AATiPDC Chpt 21

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==Chapter 21 - An American Tanker in Prince Davion's Court==
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===The Job Offer===
The Hodges’ Residence
New Avalon, Federated Suns
September 18th, 3029
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General Hodges’ revelation about the possibility of RKKV attacks is, in a word, sobering. Colonel Wolf lightens the mood by changing the subject and saying “General, I couldn’t help but notice that strange BattleMech standing nearby; is that your machine? I’m familiar with just about every model of ‘mech in existence, but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anything like it before…”
“It’s my machine, sir; a bracket fighter; with an Extended Range PPC in each arm and a large pulse laser in the center, right and left torso sections. As to where it came from, that would be the Star League cache on Helm. You see, I provided the First Prince information that was instrumental in allowing successful raids on the Helm facility and the one on New Dallas. As a reward, the First Prince gave that machine to me. In regards to the ‘mech itself, back during the days of the Star League, there were three grades of equipment available; the first was the materiel issued to the regular army and the second was issued to House Cameron’s Royal Regiments. Best of all was the materiel reserved for the personal use of House Cameron itself. That BattleMech is a Cameron-grade machine which I modified with the tech that I used to defeat Captain Kerensky; in short, it surpasses anything the Star League ever had.”
“Indeed; I would have thought that tanks were more your style.”
“They are, Colonel. However, to paraphrase the words of a certain Mr. Matthew Quigley, I never had much use for BattleMechs; never said I couldn’t use them. When the Liao recently attacked New Avalon, their main objective was the destruction of the New Avalon Institute of Science. Understandable, because the raid couldn’t have been carried out with the support of Comstar. During that action, I piloted that ‘mech while fighting alongside the First Prince; in so doing, I accounted for six Cappie ‘mechs. There were an assault, two heavies and three mediums.”
A pause, then “While we’re discussing BattleMechs, there’s a subject that I’d like to raise with you.”
“What is that, sir?”
“For my continuing services to the Federated Commonwealth, the First Prince has settled the Bristol System on me as a landhold. As I take possession of the system, I’ll be raising six combined-arms units I call ‘Division Combat Teams’ to defend it. Among other vehicles, each of these DCTs has six battalions of ‘mechs; for a total of 216 machines in each DCT and 1,296 in all. I need someone to serve as the CO of my BattleMech contingents. Therefore, I’d like to offer Captain Kerensky the job. What say you, Natasha?”
For once in her life, the Black Widow is absolutely flabbergasted; it takes Kerensky a short time to collect her thoughts. While she’s doing so, General Hodges says “A Division Combat Team is a combined arms unit, with tanks, BattleMechs, artillery, battlesuits and aerospace fighters all working together; the strengths of one element compensating for the weaknesses of another and thereby making the formation that much more lethal. In concept, this unit is modeled after the Federated Sun’s conception of a Regimental Combat Team; the obvious exceptions being that a DCT is much larger and far more powerful. As my BattleMech commander, your authority within the DCT structure would be second only to my own and, as such, you would have the rank of Brigadier-General.”
Colonel Wolf respectfully interjects and says “General, did I hear you correctly when you say you have batttlesuits?”
“Yes you did, sir. The suits I’ll be using are an un-built design called the ‘Legionary’, whose plans and specifications were found in the Helm cache; the Legionary also incorporates certain design features from the Star League’s Mark XXI Nighthawk power armor.”
“You never cease to amaze me, sir.”
While Colonel Wolf is reflecting on what he just heard, General Hodges asks once again “What do you say to my job offer, Captain Kerensky?”
“Wow, just wow. I thank you for the offer, sir; but I’ll need some time to think on it.”
“Very well. Your War Hammer will be in the shop for the next two weeks while it undergoes repairs and modifications; you can give me your answer anytime before then. Now that dinner is finished, how about we watch the rest of the movie?"
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Two weeks later, the work on Kerensky’s Warhammer is finished. General Hodges accompanies her to the NAIS repair facility and, upon arrival, tells her what was installed in her machine.
“Captain, the weapons in your BattleMech have all been fitted with stabilization systems; this means that no matter how fast you or your targets are moving, you’ll be able to fire on them as accurately as if you had been standing still. Next, there is a multi-spectral rangefinder incorporated into your ‘mech’s fire-control system; this device increases accuracy at all ranges, without the extra bulk of a targeting computer. As for the weapons themselves, the PPCs and lasers have been fitted with improved cooling jackets; the mech’s heat dispersal system has been re-worked to that each of your energy weapons has a dedicated heat sink and that your battle computer has had its software and subroutines upgraded so that your heat load is more-efficiently managed. Why don’t you take your machine for a spin on the testing range and see how you like the new systems?”
As Kerensky climbs up the ladder, Hodges says “One more thing, Captain. Why don’t you put these on your forward viewscreen?”
A quizzical look crosses Kerensky’s face, which curiosity is satisfied as Hodges tosses her a pair of fuzzy dice.” She grins and says “see you in thirty minutes…”
Half an hour later, the Warhammer comes back up to the range’s staging area. Kerensky climbs down out of her cockpit and says “I’ve got to hand it to you, Sir. Those modifications you added to my ‘mech are unlike anything I have ever experienced before; I found myself able to accurately engage targets in circumstances and at ranges that I previously though were impossible.”
“Does that mean you like your new ride?”
“Hell, yes I do.”
“Glad to know that, Captain. Now, how about an answer to my job offer? If you accept, I’ll prevail upon Colonel Wolf to cut your whole company lose so they can come along for the ride; once they’re on board, I’ll spring for the same modifications as I had installed on your machine.”
“General, you’re one hell of a salesman; I accept.”
“Excellent; I rather thought that you would. I’ll give you the next ten days to settle your personal affairs, after that, you’ll begin your new duties.”
“Thank you, sir.”
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=== Squaring Accounts ===
The Hodges’ Residence
New Avalon, Federated Suns
October 2nd, 3029
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As agreed upon, Romano Liao (daughter of Maximillian Liao and now Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation) travels to New Avalon under an assumed name in order to secure the release of her husband Tsen Shang; Romano decided to make the trip despite the many objections from her closest advisers (among whom is Chandra Ling, acting Director of the Maskirovka).
Traveling under the protection of a safe conduct pass granted by First Prince Hanse Davion and personally-guaranteed by General Hodges, Romano travels to New Avalon with four of her personal attendants. Upon arrival, she is conducted to the Hodges residence while her attendants are compelled to wait elsewhere. To maintain the fiction that Romano Liao isn't here, she's driven to General Hodges' house while wearing a hooded, ankle-length cloak of neutral gray and a mask that covers her whole face (except for her chin and her mouth).
Steadying herself for what she thinks is coming, Romano steps out of the ground car, walks up to Hodges' front door and knocks. Shortly thereafter, he answers.
"Welcome to my humble abode, Rommie. I'm so glad you were able to accept my invitation." Romano removes her mask and, with a look on her face as if she wished she were somewhere else right now, she responds "I'm here to secure the release of my husband, and I'll do anything I must to bring him back."
"A compliant attitude is one of my favorite character traits. Do please come inside; the interview you're about to have with me is best conducted in private."
Once the front door closes behind the two of them, Romano tosses aside her cloak to reveal that she's wearing the same dress of shimmering green silk that she had on the first time that she and General Hodges met on Terra. Hodges rolls his eyes all over Romano and says "That's the same little nothing you were almost wearing back on Terra when you tried to seduce me. It looks like you cut the neckline down some; if it gets any lower, it will bottom out around your ankles. Now that we've got the preliminaries out of the way, how about a glass of wine?"
Hodges turns his back on his guest to go and bring a bottle and two glasses. When he turns around, his eyes are greeted by the sight of Romano Liao standing there half-nude with her dress bunched around her waist.
"Hodges, I know what you want and I'm here to give it to you. Why don't we cut to the chase and get down to it?"
Two glasses of wine are filled, and one of them is handed over; Hodges downs his in three gulps, then fixes Romano with a glare that would cold-start a 'mech's fusion reactor.
"If I weren't already pledged to another, and if I were down for some tawdry, meaningless sex, I'd scoop the loop out by the spaceport and pick up a couple of lot lizards; I certainly wouldn't abase myself by caressing the likes of you. If I had any regard for your well-being (which I don't, of course), I'd toast your health. Now, Do you remember how I called you out for the spoiled, petulant child you are after our first meeting on Terra? Well, I certainly do. I have decided that, in order to teach you a lesson in the humility that you are sorely lacking, you're going to be punished in the same way that children like you have always been punished, with a good spanking..."
"WHAT?? I'll do no such thing..."
"Rommie, you're under the mistaken impression that you have any choice in the matter. I already know that you sent Tsen Shang here with a bunch of goons from the CCAF to kill me; You're also behind the attack on the New Avalon Institute of Science. Since the Confederation was so badly bashed by the Federated Commonwealth during the recent conflict, the only way you could have pulled off the hit was with the connivance of that bunch of no-good, toga-wearing, toaster-worshipping ****** in Comstar; don't bother to deny it!! Now, if you don't want Tsen Shang to get sweated for everything he knows, you will come to me and assume the position. As I deliver each smack to your hindquarters, you will respond with 'Thank you sir, may I have another?' If you fail to respond as I have directed, the spanking will continue until your attitude improves."
Hesitantly, Romano approaches until she's grabbed by the left hand and thrown across General Hodges' left knee. As he raises his right hand to deliver the first blow, Hodges says "This will not be pleasant, it will not be over quickly and you will not enjoy this..."
'Smack..'
'Smack...'
'SMACK..."
At the third blow, Romano's defiance wilts and she says "THANK YOU SIR, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER??"
Twelve more blows are delivered, equally-divided between both halves of Romano's hindquarters. Humiliated, Romano reaches for her dress and pulls it up to her shoulders. She turns to leave and picks up the cloak from where she dropped it by the front door; before she gets there, Hodges comes up, grabs her by the throat with his left hand and pushes her up against the wall until she's standing on her tiptoes.
Hodges' voice descends so low in pitch and tone that it sounds like boulders grinding together. Calmly, he says "Rommie, should you be so unwise as to cross my path again at any time in the future, you'll find out that I won't be so kindly disposed towards you as I was today. In short, there will be no world in the Inner Sphere, no forgotten space station, no barren moon, no crack, crevice or cave where you can hide from me; this goes double for the people you've sent to try and kill me. For these guys, I'll send their heads back to you packed in dry ice. Do you understand??"
For the first time in her existence, Romano Liao feels fear. Not an ordinary dread, but a primal, unreasoning fear that reaches up from the deepest, darkest parts of her subconscious mind and starts to squeeze her soul with fingers that are colder than liquid nitrogen.
Trembling visibly, Romano stammers out "I, I, I...understand."
General Hodges gestures expansively, smiles benignly then delivers a surprise kiss on the tip of Romano's nose. He releases her from his grip and says "Alright, we're done. One more thing before you go; do you remember that term I used to describe you at the reception on Hilton Head?”
“Hetaira? Yes, I do; what does it mean?”
“It’s the ancient Greek word for a high-class prostitute; if you had behaved like a proper married woman, we wouldn’t be having this discussion now. Good day, madam…”
Romano’s ears burn with sham and indignation as she leaves; this is further-compounded by General Hodges, who begins to sing:
Vengeance is as vengeance does –
Sweet the taste when eaten cold
Sweeter still to send thy ill
Back into thy face threefold…
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After Romano is gone, Hodges removes a small data disk from the server of his home security system and makes two duplicates. The original and one of the copies is stored in a safe built into the floor of the magazine underneath the garage, while he pockets the second copy. Next, he places a call to the Fox’ Den at Mount Davion and says "This is Lancer Six-Actual and I am inbound with CRITIC Traffic for the boss; ETA is one-five minutes..."
"Received and understood; Sword-One will be so informed."
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