"Now that the bidding is completed captains, you should be ready for drop in 20 minutes. If you fail to ready your warriors the honor of assault will go to Ortca." "Aff, sir, the forces will be ready on time for the drop." Meanwhile: In the elemental barracks "Here it is. I thought we should have the plans for that castle. Look here. The plans say the river was dug out by SLDF engineers to a uniform depth of about 90 meters. Right here is the underwater door. I wonder of the lyran troops have discovered the underwater door by now?" "I doubt it Grivvens, these plans are just from before the Exodus. Any work on this would have been in top secrecy. What do the plans say they were building the castle to store?" "All it says is weapons research. Anyways, it is a mute point after 300 years, quiaff?" "Aff. You think that door will still work after this long? That looks like our only way in outside of killing all the defending mechs." "Well, if it does not work, we will be carrying enough pentaglycerine to take down the entire wall along the river banks. If they are standing up there, we will have a couple of quick visitors." "Aff, I hope it does not come to that because these old structures are so beautiful." "Beautiful? You must be getting sentimental in your old age." "I have told you about that old age crap before. Just do not forget, after the battle you have to help the engineers rebuild whatever we destroy." "Aff, I remember. I still say that was a dirty trick you guys pulled on the race back." "Is it my fault I discovered a series of tunnels through those mountains on my way out to the patrol sector? I just used all benefits possible. Is that not the way of the clans, quiaff?" "Aff, it is. At least my consolidation is that after Tanya gave you her welcome home gift, you could not walk for nearly a week." "Aff, that was one wild ride. I guess that is what I have always like about her. That and she seems to be able to read me better than I can. She knows what I am thinking before I do. "She is one tough warrior, though. Make sure you never forget that." "How can I forget? I still have the scar across my back where she tried to kill me when she though she was pregnant before our trials." "That was you? My sibko was told about that when we were growing up. I actually thought it was just a story." "Neg, not a story. I wish it was." "I would have given anything to have been with you on Tukayyid. I heard you served under Selima, and actually met Aidan Pryde." "Aff on both counts. Selima is the person who nominated me for my point commander rank. It is a pity he has never won a bloodname." "Why is that? He should be a locking for one." "He has never wanted to participate in one. He thinks it will be his kiss of death to win a bloodname. He never did like all the publicity from the dropship he destroyed before we lifted off Tukayyid. Anyways, time for talk later, we have to be in the bay in 3 minutes." "Aff, meet you there, have to go talk to my men for a second." "Aff, see you there then. Skill in the upcoming battle."
