The arrival of the government representative was an unwelcome disruption to the Wolf's Dragoons' carefully laid plans. Jaime Wolf sat behind his desk, his expression calm but his mind already calculating the implications of this unexpected visit. The representative, a middle-aged man with a neutral demeanor and the polished air of a career bureaucrat, stood before him, flanked by four bodyguards in the crisp uniforms of the Andro Planetary Guard. The man's politeness was almost unnerving, a veneer of civility that did little to mask the weight of the decree he carried.
Major Evelyn Pritchard and Joshua Wolf stood to one side, their expressions carefully neutral. Natasha Kerensky's absence was a small blessing; her temper was legendary, and Jaime had no doubt her reaction to the decree would have been… explosive. As it was, the room was tense enough without her adding fuel to the fire.
The representative cleared his throat and produced a sealed document, holding it out with the solemnity of a man delivering a death sentence. "Colonel Wolf, I bring a decree from the office of the Planetary Governor. I trust you will give it the attention it deserves."
Jaime took the document, his eyes scanning the ornate seal before breaking it open. The decree was written in formal, bureaucratic language, but its meaning was clear. As Jaime read, the representative began to recite its contents aloud, his voice steady and devoid of inflection.
"First," he began, "all mercenaries and non-government organizations, including corporations and their dependents, are required to confine themselves to their compounds and barracks for the duration of Auction Day. This measure is intended to ensure public safety and minimize disruptions during the event."
Jaime's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, his eyes flicking to Pritchard and Joshua. Both wore expressions of mild disbelief, though they remained silent.
"Second," the representative continued, "bidders are permitted no more than ten persons in their entourage. Of these, five may serve as bodyguards or security personnel, armed with personal defense weapons and no more. The remaining five shall consist of the primary bidder and up to four assistants. This restriction is non-negotiable and applies to all parties."
Joshua's eyebrows rose at that, but he kept his thoughts to himself. The Dragoons had planned to bring a larger contingent to the auction, both for security and to gather intelligence. This decree would force them to rethink their approach.
"Third," the representative went on, "BattleMechs, military vehicles, and VTOLs are to be confined to their assigned official mech bays, garages, and airpads for the duration of Auction Day. Exceptions will be made only in the event of dire emergencies, such as pirate raids, and only with prior authorization from the Planetary Guard."
Jaime's fingers tightened on the edge of the decree. Confining their 'Mechs and vehicles was a significant blow. The Dragoons' strength lay in their mobility and firepower, and this decree effectively neutered both. It was a bold move by the Andro government, and one that spoke volumes about their confidence.
Or their fear.
"Fourth," the representative said, his tone still neutral, "the Andro government will handle security throughout the capital, while Shephard Industries and their hired security will manage the premises of the auction area with full and unrestricted discretion. This division of responsibility is intended to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure the smooth operation of the event."
Pritchard's lips thinned at that, but she remained silent. The idea of Shephard Industries having "unrestricted discretion" over the auction area was troubling, to say the least. It gave them far too much control—and far too much opportunity to manipulate the situation to their advantage.
"Finally," the representative concluded, "all parties have been notified of this decree simultaneously, and an armistice of non-aggression will be in effect from today until the end of Auction Day. Any violation of this armistice will be met with the full force of the law."
The room fell silent as the representative finished speaking. Jaime leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. The decree was a masterstroke, one that effectively tied the Dragoons' hands while giving Shephard Industries free rein. It was a clear message: the Andro government was in control, and they expected everyone to fall in line.
"I trust the terms are clear," the representative said, his tone still polite but with an edge of finality.
"They are," Jaime replied, his voice calm but with a hint of steel beneath the surface. "You may inform the Governor that the Wolf's Dragoons will comply with the decree."
The representative nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Thank you, Colonel. I will convey your response to the Governor's office. Good day."
With that, he turned and left, his bodyguards falling into step behind him. The door closed with a soft click, and the room seemed to exhale.
"Well," Joshua said, breaking the silence, "that's a problem."
"Understatement of the year," Pritchard muttered, her arms crossed. "Confining us to our compound? Restricting our entourage? And letting Shephard Industries run the auction area with 'unrestricted discretion'? This stinks, Jaime. They're boxing us in."
Jaime nodded, his expression grim. "They are. But we're not out of options yet."
"What do you mean?" Joshua asked, frowning.
Jaime leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "The decree restricts our movements, but it doesn't restrict our intelligence-gathering. We still have Wolfnet, and we still have the Seventh Kommando. If we can't bring the fight to them, we'll bring the information to us."
Pritchard's eyes gleamed with understanding. "You want us to work the shadows. Gather intel on Shephard Industries and their security without breaking the decree."
And if the other parties affected by the decree would not think to do the same thing, he would eat his boots.
"Tell every officer that we have an emergency meeting." Jaime ordered. "So much changed we have to adjust."
And the following meeting did not fare better.
The decree from the Andro government had thrown a wrench into the Dragoons' carefully laid plans, and the officers gathered around the table were not taking it well. Voices rose and fell in a cacophony of argument, accusation, and speculation, each officer voicing their concerns with varying degrees of restraint.
Jaime Wolf sat at the head of the table, his expression calm but his eyes sharp as he listened to the heated debate. He had expected pushback, but the level of discontent was higher than he had anticipated. It wasn't until Major Evelyn Pritchard slammed her fist on the table, her voice cutting through the noise like a knife, that the room fell silent.
"Enough!" she barked, her eyes blazing. "We're wasting time arguing about what we can't do. The real question is why this decree exists in the first place. What the hell happened that made the Andro government move this fast? And why are they bending over backward for Shephard Industries?"
The room fell silent, the officers turning to Jaime for answers. He leaned forward, his fingers steepled in front of him. "Major Pritchard raises an excellent point. This decree didn't come out of nowhere. Something happened, something that was big and left a lasting impression, and we need to find out what it was."
Joshua Wolf, seated to Jaime's left, frowned. "You think Shephard Industries pressured the government? Or maybe there was an incident they're trying to cover up?"
"Both are possibilities," Jaime replied, his voice calm but with an edge of steel. "But we won't know until we dig deeper. Wolfnet needs to find out what triggered this decree, and they need to do it fast. If we're going to work around to these restrictions, we need to understand the playing field."
Pritchard nodded, her expression grim. "I'll get Wolfnet on it immediately. If there's a smoking gun, we'll find it."
"Good," Jaime said, his gaze sweeping the room. "In the meantime, we need to adjust our plans. The decree limits our movements, but it doesn't eliminate alternative options. We'll just have to be smarter about how we operate."
The room fell silent as the officers processed his words. Then, one by one, they began to nod, their expressions hardening with resolve.
"First," Jaime continued, "we'll comply with the decree—on the surface, at least. We'll confine our forces to the compound and limit our entourage to the auction. But that doesn't mean we're out of the game. The Seventh Kommando will operate in the shadows, gathering intel and keeping an eye on Shephard Industries and their security. If there's a weakness, they'll find it."
"What about the auction itself?" Joshua asked, his brow furrowed. "If we're limited to ten people, we'll need to choose our team carefully. And we'll need a cover story to explain why we're even bidding on the MAD-CAT."
Jaime's lips twitched in a faint smile. "We'll play the part of interested buyers. It's not a stretch—Shephard Industries' products are supposedly top-tier, and the MAD-CAT is their very newest product to hi the market. We'll use the auction as an opportunity to gather intel and, if possible, acquire one of those mechs. But our primary objective is to find out how Shephard Industries got their hands on Clan tech. Everything else is secondary."
Pritchard leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "And if things go sideways? If Shephard and their Cerberus lackeys figure out what we're really after?"
Jaime's expression hardened, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous tone. "Then we deal with it. Quietly. But only if we have to. The last thing we need is a full-blown confrontation with Shephard Industries or the Andro government. We still have the five year contract with the Federated Suns to consider, and I would not endanger us needlessly this early in out time in the Inner Sphere."
As the meeting drew to a close, Jaime leaned back in his chair, his mind already racing ahead. The decree was a setback, but it was also an opportunity. While he would have to start doing this in the shadows instead of out in the open with guns blazing, Wolfnet and 7th Kommando where the best that the Inner Sphere had never faced before.
The Wolf's Dragoons had faced impossible odds before, and they had always come out on top.
This time would be no different.
To be continued...