TOW75

Chapter 75 - The Other War
West of Port Logan, Wadi Tsagaan(Baatar)
Babylon, Pentagon Worlds (Clan Space)
August 21st, 3063
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Magnus Ghost pulled his Bearcat U/MV (Utility/Mobility Vehicle) out of the ferry under the careful watch of the ship’s loadmaster and his own Point of surly, hungry, and sleep deprived former Ghost Bear Elementals. Port Logan and its ragtag sprawl of buildings spread out along the beach before them. Smells of stale saltwater and fish both rotten and fresh wafted over them as fishermen drifted in under dawning Tigris.
The transport ferry from Camlaan to Port Logan was filled with a variety of the Diamond Shark’s industrial caste and their equipment. Their Clan was reducing their footprint in the Kerensky Cluster as they moved more operations down the Exodus Road toward the boundless markets of the Inner Sphere. That didn’t stop entrepreneurial Merchants from staking claims to the wastelands of the windswept continent of Valence in search of minerals after the Hellion’s withdrawal. It's wastelands had been a no man’s land more useful as a Trial arena or testing range than for any other purpose but had great promise of mineral wealth.
Under the careful guidance of his Point the overloaded Bearcat cleared the transport deck and carefully set out on the ferrocrete causeway. Elementals walking beside to ensure the overloaded vehicle did not stray off the pavement. A Bearcat was one of the few vehicles in service roomy enough to allow large Elementals like Magnus and his Ghost Bears to operate with ease. 
Bearcats were used as the Clan’s standard off-road transport, a design based on J-27 Ordnance Transports with a rated capacity of 5 tons that had served in support of their mission since the Exodus. Their service in the Touman was to transport ammo and armor or service Elemental suits in the field but could be fitted with a variety of accessories for any utility use. 
With five heavyweight Rhino suits attached to the transport frame however the suspension squealed as the Bearcat accelerated sluggishly holding back the faster trucks of the Diamond Sharks. The hybrid engine spewed exhaust from the stack on the passenger side providing essential power to the generator. Three of his Point jumped into the bed as they cleared the causeway. Their eyes were no longer needed to help navigate the narrow span. An extra half ton of mass felt evident as Magnus pressed the accelerator harder to maintain a reasonable speed. Although rated for 5 tons it was now carrying almost 10 between extra gear and the sheer mass of muscle.
Beach sand spewed out behind them as they tried to stay up on the shifting sands. A Broadsword loomed over the surrounding buildings on the rough airstrip. A slight rap on the ballistic fabric covering drew his attention, “Can you go any faster, Point Commander? I could run faster than this.”
“Nothing is stopping you, Strav. You jumped in.”
A hearty laugh from the back momentarily overcame the engine noise. “I would get sand in my boot Mag.”
“Like that would change whether you complained or not.”
Within ten minutes the Bearcat joined a GPV in Black and Green (23rd Air Assault colors), and a half dozen blue Mastiff trucks used by the Diamond Shark’s City Patrol officers. Magnus was surprised to see so much activity in such an otherwise sleepy and desolate town. “Busy day at the Patrol office.”
He pointed to two of his Point. “Stay and guard the Bearcat,” then the others, “find some grub.”
Inside the Patrol Office Kindraa Leader Claude Goulet looked into recent missing person’s files. A concerning number of Cloud Cobra Techs had gone missing from their workcamps here on Valence. Meanwhile Beyl-Grant sibkin and Newt affiliated spacers were taken from isolated facilities throughout the Homeworlds. Their disappearances only recently being discovered as resupply ships found the habitats abandoned or destroyed. Clan Steel Viper had promised reprisals after the Ghost Fleet above Circe IV was destroyed embarrassing Arthur Stoklas, Loremaster of the Clans, and former Steel Viper.
The Beyl-Grants, rivals to the Mick-Kreese, were eying his Kindraa as the responsible party and had made their displeasure known in Trials that wasted time and energy better spent on their shared enemies, presently Steel Viper. At the same time he owed the Shanghai’s EcKhan Dax Loew many favors for the Newt’s assistance and this was but one off his ledger.
As propriety demanded he checked in with the overworked Patrol Commander, registered his presence as 'on official duty,' and verified that the Sumral area had been transferred to his Mandrills following Claude’s Trial of Possession, a tense series of racquetball games where he bid more time on the Fire Eater, against Xander aboard the CH Pack Leader.
With a crash of the doors on the wall a large Elemental entered the precinct, boldly ambling toward the Patrol Commander checking in just as he had done. He wore the colors of Clan Ghost Bear despite being a Hell’s Horseman. An odd Clan to be on Babylon but the Horses were rapidly expanding due to their alliance with Wolf and Coyote on either side of the Exodus Road which was upsetting many former major powers like the Diamond Sharks. 
After conferring with the Patrol Commander the Elemental walked over to Claude who warily eyed him. The rumbling bass of the Elemental rolled over the Marine. “I am Point Leader Magnus Ghost of Clan Hell’s Horses. The wastelands of Valence now belong to Fire Mandrill Mick-Kreese-Kline. We seek passage to Sumral, supplies, and travel beyond in search of answers. Arm Wrestle?”
“Kindraa Leader Claude Goulet of Fire Mandrill Mick-Kreese-Kline. Define we.”
“My Point of Rhinos and our transport.”
Although Claude was also an Elemental his Marine bloodline was much smaller than the 2.3m and 165Kg of a Ghost Bear. Arm wrestling was thus not a viable trial even for such a small challenge, but he had an idea. “Whiskey?”
Magnus looked at him curiously, “Trial or Trade?”
Claude stood up, his head coming to the larger Elemental’s chin, “Either. Loser pays.”
The Ghost Bear extended his hand, “Trial. To the ground. This afternoon, tell us where to be.”
“Bargained well and done.”
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