Assembled in the briefing room or whatever it was, might as well have been a storage room before, was where Karel got the first good look at his comrades-to-be. A full two lances by the looks of it. A couple of experienced-looking ones, two baby-faced ones… and a biker? The first thing about this command that looked ‘middle of the road’ instead of screaming ‘cobbled together’. These people were clearly external like him, if the recruiter and doctor were any indication of the Rasalhagenaar locals. Surely not, though.

Surely yes, if the first few minutes of the commander’s presence were anything to go by. At Ulrik’s ‘Commander or Sir’ a sigh like an unspoken [i][color=#61FF00]’Fuck’s sake…’[/color][/i] escaped Karel’s mouth. There may have been a hint of silver lining in his words, but nonetheless the first impression of his new boss being that of one who needed people to know he was in charge did no favors to the mood. Karel briefly entertained the thought of reaching into his bag and placing two bottles on the table at Ulrik’s ‘couple beers with me’ bit, but sticking out like that on day one when Mäkinen could still offload him without any logistical issues was not worth the laugh. He let the talk of fat paychecks and retiring go in one ear and out the other, having heard a similar spiel at least twice before already.

Karel sat through the briefing slouched comfortably in his chair in silence, noting down as much as he could manage. Why bother remembering something if all you have to remember is where to find that information? Effectively a search-and-destroy against an inferior or equal hostile force, potentially assaulting enemy fortifications, no allied support. It could have been worse, at least they were not expected to protect some soft target, but he’d pass definitive judgment once he knew what equipment they’ve been given. When Ulrik opened the floor, Karel took a breath to say something but stopped, trying to unpack what the mop-headed one just said for a few seconds before electing to ignore it and move on. [color=#61FF00]”What’s scaring them off good for? They’ll just be back later and we’ll miss out on salvage.”[/color] Having seen financial issues fold a company first hand, that was the first thing that came to his mind. [color=#61FF00]”And since when are pirates granted any protections?”[/color] The thought of a forewarned enemy was not a pleasant one. He’d been fortunate enough to avoid the massacre at Wyatt, where the Eleventh Lyran Guards tore up the 25th Marik Militia as soon as they materialized at the jump point, though several of his classmates from the Allison MechWarrior Institute weren’t that lucky. [color=#61FF00]”Locusts and Cicadas you say. What are we working with and does it also predate myomer like this thing?”[/color] Karel gestured around himself to indicate the pile of ship. [color=#61FF00]”And what sort of travel time are we looking at?”[/color]