She smiled at Meg, "It's okay, besides your air wing is far too valuable to fall into those barbaric Bull-shitters hands.  Somehow they have begun reverse engineering our stuff and I wouldn't want them to have your X-6..."

He pause gave her time to move back from the smile to the frown, "The 'Mother' incident hit me hard...no joke those LGR's tore my poor Ironman to pieces, but it's more than that.  Try as I might I get beaten and battered every time I go out.  Doc's say I'm pretty much healed but these ribs are still making it hard for me to breathe sometimes..." the bruises from her repeated battering from getting hit in the head and falling repeatedly from the assults was mostly gone but she still had lingering aches in her left side from the ribs that had been fractured multiple times.  She was lucky that one of them hadn't punctured her lung.

Helia watched as the Freelancers departed, some with reluctance, to much earned R and R.  Dr. Ward had guessed correctly... The Freelancers were fresh from combat and there was a lot of battle damage on their mechs.

It was going to be a good field exercise for the cadets to practice battle field damage repairs.  Here and there the younger cadets were practicing the fine art of repairing armor damage.

The more advance students were busy rebuilding entire torsos and arms... while it might have been quicker to simply pull a spare from inventory, Dr. Ward insisted such a luxary was not alway possible and insisted on a hands on approach of working from the ground up.

The mechs would be repaired... reviewed... graded... and if found lacking stripped down for the next crew of cadets to take a shot at repairing it properly.  It was quite the mark of pride to walk away with a job well done.  It was equally humiliating and shameful to find your work flawed and told to sit and watch the next crew of cadets, to see how it should have been done.

They would be at it for hours... if not days.  There were no shortage of cadets eager to get their hands dirty working on quaint antiques.

"Well... they're good... for what they do... but the X-5's are just brutes at what they do.  You're lucky you didnt take a rail gun shot to the cockpit that would have been a rather tragic ending.

Millies been working with Dr. Ward on logisical deployments.  I think she's made a case to standardize the old X-3s, patterning them after the command variant.

I hear they're in cookie cutter testing now.  They have a couple of test platoons up at the academy that have been showing encouraging results.  Talk to Anna about it.  She should be able to pull a few strings to get some into the Valkyries... if you really want them that is."

In reply to Anastasia Karkoff (msg # 287):

"I actually have the privilege of retaining one of the early test units that lead to the development of our newest models, the A-series. The 'default' loadout mounts the standard jump-jets, a standard laser module in the torso, as well as a heavy rapid-fire autocannon in a rifle mount. However, because of the new module system, it's capable of a surprising number of different configurations."

Helia smiles.

"I've spent my last few years here as a test pilot, so I'm used to using different configurations daily. I'll have no problems reloading my mech to meet whatever needs the lance may have."

Lucius had a lot of paperwork to do...something that he hated and why he hadn't built a unit of his own from the ground up.  Still even without a head for numbers like some of these Omni people he knew the bottom line and how to keep things going even if pure profit wasn't high on his list at the moment.

One thing that the Omni techs seemed to be massively excited about was his Fire Javelin.  From what he could gather from their techno-babble he'd seen some of the most combat against a myriad of foes while using their Beta Targeting Computer tied into standard medium lasers.  So when they asked if they could do some extensive maitenance on the BTC free of charge in exchange for all the data that it had taken he was more than willing to wave his hands and tell them sure.

More the gruff type he let Kurt do his Lyran schmoozing and plumbing the cadet for intel with an amused smile, and only spoke up when the Commander there had asked, "Afternoon...?" he gave enough pause for her to offer her name or rank for him to repeat back to her before continuing, "Everyone is peachy-keen perky and the girls down by the pad were extra keen on my ride.  I get the feeling that they would want to keep the old boy if they could for some reason."

"Evans... Commander Evans.", was the simple reply the all business blond offers Lucius.

At Lucius' comments she shrugs.

"They enjoy fixing things... The Freelancers have a knack for breaking things.
 I suppose it's a Happy meeting?", Commander Evans comments not really sure what Lucius was trying to allude to.

Brusque and to the point.  He liked that so he replied in kind, "I've seen your...what do you like to call them...power loaders in action.  I think I could pull out better performance in them than your...mechwarriors.  How about we come to a fair price and I'll sell you the mech that has been in my family for centuries so you can have all the time in the world to go over that data and how it came to be and I can acquire one of your power loaders and make it my family's new heirloom to pass down through the generations?  The targeting computer of course will come back to me after you've done your techno-babble work over it but the systems of the Javelin should allow you to adapt both future computers and your sabilizations systems to be more effective.  Or so the techies seem to think in their babbling..."

Even with his bravado he knew that the learning curve of the loader would be harsher and not have the feel of his old Javelin, but he had a feeling that what these girls were coming up with would be something that would change the style of warfare.  If he got in early on it he could pioneer some real warfare changes...
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Thu 22 May 2014.

En route to Omni...

Avenger boards the dropship with his mauled Jenner.  The loss of the laser was annoying but ultimately a problem that could easily be solved.

[OOC: does the damage get repaired while we're still on Detroit or during transit?]

Transit, as usual, was the typical, frustrating 'sit around and wait' routine.  At least the games of cards was a welcome break from the monotony.  He sat around the table when he could, shared stories, told lies, won some money, lost some money, but ultimately time passed by that much faster.

"Meg, you know how much I love cookies!" she smiled wide before cringing a bit had holding her side for a moment, "I'll talk to the Commander, but we've never really meshed well.  You think you could maybe talk to a few people as well and grease some wheels too?  Just in case?"

In reply to David Crain (msg # 300):

The trip away from Burton, was nice and quiet, but the parts lying about was limited to armor patches... a few bits of internals and some reload.  A weapon replacement was going to be potentially troublesome.

When he finally touches down on Omni, theres a small army of techs milling about waiting to service the damaged mechs.  His mangled Jenner seems to draw a lot of interest, which he's uncertain to be please or irritated about.

Margaret notices the look on your face and decides to help out.  Taking your name and unit, and asking you what configuration your mech was running with and any personal touches you may have made.

You indicate it's an F Variant... an had a Pulse Laser on the arm...

She asks if you would like to have it replaced with a pulse laser, or prefer the standard two medium lasers that it came out of the factory with.

After several weeks breathing canned air on the dropship it was certainly nice to breathe fresh air again.  David's musing on the adventures that awaited his crew was pleasantly interrupted by a woman's voice.  He turns his head to look at the woman speaking to him, "I would like two medium lasers back on there, if you would."  He extends his hand in greeting, "Hi, I'm David, and you would be?"

ana gave lucius a look of pity... learning to use the loaders had  taken up about half the time she'd spent at the academy, not to mention the added training just to know how to switch around the pods.

It was a wonder the academy was capable of pushing out pilots younger than thirty.
"Good luck Burner, the manual is a few thousand pages of pure brain trauma"
She shrugged as she looked apologetically at Evans, it was true after all, the manual was as good as it'd ever get, but user manuals were tedious and boring by their very nature, and there was a LOT to learn about the X series mechs.

"Still it is an excellent machine of war, and certainly a purchase you'll be happy with, once you familiarize yourself with it"

Evans reminded her of their employer, that usually drove a hard but fair bargain, establishing relations she'd called it, networking...

Ana hadn't cared much for the concept, not when her mother did it, and not when their current employer did  it, still it was good to benefit from it personally for once, Her account was running up a tidy sum after all.

She grimaced as she clutched the pendant with her parents' photoes in it... wondering how the General was holding up after the massive mess of an invasion of eden, and what she'd have said if she'd seen the massive failure her daughter had committed on the field of battle.

she looked at Evans and Lucius once more.
"don't mind those girls though, they'll take apart anything that comes within reach if you let them, I'm still trying to figure out if they live on motor oil and duct tape"

"Manual Dragon?" replied Luc with a grin.  "I'm a mechwarrior not a librarian.  Does it come in a books on tape version?"

He chuckled lightly before adding in more seriously, "I've been driving my mech for almost a decade now since my father tossed me into the cockpit.  They may be fresh off the line and sport new technology and ideas but it's based on what came before, and I'm a quick study when it comes to on the spot learning."

He thought about responding to more of what she said before he caught himself with only a tiny smile.  There was always time for that later since they were between contracts and would have a few days downtime on the planet, then plenty more before they jumped to whatever hell-hole they were going to go to next away from this 'paradise'.

 The boring part of being a mechwarrior was the old adage of the Military,"Hurry up and wait" and that was even more true on this miniature plants of drop ship and jumpships.

 He had finally come to the conclusion that he wanted a bigger punch and to do that he would sell off his faithful valkerye then he would see about picking up a solid and dependable Whitworth.

 Arriving back on Omni he placed his order in for a case for the missile ammo and he had also heard that a couple of Case pods were up in the auction to which he had sent a bid in hoping to have two Case pods to protect the lrm ammo.

  Moving his valk down the ramp and into the storage area of his current unit he paused to look over the damaged mechs and the pilot who had lost their ride and could feel sorry for them. Not many would understand what losing a mech really meant.

"I am your liason officer Margaret.  I'll make certain that your Jenner is tended to your preference.  It's in excellant care."

Margaret pats David shoulder in a reassuring matter and seems to saunter off to talk to a woman in a white jump suit that was tending to David's Jenner.  She gives him an okay sign with her fingers and seems to move on to another merc to discuss their battle damage issues.

She shrugged at that, and spoke a bit more.
"I suppose you can skip much of it, but i'd advice on at least reading chapters 3, 11 and 39... and if you plan to ever understand the technical aspects of the pod systme, I'd suggest reading 15 to 21 as we..."
She laughed, soft pearly laughter, so discordant from her otherwise tough demeanor.
"I'm sounding like a damned teacher, aren't I?"
She shook her head at herself.
"I'm half your age, Can't imagine there's much I could teach you when it comes down to it"

---

In the small office she'd gained access to, she continued her chat  with Helia.
"I understand, but most pilots have a preference, up close and perosnal knife fighting, mid range skirmishing, or long range support, either as artillery or sniper"
she tapped the document and looked at Helia.
"Any questions?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Thu 22 May 2014.

"Currently, the loads I have best support long range support and mid-range skirmishing best. The light armor and comparably low speed of the X-3 leaves it poorly suited for close in brawling."

Helia pauses for a moment to think. "Beyond wanting to know when we are likely to ship out, no I do not have any questions at this time. I look forward to working with you."

Akarian showered and took the time to do a proper shave. That was the first plus in weeks, if not months, as far as he was concerned. He really had to see some actual combat missions on this next contract, and as much as he hated to lower his already dwindling funds, he knew there the chance of picking up some advanced weapons while here. Something that he would struggle fitting into Phoenix no doubt, but would be well worth it, should he find the chance to slice enemies in half as only focused lasers could. An activity he enjoyed very much, perhaps to much.

At any rate plans were already in motion on the equipment front, and so it seemed he had free time at hand. Not wishing to waste it he headed out to see what troubles or pleasures he could find on this mudball of a planet.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:29, Thu 22 May 2014.

Lucky makes sure his mech is secured in the bay, and then grabs a quick shower and some hot chow.

Normally a conversationalist, but, he had an idea after having some internal conversations with himself...he starts thinking about some technical manuals he had scanned before. Something about upgrading, or maxing out his Whitworth's armor.

Setting up his hammock between the legs of his mech, he pulls up manuals, schematics, old mechwarrior novels...trying to recall what he had read...

Without thinking about it, he starts humming a ditty, "If my Whitworth was armor maxed, I wouldn't need too be soooo lucky..." 

Ana looked at her watch, habit when talking about time.
"I can't answer that yet, we're still looking at options"
by we she really meant she was, but for some reason the mercenaries who ahd defended omni had now banded together... working contracts as a group, it turned out profitable in it's own way, many of these campaigns required multiple simultaneous missions to be worked.

"But it will be a few days at least, so i suggest you meet up with Lina and Hina and chat with them, get to know the other girls, play some lazar tag, agaisnt some of the local bravos"
She chuckled at that memory, still it had helped a bit way back then when the misture behind her ears could still be utilized for farming purposes.

"That sounds like a good plan, I'll be sure to look them up."

Helia salutes smartly and leaves.

Her first stop is at the hangar to see if any of her lancemates might be about. While there, she overhears Donovan humming to himself and goes over to have a look.

"An impressive machine you have there," she remarks. "Much larger than most of the equipment we use here. What's it's combat load?"

{Regina's Omni Adventures...}

It was nice to be clean again, and the planet seemed temperate and nice.

There was so much to do and see, that Regina was up early after a good nights rest and wandering around.  She had gotten in touch with Margaret and asked if it might be possible to visit the Eden Academy to have a look around and her request was granted.  A nice Freshman Cadet was assigned to Regina to show her around the school grounds.

Things were going well till around lunch.  It was towards the end that her guide started looking a little ill, and was forced to take a short leave of Regina's company to visit the medical ward at the Academy.  It seemed a good thing, she was starting to look a little green, which is never a good sign of health.

Undaunted by the lack of a guide, Regina continues to wander about the ground.  She's eventually stopped and asked, why she was walking about the halls without her uniform.  Her answer was simple and honest...

"... because i was never issued one?", Regina answers uncertain if this was the correct answer being sought.

She's issued a pass, and given directions to the Quartermaster's station.  Uncertain what it was all about but pleased that she was given directions to actually go somewhere, she's walks the busy halls of the Academy into a cluttered room.  There was a girl there tending paper work and accepted the paper work Regina presented.

"Name?", she asks.

"Regina Arlington?", without missing a beat.

"You're not listed in the system.", she comments.

"I just got here this morning."

"Ah.  That explains it.", the woman answers, noddng her head.  Regina was obviously with the new freshman class.

"Your Major?"

"My Major?  I dont have a Major.  I'm a freelancer?"

Eden cadets were usually pretty bright...  surely this one was only a foot slogger... "Infantry?", she hazards a guess.

"Naawwwww.  Mechwarrior.", Regina answers proudly.

"Really?  Have you tested out yet?", surely this was a mistake no one this dim could possible be a Mechwarrior could they?

"Tested out?  I havent even tested in.", Regina frowns confused.

Regina is handed more paperwork and sent to test her level of expertise in the simulators.

~~~~~> Time passes <~~~~~

"Wow.  That was fun.", Regina returns enthusiastic, "Can i do that again?"

"Not this year.  Lets see how you done?", her hand goes out to accept the test results, which Regina hands over.

"Gah~ Top one percentile???
 Recommendations for X-5 operational training?", a glance up showed Regina playing with a snow globe, shaking it around and watching the snow flurries around a tiny power loader.  A clearing of the throat brings Regina's attention back to heel.

"Very well.  I can see youre going to be busy and best get started.  I'll have your uniform ready for you after your fitting.  What sort of load do you plan on using?"

"Load?", Regina asks with a quizzled expression.

"Yes... your prefered weapon of choice."

"I like missiles."

"Very good, a pair of Sure Shots... Long Range Rocket Fours and Sixes sounds good."

"...but i'm already a sure shot."

"... cocky, huh?  Do you at least know where your mech is parked?"

"Oh that's easy, Hanger Seven at the starport."

"Really?  YOure off for field testing already...", a glance at the test out records confirms it wasnt impossible given the talent.

"Okay... I'll see that it's delivered there, anything else i should know?"

"I like sex?"

"uh... uhm... That's nice.... I guess... wrong office...?"

"I like... Electronic warfare...?"

"Yes... youre EW qualified i see... Offense or Defense?"

"Oh, I'm always the aggressor."

"Right.  Beagle Probe, it is... Go get your fitting i'll have it all bundled up and sent to ... Hanger Seven did you say?"

"Yup."

"Right-O... Good luck on your deployment then."

Regina accepts the paperwork and is off to be fitted, where she's stripped down and manages to get her measurements taken, without losing her underwear.

~~~~~> Time passes <~~~~~

Later at the starport in Hanger Seven, Regina reviews the piles of 'stuff' she's accumulated from her visit to the Academy.

"Wow it's been the best day ever...", she waves a Tech in a white jumpsuit over.

"Hey, can you assign me some help to help me load some of this stuff onto my valkyrie?"

{Fade to black...}

---

Just a humorous write up on how Regina might have gotten all the stuff she's accumulated in auction, everything was paid for, and simply written into the story.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:57, Fri 23 May 2014.

{Regina's continued Omni adventures}

Dressed in her newly minted Plugsuit, Regina goes to visit Pax, "Hey Pax.  Whatcha doing".

"Afternoon Regina.  Hip deep in shyt and sinking fast.", Pax comments without looking up from the piles of paper in front of him.

"Sounds messy.", Regina comments looking around to make sure she doesnt step in any Shyt... she just got her new clothes, and they still have that new clothes smell.  It'd be a shame to ruin them with a careless miss step.

Pax finally looks up, "You look like one of those cadets wandering around."

"Do I?  Is that a good thing?"

"Depends on how you look at it.  What can i do for you Reggie.  I'm really busy today."

"Busy?  Busy with what?  Maybe i can help."

Pax looks Regina over, she was easy on the eyes, but she really didnt seem bright enough to help with his problems.  It was really not a happy day for him.  "Yeah... well... Jessa just took a walk... Dono's finding that the local Fauna doesnt agree with him and is having an attack of the hives, and the dragon lady all but sacked our profits on corporate double talk."

"ummm... uh....", Regina blinks and has a blank look.  She couldnt understand why Jessa walking was a problem, she had a really lovely walk this morning and was given all sorts of stuff.  Regina liked deers... why would one attack him with hives... did the local wildlife manipulate bugs to do their bidding... seemed a little far fetch, especially the last about lady dragons going to bed with his money.

"so... what do you need to do about it.", she asks tentatively.  They seemed to be a lot of unrelated problems, no wonder Pax was so stressed.  It sounded like he needed a zookeeper more than a mechwarrior.

"At the moment... mechwarriors...", Pax grumbles.  They were expected to be operational and ready in a few days, and his unit was closer to a pair than a lance.

"Oh, is that all.  I can help with that, ill go round up a few Freelancers for you."

"Can you?", Pax perked.  Sure... that might work.  The Freelancers... were freelancing but there wasnt a reason why it couldnt work,

"Oh... nothing.  You want me to just point them to you or hire them on the spot."

"Right...you can be my first recruit..."

"Ummm... I like being a freelancer... hates when people tell me what to do."

"What if... what if i promoted you.  Made you a corporal?"

"Corporal?", Regina turned the word over in her head, Corporal Arlington, "Okay... i guess that could work."

"Done.  Now go find me some freelancers."

Regina salutes smartly... (well smartly for Regina), and is off to recruit for Pax, coming up Big Jake he's a quick and easy recruit.  He was so bored with guard duty on Burton, that he was practically dying to get into action, the mild skirmish with Regina had only whet his appetite.

Along with Dano, Pax was at a full lance would be a happy puppy... or so Regina thought.

{Fade to black...}
This message was last edited by the player at 18:57, Fri 23 May 2014.

{More of Regina's Omni Adventures}

With days to pass and nothing to do, Regina eventually catchs up to Alexi.

On a far away world, in the middle of operations, with little time for groom, and the crush of operations calling to your attention, Regina was was a pretty distraction.  A dangerous one, that Alexi had wisely decided needed to be kept at arms length.

This was not that world.  There was plenty of time to clean up and look pretty, and... Alexi had to admit, Regina looked really good in her new uniform.  Attractive and flattering that it was on the local cadets, they were stunning on Regina.  She was no half developed juvenile girl.  Everything looked REALLY good on her.  The curve of her hips, the way the fabric bunched between her legs, the way they stretched and hugged her chest.

Alexi was red blooded and not immune to her attentions.  An entire night... and day.. and night were lost with little heard from either....

{Fade to black... cue ominous music}

Lucius was by no means a businessman... hell he wasnt even certain he wanted the title of company commander, but times were feeling pretty good at the moment.  Zoey had taken to medical care on Omni and was doing well.  Alexi and Raith were with him, and things were starting to gel as a unit.  With Regina around, they were just a lethal lance.

He had just cut a deal to swap his (junky) reliable Javelin for one of the Power Loaders that were being phased out of use on Omni.  Hell they might be old news on Omni, but they were plenty new to him.

He was still trying to wrap his head around the comprehensive technical manual when he was told that it was the abbreviated mechwarriors reference guide.

"Super.", he comments darkly.

He was seated at a desk, in an office that was assign for the mercs to use for 'business'.  Which at the moment meant loitering about with a hard drink in one hand and a stoogie in the other.  This entire module concept crap sounded interesting... and useful... if he could manage to get his head wrapped around it.  A knocking on the door bought his attention up.

"'ello Burner.", Regina commented with a little bit of a lilt in her voice.

"Uh. Oh?", It was that tone she used when she was being evasive... when she had done something wrong and was dragging her feet about telling him about it.

"Uh~oh, what?  I didnt say anything.", Regina answers wide eyed oozing innocent.  Lucius was having none of that.

"You dont have to say it.  You just reek trouble today.", Lucius comments waving his cigar around in one hand.  Lucius blew a smoke ring and began counting to ten.  If you wanted to keep your temper, it was always good to get a head start when talking with Regina.

"Oh.... well... it's about your XO.", Regina sniffs under her arm and frown.  It still had that new plugsuit smell, maybe that's what Burner was smelling.

"Alexi?, Alexi is a good kid.  What's the problem?"

"He's going to be out of service for a while?"

"News to me, what happened?"

"We spent some time together?"

"...and?"

"I squished his boy parts."

Lucius shook his head, "Excuse me?"

"Its nothing too serious... he's just ...", Regina looks to one side and starts to scratch at the doorframe, "in an induced coma to speed recovery for a few days... _{or maybe it was weeks}..."

'UGH~', Lucius loved Regina like a kid sister, but she didnt need a mech to be a one woman wrecking machine.

"So... Now i'm a man short when we lance out for operations in a few days."

"nope."

"Nope?  Nope what?"

"You're two pilots short.  Pax made me an offer i couldnt refuse."

"You signed on with Pax without telling me?  What did he promise you."

"He said he would make me a corporal and i wouldnt get bossed around.
 I hate being bossed around.  How do i say no to that?"

'Why that sneaky #@*$&%'

"So if I make you a sergeant you'll stay?"

"I dunno Burner... He's sort of in a bind, i said I'd help...", Regina had trouble saying no sometimes... it made keeping her hard, but also made attracting her pretty easy too.

"Listen up Reggie.  You owe me.  You put Alexi out of commission so you need to step up and take his place."

"I ... guess... that makes sense."

That was good enough for Lucius, "Right done deal then, you lance with the Iron swords, I'll talk to Tarkin about it.", there was no point sending her to Tarken and risk having him convince her to stay.

{fade to black}

---

Done without Alexi's, Lucius, or Pax's consent, so if they object, maybe this was just a daydream Regina had... Regardless, Regina wanders around with Sgt. stripes now.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:30, Fri 23 May 2014.

"And Reggie?  While you're out and about wandering you can let Raith know that I want to sit and have a chat with everyone out by our unit mech-bays."

He was almost going to stop her again when she turned to leave and he finally noticed her body hugging plugsuit and understood how poor Alexi had fallen into her man-breaker hands.  That girl was the proverbial Black Widow Natasha Kerensky but the Inner Sphere didn't know her like he did yet.  Lucius shook his head after Reggie left his office and swore that if she wasn't the death of herself one of these days she was going to be the death of him.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:41, Fri 23 May 2014.