Part 456: Political Vote 17 Results
Combat Theater Vote 17 ResultsA Mechwarrior tugged at his neurohelmet as the cherry-picker descended from his Dragon’s cockpit. Fresh pockmarks from enemy autocannon hits still marred the machine’s chests. Technicians already swarmed over the BattleMech’s lower extremities , cursing each other in a mix of broken English or equally broken Japanese. They were still rough around the edges but the technicians, at least, were working together. Rough was a word that described the Draconis Suns RCTs well: They’d been brought together with a mix of officers and Mechwarriors from several shattered Kuritan commands shorn up with experienced House Davion officers taken from regiments formerly serving along the Capellan border.
Theoretically, Hanse Davion had assembled a collection of veteran and elite soldiers that should’ve had little reason to hate each other. But they did anyway. To Minobu Tetsuhara’s eyes the capabilities of the Draconis Suns RCTs were questionable. Between the language barriers and general unfamiliarity with the other’s tactics—and aided by under-the-table trading of pilots—the RCT’s BattleMech forces had tended to segregate into Kurita or Davion companies. In the 3rd RCT an entire Kurita battalion had formed. The decision to break those up on the eve of battle—to forcibly reintegrate pilots who had no desire to work together—had been one of the hardest of the new Warlord’s career. But he couldn’t have Kuritan companies abandoning Davion ones in the heat of battle. He’d made it clear: trading of pilots was forbidden. They worked together or they hung.
His executive officer met him on the ground, noteputer in hand. Colonel Alicia Sandoval-Reitz held the handheld out for him as he stepped from the lift. She was the direct commander of 1st regiment, and while having a woman as his executive officer was profoundly uncomfortable, her sheer ability both on and off the field had swiftly won him over. It helped that she was as bluntly uncharismatic as any Tai-sho he’d ever served with. Colonel Sandoval-Reitz didn’t seem to care whether the troops liked her, but she did demand their loyalty and her fair dealings with the men and women under her command had gone a long way to win, if not the respect, at least the consideration of the Kuritan. Minobu’s own acceptance meant the DCMS troops would show her the same difference they would any other commanding officer. The chief tenant of Bushido was loyalty: they would do their duty and obey, whether they liked it or not. Whether the Federated Suns troops understood or not.
“At least someone’s having fun,” Colonel Sandoval-Reitz tipped her head, using her strong chin to point at the technical crews. “Was it necessary to personally enter the battle?”
“A minor skirmish,” Minobu brushed at his shoulder, as though brushing off the Colonel’s concern. “A long lance of enemy light `Mechs engaged us as I rendezvoused with fourth company. They are a courageous people but we cut them down without trouble.”
“A headhunter unit.” Sandoval-Reitz sighed. “You must be careful, Marshall.”
Minobu didn’t bat an eyelash at her use of the Federated Suns version of his title. He didn’t care how he was addressed as long as it was sufficiently respectful, and ‘Field Marshal’ didn’t carry the same negative connotations as ‘Warlord’ probably did. “Everyone fights, Colonel. I could hardly ask anyone to engage the Clans in battle if I were unwilling.”
“It’s not a matter of willingness.” Minobu could tell from the set of her jaw she likely wouldn’t be dissuaded. “With all respect Marshal Tetsuhara: everyone may fight but not everyone leads.”
Her expression soured slightly as she added, “It’s a poor servant who allows her Lord to put himself in danger needlessly.”
“I can see you won’t let go of this until I concede.” He paused, “So I will. You also needn’t walk on eggshells with me, Colonel. I understand and respect your concern, even if I do not agree. A samurai does not seek battle but I will fight when you take the field. How goes the war?”
“As much as I hate to say it, we seem to have taken the Clanners by surprise. I was against responding to the Clan broadcast but when you informed them that our regiments are newly created and have no battle history the Clans seem to have chosen forces to match. The Clans haven’t engaged us with front line troops, it’s like fighting trainees who were told to prepare for three BattleMech regiments. Being hit by three full regimental combat teams has put them completely on the defensive. We seem to have them outnumbered, but there’s no telling when that will change. First and second have taken two of our objectives, Third’s managed one against heavier opposition.”
She took a breath, “The only problem is: the Hitoshi coolant plant. We bypassed it in the first push since it’s isolated and not strategically valuable but a heavy Clan force seems to be assembling there and it’s in our back field. Our analysts think they’ve probably got some sort of supply base or ammunition dump in the area. We’ve also got a field hospital in the area because we assumed it would be safe. If the Clans hit it they’ll do a number on our morale.”
“We need to hit them with something first,” Tetsuhara agreed. “Before they can use their position to strike our forces from the rear. Our BattleMech companies are all committed, but we’re holding several tank companies in reserve. We can’t afford weakness here: choose two and send both and if you can free up scout `Mech or two commit them to the fight as well. I want to know what we’re up against. I’m trusting you, Colonel: this is normally the kind of thing I’d take on myself.”
She saluted, “I won’t let you down, sir.”
Players:
Foulbrood
Infected
Friar John
SolusLunes
Losanda
Hooman
Ba Donk a Bonk
Alternates:
sheep-dodger
Foreign Tourist
CisMaleTheSensitiv
The Merry Marauder
Allen Wren
Narsham
DivineCoffeeBinge
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