BoTH Chpt 34

==Blood on the Horizon - Chapter 34 -==
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===Cleaning Up===
Location: Camadierre, Taurian Concordat
Date: July 5th, 3002
"Cornet Taegan," I greeted the Concordat Liaison with a nod from where I was helping hook up a cable to the Blackjack that I had downed. "Nice to see you here in the field."
"Lot of salvage you've got here," she pointedly looked at the Blackjack. 
 
"Yup," I enunciated the 'P' as I secured the hook and went to the winch, hitting the button that powered on the generator, a massive groan echoing and blocking out all sound as the fifty-ton 'Mech was dragged up and onto the trailer. "I figured we'd negotiate that after we finished actually sorting through everything."
 
"Right,' she nodded. "We'll work on that after we debrief."
 
"It's gonna be a while," I looked up at where my 'Hammer was parked nearby. "We've got a lot to get done." 
 
"I'm actually here to help out where I can," she rolled up the sleeves of her working uniform. "Point me in the direction that you need me, Captain."
"There's another truck working on a Cicada over there," I waved in the general direction. "You can see if they need any help. Or, if you're just looking for something to stave off the paperwork, we're still figuring out what's good to salvage from the LRM boats we messed up."
 
"Where are you headed next?" 
 
"I'm hopping in my 'Hammer to head to the Union," I stretched and turned my neck to one side, sighing in relief as my neck and back popped. "We managed to capture the captain of this band and I want to look at the computer banks. I'm hoping that we managed to get some good intel."
 
"I'll ride along," Taegan followed me to the crouched heavy 'Mech. "Looks like you took some hits though," she pointed out several slagged and charred armor plates along the torso.
 
"Yeah," I boosted the shorter woman up so she could reach the ladder. "You already saw the other guys," I grabbed the bottom of the ladder and began climbing up after her until we reached the shoulder of the 'Mech, where she moved to the side while I opened the hatch with a quickly entered code. 
 
"Sorry for the mess," I stowed my carbine before opening a small footlocker and grabbing an extra cooling vest. "Here," I passed the vest to the Taurian now in standard Mechwarrior kit. "You're going to want this."
 
"Thanks," she pulled the vest over her sports bra. "Hopefully it won't get too hot in here." 
 
"I don't plan on having to cook anything for the rest of the day," I began powering on the 'Mech, bringing it out of standby mode and sealing the hatch behind me. "But it's better safe than sorry."
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===Its a Fine Dropship, I'd like Give it Away===
"The fuck happened here?" Taegan looked around the corridors of the massive dropship as she stepped out of the cargo bay and into the halls.
 
"I swear," Peterson grinned as he walked towards us. "It was like this when I found it."
 
"Knowing maintenance," I laughed. "I bet the pirates were holding this thing together with tape and spitshine."
 
"That's more accurate than you know," Peterson sobered up. "Cornet, we managed to free several slaves, but aside from one or two that wanted to join us, most of them hail from the Concordat. Any chance you can help them find their families?"
 
"I'll make sure they get to the right place," She nodded. "Now, why the hell does the interior look this fucked up?"
 
"Not a clue," the Lieutenant shrugged. "If I knew, I wouldn't be working for you, I'd be doing cushy work with MIIO."
 
"Fair enough," Taegan knelt and poked at an exposed conduit. "This can't be safe."
 
"Reactor's mostly shut down," a technician stepped through. "It's safe for traffic until power's routed through here."
 
"The Concordat's going to want the Union," Taegan sighed as she stood up. "Even with how ill-maintained it is."
 
"You can take it," I snorted. "I'm supposed to get 60% of all tonnage seized. That means I get to keep everything else. 'Sides, I'm not willing to pay the repair fees on this thing. I've got lift for the salvage we took, I don't need more right now."
 
"Right," the Cornet followed me as I headed towards the bridge. "I take it you're going to rip what you can from the databanks?"
 
"I'm hoping that they left data on their meeting places and times," I replied. "If they did, I'd like to go on the offensive, maybe capture the jumpships this band is using."
 
"Heh," she laughed. "If you manage that, I'm pretty sure the Concordat might try to use that contract extension clause."
 
"Guess we'll have to see," I stepped onto the bridge and looked around. "It looks like this area's relatively intact, so maybe there's a chance of success."
 
"We would like more intel on pirate locations. Would help us with keeping them out of our space," Taegan watched as I began moving up and speaking with the techs. 
 
"I'm sure that you're going to have your own people going over it," I looked up from a keyboard that I was typing away on. "But I'll give you the preliminary data once I have it."
 
"Well, looks like I've got to go deliver bad news then," the Liaison snarked. "Oh no, we don't get to keep the 'Mechs or vehicles."
 
"I'm keeping that Manticore no matter what," I looked her in the eye. "Even if I do have to repair or replace the Fusion engine."
 
"I'm sure I can find you a two-forty on the markets," she smiled. "Now, if the busy work is done, I'd like to meet this pirate 'Captain'. I'm sure there's a fount of information to be gained from him."
===Renegotiations===
Location: Camadierre, Taurian Concordat
Date: July 10th, 3002
"Cornet," I greeted the officer as I entered her office. "I heard you needed to meet with me?"
 
"Take a seat, Captain," the woman went completely professional from the playful soldier of the other day. "I've got instruction from the powers-that-be."
 
After I had taken a seat, she slid an enclosed letter to me before leaning back in her chair and allowing me to peruse the contents. 
 
"Okay," I said as I set the letter down. "But why? You guys have forces of your own that specialize in that sort of combat operations."
 
"They'll take too long to get here," she frowned. "But they're offering a renegotiation of the contract if you're successful," she handed me the new contract.
 
"Damn," I whistled. "That's a shit-ton of C-Bills."
 
"Aye," she nodded. "And should you manage to capture more than one JumpShip we'll allow you to lease one of them at cost until you can acquire a replacement."
 
"I want first refusal on any dropships we find," I looked over the rest of the doctored contract. "And I want that to include if we go on the offensive at the Pirate's base."
 
"I'll take it to my superiors," she agreed. "I'll have a response in a few days."
 
"Let's hope that we find a good compromise here," I smiled. "Thank you, It's always a pleasure."
 
"Indeed, Captain," she stood and shook my hand. "I'll be in touch."
 
Standing up, I left the room with a spring in my step. After all, the fiercer the foe, the sweeter the salvage.
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Chapter 34