ASO Chpt 13

<<Next Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
==Chapter 13 - First Mission - Aurigan Sentinels (BattleTech CYOA)==
----
===List of Not-So-Great Options===
Axylus, Alloway System
Aurigan Coalition, Rimward Periphery
19th February, 3020
----
The mission has been successful even if it has come with a complication. Said complication being the small-time mercenary band known as Coranni’s Crew. A short lance of MechWarriors, a flight of ASFs and, most intriguing of all, a Leopard-class DropShip. They have solid combat records, but their finances are struggling. Not thanks to any mismanagement on their part, but due to a poor choice of clients. And very recently they went from just being stiffed to having a pirate take some of their own as hostages to ensure compliance from the rest.
 
Of course, that brings its own concern because how did Blackmane know that I was coming ahead of time? And I mean that in reference to myself because according to the members of Coranni’s Crew, the pirate boss specifically knew that Elizabeth Nora would be coming.
 
I’m not overly surprised. Using merchant JumpShips was quicker, but it came at the cost of security and secrecy. High Lord Arano just deemed the trade-off to be acceptable in his eyes and honestly, I didn’t care either way as I declined to raise any objections to the plan. Not to mention that I am something of a public figure these days as the person who found a functional WarShip. My name is known across the entire Inner Sphere simply because of the Tomb-Maker.
Still, that isn’t an immediate concern. Not compared to what to do with Coranni’s Crew, especially since it will affect how we divide up the salvage. Technically speaking, I could be harsh or lenient with the mercenaries. The fact that they did fight alongside Blackmane’s Buccaneers means that I could rightfully treat them as pirates with no real objections. At the same time, the fact that Blackmane coerced them into fighting alongside him with deceit and hostages means I could reasonably release my fellow mercenaries.
 
Then there is the loot. We took the Leopards of both Coranni and Blackmane intact alongside the pair of Sparrowhawks used by the mercenaries, but their ground forces were mostly wrecked. Apart from the Locust and one of the Scorpion Tanks, all of the pirate ‘Mechs and tanks are good for spare parts at best. Meanwhile, Coranni’s Shadow Hawk is beat up, but still combat capable while the Wolverine, Griffin, and Crusader are still repairable. Provided you have the parts, which I do and Coranni doesn’t.
 
Which leaves me with the big question of what to do with Coranni’s Crew as I discuss the matter with Kamea, Victoria and the liaison officer that Lord Arano attached to us, one Miguel Gallo, a baron sworn to House Espinosa.
 
“There could be arguments that you are trying to find loopholes in the contract.” says a skeptical Baron Gallo once I have finished explaining my idea to him and the heiresses.
 
“As long as they aren’t coming from House Arano or House Espinosa, I’m not going to be bothered by them.” I retort.
 
“There won’t be.” says Kamea firmly.
 
“My father won’t object to this.” ventures Victoria, “He seeks strength and security for the Reach, but he understands subtlety and holds loyalty highly. Being generous and merciful to the captured mercenaries could turn them into grateful and loyal soldiers for the Aurigan Sentinels and therefore the Aurigan Coalition. And given how skilled these people seem to be, that makes them and their loyalty worthwhile.”
 
“You beat them,” points out Baron Gallo.
 
“We had superior numbers and heavier tonnage and even then they gave us a good fight,” I reply, “They are better than most in the Aurigan Sentinels.”
 
“The ACM as a whole,” adds Kamea.
 
“What if they decline your offer?” asks Baron Gallo, “What is your plan for that?”
 
“If they choose to decline our generous offer, then we let them go and take their hardware as salvage,” I say even as it leaves something of a foul taste in my mouth, “It would be nice to get the personnel, but I’ll settle for just bringing the machines home with us.”
 
“Both of you think your fathers will approve of this?” inquires Baron Gallo as he directs his attention away from me.
“Mine would.” answers Kamea confidently and without hesitation.
 
“As would mine,” says Victoria, “I would go as far to say that I think he would appreciate the cleverness of the ploy.”
 
“Then I’ll trust your judgement on the matter,” says Baron Gallo before the liaison officer focuses back on me, “I’ll sign off on your plan, General Nora. I just hope you know what you are doing.”
 
So do I, but I don’t say that out loud as I need to project confidence. That said, I have gotten pretty good at this mercenary gig. I’m still an amateur by any reasonable measure, but I’ve been doing it for several months and I’ve picked up some experience along the way.
----
Coranni and her people are being treated not quite like guests, but not like prisoners either. Until we can decide on the matter of what will be happening with them and their hardware, the Vixens have been keeping a close eye on them. Thankfully, the confined and unsafe nature of the Argo combined with the lingering mistrust of working with pirates, no matter how involuntarily, means I can get away with being a little untrusting without any complaints from the other mercenaries.
 
Finding Coranni is easy enough as the young woman is napping. Given the fight she put up earlier, I can’t blame her for being tired. I know I certainly would be in her position. Actually, no, I would probably be dead if I had to throw down against the odds she faced. Just another reason I want to snap her and her people up for the Aurigan Sentinels.
 
It doesn’t take long to wake up Coranni and I give her a few minutes to fully wake up before bringing her aboard the Hysteria. I might be able to bamboozle her if I just went straight in, but I want to cultivate a friendly relationship with her so being nice to her is the preferable route. Especially since I am able to contrast it against Blackmane’s treatment of her.
 
“Miss Coranni with no last name,” I greet her, “I’m glad to see that you made it out without any serious injury.”
 
“I am glad to not be injured,” says the brown-skinned woman, “And I am even more glad that none of my people died. Which I have you to thank for and not Blackmane.”
 
“I strive to be fair and merciful where I can.” I say, “Besides, your people were very clearly hostages of the real pirates and you do have a legitimate MRB record.”
 
“Can we not beat around the bush and get to the main point?” asks Coranni.
 
“Sure, why not?” I reply with a shrug, “So here’s the situation. I’ve captured you and your people after you got caught fighting for pirates, but those pirates forced you to do so with hostages so I could get away with either being harsh or merciful without any pushback. So I have three options for you.”
“Do any of them let us keep our stuff?” asks Coranni, sounding nervous yet defiant.
 
“Option three,” I concede, deciding not to mention how it is a bit more complicated than that, “Okay, first option. I claim your hardware as battlefield salvage and you get uncooperative about it, which results in me throwing the book at you and treating you like pirates. The nastiest of the three choices and one I would rather avoid.”
 
“I think I would rather avoid that one too.” adds Coranni dryly.
 
“The second option is the same except instead of treating you like pirates, I drop you off in civilized space and give each of your people a sum of C-Bills that should tide you over until you can get back on your feet,” I continue, “It isn’t much better if you want to continue the mercenary life, but if you want out of this lifestyle, it is about as good as you are going to get under your current circumstances.”
 
“How about we get to the third option?” suggests Coranni, “You know, the one where I get to keep my ‘Mech?”
 
“You would still get to pilot a ‘Mech,” I say evasively, but apparently not enough as the other woman glares at me, “The third option is that I fold your unit into my own. I’ll give you command of a combined arms battalion, but you’ll be employed by me and your current hardware will be taken as property of the Aurigan Sentinels rather than operator-owned. You’ll get a reliable paycheque and consistent support in exchange for giving up your independence.”
 
“What of my ‘Mech?” adds Coranni bitterly.
 
“You messed up by taking a job with a pirate.” I tell her, “This is the consequence of that. At least, you will still be alive and you’ll still be a MechWarrior.”
 
“I’m going to need time to think about this.” says Coranni as she scowls, “Will I be able to discuss this with my crew?”
 
“You’ll have until we reach Coromodir,” I inform her, “That’s when you’ll have to decide whether you are staying or leaving.”
 
“Great.” grumbles Coranni and I take that as my queue to leave.
 
I’ve already pushed her pretty hard and I don’t know the breaking point of my fellow mercenary. In any case, I’m fairly confident that she’ll sign up with me. Coranni clearly values being a MechWarrior and she doesn’t seem to be the sort to be spiteful enough to try and strike out on her own.
 
As I walk out of the room, the last thing that I hear from her is something about murdering a Bao.
----
===New Issue===
----
“We have a situation,” calls Kamea suddenly, startling me out of my sleep as I decided to take a nap following my recruitment pitch with Coranni.
 
“Is the Argo unsalvageable?” I try to demand, but it comes out far more groggy than I was aiming for.
 
“Doctor Murad is still optimistic about her chances of success.” says the Arano heiress, “This is about a JumpShip that just arrived via pirate point carrying multiple DropShips. DropShips that are now heading straight for us.”
 
“Do we know who they are?” I ask as I remember that I didn’t get changed before taking my nap.
 
“Not yet, but they are most likely pirates,” replies Kamea, “We’re looking at a Merchant-class JumpShip with two Leopards attached. Or they were as both DropShips are heading straight for the Argo.”
“Maybe they are here for Blackmane?” I suggest, “We did only take care of him today so I doubt they would have heard the news yet.”
 
“That’s…that is quite likely,” agrees Kamea before giving me a look, “I still wouldn’t count on them to be friendly. If they were legitimate, they would be broadcasting their IFFs.”
 
“Yeah, that’s true,” I concede as the last of my drowsy is pushed away by the surge of adrenaline as I realise that these guys are probably enemies, “What do we have to fight with?”
 
“Two lances are aboard the Myrmidon for repairs and rearmament,” says Kamea, “the third one is still down here, including both of our Atlases. Our Leopard is also up there with-wait, a moment.”
 
“What now?” I ask as Kamea breaks off mid-sentence to check an alert on her noteputer.
 
“Fighters just launched from both incoming Leopards,” reports the Arano heiress, “Two mediums and a pair of lights. No identification yet, wait, two Stingrays, and two Sabres.”
 
“What about our fighters?” I inquire.
 
“Storm Squadron is still aboard the Myrmidon with orders to protect the DropShip,” answers Kamea, “Do you want to send them after the intruders?”
“I don’t know,” I admit, “Our Royal Stukas could probably take the incoming craft, but I’m not sure I want to start shooting down ships, especially when they haven’t done anything hostile yet. I do want to get all of our ‘Mechs to the surface.”
 
“The Hysteria could get a second lance down before the enemy reaches the surface, but we won’t be able to get the third lance down before the enemy has the chance to engage us in battle,” says Kamea as she taps away on her noteputer.
 
“Do it,” I tell her as I try to straighten out my clothes, “I’m not counting on these guys being friendly.”
----
==Author's Chapter Commentary==
; A Word from the Author: And here is the plot twist of the arc. After stomping the defenders into the ground, Elizabeth finds herself under attack whilst she is caught unprepared for it. Beyond that, Elizabeth is attempting to recruit Coranni as many predicted though she isn’t being nice about it, partially because she has the upper hand and partially because social skills aren’t Elizabeth’s strong point.
----
<<Next Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
13 Chapter