Beaked TF Up in Unity City

Personal Chatterweb blog of Star Colonel Ailbhe McKenzie, Clan Snow Raven (She/Her). Pitch-perfect, polyamorous, polymathic, and priceless. Serial snake kisser. I am the Great Father's second-most-autistic warrior, and I have been designing BattleMechs, DropShips, and WarShips for over a century. Much squawking lies ahead—You have been warned, quiaff? Asks are welcomed. 18+ only, please. Profile picture by gabsilla (bsky).

[downright-lankenautical]

(OOC: I WAS gonna have those pinned posts up today, but all of a sudden I've got a bunch of stuff to figure out before I can continue to write those! Delays are necessary and inevitable.

(There will be content soon(tm).

(Soon...)

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Should I make a Merlin IIC when I have gotten freshened up?

Aff!

[downright-lankenautical]

Behold, the beast:

Gave it my best shot. Going on a trip so I am too busy packing to really commit to it, but this is certainly a Merlin IIC.

Could I have used a fourth ton of ATM ammunition instead of a second ton of heavy flamer ammunition? Likely. Will I change it? Not very likely.

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

And all of them are cool!!!

[downright-lankenautical]

All we need is for the Raven Alliance to keep up what they were doing with the Carrion Crow and War Crow...

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Hab Unit A - Ailbhe, Vasha, and Ophelia's Quarters Argo Interior Operation TOUCHDOWN Staging Area Islington Magistracy of Canopus 3rd October, 3153

Ailbhe McKenzie laughed, sharing in the merriment. She and the Totem Sixteen—of course save for Commanding General Hazen, who was still on Terra—had gathered in her and her wives' quarters to hold a relatively low-key party. Watch something fun, drink something nice, play some games. Anything to boost morale ahead of the impending operation.

Ailbhe herself was sat on the couch at Ophelia's side, curled up into the Elemental's right shoulder—Ophelia had wrapped her right arm around Ailbhe, and of course had slipped that hand up and under the snow raven's blouse to idly grope her chest. Vasha was laid across both of their laps, her back propped up with additional cushions. The rest of the couch was occupied by Cheyenne and Astrid, and the five of them were watching some schlock on the holovid.

Ailbhe had not bothered to register the name of the program to her memory. It was something Sea Fox had put out in the past year, the product of a collaboration between the Skate Khanate and some studio on Hardcore. It was engaging enough. The important part was that they were all having a good time together.

The snow raven sipped her cocktail quietly, and made a mental note to thank Haloti for it later. She was in quite a good mood indeed, for the quality of her drink to be her greatest concern.

( @downright-lankenautical )

As the holovid came to a close, Ophelia moved to change the channel, likely trying to see if there was something similarly schlocky to keep on as background noise. But when she pressed the button several times, for a split second there was a news report on the screen... and what it said — and showed — was enough for Vasha to quickly demand that Ophelia switch the channel back to the news...

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe hadn't been looking at the right time, as she was much too busy staring down at Vasha's body. She was consequently rather confused when the steel viper demanded that they switch the channel back, but from then on she gave the screen her full attention.

So when Ophelia switched it back, and a picture of their dear commander's face appeared alongside the phrase "HOUSE CAMERON NOT GONE?" Ailbhe tensed up in fear. Her thoughts raced: Oh no. Not now. Why now? Fuck! Did it leak somehow? She did not say anything to me about this, it must have! All while she stayed perfectly still but tense against Ophelia, like she was a hair's breadth from jumping up and sprinting into the hallway.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Ophelia, Vasha, Remus and Astrid stared at the screen. One of them beckoned the others into the room, and soon all of them were watching and listening to the news report, changing the channel every now and then.

But it seemed all the new channels were running nearly identical stories. Only the tone was different. The Star League News, Terran News Network, Federated News Service, Magistracy News, the Aurigan Coalition Media Service, even Solaris Broadcasting Corporation... All positive or, at least, neutral.

The Capellan Wire Service, New Vandenberg News, and others... Not so much...

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

On instinct, Ailbhe scanned the others in the room for the kind of reaction that Savannah had feared from the Totem Warriors. Thankfully, she thought, they do not appear shocked. Have they been harboring their own suspicions...?

In order to break the silence Ailbhe turned her head up to look at Remus, who had begun leaning over the back of the couch between her and Cheyenne. For a moment, she choked down her own anxiety. "You do not seem very surprised by this revelation, trothkin. Do you disbelieve it?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Cheyenne, his jaw having reattached itself after a few moments of shock, looked at Alibhe and "hmm'd" briefly.

"... Neg, to be honest. This explains a lot, actually. All the silver paint, for one."

"And the mysterious lack of ever having monetary troubles..." Vasha put in.

"And the privately owned JumpShip," Astrid chuckled.

"To be honest," said Remus, "I had my suspicions for a while. Not this exactly... this was not in my running, but more that there was absolutely something she was hiding. From a lot of people."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Aff," Ailbhe replied with a nod. "And she clearly had good reason. I need not point out how anxious she has always been, quineg? She has been almost always on edge, to some degree." She then sighed. "This is precisely the thing one should be nervous about." For a moment, Ailbhe pondered a thought.

Ailbhe's eyes went wide. Great Father, I am a fool! She hastily spun her head to the ghost bear at the end of the couch. "Astrid," she all but commanded, "please contact the Argo security chief. I am anxious for her safety, as I believe she is out in public." She took a deep breath, to try and calm herself. It hardly worked. "After all, she did not join us because she had arranged for a 'hot date' today, quiaff? A young lady named Anya?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Aff, so I have heard," Astrid said, getting up to go the wall-mounted comm panel.

"I wonder if she has ever told anyone else?" Haloti asked, curiousity in his voice.

"Well, I think she would have told Kamea, quiaff?" Vasha responds. "One would tell their wife this sort of thing, I would think."

"You make a good point," Haloti nods. "Wait, does that mean that..."

"The Aurigan royal family is a direct continuation of the Cameron line, aff, so it would seem."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Thank you, Astrid."

Ailbhe then silently sipped her drink for a moment. To give herself time to think, and an excuse to break eye contact. Do I want them to know? she pondered. I have kept this secret too. But they seem to be understanding of Savannah's choice, so they will likely understand my position...

She made her choice. "Aff, Vasha. Kamea knew." Though she was speaking to her wife, she could not bring herself to meet Vasha's eyes. She instead stared down into her cocktail glass. "As did Raju. The kids did not though, lest it get to their heads. But I suppose they know now."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"And... how is it that you know who it was that already knew?" asked Alexzander from his seat on the other side of the couch. His tone was more playful and curious than suspicious, and several of the other Totem Warriors turned to Alibhe.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe sighed. You brought this upon yourself, girl, she chided herself. You made your bed. Lie in it.

"Because I am one such person, Alexzander," she replied with some pain in her voice, wilting under the others' gaze. "I am so concerned for her because she has spoken to me of her fears for a long time, and I do not think they are entirely irrational. Of what would happen if this got out."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"I see," Alexzander said, his curiosity seemingly sated.

"I imagine she had her reasons for not telling us," Ophelia said.

"With how much she despises being given deference she has not earned," Vasha added, "Once she figured out where we had come from, I imagine she thought we would grovel at her feet."

"We probably would have," T'Challa chuckled. "Especially Melissa. Can you imagine?"

"Speaking of... We should send an HPG message to Terra and check on Melissa... with how much she venerates the old Star League I imagine this will be quite the revelation for her specifically," Samuel rumbled.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Aff, Samuel," Ailbhe agreed. They let go of that very quickly, she thought to herself with a frown around her beak. They do not resent my secrecy? "That would be best. I am sure that Melissa has already seen the news by now, likely sooner than we did. It would be warranted for someone to check on her."

Ailbhe then turned herself back towards Vasha, an ashamed look on her face. "...and you are entirely right, Vasha. That was exactly the concern that she spoke to me of. It is a relief to me, and I am sure that it will be one to her, that you have not reacted that way." She winced. "Those who are present, that is. I do hope the old bird does not throw a hundred excited messages at her, for Savannah's sake."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Hopefully her new fiance can keep her from the alcohol," Kiera said, her tone both concerned and teasing.

"I think she will be fine," Remus chimed in. "She will need some time to process it, but..." he paused, snapping his fingers, trying to remember something, "ah! Theodora. Theodora will help there. Not to mention how busy she is, with her shiny new rank."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe winced when Kiera brought up the subject of their dear friend's substance abuse, but she nodded affirmatively. "I hope so too. I have not spoken to Theodora yet personally, but from what Melissa has told me... I believe she will be a stabilizing presence, at minimum."

The snow raven tilted her glass back, and finished off her cocktail. "Checking on her is worthwhile. I am not concerned for her health."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Nor am I," Kiera says. "I merely worry about the psychological impact of this, only a few days before the operation is meant to begin."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe nodded. "Aff, I understand your worry. I still would ask for clarity: For whose psyche are you concerned, Kiera?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Both Melissa and Savannah," Kiera said. "This will affect both of them."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"It will," Ailbhe agreed, "but Savannah is at least close by. Supporting her through it will be easier." She then frowned. "I am afraid that I do not know what to suggest for Melissa."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"I think she will be able to work through it. She is quite resilient," Kiera said.

"Not to mention how it will just make her faith in the new Star League even greater," Sienna added. "Now that a Cameron has returned, and all."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"In a sense," Ailbhe admitted. "More accurately, one has been here the whole time. Helping us, leading us. I think she will take comfort in that."

The snow raven then receded into herself, still beating herself up for crimes imagined. Her voice remained at a typical volume, to project it. "Astrid. Have you yet heard from security as to her status?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"She has returned, along with Anya. They are in her quarters, I believe," Astrid said.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Thank the Great Father," Ailbhe said as she let go of the breath she did not know she was holding. "That is a relief, dear. Thank you."

A smile returned to her face. Now that she knew Savannah was safe, she could calm most of her nerves. "I will leave her be for the time being, but I may yet go to her later. After there has been time to settle. Unless any of you reckon that even that would be ill-advised?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Neg, I think if you gave her some time, it would be fine," Astrid said. "Evidently she and Anya fled back here. Perhaps Savannah feared some manner of assassination attempt... but what any Amaris loyalists would be doing out here, and after so many hundreds of years, I have no idea. It is likely that none exist."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe shook her head. "Aff and neg, Astrid. I am certain she feared for her and Anya's safety given what she has told me in the past, but I do not think the Betrayer has anything to do with it." Without a drink to sip, she merely took a deep breath between sentences. "I believe what she fears is more current. This operation brings unity to the Inner Sphere through common cause, but this decade is still a volatile one."

"She once told me that she fears a Succession War anew, one that could be ignited merely by how the various Clans and the House Lords would react if they were to learn of the Cameron dynasty's survival." Ailbhe's tone grew darker. "We know well that she is loath to be lauded, to be worshiped. I believe that what absolutely petrifies her is the thought of being made a symbol."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"That may end up occuring whether she likes it or not," Ophelia said. "It would be better that she might be able to define how that occurs, rather than have it thrust upon her."

"I imagine that Savannah will have a long talk with Melissa and the First Lord on the subject. Darvendra will likely help reign Alaric in, though Chance... Hmm," Remus mused.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Aff," Ailbhe agreed. "She will have to speak to them once she gets a chance to." She then stifles a chuckle. That was not intentional. "Once the operation had concluded, in all likelihood."

The snow raven's gaze drifted across the room as she spoke. When it fell upon a clock, realization dawned on her face. "Oh! It is already fifteen minutes past. Did we still want to have our planned fun, or has the news put us in the wrong mood?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Neg. Let us have fun. It will let us work off some of the emotions," Ophelia smiled.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Then please let me up, Ophelia," Ailbhe requested as she moved to stand. "I will go change, and check in with Ilse to see if she has become available. I am sure she would not want to miss out if she has." Once she had stood, Ailbhe turned to blow a kiss down to both of the serpents. "I will not be long, my loves."

(((Timeskip for a few hours wooooOooOo)))

Several hours later, Ailbhe McKenzie was in an excellent mood. She had blown off quite a lot of steam, as the party had gotten much rowdier once the subject of the news had passed. They others were still enjoying themselves back there, no doubt; Ailbhe had merely decided on her own to freshen up, slip into clean clothes, and make herself useful around the Argo for a while. Perhaps she would rejoin them later. Such indulgences could wait.

Over that time Ailbhe had elected to take up various menial tasks aboard the ship, but her most recent one was to run some food down to Hab Unit A, requested from the commander's quarters. She was of course eager to get a chance to check on Savannah, after how that poor girl's day had gone. In truth, Ailbhe had previously stopped by when she first left the party: From what she had heard through the door, she had rather sheepishly decided to leave them be and come back later.

Since then, Ailbhe knew that Savannah had left the ship to run some errand of hers. Accompanied by guards, thankfully. The commander had returned not too long ago and requested this meal for two. Ailbhe did not feel she needed an excuse to check on her, of course—it was still nice to have one anyway.

Once she arrived at the door, Ailbhe pressed the button next to the handle to buzz in. It would be far more effective than knocking if the intended recipient was burying her face in a pillow. 'Room service', the snow raven mused to herself as she waited for a response, as if we are aboard a pleasure liner. Nearly twelve decades, and it still amuses me. She chuckled under her breath. I do not really mind. I too have had days where I want to leave my quarters as little as possible, and on those days I made use of the crew's generosity all the same. It would be hypocritical of me.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Inside the bedroom of Savannah's quarters the sound of the buzzer snaps Savannah out of her daze of cuddling with Anya, sending her rustling the sheets and muttering muffled Belter swears as she jumped up to get dressed. Halfway through pulling on her outfit, Savannah called out, "Just... a few seconds, Alibhe!"

She looks over at Anya and mouths, "sorry!" Then she whispers, "Completely forgot I asked her to bring us some food. Mi nakaŋapensa. Du-sensa, mi ámawala."

@msn-04iinightingale

[msn-04iinightingale]

“Hn?” Anya said, having been close to dozing by that point before being jostled back to awareness.

“oh, uh…that’s fine.” She replied, taking a few seconds to process it be fore responding.

“Gah! I should get dressed!” She blurted out, the realization that she was very much not coming over her like a PPC bolt to a cockpit.

After a moment of flailing in the covers, she manages to find her own clothing and squirm into it in, what must be admitted, is both and efficient, if less than dignified manner. Giving Savannah both a thumbs up and fixing her hair with her other hand, she addresses her wife to be.

“Ok. I’m, I’m good now.”

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe had no intention to eavesdrop on the two of them, but she still kept her sensitive ears open for a reply to her buzz in. Or at least the sound of someone approaching the door.

So when Savannah called out to her hurriedly, the snow raven quietly chuckled to herself. She sounds like she is in a rush, Ailbhe mused, I must have interrupted something. Surely, she knows better than to get busy coupling when she is expecting a meal delivered to her door. I hope she had not forgotten.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"You'll like Alibhe. She's another Totem Warrior, like the others you've seen around the Argo," Savannah says to Anya, getting up and walking through the living room of the suite to the door. "Been with us off and on for decades now."

@msn-04iinightingale

[msn-04iinightingale]

”Ah, I see.” Anya replied, finishing making her hair look a bit less like she was dozing in bed and following Savannah now that she was decent.

“I should probably say hello at least.”

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe adjusted the feathers on her head with her right hand and held the cart of food still with her left, waiting patiently. Once the door had been opened, she walked into Savannah's quarters as she had so many times before, only this time she had that wheeled trolley in tow. She would normally have waited to be told to enter, but the commander's food was blocking the corridor!

Ailbhe stood at 189 centimetres tall (6'2"), and was dressed in an emerald-green button-up blouse and a navy-blue pencil skirt. Her feathers were white in most places, with a grey marking down her face and the front of her neck as well as another running down the length of her back. The scaly upper surfaces of her hands, lower legs, and talons were a similar grey, though the undersides of her palms and soles took on a more pinkish hue. Her distinctly corvid beak was black. Ailbhe was recognizable as a Snow Raven to anyone who had seen a picture of one or who had seen or met the Totem Warrior Corax McKenna, the latter of whom Ailbhe much resembled. Unlike Corax though her eyes were a turquoise green, and each was accompanied by a small, black swoop, almost a malar stripe.

Ailbhe's figure was fit, but she certainly did not appear to be of Elemental stock. Her overall bodily proportions were also not quite as exaggerated as those of the Totem Sixteen and Savannah, but the outfit she was wearing still showed off what she had quite well; Ailbhe was curvy, but only when compared to the average woman rather than to her fellow Totem Warriors. On her left hand's ring finger she wore an exquisite silver band, set with three teardrop-cut gemstones of equal size: One each of a rich garnet, a bright aquamarine, and a teal-green kunzite. If one were to pay it enough mind, they could have identified two sweet yet conflicting scents coming from her: One of maple, and the other of strawberries.

"Good morning, you two," Ailbhe said as she began transferring the covered dishes from the cart to the kitchen counter, her dulcet voice carrying an accent uncommon to Clan speech: One might hear it as Scottish, specifically a kind of Glaswegian. "Are you feeling quite alright, Savannah? I have been worried, I know you understand." Though she had registered Anya's presence, Ailbhe had only yet given this new person a glance as her hands were still busy—She would respond if addressed, but otherwise will wait until she is done.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"I'm doing fine," Savannah said. "Better than I was, by any rate..."

Savannah paused as her eyes went first to the food, and then to Alibhe's clothes.

"Thanks for bringing my ramen. But, uh, Alibhe? Why are you wearing Ilse's clothes? Those are hers and they smell like her..."

@msn-04iinightingale

[msn-04iinightingale]

Huh, I’m starting to wonder if Savannah knows anyone who isn’t pretty. Anya thought to herself.

Her stomach, as if in response to this, decided it was the right moment to gurgle audibly.

“…uh, sorry.” She apologized, face flushing slightly.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"I am glad to hear that you are feeling better, dear," Ailbhe said with a smile. Or her closest approximation of one, anyway; It was far easier to hear the happiness in her tone of voice than see it on her face.

Her tone that turned sour immediately after, as the moment that she finished transferring all the food to the countertop she poked Savannah firmly in the arm. "Come on now, seana-charaid, could they not be mine? You must admit that I look very cute in them." She laughed. "Truly, that nose of yours is something else. I took the liberty of borrowing them this morning when the opportunity presented itself, does that satisfy you?"

Lastly, the raven turned her gaze towards the new girl. "There is no need to apologize, just help yourself." She leaned against an empty part of the counter. "I am Star Colonel Ailbhe McKenzie, or McKenzie-Kinnison-Khatib on some documents. I imagine that you represent much of the reason that my dear friend is feeling better, quiaff?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[sakhanweaver]

LET CLANNERS WEAR THEIR CEREMONIAL MASKS MORE OFTEN PLEASE CATALYST

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

The Harmony Gold lawsuit and its consequences have been a disaster for the Battletech fandom and franchise ever since

[sakhanweaver]

Alaric Ward caving to pressure and letting Terra be capitalist again is honestly tragic.

[sakhanweaver]

Hoping the Star Adders just wipe out the Inner Sphere at this point, this shit is not salvageable.

[sakhanweaver]

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

The writers have said there will never be a second Clan Invasion storyline. They do not want to retread old ground in that fashion. They are keeping the Homeworlds off screen until they come up with something more interesting to do with them, and have no timeline as to when or if that ever happen.

[tinylilemrys]

The writer's barely disguised longing for a soft life shared with someone who loves them

[damnfandomproblems]

Fandom Problem #15,252:

I've been "accused" of using generative AI to write my fanfics because—get this—I use em dashes. These idiots need to open a book sometime and read a few pages. I'm not dumbing down my writing just to appease someone with AI brainrot; if anything, I'm just using them more frequently.

[downright-lankenautical]

We know you like WarShips, but what's your favorite one?

Truly, a question that I wished I were asked more often!

I feel that it would be improper for me to choose one of the classes that I helped to design: Nycticorax, Oxpecker, Aphelocoma, Dinornis. A figurative mother cannot help but be biased in favor of her own creations, quiaff? For that reason, I will exclude them from consideration.

The Faslane class of Yardships is one of my favorites, and I take pride in knowing that we of the Vesper Ravens independently arrived at the same conclusions that ComStar did when we designed the Oxpecker class. The McKenna class is also a beautiful piece of Star League-era engineering that shares its elevated ranking. Still, neither of those can claim to be my singular favorite.

That honor goes to the Sovetskii Soyuz Heavy Cruiser.

I favor the Sovetskii Soyuz for multiple reasons. Its heavy long-range armament pleases me, as does its surplus of DropShip docking collars compared to similar Star League-era hulls: Four for the SLDF configuration, five for the Clan refit, and uniquely six on the CWS Dire Wolf. It was also significantly less reliant on manual labor for loading and firing control, as it was for its time a design with unprecedented investment in computerized systems.

The low armor tonnage of the class is of course one of its most glaring weaknesses, but that was a weakness that could be and indeed was mitigated by the SLDF through their fleet tactics. For its size, it was all but unrivaled as a fire platform. In the modern era its survivability could also be improved through the use of lamellor ferro-carbide armor over improved ferro-aluminum, similar to armor replacement refits that were undertaken for other former SLDF vessels in the Clan toumans, but that is most convenient to do when constructing a new WarShip. Only we have ever entertained that thought.

I regret that so many of these vessels were lost in the liberation of Terra from the Usurper. Going into Terra there were ten score ships of the class, and only a tenth of them survived to leave with the Exodus—and a handful of examples ending up in the hands of ComStar and the Word of Blake. Almost all of those remaining original Star League hulls were lost later in the carnage of the Word of Blake Jihad and the Wars of Reaving. It saddens me greatly, as so many things did in those years.

Oh well. What is lost we can only remember, and I will choose to remember this design fondly.

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

[the-clawtake]

And the spheroids wonder why we manage to beat them in every fair fight we fought...

[c-billbaby]

Twycross. Luthien. Huntress. Strana Mechty.

[the-clawtake]

I believe I specified FAIR fights.

[c-billbaby]

Define fair. The ones where you have all the advantages?

[khanhannahlewis]

Even I must admit the stravag refusal trials were a fair battle. As was Luthien if I remember my sibko lessons correctly.

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Notably, at Luthien, no batchall was issued, so the Kuritans, Kell Hounds, and Dragoon could fight as dirty as they wished. And of course there is the matter of Khan Leroux of the Nova Cats having bid away half his aerospace support, which many would argue doomed the effort from the start.

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

I have made the Mars Assault Vehicle fly.

...I got a bit bored.

It seems quite formidable. Though I would, at the very least, substitute the standard armor for something better.

[downright-lankenautical]

I also can't help but notice the standard engine. Are the standard armor and engine chosen over manufacturing concerns, or would it be possible to use more advanced components in their place?

At the very least, even if you kept the weapon payload the same, an armor upgrade could see greater resilience and an engine upgrade could see an increase to that, fuel mass, or maneuverability.

[boinkingbattlemechs]

Merlin vs Grizzly

WHICH IS MORE SMASHABLE?

Merlin

Grizzly

Voting ended onJun 14

Lore for the 'Mechs can be found here:

Post by @boinkingbattlemechs · 1 poll

💬 0  🔁 6  ❤️ 9 · Merlin (BattleMech) · Merlin SMASH or PASS? The Merlin debuted in 3010 as a product of the rebuilt Mountain Wolf BattleMe

Post by @boinkingbattlemechs · 1 poll

💬 0  🔁 8  ❤️ 10 · Grizzly · Grizzly SMASH or PASS? The Grizzly is a BattleMech that was developed by Clan Ghost Bear scientists in the thi

[downright-lankenautical]

You should vote for the Merlin. I am not biased at all. You can trust me. :>

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Hab Unit A - Ailbhe, Vasha, and Ophelia's Quarters Argo Interior Operation TOUCHDOWN Staging Area Islington Magistracy of Canopus 3rd October, 3153

Ailbhe McKenzie laughed, sharing in the merriment. She and the Totem Sixteen—of course save for Commanding General Hazen, who was still on Terra—had gathered in her and her wives' quarters to hold a relatively low-key party. Watch something fun, drink something nice, play some games. Anything to boost morale ahead of the impending operation.

Ailbhe herself was sat on the couch at Ophelia's side, curled up into the Elemental's right shoulder—Ophelia had wrapped her right arm around Ailbhe, and of course had slipped that hand up and under the snow raven's blouse to idly grope her chest. Vasha was laid across both of their laps, her back propped up with additional cushions. The rest of the couch was occupied by Cheyenne and Astrid, and the five of them were watching some schlock on the holovid.

Ailbhe had not bothered to register the name of the program to her memory. It was something Sea Fox had put out in the past year, the product of a collaboration between the Skate Khanate and some studio on Hardcore. It was engaging enough. The important part was that they were all having a good time together.

The snow raven sipped her cocktail quietly, and made a mental note to thank Haloti for it later. She was in quite a good mood indeed, for the quality of her drink to be her greatest concern.

( @downright-lankenautical )

As the holovid came to a close, Ophelia moved to change the channel, likely trying to see if there was something similarly schlocky to keep on as background noise. But when she pressed the button several times, for a split second there was a news report on the screen... and what it said — and showed — was enough for Vasha to quickly demand that Ophelia switch the channel back to the news...

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe hadn't been looking at the right time, as she was much too busy staring down at Vasha's body. She was consequently rather confused when the steel viper demanded that they switch the channel back, but from then on she gave the screen her full attention.

So when Ophelia switched it back, and a picture of their dear commander's face appeared alongside the phrase "HOUSE CAMERON NOT GONE?" Ailbhe tensed up in fear. Her thoughts raced: Oh no. Not now. Why now? Fuck! Did it leak somehow? She did not say anything to me about this, it must have! All while she stayed perfectly still but tense against Ophelia, like she was a hair's breadth from jumping up and sprinting into the hallway.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Ophelia, Vasha, Remus and Astrid stared at the screen. One of them beckoned the others into the room, and soon all of them were watching and listening to the news report, changing the channel every now and then.

But it seemed all the new channels were running nearly identical stories. Only the tone was different. The Star League News, Terran News Network, Federated News Service, Magistracy News, the Aurigan Coalition Media Service, even Solaris Broadcasting Corporation... All positive or, at least, neutral.

The Capellan Wire Service, New Vandenberg News, and others... Not so much...

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

On instinct, Ailbhe scanned the others in the room for the kind of reaction that Savannah had feared from the Totem Warriors. Thankfully, she thought, they do not appear shocked. Have they been harboring their own suspicions...?

In order to break the silence Ailbhe turned her head up to look at Remus, who had begun leaning over the back of the couch between her and Cheyenne. For a moment, she choked down her own anxiety. "You do not seem very surprised by this revelation, trothkin. Do you disbelieve it?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Cheyenne, his jaw having reattached itself after a few moments of shock, looked at Alibhe and "hmm'd" briefly.

"... Neg, to be honest. This explains a lot, actually. All the silver paint, for one."

"And the mysterious lack of ever having monetary troubles..." Vasha put in.

"And the privately owned JumpShip," Astrid chuckled.

"To be honest," said Remus, "I had my suspicions for a while. Not this exactly... this was not in my running, but more that there was absolutely something she was hiding. From a lot of people."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Aff," Ailbhe replied with a nod. "And she clearly had good reason. I need not point out how anxious she has always been, quineg? She has been almost always on edge, to some degree." She then sighed. "This is precisely the thing one should be nervous about." For a moment, Ailbhe pondered a thought.

Ailbhe's eyes went wide. Great Father, I am a fool! She hastily spun her head to the ghost bear at the end of the couch. "Astrid," she all but commanded, "please contact the Argo security chief. I am anxious for her safety, as I believe she is out in public." She took a deep breath, to try and calm herself. It hardly worked. "After all, she did not join us because she had arranged for a 'hot date' today, quiaff? A young lady named Anya?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Aff, so I have heard," Astrid said, getting up to go the wall-mounted comm panel.

"I wonder if she has ever told anyone else?" Haloti asked, curiousity in his voice.

"Well, I think she would have told Kamea, quiaff?" Vasha responds. "One would tell their wife this sort of thing, I would think."

"You make a good point," Haloti nods. "Wait, does that mean that..."

"The Aurigan royal family is a direct continuation of the Cameron line, aff, so it would seem."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Thank you, Astrid."

Ailbhe then silently sipped her drink for a moment. To give herself time to think, and an excuse to break eye contact. Do I want them to know? she pondered. I have kept this secret too. But they seem to be understanding of Savannah's choice, so they will likely understand my position...

She made her choice. "Aff, Vasha. Kamea knew." Though she was speaking to her wife, she could not bring herself to meet Vasha's eyes. She instead stared down into her cocktail glass. "As did Raju. The kids did not though, lest it get to their heads. But I suppose they know now."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"And... how is it that you know who it was that already knew?" asked Alexzander from his seat on the other side of the couch. His tone was more playful and curious than suspicious, and several of the other Totem Warriors turned to Alibhe.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe sighed. You brought this upon yourself, girl, she chided herself. You made your bed. Lie in it.

"Because I am one such person, Alexzander," she replied with some pain in her voice, wilting under the others' gaze. "I am so concerned for her because she has spoken to me of her fears for a long time, and I do not think they are entirely irrational. Of what would happen if this got out."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"I see," Alexzander said, his curiosity seemingly sated.

"I imagine she had her reasons for not telling us," Ophelia said.

"With how much she despises being given deference she has not earned," Vasha added, "Once she figured out where we had come from, I imagine she thought we would grovel at her feet."

"We probably would have," T'Challa chuckled. "Especially Melissa. Can you imagine?"

"Speaking of... We should send an HPG message to Terra and check on Melissa... with how much she venerates the old Star League I imagine this will be quite the revelation for her specifically," Samuel rumbled.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Aff, Samuel," Ailbhe agreed. They let go of that very quickly, she thought to herself with a frown around her beak. They do not resent my secrecy? "That would be best. I am sure that Melissa has already seen the news by now, likely sooner than we did. It would be warranted for someone to check on her."

Ailbhe then turned herself back towards Vasha, an ashamed look on her face. "...and you are entirely right, Vasha. That was exactly the concern that she spoke to me of. It is a relief to me, and I am sure that it will be one to her, that you have not reacted that way." She winced. "Those who are present, that is. I do hope the old bird does not throw a hundred excited messages at her, for Savannah's sake."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Hopefully her new fiance can keep her from the alcohol," Kiera said, her tone both concerned and teasing.

"I think she will be fine," Remus chimed in. "She will need some time to process it, but..." he paused, snapping his fingers, trying to remember something, "ah! Theodora. Theodora will help there. Not to mention how busy she is, with her shiny new rank."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe winced when Kiera brought up the subject of their dear friend's substance abuse, but she nodded affirmatively. "I hope so too. I have not spoken to Theodora yet personally, but from what Melissa has told me... I believe she will be a stabilizing presence, at minimum."

The snow raven tilted her glass back, and finished off her cocktail. "Checking on her is worthwhile. I am not concerned for her health."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Nor am I," Kiera says. "I merely worry about the psychological impact of this, only a few days before the operation is meant to begin."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe nodded. "Aff, I understand your worry. I still would ask for clarity: For whose psyche are you concerned, Kiera?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Both Melissa and Savannah," Kiera said. "This will affect both of them."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"It will," Ailbhe agreed, "but Savannah is at least close by. Supporting her through it will be easier." She then frowned. "I am afraid that I do not know what to suggest for Melissa."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"I think she will be able to work through it. She is quite resilient," Kiera said.

"Not to mention how it will just make her faith in the new Star League even greater," Sienna added. "Now that a Cameron has returned, and all."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"In a sense," Ailbhe admitted. "More accurately, one has been here the whole time. Helping us, leading us. I think she will take comfort in that."

The snow raven then receded into herself, still beating herself up for crimes imagined. Her voice remained at a typical volume, to project it. "Astrid. Have you yet heard from security as to her status?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"She has returned, along with Anya. They are in her quarters, I believe," Astrid said.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Thank the Great Father," Ailbhe said as she let go of the breath she did not know she was holding. "That is a relief, dear. Thank you."

A smile returned to her face. Now that she knew Savannah was safe, she could calm most of her nerves. "I will leave her be for the time being, but I may yet go to her later. After there has been time to settle. Unless any of you reckon that even that would be ill-advised?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Neg, I think if you gave her some time, it would be fine," Astrid said. "Evidently she and Anya fled back here. Perhaps Savannah feared some manner of assassination attempt... but what any Amaris loyalists would be doing out here, and after so many hundreds of years, I have no idea. It is likely that none exist."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe shook her head. "Aff and neg, Astrid. I am certain she feared for her and Anya's safety given what she has told me in the past, but I do not think the Betrayer has anything to do with it." Without a drink to sip, she merely took a deep breath between sentences. "I believe what she fears is more current. This operation brings unity to the Inner Sphere through common cause, but this decade is still a volatile one."

"She once told me that she fears a Succession War anew, one that could be ignited merely by how the various Clans and the House Lords would react if they were to learn of the Cameron dynasty's survival." Ailbhe's tone grew darker. "We know well that she is loath to be lauded, to be worshiped. I believe that what absolutely petrifies her is the thought of being made a symbol."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"That may end up occuring whether she likes it or not," Ophelia said. "It would be better that she might be able to define how that occurs, rather than have it thrust upon her."

"I imagine that Savannah will have a long talk with Melissa and the First Lord on the subject. Darvendra will likely help reign Alaric in, though Chance... Hmm," Remus mused.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Aff," Ailbhe agreed. "She will have to speak to them once she gets a chance to." She then stifles a chuckle. That was not intentional. "Once the operation had concluded, in all likelihood."

The snow raven's gaze drifted across the room as she spoke. When it fell upon a clock, realization dawned on her face. "Oh! It is already fifteen minutes past. Did we still want to have our planned fun, or has the news put us in the wrong mood?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Neg. Let us have fun. It will let us work off some of the emotions," Ophelia smiled.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Then please let me up, Ophelia," Ailbhe requested as she moved to stand. "I will go change, and check in with Ilse to see if she has become available. I am sure she would not want to miss out if she has." Once she had stood, Ailbhe turned to blow a kiss down to both of the serpents. "I will not be long, my loves."

(((Timeskip for a few hours wooooOooOo)))

Several hours later, Ailbhe McKenzie was in an excellent mood. She had blown off quite a lot of steam, as the party had gotten much rowdier once the subject of the news had passed. They others were still enjoying themselves back there, no doubt; Ailbhe had merely decided on her own to freshen up, slip into clean clothes, and make herself useful around the Argo for a while. Perhaps she would rejoin them later. Such indulgences could wait.

Over that time Ailbhe had elected to take up various menial tasks aboard the ship, but her most recent one was to run some food down to Hab Unit A, requested from the commander's quarters. She was of course eager to get a chance to check on Savannah, after how that poor girl's day had gone. In truth, Ailbhe had previously stopped by when she first left the party: From what she had heard through the door, she had rather sheepishly decided to leave them be and come back later.

Since then, Ailbhe knew that Savannah had left the ship to run some errand of hers. Accompanied by guards, thankfully. The commander had returned not too long ago and requested this meal for two. Ailbhe did not feel she needed an excuse to check on her, of course—it was still nice to have one anyway.

Once she arrived at the door, Ailbhe pressed the button next to the handle to buzz in. It would be far more effective than knocking if the intended recipient was burying her face in a pillow. 'Room service', the snow raven mused to herself as she waited for a response, as if we are aboard a pleasure liner. Nearly twelve decades, and it still amuses me. She chuckled under her breath. I do not really mind. I too have had days where I want to leave my quarters as little as possible, and on those days I made use of the crew's generosity all the same. It would be hypocritical of me.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Inside the bedroom of Savannah's quarters the sound of the buzzer snaps Savannah out of her daze of cuddling with Anya, sending her rustling the sheets and muttering muffled Belter swears as she jumped up to get dressed. Halfway through pulling on her outfit, Savannah called out, "Just... a few seconds, Alibhe!"

She looks over at Anya and mouths, "sorry!" Then she whispers, "Completely forgot I asked her to bring us some food. Mi nakaŋapensa. Du-sensa, mi ámawala."

@msn-04iinightingale

[msn-04iinightingale]

“Hn?” Anya said, having been close to dozing by that point before being jostled back to awareness.

“oh, uh…that’s fine.” She replied, taking a few seconds to process it be fore responding.

“Gah! I should get dressed!” She blurted out, the realization that she was very much not coming over her like a PPC bolt to a cockpit.

After a moment of flailing in the covers, she manages to find her own clothing and squirm into it in, what must be admitted, is both and efficient, if less than dignified manner. Giving Savannah both a thumbs up and fixing her hair with her other hand, she addresses her wife to be.

“Ok. I’m, I’m good now.”

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe had no intention to eavesdrop on the two of them, but she still kept her sensitive ears open for a reply to her buzz in. Or at least the sound of someone approaching the door.

So when Savannah called out to her hurriedly, the snow raven quietly chuckled to herself. She sounds like she is in a rush, Ailbhe mused, I must have interrupted something. Surely, she knows better than to get busy coupling when she is expecting a meal delivered to her door. I hope she had not forgotten.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"You'll like Alibhe. She's another Totem Warrior, like the others you've seen around the Argo," Savannah says to Anya, getting up and walking through the living room of the suite to the door. "Been with us off and on for decades now."

@msn-04iinightingale

[msn-04iinightingale]

”Ah, I see.” Anya replied, finishing making her hair look a bit less like she was dozing in bed and following Savannah now that she was decent.

“I should probably say hello at least.”

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe adjusted the feathers on her head with her right hand and held the cart of food still with her left, waiting patiently. Once the door had been opened, she walked into Savannah's quarters as she had so many times before, only this time she had that wheeled trolley in tow. She would normally have waited to be told to enter, but the commander's food was blocking the corridor!

Ailbhe stood at 189 centimetres tall (6'2"), and was dressed in an emerald-green button-up blouse and a navy-blue pencil skirt. Her feathers were white in most places, with a grey marking down her face and the front of her neck as well as another running down the length of her back. The scaly upper surfaces of her hands, lower legs, and talons were a similar grey, though the undersides of her palms and soles took on a more pinkish hue. Her distinctly corvid beak was black. Ailbhe was recognizable as a Snow Raven to anyone who had seen a picture of one or who had seen or met the Totem Warrior Corax McKenna, the latter of whom Ailbhe much resembled. Unlike Corax though her eyes were a turquoise green, and each was accompanied by a small, black swoop, almost a malar stripe.

Ailbhe's figure was fit, but she certainly did not appear to be of Elemental stock. Her overall bodily proportions were also not quite as exaggerated as those of the Totem Sixteen and Savannah, but the outfit she was wearing still showed off what she had quite well; Ailbhe was curvy, but only when compared to the average woman rather than to her fellow Totem Warriors. On her left hand's ring finger she wore an exquisite silver band, set with three teardrop-cut gemstones of equal size: One each of a rich garnet, a bright aquamarine, and a teal-green kunzite. If one were to pay it enough mind, they could have identified two sweet yet conflicting scents coming from her: One of maple, and the other of strawberries.

"Good morning, you two," Ailbhe said as she began transferring the covered dishes from the cart to the kitchen counter, her dulcet voice carrying an accent uncommon to Clan speech: One might hear it as Scottish, specifically a kind of Glaswegian. "Are you feeling quite alright, Savannah? I have been worried, I know you understand." Though she had registered Anya's presence, Ailbhe had only yet given this new person a glance as her hands were still busy—She would respond if addressed, but otherwise will wait until she is done.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[downright-lankenautical]

We know you like WarShips, but what's your favorite one?

Truly, a question that I wished I were asked more often!

I feel that it would be improper for me to choose one of the classes that I helped to design: Nycticorax, Oxpecker, Aphelocoma, Dinornis. A figurative mother cannot help but be biased in favor of her own creations, quiaff? For that reason, I will exclude them from consideration.

The Faslane class of Yardships is one of my favorites, and I take pride in knowing that we of the Vesper Ravens independently arrived at the same conclusions that ComStar did when we designed the Oxpecker class. The McKenna class is also a beautiful piece of Star League-era engineering that shares its elevated ranking. Still, neither of those can claim to be my singular favorite.

That honor goes to the Sovetskii Soyuz Heavy Cruiser.

I favor the Sovetskii Soyuz for multiple reasons. Its heavy long-range armament pleases me, as does its surplus of DropShip docking collars compared to similar Star League-era hulls: Four for the SLDF configuration, five for the Clan refit, and uniquely six on the CWS Dire Wolf. It was also significantly less reliant on manual labor for loading and firing control, as it was for its time a design with unprecedented investment in computerized systems.

The low armor tonnage of the class is of course one of its most glaring weaknesses, but that was a weakness that could be and indeed was mitigated by the SLDF through their fleet tactics. For its size, it was all but unrivaled as a fire platform. In the modern era its survivability could also be improved through the use of lamellor ferro-carbide armor over improved ferro-aluminum, similar to armor replacement refits that were undertaken for other former SLDF vessels in the Clan toumans, but that is most convenient to do when constructing a new WarShip. Only we have ever entertained that thought.

I regret that so many of these vessels were lost in the liberation of Terra from the Usurper. Going into Terra there were ten score ships of the class, and only a tenth of them survived to leave with the Exodus—and a handful of examples ending up in the hands of ComStar and the Word of Blake. Almost all of those remaining original Star League hulls were lost later in the carnage of the Word of Blake Jihad and the Wars of Reaving. It saddens me greatly, as so many things did in those years.

Oh well. What is lost we can only remember, and I will choose to remember this design fondly.

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Hab Unit A - Ailbhe, Vasha, and Ophelia's Quarters Argo Interior Operation TOUCHDOWN Staging Area Islington Magistracy of Canopus 3rd October, 3153

Ailbhe McKenzie laughed, sharing in the merriment. She and the Totem Sixteen—of course save for Commanding General Hazen, who was still on Terra—had gathered in her and her wives' quarters to hold a relatively low-key party. Watch something fun, drink something nice, play some games. Anything to boost morale ahead of the impending operation.

Ailbhe herself was sat on the couch at Ophelia's side, curled up into the Elemental's right shoulder—Ophelia had wrapped her right arm around Ailbhe, and of course had slipped that hand up and under the snow raven's blouse to idly grope her chest. Vasha was laid across both of their laps, her back propped up with additional cushions. The rest of the couch was occupied by Cheyenne and Astrid, and the five of them were watching some schlock on the holovid.

Ailbhe had not bothered to register the name of the program to her memory. It was something Sea Fox had put out in the past year, the product of a collaboration between the Skate Khanate and some studio on Hardcore. It was engaging enough. The important part was that they were all having a good time together.

The snow raven sipped her cocktail quietly, and made a mental note to thank Haloti for it later. She was in quite a good mood indeed, for the quality of her drink to be her greatest concern.

( @downright-lankenautical )

As the holovid came to a close, Ophelia moved to change the channel, likely trying to see if there was something similarly schlocky to keep on as background noise. But when she pressed the button several times, for a split second there was a news report on the screen... and what it said — and showed — was enough for Vasha to quickly demand that Ophelia switch the channel back to the news...

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe hadn't been looking at the right time, as she was much too busy staring down at Vasha's body. She was consequently rather confused when the steel viper demanded that they switch the channel back, but from then on she gave the screen her full attention.

So when Ophelia switched it back, and a picture of their dear commander's face appeared alongside the phrase "HOUSE CAMERON NOT GONE?" Ailbhe tensed up in fear. Her thoughts raced: Oh no. Not now. Why now? Fuck! Did it leak somehow? She did not say anything to me about this, it must have! All while she stayed perfectly still but tense against Ophelia, like she was a hair's breadth from jumping up and sprinting into the hallway.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Ophelia, Vasha, Remus and Astrid stared at the screen. One of them beckoned the others into the room, and soon all of them were watching and listening to the news report, changing the channel every now and then.

But it seemed all the new channels were running nearly identical stories. Only the tone was different. The Star League News, Terran News Network, Federated News Service, Magistracy News, the Aurigan Coalition Media Service, even Solaris Broadcasting Corporation... All positive or, at least, neutral.

The Capellan Wire Service, New Vandenberg News, and others... Not so much...

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

On instinct, Ailbhe scanned the others in the room for the kind of reaction that Savannah had feared from the Totem Warriors. Thankfully, she thought, they do not appear shocked. Have they been harboring their own suspicions...?

In order to break the silence Ailbhe turned her head up to look at Remus, who had begun leaning over the back of the couch between her and Cheyenne. For a moment, she choked down her own anxiety. "You do not seem very surprised by this revelation, trothkin. Do you disbelieve it?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Cheyenne, his jaw having reattached itself after a few moments of shock, looked at Alibhe and "hmm'd" briefly.

"... Neg, to be honest. This explains a lot, actually. All the silver paint, for one."

"And the mysterious lack of ever having monetary troubles..." Vasha put in.

"And the privately owned JumpShip," Astrid chuckled.

"To be honest," said Remus, "I had my suspicions for a while. Not this exactly... this was not in my running, but more that there was absolutely something she was hiding. From a lot of people."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Aff," Ailbhe replied with a nod. "And she clearly had good reason. I need not point out how anxious she has always been, quineg? She has been almost always on edge, to some degree." She then sighed. "This is precisely the thing one should be nervous about." For a moment, Ailbhe pondered a thought.

Ailbhe's eyes went wide. Great Father, I am a fool! She hastily spun her head to the ghost bear at the end of the couch. "Astrid," she all but commanded, "please contact the Argo security chief. I am anxious for her safety, as I believe she is out in public." She took a deep breath, to try and calm herself. It hardly worked. "After all, she did not join us because she had arranged for a 'hot date' today, quiaff? A young lady named Anya?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Aff, so I have heard," Astrid said, getting up to go the wall-mounted comm panel.

"I wonder if she has ever told anyone else?" Haloti asked, curiousity in his voice.

"Well, I think she would have told Kamea, quiaff?" Vasha responds. "One would tell their wife this sort of thing, I would think."

"You make a good point," Haloti nods. "Wait, does that mean that..."

"The Aurigan royal family is a direct continuation of the Cameron line, aff, so it would seem."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Thank you, Astrid."

Ailbhe then silently sipped her drink for a moment. To give herself time to think, and an excuse to break eye contact. Do I want them to know? she pondered. I have kept this secret too. But they seem to be understanding of Savannah's choice, so they will likely understand my position...

She made her choice. "Aff, Vasha. Kamea knew." Though she was speaking to her wife, she could not bring herself to meet Vasha's eyes. She instead stared down into her cocktail glass. "As did Raju. The kids did not though, lest it get to their heads. But I suppose they know now."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"And... how is it that you know who it was that already knew?" asked Alexzander from his seat on the other side of the couch. His tone was more playful and curious than suspicious, and several of the other Totem Warriors turned to Alibhe.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe sighed. You brought this upon yourself, girl, she chided herself. You made your bed. Lie in it.

"Because I am one such person, Alexzander," she replied with some pain in her voice, wilting under the others' gaze. "I am so concerned for her because she has spoken to me of her fears for a long time, and I do not think they are entirely irrational. Of what would happen if this got out."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"I see," Alexzander said, his curiosity seemingly sated.

"I imagine she had her reasons for not telling us," Ophelia said.

"With how much she despises being given deference she has not earned," Vasha added, "Once she figured out where we had come from, I imagine she thought we would grovel at her feet."

"We probably would have," T'Challa chuckled. "Especially Melissa. Can you imagine?"

"Speaking of... We should send an HPG message to Terra and check on Melissa... with how much she venerates the old Star League I imagine this will be quite the revelation for her specifically," Samuel rumbled.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Aff, Samuel," Ailbhe agreed. They let go of that very quickly, she thought to herself with a frown around her beak. They do not resent my secrecy? "That would be best. I am sure that Melissa has already seen the news by now, likely sooner than we did. It would be warranted for someone to check on her."

Ailbhe then turned herself back towards Vasha, an ashamed look on her face. "...and you are entirely right, Vasha. That was exactly the concern that she spoke to me of. It is a relief to me, and I am sure that it will be one to her, that you have not reacted that way." She winced. "Those who are present, that is. I do hope the old bird does not throw a hundred excited messages at her, for Savannah's sake."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Hopefully her new fiance can keep her from the alcohol," Kiera said, her tone both concerned and teasing.

"I think she will be fine," Remus chimed in. "She will need some time to process it, but..." he paused, snapping his fingers, trying to remember something, "ah! Theodora. Theodora will help there. Not to mention how busy she is, with her shiny new rank."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe winced when Kiera brought up the subject of their dear friend's substance abuse, but she nodded affirmatively. "I hope so too. I have not spoken to Theodora yet personally, but from what Melissa has told me... I believe she will be a stabilizing presence, at minimum."

The snow raven tilted her glass back, and finished off her cocktail. "Checking on her is worthwhile. I am not concerned for her health."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Nor am I," Kiera says. "I merely worry about the psychological impact of this, only a few days before the operation is meant to begin."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe nodded. "Aff, I understand your worry. I still would ask for clarity: For whose psyche are you concerned, Kiera?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Both Melissa and Savannah," Kiera said. "This will affect both of them."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"It will," Ailbhe agreed, "but Savannah is at least close by. Supporting her through it will be easier." She then frowned. "I am afraid that I do not know what to suggest for Melissa."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"I think she will be able to work through it. She is quite resilient," Kiera said.

"Not to mention how it will just make her faith in the new Star League even greater," Sienna added. "Now that a Cameron has returned, and all."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"In a sense," Ailbhe admitted. "More accurately, one has been here the whole time. Helping us, leading us. I think she will take comfort in that."

The snow raven then receded into herself, still beating herself up for crimes imagined. Her voice remained at a typical volume, to project it. "Astrid. Have you yet heard from security as to her status?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"She has returned, along with Anya. They are in her quarters, I believe," Astrid said.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Thank the Great Father," Ailbhe said as she let go of the breath she did not know she was holding. "That is a relief, dear. Thank you."

A smile returned to her face. Now that she knew Savannah was safe, she could calm most of her nerves. "I will leave her be for the time being, but I may yet go to her later. After there has been time to settle. Unless any of you reckon that even that would be ill-advised?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Neg, I think if you gave her some time, it would be fine," Astrid said. "Evidently she and Anya fled back here. Perhaps Savannah feared some manner of assassination attempt... but what any Amaris loyalists would be doing out here, and after so many hundreds of years, I have no idea. It is likely that none exist."

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe shook her head. "Aff and neg, Astrid. I am certain she feared for her and Anya's safety given what she has told me in the past, but I do not think the Betrayer has anything to do with it." Without a drink to sip, she merely took a deep breath between sentences. "I believe what she fears is more current. This operation brings unity to the Inner Sphere through common cause, but this decade is still a volatile one."

"She once told me that she fears a Succession War anew, one that could be ignited merely by how the various Clans and the House Lords would react if they were to learn of the Cameron dynasty's survival." Ailbhe's tone grew darker. "We know well that she is loath to be lauded, to be worshiped. I believe that what absolutely petrifies her is the thought of being made a symbol."

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"That may end up occuring whether she likes it or not," Ophelia said. "It would be better that she might be able to define how that occurs, rather than have it thrust upon her."

"I imagine that Savannah will have a long talk with Melissa and the First Lord on the subject. Darvendra will likely help reign Alaric in, though Chance... Hmm," Remus mused.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Aff," Ailbhe agreed. "She will have to speak to them once she gets a chance to." She then stifles a chuckle. That was not intentional. "Once the operation had concluded, in all likelihood."

The snow raven's gaze drifted across the room as she spoke. When it fell upon a clock, realization dawned on her face. "Oh! It is already fifteen minutes past. Did we still want to have our planned fun, or has the news put us in the wrong mood?"

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

"Neg. Let us have fun. It will let us work off some of the emotions," Ophelia smiled.

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

"Then please let me up, Ophelia," Ailbhe requested as she moved to stand. "I will go change, and check in with Ilse to see if she has become available. I am sure she would not want to miss out if she has." Once she had stood, Ailbhe turned to blow a kiss down to both of the serpents. "I will not be long, my loves."

(((Timeskip for a few hours wooooOooOo)))

Several hours later, Ailbhe McKenzie was in an excellent mood. She had blown off quite a lot of steam, as the party had gotten much rowdier once the subject of the news had passed. They others were still enjoying themselves back there, no doubt; Ailbhe had merely decided on her own to freshen up, slip into clean clothes, and make herself useful around the Argo for a while. Perhaps she would rejoin them later. Such indulgences could wait.

Over that time Ailbhe had elected to take up various menial tasks aboard the ship, but her most recent one was to run some food down to Hab Unit A, requested from the commander's quarters. She was of course eager to get a chance to check on Savannah, after how that poor girl's day had gone. In truth, Ailbhe had previously stopped by when she first left the party: From what she had heard through the door, she had rather sheepishly decided to leave them be and come back later.

Since then, Ailbhe knew that Savannah had left the ship to run some errand of hers. Accompanied by guards, thankfully. The commander had returned not too long ago and requested this meal for two. Ailbhe did not feel she needed an excuse to check on her, of course—it was still nice to have one anyway.

Once she arrived at the door, Ailbhe pressed the button next to the handle to buzz in. It would be far more effective than knocking if the intended recipient was burying her face in a pillow. 'Room service', the snow raven mused to herself as she waited for a response, as if we are aboard a pleasure liner. Nearly twelve decades, and it still amuses me. She chuckled under her breath. I do not really mind. I too have had days where I want to leave my quarters as little as possible, and on those days I made use of the crew's generosity all the same. It would be hypocritical of me.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Inside the bedroom of Savannah's quarters the sound of the buzzer snaps Savannah out of her daze of cuddling with Anya, sending her rustling the sheets and muttering muffled Belter swears as she jumped up to get dressed. Halfway through pulling on her outfit, Savannah called out, "Just... a few seconds, Alibhe!"

She looks over at Anya and mouths, "sorry!" Then she whispers, "Completely forgot I asked her to bring us some food. Mi nakaŋapensa. Du-sensa, mi ámawala."

@msn-04iinightingale

[msn-04iinightingale]

“Hn?” Anya said, having been close to dozing by that point before being jostled back to awareness.

“oh, uh…that’s fine.” She replied, taking a few seconds to process it be fore responding.

“Gah! I should get dressed!” She blurted out, the realization that she was very much not coming over her like a PPC bolt to a cockpit.

After a moment of flailing in the covers, she manages to find her own clothing and squirm into it in, what must be admitted, is both and efficient, if less than dignified manner. Giving Savannah both a thumbs up and fixing her hair with her other hand, she addresses her wife to be.

“Ok. I’m, I’m good now.”

@downright-lankenautical

[downright-lankenautical]

Ailbhe had no intention to eavesdrop on the two of them, but she still kept her sensitive ears open for a reply to her buzz in. Or at least the sound of someone approaching the door.

So when Savannah called out to her hurriedly, the snow raven quietly chuckled to herself. She sounds like she is in a rush, Ailbhe mused, I must have interrupted something. Surely, she knows better than to get busy coupling when she is expecting a meal delivered to her door. I hope she had not forgotten.

@is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not

[hotdoghowitzer]

So I was playing Minecraft a few months ago, in a forest. And the wolves kept spawning in the goddamn trees. So I asked, rhetorically, ‘Why are the wolves spawning in the goddamn trees?!’. My boyfriend’s answer, ‘Timber Wolves’ was funny in an of itself.

But in my mind’s eye, I saw this.

100% derp.

I’m going to bed.

[hotdoghowitzer]

Because this is still damn funny. 

[chicks-dig-giant-robots]

We had our ten year wedding anniversary last year and this is still funny

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Thoughts on Warships? And a favorite warship if you have one

I love WarShips. They're awesome, and spaceships are an important part of any science fiction universe - the fact that BattleTech had to deal with a bunch of higher-ups that thought they were dumb and so destroyed most of them (i.e. the Jihad era shenanigans, not the Succession Wars - WarShips disappearing there made sense). As for my personal favorite?

The McKenna class! Specifically the original version over the beefed up Clan visual style:

The fact that they actually thought to put radiators on it (or at least big fins that could be interpreted as such) makes a ton of realistic sense when considering the massive amount of Heavy Naval PPCs this thing carries (48 of them!!! 5400 heat per full broadside!).

[downright-lankenautical]

As always you have excellent taste. I am not biased, trust me. 'v'