WCGW Chpt 122

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==Chapter 122 - What Could Go Wrong==
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30 May 3043
Wokha (Former Outworlds System)
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Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Davion was furious, every attempt to enter the discovered base had been rebuffed by the guards posted. He had even attempted to get Colonel Mitchell to take him inside and that had been met with a firm "NO". After discovering the base, several days had passed with nothing being removed and hardly anyone even entering the base except for senior personnel from SaRI. The only answer he got to the question of what was found was "A lot of bodies, sir". Which was obvious judging by the number of coffins being stacked near the entrance ramp. Captain Harold Croyle had even made a trip to the small city and enlisted help from the local population in constructing the coffins needed. In exchange, several ConstructionMechs, with small engineer teams, had been sent to help recovery efforts in the small city.
On the 25th, an almost nonstop flow of coffins had begun being removed from the base and then transported 5 miles away to an extremely beautiful location beside a flowing waterfall which overlooked a broad valley. After being covered, each grave was marked with a piece of armor plate with the name of the individual buried etched into it with a laser by the SaRI engineers. Using survey sights, the rows were as perfect as they could be, a single tall flagpole had been centered and a recovered Star League flag had been run up the pole and lowered to half-mast. A count had been performed before removal began and 4,692 sets of skeletal remains would be buried when the task was complete.
Today, the very first actual work parties had entered the former SLDF base not tasked with body removal. Under the guidance of Chief Warrant Officer Harry Caldwell, they began a massive cleaning detail of the base itself. The medical teams had not been able to determine what took the lives of the 200th Royal Light Horse and the other personnel stationed here, which was quite nerve racking for the cleaning crews and even the removal teams, with over 90% of the bodies being discovered in their bunks. The working theory was a chemical attack or worse, a biological weapon attack. They were still performing tests and monitoring everyone that had first entered the base, though even the medical personnel conceded that whatever it was, it had been fast acting. Fire hoses were used to remove the surface dust from everything, while a more personal cleaning was performed on the many computers inside the base itself, this was supervised by First Lieutenant Nathan Davis.
When Colonel Mitchell finally emerged from the base, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Davion moved to confront him. As Liaison Officer, he had a right to make sure the Federated Commonwealth got a fair share of the recovered items inside that base. He had already spoken with Rear Admiral Vickery about the issue from one of the Arcadians' dropships and had a message sent back to New Avalon. Though he did not know the exact how the message was sent, he assumed it was via some sort of courier setup.
"Colonel Mitchell, as Liaison Officer representing the Federated Commonwealth, I demand to be allowed access to that base." Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Davion said
"You demand? You are in no position to demand anything of me, Colonel Davion." Colonel David Mitchell replied
"This base you found is not covered under your contract of full salvage rights. As such, the Federated Commonwealth demands it's fair share of whatever is down there." Lieutenant Colonel Davion said
"The Federated Commonwealth will get it's fair share of whatever I decide to sell them. Your out of your league, Colonel Davion, this is above your pay grade. Do not force the issue, it might not end well for you." Colonel Mitchell replied
"Now your threatening your, Liaison Officer? You have gone rogue. Colonel David Mitchell, as your Liaison Officer, I, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Davion do hereby relieve you of command and place you under arrest until such time as the matter can be decided at a court martial. Your in violation of your contract." Lieutenant Colonel Davion said louder than he meant since his voice carried far enough for others to hear, they began moving towards the pair.
Colonel Mitchell could not help letting out a laugh before replying "You have got to be joking? Your serious? Look around you, Colonel Davion, I do not think my people are going to let that happen. We have not violated either of our contracts, not even a little bit. I think you need to leave the area while you still can. I have suffered your presence long enough, even tried to turn the other cheek and put Breed in the past, but you have just crossed the line. Now, you can either leave under your own power or I can have you forcibly removed from my sight; it is now your choice."
Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Davion looked around at the gathering crowd and found no sympathetic looks on any of the faces. "This is your downfall Mitchell, you hear me? When this is over, you will regret this decision." He turned to walk away.
Colonel Mitchell watched him walk away and turned to face his gathered people "Let him go, we have a ton of work to do. So lets get back to it." He headed for a jeep and ride to Intrusive, it was time to phone home himself.
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Three hours later, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Davion was with Colonel Bradley Andrews, commander of The Arcadians, pleading his case. "Colonel Mitchell and his unit have gone rogue. I have declared them in violation of their contracts. As you are the only other unit under contract to the Federated Commonwealth on the planet, I am ordering you to disarm Search and Recovery Inc until such time as proper forces arrive to take over. Your on a retainer contract, which means you go and do what the Federated Commonwealth needs you to do."
Colonel Bradley Andrews weighed his options carefully before replying "Actually, my contract is with Challenge Systems not the Federated Commonwealth. Unless Colonel Mitchell or his people make a hostile move against myself or my command, this is a matter between the Federated Commonwealth and Search and Recovery Inc." He did not know what was going on, he knew Colonel Mitchell and his people had primarily relocated from the landing zone but were still pulling security there while his own people conducted patrols looking for any further pirates that might have gotten away. He knew they found something, and one of his patrols had reported them actually building a large cemetery.
"Look Colonel Andrews, I can offer you a short-term contract, complete with exchange salvage rights. The Federated Commonwealth needs what they found." Lieutenant Colonel Davion said
"I need to think about this. Usually, our board decides what contracts we take on. Right now, I am more worried about feeding the people here and even my own people long term. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to return to my duties." Colonel Bradley Andrews said, plus go speak with Colonel Mitchell and figure out what the hell is going on, he thought silently.
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