"It All Began With..." (Part 12)

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• Date: June 22, 3029
• Planet: Twycross
• Location: Salmacis Base, Company Mess

Mikell sighed and looked at the bowl of food in front of him. On the one hand, it was saving money to avoid having separate meals for officers and the others. On the other hand, he was getting rather tired of stew over rice. He poked with his spoon at the mess in the bowl and let out another sigh through his nose. The voice from behind him was almost expected, given the time. "Good God, Mikell, is this beef, pork, or what?" Olivia sat down on his left, sniffing at her own bowl.

"I'm going to go with 'what' myself." Another voice as Reginald sat on the right. "I never ask where the food comes from, only if it is safe to eat."

"You would think that reflex was from the First Regulars. But maybe it was your orphanage." Olivia shot across at him with a smirk.

"Low blow, Olivia."

She blinked. "Wait, really?"

"No, but still."

There was a soft thump as Mikell planted his hands on the table and looked at each in turn. "Can I help you two?" He asked quietly. "Because I get the feeling this isn't about the food."

Olivia snorted. "It should be, this stuff is terrible. Wait, is this a mushroom?" Mikell glanced over and frowned, as she shrugged and kept eating.

"No, it's not about the food." Reginald said slowly. "It's about the training simulation this morning. Did you hear about it yet?"

"If I say yes, you're still going to go on about it, aren't you?"

Olivia poked his arm with the end of her fork. "Don't lie."

"Oh. Then no." Mikell let out a slow breath. "I get the feeling this is going to ruin my appetite. Why did you do this now?"

"Because this is the first time we caught you." Reginald looked at him. "Urban Combat Simulation Nine."

Mikell glanced at him annoyedly, really wishing he could get back to eating before this ruined his afternoon. "As opposed to one through eight?"

Ignoring that, Reginald pulled out his datapad. "Casey was acting as the Lance Commander, with Kelly, Otto, and Vandal. The objective was to identify a target building in the urban area and hold the area until an allied APC could evacuate the objective."

"Technically, it's against the Ares Conventions to pick a fight in an urban environment."

"This has stopped literally nobody from doing it." Olivia pointed out around a mouthful of stew. Then she swallowed, making a face. "Someone burned the rice. I didn't think the rice cookers could burn rice."

Reginald cleared his throat, before sipping from his bottle of water. "Casey had her Valkyrie, I gave Otto a Locust, Vandal the Panther, and Kelly the Wasp."

"Otto also wouldn't stop minor complaints about being in the Locust." Olivia put in from the other side of Mikell.

"I suppose it's fair. In an urban environment the speed is a little less useful. Especially with a unit largely based on jump jets." He stirred at the stew and sighed, trying to get a spoonful again. "Continue."

"Well Vandal seemed to take to the Panther well, using it to jump from one street to the other and keep from enemy awareness. Kelly kept complaining about a headache, and Louis said there was some issues with the telemetry after she started complaining." Reginald sipped from the bottle again, and sighed. "When they found the target building, they had Otto sit on it while the others took high ground to spot threats coming in. When the local militia forces were rolled out, they were standard infantry with rocket launchers and Scorpion Light Tanks."

"Still hold a bit of a punch against four Light 'Mechs. Enough of them can still threaten heavier units." Olivia pointed out. "Vandal was waiting to see if he could get a clear fire before there was a problem." She sighed. "Kelly's feed scrambled and Louis got nothing out of it from that point forward, but she screamed about not being ready to die yet and began kicking into the civilian buildings and trying to use them to set up a blockage to keep the tanks from getting closer. Then she started to engage the infantry with the Wasp. Otto couldn't get out of the area after she blocked it, and the infantry who could get a clear line of fire managed to put him down. Vandal sniped out a tank, before moving to pull Kelly out of a bad situation with infantry who were entrenched in the buildings. Casey was trying to get them orders before the three Scorpions who were still in play managed to tag her pretty hard. The leg damage should have been negligible, at that point, but now the militia 'Mechs were entering the fray."

"Which were?"

"Two UrbanMechs and two Jenners."

Mikell sighed. "Outgunned hard, then." The UrbanMech was one of those lighter BattleMechs which was useful exactly in the purpose its name suggested. Armed with a Class Ten Autocannon, with a decent amount of armor but no speed to their name, they were pretty much a defensive unit in urban environments. They were also fairly cheap, which was why militia tended to use them, and with the weapon they could be a surprisingly potent enemy. The Jenner on the other hand, was roughly the same weight class but was armed with four Medium Lasers and short-range missiles. The punch it could deliver was decidedly lethal on the four 'Mechs the trainees were supposed to be using. "Why, oh why, did you outgun them so hard."

"To be fair, the Scorpions are programmed to stay at range and shell those long odds. The infantry is really only a danger briefly, and they're supposed to hold for that APC which arrives after forty seconds. It's supposed to be a case of avoiding being a target. Casey was trying to direct them, but with a high vantage point-"

Olivia picked up the tale, stirring her bowl slowly. "She took all the fire. UrbanMech blew off her leg entirely, then the Jenners moved in on Kelly and Vandal. Vandal managed to weather the first salvo and damaged one Jenner bad enough it would retreat. Kelly, ah, didn't focus that Jenner out of play. She tried to shoulder-check an UrbanMech into a building and instead wrecked that left arm with the impact damage. They couldn't finish, so Casey aborted the simulation."

Reginald shook his head slowly. "Irene is looking over Kelly now. We had to do an override to open her simulation pod and Louis found two techs who annoyed him recently to scrub the vomit out. It was not . . . not pretty."

Mikell was quiet for a moment, then stood up. "I'm going to check in with Irene then."

"I'm going to note, you were the one who authorized-"

"Shut up." He half-snapped. "I was right, and I didn't want to be. Kelly has something going on and I know Irene can take care of it but only if we get to it fast." He pointed at Olivia. "You and Reginald take turns working the debrief for them, it sounded like this wasn't that bad if Kelly hadn't been out of sorts and Casey didn't forget the lesson from last month with you."

"With the Griffin?"

"With the Griffin." He nodded. "See to it they learn from their mistakes, but don't run the mission again soon. I recommend the Convoy Raid simulation, and give them something easier to work with. Straightforward." He glanced at each of them. "Now if you'll excuse me."

---

• Location: Salmacis Base, Medical Bay

Irene glared at Mikell as he entered, Kelly laying down on one of the treatment beds and not moving. "So, what is the big idea hiring someone like her?" She asked firmly as she got close. "Do you have any idea what's going on with her?"

"Irene, that's why I wanted you to see her."

"You couldn't have sent her to me before her head scrambled?" She inhaled, and threw her hands up. "Fine, you couldn't know, but this is-" She walked to a chair and sat down. "Kelly Sedda has a serious issue with something in her brain chemistry. I'm still exactly working on it, but the file you gave me on her is missing so much it's useless to me. Whatever the Tamar War College had on her is buried deep and they don't appear to be willing to share. Louis sent me a small amount of the simulator telemetry and that tells me whatever problem she has, it's in the brain chemistry."

Mikell sat down and looked over at her. "Sedated?"

"Medically out for another twelve hours. But given how she's been treated before, I can't be sure it will last the full time." Irene shook her head. "I have managed to get some information out of her concerning what she was on before. Since that hasn't worked, I have at least two data points to work from. Here's the thing, and I am certain of it - she has two personalities. There's the calm one who has no idea what is going on when the other one is in control, and there's another one who takes over when she is under stressful situations. What little information you had on her fits the frame, though it could also fit the frame if she literally has no impulse control." She sighed. "I need more data to make a safe conclusion when deciding what medication to give her."

"Wonderful. I was afraid there was medical issues involved."

Irene's expression softened. "She shouldn't be here. She should be somewhere else getting help."

"She wants to be here, she wants to fight." He spoke softly, meeting her eyes. "Whichever personality we're talking about, they're in agreement there. I don't want to turn her away, I don't want to tell her she's not wanted." He looked to the bed. "What happens if she gets it in her head nobody wants her? What capacity for violence will open up, and will she still be willing to restrain herself in either of her minds?"

Irene lowered her eyes. "It's my professional opinion we shouldn't abuse her. But I can work with Louis to get somewhere with the telemetry data and come up with a potential treatment. I already have some ideas on where to go, but I need more data." She closed her eyes and then met Mikell's gaze firmly as she spoke slower. "But if this gets any worse, I want you to seriously consider taking her off active duty and looking into treatment centers."

"I will consider it." Mikell stood up. "So long as you consider her feelings on this matter." He walked to the door and hesitated. "Everyone has to have a purpose in life. Otherwise, why are they alive? If she has a purpose, something she can live for-" He stopped, knowing who he sounded like and looking at the floor. "If she has a reason to keep going, it's better for her than putting her somewhere she will just waste away. That's what I want for her, doctor. To know she has a place in the world."

Irene's expression flickered through a rapid shift of emotions, then became neutral. "I understand. Thank you for hearing me out."

"I will always value your opinion, Irene. I may agree, I may not, and I may have to act counter to what we think is best." He sighed, then smiled wearily. "You know, I want to find the idiots who think this kind of life is glamorous and kick them in the balls." He said, bemusedly, before leaving the medical bay.

---

• Date: June 24, 3029
• Planet: Twycross
• Location: East Reaches, Sub-Level Six

"I really hate this side of the city tunnels." Mikell muttered, walking up the tunnel with Olivia. She kept glancing at people walking in the other direction, who seemed to be sizing them up. "Sub-Level Six, Section Four. We're looking for Two-Thirteen."

"Why would someone want to meet us here? Shady people, and it's almost guaranteed there's bugs in the walls."

"I don't think they mind the roaches."

"I wasn't talking about those kind of bugs." She frowned at him.

"I wasn't talking about insects." He shot back quickly, and leaned close to one of the location placards on the wall. He abruptly leaned back as they heard a weapon cock, from inside the door. A few minutes later, down the tunnel, he finally spoke up again. "It isn't as much of a problem if you don't concern yourself with being overheard."

"And someone wouldn't care about being overheard if . . .?"

"If they were the ones who put listening devices in the area." He nodded to a door down the hall. Outside was a man in a dark suit who was trying to look casual, though everything about him screamed 'bodyguard'. Olivia blinked, then rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know. Nothing like being completely conspicuous when you're hiring mercenaries. It's like they want everyone to know they're inside, and aren't scared of the consequences."

"Uh huh." Olivia pursed her lips. "Which would suggest they feel above the problems of locals." Her eyes narrowed. "What do you think, Lyran Intelligence or foreign?"

"Small problem. If they were foreign, they would tell us Lyran to pretend this would be legitimate. But given they went through Martin, I'm sure it's legitimate enough. So, you want to stay outside and keep an eye on the bodyguard?"

Olivia pursed her lips. "I can do that, but he won't like it." She walked away from him a bit, took a deep breath and called out. "Hey Neil! Neil it's been four freaking months, how are you man?" She waved and strode over quickly, the bodyguard jumping a bit and staring at her confusedly.

"I think you have me mist-"

"I would know that jaw anywhere, don't play with me. Come on, look, just because you owe me a pile of S-Bills..." She kept talking, the bodyguard looking at her and measuring her up as a threat. Mikell walked up and held up the ID card he had which showed him as a mercenary, and the bodyguard scowled but was motioning to the door.

On the other side, there was a gentleman in another black suit seated at a folding table with a suitcase on it. He was looking annoyed as Mikell walked through. "Low profile. I said keep it low profile."

"That draws attention, you know. If you look like you have something to hide, people notice." He noticed the empty chair across from him and sat down. "Olivia is going to pretend it's a case of mistaken identity and move on after a bit, but most people will have tuned it out. So, you wanted to meet me for a contract?"

There was a long several breaths of silence as the other man seemed to be determining what to do next. "We would like to hire Priam Company, with a substantial amount of money." He tapped the briefcase. "To take on a sensitive mission."

"Did you honestly bring a suitcase of C-Bills? Or S-Bills?" Mikell looked at the suitcase curiously. "You know they have wire transfers, right, and mercenaries are a legitimate business backed by ComStar? Nobody would bat an eye unless your organization was supposed to not be doing this." He looked across the table. "So what's the mission?"

"I would like you to not inquire as to who's hiring you."

"I would like to be clear on who I'm working for, just in case things go sideways."

"We have a LCAF trained officer who we will act as a liaison to your unit and be your link to us."

"And we're still breaking in recruits and are a new unit, so your man gets to be inside and feel out just how much of a threat we are to the Commonwealth. If we aren't exactly what you want to see, you get to report that on top of whatever results you get."

The other man's face darkened. "You are really being unprofessional, you know that?"

"If you wanted professionals, you would be approaching this professionally. The Mercenary Review Board and ComStar run things a certain way, which protects both client and mercenary, and makes this a whole lot easier. You posted this job, but you left no information except to meet with you." Mikell shook his head. "If I sound like I am not taking this seriously, it's because you're making it very difficult to accept you're making a legitimate offer."

"Your friend Martin didn't seem to think you'd be this troublesome to hire." He began to stand. "I'll have to tell him and my employers this was wrong-"

"Sit back down." Mikell dialed his voice to command-strength, and was not surprised the other man sank back into the chair. "I haven't rejected you yet, but you are making matters much harder than they need to be." He took a deep breath. "Let's start over, shall we? What do you have to offer Priam Company?"

There was a long moment before the man breathed out through his nose. "There is something going on in the Federated Suns which has gotten our attention. Rumors are they're developing new BattleMechs and technology."

"My good man, it's widely accepted there is no such thing as new technology. New BattleMechs aren't done, either."

The other man made a tossing motion with a hand. "TharHes Industries is working on one too, you know. There are new designs starting to emerge. And part of the reason we discussed hiring you is because we want to know for certain if there is new technology or if it's all smoke and mirrors."

"Have you considered just asking? I mean, the Federated Suns are our allies now. Haven't you heard?"

"Allies are one thing, but they have their secrets and we have ours. They may be our allies now, but what about ten years from now? Twenty? We need to know what we aren't being told."

"So you're with the intelligence corps. Fine." Mikell lifted a hand. "I honestly am not hung up on that. Let's discuss what the particulars of the contract are. You want us to look into this, so you obviously have an idea of where this 'new tech' is?"

"Here." The man opened his suitcase and placed a data unit on the table. "This contains all the information you will need, and clearance for JumpShip travel to the target system and then to Ryde where we will handle debriefing." He stood up slowly, and looked down at the unit. "As for payment, we will be generous. We will reimburse you for repair bills, rearming costs, and we will deliver a new 'Mech to you on satisfactory completion of the mission."

"Are you serious?" Mikell sat back slightly, chewing the inside of his cheek for a moment. "Well now, that's not a minor promise. Am I assured you will follow through?"

"Commander Sethan, I expect you will check up on the contract you have pulled from ComStar shortly after leaving here. You will find the modifications by this late afternoon. I want this clear before we part ways, though." He pointed a finger at the commander, Mikell glancing at it dismissively. "We are asking you to verify there is new tech on the field where our information says it is in use. If you can't find anything, then you can still claim payment. But we need definitive proof."

"I promise you, we'll look into it. We're not quite set up for scouting missions, but I'm sure we can work a plan out." He picked up the data unit. "You have yourself a contract with Priam Company, sir. I'll be in touch."

---

• Date: July 3, 3029
• Planet: Twycross
• Location: Salmacis Base, Hangar

Well, this was it, Priam Company was a reality now, Mikell reflected as he reviewed the notes on his datapad. They had an actual contract now, and outside the Shadowfox was the assembled members from the technical teams, the medical teams, the support personnel, and the 'MechWarriors. He breathed in deeply, steadying himself and fighting away the brief flicker of voice from the back of his head. 'You are only going to make things worse...'

He smoothed his uniform and straightened up to walk out into view. Reginald and Olivia were already waiting there, and he noticed Louis had made the effort to line up the BattleMechs in an arrangement to flank the open 'Mech Bay. The Orion and BattleMaster flanked the doors, with the Warhammer next to the Orion and the Valkyrie beside the BattleMaster. Beside the Valkyrie was the Griffin, luckily just finished being refurbished and made ready for combat. Its right arm's Particle Projection Cannon and right shoulder-mounted long-range missile launcher were still bearing safety locks on them, but the paint was thankfully dry. All of them were painted blue, with the right arm and leg painted white; Louis had lamented it was impossible to keep them from looking dirty on those locations, but relented when Mikell told him just to make sure the paint was intact and not to worry about it being dingy.

The crowd assembled was murmuring, not sure seemingly why they were all assembled here, and Mikell was sure more than a few were wondering what silly pep talk he had in store. Mikell breathed in and stepped up to the audio pickup so he could be heard to the assembled crowd. "Good morning, people. I'm Mikell Sethan. Welcome to Priam Company." The murmurs stopped as small knots of people drew to attention, all of them wearing their work clothes and only the 'Mechwarriors wearing casual clothes with a jacket over it. The departments had their own various touches, including the patches. The technicians had a dark silhouette of a BattleMech, the ones they were primarily assigned to take care of, on a lighter round starfield with a silver border. Medical personnel wore white with prominent red crosses on the right upper arms, and on the left arm there was an inverted-color starfield bordered in silver with a red caduceus inside it. Administration tended to wear more civilian-style coats, but with a patch over the left breast which showed a crossed rifle and a quill pen in silver and gold over the same starfield with silver border.

"You're all here because we wanted people who we could trust working for us, and watching our backs. Take a look around, and know that if we three trust you then you should feel free to trust each other. There are no enemies here, only friends if you want them." He paced a bit to one side. "Not to say all of us are going to be buddies who go out and drink with you after a day's work." He heard chuckles, and smiled slightly. "I'm your commanding officer, and while I don't issue direct orders often outside of a combat situation I expect you to give me due respect as the man authorizing your paychecks." The chuckles again, and he stopped to motion to the BattleMechs. "And of course, the 'MechWarriors who help me secure payment so you can be paid probably deserve some respect too."

Eyes drifted to the people down front, counting them and then the number of 'Mechs. Five of them, and eight 'Mechwarriors. "The lady to my right is Olivia Garrido and she will be in charge of duty assignments to be handed out to your own supervisors. The gentleman to my left is Reginald Brand, and he's the one in command on the field of battle. Defy either of them, and that will get my attention in a negative way. Let's try to avoid that." He walked to one side, and motioned. "Of these five BattleMechs we are fortunate to have, there are two who have not been assigned a permanent pilot yet. I hope to select them by the end of the month, but I also hope to acquire some more hardware for those of you who don't quit."

"Technicians." He pitched his voice past the front row. "All of you are assigned a 'Mech to take care of, and I expect you to be able to keep them in fighting condition. If you don't have the skill or the parts, the man you want to see is Louis Sands." The shorter, stocky man stepped onto the edge of the platform area and raised his hand. "He is in charge of your teams, and has been doing this longer than any of us here have been fighting in them. Trust his judgment." Louis shot him a mock-hurt look and then stepped off the platform.

"For those of you who aren't a tech or a 'MechWarrior, I have good news. You won't be seeing combat unless we are in a really desperate situation. Medical team, your lead is Irene Dreissen." She raised her hand, on the other side of the 'Mech Bay from Louis. "For the rest of you, she'll be the one deciding if you're faking being sick to get out of duty and having the authority to remove you from duty if you actually are too sick and don't want to admit it. Also, while she knows where the drugs are, she also knows how much there is in storage, and how to make sure you regret stealing them."

"Thex Leopard-class DropShip 'Shadowfox' is our ride for now, and I'm trying to get a line on a way for us all to get around." Not to mention hold more 'Mechs, but then trying to get a second DropShip was something which was impossible. Renting one out would get expensive fast, too. "I'm sad to say, but if we have to ship out for a mission you techs are going to have to figure out arrangements with the rest of the crew. I also don't have a cook on staff for traveling so I have plenty of quick meals which I hope you know how to prepare." A pause. "Or if you don't, that you have someone you trust with your food to help you."

Mikell folded his hands behind him, and looked over the crowd. "We have a mission contract now, so we will be shipping out as soon as we have determined what assets are going on the mission. If you are going, congratulations. You're making combat pay. If you're not going, I also have good news. You are authorized to be on inactive duty and can enjoy relaxing here so long as the base remains in good shape. We'll try to get to you by tomorrow afternoon at the latest to let you know where you are." He spread his arms out. "Any questions?"

"Sir." A hand up from Otto, who stood after being recognized with a hand motion. "You said to us we might get a chance to own a 'Mech. Which ones are currently owned?"

"Ah." He nodded. "Olivia here owns seventy percent of the Warhammer." A motion to the woman, who smiled and bowed to a bit of laughter. "Reginald owns Theseus - the Orion there. Simone owns twenty percent of the Griffin she calls Gyno, and Casey has expressed interest in buying into a new 'Mech once we find one she likes."

"What about you, sir?" Vandal spoke up, but paused as if realizing he was out of turn.

"I own the BattleMaster." Mikell turned around and pointed. "So nobody else think about trying to claim it."

"What's it called?" A tech spoke up, and Louis' gaze snapped to look at him.

Mikell turned back around. "Sorry?"

The tech coughed, stepping forward. "What's it called? It doesn't have a name?"

"No, it doesn't have a name."

"Why not, sir? Name it, I mean." Otto asked. "I mean, it's yours like Reginald has Theseus-"

"Name it? Why?" Mikell turned his gaze to look down at Otto, and tried to wrestle the annoyance down. "To remember who it belongs to? Like I would forget?" He leaned forward just a bit. "This is my BattleMaster, model BLR-1G. There are many like it, out there, serving elsewhere, but this one is mine. And not yours. No, Otto, you're going to get the first Locust we get our hands on. Once you pay it off, then you can name it what you want." He let out a long breath. "I will have duties handed out tomorrow for everyone who is not a 'MechWarrior, and training schedules for those who are. Louis is going to have maintenance overviews for all of you so you can learn what you need to know about servicing honest BattleMechs."

"Dismissed."