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Chapter 8 – Holly Field[]
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Taking Residence[]
09/13/3051 | Somerset, Lyran Commonwealth (Occupied)
A sign neatly stenciled with ‘Holly Field’ rose elegantly on the wrought iron and rose arch above the road as the motorcade wound its way up the hill. Two Somerset Constables stood by saluting it as they passed through the gate before closing it behind them.
Katya watched from within the limousine as trees passed filled with glistening fruit. “What are those?”
Adam sat in a reserved blue suit and crisp white shirt across from her, bond-cord on his right wrist, “Apples?”
“They grow on trees here?”
Rachel, his ‘assistant,’ adjusted her glasses, neatly placing her hands on the tablet computer resting on her skirt, before giving her a strange look. “Do they not where you come from?”
Presley sat beside Katya and had grown agitated apparently from being within close confines of the others and at the mercy of their driver, “You said you were taking us to your residence.
Why have you taken us to a fruit farm?
What is this, Holly Field?” He pointed a finger toward the Steiner, “More tricks!”
They exchanged confused looks toward one another, “These are my mother’s grounds.”
He counted off with his fingers as if going through a mental list, “There is Holly Field Haus itself, an orchard, hedge maze, gardens, tennis court, nine-hole golf links, the pond, a pool within the solarium, stables that used to be the servants’ quarters. I think I am missing something, Rachel.”
Presley followed on his own fingers but seemed to be confounded by the words.
“No that pretty much covers it, Adam. Everything else is technically off the grounds but part of the Duchess’ personal demesne.”
“It’s a lot to keep track of, that’s why I pay, Gustav.”
“He is paid by your mother and never lets you forget it.
Technically, so are you and I since we are both in the LCAF on her world.”
Katya leaned toward him before the three stories and thirty rooms of Holly Field Haus emerged from behind the hedges. She pressed herself to the window as they neared, “That is your residence? It is immense. You could board hundreds of Clansmen within it.”
They approached the auto arc that fronted the manor where maintenance people were working on the presently still stone fountain. “The ballroom occupancy is one hundred and twenty according to the Feuermarschall. I am certain it could hold a larger crowd if there were more, or wider doors.”
A crowd of staff assembled on the stairs leading within, “It is one of the smaller ones in the province. Rather underwhelming considering Anette is a Duchess of Steiner blood. She only puts on three large events per standard year.”
“She says she partied to hard in her early years and appreciates Somerset’s silence.”
Rachel stepped out after Adam opened the door for her, “I want more opportunities to wear a fancy dress.”
As they turned a sharply dressed older man with neatly coifed silver hair stepped to the fore, “I am certain you will find plentiful opportunities in the future, Miss Specter.”
She nudged Adam with her elbow, “I should hope so, Gustav.”
He bowed neatly at the waist in the odd old Rasalhague Principality style, “Lord Adam, here I thought I would not see you for months yet. How are things down in Somerport?”
“Academy Training is on Hiatus at the moment.”
“Why?”
The Star Adders, Katya, Presley, and three of their fellow MechWarriors stood awkwardly in their formal green SLDF inspired uniforms before she presented herself, “Because I ordered him to cease training more Warriors, as his Bondholder.”
Gustav looked toward his staff then to her, “and you are?”
“Star Captain Katya Kerensky of Clan Star Adder, present military governor of Somerset.”
“Adam, care to explain your guests.”
“It is complicated Gustav; yet everything was conducted honorably. Katya,” she gave him a stern look just visible in his peripheral, “Star Captain Kerensky and I have come to an understanding. I trust that you have already prepared their rooms.”
“Of course, Sir. I am a professional and shall guide them personally.” He snapped his fingers, and several men came to collect the seabags marked with Gamma Galaxy, Clan Star Adder patches, “Porters and Star Adders please follow me.”
The party departed and staff dispersing to attend their duties leaving Adam and Rachel alone on the pavement as the cars drove toward the garage, “Did your sister and brother-in-law hide the Militia’s heavy weapons and ammo in the point we agreed?”
“Yes, your wildfire stunt delayed the Star Adders long enough to get everyone and thing out safely before they arrived at Hollyfield.”
“Good,
Colonel Irons left Katya and friends on our planet without Mechs or other heavy weapons so that means he is either confident we won’t do anything or that if we do, they can handle us later.
I think we can keep them off-balance and Somerset safe for now. If they think Somerset is already pacified more troops will not be needed but it is good to keep our options open just in case.”
“You almost won that Trial, Adam.”
“I know, they just got lucky, but this might be better. If I learn more about them,
I can be certain their luck won’t save them next time.”
Sacred Grounds[]
09/15/3051
Locals had graffitied onto the darkened husk of COMSTAR’s A Class HPG Compound just outside Hollyfield. Its large transmission antennae still blinked to reveal their position to incoming traffic from its nearby star-port. Adam stood alongside Katya noticing how awkward the pulse laser rifle was slung over her shoulder.
He used a set of bolt-cutters to remove the padlock from the chain link gate. “What do these colorful phrases mean, Adam?”
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Insignia of ComStar
They passed white vehicles marked with the Blessed Order’s logo abandoned in the faithful’s haste to depart Somerset. Some of them had broken windows and more had their own graffiti painted on the flanks. “Many of them are indeed quite colorful Star Captain. However, most of them are insults or intonations for Blake’s faithful to return and deliver them from you.”
“Us.”
Adam felt the coarse thread of his bondcord, “Right, Us.”
“Can your Technicians reestablish this world’s telephone network?”
“I am unsure. COMSTAR has run it for as long as I have known. We have become dependent on their knowledge and skills.
Until we can get the telephones back online, we cannot even begin to get trains rolling again to replace lost Starlift capacity or shift resources. There are few other routes for internal exchange, with luck we will not have to rely on motorcycle couriers.”
He used the bolt cutter handles to clear the remaining glass from the ruined front door into the lobby. A great spherical armature stood unmoving above a holoprojector dominating the cathedral like hall. It formerly would have projected a picture of the Inner Sphere or Somerset that would dominate the space and awe petitioners. “I am more interested in speaking in real time with my compatriots in Somerport.”
“Are you concerned, Star Captain?”
“Neg. You were foolish to oppose our righteous cause, bondsman.”
“That remains to be seen, Star Captain.”
Somerset Constables followed them through the door gathering about in a loose mass until Katya turned to face them, “Inventory everything Patrol, and report it to myself or Star Commander Presley.”
They hesitated and looked toward Adam who gave them a nod that set them on their way. Constables broke into smaller groups with headlamps and lanterns to wander about the corridors and rooms of the facility. “Why did they hesitate, bondsman? Everything on this world is isorla to Clan Star Adder and under my command. It is my right to do an inventory and submit it to INTER-LOGI and INTELSTAR.”
“They do not wish to defile COMSTAR’s sacred spaces.”
“Why?”
“COMSTAR has a long reach and longer memory, Star Captain. Transgressions and Trespasses against the Order regularly backfire on their perpetrators.
They will return and demand satisfaction one way or another.”
“COMSTAR is not long for this universe, bondsman. The Clans shall supplant them and restore them to their proper place within the Star League.”
“Many have tried, Star Captain. However, they were established by your Great Father Aleksandr Kerensky and have endured centuries of strife within the Inner Sphere. Dismiss them at your own peril.”
Change of Management[]
09/20/3051 Rain pattered on the Solarium’s glass panels as Katya completed her morning laps and exited the pool. Her muscles burned from exertion before being given slight comfort as she massaged those exposed by her one-piece swimsuit. A blonde crechie girl in a green dress peeked out from the garden with a broad smile, “You’re a pretty lady. Will you be staying long?”
Her appearance caught the Warrior by surprise, she didn’t say anything, but the girl was still smiling and staring at her as she danced across the pavers. One of the maids appeared in the doorway with a little brown haired boy nearby and concerned look. “Ana!”
Ana laughed and skipped over to the woman. “Du hittade mig mamma!” Katya stood up, looked, and stepped toward them before halting. She curtsied as did Ana and the boy bowed slightly emulating the others. “I am very sorry to have disturbed you Star Captain Kerensky.” She knelt to face the girl and pointed toward her, “Ana, you can’t play near the pool without my supervision. Come along, it’s time for breakfast.” “Okej Momma.”
Adam Steiner sat in front of the rain streaked window with a steaming cup of strong black tea and a plate of rye toast and white weisswurst beside piles of paper on his desk as Katya barged into his office. Her platinum blonde hair went to her shoulders. A purple one-piece swimsuit showed far more of her pale skin, the side-effect of long periods of space travel. Many dropships included tanning beds, at least those traveling within the Lyran Commonwealth, though pale skin waxed or waned into fashion with Tharkad’s media industry and its stable of actress or the Archon herself.
“This is not exactly what I would call an undress uniform. Is there anything I can do for you Star Captain.” “Why are there crechies here?” “I am afraid I do not understand. Please define a Crechie.”
Katya paused, extending her hands before pressing them together, “Small people.” “You mean children? It is Saturday so they do not have school. My mother gave her staff permission to bring them in to work so that they might play on the grounds during the half-day of labor expected of them during the weekend. In better weather, there is even a picnic. Do you have a problem with children Katya?”
“I have not seen a child since I completed Sibko and begun MechWarrior training at the Academy almost a decade ago.” “That does not answer my question Star Captain.”
She walked toward him to stand and leaned over to stare at him. He returned the stare back into her icy blue eyes. “I do not like children.”
He wrote, ‘Keine Kinder unter Prämisse,’ on the memo pad near her, “I will inform my staff then.”
Flashback to Trouble Childhood[]
10/17/3030 | Wolf Enclave TW-856, Tranquil, Kerensky Cluster
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Blood Asp Assault OmniMech
Smoldering wrecks of Wolf Battlemechs slumped against the walls as a Blood Asp from the 193rd Adder Dragoons forced its way through the gates. Their Elementals crested the wide earthen battlements of the besieged settlement scattering the last of its defenders as conventional troops rushed in through the gates. Within the enclave sharpshooters and machine guns fire upon them forcing them to take cover. They did so as blocky Oro and Indra tanks rolled through the ruined gates flanked by nimbler Zorya.
Within the creche the younger children cried out as the guns raged above and around them. Their caretakers and the older sibkin had taken up arms in the defense of Clan Wolf leaving them behind in the darkness. Dust fell from the roofbeams as a Battlemech walked above them, grains of it stuck to a girl’s platinum blonde hair and their khaki uniforms with serial numbers stenciled on them in black.
Sounds of combat came closer and the children did the same hugging, arms wrapping around each other, as the door opened to reveal an Adder Star Captain and his fireteam with pistols on their hips, rifles slung over their backs, and knives attached to their boot. “What is going to happen, Katya?” cried the little brown haired boy who had wrapped her hands around her.
“Everything will be fine, Vlad.”
The man consulted a bloody memo pad, rapping a pen sharply on its metal clipboard. “Start with the Wards. There will be fewer of them to process that way.”
One of the men ripped the boy away from her and dragged him by his collar. Another did the same with the others. They slammed the door shut behind them, so Katya only heard one of them shout in pain, ‘He grabbed my knife! Get him!’ followed by gunshots just outside.
A lightning strike snapped her awake, breathless, eyes filled with tears. She recognized the immense room and the little bit of it that her person and kit occupied. Her vest was perched up on the dresser, seabag open in front of it with her pulse laser rifle leaning against it. Beside her on the nightstand was her pistol, knife, watch, and codex with the Star Adder staring at her.
She slid out from the bed stepping gracefully on the fine grained hardwood floor toward the bathroom then retched out her six-course dinner.
Frustrated Status and Worrisome Prospects for the Future[]
10/03/3051
Rachel and Adam strode through the gardens as Somerset’s axial tilt and weak primary combined to bring autumnal chill to Hollyfield and a change in wardrobe. Its orchards were now harvested, rotting fruit left to finish pigs that would become next season’s sausage. “Adam, Katya and the others have been acting erratically.”
“I am aware but cannot do anything about it at the moment.”
“Why do you think they are behaving this way?”
“You wish to know my theories?”
“They don’t talk to me. I am just your ‘assistant’ after all.”
He wrapped an arm around her, “You are more than that and I am happy to have you here. You know that right?”
She leaned into his warmth, “I know, but it is still annoying.”
“Sorry Rach, it must be that way for now. Better they be surprised by what you can do.
I think the lack of structure is getting to them. From what I have gathered the Clan Warrior Caste are like the ancient Janissaries. They are trained from a young age with no expectation for a long or happy life or given knowledge of the greater world outside their combat role.”
“That sounds depressing.”
“I know and I think they are becoming aware of it without something else to focus on. The psychic harm is eating away at them. They are beginning to succumb to ennui the longer they are disconnected from their own people. Somerset just doesn’t have anything to offer them in its present state.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“I don’t think so, but I can only remain patient and vigilant.”
Fate of Children[]
10/11/3051
Commotion rang out through the halls of Holly Field Haus as Adam and Rachel ran downstairs to find Katya holding a maid hostage with a knife surrounded by anxious staff. The women’s eyes were wide with fear while Katya’s hair and eyes were wild, black pinpricks drowning in a sea of blue.
Gustav and the others let Adam through the crowd which whispered that the Constables were en route, “Katya, what the hell are you doing!”
Her voice came out even more unhinged than her appearance betrayed, “She has taken the children!”
Adam stood ahead and walked toward them, “They are her children.”
“They are the Clan’s children.
My isorla.
I want to see them.”
“You requested they leave, Katya.”
“I must know that they are safe.” Katya grasped the woman’s arm strongly, “Take me to them.”
The women mouthed ‘help’ to Adam as he kept her attention while watching Racheal who was skulking her way through the crowd behind them. “I think they are safer away from you, Star Captain.
I do not know what demons haunt you, but they will not endanger the innocent people of Somerset.
He got within arm’s reach, “Put the knife down.”
“No! Get away from me!
You look down on me.
You think I do not know what you are doing! Who told you!”
His palms were held up and voice soft, “I don’t intend to do anything if you let Sanna go.
You are in some kind of distress Katya, make any other decision but that one.”
Katya’s knife closed to her hostage before she turned it to point the blade toward him. “This is all your…” She tensed up and fell into Adam’s arms, knife clattering to the floor as Rachel’s stun darts stuck into her back. He undid his belt and looped it around her elbows to restrain the deranged Clan Warrior as the Constables and other Adder Warriors arrived.
Adam stood firmly before the other MechWarriors, “Star Captain Kerensky is ill. She needs rest, behind a locked door.”
“You dare to restrain our Star Captain! Your bondholder.”
“I dare. If you want to fight, MechWarrior, then challenge me to a Trial.”
“You cannot be the subject of a Trial without the Star Captain’s approval Bondsman nor are we able to discipline you. We can only challenge Warriors,” They became aware of the Constables behind them, “Others are to comply with our commands.”
“My bondholder seems to be incoherent at the moment.” Even though the darts were pulled out Katya lay semi-catatonic on the floor. “She can punish me upon regaining her composure.”
“We expect she shall.” The Adders lifted Katya upon their shoulders as they unceremoniously carried her away and upstairs to her room.
Sanna shook and shivered despite encouraging words from her co-workers as Adam saw the Adders off who were followed by the Constables. “I am very sorry Sanna. Take two weeks off to spend time with your family. I’ll try to keep Katya contained and ask Gustav to assign you to a less visible station for now.”
“Thank you, Lord Steiner, for helping me and your generosity.”
He bent his thumb toward Rachel, “It was all her. I was thinking of wrestling it away.”
She turned to Rachel, “Thank you, Lieutenant Specter.”
“You’re welcome.” Rachel slotted another cartridge into the stun gun. “Glad this little gadget has finally come in handy.”
Defending One's People[]
10/12/3051
Holly Field Haus was still and silent, as usual was on a Sunday when only essential staff were present. The rest were enjoying a day that was shaping up to be beautiful, leaves were turning orange and brown while the sun sank lower each day. Adam walked within the Grand Room, boots clacking on stone tiles echoes dampened by recently installed tapestries which lent the chamber a smell of wool and the wooden chests they were stored in.
He paused before a great wooden door carved with images of vibrantly painted Griffins of myth upon it, sized to evoke a feeling worthy of the Archon’s Thorne Room on Tharkad when the Duchess was holding Grand Court rather than using the more modest Office or smaller Salon for business. They dated from the era of Cochren, the progenitor of House Borge-Steiner as a reminder of Somerset’s historical position as a March world meant to protect the Lyran Commonwealth from the Rim World’s Republic before it languished in that realm’s absence.
A large padlock barred the way, but he lifted an immense bronze key and unlocked it with a snap of both hands. Despite being well balanced the door’s wood had a heavy steel core leading as it did to Manor’s Southern Wing dominated by the Armory, Lockers, and Gym.
Her footfalls and shadow revealed her presence before Katya stood on the ornate rugs that protected the Armory’s floor from its weapons and vice versa. Adam polished a gilded bespoke reproduction of an ancient musket returning the stock’s ornate wood to its previous gleam. A weapon capable of downing boar if tales of his Granduncle Pete and the taxidermy plaque were to have been believed. Not that he had met the man that had cost his Grandmother her life and his son the Duchy of Somerset.
“Yes, Katya.”
Katya wrapped her hand around the hilt of a longsword, “You have embarrassed me, Bondsman.”
Adam returned the musket to its mount above the mantle and came to stand beside a mannequin clad in gothic style half-plate, “I saved my people, as is my duty.”
She lingered for a moment, “I will not forget this.”
His eyes searched her posture for any movement that could reveal an attack. “Then perhaps you are indeed capable of learning Clanswomen.”
Her knuckles went white around the hilt, “I find that suffering is a reliable tutor.”
“But one that frequently delivers the wrong lessons.”
“You would dismiss my suffering!” Her voice boomed through the armory. A primal scream from the deepest wells of emotion.
Adam remained steady, “Quite the contrary Star Captain Katya Kerensky. I acknowledge it but believe you have wallowed in it so long you cannot see options that are obvious to those with clearer eyes.”
“You would seek to educate me then and clear my vision?”
“Has my Trial of Position finally arrived, bondholder?” She nodded and Adam snapped the bondcord with a firm tug, “If suffering is the only method to reach you. Well, it is a Professor’s job to speak their student’s language.”
He removed his vest and rolled up his shirt sleeves, “Un-augmented?” His hands wrapped around the hilt of a cavalry saber, “or would you like to test a Steiner with live steel?”
From whom Do you Defend your People From?[]
Adam’s saber caught Katya’s longsword with the draw directing it downward and into the ornate rug. Sparks flew as its steel scraped against the stone. He danced away, “Very dishonorable of you Star Captain,” then gave her a mocking salute, “Auf der Hut.”
“You cheated during our last trial.” Her stance was much higher than a proper hanging guard, leaving more of her exposed. Yet Adam bladed himself to her saber fully extended to make up for lost reach from his nimbler weapon.
“I followed my bid, an SLDF Standard company plus whatever they could carry.
You!” His eyes narrowed as he put racks of polearms and mannequins donning armor between them, “Planned poorly. Although I am not certain what I would do with a bondswoman should things have turned out differently.
I am however afraid the position of girlfriend and lover is already occupied.”
Katya adjusted her stance lowering the sword to better protect her head and keep it from entangling on the Halberds and other weapons, “I would have ejected myself into the flames before I would allow a freeborn like you to control me, let alone couple with you.”
Adam mule kicked the door to the Gym open revealing a large room complete with a fighting ring and exercise apparatus. “That would have saved me a great deal of trouble.”
He parried her next attack hard enough that Katya’s guard failed and had to catch her feet to adjust to a back guard, her blade hovering over the floor while leaving her exposed. “You are just playing with me now, Adam.
Strike a blow!
Draw blood!”
“Nein. Your lesson is not over, and I find this oddly nostalgic. It’s been a while since I sparred in this room.”
Her next strike was close razor edged steel arcing upward to cleave him in twain. She was to slow however, and he stepped inward to deliver an uppercut with his off hand that did little against the Clan Warrior hardened as she was by a lifetime of training and abuse.
The next blow, meant for his head, was faster as she placed her hand on the unsharpened portion of the blade to lever it. It very nearly succeeded but Adam ducked and executed a shallow draw cut on her side before putting distance between them.
Blood trickled on the tiles as Adam presented the saber once more as he walked back into the sandy fighting ring, “You received what you asked for Clanswoman. Are you satisfied?”
Once more her blade raised as she advanced, “I am only getting started.”
Their footing was unstable on the sand, affecting Katya more than Adam but her blows were as strong as before. Adam dodged where he could, parrying where he could not, minor cuts and scrapes began to wear on both, as breath came in fierce bursts timed with strikes. Katya dropped her sword in the bind, drawing a knife that slashed across Adam’s chest as he fell backward.
She leapt on him driving her knife down with fury rather than whatever remained of her strength.
Adam shifted beneath her as the blade punched through the sand less than a palm length away.
He struck the inside of her forearm with his palm causing her fingers to slacken and lose their grip on the bloody dagger. Katya drove her elbow toward his neck but hit him in the chin trying to force her way through despite his resistance while they wrestled for control of the dagger.
Adrenaline kicked in as their breathing grew more ragged with the strain. Adam grabbed her uniform’s lapel and flipped her onto the sand above the dagger while taking a side mount to begin pummeling her. She flexed to kick the back of his head and spun out of the ring to stand on the tiles once more.
“Rachel can’t do that, but she is a lot less crazy than you.”
“You think I am crazy?!” Katya somehow sounded less ‘mental’ in her wounded state. She ripped a damaged part of her sleeve off to reveal the bloody cuts on her pale skin.
Adam stomped the knife and both swords into the sand to make them more difficult to pick up and wiped the blood from his cheek before adopting a boxing stance. “I think this is the first time in almost a month that you’ve felt in control.”
“I have always been in control.”
“Then why have you acted like you weren’t. What was the matter? Somerset to peaceful for you?”
They exchanged blows, bruises showed where the other had defended with bone rather that footwork. “I am a Warrior; my place is on a battlefield.
Yet here I am rotting away on some backwater world. Babysitting its pampered Lord.”
“Fight, for what though? The Star League that your ancestors abandoned.”
“For the ilKhan. To protect our homeworlds.”
“From whom?
The Inner Sphere, I didn’t even know you existed until last month. I figured Aleksandr led his people on a one way trip. That the Explorer Corps might one day find a derelict fleet of inbred humans lost among the stars.”
Their battle returned to the armory as Katya pressed Adam against the walls with furious strikes. He returned wrenching her to the floor or throwing her into standing racks causing polearms and other weapons to clatter to the ground.
“You lie! We captured a COMSTAR ship in our homeworlds.”
“Then why have you chosen to invade the Lyran Commonwealth?”
“Because your military is weak, but your economy is strong.
Once Tharkad falls, Terra will soon follow and then the Star League, championed by our Clans, will once more take over everywhere else and bring Humanity under one banner.”
“There had better be many more of you then, and much better.
I almost won our Trial last time.”
“Star Colonel Irons is old fashioned, used to the way things were. Not as they soon shall be.”
“Then you have already discarded the values that your forebears held dear.”
“Our situation has changed. We have adapted.”
“You stand in a precarious position then, adapting under fire requires wisdom you lack. That is why you shall lose. You can barely stay grounded now.”
She lurched forward with a kick. He caught it, then shoved her toward the fallen poles.
Katya’s footing failed and she collapsed right into him. He wrapped his arms around her neck and applied pressure until she blacked out before the mantle, its trophy, and what claimed it.