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==Tales from the Golden Lion AUKatya’s Quest - Chapter 11==
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==Assumption in Alba==
12/10/3051 - Antares, Contested World
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A thaw had settled over the Rakusian Hills, meltwater ran down the cobbles to the storm drain. Katya’s boots clicked on the tiled mosaic that somehow had withstood the mass of her Hellfire which crouched alongside its companions in Red Star. Steam rose from the coffee within her Commonwealth Grand Interstellar branded mug as she watched the clear blue skies over the city. “This is much better than Irdmach Instant.”
The distinctive whine of an Anhur’s ducted fans came closer. She finished her drink and placed the mug upon the solid bottom of an overturned ration box. One of the dozens gathered along with ammunition crates beside the small airmobile container, all waiting for return trip to the Starport in Antares City. This VTOL was not of the Utility type however, it was a Command Gunship, escorted by a Point of wasp-like Donar attack VTOLs, which meant it was Star Colonel Radick’s.
Upon landing the Donars idled their rotors keeping enough distance between her and them to only mist her with an icy spray of water. Star Colonel Marcos Radick disembarked along with the 37th’s Coregn, Star Commander Hecate (of an AeroWarrior bloodline), Ranking Watch Officer (RWO) Kenji, and Star Commander Valence, of the other Adder firebase in control of the small town of Trifecta to the North of Ouroboros.
Katya saluted the guests, “Greetings Colonel and Commanders, welcome to Alba. Can I interest you in a cup of coffee before we proceed?”
Valence spoke first much to Marcos’ irritation, “Stuff it, Captain Kerensky! You have been sitting up here for a week while the Two-Twenty-Second has assaulted my Nova. I lost three MechWarriors and a decad of Elementals in that time. Why have they not been destroyed?”
“I do not see how I can be responsible for your failures Val. As the others can attest my Star required repairs,” she stared at the Colonel and his Coregn, “that were not immediately forthcoming.”
Hecate bristled at the accusation, “You sat on your damage assessments for two days, Captain.”
Sheriff Jason appeared, with his own mug and wiping his face of breakfast crumbs with a napkin. He discarded it into a spent mortar case and saluted, “Colonel, Captain Kerensky’s Star was essential in providing aid to the locals to prevent a larger catastrophe. It took emergency services most of the first night to put out the fires caused by COMSTAR’s ambush and most of the second to contain everything else.”
Marcos waited for a moment, “The concerns of these civilians are irrelevant to me Sheriff. Our mission is to destroy the opposition forces then subdue the population until occupation and assimilation teams can be sent forward. Katya has been negligent in fulfilling that mission. I have given you a long leash as well, do not make me regret it.”
“Respectfully I disagree, my men have found the populace much more accepting of our control post-Ambush than previous. COMSTAR has lost the good will of Alba’s people following their dezgra actions. There has not been a demonstration or riot in the past five days,” He looked toward Valence and added emphasis, “although I still hear rumblings about their fellow citizen’s mistreatment in other sectors.”
Valence and Jason stared down the other, technically equivalent in rank the Sheriff was nevertheless a Freeborn Elemental and the other while Trueborn had mostly scraped by riding on the coattails of the Ristar Marcos. “How I run things in my sector is none of your concern, Sheriff.”
“How I run things in my sector is of concern to you though Commander. If you keep it up, you will lose your head the same way my predecessor did.”
“Is that a threat?”
“A warning.” Jason stood full erect over the smaller MechWarriors and used his hands for emphasis. “If I wanted to kill you, I would challenge you to a Grievance right now and curbstomp you into this beautiful tile.”
Katya spoke up rather than let the conversation continue to be about her rather than with her, 
“Both of you stand down!” They separated at the command. She stepped forward within the larger man’s reach, “If you have a problem with my methods, Colonel Radick, state it clearly. I am a big girl; I can take criticism.”
“You let the enemy escape.”
“I prevented the needless death of civilians, which would have fed right into their opposition to us, saving our own Warriors’ lives in the process.”
“I think you have gone soft Katya. Which is a disappointment. I thought better of you.”
“I never thought that much of you Marcos, but if it were possible, I think less of you now. 
You are unworthy of your Position. I would do a better job.”
Marcos leaned into her. He removed his own burgundy beret with the three gold bars of an Adder Star Colonel on it and tossed it onto a nearby ammo crate. “Then prove it.”
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