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The Call
Chapter 4 - Aurigan Dreams (BattleTech CYOA)[]
Recruitment on Bromhead[]
My remaining time on Bromhead proves to be quite fruitful. While he died before he could hire any of them, Duke Aaron Herman had reached out to contacts he had picked up over the course of his life. A fair few of them had made the trip to Bromhead with the intent of joining the Rimward Sentinels and even with Duke Herman dying, plenty of those that made the journey were still interested in signing up even if it was with me.
Over the next few days, I pick up seven MechWarriors of varying skill, a trio of ASF pilots, enough tankers for three crews and a couple squads worth of infantrymen in terms of combat personnel. On the more support side of things, the Rimward Sentinels pick up a handful of doctors, a slightly larger number of administrators and a few spare technicians.
Compared to the amount of empty spots that I need to fill out, it isn’t much, but if I include myself. I have enough MechWarriors to fill out a company along with a reinforced flight of ASFs. The vehicle crews and infantry squads give us a short lance and half a platoon respectively and should be decent for guarding the DropShip or whatever base we are set up in. Enough to be a decently sized mercenary company on its own even before I complete the recruitment once I get back home.
Beyond signing up my old man’s hires and getting up to speed with what it means to be a mercenary colonel, I begin my MechWarrior training under the watchful eye of Lieutenant Nero.
Family Time[]
My final day on Bromhead is hijacked by Ava and Vanessa. A bit inconveniently so, but nothing that can’t be handled by Commodore Geary, Tom or Vance so I end up spending some time with my aristocratic kin. Not to mention that half of the stuff I would be doing would really be me just watching someone else do it for the knowledge. Not to mention that socializing with high-ranking nobility is hardly pointless and a good way to make connections and potential future employers.
Of all the things that Ava and Vanessa could want to do with me, the two ladies have decided that we will be going shopping. Clothes shopping in fact because apparently my lack of a proper wardrobe just won’t do according to both of my nieces.
Unlike with my half-sisters, a shopping trip with the Duchess of Bromhead doesn’t mean going to the local shopping center and browsing around various stores. Instead it means discreetly going to a handful of pre-selected shops with a couple of low-key servants and more than a couple equally low-key bodyguards.
Strictly speaking the discrete nature of the visit isn’t necessary, but Ava doesn’t want us to be bothered by reporters, sycophants and locals who are unhappy about what the late Duke Herman did with all of that military hardware he found. I can’t say that I disagree with her, especially when it comes to that last one. We’ve already had a couple of small protests over it this week and I would rather not get trapped by an impromptu one while out shopping. Especially since a protest has the potential to turn violent and I would rather not be the target of an impromptu riot.
“This would look fetching on you,” says Vanessa as she holds up a tight black shirt of what I think is some kind of synthetic leather.
“Maybe on you, but it is a little showy for our aunt,” replies Ava, “Liz has a great body and all, but she is more of a conservative dresser. Any preference on colors?”
“Not really?” I admit hesitantly, “It isn’t something that I had to worry about before. But, uh, red and gold are the colours of the Aurigan Coalition.”
“They’re also the colors of House Davion so we should be able to find something in those lines.” muses Ava, “We’ll have to stay away from things with the Sunburst or any Federation-specific symbolism. And we’ll get some things in other colours as well because while a theme is nice, you’ll need more than two colors in your wardrobe.”
“Some brown and blue would look nice on her,” says Vanessa as she holds out a dress, one made of multiple shades of brown with a red and blue stitching along the edges.
“You know, you have a good point there,” agrees Ava as she inspects the dress in Vanessa’s hands.
“Are you two just using me as a doll to dress up?” I demand, folding my arms.
“Pretty much,” admits Ava shamelessly with a grin, “but you do need a new wardrobe to go with your new position. You haven’t exactly changed in formal status, but a mercenary colonel with an actual regiment moves in different circles to some random mech tech, no offense to your previous aspirations in life. I’m not going all out, but the least I can do is buy you some suitable attire for meeting with those of higher status. I am a planetary duchess so getting some nice comfortable and practical clothing that doesn’t look out of place when meeting with nobility is easily within my personnel budget.”
“And it is nice to have some girl time together,” adds Vanessa, “Only God knows when I’ll have the chance to spend time with Ava again and the two of you have been unfortunately limited in opportunities to enjoy each other’s company. By the way, you should try this dress on. It should be your size and it should look good on you.”
“I’ll give it a try,” I reply, taking the dress from my niece, “I do appreciate this by the way, the whole getting me a more fitting wardrobe thing. I understand that I’ll be dealing with nobility and other important people now, but I don’t have the first clue of where to get started.”
“You’ll have your work cut out for you,” agrees Ava sympathetically, “A shame that I can’t give you a crash course in noble etiquette, but Vanessa and Vince should be able to give you some pointers. Plus you aren’t actually nobility, just a mercenary colonel so while you will be interacting with them, other nobles won’t be holding you to the same standards as their fellow nobility. No offense.”
“None taken,” I reply before deciding that I can get away with venting a little, “This is just great, yet another thing to learn. Not only do I need to learn how to pilot a ‘Mech and how to run a mercenary regiment, but I have to learn how to deal with stuck up nobles. No offense.”
“None taken since I may be nobility, but I am not stuck up,” replies Ava with a grin, “I’ve noticed that you are something of a patriot for the Aurigan Coalition.”
“It’s my home,” I reply somewhat defensively, “I grew up there, it is where my family lives and House Arano has done right by us. Of course I want to help it and it isn’t like there will be a shortage of work. The Aurigan Reach has too many pirates threatening it and not enough ‘Mechs so we’ll be able to find paying jobs even if it is just garrison duty. If that doesn’t pan out, there are independent worlds, the Canopians, the Taurians and even the Federation. I don’t trust the Cappies and the League is too unstable for my tastes.”
If only I could tell them about what I know is coming, about how the Coalition is doomed in my lifetime if I let things play out as they are. I need to shake things up to have a chance of saving my home and I need to ensure that shakeup is beneficial.
“At least I won’t need to worry about my future prospects,” jokes Vanessa, “seriously; Try on that dress, Liz.”
“Sure,” I reply and begin to make my way over to the closest changing room.
“You do have a point about the Crappies and the Leaguers,” says Ava, “You cannot trust the Liaos to not backstab you and House Marik’s latest civil war is still ongoing. Fortunately, it looks like the Liao puppet isn’t going to win.
“Wait, that’s the Marik's Revolt right?” I call back.
“Yes,” answers Ava, “Even with the Wolf’s Dragoons on his side, Anton Marik is going to lose and the latest news I’ve got is that Janos’ loyalists are decisively winning.” “Huh,” I mutter as I enter the changing room, comparing this information to what I can remember.
Anton Marik’s revolt was from early 3014 to early 3015, which means it should be ending at some point shortly. If I recall correctly, March is when Anton turns on the Wolf’s Dragoon and April is when the Wolf’s Dragoons finish gutting what was left of the revolt. It is early February right now so the backstabbing should occur in a month.
Which if I am honest with myself, it isn’t within my power to avert. I would like to save Joshua Wolf and the rest of the Dragoons with him, but I am too far away and uninfluential to have any ability to sway events in that part of the galaxy.
I’m going to have to accept that a lot in the future, that there are somethings that I won’t be able to do anything about despite my knowledge of them.
Pushing those morbid thoughts to one side, I focus on getting changed. The dress is nice and wait a moment, this is a tribal-inspired design? Its crafted to look somewhat like something that primitive barbarians wear.
Even if it looks similar to some of the Polynesian-inspired attire back home. I’m not a fan of the joke and judging from the slight giggling outside, it is definitely a joke.
“I take it that this is some kind of joke from your reactions?” I say as I step out of the changing room to find Ava and Vanessa waiting with knowing looks, “One based on me being from the Periphery.”
“Just a mild one,” replies Ava with a grin, “We haven’t known each other long, but you have to know that I know you’re not some barbarian savage from beyond the civilized Inner Sphere.”
“Besides it does look good on you,” says Vanessa, “I wasn’t lying about that. Faux-tribal goes well with your tall fit body, your red locks and green eyes.”
On the one hand, I’m not a fan of the Periphery barbarian joke. On the other, it is a harmless joke while Ava is the planetary duchess and the one paying for all of this. Not to mention that I am just a foreign commoner so making a fuss with the local nobility, no matter how nice they are, is a bad idea.
“Though I can’t wait to stick you in something more Davion,” says Ava, still grinning away, “I might be the one with some Davion blood in my veins, you’re ended up looking the part.”
“I’ve got Scottish-Irish looks,” I say, “Mum from Skye in the Lyran Commonwealth. They’ve got a lot of Gaelic descent over there.”
“Maybe something more tight-fitting.” suggests Vanessa, “She has curves to show off and I don’t just mean the muscles.”
“Hey!” I protest.
“What Van means is that your boobs are bigger than mine and hers put together, Aunt Liz,” says Ava.
“Ava!” I yelp.
“What?” replies Ava shamelessly, “I might be a blueblood and the sitting duchess, but I’m not naive. I know about boobs, knockers, melons, tits, jugs, knockers or whatever you want to call them even if I don't have any of my own worth the name. I certainly hope you got that pair on your chest from your mother’s side of the family as I’ll be disappointed if I missed out on those from Father’s side.”
“Mum is pretty big herself.” I mutter, red-faced with embarrassment at this rather vulgar turn in conversation, “Can we get back to talking about my new clothes? Please?”
“Sure, I’ll spare you and your conservative sensibilities,” says Ava, “You want to get changed back into your old clothes or keep that on? I’ll speak to the owner about the latter if you want.”
“Ah, I’ll get changed back,” I say, “I would like to get this outfit however. Periphery barbarian joke or not, you are right about it looking good on me.”
“I’ll throw it in the basket,” says Ava, indicating towards one of her servants, who is holding a basket.
That kind of weirds me out if I am honest with myself. Maybe it is my commoner sensibilities, but bringing servants with you on a shopping trip is just jarring. In fact, having servants at all is foreign to me, but having them come along with something so ordinary that I have done before makes it stand out so much more.
As I change, I strive to put that unease to one side. This is supposed to be a girl’s day out and not only is this the last chance for Ava and Vanessa to spend time together for who knows how long, but as the new duchess, Ava can’t be expecting too many opportunities to relax like this. Not to mention that both of them seem to be enjoying themselves even if it is at my expense. Though given that the whole trip is at Ava’s literal expense, I guess I can put up with a little teasing.
Not to mention I don’t know how many chances I’ll have to relax like this, especially if I am committing to my plan to save my home. Which I am because I don’t want to see it all destroyed.
Stupid, insane knowledge from another world. I don’t know whether to curse the nightmares it brings or be thankful for the opportunity to avert the doom of the Aurigan Coalition.
“Thank you for indulging me,” says Ava as our trip comes to an end a few hours later and we return to Ava’s limo, “It is nice to relax like this, something that will become an increasing rarity now that Grandpa is gone.”
“You’ve been a good host for me and you paid for all of this,” I reply, “I still can’t believe you spent over a thousand C-Bills on my new clothes.”
“Aunt Regina will give me crap over it,” says Ava, “But I consider it worth it. For someone of my wealth, a thousand C-Bills is pocket change and I have come to like you in the short time I’ve had to know you. You are certainly more pleasant and likeable than Regina, Liz.”
“Yeah, Liz,” says Vanessa as she throws an arm around me, “Welcome to the ranks of being rich. I know you got over a hundred million C-Bills just like Vance and I both did.”
“Still a thousand C-Bills,” I mutter as spending that much money, especially on something like clothing, is still unthinkable to me.
Not that I’m complaining about my new clothing or anything.
“Pocket change,” repeats Ava, “Does your schedule allow you time for you to join me for dinner?”
“Possibly,” I answer, thinking about it, “Later? I don’t think so, but if we had an early tea like right now, it would work.”
“Then we’ll arrange an early dinner,” declares Ava, “We’ll invite Vance and we’ll have one final meal together before you leave. I’ll get to give Vance and Vanessa a proper goodbye and you can conclude your trip with a memorable end.”
“That sounds great,” I reply, feeling both sad that my time on Bromhead is coming to an end and eager to make my return to Coromodir.
Author's Chapter Notes[]
- Word from the Author
- End of the first arc of this story as Elizabeth finishes her business on Bromhead and returns home to begin the first step in her plans to save the Aurigan Coalition from its canon fate.
This arc took longer than I had planned and to be honest, this chapter could be cut and summarized in a paragraph or two in another chapter, but I wanted to write this shopping trip as a fluffy thing and this is my story so here it is. Also I was writing this for Camp NaNoWriMo so I wanted to get something written and it ended up being a shopping trip for a new wardrobe because the training sequence was too much telling and not enough showing.