Humans for Hire

Terran Mercenary Ship "Voided Warranty", Home of the Bravo Bulldogs

On the ship, there was a flurry of activity. Gryzzk was amazed at how the ship went from a calm place where the most dangerous obstacle was Ensign Stabby to a place where everyone was jogging and the most common phrase was "Make-a-hole-make-it-wide!" - such rapid-fire declarations were immediately followed by a loaded hovercart being driven at a reckless pace through the hallways carrying various items. Carts laden with rations, armor, and power packs moved at a pace that was reckless at best and downright dangerous at worst. Gryzzk and Muranaga had to flatten themselves against a wall on three occasions as carts passed by them at unseemly speeds. Once they returned to their quarters, they found a crate with multiple weapons and small pre-packaged meals placed inside. Muranaga whistled lowly at the sight.

Gryzzk glanced around to see if anything else had been disturbed. "What...this is our quarters, correct?" People simply going in and out was concerning to him on some level.

Muranaga nodded. "Yep. They're delivering our combat loadouts to us early - Major's got a bad feeling." Muranaga flipped the case open, looking it over and nodding before laying it flat and sliding it under his bunk.

"Does he get these bad feelings often?"

"Nope. Looks like this is gonna be a smash-and-grab." Muranaga tapped a control on his desk and then turned to stand in front of it, facing the door. From the desk speakers a song began to play. It was a very basic rhythm, two rapid drumbeats followed by a number of hands clapping in unison. This went on for some time until ghostly figures began to appear, resolving into 4 human-sized figures.

Gryyzk recognized Roberts and Laroy but the other two were unknown. One was darkly colored with close-cropped hair, and the other seemed to only be a touch taller than Gryzzk himself with hair that had multiple colors blended somehow. They both seemed to be female, but Gryzzk didn't trust himself enough to be certain. He did know that he intensely disliked this communication format. There were no scents to judge, only voice tone and expression. It was infuriating. And the two unknowns seemed to be biting their lip at something. If the First Sergeants' reaction was anything to judge, they were restraining themselves from saying the word "Puppy."

Muranaga led things off. "Squad, at ease. This is our observer, Gryzzk. Gryzzk, I'd like to introduce you to Private Reilly, who handles our comms." He pointed to the smaller one. "And the tall frightening looking one is Private Edwards. She runs our sensors and drone suites and as needed spots for long-range strikes. Roberts drives us where we need to be, and Laroy is our shooter and mechanic. We've all got a baseline marksmanship, but Laroy's - well, everyone's got a gift and his is putting rounds on target. Now then, anyone got any questions before we start briefing?"

Reilly bounced on her toes a bit, anxiously until Muranaga pointed with two fingers at her. "Whatcha got Reilly?"

Reillys' image was rotated forward and grinned hugely. "Is he single?!" Her voice was a trilling of birds in the mating season, which made Gryzzk blink a few times in shock.

The whole squad groaned and muttered oaths as Muranaga pinched the bridge of his nose for a long moment before saying anything. "Also, Private Reilly is the squad comedienne. No need to answer her Gryzzk, she's just poking for a reaction."

Gryzzk stood up a little taller. "I do not mind answering. I am married, and have been for many years - my Clanlord chose my wife when we were both of an age, and we have been together many years. We have one child, and before I left, Grezzk told me that we will have twins soon." Reilly pouted, but then brightened at the mention of children.

There was a pause for a moment before Gryzzk realized he needed to explain. "Twins are very rare for Vilantians, and they are harbingers of luck. With the actions we are taking, I feel that they are good luck."

Laroy spoke up, "So twins be bad luck too?"

There was a nod from Gryzzk. "Either very good or very bad. No in between."

A shrug was the reply. "Then good luck it is. We hope."

Muranaga gave a little hand motion. "Alright, before we get too deep into this, briefing time. We popped out of R-space early, we're running silent, and we all got presents from Top. That means in about 15 minutes when the bridge has plotted a course, we're getting our assignments. Until we make orbit, no leaving your quarters unless we're on boarding party duty. Half showers, but you can bank it and get a full shower every other day if you can stand your funk that long. Comms are open, but if I'm on don't disturb, it means I'm in an officers' meeting – if you think you're more important than the Major by all means. Same with Sergeant Roberts. Chow printers are locked - we may need the energy for something other than filling your bottomless stomachs. And when Cookie slides something special under your door, you eat it and get your war faces on. Dismissed." And with that, the figures vanished from the room.

Gryzzk sat on his bunk, considering what had happened. In many respects it was not unlike the breakfast discussion he'd had with the servants before they began their daily routine. However, the details were of a completely different pattern.

Muranaga had settled himself into his bunk and was tapping on a tablet and making an unhappy face.

"Is there a concern Lieutenant?" Gryzzk had stopped settling himself.

Muranaga waved a hand. "Nothing major, just a couple maintenance items I woulda preferred to have done. Major coming outta R-space early put a crimp in some plans."

"Ah." There was a long pause before Gryzzk approached his next question as if it were to be put to an angry lord. "Is this a normal behavior for the ship before...things happen?"

There was a little nod. "Well, for this situation, yeah. Sometimes the client wants us to come in guns blazing and making a show of force. This one though, we want to be church-mouse quiet. So no excess emissions and every spare erg we've got is getting dumped into the shield capacitors. We've got a little bit for meetings and there's a rec balance of about 3 hours a night, but for the most part we doing the old hurry up and wait thing."

Gryzzk seemed almost comforted by the thought. "Energy rationing for the war effort is wise. We do it a great deal on Vilantia."

Muranaga quirked an eyebrow. "How's that work? Wait, hold that thought." He began tapping on his tablet rapidly, his scent changing to something a touch different. "Had to send a message to command, making sure I'm on the afternoon briefing schedule." Muranaga adjusted his rank insignia slightly to ensure it was straight.

"This happens often?"

There was a shrug. "It's good to verify." Muranaga glanced down, seeing the message he'd sent to Reilly had been received. "Anyway, energy rationing?" Muranaga moved forward slightly.

There was a bit of a pause. "Well, my lord says the war effort has been going on for several years. As a result, we haven't been able to build or produce anything that's not directly involved in the war, and our energy production is to be prioritized, with our non-war facilities being given the second water. But," he brightened "With the return of the Heir, we'll be able to hold off the Hurdop and make them bargain."

"Okay, how did the Heir get kidnapped in the first place?"

"I am...uncertain. One day my lord went to bed pleased, and the next day I greeted him and he was in poor humor. I listened and he communicated with several of his fellow lords that the Throne-heir had been kidnapped and he had received notice that the Hurdop had taken the heir to be with their greatest treasures."

"Is your lord special or something?"

Gryzzk shook his head. "No. My Lord has no position that is not equaled or surpassed by many others. He has his complaints about the governance, like many of the lords, but there is only so much the Great Lords can do in these times."

Muranaga chuffed softly, but his reply was cut off by an incoming chime. "Oh lord. Brace yourself Gryzzk, it's Reilly."

Gryzzk blinked a few times as Muranaga touched a control on his tablet and spoke. "Reilly, you're audio-only right now. If you're not decent, you owe me pushups."

The songbirds' note that was Reillys' voice made a sad sound. "Fiiiine." There was a pause before she spoke again. "Okay, I've got a shirt on."

Muranagas' reply was severe. "And what did we say about pants?"

"That the pants are not optional. I'm wearing shorts." There was a hint of pleading in Reillys' voice.

"Is Edwards sleeping?"

"No, but she didn't want to talk. She's playing one of her old games."

"Alright. Try not to embarrass yourself." With that, Muranaga touched another control and the image of Reilly appeared in their room. To her credit, Reilly was dressed as she described, however both the standard Bulldog shirt and shorts seemed a small fit. She twirled a bit to show off that she was in fact actually dressed, and then settled into a chair – however, she sat in it oddly, with her rear on the seat back and feet firmly planted on the seat itself.

Muranaga snorted, glancing at his tablet. "Gryzzk, the disconnect is right there if you need to use it. I got an officers' meeting to go to." With that he hopped into his bunk and closed a solid partition to give himself (and Gryzzk) a bit of privacy.

Reilly started the conversation off as soon as the partition closed. "So...you're married, but what do the Vilantians say about polygamy?"

Gryzzk was startled by the forwardness of the question. "It is not a normal practice. In most times the Clan-Way forbids such things, but the Clan Lords can petition the Great Lords for an easement of marriage laws within their estates to allow for multiple husbands or wives if the population is low or imbalanced in some manner."

"Does that happen often?"

"Not often." Gryzzk paused. "It is being considered by the Council of Lords. Or so my lord tells me."

"Wait wait back up. Is everyone a Lord?"

"Only the Lords are Lords. Within a territory, however, the greatest of the lords becomes a Great Lord. And from the Great Lords, they select the Council of Lords. The Council advises the Throne on weighty matters of state, trade, production, and so forth. The Throne is the final arbiter of all things and is our ambassador to the Collective. They teach the Throne-heir that when the Heir comes of age, they are the fittest and wisest of us all, taking only those acts that will benefit Vilantia as a whole. No Heir means the full wisdom of the Throne cannot be passed, and the Council of Lords will fall to fighting among themselves for the Throne. It has happened in the past, and Vilantia has always suffered for it. But now with the Throne and Consort aged, they would pass to the trees well before any new Heir could take wisdom. That is why this is as important as it is, and why it must be done in silence."

"That is so...wow." Reilly leaned forward, head in her palms and resting her elbows on her legs. "So what's your lord like?"

"Lord A'Kifab and I have been greatest friends since childhood. He is wise, but troubled in ways. He dotes greatly upon my child, since he has none of his own. He always ensures that his people are cared for, even going so far as to bend the Way to ensure their collective health."

"He never married? Huh."

There was a twinge of sadness in Gryzzks' voice. "He was. It was his greatest day when he came to me and said that the Great Lord had chosen a wife for him. The next day at his wedding ceremony, he announced his choice of bride for me, and the next day I wed and she took the female form of my name - Grezzk. But Lady A'Kefab took illness and died a half-year after their wedding." He looked down, remembering. "The Great Lord sent doctors, but they said her illness was too far gone to treat. It was a dark time in the house - Lord A'Kifab was desperate for any sort of hope, but when all hope failed, she was given to the land and a tree planted to mark her place in the world."

"That's so sad." Reillys' voice was low, and her eyes seemed watery. "But he had you and uh, Grezzk and the rest of the house, right?"

"Indeed. I believe that may have been a saving grace. He threw himself into the estates and holdings, making pact with the neighbors to share as much as possible. It's unusual – generally the Lords tend to fight amongst themselves to be seen as superior and thus be elevated to Great Lords. I like to think that since he had no wife with which to make a family, he took all of the estate and made them his family."

"But he could remarry, right?"

"If the Great Lord finds one who smells right, he will petition her Lord or Great Lord with a lock of fur. If her Lord approves, he takes fur from her and it is mixed to become part of the clan fur. Mostly symbolic, but in ancient times when the clans roamed more, the clan fur was a thing that marked history. What other clans they had made pact with, clans that they had fought. All that and more from the smell of the fur. But that has not happened yet, and it has been a good number of years." Gryzzk found himself feeling more at ease - the interest in his culture had seemed minimal up to this point, but this Reilly seemed to have a interest. Perhaps she was planning on becoming a exo-sociologist.

"He's a Lord, though – couldn't he find another wife from the estates?"

Gryzzk shook his head violently. "No - such a thing is forbidden by the Clan Way. In times before, Lords would take wives from the estates, and have many children. Always when such happened, the Clan would fracture. And now the Clan Way guides us and bids us to be patient, for the unripened fruit is a bitter meal." There was a pause. "I believe this action Lord A'kifab takes is to impress our Great Lord and prove that he is a worthy steward to a second wife."

Reilly nodded. "If I heard about someone being a bad enough dude to rescue the President I'd sure want to ride him through the deck plates."

Inside his bunk, Muranaga groaned softly. "Did you have to go there, Reilly?"

There was a smattering of chuckles from the other figures on his tablet. Major Williams spoke first. "Well, we got a nice piece of intel or two. Anyone else think Lord Kiffy's bucking for promotion?"

Captain Ericsson replied for the group. "Maybe he's got his eyes on the big shiny chair. Wouldn't be the first time. Tragedy strikes, and then the war rolls 'em back to medieval times and using drastic measures to keep the factories running. Someone probably thinks they could be the new boss and tell his old boss to kick rocks."

The Major nodded. "I'm glad you think that. Ericsson, you and Sparks are going to visit the Lieutenants' quarters tonight. Toss Gryzzks' stuff and make sure we're not leaking anything out. Lieutenant, your squad's going to be on aft boarding party duty tonight. Get some rest and enjoy the chow."

Muranaga nodded. "Yes sir. I'll let them know now. Squad's going to want an extra movie night after, sir."

The Major nodded. "Approved. Dismissed, and good hunting." The tablet went dark.

Muranaga emerged from his bunk rapidly, angrily even to Gryzzks' eyes and nose.

"Reilly, assembly position, now."

It was a testament to her skill that she didn't ask, she simply jumped and shouted at Edwards to save her game already. Edwards showed up in view, and then Laroy and Roberts who were wearing parts of their body armor.

Muranaga paced a bit. "Squad at ease. I just got done with the officers' briefing, and we drew short straw -" There was a chorus of groans and curses for a few moments before Roberts made a hand-chopping motion and they fell silent, allowing Muranaga to continue. "We drew the short straw, so we're on overnight aft boarding party. The good news is, the Majors' authorized movie night for us immediately after, and a double feature tomorrow. Get some rest, get your gear ready. Assembly in front of my quarters at twenty-two hundred. Dismissed."