FSRB Chpt 189

==The Federated Suns Reborn - Chapter 189==
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December 3070Interlude: A trial
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The Fort
Tara, New Lanark
Northwind, Addicks PDZ
Draconis March
Federated Suns
Walking between the two guards drawn from the Gurkha's the man who still considered himself Colonel, Loren Jaffray tried to ignore the slight hitch in his stride. The medical staff at NAIS had truly been in a league of their own and had even included a number of Clan Sun Jaguar Scientist Caste and Technician Caste, but they could only do so much. When he'd been pulled from his shattered command BattleMech on Andurien he had been barely alive. They had done everything they could to heal his damaged body, but in many cases healing had not been enough. His left leg from the hip down was a cybernetic prosthetic, while his right leg was "only" metals and plastic from just below the knee. His gloved left hand also covered a cybernetic prosthetic that extended almost to his elbow and he'd been told that the neural feedback from the exploding BattleMech had destroyed the innate sense of balance that all BattleMech pilots relied upon. Not that he had had to be told given how even now it was all he could do to walk in a straight line. A former patient at NAIS, Colonel Archer Christifori had spoken to him during his rehabilitation and encouraged him not to give up hope - pointing to the fact he had recently been returned to active duty and assigned to the 1st Revenant Guard RCT, despite his own heavy injuries. Of course he hadn't been prepared to listen to a "Davion stooge" who's injuries were after all much less severe than his own...
As he walked down the storied halls of The Fort he tried to ignore the glares and dagger filled looks from the various Highlander officers and troops who were going about their duties here in the heart of their home. Once he had walked these halls as an honored and accepted kinsman, commander of one of the five Highlander regiments. Heir to the same traditions as the soldiers who now took pains to avoid his shadow as though his taint might be infectious. Straightening his shoulders he ignored them and limped onward.
"Hold there a minute lads... Ah' want a word wi' the prisoner." A familiar voice spoke from one of the many alcoves that studded the halls of The Fort. Jaffray stiffened but refused to look away as Colonel Chastity Mulvaney strode out into view from where she had been waiting to ambush him. He even tried not to hate her for her flowing grace. "So... Ye've came haem at last..."
"I wasn't given many options. My treatment was finished at NAIS... And I doubt that the FedRats would have been happy with a former Death Commando retiring on New Avalon where he might get up to all sorts of mischief..." Loren's face at least wasn't scarred, but the twist to his smile robbed it of any former handsomeness.
"Most men would've been fair pleased that the Davions gave him medical treatment and let him walk away at the end of it ye ken... But not you Loren? Not you... Damn yer hide man will you ever let your hate go?!" Mulvaney almost growled at him. "It's already cost you yer legs and one arm... What more do ye need to lose?!"
Jaffray's already stiff back seemed to bristle as he glared at his former friend but no words came out for almost a minute before finally he ground out. "I'll never stop hating Hanse Davion and his poisonous spawn!"
"Ah'd hoped that maybe you'd seen sense... Or had it knocked into yer thick skull. But I guess that was a bit tae much tae ask for..." Chastity shook her head. "Fine then... I'll nae waste any maer of my time on you... But I'll leave you with one last thought you stiff necked bastard... The Liao's took you in... Gave you a place of honor. And ye betrayed them. So the Highlanders took you in and made you a Colonel no less... And ye betrayed us tae... Not many men get two chances Loren... I doubt you'll get three. If you do... I'd recommend you not waste it, because ye damn well won't get another!"
Colonel Loren Jaffray almost rocked back on his metal heels at the sheer venom in his former friends voice. She stood glaring at him for a few more seconds then stormed off, before he could rally his thoughts to respond. As he stared after her in shock one of the Gurkha's chuckled darkly. "Ye ken she's on yer court martial's panel? Might not have been the smartest thing ye could dae to irritate her. Still not like yer known fer makin' smart decisions "colonel"... Lets go... Can't keep the judges waiting..."
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