FRS Chpt 7

==Falcon Rising - Chapter 7 -==
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===Techs dealing with a Warrior's arrogance===
Date: 3049
Location: Jade Falcon Dropship, TheseusBensinger, Federated Commonwealth
"Thank you for allowing me to repair her," I looked up at the Bobby B, the 'Mech once again painted in the olive drab of the SLDF, with the words SLS Manassas engraved into one of the shoulders. "I know that it's not quite up to the standards of the Clan's usual 'Mechs, but she's mine. And she's served me well for the last fifty years."
 
"That it was maintained as well as it was before your service with us speaks well of you, Bondsman," Jasper nodded. "I believe that some of the replacements that you requested were necessary for this 'Mech to be able to support our forces in the future should you manage to find a place among our warriors."
 
"I hope I don't have to use them," I shrugged. "The best blades remain in their sheaths," I butchered the old Japanese proverb.
 
"Why would one have a weapon that would not be utilized for its purpose?" Jasper asked.
 
"You'll understand one day," I let my language slip before I moved through the gantry to the cockpit of my 'Hammer. "But I do not believe I have the time to spend instructing you today.
 
I slipped into the cockpit, Gray nudging her cooling vest with her nose to suggest that we go for a ride.
 
"Sorry, girl," I plugged my 'Noteputer into the computer to check the readouts. "No rides today."
 
She whined in response, her wagging tail stifled by me shaking my head and scratching her behind her ear.
 
"Everything checks out," I climbed out of the cockpit and reported to Jasper. "I will move on to checking over the Omnipods next, Quiaff?"
 
"Aff," Jasper replied. "Count the autocannon ammunition stores while you are at it. I believe we must encourage the warriors to swap to an energy-based armament soon."
 
"Are they burning through them that quickly?" I asked.
 
"Our missile stores remain enough for any engagement," Jasper replied. "The Spheroid's missiles may be inferior, but we can easily adjust our launchers for said missiles if required. It is the autocannon on which we are running low. In the centuries that we were gone, it seems that much has changed involving said munitions"
 
"Well, I hope the Warriors see it that way," I began taking note of what pods and configurations were readily available. "I'd hate to owe Surkai for refusing to outfit a 'Mech for lack of ammunition."
 
"Should such a thing happen I will bring it before the Star Colonel and Galaxy Commander," Jasper stated coldly. "My technicians will not pay the price for a Warrior's arrogance."
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===Bondsman's new assignment===
August 21st, 3050Location: Blackjack, Federated Commonwealth
"Damn," I looked at the Adder that limped back from combat, closely followed by a savaged Mad Dog. "Whoever they fought this time really put up a fight."
"They were excellent warriors," Darya Pryde agreed as she climbed out of her Adder, beads of sweat dripping down her body as the Omnimech steamed from the humid air. "Several of them have been claimed as Bondsman as you were, Freebirth. For junior warriors that were the equivalent of the Eyrie they fought with honor, and among them were many that will find a place within the Clan."
 
"Star Commander," Jasper stepped forward, "Did the Star Colonel give you instructions for the technicians?"
 
"Aff," Darya shifted her gaze to the lead tech. "You will need to mobilize to recover our assets from the field. Several of our warriors have fallen, and their 'mechs will need to be retrieved."
 
I nodded and moved to climb into one of the recovery vehicles.
 
"Not you, Freebirth," Darya called out. "You are to return with me to the field of battle. We will acclimate the new bondsman to our ways, and you will be useful in their introduction to such." She turned and looked at the mangled mess of the ankle actuators on the Omnimech's left foot. "See to it that the actuator is replaced and that I am rearmored before we depart. I would be prepared for an engagement after the events of the last world that we conquered, Quiaff?"
 
"Aff," Jasper responded, signaling for a group to begin working on the Adder. "Bondsman Hull, you are to collect your kit. We will take care of the Star Commander's 'Mech."
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===Meeting Angry Soldiers===
After assisting with collecting the shattered Blackjack Training Battalion, they were placed in a hastily constructed Barracks prefab that had been among the supplies.
 
"I'm Mark Hull," I introduced myself to the group of cadets that made up the remnants of the Battalion. "I can see you've met the new landowners."
 
"I'll say," the group's oldest member looked me up and down, frowning at how old I seemed to be. "You don't look like one of these Clanners. You're too informal. Why the fuck are you working with them? They slaughtered us and what do we have to show for it? Two, maybe three 'Mechs destroyed. Most of my men and women dead?!"
 
"For what it's worth," I offered. "And I know it's a cold comfort, but you're not the only ones whose homes have been taken from them."
 
"As if," one scoffed. "You're one of them now, why should we take any of your words as truth? You've already given up."
 
He stood as if to make a threatening move before a savage bark and growl from Gray made him back off.
 
"Easy girl," I scratched her neck. "He's just angry is all."
 
"Now, most of y'all look like survivors, so I'm going to lay out the easiest way to make it out alive here."
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===Straight Talk===
"Be straight with me," Kommadant Dean Bristow met my eyes. "What are our odds of escape and getting back to friendlies?"
 
"Whelp," I scratched at my beard. "SIGINT is good, but these guys aren't exactly the greatest at HUMINT. They're just not familiar enough with regular people yet," I shrugged. "At least not yet. So you've got a chance. But you'll have to decide whether you take it or not. They're going to learn. They're not stupid, just misinformed from having been isolated for the last few centuries."
 
"We'll talk about it," the Kommadant glared. "Provided you can keep your mouth shut."
 
"Fucking traitor," he continued when he thought I couldn't hear him.
 
"My lips are sealed," I stood up and Gray silently padded over to my side. "See y'all around," I walked away, as a feeling I hadn't felt in a while bubbled up in my chest.
 
I was angry, I was not the one responsible for their losses. I had not only not chosen to join this war of my own volition. But I wasn't even a part of the Inner Sphere prior to the Invasion!
 
I managed to make it back to the bunk I shared with another tech before I collapsed into the bed, Gray whining as she nudged my hand, her cold nose bringing a slight bit of calm as I absentmindedly stroked her between the eyes.
 
I didn't belong in this century. I didn't belong in this universe. The Clans were oddly enough the place where I fit in the best after nearly fifty years on my own. They ignored my small oddities and issues as long as I was useful. Hell, for all of the comments on my age, they'd treated me fairly well aside from the snide comments about me being a Freebirth.
 
I scoffed. Maybe it was a version of Stockholm syndrome, but I knew that I stood a chance of making a place for myself here. And maybe even a chance to change some things for the better if I lived long enough.
 
"What do you say, Gray?" I leaned up and looked at her face. "Wanna change the world with me?"
She licked my face in response before barking happily and wagging her tail.
 
"I'll take that as a yes," I laughed, my anger falling away as I slowly worked through her commands again. She always remembered them, but I knew that she enjoyed demonstrating just how smart she was.
 
"First things first," I said after we'd finished. "We've got to get this Bondcord off. Then we can work on everything else."
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