In Exile

HIGH ORBIT—ALLOWAY

ANA MARIA: You’ve done excellent work, Commander [PLAYER]. And you’ve earned yourself an opportunity to do more.

Meet your real client. I don’t believe that she needs an introduction.

KAMEA: I’m happy to see you again, [PLAYER]. Or… should I say Commander?

You’ve done well for yourself. The old man would be pleased.

KAMEA: It must come as a shock to you, seeing us here at Alloway. Seeing us at all. I apologize for that, but I had to be sure that you were the MechWarrior I remembered before I reached out to you.

And now, with the Argo on its way to Lyreton for repairs, I know. You are everything I remember and more.

PLAYER: None of that matters, Lady Arano. I’m just happy to see you alive.

DARIUS: Yes, but… how?

Forgive me, Lady Arano, but you’re supposed to be dead. Lord Madeira, too. The news feeds ran footage of your DropShip getting blown out of the sky, on a loop, for months.

ANA MARIA: That wasn’t her DropShip. The broadcasts of her death were Directorate propaganda—well-crafted lies to keep the masses in line.

And with that, Kamea, I’ll leave you to your reunion. Best of luck with the negotiations, and keep me apprised of whatever decision you come to.

VIEWSCREEN: [Lady Centrella’s face winks off of the viewscreen. The dull blue glow of her Holo projection slowly dies away.]

KAMEA: Lady Centrella was right about the propaganda, [PLAYER]. My uncle’s Directorate is run on lies… though in this case, they very nearly became true.

The Directorate’s assassins pursued us into the Frontier. In the months following the coup, we had more than our share of close calls. Eventually, they gave up looking for us, and we’ve been living in exile ever since.

PLAYER: You had Centrella send us after the Argo. I’d like to know why.

ALEXANDER: In part, as a test of your abilities. To make sure that your performance on Coromodir wasn’t a fluke.

Our experience in the coup has taught us to be careful, Commander [PLAYER]. We couldn’t reach out to you on faith.

KAMEA: But the Argo herself is important as well. She isn’t just a ship, [PLAYER]. She’s a symbol—of reclamation, and rebirth, and the return of better days.

You’ll see for yourself soon enough. She was a majestic vessel once, a true product of the Star League. Under Dr. Murad’s care, she will be again.

PLAYER: Okay. You made it off Coromodir, and you’ve found me. Let’s talk about why.

KAMEA: I imagine you’ve already guessed. I intend to seek justice for my uncle’s crimes. I intend to take my throne back.

But I can’t do it without you.

ALEXANDER: We have resources. An army drawn from all across the Frontier.

Perhaps most importantly, we have the patronage of Lady Centrella, and the tacit support of her government. That means money—a great deal of money.

PLAYER: The Magistracy is bankrolling you, huh?

ALEXANDER: Unofficially, yes—using Lady Centrella as an intermediary. The Magistracy sees Kamea’s claim to the throne as an asset worth paying for.

They want to see the Directorate dealt with, but it isn’t in their interest to do it themselves. They’d prefer to keep their own hands clean.

KAMEA: The Rimward Periphery is a powder keg, [PLAYER]. Tensions between the Taurian Concordat and the Federated Suns are high, and my uncle’s military posturing could be viewed as a provocation by either side.

If open conflict between superpowers were to erupt, it’d be difficult for anyone to remain neutral. The Magistracy wants to avoid getting dragged into a major war.

DARIUS: And you’re House Centrella’s best hope for a clean solution. They fill your war chest, you remove the Directorate from the board, and the Magistracy lets tensions between the Federated Suns and the Taurians simmer down on their own.

Am I reading the situation correctly, Lady Arano?

KAMEA: Correctly enough, Mr. Oliveira. But understand that this isn’t just about defusing a dangerous situation.

For me, taking on the Directorate is personal.

KAMEA: My uncle betrayed me. The Founding Council has been reduced to a handful of powerless figureheads. Our very identity has been cut away and discarded.

House Espinosa is long overdue for a reckoning, and with your help, I will bring them one. Join with me, [PLAYER], and we will not fail.

PLAYER: You’ve already sold me on this, Kamea. I pledge myself and my company to your cause.

KAMEA: I was hoping you’d say that. Of course, you cannot wage war on my behalf while your travel restrictions remain in place… and so, I shall break them.

Now that you have pledged yourselves to me, I will buy your company’s debts—all of them. You’ll be free to travel and seek clients as you please, so long as you come to me when I call for you. And on the day that I reclaim my throne, your obligation to me will be forgiven, your debt wiped clean.

ALEXANDER: Of course, you will also be paid for every battle you fight at our behest. At a rate that will feel quite generous, given the clientele that you’re accustomed to.

Thanks to House Centrella, we have money to burn.

PLAYER: I’ll justify your faith in me, Lady Arano. Together, we’ll make Mastiff Montgomery proud.

KAMEA: I’m pleased that you feel that way. In truth, I feel that Sir Raju is smiling down on us, even now.

I’ll take my leave of you—I have an army to rally and preparations to make. But it won’t be long before I contact you again… and when I do, I’ll need you ready.

Prepare yourself and your company, [PLAYER]. Our war is about to begin.

—”In Exile,” BattleTech