BattleTech Legends by Randall N. Bills

Author:Randall N. Bills
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2011-04-19T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Caunta

New Circe, Yamarovka

Irece Prefecture, Draconis Combine

15 September 3062

Seated in the back corner of this drinking hole whose exterior sign identified it only as a “bar” in crimson Japanese kanji letters, Chu-sa Palmer Yoshio sipped calmly at his sake. His was the only singly occupied table in the place, illuminated only by the flashing lights of an antiquated jukebox. The other two rickety tables were crowded in front of him, almost blocking access to his table. The bar ran the length of the right wall and two billiard tables occupied the left. Seated at the lit bar were two other fugitives from this night. Both were already far gone in their drinking.

Yoshio wondered once again why his contact had chosen this rat hole for a meeting. It went without saying that they required a discreet location, but a Combine officer showing up in a place like this would be impossible to miss. Even dressed in nondescript clothing, he felt conspicuous. If questioned, he could say that he was out slumming. Looking to get roaring drunk. He only wished he could get drunk! Tonight’s meeting, combined with what had happened earlier today, made him wish he could follow the bar’s other two patrons into oblivion.

That morning he had merely inquire how Zane had fared after the destruction of his Jenner in yesterday’s live-fire exercise. The warrior had lashed out with a fury that was becoming legendary among the Combine warriors. Could Zane not see that he poisoned Yoshio’s men against him with such actions? Then again, maybe that was precisely Zane’s intention. Yoshio had come to know many things about the young warrior in the weeks since they had met. One of them was that he nursed a pure hatred for the Inner Sphere and what he considered the corruption of his Clan in becoming part of it.

Taking another sip, Yoshio could not help a half-smile. He and Zane were much alike, despite their circumstances. Zane knew it, too, and it bothered him. It was ironic that both of them were driven by the same shame; Yoshio believed that the Combine had been sullied too. The Coordinator had sold his own son into bondage to gain maneuvering room. To have given him up for such a small price was monstrous.

As he set the small porcelain cup on the table, another similarity occurred to him. Zane had declared that he would personally try to redirect the course of his Clan back to their traditional ways. Just as Yoshio, a member of the Black Dragons, had vowed to do for the Combine. He felt a tug of empathy for Zane.

He looked up as the door opened, letting in a rush of cold air as two men entered. Both were pure Japanese and dressed in civilian clothes. They quickly scanned the bartender and patrons, evaluating their threat level. This, combined with their self-assured movements, spoke of military training. Not surprisingly, Yoshio had never seen either of them before. They walked over to Yoshio’s table.

“Komban wa,” the first one said softly, politely waiting for an invitation to sit.

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