ADO Chpt 17

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==Rise and BreakChapter 17 - Aurigan Dreams (BattleTech CYOA)==
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===Sister Talk===
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Since becoming a mercenary, I’ve had to change my habits. Before the start of the year, I was something of a night owl, going to bed late and sleeping in, but since I became a mercenary colonel, and began my MechWarrior training, I’ve found myself getting up early in the morning and correspondingly hitting the sack earlier.
And yet I am not the first one up as that honour goes to Moana as my sister is already up and dressed when I come downstairs.
“Elizabeth,” says Moana as she spots me coming down the stairs.
“Mo,” I reply, using her nickname even as she refuses to use mine, “You’re up early. Military habits?”
“Yes,” answers Moana stiffly, “Same for you?”
“Oh yes,” I say, “I’m too busy these days between learning how to pilot a ‘Mech and run a mercenary unit. Now I’m going to have to learn about being a noble too.”
“Wait, what?” demands Moana as she freezes at that last sentence and I wince at letting that bit of news slip out so unexpectedly.
“High Lord Arano has decided to reward my successful mission with an ennoblement,” I answer, “The details are still being figured out, but I’m going to be made a Lady and given a small land holding.”
“What did you do to earn that?” asks Moana with emotion that I can’t quite figure out.
“The details are secret, but apparently something I accomplished meant a lot to Lord Arano.” I tell her.
While I didn’t quite grasp it at the time, I did realize just how valuable the information I uncovered was. A map of so many SLDF locations was extremely valuable and I just hadn’t figured that out at the time between how I cheated and how many of the important locations I had already known about since the start of the year.
“Well, if Lord Arano thinks that you deserve it.” says Moana, “I’m going to have to call you Lady Nora in the future?”
“Maybe in a formal setting.” I answer, “Same way that we might end up calling each other Cornet Kalani and Colonel Nora in a formal setting.”
“You know that is a load of nonsense, right?” asks Moana, “That you have gone from a civilian to colonel overnight.”
“Oh for sure, but we live in a neo-feudal galaxy, Moana,” I reply, “Inheriting power and authority that you haven’t earnt is just how things are done.”
“Don’t remind me,” mutters Moana, “We have too much of that in ACM. It isn’t so bad in the infantry, but it gets worse amongst the tankers and don’t get me started on the Mechjocks or Aerojocks. Especially since you need the connections to rise above a certain point.”
“Well, you’ve got some of those connections now.” I joke.
“Because you’re so high and mighty now.” retorts Moana sarcastically.
“You jest, but I’m on a first name basis with Kamea Arano, heir to House Arano and future High Lady of the Aurigan Coalition.” I shoot back, “Even if I don’t directly use that on your behalf. You can bet that people will take that into account when they are looking at promoting you.”
“I have mixed feelings about that.” says Moana with a grimace.
“I’m sure you’ll be competent enough to deserve any promotions.” I say, “It isn’t like I’ll leverage it to get you unearned promotions.”
“I still hate the fact I need those connections.” grumbles Moana.
“Alas we live in a neo-feudal fu-galaxy.” I answer, barely catching my slipup in time.
I can hardly call this a neo-feudal future when I am supposed to only be a year older than my sister.
“What was that?” asks Moana as she gives me a look.
“Moana,” I say, “Is there something wrong? Because everyone noticed how standoffish you were being last night.”
“You’re changing the subject.” points out Moana.
“So are you.” I retort, refusing to let Moana address my slipup, “You’ve been so cold in your messages ever since I got back from Bromhead and last night was the first time you bothered to meet me in person.”
“It’s nothing.” replies Moana, refusing to meet my eyes, “Just things that I need to work through.”
“Speaking of work, I guess you have a bunch to do today as well.” I say, thinking about my full day of more MechWarrior training with Mastiff, researching mercenary practices and perhaps starting my crash course on nobility with Kamea.
“I’m on garrison duty in the capital.” replies Moana with a shrug, “We get weekends off unless we’ve been assigned duty that weekend.”
“Then you’re got more free time than me.” I reply with a slight sulk, “I don’t have any spare time these days.”
“Unless something is on fire, I probably do.” agrees Moana.
“Well, I’ve got time for breakfast before I have to leave for work.” I say, “I can get some slack between being part of a mercenary unit and being the boss of said mercenary unit, but I do have a lot of things that I need to get done.”
“I could cook up some breakfast and drive you to work?” offers Moana, “Assuming that you haven’t learnt how to drive at some point.”
“I’ve been too busy to spend time on that and I’ve had people to do it for me since I got rich,” I tell her with a sigh, “I can drive a ‘Mech just fine, but a ground vehicle is still beyond me. At least legally driving one. I bet I could do a decent job if I didn’t need to worry about following the law, mind you.”
“I’ll drive you then, Liz.” says Moana with a laugh, “I don’t have anything better to do today.”
“Great,” I say, “You might be able to meet Vanessa.”
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=== Meeting the Company ===
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After a quick breakfast of bacon, fried egg and toast and a quick drive from home to the old base on the outskirts of Cordia City that my forces have been given permission to use, I’ve persuaded Moana to stick around for a bit.
“No uniforms.” comments Moana as she looks around my people as we walk towards the DropShips.
“I haven’t gotten around to that yet.” I answer, “The unit is rich enough and large enough that I could do it, but a mercenary unit can get by without it so I’ve put it on the backburner while I’ve been getting up to speed with other stuff.”
“I can see that with how busy you’ve gotten yourself.” says Moana and I scowl.
“That’s what happens when you skip straight to colonel from civilian,” I say, “I’m hoping to get a few months to get things up to scratch while the negotiations take place.”
“Negotiations?” inquires Moana.
“Forget I said anything,” I tell her, “They aren’t quite public yet.”
“I can do that,” says Moana, “Part of being in the military is knowing how to keep my mouth shut.”
“Good,” I say, “Want to see my-”
“Liz!” calls Kamea as the heir presumptive to the Aurigan Coalition comes running towards me, “I was wondering when you would show up.”
“Hey, Kamea,” I reply as Moana boggles at the sight of the Arano heiress, “I don’t believe you have met my sister yet.”
“I have not,” replies Kamea as she reaches us, “This is Moana I presume? Jump infantry in the Royal Guard?”
“That’s the one,” I confirm while Moana just looks between us, a bewildered expression on her face. “She’s part of Cordia City’s garrison and she hasn’t got duty today so I’m showing her around.”
“I see,” says Kamea, “It is an honor to meet the sister of the Reach’s newest rising star.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Lady Arano,” replies Moana, going stiff and formal.
“You are the heir and sole daughter of High Lord Arano and Moana is in the Royal Guard.” I tell Kamea as she gives me a look, “I trust I don’t need to explain the implications of that to you.”
“You don’t, but it is still annoying.” grumbles Kamea before sighing like the teenager that she is, “Alright, Liz. Am I intruding on any plans? Because I was hoping to get started on your nobility training. There are some basics that you need to know before we toss you into the ranks of high society.”
“Just an impromptu visit.” I inform her, “I figured that I’d show Moana around, show off my ‘Mech, maybe stick her in the rumble seat and take her for a ride. Nothing too much since my schedule is busy enough as it is.”
“I’ll find something to do until you are free.” says Kamea before glancing at my sister, “Just one thing first. Moana, do you know why Liz decided to call her ‘Mech Solus Prime?”
I sigh. Naming one’s BattleMech is a fairly common thing. Owning a ‘Mech is a big deal and giving it a name is the next step down that path. For me, I decided to name my Atlas after one of the characters from Transformers. Solus Prime for my first ‘Mech and then once I get my hands on a Royal ‘Mech, I would call that one Optimus Prime after the big guy himself. And if I somehow lost my Atlas before getting a Royal upgrade, I would call it Ultra Magnus or something.
Unfortunately, that made it difficult to explain the reference because I have never watched Transformers in this life. In fact, I’m not even sure that the franchise exists in this universe.
“Absolutely no clue, Lady Arano.” answers Moana as she gives me a questioning look.
“It doesn’t really matter,” I reply, going evasive like I usually am whenever this topic comes up, “So Moana, want to ride in my rumble seat? That’s the backseat of the ‘Mech.”
“Do we have permission?” asks Moana with a frown, “I wouldn’t want to cause trouble.”
“Your sister is in charge,” answers Kamea with an eye roll, “She gets to call the shots and decides who has permission.”
“Within limits,” I say, “I still have to obey the law, but yes, I am the one who gives permission and yes, Mo, we have permission.”
“Then yes, I would like to take a ride in a ‘Mech,” says Moana, a gleam in her eye, “I always wanted to do that.”
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==Author's Chapter Notes==
;Word from the Author: I wasn’t expecting to have this chapter be so focused on Moana, but here we are. A decent introduction to her, which is good because I have plans for her. Anyway, the next chapter will be covering Elizabeth’s ascension into the ranks of nobility and once that is done, it will be onto the raid.
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