[dcs_p]Her name was finally called and she stepped forward, had her Codex updated
and was congratulated by Tiveli. It was all a blur, she was finally a true
Mechwarrior. Nothing could stop her. She left the room.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]She went back to the barracks, and there found Tac. She was aware he had
passed, but he had not hung around after the debriefing to talk. Now, he was
sitting on his bunk, looking at his chess board intently. No piece was placed on it.
“You seem happy.” Sasha commented, as she sat down on the bunk next to Tac.
“Yes.” Tac mumbled a reply. “Very content.”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“Come my friend, let us play a game.” Sasha began placing pieces on the chess
board.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“A game will be good.” Tac placed his white pieces across from her black ones.
“The others will be celebrating quiaff?”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“Aff. I am sure as well, but there will be time for that later. Let us concentrate on
the game.” Sasha said. They played for a bit. Finally Sasha added, “I assume
you received an invitation as well.”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“A great Steel Viper tradition in my estimation.” He moved a pawn. “Other Clans
do not realize what they miss.” He laughed.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“I agree. I thoroughly enjoy dancing.” Sasha moved her knight and took his
pawn. “An advantage of being stationed here I suppose. All warriors are
invited. At least those not on maneuvers.”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“An advantage of being stationed here? Most of those stationed here are has-
beens, or never-will-bes, quiaff?” Tac moved his bishop in position.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“Aff. There are however, enough good units and warriors here to fend off any
attacks by our neighbors, and they are more than good enough to stick it to
them.” The planet New Kent was shared with three other Clans. Sasha thought
for a moment, then moved her knight out of harm’s way. After half an hour of
playing in silence, Sasha stood.[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]“Going somewhere Sasha?”
She moved to her footlocker at the base of her bunk, and began searching
through it. Tac merely sat silent; he had made his move. Reaching to the
bottom, Sasha found what she was looking for and dug it out. She followed it
with two small plastic cups. Tac smiled as Sasha poured some Brandy into his
cup. “Not exactly good brandy, but the best I could find.”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Tac just laughed, “Brandy in a white plastic cup. I think I will have you beat in five
more moves Sasha.”[/dcs_p]
[dcs_p]Sitting down, Sasha looked at the board, “We shall have to see about that.” The
game continued further than the predicted five moves, and when most of the
brandy bottle was gone, Tac was beginning to have trouble keeping it together,
he was speaking memorized poetry, and his hands were shaking. Even his laugh
was beginning to have a sad lilt to it, for he had drunk most of the brandy.
Eventually, Sasha had heard enough, “What’s wrong Tac? What the hell
happened out there, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.”[/dcs_p]