[ IP ] The Rundowns

`` Your opinion, Captain?'' 
 
 Nathaniel Deshler shook his head and dry swallowed a pair of tablets, wincing as they worked their way down his throat and to his stomach. The Ryerson native slid the prescription bottle into the breast pocket of his uniform. 
 
 `` I think if I have to make another jump anytime soon I'll be worse than just queasy.'' 
 
 Lieutenant Valerie Wolf snickered and tossed a braid of nutbrown hair over her shoulder. 
 
 `` Not much of an intrepid spacer are you, sir?'' Wolf asked. `` I would have thought a MechWarrior such as yourself would n't suffer from motion sickness.'' 
 
 `` It's not the Zero-G's, it's the Hyperspace Jumps,'' Deshler said. `` I was seventeen when I made my first jump. Puked everywhere. The second jump damn near knocked me out cold. The medico on board diagnosed me with Transit Disorientation Syndrome. Thank god I was bound for'Mech training; I'd have killed myself if I thought they'd make me a fighter jock.'' 
 
 The pair wore Lancer uniforms, the dark khaki tunics and trousers trimmed in red. The leather Sam Brown belt they each wore had a holstered pistol strapped at its side, the buckle brightly polished. Together they made quite a image, their tailored military uniforms clashing with the plainer togs and work clothes the locals wore. Signs in both German and English extolled various shops and services, from a micro-electronic repair store to a restaurant catering to *authentic* Capellan cuisine. Deshler somehow doubted the latter's claim. 
 
 `` My German's a tad rusty, Val. You sure this way is to the elevators?'' 
 
 `` *Ja, Hauptmann. * This is the correct way,'' Wolf answered. Deshler shuddered at her swapping his rank for its Lyran equivalent. 
 
 `` I'm Andurien, Lieutenant. I know English, Mandarin Chinese, and a smattering of Italian. German is right out. If I knew it, something would be very, very wrong.'' 
 
 Valerie looked surprised, but quickly hid it beneath a neutral mask. `` Ah, the Duchy of Andurien borders the Capellan Confederation and House Liao. Andurien never enjoyed being a part of the Free Worlds League.'' 
 
 Deshler nodded. `` It took the Word of Blake's Jihad for us to regain our independence, and even that was a near run thing. If it was n't for the False Thomas Marik then the rest of the League might've forced us to remain.'' 
 
 `` And yet now we're here in the Lyran Commonwealth, the ancient foe of the Free Worlds League, ironic?'' 
 
 `` Not really,'' Deshler said. `` Fitting. The Duchy of Andurien's on the opposite side of League-space to the Elsies. By aiding the Lyrans, we keep the League off of Andurien. I hope.''
