With the usual warp of time and space that never quite managed to be routine, a scout jumpship appeared at Sudeten's nadir jump point.
"Attention Clan Jade Falcon command, this is the LCS Election, a civilian dropship under the purview of the Association of Tharkad Martyrs. We've come to return some of your clan's lost property. Request landing coordinates and a meeting with local authorities so that we can hand over what's yours."
" Arc-Royal transport, this is ODS Neuschwanstein, you are granted clearance to land at pad 6/f at Patterson Aerospace. Please follow the assigned escort fighters along your flightpath."
"Roger Neuschwanstein, setting path following fighters. We'll see you groundside in a few days."
The Monarch-class Election came to rest on the drop pad with a landing that only the most generous observer could call smooth. The ship had seen better days - that was for certain - perhaps it was a small miracle that it had made it into Sudeten's atmosphere at all. Unusual cuts and contours on the ships hull suggested that it had received some succession wars era "upgrades" but to what end was entirely unclear.
The exit plank was unfurled with a bit of a crashing noise, and five men descended. Four Tharkad Martyrs in their red uniforms and carrying a pistol shoved along a fifth man, shackled at his hands and feet, looking rather worn and haggard. On his left cheeck, blacked flesh, surrounded by blistered and burned skin, shaped the insignia of the Martyrs. He attempted to shield his eyes from the early morning sun, while glancing around awkwardly, with a hint of desperation. The Martyrs guided this figure to the bottom of the plank, ready to address what awaited.
A point of Jade Falcon Elementals escorted a pair of gray-uniformed men with Daggerstar symbols on their left shoulders, and an officer of the Clan. The officer and one of the grey-uniformed men advanced a few steps ahead of the rest.
"Greetings, I am Star Commander Nikolai. To what do we owe this unexpected visit."
"Greetings from Arc-Royal and the Tharkad Martyrs, Star Commander. I am Leutnant Oswalt Franz Weinburg of the Martyrs. We have arrived to deliver this prisoner into your custody; we know him best as Michael Unsbar, formerly of the 1st ATM Defenders, 2nd formation. This name likely means nothing to you, but you may better recognize him as Mechwarrior Mikhael of the Jade Falcon Watch. One has to commend him for infiltrating our organization, but the same can't be said for his capability to hold his drink - one slurred "quineg" later, and here we are."
"We have evidence based on documents that he'd hidden in his quarters that he was gathering intelligence on our defenses to transmit back to Sudeten; suffice it say that Arc-Royal is not amused. Given our detente, we decided that it would be best to turn him back into your custody, and let you deal with his failure as you see fit. As for our military preparedness, if you're interested in working to our mutual benefit, all you have to do is ask. The government of Arc-Royal does not take kindly to our erstwhile allies running covert ops in our territory."
Neither the Star Commander, nor the man in the grey uniform seemed to upset that the Watch agent had been caught. However, at the sight of the brand in his flesh, the Star Commander's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"And what is this exactly? It looks less like torture, and more like a punishment. A barbaric one at that, and not something that I would expect of anything except fanatics. You freebirths disgust me, branding a warrior's face. What right have you to impose such a punishment on this man? I challenge you to a Trial of Grieveance, Lieutenant."
The uniformed man backed away, and the point of Elementals spread out to form a rough circular boundry around the small party, although their lasers were mostly held up or down, in a non-threatening manner(as non-threatening as battle armor can be, when surrounding unarmored soldiers).
The Martyr Leutnant exhaled sharply through his nose. "It is exactly as you say it is, Star Commander - punishment, and nothing more. Deserved, however - perhaps you would have prefered that we shoot him instead of returning him to your clan, rightfully shamed? I accept your challenge on behalf of the Martyrs - you have no right to question our treatment of those individuals who betray our trust."
"What betrayal? Was there a provision that prevented intelligence gathering missions? I think not. Do not whine to me about fair, freebirth. Life is unfair, you should understand this concept. Choose your weapon of choice, I shall kill you for your insolence in branding the face of a trueborn warrior!"
"Did I say anything about fairness, Star Commander? Strength and guile make a warrior, nothing else - I think that we can agree on this. My weapon of choice is my pistol - Private Kellin, give the Star Commander your sidearm. It is the same make as my own, if this suits your sensibilities. We shall settle this now."
The Star Commander allowed the Lyran to walk upto him, but when offered the weapon, he picked it up and threw the weapon at his opponent's feet.
"You obviously do not understand Clan practices, Lieutenant. I do not require a weapon to defeat you. I bid myself, un-augmented, and unarmed. I do not need your simpering fool's sidearm to take a weakling such as you. As the senior office present, Star Captain Ian Mattlov will preside as Oathmaster to our Trial."
The grey uniformed ICW officer(from his Bloodname, obviously a Falcon also) stepped foreward.
"Considering the disparity in weapons choice, the venue I choose is the interior of the dropships that our esteemed Lyran friends have flown in on. All Arc-Royal personnel will vacate the ship immediatly. Lieutenant, if you will be insisting on keeping your sidearm, you will be restricted to a single round in the chamber."
The elementals that had escorted the two warriors moved to inform the Arc-Royal dropship of the Oathmaster's decision. Star Commander Nikolai removed his tunic, a look of disgust on his face. At some point, Mechwarrior Mikhael had walked slowly over to stand behind the Star Captain, who simply regarded the failed spy with a sneer and a look of contempt.
"Hm. Before we go on with this, clearly it's true; I don't understand clan ritual. As I have it, you challenge me, I pick the weapons, and if you want to underbid me, that's fine. What am I not getting here?"
The ICW Star Captain seemed somewhat exasperated with the Martyr.
"You opened the batchall by declaring your weapon. It is the other participant's right to choose a venue, however as he has underbid your position, it is my perview, as Oathmaster, to ensure the fight is as even as possible. As such, there will not be a fight in wide open ground, as I am sure you would prefer. Likewise, I shall not allow you a full clip to shoot your oponent from afar. Thus, the area is large, but not open. You are allowed to keep your weapon, but will have but a single shot of advantage. What is so difficult to understand? You have accepted the challenge, and unless you wish to admit your mistake, and ask the Star Commander for forgivness and accept his punishment, you have no recourse but to proceed."
"I believe I understand perfectly well. Tell me, Oathmaster, if I had elected to fight with my fists, would you have ordered the Star Commander to fight with one arm tied behind his back? An elemental is a formidable foe. Or had I bid a Fafnir and he a Stormcrow, would you have told me instead to fight in a Rifleman? The Star Commander chooses to bring his fists to a gunfight, and all credit to him if he can back up his claim. You dishonor his claim of prowess in electing to make this a "fair" fight - after all, has the Star Commander not just given us his opinion of fairness?"
"I will go along with your trial, as you decree it. And when I am finished with the Star Commander, I challenge you to a trial of grievance for your absurd meddling. You are a bitch's whelp, a pathetic accountant of odds who has no respect for the ethos of the warrior - if the Star Commander chooses not to address the insult that you have dealt him, I have enough respect for the man that I will deal your punishment in his place. He is a warrior, you a worm."
(edit: typo cleaning)
The Star Commander and Star Captain both seemed quite dumbfounded by this man's insults. He had not only insulted the Star Captain, but the whole of the Trial system! Does this man truly claim knowlege of our laws, and yet insults them at the same time?
The Star Captain was visibly enraged, but fought to restrain himself from attacking the man before him.
"Whatever the outcome of your Trial with the Star Commander, I will personally ensure that you suffer for uttering such as you have. You dare insult not only me, but the Founder's Dream? Insolent stravag FREEBIRTH!" He pointed to the dropship. "Go forth and fight. You are a fool to think you can defeat a single Clan warrior, let alone a second."
As the combatants walked twords the dropship, the Lieutenant could see the Star Captain conversing with one of the Elementals that had just returned from clearing the dropship.
Trial of Grievance: Star Commander Nikolai vs Lieutenant Weinburg
Round 1
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6+2 : 1, 4 + 2, total 7[/blockquote]
Round 2
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6+2 : 5, 2 + 2, total 9[/blockquote]
Round 3
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6+2 : 2, 5 + 2, total 9[/blockquote]
Round 4
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6+2 : 3, 2 + 2, total 7[/blockquote]
Round 5
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6+2 : 2, 5 + 2, total 9[/blockquote]
Round 6
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6+2 : 5, 4 + 2, total 11[/blockquote]
Round 7
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6+2 : 5, 2 + 2, total 9[/blockquote]
(OOC: Hold on. Before we resolve this as a standard HtH combat, shouldn't there be allowances made for the fact that Weinburg does have a gun, even if it's only one shot?)
((OOC: take a +1 on your first roll? There really are no rules for having a weapon, so it would be a special scenario that we both have to agree too.))
ToG Rolls for the Redshirt LT:
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 6, 2, total 8[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 5, 4, total 9[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 1, 6, total 7[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 3, 2, total 5[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 6, 6, total 12[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 4, 6, total 10[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 2d6 : 4, 2, total 6[/blockquote]
CJF Elemental inflicts 2 Injury rolls:
[blockquote]Rolled 1d6 : 2, total 2[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d6 : 1, total 1[/blockquote]
As they stalked each other through the dropship's confines, the Martyr officer caught a glimpse of the Jade Falcon officer, the crack of his shot echoing deeply throughout the empty hull. There was a small splatter of blood on the bulkhead where the revolver had punched through some non-vital part of the Clanner's body.
Suddenly, from his left, Nikolai sprang at the Lieutenant, chopping his arm down and knocking the pistol from his opponent's hand. They grappled, but as strong as the Redshirt was, he was no match for the born and bred warrior. Pinning the Lyran's left arm to his chest, Nikolai freed his right arm and snapped it up and backwards, connecting with Weinburg's nose with a sickening crack. Hitting the nose again, he broke it completely, and blood flowed from the now dazed Arc-Royal officer.
Breaking free of the Star Commander, Weinburg managed to zero in on the Star Commander, and sent him sprawling with a strong kick to the midsection. Although merely dazed, Nikolai stayed on his back, all but asking the Lyran to step foreward, which he soon did. Once he was within the sweep of Nikolai's legs, the Elemental kicked the Lyran's legs from under him, causing the man to land hard on his back. Nikolai finished the fight by swiftly flipping from his belly to his back, bringing his left heel down hard on Weinburg's chest, where the telltale crack of broken ribs ended the fight.
Nikolai stood and allowed a MedTech to tend to the bleeding hold in his right shoulder. He had barely noticed, although now that his attention was called to it, it was quite painful. Accepting a pain-killer tab, he quickly went outside one the MedTech assured him it would not interfere with his combat status for more than a week: a clean through-and-through of the shoulder, magiclly bypassing major blood vessels and bones. He watched silently as the Lyran was wheeled away on a gurney, but walked over at the last minute and informed the man that he was now a bondsman of Clan Jade Falcon.
The Arc-Royal goons were then told unceremoniously that they had untill sunrise the next day to no longer 'infest the soil of Sudeten with their presence."
***********************************
The next morning, local and regional news agencies reported a story that a diplomatic mission from Arc Royal had arrived on Sudeten bearing ill-news for the relativly new alliance betwen Clan Jade Falcon and the Arc-Royal faction of the Lyran Commonwealth. It was reported that there was a structual defect in the dropship's fusion bottle, as it exploded mere kilometers from the spaceport, before even being able to exit the planet's atmosphere. A Clan technician expressed that such things happened, and if the Inner Sphere enginneers took greater care in tending to their machines, such accidents would almost never happen.
When asked for the crew manifests, a single name was unlisted, and upon further investigation, it seems the missing crewman was taken as a Bondsman in a Trial of Grievance the previous day, listed as Critical-Stable in the Falcon's military hopsital. No other comments were forthcoming.