Clan Smoke Jaguar, Jaguar's Shadow Independent Drop Cluster

Freed from the curse of the wolves and now permitted to roam the Sphere. We go where winds take us - we find what causes are just.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

I remember Huntress.

A beautiful world. Rich swamps, tall mountains, and a desert the size of a continent.

I was decanted in 2052, only a few months after the Battle of Tukayyid. Part of a hybrid totem warrior experiment, where the scientists attempted to blend the success of the 2990 totem warrior project with more recent trueborn developments. They failed. All I bear from the attempt are some jaguar patterns on my skin as well as a slightly elevated night sight and improved reflexes. Some obnoxiously delicate jaguar ears as well.

Originally, I was slated to be an Elemental. That was before Operation SERPENT ravaged our beautiful homeworld, ousting us and sending the survivors scrabbling for purchase.

I remember the Fidelis.

It is difficult to forget who raised you and taught you everything you know. They taught me to be the best, just like all the rest. Though before I was raised on Clan Smoke Jaguar honor and mannerisms, the Fidelis raised me on slightly more pragmatic forms of approach. Upon my turning 20, it did not take long to become a Jager, and soon beyond that a MechWarrior.

But it was as heavy shock infantry that they truly let me succeed. Being of Elemental stock, I was able to carry bigger weapons, more armor, and more efficient methods of conducting my duty. I knew no fear but a mission left unfinished.

And yet as time went on, I found myself deployed more often as a MechWarrior. They found me to be quite the effective brawler, to the effect of having a mixed tech Hunchback. The physical durability from the Elemental stock permitted me to pilot more recklessly, while the improved reflexes from the totem warrior mkII attempt kept me sharp. They were tough times.

And finally, I remember being permitted, finally, to call myself a Smoke Jaguar. I remember the Wolves and how they said they would allow us to be a clan once more after the ilClan trial.

After recent deployments that waste equipment and lives of my Cluster, I have been feeling very… un-clan-like. Efficiency, resourcefulness, and not being wasteful are espoused as true marks of a Clanner.

And yet, more and more of my Sibkin die for causes that did not require this level of deployment. There are so few of us now.

I am Star Colonel Katrina Moon of Clan Smoke Jaguar, Alpha Galaxy, Third Cluster. Let this be a record of my deeds.

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

FrankenMechs.

Xerxes hates them.

You are blitzking right I do. *grumbles in MechTech* - Xerxes

Personally I find them interesting in their eccentricity and variety.

"Eccentricity"... That is certainly one of the words you could use. - Xerxes

You don't seem to mind These Boots. That thing is half Marauder, one quarter Timber Wolf, and one quarter Orion, after all.

Aff, but that is because I was able to ensure it had few issues. - Xerxes

So you do not mind FrankenMechs when you are the one making them or maintaining them?

Aff. Call it perfectionism. If I am responsible for it, I will make sure the damn thing works. Most techs that make FrankenMechs do not bother. - Xerxes

Most who make FrankenMechs are desperate.

Skill issue. - Xerxes

[st-ives-mechworx-and-overhaul]

If budget is the name, FrankenMechs are the game. Our mascot mech, the Garden of Geth, is a FrankenMech manufactured from the components of up to ten different mechs and combat vehicles for the function of artillery support. This excellent machine has served dutifully since the early clan invasion and continues to serve its role in the Neon Knights Mercenary Company as an artillery mech.

Should salvage repurposement call, keep us in mind - don't let valuable parts sit and rot!

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

Garden of Geth... Why do I know that n- Oh. Oh, Great Father... I remember.

BattleROMs and stories. First person views... The Arrow IV, FASCAM LRMs... I remember.

How does such a machine, such a collection of disparate parts function? Ten 'Mechs... How does it not just fall apart... and who labels an ER Large Laser as "emotional support laser"? - Xerxes

[st-ives-mechworx-and-overhaul]

Please refer to the following technical readout in order to reference performance specifications. This mech has been tuned and re-tuned in order to reach a level of performance that most FrankenMechs will never see, let along brush along.

Name/Model: FrankenMech Garden of Geth Designer: Athena Albrecht Tonnage: 85 Role: Missile Boat Configuration: Biped FrankenMech Chassis: FrankenHorror Special Power Plant: General Systems 340 XL Walking Speed: 43.2 kph Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph [86.4 kph] Jump Jets: None Jump Capacity: None Armor: Welded Patchwork Nightmare with CASE Armament: 1 Series 7NC ER Large Laser (C) 1 Katyusha Arrow IV System 1 Type XX "Great Bow" LRM 20 (C) Manufacturer: St. Ives MechWorx & Overhaul Primary Factory: One-Off Unit Communications: O/P 3000 COMSET-Irian TelStar Targeting & Tracking: Big Cat Mk XXI Total Cost: 26,475,751 C-Bills ================================================ Equipment Mass ================================================ Internal Structure: Standard 8.50 Engine: 340 XL (C) 13.50 Walking MP: 4 Running MP: 6 [8] Jumping MP: 0 Heat Sinks (Double): 13 [26] 3.00 Gyro: Standard 4.00 Cockpit: Standard 3.00 Armor Factor: 259 16.50 Type: Standard Internal Armor Structure Value Head: 3 9 Center Torso: 27 44 Center Torso (rear): 10 R/L Torso: 15 24 R/L Torso (rear): 6 R/L Arm: 14/17 28/32 R/L Leg: 19 38 ================================================================================================ Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage ER Large Laser (C) H 1 4.00 Supercharger CT 1 1.50 Arrow IV System (Ammo 1) [Davy Crockett-M] RT 1 1.00 CASE RT 1 0.50 LRM 20 (C) RT 4 5.00 LRM 20 (Ammo 6) (C) RT 1 1.00 LRM 20 (Ammo 6) [Fragmentation] RT 1 1.00 LRM 20 (Ammo 6) [Smoke] RT 1 1.00 LRM 20 (Ammo 6) [FASCAM] RT 1 1.00 Arrow IV System (Ammo 3) [Laser-Inhibiting] LT 1 1.00 Arrow IV System (Ammo 5) [Homing] LT 1 1.00 Arrow IV System (Ammo 5) [Inferno] LT 1 1.00 Arrow IV System (Ammo 5) [Non-Homing] LT 1 1.00 CASE LT 1 0.50 TAG RA 1 1.00 Arrow IV System LA/LT 15 15.00

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

... is. is that the Arrow IV system from a Padilla? A combat vehicle weapon system on a 'Mech? I - I guess. That is an Archer side torso but... Clan internals for the? The LRM? I - what. I... - Xerxes

[audio transcription failure; attempting to reconstruct] [assorted noises; overlapping; pos. distress (???; 95% certainty), resignation (???; 70% certainty), bafflement (???; 80% certainty)]

... tactically, it... is very dangerous. Exceedingly dangerous. It will need escorts - and perhaps TAG spotters to make proper use of the Arrow, but. As an ArtilleryMech it makes a distressing amount of sense. The maintenance must be an utter blitzking nightmare.

... Is that a nuclear warh... AUGH. I need a fucking drink. - Xerxes

Did I hear that right? A. Nuclear. Warhead? Rowan has release authority on a nuclear warhead? - Melissa

[st-ives-mechworx-and-overhaul]

The maintenance is only as bad as you make it - with re-manned actuators and optimized myomer connections, this mech suffers less from the usual maintenance nightmare that most frankenmechs do. The main issue is component availability, a problem for most assault-class mechs.

To address the warhead, I personally posses trigger authority on its release. Besides... firing a warhead is bad for business. And the MRB doesn't particularly like it either.

~ Athena Albrecht, St. Ives MW&O Sole Proprietor

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

Well, I suppose that lessens my animosity towards it. I am still baffled by kust how you got so many parts from so many sources working together so flawly, but I suppose that is the mark of a truly excellent technician. - Xerxes

Then I will trust you to make sure no one else knows of the warhead beyond Rowan, myself, and any others who have been already made aware. I would much prefer to minimize the knowledge that there is an active nuke on Helios. Certain less scrupulous parts of our force may find that news deeply intriguing, if you catch my drift. - Melissa

[st-ives-mechworx-and-overhaul]

I assure you, I am quite aware of Clan Smoke Jaguar's predilections towards overkill and excessive violence. Do not worry, the bin will remain a secret.

~ Athena

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

Well, I was not exactly referring to our Clan Smoke Jaguar elements.

Nonetheless, keeping the bin secret is a good idea. Does it have radiation shielding?

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Hey. Wait. Why are we catching flak here? We have been nothing but restrained during this engagement.

[boinkingbattlemechs]

Violet Cheetah V

Overview

The Violet Cheetah is not a new 'Mech. Instead, it is a conversion kit of the Iron Cheetah. Much of the armor geometry is redesigned and the weapon distribution is shifted.

Capabilities

The Violet Cheetah is primarily a generalist 'Mech designed for operation in command units. The ER PPC of this 'mech allows it to reach out and punch holes in armor while the ER medium lasers provide it some brawling ability. An LB 10-X autocannon rounds out the offensive completement. Providing utility to the Violet Cheetah is a quadruple threat of a C3i computer, a targeting computer, an Angel ECM system, and finally a Bloodhound Active Probe. These systems, when crosslinked to other 'Mechs in a unit, permit it to sniff out the enemy and enable pack hunter tactics. A laser AMS on the left arm finalizes the defensive armament. Included in the conversion pack is a full set of jumpjets allowing for 90 meters of movement.

Deployment

The Violet Cheetah is only known to operate with the Jaguar's Shadow independent drop cluster, who originated the design, though other elements of Clan Smoke Jaguar, most prominently Khan Prohaska Moon, have expressed interest in the design.

History

Produced as a refit kit for the Iron Cheetah OmniMech in 3153 during Operation TOUCHDOWN, the Violet Cheetah was designed and named by Star Colonel Katrina in honor of her lover and abtakha Violet Marigold, who was killed in the initial combat drop onto Helios.

Variants

There are two known variants of the Violet Cheetah conversion kit. The V type mounts an Angel ECM and a Bloodhound Active Probe. The M type exchanges the Angel and Bloodhound for the Clan equivalents of standard Active Probe and ECM systems, while using the saved weight and space to increase the amount of ammunition for the LB 10-X.

Notable MechWarriors

Star Colonel Katrina Moon: the product of an experimental Clan Smoke Jaguar sibko that attempted to replicate the results of the Totem Warrior project, Katrina was present for the Battle of Huntress in 3060 as a young sibcadet. Evacuated from the planet and joining the nascent Fidelis, Katrina would go on to participate in numerous secret raids on enemies of the Republic of the Sphere as part of their campaign of false flag operations. By 3153, as part of the recently reconstituted Clan Smoke Jaguar, and after winning the presdigious Moon Bloodname, Katrina would be tapped to lead a Fidelis-inpsired independent drop cluster, the Jaguar's Shadows. It was with this unit that she deployed to Helios as part of Operation TOUCHDOWN.

(Full TRO under cut; 'Mech originally designed by @starcolonelkatrinamoon / @buttsandboltguns ; art by @theurbanmechcomesforthee )

Mass: 100 tons

Chassis: DSAM Endo 4

Power Plant: 400 Model SF-3 XL

Cruising Speed: 43.2 kph

Maximum Speed: 64.8 kph

Jump Jets: Standard

Jump Capacity: 90 meters

Armor: Composite A-4 Ferro-Fibrous

Armament:

39.5 tons of pod space

Manufacturer: Manufacturing Plant SFF

Primary Factory: Itabaiana

Communication System: TJ6 Bell Integrated Communication System

Targeting & Tracking System: Series III OPT

Introduction Year: 3153

Tech Rating/Availability: F/X-X-X-X

Cost: 41,824,167 C-bills

Type: Violet Cheetah

Technology Base: Mixed (Standard)

Tonnage: 100

Battle Value: 3,278

Equipment Mass

Internal Structure Endo Steel 5

Engine 400 XL 26.5

Walking MP: 4

Running MP: 6

Jumping MP: 3

Double Heat Sink 16 [32] 6

Gyro 4

Cockpit 3

Armor Factor (Ferro) 307 16 Internal Armor Structure Value Head 3 9 Center Torso 31 48 Center Torso (rear) 14 R/L Torso 21 32 R/L Torso (rear) 10 R/L Arm 17 34 R/L Leg 21 42

Weight and Space Allocation

Location Fixed Space Remaining

Head None 1

Center Torso Endo Steel 1

Right Torso Endo Steel 7

2 XL Engine

2 Ferro-Fibrous

Left Torso Endo Steel 6

2 XL Engine

3 Ferro-Fibrous

Right Arm 2 Ferro-Fibrous 8

Left Arm None 10

Right Leg 2 Endo Steel 0

Left Leg 2 Endo Steel 0

Right Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm

Left Arm Actuators: Shoulder, Upper Arm

Weapons

and Ammo Location Critical Heat Tonnage

Jump Jet CT 1 - 2.0

Targeting Computer RT 4 - 4.0

Improved C3 Computer RT 2 - 2.5

Jump Jet RT 1 - 2.0

LB 10-X AC LA 5 2 10.0

Laser AMS LA 1 5 1.0

LB 10-X Cluster Ammo (10) LA 1 - 1.0

LB 10-X AC Ammo (10) LA 1 - 1.0

Jump Jet LT 1 - 2.0

Angel ECM Suite LT 2 - 2.0

Bloodhound Active Probe LT 3 - 2.0

4 ER Medium Laser RA 4 5 4.0

ER PPC RA 2 15 6.0

[boinkingbattlemechs]

Hunchback vs Hunchback IIC

WHICH IS MORE SMASHABLE?

Hunchback

Hunchback IIC

Voting ended onMay 6, 2025

Lore for the 'Mechs can be found here:

Post by @boinkingbattlemechs · 1 poll

💬 0  🔁 11  ❤️ 5 · Hunchback · Hunchback SMASH or PASS? The Hunchback is a respected and feared Reunification War-era street fighter that h

Post by @boinkingbattlemechs · 1 poll

💬 0  🔁 7  ❤️ 4 · Hunchback IIC · Hunchback IIC SMASH or PASS? The Hunchback IIC is a Clan-tech refit of the venerable Hunchback. Its meage

[safetycgreen]

devilish

[boinkingbattlemechs]

:)

[fictionalafvsmybeloved]

DOUBLE SHOULDER BOOM BOXES!?!

[frogblast-the-ventcore]

Hunchback IIC

Hunchback IIC

Behold, the Clan suicide booth!

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Please, call it the correct name.

It is Death and Glory. It is the Suicide Toboggan. There is no graceful slide into death here, it is simply one careening into their end at maximum velocity.

Just how we like it.

[boinkingbattlemechs]

Hunchback IIC

SMASH or PASS?

SMASH

PASS

Voting ended onDec 14, 2024

The Hunchback IIC is a Clan-tech refit of the venerable Hunchback. Its meager six tons of armor, coupled with paltry ammunition and lack of long-range weapons, led Inner Sphere observers to conclude that this 'Mech was a last-ditch effort for failed warriors to die with glory. In truth, the assignment of a Hunchback IIC was essentially a death sentence, as warriors given this machine were not expected to survive their next battle. However, despite the attrition rates expected for pilots of this BattleMech, the number of Hunchback IICs within all Clans has remained more or less constant, a surprisingly high 3% of the entire touman of each Clan.

The Hunchback IIC is armed with a pair of Devastator UAC/20s, one of the most powerful weapons in the Clan arsenal, backed up by a mere pair of Series 7J ER medium lasers. Completely eschewing long-range weapons and armor, the Hunchback IIC can scarcely expect to stand up in a pitched battle. Instead, it is designed for the one-on-one dueling that is so popular within the Clans.

After the actions of a Star of Clan Smoke Jaguar Warden MechWarriors, however, this 'Mech has become popular with Clan Jade Falcon sibbies during their first Trial of Position, as it often allows them one quick kill, though the practice is often derided by older Clanners. Perhaps the only bright spot in this design is the inclusion of jump jets that allow it to more easily traverse difficult terrain so that it can bring its mammoth guns into play.

Hunchback IIC

Hunchback IIC

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Katrina Moon Codex Entry

NAME: Katrina BLOODNAME: Moon DECANTED: JUL-05-3052 PRIMARY GENETIC CONTRIBUTIONS: Moon, Paul; [REDACTED] LISTED TRAINING [SOURCE] - MechTech Certs [FIDELIS] - Equipment Technician Certs [FIDELIS] - Gunsmith Certs [FIDELIS] - Field Cook Certs [FIDELIS] - Infantry Basic (Unarmored) [FIDELIS] - Infantry Basic (Armored) [FIDELIS] - Commando Operations [FIDELIS] - SERE [FIDELIS] - Boarding Operations [FIDELIS] - Infantry 0G Operations [FIDELIS] - Battle Armor [FIDELIS] - Light Armored Vehicles [FIDELIS] - Main Battle Vehicles [FIDELIS] - Transport Vehicles [FIDELIS] - BattleMech Operation [FIDELIS] - Orbital Drop Insertion [FIDELIS] KNOWN PARTICIPATED OPERATIONS [ERROR, FILE PURGED] CONFIRMED OPERATIONAL STATS [Recording Begun mid 3130s] MECH KILLS - 197 (+158 shared, +85 probable) CV KILLS - 231 (+178 shared, +34 probable) BATTLE ARMOR KILLS - 79 (+37 probable) KNOWN INJURIES - Gunshot wound(s), various calibers (total est. 34). Treated. - Stab wound(s), various weapons (total est. 8). Treated. - Concussion(s), various sources (total est. 28). Treated. - Animal bite(s), serious, venomous (total est. 4). Treated with antivenin. - Animal bites, serious, non-venomous (total est. 11). Treated. - Damaged lower spinal column. Replaced with prosthetic. - Damaged left and right knees. Replaced with prosthetic. - Left arm removed in combat. Replaced with myomer bionic. - Right jaguar ear burnt away. Replaced with synthetic replica. - Right eye blinded by plasma pulse. Replaced with prosthetic. - Right index finger and thumb removed. Replaced with myomer bionic. CURRENT OPERATIONAL STATUS [Operational]

[ross-hollander]

After their initial...

...brush with extinction, it became unspoken tradition among the remnants of Clan Smoke Jaguar to go prepared, at all times, to make either a final stand or a fighting retreat. Compact survival kits, wilderness gear and multitools became standard wear; sidearms and holdout weapons were also more frequent than they would be among the personnel of other Clans. Over time, this concept saturated their cultural conscience, so to speak, such that a Jaguar would feel under-dressed without a healthy helping of assorted tactical gear. Even their Scientist Caste proved vulnerable to this particular mania.

Today, among the Clans, you may see the traditionalists of the Jade Falcons in uniforms that barely stray a stitch from the original SLDF; many of the rest in the slight variations that suited their ways of life, like the sleek, universal, if spartan cut of the Hell's Horses or the cloaks and trophies of the Ghost Bears; and then, the reborn Smoke Jaguars, who will unabashedly sport the most tacticool atrocities of style that have ever been worn off an airsoft range, from chemlight holders to sniper veils. There are on occasion more respirators in a room of Jaguars than there are faces. Do you know how difficult it is to take somebody, even- or perhaps especially -an accomplished MechWarrior seriously when they have not one, but two tactical axes strapped to their (unnecessary) plate carrier like a brace of pistols on an ancient Terran pirate?

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

@starcolonelkatrinamoon confirm?

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

I can confirm. My warriors often will wear their piloting suits as casual wear, but many of them will include light tactical gear, even in safe environments.

[the-emmapult]

The light of Helios' distant star filters weakly through to the command center as two figures approach amidst a mid-afternoon flurry. One leads, clad in a weathered greatcoat the color of slate and bundled up beneath a dark green scarf. The other figure wears a strange contraption, almost similar to a military hardsuit apart from the wheezing noises emitting from vents in its neck. The first figure holds open the door for the second, ushering them into the bustling headquarters building. The pair makes their way to the large holotank in the center of the building, which serves as a table for briefings.

"Kim Ash and Em Blackwell reporting, General Hazen."

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

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

As the two entered, an immense woman in heavily modified Nighthawk XXII powered armor turned to look towards them. Her expression was exhausted, as if she had gone several days on little to no sleep and was surviving purely on caffeine and spite. One of her jaguar ears - mildly translucent to the lights above and behind, indicating some level of synthskin - flicked while she regarded the newcomers.

Her armor was maintained, but poorly cleaned. Several of the contoured armor plates had recently been replaced with fresh ones, with no time taken to paint them to the scraped and grime covered Smoke Jaguar Alpha camouflage that the other panels were painted in. The forearms of the armor were stained a dark, flaking brown that was hard to tell if it was mud or blood - or both.

Around the woman were several members of her entourage. Another giant in a beige oilskin duster and dress shirt lurked by her side, jotting notes down on a small pad of paper. He was intently watching the sparse data already displayed in the holotank, seeking to elucidate some mysterious truth from it. To her other side was a lithe woman with long blonde hair and a passive expression on her face, poking at a dataslate. Off to the side, near one of the walls, were three other individuals - a giant woman, a Painfully Average Man, and a bottle blonde who was talking the Painfully Average Man's ear off.

"It appears more of the party have arrived." The woman in the power armor rasped, not even offering a smile.

@jaded-falcon

[jaded-falcon]

Spirit's apparition surprised everyone but the woman in power armour.

"Very little gets past you, I have noticed. Reminds me of when we first met."

She motioned to the holotank. "Shall we begin?"

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

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

"Aff, let us begin."

Melissa turned to the holotank, and pulled up an aerial display of Fort Falaise. A sprawling fortress, surrounded by walls topped with massive turrets, and, in the weatern half of the fortress, an even more heavily fortified spaceport resides wothin the fortress walls.

"Your objective, Fort Falaise."

"Current enemy forces on site are heavy - the main garrison is made up of one mixed 'Mech and CV Level III. Said Level III is made up of Protectorate troops, so not the highest possible quality."

As she spoke, contact icons in red appeared on the aerial view, each labelled with pertinent information.

"However, other forces that are on site as of Task Force Hawk's recon two days ago are rather more impressive. An assault 'Mech Level II with two Ragnaroks, two Highlanders, a Marauder, and a Kintaro. An independent CV level III, with a Schrek PPC carrier and two Scorpion tanks, plus 3 more vehicles of unknown type. Next, 3 entire infantry Levels II, all with heavy anti-armor assets, including those damned Rapture anti-mech guided missiles - very dangerous things, those."

A schematic of a Rapture AT launcher and missile popped into the air above the table, and rotated slowly, lettong everyone get a good look at it.

"Furthermore, as Fort Bayeux will be hit first, we anticipate those enemy forces not destroyed at Bayeux will make their way to Falaise, so there will be even more."

The door to the command center opened, and Savannah Cameron stepped inside. Mow able to see her charge, Spirit relaxed as Savannah walked over to stand close to her. Though this was only apparent to those in the room who knew her, the others could tell that something had changed.

"Sorry I'm late, was dealing with some maintenance issues. Some good news on that front - our artillery will be online and ready for the assault."

Melissa nodded. "Good," she said, pressing a few buttons, making small blue contact icons pop up on the display, some distance from the fort.

"The Fusiliers' newly assigned artillery force will conduct a heavy bombardment of the fort before the main kickoff. Their objective is take out defensive turrets, ammunition storages, and the local atmospheric control system. Once that is done, and the weather clears, ASF and potentially even orbital support will be available."

The map, now fully populated with contact icons, was practically a sea of red.

This was going to be a hell of a fight.

@the-emmapult

[the-emmapult]

Em speaks up, voice slightly muffled by her suit.

"Are you an alien?"

A sharp, pleading look from Kim, and she changes the subject.

"I've never been in combat before, but I'll do my best! It's nice to meet you all."

"Indeed," Kim says, "For those unaware, I'm Kimberly Ash and this is Em Blackwell. We'll be joining your force in this theater. Em may be inexperienced, but she is highly skilled."

Kim's expression says 'Don't get her hurt or I will kill you.'

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

"Spirit," Katrina grated out in bemusement once Melissa had finished, a section of skin around one eye crinkling to partially reflect the emotion. She turned her gaze towards Kim and Em. Taking in the appearance of the two a little more, she drew herself up.

"I am Star Colonel Katrina Moon, of Clan Smoke Jaguar. Independent drop cluster "Jaguar's Shadow", assigned local to the Helios assault. It is good to put faces to two names I have been keeping tabs on up to this point. You two will be assigned to my forces for the time being-"

She shot a pointed look towards Melissa, seemingly challenging her to say something to disagree with the statement. It wasn't particularly sharp.

"-with Em assigned to Beta star of Gamma Binary, under Star Commander Derrik Ott. I will vouch for his expertise, if necessary."

@jaded-falcon

[jaded-falcon]

"Jaguar," Spirit replied in turn, with a respectful nod. "How kind of this galaxy to make us meet once more."

She looked back towards the display. "Jian Three and Four are already engaged in scouting actions at Falaise. They, alongside Katana, Lynx, and Kukri, will be joining the assault, casualties permitting. I will assigning Jian to headhunting duties and authorizing taking shots at any antitank crews armed with Rapture launchers shortly after the adjournment of this meeting; this directive will last until the conclusion of the campaign."

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

Melissa looked to Katrina as she spoke, and merely smiled, chuckling.

"Neg, Em," she spoke to the young MechWarrior. "I am no alien, just an unconventional product of some intense genetic engineering. I am, mostly speaking, human. And Ms. Ash, it would appear that your MechWarrior has just been adopted by Clan Smoke Jaguar," she smiles. "She will be extremely safes in their hands, I assure you."

Alariel, the Jaguar's newest bondsman, an elf-like Omega pilot, spoke directly to Katrina, leaning in as she watched the others talk. "Where shall I go, Star Colonel?"

"Excellent," said Melissa after Spirit finished. "Those Rapture launchers are quite the threat." She pressed some buttons to pull up a schematic of just such a launcher on the holotank - each missile of the portable twin tube launcher set-up housing a fiber-optic guided, 180mm quad-charge HEAT warhead, using depleted uranium liners in place of the more standard copper. "A truly terrifying weapon - designed to, in ideal ambush conditions, punch through a mech canopy, penetrate the cockpit, and continue on to core the reactor itself. I pray to the Great Father that Jian can eliminate that threat before deployment."

"Our artillery will drop some DPICM on the approaches to the base when the time comes," says Savannah. "Should hopefully take take of any that stayed hidden."

@the-emmapult

[the-emmapult]

Em holds up a finger as the acronyms appear on the briefing holo, but her questions are answered immediately by Kim.

"High-explosive anti-tank"

"Dual-purpose improved conventional munitions."

The girl nervously taps the fingers of each hand together.

"Oh. Um."

Her gaze swivels between Katrina and Spirit.

"Aren't Smoke Jaguar the ones who uh, did Turtle Bay?"

Kim tenses, sighs, and pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Em, that was a century ago, you-"

A pause.

"Maybe I've been too lax when it comes to your education. I'm sorry, Colonel Moon, we've been cooped up in that DropShip for too long. Haven't had a chance for a proper lesson plan."

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

A wheezing, whistling sound of vague amusement escaped Katrina as she clasped her hands behind her back and started to practically stalk around the holotable towards Em and Kim. Her posture deteriorated to a mild slouch as she came around the table, each step THUNKing heavily on the floor. The immense woman brought herself close enough to the pair for the quiet humming from her power armor to be heard.

"You will be with my Command star, Alariel-" Katrina started, before she continued to speak towards Em.

"Yes, Em. You are correct. It was my clan that committed the atrocity of Turtle Bay. And for it we were used as an example." The woman stated, her tone remaining surprisingly passive. She drew her lips back in a bitter, hollow grin. Her fangs glinted in the light as a rattling rasp of a laugh started to pull its way from her. "We were... defeated. Beaten and pushed back to our homeworld. Huntress. And... then the 2nd SLDF put our planet to Annihilation."

Her grin receded and her expression grew taught. In the light, her eyes practically glowed, lit by a fire only held in a memory. Her memory of the last days of her homeworld.

"Warriors, slain to the last. Cities razed. The forests burned. A whole sibko of kits, struck down with an orbital bombardment. My own siblings torn away from me by inner sphere commandos. I was... lucky. I was part of the Fidelis, after that. Catalina, Kincaid... they and the rest of my sibko were not so lucky."

A soft sigh escaped Katrina as she let her eyes drift shut. Her face turned up towards the ceiling of the tent as she collected herself. After a moment she returned towards watching Kim and Em, a sad smile having taken its place upon her visage.

"I was nine, when I became one of the forever faithful. And... I will never allow such an atrocity to come to pass, ever again. There will be no more Turtle Bays. No more Huntresses. My hope-" She intentionally looked towards Kim's face, her gaze sharpening like a knife. "-is that I may be permitted to teach such a philosophy to the new generations. And that is why I wish to bring the two of you alongside my own operations. Miss Ash, you understand the gravity of what it is that I speak. And one day, Em may learn through instruction and teaching. Not as I have learned. Never again."

@jaded-falcon

[jaded-falcon]

Spirit watched the exchange silently, as she watched most goings-on in the camp, and filed the learned information away for later.

"Tha sinn a' fulang cogadh, airson 's gum bi ar clann beò ann an sìth."

She didn't expect anyone to understand what she'd said, and having addressed no one in particular, moved on without explaining.

"Death Knell will shadow Lady Cameron. All Hawk forces will be led by Executive Officer Pokhrel, unless the unforeseen happens." Her face was made of stone, utterly impassive, utterly unimpressed.

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

Savannah glances Spirit's way at the Gaelic phrase, clearly understanding, though the meaning is clearly lost on most of the others in the command center.

Hearing that Death Knell will accompanying her, Savannah nods - the tiniest smile on her lupine features visible only to Spirit. "Bidh e math do bhith ri mo thaobh, a ghràidh," she says.

To her credit, Melissa at least recognizes that something of relevant note was said, and nods solemnly at Spirit.

"The unforeseen is important to plan for, of course. To that end, I will be ordering at least some of the forces from Fort Bayeux to move on Fort Falaise as soon as their objectives are complete."

@the-emmapult

[the-emmapult]

Em freezes as Katrina speaks, completely unmoving even after the Star Colonel finishes. Once again she's glad for her visor, as she'd lost control of her facial expression shortly after her superior's tone became clear. The only one who seems to notice her change in mood is Kim.

Kim, who fixes Star Colonel Moon with a glare. The same look worn by a mother bear who has decided to warn someone that they're in between her and her cub. The handler silently places a steadying hand on Em's shoulder, bidding her forgive herself for the faux pas.

Make her regret her words. Make an example to others who'd harm Em.

No, not now.

"The briefing room isn't the time for a lecture, star colonel. I can assure you that we're all on the same page. General Hazen, did you receive my comminuque about our background? It might be time to discuss it."

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

A small pause came to Katrina. Her expression became pensive as she examined Em's stillness, then Kim's face and body language. Then her expression drops to neutral, her eyes scrunching slightly and her eyes dilating, as if the room was too bright for her.

"Apologies. You are correct. COMGEN Hazen, please brief me on their background. It may serve useful for tactical consideration."

The STCOL turned towards Melissa, her eyes sharply snapping to the woman like a big cat stalking prey through the underbrush. She began to stalk back around the holotable, slipping up alongside Alariel and bumping her gently with an elbow.

@jaded-falcon

[the-emmapult]

The light of Helios' distant star filters weakly through to the command center as two figures approach amidst a mid-afternoon flurry. One leads, clad in a weathered greatcoat the color of slate and bundled up beneath a dark green scarf. The other figure wears a strange contraption, almost similar to a military hardsuit apart from the wheezing noises emitting from vents in its neck. The first figure holds open the door for the second, ushering them into the bustling headquarters building. The pair makes their way to the large holotank in the center of the building, which serves as a table for briefings.

"Kim Ash and Em Blackwell reporting, General Hazen."

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

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

As the two entered, an immense woman in heavily modified Nighthawk XXII powered armor turned to look towards them. Her expression was exhausted, as if she had gone several days on little to no sleep and was surviving purely on caffeine and spite. One of her jaguar ears - mildly translucent to the lights above and behind, indicating some level of synthskin - flicked while she regarded the newcomers.

Her armor was maintained, but poorly cleaned. Several of the contoured armor plates had recently been replaced with fresh ones, with no time taken to paint them to the scraped and grime covered Smoke Jaguar Alpha camouflage that the other panels were painted in. The forearms of the armor were stained a dark, flaking brown that was hard to tell if it was mud or blood - or both.

Around the woman were several members of her entourage. Another giant in a beige oilskin duster and dress shirt lurked by her side, jotting notes down on a small pad of paper. He was intently watching the sparse data already displayed in the holotank, seeking to elucidate some mysterious truth from it. To her other side was a lithe woman with long blonde hair and a passive expression on her face, poking at a dataslate. Off to the side, near one of the walls, were three other individuals - a giant woman, a Painfully Average Man, and a bottle blonde who was talking the Painfully Average Man's ear off.

"It appears more of the party have arrived." The woman in the power armor rasped, not even offering a smile.

@jaded-falcon

[jaded-falcon]

Spirit's apparition surprised everyone but the woman in power armour.

"Very little gets past you, I have noticed. Reminds me of when we first met."

She motioned to the holotank. "Shall we begin?"

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

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

"Aff, let us begin."

Melissa turned to the holotank, and pulled up an aerial display of Fort Falaise. A sprawling fortress, surrounded by walls topped with massive turrets, and, in the weatern half of the fortress, an even more heavily fortified spaceport resides wothin the fortress walls.

"Your objective, Fort Falaise."

"Current enemy forces on site are heavy - the main garrison is made up of one mixed 'Mech and CV Level III. Said Level III is made up of Protectorate troops, so not the highest possible quality."

As she spoke, contact icons in red appeared on the aerial view, each labelled with pertinent information.

"However, other forces that are on site as of Task Force Hawk's recon two days ago are rather more impressive. An assault 'Mech Level II with two Ragnaroks, two Highlanders, a Marauder, and a Kintaro. An independent CV level III, with a Schrek PPC carrier and two Scorpion tanks, plus 3 more vehicles of unknown type. Next, 3 entire infantry Levels II, all with heavy anti-armor assets, including those damned Rapture anti-mech guided missiles - very dangerous things, those."

A schematic of a Rapture AT launcher and missile popped into the air above the table, and rotated slowly, lettong everyone get a good look at it.

"Furthermore, as Fort Bayeux will be hit first, we anticipate those enemy forces not destroyed at Bayeux will make their way to Falaise, so there will be even more."

The door to the command center opened, and Savannah Cameron stepped inside. Mow able to see her charge, Spirit relaxed as Savannah walked over to stand close to her. Though this was only apparent to those in the room who knew her, the others could tell that something had changed.

"Sorry I'm late, was dealing with some maintenance issues. Some good news on that front - our artillery will be online and ready for the assault."

Melissa nodded. "Good," she said, pressing a few buttons, making small blue contact icons pop up on the display, some distance from the fort.

"The Fusiliers' newly assigned artillery force will conduct a heavy bombardment of the fort before the main kickoff. Their objective is take out defensive turrets, ammunition storages, and the local atmospheric control system. Once that is done, and the weather clears, ASF and potentially even orbital support will be available."

The map, now fully populated with contact icons, was practically a sea of red.

This was going to be a hell of a fight.

@the-emmapult

[the-emmapult]

Em speaks up, voice slightly muffled by her suit.

"Are you an alien?"

A sharp, pleading look from Kim, and she changes the subject.

"I've never been in combat before, but I'll do my best! It's nice to meet you all."

"Indeed," Kim says, "For those unaware, I'm Kimberly Ash and this is Em Blackwell. We'll be joining your force in this theater. Em may be inexperienced, but she is highly skilled."

Kim's expression says 'Don't get her hurt or I will kill you.'

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

"Spirit," Katrina grated out in bemusement once Melissa had finished, a section of skin around one eye crinkling to partially reflect the emotion. She turned her gaze towards Kim and Em. Taking in the appearance of the two a little more, she drew herself up.

"I am Star Colonel Katrina Moon, of Clan Smoke Jaguar. Independent drop cluster "Jaguar's Shadow", assigned local to the Helios assault. It is good to put faces to two names I have been keeping tabs on up to this point. You two will be assigned to my forces for the time being-"

She shot a pointed look towards Melissa, seemingly challenging her to say something to disagree with the statement. It wasn't particularly sharp.

"-with Em assigned to Beta star of Gamma Binary, under Star Commander Derrik Ott. I will vouch for his expertise, if necessary."

@jaded-falcon

[jaded-falcon]

"Jaguar," Spirit replied in turn, with a respectful nod. "How kind of this galaxy to make us meet once more."

She looked back towards the display. "Jian Three and Four are already engaged in scouting actions at Falaise. They, alongside Katana, Lynx, and Kukri, will be joining the assault, casualties permitting. I will assigning Jian to headhunting duties and authorizing taking shots at any antitank crews armed with Rapture launchers shortly after the adjournment of this meeting; this directive will last until the conclusion of the campaign."

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

Melissa looked to Katrina as she spoke, and merely smiled, chuckling.

"Neg, Em," she spoke to the young MechWarrior. "I am no alien, just an unconventional product of some intense genetic engineering. I am, mostly speaking, human. And Ms. Ash, it would appear that your MechWarrior has just been adopted by Clan Smoke Jaguar," she smiles. "She will be extremely safes in their hands, I assure you."

Alariel, the Jaguar's newest bondsman, an elf-like Omega pilot, spoke directly to Katrina, leaning in as she watched the others talk. "Where shall I go, Star Colonel?"

"Excellent," said Melissa after Spirit finished. "Those Rapture launchers are quite the threat." She pressed some buttons to pull up a schematic of just such a launcher on the holotank - each missile of the portable twin tube launcher set-up housing a fiber-optic guided, 180mm quad-charge HEAT warhead, using depleted uranium liners in place of the more standard copper. "A truly terrifying weapon - designed to, in ideal ambush conditions, punch through a mech canopy, penetrate the cockpit, and continue on to core the reactor itself. I pray to the Great Father that Jian can eliminate that threat before deployment."

"Our artillery will drop some DPICM on the approaches to the base when the time comes," says Savannah. "Should hopefully take take of any that stayed hidden."

@the-emmapult

[the-emmapult]

Em holds up a finger as the acronyms appear on the briefing holo, but her questions are answered immediately by Kim.

"High-explosive anti-tank"

"Dual-purpose improved conventional munitions."

The girl nervously taps the fingers of each hand together.

"Oh. Um."

Her gaze swivels between Katrina and Spirit.

"Aren't Smoke Jaguar the ones who uh, did Turtle Bay?"

Kim tenses, sighs, and pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Em, that was a century ago, you-"

A pause.

"Maybe I've been too lax when it comes to your education. I'm sorry, Colonel Moon, we've been cooped up in that DropShip for too long. Haven't had a chance for a proper lesson plan."

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

A wheezing, whistling sound of vague amusement escaped Katrina as she clasped her hands behind her back and started to practically stalk around the holotable towards Em and Kim. Her posture deteriorated to a mild slouch as she came around the table, each step THUNKing heavily on the floor. The immense woman brought herself close enough to the pair for the quiet humming from her power armor to be heard.

"You will be with my Command star, Alariel-" Katrina started, before she continued to speak towards Em.

"Yes, Em. You are correct. It was my clan that committed the atrocity of Turtle Bay. And for it we were used as an example." The woman stated, her tone remaining surprisingly passive. She drew her lips back in a bitter, hollow grin. Her fangs glinted in the light as a rattling rasp of a laugh started to pull its way from her. "We were... defeated. Beaten and pushed back to our homeworld. Huntress. And... then the 2nd SLDF put our planet to Annihilation."

Her grin receded and her expression grew taught. In the light, her eyes practically glowed, lit by a fire only held in a memory. Her memory of the last days of her homeworld.

"Warriors, slain to the last. Cities razed. The forests burned. A whole sibko of kits, struck down with an orbital bombardment. My own siblings torn away from me by inner sphere commandos. I was... lucky. I was part of the Fidelis, after that. Catalina, Kincaid... they and the rest of my sibko were not so lucky."

A soft sigh escaped Katrina as she let her eyes drift shut. Her face turned up towards the ceiling of the tent as she collected herself. After a moment she returned towards watching Kim and Em, a sad smile having taken its place upon her visage.

"I was eight, when I became one of the forever faithful. And... I will never allow such an atrocity to come to pass, ever again. There will be no more Turtle Bays. No more Huntresses. My hope-" She intentionally looked towards Kim's face, her gaze sharpening like a knife. "-is that I may be permitted to teach such a philosophy to the new generations. And that is why I wish to bring the two of you alongside my own operations. Miss Ash, you understand the gravity of what it is that I speak. And one day, Em may learn through instruction and teaching. Not as I have learned. Never again."

@jaded-falcon

[the-emmapult]

The light of Helios' distant star filters weakly through to the command center as two figures approach amidst a mid-afternoon flurry. One leads, clad in a weathered greatcoat the color of slate and bundled up beneath a dark green scarf. The other figure wears a strange contraption, almost similar to a military hardsuit apart from the wheezing noises emitting from vents in its neck. The first figure holds open the door for the second, ushering them into the bustling headquarters building. The pair makes their way to the large holotank in the center of the building, which serves as a table for briefings.

"Kim Ash and Em Blackwell reporting, General Hazen."

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

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

As the two entered, an immense woman in heavily modified Nighthawk XXII powered armor turned to look towards them. Her expression was exhausted, as if she had gone several days on little to no sleep and was surviving purely on caffeine and spite. One of her jaguar ears - mildly translucent to the lights above and behind, indicating some level of synthskin - flicked while she regarded the newcomers.

Her armor was maintained, but poorly cleaned. Several of the contoured armor plates had recently been replaced with fresh ones, with no time taken to paint them to the scraped and grime covered Smoke Jaguar Alpha camouflage that the other panels were painted in. The forearms of the armor were stained a dark, flaking brown that was hard to tell if it was mud or blood - or both.

Around the woman were several members of her entourage. Another giant in a beige oilskin duster and dress shirt lurked by her side, jotting notes down on a small pad of paper. He was intently watching the sparse data already displayed in the holotank, seeking to elucidate some mysterious truth from it. To her other side was a lithe woman with long blonde hair and a passive expression on her face, poking at a dataslate. Off to the side, near one of the walls, were three other individuals - a giant woman, a Painfully Average Man, and a bottle blonde who was talking the Painfully Average Man's ear off.

"It appears more of the party have arrived." The woman in the power armor rasped, not even offering a smile.

@jaded-falcon

[jaded-falcon]

Spirit's apparition surprised everyone but the woman in power armour.

"Very little gets past you, I have noticed. Reminds me of when we first met."

She motioned to the holotank. "Shall we begin?"

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

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

"Aff, let us begin."

Melissa turned to the holotank, and pulled up an aerial display of Fort Falaise. A sprawling fortress, surrounded by walls topped with massive turrets, and, in the weatern half of the fortress, an even more heavily fortified spaceport resides wothin the fortress walls.

"Your objective, Fort Falaise."

"Current enemy forces on site are heavy - the main garrison is made up of one mixed 'Mech and CV Level III. Said Level III is made up of Protectorate troops, so not the highest possible quality."

As she spoke, contact icons in red appeared on the aerial view, each labelled with pertinent information.

"However, other forces that are on site as of Task Force Hawk's recon two days ago are rather more impressive. An assault 'Mech Level II with two Ragnaroks, two Highlanders, a Marauder, and a Kintaro. An independent CV level III, with a Schrek PPC carrier and two Scorpion tanks, plus 3 more vehicles of unknown type. Next, 3 entire infantry Levels II, all with heavy anti-armor assets, including those damned Rapture anti-mech guided missiles - very dangerous things, those."

A schematic of a Rapture AT launcher and missile popped into the air above the table, and rotated slowly, lettong everyone get a good look at it.

"Furthermore, as Fort Bayeux will be hit first, we anticipate those enemy forces not destroyed at Bayeux will make their way to Falaise, so there will be even more."

The door to the command center opened, and Savannah Cameron stepped inside. Mow able to see her charge, Spirit relaxed as Savannah walked over to stand close to her. Though this was only apparent to those in the room who knew her, the others could tell that something had changed.

"Sorry I'm late, was dealing with some maintenance issues. Some good news on that front - our artillery will be online and ready for the assault."

Melissa nodded. "Good," she said, pressing a few buttons, making small blue contact icons pop up on the display, some distance from the fort.

"The Fusiliers' newly assigned artillery force will conduct a heavy bombardment of the fort before the main kickoff. Their objective is take out defensive turrets, ammunition storages, and the local atmospheric control system. Once that is done, and the weather clears, ASF and potentially even orbital support will be available."

The map, now fully populated with contact icons, was practically a sea of red.

This was going to be a hell of a fight.

@the-emmapult

[the-emmapult]

Em speaks up, voice slightly muffled by her suit.

"Are you an alien?"

A sharp, pleading look from Kim, and she changes the subject.

"I've never been in combat before, but I'll do my best! It's nice to meet you all."

"Indeed," Kim says, "For those unaware, I'm Kimberly Ash and this is Em Blackwell. We'll be joining your force in this theater. Em may be inexperienced, but she is highly skilled."

Kim's expression says 'Don't get her hurt or I will kill you.'

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

"Spirit," Katrina grated out in bemusement once Melissa had finished, a section of skin around one eye crinkling to partially reflect the emotion. She turned her gaze towards Kim and Em. Taking in the appearance of the two a little more, she drew herself up.

"I am Star Colonel Katrina Moon, of Clan Smoke Jaguar. Independent drop cluster "Jaguar's Shadow", assigned local to the Helios assault. It is good to put faces to two names I have been keeping tabs on up to this point. You two will be assigned to my forces for the time being-"

She shot a pointed look towards Melissa, seemingly challenging her to say something to disagree with the statement. It wasn't particularly sharp.

"-with Em assigned to Beta star of Gamma Binary, under Star Commander Derrik Ott. I will vouch for his expertise, if necessary."

@jaded-falcon

[the-emmapult]

The light of Helios' distant star filters weakly through to the command center as two figures approach amidst a mid-afternoon flurry. One leads, clad in a weathered greatcoat the color of slate and bundled up beneath a dark green scarf. The other figure wears a strange contraption, almost similar to a military hardsuit apart from the wheezing noises emitting from vents in its neck. The first figure holds open the door for the second, ushering them into the bustling headquarters building. The pair makes their way to the large holotank in the center of the building, which serves as a table for briefings.

"Kim Ash and Em Blackwell reporting, General Hazen."

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

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

As the two entered, an immense woman in heavily modified Nighthawk XXII powered armor turned to look towards them. Her expression was exhausted, as if she had gone several days on little to no sleep and was surviving purely on caffeine and spite. One of her jaguar ears - mildly translucent to the lights above and behind, indicating some level of synthskin - flicked while she regarded the newcomers.

Her armor was maintained, but poorly cleaned. Several of the contoured armor plates had recently been replaced with fresh ones, with no time taken to paint them to the scraped and grime covered Smoke Jaguar Alpha camouflage that the other panels were painted in. The forearms of the armor were stained a dark, flaking brown that was hard to tell if it was mud or blood - or both.

Around the woman were several members of her entourage. Another giant in a beige oilskin duster and dress shirt lurked by her side, jotting notes down on a small pad of paper. He was intently watching the sparse data already displayed in the holotank, seeking to elucidate some mysterious truth from it. To her other side was a lithe woman with long blonde hair and a passive expression on her face, poking at a dataslate. Off to the side, near one of the walls, were three other individuals - a giant woman, a Painfully Average Man, and a bottle blonde who was talking the Painfully Average Man's ear off.

"It appears more of the party have arrived." The woman in the power armor rasped, not even offering a smile.

@jaded-falcon

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

RISING PULSE | FIRST LOOK

3130, January 3rd La Grave Clan Wolf Supply Outpost

The silence of the night was broken. The stuttering buzz of pulse lasers washed over the compound, right before the main gate exploded inwards. A wave of five Revenant drones burst through the opening, skittering and stumbling through the compound as they proceeded to wreak havoc upon the support vehicles parked about. The flames colored their white armor with a harsh orange glow, illuminating the sword painted on their center torso. Through the smoldering ruins of the gate slipped six individuals in power armor, immediately spreading out to head towards the corners of the outpost.

[jaded-falcon]

Meanwhile, on the other side of the compound, a lone woman dressed in a stolen stealth-suit cursed under her breath.

Of course the Blakists decided to attack the exact same outpost as me. Just my luck.

Within the span of the same breath Spirit pushed her misfortune from her mind and prepared herself to run as a Clan Wolf patrol rushed past below her.

Deep in. Spirit pulled air into her lungs for three seconds. She'd been described as icy by the rest of Morrigan Team before; cool under pressure, always frosty and ready for the next phase, never using an unnecessary word while on the job, ruthless as the job demanded.

She held the breath for five seconds. Clan Jade Falcon warriors had a reputation for ruthlessness, especially now with Malvina Hazen in charge--woe upon her body, a curse upon her name--and it was for good reason. No Clan produced better warriors than Clan Jade Falcon. The Wolves came close, but their specialty was adaptation; faced with a wall, a Wolf went around. The Jade Falcon broke it down.

Long out. For seven seconds, she made herself exhale. It was why they had come away with the most kills for each martyr on Tukayyid; the Jade Falcons were ruthless. Spirit didn't necessarily like that fact, but she understood it was true; during Operation REVIVAL, she and her Star had won as many victories as they did by sheer fury as much as skill. Even now she fought without a thought of mercy in her mind, cutting and maiming and killing those who got in her way and executing those who survived for the crime of seeing her work.

She stood and began sprinting before leaping from one roof to the next and slipping down into an alleyway between two buildings. Her target was in sight; the central command building, where the Wolves kept data on this stockpile's munitions... and the reactor.

Given that the Blakists were probably going to make off with the loot long before Clan Jade Falcon or Hanni's Harriers, making the reactor go supercritical could take care of two birds with one stone--at least in theory.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

One of the Revenant dronemechs pursued the Clan Wolf patrol. It scrabbled and scratched over tarmac and gravel, coming to a skidding stop in front of the alleyway. Dirt and gravel sprayed from its sudden stop as its four legs cut furrows into the road.

The main sensor array on the mech whipped to stare directly at Spirit. The ominous red glow of the lenses processed slowly, several components of the array refocusing. And right as the mech was going to begin turning, an SRM exploded off its center torso. Its sensors whirled around and it immediately stalked after what had shot it, LMGs rattling away.

That left the path towards the central command building clear, with no obvious obstructions in the way.

[jaded-falcon]

Sloppy. Fucking sloppy. That thing shouldn't have seen me.

Spirit muttered a curse under her breath and reassessed the situation; then, after a moment to ensure the coast was at least relatively clear, she made a break for the command complex.

The upside was that, with Clan Wolf forces so preoccupied fighting off the sudden Blakist assault, nobody cared about a lone woman sprinting across the battlefield, ducking and dodging between spots of cover.

By the time that she slipped into a door on the other side of the field, the automechs seemed to be stalling against the Clan Wolf defenders. Spirit said a wordless prayer and sliced the computer terminal open, then raised her pistol and moved inside.

Clear. Straight shot to the reactor.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The first couple minutes of the command complex would be silent, with no notable targets or indicators of internal activity. Here and there would be things a touch out of place - a couple broken lights, a very mild tinge of copper to the air. But beyond that, the facility would seem almost abandoned compared to the outside.

Almost.

The air shifted slightly. There would be nearly no indication of a difference to Spirit before she would have to throw herself to the side to avoid an armored comet. Her gun was clipped by the armored boot of the attacker and was sent skittering off down the hallway.

The white armored assailant hit the ground with an impact that shook the floor, immediately ripping a knife from their belt. They started from a low and almost crouched position, pushing their torso and head forwards to surge up and towards Spirit, knife following swiftly after. The myomer bundles of the armor whined ominously from the swift acceleration, near instantly becoming a hissing as the water vapor coating the exposed bundles flashed away from the heat of the exertion.

[jaded-falcon]

Steel shrieked as it met steel. The two knives carved fresh scars on one another. Spirit grabbed for her second knife to break the deadlock she was sure to lose and sprang backwards, narrowly avoiding being split from her thighs to her skull.

The fight paused for a few bare seconds. Both soldiers surveyed one another, sized each other up.

Spirit, frankly, didn't like what she saw. The newcomer had all of the edges; speed, power, armour, weaponry, even size. In an even, honourable fight, Spirit was most certainly doing to die. Even if she resorted to more dezgra tactics (which she was, of course--honor mattered little to her), the fight would be close.

Spirit was a Jade Falcon. She did not fear death.

"Nemo me impune lacessit, warrior," she murmured, just loud enough to be heard over the natural hum of the base. Her fingers flexed around the grip of her knife, priming the six pounds of C4 in her bag to detonate when she needed them to.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The Blakist paused for a hint of a hint of a second.

"Scream all you like," the power armored Blakist rasped, a smug edge creeping into her(?) voice. "Seth Ward will not save you here."

Twirling the knife into an icepick grip, the warrior yanked a cylinder from their belt, knocking a pin out with their thumb and hurling it towards Spirit. They followed swiftly behind it, blade flashing as they launched themselves through the air, aiming to tackle the stealth operator to the ground.

[jaded-falcon]

Spirit's mind moved like lightning, processing the insult and the mystery operative's actions all at once. Grenade thrown, immediate charge—the grenade is a dud. Seth Ward being invoked as a threat—opponent thinks I'm a Wolf. Stravag prick. Opponent had a Clan accent—what the fuck?

Her knife met her opponent's blade just before their shoulder slammed into her stomach; she felt herself lift off the ground slightly as the Blakist wrapped an arm around her legs to throw her to the ground.

Shit. Come on, Spirit! Get the initiative back!

Spirit's back slammed into the ground hard enough to drive the wind out of her lungs; she just barely managed to deflect a plunging knife away from her throat. It buried itself into the concrete floor—far enough in that the commando had a difficult time yanking it free. Spirit used the brief respite to try and sink a blade into her opponent before the commando pinned her arms down with her legs, straddling her upper chest in bully-mount, leaving Spirit's head open. The Ghost of the Black Watch tried to yank her opponent back by wrapping her legs around the commando's neck, to no avail. She was, well and truly, trapped.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The commando didn't seem to even be out of breath as she lackadaisically inspected the edge of her knife, then pressed the tip to the concrete next to Spirit's neck, the edge nearly grazing her skin. All she had to do was put her weight sideways.

"Any final words, Wolf?" Not clanner, not infidel or some other Blakist insult. Wolf.

There were no emotions betrayed by the blank visor of the PA(L)'s helmet as the commando tilted her head, inspecting Spirit while waiting for an answer.

[jaded-falcon]

Despite how serious the situation was, and despite how confused she was that her opponent had a Clan accent, Spirit found it within herself to smile.

"Aff," she answered, teeth bared behind her helmet in a vicious smile. "Turkina... when I hit this detonator, please let this commando understand how badly she has fucked up before she dies."

Her thumb hovered over the hilt of her knife, where the detonator sat, well-concealed and ready. With just a twitch she could turn both warriors into a smoking crater.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Spirit would be able to see as the statement buffered in the commando's head. She tilted her armored head one way and then the other, processing between the accent and statement. When finally it clicked, the commando slowly sat back, lifting herself to a sitting position. Her knife was held at ready, but in a more relaxed manner.

"Falcon." She stated simply, lifting herself off and away from Spirit. Trudging over to one side of the hallway, she yanked a David portable gauss rifle from where it was concealed.

[jaded-falcon]

"Well done," Spirit replied, pushing herself to standing. She was still on-guard, arguably moreso than when she'd entered—there was, after all, a large commando with an unknown affiliation, power armour and a gauss rifle standing metres away. "Only a Clanner would know that, which explains your accent. Sounds a bit like a Smoke Jaguar, but wrong; as if you have been living among Spheroids."

She gazed pointedly at her former opponent. "I have not heard a Smoke Jaguar speak in many years. Could have sworn the last of you died on Huntress."

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

That got a reaction. A strong reaction. The commando hissed, whirling about and gaining a set to her shoulders. Though she didn't bring the gauss rifle to bear, she still brandished the immense weapon with little issue.

"We would NOT have, were it not for-...!"

As though realizing what she was doing, the commando cut herself short. Spirit would be able to see her relax, her posture and shoulders unclenching as though she was forcing herself. Without saying a word, she turned about-face and began stalking down the hallway in near silence, as though saying anything would be mentioning a terrible truth - or quite the deeply hidden secret.

[jaded-falcon]

"So you are a Smoke Jaguar," Spirit hummed, before the commando could get too far away. "Hiding behind Blakist iconography and weaponry, but a Smoke Jaguar nonetheless. I trust you have no love for the Wolves either?"

It was interesting how Spirit's voice blended barbed insults with earnest compliments and open palms, slipped velvet gloves over iron hands.

"I think we can help each other, Jaguar."

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The commando stopped abruptly.

"I should kill you where you stand for what you know, Falcon. I have not been a Jaguar for many years. That was taken from me."

She allowed the barrel of her David to dip towards the floor slightly.

"Perhaps we can help each other indeed. What are you in this facility for?"

[jaded-falcon]

So she's a bondsman... but not to any Clan I know of. Interesting.

"I have enough plastic explosives in my bag to make this reactor enter a Stackpole cascade twice over," Spirit answered, patting the carrying strap of a small satchel on her back. "I was going to steal inventory data, but with the Wolves now on-guard, denying them their stockpile is as good as stealing it. Somehow I doubt you want this place intact either."

She hesitated for a moment, then chose to add, "Jaguar."

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Ignoring the statement, the commando instead decided to start marching off down the hallway. She brought the David up to bear and activated the Tornado's stealth systems, beginning to meld with the surroundings poorly as she went on the move.

"We head for the reactor. Keep up."

Less a command and more a general statement, as if the commando really didn't care either way. As she continued down the hall, a Clan Wolf soldier jumped out and she squeezed the trigger of the David, blowing a hole through the warrior with little fanfare.

[jaded-falcon]

"Good shot, Jaguar."

Spirit stooped to grab her pistol again, checked that it hadn't sustained any compromising damage, and made sure a round was chambered, all without breaking stride. Almost casual aim sent a bullet slamming into a camera at the far end of the hallway.

Once the two hit the t-junction at the end of the hallway, Spirit motioned left. "There is a security station two hallways down that we will need to wipe out if we want this to go smoothly."

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

"Known forces?" Inquired the commando. She checked the magazine on the David light gauss as she maintained stride, satisfied with the remaining ammunition in the drum. Her other hand drifted to her tacbelt, removing a grenade from a pouch and preparing it.

As the two of them approached the security station, she hefted the David into a low ready.

"On your mark. Ready for breach."

[the-tired-merc]

Amber excitedly bounced in her medbed, as she waited for the medtechs. She had been slowly losing her mind trapped in the bed, yeah she had visitors to keep her company, but she meeded to move. Stillness means death, even out of her mech, this thought stewed in the back of her head the entire time she had been trapped, giving her endless anxiety.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The stoic medtech who had originally saved Amber from the fields of battle stepped into the tent, carrying a tablet. He was followed by several other medtechs, each outfitted in combat paramedic's gear. Then, he stopped next to her bed.

"SaKhan Amber Ryder. I did not introduce myself previous. I am Senior MedTech Bob. You have been prepped the best you can be for best chances. Are you prepared to receive your myomer bionic?"

[the-tired-merc]

Amber's grin grew

"I'm so fucking ready. Hate being stuck in this bed. So how this work?"

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Bob swiped his hand across the tablet, opening up the control and selection menu for the myomer Black Box system. He began to check options, visually sizing up Amber for a moment before gesturing one of the other MedTechs over and handing them the tablet. Finally, the blocky man grasped the side rails of the hospital bed and leaned on them. They groaned softly, but held. "First, we will put you under. That will prevent most of the potential complications. When you wake up, we will have injected a temporary nerve block so that your body has time to adjust to the new signals from the bionic. It will take several hours to wear off. Then, from there we will be discharging you to the SLDF medical teams. They will handle your rehab. And I will get some sleep."

[the-tired-merc]

"That eager to get me off your hands? I wasn't thaaaat bad"

Amber laughed

"Ready whenever you are doc"

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

"You tried to escape when drugged up with painkillers. We are not having this argument."

Taking a syringe from a tray that was presented by one of the medtechs, Bob uncapped it and started to slowly push the anesthetic to the main IV line.

"Once this is in the line, you can expect to be out within about five minutes."

[the-tired-merc]

"You haven't had to work on many light mechs have ya?"

Amber shrugged

"Its just how we are"

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

"I see."

Finishing pushing the anesthetic, Bob handed the syringe back off.

"Your recovery will be difficult, SaKhan. It would be most efficient for you to ask for help. Though the SLDF will have experts in recovery, after you are discharged to their care, you may ask for our assistance if you desire it. We have plenty of experience with myomer bionic recovery."

[the-tired-merc]

"Noted, and appreciated."

Amber leans back, waiting for the anesthetics to take effect

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

It would swiftly hit her like a freight train, allowing her to move off to the snoozefest of lala land.

When Amber woke up, her body would feel heavy and sluggish. She would be in a different section of the medical region, with strongly dimmed lights. A few MedTechs would be about, checking on individuals in various states of wakefulness from surgical anesthesia.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

RISING PULSE | FIRST LOOK

3130, January 3rd La Grave Clan Wolf Supply Outpost

The silence of the night was broken. The stuttering buzz of pulse lasers washed over the compound, right before the main gate exploded inwards. A wave of five Revenant drones burst through the opening, skittering and stumbling through the compound as they proceeded to wreak havoc upon the support vehicles parked about. The flames colored their white armor with a harsh orange glow, illuminating the sword painted on their center torso. Through the smoldering ruins of the gate slipped six individuals in power armor, immediately spreading out to head towards the corners of the outpost.

[jaded-falcon]

Meanwhile, on the other side of the compound, a lone woman dressed in a stolen stealth-suit cursed under her breath.

Of course the Blakists decided to attack the exact same outpost as me. Just my luck.

Within the span of the same breath Spirit pushed her misfortune from her mind and prepared herself to run as a Clan Wolf patrol rushed past below her.

Deep in. Spirit pulled air into her lungs for three seconds. She'd been described as icy by the rest of Morrigan Team before; cool under pressure, always frosty and ready for the next phase, never using an unnecessary word while on the job, ruthless as the job demanded.

She held the breath for five seconds. Clan Jade Falcon warriors had a reputation for ruthlessness, especially now with Malvina Hazen in charge--woe upon her body, a curse upon her name--and it was for good reason. No Clan produced better warriors than Clan Jade Falcon. The Wolves came close, but their specialty was adaptation; faced with a wall, a Wolf went around. The Jade Falcon broke it down.

Long out. For seven seconds, she made herself exhale. It was why they had come away with the most kills for each martyr on Tukayyid; the Jade Falcons were ruthless. Spirit didn't necessarily like that fact, but she understood it was true; during Operation REVIVAL, she and her Star had won as many victories as they did by sheer fury as much as skill. Even now she fought without a thought of mercy in her mind, cutting and maiming and killing those who got in her way and executing those who survived for the crime of seeing her work.

She stood and began sprinting before leaping from one roof to the next and slipping down into an alleyway between two buildings. Her target was in sight; the central command building, where the Wolves kept data on this stockpile's munitions... and the reactor.

Given that the Blakists were probably going to make off with the loot long before Clan Jade Falcon or Hanni's Harriers, making the reactor go supercritical could take care of two birds with one stone--at least in theory.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

One of the Revenant dronemechs pursued the Clan Wolf patrol. It scrabbled and scratched over tarmac and gravel, coming to a skidding stop in front of the alleyway. Dirt and gravel sprayed from its sudden stop as its four legs cut furrows into the road.

The main sensor array on the mech whipped to stare directly at Spirit. The ominous red glow of the lenses processed slowly, several components of the array refocusing. And right as the mech was going to begin turning, an SRM exploded off its center torso. Its sensors whirled around and it immediately stalked after what had shot it, LMGs rattling away.

That left the path towards the central command building clear, with no obvious obstructions in the way.

[jaded-falcon]

Sloppy. Fucking sloppy. That thing shouldn't have seen me.

Spirit muttered a curse under her breath and reassessed the situation; then, after a moment to ensure the coast was at least relatively clear, she made a break for the command complex.

The upside was that, with Clan Wolf forces so preoccupied fighting off the sudden Blakist assault, nobody cared about a lone woman sprinting across the battlefield, ducking and dodging between spots of cover.

By the time that she slipped into a door on the other side of the field, the automechs seemed to be stalling against the Clan Wolf defenders. Spirit said a wordless prayer and sliced the computer terminal open, then raised her pistol and moved inside.

Clear. Straight shot to the reactor.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The first couple minutes of the command complex would be silent, with no notable targets or indicators of internal activity. Here and there would be things a touch out of place - a couple broken lights, a very mild tinge of copper to the air. But beyond that, the facility would seem almost abandoned compared to the outside.

Almost.

The air shifted slightly. There would be nearly no indication of a difference to Spirit before she would have to throw herself to the side to avoid an armored comet. Her gun was clipped by the armored boot of the attacker and was sent skittering off down the hallway.

The white armored assailant hit the ground with an impact that shook the floor, immediately ripping a knife from their belt. They started from a low and almost crouched position, pushing their torso and head forwards to surge up and towards Spirit, knife following swiftly after. The myomer bundles of the armor whined ominously from the swift acceleration, near instantly becoming a hissing as the water vapor coating the exposed bundles flashed away from the heat of the exertion.

[jaded-falcon]

Steel shrieked as it met steel. The two knives carved fresh scars on one another. Spirit grabbed for her second knife to break the deadlock she was sure to lose and sprang backwards, narrowly avoiding being split from her thighs to her skull.

The fight paused for a few bare seconds. Both soldiers surveyed one another, sized each other up.

Spirit, frankly, didn't like what she saw. The newcomer had all of the edges; speed, power, armour, weaponry, even size. In an even, honourable fight, Spirit was most certainly doing to die. Even if she resorted to more dezgra tactics (which she was, of course--honor mattered little to her), the fight would be close.

Spirit was a Jade Falcon. She did not fear death.

"Nemo me impune lacessit, warrior," she murmured, just loud enough to be heard over the natural hum of the base. Her fingers flexed around the grip of her knife, priming the six pounds of C4 in her bag to detonate when she needed them to.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The Blakist paused for a hint of a hint of a second.

"Scream all you like," the power armored Blakist rasped, a smug edge creeping into her(?) voice. "Seth Ward will not save you here."

Twirling the knife into an icepick grip, the warrior yanked a cylinder from their belt, knocking a pin out with their thumb and hurling it towards Spirit. They followed swiftly behind it, blade flashing as they launched themselves through the air, aiming to tackle the stealth operator to the ground.

[jaded-falcon]

Spirit's mind moved like lightning, processing the insult and the mystery operative's actions all at once. Grenade thrown, immediate charge—the grenade is a dud. Seth Ward being invoked as a threat—opponent thinks I'm a Wolf. Stravag prick. Opponent had a Clan accent—what the fuck?

Her knife met her opponent's blade just before their shoulder slammed into her stomach; she felt herself lift off the ground slightly as the Blakist wrapped an arm around her legs to throw her to the ground.

Shit. Come on, Spirit! Get the initiative back!

Spirit's back slammed into the ground hard enough to drive the wind out of her lungs; she just barely managed to deflect a plunging knife away from her throat. It buried itself into the concrete floor—far enough in that the commando had a difficult time yanking it free. Spirit used the brief respite to try and sink a blade into her opponent before the commando pinned her arms down with her legs, straddling her upper chest in bully-mount, leaving Spirit's head open. The Ghost of the Black Watch tried to yank her opponent back by wrapping her legs around the commando's neck, to no avail. She was, well and truly, trapped.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The commando didn't seem to even be out of breath as she lackadaisically inspected the edge of her knife, then pressed the tip to the concrete next to Spirit's neck, the edge nearly grazing her skin. All she had to do was put her weight sideways.

"Any final words, Wolf?" Not clanner, not infidel or some other Blakist insult. Wolf.

There were no emotions betrayed by the blank visor of the PA(L)'s helmet as the commando tilted her head, inspecting Spirit while waiting for an answer.

[jaded-falcon]

Despite how serious the situation was, and despite how confused she was that her opponent had a Clan accent, Spirit found it within herself to smile.

"Aff," she answered, teeth bared behind her helmet in a vicious smile. "Turkina... when I hit this detonator, please let this commando understand how badly she has fucked up before she dies."

Her thumb hovered over the hilt of her knife, where the detonator sat, well-concealed and ready. With just a twitch she could turn both warriors into a smoking crater.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Spirit would be able to see as the statement buffered in the commando's head. She tilted her armored head one way and then the other, processing between the accent and statement. When finally it clicked, the commando slowly sat back, lifting herself to a sitting position. Her knife was held at ready, but in a more relaxed manner.

"Falcon." She stated simply, lifting herself off and away from Spirit. Trudging over to one side of the hallway, she yanked a David portable gauss rifle from where it was concealed.

[jaded-falcon]

"Well done," Spirit replied, pushing herself to standing. She was still on-guard, arguably moreso than when she'd entered—there was, after all, a large commando with an unknown affiliation, power armour and a gauss rifle standing metres away. "Only a Clanner would know that, which explains your accent. Sounds a bit like a Smoke Jaguar, but wrong; as if you have been living among Spheroids."

She gazed pointedly at her former opponent. "I have not heard a Smoke Jaguar speak in many years. Could have sworn the last of you died on Huntress."

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

That got a reaction. A strong reaction. The commando hissed, whirling about and gaining a set to her shoulders. Though she didn't bring the gauss rifle to bear, she still brandished the immense weapon with little issue.

"We would NOT have, were it not for-...!"

As though realizing what she was doing, the commando cut herself short. Spirit would be able to see her relax, her posture and shoulders unclenching as though she was forcing herself. Without saying a word, she turned about-face and began stalking down the hallway in near silence, as though saying anything would be mentioning a terrible truth - or quite the deeply hidden secret.

[jaded-falcon]

"So you are a Smoke Jaguar," Spirit hummed, before the commando could get too far away. "Hiding behind Blakist iconography and weaponry, but a Smoke Jaguar nonetheless. I trust you have no love for the Wolves either?"

It was interesting how Spirit's voice blended barbed insults with earnest compliments and open palms, slipped velvet gloves over iron hands.

"I think we can help each other, Jaguar."

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The commando stopped abruptly.

"I should kill you where you stand for what you know, Falcon. I have not been a Jaguar for many years. That was taken from me."

She allowed the barrel of her David to dip towards the floor slightly.

"Perhaps we can help each other indeed. What are you in this facility for?"

[jaded-falcon]

So she's a bondsman... but not to any Clan I know of. Interesting.

"I have enough plastic explosives in my bag to make this reactor enter a Stackpole cascade twice over," Spirit answered, patting the carrying strap of a small satchel on her back. "I was going to steal inventory data, but with the Wolves now on-guard, denying them their stockpile is as good as stealing it. Somehow I doubt you want this place intact either."

She hesitated for a moment, then chose to add, "Jaguar."

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Ignoring the statement, the commando instead decided to start marching off down the hallway. She brought the David up to bear and activated the Tornado's stealth systems, beginning to meld with the surroundings poorly as she went on the move.

"We head for the reactor. Keep up."

Less a command and more a general statement, as if the commando really didn't care either way. As she continued down the hall, a Clan Wolf soldier jumped out and she squeezed the trigger of the David, blowing a hole through the warrior with little fanfare.

[the-tired-merc]

Amber excitedly bounced in her medbed, as she waited for the medtechs. She had been slowly losing her mind trapped in the bed, yeah she had visitors to keep her company, but she meeded to move. Stillness means death, even out of her mech, this thought stewed in the back of her head the entire time she had been trapped, giving her endless anxiety.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The stoic medtech who had originally saved Amber from the fields of battle stepped into the tent, carrying a tablet. He was followed by several other medtechs, each outfitted in combat paramedic's gear. Then, he stopped next to her bed.

"SaKhan Amber Ryder. I did not introduce myself previous. I am Senior MedTech Bob. You have been prepped the best you can be for best chances. Are you prepared to receive your myomer bionic?"

[the-tired-merc]

Amber's grin grew

"I'm so fucking ready. Hate being stuck in this bed. So how this work?"

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Bob swiped his hand across the tablet, opening up the control and selection menu for the myomer Black Box system. He began to check options, visually sizing up Amber for a moment before gesturing one of the other MedTechs over and handing them the tablet. Finally, the blocky man grasped the side rails of the hospital bed and leaned on them. They groaned softly, but held. "First, we will put you under. That will prevent most of the potential complications. When you wake up, we will have injected a temporary nerve block so that your body has time to adjust to the new signals from the bionic. It will take several hours to wear off. Then, from there we will be discharging you to the SLDF medical teams. They will handle your rehab. And I will get some sleep."

[the-tired-merc]

"That eager to get me off your hands? I wasn't thaaaat bad"

Amber laughed

"Ready whenever you are doc"

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

"You tried to escape when drugged up with painkillers. We are not having this argument."

Taking a syringe from a tray that was presented by one of the medtechs, Bob uncapped it and started to slowly push the anesthetic to the main IV line.

"Once this is in the line, you can expect to be out within about five minutes."

[the-tired-merc]

"You haven't had to work on many light mechs have ya?"

Amber shrugged

"Its just how we are"

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

"I see."

Finishing pushing the anesthetic, Bob handed the syringe back off.

"Your recovery will be difficult, SaKhan. It would be most efficient for you to ask for help. Though the SLDF will have experts in recovery, after you are discharged to their care, you may ask for our assistance if you desire it. We have plenty of experience with myomer bionic recovery."

[the-tired-merc]

Amber excitedly bounced in her medbed, as she waited for the medtechs. She had been slowly losing her mind trapped in the bed, yeah she had visitors to keep her company, but she meeded to move. Stillness means death, even out of her mech, this thought stewed in the back of her head the entire time she had been trapped, giving her endless anxiety.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The stoic medtech who had originally saved Amber from the fields of battle stepped into the tent, carrying a tablet. He was followed by several other medtechs, each outfitted in combat paramedic's gear. Then, he stopped next to her bed.

"SaKhan Amber Ryder. I did not introduce myself previous. I am Senior MedTech Bob. You have been prepped the best you can be for best chances. Are you prepared to receive your myomer bionic?"

[the-tired-merc]

Amber's grin grew

"I'm so fucking ready. Hate being stuck in this bed. So how this work?"

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Bob swiped his hand across the tablet, opening up the control and selection menu for the myomer Black Box system. He began to check options, visually sizing up Amber for a moment before gesturing one of the other MedTechs over and handing them the tablet. Finally, the blocky man grasped the side rails of the hospital bed and leaned on them. They groaned softly, but held. "First, we will put you under. That will prevent most of the potential complications. When you wake up, we will have injected a temporary nerve block so that your body has time to adjust to the new signals from the bionic. It will take several hours to wear off. Then, from there we will be discharging you to the SLDF medical teams. They will handle your rehab. And I will get some sleep."

[the-tired-merc]

"That eager to get me off your hands? I wasn't thaaaat bad"

Amber laughed

"Ready whenever you are doc"

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

"You tried to escape when drugged up with painkillers. We are not having this argument."

Taking a syringe from a tray that was presented by one of the medtechs, Bob uncapped it and started to slowly push the anesthetic to the main IV line.

"Once this is in the line, you can expect to be out within about five minutes."

[the-tired-merc]

Amber excitedly bounced in her medbed, as she waited for the medtechs. She had been slowly losing her mind trapped in the bed, yeah she had visitors to keep her company, but she meeded to move. Stillness means death, even out of her mech, this thought stewed in the back of her head the entire time she had been trapped, giving her endless anxiety.

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

The stoic medtech who had originally saved Amber from the fields of battle stepped into the tent, carrying a tablet. He was followed by several other medtechs, each outfitted in combat paramedic's gear. Then, he stopped next to her bed.

"SaKhan Amber Ryder. I did not introduce myself previous. I am Senior MedTech Bob. You have been prepped the best you can be for best chances. Are you prepared to receive your myomer bionic?"

[the-tired-merc]

Amber's grin grew

"I'm so fucking ready. Hate being stuck in this bed. So how this work?"

[starcolonelkatrinamoon]

Bob swiped his hand across the tablet, opening up the control and selection menu for the myomer Black Box system. He began to check options, visually sizing up Amber for a moment before gesturing one of the other MedTechs over and handing them the tablet. Finally, the blocky man grasped the side rails of the hospital bed and leaned on them. They groaned softly, but held. "First, we will put you under. That will prevent most of the potential complications. When you wake up, we will have injected a temporary nerve block so that your body has time to adjust to the new signals from the bionic. It will take several hours to wear off. Then, from there we will be discharging you to the SLDF medical teams. They will handle your rehab. And I will get some sleep."