Later
They finished their meal in peace and quiet, and Luna pondered the meaning behind that picture during their drive. How had their been Elementals operating in the Inner Sphere during the 3020s? What were they doing on Anywhere? The questions led her to no simple answers. Ayat and Farraday had traded places for some reason, and Ayat was stretching out in the backseat while Farraday had the seat pushed back as far as she could.
“What are you thinking about, Luna?” Farraday struggled to find somewhere comfortable to rest in the front seat.
“Probably that picture, Farraday.” Ayat said from the roomy backseat.
“The one with the other Elementals? That sounds odd, there should not be Elementals on Anywhere.” Farraday looked back at her.
“I know, Farraday, that’s what concerns me. I didn’t recognize any clan insignias on anyone, but they were wearing military style jackets. I think we need to consult Serena when we get back, she’ll be most likely to recognize any unusual symbols.”
Serena served as Oathmaster for the cluster, and was a repository of historical information and clan traditions. If anyone was able to identify who they were, it would be her.
“She makes me uneasy.” Farraday said quietly.
“She is recovering well from her injuries. She should make a mostly full recovery.” Ayat smiled softly.
“She will never pilot a battlemech again. She will never have a chance to earn her bloodname.” Farraday spoke with the dread that they all felt. It was no way for a warrior to live, and seeing Serena around the Falcon compound was an unwelcome reminder of how fragile a living being was, even a clansman.
“She serves the Clan as best as she is able, Farraday. It is all any of us can do.”
Farraday nodded with a frown. She usually wasn’t this introspective, but the idea of her body turning against her terrified her in ways she could barely express. “I know my place, I will die on the battlefield.” She nodded, mostly reassuring herself.
Ayat shook her head. Farraday, for all her fault and quirks, was still only 20 years old. She had graduated to a front line galaxy in the weeks before the invasion fleet left, and had spent most of her time training in simulators and zero gravity operations. She was still a wild child, full of youth and fire. Still so much a child, barely removed from her sibko. Ayat remembered that feeling.
The small car pulled to a stop at the coast. They found the small monument sitting atop the promontory point, overlooking the ocean. The three of them exited the car, and the quiet was a little unnerving. Living a military life meant that there were always people nearby, and the sounds of habitation. Techs working a battlemech, Laborers performing their tasks, or even other warriors engaged in sparring or other forms of martial practice were just a few of the sights and sounds that they experienced on a regular basis. This was different. Other than the small lights attached to the monument, there were no artificial sources of light. The only sound they could hear was the waves crashing against the shore.
“Luna, i know i am a poor listener part of the time, why exactly are we here?” Farraday asked quickly. Ayat nodded, as she’d been thinking the same thing.
“This is the spot where the first Star League Defense Force troops landed during their operations to conquer Anywhere during the Reunification War. Our Ancestors descended on wings of fire and brought the sword to the enemies of the Star League.”
“What?” Farraday’s ears perked up with surprise.
“Mhmm. During the Reunification War…” Luna started.
“When was that?” Farraday interrupted her.
“The battles for Anywhere were in 2594.”
“That was a really long time ago…”
“It was. The 11th Royal Division, as part of the IV Corps, took the planet and held it during the Rim Worlds Civil War. They fought hundreds of operations against local militia forces and lost many soldiers during the campaign for the world, and the Periphery as a whole. The 11th also fought in the Taurian campaigns as well.”
“I didn’t know that.” Ayat said. Luna was a much better student of history than she was, and that annoyed her in a couple of different ways.
“They built this monument to honor the dead of that campaign and as a reminder that even though the Star League may be light years away, that it’s reach was long and its strength mighty.”
The monument was a simple one, the oddly size Cameron Star was cast in bronze. It was sitting upright on a dais of locally sourced stone. The plaque covered the full front face of the monument and was a list of the names of all of the soldiers who were involved in the battle for Anywhere. Her eyes scanned over the hundreds of names, noting the few who had the KIA designation after. Those had been the ones who never made it off of Anywhere.
She read the short notation at the bottom out loud for the three of them. “These are the men and women of the 11th Royal Division, formed out of the Terran Hegemony who took up the call to serve their fellow human beings. In the pursuit of peace in the Periphery, they were called here, and did their duty. We honor their service, and hope that this Star will serve as a reminder of a bloody time in our history, when brother made war on brother. We hope that such a time will never come again, for the sake of all of our children.”
“What’s a brother?” Farraday asked quietly, feeling very much like the child who was interrupting a lecture from a scientist caste teacher.
“It’s a male freebirth sibling.” Ayat answered her.
Luna ran her hand across the surface of the monument, and smiled softly. This was a tangible link to their history, and it was a reminder that the Star League had united humans under a single banner. Her eyes narrowed as she felt the odd indentation in the stone as her fingers brushed across it.
“What…?” She stepped around behind the monument, and flashed the light across the back of the rock.
“What can you see?” Farraday asked, nervously getting closer to the monument.
“What’s going on Luna?” Ayat asked her, stepping closer to Farraday.
“This is our symbol.” Luna managed to whisper. She ran her fingers along the outside of the symbol that represented all of the clans. “And then this…” She saw the numbers and letters carved into the back of the stone. “We are the children of the 149th Battlemech Division, lost to time and the Periphery. We are the children of the vision of Kerensky, and we honor this monument to our fallen brothers and sisters.”
“Seyla…” Farraday said, and Ayat echoed her.
“The 149th Battlemech Division?” Farraday asked with a hush.
“I think it’s one of the old Star League Defense Force formations, from the Exodus.” Ayat answered her. That sounded right...
“Ayat, it has a date inscribed. December 23rd, 3029.”
“I am beginning to dislike this planet intently.” Ayat said with a curt nod. Her nostrils had flared and she was very ready to be done with this.
“I think i agree with Ayat.” Farraday nodded.
“Let me take some pictures, and we will go.” Luna placated the other two officers.
“Next time i get to pick what we do with our day off.” Farraday nodded matter of factly.
“Bargained Well, and Done, Farraday.” Ayat agreed.
Luna snapped the pictures and they were soon on their way back to the base. This didn’t feel right at all.
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