Battletech: Planet's Fall

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The shutters protecting the long windows of the cafeteria had been put up. This wasn't normal. The reason for it, however, was soon apparent when the cafeteria lights were dimmed.

Among the sea of stars visible through the window that ran along one whole side of the room was a sizable cluster of dark blue specks. Dots that were steadily increasing in size.

The AFFC's invasion fleet were in visual range and the Angel's Descent would soon be linking up with them. As the minutes ticked by a few curious mercenaries were heading into the cafeteria for a better look.

They'd soon be close enough to count.

Butcher had been eating when rubbernecks started filtering in.

Under his breath, "They're ships. You've seen ships before jackasses."

He shook his head.

Alex stood by the window looking at the show. The mechpilot sighed.

John Slaktare wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 28, 2021 5:32 pm

Snip.

Mei slid into place directly across the table from Butcher and stared at him for a moment before speaking.

"You really are The Butcher aren't you? I watched you kick a Grasshopper to death after you suffered an ammo explosion that nearly tore your mech in half. I'm Mei, Mei-Ling Zhou, pleasure to meet you."

He looks at her and nods. "Oh, yeah. The Crazy Bill fight. Not most people know. He died two days later, and his older brother stabbed me for it in a bar brawl," he says with sound somewhere between a sigh and a grunt.

"But then, that explosion nearly got me so a little light stabbing seems fair. Still got a piece of shrapnel from that buried in my hip bone. They just shaved it flush. So i still have a piece of that mech in me."

John Slaktare wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 28, 2021 8:21 pm

He looks at her and nods. "Oh, yeah. The Crazy Bill fight. Not most people know. He died two days later, and his older brother stabbed me for it in a bar brawl," he says with sound somewhere between a sigh and a grunt.

"But then, that explosion nearly got me so a little light stabbing seems fair. Still got a piece of shrapnel from that buried in my hip bone. They just shaved it flush. So I still have a piece of that mech in me."

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. Can't the doctors remove the shrapnel or do you keep it for sentimental reasons? I think I've seen most of your fights, you're good, why leave the arena for this?"

"Eh, middling at best. And I left because Steffen invited me and I was tired of being alone," he says. "Paid off my debts, got my Hatchetman, had nothing to prove. But I still enjoy the fight. Why did you join up here and not go to Solaris?"

John Slaktare wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:02 pm

"Eh, middling at best. And I left because Steffen invited me and I was tired of being alone," he says. "Paid off my debts, got my Hatchetman, had nothing to prove. But I still enjoy the fight. Why did you join up here and not go to Solaris?"

"I was with the Starlit Knights." She said morosely. "But I became a merc for the combat experience. I want to be an arena fighter, both my parents were back on Bithinia in the Confed but they wanted me to get some practical experience in a team environment first. My close range simulator data was pretty poor, I'm more of a sniper than a brawler and that doesn't translate well in an arena. So we agreed that being in a company with people to back me up would let me learn how to brawl. In eight more years I can go back and start my career."

"Well, the brawl was where I did my best work. Not so hot with the big guns myself. We all got areas we need to improve," he says with a shrug.

John Slaktare wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:13 pm

"Well, the brawl was where I did my best work. Not so hot with the big guns myself. We all got areas we need to improve," he says with a shrug.

"I think the stable you were with is in part to blame, your mechs weren't in the best condition and given what I saw you should have been in something bigger. What are you piloting here with the Angels?"

"My Hatchetman. Brought it with me," he says. "The one from my last few months. I picked it up after winning some lucky bets with my life savings."

John Slaktare wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:23 pm

"My Hatchetman. Brought it with me," he says. "The one from my last few months. I picked it up after winning some lucky bets with my life savings."

"Oh nice! That seems like a perfect fit for your fighting style. Man, some of those final matches were brutal once you got that thing. So I guess that means you're in Raider company?"

"Nope. I lead the battle lance in Command company," he says. "They gotta keep an eye on me. Stories about my fuse are true. It's shorter than a locust."

John Slaktare wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:30 pm

"Nope. I lead the battle lance in Command company," he says. "They gotta keep an eye on me. Stories about my fuse are true. It's shorter than a locust."

"Oh? I thought that was just something the announcers made up. Back home the announcers made up stuff about my parents all the time, saying they were fighting with each other and in turmoil but it was all BS. Either way, you don't lead a Command lance just because you are a concern."

Mei-Ling Zhou wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:36 pm

"The lance that any other command lance can command," he says with a shrug. "They think I might be able to do something with a group. I'll do what I can. No skin off my back if I suck at it. Like everything, give it a go, see what happens."

John Slaktare wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 28, 2021 11:10 pm

Mei-Ling Zhou wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 28, 2021 9:36 pm

"The lance that any other command lance can command," he says with a shrug. "They think I might be able to do something with a group. I'll do what I can. No skin off my back if I suck at it. Like everything, give it a go, see what happens."

"Command can command any lance they want. I'm a scout, all I do is take commands. But we both are entrusted with other peoples lives and you said you came here to stop being alone so that's a good thing right?"

"It is what it is," he says. "I never was good at figuring out my own strengths. Maybe I can so it."

"So where are you from, the FRR?" She asked genuinely curious about the cold and brooding man.

"Yeah. Grew up on New Bergen," he says then immediately shifts to Mei, catching with an open ended question so he can try to spend some time not answering questions.

"Where'd you grow up? What was it like? What'd you like about it?"

Yoko had never seen a ship before. At least not a military ship, out in space like this. Especially so many at once.

So it was she showed up, taking in the view up as close as she could without blocking anyone. Part of her animal brain wanted to benervous looking out into the void like this, so close as to almost feel its breath through the window. But most of that was brushed aside for a childlike wonder at the view.