IroFath Chpt 6

==Iron Father - Chapter 6 -==
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During the five day trip, Corden trained Aaron and the other guides on battle armor. They would be able to be in the void, move around, and be able to maneuver. Corden had selected the Tengu while the others were in djinn. The djinn was nimble enough and small enough to allow them to move thru the corridors and wreckage. Aaron hoped to get a real good look at all the interiors and flex his book knowledge.
The first order of business was Kendricke's JumpShip. When they arrive, Corden attempted to dock at one of the free docking collars. It was a success; however, gaining enty to the DropShip was another matter. Corden was in his Tengu, only armed with a Mauser 1200. He pulled down on the airlock seal with his true arms and battle armor musculature. The seal broke and they finally gained access. The JumpShip had power but was completely airless. They floated thru the structure noting that the inside was pristine. It was when they got to the JumpShip bridge did they finally learn what happened. Like what happened on Corden's JumpShip, the same thing happened here, but worse. Bodies had been shifted in different directions and recombined. It was a horrible scene. Thankfully none of the guides threw up in their suits. What was surprising was that most of the equipment was intact. The K-F Drive showed offline. Anything further would take actual hands on look. Corden left the guides to gake a gander. He had some investigation and a meeting with a Paladin.
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Corden gained entry to the second DropShip. The seals had been broken out to space in the cargo hold. Bodies floated here and there from the decompression. As he made his way to the bridge, he noticed that the DropShip looked familiar. The paint covered what would had been a Word of Blake DropShip. The design and lay out were all the same, just colored different. Corden felt spooked as he made it to another section where doors had sealed themselves in emergency. Over riding the seals and making his way onward, he found atmosphere. He drifted thru the different cooridoors noting from memory where to go. Then it made it to the bridge.
The computers were of Word of Blake design. The main VDNI interface had been ripped out and in place a more conventional control system installed. Corden looked over the system and booted up the computers. He played around with the operating system looking over files and various other things. Every file he looked at was dated 40+ years than he expected. Journals, logs, and past flight schedules all reached his eyes. His guts fell out in his mind as realization of what was likely true. But he pressed on.
In one section of the files he was looking into he found he was on Kendricke's personal DropShip. So where was the paladin? At that moment he searched the DropShip again. Hours passed and no one alive or dead was in the sealed sections he was on. Coming to the conclusion that Kendricke was on the last DropShip, he made his way back to the bridge. There he started going over the personal files of this Paladin. As he went deeper, he found the orders that were relayed to come to the Turbline system, the Republics expectations of finding germanium, and the apprehension of himself. Corden chuckled that wouldn't be happening any time soon.
Then there was a sealed folder that needed password to enter. This confounded Corden as he was not of poltergeist class. Granted there was cross training in computer hacking, but everything he tried didn't work. Corden then starting taking panels off the various terminals and looking at the guts of the system. It was an utter hack job. Old equipment mated with new ones that he did not recognize. But one particular board caught his interest. It was a Word of Blake back up system that would allow a Manei Domini access to anything he wanted. A failsafe in case a ship fell into enemy hands and then later recaptured. It simply looked like a control relay, but if combined with a few other parts that were internal to the system, he could connect his VDNI. IF the parts were all there.
Thankfully, they were and Corden connected to it. He thought his way thru the system and re-examined the files he had looked at. All data file integrity was real and true. Dates, patterns, codes. It was all true with what he saw thru the frail terminal. Then he pushed past the passworded folder and unlocked history he never lived. The Jihad, the formation of the Republic of the Sphere, and the rise of Devlin Stone. Then he read secret files of what the Republic knew of his kin. They were simply gone. No where to be found. The last one being an infiltrator being found years later then executed.
Then there was mention of the hidden five. Three had been found but not Obeedah and Taussen. That meant likely his brethren had followed The Master's plan and made it to the last two. Hope filled Corden. If he could possibly get there... But two other keys were needed to make the jump to any of the systems. Two other Manei Domini which he didn't have with him. Furthur diving into the files, he learned of the projects that the Word had conducted. Many he knew, some not. Then salvation was found. Two Manei Domini codes that were deeply buried in the files. Precentor Vapula's and Adept Naamah's. There was revelation that the Republic had been seeking such codes to try to infiltrate these hidden system. How did they get them? Adept Naamah must have had her implants ripped out without her self destructing. But Vapula? A traitor? No one within the Manei Domini had betrayed The Master. Unless. Unless he was ordered by The Master to help the third transfer allong. Then it dawned on him why Kendricke came here. He was the third key. If the Republic got a hold of him and extracted his implants. The Republic would have a way to the final hidden two worlds. Shaking his mind, he memorized the codes. With this knowledge he might be able to fashion a way to return to one of the systems. Maybe there was some tech on this DropShip with the intention of making this possible infilitraion.
Corden then spent hours reading what he could to learn of the history he had missed...
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THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! Came a knocking noise, distant in the DropShip. Kendricke wondered what was failing now. THUMP! THUMP! He floated in the direction of the noise, only then realizing it was towards he DropShip/JumpShip airlock. He gulped and pulled out his side arm. He made it to the airlock and started to see seals and gears moving. It was then he positioned himself in another room then sealed it. That way the airlock could be closed and then that room repressurized. Then the airlock opened.
A thing of thing of nightmares stepped thru. A visage of a past that he did not want to remember. Death, destruction, and Jihad. The Blakist had come. He watched the Tengu seal the airlock behind it, turn around, and looked thru the glass at him. It held up its hand in a greetings and then knocked on the door three times after the room had cycled. There was no going back now. That suit could rip open the door if it wanted. He had no where to go so he stood his ground and hit the open button. The tengu suit stepped thru.
"Greetings Kendricke. We have much to talk about. That pistol will not do a thing so I suggest you either holster it or give it to me."
Kendricke considered his options and holstered it.
"Let me see your face that way I know what you speak of is true. That you are of the Word."
The hatch unsealed and revealed Corden's face. Cybernetics and all.
"Shit. At least I know the truth now. You wouldn't mind just surrendering right now?"
"No." Chuckled Corden. "And I don't blame you because orders are orders. Those end today and now you are in my care. No harm will come to you at this point as I had to process what you have told me. The HPG date stamp, the proof that was up here, and the expertise of some people I have been in contact with for months now. I believe you Paladin, everything. I checked the other two DropShips and the JumpShip bridge. Every single computer I tried and looked at confirmed what is going on. I am a Manei Domini out of time. Forty seven years lost."
Kendricke just lost it in maniacal laughter. The statement seemed absurd, but it was true. It was the only explanation at this time.
"Are you done laughing Paladin? For there is another non laughing matter. Your crew on the JumpShip is all but dead. The bridge people were shifted around like I see there on your arm. Other rooms showed people that suffocated, but were intact. There were a few others on the two other DropShips that I examined. They had died being scrambled. I am sorry for your loss, but considering what you were sent here for, I am not so sorry."
"You swear that you didn't kill anyone of my crew?!"
"I swear to Blake, Paladin. If that is not enough, you do not truly know my kind."
It was, Kendricke knew that the Manei Domini spoke truth and in an arrogant manner. This one though was a little different so far. He at least hadn't called him a frail yet. He wanted to draw his pistol and shoot this Corden in the face. It would be all to easy. It was just their damn cybernetics gave them an ever so edge in reaction. It would be suicide. Not to mention his orders...
"So what do you have planned for me then, Blakist."
"I want you to tell me the history I missed in your own words. The actions of the Word of Blake. This Republic of the Sphere. What happened to the successor lords and the Clans. You can at least tell me this much without me going thru each computer bank again."
Kendricke retold the story of the Jihad in a summarized version. The coalition of forces that joined together to eradicate the Word of Blake. The formation of the Republic. The down sizing of the successor lord forces and the pausing of clan hostilities. The leadership of an unlikely man named Devlin Stone. He judiciously relayed the death of The Master and Apollyon. Scoured by the Rasalhague Dominion of the Ghost Bear clan. THAT got a reaction from Corden. One of anger, one of contrition, one of sadness.
"Finally hit a nerve there huh.", grinned Kendricke.
"Yes. The Master sought the dream of the Third Transfer. And behold, he was successful and you do not need to thank us.
"Thank you?! Are you insane! You and your Master nuked countless souls into oblivion! You are so blind that you don't see the evil?!"
"Compared to what? The reoccurring cycle of endless war between despots and the abominations? How many billions died for star systems to trade hands countless times between the same opponents? Don't you lecture me on death! No, no, you are living proof! The republic is living proof! Don't you see it?! A republic! Not a feudal warlord scheming over the ruins of the star league. There is peace in the inner sphere that hasn't existed for over three hundred years! You should be rejoicing at the sacrifices that everyone made for that third transfer to happen."
"You are like every Manei Domini. Arrogant and utterly lost to humanity."
"As The Master meant and praise to be Blake."
"Get me off of this dead ship damn you."
At that time, the airlock was starting to cycle. They waited for the figure to come thru and Kendricke was even more perturbed to see a Djinn battle armor now aboard with Corden. The hatch revealed it was Aaron.
"Oh great more blakists."
"I assure you I am not a blakist. I am Aaron the guide. You must be Kendricke the Paladin."
"Then why the hell are you here and following this degenerate. Not to mention you talk funny."
"Because there was no other way to the stars. Corden has been all but a help to Turbline.
Kendricke scoffs again.
"and as to how I am talking. Those on Turbline use their job role as a semi title after their name. Get use to it, Kendricke THE paladin."
"You are starting to sound like him now." Kendricke pointed at Corden.
"I have heard the conversation between you two on the way here. I can understand the vitrial that you have with him. You are not alone in thinking he is a monster. He doesn't dodge that fact." Aaron looks at Corden. "Me and him have a semi understanding. Now if you excuse me I have to talk to him alone."
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"What is it, Aaron?"
"So Ramus went over the JumpShip internals and he found the core and drive are all intact in his opinion."
"Hold on. Jumpship cores when they misjump are destroyed or damaged. This is different? Are you telling me this is repairable?"
"It is weird what I saw when he showed me. Its the power connections and control wiring. They were shifted an inch laterally it appears along the JumpShip as if it isn't connected to anything. Just like those poor souls on the JumpShip bridge and the DropShips. But why not you and Kendricke, hell even our ancestors, survived these misjumps? Ralph also has a theory but wants to look at your JumpShip wreckage and also ours from centuries ago."
"Mine shouldn't be a problem. The old one though will be harder. Jumpships from then didn't have docking collar technology at the time. It would be an external entry and very dangerous. Are you willing to risk being lost in the void because you misfired any of the jump jets on your battle armor let alone anyone else getting there?"
"It is worth it, Corden. If Ramus is right, it might open us up to the Inner Sphere. They could come here."
"NOT one word to Kendricke. Even though he is pure of heart and nation. He harbors hatred that blinds him and of..."
"I can't blame him, Corden. What the Word did. What the Manei Domini did in that Jihad of yours."
"Then keep that in mind when he sees what is going on down on Turbline. He will use that against everyone. You were blessed by Blake even if you did not want it. That is the reality as it sits. That man could bring in a force that would persecute those who sought hope. Keep it so that it doesn't happen."
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They managed to get Kendricke aboard Corden's Union. Then they disembarked and moved over to Corden's JumpShip. Upon connecting and exploring the wreck, it appeared that it had taken a worse hit. In either case the guides determined that the same thing had happened with the KF core. It had also separated an inch from the main connecting and control wires. Ramus thought that it could be repaired, but only one jump likely could be done. Then it would be a total wreck. Other systems found intact were the fusion reactor, lithium fusion battery, and the HPG. No more than two days was spent going over the wreck before continuing onto the one JumpShip the guides really wanted to see.
The primitive JumpShip. They had to open the DropShips airlock, float the way over, cut open the structure, and then gain entry. Thankfully no one made a mistake and jetted into the void. Upon entry, it was a total wreck. Again the KF Drive core was shifted an inch, but was cracked down the center. Floating in the middle of space with random fluctuations of gravity over the centuries had done it in. They also found mummified corpses of their ancestors and they were shifted as the other crews had been. What of value though was old computers, manuals, treasures of their ancestors in the form of pictures, clothes, and what not. A literal time capsule in space. These were gathered and crated for the journey back to Turbline.
With their work done for now, Corden turned the DropShip back to Turbline and began the journey home. Corden took this time to teach the guides how the DropShip worked. How to fly it, land it, the whole gammit. He couldn't forever be relied on to do this. Especially with his VDNI woes. He still needed to check with Carol the medic or other doctors. Too much had been going on. Too much...
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During the entire journey, Corden was able to remain in contact with Deback. The connection with the parked Preta was a stop gap at best but it worked. Training on all the equipment had gone well. Tim had taken to Se'irim battle armor thru sheer determination and three others had also managed to get a good understanding too. The rest of the guards who had stepped forward had got the hang of the mauser 1200s. All in all, it sounded good.
Corden did the math. He could transport six battle armor on his archangel. Then another ten tons of equipment by carrying it in one hand if they switched his mech back to the Invictus config. Some kind of structure with seats would have to be fashioned to carry men, arms, and equipment. Something the guides could easily do. Taking the DropShip near the lair would have been too dangerous and would eliminate the element of surprise. So a moving assault force would be done.
On the fifth day, the DropShip descended to Turbline. Corden warned Deback that he would land at the same place he had before near Baltmare so the crowds would be backed off. When they did go to land, Corden had Aaron attempt the descent while he was plugged in with his VDNI. Aaron managed the entry just barely. Landing though would be the true test and... Aaron failed. Corden immediately took over, correcting the mistakes Aaron had made, and fought the extra Gs. The union landed without breaking anything to Corden's relief.
"I am sorry, Corden. We could have died."
"But you did well on the reentry. You are doing the best you can based on coming from essentially nothing. Do not despair. There will be more attempts. Now we go to the populace and present what you found on the old JumpShip. There will be countless questions and logs to be made. I have business with Deback and the guards. Things are to be planned in the coming days."
Kendricke wandered Baltmare looking at the primitive structures and the populace that lived there. Word of Blake iconography was plastered here and scripture graffiti there. It made him utterly sick. They didn't know what these bastards had done and why they were hated across the Inner Sphere. Every person he talked too praised Corden for their liberation and the coming of a new age. He eventually found his way into the Keep of the Faiths and saw that most of the old faiths had been surplanted. When asked why most people said that actions spoke louder than words. Corden had certainly done both word and action. Then he visited the taverns to listen and talk to the populace. He learned of the nobles, handlers, and night haunts. That the war was still going on about them. Kendricke started to show a little sympathy for these people, but still the influence of Blake was on them. It was then he decided he wanted to see this war up front himself. With an assault on the handlers coming up, just maybe he could convince Corden to let him help.
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"Let me get this straight. You want to help this world and for what reason?"
"I have just got here. I should at least have some idea what is going on. Considering I am marooned here as much as you are. I am a soldier Corden. Not everyone here is going to buy the Blake crap. Maybe something more can be injected into this world."
"Like some of the ideals of the Republic of the Sphere? It is intriguing idea and your Republic is a cousin of the Word of Blake in a way."
"That idea is an utter insult."
"Yet it remains true. But what can you do? Your left arm is essentially crippled."
"I might be able to use battle armor or at least a pistol. I heard of these mimetic cloaks that you got. I can communicate, spot, warn, etc. You could use another high ranking experienced officer."
"Fine, you have made your points. The assault could use more leadership. The question is. Are you willing to carry out an order that I give you?"
That made Kendricke pause. An order against the Ares Conventions coming from Corden would grate him.
"Mostly, but no."
"I understand. Like all frails, you don't have the stomach for what must be done. I won't order you to do what I will."
He did it, called him a frail. Typical Manei Domini scum. He would have to witness some of the damning things this man did in case he ever got back to Terra. Kendricke held back his anger and let out a slow breath.
"Fine. We have some understanding then."
"Good. Then welcome to Task force Blake, Kendricke."
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The fire was warm against the night sky. Deback, Corden, Kendricke, Tim, and Aaron sat by it. The usual pleasantries had been dispensed with. Local ale drunk. Hatreds put aside for the night.
"Before I became Manei Domini, I was a soldier in Comstar. I was there when the clans invaded and when we took to the field at Tukayyid. Many people died that day stalling them on their drive to Terra. Then the schism happened and the Word of Blake was born. I was lost. Challenged by the heretic that my faith was incorrect. I spent years in Comstar stationed on worlds that had no meaning. There was no fervor, no soul anymore, no hope. Just the drudgery of a soulless organization. Then operation ODYSSEUS happened while I was stationed on Terra. The Word of Blake came to reclaim it from the heretics. I was there and I knew my faith was being tested."
"I made a choice and allowed some of that force to land at a space port that was key in the invasion. For that choice, my fellow ComGuards turned on me. I was incinerated in my mech with infernos. I was able to escape them as the DropShips landed. But my mech collapsed in the configuration and an ammo explosion happened. I awoke years later from a coma. I was missing limbs, burned skin, one eye, and only lived due to life support. I didn't know the year, but that is when I met him. We talked a long time about what I had done, why I did it, my faith, what I could accomplish. I said yes then there was blackness."
"When I awoke, I was like as you see me. No longer a frail but blessed by technology. Sinful flesh cut away. The path clearly chosen. I was his hand, Manei Domini. I never got to execute the plan for the third transfer. Instead I ended up here. That is my story."
Kendricke finally spoke up.
"Hold on. You are telling me that you have never killed billions with atomic fire? Released chemical agents or the biological ones too? You were just starting out on the Jihad?"
"You are correct, I was in fact heading to the Lyran theater when I ended up here."
"Corden, you do realize you have a chance at redemption here. You could..."
"I WILL not be swayed, Paladin! I am Manei Domini! The iron father of Turbline! I will not be turned into a traitor and give you access to the final two hidden worlds! I will detonate myself before you even lay a hand on me!" Then Corden whispered. "I have already done what others will not do or what had to be done. I know you have talked to Aaron. You know what I have done and I am glad of it. I see the populace free, in the arms of Blake, and able to reach the stars. Do you truly have faith?"
Kendricke scowled. So Corden knew everything of the mission. This this did not bode well.
"I do. I do in Devlin Stone. He pulled us out of the fires of your Jihad. Established the Republic."
"Then you know what it means to have faith in something and someone. I have a faith in something you can't touch. That is where we are different. I have seen the fruits of my faith and believe in it whole sale. Every time I have been presented with doubt, I am shown proof of my conviction. If I am to be judged by mankind, I will be judged whole heartedly without a guilty heart."
Kendricke looked at Corden and simply nodded. A new understanding between foes was reached. One not so guilty compared to the rest that were dead. The fire crackled as the rest stayed silent into the night.
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Chapter 6