MechWarrior 5 Mercenaries: The Calm of the Void (An Origins Series Story, #1): An Origins Series Story, #1, #1

The Calm of the Void

MechWarrior 5 Origins, Installment 1

Randall N. Bills

The Calm of the Void

MULE-CLASS DROPSHIP PERDIDO

SOLARIS VII, INBOUND

WYATT THEATER, LYRAN COMMONWEALTH

5 DECEMBER 2991

Just need to find that actuator’s Motor Control Unit, Nikolai Mason muttered to himself. He’d gnawed at this mantra for over two years of searching across scrapyards and tapping black-market contacts on dozens of planets. He was sick and tired of being a grunt on this crew. Despite the prestige of working on a Lyran Free Traders Association–affiliated JumpShip, he wanted more. Procurement officer—to range as far and wide as he wanted, forging contacts and making the deal. What I’m best at, he mumbled. Just needed the Merchant Captain to take notice. Which required something special. In this case, finding a rare, working Motor Control Unit for a specific BattleMech actuator. The logic always ran in circles.

Nikolai moved gracefully along the metallic corridor, despite his magnetic boots, heading toward the Mule-class DropShip’s bridge. He sucked in a lungful of canned, processed air. Subconsciously took in the unadorned, gray walls and deck plating—as much home to him as an alien flora-and-fauna-bedecked prairie of some backwater world was for a rancher. He wanted more. But it was always more of the void.

Just need that MCU…

You know, the first sign of mental instability is talking to yourself.

Nikolai sighed heavily at the barbed comment as Jules Vonic stepped into his peripheral vision. She was coming behind him—he could almost feel her cold emptiness running up his spine. But better to let her poke and be done than deal with being seen to flee the senior procurement officer. That would’ve given her more power, especially among the novice crew that didn’t know any better just yet. He stopped in the middle of the corridor and turned in her direction. Looked at her levelly, expressionless. He assumed some might find her physically appealing, with her lush hair and petite figure. But the soulless eyes? He’d seen too much of such depthless reflections already. He hated that someone like her had attained such rank, especially as she’d tried early on to take him under her wing. As if there’s anything she could teach me. You’re just jealous I’ll take your position. I’m better than you, you