BattleTech: Riptides: (The Mercenary Tales, #1) by Randall N. Bills

Author:Randall N. Bills
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2023-01-12T05:00:00+00:00

MULE-CLASS DROPSHIP JOTUNN

NEAR ORBIT, KAFR SILIM

CAPELLAN MARCH

FEDERATED SUNS

17 JUNE 3151

The short, dark-haired woman moved easily in zero gravity as she entered the Jotunn’s large conference room.

Ya’el had originally considered bringing the Jormungandr down into orbit. But regardless of the reputation of the Sea Foxes, bringing a WarShip—even one converted to merchant use—into near orbit of the mercenary’s planet would be a cause for concern he did not mean to elicit. Instead, he’d secured a DropShip, parked himself in orbit and broadcast an invite to one woman, Colonel Luciana Araya Morales.

It was, as he’d thought many months ago at the start of this journey, the boldest move of his career. Now we shall see if the dice land in my favor.

“SaKhan Labov,” Luciana said in a clear, strong voice as she and her security retinue entered, dress uniforms resplendent in orange and red striping that matched their logos. Her voice was firm and crisp, along with her eyes. Confusion and hunger warred with equal measure. A tension he didn’t realize was present eased from his stomach. Maybe, just maybe, she was the correct choice.

“Aff,” he replied, standing from his position at the table, gesturing with his arm for her to take a seat.

Luciana glanced back at both men, who secured the hatch entrance with alacrity, then eased forward, sliding into the chair and securing the seat belt that would keep her from floating off. He followed suit.

“You seem to have me at a disadvantage,” Luciana said. “I only know your name from the message you broadcast to this world. But you broadcast it to me directly. I’m assuming you know far more about me than I do you.”

“Aff,” he responded again, leaving it to her to broach the topic. Do you have the drive I need?

The silence stretched as they matched gazes, her ponytail wafting lazily in the zero-g. Just about…now. The silence stretched a good ten more seconds before she opened her mouth. Despite the reputation of a fiery temper, you do have patience when needed. Excellent.

“If we’re just going to stare into each other’s eyes the entire time I’m here, I hope you’ll buy me dinner first?”

Ya’el smiled easily at her attempt to lighten the situation. “Just gauging if you have the patience to see through what I can offer you. Not many would.”

She stiffened at the barb, as he knew she would. “You know nothing about me. We’ve never met. Yet you’re gonna lecture me? I get enough of that from others in my own command. I don’t need the vaunted Foxes to deign to stoop to my level.”

Despite the acerbic words, she kept still, and he couldn’t help letting his smile grow larger, which only darkened her glower. Fiery, and yet still, a core of patience. But she shoots straight. No dissembling here. To the heart of it.

“I do believe I know you, after the months of devouring every bit of data I could find. I know you are blamed for the failure on New Syrtis. I

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