IBC Chpt 10

Iron Blooded Commander

- Chapter 10 -

We do not Kneel

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Talking with a grumpy Colonel

Isaribi Union Class Dropship - Inbound
Tharkad System, Lyran Commonwealth
3022

Morgan Kell is a very difficult man to get along with. Sure. Maybe his temper was a little frayed from being outside of the sanctuary, and sure maybe he was getting frustrated with all the orphans who kept asking him questions… Despite me telling them to leave him alone.

But still there was no reason to be so gruff.

Union Class DropShip, Isaribi

"Colonel Kell, we have confirmation from Tharkad dispatch. They are having us land at the Triad. So apparently the Archon wants to see you."

"Fine. Get out." He ordered. I had been a little forceful in getting him to actually answer his door. He had taken to simply ignoring any knocks at his door for a bit more than a month now. But I still wanted him to be ready. Plus I had questions, so I ignored his grump. Pushing my way in.

"Anything I should know about landing there? Protocol or something?" I asked.

"It's usually rude to show up to meet the Archon in body armor." He gruffly says as he continues to tinker with whatever he was messing with on his desk. He had hid away in here for a while. Trying to escape. And probably struggling to deal with the weird mental issue Phantom 'Mech brought on.

"It's our uniform, and a rule that we wear them at all times off base. Besides, I don't have any fancy clothes. I'm a Commander, not a Social General." I grumble back.

"Katrina won't care. Stop worrying about it." He ordered then hitting the heart of the matter.

"Don't act so nonchalant, not all of us grew up hanging out with the future Archon of the Commonwealth, it's not like I have a lot of experience with nobility. I've only dealt with Barons before."

"I'm a Duke."

"No one cares, old man. Stop Bragging." I snark back at him. Seriously, if he wasn't being gruff he was being super arrogant. So I kept poking holes in his pride every chance I got. Was it rude? Yes. Was it entertaining? Oh yes.

The glare I received in turn told me I had worn out my welcome.

"Last question before you shoo me off. I brought more than just the Memory Core, I have some other gifts and such, since I didn't turn in any of the lostech I found at Helm until now, should I just hold it, or what?"

"Just hold it. Katrina will tell you how to handle the lostech reveal, leave it in her hands, it's a little above your head."

"Nothing is above my head, Colonel. I'm going to alter the entire Inner Sphere permanently in a few hours." I reminded him testily, before nodding as I headed out of his quarters. I should probably spend a little time on my hair… I thought as my gloved hands ran through the strands.

I didn't want to show up with bedhead.

---

Meeting with the Archon

The Isaribi finally landing had me sigh in relief. Despite the repairs we had done on her, there were still a few systems that were on the older side. Unfortunately, the fact I could just print any replacement parts we needed was something I had to keep from the Captain.

"Feeling alright there, Commander Eisen-Blume?" Eris questioned as I threw my barf bag in a trash can.

"Peachy. Let's go head out into this fresh hellhole." I grumbled as the doors opened and instantly ice slammed into my face.

Welcome to Tharkad. The land of ice and snow. I grumble pulling my jacket closer. Hanna and I had created a cold weather outfit to throw on top of our armor. The heavy coat looked like something a Russian officer would have worn, but between it and my new cunning looking hat, I was gonna be warm enough to survive.

I stepped out into the snow already starting to pile up despite the heat of our DropShips engines having just melted everything around.

I took a deep breath as Morgan Kell walked past me, seemingly he knew where to go. This wasn't just some strange spaceport or something. This was literally the fucking Triad.

I was standing on a dropship pad connected to the most politically powerful building in the commonwealth. I followed along, Eris following behind me, as Morgan made his way to an entrance that was being held open. The guards on each side saluted the man but despite keeping their faces straight as I passed I could tell the looks towards me were of confusion.

By the time we made it inside, I was huffing, not just my armor, and now heavier jacket, I was also carrying the Memory Core on my back. Morgan had offered to carry it, but I threatened him off. No one was going to pass this to the Archon but me.

It had to be me for any of my future plans to work. This, turning over the memory core had to come from me.

We were stopped and checked over, again and again on the path through. We were stopped at a clothing stop, where my jacket and hat was handed off now that we were deeper inside the building. Although the looks Eris and I received for our armor were telling. She and I were always double and then triple checked by men wielding scanners while Morgan was only given a cursory look over.

Being the Archon's best friend had it's perks I guess.

When they found nothing we were waved through over and over. Until finally we were led into a very large, very expensive looking room. The gold filigree over everything and the floor tiles shaped into the Steiner fist made out of what looked like sapphires only touched on a few of the notable expenses in the room.

And there. Sitting on a comfortable looking couch worth more than a BattleMech, was a woman I could recognize on sight.

Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth Katrina Steiner.

I could feel Eris's tension ratchet up, although I couldn't see her, I could practically hear her spine creaking from how straight she was standing.

"Kat." Morgan greeted as he stepped into the room. His approach was stalled as Katrina Steiner stood nearly stalked over. Pulling him into a hug. Eris and I stayed quiet, me out of respect, her because she was probably freaking out as we waited for the quiet greetings to be over. I could see not quite tears, but a bit of wetness in Katrina's eyes, and Morgan the grump looked softer as he spoke to his friend.

But then steel gray eyes met mine. "What brings you home, Morgan? I hadn't heard any news that would have brought you out of your isolation."

"That would be because of me." I speak plainly, letting my voice echo in the large room, and I knew I had probably committed a faux pas but I hardly cared.

It's not like when this was all over anyone would care.

I step a few feet forward so I wouldn't have to yell across the room. "Commander Victoria Eisen-Blume of the Iron Blooded Orphans Mercenary Company, based out of Zaniah III." I informed her, although I bet she already knew. We were transporting Morgan Kell after all.

She looked me over for a few moments. Idly noticing that despite his usual attitude, Morgan was actually not interrupting himself. He gave a small gesture with his hand as he moved away, taking a seat. That probably told Katrina that something weird was going on than anything else.

"I suppose it must be important then. Morgan isn't one to waste my time, Commander Eisen-Blume." Her voice was firm, and challenging. But I had expected it.

"You could say that, Archon." I pulled off the bag I had been carrying the Memory Core in. The obvious piece of equipment on my back caught her focus when I pulled the bag open and with a grunt I placed the Memory Core on the table she had been sitting in front of before. Then without a word I pulled a Noteputer out of the bag and plugged it in. Standing I faced her blank face and without another word I offered it to her.

I said nothing else.

There were some things in life that didn't need words, and as she glanced at Morgan who nodded to her, she took the Noteputer and started looking.

It took a few minutes, but I could tell the instant it happened. The exact moment when Katrina Steiner realized what it was she was looking at. She stiffened. Her blank face and arrogant look vanished.

Shock. Plain and utter shock at what she was reading. I didn't interrupt, and neither did Morgan. Eris wouldn't have dared the girl was still standing ramrod straight and looking very uncomfortable. Staring at her liege as if she was a wild animal. All three of us simply waited there. Morgan watched Katrina with a look that told me he understood exactly what she was feeling.

I simply waited. This moment was probably the single most important moment of the century. Nothing else was going to alter the fate of the Inner Sphere more. So I waited calm and collected as Katrina Steiner buried her nose in the lost knowledge of the Star League.

It was more than ten minutes before she finally had to put the noteputer down. It wasn't because she was tired, or she had seen enough.

It was because her eyes were watery. The screen had grown impossible to read.

Morgan moved first, offering her a handkerchief of all things. I had never felt more like I was in a period drama in my life as she accepted and wiped her eyes. Blinking a few times and taking a deep breath before the mask returned, and those eyes were turned on me.

"Where did you find this?"

"Helm. The planet Helm. You might have heard the story. As the First Succession War began the Coordinator at the time.. Minoru? I can never remember his name. Went to Helm to claim the weapons depot there. Which makes sense. It was the largest weapons depot the Star League ever created." I end with that for a moment letting her realize the fullness of that idea.

"He didn't find it, threw a temper tantrum and nuked the planet. With that everyone thought it was gone. Taken away on the exodus."

"It wasn't." She added, accepting her role in my story with quiet magnanimity. Obviously she knew what I was doing, but well it was still fun. Storytelling was more fun with a reactive audience.

"Indeed. SLDF Major Edward Keeler… Is a man that deserves to be remembered by the Inner Sphere. I intend on making sure of it in fact. He was in charge of the depot, and he saw the wars that were coming on the horizon. Had the foresight to realize how bad it was going to be." I took a deep breath to steady myself. Once it had been just a story, but Major Keeler had possibly saved his entire universe by doing so.

"He took the entire depot and hid it. There was a civilian infrastructure project up in the mountains. Some crazy Star League idea of taking one of Helms Seas to make more farmland, or something. I don't know the original purpose. But since he couldn't move the equipment off world without any DropShips, he moved it into a Castle Brian hidden in the mountains. The entire Depot was hidden away in a place no one could find and Major Keeler put together that Memory Core. A Library. Everything he could get his hands on. Everything a civilization would need to restore what had once been lost."

Her hands were shaking lightly as she once more picked up the noteputer, gripping it firmly. "I see." It was all she said for a few minutes slowly her hands regained their control and I was treated to staring down the Archon of the Commonwealth pulling her best out. "I never expected to find this. When I was a child, I searched through many old sites for lostech. Trying to find something that would help the Commonwealth. I never dreamed of finding… This."

"Yeah, tell me about it." Morgan grumbled, "I was having a normal day before that thing was placed in front of my face, while I was told it was a message for me." He shook his head "Never knew what I was getting into when I started reading."

Both of them nodded to each other then, an understanding passing through the two adults.

Katrina turned her eyes fully to me, her back straight and manners impeccable. "You did the Commonwealth a service that I may never be able to repay, Commander Eisen-Blume. I don't even know where to start."

"As much as it pains my Lyran soul, Archon… You don't owe me anything for the Memory Core. It's already been bought and paid for." I utter and even Morgan Kell looks at me in confusion.

Ha! He thought I was doing this for the same reasons any old idiot would have, but it was me all along!

"And what payment is that?" Katrina asked calmly although I could read she was confused as well.

"The only thing someone that isn't a noble or a member of a great house ever wants, Archon. Peace. You made the attempt to end the wars. For that, and I want to be clear. Only because of that. I'm turning that Memory Core over to you. If you never made the peace offer, I wouldn't be here. I would be continuing my work of taking care of my kids. Leaving the great houses to their fates."

That bit of cutting dialogue was probably not the wisest but it needed to be said. I don't think Archons interacted with enough normal people. Maybe they needed to be reminded that humanity wasn't their toys sometimes.

"Quite a statement, Commander. But I must thank you regardless. Please sit." She was running her hands over the noteputer, still working through her shock. "We should discuss what reward you will receive regardless. It's rare enough I get to reward someone that truly deserves it." She offered. I hesitated, she wasn't listening to me. How annoying. I did take the seat, but I had a feeling this was going to get awkward.

Katrina continued to hold the Noteputer in her hands as she looked me over. "At the least, Commander, I will name you a Duchess, and grant you a world to hold in trust. As well as funds, and people to help you. I will ensure you and your family want for nothing. Not after this."

A pleasant offer. And if asked of me when I first woke up here, I would have accepted. But, Katrina… She wasn't listening. This is the problem with people in power. They don't really understand the word no. Sometimes you have to say it multiple times. Sometimes in different ways. And sometimes? Sometimes you just have to be direct.

"No."

Yeah, see that look on her face? That shocked, 'what the hell did I just hear' look? That means she wasn't told no enough.

"Commander?"

"I won't, can't accept any titles. No. Thank you but no."

Even Morgan was looking like he had no idea what the hell was going on. He interrupted Katrina before she could contextualize what I had just said. "Why would you refuse? It would give you everything you need to take care of your people. Or retire if you choose. Do you realize what you are saying, girl? The future you are throwing away?"

"I understand perfectly. The answer is no. I will not become a Duchess, a Viscount, a Baroness, or even a Knight, Archon. I am not here to swear my service to you. Although I am a Lyran, and I put my faith in your Commonwealth. That's not why I gave the Memory Core to you. I am here to put the Memory Core into the hands of the only leader in the Inner Sphere that sought peace."

"They why refuse?" A simple question but one that is filled with complications.

"I can't do what needs to be done to fix the Inner Sphere, if every member of the Combine thinks I am their enemy. Or the League. Or the Capellans. I have to be neutral. So I am not their enemy off hand."

My words confused the adults. To them it was just part of the world. You were a Lyran? You did what you could for the Commonwealth, why would you worry about what the Combine think?

"Yet you brought me this. If you are worried about what the great houses think, Giving this to me, puts you against them." She sounded gentle, explaining like she was trying to guide a child to the correct answer.

Too bad. I wasn't willing to be guided.

"Because they don't want peace. They only want to win, and they will do anything to get it. You alone put out a call for peace, you are the one I am putting my faith in."

My words had her blinking for a moment surprised. "When I sent out the message for peace I never expected even a single positive response you know?" She offered her hands silently exploring the noteputer she had yet to put down. "If I had known I would find some acceptance, and that this would drop into my lap because of it? I would have sent out my call years before."

"Well I'm only sixteen, Archon, so too many years ago it wouldn't have worked." I offered a joke breaking some of the tension in the room.

"Tell me, Commander. My offer. It would assist you greatly. Wealth, power, access to a great many connections. I don't think neutrality will work how you expect. You are a mercenary, this would help you greatly."

"The Iron Blooded Orphans… It's not exactly a mercenary company in truth." I offer slowly.

That caused both of the adults to blink. "What do you mean?"

"I mean. The goal with my kids isn't to create a mercenary company, I mean we are right now, but that's more like a facade. Something that I can say that tells people what we can do. But it's not what we are. My aim is to create something different. Archon the reason I said I won't take a title from you, or anyone... It's because I won't serve any Great house. I'm only going to serve the Inner Sphere, not the people that rule it. Those same people that over the last three hundred years lost everything that humanity had achieved because five families wanted it all for themselves. Your family is just as at fault for the destruction heaped upon humanity as House Kurita."

Like a bomb had gone off, it was utter silence. Katrina had no emotion on her face but Morgan was looking at me like I was some weird alien.

"I don't think anyone has ever said something quite so inflammatory to me before." Katrina finally offered out, "No one has ever offered me the knowledge of the Star League before either. So this is turning into an interesting morning for me." She stated softly.

"I'm sorry, I'm not a noble. I don't know how to say something incredibly rude while sounding pleasant about it. I only know how to speak plainly, Archon. I respect you. As long as you aim for peace. I will help you. In more ways than you probably expect, but I also have to look towards the future." I licked my lips. Dammit, Vicky! Stop saying rude things to the fucking Archon! Feudal lords don't usually take this sort of thing well…

But dammit I had to continue. "I want people to look at what I do in the next few decades as something to emulate. Something to aspire to. I want to create something that is a force for good in the Inner Sphere." I knew this was going to start getting complicated now. I wasn't just a nice mercenary girl, that gave a big prize to the Archon.

I was starting to become a potential threat. I could see it vaguely in her eyes, although not her face, she was too controlled for that.

"A force for good? You don't believe House Steiner, and the Commonwealth is such a force already?" she asked, probing.

"No. Frankly, Archon, I don't. Alessandro, Claudius, and House Steiner has its own dark history, same as any. Your family is a political organization. One whose entire goal is to stand atop the Inner Sphere. No matter what they must sacrifice or do to reach it."

We were staring at each other now. Steiner gray eyes burning into my blue ones. "You are right, Commander. You aren't very good at saying something rude while sounding pleasant. It's almost refreshing from my usual conversations." She offered, but while her voice sounded kind her eyes were sharp.

"In a hundred years. What will the Inner Sphere remember about you, Archon?" I asked. Changing the subject suddenly. Morgan and Katrina both seem interested in my question.

"I would hope that I am remembered as a peacemaker. As a leader that strengthened my home. That took care of my people."

"I believe you will. Because that is your goal. I have a goal too. In a hundred years I want people to remember that I wasn't willing to be bought. That I was offered the greatest treasures of the Inner Sphere by all the great houses to become their spear, and I said no. That I am a person that did what needed to be done."

The quiet echoed around the room before Katrina spoke. "Interesting. Commander Eisen-Blume, what would you say exactly is it that needs to be done? Something the Inner Spheres leaders already can not do?"

"I'm just an orphan. I know you are aware of that, but do you understand it? Do you know what it means when I say I have no biological family? But that my family is larger than anyone could imagine? Every orphan in the Commonwealth is my Brother or Sister. Every orphan across the Inner Sphere is my cousin. I don't need a title, or a planet, Archon, because that is my legacy. I don't need children to carry on my name. I have a trillion family members across the universe. All of them are why I need to be more. More than just another noble."

"That's quite a family. I wonder why you think you couldn't do more for them as a planetary Duchess? Would not having an entire world's wealth at your back not do more for them?" Katrina asked, poking holes in my argument. Well trying to. It's hard to make any argument about wealth when I have the Nanoforge.

"Possibly, but only for my Commonwealth brothers and sisters. My Cousins? They would see me as just another foreign noble. Another enemy because I won't have the freedom to choose. If I bend my knee to you, Archon. I will forever be your subject in the eyes of the Inner Sphere. Everyone outside the Commonwealth will only ever speak to me with that in mind. I have to be a neutral force because that's the only way I can reach across the entire Inner Sphere. How I can create the one thing that is needed to help everyone."

She was staring down at me imperiously. A soft almost glare in her eyes, but her voice was still soft when she started speaking. I guess the fact I was still a teenager was coming in handy. "Tell me, what is it you believe is needed to help everyone? If not funds and wealth to actually be able to offer them assistance?" Katrina poked into my idea trying to stop it, to point out a flaw, but she didn't have a complete picture.

"Trust. Archon." I admitted without hesitation. "They need someone that they can trust. Someone that will put the needs of the people before their own concerns. Call me naive. Call me a fool, I fully expect to be called quite a bit of both. Hell, call me insane. But nothing will get better without someone doing something outrageous." I could feel my fists clench, explaining this was important. I had to try and get it right. I took a deep breath, before continuing.

"So I am going to be the one that the people of the Inner Sphere can trust. I won't ever claim a planet. I will never own land, other than small bases. I will never govern a planet, or a sector, or the Inner Sphere. The only title I will go by is Commander. That way wherever I am in the Inner Sphere people will always be able to trust that I am there to help, that I don't have some ulterior motives."

Morgan snorted "Fool. That's impossible. You won't be able to do anything without reinforcements, without supplies, money. A title, and a planet help. I never could have kept the Kell Hounds going without the funds from being a duke. You won't even have that no matter how lucky you are even with the Helm cache, even if you snuck some mechs off the world It will run out, things will get damaged, you won't be able to sustain yourself for long." The older man looked at me, like… well like I was a child making a foolish mistake.

"Morgan. Commander Eisen-Blume's dreams are sweet. If I had a hundred of you, Commander, perhaps I would never need to worry about pirates again. But your dreams are going to be dangerous to you. Morgan is right. If you go down that path, you will find difficulties. People will abuse your trust, they will seek to destroy you simply to claim what you have. You will be everyone's enemy. Without allies you will forever be on your own when something goes wrong."

I couldn't help but chuckle. If she knew about my Nanoforge she would have found that funny too. "I accept." I tell her simply after chuckling. "If making an enemy of everyone is the price I pay for trying to do something about the state of the Inner Sphere? Then Archon I accept." I tell her, grinning sharply. Oh yes. If the Inner Sphere wanted to go to war with me? Let them. They would learn. They would all learn.

For a moment I thought Katrina Steiner the Archon and a strong mechwarrior herself, shivered, but that was impossible. My smiles were cute and fuzzy. It's not like I was named Tanya!

"You are an idiot." Morgan offered but he didn't seem angry or upset more disheartened. "Katrina, this is the exact sort of thing I wanted to get away from. Kids with no sense in their heads trying to get themselves killed." He sighed, sounding tired.

"I envy that you could, some days." She offered in reply before she seemed to remember she had the Memory Core in her hand. "Commander… You confuse me. I can't say I have ever met someone who turned down becoming a duchess before, but I certainly can't take offense over it. You gave me a gift that regardless of what you say I will never manage to repay." She sighed clutching the Noteputer before setting it down on the table. "I applaud your desire to improve the Inner Sphere. Just know that if nothing else. That offer will not end regardless how long you refuse."

"Thank you, Archon, but I am afraid I will never be able to accept. It would go against everything I believe in."

"I can't say I agree, but I can respect that your action comes from your heart. Tell me Commander if you don't wish to be a Duchess, and you want to help the Inner Sphere, how do you plan on going about it? Morgan is right, if you head off as you are now, you will be run down by the other great houses."

"Oh? That's simple." I tell her with a shrug. "I am going to create something new based on something old. The Inner Sphere Defense Force. ISDF. That's what the IBO really is. It will be something similar to the old SLDF. But we won't have any political backing whatsoever. Our only goal will be spreading knowledge, protection and hope to those in need, defending the Inner Sphere from within and out."

"Simple?" The sarcastic comment broke the silence as I nodded to Morgan.

"Yep. I'll recruit orphans from every corner of the Inner Sphere. Train them, equip them, teach them. We will be trained to spread assistance, we won't be conquerors. The goal is to put a copy of that Memory Core on every planet in the Inner Sphere. In a central location that is open to the public. Teachings left over from the Star League used to spread a light back across the Inner Sphere, my ISDF will be armed in case we are attacked, but the goal is to move without conflict. My kids are already learning from the core. Science, medicine, engineering. Everything that is needed to help restore a world." I felt so excited as the idea in my head that had been slowly forming was expressed to one of the five leaders of the Inner Sphere.

"That sounds like ComStar." Morgan offered suddenly. "Why not go to them. They would help you with your task."

"ComStar can't be trusted." I offer simply. No point in elaborating on that one, although the confused looks I was receiving again I realized I would have to. "I don't have any proof I can offer you, but ComStar are not what they portray themselves as. They aren't as neutral as they want everyone to believe they are. A warning Archon. Think of them as the sixth great house. If you do you won't be far off the mark from their actual intentions."

"What?" Morgan asked with a blink. "That makes no sense. ComStar isn't a great house. They run the HPGs that's it."

"Commander, What makes you think that ComStar isn't trustworthy?" Katrina dug straight to the heart of the matter.

"I can't give you any examples. Or proof. It's a warning nothing more."

Well that earned me some very powerful looks from the Archon of the Inner Sphere, "I will take your words under advisement." She says eventually, a nice political answer. "You wish to put a Memory Core on every planet. That… isn't exactly possible. I can't have this spread to the other great houses."

"No. That's not what I mean. For now it's yours, other than my own Copy at Red Base, that is the only other copy in the Inner Sphere. I will give you time, Archon. Learn, grow, restore that which was destroyed over the last three hundred years, but we both know, the moment you begin, the timer has already started. When that knowledge gets out? When you lose control of it? That is when I'll move. You have time. As long as you can keep it secure. I will hold off."

Plus putting it on her shoulders for how long it would be before I mass release the information made it less of a point of stress for me.

The woman was looking at me with a fierce look in her eyes. I wondered idly, if I was about to receive a bullet to the back of my head. "And what if you are the one who loses the security of your Memory Core? This Memory Core is… Incredibly important. If even half of what I already saw gets in the hands of the Coordinator?"

"Why would anyone suspect I still have a copy? If you really want to shake off any interest. Have a copy made that I can take back that only has lower educational courses. I do plan on continuing the education of my kids. They are orphans, the more of them I can get through college classes the better."

She continued to stare down at me. Probably going through plans to ensure the Memory Core doesn't get taken by an enemy. Eventually her eyes softened. "Very well. I will allow you to keep a copy. But I will need to ensure your security is high enough to secure it."

"Agreed. Our security is pretty good. But upgrades are always helpful."

She nodded "In regards to your… Plan. It is another sweet dream. I am not against the idea, but that is a dangerous path for the Commonwealth. I will ask that before you begin. You inform me. So I am both prepared, and able to… Offer suggestions."

"Absolutely. I figure I won't even start considering it until 3030, maybe even 3035. My kids still need time to grow strong enough to defend it."

"That won't be that easy, Commander. Once you put yourself out into the Inner Sphere, you can proclaim you are as neutral as you like. Not everyone will care." Morgan offered and it was obvious Katrina nodding in agreement thought the same.

I sighed, blowing out air through my lips. "I know. But I can't… Archon, when… When's the last time you went out among the people? Not as Archon Katrina Steiner, but a normal person? Seen the world… The Inner Sphere through their eyes?"

"Unfortunately. I don't know I ever have. At least not the way you are speaking."

"Right. You see… You see everything through the eyes of the Archon, or a scion of House Steiner. I see everything through the eyes of an orphan. Big things. Steiner, Kurita, Marik. They are so far from my world. They are barely important. The people…"

How do I explain this? How can I explain this to someone like Katrina Steiner? She is wholly divorced from a normal person's outlook. She worries about the entire Commonwealth.

"My concern is the people. The ones that I pass on the street, that struggle because their parents died in a pirate raid. The ones whose parents died fighting another successor state. One whose parents died from cancer. The one… Whose mother said it would just be one more Solaris match. Just one more."

I locked the Archons eyes down with my own. "That is the person I worry for. That I want to protect. Not because I think I have any duty towards them. Or a responsibility. No Noblesse oblige. Just… Because I am them."

Katrina Steiner nodded. "I don't know if your plan will work, Commander. I think it's going to be dangerous, and you might throw your entire life away on this."

"Millions of people throw their lives away every day. At least if I put mine on the line, I want it to mean something."

"Ugh, alright. I think I'm done with this. I can't handle any more insanity today." Morgan grumbled, rising up and grabbing something to drink out of a tray that was set on the table that I had ignored until now.

Katrina chuckled as she nodded. "Very well, since the good Duke is tired out, let's continue this another time, I still have… To speak with many people regarding your gift." The Memory Core was once more on her mind as she stood. Instantly a maid and butler came in to assist. "Please, Commander, enjoy your stay in the Triad for now, I am sure we will talk again soon, but perhaps a little time to think will do the best for all of us." She offered a butler leading me and Eris away as Morgan and Katrina obviously needed to talk.

I didn't mind. I had done what I needed to. I had started the promise. Put the idea into the head of the Archon. She hadn't denied me, although she might be thinking it. That meant when I started the plans for the ISDF it would be too late for her to go back on it.

Eris moved away from me as I walked down the hall following the maid. I don't know why, I was just smiling.

---

Lively Wake-up Call

Being toured around the Triad was an interesting experience. For one. Nobles were everywhere. We passed through quite a bit of long hallways where men and women wearing uniforms, or fashionable couture were idling around talking and chatting.

Eris had abandoned me early into the tour, so it was just me and my armor. No one stopped me. The maid guiding me around was obviously conducting a tour, but I got plenty of interesting looks. Not all of them friendly.

I definitely didn't fit the normal mold for people in the Triad. "I would have expected the triad to be more empty, like some giant palace with three million rooms and only like two ever in use."

The maid who hadn't given me a name, even after I offered my own, tittered fakely "The Triad is not just the Steiner palace, it is also used as the basis of our Government. There is a flood of nobility, and Councilors who guide the future of the Commonwealth every day."

"Still seems weird to me I guess. Sorta changes how I look at it."

She doesn't say anything to that. As we walk around I get to see some pretty unique sights. The Throne room. Although the Griffins weren't there. I guess they only entered when the Archon was actually inside? Kind of a shame.

Throne Room of the Triad

Still eventually I called an end to it. There was only so much I could take being stared at. I was taken to a massive bedroom. That was as comfortable as anyplace I had ever been. Unfortunately It was a little too big. A little too luxurious. It honestly just made me uncomfortable.

The baths were great though. I did enjoy those. Gonna have to take a scan or something. RedBase needs hotsprings… No wait. It's too hot. Shit. I grumble as I soak. Next time we set up a landhold it would have to be on a cooler world. Massive tubs were awesome.

Finally done I settled into the bed. There was plenty left of the day, but I had been traveling on a ship for the last few months. I was tired. I fell asleep slowly. My armor piled onto a chair I moved close to the bed, so I could suit up in the morning.

That morning I was woken up far too early, from a voice that was far too eager. "Good morning, Commander Eisen-Blume! The Archon has requested you to join her for breakfast!" The chipper voice had me blink as I startled awake reaching for a gun that was still on my dropship. Grumbling, I glared blearily, the girl shaped blob that I could see wandering around my room was glared at for a few moments before I rose rubbing my crusty eyes as I stretched.

A gasp startled me from my motion and I blinked at the blonde girl that was staring at me in shock. Until I realized she wasn't looking at me, but my Cooling suit.

Which of course I had worn to bed, that thing was sinfully comfy and the actual cooling device could easily be removed so it acted as a sort of body stocking. You know. If your body stocking had a price tag in the millions.

"Is that…" The girl definitely had a bit too much forwardness as her hands were already trailing up my arm, feeling the cooling suit. "It is! I've seen one before, this is a cooling suit!" she chirped looking over and noticing the pile of armor on the chair beside the bed as well "Oh yeah you were wearing armor… Is this! You made an armor set that fits over a cooling suit? That's amazing!" She gasped. The girl was way too excitable. She buzzed around my room like a hummingbird despite the fact it was too damn early for this.

"Don't touch that." I grumble. "The armor isn't a toy."

"Oh it's fine I'm not gonna mess with it, but how did you-"

"Good Morning, Commander, I am here to wake you up for breakfast with the-" The maid that entered my room startled as she took in that fact that I wasn't alone and the wide eyed look she gave the blonde girl standing in front of me clued even my sleep deprived mind of who I was looking at.

"I guess that makes you Melissa Steiner then?" I grumble. Earning an apologetic smile from the blonde.

"That would be me." She offered, standing up straight and giving me an imperious nod which I wanted to roll my eyes at. What a little braggart. Her interest returning to my armor, left me with only one recourse. As she reached for the plates to look them over.

Before anyone else could respond I snatched a pillow and chucked it.

The "Oof!" Melissa released as the eleven year old was flattened by the projectile and had me smiling even if the maid was now aiming a gun at me. I acknowledge it out of the corner of my eye with a shrug.

"I told her to stop playing with my armor. Only Iron Blooded Orphans get a set. It's become part of our culture." I offered to the blonde that was looking up at me in shock, before a fierce grin split her face. The pillow came sailing back and I snagged it out of the air. Before immediately chucking it back, I grabbed a second pillow and sent that one as well. The maid eventually lowered her gun.

But neither of us noticed. Too busy proclaiming dominion for the Commonwealth and for the Iron Blooded Orphans respectively.

---

A Revealing Breakfast

"You are late." Katrina Steiner offered to the blonde walking beside me as we entered the breakfast room. Which was absolutely massive. Even if the table was more normal length. The room it was in was nearly large enough for a mech yet somehow it wasn't echoey despite it's cavernous size.

After our little fight Melissa had hung around as I finished getting ready, even watching in interest as I put my armor back on. Although the maid with a gun had forced herself on me trying to help. I still felt attacked! Once I was dressed Melissa led me to the breakfast room. We chatted as we walked her telling me a few interesting things, while begging stories about the IBO and our exploits.

Honestly, it wasn't any different to dealing with any of the younger orphans back in the orphanage, although rarely were any of them as smart. Melissa Steiner was a very smart girl. She picked up on things I said near instantly. It was honestly a little intimidating, since she was sort of stealing my schtick.

I was supposed to be the oddly intelligent young blonde girl!

"Sorry, Momma. I wanted to help Vicky get up and we got distracted!" She offered, Katrina was looking over the fact that Melissa's long hair was a mess as was my shorter hair. Both of us looked like we just went through a wind tunnel.

"Sorry, Archon. There was a battle for supremacy in my room, you will be happy to note that the Commonwealth had a strong showing, and eventually a truce was declared." I offer knowing the look of betrayal on Melissa's face would last with me for a good while.

"Oh? A battle took place without the Archon's consent? Do I have to quash a rebellion?" Katrina offered aloud and I could see the love between mother and daughter as Melissa did her best to shush her mother to keep her from embarrassing her. Children were always embarrassed by their parents though.

Eventually, I was directed to a seat, Morgan Kell was there as well, the older man already tucking into a large breakfast as was the Archon. A maid soon took my request and I had my own food.

"So Vicky, why didn't you mention you are wearing an SLDF Cooling suit under your armor?" Melissa eventually broke the silence as she chirped out her question with an annoying smirk.

"Usually because secrets are meant to stay that way. I revoke any offer I may have made to join the Iron Blooded Orphans. They have to know how to keep a secret to join." I inform her promptly, making her snort.

"As if I would join your company. I'll just make my own. Or maybe I'll join the Kell Hounds." She said teasing.

"Like Hell."

"Not a chance." Both adults responded instantly and I was chuckling along with Melissa at their reaction.

But Morgan spoke up next. "What's this about an SLDF Cooling suit?" He asked me looking honestly confused.

Rolling my eyes I gave Morgan Kell a truly disappointed look. "You were on a DropShip with us for almost two months and not once did you notice that under our armor we are all wearing lostech? No wonder you never found a big Lostech cache. You don't have any instincts for it. Melissa noticed it within seconds of meeting me." I tell him earning a bright smile from the blonde.

"All of you?" Katrina asked digging into the heart of the matter obviously ignoring the humor of the situation. That's the Archon for you. Sometimes she can't play along with a good joke.

"Yeah. You brought up an issue yesterday, Archon, about how I was going to fund the ISDF. Well, I currently have twenty thousand SLDF Cooling suits in perfect condition sitting in storage of the Isaribi. How interested are you?" I offer with my truly best Lyran 'I am going to fleece you for so much goddamn Kroner' smile.

It took a moment as Katrina's gray eyes locked on me, searching before nodding. "Very."

"Well it's a good thing I offer discounts for friends, otherwise you may not be able to afford my price." I tell her smiling and she snorts at my joke, which considering I just got the Archon to snort means I definitely win.

Her eyes looked around the room we were in. The room was for breakfast, and a more private nook at that, but there was enough gold and gems involved. I bet you could buy a jumpship if you stripped it down.

"Indeed." She finally offered. Well she definitely got me there.

We discussed the deal over breakfast, and by the time I was done, I was sure I had in fact been the one fleeced. 'Most Lyran, Lyran indeed.' But I still had a very nice trump card I hadn't revealed yet, only when the deal was complete did I bring it up.

"So should I put you down for the second batch of suits as well, or should I start selling those on the more open market?" I asked, smiling innocently, as Katrina Steiner who was about to take a sip of her morning tea stilled. Looking at me over the rim before putting the cup down.

"Second batch?" she finally asked, she obviously knew I was waiting for the question.

"Why, Yes, Archon. The factory for creating the cooling suits I found on Helm was transferred to Zaniah of course, we have it up and running, how else could I afford to outfit every member of my company with a cooling suit? They are surprisingly cheap to produce, at least with the SLDF factory that we have." I waited a few moments for the Archon's blood pressure to lower. Taking in the looks of amusement from Melissa, and exasperation from Morgan out of the corner of my eye.

"I believe, Commander Eisen-Blume, that perhaps we should have a discussion about what it is other than the Memory core that you recovered from Helm?"

"Oh, not that much else of interest… Some mechs and things… The NightHawk suits were fun. I never really expected to find working Power Armor… Much less one designed for stealth and infiltration. I find the ECM functionality to be very effective for sneaking around. The Star League had some neat toys." I offer before pushing a bit of toast into my mouth letting that idea settle into their minds.

"Commander…" Katrina Steiner, Archon of the Commonwealth was looking less than amused, although Melissa was looking at me like I was the bravest person she had ever met. I doubt many people took an opportunity to tease the Archon of the Commonwealth.

"Sorry, Archon, I couldn't help it. The NightHawks have been tested out by one of my units, Delta Ops have found their job far easier now that they have armor, jump jets and ECM equipment for infantry."

"How many suits do you have?"

"An interesting question. There was enough stored at Helm that I could outfit most of an infantry Company. How many do you want?"

"All of them." She stated firmly.

"Well other than the ones currently in use, I see no issue with that, Archon." Sure maybe telling her, no you can't have the ones I'm using might get me in trouble, but I was betting that I had a bit of capital with the Archon at this point.

She nodded slowly. "You certainly have a spot of luck with lostech hunting, Commander."

"Oh it was my mother really. I'm just following in her footsteps. She was the hunter. I'm just the girl with the manpower to finally hit the caches."

"I see." Katrina Steiner offered an indecipherable look.

"Do you know of any other Lostech caches!?" Melissa chirped up beside me and I nodded, suddenly catching the interest of the adults around the table.

"Sure I know a bunch. On Epsilon Eridani there is a Colossus up in the.. Something mountains? Sounds Irish but I can't remember? It's an old SLDF base. Karbala should have some more NightHawks somewhere as well. There is a Castle Brian on Clinton somewhere. Kwangi? Kwanjong? What was the name of that planet again?" I asked aloud, losing my track.

"Kwangjong-ni?" Melissa interrupted seemingly the only other person in the room that had a voice.

"That's it! Thanks, There are a few mech factories set up under the water somewhere. It's an old RWR base from my understanding they hid it under the ocean which is why no one found it yet. There is the Argo Dropship somewhere in the Periphery near the Aurigan reach, it's in a system called Alloway but all I know is it's not on most maps, and it's full of pirates, but the Argo had some crazy dropship collar improvements, so it was pretty special… Well there is one more, but I have plans for that one. Sorry, Melissa."

The stony silence of the room was a balm to my soul. I could barely hide my grin as I stuffed a bit more food into my mouth watching the Archon of the Commonwealth Katrina 'I'm a Badass' Steiner look gobsmacked was totally worth it. Morgan Kell was just as shocked at the reveal of most of my Lostech knowledge. I mean. I know about New Dallas, but well… If I reveal that one, ComStar gets involved. Better to go a bit slower.

"Vicky! That's amazing. Are you going to go to most of the places to get more Lostech?" Melissa asked and I shrugged.

"Not really necessary, Helm had the Core and a lot of equipment, most of the rest are useful, but a bit more than my Company needs-."

"Victoria." My mouth clicked shut at my full name being uttered.

Oh that was a weird feeling.

No one called me my full first name after all. "Thank you for the information. I appreciate you being so free with your mothers knowledge." Katrina spoke softly, giving me a gentle look as her gray eyes locked with mine as she seemed to shoot compassion at me.

"U-hh. No problem?" I stuttered out, my face growing a bit red. Listen! I wasn't used to my first name, and it was weird! And she definitely noticed! Oh no!

"Melissa, once you finish why don't you show Victoria the practice range. I am sure she will enjoy getting a chance to put her name down on the scoreboard at the Triad." Katrina seemed to hint, and Melissa seemed bored but nodded despite the fact I was pretty sure Katrina just wanted the kids out of the room.

"It's pretty famous, a lot of Mechwarriors fight for a chance to get their name on the score for the course, did you bring your mech Vicky?"

"Oh, Yeah I brought a Nightstar, since my Locust got claimed back home."

"...Nightstar?" Morgan asked, sounding a little strangled as I blinked before rolling my eyes.

"We were on the same DropShip for almost two months, did you really not bother to look around? Yeah I brought one of the Nightstars from the Helm cache with, I figured it would be an acceptable upgrade from my Locust. I mean I could have went with the Royal Atlas, but my Sub-Commander has a thing with punching. So I gave it to him."

Katrina sighed, literally dropping her head into her hands for a moment rubbing at her forehead. "Victoria, do you have any other surprises for me today?"

I shivered. First name! First name! It was like a red alert going up my spine. "Uhhh. Maybe? I mean. Nothing I can… Well I mean… We did get a lot of brand new SLDF Advanced Neurohelms… So I have those we can sell some of as well… And there is the Mobile HPG?"

"Melissa, go take Victoria out. I believe I will need some time." Katrina Steiner eventually offered quietly, looking like she was about to start day drinking.

Melissa tugged me along, her eyes looking at me like I was some kind of demi-god.

---

Taking new Ride for a Spin

Lyran Commonwealth Space
3022

"Is it okay if I come?" Melissa said following me into the Isaribi both of us hurrying into the dropship to escape the cold. Sure her 'guards' were keeping a very close eye on us, but I wasn't intending on doing anything to her anyways. I blew some snowflakes off my face as I shrugged.

"Well, the jumpseat in the Nightstar should be more than big enough. But we will have to get you a cooling suit. I don't know how much the Nightstar heats up yet."

"Yes, please!" Melissa chirped and I shrugged, passing through a few rooms until we got to a store room. I found a suit small enough for Melissa and I called out to the Repair Unit that had come with to keep the Nightstar and Isaribi fixed up to ready the Nightstar. We mounted up, Melissa finding the Jumpseat perfectly large enough for her to use as I started up the fusion engine.

Nightstar Assault 'Mech

The Nightstar-9j was an absolute beast of a mech at 95 tons. Plus it's only 'standard' weapon was a single small laser, every other weapon it was equipped with was Lostech.

As I stomped out into the cold of Tharkad, I followed the instructions over the radio to reach the Tharkad mech course. Apparently it was a training ground for the 1st Royal Guards to keep themselves sharp while on duty.

But it was also a bit of a famous stop for Mechwarriors who get the honor to run through it, apparently the history of who ran the course has been saved since before the fall of StarLeague. So it goes back a long way.

It wasn't like I was unique for having a go, but I was probably one of the few that wasn't some sort of nobility. Of course I didn't expect to do amazingly well. But I did expect to show an acceptable run. After all, I did have some advantages that most mechwarriors didn't have. Lostech, and a SLDF Neurohelm. I felt my grin tug my lips as the green light of the course lit up, and I stepped forward.

Unfortunately, I was in VR mode so I wasn't going to be able to actually fire my dual Gauss Rifles, but the course was capable of emulating them still.

"Kick their butt!" Melissa shouted behind me as a VR mech turned a corner ahead of me. The triple shot of ER PPC and dual Gauss smashed into the VR Warhammer. The ER PPC was a second slower than the gauss on purpose, as I nudged the Nightstar into a sort of stutter step letting the ER PPC try and land just as close to the emulated shattered armor the Gauss had caused.

It was a trick I had picked up from Hanna in the sims. And it worked. The ER PPC smashed into the weakened armor and a Warhammer went from raising it's weapons to crumpling into oblivion as the system read it as dead.

"Whoa!" Melissa cried out as I continued on. I took hits. I wasn't Kerensky, after all. But my Nightstar's damage was simply too much for most enemies I came across. If I got the first shot off that was usually it for anything daring to stand before me. Only when the system sent multiple mechs at once did the damage start building up. I 'lost' my right arm to a lucky AC/20 shot from a Victor, before smashing it with a retaliatory Gauss round.

The heat was so level neither of us needed the cooling suit, but it was fun anyways. By the end. The last mech was smashed apart with the medium pulse lasers which were very cool in the VR system before I stepped over the mission finish line.

*CLEAR*

Despite keeping cool I was sweating a bit. I wiped my forehead as Melissa cheerered "That was cool! Your mech is pretty awesome, Vicky."

"Thanks. Well it's just the equipment. I'm still pretty green as a pilot. I need a lot more experience."

"I don't know about that. I've seen a lot of really good pilots practice here, you were definitely pretty good."

"Thanks, Melissa, but again I think it's just the Nightstar being a lostech machine. Speaking of. Want a go of it?"

"W-what? I can't, it's your mech!"

"Pfft. We don't have that policy in the Iron Blooded. Well you want to take it out for a spin? Shouldn't be hard. I bet you have a brain scan somewhere."

The blonde girl was blinking at me eyes wide before she slowly nodded. "Sure."

---

Feedback of a Heir-Apparent

So Melissa Steiner was actually a little famous for not being a huge mechwarrior. In the future, she even went on to become an infantry commander.

That doesn't mean she didn't have the best training in the commonwealth for being a mechwarrior.

"So she destroyed my time. I mean completely. Took less damage too." I grouse at Morgan who was snorting at me. Melissa sitting beside me looked supercharged as we went over our day's adventure.

"You did fine though, Vicky! You were more accurate than I was, but slower, that's all. If the hall had a longer range. I think you would have beaten me still." She mentioned, although the arrogant smile on the eleven year olds face had me snorting.

"Well a Nightstar isn't the mech for you. We need to get you an Atlas or something. Considering you tried to punch that Griffin."

She flushed a little. "It worked!"

"Yeah but only because it was a VR mech, that would have wrecked your Gauss Rifle. Those things are fragile."

"You both did well. Katrina was watching the second run quite avidly, Melissa." Morgan offered to the girl and her gray eyes widened before a pleased look ran across her face.

"Thank You, Uncle Morgan." Melissa responded

"Thanks." I added in as well.

"Ah, perfect." Katrina Steiners voice picked up as she entered the room. She took a moment to look over the Cooling Suit Melissa was still wearing with a quirked eyebrow, Melissa's neurohelmet settled on the table in front of her also getting a moment's attention, before she turned to me. "We do need to finish our conversation, Victoria." I shivered again what was with this woman using my full name!

"O-of course, Archon, we do have a lot to discuss."

"Melissa… You can come too if you like." Katrina offered before marching off the two of us following her like lost ducklings.

The room we stopped at could only be Katrina Steiners personal office. An older woman was already inside and although she carried some of the Steiner looks she didn't quite have Katrina's beauty.

That was my nicest way of saying she was pretty ugly. Her cheek bones were too strong and the rest of her face made her look like an angry pug.

Or it could just be the general angry look on her face.

"Nondi. Glad you could make it, Nondi, this is Victoria Eisen-Blume. A commander of a mercenary force the Iron Blooded Orphans. Victoria brought us… A priceless gift."

Nondi nodded slowly taking that in. "I suppose that was her on the course with the Nightstar? You need more practice." She offered not entirely unkindly, but definitely a little brusque.

"I'm aware. That was only the second time I've been in the cockpit of the Nightstar, and the first one was just boarding it onto the dropship." I offered with a shrug. That earned a nod at least. No idea whether it was a good one or not.

"Auntie Nondie! Did you see my run too?" Melissa cheerfully asked

"I did Melissa. Your accuracy needs work."

"I just don't really like piloting." Melissa offers with a shrug. Which was a bit weird. She seemed to have a blast in the Nightstar. Wonder what was up with that.

"Excellent, please come sit, Victoria, I want to discuss what we are going to do moving forward."

"Ah. Just Commander, or Vicky if you must, Archon." I made the attempt.

"Victoria is a fine name. Come sit." And she shot it down.

"Okay."

Feeling incredibly awkward I sat across from the Archon of the Commonwealth as she pulled out a stack of papers. "I have considered what you told me very carefully. I still think having you as a duchess protecting one of my worlds would be the best option, but since you continue to refuse, I decided this was the only path available to me."

She pushed one of the stack of papers on her desk towards me, and since she wasn't adding anything more I looked them over.

"I'm afraid I have no idea what any of this means." I tell her waving the paper in the air. "I don't speak whatever… language this is in Archon." I offer. The papers were in English, sure. But none of the words make sense.

Legalese was its own language after all.

"If you wish to act as the Commander of any force in the Inner Sphere, you may wish to learn Victoria."

I shuddered before nodding slowly, a slight smirk crossed the Archon's face before she nodded. "On the paperwork is my own name confirming the landhold for the Iron Blooded Orphans on Zaniah III. You did me a service and I won't have a misunderstanding damage our relationship. The land you currently reside on is yours with my word attached."

"Oh. Thank you, Archon, that is incredibly kind of you. It's reassuring that our home won't be taken from us… About that I probably should mention…"

Katrina blinked and I got the feeling that if it was any other woman she might have let out a frustrated sound. "You should mention what, Victoria?"

Oh that sounded even worse like that! Wait, was she trying to Mom me!? Shaking that thought I continued, "Red Base was built on top of a Star League Castle Brian… I've been excavating it with my kids and getting it started back up."

"What?" Nondi called out sputtering. "You can't be serious!"

"Really!?" Melissa chirped out looking on in delight as what I just said seemed to cause her mother physical pain.

"Of course I am, why would I lie? There wasn't anything down there, it was stripped bare, and not in great condition. It's how we've managed so well, we found a secret entrance and basically moved in."

"Victoria… When I asked earlier if you had any more surprises. I had hoped you had given me the last one." Katrina finally said in a detached tone.

"Not… Not even close?" I finally admitted which seemed to finally break her, as the Archon of the Commonwealth, one of the five most powerful people in all of the universe started laughing uproariously. Just full belly laugh levels of amusement. Nondi seemed shocked and horrified, while Melissa who had been watching this all play out with a grin as if she was the cat that caught the canary had a smile stretching across her face only slightly hidden by her hand trying to hide it.

"Victoria. I can't, I can't deal with you! I simply don't know how to react when every five minutes you drop such revelations on me."

"Sister…" Nondi seemed quite affronted by Katrina's action but the woman waved her sister away.

"No Nondi, you haven't heard half of it, I'm honestly not even surprised anymore. Please, Victoria. Is there anything else I need to know?"

My lips pressed together tight I couldn't help but shrug. "I think that's about it… for now?" Oh man I was bad at lying. Shit, I forgot. Who thought it was a good idea to put me in the same room as the fucking Archon?

Oh right past-Vicky. Dumb bitch.

"I'll simply take your word for it, Victoria."

The laughter of the Archon seemed to still be echoing around the room as everyone was amped up, irritated like Nondi, or nearly giggling, like Melissa. Katrina seemed to have enough. "I also offer you a pass on paying your tithe for the lostech finds. The Memory Core is… More valuable than any hardware, and you brought it to me."

"Thank you, Archon. That's very generous."

She nodded, before a smile twitched across her lips. "Oh and Victoria? For all that you have done, please, call me Aunt Katrina."

Oh fuck. I think… Was she was trying to Mom me! Red alert red alert! What the fuck do I do now?!

---

The enigma of Victoria Eisen-Blume

Triad
Tharkad, Lyran Commonwealth
3022

A different perspective - Melissa Steiner

Watching the very odd girl rush out of the room as if she was being chased, Melissa shook her head. She was practically running from her mother! Sure she had seen others do so before but never when mother was being nice!

The conversation after Vicky dropped another bombshell on her mother hadn't lasted long. She could see the way her mother was trying to hide the developing headache, and aunt Nondi obviously wanted to yell.

Still Melissa spoke up before her aunt could manage it,

"So should I worry about getting an older sister?" Melissa asked teasingly towards her mother who was clutching her head now that there wasn't a guest to entertain.

"Don't joke, Melissa." Her mother moaned.

"Oh I'm not. Considering how much you wanted to test Vicky today, I'm surprised you aren't considering it closer. She did pass all of the tests you gave her." Melissa teased her aunt looking in confusion before starting to understand.

"You've been testing the girl all day. That's why you allowed her around, Melissa. You've never allowed someone so dangerous around her before."

"Yes, Nondi, I decided to see what sort of person Victoria Eisen-Blume would be and honestly I wish I hadn't. That girl gives me the worst headaches." Katrina nearly whined before shaking herself and coming back together.

"We didn't get a chance to talk about your experience, Melissa. Tell me everything." Katrina told her young daughter.

"Yes, Mother. Well she isn't much of a morning person, but she didn't react oddly when I woke her up. Once she realized what was going on she relaxed and accepted it. She wasn't rude to me when she thought I was a maid, nor was she rude to anyone I saw." Melissa told her mother.

"Well, she isn't a member of the nobility, so that isn't much of a shock." Aunt Nondi offered.

"Well she wasn't raised as a noble either." Melissa offered with a smile catching her aunt's attention.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. She was uncomfortable with the idea of a maid, and refused any help getting dressed. It was funny to see Marie mess with her by helping anyway. She is surprisingly prudish." Melissa explained

"Not something you should even know about daughter of mine." Katrina pointed out, earning her an innocent shrug.

"Okay, what about the pillow fight? Marie informed me she almost shot our guest."

"I was seeing how she would react to someone annoying her. Especially once she knew who I was. I kept messing with her armor after she told me not to. She threw a pillow at me after the second time. No hesitation." Melissa calmly explained.

"Really?" Her mother asked honestly, seeming amused by the fact.

"Not at all, even when Marie pulled her gun Vicky ignored it and threw a second pillow when I threw one back. Then we got into it. I never got to have a pillow fight with someone before. Misha told me about her having them sometimes with her siblings, but she never dared."

"Is that a positive or a negative?" Nondi asked, poking her sister that had been lost in thought.

"Frankly it's so odd, I'm not sure… Much like many other things Victoria does."

"Yeah she is weird. But nice. She never treated me as someone important, just another kid. She even let me drive her Nightstar even if I didn't really want to."

"Yes, I saw; you did well."

"It was mostly the mech. It was definitely the… Most impressive mech I've ever been inside." Melissa admitted causing her mother to snort in annoyance. She had provided her daughter with access to some of the best mechs in the Inner Sphere, but not much could compare to a lostech boat like a Nightstar.

"One thing was interesting. The Nightstar was brand new."

"That's not interesting. It was in a cache for almost three hundred years." Nondi offered with a shrug but Melissa smirked, she knew something they didn't!

"Nope! Not what I meant, that mech had never been used before." Melissa tells her aunt, with a cheeky grin. "I don't think that Nightstar ever saw the war. It was factory fresh. No signs of repairs, no old stains, everything was brand new. It even smelled like a new mech."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep! No doubt. That mech other than when she put it on the dropship? Doubt anyone has ever been inside it before."

"While interesting, I don't think that really changes anything does it? So she found a fresh off the factory floor Nightstar." Aunt Nondie chimed in and my mother shrugged.

"By itself it's meaningless, but it's another interesting fact that Victoria has given us." Katrina stated

Melissa couldn't help, but break into giggles suddenly and her mother glared. "Oh, Mother, every time! Every time you used her full name it was like someone stuck a snowball down her back!" Melissa had found it hilarious the surprisingly deep mercenary Commander despite being a child was unflappable by things that would have caused many a noble to blubber about forgiveness, but use her full name?

Her Mother had a smirk on her face as she waited for Melissa's amusement to fade. "Yes, I did notice."

"Oh I know you did! You started using it even when she asked you to stop! I thought she was going to cry when you brushed over her request!" Melissa pointed out.

"Hmph! She deserves it, do you have any idea how many headaches I had to deal with once she started dropping lostech, after lostech in my lap?" Katrina asked, rubbing her tired eyes.

"I still have the entirety of the LIC working overtime to make sure not a word of this leaks out… Although we will have to release some things. The Triad testing ground scores are kept public knowledge after all."

"Yes, the Nightstar will get some interest. Especially with her score." Melissa said, suddenly serious. "Her time wasn't great. But her accuracy score? She hit multiple, triple core shots, Mother."

"Yes, I noticed." Katrina was quiet for a moment. "I don't know if it's the 'mech, the Neurohelmet, or skill, but it was definitely concerning."

"A mix of all three I suspect." Nondi offered. "The mech is brand new, but it wasn't made to our standards. It was made to the SLDF standards, and the best of the best at that. Nightstars were given to the commanders. I expect it's standard components being brand new as Melissa pointed out combined with the synergy of an SLDF neurohelmets leads to a dangerous combination."

"I can confirm that the neurohelmet helped. I've never used one so simply before. It was perfect. Every thought, every action, the mech just moved without any lag, or hesitation. I actually had fun for once." Melissa said a little embarrassed. She didn't really like mechs. Yet her eyes kept glancing towards the Neurohelmet that was still resting on the table.. Sure riding around in something fast could be fun, but it was just so boring most of the time. It always felt like moving through molasses when she was in control. But not this time. Even in an assault mech it… danced.

Her mother perked up at Melissa's words. "Really?"

Blushing a little Melissa shrugged. "It just felt better. Usually it's not fun. I'm always struggling but the Nightstar moved like it should." Her mothers eyes widened. As if something clicked in her head.

"Nondi. Go grab one of the techs, and get that helm connected to my Warhammer. I want to test something. Melissa, let's see if it feels better in other mechs too."

"Okay?"

As her aunt left the room Melissa's mother guided her towards the mech bays, only when they were settling into the royal blue Warhammer that her mother often piloted did her mother speak up again.

"What do you think of Victoria? Really." Her mother asked and Melissa blinked, that was a weird question for her mother to ask, the woman actually looked a little embarrassed.

"I think she's weird. I don't mean bad, but she acts differently to anyone else. Like… Like she sees the world differently. Not better, just different. She never treated me as anything but a kid. I mean I've been around people who sucked up to me before, she never did that. Even the Nightstar, when she let me pilot… She wasn't doing it to curry favor, it was just instinct. An older sister offering a ride to her sibling. That's what it felt like. Plus, I can't help but be in awe at what she has done. Just the… Well she brought us…" Melissa whispered the last part. Already warned to keep the Memory Core secret.

"Yes, I think the same." Her mother admitted sighing softly. "I've told you about my adventures as a teenager. Exploring old bases, and things. I always dreamed of finding something half as important. Sure I found a few interesting bits, but nothing…"

"You like her." Melissa teases after a moment catching her mother off guard. "You know I was only half joking when I asked you if you were planning on getting me a big sister. But now I wonder if I should have been more serious?"

"No, I only have the one daughter." Her mother scoffs, poking Melissa causing her to twitch from the tickling fingers, but something…

"But you don't have to only have one."

Well that silenced her mother and Melissa was actually a little shocked to realize as her aunt ran up, a tech behind her carrying his tools. Her mother hadn't denied that.

"Mother?"

"No. Melissa, I have no intention of adopting Victoria… I just feel. She is a Lyran, a Lyran orphan. She is taking on the weight of the world on her shoulders. I feel like I failed as the Archon. Children are supposed to let the adults lead. Not… Set out to find all the lost secrets of the Star League or single handedly try to restore knowledge to the Inner Sphere."

Melissa understood what her mother was saying but at the same time. "I'm going to be taking on the weight of the world too." She pointed out a tensing of her mother's jawline showed that Melissa might be touching a sensitive spot.

"We haven't… decided that yet."

"It's what needs to happen. I think I understand Vicky better now that you pointed that out. Sometimes you adults get yourself so twisted up in what you think can happen. You forget that we can make anything happen." Melissa nodded her head. Vicky might be a little crazy, but she had it right. Sometimes you just had to push forward, for what you wanted.

Melissa smiled. She knew what she wanted, and if Vicky was brave enough to seize her future, so would Melissa.

---

Last minute Confession

About a week after we had landed. I couldn't help but feel the experience at the Triad had been… Interesting. Seeing how the noblest of nobles live, but I wanted to get moving again. Sure Melissa was fun to hang out with and I definitely got the feeling she didn't have a lot of friends around her age. I did get to meet Misha Auburn, who was Melissa's best friend.

Nice girl. Very bookish.

And The Triad was a very pleasant place to spend some time.

But it was getting time to go. The whole week, I had meetings with the Archon, which I realized was probably a little strange. Not that I really knew, but the woman was taking time to see me.

I don't know what the Archon-err 'Aunt Katrina' was thinking but she was definitely grilling me on future plans, Lostech information, military tactics, education, and even at one point I had an interesting discussion with her about her own lostech hunting.

When she told me the story of landing on an irradiated planet I reminded her firmly that cancer was a serious thing, and she should make sure her doctors are checking her for it every quarter year or more, because that was serious.

She did blow me off a little but I had reminded her that better cancer treatments might be in the Memory Core. Which had grabbed her attention, her own husband had died from cancer as well. And so would she.

On the day I decided to leave, well that got us talking about proliferation.

"So you want to hand the Memory Core to every planet in the Inner Sphere? That will make any planet you do so a target. At least until you get one on every planet. That's a long arduous task."

"I know. That's why I'm not just creating an engineering corps. The ISDF will not just spread knowledge. But we will stand as guardians against anyone attempting to steal, or damage it."

"You say that as if you have an army on hand. You aren't that big of a company, Victoria."

"There is no end to orphans Arch-Aunt Katrina." I told her. "My plan is to start massively increasing my recruitment. Thanks to your request for more Cooling Suits, and SLDF NeuroHelmets, I will have more than enough income to continue building forces. That is if my next stop doesn't pan out."

She started glaring at me before I finished. "Victoria, Do you have another lostech cache that you are planning on reaching?"

Feeling a cold sweat down my back I nodded slowly. "Yes?"

She let out an utterly aggrieved breath. "Does this cache happen to be one you already informed me about?"

"No. It's the one I told you I was going for myself. Remember?"

She blinked before huffing. "I do now. Yes. You did say that. What exactly are you searching for that you feel you don't already have?"

"Dropships. Well a dropship. A Colossus."

"I believe you already told me about the Colossus on Epsilon Eridani."

"Another one… Sorry, Ar-Aunt Katrina. I need this one for my company. It will let us move a disproportionate amount of metal in the future."

She shook her head, waved it off. "Very well. I will require our men to look over a Colossus if you find one. We have so few left, that a working one may answer some questions about getting the ships we do still have running."

"Oh. That I am more than happy to help with."

"You are planning on leaving." She suddenly changed the subject. Causing me to jerk a bit. I had been hoping she wouldn't find out about my plans just yet. I wanted to get out of here before Archon Privilege kicked in and I ended up working some random job or something.

"Yes, Ar-Aunt Katrina." For some reason she always smirked when I called her that! What was her plan? Was this some sort of trap? My paranoia around Katrina Steiner was a little too strong I felt, but how else could I feel? I couldn't tell what she was planning!

"I am sorry you are leaving so soon, but I do understand you want to get back to your people. I will expect you to report in, as a non-aligned foreign company in my territory. I expect a message, let's say at least once a month? Melissa will be sad if you don't reach out at least that much."

"Uhhh. Yes?"

"Good, you are learning."

Scary!

"Since you are leaving, I want to send a Liaison with you. Someone that can get you in contact with LCAF and the LIC in case of any issues."

"Oh. Well I already have Eris. So I don't think I need another agent?"

"Eris? You mean agent Stingler. I wasn't aware you were planning on taking her with you. You do realize she is one of my Lohengrin agents. She did betray you in a way forcing you to come here." Katrina offered. Telling me that Eris had already been debriefed.

"I was already planning on giving you the Memory Core, all she did is make it more of an immediate problem I had to solve. Besides Why wouldn't I take her with me? She is an Iron Blooded Orphan. She is wearing our armor. I mean… I didn't realize she was quitting." I honestly hadn't considered that Eris wouldn't be coming back. Sure I hadn't seen her in a few days, but I just assumed she would be coming with.

"Never mind then. I don't believe she is quitting. If you have no issues. I will assign her to be your permanent liaison with LIC." Katrina told her.

"Good. That means I won't have to worry about her off on her own. Kids are kinda crazy, you know?"

"...Yes."

---

Reflection of a unusual Mercenary Girl

Triad
Tharkad, Lyran Commonwealth
3022

A different perspective - Katrina Steiner

Watching the fusion plume of Victoria's dropship disappear into the Tharkad sky Katrina finally felt as if perhaps some normalcy will return to her home.

Union Class DropShip taking off

"I'm surprised you let her leave. What are you really going to do?" Morgan asked as he rested on a couch. They were having a meal together, just the two of them. Although it wasn't the first time they had made time now that Morgan was back, it was the first time after all of the Commander's bombshells.

Who would have thought a Memory Core would only be the start of all the shocks her heart would have to bear?

"I don't know what you mean."

"You let that girl run off with enough Lostech that she could easily cause you a lot of trouble. You didn't demand your tithe of the lostech found. You didn't even give her any orders. Or try to force her into the nobility. That's not like you."

"Perhaps I am simply growing soft in my old age? Besides, The Memory Core by itself is enough to cover any tithe I could demand."

"You aren't old, and you will never be soft. And she made the first mistake in business she told you the Core was already paid for. You could have demanded more. It was your right."

Katrina nodded slowly. "Perhaps I could see that no matter what wonders that girl has found so far, she doesn't have the experience to keep it running forever. Eventually she will be put in a situation she can't handle. She cares for her men once she is on the back foot... Well, 'Aunt Katrina' was always nice to her. She will come to me when everything goes wrong."

"Ah, letting the girl stick her hand in a flame to learn what being burned is like. Two problems, Kat. One, when she crashes and burns I expect it to be an inferno."

"Yes. That is a possibility."

"Okay and two, what if she succeeds?"

Katrina turned a bit shocked. "You can't honestly think that? The girl is too young. Too naive."

He shrugged, taking a sip of tea. "She reminds me of you. When we ran off into the periphery. She may be young… But she already decided what she was going to do. She turned you down quick didn't she? Didn't even consider your offer."

"I don't think any of my forefathers ever had someone turn down a title of Duchess before."

"No, I wouldn't expect they have. She seemed to get a laugh out of your expression."

"Don't remind me. She shocked me… If she does succeed. Which I don't believe she will, because her idea is ludicrous. She wants to create a neutral army in the middle of the Inner Sphere. Spread knowledge freely. Some may accept the chance, but others… The Combine alone will welcome her in, only to stab her in the back."

"That is true, but she isn't stupid. Naive yes, but I wouldn't say stupid... She may succeed. She has the hardware."

"She has some hardware, but even so she doesn't have the men. I spoke with Agent Stingler. The kids she recruited are training hard and have a lot of equipment, but that isn't always enough."

"You are avoiding the question. What happens if she succeeds?"

Katrina sighed, retaking her seat. "Then she will remember that the Commonwealth supported her. That Melissa is her friend, and that 'Aunt Katrina' was willing to give her a lot of latitude that others would not have."

"Ah. I see win or lose, the Archon wins?"

"That's how all the best deals work, Morgan. If she fails I will scoop up the remains and get a new loyal, and oddly thinking Duchess for a world. If she succeeds, if somehow her crazy dream gets anywhere, even if only to the smallest extent. The Commonwealth supported her, didn't it?"

"Besides, Melissa likes her. It's always good to have another mercenary company with an attachment to Melissa. Just in case."

---

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