.png){kind=link}
<<Next Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
Chapter 29 - This is the Way the World Ends - Wolf Skinners (3024)[]
Wolf Skinner bivouac around WSDS Mondez's impact site
Astrokaszy
18th August, 3024
1230-1330 Local Time
The first shift had managed to get the frames and salvaged hull plating up in record time, mostly due to the metal having been bent and pre-fit as much as possible while the digging had been going on the previous week. That left the majority of the earth moving to the second shift, and however many further shifts it would take. The lack of earth moving equipment reminded Lieutenant Haitao of employment projects he had seen growing up in the Confederation. Even without commissars to motivate them, the Wolf Skinners seemed to have their backs into the work.
A ridgeline overlooking a certain salt pan
1230 Local Time
Captain Pappas had decided it was more important to see where the snoops had come from than went to. With the 'mechs to help, it had been fairly easy to determine the route was parallel to the (by now) well-worn path between the crash site and the OLF. By lunchtime, they'd installed two sensors and found the other observation post that just happened to overlook where the convoy had broken for lunch two days ago. The track that that led to the OP thankfully trended southeast. Warrant Cantrell heaved a sigh of relief with that revelation.
"Sir, looks like it was likely the neighbors both times." the Warrant reported.
"That's good news, if true. Thanks, Max," the Captain replied. With site exploitation complete, Pappas gave the order to mount back up and head back to the OLF before heading "home".
Wolf Skinner bivouac around WSDS Mondez's impact site
18th August, 3024
2000 Local Time
Lieutenant Stevenson was impressed at the progress as the bivouac came into view. A start had been made on backfilling the ramp, and a thin layer of dirt had been spread over the roof. Bianchi was more interested in her parking space now that they were back inside a guarded perimeter. The APC pulled up near the Major's "office", and Pappas, Novak, and Cantrell piled out to report while the troops headed to chow.
The Major was only somewhat relieved to hear the snoops were likely the neighbors. Shaking his head, he said, "I concur with Erica's recommendation to continue with doubled watches at the OLF, and I'm glad those old Star League field maintenance vehicles worked. Once we're set here, I want another squad detailed to the mountain to keep shifts reasonable. That will also help with Harry's idea of relocating the Marauder to the Landing Craft's old hangar until we can get it properly repaired. SOP from here on is the door stays open the minimum amount of time necessary to move things in and out, but that includes erasing the tracks from the edge of the lakebed."
Over dinner
Sam Horn listened to his MechWarrior while choking down yet another Star League omelet. "Well, I think we could pull the missile launcher for a laser or two, but the targeting system is beyond me. Even if we had the parts, the Marauder would have priority. As far as the Field Inhibitor, I don't know if we'll be able to fix it if it goes wrong on you. Either way, it's going to be a bit until we have enough time to try anything."
"So Sam, yes we can when we have time pull that SRM and Ammo bomb for more short range energy weapon. What I'm hearing that my "design" work is good", he says looking at the scrap of paper Smoke mod out his idea on and smiling.
"So tweaking the sensors are currently above what you are comfortable with even if we had the parts?"
Turning to Lt Ranjeet, "So what do you think about the Sensors Idea any thoughts on how we can do it and my idea to disengage the PPC Field Inhibitor for knife fighting?"
Over Dinner (continued)
18 August, 3024
'Yes, sir... I'm honestly not sure how you get the extra performance out of it. The manuals don't explain it at all," Sam Horn replied. "And I'll need some engineering diagrams from the Lieutenant before swapping those lasers in."
"Give me a few minutes, Sam, and I will pull up those schematics and annotate how to get the lasers to work correctly." RanJeet turns to Smoke, "You can keep asking, but the answer is 'No'. I know you are willing to pull the trigger on your own death, but I will not '****** the gun'." He lets out a heavy sigh and raises his hand to forestall Smoke's incoming argument. "What I will do, is try to find a way to do give you your 'knife fight' without the danger.
"As for the sensors, back in university, we had a professor who claimed to have to be one of the first researchers at the New Avalon Institute of Science, College of Engineering. Most didn't believe him, but some of the things he said... Well, let's just say they were just the right about of "out there" for me to take him seriously. For that, he took me under his wing. His specialty? LostTech nanosensors. So, is it doable? Of that I have no doubt. Can we do it? Well, that depends on what we find out here."
"Well if I can knife fight without risking blowing up that works," says Smoke, "but I've seen battleroms where people were able to fire safely a PPC at point black range."
"So nanasensors, so what do we need to find to get them to work? Any idea how much it will add to Kat in mass?" Now Smoke got to figure out how to find stuff that may or may not exist.
Hours Later
"So Lt, I know we have a salvaged Flamer, what if we slip that into the Belly of Kat and give her some close in protection and utility weapon system," Smoke ask?
"You know so that the 1 medium laser is in the center and 1 into the left side as well, see this drawing right here.
drawing is kinda of a bad drawing of a Panther with the flamer and a Medium Laser kinda drawn in Center Torso, and then a Medium in Left Torso
"Yeah, the medium lasahs shouldn't be an issue." Ranjeet closes his eyes and takes a long, deep breath and slowly exhales. When he opens them back up, an anger and pain Smoke has never seen before replaces what was once there.
"I will only do the Flamah if, and only if, Major ordahs it. Until then, I do not want to hear annie more about installing Flamahs. Do I make mahself clear, Sergeant?" Before Smoke can reply, Ranjeet turns and leaves the room.
Well Sam what do you think" ask Smoke. Damm, the LT has had a bad fire experience...
Over Dinner (continued)
Wolf Skinner bivouac around WSDS Mondez's impact site
18th August, 3024
"Well, I think the L-T is touchy about flamers, and maybe it IS a little soon for that one in particular." Sam Horn replied. "Aside from that, I think we can get the Laser work done pretty quickly if it's approved by the Major..."
Wolf Skinner bivouac around WSDS Mondez's impact site
18th-25th August, 3024
The following week was pure progress for the unit. The "hangar" for the landing craft was completed, the unit's 'mechs and vehicles were repaired, and the Marauder was prepared for transfer to the OLF and loaded aboard the Recovery Vehicle. The first crops also began to sprout with the help of carefully husbanded water from the crater. The Landing Craft's water purification gear was put toward wastewater treatment and recycling. Overall, the bivouac was taking on the appearance of a village, much to the Major's chagrin.
In between watches and overseeing the work, Lieutenant Ranjeet was able to squeeze in the design work for Smoke's Panther. He knew getting permission from the Major would go much better if a complete plan was presented instead of just an idea. As an officer, he had access to the Landing Craft's computing power. This was further facilitated by securing one of the cockpit's fully reclining seats as his sleeping quarters. The work was annoying, but less arduous than it would have been with pencil and paper, or even one of the unit's few noteputers.
In total, the Panther could be refitted in three days. After the first day, the ammunition storage would be replaced by an additional heatsink. The second day would see the SRM-4 replaced by a Medium Laser, and the second would be installed on the third day. This, of course, assumed the work could be done in one of the maintenance cubicles at the OLF. Trying to do all that work with the makeshift arrangements at the bivouac would at least double, if not triple, the time required. It would make the most sense to send Smoke with the Marauder to the OLF. Door openings and closings would be minimized, and the Panther could assist with unloading the Marauder. The argument practically made itself...
Section spoken by Smoke was written by DOC_Agren
Section spoken by Lieutenant Ranjeet was written by SANSd20
Section spoken by Blu was written by truetanker