TLR Chpt 15

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==Chapter 15 - The Lucky Regiment4.1==
65km North East of Durandel
Helm, Free Worlds League
April 4th, 3027 - 19:00 hours local time
As the sun set and others were outside enjoying the beautiful view Edmund found himself embroiled on a scheduled call with one of his photo reconnaissance experts.
 
"I get it, and I get it that you think the river looks toxic."
 
"Well yes, the slow moving parts appear to have some sort of colored algae in them. Fish don't like that."
 
"Not enough oxygen in the water, I do know how to fish."
"Sorry, boss, if it makes you feel any better I can see some good skiing sites fairly nearby." That would be a somewhat frivolous use of a DropShip, Victoria did like skiing though, certainly more than fishing.
 
"Which brings me to part two, why does the river just suddenly vanish and who would put a fishing hut by that spot."
 
"Honestly, Sir, my knowledge of geography mostly is limited to what I learnt at school, I'd guess it it goes underground."
 
"It used to on the old map, I think there was a cave. I just looked, but it looks like there has been a rockfall since then on our scans."
 
"Those do happen, Sir, oh, Hmm. Give me a moment, Sir." The was a pause and the expert looked away from the view screen, making little noises as he presumably studied the section again.
 
"You know, Sir, there could be some good fishing there, things are a bit seasonal sometimes. There is actually what looks like what was once a viable road and of course the uh, fishing hut." The expert had clearly noticed that the rockfall was in fact one giant slab of granite that appeared to have both been moved and reshaped. "Are you thinking of making a visit?"
 
"Yes, I'll need a route plan for 07:00hrs that can take the weight of the command lance and two light vehicles." The 'fishing hut' was what had piqued his curiosity, whilst poking around for a scenic spot for a camping trip for two with a nice view and a bit of shelter he'd wondered why would anyone build a solid looking hut there just before or even after the bombardment. At which point he realized that the engineers had probably built something else there and it looked undisturbed.
 
"On it, Sir."
 
"Brilliant, we'll chat in the morning." Edmund switched off the terminal, the CO running off on an 'jolly' would look odd, it was a few hours each way, on the other hand salvage was salvage and he reckoned something was there, that slab looked a lot like a door. 
 
He opened the door to command vehicle and strode out to admire the sunset. They were parked under both a camouflage netting and a grey sheet that in theory stopped various sensors from spotting them from the air. He didn't really know how well they actually worked, but the science was probably sound. He stepped out into the cool air and headed over to the the mess tent.
 
The command lance were all there, it was unofficially led by Victoria now as they had twigged that she always knew what boss needed done. He had two pilots per 'mech, the reality was pilots got tired and sloppy if they were too active and the equipment was worth a lot more than they were. Thus Victoria was surrounded by six others.
He sat down at the table with them "Alright team, instead of the lance joining the OpFor tomorrow, I'm thinking of taking the lance for a for a walk with a bit of live fire at the end, I've been stuck in the command center for too long." He got smiles, that was the sort aggressive comment people liked. There will be a briefing at 08:00 so get some rest, those not piloting will follow on behind in a pair of ATVs. 
 
He looked over at Victoria who fortunately looked to have finished her food. "Come with me, I'll run you through the plan."
 
They walked out of the tent. "I need to keep this low key, I'm going to need Charlie brought out from the camp and a pair of mechanics Yang rates highly, two ATVs, forty eight hours of rations and a combat load for everyone, get a fire team from the jump troopers as well."
 
She looked skeptical. "That doesn't sound like a visit to the range." He pulled the memory stick he was carrying in a pocket, a clone of the the one Grayson used as a badge of office. He fiddled with it in his hand, memories of Artru coming back.
 
"It's not, I've got a structure I want to check out, it'll take a few hours to get there but it could be a small cache from the old days, I fear it is flooded, but it's worth a look." 
 
"I'd laugh only you've found one before so I accept it is worth a look, and you do need to spend some time in your mech so nobody should begrudge that." Victoria smiled. "But seriously what are you expecting to find?"
 
"Engineering equipment, I reckon some of that Engineering regiment stationed here were afraid of the gathering storm and I suspect this is where they stashed some of their kit before the bombardment." He was increasingly sure a handful of them had survived, the memory stick alone implied that.
 
"That could be valuable." Victoria's upbringing meant she sort of assumed funds for just about anything could be made available, but she was rapidly learning that a Mercenary outfit had harsh fiscal challenges.
 
"We'd get a modest finders fee which we would share with the Legion, but more importantly Grayson Carlyle was told the Captain-General wants to develop this world, and that equipment could make that possible." Edmund knew as a mercenary it should be all about the money, but deep down he felt the story Helm was uncomfortably similar to one he knew well, and if he could make a difference here he should.
 
"And he would owe you a favor." Victoria fully understood the realities of politics though. "If we end up in a tight spot that would be worth a lot." In their trade that likely meant being at the mercy of large Free World League formation, getting to pull out of a defeat with all their equipment would be worth an awful lot. "Let's hope for the best then, Edmund."
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Aboard the landed dropship Phobos near, Tiantan City
April 5th, 3027 - 10:30 hours local time
Grayson looked across at the sad looking delegation from the great domed city, next to them sat the Lyran diplomatic officer. The three Capellan representatives were from the House Liao appointed governing council whilst the Lyran was there to provide a formal observer to the surrender document. Grayson reckoned there was a good chance the Lyrans or Federated Suns would seize the world very soon, it was an obvious obstacle in the way of the way of uniting the territory of those two allied powers. But it wasn't his place to question the orders from on high, so he just got on with the job.
One by one the three men put their signatures on the document. "Colonel we have done our part." The eldest of them said quietly, his voice betraying no emotion. The piece of paper was pushed across the desk over to him.
Grayson looked, acknowledging their part with a brief nod and then found his line and slowly wrote his own signature. "On behalf of the Captain General I have signed this form." He felt it was key to remind them that he was only the agent, as he had already made clear it would be up to the Duke of Irian who was currently in orbit to determine the longer term plans for the world.
 
He carefully handed the paper over to the Lyran dignitary. "Ambassador if you could do the honours." There was an expressionless nod, it reinforced Grayson's suspicion that the Free World League would have a fight on their hands very soon. In systematically destroying the constructed defensive positions Grayson had created a window of opportunity for another Great House to pry the world from its new owner the Duke of Irian.
"Here you are, Colonel, I assume you would like Comstar to forward the news to the relevant capitals." 
"Indeed." That was customary, and of course served to raise the profile of the individual of who led the campaign, which despite the Duke's theoretical command would owing to tradition still be announced as Grayson Carlyle."
"Very well."
 
"When will his Grace arrive to take possession?"
 
"Tomorrow morning."
 
Grayson looked at the council members, he didn't know what their status would be, but since worlds changed hands fairly often the upper echelons were generally left in place economically if not always politically. They had the look of political survivors, so he figured they would be fine.
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