Fusiliers Forever: Chapter 8

8
Galatean City
Galatea, Lyran Commonwealth
13 April 3038

It had taken twelve long days for Shearling to make the trip from Galatea's zenith jump point, and everyone was relieved to be on planet again. Even one as harsh as Galatea. Its sun was a yellow-white giant, classified F8 II, and in the planet's equatorial region the average temperature was a searing 55 Celsius. The world had a thin ozone layer, surface water of only thirty-five percent, and very little plant life. It was a desert.
     Galatea was the mercenary capitol of the Inner Sphere; although these days it was losing more and more business to the Wolf's Dragoons Hiring Hall on Outreach, with fewer of the elite units coming to Galatean City. Instead it was seeing greater numbers of the down-and-out and Dispossessed trying to find work. However, despite the rising status of Outreach, Galatea was still the centre of the mercenary trade, and it was here that the Fighting Fusiliers had come looking for warriors and a contract.
     After landing at the famous Galaport, Galatea's sophisticated and brobdingnagian spaceport which was located north of the planet's capitol, Alexandra led her team off the DropShip to the hoverlimo that was waiting for them on the sun-scorched ferrocrete tarmac. Several of Shearling's crew arrived and began loading everyone's luggage into the vehicle's boot. The driver opened the door and Garadun put his cat carrier into the back straight away. Cera had a big silly grin on her face, her eyes protected by a pair of dark wraparound sunglasses.
     "I'm actually on another planet," she said excitedly. "This is fantastic! I can't wait to send a vidletter back to Mother and tell her."
     "It's as hot as the last time I was here," Ian noted, wiping his brow.
     "Let's get out of this sun," said Alexandra and slid herself into the air-conditioned limousine. Sayuki went in next, followed by Ian and Jimmy. Cera gave a last look around and then joined them. Garadun oversaw the baggage, then thanked the crewmen before finally getting into the back of the hoverlimo. The main compartment was incredibly spacious, with plush seating, a central table, a holoscreen and a wetbar. Alexandra sat on the right facing the driver, Cera in the middle, and Garadun beside her. He opened the cat carrier and took out Wasp and Stinger, who'd been miaowing, and stroked them as they looked around the interior of the limousine with great curiosity.
     Jimmy sat opposite Garadun, his back to the driver, with Ian in the middle and Sayuki beside him. The fingers of Ian's left hand were lightly interlaced with the fingers of her right. Their friends saw and said nothing. Everyone knew Ian had been smitten with Sayuki from the first moment they met (really, who could blame him?) and he'd begun courting her in a slow, gentlemanly fashion. She had responded, spending more and more time with him. Nothing had been declared openly but everyone knew they were dating. Cera knew they hadn't slept together as of yet (she'd been nosey and asked Ian directly) but that was only a matter of time.
     Garadun minded his own business like he always did, but was jazzed for them. Ian was a great guy and Sayuki, well, come on. How could you not like her? He took evil pleasure in the thought of the entire Draconis March of the Federated Suns having screaming conniptions if they found out that a Davion was romantically involved with a woman from the Draconis Combine. They made a great-looking couple and if they ever had kids, those kids would be heartbreakers.
     He gave Ian a covert wink, who couldn't help but grin and wink back.
     "So where we headed?" Cera inquired cheerfully as Stinger clambered across her legs as she went exploring. Wasp stayed on Garadun's lap, watching her sister.
     "The Galatean Interstellar," Alexandra replied with a smile, stroking the kitten when she hopped onto her lap. "I've booked rooms for all of us there. Shearling's crew will be staying at the Mercenary Arms Hotel."
     "That's a good place," Ian remarked. "I stayed there when I was here."
     "What's the Interstellar like?" Cera asked.
     "Best in the city, probably," said Garadun and looked at Alexandra. "Am I right?"
     Alexandra blushed slightly. "Yes, it is."
     "I love travelling with royalty," said Cera, beaming.
     "I'll need to rent an office while we're here," said Alexandra. "To conduct interviews and do business. I'm hoping we'll be able to sign on another lance's worth of pilots. Even bring us up to full company strength if we're lucky."
     "I'll take care of our military supplies," said Jimmy, leaning forward. "All the munitions I ordered are here waiting to be picked up. Same for the vehicles. Hey, Ian, there any Timbiqui Dark in the bar?"
     "I'll be damned, there is," said Ian and passed him a bottle. He took another for himself, but Sayuki shook her head when he offered her one. Cera took it and drank. "Talk about luck. This is the best beer in the Successor States. To me at least."
     "Not luck," said Alexandra. "When I arranged for the limousine, I requested it. You may not know this, but Timbiqui is only one jump away from Pencader. There're a thousand cases in Distant Memory's hold. It's one of the things my family ships and sells. We transport DropShips, own stock in Pencader's lumber and mining industries. It's how I'm able to finance the Fusiliers."
     "Ah, the famous Lyran mercantile skills," said Garadun.
     "Here's to them," said Jimmy, saluting with his beer.
     "But the true family business is Grosvenor Furs," said Alexandra proudly. "We've been in the fur trade for generations. Pencader has some of the finest fur-bearing animals in the Commonwealth. We buy and sell furs, and have our own highly respected line of fur garments. Some of our furs are even worn on Tharkad."
     "That gorgeous coat you were wearing the day we met," said Cera suddenly.
     Alexandra nodded. "One of many I own. There's several hundred furs in the hold as well. No market here obviously, but I'll be looking for new clients as we go." She smiled at Cera and Sayuki. "When we get back to Distant Memory I'll have one of the crew take us to the hold and you girls can pick a couple coats for yourselves."
     "You mean that?" said Cera breathlessly.
     "Of course. Think of them as a signing bonus."
     "Yes!" Cera pumped her fist, ecstatic.
     "Thank you so much, my Lady," said Sayuki, bowing in her seat. "I'd love that."
     "My pleasure," she said graciously.

The Galatean Interstellar Hotel was located in the heart of downtown Galatean City, a thirty-storey marvel of stunning architecture. The hoverlimo was greeted at the entrance by the hotel's concierge, a man who was a model of service and courteous manners. With Outreach taking more of the city's business every year, they had to make sure their guests were happy and well-cared for. Especially when those guests were royalty.
     Alexandra stepped out of the limousine with grace and style, leading her team into the lobby with the concierge guiding the way. Sayuki held the bend of Ian's arm as she walked at his side. Cera strolled along with her usual enthusiasm, chatting excitedly with Jimmy. Garadun came last, holding his cat carrier possessively. Hotel security made note of the big-ass sidearm he had slung on his hip, but this was the Mercenary Star after all. So long as he checked it in at reception, there'd be no problems. A hotel porter followed with a long brass luggage trolley filled with baggage.
     "If there's anything you need, Baroness Grosvenor, anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask," said the concierge as they reached the reception desk.
     "Just our rooms for now, Mr Steverson. But tomorrow Mr Han will need a car and driver, and I'll need a short-term office at the Hiring Hall to do business while I'm here," she instructed and the concierge nodded as he made notes in his datapad.
     "Of course, my Lady."
     "Oh, and I'll need to speak with a reputable tailor. One of those who make uniforms for mercenary companies. And a graphic designer."
     "I'll look into it directly, my Lady."
     "Mr Morr has two kittens," she said with a wave of her hand. "They'll need cat food and cat litter during our stay."
     "Don't worry, I've got everything covered," Garadun interjected.
     "Are you sure?"
     "Yeah, I'm not gonna mess with their diet." Garadun wasn't sure if the hotel allowed pets or not, but he figured they'd break any rules to accommodate a Baroness.
     "Miss Kuroda and Miss Anzai will need a driver tomorrow as well," she said, giving the girls a smile. "This may be the Mercenary Star but I'm sure there must be some shops in the city that sell women's fashions."
     "Galatean City has everything any Commonwealth city would, my Lady."
     "Good. They need some new clothes, especially formal wear."
     Cera may have been a kick-ass 'Mech jock but she enjoyed shopping as much as any girl. On the other hand… "Lady Alexandra, I don't think I can afford–"
     "I'm covering it," said Alexandra. Cera and Sayuki whooped in glee and thanked her. A shopping spree on someone else's credit!
     "Anything else, my Lady?"
     Alexandra gave it some thought. "No, that's it for now. Our rooms please."
     "Right this way, my Lady," said Steverson, and they were soon in an elevator heading up to their rooms, which were all on the same floor. Only Ian had experienced the kind of luxury and opulence the hotel offered; everyone else was gobsmacked. They didn't just have rooms, they had suites with all the amenities anyone could want.
     Garadun knew that mercenary units, even the most successful, didn't live in the lap of luxury like this. If they pulled garrison duty then they were invariably stationed on a military base. If lucky, a good one with clean barracks and a solid hangar for the 'Mechs. For other missions, such as raiding, they lived on their DropShips. So he was going to enjoy the good life while he could. Reality would step in and make itself known to Alexandra soon enough. Here's hoping she could handle it.