FRS Chpt 14

==Falcon Rising - Chapter 14 -==
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===Frustration with a Phantom Menace===
Date: September 25th, 3050Location: Parakoila, Federated Commonwealth
"Ugh," I sagged into the lone chair in my quarters, my knee reminding me that I wasn't young anymore as I dropped my report and the sensor data from the fight on the small desk.
 
Thankfully, I had kept a heated rag in a nearby steamer, and opening the drawer, I pulled it out and set it on my knee, a sigh of relief escaping as some of the pain and tension eased.
 
Then I began combing through the sensor scans from my Warhammer, the Bobby B had a Star League Era sensor and computer suite, and there had to be something I could use to take down a Phantom 'Mech user buried deep within somewhere. Psionic bullshit or not, I would figure out how to take them down without artillery.
 
"Entering!" Darya walked through my door without knocking, pausing to glance at my knee and what I was inspecting. "The techs said that our sensors were working perfectly," She commented as she looked over my shoulder. "And what occurred does not look like Null-Sig or any of the other methods that the Star League or the Clans possess."
 
She paused, and then began removing her clothes, stripping out of her Tank top, sports bra, and shorts, completely ignoring modesty as she reached into the small shower and turned the water on. "What do you think it was and how would you combat it?"
 
"I have no idea," I shrugged as I turned my attention back to the sensor scans from right before the enemy Mechwarrior triggered the most bullshit ability in this universe. "He was still clearly visible to the mark one eyeball though. So there's got to be a way for us to handle him if he appears again."
 
"Let me finish up, and then I will join you." Darya stepped into the still cold water as I picked up a notepad and began jotting down potential ways to deal with the new threat, getting absorbed in my thoughts before a slender arm dragged me away from my headspace.
 
"Hmm..." Darya stepped out of the shower and considered the report, a new pair of shorts and a bra now covering her up. "Arrow IV's rely on a 'Mech's sensors or TAG," she hummed. "TAG does not rely on a 'Mech's sensor suite. "However, you are failing to consider something crucial in that." Darya leaned over my shoulder, pressing herself into my back. "Elementals do not require sensors to fire their weapons, they are able to aim with nothing more than their own senses if needed."
 
"So artillery or Elementals," I stroked my gray-streaked beard. "How many Elementals will be left behind for garrison duties though?" I asked. "I fully expect for this mechwarrior to appear and wreak havoc once we have left, and I would rather not sacrifice any of our people if it is unnecessary."
 
"It will largely be Solahma that remain behind." Darya responded, pulling on one of my shirts, over her current gear, the sight doing things to parts of my anatomy that I would rather remain still at the moment."Still, we should document the ways that this can be defeated and leave them behind. If the garrison commander does not listen or heed our advice then it will fall upon his head, not ours," Darya closed my notebook. "Now, you need a turn in the shower, you reek."
 
"Alright," I stepped into the shower and pulled the curtain closed before stripping down. "Don't erase my ideas!" I called out as I turned on the spray of icy water. "I'm not done documenting everything yet!
 
I finished up and dressed myself in a set of PT gear,the SLDF logo embroidered onto the olive drab shirt and black shorts.
 
Then I stepped out of the shower and glanced over at the table.
 
Darya was seated in the chair I had vacated and was correcting my notes and analyzing the sensor data I had printed out.
 
Everything in her focused on figuring out the mystery that lay before her, to the point that she ignored Gray padding up beside her and laying down at her feet.
 
"We shall have to report your findings to the Star Colonel," the Star Captain said after she snapped out of the strange state she had been in. "If the rest of the Inner Sphere has portions of this technology, then we will encounter them when we least expect it."
 
"I'm not sure this is tech," I sat on my bed, scratching Gray's chin as I laid down and stared at the upper bunk.. "It seems too organic for it to have been something triggered on purpose. After all, if he had possessed this technology, he would have used it to ambush us before that battle. He could have killed us off one by one via Trial of Possession if he had it."
 
"You are correct." Darya closed the notebook. "We shall bring this to her attention in the morning," she stood up from the table, snuggled under the thin blankets beside me, and was fast asleep on the shared cot while I lay there staring at the ceiling for a few moments before allowing sleep to claim me as well.
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===Reports and Recalls===
Date: September 26th, 3050Parakoila, Federated Commonwealth
"Star Captain, your report," Star Colonel Pryde glanced up from her terminal, her fingers continuing to fly across the keyboard.
 
"It is all in here," Darya handed the folder to her Commanding officer. "As are those of my Trinary.""Excellent," the Star Colonel looked back at the terminal.
 
"We also have documentation on potential ways to combat the technology that we encountered," Darya offered the Galaxy Commander the papers. "I would advise we leave this for the Garrison Commander as well as distribute it to the rest of the Clan. Should they encounter anything similar, it would ensure that they are capable of dealing with it."
 
"One example of such technology does not matter in the grand scheme of things." Marthe tossed the write-up onto a small section of the desk. "Should we need it, it is available, but I do not expect for us to encounter the likes of such again, Quiaff?"
 
"Aff," Darya replied a bit hesitantly.
 
Then the Star Colonel stiffened as a message flashed across her terminal."Star Captain, select someone to take charge of those who are not Bloodnamed in your trinary," she met Darya's eyes. "The IlKhan is dead, and we are to return to Strana Mechty to elect a new one."
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===Expectations on one's return===
"How did it go?" Mark asked as he moved around the small kitchenette, pulling a small plate of bacon out of a toaster oven.
 
"The Star Colonel dismissed our concerns," Darya sagged into a chair as Mark slid over a plate ladled with food. "She did not consider this incident worth taking note of."
 
"Then it's on her head," Mark sat down across from her and bowed his head for a moment, his lips moving briefly before he began eating. "We brought critical information to her attention and she ignored it. Anything else is beyond our responsibility. Unless we are able to directly speak to the garrison before we depart."
 
"That is an option," Darya began eating, pausing to enjoy the flavors that were unfamiliar to her. "But I do not believe that it will work. The Star Colonel's word is as law unless we are willing to challenge her decision."
 
"Like I said," Mark shrugged. "We did our jobs. If people above us aren't willing to listen then it is on their heads," he went completely silent as he ate the eggs, bacon and other breakfast foods that he had made.
 
"The ilKhan is dead," Darya finally stated. "All Bloodnamed warriors are to return for the election of a new one. I am leaving you in command of the Trinary while we are gone, you will likely answer to the garrison commander," Darya sipped at her coffee. "I expect to find this 'Phantom' dead upon my return," she smirked. "And you in charge of the garrison should things go poorly."
 
"God, I hope not," He leaned back and stretched, a few cracks coming from his spine as he tilted his head from side to side. "I have enough to do without getting into politics or more paperwork."
 
"Stranger things have happened," Darya raised an eyebrow. "After all, is there not a ristar among Clan Wolf that began life as a Bondsman?"
 
"That is fair," I shrugged. "I guess we will see what happens while you are gone."
 
"Indeed we shall," she stood up and cleaned off her plate. "Let us hope that things move swiftly, there is still much to be done, after all."
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