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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 23, 2005 13:48:33 GMT -5
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- Incoming Coded Message -- Command Instruction Follows - - Decode : Excalibur Protocol - GALxBravo 433rd: 7th - - Disseminate by need only - ____________________________
Operation Codname: Phoenix Down Planet: Not applicable Terrain: Deep Space Time: Not applicable
NARRATIVE:
The heavy freighter Phoenix, registered to House Liao, has gone missing while en route to Slocum, a Capellan-controlled world on the border of neutral space. The Phoenix was transporting colonists from Wei, as well as assorted cargo, and a great deal of agricultural product, to the planet as part of the ongoing reconstruction efforts taking place there.
Because the Capellans are tied up with the Blakist invasion of Styk, they cannot allocate any of their forces to search for the freighter themselves. They have enlisted our help to locate it.
Our objectives are to seek out the freighter and determine its status. If it can be salvaged, we are to escort it to Slocum and ensure that it is offloaded safely. If it cannot be, we are to rescue whatever crew remains, salvage as much in the way of supplies as possible, and destroy the ship. The crew and cargo are then to be transported to their original destination. Payment for the contract is 120,000,000 C-Bills, a lucrative sum, but understandable given the current climate in the Inner Sphere.
MISSION OBJECTIVES:
I. Navigate to the freighter's last known location
II. Determine the status of the freighter and its crew
III. Assist in whatever capacity is needed to restore the freighter to its course and nominal operating status.
IV. Escort the freighter to Slocum, ensuring that both ship and crew arrive at their destination unharmed
CONTINGENCY: If Objective III canot be accomplished, the crew, and as much cargo as possible, is to be transported aboard the DropShip Liberty, and the freighter is to be destroyed. The Liberty is then to deliver the crew and cargo to Slocum.
THREAT REPORT:
Minimal. As the DropShip Liberty is a Union-class vessel, House Liao believes that we should have minimal difficulty dispatching any AeroTech we encounter, if any.
As there has been no reported Blakist activity at the last known position of the Phoenix, House Liao cannot advise of any other known threats.
PLANETARY OVERVIEW - SLOCUM
Star Type: G7III Position in System: 5 (of 10) Number of Moons: 1 (Stanza) Days to Jump Point: 7 Surface Water: 66% Atm. Pressure: Standard (Breathable) Surface Gravity: 1.0 Equatorial Temp: 53° C Highest Native Life: Mammals Population: 1,237,000 Governor: Sheldon Pagano Planetary Legate: Pat Halvorson
SUMMARY:
Slocum's history is tumultuous. In 2351, the now-defunct Sarna Supremacy attacked the planet, which was then part of the Tikonov Grand Union, and committed acts of merciless savagery against the inhabitants. Many battles and wars were fought on Slocum because it was a border world. Not until the formation of the original Star League did this once-beautiful world get a chance to prosper.
The Star League jointly administered the planet with the Capellan Confederation. A Castle Brian was built on each continent of the planet. Like the other worlds of the Terran Hegemony, Slocum suffered like never before. For eight years, they faced the atrocities of Amaris’ armies. In 2774, General Kerensky’s armies regained control of Slocum, but they discovered that half the population had died of starvation and the ravages of war. House Liao laid claim to Slocum after the fall and attempted to rebuild the once-vibrant world. Again Slocum faced strife during the Fourth Succession War. The planet was spared for the most part and prospered afterward under Davion rule.
Slocum’s continents were severely damaged during the fall of the Star League. Of the four, only three are able to support life. Carnocial, the fourth continent, is a nuclear wasteland that is still hot to this very day. Kuaka, where the planetary capital, Fewers, is found, is in the northern hemisphere, where winter lasts six months out of the year. Just west of the capital are the famous Silver Plains. Here the snow-covered landscape takes on a silver color thanks to the silver content of the soil. Silver was one of Slocum’s biggest exports. The continents of Theramule and Natick support most of the planet’s mining operations and petroleum production.
COMMANDER'S NOTES:
So the Capellans have misplaced one of their freighters, and they've enlisted us to help them track it down. Seems pretty cut-and-dry...but the simple ones are always a devil to resolve. I know the mission profile calls for a venture into deep space, but it's better to be safe than sorry. To that end, I instruct all of you to be prepared for anything - at any time. We will be carrying 'Mechs with us on this mission - if we have to make planetfall, I want to be damn sure we're equipped to handle anything that comes our way.
However, the maximum weight capacity for the Liberty's 'Mech Bay is going to be severely limited this Op, due to the need to maintain enough free tonnage to transport both the crew of the Phoenix and as much of its cargo as possible, if the situation should arise. To that end, no MechWarrior is to plan on piloting anything over 55 tons this mission - in other words, the Heavy and Assault 'Mechs get to sit this one out. I know you're all excited.
Hey, look at it this way - chances are, we're not going to be seeing any Blakists this Op.
- TRANSMISSION ENDS -
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Sender: Captain Benjamin Maxwell Encryption Priority: HIGH HPG Relay 37XA01-EPSILON-2237 Recieved: OP Comp. 0932 Standard Terran Time ____________________________
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 23, 2005 14:12:59 GMT -5
"Hit the lights, please."
A click punctuated the silence of our new briefing room as Yeoman Hobson reached behind himself to flick the switch to the overhead lights. We hadn't gotten everything patched into the podium controls yet - and the podium itself was still being assembled - so a small matter of improvisation was necessary.
It had been two months since our planetfall on Sheratan, and much of that time had been spent re-configuring and re-building Site 187 to suit our needs. Although General Murlance had done an impressive job renovating great areas of the installation, his work had never been completed. Fortunately, we were spared a tremendous expense by the MRBC, who, in an act of apologetic remorse over the events involving one of their most senior officers, agreed to foot the bill to bring the installation up to code. During that time, we hadn't participated in any contracts, instead bringing in income through the sale of a great deal of our Tau Ceti IV salvage and through side jobs with the local militia.
This would be our first venture off-world as a unit since the nightmarish incidents on New Wessex.
The sitrep for our latest contract flickered to life on the room's main screen as I stepped to the front of the room. Several incredulous looks materialized on various faces as they read ahead, noticing what the payment for successful completion of the Op was.
I smiled.
"I can tell several of you have already skipped ahead to the payment arrangements. Yes - there's no doubt that everyone will be happy with their paychecks on this one. That's not the part of this contract in question."
There came a few confused expressions.
"Three days ago, the Capellan Confederation lost contact with the Phoenix, a heavy freighter ferrying passengers and supplies to Slocum, a world on the border of their territory near the center of the Inner Sphere that is struggling to pull itself out of the aftermath of several centuries of war. The Phoenix was crucial to the ongoing success of this project, as it contained both agricultural and industrial products that were intended for a very promising terraforming project intended to help fend off the devastating attacks of their last nuclear war. Without these supplies, the project will falter - and could, in the worst case, be shut down completely.
"Our mission is to make sure this doesn't happen. We are to make our way to the last known location of the Phoenix, and locate the freighter. Once we've secured the vessel, our next task will be to help its crew make whatever repairs are necessary to get the vessel back on course and in communication with Liao. We're to then escort it to Slocum, dispatching any opposition that may try to interfere. Pretty cut and dry."
A hand was raised. I nodded to the speaker.
"What if we can't correct whatever problems might be happening with the vessel?"
I nodded again in acknowledgement of the question.
"At that point, our task becomes one of salvage. We are to transport the crew to the Liberty, and offload as much of the ship's cargo as possible into our own hold. We expect this to be a very likely possibility; hence, the weight restrictions on our 'Mech loadout this mission. House Liao has further instructed us to destroy the vessel if we cannot restore it to working order."
Another hand was raised.
"What if the crew is dead...sir?"
There were several murmers from around the room.
"That's a very valid question. We do consider this to be a possibility. In that event, our profile remains the same...save for the recovery of the crew. That, of course, will no longer be necessitated."
I awaited further questions.
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MechWarrior Alex Thorn
Regular
LEGIONNAIRES
"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." - Winston Churchill
Posts: 176
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Post by MechWarrior Alex Thorn on Jun 23, 2005 14:18:13 GMT -5
I looked around the room at the other men. This was a different sort of mission than most of us were used to. I raised my hand to ask the captain a question.
"Sir, if the frieghter is still in space what is the point of bringing the 'Mechs?"
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 23, 2005 14:24:31 GMT -5
"Sir, if the frieghter is still in space what is the point of bringing the 'Mechs?"
I smiled. I was hoping someone would ask that question.
"Very astute thinking, MechWarrior. The answer is fairly straightforward. I don't believe this is going to be as cut-and-dry as we'd like to think it is. House Liao is incredibly tied up with a full-on Blakist invasion of Styx, and as such, the Capellan Confederation is very much open to easy attack by the first faction that wants to cause trouble. Our contract doesn't specify a need for BattleMechs; however, I don't want us to be caught with our pants down in a compromising situation."
Alex nodded.
It's been my experience that the easy contracts are always a devil to resolve...
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Post by Holms Net on Jun 23, 2005 14:31:39 GMT -5
Most of the Legionnaire's mechwarriors sat together in the middle of the front row of chairs. It had seemed this room was the furthest from completion, as we had to use chairs from the cafeteria to give everyone a space to sit.
As usual during the briefing, a little murmering was going on between friends, and than the extreme silence when someone had a question. After a few people had their questions answered, one of my own dawned upon me. Although after thinking about it, I pretty much knew the answer, and hopefully it wouldn't come to this sort of situation, but it is always good to be prepared, I supposed.
I raised my hand and was achnowledged by the Captain.
"Sir, what if the frieghter isn't there?"
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 23, 2005 14:46:27 GMT -5
The thought had crossed my mind. It was perhaps the worst contingency we had considered, aside from arriving to find the freighter completely destroyed. I paused before answering.
"This is a scenario we are working hard to avoid. Yeoman Hobson has been working diligently with the Capellans to analyze all navigation data and sensor logs relayed from the Phoenix prior to its disappearance. With luck, we'll have extrapolated its most probable course and will be able to make a fairly good assessment of where the vessel ended up before we dust off from Sheratan."
Holms Net wasn't satisfied. My answer had been extremely vague, and I knew it. I only wished I could formulate a better response. But the truth of the matter was - if the Phoenix was nowhere to be found, our mission would, essentially, be a failure.
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MechWarrior Alex Thorn
Regular
LEGIONNAIRES
"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." - Winston Churchill
Posts: 176
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Post by MechWarrior Alex Thorn on Jun 23, 2005 14:52:25 GMT -5
I was sitting next to Holms. He was an old friend of mine. In fact he was the one that directed me here to the Legionnaires. I could see he wasnt satisfied with the captain's answer. I put a hand on his shoulder and smiled.
"Dont worry man. We will find it."
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Post by Commander Garrett Garland on Jun 23, 2005 17:08:05 GMT -5
My cafeteria chair squeaked as I raised my hand, “Will we have aerospace assets of our own? I know we have those two aerospace fighters… but do we have pilots?”
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 23, 2005 17:10:22 GMT -5
The question caught me slightly off-guard.
"We will, in fact, have AeroTech assets available to us. Two of our top technicians are cross-trained as pilots, and additionally, Yeoman Hobson has been fighter certified. If necessary, I will pilot a fighter myself."
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Post by Lieutenant Kei-teh Kintaru on Jun 23, 2005 17:21:22 GMT -5
I had sat at the very back of the conference room. The fresh smell of recently applied paint and newly laid wires filled the room, removing the usual pungent stench sweaty men, although that was a rarity in itself. I had arrived just as the lights dimmed and Captain Maxwell began to spoke; just how I liked things, no one knowing I was there. It was good practice for stealth tactics… although I was among my newly adopted family. That’s what I called them anyways.
Maxwell finished his mission brief and a few questions were darted here and there, however I understood just about everything that was being said. If we were required to do anything extra, instinct was bound to help us out. Instinct had gotten us this far.
This was a simple recon mission, pirates were most likely the cause of this. This would more than likely be a salvage mission if anything. However, there was the simple possibility of ship malfunctions and what not.
Nothing to worry about.
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Post by Dr. Jessica Saturina on Jun 23, 2005 23:24:58 GMT -5
First coming into the new conference room I noticed it was not completed yet. Looking around it still needed some work, but it was really coming along nicely. In the end it would be a very nice room to have our meetings. The two months here had been great. The City was a amazing place most of the people very friendly, some a little odd. We had all made use of the planets resources. I for one was settling into our new home very well.
I walked over, sitting next to Nick not seeing Kintaru anywhere. Since we had all gone to the city together, we had all had such fun we had become good friends.
Hi Nick, have you seen Kintaru around?
Hi Mamba, no I haven't seen him come in yet. The Captain is ready to start the briefing though, so maybe he will show up soon.
Yeah, maybe.
I wondered why he wasn't present yet. Just then Captain Maxwell called for the lights. Just as the lights were dimming I heard a noise, I looked behind me. I saw Kintaru come in the door, walk to the back of the room and sit down. I thought he might sit with us, but I was sure he had his reasons for doing it his way. I turned my attention to the Captain.
I sat quietly pondering everything the Captain said, all the questions that had been asked and the Captains response to them. I didn't really have any questions of my own. I felt that everything had been covered. I just waited to see if there were anymore questions, then for the Captain to call a close to the briefing.
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Post by Commander Garrett Garland on Jun 24, 2005 0:41:33 GMT -5
As questions were being asked, I took the time to look around the room. Behind me sat Mamba and Schuster, both Legionnaires as of two months ago. I had spent much of that time refitting my new ‘mech, but I did manage to see them occasionally down in Gellen’s Heights and back at the base. I was told that Commander Mamba had the best quarters in place but I wasn’t complaining; I too had officer’s quarters. I was surprised to hear that she had not been given command of a lance for this OP, but she was already an experienced commander; I was getting my test run. I turned to look at my lance: Holms, Lourde, and Taylor. Damn, I wished that I knew Lourde and Taylor better for my life could very well be in their hands during the next week. They seemed to be high quality men, but nothing was as it seemed once we were on an OP.
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Post by Lance Commander Marcus Taylor on Jun 24, 2005 9:28:09 GMT -5
I payed close attention at the briefing. I was used to attention to detail when I served in Commander Wayne's personal escort lance. I had wondered what ever happened to her, but decided that I was better off dealing with the present.
I was glad to be back in a non-escort role in the Legionnaires, but I knew that I'd still have the battle etched tendencies to protect my Lance Commander. I looked over at Lt. Cmdr. Garrett Garland. He seemed a little uneasy as he looked in my direction. I knew what he must be thinking and I fully intended to prove my worth to him.
The briefing was starting to come to a close and I traced back over the notes I had taken. Listening to the questions that were posed and the answers. This seemed to be a straightforward mission which was my style.
I began making micro objectives for myself.- Protect Lance Commander
- Stay focused
- No heroics unless deemed necessary
The list seemed kind of strange to write, but I was one of those people that believed if you write it down once, you'll remember it later when it counts.
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MechWarrior Alex Thorn
Regular
LEGIONNAIRES
"I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." - Winston Churchill
Posts: 176
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Post by MechWarrior Alex Thorn on Jun 24, 2005 14:08:00 GMT -5
I looked around as the briefing was continuing. It seemed to me that more and more of the Legionnaires became more and more uneasy about this mission. I couldnt blame them. This was not your ordinary mission. I was just content to be in my first OP with the Legionnaires. Not only that I felt previlaged to be in the same lance as Captain Maxwell.
As for myself I was starting to get antsy. I wanted the briefing to end so we could get started. I knew that that kind of anxiousness got you killed in battle, but I couldnt help it. It was sort of my routine before every battle. It helped get my adrenaline pumping.
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Post by Captain Benjamin Maxwell on Jun 24, 2005 15:21:23 GMT -5
As the last of the questions was answered, I paused, leaving the floor open for several more seconds before closing the briefing.
"If there are no further questions, this briefing is concluded. I want you to all exercise extreme caution this Op. The most cut-and-dry missions are rarely what they seem - and I will be very straightforward with you when I say this - there is something about this assignment that just doesn't add up. To that end, be prepared for anything. If you suspect something is wrong, do not hesitate to report it. The safety of ship and crew are of utmost importance, even over the mission objectives.
"I look foward to seeing you all aboard the Liberty. We dust off in one hour, and will be rendezvousing with the JumpShip Alliance shortly thereafter.
"Dismissed."
As the briefing room's lights returned to normal levels, and the main screen flashed to a graphic of the Legionnaires' crest, the cadre filed out into the corridor. Lieutenant Commander Garland remained behind, and pensively approached me.
"Captain, if you have a moment, there's something I'd like to discuss..."
I nodded, and sat down on the edge of the table which served as a makeshift podium.
"Of course, Commander. What's on your mind?"
"Captain, I was wondering if you had any further information you might be able to share about the men in my lance outside of the biographical information provided in my Command docket for the mission. As there is a distinct possibility we may need to perform a drop, I'd prefer not to drop with people who are relative strangers to me."
I smiled. I had been in Garland's exact situation many times before.
"Commander - I could give you every record I had on those men - from their applications for employment to their medical records. I could bring their mothers in and put them in a lineup, and let you question each of them about their sons. Yes, the information might be of some use to you, but you can never know a man until you've served with him. Only then - when the pressure's on, and your mettle is truly being tested - will you be able to know how your lancemates perform. It is a trial by fire in the most literal sense."
Garland nodded.
"It's a trial by fire for you, as well, Commander. This will be your first command opportunity, and I wanted to see how you handled a situation where there were many unknown variables. The lance assignments were no accident."
Garland chuckled.
"I see your point, sir. And I can assure you that Bravo lance will settle for nothing less than absolute success."
I smiled. The Commander's attitude was encouraging, especially in the face of a mission whose dynamics were totally unknown at this stage of the game.
"Besides," I chuckled, "for all we know, the crew of the Phoenix may have just overslept. You may not have to worry about commanding anything more than a salvage shuttle."
Garland suppressed a grin. He and I both knew that the mission wasn't likely to be that simple.
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