Part 779: Let's Read: Main Event - Part 21
Let’s Read: Main Event (part 21)Chapter 21
Houston, Borghese
13 December 3054
Days elapsed since book start: 225
Mercenaries recruited since book start: 6
Mercenaries recruited off-screen: 1
Things accomplished since book start: 1 (
Protagonists introduced since book start: 7
Protagonists mentioned but not yet introduced: 1
Antagonists introduced since book start: 3 (guess who?)
Antagonists defeated since book start: 0
Chapters spent on Northwind: 5
Chapters spent on Solaris: 10
Chapters spent on Outreach: 4
Chapters spent on Borghese: 13 (the book ends here)
Rose, currently technically holding the ruling council of planet Borghese hostage with his superior battlemech forces, feels confident enough to step out of his charger to go have a chat with them in person (rather than doing what I’m sure he originally intended: yelling in their general direction via his Charger’s loudspeakers). The buildings guards let Jeremiah in, so he assumes he’s been cleared for entry or that they’re ceremonial.
No.
They’re scared shitless because you’re holding the building hostage with your Battlemechs you stupid fuck!
Rose then…
Main Event posted:
Feeling slightly like Daniel in the lion’s den, Rose began to move down the short aisle to the platform.
… REALLY?!
My rage is as furious as it is impotent. Jeremiah Rose is not a biblical hero and an angel is not going to come down from heaven to keep lions from eating him; although the rest of the allegory works since anyone who dares to oppose him gets thrown to the lions by the end of the book.
Chairman Zenos greets Rose warmly, and Rose smiles back ‘but it’s not nearly as warm’ (in other words, he’s preparing to be a colossal douchebag. Again). Crenshaw, one of the councilmen, then calls Jeremiah on holding the assembly hostage with his BattleMechs. ANTAGONIST DETECTED! WEAPONS: ONLINE! ALL SYSTEMS NOMINAL!
Ahem.
Yes, we have been introduced to our second antagonist of the book. Surprise, he’s a politician. Crenshaw then tries to tell Jeremiah Rose to go fuck himself, and that he’s not welcome on Borgese. Rose points out that he has a legally binding contract; but Crenshaw counters that the contract isn’t legally binding since it was signed on behalf of the planet without the council’s consent. Zenos Cooke then punches the hardwood table, and tells Crenshaw to go fuck himself since the Planetary Chairman doesn’t need a goddamned quorum to hire a mercenary I guess. SPACE-DEMOCRACY AT WORK!
Crenshaw also insists on calling Jeremiah Rose a ‘boy,’ which, being a colossal manchild, pisses Rose off. We then learn that Borgese can’t decide whether or not they’re above or below the truce line and they’re worried the Clans might attack them (gee, I wonder if that is going to happen (no I don’t, it is)).
A retired FedCom Hauptman then shows up, points out that if the planet’s invaded everyone’s fucked; but if they’re just raided Jeremiah and the Black Thorns might actually be able to do some good. His name is, and I kid you not, Salander Morgain. No, it’s not a reference to anything. It’s just stupid.
His defining character trait is, incidentally, ‘smug asshole’
He’s also a veteran who’s fought the Steel Vipers and Jade Falcons, and Hauptman Morgain then begins expositing about how proud he was when he came back after fighting in the war to find the people of Borghese still looked up to him, seeing as he is a great and powerful noble or some shit (honestly, I’m not much paying attention to him). He’s also suffering from battlefield injuries and Space-PTSD, and believes that Jeremiah Rose can do good for planet Borghese. He’s in full support of Jeremiah Rose’s presence, and supports giving him money.
… Rose then decides he doesn’t like Hauptman Morgain.
Main Event posted:
Rose stared at the Council members, but watched Morgain out of the corner of his eye. The speech was slick and very well received. Rose hoped the man was just a gifted speaker. There was something about him that he didn’t like, but just what it was eluded him. Jealousy? Rose had always believed he was above such an emotion.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
—AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
No.
Anyway, the Planetary Council decides to give Jeremiah his money so he’ll
Chapter over, we have two new antagonists (guess who they turn out to be).