Fusiliers Forever: Chapter 7

7
Nadir Jump Point
Gacrux, Lyran Commonwealth
1 April 3038

There was no denying that after a few days aboard Distant Memory, the presence of Wasp and Stinger had given the crew's morale a big boost. They were incredibly cute, as all kittens are, and many of the crew (notably the women) had dropped by Garadun's cabin when off duty to visit and watch them play or even just sleep.
     The sight of them romping along the grav deck's main hallway was something that brought on many adoring smiles. Garadun didn't take them out of his quarters often, but when he did they always drew admirers. They were Sian-Xiaos, a small Capellan breed which was primarily descended from the Munchkin. It had been mixed with the Ragamuffin for a calm, friendly personality and longevity; kittens took almost three standard years to fully mature. It had then been further bred with the Siamese for colouration, with lovely blue eyes and medium-length fur. However, the kittens had been born "commoners" (something that happened now and then). This meant their coats didn't have the classic Siamese look. Wasp was a fawn-cream and white patched calico, and Stinger was a fawn-cream and white patched tabby. Snotty breeders considered this Ragamuffin attribute undesirable, which was why they'd been abandoned at the Solaris City Animal Shelter. As a life-long cat lover Garadun could've cared less. He'd fallen in love with them on first sight and gave them a very good home. They were friendly, very curious, and had playful, outgoing personalities. They followed their daddy everywhere.
     Such was their effect on morale that Alexandra was now considering getting some cats to live aboard Distant Memory full time. Garadun informed her that there were several breeds that did extremely well living indoors, and you didn't get more indoors than a JumpShip. Cats were very resilient and highly adaptable, and there were countless cases over the centuries of them living in unusual places. When she brought the idea to Captain Hamilton, she was surprised at how accepting he was. He explained that in the bygone days of ocean-going sailing vessels, cats had always been welcome because they kept ships free of rats and mice. There weren't any rats aboard Distant Memory of course, but sailors of all types (including "black water" sailors) tended to be superstitious, and cats were traditionally seen as good luck charms.
     After the first jump from Solaris to Zaniah, Captain Hamilton had jumped the ship again as planned, taking them to the Gacrux system. The star was a red giant, its third planet supporting a bleak colony that had nothing to offer apart from mining. The jump sail was unfurled and the process of recharging the batteries began. This would take 204 hours, which left a lot of time on people's hands. The crew of the JumpShip had routine duties to perform, as did the crew of the DropShip. For the Fusiliers, however, it meant nine days of fighting boredom.
     Jimmy Han spent most of his time either hanging out on Distant Memory's bridge learning about the ship and its systems, or engaging in routine maintenance on all the BattleMechs. Although in the case of Bonaparte this wasn't so routine. Whomever had owned the Centurion prior to Sayuki deserved a solid kick in the head as far as Jimmy was concerned. It was in very poor shape and required a lot of work to bring up to proper fighting condition.
     When he wasn't relaxing with his kittens (they required plenty of love, attention and playtime) Garadun was usually in Shearling's simulator pods with his lancemates, getting to know their skills and abilities. Alexandra was more than willing to let him and Cera lead the exercises for the time being. They had a great deal of practical knowledge to pass on, things they'd picked up battling in the arenas for years.
     Cera was almost always up for spending several hours a day in the pods. It was who she was: a MechWarrior. She was slim and lovely and looked very much the classic Japanese lady. But as the very old saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover. She was a skilled arena jock who'd fought dozens of battles and lived through them. Several of her opponents were no longer around to say the same thing.
     Ian practiced hard in the simulators, trying to learn as much about 'Mech combat as he could from his friends. Cera could move her 75-ton Orion around as if it was a 'Mech half the weight, and was always on the attack. She liked getting up close and blasting all kinds of hell out of her opponents. Garadun was just as aggressive in a 'Mech and made his 50-ton Hunchback dance around like a Stinger. He was the best pilot Ian had ever known, and was an expert in what Solaris fighters called BattleMech martial arts. Hand-to-hand fighting that was much more than the usual 'Mech brawling.
     Sayuki practiced just as hard as Ian, maybe more so. She'd only ever been in a handful of matches and had lost all of them; though not for lack of trying. Now she was part of a team that depended on one another, and was determined to be the best pilot she could be and not let her friends down. She not only practiced with and against her lancemates, but on her own against the computer. She studied her Centurion's weapons and systems all the time. She wanted her and Bonaparte to be as one.
     Alexandra was the busiest of the company. She wasn't only the lance commander but also the one, as Baroness Grosvenor, ultimately responsible for Distant Memory and Shearling and their crews. There was the family business to run, decisions to make. Captains Hamilton and Forrester were in command of their vessels and she let them do what they did best, but at the end of the day she was ultimately in charge.
     Her instructors had taught her well and she was the equal of any fresh-from-the-academy cadet. Now all she needed was a chance to prove that she was more than simply some spoiled noblewoman playing MechWarrior. She was wise enough to know she had a lot to learn and had the guts not to quit. In her heart she knew she had what it took to be a leader. She simply wanted the opportunity.
     She was very thankful for Cera and Garadun. Their knowledge and experience was something she was relying on. They would be the rock at her back when real combat came. They also had what they called "the Solaris edge." Streetwise toughness and inner steel. Sand. Push come to shove, they'd kill without hesitation. Garadun especially she was growing to rely on. He was the oldest of them and had seen and done so much in his time. He knew 'Mechs inside and out, and how to make them as tough as possible.
     "'Mech designers are morons," he said one day. "Bunch of dumbass engineers who haven't got a clue. Most of what they come up with is luh suh. Look at the Wolfhound. When it came out ten years ago it was supposed to be this fancy new design. It's fast, and it's actually got solid armour – which most don't – but the bloody thing's a heat pig. Fire all those lasers a couple times in a row and your 'Mech'll probably shut down. You'll definitely lose a lot of speed and your targeting system will go to hell. What's the point having a bunch of weapons you can't use? Like I said: morons."
     By the time the batteries had been charged and Distant Memory was ready to make the jump to Galatea, Alexandra was more confident than she'd ever been before that her dream of being in command of a BattleMech company was going to come true. She had the 'Mechs, the financing, and good people behind her.
     Now all she needed was a little luck.