BoTH Chpt 57

==Blood on the Horizon - Chapter 57 -==
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===Signs of Trouble===
Location: Valexa, Federated SunsDate: March 9th, 3006
"Mac, got a minute?" I knocked on the doorframe.
 
"Aye," the giant of a man gestured for me to come in and take a seat in his office. "I take it you got me report?"
 
"Yeah," I pulled a chair out and sat down. "We didn't get much salvage from that haul."
 
"We're only going to be able to put those salvaged hulks to work if we can get parts from the FedSuns," Mac paused and looked over his notes. "The Archer's center Torso is just about the only thing that survived the artillery. The Enforcers and Blackjacks will need a lot of work before we can put them to use. If we can get the Phoenix some scans, we can make our own parts. Mightn't need to cut into our funds then."
 
"I'm sure we can find some scans for both," I replied. "Anything on the lights?"
 
"Javelin's already pieced back together. Spider wasn't worth the scrap that we pulled from it, and don't even get me started on what was left of the Locust."
 
"Just get everything put together as best you can," I sighed. "I've got a lot of things to go over our liaison with."
 
"The general causing trouble?"
 
"Nah," I shook my head. "She's left well enough alone since we drove off the Capellans. Even apologized for leavin' us without support."
 
"Well, at least she recognized that she did wrong."
 
"Again, it's the governor who is causing a bunch of issues. We can get into the particulars later."
 
"Aye," Mac nodded. "I imagine you've got quite a bit to discuss with our liaison."
 
"Something like that," I stood up. "Let Sheppard know if we can get anything for you and the techs. I'm gonna be busy for a little while sorting all of this shit out."
 
"I'll keep ya informed," Mac stood and clasped my arm before bringing me into a brief hug. 
 
"I'll let you know how our logistics end up sorted out," I turn to leave. "Have a good one, Mac."
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===Army runs on Paperwork===
Location: Valexa, Federated SunsDate: February 15th, 3006
The dark gray of the early morning sky was beginning to burn in a brilliant gold and red hue; the change from night to day brightened as a Leopard descended from the atmosphere, setting down in the small spaceport of Valexa. 
I waited as the boarding ramp folded down from the aerodyne dropship, and a woman in an AFFS uniform stepped down and fixed her cover onto her head as her eyes looked around. Eventually, her eyes landed on me, and she quickly shifted to move to my position.
 
"Captain," I extended my hand as I noted the silver bar on her collar. 
 
"Major Hull," she shook my hand. "I'm Rachel Green-Davion, and I'm here to fix the problems we seem to be having here on Valexa."
 
"I'm just ready to be done with this," I replied as I gestured for her to climb into the vehicle I had standing by. "The Governor is still insisting on the salvage we pulled from the battlefield, and I had to pull all of my people back to the dropships."
 
"Why is the Governor involved at all?" the AFFS legal officer raised an eyebrow. "He's not a part of the AFFS, and your unit isn't under contract with him or any of his people."
 
"I keep pointing that out, but he seized the last few shipments we were supposed to receive from the AFFS supply corps."
 
"You get everything in writing?" Rachel asked. 
 
"I'm a mercenary," I glanced over. "Of course, I got it in writing."
 
"I'll need access to copies of that, and I'll look over them before I confront the governor."
 
"I take it you also have something for the Major General?" I asked.
 
"She's receiving a formal reprimand and a demotion," she replied. "Despite her not supporting you as she was supposed to, she technically was within her overarching instructions to protect any manufacturing centers in the area." 
 
"I don't mind if she gets a slap on the wrist," I sighed. "I just want to get my supplies straightened out. This contract pays well, but it's not worth the hassle if this happens on the regular. I mean, I'll always have work in the Concordat if it comes down to breaking my contract."
 
"You won't have to worry about that," she stepped out of the car and followed me into the compound. "We'll make sure of it."
 
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===Power Armor tests===
Location: Phoenix, in orbit around ValexaDate: March 29th, 3006
"Alright, we established your baseline last week," Doctor Hale glanced at the soldier being dressed up in a suit of armor. "Doctor Rogers wants to see what the potential max speed of this powered armor is." 
 
"Whatever you say, Doc," the young man shrugged. "This stuff is pretty heavy, though. So I'm not sure how that'll help."
"Just know that we're going to have you run on a treadmill for a while," Adamina replied. "Just like you did for the baseline tests."
 
"Alright."
 
The suit was finally secured around his figure before one of the engineers opened a panel on a backpack-like device. 
 
"Beginning boot sequence."
 
A handful of display lights glowed on the backpack, showing various readouts the engineer confirmed and wrote down before the armored panel was shut and locked with a unique tool. 
 
"Private Devries, if you'll step onto the treadmill."
 
He stepped onto the treadmill, and the belt began to start at a walking pace, with Devries slowly becoming adjusted to the armor as he picked up speed.
 
"We're at a steady eight kilometers an hour now. How do you feel, private?"
 
"Doesn't feel like I've got kit on at all," he grinned. "I could run like this all day."
 
"We'll slowly ramp up the speed and determine the sustained versus max speed."
 
The tests continued for the rest of the day, moving from a treadmill to carry capacity and weight, culminating in a final survivability test.
 
After the testing, the medical staff and the engineers retired to their quarters, leaving Doctors Hale and Rogers behind.
 
"I'd count that as a success," Doctor Hale sagged into a small chair on the other side of Roger's desk. 
 
"I'd say," Rogers sat down and began typing up her report. "We'll have to handmake the first sets we issue. Start to really dial in the manufacturing processes. I've got engineers drawing up plans for making the machines to make the different parts now, but it'll take a little while."
 
"I'm going to have medical writeups done," Hale sighed. "Just because you're in a suit of powered armor doesn't mean you can go without water or a spotter for heavy lifting. The human body is still the human body, and soldiers will inevitably do something stupid." 
 
"Right," Rogers agreed. "Seems project Tolkien isn't quite finished yet, but I think we'll see them put them to use fairly quickly."
 
"Given the small arms tests?" Hale asked. "I'd have to agree."
 
"To the future," Rogers opened a drawer and poured out two glasses of whiskey.
 
"To the future."
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Chapter 57