AWF Chpt 92

-----
=Chapter 92=
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>> 
-----
===Dressing down by Colonel Bruckner===
FedCom Embassy 
St. Ives, St. Ives Compact
May, 3030 
----
Hap and Anastasia approached the office, and Hap knocked loudly on the door. There was a muffled "enter" and the two junior officers walked into the office. It contained a large desk and a very large man seated behind it. He was balding and his face was heavily jowled. He barely seemed to notice Hap and Anastasia enter. The walls to the Colonel's office were covered with memorabilia of his career and other AFFS and AFFCs items and collectibles. There was even a framed signed photo of First Prince Hanse Davion.
Hap and Anastasia approached the desk and both gave crisp salutes.
"Colonel Bruckner, Sir, Captain Calahad and Subaltern Capetian-Calahad reporting." Hap said loudly.
The man behind the desk gave them a half-interested wave as he looked up at them and then back at the papers on his desk. "So you wanted to meet and discuss an upcoming operation you are going to conduct with mercenaries and you wanted to talk about a raid you conducted in Necromo?" The man spoke with a gravelly voice.
"Yes, Sir." Hap said, "We wanted to-"
"Before we start, we need to address a few things. First, we need to talk about you being out of uniform."
"Sir?" Hap said as Anastasia leaned forward and looked over his uniform.
"Lieutenant Calahad, you're wearing the wrong rank."
"Sir, Major Braun sent promotion orders directly to our company before he visited-" Hap said.
"Not you, her."
"Sir?" Anastasia said shocked looking down at her tunic.
"Yes. You. Promotion to Lieutenant is automatic unless you did something that would preclude you from being promoted. Your date of rank for Subaltern was October of last year, You should have known you were now the rank of Lieutenant."
"Oh, of course. It had not occurred to me that I had spent the prerequisite time in rank." Anastasia said, "However, if I had known I would not be so presumptuous to assume I could just promote myself."
Colonel Bruckner snorted, and held up the papers on his desk, "You wouldn't be so presumptuous? Just look at your records. You used the full force of your mother to get into NAIS's highly competitive mechwarrior program. You should be court-martialed for desertion and yet somehow you find yourself in an extremely selective program designed to create elite experts in deep penetration raids, even though nothing in your records implies you have any experience, proclivity, or will have a future in conducting such operations. You and your new husband are serving in the same unit, even the same lance, in spite of a long standing AFFS tradition against that very thing. Your career to date is you being presumptuous and doing whatever the hell you feel like. Am I wrong Lieutenant?"
Anastasia shook her head, "Sir, if I may, there are several mitigating circumstances-"
"Yes, it seems your mother is often the mitigating circumstances to your advantage."
Anastasia gave Hap an imploring look.
"Sir, I'll make sure she gets her uniform squared away." Hap said, "If we can talk about our current situation. We have an upcoming mission-"
"Not yet, Captain. We'll discuss your upcoming operation in a moment, right after we talk about how you were abusing my corporal. First though, let's talk about the raid you and this mercenary company just conducted. I spoke with the Foreign Affairs Office but they can't, to my satisfaction, explain what you took on Necromo, who authorized that operation, and why you brought it here."
"It's a bit of a long story sir." Hap said
"A long story? You two worked so hard to have a meeting with me. We're all here now, go ahead and start at the beginning."
"I'd submit, sir, if the members of the Foreign Affairs office couldn't explain it, I'm not certain we can do any better, nor do I think we should try here. It would be best to discuss in a secure area."
"Right." Colonel Bruckner said, "After the conversation with them I was so frustrated I decided a few things for myself. First I sent a message directly to Major Braun telling him he should immediately remove you from the mercenary liaison program and have orders cut that you and whatever these mercenaries took from Necromo be immediately moved to NAIS. Then you, Lieutenant, can give up this delusion of being a Mechwarrior. Assuming your academic records are accurate it looks like you'd do more for the Federated Suns in a lab than you would in a 'mech cockpit"
Hap felt the annoyance growing in him. "Sir, she's a qualified Mechwarrior and has been serving-"
"Says the guy that's sleeping with her. Thanks ,Captain." Colonel Bruckner said dismissively then turned his glare back to Anastasia, "I know your type, the child of nobility born into privilege and wealth. You see something you want or don't get your way and you can just ask your mother to fix it for you."
"Sir, I'm not some spoiled and petulant child." Anastasia's voice was starting to rise.
"You're not a child? Listen lieutenant. You are just like every other noble. You throw around your money and your influence while us normal folk have to smile and take it, and hope you throw a few scraps our way."
Hap glanced around the office. There were several pictures and trophies from the Colonel's previous units and assignments. Hap took a moment to look at them carefully. They told him a story. The Colonel started as a CRD-3R Crusader pilot. His first assignment was in the Crucis Lancers as a Lance Leader and then as an assistant Operations Officer. He was then transferred to the Sytris Fusillers where he was a company commander.
This is where things took a turn for the young Captain as his Company Command Guidon was in an elegant shadow box, but it was torn and a portion was missing with burned edges. Likely it had been shot by a laser. The emergency ejection handle-bar for a 'mech's ejection system was also included with the Company guidon in the shadow box. Hap couldn't read the small placard, but he knew what it meant. The Colonel had been "dispossessed". He'd lost his 'mech, and given the state of the guidon, his command post had been overrun.
Whatever had happened was bad enough that AFFS high command never saw fit to give him another operational command or even a 'mech. The rest of the memorabilia was of staff positions and his time as the commandant of a training academy. He had kept his commission and had somehow made it to the rank of Colonel even without a combat command position or transferring to infantry or armor. This meant he likely had at least one high-ranking or influential friend on New Avalon.
"Sir," Anastasia said, "I saw an opportunity to serve our nation, and defend our people. I fought for it, even when it was, unfairly, denied me. Ask anyone I've served with…"
"You saw an opportunity to do what you wanted to do, not something you should have been doing. Your gunnery scores and piloting checks are clearly inflated to placate your mother and keep you in the program."
"Sir, that's an unfair assumption. I assure you-" Hap said.
"Am I talking to you, Captain?"
"No, Sir." Hap said, trying to control himself.
"Sir, it's bad enough you are accusing me of misrepresenting my piloting skills and gunnery scores, and by extension, my integrity, but now you're besmirching the NAIS cadre and their honor and integrity." Anastasia said in a voice that even Hap found irritating. "Everything I achieved at NAIS was based on hard work and earned merit, I would never- The cadre would never allow some privileged and effete person to pass their program and bring dishonor to their work, or risk the lives and operations of the Federated Suns military."
"I happen to know from personal experience that actually happens all the time." The Colonel's voice matched Anastasia in volume, timber, and emotion. His face was also turning bright red.
Hap glanced around the office as both Anastasia and the Colonel started to really argue. There were several models of the Crusader 'mech. A rather large Crusader model was on his desk. The model was highly detailed, and had the arms akimbo, but it inexplicably had the Stealthy Tigers camo spec. Hap could also see a handwritten letter beside the model. The letter's paper was thick and cream colored. It had a family coat of arms embossed in gold at the top.
Due to the handwriting and the letter's orientation, it was hard to read, but it began, "My Dear Friend Wilhelm, I hope you are enjoying the new posting…." Hap tried not to look like he was reading the letter even though the Colonel was too focused on dressing down Anastasia to notice. From what he could read it appeared the author of the letter had gotten Colonel Bruckner this posting. There were some references to old times, and a "heartfelt thanks" for his "service and sacrifice". The letter was signed by Marques Tomas Santiago De Silva Carvalho.
Hap looked at the pictures on the bureau behind the Colonel. There was a picture with his first lance, his promotions, ceremonies, a few different organizations, and his assumption of command at the training school. There was an attractive woman that was with him for his first few promotions, then she seemed to gain weight between his captain and major promotions, but she was absent by the time he made Lieutenant Colonel. There was an olive skinned man wearing a military uniform in the lance picture, and then he was in nearly every promotion and assignment photo. Somehow the olive skinned man managed to find a way to prominently show up in every picture.
This was likely the Marques De Silva Carvalho. By the time Colonel Bruckner was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel the Marques was no longer wearing a military uniform rather he seemed to show up in business suits with a bright red sash and a large gold and silver medallion with the De Silva Carvalho coat of arms engraved on it. Hap guessed the Marques owned a large military business or something that gave him enough influence to help his friend.
Hap started to suspect the Colonel had saved the Marques life and he was the "privileged and effete" archetype, but had befriended the Colonel for some reason. It seemed implied that when the Colonel's career should have ended with his 'mech the Marques helped him out, but over time the Colonel grew to resent him as much as he needed him. Hap wondered why he never got him a new 'mech though. Maybe the Marques only had influence, or didn't realize how his friend wanted to be a Mechwarrior, not just a staff officer with a patron.
Hap glanced at Anastasia as she continued to argue with the Colonel. The Colonel was almost purple and shouting at her, and Hap was surprised that Anastasia was still speaking English, and not angrily cursing at him in French. She was slightly shaking with rage even as she rigidly stood at attention.
Hap considered for a moment if the Colonel's fate could happen to him. For the last few days Anastasia had told him that they could have virtually anything through her mother. Hap glanced around the Colonel's office again. The pictures, the trophies, memorabilia spoke volumes of a man whose whole identity was wrapped up in being a military officer and a Mechwarrior, even though he didn't have a 'Mech. Hap considered, he was a Mechwarrior, but that wasn't his complete identity.
The lesson was clear to Hap, anything he received from his wife or mother-in-law needed to be something he wouldn't mind if someone pointed out it was given to him, not earned. Already he was receiving career opportunities just because his wife was nobility. Further, as Anastasia was currently demonstrating, even when you worked hard and earned your accomplishments some people would always wonder or accuse you of being unfairly handed it.
Hap's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door and Colonel Buckner bellowed, "What?"
Corporal Weber opened the door, "Those guys from the fifth floor want to talk to you, and they said to bring these two as well."
"We're not done here." Colonel Bruckner said, "Tell them to wait."
"Okay" Corporal Weber said. He smiled and gleefully turned to walk away. He seemed to intentionally leave the door open.
"Like I said Lieutenant, no one needs your mother disrupting military decisions. We have enough problems with the infantile glory-and-money-centric generals that we've been shackled to due to our alliance with the Lyran Commonwealth. Further we don't need another unskilled, untalented person sitting in a 'mech cockpit."
"Sir, I don't think we need to argue over something that is simple to prove. if you truly believe I am unskilled and untalented, perhaps you and I could face-off against each other in 'mechs. We could put the weapons in training mode. We can lend you a 'mech seeing as you don't have your own."
Colonel Bruckner stared at Anastasia. The hate and anger just seemed to roll off him. Hap realized he probably needed to do more to support his wife, and he was tired of the misplaced anger the Colonel was projecting on Anastasia, "I understand if you're afraid, Sir, she's been up against a Thunderbolt and a Quickdraw in a Valkyrie and didn't eject."
The look of hatred was now directed at Hap. Colonel Bruckner also turned a deeper shade of purple. The office phone rang, and the Corporal picked it up, "Yeah, I'll let the Colonel knows."
The Corporal walked back over to the office, "Colonel Bruckner, the Ambassador is waiting for you in the Foreign Affair offices."
"Tell them I'm busy." The colonel said darkly, "I'm this close to ending the career of two very undeserving and entitled officers."
"Sir, If I may, we should really report to the Ambassador and then you can return here continue to admonish us." Anastasia said.
"You think you're funny Lieutenant, or that your mommy can protect you?" Colonel Bruckner sneered.
"If I'm being honest, sir." Hap said, "I don't think you can end our careers. I think you'll have to appeal to your patron, the Marques De Silva Carvalho. Since he won't even get you assigned a new 'mech or a combat position I'm inclined to think he won't be interested in trading favors or fighting a Countess to destroy the careers of her combat veteran daughter and son-in-law."
The Colonel jumped to his feet so quickly he sent his chair crashing behind him. He stared at Hap in wordless rage, his mouth moved wordlessly before he said,, "Watch your mouth, Captain."
Hap knew he'd gone too far; he was now dangerously close to being brought up on charges of insubordination or conduct unbecoming an officer. If it came to that, he figured his mother-in-law would help him out, or he'd just resign his commission and go work for Kelly McFinnigan.
Anastasia looked shocked at Hap and then she glanced around the room, trying to figure out what he was referencing or how he had learned so much about the Colonel. She quickly skimmed the opened letter, glanced over the pictures, and then glanced up to see the shadow box with the ejection handle.
"Oh! The gate guard told us there were no 'mechs assigned to the embassy. I didn't realize you were dispossessed." Anastasia said sincerely,. "I apologize, Sir. if I had known, I wouldn't have-"
"What." Colonel Bruckner whispered dangerously.
The phone rang again, and Corporal Weber picked it up, "He's busy. He'll come up when he's done." He said before slamming down. Hap glanced over his shoulder to see the corporal with a look of barely concealed glee as he watched the two jr. officers being reprimanded by the Colonel.
Anastasia looked over at Hap, "Harold, you said we should be polite. Emotions are running high, and we're the juniors here. Please apologize, a gentleman should never offend by accident."
"I'm not sure I'm a gentleman, and I knew he was dispossessed." Hap looked back to the Colonel, as much as it hurt his pride, his wife was right. "Sir I apologize, but I think you are being unreasonable and you're taking out all your pent-up anger on Anastasia. I don't know if you're mad at yourself or angry with the Marques because he won't buy you a new 'mech or get you combat posting, but we're not part of that. We just came here to ensure that our combat operations didn't interfere with your work with the Compact forces.
"You don't know me. I don't need your pity, and I don't give a damn about the Compact forces or any of their shit operations." The Colonel said, "Let me make one thing very clear to both of you-"
There was a loud knock at the main door to the office suite. Anastasia turned to look, "Corporal, or Private, I believe one of you should quickly see who is at the door."
"Don't." The Colonel warned, "Whoever it is can wait. I'm not through with you two."
"Sir, it may be the Ambassador, it would be unwise to keep her waiting." Anastasia said trying to sound polite and respectful.
The Colonel turned, "Unwise Lieutenant? When you say something wise may be I'll consider- "
There was another knock at the main door. This one sounded louder and somehow angry.
"I'll get that." Private Harmay said. Hap could see she looked nervous. She'd probably never seen senior offices behave this way. Hap knew it was a rarity for him.
"Private this is my office, and I'll tell you when to let someone in my domain."
"Yes sir." Private Harmay said quietly as she sat back down.
"Make yourself useful, Private, go make coffee." The Colonel said and then looked at Hap and Anastasia again, "We're going to be here awhile."
There was a strange series of clicks from the door. Hap wasn't sure what he was hearing, but both he and Anastasia turned as the Colonel seemed shocked as he looked over their shoulders in surprise. There was the click of a lock's bolt being released, then the door opened.
Framed in the door was a tall Asian man in a black business suit. His hair was black except for a small shock of white that he brushed to the side. Beside him was a small white skinned woman. She was wearing a black pencil skirt and a short sleeved white blouse. The blouse was tailored to hug her every curve, from her thin waist to her disproportionately large chest. Her left arm and hand looked like it was completely encased in silver and she was flicking her wrist like she was trying to "pop" the joint into place. Just behind them was a short stocky woman with shoulder length brown hair. She was wearing a pantsuit and had a hospitable and maternal look about her. When she saw Anastasia she smiled warmly. 
----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>> 
092, Chapter