Watching Warriors Work (DT-1, Afternoon, Simulator Room)

[James Hall]

"I wouldn't call it here. We got another batch. Let's see how they pilot first."

[Theodore Beker]

He laughed, "Yeah but some of them are here to hear you." He glanced over his shoulder.

[James Hall]

James raised an eyebrow. Was 'hanger queen' an insult? "I'm not sure what you mean. I would never insult a warrior." He seemed deeply concerned about this. Not that he feared angering anyone. But that he committed some sort of sin. Insulting a warrior, at least a true warrior, was something you just did not do.

[Theodore Beker]

"Hangar Queens are that mech that is always in the hangar for repairs. Some mechwarriors get touchy about it. Most just laugh it off or complain about not liking their current ride much," he swigged his beer, "Just the way some mechs are."

[James Hall]

"I see." James took a long drink. He had gotten the concept, but the idea that a warrior could take it as an insult.... It was just unthinkable. It was not a technician's place to give warriors such insults. Even if it was only the vaguest sort. He didn't think such things even when Alice...

James shook his head.

And with Mata right here. He needed to make sure she knew the proper order of things. But he didn't want to insult the man either. "Well, I see. Didn't hear that term during my training, and well, anything that could be considered an insult to warrior was.... discouraged. Even if most do not care." Not that there was anything he could think of that a warrior would laugh off and another would be insulted. He was used to warriors being more prickly.

[Theodore Beker]

"Sounds like you've met more of the former than the later," he set his beer aside, "That's got to be rough on morale. What unit were you in before?"

[James Hall]

Mata turned her attention to James at this question. "It was called Raven's Eyes. I don't know if it still exists. Our employer sold us out to the pirates they wanted us to protect them from. That was the first mission. Some of the aerospace pilots managed to get away. Of those captured.... well, it's just me and Mata now."

[Theodore Beker]

"Oh, really bad for morale," he shook his head, "I feel sorry for you pal. Pirates are a nasty bit of work."

[Dorgan Bruun]

Bruun had continued to lurk quietly, observing the action, learning what he could about these new people...

Quite unexpectedly, long after the comment had been made and discussed: "You're probably not wrong about the hangar queen. But it might also be me," he says, more bemused than anything. "I've outlived three downed mechs in my years, so you can decide how you want to count the salvage work I might give you. Also, you never offered me a beer." There's a dramatic pause, and then Bruun laughs uproariously about all of it.

[James Hall]

"I was lucky. I was talented enough that they didn't work me to death and even allowed Mata to live. We got out of there about four or five months ago." He takes another drink. "Honestly, I hate the civilians more. They betrayed us because they were cowards. Not that it even saved them. I hate the pirates too, but at least they didn't hide that they were nothing more than savages."

After finishing off the drink, "But enough about us. What about you? Who did you serve with before this?"

At Brunn's comment, James tries to hide his sympathy. That must be hard to deal with. "I'm sure you'll give us more enemy salvage than your own."