(The pictures were slowing me down a lot so I'm going to increase the ratio of text to pictures and see if that makes this reboot successfully.)
The men and women that found their way back to Boulder were very different from the well equipped military force so long ago. It takes a minute to think back and realize it was back in '67, two years ago. You marched out like the conquering army you were, armed to the gills. Two years later you trudged your way back without weapons or armor, although but now possed with a new resolve and hardness... you few, you happy few, you band of brothers.
When we finally re-enter the steel caves of Boulder it's like a strange new world. There is artificial light everywhere. There are people everywhere. You have lived in a world where you were responsible for everyone you see and suddenly you are surrounded by stangers again.
Someone shouts "WE'RE FUCKING HOME!" and a cheer goes up from the soldiers. Colonel Bose asks you to join him for a beer and you suddenly realize you haven't drunk alcohol in 2 years. A lot of the 17th seems to have the same thought. For years you guys carefully horded the few ration coupons that you had with you when you left, now it's time to spend them like sailors and paint the town red.
The celebratory mood wears off the next day when you and Bose show up at the armory, expecting to discuss the terms of integrating the 17th into the Boulder National Guard. There has been a changing of the guard in Boulder and the new quartermaster demands a full accounting for every piece of equipment checked out in '67. It's an absurd request. Most of the soldiers who checked out that equipment are gone even. To your horror you find out that about two thousand former members of the 17th ended up in punishment battalions, doing hard labor. The quartermaster, Cartwright, makes a non too subtle threat to the effect that the rest of you could join them if you prove to be more trouble then you are worth. You hardly expected to be met like conquering heroes, after all you did get the city conquered by Norris, but it's clear that the 17th's name is mud even if you are willing to help in the fight against Provo.
The negotiations to get the 17th back in action drag on. During that time the city isn't covering your meals and Bose is forced to start distributing some of the hard earned ration coupons from the merchant escort jobs before the Provo-Boulder war. When the news gets out that half your ration coupons were printed in Provo, quartermaster Cartwright adds a few absurd suggestions that you are enemy agents to the mix. You and Bose consider going over Cartwright's head to Mayor Indbur you discover that Cartwrights attitude is just trickling down from the Mayor's own hostility...
Word gets out that members of the 17th are taking jobs on the side and you can't blame them for that, the ration coupons aren't going to last forever. But what you can blame them for is that a lot of them are taking unsavory jobs in Oldtown. It's not like there is tons of honest work available for them so signing up for "private security" in Oldtown is the only work they can land in a hurry. Cartwrights foot dragging takes on a new meaning as you start hearing news of members of the 17th ending up in the infirmaries or jails.
It is several days into these trials and tribulations that you receive an email...
To: Jefferson.Franklin.Tyler@boulderschooldistrict394.net
From: DisciplinaryReviewBoard@bouldershooldistrict394.net
Subject: Academic Suspension Appeal
Mr Tyler,
You are hereby notified that the Disciplinary Review Board has processed the appeal you filed on July 17th, 2263. Investigation of your claim that the defective RFID tag on the school computer you checked in late on the date of April 3rd, 2262 has been substantiated. The late fees you incurred have been waived and your disciplinary suspension has been expunged. Full privileges have been restored to your academic account immediately including enrollment in apprentice-track programs and registration for graduation events.
Further inquiries may be filed with the Disciplinary Review Board through your school account.
However soon after that email arrives, a different, less useless email arrives...
To: tip-ur-canoe-like-a-pimp@gmail.com
From: <Unknown sender>
Subject: Job-Offer
My Tyler,
If you wish to discuss a job offer for the fine men and women of the 17th infantry division in your care, please come to the FitzGibbons building between the hours of 7 and 8 pm tonight.
Intrigued, you head to the meeting in the posh part of town. The building has private security (well armed private security) and DNA checks that verify your identity before you are allowed admission. You are instructed into an elevator that has no control console and quickly whisked upward. Pleasant classical music plays. The elevator opens and you see a window in front of you looking out over the city. Literally, over the city. You are in the upper floors of a tall building, story 500 or so and you can see out over all the smaller buildings. You admire the view, the glass is so high quality it's like it isn't even there and you can see the entire city from here.
"Ahem, sir, may I guide you to the counsel chambers?" A stiff man in a black suit greets you.
"Chambers you say?"
"Yes sir, it is where the members of this business association entertain guests such as yourself. Right this way, sir."
You step through a door and turn back to ask a question but the door has silently slid shut behind you. You turn instead to see your hosts...
"This is some sort of a business association?" You ask in confusion. It's full of people lounding around and eating food. Your eyes rest upon a bowl of apples. Real apples. Not the synthetic shit, not any sort of sauce, just a bowl of apples sitting out and no one even touched them. A woman in a white gown makes a gesture to her assistant who takes an apple, puts it in your hands and hurries back to her place by her bosses' elbow.
The woman in the white gown welcomes you to her "little oasis" and asks you to sit. She isn't very interested in answering any questions about herself but does seem very interested in flattering you and the 17th. It is something of a relief to hear a sympathetic voice after all the trouble that Cartwright has put you through. Your host flatly describes Cartwright as an ass and explains that she thinks she could make far better use of the 17th.
"Certain business interests" as she describes them, could make good use of a professional military force to clean up the city. Her associates are unsatisfied with the progress the Guard has made in enforcing the law in Oldtown. The way your host sees it, the 17th could return order to the bad part of the city, arrest the lawless and troublemakers and have them replace your former comrades from the 17th who ended up doing hard labor. And there is no need to go through the Mayor. The mayor doesn't respect you, it's time to make friends who will show you the respect and pay you deserve.
She does a good job of glossing over the fact that she is proposing an extralegal hit squad for herself and her wealthy friends. Something that is very, very illegal. Which means she is either very stupid or she is not afraid of the Mayor enforcing the law. Hell, maybe she is hoping he will try and she is planning to start a civil war in the city. There are certainly strings attached she isn't talking about. And there's a whole other sticking point...
"What I think about your offer is immaterial, Mam. Colonel Bose is the officer in charge of the 17th division members in Boulder City. You'd need to get his approval. Frankly, I'm not even sure why you would invite me here."
"The Colonel is a fine military man and loyal, but I need someone who can understand the language of money. I'm proposing a business arrangement. I've heard how the 17th works, I want someone who can sign a contract and convince the 17th to fall in line with or without Bose and Carter."
"Cut out Bose and Carter? Surely you can't be serious."
"I'm always serious and dont call me Shirley, the name is Miss Bennet, thank you very much. You are the man I want, Mister Tyler. But if you want to go running home to daddy for permission, I wont stop you."
You find yourself back in the elevator,
listening to 200 year old music again. The apple is still in your hand and you haven't even taken a bite. You do now. It takes delicious.
There is no choice regarding the woman's offer of course. Loyalty is a virtue you have proven over and over in the last two years. You report the matter to Bose according to the proper chain of command. Bose takes the matter... stonily.
-------------------------------------
You and Bose have a meeting with the mayor the next afternoon to discuss the efforts to clear the 17th for service again. What it really comes down to is that if Mayor Indbur would just issue a blanket pardon, everything would be simple. He seems to be realizing that but still seems to hold a grudge about the way that Carter acted like she was above the law two years ago. You meet Bose in the lobby and are surprised when he hands you an earbud attached to his personal HUD gear. It's a common piece of battlefield equipment, the HUD's subdermal microphones let's it "hear" words right out of Bose's mouth without him making any noise. This lets him give orders directly to you via earbud without risk of being overheard and without a radio signal to intercept. While it's common the battlefield, it's surprising that Bose brought one to city hall.
"Tyler, you aren't going to be attending the meeting with the mayor today. I need you to head home and tell Captain Shepherd that she is now the commanding officer."
You never were issued an officers HUD with the subdermal implants so you lack any means to reply without being overheard. Instead you just shoot a quizzical glance to Bose.
"The mayor is going to let the 17th die just so he doesn't have any rivals to his power. Miss Bennet has arranged for a weapon to be smuggled into city hall. The meeting today will give me a chance to kill both Indbur and Cartwright and I'm taking it."
You know this conversation will be monitored of course so are powerless to reply. The best you can come up with is flashing Bose the hand signal for "danger".
"I know it's a suicide mission, Tyler, that's why I need you to turn around and leave right now. That is a direct order, soldier. I need you to be far away when this happens."
Colonel Bose doesn't give you any time to try to formulate a response. He snatches the earbud out of your ear and walks away towards the elevator. You dont even have time to consider what he just said, he isn't giving you time so you can't second guess him...
A) Colonel Bose believes he is doing this for the greater good, follow orders and be ready to take care of the 17th.
B) You don't send friends to their death, dammit. Interfere with Bose's plan.
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Topic: 23rd century botony! (A wild sequel appears!) (Read 21885 times)