HdweuH Chpt 2

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==How did we end up here?‎‎- Chapter 2 -==
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In the dimly lit room, I found myself hunched over a salvaged SLDF neuro helmet, a peculiar relic from one of my excursions near Fort Cameron. Grumbling to myself, I muttered, "If you squint just right and ignore the faint glow of radiation, you can stumble upon relatively intact SLDF Royal gear, remnants of the Blackwatch. Hazardous, but worth the risk for the salvage."
 
Fingers delicately worked on the neuro helmet's circuitry as I continued, "Radiation levels have toned down since my last foray. A decent protective suit is all you need now, but the real challenge is navigating through ComStar's quarantine after they caught wind of my salvage operation."
 
Recalling the daring mission, I sighed, "Salvaged this neuro helmet and a Blackwatch ID card before they sealed off the area. Thought the ID might come in handy. Turns out, it's more useless than a PPC without power."
 
Examining the ID card, I scoffed, "ComStar probably thinks they're securing a treasure trove of lostech, but all they've got is a neuro helmet and a fancy-looking ID. Can't blame them for thinking I've stumbled onto something grand."
 
Shaking my head, I continued my work on the neuro helmet. "Not going back there anytime soon. It's practically a death sentence, and ComStar is likely salvaging everything in sight. Good luck to them, sifting through the remnants of Blackwatch gear and trying to make sense of SLDF tech."
 
Despite the challenges, a sly smile crossed my face. "But hey, I've got this neuro helmet, and with a bit of tinkering, who knows what secrets it might reveal. If nothing else, it's a small victory in this convoluted journey through the Inner Sphere."
 
As I meticulously adjusted the circuits, I muttered, "Maybe one day, I'll find a use for that darn Blackwatch ID. Until then, it's just a reminder of the lengths I've gone to scavenge what's left of the Star League Defense Force's legacy. One neuro helmet at a time."
 
Continuing my work on the neuro helmet, I couldn't help but mutter sarcastically to myself, "Well, Alexia, it seems you've mastered the art of making enemies faster than friends. Bravo."
 
As I tinkered with the delicate circuits, I pondered the peculiar commonality between Stefan's and Alexia's memories. "One thing both of my identities share is an uncanny talent for being complete introverts. Stefan's more of a lore encyclopedia that's utterly useless, while Alexia's a tech enthusiast pulling miracles out of her—albeit jury-rigged—arsenal."
 
With a wry smile, I grumbled, "Stefan, the great strategist, wouldn't know the first thing about fixing a neuro helmet or rewiring a BattleMech. But hey, he can tell you the entire history of the Helm Memory Core in excruciating detail. So helpful."
 
Glancing at the Blackwatch ID, I continued, "And Alexia, the techie with a penchant for MacGyvering solutions out of spare parts. Brilliant at piloting a Mech if she knows which end is the front. Not exactly the profile of a charismatic leader or a social butterfly."
 
Fingers deftly working on the neuro helmet's inner components, I grumbled, "Maybe I should embrace my inner Tech Priest from Warhammer 40k. At least then I could spout cryptic wisdom about the Machine God while cobbling together a makeshift repair for this neuro helmet."
 
As I continued my work, a self-deprecating smirk played on my lips. "Guess that's my charm—two introverted personalities, one focused on impractical lore, and the other on salvaging whatever the hell is salvageable in this Battletech mess."
 
The room filled with the sound of my muttered grumblings, a strange harmony of Stefan's strategic frustrations and Alexia's tech-driven sarcasm. "Who needs friends when you've got neuro helmets and broken BattleMechs for company? At least they don't judge you for your lack of social skills."
 
Grumbling under my breath, I continued to tinker with the neuro helmet, my frustration seeping into the task at hand. "Here I am, stuck with a working SLDF neuro helmet and a Blackwatch ID card that's as useless as an umbrella in a hurricane. No fancy titles, no government appointments, just a quirky tech enthusiast fumbling through the Inner Sphere."
 
My fingers danced over the delicate circuits, my annoyance growing. "You hear those stories about people getting inserted into the Battletech universe, and what do they get? A fast pass to the Federated Commonwealth, high-ranking government roles, secretaries to Frederick Steiner, and the occasional exploration of derelict warships. And what do I get? A neuro helmet I barely know how to use and a bunch of titles that seem to have missed the memo."
 
Sarcastically, I grumbled, "Oh, lucky them. Some guy gets a Rim World Republic factory, a dukedom in the Lyran Commonwealth, and, if memory serves me right, one even becomes an AI in charge of a Texas-class battleship. How fair is that?"
 
Pausing for a moment, I sighed. "Meanwhile, I'm just here trying not to electrocute myself while fiddling with SLDF tech. No epic titles, no grandeur, just the hum of a neuro helmet and a growing list of grievances."
 
As I continued my work, I muttered to myself, "Maybe I should have bargained for a more exciting storyline when I found myself in this Battletech scenario. 'Genie, can I get a fancier position than a techie with a neuro helmet?' But no, here I am, living the mundane life while others are out there enjoying the perks of a Battletech insert."
 
With a shake of my head, I returned to my task, the room filled with the echoes of my discontent. "Guess I'll just have to make do with what I've got. No grand titles or Rim World Republic factories for me. Just a girl and her neuro helmet, navigating the complexities of a universe that seems to favor everyone else but her."
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*; Author note : This is not supposed to be getting entire battalion of equipment for free Alexia would have to work for it and it would be a miracle if she manage to get a combined arm battalion's up and running considering the cost of dropship and battle damage. And a warning considering mech pilot and get damaged even if they mech is full of armor. Expect character death.
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