.png){kind=link}
Interlude: Status over Rank[]
<<Next Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
04/05/3052 | Alba - Antares, Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
Star Colonel Katya Kerensky, of the 37th Strikers, exited the elevator stepped across the carpeted surface to see ‘all’ of ‘her subordinates’ present in the hotel bar. It was far past their normal ‘off-duty’ hours just past midnight local. She leaned into Commander Presley sitting at the end of the bar fixated onto a television monitor showing a low-rez video feed with voiceover.
‘A Telosa Television Production,
On behalf of the One Star Faith,
Broadcast with the permission of Leo Showers, ilKhan of the Clans.’
“Presley what is going on here?”
“Evening Colonel, The ilKhan has a special broadcast over the chatterweb. The Coriolis is on the rebroadcast chain, right from the McKenna’s Pride herself.”
“Why was I not told?”
“Ask the Coriolis’ Commander. They might have not known until the request came in.”
“Why did you not tell me?”
“You were taking a bath.”
Katya tossed her now much blonder hair (thank you purple shampoo) back, crossing arms across her chest. “I was not in there for that long.”
‘recorded, produced, and edited on the planet Somerset 04/04/3052.’
“Somerset!
Barman turn it up!
And get me a glass of something strong.”
The broadcast began with the ilKhan walking down parallel rows of Ebon Keshik Elementals, Katya quickly downed the fiery spirit, before slammed it to the ground upon seeing…Adam Steiner! Shaking hands with the ilKHAN!
Her glass bounced back from the floor. “This isn’t a glass! It’s plastic!”
She grabbed the Barman’s lapels, nearly pulled him over the bar in a blind fury, “You best get me something breakable! before I start looking for something! Understood?!”
This time the overfull but quickly drained glass shattered on the floor tiles as Katya shouts at the screen growing louder and more incoherent with each drink. Everyone present was just incredibly glad she hadn’t come downstairs with a pistol belt strapped across her hips, or every TV in the bar would have had bullets put through it by the end of the broadcast.
She, Katya Kerensky, was a Star Colonel in command of a SuperCluster 7 Trinaries deep! She had to turn down Warriors because her Galaxy Commander got personally involved. Antares had begun functioning once more after her confrontation with COMSTAR where she saved its people by stopping COMSTAR and overthrew Marcos Radick, who had been sent to Hot Springs for convalescence after being demoted to MechWarrior, to become their Governor.
Yet each frame of the ilKhan’s broadcast lingered on…Adam Steiner! HER former bondsman, HIS friends, HIS mother’s house, HIS planet, HIS accursed Trinary of Somerset Strikers, HIS exploits, what HE and THEY could do for the Clans, and there was no mention of Katya!
A Donar crew, as wasp-like as their aircraft, sauntered over to Presley who was still calmly sitting next to an increasingly irate Star Colonel. Katya’s unit had attracted a disproportionate number of female Warriors, giving them incredible air power, since she was one of the few higher ground commanders that was also a woman. “Hey Pres, you faced Adam in single combat, right?”
These women had also discovered lipstick and liked it enough that Katya had begun browbeating her Merchant Factor into adding it to the Catalog of Standard Goods. The male Warriors under her command apparently appreciated the sudden burst of color too. “Ladies, not only did I face Adam Steiner in single combat, but he out-massed me, and was piloting an advanced Battlemech that we knew nothing about.
All to aid my Star Captain who got in over her head.
Oh, and did I mention everything was on fire.”
They started rubbing his arms, “You are so brave, that must have been so terrifying.”
“It was no big deal. Maybe I can tell you some more later.”
He was tugged to his feet, “How about now?”
“Well, if you insist.”
The broadcast ended with a red-faced Katya who grabbed the nearest woman and dragged her behind, “We need to go to the bathroom.”
“Why?”
“I need you to hold my hair, because I just washed it.”