“Did your mech perform as expected, Mechwarrior?” Her technician asked her quietly.
“Yes, it was very good.”
“Do you wish an alternate configuration?”
“Not yet, i am getting used to this version, and i like the variety of options. This configuration works just fine.”
“Very good, we will have it ready for you in about six hours.”
“You are going to work through the night?”
“Of course, a warrior without a weapon is in a tricky predicament.”
“Thank you for your service.”
“Aff.” The technician answered her as she tried to get out of the maintenance bay. She shook her head, trying to a nose full of fresh air. That was something no one had ever warned her about when they talked about the mercenary lifestyle...the smells. Gun Oil...Ozone from the capacitors on the Gauss Rifles and the Particle Cannons, sweat, blood and cordite all created a unique aroma that felt like home to her. She didn’t know why she equated that smell with home, but there were days she wished she could get it out of her head.
The Elementals were stripping out of their armor and going over their final systems check. They’d lost some suits, and a couple of troopers were sporting ugly bruises and lacerations, but no one died. Farraday gave her an approving thumbs up as the scientists tended to her injuries. She waved back at her and chuckled. She liked Farraday a lot.
“You did well today, Mackenzie.” Luna Hazen called from across the landing zone.
“You as well, Luna Hazen.” The two warriors nodded and one of the merchants interrupted her.
“Mackenzie, you have an incoming message.”
“From who?”
“Unsure, but the message is coded with the Ilkhan’s orders, your eyes only. There’s a stateroom upstairs you can use to receive the message.”
“Uh...okay.” What the fuck is an Ilkhan...damn it...the vocabulary with these people is the worst.
The merchant escorted her up to the stateroom and waited for her outside. She sat down in the most comfortable chair she had found so far in clan territory going to have to mark that for a Trial of Possession soon. The blinking light on the communications array waited for her.
“Let’s get this done.” She flipped the switch and let out a slow gasp of breath.
“Hello Mackenzie…” The old voice called out from the speakers.
“Oh...good lord Ivan, i wish you were here. There’s so much shit going on here, and i don’t know where Jaxun is and i am freaking the fuck out.”
“Mackenzie, this is real time two way communication, not a pre-recorded message.”
“What?” Mackenzie fell out of the chair, and it took her a moment to find her bearings again.
“Being on your side of the Communications grid gives me more access, and the Clans maintain their own communications network beyond Comstar’s ability. You just need to know how to access the network.”
“Oh i miss you.”
“I miss you too, how are you adjusting to life as a member of the warrior caste?”
“There are so many rules...and terms i have to keep track of.”
“You may not like it, but i know you are capable of adjusting to life in the clans. I always knew you had the ability to be one of us.”
“You mean a proud freebirth of the Sokolov bloodline?”
“I place less emphasis on your genetics as your performance to date. There is a reason Sibkos have more than 20 members at creation, some of the chaff will fall away, revealing the prizes in the batch.”
“Am i the chaff or the prize?”
“You are the prize, Mackenzie. You are the one who is most like me, and your father. You have the spirit of warrior, even if you do not know the right words or follow the protocols.”
“How do i get these people to accept me?”
“Are you issuing challenges in your battles?”
“You can do that?”
“Of course you can. Every battle is a part of the Trial of Possession for control of the planet. That does not preclude you from following the tenets of Zelbringen and issuing a challenge to a worthy opponent. Throw a challenge out there for the other guys. Follow the rules as you understand them. Take the Initiative and put the other side out of the fight. Hit First, Hit Hardest, Cool off later.”
“Is that it?”
“Eventually they are going to expect you to find your way to the Clan’s traditions and ideas, but you are young, and you are new. You earned the rank of Star Commander in your first trial of Position. I am a little disappointed you did not get the opportunity to finish the trial, but circumstances intervened.”
“How do you know that?”
“Gregor went to Anywhere for me, and your father.”
“What the hell is dad doing?” Mackenzie’s voice had a much harder edge than she intended for it to.
“Serving the Khan of Clan Wolf and compiling intelligence on the pace of the Invasion. He is a Watch Commander, that is his role within the Clans.”
“Ivan, i can not find Jaxun...and they are not telling me things about him.”
“I am getting a similar level of run around from the Falcons about him as well, but i suspect that will fade when i arrive in the OZ.”
“You are coming here?”
“I am heading that way, yes.”
“When?”
“Soon, i have to make sure that the Zathrans are taken care of.”
“Aya?”
“No, the younger ones. The older ones passed their trials of Position, we had one close call with a breach of Zelbringen, but it was a near miss.”
“So they are Mechwarriors of Clan…”
“Goliath Scorpion, for now. We will talk more soon. My most sincere wish for you is to thrive in this new environment, Mackenzie. I always thought that you would be the most capable of adjusting to clan life among your siblings.”
“I don’t know about that Ivan...i would feel better if i could find my brother.”
“We will find answers, and then we will know. Until then, i wish you the best success on the battlefield. You bring honor and glory to yourself with every victory. Win enough battles and the rest will follow.”
“Thank you,” She smiled at the old ma and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“You are always welcome, and we will sort this out. I will see you soon, Star Commander Mackenzie Sokolov of Clan Jade Falcon.”
“I will see you soon, Galaxy Commander Ivan Kirov of Clan Goliath Scorpion.”
“You can do that?”
“Of course you can. Every battle is a part of the Trial of Possession for control of the planet. That does not preclude you from following the tenets of Zelbringen and issuing a challenge to a worthy opponent. Throw a challenge out there for the other guys. Follow the rules as you understand them. Take the Initiative and put the other side out of the fight. Hit First, Hit Hardest, Cool off later.”
“Is that it?”
“Eventually they are going to expect you to find your way to the Clan’s traditions and ideas, but you are young, and you are new. You earned the rank of Star Commander in your first trial of Position. I am a little disappointed you did not get the opportunity to finish the trial, but circumstances intervened.”
“How do you know that?”
“Gregor went to Anywhere for me, and your father.”
“What the hell is dad doing?” Mackenzie’s voice had a much harder edge than she intended for it to.
“Serving the Khan of Clan Wolf and compiling intelligence on the pace of the Invasion. He is a Watch Commander, that is his role within the Clans.”
“Ivan, i can not find Jaxun...and they are not telling me things about him.”
“I am getting a similar level of run around from the Falcons about him as well, but i suspect that will fade when i arrive in the OZ.”
“You are coming here?”
“I am heading that way, yes.”
“When?”
“Soon, i have to make sure that the Zathrans are taken care of.”
“Aya?”
“No, the younger ones. The older ones passed their trials of Position, we had one close call with a breach of Zelbringen, but it was a near miss.”
“So they are Mechwarriors of Clan…”
“Goliath Scorpion, for now. We will talk more soon. My most sincere wish for you is to thrive in this new environment, Mackenzie. I always thought that you would be the most capable of adjusting to clan life among your siblings.”
“I don’t know about that Ivan...i would feel better if i could find my brother.”
“We will find answers, and then we will know. Until then, i wish you the best success on the battlefield. You bring honor and glory to yourself with every victory. Win enough battles and the rest will follow.”
“Thank you,” She smiled at the old ma and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“You are always welcome, and we will sort this out. I will see you soon, Star Commander Mackenzie Sokolov of Clan Jade Falcon.”
“I will see you soon, Galaxy Commander Ivan Kirov of Clan Goliath Scorpion.”
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