<div align="center">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/1/15/SNMechPatrol.jpg)</div><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Chapter 1 “The Secret in the ricefield.”</span></div><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *</span></div><br/><div class="floatright">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cf/SNBurn.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Michelle Gardner  (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=283333.msg13938150#msg13938150)<br/><strong>Vehicle:</strong>-<br/><strong>Location and time:</strong>Landing zone<br/><strong>Warning:</strong>-<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Open<br/><hr/><br/>The trip is rather uneventful as far as they go, Michelle can be seen constantly chewing on a pen while desperately hoping that the figures and the text on the many printouts that seem to always be on the table in front of her would change. Still whenever one of her pilots wants to talk she will gladly take the time. She tries to not be locked up in her small office and actually interact with the men and women under her command.<br/><br/>As the hour comes closer she calls all the pilots back together in the messhall for a final update briefing. Again she brings up the map of the compound this time it is updated with information that they been able to get since taking off. Michelle spent many hours arguing with their employer about the lack of intel and the secretive people behind the mission finally gave up some of it.<br/><br/>“Ok, I done what I can to get our very tight lipped boss to spill the beans. And I had some success, not as much as we would like perhaps. I think in the chaos of the Clan invasion they had to leave quickly and honestly it seems like whoever hired us is almost as much in the dark of things as we are. Anyway, the gun turrets have an automatic setting that is supposed to be turned on when the place is abandoned. If that was done in the hurry we do not know but assume that the guns will fire on you. So Angel you will be the one to let us know, and try to let us know without turning into a burning wreck.”<br/><br/>She gives a slight little wink at him, the effect distorted since half her face refuses to move but still it is clear she is just teasing ever so slightly. Then she points to the hangar building and now there is a crooked grin on her face.<br/><br/>“And they admitted there are three mechs in the hangar. Two Aggromechs and one Hatchetman. We are being offered a bonus if we prevent those from falling into enemy hands. Why they would worry about two Aggromechs and a hatchetman well, I don't think they care about the first but probably the last. So I am guessing it is either using stolen tech or they otherwise modded it. So I say if we can we take it. We can always sell it after all. And our boss don't care, they just don't want the Dracs or Clanners to get a hold of it. The password for the Hatchetman is “Buttercup Butterfly fly high”. We are talking about a cool 3 mill for the mech alone if we wish to sell it. So that would go a long way towards our current fiscal issues.”<br/><br/>Then she turns towards Nathaniel and nods ever so slightly.<br/><br/>“Nathaniel will be in command on the ground, I will feed him what intel we get from back here at the dropship. As soon as we touch down I want Angel in the air and the rest of you to get moving as fast as you can. The battle has been spreading towards our objective and is only a matter of time before one side will see the strategic advantage of a walled compound with gun turrets. And I rather not get tangled up in THAT mess. According to one of our employers people that is on the ground the closet scout unit to our target is a small Clan unit about 30 kilometers away. Reported as being two small scout mechs but that is all we know. As for what the two sides think of us, we already been hailed and told we are not welcome by both sides. So.. expect anyone to shoot at you.”<br/><br/>Again she pauses to take a drink of water to wet the whistle. Her eyes wander over every single one and while she is clearly none to happy with how little they know she has confidence in them all. And the smile that breaks out on her face shows that.<br/><br/>“I know you all can do this, just get home safe ok? Now anyone willing to try and get the Hatchetman home or shall we blow it where it is? One of the techs will be flying with you Angel on the second run after you scouted to go in and secure us the data.”