01: To Grow and Learn, As a Bondsman Becomes a Brigadier

[gurrenbrigbonded]

[1]

Matthew should be happy. He has risen from the status of bondsman to become a Mechwarrior again, proven himself to his new clan in combat twice, and acquired many potent (well, zany) comrades and allies. His star is truly on the rise, even more so because the Gurren Brigade is a small group.

And yet, he finds himself troubled: by moral quandaries, elaborate philosophical dilemmas, the conflict between the traditions he came from and the urgings of his heart.

More immediately, though, he is troubled by his Nova, which is...wrecked. An arm blasted off, the armor is pitted and cored, and the gyro system half near pretty much melted.

He notices certain techs in the hangar bay glaring at him.

"Ah..."

[2]

Matthew has organized a discussion group in one of the lounges, for a very specific group of people: former Jade Falcon Clansmen taken as bondsmen. The topics on discussion are varied: how people are settling in, what interesting things have happened, gossip about the more infamous members of the Chalice...and culture shock, of course. The massive culture shock. And the shouting of attack names: what's with that?

There are refreshments of course. And booze. And cookies.

Matthew chats with a few fellow former Falconers. He really perks up, however, when Trothkin from his former Star show up.

[I figured this would be a good way to develop plot related to all the Clanner shenanigans, as well as explore characters both pc and npc. Anyone who has/is connected somehow to a bondsman, feel free to come over. And everyone else, too. There are cookies.]

[3]

Matthew walks down the hallway, whistling a merry tune.

Then he stumbles midstep, his eyes widening as he realizes the awful truth.

"I...I uttered a contraction in the midst of battle!" He cries out.

Comments

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew has gone through many trials and tribulations that have indeed challenged his certainty. His leader, the Invincible and Foolish Kamina, who has dared him to fight for his own justice, live according to his own codes. Simon, who has shown that courage and strength can arise from the most unlikely of places. Raynor Joz, so like the heroes of myth. And Joshua, who passionate intellect has unsettled Matthew in many ways–

"Aff!" He says, clenching his fist. "The coming of the Crusader Clans in force shall surely purify Terra of all it's dross!"

Oh right. Peer pressure.

[hominilupusinexilio]

"Why wait for them to come? I tell you this true and in confidence, trothkin. When I was captured, Beta Galaxy was almost all Crusader. Even the...us Wolves can be persuaded to Kerensky's true vision. It was plain to see Ulric Kerensky intended to grind the Crusader elements of both Clans against each other and into dust. Yet Ranna seems quite reasonable."

Tynall hasn't experienced nearly so many new things. Despite being a bondsman, her captors are clanners themselves, so she hasn't had much exposure to other ways of living yet.

"And if we are very lucky, her sibkin will show up."

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Her sibkin–"

Matthew gets your jibe.

"You mean Khan Vladmir Ward, quiaff? I made inquiries, and it seems that Star Captain Ranna is not yet aware of his new position."

[Am I off chronology-wise?]

[hominilupusinexilio]

"Aff. If he arrives on Terra, he will undoubtedly persuade his trothkin of the rightness of the Crusader cause. The Wolf will be whole again." She said, giving voice to every BT Clan player's impossible dream.

[Nope, you're at the right spot. Ranna just doesn't care.]

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"One can only hope." Matthew replies.

He frowns.

"To tell the truth, I am troubled in one respect regarding the upcoming conquest of Terra."

[hominilupusinexilio]

"What could possibly go wrong? We are not on Tukayyid." She doesn't look too concerned, with her smug smile. From her perspective, Earth is ridiculously vulnerable.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Neg. We have no Com Guard to worry about, at least." Matthew says with a smile.

"But we were hampered on Tukayyid, as I understand it, because the Com Guard deceitfully used tactics and made preparations that we could not account for...creating problems that we did not expect."

Matthew does not speak of the emotional issues of having to fight good people on the opposite side who could be friends. Not very Clan-like.

Instead he pulls out a tablet, and calls up a video file.

"The first time I sortied with the Gurren Brigade, I fought to defend the Chalice from these...things."

He presses a button, and a Gun cam video from his Nova plays, showing him leveling his lasers and opening fire at several targets. Golden statuesque beings fly about in the distance, summoning forth holes in space that curve projectiles and beams.

And Infected Mechs, unholy fusions of flesh and machine, advance upon Matthew's position, gibbering and bleeding, and flagellating and all those other disturbing things.