A tall man wearing a light gray jumpsuit enters the office, followed by a younger man wearing a similar outfit. The tall man is somewhere between 50 and 60 years old, with a mane of long white hair, a steely gaze, and a determined set to his jaw. "Good morning", he says. "I am Precentor Garth Hansen of ComStar."
Precentor Hansen makes eye contact with each mercenary in turn, making each person feel his words as a personal appeal. "The Word of Blake would do anything to harm ComStar publicly. I fear they have already begun another terrorist campaign."
"The Word of Blake operates and maintains the hyperpulse generator on the planet Berenson. It is a Class B transmitter that normally sends messages twice a week. Two weeks ago, it stopped transmitting. Though the Free Words League controls the Berenson HPG and staffs it with Word of Blake personnel, ComStar ultimately bears responsibility for the activities of all hyperpulse generators. The silence of the Berenson station greatly concerns our blessed order. Though we find it difficult to believe that Word of Blake would sabotage their own equipment, we cannot ignore that possibility. We must find out the truth."
"Unfortunately, a particularly fanatical sect of the Word of Blake controls the Berenson station. If we send our own Com Guard forces to investigate, our misguided brethren may perceive it as an act of war. The Operation Scorpion debacle convinced ComStar of the wisdom of always operating openly, but we consider this situation a special case. Discretion remains the safest course we can take. We need a small force to go to Berenson, assess the situation, and recommend whether we should attempt to negotiate a continuation of services, or authorize the team to take the facility and hold it until we can bring in ComStar technicians to reestablish communications. If forced to the latter action, ComStar will hold the station until the Free Worlds League places their own troops and communications personnel in the facility."
"ComStar will not be able to aid you on Berenson. You will be on your own, but your record speaks for itself; I know yours is the mercenary unit we need. Adept Ford Eisner will accompany you to provide technical and tactical support if needed. However, I depend on you to make the right decisions when you reach the Berenson HPS. Given the current war-like relations between ComStar and Word of Blake, you will have no change to communicate with me via any HPG in Word of Blake territory. You must rely on yourselves, and use you own judgment in taking action."
Standing patiently in an at-ease position is a man nearly two meters tall weighing a solid 100 kilos. His long, wavy blonde hair is tied up in a top-knot and he wears a uniform bearing the mercenary unit logo, a thick lined number 8 set askew on a white field with crazy "googly eyes" in the upper loop. His scraggly beard is the least well-groomed feature of an otherwise crisp appearance. On his hip is a solid, common sidearm seen throughout the Inner Sphere. On his other hip was a vibro katana. Once a symbol of his position within the DCMS, it was now only a vicious close-combat weapon which Leif Adachi was well-trained to use.
As Precenter Hansen delivers his briefing, the man shows no emotion or reaction, taking everything in with a stony face. At the conclusion of the client's speech he looks sideways at the Trouble Magnet and raises an eyebrow communicating a need to ask questions of a tactical nature, but only once the Crazy 8's boss asked him for input.
He still wasn't sure about the Steiner expat. He respected his connections, skills, and knowledge, but he didn't know if he actually liked the man very much. Still, he was his boss, and he would show the respect due and wait to be asked to speak.
Theo Von Bauer stood at parade rest, feet apart and hands folded behind his back. As he listened to the Precentor’s presentation. Theo is dressed in an exact copy of a Lyran Commonwealth officer’s uniform, except for it being light gray instead of light brown. The jacket’s epaulets indicate he is a Captain. A shoulder patch displays the ‘Crazy Eights”logo. As does his left color tab. The right however is a mailed fist emblazoned with the letter N. Those in the know would recognize it as the badge of a LIC Norn Agent. On his right hip is an oversized flap topped holster holding a heavy Sternscatch pistol. On his left hip is a chrome plated scabbard that carries a high quality vibro-blade sword.
He has to consciously avoid smirking when the Precentor mentions the unit's record. This guy is ComStar. He has to know some of the info is BS embellishment. The speech is probably a standard format for all merc contractors. His time with the LIC (Lyran Intelligence Corps) tells him several things about the mission. First the Precentor is omitting important information. Second, this is too important a mission to entrust to a Merc unit alone. Third, the attachment of a ComStar tech specialist. Tech yeah right. The man is undoubtedly a ROM operative. And Forth they probably are using us as a diversion while their real team accomplishes the actual mission.
Well it’s their dime so I’ll play along. Berenson, now what do I remember about it? Well nothing actually. But I know people who will, And most of them owe me favors. Oh looks like the Precentor is almost finished better stop daydreaming. I’m sure the team is chomping at the bit.
Glancing over to Number 1. Theo’s chosen designation for his second in command. Leif “Pop Star” Adachi. And sees the man is itching to ask tactical questions.
When the Precentor concludes his speech.
”Thank you Precentor. We can definitely do the job. Sir I hate to be a mercenary. But since that is exactly what we are. I believe this is the point in the conversation where the subject on compensation is discussed.”
Looking at the team.
”After which I know my unit has questions.” Looking at Lief.”Number 1, you and AFL (Assistant Force Leader) Chen handle Tactical. Color Sergeant Mahajan.” Looking at the dark complected woman in the Fed Suns uniform. ”You and Staff Sergeant Lewis cover Logistics.”Finally looking at the newest member of the unit. A small woman dressed in Davion colors.”And you, behave.”
Then back to the Comstar Officer.
”So Precentor, let's talk about C-bills.”
"Right. Straight to the point."
He pulls an envelope out of his jumpsuit and hands it to Theo.
"It's a standard ComStar Mission Contract. Renumeration is $30,000 c-bills. The contract specifies per month, but this assignment is only scheduled to last one month. Transport to Berenson will be arranged for you. Salvage rights are listed in Section VIII, but to summarize, anything officially marked as part of the Marik planetary garrison must remain in ComStar hands. Anything not officially designated is yours to claim. Funds will be transferred to the Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission. You'll be able to use $5,000 as you see fit to make preparations. The rest will be paid within 72 hours of mission success."
"Questions?"
Color Sergeant Elise Mahajan. formerly of the AFFS (Armed Forces of the Federated Suns) had only been partially listening to the ComStar officer however she perked up at the mention of a job in The Free Worlds League, Because they like all the major powers used the Manticore tank. Of course they used the shoddy Quicksell manufactured machine. And not the clearly superior Jalaster produced fighting vehicle. Of course she was definitely biased. Being that she was a native of Panpour, home of the plant. Or it just might be the fact that she was the commander of a Jalaster Manticore tank. Elise lived for the chance to show and prove the superiority of her vehicle over others.
Looking around at the rest of the unit. She notes the Captain and Number one are crisply standing at parade rest. While she herself had a similar stance, though her hands were clasped in front. She was wearing a crisply ironed Khaki and Olive Drab uniform of House Davion.She carries a common auto pistol in a shoulder holster. The others were in various states of at-ease postures. All except the unit’s latest addition, Minuet Yan. The small woman was intently doing something on comm.
Mechwarriors. They were certainly different from tankers. Most were good soldiers, a little wilder maybe but by and large professionals. This new girl was.. not that. Although I must admit she can make her Axeman dance. Guess that’s how she got the callsign ‘Disco’.
The musing about Minuet’s callsign, gets her remembering how popping up and down in the turret to fire the MG earned her’s of ‘Gopher’. When the Captain begins to address team members Elise quickly ends her introspection.
She snaps to attention when he addresses her.
”Yes Sir.
She then begins to think of pertinent questions for Comstar.
Leif grunts and looks at Precentor Hansen with his pale blue eyes. The whole situation was fine by him; he was used to operating without backup on a hostile world. "We will need the latest information you have on both League and Blake materiel and personnel. We also require typical weather and climate data for this time of year. Where is the station located? Urban center, hai?"
He reaches up and scratches at his chin thoughtfully. "You have not had contact with the HPG, but has any word gotten out of the system from departing spacecraft?"
"Information on material and personnel is sketchy at best, considering we haven't had communications in two weeks. As I said, fanatics of the Word of Blake house and operate the facility, which is located on the edge of the planet's only city, Buena Vista. The 15th Marik Militia are responsible for protecting the hyper pulse generator. They include at least a full lance of mechs as well as ground troops, with potentially vehicle support, but again, this information is outdated and may not be accurate. Once communications stopped, who knows what they brought in or took off world. It's your job to find out, and restore the HPG if possible."
"Adept Ford Eisner will accompany you on your mission and can provide specifics about the planet."
"And no, no communications received at all from the planet."
Adept Eisner clears his throat before speaking among those scattered around the barracks.
"So, we're only a few hours out from planet-side. We should discuss your plan for assessing the hyperpulse generator, so we know what equipment to have ready once we land. Will you be going in by mech? On foot? Or vehicle?"
Terra takes a moment to look up from her notes, brushing up on inner working of hyperpulse generators.
"I don't know about everybody else but a vehicle would be nice. Get in, access the generator then get out is what I would like to happen but if things do go sideways . . Mechs might be needed."
Juju sits up bunk and begins to speak to Adept Eisner.
"I would uncomfortable to go into a possible hostile planet with out Voodoo."
Sprawled in a high-backed chair in the office, with one over-sized combat booted foot gently bouncing over the arm of the chair is a petite woman with her face in her comm. "Stupid snake, come on, eat the pellet..." the young woman mutters. Basketball shorts, long purple socks, and a black t-shirt from some obscure band from the Capellan March cover her rail-thin body, and a blue Team Banzai hat rests atop her black pageboy hair. When the Precentor and Adept arrive, she does not seem to notice, and indeed continues to mutter as she navigates her digital snake across her screen. And yet, Minuet Yan, call sign "Disco", is not the petulant teenaged girl she appears to be.
Joining this unit was not part of her life plan, but then again, she's never been one for plans. She can already tell that fact will not endear her to her new employer or his pet Kuritan. Ugh, just get a room you two, she thinks when she glances up from her game to see them standing rigidly as if this was something serious.
At least they don't seem to be creeps. Jury is out on the Capellan. She accidentally lets the snake wander into a street where it gets smooshed by a hover-truck. Oh, I think the phone-company guys are done talking. Am I supposed to say something? Yeesh, just show me what you want me to wreck. She clears her throat. Not to speak, just because she's been sitting around a while doing nothing.
Is everyone looking at me? "Oh, uh, yeah, hot drop, sure. Right? Is that right?" she squints at the older tech woman.
Leif resists the urge to roll his eyes. "Team, this isn't an objective raid, and we're not here to occupy the planet. For all we know, they've just got a blown fuse."
It's not a blown fuse, he thinks glancing sideways at Theo, hoping the man is thinking the same. "Unless chief says otherwise, let's prep our war machines, but count on a soft landing. We will attempt to make peaceful contact with the Blake contingent."
Turning fully around and making sure to look the mechwarriors and tanker in the eyes he adds, "We all know we're going to go to plan-B, it's just a matter of when. So stay on your toes. Get ready for final checks, top of your ammo bins and stock your cockpits. Grab some rations and medipatches from me before you mount up. Check out weapons and armor if you need something extra under the couch."
"Anything you want to add, boss?" he asks, turning to look at Theo.
Theo uses the travel time well. Checking with his contacts for information on Berenson military assets.
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Reviewing the data and questioning anomalies.
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Trades a few favors for any rumors and or special information on the target. Maybe even take a peak into a sealed file or two. .
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Adept Eisner is also questioned. (Theo doesn’t really expect any solid info from the suspected ROM agent, but it is worth a try)
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He also has discussions with the team.
”Number One. Something about this whole mission just doesn't sit right with me. And Agent, er… ‘Adept’ Eisner is always lurking about. Be sure to pass along to the team to watch what they say around him.” He turns to leave but stops. Looking up and down the hallway to ensure it is clear and they are alone. ”Look, keep an eye on the team once we are planet side. While I have no issues with their abilities in full combat. I do wonder how they will react when things are more personal. I don’t think any of them have looked at someone face to face and pulled the trigger.”
”AFL Chen. Did you track down the issue you were having with the right arm actuator? I’m sure Gopher will blame it on that discount lubricant I purchased. Since we’re going to be in Marik territory and you have faced them it the field before I’ll be relying on you to chime in with any tactics tips “
”Color Sergeant. Were you ever able to squeeze that extra 2% efficiency from your capacitors? And yes, in the future I will leave the purchasing of supplies to you and
Sergeant Lewis. Oh I got a wave from your Mother. She wanted to make sure I could give you leave in 6 months for a family gathering.”
”Staff Sergeant Lewis. Are there any supplies we need that you were not able to get before we shipped out? Our destination may offer a chance to pick up more if needed. Also I am counting on you when it comes to the HPG station.”
And finally after a tactical comm training session.
”Mechwarrior Yan. Do you think you could try and communicate in one of the languages someone on the team speaks. I mean you have: English, German. Japanese, or Mandarin, to choose from. Or are you using some kind of personal code? If so, you need to provide the rest of us with the cipher key.
Oh I got a wave from your Mother. She wanted to make sure I could give you leave in 6 months for a family gathering.”
"Isway igpay atinlay okayway? asks Disco innocently. As soon as Theo turns she sticks her tongue out and blows a silent raspberry.
Theo's extended search turn up very little new information, but he is able to confirm that the information provided up front by Precentor Hansen about the planet Berenson, the city Buena Vista, and Hyper Pulse generator is accurate.
He does notice while observing and speaking with Adept Eisner that the man seems to constantly praise Blake whenever something seems to go right, such as when the launch sequence is all green or the ship breaks orbit.
To the Captain’s query.
”I was only able to manage 1%. Yes, remember discount parts are discounted for a reason”
Elise “Gopher” Mahajan rarely loses her composure. But the Captain’s comment on her Mother. Causes her jaw to drop and eyes go wide. Her mouth finally moves as if she is trying to speak but no sound is made. After a moment of this.
”She did WHAT? Oh Sir I am so sorry and embarrassed. I will see to it that she does not bother you again.” Her red cheeks are evident as Gopher turns away. Intent on getting to the communications room.
In response to Disco’s question.
”Nemo nisi Latinus est.” He gives her a quick closed-mouth smile and heads off to other duties. Suddenly pausing he looks back at the small woman. ”Oh, there’s also Hindi. The Color Sergeant speaks that.”
Disco clomps her heavy booted feet down the metal stairs of the dropship hold. She skips the last couple of stairs and lands with a dull thud on a landing that's just about cockpit-level with her 'mech.
I could literally stand up and stretch in that bore of that cannon. She grins before remembering the way a similar cannon in her old Victor tore a clanner elemental to shreds before her eyes. There was nothing left. Poor toad. "But what do you expect when you swoop in acting like the second coming?" She shakes her head and runs down the rest of the steps.
Once at the 65-ton humanoid battlemech's feet, she plugs her computer into the diagnostic port and runs a full systems check for the millionth time. She glances up and smiles at Gopher as she fiddles with her tank's power capacitors, but looks away quickly before the woman takes it as an invitation for conversation. Never did get along too good with girls around my age. That salty old tech is more my speed. Stupid Word of Blake. They're crazier than the Clans. ComStar should have dealt with their psuedo-religious nuts when the rest of the Inner Sphere recovered from the big Third war with that memory core find. It isn't magic, it's science. She takes off her Team Banzai cap and scratches her head. The computer deeps, alerting her that the electrical system, magnetic engine shielding, and sensors are all green. She acknowledges the report and has the system begin checking all motive equipment.
Leif watches the warriors check their gear and fighting vehicles. He knows he can rely on them to be ready for action. Too ready, perhaps. They're not subtle. How could one be in a nuclear powered war machine?
He turns and moves to make sure the rest of the gear is secured with straps and parachutes. After checking his weapons, he puts his headset and checks his comms. "Stay on channel three, team. Switch to one if feed is compromised. Final checks and strap in. That means you too, chief!"
Satisfied his gear is ready for any contingency and knowing time is going to fly by faster than anyone wants, he sits down beside Theo and starts to buckle in. "Chief, they're doing final checks now. I got the best weather and terrain data I can find, what I'm thinking is we deploy like this..."
After he lays out his recommendations he fiddles with his comms. "Well, make the call, I'm going to go join Gopher. She says that tank can be run by a crew of one, but an extra pair of eyes is always best. Everyone's linked in, so give them your briefing and orders. We'll take care of it." He stops after taking two steps. "Hey, what do you want to do about the adept?"