Hopefully, eventually, as the first Captain-General of a reformed Free Worlds League.
He has a few obstacles to get over before he can even think about that
3101
Launching Ceremony
Titan Shipyards, Observation Deck
Terra system, Star League Protectorate
7th January 3101 Launching ceremonies were grand affairs this one especially so. Twenty minutes before Governor of Thorin, and former Commanding-General, Archer Christifori had spoken quite eloquently about the drive that his friend Commanding-Admiral David Natale had to resurrect the Enterprise-class Super-carrier and that he had not a second thought about authorizing work on a second version of the class despite the original’s clear failure.
“Two men made that ship happen” Commanding-General Victor Focht said quietly “one of them is dead and by looking at him the other one isn’t far from seeing the ground up close one last time.” He continued David Natale had been assassinated by a bomb on board the SLS Shining Claw while the other man Archer Christifori had defied doctor’s orders to travel here today. Focht had heard that the old General had listened to doctors and stayed away for his own son’s graduation but had come all this way for a ship “ridiculous” he said turning his drink glass slowly looking into it
“I wouldn’t call it that the SLS Enterprise will be a significant asset to SLDF fleet operations as will her sister ship.”
“Which due to cost might take ten years to build” Focht said angrily “we could have had four destroyers for the same cost or an entire Brigade of ground troops fully outfitted and trained” he said thinking of the possibilities.
“You have the authority to ramp up production on the second ship or cancel it.”
“Neither does me any good Admiral Fitzgerald and you know it” Focht said glancing up from his drink at the man.
“If I cancel it I am the bad guy the ship will be named for David Natale, Archer Christifori made sure of that before he retired, you naval pukes will be angry that I’m ‘cutting your resources’ while the bean counters will see it as an opportunity to cut SLDF funding since we obviously didn’t need it.” He said frustrated “and if I push through its production not only will she launch with not enough pilots for her fighter wings but it will mean I need to cut money going to other areas that need it a lot more.”
“Damn” Anthony Fitzgerald said without a hint of sympathy “at least your not stuck looking at that ugly buggering thing.” The Admiral commented chuckling to himself the Enterprise-class had been designed to break the mold on SLDF design she was far more striking than many other designs and looked every bit as lethal as she actually was. Fitzgerald himself was not a massive fan of the vessel’s outward appearance but he was very glad for the two men’s actions that Victor Focht currently cursed.
“Small mercies” Focht commented draining his glass “good luck with your new ship Admiral, good day” he said without another word or salute leaving the Head of the Navy to his drink. Focht needed to get ground side maybe take out a Mech and blow something up or start a war with someone it would make him feel far better than he did right now.
Reinforcements
Victoria, Victoria Commonality
Capellan Confederation
11th January 3101 Following months of conflict on Victoria the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns move to end the battle with the arrival of the FSS Black Prince, the recently repaired and refitted FSS Pegasus and four additional regiments of AFFS ground forces and three additional mercenary commands. While ground forces charge towards the planet the two Battleships move past their comrades who had been contesting the space around Victoria with the Capellan defenders.
On the ground the additional ground forces hit the ground running charging at the now grossly outnumbered Capellan defenders. Warrior Houses Kamata and Da Da Chi are completely destroyed in battle as is the Phyr’s Hussars Regiment and the Sixth Liao Lancers Regiment while a Wing of the Hell’s Black Aces are also eliminated. Of the AFFS assault forces the First Kittery Borderers RCT is almost completely destroyed while four regiments of the First Federated Suns Armoured Cavalry RCT are also destroyed and the First Kathil Uhlans are left severely under strength with Colonel Richard Steiner injured in a BattleMech fall. Following the battle the Twentieth Kittery Armoured Regiment would be merged with the under strength Armoured Cavalry to prop up the command. Of the mercenary units called to assist the Medusans lose four assault DropShips, while Clinton’s Cutthroats lose a Battalion of units, the Wild Geese are heavily damaged and the Vanguard Legion are completely destroyed.
In orbit the two newly arrived Battleships go on the offensive supporting Kym Hasek’s Federated Suns Naval forces that were already in the system. The increased number of aerospace fighters and assault DropShips brought in by the two WarShips and their presence alone quickly overwhelmed and destroyed the CCSS Haji Doru the Feng Huang II-class Cruiser unable to withstand the continuous bombardment from the two Battleships. The other Capellan WarShip assigned to the system, the CCSS Xuzhou, attempted to avoid the main battle flanking the Federated Suns WarShips causing minor damage at long range. When it became apparent the Haji Doru was lost and the ground battle was moving against the Capellans the commander of the Xuzhou enacted the Capellan’s “scorched policy” with the bird shaped Xuzhou his instrument. The Wudang Jian-class vessel turned its weapons on the Victoria shipyards burning down the facilities even as Federated Suns Naval units tore into the seven hundred and thirty thousand ton vessel. Like an avenging phoenix the Xuzhou completed its kamikaze run impacting with the core facilities of the shipyards eliminating what was left of the once great facilities.
This naval battle ended what was left of the fighting in the Victoria system with it firmly held by the Federated Suns. Duchess Kym Hasek having survived months of fighting against the Capellans both in space and in Victoria’s atmosphere personally accepted the surrender of the planet to the Federated Suns by its civilian leadership. In the Capellan Confederation Andurien is made the capital of both its own Commonality and what remains of the Victoria Commonality.
Scout Mission
Pirate’s Haven, Pirate’s Cluster
Periphery
14th January 3101 The Pirate’s Haven that the Rabid Fox were now stranded on was a hell hole the atmosphere was toxic and subject to frequent radiation storms no human who wished to live a long life. The Rabid Fox had scouted several targets without any luck so far. “Sierra One to India team we’re in position.” Christopher Grant said peering down his scope looking at the facility. Because the Pirate’s Haven had a toxic atmosphere anyone not wearing armour had to wear full facial respirators allowing two members of the team to move through the settlement unmolested but where they were at the moment was heavily guarded and restricted to people the pirates knew by sight only the skill of McKenna Wilde and Sylvester Keeler had gotten them to where they were.
“India One we have good eyes observing now” McKenna replied she was sitting at the corner of the external stairwell of the building keeping watch while Syvester Keeler got the information they needed.
“Sierra Two, India One, you have two incoming.”
“Understood, we’re almost done, is our ex-fill path clear?” She asked keeping an eye out for guards meant she couldn’t keep an eye on everything.
“Affirmative you are clear” George Hewlett said from his observation point he could see their escape vehicle.
“Guards thirty paces and closing” Christopher said “twenty-five” he said watching them move closer.
“We’re done Chris the data’s confirmed it’s here” McKenna reported
“Shift your ass then” he replied
“Keep your eyes off my ass and and my surroundings please.” She said both of them were already moving towards their exit vehicle but the guards were closer “shit we’re blown!” McKenna called out ducking down turning firing her sub-machine gun. “Sylvester shift it I’ll cover.” She called out Sylvester was already moving down the steps as McKenna emptied the clip.
“Both of you shift!” Christopher barked “we’ll cover George let it rip!” He ordered both of them fired their Magshots taking down two of the enemies. Suddenly alarms throughout the facility sounded as the pirates were made aware of what was happening. Both Sylvester and McKenna half jumped off the stairs running to their vehicle.
“We’ve got eyes on you” George said as the vehicle began to move “Sierra One we’ve got a blue hover utility looks like Filtvelt manufacture.”
“Got you” Christopher replied as McKenna Wilde punched the accelerator moving the vehicle towards the bases gates moments later behind them were three other hover trucks firing at the Rabid Fox vehicle. “Still got you” Christopher said snapping off a shot striking the front of one of the pirate vehicles “damn it missed the engine block” he cursed firing again this time hitting the mark knocking out the vehicle’s power plant.
“Nice shooting boss”
“Thanks Chris” McKenna said seeing one of the vehicles splutter to a stop “we’re heading towards Point Gamma we’ll lead them away and circle around.” She said above them the sky suddenly erupted with energy as lighting struck out striking the ground near them.
“SERIOUSLY!” Christopher shouted looking up “guys we need to get the out of this storm. George what do you think?” He asked George knew more about the planet’s weather than any of them.
“Our armour will protect us for eight to ten hours” he replied taking a shot at the second vehicle missing the target. Christopher switched frequencies to a private one shared between him and George.
“How long will McKenna and Sylvester last?” He asked as the sky lit up with further electric discharges.
“An hour at the most depending on how bad the storm gets our armour is designed to protect someone in the void of space human skin isn’t.” George replied taking another shot this time striking one of the vehicles the bullet went straight through the vehicle’s door and into the pirate behind it killing them. “She’ll be fine” he said they all knew that Christopher and McKenna were involved before it hadn’t been a problem since they had been in different teams now was different.
McKenna and Sylvester’s vehicle was moving quickly with Sylvester having emptied his weapon and in the process of emptying McKenna’s. Bullets from the pursuing vehicles were peppering their utility vehicle “this could be going better.” McKenna said but there wasn’t a reply “Sylvester!” She barked glancing over her shoulder her teammate was laying in the rear cab a growing puddle of blood below him. “Sierra One I’ve lost India Two he’s KIA.” She reported
“Understood” Christopher said glancing up as more cracks of lighting shot through the sky “abandon Gamma come right to us.”
“Are you crazy? Your armour can only take so much and if we can’t take them we’ll be in a running battle again. I don’t have my armour” McKenna said her voice slightly panicked as further pirate small arms fire tore into her vehicle.
“Do it, we’ll be ready George set up a surprise.”
“We’ve only got limited supplies boss” George started.
“If need be we’ll break into another cache we can’t do this job with just two of us.”
“We’ll be lucky to do it with three” George muttered Christopher was almost ready to snap at him but noticed the other trooper had already moved Christopher sighted the enemy vehicles taking another shot his shot going wide. As McKenna turned her vehicle towards them Christopher took another shot this time taking down one of the pirates. “Ok we’re up approach Bravo McKenna you understand me?”
“Yeah I’ve got it” she replied ducking as more bullets tore through her vehicle. The Rabid Fox trained how to approach a position of allies or enemies in various different ways a single code word indicated to a trooper how to approach any situation. Christopher remained higher than George taking the occasional shot at the chasing pirates taking out one of chasing vehicle’s drivers as McKenna continued to close on them George remained down waiting for the hover van to pass-by. Above in the sky the storm’s intensity was continuously increasing Christopher glanced upwards at the energy being used.
“Mind on the game boss” George said in their private channel reading Christopher’s mind.
“Fifteen count” Christopher said George nodded counting himself in the deliberate Rabid Fox way at thirteen McKenna’s hover vehicle flew over the planned point two seconds later George detonated his planted explosives destroying the remaining vehicle. “Good count” Christopher said “we’ve got eight raiders still coming on foot. McKenna is your vehicle still mobile?”
“Affirmative but I don’t know for how long.”
“It’s fine head back to base” Christopher said gunning down one of the still pursuing pirates “George we need to go no jumping in this weather move quickly.”
“Already moving” he said running back up the hill he heard bullets fly past him and ping against the rear of his armour. Passing Christopher he turned and immediately fired allowing Christopher to retreat for the twenty minutes they retreated like this fortunately for the Rabid Fox the pirate raider’s Mechs were off planet today allowing them to escape. In the future Christopher guessed the raider’s Mechs would be present as well and now with Sylvester’s passing things would be more difficult.
Family Reunion
Taurian Palace, Taurus
Hydes Cluster, Taurian Concordat
19th January 3101 The new Capellan Confederation Ambassador approached Protector Erik Martens-Calderon she couldn’t have been more than seventeen years old she seemed to have a mixed heritage which wasn’t a surprise given that this was the Taurian Concordat and the Capellans would care little for them. “Madam Ambassador” he said greeting her.
“Protector it has been a long time” she said there was something about her voice and her look… it couldn’t be. “It’s me father” Aleshia Centrella said quietly confirming his suspicion “officially I am Ambassador for the Capellan Confederation but soon I turn eighteen years old and would be a threat to my brother so I am not to return.” She explained Erik rose from his chair and stepped down so he was standing in front of her they were of a similar height and build Erik had not seen her since 3088 thirteen long years.
“You are very welcome here” Erik said
“I understand I have a step-sister” she said seeing the pain on her father’s face obviously still fresh from his wife’s passing. “I’m sorry for your loss” she said “I’d like to meet my sister when you’re ready.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged” Erik said after a moment.
“And perhaps pay my respects to her mother” she said
“Yes when the time is right” Erik said quietly “we will make sure your time on Taurus is a good as possible if the Capellan Embassy needs anything please don’t hesitate to ask.” He said all business ignoring the memories and the pain for a moment this young woman was his daughter but it would take time for them to truly get to know each other. Chancellor Dao-Shen Liao was not a stupid man and although Erik had no illusion that Aleshia was a threat to him he knew that she would also be a threat to Nicoletta in the future. Erik would be careful around her for a while and ensure things went right they had a lot of time to make up for despite the possible motives behind it he planned on making the most of the opportunity.
Draconis Combine Offensive
Rasalhague Dominion border
22nd January 3101 The Draconis Combine attempt to recover lost territory currently held by the Rasalhague Dominion they reveal three newly constructed WarShips and seven “Ghost” Regiments raised like the original regiments with the cooperation of Yakuza. The Ghost Bears hold the Draconis Combine back at Luzerne, Byesville and Labrea but Caripare and Asgard are both liberated by the DCMS and their naval support.
