The Mech Touch

hem several times, though. ”

”True, but it is admirable how the Battle Criers never came close to dissolvement even after suffering a loss.
Unlike the Pulsar Thieves, they still managed to retain their fighting will. ”

The representative of the Battle Criers was a bit..
colorful.
Frankly, the Battle Criers reminded him of both Lydia ’s Swordmaidens and the Flagrant Vandals.

They simultaneously possessed the savageness of the Swordmaidens while pairing it up with the occasional cunning and lack of scruples of the Vandals.

Unfortunately, the Battle Criers did not possess the single-minded devotion to training of the Swordmaidens or the military discipline of the Vandals.

The impression that Ves got out of observing the representative and accompanying mercs was that they were a bunch of courageous but dim-witted ruffians.

Yet how stupid could they really be if they managed to survive for a couple decades?

Ves developed an interest in their mercenary commander.
While Hugin Cinnabar was just as old as Oryn Mair, the two were completely different leaders.
Whereas Commander Mair enjoyed a privileged military upbringing, Commander Cinnabar rose up from the lowest ranks.

While Commander Cinnabar lacked much of the training and sophistication of Commander Mair, the founder and leader of the Battle Criers still managed to climb to the same height from a much lower starting point.

”Commander Cinnabar must be quite resourceful despite his humble origins. ” Ves surmised.
”It ’s not easy to start a mercenary corps from scratch and keep it going for two decades. ”

Though their story was quite remarkable, Kelendra did not entirely approve.
”I ’m not so sure whether the Battle Criers are the most suitable mercenary corps to protect you.
They are much more capable of performing offensive missions.
While they are still willing to serve as protective duty, it goes against their instincts.
I ’ve heard stories that their men can get unruly if nothing exciting happens. ”

”I think I can handle that. ” Ves determined.
”If not me, then Commander Cinnabar will surely be able to keep them in line.
He ’s got them this far.
If he ’s willing to accept a protection mission, then he ’s surely prepared to address this problem. ”

There were plenty of reasons to hire the Battle Criers.

They were a mixed mercenary corps.
They fielded one landbound mech company and one spaceborn mech company.
Whether in space or on land, Ves was assured of all-round protection.

They possessed two serviceable light carriers along with one small logistics ship and two transport ships.
Such a fleet was sufficient for them to operate in deep space and cut off from civilization for half a year or more.

Their mech pilots were a mix of younger and older Kinners.
While they suffered occasional battle losses, they always recruited young blood to invigorate their ranks.
In this way, they pooled together youthful enthusiasm with tempered veterancy.

They possessed a good employment history.
Only a few failed missions marred their record, and none of them placed the bulk of the blame on their forces.

Best of all, their buyout price was very reasonable, regardless whether Ves opted to obtain their assets.

All in all, as long as Ves didn ’t mind being around some rough men and women, he ’d be able to obtain the dependable and trustworthy Kinner mercenary corps he originally set out to hire.

”Their mechs and ships are still kind of shabby, though.
Commander Cinnabar is not a believer in paying for quality. ” Gavin pointed out one last flaw, as if to deter Ves.
”While it ’s all well and good to replace their old mechs and ships with brand-new ones when you return home, right now we are far away from the Bright Republic.
Do you really want to entrust your protection to a bunch of mechs that already look second-hand when bought? ”

That happened to be one of the reasons why Ves initially dismissed the Battle Criers.
Commander Cinnabar ’s haphazard command style frequently resulted in losses.
This development likely steered him towards purchasing cheaper and more expendable assets.

For this reason, as a fighting force, the Battle Criers depended more on their quantity rather than their quality to win battles.
The overall level of training among the Battle Crier mech pilots also left something to be desired.

Compared to Commander Mair and his Edge of Redemption, the disparity in strength was significant!

Yet the more Ves thought about the Battle Criers, the more they started to grow on him.
His nostalgia towards the Vandals and the Swordmaidens left him with a lingering attachment towards crude but earnest mech outfits.

”Alright, I ’ve decided! ” Ves stood up with gusto while picking up Lucky.
”We don ’t need to hire a crack mercenary troop to fulfill a mere protection duty.
The Battle Criers are more than sufficient for the job! Let ’s go and speak to their rep! ”

Though both Kelandra and Gavin still possessed some doubts, this was one choice that Ves was determined to follow through.

After referencing her comm, Kelandra led the group to a hall at the periphery of the grounds that they visited before.
Once they squeezed through the crowd of clients and mercenaries, they eventually reached a corner where a rough-faced mercenary representative sat on a chair with his feet propped on a table.

Ves observed the squished carcass of a native Bloodstone bug stuck on the sole of the representative ’s boots.
Its blood and insectile juices had dripped down on the surface of the table long enough to turn dry.

His lips curled up in a rueful smile.
He had already resolved to endure some uncouth behavior from his guards.

”Hello again. ” He began.
”We ’ve spoken to you before, remember? ”

”Huh? ” The representative blearily directed his bloodshot eyes as Ves before taking a huge swig of his cheap beer.
”I dun remember you.
Fagh! When am I finally done with this boring duty?! PTUH! ”

A beer-laden glob of spit landed awfully close to Ves ’ impeccably clean shoes.

He was starting to have second thoughts about this idea.

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