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==Chapter 13 - Best Served Cold==
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Edo, Turtle Bay 
Clan Smoke Jaguar Occupation Zone 
February 23rd, 3051
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Lilly’s stomach churned at the sight, even though it had happened nearly a year ago.  The awesome power of a WarShip directed at a surface target was the singularly most indescribably ugly thing she had ever seen.
Her forces had been surprised at finding no trace of Jaguar activity anywhere in the system.  After facing new ‘Mechs — her techs identified them as “OmniMechs” — and more skilled warriors on return visits to Tarnby and Virentofta, she had come to the conclusion that the Jaguars were now actively hunting her.  She’d expected to meet stiff resistance at Turtle Bay, only to find it all but abandoned.
There had apparently been some sort of cease fire in the past few months.  The Clans were no longer advancing into the Inner Sphere, but they had not pulled back, either.  It seemed now there were two arms of Clan military forces:  less experienced warriors in updated versions of Inner Sphere ‘Mechs, relegated to garrison duty; and more capable warriors in these OmniMechs, spearheading the invasion.  With the cease-fire, these “front-line” troops seemed to be taking up garrison stations, with several of them lying in wait specifically for Lilly McEvedy and her Wolverines.
She had been pleased by that.  That was progress.
Seeing the wreckage of the city of Edo cut the satisfaction out of her.  Just because they had been angered and embarrassed, the Smoke Jaguars had condemned an entire city and its population to violent, fiery death.
Great Hope must have looked much like this, once Jason Karrige got done with it.
Around her, Feral Star fingered their Mauser 960Ws rifles nervously.  Turtle Bay was not abandoned, the Jaguars had simply left.  The populace was still around, unlikely to look kindly on mysterious visitors from the stars for quite some time.
A breath of shifting air beside her.  “Star Colonel.” Star Captain Robina said quietly.
“I hear them.” Lilly whispered back.  She turned as sounds of people trying to move stealthily through the rubble grew.  She placed her hand on her sidearm, but did not release the safety catch holding the laser pistol in its holster.  “Ferals, weapons down.  Do not fire without my command.”  Slowly, hesitantly, the Ferals aimed the muzzles of their laser rifles at the ground.
“We come in peace.” Lilly said loudly to the unseen forces moving on her position.  “We mean you no harm.  Show yourselves.”
Tense silence reigned over the ravaged landscape.
“Star Colonel, with your permission?” Point Commander Shukti Ghosal asked, slinging her rifle.  Lilly nodded, and the Feral repeated Lilly’s statement in Japanese.
More silence, and then a face appeared, blackened with soot and dust, over an old and battered hunting rifle.  The Feralst ensed, but kept their weapons down.  Someone else shuffled from behind a chunk of rubble, carrying a military-grade laser rifle.  Then another with an autorifle that looked like it had been bashed together from parts of at least three different weapons.  One by one, people emerged, a few with decent weapons, most with survival, hunting, and kitchen knives or hafts of rebar.
The man with the hunting rifle hadn’t moved, his weapon still trained on Lilly’s group.  The scope was dirty, bent, and cracked beyond uselessness, but Lilly had a feeling that would fail to impair his marksmanship.
The man with the laser spoke.  “He wants to know who we are.” Shukti translated.
“We are —” Lilly stopped herself, deciding these people were in no mood for a long story, and who she was was a very long story indeed.  “We are friends.  We came to fight the Smoke Jaguars, but have found none.”
Shukti relayed Lilly’s message, and the man replied.  “Your ‘Mechs are mostly of the Inner Sphere, but not the DCMS, and your soldiers are not the Elementals, but are no mere foot platoon, and your answer is vague and unconvincing.  Who are you?”
“We are not of the Clans, nor are we of the Inner Sphere.  Our tale is long and our business our own, but we mean you and your people no harm.”
Shukti translated.  “Trust died in the fires of Edo.”
Keeping her right arm absolutely still on her weapon, Lilly slowly raised her left and pointed to her radio headset.  “If you will permit me to call my ship, I will have what supplies we can share brought out as a token of friendship.”
Brief, angry, shouted words of Japanese followed the translation of Lilly’s offer.  They were clearly debating the issue among themselves, quickly and efficiently, before the man spoke again.
“You may.”
Eyes and weapons on her the whole way, Lilly led her warriors and the civilians towards where the Great Hope had grounded not far away.  While she didn’t feel entirely comfortable leaving her ‘Mechs unattended, she knew that trying to board them again would incite violence.
The vehicle and DropShip crews had begun unloading food, water, and medical supplies, with the ship’s doctors ready to examine the people.  Wariness soon gave way as the Wolverines enthusiastically followed Lilly’s orders to be on their best behavior.  More people began to arrive from the villages and camps nearby, and soon Lilly was informed of the whole story.
After the bombardment of Edo, the Jaguars had ended that rebellion, but lost the planet.  The citizens of Turtle Bay knew there was nothing they could do to resist the weapons of a WarShip in orbit, but likewise knew there was no point in just submitting to Smoke Jaguar rule, as they could and would be killed for any perceived offense.  Faced with a populace that was now impossible to control, the Jaguars had simply left.  Deep in the occupation zone, no help or assistance would be forthcoming, and the people of Turtle Bay had to live, or die, solely based on the resources to hand.
“We are setting up logistics supply lines to support our advance into Clan space.” Lilly informed the small group of civilian leaders who had explained the situation to her.  “I cannot promise, but I will do everything I can to see whatever supplies and resources we can bring delivered here.  I will do everything in my power to help you hold out until—”
Until what? Until the Clans decide coming back to the Inner Sphere was a bad idea and they should go home?  Until the idiots in the Successor States rally and push the Clans back planet by planet?  Until the Star League rises from the dead and makes everyone get along again? she thought
“— until you no longer need them.” Lilly finished.
Relaying her report to the Khan, Lilly found that the other four DropShips were heading to Turtle Bay, ready to disseminate their own stores.  Jennifer McEvedy readily agreed to begin establishing a route for the routine delivery of relief supplies to the planet.
Supervising the disbursement, Lilly felt her guts churn again at the horde of dirty, hungry, helpless people, abandoned by their conquerors.  She barely noticed Robina approach and stand beside her.
“On to the Ghost Bears then, query affirmative?” she asked quietly.
“Negative, not on to the Ghost Bears.” Lilly replied, white-hot rage uncurling in her breast.  “This isn’t just about us anymore.  This is about stopping this. . . this. . . this horror.  This is bigger than the Wolverines and our history.  This is bigger than all of us.”
“Too big.”
“Then break it down.  Small pieces we can do.  Keep hitting the Jaguars, one planet at a time, crush everything they have to bring against us, then — only then. . . move on.”
“It’s liberation, then?” he asked
Lilly shrugged.  “If that’s what you want to call it.  I call it justice.”
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