***** 21.06.2250, Praxios System, Planet Axios, document found among the battlefield by the 1st Reconnaissance Corps of the Confederation (RCC), sent to Admiral Tark, Commander of the Intelligence Division, Earth *****
Why am I even writing this? Must be my solitude aboard this damn vessel. Sure, I've got company, a couple other mercs from across the galaxy, but they aren’t Humans, hell I haven’t seen a human in years. I think it must've been around 2 maybe 3 years since I last saw one.
Maybe its for the better, I mean, I know what humans are up to these days. The Confederation is still going strong and expanding, but they are at the other godforsaken end of the galaxy.
Anyways, I should first introduce myself. I am Logan, no names, or middle names, just Logan. I used to be in the Confederation Army, and I was pretty damn good at it. I spent 10 years inside the army, even made it to Special Operations after a mission against the CLASSIFIED. Shit I miss those years. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t got out, but then I remember I am one of the few who is still alive from our unit. I am lucky to even had a change to get out, and even luckier that I took it.
Of course, being ex-military only gets you so far in the civvies world in the Confederation. And by so far, I mean a couple of security jobs or as an advisor in a planetary force here and there and being viewed by many as a killing machine and way too expensive. Thanks Confederation, you do take pride in your soldiers.
I digress tough, I am writing these "journal" to recount what I have lived for the past couple of years, must've been at least 10 years since I took the job as a merc.
I remember it well. Me in a dead ass world looking for a job at training the local planetary force, so far it proved to pay good enough, but it was only temporary, a year tops, then you needed to find another place to stay in or another job to take. Seems many planets just contracted ex-military from time to time to train their planetary force and then when it became too expensive or their troops where up to their standard they just let go of the contractors. And well I was getting the memo to just pack up and leave, they were kind enough to recommend me to a few other worlds and would even send out messages if I wished, to get a new contract.
***** 2240 somewhere in the fringes of the Confederation space *****
"Mr. Logan, as you might know our contract with you is coming to an end, we will of course offer you a week of paid leave so that you might find another contract, I hear that Damascus and Jerovah need someone with your background, I could contact them if you wish. But for now, you might take a leave, the funds have already been deposited into your account and you have a hotel room near the space port already reserved." Mr. Tashi said, the planetary governor of Moluk.
"Thank you Tashi, I'll see myself out, don’t you worry about it. Pleasure training your boys, they still lack training from my point of view, but you are the one with the money." He was already expecting this, it took Tashi a damn while before telling him this, usually the contracts lasted for 6 to 8 months, but Tashi here was fond of him, extending his contract to a full 15 months. "Either way, I need to find another type of job, I am getting a bit rusty"
"If you are tired of training the men, there is also a couple of ships near the space port. There are a couple of good cargo ships or exploration ones that need security, you know how pirates are these days. But if you are looking for a better pay, you might want to talk to the Brave crew, they are mercenaries, they travel across the galaxy to fight, also they tend to avoid doing shady works, which might suit you. Either way, it has been a pleasure doing business with you Logan, take care."
Tashi extended his hand, and he took it. He was a good man, and if he wasn’t a planetary governor he might as well consider him his friend. Still, he said his goodbyes to Tashi and then left for the bars. The idea of becoming security for a ship either cargo or exploration was interesting, but he needed to know what type of crew he was getting into. Hell, if all else fails might as well become a merc. He had heard about this crew already. They were a couple hundred strong, with a big cruiser and a couple of fighters to protect it. It could house around a thousand troops and double in crew.
After a couple of hours of research into the mercs he found them interesting. They tended to be more on the outer fringes of the Confederacy territory and also far into the known Galaxy. The ship appeared to be over 200 years old, some alien design from an Empire the Confederation didn’t knew. Still, they took all types of ex-military and ex-navy, so might be like a second home to him. 'Ok let's find this Brave crew then, they sound like fun.'
He went outside his hotel room, with his trusty pistol, a SIG430, kind of an old model, but it worked just fine. He always carried at least 3 knifes with him, a small, concealed blade in his boots, another concealed blade in his neck and a blade in his right pocket. He also didn’t leave his room without a recon vest, a lighter vest that stopped small arms fire and a couple of rounds from the bigger calibers. He always wore combat boots, a combat shirt with the sleeves rolled and some combat pants. He knew there was better equipment out there, and he had it, but those were for actual operations, this was his "civvies" look.
He walked for a bit, and found the nearest bar, after all how else would you meet up with mercs other than at a bar? He ordered a beer and then sat at the bar. He observed, there were some of his boys from the defense force, which waved at him and later found out paid his bill. There were also some locals and of course some security guys and mercs sitting in a table exchanging some war stories. He approached said table.
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As he walked towards the table, all eyes turned to him, he figured out they knew him or at least knew what he did as a job. One of the guys seemed to recognize him. He knew none of them, there were 4 at the table, 2 security guards, they wore the same outfit and still had their modified marine armor. There were also 2 aliens at the table, one of those reptile guys, around 2 meters tall and with some nasty claws and some chest and leg armor. And then there was the other one, a big panther like xeno, probably 3 meters tall, he had a couple of scars in his face and was probably a veteran of some xeno empire.
The security guards waved at him, making signs for him to go there. He picked his beer and went to the table. The other guard started talking to the xenos, probably explaining them who he was or what his job was. He went slowly and looked at the mercs reactions, they were interested, he could see that.
“Come join us brother, I heard a couple of tales from the defense force around here, and from the looks of it they weren’t lying. But where are my manners, let us introduce us first, I am Qerans my buddy here is Ket, and these two fine gentlemen are Rashs” he said pointing to the reptilian xenos “and Xiqar, please join us, let us sit and drink together!”
As he said this he motioned to an empty chair, and of course I sat there. The xenos seemed eager to know more about me, and I could tell the security guards had heard many a story about myself.
“Such a strange sight, to see ya four on the same table, have you meet before? I seem to recall xenos don’t like humans that much.” The humans grinned and the xenos threw a couple of strange looks, before anyone could reply I continued “ Either way, it is good to find some brothers from the corps around here, its been a while since I last saw a Marine. How long you been out?”
Qeran began to talk, he seemed to be the defacto leader of the two. Logan also noticed a rank, Captain, the guy must have seen some combat then.
“ Likewise, although you don’t look much like a marine, maybe Drop Assault? But yes Ket and I go way back, he was my Sargent in my first unit, back when I was a second Lt. But that was ages ago, probably 10 years since that and its been 5 years since the boys and myself took an early retirement. Been with the Conrad ever since. But enough about us two, what about you? How long have you been out?”
The 4 of them stared with a lot of interest at him, oh they knew alright, he was sure they just wanted to confirm how good he really was. Well time to talk then.
“Well I started in the Drop Assaults, was there for 4 years and then moved to the Recon corps for a couple more years, all in all I was 10 years in...” this got the attention from all of them, and judging by their looks Qeran and Ket knew there was more to it, but didn’t seem keen on pressing the story. “...and I’ve been out for about 4 years. But I’m getting bored of just training recruits, I am looking for something extra, and I think I’m at the right table for it.”
“You certainly are, but I don’t think I got your name, human” Xiqar said, finishing his drink.
“Logan, nice meeting y’all.” He said raising his beer, and finishing it in one go.
“Logan? Just Logan? No last names? It seems oddly weird for a human, don’t you think Xiqar? “
As Rashs sais this, both the Captain and Sargent glanced at each other, perhaps they knew a bit more about him and his unit. They finished their drinks and raised their hands asking for more, which the bartender acknowledged.
“Just Logan, its simpler.” He said with a grin in his face.
“Very well Logan, I think you will find working with my guys kinda boring, we don’t have much work for your kind, no offense. But I am sure Xiqar would be delighted to have you on board.” The way the Captain said this made it hard for Logan to keep a straight face, but he had endured worse hostility from staff sargeants from back in the day.
As soon as he treated him differently both xenos looked at each other in confusion, Logan assumed they had never seen former human soldiers treat each other with such hostility.
“None taken Cap, I know many don’t like to work with my kind, we are too crazy even for the Jarheads”
“I assume you want to see combat Logan, well you will find combat inside the Brave, but we would like to make a few tests before you join us, if you accept of course” Xiqar said, looking at him with what could pass for a grin in his face.
“Sure, let me finish this drink and we can be on our way.” He quickly downed his drink and stood up “pleasure to know not just the civvies hate my kind. Cap, Sarge, see ya in hell.” He walked towards the exit, and waited for both xenos to come out. Once outside, he had a smoke, bad habits die hard and talking to marines was never a good experience, not since his old unit was hated not only by the enemy but by their peers.
About 5 minutes passed and both xenos came out. "Well it seems you are serious about recruiting me, so, tell me, what are your tests? Or when can we leave this planet?”
“You can come meet us tomorrow at 0700 sharp, hangar 10. Bring all your stuff, I think you will pass, but we must test every new member to assign them to a squad. See you tomorrow Logan” Xiqar said, and started to walk in the direction of the hangars.
“When you pass I have some more questions about you, human, but I think we will see what type of soldier you are pretty soon.” Rashs said and turned to follow the other xenos.
He continued to walk and began to think about today.
"Well it could be worse, I mean a test to join some mercs? These guys were serious, that’s good, don’t want no rookies that get me killed for accepting impossible contracts."
Still it pissed him off that the security guys also hated his guts, as much or more than the civvies. Guess being part of his unit came with some dark connotations with so many rumors about their effectiveness and tactics. Could it be they knew about the incident regarding that marine battalion that didn’t make it? Shit, that wasn’t even his units fault, the bastards should have followed the plan.
As he entered his apartment he went to bed quickly, after all, his things were already packed since he left the base.