ATOUK

May 6, 3069

Orbital Insertion
Tohelet, Free Worlds League

The Leopard-class dropship bucked and swayed as it hit the atmosphere of Tohelet. Atouk offered a prayer to the Den Mother, Damana. Atouk was no longer terrified of what the sky people called “atmospheric re-entry” but he still couldn’t help that the lack of a prayer might bring ominous results. He didn’t really understand why the ship danced like a puppet in the upper atmosphere, but he had gotten used to not understanding things in this strange world. He knew that shortly they would be on the ground. Then he would meet the rest of his new tribe.

BAXTER

October 3, 3068

Gienah Combat Vehicles Spaceport A
Gienah, Lyran Alliance

Miriam Baxter looked down the barrel of the gun pointed in her face, the sweat dripping ice cold down her back.

“For the last time, you will order your crew to fire on those damn Monkeys now!” Sorry Sam growled as she nudged the pistol closer to Miriam’s face. Miriam’s face was stone, as she stubbornly stared back at Sorry Sam. Inwardly, she was asking herself how it had come to this.

LEE

September 30, 3068

Gienah Combat Vehicles Manufacturing Facility Delta
Gienah, Lyran Alliance

“What do you mean you cannot engage?” Lee was shouting into the intercom, partly because of the noise of the Karnov’s rotors above, but more out of sheer frustration. “You need to keep those turrets occupied or my birds are going to be big fat targets when we come in. You have an assignment, soldier!”

“We are having enough trouble with these tanks. I am not getting in range of those turrets!” The voice on the other end paused and then added, “and we don’t take orders from a bunch of ground pounders, anyway.”

Lee held back his rising rage.

CRUZ

September 2, 3068

Bob Schultz Memorial Field, Warehouse District
Glen Hall, Giausar, Lyran Alliance

Jesus couldn’t take all the credit for the score. Jimmy Cutter, one of the Monkey’s newest techs, had played him a beautiful through ball. Playboy, who was defending him, clearly had not anticipated the pass, and Cruz blew past him to get on the ball. The only man left to beat now was Meatball who was playing goalkeeper. Despite his heavy frame, Garibaldi was surprisingly nimble on his feet and had a pretty good sense of the game (he said it was “part of his heritage,” whatever that meant). But speed kills, as they say. It didn’t hurt that Meatball was still suffering the aftereffects of the dual ammo explosions he suffered on Tomans. Cruz softly lobbed the ball directly over his head, as Garibaldi charged toward him. Then he turned on the afterburners and raced around Meatball to softly tap the ball into the corner of the goal.

GARIBALDI

August 1, 3068

Grant’s Station Tango, Nuevo Roma
Tomans, Lyran Alliance

The tacos looked fabulous. Garibaldi leaned down to put his nose just above them and inhaled deeply. The smell of garlic, ginger, soy, and chile mixed with the powerful scent of succulent meat to make his mouth water. No longer able to corral his anticipation, Vincenzo greedily scooped up the first taco and took a bite. Pure bliss. His sources were clearly correct. This was the best bulgogi taco truck in town, and with a beautiful view of the beach. Vincenzo’s love of purely Italian food was legendary, but never let it be said that he was a culinary elitist. As he settled in to his work, Garibaldi thought to himself, mercenary work doesn’t seem so bad. A nice gig like this was a welcome change from the hounding press on Solaris VII.

“You stuffing your face again, Meatball?”

MBEKI

June 18, 3068

Grid 45Y18X, Tangerine Desert
Solaris VII, Lyran Alliance

As Tsepo descended into the dig site, he spotted Taharqa crouched above two workers delicately dusting off the surface of some artifact. Taharqa was watching their work intently and gave no indication that he heard Mbeki approaching from behind. Mbeki coughed discretely.

Taharqa turned briefly toward Mbeki, registered his presence and then returned to his observations. “They think its Star League. Driscoll says 27th century most likely.”

FORD

May 21, 3068

Repair Bay #G47, Solaris City
Solaris VII, Lyran Alliance

Ford looked up at this handiwork, a rare smile splitting his face. The bipedal mech looming above him seemed to look back in silent appreciation and comradery. Now you are a real Dragon Fire, he thought. Few things made Ford happier than playing with new toys and those plasma rifles had been particularly fun to tinker around with. Field tests for the Dragon Fire would have to wait though, as its pilot was halfway across the planet guarding some sandpit for the Monkey’s current employers, Interstellar Expeditions.

A voice from behind him interrupted his silent communion. “I’ll tell you what, if Monk messes up my ride, I get first dibs on that nasty machine.” He turned to see Kenji “Blackjack” O’Shea in his signature cowboy hat leaning on his crutches, a heavy cast covering his left leg.

O'SHEA

May 11, 3068

The Busted Gyro, Solaris City
Solaris VII, Lyran Alliance

By reading his face, no one would have been any the wiser that Kenji was holding a full house. When his turn came, he gave the appearance of making a weighty decision and then said “raise ya, 250 Cs” as he threw in his chips.

“Frak me, that SOB has got something good and I am out” said Abe Ford, the Monkey’s chief technician who was sitting next to him. I need to stop playing with that guy, thought Kenji.

Leonard “Chopper” Cohen, sitting across from Kenji, clearly wasn’t ready to fold so easily.

BRAGA

April 9, 3068

Scales of the Dragonet Mountains, Pearl District
Dieron, Draconis Combine

Felipe peered out at the desert landscape darkening in the dusk as the Swiftram VTOL quietly glided through the air. Such was his look of intensity that it almost seemed that he could will her to suddenly appear. Come on, Desiree. I know you are out there somewhere.

“I have a transponder signal. Its coming from the base of that mesa due east.” Felipe’s heart rose in his chest at the co-pilot’s report. Let it be her, I can’t lose another one. Involuntarily, his mind began to rehash yesterday’s disastrous battle.

TRIX

January 8, 3068

Middle of Nowhere, Contard Mining Property
Acamar, Federated Suns

Beatrix watched as eddies of blowing snow swirled in a circular motion across the desolate, frozen landscape before her. The wind had died down some, improving visibility, but still the snow danced its slow ballet. She found it strangely hypnotic.

Beatrix shook her head. Pay attention, damn it! Her hands were clammy at the controls of her venerable Catapult. She may have had extensive training, but she couldn’t help the anxious butterflies fluttering in her stomach as she waited for her first real trial by fire.

MOHAMMED

December 5, 3067

Rural Route 92
Fox Province
New Avalon, Federated Suns

Mohammed dialed up a private line to Cruz.

“For frak’s sake, DJ, turn down the bass and pay attention to what you are doing! You are way out of formation. How the frak do you expect these greenhorns to learn anything from us if you can’t walk in a frakking straight line?”

“Uhh, sorry Playboy.” Cruz’s voice sounded adequately sheepish.

Mohammed watched as Cruz’s Vindicator abruptly shifted direction to bring it back into formation. He considered sending off a sharp response that the chain of command dictated the use of the term “ElTee” in the field, but decided to hold off. Who was he kidding anyway?

HAWKER

August 23, 3067

International District, Solaris City
Solaris VII, Lyran Alliance
23 August 3067

Jacob Hawker aggressively shifted the drive of his Hughes-McCandleless Streak and gunned it as he moved into the fast lane on the southbound track of the International Expressway. No longer able to enjoy the thrill of piloting a Mech, darting around Solaris City in his sleek sportscar served as a poor substitute. The radio in his car blared the morning news as he weaved in and out of traffic.

“In a surprise move, the Flaming Devil Monkeys, one of the more colorful stables on the game world, announced yesterday their decision to turn mercenary. We caught up with Jacob Hawker, the general manager of the Monkeys, last night to find out more information about this surprise move.”

“The decision was reached unanimously by all Monkeys personnel after extensive discussion. It was driven in large part by a desire to contribute to a greater purpose than the bloodlust of the game world…”

Hawker couldn’t help but smile at his own somewhat disingenuous remark.