WCGW Chpt 76

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==Chapter 76 - What Could Go Wrong==
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5 January 3042
Inner End (Federated Commonwealth)
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The jet-black Condor Dropship had landed and then taxied close to the passenger terminal. Sergeant Major Pullman had been alerted to the incoming Condor Dropship and had buses and several moving vans ready for what he hoped were their new people. He watched a stocky man talk to one of the Port workers who pointed in his direction. The stocky man, complete with crew cut just looked like a soldier, walked over to him. "You from Search and Recovery Inc?"
"We call it SaRI. Pronounced like "we are Sorry". It's a play on words, we are Sorry we got the goods before anyone else. But yes, to your question. You are?" Sergeant Major Pullman replied
"James Woodall. I got put in charge of all these folks, by Quintus Allard himself. I have to confess, the job offer sounds way too good to sound true." The man said
"Sergeant Major Chester Pullman, I run the rear detachment. You all look military, who you serve with?" Sergeant Major Pullman asked
"Every single one of us served with the Davion Brigade of Guards. My last command was 3rd Battalion, Third Davion Guards. I knew I would probably not make Colonel, too many black marks in my record, so I got out after 25 years." James Woodall said
"Major then. That will be your rank here then. Leftenant Colonel David Mitchell is the commander of SaRI. They are currently deployed. Your a Mechwarrior, I can tell. In a unit full of Infantry. This is going to be fun; we don't have any Battlemechs in our TOE." Sergeant Major Pullman replied
It was like getting hit with a sledgehammer for Major Woodall. "No Battlemechs? If you expect me to do Infantry work, I will get back aboard that Condor right now."
"Don't get worked up about stuff just yet Major. We did not have any Aerospace fighters when we formed this outfit and now, we have almost an entire Aerospace Wing. We are just short pilots for our last Squadron. I expect Colonel Mitchell will make the proper arrangements now that we have some Mechwarriors in the unit." Sergeant Major Pullman replied
As he had talked, another man stepped forward "Captain Ugo Ginatta. I hear you say you need some pilots?"
"Yes, sir. I take it your a pilot?" Sergeant Major Pullman replied
"Call sign is Ugly. There were 11 of us on the Condor. Heard you say you have planes but no pilots. What type?" Captain Ginatta asked
"I will not say, not out here. We don't have the proper techs to support them anyway, the local militia helps us when they can, but they deployed with the Colonel." Sergeant Major Pullman replied
"You have some now. Must be 30 techs on that Condor. Let's get to where we need to be. Six birds and 11 pilots mean we have to do some turning and burning to win our ride." Captain Ginatta said with a broad grin
Sergeant Major Pullman raised his voice this time "Everyone on the buses for the ride to our compound. I have a detail that will load your bags on the trucks. Housing is going to be an issue for a bit, I only had a week notice of your arrival. I will explain everything when we reach our compound. It's only a fifteen minute ride from here. So quite sightseeing and get on the buses."
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Inner End (Federated Commonwealth)
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With the Behemoth Large Cargo Dropship now in orbit of the planet, a steady stream of shuttles ferried vehicles up to the waiting Dropship. Sixteen Ares Mark VII Landing Craft (with a 67 ton cargo capacity like the fluff used to say, had to boost weight to 200 tons but now it can haul a Patton/Rommel Tanks) carried two Sherpas each into orbit for transfer. The Mule Cargo Dropship would be docking at one of the cargo bay doors of the Behemoth to transfer its cargo load. It was still going to take quite a lot of trips to get everything moved.
Over at the crippled Lion Combined Arms Transport Dropship, it was estimated to take another week at least before they could launch the Dropship. Very quietly bets were being placed as to the possible outcome of the launch.
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