BoTH Chpt 79

==Blood on the Horizon - Chapter 79 -==
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===Reassurance Presence===
Date: January 15th. 3008Location: Pierce, Federated Suns
"Mister Hull, welcome to the future Durand Heavy Metals and Manufacturing facility," Countess Durand greeted me as I stepped out of the vehicle onto a massive construction site. "I figured you'd like to see what some of your people will be guarding in person."
 
"Aye," I replied. "I've not exactly kept the plans of the Swordsman a secret or anything, but given its negative reputation among the Federated Suns, I don't think you'll have to deal with too much corporate espionage, at least at first."
 
"I've already discussed my plans with First Prince Ian Davion," Durand walked me around areas where massive holes were dug into the ground. "Even if I hadn't gotten anything from you, I would have still gone forward with something similar to this. If not quite so bold as to begin full 'mech production so soon."
 
"We've had plenty of time to tinker with some of the older designs we picked up in the periphery," I noted that the underground parts were being poured with steel-reinforced concrete. "I doubt there's only going to be one thing that my mechtechs come up with."
 
"Regardless, I am grateful you took the time to meet with me while we were both present on New Avalon. While I didn't expect help to come in the form of the Taurians, the people that I subcontracted from Taurus WarWorks have been nothing but professional."
 
"There's a lot of bad blood between the Concordat and the rest of the Inner Sphere. I won't deny that. But even they understand that people on the periphery need to stick together. "
 
We walked through the rest of the area before reaching a small prefab that contained office space. Clearly, this was the area where the project manager and Durand herself worked out of while out here.
 
"I'm going to be honest," I said as I sat in the mostly quiet room. "I didn't expect you to actually come out here and work with your people on this."
 
"When I went to the Warriors Hall on New Syrtis to study and receive my commission, I double majored in logistics and architecture," She replied. "I served my term as a Leftenant for four years and intended to serve for another eight before my father passed away unexpectedly. So instead of reenlisting, I came home to put my studies to good use."
"So, all of those," I nodded at the blueprints for the factories being constructed around us.
 
"The preliminaries were drawn up by me," she confirmed. "I had the chief engineers look and confirm the layout before we began clearing the property."
 
"Right, I said after thinking about everything for another minute. "I suppose we should get down to the main reason we arranged a meeting."
 
" Yes," She nodded. "I understand you secured multiple contracts and will be splitting your forces in the near future?.
 
"We're about a regiment in size now," I shrugged. "I've got plans for a training battalion to be stationed here on Pierce, but if I'm honest, it'll probably be a mixed company by my unit's standards, along with an aerospace wing."
"Shit," She swore. "I was hoping that you'd have more on hand locally."
 
"Unfortunately, while I've got the manpower to operate four battalions and have one training rookies, I don't quite have the equipment yet," I sighed. "It's a curse of the mercenary unit. Everyone wants to join up. But oftentimes, we have more people than machines to put them in."
 
I stroked my beard in thought for a moment. 
 
"That said, I can have multiple battalions of infantry here," I held up my hand to stall the protest I could see brewing. "You're not fully read into some classified material yet, but let's just say they'll be a nasty surprise for anything that shows up."
 
"I'll have to take your word for it," Elizabeth sighed. "Well, my personal detail is also designated as corporate security for this company. So It'll have to be enough for now."
 
"As soon as we can afford to get more machines and have rotating staff, we'll have a full battalion of battlemechs and vics here," I smiled. "It'll just take some time. Besides, it will take you at least two to three years to finish this facility and get the fixed defenses in place. By the time you need the Marksman, we'll be plenty ready for you."
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===Back to Boot Camp===
Date: February 28th, 3008Location: Marksman Training Facility, Pierce, Federated Suns
"It's always odd seeing veterans go through boot camp again," Sheppard glanced at where LeAnn and the rest of the Canopians were going through how the Marksman operated. 
 
"Sure," Peterson agreed, taking a sip of his coffee. "But we don't operate the same way as most units. Larger formations, more people, and a helluva a lot more to keep track of when it comes to logistics and personnel. We've gotta work the old shit out of their system and teach them the new ways. They'll adapt or wash out and go somewhere else."
 
"Sure," Sheppard agreed. "But they've got the skills on the battlefield, which is where this matters most."
 
"What are we talking about?" Hull casually walked up to the two of them. 
 
"Just discussing how strange it is to see veterans go through boot again," Sheppard explained.
"It's worth it if they can adapt their current skillsets to how we've changed things," Hull echoed Sheppard's earlier statement. "That said, we can still use them in defensive roles even if they don't do too well at how we do things. The ELH has a dedicated unit to keep its dependents safe. I'm starting to wonder if maybe we should begin preparing for that."
 
"Something come up?" Peterson asked. 
 
"Nothing that popped out in Dunham's intel briefs," Hull shook his head. "Just a gut feeling that we've stepped on a few too many toes of late."
 
The Colonel then left them to their conversation.
 
"Capellans?" Peterson raised an eyebrow at Sheppard.
 
"Capellans," Sheppard agreed. "They'll be pissed off at either us or the Wolf's Dragoons. And given we're the smaller, easier target…" 
The XO trailed off.
"Then we're most likely going to get hit first," Peterson sighed heavily. "I'll have Dunham ask LeAnn if she's got any contacts within MIM. I doubt she wants to be the subject of a Maskirovka hit."
"I'm pretty sure Dunham is already putting together a comprehensive list of what the Capellans might be planning," Sheppard smirked. "The man despises the Liaos, and I don't doubt he's got plenty of tripwires and intel assets in place that we don't know about."
 
"Still, it'll make me feel better if I do something to help," Peterson shrugged. "Especially with a newborn on the way."
 
"Francesca's pregnant!" Sheppard grinned. "You sonovabitch. Why didn't you tell us sooner? We'd have thrown you a party!"
 
"Wanted to make sure it was viable," Peterson sighed, "It's not like we're in a stress-free environment, after all. She even got a job working as the secretary for Johnson over in logistics because she felt like she wasn't doing enough."
 
"We both know that we've got the best medical care in the industry,' Sheppard chided his friend. "Now let's grab the Colonel and see if there's any cigar stores in town. We need to find some of the good stuff to celebrate with."
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Chapter 79