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Black Stars Temporary Base
New Hedon, Herotitus
July, 3078

Zi Long frowned slightly as he counted the number of returning mercenaries. Less than a quarter of the original numbers had returned. In fact, about the only people left were Harding and his strange Clan Fire Mandrill companion, the muscle bound Marcus and the rather stuck up looking Leo Har-Lavi. Them, and David Ten-Bears of course. The newly promoted CO of the Black Stars sighed. Guess I can't blame 'em. At least there's still SOME people still interested.

Straightening, Zi Long stood again and what was essentially the newly reconstituted Black Stars gathered themselves before him. "Gentlemen, thank you for keeping faith with the Black Stars. Now that we've got prissies and ninnies out of the way, let me start with a status update." Zi Long tapped lightly on a control and the lights to the room dimmed. A volo protection glimmered into life and hang just a meter away to his side. The view zoomed in towards the center of the known universe, and settled onto the world known as the cradle of humanity - Terra.

"Currently, the Black Stars are effectively down to less than a company. The good thing is, we actually have a DropShip - an upgraded Union Class no less. Where we got that piece of hardware from is not important - what IS important is that I am currently making arrangements to sell it off so that we can lay our hands on hardware more... suitable of our status and our hotchpotch setup." Zi Long grinned as the various sub-unit commanders nodded in understanding. Slapped together from all over the place, with all sorts of equipment, the new Black Stars would be similar to the older one at least in that sense.

"Regardless of whether my attempt is successful, I have in the meantime shortlisted several contracts offered through the Department of Mercenary Management based on Terra." Zi Long stopped as several murmurs drifted across the room. He raised his hand after a while to call for silence. "Please, I know quite a number of you have had bad run-ins with parties from the Spheroids. I've done quite extensive research, and the DMM is supposed to be the best organization out there in regards to taking care of merc units, be it spanking outfits like the Lexington Battle Group, or small little units like ours."

"I'll have to be honest with you people. For the past couple of years, contracts we came across here on Herotitus had been... of sub par nature. This was one of the main apparent reasons for the destruction of the main Black Stars, and why we're moving under a more... legitimate management. I'm sure we'll all appreciate the ability to work without the need to constantly check our sixes." Zi Long grinned. "Not that it would stop us from doing so."

Another tap on the controls saw the map dissolve to be replaced by three colour coded serial numbers. The first was jade green, the second imperial purple, and the last sunflower yellow. Zi Long tapped onto the first set of serial numbers. The other two sets faded into the background as the green numbers grew, and a rotating planet floated next to Zi Long.

"The first contract is one offered by the Capellan Confederation, on their system of Necromo. It is a high tech and heavily industrialized world that houses a self-contained DropShip repair facility. Its normal garrison, the 2nd Capellan Defense Force, has been scheduled to undergoing a staged refit and reorganization - meaning that they will be inoperative and under strength while they retrain and receive new equipment. Though the garrison commander is confident in his ability to protect Necromo in the event of an attack from our neighbours, the most exalted Chancellor is not one to take risks and seeks to bolster his forces with mercenary troops to ensure that his latest project in Necromo is successfully completed." Zi Long scratched his cheek. "If we choose this contract, we are to protect the Necromo Ship Yards - yet we are NOT to enter the facilities. This will be a half year long Security Duty Contract, where operational elements of the 2nd Capellan Defense Force and 2nd Macarron's Armored Cavalry will be in theatre as well. Whichever merc command that picks up this contract will serve under an integrated command that would be headed by the highest ranking Cappy officer."

Zi Long gave the others some time to take down whatever notes they want and observe provided intel as they flashed across the screen. Satisfied that most already took down what they needed, he scrolled to the next contract.

"Next, we have Registered Contract: FW-SD-02-03. While it’s a contract in the Free World League, it is NOT offered directly by their government. An unremarkable world, Fujidera would not even be of any importance if not for the fact that its three-quarters of a billion inhabitants work for Sumitomo Group; a massive industrial zaibatsu that owns most of the planets production. Those of you who are half awake will have noticed the similarity between Fujidera and Necromo." Zi Long smiled as he tried to make out any nodding heads in the semi-darkness - nodding heads that hinted at sleeping audiences.



"The basic contract states that we are to act as personal body guards for royal dignitaries visiting the world. Our own sources managed to find out, with a VERY high degree of accuracy that the Grand Duke Christopher Halas of Oriente has been scheduled to visit the world for a couple of months to make the final preparation for Fujidera to become a powerhouse in construction of orbital defense satellites to be used throughout the Duchy to discourage adventurism by any of the factions in the Civil War." Zi Long noted. "Of course, if we can discover that information, so can other competent terrorist and factions opposing the Duke. Our objectives therefore, are to work with a company of Oriente Hussars to protect the Grand Duke during his tour of the factories, while helping out to enforce the communications blackout of the planet during the Grand Duke's tour."

"No supplementary contract is offered for this job, so we have to do things right in the main contract itself. Our employer is actually a private company, so we might have more leeway to interpret the contract. Basically, we'd be glorified bodyguards to the Grand Duke Christopher Halas. Due to the nature of the job, I expect LOADS of 'out of 'Mech' actions, though we might need to purchase a couple of tanks to rumble around the planet - something that I've been putting off as I await some... terms and conditions from DMM itself."

Again, Zi Long paused while information were noted, and thoughts collected.

"And finally, we have what I believe will be the most challenging contract available to us." The details of the final contract was brought to the fore.



"Those of you who did NOT have your head in a bottle in the last couple of months will have heard that Clan Star Adders have struck at the backside of the Federated Suns. While the AFFS has taken steps to blunt and extinguish that threat, the SLDF is concerned that the Adders might take over a depot they have nearby. With SLDF armies deployed along the old clan border it will take almost a year before they can redeploy sufficient forces against the Star Adders." The Chinese man took a drink of water from a glass in front of him.

"The SLDF is hiring mercenaries to work in their stead and this contract is the first of many by the Department of the Quartermaster to shore up the defenses of the depot. Whoever undertakes this contract will link up with 'Faha Regiment' 1st Regiment of the 2nd Brigade of the 41st SLDF Division under Lieutenant General Keith Yates to begin preparation for a raid against Clan Star Adder held planets to relieve pressure on AFFS and supporting mercenaries. From what was disclosed, the 3rd NAIS Cadre is the only AFFS unit on planet." The Black Stars officers again tried to pierce the darkness to judge the mood of his sub-unit commanders in vain. "Needless to say, while this contract offers excellent pay and generous salvage rights, it will pit us against the Clans. I personally do not think we are in any condition to do so. This will involve more 'conventional' actions."

Zi Long frowned grimaced slightly. "Like I said, I don't really like it because frankly speaking, we don't have the hardware to do it. However, it offers a supplementary Minor Raid contract, most likely against the Adders. Action against the Clans is good for possible salvage - if we have the means to do it. Which at the end of the day, I don't think we do at the moment. But then, if we can hide choose our fights and make sure we stay close to the SLDF, we MIGHT be able to get enough cash to bulk ourselves out."

With a click, Zi Long brought the lights back to the room while the holo projection dimmed and then faded. "That's it folks, yap away. I want to hear your thoughts."

David just chuckled. "If I remember what I've read on the various clans, I don't think I need to worry about Reed. The Mandrills have a reputation, that's true....But since the 'Stars aren't a competing Kindraa, I don't think we need concern ourselves overmuch. If anything, the Mandrills just have their loyalties a tad too tightly focused." He gestured to the still standing Clan Mech-jock. "Hell, just listen to how he introduces himself....He's so far fallen from grace that he's looking to sign up with the 'Stars as a mercenary, and STILL he introduces himself FIRST as a member of the Sainze line, THEN as a Mandrill....His loyalties aren't in question at all. If his Kindraa would accept him back today, he'd be on the next DropShip, even if he KNEW it would destroy the rest of the Mandrills, Aff?" David looked directly at Reed.

David shrugged. "Anyway, I vote for the Fujidera contract. It's a lowball contract, but it might just be exactly what we need to get back on our feet. The others...well the Capellan contract is a cluster-&^% waiting to happen. How the hell are we supposed to protect something we can't even enter? Plus, working under integrated command? With THIS crew? Nope, not a good idea. The Fujidera contract at least lets us get away with just a liaison officer."

David smiled coldly. "And as for the Clan contract? If the 'Stars want to do that one, they do so without me. We aren't equipped, trained, or staffed for that kind of job right now. And working under integrated command for the Feddies against the Clans? Nah, I've got cleaner ways to kill myself if it comes to that."


Black Stars Temporary Base
New Hedon, Herotitus
July, 3078

Harding spoke up after David, taking the remains of his cigar out of his mouth and dropping it into an ashtray on the table. "The Fudijera one looks easiest to me. Mercifully little gunfire involved. Well, that is unless this Halas guy is a huge prick and we find up facing half a dozen very pissed off terrorists groups. Still, gives us the best chance for a quick C-Bill AND gives us the best chance to get the hell out of there on a moment’s notice if things go bad. As for the other two..  Well, never piss of a Crusader Clan and never Trust a Liao."

Reed stood up again with Harding was speaking and wandered over to the projection and just studied it for a moment. When Harding was finished he finally spoke up, answering Ten-Bears earlier question. "To be quite honest, the only way i am ever to be allowed to return to the Kerensky Cluster is as a detached head, seeing as how the one that brought me out did not know I was even aboard at the time, and since then my reputation among my fellow Clansman has not improved. So to answer your question, well, my loyalties are to myself and to my word, nothing more. And what do we know of the force disposition of the Federated Commonwealth troops that would be fighting alongside us? The contract against the Adders may not be as difficult as you believe."

Even Harding sat up straighter when he said that, and coughed in surprise. "Look, buddy, I know you're enjoying the Inner Sphere... but what have you been smoking?!"

"Can it Harding, let's hear what our Mandrill friend has to say." Zi Long stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Reed, care to explain?"

Reed turned to Zhao and looked at him for a moment before continuing. "It is an old trick, sure enough, but with the right mix of BattleMech it may just accomplish what we need. If was can convince them we are SLDF, and then issue a convincing enough Challenge to a formal Trial... perhaps we can draw their best BattleMechs to the front and then bomb the snot out of them before they have a chance to do much damage. It would depend on how much concentrated firepower we can bring to bear on them, and how gullible the commander of the Garrison is. All I can say for sure is that I am pretty certain I can walk you through the Batchall formalities well enough that they just might think we are serious."

David grunted. "I've no doubt of that at all, at all.... What I'm doubting is that we've the firepower to close the deal."

He shoved a file across the table. "Besides, that all depends on us actually getting to go our own way. Read the contract, it’s got integrated command restrictions. Meaning we'd be filling a hole or two in some else's TOE. Either the 3rd NAIS Cadre or one of the regiments of the 41st SLDF Division. Pardon me for doubting, but I don't think they'll be the types to let us plan and run our own ops without getting their noses stuck in..... More likely I think, for them to try to use us as bait, or a distraction while they go and do some damned fool thing or other."

David leaned back. "So, either we end up with a bunch of arrogant Davion snot noses looking to make a name for themselves.... or we end up with a bunch of arrogant Star League pansies who're likely to leave us hanging while they look for an excuse to grab the planet as a "Protectorate". Either way, it'll be us that gets stuck out on the sharp end. Like as not without any support. Thanks, but no thanks."

Harding just laughed when he heard it, seeming to find the whole thing hilarious. "Clansman aren't exactly know for crackpot scheming, but Reed here might just change all that by the time his career's over and done with." He shook his head, chuckling some more and picked up his cigar again. "Interesting idea, and it might've actually worked... but let's save the ambitious stuff until AFTER we've got something to fall back on. I say we take the nice, cushy babysitting job in the League... or what's left of it. We can put that one in our back pocket for later, i should think."

Zi Long nodded at Harding's comments. "Looks that it’s settled than. I'll go make a bid for that contract. Get ready your stuff folks. We'll need to make a hope to the cradle of humanity first to register ourselves with the Department of..." The Black Stars CO floundered.

"Mercenary Management." David pointed out helpfully.

"Whatever." Zi Long shrugged. "Looks like we're leaving Herotitus and the Periphery folks." From the frying pan into the fire.


Black Stars Temporary Base
New Hedon, Herotitus
July, 3078

Zi Long planted his hands on his hips as some locally hired temporary workers staggered pass him, moving all manner of items and equipment out from the Black Stars' temporary base to waiting flat bed trucks, who in turn would transfer all these to the Herotitus Drop Port as the rag tag unit ready themselves for their trip to Terra.

According to their dossier, it would be the first time most of the current members of the Stars had ever stepped onto the cradle of human kind. Understandably, most of them were excited and nervous. However, the Black Stars Commanding Officer suspected that it was not all down to that. Zi Long glanced down at the list of hardware that the Black Stars had managed to put together. Some, were top of line machines, others were less valuable than Clan savaged salvaged. Some others... well, Zi Long did not want to remind himself of how some of the equipment came to populate the rather short TO&E list of the new look Black Stars. Zi Long shrugged. The Black Stars ALWAYS had a new look to them since they were always sub-units moving in and out. The Chinese man spat on the dusty and he suspect never swept and cleaned floor that had served as the Black Stars' base for the past two years. He had subcontracted his own equipment and sub-unit to the Major for the Canopian contract for what he thought were rather lucrative payment terms and conditions. Funny how the universe turned around and bit me in the ass.

His eyes settled on the sole DropShip under the procession of the Black Stars. A Seeker is one of the oldest and most versatile military DropShip not only in the Inner Sphere, but even in the Periphery systems as well. What set THIS particular Seeker apart from any other of its class, or even another other DropShip known to man was its history. Zi Long was not a religious person, but even he had shuddered as he thought the Event Horizon would be their ride for the foreseeable future.

The Taurian sighed. Beggars can't be choosers. He checked his chrono again. Most of the sub-unit commanders would be loading their equipment onto the Event Horizon. Some others, like Markus Jackson and his "Jack-O-Lanterns" would be joining the Black Stars either on Terra, or where ever the Stars end up upon successful bidding of their first contract under Zi Long's command.

David had said something about "making arrangements" - leaving Zi Long with really nothing much to do. He had returned to "The Arcade” in hope of staking his make believe 85 ton Katana CRK-5003-CM in exchange for another machine. Unfortunately, Herotitus being Herotitus, news of the Black Stars, and specifically Zi Long's plight leaked. Even before Zi Long could approach potential "sheeps", it became common knowledge that Zi Long had NOTHING of any value he could wager on. Nothing, except his command.

The Black Stars Captain had used the 2 million c-bills he won in his last simulator bout against Greg to bribe that same simulator pod mechanic again to rig the fight. Unfortunately for Zi Long, the other party had paid the man a million more to swing the simulation in THEIR favour. Luckily for Zi Long, he was still a competent enough of a Mechjock to win despite the odds. The pony-tailed man smirked when he thought of the Morningstar City Command Vehicle he won from the fight, as well as the 3 million c-bills he prised from the hands of the mechanic - after he was dropped from the gantry of a four storey warehouse.

Zi Long pulled on his shades and the collar of his long coat - a signature dress item that only Black Stars commanders were given. He grinned. Even though the Black Stars were down trodden, they were most definitely not out. One has to maintain a certain image after all.

Command Bridge
DropShip "Event Horizon"
Geo-synchronous Orbit
Terra
18 Aug. 3078

"This is the DropShip "Event Horizon", registry number five five nine one Alpha seven three, requesting landing instructions and pad assignment." Captain Harris spoke clearly into his microphone.

After a short delay, the response came back hesitantly. "This is ground control, Alice Springs, did you say the "Event Horizon"?"

"That is correct, ground control." Harris sighed, it seemed their reputation still preceded them. Though educated, spacers could still be among the most superstitious of folk.

"Thank you, Event Horizon, please stand by."

Moments dragged on into minutes. Almost fifteen minutes later, the ground station again contacted them. "Event Horizon...Primary pads are unavailable at this time, you are assigned auxiliary pad fifteen. You may commence landing....transmitting course instructions...now."

A light on the navigator's console lit up, signifying an incoming data stream. Fanshaw, the pilot officer on duty, nodded to the Captain. "Got it Cap. Ready when you are."

Harris studied the map of Alice Springs for a moment. "Nice to see they love us so much. Pad fifteen is halfway out to the ruins of old-town. You'd think we didn't bathe or something." He chuckled cynically.


Diplomatic Ward AKA 'Promenade' / 'D-Ward'
Department of Mercenary Management
Star League Defense Force
Alice Springs Castle Brian Complex
Central Australia, Terra
19th August 3078

Zi Long stepped into the filtered sunlight and breathed in the air. It might be completely psychological, but breathing in TERRAN air somehow made the Chinese man refreshed... or it might be due to the Black Stars finally getting a contract for the first time under his command. FW-SD-02-03. The few letters and numbers seemed somewhat insignificant to what they really meant. It was the start of a new life for many within the Black Stars. For some, it was as simple as another job, another pay check. For others, it meant that the ideals of the Black Stars and what it stood for was still alive.

The Black Stars CO thought back to the short and totally un-enjoyable meeting with the trio of puffed up peacocks from Sumitomo Group. The obviously expensive and newly tailored suits they wore might had impressed other small time mercenary groups, but Zi Long had the experience of knowing what being well dressed was all about - all thanks to Harding. The mercenary Captain grinned. That's another thing Backstabber was good for. The Sumitomo Group people were not even going to be the liaison for the contract. The contact from the company for the Black Stars would be a certain Mr Roger Temagu-Irez - the Chief Executive Officer of the company. Zi Long shrugged. Better to entertain the three buffoons now in case they stick a couple of knives onto their back and start things badly for the Black Stars even before they enter FWL space. Zi Long had smiled and nodded at their words, but still acted with a pinch of dignity. No reason to let them think less of us than they already did. One of them had went on and on, and on and on, about a 'Mech company from the Oriente Hussars who will be acting as the MAIN security detail for the Grand Duke rather than the Stars. And another of them had repeated at least half a dozen times about the need to keep things quiet and to enforce communications blackout of the planet during the Grand Duke's tour. The only reason anyone would know about it was because you kept repeating yourself, you fool. Zi Long had mused to himself even as he nodded and smiled as a show of understanding to the more than rotund man.

Whistling tunelessly to himself, Zi Long pulled out another printed film from his pocket. Reports had streamed into the Inner Sphere about the Capellan Confederation's recent success in bringing the periphery worlds of Pleos, Cathay, Khitan, Astansi, Parthia, Abaoji Taizu, and Herotitus into their control. Zi Long sighed. He himself had been given a new lease of life on the planet itself. Herotitus had been home to the Black Stars and many within their ranks for longer than many cared to remember. It had provided a HOME.

Blah. All this emotions and passing thoughts. Zi Long mentally stuffed them to the back of his head. They were only going to be on Terra for a week, gathering hardware and any other people they might need before making the trip into the Free Worlds League system of Fujidera. Terra was the cradle of human kind. Zhao Zi Long intends to find out if things would be as... interesting here as back on Herotitus.


Commercial Ward
Alice Springs Castle Brian Complex
Central Australia, Terra
19th August 3078

David watched from the floor as three members of the "Howling Gryphons" Mercenary company put on a flashy martial arts demonstration. He had to admit, they appeared quite good at their style, which appeared to be one of the many kickboxing derivatives. A bit wasteful of energy for David's tastes, and FAR too rigid a style for his preference, but potentially nasty all the same.

The three performers appeared to be advertising a new dojo which was opening up in a storefront of the mall area.

Once the set-piece show was over, the three performers began to address the crowd. "Does anyone out there fancy their chances in the ring?... Come on, just last three minutes with one of us and win a month's free lessons! You don't have to win, just keep going until the bell and you get the prize!"

David could see easily what the three mercenaries were doing. If they won the fights, which was a fairly good bet, they'd have "Proven" the viability and effectiveness of their style, drawing students to them. And even if they lost, they'd still likely draw some students, as the victor would probably make use of the free lessons and gym facilities, likely bringing others with them.

Quickly, two challengers stepped up and were handily defeated. David thought them possibly shills, but they could have been real challengers.

Seeing no more stepping up to play, David shook his head and began to turn away.

"What? No-one else?" The leader of the performers began to question the crowd. "You sir? How about you ma'am?" He spotted David as he began to leave. "Ah, I see we have one of the Black Stars with us today! How about you? Care to try your luck against a REAL warrior?"

David turned back to the stage area, looking amused.

"What's the matter? No stomach for a face to face battle?" The Gryphon merc taunted David. "Afraid you might get hurt?"

David smiled dismissively, rather like you would at a child that had just said something completely foolish, and had no idea what they had said. "Lad, are you sure you wish to do this? Don't be letting your mouth get the better of you."

"As I thought! A coward! Trying to get out of an honest fight? Should I turn my back so as to make you more comfortable?"

The crowd hushed as the taunts spewed forth. What had begun as a demonstration had clearly turned personal.

David didn't know what had so poisoned the Gryphon fighter against the Black Stars, but he'd not stand still while the young fool insulted his family. "Since you will not hear sense, and will not let things go... so be it.... Rules?"

The young man smiled nastily. "Anything short of killing or permanently crippling goes."

"That's it?" David asked. Receiving a nod in reply, he advanced to the stage and climbed up.

Smoothing his long-coat, he snugged his leather gloves a slight bit tighter and nodded to his opponent. "Ready when you are."

"The body armour won't help you, you know." The young man snarked at David.

"Not wearing any." He opened the coat to show the crowd that the only thing under the coat was a gray shirt, and that the coat itself was not armoured.

Getting frustrated, the Gryphon advanced quickly to attack, leading off with several long kicks at David's upper body and head. None of which connected as he slid aside and avoided the younger man.

Sliding around his opponent, David moved to the center of the stage and waited. "You should have asked one question before we started though."

"Really? What's that?" David's opponent gritted out. "Who to call to come get you after I knock your ass out?"

David smiled. "Nope, you should have asked about styles..... I know what you do... you know nothing about me." With that, David went on the attack.

His opponent's eyes widened as David crouched slightly and began to advance in a classic Kung-fu shuffle, his left hand forward and curled into a claw, and his right arm and hand held back, with his fist tightly closed.

Almost before he realized it, the Gryphon warrior was fending off several strikes from David's left hand and feet. His right hand was still held to the rear, cocked back for a strike.

When it came, the Gryphon fighter was ready for it, throwing up his forearms to block the Whirling Hammer strike that David threw at him.

The crack of splintering bone filled the air as David's opponent staggered back, his right arm hanging limp.

Following through, David's left leg rose rapidly in an inside crescent kick that caught the young man solidly, throwing him to his knees on the mats, dazed.

David reached down and grabbed the young man by his hair and lifted his face to the crowd. "It's called Iron Hammer Kung-fu. Designed by and for, those of us carrying replacement limbs. Next time you feel the urge to challenge someone, best to know your mark a bit better."

David's knee rose and caught the Gryphon martial artist flush on the button, knocking him cold.

Standing, he turned to the man's two companions. "Keep the dojo fees, he'll need them for medical.... When he wakes, tell him I said he fought well, even if in a foolishly chosen battle."

As he strode from the scene, his voice carried back to the men and the crowd. "He should also learn to keep his tongue off the Black Stars, most aren't as forgiving as I am."


E-Ward
Alice Springs Castle Brian Complex
Central Australia, Terra
19th August 3078
1500 hrs

Sitting in the rear, corner booth of the all but derelict bar, Markus covertly watched the other patrons for signs that they were more than they appeared to be. Yes, he thought to himself, he was simply being paranoid. The people that he was watching consisted of little more than a couple of professional drunks and off-duty mercs. Of course, being paranoid had kept him alive for the last year or so.

After a month or so in the DropShip it was good to get out and about again. The Black Stars were an interesting bunch, more so than most of the people he had worked with since being chased out of Alliance space, but even they got tiresome after a while. They became especially tiresome after the booze had run out, things got downright nasty at times, and even worse when someone’s secret stash got found. There was little trust amongst the motley crew as yet.

The door opened and a figure stood in the opening for a moment, silhouetted by the bright desert sun. Markus looked from the corner of his eye, trying to identify the newcomer whilst preserving his low light vision that was required in the less than well lit establishment. He guessed it was a calculated move, allowing the entrant to have the upper hand for a few seconds. After the door closed Markus knew why, and swore quietly under his breath as the figure approached.

“You’ve got quite a nerve showing up here,” the man reproached as he slid into the booth across the table from Markus.

The stranger was male, probably mid to late thirties, with dark hair and dressed in standard desert fashion, tan coloured pants and a light, long sleeve white shirt. No weapons were visible, but that didn’t mean that the man wasn’t dangerous, nor even unarmed for that matter. Markus knew from first hand experience just how dangerous this particular character could be.

“Hello Stephen, is that any way to greet an old friend?” Markus replied with a small smile that belied the tension he felt.

“Bah, you played out the friend card when I helped get you out of the Alliance. I told you not to come back so what the hell are you doing here?”

“I’m surprised you have to ask that question given that you managed to track me down so fast. Still, I owe you an answer I guess. Herotitus was getting a little hot, you might have seen, and I’ve had a disagreement with the Cappies so I took a lifeline that was thrown to me. I was hoping to go under the radar by joining forces with a registered unit, but it doesn’t look like it worked,” Markus stated with a shrug.

“Is there anyone that you don’t piss off on a regular basis? Anyway, your plan worked well enough. No-one else noticed, you aren’t that well known you egotistical bastard. However, when these people all show up in one place it draws attention in certain circles.”

Stephen handed over a manila folder as he finished speaking. He’d always had penchant for paper, even in this modern age. It was an anachronism that his supervisors would continue to overlook, right up until something fell into the wrong hands. It was Stephen’s own personal Sword of Damocles.

Markus picked up the folder and glanced through the dossiers within. It seemed only three of his colleagues had responded. That was fine, at least he could field the full Nighthawk squad. There was even a listing of where each of them could be found, if Stephen was anything he was definitely thorough. He must want something though, he’d gone to a lot of trouble in collecting the information, and there is no such thing as a free lunch.

“I’d say thank you but I’d be wasting my breath. What do you want Stephen?”

“Other than you off Terra? Not much. I know the Black Stars are going into the League for their first official contract, I just want a report of what you see there.”

Markus smiled ever so slightly, “That is worth more than just the locations of my co-workers that I would have found anyway. What’s in it for me?”

Rolling his eyes, Stephen leaned further forward, not that anyone else could hear what they were saying.

“The official title deeds to the Nighthawks. That will bring you above board, at least to start with, plus a set of these,” he handed over a set of machine specs, “I’m sure you will like them.”

Glancing at the specification he’d been handed, Markus’ smile expanded to actually include his eyes, not something that happened often. The machine he was looking at was a recently released all-terrain motorcycle designed specifically with the Nighthawk Power Armour (light) in mind. It effectively made his little squad fully self-sufficient. He had to admit that he was impressed, but still wary.

“You have agents all over the League, what do you need me for?”

Stephen shrugged, “Impartiality, mainly. Do you accept?”

“Yes.”

“Good, the Intruders will be delivered tomorrow.”

Both men stood up and they shook hands. Markus allowed Stephen to leave first, giving him a few minutes head start before he himself left the building. He had work to do, but some of the hard work had been handed to him in a gift basket. It was funny how the world worked sometimes.

Whistling a surprisingly merry little tune, Markus walked briskly down the street in the direction of the first name in the dossier: Michelle Edwards.


E-Ward
Alice Springs Castle Brian Complex
Central Australia, Terra
19th August 3078
1800 hrs

The skies darken early in this part of the planet, and even at this early evening, neon lights were already glaring at Zi Long, cheaply alluring and hinting and pleasures within the many establishments within E-Ward. The Black Stars Captain grinned. Even Terra was not free of the base entertainment of mankind. It was definitely not of the same sleaze on Herotitus, but it was present nonetheless.

The Taurian native had already sampled one of the drinking holes, and he must admit, he actually missed the Periphery set ups that he was so familiar with. It was most probably due to him being a familiar face over in the out back of the Inner Sphere, where a casual wink or a crocked smile would be more than enough to attract the attention of the ladies. Still, money was still the undisputed magnet of female attention. And as he found out a couple of minutes ago, male as well. A bunch of off duty mercs had noticed Zi Long drinking by himself, trying to chat up a petite waitress in a bar interestingly named the "Titty Twister". Swaggering and staggering across from their table to the long bar, one of them had asked if Zi Long knew that this was THEIR hang out, and that the wide eyed girl was "going steady" with their Captain. Zi Long knew drunks when he saw them, and these clowns were far from being so. That could only mean one thing - they were looking for trouble.

The Chinese man had apologized and pushed himself off the bar and made an attempt to leave. They mercs would have none of that. They surrounded him, and without another word, one of them had grabbed a near empty beer bottle and swung at Zi Long's head. Easily ducking, Zi Long quickly stepped beside the assailant. Taking advantage of the momentum of his swing, the Black Stars mercenary had shoved the elbow of the man's hand and neatly redirected the bottle onto the face of one of his unfortunate friend. The bottle shattered, as did his friend's nose.

Squatting down, Zi Long reached into his high boots and pulled out a switch blade. Zi Long had never understood why people liked to do fanciful twists and turns with the switch blade. It wasted time - time which a smart opponent would have used to launch his or her own attack. A quick flick of the handle produced the six inch blade within. Lashing out with his right feet, the steel plate reinforced tip of his boot smashed into the groin of the first speaker. Even as the man sunk onto the floor with a grimace on his face and tears streaming down his cheeks, Zi Long held his short blade in a back handed manner with his left hand and grabbed a fistful of his opponent's hair with his right. Stepping behind the kneeling man, he pointed the tip of the switch blade under his chin. The other member of the party froze - except for their friend with the broken nose who was moaning on the floor.

"While I've enjoyed the company, I'd really like to go now please. Unless of course you'd like another hole to breathe through?" Zi Long asked of the man. He waved his companions back. Zi Long smiled. "I KNEW you'd see it my way." Sharply pulling at his captive's hair again, Zi Long forced the man to stand up. "Now, I'm sure you guys still have drinks at your table, why don't you go back and enjoy a couple more while you friend here escort me out." Uncertainly showed in their eyes until the merc with the blade to his throat ordered them to follow Zi Long's instructions through gritted teeth.

Zi Long slowly backed towards the door as the other men made their way towards their own table. A single step away from the door, Zi Long shoved the man forward, making him sprawl onto the none too clean floor. Turning quickly, the Chinese man had exited the pub and disappeared into the thronging crowd outside. He heard the parting shouted words of the man - "Don't ever let me see you again!"

Adrenaline still pumping through his veins, Zi Long had decided not to let that small adventure get in the way of his intentions to enjoy the evening. Already a few blocks away from the "Titty Twister", Zi Long had looked around for another pub that could provide less violent entertainment for the night when he spotted a figure just as it disappeared into one of the side alleys. What the...

All thoughts of the recently satisfyingly concluded skirmish evaporated from his mind as he quickened his steps as he went after the figure. The back alley which it disappeared into was just like any other all over known worlds. Cheaply and scantily dressed hookers called out to him with attempted seductive voices, while some silly rain coat drabbed figures whispered to him, offering "good stuff". Brushing pass these, Zi Long strained his eyes in the darkness trying not to lose his target. He did managed to close the distance, but lost it as the figure stepped into the back door of what looked like a pub.

Zi Long grinned. Even if the figure was not who he thought it was, it might just have helped him decide on the next drinking place for the night. Stepping into the door, Zi Long was momentarily blinded by flashing lights within, while the quick tempo of a Latino number was playing in the background somewhere. He froze as a cold object was pressed to his neck. "Tailin' me ain't ta best hobby, don't ya knoo boy-o." A crusty voice drooled.

Zi Long smiled. "I was just hoping to buy you a drink, X."

The cold object was withdrawn and Zi Long turned around. Before him was a man easily over fifty years old. Like Zi Long, he wore his long hair in a pony tail. Unlike the Black Stars mercenary, his hair was white all over. Wrinkles crawled across his face, telling of hard years and a harder life. Despite his obvious age, X still has a strong physique. In his right hand, he held an empty beer bottle.

Zi Long grinned. "I thought it was you when I caught you out there. What are you doing on Terra you old dog?"

"I could've asked ta same of you Zhao." X smiled back easily. "Ta last I heard Major Aik an' ta Stars bought it out there in ta Gal' ron systems."

Zi Long tugged at his long coat and gave a non committal shrug. "Yeah, they did. The Stars are under new management now."

"Namely - yours?" X gave Zi Long a look.

"Indeed. We just signed a contract in the Free Worlds League. We're gathering supplies, equipment and manpower here before he head south west." At the last word, X's eyebrows raised just a little, but enough for Zi Long to catch. "You wouldn't be interested would you?"

X narrowed his eyes, before sighing loud. "I must be losin' me touch."

Zi Long laughed. "Maybe, or maybe I've gotten better since we last ran into each other."

X, or more notoriously known as Brandon X, was the code name given to the man as he was employed as a scout under Redjack Ryan. Assigned to a Hi-Scout Drone Carrier, Brandon X established a reputation for persistence and bravery. There were rumours that X destroyed incredible numbers of enemy forces with within his time with the pirates, but Zi Long knew better. Like the Bounty Hunter, Brandon X was a name used by successive scouts that took over the solitary Hi-Scout Drone Carrier employed by Redjack Ryan. It was true that Brandon X had more kills than many dedicated combat vehicles - but all the numbers were accumulated over time. This particular incarnation of the notorious X was known more for his abilities to work scout and command electronics and computers than his fighting prowess - which was what a scout vehicle crew should be. Even more interestingly was that his real name was Brandon Cross - VERY apt given his given code name. He made the transition from Brandon Cross to Brandon X within the blink of an eye.

However, the good times for X lasted until the pirate lord's blood thirsty daughter Susie "One-Eye" Morgraine-Ryan took over. The daughter was more than a chip off the block, displaying the attributes of a borderline sociopath with an unquenchable taste of blood.

It was in one of her many pirate raids that Zi Long first ran into X. Already a sub-unit commander within the Black Stars, Zi Long's lance of tanks had managed to disable one of the pirate 'Mechs before the rest of the Stars hammered them enough to force a withdrawal. However, it was not before Susie had order the razing of two townships that killed thousands of civilians. X's Hi-Scout Drone Carrier was abandoned to its own fate as the faster vehicles and more mobile 'Mechs of the pirate force made their way back to their waiting DropShips.

Major Aik had offered X a slot in his own unit, an offer that the latter had gratefully accepted as a stepping stone to put a distance between himself and his former employer. After three contracts, during which Brandon X proved his skills as a scout and electronics surveillance expert, he unfortunately lost his Hi-Scout Drone Carrier and quietly disappeared from the Black Stars.

Zi Long knew that the older man would only talk when he was ready, and not before. However, his interest could only mean one thing. "Aik contracted my entire unit for the Gal' ron contract. Like the rest of the Stars, they're gone now." X's expression grew sullen at that. "BUT, a new piece of hardware has recently came to be under my possession. Its nothing much - just a Morningstar command vehicle, which I believe comes equipped a targeting computer and a C3 Master system."

"Ya knoo," X looked at Zi Long. "Ya'r still a poor poker player."

"That's why I'll need YOU to play for me old man." Zi Long smirked. "Are you interested?"

A shout from behind him caught Zi Long's attention. He turned around, and saw the same group of mercs, now obviously drunk moving towards them.

"Friends of ya's boy-o?" X asked.

"Something like that." Zi Long shrugged as he pulled out his switch blade again, before asking again. "Crap. This place, its call..."

The white haired man flexed his arms before crouching into a fighting stance. "Ta Titty Twister. Why'd ya ask?"

Zi Long sighed. "At least I managed to get you onboard..."


Commercial Ward
Alice Springs Castle Brian Complex
Central Australia, Terra
19th August 3078

Walking into the crowded bar, she pauses to scan the room as a matter of habit rather than nervousness. The dim lighting of the main room seem to illuminate her eyes while the rest of her remains a mysteriously dark silhouette against the bright Australian outback. Slowly, she moves through the patrons to the far end of the bar, where the stench of too many unwashed bodies, stale beer, and emotions best left in the past and not remembered didn't filter through her face cloth too much.

A black cloth obscures the lower half of her face, keeping most of the patrons from identifying her origins, but the black scorpion worked into the camouflage of her tac vest serves as a reminder to those who know where to look. Unfortunately, those that would know are sitting nearby, clearly indulging in some vile brew which melted the surface of their table when it spilled. Nikita recognized the clan markings even before they turned their scornful gaze on her.

Ignoring the mutterings, she turns her back on them to speak quietly with the bartender, who nods and serves her up a bottle of something that has ice sluicing off the surface. She'd just taken a sip of her drink when the sound of chairs being pushed back put her on alert. The adrenaline began to surge through her system while her warrior nature allowed her to outwardly appear calm and unconcerned. Out of nowhere, a heavy hand descended on her shoulder, gripping tightly.

“Well Well, a little Scorpion that has been kicked out of the nest. What say you, Jergin? Do we allow this piece of filth to dirty the floor of our bar?”

A more than slurred voice off to the other side of her growled, “Neg. No piece of outcast offal should be... burrp... allowed to desecrate a decent establishment like this.”

Turning, Nikita looks down at the hand on her shoulder, then into the man's eyes. “Remove your hand, Freebirth.” Her voice is low and growly, which only seems to enhance the steel in her gaze.

Jergin jerks slightly at the epithet, and looks at the man gripping her shoulder. “You hear that Loki? This insect called you a Freebirth.”

In the near darkness of the bar, the colour draining from Loki's face makes him look almost as pale as a ghost. “If you were a true clanswoman, I would demand a Circle of Equals and claim you as a bondswoman of the Ice Hellions. But you are nothing. Not even worth the effort of demanding surkai. So I am going to do what should be done before your stench offends the rest of those within the room.” With that, he makes the attempt at throwing her rather muscular body towards the door.

Expecting something of the sort, she turns just as Loki tenses to throw her, and head butts him in the face. The sound of breaking bones is rather loud in the silence. “I think what you are going to do, Loki,” She raises a hand to wipe a blood smear off her forehead, an indication of the force she used, “Is to remove yourself and your friend here from my presence and go sleep off the alcohol poisoning that is rotting your brain.”

Jergin, seeing his chance, picks up one of the wooden barstools and brings it down on Nikita's back, breaking it into pieces as one of his comrades bearing all the markings of a Steel Viper clansman lands a good, solid kick to her ribs. Both of them pick her up and toss her into the wall in the back of the bar where she lands on a table full of empty bottles which promptly break... along with the table.

Growling, she gets up, shaking off the stunning effects, and stalks back towards the three men. Not saying a word, she lands a haymaker to Jergin's jaw, sending him crashing into the bar. But the move cost her as a steel toed boot clips her just under the chin and another hit finds the bruise along her ribs. When she gets a second to look, she notes the stance of a trained kick boxer off to her left. Then it's only a flurry of fists and feet from both Loki and the unknown Viper.

Soon, all three of them are on her and it's a brawl for it all. From one end of the bar, things get way out of hand as chairs are smashed, tables tipped over and blood flies from torn flesh and split lips. Even though it's three against one, Nikita seems to be holding her own by playing down and dirty. Years of holding her own against the scum of the IS has taught her that honourable combat can sometimes get you into more trouble than the dirtiest of street fighting.

After a few more moments of fists and feet, Loki makes the monumental mistake of trying to grapple with Nikita while she's on the floor after a boot to the back of the knee. He lets out a high pitched squeal that has most men cringing in sympathy. At least one cups himself and crosses his legs. When he tries to back out of the fight, it's easy to spot the large hand gripping the pants and twisting. Only when Jergin gives her ribs another kick does she actually let go. The Ice Hellion Clanner crumples to the floor, whimpering pathetically in pain as the fight rumbles on past like a freight train out of control.

Seconds later, Jergin goes flying backwards after Nikita delivers a punishing uppercut to his chin. Adrenaline adding the impetus enough to have him, in effect, sliding across the floor to stop at Garret's feet.

“All Right! That's Enough!” The former Ghost Bear Elemental roars in a Stop-The-Mob-In-Full-Frenzy voice.

Everyone else freezes in place except for the two combatants who are now slugging it out near the full window, mindless of anything but their ability to pound each other into the ground. As Garret gets to them, the Viper grabs a heavy glass bottle and smashes it across Nikita's face, cutting several gashes deep down to the bone and cutting away part of her face cloth, revealing the black tribal scorpion tattooed on her neck. In retaliation, she uses the last, unbroken, barstool against his ribs, smashing first the one side, then the other until he's on his knees.

Whatever else would have happened was brought to a screeching halt as Garret pops both of them on the head before heaving their unconscious bodies through the window. His timing is perfect as the cops in charge of the sector just happen to be patrolling his side of the street. “Jack, Mike, if you want these two in one piece, you might want to put them in separate cells. I have also got two more children for you to spank as well. I think each of them need to go to the medics as well.”

The cops, Mike and Jack, begin putting the two Clanners in restraints and calling for backup to come get the rest and taking a statement from Garret.


“RavenWolf Tavern”
Commercial Ward
Alice Springs Castle Brian Complex
Central Australia, Terra
19th August 3078

David sat quietly in the back of the bar watching the events unfolding. He probably should have known better… any bar frequented by former Clanner mercs wouldn’t likely be known for calm and reasoned discussions. He’d only been here for a half-hour and there had already been three near-fights in the bar.

“Ah well,” he thought to himself. “At least I got the ‘Mechs sold, and found the tanks I was looking for, now I just need to find a few crew and I’m set.”

Just as David finished his sandwich and beer, a new person entered the bar that promised to make things a bit more “interesting”.

Unlike the former Steel Vipers and Ice Hellions that made up the majority of the ex-Clanner patrons, the new-comer was very clearly of Goliath Scorpion origin.

After the constabulary had hauled the combatants away, David motioned Garret over to his table.

“Yes? You needed something?” The huge elemental rumbled.

“Maybe.” David smiled. “What would it take for the owners to forget about pressing charges on the ‘Scorp?”

“Just the Scorpion?” Garret looked amused. “Pay her damages plus a bit for Isorla, and she will be allowed Hegira…provided we see her not for at least a year from this day.” The big man chuckled. “She did not start the fight, but by Kerensky, she gave those little fools a good one. All the same though, we can’t have the place broken up without taking price for it, quiaff?...You don’t want the others?”

David laughed, “Aff, big man. I understand. And no, I do not want the others. They’ve no brains to go with those balls that the Hellion came so close to losing.”

Garret chuckled along with David. “So what is the Scorpion to you? Why would you buy her way out of trouble?”

“As a Scorpion? Nothing really.” David shrugged. “But I’ve need of warriors, and she is of need of a place I think. In this we can help each other.”

David stood. “Figure the costs, and let me know when you have the price of her freedom.” He handed Garret a card with his com-number embossed on it. “I’ll be over at the station house discussing things with the cops and giving the young lady a couple choices.”

<Scene Break>

David smiled as the cops led the young woman into the interview room. Apparently they weren’t taking any chances with her as she was in full “Elemental” rated restraints.

Lifting one eyebrow, David sounded amused and slightly bored as he studied a file in front of him. “Assault, three counts, battery, three counts, disturbing the peace…three counts…hmm, attempted murder…nice, but that’s a bit of a stretch I think…destroying private property…public nuisance…one aero-jock wishing someone would just shoot him to make the pain stop…one ‘Mech pilot with a shattered jaw, and another nursing half a dozen broken ribs….oh, and about five grand in property damage….I must say, impressive.”

As the escorting guards forcefully seated the Scorpion warrior across from David, he kept going as if nothing was happening. “Now, some of these charges are nothing but filler and won’t ever see the inside of a courtroom, but there’s enough here…with enough evidence, that you’re looking at at LEAST fifteen grand in fines and restitution, maybe even a few months in lock-up if the judge is in a bad mood that day, or….” He trailed off.

“Or what?” The young lady snarled at him, her voice distorted by the bandages and local anesthetics that were partially paralyzing her mouth and lips. “They jumped ME!”

David nodded. “Yes, they did. Which is why you aren’t looking at five to ten at hard labour right now.” He smiled coldly. “Of course, if you haven’t got the money for fines and restitution, you could also get stuck in a penal labour battalion until you work off your debts….And at a fixed rate of ten credits a day, minus deductions for food and lodging, even half your estimated fines are looking pretty large, quiaff?”

Without waiting for an answer, David just plowed right on. “Fortunately for you, we seem to be in a position to help each other out.” He sat forward and leaned toward where she sat. “My unit needs warriors, and you need a place and a way off planet. So…I have a proposal for you. If you are willing to sign on for a two year hitch, I’ll pay your damages and fines. You’ll probably be confined to our ship until we lift, but we’re planning on leaving Terra within a week, so that’s no great period of time. Oh, and the Tavern says you are barred for a year….not that we are likely to be back in that time, but you never know, eh?”

Nikita listens as she sizes David up. Having been strip searched, cavity checked, blood worked, and tormented by the medical staff with their stitching and poking, she's more than a bit cranky. Add to the fact that they're actually attempting to file charges against her. She looks at man across from her. “You were in the tavern when the fight happened.”

A pause in the business at hand reveals the screams and epithets of a familiar voice as he's dragged, literally, past the door in the same restraints she wears. Only his are triple locked and it takes four guardsmen to shove/drag him down the hallway to his own waiting cell. One of the guards curse and slams the door.

The one side of her face quirks up into something like a smile, stretching the scorpion tattoo along the side of her neck. “You know. I could ease the suffering of that dezgra freebirth. Just let me alone with him for thirty seconds. By now the alcohol he had been consuming is completely gone from his system, eaten up by the pain.” Her green eyes gleam, “Perhaps I could give him... how do you say it, peace? Aff?” Somehow she gives the impression that it wouldn't be the peace of sleep either. Vindictive little woman, aint she??

One of the guards whacks the back of her chair with a baton. “Enough of that. You've done enough damage. One more threat out of you and we'll just see how badly you want out of those restraints when it comes time to eat.”

His partner frowns at him. “Joey, one more incident like that and you'll be on report. I swear, every time we get an ex Clanner in lockup, you go schizo on them. So knock it off or I'll have Brody send you back home for retraining.”

That last comment about retraining shuts him up and he moves to a corner away from the proceedings and simply glares.

Leaning back into the chair, she lifts her shackled feet up to thump then down on the table. “I used my last few major credits to walk off a Rom trader and into what I had hoped would have been a decent bartending job. I spent the last credits I had on a beer and lodging for a week at the hostel nearby. I didn't want any trouble, I did not need any hassles. For my troubles, I am assaulted, damaged, and now you tell me that there are charges against me? Great, just great.” She begins muttering to herself in the Romany language, Gypsy lingo. The words are almost liquid music on her lips, but the tone speaks for itself. Disgust, anger, frustration.

Thumping her feet back down on the floor, she winces as some of the bruises are still tender. “You still have not told me who you are and who you work for that can simply make things go away?”

The man actually blinks. “Me? I'm Me? I'm David Ten-Bears. I lead the "Lupos Negros", a small merc unit sub-contracted to the Black Stars mercenary command. as for the charges? Well, the bar only wanted to get paid for the damages plus a little extra and you to stay away for at least a year to not press charges.” He leans back in his chair, glancing at the folder in front of him, which includes everything from the medical workup to everything that may have been on record when she put her print on file for the hostel room. “The others in your little scuffle? Well, if you drop charges on them, they've no reason to press for charges on you, weak though they are and the local constabulary would be just as happy for you to go away as to have to deal with you for however long it would take for you to pay your debts off.”

That causes Nikita to blink slightly. “Woah Woah Woah. Back up a moment. Charges? I have not pressed any charges. I have not even had time to think, let alone contact anyone about pressing charges. Someone in this center is definitely trying to jump the gun on that point. Their weakness is the alcohol they were consuming and their mouths. My recommendation to their Commanding Officer would be...” she shrugs in her heavy restraints, causing them to clank and rattle. “We will not go into that.”

David grins slightly at that, then, as if someone flipped a switch, his face returns to the indifferent mercenary commander he is. “Oh, and don't think your dance partners are getting off... their CO was coming in a few minutes ago and did NOT look happy. So, I’m really not getting all the charges to go away... just most of them, and the others are just a few fines... I pay them and you walk out of here.” He taps a finger on the metal table, “Of course, the locals will probably want you confined to the ship until we lift, lessening the chance of a repeat, or maybe the three idiots trying their luck again. No hat, just some cash and everyone getting a little of what they want.”

Nodding, she looks around the dull gray room, and sighs. “I do not suppose that you will be able to retrieve my weapons, clothes, and my gear from the hostel if I sign on.”

He nodded, “We can do that. As your weapons weren't used during the fight, the law has no reason not to give them back. They may not like it,” he pauses to give a glare to the men standing behind her, “But they will return them along with your clothes. When you sign, we can collect your things from the hostel on the way to the DropShip.”

Shaking her head, she looks at David across the table. “Get me out of this heavy metal rig and I will sign on. I am Nikita, trueborn dezgra outcast of Clan Goliath Scorpion. If you will have me, I will join you.” Ignoring the hostile looks directed at her, she stands up and rattles the restraints. “I have an itch on my neck that is in need of scratching.” She glances meaningfully at the key card the older of the two has.

David grinned as he glanced at the guards. "Then I think we have a deal." He placed a contract on the table as the calmer of the two guards unlocked Nikita's restraints from his position across the room with a small remote.

Once the shackles fell away from her body and limbs, Nikita stretched like a cat, smiling nastily at the angry younger guard. "You know, in the clans, the prison guards are only one step removed from Solahma. Warriors by courtesy, but highly unlikely ever to rise in stature.... or be chosen to breed. Perhaps this is why so many have such poor attitudes?"

David laughed softly. "There might be something to that, Nikita, but your theories will have to wait for another time." He placed a pen next to the contract. "Just read and sign, and we are out of here."

<Scene Break>

As the two walked out of the station, David paused for a moment and turned to Nikita. "You friend from the bar back there looked a bit angry did he not?"

As she nodded, a little puzzled as to where David was going with this, he continued. "All the charges from the bar have been dropped...but if he were to somehow get free of his restraints...." David smiled slightly as he touched a certain spot on the wrist of his cyber-arm. From inside the station, shouting erupted and an alarm sounded as chaos erupted. "Let's go....we have places to be."

Nikita looked puzzled, glancing back at the station.

David shrugged. "Lots of those restraint systems have a hardwired override code built in... probably so that if the cops get put in their own restraints, they can get free. Your friend must have discovered the code somehow, or had a friend of his help him. Won't help him of course, being where he is, with that many police around, but if he's dumb, and takes a swing at one of them...." He smiled serenely. "Assault on an officer gets you two to six at hard labour in these parts..."


Primary Penal Labour Facility
Testing Range Number One
Alice Springs Castle Brian Complex
Central Australia, Terra
19th August, 3087

David grinned as he led Nikita's new crew out of the facility. None of them had raised any objections to signing on under similar conditions to their new Tank Commander. Most of them had been in the Penal Labour pool for at least six months and were looking at at LEAST another two years to get their debts paid off. One of them, the driver, had been looking at fifteen if she hadn't taken the deal.

Glen, the only Clanner in the bunch, originated from the Snow Ravens. One of the few survivors of a failed genetic experiment, blending Pilot and Elemental bloodlines, Glen was smaller and faster than most Elementals, though still large by normal human standards, but not fast enough to make up the loss in mass.

As a result, Glen's line found itself smaller and somewhat weaker than "Normal Elementals", and while faster than most un-augmented humans, still inferior to the more specialized pilot genome.

Discarded as a failure, the sibko members found themselves relegated to Solahma units and other dead end assignments. How Glen had ended up a mercenary on Terra, David hadn't asked. What was important was that Glen's resentment of his fate had led to a hair trigger temper and an extended stay in state custody due to a few too many brawls. He'd probably end up as Nikita's gunner.

Following along behind, the driver, a woman who called herself "Wheels". Susan Harshfeldt, a native of Solaris VII, and a professional race driver. Susan claimed to be able to drive "Anything, anywhere, anytime." David wasn't sure that was entirely true, but her record did seem to mostly back it up. She was in for a little joyride a while back, which led the constabulary a merry chase. It had taken the cops 12 ground vehicles and another three VTOL's to corral her.

Bringing up the rear was Harold "Sparky" Faunce. A local teenager with a penchant for computer hacking and hot rods. Sparky had no military experience, but his mechanical and electronic skills should serve him well as Nikita's engineer/radioman.


Local Detention Center
Penal Ward
Alice Springs Castle Brian Complex
Central Australia, Terra
19th August, 3087

Nikita merely arches an eyebrow at David's actions, fully noting the arm and how he uses it. Along the way in the transport, she goes over her clothes and the weapons that were handed back to her when she left. They never even gave her time to change. Whether a pathetic attempt at humiliation or just plain procedure, she simply ignores it.

Holding one of her knives to the light, she sighs and shakes her head. “The last time someone deliberately dulled my blades, they figured out why a dull blade hurts more. Especially when it is being rammed into certain parts of the anatomy.”

When they finally pulled up to the hostel, she led the way to her tiny cubicle and keyed the lock. Smiling, she walked in to have something furry come flying at her face, chittering angrily. To prevent David from taking evasive action, she stepped up and caught the little guy. “Max. Yes, I know.” chitter chitter chitter. “Yes, well, I got into a bit of trouble. I promise you and Jax will not be left alone again. Now behave. Max,” she turns to show a black ferret with a white stripe down the exact center of the body... like a skunk. “Meet David. Our new commander. David, this is Max. My fetch and carry being. I got him from one of the Gypsy ships I was bartending on. Broke up a nasty fight between a couple feuding groups. They feud worse than the clans do, aff?” she grins.

Putting down the ferret and, without so much as a twitch of modesty, she literally strips off the jump suit, revealing her back to the dim light. A roadmap of pain, from the looks of it. Strangely enough, all of the marks are raised, as if they had been infected and didn't heal right. David sees it for only a moment before a black t-shirt covers it. Black BDU military pants and combat boots are clean, if a bit scuffed in a few places and the Tac vest with a black Scorpion blazoned on the back. It's steel stinger seems to simply dangle in the light.

“One more thing.” she pulls out a fresh face scarf and ties it on. “Do not ever, ever, touch this duffel bag.” she picks it up. “At least not without me present.”

Frowning, David looks at it. “Why?”

Grinning, she opens it up and sticks her hand in. Crawling up her arm is the largest Emperor Scorpion he's ever seen. “Jax is my security.” the scorpion simply climbs to her shoulder and sits there, tail curled. “Do not ask where I got him from because I will not tell you.” she picks up her gear, adjusting the left side of her tac vest slightly. Max simply wormed his way up her leg and into what looked to be an inner pocket sewn in just for him. “I'm ready.”

The Event Horizon
Auxillury Pad Fifteen
Nikita's can.

After getting her gear stowed and her friends safely tucked away in a spare area of her small cabin, she went exploring. A map embedded in the wall across from her room gave her a starting point and, for the next hour, familiarized herself with the essential spots in the ship and how to get there. Once she had most of it down in her head, Nikita made her way back to the rec room, and the bar.

Glancing at the selection, her lip curled in disgust. “Substandard liquid. If there were ever a chance to enjoy a good drink, they need to update their stock.”

Turning her back on the alcohol and wanders back into the area. After checking out the various equipment, she heads for the sims. Passing a group of the crew standing around discussing the pros and cons of the latest technology, she looks over the ‘Mechs listed.

One of them glances her way and pipes up, loud enough for her to hear. “But of course, real Mechjocks don't need genetic tampering to be good. It's just skill and enough firepower to rock your world.”

Turning, she arches an eyebrow, eyes glittering over her face scarf. “Of course, all the rocking would be in your head, Aff? Of course, it would be after your ‘Mech hit the ground in shut down mode.”

The crew laughed while the man grinned. “How about we try that out? With you on the ground and me standing tall?”

Nikita chuckled, “You are offering a Batchall?”

The stocky man looked confused until one of his buddies talked to him. “Uh, yeah.”

Nodding, she said, “I am Nikita, I bid a single ‘Mech against any you choose.”

Blinking, he nodded. “I am Loren, call sign Ghost, I will fight you with an Atlas and a squad of battle armoured Infantry.”

“Bargained and Done.” she tilts her head. “Urban setting winter time.”

He grinned and nodded. “Agreed.” Turning, he palmed one of the sims while his friend went to program it in the computer. When he was set, she walked over to the controls and, with a chuckle, selected her ‘Mech and added full camouflage for urban warfare. Then slipped into the pod. “Activate.”

-Simspace-

Ghost, who didn't know what he was facing, began working his way through the urban landscape. “Combat mode, Battle squad, initiate search and destroy mode.” An electronically programmed voice spoke in his ear, “Yes Sir.” as orders are relayed to the men.

Meanwhile, Nikita... call sign Nightmare.. moves her ‘Mech into position, taking advantage of the quadmech's shorter chassis and begins to move. The Fire Scorpion 2's armament read full load and fully charged. “Okay, let us see what can be done.” Using the ‘Mech's active probe, she swiftly began to stalk the battle armour. Making sure she is strapped snugly into the chair, she uses her full range of skills to chase down and eliminate the Battle Armour before quickly backing up behind a stadium.

Ghost, hearing the screams of the dying in his earphones started looking around, checking his radar and looking for the ‘Mech. Suddenly, a tone sounds in his cockpit as a barrage of LRM's slam into the back of his ‘Mech, rocking him forward, then slamming him back into the cushioning. Glancing at the screen, all he sees is the call sign 'Nightmare'. Not making the connection, he turns his ‘Mech down a street, watching, tracking.

Nightmare, aka Nikita, simply runs her ‘Mech out in front of the Atlas, giving him time to spot her and allowing him to pull the trigger before scampering out of the way. This cat and mouse game goes on for some time until Ghost is frustrated all out of proportion and begins demolishing buildings and all but creating a wasteland of a city that he may have been protecting.

Shaking her head, she abandons her taunting and begins to use her firepower in earnest. Keying her mike to Ghosts com unit, she speaks. “You have already lost. Emotions have no place on the battleground.” she pulls a trigger, busting armour off joints, backing up and letting loose with LRM's at the cockpit. “We can stop if you like.”

What came over the headset would have peeled the paint off the interior if there were any. “Then let us end this.” with her chatter, she'd been lining up at the head of the Atlas, aligning even the AC and machine guns. “Now.” Pulling the triggers, all her weapons fired one last time, leaving Ghost with no option but to die.

-Rec Room holovid-

The head of the Atlas exploded in a violent shower of sparks. The rest of the fired weaponry had slammed into the center torso, knocking it backwards, making it look like a drunk as it staggered backwards to slam into a parking garage. After a moment, it slowly slid down to the ground, as if it had just passed out for a good long nap.

-Rec Room-

A cry of rage emerges from one pod as Nikita emerges from the other. She stretches slightly, then watches a pod door slam open and the crew member come out, red faced. “Why you....” and starts forward.

"Loren!" David's voice cracked out over the rec-bay, pulling the angry man up short. "You wouldn't be thinking about something so stupid as to be attacking another Black Star over a sim match would you?" David's voice was soft, but his tone lowered the temperature on the deck by at LEAST fifteen degrees. "Besides the fact she'd kick your ass up and down the bay without breaking a sweat, you know the code. We don't fight with our own."

"The bitch suckered me!" Loren whined, clearly still upset about his loss. "It wasn't a fair fight!"

David laughed. "Of course she did, you damned fool! And you LET HER DO IT!" He roared out the last bit. "I came in late, but your boys here filled me in on the terms. You walked into it eyes open and head high! You could have objected to the terms and conditions, could have suggested terrain and setting. Nope, you let her choose terms, setting, and weather conditions. THEN you didn't even settle on unit limits other than limiting her to a single mech. No tech limits, no availability limits, just pick one and go....Well ok, that's fine, just don't complain when she hands you your ass because you were an IDIOT!"

David motioned to the big screen projection unit, where the match was beginning a playback. "’Mech to ‘Mech, it wasn't a bad match...you even had some crunchies for back-up. So what do you do? First, you throw away your battle armour by sending them out unsupported to hunt. They got cut off and ground into paste while you were blundering about like an elephant with haemorrhoids!"

David pointed at the screen, where Nikita's Fire Scorpion was harassing Loren's Atlas. "She was in a faster, more manoeuvrable ‘Mech, with longer ranged weapons. What the HELL did you think you were doing, chasing her?" David waved down any response Loren might make. "Never mind, I don't want to know, it would probably just piss me off more!"

David wiped his brow. "So having been outbid and out manoeuvred, you decide to do just about the WORST thing you could have done, go racing after a ‘Mech you can't catch, and blaze away with shots you couldn't have hoped to hit with, from shallow ammo bins. Tell me Loren, were you born stupid, or did you have to work at it?"

Loren couldn't speak, embarrassment and rage had combined to leash his tongue. All he could do was stand there and take the dressing down, his face an impressive shade of crimson.

"Nikita!" David snapped at his new recruit. "What SHOULD Loren have done, given his tactical situation?"

Without pausing to think, she automatically answered, "Pilot Loren should have considered the opponent in front of him before allowing his prejudices to colour his thinking." She looked at Loren, "Before and after the Batchall was concluded, he underestimated his opponent and should have learned the terrain in which he would be fighting. With his battle armoured group, he should have sent them out as hunter-seekers to allow him to know exactly what he would be facing. That being accomplished, he should have used his men appropriately as snipers, and hunt and run units. Small enough to cause me to have to deal with them, but not large enough to hit.

She blinked and tilted her head slightly, "Though it would not have worked in this scenario because the Fire Scorpion 2 is equipped with a probe to discern such things. There are, however, other ‘Mech variants that do not. In essence, the tactical advantage should have been his if he had simply left his emotions outside the simulator and not allowed them to interfere with his combat sense."

David shook his head slightly. “The presence of an active probe as part of your ‘Mech’s equipment would have been known, had he made ANY inquiry as to ‘Mech selection. Facing an unknown opponent, you are correct though.”

Speaking clearly, and with no emotions, as if addressing a classroom, David continued his lecture. "Loren should have found an area of restricted terrain, and forced you to come to HIM. Given the difference in ‘Mech capabilities, Loren should have sought to limit your advantages with terrain that both restricted your ‘Mech's movement, and prevented you from taking advantage of your greater range capabilities. Ideally, he should also have combined action with his Battle Armour in order to lead you into a situation where you were forced to deal with both forces simultaneously."

David addressed both of the warriors. “You both come from warrior traditions that favour offensive action. Nikita, you from the Clans, and You, Loren, from the Lyran Commonwealth… In both traditions, there is a tendency among many warriors to equate offensive manoeuvre with effective action… This is not always true however. As we have seen demonstrated here, sometimes the best move is to just wait. At some times, the best action is no action.”

David sighed and looked at Loren. “Loren, we’ve spoken about your temper before. If you cannot control yourself, we will be unable to retain your services. I would regret having to take that step, but we cannot afford weak links in the unit right now. Take a few hours to cool off in town and do some thinking. If you are ready to work hard and keep your temper under control, we really could use you.”

Turning back to Nikita, David kept talking. “And as for you…. it’s nekulturny to be preying on sim-jocks. You didn’t need to turn the screws that tight. This ain’t the clans, and no-one is your competition here. You don’t need to play the one-up games.”

David smiled. “If you wanna humiliate folks, jack into the local sim-net and play with OUTSIDERS. Channel three is for money matches, though the locals enforce a fifty c-bill limit on registered bets…. Tell you what, I’ll stake you a hundred to get started. I get 20% of your winnings for the time we are here on planet… we have a deal?”

Nikita merely arched an eyebrow at David's dressing down, remaining silent. When he finished, she flicks a glance at the holovid. “Commander, if I were to even think about 'tightening the screws' as you say, your cyber jock would be even more furious. I did not offer the challenge and I had no intention of 'preying' on anyone. My intent was to begin training my reflexes against the programmed parameters of a simulation. This is only an explanation, not an excuse.”

At David's mention of money fights, she nods. She watches Loren stalk across the room and exit through a door that would lead him outside. “Perhaps you should assign him a keeper. If he finds those that would rather have my head, there may be trouble. But that is only a suggestion, not something to take to heart, aff?”

She turns slightly to shut off the vid and glance up, taking in the group of people clustered near one wall. “These are new like myself?”

DropShip "Event Horizon"
Enroute to Fujidera, Duchy of Orient, Free Worlds League
30th August 3078
0600 hours

Zi Long was redirected on route on his way to Har-Lavi's quarters when news came in that "some part at least" of the former First Robinson Rangers officer in Fernando's cabin instead. A small crowd had already gathered outside the bunk when the Black Stars Captain arrived. Two of the DropShip crew were busily and rather nosily discharging their breakfast a little further down the small passage way. The Black Star medical officer, Kaplan Bowes was just stepping out of the cabin, his face a shade of white more pale than his usual self.

"I take it things are not pretty?" Zi Long asked lightly as he approached the doctor. The other man turned around and levelled a steely look at the Chinese man. Zi Long braced himself for another outburst from the Crucis Lancer. Much to his surprise, the man slumped his shoulders and heaved a heavy sigh.

"That would be an understatement." He lifted his gaze and looked briefly at Zi Long. "Even from you." The mercenary Captain kept quiet, waiting for more details. "There's blood smeared all over the room. Most looked like some sort of language that I'm pretty sure are not your Japanese, Mandarin or any other modern spoken tongue. In fact, quite a few of them looked more like symbols. I'm not linguist, but I don't think I'm too far off if I say that you won't find anyone on this ship that would comprehend them."

Zi Long nodded. He shouldered his way through the small crowd, most of who were obviously more than glad to melt out of his way. Zi Long tapped the shoulder of one of the security detail. "Get these people out and away from here. No one is to enter without my permission." The other man nodded mutely before casting another haunted look and the room. He began to roughly shove the others in the bunk out and chased them down the passage way. Satisfied that the task was being carried out, Zi Long finally turned to look at the small room. "Blood smeared all over the room" as Kaplan reported was way off mark. Zi Long did not even have the mood to chide the medical officer for ironically calling himself understating. At first glance, unrecognizable but what were obviously words and symbols were scribbled all over the walls of the cabin. However, they seemed to come alive and crawl like uncountable number of centipedes crawling over each other as Zi Long's gaze was drawn to them. It took all his mental will to pull himself away from them and made towards the toilet, bloody and sticky gore squashed under his boots.

The site within the cabin toilet, if even possible, was even more disturbing than that outside. The toilet bowl was overflowed, not with water or even human waste, but a thick, dark red liquid that not only looked like blood, but smelt like it. Scribbling like those outside were smeared all over the walls as well, though for some reason that Zi Long could not put his finger to, they emitted mixed emotions of anger and fear. Stretched and nailed to the cover seat of the toilet was the face of Har-Lavi. Despite his own disgust, Zi Long stepped closer to it. Whoever did the job of skinning the man did a hell of a job. The layer of peeled skin was unnaturally even, with nearly no blood on the surface. The only exception was two trails of red that rain from the empty holes where the eyes would be if there were staring out from behind them. Even more horrifyingly fascinating was that the mouth was shaped into a crocked and ghastly grin.

"We couldn't find any other part of his body."

Zi Long nodded silently to Kaplan's words, and continued to stare at the twisted mask before tearing himself away. "Try to see what you can find out Doc. I'll make sure that you have at least two other people with you while you're in this room, doing whatever you need to." The Black Stars medical officer could only grit his teeth before nodding slightly.

Zi Long stood and activated the device. "Captain Harris, this is Captain Zhao. I've instructed a pair of your security people to post guards outside Fernando's cabin while the Doc try to make sense of all this. I will let my people know that no one is to enter unless ordered, and I'd appreciate it if you tell your people the same." The Chinese man ghosted pass the stoic Kaplan and stood in the middle of the cabin. "I believe that there are also a lot more bunks than crew on and passengers on the Event Horizon at the moment. Can you make arrangements for this sector to be cleared out? At least until the doc finished his investigations and we clean up the place."

Receiving an affirmative from the DropShip Captain, Zi Long next got online with his Executive Officer. "David, I know what happened would put all of the Stars in unrest. Let's get them together and update them on the contract. I want a status report of all the sub-units as well before we make the next jump which will bring us into the Free Worlds League." He absently lifted one of his boots and stared at the gore stuck on it. "I also believe we have a Hunchback and Commando that are without pilots now. Get our techs to crack the access codes to the pair of them as soon as possible. I'm sure we have more than a couple of tech who are rather experienced in that field." Zi Long allowed a slight smile at that thought. "You and Nikita can be reinstated as Mechjocks if you guys want to. If not, we'll sell them at the next available chance."

Zi Long turned around again and noticed that Kaplen had not moved since he brushed pass him moments ago. "Doc?"

It took a tap on the shoulder from Zi Long to startle the medical officer back from his deep reverie. "Hmm? Yeah?"

"Get cleaned up and some rest before you organize a screen through of the room." Zi Long suggested. "If you can't find anything, and judge that you won't find out anything within a week, forget it. We'll clean up the cabin and get on."


Event Horizon
Crew Quarters

After long, exhausting hours that had started in the morning and lasted til the wee hours of the next, Nikita worked her people, watching them to judge their endurance and giving them the basis to work as a team. Having done that, they'd all gone for chow together, and managed to keep them awake long enough for a shower and into bed. A few moments and they were all snoring in some unholy harmony that would have caused others to peek in and check to see if someone hadn't stuffed an angry bear into the compartment.

Worn out herself, she attempted to sleep and succeeded for a little while, but a couple hours later it found her prowling the corridors, heading back towards the gym to work out. Blinking, she looks around the corridors and then double checks the diagram map. Finding the icon indicator for where she was, she shook her head. Muttering a rather nasty comment to the plaque, she turns back the way she found herself in the lounge.

Off in one corner was a couple of the younger crew, looking rather pale and green tinged. At her entrance, they twitched, looked up with haunted eyes, then stared at the table. All the signs of something wrong sent her senses onto full alert as she headed for the bar and checked the level of the alcohol. “You two want anything?”

The older looking of the two. “Yeah, a hot dagger so I can put my eyes out.”

She shook her head. “I can fix you up with a Flaming Dragon, but I am afraid your Captain and Mine would take exception to having one of his crew making a mess on the deck.” she smiled and began to fix the drinks.

He swallowed, “Just... don't... oh don't say that. Just give me something that'll make me forget.”

His mate nodded silently.

Quietly, she set them both up with flaming dragons... lighting them and quickly dousing the alcohol before the suppression system decided to take effect. “You go easy on these. Just one each is all you will need.”

Looking up at the new people coming in, she nodded as the sleepy crew began mumbling and grumbling. Only Sparky seemed to be awake enough to say something, “Uh, boss?”

Blinking, she looked over, “Yes?”

Sparky laughs a bit and squirms. “Um, I found your friend hiding under my covers when I went to sleep last night.” He opened up his vest to reveal the black masked ferret who, spotting her, literally launched itself out of the boy's clothes and onto the bar, scrambling for his special pocket.

Rolling her eyes, she obligingly opened her own vest and shakes her head. “Max, you know better.” she mutters. Looking at the boy again. “You did not mess with any of my stuff or anything, did you?”

Glen rumbled from his seat. “If you mean that scorpion you have got guarding your duffel, no, he did not. We came to find you and found your guardian instead.”

Wheels simply sat in the chair and muttered, “Coffee. There should be a law about being awake this early in the morning.” She cast a glare at Nikita. “Especially after what you just put us through.”

Nikita simply shrugs and puts on a pot of coffee and checks the menu to see if food can be delivered down here. “I needed to know what you could do under duress, Wheels. If I had not tested you, then you would not respect me as your commanding officer, aff?”

She sighed and nodded. “Well, yea... but..”

“No buts. If we are to work as a team we must all know the strength and weakness of the one who fights beside us. From the one who mans the turret, to the one who sits in the driving seat. Which one of you would trust a person who you just met with the ability to keep you alive?”

When the coffee was finished, she filled up the mugs, adding cream and sugar containers to the tray and set them down, then looked over at the two crew members, who seemed oblivious to the rest of the room, the drinks half gone. “Now that we know how we work together, we can survive together, Aff? Is anyone hungry yet?”

Heads shaking all around as she watches. A soft churr in her vest let her know that her friend finally got comfortable again and asleep. “Okay.” She sat down and pulled out a data recorder and looks at Sparky, who added sugar to his coffee while the others simply drank it black. “Sparky, did you get the electronics figured out.” at his nod, she grunts. “How soon can you get the glitches removed and the programs re-installed?”

He thinks, “Bout three days.”

Wheels smiled. “Don't worry, we'll get it done and ready in time.... “

Reaching for her own mug, she glances at the wall clock and watches the hour hand finally hit 08:00. Another work day lies ahead. I wonder what other surprises will be in store.


Black Stars Seeker Class DropShip "Event Horizon"
Enroute to Fujidera, Duchy of Orient, Free Worlds League
In FWL Space
20th September 3078
0410 hours

Zi Long stared in disbelief at the empty canister that had contained his precious coffee powder. What the fucking hell... He had just returned from yet another bust up among his troops. There had been an incredible number of incidents which saw fist fights and other scuffles breaking out in the DropShip in the three weeks since they left Terra. There was even one that turned fatal, when a shoving match resulted in one DropShip loading crew falling down an open shaft. The fact that the shaft should NEVER had been open in the first place sobered all the Stars - especially since the shaft had been unused for years, and had been welded shut.

Peace however, only lasted for three days, before an irate repair technician got into a fight with another while carrying out regular maintenance work. Zi Long resisted the urge to scream. What the heck is happening? The Black Stars may have never claimed to be a unit of iron discipline, but they had always been able to maintain a surprising level of harmony within themselves. After all, the unit that was founded on Herotitus had been based more on the relationship of a family - and while more than one family had back stabbed each other for one reason or another, things had never turned this sour nor fiery. He himself had even engaged in a couple of ill tempered arguments about the most trivial things - ranging from KP duty schedule to logistics status report.

The sharp pain on his arm drew Zi Long's attention from his fuming to his left arm. He had dug his right fingers deep into his left arm. Small trails of blood had oozed from where they had cut deeply into the flesh. The Black Stars officer cursed. Pushing his chair back, he crossed the few steps of his all to small personal bunk room to where a small washing basin was located and bathed the wound with water.

The icy cold liquid seemed to clear the fog of anger that clouded his mind. What are we doing? Zi Long continued to hold his arm under the water. Is the curse of the Event Horizon true after all? Is it the reason behind all these? The Chinese man softly switched off the tap. "Nonsense." He spat with a growl. "The DropShip is just a DropShip. The stories are just myths - and the universe is full of them."

Shaking the water from his hands, the mercenary Captain walked back to his table. They had actually managed to make faster time than expected even though the JumpShip that they had hooked on for the trip to Fujidera had blown a casket two jumps ago. Fortunately, they were in a occupied system where the company that the Black Stars had chartered had another waiting JumpShip ready. Instead of the need to wait for repairs and recharge, the Event Horizon had been transferred to the other FTL ship. That meant that they would actually arrive more than a week ahead of schedule. The first and only piece of good news so far. Zi Long rubbed his chin. Maybe we've been ground pounders for too long. Too much time spent in space.

Whatever the reason, Zi Long was just glad that they'd be arriving on Fujidera in another week or so - some time in late September. And than, they'd get down to business at hand. He looked at a single sheet of paper forgotten at one corner of his table. Kaplan had submitted the report over the incident involving Fernando and Har-Lavi after four days of investigation. He knotted his brows in further frustration. "There is an incredibly noted lack of forensics that could explain the death of Har-Lavi." It had read. "Other than traces of blood found on the walls and the removed facial mask, no other sign of Har-Lavi was found. In fact, most of the other blood samples taken from the wall writings and toilet bowl had been confirmed as blood of Fernando himself. The other samples tested had came up negative against all other crew and passengers on board the Event Horizon. How blood of anybody other than those present on board the DropShip, in such large quantity, could not be determined satisfactory. Recommend total cleansing and sterilization of the cabin and destruction of all organic samples to prevent possible contamination."

After a short discussion with David, Zi Long had approved just that. The entire sector had been off limits since than.


Primary Spaceport Facility
Fujidera, Free Worlds League
28 Sept. 3078

David stepped down the ramp as he disembarked from the Event Horizon and took a deep breath of the local air. It was so very good to smell real dirt-side air again after so long confined in a space-going tin can.

As he stepped down onto real soil for the first time in several weeks, he noticed the load-master arguing with a uniformed local official.

"I don't care what yer manky local boss says!" The Loadmaster was snarling at the man. "Canna ye read?! This ship's cargo and passengers were cleared at lift-off by the League customs facility on Terra. This is a military transport, not a buggerin' merchant ye great git! Import duties are NOT due, ye eejit!"

The customs man smiled as he responded. "Then I guess we'll just have to impound everything until it all gets sorted out then, now won't we?" The nasty grin on his face showed that he KNEW he was being unreasonable, but was enjoying putting the screws to the loadmaster. "Shouldn't take more than a month or two to get things all straightened out."

David sighed as he took in the scene. It was instantly clear what was going on...the local customs agents seemed to have decided that their normal pay wasn't quite enough to make ends meet, and were shaking down incoming strangers for "Processing fees" and such. Too bad for them, David had seen this sort of thing before.

Placing a hand on the loadmaster's shoulder, David stepped forward and addressed the customs agent. "Certainly!" He smiled. "You go ahead and do that! I'll just let the Sumitomo group know that you've decided to unilaterally rewrite League transport regs, and that as a result, you've voided our contract."

David shrugged, appearing unconcerned. "Doesn't matter to me. We get paid either way...Of course, the Sumitomo board might get a bit upset, and have a quiet word with your superiors." He grinned. "Of course, since you've nothing to hide, and are just doing your job, I'm SURE that they'll back you up against a multi-billion Eagle corporation."

The customs man paled. "Sumitomo?...But...."

Slumping, the man admitted defeat, but couldn't say so in as many words. Instead, he began to luster. "Well, I think I can let things go...THIS TIME! Just because we have only limited impound space." He looked at the papers again. "Alright, it says here you are staying on planet for at least sixty days. OK, then, I'll just kick this upstairs...we'll investigate the matter and get back to you."

David smiled and nodded. "Pleasure doing business with you! Enjoy your day, sir!"

With that, David turned and walked back to the ship, dragging the loadmaster with him.


FWS Dropship Woolly
Enroute to Fujiera
October 1, 3078

James reset his watch to local time. The drop ship captain had just informed him they would reach orbit in about 12 hrs. It would feel good to put his feet back on real ground. They had been inside this mammoth class drop ship for about 12 weeks. James had sent a comm to the Blac …. his new employers, letting them know that they were running a day behind due to a docking collar issue back at the jump point. He had sent one other back on Alphard letting them know he had arrived and picked up the packages. After meeting the drop ship’s XO he had no doubt that his employer knew his route progress better than he did. The man missed an excellent career as an accountant/tax collector. Those travel vouchers were probably being cashed, submitted as soon as he could. James stopped by where the infantry had been stationed and let the two platoon leaders know when they were due to hit orbit. They just said yes sir and that they would be ready. James knew that they would be too. Even after almost two months the starch hadn’t left their mannerisms. James moved on down 3 decks and to the other side of the ship from the infantry to where his crew was billeted. He stopped to watch them from the small catwalk before going down to them. Pee-Wee was passing out a new round of beer and more ration bars. James looked up in time to see Slim enter the bay onto the other catwalk. He noticed James just before he started down the ladder. He gave a nod to James which he acknowledged and proceeded down the ladder to the rest of the group. James realized, while looking at his crew, that they were trusting him to take care of them. He could tell they were getting anxious as well. They knew it would be only another day or so, and were more than ready to be off this ship. He just stood there and watched for a few more minutes. He then went down into the hold and approached his crew. “Heads up!” he shouted. They all stopped and looked at him. It had been a long time since he had used a command voice and it had caught them off guard. He continued “Last call at the bar. After this I expect all of you to get a full eight hours rack time. We will be hitting orbit in about 12hrs. Things will be crazy from that point on. We will have to transfer our gear to a shuttle for our trip down from orbit and then off it again. We will then need to uncrate the birds and get them flight ready again. Eugene, you have the required checklists and schedules we worked out. I want those birds ready and flight tested ASAP. I will get us checked in, billets, and find out about maintenance supply. Drink up.” James turned and left. He wanted one more work out to try and burn off some of the anxiety he was feeling. Otherwise he probably wouldn’t be able to sleep.


FWL DS Wooly
Cargo Bay 2
Orbiting Fujiera
October 1st
02:00 Local time

James woke with a start, the thunderous cacophony that filled his ears was deafening, it was like being inside a drum being played. He rushed to the door and saw the senior load master and an assistant there banging on the side of the cargo container James and his crew were sleeping in.

"Rise and shine!" the senior load master said, with a wicked smile on his face, when he saw James. James’s look of shock turned to venomous hate when he saw what had caused the noise.

James had already clenched a fist and was about to start a one on two fight when the senior load master said, "There’s been a change in plans. You’re loading in 90 minutes. So get your shit together when we come back your stuff is being loaded … ready or not."

James stopped in his tracks at the words 90 minutes. He reflexively checked his watch. The snarling grin on the Senior load master’s face, showed that he would enjoy that as he turned and left with his assistant close behind. James could hear all the groans and curses from the rest of his crew. James turned and almost bumped into Bubba Joe staggering out in a t-shirt and boxers. He was still groggy and was scratching his messed up hair.

"What give Boss?" He asked.

James was looking over Bubba Joe’s shoulder at the rest of his crew Then he shouted into the container. "That noise was our senior load master giving us the latest update. We are to be packed and ready to go in … 89 minutes!" James said pausing to look at his watch.

"Let’s go people! We have got a lot to do and no time to spare. "

The crew came to alert rather quickly after that. Alice almost ran into James, avoiding hitting him by turning sideways at the last instant, mess kit in hand. Pee-Wee and Hawk were only a few seconds behind her. James, with a moment’s notice had flattened himself against the container wall as those two went by. All three were running for the latrine and a quick shower. James knew it would be quick because they still had to square away their section. The others went to work rolling up and securing the bedding and any other loose personal items, especially the breakables. Slim was trying to sweep all the empties out of the container.

Eugene had slipped out of the container and went to one of the chairs and then stood and shouted "@#$%#$%*"

He jogged back and yelled into the container, " Somebody give me a cutting torch!"

Billy Ray grabbed one from the tool box at the foot of the bunk and after a brief whistle tossed it to Gunther who in turn tossed it out the door to Eugene. After catching the torch he checked the fuel gauge and turned and ran back to the chairs and started cutting them loose from the pallets.

After making sure his people were working effectively James grabbed his mess kit and moved quickly to the latrine for his turn. He passed the first three just outside the latrine, they were on their way back. Alice was still toweling her hair. James figured he had about 15 minutes before the second wave got up here for their turn. So James quickly disrobed and set the controls for warm and then quickly cranked them up to hot. He enjoyed the stream pounding into his flesh and the stinging of the hot droplets as they tried to scald his skin. He quickly lathered up and rinsed off. He didn’t have time to enjoy the hot water now. He quickly wrapped a towel around himself and went to the sink to shave. Of course the mirror was steamed but that didn’t matter, he rarely used one. He had the routine down so well now that he didn’t need to actually see what he was doing he could see it inside his mind. He had just finished when more of his crew showed up. Bubba Joe, Slim and Gunther came running in, Bubba Joe was already down to just his boxers and it was a scary sight seeing that much of a man shake with every step. James rinsed off his razor and deposited it back into his mess kit and started to make his way back to the hold and a fresh set of clothes. A pressed black shirt and pressed black slacks with a white web belt. He stashed the tie into the light leather jacket. He then went about securing all of his gear and then went out to Eugene who was finishing the last cut.

"Eugene, hit the showers, we will start stowing this gear while your cleaning up."

The 3 others nearby were already unhooking the hold down straps and clips that held the pallets down. With everybody’s gear stowed but Eugene’s the started loading the chairs, the coolers, and the portable heating unit into the cargo shipping container. After those were stowed they started on the cargo pallets as well. About half way through Eugene returned from the latrine.

He quickly stowed his gear while the others took a short break. Then they all finished loading the last pallets and strapped them all down. They were closing the container doors when the senior load master returned. This time there was a crew with them. The overhead hoists were heard as they started to manoeuvre them to the pallets that were being loaded. One of the freight handlers herded them to the Shuttles. Both platoons of infantry were already there.

There were 4 ST-46 shuttles. One Warrior was loaded onto each one. The 20T cargo container that housed all the crews gear was loaded into one of them and then the two platoons were loaded, one each into two of the remaining shuttles. James insisted that one crew went with each helicopter. Then they were launching from the drop ship and headed dirt side.


ST-46 Shuttle
Fujiera
October 1, 3078 01:15 Local

The shuttle felt more like the inside of a blender as it entered the atmosphere. James was wondering if the pilot had found the biggest storm on planet to fly through. Then things smoothed out. Meanwhile the scene was being replayed on 3 other shuttles almost simultaneously, though there would be clean up on the shuttles carrying the infantry platoons, all managed to survive. The next loud sounds to be heard were the chirp of tires on ferrocrete and reverse thrusters engaging.

The shuttle then taxied to the unloading area. The cargo door hissed as the vacuum seal was broke and then started to whine as the motors opened the doors. There were cargo handlers at the ready to unload James’s Shuttle. The first two were unhooking the tie downs another was flagging something James couldn’t see. The next thing he saw as he finished unhooking his safety restraints was his helo leaving the shuttle. As soon as it was clear the ground crew hopped off. The co-pilot appeared next. He gave James a look of why are you still here, get off already. James lazily smiled back and slowly rose to his feet and grabbed his small valv-pak and left.

At the top of the shuttle’s cargo ramp he saw his helo being pulled toward a hangar by a tugger. He started off briskly in pursuit of his helo. Before he had made it half way to the hangar he had to slow down significantly, he was short of breath. James was briefly worried that his conditioning was shot by travelling for so long in space, then he realized it was because the local air was thin. He continued on towards the hangar but it now felt like he was in slow motion. He didn’t want to push himself with the thin air.

At the hangar he saw a man with a data pad verifying the cargo. What James didn’t’ see was the rest of his unit. He approached the man with the data pad and inquired as to where the rest of his crew and equipment was. The man looked at him and said that was all that the shuttle was carrying and it was all there. James took a moment and rephrased his question "Where were the rest of the shuttles from the drop ship that have the rest of my equipment and people?" The man spoke into his boom mike for a moment and after a brief pause spit out 4 different hangar buildings. James asked where those locations were. Part way through the directions James realized that they were at almost literally at the most distant locations from here they could be.

James nodded to the man and reached into his pocket for the customs documents and tried to check his helo through. The man looked at them and said that he couldn’t do it.

"Why?" asked James "It is on the manifest."

"Yes it is" said the man whose name tag read Fellows, "but it also lists 3 more and a cargo crate and sixty two more people than are here, so no, I cannot partially check you through."

James was about to ask more questions when it hit him what was happening, a shake down. He hadn‘t been on planet 5 minutes yet. He lowered his head for a moment and minutely shook his head. He then raised it and looked this guy Fellows in the eye and asked "Would you be able to arrange for all of my gear and personnel to be consolidated into one place to facilitate getting through customs?"

The guy smiled, "I think that could be arranged, but of course that would mean talking to all the other agents and a monitoring of all items to ensure nothing interferes with the chain of custody. Then there is the transportation and .."

"I understand that there are …difficulties involved" James waved his hand down and continued "significant difficulties involved. I also understand that my request is not a standard request. I also understand that I am under a time constraint." James thought of his orders and the fact that he did not want to piss off his new employer, which he hadn’t met yet, though the delay with the docking collar was well out of his control as was everything else of the journey until now.

"Lastly I am also under the very real constraint of having only … 210 C-bills and some lint." James said after opening his wallet right in front of the man and thumbing through what few bills remained and looking at the man with a pleading look.

The man named Fellows had watched James as he opened the wallet and riffled through what few bills remained. He smiled inwardly, he had found another one that didn’t know how to play the game. He shook his head slowly and said "That is a less than what your request would require, but I don’t want to seem insensitive to your plight especially to a new visitor to Fujiera."

He paused, looked down, and sighed. When he looked up again he looked at James and said "Tell you what, I‘ll make an exception for you. I wouldn’t do this for anybody else, mind you, but for you it will only cost the 210, you can keep the lint. The difference will end up costing me a favour or two, but you really seem like a nice guy."

James put a look of relief and gratitude on his face as he pulled all the bills out of his wallet and shaking the lint onto the floor before handing over the 210 C-bills. Fellows took the bills and put them on top of his data pad and pointed to a corner and told James to wait over there and then proceeded to talk into his comm set.

From the corner where James had been directed to wait he watched Fellows go through his act of making all the calls and pleading with the faceless people on the other side of the comm. James noted he was a good actor and very good at his job. An hour later, there were 4 heleos, one cargo container and all his people, all in the one warehouse.

James handed over the paperwork and the guy went through the procedures to check in all the equipment and gear. He even opened the cargo container and went through that. When he left he held up a bottle of wine that had been purchased back on Alphard and told James that the bottle of wine was illegal on Fujiera and that he would have to confiscate it. James knew that there were 3 more bottles of it in that container and that Fellows would have found those as well so James nodded and quickly apologized for unknowingly breaking any law, and thanking the man for his kindness for pointing it out. Fellows put the bottle on the floor off to one side and continued with the customs inspection going through all the individuals’ paperwork. After he had done that he walked up to James slotted the paper work through the data pad, and handed him back his paperwork and said "You’re all set. Welcome to Fujiera, enjoy your stay. You will need to have this gear out of here in 6 hours or there will be storage charges assessed. "

James took the paperwork and thanked the man. Fellows then turned and walked back over to the bottle picked it up and continued walking out of the hanger through a small side door marked Authorized personnel only. He then turned and started back to his crew and the infantry when he saw a man in the hangar entrance. He was wearing a long black leather duster. He was also looking straight at James.

David stood silently, watching Lockheart and the customs man approach. Chuckling softly, he thought to himself. “Seems our local squeeze play is still operating.”

Stepping forward, he addressed the two. “Good morning, Gentlemen.” The customs man’s face showed his resentment and dislike. “Mr. Lockheart I presume?” David nodded to the pilot.

Receiving a nod, David kept on. “So… how much did he extort out of you for “Extra Processing fees?”

Surprised to be so openly confronted, the customs man was stunned for a moment while Lockheart replied softly. “Just over two hundred and a bottle of booze.”

With a quick glance around to make sure he wasn’t being overheard, the customs man hissed, “Stay out of this! He wants special efforts, he pays for it! Otherwise he could pay a lot more to get the stuff moved himself!”

David laughed loudly. “Please… DO continue! I haven’t heard something quite as funny in a while! You ALMOST make it sound like you hadn’t had his gear diverted to four different warehouses on purpose.”

“So?” The man sneered. “Not my problem if he can’t keep track of his stuff.”

David just shook his head. “Ah, but it IS your problem. You see, you aren’t the only one who can read the regs. “ He pulled out a small notebook. “Regulation four-three-nine-seven B: Associated cargo SHALL be retained in close association and storage until cleared by customs. Regulation five-five-two-seven: Cargo movement as a function of customs inspection is the responsibility of the Customs department, including all associated costs and liabilities. Regulation two-nine-four-four: Confiscating items under false pretences or knowingly assessing fraudulent fees, duties, and/or taxes on legal goods shall constitute a felony and shall be prosecuted under League judicial statutes.”

David smiled as he pointed to three groups of uniformed men at various doors. “Well, Mr. Fellows… It seems you have a choice… Sumitomo security wants to talk to you about restraint of trade and some theft accusations… something about items missing from cargo and personal luggage… Fujidera security wants to discuss smuggling allegations, and local income tax evasion… and the Large gentlemen over there.” He pointed. “They seem to be members of the League Criminal Investigations Bureau…. They don’t look happy, do they? I’d say you have to choose who you want to talk to first.”

A few minutes later, as Fellows was being led away in handcuffs, David nodded to the local CID agent in charge. "Glad to be of service."


Apartment #335
Sumitomo Group Transient Worker's Hab.
Halon City, Fujidera, Free Worlds League
2 Oct. 3078

"And Blake saw the unrestricted lust for technology corrupting his fellows." The stern visaged man intoned, reading from a tattered book.

"Blessed be his clear vision." His gathered congregation murmured in response.

"Blake meditated for a time on the corruption, and came to understand that man had quested too far in search of knowledge. Man's thirst for forbidden lore had gained him learning before he was prepared. Man's greed for technology and power had outstripped his ability to control." The leader's voice gained intensity.

"Blessed be the holy Blake." Came the soft response.

"Blake urged his fellow men to step back from their road to ruin.... But their pride would not allow them to see. They laughed at Blake's vision, they dismissed him and drove him from their sight."

"Woe be to the unbeliever."

"In time, Man's hubris outstripped all bounds and the gods struck back, bringing down the Star League and plunging the whole of Humanity into centuries of culling and suffering. Jewels of humanity were snuffed from existence in moments, punished for man's great pride. The gods would not be mocked, and took back much of the knowledge that had been stolen from them."

"Pride is the path to damnation."

"So it was, that Blake came to understand. To save man, he and the few who understood the threat, would have to take control of man's development. No longer could man be allowed to seek knowledge he was not ready for."

"Praised be the name of Blake."

"So it was, when Blake sought to curb man's fall. When he and his disciples sought to save mankind from itself. Alas, the Gods would not be swayed. For centuries mankind was scourged with war and suffering."

"Great sins require great penance."

"Centuries would pass before the gods would be convinced to relent in some measure... Alas, many had failed to grasp the lessons that were so clear to Blake."

"Sin stops up the eyes of unbelievers."

"No sooner had the gods lifted their hands from mankind's neck, then did man seek to repeat his error. Once again, mankind sought knowledge he was ill prepared to bear. Even as the gods sent the Clans to the Inner Sphere to serve as an example of what corruption and sin could lead us to, they still sinned."

"Blessed be the name of Blake, who brought the way."

"Even of those who heard the Holy Word, there were some who were seduced down the path of sin. Our once brothers of Com-Star, who for so long understood the truth of Blake's vision, were led astray by false promises and easy sins."

"None are so vile as the Apostate and Traitor."

"And so, Brethren, it falls to the few faithful who remain. We who still see the purity of Blake's understanding. We see what must be done. Mankind must not be allowed to reach beyond its station. Technology must be restrained and learning held back to the pace mankind may accept safely. Only those who have shown purity of thought and true understanding of what must be done, may be permitted to guide man's rise. Blake's Word is the one such order which has that vision and purity in these dark days."

"Blessed be the Word."

"Of those who would seek to drag mankind into sin and corruption, we must be ever vigilant. We who still see the truth, we are the first line of guardians. It is WE who must step up and tell the Lords and Money-Men that some things come at too high a cost. That some sins are too great to tolerate."

"Bring Witness to the Sinner!"

"But have no illusions my brethren. The Sinners will not take kindly to our words. They will not listen unless MADE to listen. None are so blind as those who refuse to see. No truth is so resisted as a hard truth. We will need a way to force their attention. A way to draw their eyes and ears."

"Blake's word carry true."

"And make no mistake my friends...Few are those that will thank us for lifting their blinders. Many will seek to prevent the Word from reaching the masses. We must be prepared to do hard things in our quest. Necessary things, but hard."

"Holy work is it's own reward."

"Be ready, oh faithful. The time comes, so very soon, when we may finally take the next step in the salvation of mankind."

"Blake's vision be one, Blake's will be done."


Sumitomo Group Head Office
Fujidera
Duchy of Orient, Free Worlds League
2nd October 3078
1130 hours

"I'm sorry Sir, Mr. Temagu-Irez is still engaged in the meeting." The receptionist smiled apologetically at Zi Long. The Chinese man smile back with a nod.

"It’s ok. I have that excellent coffee and you for company in the meantime." He winked back.

"I'll get you another one." The petite lady blushed slightly, stood up quickly and headed for the small pantry behind her receptionist counter and emerged with cup of the piping black liquid moments later. Zi Long accepted the cup with another winsome smile before sitting himself down again in one of the plush sofa in the waiting lounge. His absently looked through the glass panels that lined the lounge at the dark murky skies outside.

Roger Temagu-Irez, the CEO and appointed liaison to the Black Stars from Sumitomo Group for their current contract had surprising allowed Zi Long a full day to get his unit sorted and moved into their allocated quarters before calling him up for their first official meet up. That the quarters allocated to the Black Stars were more than reasonably well furbished and maintained was even more surprising. Most of the time, employers tend to chuck mercenary units they hired into nearly collapsing structures where even basic amenities like water, electricity supply and sewage systems most likely did not function. Furthermore, employers would usually ask for a parade style inspection, with themselves as the VIP.

Not so this Mr. Temagu-Irez. In fact, the man had even apologized that he could not be there to welcome the Black Stars to Fujidera, nor meet Zi Long and his command in person upon their arrival. The Black Stars officer was no so naive as to believe that all these meant that their liaison was all bubbly, nice and an overall good guy. However, at least he could hope that he was at least half better than the Three Stooges he met on Terra.

The long wait for the meeting here at Sumitomo's Headquarters seemed only to enforce the idea that the niceties were only acts to put Zi Long and the Stars at ease before slamming them with the hidden hammer behind a smiling face. On the other hand, Zi Long was glad of the delay. It at least made it all the likely that David would be able to join him after he had seen to the settling in of the Black Stars in their facilities.

Zi Long did not have the time to finish the cuppa. The receptionist received a buzz on her comm and ushered him into a room further in the level. The room he was led into was huge but tastefully laid out. Everywhere he looked, it was either off white, chromed metal or dark wood. On the wall opposite the glass panels that overlooked the city below, a huge oil painting that seemed to depict flashing lights dancing across black inky space was the only piece of item in the room that broke the colour monotony of the room. Seated at the far end of the room behind a massive oak desk was a surprisingly hulking man. Zi Long could easily picture the man as a Battle Armour soldier. Dressed in an obviously tailored to size suit, he wore his balding hair with ease and grace.

As Zi Long approached the table, Roger Temagu-Irez rose from his seat. Even though he towered at least a head above Zi Long, his easy smile did not give him an overbearing nor threatening feel.

"Mr. Zhao, we meet at last!" He beamed while extending a hand, which Zi Long accepted. Both men pumped their hands firmly. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, but I'm sure a man of your position understand that responsibilities sometimes dictates our time rather than the other way round eh?" Zi Long could only politely nod at the unexpected hospitality.

"Please, be seated and make yourself comfortable." Temagu-Irez waved Zi Long towards one of the thickly padded chairs in front of his desk before he turned towards the receptionist. "Klara, get us something to drink before Mr. Zhao and myself perish of dehydration will you?" The huge man looked at Zi Long. "Scotch?"

"Don't mind if I do, thank you."

"Excellent!" Sumitomo Group's CEO beamed. "Double shots for both of us."

As Klara left the room and shut the doors with a soft click, the older man turned back towards Zi Long. "Let me officially welcome you to Fujidera. We might not be the prettiest planet, and the air is definitely on the thin side, but I'm sure you'll find your stay here enjoyable nonetheless."

"Next, I believe you must be itching to know the Grand Duke's schedule and itinerary." Temagu-Irez gave Zi Long a conspicuous grin. "Ponder no longer." He pressed a button under his desk, and the large art piece on the wall slowly slid aside as a holovid projector lowered into place. The glass panels darkened, and a table flashed into view.

"As you can see, the Grand Duke will arrive on the 15th of October." Temagu-Irez announced even as Zi Long devoured the information presented. "He will be housed in our main complex instead of any hotel due to the need to reduce any sort of publicity. There will be a dinner held in his honour during the night, after which the visits will start."

Zi Long nodded. While the contract the Black Stars signed had stated that the Grand Duke will be visiting for "a couple of months", the official itinerary before him declared that the visit will last for only three weeks.

"Of course, other than yourself and your Black Stars, Sumitomo Group will have our own security details providing additional protection to His Person." Temagu-Irez smiled. "And the local constabulary will lend any sort of support as and when necessary." The smile on his fast faded when the next screen of data flashed across the holovid. "And than, for reasons unknown to me, the Grand Duke has decided to surround himself with a bodyguard BattleMech company drawn from the ranks of the 2nd Oriente Hussars."

"You do not approve of that?" Zi Long asked.

Sumitomo Group's CEO snarled slightly. "I completely approve that one of the Duchy of Oriente regiments provide security of course - it is only proper. I just cannot understand why the honour was not bestowed upon one of the Fusiliers of Oriente regiments."

"That you were a former member of?" Zi Long prodded again.

"Indeed." The man straightened himself with obvious pride. "I had the honour to serve in the Ducal Guards for over a decade."

Zi Long nodded in appreciation. It was no wonder that the task of constructing orbital defense satellites to be used throughout the Duchy of Oriente would fall to a company that had members of its own Provincial Units in the higher management levels.

"Still, they would no doubt be nothing more than decoration. I fully expect your Black Stars to do the majority of the work actually." Temagu-Irez smiled. "The Grand Duke will be visiting our plants, where smaller components are fabricated, assembled and tested. After that, we will bring him to our orbital factory facilities where the final assembly of all the parts will be carried out. Most of them are already on line and operating. However, we will have the Grand Duke officiate the opening of the latest of our factories."

Several layout plans and locations of the various factories flashed by on the holovid display. "Don't worry about memorizing them now, I have downloaded them in a data pack for you and your people to review, and in the two weeks before the Grand Duke's arrival, you have full access to visit the factories, with advanced notice, so that you can get yourself familiar with them."

"As you would have noticed, all the places where we will be visiting are not accessible to BattleMechs. Heck, there's even only so many places a small vehicle can go to." The large man took a sip from his glass. "I therefore expect most of the REAL work to be on foot."

Zi Long nodded again. "I agree. We will have our VTOLs on aerial support, and our vehicles to provide additional protection to any convoy movement. We will also have our foot troops and BA ready. Our 'Mechs will be on standby. Unless the situation becomes critical, I do not expect, nor hope for them to be mobilized."

"I expected nothing less of your unit Captain." Temagu-Irez graced Zi Long with yet another beam. "In fact, I might recommend that the Grand Duke select your Morningstar as his personal ride for the duration of his visit."

That, surprised Zi Long somewhat. Maybe it was because of his military background, or it might be because he took his job VERY seriously. The Chinese man had not expected Temagu-Irez to go through the TO&E of the Black Stars in detail as to know what they had. The smile on his face however, gave no indication of his surprise. "It would be my honour." He bowed slightly.

"Spoken like a true military man." The man looked at Zi Long. "Now that you've seen MY office, could I bother you to show me YOUR unit? It’s been too long since I had been back in the camaraderie and kinship of a military unit. It’s something I yearn to feel again." He closed his eyes, as if recalling his days back in the Ducal Guards, before opening them and looking at Zi Long. "And I've heard that the Black Stars are more than a mercenary unit - you call yourselves a family."


Vehicle Bays Event Horizon
Space Port, Halon City, Fujidera, Free Worlds League
2nd October 3078
1200 Hours

The crew was taking a lunch break from prepping their heloes. They had been at it for over 6hrs today plus the 14hrs yesterday. The curses and the sweat had been flowing steady. The good news was they already had two up and ready for flight testing. They had just started on their 3rd. James was happy to see them getting along while sober.

They had stayed in their cargo crate again last night, not because they really wanted to, but because it was close and they were exhausted. Having the bays was making the prep work much easier. So was getting a work flow down. Eugene was the only tech they had, the rest including himself, in his fresh grease stained coveralls, were not much more than half-as-techs. With patient instruction and words of encouragement (well … colourful aspersions of heritage anyways) they were getting things done.

The sandwich was chicken salad, the apple juice was from concentrate but tasted great. The brownies were the best they had had in several months. The bay had some activity, but most of the crews were working outside on the tarmac. James did not understand that, some of the work they were doing could be done a lot more efficiently inside, but they were doing it outside. James shrugged, must be good to be back on real ground with fresh air and sunshine.

Fifteen minutes later, they were back to work on their 3rd helo. They worked steady and by chow they had finished the 3rd and had just started on their last bird. Chow was salibury steak, vegetable medley fresh …. Spuds? Well what passed for spuds on this world. They were a light blue in colour and were still a little crispy. The cherry compote was a big hit as well. The ships mess sergeant was very kind in serving them down in the vehicle bay. Of course a bottle of Alphard wine was a great incentive. They ended up working up to 22:00 getting the last one prepped. The bird was being stubborn, and his crew was tired. They were all feeling irritable. With the job done they staggered to their bunks and crashed for the night.


Kintetsu
Fujidera Capital City
Duchy of Orient, Free Worlds League
19th October 3078
2300 hours

The arrival of His Grace, Grand Duke Christopher Halas of of Oriente on the world of Fujidera was strangely but understandably muted and without much fanfare. Escalation of rivalry and tension within the Free Worlds League itself had all the more highlighted the sham of a 'united' League between the Duchy of Oriente and most of the other regions and League Houses. The second clan to rule Oriente, the Halas family had became close allies of the Mariks, with the Captain-General taking a Halas as his bride. This was despite the Free Worlds League Parliament appointing Blair Halas to the post because of the clan’s distance from the Mariks and thus independence from interference by the Captain-General. Frequently allied with the Captain-General or else standing as loyal opposition depending on who the Marik on the seat of power was, the province has commonly acted as the “swing vote” between the more confrontational power blocs of Marik and Regulus.

The present lord of House Halas, Grand Duke Halas, was a former confidant of Janos Marik and the father-in-law of Thomas Marik’s father-in-law. The Grand Duke had seen Oriente’s power wane as the Captain-General centralized authority in his own hands. Consequently, the other noble Houses had seen that as a sign that the once closely House Marik aligned Duchy of Oriente had lost its position in the eyes of the Captain-General. That had seen them stepping up efforts against House Halas both in the Atreus Courts and across the Duchy's borders. With the ongoing civil war that ravaged the entire League, the Duchy of Oriente seemed torn as to whom it should support. Instead, it had apparently decided to reinforce its borders, repelling anyone who might decide to undertake actions against itself.

That was the backdrop, as far as Zi Long's understand, on the current massive undertaking in the construction of orbital defense satellites to be used throughout the Duchy to discourage adventurism by the other rival factions. The Black Stars Captain had always been surprised at how the Free Worlds League could have survived as an entity throughout the many years where civil wars had reared its ugly on more than several occasions down the centuries.

Out of wanton fascination, Zi Long had dug through historic information to search back to the one of the very first Marik coups which occurred even before the formation of the Star League where Carlos Marik was deposed by his brother, Brion Marik, after the former had gathered a fleet in the Oriente system in preparation to attack the Terran Hegemony in 2475. Hegemony intelligence services managed to get wind of the planned assault and a Hegemony fleet destroyed the Marik forces at anchor. Carlos was certified mentally unstable after that debacle and was replaced after Brion staged a coup against his elder brother.

The next notable occurrence of civil unrest would hit the Free Worlds League during the period between the 2720s to the 2730s. The strife had its genesis in 2703 after Elise Marik succeeded her father Gerald's death. The new Captain-General claimed that her father was murdered and started a twenty give year witch hunt through the League. Her removal from position by Parliament in 2728 in turned saw Elise Marik and her loyalists dissolve Parliament and arrest many MPs, sparking a civil war. A “proxy Parliament” installed her brother Oliver as the nation’s Council Lord and his son, Boris Marik, as Captain-General.

A year later forces loyal to Oliver and Boris Marik capture Elise, while Elise’s son Bertram continues to fight. In 2734, Bertram Marik liberated Atreus and his mother, finally ending this chapter of the Free Worlds League civil war with the signing of the Treaty of Verona between Oliver and Bertram Marik. Parliament reconvened, and appointed Bertram Marik as Captain-General and Council Lord.

The next incident of note involved the famed Wolf's Dragoons, when Anton Marik rallied his forces, hired the Dragoons and proclaimed himself Captain-General in 3014 against Jonas Marik. The rebellion ended in early 3015 with the annihilation of Anton and his troops as a vengeful Wolf’s Dragoons descended on New Delos led by the Black Widows.

In 3030, the Duchy of Andurien seceded from the Free Worlds League allied with the Magistracy of Canopus. It was not until a decade later, in 3040 that the Free Worlds League, under the new leadership of Thomas Mairk, recaptured the Duchy.

And now, civil war once against plagued the Free Worlds League after the death of Thomas Marik in late 3076. The Free Worlds League plunged into civil strife with the Parliament squabbling to support the candidate that would best suit their ambitions. At the moment, the two sides had been warring, one under Alys Rousset-Marik, and the other Janos Marik II.

Adding to all that chaos was the continued involvement of the Word of Blake. Zi Long had long ago refused to view them simply as a splinter from ComStar, no matter how true that statement was, the fanatical faction had proved most dangerous indeed. The mercenary officer shock his head. While their current contract seemed to be a cake walk on the surface, any or all of many previously unaccounted parties might make sudden and unexpected appearance.

Fortunately, that had not happened in the four days since the Grand Duke's arrival. In fact, the worst trouble Zi Long and David had had to deal with were incidents of their people getting into fist fights with member of the Oriente Hussars in local taverns and bars. Despite all her arrogance and snobbish attitude towards the mercenaries, Zi Long still smiled at the image of Captain Martina Lowe scowing each time they met. "But she has SUCH a pretty nose." Zi Long had exclaimed to David's protest about his fascination with the commander of the Hussar Company commander. After all, pub waitresses were such easy pick ups. Guess its time to upgrade.

Still, Zi Long had openly laughed at the insistence of the Oriente Hussars to escort the Grand Duke in their BattleMechs. It was not so much the image of the green camouflage painted 'Mechs trying to maneuver through the streets of Fujidera, trying to keep up with the motorcade led by a pair of unmarked local police cars. It was the fact that the oversized tin cans, more than anything, declared the importance of the of person they were escorting - which was completely in the face of the objective of trying to keep the Grand Duke's visit a secret. With the deployment of the 'Mechs spoiling all attempts at keeping things "quiet", Zi Long had approved the deployment of the VTOLs, combat tanks and his own Morningstar as well. He hoped the fun of all these would continue. If the heavy hardware were to be required, things would have turned very nasty indeed.

Kintetsu
Capital City of Fujidera
on patrol near the barracks

Nikita and her tanker crew stand by in their tank, watching the progress. Sparky has his ears to the com unit while the rest of them sit and wait for orders. After a few moments, she ducks down into the tank and smiles. “Well, we are officially a crew now. Sparky, anything on the grid yet?”

Without turning around he scribbles a few things on a notepad, then adjusts a few knobs. “Mostly calls to the local office about the presence of the large ‘Mechs stumbling around and why they're here.” A chuckle escapes his lips. “If they wanted Incognito, they should have gone for tanks or even a hovercraft with baffled exhausts. As it is people are going to know something’s up.”

Wheels shakes her head. “Too late for that, kid. Even if they did that, that green camouflage sticks out so badly it's like throwing a white cat in a room full of black ones and expecting no one to notice.” Rolling her eyes, she watches an overhead view of the procession from a satellite that Sparky had tapped into.

Glen double checked the equipment for the third time in a row before settling into his chair to wait. “If they had wanted discretion, they should have used an alternative paint method and not shown such arrogance. They have only served to paint a target on the person they are attempting to protect. Aff?”

Nikita nodded, “Aff. Thankfully we are more discrete and will probably be the ghosts that seem to appear, take care of the mess that has been made, and disappear. At least we of the Black Stars know how to apply the term 'discrete'.”

Quietly they all managed to get through the first half of the day with only a small blip on Sparky's grid, which was duly noted and set up the firing line to the person in charge. A tech crew knocked on the door and sent in what passed for lunch, along with bottles of water for all.

As time went on, Sparky had more blips to send up the line. Mostly irate messages and empty threats from the citizens, but most of them were on private communications. Suddenly, the kid sits up straight in his chair as if zapped by a tazer. “Contact! We got contact. Someone's trying to get a vidfeed onto the public holofeed.”

“Jam them” Nikita orders then gets topside and opens a private link to David. “Commander, there is an attempt to get a live holofeed onto the public networks. My electronics person is jamming their efforts.” She pauses to listen to the activity below, she smiles. “As to how a mere tank crew got this lucky, I have you to thank. The boy is an electronics genius as well as an adrenaline junkie. He's used his knowledge to get every electronics device patched into his system here in the tank.” Another pause, “Yes, I know that out communications team has been getting information on hits, who do you think sent them up the line? This latest one is important enough for him to get excited over.”

Juniper Fields Assembly Plant
Kintetsu, Fujidera, Duchy of Oriente
Free Worlds League
24 October, 3078
21:37 Hours Local Time

James sat at his small desk and reviewed the after action report he had just written. He played back the entire scene in his mind. The day had started as routine.

<Flash back to earlier>

The guard duty patrols had become routine. Almost boring, but he was working and flying. The latest trip to the Juniper Fields plant was just another trip and he was in a slow lazy orbit around the plant with Slim and Billy Ray 180 degrees away in the same orbit. Slim was due to be rotated off station soon. James checked chrono and keyed the mike “Trouble 2, what’s your ETA?”

“Ten minutes out.” Hawk responded into his comm.

Right on time James thought. “Any updates on 4?” James asked.

“Negative.” Hawk responded.

James cursed silently under his breath. The birds had all checked out fine except for 4. The inertial nav wasn’t working properly. So far the source had been elusive. James was ready to ground the bird until it could be fixed or a new unit could be found. Alice said she was willing to fly it anyways. Her normal machine back home never had a fancy device like that so she didn’t have any problem if the one in hers didn’t work. James was unsure at first but she didn’t’ seem to have any problems getting around after the first flight. She and Gunther were on ready five back at base. And in an hour and half they were due out to relieve James.

“I think I’m going to see if that pretty looking Brunette from the other day wants to play some more tonight after shift.” Slim said over their air frequency.

“That Hussars bitch? The one that was all uppity and everything? What makes you think she won’t just break your arm if you even try and ask? …Wait a sec what do you mean play some more? When did you get any time with her!” Billy Ray said.

“We got acquainted during that brawl the other day. She was real pleasant, and seemed very receptive to my advances.” We didn’t’ get to spend as long as I would have liked, but ….” Slim responded.

“And just when did this take place?” Billy Ray asked with scepticism?

After a pregnant pause Slim said “Just after your brother cold cocked her in that bar fight.”

Billy Ray just shook his head and said “Slim, you are one sick mother.”

The Company net roared to life right then.

"David, swing your vehicles along to the main bay entrance and main side exit. Cut them off, offer surrender. If they resist, take them out." He finished grimly. "We have enough injured inside for questioning and interrogations as it is." Remembering Nikita and her crew, the mercenary commander continued. "Nikita's got a kid in her team who's an electronics genius who can locate transmissions and stuff yes? Get the kid to monitor sudden spikes of comms exchange - that may be where the lair of our friends are."

"James, bring your birds over the compounds. Keep a look out for getaway vehicles or larger clusters of escaping attackers. Try to keep a tag on them. Let me know where the slink off to for wound linkin'." Zi Long next instructed. "Also use the standby bird at base to bring in the Doc. I'm sure we'll be needing his services."

James had already broke orbit before the orders had been issued. He put his bird into a long swooping dive. He keyed his air comms and started issuing orders. “Alice! Get the Doc and get his ass out here now! We have wounded! Slim! Watch for enemy units escaping, on foot or liberating vehicles. Orders are to track and report. Eugene! Get your ass up here! The bad guys made a play! “

“Roger! On top of it boss!” Came Slim’s response.

“Affirmative.” was Hawks response.

“Holy Shit!” Came over the line along with the sound of a dropped live mike.

James thought “We will have to work on that.”

Pee Wee’s voice came in over the intercom “Target on the roof! 10 O’ clock low! Trying to lock up!"

James realized that he had just blew by the target too fast for Pee Wee. He nosed up, dropped throttle and slewed the tail around so hard they both groaned under the Gee’s. As the helo was now pointed in the correct direction and nose down once more, Pee Wee a second later screamed “Going short! Got tone! Got tone! Fox two!”

James had a much better view of the situation. A lone person in a workers jumpsuit had a gun levelled at a target in a security troop mass making it’s way to Zi Long’s Mornignstar. Then he saw the orange plumes and smoke trail as four fragmentation missiles streaked out and exploded against the roof top just short of the target but not too short to stop the fragments from bouncing up and spraying the man while throwing him off the roof top in a number of pieces that left no doubt that the target was neutralized.

Slim’s voice came over the comm line. “Target has commandeered a car and is making a run for it. Wait... Wait… Target isn’t leaving! Target is has changed course! HE’S HEADING TOWARD THE CHEMICAL TANKS! HE’S SPEEDING UP! HE’S GONNA RAM!”

“Like hell he is!” was Billy Ray’s comments just before a volley of long range missiles impacted into the civilian unarmoured car and lifted and flipped it into the air in a fiery explosion. The car had flipped three times before coming to rest on it’s roof.

After that, James and Slim started circling scissor sweeps across the compound. It didn’t look like any body else was showing themselves.

<Scene Break>

Hawk saw a glint out of the corner of his eye at the same time as Bubba Joe announce the contact, vector and speed. It was heading toward the assembly plant at full speed. Hawk could just make out a black shape under the chin of the other helicopter. Given the shit had hit the fan Hawk couldn’t’ take any chances. He alter course and keyed the intercom. “Bubba Joe! I don’t like it, get rid of it!”

Bubba Joe heard the order and in two seconds was responding back “ I’ve got tone! Good tone! Fox 1!” The volley of long range missiles jumped out of the launcher as if their ass was on fire, and indeed they were. Both watched the missiles streak out leaving their contrails pointing their progress all the way to the unidentified helicopter and then the fiery mass as it fell from the sky into the ground. Hawk did a flyby to confirm the kill and look for survivors. There were none. The sad part was what Hawk saw as he was pulling away. It was a large number 5 on a door that had been thrown from the wreckage.

<Scene Break>

The doctor left the helo and headed for the waiting infantry trooper to escort him to the wounded. He wasn’t’ sure how much help he was going to be right now. His hands were white and his whole body was shaking.

<Back in the Present>

James did another quick check of the report and forwarded the report to the XO.

It was time to check on his team and check on the birds.


Black Stars Compound.

Wheels adroitly spins the tank and parks it in it's allotted place amongst the rest of the equipment and went through the shutdown sequence. Each member of the team quickly, but efficiently got their stations locked down and taken care of.

As the silence settled in, Nikita nodded. “Go get some food, shower, or whatever you want. Glen, give the tech guys a nudge, the AC on the right side sounded sluggish. I need that taken care of.”


“Aff Captain.”

Nikita stowed her helmet and walked off towards the main office to report to the Boss. At the entrance, under the watchful eyes of some of the Stars, a pair of pissed off Hussar were pacing and occasionally glaring at the men who watched them.

Ignoring them, she walked over to the main desk. “Is the Commander available? I have to make my report.”

He looked up and flicked a glance behind her. “Actually, I think it'd be best if you waited. They're... occupied at the moment.”

Chuckling, she pulls a small disk out from her jacket and puts it on the desk. “This is the transmission log that my communications person pulled off the list. While I do not know who it should go to, I'm sure that the Commander will.”

“HEY! How did you get that!” A hand comes down on her shoulder, squeezing hard.

Turning her head, she comes face to face with one of the Hussars. “If you do not remove your hand from my shoulder, I and my brothers in arms will remove it from your body in the most painful manner we can devise.”

Grinning, his fingers dug into her shoulder a bit more until his partner came over. “Gordon! Knock it off! Don't you know who that is?”

Gordon shrugged. “Like I care about a two bit...” that's as far as he got before the adjutant put the barrel of a gun on his forehead.

“Well I do, The Black Stars Do, And if you don't let go of Captain Nikita, your brother in arms will be seeing how much of your brain can stain his uniform.”

THAT got Gordon's attention. Not just the gun, but Nikita's name. “Nikita,” he had the good grace to blanch white. “The Clanner who...” he swallowed, “The... Scorpion that...” Quickly, he released his hands and backed away, slowly, keeping his hands up in the air. “Forgive me. I didn't recognise you.”

It's a good thing Nikita's face scarf was firmly in place, otherwise the lip twitching and the biting of lips would have ruined the moment. As it was, she had to exert firm control over herself before she could speak. “Now that we have settled down. You two will be nice and behave until your commander returns. I have things I must do” She looked over at the desk man who had managed to holster his weapon and sit back down to look normal. “I'm sure you know where to send that disk.”

“Yes ma'am. I do.” He winked.

The sound of soldiers snapping to attention had her standing up slightly to look at the Hussars. There, in the doorway, Lowe stood. Her face suffused with rage as she stalked over to the desk. “Weapons. Now.”

Once she had them buckled on or put on, she looked at the big man next to her. “If you will please come this way, we will finish our business.... elsewhere!” She aimed a glare at the surrounding company and the two soldiers took up their flanking spots. “Away from these rabble and their stench.”

Nikita arched an eyebrow and lifted an arm to sniff her cloths. “Gee. I know I took a shower this morning. But, it has been a long day killing insane cultists, I may have actually broken out in a sweat.”

Her casual comment brought spluttered laughter from the Stars as the group walked away, escorted by the Black Stars that brought them here. Silently, she runs a hand through her hair and stretches. Minutes later, the men are back and one of them pipes up. “What in hell did you do to that trooper? All Bobby here said was your name?”

Laughing. “I did not recognise the face until his comrade spoke his name. But a few years ago, I was bartending on one of the outer planets and someone made the mistake of trying to rob the place while I was on duty.” At their astonished looks. “Those who did so also had the mistaken impression that a female behind the bar itself was also a prostitute, or a ...” Her brow wrinkled as she tried to think.. “Wench, I believe was the term used.”

One of the other men asked the obvious. “So what happened?”

“There were three who had to have their weapons removed surgically from their backsides and a fourth.” An evil laugh escaped the confines of the scarf. “The fourth got used as a mop on the floor after I removed the offending arms from the body and beat him unconscious with them.”

All of them winced in agony, then took a step back. “We're glad you're on our side. We don't want to have that happen to us.” came the response from one.

She shrugged. “Gordon just happened to be in a seat with a perfect eye view of the insertion process. Not my fault he still remembers it.” Glancing at them all. “Enough of my stories, the commander would not think kindly on us for forgetting that we're all on duty, and I have a mind to raid the kitchen for food.”

That being said, everyone scurried back to their places while she walked away, unconsciously rubbing the bandage on her right bicep.


Black Stars Temporary Compounds
Kintetsu, Fujidera, Duchy of Oriente
Free Worlds League
24 October, 3078
16:00 Hours Local Time

Zi Long yawned expansively as Temagu-Irez left the Black Stars office and he was once alone with David. "You wanna do the report writing on this one?" Getting a withering look from his XO, the Black Stars Captain could only laugh. "Hey, you can't blame me for trying yeah?"

A knock on the door caught their attention next. A young soldier with a wide grin on his face entered. "A data disc from Lieutenant Nikita Sirs. She said that its the transmission log that her communications people tapped and downloaded."

"Thanks." Zi Long nodded as he accepted the small item before turning to David. The soldier snapped a sharp salute before leaving the door, closing the door quietly behind him, leaving the pair of Black Stars officers on their own. "Care for a movie date?"

Zi Long slotted the disc into the small noteputer on his desk as both men settled themselves before the small screen. Black and white static blazed for a few seconds before the screen cleared up. Both men needed no introduction to know that the screen was that within Juniper Fields Assembly Plant. The person who was recording was obviously perched in a high position, most likely on one of the many gantries running along the top of the massive factory building.

The screen centered on the balding and aged figure of Grand Duke Halas, with the hulking Temagu-Irez next to him. They were ringed by the black clad and armoured soldiers of the Black Stars as they made a rather stately procession to the aisle erected within the production floor. Zi Long grinned at the sight of Lowe and several other Oriente Hussars Mechjocks jockeying for a way to get into the protective circle in vain. Their fleeting movement in predominantly green dress uniforms against the slow and steady advance of the Black Stars black made them look like pesticide bugs trying to pierce the armoured hide of a massive rhino.

To both their sides, a large gathering of factory workers and invited guests stood and applauded as the Grand Duke finally mounted the aisle, Tamagu-Irez taking up a position just to his rear. Before them, the Black Stars soldiers fanned out, blocking any advances to the pair on the small stage - including Lowe and her people. The Duke gave a rousing speech, dedicating the factory to the hard work of the Fujidera citizens and the Duchy of Oriente. Zi Long found the absence of mention of the Free Worlds League as a whole amusing.

The Duke finished his dedication speech to another round of applause from the assembled gathering and was preparing to cut the ribbon and start the machinery when the camera suddenly swung in an opposite direction. Like ants from a smashed ant hill, a wave of screaming cultists poured into the assembly area with melee weapons waving above their heads. They slashed, chopped and cut their way through the panicking crowd towards the aisle and their target. When the camera view was able to show both the cultist and the Black Stars bodyguards together, the latter had already pushed both the Duke and Tamagu-Irez into a wall and set up a layer of shields around him. The other soldiers stepped slightly forward and formed yet another tight circle of shields and sword, while a small squad in between the two layers, assault rifles drawn.

The sharp bark of gun shots echoed across the massive assembly plant, punctuating the screams of fleeing civilians and crazed fanatics alike. On the screen several dignitaries and factory workers fell as they were hit by the indiscriminate shots from the attackers. Against the fast approaching and chaotic advance of the cultist, the Black Stars infantry waited unmoving. Only a few shots rang out from the rifles of their ranks, each taking down a cultist.

When the two forces finally clashed, it was like a rain storm against immobile rocks. None of the attackers seemed to be able to land a hit on the Black Stars lines, and when the latter struck back, more than a few cultist fell back, blood spraying from wounds. Even as the attackers fell back, another wave struck the defensive shields. With fire arms within their ranks, the attackers finally started falling Black Star warriors. Zi Long grimaced as he saw one of his man forcefully thrown backwards, face plate shattered by a shot gun round.

As a few more black dressed troopers fell, the assault rifle armed soldiers in the second rank stepped forward. Long bursts from their weapons into the massed ranks of the cultist saw blood and gore spraying into their comrades as the assault rifles did their deadly work.

As the attackers were mauled down like wheat before a sickle, the mike on the camera caught Conti and Gallagher's orders.

“First Platoon! Advance on line!”

“Second Platoon! Stand fast! Formation Testudo!”

Deathly silent, the front lines of the Black Stars advanced even as the attackers broke and ran. A few that stood their ground were easily cut down by smooth, efficient strokes of Black Stars blades.

The screen broke into static again. When it next cleared up, it was from a vintage point overlooking the front of the assembly plant. Zi Long recognized his own Morningstar as well as the tracked Zhukov tank of David, both in grey urban camouflage patterns. The camera caught sight of a pair of similarly painted Po tanks rumbling off towards another end of the Juniper Fields Assembly Plant building just as the first cultist streamed from the main bays where they had suffered horrendous casualties against the Black Star infantry.

Against what they next came up against would've seemed like heaven compared to what they encountered within the main bay. Vaguely, the camera caught some words from the external speakers of the Black Star tanks. Above in the skies, a trio of Warrior VTOLs sped towards the other end of the compound towards some unseen target. “YOU ARE ... ORDERED TO ... IF YOU ... NOT..” Than all hell broke loose as the tanks opened fire on the cultist at what seemed like spitting range. Bodies were shredded into unrecognizable blobs, and blood splattered onto the concrete floor and walls alike. Less than a minute later, nothing but red gore and body parts littered the front of the Juniper Plant. An eerie silence settled over the area as the camera closed in on the killing zone, before dissolving into static again.

Zi Long and David both remained quiet for a while. "That's disturbing." The Chinese man finally commented. David arched an eyebrow in question. Zi Long looked at him mutely. "I didn't manage to get off a shot."

As David stood with a shake of his head, Zi Long ejected the disc from his noteputer. "I guess I'll have to hand this over to Tamagu-Irez. We'll let him decide on what to do with it. Agreed?"

"Sure, we did our job. Cleaning things up isn't what we signed up for." His second in commanded replied.

"I'll see it it immediately." The Taurian stretched himself again before standing up. "After we have our long delayed lunch. And a few drinks." He continued with a smile. "Fighting always makes me hungry."

As the pair made towards the exit, Zi Long clasped David on his shoulder. "Oh, and get our people cleaned up and refreshed. We have a dinner function to attend."

Like whoa.

Honestly, it seems you could go either way - breaking down your contracts into multiple posts and assign each contract to a specific thread. Sort of how Dragon Cat organizes his AU.

Alternatively there is more than enough text to justify a dedicated WP category to keep entire contracts assigned to single posts.

There are benefits and detriments to using either. Keeping your text forum based means adhering to the limitations of the forum's software, i.e. text length, pic & attachments limits, people posting, etc. Using WP has its own limitations, such as limited interaction (comments only), and a slightly more complicated usage, etc. One of the main benefits of using WP over the forum's SMF is the stylistic control you'll have over your text (text by definition also include images, multimedia, etc.), better search-ability and great control over user interaction.

Which one is best really depends on you...