Strider’s Strikers H.Q.
Miranda, Labrea System
Irece Prefecture
Third Quarter 3067
“No. You will not. Not without proof of honor. You have brought disgrace down upon every
man in this unit, upon everything we stand for. You have brought this on yourself, and you will
be the one to face the consequences.” The words echoed in Mike Strider’s ears as he sat in his
office, staring at the wall. He had heard them for the first time only yesterday, but it seemed he
was hearing them now for the hundredth time. ‘The one to face the consequences,’ Devon
Carns had said.
Mike shuddered at the thought of his dilemma. Though Devon had been exactly right in all he
had said, Mike hated to think of the physical consequences he had cost himself. Devon, a
member of the Nova Cat Clan and a teammate of Mike’s for the past 8 years, could only do one
thing to maintain the loyalty of his men and prove his own honor. He was going to challenge
Mike to a Circle of Equals. If the Nova Cat won there, only time would tell if Devon would kill
him over a matter of honor and symbolism.
The status of the Strider’s Strikers mercenary group had been up in the air for almost 9 months
now. After a narrow victory over the Word of Blake’s ‘Denouncement’ sect, the unit had
acquired a newfound Warship after combating the Thunderdome Minions pirates. The Minions
had been protecting the Warship with 2 companies of Inner Sphere and Clan assault Mechs, and
had not fallen easy. Despite their wins over their enemies at each turn, the unit was now facing
the biggest scandal it had ever dealt with. Someone in the Intelligence Corps had discovered
that Mike Strider himself, the founder of the unit which had been allied for 8 years with Clan
Nova Cat, had hired an assassin to kill the Word of Blake task force commander responsible for
the destruction of the Strikers' Wasat base.
While assassination was still practiced by many members of the Inner Sphere states, the concept
of such a killing was an incredible act of dishonor to the Clans. The Clans behaved under their
strict code of batchall for nearly any challenge they faced. Following this set of rules would
ensure that both sides of the conflict would be able to face defeat or triumph with honor, truly a
style unique to the Clans. The Inner Sphere could rarely rely on such honorable systems to
provide solutions for their military problems.
While none were sure of the assassin’s real identity, most of the Strikers believed the figure was
posing as Striker personnel. ‘Hawthorne Abdensen’ was the name Mike had referred to the
assassin by in written documents. This, of course, was merely a fictional name.
The WOB figurehead who had been killed was the man responsible for the destruction of the
Strikers Wasat base, Adept Ahrald Prinzelden. While Mike had known the risk taken was a
rather large one, he had never guessed that his own unit’s intelligence agency would discover the
secret. He’d underestimated the abilities of his own men and women.
Mike Strider looked down at the documents in front of him. Alexus Capone. She was a brief
contact of Mike’s during his days on Black Earth in the space region once known as the Oberon
Confederation. He had met her while training for his first mission, a mission of vengeance that
had ended in an attempt on the life of pirate king Kenny ‘Redjack’ Ryan. Alexus had guided
Mike through several different fighting techniques in the summer of 3036. The two had become
good friends by the time they’d parted.
While the young Alexus had made an impression on him all those years ago, the old Alexus had
also caught his attention. When she’d received word of the Strikers defeat on Wasat by the
Bounty Hunter and the WOB, Alexus offered her services for old times sake. Mike hesitated at
first. Upon recalling the death of his friend Mason Garr during the WOB’s unprovoked attack,
he agreed to Alexus’s terms. She was swift and perfect in the execution. She completed the job
in less than 6 months from the day of Mason Garr's death. Ahrald Prinzelden was dead, and the
Strider’s Strikers had survived the man’s attack only to become an even stronger threat to the
Word of Blake than before. Mike thought the outcome of Prinzelden’s attack was a fitting end
for such a hostile and fiendish scheme.
Mike knew that Alexus would have her own means of escape from the Strider’s Strikers
Intelligence Corps. The woman had surely gotten out of worse situations in the past. While he
refused to reveal the assassin’s true identity, Mike knew he wouldn’t be able to hold out for long
against the Nova Cats. Even if he were lucky enough to best his friend Devon Carns, the Steel
Vipers affiliated with the Strider’s Strikers would likely push their own challenge. The only thing
that had thus far prevented Steel Viper commander Sasha Breen from challenging him already
was her respect towards Devon Carns, the commander for the entire Strider’s Strikers Clan
force.
Mike moved his hands to his forehead and wiped the sweat from his skin. The Nova Cat
challenge would be coming soon, and he was already feeling the pressure of his friend’s threat.
He closed the folder in front of him and looked to his electronic notepad. The old device had
been worn from several years of use, but it still worked. Its automatic calendar background
display flashed September 22 as the clocked rolled 11:59 into 12:00. The Nova Cat challenge,
his end, might come today.
Without warning, a light tap on the door brought Mike up to attention in his pleather armchair.
He hadn’t expected company so late, and briefly thought about pushing the security alarm to
scramble the headquarters guards. Before he could make a decision, the door opened wide.
He immediately recognized Star Colonel Devon Carns' silhouette in the lit hallway.
Mike sighed in momentary relief. Was this how his life, his career with this unit might end? He
was nervous and jittery, something he had not felt since the initial warnings received when the
Word of Blake had invaded last year. He looked up to his friend, knowing full well that his face
clearly must have shown his fear.
“Devon, its you.” Mike managed a brief smile. “I was afraid you were the boogeyman coming
to get me.” He locked his jaw while waiting for the man’s response.
“The boogeyman I am not. I may prove to be your conscience by the end of the day though.”
Devon’s face revealed nothing. A master of his emotions, the Nova Cat warrior rarely displayed
his feelings. Mike could only recall a few times when he’d seen the man express his excitement
or pride in battle.
Miranda, Labrea System
Irece Prefecture
Third Quarter 3067
“No. You will not. Not without proof of honor. You have brought disgrace down upon every
man in this unit, upon everything we stand for. You have brought this on yourself, and you will
be the one to face the consequences.” The words echoed in Mike Strider’s ears as he sat in his
office, staring at the wall. He had heard them for the first time only yesterday, but it seemed he
was hearing them now for the hundredth time. ‘The one to face the consequences,’ Devon
Carns had said.
Mike shuddered at the thought of his dilemma. Though Devon had been exactly right in all he
had said, Mike hated to think of the physical consequences he had cost himself. Devon, a
member of the Nova Cat Clan and a teammate of Mike’s for the past 8 years, could only do one
thing to maintain the loyalty of his men and prove his own honor. He was going to challenge
Mike to a Circle of Equals. If the Nova Cat won there, only time would tell if Devon would kill
him over a matter of honor and symbolism.
The status of the Strider’s Strikers mercenary group had been up in the air for almost 9 months
now. After a narrow victory over the Word of Blake’s ‘Denouncement’ sect, the unit had
acquired a newfound Warship after combating the Thunderdome Minions pirates. The Minions
had been protecting the Warship with 2 companies of Inner Sphere and Clan assault Mechs, and
had not fallen easy. Despite their wins over their enemies at each turn, the unit was now facing
the biggest scandal it had ever dealt with. Someone in the Intelligence Corps had discovered
that Mike Strider himself, the founder of the unit which had been allied for 8 years with Clan
Nova Cat, had hired an assassin to kill the Word of Blake task force commander responsible for
the destruction of the Strikers' Wasat base.
While assassination was still practiced by many members of the Inner Sphere states, the concept
of such a killing was an incredible act of dishonor to the Clans. The Clans behaved under their
strict code of batchall for nearly any challenge they faced. Following this set of rules would
ensure that both sides of the conflict would be able to face defeat or triumph with honor, truly a
style unique to the Clans. The Inner Sphere could rarely rely on such honorable systems to
provide solutions for their military problems.
While none were sure of the assassin’s real identity, most of the Strikers believed the figure was
posing as Striker personnel. ‘Hawthorne Abdensen’ was the name Mike had referred to the
assassin by in written documents. This, of course, was merely a fictional name.
The WOB figurehead who had been killed was the man responsible for the destruction of the
Strikers Wasat base, Adept Ahrald Prinzelden. While Mike had known the risk taken was a
rather large one, he had never guessed that his own unit’s intelligence agency would discover the
secret. He’d underestimated the abilities of his own men and women.
Mike Strider looked down at the documents in front of him. Alexus Capone. She was a brief
contact of Mike’s during his days on Black Earth in the space region once known as the Oberon
Confederation. He had met her while training for his first mission, a mission of vengeance that
had ended in an attempt on the life of pirate king Kenny ‘Redjack’ Ryan. Alexus had guided
Mike through several different fighting techniques in the summer of 3036. The two had become
good friends by the time they’d parted.
While the young Alexus had made an impression on him all those years ago, the old Alexus had
also caught his attention. When she’d received word of the Strikers defeat on Wasat by the
Bounty Hunter and the WOB, Alexus offered her services for old times sake. Mike hesitated at
first. Upon recalling the death of his friend Mason Garr during the WOB’s unprovoked attack,
he agreed to Alexus’s terms. She was swift and perfect in the execution. She completed the job
in less than 6 months from the day of Mason Garr's death. Ahrald Prinzelden was dead, and the
Strider’s Strikers had survived the man’s attack only to become an even stronger threat to the
Word of Blake than before. Mike thought the outcome of Prinzelden’s attack was a fitting end
for such a hostile and fiendish scheme.
Mike knew that Alexus would have her own means of escape from the Strider’s Strikers
Intelligence Corps. The woman had surely gotten out of worse situations in the past. While he
refused to reveal the assassin’s true identity, Mike knew he wouldn’t be able to hold out for long
against the Nova Cats. Even if he were lucky enough to best his friend Devon Carns, the Steel
Vipers affiliated with the Strider’s Strikers would likely push their own challenge. The only thing
that had thus far prevented Steel Viper commander Sasha Breen from challenging him already
was her respect towards Devon Carns, the commander for the entire Strider’s Strikers Clan
force.
Mike moved his hands to his forehead and wiped the sweat from his skin. The Nova Cat
challenge would be coming soon, and he was already feeling the pressure of his friend’s threat.
He closed the folder in front of him and looked to his electronic notepad. The old device had
been worn from several years of use, but it still worked. Its automatic calendar background
display flashed September 22 as the clocked rolled 11:59 into 12:00. The Nova Cat challenge,
his end, might come today.
Without warning, a light tap on the door brought Mike up to attention in his pleather armchair.
He hadn’t expected company so late, and briefly thought about pushing the security alarm to
scramble the headquarters guards. Before he could make a decision, the door opened wide.
He immediately recognized Star Colonel Devon Carns' silhouette in the lit hallway.
Mike sighed in momentary relief. Was this how his life, his career with this unit might end? He
was nervous and jittery, something he had not felt since the initial warnings received when the
Word of Blake had invaded last year. He looked up to his friend, knowing full well that his face
clearly must have shown his fear.
“Devon, its you.” Mike managed a brief smile. “I was afraid you were the boogeyman coming
to get me.” He locked his jaw while waiting for the man’s response.
“The boogeyman I am not. I may prove to be your conscience by the end of the day though.”
Devon’s face revealed nothing. A master of his emotions, the Nova Cat warrior rarely displayed
his feelings. Mike could only recall a few times when he’d seen the man express his excitement
or pride in battle.
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