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Chapter 9 – Lessons Learned[]
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Pent up Frustration[]
10/15/3051 | Upper Atmosphere | Somerset, Lyran Commonwealth (Occupied)
Katya felt the physical and mental pain from every cut and bruise from her encounter with Lord Commandant Adam Steiner as the five point harness dug into her. Somerset dropped off beneath the ST-46C as it streaked into a starry sky. Her nails dug into her palm just as she had done when the orders came down.
Presley turned to her as they breached the atmosphere. “Captain. Do you trust Adam enough to return his world to him?”
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Smallcraft ascending through atmosphere
“No,” She repressed her sour feelings toward the freeborn Lord, “but he earned it according to our rules. I do not want it. It does not matter either since he cannot do anything that we disapprove of now that INTER-LOGI has begun sending teams down.”
“What do you know of the Thirty Seventh Strikers or Star Colonel Marcos Radick.”
The tapping of her nails caught the attention of the other Mechwarriors that had deployed with them. Their Somerset unit transported via a different shuttle on the four standard day journey to the Nova Fox Odyssey that waited for them at Somerset’s Nadir Jump Point.
“It is not an elite command by any measure.” Her hand reached down to a rucksack stuffed with a portion of her ‘homework’ the complete collection of the Commonwealth Historical Press’ encyclopedias on Aleksandr Kerensky (To the Nagelring, Early Career and Letters to Katya, On Campaign vol I-IV, War against the Usurper vol I-V, Exodus) and a few other things ‘borrowed’ from Holly Field Haus’ library.
She looked at the Star Captain’s badge on her shoulder, “but neither is Marcos worthy of his rank.
I will bring him to heel in time.”
Enter the INTER-LOGI[]
10/18/3051
Adam Steiner received the message that Katya and the others had departed his system before making time to meet his worlds INTER-LOGI representative. She had arrived via car after a quick tour of Tauton, the planetary capital that he spent little time within. Gustav stood beside him as the car door opened and a graying matronly woman with a neat uniform marked by a pentagon on her right arm trimmed with 3 gold edges and holding what he presumed was the INTER-LOGI logo within. Her attendants were marked by the same pentagon but with differently numbered and colored edges, something akin to COMSTAR’s ranking system he presumed.
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Adam Steiner
“Merchant Factor Rhonda, it is a pleasure to greet you.”
“It is my pleasure to be here, Commander Adam.” She adjusted her glasses and pulled out a pen while receiving a ledger pad from her attendant, “My last assignment was far less hospitable.”
“I assure you that Somerset is quite hospitable.
That is one of things that I wish to offer to the Council in fact.”
“Your hospitality?”
He walked her up the stairs and into the grandiose manor. “Exactly! You see I have seen the true spirit of the Clans and I would like to share it with my fellow Spheroids. I would like for you to transfer any hardcase POWs here.”
She adjusted her glasses, “They are proving a drain on our limited manpower resources. Particularly after, Elissa.”
“Exactly, Rhonda! Guard duty is such a waste of the Touman’s potential.
I assure you that there will be no problems on Somerset with these incorrigibles.”
“Your last inventory shows that you are lacking in hardware to defend this world from counterattacks or provide internal security and trade links. We will have to transfer some to your Command to prevent a prison break by the enemy.”
Adam smiled, “That would be splendid! Would you happen to have a catalog?”