EMCOTS 24

=Emergence (Concertverse) - Chapter 24=
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==Fog of War==
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===Repositioning===
AFS Charles Sinclair
Pirate Jump Point, Morges System
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
16th December, 3142
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The tension in the command chamber of the Sinclair was thick even after the intense 2.5 G burn ended.  Bridger restrained the sigh of relief that ended the pressure that taxed him through the burn, making his chest hurt and his limbs ache even in the crash couch.  Now micro-gravity reclaimed them while, through the ship, a thunk signaled their attachment to the JumpShip Hawk's Gleam.
"Half the ships are attached," reported Colonel Martinez from up in the ship's main command center, where the crew of the Sinclair was overseeing that process.  "Estimate five minutes before attachments complete."
"Any new status of the Falcon arrivals?" Bridger asked
"They have not moved.  If they are preparing for an in-system jump on LF batteries, they've yet to finish the changeover from the main sails." Martinez's voice was deceptively calm, knowing that any moment the Falcons might try an in-system jump.  The usual pre-emergence signature would give them some warning time, at least, but given the distance, not a lot, not nearly enough.  We'd have to leave people behind.  And the Falcons won't show mercy.
"Kell Hounds completing attachment," Evan's voice crackled over the comm.  "And might I say, General, that I am greatly pleased we took up your offer for running with your ships.  Even with Ol' Vandermeer's training still part of the fleet, I doubt we'd have a safe charge done in a conventional system.  Mighty useful to have LF batteries on transports."
Bridger chuckled.  "Don't get used to it.  I had to haggle with Admiral Marik and Archduke Ethan to get every battery-supported military transport JumpShip in the Arc-Royal March for this 'fishing expedition' of ours, plus a couple from Donegal March.  They'll be wanting them back soon enough."
Evan's laugh brought some levity in these final tense minutes.  Martinez gave occasional updates to their attachment status.  Bridger prayed that the rest would make it, that the Falcons would be slower, and as the number crept towards 100%, hope and dread alike rose on whether they'd make it.
"All ships attached!" Martinez called out.  "Hawk's Gleam signaling imminent jump!"
It took another ten seconds, but no emergence signatures were called out before the klaxon warned Bridger and the whole crew that the jump was underway.  At the end of the countdown the universe blanked out around him.  The shock of nausea that was the trademark of cutting across the long dark in an eyeblink faded as light returned to his vision.
His eyes went to the holotank and the fleet.  One by one, they arrived.  His stomach remained twisted, waiting to see if one would fail, if there'd be a misjump from trying to jump out of a pirate point - even with their astrogation computers this wasn't impossible - or if the Falcons might have jumped in and caught a straggler.
After one of the longest minutes of his life, Bridger saw the last ship appear.  They were all intact.
"Fleet has completed jump."  There was relief in Martinez's voice.  "All ships accounted for.  No blown seals reported, no casualties.  We've safely arrived in the A Place system."
Thank you Lord.  Now we don't have to leave someone behind or lose time raiding the Falcons for parts.
The Falcons on A Place couldn't help but see them, even if their destination was the nadir point and rather far afield from the central area of the jump point.  But without black boxes or HPGs, the local troops wouldn't be able to inform that fleet of where they were unless a JumpShip went to Morges, and that assumed they knew the Falcon fleet was there.
He triggered a comm line to the Sara Proctor and Captain Winters.  "Any sign of JumpShips?" he asked, just in case.
"None on this side.  Could be some on the zenith, if they're in the solar shadow, but no emissions yet."
"I'll leave it in your hands, Captain."  He re-opened the open line between his ship, Evan's, Patrik's, and Colonel Ward.  "Looks like we didn't lose anyone."
"Aff.  We were fortunate there.  Though now that we are not threatened with a superior force, I wonder of the Falcons' intentions."  Patrik's voice rumbled with concern.  "It is unlikely they knew we would target Morges next over the other potential worlds to strike, as they would have had forces ready for our approach.  And no Falcon ship departed the Morges system during the attack.  The fleet was already coming through Morges.  Presumably towards another target."
"Arc-Royal?" proposed Colonel Ward.  "Your grudge, plus the planet's central role in local defense, makes it a target."
"Perhaps.  Though there is another target as inviting, especially with the Falcons having a new Khan to elect."
Bridger recognized what he was implying. "You think they're on the way to Timkovichi?"
"It would explain the commitment of most of their remaining WarShip force.  My naval commanders have identified the White Aerie and one of her sister battlecruisers among the images taken of the Falcon fleet.  They came prepared for a major battle in the void."
"Damn.  We need to get on the black boxes, warn Nadia and the others." Evan urged.
"Precisely my plan, Colonel, and meanwhile, we get recharged and make our way back, best speed."  Bridger sighed wearily.  The dispositions aren't good for taking out two battlecruisers immediately, neither of our fleets still on station have anything big enough to force the Glass.  If they go for Timkovichi… General Khan's in for a tough fight.
"They will butcher that world in revenge, should the commander be a Mongol." Patrik warned.  "Their dishonor and dezgra behavior knows no limit."
"We'll get back as soon as we can.  In the meantime, we rest our people, and wait to hear word."  In the end, it was all Bridger could suggest, as much as it rankled.  To think we jumped in the wrong direction, too busy trying to avoid the Falcons and not thinking where they might be going.  Should've thought more about it… chalk up another wrong call to the fog of war.
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===Talking out ones Internal Turmoil===
The jump nausea lingered for Eva in the confines of her bunk.  It was the one place she'd felt comfortable dealing with the high-Gs of their burn out from Morges.  At least, as comfortable as she could given the mortal dread still clinging to her, even now, as the threat to her life faded with every second.
The bunk over from hers stirred.  Kevin's eyes met hers.  "We made it out of there, at least," he said.  "And I ken the techs should have more than enough parts to fix your 'Mech right up.  Wouldn't be surprised if they've got 375 iXLs stocked away for just that kind of damage."
"It's delaying the inevitable at this rate," she said weakly, eyes not quite meeting his.  They were focused on the future, or rather the future she was conceiving, a future where a PPC shot would land on target and she would be gone in a flash of excited particles.  Burnt to a cinder, from living to dead in the blink of an eye.  "Norton's gone.  I almost bought it."
"Aye, th' Falcons are a right nasty enemy to fight," Kevin agreed.  "But ye're still here.  Still breathin'.  That's a victory."
"It won't last."  She turned in the bunk, not able to stand meeting his eyes.  Not knowing he must see the fear that still rippled inside of her.  The desire to turn back time and undo the last half decade of her life.  If he saw that he'd lose heart too, at least when it came to her, and the others might hear of it.
Why should I care? a part of her thought.  They'll end up dead at some point anyway.
The really sickening thing was thinking back to the pub in Old Connaught.  All of those Kell Hound and Wolf pilots who treated her like a hero when she'd never done a thing to deserve it.
"Eva."  His voice was a little louder this time.  She turned in the bunk to see him floating towards her in the zero-G.  "Don't fret what happened.  Even the best can get overwhelmed by a stronger machine."  He gripped one of the support cords holding her bunk tightly to the wall to stop himself.  His expression was full of understanding and friendliness.  It was reassuring, and yet, it was not what she wanted to see.  "Ye did yer duty, kept yer place, and helped keep the line intact.  That's all anyone can rightly ask of ye."
"I know," she murmured.  "I just… My 'Mech got cored, and I keep looking back, wondering what I did wrong. What I could have done to stay in the fight longer, to beat my enemy.  Captain Kincaid died saving me, and what good does that do anyone if I end up having to be saved every time instead of carrying my weight?"
"It's not why the Captain came to help ye.  It was her job.  Just as it was Lieutenant von Krager's, and Lieutenant Norton's, and now, it's mine.  So ye listen to me, Eva."  While one arm held the cord and arrested all the inertia he'd built moving over to her, the other extended down and settled a hand on her uniformed shoulder.  "Don't let this bring ye down.  Ye walked out of that fight.  Ye can walk out of the next, and ye're quite the MechWarrior besides.  All the action we've seen so far, and against enemies like this, and ye've got four victories to yer name already.  And only one loss?  There are generals today who came out of the war with half as good a record.  Just keep an eye on that, and ye'll do everyone proud."
She didn't reply, not right away, not until she sensed he wouldn't move until she did.  "Alright," she replied.  "You're right."
"I've got to be right sometimes," he said, and she looked at him long enough to see him grin.  "After all, I'm the Lance Loo now.  They're always supposed to be right, especially when they're not!"
Eva allowed a small grin to form on her face and joined him in the laugh.  Even if she didn't quite feel it in her heart, it felt right to give him that much.
Plus his joke was sort of funny.
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===Pent up Frustration===
CJFS White Aerie
Zenith Jump Point
Morges System
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
Without HPGs to provide for faster communications, the escape of the raiding units was not known until the flashes of light from their jumps registered on White Aerie and her accompanying fleet, minutes after their departure.
There was little emotion on Galaxy Commander Chistu's face at the escape.  Isaac noted this with intense frustration, and it reinforced his intention to eventually challenge her for the command.  Once revenge for the Chingis Khan was achieved.
The core of his frustration was in how Chistu seemed so utterly opposed to the glorious genius of the Chingis Khan's ways.  It was the kind of genius the Clan needed, an end to all the ridiculous bidding, and limited warfare, that did nothing but let the Inner Sphere employ trickery and numbers to overwhelm superior trueborn warriors.  It was the path to ultimate victory for the Falcons.  Victory over the Lyrans, over the Bears, over the Wolves, and over the mockery of the Republic that dared to imagine it could replace the Clans and the Star League.
And to succeed, this path required one simple, brutal truth to be enforced: everyone who opposes the Falcons must die.
Yet now he had to watch, without protest, as these Inner Sphere bandits fled from the deaths that were rightfully theirs.  Adding salt to the wound were the battleROM images showing on secondary screens, the most recent broadcasts to arrive from Morges.  Their enemies weren't just any enemy forces, but those with the sky blue machines bearing the fiery sunhawk; those who had slain the Chingis Khan by surprise.
He wished his hate could reach across the void and burn each and every one of the "Sunhawks" to ash, but the universe was clearly not cooperating.
Star Admiral Crichell stepped up to Galaxy Commander Chistu.  "All ships report that the change-over and recharge are complete.  We are ready to make the next jump for Timkovichi."
"Good.  See to it."  Galaxy Commander Chistu turned to face Isaac and his fellow commanders.  "You are relieved for the moment.  See that your warriors are ready for our accelerated time table.  We will arrive at the target earlier than expected."
She was answered by salutes and stiff-backed departures.  Issac stood his ground for the moment, though he did give the proper salute, if for form's sake.
Chistu seemed to note that.  "Star Colonel, you have something to say?"
"Your ambition to be Khan will be fruitless if you do not embrace the Mongol Doctrine." he said.  "It is the path to victory, the only path.  We will never go back to the shackles of the traditions that kept us weak."
He noted her eyes flare at that with satisfaction.  "Those traditions made us what we are, Star Colonel.  They made us the greatest warriors Mankind has to offer.  Without the traditions of our Clan, handed down to us by Elisabeth Hazen and Nicholas Kerensky, we are nothing."
"We are warriors.  We fight and we kill those who dare to stand against us.  That is all we need."  Isaac sneered at her.  "Reliance on tradition is a sign of weakness."
Her eyes now threatened to bore into him, though he refused to feel any intimidation.  "You will watch what you say, Star Colonel, for I will not brook disrespect.  If you wish to challenge me, we can go to our 'Mechs now, and I will leave your broken corpse to drift in the void."
"I am not challenging you. Yet."  The sneer became a smile.  "Unless you wish to challenge me, I believe this conversation is over."  He said this confident in the knowledge she would not dare challenge him.  Not only did she (rightfully) have reason to fear defeat and death, but even if she won, his fellow Mongols would only resent her all the more, and the 9th Talon would be even less-inclined to obey.
"So it is.  You are dismissed, Star Colonel."
Just another coward.  He turned his back and walked away, taunting her with his knowledge she would never dare plant a knife in it.
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EMCOTS 24