What's Junk? (The Mech Touch)

[TheDerangedOne]

... ... ... Oh right Ves made that scavenging shotgunner mech when he was drafted to help the MTA steal a crashed CFA ship or sommat.
... ... Honestly It's been ages since I actually read The Mech touch.
Is Bolt going to be roped into that covert op too or are He and Ves just going to keep missing each other so they don't have to interact?

 

[lost star]

Their interaction is likely going to happen at some point, but only in the war arc. Ves is going to be leaving the sector shortly, and they literally can't interact.

 

[kienlong49]

Good, you really don't want to interact with Ves a whole lot. He have a strange tendency to just screw with you if it give him an advantage.

 

[lost star]

Of the big two, the CFA was the less public one. Humanity as a whole knew about them of course. They would demand nothing less, but the average person on the ground would barely interact with them. Contrast this with the MTA and the sometimes intrusive presence, and you would think they were lesser. That was if you were stupid.

The CFA was the stick. The MTA pretended to be friendly through various outreaches. The CFA was authority. They were actually relatively respected authority too surprisingly. Through good PR and relatively neutral dealings, everyone knew enough to avoid being on their bad side. They were the big stick that humanity used on their enemies usually. They only sometimes used that stick on humans and those sometimes were when the people violated very clear laws.

A priority reinforcement hub was one of those times they used the stick. It was a bureaucratic designation for a specific area in space. It essentially made the place dedicated to transportation and all conflict was banned. Fighting in the area meant death by CFA warship. (Specifically fighting in mechs or space.) It was also a temporary designation done only in times when an alien presence was being actively fought nearby galactically.

Basically the CFA was taking control of the area to provide an avenue of reinforcement in their campaign against the Sandmen. It polite fiction mostly. The CFA and the MTA relied on galactic scale portals to transport large fleets. They didn't really need hubs for simpler things, and the Sandman war was simple to them, despite the damage it was doing. Bolt's planet still qualified based on its unusual FTL composition and location, which made it a perfect cover for other business to be processed. Like discretely 'recruiting' a native.

"Gadget is quite brilliant for her age and status, but also quite behind those in her age group in our usual educational facilities. This is something we can compensate for. It is also something that will require her moving." The very attractive female recruiter explained to Bolt.

Bolt nodded quietly. He was the only one with even a bit of power at the level the CFA worked with, so he was the negotiator here. Not that he could negotiate much with such a disparity. He'd still do his best.

"We have no objection to her going to a school elsewhere." Bolt noted very calmly. "We do object to her being cut off from further contact."

"For the purposes of education, this is quite normal. Interruptions from family can hinder the process." The woman countered without a change in expression.

Bolt leaned forward in the seat slightly. "I did read the regulations you know." He informed her very softly.

There were two blinks to his response. No other changes. "Those regulations-"

"Are for citizens of a specific level yes. Which I am, my birth place non-withstanding." The young man's smile was very polite and very friendly even as he interrupted her. "Forbidding contact is against rule B202 if the parent or guardian is a citizen at my level."

"You are-"

"I am a guardian as of today." Bolt cut off the woman again. "Officially recognized by the MTA. You can check." It'd taken a paltry amount of MTA credits to pay for expedited processing.

For a moment the woman was silent as she obviously tried to review something with her implant. "Very well. Contact information will be forwarded." She wasn't so unprofessional as to be displeased, but there was a hint of it. Then she stiffened. "One moment." She held up a finger before standing. "Captain on deck!"

Bolt blinked. Then blinked again as a man appeared in a small flash. The woman gave him a salute and then disappeared after what appeared to be a non-verbal exchange of some sort. The teleportation technology they used for close range like this was both interesting, and honestly rather annoying in that there was almost no warning when it was used.

"I am taking over the negotiations." The man said. "I am Captain Denib, and will be in charge of managing this particular section of space." He took a seat in a fashion so precise it bordered on uncanny.

Denib was human. This had to be said because his eyes and face were just off enough to make it slightly inhuman. There was something about him that set him apart from normality. An aura almost. Bolt had heard that the CFA's current fashion was genetic engineering to set them apart from human baseline. This man's appearance confirmed that rumor as true.

"Captain." Bolt nodded agreeably and as peacefully as he could. "Kinda unsure what I can negotiate more here. Was happy just saying in contact."

"You were running around the recruiter." The captain said simply. "Impressive for a grounder, especially because you read the rulebook an hour before the meeting."

Bolt shrugged as he settled into his seat. "Seemed important."

"It's equally important that we develop young talent in a way that aligns with our values. This is why we prefer to have new cadets cut ties with their families." Denib leaned back into the chair himself and a small cup appeared next to him. "I can offer you a substantial sum of CFA credits to do so."

"Politely, no." The young man didn't even have to think about it.

"You are certain?" The captain asked while taking a sip of the drink.

Bolt gave the other man a stare. "Do I have ta write it in blood or something?"

"No, but I am expected to make the offer. The next step would be to pressure you with other factors, but that can be safely dispensed with in this case as you have enough prestige to push back." Denib dropped the glass and it disappeared from sight. He then folded his hands in front of him. "Formalities and official statements aside, we both know you can't stop us. You can make things difficult, and I do want your sister to have few complications in her new life. We do not need you trying to exploit a new cadet, nor do we need her distracted by your current needs."

"Give her work, treat her fairly, and she'll do it. I want to keep in contact because she's family. Ain't like we want anything else." Bolt replied with a slight bit of confusion. He wasn't sure where things were going.

Denib paused slightly as he met the other man's eyes. "You are serious." He gave a very slight laugh. "An actual family man. You do know the value of a CFA credit correct?"

"Yes." Bolt nodded. "Though er..." He paused and scratched at a cheek. "Ya might be getting a wrong impression somewhere. I do got some MTA credits too, and that helps me say no."

"I have a full profile of you, including your MTA company." The captain replied with a small shake of his head. "It changes little. Many rich people would jump at what we offer."

"Yet-" Bolt cut himself off and sighed. "Shall we move on?" The captain's objections were likely related to his place of birth and status more than anything else. There was no resolving this verbally.

"Very well, psionic nonsense aside, your sister attributed many of her accomplishments to your work so contact can be provisionally approved without further negotiations. Please be aware that we will be monitoring all communications, and improper information might cause restrictions or disciplinary actions." The captain continued. "You have the full contract for her enlistment?"

"Correct." Bolt said and paused slightly. "Since I don't want the credits, can I have her get the appropriate life extensions and implants for her station early?" He asked.

"CFA credits and internal merits are different. We prefer to avoid interchanging them, and it would likely make her future prospects harder rather than easier." Denib replied conversationally as he visibly recategorized something about the conversation internally. "Speaking from experience, the first few years in schooling are harsh but fair even to those with her background. We strictly monitor things to insure this. Afterwards she will face some social stigma, but considering her aptitude there will be few issues. That is assuming she applies herself."

"She will." Bolt let himself relax a bit. This was a career prospects conversation now, and they both knew it. "Would she have a chance to build ships?"

"We operate on automated tests and evaluations. If she passes the tests, she can apply to any opening and will be accepted if she has the appropriate score. Looking at her work on your primitive carrier, she could likely pass the test to become a junior shipwright now. I would not suggest it however, and you should speak with her on this."

Bolt paused and stared at the other man. "Weren't you worried about me talking with her?"

"Was I?" Denib asked with an upraised eyebrow. "I still am. Yet you should still talk with her about it. If she expands her education and moderates her vocabulary, she could likely apply to join a particular division that experiments with ships and other systems that are more aligned with her current leanings. I believe you understand what I am speaking of."

Ah. Bolt had forgotten that they were being monitored. Denib was dancing around a few things. He wanted spiritual tech. Gadget had done something with the carrier that had made the rather prickly and isolated CFA grab at it with both hands and now they were trying to cover their greed.

"I get it I think. You also..." Bolt trailed off and changed tracks. "Ahem. Actually you will be confiscating the carrier too as part of her submission for joining I assume."

"It will. You are entitled adequate compensation, unless you wish to wave it too." The captain asked with a small smirk.

"No, that won't be something we wave. We do need a ship like that. A replacement would be fine." Bolt waved it off.

That got a laugh from the captain. "No, actually it wouldn't. If we were replacing it due to normal factors that would be acceptable. Here..." The captain trailed off as he looked for something mentally. "Ah, there we are. You're getting an upgrade."

Something beeped on Bolt's comm and he pulled it out. The carrier that appeared in there was technically Third Rate in that the reactor was that level. The rest of it was very close to Second Rate. Skimming the specs made it apparent that the ship was a custom model of some sort.

"That experimental division I mentioned made this out of a desire to see how much you could do with primitive materials and explicitly limiting themselves. The thing was taking up space, so consider it almost a favor to take it." The captain waved a hand dismissively. "Your sister will likely be building a few of them as she learns. As part of our arrangement, we can have them handed to you, so long as she performs properly."

"I ain't selling family for anything." Bolt said very firmly. "But I will pass on your statements. Gadget's one of us, and now one of yours, and we all fight very hard for our family. Ya get it?"

"That is a very optimistic point of view, but a career of service is not something we are unfamiliar with." For a moment the captain looked very human as he looked off at something unseen. "The CFA was founded to protect humanity. We have long lines of people who do just that. If your sister lives up to those ideals, then she will have both my gratitude and appreciation."

"Well, I believe she'll try her best." Bolt said with a nod. "She's got a good head on her shoulders."

Captain Denib nodded as he got to his feet. "For a new cadet, that is all we ask for. Real duty comes after the training."

The man disappeared after that and Bolt stared a moment at the space before sighing and relaxing completely. That could have gone far worse.

 

[Sunhawk]

A stress point, but I think Bolt overall impressed the captain.

 

[Emptiness]

CFA: *Willing to give a small pile of credits for this example of spiritual ships*

Bolt: "Just give us a small shuttle, take care of me' sis, and let 'er call home once in a while"

CFA: *surprised Pikachu face*

 

[lost star]

With the CFA in orbit enforcing peace, the only thing they had left to do on the planet was cleanup. Locally this meant that morale was starting to soar. Battles had been reduced to a trickle due to sheer fear of possible CFA intervention. The organization wouldn't stop every fight on the surface, but no one wanted to chance the very fatal attention they'd provide. The Wrench Rats finally had room to repair and work.

They didn't even have to worry about the sandmen breaking through either. While the CFA wasn't going to handle 'internal' human affairs, they also weren't going to let the Sandmen disrupt them either. They were taking their time heading out actually, using normal FTL. If a few aliens got in their way, well they'd be negligent in their duties allowing them to exist. The pressure on the planet conflict wise was therefore basically gone. This meant a lot of celebration when there wasn't work.

Bolt was definitely not in the mood for something like that, so he'd ended up avoiding the main passages and sticking to the more isolated or barren areas. One of them, almost hilariously, was the main tactical room. There people still worked. It was with a skeleton crew yes, but they still worked.

"We still have many, many things to do, but for now we have something resembling a victory." Kriff explained once Bolt realized how empty the room was.

"No, no I get it." Bolt took a seat in front of the main tactical map. "Actually, if yer up for it, want to do a quick review?" He gestured.

"Something informal is fine ." The general agreed. "I still cannot believe this is the second time this has happened." He muttered.

"Hoping it's the last time." Bolt agreed. "Least it wasn't me this time."

"That does bring up a very large question we do need to answer for the future of the planet. Are your parents having more children?" Kriff asked almost half jokingly as he took a seat.

"Hah! No. They said they have enough stress already. The did negotiate with a few geneticists to have their DNA scanned. My sister and I have something special and rare apparently, but not unheard of. There's some hope for cheap genetic therapies for future generations or something like that based off our DNA." Bolt frowned slightly. "Actually, thinking about it, I should see how much we've gotten saved up. We do need to employ one at some point. Lilly's still furious she can't have her own kids."

"There is time. Honestly, now might be the best time. We have a cover for her in Headhunter, no one's eager to fight at the moment, and there's little immediate tasks that need to be accomplished." The general advised while bringing up a few things. "Even if the CFA leaves no one will attack this place for a good year or so just out of pure paranoia. You'd just need to arrange a secured trip and security there and back."

"That's probably the easiest thing." Renting a small MTA transport for just two people was actually 'relatively' cheap. Bolt could probably get Bubbles to help arrange that even. "But enough of that. Evaluations?" The designer asked the general.

"First thing I can think of is that we're likely going to be cutting back some on the Zombies. They're solid for their place, but too unconventional for raw recruits. I'd like to put more into the Soldiers, because a mech that moves forward with a spear is very easy to direct. " Kriff chuckled as he seemed to recall something. "I'd phase them out but a lot of our people like them for one reason or another."

"Fair." Bolt agreed with a nod.

"I'll hasten to say that I still want some. Not only do they produce some surprising hilarity sometimes, they're extremely useful to feign weakness when we need it." Kriff brought up a few pictures of mechs carrying around heads.

He hadn't intended that to be a feature, but he'd take it. "Anything else?"

"Bloody Berserkers are probably the only model I'd have complaints in, but that's only because using them in their intended role is costly. They're just a bit unconventional otherwise. Really I'd say everything you have is. It took work getting used to. This is both good and bad. The enemy has to adapt, but we do too." The general wiped out the pictures and brought up recordings of the previous battles. "For instance, the Undertakers went from being niche to being horrific battlefield controllers with just that strange change you did. That actually brings up my only real concern at the moment." He zoomed out. "What would we use for offense?"

"Off hand I'd say the Ghouls and the Curse Crows, but that's a bit anemic. The rest are sort of slow marchers due to a variety of factors." Bolt mused.

"Put it on your docket if you will then. Lower urgency is fine. Right now our goals are going to be to establish a presence on the planet and try to organize cleanups and actual systems for everyone else. We're probably going to have to fortify a few mountains. I don't think anyone else living here would be comfortable on the surface due to the constant battles." Kriff shook his head as he looked over the planet. "Hell of a thing to worry about."

He couldn't disagree with that. At the same time, when the battles weren't happening, he couldn't say he hated the world either. It was home to Bolt.

"For once we all have the ability to do lower priority things though, and that includes you. My suggestion is to head off with Lilly if you have the money and make those arrangements for childern. See if you can arrange to transport Morning Star as well. It does us no good here, and it'd reassure people if you keep some sort of defense with you." Kriff advised.

"I suppose I can research it all." Bolt said after some thought before turning back to the map. "Nothing else?"

"There's a whole host of things I could bring up. All of them boil down to the fact we need more mech designs. Yet like I said, we can wait. It's a fucking miracle, but we can wait." Kriff paused and leaned back in his seat. "If anything I think it'd be best for you to take your time if you leave. You and Lilly are pins holding everything up and you've been holding a lotta weight. Rest, recover, and stop thinking about what you can do for everyone and handle you own ass for a bit. Fuck, from what I've been told you never really had a honeymoon. Take one while you do your thing. If the geneticist insists on having her carry the child you'll want to limit piloting, and she'd go mad if there's nothing to do."

It was a very blatant near order that Bolt figured would be good to take. He left the room and began to research a few things before writing up a few messages. Might as well do this right if he was going to try.

A few exchanges with Bubbles, and then with an official who seemed like a cross between a travel agent and an MTA salesmen ended up with an actual itinerary. Bolt and Lilly would essentially pay for transportation to a specific planet. There they'd visit a geneticist that could help Lilly, and likely spend almost a year away while the child gestated and was born before returning.

It was surprisingly easy to arrange, and not even that expensive MTA credit wise. It was still hellishly expensive in local currency, but that wasn't something Bolt could fix. It was just one of the problems he'd had with his situation. MTA credits were simply too large to do anything locally, and using them would both draw attention and not really fix any serious issues. Using them here was splurging, but it was also discrete, relatively.