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Jun 24, 2005 22:34:53 GMT -5
Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 24, 2005 22:34:53 GMT -5
The new recruit jogged up alongside me as I made my way toward the Liberty's hanger, checking cargo manifests and weapon loadouts on a data pad while I walked. As he reported in, I smiled, and put the pad away to focus on the new arrival.
"Welcome aboard, MechWarrior Josef! You're just in time - I was beginning to wonder if we'd have to dust off without you aboard. Please, walk with me.
"I haven't had a lot of opportunity to review your biography - for obvious reasons - so tell me a bit about yourself. Where do you come from? Do you have a personal 'Mech you wish to use, or will we need to assign one to you?"
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Jun 25, 2005 9:56:40 GMT -5
Post by MechWarrior Josef on Jun 25, 2005 9:56:40 GMT -5
I stood awkwardly, not expecting such a high-ranking official to be so intrested in a new recruit.
Well sir, I fought with Comstar against the Clans. Our mission was to sneak behind enemy lines and destroy their Assault Class 'Mechs while they were powered down. But they were waiting for us. Our Commanding officer turned and ran, screaming as he went. He sent many good pilots to their deaths. I managed to escape though.
After that incident I left Comstar and became a mercenary. Now I'm here.
As for a 'Mech, I don't really have a preference. I'm fine with just about anything.
I salute, and wait for the Captain's response.
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Jun 26, 2005 9:00:33 GMT -5
Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 26, 2005 9:00:33 GMT -5
I returned the salute as we rounded the corner to the landing bay.
"At ease, MechWarrior. That's an impressive resume. You know, before I joined the Legionnaires, I too was in ComStar. Perhaps one of these days we can swap war stories."
I smiled.
"If you don't have any preference, I've got a Cougar in ready condition. We can have it loaded aboard the DropShip in the next fifteen minutes, if you're comfortable with that. Once it's aboard, the techs can get the neurohelmet calibrated to your specifications."
"That will be fine, sir." Alex replied.
"Excellent. I'm going to place you in Bravo Lance, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Garrett Garland. He should be aboard the DropShip by now - I would imagine he'd be interested in meeting you before dustoff. If there's anything more you need, I'm sure he can help you out."
I saluted, Josef returning the gesture, and we parted ways to our respective stations.
You are set to post in the Active Campaign!
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Jul 26, 2005 15:46:48 GMT -5
Post by Lance Commander William Rhodes on Jul 26, 2005 15:46:48 GMT -5
William Rhodes enters the bridge of the Union class dropship Libery, dressed in an olive drab jumpsuit still bearing the torch patch of his former unit, the Kathil March Militia, bearing the words "Duty, Honor, Loyalty."
Little good those did me on Kathil, thinks William, running a hand through his close-cropped blond hair and reflecting on his old regiment's motto.
Duty, Honor, and Loyalty didn't keep me from having my Enforcer III blasted out from under me by the 8th Fed Com and becoming dispossessed. I guess fancy words aren't much of a defense in a civil war.
Hearing from the MRBC that the Legionnaires had openings for mech pilots, and more importantly mechs for them to pilot, William hitched a ride with a free trader jumpship heading to the Outworlds Alliance planet of Valasha. Now, having recently arrived by cargo shuttle and seeing the recruiting officer approach, William snaps to attention and fires off his best military grade salute.
William Rhodes, formerly of the AFFC, reporting for duty, Sir. That is, if you have a mech to spare.
Thanks for help with the tags, Star Captain.
[glow=red,2,300]EDIT by Mod: Fixed the tags.[/glow]
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Yeoman Hobson
Yeoman
Senior DropShip Pilot
DropShips...the only way to fly!
Posts: 18
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Jul 26, 2005 16:33:04 GMT -5
Post by Yeoman Hobson on Jul 26, 2005 16:33:04 GMT -5
"William Rhodes, formerly of the AFFC, reporting for duty, Sir. That is, if you have a mech to spare."
Rhodes' entrance onto the bridge of the Liberty was unexpected, but welcome in the midst of the rapidly-degenerating crisis situation that was developing out on the battlefields of Valasha. With two pilots out of the game, and Clans Ghost Bear, Jade Falcon, and the Word of Blake descending on the planet, we needed every set of guns we could muster. I rose from the command chair, and made my way over to the lift, where the new recruit stood watching the main screen in awe. I reached out for a handshake.
"Yeoman Nathan Hobson, at your service. The Captain and Commander are both out in the field at the moment, so I've got the bridge - and as you can see, we've got a full-blown crisis on our hands. You qualified as a 'Mech jockey? We sure could use the extra guns."
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Jul 26, 2005 16:46:57 GMT -5
Post by Lance Commander William Rhodes on Jul 26, 2005 16:46:57 GMT -5
William shakes Nathan's hand, unsure whether a Yeoman is an officer or not and whether he should salute. William's eyes go wide as his gaze flickers across the tactical displays on the dropship's bridge.
"Thanks for welcoming me aboard, Sir. Looks like it's a real mess out there. I'm fully qualified on mechs up to heavy-weight class, but most of my hours are in lights and mediums. Do I need to fill out any paperwork or take a test to join up with the Legionnaires?"
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Yeoman Hobson
Yeoman
Senior DropShip Pilot
DropShips...the only way to fly!
Posts: 18
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Jul 26, 2005 18:15:30 GMT -5
Post by Yeoman Hobson on Jul 26, 2005 18:15:30 GMT -5
"Thanks for welcoming me aboard, Sir. Looks like it's a real mess out there. I'm fully qualified on mechs up to heavy-weight class, but most of my hours are in lights and mediums. Do I need to fill out any paperwork or take a test to join up with the Legionnaires?""If there were any questions about your qualifications, I doubt you'd be here now," I chuckled. "The COs around here are pretty stringent about their screening process. I'd love to hear about your background, but we need to get you onto the field. Upload your bio into the Dossier repository when you get the chance - I'll be sure to check it out. In the meantime, Bravo Lance needs some serious shoring up. Unfortunately, we've only got two 'Mechs unassigned right now - a Hellhound and a Shadow Hawk. They're in the 'Mech Bay right now - prepped for immediate disembarkment. We can get you something that's more to your liking when we get back to Sheratan - but in the mean time, I suggest you get down there, check out their loadouts on the hardware we've got, and change anything around that you might not want to risk your life over. Once you're good to go, radio in, and I'll get you your most relevant Nav Points uploaded to whichever 'Mech you choose." The newest member of the Legionnaires nodded."Any other questions?"
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Jul 26, 2005 19:25:15 GMT -5
Post by Lance Commander William Rhodes on Jul 26, 2005 19:25:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the info, Yeoman. I'll grab my cooling vest and head on down to the mech bay.
William takes the crew elevator down to the mech bay. During the short ride, he quickly strips out of his jumpsuit, revealing the t-shirt and shorts he wears in the furnace that is a mech's cockpit. From out of his duffel bag, he pulls out a cooling vest and an old model Tikonov Mark VII heavy laser pistol that once belonged to his father.
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Morgan Blake
Logistics Coordinator
LEGIONNAIRES - Elite
Posts: 122
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Aug 31, 2005 8:16:28 GMT -5
Post by Morgan Blake on Aug 31, 2005 8:16:28 GMT -5
Making my way through the administration building, I finally locate the recruitment office. Knocking briskly on the door to announce myself, I open the door and step through in one smooth, fluid motion. Standing there in front of the recruitment officer, I notice his quick, professional glance, looking me up and down, evaluating my demeanor and forming his first impressions. Garbed in heavy body armor and wearing a desert dwellers head scarf over my face and head, I reveal nothing but my eyes to this stranger. In a deep rumbling voice I ask..
"I hear that you are looking for quality recruits ?......... what can you offer to a pilot with their own assault class mech ?...."
Without revealing anymore information about myself or my mech, I stand there waiting for the recruitment officer to reply. If he is as professional as I believe he is, he knows that I'm testing and judging him and the Legionnaires as much, if not more than he is attempting to form an opinion of me.
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Sept 1, 2005 8:14:30 GMT -5
Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Sept 1, 2005 8:14:30 GMT -5
I looked up from the mountains of paperwork scattered across my desk as the new arrival presented himself - or herself. Under the heavy desert gear, it was impossible to form a mental image of who, or what, exactly, I was dealing with. The rebreather only further masked the individual's identity.
"I hear that you are looking for quality recruits.........what can you offer to a pilot with their own assault class mech.....?"
I chuckled slightly.
"Well, now, that all depends. What does the pilot have to offer me? An assault 'Mech isn't much good if it doesn't have a skiled MechWarrior at its controls."
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Morgan Blake
Logistics Coordinator
LEGIONNAIRES - Elite
Posts: 122
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Sept 1, 2005 20:18:28 GMT -5
Post by Morgan Blake on Sept 1, 2005 20:18:28 GMT -5
"I'll let my Battle ROMs speak for themselves"
I hand over a pair of Mech Battle ROMs to the recruitment officer, who puts them into his reader. As the ROMs start to replay their contents, the recruiter asks..
You're piloting a Thug in this battle ??
" Thats correct, a Thug THG-11E, nothing fancy "
The opening scenes of the replay show the Thug being confronted by two Jade Falcon Omni Mechs. Both Jade Falcons identify themselves as members of the Jade Falcon Eyrie Cluster and almost simulataneously issue challenges to the Thug. A voice, which is clearly that of the pilot standing in front of the recruitment officer replies by agreeing to fight each of the Jade Falcons in turn. The pilot continues to go on to bargain for their mechs as isorla and clear passage for himself, his mech, any isorla to any Inner Sphere planet of his choosing without any further combat from any clan warrior. Initially the clan warriors blanch at this but then their arrogance takes over and they agree to the bargain, expecting never to have to fulfill it.
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Morgan Blake
Logistics Coordinator
LEGIONNAIRES - Elite
Posts: 122
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Sept 2, 2005 1:04:46 GMT -5
Post by Morgan Blake on Sept 2, 2005 1:04:46 GMT -5
The Thug selects the Jade Falcon Gargoyle as it's first opponent. The Gargoyle appears to be in the charlie configuration, sporting a massive class 20 ultra autocannon, capable of firing at twice the rate to a normal autocannon. This is confirmed by the clan pilot's decision to rapidly close the distance between the two mechs. Depleted uranium autocannon shells blasting into the Thug, the clan pilot's sneer comes loudly across the comm channel between the two mechs. Moments later surprise is heard in his voice as the Thug starts a charge directly at the Gargoyle. In a voice filled with scorn and loathing the clan pilot makes a comment about rushing to ignominious death. Azure beams of death lance out from the Thug's PPCs, bathing the Gargoyle in rivulets of molten armour. In return a steady stream of autocannon shells belt the Thug, knocking it about, twisting and turning it, throwing it's aim off line and breaking the artificial connection between the two mechs.
Suddenly the autocannon goes silent, either from lack of ammunition or jamming due to the constant rapid firing is unclear. What is clear is that the two battling titans are about to crash together with all the subtlety and force of a major earthquake.
Seemingly at the last moment, the Thug side steps the oncoming Gargoyle, instead raising it's left arm and clotheslining the single minded Gargoyle. With deafening noise and a force almost equal to the previously expected earthquake, the Thug's arm and the Gargoyle's head make contact. Catching the head just under the chin, the force and momentum of the Thug's arm wrenches the head from it's supports, ripping it back but not completely severing it from the body. With it's forward momentum briefly arrested, the Gargoyle's legs flail about without traction before the whole mech becomes momentarily airborne resulting in it's ungracious fall back to earth.
The speed of the fall and the greater momentum of the Thug actually result in the Gargoyle falling back wards, landing on top of and crushing the barely supported head.
There is a discernible crack from the Thug's shoulder and arm actuators being destroyed by the tremendous forces attempting to nullify each other. With it's arm almost ripped away, the Thug is spun around to face the direction it had just come from, unspent momentum forcing it to veer away from the point of impact even while it's loss of balance is forcing it to wards the ground with unquestionable certainty.
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Sept 2, 2005 1:57:56 GMT -5
Post by Commander Garrett Garland on Sept 2, 2005 1:57:56 GMT -5
Attracted by the noise of battle, I slipped into the Captain’s office noticing an unfolding battle ROM. Seated across from the Captain with his back to me, sat an aspiring ‘mechwarrior. With the both of their eyes fixated on the ensuing battle, I went unnoticed for nearly a minute before I caught Maxwell’s attention. After acknowledging my presence he continued to watch as the 80-ton Thug, presumably the ‘mechwarrior candidate’s, engage in melee combat with a clan Gargoyle. The resulting brutal exchange of blows left the Thug with the upper hand, although it had taken a severe beating. I was amazed at both the clan and inner sphere pilots’ close combat abilities; anyone with such impressive close quarters skills would be a great addition to the Legionnaires.
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Sept 2, 2005 8:29:24 GMT -5
Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Sept 2, 2005 8:29:24 GMT -5
As the ROM drew to a close, I glanced at Commander Garland, whose expression read like a book. He was as interested in this new recruit as I was. The holo flickered into nothingness, and I shifted my gaze back to the mysterious pilot seated before me.
"If all your battles go as well as this one did, then there seems to be very little question as to your prowess as a pilot. This much is certain."
The Commander chuckled, causing the new arrival to glance, startled, over his shoulder. I motioned for Garland to take a seat beside the...person.
"This is Commander Garrett Garland - he's had a few death-defying experiences himself that I've a feeling you'll relate to."
Garland nodded, and held his hand out to the recruit.
"A pleasure. And who might you be?"
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Morgan Blake
Logistics Coordinator
LEGIONNAIRES - Elite
Posts: 122
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Sept 3, 2005 18:27:00 GMT -5
Post by Morgan Blake on Sept 3, 2005 18:27:00 GMT -5
Standing to greet the new arrival, I take his offered hand and gave it a single, firm shake.
" Commander Garland "
I turn to face the recruitment officer once again. I slowly remove head gear to reveal my face. The recruitment officer isn't quite quick enough to hide his reaction to the sight of my face.
WHAT happened to this man ?
There is a deep scar running from my left temple down to the base of my neck, but this pales in comparison to my left cheek, or more accurately, what used to be my left cheek. The cheek is hollow and sunken, merely an outer covering of skin over..........nothing........apparently not even bone. The skin is so thin as to be almost translucent and when I move my tongue it appears as if an alien monster is attempting to break free from it's un-natural captivity.
The wound is obviously still very recent.
" My name is Morgan Blake. The battle you just witnessed was my third ever real Mech combat but I have spent hundreds of hours practicing in simulators on a multitude of different mech types and have many hours of piloting experience."
" In addition I am an experience Battlemech technician and my associate, who is waiting with my mech was the pilot of the second clan mech I challenged. As per her custom and personal wishes, she has decided to become my "Bondsman". I have tried to release her from this obligation numerous times but she refuses and instead insists that my wish to release her is a further indication of her lack of honor and skill."
"So you see, we come as a package deal."
" What I need.......what I hope you are able to offer me.......us......apart from a place to sleep and food to eat, is access to a repair gantry and some spare parts."
" My Thug......." that thought was getting easier every day " was almost destroyed battling the two clan mechs. I plan to rebuild it using salvage from the two clan mechs I received as isorla from the Jade Falcons. Anything left over is yours to keep as payment for the use of your repair facilities. The ultra auto cannon and electronics are easily worth half a million C-Bills by them selves. "
I stand there impassively, forcing every emotion from my face, waiting for their reply, hoping........"
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