WotH Chpt 6

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 6 ==
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===My word is my bond===
Surface - 30 BBY, Beloria system, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories
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"Well, it looks like the correct forms are in the process of being filed with the local government," Commander Tarkin said as he looked over the datapad that was halfway filled out in both the local language and in English thanks to some protocol droids. "Now, if you'll show me the bodies of the pirates that you eliminated, I may be able to authorize early payments on any that had bounties on their heads. In this sector at least."
 
"My word is my bond as a mercenary," I replied. "If I did not keep to my word then no one would be willing to hire me," I shrugged. "Keeping things legal is important if we want to be able to market our services." 
 
"I suppose that is true," Tarkin considered with an inquisitive expression on his face. "We should return to my ships so that I may make my report. Then we can discuss the possible bounty payments as well as if there is any work that the ORSF might have for your group in the future."
 
"I'll arrange the vehicle for our return," I said as I turned to leave. "We're going to be settling our main base here for the foreseeable future. We're not far from the trade routes and we should be able to do some good here."
 
"That you will," Tarkin gave a brief smile. "Pirates are everywhere on the outer rim, and anyone who is willing to stand against them is a friend in this day and age."
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===Taste in Music===
The ride back to the base went by in with very few spoken words, Commander Tarkin working on his reports as the remainder of us simply were enjoying some music that the driver had put through the system, the bagpipes and electric guitars piping through the sound system of the truck. 
 
"What manner of music is this?" Tarkin asked through HK. 
 
"It's Celtish rock," I replied over the music, banging my head to the beat. "You just can't beat the pipes when it comes to an instrument when they're done well."
 
"The pipes?" Tarkin raised an eyebrow. 
 
"The bagpipes," I shrugged, waiting on HK to translate for me. "We've got a handful of people who know how to play them well back at the base, I'll show you when we get back."
 
"I look forward to seeing what strange instrument you people possess," Tarkin replied. "Maybe I can acquire some of these recordings to enjoy on my own."
 
"I'll ask around and see if we have any copies of the music," I replied. "I can't guarantee that we have anything though."
 
"That will be fine," the commander responded. "I am not looking to take someone else's belongings."
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===I am a Mercenary===
"Thank you for being willing to cooperate with me." Tarkin said one last time. 
 
"It was no problem," I replied with a smile. "Once we're ready to head back out we'll meet again. Until then, keep in touch and let us know if there are any pirate strongholds that need to be cleared out."
 
"I will do so," Tarkin inclined his head as he shook my hand. "And will keep your people in mind should the ORSF need assistance in the future."
 
The man walked up the ramp to the lead ship and shortly afterward, the ramp slid up, the ships taking off in formation while their ASF moved to an escort pattern.
 
"That looked like it went well," Sheppard said as he moved forward in his wheelchair, the prosthetic attached to where his crushed leg was previously twitching as he slowly worked it through the motions. "Think we've got a good future here?"
 
"I think we do," I replied as I turned and looked at the base we had begun starting up. "I think we'll have to begin getting ourselves dug in here though. We want to make this place the last thing that anyone wants to target."
"I'll have the engineers onboard the Argo start working on getting production of the guns worked up," Sheppard replied. "Until then, we've got to get the navigation down and start working on figuring out these new ships. We'll be stuck using them until we're able to get our own ships up to their specs."
 
"Which could take a while," I replied. "So until then, we've got to use the funds that we got from the bounties on those pirates to start working on acquiring samples of the local tech and seeing what can be done to incorporate it into our own. The Researchers on the Argo are going to be very busy for the next few years." 
 
"Well, we've got some people that want to join up from the locals," Sheppard said with a shrug. "Might as well see what they know after we're done getting them up to our standards."
 
"Worth a shot," I shrugged. "Now, I'm overdue for some rack time. So I'm going to leave the current paperwork and other crap to you and Peterson, I'm going to bed."
 
"Copy that, Colonel," Sheppard replied. "We'll hold down the fort while you get some rest."
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===Production===
July 15, 3007/30BBY Beloria system, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories
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"Alright people, we've still got a lot of work to do." Peterson said as they sorted out the jobs for the morning. "There's still plenty of defensive positions to be set up and the remainder of the prefabs to be put in place and assembled. After that, we're going to have to assist with getting the small number of farm animals and crops that we brought with us. If we want everything to go well we've got to be self-sufficient, then that includes food." 
 
"Well, won't be any different than back home, I guess," one of the infantrymen shrugged. "Farms are just about the same everywhere."
 
"Some of the machine shops on the Argo are going to be dedicated to churning out some machines that will help with do the heavy lifting for our dependents when it comes to farming, but we've got to get everything started."
 
"Let's get to it then," the junior officers started directing their platoons while the noncoms kept everyone in line. 
 
"Well, no matter where you go, it's bullets, beans, and bandages that keep the war machine running," I observed as I helped out with getting the beginnings of the farms up and running, the Jabberwocky industrialmech that I was piloting idling beneath me for a minute. "Let's just hope that we've got enough seed to start with," I sighed "We're still not sure if we'll have any allergic reactions to the local foodstuffs, and we don't want to find out the hard way." 
 
"Agreed," Peterson replied over the comms network. "An army marches on its stomach, but feeding our troops foodstuffs that we're not sure about would be a recipe for disaster."
 
"Well, hopefully, we can find out if the local food is safe without any issues and in a controlled environment," I said as I began to work again. "But I bet that we'll find out through some marine, mech pilot, or soldier getting drunk at a bar and eating something they shouldn't."
 
"That's a sucker's bet, and you know it," Sheppard chimed in from where he had been listening in. 
 
"Sure is," I chuckled. "It sure is."
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Chapter 6