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[quote=@Waylon]Arriving at the entrance, Hugh placed the Mason jar visibly at his feet then put his hands up in the air. [color=fff200]“Hello? Anyone home?”[/color] the Espian called out. [color=fff200]“I'm looking to buy some of this fine moonshine right here, heard you people happen to be making some.”[/color]
[/quote]

The response from the Green Knights wasn't long in coming.

Nearly as soon as the echo of Hugh's voice began to fade, a pair of flashlights shined from a hundred meters are so into the mine. Approaching the Espian man at a cautious but deliberate pace, two sentries emerged from the shadows, each with a TK Assault Rifle pointed at Hugh's center mass.

[color=LimeGreen]"Keep your hands where we can see 'em,"[/color] one of the two soldiers ordered, then glanced over to his comrade. [color=LimeGreen]"Search him."[/color]

While the first soldier kept his weapon trained on Hugh, the second patted him down. The search was quick but thorough, with little regard for privacy.

[color=MediumAquamarine]"No weapons, no explosives, no wire, no tracking devices,"[/color] the second sentry reported back to the first. [color=MediumAquamarine]"Looks clean to me."[/color]

[color=LimeGreen]"Better safe than sorry,"[/color] the first one said, lowering his rifle, and producing a pair of zip-ties from the pockets on his flak jacket. [color=LimeGreen]"Let's keep him here for now, til the Sarge gets here."[/color]

The sentries tied Hugh's hands behind his back, and radioed the situation in.

A few tense minutes passed as the two soldiers waited, not entirely sure what to do with the intruder. While he didn't seem to pose an immediate threat, a stranger walking up to their front door was hardly something the Green Knights could afford. If one apparently random civilian knew the location of their hideout, how many more had found out? And what might they have to do to keep this newcomer from spreading the knowledge around?

The guards felt a wave of relief when they saw a second team of soldiers advancing up the mine, armed with shotguns rather than rifles. The Buckshot Boys arriving on the scene meant the Sarge wasn't far behind, and whatever hard decision had to be made here, was no longer their responsibility. Indeed, the solid, swaggering frame of Sergeant Dalton was distinct even in silhouette as the muscular old man approached.

[color=SandyBrown]"I don't know who you are, son,"[/color] the Sarge growled, [color=SandyBrown]"But you've either got a hollow brain-case, or a pair of [i]Union[/i]-Classes swingin' between your legs, to walk up and call out the--"[/color]

His eye caught the empty mason jar, and slowly, a grin crept across Dalton's face.

[color=SandyBrown]"Then again, maybe you've got the right idea,"[/color] he said. He turned away and began to saunter back down the mine, motioning for Hugh and the Buckshot Boys to follow him. [color=SandyBrown]"I was told you'd like to do some business. Well, let's have us a word with the manager..."[/color]

[hr]


[color=Olive]"Green Knights, fall in!"[/color] The Colonel bellowed, his voice carrying throughout the cavern to announce the beginning of debriefing. Most of the Knights were already present, but the final few trickled in before he began.

[color=Olive]"First and foremost,"[/color] he began, [color=Olive]"I'd like to say congratulations on completing the mission. Chief Aadil has informed me that the haul you secured will provide us with enough potable water to sustain us for the next four months, and enough rations to last another two. We've also secured enough ammunition and armor plating to run at least three more sorties, more if you practice good trigger discipline. And the Chief tells me that he's sending out a salvage team tonight to recover parts from the enemy [i]Raven[/i] you downed. We're still on a ticking clock, but today's raid has set that clock back a good way."[/color]

As he paced, he saw the looks on the Knights' faces. Some of them were harrowed from the experience, others had a look of guilt about them. The mission was indeed a success, but a costly one, as four of the volunteers had been killed by the Crimson Fists' lance leader, the one who called themselves 'Fire Witch.'

[color=Olive]"I know it wasn't a clean victory,"[/color] he began, addressing the unspoken concern. [color=Olive]"That's something we'll rarely get to see, if ever. The four we lost were volunteers; they knew the risk of the mission when they stepped forward, and they were willing to risk their lives to make sure the Knights survive. It's on us now to make sure that sacrifice meant something. We'll mourn the dead when we have the luxury of time to do so."

"We had no way of knowing the Crimson Fists had a [i]Longbow[/i] in their ranks. That changed the situation drastically, and you had to make do with the new circumstances. Generally, you comported yourselves well....generally."[/color]

There was an accusatory silence in the air before the Colonel began again.

[color=Olive]"Now, onto the breakdown of what I saw on your BattleROM footage,"[/color] he continued. [color=Olive]"Use of the ECM field proved to be a double-edged sword. While it kept us hidden from the enemy, it also meant we couldn't see them coming until they were right on us. It's also a good bet that the Fists and the Espian Guards will tighten their security and focus on this general area, so it's unlikely that the same trick will work twice. Speaking of not working twice, judging from their tactics, the Crimson Fists seemed to fall for the common blind spot Mechwarriors often have towards conventional combat vehicles, allowing Merry-Go-Round to deal some impressive damage. It's very unlikely that they'll ignore the Von Luckner a second time."

"Ramrod,"[/color] the Colonel addressed the Lance Leader, [color=Olive]"You made the right call in ordering focus-fire on the enemy [i]Raven,[/i] and in ordering the general withdrawal after it went down. Had you chosen to fight it out, it's likely you would have dropped the other two light 'Mechs and possibly even brought down the [i]Longbow[/i], but only after it had killed Alley Cat, more trucks from the convoy, and likely yourself. I'm pleased with what I saw out there."[/color]

[color=Olive]"Giggles, Desperado,"[/color] he turned, his attention now on the pilots of the [i]Archer[/i] and [i]Phoenix Hawk[/i], [color=Olive]"drawing the [i]Longbow's[/i] fire away from the convoy was a good move, but it's not something I want to see you making a habit out of. The [i]Archer[/i] isn't armored for front-line work, and the [i]Phoenix Hawk[/i]'s survivability relies on [i]not[/i] getting hit. We were lucky the [i]Longbow[/i] was splitting its fire rather than giving either of you the full volley. Supporting your lancemates is good, just make sure you stay alive to [i]keep[/i] supporting them."[/color]

[color=Olive]"Family Man...."[/color] he said, not looking at Rivers as a long silence again filled the chamber, [color=Olive]"....we'll talk after debriefing is done."[/color]

[color=Olive]"Alley Cat,"[/color] Colonel Wayne moved on, turning to the wounded [i]Raven[/i] pilot, [color=Olive]"You had the right idea in staying close to the convoy, and in hitting your opposite number with the Narc Beacon. However, next time I--"[/color]

[color=SandyBrown]"Sir, Colonel Wayne, sir!"[/color] the sharp, explosive bark of Sergeant Dalton cut in with the tone he only ever used to speak to his one superior officer, and even then only in urgent situations. [color=SandyBrown]"We have an intruder, sir!"[/color]

There were murmurs as the Buckshot Boys led the newcomer at gunpoint toward the Mobile HQ. Some began following the soldiers, others drawing weapons themselves. Colonel Wayne held up a hand to call the chaos within the cavern to order.

[color=Olive]"Where'd you find him, Sergeant?"[/color] he asked Dalton, giving the intruder an appraising look.

[color=SandyBrown]"Sir, at the front entrance, sir,"[/color] the Sergeant answered. [color=SandyBrown]"He made his presence known, and put up no resistance, sir."[/color]

[color=Olive]"Armed?"[/color]

[color=SandyBrown]"Sir, only with this, sir,"[/color] Dalton responded, holding up the empty mason jar.

Colonel Wayne inspected the jar of moonshine, saw the Green Knights label on it, and gave a dry chuckle. [color=Olive]"Well, at the very least, he's got good taste in drinks. Cut him loose."[/color]

The Sarge nodded, and the two soldiers flanking the newcomer quickly cut the zip-ties from behind his back.

[color=Olive]"Now then,"[/color] the Colonel said, the other Green Knights also turning to face the man, [color=Olive]"I believe some introductions are in order. Maybe you'd like to start with exactly who you are and how you found us..."[/color]