Chapter Seventy-Three: Evaluations
Kentares, Draconis March, Federated Suns May 11th, 3016
"How long will it take to get the Ships up and running?" I asked Captain Jewel, our main repair expert.
"If we dedicate multiple work crews, we should be able to rearm the Black Lionbattlecruiser and the Lola II's in a couple of weeks. The Volga will take a bit longer because it still has a small amount of Armor damage and is missing some weapons." She said.
"And getting the Manassas and Narbonneup and repaired?" I asked. "I want them up and running ASAP just in case we face some retaliation."
"Eight days on the Manassas if we focus multiple work crews on it." She responded. "It would be faster if we had the second Yardship up and running, but its computer systems are still locked down." She sighed. "The Narbonne will need a minimum of three weeks before we can get everything repaired on it. Then we can start on the other vessels."
"Okay then, I want the Manassas and Narbonne fixed up, and then we can focus on the battlecruiser and destroyers." I told her. "I'm promoting you, and placing you in command of the Functional Yardship, I'm going to be giving the battlecruiser and the transport to the Davions, so as soon as we can, I'm going to need them able to move and shoot."
June14th, 3016
"Colonel Wolf." I greeted the man in front of me. "Where is my wife?"
"She is currently helping our Khan to prevent an invasion." He told me bluntly. "I was given orders to help prepare the Inner Sphere for said invasion." He reached into the hard case he had beside him and pulled out a data core. "This contains all of the information you need to begin advanced technology development, I need you to begin distributing it to anyone you are nominally allied with." He then turned to leave.
"Hold up a minute." I stopped him. "You don't get to just drop a bomb on me and then leave for your current contract." I stood up and got in the slightly taller man's face. "You said you were supposed to help prepare the Inner Sphere for an invasion and just dropped this on my lap." I blocked the doorway. "I will not be doing your job for you, so sit down, shut up, and let me explain exactly what is going to happen."
He started to protest, but didn't manage to get a word out. "You are going to give me actionable intelligence, and you're going to actually explain what might happen. Not only to myself, but to both Ian Davion, and Katrina Steiner, I may even have Thomas Calderon or his mother drop by for a visit, while Thomas may not like me, he'll damn sure listen to me after all that we've done for his nation." I sighed. "You are a military genius as far as short term conflicts are concerned," I told Jaime Wolf. "But when it comes to long term strategy and planning you fail to understand the consequences."
"Fine, I shall listen to what you have to say." Jaime Wolf said with a hint of a growl. "But insult me like that again, and you will face me on the battlefield."
"Fine." I threw my hands up. "I'll take you here and now if it'll help you get it through to your thick head." I stalked out of the room while grabbing my comm device. "Mac, I need my backup Warhammer. I'm pretty sure that Nat stole mine again."
Several hours later…
"I do not think this was a good idea." Joshua Wolf confided in his brother. "His critiques, while uncalled for, were at least honest."
"This is the second time he has insulted me." Jaime growled. "I will not allow him to command me unless he has proven that he is my better in combat."
Jaime closed the hatch to his ArcherARC-2W, and powered it up. Beginning the journey to the designated combat area by a lake 50 Kilometers away from any potential residences. He was followed by Joshua in his Black Knight, and Sheppard in his Cyclops. Sheppard and Joshua were to be seconds, spectators, and judges for this trial of combat.
"Duke Hull." Joshua said over an open comm channel. "Are you prepared?"
"I'm ready to rumble." I responded, my Warhammer bouncing back and forth as if it were a boxer. This wasn't the Warhammer I typically used, and so my speed was the same as Jaime's Archer. This was the WHM-7A that we had pulled from the Confederate class Dropship Last of us. Natasha having "Borrowed" the Bobby B from me again when she had left to go on her little side quest.
"Colonel Wolf." Sheppard said, "Are you ready?"
"Let us be done with this farce." Wolf said with a sneer in his voice. "I am ready."
I immediately moved to avoid the LRM's he had fired at me, knowing that he had the firepower advantage at range, I moved closer, because I had ERPPC's, I would be able to tank his two medium lasers and SRM's for as long as I needed to, I had the advantage close in.
On top of that, I was angry, angrier than I had been in a long time. And I wanted to brawl, so I got close in, and dodged the fist that Jaime threw my way while firing my Lasers and SRM's at his Archer, I lashed out with kicks, and even forced my PPC's in close to use as melee weapons. At this point, this wasn't a 'mech duel, it was a straight up brawl between two angry men in giant robots.
"Should we do something?" Joshua laser commed Sheppard. "I feel like this is something we should be intervening in.
"Just let them duke it out." Sheppard made his Cyclops shrug. "They'll either not be able to stand each other, or be best friends at the end of this…"