Chronological BattleTech Fiction Review - The Succession Wars

[Frabby]

Interestingly, Kenner notes that the Erewhon River “isn’t like the oceans we trained in.”  We know that the Dragoons spent some time training (with Goliath Scorpion assistance) prior to leaving for the Inner Sphere.  It’s interesting to see that their training included a variety of hostile environment operations, including underwater.

It doesn't need to be that. The Dragoons were put on garrison duty on Carver V in 3013, which is noted as an ocean world with islands holding military fortifications. I recall a notion somewhere that this word was positively used for maritime/underwater warfare training. Knowing the Dragoons, my bet would be that they trained in the oceans of Carver V instead of twiddling thumbs there.

[FedSunsBorn]

I'm actually amused to be able read a story where Lyrans aren't bad they usually are in combat prior to FedCom formation.

Aye, the Lyrans in this fight for Hesperus seem to actually know what their doing. Ambushes, underwater pickets, diversionary attacks. Definitely not simple wall of steel tactics.

[Scotty]

While this Battle of Hesperus doesn't exactly come off as a Dragoon victory, I don't think it does anything to taint their sterling reputation, either.

I mean, considering that the Dragoons, a "mere" mercenary unit came significantly closer to actually completing their objectives on their own with limited support when entire House armies had failed a dozen times before over three hundred years speaks volumes to their skill and competence.

Consider the simple sentence: "The Dragoons came closer to crippling the Lyran Commonwealth in five years than the entire Free Worlds League did in three hundred".  That's not a slight, even if they didn't succeed.

[Kojak]

Aye, the Lyrans in this fight for Hesperus seem to actually know what their doing. Ambushes, underwater pickets, diversionary attacks. Definitely not simple wall of steel tactics.

It should probably be pointed out that institutionally speaking, the LCAF has a lot of history to draw on when it comes to defending Hesperus II: it's already been assaulted a dozen times in the last 250 years, and it's been successfully defended every time, so any Lyran generals tasked with defending it have a long list of successful examples to draw on and learn from.

[Mendrugo]

It doesn't need to be that. The Dragoons were put on garrison duty on Carver V in 3013, which is noted as an ocean world with islands holding military fortifications. I recall a notion somewhere that this word was positively used for maritime/underwater warfare training. Knowing the Dragoons, my bet would be that they trained in the oceans of Carver V instead of twiddling thumbs there.

My thought was that, since the Goliath Scorpions took a role in the training, and Goliath Scorpions are known to have expertise in underwater operations (they do go on to pioneer the Undine BattleArmor, after all), that the training Lucas is referencing was the initial prep back in the Kerensky Cluster.

[Mendrugo]

Love the write up, you got handed to Jason for giving us a good gripping story. I hope it comes out in one of the Anthologies soon soo i can have it in the printed form in a nice book where it belongs. ;)

I'm actually amused to be able read a story where Lyrans aren't bad they usually are in combat prior to FedCom formation.

If I'm not mistaken, they already released all four parts as a standalone ePub/Kindle bundle.

[Mendrugo]

----- 1 Day Later -----

Date: June 23, 3019

Location: Hesperus II

Title: Hector

Author: Jason Schmetzer

Type: Short Story (BattleCorps)

Synopsis:  The following morning, Kenner briefs the command staff as Epsilon Regiment prepares to make another attempt at fording the Erewhon.  Colonel Harold Jones announces that he’s ready to lead the assault, with Gamma and two battalions of Alpha in support, while Beta repairs and Delta engages Lyran forces on the flanks. 

On the tactical displays, Epsilon appears to be moving across the river in good order with heavy artillery support when a swarm of nearly 50 Lyran conventinal fighters appears on the screen, heading towards the floodplain.  As the bandits approach, it becomes clear that they’re on a bombing run, using depth charges.  Kenner orders every Dragoon ‘Mech in range to open fire, then races for his Marauder II.  The Dragoons’ Blue Flight is still two minutes out when the surviving Lyran fighters retreat to friendly airspace.

Despite the unexpected assault, the Dragoons are not out of the fight.  The remaining Epsilon ‘Mechs emerge on the Lyran side of the river as Blue Flight flashes overhead in hot pursuit of the Lyran fighters.  However, many of the ‘Mechs show signs of damage from hull breaches and internal flooding.  Major Arbuthnot reports that he has a beachhead.  Alpha Regiment is next to jump off on the assault, with Gamma forming close behind and Delta behind them. 

However, the assault is again repulsed, and Epsilon Colonel Harry Jones lies dead at the bottom of the river.

Notes:  The unnamed Lyran conventional fighters are probably Raubvogel Aerobombers, 45-tonners which have a thrust of 4/6 and 36 points of armor.  The 3067-era AB-18C has an external TAG unit and four one-ton laser-guided bombs, along with SRMs and a Large Laser.  The more primitive 3019 variant (AB-16?) most likely dispensed with the TAG and added a larger load of depth charges.  Blue Flight should have no trouble catching them with two 10/15 Sparrowhawks and two 10/15 Sholagars, led by two 5/8 Lucifers.

The Wolf’s Dragoons sourcebook notes that Harold Jones’ Epsilon Regiment held a slender scrap of ground on the far bank for only ten minutes before being forced back.  The Dragoon sourcebook account is somewhat different than the events of Hector, stating that Dragoon fighters engaged the Lyran conventional fighters, but were unable to stop many of them from dropping their charges, which were supplemented by swarms of Commonwealth hovercraft and patrol boats.  The Dragoon sourcebook also combines the Alpha-led assault of the 21st and the Epsilon-led one of the 22nd. 

[Mendrugo]

----- 2 Days Later -----

Date: June 25, 3019

Location: Hesperus II

Title: Hector

Author: Jason Schmetzer

Type: Short Story (BattleCorps)

Synopsis:  Two days and four assaults later, the Dragoons are still on the floodplains, having lost 1/3 of their troops in the campaign so far.  Present in the Mobile HQ to give his status report to Major Yukinov, Kenner is awed as Natasha Kerensky enters the command center.  Major Chan is in the middle of pitching “one more push” to a visibly exhausted Jaime Wolf when Kerensky interrupts.  She tells the assembled commanders that they have to face the fact that pounding on the Lyran “long wall” isn’t going to work.  Instead, she pitches her company to lead an assault on Tanda’s Crossing, a fording 20 km upstream that doesn’t appear on most maps, and is unlikely to be heavily guarded.  If they can get across, it’s a straight shot to the main gates at the Myoo Mountains.

Abruptly revitalized, Wolf orders the Dragoons into action, with Delta and Epsilon tasked with following the Widows across the ford, while Beta and Zeta keep the Lyrans on the floodplain off balance.  Wolf assigns Kenner’s company to escort the Widows to the ford, in case they run afoul of Hsien Hotheads or Hesperan militia, and then to hold the ford open once the Widows break through.

Notes:  Since Beta’s now been referenced as being onworld, it appears that the Dragoon dependents have been left alone on their baseworld of Sterling, without any line regiments to defend them.  That shows an unusually high level of trust between the Dragoons and Janos.  Or, perhaps the Dragoons are confident that Janos will recall his brother’s fate after betraying the mercenaries.

This is Natasha’s first appearance in fiction since her adoption of the “Black Widow” moniker.  Her blonde hair seen on New Delos has been replaced by her trademark red.  One wonders what Natasha has been doing so far while the line regiments have been trying to push across the river?  Most likely playing cat and mouse with the Hsien Hotheads in the mountains ringing the floodplain.

The lead-in says "two days and four assaults later," but the next datestamp is June 24, not 25.  I guess since the doomed assault in the last scene was on the morning of the 23rd, the remainder of the 23rd was counted as a full day.  [Edit:  Looking at the dates in the accompanying "Tanda's Crossing" scenario, the datestamp on Hector Part 4 must be wrong.  It should be June 26, not 24, making this scene take place on the 25th.]

[Mendrugo]

----- 1 Day Later -----

Date: June 26, 3019

Location: Hesperus II

Title: Tanda’s Crossing

Author: Jason Schmetzer

Type: Scenario (BattleCorps)

Synopsis:  In this companion scenario to “Hector,” author Jason Schmetzer pits the Black Widow Company’s command lance against a lance of the Hesperus II planetary militia (aka the Hesperus Guards…at least in the Succession Wars board game).  This is a straight up slugfest that only ends when either one side is completely destroyed or disabled, or 15 turns have elapsed – at which point the Hesperus militia will retreat.  If the Hesperus militia troops retreat off the map edge while the Widows are still on the field, the scenario is a draw.

Historically, one Lyran Crusader escaped to raise the alarm, with the Widows in hot pursuit, making the scenario a draw (albeit one that left the Dragoons in control of a critical river crossing).

Notes:  The Widows have an average weight of 66.25 with an average gunnery of 2.25, against the militia’s 66.25 tons and gunnery of 3.75.  With equal weight and numbers, the Widows have a significant edge in skill.  (Notably, either the 4/4 seen in the “Natasha’s Surprise” roster was waaaay off, or losing Joshua really focused her skills, since she’s got a piloting 2, gunnery 1 here.  Per the old-school method of skill advancement...4 kills = 1 skill point...that would imply that she's put down 20 enemy 'Mechs since Anton's revolt.  Given that they've been in combat for three straight years since then, that actually seems a little low.  Going with AToW, it would imply that she just put her extra XP into other skills...macramé, perhaps.)  Since last we saw the Widows on New Delos, Natasha’s added John Hayes’ Griffin to her command lance.  This lance remains intact all the way through the end of the 4th Succession War.

The great gunnery skills won’t help as much as the Widows would like, however, since the maps are covered with woods.  It’ll be hard to actually get a bead on an enemy that doesn’t want to engage with all those trees, so most of the fighting will probably take place at close range.

One of the scenario-specific win conditions is to disable an enemy ‘Mech by reducing its walk MP to less than 2 per turn by damage.  The best way to do that is by kicking to remove the legs (or at least mess up the actuators).  For the Dragoons, your goal should be to close with the Lyrans as quickly as possible and then kick their legs into immobility.  Keep in mind, though, that as soon as two of the defenders are down or destroyed, the other two can flee, costing you the win even if it’s before turn 15.  If you’re going for the win, try to use the tree cover to maneuver between the Lyrans and their home map edge, so you have a better chance of keeping them from getting away.

For the Lyrans, your best bet is to swarm Natasha right away and see if you can put her down with a four-to-one assault.  She’s the main source of the skill imbalance between the two sides, so she should be a prime target.  If things start turning against you, fall back to your home edge and make a final stand.  Once the “retreat” conditions are met, your survivors can just step off and cost the Dragoons their victory.

The Lyran line-up is a Griffin, Thunderbolt, Crusader and Zeus.  It seems odd to me that the Hesperus militia would include a Tharkad-built Crusader or Sudeten-built Thunderbolt, since Defiance doesn’t manufacture those models.  One would assume that the Hesperus militia would be chock full of factory-fresh Archer, Banshee and Atlas designs to complement the locally made Zeus and Griffin. 

[Mendrugo]

----- Later That Same Day -----

Date: June 26, 3019

Location: Hesperus II

Title: Hector

Author: Jason Schmetzer

Type: Short Story (BattleCorps)

Synopsis:  At Tanda’s Crossing, the Black Widows tear through the Lyran lance guarding the ford and charge onto the far shore.  Kenner is left with his company to hold the crossing while the line regiments move up.  The Special Recon Group is the first across, sent to scout the southern approaches.  45 minutes later, a scout returns with dire news – Hansen’s Roughriders are in the area and may have cut off the Black Widow Company. 

Before Kenner can go to the rescue, Lyran forces rise out of the river and assault his position.  Able First destroys most of them, and let the surviving pair go, since they’re heading right for Delta Regiment.  After the engagement, Attack Lance commander Jennings advocates for sending someone to warn the Widows.  Kenner rejects the suggestion, pointing out that nothing in their Assault company is fast enough to catch up to the lighter Widows.

A second Lyran assault comes an hour later.  Kenner tells his troops to charge, throwing the Lyrans back long enough for Delta Regiment to arrive.  The Lyrans rally for a counterattack, but Able First holds at the cost of a lance of Assault ‘Mechs, allowing Delta and Epsilon regiments to cross the river without opposition.  Kenner tells his company officers that the line regments can pin down the Lyran garrison while the independent companies make a run at the factories.

Kenner's shot up company gets assistance from a technical crew headed by Kaley Foster later that day.  Stressed, Kenner snaps at her when she again compliments his command ability.  This time, the brush-off seems to take.  As she stalks off and returns to her work, Kenner gets an update from the field. Beta and Gamma are moving north, but the Black Widows have been engaged by Hansen's Roughriders. 

When Colonel Wolf arrives at the head of Beta Regiment, he reports that the Widows were, at last report, within ten kilometers of the factories.  However, within minutes, the ten surviving Black Widows reappear at the ford, looking substantially worse for wear.  Natasha reports that the situation on the far side of the river is untenable.  They'd gotten within sight of the factories before being driven back by the Roughriders.  The 24th Lyran Guards have linked up with the 6th, and are in the process of flanking Delta Regiment.  The Hsien Hotheads are executing slashing raids as well.  Natasha tells Jaime "It can't be done."

Jaime orders Natasha to withdraw and make for the DropShips.  He orders his aide William Cameron to signal Carmody to prepare the DropShips for lift.  As he sees to extracting the line regiments from the Lyran meat grinder, he orders Kenner to hold the ford at all costs until all the line regiments are back across.

Notes:  I think a day or two got lost somewhere in the timeline of the assault.  The datestamp on this scene is June 24.  However, the datestamp at the start of part 3 was June 22, and the text indicated that the failed Alpha assault on the 22nd was followed by an Epsilon assault the following morning (23rd) and two days and four assaults after that, which would bring the date to the 25th.  The Wolf’s Dragoons sourcebook doesn’t list specific dates, but it indicates that Natasha’s troops moved out on the evening of one day and launched their attack early the following morning, which would make it the 26th, rather than the 24th given in the datestamp at the opening of Part 4.  This corresponds perfectly with Jason Schmetzer’s “Tanda’s Crossing” scenario, which is dated June 26th, and covers the Widows’ triumph at the ford.

The second Lyran assault is somewhat surprising, coming in the form of Lyran assault ‘Mechs rising out of the river to attack Able First.  Surprising because the area of the ford is only shoulder high to a Light ‘Mech, and waist deep on an Assault.  How did the Lyrans manage to sneak up on Able First?  Were they crawling along the river bottom to avoid detection?  What happened to Able First’s magres scanners?

The Wolf's Dragoons sourcebook gives the impression that the battle was decided somewhat differently - with the Roughriders' forced march succeeding in blunting the Dragoon advance long enough for Lyran lines to stabilize.  According to the sourcebook, by this point, the Dragoons had suffered 50% casualties, and Jaime judged that they'd never get through entrenched Lyran forces in the Myoo Mountains.

Based on Kaley Cross' reaction to Kenner's rejection, it's possible that there is some lingering caste-based tension within the Dragoons.  She icily responds that he's the MechWarrior and she's the tech, whose only job is to fix what he breaks. 

Kenner's worry about becoming dispossessed seems strange.  The Dragoons have factories on Hephestaeus station, a nearly exclusive contract with GM/Blackwell, and the option of making supply runs back to Clan space.  Jaime tells Kenner that his losses will be made good, but Kenner should have expected that.  Becoming dispossessed shouldn't be an issue for any Dragoon.  (Which brings us back to poor Bobby Hunnell, who blew himself up rather than lose his fifth generation hand-me-down Griffin.

[Mendrugo]

----- 1 Day Later -----

Date: June 27, 3019

Location: Hesperus II

Title: Hector

Author: Jason Schmetzer

Type: Short Story (BattleCorps)

Synopsis:  Back on the Erewhon River Floodplains, Kenner commands the Dragoons’ rear guard, holding back the Lyrans while the rest of the mercenary forces board the ships.  During the withdrawal, the Assault ‘Mechs of Able First handily repulsed lighter Lyran units, but now that they’ve stabilized their position on the plains to load the DropShips, the Heavy and Assault Lyran units are approaching in force, with the Hsien Hotheads launching constant high-speed probes.

When the call comes for Alpha to withdraw and board the ships, Kenner resolves to be the last man aboard.  His command lance holds with them, and they begin withdrawing the last kilometer together.  A Zeus breaks past and tears off the right arm of Kenner’s Marauder II and knocks him out.  He awakens to see Major Yukinov’s Archer standing in the bay door of the last DropShips firing missiles at the oncoming Lyran horde and yelling at him to get aboard.  He rights his ‘Mech and stumbles past Yukinov and onto the ship, which immediately boosts for orbit.

Notes:  Kenner has Kai Allard-Liao levels of self doubt.  He’s absolutely sure that he’ll be cashiered for cowardice for having had to retreat.  He apparently hasn’t noticed that all of the other surviving Dragoons also retreated.  A look at the roster in the Wolf’s Dragoons sourcebook shows that Kenner’s Able First company remains largely intact until Misery, at which point it was wiped out.

Historically, the Dragoons marked up Hesperus II as one of their rare defeats, albeit one that impressed Archon Katrina Steiner enough to extend an offer of employment to them.  The Dragoons accepted, but took a hiatus first – returning to the Clan homeworlds for their second supply run to get fresh second-line SLDF equipment from the Brian Caches and replenishing their ranks with more freeborn Clan warriors.

[Update:  While Michi Noketsuna's Field Manual: Mercenaries report claims that the Dragoons went all the way back to the Clan Homeworlds for resupply, Natasha Kerensky's sworn testimony to the Clan Grand Council in Blood Legacy was that the Dragoons went to a Deep Periphery rendezvous with Khan Kerlin Ward.  Herb has confirmed Natasha's version of events, putting Wolfnet Director Noketsuna's account into the category of intentional disinformation.]

There absolutely had to be a command circuit set up, just hanging in space waiting for the Dragoons, since they departed in July and returned in late 3019.  There’s no way they could make a round trip journey in six months over a distance that took the Exodus fleet 21 months to do in one direction without a pony express of JumpShips.  And yet, what would be the logistical requirements for such a command circuit?  Were Clan Wolf naval stars strung out between the Kerensky Cluster and the Inner Sphere for 15 years, just in case?  Or was the deal that the ships would form a command circuit once every ten years and maintain it for X months, just in case?  (Since the first supply run was in 3009 and the second was in 3019, that chronology would seem to be the most rational.) 

I wonder what happened to any Deep Periphery bandits unlucky enough to come across the waiting ships?  (In the Jade Phoenix Trilogy, Aidan’s technician tells him that he was taken as a bondsman from the Periphery, indicating that the Watch, at least, was active in monitoring the Inner Sphere and snagging the occasional captive.)

[Frabby]

I find it hard to believe that the Dragoon resupply runs were made by the entirety of the Dragoons. A handful of cargo DropShips would do the job nicely, because all they truly needed were spare parts and replacement 'Mechs.

The mere fact that the complete Dragoons unit vanished doesn't mean the complete Dragoons went all the way back to the next periphery supply cache (much less the homeworlds - I guess there was only a HPG link).

[Scotty]

I've said it before, and in the last dozen posts at least twice.

The Dragoons' action on Hesperus II is one of the most impressive feats they ever accomplished, second only to Misery and their single-handed butchery of the cream of the Combine's crop.

To this point, entire armies of House troops from multiple houses over three hundred years of combat have failed to do half as much as the single command of the Dragoons did.  Shall we recap?

2787, First Succession War.  The Draconis Combine succeeds in destroying the orbital shipyards, but is unable to scratch the factories and production on the ground.  They are handily repulsed early in the next year.

2788, First Succession War.  The Federated Suns attempts a fast raid, but is detected and defeated without even coming within sight of the production lines.

2789, First Succession War.  Naval battle started by the Free Worlds League.  Several warships are destroyed, ground combat never engaged.

2830s.  Draconis Combine attempts a raid that is repulsed much the same way the Davion raid in 2788 was repulsed.

2837, Second Succession War.  Draconis Combine forces attack in the brief window where experienced units have been withdrawn to assault the Free Worlds League.  Despite their inexperience, the defenders push back the invaders without the production lines suffering damage with 'Mechs straight off the lines.  Up until this point, this is as close as anyone got to actually damaging the facility.

2853, Second Succession War.  Spurred by the death of their coordinator, the Draconis Combine launches the largest assault ever against the factory world.  They succeed in destroying one production line.  It is back in service within a year.  Notable that this is the last naval action featuring Warships in the Inner Sphere until the Clan Invasion.  Also breaks the record for "most damage done to Hesperus II".

2957, Third Succession War.  In one of the very largest battles of the 3SW, multiple Combine regiments drop literally on top of the production lines in a suicide attack that succeeds in inflicting major damage.  Let's put that into perspective.  The only way that had successfully and seriously hampered production in two hundred years of conflict was the suicide mission of over two hundred 'Mechs.  Let that sink in a bit.

2997, Third Succession War.  Free Worlds League units stage a minor raid on a non-production supply depot on the planet.  They still lose.

Within the next three years, the FWL tries again.  It is repulsed again, though barely.

3000, Third Succession War.  The Draconis Combine drops three more regiments on the planet.  This time, it doesn't work, and the attack is repulsed like all others.

That's the last attack until the Dragoons.  By their lonesome, that single mercenary command, storied though it may be, accomplished more to disrupt Hesperus II's production than all but what may be the largest suicide mission ever carried out prior to the Jihad, and maybe even then.

The fact that the Dragoons then successfully extracted themselves from the planet, escaped the system, and in the process nearly destroyed three Veteran regiments of the Archon's finest, and two of the better non-Dragoon mercenary outfits in the Sphere at that time, that says a lot.

[Mendrugo]

I find it hard to believe that the Dragoon resupply runs were made by the entirety of the Dragoons. A handful of cargo DropShips would do the job nicely, because all they truly needed were spare parts and replacement 'Mechs.

The mere fact that the complete Dragoons unit vanished doesn't mean the complete Dragoons went all the way back to the next periphery supply cache (much less the homeworlds - I guess there was only a HPG link).

I've been scouring the sourcebooks and novels for data on the 3019 supply run, and here's what I've found:

According to Natasha's testimony before the Clan Grand Council in the Blood of Kerensky trilogy, the Dragoons never went all the way back to the Clan homeworlds.  "In 3009, we returned to make our report at the rendezvous point preselected by the Khan."  They also sent a small party back to the rendezvous in 3015 to report on the death of Joshua Wolf and file reports on House Liao and House Marik.  Thy made a final supply run in 3019, and were met by Khan Kerlin Ward in person. 

Some of the Dragoons stayed on their baseworld of Sterling to run out the Marik contract, while other regiments disappeared for six months.

The math on this still mystifies me.  If the Dragoons left Marik space in mid-3019 and returned in late 3019, that implies a three month trip each way.  That's 26 weeks, and since it takes one week, on average, to recharge, that works out to a destination no more than 13 jumps.  Since their galactic "y" position in mid-3019 was approximately 0, 13 jumps would take them to a point no more than 390 light years from Terra.  That's still within the borders of the Inner Sphere.

This again argues that the Dragoons had a permanent command circuit of JumpShips set up as a contingency, though how the crews managed to avoid going space happy on a 15 year "if needed" mission, I dunno.  This also argues that there was a chain of HPG relays all the way from the rendezvous point to the Kerensky Cluster by this point, since they filed reports from the rendezvous point, it argues for orders and info either being couriered or relayed by HPG.  Khan Kerlin Ward's physical presence at the rendezvous point (along with the latest prototypes of Clan weapons and OmniMech blueprints) suggests that the command circuit extended all the way back to the Kerensky Cluster, since an absence of a year or two (going jump-recharge-jump) by the ilKhan would have been noticed.

[Mendrugo]

Well, Paul just shot down the "permanent command circuit" theory.  That means that the next best rationalization would be that the Clans formed Command Circuits at ten year intervals to the rendezvous point. 

There's conflicting info between Natasha's testimony in Blood of Kerensky and the account in Mercenary's Handbook: 3055, which states that "During the Dragoons' final visit to the Wolf Clan in 3019, Colonel Jaime Wolf spent most of his time in seclusion.  He attended many councils in the company of the aging Khan Kerlin Ward, as well as long private sessions with the Khan and his closest advisors, including Kerlin's chosen successor, Ulric Kerensky.  Khan Ward noted that the Crusaders continued to gain strength in the Grand Council, and that Wolf's reports were actualy fueling invasion fever.  Ward arranged for new 'Mechs and equipment for the Dragoons for the last time and also provided more warriors, though none Bloodnamed.  During one private session, Ward told Jaime Wolf of his fears that the Crusaders would prevail, staring a bloody war of conquest to crush the Inner Sphere.  When Wolf left the Clans in early 3020, he carried with him a packet that included advanced technical data, Clan operational reports, and old Star League records that revealed the location of undiscovered factories and caches of equipment on the Davion world of Outreach."

Granted, Mercenaries Handbook:3055 is somewhat suspect as a sourcebook, since it contradicts established canon in many respects.  (On p. 30 there's a February 28 3015 transcript of communications between Jaime and Anton about the hostages, nearly a week before the current chronology has them being taken, and contradicting Anton's complaint that there was no response to his ultimatum.)  FM:Mercenaries lists 23 JumpShips and 82 DropShips on the Dragoon TO&E.  We don't know the classes (and at least one is that funky looking thing from "The Spider and the Wolf"), but the ratio of 3.57 DropShips per JumpShip would imply that they're big - split between Star Lord and Invader.  If a few Monoliths are in there as well, that would imply some extra JumpShip capacity beyond what's needed just to move the Regiments around.  These extras may have formed the basis of a covert command circuit tasked with getting the Dragoons out of the Inner Sphere in a hurry if needed.  That could have allowed them to get to the rendezvous and back in the timeframes indicated.  The extra Jumpers could also have been utilized making supply runs to Blackwell/GM.

Field Manual: Mercenaries would seem to confirm, however, that the Dragoons went all the way back to the Kerensky Cluster.  "In 3019, Jaime Wolf invoked the rest and refit clause in the Dragoons' contract to make the unit's second now-infamous supply run to Clan space."

So the Dragoons circuit got them to the rendezvous, while the temporary Clan circuit got them to the Kerensky cluster and back from the rendezvous?  (The accounts can be reconciled with Natasha's testimony if Ward traveled down the circuit to meet the Dragoons at the rendezvous point, then traveled back to Strana Mechty with them, doing the private consultations with Jaime and Natasha en route).

[Mendrugo]

Herb has clarified that the Dragoons never went all the way back to Clan space, but met at an intermediate point in the Deep Periphery. 

So Natasha's testimony in Blood of Kerensky is the true account, while Field Manual: Mercenaries and Mercenaries' Handbook: 3055 are in error on this point.  Mercenaries' Handbook is presented as an informational MercNet pamphlet given to newcomers to Outreach.  The in-universe author of FM: Mercenaries, WolfNet's Michi Noketsuna, probably was the author of the Dragoon section of the Handbook as well.  I would surmise that Noketsuna falsified the story of the supply run to conceal the fact that the meeting actually took place at an intermediate location the Deep Periphery, probably to protect the secret of the site's existence should the Dragoons ever want to use it again.

[Frabby]

Some additional thoughts:
1. You don't have to have a permanent command circuit in place. I'd set one up if a supply run is on the horizon. Three or four months advance preparation should nicely do the trick.
2. The Clans dearly love Lithium-Fusion Batteries, which IS agencies including ComStar wouldn't recognize if you bashed them over the head with them. At least in the priphery they may have employed LFB-equipped JumpShips or even their WarShips.

[Mendrugo]

Some additional thoughts:
1. You don't have to have a permanent command circuit in place. I'd set one up if a supply run is on the horizon. Three or four months advance preparation should nicely do the trick.
2. The Clans dearly love Lithium-Fusion Batteries, which IS agencies including ComStar wouldn't recognize if you bashed them over the head with them. At least in the priphery they may have employed LFB-equipped JumpShips or even their WarShips.

I agree on both points, albeit with caveats. 

If the Dragoons had pre-planned supply runs for 3009 and 3019, then it would make sense for the Dragoons to have pre-positioned JumpShips for a quick run to the rendezvous, and for the Clans to have done the same from Strana Mechty.  Nothing's ever been said to indicate that the supply runs were pre-scheduled, but given the logistical requirements to support them, we pretty much have to assume that there were supply missions scheduled for 3009, 3019, and a return trip for 3029, which would fit the 25-year mission parameters outlined under the Dragoon Compromise.

There was that one additional trip in 3015 where the Dragoons just reported, but didn't get any supplies.  The ability to report from that rendezvous point implies that the Clan IntelSer had constructed HPG relays all the way to the rendezvous point, or that they had a courier ship waiting there.  The use of HPGs to communicate in near real-time back to the Kerensky Cluster from hundreds of light years down the Exodus Road around 2900 (Half of a Warrior) implies that the Clans were strategically seeding HPG relays around the Deep Periphery throughout the Golden Century.  There seems to have been only one chain going to the Inner Sphere, though, since it was largely destroyed during the Wars of Reaving.

Lithium-Fusion batteries do give a short-term speed boost and greater tactical flexibility, but in general usage don't give you much additional speed without significant risk.  You can't recharge both the L-F battery and the main drive at the same time from the same source.  Most L-F equipped ships might do a double-jump, then spend a double session at the next jump point recharging first the drive, then the battery.  Kerensky's pursuit team took risks by recharging the drive from the jump sail while recharging the batteries from the fusion engine when they were trying to head the Prinz Eugen off at the pass, while the mutineers were doing the jump-jump-recharge-recharge sequence outlined above.

[Mendrugo]

----- 1 Month Later -----

Date: July 29, 3019

Location: Radstadt

Title: Heir to the Dragon

Author: Robert N. Charrette

Type: Novel (Heir to the Dragon)

Synopsis:  The Council of Gems gathers once again to plot against House Kurita.  Their venue, this time, is the Lotus Theatre, in the shadow of the ISF prison complex known as the Black Tower, in the city of Munich on Radstadt.

Bickering ensues almost immediately between “The Colonel” (possibly Marcus Kurita), Opal (Jessup Armandu), and Diamond (Ottar Sjovold).  Ruby (Duke Hassid Ricol) is a no-show.  Diamond announces that final negotiations for the wedding of Theodore Kurita and Anastasi Sjovold are complete, and the wedding is scheduled to be held on the planet of Rasalhague in two months.

The Council of Gems plans to use the event to assassinate Coordinator Takashi Kurita using a sleeper agent inside the entourage of Tai-sho Vladimir “Ivan” Sorenson.  Opal offers financing to send priority messages through ComStar to finalize the plot’s details.  The Colonel inquires about Theodore, and how he’ll react to Takashi’s death.  Diamond replies that Theodore’s estrangement from Takashi is seen as a positive thing by the Rasalhagian people.  Diamond expects that Theodore will welcome Takashi’s death and be willing to reward the conspirators for their role in his advancement.

The conspirators intend to stay in Theodore’s good graces until Anastasi has his child, then frame him for Takashi’s murder and depose him, leaving his half-Rasalhagian heir on the throne and putting the Rasalhague District one step closer to independence.

Notes:  The Council of Gems, as presented in Heir to the Dragon, comes off as clueless, divided, and impotent.  Which, to be fair, is an accurate description of most Rasalhagian underground cells.  I was particularly intrigued by Opal’s offer to subsidize ComStar message traffic to arrange the conspiracy.  If they’re committing the planning of the plot to the HPG network, it’s a sure bet that ComStar will know about the plot in advance.  It speaks to the level of trust ComStar has built up that nobody even thinks twice about committing critically sensitive data to the HPG.

Statements made in this chapter again call into question the true identity of “The Colonel.”  Marcus is implicated in the plot later, but pardoned and made head of the Otomo under a “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” philosophy.  However, the Colonel’s statement “We don’t need another Kurita tyrant,” would be strange for Marcus Kurita to utter.

[Decoy]

Marcus Kurita was made head of the Otomo. The Genyosha wasn't formed yet.

[Mendrugo]

Marcus Kurita was made head of the Otomo. The Genyosha wasn't formed yet.

Thanks.  Fixed.

[Mendrugo]

----- 1 Month Later -----

Date: August 20, 3019

Location: Salem

Title: Desk Jockeys

Author: Joel Bancroft-Connors

Type: Sourcebook Fiction (Hexpack Promotion 1)

Synopsis:  Captain Max Masterson is the CO of the Fire Masters mercenary company.  While their employers’ regular troops tie down the planetary garrison - a Davion-contracted mercenary battalion (Harlock’s Warriors) - on the other side of the planet, the Fire Masters plan to attack the General Motors factory, overwhelm its corporate security company, and make off with some easy loot.  Wilkins, the XO, is paranoid of a trap, but Masterson dismisses his misgivings as excessively cautious.

At the GM complex, the security company scrambles.  Among their members are Jake, Carl, Sam, and Gus - gunners in some of the factory’s heavy turrets.  As the lead element of the Fire Masters comes into sight, the turrets concentrate fire and vaporize Wilkins’ Phoenix Hawk.  Masterson orders his remaining troops to engage the turrets, while the gunners call their mechanized infantry auxiliaries and artillery into play.

Minutes later, Masterson’s Marauder is crippled and sprawled in the street, and the shattered remnants of the Fire Masters are fleeing the battle site, trying to get out of the range of the defending artillery.  Jake whoops with victory, calling out “Score one for the desk jockeys!”

Notes:  Interestingly, the House Davion sourcebook, with an in-universe date of 3028, refers to the GM factory on Salem as “new,” despite it being at least a decade old by then.  I suppose compared to the centuries-old factories on other worlds, a decade does seem pretty young.  (The publication date of the House Davion sourcebook is a point of speculation.  At times, it makes references to 3026 as a time in the future, implying a 3025 publication date like the rest of the House sourcebooks.  However, two citations from the ComStar author are dated 3028.  My guess is that the book was prepared for publication in 3025, but held back from release until 3028 at some point prior to the Steiner-Davion wedding on Terra, without updating the sections written from a 3025 point-of-reference.)

The House Davion sourcebook doesn’t state what the Salem factory makes in 3025, but Objective Raids lists its output as primarily Wheeled APCs and internal combustion engines for APCs, Pegasus hovercraft, and Partisan tanks.  The Salem plant grows massively during the Jihad, expanding its product lines to make main battle tanks, all manner of APCs, WiGEs and Battle Armor, according to Objectives: Federated Suns. 

Circa 3025, Harlock’s Warriors are a Medium-weight Regular regiment with a contract running through July 3026.  Their FM: Mercs (Revised) entry notes that by 3020, the Warriors had full armor and infantry support, and specialized in gladiatorial-style combat. 

The identity of the Fire Masters’ employer is never stated, but given its location, the odds are that they have a contract with the Capellan Confederation.  This is a fairly deep raid into the Federated Suns, striking across the border into the Crucis March, rather than just hitting the Capellan March.  The distance from the Capellan border might explain why the Fire Masters appear to have received no Maskirovka intel support.  One would think that any facility being raided would have had at least some groundwork done by intel assets onworld.  The Fire Masters knew how many armored vehicles and infantry were in the corporate security detachment, so why were the mercenaries caught by surprise by the gun turrets.  Those should have been visible from casual observation by whatever team ascertained the quantity of mobile defenders.  Chalk one more instance up of the Mad Max-era Maskirovka being utterly gormless.  When did Alex Mallory/Alexi Malenkov infiltrate the Mask, anyways?

Despite the apparent failure of the raid, it may have served the purpose of a dry run for McCarron's Armored Cavalry's "Long March" campaign in 3022-3023.  In 3019, Davion mercenaries were hitting the Confederation hard, striking St. Ives with Tristram's Terrorists and Kingston's Commandos, so this may have been a quickly planned retaliatory strike.  The House Liao sourcebook notes that McCarron's raids were aided by timely information from local agents of the Maskirovka.  Perhaps the failure of the Fire Masters' raid on Salem brought home the need for close Maskirovka coordination in support of deep raids.

This story is attached to Hexpack Promotion 1, which provided guidance for including turrets (using the new construction rules) in BattleTech play.  I’ve had a fondness for turrets ever since reading the ruleset in McCarron’s Armored Cavalry, which featured a fiendish lineup of heavy turrets including:  The Mosquito Tower (10 AC/2s); the Archery Artillery Bunker (7 Long Toms); the Primary Missile Hell (9 LRM-20s), and my favorite, the 'Mech Trap (a pit with a concealed cover – ‘Mechs could fall in and either land on mines, be cooked by a ring of flamers, or have infantry dropping 100-point AeroTech bombs down a chute on them).

[Mendrugo]

----- 1 Month Later -----

Date: September 20, 3019

Location: Rasalhague

Title: Heir to the Dragon

Author: Robert N. Charrette

Type: Novel (Heir to the Dragon)

Synopsis:  Theodore Kurita disembarks the DropShip DCS Mukade at the helm of his Orion at the Draconis Military Starport on Rasalhague.  He is met at the hangar by his XO, Tai-i Tomoe Sakade.  Theodore’s Orion has been repainted to exactly resemble how it looked when Aleksandr Kerensky was at its controls, albeit with a Combine insignia in place of the Star League one.  He’s given it the callsign “Revenant.”

Theodore and Tomoe embrace passionately, and he tells her that his arranged marriage to Anastasi Sjovold is purely political for the production of an heir.  He sees it as giri, and is honor bound as a samurai to carry out his duty, despite his feelings for Tomoe.  She tells him that once he is married, she will have to sever their relationship.  She will not be his concubine.

After a session of lovemaking, Tomoe updates Theodore on wedding logistics.  His mother and the rest of the royal court are inbound and will land in one hour, while Takashi has been delayed and will be executing a high-gee burn in-system to arrive on time.

Tomoe refuses to go with Theodore to greet his mother, noting that too many people already think she earned her rank and position on her back.  She complains that Tourneville, a member of Theodore’s command lance, demeans her at any opportunity, and is obviously a spy working for Takashi to keep tabs on his heir.  Theodore stalks off alone, and Tomoe turns to her duties as XO, damning the requirements of duty.

Notes:  There’s just a wee bit of “pot calling the kettle black,” as Tomoe complains about Tourneville being a spy sent by Takashi to keep tabs on Theodore, when she’s a spy sent by the Order of the Five Pillars to keep tabs on Theodore.  (Just as Kathleen Palmer was a spy sent by Subhash Indrahar to keep tabs on Theodore and bear him an illegitimate heir…just in case.)  It must be hard for Theodore to truly trust anyone, when nearly every person he meets is seeking to use him for his own ends.  It’s a game in which he’s the prize, and he barely seems to know he’s playing…yet.

It’s interesting that Theodore should try to so closely emulate Aleksandr Kerensky, down to the exact shade of olive green for the paint job on his ‘Mech.  At the time, the Kurita clan wanted less than nothing to do with Kerensky and the rest of the Star League.  However, there are some interesting parallels.  Aleksandr had a wife and children in secret, just as Theodore is going to have with Tomoe.  Like Aleks, Theodore feels pressured to follow a martial tradition and uphold the family honor, despite his personal proclivities.  Aleks would have preferred to study social science at Tharkad University, but was pressured into switching to the Nagelring and becoming a military man, like his illustrious ancestor, Katyusha. 

Florimel Kurita told Theodore that they’d found the husk of Kerensky’s Orion adrift, and refitted it to its original specs using equipment imported from the Free Worlds League.  Despite Theodore’s exhaustive research into the paint hue, he appears to have missed the fact that he’s actually running a machine very unlike that which Kerensky rode.  Per Record Sheets 3050 (Upgrade) Inner Sphere – Unabridged, Kerensky’s personal Orion packed a Gauss Rifle, a Snub-Nose PPC, an SRM-4 with an Artemis IV Fire Control System, CASE and Ferro-Fibrous armor.

[Scotty]

I think the armament for Kerensky's Orion might severely post-date this novel.  Indeed, the concept of a Snub-Nose PPC may very well do the same.  It's also possible that General Kerensky piloted his Orion in multiple configurations over his long career.

[Mendrugo]

I think the armament for Kerensky's Orion might severely post-date this novel.  Indeed, the concept of a Snub-Nose PPC may very well do the same.  It's also possible that General Kerensky piloted his Orion in multiple configurations over his long career.

Of course Charrette intended it to be a stock ON1-K.  However, one of the things I'm interested in exploring in these reviews is how the various elements of BattleTech, written decades apart, mesh together.  Sometimes the unintentional overlaps can provide interesting fodder for discussion and speculation.

And you're right - I believe the story set on Paris references him using an autocannon rather than a Gauss Rifle.  So the Orion - Kerensky was probably an upgrade he ordered after becoming the head of the SLDF.

[FedSunsBorn]

Maybe the turrets on Salem got upgraded only recently and the local Mask operatives lacked the time to get that info back to where it would catch up with the attacking Cappie Mercs?

[Mendrugo]

Maybe the turrets on Salem got upgraded only recently and the local Mask operatives lacked the time to get that info back to where it would catch up with the attacking Cappie Mercs?

Perhaps, though from the reference in the Davion sourcebook to the Salem plant being "new" circa 3025, the whole factory should be considered recently constructed in 3019.  If the Mask had been doing a competent job, the latest intel should have been transmitted up to the incoming DropShips as soon as they arrived in-system.  The fact that the local Mask cell either missed the existence of the turrets, or failed to communicate this info to the raiders either says that they had poor procedures, were incompetent, or had been busted and replaced by MIIO/DMI and were providing false data.

Getting bad intel from employers is a common complaint from mercenaries in the BattleTech universe, so perhaps the Mask just didn't prioritize getting the Fire Masters the most recent or most complete reports.  This is a mistake they did not repeat with McCarron's Armored Cavalry.

[Mendrugo]

----- 2 Days Later -----

Date: September 22, 3019

Location: Rasalhague

Title: Heir to the Dragon

Author: Robert N. Charrette

Type: Novel (Heir to the Dragon)

Synopsis:  Aboard Takashi Kurita’s Leopard-class DropShip, the DCS Startreader, now approaching Rasalhague, Senior Tech Beorn Karlborgen executes the Council of Gems’ Plan A – sabotaging the ship and setting a bomb to detonate ten meters above the Reykjavik Starport runway so that the Coordinator will die in a fiery “accident” when the DropShip plows into the planet

At the spaceport, Theodore’s lancemate Chu-i Tourneville helps him into his battle vest, noting that Kurita’s uniform is out of date – still sporting the An Ting Legion insignia rather than that of the 22nd Regulars.  They head out to join Warlord Marcus Kurita at the welcoming ceremony after Tourneville blocks an attempt by a “minor official” to contact Theodore.

Back aboard the ship, a crewman reports Karlborgen’s death.  Tai-sho Vladimir Sorenson (commander of the 8th Rasalhague Regulars) orders the pilot, Dai-i N’kuma to climb to a holding orbit while he investigates.  He quickly determines that Karlborgen committed suicide and sabotaged the ship, neutralizing both the controls and the escape pods.  Thinking quickly, Sorenson leads the Coordinator to the ‘Mech bay and they both squeeze aboard his Grasshopper.  A missile barrage serves to open the jammed-shut bay doors, and the Grasshopper is flung free of the ship as Karlborgen’s bombs detonate.

At the control center, Marcus Kurita is a no-show, leaving Theodore to make small talk with another invited dignitary – Hassid Ricol, who introduces himself as the lord of a minor house.  They’re interrupted by the arrival of Jarl Ottar Sjovold, Governor of the Rasalhague District and Theodore’s future father-in-law.  Sjovold rather unconvincingly tells Theodore that there’s been “an accident” involving his mother, and that they need to leave the control center immediately.  Sjovold hustles Theodore aboard a waiting VTOL, and seems very surprised when Tourneville and Ricol board behind them.  As the VTOL roars away, Ricol draws Theodore’s attention to the descending DropShip, trailing flames as it smashes into the control center they just departed.

Sjovold tells Theodore that he acted to save his life, and that Chu-i Tourneville tried to stop him from doing so.  Ottar tells Theodore that Marcus betrayed him by trying to kill Theodore, but that if Theodore appoints him as Warlord of Rasalhague, he can guarantee a loyal and peaceful Rasalhague District.  Duke Ricol abruptly breaks in, noting that Jarl Sjovold hadn’t tried to evacuate him from the doomed control center.  Theodore tells Sjovold that he will not be party to regicide.  Abruptly, Ricol and Sjovold begin struggling, and soon Sjovold lies dead at Ricol’s feet.  Ricol tells Theodore that Sjovold was trying to backstab the Kuritan heir with a dagger.  Though not totally convinced of Ricol’s loyalty, Theodore orders him to take the VTOL to Hotel Kiruna, where his mother is residing.

Meanwhile, to the west of Reykjavik, Vladimir Sorenson and Takashi Kurita land safely in the Grasshopper, though the machine is somewhat worse for the wear from the hard landing.  Sorenson passes out, and when he comes to, he sees Takashi sitting calmly amidst the wreckage composing a haiku to the destroyed ‘Mech.  He tells Sorenson that he will be appropriately rewarded for his service, while those who orchestrated the plot will be executed, along with their extended families.

Notes:  There’s a stealth Star Wars reference when Karlborgen uses a hydrospanner to sabotage the Leopard’s flight controls.  Fitting, since the game had only recently changed its name from BattleDroids when Charrette was writing this story.

Per Theodore Kurita’s bio in the House Kurita sourcebook, he spent the years after his graduation rotating from unit to unit, never spending more than a few months in any one place. 

It appears that Marcus Kurita decided to alter Plan A by inviting Theodore and Duke Ricol to stand on the ground zero bullseye.  With both Theodore and Takashi dead, Marcus would have an excellent shot at inheriting the mantle of Coordinator himself, without having to wait a generation to frame Theodore and put Sjovold’s grandchild on the throne.  Tourneville's role in the conspiracy is left unresolved at this point - albeit with some hints that he was one of Marcus Kurita's agents.  (This is not conclusive, though, since he would have died as well if he hadn't been extracted on Sjovold's VTOL with Theodore.)

Since the Grasshopper jumped out of the Leopard just as the bombs went off, it only had to descend ten meters.  The main thrust of the jump jets must have been directed at countering the DropShip’s terminal velocity. 

It’s fascinating to see the Council of Gems so completely implode.  Marcus was trying to wipe out the ruling line so his cadet branch could advance.  Sjovold wanted to seize Marcus’ position as Warlord.  Ricol murdered Sjovold to conceal the evidence of his connections to the conspiracy and prove his loyalty to House Kurita.  Looking at the House Kurita sourcebook, it seems each Military District has both a District Warlord who is the absolute military ruler of the province, and a District Governor who is the civilian administrator.  The glory and prestige primarily accrues to the Warlord, explaining why Sjovold viewed it as a major promotion.

[trboturtle]

I always wondered what happend to Miles Kurita, the Rasalhague governor (as of 3025 House Kurita housebook).

Craig

[Mendrugo]

20 Year Update states that he served as the Governor of the Rasalhague District until the Free Rasalhague Republic came into existence.  He'd been grooming his son Knute to succeed him, but Knute ended up becoming an officer in the Royal Kungsarme.

There's something of a discontinuity here, since the biographical profile of Mies Kurita in the House Kurita sourcebook says that his family line had been running Rasalhague for over a century circa 3025.  If that's the case, where does Ottar Sjovold fit into the picture?  Heir to the Dragon also casts him as the Rasalhague District Governor, despite Mies' bio saying he'd inherited the position from his father, Marcus.