Terra
Christa frowned and tugged her uniform again.
Remind me to never let a history geek design a uniform Christa thought. The CAMA had been uable to use other people's designs-- God help them if a Capellan decided that their uniforms looked too much like a Feddie, and of course no Lyran general worth his social cred would take orders from some Periphery officer.
Which was why CAMA's officers had been provided with uniforms patterned after the ancient uniforms of the United States Army, circa 1945.
"Grumping about the Uniform?" Focht asked.
"A bit." Christa muttered. "This should have been yours."
"I would never be accepted and if we waited for the Houses to pick a leader, we'd still be arguing by the time the Clan's conquered Terra."
Christa laughed at that. "You're likely right."
"More seriously." Focht continued, "You're younger than most commanders, you haven't had any...political connections with a great house, you've commanded a division and most importantly of all, you got your start in primitive mechs-- which means you're ideally suited to understanding the problem these Clan mechs pose."
"Not just the Clan mechs." Christa said quietly. "I'd like you to stay for this meeting."
"Of course."
"Ma'am." The intercom chimed, "Colonel Wolf is here to see you."
"Very well, send him in." Christa remained standing. This was going to be bad enough without rubbing his nose in it.
Jaime Wolf was old, but still strode in with the energy that had characterized so many engagements. He was also fairly upset, Christa realized, as they finished the pleasantries and sat down.
"General." He said.
"Colonel. I have heard that you are... concerned with some of our force arrangements."
"Yes. The plans for Outreach are going to lead to a great deal of friction between the Mercenary community and the CAMA."
"I think the mercenary community will get over it. " Christa said, "And the ones that don't may find that they'll have a problem getting further contracts."
"Outreach was granted to Wolf's Dragoons as part of our Agreement with the Federated Commonwealth."
"Yes, well, that was before we knew that you were an agent of a hostile power-- one that is currently invading the Inner Sphere."
"We attempted to prepare the Inn-"
Christa cut him off. "By what? Warning Comstar? Warning the PSDF? Providing information to the Dracs and Feddies that they might want to shore up their defenses? You helped us after a good chunk of the Inner Sphere was conquered." She paused, "Be glad I was able to prevail on Hanse and Melissa to let me handle this, because right now, they're not exactly in a forgiving mood. They gave you a world only to find out you decieved them about it and oh yes, set in motion the chain of events that has Victor missing and presumed dead and Yvonne volunteering for a surgical procedure with a 10% death rate. Even if we just stick to contract negotiations, your contract with the Suns said something about providing warning of any unknown danger and you surely should know that a nation of advanced, genetically engineered warriors might just possibly...count?" She sighed, "Believe me, It took me most of six hours last night to convince some of the leaders of the Inner sphere that the proper response wasn't to send the biggest fleet we could put together and either take Outreach or nuke it 'till it glows."
"And why did you do that?" Wolf asked.
"Because we need you." Christa said bluntly. "And I know that you're not going to play along with any agreement that ends 'after we don't need you we kill you.'" She paused and smiled, "So, Hanse and Melissa have agreed to officially cede all interests in Outreach and the System it contains to the CAMA. In return, you tell us everything and Wolf's Dragoons become an official-- and permanent part of CAMA and subject to our command." She paused, "This is the best offer you're going to get Colonel."
"The mercenaries associated with Outreach may not like that."
"We're the best employers around." Christa paused, "And this doesn't go outside this room, but I'd like you to give a list of what Mercenary units might be most likely to leave and what ones have the most, ah, flexible morality."
"For what reason?"
"The Clans are going to kill enough good men as it is. We can use those units to hopefully absorb some losses while the Clan's do us the favor of eliminating some long-term problems."
"You're talking about murdering-"
"No." Christa said, "I'm talking about reducing the number of bloody handed thugs for hire who will provide mechs for anyone with the C-bills." She exhaled, "Or to put it differently, you know what the joke is in the Periphery: How can tell a merc has retired?"
"How?" Wolf said, playing along.
"He just painted a skull and crossbones on his mech and torched your town's hospital. I joined the militia when I was seventeen. I'm just about 40 now, and I've seen enough of what is left every time the Inner Sphere washes its sewage out into my home. The Clans think they are going to conquer us. They're wrong. But they're right about one thing. This time-- this time, things are going to be different."
"Of course none of this is for public consumption." Focht said, "and the Eridini Light Horse has also accepted permanent membership in CAMA."
"I expect their meeting was a bit different then this one." Wolf said, a slight smile on his face.
"More extortionate, you mean." Christa said ruefully. "They got the right to recruit up to an old SLDF division in size."
"I doubt we'll say no." Wolf finally responded, "Believe it or not, I'm trying to help the Inner Sphere and a war against us wouldn't do that-- where will we be posted?"
"Terra and Outreach for now."
"You could use us on the front-lines."
"And you'd get obliterated." Christa said, "Some of our intelligence is pretty clear-- the Clans' know about your change of heart and they aren't happy."
"So what will our duties be?"
"OPfor and training." Christa said. "We're going to be funneling enough newbies into the meatgrinder as it is, and I'd prefer that they have at least some training by people who know what they're going to face. Also, you'll be working with CAMA and the House Militaries to develop tactics that make up for our technological limitations. That includes helping to figure out the best way to integrate our new technologies, like the Proto's, and a few other project designs into our general forces."
"What about the Comguards?"
"They'll retain their administrative independence, but tactically and strategically will be folded into CAMA." Focht said.
Wolf looked over at Christa and nodded. "I'm coming to realize why you were appointed."
"Yeah, well none of the House Leaders want to risk having their name in the history books under the heading of 'Leader who lost the Inner Sphere'" Christa said.
"So, why did you protect us?" Wolf paused, "Beyond the practical reasons."
"What would the Houses have done if you told them about this?" Christa asked.
"Presuming they didn't blow themselves up?" Wolf shrugged, "Probably prepared for an all out attack on the Clan homeworlds."
"I'm just an uncivilized Periphery sort." Christa said, "But I can understand the difficulty of divided loyalties--and from what I understand the Clans may never have invaded."
"That was my hope." Jaime said.
"Too bad it didn't come true." Christa paused. "Colonel. I don't have any more political capital in this matter. If you deceive us again no matter how, I can't protect you and believe me, right now, you are really not popular in some quarters. Don't make me regret this decision."