SotU2 Chpt 12

=Chapter 12=
==State of the Union - Book 2==
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Soapstone Mountains, Irian
Free Worlds League
27th January, 3065
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Galen wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with some of the ‘Mechs he could see lined up for their final pre-acceptance inspections. After repeated efforts by IMBU execs determined to get SLDF funding for designing a brand-new ‘Battlemech that would be perfect for your needs’, it was a relief to get some time away from presentations and confirm for himself that Irian actually built ‘Mechs.
“Thanks for getting me out of that mire,” he told Isis as they exited the electric cart that had brought them to this part of the vast complex. “I owe you one.”
She smiled. “Friends don’t owe friends, Galen.”
How long would that attitude last now that she was knee deep in politics, and wading deeper? he wondered as he looked around for Colonel Lloyd Reissing, who was supposed to be meeting them for Isis’ visit.
Ostensibly Galen was only escorting her, while she carried out this public relations appearance with the Thirteenth Marik Militia. In practice, he would be able to see Irian’s newest production at work and maybe even get a look inside them. His purchasing mission involved getting new ‘Mechs before the end of 3065, not sometime in the 3070s which would probably be the case if Irian managed to get someone to sign off on development funding.
The ground practically shook beneath them as a towering ‘Mech strode out onto the testing range. “Now that’s what I’m talking about,” he told Isis, taking her arm as she tried to secure her sun hat - it was a hot day and she still hadn’t entirely adjusted from a Tharkad winter (which was barely distinguishable from a Tharkad spring or fall in Galen’s experience, unless you picked the right place). “Now all I have to do is convince IMBU that we want ‘Mechs now, not a few years down the line.”
Isis waited until the ‘Mech - it was Tempest heavy - was a little further away and her hat was steadier before patting his arm. “That shouldn’t be too hard, Galen.”
“Telling them the ‘customer is always right’ doesn’t seem to be getting any traction.”
She shook her head sadly. “Galen, Galen. What am I going to do with you? The magic words are ‘Awesomes and Quickdraws are well reputed designs’.”
“I didn’t think Irian built those.” he commented to her
“They don’t. But Technicron of Savannah do, and I have contact with them via my cousin Alys. Once they know someone else could be bidding, that’s when the salesmen will get down to business.”
Galen glanced aside at her. “You’re doing a lot to help me.”
“As Jerrard Cranston did to help me, while I was part of Omi and Victor’s household.”
“That’s a mask I don’t need to wear any more.”
She smiled. “The beard suited you.”
He scratched his chin, now bare after years where a beard had been part of his disguise. “Well, it got warm inside a cockpit. Even in colder weather.”
“Your grace,” Colonel Reissing came into view. “and Colonel Cox. Welcome to IMBU’s main production plant. I hope I haven’t kept you waiting long?”
“Not so very long.” Isis greeted him warmly. “Thank you for taking time away from your duties to meet us personally.”
“It’s a pleasure, Duchess Marik.” The colonel paused and then tilted his head slightly as if confiding. “And it gets me out of my own office for some cockpit time.”
She laughed lightly. “Now you sound just like Victor. Doesn’t he, Galen?”
“I may have heard those very words from him.” Galen agreed
Riessing nodded in acknowledgement and gestured towards a woman with the rank pins of a Force Commander - the FWLM equivalent of a Major. “Of course, I can hardly escort you into the cockpit, your grace, but perhaps you wouldn’t object to being escorted by Force Commander Moive. She runs my Second Battalion, and it's mostly her personnel working today.”
Movie bowed a little stiffly towards Isis, who brushed past it to take her hand. “It’s a pleasure, Force Commander. I’m not dragging you away from cockpit time, am I?”
“No,” the woman allowed. “someone has to act as an interface with the reps from Irian and since rank has its privileges…”
Reissing tapped his chest, acknowledging the hit unapologetically. “Would you like a try, Colonel? You’re here to assess Irian’s products for the SLDF so it would be a chance to see them from the inside out.”
Galen glanced at Isis hesitantly. He was technically here as her escort, after all.
The younger woman waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine, Galen. This is your mission after all. I’m sure the Force Commander can see to my safety when we’re in a secure location like this.”
Well, she was old enough to know her own mind, after all. And he’d be leaving Irian sooner or later. It was silly to think he’d be following her around like an older brother guarding his little sister’s virtue. “Well, I won’t say no to a chance to go out and play. Do you have any more Tempests ready for testing, Colonel?” The heavy ‘Mech was a similar size and mobility to the Crusader that he’d piloted through most of his career.
“I think we could find one,” the FWLM officer said thoughtfully. “nut I was thinking you might want to try out an Albatross.”
He arched an eyebrow at that. The Albatross was thirty tons heavier than the Tempest and until fairly lately, production runs of the ‘Mech had been directed towards Thomas Marik’s elite Knights of the Inner Sphere. “Well, I’d be a fool to turn my nose up at a chance like that.”
Reissing led him into the hangar and to a changing room where cooling vests were ready. Galen was wearing a mechwarrior’s shorts and vest under his uniform against this possibility so all he had to do was remove his outer garments and hang them up in the locker provided.
“You’ve known our newest Duchess for a long time?” the commander of the Thirteenth asked as he removed his own uniform.
“We met on Outreach back in fifty-one, but we didn’t really get to know each other until she moved to Mogyorod about… more than three years now.”
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“That’s probably still more time than anyone from the League has spent with her since she left for Sian more than a decade ago.”
Galen shrugged. “Could be.”
“It’s a concern given that she’s chosen now as a time to return.” Reissing closed the door to his locker crisply and then turned to meet the younger man’s eyes. “I was a junior officer when Duncan Marik was the Captain-General… but I remember what strife within House Marik can mean.”
Duncan Marik had been Thomas Marik’s cousin and commander of the entire Marik Militia corps, the backbone of the Free Worlds League’s federal BattleMech forces. When Thomas’ father Janos suffered a stroke during the Andurien Secession, Duncan had been one of the leading candidates to succeed him only for Thomas to present documents proving he was the designated heir despite years of self-imposed exile as a ComStar Precentor. He’d even served in the Lyran Commonwealth, if Galen’s memory served him well, so Isis returning in a time of uncertainty would strike some parallels.
Of course, Duncan had only become Captain-General after a bomb killed Janos, his other likely successor Duggan, and - or so it had been believed - Thomas Marik. With no other rivals, Duncan had assumed power only for Thomas to return once more - or rather, as was now known, his clone had. Under suspicion for the bombing, Duncan had died attempting to secure his power base by overcoming Andurien’s defenses in a glorious but rash offensive that killed him and left the way forwards open for the current Captain-General.
“The Thirteenth supported Duncan, as I recall.”
“Of course. He was our general, after all. And Thomas was an unknown. But we never acted against him either, since he was the lawful Captain-General.”
“Which doesn’t spare you from suspicion.”
Reissing nodded. “Naturally. And now we have another potential power struggle to worry about. You can see my concerns.”
Galen reached for the door and saw the other man tense. Resting his hand upon it, he pretended to stretch, preventing anyone from entering. “You have some more questions you want to ask about Isis.”
“I’ll put it directly. Does she think she can persuade us to march to Atreus for her?”
A chortle fought its way out of Galen’s throat. “You obviously don’t know how hard the Captain-General had to work just to get her to agree to return to the Free Worlds League. No, colonel. She has no such ambitions.”
“And if someone has those ambitions on her behalf. She is very close to one Steiner-Davion already. As I understand it she stayed in the Archon-Prince’s own residence while she was on Tharkad.”
“Only after he’d relocated to the Triad.” Galen tried not to show how much that allegation irritated him. “I don’t believe Peter Steiner-Davion has exchanged more than a dozen words with her at any one time. And before you ask, no I don’t have any clue about what marriage plans - if any - he might have.”
Reissing eyed him suspiciously and then nodded. “I believe you.”
“Normally I wouldn’t be so direct, but since you put me on the spot, where do you stand on the matter?”
“That’s a topic of much debate within the regiment.”
“I’m sure it is, but you’re evading the question.”
The older officer sighed. “I would have a great deal of resistance if I tried to mobilize the Thirteenth to support the current Captain-General.”
“And again,” Galen pointed out, “you’re talking about your regiment and not about yourself.”
“I’m the Colonel of the Lucky Thirteenth. I can’t separate myself from my regiment. I would think someone who fought through a civil war of their own would understand.”
Galen sighed and then pulled the locker room door open. The conversation clearly wasn’t going to go anywhere. “So, tell me about the Albatross.”
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