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Chapter 11

Alaric Wolf took the Clan Wolf forces to Steiner space to reinforce the defenses there while getting prepared to lash out at any attack made by the Falcons or Hells Horses. The prancy little Spirit Cats had popped their own proverbial wood at psychic cats, which as smart, possibly helpful, and interesting as they were...he didn't like someone in his head. Which meant he had a giggling feline on his ship...somewhere, considering the felines were the only ones small enough to handle some of the spaces...he'd had his crews allow them access to work on things.

He had a jump-ship getting refit and a full load for it in drop-ships getting refit as well above Skye, a planet that had become a very scary place to someone picking a fight. Some of the orbital weapons were larger than an Atlas, he'd gotten glimpses of them before he and his people had been transferred to loaned ships, he was still unnerved feeling normal gravity in space. That gravity had allowed all of the vehicles, equipment, and supplies to be transferred to the refit drop-ships and Wolfin craft being loaned to his people. It had been part of the extensive agreement he and many of his underlings had signed, along with many non warriors. Anastasia Kerensky had dropped her clan ways for the most part and taken up with the Wolfin as a General, something that had shocked many at the time.

Though after the news of what was coming, devout clan ways or not...this was going to be about survival and adapting. Time was not on their side now and after a few meetings with his warriors and highest of the tech and labor castes, he'd managed to get the point across that times were changing and it was either adapt or die. His people had also gotten their own personal horror show thanks to the crew of the Mind Spike and knew what was coming. So no he was watching the universe move around outside of the newly built Terran assault frigate, It wasn't as stout as a Wolfin ship, but Alaric could tell as he walked it's halls that it had been designed by humans. The rather spartan designed ship had 3 things humans loved. It had heavy armor, heavy weapons, and enough thrust to break every bone in the human body easily. Wolfin gravity tech with Terran stubbornness meant that this ship could keep it's crew from feeling 15 of the 18 gravities of thrust it could put out from it's main drives. The armors and suits that every person wore helped lower the stress more, but things would still need to be lashed down and everyone locked in a seat in a fight.

His his warriors were now working closely with those who had been with the Wolfin for two years, Terran and Wolfin alike working and moving through the ships checking them over and moving like part of the machine. There had been a few arguments, but his warriors had also watched one of his warriors get into a scuffle with a tech over his machine. Alaric had luckily been able to reassign the machine to another warrior after the pilot had his arms and legs shattered by a tech, luckily there hadn't been brain damage. Another had touched Tara Bishop's feline Whiskey...and died a horrible death. He had heard the term of ripping off a limb and beating someone with it, he'd never expected to see it. He'd also not liked the migraine he and several of his people had gotten when they got too close to the woman and feline. He was getting used to the Wolfin and Felines, but he could understand the fear many were using to turn people to hating them. Fear was a powerful weapon, the only problem for the Falcons was that Malvina Hazens tactics on the Wolfin had the same effect as flicking a male Ghost Bear's testicles.

((((((((((

Speaking of Ghost Bears. Isis Bekker had had strange times, battling for her life, having to sit back and watch as others fought against the Draconis Combine for the world. Having her clan coming at her new home like a tide only to watch them fall back into the Dominion. She'd been asked to come to a meeting with the military and industrial leaders along with the Governor. She'd heard that a ship had landed the night before and that the aliens were the reason for the meeting. She'd been halfway down the hall to the meeting room when something stopped her dead in her tracks.

Connor Hall was standing beside the woman he loved as she sat in a chair, what had stopped Isis was the face that Karen's forehead was leaned against a 4ft tall feline with the absolute weirdest fur color's she'd ever seen. Was that shade of pink even possibly natural? Of course the Elemental standing to the side with the odd armor hard suit the Wolfin loved to give. The Elemental and Connor Hall were silent as they watched the duo touching foreheads...why were...PSYCHIC! These damn felines were psychic, and powerful. Isis almost moved to grab a senator that went to try and push for the meeting, the obnoxious man simply stopped and laid down before falling asleep. It was then that Isis saw a second feline, only this one was in full armor as it moved from a shadow in the hall to check the man's pulse, then held a single finger to it's lips and motioned for Isis to come forward.

-Do not speak and think only in a whisper please, this one will live. The meeting his delayed until the treatment is complete.-

At the very least, years of training and hard Clan living kept Isis from screaming, she'd stiffened for a moment and collected her thoughts calmly as she could, a paw-like hand touching her leg from the armored feline gave her an odd sense of sudden calm. -What is happening to Karen?-

-Your doctors did very well with the treatment they used, her mind has healed but hasn't healed her memories. It is why she hasn't been able to speak properly. Her memories and the gaps left are causing issues, he is healing her by righting the orders and gaps. Sage is skilled in his work.- Isis realized the voice tones made this one female that was speaking to her.

-I am not used to psychics or anyone other than humans...most of us never thought that we would ever deal with anything actually alien. Is that Elemental from the Steel Wolves?-

-You are the second furless race we've met, 3rd if you count the Hive Mind. It is one reason why we are here instead of the Wolfin, the other is that they are hunting the Falcons. And yes he is, that is Donovan he has a strong mind that can handle being around us for long periods of time. Admiral Darkmoon has managed to get your former allies to leave you alone and also your former enemies, due to the history of this world...he wishes for this world to be the gathering place of the Terran leaders.-

Isis nodded. -And you're wishing to speak with the leaders here and make that happen. I have seen the files your people sent about what is coming...it is just a great deal to absorb after the recent fighting.- She thought as she walked with the feline past the group to the door. Once inside she froze as she saw her husband sitting speaking with Jacob Bannson, the hell was he doing in this meeting, or even here?

-He is with us, we personally abducted him from his headquarters and he has vowed to assist in any way he can. Oddly he and Darkmoon get along, and has agreed to build and distribute the upgraded parts and things needed. Our agreement allows him to make a small profit for producing the parts and equipment. He still seeks power, if he handles this right his name will be as powerful as your Kerensky.- The feline spoke in her mind before heading back out to guard the hall.

Jacob looked over at her and smiled softly as he gave her a gentle nod. "I'm glad my gamble worked out with this world, I never expected your galaxy to turn to the freeminder's movement though. I must say that it's rare for those in a clan to impress me, it also impressed the Admiral...who cannot be here due to...how did he put it." He tapped his chin. "Oh yes...going to kick hell horses back to sanity and beat the falcon's out of existence..at least their warriors. They frown on killing civilians more than us oddly, though their civilians will fight with the warriors."

"So I have heard...Clan Wolf had several warrior caste put into medical from how they treated a tech. Though isn't it the pilot of the giant machine that actually killed one?" she saw the nod and shivered. "This meeting is going to be interesting." She said before she heard a happy cheer outside in the hall and then giggling. "Interesting in a good way it seems."

((((((((((((

Loren Hanson stood in the repaired offices of the Rough Rider's HQ, looking at the survivors of the Falcon assaults that had come down on Galatea since the Wolfin had pushed them off of Skye. What he and several other Mercenary commanders around Galatea woke up to this morning was odd, even for someone who fought for money. He and his sub commanders had all woken up to find a ship parked outside their camp. Across the planet the surviving Merc companies had all had the same wake up call...sleeping gate guards and a ship. Loren's group had woken up to a damned dreadnought!

What he and his troopers were gathered around was the stack of gold bricks and gems in the floor like an ancient Terran sea pirate had dumped their bounty on the floor. "We're in it with you sir, whatever you pick....I do like this little statue though..." Mallary said holding up a golden feline statue about a foot tall and heavy enough to make her struggle some.

"That damned windy, stinking, hot assed...." A captain started and then went silent after a younger captain from Alkalurops gave him a deathly look. "Sorry, not fond memories."

Loren looked around and got nods from a few before looking back at the picture of his father and the picture of his grandfather that had survived the orbital bombardment the Falcons had put over Galatea. "We're going, this is honor, glory for the company..."

"If we live..." Came from Eddie.

"If we live, which we should. And not only that, but we are going to be getting our vehicles enhanced and upgraded from what I've been told." Loren loosened his jaw and everyone in the room turned when the door was kicked in. Anastasia Kerensky in her full glorious armored kit...was panting. "What's wrong."

"Husband....Koshi..." Was all Anastasia got out before Loren was running past her and for the still being repaired hangers. He knew what Anastasia had meant...the Admiral was a mech pilot, his family produced mechs and tanks....and there was a small scout machine he'd never seen before. And no one was going to mess with a giant armored tool toting wolf monster with a dreadnought overhead, even his dumbest trooper wasn't that stupid.

There was more than just the Admiral in the bay, a woman stood off to the side with a cat around her neck and...green glowing eyes that gave him a once over as he moved into the bay. What he didn't know was that Anastasia Kerensky had straightened up and started to have an oddly casual conversation with his officers as soon as he was out of sight. Not that he cared about that at the moment, he'd just gotten his Koshi back to fully operational after the raids the Falcons had done on Galatea. Though the cyborg with the cat nor the possible threat of the dreadnought would stop him from racing up the gantry.

What did stop him was the giant fuzzy beast leaned over in his cockpit with a cooling vest on and what looked like a tool pack and armored pants and boots. LJ also heard cursing in German, English and some kind of odd language that made his eye want to twitch as there were sounds of others moving about the mechs. His eyes caught scanning devices checking the other machines, and clearing his throat just got him a show of a mechanical arm spinning back to grab a couple of tools and go back to what he was doing.

Darkmoon let out a yip and his fur suddenly puffed along his fleshy arm, a little whine and then he got the console loose and murred as he pulled it up and set it aside, not really seeming to notice the lurking mech jock. He'd got back to work leaning into the cockpit to start working on pulling out another control unit. "Loren J Hanson, new commander of Hanson's Roughriders. First solo command was a raid and then capture and control on Alkalurops...and you people say our words are horrid...yes I am fluffy, yes I am alien...and how do you fit in here?"

"I fit in here because I'm smaller than you Admiral...which is why you stuffed me in here first and haven't let me OUT!" Came from someone working in the dark of the cockpit...that suddenly hurled Loren's command couch out at the Admiral.

"Why are you tearing apart my mech's cockpit...we just got this operational again...." He tried not to sound annoyed.

"Section 3 of the contract, all machines must meet Wolfin standards, which means upgrades....free upgrades. You have to be able to keep up with us, this isn't just garrison duty." Darkmoon turned and set the command couch down as the Nautilus shifted in the air and drifted away from the base to land. He'd shake his mechanical arm and it changed before Loren's eyes to form an unclawed hand he held out toward Loren.

Loren thought about it and with the help of a good memory he remembered the standards part of the contract, so he'd shake the giant fluffy alien's mechanical hand and nodded. "I didn't expect to agree to the contract and your people start tearing into our machines and equipment so quickly....let alone you." His voice calm and level. "I took the contract expecting a fair amount of combat considering what we've gotten of your reports."

The Admiral nodded and a much lankier Wolfin came up in a cooling vest and tech's garb, nodding to Darkmoon and Loren. "Sir, the ship just touched down, we are offloading the refit gear and parts. From scans if there are no problems we should be able to get these machines done in three days. The other companies within a week." His collar spoke for him.

Darkmoon nodded softly and touched his collar. "Darkmoon to all ships, any companies who do not sign on are to be abandoned and your ships moved to help speed up reinforcement of contracted companies." There were several confirmations that came through before he motioned for the commander to walk with him. "Now yes there is an alien force on the way here...we track it as best we can...we've already lost a fleet to them..."

"I'd heard...something about the flagship of that fleet drove an asteroid into the star and forced it supernova." He watched the Admiral's expression turn grim and nodded to himself. "I also was curious where our first operation is supposed to be...a 10 year contract left things a little open as far as places we'd be operating. I'm also not sure how effective my forces would be against something like a Hive Mind..."

That got nearly whining laughter to flow from the Admiral until he'd be wiping a tear from his face, shaking his head. "You didn't read the contract well enough. You were hired for scout work, your history of being able to work out reason and do what is right...and your new personal dislike for Falcons. I was hoping you'd use your judgment and reasoning to help where you could. Jacob has his own security and forces, so do most of the major factions that haven't been stripped by the Falcons or war."

"So I was recommended by someone." He thought for a long moment, managing not to clench his jaw. "Who...recommended my group to you?"

Darkmoon gave him a smile and pat him on the shoulder lightly. "A little fox whispered that you were a good commander, didn't like pointless murder and took care of your people." He'd stop and watched as Tara Bishop was shadowing him with Whiskey curled around her neck, a pair of sunglasses poorly hiding her eyes.

Loren's mind whirled as he tried to think of who would recommend him that could be called...a....fox. He'd blink and then looked over at the Admiral, eyes wide as he saw the shit eating grin. "Betsy Ross...Alkalurops, that horrendous mission for that psycho..."

"A mission no soldier or mercenary wants to deal with, you got out with a boosted number of troops, your command learned to fight well together, and you got back in your own ship." He leaned down and looked at the Commander in the eyes. "And Loren J Hanson...you are going back to Alkalurops to reinforce them as soon as your machines are refit."

Loren blinked and took a step back. "But..."

"Betsy Ross and Dex will be your main contacts on planet aside from the local forces, she will deal directly with my wife. I have worked out and purchased the mining rights and other rights on the planet and in system. It is also a known plausible target for the Falcons and their current allies. I need that planet to help increase mineral and metal supplies for other areas."

Loren blinked and then shook his head. "Grace O'Malley is more likely to shoot me than to take my help. We didn't part as good friends, Betsy should have told you that..."

"She did...I also hear that the red furred woman also had offspring with her primary battle commander, they've worked out the sales of mining rights in very dangerous areas to my people. She said you're to land near Falkirk and she might let you come into town and see it this time..." It was Darkmoon's turn to blink and stare as Loren burst into laughter.

"When we first met she kept us outside of her town, when we met again in battle it was the next down over....I've never actually seen her down." He'd shake his head. "And kids..." His train of thought seemed to die as he saw a hanger door open on the dreadnought and a handful of those towering machines came out seemingly unarmed as they carried sections of a gantry system. “The hell is that...a mobile refit station?"

“Yes and one new model Oblivion command and support unit." He said as something about the size of a howler came out behind the units. “Space for 5 crew, fully automated loading and firing systems hooked to two control systems, leaving 1 driver and two controllers. Twin heavy siege cannons and several anti-personal cannons. You can give supporting fire from twice as far as your best artillery. Each of the companies that signs on gets a unit befitting them, yours needs more support." A little bark of a laugh escaped him. “Betsy said that is why Grace kicked your ass."

Loren stiffened and sighed. “So you hired my entire company of mercs, upgrade our gear, give us upgraded support gear...just to send us back there as support." He'd sigh. “Why?"

Darkmoon got a small smile as he looked back at Loren. “So you can learn and make peace. You lost two battles to that world and won one. They will be attacked and you will learn and win, and in doing so...you'll earn more gear, more prestige among the mercs and make up for your past with that world and it's leaders."

Loren nodded softly and chuckled. “As you wish...after all your contract wording is completely straight forward and leaves nothing to guessing or interpretation. It's a rather nice change of pace for a merc company."

((((((((((((((

Noritomo Helmer had watched his clan become beaten and twisted by Malvina Hazen's horrid Mongol ways, forced to play the part her brother had filled and failed far too often. Her brother had actually had her love to shield him, Noritomo did not. He was faced with the very real threat to not only his life and his people that served him, but their genomes. He'd found a large enough grouping of those who'd come to hate Malvina Hazen's twisting of their peoples ways, enough to steal a drop-ship and a few armored drop-ships as the fleets moved out to attack with the clan's full might. His crews had altered the calculations and he felt the microsecond of the jump, barely settling in the new space before the systems tripped and jumped again. This time it was away from the fleet he was supposed to support.

The problem was that there were two Hell's Horses jump-ships that had done the same thing as he had orchestrated, he wasn't daft enough to think that members of the other clan weren't angry with the change in ways with their clan as his people were with theirs. The timing of them arriving within seconds of each other caused panic and fear between all of the crews as turrets twisted and aimed at the other clan's ships. Demands to know why the ships were there flew so quickly as two possible enemies squared up ready to destroy each other.

Space seemed to bend in one place before seeming to spit out a frigate, then three more, then two retrofit drop-ships, a carrier, two battle cruisers, and finally the Wolfin dreadnought that had been the bane of the Falcon's navy erupted out of a bend in space. Support craft spewed out of the carrier and drop-ships like angry bees from a nest to buzz around their friendlies as the dreadnought cruised ominously close and between the two sets of clansmen.

"Point your weapons at your decks and power down your weapon systems or we will remove them from your ships and risk destroying your ships. Bay doors opened along the sides of the dreadnought as armor shifted and guns swiveled to face the jump-ships and drop-ships, mechs and heavy tanks all sat with weapons targeting the ships along with the dreadnought they were nestled inside of. "10....9....8.....7...." The countdown was calm and slow as weapons charged on ships and machines. Weapons turned toward the deck on the jump ships and drop ships still docked to them finally. "Thank you, our agents let us know that you were on your way here, too few in number to stop the corruption...but enough to save your ways."

Darkmoon's transmission ended and another started, clear as day Anastasia spoke to the clansman as if galaxy commander of them all. "As of this moment you are all my bondsmen, you will all tie the appropriate bondsman cords and follow us back to a safe distance and transfer over. Once you pass your tests as bondsmen you will retain your clan's names and ranks as part of the Coalition. Do I make myself perfectly clear!" There was a hail of "AFF!" the clan's odd way of confirming things. "Noritomo Helmer, you and your most trusted are to transfer to the Nautilus immediately."

"So we don't shoot them?" "No they're not like the others." "Don't they hate what the furless call contractions?" "Its more efficient to use them, not using them is like turning the cooling system on in a mech." "These people are supposed to be smart." "They're weird." "Can I use fur treatment on a few of them?" There were several loud no's, a few of them quite human. That made Noritomo smile softly. "You do know that we can hear everything you are saying, your com system seems to be broken..." "Oh a smart one." "Smart ass as well..." "He shows promise." "I remember his face...the nice man..." "Shit shit shit, she woke up." "He's the nice man though..she was mean to him too..." Tara Bishop's voice was almost half asleep, but more than enough to make Noritomo Helmer pale at the sound of her voice. Tara Bishop, a woman even he thought was dead.

(((((((((

Galaxy commanders and their underlings sat in a large circle in the bay of the Nautilus, mostly Falcons and the highers of the Hell's Horses filled the rings of the circle, in the middle the Admiral and Blade sat on either side of Tara Bishop, facing her and Whiskey that sat in her lap. Three other felines stood with their paw like hands touching the temple's of the 3. "Until things are settled, you must wash the Jade Falcon markings from your machines, you must also wash away the markings of the Hell's Horses as well. You must wash away the taint of your clans, your acceptance of this is your first trial as bondsmen. What happens next is no trial...close your eyes." Came from Tara Bishop's mouth as if she were speaking in her sleep.

Each person in the circles to anyone watching would seem to fall asleep sitting up, their minds brought into the memories of the trio in the middle. This was something Anastasia had done once before, and approved it to be used with any clans that joined them. Some went through the memories of Blade, others Darkmoon, and those who had or yearned for the most responsibility...went through Tara Bishop's. Those that could not handle the pain and sorrow of her memories would fall over on the floor truly asleep while others got to watch the horrors of what Malvina Hazen had done. Tortures, murders, even memories gathered from the broken world of Chaffee were shown to the clansmen, leaving many shaking and shivering at the end of the two hour session. A few even emptied their stomachs as they slowly stood, though each would start pulling the patches from their clothes of ranks and titles.

Though the rings of bodies parted as the short glowing eyed Tara Bishop and her lethal mechanical limbs. Whiskey laid curled around her neck purring and licking her cheek. Her face calm as she walked up to Noritomo, who would kneel before her. Mechanical hands touched his face gently and then over his chest and shoulders before leaning her head into his chest. He was stared at by his peers as he curled his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, neither saying a word even as the clansmen started to move off to start their duties and training.

(((((((((

Special ships dropped out of their slingshot runs a safe distance from Skye, plenty far enough away to slow down the cargo of jump ships and drop ships that had been taken from the fleeing clansmen. Orbital shipyards had been constructed in tidal orbits of Skye, funding more and more jobs for those that were willing to work with the Wolfin. Former Steel Wolf labor and science castes had taken to working with the Wolfin quite well and made up the bulk of the current workers and trainers for the Wolfin practices. The Clans people also took easier to implants than non clan members, most others didn't like the added bit of cybernetics...let alone talking someone into nanites that went with the cybernetics.

Admiral Darkmoon's fleet dropped out of formation as the non- warping ships detached from the hull and moved to take their places among the fleet. "Ok, we are not pulling leave this time...refuel while we are transferring equipment to the new drop-ships" He stood on the bridge and checked over the reports for the fleet. "Restock on ammo and supplies as well. No more than 24 hours at most before we need to be leaving. I have reports that we need to reinforce Summer, Alkalurops, and two other worlds. Another 3 will need supply drops or friendlies....and still no sign of the Nightlord."

Anastasia stood with Darkmoon and Blade on the bridge, Noritomo and a few others had been allowed up as well, each with a single cord on their wrist. "I hate to say this...do decapitation strikes. Clans are a warrior ruled society, if you kill the leaders...the underlings will battle for command." And then she'd sigh. "Or disable them....I would disable the Hells Horses.....just....fuck!"

"You are not rutting on my bridge! I do not care if you are Admiral and General!"Lightfoot said with a Captain's commanding voice and stare, confusing a few people. "Now...all of you off my bridge while I oversee this flea bitten transfer op, shoo or I'll get a prod. All of you." He waved his hands making Darkmoon laugh as he headed out first.

The others followed back to the ready room and would sit down, Noritomo was first to speak. "Killing the leaders will cause chaos in the ranks, I can understand that method. I also understand that the Wolfin armor their cockpits and seal them even more than any of our designs, using sensors and well armored cameras to give you a field of vision."

The Hell's Horses galaxy commander was an elemental that matched Darkmoon in size and kept looking at Blade as if still shocked by his size. "I am still unsure about adopting all of your practices...it seems like you are forcing us to adopt the freeminder..." He trailed off as a data pad slid over to him. "What is this."

Anastasia smiled. "Copies of things hacked from several Clan archives...it isn't as pretty sounding as the things being preached on Vega, but inherently the same thing...you will be fulfilling our purpose by accepting the terms....or were the felines wrong when they said I could remove your first cord Galaxy Commander?"

The elemental bristled at the possible slight, but a single look at the very hardened face of the admiral and a slow deep breath later he'd nod. "I will have to check these over...." One slid to Noritomo as well. "I believed this nothing more than a fable."

"As did I...different copies from different archives." Noritomo said as he flipped through the documents.

Anastasia smiled. "My genome is still in the mix for the warriors of my clan, I am sworn to my husband and serve as his hand." And then she was glaring at Darkmoon as his mechanical hand seemed to pop free and started to crab run across the table and then rapidly back to his arm to snap back into place. "Do you see what I deal with...but yes our warriors may breed if they wish...including Elementals...one of mine surprised us and bred a Wolfin, so he will raise a child with her....and no doubt spawn more from the program. Some of us are somewhat scared of breeding with Wolfin due to size differences...much like a woman my size worrying about carrying your child."

Darkmoon sighed. "Surrogates are also options or normal pregnancy until a point and then transferred to one of those...iron wombs...such an odd name for a gestation chamber."

Blade stepped over to a case in the side of the room as they spoke and Anastasia fidgeted and Darkmoon looked worried, conversation died when nearly 9ft of rifle slammed down on the table and a dummy round was set beside it. "This is how you kill a pilot...damned thing is a relic and we got a few cases of them in from home last month. 54mm armor piercing fracture rounds, splits when it hits and drives the core through as the outside casings shatter armored glass or ceramic armor. I used one in training and we use them to test armors..."

Darkmoon smiled and nodded to Blade who was grinning at him, while Galaxy Commander Roderick slowly stood and leaned to start checking over the rifle and the shell. "This is heavy even to me...and I do not see any system to absorb the recoil." There was a little grin from Blade. "You shoot this without recoil systems?"

"We did get scans of you and all of your people Roderick...with our armor's systems it allows us to shoot these at a max range of 5 to 6 kilometers." Blade said with a devious smile. "It also works great for killing Hive Soldiers as well, didn't think we'd have a use for them here. Would you like to see how pride can injure even the largest of us?"

A picture propped up on a screen showing Blade with his mechanical arm shattered at the shoulder. "It will knock you on your ass if you're standing up, you have to be wearing full armor or the shock can blind and deafen you. Within 2 kilometers it can punch through armor rather well....up to a point. Some of our people use these against the larger Hive units.

"I'll stick to my Ryoken thank you...I can handle myself in a fight, but fighting mechs and tanks I prefer to have a good deal more wrapped around me than one of these armors." Anastasia said and nodded. "My people have trained with the Wolfin for over a year now in combat, repair, and designing. We've even been working closely with freeborn in those respects and others. It is harder for an Elemental to handle the changes than others because of what you represent."

Darkmoon gave a toothy grin. "But there is a wondrous thing about Elementals that work with us...tell me, have you ever seen an Elemental in control of a mech?" He was stared at for a moment and let out a yip of a laugh. "Blade and I pilot mechs...Elementals are roughly our sizes. We've even experimented with control systems to help a foot soldier transition from one to the other."

Noritomo Helmer let out a chuckle. "That would explain the larger standard of vehicles and machines...your warriors are generally larger in nature than a human. Though I have seen quite a few that are smaller and more human in size." He'd sigh. "I wish that things had been different at the beginning, and I am glad that Anastasia Kerensky..." He trailed off as he was squirted in the face by a water bottle in the hand of the Admiral. "I am sorry....Anastasia...or General Kerensky...." His voice showing just a hint of annoyance.

Roderick stood slowly and nodded. "May I see the machines? I have always wondered what it would feel like to pilot a mech."

Anastasia stood. "Yes, and I think a few groups of your people are training in tactics in the main bay as well. They are going to behave them Quiaff?" No one was able to answer her, they were too busy staring as she was scooped up and punched at her armored husband, who was assaulting her face with licks that had her cursing and sputtering. “Would you let me act like a proper clan commander!?" Her answer was more licking.

(((((((((((

Betsy and Dex stood with Grace, Ben, and a few of the others at the not quite finished militia base. Betsy had made Ben laugh like a madman and Grace when she finally said who was landing and why. The last few weeks had been interesting, new non-combat mechs and a few refits and mining teams that showed no fear in pushing out into the harder to reach and much more dangerous areas of the world. Heat was an enemy of humans and other races, but Wolfin tech had adapted around keeping them from overheating. Of course a few of the Wolfin machines had stuck around to help out with work rebuilding Kilkenny and other areas.

"A fusion powered industrial mech..." Grace said as she watched something a little larger than her mining mech seem to hop along with a group of Wolfin with jump packs that were checking over the structure that the Roughriders drop ship had landed in. It was outfitted with gear and places for tools.

Ben was idly petting Dex, making the feline psychic have a rather goofy look and purring as the albino found a weakness and exploited it."Here they come. And Danny...if you behave, they may even make you a mech with a kilt."

Betsy laughed as the highlander blushed. "They did make one for Tara Campbell, but it is a brawler. And a dancer....and Danny can't dance." Infantry and vehicles started to move out of the drop ship and pass by techs that scanned them. The vehicles all seemed to have some modification or the other and then came the mechs as the second drop-ship opened and started to disgorge it's contents of transport vehicles. "A 10 year contract to protect the Wolfin's holdings and assist the Alkalurops government in protecting this world...which is the first thing they are going to do. We have two weeks to prepare defenses, the Wolfin carrier in system managed to do some damage, but we're still looking at two full galaxies and their drop-ships

Ben sighed. "Who are being honor-less and not issuing for a batchall. They are acting as badly as the old days. We are evacuating the cities and towns as best we can to shelters...their aerospace assets will be useless with the storms moving in. They do not have the Nightlord with them either, so that gives us a much better chance. That is the ship that carries their nuclear weapons." He'd feel Grace shiver beside him. "You and our sons are going to the bunker..."

"Like hell I am, I..." -Am a mother, also the governor of this world, your husband is your warrior leader and those who aren't warriors will need your support- Rang in her head before the purring continued.

Danny laughed. "Fluffy has spokEN!" It was amazing how quickly a kilted man could jump away from a 4ft tall feline, the fact that the feline also had a dagger aided that speed.

Betsy let out an almost musical laugh. "Oh Danny...my partner will stab you if you annoy him..."

-That was a reflex test...next time your skirt will be shorter Highlander.- And then Dex was purring as Victoria scratched around his ears. -Oh this is better than sex...- The room burst into blushes and laughter.