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The room snapped to, as General Aylward walked into the room. He stopped, turned to the face the group and paused, looking from pilot to pilot. His glance was returned evenly, every pilot steadily met his gaze, though some nodded to acknowledge his attention.
“At ease”, he said and the room went to parade rest.
“First, to put the rumors to rest, it is true. We’ve had a call from House Steiner for assistance. Clan Jade Falcon has pushed in all across their front. Steiner is asking for some mutual assistance units and for us to honor the Davion-Steiner alliance.”
As the general paused a voice from the back shouted “Glass falcon, sir!”.
The room erupted in laughter.
Half a smile on the general’s face, he said, “Maybe. We’re going to find out for sure”.
“As you know, we have pretty much had our way with the other inner sphere houses; Marik, Liao, and Kurita have not offered much of a fight and planets across the borders with those houses carry the HeadHunters tag. This fight will be a different animal.”
“We’ve all dropped against clan mechs. They can be handful. But I feel, no, I know, that our pilots are up to the task. And we won’t be going alone. A few other Davion loyalist units will be along for the ride, but it will be the HeadHunters leading the charge. The code name for this action: Operation Galahad”
Suddenly, Termite, the command sergeant major intoned,
“Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.”
General Aylward nodded as he recognized the stanza from the old Terran poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade.
“Aye, but this is no headlong, reckless charge due to some miscommunication. This counter-attack will be scouted, well coordinated, and with the best intel both Houses have to offer.”
He paused.
“I like our chances”.
The general turned his gaze to the company commanders. “Gentlemen, Steiner dropships will arrive at tomorrow at 1400 hours. Have your pilots ready to mount up. If you have any unfinished business you better handle it tonight, we leave for Steiner space tomorrow.”
The general nodded to the command sergeant major.
“Ten hut!” Termite barked. The room once more snapped to. The general gave the room a final glance, simply stating, “Carry on”, and strode from the room.
Edited by Angm4r, 21 June 2016 - 10:59 AM.
