The Fist Strikes

The tent was cold and dark, only dimly lit by the console lights and red glow of field lamps. The figures around the folding table in the middle of the canvas shelter conversed in low tones, pointing at the digital displays before them.

"Sir, the moment we drop they will be ready and then resistance will be greater than we want." a young man pointed to the map. "If they have mechs like we think, they'll tear us apart."

An older man, an officer, scowled at the young man. There was a smug sense of superiority about him. One that he made a point to draw attention to as he straightened his uniform, adjusting the three silver pips on his collar.

Leutnant-Kommodore Blomgrens spoke, his tone full of condescension and confidence, all he felt he had earned by his birth into Lyran nobility.

"Nonsense. We will land and form our lines and proceed up this highway to the main settlement"

"But sir..." another officer started, pointing to the map.

Blomgrens tone became much more arrogant. How dare these low born tankers and infantrymen question him. He was halfway tempted to have them brought before his Atlas so he could execute them for insubordination.

"You will form lines when we land as ordered..."

"You will do no such thing."

The tent flap had opened letting the planet's moonlight enter. Two figures entered. The first was a tall raven haired woman with sharp striking features. Her cold steel blue eyes scanned the room and immediately fell on Blomgrens with contempt.

She held her hand out to accept the gloves and hat handed to her by the second figure as he limped into the room. The Leutnant-Kommodore studied the man as he entered. He also was tall, greying features, older in what appeared to be his 70s. He saw the man remove his sunglasses and hand them to the woman that entered with him then gasped slightly.

Where one eye was a grey blue, the other was a crimson red. A cybernetic replacement that the man made no attempt to hide or conceal. When he looked down, Blomgrens noted there were cybernetics on the man's arm as well. He made the assumption that the limp had something to do with a replacement as well.

Moving into the room directly towards Blomgrens, the man stopped, snapped his heels and saluted. "My apologies Herr Blomgrens. Let me present myself. I am Kaptain Klaus Von Steinfaust, and this is my second, Leutnant-Kaptain Elle EisenSchlagger. Here are our orders, Herr Blomgrens".

Blomgrens’ hand shook slightly as he accepted the papers. Opening them, all color drained from his face. "This must be a mistake....this is from LIC?"

"Ja, Herr Blomgrens." Klaus relaxed his arm not waiting for Blomgrens to salute back. The young officer from before smirked as he noticed that, even though Blomgrens outranked him, Steinfaust was not referring to him by his rank or even treating him like a superior officer. The man was being polite and showing decorum, as the young infantryman had seen noblemen do. However, the Kaptain's quiet assertion of control was what amused him the most. It almost appeared that the Leutnant-Kommodore was too scared to assert himself like before.

"It is believed that the world in question is being used by SAFE to run operations into our fatherland, and that they should be taught a lesson." Steinfaust's voice was cool and polite.

"We have brought with us a company of battlemechs to supplement the forces already here." the raven haired woman spoke, her tone dripping with confidence. "With the armor, infantry, and mercenaries assembled, we should be able to crush the Marys"

Blomgrens straightened himself, with these new forces at his command, he could easily win this campaign. Promotion and more titles would be his. He lost himself for a moment, thinking of the potential glory in destroying a Free Worlds League black ops site.

"Good, then I'll have your company land here with the main force. From there we'll..."

Klaus chuckled then interrupted. Blomgrens paused and looked confused. Looking over at EisenSchlagger, he saw an unpleasant smirk that unsettled him.

"My apologies again, Herr Blomgrens. I believe there is a misunderstanding as to our presence here." He gestured with his metal laced hand back to the orders Blomgrens held.

Blomgrens quickly read them again then in anger turned to face the Kaptain. "This is an outrage!! I demand that you.."

The backhand that struck the Luetnant-Kommodore moved with a speed and force that sent the noble to the ground. There was a silence in the tent, that Kaptain Von Steinfaust waited a moment to fill.

"Leutnant-Kommodore Gerthalt Blomgrens, by order of Lyran Intelligence Corps, as per the document you have received, you are hereby relieved of command of this operation."

The Kaptain turned to the table and the other soldiers around it. "When you are presentable, Herr Blomgrens, I would like to go over my plans for this operation."

Blomgrens slowly rose, wiping the blood off his face, before standing to join the others.