It’s a Peaceful Life (Battletech AU/SI)

[Kelsier Vin]

I can't remember if he told them anything about comstar being a problem when he was interrogated but they'll definitely believe him now if they didn't before.

 

[Sogen]

Good, they've got her back. Although, I'm somewhat worried, Katherine was a fragile enough person to be crazy enough to pull an Amaris in canon without having a heavily traumatic event eating away at her psyche, how much worse could she get when you add a boatload of trauma?

 

[LokiJones]

Good, they've got her back. Although, I'm somewhat worried, Katherine was a fragile enough person to be crazy enough to pull an Amaris in canon without having a heavily traumatic event eating away at her psyche, how much worse could she get when you add a boatload of trauma?

Click to shrink...

Or they never caught the swap in canon...

 

[GrimmKenway8646]

Well dear Kat is gonna be traumatized, looks like she'll need some time, love and care.

 

[SMDVogrin]

Or they never caught the swap in canon...

Click to shrink...

This. "Doppel-Kat" is actually a pretty popular explanation for how the civil war went down.

 

[Inbredmartian]

So I'm not as read up on the whole aftermath of the Dopple Hanse thing but was he injured mentally or physically irreplaceable in any way after that?

 

[NitroNorm5688]

Huh, A balloon, didn't see that one coming. I don't think I've seen a balloon in any Battle tech fic.

Good Job!

 

[malko050987]

Yay for the rescue!

 

[Sceonn]

This. "Doppel-Kat" is actually a pretty popular explanation for how the civil war went down.

Click to shrink...

It is, but kinda cheapens it IMO. Ambitious assholes trying to swipe the inheritance for themselves is as old as history and both the Davions and the Steiners have experienced it.

 

[MarkWarrior]

I've always hated painting and caulking. As a teenager, I helped my parents with redoing the trim in our house, and as an adult, I did general contracting work. It always felt tedious and boring. Even if I knew it would make everything look better, I still despised doing that sort of work.

So, before I dove into that process, I was going to have some fun. I'd swapped my regular road tires on my dual sport for more trail-worthy tires and would spend the day riding.

I tucked some ice packs inside my lunchbox and strapped it to the rack on the back of my bike before pulling it out of the carport. Turning the key, I waited for the fuel pump to engage and kick-started the engine.

With my left hand, I pulled the clutch lever and moved into first gear. Then, I pulled out of the driveway and headed for the nearest trails near the house. They were overdue for maintenance, and if I wanted to get the four-wheelers through with any venison this fall, I'd need to clear them out.

So I took it slow at first, stopping at large branches and parking the bike to work before continuing. I did this for hours, and the trails stretched a few miles. The debris took time to clear.


Eventually, I rode into a clearing full of nice green grass. Hitting the kill switch, I pulled my helmet off and leaned the bike against a nearby tree before climbing into the hunting stand. All too often, mice, squirrels, and other rodents would try to make a home out of structures like this.

Easings the door at the top of the ladder open, I pulled myself up and began double-checking everything. I was looking for rotting boards and anything indicating that something was trying to eat its way into the hunting stand.

For once, I seemed to be in luck as everything was warm and dry. The roof wasn't leaking, there were no rotting boards, and the carpet I'd stapled to the floor was still in perfect shape.

The plexiglass windows still slid open properly, and while I probably should have sprayed them down and wiped them off before hunting season started, I shrugged and slid them back shut. I would come back with some cleaning spray and a rag when I was going to go hunting.

Climbing back down, I walked back over to the bike and pulled my lunchbox off of the bike.

It was time for lunch before I rode back to the farm to start on the afternoon chores.

---

"Sir, VIP, and escorts are gone!" tracers flashed through the dark and impacted the concrete of the building behind them.

"Bombs go off in ten minutes!" Gold Lead replied. "Get the wounded to the Foxtrots and get them out first! We'll lay down covering fire until they've been evaced!"

"Copy that, Gold!" Red Lead replied. "Red Team, pull back, grab the wounded, and head to the rear!"

More Comguards began to respond to the gunfight, bringing out slightly heavier weapons.

The Balloon went up behind them, and a few moments later, another VTOL snatched the wounded up.

"Five minutes to detonation!" Gold Leader glanced at his watch. "Blue Team, you're out first!"

His words were drowned out by the rain and the shaking of the ground as lightning illuminated a Vulcan in the white paint of the ComGuards.

"Time's up! Everyone to the rear of the building!" Gold ordered, staying behind and emptying his magazine to suppress the enemy infantry.

Three more balloons shot up into the air at the rear of the building, barely reaching the minimum height required for a successful recovery before the VTOLs picked them up. Their speed allowed them to narrowly evade the Vulcan's autocannon fire. A pair of Karnovs sped through, the hooks grabbing the cables and dragging the agents up into the darkness of the stormy sky.

"It's just you and me remaining, sir!" Gold Three's voice echoed through the radio as she set up the last Foxtrot device. "If that Vulcan hits the balloon, our extract is gone!"

"I'll be back there in two minutes!" Gold Leader responded and pulled his backpack off. "Decoys are going out!"

He threw sensors in multiple directions and also primed and tossed his last few concussion and frag grenades at the nearest Comguards.

Behind him, the balloon shot up into the darkened skies; thunder and the footsteps of the 'Mech hunting them rolled together into one as more gunfire and lasers streaked by them.

"I'm Oscar Mike!" Gold Leader ran around the corner and ducked into cover while Gold Three opened fire and suppressed the enemy before she ducked into cover herself from the return fire. Bullets ricocheted around them while Gold Leader pulled the harness on, stretching the tether to its maximum length to avoid the Comguard fire.
Gold Leader stepped out of cover to hose down a handful of enemy combatants while Gold Three reloaded, and then they were jerked up into the rainclouds.

Massive tracer rounds followed them into the sky, and Gold Leader watched the skies around him. A round removed Gold Three from the skies, and he held his breath as a medium laser and autocannon rattled against the side of the Karnov.

Below, the Mech continued moving around the building, its searchlight looking for any signs of life while it stopped at the building. Its autocannon continued to try and hit the VTOL as the timer on Gold Leader's watch ticked down.

The ground underneath the Vulcan rippled, and the building collapsed, dragging the Mech and a large portion of the surroundings down into the sub-basements.

Every light in the Comstar Complex lit up simultaneously, illuminating the damage done and the giant hole left in the ground from the sudden demolition.

---

Luke, Katherine, and the two escorting agents were pulled into the bay of the Karnov.

"Strap in!" the Crew Chief yelled over the sound of the wind. "We're heading back to the base. Two other VTOLs are on standby to extract the rest of the team!"

"What's the status of the dropship?!" Gold two asked.

"Fusion engines are warm and waiting for us to touch down!" The Crew Chief responded. "We have medical teams on standby for the VIP and the wounded!"

The Karnov shuddered and began to pick up speed; a bit of turbulence jerked around them.

Katherine shuddered and pulled her arms into her chest while the Crew Chief wrapped a thermal blanket around her shoulders.

"We're going to get you home," Luke helped strap Katherine into the seat.

Katherine simply nodded and pulled the blanket tighter around herself.

"It's warm," she finally said, a small smile on her face. "It was always cold. So very cold."

After a few moments, Katherine leaned against Luke's shoulder and closed her eyes. The rumbling of the Karnov and a familiar face lent her a sense of security she hadn't felt since she was first kidnapped. A few moments later, she drifted off to sleep.

 

[krahe]

Well, let's hope it's not "blah blah they grabbed the clone blah according to the keikaku"

 

[GrimmKenway8646]

Well, let's hope it's not "blah blah they grabbed the clone blah according to the keikaku"

Click to shrink...

That would be really shitty and tragic.

 

[Sceonn]

I think the story will benefit from keeping their relationship platonic friendship only.

 

[Baldrick the Wise]

Well, considering the section it is in, there is a good chance it will be so.

 

[MarkWarrior]

Katherine was still asleep until the Karnov began its descent. The change in movement jostled her awake, and she blinked rapidly as it came to a stop on the tarmac.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"A military base outside of Frankfurt," Luke replied. "We're about an hour's flight away from the compound where we rescued you."

"No," Katherine shook her head. "What planet are we on?"

"We're on Rigil Kentares," Luke unstrapped himself and stood up. Now, we've got medics and a dropship on standby. Our standing orders are to get you back to New Avalon ASAP."

"Home sounds good," she said quietly.

As the ramp lowered, any conversation slowed and eventually stopped. The thunderstorm and the sound of the VTOL blades overpowered their voices and drowned out anything they might have wanted to say.

A sedan pulled up to the back of the ramp, and a handful of soldiers in Fedcom uniforms stepped out and rushed up the ramp. Each member was someone that Luke or one of the two agents had worked with and could quickly identify.

"Those are our escorts!" Gold two yelled over the decreasing noise. "We'll take the vehicle to the Red Lightning and head for the jump point!"

They rushed Katherine into the car and headed for the Seeker parked on the base's far end. Their vehicle shielded them from the increasing thunderstorm as it sped for the lowered dropship ramp.

The car sped up the ramp and stopped, the bay door sealing shut behind them.

Luke helped Katherine out of the car and followed as a group of medics took over. They helped the Steiner-Davion onto a wheeled bed and moved her through the dropship towards the medical bay.

When they reached the medical bay, Katherine flinched at the smell of chemical cleaners and the sterile environment. Her eyes darted around, searching for a familiar face. Her heart pounded in her chest, and then she closed her eyes. She inhaled for a moment and then exhaled slowly, opening her eyes and locking eyes with Luke, a look of relief flickering across her face.

"Lady Steiner-Davion, we're going to have to perform some cognitive tests and do some checks on your general health."

---

"Lady Katherine Steiner-Davion, your mother has requested your presence in her office," a servant said, slightly bowing to the young woman.

"Did she give a reason why?" the blond asked.

"No, milady, she did not give a reason at this time," the servant replied. "But she did say that it was of the utmost importance."

"Inform her that I will be up promptly," Katherine said, setting down what she had been reading and smoothing out her dress. "Keeping the Archon waiting would not be in good taste, after all."

With a nod at the servant, Katherine began to walk towards the elevators. The sitting room she was in was several floors down from the Archon's office.

It took her about ten minutes to reach the elevators and another couple of minutes for the elevator to arrive on the proper floor.

Katherine felt nervous as she got close to the office door. It seemed almost ominous, like a doorway to a realm she didn't want any part of. But she had been in that office many times before. Racking her brain, she couldn't find any reason for the discomfort. So she shrugged and ignored the sinking feeling in her stomach. Swallowing, she knocked on the door and waited to be invited in.

Her mother wasn't the only one present in the office. Karl Halburg and two men she didn't know were also present.

"Katherine," Melissa had an odd look on her face. "Tell me, do you remember where you bought that cake you shared with us for spring break? Or what was on the cake?"

"I believe it was just your standard bakery. And no, I don't really remember what was on the cake. Why do you ask?"

Melissa exchanged a glance with one of the Chancellor of the LIC and sighed. "Katherine, I must ask you to go with these two men. There's a potential security risk, and they'll be your escorts for now."

"A security risk?" Katherine looked around worriedly, her gut feeling now confirmed. "Here? In the Triad?"

"I'm afraid so," Karl said. "We've had to take quite a few people into custody. It's nothing to worry about, though, Milady. We'll have everything straightened out shortly. These two are some of the most highly trained in the Lyran Intelligence Corps. They'll ensure you're safe while we resolve this security issue."

"That's all I really needed to speak to you on," Melissa smiled sadly. "I had fond memories of that cake and wished to know if you could remember it so we could pay it a visit when we visit New Avalon next. That, and to let you know of the security risk."

"If that's everything," Katherine frowned. "I'd like to get back to the article I was reading. There are nobles present on Tharkad that I'm unfamiliar with, and I'd like to make myself acquainted with them."

"Of course," Melissa nodded in dismissal. "I love you, Katherine."

Katherine felt a small prick in her back, her eyelids heavy as she drifted to the floor like a leaf. One of the men caught her, her eyes catching the mouthed apology before everything darkened.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," Karl looked at the sleeping Steiner-Davion. "But with the threat of a DOPPELGANGER, we couldn't be too certain. We've taken the entire security detail into our care and will be asking some very specific questions of them."

"Just be gentle with her," Melissa replied, looking years older than her thirty years. "Even if she's a DOPPELGANGER, she may not be aware of it. This will be terrifying to her, and given our experience with Hanse's version, she may even prove useful."

"We'll keep away from the extreme information gathering and deprogramming techniques," Karl confirmed. "I have a feeling this isn't quite the same as the first DOPPELGANGER. It doesn't read like a Capellan plot. No, this is something entirely different."

He shook his head. "Regardless, ma'am, I want to directly supervise this. So by your leave?"

"Go ahead," Melissa nodded. "Find out what you can about this. Because if MIIO and DMI are correct, then we have more to deal with than the barbarians on the border."

 

[GrimmKenway8646]

"We'll keep away from the extreme information gathering and deprogramming techniques," Karl confirmed. "I have a feeling this isn't quite the same as the first DOPPELGANGER. It doesn't read like a Capellan plot. No, this is something entirely different."

Click to shrink...

Another ComStar headache on the horizon.

 

[sports-information]

I'm glad you're progressing the plot on this! I'm really interested to see where you take it, now.

 

[NitroNorm5688]

Could be a long-lost-sister? Just a thought.

 

[Felius]

"I'm sorry, ma'am," Karl looked at the sleeping Steiner-Davion. "But with the threat of a DOPPELGANGER, we couldn't be too certain. We've taken the entire security detail into our care and will be asking some very specific questions of them."

Click to shrink...

I'm having a mental image of them suddenly yelling the word doppelganger while yelling everything else in a normal time, and it's hilarious.

 

[Baldrick the Wise]

Could be a long-lost-sister? Just a thought.

Click to shrink...

It was mentioned earlier in the story that doppelkat is a clone, so she has the same DNA as Katherine and probably also surgical alterations to fool fingerprint and eye scan.

 

[NitroNorm5688]

It was mentioned earlier in the story that doppelkat is a clone, so she has the same DNA as Katherine and probably also surgical alterations to fool fingerprint and eye scan.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, I know. But I say we adopt her anyway. She's a Steiner-Davion already and related by blood, so you might as well go the whole way.

It would really screw with . . . whoever, it was that created her, right? And she's not evil. Just get rid of the programming and we'll be good. Plus she's probably much younger than the original. So younger sister. They do it in comic books all the time anyway.

 

[MarkWarrior]

It took a few months of working on the project off and on, but I had finally finished restoring the inside of the barn. The few milking stalls had been rebuilt using nice-looking hardwood, and I had constructed a hay loft about ten feet up and thrown enough hay up there to keep the horses and cows fed for the winter when they could not graze.

The stain on the hardwood would take another hour or two to dry, and then I'd put on one last coat. Sure, some people might think it was odd for me to use nice wood, stain, and paint the inside of a structure that only a handful of people would ever see. But I wanted it to look good and last. Paint and lacquered stains were more than just for making things look pretty.

Painting steel prevented rusting and other decay. Staining wood hardened it and made it more resistant to the elements. Besides, I wanted the barn to look good and be functional, and I had enough time and money to do both.

I grabbed the cans of stain and set up a fan pointing outside the barn to draw the fumes away. Then, I walked out of the barn, pulling my sunglasses down over my eyes to filter out the bright light from the local star.

I missed the bakery. Sure, I had gotten a lot of the things I'd planned to do on the farm done, but the bakery was something I enjoyed. It was a break from the taming the wilderness that was ever encroaching on my farmland. The pastries were fun, but the cakes allowed me to flex my creative muscles in ways I didn't get to do around the farm.

After I put the supplies away, I headed for my truck. I was going into town today to see if there was anything new worth checking out. I might even see about finally getting a Tri-Vid and seeing what movies existed.

If I could afford it, I might consider buying an industrialmech in a few decades. I'd heard that more than a few built around farming were high quality and capable. I could even pass it on to my kids as a future investment.

But that was for the future. Right now, I had to wait for the stain to dry, apply another coat, and then head to the city. I needed some supplies, and there was a butcher I needed to talk to about slaughtering some pigs and processing them.

---

Six days after leaving the planet, the Red Lightning docked with a jumpship and winked out of existence a short time later.

"Are we going to New Avalon or Tharkad?" Katherine asked Luke, sitting across from him on the Grav deck.

"The plan is to take you back to New Avalon," Luke replied. "The Archon is currently dealing with your duplicate, and we didn't want to add more complications to that situation."

"I prefer New Avalon anyway," Katherine smiled, a cup of hot chocolate in her hands. "It's warmer there."

"Aye," Luke smiled. "You're going to want to speak to your father about everything. And not just about the circumstances. You've both been through the same thing, and he'll have some advice to give on handling the emotions that come with this."

"I think I'll do that," Katherine replied.

"Now, the medics have checked you out, but the Psychiatrist wants to meet with you and go over some of your brain scans," Luke said, finishing his cup and walking it over to the dishwasher.

"He's probably concerned about the chems they were pumping into me," Katherine shuddered as she thought about the cold room and that table she'd been strapped to. "I imagine they did some shit to my brain."

"I dunno," Luke shrugged. "I had plenty of chems pumped into me over the years, and I turned out fine."

"You're a retired Intel operative, old man," Gold two scoffed from where she was leaning against the wall. "You're anything but fine."

"I might be a bit paranoid," Luke chuckled. "But as our Lady Davion here proved. "It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you."

"And they are definitely out to get us," Katherine finished her hot chocolate.

–
–

"Well, Lady Steiner-Davion," Doctor Williams smiled. "I have some good news. While your initial brain scans were worrying due to the leftover chemicals lingering in your system. You should fully recover by the time we reach New Avalon. Now, the other doctors here and I recommend that you maintain physical fitness as much as possible during the transit to assist with flushing any remnants. Once we're on New Avalon, we'll reevaluate and run some more tests. But I think we'll find more of the same. You're deficient in Vitamin D and a few other minerals, but a regime of multivitamins and other supplements should help clear that up."

"So, sunlight, rest, and what else?" Luke jotted down some notes in a notebook.

"Well, we'd prefer it if she doesn't deal with any external stressors for six months to a year," Williams replied. "But given her position, we doubt that's possible. So three months should be the bare minimum."

"I'll ensure that the First Prince has the full details in the report I file," Luke nodded at Katherine. "But I believe he will understand the medical necessity."

"I have no idea as to the state of the realm," Katherine sighed. "But if my recovery needs to be cut short to assist, it will be done. I'll not have the Federated Commonwealth fall apart in my generation."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Luke shook his head. "Davions and their sense of duty," He muttered under his breath. "It'll get them all killed one day."

Author's Note: A bit short, but I think this is a good point to end this chapter.