Project LEGION: Strength and Honor

[marauder648]

I belive the term 'lets get ready to rumble' applies!

[Kasaga]

Oh boy I hope you all like the lead up. I'm going to try and keep these going twice a week if my wife gives me time to write it.

[Kasaga]

Is there anything that people like or dislike so far on how I am introducing this?

[DoctorMonkey]

Is there anything that people like or dislike so far on how I am introducing this?

I'm pretty happy with it - as in, no suggestions except keep writing

[snakespinner]

Nothing that exceptionally bad that needs comment.
Just enjoying the story so far. [cheers]

[marauder648]

Indeed, its bloody good stuff!

[mighty midget]

I'm very much enjoying the story as well, it has obviously been plotted out well and your writing skills are quite good.  The only issue that I'm running into is keeping track of characters but that probably has more to do with reading the work piecemeal than anything else.  Overall, keep it coming & thanks for sharing.

[Kasaga]

Chapter Five

Drop Zone Kilo-5
Bluffton, South Carolina
Terra, Terran System
29 February 3058



Drop Zone Kilo-5 was established at the sprawling Hilton Head National Golf Club 8.5 Kilometers west of Hilton Head Island.  Already on the ground was the Special Forces team led by Master Sergeant Regina Lopez.  Deploying her six commandos’ they setup ILS and guidance beacons meant to guide in the transports of the Jump Infantry Task Force as they made their approach. 
   Lopez watched UAV and live feeds from recon satellites as the Shadow Lancers approached.  Already four companies had been identified with another two of possible armor skirting through the cities north and south of Bluffton.  Her communications specialist had already confirmed that Hilton Head was in lockdown thanks to that Blakist spy Fujishima.  The Primus’ body guard unit a short regiment of light armor was already moving out to confront them but with two understrength battalions of hover and wheeled armor she didn’t think they would hold against the heavier Lancer force. 
   Lopez watched as the lead companies of the Primus’ Guard rolled west along Highway 278 towards the city of Bluffton where the main Shadow Lancer force was assembling. 
   “Sergeant Lopez!”  Shouted her COM’s specialist Sergeant Weaver.
   “What you got Weaver?”  Lopez asked.
   “First wave is inbound.  1ST/503RD is on approach and in the drop pattern.  Escorts are breaking to strafe Blakist artillery setting up north of Bluffton.”  Weaver reported.
   “Roger, tell them Com Guard armor is moving to establish blocking positions along the SC-46 and I-278.”  Lopez ordered weaver to send up the report.

*         *         *

Vampire 1-6
Assault Approach, DZ Kilo-5
Terra, Terran System


Lieutenant Aaron Jameson struggled to keep his ship in formation with his Squadron Leader.  The three Vampire-class DropShips were on approach to DZ Kilo-5 to deploy their companies of Jump Infantrymen.  As they swung around executing aero braking maneuvers to bleed off excess speed in order to deploy the troops carried aboard each ship.
   “Franklin, activate the DSR and prepare to open the bay doors on my command.”  Jameson ordered.  The DSR or Drop Signal Relay is two simple lights a red standby and warning light and the green go light. 
   Franklin didn’t even respond but the indicator on Jameson’s HUD activated showing that Franklin had followed his instructions.  He brought the ship out of its last series of braking turns and then deployed the Vampire’s speed brakes and flaps.
   “All Vampires, this is 1.  Reduce altitude to five hundred meters and prepare to drop.”  Captain Izumahara reported from her lead ship. 
   Jameson descended down to the prescribed altitude leveled out and reduced thrust further making it safe for the jumpers to exit safely from the aircraft.
   “Prepare to drop.”  Jameson commanded.  His crew shifted the settings on the DSR to standby and the deployment doors opened.  The clock ticked by until they were over the Drop Zone.

*         *         *

Jump Bay, Vampire 1-1
Assault Approach, DZ Kilo-5
Terra, Terran System


Private Cindy O’Connor was startled as the Jump Bay door cycled open with the red light shifting from the solid standby to flashing warning.  She checked her rig again.  Her jump pack was powered up and fully charged, her pulse rifle was likewise fully charged and in standby she had a full basic load of power packs.  Grenades tactical radio and everything else she needed to survive once she exited the Vampire. 
   She looked to Major Anderson as he checked his gear as well.  A klaxon sounded in the bay and the light shifted from flashing red to solid green and she looked back to Major Anderson as he jumped away from the DropShip.  She watched as every jumper cleared the bay before getting to her and then she jumped clear being whipped around before her training kicked in and she righted herself.  The ground was quickly approaching and her jump pack activated slowing her drop.  A warning sounded in her ear as she landed and she slapped the release for the extra fuel tank used for the drop. 
   Cindy looked around rifle at the ready a flashing indicator on her HUD marked the rally point for her Platoon.  She switched to assisted jump mode and began bounding to the perimeter her Battalion was establishing.    A load thunderous roar could be heard over the screech of aerospace fighters, Vampire’s and jump packs.  She paused after one jump to look up and watched as a Union-class DropShip hovering over the battlefield as its bay doors opened and a company of Jump Jet equipped BattleMechs dropped free of the ship descending on plumes of superheated plasma.
   All around her the troopers of her battalion bounded forward.  Chinook heavy lift VTOLs were sweeping in and deploying Ballista, Pollux and Vali artillery vehicles escorted by Aerospace fighters and Vector Attack VTOLs.  Third Battalion was already sweeping forward from their LZ further south in Vector Medium Utility VTOLs.  A lot was going on now.
   The first outgoing rounds from the sniper tubes mounted to the Ballista mobile guns began to bark, spiting out 155mm rounds guided in by forward observes on the ground and Vector reconnaissance VTOLs spotting for the battery.  Reports were flooding in over the battle-net as Private O’Connor continued her bound forward landing next to Major Anderson.
   “Echo 6, this is 2 Rock 6.”  Anderson said looking over at O’Connor as she selected the next spot for her bound.  “I want our CCA in here quickly to support us when those Lancer armored companies break out of the city.  Are we still getting that Lance from Bandito Company?”  He requested as O’Connor activated her jump pack and launched herself another hundred meters forwarded landing in line with the rest of her platoon.
   She was so overwhelmed with information that she shut down all but CRITIC and FLASH traffic feeds from outside her squad and platoon.  “O’Connor! You here yet?”  Demanded her squad leader, Sergeant Blake. 
   “Here Sergeant just landed.”  Cindy responded.
   “Good, now get ready the Primus’ Guard is falling back.  We’ve made linkup and they are conducting a reward passage of lines.  They are under fire, although they are withdrawing in good order.  Our Company is bounding forward with CCA to provide cover as they pass through the lines.  Looks like we get first blood for the Sky Soldiers.”  Blake said half giddy. 
   Choruses of Rogers were heard over the NET as they all chimed in.  They were all giddy, they were all ready.  They had trained so long for this moment.  To see combat.  Now there first taste of it will be on their long lost homeland.  The World they all had sworn to defend.  It was fitting.  “Lets do this Sergeant.”  Corporal Fitzgerald commented. 
   The first of the Com Guard light armor broke free of the city crossing the gap between the SC-46 and the golf course tree line where the Jump Infantrymen had established their shaky perimeter.  LRM’s and lasers followed the Guardsmen out of the buildings and into the open ground.  It took a long arduous five minutes for the Guardsmen to clear the city as they executed a fighting withdraw. 
   That was when the Sky Soldier’s struck.  The 503RD Jump Infantry Regiment the “Rock” Soldiers of Echo Company jumped clear of the tree line in one company sized bound.  When this happened Vector Attack VTOLs unmasked themselves from behind the trees and engaged the Lancers lead armor.  A Griffin and Phoenix Hawk cleared the trees unleashing their firepower into a lancer Galleon before shifting into Rommel. 
   The fighting lasted for another twenty minutes with the Jump Infantrymen bounding back to the safety of the regiments lines.  Together with the Guardsmen and the Jump Infantry they held the line against the Blakist Shadow Lancers armor contingent.  The Lancers were already in retreat.  Not able to force the crossing into Hilton Head with the Com Guard reinforced. 
   The Battle for Terra would continue.

[Kasaga]

Ok I seem to have had a bad habit of post incomplete chapters.  Chapter 5 is one such example.  I will finish it up since I seem to have deleted a bit of it. 

I'm very much enjoying the story as well, it has obviously been plotted out well and your writing skills are quite good.  The only issue that I'm running into is keeping track of characters but that probably has more to do with reading the work piecemeal than anything else.  Overall, keep it coming & thanks for sharing.

As to having to keep track of all the different characters don't worry about that too much.  Those I plan to keep around will be seen multiple times and more back story will be developed for them.  As of now I am trying to show the first few hectic days of a Planetary invasion and all of the multiple locations where they would affect the course of the Operation and the storyline.  Hence the segment with the lone Jump Infantrymen Cindy O'Connor.  One thing I am trying to get across is that while this may also be her first invasion and taste of combat as their operations on Keid were more of a humanitarian nature, The whole brigade since its formation has not seen combat ever and no Soldiers within have.  They are operating on the experience of their training and simulations only.  It will become more evident as the Word of Blake's reinforcement task forces begin to arrive.

[Kasaga]

Just a reminder I've not forgotten. We will call this chapter 5 preview as I am writing more and more about the battle of Hilton Head. I hope that you all will enjoy this interesting looking into a battle of Jump Infantry and armor.

[Kasaga]

As promised the continuation of chapter 5

Chapter 5 (Continued...)

*         *         *

May River Road
Bluffton, South Carolina
Terra, Terran System


Demi-Precentor Alex Westin maneuvered his Von Luckner Heavy Tank west along the South Carolina-46 with the rest of his Shadow Lancer Armored Command Company.  Reports were already coming in over the net from the Armored Recon and a platoon from his own company, of stiff resistance from the Primus’ bodyguard unit and what looked like a regiment of Jump Infantry, which conducted an airborne insertion onto the battlefield. 
   The swamp and intercostal waterways of South Carolina were already constraining his assault forces advance.  With out so much as a company of ‘Mechs in support this was going to be a close and bloody fight.  As he was maneuver he caught a glimpse of a Helicopter as it darted to the cover of trees ahead on the road.
   The lead Beagle recon hover craft cruising up the highway looking for an ambush exploded into a ball of orange fire as the hovercraft cartwheeled off the road and into the marsh alongside the Highway.  Westin ripped his eyes away from the digital map system and looked through his vision blocks to see the explosion.  Then he swung his viewer onto the scene only to watch a missile slam into the Bulldog Medium tank following the beagle.
   “Ambush!”  He screamed over the all hands net.  “Victor, get us off the road.” 
   Without responding his driver pulled the massive Von Luckner off of the road and into the low ground on off the shoulder.  Already were the tracks having trouble gripping the soft wetland ground.  “Sir, we can’t stay down in this long.  We are going to get stuck.”  His driver reported.
   Keying his Battalion command net.  “Adept Willis, get your hovers off the road and flank their spotters.  I have the feeling they are spotting for Arrow IV missiles.”
   “Yes sir, moving now.”  Adept Willis acknowledged.
   It was mayhem already two vehicles destroyed and more could be stuck or destroyed the longer he waited.  He pulled out on his overhead map running off of stored data they downloaded after being granted access to the Com Star Global Positioning Satellites.  Now he looked for an escape from this fire sack he had walked his people into. 
   “There, we can turn on Simmonsville road and push north to link up with the Bluffton Parkway.  Then we can turn east again and move on Hilton Head.”  He spoke softly to himself careful not to trigger the communications system.  He punched in a series of waypoints and began to make a plan.
   That was when the world fell apart.  He saw yet more explosions ahead of him in the open wetlands.  “Shadow 4-6, this is Casper 2.  Casper 1 and 4 swung out to watch our flank and stumbled upon what looks like a minefield.  There are FASCAM canisters everywhere possible THUNDER minefield deployed.  I say again, possible THUNDER minefield deployed.”  Two of his three recon hovers were gone already. 
   Westin checked the map again.  Damn that was short of his turn by two hundred meters.  “All Shadow’s this is 4-6, get on the road column heavy movement to contact over.”  He had just ordered his assault company to take point followed by the fire support companies.  It was time to commit to battle.  To bad it was still nearly seventeen kilometers from his objective on Hilton Head Island. 
   Victor maneuvered the massive tank onto the road where it took up position behind two Behemoth’s and his wingman in a Rhino as they began their movement to contact.  He watched on his sensors as the rest of the companies maneuvered onto the road and began pushing up the highway right behind. 
   A flash of movement was all he had a chance to see as a helicopter popped up from behind the trees 150 meters to the north and rippled off two flights of SRM 4’s into the lead tank.  He ducked back behind the trees and no doubt moved east to setup for another strike. 
   “So this is how we are going to play?”  He asked rhetorically.
   “Sir, the war book reports that VTOL as a Vector.  From the weapons launched at us it could only be the Attack variant.”  Ralston his senior gunner reported.  ComStar doesn’t have any of those do they?  It is reported extinct. 
   “I wonder if this that Legion we’ve been hearing about.  The one’s that stopped the Leaguers and the Capellans.”  Westin murmured.  “Continue movement.”  He ordered.
   The tanks picked up a steady pace as they moved east along the SC-46.  Every now and again they would be peppered by more VTOLs paying their cat and mouse game and even a company of Jump Infantry laid an ambush for them.  Artillery had been called in more than once but he hadn’t seen anymore Arrow IV missiles by Blake’s mercy. 
   This was brutal.  His two battalions worth of armor and the infantry battalion with him couldn’t possibly survive this for too much longer and be considered combat effective.  That was when he saw it.  A pair of BattleMechs stepped clear of the trees and unloaded into the leading tanks.  The lead Behemoth took both ‘Mech’s alpha strikes to the turret. 
   The war book was spitting back data on the two ‘Mech’s one was a PHX-1c Phoenix Hawk.  The other was flashing error; re-computing and then it came up.  AEM-01 Dragoon a unit designed for the nascent Amaris Empire. 
   “The hell?”  Westin slipped over the radio. 
   “Sir?”  His wingman responded.
   “Nothing, that other machine.  It’s coming up as a Dragoon.  One of the ‘Mechs Amaris built to fight the Star League.”  Westin reported.
   “Where the hell did Com Star build that?”  His wingman asked.
   Westin zoomed in on the Battle ROM replay of the machine’s insignia.  A black bird set against an orange-yellow star.  The other symbol a stylized compass rose set against a blue shield. 
   The two BattleMechs traded shots with the lead tanks again before backing clear to allow for a platoon of Helicopters to strafe the column. 
   “All Lancers, this is 4-6, we need to get in among them or we are dead.”  Westin said breaking the ice on the battalion net.  “Charge forward.  Do not stop.  If a vehicle dies in front push it out of the way or bypass if you can.  Keep moving.”
   With that the column burst forward.

*         *         *

Lazy Lane and SC-46
Bluffton, South Carolina
Terra, Terran System


Captain Joshua Mackenzie watched the column burst forward from the cockpit of his Dragoon.  First Sergeant Allen in his Phoenix Hawk stayed with him as they spared with the lead tanks.  Now they were in full blitz trying to close the distance.  His other two lance mates.  Sergeant’s Vazquez and Mitchell were setup along the SC-46 in the tree line hoping to close the ambush and push the tanks into a minefield or mire them in the wetlands. 
   “Vazquez, bring up your section and hit that lead behemoth with the rest of us we need a road block.”  Mackenzie ordered.
   “Moving sir.”  Was all Vazquez said.
   His HEM-04 Dragoon named not AEM for Amaris Empire Mech but HEM for Hegemony-in-Exile Mech repurposed for the exiles.  His wingman in a Wolverine II moved up and as soon as the lead Behemoth cleared the tree blocking him he fired his gauss rifle followed by the ERPPC.  As he moved up he unloaded with twenty SRMs into the lead tank cracking its armor wide open for his wingman and the other ‘Mechs of their Lance. 
   Mackenzie moved clear of the trees into the road and fired another pair of LB-10X canisters into the tank sanding off more armor.  Over his shoulder one of the Vector Transports that had brought in his supporting Jump Infantry fired its lasers into the tank adding its own punch to the devastation.  That was when First Sergeant Allen fired his snub-nosed particle projection cannon into the tank sending detonating its ammo storage and killing the crew within.
   With a 100ton road block in place the infantry and ‘Mechs supported by VTOLs moved forward to savage the Shadow Lancer column. 
   “Full court press.”  He said over the command channel.  As the ‘Mech’s and infantry rushed out to swarm the tanks they were restricted to the road because of the minefields, wetlands and thick trees.  It was a slaughter for everyone.  The infantry attached satchel chargers to the turrets and motive systems of the tanks before bounding away to detonate them from afar.  Nine tanks were lost this way.  Another six disabled and others damaged. 
   The tanks began to turn as the Hovercraft raced back up the road they had come.    Mackenzie smiled and activated his radio on the fire support frequency.  “Curtin Call.”  He ordered.  Without so much as an acknowledgment the horizon flashed as eight sniper artillery tubes vomited their 155mm projectiles going to rapid fire.  The first hovercraft cleared the impact area only for a following Condor to be smashed by the first impacts.  Followed quickly by a Scorpion Light Tank and even a Bulldog.  The rest halted movement stunned and unsure of what to do.  The exiles pushed forward killing another three tanks before breaking contact and withdrawing back to the safety of friendly lines.

[marauder648]

Very good battle scene :) Lots of show and tell, great stuff!

[Kasaga]

Thanks, I think you will like Chapter 6. It's going to be a bit different from the normal BattleTech. Namely the way the next chapter will play out and any battles fought are fought. It's going to cover an element of BattleTech talked about in the Star League days but never any details.

[snakespinner]

I enjoyed the battle scene. A nice ambush.
looking forward to seeing how you play it in chapter 6. O0

[Kasaga]

Thanks I am outlining 6, 7 and 8 right now and looking to how I want them to mash up.

[Kasaga]

Well I'm back from a work imposed exile gents.  I am gearing up the old magic box and will be continuing where I left off.  I have Chapter 6 on the way and will be posting as soon as I can.

I hope you have liked what I wrote before so if you want to brush up on what I have written already.  So again enjoy and lets let the magic happen.

[kalthud]

TAGGED!!

[Kasaga]

Chapter Six

15 KM East of LZ Whiskey
Kansas, North America
Terra, Terran System
28 February 3058



Precentor Suzanne Mulvanery now rid of her Colonel Haskell persona concentrated on killing the two North America stationed Level III’s of the 201ST Com Guard Division.  Alpha and Beta Battalions of the 201ST were devastated only 22 BattleMechs remained and were now fleeing ahead of her regiment of ‘Mechs.  The Shadow Lancers had done well so far in their mission.  The air wing had crippled the Com Guards at their Salinas base.  Now her regiment was pushing them across the North American plains while her armor and most of her Infantry marched on Hilton Head. 
   She watched an alert flash up on her HUD as she negotiated over a snow bank in her Cerberus.  Reaching over she tapped the corresponding button on her control console.  A message began to scroll across one of her auxiliary monitors.  “Damnit” She hissed to herself. 
   Reaching over she activated her command net.  “2-Shadow-6, this is Shadow-6-Actual.”  She said using the code names for the Shadow Lancers 2nd Battalion commander.  Adept VIII Charles Thompson, his 2nd Battalion contained the lightest BattleMechs of the regiment and was therefore selected to be the scouts for this phase of the Operation.
   “Shadow-6, this is 2-Shadow-6 go ahead.”  Thompson replied. 
   “2-Shadow, reports are coming in of fighting in orbit with the invasion fleet.  Where is the 201ST now?”  Mulvanery queried. 
   “Shadow-6, They are moving through the farms making descent time…”  Thompson broke off.  Mulvanery knew that Thompson wouldn’t just stop talking to his commander without good reason and let him with it. 
   After a few minutes he broke back onto the command net.  “Shadow-6, this is 2-Shadow-6 FLASH traffic from Echo-6.  Multiple Orbital Insertion Pods falling to our west in what he estimates to be regimental strength.”
   Mulvanery was caught off guard by that report and hit a patch of ice when she crossed a road.  She slipped straining her Gyro as she fought to keep the 95 ton assault machine upright.  “2-Shadow-6, Shadow-6.  Roger hold movement deploy skirmishers.  All Shadows this is Shadow-6 hold movement reform to regimental formation two-bravo.  I want 2 up front on recon with 1 and 3 in support.”  She looked at her communications readout and saw the tally the scouts were sending up in SPOT reports.  So far they were at 63 confirmed BattleMech pods and dozens of smaller pods.  “We are looking at two maybe three battalions of ‘Mech’s with possible Battle Armor in support. 
   Mulvanery craned her Cerberus back to look up into the sky using her gunsight cameras to zoom in on the sides of the descending pods before catching a glimpse of spheroid DropShips floating down to the surface to her west.  In front of the retreating 201st Division and the wall of descending drop pods which were building a shield between her and her prey. 
   “This war just got a whole lot more interesting.”  Suzanne Mulvanery said quietly to herself as not to activate the communications system.

*         *         *

DZ Bravo-1
Kansas, North America
Terra, Terran System



Colonel Mathews watched as her Blackhawks assembled within their Drop Zones and began pushing out to form a battle line between the Word of Blake Shadow Lancers and the battered 201ST Com Guard Division.  As the DropShips of the 1ST Dragoons grounded within their Landing Zones, Colonel Mathews began designating targets for artillery and close air support.
   As she piloted her 100 ton IMP-1A Imp what the maps were labeling Old US Highway 40 as she moved her command group south of Wilson Kansas to intercept the what Intel was labeling the command element of the Shadow Lancers.  Her command lance was made up of heavy hitters.  Her Imp, her aid Lieutenant Martin’s HNG-732b Highlander, Master Sergeant Orville’s ANH-1X Annihilator and Sergeant Thomas’ RFL-3N-2 Rifleman II.  As she crossed the ancient roadway she left a massive crater in the old concrete as she quickly made her way across. 
   Colonel Mathews’ radio began to crackle.  “Blackhawk 6, this is Saber 6.  My Squadron is formed and we are moving east.  Expect contact in ten minutes, over.”  Major Stanley her 1ST Squadron commander reported. 
   “Saber 6, Blackhawk 6.  Rodger, Lancer is formed up and moving.  Tomahawk has assembled and is expected to be airborne in another fifteen mikes.  Good hunting.”  Mathews replied.  Lancer and Roughrider were her second and third Squadrons respectively and Tomahawk was her Attack Helicopter Battalion.  Each Squadron was a fully capable battlegroup centered on a BattleMech battalion further supported by two tank, two mechanized infantry and one battle armor companies and supported by a field artillery battery.  Capable of independent deployment or of coordinated Regimental operations such as this the Squadrons she had at her command were short regiments in their own right. 
   With her Aerospace squadron out fighting with the Shadow Lancers Wing to the far east keeping them out of the fight the only air support she had would be from her Attack Helicopter Battalion of Vector gunships.  The Regiment continued moving forward skirting north and south of the town of Wilson Kansas.  She saw a local boy sitting on the ground starring at the Blackhawks as they moved to contact with the fanatics just a few more kilometers to the east.  He had an old truck and looked to be in shock of what he was seeing. 
   Activating her communications system, she transmitted a message to her command ship in orbit.  “Painted Horse, this is Blackhawk 6 SITREP follows.” 
   “Blackhawk 6, Painted Horse send it.”  The communications officer aboard her command DropShips landing force command center responded.
“Negative enemy contact, regiment is moving west to east.  Negative contact with Com Guard although they are continuing to move west to our rear.  Estimated time to contact with enemy ten minutes.  This is Blackhawk six out.”  Bianca finished as she stepped over a farmers’ fence and continued her march across the wintery expanse known as Kansas. 

*            *            *

Geosynchronous Orbit
Hilton Head, North Carolina
Terra, Terran System



Sergeant Hunter Adams had been secured in his armor for the last four grueling hours and of that he had spent three of them locked in his squads drop pod.  Part of 3RD Squadron, 1ST Dragoon Regiment’s battle armor company he was part of the crème of the Hegemony-in-Exile’s Infantry.  His Spartan battle armor was one of the most advanced suits operating within the Inner Sphere comparable to the Clans Elemental design.  Hunter looked around his display watching the data link they all shared with the Tarawa’s Planetary Assault Control Center or PAC2.  They were watching the assault landings of the 503RD Jump Infantry Task Force as they deployed to defend Hilton Head.  Already they had slowed the advance of the Shadow Lancers Armor companies.  While not yet able to stop them they were putting up a hell of a fight. 
   The Blackhawks Roughrider Squadron would change that situation by dumping forty more BattleMechs and dozens of armored vehicles, and a couple hundred armored and unarmored infantrymen into the fight. 
   A message began flashing on Hunter’s heads up display.  Activating his link with his Squad.  “Alright, five minutes to drop Troopers.  Give me an equipment check.”
   “Sanders green.”
   “Ibarra green.”
   “Tanaka green.”
   Satisfied with the responses from his squad response he signaled his Platoon Leader that 3RD Squad, 1ST Platoon, Hotel Company was ready to drop.  Their specially designed drop pod was a first not only for the Hegemony but for battle armor period.  Capable of inserting a squad of four armored infantrymen from orbit the same way that a BattleMech could be inserted. 
   As he watched the icons maneuvering around the map interface of the 503RD Jump Infantry fighting the Lancers, Hunter closed the screen and clicked open a message to his wife and children back on Nova California.
   “My dearest Jessabelle, I am about to drop on Terra.  This was once the home of our people.  Now my home is wherever you are.  I hope that this message finds you and the children in good health.  I hope this is not the last message you will receive from me.  But should it be, remember that I love you and the children.  You are always in my thoughts and hug the our children for me.”
   With his message recorded he backed it up to his suits hard drive and ran it through the pods router and then into the ships data storage to be relayed across the fleet data link as it was tagged as a possible last message to family.  Should Sergeant Adams survive the coming campaign he will be pinged to confirm if he would like to send or erase the message. 
   The warship began to shudder as it began launching the BattleMechs and Battle Armored troopers on board.  His Squad was listed as sixteenth in the drop sequence so he had some time before he was dropped.  Keying his Squad link which they would all share while in the cocoon.  “So who would have thought a year ago we would be dropping on Terra?”
   “True story boss.”  Was Tanaka’s response.  “When we got alerted to deploy I just thought it would be some quick raid and then back into hiding for us.”
   “That’s what I was thinking too.”  Sanders added.
   “What about you Ibarra?”
   “I didn’t think it would be a raid but I never expected this.”  She thought about it for a moment.  “I saw the size of the fleet when we reached the rally point I knew this would be the something we could never go back into hiding after.”
   The pod shuddered as it was rotated into the drop bay.  “Well, looks like we’re up.  Today we dine in hell.”
   The clamps released and the black pod flung clear of the Tarawa. 

*         *         *

Hilton Head Airspace
Bluffton, South Carolina
Terra, Terran System



Major Charles Alexander banked his EGL-R6b Eagle into a wide arching turn as he watched his sensors showing two of his flights engaged with the Shadow Lancers aero wing and his command lance along with his remaining flight of six fighters provided close air support.  Alexander’s data link began alerting to the drop that the Tarawa had just executed.  Now he was going to have to de-conflict the airspace between his fighters, the jump infantry fighting on the surface with their VTOLs and artillery and the incoming troops from the 1ST Dragoons. 
   His 229TH Attack Squadron the “Wild Boars” was completely organized around both the EGL-R6b Eagle and the CSR-V12b Corsair.  His third flight was his light unit equipped with the Corsair while the rest of the Squadrons two flights and his command lance flew the Eagle. 
   “Boars, this is Boar 6 heads up people drop pods in coming.  Keep the Blakist clear.”  Alexander reported squadron’s command net.  Completing his turn his proximity sensor alerted him to a pod falling within his flight path.  Adjusting his heading to starboard he watched as one of the BattleMech pods trailing a drogue chute split apart as the air brakes deployed.
   He wished those Troopers luck as he noticed a group of enemy fighters slip through his combat air patrols.  “Boar 2-1, Boar 6 looks like they broke though with five.  Break and engage.”
   “Boar 6, this is 2-1 roger break now.”  Captain Philip Harmon acknowledged as his flight of six Eagles broke formation into two fighter lances and dove on the five Shadow Lancer fighters as they raced in to try and trim the numbers of falling Dragoons.
   “Lets go and hit one of these bastards Hank.”  Alexander said on his private channel with his wingman Captain Hank Reynard.
   “After you boss.”  Reynard responded following Alexander into his bank increasing power and going after what his targeting system was tagging a F-90 Stingray. 
   Alexander leveled out and targeted the Blakist Stingray with one of his large pulse lasers and watched as Reynard slide out from behind to get a shot on the Lancer fighter.  When his reticle flashed from red to gold indicating the closing fighter was within range.  Firing his main trigger which was tied into his primary target interlock circuit.  His three large pulse lasers flashed out at the distant Stingray.  Two of his lasers flashed over the fighter with the third only scoring a couple of hits during its pulse cycle.
   “Got him, my turn boss.”  Reynard said over their shared link.  His fighter fired its large pulse lasers scoring a strong hit on the Lancer Stingray visibly damaging the fighter as it began training smoke and melted armor.  The fighter began to turn for Hilton Head itself in an attempt to strike at the First Circuit while it still could.
   “Not to day buddy.”  Alexander said as he fired his large pulse lasers yet again.  The Lancer fighter shook hard but continued on.  Switching to his secondary interlock he fired his medium pulse lasers watching four flashing pulses of light reach out and cut the left wing off of the Stingray and he watched as the fighter tumbled into the Port Royal Sound.  “Ok Hank lets find another one.”
   “Roger boss.”  He said as they turned back towards the fur ball centered back over Hardeeville to the east. 
   There another fighter this one a Lucifer was trying to make a low level approach to Hilton Head.  “Hank use one of your air to air missiles on that guy.”  He ordered as he designated the Lucifer.
   “Got him.”  Reynard replied as he locked his missile onto the fighter and watched as the radar guided missile leave the rail and race in to slam into the fighter as it hugged the ground.  The force of the impact itself pushed the fighter into a housing area taking out what Alexander feared was a family hiding in their home during the fighting.  The fireball reached into the sky and debris was thrown to the east along the fighters flight path. 
   “I hope no one was in that house Hank.”  Alexander said. 
   “Me to Chuck.  I just had the image of a little girl like Jessica burning alive.”  Reynard replied.
   “Lets end this.”  Alexander said as he and Reynard turned their fighters back into the fight as Roughrider drop pods fell from the heavens followed by DropShips carrying the Squadrons armored vehicles.  “Get some boys.” 

[Shadow_Wraith]

 O0  ;D Yay nice update finally!

[marauder648]

An excellent update :) Great writing and great action! :)

What's the fleet element by the way?

[Kasaga]

if you are referring to the Hegemony-in-Exile this whole Operation is on a shoe string budget as most of their assets are face to face with the Capellan and League boarders.  If you are referring to the Word of Blake it would be the naval assets to the invading Word Task Forces.  They haven't been written in yet but there is defiantly a fight going on in space.  I had thought I had written it in but I guess I missed it going back and reading it now.  I will correct this.  But the Hegemony force's only warship in system right now is a Robinson IIA Assault Transport but she is supported by several squadrons of assault DropShips and carriers.

Also Hegemony reinforcements haven't even come into play yet.  This is only the first day of Operation ODYSSEUS for the Word of Blake which timed their assault to arrive in system when the Shadow Lancers made their move.

[Kasaga]

Chapter Seven

THS Tarawa
Terra-Luna Space
Terran System
28 February 3058



Captain Eduardo Alvarez sat strapped into his command chair aboard the Terran Hegemony Ship Tarawa.  What a contradiction in names, Alvarez thought to himself.  The Robinson block II-A assault transport was initially designed by the Federated Suns.  But the use of the ship was dragooned into service under project LEGION almost two centuries before.  The corvette class planetary assault transport was originally designed to carry and support a BattleMech battalion and deploy them from orbit.  Now with the modifications that the Hegemony Advanced Research and Development (H.A.R.D.) engineers worked into the design it was basically another ship crammed into the shell of the ancient Davion design. 
   Many of the LEGION projects new construction came from the Federated Suns.  Must have been something in the original designs that they liked.  He mused.  It had been five hours since the last of his embarked troops had been deployed to the surface of Terra.  Brigadier General Foster had transferred to his DropShip holding in orbit over Terra so he could coordinate operations on the surface. 
   The Word of Blake invasion force was due by now.  There is no way they could have expected to secure all of Terra with just the Shadow Lancers, let alone the rest of the system.  The Tarawa was slowly moving away from Terra with an escort of Com Guard and Hegemony assault ships and fighter carriers. 
   “Captain, Com Star’s Serenity base is detecting an IR buildup localized in the L2 LaGrange point.  A dozen point sources detected so far.”  The Lieutenant manning the communications station reported.  She looked back down at her display as a new message flashed across it.  With the distance between the task force and Luna meant that real time communications were impossible.  However the delay was negligible at 1.3 seconds.  “Sir update, emergence waves detected.  First visiuals indicate three Star Lords two Invaders and a Monolith.  The rest of the signatures have not come through yet.”
   Alvarez digested the information then made his decision.  “Helm set course for Luna.  Communciations alert General Foster of our intentions to intercept the invasion fleet in vicinity of Luna and warm up the HPG to warn Fleet Command of the arrival of follow on Blakist forces.”  As they all began working their systems.  “Navigation ETA on making Orbit of Luna?”
   A young Ensign looked at his display running the calculations.  “Sir, to a zero zero insertion into Lunar orbit is three hours at 1.5gs’ sir.  Turn over at one hour fifteen minutes.”  He replied.
   “Very well transmit to task force our NAV data and make for Luna.  Inform Serentiy base we are on our way.” 

*         *         *

WoBS Knox
Terran Approach
Terran System
01 March 3058



It was just past midnight Terran Standard Time as Precentor Darian Smith watched as his Task Force Gold was being approached by a flotilla of six Com Guard DropShips.  This wasn’t the only threat another group of ships targeted Task Force Copper and this included a warship.  Task Force Silver was facing a similar squadron of six DropShips however sensors were already determining that this force was more powerful than the Com Star ships. 
   Who are these people?  Smith thought to himself. 
   “Precentor.”  His tactical officer alerted bringing him out of his thoughts.
   “What is it Aaron?”  Smith asked.
   “Sir Task Force Copper has been engaged by the Robinson.”  Adept VI-Xi Aaron Jacobs reported.
   “How is it going?”  Smith asked already knowing the answer.
   “Not good, the Rite and Promised have been destroyed.”  He said solemly as the loss of two Overlord’s settled on them.  “The warship is maneuvering clear of the fighting leaving the rest to its DropShips.”
   “Where is it heading?”  Smith asked already knowing the answer.  His flotilla was closer to Copper than any other and he had still not made contact with the Com Guard ships closing on him. 
   “Towards us sir.”  Jacobs reported.  “ETA to weapons range is about twenty minutes.”
   “Very well.”  Smith replied turning away from his XO.  Where in Blake’s name did they come from?

*         *         *

THS Tarawa
Terra-Luna Space
Terran System



Captain Alvarez looked around the command deck of his ship.  They had just destroyed two Overlord’s and left the remaining four DropShips to his escorts from the Com Guard.  Now they were five minutes from weapons range with another group.  His crew was communicating with the CSV Alexander Nikolayev the squadron flagship of the ships he was moving to intercept. 
   “Sir, I have a targeting solution on one of the Overlords and the Leopard CV.”  His weapons officers reported.
   “Very well Mister Eckert.”  Alvarez responded and turned himself to face his weapons officer Lieutenant Todd Eckert.  “You may begin firing as your guns bare.”  Alvarez ordered as his felt giddy always wanting to make that order.
   The Tarawa cut its forward acceleration angling slightly towards distant specs of light and began firing its forward Light Naval Particle Projection Cannons.  Six azure blue bolts of controlled lightning shot out from the forward flanks of the assault transports hull.  Closing in on the distant Blakist flotilla the bolts slammed first into the little Leopard CV carrier.  Burning a gouge out of the DropShip before being hit a second time by the Light NPPC.  A third bolt of energy singed past the DropShip burning the dorsal armor and fouling the ships aerodynamic control surfaces.
   The second group of three bolts of energy tracked in on an Overlord smashing its prow with the first bolt and working down its flank with the remaining two.  The Overlord was ripped open to space and on the magnified images you could see the atmosphere, liquids and bodies venting into the vacuum of space and freezing.  While that ship may not be dead yet it sure wouldn’t survive entry into the atmosphere of Terra with its heat shielding compromised.
   “Guns, target the assault ships.  Leave the transports for now.”  Alvarez ordered.  Keying a button on his command chair.  “Flight order our fighters to be prepared to intercept enemy fighters.”  Without waiting for a response he closed the connection. 
   The Tarawa continued to close as the Blakist formation scattered in what they hoped to reduce the chance of losing ships to multiple hits and swamping the assault transports targeting systems. 
   Alvarez watched the maneuver smirking to himself.  “That’s cute.”  He said catching the attention of his bridge crew whom were shocked by his statement.  “Helm looks like they want to run away.  Lets get into the middle of them.  Flip ship and then hard decelerate to stay with them.  We wont hang long but we can be in there long enough to disco them with all of our firing arc’s.”
   “Aye sir!”  The Ensign at the helm stations replied slapping his ratings on the shoulder’s as he worked out how he was going to maneuver his ship into the middle of that mess of fighters and DropShips. 
   The Tarawa began to accelerate yet again before cutting engines and flipping end over end and kicking in its main drives to begin to decelerate.  The aft Class 35 Naval Lasers and the Heavy Particle Cannon targeted the already damaged Overlord finishing off the crippled transport before turning on the Leopard CV that had barely escaped with its life.  The Leopard CV must have seen the writing on the wall because it tried to maneuver clear being missed by the first heavy energy bolt, though the lasers managed to catch the fleeing DropShip cutting its tail and flight stabilizer from the rest of the hull.  A follow up hit from the Heavy Particle Projection Cannon hit amidships breaking the DropShips back and he watched as secondary explosions ripped the little ship apart.

*         *         *

WoBS Knox
Terra-Luna Space
Terran System



Precentor Smith watched in horror as the Fife and Azov were torn apart by the Robinson.  “Blake’s blood.”  He breathed to himself hoping no one had heard him.  “Send to all Militia forces.”  Smith ordered
   “Recording sir.”  His communications Acolyte reported.
   “Task Force Copper destroyed, Task Force Silver is heavily engaged.  Task Force Gold is endanger of being destroyed.  End message.”  Smith ordered cueing the Acolyte to terminate the recording and he transmitted it to every Word of Blake force in the system. 
   As he looked at the Tarawa complete its slide into the middle of his remaining ships he spoke aloud to his crew.  “Now lets try and even the odds a little.  Helm set a collision course for that warship.”  He ordered. 
   There was only the slightest bit of hesitation.  The bridge crew was starring at him.  “Aye sir.  Coming to course 197 mark 232 all ahead flank.”  The helmsman answered.  The Knox accelerated to 2.5 gravities closing on the Tarawa as the ship closed her point defenses shimmered as they fired at the surrounding Com Guard and Hegemony fighters which were trying to ward off the kamikaze DropShip. 
   “Order our fighters to fly close support until we get close.”  Precentor Smith ordered.
   There was no response from the bridge crew but the squadron of fighters assigned to the Knox reformed around the DropShip providing an extra layer of cover.  That was when the Tarawa chose not to participate in its own destruction.  Twisting slightly in space the Knox found herself bow to bow with the Tarawa when her nose mounted Heavy Particle Projection Cannon unleashed a bolt of super charged particles slamming into the Knox and burning out a whole section of electrical relays and systems.  Then her class 30 Naval Autocannons unleashed a salvo into the Knox’s bow followed quickly by a second salvo tearing deep into the interior.  A second Heavy NPPC strike reached into the guts of the DropShip searching out other vulnerable systems within the hull.  That was when the third salvo from the autocannons tore into the ship one finale time first one round broke through into the ‘Mech bay exploding and killing the dozens of MechWarrior’s strapped within their fighting machines while the second round followed its predecessor straight in exploded through the floor of the ‘Mech bay and into the drive section ripping the ship apart. 
   And as quickly as it had begun the glorious march of the WoBS Knox to liberate Terra from their misguided and heretical brethren ended in an expanding cloud of debris and atmosphere. 

*         *         *

THS Tarawa
Terra-Luna Space
Terran System



Captain Alvarez watched as the Knox was destroyed.  “We have got to get a handle on this.  The Word of Blake planned this well.”  He began.  “Helm get us back to Terra.  Our boys are going to need fire support soon.”
   “Aye sir.”  The helmsman responded.  The CSV Alexander Nikolayev and her squadron continued to engage the remaining Word of Blake fighters and DropShips as the THS Tarawa, her two escorting DropShips and her air wing returned to provide fire support over Terra. 
   Alvarez’s command chair began signaling of an incoming inner ship communications for him.  Reaching over and pressing the button against the strain of the ships maneuvering and acceleration he activated the intercom built into his pressure suit.  “Go for the Captain.”  He said.
   “Sir, HPG room.”  Chief Mitchel began.
   “What is it Chief?”  Alvarez responded.
   “Sir, we just received an HPG from Group.  They are in range of two-way transmission.”  Mitchel informed.
   “Very well put me through.”  Alvarez ordered.  The screen changed from a view of the outside to the face not his Group Commander but.  “Admiral Mancuso, this is a surprise.”  Alvarez said being startled by the image of Fleet Admiral Candice Mancuso, Commander of entire Terran Hegemony-in-Exile Navy. 
   “Hello Captain Alvarez.”  She began, her dark piercing eyes and olive skin matched well with her raven hair and her Italian features.  “I want to commend you on your actions thus far.”
   “Thank you ma’am, although we couldn’t stop all of the Word’s landing parties.”  Alvarez replied.
   “Don’t you worry about that.  There was no way for you to stop them once they broke up.  But don’t you worry.  Help is on the way and will begin to give their ground forces nightmares.”  Mancuso informed him.  As I speak 3RD Legion along with the 1ST and 4TH Mechanized Infantry Divisions jumping into Terran space as we speak.  And they are not alone the entire First Fleet will be escorting.”
   That perked him up.  His ship was a part of the 11TH Naval Assault Group which contained two Troop Cruisers another Assault Transport and a Carrier.  “Aye, we will be awaiting them.”
   “Very well Captain.  I wanted to be the one to inform you that help was on the way and to congratulate you on a job well done.”  Mancuso said a smile forming on her lips. 
   “Thank you Admiral.  My crew performed in the highest traditions of the Navy.”  Alvarez said giving the credit to whom it truly deserved.
   “This is Mancuso clear.”  She said severing their link.
   “Sir, jump signatures detected!”  The sensor operator reported.  “I’m detecting emrgence waves at the Terra-Luna L1 point.  Electromagnetic signatures match the Renewed Valor, Wasp, Agrippa, Gettysburg, Damocles, Grey Wolf, Cerberus, Alexander, Normandy, Kitty Hawk, Montgomery and Iwo Jima.  Sir, its First Fleet.  They are jumping in an assault posture once in they are burning towards Terra to clear the way for the rest.” 
   “Understood O’Connor, I bet the JumpShips will be right behind those heavies.”  He said.  Turning towards his Navigator.  “Mister Billings,  make for orbit over North America,  we have got to support our ground forces.”

[Dave Talley]

nice work so far

[snakespinner]

Those Toasters are toast.
Nice. O0

[marauder648]

Excellent update, the Word has no chance of getting orbital supremacy now and their landing forces are scattered to the four winds and down on forces already.

[Kasaga]

They planned their invasion well for their assets available according to the scenario book Fall of Terra.  While Hegemony heavies are arriving with follow on forces the ground forces are not as large as you think. The Legion is a combined arms force with three regiments of BattleMechs.  The Mechanized Infantry Divisions are as large as the SLDF divisions however they do not have the BattleMech Brigade and only field around 3-4 battalions of 'Mechs.

[Kasaga]

Chapter Eight

 
 
 
 
Nadir Jump Point
Tharkad System
29 September 3058
 
 
 
 
Hauptman Lisa Hauser watched her displays as the daily scheduled traffic jumped into and out of the Tharkad systems nadir point.  Her job was a boring one and she hoped she would get off of the Admiralties shit list and get back into the fleet.  She had a promising career and orders to one of the new Avalon cruisers when the Archon chose to break up the Commonwealth and instead install herself as the new lord of the land.  “Now look at yourself Lisa, stuck here because you complained and asked to be assigned to the Suns State Command just to get your time aboard one of the newest warships in the fleet.”  She was getting stares from the controllers but she didn’t care anymore.  She knew she wouldn’t screen for promotion anyways and she would be forced out.
            One of her junior ratings began franticly trying to get her attention.  “What is it Merkel?”  She asked before he hyper-ventilated. 
            “I am a jump signature building and there isn’t an arrival on the schedule for fifteen minutes!”  He shouted.
            “Calm down Corporal.  Now try and think about what questions I am about to ask you and answer them instead.”  Hauser said in calming tones.  It wouldn’t do to have anyone in their line of work freaking out right now.  Not with the leaders of every Inner Sphere nation on Tharkad right now.
            “Ja, Ma’am.”  He seemed more relaxed.  “I am a jump building on sensors.  Looks to be in the six-hundred thousand ton range and growing.”
            “Very well move our alert status to two and lets start vectoring security vessels in to check on the ship when it arrives.”  Hauser ordered.  Her communications section was already vectoring LAAF and customs vessels into position to pounce on the ship as soon as it completed its jump.
            “Emergence wave.  Focusing the telescopes.  Trying to make out the ship.”  Another answered, this from a Sergeant who had just returned from the head.  Lisa watched the Sergeant check and recheck with other telescopes.  “Ma’am we have an unidentified Warship in system.  War-book puts her as a Congress class frigate.”
            “Ma’am we are being hailed.”  Staff Sergeant Powell spoke up.  He was another exile to this station thanks to Archon ‘Katrina’ as she had begun calling herself.
            “Put it up Sergeant.”  Lisa ordered.
            The image shifted to a calm looking officer in a grey uniform with some kind of gold insignia on the collar.  “This is the THS Regents Promise I am transporting Duke Michael Ryan to attend the Whitting Conference on behalf of Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion.”
            “Message ends ma’am.  Shall I record a reply?”  He asked.
            “Yes.”  Lisa said.
            “Recording.”  He said activating the system.
            “Regents Promise, this is Customs Station North.  We will relay your request to system command.  Hold your position, do not arm weapons or launch any craft until you have been cleared.”  Lisa answered.
            “On the chip, sending.”  He replied.
            “Very well, continue to vector everything we have into the area and alert command to their request.  Forward the message as necessary.  If this turns south, we are going to need warship support quick.”  Hauptman Lisa Hauser stated.  Lisa watched the frigate suspended in space as they waited an eternity for the a reply to come from Tharkad.
            Word had only just come in of the Word of Blake’s invasion of Terra.  Now the person responsible for thwarting the assault was on the ship in front of her.  Thanks to Katherine she and her recorded statements against her in the officers mess aboard the Port Sydney Shipyards at Alaron where she was supposed to serve aboard the then FCS Katrina Steiner.  Now she was exiled from the warship fleet for her denouncing of the Archon.
            “Hauptman, receiving message from the palace.”  The Communications rating reported.
            Well shit.  Lisa thought.  “Put it through to my station.”  She ordered.
            The message icon showed it was spooling up.  She keyed the activation button and waited as the message loaded.  “Hauptman Hauser, at the request of both my brother and the Primus of ComStar I am allowing Duke Ryan to enter the system although he must travel by DropShip and leave his escort at the jump point.  Archon Katrina clear.”
            “Well shit.”  Lisa said aloud.  “Katherine herself sent the message.”  She said to herself shaking her head.  “Open a channel to the Regents Promise.”  Lisa ordered.
            “Open Hauptman.”  Her communications rating responded.
            “Regents Promise, this is Customs Station North.  The Archon has cleared Duke Ryan and one DropShip to enter the system.  Any other ships must remain at the jump point.  How copy over?”  She said ending the message.
            The response came in seconds later.  “Hauptman Hauser this is Regents Promise, Captain Iziko Hamada. Thank you, the Regents Oath will be delivering the Duke to Tharkad.  Hamada clear.”  He responded.
            Just as she watched a DropShip separated from the frigate and orientated itself before boosting for the inner system.
 
 
*                                            *                                              *
 
THS Regent’s Oath
Approach burn
Tharkad, Thanked System
 
 
 
Duke Michael Ryan sat in his stateroom aboard the specially modified Lee-class DropShip Regent’s Oath.  This one of a kind DropShip contained six small craft, an armored infantry contingent of the Royal Guard a Special Forces Platoon and a bay complete with everything the Duke would need during a state visit.  Ground transport for himself and staff, escort vehicles, VTOLs, and long range transport aircraft.  To protect the transport an entire squadron of eighteen Mk 39 Voidseeker drone fighters secured in ARTS Fighter Cubicles.
            With General Ryan aboard the Regent’s Oath and heading to Tharkad was Precentor Lisa Koenigs-Cober commander of the Com Guard Terran Defense Force.  Two other people were aboard ship with Michael.  First was a trusted friend and commander of III Corps, Lieutenant General Jeremiah Austin, second was Vice Admiral Richard Spruance commander of his First Fleet.  They along with Precentor Koenigs-Cober were invited along to serve as advisors to the Duke for what he was expecting to be a long interrogation.
            “So Precentor, how do you think the Precentor-Martial will respond to my actions in defending Terra?”  Michael said to break the silence that had descended over the group as they sipped their coffee through vacuum sealed sippy cups.  After all of these years no one had invented artificial gravity.  It was too chancy to serve a meal using real dinnerware and especially cups should the Oath be required to maneuver throwing off the gravity aboard ship.
            The Precentor thought about the question for a moment.  “Well I am not sure.  It is hard to get into Focht’s mind.  Only a few have been able to pull that off, and I for one am not one of them.”  She chided.  “However, you have met the Primus.  She knows you better than he does.  You sent help when you discovered the plan.  The Precentor-Martial has yet to send reinforcements or even request a situation report from me.”
            “Well with I Corps deploying to Terra he will be getting reports from ROM at the very least.  All of the JumpShip traffic and the swarms of DropShips bringing troops to the surface should get him guessing.  But in order to move us militarily he would have to assemble his entire army to do that.  Maybe he’s stopped preparations until he knows our intentions.”  Jeremiah offered.
            “Possibly.”  Lisa agreed.  “You did have troops in the system before the Blakist even launched their attack.  It was only days later that the first reinforcements were landing to begin pushing back the enemy Divisions that had made it to the surface.  Now you have so many troops on the surface not to mention the garrisons on Mars and Venus that will have Focht concerned.”
            “What about you Admiral Spruance?”  Michael asked.
            The older man had been a family friend since Michael was a boy.  He looked at Michael and grunted.  “Well we just put seventeen warships into the system.  Besides the Com Guards only the Clans could do that and only if they mustered the resources of either one of the naval Clans or combined two or three of the others.”  Richard paused for a moment.  “No everyone is waiting to see what we do next.  Hell I would be.”
            “That is true enough.  I hadn’t thought of that.  I am just glade we acted when we did.  Could you image if we had waited ten years before we came back?”  Michael thought a loud.  “What kind of damage would those fanatics have caused with the resources of the Terran System at their disposal?”
            “So Lisa, do you think that you will be able to rebuild your command?”  Jeremiah asked.
            “We will know if a few days.”  She responded.
 
 
 
*                               *                                  *
 
 
Grand Ballroom, Royal Court The Triad
Tharkad City, Tharkad
District of Donegal, Lyran Alliance
11 October 3058
 
 
 
“Regent of the Terran Hegemony-in-Exile, Duke Michael Peter Ryan, Commanding General of the Terran Hegemony Armed Forces.”  The announcement came from one of the Lyran protocol officers standing at the entrance to the Grand Ballroom of the Royal Court of The Triad.
            Michael walked into the room flanked by the other officers whom he had brought with him.  He noticed but did not expect things to change there was no table to be taken over by his party.
The protocol officer began announcing his escorts.  “Lieutenant General Jeremiah Austin, Commanding General Terran Hegemony, III Corps.  Vice Admiral Richard Spruance, Commander, Terran Hegemony Third Fleet.”  Things got interesting when everyone noticed the third advisor to Michael.  “Precentor Lisa Koenigs-Cober, Commander 201st Com Guard Division and the Terran Defense Force.”
Michael noticed the looks from the Com Star table.  Arriving in the center of the gathering Michael nodded in greeting to the leaders of the Inner Sphere.  Having been sequestered aboard his DropShip for the past few days since their arrival he felt like he might have to blast his way off of Tharkad and back to the Hegemony-in-exile.  That was before his summons before the combined leadership of the Inner Sphere.  Eight delegations gathered in this room representing the majority of the Inner Sphere and the combined might of eight nations and organizations.
Mounting the dias, Michael approached the podium and began to speak.  “Lords and Ladies of the Inner Sphere.  Thank you for allowing my delegation admittance to this auspicious council to speak with you this day.”  He begun.  “I have brought myself here at the request of Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion so that the Terran Hegemony-in-Exile may answer those questions for which may be upon your minds.”  He continued holding up a hand to forestall any immediate questions.  “Understand this that while my military is now in the field, we still have a grave threat to the security of our worlds and the locations of such will remain a closely guarded secret for the foreseeable future.”
Michael looked around and after he was sure that they would not stop in their attempt to find out he was sure that they would not ask about it today.  He would settle for that.  “Now that we all understand one another on that subject let us begin.”  Michael looked around before continuing.  “The Terran Hegemony survives through a collection of worlds within the borders of the old Hegemony which were either considered dead worlds following the war against Amaris or were intentionally not added to the star charts by the Terran Hegemony in order to provide a failsafe plan dating back to the days of Director-General James McKenna and the beginning of the Terran Hegemony.”
Michael could see that there were questions just waiting to be asked within the room.  He looked to the only known ally of sorts within the room.  “You have a question Archon-Prince?”  Michael asked.
Victor looked around the room then stood from behind his delegations table.  “Yes Duke Ryan.  I do have a question.  How was this kept secret during the Star League?”
Well that question had to be asked sooner or later.  Out with it I guess.  “Well the Royal Command did more than ensure the that the Terran Hegemony would have troops at their command like the armies of the Great Houses.  It also provided the logistical support and smoke screen to conceal our location and numbers.  While we were not fully self sufficient we were close to it.”
Elected-Prince Haakon Magnusson leaned forward in his seat.  “Did you support General Kerensky in his drive to liberate Terra?”
Michael nodded.  “Yes we did.  We provided troops and equipment along with munitions and even Warships to the effort.  We gave all of our military troop ships to the effort receiving only the most damaged of ships in return and conducting extensive salvage operations to rebuild our fleet.”
Chancellor Liao spoke next.  “Why did you not step in to defend the Hegemony once the SLDF left on its Exodus?”
The room was in complete silence.  This question weighed on the Ryan family for three-hundred years.  “We had the resources to assist our fellow Hegemony.  Our troop levels were dangerously low for our own self defense and our Fleet units were a mere shadow of their former selves.  My family struggled with watching our beloved Hegemony die around us.”
Sun-Tzu meant mearly to smear their reputation in the eyes of the others only to be taken aback by the passion in his voice.  That was when the Capellan Chancellors aunt spoke.  Her voice cutting through the room like a laser pulse.  “Why now?”  She paused, then continued.  “Why reveal yourselves now?”
Michael looked around the room.  “Because my father made a promise to Archon Katrina Steiner and First-Prince Hanse Davion when they began negotiations for the Federated Commonwealth Alliance.”  Michael looked at Victor and then back to Duchass Candice Allard-Liao.  “Should the Federated Commonwealth truly need the us.  We would be there.  With the Free Worlds League and the Capellan Confederation preparing to attack the Commonwealth, I ordered the Hegemony Armed Forces to mobilize.  What you all saw was but a glimpse of our capabilities.  We did not intervene during the Clan invasion because Archon Melissa Steiner and First-Prince Hanse Davion both requested that we not step in.  They wanted all of you to come together first.”
He continued to look around the room and take in each of the leaders.  “I stepped in because the cause for invasion was not a legitimate one.  The Free Worlds League’s SAFE is thoroughly compromised and feed you false information.”
The look he got from Thomas Marik ripped at the fabric of his being.  Marik held his tongue while he continued to answer questions from the various nobles.  Marik finally spoke, not about the hidden question but about a concern of State.  “What are your intentions towards the League and the Word of Blake in particular?”
Michael thought about that question.  “You are speaking of our Raid on both Nelson and Gibson?”
“I am.”  Marik stated.
“When my intelligence services informed me of the Word of Blake’s plan for Operation ODYSSEUS, I ordered measures to be take by deploying independent regiments and even some brigades into action.  When we heard of the actions of the Blakist by taking hostage the 21st Centuari Lancers dependents I deployed a Jump Infantry Division and a Legion Combat Group to secure the dependents and remove them from danger by striking at Gibson.”  Michael looked around noticing the average looking man sitting behind the Captain-General.  Well there is the Blaksit ROM agent.  The agent ever so slightly gave himself away when he mentioned Gibson.  “My ordered strike on Nelson was to liberate the Lancers themselves before withdrawing back into Commonwealth space.
“But to answer your question Captain-General Marik.  I harbor no ill will towards the Free Worlds League.  However, the Word of Blake must take heed of their actions and stand well clear of anywhere my people or our allies are located.”  Michael finished.
Marik said nothing and just remained sitting.
“What are your plans for Terra.”  The question was spoken more of a demand than a question.  Everyone looked towards the Com Star delegation and old stern looking man with his long white hair and eye patch.
            Michael shook his head accepting the question as is.  “That is a very good question.  Precentor-Martial Focht, what are your plans for Terra?”
            Focht looked set a back by the returned question.  “You have occupied Terra with a very large army.”  Focht revealed to the others.
            “My intentions are to secure Terra until such as a time that Com Star and the Hegemony-in-Exile can determine what is the best course of action to move forward from.”  Michael stated.
            “You have eight full divisions on Terra and Mars along with numerous independent regiments.”  This brought a sharp look from Victor who was unaware of the actual troop levels which were on Terra.
            “I have eight Divisions yes.  Two Legionary Divisions which are a collection of independent formations and not their true size.  Six Infantry Divisions, four Mechanized and two Jump Infantry only have around a regiment of BattleMechs at this time.  I have not fully mobilized my reserves as of yet.  But what is in the field across the Sarna March and on Terra are my best troops.”  Michael reported.
            “Why are you telling us all of this?”  Coordinator Theodore Kurita asked.
            “Because Coordinator, my two officers whom I brought are being assigned to this effort for which you are all gathered for.  General Austin commands the only fully mobilized Corps I have in reserve while Admiral Spruance commands a fully fleet.  They will be assigned to the command of Archon-Prince Steiner-Davion and Precentor-Martial Focht whom I trust with their well being and proper use under the Ares Conventions.”  Michael ended looking to Focht.
            Focht was truly shocked by this admission so were many of the others.  Namely among those was Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion.  Until now she was content to remain quiet and sit this who affair out.  Now she was worried that her brother would gain another army to add to his already considerable military.  But those Warships were a grave concern she could not discount.  “Excuse me Ladies and Gentlemen, but I think we should discuss the issue of placing Duke Ryan’s forces under the command of a join Inner Sphere Coalition in private before we just jump to accepting something as monuments as this at this point in time.  I propose a detailed account of forces to be assigned to coalition command be rendered to this council and then we schedule a date and time for when we can address these new developments.”
            The look she received from Victor was all the confirmation she needed that this was an unforeseen interruption to his scheming plans.
            “I concur with Archon Steiner to the need to determine the veracity of the Dukes claims.”  This came from Thomas Marik now standing.  Before anyone else could comment on the situation he quickly departed the Ballroom.
            “Well, thank you all for your time.”  Michael concluded and he too made his way to depart.
 

[Shadow_Wraith]

 O0 Nice update!  Wheels within wheels of politicians scheming!

[snakespinner]

Well that was the entre, now the real political wrangling will begin. >:D

[Kasaga]

Thank you, I am beginning chapter 9 tonight.  Each one of my stories will run around 12 chapters if my plan holds.