Convictions

Chapter One

Chapter One
Unity City, Earth
SLDF Base
Strait of Juan de Fuca
Officers lounge
11 October 2780
07:00GST

Major Matthew Chapman looked out of the panoramic view overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. He had always been a history buff so he knew that this area used to be part of the United States before the Terran Alliance. As he was drinking his beer he recalled what happen the day before, the High Council and their petty difference could not agree on making Kerensky the First Lord of the Terran Alliance even after all he did to help save it. Matthew was one of the few surviving company officers of the 151st Royal BattleMech Division because of the civil war but every night when he closed his eyes all he did was have nightmares about the war. Most of his friends were dead, most of the members of the battalion were dead, but they had won the battle and are on some well-deserved R/R around the world. Ordering another beer he heard a person walking up to him, the sound was familiar and the air in the lounge went cold. It could only mean one thing his pompous father had entered the room. Basil Chapman the Vic Admiral commander of the 171st Reconnaissance Squadron of the 17th Fleet was in Matthews opinion arrogant, self-righteous, out of touch with the real war man.

Father, what brings you to the lounge of MechWarrior scum? Matthew said without turning around.

Major Chapman, I would have appreciated it if you call me by my rank while on-duty

Matthew then slowly turned around, Admiralsorry, but I am not on-duty. So say what you have come to say and then leave me aloneAdmiral.

Major. Um son the 151st is dead I am going to transfer you to a proper position with me at the 171st. There are things in play in the background and I need to make sure you are with me when it comes to pass.

No, Admiral if you gave such order I will resign, I have seen the way you operate and I dont want to be part of it. With that Matthew walked away, the unfinished beer sitting on the table.

Matthew left the lounge pissed off at the world pissed off at his father but more than anything pissed off at the truth his father had said about the 151st. As he walked to clear his head he started to remember again the next to last battle he was involved in, the one in which he lost most of his unit all because of his father.

July 2779 Colombia River

It was the hardest fought battle to date. At the time he was a Captain in charge of the 101st Company, but after the last failed attempt at a direct assault against the fortified position on the other side of the river he had lost two of his lance commanders, and his battalion commander was also dead, the Archer was still face down in the water just meters away from the enemys banks. Matthews mech, a Nightstar-9J, was beat the hell up, the techs currently were retrofitting armor from a destroyed Longbow on both his arms in attempt to give the inner systems some protection. As Matthew walked through the crumpled and destroyed town in which his unit was resting, he notice yet another horror from this war. The scene was a gruesome a Civilian wife holding the head of her half burnt and destroyed body of her husband. Simply, because missiles had missed their mark and destroyed their home. A child that looked just like him sat on the ground in front of them sobbing because his dad dead, as the child looked into the eyes of soldier that was walking by he broke out in a scream and ran toward the burning house. Matthew right then had a moment of worry his family had moved to New Earth last year but still he worried about his children and wife and wondered what they were doing. His communicator went off, Chapman here

Sir, this is HQ, General Hayes wants all commanders at the brief room for details on the next push

Roger HQ, I am on my way

Running to the makeshift command tent Matthew started to question the sanity of command. He understood that the enemy needed to be defeated, but there has to be a better way than just run up to them only to get destroyed because they are fortified.