[OOC: The following takes place after Col Atayde's meeting with MoC liasion Maria Ramierez]
.......Miles had known Kato long enough to understand the importance of the assignment as well as hear the stress on the return time. Whatever the Colonel had planned it was important.
"Yes sir. Anything else?"
"Yes. Get Mudd in here at 1840. Dismissed."
He picked up the Comstar offer again and shook his head. The money was good assuming any part of the command survived to enjoy it. Maria was right though. Something big enough to get Comstar and the Wolf's Dragoons to collude should probably worry him. And it did. To a point. Didn't mean it didn't need to be done. He turned his attention to how he was going to brief the rest of the command.
21 October, 3051
1840 Cap Rouge Local
Headquarters
"You wanted to see me, sir?" asked the Rangers XO.
"Yes, Number One. I have some information to share with the command staff, but I wanted to give it to you first."
Col. Atayde begins the tale but doesn't get very far when Lt. Col Mudd erupts, "Charikov's from WHERE?!? You've got to be @$%^&*()^ kidding!"
"No, I am not kidding, Number One." The Rangers commander continues to lay out the situation, knowing his XO is barely holding it together for reasons he can only guess at.
He gets to the contract offer and Mudd snorts, "Kato, you can't trust them as far as I can throw this planet."
"Roger, I know how you feel," says Col Atayde, referring to Benton Mudd's real identity.
"No you don't, Colonel. Because I can't divulge what I know about that insane bunch of half-wit telegraph operators called Comstar."
"I respect your opinion, Roger. That's why I am telling you first. Think about it. Comstar and Wolf's Dragoons are colluding to go against the clans. Why? It has got to be damned important, so we're in. I need you with me on this, Roger."
"Alright, Colonel, I'm in. The clans owe us big and I intend to collect. Just remember not to trust those jackasses in white."
"You've got it, Number One. Let's go brief the others."