DMHK3

=Chapter 3=
==Dead Man's Hand: The Kowloon Job==
Planetary Command Center
Malibu
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
7th April, 3054
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Star Colonel Nathan Roshak strode into the main control room purposefully, ignoring the somewhat concerned Techs working most of the stations. They were predominantly locals, only recently taken under the Clans wing, and still learning their ways. To them, an incoming, unannounced DropShip could only mean a raid or the prelude to an invasion, with all the senseless death and destruction that came with it. They had yet to learn that things were not so... chaotic, random, within the Clans.
And, if it was some Inner Sphere fool looking for a fight, his Cluster would deal with them long before they reached any civilians.
He stopped before the main screen, eyes locked on the image, which showed the current location of the DropShip, what the deep space tracking system had been able to tell of it, its estimated time and point of arrival. Interestingly, it was decelerating, preparing for orbital incursion, which did not make sense if it was a hostile raid...
"Show me the message." His voice carried, calm, cool professionalism, and the duty communications tech hurried to rout the video to the main screen.
The status display vanished, replaced with a simple image depicting four playing cards: the ace and eight of spades and clubs. Not an insignia he was familiar with...
"Okay, now listen up, because I'm not in the mood to repeat myself: my unit and I have been tasked with returning a certain Bondsman turned Star Captain to his homeworld." A woman's face appeared on the screen, hauntingly familiar grey-green eyes looking down at, and seemingly straight through, the Star Colonel, "The exact details of how I do this have been left to my discretion. And, as much fun as shooting our way in, hitting him over the head with something and then shooting our way out sounds... I have been asked not to antagonize too many people this side of the Truce Line. So I figured I should call ahead and give you the option of playing by your rules. As such, I declare a Trial of Possession over Star Captain Henry Jade Falcon and his genetic legacy. I bid one lance of four BattleMechs, details to follow should you accept. I will even give you the right to decide the time and location of the Trial. And, before you get any smart ideas, everything is being relayed back to our hidden JumpShip, which will jump back out of your occupation zone and tell everyone how you backed out of an honorable fight against mere Inner Sphere Freebirths. I eagerly await your response."
With that, the screen went black, before returning to the display of the approaching DropShip.
"Bold, to say the least." Nathan Roshak looked round to see his subordinate, the man whose presence on the world, had seemingly instigated this chain of events.
"Bold, but not foolish." the Star Colonel shock his head, even as he treated his friend with a warm smile, "By challenging us, directly and openly, she seeks to force our hand. She obviously believes she can defeat us in a Trial..."
"So, the question is, why?" Henry nodded, rubbing his chin as he contemplated what was not being said more than what was, "Who is she, to believe so?"
"This I would like to know before I face her in combat." Nathan Roshak turned to look back at the screen, "I intend to accept the challenge, and lead our forces against her myself. Should you wish, I will permit you to join me. But first, I want you to find out just who these... Mercenaries, are. There is a story there, something we are missing, and information is Ammunition." he paused, "Who would send mercenaries all this way, just to see you returned to your homeworld?"
"Elizabeth." Henry frowned, obviously conflicted, "It has to be Elizabeth."
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