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Chapter 26 - This is the Way the World Ends - Wolf Skinners (3024)[]
Wolf Skinner bivouac around WSDS Mondez's impact site
Astrokaszy
17th August, 3024
0547 Local Time
The pre-dawn darkness was alive with the Wolf Skinners preparing for the big day. The Jaegermech and Rifleman were stamping off toward the perimeter to relieve Lieutenant Stevenson and Staff Sergeant Bianchi.
Neither of their 'mechs had hands either, so they'd be able to get some rest while the remainder of the unit pitched in with getting the Landing Craft secured in its new home.
The wreck of the Ex-FWLDS Condottieri
Captain Renzi was up to see off his recon team. "All right, Ginevra, see what you can see, but DON'T be seen. I'd like to know if there's any more wreckage to pick over where ever our new neighbors acquired their landing craft, but I don't want them to know we know. I like having friendly neighbors, but if there's any chance of getting parts that will help get us off this rock, I HAVE to know."
"Got it, Capo. We'll take it nice and slow, and back track their trail. It wasn't that windy last night, so I'm sure we'll be able to follow it from a ridge line or two away," Sergeant Mancini replied. "We'll go as far as we can, and if we see them, we'll back out quick and quiet. Lombardi did just fine at it yesterday."
"All right. Good hunting, team!" Renzi said, returning their salutes as they piled into the Swiftwind.
Outlying Landing Field Skinner
The Bridge
"Morning, Laura! Slow mid-watch, I hope?" Lieutenant Summers asked as she entered the Bridge.
"Yes, Ma'am. I'm still uneasy about the Major ordering the door closed, but we'll see if it'll open again." Warrant Officer Bowman replied grumpily.
"I'm sure it'll be fine, and I think the Major was right about needing all the 'mechs at the crash site until the Landing Craft is safely buried."
The Warrant nodded, but the frown didn't leave her face while she turned over the status of the various sub-systems.
Turnover complete, Summers said, "Get some rest, Laura. I'm sure some decent sleep will help."
"Aye aye, Ma'am. I'll try," Laura said, stumping through the hatch.
Alone on the Bridge, Lieutenant Summers zoomed in on the horizon with the eastern cameras. What good were all these Star League optics if you couldn't enjoy the sunrise?
Wolf Skinner bivouac around WSDS Mondez's impact site
1236 Local Time
The Landing Craft was securely on its jackstands again. The unit was enjoying a lunch break, or at least as much as they could enjoy it at high noon on Astrokaszy. The plans for the afternoon involved beginning to fill in the ramp, erecting the frame for the roof, and connecting the ship to the water system, such as it was. It was expected to take at least a week to finish the roof, but air-conditioned sleeping arrangements would be possible tonight if everything went according to plan...
A ridgeline overlooking a certain salt pan
<<"Sarge! Sarge! You gotta see this!">> Blaney insisted over the tactical frequency.
Sighing, Sergeant Mancini keyed her mic and said, "Coming Blaney... Just calm down, all right?"
<<"But Sarge, really...">>
"Shut it, Blaney... I'm right behind you."
Crawling up the military crest, Mancini was not prepared for the sight she was about to behold. Large pyramid shape structure jetting from flat surroundings.
"Holy crap, Blaney! All right, you were right. That's just amazing. Now, where did they pull that wreck from?"
"The tire tracks end at the edge of the salt. It could really be anywhere. I'm doing a full sweep, but I don't see any sign of them on the pan itself."
Outlying Landing Field Skinner
The Bridge
Alone on the Bridge, Lieutenant Summers was occupying herself with paperwork and system statuses when a low tone sounded. Looking up, she cast about for the source of the sound. The security panel sounded again, and she saw a flashing light. Pressing the button under the light caused the video screen to the west to zoom in on a glint of sunlight. Zooming in further, she could see two helmets at a ridgeline three kilometers away. Slapping the General Alarm, she ensured the system was recording, and began scanning the rest of the ridge for any other sign of observation.
Within minutes, the rest of the crew was on the Bridge, manning up the various consoles.
Warrant Officer Bowman came up next to Summers and said, "OK, I'm officially glad the boss had us close the door now."
Nail biting minutes passed by, with the pair of helmets apparently sweeping the length of the salt pan with whatever optics they had. Fortunately, they never dwelled on the mountain for long. It didn't seem likely that the Star League's camouflaged sensors were spotted.
A ridgeline overlooking a certain salt pan
1311 Local Time
"All right, Blaney, you got enough for analysis?"
"Yeah, Sarge. But it's still amazing!"
"Stow it, and let's get back to the ship. It's pretty clear they pulled that wreck off the salt somewhere, and the weather isn't sharing. Maybe the Condottieri's computers can pull something, but I won't bet on it."
"So wrestling a broken downed Landing Craft, and turning it into our new shelter/camp is a new one for me" said Smoke, how about for you Lt. Ranjeet?
Now that this is done, I'm going to do a slow scan of the area looking for any claim jumpers that the 2 long gunners might have missed sneaking in, Smoke thought. Then eat my Lunch.
The unit's personnel were a buzz with the possibility that they might have air conditioning by tonight, and if not, then on the morrow. Ranjeet, however, seemed to be oblivious to it all. Something wasn't right, he kept telling himself. So far, the business with the landing craft had gone practically flawlessly: no issues getting it back to camp nor any signs of unwanted observers. Maybe it's the lack of a good night's rest that's causing it. Here within the next day or so, that should change.
"How about for you, Lt. Ranjeet?" Smoke's mention of his name caught his attention.
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Centurion Medium 'Mech
"Uh, yeah." Shaking his head back into focus, "I'm sorry, I seem I wasn't paying attention. What were you saying?"
"I was just asking when the last time you wrestled a Landing Craft, Lt" said Smoke. "Ya got something that caught your eye?"
Think the Lt as concerned as I am about claim jumpers. Maybe he got one in his sights now. Smoke thinks.
"Sorry, yeah, landing craft. Back during the war. But that is a very boring story. That was before I got Yama," Ranjeet gestures towards his Centurion. "Now, get me drunk enough, I might tell you that story. Emphasis on the might."
Smoke laughs "Sure Lt.."
- Wiki Note: Smoke's dialog was written by Doc Agren. Ranjeet's dialog sections is written by SANSd20