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The Zulu's Origin
A raid has some interesting complications
by Marcus Taylor |
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New Auckland Water Treatment Plant, Main Street August 10, 3051
Greg
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Astrid, as I quickly learned the name of our would-be captive, had no qualms about launching into a long discourse about Clan protocols and customs. As Jonas clambered down to join me, Eddie and Samantha recorded Astrid's monologue on their comm systems. Unlike my lancemates, I asked no questions about the more nebulous aspects of 'Zellbringen'; I was waiting for something specific.
My wait ended when Jonas interrupted with another question. "So Clan trials are fought solely from within your 'Mechs? Er, or Omnifighters or Elemental suits? No personal combat?"
Astrid's eyes fairly shone at this. "Wellllll, no. In smaller issues, such as which warrior is given the privilage of piloting the newest 'Mech in the star, trials are settled with unarmed combat."
"Kinda like small claims court," Sam added from her Javelin. I could see from her face that Astrid had no idea what the mounted pilot was talking about.
"Yes, exactly. But you were saying Miss Steel Viper," I said, diving in to keep her from losing her rhythm. Astrid gave me a dirty look for mangling her title, and resumed her sociology lesson. A few minutes later, the Clanswoman winded down, at a loss for anything to add. Astrid had even touched on Clan politics - the rift between the Crusader and Warden factions that, in her opinion, was weakening the unity of the Clans and threatening their destruction.
"So am I to gather from your feelings on the invasion that you're a Crusader?" I asked.
Astrid frowned. "No, I belong to the dominant Warden faction of Clan Steel Viper."
"But you just implied you approve of your peoples' return to the Inner Sphere..." Maybe if I could get a handle on her personal beliefs, I could use it to my advantage later.
"Well, I disagreed with the IlKhan's decision to attack in force rather than come back peacefully-"
"PEACEFULLY? What's this a *pacifist* Clan -Warrior-?" I asked sarcastically.
My opponent tried to explain herself. "Not really! I agree that we should reopen contact with our birthworlds, but to try to take the Sphere by force negates the very reason our ancestors left in...wait! My opinions are none of your business! You know all you need to; either make your challenge or leave!"
Oh, well. As Astrid turned and started for the reservoir ladder, I turned to Jonas' 'Mech and nodded. His comm system startled us both. "I, Senior Sergeant Jonas Thompson of the Fourteenth Lyran Guards Regimental Combat Team, Task Force 2, claim possession of this water purification facility. What forces of Clan Steel Viper defend it?"
The distraction move worked - Astrid gave the Whitman a annoyed stare before answering. Obviously she expected to be allowed to return to her 'Mech before being challenged. "I, Astrid Steel Viper, defend the plant - hopefully with the use of my custom Nova." That last phrase was delivered with a dirty look toward me.
"Custom?" I asked. That piqued my interest.
Astrid looked hastily around. "Well, yes. My standing is not what one would expect piloting a non-standard Omnimech, but thanks to the assistance of Robe- stop that! Are you some kind of spy, Gregory Underwood?!?"
I tried to look innocent. "Me? Spy? Gaa, I hate spooks; I'm just naturally curious."
My facade wasn't working to placate the Clanner, but then it was meant to do the opposite. "Be that as it may-" she began.
Samantha interjected, distracting Astrid even further. "Oh, yeah. He ain't lyin', Miss. One time we caught an ISF agent snoopin' around the 'Mech laager, and he just-"
I cut my lancemate off. "Sam, I really don't think Astrid wants to hear all the gory details about that-"
Jonas chimed in with "And they were quite gory, weren't they, Sam?"
"Jonas! Please, think of Miss Steel Viper's stomach."
Astrid vainly tried to regain a control of the conversation."Stomach? What ARE you talking about, Underwood?"
"Well, you were just swimming not too long ago, and everyone knows you're not supposed to get sick less than an hour after-"
Jonas cut me off, right on que. "No, no, sir. You don't EAT half an hour after swimming. Wait until your stomach settles-"
"That's just what I mean; if you make her *more* nauseous just after drying off-"
Samantha piped up to air a dissenting opinion, and give our 'mark' yet another speaker to keep track of. "Guys? You're both wrong - it's BEFORE swimming, not after. You gotta get sick before going in the pool, so that if you get stomach cramps, you won't mess up the pool. Takes ages to clean up, you know."
Jonas disagreed. "No - I distinctly remember it has to do with EATING, Sam."
I put my foot down, indicating that they should change the subject, lest Astrid regain her verbal feet. "I could have sworn it was after, too. And since I outrank both of you, I order you to agree with me."
"Oh, come on, Leftenant! This is the AFFC, not some serf army raised by the King's vassal; you can't just say 'Black is white.' and expect us to agree!"
"Yeah, that's right, Sarge. You know, this whole thing smacks of male chauvinism; the military has always been a patriarchal organization-"
"Give it a rest, Brody!" Thompson and I retorted in unison.
"Huh, there's my proof-"
"BE QUIET, ALL OF YOU!!!" Astrid screamed. She'd reached her breaking point, being unable to follow the conversation, let alone participate in it. Her face was florid, her hands clenched and she was visibly panting, presumably to keep her anger in check. "This has NOTHING to do with the Trial, ANYOFIT! You;" she pointed at Jonas' 'Mech. "You were challenging me to a Trial over the water plant. I was-"
"Water plant? Huh, sounds more like an order than an object; 'You - water plant!'"
"SHUT UP!!!" Astrid's complexion was edging into purple as she turned on me. "I was about to ask you whether you would grace me the opportunity to use my Battlemech." Calming enough to stop shaking, she continued. "Or do I have to face up to his missiles with just my sidearm?"
I shrugged. "Far be it from me to prevent you from adequately defending yourself. But maybe you should consider a different method of battle."
That earned another dirty look from Astrid. "What are you on about now, spheroid?"
I gave her my most smuggly depricating smile. "Poor old Jonas in his aging, decrepit Whitman - which is older than any of us here, by the way - against a trueborn like you with your first-line Omnimech. He doesn't stand a chance."
"But it would be a valiant effort; he would gain much honor from the attempt-"
"And how much honor would you gain, dear Astrid? Hardly a challenge for you." I remembered her making some offhand statement about her standing within the Clan hierarchy - maybe she was desperate for some chance at valor and a rise in clout.
And it looked like my guess was valid. "Well, he could always take one of his starmates with him against me; you could give him your Battlemech."
I feigned shock. "What? And let him waste more Commonwealth resources in a fool's errand? I don't know how it works amongst your Clans, but in the AFFC the unit commander is responsible for the well-being of his unit. Senior Sergeant Thompson there would not even have HIS 'Mech to use in this madness, were it not for the fact that it belongs to him."
"What?!?" That got her; they must not allow such wasteful habits in the Clans.
"Oh, yes. That old hunk of junk has been handed down through through his family for generations; apparently Jonas' great-grandma-"
"You go, girl," Sam interjected. Astrid's response was quick. She wheeled on Brody's 'Mech, pointing angrily at the cockpit, as if to say 'don't YOU start!'. I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
"Pray continue, Star Commander-"
"Leftenant, actually."
"WHATever, I am soon due to leave this site and carry on with my patrol, and I am not willing to leave a potential enemy behind me."
'Potential,' I thought. 'I'm flattered with your trust.' "Anyway, some ancestor saved some member of the Davion royal family, and they repaid her valor with a gift. That gift was the 'Mech Jonas now pilots."
My sidestory succeeded in keeping Astrid aggrivated. "But WHY will you not let the Sergeant take more forces against me?"
"Why because I don't agree with him; I don't think this plant is worth the risk."
This confused the Clanswoman even more. "You don't - er doot?" She must have jumped to the obvious conclusion that we were here to capture said water plant.
"Oh, NO! It's *much* too shabby!" I endeavored to look snobbish about this issue. "Looks held together with bailing wire and duct tape! No, I certainly won't be caught dead trying to TAKE this dump from you," I added, sniffing in contempt.
"But-but then why is he..." Astrid pointed.
"Oh, Jonas has always been at odds with me; disagreeing with nearly every order I give! Good riddance to him, I say!"
"So why are you arguing on his behalf over this Trial?"
'And the fish bites.' "Him? I'm not thinking about him!" I gently grabbed Astrid's shoulders. "Why I'm just thinking of YOU, dear girl! A 'Mech battle with Jonas there isn't going to help your reputation at all. 'There goes the one who picks easy fights with degzra spheroids,' they'll say. Hardly the way to earn respect among your peers, is it?"
She was dazedly shaking her head in agreement. "No, that's why I suggested you fight him hand-to-hand. Much fairer to your opponent. Make you look positively magnanimous - offering the poor fool his life back." Astrid nodded, a puzzled expression on her face.
"I...I think that would be acceptable."
I hugged the befuddled Clanswoman to my breast. "Wonderful! I just *know* this will do wonders for your career, m'girl! Think of it - little Astrid against the barbarous brute, the uncouth Inner spheroid, the degzra devastator!" She was all mine now; hook, line and sinker - I fancied I could see little stars in her eyes.
"Yes, and everyone knows women are smaller and weaker than men - at least on average! Not even you can argue that tendency, can you, Sam?" To my disappointment, I got no retort. |
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