HidHop-13

==Chapter 13 – Brothers in Arms==
<<Next Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
----
12/08/3051 | Somerset, Clan Occupation Zone
Andrew Steiner, Rachel Spector, and a pair of Academy cadets pulled into the garage attached to COMSTAR’s Somerport Grange. He stepped out to stare at the aerials shifting in the wind, each blinking red in ordered periods. He looked over to Rachel who gestured for the cadets to remain near their car, “What happened to COMSTAR?”
“They evacuated after detecting the Clans.”
She opened the door to enter the darkened lobby where Constables and Public Works employees carried printouts or pushed equipment on dollies to replace what was removed. “Kowloon’s COMSTAR personnel didn’t get a chance to bail. Mongoose forces had already blockaded the planet by the time they made planetfall.”
“I don’t know how they had some advance warning here, but they had their Beacons loaded up and immediately ready to move so the preparations had already occurred. According to our Merchant overseer COMSTAR withdrawing from our planets has slowed them down. 
Hard to route logistics without an HPG network. Since COMSTAR scrambled their central databases, it has been difficult to begin utilizing civilians. It has taken us a month to get Somerset functional again. 
Our Clan masters have been slow to provide additional starlift but they have given us trucks and some light military equipment to guard the ‘prisoners.’”
“They gave Adam military equipment?”
“Almost everything he asked for.”
Constables saluted him as they recognized him with mutters of ‘thank goodness you are alive.' He stood taller than before, “What a bunch of idiots. What happened to the Militia?”
“What militia? We never had a militia on Somerset as far as INTELSTAR is concerned.”
They chuckled as they walked through the corridors, “I thought Star Adder was supposed to be the smart Clan.”
“I don’t seem to be a high bar. 
Why don’t you change and relax a bit? Adam will come and get you in an hour.”
Andrew found his way to the Grange’s open dormitory, row upon row of empty beds with full lockers. He stopped at the Prior’s door and entered to see a seabag marked ‘Steiner, Andrew’ on it. A tear came to his eye channeling down the mensur scars he had gotten at Sanglamore. “You never gave up hope did you little brother?” 
He showered away the filth accumulated during his transit from Kowloon on that Fury and cleaned himself up in other ways. Being back in his own clothes with his lozenges attached even on his normal clothes made him whole in a way that he hadn’t felt before. Someone had snuck in a plate of cold cuts while he was in the shower, he consumed them and was woken from his nap by a knock on the door and familiar voice.
Adam embraced his brother as he opened the door, “I’m so glad you’re back.”
“Glad to be back, little brother.
You’ve been busy,” Andrew looked at his brother in his Star Adder uniform, “Star Commander.”
“You haven’t seen the half of it yet. I have a plan and now that you’re back it might even work.”
“Is this like that time with the sorority?”
His brother looked out of the now rain streaked windows toward the Academy as they walked through the grange, “Better.”
“If you say so. I have some stuff to share with you as well.”
Rachel and the others had gathered in one of COMSTAR’s workrooms now refitted with what was lost. From here they could ‘sense’ and access the planetary telecommunication network as well as the few satellites which had been boosted back into orbit by shuttlecraft after COMSTAR sought to deorbit them. A basketball sized holoprojection of Somerset’s present state appeared in mid-air from the holoprojector built into the ceiling.
“Let’s go over the plan with the Kapiten.”
A large cylindrical vessel replaced the planetary orb as Rachel passed out briefings, “This is a Volga class factory ship. The Clan Council has been using these to extend their supply lines from the Chainelaine Islands. They basically live off the production from these vessels which fill the cargo bays of smaller Carrack transports or dropships. It saves valuable travel time because otherwise the Potemkins would need to jump between here and the Chainelaines for resupply.
Based on Adam and I’s interviews with Somerset Merchant Factor Rhonda and Midnight Star’s Captain Topi they are operated mostly by the Merchant Caste and poorly defended. Insurrections on and COMSTAR’s abandonment of occupied worlds have forced more personnel forward than were initially anticipated. Due to this complication these vessels have begun circulating throughout the Occupation Zone and one of their stops has been Somerset.
Commandant Steiner has requested mostly small arms from INTER-LOGI on purpose, automatic shotguns, laser rifles, and personal armor. They have also provided us with more shuttles in lieu of the Beacon vessels that left with COMSTAR. The Clans see these as less valuable than heavier weapons, so they have given them to us without question.” 
The projection was replaced by a wireframe view that showed the internal layout of the ship, “These however are the right kinds of weapons to overpower the Warriors stationed aboard these vessels.”
Andrew took one of the briefing notes in hand, “You want to take over a Clan Warship. Do you have any idea what they might do to Somerset in response?”
Adam put his hand on his brother’s shoulder, “Of course we know Andrew. That is why we haven’t done it yet." 
"That is the end goal, they only have a dozen of these things and one missing will cause all kinds of disruption, while giving us clan tech manufacturing. Our intermediate goal is to get someone out to tell Tharkad what we have found out about the Clan’s plans. While stealing a Volga will likely result in repercussions the odds are much lower if say an Explorer or Scout might got missing.”
Lieutenant Spector changed the projection to a tiny Explorer Jumpship, “This is the SLS Cato, it is an unarmed Scientist operated craft, tasked with courier duty and navigation aids within the local region, and very regular in its route.
It is the perfect target as it can escape notice and the occupation zone. However, we need someone with experience leading and training small independent teams unconnected from Somerset’s loyal ‘Abtaka.’ 
Someone like you Andrew, or should I say Prisoner Three-One-Zero.”
He took in a deep breath, “Have you identified a team?”
His brother passed him a folder. “We have identified individuals with the right skills that might make a good team, but they need a strong leader. Someone not known to be associated with 'collaborators,’ maybe even someone with a grudge against the Adder Commandant.” 
Rachel downloaded the specifics and handed him a discreet comm-pad. “We must make it look like you were a rogue actor, and we did what we could to stop you if we are to maintain control of the planet. 
If they knew we were plotting against them they would send an occupation force. Right now, Somerset doesn’t even register on INTELSTAR’s awareness for anything other than as a dumping ground for incorrigible POWs.”
Andrew paged through the folder and the individuals dossiers, “I can do it.”
“I had no doubt big brother. It was more of a question of will than capacity.”
“At least I know Somerset is in good hands when I leave.”
The holoprojector went dark and the lights returned to full power, “What did you want to share with us from your time in captivity, Andrew?”
“Apparently my scars and willingness to *uhum*, ‘buck’ authority were attractive to Mongoose Star Captain Greta Cage.” The faces of those assembled were a mixture of horror, compassion, and interest. “I’ve had worse times at shore leave on Kooken’s Pleasure Pit, but anyway they got used to me hanging around officer country. 
There I overhead that Clan Mongoose and Nova Fox are executing the flanking action, ten Galaxies have been tasked with taking the Commonwealth’s Outer Worlds.”
They counted how many soldiers that would be, roughly 50,000 including all support personnel spread across more than a hundred worlds. Adam was fastest, “That is not enough men to go all the way to Buena.” 
“Exactly, they intend to take as many worlds and cause as much fear as possible to overload the Core with refugees some of whom might be Nova Fox Watch agents, but those forces are brittle. They can’t hold that much territory and they know it but expect us to be fearful and remain in defensive positions around the core worlds like Alarion and Coventry. These are going to be crushed afterwards after their saboteurs and One Star Faith propagandists do their work.”
“Adam almost beat them here on Somerset. The element of surprise has been ruined. Roman can probably come up with a winning strategy given time and this information.”
“Yes, and apparently the Kell Hounds have been fielding equipment that is almost on par with the Clan’s own. For being so certain on the battlefield they are scared and recklessly pushing as quickly as possible to deny us parity in tech and numbers. 
Their Warships can only do so much, and they are apparently afraid of COMSTAR, something about Outbound Light and Columbus.”
“One would think the opposite considering COMSTAR’s latest behavior.”
“Like you said the Blessed Order has done its damage and slowed their timetable. Maybe the Primus made an unintentionally wise choice withdrawing her people.”
“The only problem with her decision is that we can’t broadcast an HPG outside the occupation bubble. Your team will have to slip to the Free Rasalhague Republic instead.”
Andrew fast read the dossier, then memorized the photos and prisoner numbers of his potential team, “It’s only three jumps. I’ve got this.” 
He then unclipped his lozenges and handed them to Adam, “So who’s beating me up before dropping me off at the penal colony?”
-----
<<Next Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
13