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Gods now that would suck....

Late that night when I returned home the first thing I did was look in on my children.  Paul and Rhiannon not even four were deep asleep. When I reached out to stroke a hair out Rhi’s face she reached out and gently clasped my finger.   A quiet motion caught my attention and I turned slightly.  Synthia stood in the doorway, her luminous eyes gleaming in the dark.  At the foot of the bed Xiang, Sarah’s Devil Cat raised its great furry head briefly then went back to sleep, purring contentedly.

My adopted daughter, all of eleven years old gave me a look that said; “What’s wrong?”  Adjusting her oversized “Property of West Point” T-shirt she came over.

My answering look said simply; The usual, what else…

But thoughts of New Home, when the Rim Worlds Republic Navy had gained a brief window of space superiority ran through my head.  Fire had rained from the skies.  Thousands had died.

This was going to be worse?  And Syn’s serious about becoming a ‘MechJock in three years she’ll be an apprentice.

Syn came over and hugged me whispering; “It’ll be okay daddy.”

That was how Sarah found us a little while later.

Thanks T, BTW forgot to post this part here, Takiro knows what unit thier with, but I forgot as it was in our PMs from the old sight (Hint, hint)
HAF Base Fort Lewis
North American Administrative District
Terra, Terran Hegemony
10 January, 2785

Kailey, my love;

Well your brothers have graduated and are now ‘MechWarriors, no doubt they have written you with tales of the glory they’ll reap.  Don’t worry; I’ve managed to get myself posted to their unit.  My prior service has awarded me the rank of Captain and the position of Battalion XO.  Our unit is being shipped out to fill out a newly forming unit on the Free Worlds border.

That’s the bad news, Baby; it’s a hell of a long way away.  We talked about this, but so did Sol and I.  We are scheduled to ship out on February seventh; we should know our final destination before then.  

I’ve got to go now, loads of paperwork to do, but if you need me just post on Yelp or text me.  God I miss you.

Love;

Hank

Hank leaned back in his chair.  Looking around his sparse office he exhaled sharply.  A week of sixteen hour days getting the 312th Provisional Battalion together with no end in sight, you took what time you could to write your wife.  He’d have preferred to call but the 312th was under operational silence, and Hank knew his mail was being vetted by Hegemony er Republic Military Intelligence.
New name, and Terrans ain’t the same old crew, we did that, Hank thought, all for the Glory of a dead House.

Hank was sure the five other Houses didn’t understand the change that had come over the Terran state and its people.  They were harder now, and Hank almost felt sorry for the morons who based on Terran intel were only a couple of years away from testing that new resolve.

Almost.

Still they were going to try.  Kenyon Marik was becoming increasingly more aggressive.  Barbara Liao’s Capellan Confederation while not being aggressive had undergone a massive build up of men and machines.  And while the Lyrans and the Federated Suns were still friendly the Dragon was…quiet.  That last bit disturbed Hank the most.

A storm was coming, and Hank knew he’d be in the middle of it.

…naturally you will retain your Terran rank, but I think it prudent for you to accept a commission in the AFFS.  The Chesterton Training Regiment will be entered into the lists of Front Line Formations in mid February as the 4th Crucis Lancers and having a mercenary officer in charge…

Yada, Yada, Yada…okay Uncle John I get it already.  I thought as I brought the attached documents up in the air in front of me and signed on the bottom line with a flourish.  John Davion had cc the message to Sarah, Sam Winters and General Makepeace and both had sent replies to me.  Oddly enough General Makepeace’s had been pleasant for once.

John was right, in the Chesterton Dragoons’ commander’s objections to us was based on my status as a mercenary not any real problem with me personally.

I sighed; just like that I was no longer a Tiger.  Well not really, unbeknownst to the good General I still held a commission in the Terran…Republic (Amanda’s reorganization of the Terran State had taken everyone by surprise.) as a Major.  But to all intents and purposes…I turned to the uniforms on their hangers in my office’s small closet.  Sarah had sent them to me that morning.

I took the duty uniform with the rank tabs of an AFFS Colonel off its hanger and changed.

Scott Mackenzie did a double take as his superior officer and friend walked into the conference room.  It took a minute for his mind to grasp what he was seeing.

“So do the Davion’s celebrate Halloween early or is this a joke.”  He quipped.

“Neither, Scott Sam saw this coming, and I’ve got a question for you Major.”  Bruce held out a PADD.

“Major?  But I’ve only got the one…”  Scott stopped.

“You’ll have the makings of two more companies soon a mix of Ostsols and Griffins.”  Scott hesitated looking over the document on the PADD.  Citizenship in the Federated Suns, AFFS commission as a Major…Title of Landed Knight?!

A chuckle made him look up.  Scott’s puzzlement must have been evident.

“Yeah, John’s been pretty generous…but that brings us to what’s really going on.”  His friend’s eye twinkled.  “But I can only tell you if you’re in…”

Sound’s great but…well…I thought we’d be going home.  Scott shook his head as if to clear it.  Then again I thought Liz and I would make a life together.

“You don’t have to tell me now…”  Bruce started.  With a quick scrawl Scott signed and hit submit on the PADD and handed it back.  “…Okaaay.”  Flipping his braid over his back he stood and extended his hand.

As Scott shook it Bruce smiled; “Welcome to the 4th Crucis Lancers Major Mackenzie.”


Sam looked at his son with a wry expression on his face.

“So how many did Bruce poach?” He asked.

“Most of his company, Gracie’s gonna have her hands full…”

“Gracie’s staying?” Alex nodded to answer his dad’s question.

“Bruce passed his recommendation that she succeed him as Regimental Gunslinger.”

Sam nodded, “Done, we’ll have to have the ceremony.”  Alex grinned.  There would be a night to remember.

“I’ll set it up; Truk’s gone too, as well as Didi’s team…”  Sam looked up in surprise.  ‘Yeah, it shocked the hell out of me to, but y’know how tight they are.  Anyway Josh Harding’s completed his training and he works well with his team, but John Zazula’s pretty annoyed, Captain Singh and most of his company accepted the Davvy terms.”

“And you?”

“He didn’t ask.”  Sam heard a tone in his son’s voice.

“I know, I asked him not to…”  Alex looked up in surprise.  “He told me he didn’t think you’d bite but he was going to ask you anyway.”

“But then why?”  Alex asked puzzled.

“I’m not getting any younger, Al somebody’s going to have to run the Tigers and that’s you.  Oh Chris or Justine could do it, but  neither of them wants the job and Isokoru  is looking to retire soon too, say five or six years, looks like he’s going to run our training operations here.”  He stared off into space while Alex digested the information.

“Our and John Davion’s anyway.  But that’s the mission.”

“Davvy intel’s on our case about the ‘Kaze and their dependents again.  I though Prince John had put a stop to that.”  Alex said annoyance flashing across his face.

“I spoke to Sarah about that, one of Lady Green’s former lovers is making trouble, she’s going to get him reassigned.  They’ve settled in well though.”

The Tiger’s Combine expats had formed a unique community that had infected the regiment as a whole.  With a death toll on Earth topping a billion, Sam’s troopers had returned to a bittersweet homecoming.  As a result, family had an importance that was almost religious.

Now drop in several dozen families whose fortunes great or small had been wiped out at the stroke of a pen.  They formed a core around which other newer families clung to.  Combine traditions of courtesy, honor and community, mixed with both Terran ones and the multicultural whorl of Chesterton.

Something new was developing that Sam couldn’t quantify, except for a general feeling of strength, and vibrant life.  Alex and C.J. had already entrenched themselves firmly in this new culture.  Sam and Samantha…the thought of the Regiment’s Chief Medical Officer brought him up short.

“At any rate, Bruce has a strong core of Terran troops for his little experiment, and we’re not any weaker, the Regent has sent us a contingent of recruits looking for some adventure.”

Alex gave his father a sour grimace.  Adventure…yeah right.  Sam stood up then and checked his uniform in the polish of his desk.

“I’ve got dinner with Samantha in a few so…?”

“Have fun Dad…and don’t stay out to late.”  Alex grinned at his father’s glower.

Changes had come to the Tigers, some military in nature…some not.

“Oh by the way,” Sam said with an evil smile, “Speaking of the Regent; the FedSuns’ Diplomatic service just contacted me They’re coming here.”

“Who?”  Alex asked.

“Ian and Amanda Sinclair and their entourage and a battalion of Fusiliers.”

“What!”  Alex sat back down in his chair like a shot.

“Along with John Davion and a like group, some diplomatic conference, plus Amanda wants to see her little buddy the Duchess.  You’ll need to set up the security arrangements and liaise with General McCormack when she arrives with the advance detail.”

“Shouldn’t Bruce’s gang be…”

Sam snorted, “Not likely, they’re way to rough and the Duchess wants us with the Dragoons running exercises across the other worlds in our little empire here, we’ve got priority.”

“Great.”  Alex said glumly.

“Suck it up Alex it’s all part of the job.”

Poor Scott- all that extra responsibility...

Who wants to be a major anyway? 

After I read BTA's latest chapter, I wrote this. I've been writing little bits here and there for the Tigers for a while but haven't posted them as the story line has moved faster than I. Let me know what you all think - end it now or keep writing. 


Lansdowne Barracks, Landing
Chesterton, Federated Suns
13 January, 2785

As I shook his hand Bruce smiled; “Welcome to the 4th Crucis Lancers Major Mackenzie.”

Once Bruce left I sat there alone in the conference room, pondering what I had just done. Looking at the orders that were just transferred to my PADD I couldn't shake the feeling that I had just sold my soul to the devil. I shoved that thought aside. I trusted B, if he believed it was the right choice, then it was. It would all work out in the end; of that I tried to convince myself. More immediately, I was a damned Major now. Hell, I was just getting used to being a Captain. Was it really just 5 years ago that I was sitting in that Hong Kong hotel holding my brand-new Lieutenant's bar and missing Liz half a world away? That provoked a sore subject. Liz. I wonder where she is now? To hell with her; she made her choice in leaving me and deserting Terra and I’ve got a job to do here.

The fact that I was now nobility – a Landed Knight of the Realm – bothered me. Just like B to spread the joy now that he was a Duke. Like most Terrans, I could care less about nobility; that was for the Colonials to worry about. More to the point, I was just a common, ordinary soldier. Well, maybe not “ordinary”, but I was certainly a commoner in the eyes of the status-conscious peerage of the Federated Suns. In their eyes I would never be their equal. Hell, Sarah Davion, niece of Prince John Davion, Duchess of Chesterton, and the wife of my best friend was just “Sarah” to me. Then I wondered where my new “lands” were and who was living there. Except for commanding those under me, I had no idea how to rule people. Hopefully Sarah could give me a few pointers, ‘cause I’m sure Bruce has no idea.

I headed back to my makeshift office to get started on my new job. It would take time to go through my “recruits” to find the ones suitable for Company and Lance command. One of the first things I had to do was submit the paperwork to get Jenna Thompson, my current XO and fellow Tiger, transferred and promoted to Captain. She’d been my rock-solid second-in-command ever since I became a Lieutenant and there was no way I was going to give her up. Then there were the ‘Mechs. I know “Uncle” John was being generous, but having worked with Royal models for so many years, it was hard to adjust to the low-tech Colonial ‘Mechs assigned to my new unit. ShadowHawks, Griffins, and Ostsols, oh my! I chuckled at that thought. At least Boom-Boom would be able to keep up with them. I’d have to remember to ask B how we’re going to get replacement parts for her.

The basics completed, I headed over to the ‘Mech bays. I needed some “alone time” to get a grasp on all that just happened. Boom-Boom’s cockpit was as much a home as anywhere else and the place I felt most comfortable. Passing through the common area of the base, I saw Dido Moran coming my way. Her face held a confused expression that I was certain mirrored my own.

When she was close enough, she called out, “Hey, Rat. Good day for a stroll, huh?”

I smiled and said, “That’s Major Rat to you, DiDi.”

The realization of what I had said took a moment to filter through her mind. She replied with, “You too? Good. I was certain B wouldn’t leave you out.”

“When did he talk to you?”

“A few minutes ago.” She shook her head gently. “I’m still trying to get a grip on what just happened.”

I laughed softly. “Yeah, me too. Kinda feel like you’ve sold your soul and abandoned family?”

“Something like that.”

“Well,” I said, looking her in the eyes, “B’s never led us wrong before. We have to trust that he’s making the right call on this one too.”

A wan smile formed on DiDi’s face. “I hear ya.”

We each went our separate ways and soon I was standing in front of my most prized possession, my beloved Bombardier, Boom-Boom. My eyes lingered over the art I had painted on her lower left leg. When I first received the Bombardier back in ’78 after the Battle of Chicago, I painted a buxom blonde in tight-fitting fatigues holding a missile pack on each shoulder. Shortly after I had met Liz Hazen I had re-painted it to look like a slightly less buxom redhead with slightly looser clothing. I told myself that way it would always seem like she was there with me. Nobody in the unit believed me, except for Liz. Damn, why do my thoughts always turn to her! She’s gone – for good - and I’ve gotta come to terms with it. I should probably re-paint the leg art soon. Maybe I’ll go with black hair this time.

I jumped into the lift and habitually did a visual survey of my ‘Mech. The flat black paint with red claw marks on the shoulders still looked mint. A sadness passed over me when I realized that new colors were coming soon. I hoped that B would let me keep the leg art. I climbed into the cockpit and sat in the jump seat behind the linear frame that controlled the ‘Mech. The linear frame, while ideal for maneuvering the ‘Mech was not well-suited for comfortably relaxing. Then again, neither is the jump seat, but at least there I’m sitting down. I powered up Boom-Boom’s systems to idle and enjoyed the quiet. I must have sat there for a couple of hours, reminiscing over all that had happened since I joined the Tigers back in ’72. My thoughts came to an end when I realized that I wasn’t heading back home to Terra anytime soon. I’m no longer part of the SLDF, no longer a Tiger, but I am a soldier and soldiers adapt and move on. Chesterton is my home now and I’ll make the most of it while I’m here.

I felt strength and a sense of purpose come back into me as I said to myself, “The 4th Crucis Lancers may not be the Tigers, but when I’m done, my Battalion is certainly going to be just like them. Davvy propriety be damned.”

Great POV story!  Can't wait to see the 4th go all Tiger on the foes!