Hartford Gardens
The Reaches
Solaris VII
Lyran Commonwealth
10 January, 3053
Faith had gone over the systems in the Phoenix Hawk twice. Everything seemed in perfect order. She even deviated from her normal tendency to abbreviate the startup sequence, and went through things totally by the book. Everything looked solid. She couldn't help but shake the sense of uneasiness in the back of her mind, however.
She had no particular reason to trust Paige Townsend, the reporter who had brought her the warning that something was up. Then again, she had no reason to doubt her either. Paige was a small time reporter for a small time print news outlet on Solaris. For whatever reason, she had taken a dogged interest in Faith's story upon her return to the gaming world, but Faith supposed that Solaris must be littered with thousands of reporters looking for the break of a lifetime to jump start their career to bigger and better things in the highly competitive news market.
Faith flipped on her comms in time to hear the tail end of the stadium announcer's introduction of the two combatants. Her opponent for the night was one Malcolm Strader. She had studied his recent fights, and he was small time. She knew that she could handle him, in spite of the fact that her 3S-Phoenix Hawk gave up five tons to Strader's 4R-Enforcer.
Her board lit up green, and the gamemaster's green light followed a second later. She strode her mech out confidently into the lush green of Hartford Gardens. The Reaches arena was fairly small, and so combat would be joined relatively quickly. The terrain alternated between light trees and stretches of green open terrain. The only real cover came from a series of walls high enough to hide a mech, but generally not long enough to provide lasting cover.
Strader was a cautious fighter. Combined with the lower top speed of his Enforcer, she was confident he would not push things too aggressively. That would be her edge. She had a significant speed edge over him, even without engaging the mechs MASC system, and her jump jets could launch her 45 ton mech 60 meters further in a jump than Strader's own.
She pushed her mech into a run, quickly pushing past the shallow lake in the center of the arena, and bringing her mech to a halt behind one of the massive concrete walls. She flipped her sensors over to passive mode, and flicked the switch to activate the sensitive seismic sensors located in her mech's feet. Then she waited.
She did not have long to wait. In under a minute, the telltale sign of mech footfalls pinged her sensors. Strader was approaching cautiously, moving through the light woods on the other side of the wall. With her sensors on passive, and her mech motionless, she could get the slip on him.
As he reached the edge of the woods, he increased his speed slightly, taking him along the wall on the opposite side from her waiting mech. Just a few steps further..... When the pings of his mech's steps mad him right where she wanted him, she hit her jump jets and vaulted over the wall.
She landed in a perfect position, raising her mech from it's crouch 50 meters from Strader's Enforcer, flipped her sensors to active, and dropped her crosshairs onto the tempting target of his weak rear armor. The cross-hairs pulsed gold with a lock, and she hit her main trigger to fire an alpha strike into the hapless enemy mech.
Nothing happened. She glanced at her readouts again, everything showing green still. She hit the trigger again, then her secondary trigger. Nothing. By now, Strader had spun himself around, rather clumsily, and fired a burst from his class 10 autocannon. The shells found their mark, rocking Faith's Phoenix Hawk. He swung his large laser into line and carved a line of damage into the torso of her mech.
Whatever had happened, her weapons weren't working. At this rate, she was not going to last long against Strader. Hurriedly, she slammed the throttle forward and closed the gap between the two mechs before Strader could think to trigger his jets. She slammed her mech's shoulder squarely into the larger machine, sending it toppling towards the ground. As soon as she had cleared the falling enemy, she hit her jump jets, sending her mech sailing over the wall and coming down in the meager cover of a stand of trees.
Shit is going south fast. I hate to dump the ammo, but it's only a liability to me now. She hit the release on the ammo bins for her machine guns and anti-missile system, and the ammo jettisoned with a clunk. If I'm going to win this fight, it's going to have to be the old fashioned way.
She spent the next to minutes dodging fire from Strader. He was keeping his autocannon fire to a minimum, husbanding his precious ammo for a better shot. The large laser struck home several times, but mostly be was keeping her at bay. If she could not get close to his mech, she had no chance.
If lady luck had been laughing at her until now, she suddenly changed her mind and began to smile on Faith. As Strader moved slowly to reposition himself for a better shot, smoke and flame engulfed his mech's right leg. He had struck a mine, several of which were randomly seeded around the arena grounds by the arena staff. It caught him off guard, sending his mech falling to the ground once more.
Faith pounced at her chance, hit the MASC activation circuit, and sprinted her mech full speed toward the prone mech. It's pilot struggled to get the 50 ton machine to it's feet, and had almost succeeded in doing so when Faith's mech smashed full speed into it, sending both mechs falling to thr ground and tossing Faith hard against her harness. The Enforcer landed on it's back, with Faith's Phoenix Hawk on top of it.
Acting quickly, she managed to bring her mech to it's knees and proceeded to club the enforcer repeatedly with her now useless arm mounted large pulse laser. It took several blows, but finally one struck home on the mech's head, splitting the cockpit like an egg and smashing Strader into unconsciousness.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Federated Hotel
Black Hills
Solaris VII
Lyran Commonwealth
10 January, 3053
At first, Faith was unsure if the terrible buzzing sound was real, or in her head. Without opening her eyes, she knew that the horrible pain in her head was most certainly real, and no matter how hard she tried to block it out and fall back asleep, she failed.
After what could have been five minutes or five hours, she wasn't quite sure which, she finally made the mistake of opening her eyes. The Game World was almost always dreary and rainy, but as her eyes opened, she would have sworn that the systems sun was parked five meters outside her window. Of course, the fact that she had left the curtains open was not helping matters. Then again, the empty bottle of scotch laying on the floor at her bedside probably was the main culprit.
"Fuck off!" she shouted. Turning her head away from the window helped, but not much. It did, however, clue her in to the buzzing sound that had been plaguing her. Her comm unit, laying beside her on the bed, continued to drone on, calling for her attention. Attention that she was in no mood to give at the moment. She picked it up and flung in generally in the direction of the window. It did not help the buzzing, or the light pouring in.
After a few more minutes, she summoned up the will to sit up, stubbing her toe on the empty bottle. Cheap shit, anyhow. She glanced over at the clock. Almost 1300 already, damn. She had a match this evening, scheduled for 2100 in one of the Class 3 arenas out in the Reaches.
Half an hour later, after a lukewarm shower and a handful of oxy-pills, she felt somewhat better. Or at least hungry, which was a good sign. She slipped on a pair of dark fatigues, a tank top, and her Sternsnacht, pulled her hair back into a somewhat rough ponytail, and headed out the door.
On reaching the lobby of the hotel, she made her way to the desk. It wasn't the highest class establishment in the city, certainly a far cry from her suite at the Solaris Hilton she had enjoyed on her previous stay on Solaris, but it got the job done. It was generally clean, and more importantly, it enjoyed a somewhat lower profile, something she was looking for at the moment.
"Anything for me today, Rick?" she asked the desk attendant. She had now been here long enough that the staff knew her, and she paid her bill religiously, so they were friendly.
"Not today, ma'am. But you have a....um...visitor." He gestured toward the front door. A woman was already making her way toward Faith. Great maker, what did I do to deserve this?
Faith started towards the door, and the woman fell into step beside her. She was probably around Faith's age, with dark hair and a light skin tone that pegged her most likely as a native of Solaris dreary weather. She was dressed casually, pulling her comm unit out of the pocket of her dark brown raincoat. "My fight isn't until 2100 Paige, and it's out in the Reaches. Can't a girl grab lunch in peace?"
The woman chuckled. "The adoring public knows no hours, and so neither does the press."
They made their way out onto the street, and much to Faith's disappointment, the reporter kept pace with her in spite of her efforts to quicken her step. "It's the 31st century, I thought print media was dead." Or maybe I just hoped.
"The Federated Suns has the highest literacy rate in the Inner Sphere. Or at least that's what the big boys over at FCNS always say. But the news is a cutthroat business here on Solaris. An intrepid reporter has to stay on her toes to make ends meet, you know."
Faith pushed her way through the door at the corner Arby's, which, aside from a few people that were obvious tourists, was fairly empty. She made her way to the counter and tossed a few D-bill notes on the counter. "Whatever the Hanse Davion special is, as long as it's greasy."
"Make that two."
Faith stared at the reporter.
"Hey, uncovering the truth makes a girl hungry. Kind of weird for a Cappie to be eating greasy Arby's burgers though, isn't it?"
Faith put her hands on her hips and sighed. "I told you, Liao threw me out on my ass. You don't believe me, there's a Triad member with a broken nose over in Cathay who can vouch for me."
The eager boy behind the counter returned with two baskets, each containing a greasy mass that passed for a burger, and fries that helped explain Hanse Davion's heart attack last year. Faith grabbed hers and made her way to the booth furthest in the back of the restaurant. To her dismay, Paige slipped into the seat opposite her.
"I'm still sure there's way more to that story. And one day I'll get it, trust me. But that's not why I'm here."
Not waiting to finish the mouthful of burger she was working on, Faith shrugged her shoulders. "Ok, I'm dying of anticipation," she mumbled.
"I still have a million questions. Like why you're starting out slumming it when 2 years ago you were a hotshot on everyone's radar. Or why you're hanging out in the Black Hills. Or why you're not sporting the 4th Tau Ceti logo anymore. Or where that shady chick that always used to hang around with you is. But hey, don't mind me, I'm just nosy."
Faith scoffed, "I hadn't noticed."
The woman smiled a genuine smile. "Charm goes with the territory. But thanks. And no, I'm not here to grill you about any of that stuff. I'm here with a juicy tidbit of information."
Faith gulped down a mouthful of Timbiqui root beer. "So you're here to share it out of the goodness of your heart, right?"
"I didn't quite say that. But this is something you'll want to know. And I figure if I help you out, you'll be more willing to talk." She didn't wait for Faith to respond before she kept going. "Your fight tonight is against a fighter from Blackstar. In theory, they're as Fed Suns as the rest of us, but everyone knows Drew Hasek-Davion is Hasek to the core, and they're...well, they're Haseks."
Faith frowned. "What does Fed Suns politics have to do with me?"
"Politics has to do with everyone. You should read the paper more. But anyway, the Haseks power base is the Capellan March. They see Liao as the boogeyman behind everything. Hell, they don't even see the Clans as being as big a threat as Max Liao's ghost."
"Then they are idiots. I've fought clans. They're bigger and badder than anything in the Rimward side of the Sphere."
Paige nodded. "That may be true, but that's not the point. The point is I'm not the only one who's got questions about your past. Lots of Capellan March types would rather see you meet a nasty fate rather than go anywhere here in the Black Hills. Now, Blackstar is a big stable, and they might think twice about pulling something in one of the major arenas. But they've got pull in Davion circles, and your fight is out in the Reaches, where the gaming board is a little less omnipresent."
Faith stopped eating. "So you're saying they're going to try some shady shit?"
Paige nodded again. "I don't know exactly what. I've got connections, but they only go so far, you know? There's all kinds of chatter that you're going to get what's coming to you, but it's real scant on the specifics. Just watch your back. I'd hate to lose a juicy story, you know?"
Black Hills
Solaris VII
Lyran Commonwealth
10 January, 3053
At first, Faith was unsure if the terrible buzzing sound was real, or in her head. Without opening her eyes, she knew that the horrible pain in her head was most certainly real, and no matter how hard she tried to block it out and fall back asleep, she failed.
After what could have been five minutes or five hours, she wasn't quite sure which, she finally made the mistake of opening her eyes. The Game World was almost always dreary and rainy, but as her eyes opened, she would have sworn that the systems sun was parked five meters outside her window. Of course, the fact that she had left the curtains open was not helping matters. Then again, the empty bottle of scotch laying on the floor at her bedside probably was the main culprit.
"Fuck off!" she shouted. Turning her head away from the window helped, but not much. It did, however, clue her in to the buzzing sound that had been plaguing her. Her comm unit, laying beside her on the bed, continued to drone on, calling for her attention. Attention that she was in no mood to give at the moment. She picked it up and flung in generally in the direction of the window. It did not help the buzzing, or the light pouring in.
After a few more minutes, she summoned up the will to sit up, stubbing her toe on the empty bottle. Cheap shit, anyhow. She glanced over at the clock. Almost 1300 already, damn. She had a match this evening, scheduled for 2100 in one of the Class 3 arenas out in the Reaches.
Half an hour later, after a lukewarm shower and a handful of oxy-pills, she felt somewhat better. Or at least hungry, which was a good sign. She slipped on a pair of dark fatigues, a tank top, and her Sternsnacht, pulled her hair back into a somewhat rough ponytail, and headed out the door.
On reaching the lobby of the hotel, she made her way to the desk. It wasn't the highest class establishment in the city, certainly a far cry from her suite at the Solaris Hilton she had enjoyed on her previous stay on Solaris, but it got the job done. It was generally clean, and more importantly, it enjoyed a somewhat lower profile, something she was looking for at the moment.
"Anything for me today, Rick?" she asked the desk attendant. She had now been here long enough that the staff knew her, and she paid her bill religiously, so they were friendly.
"Not today, ma'am. But you have a....um...visitor." He gestured toward the front door. A woman was already making her way toward Faith. Great maker, what did I do to deserve this?
Faith started towards the door, and the woman fell into step beside her. She was probably around Faith's age, with dark hair and a light skin tone that pegged her most likely as a native of Solaris dreary weather. She was dressed casually, pulling her comm unit out of the pocket of her dark brown raincoat. "My fight isn't until 2100 Paige, and it's out in the Reaches. Can't a girl grab lunch in peace?"
The woman chuckled. "The adoring public knows no hours, and so neither does the press."
They made their way out onto the street, and much to Faith's disappointment, the reporter kept pace with her in spite of her efforts to quicken her step. "It's the 31st century, I thought print media was dead." Or maybe I just hoped.
"The Federated Suns has the highest literacy rate in the Inner Sphere. Or at least that's what the big boys over at FCNS always say. But the news is a cutthroat business here on Solaris. An intrepid reporter has to stay on her toes to make ends meet, you know."
Faith pushed her way through the door at the corner Arby's, which, aside from a few people that were obvious tourists, was fairly empty. She made her way to the counter and tossed a few D-bill notes on the counter. "Whatever the Hanse Davion special is, as long as it's greasy."
"Make that two."
Faith stared at the reporter.
"Hey, uncovering the truth makes a girl hungry. Kind of weird for a Cappie to be eating greasy Arby's burgers though, isn't it?"
Faith put her hands on her hips and sighed. "I told you, Liao threw me out on my ass. You don't believe me, there's a Triad member with a broken nose over in Cathay who can vouch for me."
The eager boy behind the counter returned with two baskets, each containing a greasy mass that passed for a burger, and fries that helped explain Hanse Davion's heart attack last year. Faith grabbed hers and made her way to the booth furthest in the back of the restaurant. To her dismay, Paige slipped into the seat opposite her.
"I'm still sure there's way more to that story. And one day I'll get it, trust me. But that's not why I'm here."
Not waiting to finish the mouthful of burger she was working on, Faith shrugged her shoulders. "Ok, I'm dying of anticipation," she mumbled.
"I still have a million questions. Like why you're starting out slumming it when 2 years ago you were a hotshot on everyone's radar. Or why you're hanging out in the Black Hills. Or why you're not sporting the 4th Tau Ceti logo anymore. Or where that shady chick that always used to hang around with you is. But hey, don't mind me, I'm just nosy."
Faith scoffed, "I hadn't noticed."
The woman smiled a genuine smile. "Charm goes with the territory. But thanks. And no, I'm not here to grill you about any of that stuff. I'm here with a juicy tidbit of information."
Faith gulped down a mouthful of Timbiqui root beer. "So you're here to share it out of the goodness of your heart, right?"
"I didn't quite say that. But this is something you'll want to know. And I figure if I help you out, you'll be more willing to talk." She didn't wait for Faith to respond before she kept going. "Your fight tonight is against a fighter from Blackstar. In theory, they're as Fed Suns as the rest of us, but everyone knows Drew Hasek-Davion is Hasek to the core, and they're...well, they're Haseks."
Faith frowned. "What does Fed Suns politics have to do with me?"
"Politics has to do with everyone. You should read the paper more. But anyway, the Haseks power base is the Capellan March. They see Liao as the boogeyman behind everything. Hell, they don't even see the Clans as being as big a threat as Max Liao's ghost."
"Then they are idiots. I've fought clans. They're bigger and badder than anything in the Rimward side of the Sphere."
Paige nodded. "That may be true, but that's not the point. The point is I'm not the only one who's got questions about your past. Lots of Capellan March types would rather see you meet a nasty fate rather than go anywhere here in the Black Hills. Now, Blackstar is a big stable, and they might think twice about pulling something in one of the major arenas. But they've got pull in Davion circles, and your fight is out in the Reaches, where the gaming board is a little less omnipresent."
Faith stopped eating. "So you're saying they're going to try some shady shit?"
Paige nodded again. "I don't know exactly what. I've got connections, but they only go so far, you know? There's all kinds of chatter that you're going to get what's coming to you, but it's real scant on the specifics. Just watch your back. I'd hate to lose a juicy story, you know?"
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Exile of the Faithful - Chapter Nine
Exile of the Faithful - Chapter Nine
Solaris City
Solaris VII
Lyran Commonwealth
10 September 3052
Only a light haze hung in the air of the club as Faith and Shannon sat at a table on the perimeter of the club. The Foxy club was Davionist to the core, but catered to a wide segment of the Solaris population. There was something for everyone, from the televised mech fights that were displayed in various areas to the dance floor that attracted throngs of young party goers.
The waitress appeared and placed the shot glasses they had ordered, two in front of each woman. They each took a glass, tapped them together in a toast, and downed the shot. Faith noticed that Shannon was careful not to make prolonged eye contact. Not drunk enough yet, she thought.
"So, answer me this. You're a mechwarrior, trained to pilot a million c-bill war machine, on the biggest game world in the Inner Sphere, and you're running errands in a short skirt for a shady, mid-level criminal. Where did you fall off the merry-go-round?"
"You'd be amazed how quick you can fall with a loss or two. I was convinced I could break through on the circuit, and after a couple of losses and doubling down each time, I was in debt up to my eyeballs. I did a stint with the Deneb Light Cavalry, so when I came here, it wasn't with my own machine. You can only keep putting the debts off so long before they come calling."
As she listened, Faith kept scanning the room. The crowd was light tonight, mostly fans and average citizens out for a night on the town. What Faith was looking for was some excitement, and it didn't seem like it was going to materialize here.
"So why'd you lose the fights?" This was where she would be able to actually learn something about the woman.
"I figured all mechjockying was the same. I'd seen action in the field, so I figured I could handle myself in the arena. But as I'm sure you know, it's a different game out there. The rules aren't the same, the skill set isn't the same. I didn't adjust."
Faith nodded. "Speaking of adjusting...let's blow this joint. I've got an idea."
She practically sprang from her table, leaving some c-bills behind, and grabbing Shannon by the arm to coax her along. The two women soon found their way outside, and made their way through the light Solaris drizzle through the streets of the Black Hills. By moving just a few streets over, the found themselves in a slightly more colorful neighborhood.
They stopped outside a reasonably well kept storefront with a neon sign that advertised itself as "Mek Daze" one of a dozen or more "gaming" parlors around the city where civilians could pay to play in video game like simulators of the mech duels on Solaris. She had never tried one, but imagined the experience left something to be desired for the true mechwarrior.
"You have to be kidding. You wanna play the pods?" Shannon asked incredulously.
Faith let out a laugh. "Why not? We're mechjocks, right? Nah, all I'm really after is a crazy time. We could sweep the floor with those mechbunnies, that's no fun. I'm out for an experience. Trust me, this is gonna be great. Stay here for a second. I'll be right back."
Leaving her partner in crime at somewhat of a loss, Faith quickly dashed across the street toward an alcove where some men were lingering. In a place like this, she was anonymous enough to not attract attention, but but knew the Solaris drug trade like the back of her hand. After a few words and a quick cash transaction, she found what she was looking for. Now a satisfied customer, she darted back across the street, took Shannon by the arm, and walked through the doors of Mek Daze.
The simulated gaming den was like any other across the city, and probably replicated on many a world in the Inner Sphere. The technology behind the sims was cheap, nothing approaching military grade, and it made for an interesting diversion for many a Solaran patron. Far from uniform, the clientele made up several diverse groups. The vast majority were Solaris youth, as quite a subculture had grown up around the industry. If it kept middle class youth off the streets, most people were happy. There were also, of course, tourists there simply for a one time thrill. And there was also a small segment of hard core types, who took the simulator battles very seriously, going so far as dressing up like "mechwarriors".
The duo made their way through the various crowds towards the main event, the simulators themselves. Looking rather chuffed with themselves were a group of twelve of what she guessed were the tryhards, wearing some kind of uniform they had concocted themselves. In the other line was a collection of mechbunnies and tourists who, as luck would have it, were still two short of forming a drop company.
"C'mon, this is perfect," Faith said with a grin.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Exile of the Faithful - Chapter Eight
Exile of the Faithful - Chapter Eight
Larsha
Capellan Confederation
10 September, 3052
Why do I always get stuck on jungle planets? It was ironic, considering that Cat disliked the heat and humidity. Partly it was due to having been raised in relatively cold conditions, but there was also the fact that it just felt dirty, offending her sense of order.
You went where the objective took you, though, and that brought her to the hot, humid, dank jungles of Larsha. At the moment, at least, the small makeshift camp smelled less of the normal jungle stink, and more of the scent of a recent battle.
The sun had recently set, and the camp was getting settled. The lance sized unit of the 5th Confederation Reserve Cavalry had been running down a band of pirates that had somehow slipped into the system and were probing for a weak spot. On a backwater like this, with a second line garrison unit, it had been a simple matter for Cat to figure out where the person she was looking for, and slip in as a tech. Security was beyond lax, but she wasn't about to complain.
She would have preferred if her quarry had been in the barracks when she arrived, thus saving her all the leg work, but circumstances couldn't be helped. She had to wait for the right moment to approach, and that had meant performing some of the duties of the tech disguise that she had adopted. It had been a few years since she found herself patching together components, especially ones as old as the Succession Wars-era Vindicator she had just patched up.
She strode nonchalantly across the camp, her hands stuffed in the pockets of her coveralls, doing her best to blend in and not attract too much attention as she made her way toward the lance commander's tent. She was about to poke her head in the tent when she spotted a figure a short way off on the edge of the treeline, smoking a cigarette and peering down at a noteputer.
He was the one she was here to see. She made her way towards him, casually making as much noise as possible so as not to surprise him. The man was engrossed in whatever he was reading, however, and seemed not to notice her arrival until she was right on top of him.
"Whatever it is, just set it on the rock over there, I'll look at it later," he said without looking up.
She smiled wryly. "That piece of shit Vindicator is up and running. Though I have to admit, I had not figured to find you piloting such a piece of junk."
Ace Kaller put down the noteputer and looked up. "I'd recognize that voice and condescending tone anywhere. What the hell are you doing here, Cat? You decide to take up being a tech here at the ass-end of nowhere?" He motioned for her to take a seat on the fallen tree beside him.
"I find it hard to believe that anyone would come to this terrible of a planet voluntarily. No, I came here tracking you down."
He took a long drag on the cigarette he was smoking before answering. "Yeah, the Confederation doesn't take too kindly to helping fugitives escape. Glad to see you made it out. Faith come with you?"
"No, she is back on Solaris, most likely raising some hell, money, and support at the moment. I thought this was a mission better suited to going alone." As she spoke, she noticed he looked more tired, and more gritty than she had remembered him.
"For the better, I guess." He let the statement linger in the air like a question. She knew him too well, recognizing it as an in.
"She will be back...eventually. She just wishes to return on her own terms. And part of that is tying up loose ends."
"What exactly does that mean?"
"It means that she needs to be able to act freely, without anything on her mind to worry about. That is why I came looking for you. I am looking for Acadia."
He stared at the ground for a moment before responding. "Yeah, the Confederation also doesn't think that it's a good idea to leave kids with people who help fugitives escape. Not that I could have handled her on my own anyway, but still. She's back on Sian, placed in foster care, no doubt with a suitable eye kept on her. I don't know if they think Faith would make a move to get her back or not, but I'd bet on them being careful."
"I highly doubt they bet on me getting her out. Which I will. I may not be one for children, but I understand what they mean to their parents. She deserves to be raised somewhere other than some Confederation nursery."
"Just be careful. I know you think you're some kind of indestructible, but this is dangerous. And I don't know your story, but I know this isn't your home turf. It won't be easy."
She smiled wryly. "I have gotten this far, have I not? I have won a few away games in my time. And I intend to win this one."
Why do I always get stuck on jungle planets? It was ironic, considering that Cat disliked the heat and humidity. Partly it was due to having been raised in relatively cold conditions, but there was also the fact that it just felt dirty, offending her sense of order.
You went where the objective took you, though, and that brought her to the hot, humid, dank jungles of Larsha. At the moment, at least, the small makeshift camp smelled less of the normal jungle stink, and more of the scent of a recent battle.
The sun had recently set, and the camp was getting settled. The lance sized unit of the 5th Confederation Reserve Cavalry had been running down a band of pirates that had somehow slipped into the system and were probing for a weak spot. On a backwater like this, with a second line garrison unit, it had been a simple matter for Cat to figure out where the person she was looking for, and slip in as a tech. Security was beyond lax, but she wasn't about to complain.
She would have preferred if her quarry had been in the barracks when she arrived, thus saving her all the leg work, but circumstances couldn't be helped. She had to wait for the right moment to approach, and that had meant performing some of the duties of the tech disguise that she had adopted. It had been a few years since she found herself patching together components, especially ones as old as the Succession Wars-era Vindicator she had just patched up.
She strode nonchalantly across the camp, her hands stuffed in the pockets of her coveralls, doing her best to blend in and not attract too much attention as she made her way toward the lance commander's tent. She was about to poke her head in the tent when she spotted a figure a short way off on the edge of the treeline, smoking a cigarette and peering down at a noteputer.
He was the one she was here to see. She made her way towards him, casually making as much noise as possible so as not to surprise him. The man was engrossed in whatever he was reading, however, and seemed not to notice her arrival until she was right on top of him.
"Whatever it is, just set it on the rock over there, I'll look at it later," he said without looking up.
She smiled wryly. "That piece of shit Vindicator is up and running. Though I have to admit, I had not figured to find you piloting such a piece of junk."
Ace Kaller put down the noteputer and looked up. "I'd recognize that voice and condescending tone anywhere. What the hell are you doing here, Cat? You decide to take up being a tech here at the ass-end of nowhere?" He motioned for her to take a seat on the fallen tree beside him.
"I find it hard to believe that anyone would come to this terrible of a planet voluntarily. No, I came here tracking you down."
He took a long drag on the cigarette he was smoking before answering. "Yeah, the Confederation doesn't take too kindly to helping fugitives escape. Glad to see you made it out. Faith come with you?"
"No, she is back on Solaris, most likely raising some hell, money, and support at the moment. I thought this was a mission better suited to going alone." As she spoke, she noticed he looked more tired, and more gritty than she had remembered him.
"For the better, I guess." He let the statement linger in the air like a question. She knew him too well, recognizing it as an in.
"She will be back...eventually. She just wishes to return on her own terms. And part of that is tying up loose ends."
"What exactly does that mean?"
"It means that she needs to be able to act freely, without anything on her mind to worry about. That is why I came looking for you. I am looking for Acadia."
He stared at the ground for a moment before responding. "Yeah, the Confederation also doesn't think that it's a good idea to leave kids with people who help fugitives escape. Not that I could have handled her on my own anyway, but still. She's back on Sian, placed in foster care, no doubt with a suitable eye kept on her. I don't know if they think Faith would make a move to get her back or not, but I'd bet on them being careful."
"I highly doubt they bet on me getting her out. Which I will. I may not be one for children, but I understand what they mean to their parents. She deserves to be raised somewhere other than some Confederation nursery."
"Just be careful. I know you think you're some kind of indestructible, but this is dangerous. And I don't know your story, but I know this isn't your home turf. It won't be easy."
She smiled wryly. "I have gotten this far, have I not? I have won a few away games in my time. And I intend to win this one."
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Exile of the Faithful - Chapter Seven
Exile of the Faithful - Chapter Seven
Black Hills
Solaris City
Solaris VII
Lyran Commonwealth
10 September, 3052
Faith sipped on the scotch while Vance Grigsby returned to his seat. "That first win was just what we needed. It's created plenty of buzz, and no small amount of trash talk coming out of the Capellan sector. All of that translates into money, which I'm sure you know."
She smiled as she replied, "Hey, I've got a limited window here, making a fortune isn't an easy thing to do. And I've already gotten feelers from the Liao side trying to mend fences."
Vance frowned and raised an eyebrow. "I hope you rebuffed them."
"Relax, I know what I'm doing. I rebuffed them without hurting any more feelings. This isn't politics to me, it's business. They understand that as well as you do. I want money, I want it fast, and I want insulation so they can't touch me. I'm going home one day, and I want to be bulletproof when I do it."
Grigsby leaned back in his chair. "Which brings me to my next point. We have to build things fast at this stage. That means adding bodies. There's obviously no shortage of people looking to sign on with that first win. But we have to be discerning. I'm not going to pretend that I'm a judge of mechwarrior talent."
She made an exaggerated gesture. "I'm hurt, Vance, truly."
"I didn't judge you on talent, I judged you on star power. The two are different. I'm not looking for stars here, I'm just looking for winners and moneymakers. I've got the files all ready to go, just need you to screen them."
"Give me an office and I'll take care of it. How hard can it be?"
"Give me an office and I'll take care of it. How hard can it be?"
(Three hours later)
"This is pointless," she said to herself as she stared at the mess of files spread all over the desk. The files themselves were relatively complete, with information, history, win-loss statistics and more, but she was starting to realize that picking a group of mechwarriors to put your stamp on was easier said than done. She had never worked in any administrative capacities in any of her previous assignments, and it was becoming clear that picking talented mechwarriors from their dossiers was no easy task.
"Anything I can do to help, ma'am?" Vance had made sure that she had a staffer to help her with anything she had needed, which so far had been copious amounts of coffee. The woman had thus far done an exceptional job of making sure Faith was taken care of, and other than that, had stayed out of the way.
Faith leaned back in the chair and took a drink of coffee. "Get me a lance or two of experienced mechwarriors that I can hang my hat on?" she quipped as she ran her hand through her hair.
"I don't think it's that easy ma'am, or everyone would be doing it." The woman was right of course. Faith took a moment to size the other woman up. She was blonde, and older than Faith by a few years, she judged. There was a nervousness or anxiousness in her stance, as if she were holding something in.
"That's the truth. And you don't have to call me ma'am. Faith is fine. I didn't catch your name."
The woman hesitated for a second, obviously not used to being asked for her name. "It's Shannon. Shannon Metz." She looked away for a moment before continuing. "Ma'am....Faith, I know it's not much to go on, but some of those guys have fight vids. It might tell you something about their piloting. I mean, it's better than a file, you can't glean much from a piece of paper."
Faith nodded. "Yeah. Maybe I'm looking too deep here. I'm trying to form a core group, and I'm looking for more than just piloting and gunnery, but it's hard to catch that from a stat sheet."
The woman took a step forward, seemingly trying to bolster her confidence for a big push. "I know maybe I'm out of line here, but I'm a mechwarrior, and I see what you're trying to build. If you could give me a shot..."
Faith held up a hand, and leaned back in her seat. "So wait, you're a mechwarrior, but you're here being one of Vance's floozies? No, this is Solaris, it's not that far fetched." This talent search was going nowhere, and her patience was wearing thin. Faith stood abruptly. "You can tell me your story, but we're gonna do it out on the town."
The woman appeared flustered. "Ma'am, I don't know if Mister Grigsby would-" Faith cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"Don't worry about Vance. He sent you to help me fill a roster. That's what we're going to do. I'll meet you back here in an hour. You want to be a mechwarrior, make your pitch on the fly, girl."
"I don't think it's that easy ma'am, or everyone would be doing it." The woman was right of course. Faith took a moment to size the other woman up. She was blonde, and older than Faith by a few years, she judged. There was a nervousness or anxiousness in her stance, as if she were holding something in.
"That's the truth. And you don't have to call me ma'am. Faith is fine. I didn't catch your name."
The woman hesitated for a second, obviously not used to being asked for her name. "It's Shannon. Shannon Metz." She looked away for a moment before continuing. "Ma'am....Faith, I know it's not much to go on, but some of those guys have fight vids. It might tell you something about their piloting. I mean, it's better than a file, you can't glean much from a piece of paper."
Faith nodded. "Yeah. Maybe I'm looking too deep here. I'm trying to form a core group, and I'm looking for more than just piloting and gunnery, but it's hard to catch that from a stat sheet."
The woman took a step forward, seemingly trying to bolster her confidence for a big push. "I know maybe I'm out of line here, but I'm a mechwarrior, and I see what you're trying to build. If you could give me a shot..."
Faith held up a hand, and leaned back in her seat. "So wait, you're a mechwarrior, but you're here being one of Vance's floozies? No, this is Solaris, it's not that far fetched." This talent search was going nowhere, and her patience was wearing thin. Faith stood abruptly. "You can tell me your story, but we're gonna do it out on the town."
The woman appeared flustered. "Ma'am, I don't know if Mister Grigsby would-" Faith cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"Don't worry about Vance. He sent you to help me fill a roster. That's what we're going to do. I'll meet you back here in an hour. You want to be a mechwarrior, make your pitch on the fly, girl."
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Exile of the Faithful - Chapter Six
Exile of the Faithful - Chapter Six
Cathay
Solaris City
Solaris VII
Lyran Commonwealth
9 September, 3052
Faith stepped through the door, entering the multi-story building that housed significant portions of the Capellan influence on Solaris. From the outside, one might never even notice the building, slightly dilapidated, with little to hint at the importance of some of the residents within. She took the first set of stairs that she came to, heading down a level to a long corridor. At the end of the corridor, a burly guard stood watch. While his image did not lend itself to any kind of quickness, she had no desire to test him. People in this segment of society rarely employed substandard help.
"I'm here to see the lady of the house. I'm expected." She handed the guard a small poppy that she had found in her dressing room following the last match. It was a signal, and one she could hardly mistake. And so, she was here, to see what, exactly, the local Capellans wanted with her.
The guard held out his hand, and she reached into her jacket, producing a small hold out pistol and handing it to the doorman. She wasn't going to be shooting her way out of this situation anyway. After a few seconds, the guard, satisfied, opened the door and allowed her to pass. She continued on her way. The hallway could have been any hallway in any drab building throughout the Inner Sphere, cold barren walls, and a floor not dirty and yet not quite clean. She reached the end of the hall to find a door slightly ajar. She knocked and walked through.
Walking into the room, the environment changed completely. The lighting was subdued, it's source obscured, leaving the room cast in a myriad interaction of light and shadow. The room was decorated in dark, rich colors, deep reds and purples mixed in amongst the dark Capellan greens.
Casting an impressive image, Jasmine Xiu sat casually against the plush of an oversize chair, draping one arm over the arm of the chair. The soft lighting highlighted her delicate Asian features.
"I'm glad you accepted my invitation, Faith. We were very disappointed that you didn't come see us upon your arrival here on Solaris." As she spoke, the woman gestured for Faith to take the seat opposite her. Faith obliged, sitting back in the plush chair, careful to remain relaxed.
"Yeah, well I didn't exactly leave the Confederation on the best of terms, so a warm welcome wasn't what I had in mind here."
"Yes, that entire situation was quite...unfortunate." She paused as if deliberately choosing her words. "It may interest you to know there have been....further developments in that regard."
Something was going on. Xiu was well known in the Capellan community, and this invitation to meet was about as official as an unofficial request could get in the internecine mess of Capellan politics.
"I'm sure you're going to share"
"Indeed. Shortly after you made good your escape from Purvo, the entirety of the Gatekeepers battalion treasonously fled the Confederation, stole their equipment, and took their services to the Draconis Combine."
Faith laughed aloud. "I can't say as I'm surprised. Blackhand was about as unbalanced as they come. So what, the Gatekeepers and their mini-Napoleon have been unmasked and I can return home to a party and open arms?"
Jasmine frowned. "Alas, no. While the traitorous machinations of the Gatekeepers have been revealed, Lady Romano does not take lightly her subjects going rogue. She feels that disloyalty is a blemish of character that cannot so easily be dismissed. The circumstances have, however, cooled her furor in seeking accountability."
Faith leaned forward. "I'm not big on Mask double talk. What does that mean?"
"It means that while you may not be welcome in the Confederation, the Maskirovka is not directed to seek your death or capture at this time."
"I'm touched. You'll forgive me if I don't exactly celebrate. I came here to build up something I could stand on, and that plan hasn't changed. I like that I may not have to worry about you guys sticking a knife in my back, but I'm a free agent now."
Jasmine gracefully stood. "Whatever you might think, I am not mindlessly in lock-step with Sian. I play a role here, as every Capellan citizen does. As you do, even if you may not embrace it at the moment."
"Still wouldn't hold your breath. You'll forgive me if I'm still a bit cagey. You guys made this issue, now deal with it."
"I'm here to see the lady of the house. I'm expected." She handed the guard a small poppy that she had found in her dressing room following the last match. It was a signal, and one she could hardly mistake. And so, she was here, to see what, exactly, the local Capellans wanted with her.
The guard held out his hand, and she reached into her jacket, producing a small hold out pistol and handing it to the doorman. She wasn't going to be shooting her way out of this situation anyway. After a few seconds, the guard, satisfied, opened the door and allowed her to pass. She continued on her way. The hallway could have been any hallway in any drab building throughout the Inner Sphere, cold barren walls, and a floor not dirty and yet not quite clean. She reached the end of the hall to find a door slightly ajar. She knocked and walked through.
Walking into the room, the environment changed completely. The lighting was subdued, it's source obscured, leaving the room cast in a myriad interaction of light and shadow. The room was decorated in dark, rich colors, deep reds and purples mixed in amongst the dark Capellan greens.
Casting an impressive image, Jasmine Xiu sat casually against the plush of an oversize chair, draping one arm over the arm of the chair. The soft lighting highlighted her delicate Asian features.
"I'm glad you accepted my invitation, Faith. We were very disappointed that you didn't come see us upon your arrival here on Solaris." As she spoke, the woman gestured for Faith to take the seat opposite her. Faith obliged, sitting back in the plush chair, careful to remain relaxed.
"Yeah, well I didn't exactly leave the Confederation on the best of terms, so a warm welcome wasn't what I had in mind here."
"Yes, that entire situation was quite...unfortunate." She paused as if deliberately choosing her words. "It may interest you to know there have been....further developments in that regard."
Something was going on. Xiu was well known in the Capellan community, and this invitation to meet was about as official as an unofficial request could get in the internecine mess of Capellan politics.
"I'm sure you're going to share"
"Indeed. Shortly after you made good your escape from Purvo, the entirety of the Gatekeepers battalion treasonously fled the Confederation, stole their equipment, and took their services to the Draconis Combine."
Faith laughed aloud. "I can't say as I'm surprised. Blackhand was about as unbalanced as they come. So what, the Gatekeepers and their mini-Napoleon have been unmasked and I can return home to a party and open arms?"
Jasmine frowned. "Alas, no. While the traitorous machinations of the Gatekeepers have been revealed, Lady Romano does not take lightly her subjects going rogue. She feels that disloyalty is a blemish of character that cannot so easily be dismissed. The circumstances have, however, cooled her furor in seeking accountability."
Faith leaned forward. "I'm not big on Mask double talk. What does that mean?"
"It means that while you may not be welcome in the Confederation, the Maskirovka is not directed to seek your death or capture at this time."
"I'm touched. You'll forgive me if I don't exactly celebrate. I came here to build up something I could stand on, and that plan hasn't changed. I like that I may not have to worry about you guys sticking a knife in my back, but I'm a free agent now."
Jasmine gracefully stood. "Whatever you might think, I am not mindlessly in lock-step with Sian. I play a role here, as every Capellan citizen does. As you do, even if you may not embrace it at the moment."
"Still wouldn't hold your breath. You'll forgive me if I'm still a bit cagey. You guys made this issue, now deal with it."
Friday, October 9, 2015
Exile of the Faithful - Chapter Five
Exile of the Faithful - Chapter Five
The Jungle
Cathay, Solaris City
Solaris VII
Lyran Commonwealth
7 September, 3052
"Hello mech fans, welcome to another exciting broadcast from one of the top venues that the gaming world has to offer. I'm Cliff Cleary, and I'll be giving you the call tonight from the Jungle, the jewel Capellan arena in the heart of Cathay. Tonight's fight is a little something special. Not part of the normal circuit, tonight we bring you a grudge match that features intrigue, politics, and the return of a Solaris favorite from a few seasons past."
While some gladiators liked to turn off the chatter of the broadcast call, Faith left the SBC feed playing through her comms. It had been some time since she stepped foot in the arenas of Solaris VII. She had seen many battles since then, but the battles of Solaris were something different. For her they were a joyride, a high to ride, and she hoped to ride this high all the way to fame and fortune.
"Our competitor from the Capellan Confederation, you are all familiar with Martin Chao. Over the last two years, he has made a steady, if less than noteworthy rise into the top twenty, staking a claim as one of the top Capellan mechwarriors here on the game world."
Faith hadn't fought Chao before, but she knew his type. He was a mouthpiece, a puppet. He had the talent, and powerful backers carefully rode and directed that talent. He was good, but not flashy.
"And then we have the source of all the controversy this past week. Two years ago, as part of House of Lords stables, Lady Faith McCarron tore up the leaderboards and earned a quick and loyal following. But with the Clan invasion and the fires of Inner Sphere politics, she left to serve her native Capellan Confederation on the true battlefields. While details are sketchy as one might expect from such a tightly guarded realm as the Confederation, what's clear is that two years later, Faith has fled the Confederation in the midst of scandal. Some call her a traitor. Some call her a victim. Regardless of all that, tonight will test her against the honor of Liao establishment here on Solaris. As the headliner of a brand new stable, Valkyrie Stables, Faith has made it clear she intends to make a name for herself here on the gaming world, and powerful Confederation loyalists seem eager to block that."
"If that drama doesn't get you fired up, I don't know what will. So enough of the introductions, mech fans, this grudge match is about to begin!"
She pressed her Enforcer into a walk. There was no need to rush into things. Chao was in a Cataphract, and the twenty tons worth of extra weapons meant she preferred not to let him get the jump on her. She made an effort of carefully patrolling the area, dropping back whenever she ran into a major branch of the stream that ran through the lush jungles that gave the arena it's name.
In theory, a pilot who played often in the Jungle would have an advantage, but the arena staff were careful to regularly re-sculpt the landscape, and with it, the path of the river. To be certain, there were general trends, but anyone who thought they knew the precise layout of the streams, slopes, and openings in the tree cover would find themselves sorely mistaken.
Her heartbeat remained slow and steady in the cockpit. With battle not yet joined, there was no high, no rush. That would come. For now there was just the comfort of the cockpit, whose temperature remained almost frigid at the moment. The Enforcer she piloted was unfamiliar to her, the design being one of Davion origin, and the model she piloted was a non-standard variant at that. Her right arm packed a new model Gauss rifle, an ultra cool running weapon, but one that took a steady hand to pilot. Spread over the opposite arm and torso was a bank of five medium lasers. The weapons compliment was an impressive one, but it came at a cost. An extra-light engine sat at the heart of the machine, and it's lighter weight brought with it increased fragility.
On the battlefield, she knew it would mean an early exit from most fights for her. But in the short and brutal combat of the arenas, she knew she could make it work, at least against the likes of those she was likely to face in the early going of her comeback. By the time she won a few matches, she would be more than set to secure a ride more suited to her style.
Her reverie was interrupted by a slight glint of reflected light to her left. She resisted the urge to quickly swing her whole machine in-line with the disruption, but kept her movements slow, so as not to alert her possible prey. And her prey was what she had found. A scant few hundred meters off, Martin Chao's Cataphract was lumbering through the shallow water of a stream. He wasn't facing her, moving at a slight angle to her.
She kept her targeting system in passive mode. At this range, she was a good enough shot that she wouldn't need it active for her first salvo if she timed it right. She waited until he had moved forward, predictably following the course of thew stream. When he was facing sufficiently away from her, she brought her machine into a fast walk. With careful motion, she brought her mech slowly around until she found herself trailing directly behind the Capellan mechwarrior.
She could have flipped her targeting system active and had plenty of time to squeeze off the shot, and at this range, she would have torn through his rear armor in a single salvo. On the battlefield, she would have done so without hesitation. But here, combat was part martial prowess, part show. And what she needed at this point in her Solaris career was some showmanship.
She flipped over to her mech's external speakers. "If this is the best the Confederation has to send after me, Chao, I'm glad I left."
The enemy mech froze for an instant, then began to twist. She squeezed the trigger off for a full alpha strike. The gauss slug tore through the center of the heavy mech's back, tearing into critical internals by itself and sending the mech lunging forward. The array of medium lasers slashed into the armor in and around the breach like five hellish green claws. Waves of heat poured through the rents torn in the Cataphract's rear protection, and the mech stumbled to one knee, twisting laboriously to try to face it's tormentor.
Chao raised the PPC in one arm as he braced the mech with the other arm. Her external speakers still active, Faith laughed aloud. She had switched her targeting system fully active by now, and before Chao could align the arm for a shot, she squeezed off another slug from the gauss rifle. The supersonic slug tore into the PPC barrel, sending arcs of energy from smashed capacitors dancing in all directions.
"Try again. This may be your home turf, but I'm out of your league. Come back when you're ready to make me sweat, Chao." She closed the gap between the two mechs quickly, and drove the elbow of her left arm into the upper torso of the Cataphract, carefully to the side of the cockpit, enough to rattle Chao severely, but not a killing blow to the cockpit. It was enough to send the mech tumbling onto it's back, and Chao knew he was done. He signaled defeat.
Press Suite, The Jungle
She pressed her Enforcer into a walk. There was no need to rush into things. Chao was in a Cataphract, and the twenty tons worth of extra weapons meant she preferred not to let him get the jump on her. She made an effort of carefully patrolling the area, dropping back whenever she ran into a major branch of the stream that ran through the lush jungles that gave the arena it's name.
In theory, a pilot who played often in the Jungle would have an advantage, but the arena staff were careful to regularly re-sculpt the landscape, and with it, the path of the river. To be certain, there were general trends, but anyone who thought they knew the precise layout of the streams, slopes, and openings in the tree cover would find themselves sorely mistaken.
Her heartbeat remained slow and steady in the cockpit. With battle not yet joined, there was no high, no rush. That would come. For now there was just the comfort of the cockpit, whose temperature remained almost frigid at the moment. The Enforcer she piloted was unfamiliar to her, the design being one of Davion origin, and the model she piloted was a non-standard variant at that. Her right arm packed a new model Gauss rifle, an ultra cool running weapon, but one that took a steady hand to pilot. Spread over the opposite arm and torso was a bank of five medium lasers. The weapons compliment was an impressive one, but it came at a cost. An extra-light engine sat at the heart of the machine, and it's lighter weight brought with it increased fragility.
On the battlefield, she knew it would mean an early exit from most fights for her. But in the short and brutal combat of the arenas, she knew she could make it work, at least against the likes of those she was likely to face in the early going of her comeback. By the time she won a few matches, she would be more than set to secure a ride more suited to her style.
Her reverie was interrupted by a slight glint of reflected light to her left. She resisted the urge to quickly swing her whole machine in-line with the disruption, but kept her movements slow, so as not to alert her possible prey. And her prey was what she had found. A scant few hundred meters off, Martin Chao's Cataphract was lumbering through the shallow water of a stream. He wasn't facing her, moving at a slight angle to her.
She kept her targeting system in passive mode. At this range, she was a good enough shot that she wouldn't need it active for her first salvo if she timed it right. She waited until he had moved forward, predictably following the course of thew stream. When he was facing sufficiently away from her, she brought her machine into a fast walk. With careful motion, she brought her mech slowly around until she found herself trailing directly behind the Capellan mechwarrior.
She could have flipped her targeting system active and had plenty of time to squeeze off the shot, and at this range, she would have torn through his rear armor in a single salvo. On the battlefield, she would have done so without hesitation. But here, combat was part martial prowess, part show. And what she needed at this point in her Solaris career was some showmanship.
She flipped over to her mech's external speakers. "If this is the best the Confederation has to send after me, Chao, I'm glad I left."
The enemy mech froze for an instant, then began to twist. She squeezed the trigger off for a full alpha strike. The gauss slug tore through the center of the heavy mech's back, tearing into critical internals by itself and sending the mech lunging forward. The array of medium lasers slashed into the armor in and around the breach like five hellish green claws. Waves of heat poured through the rents torn in the Cataphract's rear protection, and the mech stumbled to one knee, twisting laboriously to try to face it's tormentor.
Chao raised the PPC in one arm as he braced the mech with the other arm. Her external speakers still active, Faith laughed aloud. She had switched her targeting system fully active by now, and before Chao could align the arm for a shot, she squeezed off another slug from the gauss rifle. The supersonic slug tore into the PPC barrel, sending arcs of energy from smashed capacitors dancing in all directions.
"Try again. This may be your home turf, but I'm out of your league. Come back when you're ready to make me sweat, Chao." She closed the gap between the two mechs quickly, and drove the elbow of her left arm into the upper torso of the Cataphract, carefully to the side of the cockpit, enough to rattle Chao severely, but not a killing blow to the cockpit. It was enough to send the mech tumbling onto it's back, and Chao knew he was done. He signaled defeat.
Press Suite, The Jungle
Cathay, Solaris City
Solaris VII
Lyran Commonwealth
7 September, 3052
Roughly forty-five minutes after the fight ended, Faith strode brashly through the doors to the press room housing the assembled media. She was dressed in knee-high combat boots, black leggings, and a snug tank top of conspicuously Davionish dark red, her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. As the reporters began to shout questions, and cameras scrambled to focus and begin shooting, she quickly climbed the two steps to the raised platform and made her way to the podium.
She had done these before, and with practiced ease, she let the room sort itself out. The routine was settled, and the reporters from lesser outlets and those with smaller levels of prestige among the press corps allowed their voices to quickly trail off into silence, as the few top-end reporters battled to get their questions out. Faith kept her expression stern, but not too negative.
"Miss McCarron! This is your first bout on the Solaris stage in almost two years. How did it feel to take to the arenas?"
Faith tilted her head slightly, feigning contemplation for a second. "It's good to be back, and having a mech under you always feels good, but you saw the fight, this was more of a warm up for me. Ask me that question again after some serious competition and I'll let you know.
"Your return was unannounced and came as a surprise to all of us. There has been little solid news on your leaving Capellan space. What made you decide to return?"
She smiled. "Seemed like a good idea."
"Following up on that, there are rumors that you fled the Confederation. There have been hints that your leaving was a result of everything from a drug problem to some even saying that you are wanted by the Capellan government on charges of murder. Do you have any comment?"
Faith cleared her throat. "You would have to ask the Capellan government about that. All Liao mechwarriors serve at the pleasure of the Chancellor. You'd have to ask her. Next question."
"It's been announced that you are to be the headliner for a new stable, backed by Vance Grigsby. Given his obvious ties to House Davion, is it safe to say that you have switched your allegiances here on the game world?"
"My allegiance is to where the money is. I came here out of a job, so I followed the money. A girl has to earn a living, you know."
"Given the circumstances of your leaving, are you worried about your safety here on Solaris?"
She smiled wryly. "I'm always worried about my safety. I shoot big guns at big robots that shoot back with their own big guns. I'm focused on winning my matches. Out of the cockpit, I'm not going to be shy or live my life. I'm here to make money, and I'm going to enjoy my money. Plan to see me a lot. But that's it for now, folks. You'll be seeing plenty of me, I promise. For now, I'm going to enjoy my victory. Have a good night."
With that, she made her way away from the podium and out the door the way she came. She made her way down the hallway toward the visiting dressing room. A few meters outside the door to the dressing room, Vance Grigsby stood waiting. He wore a suitably expensive suit, telling her that he had already met the press and probably planned to make later appearances. As she approached, he smiled. "You handled that quite well."
She nodded, and he stayed a step ahead of her, opening the dressing room door for her. The two entered, and he closed the door behind them. Her combat garb had been removed in her absence, doubtless by some staff member. "Of course I did, I'm not new at this. The fight was easy, I told you. And the press, they're always looking for a story, it's easy enough to feed them."
He perused his handheld nonchalantly. "You're going to be the story for a while, and that means lots of people are going to be keeping an eye on you. You'd be wise not to take too many risks or live too wildly in public for the time being."
She chuckled. "So you're telling me to be a good girl?"
He tucked his phone in his jacket pocket. "Hardly. But be a bad girl in private, in safe places, that's all. There's no telling whose interest you may have aroused."
Roughly forty-five minutes after the fight ended, Faith strode brashly through the doors to the press room housing the assembled media. She was dressed in knee-high combat boots, black leggings, and a snug tank top of conspicuously Davionish dark red, her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. As the reporters began to shout questions, and cameras scrambled to focus and begin shooting, she quickly climbed the two steps to the raised platform and made her way to the podium.
She had done these before, and with practiced ease, she let the room sort itself out. The routine was settled, and the reporters from lesser outlets and those with smaller levels of prestige among the press corps allowed their voices to quickly trail off into silence, as the few top-end reporters battled to get their questions out. Faith kept her expression stern, but not too negative.
"Miss McCarron! This is your first bout on the Solaris stage in almost two years. How did it feel to take to the arenas?"
Faith tilted her head slightly, feigning contemplation for a second. "It's good to be back, and having a mech under you always feels good, but you saw the fight, this was more of a warm up for me. Ask me that question again after some serious competition and I'll let you know.
"Your return was unannounced and came as a surprise to all of us. There has been little solid news on your leaving Capellan space. What made you decide to return?"
She smiled. "Seemed like a good idea."
"Following up on that, there are rumors that you fled the Confederation. There have been hints that your leaving was a result of everything from a drug problem to some even saying that you are wanted by the Capellan government on charges of murder. Do you have any comment?"
Faith cleared her throat. "You would have to ask the Capellan government about that. All Liao mechwarriors serve at the pleasure of the Chancellor. You'd have to ask her. Next question."
"It's been announced that you are to be the headliner for a new stable, backed by Vance Grigsby. Given his obvious ties to House Davion, is it safe to say that you have switched your allegiances here on the game world?"
"My allegiance is to where the money is. I came here out of a job, so I followed the money. A girl has to earn a living, you know."
"Given the circumstances of your leaving, are you worried about your safety here on Solaris?"
She smiled wryly. "I'm always worried about my safety. I shoot big guns at big robots that shoot back with their own big guns. I'm focused on winning my matches. Out of the cockpit, I'm not going to be shy or live my life. I'm here to make money, and I'm going to enjoy my money. Plan to see me a lot. But that's it for now, folks. You'll be seeing plenty of me, I promise. For now, I'm going to enjoy my victory. Have a good night."
With that, she made her way away from the podium and out the door the way she came. She made her way down the hallway toward the visiting dressing room. A few meters outside the door to the dressing room, Vance Grigsby stood waiting. He wore a suitably expensive suit, telling her that he had already met the press and probably planned to make later appearances. As she approached, he smiled. "You handled that quite well."
She nodded, and he stayed a step ahead of her, opening the dressing room door for her. The two entered, and he closed the door behind them. Her combat garb had been removed in her absence, doubtless by some staff member. "Of course I did, I'm not new at this. The fight was easy, I told you. And the press, they're always looking for a story, it's easy enough to feed them."
He perused his handheld nonchalantly. "You're going to be the story for a while, and that means lots of people are going to be keeping an eye on you. You'd be wise not to take too many risks or live too wildly in public for the time being."
She chuckled. "So you're telling me to be a good girl?"
He tucked his phone in his jacket pocket. "Hardly. But be a bad girl in private, in safe places, that's all. There's no telling whose interest you may have aroused."
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