ADO Chpt 14

<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
==First MissionChapter 14 - Aurigan Dreams (BattleTech CYOA)==
----
===A Discussion about Loss===
----
“Vance,” I greet my nephew as he enters my office.
“Elizabeth,” says Vance as he takes a seat opposite me, “Any particular reason you called this meeting? I presume that this is going to be an informal one given your greeting.”
“I just wanted to see how you were doing.” I tell him, “I may not be the best person to do this with my own inexperience, but I am your commanding officer and we lost a couple of guys in Wolf Company.”
“Private Niko Nanai and Private Soraya Farahani.” says Vance unhappily and I feel a little guilty that I can’t just recall the names of the dead like that, “People dying is a fact of life when you are a soldier and we certainly did better than our foes this time, but it is still unpleasant. Unfortunately some of the pirates decided to go down fighting rather then surrender.”
“It sucks,” I say, “it must be worse for you since you have been more involved with the battalion than I have. I know that I lack experience with this, but is there anything I can do to help?”
“Send something back to their families and tell me that this was worth it.” answers Vance promptly, “Those two were new recruits of ours, fresh out of training and on their first mission, seeing combat for the first time, and now we have to go back and tell their families that they are dead.”
“I have enough C-Bills to send some back to their families.” I say, “It won’t make up for the loss of a loved one, but it should be better than nothing. Can you handle the details? This isn’t something I have any experience with and my schedule is busy enough until I finish my training.”
“I can,” says Vance with a sigh, “I was exercising command in the op that they died in. Now, were their deaths worth it?”
“Absolutely,” I answer, thinking about the decrypted data archive, both the original aboard the Argo and the copies that I have, “The Argo did have some secrets and beyond that, we struck a blow against piracy in this part of the region. Plenty got away, but we took out two lances of pirate ‘Mechs and a company of pirate vehicles along with Blackmane’s DropShip. So yes, they died for something that was worth it.”
“That’s something at least,” says Vance, “Even if their families don’t see it that way.”
“If there is anything else I can do to help, let me know,” I tell him.
“I will, Elizabeth,” replies Vance, “and thanks for caring.”
----
=== Taking the Deal ===
----
“I’ll take the deal.” says Coranni in our second meeting, “About as good as we are going to get in this situation. We looked over the terms that your people showed us and you don’t seem to be screwing us over as far either I or Angela can tell.”
“I don’t want to exploit you.” I tell her bluntly, “You have experienced MechWarriors and ASFs pilots who come with their own machines and you have your own DropShip. A Leopard might not be much by DropShip standards, but it is still a DropShip. Paying you your worth in C-Bills and treating you with respect is hardly something I am unwilling to do. Besides, swindling you now would hurt my reputation in the long run once word got around and it would hardly engender any sort of loyalty.”
“Angela figured it was a mutually beneficial sort of deal.” says Coranni, “She said it made sense in your position if you were being smart and not greedy.”
“I’m rich enough that I’m not overly worried about making more C-Bills.” I answer, “My concern is securing a future for the Aurigan Coalition. Speaking of which, the Aurigan Coalition, my home state, will be my preferred employer and the Rimward Sentinels will be associated with its government. We even got the heir presumptive working for us.”
“Angela and Bao both said that was fine.” replies Coranni, “Your people aren’t a big name like the Great Houses or the Canopians, but you aren’t nobodies either and neither are you pirates. I can live with that and so can my Crew.”
“Good to hear,” I say, “We’ll write up the formal contracts for each of your people and inform the local ComStar compound of the new circumstances. You’ll be traveling back to Coromodir with us, where the rest of our unit is both acting as part of the garrison and training up their newer recruits. Maybe even look into getting some parts to repair that Crusader of yours. Shouldn’t be too hard with how common parts for it and how easy that type of ‘Mech is to retain.”
“We had trouble affording replacement parts to rebuild it,” says Coranni, perking up at my words, “but you have enough C-Bills to afford it.”
“If it means getting another Heavy ‘Mech in my ranks, I’m willing to take a look at doing it.” I tell her, making no promises until I have some actual financial estimates in front of me.
“I would be really grateful if you did.” says Coranni, “My current ride isn’t bad, but my Crusader is my ‘Mech. Being able to pilot it again…”
I don’t mention that I am more interested in her unit’s DropShips and her trained ASFs pilots. Experienced MechWarriors with their own rides are nice, but they aren’t what I need right now. But Coranni doesn’t need to know that and I don’t see any benefit to telling her that.
----
===Ready for Liftoff===
----
“The Argo is ready to lift off at a moment’s notice.” reports Doctor Murad before glancing at me as she sits at a table with myself, Lord Espinosa, Captain Duarte and Vanc, “Technically we got it ready shortly earlier today, but we delayed because Colonel Nora was busy with her work. We took the opportunity to get what work we could done and stabilize more of the hull and its core systems. The Argo will need a few to several months at a proper shipyard, but she is capable of making her way to that shipyard in one piece.”
“Excellent work, Doctor,” says Lord Espinosa, “It is good to see that our faith in you wasn’t misplaced.”
“Thank you, Lord Espinosa,” says Doctor Murad, “It is an honor to be working on a project like the Argo.”
“Colonel Nora, I presume that your goals were successful?” Lord Epsinosa half-states and half-asks.
“Absolutely,” I answer him, “I have successfully found and made a copy of the secrets that Lord Arano was looking for. I have also absorbed our mercenary captives into the Rimward Sentinels. They were in dire financial straits while having personnel and hardware that I wanted so it seemed like the best outcome for everyone. I’ve also had my ‘Mechs rearmoured and dipping into captured supplies from the pirates has kept our own stockpiles of spare armor from falling too low.”
“Good news all round then,” says Lord Espinosa smilingly, “Excellent work everyone. Today has been a good day for the Aurigan Coalition and I can assure you that I won’t forget your parts in that.”
----
==Author's Chapter Notes==
;Word from the Author: End of the third arc and Axylus plotline. Next time will be the Coalition getting ready for its next moves and trouble caused for Elizabeth by the more unsavoury Hermans finally making itself known.
----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
14, Chapter