8.2

Gniezno System

Jump Point

The shudder back into realspace sent a shiver down my spine. That had been unpleasant, fighting off the taste of purple on my tongue. I continued my preparations. This was a rush job. It really was. I knew that, and I realized it might be stupid to jump into this, but sometimes a job fell into your lap that was too good to be true.

Like a pirate base on a previously assumed deserted world. A pirate base that had its own dropships. And maybe a jumpship as well somewhere. That would be trickier to get though, if it was even possible. But if we could capture everything here on the planet, well I would have all the excuses I would ever need as to why I suddenly had equipment.

So I had accepted the deal, readied my Lance of mechs and other units, and started prepping. Before we left Vindemiatrix I had filled a few trucks with equipment that I felt we might need. Most of it was just an excuse to be able to create anything I needed during this fight.

And it was likely going to be a nasty one.

"Commander Eisen-Blume. We have confirmation of heat signatures on Gniezno II that's our pirates." Captain Michaels of the Faint Gray, the Union Dropship we were taking to this abandoned world let me know. Unlike myself, he seemed completely unbothered by the recent jump.

Not really a surprise. "Good. I wasn't that worried the intel was wrong, but it's always good for confirmation. How long until we land?"

"Should take around ten days to reach the planet." The captain replied.

"Okay. Any enemy contacts in system, they do apparently have a Jumpship."

"None so far, but we won't know if they even noticed our appearance for another few days."

"Thank you Captain." I turned from the bridge where I had been invited to stay in during the jump before heading down the curving halls of the Union.

"Commander?" Benny asked, sticking his head out of the room we had been using as I passed by.

"Confirmation that something is here, no jumpship so far. Let everyone recover, unlikely we will run into any trouble out here… And if we did we would be relying on the ASF and defenses of the union anyways, not like we can mobilize in space."

"Understood. I'll go make sure everyone is okay after the jump, you okay?"

"Just an odd taste in my mouth this time, I'll be fine… Until we hit atmo. Then I'll be puking my guts." I grumbled as I passed him by, ignoring his teasing smirk as I continued down into the Union.

I paused at the infirmary. "He gonna live?"

The medic in charge of our health during this operation turned away from where he was checking some charts. "Oh the Colonel will be right as rain in a few days. He was unconscious for the jump to limit any trouble."

"Good to hear. When he wakes up, tell him we have confirmation on activity on the planet."

"Will do Commander."

I continued my rounds down into the belly, our mech bay was active as usual. Lenden and Erica were both a bit tense with the battle ahead, although unless you knew him you couldn't tell with Lendens actions.

"Alright keep it up, let's do this!" He growled, knife in hand as he stared into the eyes of a older man, the grunt facing across from him also had a knife in hand. Both started slowly stabbing the knife into the table between their fingers. Playing an age old game of chicken. The crowd around them shouting encouragement.

"If you cut your fingers off you won't be able to pilot." I interrupted before the speed could really pick up causing an abrupt stop as the boy leapt to his feet, while the man simply stopped stabbing.

"Commander!" Lenden saluted something he had gotten into the habit of doing before his posture loosened. "So are they here, Vicky?"

"That's Commander to an idiot who is trying to injure himself days before an important op." I say as I reach over and grab the knife from his palm examining the damage from being stabbed into a metal table over and over again. Not much, since it was a copy of a SLDF Vibroblade, thankfully he hadn't turned it on while playing his game. "I don't remember issuing these as a toy." I tell him and receiving a scowl in return.

"C'mon Vicky, no need to act like that I was just hanging out. It's good practice!"

"Good at teaching you how to lose a finger, sure." I poke him in the chest. "You need to be fighting fit in a few days, our operation relies on my Mechwarriors being ready. Why even take the risk when it gains you nothing, and can only cost all of us if you fail?"

He winced at that, I could tell if nothing else, pointing out that he had a responsibility to not injure himself had struck home. Through gritted teeth I finally got a response, "Sorry Commander. Won't happen again." I nod, handing the blade back, but we both stilled when the older grunt was snickering.

"You finding something funny?" Lenden asked, and I could tell I was about to break up a fight.

"Nah kid nothing, nothing at all." He offered although the smile on his face meant he was lying through his teeth.

"Good then private in that case, get out of my mechbay." I ordered, trying to head off the problem.

"Yeah sure 'Commander' let's go boys, ain't nothing interesting here." The older man huffed as he stood and his little coterie sauntered out.

"Vicky, I. Sorry." He muttered softly.

I just shook my head and nudged his shoulder "I need you in one piece. Can't kill pirates without my heavy hitter."

"Roger that Commander. I won't let you down again."

"I keep getting told that, but I haven't been let down in the first place. C'mon we got confirmation that something is on this rock, and since it's supposed to be a dead world it looks like we are on time."

"Good! I need to prove to Hanna I'm just as good as her at killing pirates!"

"Well, if anything about this mission is right, you will get your chance. They are going to have the numbers advantage for sure."

"Hah. We will win. We barely even got touched last time!"

"You did, and that was against an enemy that didn't even know we were there until they were already beaten. These pirates have home field advantage this time. So let's take this fight as seriously as it deserves. Life and death."

"Tch, Fine, whatever you say Commander."

I moved on, leaving Lenden to do as he liked as long as he wasn't about to lose a finger to find Hanna. She was as always in the exercise room onboard.

The girl was completely unwilling to allow herself to not be perfect. Hanna was obsessed with making herself a mechwarrior whose name wasn't just known but was feared.

I joined her for a time, running along the treadmill beside her until she hit the stop. "Any news Commander?" She asked as she wiped sweat from her forehead, even as she kept moving heading to the next piece of equipment on her mental list.

"Yeah, we have confirmation of heat signatures on the planet. So we have activity. Looks like they probably haven't left yet."

"That's good. And bad… Are you sure we're ready for this Vicky?"

"Honestly? No. But we have good advantages. I know we will win in the end. We just have to do our best not to get injured doing it."

"Ah that's right, Vicky Combat doctrine order number 1. Don't die." Hanna jested as she started pulling up a weight.

"That's right. Every battle we walk away from is a battle we have learned something from. We get better after. We just need to survive long enough that we get so good no one wants to mess with us."

Hanna laughed, slowing her curls. "I don't think that's how that works Vicky, but hell, you're the Commander."

"That's right! I am, so the order is to stay alive. It's just gonna be tougher this time. It's not like we can surrender against pirates."

"No. That won't happen. I won't let it." Hanna grunted as she continued her exercises.

"I won't let it happen either." I told her. As I turn out of the workout room. With that most of my preparations are done. We just have to wait to get closer.

—-

"What's going on?" I demanded as I entered the meeting room. I had been downstairs helping my people get their equipment in order for a potentially hot drop, as we were only house away from hitting atmo.

"Enemy ASF were launched, looks like they noticed us entering the system." Colonel Maruska offered as he was staring into nothing waiting for answers, his brush with TDS still leaving him pale. Obviously the two of us weren't allowed on the bridge while this was going on. The Captain needed his focus and didn't want a couple of idiots getting involved.

"I see." I felt a shiver of terror up my spine as I settled in beside him settling in to wait. While we had ASF and they were the best pilots Vindemiatrix had, that didn't mean we were safe.

If our dropship was taken out, it wasn't like we would survive. That would be it. Game over.

Thankfully about ten minutes before we would hit the atmosphere, a message rang out over the intercom. "Enemy ASF are knocked out, Retrieval of our ASF is under way. Landing procedure is beginning."

"Well I guess that's that then." I mutter exhaling in relief. I watched the Colonel do something similar, the strong white grip he had on a coffee cup relaxing showing he was just as relieved as I was.

"Are you men prepared?" He finally asked me as we started feeling the turbulence of the planet's atmosphere.

"If they aren't we are able to run to our deaths. So I suppose they are." I told him which didn't earn me anything but a slight deepening of the scowl on his forehead. Just because we were working together for this mission didn't mean we liked each other.

He was still pretty butthurt that his dad had made him apologize.

The rumbling of the dropship hitting the planet already started the loops in my stomach.

An hour later I was in the driver seat of a Norman. I had basically filled the back of the truck with the Radio system I had made, giving us a pretty powerful jamming tool, and hopefully strong enough security the pirates wouldn't be able to listen in. I passed by Carl as he took the second truck, Delta Ops already had their orders, as they drove off.

The planet was weird. It had once been a living world. With farms and cities.

Then it died. Apparently from what records the Governor had managed to pull, it had been a plague.

Thankfully it hadn't been a human plague. Something had killed every plant on the entire world. Dead trees still covered the planet. They were gray husks that still stood, everything was gray. Thankfully there was nothing wrong with the air, or anything although there had been considerations about how long that would last. Without anything to refresh the air it would eventually turn toxic. But for now, it was still safe enough.

Not that I didn't have everyone wearing their full sealed armor and Coolsuits anyways. I wasn't taking any chances.

When it was my turn I pulled off the ramp, the Vedette tanks we had brought with us, having gotten off first in order to start securing the Union. Everyone was terrified of a sudden attack.

Lucky for them that wasn't looking likely. I checked the sensor again and noticed the pirates were gathering but not to attack, they were in their little city. We had time. I pulled up the radio as I drove out to meet our Lance. "Alright Green Lance, we are on scout duty. Let's go see what we can find."

"Commander Eisen-Blume. I still feel having everyone stay at the base camp until we determine enemy movement to be the correct choice here." Colonel Maruska interrupted, and not for the first time.

Seriously for a Colonel the guy was kinda terrified of being attacked.

"Negative Colonel, we have our own way of doing things. Don't worry, we are going to make sure anyone who tries an attack on us doesn't get anywhere with it. Commander Eisen-blume out." I ended the communication firmly.

Seriously, the guy was terrified of these pirates.

Didn't he know? Terrifying enemies was my job.

My Lance and I started heading into the dead forest. We had landed well within a hundred miles of the pirate 'city' so I had a solid image of their numbers and positions. As well as their traps.

The old city was still there, and they had taken it over. Using the Starport to house their dropships and unload loot. None of us knew who these pirates were selling their gear too, but it didn't matter really. Whatever they had stolen that was still here, was about to be taken back.

The starport they were using had been moderately fortified, but it was obvious the pirates had planned on eventually being attacked. Most of the roads leading to the starport were blocked by falling buildings, or mines.

A few turrets were even set up around the port to give some extra punch.

But if you can see exactly where every mine is, they weren't a threat.

Our dropship had landed about twenty miles from the western side of the city limits. This path would unfortunately be one of the tougher angles. It looks like the same thing that brought us to use this location as a landing had been noticed by the pirates as well.

Luckily the northern section of the city had less active defenses than the others.

It just had more mine fields.

I smirked watching the dust cloud that was the Delta Ops drive north. Their Norman didn't just have the NightHawk suits resting in the back, it also had enough explosives to give these pirates a bloody nose. While they were doing that. Green Lance was meant to keep their attention. While the Colonels Guard Lance protected the dropship, and moved with us when we needed more punch.

I had fought for command of the tactics of the raid, it had been one of the sticking points I had been firm on. Governor Maruska could either leave me in command, or he could find another group of mercs.

Here we were.

"Sending first checkpoint to Green 3, Green 3, I want those spotting systems knocked out."

"Understood Command. Green Lance, is on it!" Erica chirped out as she started guiding the Lance towards a group of infantry hiding in a building acting as spotters, I assumed. Considering they had radio equipment and were hidden in one of the few multi-story buildings in the area.

While my mechs ran off to start plucking eyes, I continued forward, driving basically into the city and finding a place to settle in.

I didn't want the Colonel to know what was really going on, so as far as he was aware I was out scouting and jamming enemy communications. Sure I could have switched out and took over the Locust for a while but… There wasn't a metal node in the area. Zero, Zilch, Nada. I was stuck with just what I brought with me, or whatever I could extract, so for now, I figured it was better to let Erica get some more experience. It was why I had brought her with after all. Over the next few hours I watched my kids work.

Green lance using large lasers to remove the scouts from existence without them being able to even realize they were in danger was step one for them.

Delta Ops, slowly working their way through the northern section of the city, dodging automated defenses, and mines, all the while getting closer and closer to their objective.

The Union defenses were getting better too. We had brought along some barriers in storage that they were putting up in case we were attacked. If they got those secured they might set up some turrets and the like.

About eight hours after we landed the Pirates finally did something.

"Green Lance, I am seeing enemy activity. Rendezvous at waypoint." I called out as I ordered them back from their assault on any enemy daring to scout out the area.

"Roger that Command, Green Lance returning!" Benny responded back and I saw his Lance turn and start coming back, although they did come in at an angle to attack another group of pirate scouts.

"Guard Command this is Command come in."

"Guard Command here, what is it?"

"Pirates are moving, we got two lances of fast movers coming to take a look. I'm gonna need my artillery unit for a bit."

"... Fine. I'll send them out. Should Alpha Lance join you?"

"Negative, in case any of them slip past us, I want to keep your mechs at the dropship."

"Understood then Command, Guard Command out."

What a prickly guy.

I watched as the two lances of mixed lights started moving west. The fact they were pirates was evident. The slower lights were getting left behind slightly, as their formation of two lances broke up.

"Command this is Artillery unit, in position."

"Good to have you, Green Lance will set up here." I pinged a new waypoint for their system. "Once they are in position I want them to bring the lights into firing range. We are looking for absolute battle value here, I want to remove from combat as many of these mechs as we can. Understood?"

"Yes Command! I know exactly what to do." Elias offered and I could hear the fierce grin he must be having as the connection ended.

—-

A different perspective

Lenden 'Motherfucking' Scorch

Gniezno city ruins

Lenden was ready for this. His body was practically bouncing in his seat. Finally! Finally a chance to prove that he deserved to be here. That he was meant to pilot this mech.

And it was against pirates. Oh this was perfect for Lenden. He hated them, his parents had died in a pirate raid after all, this was just icing on the cake.

After a moment a voice came over the radio, the crackling that was on the line whenever Vicky was jamming, hardly dimming Bennys voice. "Alright, Green Lance, are in position. Remember we are hitting them aiming for maximum removal, we want to reduce the pirates combat effectiveness. But don't take risks. If any of us take too much damage it's a failure."

"We'll be fine Benny, these Pirates are gonna be in for a real shock."

"Let's take this seriously Lenden. This isn't the time for fuckups."

"Yeah yeah. I know. I'm focused!" Lenden agreed, although despite that he could still tell Benny was annoyed with him. Why? He agreed with him! Fucker, Lenden didn't get why Benny was always on his ass. Well. At least he knew Benny was also willing to back him up.

Even if he was still a motherfucker.

"I've been waiting weeks for this." Hanna hissed into her mic, and despite her not saying something, Benny didn't say anything to 'her' why was it always him that made everyone try to convince him to be serious. He was serious!

"They are here." Erica's voice echoed out and all words stopped as we watched the road they were coming down.

The first mech to meet up with them was a Commando. It was also the first to get a surprise double Large laser shot to it's face. It had turned a corner and Hanna and Benny had been ready. As agreed they took the first shot. Bastards.

The Commando didn't appreciate the shots, and it took the hit hard, the SRM launcher on it's arm split nearly in half as it raised the arm to try and protect itself. It was pure luck it didn't explode and the Commando quickly spun back around behind cover.

I waited. Whatever happened I would be there, although really only Erica would know in advance.

"Jumpers are coming up on our right, two Javelins. The rest are preparing a push."

"Alright, Lenden, go show those jumpers what they are dealing with, Erica, keep us up to date. Artillery Unit, once they push, blunt them." Benny ordered out and that was all they had time for. The Javelins jumped on to the buildings on our right, just as the mechs started pushing.

Hanna and Benny let loose, firing a barrage of weapons. Large and Medium lasers slashing out along with the plumes of their LRMs firing.

I turned up, nearly bending over in order to get the shot I needed. While the Javelins fired their SRMs, I fired back.

Their SRMs smashed into me, but it wasn't enough to stop the scorch. The green light ripping into one of the Javelins, and it went down, enough of the lasers had hit something that it crumpled onto the roof.

Which is about when the rain fell.

The light mechs push faltered immediately as incredibly accurate LRM fire came down, LRM after LRM shattering into the mechs causing many to stumble backwards to try and find cover. There wasn't any. We had picked this road, because the buildings around it were pretty solid, no alleyways or overhangs to hide under. Hanna and Benny acted like a bulwark, as the lights faltered and started moving backwards but they had already pushed too hard. Even Erica's dinky SRMs were fired into the fray although I could see if any of them did any damage.

Sure the light mechs retaliated, but it was carving lines into our armor even as we took limbs. I turned to the second Javelin, even as my cockpit dumped heat onto me. My armor kept me just on the side of sweating but not too bad, even as I lined up the shot.

That was enough for the Javelin. It ditched back over the side of the building it had come from, realizing it was in trouble. I cursed realizing I didn't have a shot.

"Fucker!" I roared as I turned and instead aimed into the fleeing light mechs.

Green light flew, and scorched into the back of a few of them as they tried to run.

Between everything only four managed to get away. None of them untouched.

We quickly took care of the remaining pirates, going around and making sure their cockpits were clear.

No mercy was given.

—-

An hour later we were loading up the damaged light mechs onto cargo trucks and hauling them back to the union.

The Colonel joined the group in his Shadow Hawk, and despite himself I could tell he was impressed. Not that he would ever say it. As I was standing by sitting on the hood of my Norman watching the rapid pace of the men grabbing the light mechs off the street he had walked up to me, but hadn't said anything yet.

"This was their mistake, but we let too many of them escape, they will be more ready next time. They will probably send their heavier tonnage."

"I know. We will be ready when that happens… I'm impressed. Commander. Your men took on double their size, if not weight, and came out with barely a scratch. You did the same on Vindemiatrix, that's not something just anyone can pull off."

I turned to look at the older man, who looked like he was fighting with himself. But eventually he took a deep breath and exhaled.

"I apologized before, but you probably think it was fake. It wasn't. During the Vultures raid I lost my fiance. She was in my Lance, we had been together for a long time… I was tricked. They completely ran circles around my lance, by the time I realized… The Firestarter overheated me, with my mech locked up. They took out the rest of the Lance… I ended up having to eject as they were aiming for my cockpit. I watched them take out the rest of the Lance."

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. You killed some of the monsters that killed them. Now you killed some more. Thank you." He sighed once again then straightened, and the man that had looked so defeated a moment before was gone. Hidden away. "They might run. Now that they know we can fight. They might think this planet isn't worth it and get in their dropships. We won't be able to stop them with just our two ASF."

"Oh, yeah I already considered that. Don't worry. They aren't going anywhere."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Kinda hard to lift off when one of the hangar bays on your dropship won't close because a bomb went off."

He blinked looking at me in confusion, not quite putting two and two together. "The bombs should go off in… About ten minutes."

"Bombs. How did you plant bombs on their dropships? That doesn't make-"

"Colonel." He stopped talking as I interrupted. "Don't ask questions we don't want to answer. Just know that it's taken care of. Now we start harassing the pirates. Right now they don't know what we are doing because we plucked their eyes. So we move. We attack from an angle they won't ever expect."

He was silent for a time. "How can you be sure that you didn't miss a scout, or a sensor?"

"We didn't." Was all I offered to him. Instead returning my focus back on the inside of my Norman, and the radio system inside. I hadn't quite managed to figure out how to listen in on the pirates radio… Yet.

—-

A different perspective

Gauge Blake

Zaniah III

RedBase

"Say that again?"

"There are four huge containers being delivered. The trucks are already being moved through security. Thought you should know?

"Huh. Alright fine. I'll go take a look Mary. Thanks."

"Sure thing!"

Gauge stood up stretching out. Being in charge of the entirety of RedBase was not fun. Especially since he was trying to dedicate all his time to setting up classes and school for the advanced knowledge from the Core.

Already the Repair unit was advancing their knowledge. Sure, Experience might mean a Mechtech on Solaris would easily show them a thing or two, but the days of them not even knowing where to start were disappearing. Especially with all the mech repair classes.

Gauge had happily sat through those himself.

Still as he stepped out of his office and into the busy hallways of the base he couldn't help but smile. Everything was so busy, and everyone was learning! He truly felt like he was making a difference. Even if he really wanted to grab the Memory Core and hand it to everyone who he could just to spread it without limit.

But even he hated the idea of it falling into the hands of the Kuritans.

He pulled his hood over his head as he stepped out into the Zaniah heat. It didn't help much, but it kept him from burning up whenever he forgot to put on the sun screen.

Outside a truck was already waiting for him. Marcus waved him over as he slid in. "Marcus, what are you doing here?"

"Oh nothing. I was just around, you are going to check the deliveries right?"

"Yessss. What do you know and why do I suddenly have a bad feeling?"

"Nonsense! I am always here to protect my family! The containers are legit, and safe. Vicky warned me about them before she left."

"Oh Great. Now I really feel bad. If this is another Vicky plan…"

"Yeah it's great!" The other boy offered with a grin as they drove down the smooth path, towards a delivery drop off point. When they first got here, the road would have been dirt and dust, now it was well maintained Ferrocrete. The four large trucks carrying four large containers were obvious enough to Gauge's eye.

"What's in them?"

"What? And ruin the surprise?"

"I am the Commanding Officer. I could order you to tell." Gauge grumbled, but that just earned a laugh.

"Yeah you could, but you are too serious to abuse your authority like that. HomeGuard have already checked the containers. It's safe."

"Great." Gauge stepped out watching as the four trucks were already unloading the containers in the marked location. It didn't take more than a few minutes for the Trucks to have dropped off the large metal containers before they rumbled back out of the base.

"Well you gonna open them?" Marcus teased as Gauge sighed, moving up he pulled the latch. The crowd of kids around him was making his bad feeling grow stronger.

"What sort of bullshit did you drop in my lap Vicky?" He wondered as he turned on a light and what was in the container was visible enough.

"Oh you bitch."

"OH MY GOD! NEW MECHS!"

"OH I WANT TO PILOT IT!"

"NO ME ME! I'VE GOT BETTER SCORES THAN YOU!"

"Marcus. I am going to get you for this."

"Nah. You are going to get Vicky for this."

"That too."

Each container carried a slightly beat up, but still serviceable STG-3G A Stinger. It was a perfect light mech for jump jet training. Although a Chameleon would of course be better. Gauge could understand Vicky's thoughts on it. A Chameleon if you could get one were almost five million C-bills if not a lot more due to their scarcity. These Stingers? 1.6 mil and probably cheaper because of their rough condition.

So Vicky had bought four training mechs for the price of one. Smart.

If not for the fact she hadn't told him, so now the entire base would know about the four new mechs.

"Why am I in charge!? I just want to study!" He cried out as all of the supposed soldiers around him kept tugging on his arms to get his attention.

A different perspective

Red McHannon The Red Vulture

Gniezno City Pirate Enclave

Red had been a pirate all his life. His mother had been a pirate, his father a pirate. His grandfather had been a pirate. It ran in his blood.

Like any pirate that had done it long enough and wasn't living in Tortuga, there was an understanding. Sometimes you were in the good times. Sometimes in the bad times.

The fact he was running around in a Battlemaster now instead of his old Shadow Hawk? Well. These weren't entirely the good times. He had a few setbacks. Minor things, losing more than he was gaining despite winning every raid. Then this recent Vindemiatrix raid was the tipping point, while he won he took a lot of damage. And then a chunk of the raided goods were lost.

An idiot had his dropship shot out from under him, losing a third or more of all the loot, mechs, equipment that was going to be used to repair the salvaged mechs. He had lost a good chunk of their supplies, and now? They were being attacked by mercs.

"Fucking idiot. I hope that moron Darrien got tortured before they hung him." He grumbled out to Analise.

"Too late now to care one way or another. You know what this means. Once they find our home it's only a matter of time before someone comes. We ain't big enough to send off a real fight." She tells him as she slugs back her drink. "They got our scent, they aint ever gonna stop hunting us here."

"I know! I know, woman. I was hoping those idiots had all died before they could blab. But I started making preparations anyway, didn't I? Ain't I a fucking pirate king? Ready for when shit goes bad?" He was always prepared. Plus even if he had to ditch this group, as long as he walked away with enough equipment, he could always reach out to his old supplier. He had done good work for over a decade. They would probably outfit him again.

"You did Red, you did." She agrees and like always with that woman Red can never tell if she was agreeing or fucking with him. Didn't matter. He was in charge. And well… she was his girl. If she wanted to fuck with him, he would allow it. As long as she didn't do it in front of the men. Couldn't afford that.

"Alright. Let's set the fucking bombs, and get out of here. Hope they enjoy sucking fumes. Hehahahahaha!"

"It will still be a bit before everything is on board the dropships Red. We might want to keep the bombs under wraps for now, until we are ready to take off anyways. Don't want any of the men to get ideas."

"Yeah you may be right there my girl. Alright, well let's go bust some balls. I want our shit packed to go before these asswipe mercs get it into their head to go on the attack."

"Unlikely. Romero only saw four mechs, and what he thought were probably LRM carriers. If they have more mechs, they can only bring so many. That is a Union they came in on after all."

"Yeah yeah. I know they have limited carry! But Mercs are crazy. Never doubt they will do something stupid."

"Yes Red. I'll keep that in mind." Again he wasn't sure if she was actually agreeing or not.

"Doesn't matter, we can hold them off easy enough. We got enou-"

The explosions rattled the windows from his bedroom, and he was on his feet before he realized what had happened. He rushed out the door Analise was on his six, the woman keeping up with him like always, he made it to the window that looked in on the starport and saw fire dead bodies…

"Tell me that didn't just fuckin happen."

"Sorry Red. Looks like they got us. They hit our dropships somehow. Those hangar bays… That's a week's work. For each ship."

"Can we rush it?"

"If we did, we wouldn't be able to use the hangar at all. Anything inside would be scrap by the time we left atmosphere."

"Fuck That's two hangars down… They would riot if we tried to leave that many mechs behind."

"Red?"

"Ain't no way an enemy got in." The woman blinked for a moment before her eyes narrowed, for once agreeing with him. "Keep an eye out, I want to know who the traitor is. Gonna need to take them out before we lift off regardless now. Someone from Loki or some such working against us means nowhere is safe as long as they are alive."

"A witch hunt after this, might cause some issues Red."

"Yeah Morale's gonna take a dive, unless we set it up another way. Get everyone ready, we can't wait anymore, we prep an attack. If we wipe out the mercs, then we have all the time we need to finish fixing our ships. And kill the traitor."

"You want to attack the mercs? Is that wise? Losses would be… High."

"I'm sure. Maybe our enemies will kill our traitor, solve the problem for us. Regardless, keep an eye out. You got good eyes for this sort of thing."

"You got it Red. I'll go prep everyone."

"Yeah go do that. I've got some fires to put out." Red cursed whoever had done this had really fucked him raw.

—-

We had been preparing a position to start causing some trouble for the pirates when before we were ready, they moved out on their own. I wasn't even the one who noticed it first. "Commander! Enemy movement. Looks like they are sending trouble towards the dropship."

"Good catch!" I radioed out as I switched my view to the starport. Mechs were readying and moving out. And this time it wasn't all lights.

Although they were there too.

"Alright. I am gonna rush this. Erica, get ready to swap with me." I called out from the cockpit of the Locust. I had been spending the last hour or so preparing a nice little killing field for the enemy

I did my best to continue finishing my current project even as I started sending out more radio messages. "Green Lance, poke them."

"Roger that Commander!"

"Artillery Unit, get ready, I want them to think you aren't here until they move too close to escape."

"Understood!"

"Command to Guard Command, come in."

"I am here Command."

"Colonel, we have enemy movement. It appears they didn't much care for our dropship surprise. Get your mech Lance moving. Sending you waypoints. I want to draw them in to Green Lance and have Alpha Lance come in behind them."

"That we can do Commander. We will begin moving."

"Good hunting."

As the line went dead, I finished the last of the trap. "Alright Erica, move your ass. I want to be out of the way before this kicks off."

"Understood Commander!"

We switched as fast as we could, I nearly slid down the rope ladder to get to the ground as I rushed to my Norman. Jumping in I turned the truck around and headed out of the way. No way was I sticking around without a few tons of Battlemech armor between me and them.

"Erica. You got the trigger?"

"Yes Commander!"

"Good save it for the right time."

"I will Commander! I promise."

—-

A different perspective

Jason Daniels

Gniezno city ruins

Jason stomped behind the array of mechs he was following. His Rifleman was the heaviest mech here. The only heavy sent out to take care of this. But then again. A lance of lights, a lance of mediums, and a heavy for support usually 'solved' most problems. At least in his experience.

But Jason wasn't in charge despite having the heaviest mech which was odd for pirates. No he let the others take that job. He just wanted to survive another battle.

He hadn't wanted this life. But sometimes bad decisions followed by more bad decisions lead to you being labeled a pirate and forced out of polite civilized society, but Jason didn't plan to spend his life like this, he was saving up his 'pay' from the raids, a few more, and he would be able to get out of this life, start a farm somewhere on a periphery planet. Old Vanessa his Rifleman would suit that sort of life. Just living and when some asshole pirate comes by, He'll take his Rifleman and clear em out.

At least that is what he told himself.

Yet here he was. Following a group of men that only sometimes didn't scare the piss out of him. But he also knew what would happen if he was captured.

Very rarely was there a punishment other than a short death awaiting them. So he moved with his group, his intentions clear.

They of course weren't expecting to be hit from the side. The LRMs dropped out of nowhere, and Dans Comando smashed to the ground. He didn't get back up.

"Fuck! Check for spotters! Follow me!" Kurin called out the Japanese man ordered over the line as he turned his Cicada towards where the LRMs were coming down. His Lance followed, and where the mediums went, so did the lights. Jason followed from behind, slowly lagging behind the fight.

It started in front of him, through scattered callouts over comms the lances had run into a Lance of mostly mediuns holding a street. Their LRMs were accurate though. Damage was accumulating up before the battle had even started.

"We are pushing through. Mediums, catch their attention so we can get them!" Kurin called out, a common tactic, grab the enemies attention with the big mechs, while the lights pushed past, surrounded. It had worked perfectly well on the last planet they had been on. What was it? Vindi-whatever.

It didn't matter. Everything was going well, a moment after the call it would start happening. Jason could picture it in his head, it's why a moment later that one thing happened he wasn't expecting. An explosion.

A big one.

"Hey what happened! Report!" He called out even as he kept old Vanessa moving at full speed, hoping that something bad hadn't just happened.

When he turned the corner he couldn't believe it at first. The street was trashed covered in dust, and smoke, fires breaking out everywhere, but worse were the mechs. Smashed and scattered. And the four enemy mechs that all turned and focused on his mech.

"Fuck." He managed to say before the alert on his dash started up.

'Warning Missile Incoming' was lit up red and blinking.

"Fuck."

—-

"Well what have we learned?" I asked as I finished tying the bandage around Erica's shoulder.

"Don't get shot in a Locust? Ow!"

"Not really what I was going for, but yeah, I learned that lesson too. Don't worry you'll be fine, and get a nice bitching scar out of it when you are all healed up."

"I don't feel fine." She whined. The Locust had taken a nasty barrage of fire during the enemy's attack. It's right side had a few shots go internal, and some shrapnel had kicked up.

The armor she was wearing had likely saved her life. "C'mon let's get you to a real medic on the dropship, they can take care of the rest."

"W-what, but Command-OW!" She whined when I tightened the bandage for a moment.

"You are in no condition to fight Mechwarrior. You did your job. I do believe you took about ten times your weight in metal with that scheme? Good job."

"W-what It wasn't me! I just suggested it! You were the one that could do it!" She whined but I smiled down at her proudly.

"Yeah but I hadn't thought of setting up explosives under the road like that, none of the enemy mech's sensors could read it but sending a signal through was easy. Just a little antenna through the ferrocrete? Brilliant. Congratulations Lieutenant. I do believe that deserves a commendation!" That slipped out of my mouth and it took me a moment to realize what I had just said. "Fuck that means I have to come up with medals and awards now huh?"

Erica broke into a stifled giggle that ended when she clutched her shoulder "Don't make me laugh Vicky, it hurts."

"Yeah yeah c'mon let's get you out of here. The Alpha guys should be here soon, when they do, I'll have them drive you to the Dropship. I'll take the Locust for now. Don't worry I won't let her take any more damage. She's your ride now, not mine."

"C-Commander!"

I chuckled at her protest but I had other things on my mind now. Because our allies just arrived. Watching them take stock of the devastation around us was quite the treat. The mechs slowed to a stop and it was only a minute later that trucks and infantry showed up. The looks of awe at the amount of mechs laying around the room filled me with a certain pleasure.

We would be getting a reputation on Vindemiatrix at this rate.

Although unfortunately we hadn't done this unscathed. Besides the Locust, Bennys Centurion was beat to hell. It had been a large focus of the enemy mechs. Lenden lost an arm, but his Scorch was still fighting fit, just.. A little light on armor.

Hanna had taken some nasty hits, but her training had shown results. Other than losing her shield arm, her mech was still ready to go. Light damage otherwise.

And before the bombs went off, her mech had probably done the most damage too. She was getting nasty with that large laser. Her accuracy was scary.

"Commander."

"Colonel." I called out to the man, after he dismounted his Shadow Hawk.

"Why would you do this? No better yet, how did you even do this?" He broke out immediately. The man was wearing his mech clothes, so little but a pair of shorts and a pistol but nonetheless I kept my face serious.

Even if it was funny.

"Bombs."

"Bombs… The pirates walked into an area that you had bombs?" He asked exasperated.

"Well obviously."

"Commander. Please don't play games with me, this is ridiculous! How did you place enough bombs to do this without them noticing! And in only… what twenty minutes?"

"Colonel Maruska." I stated firmly breaking him from his demanding ramble. "I have my ways. The same way I was able to damage the enemy dropships. Drop it. Be thankful that we are on your side."

He visibly bit his tongue to keep from asking questions. "Fine. Keep your secrets. Good job Commander. You defeated the pirates, and turned all of the salvage, that we need into scraps! I'll have my retrieval team get on this." He was mad, and I could kind of understand why.

I looked over the devastation. The remains of the enemy mechs, and they were remains. Those caught in the explosions had been wrecked as if hit by artillery. Because that was about how much boom I had created. Some of the light mechs weren't even salvage at this point, you might as well just call them scrap. But what did I care? We defeated a vastly overtonned enemy, more mechs, more tonnage, and we did it with minimal damage, although I was still mad about Erica's injury.

Because the mechs weren't my objective. I turned slightly to look down the street towards the Starport. I had another object in mind.

"Alright. We are going to head back to the dropship to re-arm. We are low on everything, and my Pilot needs medical." I point out Erica who was already being fussed over.

"Absolutely. Let us take care of this. I doubt the pirates have much left to fight back with." He offered, still sounding exasperated but at least happy that the enemy weren't much of a threat anymore.

"A Battlemaster, and a Thunderbolt." I tell him idly, the last two mechs definitely had me concerned.

"W-what?" Before I could respond my shoulder was grabbed. "Did you say a Battlemaster?"

"Yeah, I got confirmation from my scouts. Their last mechs are a Battlemaster and a Thunderbolt."

"That's my Battlemaster."

I blinked at that before wincing internally. This just got complicated didn't it?

"You know… When your father asked for a clause that said your personal mech wouldn't be counted as salvage if we recovered it, I really should have asked what it was first huh?"

He snorted letting me go although I could see his hand still shaking. "Yeah. Well I want it back. So…"

"Focus on the here and now Colonel. Get this metal secured, get it back to the ship, they aren't going anywhere. We'll get them. Green Lance just needs to re-arm, and we are good to go."

"Not this time. I'll be leading with Alpha this time, your Green Lance has done enough."

"Don't be stupid. My mechs will support yours then. We are low on armor anyways. But don't think we aren't coming. These are pirates. You never know what kind of nasty tricks they are gonna use."

He burst into laughter so loud it shocked me and I looked at him like he was crazy. He took a moment to look around the devastation around them. "Yeah Commander, I'm not that worried about nasty tricks right now. I have a master of them on my side."

I actually flushed a little at that. That was a surprisingly nice compliment from the prickly Colonel.

—-

We went back to base, Erica went straight to the medical bay, while I walked around in the Locust. It was too damaged to do much at this point, I was going to have to be very careful about my right side…

"No charging the Battlemaster." I whispered to myself as everyone was re-armed. The LRM carriers and the Artillery group were still out with the Alpha Lance, they were covering the recovery of the downed mechs.

All the while I kept an eye on the sensor watching the enemies two remaining mechs. Wondering what they were going to try. Both were a serious threat. Even with us out numbering and out toning them.

Then they did something I didn't expect.

They started preparing to lift off.

"Fuck. Command to Alpha Lance come in!"

"Alpha here."

"Enemy are making a break for it, looks like the damage to the hangar wasn't enough to completely stop a liftoff."

"Fuck! I'm on my way."

"No Colonel! They still have enough defenses that you won't make it in time. Send your ASF. We can remind them they aren't getting away with a fly over."

"Fine.." The line went dead after a moment as he reached out to his command channels to ready the ASF.

"Command to Delta, come in Delta."

"I'm here Commander."

"You seeing this?"

"Sure am Commander. But it's crazier than you think. The whole place is going crazy. I think they are killing each other right now, instead of worrying about you."

"What? They are attacking each other?" I mean, I know they are pirates, but surely being attacked and having an obvious threat is something they put more concern into.

"Oh yeah, gunfire and everything. The whole place is going up." Carl sighed over the line. "Want us to set off the bombs Commander?"

"No not yet… Wait until we move to engage. That will be the best time to do it, maximum shock."

"That I can do Commander!"

"What the hell is going on over there?"

—-

A different perspective

Red McHannon The Red Vulture

Gniezno Pirate City

Red was getting really tired of this. "TRAITORS ALL OF YOU!" He screamed as he blasted another one of the damned traitors in the head. He had been attacked! Him! Some of his men actually thought they could kill him and take over. Now of all times? No this was the act of a traitor. He just needed to know who it was. Who was plotting against him? Setting him up like this?

"Analise! Is the dropship ready for liftoff?"

"Yes Red! The captain emptied the damaged hangar, they managed to weld the door mostly shut, it will hold breaking orbit. Or at least that's what he said." She offered standing tall beside the group of kneeling men he had captured trying to betray him. Him! He had given them everything! Just because times were going bad, doesn't mean you stab your king in the back!

"Good. Stuff these assholes in that hangar. I don't want to waste any more ammo on them." Their terrified bleating was something that easily washed over him. Wouldn't be the last time he heard people begging him for Mercy after all.

"Understood Red. I'll tell the-" They both heard it.

ASF engines roaring overhead. They both ducked down, hoping that any bombs that might be dropped would be survived. But nothing happened, and Red realized something worse.

"They are circling. They know we are trying to take off." He felt his stomach drop. If the dropship's fusion drive was going before the ASF even lifted off, they would get away without a problem. But if those birds were in the air? "They trapped us."

"It seems so Red."

"How… how did they know? I only told…" He looked to his girl who met his eyes without concern. "I want off this rock too. Makes no sense for me to do it. Doesn't make sense for the captain either. He will lose his dropship if we get taken out."

"Right… You're right. Just the paranoia." He muttered although he couldn't help but keep an eye on her out of the corner of his eye. Paranoia wasn't always right, but it was always better to trust your instincts.

"What do we do Red, we can't take off with those birds in the air… And we lost our Rifleman."

"I know! Fuck. They just had to get wiped! I wish I knew what happened, those fucks. They didn't even tell us what these fucking mercs were up to. I feel like we have been fighting blind the whole damn battle!"

"We have. They killed all of our scouts… Again something pointing to a traitor. But even I don't know where all the scouts were stationed."

"No one does! I fucking don't even know!" He stops not because of a thought, but because of the gun pressed against the back of his head. He opens his mouth to talk to argue, but the bullet silences that entirely.

—-

The Killers Perspective.

Analise?

Gniezno city ruins

"What a waste." She sighs, two years of work gone. All because this idiot got his base found out, and managed to get outwitted by a merc company. Well at least there is one benefit to the entire situation she considers. "At least I got to be the one to kill him."

Two years of dealing with this scum. Two years of trying to aim him at an enemy of the Commonwealth. And finally when he started considering it?

Mercs. It's always mercs. Analise thought as she turned and headed to the communication room. A few rounds through the scum causing trouble and she was free to make a call without interruption. The pirates were too busy fighting or trying to get on the Dropship. Without realizing that dropship wasn't going anywhere now.

Flipping through a few switches she sat down. "This is an emergency request looking for the Commanding officer of the mercenary forces. Please come in."

It was silent for a while as she waited. She knew they had received her message.

"This is Commander Eisen-Blume. I have command here. Who are you?"

The voice surprised Analise, it sounded young. Very young. But it looks like Analise was in luck. She spoke with a Lyran twang. Solaris accent? Something close to it. Interesting. "Apologies Commander, I can't say we have ever been acquainted, May I ask for confirmation on who's contract you are currently working under?"

The voice was silent for a time. "I am currently under contract with the Governor of Vindemiatrix. It's an interesting question. What's your angle here?"

How cute. "I am simply confirming your allegiance before I say anything further. Commander I am requesting assistance, a face to face meeting. We have a lot to discuss."

"I don't usually make time for pirates. My go to is a bullet. I am going to need an explanation here."

"There are more interests present than you understand, but nothing I will say over an unsecured radio. A meeting face to face. If it helps your movement. There are only two mechs still active. My Thunderbolt which I will be heading for soon, and a Battlemaster whose pilot just had an unfortunate accident."

It took a while for the response to come but when it did Analise smiled internally. "If you step out with your Thunderbolt and shut down, we will have our face to face."

"Excellent."

—-

The operation to clear out the starport went very fast after that. The enemy didn't have any mechs left. We moved in, stomping what resistance there was, flat, not that there was much. Once we had the port secured the Dropships surrendered 'thanking' us for saving them and their crew from the vile pirates. And of course in exchange for not nuking their own ships they would be treated as pirate captives instead of pirates themselves.

But we all knew what was truly going on. The crew of the dropships would be carried back to a Lyran planet and released, but none of them expected to be treated super well. At least they would survive.

What was more interesting was the Thunderbolt waiting outside the port, right where they said they would be. Shutdown, and as my Lance came up hatch opening. Out stepped a woman, early twenties, wearing the most risque outfit I had ever seen.

And that came with Mechwarriors wearing almost nothing when in the cockpit. I slipped out of my own cockpit, still wearing my armor in case of any tricks, as I walked out to figure out what the hell was going on.

Colonel Maruska joined me, his Shadow Hawk still his main ride for now, despite us retrieving his Battlemaster. Apparently they had already changed the security system, so it would have to be fixed before he could pilot it again.

As I approached the woman, she was paying ample attention to the Colonel for a moment, seeming pleased before turning her attention to me. I could see her interest in my armor, as her eyes roved over it, but I was used to that. And it was expected.

"Commander Eisen-Blume, and unless my guess is wrong, Colonel, Maruska, of the Vindemiatrix guard." She offered, her voice almost unconsciously sultry.

I could see his fist clench as he was forced to speak to a pirate, one that had raided his home, causing such stress, but he bore with it staying firm.

I interrupted before anything else could be said. "You requested a meeting. As I said I don't usually meet with pirates, make it quick."

"I'm not a pirate, I'm a member of LIC, Lohengrin division." She states plainly with a gentle smile waiting, as I took this in.

The Colonel didn't hold back unlike me, he denied it instantly. "Bullshit! I recognize that Thunderbolt, you think I wouldn't recognize it? You were one of the raiders that attacked my world!"

"Yes I was. An unfortunate requirement for my job of infiltrating the Red Vultures." She offered before turning to me. "I don't have any credentials to prove my status of course, but if you take me back to civilized space, a stop at an HPG terminal will provide proof of what I say."

"That doesn't make sense. Lohengrin works to protect Lyran citizens from terrorists, the Red Vultures don't really fit."

"That is because you aren't aware that the Vultures had backers. I never got confirmation on who unfortunately. Although the fact I was in the midst of convincing Red to switch from raids on Lyran worlds to League worlds? Probably Fedsuns, or Capellans. Not that it really changes anything here and now."

"Fuck!" Colonel Maruska cursed his fist clenched and although he moved he didn't swing his fist at her, as much as everyone could tell he wanted to. "You attacked a Lyran world to figure out who was backing pirates! You killed your own people for what?" He demanded and I was tempted to step in. The Colonel was pissed.

"Because this isn't the first group of pirates funded like this, and until we can find out who is backing them it won't be the last." She looked a little remorseful, but it was distant. Like someone bumping into a situation that doesn't concern them. "I had a job to do for the Commonwealth Colonel."

He took a deep breath and hissed through his teeth. "Commander. You.. You take care of this, I am not going to be any help here." He growled and walked back to his mech, I watched him for a while, as he climbed up the ladder and then turned and stomped off in his mech.

"Commander Eisen-Blume, will you transport me to a Commonwealth world?"

"Well I can't say I like this entire situation Miss Analise, but I will. You won't be getting back in that Thunderbolt until we have it all verified though."

"An understandable precaution, thank you." She offered with a gentle smile. This woman gave me chills. Something was just off about her.

"I do have a question for you though." I ask, suddenly remembering something important.

"Yes Commander Eisen-Blume?"

"Where the hell is the Jumpship the Pirates had."

"Oh well that's easy. I can tell you exactly where it is." She offers, and I feel like she just handed me a treasure map.

Because she sorta did.

"Though Commander Eisen-Blume, I have a question for you as well."

"What?"

"How exactly did you infiltrate the starport and plant explosives on the dropships? I set up many of the defenses against just that act myself. I convinced Red it was just a traitor in our midst, that planted those bombs, but I know that isn't accurate."

I blinked. Was that frustration in her voice? How fun. She had been so monotone the whole time, like she was discussing the weather instead of trying to convince a group of mercs not to kill her. Instead of answering I hit my radio. Keep my eyes locked on her own, "Delta Ops, we aren't killing her today, she is coming with us, so go ahead and pack up, go hunt down any stragglers trying to run off."

"Understood Commander! Delta Ops out."

"Nothing specific." I told her which answered everything and nothing.

The look of irritation on her face was worth it.

—-

After supervising the transfer of the Thunderbolt back to our dropship, and the prisoner put into a guarded room. I had only good news coming out of the Starport. Apparently, the last of the pirates had been put down. I was quite pleased to know that things were looking good. We had finished our objective. And once more my people had made it out mostly unharmed.

Erica was being treated and the doctors had laughed at my concerned call over the radio. Telling me to stop freaking out over a 'scrape' as they put it.

Delta Ops spent the next couple hours hunting down the remaining pirates that were hiding out, while the rest of us started taking everything we needed. Sure we could leave the stragglers be. Without a dropship, and without a food supply. They aren't going anywhere.

But well… Neither Carl nor I were willing to let it go that way. The few times I spoke with Delta ops while they were running around, it seemed they were turning it into a game, of who could catch more pirates before they were done.

I took Benny on foot to go claim the most important loot of course. Not that I told him that.

He just thought we were missing out.

"C'mon Vicky, what are we doing out here, I wanted to loot the hangars, now I'm missing out on Pirate loot!"

"Swag. If it's loot from a pirate it's called swag." I inform him as I turn another corner in the dilapidated building I had led Benny out to.

Looking nonplussed I kept walking even as I could feel the rolling eyes.

Teenagers.

"Swag then. You are sorta ruining a moment for me Vicky."

"No I'm not. I'm just not letting you waste time." I informed him, putting a certain twang in my voice so I sounded like some snooty noble.

"What? It's not wasting time when it's looting Vicky." He tells me and although I wasn't looking at him, I could tell he was rolling his eyes.

Teenagers.

"No but wasting time gathering garbage that the crappy pirates collected is. Don't you want the 'real' stuff?" I flashed him a grin when I came to the door I had been heading towards. The door was locked, and trapped. But well.

I had a sensor.

So I went through the wall. I whipped out my Vibroblade, and started slicing through whatever the interior wall was made out of. Benny looked at me in utter confusion as if I was some sort of madwoman.

Which was fair.

When I finished cutting I kicked in the wall, feeling like a badass and revealing the room inside.

And the mountains of money and swag stacked in the room. "Even Pirates collect money, but it's a little difficult to keep it all electronic, you know? You never know if your account will disappear if you piss someone off enough, so some Pirates store money the old fashioned way. Welcome to Red McHannons secret money stash. Hidden in an old apartment in the city."

"Vicky. I take back everything I ever said, you are my favorite." He whispers to me in awe as he walks past, grabbing a literal golden crown and looking it over.

"Of course! Wait. When did you say I wasn't your favorite! Benny! Benny! Answer me! When did you say I'm not your favorite!?"

—-

Within a day of taking out the pirates, our Union lifted off without a majority of the men. It and it's ASF wings were going to claim the Jump Ship that was currently idling in an asteroid field that Analise the LIC agent was kind enough to inform us about. While that was happening we were doing as much repairs on the Dropships as we could to get them mobile.

"Well Captain, how does it look?" I asked, striding onto the bridge of the Pirates Union. The dropship had seen better days, and the faded scrubbed off or defaced images of a Lyran fist told the tale of where it had come from.

The Captain, a younger man who used to be just a Lieutenant aboard the Union we flew in on. Was doing well despite his lack of experience in command. The amount of trustworthy crew was growing sparse with three dropships to man. He looked up from a monitor of some sort. "Commander. We are making good headway, your people do good work. I still don't know how you found another Hangar bay motor on this dustball."

"Pure luck, it was in the storage of spare parts, that's all." I informed him with a smile knowing that wasn't exactly the truth. "How long before we can lift off ourselves? I don't exactly want to miss the date for our Jumpship leaving."

"We should be able to make it without issue Commander. Thanks to your find, the Unions' Hangar should be good to go, we are just removing the last of the spot welds now. The Mule will take longer, but that's because we have to finish welding the hangar shut. I don't like it's chances of leaving orbit with those welds. Likely the entire hatch would have reopened mid orbit… On a mule well."

"Aren't Mules the dropships that tear themselves apart if the hangars aren't closed when they launch?"

"Just so." The young man replied with a shrug.

I shivered "I don't like pirates but still. Hell of a way to go."

"Agreed Commander, agreed." He offers with a smile. Before turning back to bark some orders at the bridge crew. Apparently the pirate crew hadn't been taking great care of the dropship, although thankfully it wasn't dangerous to fly, it was just not nearly where it should be for a dropship in use.

Well it didn't matter to me. I stared out of the windscreen watching everyone running around both dropships to get everything running and ready. So much work was ahead of me. So much left to do. But this was a big first step. My people had learned a lot and with the contract completion? Well my Company was going to be rolling in cash for a while.

I smiled, everything was going well!

—-1121

Last edited: 9/1/20221131