FRS Chpt 8

==Falcon Rising - Chapter 8 -==
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===Never Mess with another man's Dog===
Date: September 3050
Location: Jade Falcon Dropship, TheseusBensinger, Federated Commonwealth
"What is it?" I asked Gray, raising my hand to stifle her intense barking. "Is there something out there?" I shifted out of the bed and pulled on the boots that I had resting on the ground, zipping up the side before scratching her head and reaching for the door.
 
"You said to come to you if we needed anything," one of the other bondsmen said as I opened the door a crack. You talked to us and explained things. While I respect that, I'm afraid you haven't stopped them and they killed my entire lance, my family."
 
"I'm not responsible for the actions of others," I shook my head at the crazed man. "Go get some sleep like the rest of us. Your yelling is gonna wake up the entire dropship."
 
"I'm sorry it has to be this way," he shoved the door forward, taking me by surprise as it drove me back, part of the door striking my dog and sending her back with a whimper before she sprang to her feet, snarling as he dove at me with a knife.
 
"Gray, get 'em!" I snapped as I allowed the knife to drive into my arm, the blade getting stuck in my forearm as my guardian latched onto the Mechwarrior's bicep.
 
Ensuring the knife stayed in place, I reached up and grabbed his head, ramming the elbow of the intact arm into his nose, a solid "Crunch!" Filling the air as he fell backward with Gray tugging on his arm, blood flowing from where her teeth were solidly secured.
 
"Gray, release," I commanded, standing up and driving my booted foot into his knee, a sickening "snap" following as it bent in the wrong direction.
 
Gray released the arm and moved to flank me, her ears laid back as she snarled at him.
 
"Messing with me," I pulled the knife out of my arm. "That's fine," I stared him in the eye. "But you fucked with my dog. And no one gets to do that and live."
 
Taking a knee, I drove the knife into his throat, and then left it there as I moved back to the bunk. He would slowly bleed out as he deserved.
 
"I need a medical team to room 11-C," I said tiredly as the adrenaline spike wore off. "There are injured here."
 
After that, I muted the intercom and began wrapping the knife wound.
 
"Gray, protect," I instructed, the Octo-Wolf stepping into position to keep an eye on the nearby body.
 
Everything hurt in some form or fashion. My knees ached from where I'd banged them up during the fight, my arm hurt from where I'd broken his nose. My head hurt from the adrenaline spike and lack of sleep. Diagnosis… I was getting old.
 
Voices filled the corridor as I leaned back against the bed, closing my eyes and resting a bit as a medical team and a pair of Elementals breached my room.
 
"He's dead," I cracked my eyes open and pointed at the other Bondsman. "He fucked with my dog," I chuckled. "I don't think he'll be getting up again."
 
Then the medical team put a mask on my face and I tried to push it away as I breathed in what had to be some sort of anesthesia because my eyes began closing while I tried to fight it.
 
"Stay," I ordered Gray as I drifted off. "Stay."
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===Returning to the Land of the Living===
Clan Jade Falcon's Base Infirmary
I woke up to the sound of medical devices beeping, and the smell of the cleaning agent that hospitals have used for over a thousand years.
 
Blinking away the black spots, I noted that the room was darkened, and the slight light that shone through the window was that of a distant moon.
 
My arm was still bandaged, only it had been changed recently as there wasn't any red leaking through. There was an IV in the other arm, feeding me fluids and helping to keep me hydrated as I wasn't able to drink water while unconscious.
 
"I expected we would see you in here sooner," a doctor remarked as he entered the room. "Given your age, I am surprised that you have managed to stay as healthy as you are."
 
"Star League Era treatments," I shrugged. "I expect to make it to at least a hundred and fifty if not more."
 
"Be that as it may," he glanced at my chart. "You nearly lost the tendon in your arm. And while you are on your way to recovery, you should still require a few weeks to recover before you can resume your usual duties."
 
"Anything else, doc?" I asked.
 
"No, the medtechs will see to it that you receive the medication you are to be prescribed."
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===Plans laid for a Secret Campaign===
Location: Star Colonel's Office - Blackjack, Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
"Star Colonel Pryde, I nodded at Marthe as I entered her office. "You wanted to see me?"
 
"Aff," she stood up and moved closer to examine the bandaged arm. "Your cord was severed in your struggle," she held out a new one with only one strand and wrapped it around my wrist.
 
"You have earned the removal of your second cord, Freebirth," she met my eyes, a cold look on her face. "You are close to having your Bondcord removed entirely. Should that occur, I will have you moved to a garrison Cluster. Frontline combat is not suited for one of your age regardless of talent."
 
I merely smiled before turning and leaving when I was dismissed. At this point, she was an obstacle to my plans of reforming the Clan. And given what I knew of her, should I manage to move forward with them then she would not hesitate to shoot me in the back should it further her to becoming a Khan.
 
No, I would have to form my own allies within the power structures that already lay within the Clan. And then I would have to leverage them. Starting with the Technician Caste and undoing many of the policies begun by Khan Crichell. The man had done away with many of the checks on his power and if one wanted to gain support from those not among the Warriors. Well, then they would have to begin restoring those balances.
 
But all of that involved me becoming more than a mere "Bondsman " and a garrison position wouldn't allow me to do what was necessary.
 
So I would have to find a way to have my third cord cut, and then find a way to prove myself as capable as the most able of their Warriors.
 
"Well, Gray," I walked outside of the dropship, the cool morning air doing much to help me think. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us. Let's hope it's a bit less lethal the next time someone decides to do something stupid."
 
Gray nudged into my hand and sat, staring off into the distance as the first parts of the local star began to appear on the horizon.
 
"Some things are worth watching. No matter how many times you see it," I smiled, the heat of the local star beginning to warm the day.
 
"Let's head back in," I scratched her flank. "We still have work to do."
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