BoTH Chpt 70

==Blood on the Horizon - Chapter 70 -==
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===Salvage Rights and Leverage===
Date: April 22nd, 3007Location: Tybalt, Capellan Confederation
The thing that many people don't know about history is that when a surrender happens, it's usually conditional. It involves negotiation; deals are made and rejected, and eventually, terms are settled. This one was no different. 
 
"I'm not denying any of your salvage rights negotiated with the FedSuns," Captain Anderson, the current CO of what was left of the 2nd Mac, held up his hand. "But there are quite a few of us who own our rides. We're willing to sign a deal that ensures we can't fight against the FedSuns for a time, but we're not giving up 'Mechs that have been in our families for generations."
 
"You can keep anything that can walk and has an owner-operator," I glared. "Anything else is mine."
 
"You didn't win this battle," Anderson scoffed. "You got your ass pulled out of the fire by a superior force."
 
"So?" I raised an eyebrow. "You're leaving here with just over a battalion of 'Mechs and less than a squadron of Aerospace Fighters. I made y'all bleed for every kilometer you tread."
 
A man in a black uniform stepped into the tent, a cape over his shoulder and a laser pistol in a holster on his thigh. Red piping lined the uniform, which seemed menacing at first. But on second glance, they belied the danger of the soldier wearing the uniform. 
 
I now felt massively underdressed. When the surrender order came in, I was neck-deep in assisting our techs and hadn't had time to change into anything other than our base fatigues. But both Anderson and Wolf were in their full uniforms.
 
"Colonel Wolf," Anderson inclined his head. 
 
"Major Hull," Jaime Wolf turned to greet me, extending a hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
 
"Likewise," I gripped firmly and pumped twice before releasing. "I'll have to buy you something nice for pulling my ass out of the fire. You got a preference for your poison?"
 
"You did good work here," Wolf continued. "There are not many who would be able to fight the campaign that you did here. Especially with as green as many of you are."
 
While we continued talking, Anderson gradually became more red in the face as Wolf casually ignored him, refusing to acknowledge his presence.
 
"Now, we're not going to fight you on salvage rights," Jaime said, addressing some of my concerns. "We got to see your contract with the Suns, and we take no issue with losing out on the salvage. However, there are some things that my senior staff would like to discuss with you."
 
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "Anything important?" 
 
"Nothing critical to this moment, no," Jaime finally turned and glared at the 2nd Mac commanding officer. "And as for you, the Federated Suns has sent a representative to discuss what terms you have available to you. Your personal surrender to the Marksman has already been accepted. But given they are operating underneath the Federated Suns, there are still legalities to be completed."
 
As he finished his sentence, another person entered the tent.
 
"Captain Green-Davion," I smiled. "I didn't expect to see you out here."
 
"I go where I'm needed," she grinned in response. "Besides, I figured you'd need a hand here." 
 
She immediately turned to Captain Anderson, the grin turning predatory. 
 
"Now, let's get down to the brass tacks."
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===A interesting meet and greet===
Date: April 24th, 3007
 
"Well, this is an interesting place for a meeting," I said as I walked into the bar, Sheppard walking right beside me.
 
"It's more fun than doing it in a boring conference room," a redhead threw back a shot before gesturing for the bartender to refill it. "And we owe ya for managing to shred some of the Big Mac."
 
"While not necessarily the best place for something like this," Jaime's gaze turned serious. "This is a place we own for the moment, and it feels appropriate for some reason."
 
"So this is just a meet-and-greet?" I asked, my eyes shifting to other faces in the room, which I identified as more Wolf's Dragoons members. 
 
"Something like that," A man that strongly resembled Jaime Wolf stepped out of the shadows. "You're interesting, and we are always looking to be on good terms with potential training partners or people that we might work with in the future."
 
"That, and you're a fucking relic," the redhead, now identifiable as Natasha Kerensky grinned and walked over. "And we've got some questions for ya, old man."
 
"I don't put out on the first date," I replied. "You gotta buy me dinner a couple times, then take me somewhere nice."
 
Sheppard just buried his head in his hands for a moment as he shook with nervous laughter. 
 
"You got balls," Natasha grinned. "I think we'll get along just great. Natasha Kerensky."
 
"Mark Hull," I returned her hand shake. 
 
"Anyway, I'm Joshua Wolf, nominal XO of the Dragoons, and you've now met Natasha Kerensky. We've got some other staff here as well. But those introductions can wait until later."
 
We all took seats around a table and ordered drinks and food from a nearby waitress before we got down to the subject that was on all of their minds.
 
"So, I'll stop beating 'round the bush," Natasha leaned across the table. "You're a time traveler?"
 
"Due to a misjump," I sighed in relief. "Yes."
 
"Then we have a lot of questions," another man spoke up. A small nametag on his fatigues showing his name. 
 
"Well, I'll answer what I can…?" I trailed off, searching for the man's name.
 
"Major Stanford Blake," the man replied. "Given we were in the periphery for a long time, records from that era are somewhat sparse. So we would appreciate anything that you can tells us."
 
"I can do better than that," I replied. "I've still got all of the records from the King Henry, Messenger, Vagabond, and Troy. I can get y'all some copies if you really want to take a look at them."
 
"That would actually be really helpful," Stanford nodded. "But we would also appreciate a firsthand account as well as the rest of your story if possible. It's not often that someone appears out of nowhere like that. Much less someone that builds up a unit like that."
 
"Well, it kinda starts out how must stories do," I sipped at a glass of water. "With someone being where they weren't supposed to be in the first place…"
 
==Chapter Notes==
*; Chapter Note from the Author : Looking back at the original (version of this story) in an effort to make a funny scene work, I simply made the MC/SI to be an asshole to the guys that just showed up to help. And in this rewrite, I realized something. That wouldn't fly very well in any military universe that hires PMCs. Especially given how much of those relationships are built on respect and honor.So, a complete change. From the original (version of this story) in both tone, and in conversation.
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Chapter 70