International District, Solaris City
Solaris VII, Lyran Alliance
23 August 3067
Jacob Hawker aggressively shifted the drive of his Hughes-McCandleless Streak and gunned it as he moved into the fast lane on the southbound track of the International Expressway. No longer able to enjoy the thrill of piloting a Mech, darting around Solaris City in his sleek sportscar served as a poor substitute. The radio in his car blared the morning news as he weaved in and out of traffic.
“In a surprise move, the Flaming Devil Monkeys, one of the more colorful stables on the game world, announced yesterday their decision to turn mercenary. We caught up with Jacob Hawker, the general manager of the Monkeys, last night to find out more information about this surprise move.”
“The decision was reached unanimously by all Monkeys personnel after extensive discussion. It was driven in large part by a desire to contribute to a greater purpose than the bloodlust of the game world…”
Hawker couldn’t help but smile at his own somewhat disengenous remark. The decision had been Taharqa Bane’s alone, but the rest of the Flaming Devil Monkeys would follow him to the pits of hell, regardless. They were “kindraa” after all, to use Taharqa’s term. The simple truth was that the game world no longer held any interest for the former Fire Mandrill. What exactly Taharqa was seeking, Jacob was not qualified to answer, but his own background as a former clanner made him suspect that the leader of the Flaming Devil Monkeys was seeking nothing more than simple respect.
The blinking light on Hawker’s dash interrupted his thoughts. He shifted into a lower gear and slowed down as he voiced “Answer.” It looked like business was about to overtake pleasure.
“Incoming call from Flaming Devil Monkeys Corporate,” his car soullessly intoned.
“Receive. I will be there shortly, Nora. This cannot wait?” He asked briskly. Nora knew how much he enjoyed his morning commute.
“Sorry, sir. We have a visitor and I thought you would like to be informed before you arrived. He represents a company called Interstellar Expeditions and is interested in discussing a potential contract offer.” Nora delivered her information without a pause, unrattled by Jacob’s cool tone.
Hawker glanced out the window at the sleek mirrored tower that was his destination and stroked his blonde goatee with one hand. Less than twenty-four hours since Taharqa had announced that the Flaming Devil Monkeys were going mercenary, and people were already showing up on their doorstep. That boded well.
“I assume you have already collected a dossier on the company,” he asked Nora.
“I already patched it over to you, sir.”
“Excellent, I will see you in fifteen minutes.”
Read more…
Taharqa Fiction, Flaming Devil Monkeys, My Campaigns