Eridani's pain (ATwT)

==Description==
Bases on the events triggered in the Alternate Timeline with Thanks main story, where fateful decision would be made that would change destiny of a part of the Eridani Light Horse forever.
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==Story==
Eridani Light Horse Command, Fort Winson
Dieron, Dieron Prefecture
Draconis Combine
8th November 3071
Following her Regiment's recall from the Draconis Combine/Star Adder border, Colonel Sandra Barclay, commander of the Seventy-First Light Horse Regiment, was more than angry that they had been recalled to their base world Dieron deep within the center of the Inner Sphere. Although the Draconis Combine and Star Adder forces were at a sort of cease fire at present the situation was fluid and highly dangerous for all concerned. Having an SLDF regiment in position had bolstered the Draconis Combine defenders and now they were alone again, the last thing the Clans needed was an opportunity to move forward again taking yet more territory that the Star League would no doubt end up having to take back. She stormed into Brigade Commander General Edwin Amis's office inside Fort Winson, a former Star League outpost restored by the Eridani Light Horse and the Draconis Combine engineers. "What the hell is this?" She said looking directly at her commander and the commander of the whole brigade.
"You mean 'what the hell is this, sir' don't you? Colonel." Edwin said removing a smoking, stinking, cigar from his mouth.
"Aff, I mean Aye, sir." she stammered of all the Eridani Light Horse Warriors Sandra Barclay was one of the most experienced and had spent the most time with and fighting against the Clans. Because of her extensive experience with them she'd picked up several of their language and cultural beliefs. "I apologies, sir, it is just that my unit was beginning to make some headway with the locals breaking their Clan doctrine the Star Adders had given them. Now we have been pulled out they are defenceless and the DCMS is stretched too much to deal with re-training some locals to get rid of civilian problems, their whole samurai beliefs it is finished and ended when the enemy gets off planet."
"We have bigger problems than the DCMS or the Star Adders?"
"Bigger problems, sir?" She said calming down, she knew the General wouldn't have called her back for something mundane.
"Aye, Paul Calvin was killed two weeks ago."
"Paul's dead?" She asked Colonel Paul Calvin commander of the Nineteenth Striker Regiment assigned to the garrison of Huntress and the defense of the SLDF Embassy on Strana Mechty in the Clan Homeworlds. "How?" She asked Paul's Regiment had replaced her own on Huntress just over a year before, the Strikers itself had only recently been rebuilt from its demolition by Clan Jade Falcon.
"Apparently a Jade Falcon Star Colonel came to Huntress looking for revenge for the damage the Nineteenth did to his unit in 3064. This Star Colonel, a Colton Pryde, challenged Paul to a one-on-one duel."
"He didn't accept?" Sandra asked she'd be shocked if he had, the Inner Sphere may have proven itself superior in large scale battles but in one-on-one battles they could rarely defeat the superior Clan warriors with their superior Mechs.
"Aye, he did." Edwin said he saw Sandra's face drop with disapproval "If he hadn't Colton threatened the entire Nineteenth Strikers with destruction. Because he accepted the Jade Falcons left the Nineteenth alone but leaderless the Regiment is now open to further attacks."
"What about Paul's XO?"
"Major Trahn, is a very capable officer however he is no diplomat." Edwin said "I need someone who knows the Clans who can fight them and work with them if need be."
"We just came back from Huntress" Sandra protested it was a six month trip to the Clan Homeworlds then a minimum of a year time there, it was like being a mercenary again.
"The Commanding-General believes your unit is the best choice and so do I." Edwin said raising from his chair for the first time "Sandra, I'm not going to order your unit to Huntress it's a volunteer mission."
"We'll do it." She said without another thought, she was a career Eridani Light Horse officer and would never let them down and now as part of the SLDF she could never let down the Star League either.
"Thank you, Colonel, we have set up a priority Alpha circuit for you to take you from here to Huntress beyond the Clan Occupation Zones. I can't give you a WarShip, but the route we have planned will keep you out of harms way."
"Understood. What are my orders once at Huntress?"
"Ensure the Nineteenth are evacuated back to the Inner Sphere, then standard Huntress mission." Sandra nodded, she'd wanted clearance to hunt down Colton Pryde but hadn't received it and she wouldn't go over her orders. Turning to leave Sandra moved to the door "And Colonel, if you get Pryde in your sights kill the bastard." Edwin added before she left the office.
"Aff" she muttered quietly if it was the last thing she ever did she'd take down the Jade Falcon Star Colonel.
--FINI--
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Category:Short Stories
Category:Works by Dragon Cat
Category:Dragon Cat Collection