TOW34

Chapter 34 - The Other War
10/08/3061
SLS Painkiller's arrival into Kuxing's orbit was an occasion for celebration. The massive Warship was escorted by the new trio of Fire Mandrill ones bold in their new livery, fully equipped, upgraded and soon to be returning to the Homeworlds. Star Captain Claude Goulet watched the Monsoon class battleship and its flotilla of tugs from the Jungle Heat's observation deck besides Faye, Joseph, and Nina.
CG: “The Newts are joining the big boy leagues now. I hope they know how dangerous that can be.”
NT: “They know, but being small fry might be even more hazardous. The EcKhan is not wrong, this summer's skirmishes are just the beginning."
Joseph Kline looked over to Claude the pallid but powerful Elemental, “Are you ready to take down, Tomin? You have an army of freeborn and dissatisfied Warriors at your back. Sooner we get this over with the better.”
“Its still not enough. There is one more stop on my path of redemption.” He looked over to Nina looking superbly proud of being a Fleet Commander, “I need to make a call to our old friend from Hellgate.”
“Would he take it? He is the Khan of the Hellions now.”
“Let us find out.” Claude opened a comm channel to the Shanghai's HPG station, “This is Star Captain Goulet. I need to send a priority message to Khan Alexander Drake of the Hellions. Try Atreus first then Hector."
Upon the observation deck of the HS Pack Leader, a York class Light Carrier, Khan Alexander Drake of The Hellions (he had dropped both Clan and Ice from the name) watched the two other destroyers (Impaler and Radiant) and dozens of dropships that comprised his task force from the sensor sphere. This was the largest offensive action since this summer's battles against the Vipers that had gained his touman valuable experience and his Merchants trade goods from the Jade Falcons.
His Clan was not long for the home-worlds so they had to take as much as they could to sustain his invasion of the Inner Sphere. His contract with Marthe Pryde was a short term deal she believed to good to be true, but he had to act now and disguise his long term plan as the stereotypical Hellion headlong rush. Already scouts were securing supply depots but he needed more star-lift capacity and his true objective of the Mandrill's Potemkin Transport Fire-Eater would serve his cause well.
The Atreus system was the latest flashpoint from his small over-leveraged clan, they had earned the ire of Kindraas Faraday-Tanaga and Mick-Kreese. A former Smoke Jaguar Aerospace factory complex on the largest moon (Eagle) of the main planet was fiercely contested.
A flash followed by a chime caught his attention, he picked up the phone and his assistant's voice came over the line. “Personal HPG for you OvKhan, from a Star Captain Claude Goulet, formerly of the Twenty Third Air Assault.”
“Formerly?”
“That is how he introduced himself.”
Xander knew of a Claude in the 23rd, he was after all one of the most traveled of the Hellion's middle officers prior to being its Khan having spent time among the Goliath Scorpions, Snow Ravens, and Fire Mandrills. He won a Cage's Clasp for his work with the Mandrills which is why he felt confident he could excise a Kindraa and take them with his Hellions to the Inner Sphere. It didn't matter whether it was Mick-Kreese or Faraday-Tanaga both would be useful. His time on Hellgate had been particularly useful as it encouraged his cunning while emphasizing patience and planning unlike the Hellion's training on striking without thinking. If Claude had taken these lessons to heart he could be a valuable ally.
“Play it.”
Claude Goulet's voice rumbled through the handset, he explained his exile from the Fire Mandrills and his personal mission against Kindraa Leader Tomin Mick. The same Tomin Mick commanding the Atreus defense from his destroyer Rancor and who Drake's Marines feared fighting in close combat. Claude the Exile was at the head of a rebel force. All he needed was a target and someone respectable to oversee the Trial and reinstate him in the eyes of the Clan Council. Someone like a Khan.
Khan Drake looked out over the dark expanse, he could wait a little longer. Pin Tomin down and let the Mandrills fight each other, if Claude wins he has a new ally, if he loses he has a weakened enemy. “All Task Force Elements, this is your Khan. I am aborting our fast burn to Atreus, use transfer orbits.”
Aboard the CFM Rancor, Kindraa Leader Tomin Mick digested the latest reports. He lifted one of the small spacer Techs from the pit shearing the safety straps. Tomin was decanted from a mixed Osis-Mick sibko on Shadow making him monstrously large for a Marine even a Mandrill one and giving him the nickname Tomin the Tower. “What do you mean the Hellions have stopped burning towards Atreus? They never go slow!”
The spacer's voice was meek and fearful, Tomin was literally twice as massive as he was. “I don't know sir. It's what the latest reports say?”
“Speak proper even if all you say is nonsense Technician!” Tomin threw the man across the room, the spacer's agility saved the from a headfirst impact but the landing shook the bulkhead. He looked over the spacers who were cowering in their seats, “Find out what Drake is up to! I will return soon and there had better be some answers!”
10/31/3061
'Star Admiral' Nina Tanaga's task force of two destroyers (Essex and Lola III) and a Vincent Mk 42 corvette jumped into the Atreus system and with it came a light cluster of Fire Mandrill and Wudang Cloister Warriors. Waiting for them at the Zenith Point was Khan Drake's own trio of Warships who had lured the Potemkin-Class Troop Cruiser Fire-Eater, Lola III-Class Destroyer Rancor, and Vincent Mk 42-Class Corvette Firetender nearby. Khan Xander Drake's pale, scarred yet handsome form appeared on the flight deck's holotank in the bridge. “They are all yours Admiral Tanaga. As agreed we will not intervene.”
Within the CIC Star 'Commodore' Goulet steeled himself for the final confrontation with his tormentor. Tomin Mick's bulk appeared on the holotank in the middle of the CIC, “Unknown vessel, this is Mick-Kreese Kindraa Leader Tomin Mick. I demand you identify yourselves.”
Claude stood before the camera broadcasting it to all nearby ships, “This is Claude Goulet, I issue a Trial of Position for Mick-Kreese Kindraa Leader against Tomin Mick. I bid Star Admiral Nina Tanaga's Warships and my Cluster against him. How will he defend?”
“Defend! You are not a Warrior Claude. You are a deserter, bandit, dark caste. Lower even than the waste Laborers aboard my ship. That you even entertain that we might be equals is laughable. I will not even glorify your Batchall with a counteroffer.”
Claude held the helmet to his Salamander in his hands, “Suit yourself Tomin.” He triggered the PA on his power armor, “I will see you soon.”
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