Deja Vu
September 25, 3072
I sit and watch my lance sleep, I need to get some rest myself, but am too wired to sleep just yet.
As I gaze out the portal at the fathomless stars I can't help but muse on how drastically my life has changed in a year. This time a year ago I was in the hospital trying desperately to recover my lost health and strength so I could try to forge a life for myself. It was on a backwards planet that few had much use for where I was supposed to be help train the local militia. A militia that consisted primarily of infantry with some support vehicles. Yeah, they didn't really need a mechwarrior el-tee.
I'm still terrifyingly weak, even if I have regained my health. I suspect I'll never recover that lost strength.
And a year later finds me on the way to another backward planet to help train their local militia while doing garrison duty. But this time I'm wanted for my skills which will actually be useful this time.
All of my skills, not just those of a pilot of several thousand pounds of metal.
Elgin is a mess and it would be foolish to try and pretty it up with using any other terms. There's at least 3 major political factions scattered amongst an equal number of primary landmasses. Mix in the Blakists and their desire to "help" this planet and the small force of AFFS that were pretty much betrayed by their CO and abandoned by their government... Not pretty at all.
For the first time I find I regret not paying more attention to my mother's lessons in politics. She was a greedy, selfish, power hungry bitch, but she knew how to play politics with the best and was often the head of the pack. But there's no point in dwelling on regrets, I can only work on trying to dust off my memory without getting sick or letting it taint me to use my mother's twisted means for something good.
Sadly my lance's first duty won't be one of garrison or training.
It's to be an assault drop on the AFFS force's fortified position since they're holed up in ontop of some important supplies and manufacturing depot. Supposedly the Blakists have their position surrounded, but lack the means to make a combat drop of their own and are unable to get through the AFFS's defenses. So Bravo of the Second Cavalary will get to prove why they were made FILO of the Lords of War if not the unit.
Poor bastards.
Though I cannot help but wonder if it would be possible to persuade the AFFS force to surrender to the Red Dawn? They've been trapped there for a long time, Nicholai is from a FedSun family with a good reputation and we have no axe to grind with them. It's time they get a chance to go home, even if it isn't the same home they left.
It's not squeamishness, even though I'd prefer to have an engagement as bloodless as possible, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Neither will I let my sympathy for those besieged to sway me from my task. Quite frankly I really don't want to go up against fast, light mechs in the kind of urban maze we're likely to encounter even if my lance is likely to have an advantage with weight and firepower. I'm also concerned at the fact that three quarters of my lance will be doing this in mechs they're largely unfamiliar with.
Hopefully Victor's "luck" with his engine being shot to shit will change for the better.
Ah yes, Victor. You certainly do have a way of dropping unpleasant surprises on people, my friend. Your life has certainly proven to be more fucked up than mine, but that isn't say all that much. I'd heard damn little about the clash between the AMS and the Blakists on the planet Liberty, but it would seem you got to know all too much first hand. A part of a covert op gone wrong against the Blakists, some of whom are part of the forces that are to be our allies in this op. Yes, god does indeed have a sick sense of humor.
Nothing can be done about it at this time, but at least I have some advance warning. How I'll handle it I don't know. At least it won't be when I least expect and no room to manuever.
A year long contract to help this newly formed planety government. It's going to be a long one.
I just hope no one is expecting any great political acumen from me. I am not that much of my mother's daughter for all that I look very much like her. Major Brock is probably the better choice for such matters.
Which reminds me, Brock is definitely shaping up to be a decent superior officer after all. And it's not just because he likes my coffee. However I'm worried about Bingham. He's still too hesitant and nervous. I know, I know, I shouldn't say anything, but at least I had the good sense to remember the old saying "Never let them see you sweat".
How did he survive the academic world with such a demeanor? They're almost worse sharks than the military.
I should say something to the major, but how?
A year here... I hope that Nicholai and I will be able to continue to see one another without disrupting our duties. These last few months have spoiled me and I keep finding that I have to make myself stop wistfully semi-dreaming about something more in the future.
Dreams die upon encountering reality.
And I know all too well how much things can change in just a year.
I sit and watch my lance sleep, I need to get some rest myself, but am too wired to sleep just yet.
As I gaze out the portal at the fathomless stars I can't help but muse on how drastically my life has changed in a year. This time a year ago I was in the hospital trying desperately to recover my lost health and strength so I could try to forge a life for myself. It was on a backwards planet that few had much use for where I was supposed to be help train the local militia. A militia that consisted primarily of infantry with some support vehicles. Yeah, they didn't really need a mechwarrior el-tee.
I'm still terrifyingly weak, even if I have regained my health. I suspect I'll never recover that lost strength.
And a year later finds me on the way to another backward planet to help train their local militia while doing garrison duty. But this time I'm wanted for my skills which will actually be useful this time.
All of my skills, not just those of a pilot of several thousand pounds of metal.
Elgin is a mess and it would be foolish to try and pretty it up with using any other terms. There's at least 3 major political factions scattered amongst an equal number of primary landmasses. Mix in the Blakists and their desire to "help" this planet and the small force of AFFS that were pretty much betrayed by their CO and abandoned by their government... Not pretty at all.
For the first time I find I regret not paying more attention to my mother's lessons in politics. She was a greedy, selfish, power hungry bitch, but she knew how to play politics with the best and was often the head of the pack. But there's no point in dwelling on regrets, I can only work on trying to dust off my memory without getting sick or letting it taint me to use my mother's twisted means for something good.
Sadly my lance's first duty won't be one of garrison or training.
It's to be an assault drop on the AFFS force's fortified position since they're holed up in ontop of some important supplies and manufacturing depot. Supposedly the Blakists have their position surrounded, but lack the means to make a combat drop of their own and are unable to get through the AFFS's defenses. So Bravo of the Second Cavalary will get to prove why they were made FILO of the Lords of War if not the unit.
Poor bastards.
Though I cannot help but wonder if it would be possible to persuade the AFFS force to surrender to the Red Dawn? They've been trapped there for a long time, Nicholai is from a FedSun family with a good reputation and we have no axe to grind with them. It's time they get a chance to go home, even if it isn't the same home they left.
It's not squeamishness, even though I'd prefer to have an engagement as bloodless as possible, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Neither will I let my sympathy for those besieged to sway me from my task. Quite frankly I really don't want to go up against fast, light mechs in the kind of urban maze we're likely to encounter even if my lance is likely to have an advantage with weight and firepower. I'm also concerned at the fact that three quarters of my lance will be doing this in mechs they're largely unfamiliar with.
Hopefully Victor's "luck" with his engine being shot to shit will change for the better.
Ah yes, Victor. You certainly do have a way of dropping unpleasant surprises on people, my friend. Your life has certainly proven to be more fucked up than mine, but that isn't say all that much. I'd heard damn little about the clash between the AMS and the Blakists on the planet Liberty, but it would seem you got to know all too much first hand. A part of a covert op gone wrong against the Blakists, some of whom are part of the forces that are to be our allies in this op. Yes, god does indeed have a sick sense of humor.
Nothing can be done about it at this time, but at least I have some advance warning. How I'll handle it I don't know. At least it won't be when I least expect and no room to manuever.
A year long contract to help this newly formed planety government. It's going to be a long one.
I just hope no one is expecting any great political acumen from me. I am not that much of my mother's daughter for all that I look very much like her. Major Brock is probably the better choice for such matters.
Which reminds me, Brock is definitely shaping up to be a decent superior officer after all. And it's not just because he likes my coffee. However I'm worried about Bingham. He's still too hesitant and nervous. I know, I know, I shouldn't say anything, but at least I had the good sense to remember the old saying "Never let them see you sweat".
How did he survive the academic world with such a demeanor? They're almost worse sharks than the military.
I should say something to the major, but how?
A year here... I hope that Nicholai and I will be able to continue to see one another without disrupting our duties. These last few months have spoiled me and I keep finding that I have to make myself stop wistfully semi-dreaming about something more in the future.
Dreams die upon encountering reality.
And I know all too well how much things can change in just a year.
posted by Reika at 12:45 AM
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