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Chapter Text

“Not by parliamentary speeches and majority votes are the great questions of the day determined… but by iron and blood” - Otto Von Bismarck

ANYWHERE
TAMAR MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
1 MARCH 3050

“Come back here you little twerp!” The thundering voice of an angry Storch echoed through the halls of the beach house, twin sets of hoofsteps racing down the stairs and past the living room.

“It was an accident, honest!” The higher pitched whine of the pursued Kolibri answered, the two replikas barging out the door and onto the porch, smaller replika just barely dodging the larger and scrambling over the gate to sprint down the steps. With a frustrated yell, the Storch jumped the barrier to surge after her quarry, only to misjudge her jump, catch her leg on the gate, and start to tumble down the steps head over hooves. With the elegant grace of a one legged Locust, the larger replika crashed into the smaller, and both were sent tumbling to the sand in a heap.

“Owwwww.” Each whimpered as they tried to roll over and check themselves, the larger rubbing the back of their neck carefully, before a pair of long black legs settled in the sand in front of her. Slowly looking up, the Storch stared into the eyes of a Falke unit, her arms folded and expression disappointed.

“Nike. Why were you chasing your sister around the house?” Falke Malaki stared down at her daughters, her tone a mixture of motherly concern and commanding authority. “Your father warned you about hopping over the gate, you both could have gotten seriously hurt.” The Storch just looked away, pouting in response.

“She ruined my jacket.” Came the muttered reply, and Falke looked to the Kolibri, who was carefully sitting upright and rubbing her head.

“Gloriana, what happened to the jacket?” Falke kept her tone as measured as possible, not wanting to place blame on either replika until she knew the full story. After a few moments, the Kolibri slowly pulled a sand covered red jacket from under her, holding it up for her mother to inspect. There were splotches of bright pink and fading all over it.

“I didn’t mean too, honest! I just, put the wrong bleach in on accident, and I didn’t realize it until it was too late.” Gloriana’s voice was on the verge of tears, and Falke sighed softly. Without a second thought she knelt down to her daughter, carefully pulling her close into a hug.

“It’s alright Glory, it’s alright. You didn’t mean to.” She whispered softly, pressing her lips to a mop of bright red hair. “I know it’s upsetting, but you need to come clean when mistakes like this happen.” The Kolibri sniffled, before nodding silently. Falke then turned her attention to the larger daughter.

“And you, Nike Malaki, should know better than to chase your younger sister around like a wild animal.” The stern tone had returned to Falke’s voice again, standing over the taller replika. Nike’s pout returned, and Falke sighed quietly. Then she reached down, and grabbed hold of her daughter’s ear, pulling her to her feet slowly despite the noises of protest.

“Ow ow ow ow! What the hell mom!?” Nike shouted, exasperatedly holding her ear like it had been pulled clean off. Falke narrowed her eyes.

“Nike. I have told you, time and again, to mind your temper. Your sisters wouldn’t ruin your favorite jacket on purpose, and you know that.” Falke said, folding her arms over her chest again. “You’re the second oldest of them, you’re supposed to help set an example.” There was an instant look of hurt on Nike’s face, and before she could even begin the words that were in her mind, Falke cut her off.

“No buts Nike. You are a Steiner Storch, and my daughter besides. You will start acting your age, and that means not chasing your sisters around the house at the slightest provocation.” Falke’s tone was final, and Nike slowly hung her head.

“Yes mom…” She finally said, still grousing about being scolded, but recognizing she was in the wrong.

“Now, Gloriana, what do we say to Nike?” Falke asked, looking to the smaller replika. Gloriana carefully rose to her hooves, brushing the sand off her and looking up to her sibling.

“I’m sorry I bleached your jacket.” She said, wiping her face with one hand. Falke nodded, then looked to Nike. The elder daughter flinched at the look in her mother’s eyes, before rubbing the back of her neck.

“I’m, sorry I accused you of doing it on purpose… And chasing you around the house threatening to clobber you…” Nike said. “It’s… Just a jacket.” Falke looked between her daughters, then nodded.

“Good. Now both of you get the sand off you and get ready. We’re going into town.” She said. The two looked confused for a moment, and Falke smiled.

“Well, that jacket is completely ruined, isn’t it? So we’ll just have to get you a new one, now won’t we Nike?” She said. “Glory, you’re coming with, so you can help your sister find something she likes. Fair?” Gloriana blinked, before nodding, bright red hair bobbing as she beamed. Nike brushed a lock of black hair back behind her ear, nodding.

“Yeah, that, sounds fair.” Nike said. “Thanks mom.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I still need to tell your father about this when he gets back with the groceries.” The news that Falke would be telling her husband, Galan Malaki, about this little incident drew a groan from Nike’s throat. No new jacket was worth the laps she’d have to run for trying to hurt one of her siblings. Falke just looked back to her daughter, a small smile at her lips.

“Better stretch now, before he gets warmed up.”

“Alright girls, let’s get everything unloaded.” Galan stepped out of the van, his thick boots crunching on the gravel drive to the beach house as he moved around the vehicle. The almost military look of the footwear clashed violently with the tan shorts and loud, colorful button up he wore, but they were what he was most comfortable in, and the habit of grabbing them instead of the nicer, more fitting dress shoes was long since ingrained into him. As he opened the hatchback, five sets of hooves quickly scrambled around the car, lining up for assignment.

“Alright, Sieglinde, mind getting the extra meat to the deep freeze?” Galan pulled out a special cold bag from the front of the cargo space, passing it to the eldest of his “children”. The Kolibri quickly took hold of the bag, smiling and running toward the garage as fast as her legs could take her. Galan chuckled as his eldest’s bioresonance flared around her, the deep burgundy color of her power matching the accents on her armor and the stars on her forehead. As the garage door opened, he turned his attention to the next in line.

“Victoria, Romilda, think you two can handle the tanks?” He pulled a pair of heavy propane tanks over, the metal canisters filled with flammable gas for the porch grill. The twin Starlings both nodded, each one easily grabbing hold of the tanks to hoist them to their shoulders.

“We gonna do burgers or brats tonight dad?” Victoria asked, brushing aside a strand of bright blond hair from her eyes. The man shrugged, pulling over the next bag.

“Not sure… Ask your mother what she thinks.” He said, not giving it too much thought. The Starlings quickly moved to carry the tanks in, their thick Steiner made legs easily supporting them into the house. Galan turned his attention back to the last two of his daughters, passing the bags of vegetables over to the smaller.

“Reina’s got the greens, and Sigrun, if you can get the bread in…” He held the bags out, the girls quickly stepping up to help. Third youngest in the family, Reina was a Davion Starling, built a bit more slender than her elder sisters, but instead of the boxy, conventional armoring Victoria and Romilda sported, her in-built protection was designed to be more like the medieval plate of a knight. A trait shared with the family’s youngest, Gloriana.

Meanwhile, the second youngest, Sigrun, simply wreathed the bags in bioresonance, lifting them off her father’s arm with a deep blue light emanating from her eyes. The bright blue star on her left cheek marked her as a Steiner Kolibri, and much like any other of her designation, Sigrun was by nature a gifted Bioresonant, with penchant for wanting to show off said power to prove her strength. Galan just smiled as he watched, patiently waiting for her to drop something in her haste to prove herself.

It didn’t take long, as just three steps from the car one of the bags split at the bottom, and he held out his own hand instinctively. Brilliant electric blue lightning surrounded the first loaf to slip through the tear, and Sigrun turned around to scoop the bag into her arms, a look of disappointment written on her face. Galan simply chuckled, lifting a bag of canned goods from the van and closing the door.

“If you support them from the bottom, they tend to tear less often.” He said simply, patting the dark haired Kolibri on the head as he walked with her to the house. Sigrun nodded, her frown still present but her hooves quickly following her father towards the house.

“Glory was upset… I could feel it.” She said. “She still is a little bit.” Galan raised an eyebrow, his eyes locked on the door to the vacation home the family had spent so much money renting out.

“She told you what about yet?” He asked, trying to hide how impressed he was at the connection his youngest children had with one another. No matter where they were on the planet, Gloriana and Sigrun always were connected bioresonantly, a feat that he and Falke still had to spend considerable effort to maintain. Though he supposed them being activated at the same time and being together so often probably had something to do with the bond they shared being so tight.

Sigrun shook her head, and Galan sensed it through his own bioresonant abilities. Even now, with almost two whole decades of practice, he still felt a small amount of awe at how beneficial the power of Bioresonance was for him. And no small amount of guilt that he relied on it so extensively. The powers of bioresonant individuals were still a subject of study across the Inner Sphere, and while more instances of such individuals were being found by the year, the full scope and scale of bioresonant power was unfathomable. Even the New Avalon Institute of Science struggled to quantify what source Bioresonance had, whether biological or genetic. The only thing they knew for sure was that strong links formed between bioresonant and non-bioresonant individuals, forged in battle and bolstered by Neurohelmet usage, had the slimmest of chances of inducing a Bioresonant awakening. And even that was simply theoretical, based on a sample size of exactly two individuals. Not exactly the kind of news to set the scientific world ablaze.

Galan’s mind focused again, the door ahead of him opening without even a thought from himself. Standing in the doorway was a figure slightly shorter than Falke, dressed in a crisp suit and tie, black rimmed glasses framing her face with an elegant professionalism that could only mark one individual. Kaede, the family’s hired Kondor, stepped aside to allow the master of the house and his second youngest to step through.

“Anything happen while we were out?” Galan asked the family’s head butler. Kaede insisted that despite her frame’s feminine appearance, her title should more appropriately be head butler, as her attire choice was more suited to the role. Galan never argued with her on it, the bioresonant blue star on her cheek more than enough reason not to start a fight. The palm of her hand gently rose to the bottom of her glasses, adjusting them back into proper place, before the Kondor spoke.

“Lady Nike’s favorite jacket was sadly damaged in the wash. Lady Gloriana claimed responsibility, but it was my own fault for not specifying which bleach was appropriate for colors. I accept full responsibility for the distur-” Kaede’s formal tone was cut off midsentence as the back door of the house opened. Galan looked to see his beloved wife and the two daughters who elected to stay behind and take care of chores around the beach house stepped in. The eldest child looked like a whipped dog, and the younger seemed no better in mood. Galan sighed, gently unpacking cans from the bag to set on the table for sorting.

“Glory, was it an accident?” Galan asked simply, trying to modulate his tone. He wasn’t angry with the girls, but judging from the welts he could see forming in their soft tissues, it was clear they’d gotten into some kind of scuffle. Gloriana nodded quietly, her head bowed, bright red hair covering up her gold Davion stars. He looked to Nike, the second eldest of his children, and the only Storch. She didn’t meet his eyes, just looking at the floor through short black bangs. Galan sighed, before stepping away from the table and walking over to Falke.

“Should we start the laps now, or after we get back from buying a new jacket?” Falke asked quietly, the Malaki family matriarch deferring to her husband’s judgement. Galan looked at the two, before shaking his head.

“They’re beating themselves up enough. Nike loved that jacket, said it looked just like the trivids from old earth. Long as they’re both sorry, and as long as Nike minds her temper the rest of this trip, I don’t see any reason to punish them further.” He muttered. The sound brought a small amount of hope to the girls, and a small smile played on his lips. Nike stood a bit straighter, nodding to her father, while Gloriana quickly walked over to hug him. Falke tried to hide her own smile behind her hand, but Galan could feel it.

‘You’re getting too soft on them.’ Falke’s thoughts intruded on his own mind, and he shrugged in response.

‘They may have the body and minds of full grown adults, but they’re still our kids. This is a vacation. Let ‘em be kids a little longer…’ He thought back, before patting Gloriana on the head. “Alright, you two go with your mother to get that jacket, we’ll get things put away here.”

“Yes papa.” Gloriana said, letting go of her father and saluting.

“Got it dad.” Nike nodded, walking with her sibling to the car. Falke leaned down to kiss his cheek, floating towards the door with her daughters.

“We’ll be back in time for dinner. And do the burgers, we had sausage last night.” She said, and Galan nodded quietly. His attention then turned to the rest of the children, watching them already coordinate unpacking and storing the week’s supplies. Keade walked around to his side, smiling.

“Master Galan, a letter also arrived in the mail while you were away. From Coromodir, if the address is correct.” The head butler replika pulled a small envelope from within her jacket, offering it to him with two gloved fingers. Galan accepted it carefully, looking at the Arano Cormorant emblazoned on the seal. The same sigil that was on Sieglinde’s shoulder.

“... What does Kamea want this time…” Galan muttered to himself, opening the envelope slowly.

Nike carefully walked through the racks, the store filled with clothing in every style imaginable in the Inner Sphere. Polyethylene fingers gently brushed against leather and denim, searching the racks for something iconic or interesting. Something to replace the bright scarlet jacket she had adored so much. The racks were lined with items meant for both human and replika wear, at least, the replikas that weren’t built into what amounted to power armor to begin with. And yet the style just wasn’t there. Every coat and jacket she looked at just looked boring to her, like something anyone would wear, with no sense of style or grace.

“I hate shopping out in the sticks.” She muttered. “Almost better to wait until we get home to Tharkad…” Her hand stopped on a brown leather jacket that would just barely cover her chest and shoulders, the tassels on it looking like a bad attempt at a cowboy aesthetic. She sighed and rolled her eyes, then continued her walk down the aisle. As she looked over a bright pink jacket that was at least long enough to be properly warm, Gloriana ran over to her from the next aisle.

“Nike! Check it out!” The Kolibri held up a black leather jacket for Nike to look at as the older sibling put the one in her hands back on the rack. Her eyes wandered over the zippers and superfluous straps, the whole outfit very clearly meant to evoke a style more than be functional. She carefully took it from Gloriana and unzipped it, slipping the hangar out and sliding it over her shoulders.

“Where’d you find this?” She asked, looking at how the jacket lay on her chest and shoulders, running polyethylene fingers down the front gently.

“It was just a couple aisles over. In the, men’s section…” Gloriana said. “B-but it looked just like the one on the poster!” Nike looked at her sister, then at the mirrors at the end of the aisle. That poster had been up on her wall back in Tharkad for months, and she’d been searching for a jacket just like this one for about as long.

“Yeah, it does…” Nike walked over to the mirrors, her hands moving to her hips slowly as she tried to replicate the pose. Hands on her hips, jacket open, belts catching the light as she cocked one hip slightly higher than the other. It felt, right. Like a natural evolution.

“Well now, don’t you look ‘bad’…” Falke said, walking over from another aisle. “Is this a good replacement?” The Malaki matriarch stepped into the frame of the mirrors beside her daughter. Nike nodded without a word, her hands quickly making small adjustments to the collar and straps, emulating the album cover from memory. Gloriana looked up at her sister, and Nike nodded, smiling.

“Yeah, this is the one. It’s perfect, thanks Glory.” The Storch looked at her sibling, a smile finally coming to Gloriana’s face now that everything seemed to be settled. Falke however was checking the price tag, a small smile playing on her lips.

“Well, I certainly hope you like it, and it’s warm enough. Because your father is not going to want to buy you another one if it isn’t.” Falke said. “We’ve already spent quite a lot on this trip, and you know how your father gets about money.” Nike looked at the tag herself, finally, and nearly balked at the price.

“Sixty-Five C-Bills!? Where do they get off charging that much for a jacket? Real leather or not, that's way too much.” She shouted, holding the tag between two fingers. Falke simply chuckled and put a hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

“Now now, Nike, let’s not make a scene. It’s a lovely jacket, and we have more than enough to pay for it. Just don’t let your father see the tag.” Falke said. Nike looked at her mother.

“But, mom… This is, this is way too much, I can’t ask for this.” She said. “I mean… I want it, but…” She looked down at the black leather and slowly smoothed it out. It felt perfect, but spending that kind of money on a jacket was hardly something she should expect her parents to cover. Falke sighed, and slowly placed a hand under her daughter’s chin to direct her gaze back up.

“If you want it, then that’s all I need to hear. You’ve been looking for something like this for more than long enough, I think we can afford to pay premium prices for my daughter’s happiness. This whole trip is about relaxing, isn’t it?” Nike nodded quietly in response to her mother’s question. “Then let’s get rung up, and head back home. I’m sure dinner’s almost ready.” Falke kissed Nike’s forehead, then turned to walk back down the aisle towards the registers. Gloriana was at her heels almost immediately, but Nike took one last look in the mirror at herself. As if on instinct, she lifted her finger and thumb like a pistol, firing at the reflection.

“Who’s bad?” She asked, a small smile at her lips, before she turned to run after her mother and sister.

Dinner that night was as perfect as could be. Between Nike showing off her new jacket, Victoria and Romilda teasing her about being obsessed with an old terran pop star, and the ensuing rough-housing, the family retired to bed in high spirits but exhausted bodies. Sigrun stared up at the stars through the window of her, Sieglinde, and Gloriana's bedroom, the eldest and youngest of the Malaki siblings glad to have the shared bedspace. The three would often sleep in each other's rooms anyway, their natural inclinations as Kolibris drawing them together ever since Sigrun and Gloriana were first activated. Now the trio were preparing for bed, Sieglinde reading quietly in a corner while Gloriana settled in to sleep, and Sigrun's eyes watched the starlight.

“Do you think we could see Tharkad from here?” She asked, looking back to her older sister. Sieglinde blinked, before shrugging and closing her book.

“Maybe. I mean the starlight would have travelled out this way ages ago, right?” The eldest Kolibri walked over to the window, looking out at the sky above. Sigrun moved a wisp of blond hair away from her eyes, her vision focused for a brief moment on her reflection in the glass. She smiled at the sight of the blue star on her left cheek, and the sight of the three burgundy stars on Sieglinde's forehead. One of the easiest ways to tell the trio apart, aside from their hair colors, builds, and attire.

‘Okay, so maybe the only thing we share is a face, but still!’ Sigrun thought to herself, smiling at the look of concentration on Sieglinde's face. She turned her attention back to the stars above the house, blinking as she tried to sync her bioresonance with her sister and feel where Tharkad was in the vast black above.

“Is that it?” She pointed to a particularly bright star in the distance, and Sieglinde shook her head.

“Nah… I think that's Hesperus…” She said, before pointing to another. “Maybe it's that one?”

“No way, that's gotta be Antares.” Sigrun said, before looking at another star. “What about that one?” She moved to point at it, but the star moved before her finger could mark it. She squinted at it, following its path with her finger.

“Could be a satellite…” Sieglinde started, before the two noticed more stars in motion. “No… It's too fast for a satellite. Maybe it's a DropShip?”

“Mmm… There's a lot of them though. You think the Archon sent them?” Sigrun looked to her older sister. Sieglinde shrugged, before looking to Gloriana.

“Hey Glory, come look at the-” The elder Kolibri froze, looking at the pained expression on the youngest's face. "Glory?" Sigrun moved to look around her sister, and immediately jumped off her bed to run over.

“Glory!” Sigrun quickly crawled onto the bed and put her hands to her sister's face, trying to reach out to her with Bioresonance. Sieglinde scrambled over as well, the two wakeful minds trying to contact their sleeping sister. All at once, a horrible sight met them. A hoard of massive, winged monsters descended from the sky, their feathers a deep green like they had never seen before. Talons flashed in the darkness, and before any of the trio knew what they were doing, they screamed in fear and horror as the monsters from the stars tore into their flesh.

Gloriana sat bolt upright, her forehead smacking square into Sigrun's nose. The impact sent the middle Kolibri flailing backward, her hand catching Sieglinde and accidentally throwing her to the floor. The door flew open in an instant.

“You three okay?” Victoria asked, the Starling leaning in only to spot Gloriana looking terrified, Sieglind sprawled on the floor, and Sigrun leaking oxidant fluid from her nose. “Holy shit what happened?” Victoria quickly rushed into the room, Reina hard on her heels while Romilda and Nike stood in the doorframe. Sigrun groaned as Victoria helped her sit upright, her fingers gripping her nostrils tight to slow the leak.

Reina helped get Sieglinde back on her hooves, the Davion Starling finally turning to Gloriana. The youngest of the seven was rocking back and forth, on the verge of tears, her body shaking in terror.

“Glory, Glory what is it, what's wrong?” Reina asked, gently holding her sister's face. Gloriana shut her eyes and shook her head, her breathing hard. Sigrun quickly moved to hug her twin, holding her firmly.

“They're here…” Gloriana finally whispered, her breathing choked with sobs of abject horror. “The Beasts are here!” Sigrun felt her oxidant turn to ice in her veins, and behind her eyes she carefully switched on her radio module. Static filled her ears, until she slowly adjusted the dial in her mind to find the right frequency. A transmission from the local militia was cut off by a rough voice.

“We are the forces of the Eighth Falcon Regulars. What forces dare defend this world from the steel talons of the Jade Falcon?”

Chapter Text

NEW AVALON
CRUCIS MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
3 JUNE 3049

The buzzing of the alarm was silenced by polyethylene fingers on the off button, Elster’s eye slowly opening to the sight of the glowing display. Five in the morning, on the dot. She shifted to pull her legs to the edge of the bed, hooves slowly meeting the floor as she sat upright, the night sky outside her window carrying the faintest flecks of light. The replika engineer carefully brushed a few strands of raven black hair from her eyes, then rose out of the bed to walk to the bathroom. The morning routine was all but ingrained into her memory now, the comfortable daily grind chasing away a night of prophetic nightmares and old ghosts. A stop to relieve herself, then a shower that had no time limit and plenty of hot water, before brushing her teeth and dressing for the day.

Technically, that last step was unnecessary, but in the more recent years she found herself enjoying the tactile sensation of a good working outfit. Superfluous as it was, she felt more human with a white tank top, short sleeved plaid flannel, and thick blue jeans on. As she carefully walked down the steps, she could hear the faint sound of bacon on a skillet in the kitchen. The smell followed just shortly after, and she stepped inside to see a taller replika in a maid uniform quickly and efficiently pouring a mug of rich, dark coffee, setting it gently on the counter.

“Good morning Lady Elster.” Colleen, the family’s hired KNDR said, a polite smile on her face. “I took the liberty of getting breakfast started, though I think the rest of the family may sleep in a bit. The girls were up rather late last night at the dance.” Elster carefully took the mug of coffee, the first sip acting as a final wake up call for her body to be ready for the day. She carried the mug with her to the dining room table, separated from the kitchen by a bar counter.

“I appreciate that a lot Colleen, thank you.” Elster said, before looking at the table itself. A newspaper was already neatly folded at her seat, and she carefully picked it up as she set the mug down. “Mail not here yet?”

“Not yet, but it should arrive soon.” Colleen said, carefully plating and bringing over Elster’s breakfast. A thick, fluffy waffle with syrup and butter, two strips of crisp bacon, two sunny side up eggs, and a small pile of hashbrowns. Elster’s eye never left the newspaper as her hand took hold of her fork, starting on the eggs. The reports from around the Inner Sphere were promising. The Free Worlds League was announcing a new Replika model soon, as part of a joint manufacturing bid by Technicron Manufacturing and Kallon Industries. The details were of course heavily guarded, but what sales pitch they did share with ComStar’s News Bureau made it seem like quite the achievement for the Free Worlds.

“I hope they didn’t just take a Mynah and give it bioresonance.” Elster said aloud, setting the newspaper aside. “... Who am I kidding, Marik would absolutely do that. Probably paint the poor girl purple as they did it.” She focused on her breakfast again, sighing as she mentally switched on her internal radio module. As she started on her waffle, the local news broadcast started up for the morning. The opening spiel barely registered for Elster, her mind tuned only to when the weather forecast would roll in.

“Sunny skies for most of East Albion today, but we are tracking a cold front coming up from the Grand Avalon Mountains. Should bring some rainfall and a few scattered storms over night, so keep the family indoors if you hear thunder. Five day forecast shows a dip in temperatures to break the heatwave and a few scattered showers until late Thursday evening, which is great news for farmhands after the brutal heat these last two weeks. Let’s take it over to Jack in the Traff-” Elster switched the broadcast off, smiling as she heard hooves on the stairwell. After a few minutes the youngest of her daughters, Yang Yeong, ambled into the dining room and blearily rubbed her eyes.

“Good morning Yang.” Elster said calmly. “Sleep okay?” The Davion Ara nodded quietly, adjusting the visor-like sunshade on her head slightly. Her dark brown hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, with several flyaway hairs that Elster was all but certain would get caught on something if someone didn’t fix them for her. Colleen was already setting out a plate for Yang at the table, and in seconds had a brush in hand and was carefully undoing the hairband to correct the mess the Ara had made. Elster’s mind brushed gently against her daughter’s to get a read on her, finding only a tired mind that could only come from late nights reading Technical Readouts by flashlight again.

As much as Elster wanted to admonish her daughter for staying up late again, the girl was at least trying to be productive, and the engineering replika could hardly blame her. Working on tractors and harvesters in the New Avalon sun could only be so interesting after a few years, and the stories of her mothers’ time as mercenaries had stirred something in all of her children. Elster simply sipped the last of her coffee, listening as three more minds slowly woke upstairs, while a fourth was already heading for the shower. Her internal clock read fifteen minutes to six, and she carefully rose from her seat.

“With that cold front coming in tonight we should be fine running the watering system once in the morning. Provided we don’t get flooded out…” Elster said. “Tell your sisters you’re getting the afternoon off, but no going into town. I don’t want you four getting caught out in a storm.” Yang nodded quietly, and Elster turned to walk to the garage. It looked like it was another non-verbal morning, and Elster sighed to herself once she was through the door. At least having some time off might help the poor girl’s stress, but Elster knew her own worries were starting to seep into the rest of the house again.

Even without accessing it, her mind played back the message Falke and Galan had found, out in the deepest reaches of the Coreward Periphery. The words of the long dead hero of the Inner Sphere, the Commanding General of the Star League Defense Force, General Aleksandr Kerensky, broadcast across lightyears on simple radio waves. A message that she took, even on first hearing, as a portent of calamity. Kerensky’s words had carried, more than anything, the regrets and pain of a man, long betrayed by the world he had left behind, yet still hoping, against all hope, for mankind to rise above its demons. And his final words turned the beauty and nobility of his message to ash, though not by his own intentions.

Perhaps, one day, should mankind step back from the brink of the abyss, we, our children, or our children's children will return, to once more serve and protect and guide the Star League in mankind's quest for the stars.

It was these words that haunted Elster the most, even as she climbed into the tractor and closed the door, her finger gently pressing the starter for the engine as her hoof pressed the brake. Not even a month after hearing those words for the first time, Elster had met with Jaime Wolf, of the Wolf’s Dragoons, alongside her wife Ariane, her former Commander Galan Malaki, his wife Falke, and three of the Inner Sphere’s Great Houses, to hear the awful truth. The Children of Kerensky were coming, as sure as the stars in the sky, but they would not be coming as guides and guardians of the Inner Sphere.

They would come as invaders. Conquerors. Destroyers.

Before a small group of invited figures, Jaime Wolf made it plain that the Commanding General’s sons had transformed the SLDF in the wake of a terrible civil war, into twenty great families, called the Clans. Each took a totem as their name, and had practiced a way of war completely unknown to the Inner Sphere. And worse, they had machines and BattleMechs far greater than any the Inner Sphere could produce. The Dragoons had been sent as a scouting force by the Clans, to ascertain the state of the Inner Sphere, sent with what the Clans had considered archaic and worthless weapons to carry out the task. That a ‘Mech as fearsome and powerful as the Annihilator could be considered past its prime by the warriors of the Clans was a terrifying thought to comprehend.

She recalled the faces of the assembled guests when Jaime had dropped the hammer blow. Galan was stunned into silence. Falke radiated a dread so palpable it still sent shudders down Elster’s spine. Ariane was almost in tears at the thought. Only the assembled nobility kept their composure, but beneath the surface, Elster could feel their own mounting concern. Archon Melissa Steiner, only just recently appointed to the position after her mother’s abdication, tried to put on a brave face, but Elster could feel the undercurrent of concern in every word. First Prince Hanse Davion, the man who had made the Federated Commonwealth what it was, furrowed his brow and said little after the news.

The most curious reaction had come from the most curious guest at the meeting. Theodore Kurita, attending in defiance of his father’s overwhelming condemnation of the invitation, had simply asked how long the Inner Sphere had before the invasion began. Jaime could not give an answer, and informed them only that since 3019, he and the Wolf’s Dragoons had, in secret, been building up the Inner Sphere’s mercenary ranks in preparation for the storm. That had been the purpose of their Hiring Halls, and the development of the Marauder II BattleMech. To give the Inner Sphere a fighting chance. And with the aid of Replikas, Jaime thought that perhaps, the Clans might be turned away.

Elster’s mind returned to the present as the tractor slowly rolled into the greenway between fields, her body on autopilot while her mind wandered. With a quick shake of her head, she snapped herself back to the task at hand. She had a lot of work to do maintaining the farm, and there were only so many hours in the day. With a quick look at her internal systems, she flicked the radio back on and adjusted the frequency to a local music station, smiling as the first notes of an ancient terran song began to play in her ears, and she started the day's chores.

There would be time to fret over invasions later. For now, her work was calling.

Ariane slowly walked into the dining room, prosthetic fingers gently rubbing her bright red eyes as she tried to pick the granules out slowly. The ability to actually feel them now was a great boost to the endeavor, the miniaturized man machine interfaces built into her replacement arms a welcome upgrade. She could hear the gentle clicking of forks on plates as her daughters dug into their breakfasts, and she smiled as she finally opened her eyes to see them.

Her eyes tracked from youngest to oldest. Yang walked to the kitchen with her empty plate, Colleen already having prepared Ariane’s portion of the meal and set it out for her with a fresh glass of orange juice. Gwenevere, a Starling of Davion make, was hard at work trying to arrange the perfect amount of hashbrowns, eggs, and bacon onto her fork for one gloriously satisfying bite. Artoria, their Davion Kolibri, had managed to bring down her book on the history and traditions of the Order of Lorix, and was utterly engrossed in the reading as bits of egg fell off her fork and back onto her plate. And at last, Angela, the eldest, and in fact the first Kolibri made by House Arano after Eusan’s integration, looked up and waved to Ariane as she came over to the table, her mouth already too full to speak.

“Thank you Colleen.” Ariane waved to her daughter with a small smile as she settled into her seat. “Elster already started for the day?”

“Bright and early, as always. The forecast is calling for rain overnight, so the girls are getting the afternoon off.” Colleen said. Ariane nodded, closing her eyes and offering a silent prayer that the rains would come sooner so that Elster would take some time off as well. The way her wife was throwing herself into her work wasn’t healthy, and the nightmares she could sense plaguing Elster’s mind wouldn’t go away just by diving into the tractor to replace yet another part that wasn’t broken.

“Mom… Is there going to be another war?” Angela asked. Ariane looked at her eldest daughter and felt a creeping dread in her heart. “Mother got like this before the last war too…” Ariane had to constantly remind herself that her children were full grown adults, even if she’d built their bodies and implanted their neural templates herself not even two full decades ago. They were far more perceptive than she ever expected, especially Angela and Artoria. The two Kolibris always seemed to be putting bioresonant feelers out into the air around them.

“... I don’t know dear. I suppose that relies on the Successor Lords…” She decided to give her a partial truth, though she was certain Angela would see it for what it was. Ariane couldn’t tell them about the Clans, not without confirmation that they absolutely were coming, or when the attack would be. For one, it would absolutely shatter Artoria. From the moment she first picked up a book on Inner Sphere history, she had become enamored with the SLDF and their image as noble knights of the Star League. Despite the best attempts of both Elster and Ariane, and even a few talks with the First Prince, the unshakable desire to be a MechWarrior permeated Artoria’s self image. To know that the SLDF had turned into barbarian conquerors would utterly crush her.

For the second reason, if the Clans were to attack, the girls would likely be far removed from the conflict, given what Jaime had said. The Clan Homeworlds were supposedly far Coreward of the Inner Sphere. With New Avalon’s position Spinward and Rimward of Terra, the Clans would have to batter their way through the entire Draconis Combine and the Draconis March to even threaten the Crucis March, let alone New Avalon. There would be more than enough time for them to learn the truth over the course of the invasion, if they were all still around for it.

“Well I hope another fight does come.” Gwenevere said, breaking Ariane’s thoughts. The Davion Starling had finished her plate, and was in the process of clearing it with a smile on her face. “I bet it’s gonna be the Cappellans again. They’ve gotta be mad about how the last fight went.” Ariane felt her second youngest’s excitement permeate the room, the Starling unit clearly looking forward to testing her skills on the battlefield.

“It would be important for them to regain some of their lost territory from the Fourth Succession War…” Artoria said quietly, her eyes still not leaving her book. Ariane sighed, just glad two of her daughters were more concerned about threats within the Sphere and not without. But she could see Angela staring at her, the eldest of the girls still not buying her mother’s story. Ariane just smiled at her and erected her mental shield again, both to frustrate her daughter, and to protect her. She could feel the pulse of Angela’s bioresonance reaching out to her mind, but the wall of mental steel Ariane erected blocked her from seeing anything.

“Lady Ariane, the mail just arrived.” Colleen cut in, interrupting the mental duel. Angela tried to turn her attention to Colleen, only to be knocked backward in her seat for the trouble.

“Angela, what have we said about trying to read people’s minds without permission?” Ariane asked. The Kondor wordlessly passed the envelopes to Ariane, then stepped around the table to help Angela back onto her hooves.

“Sorry Colleen.” Angela said, one hand on the side of her head from the backlash. Colleen chuckled, then turned to Ariane. The white haired bioresonant calmly nodded, before her fingers took hold of the first envelope to examine it. Another bit of junk mail, but it provided a decent distraction for the moment. As Angela and Artoria finally finished their breakfast, Colleen quickly herded them towards the sitting room for their lessons for the day. Ariane sighed as she felt each girl’s presence finally start to turn away from thoughts of wars to come, and onto wars gone by.

“... They’re too perceptive for their own good.” She said as her hands slowly sorted the mail into piles. A large pile of junk, a pair of bills, and an invitation from Sherry, the local Mynah they got their seeds from, to a barn raising. All perfectly normal mail, as ordinary as could be. But the final envelope on the pile gave her pause. The paper was higher quality, and when she looked at the return address, she paused as she saw Coromodir listed as the planet of origin. She carefully turned the envelope over, noting the seal on the back. The Arano Cormorant was perfectly centered on the wax, a seal that could only come from the High Lady’s hand herself.

Ariane rose from the table, the last pieces of breakfast now forgotten, as she walked to the door to the back of the house. After a moment of fumbling with the door handle, she stepped out and sprinted through the fields. Her prosthetics thudded against the dirt and grass between the rows of wheat as she strained her ears for the sound of the tractor. After a moment she spotted it, and Ariane sprinted for the massive machine, a bioresonant message sent directly to her wife’s brain. The tractor came to a halt after a moment, and Elster jumped out of the seat to meet Ariane halfway to it.

“What’s going on?” Elster asked. “Is everything okay?” Ariane held up the envelope, the Arano seal clearly visible in the morning sun. Elster’s eye widened, and in the open field, away from the girls, the two opened the letter.

“We can’t just ignore it.” Elster said. The clouds were already rolling in, and the girls were all eating lunch downstairs as Elster and Ariane puzzled over the letter that arrived that morning. Ariane had to bring it up to the office and stow it to avoid the girls seeing, and Elster had to go straight back to work to avoid them suspecting anything had changed. But the letter was on the desk now, and despite the time they had both spent considering it, the fact remained that it wasn’t the kind of letter you could simply brush off.

“But reactivating the Marauders, now, of all times?” Ariane asked. “When we might be facing an invasion from beyond the stars any day?” The bioresonant human had never been this worried about fighting when the two were mercenaries. She’d even been shot down in a DropShip, and still insisted on getting trained as a proper MechWarrior after. But Elster could tell it wasn’t her own safety, or even Elster’s, that drove this worry.

“She might not have a choice. The Coalition’s been spread thin ever since they took Detroit, and with how close that brings them to the Canopus border, the Magistracy is probably starting to worry about war in the future.” Elster tried to focus the conversation on Kamea, and away from the Clans. Angela and Artoria’s minds were far too eager to wander into the office, no matter how many safeguards the two put up.

“But what about the kids? What’re we going to tell them?” Ariane asked. “We can’t just leave them to go to see what Kamea wants, and we definitely can’t leave them to go back to Mercenary life.” Elster leaned back carefully in her seat, her eye locked on the letter. She slowly steepled her fingers, the polyethylene digits lightly tapping against one another for a moment. The girls had wanted to see what life was like for their mothers for some time now. They wanted to see the Aurigan Coalition, and maybe even Eusan one day. And the biggest obstacle to that had always been ComStar.

Ever since the Eusan Integration, Elster and Ariane had been living on New Avalon, in hopes that the First Prince’s clout and power could shield them from reprisals from the Order’s most fanatic devotees. And up to that point, it had worked, even allowing them to travel out to Outreach to meet with Jaime all those years ago. But now they would have to travel without the direct protection of Hanse Davion’s presence. She wondered if ComStar would move to stop them, or assassinate them before they could reach Kamea.

Her eye moved slowly to the computer on her desk, and she watched her reflection in the deactivated monitor. ComStar had been vocally opposed to Replikas for years, yet after 3039, she had started to see Eules in ComStar uniforms during press releases from the Order. Further, as the Com Guards were spread across the Inner Sphere, their Precentor Martial, Anastasius Focht, had stood flanked by a Storch and a du George, both of which had distinctive armor that pointed to ComStar manufacturing them. Perhaps the Order was not so united in their hatred of Replikas as Elster and Ariane first believed.

Still, the specter of ROM hung over them. What direction the shadowy intelligence branch of the ComStar Order fell on was a mystery to even Hanse Davion, and any attempt to leave New Avalon ran the risk of ROM agents sabotaging the DropShip. Elster closed her eye, thoughts swirling in her mind like the turning of the Milky Way, before she finally placed her hands on the desk.

“We don’t really have much of a choice. We’ll have to take them with us.” She said, her tone firm as she opened her eye again. “We can’t just ignore Kamea asking for us like this, and we certainly can’t leave the girls behind. They want to see the mercenary life, they’ll get a front row seat.” Ariane looked at her in shock, already searching for every objection she could levy against the idea. Elster slowly rose to her hooves and walked around the desk, stepping close to Ariane and wrapping her hands around the shorter woman’s waist gently.

“I know it’s dangerous Ari… I know you’re scared. But our girls have been training for this their entire lives. It’s time we gave them a chance to prove themselves to us.” Elster looked into her beloved’s eyes, and Ariane looked away slowly. Elster moved a hand from Ariane’s waist to gently hold her cheek, her best attempt at comforting her wife and assuaging her fears. “They’ve been in the simulators for two years now. They’re ready for this. I know they are.”

Ariane didn’t respond at first, before her arms slowly moved around Elster’s back, pulling her closer as Ariane buried her face in Elster’s chest. The two stood there a moment, human and replika, each silently dreading the news they would have to share. Then Ariane looked up again, and Elster leaned down slightly to kiss her lips, the lips that had made her fall in love all those decades ago on a Eusan Nation exploratory ship. As their lips parted, they turned to walk out of the office, and inform their daughters.

The Yeong Family was going to war.

Chapter Text

COROMODIR
AURIGAN COALITION
PERIPHERY
16 JULY 3049

“Elster, Ariane. It’s wonderful to see you both again.” The High Lady Kamea Arano, ruler of the Aurigan Coalition, rose from her throne with a grace that scarcely hinted at her age. At fifty years old, Kamea still moved with the same purpose and drive Elster remembered from the Restoration, something she could only attribute to the newfound wealth and prestige the Coalition had acquired over the last two decades. Kamea’s face had a few more lines in it than Elster remembered, but her eyes never lost the energy of a MechWarrior, even for a moment.

As Elster held out her hand, Kamea grasped it, then pulled the replika into a hug, chuckling. “You didn’t think you’d get away with something so formal with me, did you?” She asked, before letting Elster go and turning to Ariane. “You both haven’t changed at all.”

“Well, Elster is a replika.” Ariane said, accepting a hug from the High Lady as well as Kamea laughed.

“True, true. But that doesn’t explain your skin care routine, now does it?” The High Lady slowly stepped back to examine Ariane more, and Elster noted how Kamea’s eyes lingered on the new prosthetics. “I suppose that’s the beauty of Bioresonance. Either that or I need to cryogenically freeze myself next to a ‘Mech reactor.” The High Lady smiled at her own joke, while Elster and Ariane tried not to show their own discomfort. Even after decades, they could only barely talk about the hell they’d been through, much less joke about it. Kamea seemed to sense the mood, and her smile faded.

“But, I suppose I didn’t call you here for advice on my complexion.” She motioned with a hand for the two to follow her, and the three moved to a hallway connected to the throne room. Standing guard at every door were human and replika soldiers, all at attention as the High Lady passed, but Elster could feel them relax once they were clear. No matter how much things had changed, the Coalition still felt like home, even after so long away, and Elster smiled as she saw the new tapestries lining the walls. Great woven images of the Coalition’s deeds, from the Restoration, to the Eusan Integration, to their new conquests in the Reach, spreading Anti-Spinward to bring all of the Rimward Periphery under House Arano’s guiding hand. She could even see a few depictions of herself and Galan among the soldiers in a few of those tapestries.

The walk stopped before a set of oak double doors with two Percivala standing sentinel outside it. At the High Lady’s approach, the locks were released, and the doors swung open, Elster sensing the bioresonant power at use from the guardian replikas. Inside the room was a command center that seemed almost anachronistic to the rest of the palace, the stately stone walls and elegant tapestries clashing with the wiring and computer monitors spread throughout the room. The central command table was lit up with a grand holographic display of the Aurigan Reach, with the Coalition’s territory marked in brilliant burgundy against the cold blue light of the stars. Elster noted a small yellow light over one star in particular, just Rimward of McEvan’s Sacrifice and Portland. She didn’t remember any system out that far, and wondered if perhaps Kamea had begun her own probes into the Deep Periphery for new lands to settle.

A presence in her mind drew her eye back down from the projection, and she locked eyes with the Great Revolutionary’s Daughter, now the Lady Eusan, seated across the table from them all. Elster instinctively steeled herself for intrusion, but the presence vanished as quickly as it appeared. It seemed the greatest Bioresonant in Eusan was content to simply make her presence known, and draw Elster out of her musing. Seated next to the Lady Eusan was Lord Alexander Madeira-Arano, and at the sight of Elster and Ariane he rose to his feet with a smile.

“As I live and breathe. I thought we’d never see you again after the Integration.” He said, offering a hand to each of the girls. Elster took it firmly, glad to see he was still as friendly as ever, despite his role as head of the Armed Forces of the Aurigan Coalition. He looked a bit older, with a few gray hairs already working their way into his dark hair, but he still had that same spirit he did during the Restoration.

“It’s good to see you too Alexander.” Elster felt the strength in his grip, firmer and more solid than it had been reclaiming Kamea’s throne. Ariane meanwhile immediately pulled him into a hug, smiling brighter than Elster had seen in months. Kamea merely smiled as she took her seat, and Elster slid herself into a chair as well. Once Ariane and Alexander were settled, the High Lady began adjusting the holoprojection.

“As I’m sure you’ve guessed Elster, we’ve been receiving a strange signal from the Deep Periphery recently. It started just a few months ago, but it was only recently that we were able to decrypt it.” Kamea brought the focus of the projection down to the yellow light at the bottom of the map, that strange Rimward signal now taking up more of the space above the table. “At first we thought it was nonsense, but something in the signal did crop up that gave us pause…” Elster listened as Kamea brought up the transmission itself, playing a recording from the table for the two to listen to.

Garbled static met their ears first, but Elster recognized the static as Bioresonant in nature. As if on instinct she shut her eye, trying to visualize and translate the static in her mind. The recording slowly started to clear, and in her mind, she heard three distinct tones, rising in pitch. Tones she recognized immediately. The Magpie Signal. Elster opened her eye again, and looked to Ariane, who had paled slightly.

“That’s… That’s my…” Ariane whispered.

“Indeed.” The Lady Eusan finally spoke, her eyes closed. “If you were not seated directly across from me at this table, that signal would lead me to believe you were somewhere in that system right now, broadcasting as though you had never left the Penrose .” Elster felt her oxidant fluid run cold at that, and looked to Kamea for explanation. The High Lady shook her head, meeting Elster’s gaze calmly.

“Whatever is sending that signal, we know it isn’t you two. But it is dangerous. We attempted to send a JumpShip in the direction of the signal, one of only a handful we’ve managed to upgrade with Lithium-Fusion Batteries.” Kamea said. “Wherever it ended up, it did not return in one piece.” The holoprojection changed, and in place of the star map was Tri-Vid footage of the wreckage of an Invader class JumpShip, the vessel shorn in two in what could only have been a desperate Jump attempt under fire. A catastrophic miscalculation that saw the ship bisected from prow to stern. Worse, one of its attached DropShips was likewise shorn in half, the KF Boom in the docking collar clearly failing to shield it properly during the MisJump. Elster winced as she saw another DropShip on the collar, its surface pockmarked with burn scars and holes.

“So… You, need us to investigate it, before it causes a Bioresonance Cascade…” Ariane’s voice was hesitant, seeing the damage that had been caused to the JumpShip. Elster was already considering calling Kamea insane for even suggesting they go, but the Lady Eusan spoke first.

“We would not ask you to do so if it were not critical, but our own forces are all needed to hold our borders. And we do not intend on sending you in unprepared.” At that, the Tri-Vid projection adjusted again, this time to a new image. One of a massive ship, solar sails unfurled, guns bristling along its sides, and equipped with eight Docking Collars. As Elster looked at it, she almost mistook it for a McKenna class WarShip, but the gravity decks seemingly had been replaced, and the ship was too long. She wondered if it was a Stefan Amaris Class, but she remembered all three of those ships had been destroyed by the SLDF.

“Impressive isn’t she… Elster, Ariane, may I introduce the Arano Class WarShip. A little something we managed to cobble together after we collected and studied the pieces of the Saint Karpov .” Alexander smiled as he spoke, and Elster’s eye widened. “She’s got a full MechBay with enough room and machining for an entire regiment of ‘Mechs, plus room for combat vehicles, infantry platoons, even a pair of Aerospace Wings for close in defense and airstrikes.”

“She also has eight docking collars, which are useful for our other gift to you both.” Kamea said, changing the screen again to display a sleek, aerodynamic ship of impressive scale. “The Eusan Class DropShip.” Elster looked the ship over, marveling at its size and design, and especially the carrying capacity. Twenty-Four ‘Mechs, enough for two Companies, with another six bays just for heavy vehicles. It had a pair of autocannons in the nose that could only be twenty rated, with six five raters spread between the wings and tail. The nose and aft each had a quartet of Particle Projector Cannons, and there were twenty tube Long Range Missile launchers in each wing and the nose. And all around were lasers, medium and large, and the newly redeveloped MainFire Point Defense Anti-Missile System scattered across its hull for added defense.

“It’s… Beautiful…” Elster said, watching the loading ramps lower on the projection.

“Glad you think so… Since you’ll be testing her out in your mission to gather your team.” Kamea said. Elster blinked, and turned to look at the High Lady.

“Why not just give us the Argo ?” She asked, and Alexander stiffened a bit. Elster felt a creeping dread in the back of her mind, and Ariane’s hand found hers.

“... Unfortunately, in an effort to expedite the development of the Arano Class and Eusan Class… The Argo has been, decommissioned and salvaged.” Kamea said. “Alpha and Beta Pods are now serving as museums here on Coromodir and on Buyan respectively, but Gamma and the main hull have been completely disassembled. The automation systems on the Argo, along with the Hydroponics Bay and Hospital Bays, are absolutely critical to getting the Arano Class off the ground as long range, sustainable vessels.” Elster wanted to scream, but she held it down. As much as it hurt to know their home for almost five years was now gone, the knowledge that it was serving the Coalition, even in death, was enough to temper her heartache.

“We can, take you to Alpha Pod, if you’d like to see it. The whole Museum is dedicated to the Restoration, and to the deeds of the Marauders.” Alexander offered. Elster shook her head, trying to offer a weak smile.

“It’s, alright. I suppose it was bound to happen at some point.” She said. “We can’t exactly give you your ship back and then demand it whenever we want.” Kamea nodded quietly, then slowly rose from her seat.

“We can at least take you to see your new vessel. I’m sure the Eusan will serve you all well, and if there are any adjustments you can think of, please let us know. She’s passed her shakedown cruise with flying colors, but we’ve yet to test her in extended field duty, and anything you can offer us will be useful.” Kamea said. Elster smiled, her mind already turned to the task of locating and recruiting the Marauders again.

“We’ll let you know of anything we think of.” Ariane said. “Promise.”

“So how exactly are we going to be able to travel around and get everyone?” Artoria sat down on a crate in the Eusan class’s MechBay, the DropShip steadily being loaded with supplies for the journey alongside the two towering frames of Elster and Ariane’s BattleMechs. “I mean won’t it be suspicious if we claim we’re a merchant ship while carrying a pair of BattleMechs, and having room for twenty more?”

“Eh, I think we could pull it off. I mean people use the Union Class for transport all the time, don’t they?” Gwenevere replied, before she set down the crate she was carrying. With a relieved sigh she stood and stretched her back, feeling the myomer muscles loosen slightly.

“Yes, but they usually replace all the ‘Mech bays with cargo storage.” Angela said. “We’re still keeping them open to housing more warmachines…” The eldest kolibri walked over from the gantry stairs, her examination of the ship’s upper levels complete. Gwenevere pouted and leaned against the crate she brought in, her arms folded over her chestplate.

“Well… What if we just call ourselves a mercenary company then? I mean there’s tons of those in the Inner Sphere, aren’t there?” She offered, and she saw the objection forming in Artoria’s mind before she said it.

“We’d have to register with the MRB for that. And that would mean our mothers being back on ComStar’s radar.” The knightly Kolibri replied, her hooves tapping against the crate. “And that means ROM will know exactly where we are…”

“Well, to be fair… ROM will know where we are no matter what… It’s not like we can just, stay on the DropShip all the time. We’ll have to land, and use JumpShips.” Yang chimed in, crawling out of a maintenance tunnel in the floor of the ship. Gwenevere smiled at her younger sister backing her up, before turning to look at the elder two.

“Not to mention, it’ll cost a lot of money to go flying around, picking up BattleMechs. If we’re registered Mercs though, we can get tons of salvage to trade with.” The Starling beamed at how clever her plan felt, especially knowing Yang was backing her up. Angela and Artoria looked at one another, sharing some private bioresonant conversation, before they turned to Gwenevere.

“Do… You think mom will let us have our own ‘Mechs, if we become mercs?” Artoria asked. Gwenevere blinked, the thought finally crossing her own mind, and she smiled broadly.

“Of course! You can’t have a mercenary company with just two MechWarriors, right?” She said, before looking up as the sound of Elster’s BattleMech powering down met their ears. The massive Marauder II was settled into the first MechBay, Ariane’s Cyclops still on its slow march to the second bay. As the hatch opened on top of the ‘Mech, the girls jumped to run over, racing up to the repair gantries to meet their mother as she stepped out of her machine.

“Mom!” Gwenevere called, her longer stride easily out pacing the others as she ran. “Mom, we got an idea to help with getting everyone together.” She smiled as her mother looked up to her, the engineer replika raising an eyebrow.

“Is it to register ourselves as mercenaries?” As soon as Elster asked, Gwenevere actively felt the excitement drop out of her, and she lowered her shoulders as her head dropped to stare at the floor. “To tell the truth, your mother and I were discussing the exact same thing while bringing the ‘Mechs around. It’s not a bad idea.” Gwenevere looked up, and felt Elster’s hand on her shoulder.

“You kids have been training for a while now… And despite both of our misgivings, we can’t exactly expect you to just sit on the ship while we do all the hard work. So, consider this your trial run.” Elster said. The other girls finally caught up, all eyes on Elster as she stepped back to address them all. “We’re going to expect you girls to follow our orders exactly. When we call reveille, you better be on your hooves and ready to move. And the second we tell you to punch out you pull the ejection fuse, got it?” Gwenevere nodded quickly, a broad smile on her face.

“But… Won’t we need ‘Mechs? And…” Yang pointed out the most and least obvious problems at the same time, and Elster simply nodded.

“‘Mechs will come. Salvaging whatever we come across will be easy enough, but we also have a decent cushion under us from the farm to buy something light to round us out. It should be arriving soon.” As Elster said this, Gwenevere quickly looked towards the bay doors, as the sounds of another ‘Mech approaching were heard. “As for the second issue… While I know you don’t want to be a MechWarrior Yang, being a Tech means still operating exactly like the MechWarriors do. You’re still going to have to do PT and drill, just like the other girls.” Yang made an uncomfortable noise, but didn’t object. Elster turned as the sound of the approaching machine got louder.

Striding up the ramp onto the Eusan class was perhaps one of the most ubiquitous ‘Mechs in the Inner Sphere, a machine so cheap to produce it could be found in every Successor State and Periphery Nation in droves. The WSP-1A Wasp , a twenty-ton light BattleMech used for scouting and recon, noted for being one of the first BattleMech designs to ever feature Jump Jets. Gwenevere marveled at the Bical SRM-2 in its left hip, and the way the light caught the Diverse Optics Type 2 Medium Laser in its right arm.

“Angie, as the oldest, she’s all yours until we find something better. But remember, it’s a scouting ‘Mech only. The second you take fire, you break off and get back to us, understood?” Elster asked, and Gwenevere could feel the excitement radiating out of her bioresonant sister. Artoria was mirroring the sensation, and Gwenevere couldn’t help getting caught in the loop herself. This was what they’d been waiting for, almost a decade of training and now, finally, they’d be able to show what they could do outside of a simulator for once.

The Wasp slowly trudged into the third bay, backed in and powered down with practiced ease. The Technician who brought it in carefully climbed down the rope ladder from the canopy, Ariane already on the ground to meet him and get the access codes. Angela bolted, hooves clacking hard on the gantry as she raced to examine her new prize, Artoria and Yang hot on her heels to get a look for themselves. Gwenevere just smiled, watching her siblings gush over the new machine, before looking to her mother.

“So, did you and ma come up with a name for the unit?” She asked. “I mean, we only just got the idea ourselves when we finished loading.” Elster chuckled, standing next to her third daughter with a smile.

“We did. Ariane actually suggested it.” Elster brushed a black bang from her eye and folded her arms just under her chest. “Magpie Company. We’re going to bill ourselves as, retrieval specialists.” A fancy way of saying looters, but Gwenevere smiled at the name. It wasn’t clever, but it didn’t have to be. They were mercenaries, and if the MRB asked, well, there were a lot of people with a lot of names across the Inner Sphere. And a lot more LSTR units spread across the Sphere now too.

“So, we’re just going to do smash and grabs?” Gwenevere asked. “No big line fights?” Elster nodded.

“Not until we have more ‘Mechs. And we’ll certainly get those when we find the others. For now though, we need to focus on gathering the more important parts of the crew. Boys study tactics. Men study Logistics. The same should go for girls and women.” She said. “We’ll need an Executive Officer to help negotiate contracts, a Chief MechTech to handle things back here, Ariane’s going to want a dedicated co-pilot who isn’t going to be busy commanding everything.” Elster smiled, and Gwenevere raised an eyebrow.

“You got people in mind for that?” The Starling asked, and Elster nodded.

“The best of the best. First stop, Artru.”

COMSTAR FIRST CIRCUIT COMPOUND
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
NORTH AMERICA, TERRA
17 JULY 3049

“Speak Adept.” Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht did not turn his eye away from the monitors before him, the screens displaying ROM footage of unknown BattleMechs engaging mercenary units in the Coreward Periphery. The designs were unlike any other the Precentor Martial had seen, and he was studying every aspect of their weaponry and deployments as captured communications played back in text on each. The Adept by the door nervously fumbled the folders in his hands, practically throwing himself forward to set them on Focht’s desk. The ancient oak furnishing was ornately carved with images of mathematical symbols and prophecy, the Cameron Star emblazoned proudly on its frontage.

“The, Primus has sent orders, Precentor Martial sir. She expects them to be read right away.” The Adept couldn’t have been older than twenty, his hands trembling in the presence of the man who held the reins of the Com Guards. Focht’s only movement was a slight twitch of his fingers, and the Percivala unit at his left responded to the unspoken order without delay. The Androgynous combat replika turned, took hold of the folders, and began to read, scanning over each line and translating it directly into Focht’s mind via Bioresonance. The other replikas in the room didn’t move.

“You have other news as well.” Focht said calmly, at the nudging of the Falke unit standing at his right. Her resplendent blond hair hid the golden laurel about her temples, and more importantly the bioresonant glow coming off such as she probed the Adept’s mind. With a cough, the Adept proceeded.

“The, names you asked the MRB to monitor have just cropped up again. A, new mercenary unit in Aurigan Reach has just activated. We haven’t sent approval yet, pending your orders sir.” He slid a third folder onto the desk. Without a word, the Kolibri standing at the corner of the room stepped forward, retrieving the folder to hand to Focht directly, the Precentor Martial opening it and reading directly.

“So… You’ve finally come out of hiding, Elster Yeong.” Focht said quietly. In his mind, four voices spoke in turn. His Percivala encouraged caution in approving them, as the Primus would likely want to know. His Falke believed that the orders to meet with these, Clans, as they seemed to call themselves, were a ploy by Watterly to undermine his authority. The Kolibri thought that allowing the registry of the Magpie Company, with covert support from the Com Guards, could check Watterly. And the Dinadan, silently standing in the corner, only smiled.

“... Approve their activation under my orders.” Focht said bluntly. “Ensure the Primus knows I authorized it. If she wishes to send me to the Coreward Periphery, then any matters Rimward are her problem now.” He smiled to himself, handing the folder back to his subordinates, the comfortable clockwork Bioresonance afforded him a welcome change from the chaotic and cumbersome systems of before. The Adept merely nodded, taking the folder back and racing out of the room as quickly as his feet would allow.

“Should we send someone to monitor them?” The Percivala asked. Focht moved a hand to his chin, contemplating the idea. Having a loyal Com Guard agent within the Company could give more insight into just why Elster and Ariane had left their comfortable farm life behind so abruptly. He quietly sorted through the mental list of agents he could call upon, and smiled as he remembered two names in specific.

“I can think of two who would be perfect for the job.” He said. “Send word to our ghosts at the Mechdur HPG. Codeword Sierpinski…”

Chapter Text

ARTRU
AURIGAN COALITION
PERIPHERY
30 JULY 3049

Elster slowly leaned over the command table, looking down at the projection of the surface of Artru, the ice cold wastes now pockmarked with small, heated areas that lit up the darkness of the night. The massive belt of mountains that ringed the equator were similarly lit up in the night, mining operations now able to continue almost round the clock thanks to Mynah workers' tolerance to the extreme cold. The massive replikas were everywhere, excavating ore and rare metals round the clock, serving as the new backbone of Artru’s economic prosperity. The floating cities had expanded since Elster was there last. And remembering that last trip to Artru brought her gaze to the exact section of the planet she had been searching for.

A lone outlier in the mountainous band around the center of the planet, several large hills and peaks housed an incredible secret: A Star League Outpost Castle, codenamed Nautilus. Or at least, the ruins of one. During the Restoration, Elster and Galan had helped Kamea seize the Castle against its own defense systems, but an attack by the Taurian Concordat forced their Chief MechTech, Yang Virtanen, to detonate the facility with plastic explosives placed on the ammo dumps. Now, with the aid of Replika teams, the Castle was slowly being excavated for any salvageable LosTech contained within.

And it was precisely this important duty that had brought Elster and the newly formed Magpie Company to Artru, as the overseer of the dig site was none other than the former Executive Officer of Malaki’s Marauders, Darius Oliveira. Right now the site was heavily defended, and she watched the patrols of BattleMechs and armored vehicles around the outskirts of the Castle’s ruins.

“Finally got in touch with the local governor. Says the site was attacked a few days ago by pirates, but they haven’t been able to locate their DropShip.” Ariane stepped into the Command Center, holding a contract in her hands for Elster to look over. “Unfortunately, during the attack, they managed to capture Darius too.” Elster pushed herself up from the table and turned to her wife. She gave a small nod, folding her arms under her chest.

“So we’ll need to find these pirates and hit them before they can kill Darius. Sounds like a good test for Angela’s scouting ability.” Elster said. “What’s the pay?” Ariane smiled as she passed over the contract for Elster to sign.

“One million C-bills, along with first pick on some pretty choice salvage. Pirates were using light ‘mechs, so as long as she keeps her head down, we can pick off the problems for her while she gets Darius out. There’s also a bonus for wiping the Pirate lance out completely.” Ariane said. Elster nodded, smiling as she wrote her name on the dotted line.

“Bring us down near the Castle. We’ll get our heading from there.”

“Hey, Juli! Someone’s already on the contract.” STAR-E S2323, known less formally as Ranger, slowly walked into the excavation command center. “And you won’t believe who it is~” The Starling smiled as she saw the only Eusan-made Eule perk up from her seat and jump to her hooves.

“Who? Did they send the Arano Guards, or Rampart Company?” Juli’s eyes locked with Ranger’s as the taller replika held the print out aloft. Ranger just smiled and shook her head, then lifted her arm as Juli tried to jump and take the paper to see.

“Ah ah ah~ You gotta gu-ess~” Ranger teased as her wife stomped her hoof on the metal floor. The Eule pouted as she met her lover’s gaze again, and Ranger finally relented, lowering her arm so Juli could see. After a moment of scanning the paper, she squealed and jumped into Ranger’s arms. The Starling just laughed and turned to carry her out into the cold, the duo already in specially insulated armor. As Juli hugged herself to Ranger tight, the Starling watched a large black and red ship land gently on the recently finished pad. She let out a low whistle at the shape of the vehicle, watching as the four doors along its sides rose slowly and the landing ramps deployed.

“Hell of a ride she’s got now too.” She said. Juli could only nod in agreement, the new ship far larger than any Leopard. Painted along the side, near the large tail stabilizer, was the ship’s name: Oathkeeper .

“I’m guessing Sierpinski's Revenge was too long.” Juli chuckled. Ranger just smiled, her hooves clicking as she walked down the stairs to the metallic walkways that crisscrossed the “base camp” for the excavation. From inside the DropShip, a nine meter tall machine slowly marched down the ramp on unsteady legs, the Wasp’s pilot clearly unfamiliar with the controls. Ranger chuckled as she watched the MechWarrior make their way, clearly wracked with first drop jitters.

“Well well well… What’re a pair of Ghosts doing hiding out here?” Ranger looked back down and saw Elster on her way towards them, the engineering replika already dressed in her coolant vest, her neurohelmet under her arm. Juli squirmed in Ranger’s grip until the Starling put her down, and the Eule broke into a sprint as soon as her hooves met the metal. In a flash Juli was hugging Elster tight, until she saw Ariane on her way over as well.

“You look good Elster. How’s New Avalon?” Ranger asked as she stepped onto the ramp. The smaller replika didn’t take her eyes off Juli and Ariane, a smile on her lips.

“It was nice, but, farming gets pretty boring after a while.” Elster chuckled. “What about you two? Darius ask you to be here?” Ranger shook her head.

“We actually asked him to come along. Figured he could use a familiar face handling some things, and we were bored with sitting around waiting for ROM to come kill us.” The Starling said. “Who’s the newbie?” She nodded to the Wasp as the ‘Mech slowly started to get a feel for walking properly.

“Angela. My eldest. She’s had plenty of simulator time, but it doesn’t prepare you for how those cockpits rock when you walk.” Elster answered, before her smile widened. “And I suspect she’s trying to pilot entirely using her brain, instead of the controls.” Ranger laughed at that, Elster joining her. After a moment the two focused again, Juli and Ariane having joined them finally.

“So. Darius.” Elster said, her eye on Juli. The Eule nodded.

“Right. The Pirates hit us from the north east, stealing a bunch of crates. Fortunately it was just replacement parts for the heaters on the base and not any LosTech, but they took Darius hostage with a skimmer so we wouldn’t fight.” Juli said. “They left directly north, I think to try and throw us off from following.” Elster nodded, before she turned to the Wasp . The ‘Mech halted, and slowly turned to start marching towards the northern side of the excavation. Ranger noticed that Elster seemed distant, when she saw that stretch of the mountain pass, but the look vanished after a moment.

“Well, on our end of things, Kamea’s asked us to put the Marauders back together.” Ariane said, and Ranger turned to look at her. “You two in?” The Starling smiled and nodded, her hand on Juli’s shoulder.

“You have to ask? We’ll pack our stuff and get moved aboard.” She said. “It’ll be nice to go somewhere warm for a change.”

Angela watched the expanding white before her, awestruck by the view through the cockpit glass. Even with the heat from the Wasp’s life support, she could still feel the brisk winds of Artru racing across the ‘Mech’s sensors, the Man Machine Interface and Neurohelmet feeding the data into her brain. Ahead of her the field of snow seemed to stretch forever, and she carefully held the throttle forward as the ‘Mech smoothly marched across the packed snow. It was nothing like the simulators, every step the ‘Mech shifted just slightly, the gyro compensating with every motion as the foot actuators changed pressure. She gently ran her thumb over the firing stud for the SRMs, but thought better of it. As fun as it would be to fire off a pair of missiles to make the snow explode in front of her, she might need the ammunition later. A single ton of Short Range Missiles could supply the twin tubes with forty five shots, but every shot had to count when her only other weapon was a medium laser.

As she crested another snowbank, she blinked to cycle the visual systems on her Neurohelmet to thermals. The endless cold around her would make even the smallest heat signature light up like a christmas tree. Angela cycled them again, the Magscan readings dancing across her vision as unidentified deposits of ore marked the area around her in green boxes. The dizzying sight of all that magnetic material overwhelmed her in seconds, and she cycled back to normal vision again.

“Having fun Angie?” Elster’s voice sounded in her ear, and Angela could feel the smirk on her mother’s lips. The Kolibri was spending too long toying around with her ‘Mech, and not enough time actually scouting.

“Can you blame me mom? This is my first real BattleMech! Not a simulator, not a toy, the real deal!” She carefully shifted her walk around the base of another mound of snow. “This is the most exciting day of my life!” Elster chuckled at that, her Marauder II and Ariane’s Cyclops just far enough back to stay in visual range of the Wasp as it moved.

“As true as that is, you need to remember this isn’t a game. These people will not hesitate to shoot for the cockpit, so the second you see something, we need you to tell us.” Elster said. “Just take it slow and keep your eyes up.” Angela nodded, before remembering that she didn’t have a camera inside the cockpit, unlike the simulators at home.

“Right, I copy.” Angela smiled to herself. Her first chance to use real battle cant, like a real MechWarrior. She could almost feel Artoria and Gwenevere’s jealousy all the way from out here in the wastes. She flicked her visuals back to thermal again as the ‘Mech stomped onto the top of another hill. She gently twisted the ‘Mech’s torso to sweep the area, before a speck of bright white appeared, and she quickly switched back to normal vision.

“Got something on thermals… One-o-clock, behind a snow drift…” She carefully turned the ‘Mech and backed down the hill a bit, her eyes locked on the spot where the white flash had been. She watched the spot again as the source of the heat reading came slowly into view. A Javelin , from the looks of it a 10N model, slowly crept out of the space between two snow covered hills, its twin SRM6s bristling with missiles. Angela silently locked her sensors onto it to start feeding targeting data back to her parents.

“Warning! Incoming missile!” The missile lock system on the Wasp screamed to life, and Angela quickly threw the throttle in reverse, firing her jump jets to try and dodge. A stream of long range missiles crashed into the ground where she had just been standing, though a couple managed to adjust course just enough to pepper the armor on the front of her ‘Mech. Another signal appeared on sensors: a Javelin 10A had locked onto her from the crest of another ridge, directly at her right. She hadn’t seen it because she was so focused on the 10N. Rookie mistake.

“Fall back Angie, we’re moving up as fast as we can.” Elster’s voice calmly sounded in her ear. She quickly twisted the ‘Mech’s legs and forced the throttle forward, starting a dead sprint back to her parents. She knew presenting her back was a bad idea in a fire fight, but the speed of her Wasp would make it hard for non-guided weapons to track her. The real issue was the 10A, but she knew to twist before impact to increase her armor as much as possible.

Another stream of missiles roared through the sky, and Angie jammed her thumb into the jump jet button again to take herself airborne. The missiles lost the lock and impacted the snow, but her soaring leap was ill-planned, and she ended up landing in the middle of a massive snow drift, her ‘Mech buried up to its hips. Angela grunted as she tried to force the ‘Mech forward or backward, the snow making movement difficult as the heat still dissipating from the ‘Mech melted the ice around her. She looked at the system for fueling the jets and winced. She had to let the heat dissipate fully before she could fire off another jump like that to get free.

Two more contacts appeared on her radar, and she swiftly tried to turn her ‘Mech to see them. A pair of Jenners rushed through the snow towards her, attacking from between the twin Javelins with medium lasers at the ready. She tried to turn the ‘mech fully, but the legs were buried too deep in the snow to move. She was trapped, only able to turn and aim her medium laser to try and shoot the incoming ‘Mechs as her jets cooled. She lined up her shot with the closer of the two, taking a long slow breath before squeezing the trigger. Emerald light lanced from her ‘Mech, only to ineffectually carve into the hill behind her target. She couldn’t turn the arm far enough to shoot!

As the Jenners slowed to line up their shots, the crack of ionized particles ripped through the air, and in a flash the right leg of the closer of the pair crumpled as a pair of PPC shots crashed into it, the heat and kinetic force sending the ‘Mech tumbling. The second quickly turned to face the incoming enemy, only for a pair of autocannon shells to blast off its arm and smash open its torso. Angela smiled as she saw her parents at the top of a nearby hill, a stream of LRM fire now spiraling towards the retreating light ‘Mech.

Angela heard the audio cue that her jump jets were ready, and she launched the ‘Mech upwards to turn in midair, landing on one of the hills next to the massive snow bank she’d been buried in. The entire lance of pirates had turned their attention to the two assaults bearing down on them, their weapons barely having an effect on the massive BattleMechs as Elster and Ariane concentrated their fire. The second Jenner collapsed into the snow from a quartet of medium lasers boring through its leg, while the Javelin 10N ate autocannon shells to its side torsos, blowing away its firepower. The final Javelin could only back away and fire its long range missiles as it desperately tried to put distance between itself and Elster.

“They really are something else…” Angela watched in awe as twin PPC blasts bracketed the Javelin , sending the pilot into full flight as the thirty tonner sprinted for its fellows.

“Angela, you okay?” Elster’s voice cut through the Kolibri’s stunned stare, Angela quickly shaking herself to focus.

“I’m alright. A little banged up on the right but I should be fine.” She said, the diagnostic computer showing red readouts for her right arm, right leg, and right torso. She pushed the ‘Mech into position behind her mothers, the heavier machines now setting the pace.

“Good job spotting that 10N. Just need to remember to sweep before you squint.” Elster said. Angela nodded, taking the lesson to heart. She was quickly understanding that it was very different being in a real combat scenario instead of the simulators. She genuinely was worried she would have to punch out if the Jenners got any closer.

‘The fear is natural dear. You did well keeping your head.’ Ariane’s mind touched Angela’s, and she nodded with a smile. ‘Now when we find their camp, stay back and wait for us to find Darius. We need you to get him out while we distract the guards.’

‘Got it mom. I won’t let you down.’ Angela thought back, the fleeing Javelin still on her sensors. They had managed to break the enemy lance, but they might still have combat vehicles and a DropShip to worry about. And that meant that a lightly armored ‘Mech like her Wasp was still in danger. Angela took a deep breath to focus, her machine right behind Elster’s.

‘Just need more practice.’ She thought to herself, and her fingers tightened on the controls.

As the trio crested another ridge, the sight of the pirates’ improvised base came into view, the heat signatures around the base revealing several compact turrets deployed around the DropShip. Angela noted they were all simple machine gun turrets, with barely enough range to be a threat to any MechWarrior with a medium laser. Elster’s Marauder II slowed, the ‘Mech sweeping silently over the site.

“I don’t like this… I can’t find the Javelin .” Her voice crackled over the comms, and Angela tried to look as well. The thirty ton ‘Mech was well known for its ability to quickly position itself for surprise attacks, and a few LRM volleys could still do serious damage. Ariane’s Cyclops turned towards the DropShip the pirates were using, whistling to herself.

“Where did they dig up that old Confederate from?” She asked, watching as the ship struggled to power up. “Must be having reactor trouble. We should get in there before they can spin it up.” Angela nodded as she turned her ‘Mech and pushed the throttle to full. She heard Elster’s ‘Mech jump down the ridge, jets firing hard to lower it safely onto the snow, while Ariane kept the high ground to get targeting data. She could feel her parents’ bioresonance around her, and as she closed her eyes and turned her head, the minds of all within the camp lit up for her in the darkness like a field of fireflies. And one light shone brighter than the others, near the DropShip’s loading ramp.

‘Darius is being held there. We need to take out the DropShip’s weapons before they can spin up.’ Ariane’s voice echoed in Angela’s mind, and she opened her eyes again to turn her ‘Mech towards the turrets. The automated guns were already tracking Elster’s Marauder II as the massive BattleMech launched a pair of PPC shots, each detonating a turret in a single blow. A stream of LRM fire smashed into a third turret, disabling it and drawing the pirates’ attention to Araine on the ridge. Which meant no one saw as Angela jumped into the flank and fired all of her weapons. Twin SRMs crashed against the turret she targeted as her medium laser bored into its core and destroyed its firing mechanism. In seconds the trio had destroyed a quartet of turrets, and the DropShip was forced to start powering up to bring any kind of weaponry to bear.

Angela made a run for the inside of the camp, her radar already picking up new contacts. The Javelin had been hiding behind the Confederate , and as it poked out to try and get a lock, Elster’s Autocannon barked, and in a flash the light ‘Mech was lit up by the scattered explosions of the Myrdon Excel’s cluster rounds. A follow up shot from Ariane’s LRMs punched clean through the tattered armor of the Javelin and hit the ammo bins for its launcher, and turned the small machine into an inferno. Angela smiled as she twisted to see a small skimmer try to line up a shot on her Wasp , and she snapped to face the target. It was a Harasser , built small and light to hit targets quickly, and mounted with a pair of medium lasers. She quickly jumped over its first shot, and as her ‘mech descended again she fired her own return salvo. Missiles detonated against the thin armor of the skimmer, while her laser melted off a portion of the turret casing.

The Pirates inside seemed to think discretion was the better part of valor, as their second shot was fired while they backed away. Angela twisted her ‘Mech, the laser bubbling armor off her left arm as she tried to pursue the vehicle. The driver had managed to turn the Harasser around to race towards the Confederate , lasers trained on her Wasp .

“You’re not getting away that easy!” Angela fired her medium laser again, and the emerald beam tore into the rear armor of the vehicle. Her missiles crashed into the ground around the hovercraft as it turned a corner. Her torso twisted to follow the vehicle, her targeting reticle switching from red to green as she aimed. In a flash of vermillion her medium laser scoured the weakened side armor of the Harasser and tore into its engine. The hovercraft buried its nose into the dirt and flipped onto its roof as smoke billowed from the wound in its side. Angela smiled and turned her attention toward the DropShip, only to see one of the bay doors open.

She had been so focused on the fleeing vehicle, she hadn’t noticed how close she was to the ship, and with the guns focused on Elster and Ariane, the Pirates were free to deploy their ace in the hole against her. She slowly backed her Wasp away, as the lumbering frame of a Heavy BattleMech stomped into view. Her sensors latched on faster than her bioresonance while her heart started to race in fear.

Standing at the top of the ramp was an ancient warmachine from the earliest days of BattleMech design, a formidable weapon favored even by the Commanding General Aleksandr Kerensky himself. A KaliYama Death Bloom Fifteen Tube Long Range Missile launcher in the left torso alongside an Irian Weapons Works Class 4 SRM launcher, two Irian Weapons Works medium lasers split between the two arms, and a terrifying KaliYama Class 10 Autocannon at the right hip. Seventy-five tons of General Motors design stared down at her with malice in its heart, as the Orion stepped forward.

Chapter Text

ARTRU
AURIGAN COALITION
PERIPHERY
30 JULY 3049

Angela stared up at the towering form of the Orion , and could feel the cold hands of death slide down her spine. The absolute malice roiling in the mind of the pilot had frozen her in place, the targeting data from the Battle Computer completely ignored in her terror. The massive autocannon on the Heavy ‘Mech’s hip leveled at her, and she screamed at her body to move, to fire her jump jets, to do something, anything! She shut her eyes and wrenched her left arm back as she slammed the button for the jump jets with her thumb, an act that flung her Wasp backwards. The jets carried her off the ground just ahead of the autocannon blast, the shell crashing with a thud into the ground and detonating, shrapnel scattered along the ground in the wake of the flash.

Angela landed the Wasp just off center from the Orion , which turned its torso to track her. The pirate was quick to adjust, and as Angela ducked twin emerald beams lanced through the air just above her ‘mech’s head. She jammed the throttle forward and shifted her legs, and the Wasp turned to sprint around the side of the larger machine. Another blast rocked the left side of her ‘Mech, and the armor readout flashed red in front of her. Three of the Orion’s Short Range Missiles detonated against her left side, stripping away the armor on the left arm and hammering into the internal structure. The limb was now barely hanging on by threads of myomer.

‘No no no no…’ She felt the cold waves of panic race across her mind. If even one of the heavy ‘Mech’s weapons found the Wasp’s head, she’d be dead before she could pull the ejection fuse. She quickly fired her jump jets, bioresonance giving her just enough warning before the autocannon barked again, and the shot sailed just past her legs. The medium lasers in the Orion’s arms bit into the torso of her ‘mech as she landed, the armor on the left side completely shredded while the center barely held on. She fired her own weapons in response, trying to hit something vital, but her missiles and laser barely made a dent in the larger machine.

The only solace she could take was that the larger ‘Mech was visibly starting to overheat, but it was nowhere near enough to make the fight winnable for her. She desperately kept up her sprint and prayed that speed would be enough. The lumbering machine turned slowly, lining up its missiles again, but Angela’s sprint had carried her around the side of the Confederate , the DropShip now serving as a makeshift shield, if only for the moment. She didn’t slow down for a moment, her hand on the throttle as she pushed the ‘Mech at top speed around the ship. Cyan and emerald beams lashed out as she passed, but the thunder of Elster’s PPCs against the hull told her their targeting was scrambled. She sighed with relief as she felt the incoming fire end, her parents’ ‘Mechs in sight.

Then she heard the incoming missile alarm, and jammed the jump jet button. The Orion , not content with losing its prize, had turned around to circle the DropShip the other direction, and opened fire on her rear armor with its LRM launcher. Angela desperately jumped to avoid the impacts, but the more advanced targeting on the Orion meant the missiles simply adjusted their arcs accordingly. Angela felt the impacts as explosions tore along the back of her ‘mech, stripping away any remaining armor and dealing damage to the internal structure. She felt more than saw the jump jets crumple, and her ‘Mech crumpled to the ground in a heap, the internal structure barely holding together under the onslaught.

“ANGIE!” Elster’s voice screamed over the comms, and Angela winced as she felt the pressure of the command seat harness against her chest. Her cooling vest was painfully compressed by the straps, and the feedback from the Diagnostic Interpretation Computer and Battle Computer lanced through her brain and body. Static filled her mind as a feedback loop of fear, anger, and pain spun through her, and she tried to force herself to keep a grip on the controls and roll the Wasp onto its back.

‘Angie, honey, take a deep breath.’ Ariane’s voice echoed in Angela’s mind, and she tried to breathe slowly. The Bioresonant Feedback cycle that spun up in her mind was hard to stop, but she shut her eyes tight and tried to breathe, to focus. The sound of Elster’s PPCs and autocannon echoed through her mind as she tried to sense her surroundings and ground herself. Elster’s Marauder II engaged the Orion head on, her Assault BattleMech more than powerful enough to force the Heavy to switch targets. Ariane’s Cyclops marched along the cliff face in an attempt to support the two, but without jump jets she had to take the long way down.

Pain raced up Angela’s spine as she rolled her ‘Mech over and tried to stand. The Wasp’s skeleton screamed in protest, but ultimately her will won out, and the ‘Mech slowly rose to its feet, an unsteady sway to its posture. The gyro must have taken a hit in the barrage, and she had to mentally adjust her position in the seat to counter-balance. When she finally managed to right the ‘Mech, she saw the brilliant flash of PPC rounds as they cored out the Orion . In moments the steel titan collapsed to the snow-covered dirt, the engine now a useless pile of slag.

“You okay honey?” Elster asked as she twisted her Marauder II towards Angela’s Wasp . The Kolibri nodded, before she remembered the lack of the camera inside the cockpit. She thumbed the radio transmitter.

“I’m okay. Little, banged up, but I’ll manage.” She said. “Wasn’t expecting that thing.”

“I don’t think any of us were.” Ariane chimed. The hum of a DropShip approaching slowed their discussion, and Angela watched as the Oathkeeper began a slow landing run near the Pirate base. The Confederate wisely decided to stand down its weapons, the much larger and more heavily armed Eusan class more than capable of destroying the ship outright if it resisted. As the loading ramps lowered, several Arano combat vehicles streamed out of the ship to surround the camp and take the Pirates into custody.

“Offered to give the planetary guard a lift, since we were coming to pick you up anyway. That okay mom?” Artoria’s voice came over the comms.

“Not a bad idea dear. Ari, can you take Angela back to the ship? I’ll grab Darius.” Elster replied. Angela looked behind her as the Cyclops slowly trudged through the snow. She slowly turned her Wasp to fall in behind the larger Assault ‘Mech, a disappointed frown now on her face. She had tunnel-visioned an opponent again, twice in one day.

‘It’s alright Angie. You’re learning. There will be plenty of time to get better in the simulators, and Elster and I aren’t mad at you. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough.’ Ariane’s thoughts pushed against her own, and Angela sighed and nodded.

‘Right… Thanks mom.’ She thought back, and she tried to take the lesson to heart. She needed a bigger ‘Mech, and she needed better focus. And this trip would have plenty of opportunities for her to acquire both.

The tent flap opened, the cold outside briefly washing over the man in the center of the tent. His hands bound behind his back, eyes closed, and breathing even and slow despite the pain he was in. The crunch of the snow sounded different this time, like much smaller boots that picked up far less compacted ice on the bottom. He kept his eyes shut to focus on the sound around him. He’d felt the earth shake, heard the roar of cannons and lasers around him. Someone attacked the base, but now it was all quiet outside the tent. Finally, he forced himself to open his eyes.

“They really did a number on you, huh Darius?” The woman who stepped into the tent spoke with an all too familiar voice, but the former Executive Officer’s eyes refused to focus properly. The pain dulled his instincts, and he hadn’t eaten since being captured. A dry tongue ran over cracked lips as he tried to lift his head.

“Guess you took care of them, huh?” He asked. The vague shape of his rescuer was recognizable, at least a little, as a replika unit. The coolant vest on her chest made it impossible to tell what model, but from her height he guesstimated an Elster or Ara. Then again, from where he was forced to sit by the ropes around his arms, she could be a Kolibri for all his dehydrated mind could tell.

“Yeah. Planetary Guard is handling the arrests outside. I came here to get you.” Darius listened to the voice as his brain searched for where he’d heard it before. After a moment he felt the ropes loosen, and a bright orange glow surrounded the bonds at his legs. They unraveled almost entirely on their own, and Darius chuckled as he finally recognized his rescuer.

“Been a while, hasn’t it Elster?” He asked, finally able to pull his arms around to be in front of him again. His shoulders felt stiff and numb, and he rubbed at his wrists and forearms to try and return some amount of feeling to them. “Guess I owe you one.” The replika woman chuckled, her hooves crunching through the snow as she moved to help him to his feet, his left arm over her shoulders as her right braced his back.

“Please, after you and Galan saved us from the Penrose ? I’d call us even.” Elster said. Darius put weight on his feet slowly, and used Elster to brace himself as he walked, his steps unsteady but still strong enough to move.

“Heh. You forget I was the one most against that little excursion?” He asked, and she laughed along with him as they walked. “But seriously… Thanks Elster.” The two stepped into the open air, and Darius shivered as the brisk winds of Artru hit him head on. The tents all had heating units inside them, but the Pirates had shut his off in preparation of trying to torture more information out of him. The beatings he had endured, but the cold and lack of food were already well in effect.

“Did, the girls make it out okay?” He asked. Elster didn’t respond at first, before he felt her shrug her shoulders.

“I, don’t know. We only arrived after hearing from Ranger and Juli you’d been captured.” Elster said. “What happened?” Darius tried to recall the moment, and felt the mental haze part slightly.

“Was doing a routine examination of the northern access. We’d managed to find a few of the exterior tunnels used to supply Nautilus when it was still in use by the SLDF. The ones they use for sallies during a siege.” He said. “Had a, team of Aras with me, couple Mynahs. We were just going to scout the tunnel and report back on its condition, see if we could use it as a back up air shaft when the Pirates hit. I told the girls to seal themselves in and managed to fast talk them into taking a crate of heater parts.” Elster nodded at the explanation.

“Juli didn’t mention what happened to your team, but she did talk about the crate. Good thinking on that.” Elster’s smile came through her voice, and Darius just nodded, chuckling.

“So. Guessing you didn’t just come all this way from New Avalon for a social call.” He asked, the sight of a loading ramp under his feet drawing his attention. Up ahead he saw the large shape of a ship, one he’d never seen before.

“We’ll talk about that after we get you some water and food. I can feel your ribs through that jacket.” Elster replied. Darius just nodded and closed his eyes again.

“Yeah, food sounds good right about now.”

CASSIAS
DRACONIS MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
1 AUGUST 3049

The late evening light hung low over the spaceport as the DropShip loading ramp slowly extended, the lights on board switched off. The replika slowly stepped out of the bay and onto the ramp, a hand on the wide sunshade on his head. The darkness hardly necessitated the use of such headwear, but the overriding need to conceal his features persuaded him to keep it on. That he had even managed to make it this far felt like a miracle in and of itself, but as his hooves slowly met the concrete of the spaceport, he allowed himself a small sigh of relief. One step of the journey was now over, for certain, and he could focus on the next part of his mission.

His steps were gently silenced by a small sheen of bioresonance around his hooves, the dim navy light attempting to hide within the darkness as he ran. The overhead lights were simple enough to avoid, and the guards were clearly not worried about a handful of tramp traders holding anything of significant import. A fact he had counted on, given the intelligence the ISF had gathered on the planet in the last few years. He privately smiled at how easily he had manipulated them into finding him the exact route he needed to leave the Combine behind. The Empress was smiling upon him, and he hummed happily to himself as he snuck carefully onto the road outside the spaceport.

As he stepped onto the road leading to the great domed cities of Cassias, the replika allowed himself a small moment to look back at the ship that carried him away. Of course the crew had no idea he was even there, just plying their trade hauling cargo between the Successor States and making what money they could, but from all the mental scans his bioresonance had done he liked to think they were almost friends. He gave a small wave of farewell, before he turned on his hoof and sprinted towards the city.

The wide open fields were swept with sea breeze and the scent of salt, and he felt the gnawing hunger in his stomach rile again. He hadn’t managed to sneak any rations away before he got aboard the ship, and the sea air was making his mind wander to food. He made a mental note to see what meals he could find for cheap inside the city, preferably somewhere that wouldn’t ask too many questions. A passing thought was spared for shioyaki, but quickly was thrown aside. He doubted highly that anywhere in the Federated Commonwealth would serve Combine cuisine willingly, and anywhere that did was just as likely to be a trap for catching spies.

His mind turned to the road again, his hunger now abated only with the warning of what would happen if he was captured before he reached his goal. He could eat when he was safe, and when he had ascertained what direction to travel in. He was behind “enemy” lines, and even as a defector, he had to be careful to avoid capture.

“You’re almost home… Just a few more steps.” R Vergil Dinadan said calmly, as he sprinted into the night.

MECHDUR
AURIGAN COALITION
PERIPHERY
12 AUGUST 3049

“Alright Achtzehn, fire it up!” The portly MechTech waved from the floor of the MechBay, his mechanical arm raised towards the canopy of the ‘Mech in question. From within the cockpit, a metal arm snaked out, gave a thumb’s up, and retreated, before the fusion engine started to whirr to life at the core of the machine. The hum of the Pitban 340 engine filled the MechBay, and Elster could only look up and marvel at the machine as its designers ran through their tests.

A mechanical hand clapped against a flesh and bone one as the MechTech called up. “Lasers!” A pair of emerald lights mounted on the side torsos of the machine lit up, the lamps a simple replacement for the actual weapon systems that would be put on the machine.

“Lasers clear!” Came the call from inside the cockpit.

“Gauss!” He called back. The large purple light on the ‘Mech’s left arm flashed twice, before holding steady. “Missiles!” Six orange lights lit up in the center torso of the machine, just between the green lights.

“All weapons circuits operational!” Came the shout from within the ‘Mech, and the machine slowly powered down.

“Hot damn, we might actually make our deadline at this rate!” The MechTech laughed, a hand moving to pull his glasses down and wipe them clean on his shirt.

“Congratulations Yang. She’s a beauty.” Elster finally chimed in, stepping up behind him. With a laugh, Yang Virtanen turned around, his glasses returned to their proper place.

“She is, isn't she? We’re calling it the Laevatein. Special order from the FedCom for the Percivalas up there.” The Marauder’s Chief MechTech had certainly been keeping active, despite the pronounced gut he’d had as long as Elster had known him. A steady diet of Triple F burgers and a never ending repair and maintenance schedule had kept his mind sharp and his body light, despite the two metal prosthetics he walked with. Elster noted they had been significantly upgraded, the arm a half-way between her own mechanical limbs and that of a Mynah.

“The sword of Loki, and the Grail Sword of Percival. Not a bad name for it if it’s being shipped to the Commonwealth.” Elster smiled as she picked up on the less than subtle reference. Yang just nodded, flesh and blood hand moving to his chin to scratch at the goatee he meticulously trimmed. His dark hair had far more gray in it than she’d seen before, a fact she was noting was more and more common in the human Marauders.

“Elster?!” A call from the ‘Mech drew her attention, as the Ara designated S2318, Achtzehn, climbed down the rope ladder from the canopy with a comfort Elster almost didn’t recognize. The fellow survivor of Sierpinski ran over almost as soon as her hooves met the metal of the MechBay.

“Hey Acht. How’s weapons development treating you both?” Elster asked, looking between the two. Yang just motioned to the Laevateinn, a smile still plastered on his face.

“Business is booming. Virtanen MechWorks is about to unveil its first production run BattleMech, and she’s a beauty of an assault.” He said. “But, you’re not here because you wanna hear about us.” Elster raised an eyebrow.

“Suddenly develop Bioresonance and not tell me Yang?” She asked, which elicited a laugh from all three of them.

“No, just, we heard about the reactivation order. Alexander was here just a few days ago to let us know.” Achtzehn said. “We just wanted to make sure the project was ready for assembly before we left.” Elster nodded, looking over at the BattleMech herself, the armorless figure standing almost as tall as a Highlander . The massive sword in its right hand was heavily reinforced for battle, and if the lights matched up with the weapons Yang called, it’d be a hell of a brawler.

“Eighty-five tons, with jump jets. We based the chassis off the new Victor 9Ds HildCo just put out, just tweaked the weapons loadout a bit.” Yang said. “Got a Poland Main Model A Gauss Rifle, just in the left arm instead of the right, and we put in a Harpoon-6 Launcher in the center with two Defiance Model Twelves on the sides.” Elster whistled lowly at the weapons loadout.

“Heatsinks?” She asked.

“Doubled. Got a contract with NAIS, once we finalize the design, we can kick it over to them and Defiance for them to look over.” Achtzehn said. “But this one’s getting some special care.” Elster nodded, a smile on her face.

“So, how long will it take to finish?” She asked.

“Not long. Few days at most. Can load it up on that new DropShip of yours and finish the assembly there. Customer’s gonna be on our pick up list anyway.” Yang answered. Elster raised an eyebrow at that.

“And who would that be?” She asked, before seeing the look of confusion on Yang’s face.

“Valian. What, you aren’t planning on inviting them too?” Yang asked.

“Mom, come on, we gotta get another ‘Mech.” Gwenevere begged as she walked behind her mother. Ariane just sighed and shook her head as she walked, the busy streets of Mechdur’s capital bustling around them.

“Gwen, I understand you’re eager, but we just don’t have the budget for it right now. I promise you, we’ll have the money for a new ‘Mech soon, we just need to take it easy for now.” The white haired bioresonant turned to keep pace with Darius, the bulk grocer just another block away.

“But it’s not fair that Angie’s the only one that gets to have a ‘Mech.” Gwenevere said. Darius chuckled dryly, his dark eyes closing for a moment as he shook his head.

“Not even a pilot and she’s already dispossessed. Your kids are a real handful.” He said, and Ariane couldn’t help but agree. Artoria had been quiet and polite, but even without Bioresonance she could feel the lingering envy her knightly daughter was trying to bury.

“We better find them ‘Mechs sooner rather than later…” Ariane sighed. “If we’d just held back a bit more against the pirates.”

“Hey now, don’t worry about that. That Orion was an old rustbucket, and the condition of those lights were abysmal. Even if you had held back, there’s no guarantee they’d even be salvageable. Best to get them something new that’ll last them a while.” Darius placed a dark hand on Ariane’s shoulder. “Plus, I know how to get a good deal, so the budget should stretch a little further.” He smiled as he led the way into the bulk wholesaler, Gwen’s whining dying down as they stepped inside. Ariane just sighed happily, glad to let Darius start the negotiating while she just went with her daughter to look around the store, hoping to find a few more exotic items to bring on the trip.

She stopped by the bookshelves and slowly scanned each spine, a prosthetic finger lingering on each title as she passed. There was a book on the Knights of the Round Table she was certain Artoria would love, another on the development of the fusion engine she was certain would hold Yang’s attention, and even a few fantasy novels she was certain Gwenevere would love, but the real prize was the small section labeled as being printed in Eusan. There, among the various fanciful novels and technical guidebooks, stood “Eusan Civil War: A History”, its cover an image of the destroyed moon of Vineta. She picked the book up slowly and smiled at the author’s name, printed in gold at the bottom. Iris Yeong.

She gently turned the book over, and her smile grew as she saw the photo of her mother on the back. She wasn’t in combat fatigues or dress uniform, instead wearing simple, comfortable clothes as she sat in a beautiful garden. Ariane saw the happiness in her mother’s eyes, and sighed as she weighed her options in her heart. She wanted nothing more than to ask to bring her mother along for their journey, but she knew the mission was likely to be incredibly dangerous, and even over HPG she could tell her mother was getting far too old for travel.

“Would that I could give her just a fraction…” Ariane sighed, before she set the book back on the shelf, and turned to continue her walk. “And put them back.” She said, not even looking behind her as she heard Gwenevere whine and put the books back. She’d swing back around to pick up exactly one for each of her daughters, but for now, the hunt for a good deal was on.

“Hey, Ari!” Darius called as he walked over, and Ariane turned to look back at him. “I got the supplies set up for delivery to the ship, and Elster just called. Said Yang and Achtzehn are onboard, and they’re bringing a new ‘Mech for the kids to test out.”

“Oh! That’s wonderful news. Gwen, did you-” As Ariane looked behind her for her daughter, she paused. Gwenevere was gone, the Starling seemingly vanished into thin air. Ariane blinked, her blood chilling as she tried to find Gwenevere. “Gwen?” Darius turned to look with her, before Ariane started to run through the shelves. “Gwen!?”

A thousand possibilities ran through her mind. ROM agents, DEST commandos, Directorate remnants, even the Taurians and Capellans were on the list. A million potential grueling tortures flooded into Ariane’s mind as she desperately tried to find her daughter’s mind in the sea of bodies around her. Darius was on her heels, and she forced herself to shut her eyes and focus. The sea of minds surrounded her, but she picked up on Gwenevere’s quickly, along with two figures close by. The surface thoughts she skimmed told her they were human, and both of them were armed. The malice in their thoughts permeated the air around them, and as she turned the corner to the scene, she froze.

Gwenevere stood between two men in dark clothing, their heads covered with black hoods. One had a knife, and the other drew a holdout pistol from their sleeve. Araine cursed herself for not having a weapon of her own, and she held out an arm to stop Darius before he ran in. She looked up the shelves, but there was nothing hard or heavy enough for her Bioresonance to drop on the men to give her daughter a window to escape. She tried to spot the security cameras, only to see them both staring in exactly the wrong directions to see.

‘Give us just a moment.’ A voice rang out in Ariane’s mind, and she paused. At the end of the aisle, two figures appeared from around the corners. In an instant the knife-wielder was clubbed in the back of the head, while his partner found his pistol forcefully wrenched to the ground. The shimmer of bioresonant light enveloped his arm, pinning his hand and preventing him from raising the weapon or pulling the trigger. Ariane watched as the man with the knife was hoisted into the air and hurled into his companion, the two landing in a heap next to Gwenevere.

A Eusan Storch slammed her hoof down on the back of one man, pinning him in place, while a Eusan Kolibri stepped over to pin the other in place with Bioresonance. Gwenevere ran over to her mother, the two would-be attackers now thoroughly dealt with.

“Holy crap mom, who were those guys?” Gwenevere asked, standing behind Ariane.

“If I had to hazard a guess, spies from the Capellan Confederation. They certainly have the tattoos to match it.” The Storch said, her hoof driving down harder as the man tried to reach for his knife again. “Must have recognized you guys from old records. Kinda hard to blend in with that hair Ariane.” Ariane blinked, wondering how the Storch knew her name, before she felt the Kolibri’s presence in her mind again.

“Hmhmhm, forgotten us already?” Kolibri S2302, Zwei, asked with a smile, as Storch S2307, Sieben, folded her arms, a triumphant grin on her face.

Chapter Text

MECHDUR
AURIGAN COALITION
PERIPHERY
12 AUGUST 3049

“Sieben! Zwei!” Juli sprinted down the loading ramp as soon as the car stopped, and Ariane chuckled as she saw the Eule throw her arms around the two replikas. “Founders I missed you two so much! Where have you guys been all this time?” Sieben just rubbed the back of her neck, a free hand waved in front of her face.

“Ah, we’ve just been traveling. Doing mercenary work mostly. Even have our own ‘Mechs now.” Sierpinski’s only surviving Storch smiled as she looked down at the Eule wrapped around her stomach. Zwei meanwhile tried to squirm herself free and stand back, her arms crossed with a huff. Ariane smiled, her eyes on the scene until the moment she felt Elster approach their truck.

“Find everything alright?” She asked, and Ariane nodded with a smile.

“More than alright. We should be all set for our trip into the Concordat. Sieben and Zwei just need us to wait while their ‘Mechs are brought over.” The white haired bioresonant slowly opened the door and stepped out of the truck, her hands instantly around Elster’s waist to pull her close. “How’d it go with Yang?”

“He and Achtzehn are on their way over with the new ‘Mech they’ve been building. Going to need to armor it properly, but it’ll be serviceable after that.” Elster said. “Only issue is, it’s already been promised to someone, so I’m not a fan of letting the girls drive it.” Ariane nodded and buried her face against Elster’s shoulder. A soft plastic hand gently moved to the back of her head, the two embraced for the moment.

‘Capellans know we’re active again.’ Ariane finally thought to Elster. ‘They tried to kidnap Gwen…’

‘We knew we wouldn’t be under the radar forever. We’ll need to move fast to hit New Vandenburg and pick up Sumire…’ Elster replied. The pressure on Ariane’s back increased slightly, and Ariane pressed her fingers gently into Elster’s back. Neither of them liked the idea of leaving the Coalition or the Commonwealth, but Sumire had been forced to return home to her parents in the Concordat, and both Seeker and Deci had gone with her. None of the three had responded to calls from Darius or Kamea to return to the Coalition.

‘Do you really think it’ll be that easy?’ Ariane asked. ‘What if the Concordat has them in prison?’

‘Then we break them out. If they’ve been pressed into the Concordat Navy we’ll just launch a boarding action. Whatever we have to do to get them back.’ Elster said. Ariane could feel the confidence in her wife’s mind, but her own doubts continued to lurk inside her mind. The Concordat was well known for its militancy, and they would have better supplied ‘Mechs than the pirates they had faced on Artru. Elster’s arms squeezed her just a bit tighter, and Ariane shook her head.

“Well… We should load up while we can.” Ariane said. “Gwen really wants us to get her a ‘Mech.” Elster chuckled at that, and Ariane watched the smile form on her face.

“Yeah, Artoria’s been bugging me mentally ever since we got back.” Elster said. “Maybe we should take a look around… I mean, we are on Mechdur…” Ariane looked over at their daughters, and smiled at the look on Gwenevere and Artoria’s faces.

“You want to tell them or should I?” She asked.

THESTRIA
NEW SAMARKAND MILITARY DISTRICT
DRACONIS COMBINE
13 AUGUST 3049

“Davion dog! Face your death like a true MechWarrior!” The speakers of the Hatamoto-Chi blared. The First Proserpina Hussars ‘Mech fired both its Particle Projector Cannons, but each shot crashed into the stone walls of the canyon, its target hidden just as quickly as it had appeared. The retreating Champion twisted its torso to slip through a space too small for its wide arms to maneuver safely, while each stomp of its mighty foot actuators carried it further into the maze of rock. The pilot thumbed the comm system, a smile on his mottled face.

“Kaiserin Four to Kaiserin Lead, they took the bait.” R Friedrich Feirefiza could scarcely contain the laugh in his voice, his Champion now safe from direct pursuit by the larger Hatamoto-Chi as it twisted to face forward again. With the press of a button the jump jets he’d installed roared to life, the modified Heavy sent skyward to land on top of the ridge in front of it.

“Copy Kaiserin Four. Two, Three, weapons free on anything that comes through.” At the top of the ridge, three BattleMechs stood, weapons trained on the gap in the rocks. Almost as soon as the order came through, a Locust in the blue and green of the Prosperpina Hussars rushed through the gap. In a flash of violence, the ‘Mech was hammered with the emerald beams of several medium lasers, while a nickel-iron slug smashed through its torso armor with enough force to knock the Light ‘Mech on its back. Explosions rocked the stone causeway, and Friedrich quickly turned his Champion to prepare for battle.

“ Hatamoto-Chi, two Dragons , and that newfangled Mauler . Lucky for us they didn’t bring jump jets along.” He said. “Should give Cellach more than enough time-”

“Cut the chatter, no telling who could be listening in.” Bastian’s gruff voice cut through the line, his Black Knight covered in shimmering waves of heat. The energy-based loadout of the ‘Mech was hell in hot environments, but the du George didn’t budge from his position. Across the circle, the Lancelot Kaysen opened the hatches that covered his Dervish 7D’s LRM launchers, arms already leveled at the entrance to their kill zone.

“Kaiserin Lance, prepare to engage.” R Valian Percivala’s Victor 9D marched into position, the Gauss Rifle in the ‘Mech’s right arm already cycled and ready to fire. The smoke and dust of fallen rock hung in the air as the Prosperpina heavy lance stomped forward. Friedrich’s fingers moved to the triggers, before the lumbering form of the Hatamoto-Chi stomped out of the dust.

“Fire!”

At the edge of the canyon network, a lone Hatchetman launched from its hiding place and over the wall of the Proserpina Hussar’s outpost. The eleven meter ‘Mech twisted as it landed, weight distributed to its foot actuators as the dampeners in the legs strained against the weight. Myomer muscles flexed and pulled as the ‘Mech rose to its full height again, and R Cellach Gawainson’s hands flew across the controls of the electronic suite. The sensors of the ‘Mech quickly latched onto the signal in question, and he began to enter access codes from his digital memory.

“Come on, come on, one of these has to work.” He brushed a lock of dark black hair from his eyes as he threw more codes against the encryption system, before finally the system accepted the code. In seconds his hands flew across the keys in front of him, every stroke intentional, every line of data copied into his internal memory as fast as he could read it. Communications data from the Proserpina Hussars and an unknown entity raced past his eyes, and he searched through each line.

“He’s gotta be in here somewhere…” Cellach muttered to himself, before his sensors lit up again. An incoming ‘Mech, its speed too fast for any of the heavy guard ‘Mechs. One of the scouts didn’t take the bait, and had circled back towards the base in response to the alert from his arrival. He checked the ammunition feed for his Autocannon, and he twisted to face the entrance of the outpost, hands back around his controls.

Friedrich pulled the throttle back, his Champion forced back by the hail of long range missiles that streaked past his nose. Another barrage from the Mauler crashed into the rock wall beneath him, and tons of rock and dirt started to tumble down into the kill zone. Another screen of dust and pulverized rock shrouded the Kuritan ‘Mechs, and his sensors were jammed by the arrival of a new ‘Mech in the group he hadn’t spotted before.

“Where the hell did they get a Raven from?!” Friedrich shouted, watching his sensors scramble as the light ‘Mech shrouded its comrades from incoming fire. The smoke and dust swirled as he backed away, the Champion barely able to avoid a fall into the kill zone.

“Must be on loan from the Capellans, just keep up the pressure!” Valian ordered, before his Victor's short range missiles launched into the dust storm, detonating in a cluster. Friedrich squinted as he saw the explosions, then aimed his autocannon toward the closest explosion. His finger squeezed the trigger twice, and the General Motors PTAA Ultra Autocannon 5 barked out twice. The shots cracked against armor, and he squeezed the trigger on the medium lasers to hit the same spot. There was the sound of a very heavy machine crashing to the ground, and Friedrich smiled. The Hatamoto-Chi had lost a leg, and he saw the sweep of Bastian's medium lasers catch on something in the haze.

A shot rang out from Valian's Victor , and the gauss round hit a spot just above the sweep. The sound of tearing steel and popping electronics heralded the fall of the Raven's ECM module, and through the dust sensors started to pick out the enemy again. Kaysen's immediate response was to launch all twenty of his loaded missiles into the Raven to finish it off, and Friedrich turned to shoot at one of the Dragons in the pit.

“Captain, got a problem here!” Cellach's voice cut in over the comms. “Two ‘Mechs, closing fast!” Friedrich winced, before he threw his ‘Mech into reverse again.

“I got it, just keep the big guys busy!” He said. Valian didn't respond, his focus on the Mauler . Cyan lights swept just over the Victor's head as Valian ducked, and Friedrich twisted his Champion away from the fight just as emerald lights lanced back at the Kuritan Assault ‘Mech. Once the legs were properly oriented, Friedrich locked the throttle and focused on his sensors. His SRM6 launcher had its full ton of ammo ready, while the Ultra Autocannon in the opposite torso stood at a ton and a half of reloads after the firefight in the canyons. As the ‘Mech thundered along he watched his heat meter slowly decline back into the green, the harsh heat of the noon sun above slowed his heat sinks ability to vent the heat from the twenty ton Vlar 300 engine.

The rocky red outcroppings around him, paired with the heat, drew his memory back to Kitezh. How long had it been since he’d seen home? Twenty years of serving the Federated Commonwealth, and not once had it occurred to him just how far he was from the red sands of his homeland. He smiled to himself as he thought of how distant it all felt, his days of riding on horseback to run down Nation traitors across the sands. Now, he was in a towering machine that shook the ground with each step, yet ran at speeds that would put any horse on Kitezh in the dust of its wake. And all to save an old friend from a captivity that had lasted as long as their own service to a lord they once fought against.

“The many ironies of life.” Friedrich said, a smile cracking his mottled face again. The sensors picked up the ‘Mechs near Cellach, the smaller replika’s Hatchetman tucked away behind a wall as two ‘Mechs thundered towards the outpost. Friedrich winced at the sight of the two machines. The smaller of the duo was a simple Sentinel 3K, hardly a match for even Cellach’s machine, but its speed made it a greater threat to Friedrich’s own Champion . Worse, it was backed up by a familiar foe, a Katana . The Assault ‘Mech was based loosely off the Star League Crocket , and Friedrich remembered fighting many of these machines during 3039.

“They’ve got me pinned down, and the download still isn’t finished.” Cellach’s voice cut through the comms, and Friedrich carefully adjusted his approach.

“Just hold on brother, I’ve got you.” The Feirefiza shifted to a right turn, his course adjusted to a wide circle where his Ultra Autocannon could make use of its superior range to harass the two Kuritan ‘Mechs. With the twist of its torso, he leveled a two shot burst at the Sentinel , and watched the shots crash into the ‘Mech’s side. Armor splintered at the impacts, but the internals of the Kuritan machine held firm. The two ‘Mechs turned to open fire in his direction, and only the speed of his ‘Mech could protect him. Oxidant rushed along his spine, and he smiled as he felt the adrenaline in his chest.

Cyan lights lanced past his vision as the Katana’s large lasers tried to find their mark, and an autocannon round crashed to the ground before his ‘Mech’s feet. He had their attention, now just to keep it long enough for Cellach to finish.

The storm had started to clear, and their mind slowly pressed outward. R Valian Percivala made an almost imperceptible adjustment to the Victor’s right arm, and squeezed the trigger. The whirl of magnetic resonance met their ear, before a nickel-iron slug flashed out of the barrel and crashed through the cockpit glass of the Dragon they had targeted. Valian watched the ‘Mech crumple into the dust, before they thumbed the jump jets and wrenched the ‘Mech back, return fire tearing into the ground where they had just stood.

The Kuritans had no bioresonants in this fight, not even a Kolibri. The Raven ’s jamming had been known to affect replika pilots just as much as their ‘Mechs, and likely the Kuritans knew better than to send anyone with bioresonance into a fight where a Raven was deployed. They turned their focus again as the missile alert blared, and threw up the left hand of the Victor as a shield. Missiles from the Mauler exploded against their armor, and a warning from the Diagnostic Interpretation Computer flashed. One of the twin medium pulse lasers was offline. They took a slow breath, then pushed the throttle forward.

Kaysen had backed off to avoid a heat shutdown, and Bastian’s Black Knight was on the verge of overheating as the emerald lights bore into the Mauler’s side. Valian pushed up to the edge of the ridge, and took aim again as the gauss rifle loaded again. Only a single ton of ammunition remained, but the damage was visible in the ‘Mechs trapped in the cauldron. The remaining Dragon had already retreated back through the opening into the canyon, and the Mauler fought to protect the Hatamoto-Chi as it tried to limp away on its undamaged leg. The Raven was a complete loss, smoke pouring from its side through the hole the gauss rifle tore in it.

“They’re falling back, should we pursue?” Bastian asked. Valian shut an eye, and squeezed the trigger again. The gauss round punched through the right torso long range missile launcher on the Mauler , halving its long range firepower. They then backed away and used the SRM launcher in the torso of their Victor to create another dust screen. Cyan light cut through the cloud and melted more of the dirt and rock around them, but no damage made it to the Victor .

“We’ve held them long enough, and they’ll be slow to get back through the canyon walls. We need to link up with Cellach and Friedrich.” Valian said. “Kaiserin Four, Kaiserin Five, hold position, we’re coming to you.”

“Better hurry Kaiserin Leader, I’ve got more fast movers on scopes.” Friedrich replied over the comms, before the sound of an explosion crashed across. “Gah! Bastard got my autocannon! Feed mechanism’s jammed!”

“Data download is at eighty percent.” Cellach reported. “Hurry Captain, I dunno if these walls can take much more.”

“Kaysen, full speed, dump every missile you have on them.” Valian ordered, their Victor reoriented as the trio of ‘Mechs turned away from their kill zone. The Dervish sprinted forward ahead of the heavier machines, missile doors open wide as Friedrich’s Champion sent targeting data.

“Für Kaiserin und Kaiserreich!” Kaysen shouted, before long range missiles screamed out of the medium ‘Mech towards the battle. Valian looked up to see a DropShip on approach, and smiled at the colors of the Seventeenth Avalon Hussars emblazoned on its fuselage.

“We’re Davion soldiers Kaysen.” Valian chuckled. “We fight for the First Prince now…”

Cellach ducked as another flash of Autocannon fire detonated against the wall, blowing hunks of stone and metal across the front of his Hatchetman . The Sentinel had turned to try and engage Friedrich’s Champion , while the Katana dedicated its focus on destroying him. Cellach’s eyes snapped to the console, the download finally finished just as he gripped the controls again. He watched as the missiles from Kaysen’s Dervish crashed around the Katana , and frowned as only a few of the shots found their mark, but it was enough of a distraction to give him clearance to jump.

The jump jets on the Hatchetman roared, and in seconds Cellach was airborne, his torso twisted towards the Kuritan Assault to fire the heavy autocannon 10 in the torso of his ‘Mech. The shell crashed into the Katana’s right arm, and he followed it with laser fire to keep the pressure on. As the heavy machine twisted to try and follow his machine, a gauss round tore through its left side. The battle had decidedly swung, and now the five ‘Mechs of the Kaiserin Lance of the Seventeenth Avalon Hussars were in decisive control of the engagement. Cellach smiled as Bastian’s Black Knight unloaded a wave of green light at the Sentinel , and its medium lasers sliced through armor like scythes through wheat.

Friedrich’s Champion took a quick shot with its Ultra Autocannon at the Katana’s rear armor, the Assault now surrounded on all sides as Kaysen’s missiles rained upon its head. Cellach rushed the machine as it turned its back to him, and with a heavy swing drove the namesake hatchet on his ‘Mech’s left arm into the back of the Kuritan machine. With a heavy blow, the engine on the Katana went critical, venting flame that washed over the front of Cellach’s ‘Mech as the fusion reaction collapsed. The Sentinel , now alone, sprinted for the canyon to regroup, only for a gauss round to punch through its back and send it to the ground. Ammo cooked off in the hoppers, and the medium ‘Mech was reduced to a very dirty fireball.

“Kaiserin Lance, this is Solar Sabre , landing zone is marked on HUD. Get aboard and let’s get out of here.” The Davion DropShip cut into the comms, and Cellach turned his ‘Mech’s head to follow the indicators on his HUD.

“Kaiserin Leader to Solar Sabre , we copy.” Valian replied. “Cellach, did you get the data?”

“Downloaded everything they have, Captain. If the Proserpina Hussars know anything about Vergil’s whereabouts, we’ll know as soon as we decrypt it back home.” Cellach confirmed. The lance came together atop the ridgeline, the sound of jump jets in the air. There was still the chance of the injured Kuritans mounting an attack out of the canyon, but Cellach didn’t see them on radar. Either they had shut down to prepare for an ambush, or they decided to let the lance retreat to avoid a beating from the DropShip.

“That data will also be useful in seeing what the DCMS is up to. DMI is gonna want copies.” The captain of the Solar Sabre said.

“We’ll send them. For now, let’s get home to Cassias.” Valian said.

NEW VANDENBURG
TAURIAN CONCORDAT
PERIPHERY
9 SEPTEMBER 3049

The Oathkeeper slowly settled into orbit around New Vandenburg VI, the planet below projected above the command table in pale blue light. Elster stared at the projection with as calm of an expression as she could muster, but in the back of her mind, she was frantic. With all the work she and Ariane had done for House Davion, not to mention all the bad blood from the Arano Restoration, she was counting on Taurian Defense Force troops trying to board the ship and attack. Every second they were in the Concordat was another chance for House Calderon to try and exact some form of revenge for their service to Hanse.

And worse, New Vandenburg housed a class B HPG, and one of ComStar’s Precentors would likely be on world to monitor and administrate it. Worries about ROM attacking crossed the back of her mind again, and she shook herself to focus again. There wasn’t time to worry about that right now. They needed to find Sumire.

Across the room, Zwei, Angela, and Artoria had arranged themselves in a circle on the floor, their minds linked by Bioresonance to amplify their own reach. The technique was ancient by this point, a tool used by Kolibris who were too distant from their Falke to get a proper signal individually. As much as Elster had tried, she still couldn’t quite grasp it as easily as Angela and Artoria could. Perhaps it was something in their Neural Pattern, or maybe a mechanical aspect of their bodies. Whatever the case, the trio were silent, eyes closed and heads bowed, as they searched the planet below for any sign of their targets.

“You think they’ll find them?” Darius asked quietly, a mug of coffee offered by a dark hand. Elster accepted it with a nod, blowing on the top of the drink to cool it slightly.

“I think they will. Angela and Artoria have been practicing with us since the day they were activated, and Colleen kept up the training pretty well.” Elster said. “I’m just worried about where they’ll find them…” The thought of having to attack a Concordat base, or worse, a ComStar one, were still lingering in the back of her mind. Darius sipped his own coffee, his dark eyes silently absorbing the scene.

After a few moments, Angela lifted her head, her expression lightened as she opened her eyes. Artoria and Zwei woke up as well, and a silent bioresonant talk started between the three. After a moment, they nodded, and turned to Elster, Darius, and Ariane.

“We have good news, and bad news.” Zwei said. “The good news is, we know where they are…”

“And the bad news?” Elster asked, her heart sinking like a stone. And the expression on Zwei’s face made the feeling even worse.

“They’re being transported to a DropShip, headed for Taurus. If we don’t get them here…” The Kolibri trailed off, and Elster finished the sentence mentally. The fog of fear pushed back from her mind, and Elster rose to her hooves.

“I want all MechWarriors to battle stations. We drop now.”

Chapter Text

NEW VANDENBURG
TAURIAN CONCORDAT
PERIPHERY
9 SEPTEMBER 3049

The DropShip thundered over the convoy’s route as Elster strapped herself in, the roar of the engines in her ears. Across from her in the MechBay, Gwenevere happily settled herself into her brand new Valkyrie , and from her seat Elster could also see Artoria quickly climb into her Stinger . Her brow furrowed a moment as she looked at the machines, before she strapped on her neurohelmet. There were a lot of things that were wonderful about the Eusan class, but its storage left a lot to be desired, especially for provisions. Even if the Arano class had plenty of hydroponics bays, they needed to upgrade the DropShips for longer campaigns on the surface of any worlds the WarShip reached.

She went through her start-up checks just as the Oathkeeper touched down on the surface of New Vandenburg, the creak of the landing gear as it touched down echoed through the MechBay. Her hands gripped the controls with a slow breath, and the tension that surrounded her was pushed back. The Assault ‘Mech stepped forward, and turned to march to the exit doors. The exit ramps lowered, and she looked out into the terrain ahead of them.

“Alright we’ve got a lock on the convoy’s last position as we flew over, so we need to get in, take out the guards, and stop the transports.” Darius’s voice crackled over the comms. Her HUD populated with scans of the surrounding area, taken as Ariane landed the ship, and she noted the forested hills around them. The convoy was headed through the area towards New Vandenburg city, the capital of the planet, and site of its main spaceport. Sieben’s Marauder marched around the left side of her ‘Mech, the smaller machine able to move at a slightly faster speed thanks to its lighter weight.

“Zwei will stick with the girls, don’t worry.” The Storch said. “She’s used to training newbies. We just need to move to the intercept point so they can drive the transports our way.” Elster nodded as she turned her head back to the path ahead of her, the throttle locked at full speed forward.

“We’ll keep the ship here until you locate Sumire, or things go wrong. Be careful out there.” Ariane said, the DropShip doors shut tight behind the replikas as they pushed into the hills. Zwei’s Mongoose took the lead, and the four light ‘mechs began to race and jump through the hills toward the convoy.

‘Gwen, you’re falling behind.’ Zwei’s thoughts echoed in the Starling’s mind, and she quickly fired her jump jets to bound past a particularly thick cluster of trees. As the slowest ‘Mech in the impromptu lance, she had been forced to adapt to the feeling as quickly as she could, each jump another test in her piloting abilities. What the Mongoose lacked in jump jets, it more than made up for in pure speed, able to sprint at nearly one-hundred-thirty kilometers per hour, while her brand new Valkyrie QA could barely manage two thirds of that pace. Even Angela’s Wasp was struggling to keep up, and Artoria had been the first to start using jump jets to try and close the gap.

As Gwenevere landed her ‘Mech, she felt the machine’s myomer muscles tense and push, already forced into another sprint to keep the momentum she had built. The forested hills were at least cool enough to allow the Heat Sinks to do their work, but she could see the meter climb from blue to yellow-green with each firing. If things got any hotter, she would have to be sparing with her shots to keep from overheating.

Up ahead, Zwei’s ‘Mech slowed to a halt, a large hill ahead of the group. A few seconds later targeting data flowed across Gwenevere’s HUD. The convoy was just up ahead, and Zwei was using a combination of Bioresonance and the Mongoose’s internal systems to mark each target. She pulled the throttle back to take in the data as it flowed across the Neurohelmet glass, as well as the monitors around her.

The convoy was relatively small, given it was transporting more than just Sumire, Deci, and Seeker. Only a single lance of ‘mechs guarded it, with another lance of vehicles in support. A pair of Taurian local Toro  ‘mechs, along with two of their upgraded Talos brothers. The combat vehicles consisted of a pair of Strikers , a Scorpion , and a Bulldog . Not the most dangerous loadout they could be facing, but it was fast, sturdy, and could punch holes in their ‘Mechs if they weren’t careful.

‘Just keep low until they pass. We’ll shadow them until Elster gives us the signal.’ Zwei’s silent command transmitted to the girls, and Gwenevere removed her hands from the controls temporarily to flex her finger joints. The tension was thick in the air as the convoy slowly trundled past their position, and it took everything she had to keep her eyes on the sensors and avoid acquiring a lock.

The thunder of a DropShip caught them all by surprise, and Gwenevere looked up again as a Leopard rattled past them, the ship barely spaceworthy as it came down to land directly in the convoy’s path. The fuselage was coated in pirate iconography, and she heard Zwei curse under her breath through the comms. Four more ‘Mechs had appeared on sensors, behind the initial convoy, and they were closing fast as the vehicles tried to split off to get away from the DropShip. The pirates for their part were offloading a quartet of ‘Mechs that barreled towards the approaching Taurian ‘Mechs with a battlecry.

“Shit, what do we do now?” Gwenevere asked, before she saw Zwei’s Mongoose cut around the back of the hill they were hiding behind. The ‘Mech was fast, but the Taurian reinforcements were closing quickly.

‘We can’t lose the target. When the Taurians pass, meet up with me.’ Zwei’s mental order echoed, and Gwenevere’s hands snapped back to the controls. The pirate lance consisted of a pair of Hunchbacks and Commandos , and she watched as the Toros were pushed back by the close range assault from the medium ‘Mechs. The Commandos seemed laser focused on the combat vehicles, but a stream of Inferno missiles from one of the Strikers quickly overwhelmed the first of the two light ‘mechs as it tried to close.

Gwenevere turned her eyes to her instruments again, watching the four dots representing the Taurian back-up lance approach. Then they did something unexpected, and turned hard towards them. In confusion, Gwenevere looked up, and froze as she saw a VTOL flying high above the group.

“Zwei! They saw us!” Gwenevere shouted, before missiles crashed around her ‘Mech. LRM fire cascaded around the three as they broke from cover to sprint across the roadway. Two more Toros were advancing in the second group, alongside a pair of Warhammers . Gwenevere winced as she felt a PPC blast race by her ‘Mech, and she could almost taste the static as the ionized particles detonated against a hillside. The VTOL that had spotted them circled and fired a medium laser, before a bright blue flash from one of Zwei’s lasers cut through the entire vehicle. As the VTOL detonated, Gwenevere jumped over the hill Zwei was using as cover and fired a salvo of LRMs back at one of the encroaching Warhammers .

“We’re out-tonned and outgunned, we need to fall back.” Zwei said. “Let the pirates take the brunt of it, we need to find the APCs.”

“No arguments here.” Gwenevere said, switching her sensors to magscan and searching for any sign of the vehicles. While the combat vehicles engaged the pirate lance, the APCs were offroading around the fight, headed for another lance of Taurian ‘Mechs in the distance. Gwenevere turned her ‘Mech to thunder after them.

“Mom, there’s a lance of Taurians closing on your position.” Angela sent over the comms. “We’re pursuing the APCs but there’s a lot of metal over here.” Her Wasp jumped ahead of Gwenevere, while Zwei sprinted forward to cut off the APCs.

“I copy, we’ve got them.” Elster said. “Just focus on stopping those APCs, we’ll handle everything else after that.” Gwenevere didn’t ask her mother just how they were supposed to stop them, given they couldn’t just shoot the damn things if they wanted to make sure Sumire, Seeker, and Deci were safe. Then she saw Zwei’s bright blue laser cut a large sweep in front of the lead APC, the beam cutting down trees in a wide burn arc. The vehicle had to cut hard to the left, further from its allies and out towards the wilds to avoid the flames.

‘Just keep them away from their friends.’ Zwei ordered through her bioresonance. ‘Use your lasers, aim for the trees. If we can guide them far enough away they’ll make a mistake soon enough.’ Gwenevere smiled as she pushed her ‘Mech airborne again and pulled the trigger on her medium laser. In a flash the emerald light had cut a burning scar in the ground near the APCs, and they swerved harder to the left to avoid the fire.

Then she heard the missile lock warning from her machine, and she quickly twisted in midair before a hail of missiles crashed across her ‘Mech’s armor. The warning indicators screeched in her ears as sections of the ‘Mech began to light up red on her HUD. When she finally landed she had to throw the throttle in reverse in the hopes she could lose the lock. A full ton and a half of armor had just been blown off her Valkyrie , and she winced as she saw most of the damage centered on her torso. The Toros were making good use of their ten long range missile tubes, and she saw the first of the duo from the second lance advancing over the hill towards them.

“We’ve got incoming.” Gwenevere locked her ‘Mech onto the lead Toro , and thumbed the firing stud on her own LRM launcher. Ten missiles streaked through the sky, and she quickly twisted to continue her sprint as a PPC round narrowly missed her ‘Mech.

“Elster, we’ve got another DropShip on scanners.” Darius’s voice cut through the comms as the Magpie CO pushed her ‘Mech forward. The Taurian lance ahead of her consisted of a pair of scavenged Phoenix Hawks and a Centurion in an equal state of disrepair. Their fourth was hidden behind a copse of trees, but from the missile locks Elster was getting, she had a feeling it was a Trebuchet . Instinct told her to gut the long range fire first, but her own ‘Mech lacked an indirect fire weapon, so she kept her attention on the most dangerous medium ahead of her.

Flashes of vermilion and cyan lanced past her Marauder II , and she calmly centered her aim on the Centurion . She squeezed the triggers and watched a pair of PPC blasts race through the air and slam into the ‘Mech’s left torso. In an instant the ‘Mech’s shield arm and LRM were slagged, and the ammunition detonated in a series of loud pops that sent the ‘Mech to the ground. Beside her, Sieben’s Marauder lashed out with PPC fire of her own, each blast detonating armor on the lead Phoenix Hawk . Elster watched as slagged hunks of metal were blown skyward, before the bark of her autocannon sent an eighty millimeter shell into the exposed internals of the ‘Mech.

“Credit to the Concordat, they don’t know when to quit.” Sieben said over the comms, and Elster silently agreed. The ferocity of the TDF was what had kept the realm from complete subjugation after the fall of the Star League, but that same tenacity was now putting her daughters in danger. She felt the LB 10-X autocannon of her Marauder II cycle, and fired another shell at the Phoenix Hawk . The ‘Mech tried to fire its jump jets to dodge, only to find the jets on its left torso were disabled, and it only managed to spin weakly as the cluster round scattered across its weaker back armor.

Sieben’s lasers then bit into its exposed flank, twin pulses of flashing green punching through to the engine and sending the ‘Mech toppling. Elster watched the other Phoenix Hawk shut down, the heat radiating off the ‘Mech an easy tell that the pilot had overtaxed the heat sinks with his constant laser fire. With a casual adjustment, she fired her PPCs, and watched the head of the ‘Mech disappear in a flash of ionized particles.

“How’s it going girls?” Elster asked, a quick glance spared to her sensors. The four friendly markers danced around a pair of vehicles, which were now forced to try and find a way around the girls to link up with friendly forces. However, a pair of light ‘Mechs were in hot pursuit.

“We’re doing what we can mom, but these Toros really don’t want to let up.” Artoria said. “We need back-up, as fast as possible.” Elster heard the sound of a PPC round detonate near the girls, and she pushed her ‘Mech forward faster. The Trebuchet climbed a hill nearby, and in a flash Sieben lit it up with her PPCs and autocannon, the shots buried in its side torso to cook its ammo. Heat streamed off the smaller Marauder in waves, and Elster wondered if the machine didn’t need some better heat sinks. Just changing the standard medium lasers out for pulse lasers shouldn’t have made the heat spike that hard.

The sound of weapons fire snapped her attention forward, and she spotted the backs of the Toros chasing the girls. She watched with a smile as her daughters concentrated fire on the lead Toro and sheared off its right arm, the PPC dropped to the ground with a heavy thud. The second machine however snapped off a shot that blew open Artoria’s right leg, and even from a distance she could see the pockmarks and holes in Gwenevere and Angela’s armor.

She took a slow breath as she lined up her shot, before a pair of PPC blasts collided with her left torso. She swore as she twisted her torso to look, and saw a Warhammer and Talos crest the ridge, weapons at the ready. The Pirates must have been losing the engagement, as their DropShip took off for the air under heavy fire.

“Ariane, we need a fly over, ASAP. Concordat has a lot more metal in the field than we expected.” Elster said. “Sieben! Go help the girls, I’ll cover you!” She snapped a pair of shots at the Talos as it twisted to lock onto her. One PPC blast hit the ‘mech’s right leg, while the other uselessly detonated behind the fifty ton medium. Ten missiles streaked through the sky towards her, and she twisted to spread the damage to her stronger right side. She scowled as she twisted back to face the two machines, then fired her autocannon, an eighty millimeter solid shell launched into the Warhammer to blast more armor off the machine.

The PPC shots from the enemy heavy crashed around her as she backed away, her torso twisted towards the enemy as she kept her ‘mech headed for her daughters. Her PPCs flashed again, and she watched the leg of the Talos detonate and send the Taurian ‘Mech face first into the dirt.

“And then there was one.” She muttered and shifted her focus to the Warhammer .

Artoria felt sick. The limping gait of her Stinger and the inconsistent bob of the horizon in her viewscreen made her feel like a sailor on a rough sea, and the screaming of the Diagnostic Interpretation Computer in her ears wasn’t helping the situation. She held a hand over her mouth as she tried to push her BattleMech forward and away from the fight, her remaining jump jets the only reliable means of gaining speed. Ahead of her, the APCs were cut off from retreat by a long burn line from Zwei, her Mongoose swifter than either vehicle. The smoke in the air was only broken by PPC rounds, which streaked through the sky as the pursuing Toros attempted to catch the girls out of position.

Angela’s medium laser cut through the air as her Wasp landed beside Artoria, and the younger Kolibri quickly fired as well. The twin green lights cut into the lead Toro and burned through its ammo bay and cooked the long range missiles off inside the hoppers, and the ‘Mech tumbled to the ground as the engine detonated. The remaining Taurian ‘Mech quickly turned to try and run, only for another blue light to bore into its back while two ionized blasts ripped through its frontal armor.

The APCs were finally at the burn line, and they pulled to a stop as the fire surrounded them both. Artoria jumped over the fire and leveled her machine guns at the vehicles, while Angela landed beside her, her hip mounted SRM launcher readied. The APCs wisely turned off, and the drivers and gunners slowly climbed out and surrendered. Artoria fumbled with her comms system, until she found the button for the external speakers.

“Sumire Meyer, STAR S-twenty-three-fifteen, and EULE S-twenty-three-twelve. Bring them out, now.” She said as authoritatively as she could manage. The guards looked at one another, then one opened the lead APC. After a moment two replikas and a middle aged woman were escorted out the back ramp and their cuffs were unlocked. Artoria worried how they were going to get the three out of the blaze now, only to see the massive shape of the Oathkeeper as it soared over the scene and slowly lowered itself to the forested ground. In moments the shape of Ariane’s Cyclops could be seen leaving the bay, and she could see Sieben’s Marauder approaching through the fire.

“Mom, we’re loading up the targets, you ready to go?” Artoria asked as she turned toward the fight behind her, before a PPC blast lashed past her ‘Mech’s head.

“Girls, get to the DropShip, now!” Elster ordered. Artoria could taste the fear and anger from her mother, and she saw a wave of ‘Mechs appear on sensors. Nearly three full lances of machines thundered through the hills and forest, and she quickly began to limp her ‘Mech to the DropShip. Zwei’s Mongoose immediately broke off to charge towards the fight, while Seiben’s PPCs lashed out through the air to hit the incoming ‘Mechs.

“M-mom!” Angela called. “We can help!”

“No Angela! Your ‘Mechs are too light, get on the ship, man the guns there, that’s an order!” Elster shouted. Artoria winced at the worry in her mother’s mind, and she looked as Ariane thundered forward through the trees with her Cyclops .

“Just get to the ship, girls. We’ve got this.” Ariane tried to reassure her daughters, and Artoria silently nodded.

Elster pulled her ‘Mech back as another autocannon round detonated before her feet, missiles just behind it as she fired her jump jets to throw herself backward. The incoming ‘Mechs were a mix of medium and heavy models, but they were solid designs and she knew that a fight like this was not going to go well if she didn’t make it inside the range of the DropShip’s weapons. Zwei’s ‘Mech joined in at a distance the large laser in its center torso able to hit at surprisingly long range, while Sieben’s PPC shots were able to add a bit of extra fire as she backed onto the loading ramp. Ariane’s Cyclops came to a halt beside Elster’s retreating Marauder II , and the pair of assaults quickly locked in on the closest targets.

“They’re sending an awful lot of ‘Mechs to stop us.” Ariane said. “What’s got them in such an uproar?”

“You mean besides us trying to steal three people they plan to execute? Who knows, they’re Taurians.” Elster replied. Another autocannon blast crashed into an approaching Talos , while Ariane peppered a Catapult that attempted to poke itself over a hill for a barrage. The heat inside Elster’s ‘Mech was sweltering, and she could see the three lances start to spread out in an attempt to surround them both. Her PPCs caught an incoming Enforcer as it tried to land, and the force knocked the ‘Mech on its back.

As they passed the APCs, Elster spared a glance at the blaze Zwei had burned to trap them in, and stomped her ‘Mech’s foot down on a flaming patch of treeline to try and smother the fire. When her ‘Mech stepped back again, the APCs took their out and raced through the gap, headed for friendly lines. At this the enemy lances slowed, and the intensity of the enemy volley slowed. Elster’s eye narrowed, her mind expanded to sense her surroundings, and she picked up on the Taurian’s frequency, her Bioresonance listening in silently. Then she pulled her ‘Mech into a turn and sprinted for the DropShip.

“Let’s go. They won’t follow.” She said confidently. “They’ve got plenty of wounded to deal with, and we’ve got what we came for.”

“But why did they send so many ‘Mechs after us to begin with?” Sieben asked over the comms. “Those lances came out of almost nowhere…”

“Because they wanted to keep the second APC from being destroyed…” Elster said. “Jeffery Calderon’s body double was on board. This convoy was meant to lure out the pirates targeting him for assassination. We just happened to have our own targets inside the AO we needed liberating.” The mind of the body double had been the first she managed to infiltrate, and in an instant she realized what was happening. Ariane and Zwei turned their ‘mechs to follow, and the Magpies made ready to leave New Vandenburg behind.

CASSIAS
DRACONIS MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
9 SEPTEMBER 3049

Valian slowly walked through the base while the translated and deciphered Draconis Intelligence report in their hand fluttered in the sea breeze. The beaches of Cassias were rougher than usual, and all around they could feel the tension in the air. The War of 3039 was still fresh in the minds of every soldier of the Seventeenth Avalon Hussars, and their prior raid had been met with a similar counter-raid on Kessai. News cycles across the FedCom were gearing up for another throw down, but something in the reports deeply troubled Valian.

Not for the first time, the Percivala’s mind returned to the prophecy the Empress shared with her most loyal servants just before her assassination. The sight of Great Beasts that attacked mankind from the stars sent shudders down the bioresonant replika’s spine. Worse, Valian swore the vision had changed somehow. Where once there had been four, now six monsters assailed humanity. Five were now intimately familiar to them: A great bird with wings of green stone, a bear whose body phased through all defenses, a large cat that billowed choking smog from its mouth, a smaller feline with a body made of starlight, and a wolf whose fangs dripped fire and death. In recent weeks, these five had been joined by a massive serpent, with fangs and scales that gleamed like polished metal.

The beasts whirled about in a frenzy, biting, clawing, tearing at humanity from the stars above, and in the distance, Valian could see more of the monsters yet to come. They shuddered, and looked down at the reports. There were messages about trading and exploration ships sent coreward of the Combine never returning, and Valian knew similar reports from the Lyran half of the Commonwealth were just as bleak. Whether it was misjumps or the monsters, only time would tell, but Valian pulled the sheet aside to check the next one.

As useful as this information was, it didn’t answer the question that truly burned in their breast: Where was Vergil? Report after report made mention of him as a center of information, but never what planet he was on. In frustration Valian flicked page after page in the report, until finally they could only slam the papers down on the coastline in frustration. It was a copy, of course. The full report was already on the desk of their commanding officer, and Verner was no doubt already organizing new raids with the intel while also planning his retirement party. Hauptman General Nasha Tiljurga was already on world to prepare for the hand off, but Valian hadn’t been impressed by their record. When Verner left, the Kaiseringard’s contract was also up with the AFFC, and Valian fully intended on taking their men and forming a new mercenary company to prepare for the Beasts’ arrival.

The fluttering of the papers changed slightly, and Valian felt a presence behind them. One they had not sensed before. Bioresonance stabbed out into the space behind them, and was met with a wall of water. A sword unsheathed. Valian spun on their hooves and drew their own blade. Swords sparked, bioresonant powers clashed, and the two replikas were thrown away from one another. There was a silent moment as the two regarded one another. Valian watched the wide sun shade hat and lamellar armor of the attacker, and recognized them as a Combine Dinadan. A strange choice of assassin, but the Combine was still perfecting their Kranich and Falke units. The Combine replika didn’t move, his katana leveled at the Percivala evenly, before the faintest hint of a smile played at the smaller replika’s lips.

“Still as sharp as ever, Captain…” Valian froze at that voice, their sword dropping just a fraction of an inch. With a flourish the Dinadan threw off their hat, the red straw disk thrown at Valian like a discus. Valian caught it with bioresonance and hurled it to the sand, before their hands brought their blade around to block the swipe of the bioresonant.

“Trickery only gets you so far, Vergil.” Valian said with a smile.

Chapter Text

CASSIAS
DRACONIS MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
9 SEPTEMBER 3049

“Vergil!” Friedrich’s voice echoed around the MechBay, the Feirefiza the first of the Kaiseringard to spot the return of their Captain, and with them their favorite Dinadan. At his call Kaysen, Cellach, and Bastian jumped to their hooves, while the mottle-complexioned replika nearly tackled the now-dark haired samurai. “Ha, your roots could use a touch up, old friend.” Underneath the dark black dye, small flecks of pink were starting to show through again, and Vergil simply smiled as he put his sunshade back on.

“Well considering you five had the misfortune of being on deployment when I arrived, I had to wait and improvise until I sensed your return.” The Dinadan chuckled. Friedrich backed away, and Bastian stepped forward.

“How’d you get out?” He asked flatly, and behind his helmet he examined everything he could of the fellow Empire replika. Vergil’s eyes rose to meet the du George’s through his helmet, a smile still at his lips.

“I did as I do best. Gathered information, and used it.” He said simply. “Though I do suppose the whole story might be a bit long, given the twenty years we’ve been apart.”

“Well, don’t leave us in suspense, small fry, spill.” Kaysen replied. Vergil shot him a rather annoyed look, before he hopped onto a crate to use as a makeshift stage. Valian smiled, before they turned at the sight of their commanding officers approaching. With a small message to Vergil, the Percivala turned to handle the last bit of business on their end, and Vergil turned his attention to the non-bioresonant replikas of Kaiserin Lance.

“Well. To start with, Colonel Higashi Sōta is dead. Has been since the first jump away from the Eusan system.” Vergil smiled as he saw the approving nods from his audience. “But, I was not alone in managing the deed. Captain Ashura Torvald of the Draconis Elite Strike Teams dealt the killing blow, and I didn’t even have to lie to get him to aid me.” Friedrich laughed at that, knocking on his helmet.

“You’re full of it. You lie as easily as you breathe.” The patches of white on Freidrich’s dark skin caught the light as his head lifted again. “You do remember that omitting details still counts.” Vergil pouted at that, and turned on his hoof away from them.

“If you’re going to interrupt, I’m not going to tell you the story.” He said defiantly, which earned the Feirefiza a punch in the arm from Kaysen. The punishment now properly deployed, he returned to his tale.

“Well, after we left the Periphery, we made our way back to the Draconis Combine through the Cappellan Confederation and Free World’s League, and made use of some, creative accounting to get ourselves across the Tikonov Free Republic. And from there, we made our way all the way to Galedon, to meet with the son of the Dragon himself, Theodore Kurita.” Vergil paused on that, and the replikas stared up at him. “Yes, that’s right. I had the ear of the current Coordinator of the entire Draconis Combine.”

“Then, where were you during 3039?” Cellach asked. Vergil blinked, and rubbed the back of his neck.

“I… Was on Luthien. Creating, a lot of other Dinadan, and Kolibris…” He admitted. At which point Kaysen had to be held down by Bastian.

“YOU WERE WHAT?!” The Lancelot roared, and Friedrich started to laugh uproariously. Cellach looked frustrated, and Bastian would have shot Vergil a death glare if he wasn’t busy. Vergil held up his hands plaintively.

“It’s not like I had much choice! Theodore may have been the son of the Dragon, but I had promised them replikas to save my skin, and the replikas Higashi had captured too! I… I had to…” He said defensively.

“And thanks to you, the Combine has Falkes, because you gave them Dinadans.” Kaysen growled. “You could have given them anything else…” Vergil winced, and hid his eyes behind his sun shade.

“Well… Like I said… I didn’t have much choice… And I didn’t, find out you all were alive until, after the war…” He admitted. “I was so busy just trying to stay alive…” At that Cellach finally got up and thumped his fist on Kaysen’s head.

“Stop blaming Vergil in your head!” The Gawainson said.

“Fuck you, he’s to blame!” Kaysen said. “All the shit we went through… All those fights, and the Falkes that turned on us… And you expect me to just let it go?”

“He didn’t know!” Cellach snapped back. “What would you have done in his situation?” Kaysen opened his mouth to retort, only for a blast of bioresonant energy to hit the group. Valian had returned, and their eyes were locked on the enraged Lancelot.

“What’s done is done, Kaysen. Save your anger, you’ll need it later.” Valian said calmly. “I’m sorry to interrupt your story Vergil, but we need to move. I’ve finalized our mustering out.” Friedrich’s smile faded, and Vergil looked to the Captain.

“Do we know where we’re going?” Freidrich asked. Valian nodded, and walked through the group towards the MechBay.

“Well. I figure if we’re going to be mercenaries, where better to be than Outreach?” The Kaiseringard Captain said. Vergil could feel the smile on the Captain’s face, and saw it reflected in the faces of all of the other replikas.

“... What’s at Outreach?” Vergil asked.

ROLLIS
SIAN COMMONALITY
CAPELLAN CONFEDERATION
9 SEPTEMBER 3049

“Alright. We should be clear of any Taurian pursuers.” Ariane turned in her seat, the bridge of the Oathkeeper now packed seemingly to the gills with people and replikas. She could see the trivid projection on the command table switch slowly from red to green, a reflection of their rapid jump from the Concordat to the Capellan Confederation. While it was still far from where they wanted to be, at least Rollins was a quiet system that the Capellans rarely patrolled.

“How long will the KF Drive take to recharge?” Elster asked. Ariane turned to look at her communications panel, before Sumire spoke up.

“One hundred seventy four hours. So we’re stuck here for a week.” The elder navigations officer slowly unbuckled her harness, confused as the expected weightlessness of being docked to a JumpShip never manifested. Ariane smiled as she saw Sumire take a few tentative steps, then quickly stride over to the command table. “From here we can make a quick jump to Horsham and be on our way coreward again.”

“I’ll just need to make a stop at an HPG somewhere to arrange the ships.” Darius said. “Going to need transport and contracts to keep our cover.” The XO was already back into his old mindset, and he looked a decade younger, at least in his eyes. Yang looked a lot more spry as well, as he tossed a list of parts on the table from his seat.

“Gonna need all that to fix Artoria’s Stinger. Lotta melted myomer thanks to those PPC blasts.” The Chief MechTech settled back into his seat, and Darius took the list to look it over. Elster stepped over to look as well, and Ariane smiled as the conversation drifted. It was just like on the Argo, watching them all plan and plot during the years leading up to the Fourth Succession War. For the first time since leaving New Avalon, Ariane felt like she was home again. She hadn’t realized how much she missed flying until that moment.

Her eyes caught Elster’s and the two shared a small smile before the replika engineer turned commanding officer focused her attention on their route, and their final destination. It sounded like a debate was raging about whether New Avalon or Tharkad should be the goal, with Yang even suggesting they try and hit up Solaris. She took the moment while everyone was focused to slip out of her chair and head for the MechBay, a happy sigh escaping her.

“Just like old times.” She whispered, the sound covered by the opening door. As soon as she was through she heard laughter from below the landing, and a quick glance showed Zwei and Sieben regaling the assembled Ghosts of Sierpinski and Yeong children with another story of their own mercenary adventures. Ariane quietly chuckled, before she started down the stairs to the mess hall.

“Ah, lady Ariane. I was just starting on dinner.” Colleen spoke up as Ariane stepped into the mess, and the white haired bioresonant nodded. Her prosthetic hooves clicked along the floor as she moved to a seat near the serving area.

“What’s on the menu tonight?” She asked, a fleeting hope dancing across her mind. It was quickly dashed when she heard the Kondor’s reply.

“Sadly, stew again. I am trying to stretch our supplies until we can return to the Federated Commonwealth, and what we have is, limited. I have at least managed to bake bread bowls to help make the meal more filling.” Colleen’s apologetic tone was noted, but Ariane still felt a bit frustrated. The cargo holds on the Eusan class were certainly something that needed to be upgraded, and Ariane was going to make sure Kamea knew it.

“How long can we make them last?” She asked. The question brought up unwelcome memories, and she quickly crushed them back down in her mind. This wasn’t the Penrose. Over two decades of life in the Inner Sphere and she still felt herself jump back to that horrid day, when everything in her life went to hell. She had to shake her head and refocus when she heard Colleen’s answer but failed to register the words.

“I’m, sorry Colleen, can you-” She looked up as the Kondor set a mug of tea in front of her.

“Of course ma’am. As I said, we have about two more weeks of supplies if our current roster does not expand any further.” Colleen said. Ariane nodded, and looked at the tea in front of her before she slowly took hold of the mug. It was a habit, one that Colleen had suggested, but it helped. When the memories got too much, the tea would at least allow her to focus again. Not as much caffeine as coffee, with a soothing flavor that many of their friends on New Avalon swore by.

“Thank you Colleen.” Ariane took a small sip of the tea to steady herself. A part of her wondered just how different she was from Galan. The Commander’s legendary drinking problems had spread around the Argo, and she had seen memories from Darius and Galan both of how bad it could get. Was she simply using caffeine as a crutch in much the same manner? She found herself troubled by the implication, but it didn’t stop her from taking another sip.

“For what it’s worth ma’am, I believe your vices to be far healthier. Peppermint tea is far better for the liver than alcohol.” Colleen placed a gentle hand on Ariane’s shoulder, and the white haired bioresonant nodded.

“And Kerensky knows how hard it would be to get me another of those.” She said. After all the damage her body had gone through from the radiation sickness, she sometimes felt it was a miracle she was still alive at all. She looked away from the mug in her hands as she heard the door open, and saw Artoria walk in.

“Arty?” Ariane asked, before she slowly set the mug down again. “Is everything okay?” The Kolibri looked at her mother for a moment, then ran over to hug her tight. Ariane blinked, before she placed her hands around her daughter. There wasn’t a word that needed to be said, she’d let her defenses down a bit too much and Artoria had picked up on it. Colleen left to return to minding the food, while Ariane slowly pulled away from her daughter and brushed a few strands of blond hair from the Kolibri’s eyes. Artoria for her part seemed to be fighting back tears.

“... Which one was it?” Ariane asked quietly. Artoria didn’t speak, but projected the memory to Ariane’s mind. She winced as she recognized the translated orders she’d written down. The three thousand cycle message.

“Why did they do it… Why did they send out ships they couldn’t get back?” Artoria asked. “It… It feels…” Ariane closed her eyes, and pulled her daughter into her lap.

“They didn’t have the KF Drive in Eusan back then. And with the war turning the way it did… They were desperate. Just like I was.” Ariane said. Artoria nodded and hugged her mother tighter.

“Did you ever wish you had never volunteered?” The Kolibri asked. Ariane frowned, then squeezed her daughter gently.

“A few times.” She admitted. “When I was trapped in the cryochamber… I dreamed of what my life would have been like, if I hadn't volunteered for the Penrose Program. But… I would always remember Elster. And how happy we were.” She gently pulled away from Artoria. “And then your aunt did something very risky, your uncle did something very foolish, and your mother, aunt, and uncle did some very, very brave things.” She watched the small smile form on Artoria's face.

“And in the end… We had you. And Angie, and Gwen, and Yang. And when I see you girls, I know it was worth it.” Ariane kissed her daughter's forehead, and the Kolibri hugged her again. There was another shiver, and Ariane felt the fear creep into Artoria's mind. The PPC blasts that nearly hit her ‘Mech's head. The flashes of autocannons and lasers that barely missed.

“It's not like the simulators.” Ariane nodded. “But you did very well dear. I know Elster is proud of you, and I am too.” Colleen had brought over some more tea, and Ariane let Artoria sit down beside her at the table. Artoria had to take a few sips of her tea to steady herself, and Ariane took her own. They had plenty of time to talk through everything, just the two of them.

RASALHAGUE VI
RASALHAGUE PROVINCE
FREE RASALHAGUE REPUBLIC
9 SEPTEMBER 3049

The BattleROM data was troubling. Certainly, the initial reports from ROM’s Kranich units had been, less than ideal, but the data had been limited to bioresonantly transmitted video feeds. Feeds which had only captured individual ‘Mechs and strange new armor. Now Focht stared at the BattleROM data from the Kell Hounds, and the data had become more concerning.

“Their numbers certainly suggest a more powerful presence than we anticipated…” The administrator replika of the Rasalhague HPG spoke up behind Focht. He was one of ComStar’s Adler units, going by the chosen name Johann. Focht did not turn away from the video feed from Phelan Kell’s cockpit, his lone eye focused on every detail of the enemy machines.

“How long until they hit the border?” Michael, Focht’s personal Percivala unit, asked. Johann produced a clipboard, then lifted the top sheet.

“By best estimates? They’re already there.” The administrator’s voice was calm, but his mind was in a race to find the worst case scenario. Focht motioned with his hand, and felt his Kolibri unit, Karin, slowly reach out with her bioresonance to calm the administrator. The transmission ended when Kell’s ‘Mech was destroyed, and Focht finally turned his attention to the center of the room again.

“Any further word from our agents?” He asked. The Kranich units deployed ahead of his arrival in Rasalhague should have infiltrated the invader’s lines by now. Every bioresonant unit in the room shook their heads.

“No reports have come in from any previously stationed ROM agents since the initial invasion.” The Rasalhague HPG’s acting command unit spoke first, a Falke by the name of Skuld. Focht would have wryly commented on the irony of a goddess of the future being as blind to it as a mortal, but the time for such jokes was long dead and buried.

“Our own operatives have yet to report even making contact.” Morrighan, Focht’s personal Falke, spoke up next. In the corner the Precentor’s Dinadan, Isaiah, rose to his hooves.

“Perhaps they’ve been captured.” He offered. “And their bioresonance is somehow being disrupted.” Focht pondered the thought. ComStar’s own studies into Bioresonance had lagged somewhat behind the New Avalon Institute of Science in many areas, but that had been to better focus their efforts on countermeasures. Bioresonant individuals could, if needed, project anti-bioresonant fields around themselves as a manner of jamming enemy bioresonants, but this took significant training and focus, and the dead zones were easily identified by other bioresonants. Particle Projector Cannons, with their unique ionizing effects, could also disrupt bioresonant powers, but the nature of these weapons meant the disruption was exceptionally temporary on anything less than a direct hit.

The most consistent and effective manner of countering Bioresonance that the Order had discovered was Electronic CounterMeasures, more specifically the Guardian ECM Suite developed by the ancient Star League. While it was still theoretical that the suite could stop Bioresonant powers of non-replikas, its effectiveness in countering Successor State spies had been proven several times over during 3039. As Focht recalled the weaponry used by the invaders, his mind wandered to the question of if such technology was in their possession.

“We need to be very, very careful in how we proceed…” Focht said at length. “How many distinct identifiers have we found?” Johann checked his reports again.

“We have successfully identified six distinct markings on ground units.” He said. “Referencing with the messages recorded by Kranich units from anti-spinward to spinward, they are referred to by the names of Nova Cat, Jade Falcon, Wolf, Ghost Bear, Steel Viper, and Smoke Jaguar.” Focht nodded.

“And which ones were engaged with the Kell Hounds?” He asked.

“By all indications, Wolf, Precentor.” Johann replied. Focht turned his gaze to Isaiah, and the Dinadan bowed.

“I’ll have an envoy dispatched at once.”

ROLLINS
SIAN COMMONALITY
CAPELLAN CONFEDERATION
10 SEPTEMBER 3049

Elster stepped back into the command bunk, the door hissing shut behind her as she slowly walked to the bed. Without a word she slid off her outfit and slipped under the covers.

“How’d the meeting go?” Ariane asked quietly. Elster sighed and wrapped her arms around her wife’s middle, holding the white haired bioresonant to her as she tried to quiet the ringing in her brain.

“A lot of talking, a lot of arguing… Same as it always was.” Elster said. As tired as she was, there was a comfortable familiarity to the squabbling. Yang always wanting to divert to find some new ‘Mech to pick up, Sumire constantly checking pirate activity like a hawk, Darius marking every stop for supplies. And of course, the arguments that inevitably broke out needing the Commander to make the call. She was starting to see why Galan had a drinking problem.

“Anything get decided?” Ariane’s fingers wove between Elster’s, and the replika buried her face in her lover’s hair.

“Just our destination. We’re still going to have to work on the route.” Elster murmured. Ariane finally moved to turn around and face Elster in the bed, her red eyes meeting Elster’s remaining blue with a small smile.

“And where exactly are we going?” She asked. Elster smiled, and closed her eye as the shutter finally closed behind her.

“Outreach.”

Chapter Text

OUTREACH II
SARNA MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
20 JANUARY 3050

“Jaime!” Elster dropped from the arm of her Marauder II and ran across the spaceport landing pad, the commanding officer of Wolf’s Dragoons barely out of the ground car before she spotted him. The aging MechWarrior and Mercenary commander had a smile on his face at the sight of the engineering replika, and his hand grasped hers firmly just before he pulled her into a hug.

“Doing well Elster?” Jaime asked, “That Marauder treating you well?” Elster smiled and gave a small nod.

“Well enough. Finding replacement parts for that Mydron Excel has been a royal bitch, but it’s worth it.” She replied. Her smile faded somewhat as she felt the emotional high leave them both, and Jaime’s expression mirrored hers.

“Yes, well, Blackwell has quite a lot of spares here, if you need them…” He said. Elster nodded and turned to look back at the ‘mech, while her mind reached out to Jaime’s.

‘We didn’t exactly come here for a social call and spares though Jaime…’ She thought silently.

‘I know. I saw the report from the MRB.’ Jaime directed his own thoughts towards her. Despite lacking any Bioresonance of his own, the commander of Wolf’s Dragoons was remarkably receptive to it. ‘I won’t ask why you’re back in the fight, but if you need supplies, or new ‘mechs, I’ve put in a word with a few of the more reputable merchants.’

‘I appreciate that Jaime. Have you heard anything from Galan?’ She turned back to Jaime, and he shook his head.

‘We haven’t spoken since the meeting. Though I wouldn’t blame him, given how much he has to keep track of.’ Jaime’s smile picked up a bit at the thought. ‘Most recent thing I’ve gotten from him is a letter asking if I’d be the godfather of his two youngest.’ Elster raised an eyebrow.

“Two more? Didn’t he have five already running around back then?” Elster asked. Jaime laughed and nodded.

“Sieglinde was lonely, according to him. So they got two more Kolibris.” He said, and Elster took her own chance to laugh.

“And his wife had no bias in picking those siblings, I suppose?” She asked. Jaime just smiled, before another figure ran over. A whispered conversation was carried out quickly, before he turned back to Elster.

“Well, unfortunately, my duties as a planetary governor are rearing their ugly heads.” He said. “But we should do dinner sometime, while you’re here on Outreach.”

“Count on it. We’ll have Colleen call you.” Elster replied. Jaime nodded, and stepped back into his ground car to drive off. Elster watched until the car rounded a corner, then returned to the Oathkeeper. They had some mercenaries and 'mechs to track down.

The bar was alive with raucous music from the live stage, and plenty of MechWarriors and MechTechs alike cheered and sang along with every line they knew. The scent of alcohol was everywhere, but underneath it all Gwenevere could smell all manner of foods, fried and otherwise. Her eyes wandered over the crowd and noted the sheer number of replikas mixed in with the humans around them. Five replikas in red armor were on the stage, but their iconography matched the old Eusan Empire rather than the Draconis Combine. She could see the bulky frames of Steiner-made replikas, their larger stature and heavier armor an easy give away even as they repainted it for their lives as mercenaries.

She saw a few Capellan replikas huddled in a corner, mostly Aras and Eules, and felt a pang of pity in her chest. Three of them were missing an arm, and the ones that were left had clearly been replacing whatever they lost with whatever they could find. One of the Aras was hard at work on the Eule next to her, tools on the table as they tried to adjust some part of the Eule’s lower arm. Gwenevere looked down to see Yang, her sister, huddle closer to her. The Eule whose arm had been opened up was near tears, before finally the Capellan Ara closed the panels again, and nodded. With a hesitant expression, she flexed her fingers, and they moved at a halting pace.

‘We don’t have the funds to help everyone we see, girls.’ Ariane’s voice echoed in Gwenevere’s mind, her white hair ahead of them in the walk to the bar counter. ‘Runaways and strays will only cut more into our supplies.’ Gwenevere thought of the Oathkeeper’s woefully small cargo bays, and silently nodded. As much as they wanted to help, there was only so much they could do. She consoled herself that at least they were on Outreach, and free from the Confederation’s Persona Stabilization protocols. Even as she watched, a mercenary seemed to come over to them, and from the expressions on the Eules’ faces, he seemed to be offering a contract of some kind.

At the bar counter, yet more replikas moved about. Three humans ran the show behind the counter, but the doors to the kitchen were a constant rotation of Eules from across the Inner Sphere rushing in and out, and around the bar itself she saw three Storches, a Schnapper, and even a Percivala, all seated and drinking with the humans around them. Only one figure stood out from the group, a Draconis replika that had the only open seat next to them. From the position of their sunshade, Gwenevere couldn’t tell what model they were, but Ariane approached the open seat confidently.

“May I?” She asked the replika, who made a motion with their hand that seemed inviting. The white haired bioresonant sat down, and in moments had gotten the attention of one of the bartenders. ‘You girls find a table and order something to eat.’ Ariane’s mental message put a smile on Gwenevere’s face, and she quickly pulled Yang to a table near the stage. Yang, for her part, tried to turn down her ear systems to shut out more of the noise.

On the stage, the song had finished, and the Feirefiza, who had been serving as lead singer for the band, stepped up to the mic again to thank everyone for coming. Shouts of encore drowned him out for a moment. He smiled as he paused to let the crowd call, then made a great show of turning to his band for their response. From the drums, a Lancelot offered up a small drum loop, but the Feirefiza shook his head. On bass, a du George made an attempt at a bass intro, only for this to also be shot down. A Gawainson on guitar just shrugged in response, a smile plastered on his face.

Finally, from the keys, a simple starting melody emerged. The crowd’s cheers nearly drowned it out, but Gwenevere could see the Percivala at the keys close their eyes as they played. This got approval from the Feirefiza, and he and the rest of the band launched into the song proper. Gwenevere listened with a smile, the sound of the music surrounding them, and almost missed it when a Marik Eule came over to get their order. Only a swift kick under the table from Yang brought her attention back to the moment, and she turned quickly to order lunch for them both.

“Want the good news, or the bad news?” Darius asked. Elster rubbed her forehead with a sigh, the trivid projector’s hum already making her brain ache from hours of examination. There were plenty of ‘mechs, some of them even cheap enough to warrant looking at, but the cost in repairs to get them operational again made it almost not worth it. Even with the contracts they’d managed to take on during the trip, as well as the salvage they managed to negotiate, there was still not enough money in the bank for proper ‘mechs for the girls.

“What’s the bad news?” She asked as her chair spun to face her XO. He set a copy of a newspaper on the table before her, and the headline drew her focus the fastest.

“The Sisters of Destruction challenge Champion…” She read as she unfolded the paper, eye scanning the paragraphs below the photo of a familiar looking Highlander and Victor. “Jessica ‘Glitch’ Chernovskaya issued a formal challenge at Thor’s Shieldhall last Thursday to current Solaris Champion Grady Kiefer, only for the reigning champ to willingly concede the title. Kiefer told reporters he wasn’t interested in the Solaris Championship, wanting to find new contracts as a mercenary commander…” She set the paper down again. “So they’re on Solaris…”

“And fighting in the arenas. Class Six, apparently. Made it to the top twenty last year.” Darius said. “Gonna be tough convincing them to rejoin.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there… I’m more worried about Red, Wolfman, and Kunoichi. You think they’d give up their bar to go galavanting off to the deep periphery?” Elster asked.

“Ariane will let us know for sure. Red and Wolfman were pretty antagonistic back in the Marauders. Surprised they became business partners.” Darius said with a smile on his face. “You still haven’t asked for the good news.” Elster rolled her eye and her wrist to motion for him to continue. “There’s a new model of Marauder II. 5B, and it’s half the cost of yours.” Elster raised an eyebrow and sat up, her attention now fully gathered.

“Where’s the cost cutting?” She asked.

“Engine mostly. Dropping from that Vlar XL down to a standard drops it a fair bit, and they dropped the CASE and upgraded to double heat sinks. Plus, they swapped the autocannon for a gauss rifle.” He passed the technical specs he’d managed to download over to her, and Elster looked them over.

“That, is an attractive set of options.” She said. “What kind of price-”

“Thanks to Jamie? They’re willing to throw in a cool ten mil. Keeps you in something familiar, and lets us get an upgrade for the girls, depending on what we look for.” Darius said. Elster nodded, and leaned back again. That was making some of the more costly repairs a lot more palatable. She rubbed her chin, then rose to her hooves.

“Call Gwen, ask her what kind of ‘Mech she’d like.” She said. “I’ll get Arty and Angie’s choices.”

‘You’re sure you’re all okay with this?’ Ariane asked, ‘I mean you three have a whole life here to live.’ The conversation was entirely through bioresonance, Ariane verbally ordering a drink just to try and throw off suspicion. From across the counter, a woman with almond eyes quickly mixed a simple whiskey sour to slide across to her with the professional pomp of a skilled bartender.

‘<Give me a break.> Ariane, what kind of life is this for a MechWarrior? We only agreed to start this place so we could wait around for you and Galan to come for us!’ Kunoichi replied mentally. ‘It’s hard enough keeping these two idiots from gutting one another over the menu, of course we’re in!’ Ariane smiled as she heard that, and she nodded quietly.

‘I guess that’d make sense.’ She replied mentally. ‘Can’t imagine how you made it work this long.’ She looked over to her daughters, a smile at her lips as she saw Gwenevere trying to answer her phone. ‘We’re at pad six, big dropship, can’t miss it.’ She took a sip of the drink, her lips instinctively curling at the sensation. Even after years in the Federated Commonwealth, the sometimes excessive alcohol content of most Lyran whiskeys threw her off. “I thought I asked for New Avalon.”

“We ran out, had to use Glengarry.” Kunoichi replied. Ariane moved away from the bar with the drink and a sigh, and walked over to her daughters through the crowd of patrons. The music echoed around the room as the band played, but Ariane’s mind was drawn backward toward the bar, as she heard hooves on the ground behind her. She carefully changed her course, and the presence copied her. She sipped the whiskey and turned again, the crowd in motion around her as she moved with it to try and reach her daughters’ table.

A wave of calm washed over the back of her mind, a mental message carried from the replika behind her. She felt it probe at her defenses, before it slipped past harmlessly, like a wave against a cliff face. But the momentary presence had done its job, and her attention shifted from behind her, to in front. Two figures at a table had their eyes on her children, and the rather menacing looks in their eyes was all Ariane needed to see.

Before she could move, the replika behind her stepped around her, and towards the duo at their table. It was then that she noticed the katana at his hip, and the tufts of pink hair with black tips hidden just below the wide hat he wore. As the two moved to stand, the replika interposed himself between one of them and the table. Ariane quickly moved to her girls, eyes locked on the three as the small replika attempted to talk down the men from whatever they were planning to do.

The look in their eyes spoke volumes, as they glanced nervously at each other, then at Ariane. She stared back, and slowly sipped her whiskey sour, for all the world trying to look as dangerous as possible. Of course her lip curling instinctively at the drink somewhat muddied the effect, but the replika seemed to be adequately talking circles around the two. And just as the two started to nod along, he paused, as if frozen. Ariane blinked, then looked to her daughters and tried to scan the room again. In a corner, two more figures had risen from their seats, and were approaching the small replika with purpose.

As if on instinct, Ariane hurled her drink at the two, and caught the leader in the side of the head. The glass shattered, and a yell erupted from their partner. The pink haired replika ducked a thrown punch from the larger of the men he had been talking to, then side stepped a follow-up swing into another bar patron. The second man moved to grab the replika, only to catch a boot from the enraged MechWarrior next to him.

Ariane ducked down under a table to avoid several other patrons about to enter the brawl that had formed around the four would-be aggressors, and she ran to the table her girls had taken as the fight started to spread. One mercenary after another was dragged into the fight as the initial aggressors lost sight of their respective quarries. Ariane just watched as her girls ducked under the table when a Storch was hurled back by the Schnapper from the bar, the long legged protektor controller knocked off her hooves by the taller combat replika. Yang was huddled under the table with her hands over her ears, Gwen on watch for if any of the combatants got any ideas. The music cut out, but Ariane’s eyes were locked on her girls as she scrambled across the floor.

The heavy boot of a tall man slammed to the floor in front of her, and she braced as the other hit her in the side. The laugh of the drunk who kicked her was stopped by a bottle broken over his head, and Ariane quickly dove under another table closer to her daughters. She tried to focus her eyes and mind again after the wind had been knocked out of her, and her eyes just barely registered two sets of hands that pulled her girls out from under their hiding spot. She grit her teeth and sucked in air to rush forward, only for the table she hid under to be lifted away from her and tipped back as a wall behind her.

Directly in her path stood the armored form of a Percivala, their red armor marked with Eusan Empire insignia and long blond hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. There was a glimmer of recognition in their eyes, and Ariane looked back as one of the pursuers spotted them and leveled a pistol. Ariane’s eyes snapped to the bar, and her bioresonance grabbed a bottle from the counter to hurl into the man. As the glass hit his forearm the shot went wild, and Ariane grabbed the offered hand from the Percivala as they ran to the door to the backstage area. The pink haired replika held the door for them, and in seconds the group was in a dead sprint through the halls.

“Could have told me you were here.” Ariane felt the adrenaline in her veins, her heart in her ears as she tried to maintain speed despite the pain in her ribs.

“To be fair, we were in the middle of a set when you walked in.” Valian replied with a smile. They scooped Ariane into their arms, and the nine of them made it to the back alley behind the bar. Cellach was in the driver’s seat of a large van, Kaysen and Bastian held Yang and Gwenevere inside the vehicle’s rear, while Friedrich leveled a rifle at the door as the three stragglers piled in. As soon as the last member of the group was through, the Feirefiza slammed the door shut and Cellach hit the gas, the sound of sirens filling the air behind them as the vehicle rolled away.

“Mom!” Gwenevere dove for Ariane, who smiled as she caught her daughter.

“It’s okay Gwen, it’s okay.” She carefully stroked the Starling’s hair, while Yang just huddled against the wall of the van, her knees pulled up under her chin as she tried to calm herself. Ariane felt her heartbeat slow as she moved to scoot over and pull Yang in as well, her mind already at work trying to put the girls at ease.

“Who the hell were those guys?” Gwenevere asked. Ariane shook her head, before the pink haired replika spoke up.

“The first two were Maskirovka agents.” He said, and as he carefully removed his hat Ariane realized he was a Dinadan, one built in the old Eusan Empire style, despite all the Kuritan adornments his armor now carried. “They were looking for you all when you arrived at the spaceport. I clocked them coming in, but was so focused on figuring out just who they were after that I missed the ISF agents that came in search of me.”

“The Maskirovka is here?” Ariane asked. “But this is Federated Commonwealth space.”

“If you think Romano Liao is going to let something like that stop her paranoia, you’re sadly mistaken.” The Dinadan said. “From the talks I overheard between her and Theodore Kurita, she seems to think you have some kind of kill switch that can turn off the Kolibris she’s using to keep absolute control over the Confederation.” Ariane looked at him, then sighed.

“It’s amazing how stories get twisted over the decades.” She muttered. “Thank you…” She trailed off, inviting the replika to introduce himself, which got a laugh out of Friedrich.

“That’s Vergil. It’s not surprising you don’t remember him, since the last time you met you used a Leopard to nearly blow him up.” The Feirefiza explained. Ariane blinked, then looked at Vergil, who stared wide-eyed at her.

“That was you!?” He shouted. Ariane held up her hands placatively, and Bastian’s long leg pinned Vergil back. The Dinadan, for his part, simply scowled at the taller replika. “I’m quite capable of keeping my anger in check on my own, I’m not Kaysen.”

“What was that squirt?” The Lancelot asked, before a stern look from Valian silenced the aggressive replika. As Kaysen settled back into his seat, Ariane looked to the leader of the Kaiseringard, a smile on her lips. Valian just smiled and gave a small nod. No thanks were necessary.

“So, I take it you’re getting the Marauders back together?” They asked as the van turned onto the expressway towards the spaceport. Ariane opened her mouth to answer, when the groaning sound of Yang’s stomach met her ears. As her daughter embarrassedly squirmed closer, Ariane chuckled and rubbed her shoulder.

“How about we find somewhere to eat, and I’ll tell you everything.” Ariane offered.

“... Can we get Triple F?” Gwenevere asked.

CWS DIRE WOLF
THE ROCK
PERIPHERY
20 JANUARY 3050

“Is what he is saying true?” The man seated in the command chair asked. Focht mentally felt a pang of annoyance flit across his mind, but he brushed it aside as he kept himself still. Seated nearby, a young MechWarrior simply nodded his head, and glared daggers at Focht whenever the warriors around him were not looking. Focht paid the young Phelan Kell no mind, his attention focused on the commanding presence of Khan Ulric Kerensky of Clan Wolf.

“Khan Kerensky,” Focht began, “If you need further proof of the existence of replikas and bioresonance, I have four examples of both on board my shuttle who would be happy to demonstrate their capabilities for you, live and in person.” Ulric’s eyes narrowed, his hand gently nestled under his chin as a finger stroked at his goatee.

“And how am I to determine this is not some dishonorable trick?” The Khan of Clan Wolf asked, his tone blunt. “The information we have received made no mention of magic powers. Only that the Federated Commonwealth had developed cyborg soldiers.” Focht closed his eye wearily, then took a deep breath to continue.

“As I said, Khan Kerensky, those reports which you shared with me were built upon rumor and hearsay from a distant colony of mankind far detached from Inner Sphere politics. I am presenting you with hard data from far more recent sources.” He pressed a button on the projector, and the image of a Starling was swiftly replaced with that of a Falke, the tall replika wonder weapon looming even larger in the projection above the trio. “I assure you. This is no deception on the part of myself or ComStar. I have been ordered by my Primus to share with you everything, and I have taken that order to heart.” The Khan regarded him with a measured gaze, before Ulric’s eyes turned again to Phelan. The son of the legendary Morgan Kell simply shook his head and sighed.

“He’s telling the truth.” Phelan said. “First Regiment has two Falkes and about a dozen Kolibris. Bioresonance is very, very real. I’ve seen how well they coordinate in the field, it’s some scary stuff.” There were murmurs from the assembled clan warriors at the edges of the room, but a motion from Ulric silenced them.

“In your opinion, Precentor Martial, which replikas are the most worthy of our attention?” He asked calmly. Focht smiled, and with the press of a button, the Falke unit was replaced by a smaller, more spritely replika in a feathered cap. Several of the warriors seemed to regard this as a joke, a few outright laughing at the sight, but Focht maintained complete calm.

“Laugh all you wish, warriors of Clan Wolf, but underestimating a Dinadan will be the death of you.” Focht said as the jeers died down. “While Falke units may have unsurpassed bioresonant power, while Percivala are excellently balanced and versatile combatants, and while Kranich and Kolibri units may bore into your mind and extract any secret they wish, none, and I mean none, can match the wordplay, wit, and charm of the Dinadan.” There was a small swell of pride in the back of Focht’s mind, Isaiah listening in on the conversation through bioresonance, and he had to resist snapping an order back to continue his duties. Technically, the Dinadan was following his orders to the letter.

‘They’re underestimating us. They really do think they’ll be able to handle a straight fight against any replika.’ Morrighan said inside Focht’s mind.

‘Keep listening to them then. Learn everything you can.’ Focht replied silently. ‘This may be a long, long fight…’

Chapter Text

OUTREACH II
SARNA MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
20 JANUARY 3050

“So the Lady Arano is reactivating the Marauders…” Valian’s voice was as calm and collected as ever, the Kaiseringard Command replika’s thoughts masked behind a shield of bioresonance. “To investigate some far flung signal from the edge of the Periphery… What makes you think Galan will go along with it?” Elster dipped a pair of long, crisp french fries in a dollop of ketchup and mayonnaise that had fallen off her burger as she contemplated his question. Her jaw moved slowly to chew as she nodded, then swallowed the bite inside her mouth already to speak.

“He’s not the type to turn Kamea down. And worse, the signal is tied directly to Ariane…” She stuck the fries in her mouth, humming softly at the taste. For as cheap as it was, Federated Fast Food always seemed to hit the right blend of greasy goodness to make it worth the trip. She was glad Ariane called about it, as the echo of her daughters digging in around the mess hall of the Oathkeeper was a welcome sound.

“Indeed…” Valian picked up their own sandwich for inspection, then slowly bit into it. ‘So I would assume this trip will require warriors of some skill?’ Their bioresonant question brushed against Elster’s mind, and she smiled simply as she picked up her milkshake.

‘Naturally. Are you offering your services?’ She responded in kind, the taste of heavily blended vanilla ice cream on her tongue. ‘How mercenary of you, Kaiseringard Captain.’ Valian smiled at the teasing tone in her voice, before they set their sandwich down again.

“I believe the old saying was, when on Vineta, do as the Vinetans do?” They replied. “We are no longer in the employ of House Davion, and seeing as a mercenary outfit can always use more MechWarriors…” Elster nodded and set her shake down.

“It would be nice to see this Laevatien Yang’s been raving about in action.” She said, “And that old Victor of yours would make a nice addition to the company as well, if we can find a pilot.” Valian motioned around them to the assembled replikas and humans.

“Certainly no shortage there.” They said with a smile. Their gaze rested a moment on the table Elster’s daughters were sitting at, all of them being regaled with another thrilling tale from their dear Uncle Yang, with only the occasional correction from Achtzehn when his embellishments became a bit much for even the girls’ tastes. Elster smiled and turned to look as well.

“... I always hoped they’d be able to live in a peaceful Inner Sphere… One where there wouldn’t be constant war…” She said softly. Valian turned back to their meal.

“As do so many parents in this galaxy…” Elster noted the sadness in their tone. “It is all we can do, as the elder generations, to give them a chance to surpass us.” Valian settled back into eating, and Elster looked at her half finished burger. She gently lifted the bun, stared at the way the sauces and toppings rested on the patty of questionable origins. Certainly, there were cows on Outreach, but just how much of any given Triple F burger was beef was hard to say on a given planet.

“Well…” She let the bun drop back onto the burger and lifted the sandwich once more. “Until they do, we’ll just have to keep fighting, now won’t we?”

“I’m, still sorry about blowing you up.” Ariane looked across the table at Vergil to see the pink haired replika poke at the burger before him. “And that the food isn’t to your liking…” There was a pause as she looked down at her own meal. She heard the Dinadan huff a moment, before he spoke at last.

“It was a war. You were doing what you thought was necessary. I can’t exactly blame you, considering my plans involved shooting your wife.” He said calmly. “We all did what we thought was right, regardless of what side we fought for. At least now, I know Eusan is safe.” He carefully picked up a french fry and took a bite.

“As for the food… Well, I suppose I’ll have to get used to Fedrat meals for a while…” He said. “I just don’t understand the obsession with such, greasy meals…” Ariane blinked, before she smiled and took hold of her burger.

“What, the Empire didn’t have hamburgers?” She asked. Vergil shook his head.

“No. Though, if I remember correctly, the Nation did not make use of such foods either.” His reply wasn’t malicious, but Ariane couldn’t help but feel a pang of defensiveness in her mind. She pressed it down again as she reminded herself that for all the time she’d spent in the Eusan Nation, the Federated Commonwealth was her home now.

“Well, we did and didn’t.” She said. “The concept is similar to a sort of, ground beef steak that we’d have from time to time, but it was usually with potatoes and gravy, not on a bun.” She took a bite of her burger. “They don’t make that in the Combine I’m guessing?” Vergil shook his head.

“No… Though I suppose it does have some similarities to gyudon…” He finally took hold of the burger itself, and with some trepidation, he took a bite. After a few moments of tense chewing he swallowed and set it down. “Though again, significantly more grease.” Ariane giggled a bit at that.

“Well, if you want I can ask Colleen about getting some food that might be more to your tastes. We might even be able to get direct imports when we hit Solaris.” She offered. Vergil looked into Ariane’s eyes, and she could feel the waves of his bioresonance against her own. Almost on instinct she threw up a barrier, before slowly lowering it again. He wasn’t an enemy any more, she reminded herself. There was no harm in letting him in.

Vergil looked back down after a moment, but his bioresonance didn’t go anywhere. “I… Thank you. I’ve spent so long in the Combine, I fear I’ve, taken on a bit too much of their customs and culture.” He admitted. “I have to wonder if I’ll ever truly get back to who I was before. All the ritual and pomp, the ceremonial dress, the exacting movements… It’s ingrained into me at this point.” Ariane nodded, and her eyes drifted down to her meal again.

“Yeah… I guess it’s a lot more like the Nation over there.” She said.

“You’d think that, but no… The Empire was much the same. I think the only real difference was the nature of the leadership.” Vergil said. “In the Empire, the Empress was everything. She was our god and guide, our leader and mother. It was by the divine power of Bioresonance that she controlled all.” He set the burger aside to reach for his drink. “By contrast the Combine is much more secular, though no less ritualistic and philosophical. The Dragon rules not by divine mandate, but simply because he is the state itself. The military swears its fealty to him, the ISF enforces his will, and the people are guided by his words while still pursuing their own initiatives.”

Ariane felt her eyes widen a bit at that. She had only known the Combine from their limited stints fighting against it, and as Mercenaries, the Dragon was not known for being kind to captives. She ate quietly and waited for more from Vergil, and he took notice. Neither spoke, but each had come to a similar idea. A chance to simply talk, to compare and contrast the worlds they’d taken as their new homes.

“Why don’t you tell me a little about New Avalon…” Vergil offered.

“Seems like the whole gang is back together.” Friedrich smiled as he looked around the mess hall, admiring the comfortable but spacious room as he settled into his seat.

“Well, not quite everyone.” Cellach casually reminded him. “We’re still missing a few, if my memory is right.” The Gawainson sat beside the Fierefiza, and across from them, Sieben and Zwei took a seat as well.

“Galan Malaki, Commander Falke, Glitch, and Behemoth. Ariane said Red, Kunoichi, and Wolfman will be over as soon as the police investigation is over and they finish the sale of the bar.” The tiny Kolibri confirmed, while her polyethylene fingers carefully opened the cardboard box containing a selection of fried nuggets of what was, presumably, chicken. What might be mixed in with that chicken was anyone’s guess however. Sieben unwrapped an unholy abomination of a burger that seemed to consist of three patties, more cheese than should ever be reasonable, and strips of bacon that ran through every layer. Friedrich noted the look of annoyance on Zwei’s face at the sight of it.

“I thought I told you to watch it with the bacon.” She pouted. Sieben paused just before taking a bit, eye locked down on her much smaller wife.

“And I told you, it’s a cheat day.” She said, before her teeth sank into the tower of protein with a groan that sounded like ecstasy. Friedrich chuckled and shook his head.

“Let her live a little Zwei, it’s a celebration. We’re getting the Marauders back together, and this time, you’ll have us on your side from the start.” He said. This got Zwei’s ire directed at him now, a withering gaze from the former Nation political officer forced his hands up defensively.

“Is it so wrong to not want the love of my life to die with arteries caked in cholesterol and fat?” Zwei asked darkly, and Friedrich felt a chill run down his spine. Then Cellach spoke up.

“Actually, I wonder if that would even happen. Given we use oxidant fluid instead of blood to transmit the needed oxygen through the biological components of our bodies, would we even experience the same deleterious effects from unhealthy eating habits that humans do?” The Gawainson had neatly unfolded his meal before him, as if examining which food to start with, and Friedrich felt the mental pressure of Zwei’s bioresonance start to withdraw.

“That… Is a good question…” The Kolibri admitted, her wrath adequately deflected. Sieben just smiled and hugged her wife closer.

“See, we don’t even know for sure it’s bad for me, so don’t worry about it.” The Storch said. “Now come on, eat your nuggets so we can hit the sims. Ranger and Seeker aren’t gonna wait all day.” Friedrich smiled as he saw the two, and it only widened when he saw the mild annoyance on Zwei’s face change to a comfortable smile.

“Feels like a party in here already.” He said, before his hands moved to his meal. “Nothing like seeing old friends over Triple F.” Cellach swallowed his bite and forced himself not to laugh.

“I don’t understand how you never got tired of it. Every other week you were asking Marshal Verner if it was in the ration order.” He said. Friedrich nodded and chewed, only able to reply once he’d swallowed.

“It’s because it’s so good. Especially on the bigger worlds like Cassias.” Came the answer. Sieben nudged Zwei at that.

“See. He’s been eating it all the time, and he’s still fine.” She teased. Zwei’s pout returned, but she didn’t stop her meal. A sight which elicited a laugh from both Storch and Fierefiza. Cellach offered a sympathetic look, and Zwei simply sighed.

“On an, unrelated note… Zwei…” Cellach spoke up when the laughter had died down. “Where did you find that Mongoose?” Zwei’s eyes opened a bit wider, before she slowly sat up again.

“Hm? Why do you ask?” She replied. “Aren’t they making tons of them in the Combine?”

“Well, yeah, but they’re all sixty-sevens and sixty-eights. Yours is a sixty-six b, at least by weapons loadout…” Cellach said. “That’s Star League Vintage, where’d you get it?” Zwei paused, and Friedrich blinked at the look on her face. Before he could ask about it, Sieben cut in.

“We salvaged it. Pirates must have found an old Star League cache.” The Storch’s tone was blunter than before, and Friedrich watched as Zwei nodded.

“Would explain the payout actually. I had been wondering about that job for a while…” The Kolibri said. “We were contracted to deal with some pirates out near the Magistracy, and Sieben managed to pop the head on the Mongoose with her PPCs. We claimed the ‘Mech as salvage and rebuilt the head.” Cellach nodded, his hand on his chin.

“It would make sense why you didn’t recognize it then. If you had to replace the head it’d need a whole new BattleROM and DIC, so it might not have registered what it really was for you.” The Gawainson said. Friedrich shrugged and accepted that explanation. He’d seen something similar from Combine ‘mechs they’d salvaged with the Seventeenth Hussars, so it checked out. Zwei nodded.

“Yeah, we had to use a sixty seven as the replacement. I just figured it was a custom refit of some kind.” The quartet returned to their meals, the mystery solved at least. Friedrich thought of another question of his own however.

“What ‘mech did you use to do it?” He asked. Sieben smiled as she swallowed.

“Marauder. Couldn’t afford an Atlas, but I’m getting more comfortable being in something light on its feet.” She answered. “Plus, two direct hits to the head is usually enough to put anything down.” Friedrich nodded with a smile of his own.

“Too right. If the Champion didn’t run so hot I’d mount one myself in place of the autocannon.” Friedrich said. “Wish we could afford some double heat sinks…” A nod travelled around the table as the four all commiserated over the overheating problems common to most ‘Mechs. Cellach looked over to the front of the mess hall, and Friedrich saw the start of an idea in the smaller replika’s mind.

“You think we can get our instruments back from the bar?” Cellach asked.

“So they’re getting worse…” Darius leaned back in his seat, Valian and Elster seated across from him. Lunch had begun the long wind down and clean up, but Elster had specifically requested he talk with Valian about the Percivala’s visions. “And you say there are more of them?”

“Yes. The cat made of stars and the snake made of metal have officially joined the other four. And the visions are very clear now.” Valian explained. “I fear we may be on the precipice of their arrival.” Darius looked to Elster, but the engineering replika turned commanding officer didn’t betray any emotion. The Executive Officer looked at the table as he thought over what they were saying. There was some sort of monstrous invasion on the horizon, something he had never heard of before.

“And you’re saying Jaime would know something about this because…” Darius invited, and Elster sighed.

“Because I met with him in thirty-forty. And from the description of these great beasts, they sound an awful lot like something Jaime warned me was coming.” She said. “And after hearing about the vision… Galan found something.” She produced a small tape player from the pocket of her jacket. She gently adjusted the volume knob, and pressed the play button. Darius stared at the player, and listened as Galan spoke of a mysterious signal from the deep periphery. And then he heard the opening line of the broadcast.

“To all citizens of the Inner Sphere, do I, Aleksandr Kerensky, send greetings.” The voice had a thick russian accent, but from the few recordings of the Great General that still survived in the Inner Sphere, it was unmistakable.

“General Kerensky… Then… The Exodus…” Darius couldn’t hide the awe in his voice. The legend of Aleksandr Kerensky’s Exodus Fleet and their journey to the Deep Periphery had been told to every child in the Inner Sphere countless times. “The Children of Kerensky…”

“Are returning.” Elster said flatly. “Jaime confirmed it. In fact… He’s one of them.” Darius saw Valian do a double take, while he tried to process the information. Elster simply threaded her fingers together in front of her on the table. “He’ll explain more when we meet him. I’ll make sure of that. If your dreams are getting clearer…” Her eye slowly turned to her daughters, and Darius saw Valian nod.

“Then the danger is only getting closer.” The Percivala said. Darius closed his eyes and nodded.

“We’ll need all the intel we can get…” The XO said, before he heard the sound of a truck start up in the MechBay. Valian perked up, before a smile crossed their face.

“Cellach and Friedrich are going to get Red, Wolfman, and Kunoichi. And our instruments.” They said. “With everyone all gathered in one place again, they felt a celebration was in order.” Darius raised an eyebrow.

“And they didn’t clear this with me because…” He asked. Elster chuckled.

“Because they knew you’d say yes anyways.” She answered. Darius watched a smug smile form on her lips, and he sighed as he shrugged his shoulders.

“I suppose they’re right. It does feel like a good day to take a load off. Besides, I doubt anyone’s going to want to do a whole lot of training and prep work after getting to see so many old friends all at once.” He said. “We’ll have a party after dinner. Juli and I can organize, you two go meet with Jaime.”

“Now there’s the XO we all know and love.” Elster said.

“Yeah well, don’t get used to it. Tomorrow I want everyone up bright and early for PT. Gotta work off all this fast food somehow.” Darius said as he got to his feet.

“Count on it, sir.” Valian said.

“I’ll be honest Elster, I’m surprised you wanted to meet up so soon.” Jaime said. “And I didn’t expect you to bring someone other than Ariane to the meeting…” The command office of the Wolf’s Dragoons was sparsely decorated, but Elster noted that what few personal items Jaime did have were distinctively military in purpose. A few models of BattleMechs, a display of an old Star League laser rifle, and a printed map of the Inner Sphere that dominated one wall. Elster’s eye lingered on the Coreward Periphery, before her mind turned slowly to Tharkad. She shook her head, and focused on Jaime.

“With apologies, Colonel Wolf, I am Valian, a Percivala of the Eusan Empire, now part of the Aurigan Coalition.” Valian bowed as they spoke. Jaime responded in kind.

“I see. And you and Elster know one another?” He asked, and Valian nodded.

“We were enemies during the Eusan Integration Campaign. But after discovering that the Empire was being manipulated by outside forces, we joined forces to oust the interlopers, and end the war.” They explained. Elster only nodded. There was no sense in implicating ComStar further, especially with how necessary the MRB’s presence on Outreach was to facilitate the Hiring Hall. Jaime nodded, and moved to the chair behind his desk to settle in. Elster took a seat in the chair across from him, while Valian stood beside her.

“As a Percivala, Valian received a vision some time ago. A vision he says is getting worse each time it returns to him.” Elster explained. Jaime raised an eyebrow as he sat up in his seat.

“A vision you say? Percivala units are able to see the future?” He asked. The Dragoons Commander seemed to only half believe in the idea, and Elster thought back to her own experience with Valian’s predictions.

“It’s not quite as simple as that, I’m afraid.” She said, “Visions of the future are sometimes, muddied. Cloudy.” She looked to Valian, and the standing replika took the invitation to explain.

“We believe the visions to be imparted to us by the Empress herself, in some way. It is said that the Ur-Percival would have similar experiences while they traveled with her, and that she would help to clarify and interpret these glimpses of the beyond.” Valian said. “Wherever the soul or spirit of our Empress may be in death, we believe that some aspect of her continues to grant us these visions, that we may prepare for the future and to protect the Empire. Or wherever we may call home now.” At that they looked to Elster, who nodded with a smile.

“I see… And you have a vision that you wish to share with me, which is changing as you observe it?” Jaime asked. Both replikas nodded in tandem.

“I believe it may be related to your warning from a decade ago.” Elster kept her voice calm, even as she saw the expression on Jaime’s face harden. The subject of the Clans had been broached with only a select few, but Valian’s vision couldn’t wait.

“... Do you trust this replika, Elster?” Jaime asked. Elster nodded.

“With my life.” She kept her tone firm, and watched Jaime settle back into his seat again. She could almost see the calculus behind his eyes as he weighed explaining the doom that hung over the Inner Sphere to an as yet unknown replika soldier, before he slowly nodded.

“What is the vision?” Jaime asked. Valian closed their eyes, to better picture the scene.

“I see… People. Many people, in attire I did not recognize at the time. Men and women of the Draconis Combine and the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth, as well as some I believe to be of the Free Rasalhague Republic. And now, recently, replikas of the same states. They all seem to be preparing to fight one another, when the stars above them open. From the skies above, come Great Beasts, which land among them and begin to tear into their lines.” The recitation of the vision still sent a shiver down Elster’s spine as Valian continued.

“First is the bird with wings of jade, its green talons flashing against the Lyrans, its grip shattering a steel fist. Then, a great bear made from wisps of ectoplasm, phasing through all defenses as it butchers all in its path. After it comes a wolf, its mouth dripping flame as it scours any foe. And on its flank, a great cat, surrounded by choking smog, which seems to vanish and strike from the shadows.” As Valian recited them, Elster counted on her fingers. These four were the ones they had mentioned before, and Jaime’s face was unreadable as he listened. “Recently there have been two more that appeared… A snake with a body and fangs of metal, and another cat, this one made of starlight. They strike in amongst the other four, and the six of them tear into the Inner Sphere…” As they opened their eyes, Jaime closed his own. “And I see more of them, lurking in the stars above. The last I see before I wake from the vision is a man with one eye lifting his sword against the beasts.” Elster watched as Jaime steepled his fingers in front of him, elbows at rest on his chair. Before she could comment, his eyes opened again.

“Jade Falcon. Ghost Bear. Wolf. Smoke Jaguar. Steel Viper. And Nova Cat.” Jaime recited them with the same reverence as Valian’s vision. “Yes… I’m very familiar with each of them.” Jaime looked to Valian. “How much do you know of the history of the Inner Sphere?”

“I’ve received some basic instruction since the Integration.” Valian answered.

“Are you aware of what happened to the Star League Defense Force in the wake of the Amaris Civil War?” Jaime asked. Valian nodded.

“They followed General Kerensky on an Exodus, far from the Inner Sphere.” They answered. The math was simple for any of the three to complete at that stage. “These beasts…”

“Are the descendants of the SLDF in exile, yes.” Jaime said. “There is… A lot I need to explain. But it would be best, I think, if I started at the beginning.” Elster sat up in her seat, and Jaime motioned for Valian to take a seat. The Percivala finally accepted, the mood in the room clear.

This discussion was going to take the better part of the afternoon…

Chapter Text

OUTREACH II
SARNA MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
20 JANUARY 3050

“To begin with…” Jaime Wolf began, “The Exodus fleet did find a home. Five star systems with habitable worlds, each equidistant from the other. These worlds, known as the Pentagon Cluster, were the founding site of the Star League in Exile, Aleksandr Kerensky’s attempt to preserve the good aspects of the Star League, despite the inevitable fall he saw coming. There, many members of the SLDF would be forcibly de-mobilized to help build up the worlds of the Pentagon Cluster, and much of its ancient weaponry mothballed for the future.”

“A noble ideal…” Valian said. “But you’re saddened by this story…”

“I am… For even as the Great General, the Great Father, attempted to preserve the good of the Star League… Sadly, their Exodus had brought the means of their own destruction with them.” As Jaime spoke, Elster watched his fingers tense against each other. “Much as the Great Houses of the Inner Sphere turned their guns on one another in the First Succession War, so too did the Star League in Exile fall into its own civil war. The Pentagon Civil War only ended when Nicholas Kerensky, Aleksandr’s elder son, took what he could of the SLDF in exile away from the Pentagon Cluster, away from the Civil War, and remade them.” Jaime’s hands moved apart again, his fingers splayed out before him. “He devised a set of twenty ‘Clans’ as he called them, and set about creating their rules and structures with strict meritocracy as a baseline.”

“The Clans would be divided into five castes, all working in service to their Clan. Laborers, Scientists, Technicians, Merchants, and Warriors, all tested rigorously for their position in trial after trial.” Elster made a note of each name as Jaime read them off. When he had explained the coming of the Clans before, he hadn’t been nearly this forthcoming. But then again, there were three Successor Lords asking their own questions, and he probably wanted to give them as much time as possible to prepare, and went with the bare basics they would need to know.

“The Warrior Caste would lead each Clan, and with his society created, Nicholas returned to the Pentagon Cluster, and conquered the five worlds in record time. From there, the twenty Clans would begin to grow and change, especially after his passing. Some Clans were absorbed by others. One was annihilated. But the Clans endured, following the Founder’s ideals.” Jaime said. “Especially with regards to his final pet project… The Trueborn.” Elster narrowed her eye.

“Trueborn?” Valian asked. Jaime nodded.

“Genetically engineered warriors, purpose built for their assigned duties. They are grown in iron wombs from the genes of proven and trusted Clan Warriors. Humans born through the, old fashioned methods, shall we say, are dubbed Freeborn, and looked down upon.” Jaime said. “I, and all of the others within the Wolf’s Dragoons when we first arrived in the Inner Sphere, were Freeborn warriors sent to scout the Inner Sphere, in preparation for an invasion.”

“Freeborn are considered more expendable than Trueborn, I’m assuming?” Elster asked. When Jaime nodded, she sighed and sat upright. “How amazingly Eusan of them.”

“The Nation is hardly the first to dehumanize people.” Valian said. “Even in the Empire, my status was always subordinate to the Bioresonant Elites, and above the non-Bioresonant masses. And we both know how that turned out.” Jaime nodded.

“Capellan Servitors would find the situation familiar as well I would guess.” The Dragoon commander continued. “The fact of the matter remains… The Clans have issued a recall order for us.” Elster’s eye widened a moment, but she forced down the instinctive question in her throat. “I have no intention of returning. I intended to prepare the Inner Sphere for this invasion, and I have done as much as I can with the time that I was given. But the fact remains that the invasion is coming, and likely soon.”

“How can you be sure? Perhaps they are simply recalling you for some other reason…” Valian offered. Jaime shook his head.

“The last orders I received from the Khan of Clan Wolf were to prepare the Inner Sphere against the invasion.” Jaime said. “They would not issue this recall order just to chat.” Elster’s brow furrowed, in spite of herself.

“But… Didn’t you say Wolf was one of the invading Clans? Why would they want to sabotage their own invasion?” She asked. Jaime smiled at her, before he held up his hands, palms upward.

“Ah, that, brings us to the thorny issue of Clan politics.” He said. “In the Clans, there are, at least the last I had heard, two distinct camps. On the one hand…” He held up his left hand. “There are the Wardens. Those among the Clans who believe that it is our duty as the Children of Kerensky’s Exodus to live apart from the Inner Sphere, and protect it from itself or, if necessary, existential external threat.” He moved his left hand towards his chest, placing his palm over his heart. “Clan Wolf is among the Wardens, along with Cloud Cobra, Coyote, Goliath Scorpion, Snow Raven, and Steel Viper.”

“And the other camp?” Valian asked. Jaime clenched his right hand into a fist.

“The Crusaders.” He said firmly. “During the Exodus, before their arrival at the Pentagon Cluster, Aleksandr Kerensky issued an address to the fleet. General Order one-three-seven.” He set his hands back down on the table, and Elster leaned in to listen closer.

“On every Clan WarShip, in every common room, at eye level, are these words: ‘Return to the Inner Sphere is impossible for us. Our heritage and our convictions are different from those we left behind. The greed of the five Great Houses and the Council Lords is a disease that can only be burned away by the passing of decades, even centuries. And though the fighting may seem to slow, or even cease, it will erupt again as long as there are powerful men to covet one another's wealth. We shall live apart, conserving all the good of the Star League and ridding ourselves of the bad, so that when we return, and return we shall, our shining moral character will be as much our shield as our BattleMechs and fighters.’” Jaime threaded his fingers together again. “These words would form what Nicholas called the Hidden Hope Doctrine. And to the Crusaders, these words are their standing orders.”

“And this invasion… Is the fulfillment of those orders.” Elster said. “The Crusaders want to conquer the Inner Sphere, to prove their superiority.” Jaime held up a finger and met her gaze.

“Not, quite. The goal of the Crusaders, indeed their singular objective, is the creation of a new Star League. And more importantly, a Star League with themselves at the helm.” He said.

“More Succession Ideology… Just what the Inner Sphere needs.” Valian sighed. Jaime nodded.

“Indeed. Of the Crusader clans, the fiercest are Jade Falcon, Ghost Bear, and Smoke Jaguar.” He explained. “And if your vision is true…”

“Then they’ll be hitting the Coreward parts of the Inner Sphere any moment.” Elster said. “Have you told Hanse and Melissa?” Jaime’s face twisted into a look of frustration.

“I have tried, certainly. But I have not received any reply. The Recall order came some time ago, and the HPG network has not reported any outages or interdictions.” Jaime said.

“In my experience there is a vast gulf between ComStar not reporting an outage or interdiction, and there not being an outage or interdiction.” Valian said. Elster held back a comment, and Jaime simply nodded.

“Yes… The suspicious reveal of their Com Guards has left me a bit on edge around them as well. But without the Mercenary Review Board, Outreach will be in quite dire straits.” He said. “So for now I have no choice but to trust them.” Elster slowly rose to her hooves.

“What can we expect from the Clans? What are we up against?” She asked.

“For one thing, BattleMechs the likes of which you’ve never seen. The Clans follow a ritualized method of warfare built around minimizing collateral damage and resource expenditure. Their ‘Mechs are built to quickly and decisively end a conflict, and there is great honor in defeating an opponent with as little resources as possible.” Jaime said. “I can pass you some of the written notes I’ve compiled, but there is a lot to read. Some of it might be out of date by the time you face them.”

“We’ll take whatever you can give us Jaime. We need to hit Solaris as fast as possible to get Glitch and Behemoth, and then book for Tharkad. If we’re lucky we can get to Galan before the invasion starts.” Elster said. Valian rose as well, and the two replikas bowed. Jaime held up a hand.

“Elster… I insist you two stay. There’s more than just BattleMechs and history to talk about.” He said. “Besides, it will take some time to compile the written notes.” Elster looked to the elder MechWarrior, then slowly settled back into her seat. Valian mirrored her movements, with their long blond ponytail draped over the back of the chair.

“What other threats could they have besides ‘Mechs?” Valian asked.

“For one thing, WarShips.” Jaime said. Elster felt something cold and hard settle into the pit of her stomach at the word. “As I said, the Hidden Hope Doctrine is printed at eye level in the common areas of every ship. And there are many, many WarShips from both the Exodus fleet and newly constructed vessels. The Clans will not hesitate to make use of them if they find a target particularly stubborn.”

“But I thought honor dictated using the least amount of resources?” Valian replied.

“It does. But there is a ritual in every aspect of the Clans’ method of warfare.” Jaime clarified. “Trials, Batchalls, Bondsmen, all manner of tradition and ritual that must be followed. And they have no patience for those who do not fight as they do.”

“But the Inner Sphere wouldn’t know the first thing about how the Clans fight…” Elster said.

“Indeed. And that is why I am trying to bring the Successor Lords together again to explain the situation.” Jaime said. “Without the honorable combat of the Batchall, then the Clans will treat the battle as an opportunity to employ the fullest amount of force they can muster against a target.”

“Batchall?” Valian asked. “What’s that?”

“Ah… Right. The Clans all speak Star League English, but there are, deviations. Understandably given the distance and time span, of course.” As Jaime explained, Elster found herself nodding along. “Contractions, for example, are considered rude in Clan culture. But rather hypocritically, they make use of their own distinctive words that do much the same thing as any ordinary contraction would.”

“And Batchall is one of those words?” Elster asked.

“Correct. A Batchall is a Battle Challenge, a trial by combat. The challenger announces their intention to attack, along with the size of the forces they have available, and demands to know the forces the defender intends to use. If a full composition of the defense is not provided in a timely manner, then the attacker will launch their full forces to assault the target of the Challenge.” Jaime didn’t say it, but the cold fear in Elster’s stomach registered the implication. WarShip bombardments, even nuclear ones, were not off the table.

“If the defenders do respond appropriately, then the attacker will bid down their forces to only what they think absolutely necessary to defeat them, and the defender is able to choose the battlefield of the engagement.” Jaime said. “The defender can even ask for a prize if they are able to succeed in their defense. When all the particulars are settled and both parties agree on the battle to come, the communication is closed and the combatants meet at the designated time and place.”

“So… If we announce, openly, what forces we have for the battle… Then they’ll have to fight us with less than their full strength?” Valian asked.

“Honor would demand nothing less. And to a Clan Warrior, honor is everything.” Jaime affirmed. Elster felt the gears in her own mind start to turn. Tricks, deceptions, traps. Means and methods to turn this Batchall system in her favor. Jaime looked her in the eye, and smiled.

“You see it too, don’t you? The flaws in the system.” He asked.

“I’m an engineering replika Jaime. It’s my job to.” She said. “I just think of this as some, creative repair work.”

“What else do they have then, besides WarShips and BattleMechs. Armor and Aerospace assets would be assumed…” Valian asked. Jaime seemed to sit back and think a bit, before he answered.

“There is one more asset that they could employ in battle. As I said, Trueborn warriors are genetically perfected for their duties. Trueborn pilots are genetically adapted for war in the skies, MechWarriors for neurohelmet control and reflexes.” He said. “Then, there are the Elementals.” Elster blinked, and sat up straight.

“Elementals? Are you going to say the Clans have Bioresonance?” She asked.

“Mercifully, no. Though… There are rumors of Nova Cat warriors receiving visions not unlike your own Valian. But generally it’s considered to be a side effect of certain, herbal substances the clan makes use of in their rituals.” Jaime said. “Whether they possess the power of Bioresonance or not, I cannot say. But I can tell you that Elementals are very dangerous opponents. They are the Clans’ elite shock infantry, equipped with armor the likes of which the Inner Sphere has never seen. Battle Armor, as it’s called.” Elster looked to Valian, who met her gaze for a moment.

“Before you ask, by the metrics I can find, they are stronger in their armor than a Schnapper or Galahaut, and roughly the same size. And that is without going into their weapons.” Jaime seemed to know where Elster’s mind had gone. “They carry ‘Mech scale weaponry, and can take multiple hits from medium lasers without slowing down. They even have internal jump jet systems they can make use of.”

“They sound terrifying.” Elster felt a shiver race down her spine at the idea of an armored super soldier bearing down on her. Even Valian seemed perturbed by the notion.

“They can be. Squads of Elementals can tear a MechWarrior out of their ‘Mech and pulp them within minutes if not handled swiftly.” Jaime said. “If an Elemental Star is in the area, your best move is to use fire and get out of their range as fast as you can.” From behind them, the door to the office opened, and Elster quickly turned to look. A man in eclectic garb stood in the doorway, a set of thick rimmed glasses in his hands as he polished one of the lenses. It was only when the man looked up that he noticed Elster and Valian’s presences.

“... Is, this a bad time Jaime?” He asked. Jaime chuckled and shook his head, the Dragoon commander on his feet in moments.

“Not at all Cranston. I was just, enlightening an old friend on the situation.” Jaime said. The man looked between Elster and Jaime, and she could feel the paranoia coming off him even without her bioresonance.

“They’re in the know?” He whispered. Jaime nodded.

“They are.” Jaime replied, and he moved quickly to the man’s side. “Elster, Valian, this is Cranston Snord, of Snord’s Irregulars. Cranston, my friend Elster Yeong, and her friend Valian.”

“Heard about you… First replika human wedding, New Avalon Cathedral. ComStar News pics were all over the place.” Cranston Snord pointed to Elster as he spoke. “Must’ve been a hell of a ceremony.”

“It was lovely.” She said. “It’s an honor to meet a mercenary of your reputation, Captain Snord.” At that the man raised a hand and waved her off.

“Cranston’s fine. Sphere knows I don’t do all that stuffy military pomp.” He replied. “What’re you on?”

“Elementals. Battle Armor.” Jaime said. Cranston nodded, then checked that the door was locked.

“History or tactics?” He asked.

“Just finished history, just started on counter tactics.” Jaime answered. Cranston nodded, satisfied they wouldn’t be overheard, and moved over to the desk.

“Good. Gets the boring part out of the way.” He said.

The sky was dark by the time Elster and Valian left Jaime’s office, a binder filled with everything the two former Clan spies could compile on Valian’s lap. For the first few miles, neither replika spoke, their eyes on the road ahead. The traffic was mercifully light, but the weight on each of their minds felt like a lodestone around their necks.

“... Do you think we can win?” Valian asked. Elster didn’t look away from the road as her hands tightened around the wheel. “Do you really think we can stand up to those things?”

“I’m hoping we won’t have to.” Elster said. “I’m praying we can find Galan before the Clans arrive.” She didn’t want to think about what could happen if they didn’t succeed. Valian looked at the binder.

“It’ll take months to reach Tharkad.” They reminded, “And Jaime said the invasion could happen any day now.” Elster silently ran the math in her own head, and even with the funds Valian and his team brought in, they were far from financially well off enough to organize a Command Circuit. They’d burned a lot of their funding already just getting this far. Valian turned to her, their eyes locked on her eye patch.

“... If we do have to fight them…” She said at length. “I think we’ll be able to manage if we just stick to the playbook.” She could feel the lie in her own voice as she said it. Even now she envisioned an Elemental as it clambered up a ‘Mech to tear one of her daughters apart. She thought of some strangely shaped ‘Mech firing a PPC through the cockpit. Of watching as one of her girls was ripped away from her and forced into slavery at the hands of a cruel clanner warrior. The very notion sickened her.

“... Elster…” Valian could feel it. Her mental defenses had slipped, and they had seen what dark ideas swarmed her mind now. “There’s another vision I didn’t tell you about.” She didn’t look at them, but her hands gripped the wheel tighter.

“When did you have this one?” She asked. Valian’s gaze turned back to the road.

“When Galan’s bioresonance awoke for the first time… When we fought on Rotfront.” They said calmly. “I saw a vision of Galan, in gleaming armor, standing over a winged monster with blade in hand. And beside him, there was you, and Falke, and Ariane, all alive, all beside him as the darkness closed in.” Valian paused, and Elster felt the icy lump in her stomach expand.

“... What happened?” She asked. Valian closed their eyes again.

“I joined in. We were all there, and from the stars, four beasts joined our fight.” They said. “And with our might combined, we beat back the dark.” Valian’s eyes opened, and they looked to Elster. She didn’t turn her head, but she could feel his movements through her bioresonance.

“... You think Galan is going to somehow recruit the Clans?” Elster asked. Valian shrugged.

“It’s not as if there isn’t a means to do so…” They held up the binder, and Elster felt the knot in her stomach start to loosen.

“Heh… He’d have to be crazy to try it.” She chuckled. Valain snickered as they looked back to the road.

“Yes, and we all know just how sane and rational it is to call in an airstrike on your own position, jump through the hole said airstrike made, and use a jet pack to close to melee with a bioresonant swordsreplika.” Valian said. “And stealing an enemy DropShip to infiltrate a WarShip with only eight soldiers is the pinnacle of rational thinking.” Elster felt the smile on her face broaden, and she shook her head.

“He’s gonna get us all killed some day.” She said.

“Not before he gets himself killed trying to save us from the mess he made.” Valian confirmed. Elster pulled the car onto the exit ramp, headed for their landing pad.

“Yeah… Good point.”

As Elster pulled the car into the DropShip, Ariane jumped down from the jury-rigged sound stage in the MechBay. “Ellie!” She called, a smile on her face as the engineering replika stepped out of the car. “You almost missed the party, we were going to start without you two!” Ariane threw her arms around Elster, and the love of her life hugged her back tightly.

“Talking with Jaime went a bit longer than expected.” Elster chuckled. “No way was I missing this party though.” She kissed the top of Ariane’s head, before slowly the two parted again.

“Is everything okay?” Ariane asked. She could feel the tension in her wife’s mind, and saw when Elster’s eye moved away slightly.

“It’s… It’s not something we should worry about right now. We’ll talk about it before we go to bed, I promise.” Elster said. The engineering replika laced her fingers with Ariane’s, and the bioresonant slowly walked with her towards the rest of the crew. Yang just finished a sound test with Cellach, and Valian had handed off a thick binder to Darius. The floor in front of the stage was cleared, the doors were open, and Juli already had Sieben and Ranger posted to ward off the girls from sneaking any of the catering before the party got started properly. From around the ship the rest of the crew were already gathered, and Ariane moved to pull Elster onto the stage as Darius moved to get everyone’s attention.

As the conversations finally died down, Darius took the mic from Yang with a smile. “Well. I think we all know what’s going to happen here, so I want to go over a few ground rules.” A collective groan met Darius’s words, and he smiled as he saw the expressions on the crew’s faces. “It’s not that bad, don’t worry. I merely wanted to remind everyone that while we are taking a day to celebrate finding one another again, let’s not forget we still have several more people to pick up on our journey before we head back to the Reach. And since we’re headed to Solaris, there’s every chance we’ll get mixed up in a fight with the Free Worlds League, so with that in mind, I want everyone to get to bed before midnight.”

“Can we still drink?” Sieben called, and there was a laugh around the room. Darius rolled his eyes.

“Just remember, you’re going to have to go running bright and early in the morning. And I don’t wanna hear about hangovers, you’re all doing PT.” He said. “Colleen has asked that I remind everyone that there is plenty of food, but no one is to get seconds until everyone has gotten a plate. And both Yang and Yang have asked me to remind everyone that there is to be no swimming in the coolant tanks, clothed or otherwise.” That got a laugh out of a few in the crowd. “With that said, I’ll hand everything over to Friedrich.” The Executive Officer passed the microphone off, and Friedrich carefully slotted it into the mic stand.

“Alright everyone, I think we have a good song to start off the night.” As Friedrich spoke Ariane watched Valian step up to the stage and sit at his keyboard, while Cellach finished tuning the acoustic guitar. Bastian adjusted his bass strap as he stood, and Kaysen twirled one of his drum sticks around one of his fingers as he waited. “Valian’s going to start us off, just join in if you know the words.” Friedrich smiled, and the tinkling sound of Valian’s keys began to fill the MechBay.

Without a word, Ariane pulled Elster to the dance floor, and as Friedrich began to sing her hand met Elster’s hip. As if on instinct Elster moved with her, their bodies in time with Bastian’s bass line, while Kaysen’s drums drew in a few of the watchers as the song neared the first chorus. The normal echo of the MechBay was cancelled out by the open bay doors, the perpetually mild climate of Outreach providing a perfect chance to let the starlight in. Ariane watched as the reflection of Outreach’s only moon, Cerberus, danced in Elster’s eye with each step.

Ariane smiled, before Elster pulled her close as Sieben nearly hit them both when she stumbled over her hooves. A quick hand from Zwei caught her, and the four smiled as the dance continued. Ariane could see Artoria and Vergil seated at a table, more invested in their conversation than the food. Gwenevere had managed to snag Red for a dance partner, while Kunoichi tried in vain to drag Wolfman away from the food. She even saw Yang seated on a walkway above the party, the Ara’s eyes locked on the festivities from high above while Angela brought her a plate from the catering table.

“Don’t get many opportunities to do this, do we?” Elster asked, and Ariane turned her gaze back to her beloved. The smile on Elster’s face had changed, a more somber tone to her voice as they swayed with the song. Ariane moved her hand from her hip to Elster’s cheek, staring into the mechanical eye of her wife with all the confidence she could summon.

“We should make the most of them then, shouldn’t we?” She asked. Elster smiled as she held Ariane’s hand to her cheek, and the two slipped back into the flow of the dance floor properly again. Ranger and Juli had finally joined the party, the former forced to carry the latter away from her serving duties to dance together. The rest of Magpie Company’s senior staff had all gathered to go over Jaime’s notes at a table, with Chief MechTech Virtanen’s platter stacked as high as he could manage. Ariane smiled in spite of herself, as she saw Achtzehn drag an AsTech out to the floor.

As the song steadily wound down, Ariane pulled herself close to Elster, her head against her wife’s chestplate. She closed her eyes, the sound of Elster’s breath the only thing she wanted to focus on. For the first time in months they could dance again. And in just a few weeks, they’d have Glitch and Behemoth, and then Galan and Falke would join them. She swayed gently in Elster’s arms, before the growl of her stomach forced them off the dance floor and over to the catering table. But for tonight at least, everything felt right.

On a rooftop, several blocks from the Spaceport, two figures stood watch over the Magpies’ festivities. The man slowly adjusted his binoculars, and the lenses focused on two figures near the stage, their dance slow as the band changed songs.

“Ghosts are in position.” He said, his voice calm, almost monotone. Beside him, the woman carefully pushed off from the wall. “Wonder why they haven’t reported.”

“Probably because they got onto the planet this morning. DropShip doesn’t match any known model types.” She said. “Custom job?”

“Gift, from Lady Arano most likely.” He replied. “Ghosts were supposed to report before they arrived here. You don’t think they’ve-”

“They’re professionals, both of them.” She cut him off as she snatched the binoculars from his hands. “... They know we’re here. They’ll report tomorrow.” She turned to walk to the fire escape they had used to climb up. The man paused, looked between his partner and the Oathkeeper, then rose to his feet to follow.

“Damn Bioresonants.” He muttered under his breath.

Chapter Text

SOLARIS VII
SKYE MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
10 MARCH 3050

“Hello there folks, this is Duncan Fisher, coming to you live from Steiner Stadium here on Solaris VII. We have an exciting match for you all today as two mysterious challengers have stepped up to the plate to call out the Sisters of Destruction in a two on two, no holds barred beatdown!” The voice of the announcer echoed through the pits as Jessica “Glitch” Chernovskaya strapped herself into her Victor, and the venerable machine rumbled beneath her feet. Beside her in the next stall, Miranda Aguilera, or better known by her callsign “Behemoth”, had already started to push her Highlander out of its refit harness and onto the walkway to the elevators.

“You sure we gotta do this Glitch? No one’s gonna think any less of you…” Behemoth’s voice came over the radio, and Glitch grumbled as she jammed the throttle forward.

“Are you kidding? Glitch, THE Glitch, one of the Sisters of Destruction… If word got out about that, our reputation as a serious tag team would be ruined!” She said, “No, these guys made it personal, so we’re gonna crush them good!” She felt the ‘Mech respond as she twisted the torso and legs in the direction of the elevators to the arena.

“I don’t know where these newcomers got the money for the purse, but the Sisters of Destruction have accepted the challenge, and now, here, in the most holy and sanctified mech battle arena on Solaris, the battle is about to begin!” Duncan Fisher’s voice rang out again, and Glitch carefully brushed her dark hair out of her eyes. Her Victor settled onto the elevator pad and the doors slid shut behind her.

“Would it really be that bad? I mean half the Marauders knew about it and no one-” Behemoth’s question was cut off as Glitch pressed a button on her console to sound a loud warhorn. An upgrade that she had only added after arriving in Solaris, and useful more than once for getting the attention of the enemy and the crowd during battles. Behemoth sighed, the static of her breath on the mic crackling in Glitch’s ears.

“Glitch all I’m-” Another horn blast. “Glitch you’re being-” Another blast. Behemoth growled, and Glitch smirked as she sounded the horn again. It was childish, she knew it was. But she refused to let her secrets be broadcast all over Solaris, especially not when there was a shot at the championship coming up. The elevators slowly ground to a halt, and the doors ahead of the duo opened into the wide open battlefield of Steiner Stadium, the great pop up walls lowered into the sand to obscure what the final formation would look like. Glitch pushed the throttle forward again, and her Victor thundered out of the elevator to the roar of the crowd. Forty-four thousand voices rose in unison to cheer as the Sisters of Destruction took the field, and across from them marched their opposition. Glitch narrowed her eyes as the BattleROM quickly scanned the rival ‘mechs, targeting data returning the designations of MAD-5B and CP-10-Z. A Marauder II and a Cyclops. Not the most typical Solaris fare, but the two had overcome twenty ton weight differences before.

Glitch carefully looked over the ‘Mechs, her eyes locked on the paint scheme and icons on their opponent’s shoulders. Black arms and legs, white torsos and heads, with red accent lines. It felt familiar to her, but the bird-like icon on the shoulders was one she’d never seen before, and she couldn’t think of any Mercenary or Solaris outfits that used that color scheme specifically. She focused again as the walls in the center of the arena slowly rose, grains of sand dumped to the floor as the countdown began.

“Alright Mech-fans, we have an exciting two-on-two bout for you all today, as the Sisters of Destruction take on two mysterious challengers. MechWarriors at the ready, aaaaaand…” Duncan’s announcement was cut off by the blare of a loud horn through the arena, the signal for the battle to begin. Glitch threw the throttle to full and jammed her thumb onto the jump jets, her ‘Mech airborne in an attempt to hop the wall and start the fight. Behemoth’s Highlander followed along the ground, the sand of her wake a perfect smokescreen for the larger ‘Mech. As Glitch’s Victor cleared the walls, she twisted her torso to fire an AC 20 shot just over the wall that blocked the enemy machines from her. The distance was more than the gun was meant for, but the blast of the weapon was enough to keep most opponents low to the ground.

But the enemy wasn’t cowed, and as her ‘mech’s feet actuators hit the arena floor, the Marauder II leapt the wall as well, and its Extended Range Particle Projector Cannons flashed with white lightning. While one shot sailed into the wall behind her, the second detonated against her Victor’s armor, and her HUD registered the hit on the upper part of the left arm. Her targeting sensors artifacted from the blast, and she quickly turned to try and dodge the follow up Gauss Rifle shot. As the nickel-iron slug embedded itself in the wall, Glitch’s medium pulse lasers lanced out, the green lights flashing from the ‘mech’s left hand to scour armor off the Marauder II’s left torso.

“The competitors are trading blows! A hit a piece for each side, but the one hundred ton Marauder II still has the armor advantage.” Duncan Fischer’s blow by blow commentary echoed through the area, and Glitch felt more than heard the indicator for her Jump Jets. With another roar she took to the air, and her flight arced over a side wall in the arena that would shield her from incoming fire. Before she could land, however, a stream of long range missiles arced over the back wall and crashed into her torso armor, pieces blasted off from the volley.

“Damn. I’m taking hits, Behemoth what are you doing?” Glitch asked, before she finally heard the sound of Behemoth’s long range missiles streaking skyward. The explosives were blind fired, but they could still catch the Cyclops if it was hiding. Glitch used the momentary pause to vent heat from her ‘Mech, before she moved to round the walls on one side and attack again. Two flashes of white lightning met her as she emerged, and scrambled her electronic sensors. The Marauder had guessed which side she would return on, and now her Victor screamed as ionized particles shredded through the armor of her left torso, and a gauss rifle round smashed through the last of it to tear into her ‘mech’s internals. The SRM 6 ammo bay was destroyed, though mercifully the Cellular Ammunition Storage Equipment she’d managed to install kept the hopper from detonating outright. She quickly fired her Autocannon to try and fend the larger ‘mech off.

“They got my left side! Lasers aren’t responding and the missiles are toast!” Glitch called. Behemoth’s Highlander jumped over the wall only to catch a spray of missiles to the torso. Glitch tried to pull her ‘mech back into cover, the Marauder II now fully committed to the fight with Behemoth. Glitch could hear the battle roar from the Lyran MechWarrior, only for it to turn to a cry of pain. The crowd reacted with a sound of sympathy, and Glitch winced. She couldn’t see it, but from the loud crashes of metal she heard, the Highlander had just been knocked off its feet somehow, the momentum of Behemoth’s charge used against her. She twisted to aim her autocannon again, only for another autocannon shot to ring out to her right and slam into her Victor’s right arm. The impact of the shot smashed her weapon against the wall, and she cursed as her shot went wide. The Cyclops had circled the wall and bore down on her now like a steam train.

Glitch backed away and fired her jump jets, an attempt to give herself room to breathe, but the Cyclops stayed on her, the emerald light of medium lasers as they lanced through the smoke to burn armor off her right leg. Behemoth could barely get her ‘Mech to its feet before the Marauder would knock it back down again, one heavy blow after another battering against the 733P’s rear armor. Glitch quickly twisted her ‘Mech to dodge an autocannon round from the Cyclops, and fired one of her own at the Marauder II. The shot detonated against the ‘Mech’s rear armor, a hole blasted clear through to the internal structure. Two more flashes of green lanced past Glitch, and she was forced to jump away before she could see if Behemoth took advantage of the opening.

“Well I hate to say it Solaris fans, but things are not looking good for the Sisters of Destruction. These newcomers have some serious firepower in their hands, and with Glitch down to just an autocannon, it’s going to be an uphill battle!” Duncan Fisher’s commentary filled the stands, and cheers and jeers rained down on Glitch as she used the wall as cover to try and steady herself. The Cyclops was slower than her Victor even before her jump jets were factored in, but that Maruader II was the deadlier ‘Mech. With just a handful of well placed shots it had disabled three quarters of her weapons, and it had known exactly which side of the wall to focus on. She grunted as she pushed the ‘Mech forward.

“They’ve gotta have Bioresonance… It’s the only way they could have known…” She muttered to herself. “No one gets that lucky twice in a row.” Now that she knew the deck was stacked, Glitch felt a sense of calm wash over her shoulders. They had faced bioresonant opponents before, Kolibris and Percivalas mostly, and the trick was always to clear your mind and not think about your plans. Of course, Glitch always went on instinct, so it was easier to think of what she wasn’t going to do, which was the next best option.

She thought of firing up her jump jets again to go over the wall, but kept her ‘Mech on its sprint. She could almost picture the look on the MechWarrior’s face when they realized she hadn’t gone over the top. Her ‘Mech rounded the wall, autocannon at the ready, only for a pair of white flashes to detonate against her right torso. Glitch screamed, her ‘mech staggering backward as a pair of lasers followed up the PPC hits and tore into her internals. Once again, only the Cellular Ammunition Storage saved her ‘Mech from turning into a fireball, but with her weapons disabled and her ‘Mech’s arms barely held on by their own myomer, Glitch stared at the two assaults that bore down on her. Behemoth’s Highlander was face down in the dust and sand, armor bent and battered from repeated hits by the Marauder II.

With a heavy heart Glitch shut down her ‘Mech, the machine going limp as the reactor spun down again. The enemy machines stopped their advance, and the crowd thundered with a mix of cheers and boos. The bets that had been placed on this bout had to have been staggering for how much the crowd had turned. Glitch winced as she pulled her neurohelmet off and unstrapped herself from the command chair. Across the sands of the arena she could see Behemoth likewise disembarking, as per Solaris tradition, and the camera drones would likely have a trivid recording of the entire battle to play on loop throughout Solaris City and beyond of how a number five team got trounced by a pair of complete nobodies.

As she threw open the hatch and climbed onto the top of her Victor’s head, Glitch looked over to the Marauder II, the one hundred ton ‘Mech having done most of the heavy lifting in the fight. The pilot carefully pulled themselves onto the top of their own machine, and Glitch saw them wave to her. She felt her face shift, before the Trivid projection above the arena focused in, and the opposing pilot removed their helmet. Glitch’s eyes opened wider, as a recognizable face seam and eyepatch were projected above the arena.

“ELSTER!?” She shouted.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell us you were coming! We would have met you at the spaceport!” Glitch nearly tackled Elster when they got back to the pits, the engineering replika forced to brace herself as the MechWarrior ran over to hug her. Elster just smiled, glad the anger from the arena had left Glitch’s mind the moment they got the ‘mechs into the pit stalls again.

“You two haven’t lost a step. Surprised you decided to hide out on Solaris of all places.” Elster clapped Glitch on the back, before the two finally broke apart. Behemoth strode over from her stall, a smile on the Lyran’s face as she towered over Elster.

“Well, we had to do something to keep busy. Figured this place would keep our skills sharp, and there’s no way ComStar would just nuke us if we made it up the ranks fast enough.” She said, “So, what about you two? I thought you were staying on New Avalon-”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re getting the Marauders back together, right?” Glitch asked. Elster smiled and nodded, a hand on her hip as she looked at the two.

“Kamea’s activating us for a mission to the Deep Periphery. So we’re going to need all hands on deck to get things done.” Elster watched the excited expressions on Glitch and Behemoth’s faces as the two heard the news. “Just need the go-ahead from you two and Ariane will tell Yang to prep for repairs.”

“Knowing him, he’s probably already preparing anyway. He loves watching Solaris matches.” Behemoth said. “We’re in. Not missing this chance to go make some history again.” Glitch almost vibrated out of her skin as she jumped into the air, cheering and whooping like a madwoman. Elster looked over to her wife and gave Ariane the thumb’s up, and the bioresonant nodded with a smile of her own. As the white haired woman turned her attention to the Solaris MechTechs to get the ‘Mechs back to the Oathkeeper, Elster looked back to the MechWarriors.

“So… Have you gone to get Galan yet?” Behemoth asked. Elster blinked, before she shook her head.

“No. He was the last one we were picking up.” She said, “We’ll head to Tharkad and get him just as soon as we finish our resupply.” Even as Elster spoke, she could see Behemoth and Glitch change in their expressions. She felt a small wave of worry from Glitch, and the cold focus of Behemoth as she looked beyond Elster. She turned slowly, and saw a news broadcast from the Tharkad Broadcasting Company about several coreward Periphery States going dark, and that Phelan Kell had gone missing hunting pirates in the area.

“Are, we going in that direction?” Glitch asked. Elster shook her head, and turned back to the two.

“No… But we need to move quickly.” She said. If the Successor State news was reporting something, then ComStar had to know more, and the intel was likely months out of date. She had seen ComStar News Network hide or distort what they can, and was all but certain that ComStar was manipulating the broadcasts to their own ends. Why there had been no ComStar reporting on the subject now, even as the Lyran half of the Commonwealth started to speak on the matter, was not a good sign.

“Yeah… I don’t like the looks of this…” Behemoth said. Elster tried not to let her own concerns show on her face, the two Solaris gladiators now focused on getting their ‘Mechs to the DropShip while she went to talk to Ariane. The Invasion was coming faster than they expected, and the sooner they got to Galan, the sooner they could return to the Coalition. The last thing she wanted was to be mixed into the fighting with the Clans, not after all she’d learned about them.

‘You’re feeling it too?’ Ariane asked in Elster’s mind. ‘They’re coming, faster than even Jaime predicted.’ Elster looked up at the screen above them, and saw reports of JumpShips going missing near the coreward border.

They were running out of time…

Artoria stepped into the makeshift gym on the Oathkeeper, the sound of steel on steel in her ears as the door slid shut behind her. She could see flashes of red in the mirrors of the far wall, and she could feel the bioresonance in the air as her eyes tracked the blades that flashed and danced in the middle of the gym. The duelists broke apart, their breaths heavy and labored as they took only a moment’s respite. Artoria carefully moved to the edge of the ring, eyes locked on the two replikas.

Vergil had abandoned his hat, and there was a slick sheen of sweat on his face as he carefully adjusted his grip on the katana in his hands. Across the ring, Valian had picked up a towel and wrapped it about their shoulders, one hand carefully raised to wipe away their own perspiration as they kept an eye on Vergil. Artoria could cut the tension in the air with a spoon, but she didn’t dare speak for fear of interrupting the duel. As Valian’s hand moved back to their blade, Vergil shook his head to fling his bangs out of his eyes, and the two rushed one another again.

Crimson bioresonance clashed as the duelists caught one another’s blades, each blow faster than the last. Valian would parry one blow, follow up with a strike of their own, only for Vergil to side step and launch their own counter, necessitating a dodge. They fought as if it were a true battle, their hoofwork focused, their blades honed by bioresonant power. Each saw the other’s movements, each reacted to the other with precision, and another clash ended with the two forced apart again for a moment as each tried to shove the other down. Valian recovered the fastest, and twisted their blade for a strike. Vergil quickly drew his katana higher to counter, only for Valian to shift their grip, and slam the pommel into Vergil’s sternum, winding him. As Vergil’s blade clattered to the ground, Valian stood over him, blade pointed at the smaller replika’s heart.

“That’s… Three...” Valian said through heavy breaths. Vergil looked at the blade, then up at his captain.

“Oh come now Valian… Best of seven?” He asked. Artoria couldn’t help herself but laugh, and the two warriors turned to look at her at last.

“S-sorry… I didn’t want to interrupt…” She shrank back a bit, one hand in her long blond hair as she looked at the two. “I just, felt the fight and, wanted to see…” Valian sheathed their blade and offered a hand to Vergil, a smile on his face.

“It’s alright… We have been… Monopolizing the gym a bit.” Valian’s breaths were getting more controlled, and Vergil carefully stooped to pick up his blade and inspect it.

“To be fair, we did post the warning yesterday.” The Dinadan carefully ran a finger along the edge of his sword, before he nodded and carefully sheathed it. “I trust we put on a good show?”

“I only caught the finale.” Artoria said. “But it was… Breathtaking.” She blushed a bit as she looked at the two, and Valian chuckled.

“You’re, Artoria, correct?” They asked, and Artoria nodded quickly. Vergil looked at her, but didn’t speak. “As I understand it, Ariane and Elster had you enrolled in fencing lessons back on New Avalon, correct?”

“Yes. I wasn’t allowed to use bioresonance though.” She answered. “And the rules of fencing just felt so… Constraining.” Vergil looked to Valian, an eyebrow raised.

“Are you thinking what I think you are?” The Dinadan asked, before the Percivala chuckled.

“We’re not going to get any better just facing each other, now are we? I think we both know the next round would go to you, and then round seven we’d both pass out from exhaustion.” Valian said. Artoria blinked, before Vergil shrugged.

“Do you have your foil with you?” He asked. Artoria started to shake her head, before she stopped herself.

“I was in sabre, not foil. I do have that with me, but it’s, blunt.” She frowned as she thought of it. Her favored sword for practicing knightly oaths was little more than a hunk of sporting metal, with no edge or point to speak of.

“Have you ever put bioresonance through it?” Valian asked. “Even a blunt weapon can become deadly with enough will behind it.” Artoria shook her head as her frown deepened.

“I, wouldn’t even know how to do it if I tried…” She said. “Mother always wanted us to focus on telepathic capabilities, more than kinetic…” She knew why Elster had favored telepathy, given its practical uses in combat, but she still remembered the stories of Falke’s golden spears and Galan’s glowing blade. Even seeing the bright crimson flashes of Valian and Vergil’s duel had fascinated her.

“Well, that feels like an area of your training we should correct.” Vergil said. “Especially if we’re going to be exploring some unknown world in the Deep Periphery. Never know when you’ll need to cut a trail, or take out some beast without the help of a BattleMech.” Valian nodded in agreement, before they turned to Artoria. She felt her eyes widen as she realized what they were saying.

“You, mean, you two…” Artoria asked, unable to believe what she was hearing. Before she could erect a barrier she felt Valian’s bioresonance against her mind, a gentle touch to skim the surface of her thoughts.

“We most certainly are. Go get your sabre. We’ll see what you know, and build from there.” Valian said. Artoria nearly fell over herself as she turned to run to her bunk, a massive grin plastered on her face. She was going to learn swordcraft from a Percivala! And not only that, but Valian himself? After all the stories her mother had told her of how skilled Valian was in personal combat, this was a dream come true for her. As her hooves thundered out the door, she could hear Vergil and Valian talk more.

“You sure Elster won’t mind?” Vergil asked. “She is technically the boss…”

“I seem to remember one of your favorite phrases being ‘better to ask forgiveness than permission’ back on Buyan.” Valian countered. Vergil laughed at that, and the door closed before Artoria could hear his response. She quickly bolted down the hall to the barracks and ran for her and Angela’s room. As the door slid open, she could feel Angela’s presence at their shared desk, the elder Kolibri already hard at work on a mental exercise of her own. Artoria winced as she saw the tower of cards her sister had been mentally building collapsed as her excitement hit Angela’s mind.

“Sorry Angie…” Artoria said, almost as a reflex, before she felt her sister hug her tight.

“Oh my god are you serious! You’re going to train with Valian and Vergil?” Angela asked. Artoria blinked, then smacked her own forehead. She had probably broadcast all of it to every bioresonant on the ship by now. “That’s so awesome! It’s like you’re becoming a real knight sis!”

“Y-yeah, I guess you could say that… Though, I’d still only be a squire right now.” Artoria said, suddenly embarrassed by the notion. Angela stepped back and held her sister’s hands with a smile.

“Yeah, but that’s the first step right. First you learn from the best, then you become them, right?” Angela said. “This is so awesome, you gotta teach me everything they show you!”

“Since when do you wanna learn to use a sword?” Artoria asked, before her sister swiftly chopped her on the forehead with the side of her hand.

“Dummy! If you can put bioresonance into a sword, then you can wrap it around a shell or a missile too! Think of how much more effective we can be as ‘Mech pilots once we figure this out!” Angela said. Artoria blinked and rubbed her forehead, but nodded quietly. “We’ll get to go out on way more missions then, especially with our new ‘Mechs.”

“But Angie… Your Phoenix Hawk doesn’t have any ballistic weapons or missiles…” Artoria winced as another chop followed the first.

“I’m gonna put machine guns on it, I just… I have to get Yang to help me…” Angela pouted, her arms folded over her chest. Artoria rolled her eyes as she rubbed her forehead, before she quickly went to her bed to retrieve her sabre from the storage shelf.

“Yeah well, have fun with that. They just finished putting the thing together, and now you’re gonna ask for a refit?” She carefully pulled the sabre out of its bag, and turned to head back to the gym.

“Yeah yeah. Just, be careful with training okay! You can’t teach me how to put bioresonance into my guns if you slip up and die, you know!” Angela called as Artoria stepped back into the hall and very briskly walked to the gym doors again. Blunt as her sabre was, she wasn’t interested in dropping or breaking it on the ship.

‘Don’t worry sis. I’ll be careful.’ She thought back, a smile on her face. ‘I’m going to be the greatest knight the Inner Sphere has ever seen.’

Chapter Text

THARKAD V
DONEGAL MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
10 APRIL 3050

As Ariane brought the Oathkeeper into orbital velocity around Tharkad, Elster studied the signal data on the command table. The sheer amount of traffic in the area was staggering, even for a central trading hub like Tharkad. As the heart of the Lyran Commonwealth, and now the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth, it was normal for there to be a lot of ships coming and going, but the seeming armada of military vessels gathered around the capital was extremely concerning.

“They’re preparing for something…” Darius said as he leaned forward, his eyes on the screen. Elster put her hand to her chin and closed her eye. It was definitely the Clans, but the fact there had been no news reports, from either Tharkad Broadcasting or ComStar News, meant they were keeping things quiet.

“They don’t want a panic…” She said, “I don’t need bioresonance to guess it. The Invasion’s begun.”

“And what about Galan?” Yang asked, his eyes narrowed as he stared at the traffic patterns. “And how can they have this many ships and not provoke a panic?” As he spoke, the communications console lit up, and Elster moved to check the identification. The signal was high priority, military frequency, and heavily encrypted. All signs that pointed in the direction of a Successor Lord. She turned on the message as Ariane stepped over to her seat at the table.

Above the table, a trivid projection materialized, the holographics forming into a familiar face well worn with age. The brown hair she remembered had faded to gray in places, as twenty five years of rulership drove creases into his forehead and wore smile lines into his cheeks. But his eyes still shone with the fierce determination of a MechWarrior and the brilliant tactical mind that had helped orchestrate combat in two Succession Wars, the War of 3039, and the Eusan Integration so many years ago.

“Elster. It’s been too long.” First Prince Hanse Davion spoke, and in an instant Elster stood at attention, her arm raised in a salute.

“Your grace. To what do we owe the pleasure?” She asked flatly, and Hanse laughed.

“Oh come now Elster, is that any way to greet an old friend?” He asked, a smile on his lips as she settled back into her seat. She smiled as well, despite herself. The Fox was as cunning and charming as ever it seemed. “Ariane! Wonderful to see you again as well.” Hanse’s eyes shifted slightly, as the projection camera picked up Elster’s lady love as she moved beside her.

“You honor us, First Prince.” She smiled. “Is all this traffic for your sake?”

“You could say that, certainly. Melissa and I had to meet in person to discuss some recent developments. I had hoped this Magpie Company would be your outfit.” The First Prince responded. “We have a job offer, if you’re still in the Mercenary business.”

“Always happy to have a contract with the FedCom, your grace.” Darius spoke up, and Hanse blinked for a moment.

“Is that Darius Oliveira I hear?” He asked, and Darius raised an eyebrow.

“Didn’t think you’d recognize me, sir.” The Executive Officer responded, and Hanse laughed again.

“Well there’s fortune for you. Are Yang and Sumire there with you?” Elster looked up, and the Chief MechTech leaned forward.

“Present and accounted for First Prince. You get those blueprints for the Laevatein?” Yang asked. Hanse nodded, and his smile looked like it would split his face in two.

“We did indeed! General Motors, Blackwell Heavy Industries, and Defiance Industries are all pouring over the designs to start their own production, and have sent the contract fees already. Even my boy Victor wants to take it for a spin.” At Hanse’s words, Yang settled back in his seat with a signature look of accomplishment, and Elster tried not to laugh as he adjusted his glasses. “I have a feeling Virtanen MechWorks is going to have a lot of business in the near future.”

“Well thank you kindly, your grace. Just happy to be of service.” Yang said. Elster knew it was more than that. The MechTech had spent so long building ‘Mechs and bitching about the engineering behind some of the machines, the Laevatein project was as much driven by monetary gain as the man’s own ego.

“To get back to the task at hand, First Prince, while we’d be more than happy to accept work, we actually came to Tharkad to pick someone up.” Elster turned her attention back to the projection. “Kamea’s recalling the Marauders for a special operation, and we can’t head out without our fearless leader.” At those words, she saw Hanse’s smile fade, and a somber look crept into the First Prince’s eyes.

“Ah yes… I had heard Kamea was building new ships. She shared some of the breakthroughs with us in the Bioresonance Enhancers and artificial gravity systems…” There was a troubled tone to those words, as if Hanse was being deliberately careful with his words. “I believe our interests are aligned in this regard, but it’s been so long, I’d genuinely rather give you the briefing in person. We can do lunch, just like old times.” Elster felt something stir in her stomach at those words. Hanse was worried someone was listening in.

“Understood First Prince. We’ll see you at the palace?” She asked.

“I’ll have a car for you at the spaceport. Melissa and I can arrange everything, fret not.” Hanse responded. “We’ll see you soon.” The smile returned, smaller this time, and Elster felt the knot in her stomach tighten. As the trivid projection vanished, Elster slowly rose to her hooves.

“Let’s get ready, people. The First Prince isn’t going to wait forever.”

“Would you look at the size of those doors?” Angela couldn’t tear her eyes away from them. The walls and ceiling of the royal palace loomed high into the air above them all, as the Yeong sisters followed their mothers and the Command Staff of Magpie Company. At the rear of the group were Valian and Vergil, the duo insistent that they be allowed to form the rear guard, though Angela had a feeling Elster allowed it in case Valian had another vision. She’d managed to peek at a few of them when they came to him at night, and the horrifying monsters had sent shivers down her spine at the mere sight of them. And it only got worse as the visions of terrible beasts slowly shifted into BattleMechs and soldiers in strange armor.

The procession had to stop just long enough for the great doors to open, and Angela noted the sheer number of Percivala units along the walls, and the Falkes that guarded the corners of each room as they passed. Her bioresonance could faintly pick up on patrols of other replikas almost everywhere, the majority of them combat models, which she supposed made sense as part of the palace’s security forces, but what really stunned her was how many human guards were still in the mix as well. It was like they had just added replikas and kept the regular guards, fortifying the castle to withstand a siege.

As her eyes turned back forward, she nearly stopped dead still. In the throne room, flanking the twin seats of the Archon and First Prince, stood two Griffin BattleMechs, painted in the blue and gold livery of the Royal Guards. The massive doors of the palace had to be so that the mighty machines could be brought in and out for servicing, but the fact that they were piloted and actively scanning the group as they approached sent a cold sweat down her back. How many assassins were after the Archon’s head that she needed BattleMechs in the throne room to defend herself?

‘According to historical record, there have been exactly three assassination attempts to make it to the throne room itself.’ Vergil’s voice echoed in her head, and she looked back to the Dinadan as he moved to walk in step with Angela and Artoria. Valian had moved to be between Gwenevere and Yang, and she noticed how her sister’s shakes had started to calm themselves as Valian moved to be beside her.

‘So they put BattleMechs in the throne room to defend the Archon?’ Angela asked mentally, and Vergil cracked a small smile.

‘Oh, no, they just started arming them for combat after the first attempt.’ He replied. Angela must have looked as shocked as she felt, as the Dinadan started to laugh out loud. As they neared the thrones themselves, Angela could make out the form of two figures as they rose out of their seats, and behind them the shadows of three Falke units moved in unison.

“Magpie Company, welcome to Tharkad.” Melissa Steiner opened her arms as she spoke, and Elster moved to the lead to accept the hug from the Archon. Melissa’s long golden tresses seemed to bounce on their own as she pulled back to look at Elster. “Your friend Galan has spoken the world of you during our meetings.”

“All of it good, I hope.” Elster said. Angela could feel the unease under the surface of her mother’s confidence. The First Prince stepped forward to embrace her as well, while Melissa hugged Ariane tight. “It’s an honor to meet you, Archon Steiner, and to see you again, First Prince.”

“Please Elster, the pleasure is ours.” Hanse said. “I hope you all brought an appetite, the kitchens have been working up a feast today.” That calm, easy smile that reached the First Prince’s eyes, a genuine gesture of goodwill that seemed so simple for a man with so much power. Angela could help but watch in awe as the First Prince pulled Ariane into a fierce bear hug, then motioned for the guardian Falkes around them to take the lead to the dining hall. In the twenty years since the Fourth Succession War, Hanse seemed to take to having a horde of bioresonants around him like a duck to water. Every subtle motion seemed to carry some command, at least from what Angela could notice. Guard replikas moved in perfect sync, while their human cohorts manned stationary positions.

The Banquet hall of the royal palace at Tharkad was just as spacious as the throne room had been, with the central table already laden with food and drink from nearly every corner of the Commonwealth. Angela could smell sausages and potatoes, fresh crusty bread and hearty stews, and even some kind of fried meats that made her mouth water. Melissa took her seat at the head of the table easily, with Hanse seated at her right, but as Angela looked for where she would sit down, another door opened wide, and a familiar mop of blond hair hurried out of the hall, a handful of replikas in tow.

“Elster!” The young man at the head of the group called, and Angela watched her mother turn to look.

“Victor!” She called, and the two sprinted to one another and hugged. “Kerensky’s sake it’s been so long! And you’ve gotten so big!” Victor Steiner-Davion, heir to the Federated Commonwealth, laughed at that. He was dressed in a Davion officer’s uniform, and the brilliant white jacket accented in red and gold sat comfortably on him, though he had removed the dark blue cape that normally adorned the back and shoulders, and Elster was conspicuously checking the fit for him as they stood together.

“Well, we humans do tend to do that. At least, to a point.” He made a small nod to Ariane, who simply giggled in turn.

“To think, just a decade ago we were still being called upon to babysit you and your siblings.” Ariane said. “The uniform suits you well.” Victor turned a bit red at that, and turned to his father to hide his embarrassment.

“Apologies for my intrusion father…” Victor began, but Hanse waved a hand in front of him.

“Not at all son, I was just about to send for you myself. Is your cousin coming?” The First Prince smiled, and motioned to the seat across from him. Victor moved with Elster to the table, and took the offered seat as his replika bodyguards moved to take up positions mirroring the guards of his parents. Angela noted that where both leaders of the Federated Commonwealth were flanked by Falkes, Victor had a Falke and a Dinadan at his sides.

“He said he had to use the restroom, but he’d be here before the main course arrived.” Victor said. “By my estimate we should see him just in time for dessert.” Angela raised an eyebrow at that, but the family all seemed in good spirits over it.

“Fashionably late as always, that one. But I suppose it’s always better late than never.” Hanse said. The Magpies carefully took their own seats at the table, a space left deliberately open near Hanse and Victor for this unknown cousin who was yet to arrive.

“If I may, your grace, why a lunch meeting?” Darius asked. Hanse carefully adjusted his seating position before he turned to look at the Executive Officer.

“I find that news and contracts are best discussed over a meal. It makes for more pleasant conversation, and it’s hard to be upset with a full stomach.” Angela nodded as she heard the explanation. “Besides… The mission I have for you all, I feel you’ll need all the strength you can muster for it.” Elster’s smile faded, and she focused her eye on the First Prince.

“Is it safe?” She whispered. Hanse nodded, and a subtle motion of his hand sent the guardian Falkes on a rapid sweep of the room. As soon as they finished, the trio returned to their positions, spears in hand.

“I’m sure you’re well aware of the recent unpleasantness on the coreward border.” Hanse said. “Tharkad Broadcasting has been keeping the public informed, but many are used to receiving their news from the ComStar Network.” The Fox folded his hands in front of his face. “In truth, we’ve been delaying reports through Tharkad News by months, to avoid a panic.”

“I see. And the truth?” Elster asked. Hanse closed his eyes and sighed.

“The truth is, Jaime’s predictions have come true. The Coreward edges of the Commonwealth are under assault by unknown warriors, with BattleMechs we cannot recognize. Victor himself was lucky to escape Trell during their assault on the world.” As Hanse spoke, Angela could feel the shame radiate off the prince’s mind, only quelled when one of his bioresonant guards put a hand on his shoulder. “The invaders bear the markings of a green bird, with a sword clutched in its talons.”

“Jade Falcon. Then the Clans have truly come.” Elster bit her finger, and Angela worried her mother would carve a dent in the polyethylene shell protecting her knuckle joints.

“It would seem so. Worse, I fear Kamea’s mission might have to take a back burner for some time.” Hanse said. “Two months ago, Galan Malaki and his family left Tharkad for their vacation home. The location was kept a closely guarded secret, in an effort to prevent ROM from tracking him.” Angela watched her mother’s worried expression deepen.

“Where is the vacation house?” Ariane asked. Melissa’s voice answered.

“Anywhere. Directly in the path of the invasion.” The Archon said. Angela felt her oxidant run cold. “We lost contact with the world a month ago.” Elster’s scowl had deepened, while Ariane turned pale. Darius’s brow furrowed, and Yang bit his lower lip.

“So you’re saying Galan is trapped in the thick of all this?” Sumire asked. A sad nod answered her.

“We have had no contact from the world, not by HPG or bioresonance. The only intel we have been able to gather has been through Loki agents, who report of a significant resistance movement on Anywhere that has stubbornly refused to submit to the Falcons’ rule.” Melissa said. “Given the man’s reputation for tenacity, it would not surprise me if this resistance is being led by Galan Malaki.” The idea slowed the deepening anger in Elster’s mind, and Angela watched her mother move her hand to her chin to ponder the intelligence.

“So what would you have us do?” She asked finally. Hanse smiled.

“Simple. An escort mission, followed by a rescue.” The First Prince said. “Victor and his cousin are returning to the front lines to aid in the war effort, and I was hoping that you and your company could travel with them, at least until they reach their assignments. From there, we can arrange a JumpShip to take you into the Anywhere system to find Galan.”

“Once you have Commander Malaki, we would love for you to launch a guerilla campaign behind the invaders’ lines, but we understand if that isn’t quite feasible.” Melissa said. “But any information you can return to us about these invaders and their capabilities will be rewarded.”

“Knowing Galan, he’ll have a treasure trove of intel for us just from a month of fighting them head on.” Darius said. “So anything we get beyond that will be our own prerogative.”

“Exactly right Mister Oliveira.” Hanse turned to one of his Falke units to whisper something, before the towering replika swiftly flew to the door Victor had come through, and slipped through. “We’re offering two million C-Bills as an upfront payment, with another three upon successful return.”

“Hell, we’d do it for salvage alone.” Chief Yang said with a smile. “I’m itching to get my hands on this so-called Clanner tech.” That got a snicker from the Ara of the same name, before she quickly went back to nervously eating her meal.

“As generous of an offer as that is, Chief Virtanen, I can’t possibly ask you to accept it.” Hanse replied with a smile.

“The Federated Commonwealth’s coffers overflow from the production and sale of replikas and other Eusan technologies. The sheer amount of LosTech we’ve been able to recover thanks to the efforts of Elster and Ara units alone could rival a company of solid gold Atlases for value.” Melissa said. Angela watched Darius shift in his seat and lean forward.

“We’ll take the deal.” He said. “There’s a reason we don’t let the Chief MechTech negotiate contracts.” That got the whole table snickering, while Yang just rolled his eyes.

“Alright, so which cousin are we escorting to the front?” Elster asked, before the doors the Falke had exited through flew open. Through the door strode a young man who bore at every level the bearing of a military officer, despite the much more casual attire he wore. His short brown hair had a distinctive curl towards his bangs, and the sharp features of his face drew Angela’s focus to the piercing blue eyes of the man as he nearly marched himself to the table.

“Ah, here he is now.” Hanse said, as if in answer to Darius’s question. “Magpie Company, I introduce my nephew, Adam Borge-Steiner.” Angela watched, mesmerized as the man took his seat next to Victor.

“Good to see you again cousin.” Victor said. “Trouble remembering where the washroom was?” Adam smirked back and lightly punched the younger nobleman.

“No more than you had remembering where your classes were after that year at NAIS.” He responded. “Apologies for being late, I had a lot of work to do setting up my replacement at the Nagelring.” Angela’s eyes widened, but Artoria beat her to the question.

“The Nagelring? You work at the Nagelring?” She blurted out, and Adam looked at her.

“Not just work. Teach. I need someone to take over the curriculum for me while I handle this mission.” He said, and Angela shivered at the conviction in his voice. The Nagelring was one of the premier military academies in the entire Inner Sphere, set up by Ian Cameron himself at the start of the Star League, and attended by some of the most legendary figures in the entire Sphere.  It was hard enough to get into the school, let alone be honored to teach at the legendary institution. From Morgan AND Patrick Kell, founders of the legendary Kell Hounds Mercenary company, to even the Great General, Aleksandr Kerensky, the Nagelring had produced legendary soldiers, generals, and statesmen.

“A mission you’ve been quite vocal about undertaking, nephew…” Melissa said. “I understand the personal nature of your quest, but you must temper your aggression. The enemy is far more powerful than even we initially believed.” Angela watched as Adam’s shoulders tried to settle again, but the smoldering embers of anger still lingered in his eyes.

“On that subject, where exactly are we escorting them to?” Elster asked.

“Initially, Sudeten. We’re organizing a large-scale counter assault there, and Victor has volunteered to help command part of the AFFC forces we’ve committed. Afterwards, Adam will travel with you and his unit to liberate Sommerset. And from there, you can make the simple jump to Anywhere.” Hanse laid out the plan simply, and Angela tried to reference it with what she remembered from maps of the Inner Sphere. It would put them close to the Free Rasalhague Republic, but if the Clans were invading from the core, it was likely the buffer state would have its hands full enough dealing with the invaders…

“Sounds good.” Elster said. “Everyone taking the Oathkeeper?” She looked to the two young men, who each shook their heads.

“I have a small DropShip I’ll be taking, but we’ll be docked on the same JumpShip.” Victor said, while Adam shifted in his seat.

“The Strikers and I have our own DropShip too.” He said. “I would like to see this Eusan-Class of yours though.” Elster nodded, and Angela felt her heart skip a beat. She quickly turned her attention to the food as Valian’s head cocked toward her slightly, and she tried desperately to pack the sensations in her mind into a box and shield it so she didn’t start bouncing it around to everyone at the table. Angela felt a hoof hit her shin under the table, and she looked up at Gwenevere with a frustrated pout.

‘I’m trying you blockhead!’ She hissed bioresonantly at her sibling, before turning her eyes back to the food to try and cover up the feeling. Especially the pain in her leg. The royals and Command Staff didn’t seem to notice it, but Vergil and Valian did turn their attention to the girls, the four of them nearly shrinking in their seats at the look on Valian’s face. Despite being only a little taller than Elster, the Percivala radiated power that even Gwenevere felt small in front of.

“We’ll set out once we finish re-supplying.” Elster’s voice carried down the table as Angela kept her gaze to the meal in front of her. “I also need to send a message to Kamea…”

“I’ll pass the word along to Kamea. No need to walk into the lion’s den so willingly.” Hanse offered. “That and I’m certain ComStar is just waiting for news on where Galan is.”

“Too right…” Ariane said. “We’ll need to move quickly if we want to stay ahead of them…”

Night fell on Tharkad as the First Prince walked out of the HPG Station, his ground car waiting for him at the doors. On a rooftop near the compound, two figures waited silently.

“Are you sure they’ll be here?” The taller asked. There was no response at first, before the light of the moon was reflected towards their position from the HPG courtyard.

“They’re here.” Came the reply, and the duo quickly started down the fire escape at the edge of the rooftop. There was little sound as the two moved, though a storm had begun to roll in as the light of day faded in the distance. Thunder rolled in the air around them as they sprinted across an empty street, their appearance hidden by dark cloaks and the deepening night.

The doors to the HPG station opened as soon as they approached, their presence noted on security cameras as they stepped into the courtyard. From there, the smaller of the duo turned and took the lead. They briskly approached a pair of similarly cloaked individuals near a warehouse door. As they approached, a female voice met them.

“Great holes secretly are digged where earth’s pores ought to suffice.” She said. The smaller of the approaching figures then returned the phrase.

“And things have learnt to walk that ought to crawl.” The first flash of lightning above them all split the skies, and thunder rolled as the rain began to fall. The four quickly moved inside the warehouse, two pairs each of boots and hooves stepping into the darkened shelter.

“Your report?” A man’s voice asked, and the smaller figure produced a disk in a clear plastic case.

“The Precentor Martial has nothing to fear.” She said, “The Yeongs suspect nothing. But we will not be able to maintain our secrecy when the Malakis become involved.”

“We understand it will be difficult for you both to hide your minds from her. We have prepared a counter measure.” The man said, the disk secreted away into his cloak. The figure beside him produced a pair of boxes, and handed them to the two.

“Radio modules?” The taller asked, and the female contact nodded.

“Specialty made. They will maintain communications as normal, but are also able to broadcast a disruptive screen over your minds. Should Falke Malaki attempt to infiltrate your minds, you can activate the screen.”

“Won’t that make them more suspicious?” The smaller figure asked.

“The screen is made of real thoughts, simply played on loop. So long as the intrusion is less than five minutes, they will not be able to detect the shield.” The man’s voice returned. The two figures nodded, and slowly lowered their hoods.

The smaller of the two carefully removed the radio module behind her ear, and inserted the new module with a soft click. A wave of static washed over her vision, before the image cleared again, and she blinked away the artifacts as she raised her hood again. Beside her, a much taller replika did the same.

“Be careful. The Precentor Martial is counting on you both.” The man said.

“We will be.” The smaller replika replied. “Make sure the message reaches the Precentor Martial, with all haste.” With that, the two replikas stepped back toward the door. “And keep your eyes open. Watterly’s agents could be anywhere.”

“Worry about your assignment, Ghost Two. We will worry about ours.” The woman replied curtly, and the two nodded. As they stepped out into the rain to leave, the man turned his gaze to his partner.

“That was rather cold Verona…” He said. She turned to walk deeper into the warehouse, and pulled aside the tarp covering a Mobile HPG truck.

“The Primus is not our concern. These invaders, and that signal from the Rim, are far more pressing matters.” Verona “Viscacha” Travesi lowered her hood, her long ponytail spilling out of the fabric as she stepped onto the open ramp of the truck’s rear bed. “Now hurry up Lucian. They’ll check this warehouse in an hour.”

With a grunt, Lucian “Peregrine” Greene slid off his seat and walked over to the tarp, the disk withdrawn from his pocket. “I got it, I got it… Just keep your mind out for anyone coming…”

Chapter Text

COROMODIR
AURIGAN COALITION
RIMWARD PERIPHERY
14 APRIL 3050

The Trivid projection cut out, and Kamea wearily settled back into her throne, her left hand raised to her temple. Her eyes closed as she mentally forced back the fear that bubbled to the surface of her mind, to avoid the spread of that fear to every Kolibri in the palace. The news from the First Prince had rocked her, and she felt a lodestone settle around her heart as she opened her eyes again.

“Alexander…” She said quietly. “Take Elster’s notes to Rotfront. The Eusan II needs these upgrades.” Her eyes moved to her husband, who rose from his seat and took the transcript of the message from a printer built into the console. Beside her, the Lady Eusan shifted in her seat.

“Invaders from the Core, and strange dreams from the Rim…”  She said, “It would seem that the entire Inner Sphere is tearing apart at the seams…”

“And me without my sword. What I wouldn’t give for that signal to have reached us a year sooner.” Kamea slowly rose to her feet, while the setting sun shone through the windows behind her and stretched the shadows in the room. “Now Galan is entrapped by enemies unknown, while another threatens everything we have built…”

“Fate is rarely ever so kind, High Lady.” The Lady Eusan replied, her blond hair settled around her shoulders. “It matters little how unprepared we are. What matters is what we do next.”

“You’re starting to sound like Yang.” Kamea retorted. “What can we do? Any bioresonant that gets close to the signal goes mad. Any non-bioresonant seemingly explodes. We cannot maintain this cordon forever, not while the madness seems determined to spread itself by whatever means it can.” She retrieved a remote from her pocket, and with the press of a few buttons, a map of the Aurigan Coalition appeared above the projector table, a perfect display of the Coalition’s gains in worlds and wealth. From Smithon on the Spinward edge with the Taurians, to Úr Cruinne on the Anti-Spinward border with the Magistracy.

“Mister Virtanen is wise beyond his expertise. I take that as a compliment.” The Lady Eusan watched as the map slowly focused in on the blinking light of the signal’s origin point. McEvan’s Sacrifice and Portland had now been marked in red, as several Assault DropShips now patrolled both worlds' Jump Points in an effort to maintain the cordon.

“... Do you think they’ll return in time?” Kamea asked quietly. “Before this all goes to hell?” The Lady Eusan looked at the map, and closed her eyes.

“I cannot say… I do not have the powers of precognizance that the Empress did.” She responded. “But I have faith that they will.” Kamea’s eyes never left the signal origin point on the map, and felt the knot in her stomach tighten.

“... Then I suppose that will have to be enough…”

CWS DIRE WOLF
ST. JOHN ORBIT
CLAN WOLF OCCUPATION ZONE
15 APRIL 3050

Anastasius Focht watched as a tall, muscular man with dark skin and hair stepped forward from the crowd. Flanked on each side by elementals, and bearing the markings of a Star Colonel, his long braids were clasped in rings of gold behind him. Khan Kerensky had ordered the man brought before him, after St. John’s defenders had been felled at last, and even without the mental prodding of his staff, Focht could tell the Khan was angry.

“Star Colonel Ramon Sender. Explain yourself.” Ulric said, a barely restrained venom in his tone. The Star Colonel lifted his gaze to the Khan, a look of resolution on his face.

“The Free Brigades of St. John were stronger than expected. I did what I had to do.” Sender answered calmly. “The civilian casualties were kept-”

“Weigh your next words carefully, Star Colonel.” Ulric interrupted. Focht watched the Star Colonel pause, as if to reconsider, then lowered his head.

“I make no excuses for my conduct, Khan Kerensky. The Bioresonants in the midst of the enemy were more fearsome than first expected.” Sender said. “I did what needed to be done to secure the planet for Clan Wolf.” His eyes rose to meet the Khan again. “The civilian casualties were regrettable. But without them, the planet would not yield to us.” Focht half expected murmurs to spread through the crowd, yet the Clanners maintained strict discipline. No one uttered a word, for or against the reprimand. Khan Kerensky stared into Ramon’s eyes, but the man had turned his gaze to Focht.

“Precentor Martial… I had joined with many of the others in mocking your warnings. But having fought these replikas myself now, and seeing the effects their Bioresonant abilities can have on even a Trueborn Clan warrior…” Ramon Sender bowed his head. “I offer my sincerest apologies. I know now the danger that these Ironborn represent.” Focht felt rather than saw the gaze of the Khan turn to him.

“The people of St. John will resent your clan for this. It is bad enough that they are being occupied, but to see innocent civilians targeted to break the backs of their defenders will never be justified in their minds.” Focht warned simply. Ulric’s eyes moved back to the Star Colonel, his head still bowed in contrition.

“This behavior is uncharacteristic of you, Star Colonel.” He said at length. “You have lost sight of the Great Father and his teachings.” There was a tension in Ramon Sender’s shoulders at that, but the Star Colonel held his tongue. Kerensky then leveled his punishment.

“You and your Cluster will remain here, to garrison this world, until I send for you. The 341st Assault Cluster will not participate in the second wave advance.” And that brought out the whispers. To be denied a place in the line of battle, Focht had learned, was one of the worst punishments that could be leveled against a warrior of the Clans, save for one. Star Colonel Ramon Senders lowered his shoulders with great effort.

“I accept the punishment for my actions, my Khan.” He said simply. With that, the elementals led him back into the lines of Clan Warriors. Focht watched the assembled Clan warriors before him, but his mind was on a man positioned farther away, in a seat high above the Wolf Khan’s own. ilKhan Leo Showers of Clan Smoke Jaguar had been observing the proceedings from above. And his mind was perhaps the most difficult to judge. Despite days of attempts, no amount of probing had revealed even the slightest crack in his psychic armor. Whether the Clans had a means of disrupting Bioresonance, or ilKhan Showers was simply extremely strong of will, none of Focht’s inner circle could see into his thoughts.

As if on cue, Focht felt Morrighan’s mind brush against his own. A message for him was waiting on their DropShip. He quietly instructed her to read it and relay it to him later, as the Khan was planning the next wave of their invasion plans. The Falke withdrew without protest.

Whatever news was coming from the Inner Sphere, intelligence on the Clans’ operations took priority…

COMSTAR FIRST CIRCUIT COMPOUND
HILTON HEAD ISLAND
NORTH AMERICA, TERRA
18 APRIL 3050

Primus Myndo Watterly sat silently in her chair, the maps and charts of the Inner Sphere that were projected around her a dizzying array of information that only she could make sense of. On one map, a detailed list of the deployments of every military unit in the Inner Sphere was collated and updated with every new report to cross the HPG network. On another, lists of ComStar Guards formations and their relative placements were arrayed. Still a third seemed to track unknown movements of various vessels, all named and labelled with insignias that hinted towards Successor State intelligence agencies. Of these the most detailed were those of the Free Worlds League’s SAFE, while the least informed were those of the Federated Commonwealths trio of the Lyran Intelligence Corps, Department of Military Intelligence, and Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations.

The map that held the Primus’s eye the most, however, was the one displayed directly in front of her. An update on the movements of a single DropShip, one that was being monitored across ALL channels. The Oathkeeper. Watterly traced the movement of the vessel from Coromodir to the Coalition, then steadily coreward and anti-spinward to Tharkad. For a time, they had been just outside of the Primus’s grasp, passing through the Sarna March and stopping at Outreach, before continuing on to Solaris. A slip she could only think to blame on the failure of ROM to report their arrival until AFTER they had left. Similar failure had met her efforts at Solaris, the ship slipping out of her fingers just before her agents could position themselves.

“Where are they going…” Watterly mused, her eyes tracing the line to Tharkad. It had stopped there for some time now, longer than they had been at any prior stop. Perhaps more confoundingly, they had not even once made an effort to visit the home of Galan Malaki, which she had agents staked out to guard ever since she had discovered it. The Malakis were not home, of course, she knew this much, but the plan to use the house to lure in the Yeongs had seemingly failed. If they knew about the trap, or perhaps knew about the Malakis being away, she could not be sure.

A knock sounded at the door behind her. Primus Watterly pressed a button on her chair, her eyes narrowed at the map as the door opened. A man shuffled in wearing the robes of the ComStar Order, his hands clasped in front of him. The only sound in the room was the shuffling of his shoes against the carpet as he approached her seat, then the slight rustle of fabric as he knelt.

“My Primus, we have news from the JumpShips.” The man said, his body bowed low to the floor. Watterly did not move from her position.

“Go on.” She instructed. The man bowed his head again.

“The DropShip known as the Oathkeeper has moved again. They have left Tharkad’s system.” He said. “They jumped out of the system just yesterday. From the Jump Signatures, we can confirm that they are in the Westerstede system.” Watterly nodded quietly, and her fingers moved gently over a keyboard attached to her seat.

“Westerstede… They are headed in the direction of the Invasion Corridors then.” She paused as she regarded the news. Perhaps the Clans could be persuaded to deal with the problem for her. The loss of the Saint Karpov needed to be avenged, and with the sheer number of the heretical replikas guarding the royal family of the Aurigan Coalition, she would have to settle for the destruction of those responsible for its scuttling.

“It would seem so… They are travelling in the presence of Victor Steiner-Davion.” The man replied. “ROM agents have confirmed his DropShip alongside the Oathkeeper on the docking collars of a private JumpShip.” She furrowed her brow, before her mind brushed aside the concern. The movements of the petty Successor Lords were of little concern to her. Soon, they would no longer matter, as the Clans would bring about the destiny of Blake, as foretold.

“Send a message to the Precentor Martial. Direct him to, maneuver the Clan forces into the path of the Oathkeeper by whatever means he is able. Ensure that the Yeongs are destroyed at any cost.” Watterly said calmly, before she waved a hand around the side of her chair. “You are dismissed.” The acolyte bowed again, and quickly shuffled out of the room.

“Soon, Elster Yeong… Soon the Inner Sphere will be rid of your heresy…” Watterly whispered to herself, as she rubbed the thumb and fingers of her left hand together. “And then, the work can begin, to cleanse the Sphere of your taint, once and for all…”

ACS OATHKEEPER
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
20 APRIL 3050

Elster adjusted her position, the Marauder II simulation hunkered down behind a hill as several flashes of PPC and autocannon fire flashed above her. Sensor haze, simulated or not, sent static and artifacts across her sensors, and only the lack of active pain in her head told her the ionizing particles were purely visual. The largest of the enemy ‘Mechs stomped forward on her scopes, and she watched the data feed.

“So that’s a Thor.” She muttered. The data from Victor’s BattleROM, along with several others from the invasion corridors, had been swiftly transferred and downloaded to try and get some practice against the Clans machines. Inside her mind, she compared the equipment to the notes she had stored in memory from Jaime, and found the match in seconds. Summoner, Primary configuration. LB-10X Autocannon, Extended Range Particle Projector Cannon, and fifteen Long Range Missile tubes. Surprisingly little weaponry for a heavy ‘Mech, but the weapons were powerful, and that was more than enough.

Another flash passed over her head, the shots unable to find purchase in her machine as she hunkered down behind cover. Across the gap, Victor backed his ‘Mech away from the opening. The heir to the Commonwealth piloted, by choice no less, a Victor 9D, which meant the two had the tonnage advantage over both of the enemy ‘Mechs, but the sheer amount of firepower the Clans could seemingly output made that a cold comfort. Two Summoners seemed to be more than enough to keep them pinned.

“Can’t close in without them blowing us to pieces.” Victor voiced the concern buried in her mind. “Any ideas?” Elster looked at her sensors, then at the arena.

“Just one. Adam, are you and Angie in position?” She asked. Across the battlefield, a Phoenix Hawk and Axman emerged from behind a rock formation.

“Got ‘em in sight. Ready to move on your mark.” Adam responded. Elster turned her eye back to Victor.

“You two hit them, then we go over the wall. Ready?” She asked. “Mark!” As she shouted, a stream of laser fire raked the backs of the Summoners, the two machines quickly turned and directed their fire at Angela and Adam. Angela’s Phoenix Hawk went skyborne to try and dodge, but Adam pushed forward through a withering hail of missiles to try and close to melee, ax raised to block a PPC shot aimed for his cockpit. Elster and Victor then jumped into the fray, weapons free now that they weren’t pinned. The Clanner ‘Mechs responded with mechanical precision, even beyond the limits of the simulators.

Elster forced herself to duck as an autocannon barked in her direction, the two ‘mechs back to back to split fire against their assailants. The Summoner focused on herself and Victor had almost perfect control of its heat, and the machine loosed missiles into Victor as he tried to flank. Her own maneuver was spoiled by a PPC hit to the arm of her ‘Mech, and the damage readout flashed red. They’d taken too much damage against the smaller machines, the ones Jaime had called Kit Foxes, and now these stronger ‘clan ‘Mechs were picking them apart piece by piece.

“How’re they not overheating?!” Angela asked, her breaths heavy as she felt the simulated heat in her cockpit. Adam had managed to close to melee, but his ax was battered away as the clanner machine twisted.

“Doesn’t matter, just keep fighting!” Victor shouted. “We almost hav-” A flash of light cut off his comms, and Elster swore. She had taken another hit from the autocannon, and had to twist her torso to avoid the shot destroying her ‘mech’s arm. By the time she could pull back around to shoot, the Summoner had coldly dispatched Victor’s ‘Mech with a headshot from the PPC, its attention now fully on Elster.

“Damnit!” She shouted, before her own PPCs flashed with white lightning. The blasts met in the center of the ‘Mech’s torso, and its attempt at firing the long range missiles failed in a brilliant fireball. Elster allowed herself a momentary smile, before she saw Adam’s Axman fall bodily onto its back.

“No!” Angela shouted as she jumped towards the fight, and Elster’s warning died on her lips. The Summoner, as casually as one would swat a fly, twisted and smashed its arm across her ‘mech’s torso. Elster turned her attention back to her opponent, just in time to see a white flash fill her cockpit glass. In an instant, the screen went dark, and the simulator powered down. Elster slumped back in her seat and removed the neurohelmet as gently as her shaking hands could manage.

“VERDAMMT NOCH MAL!” She roared as she pounded her fist onto the arm rest. Her lungs burned, and her face was coated in sweat as she wrenched the straps of the coolant vest off. “How?” The door to the simulator opened, and the cool air of the simulator room washed over her as she staggered to her hooves. Ariane stood outside the pod with a towel and water bottle, and Elster sighed as she took it from her.

“Thank you…” She said, the cool air a relief after hours in the sweltering heat of the simulators. The screens on the wall flashed white and red again, and the door to Angela and Adam’s pods opened. Victor stood next to his own with a frustrated expression, a towel wrapped around his shoulders.

“They’re too strong… They’re cold as ice no matter how many shots they fire, and the speed and jump jets…” He said. “How do we even begin to fight them? Even when we have the numbers and tonnage, they react too fast…”

“It could just be the simulations.” Adam reminded him. “The simulators are always faster thinkers than normal MechWarriors.” Elster finished a long drink of water with a sigh, the back of her hand wiped across her mouth.

“That may be true… But these Clan MechWarriors have spent more time with those machines than we’ve known they even exist.” She said, “And even Jaime’s notes could be out of date by this point. It’s been three decades after all.” Victor and Adam looked to her, before the two royals sighed.

“Then… There could be all kinds of changes we know nothing about.” Victor said. “Even the recreations from my BattleROM aren’t perfect.” Adam looked up, then shrugged.

“Well, nothing for it then. We’ll just have to get more intel.” He said. “Information is Ammunition. We’ll just have to scavenge what we can when we fight them.” Elster raised an eyebrow.

“And how do you propose that?” She asked, before she saw a smile on his face.

“We’ll just have to be smarter. You told us about that whole Batchall thing they do. Maybe we can use that to our advantage.” Adam said.

“Not exactly something we can put into the simulators…” Darius said as he approached from the center console. “It’s a theory to keep in our back pockets, but for now we should keep practicing with what we can confirm.” As Adam moved to protest, Darius held up a hand. “And we’ll keep our ears to the ground. Zwei’s even volunteered to help Achtzehn and Juli with any intelligence messages we get, so the second we have something, we’ll be able to implement it into the simulators.”

“In the meantime, you four have been in the simulators all morning. Go get some lunch and relax, for your own sakes.” Ariane took Elster’s hand in her own. “None of you will be in fighting shape if you don’t take care of yourselves.” Elster smiled and kissed Ariane’s hand.

“Good point. Come on, mess hall’s this way.” Elster motioned for the royals to follow, while Angela quickly moved to walk beside Adam. ‘She’s getting awfully friendly, isn’t she?’ She thought to Ariane, which elicited a giggle from her.

‘Oh let her have her little crush, it’s harmless.’ Ariane replied. Elster’s lip twitched a bit, but she said nothing. For all the fawning looks her daughter was throwing at the man, he seemed hellbent on his mission above all else.

“I’m still amazed by this ship’s layout… It’s much easier to navigate than most other aerodyne DropShips.” Victor said. Elster blinked, before she smiled.

“Yes, but it does have some issues.” Elster said. “There’s a couple of blind spots in the sensors, and a few of the weapons have firing arcs that don’t overlap properly. And that’s to say nothing of the low cargo space is.” Victor nodded, then looked forward as the group made it to the mess hall. The scent of fresh bread filled the air, and Elster sighed as it hit her nose.

“We can worry about all that later. For now, let’s eat!” Adam said with a smile.

BONE NORMAN
JADE FALCON OCCUPATION ZONE
INVASION CORRIDOR
20 APRIL 3050

“Report Nova Commander.” Star Colonel Brikai Buhallin settled uncomfortably into his seat, the giant of a man scarcely able to fit into the seat provided to him. The HPG at Bone Norman had fallen into the hands of Clan Jade Falcon over a month ago, but the Eight Falcon Regulars had yet to be given their next mustering assignment. As the Khan travelled to meet with the other Clans and the ilKhan, he had turned his attention to a world that still vexed him. It was well past when the planet of Anywhere should have fallen, yet a stubborn resistance continued to hold out after over a month of prolonged fighting. While he was certain that the two trinaries he had sent to the world, Charlie and Delta, were eager for the fight, and swift on the assault, how they had come to be bogged down plagued him.

“Star Colonel, I bring ill tidings.” Nova Commander Niels spoke. “The conquest of this world runs long, and I can only offer myself to blame for the failure. While the Second New Ivaarsen Chasseurs has been thoroughly routed, the militia have been able to stubbornly resist us. Several cities on the planet remain in their hands, with defensive traps laid whenever the militia abandons a position.”

“Your own losses?” Brikai inquired.

“Minimal. But they delay our conquest of the world with each day that passes.” Niels responded. “We have lost two points of Elementals, and three Omnimechs have been destroyed. I am sending images taken from the field.” As he spoke, Brikai noted the download, and soon the screens before him were filled with images. The most prominent of these were of the strange Ironborn warriors. Many wore the colors of the Federated Commonwealth, as expected, but a few had black in place of white on their armor. Several ‘Mechs were also bearing a black, blue, and orange color scheme, most of medium and heavy design. Only two assaults could be counted in the images, but they were formidable units.

“These black units. What can you tell me about them, Nova Commander?” Brikai asked. There was a long breath drawn by Niels.

“They are… Formidable. In each engagement they have been seen leading and rallying the defenders. They have used ambushes and feints to draw our warriors in. Only by the swiftness of Charlie Trinary have we been able to minimize the losses we have suffered.” He replied. “It is as if they know where we are going to strike before we do so.” Brikai looked at the image of the assault ‘mechs, and enlarged the image on his screen. An Atlas II stood at a side profile, its autocannon and missiles launched against a target off screen, while a Highlander fired lasers towards an advancing Nova. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the Death’s Head cockpit of the Atlas II, before he spotted the faintest red star emblazoned on the forehead of the skull.

“Nova Commander… Have you been experiencing hallucinations on the battlefield?” Brikai asked, his mind turned now to the warnings the Khan had returned with. ComStar’s warnings of powerful Ironborn with the ability to alter the minds of their enemies and allies now surfaced again, and his eyes moved momentarily to a small ComStar agent near him. Her face matched with one of the models, one the Khan had called a Kolibri, or Hummingbird. While the image that had been given displayed the placement of three stars on the forehead of the unit, ComStar seemed to avoid the markings.

“Some of the warriors have reported it…” Niels replied. “The Atlas seems to have unnatural accuracy as well.” Brikai chuckled.

“Of course it does… Well then… I will return to the Lord Death and be in the system within a few days. We will bring the full might of the Scarlet Scythes upon these Spheroids.” Brikai said. The connection terminated, and he rose from his seat. It was breaking his bid for the world, but these mercenary defenders that had sprung up were certainly a wrinkle they had not been informed of. For the moment, Brikai wondered if he would meet the Atlas itself on the field of combat.

“Perhaps, I should request a larger BattleMech…” He pondered aloud.

Chapter Text

ANYWHERE
TAMAR MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
21 APRIL 3050

“I have been as patient as I can be with you, ironborn. Where are the rebels hiding?” Mikhial glared at the biomechanical woman before him, the binder cuffs around her wrists looped around a support beam for the warehouse. Burns and scratches covered her blue and black armor, as well as the long leg stilts that ended in what looked like hooves, but with small claws at the front. Her face was set in a stoic scowl, her mouth shut tight despite over an hour of interrogation. Mikhial set his jaw, and tried to remember what the Khan had told them. She didn’t have any stars on her, and the ones they found that did were being kept in seclusion with all precautions against mental infiltration. What annoyed him the most was how she looked down on him, her height taller than most of his Point, at least outside of their Battle Armor. That elementals could be dwarfed by these half-machines at all was a thought he found troubling.

“You have been defeated. Your comrades have abandoned you. Yet still you resist.” He said. “There is honor in loyalty. There is none in waste.” He stepped towards her. Despite her height, she appeared to be what the Khan had designated as a Starling, an assessment based on the shape of her jaw frame. She didn’t respond, even as he drew the pistol at his hip.

“There are many of your brethren in the other room. If your choice is made, I will grant you a swift and painless death.” That got her to react, her eyes wide as he leveled the pistol at her forehead. Mikhial smiled. “Unless, of course, you do have something to tell us?” The Starling stared into his eyes, the calm and focused look she had before gone as he held the gun to her head. There was a momentary pause as she stared, before finally she lowered her head and grit her teeth.

“Bastards.” She whispered. “You bastards will never take the Commonwealth.” She lifted her head, tears in her eyes. “And you won’t take Anywhere either. Not while we still-” Mikhial narrowed his eyes, and pressed the pistol to her forehead.

“We have killed three of your vaunted Falke units. We have captured a fourth. Your bioresonance means nothing compared to the destiny of our clan.” He said, the cold steel of the firearm against her synthetic skin. She fell silent, and a look of horror flashed briefly in her eyes. “Tell us, where is the rest of the Malaki family hiding? Where is Galan Malaki?” The Starling shuddered, then regained her composure and stared down at him, her teeth bared.

“Fuck you.” She growled. “Kill me then. But none of the others will talk either.” For a brief moment, his finger hovered on the trigger guard, before he moved it over the trigger itself. The Starling’s expression didn’t move an inch, the red glow in her pupils locked on his eyes. Mikhial closed his eyes and offered a silent prayer, that if these replikas did possess souls, this one be granted the afterlife of a loyal soldier. She had earned that much, at least.

When his eyes opened again, the lights had cut out, and he blinked as the only visible light glowed in the Starling’s eyes. She seemed just as confused as he was, and he followed her gaze as it moved around the room. His own eyes tried to find a source of light left in the room, and the door opened behind him.

“Point Commander. The power has been cut.” Renan, the second in command of the Point, stood in his Battle Armor. “The others have fanned out in the warehouse. You should return to your armor.” The flashlight on the front of Renan’s armor lit the room, the egg-shaped armor silhouetted slightly in the glow from the other members of the Point moving through the rows of crates and shelves. Mikhial had to shield his eyes with a hand to avoid being blinded.

“Aff. If the rebels are here, then we must hunt them down.” He smiled, and turned to the Starling cuffed to the support beam. “It seems you get to live a bit longer. With luck such as yours, perhaps you’d make an excellent bondswoman.” She looked back at him with a scowl, before Mikhial followed Renan out of the room.

“Hmph. You would claim that ironborn as a bondswoman, Point Commander. Quiaff?” Renan scoffed. “What would the Khan think?”

“The Khan would think it efficient. As do I. Aff, she would make a fine isorla from this hunt.” Mikhial said bluntly. His Battle Armor stood ready, the metallic shell at rest before a pile of boxes. The Point had expended their short range missiles in the prior engagement. He marched toward it in the pale light of Renan’s flashlight, his eye on the large machine gun built into the left arm. He stepped onto the knee of the suit, and slid into the torso with practiced ease. The front pulled closer, the seals engaged as he slid his hands and arms into the arms of the suit itself. As the screens beside his head turned on, he activated the flashlight of his own armor, the gleam of the bulb illuminating the space before him.

“I will find the breaker box. Continue the search.” Mikhial ordered. Renan’s arm moved above his visor.

“Aff.” He replied, and the two warriors turned to split up. The dark of the room was lit only by the flashlights on the five elementals’ Battle Armors, while the faint pinpricks of the replikas they had captured stared into the darkness around them. The littlest ones were bound the most heavily, with blindfolds, gags, and headphones blasting the loudest noise the clans had to disrupt their thoughts. The only method they had found to deal with the little psychic terrors.

His eyes cast upward, to the rafters above, for just a moment. He thought he saw movement, but the windows above were darkened, the night sky the only thing visible. Mikhial narrowed his gaze, and turned his head back down to the walls ahead. The shelves and crates around him were still, and along a wall he found the door he sought. A sign, written in German, marked the electrical room for the building. And it was slightly ajar.

The Elemental Battle Armor was equipped with a Battle Claw at the end of its left arm. Useful for tearing into the steel of a tank or BattleMech, or ripping a door open. He tore the door off its hinges with ease, and smiled as he stared inside. But nothing was there. Only an open fuse box, the switch thrown into the OFF position. He paused a moment, before with a heavy sigh he unsealed his armor again, and pulled himself halfway out of the front hatch. His fingers grasped the switch, and with a deliberate motion, pulled it back ON.

The first thing he noticed was that the lights did not spring back to life as he had expected. A glance showed him why, as that fuse had seemingly been pulled out completely. But the second thing he noticed was a sound that began to play over the speakers in the warehouse. He could not place what the noise was, but the sound echoed around them in the darkness. Next was the sound of a snare drum, a steady rhythm he couldn’t place. He slid back into his armor, and turned slowly to watch the room.

“Where is that noise coming from?” He asked, only for the sound of an electric guitar to blast over his words, the comms inside his armor ringing as the noise blasted through both the speakers and his communications. He winced and tried to shut the radio off, his eyes raised to try and find where the saboteur had gone. There was nothing on thermal scans, and magscan would be useless with all the metal around them. He turned slowly, before a warning flashed across his sensors. A heavy metal container, once secured to the top of the shelf behind him, plummeted towards him. With a shout he dove aside, and a loud crash echoed where he had just been.

“They told him, ‘Don't you ever come around here’

‘Don't wanna see your face, you better disappear’” The speakers belted out the voice of a male singer, as Mikhial watched another shelf completely collapse in the distance, two of his elementals yelling out.

“Contact! We’re under attack!” Renan shouted, the whir of the machine gun on his armor just loud enough to be heard over the music. From above twin red lines flashed in the darkness, laser rifle shots that glanced off Renan’s armor and into the floor. The roar of the machine gun and the flash of the muzzle lit up the area, as shots punched through the ceiling of the warehouse rapidly. The laser rifles didn’t fire again, but Mikhial noted that his second’s flashlight and fire didn’t illuminate any attackers. As the two warriors that were buried in the shelves picked their way out of the pile, one of them attempted to knock something off their armor.

In a flash of fire and sound, the two warriors were engulfed in an explosion that threw yet more of the warehouse into disarray. Shelves fell, and a fire began to spread, more of the warehouse now lit.

“The rebels are here.” Mikhial growled, the music still loud around him. His eyes went up to scan the walkways and catwalks above, before another sensor snapped his attention back behind him. A large forklift barreled towards him at full speed, and he quickly fired his jump jets to clear the obstacle as it rolled through the row of shelves he was in.

“You will have to do better than that, surats.” He said with a smile, before he saw the shelves tip towards him quickly. The forklift had caught on a heavy cable at the end of the row, and pulled it tight before the line snapped. Heavy metal crates dropped towards him again, and he shouted as a massive metal box crashed down onto his armor.

“Point Commander!” Renan shouted, while Mikhial grunted as he was thrown to his stomach. The myomer of his Battle Armor strained against the weight to lift him enough to pull free, while his second raced over to help lift the heavy steel off his back.

“Do not worry about me, deal with the enemy!” Mikhial shouted. He looked up as Renan’s armor lifted the crate, only for something heavy to land on its back. The Point Commander shut his eyes and ducked down, as the satchel charge detonated and blew open the back of his second in command’s armor. He growled as he fired his jump jets again, and propelled his battle armor out of the pile and past the concussed form of his second in command, the point now down to just two combat capable warriors.

Mikhial looked to Point 3, Verana, as she fired her machine gun across the walkways, the blaze around them both revealing shadows of figures up above. They moved quickly, and flashes of laser rifle fire hit the ground around him. He raised his own weapon for a moment, before he paused. The shadows and rifle fire were misaligned, and as he looked at the ground, the lasers made no burns on the floor of the warehouse. He turned to look towards the prisoners, and saw that several were missing. A figure moved among them, but as his flashlight fell upon them, they opened fire with a laser rifle towards him. There was a small flash beneath the rifle beam, and he smiled as the laser rounds deflected off his armor. As he raised his machine gun, a blinding flash filled his visor. A flashbang had gone off directly in front of him, and he realized the flash beneath the rifle beam had been an underslung grenade launcher.

“Point Three! The prisoners are escaping!” Mikhial shouted in a blind fury, before he heard another blast. He quickly twisted his armor to deny the replika among the prisoners a free shot while he tried to clear his vision. He growled as he regained some of his vision, and attempted to rise back to his feet. In the light of the fire was the silhouette of a tall, powerfully built replika. A Steiner made Storch unit, if the height and armor were accurate. Clutched in her right hand was a blade, held low to the ground. He grinned, and the speakers blared.

“Beat it (beat it, beat it)

Beat it (beat it, beat it)”

“I see now… You’re the leader…” Mikhial glared as he switched on the speakers of his armor. “Storch unit! What is your name? Identify yourself!” He watched as the light of the fire flickered around her, and his flashlight landed on her body at last. He found it strange to see this ironborn wearing any form of clothing, but the strange black jacket, covered in zippers, that adorned her torso was one he had heard rumors of. She lifted her left hand, palm upward, then curled her fingers back towards herself. An ancient terran gesture. A Batchal.

“You dare invoke zellbrigen, after striking without warning?” He asked. “Dezgra filth such as you are not worthy of honor!” He charged forward, and she moved her hand back to her sword to sprint towards him. His sensors registered power in the hilt. A vibrosword. It would be no match. He smiled as he reached out with his left arm, the battle claw open, only for the replika to quickly sidestep and swing. The blade clashed against the steel of his armor, but the scratch was barely a millimeter deep, and he quickly twisted to swing at her. She pushed back, hooves scraped along the floor as she ducked his follow up swing. She stabbed towards his torso, and the blade simply glanced around his side. With a smile, Mikhial brought his arm down and caught her in the shoulder and side of her head.

The Storch collapsed to the ground, her sword dropped and sent to skitter along the floor of the warehouse. He brought the battle claw down to grab her off the floor, and smiled as he felt the jacket tear slightly. As he lifted the replika into the air, he had a brief moment to see her body tense, before a hoof crashed into the ferroglass of his armor's visor. Through the spider web of cracks he could see the Storch tear the back off her jacket, grab the blade, and whirl around with it, before the sight of three feet of vibrating metal lanced towards the cracked visor. His attempt to raise his arm was just a fraction of a second too slow.

Nike grunted as she wrenched the vibrosword to the side, and watched the sphere of armor lurch aside and crash to the floor. The air smelled like smoke and blood, and her lungs burned with every breath, but the soldier didn't stand up again. With a grunt she stomped on the arm of the powered armor, and managed to pull the shreds of her jacket free from its claws as she turned to walk to the back room. From the shadows, Reina and Romilda emerged and flanked her.

“Get everyone out of here, quickly.” Nike managed through heavy breaths. “Tell Sieglinde she can kill the music. He got my comlink with that punch.” Reina nodded, and the two Starlings ran over to help free the rest of the prisoners. The fire was going to be noticed soon. Nike walked briskly to the door at the back, and tried to steel her nerves. With a mighty yell, she kicked the door just beside the handle, and watched as it splintered inward. For a brief moment her eyes had to adjust to the darkness, before she spotted who she was there for.

“Vicky?” Nike asked, and the Starling lifted her head. For a moment she looked confused, before a smile formed on her face.

“Nike! Oh thank god! I thought they were coming back.” The eldest Starling of the Malaki family was beaten up pretty badly, but Nike didn't see any permanent injuries.

“You okay to walk?” Nike asked as she stepped around to cut the binders with her blade, the vibrations causing a grinding sound as she pushed them through the metal coated cords.

“Yeah… Yeah I'm good…” Victoria slowly pulled at her bonds as the blade sliced in, until finally the connections snapped and she was able to move away from the pillar. “Oh god, Nike, your jacket…”

“It's nothing…” Nike said, holding the scrap of black leather in her hand. “It's like dad says… Family's more important.” She smiled to her sister, before the sound of a truck outside got her attention.

“Come on, Sieg's got a bus for us, we gotta move.” Nike dropped the leather scraps on the ground and offered her hand to Victoria. The Starling took it, and together the two ran for the warehouse loading dock. The doors were opened, and every replika in the building had jumped out to get in the large truck that sat just outside the warehouse. Nike helped Victoria into the back, before she ran around to the passenger seat to climb in.

After a few moments of preparation, the truck began to roll out towards the road, the doors shut tight as it pulled away from the burning factory. In the distance, Nike could almost hear the thunder of BattleMechs as they marched back to the city.

“How many did we lose?” Nike asked quietly. Sieglinde didn’t take her eyes off the road, her hooves barely long enough to reach the pedals while keeping her head above the dash.

“Mom said only a few… They wanted to keep the ‘Mechs tied up as long as possible for us.” The Kolibri said, “How’s Vicky?”

“She’s okay. Little roughed up but alive. That’s what matters.” Nike said, and she turned her eyes back to the road ahead. She carefully pulled the tatters of her jacket off, and stared at the massive tear in the back. Sieglinde didn’t say a word.

ANYWHERE
TAMAR MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
22 APRIL 3050

Sieglinde woke up just as the truck pulled into Brigham Rollo, the first fingers of light spread across the skies as the clouds hung low in the air. There was another storm rolling in, and soon after, another attack. The Falcon’s didn’t give them time to wait for the rain to pass. She carefully rubbed her eyes as she sat upright again, and looked at Nike. They had traded off sometime around midnight, and the tattered remains of her younger sister’s jacket were draped over her in an attempt to give her a blanket.

“You okay?” Sieglinde asked, her eyes on Nike as the Storch pulled the car off the highway towards a side road along the outskirts of the city.

“I’ll be fine… Just wanna get home before the counter attack starts…” Nike said. “Mom call yet?”

“No, not yet.” Sieglinde pulled the jacket shreds closer, and closed her eyes to try and reach out with her mind. The area around them was filled with radar and sensor baffles, as well as a heavy dose of radio static to confuse any attempt at comm interception. She had to concentrate, but the signal she was looking for was still there, just under the radio broadcasts.

‘Mom, we got Victoria. We’re driving up to the base…’ She sent. The music underneath the radio static didn’t stop, but she heard a momentary increase in the volume, before it dropped back down to normal.

‘Welcome home girls. Hurry and get inside.’ Falke’s voice echoed in Sieglinde’s mind, and she smiled as the truck pulled into a hidden tunnel that ran down into the hills around Brigham Rollo. The lights of the underground base flickered to life as they rolled forward, the camouflage netting pulled back into place by automated systems. Sieglinde winced as the truck ran over a bump in the road, and she felt the seatbelt pull her back down to her chair.

“I thought dad said they fixed that…” She mumbled, before the truck pulled down into the center of the base, Nike hitting the brakes to slow it to a stop. Sieglinde unbuckled her seatbelt with a smile, and opened the door to the sight of the remnants of the Anywhere Militia’s cheers. She hopped down from the truck, only to get nearly tackled to the ground by Gloriana.

“Ack, Glory! C’mon, we’re okay, everything’s okay!” Sieglinde said, before she felt Sigrun grab hold of them both in her arms. “Oh come on, Sig, not you too!” The other Kolibris were in tears, but she could feel in her mind the relief that everyone made it back. The rear of the truck finally opened, and in moments the various replikas climbed out, Romilda and Reina on either side of Victoria to help her down. Sieglinde tried to get her younger sisters off her, and only succeeded when Nike pulled them off to carry them on her shoulders.

“Come on you two, mom and dad are gonna want our report.” Nike said, and Sieglinde sighed. One mission after another…

Chapter Text

ANYWHERE
TAMAR MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
22 APRIL 3050

The Command Center hummed, the stale, static sound of machinery and electricity, projectors and screens harmonizing with the drone of the air conditioning.

“They’re on the move again.” Galan stared at the holoprojection before him on the Command Table, the light from it dominant over all others in the enclosed space. Trivid footage of powerful BattleMechs in assault formations as they stalked through the cities surrounding Brigham Rollo hovered above the table. On a wall screen, the planetary map glowed. Red lights surrounded Pickrock Hill, which had been taken in a matter of hours. More traced along the Santina Trespass, the region patrolled constantly by Falcon Elementals after it fell in three days of brutal fighting. Brigham Rollo, just a few miles south of the vacation house, had been the easiest place for them to rally the defenses, but now the city was almost completely cut off. Partisans in the countryside were on constant watch for the enemy’s movements. For such a small force, they were remarkably thorough.

“And every weapon we fashion against them seems to fail.” Falke gently set the headset she had been wearing on the desk. Her hand moved to her temples to rub at them, and Galan turned to her.

“Not every weapon.” He said. “The girls are managing just fine.” He moved over to her, a hand offered to help her out of her seat. Falke accepted, and rose to her hooves with a heavy sigh.

“We can’t rely on our daughters to do all the work, Galan. Especially now.” She turned her gaze to him, concern etched in every inch of her face. “Victoria was captured after they forced her to eject. It was sheer luck we were able to find where they took her.” Galan turned away from her, his eyes on the projection again, when he heard the door open. For a moment, the discussion was tabled, as the sound of Nike’s hooves on the hard metal floor grates announced her arrival. Behind her Sieglinde slowed as she caught up, the eldest and youngest Malaki children now all gathered.

“... Victoria’s headed to medbay?” Galan asked quietly. Nike nodded, before she set Sigrun and Gloriana on the ground again.

“She’s fine. A little roughed up, but nothing a repair patch can’t fix.” Nike said. “Managed to down five of them… Can, only confirm one dead.” She was professional, but Galan could feel the tremor in her voice. The adrenaline had fled hours ago, and she had only managed to push back the fear by driving. Galan nodded quietly, and moved over to her.

“Sit down Nike. It’s going to be okay.” He said. He struggled to keep his voice calm. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt like this, the rage and fear mixed in his stomach like a rock. He listened as Nike sat down, her mother at her side in moments to hold her close.

“The first is always the hardest.” She soothed. “It was you or him.” Galan looked at the console in front of him, and forced his face not to show his mind. He didn’t look away from the maps on the screen until he felt a tug at his sleeve, and he turned to see Gloriana’s brilliant scarlet hair as she buried her face against his arm. He closed his eyes, and carefully pulled her closer. Sieglinde and Sigrun could only stand by the door. It had been far, far too close.

“We’ll need to be ready… Have we gotten anything from the HPG?” He opened his eyes slowly, and looked to Falke. She shook her head.

“Nothing.” She said, “If the HPG still stands… ComStar still isn’t willing to speak to anyone.” The station itself had been located just outside Pickrock Hill, and the lack of intelligence from that city left them without any idea if the planet even could contact the rest of the Commonwealth for aid. Every partisan force they sent had been captured, every spy outed. No one entered the city, or left it, save for the invaders. They at least had learned the full identity of their foes. The 8th Falcon Regulars, nicknamed The Scarlet Scythes, and members of Clan Jade Falcon. Galan had grimly remembered the vision Valian had shared with him at the sight of their emblem. This was the winged beast that had been sent to destroy the Lyran half of the Commonwealth.

And how like that horrid vision they had been, when they arrived. Galan’s mind wandered back, to that night when the assault began. To the feeling in his mind as Gloriana’s dreams turned to prophecy. The sound of the girls running downstairs. The look on Falke’s face as she picked up the radio broadcast. They had mobilized immediately, the DropShip still on the pad at the Spaceport and the van on the front drive. It had been less than a minute before they were on the road, Victoria applying a repair patch to Sigrun’s nose, Nike passing out the hidden weapons in the floor cache.

His eyes came back to the present as he stared at the hunched shapes of the ‘Mechs that thundered across the projection. For the most part he saw only the smaller designs, the reverse kneed designs that walked like birds across the battlefield. Their squat, wide shape made targeting a challenge, but not impossible. What was more worrisome, was their weapons. The lightest of them bore a shotgun-styled LB 5-X autocannon, Extended Range Long Laser, a small pulse laser, and four tube short range missile launcher that seemed to lock onto targets. The slightly larger ‘Mechs carried a sextet of Extended Range Medium Lasers in each arm, enough firepower to slag tons of armor at a time, though the more the weapons fired, the more likely the machine was to overheat. If it weren’t for the larger, more terrifying machines, he was certain more of these ‘Mechs would have been slagged by their assaults.

Worse, many of them seemed to be able to quickly swap their weapons between battles, faster than any ‘Mech he had seen before. Were it not for the clearly visible battle damage on their armor, damage he could easily recognize from one machine to the next, he would have believed whole new machines had been brought in. Whatever these machines were, they were highly customizable, and incredibly strong for their weight. Gloriana’s grip on him tightened, and he pat her back gently.

“It’ll be okay Glory… It’ll be okay…” He said. The former Commander of Malaki’s Marauders took a slow breath, and pulled up the map projection.

“You girls get some sleep. Your mother and I have work to do.”

“Raus! Raus!” The Starling gripped the soldier’s uniform shirt in her hands and wrenched, the man pulled free of the wreckage of the tank just ahead of another sweep of machine gun fire. The turret was slag, the treads on the left side had been shredded, and now the heavily armored shapes bounded towards the duo as they scrambled on the ground. She winced at the oxidant leak in her side, a ricochet that cut into her stomach just deep enough to throw warnings into her eyes. Her hooves couldn’t find purchase on the dirt and mud, and she felt the sharp pain in her side flare as her compatriot threw her arm over his shoulders to help haul her forward.

The sound of a laser met their ears, and she instinctively dove forward with him so the red light just barely passed above them. She gasped as she hit the ground, warnings and artifacting across her vision from the impact. The human grabbed her, and with a roar of effort dragged her into the ditch beside the roadway, her body dunked into the water at the bottom with a heavy thud. He threw himself in beside her, bullets buried into the dirt where he had just been.

“Ghhh… Lass mich, ich bin verletzt.” She said, another sharp pain in her side as the water started to seep into the wound.

“Not a chance.” He replied. “These bastards aren’t getting us now.” His accent had always sounded funny to her. That ever classic First Prince’s English that flowed so easily from his lips. She’d mocked him until the invaders came, asked him if when the Rasalhague went out viking to Anywhere if he’d invite them for tea and biscuits. Now she listened as he tried desperately to get the repair spray from his belt, and inject the fast sealing foam into the hole in her side. An alert for low oxidant flashed on her eyelids with each blink. She weakly tried to grab his arm, to stop him from wasting time, to beg him to run.

When her eyes opened again, she saw the armored figures above them. He finished the spray release, then tried to draw his pistol, only for a heavy claw to clamp on his arm.

“Lass ihn gehen, du Schweinehund!” She managed to scream, and the armored figure seemed to turn towards her. The machine gun on its arm leveled at her friend’s back, and he tried to struggle free of the clamp around his arm.

And then a flash of brilliant blue light lanced through the sky, and heat washed over her face. Two of the armored soldiers above the ditch were lit up in an instant, before a pair of emerald lights flashed through to cut into openings in their armor. The warrior holding her partner dropped him, the armored figure now focused on the heavy tread of an assault ‘mech on the move. She felt the ground shake, and watched as the armored figure jumped out of the ditch, two more behind it.

“They… Certainly took their time…” He muttered, as he pushed himself up and looked to her. “Come on… We need to… Get to friendly lines…” His arm hung limply at his side, and she nodded as her consciousness flickered a bit. She could feel him haul her onto his shoulders, and her eyes closed on the sight of a pair of massive black and blue ‘mechs, as they marched through the storm.

The ferroglass before Falke’s eyes streaked with rain as her Atlas II lumbered forward, the massive machine already sweltering from the fire cycle of her weapons. They’d been forced to strip the double heat sinks out and replace them with singles after almost every fight, the damage mounting with each battle. But the two assaults were the only ‘Mechs that could handle a direct fight with the clan machines, especially after Victoria’s Centurion detonated. Her eyes barely registered the rain, as her mind reached out to scan the area more precisely than any ‘Mech could dream to.

There, in the ditch, were a pair of lights she recognized as FedCom troopers, their slagged Rommel just a scant few feet away. The treads were destroyed, and smoke billowed out of the center compartment. Something had hit the coolant line, and it was flash cooking the interior. Just above them, a trio of armored figures jumped towards her ‘Mech on JumpJets. Her lasers were still cycling from the opening blast, and she quickly thumbed the short range missile launcher’s firing stud. Six missiles roared from her ‘Mech’s hip, and three of them crashed into the flying machines. From behind her, a trio of green lights lashed out and burned through the leader of the group, and she threw her ‘Mech into reverse. Galan’s Highlander surged forward as the jump infantry landed just short of her machine, and with a heavy swing, his ‘Mech’s foot slammed into the two and sent them flying.

“Just the infantry. ‘Mechs are on their way.” He said, and Falke nodded quietly. Her eyes closed again, and she saw the electrical currents of the approaching ‘Mechs. A PPC bolt flashed past her, and she winced as her vision was filled with artifacting and tears. She snapped her eyes open again to try and spot the squat medium ‘Mech that had fired, and lock her long range missile launcher onto it. She found it in the storm, and instinctually thumbed the firing stud for her long range missiles. Only after the missiles launched did she see the twin systems on its shoulders, which sprung to life and fired a spray of bullets into the sky, the shots intended to intercept her missile barrage.

Falke winced as another PPC shot lashed past, and she heard the signal for her Extended Range Large Lasers. She squeezed the triggers to unleash the brilliant blue light of the lasers, which tore into the side of the ‘Mech as it thundered towards her. The heat in her cockpit soared, the sweltering temperatures forcing sweat to her brow. The coolant vest on her chest rushed to try and pull heat away from her torso, while her neurohelmet read her mental inputs as she twisted the ‘Mech to walk around the disabled tank.

The enemy machine followed her movements, before a Gauss round tore through the air and into its armor. Galan had started to split fire between the sniper they had found, and the smaller machine that rushed towards them in an attempt at a distraction. His short range missiles detonated in front of the charging opponent, smoke billowing out of the detonations to blind the attacker. She adjusted her torso position as another shot from the enemy’s PPC slammed into her ‘Mech’s arm. Nearly a ton of armor was shorn off in a blast of heat and kinetic energy.

She twisted back towards the Falcon machine, her mind focused as her bioresonance sheathed the autocannon in her ‘Mech’s torso. The golden glow surrounded her weapon as her eyes narrowed. And as the targeting system locked in on the advancing clan machine, she squeezed the trigger. A glowing golden shot thundered out of the barrel, and in an instant it crashed through the side armor of the enemy and detonated against its reactor, the engine spouting a gout of flame. She didn’t have time to watch the explosion, the next clan warmachine already on the attack.

Galan’s Gauss Rifle barked behind her, the nickel-iron slugs propelled by electromagnets into the side of the smaller machine on their flank, before two more crested the hill. Falke centered her lasers and fired. The heat in her cockpit spiked into the red, and she felt her lungs burn with every breath.

“Galan! I have to back off, I’m too hot!” The rain that hit her ‘Mech evaporated instantly, her Atlas II surrounded by steam as she forced herself back. Galan fired another smokescreen, his Highlander beside her as the storm raged around them.

“The convoy’s made it to the city’s edge, we’ve got artillery spotted on our position.” He said. “Let’s get out of here before we’re boxed in.” Falke’s eyes closed again, and she saw the two minds from the ditch climbing into a covered truck. She breathed a sigh of relief, her quick message just enough to get the two out. They were going to need every soldier and replika they could get for this siege…

SUDETEN
TAMAR MARCH
FEDERATED COMMONWEALTH
10 MAY 3050

“The latest intelligence is that the Draconis Combine is moving its forces off the border to meet the invaders.” Victor’s Dinadan, Lucas, handed over a fresh set of transcripts from the meeting he had attended. Elster noted the tension in Aurora, Victor’s Falke guardian, as the Dinadan appeared seemingly from nowhere, but the taller replika’s shoulders relaxed again when she finally recognized her companion. Elster just smiled, glad to see that Falkes could still be surprised.

“Any word on what worlds they’re attacking?” Victor asked, and Lucas quickly flipped the pages of the report to the third page. “Ah, thank you.” He looked the list over, and Elster turned her attention back to the spaceport around them. At every pad, trucks rolled in and out in rapid succession, loading and unloading supplies and parts from every DropShip. Her eye settled on Darius as he negotiated with the quartermaster of the Tenth Lyran Guards at the bottom of the Oathkeeper’s loading ramp. Both Yangs were hard at work arguing with him for more parts at the same time, leaving the XO to fend off both the advantageous advances of their chief mechtech and her own daughter, while also trying to keep the quartermaster from demanding even more in payment from them.

She chuckled as she saw Sieben and Zwei forcibly drag the two back from Darius to give him room to breathe, before she looked deeper into the ship again. Artoria and Vergil had started another duel, their bioresonance sheathed blades a whirl of color as they fought. Valian was monitoring them both with Kaysen’s help, and further off she could see Juli hard at work as she catalogued the supplies and sent them for proper storage.

‘Feels more like a vacation than a deployment, doesn’t it?’ Ariane’s thoughts brushed against her own, the whitehaired bioresonant seated next to her in the meeting room. Elster closed her eye and sighed as she turned around in her seat again.

‘If it wasn’t for the Falcons, it would be.’ She replied. Victor passed a sheet of paper across the table to Adam, who studied it in detail, while another slip slid over to her. She scanned the contents carefully. The Eighth Falcon Regulars were redeployed in full on Anywhere, the Falcon commanders likely intent on breaking the resistance there as quickly as possible now that it had survived the initial thrust. Worse, it seemed that backline forces were also being routed to the world to occupy it once the Regulars finished.

‘Galan…’ Elster thought quietly as her teeth worried over her lower lip. Her heart felt like it was grasped in a hand of solid ice, a chill in her oxidant that spread to every part of her.

‘I’m sure they can handle it until we get there.’ Ariane replied, before she leaned in against Elster. ‘We’ll make it in time. I know we will.’ Elster looked to her beloved slowly, and nodded. As much as she worried, it wouldn’t make them get there any faster.

“Alright. We’ll need to set out right away.” Adam slowly rose from his seat. “Sooner the Strikers and I get to Somerset, the better.” Victor rose as well, and Elster gently helped Ariane to her feet.

“Are you sure you don’t want to wait for the scouting reports?” Victor asked. “If the Clans are mobilizing, we could get more intelligence from the front lines.” Adam folded his arms and shook his head.

“Sorry cousin. As much as I’d like to believe we’ll find some chink in their armor, Somerset can’t wait.” Adam said. “If they’re on the offensive, there’s no better time to slip through their lines and strike.” Victor looked like he wanted to argue, but Elster saw him discard his own objection. She couldn’t find fault in Adam’s logic either, but something in her heart told her that the fight ahead was only going to get more difficult going forward.

“Then I wish you luck, cousin.” Victor extended his hand, and Adam took it. A firm handshake between family, on the eve of war. Elster looked to Ariane for a moment, before she turned back to Victor.

“We’ll head out too. If we split up, the Clans won’t be able to pin us down.” She said. The JumpShips had been pre-arranged at pirate points, an attempt to spirit them to the planet as rapidly as possible. But it would still take some time for them to arrive, and that was if they weren’t discovered. If the Clans detected their intrusion, it could take them months to arrive.

“We’ll make sure you both have everything you need.” Victor said. “After that… I’ll have to see why Kai’s Centurion still hasn’t arrived…”