How The Star Captain Got His Groove Back: Part Two

[hominilupusinexilio]

[1
Pine Forest
Siberia]

In a straight up duel between mechs, Resnick was like a fish in water. And speaking of fish in water, he was firing a live shark from the stubby barrel mounted on his mech's left hand, downwards onto the cockpit of a squat Linebacker. He'd used his inferno missiles to corner the laser-heavy mech then jumped in to deliver the coup de grace at point blank range.

He clicked on his comm, asked the other mechwarrior if he wished to surrender as the vicious and improbable fish chewed through his cockpit glasstic with relish. He received several enthusiastic 'aff's in reply so he angled the other arm and bisected the poor creature with one of his lasers. Even so, its head continued horribly chewing and the other mechwarrior had to eject, though she survived with only minor burns. From the distance came the whine and chop of firefighting VTOLs.

[2
White Chalice hangar]

In a space cleared in the hangar, a group of Wolf warriors watch as Loremaster Daphne Vickers approaches. She has the strong jaw of the Vickers line too and a confident bearing. Resnick is wearing the Wolf ceremonial mask, not strictly a requirement for this but fitting with his instinct for dramatic presentation. He is kneeling.

"The wisdom of Kerensky has been made clear. The bloodname of Vickers is awarded to Star Captain Resnick. This decision shall bind us until we all shall fall. Seyla."

"Seyla." echo the other Wolves and he rises and removes the mask/helm, to greet those who've come to the ceremony. He's back in action.

[3: Network]

Greetings, Chalice. I have an announcement. As of today, I have won my bloodname. This ensures me a place on the Clan Council, and more importantly, guarantees the use of my genes in the Clan breeding program for the Warrior Caste. You may address me now as Resnick Vickers.

She seems to have picked up the Spheroid bent towards humility, so I think I must reveal this to you as well: Star Captain Ranna has also earned a bloodname, that of Kerensky. This is the most prestigious bloodname possible in the Clans, as it descends direct from our founder, Nikolas Kerensky himself.

[4: The Bar (does it even have a name?)]

And in celebration, there's a rip roaring good time had, with overflowing cups of dark ale, toasts, and the potential for alcohol poisoning. Resnick is seated at the center of the gathering like a king. He raises his mug in salute as he notices you.

Comments

Re: 4

[hominilupusinexilio]

He grins the most shit eating grin and takes a pull of it. It burns but good.

"And I shall strive even harder to maintain my lead. Two bloodnames in a week, and one of them a Kerensky. Quite a lot for one vessel, quiaff?"

But that's the Chalice's stock in trade.

Re: 4

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff."

Matthew sips at a drink of his own, grinning a infuriating grin of his own.

"But do not grow complacent, Resnick Vickers, lest you find yourself outmatched suddenly in the field of honor...and in the field of dancing!"

[hominilupusinexilio]

Dangerous levels of smug in the atmosphere there.

"The Terrans have a custom called the Dance Battle. It is quite clanlike." Which means it's good! "I think you will find it entertaining. So you have heard Kids Munt is dead, quiaff?"

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew, cheeks slightly flushed raises his glass in a toast.

"And may his rotten bones moulder! With him, let the tyranny inflicted upon the Siberian continent crumble and a better world come forth!"

[hominilupusinexilio]

"Aff. Now if only we could do something about that savashri Blakist slander..." He frowns as he thinks about the only dark cloud on the horizon.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"The solution is to hunt down Captain Waco and his dezgra Rangers and annihilate them, hanging the shattered rubble of their mechs from a cliff to show the world the price of slandering the honor of the Clans!" Matthew snarls, slamming a fist onto the bar counter.

[hominilupusinexilio]

He claps his shouty comrade/rival on the back.

"Would that it were that easy! These surats run and hide like Rasalhaque guerillas. To kill them we need...intelligence. When you arrived here, were any of your Clan's Watch with you?"

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"...Neg." Matthew admits grumpily. "The Gurren Brigade also currently lacks intelligence assets."

[hominilupusinexilio]

"It accrues little honor but you will need it. All must work for the benefit of the Clan, even those who are too old for other duties, quiaff?"

That's about as liberal as he gets. He doesn't like having to use intelligence assets either, but he likes the possibility of getting stabbed in the back even less.