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Future Shadows: Chapter 25

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25
Lengrinótt
Gambilon, Magistracy of Canopus
10 December 3040


When compared to the spaceports of places like Galatea, Solaris VII and other important Core worlds in the Inner Sphere – or even the spaceport on Canopus IV, the capitol world of the Magistracy of Canopus – the Stjörnaljós Spaceport barely even qualified as one. There was a lone control tower, three small runways for regular aircraft, and a patch of worn concrete large enough to accommodate a half-dozen DropShips. The so-called landing bays were nothing more than areas designated as such by lines painted on the tarmac. There were two aircraft hangars, an aging and modest terminal, a garage for vehicles, and a maintenance building. That was it.
    People of the Inner Sphere, particularly those of the Core planets, had a tendency to assume that all the worlds in the Successor States had the same level of technology that they did. Needless to say their assumptions were wrong. There were scores of worlds, especially those in the Periphery, which had much lower technological levels; some with virtually none at all when compared to present-day. There were some planets (such as in the distant Outworlds Alliance) who were no more advanced than the Middle Ages of Terra’s ancient past. And yet would still have DropShips visiting them.
    Gambilon was one such lower-tech world. It’s overall technology was equal to that of the late 21st to mid 22nd century; but with higher-tech additions here and there. Many wealthy citizens drove aircars or had holosystems and similar modern imported luxuries in their homes. The capitol city of Lengrinótt was mainly powered by a huge fusion plant, and there was of course the HPG station belonging to ComStar. Some of the farmers had AgroMechs to work their fields – at least those who could afford them.
    The primary exception to Gambilon’s lower technology was its hospitals and medical care. The Magistracy of Canopus has some of the finest physicians to be found in the Successor States and its health industry standards are the highest in the Periphery; and in many respects superior to what the Inner Sphere has to offer. Canopians enjoy the benefits of universal health care, especially members of the military. The Magistracy Medical Corps exceeds that of any military anywhere. In the armies of the Inner Sphere there’s one medical specialist per twenty fighting soldiers; often the ratio is higher. In the Magistracy Armed Forces the ratio is one specialist per seven soldiers. MAF troopers have the highest survival rate of any in the Successor States.
    The file on Gambilon supplied by Countess Adele Jansen to the Fighting Fusiliers had included all this information and more, but it wasn’t what Garadun was thinking about as he marched his Spartan BattleMech off Shearling, the company’s Union class DropShip. What had his attention was the waiting crowd. When the Fusiliers arrived on Kolovraty two years before, there had been about three hundred locals to greet them. Here he was looking at perhaps two thousand; all of them cheering and many waving flags. Men, women and children from all walks of life. The entire spaceport was illuminated with bright lighting, as this part of the world was a week into its month-long night.
    Garadun turned his Spartan to the left and sauntered down and joined the other BattleMechs who’d begun lining up in front of the crowd, the ten-meter-tall war machines moving in time to the music blaring from their external speakers. They had made the same kind of showy entrance on Kolovraty to one of Terra’s ancient bits of music, We Will Rock You. This time around it was Everybody Wants Some!!. As he came to a halt next to Sun-Lao’s Rifleman, he turned to face the crowd and got his Spartan pumping its arms and moving its torso to the beat. Cera was next in line with her Atlas, turning and doing the same. Elizabeth was the last in line in her Stinger, and she got her BattleMech to bob its head in time to the music as well. Eleven BattleMechs stood and “danced” in place before the crowd; of which the majority of its younger members joined in, bobbing and moving in time to the music and having a fantastic time – something Canopians were very good at.
    When the ancient rock tune came to an end, the Canopians exploded with cheers and applause. They’d been relieved that their beloved Countess had managed to hire mercenaries to protect them from raiders, but now they were thrilled. These Fighting Fusiliers had style and obviously enjoyed life – people after their own hearts. The Atlas lifted its arms, its hands in fists as it pointed its index fingers at the crowd.
    “Hello, Gambilon!” came Cera’s cheerful voice through her speakers, and the crowd erupted with renewed applause. Elizabeth’s Stinger waved its left hand and the other Fusiliers BattleMechs followed suit, picking up on the audience’s enthusiasm. They kept it going for a minute or so and then put their BattleMechs into standby mode. Cockpit hatches were opened, chain ladders lowered, and they made their way to the ground. Lady Adele was waiting for them with a group of planetary officials, from politicians to business leaders, and introductions were made.
    “Baroness Alexandra Grosvenor, allow me to present the Borgarstjóri of Lengrinótt, Naomi Raventhir,” said Adele graciously and the two women shook hands.
    “A pleasure to meet you,” said Alexandra.
    “The city and people of Lengrinótt are at your service, Baroness Grosvenor,” said Borgarstjóri Raventhir and grinned. “Borgarstjóri is the old Icelandic word for mayor. You can just call me Mayor. I know Icelandic can be a mouthful.”
    Alexandra smiled. “Thank you, Mayor Raventhir.”
    Lady Adele introduced the head of the Farmer’s Union next, followed by the CEO of Lengrinótt Light and Power; and so on down the line of assorted officials, including Precentor Kristina Dulfer of the planet’s ComStar facility. About three-quarters of the world’s leadership were women – which wasn’t surprising if one kept in mind that the Magistracy of Canopus was a matriarchal society. That the Fighting Fusiliers were also led by a woman and had so many female MechWarriors only increased their standing with the people they’d been hired to protect.
    “As of this time, you are now officially on duty,” Adele told Alexandra, and looked at the Fusiliers who were lined up at attention. She gave them a grin. “But since we’ve been together for months, I don’t think we need anymore bureaucratic officialness, don’t you agree?”
    Several of the Fusiliers chuckled and stood at-ease.
    “Lady Alexandra, why don’t we get everyone settled in to their new quarters?” Adele suggested. “As well as getting your BattleMechs into their hangar. Then everyone can relax and take it easy after our long journey.”
    “I think that’s a very good idea, Lady Adele. Thank you.”
    “Excuse me, Countess,” said Garadun, stepping forward and saluting, laying on the protocol for the nearby officials. “Where exactly are we going to be based?”
    “Northeast of the city,” Adele replied, pointing. She looked at Mayor Raventhir. “I’m assuming the construction is complete?”
    “Yes, my Lady,” the Mayor replied, nodding. “The entire compound is finished, including the hangar for the BattleMechs.”
    “Will we be guarding our own base?” Alexandra asked Adele.
    “No, I’ve given that task to a private security firm,” Adele told her. “Not that I expect there to be any trouble. My people want you here.”
    “So where will we be billeted?” Garadun asked. “On the base?”
    “Not exactly,” said Adele, shaking her head. “The new facility is primarily for your BattleMechs and vehicles. Your living quarters are elsewhere on my lands.”
    Garadun and Alexandra exchanged puzzled looks, as did the rest of the Fusiliers. “I’m afraid I don’t understand, Lady Adele,” said Alexandra. “On your lands?”
    “Yes, all of you will be living on my lands,” Adele informed them. “The base is on my property. I am Countess of Gambilon after all. Not only am I the planet’s ruler, but the Jansen family owns a rather large piece of it.”
    Cera gave Marie a wide smile. “Now this I can’t wait to see.”
    “Can we go meet the people first?” Garadun requested.
    “Of course, I know they’d love that,” said Adele warmly.
    Taking that as his cue, Garadun turned around and gestured to his friends, and they walked over to the front of the waiting crowd, waving as they went and then shaking hands and chatting amiably. The Canopian officials were taken by surprise at the open friendliness of the mercenaries, but Lady Adele wasn’t. Ever since she’d first met Lady Alexandra and her Fighting Fusiliers, she’d come to know them as good, honourable people and considered them her friends.

It was a very impressive convoy that made its way around the city of Lengrinótt. After the formal greeting ceremony was completed, the Fusiliers and Shearling’s crew unloaded the company vehicles from the DropShip. This included the company APC, military jeep, wheeled military truck and ordinance transport; as well as Garadun’s old Scarab, his newly acquired APC and Cera’s Avanti DB5. Everyone’s personal gear was loaded aboard the military truck, and the DropShip crew rode in the pair of APCs. Jimmy and his astechs drove the vehicles. Lady Adele went with Jimmy in the jeep. Garadun’s cats were in their carrier on the floor of his BattleMech’s cockpit.
    Jimmy and Lady Adele took the lead with the BattleMechs following in single file behind them, who were in turn followed by the company vehicles. There were two LPD police groundcars in front and behind the convoy with their lights flashing. Hundreds if not thousands of citizens came out along the route to watch and wave, many of them holding up banners of welcome.
    The Jansen Barracks were located on Lady Adele’s lands, only a few kilometres from the capitol, and were brand-new. Knowing she would be bringing back mercenaries to protect her world, she had ordered the base’s construction before she left Gambilon. It wasn’t that big a compound, but then it didn’t need to be. It was about the same size as those owned by various BattleMech stables on Solaris. It was dominated by the main ‘Mech hangar, which was an enormous, blocky structure of concrete that had room for a company of BattleMechs and an attached garage for support vehicles. There was a single-story office building, a wooden mess hall, and a two-storey barracks that could house two dozen people, each with their own quarters. It was in fact modelled after the kind of student housing you could find on any campus across the Inner Sphere.
    The buildings sat on several square kilometres of land, with the area surrounding the hangar paved with concrete. Two kilometres from the hangar was a tarmac big enough to handle a DropShip. The entire compound was surrounded by a perimeter of steel mesh fence topped with razorwire and security cameras, and there was of course a guard post at the gate. Because of Gambilon’s extensive nights the lighting on the base was equal to a sports stadium, turning night into day. For those Fusiliers with military backgrounds, Jansen Barracks was a first for them because none of them had ever seen a brand-new military base before. The wood and paint still smelled fresh, the hangar was completely free of grime and wear and tear, and the steel fence almost gleamed. They were the very first occupants.
    The astechs and Shearling’s crew would be housed in the dormitory on base, and they were absolutely thrilled with their quarters. Each small unit had a living room, bedroom and bathroom, and was already furnished; this included a refrigerator. Lady Adele informed them that a civilian staff to handle cooking, cleaning and maintenance of the grounds would be arriving the following day, paid for by the city. Meals in the mess hall were free – but they could of course go into town if they wished or even have food delivered. By normal military standards they were living in luxury.
    The BattleMechs were marched into the hangar, each in its assigned spot, and then powered down. The military vehicles were parked in the garage. Captain Forrester, the commander of Shearling, was put in command of the base and instructed by Alexandra to get their people settled in. After a complete tour of the base and its facilities, the company’s MechWarriors got into the two APCs and followed Alexandra and Lady Adele, who were in Cera’s new Avanti, and drove to their quarters.
    To everyone’s shock and amazement their new home was in fact an old château that belonged to Lady Adele: it was the Jansen family villa. It looked like something right out of Europe from the bygone days of Old Earth. It was simply enormous and built entirely out of stone. It included fifteen bedrooms and five bathrooms, two drawing rooms, three living rooms, two parlours, a grand dining room, a billiards room; and of course an enormous kitchen and quarters for the servants “below stairs.” There were two small cottages on the estate grounds. There was a large swimming pool, a stable, and a big modern garage for ground and aircars. Even at night it was impressive.
    “Welcome to the Jansen family home,” said Adele with a wide smile, enjoying the looks of amazement of the faces of the Fusiliers. “This is where you’ll be staying.”
    Cera stared in wonder. “You’re kidding.”
    “Not at all. There’s plenty of room and Jansen Barracks is only five kilometres away. Lady Alexandra has been very generous with contract terms for your garrison, saving me a great deal of money. So the least I can do is give you a good home while you’re here. I’ll be glad of the company.”
    At this time the front doors of the villa opened and a very distinguished-looking, middle-aged servant came out, followed by three other servants who waited by the door. He came down the steps and bowed to the Countess.
    “Lady Adele, it’s a great pleasure to have you home again.”
    “Thank you, Doughty,” she said warmly. “It’s good to be back. Allow me to introduce Baroness Alexandra Grosvenor and her Fighting Fusiliers.”
    Doughty bowed. “Baroness Grosvenor, it is a great honour.”
    “Be sure they’re treated right, Doughty. Not only are they my guests, but our planet’s only hope against those bastard privateers from the Hegemony.”
    “The entire staff is deeply honoured to have them staying at the Jansen estate, my Lady. I assure you they will want for nothing.”
    “Good. Everyone, I’d like you to meet Doughty, my head of household staff. The whole place would go to pieces without him,” she said affectionately.
    “Her Ladyship is too kind.”
    “Doughty, this is Lady Elizabeth, Lady Alexandra’s younger sister.”
    “A pleasure, Lady Elizabeth,” he said, bowing his head.
    “Very nice to meet you,” said Elizabeth cordially. Adele proceeded to introduce each of the Fusiliers in turn. They were all excited and overwhelmed by the hospitality.
    “Come, Lady Alexandra, let me give you the tour,” said Adele and happily led the Fighting Fusiliers into her huge château.
    It was a hell of a way to start their time on Gambilon.


The End
Future Shadows, the sequel to Fusiliers Forever, is set in the BattleTech universe. Characters appearing use the MechWarrior 3rd Edition game rules for stats. The BattleTech setting is copyright Catalyst Game Labs.


Future Shadows is an original story, and all the characters therein are copyright by me.

You can find all the chapters of the book here [link]

Map of the Magistracy of Canopus [link]
BattleMechs: [link] [link]
Vehicles: [link] [link]
Distant Memory and Shearling [link]
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2 great stories,  I hope to see more in the series