeding where shards of stone had cut her.  Nik shouted, “Sergei deal with that gun,” the grenadier opened his launcher and fed a TBAM munition into it.  He cleared the corner firing the Thermobaric grenade close enough to silence the gun.

“Status Orange Squad”, Yvonne heard something in Russian in Nik's earpiece which she couldn't translate.  She still had one hand on Nik's armor strap the other holding her pistol watching his back.

“All Squads move to the Marten now!  Striker and Toads incoming!”

The three independent squads moved throughout the base, taking cover behind trucks and mobile sheds crashing through buildings. Yvonne watched over her shoulder as two squads of Elementals in FedSuns colors crashed through and leaped over the buildings.  Vehicles and other objects were crushed under their bulk or leaving heavy boot prints in the asphalt.  She heard the a volley of missiles being launched from the toads and heard screams of pain from Green Squad. Flechette darts whistled around her as the Striker indirectly fired LRMs at them arcing them over the base's support buildings.

Nik took one in his right shoulder, she felt something hit her back but no penetration, she was close enough to him that her forearm also avoided harm. “Chert poberi!  Chertov FedKrysa!” he stumbled, his rifle dropped from his hand, but was still held by the sling.  He reached back with his left hand and pulled the dart out of his arm. 

Half the squad was hit but still mobile, “Start the chopper Ivan!”

However Red Squad had been mostly incapacitated by the attack and were unable to continue on.  Nikolai slowed as he came upon the wounded men, “prodolzhay Kapitan, my ub'yem etikh zhab”

Yvonne was barely able to continue, even Captain Vasiliev was flagging after having run so far, they still kept moving.  She heard a large explosion behind him as the Heavy Weapons squad engaged the Toads, the remaining injured Blue Squaddies turned the corner to see the Marten's blades coming up to speed with Orange squad positioned to provide cover fire for their extraction. 

Yvonne almost tripped on the bodies of FedCom soldiers, most of whom were unarmored to reach the helipad, but she kept up.  Without turning the Republic commandos tossed a thermate grenade into the Ferret's cockpit and fell back.  Another squad of Guards turned and were immediately engaged while Orange squad worked their way back to the deck of the Coast Guard Marten.  The Chopper took off and gained elevation as the torn up Elementals attempted to launch their second volley of SRMs at the fleeing vehicle but they fell short.

As they wheeled around the island Yvonne saw the pier explode and the emergency lights of the Sea Skimmers and Blue Harvest snap on.  Orange squad fully boarded the aircraft and closed the bay doors behind them sealing the Marten up while it veered SSW.  The pilot kicked the narrow chopper into high gear and flew dangerously close to the water.

“What if they scramble fighters to shoot us down?” Nikolai had removed his armor and cut away the uniform near his injury pulling the sleeve off and exposing his upper arm while Vilen, the platoon medic, bandaged the injury. 

“Nearest Air Base is 600 kilometers away, their best time was 20 minutes according to records.  They will scramble the heavy stuff first and wait on the light stuff, we can disappear before they find us.”

Vilen checked her over, “Princess, you are very lucky.” 
“I don't feel lucky.”  He removed her armor and showed her the dozen flechettes embedded in it. 
“Trust me, you are lucky.” 

Princess-Regent Yvonne Steiner-Davion went pale and felt like the world dropped out from under her.  Vilen snapped his fingers as he watched it take effect

“She's going into shock, Dmitry grab a blanket and help me put her down.”

[mikecj]

nicely written!

[AlphaMirage]

05/27/63 06:00 Location - Castle Davion, New Avalon

Prince's Champion Marshal Bishop Sortek stands behind the podium outside Castle Davion, his Atlas behind him, the Commonwealth Press Corps in front. 

“Citizens of New Avalon and the Federated Commonwealth, I have grave news to deliver this day. 

Early this morning a group of Republican Guard Commandos kidnapped Princess Yvonne from her residence in the New Hebrides.  These commandos killed her protectors and escaped with her on a Coast Guard Helicopter, I have put every man I can in the field to find and rescue her.  If you see her please report it immediately and you will be rewarded.

Additionally Archon Katherine Steiner has come to New Avalon at the head of an invasion fleet of Lyran, Tikonov, and traitorous Commonwealth troops.  She has already seized the jump points and her army has taken control of the recharge stations and merchant jumpers.  No doubt she seeks to usurp the Sunburst Throne just as she did the Archon's from our beloved Victor.  She now burns toward the planet at high speed eager to bring war to her home-world so that she may continue her illegitimate reign of terror.

The entire Guards Brigade stands with me, we will not allow the Federated Commonwealth to be seized by someone who so callously handles her own nation.  Surely this is her final act of collusion in a long chain of Anti-Commonwealth actions that reveal her true motivation, Total Domination.”

Elsewhere on New Avalon

Yvonne woke to a snap of a fire, she was surprised to find that she was trapped in a sleeping bag, and paniced while fumbling with the zipper.  After working her way out of the bag she looked down and saw that the clothes from last night were in tatters and her legs were bandaged.  Every muscle in her body felt like it was on fire and she gritted her teeth while standing, walking around to reenergize the stiff muscles. 

The camp looked abandoned, there was another sleeping bag on the other side of the fire, and a GM Outrider truck was backed into the glade which was surrounded by trees.  It was early morning but she didn't know what time it was or how long she had been out. She was thirsty and saw a small water cooler lashed onto the truck's tailgate, she grabbed a cup from the attached holder, and as she poured the water into the cup was reminiscing of playing Field Hockey for Avalon City Girl's School. 

Lost in her daydream she didn't hear the man walking out of the woods until he was on the other side of the truck. “Morning Sleeping Beauty,” she snapped out of it and saw Nikolai but to late to not throw water on him.  Horrified she put a hand to her mouth, “I'm sorry Nik,” he grabbed a towel out of the truck bed and began patting the wet spot out of his clothes.  He wasn't wearing the camouflage uniform from last night having changed into a gray shirt and hat, green jacket, blue jeans, and brown work boots, a pair of sunglasses hung from his shirt pocket. 

He tossed the towel back into the truck bed, “No problem Yvonne, sorry to surprise you”
“Where are we?”
“Around twenty kilometers east of Copper Gulch, Rostock”
She put her hand on her forehead, “Rostock!?  How long was I out?”
“About seven hours, it's nearly ten now”
“Where's everyone else?”
“They are joining the Loki teams on-planet and getting ready to go again.”
“I'm sorry about the others”
“I know, I didn't think the Striker would get out that quickly.  They knew the risks, but I thought I could get them all out, that we would be fast enough.”

He grabbed a pink duffel bag from the truck bed, “These are yours, get changed and drop the camo in the pit on the other side of the truck.”
“I don't think any man has brought me so many outfits.  Are you sure you aren't just using me like a dress up doll?”
“One of Katherine's agents brought them, you apparently like her choices.  I just hope she got the right size.”
Taking the duffel she walked to the other side of the truck, “I'm sure she did”

Yvonne changed and walked back to the fire wearing a blue shirt, gray pants, brown boots and jacket, with two jars of hair dye in her hand.  “What is this for!?”

Nikolai had a cast iron skillet in the fire cooking some bacon, “Sorry Yvonne, but you are gonna need a dye job.  Your red hair is to distinctive, people will know its you.  Your choice, blonde or brunette?”
“But I love my red hair! I've never dyed it before, dad used to call me Sunshine”
“That's cute.  Who would have thought First Prince Hanse Davion would come up with such clever nicknames for his daughters.  Way better than Vic, Pete, or Arty.”
She stomped, “Well I can't do it out here!  I don't even have a mirror.”
“There's a farmhouse not far from here with a proper bathroom, so think about it. I will help you do it right, but first how do you like your eggs?” 

[shadowdancer]

Keep it up! Great story.

[David CGB]

Keep it up! Great story.

much agreed

[mikecj]

Sunshine  ^-^

[AlphaMirage]

5/27/63 17:13 Location – River Daring Region, Rostock

The now showered and brunette Yvonne sat in the passenger seat of the grimy Red GM Outrider truck as it bounced along the gravel farm roads.  She was still working through last night’s events with the help of Nikolai, distantly watching the fields of grain and grass while idly waving at passing motorists.  Her arms were crossed and she had sullen look, her mood darkened by the impending rain storm and hours on the poor roads. 
“We’ll go over it again.  What is your name?”
“Melanie Amber Woods of Crossroads Prairie, Age 24, Teacher at Little Sprouts Preschool, I have a little brother named Matt, who is a bother, and my parents are Mary and Richard, Birthday May 23rd”
“Good now who am I, Melanie?”
“Lars Henry Anderson of Temperance Forge, Age 29, Licensed Freelance Mechanic, you have an older sister named Susan whose truck we borrowed and your parent’s names are Wilma and Donovan, Birthday July 9th”
“And how did we meet?”
“The Bonnie Flats Blaze (Firefly/Lalapolooza with a 10 meter bonfire) last year, neither of us remember the exact time but I was in your truck that morning and we started a relationship”
“And where are we going?”
This was the fifth time he had gone over it and Melanie (Yvonne) was getting tired of the repetition, “Back to Crossroads Prairie after spending the week camping in the East Queensbury Royal Park and prior to that we visited the Gorge again.”  She pushed away a pile of Gaveston’s Gorge and East Queensbury Maps and Brochures that were part of their legend.
“Good, now there is something special in the glove box that will seal the deal and maybe lighten your mood, go ahead and grab it”
She reached into the truck’s glove box and a small ring case fell out and onto the plastic floor covers.  Leaning down she grabbed it, eager to see what was inside, gasping when as she saw an engagement ring sitting on the pillow.
“Nik!”
“There’s no Nik here Melanie”
Correcting herself, “Lars, it’s beautiful”
In an exaggerated Southlander (Australia/Texas) accent compared to the normal one he had adopted for this Lars persona  “I had to put in some extra hours at the shop to pay for it darlin’, but it’s all yours now”
She put the ring on her finger, “For real sweetheart”
“For now honey”
“You’re terrible at this”
“No Princess, acting is something I’m really good at, seems like you did pretty good for yourself for a college dropout”
“I don’t even regret that, I hold it as a badge of honor, it was the first thing I ever did for myself.  I was always the dutiful daughter and sister, I had to draw a line somewhere.  Who did my brother think he was to stop me from transferring to Tharkad by decree no less!?  Where was he for the first twelve years of my life, when it was only Hanse, Arthur, and Katherine?”
“You shouldn’t speak ill of the dead.  I would be appalled if my brother spoke of me that way were I to die.”
“You have a brother?”
“I do, my commission and salary go to paying his way through medical school and caring for his family.  He just started his residency at Tikograd General as a Surgeon and my nephew is turning two in three months.”
“Your brother is a Surgeon?’
“Dah, he refused to take my money initially but I told him at least one of us should be getting their hands bloody for the right reasons.”
“All your money? but you buy things all the time”
“Yeah with the Agency’s money, I don’t actually own most of the things I possess.  I like to travel light, all my valuable things are kept here (points to his head) and here (hand over heart).  It's difficult but I try not to be sentimental because I have to burn or blow up most things after using them.  I never talk about my brother since we don’t share the same last name anymore to protect him and his family if I were to be compromised.”
“Your brother is a surgeon, did you always want to be a spy?”
“No, Artist”
“You can’t be serious, you wanted to be an artist?”
“Yes, in fact I studied at a Conservatory.  Even was the Rat King for two years.”
“A Ballerina!? How does an Artist become a Spy?”
“Well if you think about it both are professions that reward careful experimentation and observation, creativity, clarity of focus, grounded in fundamentals, precision, and attention to detail.  I even got the Tinkerers at TNGB to make me a sniper rifle that can fit into an easel assembly.”
“What? Why?”
“It's so boring being a sniper, but the view is incredible, no one gets the kind of access I do.  Katherine even has one of my originals on her personal drop-ship.  I call it Towers of Tatyana, I painted it after I killed somebody that was trying to kill her.  I think it was a SAFE Agent, but he might have been ISF or ROM, hard to tell nowadays not that it was easy before.”

The truck pulled into the Pine Creek Motel of Pine Creek, a small town along one of the tributaries of the River Daring.  The sky was dark with the impending rainstorm and the “couple” rushed to unload everything into their room before it got rained on.

[AlphaMirage]

Author Fore-ward – Adult themes and Coarse Language next two chapters

5/27/63 23:22 Location – Pine Creek Motel, Pine Creek, Rostock

Melanie (Yvonne) and Lars (Nikolai) are both under the covers (taken from the car, motel sheets are nasty), a slight glow from the parking lot lights and the pounding of rain crept through the windows
“So you will sleep with me but not “sleep” with me”
“Right, I’m working”
She propped herself up on the pillow, wrapping a leg around his, and pushed her warm body into him, her other hand holding his jaw rather than elsewhere, “You never said no before”
“I wasn’t working those other times”
“Not even if I ordered you to”
“Not even if you ordered me to, my orders from Katherine are to ensure your safety, to do that I need a clear mind and you’re still dealing with your time in captivity and last night.  You will have to wait till she gets here.”
Seductively she whispered, “But that’s so long…” her hand drifted down his chest before he grabbed it and held it in place, her tone shifted to anger and disappointment, “That’s not fair!  I’ve been imprisoned in a room for six months by myself thinking at any moment I might die.  I’m lucky to be alive, you rescued me, smuggled me across the planet, and then gave me an engagement ring.  Why are you denying me this?”
“You can wait another week, now go to sleep.”
“I’m going to make this the longest week of your life unless you give in.”
“Princess, I’ve completely ignored professional teams of Magistracy agents, respectfully you are not that good but are welcome to try”

The Next Morning

The “couple” were walking from the motel to the restaurant down the street, Melanie was particularly flirty attempting to get a rise out of Lars to no avail.  They walked past battered but well-tended to ranchers, each had a truck or off-road car in the driveway. 

No one else walked through the gray morning rain but they passed a general store and the storekeeper greeted them warmly asking if he could of help. “We'll stop by after breakfast I might need some things,” said Lars in a warm country drawl as he continued with one arm around Melanie, the other holding the umbrella.  The two were looking every bit the newly engaged couple they were supposed to be.

As they walked into the small but homey restaurant they could smell fresh bread and coffee, and saw one the locals up by the bar.  Lars put the umbrella in a bag and they both shed their damp coats before sitting down at one of the red vinyl booths removing the laminated menus from their holders.

“How’s your arm Lars?”
“Its fine, only a flesh wound, I won’t be so careless next time.  How are you holding up?”
“Still stiff but glad to be out of the woods.”  She looked over the menu, “Ooh that looks yummy”
“Go ahead order up, I’m glad you are in good condition but you lost a lot of weight.”
“That’s sweet that you care so much and noticed, waffles with ice cream and caramel sauce it is.”

After finishing their breakfast the two departed the restaurant, “So what are we doing today honey?”
“I don’t think we will be traveling dear, this storm is due to get worse before tonight. We’ll have to think of something to do inside.”
“I have a few ideas.”
“I’m sure you do, I saw you watching the premium “package” last night with the headphones on”
“I was,” she leaned it close and gave him a nibble on the ear, “and it gave me some ideas.”
“They will have to remain so for now.”
“Well then I have a new idea that will still give us most of what we want.”
“I’m open to suggestions Melanie.”
“I want you to paint a picture of me,” leaning in with a seductive whisper, “naked”
“As you desire my dear, let’s stop by the store and see if he can’t get us some supplies.  I did bring some things with me as part of our vacation kit.”
“That easy”
“Yes that easy”
“This won’t be nearly as much fun then”

Lars and Melanie handed the storekeeper a list of goods to see if he couldn’t get them trucked in with his regular delivery today.  He could and they were due to arrive within a few hours.

They returned to the motel room and Nikolai adjusted lighting and did several artist’s tricks to disguise the otherwise uninteresting interior of their room.  He manipulated Yvonne into a pose that flattered her and began to sketch.

“Did you ever paint my sister like this Nikolai?”
“I did, several years ago, I don’t know what she did with it but it was quite the enjoyable week.  I also did her official court portrait though that was much less entertaining, the unveiling ball was spectacular though, no planets throws parties like Tharkad.”
“Did you sleep with her too?”
“No, your sister is only a tease and not a tart like the tabloids say.  I’m fairly certain that is a purposeful move.  She doesn’t trust easily, a beneficial adaptation considering recent history”
“So she hasn’t slept with every Lyran with a net worth over 10 billion Kroner”
“As far as I know many men have shared her arm but never her bed or heart.  I think she never got over Solaris though she would never admit it.”
“That’s so sad, she was so happy with Galen”
“Yes he was quite the keeper from what I’ve heard, I don’t think your brother got over his loss either.  Galen apparently kept him on the straight and narrow, instead he spent more time inside the Kurita court and I’m afraid he wasn’t able to reconcile himself before it was too late.”
“I trust you”
“I know and I would never do anything to endanger that relationship.  I’ve abused too many people’s trust, a necessary part of the business unfortunately.  You go numb to it eventually and learn to cope with the fact that you are getting people who trust you to put themselves in danger on your behalf, with no real concern for their safety unless it is required by the mission.”

Finishing up with a well composed but unfinished piece they went back to eat dinner before turning in for the night.  Yvonne didn’t continue her pleading but instead went to sleep peacefully.

23:28

Nikolai woke with a start Yvonne was gone from his side and the room, her side of the bed was still warm so she had left recently, he ran outside and saw the truck still there.  He wasn’t dead so clearly they hadn’t been discovered, if he was going to execute it he would have just shot them together to show just how corrupted the so pure and innocent Princess Yvonne had become by agents of her evil sister.  That meant there were only a few places she could be and really in a town like this there were only two establishments open at this hour and he was certain she wasn’t hungry. 

He put on his weighted gloves and concealed a knife behind his back, opening the secret compartment built into the truck and pulled out a badge holder. 

Set he faced Rusty’s Roadhouse, lit in all its neon glamour and walked off toward it through the rain.

“Keep laughing Dmitri, if you get me killed I’m going to find you in hell and kill your Mask double ass all over again.” 

[AlphaMirage]

05/28/63 00:01 Location - Rusty's Roadhouse, Pine Creek, Rostock

Nikolai (Lars) strode between rows of trucks and cars toward the neon lit roadhouse, a line of people waited to get in under the awning, two doorman were busy handling the crowd.  He walked up to one of them who put his hand out.  “Is your name on the list?  Cause if it ain't, you gonna have to get in line mate.”

“I think you should add my name to that list.  Mate.” he flashed the badge of a Federation Marshal, the doorman blanched “Whoah! I assure you that everything that happens in this establishment is lawful.”

“I'm sure it is but I have a key witness for a trial that has escaped my custody and gone here.  So I'd appreciate you not getting in my way.”

He un-clipped the velvet rope, “Go right in Marshal, I don't want any trouble”

“Much obliged.  Neither do I.”

As he walked through the ropes someone from the line jeered at him, the door was open and the honky tonk was playing.  The Roadhouse was crowded, there was a band playing on stage and it was ladies' night so there was a karaoke bar set up where some drunk woman screeched the hits.  Lars worked his way through the crowd to the bar and ordered two shots of whiskey.  The barmaid leaned over the bar showing off her cleavage accentuated by the tied top she on.  “Who's the other one for handsome?” 
“They are both for me but I'll take one now and come back for the other.” 
“We don't hold drinks here fella”
“This won’t take long, mind if use the bar to get a look over the crowd?”
“Sure gotta polish it anyway but your pants are gonna get dirty.”  Nik put a knee on the bar and looked over the crowd, he couldn't see Yvonne and mildly regretted making her dye her hair, would've made his job easier. 
A young and pretty women in a slinky dress sidled up to him, “Looking for someone? or giving us a look?”
She playfully patted his butt, “I'm looking for my fiancée Miss”
“Jackie.  How'd you lose your girl handsome? Might have to handcuff her if she keeps running.  Maybe that's what she wants.  I've been here a little while perhaps I've seen her.”
 
“That'd be mighty helpful,” Nik gave her the description and Jackie pointed where she'd seen her last.  Before he was able to clear the bar though she wrote her number on a napkin and put it into his back pocket taking a moment to get a good feel, she got real close, kissed him on the cheek, and whispered, “Girl on Girl's not cheating handsome.  Why don't you give me a call later tonight?  We can put on a show for ya.”

Lars pushed his way through the crowd till he saw a very drunk Melanie (Yvonne) on the karaoke stage surrounded by obvious indimech jocks.  She noticed him, “That guy right there gave me a ring not two days ago”, 'hick, “and he won't even touch me now.”
A tall wiry man and portly smaller man looked Lars' way, “Oh that's just a sin, pretty little thing like you not getting loved tender...”
“or rough, however you like it”
Lars put his hands out, not expecting them to stop of course, “I don't want any trouble fellas, just trying to take my drunk fiancée back to the room.”
“What if she wants to stay with us?”
“Well then we are gonna have trouble”
“Damn right, so last chance mate back off.  We'll return her in good condition, promise”
“Trouble it is then, viens me piquer”

The portly fellow was closer and attempted a clumsy haymaker, Lars kicked the inside of the man's knee before stricking him right across the temple with a right cross which produced an audible crack from the follow through.  He dropped and crashed to the floor, the other man attempted to put Lars in a choke but he crouched grabbing the man's armpit and throwing him over his shoulder onto a table.  Finishing him off with an elbow strike to the solar plexis that broke the rickety wooden table.

The band stopped and crowd widened around him, the patrons surprised by the sudden and violent conclusion of the fight.
Lars has his hands out, palms up facing the crowd, “Anyone else want trouble?”

“Good.  Melanie get your ass down here or I'll pull you down and carry you out.”
“No! I don't want to go with you! You're no fun”
Lars grabbed Melanie and put her over his shoulder, “We are gonna have a talk 'bout this tomorrow.”
The crowd parted for the two of them as Melanie ineffectively banged against his back whining about what a jerk he was.  Lars walked back to the bar and took his second shot seeing Jackie again who blew a kiss toward Melanie as she was being carried away.  “Can we take her with us? She's pretty”
“No”
“You don't let me do anything!”

The two of them left the establishment, “Let me down, I can walk”
“No, you'll try to run and might hurt yourself.”
“You are darn right I'll try to run, I don't want to be 'round you anymore. 'hick”
“Nah you're just a mean drunk, if you run again, I'll cuff you to the bedpost.”
“promise”

The next morning, Nikolai walks into the bathroom and undoes the handcuff around her ankle that tied her to the bath's handle.  He looks over to her sleeping in the tub and smirks before turning the shower on cold, “Wake up Sunshine” and she wakes up in a start her sopping wet brown hair clinging to her face. 
“How dare you! I'm a royal!”
“You're royal something now get ready I'm hungry”

One and half hours later

“So what did we learn last night Melanie?”
Melanie's (Yvonne) had her sunglasses on and a tray of steaming hot poutine in front of her. “I regret nothing, this is all your fault anyway”
“Now that's the wrong attitude dear, this doesn't have to be unpleasant.”
“Fine.  Can we go camping for real, near the Gorge?”
“Sure we can, was that so difficult”

After finishing breakfast the two walked back and repacked the truck
“Can we share the same sleeping bag?”
“No”
“What if I get cold?”
“Blankets”
“What if it's so hot that I have to take off all my clothes?”
“Sunblock”
“Will you help put it on my back?”
“I will. Princess if you are going to be like this the rest of the week, I'll tender my resignation to Katherine personally once she gets here and you won't get any so stop being a bother.”

[AlphaMirage]

6/2/3063 02:39 Location – Capitol Battle Station Castle Rock, in orbit above New Avalon

Captain Tamara Horns looked out over New Avalon through one of the view screens as she floating in free-fall.  Her command center was beginning to go into lock-down as the Archon's invasion force neared, task lighting bathed the ten bridge officers in a blood red light.
“Captain we have a problem in engineering”  She pushed herself over to the engineers' console hanging onto the low profile handle above it.
“What is it Ensign?”
“Telemetry's dead”
“Dispatch a team to investigate”
“Already tried, the channel is dead.”
“Did you try the other channel?”
“I did also dead”
Suddenly all the screens went dark and rebooted before being rapidly filled with red,
“Captain!  We just lost all comms.  Attempted to reestablish connection to the Den.”
“Hanger doors are jammed too, trying to bypass, cascading failures through multiple subsystems”
“Weapons are offline, all emergency bulkheads sealing in hull failure mode, life support still active”
“What the hell is happening!?”

The orbiting beauty of New Avalon on the view-screen was replaced by a pair of intertwined snakes and a synthesized voice came in over the Intercom,

“Attention all hands.  Loki has the Conn”

04:17 Location – Fox's Den

Prince's Champion and Marshal Bishop Sortek had been woken from his sleep and immediately rushed to the Fox's Den under heavy guard.  General Wendy Adams and the other chief officers of the Guards and MIIO were present in the briefing room, “Marshal, all three of the Capitols have been neutralized and are now occupied by Lyran forces.  Six ground-side long range RADARs have been sabotaged poking a huge hole in the surveillance net.  We don't know where they are going to set down or where their warships are located.  They have the high ground sir.”

“Only physically, we have the moral high ground, the people are with us.  Archon Katherine Steiner will not sit upon the Sunburst Throne as long as I live, even if her father is Hanse Davion.”
“Sir the Archon is on the long range.”
“Patch her through”

Archon Katherine Steiner with a white backdrop behind her wearing a blue and gold jumpsuit with no insignia.
“Marshal Sortek I am calling you from aboard the Yggdrasil, the mightiest warship made by the Inner Sphere and it orbits New Avalon waiting to prove itself worthy of that title. 

I know not what my brother was thinking when he made you his Champion but he was clearly mistaken to trust you with that responsibility.  He would surely be rolling over in his grave to see New Avalon and the Guards become what they are now. 

I have come back to reclaim my birthright.  You will have one last chance to step aside, or I will bury you.”

“White Witch, You will sit upon the Sunburst Throne over my dead body, you have proven yourself unworthy of the honor.  You are a disappointment to the entire Davion Clan.”

“Very well Marshal, you will see just how Davion I can be once I liberate New Avalon from your treacherous Guards Brigade.  General officers of the Guards, I can be a benevolent ruler, I will not hold anything you do in this battle against you in the future, but you are deluded fools who oppose the rightful Princess-Regent.”

“And what did you do with our Princess, Katherine will she mysteriously show up as a casualty of the ensuing battle so that you may complete the removal of your family as a challenge to your power?”

“You will just have to see Bishop, Archon-Princess Katherine Steiner-Davion out.”

Aboard the LAS Yggdrasil

Katherine toggled the magnetic boots that held her to the floor and pushed off, she worked her way through the corridor grabbing handholds and reached the Ygg's Strategic Command Center.  Admiral Kristof von Rugen stood in the center his long white ponytail floating behind him surrounded by displays showing the status of the hundreds of dropships that the task force consisted of.

“Admiral begin the drops, tell the Hanse Davion to do the same”