12: Allies become Foes, while Soldiers learn Mercy and Stabbings are Faked

[gurrenbrigbonded]

[1] (Locked to everyone who tried to rescue Matthew during "Different Faces of Warfare". And Ryou.)

You get a video message from Matthew soon after returning to the White Chalice. He's still wearing his armored cooling vest, stained at the front with green fluid, the hilt of the knife he used to fake stab himself still poking out of it. He looks cross.


"That was extremely reckless of you all." He scolds. "This time the enemy was bluffing and toying with us: next time we may not be so lucky! Trying to save both civilians and fellow soldiers in imminent danger divides your efforts, and can get them both killed!"

He folds his arms stubbornly. "As soldiers, you must always place the lives of innocents above yours, and even the lives of your comrades! That is what fighting to protect the earth means! Remember that!"

Suddenly, his serious face gives way to a smile, and he nods briefly. "And...thank you for saving me."


[2]

You see Matthew lounging in one of the White Chalice's portside lodges, gazing up at the sky. Very soon, the Jade Falcon invasion fleet will be braking into orbit, and the Chalice will go to war to protect the Earth against his former Clan.

He sighs. "Simon...where are you now? And what would you do in my shoes?"

He pauses. "Actually, I can guess exactly what you would do."

[3]

You stumble upon Matthew, in the simulator room, training his butt off! He's putting his modified Nova through a set of scenarios in space, inside a ship's hanger bay, and on land, fighting against a variety of Clanner Mechs. It looks like he's...trying to disable them? He's concentrating laser fire at their arms and legs, blowing them off at their joints.

Join in? Interject? Comment? Observe?

Comments

1

[space_macgyver]

Look who's talking! You really scared me out there!

Re: 1

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"I was trying to dissuade you all from prioritizing my life above the civilian refugees, and trick that Kairos Aspida operative into terminating his little 'game' early!" Matthew replies hotly.

"I was ready and willing to die to ensure the safety of non-combatents...I just happened to realize that faking one's death is easier when trapped in a forcefield that obscures vision and active scanners."

He pouts. "And yet...you tried to save my life anyway. Was my faked death that obvious?"

[space_macgyver]

You don't die immediately from stabbing like that! So I wanted to get you free and find some doctor to patch you up, you know.

But, you see Matthew - it's not my style to make a difficult choice when I see other options. I'll always try to save everyone. Maybe I'll fail, but at least I'll try.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"That makes no logical sense! By trying to save everyone, you risked the possibility of failing completely and saving no one! That's...!"

Matthew's voice trails off, and then he chuckles.

"...that's exactly what Simon would have done."

He salutes you over the video comm. "Keep striving to save everyone, Lowe Gear. With all your strength."

He then frowns, and looks at his vest, knife still sticking out of the gash in it. "On a side note: as a Junk Guild member, do you happen to know how to repair tears in cooling vests?"

1

[zaku_for_xmas]

"But..but..." Bernie was still surprised that Mattie faked his death, "We were scared! What good are we if we can't help everyone promptly?"

Mattie?

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew is taken aback somewhat at your display of passion.

"Mechwarrior Bernie..."

He averts his gaze. "...I felt exactly the same way you do now. That is why I tried to fake my death. So you could focus on saving the civilians without any hesitation!"

A look of incredulity runs across his face. "And yet you tried to save me and the civilians anyway."

Re: Mattie?

[zaku_for_xmas]

"S...sorry."

Re: Mattie?

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Neg, neg!" Matthew says, holding up his hands. "It was nobly done! I admire the courage and conviction you showed in trying to save everyone!"

He struggles words to express his thoughts.

"It is just...even after a year on Terra, I am still getting used to the way the Chalice does things. Back in my former Clan, if a enemy took one of our own hostage, we would have sacrificed them in a heartbeat rather than give in to any demands."

3

[whitedevilbot]

...Guess you're going through what Loran does half the time.

[Amuro's face appears as a pop up in the side of Matthew's cockpit. Amuro had been watching the simulation for a while now, and finally pieced together what was going on.]

Re: 3

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff...I have come to sympathize with Loran's plight more and more in recent days." Matthew agrees sheepishly, backing away from an incoming Summoner-class mech in the simulation and walking behind a hill.

He grows thoughtful. "My former comrades will not hesitate to go for the killing blow. They will most certainly not be grateful for any mercy I show them in combat. A Jade Falcon warrior I hold back against could wound or even kill allies later on."

He exhales, and makes eye contact with your pop-up comm image. "By fighting solely to disable, I would endanger the lives of my friends on the White Chalice, quiaff?"

Re: 3

[whitedevilbot]

That depends on your aim.

[Amuro's had a similar talk about this with Loran before, time to see if he can remember the gist of what he said that time...]

Its not wrong to be put off by the idea of taking another's life. Whether because of its intrinsic value, the lives you're taking were once allies... or if you just don't want to see anyone else die that day.

[Amuro pauses himself, flashes of the asteroid's destruction in his eyes. That... yeah...]

Re: 3

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew nods energetically.

"I have come to agree with that ethos. And...that is why I am doing this." He concludes quietly. If he notices Amuro's haunted look, he doesn't mention it.

He gestures from inside the Simulator. "If I can hone my aim, just as you said...then perhaps I can take down Jade Falcon units nearly as quickly as I would with killing blows. If I have to kill to win I will, but with the right technique, more moments will come where I can choose life over death."

Popping his Nova out of the simulated cover, he snipes the Summoner's damaged arm off, disabling it's particle cannon.

"On a related note, you happen to be an expert with remote Funnel weapons, quiaff? Would you have any advice for someone using wire guided versions?"

3

[rolla_up]

[Well this is new and exciting, Loran's face will probably pop up after a bit of inspection when you get a breather]

You seem...pretty into disabling them.

Re: 3

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew wipes his face with a towel as he gets out of the Simulator, and shrugs to himself.

"I am under no illusions, Warrior Loran Cehack. I will not be able to safely incapacitate all of them, not if I want to protect the Earth and my comrades."

He stares off into space for a moment. "But if I can hone my aim and reflexes well enough, then just maybe..."

His voice trails off.

Re: 3

[rolla_up]

You know, I'm the last person you have to explain anything to. I get it.

You have to protect everyone, but you're torn over the enemy.

Re: 3

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew nods, saying nothing for a few moments.

'When the Moonrace started attacking earth..." He finally blurts out. "...when you realized that your own people were doing the wrong thing, what did you feel in that moment?"

2

[whats_a_paladin]

Fighting against old friends is never easy...

Re: 2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Neg." Matthew agrees.

He smiles briefly. "Heh. I never really thought about the possibility of fighting my former Clan until recently. I always..."

He pauses to get his thoughts in order. "...assumed something else would happen. That Clan Jade Falcon would wind up overthrowing a despotic nation that richly deserved it. That we would open a dialogue with them and reach an understanding. That they would quickly realize that world beset by so many dangers, and protected by so many noble heroes, does not need to be conquered for it's own good."

He looks up from his lap and meets your eyes. "You have always been wise, my friend, and your heart has always guided you down the right path. Tell me...how should I fight my former kin?"

[whats_a_paladin]

Reality often turns out to be different from our expectations. Much more complicated.

This is not the first time we're fighting enemies who are just misguided, is it? And Mechs are slower and heavier armored than normal Mobile Suits. Just disabling them without completely destroying them shouldn't be that hard. And maybe you can reach towards Clan Jade Falcon during this fight and show them their error.

2

[hobo_lantern]

Hey mechwarrior. I heard you were dead.

Re: 2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew rubs the bridge of his nose at this remark.

"I am never going to live that down, am I?" He remarks. "Aff. Let us simply say that in the heat of battle...I greatly exaggerated rumors of my death."

He looks up at you. "Do you know the details of the matter?"

Re: 2

[hobo_lantern]

No I don't. In fact, that's what I wanted to ask you now! What actually happened?

2

[littleshortforanelemental]

Nikolai grins and claps Matthew on the shoulder. He's heard the rest of it through the rumor mill.

"Not to worry. You are new to the practice of deception. It will become easier with practice."

That he was willing to even try though was testament that he'd come home a long way from the rigid Jade Falcon mindset.

Re: 2

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"That phrase somehow does not seem comforting coming from you..." Matthew declares, slightly suspicious.

"Is the act of playing possum a trick you Scorpions are more familiar with?"

[littleshortforanelemental]

"I have never had to play dead. But I did spend a decade in the Periphery as a Seeker, where I could not simply challenge the locals to a Trial of Possession for the artifacts I sought, quineg?"

The Scorpions didn't have to pretend to be weak. Quite the opposite.