Security was paramount for the dependents of the Wolf's Dragoons, especially in light of the Andro government's decree confining all mercenary and non-official organizations to their compounds.
It was common sense, really. If the majority of their strength was to be confined to quarters in the lead-up to Auction Day, it stood to reason that the more unsavory elements of society would see this as an opportunity to make their move. The Dragoons' dependents of families, support staff, and non-combat personnel were a vulnerable target, and Jaime Wolf wasn't about to let them become collateral damage in whatever game Shephard Industries and the Andro government were playing.
The meeting to address security measures was tense but efficient. Joshua Wolf took the lead, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness as he outlined the plan. "We'll double the guard rotations around the compound," he said, his voice firm. "All access points will be monitored 24/7, and we'll set up additional checkpoints within the compound itself. Anyone entering or leaving will need to pass through multiple layers of verification."
Major Evelyn Pritchard nodded in agreement, her sharp eyes scanning the room. "We'll also need to establish a rapid response team," she added. "If something happens, we can't afford to wait for orders. They'll need to be ready to move at a moment's notice."
Jaime listened in silence, his expression unreadable. The measures were sound, but they were also reactive. What he needed was a way to stay one step ahead of whoever might be planning to exploit the situation. "What about intelligence?" he asked, his voice cutting through the discussion. "We need eyes and ears outside the compound. If someone's planning to hit us, I want to know about it before they make their move."
Pritchard's lips twitched in a faint smile. "Wolfnet's already on it. We've got operatives embedded in the local underworld, and we're monitoring communications channels. If there's chatter about an attack, we'll know."
Jaime nodded, satisfied. "Good. But we can't afford to get complacent. Shephard Industries has already shown they're willing to play hardball. We need to be ready for anything."
As the meeting continued, Natasha Kerensky was conspicuously absent. Unbeknownst to the others, she had slipped away to follow up on a lead of her own. The bar where she and Joshua had first learned about the MAD-CAT auction was a hive of activity, its dimly lit interior filled with the usual mix of mercenaries, locals, and the occasional corporate rep. Natasha made her way to the bar, her sharp eyes scanning the room for the bartender, Sid.
He had been a fixture at the bar for as long as anyone could remember, and he had a knack for knowing things he shouldn't. He was also one of those fancy influencers (promoters, really) that had a lucrative gig with Shephard Industries. When Natasha approached, he gave her a knowing look and slid a glass of whiskey across the counter. "Figured you'd be back," he said, his voice gruff. "What do you want this time?"
Natasha smirked, leaning against the bar. "I need the latest Shephard Industries catalogue. The one with the auction items."
Sid raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. He reached under the counter and pulled out a sleek, glossy brochure, sliding it across to her. "Here you go. Fresh off the press. But don't say I didn't warn you, some of those prices will make your eyes water."
Natasha flipped through the catalogue, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the listings. The MAD-CAT was front and center, its sleek, angular design showcased in full-color glory. The description touted its speed, firepower, and advanced technology, but it was the price tag that caught her attention.
The minimum bid was set at 20 million C-Bills.
She let out a low whistle. "Twenty million? That's steep."
Sid chuckled, polishing a glass with a rag. "Steep? That's just the starting point. Rumor has it the corpos are willing to go five times that. Maybe more. You know how it is… when it comes to new lostech, money's no object."
Natasha's lips curled into a grim smile. "The Inner Sphere economics do not make sense."
"Never have, never will," Sid replied with a shrug. "But that's the game, isn't it? You want the best, you pay the price."
Natasha closed the catalogue and slipped it into her jacket. "Thanks, Sid. You've been a big help."
"Anytime," he said, his tone casual but his eyes glinting with something that might have been amusement. "Just remember when you're bidding on that MAD-CAT, don't forget who gave you the inside track."
As she left the bar, Natasha's mind was already racing. The MAD-CAT's price tag was a problem, but it was also an opportunity. If the corpos were willing to spend that much, it meant they saw the mech as a game-changer. And if the Dragoons could get their hands on one, it might give them the leverage they needed to uncover Shephard Industries' secrets.
Back at the compound, Jaime was waiting for her. He raised an eyebrow as she handed him the catalogue. "Find anything useful?"
Natasha's smile was predatory. "Oh, you could say that. The MAD-CAT's starting bid is 20 million C-Bills. And the corpos are willing to go five times that."
Jaime's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed. "That's… ambitious."
"Ambitious, yes. But it also tells us something important," Natasha said, her voice low. "20 million as the minimum means they are confident enough that people would buy it immediately with no questions asked just to be the first ones in the lead."
Jaime nodded, his mind already working through the implications. "Agreed. But we'll need to be careful. If we're going to bid on that MAD-CAT, we'll need a cover story."
Natasha's smile widened. "Leave that to me. I've got a few ideas."
As they walked back to the command center, Jaime couldn't help but feel a flicker of confidence.
He went to his office and decided to give a more detailed review of the catalogue. After all, knowledge was power.
He was to regret those words later.
Jaime Wolf sat in his office, the Shephard Industries catalogue spread out before him like a battlefield map. The glossy pages were filled with high-resolution images and glowing descriptions of the items up for auction, but as he read through them, his mind was blaring alarms. This wasn't just a collection of lostech relics or salvaged Star League equipment. This was something else entirely.
Something far more dangerous.
His eyes narrowed as he flipped to the section on battle armor. The Longinus Battle Armor stared back at him, its bulky, angular design a far cry from the advanced Elemental Battle Armour the Children of Kerensky typically fielded. The description touted its advanced materials, integrated jump jets, and modular weapon systems on its right arm, but it was the specifications that caught his attention.
"What the fuck is a Longinus Battle Armor?" Jaime muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with disbelief. He had seen Clan Elemental suits in action, and this… this was disturbingly close. Too close.
The left arm had a battle claw, for fuck's sake!
He flipped to the next page, and his alarm only grew.
"What the fuck is a David Light Gauss Rifle?" he said aloud, his voice rising in frustration.
The David Light Gauss Rifle was listed as a "revolutionary advancement in infantry-scale weaponry," capable of punching through heavy armor with ease. The description boasted of its lightweight design, minimal recoil, and extended range. He had to re-read that section three times before he accepted that it wasn't a typo. A man-portable Gauss weapon, designed for use in squad-based infantry combat. The listed muzzle velocity suggested lower kinetic energy than a full-sized Gauss rifle, but that didn't matter.
If this thing worked the way the specs claimed, it would punch clean through power armor and vehicle plating alike.
And it wasn't even the most terrifying thing on offer.
When did SI get the knowledge to create a man-portable dual-purpose anti-air/anti-armor guided missile launcher called the Javelin?!
Wolf rubbed his temples, willing away the tension creeping into his skull.
The listing described a compact, shoulder-mounted system with fire-and-forget targeting, meaning even the greenest infantryman could hit a moving target without needing advanced training. The warhead was described as intelligent, able to recognize and track heat and radar signatures dynamically.
It was, essentially, an anti-Mech, anti-air and anti-vehicle nightmare in the hands of anyone trained to use it.
This wasn't lostech!
This was something new.
"When did SI get the knowledge to create something like this?!" Jaime slammed the catalogue down on his desk, his mind racing.
The door to his office opened, and Natasha Kerensky strode in, her expression as sharp as ever. She took one look at Jaime's face and raised an eyebrow. "Bad news?"
Jaime gestured to the catalogue. "Take a look for yourself."
Natasha picked it up and began flipping through the pages, her eyes narrowing as she read. By the time she reached the section on the Javelin, her lips were pressed into a thin line. "This is Clan-level tech. Maybe better."
"Exactly," Jaime replied, his tone grim. "Shephard Industries isn't just selling salvaged Star League equipment. They're producing new technology—technology that shouldn't exist in the Inner Sphere."
Natasha's eyes gleamed with a predatory light. "So the question is, how did they get it? Did they reverse-engineer Clan tech? Or did someone give it to them?"
Jaime leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. "That's what we need to find out. But one thing's clear: Shephard Industries is a bigger threat than we thought."
The Dragoons had come to the Inner Sphere to observe and report, but this… this was a threat they couldn't ignore.
Shephard Industries wasn't just selling this technology.
They were showing it off.
Like it was normal.
What the hell were they going to do?