Chapter Fourteen

Helm

Free Worlds League

June 24th​, 3025

I find my self waking up in the late morning as we were pulled off the line for repairs late last night. I check in with the Colonel and learn that the enemy seems to be working on field repairs for its remaining units according to Wood's surveillance cameras. In this case we have the advantage of the facility's repair gantries, at least for today as the stripping of the facility's equipment will begin tonight. If all goes well, we will be leaving Helm tomorrow night.

I check in with my people and confirm all of them are okay but tired and their equipment is in good order. We are as ready as we can be for whatever comes next.

With our mechs repaired and some well-deserved rest taken while the mechs were being serviced we once again take up our defensive position in the Drango Gap.

It is strange to see the people of Drango village out to watch the battles. It reminds me of American civil war pictures where you can see civilians having a picnic while a battle takes place in the foreground. I guess the people of this universe are so used to war it does not frighten them.

The day goes by quietly and during the evening, plans are discussed for the phased withdrawal of our forces tomorrow night. We spend the night in our mechs with two of us on watch while two of us take four-hour naps before switching the pairs. The night passes peacefully to the relief of us all. Perhaps the enemy is waiting for reinforcements as they don't seem to be preparing to make another assault on our defenses according to Wood. Although he did make note of a man surrounded by white robed Comstar personnel arguing with what he assumed was Lord Garth. Probably Rachan the lunatic.

In the early evening we begin the phased withdrawal to the dropships with the slowest units first. When our turn comes, we pull back through the pass and take note of the surprise Colonel Finnan has arranged. It looks like he found a use for the ammunition after all as it has been piled alongside the pass. I remember when we learned earlier that the missile and autocannon ammunition stored here was unsuitable for use due to age. Thus, we had the ordinance techs recover samples of Artemis and Narc guidance packages along with any other special tech they could find. I am sure he plans to blow it as the last units pull out.

It seems the enemy has started probing our defenses as they must have picked up on the extra noise of the withdrawing units. Thirty minutes later we hear the sound of a huge explosion coming from the pass. We continue to fall back to the dropships and begin boarding. 

I watch as the Colonel confirms everyone has arrived safely and the last few stragglers begin to board. Mastiff and I are the last to board the Scythe II before lifting off for the jump point. We watch the sensors to confirm the self- destruct sequence has activated as planned.

Even with the library core removed we could not leave the facility behind for the enemy's use. Five tense days later we arrive at the jump point and begin docking procedures. Our fighters are busy keeping the enemy away during this delicate time. Having completed docking and recovered our fighters it is time to get the fuck out of dodge.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1" Discontinuity.

We have all arrived safely in the uninhabited system we jumped to Helm from. Good news is the rest of the Third Lyran Guards are still here and okay. After reporting our status to General Wolenstein, we learn that his jumpship was sabotaged by a spy amongst the engineering staff and they require certain spare parts to repair the jump drive. Unfortunately, the spy committed suicide before capture so she could not be interrogated. The good news is we have the parts to effect repairs amongst the fleet.

I arrange a small celebration in recognition of everyone's hard work while we wait for the repairs to be completed and the jumpships to recharge. We still have a long way to go before we are safely back at Tharkad. After the celebration I pulled wood aside to let him know how proud I am of him for the work he performed during the mission. He seemed embarrassed but happy with my praise. I then stunned him when I informed him of his raise in salary retroactive to the first incursion of the cache and the bonus for services above and beyond his duties. He earned it and it is in my best interest to keep him happy and productive during his time working for me.

I settle in to the usual shipboard routine after going through the after action debrief with all my forces including the space fleet. I spend some time with Mastiff's help to come to grips with having taken human lives. I also make use of the beagle probes offline functions to review the battles and play with the options to learn how I could have done things better.

It is now October the ninth and we have returned to Tharkad as the 'conquering heroes'. I am once again a guest at the palace although I seem to be getting more respect this time. I have been informed that the Archon will meet with me after the recovered cache contents are unloaded and inventoried. I request access to a live fire range for my units to properly zero in their weapons and get some practice gunnery in. My request is promptly granted and a time arranged. I have seen why Katrina is busy as she has been handing out medals and promotions in various ceremonies over the last several days. It seems the job of a sovereign is never done.

I have finally been summoned by Katrina, I follow my escort to meet with her and find my self being taken to her personal section of the palace. Walking through the door indicated by the escort finds me entering a lavish drawing room occupied by Katrina, Melissa, Nondi Simon, and a new young lady who turns out to be Lisa Steiner the Second. Nondi's daughter. I greet them and take the offered seat.

Katrina starts off the meeting by shaking her head slightly. "You Rick are making things very difficult for me. How am I supposed to adequately compensate you for all you have done for me and the realm? We have gone through the cache inventory and read the reports filed by the officers involved in the task force, all of them favorable. We have had our people digging into the library core since you provided it and been able to evaluate some of the future equipment you have brought us. I just don't see us ever being able to fully repay this debt to you.

Gesturing towards the others she continues. "We however will do our best to do so."

"While you are at the NAIS we would suggest your unit spend some time at Galatea recruiting and training before moving to garrison Loxley. We will also try to hire the Gray Death Legion for you as you asked, we can offer Grayson Carlyle a Barony on Storfors if that is amenable to you?"

Yes Katrina, that will be fine and Thank you for all the assistance you have provided.

"Lastly, I have decided to grant you rights to half the cache contents, but I wish to work out a deal to acquire some of it from you. I believe you need to reorganize your space forces, which is something we can work into the deal. Some one slap him in the back of the head, I think I broke him."

Melissa quickly jumps up to comply with her mother's orders and smacks me in the back of the head as I was too stunned to even try to stop her.

"Huh, what, don't do that." Shaking my head, I ask for a moment to collect my thoughts.

"Okay, I think I am starting understand how you must have felt after first meeting me."

"That is great Rick or should I call you Duke Grimm of Loxley, we will make arrangements for the formal swearing of loyalty as soon as possible."

"As you command my Liege."

I spend the time before dinner discussing the cache split and learning more about my future landhold.

Later that evening after enjoying a sumptuous meal I relax in the palace suite I have been provided, I take some time to think over todays discussions.

I don't know how I am going to govern multiple systems let alone one. I better make sure to ask for assistance with that. The former Kong Interstellar factory complex On Loxley was producing Black Knights, Ostsols and Ostscouts according to Simon's people. We are going to try to acquire the rights to the designs from Kong Interstellar of Connaught. The Old Ymir factory on Storfors used to belong to the Coventry Defense Conglomerate, so we will make legal ownership of it part of the deal involving the hand over of future Coventry designs for reverse engineering.

I plan to leverage the future designs in similar agreements with other manufacturers to acquire licensing agreements, rights to designs or assistance with repairs to my factories and training personal to operate them etc. Katrina and Hanse will buy shares of my 'Shell Company' and use it for similar purposes. The future equipment will be placed in secure storage pending deals or being available for use when secrecy is no longer required. Katrina and Hanse want to purchase as many units as possible which can be used currently with out suspicion. So basically, the Star League era or current models which means as much of my share of the cache or equivalent models from the future cache as they can get out of me.

As a down payment from them they are making arrangements to replace the Behemoth dropship with a Mammoth class dropship for its more convenient usability. They will also hand over an Invader class Jumpship, and a Vengeance class dropship to go with the Styx and the Mammoth as a merchant group which they wish to lease until I need it for my company. As for combat dropships they will replace the Scythe II with an Overlord, a Fortress and a Triumph.

The plan for me going forward is to attend NAIS and apprentice under Doctor Banzai as well as complete officer training.

The Reapers will travel to Galatea for training and recruiting in which they will both provide assistance. The goal is to turn the Reapers into a regimental combat team for the protection of Loxley and to offer a Barony to Grayson Carlyle on Storfors to protect that world.

I will also have to raise and support militia forces to protect my holdings. I may be called upon to participate in the upcoming war depending on the situation at the time but that is to be expected. Damn it is getting late, I should get some sleep before I have to get back to strategizing and negotiating with Katrina and her advisors.