The wizard watched as the now female Ranma stepped out of the dressing room. It took him a moment to realize exactly what the costume was, a common outfit used by Mechwarrors of the Battletech series of books and Mechwarrior games. He continued smiling once she left.
This would be... interesting to say the least.
--
Ranma Saotome let out a breath as she returned to the office from the nearby mall. She reached her office taking a moment to drape her coolent vest over the chair (Why did summer on this part of Outreach have to be so freaking HOT?) and her Nero-helmet on the desk. (She loved the custom green dragon paint job she had done on it just now.) Once she seated herself she accessed her computer, typing in a handful of commands until she found the file she wanted to review.
--
Date: Dec 17, 3064
To: Applicant 187: Maj. Ranma Saotome, Commander of the Rising Dragon’s Mercenary Company
From: Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission (MRBC)
Subj: Membership Application
Congratulations, your application for membership with the MRBC is approved as has your sponsorship under the Wolf’s Dragoons. You are hereby granted an interim license to do business as a Mechwarrior Mercenary Company with all rights and privileges of a full member. Your excellent piloting, gunnery and tactical skills as well as your leadership abilities have caught the attention of not only the MRBC but the Wolf’s Dragoons as well. The Wolf’s Dragoons shall grant you the following funds, personal and equipment to get you started. You will be required to repay the Wolf’s Dragoons, plus twenty percent interest within three years.
Funds:
6,000,000.00 C-Bills
Battlemech Assets:
Cougar (2) Light Mech, Standard Configuration
Uller (1) Light Mech, Standard Configuration
Puma (1) Light Mech, Standard Configuration
Raven (1) Light Mech, Standard Configuration
Equipment Assets:
LRM 5 (2, Clan)
LRM 10 (Clan)
Medium Laser (3)
Auto Cannon 5 (1)
Ultra Auto Cannon 5 (1, Clan)
Machine Gun Array (2, Clan)
NARC Beacon: (1)
Mechwarrior Personal:
Pilot Name: Saotome, Ranma
Call Sign: Spectre
Rank: Major
Serial #: 005123
Ranma ‘Spectre’ Saotome has served under two notable Mercenary Companies, The Iron Steeds and The Black Knights. After most of the Black Knights were slaughtered of Kintaries IV (Campaign Records: 008765) Ranma received a battlefield promotion for leading a lance of light ‘Mechs on several hit and run missions, one such mission being a successful attack on two Mad Cats. Currently leading her own Company, Rising Dragons, Sponsored by Wolf’s Dragoons.
Gunnery Ranking: 97
Piloting Ranking: 85
Sensor Ranking: 94
Blind Fighting: 92
Pilot Name: Ikari, Shinji
Call Sign: Wonder Boy
Rank: Corporal
Serial #: 006745
Nicknamed ‘Wonder Boy’ by a fellow cadet, Shinji Ikari is a capable, if unproven, Mechwarrior. Crpl. Ikari is an adept pilot, able to steer Mechs in terrain that seasoned pilots would struggle with. His gunnery abilities are quite good as well. Outside of battle he often keeps to himself and seems to be under confident.
Gunnery Ranking: 65
Piloting Ranking: 89
Sensor Ranking: 71
Blind Fighting: 43
Pilot Name: Kino, Makoto
Call Sign: Thunder
Rank: Lieutenant
Serial #: 007765
Mako ‘Thunder’ Kino earned her name for her love of PPCs. At the controls of PPC equipped Mechs such as the Puma or Uziel she is a virtual master. No stand out missions or campaigns on her record, although she has seen combat in recon and base defence roles.
Gunnery Ranking: 88
Piloting Ranking: 67
Sensor Ranking: 66
Blind Fighting: 34
Pilot Name: Masaki, Tenchi
Call Sign: Light Wing
Rank: Corporal
Serial #: 007723
The call sign of ‘Light Wing’ seems fitting for Tenchi Masaki. Tenchi has only two battles under his belt, both facing down Steiner Lances. In both battles he defeated the opposing leader with the ‘Death From Above Tactic’ (Using jump jets to fly above the opposing Mech, then coming down on it’s head.) Tenchi excels in any jump jet capable Mech and has cross-trained as an able Aerospace fighter.
Gunnery Ranking: 72
Piloting Ranking: 90
Sensor Ranking: 67
Blind Fighting: 23
Name: Katsuragi, Misato
Call Sign: Castle
Rank: Lieutenant Commander, Mech Commander
Serial #: 005909
Misato ‘Castle’ Katsuragi is among the best in battle strategies, sensor information, tactical read outs, unit deployment and analysis, when she’s not drinking anyhow. A seasoned Intelligence Officer it is Misato who is able to direct the chaos that is battle from behind the lines.
In addition you have the following personnel.
One Doctor and Two Nurses.
One Salvage Team.
One Engineering Team.
Dropships and Jumpships can be charted to carry your personnal and equipment from planet to planet. These must be paid from your own coffers however.
We wish you good luck in your new carrer.
Signed MRBC
--
Ranma closed the file and logged onto Merc Net. As of right now she was the leader of a Mercenary Company, unbound by any governing body or cause.
Well, she had the cause of making lots of C-Bills, but that was it.
Logging on to Merc Net she started to scan through the available contracts. The problem would be finding a contract that paid well, but didn’t put her Company (Well Lance really, she only had four pilots, herself included) in unneeded danger, she only had light Mechs at the moment. After a moment she stopped on a promising one.
“Halloran V huh? Well it looks like as good a start as any. Mainly defending a Coastal facility and run down some militants. Easy enough, pay is good and so is salvage rights.”
--
The next day Ranma was standing on a gantry as the last of the equipment was loaded onto the Dropship ‘Dojo’. Next to her was her Lance-Mate, Mako Kino, clipboard in hand as the engineering and salvage crews called out as equipment and Mechs were loaded. Normally it would be Misato at the clipboard but at the moment she was ‘having much needed solitude within her own mind’, or loosely translated ‘I’m going to my quarters to get drunk off my ass.’
‘She had better be a damn good Intelligence Officer.’, Ranma thought as she sighed. ‘Otherwise she’ll be drinking at the unemployment line.’
“Ranma, that’s the last of the equipment.” Mako said as she checked the last thing off her list.
Ranma nodded and moved to a nearby council. She pressed a button and waited for the image of the Dropship’s Captain to appear. “We’re all loaded, take off once your ready.”
The Captain nodded. “Very well then, our course is plotted. We will meet up with the Jump Ship ‘Mallet’ in about two hours. Our trip to Halloran V will be about one week, so please, enjoy the trip.”
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(Posted Fri, 14 Jan 2005 09:53)
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