Author Topic: Along Came A Spider  (Read 51901 times)

drakensis

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Along Came A Spider
« on: 30 November 2015, 12:52:15 »
Along Came A Spider
 
.o0o.
 
Prologue
 
Three things see no end: a flower blighted ‘ere it bloomed,
A message that miscarries, and a journey that is doomed.
- Threes, Mercedes Lackey

.o0o.

Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
16 September 3030

 
It had been almost a year since the end of what was now officially being called the Fourth Succession War. Hanse Davion was beginning to suspect that the aftermath of the two year conflict would take as long as the preparations had, which might mean he’d be dealing with the workload until little Victor was two years old – and possibly had a little brother or sister.
 
“Well at least your next appointment shouldn’t be such a strain,” offered Ardan Sortek from a sinfully comfortable armchair in the informal conference room that had been prepared for this particular meeting room. Rather than the usual long table, the chamber had aspirations to being a sitting room, with half a dozen chairs, each with complex electronic displays available from controls on the side-table, several hotplates in one corner that were already loaded with jugs of tea, coffee and condiments… and of course, behind the relaxing landscapes on the wall was the shielding mechanisms that should ensure what was discussed remained entirely private.
 
Hanse inhaled the aroma of his fresh cup of coffee. It was his third today and it wasn’t even lunchtime. “Royal Court was always a circus, adding the Lyran representation, near a hundred former Capellan nobles looking for confirmation in their titles and now your delegation from the Tikonov worlds is making it a three rings affair.”
 
The other man laughed and held out a plate of hors d’oeuvres he’d borrowed from one of the many many other functions being held in Avalon City. “Would you like some cheese to go with your whine, my Prince? From where I’m sitting you’re receiving exactly the rewards you set out for – the Federated Commonwealth is well on its way towards the union that you and Katrina conceived – or should I say that you and Melissa have conceived?”
 
“Well I’d like to see the fruits of my loins as more than a hologram.” Hanse waved off the plate and sipped on the coffee. “I didn’t see him being born and I haven’t had a chance, even with a command circuit, to visit Tharkad.”
 
“I can’t blame Melissa for not wanting to take Victor through that many jumps just yet. She’s visited herself and once Royal Court is over for the year, you’ve got a two week gap in your schedule, don’t you?”
 
“Which I had to fight for! I swear my appointments secretary puts up more of a fight than the Capellans did!”
 
“Wouldn’t be hard.” Sortek set his plate aside. “So did Kerensky give you any idea what she’s up to?”
 
“Shouldn’t I ask you that? Outreach is a Tikonov world – aren’t you keeping an eye on them?”
 
The younger man shook his head. “Their security is as tight as ever, not to mention that turning what’s left of Ridzik’s so-called intelligence service loose on them might have sparked all kinds of trouble. They weren’t exactly subtle and Wolf’s Dragoons aren’t likely to look lightly on being pried at by an intelligence agency right now.”
 
“You’re intimidated by a short battalion of ‘Mechs?”
 
“That short battalion? Hell, yes. Wouldn’t you be? Besides, I figure they have enough on their hands right now.”
 
The door to the room opened and a slim Asian man entered, wearing a subdued suit. The only things to mark him out from any of the other functionaries of the palace were the glove covering his left hand and the emblem of the Order of Davion on one lapel. The latter marked him as one of the First Prince’s intimates for the Order was limited to a maximum of twenty-three members, selected for exceptional acts of loyalty to House Davion.
 
The glove identified him more certainly to Sortek, who hadn’t seen him in person for years. “Justin Allard!” He rose to his feet and saluted solemnly.
 
Justin returned the salute with crisp efficiency before turning and bowing to Hanse. “Your guest is on her way up now, your highness.”
 
“Thank you, Justin. Do take a seat, I want your opinion on that – and it’ll make security happier.”
 
“I am your humble servant,” the younger man replied drily and obediently chose an armchair so that he and Ardan flanked the First Prince of the Federated Suns.
 
Hanse shook his head. “I didn’t give either of you the Medal Excalibur – two out of only three times I’ve awarded it – for humility. Although if the Dragoons were AFFC troops Jaime Wolf would have earned one for what they did defending the Draconis March during the war.”
 
“They seem happy enough with Outreach, or at least I thought so.” Ardan shrugged. “Perhaps Kerensky’s going to tell us otherwise. Tell me, Justin, what faux pas of decorum has she inflicted on this visit? Turned up in nothing but MechWarrior gear?”
 
“Nothing that I’m aware of. She’s in full dress uniform and one of father’s agents checked our copy of Wolf’s Dragoons’ uniform regulations and confirmed she’s in full compliance. Which doesn’t seem in line with her reputation, I admit.”
 
The other two men exchanged glances. “That’s… uncharacteristic.”
 
“Maybe she’s turned over a new leaf now that she’s a Colonel. The responsibility -” Justin cut off as he saw their faces.
 
“You’ve never met her, have you?”
 
“Not until today, no.” He frowned. “She’s bleached her hair and has it up the way your wife did for the wedding, if that makes a difference.”
 
“Half the women here are doing that, I think it’s the new fashion.”
 
Ardan chuckled. “Better than that time a few years ago where it was one side long and the other bald. I mean, really?”
 
“You have a point.”
 
There was a knock on the door. “Colonel Natasha Kerensky of Wolf’s Dragoons,” announced the Sergeant guarding the door.
 
“Send her in, George.”
 
The woman who entered was tall and – as warned – blonde, wearing the red-trimmed black of the elite mercenary unit she now commanded. There were no new lines on her face to mark the strain of the last few years, she was as lovely and undoubtedly as lethal as she had always been.
 
“Your Highness, Colonel, Major.” Natasha nodded to each in turn, using the last military ranks held by the two knights before their careers had taken them out of regular military service.
 
Hanse raised an eyebrow. “Please take a seat, Colonel.” He tapped a button next to his seat. “Security, this is Hanse Davion. Upgrade palace – no, upgrade planetary security status to alert three.”
 
There was a polite affirmative and Natasha Kerensky smirked slightly as she unbuckled her uniform’s ceremonial sword so she could sit comfortably. “I didn’t think you considered me quite that dangerous.”
 
“After the attack on NAIS two years ago, an unscheduled drill won’t draw much notice.” The Prince narrowed his eyes. “And you being polite and properly uniformed is enough to worry me. Are you sure you’re really the Black Widow?”
 
She laughed at him. “I never cared much about expectations.”
 
“So the universe isn’t about to end?” asked Ardan.
 
“I didn’t say that, Colonel.” She let that sink in for a minute. “How much do you know about the Wolf Dragoons?”
 
“We have an extensive file, which I’m sure doesn’t surprise you.” Hanse felt a certain electricity. There was something up. Something big. “Whatever you’re here about, I suspect it won’t be in our file though.”
 
“I certainly hope not. But humour me. Who are we?”
 
“The obvious answer would be…”
 
It was Justin who cut in. “You’re spies.”
 
“What?” exclaimed Ardan.
 
“It’s just like my own performance on Solaris VII – the Wolf’s Dragoons have been acting as mercenaries to draw the attention they needed for their mission. In my case it was to arrange recruitment into the Maskirovka. I don’t know what the Wolf’s Dragoons mission is but it’s the same principle.”
 
“Very good.” Natasha looked Justin over. “You’re married, aren’t you?”
 
He nodded.
 
“I hope you have lots of children and your intelligence breeds true. The Federated Commonwealth is going to need them.”
 
“Wolf’s Dragoons showed up twenty-five years ago – almost out of nowhere,” Hanse recounted thoughtfully. “I was still a junior officer at the time, but I recall my brother’s concern even after your first contract with us. If you’re still on the same mission then whoever sent you was thinking long-term.”
 
“Unusually so – it’s not something we tend to be good at. Kerlin Ward is – or was – an exception.”
 
“Should that name mean anything to me?” Hanse frowned. “You’re not from anywhere in the Inner Sphere… except maybe ComStar.”
 
“Hell no!” snapped Natasha. “I wouldn’t piss on their robes if they were on fire. And I’d be surprised if you knew the name – Kerlin and our home worlds are a long way away. I couldn’t even tell you where exactly – our navigation banks were purged except for a few rendezvous points and only one of those is any use after all these years.”
 
Hanse looked at her for a long moment. “Well, since you’re admitting to being spies, I’m guessing your mission isn’t something you’re averse to telling me about – unlike Jaime.”
 
“I’m not sure when – or if – Jaime planned to tell you. He was fairly cagey about his plans. But he’s dead now, and that makes it my decision.”
 
The death of Jaime Wolf on Crossing was hardly the only loss Wolf’s Dragoons had taken in recent years, reflected Ardan. When he’d negotiated their current contract they’d had to fight their way out of the Draconis Combine and lost half their strength in doing so. Regiment and battalion commanders hadn’t been spared in and in battle after battle the command structure of the once mighty mercenaries had been worn away. By the time the 10th Deneb Light Cavalry relieved them on Crossing, the final battle against no less than four entire regiments of the Galedon Regulars and an elite company from the Draconis Elite Strike Teams had reduced the Dragoons to less than a tenth of their original strength.
 
“What do Yukinov and Ellman think about this decision of yours?” Colonel Jeremy Ellman was semi-retired But Major Kelly Yukinov had been Jaime Wolf’s tactical deputy before his injuries on Glenmora put him out of action.
 
“What do these two think about your decisions?” shot back Natasha, indicating Justin and Ardan.
 
“If they think I’m going off the rails, they’ll tell me to my face. Why else would I have them here?”
 
“Touché,” she conceded. “They’re not delighted about any of our options. Nor am I, but you and your wife are our best shot at completing the mission.”
 
“And your mission?”
 
“Our original mission was to scout the Inner Sphere are report back so that our leaders could plan an invasion.” Natasha smirked at the expressions on their faces. “Kerlin Ward suggested it as a compromise – the alternative was an immediate invasion. And twenty years ago – hell, right now – you wouldn’t be able to stop that invasion. Work around it, maybe, but not stop it. In 3019 our orders were changed. Kerlin told us that there was no longer any immediate threat of invasion but that it was inevitable that sooner or later it would happen. And he told us to do whatever it took to prepare you to defend yourselves.”
 
“That was ten years ago. What have you been doing?”
 
“Back then the Federated Commonwealth wasn’t a factor. And while we might not know exactly where our home worlds are, we’re fairly sure any invasion will hit the Draconis Combine hard. Why do you think we let them build up the Ryuken regiments to mimic our training and capabilities?”
 
“You were teaching them?”
 
“Yeah, we didn’t expect them to be turned against us. Once that started there wasn’t anything we could do except fight back and the mission had to be set aside for survival. Until now.”
 
Hanse nodded. “I suppose you’re offering the Federated Commonwealth the same support now?”
 
The Black Widow shook her head. “That was the plan when the Wolf Dragoons were a small army in our own right and Jaime Wolf to lead us. We can rebuild the regiments but I’m no Jaime Wolf. If we’re going to turn the Federated Commonwealth into something that can withstand the Clans, we need a strategic genius to lead us.”
 
She pulled her ceremonial sword free of its scabbard and reversed it, extending the hilt towards Hanse. “Your highness, I offer you the Wolf Dragoons’ allegiance on one condition alone: help us to help you…”
 
.o0o.

Ducal Palace, St Ives
St Ives Compact
23 December 3030

 
“I believe I know why you’re here, your highness.” Candace Liao’s voice was respectful but also firm as she looked at Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner-Davion over her desk. “And the answer is no.”
 
It was slightly disconcerting for the First Prince to be sitting on the supplicant’s side of this sort of conversation but it wasn’t unreasonable on Candace’s part – this was her realm, however small it might be. “Justin’s been in the difficult position of keeping some information from you until I was able to brief Katrina in on Tharkad during my visit there,” he told her. “I’m sorry I had to put him in that position and I’m here to share that information with you. Unless he’s spoiled that surprise, I doubt you know why we’re here.”
 
“I’m grateful for your support, and for the regiments you’ve assigned to help me secure the Compact against my sister. But at the risk of being obvious, your only real concern… well, perhaps that’s not fair, your principle concern, must be the Capellan Confederation. And I won’t help you conquer the rest of it. If you’re here to try to persuade me to support a renewed invasion, you’re wasting your time.”
 
Melissa Steiner-Davion sighed and produced a ten kroner note, which she passed to her husband. “You really need to work on your public relations,” she advised him before turning to Candace. “Duchess Liao, I give you my word. While we do have contingencies in place to deal with your sister if she becomes the sort of problem we simply can’t co-exist with, we’ve no intention of launching a second invasion of the Capellan Confederation if it’s avoidable.”
 
“I appreciate that assurance, Duchess Steiner. However, your husband is known as ‘the Fox’ for a reason. Given the Confederation’s already under attack by both Andurien and Canopus, I can’t imagine he’s not seen the opportunity to finish what he started at your wedding.”
 
“The Fourth Succession War was necessary for two reasons. Firstly, we needed to establish a secure corridor of worlds between the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth.” Hanse met Candace’s gaze directly. “Secondly, your father’s machinations – some of which I doubt even you’re aware of – made him far too dangerous to leave alone.”
 
“If you think my sister is less mad then it may be that Justin’s been keeping secrets from you as well as from me.”
 
“Your sister is working with significantly fewer resources than your father was. The CCAF was wrecked and is struggling to hold off two rather minor powers at this time.” Hanse saw Candace’s lips tighten slightly. Her own realm was similarly ‘minor’, and it was her family’s ancestral holdings that were under attack. “Justin’s defection similarly gutted the Maskirovka. At the moment, Romano is far too distracted and impoverished to pose that sort of threat.”
 
He held up his hand. “In addition, if I were to conquer the Capellan Confederation completely I’d simply be gaining a new border with the Free Worlds League. It doesn’t simplify our strategic position and I’d not only be forced to heavily garrison scores of worlds, I’d be alienating someone I consider a valuable ally. It simply isn’t worth it at this point.”
 
Candace nodded thoughtfully and then smiled, although it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Such flattery, Prince Davion. But we are both married, so please desist.”
 
“Happily married, I hope,” Melissa offered.
 
“Very much so. Once business is done, perhaps we can send your husband away so you can show me pictures of your son and I can introduce you to Kai.”
 
“I’d like that, but business first.” Melissa looked over at Hanse and then smiled slightly. “As much as we’d both like the St Ives Compact to join the Federated Commonwealth, we realise that that’s not a good idea – at least not at the moment. Your sister would almost certainly send troops to ‘defend’ the worlds from us and most of your population would agree whole-heartedly with her. That would force us to fight another major war with the other Great Houses moving in, and for reasons I think you’ll understand once we’ve fully explained the situation, we don’t want such a war.”
 
“I’d also prefer to avoid having the Capellan people swallowed up by the Federated Commonwealth. No offence meant, of course.”
 
“In ten, twenty or thirty years, the situation may change,” Hanse offered Candace. “I’d like to leave the option open that we might be able to peacefully come to such an arrangement, but if we can’t then our current alliance is good enough for me. We need to get our own house in order – the Federated Commonwealth is very much a work in progress. There probably will be another war, history suggests that that’s probably inevitable, but I don’t want to be the man to start it and the longer we can defer that, the longer we have to consolidate the union between the Suns and the Commonwealth. I’d be more than happy to let matters lie on the Capellan front until your son and mine are the ones making the decisions. We probably won’t have the luxury of waiting that long, but I wouldn’t object to it.”
 
“This must be quite a secret you’ve been keeping.”
 
“Oh it is. There’s a lot of briefing material though, so if you don’t mind giving it another hour or so for our staff to get it all laid out – it’s best to give you the whole picture at once and then let you digest it before we start talking about it in earnest.”
 
“I suppose I can be patient at least that long.” Candace looked out of the window. “I’ll warn you though, the only way I would bring my people into the Federated Commonwealth would be as full allies, not as conquered worlds.” Or unless my back was to the wall, she admitted to herself. But hopefully it won’t come to that.
 
“I’ve had reason to look back at records of the Reunification War,” Hanse told her. “Katrina and Melissa were kind enough to open the Steiner archives so I could see some of their records too. You might recall that their ancestor Viola Steiner-Dinessen commanded from the front lines. Conquering the Periphery states caused many of the long-term problems that eventually destroyed the Star League and I can’t help but feel it was the fault of Ian Cameron for rushing to complete the League.”
 
“There were fifteen years between the Treaty of Geneva laying the ground work and our ancestors actually signing the Star League Accords, but only four years after that before the Periphery was facing a military ultimatum. I’d rather learn from that history than repeat it…”
 
“That’s easy for you to say, but you have hundreds of Confederation worlds occupied as we speak.”
 
He nodded. “You’re not wrong. It was necessary though; and politically I can’t simply return them. I’ve come to an agreement with Katrina Steiner to create a new Terran March to link both halves of the Federated Commonwealth. It’ll be a mixing pot, worlds that before the war were part of all five of the Successor States and now under Melissa’s rule.”
 
“Your mother isn’t giving you an easy job.”
 
Melissa shrugged. “Nor should she. Speaking of which, one of the affected worlds will be Liao. Not just your family’s ancestral home but I believe you’re also the rightful Duchess of Liao under Capellan law. Since I don’t intend to disenfranchise the existing nobility, I hope we can work out something mutually acceptable terms so you can retain the title without infringing on your independence here.”
 
“And if we can’t?”
 
“Your younger brother has indicated his readiness to swear fealty for the world.”
 
Candace took a deep breath. “Well played, Duchess Steiner. I’m sure that as reasonable people we can come to some compromise. And the Sarna worlds?”
 
“At the moment we’re looking at incorporating them into the Capellan March. After all, they do have a long border with the Confederation. Obviously it would be difficult for you to defend them if we simply handed them over to you and doing so would be tantamount to declaring you a rival Chancellor to Romano which…” Hanse spread his hands and smiled politely.
 
“Which isn’t somewhere we want to go,” Candace agreed. “Well, it doesn’t seem like there’s much you can offer then, unless you’re going to hand back all the St Ives worlds your ancestors conquered during the Succession Wars.”
 
“That’s on the table.”
 
Hanse took a great deal of satisfaction in seeing Candace Liao’s composure crack, even for just a second. She recovered quickly though. “This secret of yours must be quite the earth shaker. I look forward to hearing it.”
 
Melissa made a face. “Believe me, you don’t.”
 
.o0o.

ComStar Internal Document
ROM Report #3034-6603002/F-L-R
Classified – Confidential

 
The decisions of Katrina Steiner with regard to the Free Rasalhague Republic’s formation has been on some levels predictable and on others highly uncharacteristic.
 
The Archon made use of the Free Rasalhague movement extensively through the Fourth Succession War, to the point of funding their infamous Tyr Regiment and supplying them with scores of assault-weight BattleMechs. With the victory in the Fourth Succession War to point to it wouldn’t be unusual for a Successor Lord to consider that they had obtained their goals and could now dispense with supporters whose price to maintain was inconvenient.
 
Historically this has ample precedents, however such double-dealing is also often short sighted and would be atypical for Katrina Steiner. Her personal credibility and history of non-duplicity in diplomacy is one of the cornerstones of the Federated Commonwealth. It was therefore plausible that she would consider herself ‘honour bound’ to fulfil all terms of whatever agreement she’d made to receive the support of the Free Rasalhague movement, even if this caused her minor internal concerns with House Kelswa in the Tamar region.
 
Supporting this was the unexpected decision, only a few years previous, of Hanse Davion to cede more than twenty worlds to the St Ives Compact, something that moderated the previously high level of support he’d received from the Capellan March in the aftermath of the Fourth Succession War. Based on this it seemed reasonable to conclude that Federated Commonwealth policy was to support the formation of satellite border-states to shorten their external borders and potentially act as cats paws in future offensives.
 
Despite the above factors, it’s unquestionable that the Free Rasalhague movement, now the principals of the Free Rasalhague Republic’s government, feel that they have received considerably less than they expected from Katrina Steiner upon their declaration of independence earlier this year.
 
Such support can’t be considered trivial in absolute terms: despite the demands of rebuilding combat losses and military stockpiles depleted in the Fourth Succession War, Archon Steiner has provided the new Kungsarme with a considerable quantity of military hardware, sufficient for at least six and possibly eight BattleMech Regiments along with supporting arms. Indications are that she intends similar shipments in the future. In addition, eleven worlds conquered during the Fourth Succession War have been transferred from the Tamar Pact to the Free Rasalhague Republic.
 
On the face of it, this would seem generous. However, sources on Rasalhague suggest that the Archon’s interpretations of the previous agreements differs considerably from their own. As a case in point, the Radstadt salient has been thinned but House Steiner retain three worlds (Kandis, Stanzach and Radstadt itself) which almost sever the Free Rasalhague Republic in two. In fact, all ceded worlds are core-wards of this salient. The Free Rasalhague leaders appear to have been under the impression that they would receive these worlds.
 
Similarly, claims are being made that the Utrecht pocket of worlds should be ceded. The failure to do so – if it was in fact promised, which is difficult to confirm since the treaty between the Archon and Free Rasalhague was top secret and may in fact have been verbal (which would imply extreme gullibility on the part of the Free Rasalhague leaders, although Archon Steiner’s charisma may make this possible) – has led to Theodore Kurita refraining from surrendering Lothan, Tukkayid and Dehgolan since these worlds are now separated from the rest of the Republic by the Utrecht pocket. This, admittedly, wouldn’t be an issue if he had surrendered all of the Rasalhague District (witness the aforementioned willingness of Successor Lords to double-deal) since the newly named Alshain District would provide a more than adequate connection.
 
Overall the decision by Archon Steiner seems to have left her in the worst of both worlds. By declining to surrender the more core-ward of her recent consequences on the grounds that they are ‘historically Lyran worlds, never part of the Principality of Rasalhague’ she has alienated her new neighbour at the same time she is arming them. This raises the possibility of the Draconis Combine backing Prince Haakon Magnusson if he ever decides to seek to reclaim the worlds by military force.
 
At the same time, since the eleven worlds she did cede are in the same category: worlds previously part of the Lyran Commonwealth that were reclaimed during the recent war and have no connection to the historic Principality of Rasalhague (for whatever legitimacy a state defunct for some five centuries may have), she has undermined her position in Tamar. It remains to be seen how Duke Selvin Kelswa will react.
 
This further suggests that Hanse Davion’s previous generosity towards the St Ives Compact may not be indicative of a policy of encouraging border-states. If this is the case, the Prince’s motives may be more obscure as the military support of Candace Liao is in no sense equivalent to the worlds he has surrendered to her. Despite efforts to establish his goals, at this point ROM can offer no theory more credible than that proposed by Captain-General Janos Marik on discovering the surprising concession: “Clearly the Liao has pictures of Davion molesting goats.”
"It's national writing month, not national writing week and a half you jerk" - Consequences, 9th November 2018

consequences

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #1 on: 30 November 2015, 13:05:06 »
Wooo!

Clearly she acquired those pictures from the leaders of Free Rasalhague.

Dave Talley

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #2 on: 30 November 2015, 19:06:51 »
Drakensis
Holy crap! You have just started a great story, I hope we don't drown you in update requests
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David CGB

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #3 on: 30 November 2015, 20:01:04 »
so good, must have more....
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Red Pins

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #4 on: 30 November 2015, 21:48:40 »
Tagged.

And I agree, looking forward to reading more.
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The New Clans:Volume One
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Shadow_Wraith

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #5 on: 30 November 2015, 23:26:05 »
 ;) very nice story!  Hope for more!

DOC_Agren

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #6 on: 30 November 2015, 23:50:39 »
 O0 [applause] [cheers] [rockon] [watch]
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Chris OFarrell

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #7 on: 01 December 2015, 01:46:28 »
Well, you certinally have my interest Drac.
The formation of the FRR I'm going to have to map out a little bit, but it seems to be significantly different from canon.
I'm guessing it has to be related to the FRR being the straight line from the Kerensky Cluster to Terra, but I'll have to plot it out to be sure...
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snakespinner

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #8 on: 01 December 2015, 01:58:58 »
Tagged.
An excellent start. [cheers]
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marauder648

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #9 on: 01 December 2015, 02:19:25 »
Off to an excellent start! :)
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drakensis

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #10 on: 01 December 2015, 02:43:18 »
Well, you certinally have my interest Drac.
The formation of the FRR I'm going to have to map out a little bit, but it seems to be significantly different from canon.
I'm guessing it has to be related to the FRR being the straight line from the Kerensky Cluster to Terra, but I'll have to plot it out to be sure...

It's not up to Blacknova's standards but here's a link to my map for this fic as of the end of the prologue.
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mikecj

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #11 on: 01 December 2015, 09:42:12 »
Very nice as ever.
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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #12 on: 01 December 2015, 12:49:22 »
Quote from: drakensis
“I’m not sure when – or if – Jaime planned to tell you. He was fairly cagey about his plans. But he’s dead now, and that makes it my decision.”

Natasha Kerensky, CO of the Dragoons.

That's gotta scare the crap out of certain parties.

drakensis

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #13 on: 01 December 2015, 15:56:27 »
Book One

Three things are most perilous: the shape that walks behind,
Ice that will not hold you, and the spy you cannot find.
- Threes, Mercedes Lackey

.o0o.

Chapter One

.o0o.

The Triad, Tharkad
Donegal March, Lyran Commonwealth
20 June 3049


“St Ives?” Victor Ian Steiner-Davion shot a suspicious look at his father and his cousin Morgan. “Are you trying your hand at match-making again?”

The two older men exchanged looks. “I’m not that predictable am I?” asked Hanse. All three men were wearing their AFFC uniforms – Hanse out of long-standing habit, Morgan because he was technically on duty and Victor because there was still novelty to wearing the Davion-green trousers and Steiner-blue jacket.

“You’re not the worst member of the family for that,” hedged the Federated Suns Marshal of Armies diplomatically. “However, I promise you, Victor, that trying to pair you off with Cassandra Allard-Liao isn’t the logic behind posting you to the Davion Assault Guards.”

The young prince folded his arms and then, realising it made him look petulant, unfolded them again. “I’d appreciate the logic being explained then – for my future education in statecraft.”

“As long as you remember that your education in statecraft isn’t something in the nebulous distant future for when you’re old and decrepit – you know, in your thirties.” Hanse walked over to the balcony doors and looked out at the frigid mountains that overlooked his wife’s capital. “First of all, there’s the necessary political balance between the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth. You’ve spent most of your life on Tharkad, so it’s important you visit the Suns.”

“I understand that far, and I’ve no complaints about the Davion Assault Guards as a posting – I figured it would be one of the Davion or Lyran Guards RCTs.”

“We also considered the First Federated Commonwealth Regimental Combat Team but decided it would be too much of a medium path. Maybe when you’re ready for a battalion command.”

Victor was suddenly all too aware of the Leutenant’s insignia on the epaulettes of his uniform jacket. There had been talk of graduating him as a Kommandant – battalion commander before the age of twenty – but thankfully his parents had put their feet down. As a Steiner and a Davion, he knew he had more than his fair shot at earning rapid promotion but at least he’d earned this rank by completing the Nagelring’s command course and done so near the top of his class. Being elevated three ranks above other graduates simply because of his birth would have been humiliating.

“I was hoping for the Terran March though – if trouble breaks out with the Combine or the League, it’ll be there that you need your top units.”

“And if we post you there then it’s significantly more likely that the Combine will make a move, probably along with the League.”

Victor frowned at his father’s response. “What, because Theodore Kurita posted his heir out to a backwater?”

“Essentially, yes.” Justin Allard, who’d been quiet so far, produced a set of papers from his ever-present document file. “These are Hohiro Kurita’s grades at Sun Zhang. The ISF leaked them to us as a matter of courtesy a few years ago and we returned the favour this year.”

Victor frowned at the document, comparing the courses to his own. They were good grades if he was reading them right – better than his in some areas – and Sun Zhang Academy didn’t have a reputation for easing the way of noble scions: much the reverse. “Wait, why did you have these on hand?”

“Your father isn’t the only predictable one, your highness.”

The heir to the Federated-Commonwealth raised one hand to acknowledge the touch. “Okay, so Hohiro’s got an impressive resume.”

“If Theodore was going to make a move on the Terran March then he’d want to bring his best officers forward. By posting Hohiro to the border with the Free Rasalhague Republic, he’s signalling that he doesn’t have any immediate intention of doing so. But if I post you - and all our brightest young officers - to the Terran March he’d have to assume I might be thinking aggressively myself. Overall, I think I could live without that escalation even if nothing comes of it.”

“And you don’t want that?” Victor asked cautiously. “It’s an open secret that most of the Inner Sphere figured you’d be striking at Dieron back when I was a kid, to take the industrial worlds away before the DCMS could finish rebuilding and widen the Terran corridor further.”

“I gave it serious thought,” his father agreed. “You’ll be briefed on one of the reasons in a few days, along with a number of other officers. The other reason is that we believed then – and confirmed later – that the DCMS rebuilt much faster than we’d expected. The Ronin War showed that the DCMS was able to mobilise a strong expeditionary force without weakening their border forces significantly. On that basis, with our own expansion plans for the AFFC just beginning to kick in, your grandmother and I agreed that barring a sudden change of circumstances, we’d defer any further attempts against the Combine or the League to your generation.”

“You’re expecting me to deal with House Kurita?”

“No. I’m expecting you to lead the Federated Commonwealth to the best of your ability. If that means defeating the Draconis Combine, so be it, but if it means we never go to war under your rule then I – and your mother – will be just as proud. I doubt you’ll be fortunate enough not to bear that weight, but I grew up in the Succession Wars where the very thought of peace seemed impossible. Now we’ve been at peace for your entire life. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box the way your grandmother did.”

Victor nodded, feeling something deeply personal had been passed on to him. “Isn’t posting me to the Capellan border just as provocative?”

“Well if I keep you deep in the interior of the Crucis March, chances are you’ll never give me peace at wanting a shot at some action.” Hanse grinned at his son’s discomfiture. “The fact is though, that posting you to St Ives – and the Assault Guards will be moving back and forth into the Capellan March for some exercises we have scheduled in the next year – isn’t likely to cause further escalation with the Capellan Confederation or even the Taurian Concordat.”

“Because Romano Liao and Thomas Calderon could hardly hate us more?”

“Essentially, yes. I doubt either of them is mad enough to look for a direct military confrontation with us at this point, but Justin’s arm should remind you that even low intensity activity through third party assets can exact their price.”

Victor looked at Justin’s left hand, hidden behind a glove. He knew it was artificial, a prosthesis fitted after a skirmish between Justin’s battalion and a Capellan raiding party. “I never heard the full story.”

“The Capellans sent a battalion to try to wipe out the Kittery Training Battalion,” Justin explained shortly. “I engaged their commander’s Rifleman in my Valkyrie to buy time for Andrew Redburn to rally the rest of the battalion. Unfortunately the man in the Rifleman was considerably better than I was.” Justin Allard was legendary as one of the finest MechWarriors alive. “A year or so later, the battalion narrowly avoided a bomb in a restaurant. There’s going to be a very real danger of the Maskirovka taking action against you, so do your security team a favour and don’t make a game of ditching them the way you have here.”

“If nothing else, it would be offensive towards Candace Liao’s own security. And one of the other reasons for sending you to St Ives is to underline our commitment towards the Compact. Because whether you wind up marrying Cassandra or not, St Ives is a valuable ally.”

The young prince nodded. “I understand, father. And to be honest...”

“Yes?”

“Mentioning Cassandra and not her twin isn’t a subtle as you might think.”

.o0o.

Nagelring, Tharkad
Donegal March, Lyran Commonwealth
27 June 3049


The briefing room was packed, not just with recently graduated cadets but also with a sprinkling of older officers. None of them, however, seemed to know what this was about.

“I don’t know exactly.” Victor admitted to his former roommate, Renny Sanderlin. “Dad said it was important but that’s all.” That wasn’t entirely accurate – there had also been an arch rejoinder from Morgan that Victor seemed to only care about special treatment when the mood took him.

“I’ll tell you something though,” his cousin Phelan observed.

“What?”

“Look at the epaulettes.” The slightly younger MechWarrior tapped the black and red pattern backing the Stabsgefrieter’s badge on his own. “Wolf Dragoons, Davion Guards, Ceti Hussars, Federated Commonwealth corps...”

“Royal Guards too,” pointed out Renny.

Phelan nodded. “So it’s just a few commands being pulled in for this. No Avalon Hussars, Crucis Lancers, Donegal Guards or Arcturan Guards.”

“What do they have in common?”

Renny shrugged. “You’re the ones with the royal and noble connections.”

“Whatever it is, we’ll probably find out in a few minutes. So anyway, Phelan, did I congratulate you yet on your posting. Beta Regiment of the Wolf Dragoons – the Black Widow’s command. Not bad going.”

“I don’t have any complaints. Too bad we won’t be part of the exercises up in the Capellan March. It might have been interesting if we were on opposite sides.”

“Yeah, yeah, hotshot.” Victor grinned. “How about you, Renny? Happy with your posting to the First Fed-Com?”

“Thanks for putting in a word for me.”

“I really didn’t.”

“Then why did I get my posting counter-signed by Field Marshal Sandoval himself?”

“Ah, that would be Tancred Sandoval’s fault – he remembered your name from his own year as an exchange student here.”

“And you had nothing to do with that?”

“I really didn’t.” Victor paused. “I was saving all my influence to try to get Ciro Ramirez posted somewhere as far away from me as possible.”

“Don’t tell me that Romano Liao’s bodyguards turned him down!” Phelan said in feigned surprise.

“I’m afraid his reputation reached even Sian,” Victor replied sadly. “He’s with the First Royal Guards – I think I saw him down near the front.”

“I wondered why you wanted this seat at the back. Now I wonder no more.” Phelan stretched. “Think there’ll be any popcorn?”

There was not, in fact, any popcorn but shortly after this the lights dimmed and the assembled soldiers fell silent with those still standing taking seats.

“Ladies and gentlemen.” Morgan Hasek-Davion stood at the front of the room, his trademark long red hair loose around the epaulettes of his uniform jacket. “The following briefing is classified as Need-To-Know under code word Ebon Black. All of you should be aware, but I’ll remind you anyway, that if any of the information under this level of classification leaks, you’ll face prosecution by a sealed military court under charges of treason. And don’t assume family connections will spare you. We’ve executed four officers in the last two decades to ensure this was kept secret and Archon Melissa Steiner signed their death warrants personally.”

He let that sink in for a moment and then nodded. “Kommandant Ngov, you have the floor.”

The more junior officer also had long hair although his was blue-black. “Ladies and gentlemen, the reason for this briefing is that you’re all being posted to units that operate certain types of equipment. As part of your regular duties you’re all familiar with the various programmes the AFFC has been operating not only to provide soldiers in the field with the best equipment. For example, the FAT programme where BattleMechs, aerospace fighters and other combat vehicles have had their armour replaced with more sophisticated Ferro Armor Types.” It hadn’t been the most inspired of acronyms.

“Most of those refits bring the technological level of these combat units up to the lower edge of what was deployed by the SLDF some three hundred years ago. Given the discovery of a number of BattleMechs in DCMS and ComGuards formations of types not manufactured since the First Succession War, these upgrades are generally considered the minimum necessary to prepare a unit for frontline service as things stand.”

“All of these projects fall under the general category of Ausf R upgrades, which are classified but has probably been compromised, at least to a degree over recent years. We’ve gone to some lengths to hide the fact that the Ausf R units are in part a cover-up for a second set of projects which are intended to provide capabilities well in advance of all but the best Star League equipment. While we’ve had some success in refitting these technologies to existing aerospace craft and ground vehicles, practically all BattleMechs using what we call Ausf S technologies need to be built with it from the ground up.”

Ngov grinned. “And yes, that means that on arrival at your new units you can expect to be assigned ‘Mechs that are almost factory-fresh rather than battlefield relics patched together with salvage. Just remember that however advanced, these ‘Mechs aren’t cheap and they don’t make you invulnerable any more than watching Immortal Warrior films will – it’s proper and intelligent use of them that confers our primary advantage on the battlefield.”

He manipulated a control and the display behind him lit up with the familiar sight of a Phoenix Hawk medium ‘Mech. “This is the new production model Phoenix Hawk. It costs around 11.66 million kroner, more than some ‘Mechs twice the size. In return for that rather costly price-bump, it’s now as fast and agile as a Spider light ‘Mech and packs lasers with thirty percent more range and twenty-percent more energy-transfer-to-target than you’re used to. However, the most dangerous upgrade is the target designator that allows it to illuminate targets for bombardment with artillery missiles.”

The scene shifted to the legs of a Phoenix Hawk surrounded by a field of debris. “And this is the same ‘Mech after a lucky shot with an SRM hit the torso ammo-bins. The armour is slightly better than our current Ausf R standards but not hugely. The MechWarrior ejected safely, by the way. It’s unlikely he’ll make the mistake of standing still to engage an infantry position again, assuming he’s ever allowed back in a ‘Mech.”

Another click of the controls and they were looking at the familiar sight of a Hunter light tracked missile carrier, although there was something off about the missiles in the turrets. “I mentioned artillery missiles a moment ago. If you have a target designator, these are your new best friend. The turret contains ten artillery missiles which can carry high explosive warheads for conventional artillery firing for effect and armour piercing warheads that can punch a rather large hole through the armour of most ‘Mechs. The range isn’t on par with ballistic artillery but they’re a lot easier to move around – the Hunter can keep up with a Scorpion light tank quite easily – and most of your regimental combat teams will have a full battalion divided between their combat commands.”

Victor blinked. He’d noticed that the artillery courses seemed quite full at the Nagelring. The usual artillery allocation for a Regimental Combat Team was usually only a single company. If this was going to be rolled out for all the AFFC eventually, there was going to be a lot of demand for artillery officers. In fact, there was going to be even more demand for those artillery missiles. Ten shots loaded would mean that in any sustained operation reloading would be critical.

“Sounds pretty good,” Phelan muttered.

“Sounds expensive,” Victor replied. “I wonder how they reload under fire.”

“I guess you’ll find out – in simulation – before I do.” Phelan shut his mouth with a click of teeth as he saw Morgan frowning up at the back corner of the room where they were sitting.
"It's national writing month, not national writing week and a half you jerk" - Consequences, 9th November 2018

drakensis

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #14 on: 01 December 2015, 15:59:21 »
Tworivers, Gotterdammerung
Greater Valkyrate
24 September 3049


The imaginatively named settlement was nestled between two rivers where they met the north coast of Gotterdammerung’s largest sea (which wasn’t really all that impressive). The rivers and shoreline provided some degree of security for more than halt the town’s perimeter but since the wider river was less than two hundred metres wide and perhaps eight deep at them most, neither had significantly impeded Patricia ‘Patsy’ Camancho’s company as they jumped across – or waded through – the southern water.

That had been an hour ago and Patsy was doing her best to ignore the still burning wrecks of three APCs outside the town’s armoury as she used her Phoenix Hawk’s hands to help load up two hover trucks with the loot.

“Seems kind of pointless, Patsy,” Paula Rubenstein observed as she stood watch in her Locust. “The weapons here wouldn’t be enough to arm a small town militia down in the FedCom – it’s not remotely enough to justify the pay. And if we’re taking the grain from the granary -” the muzzle of her ‘Mech’s laser tracked in that direction for a minute, “- why are we leaving crates of almost out of date field rations?”

“Weren’t you listening to the brief?”

“Nope. I was sat next to Cowboy and you know keeping an eye on him is a fulltime affair.”

Patsy sighed to herself. “The field rations are enough that the town won’t starve this year, and if the locals are smart enough they’ll be able to hide them from the Valkyrate’s tax collectors. But without grain they’ll have nothing to plant next year so long term this area’s going to take a severe hit to the food supply and the economy in general. And if Morgaine wants to keep control down here, she’ll have to replace her bully boys and their gear, which is a drain on who she can send out to back up raids like the ones she’s been making into the Tamar March.”

“But won’t the pirates just carry out more raids for food?”

“Food’s bulky, Paula. Most pirates don’t have the time or patience to do that. And what do you want to bet that the Fox has quietly reinforced garrisons on the main agricultural exporters in this part of the FedCom?”

“Well I guess that’s clever.” Paula turned her ‘Mech and walked it along the square. “Seems kind of hard on the locals. They didn’t have any say in pirates running things around here. “

Patsy declined to reply since, of course, Paula was quite correct. She was saved from further comment when Cowboy cut onto the company channel. “Patsy, sweetheart, we’ve got ‘Mechs coming in from the north. I make it three heavy and a pair of lights, but they’re moving kind of fast – about eighty clicks.”

“Got it, Cowboy. Fall back into the town.” Patsy looked down at the crew securing the trucks and flipped her external speakers. “Time’s up. Get the trucks going for the dropships now, we have ‘Mechs incoming and you don’t want to be anywhere near when they arrive.”

Three heavies, but from the speed they’d have to be low ends – not much above sixty tons can manage it and it generally means they’ve under-armed or under-armoured – or both. Two lights, which could be just about anything. Probably they’ll scout and try to pinpoint our ‘Mechs for the heavies.

Foxtrot Company had numbers on their side – eleven ‘Mechs since Diggity’s Hermes II was back on the dropship after an electrical fault fused the right knee actuator. Better than two to one odds but still... “Paula, take Geronimo Jones and escort the trucks.” One Locust and one Ostscout wouldn’t add much firepower to the fight to come but they could keep up with the trucks pretty well and the latter’s sensors would pick up any flanking force trying to cut them off.”

“Are you sure, Patsy?”

“Sure as Captain’s bars, Paula. Git gone.” She straightened her Phoenix Hawk and headed for the northern edge of town, the side with no river or sea to guard it. There was a wall of sorts but honestly Patsy didn’t think it would stop determined infantry, much less a BattleMech.

“They all look pretty determined,” warned Cowboy, his Wasp nestled behind the wall with only his cockpit above the concrete barrier.

Patsy saw them for herself. No designs she recognised – the warbook suggested with low confidence that she might be looking at a pair of modified Warhammers and a Thunderbolt – deployed in a v-formation with two reverse-legged designs like Paula’s Locust but evidently much larger ranging forwards on the flanks. All five ‘Mechs had a dull olive green paint scheme and an emblem she couldn’t make out at this distance.

“I’m guessing they know we’re here,” she observed as one of the two Wolverines in her company brushed against a house in the MechWarrior’s rush to reach the wall. The front of the house practically tore off at the encounter. “Dammit, Bobby.”

“What the hell does it matter?”

“I don’t care about the house, but stop damaging Skin Walker’s armour right before a scrap.”

“They look kind of weird. Probably someone’s frankensteined some wrecks together.”

“Maybe,” Patsy conceded. “They must have some big engines in there. Magscan says… hmm. Better than two hundred fifty tons between them. Can’t be much more than a fifth of it on the lightweights out on the flanks.”

“Thunderbolt and two Warhammers. They must have thinned out the armour to get them moving like that. We can take them. We have numbers and they’re just pirates.”

“Not so sure of that. Don’t recall any outfits out there with all green colour schemes.” Patsy punched the scan button on her radio. The initial response was static but finally the system pinpointed a frequency in use. Encoded, she concluded listening to the squeal of data garbage, but in use. “Anyway, we didn’t come out here to turn around and they probably know we’re here.”

“That is correct,” a sharp voice cut in. “Will you stravags exit the enclave to do battle or shall we drag you out like rats?”

“Hey, dontcha go calling the Captain a stravak or whatevah!” snapped Cowboy.

“Shut up, Cowboy.” Patsy glanced at the terrain. It was fairly flat, mostly farmland which had evidently been harvested recently. Not much cover and while the mission wasn’t to wreck the town, most of the locals were under cover anyway and the more damage that was done, the worse for the Valkyrate, particularly if they were the ones doing the wrecking. “Y’all can come and get us.”

There was no reply but the incoming ‘Mechs spread out further, the flanking lights heading for the riverbank.

Bobby the Wolf propped his Wolverine’s autocannon over the edge of the wall and Patsy did the same with the large laser in her own ‘Mech’s fist. “One salvo at long range,” she ordered her company, “Then get back into the buildings. If you don’t have anything with decent range, get in cover now.”

She zoomed in her targeter over the central ‘Mech. Thunderbolts were well armoured usually, but Bobby had a point about the tonnage of the engine they must have fitted. It still had the missile launcher balancing out the off-centre cockpit but both arms ended in substantial weapons. Not a normal Thunderbolt then, that had a large laser in one arm and a couple of machineguns in the other. How this could fit a more powerful engine as well as the missile launcher, while still packing what looked like an autocannon and - was that a PPC as well?

A charged beam fired out of the weapon – yep, definitely a PPC – and tore into the wall right under her laser. The autocannon shells arrived next and a dusting of small explosions marked the muzzle of the laser. Patsy ducked the Phoenix Hawk as LRMs rained down on her position.

“Those things have way too much firepower!” She saw red-light on her weapon display and grimaced. So much for the large laser. She’d be fighting with the mediums and the machineguns now – well, at least inside the town they’d be useful.

“Son of a puta!” growled Bobby and she saw he’d also ducked Skin Walker out of the line of fire. “Those lasers punched right through the wall!”

“Casey is down,” came another report. “PPC to the cockpit.”

Patsy blinked and her fists tightened on the joysticks. Jock Casey was kind of an ass, but he was also one of hers. Plus, losing his Valkyrie would cost them at least a little bit of firepower.

“Time to go for cover,” she snapped and crouched her ‘Mech before firing the backpack-like jump jets to scoot along the road without rising too high and exposing herself to return fire. Bobby the Wolf followed her, his heavier ‘Mech not as agile but the man’s hard-won battle experience keeping his head down.

Cowboy was lurking with his Stinger crouched behind what passed for an apartment building. The MechWarrior gestured for them to keeping going past them and Patsy raised the thumb of her Phoenix Hawk’s left hand. The intention was fairly obvious: draw one of the enemy in past Cowboy and let the Wasp work at its back. Between three of them… well, it would hurt, but not even a heavy ‘Mech was going to come out on top with odds like that.

There was a roar of more jump jets and the Not-Thunderbolt arced up and over the wall. Patsy spun and fired with both lasers, the temperature rising rapidly inside her cockpit. One scored a line ineffectually across the bicep of the ‘Mech. The other shot missed.

The enemy returned fire with even more accuracy. The PPC scored squarely on the rear of Skin Walker and there was a cascade of broken armour as the autocannon scored again, pockmarking the Wolverine’s back.


Patsy cut left, mirroring him and avoiding further fire. “How bad is it?”

“Engine shielding. I’m running warm.” Normally a Wolverine could maintain excellent temperature control so that was a bit of a give-away.

Patsy flipped a switch. “Punch your BattleROMs to transmit updates to Paula and Geronimo. The rest of the battalion need to know what’s going on here. Whoever these people are, they’re not pirates – or at least not the pirates we knew about. Something tells me that the Feddies will pay a lot for data on them.”

“You’re talking like we’re not going to get out of this.” Bobby braced his ‘Mech near the corner and Patty held up the Phoenix Hawk’s hand, then lowered her fingers one at a time.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

The two medium ‘Mechs moved out as smoothly as if they’d practised the move and opened up with everything they had. At barely fifty metres, it was hard to miss. Armour fractured under lasers, under shells and under missiles but it didn’t seem to break.

“Yeehaw!” shouted Cowboy and his Wasp ran out from behind the cover of the buildings and jammed its laser into the back of the cockpit.

The Not-Thunderbolt staggered forwards a pace and then focused on Skin Walker again. Despite the short range it fired its LRMs and armour peeled away from the front of the Wolverine as the missiles blew holes. Deliberately the MechWarrior inside raised the arm with the PPC and as Bobby backpedalled, discharged the weapon directly at the ‘Mech’s leg where missiles had already battered the armour. The blaze of charged particles tore away through what was left of the protection, and Bobby almost lost control of the ‘Mech as myomers contracted irregularly under the charge.

“Get off him!” Patsy fired her lasers and machineguns again, shifting to one side to force the MechWarrior to turn his attention to her.

Cowboy brought his laser around again but the Not-Thunderbolt shifted sideways, taking the hit to the armour over its missile launcher.

“Sonuva-” Bobby’s comment was cut off as he exchanged autocannon fire with the larger ‘Mech. It had depressingly little effect. Then the missile rack fired again – they must be hot-loaded to be armed within these close quarters, LRMs were notoriously ineffectual at point-blank ranges – and savaged the armour, dropping Skinwalker onto its rear.

“What the hell is this guy made of?” Cowboy fired again, opening up with his SRMs and laser to no particular avail. “****** it. Let’s do this bronco-style.”

Patsy knew what he had in mind, knew that she didn’t have a hope in hell of convincing him not to do it. And she wasn’t entirely sure it was the wrong move. She fired her jump jets again and used them to hop back behind Bobby. The enemy MechWarrior seemed to have some degree of tunnel vision regarding the Wolverine and that might let her get away with standing and firing at him.

Her lasers both scored dead centre over the chest and her machineguns marked up the paintwork with a cascade of sparks even though there was no chance of penetrating at this range. Patsy’s eyes were fixed on the ‘Mech and behind it of Cowboy’s Wasp rising vertically behind it on jump-jets.

A Wasp’s low tonnage allowed even its relatively modest jump jets to propel it a hundred and eighty metres even vertically.

Cowboy used almost all of that capacity, holding just enough back to steer on the way down.

Gotterdamerung’s gravity dragged twenty tons of BattleMech down directly on top of the Not-Thunderbolt and with uncanny precision it landed with both feet, squarely on the cylindrical missile launcher.

The explosion masked both Cowboy and the enemy from view. Patsy took the opportunity to brace Bobby’s ‘Mech so he could bring it up right again. “Think he got him?”

The response came across the commline with the same sharp precision as before. “You did not. A warrior of Clan Jade Falcon takes more to kill than you bandits have.”

The crackling beam of the PPC lashed out and smashed into Bobby’s Wolverine, severing the damaged leg.

As the smoke cleared, Patsy could see the Not-Thunderbolt still standing, albeit with the left side of the ‘Mech a scorched and blasted wreck. At its feet lay the legless wreck of Cowboy’s Wasp.

The heavy ‘Mech stepped forward and deliberately brought one massively armoured foot down upon the cockpit.

“Bobby, punch out!”

“But…”

“NOW!”

“Oh jeeeessssssuuuusssss!” the foul-mouthed mercenary howled as his canopy exploded and he rocketed out of it at a very low angle. He was far too low for his chute to deploy but at the same time, he barely needed it, the ejection seat came down on its back and skidded along the road in a shower of sparks.

Patsy was right behind it, jinking from side to side to spoil the enemy’s aim.

“This is Captain Camancho!” she called on the battalion push. “We’ve been hit by unknown but very advanced BattleMechs. Nothing like them in the warbook. The trucks are on their way. Get them and get out of here. The rest of my company won’t make it back to the drop zone.”

“You know we can’t do that, Captain.”

“That’s a ****** order,” she shouted down the radio as she dropped her Phoenix Hawk into a slide below a bolt of lightning from the enemy ‘Mech. “Get out and get help. We’ll go to ground.”

“Your father...”

“My father knows the regiment comes first. Comancho out!” Then she scrambled up and got her battered Phoenix Hawk into cover. “Get in the cockpit, Bobby. We’re going for the water. It’s our only chance to break contact.” Patsy switched to the company push. “All ‘Mechs, we’re bugging out. If your ‘Mech can keep water out of the vitals then head south. If not…” She swallowed. “If not, I’m sorry, you’ll need to buy us all the time you can.”

Only Stearman, Green and Ortega confirmed they were heading for the beach.

Moving at almost top speed and weaving between buildings to avoid line of sight, Patsy managed to reach the shoreline in barely more than a minute. The first thing she saw there was Stearman’s battered Commando, a melon-sized metal slug bursting through its rear armour.

The light ‘Mech dropped like a bowling pin.

“They’ve got us bracketed!” Clancy Green’s Wolverine was wading backwards into the water, already knee deep in surf.

The flankers, Patsy realised. Those two lights, one each side. They must have reached the shoreline and they’re either side of us.

As she realised that there was a crash and something slammed into the left leg of her Phoenix Hawk, shattering the armour. With the limb no longer water-tight, escape into the sea was no longer an option.

Turning to her left, Patsy broke into a run towards the enemy ‘Mech. More than half a kilometre, well outside her range but the elderly Phoenix Hawk was still fast enough to close that distance.

A salvo of LRMs arced up and over her, thundering down on top of the ‘Mech that Patsy dubbed a Not-Locust. Ortega was still fighting, his Dervish backed up against one of the fishing docks, giving her fire support. “Go Patsy, go!”

Two lasers flashed out, ripping into her armour mercilessly and Patsy feathered her jets for a moment, barely side-slipping another shot from that ridiculous ballistic gun.


“I noticed!” She fired both lasers while she had them and the two beams connected with the already damaged right arm of the Not-Locust, which exploded satisfactorily and took the gun with it.

Bobby whooped a war cry and Patsy grinned savagely as the enemy ‘Mech started to back up.

“No you don’t, hon’. No you don’t.”

They had barely time for one more exchange of shots before she reached him. One shot dug deep into the Phoenix Hawk and Patsy felt the heat spike as a result. Reactor shielding took a hit. One of her shots went astray, the other seared into the other ‘Mech’s right flank, the MechWarrior having turned slightly to shield the working weapons on the left.

That didn’t help him when Patsy used her ‘Mech’s hands to grab the forearm below the elbow and above the wrist, yanking it up and back at an angle the designers never intended to accommodate.

Under the force of a ‘Mech half again its size, the Not-Locust’s joints seized and tore. Patsy yanked again and the limb came loose.

“This is for Cowboy, you son of a bitch!”

She brought the arm down directly on the cockpit and saw the armour buckle.

“And this is for Casey.”

A second downward arc and the cockpit stove in under her improvised club.

“And this is…”

“He’s dead, Captain, he’s dead!” roared Bobby. “The other one, the -”

Just over seven hundred metres away the other Not-Locust caught Patsy’s Phoenix Hawk squarely in the small of the back with its laser, right over the ammo bin for the machineguns. The rounds went up, tearing through what was left of the reactor shielding.

Bobby screamed briefly as safety systems triggered and rockets propelled Patsy’s ejection seat out of the cockpit. There was no accommodation for protecting anyone in the jump-seat behind her but any injury he suffered was cut short by a rush of superheated air expanding from the ruptured fusion reactor.

With savage deliberation, the remaining Not-Locust blew Captain Patricia Camancho’s ejection seat out of the air with its autocannon.

.o0o.

Sigfried Glacier Reserve Environs, Tharkad
Donegal March, Lyran Commonwealth
18 October 3049


The bleat of the visiphone woke Hanse Davion from a very satisfying night’s rest. He and Melissa had managed to coordinate a two day gap in their schedules and escaped the court up to the old hunting lodge that Victor had used as a retreat while he was a student.

Forty-eight hours of freedom was a rare luxury for either of them, much less both – Hanse wasn’t sure they’d had that opportunity since Katrina Steiner’s death in 3040. Somehow he wasn’t surprised at getting a call in the middle of the night – just disappointed.

Grabbing the phone from its stand before it could ring again, the First Prince padded to the door, pressing it to his ear and thumbing the audio only button. “Just a minute.” No alarms were going off so it couldn’t be an immediate crisis.

“Who is it?” asked Melissa sleepily.

“I’m sorry to wake you, your highness,” said Justin mildly.

“Don’t you ever sleep, Justin?”

Melissa sat up in the bed. “What’s the matter?”

Hanse looked at his wife admiringly and also ruefully. The spirit was willing but something told him the minute was all wrong. “Let me get you on speaker, Justin, so we can both hear you.”

He returned to the bedside and adjusted the visiphone accordingly. “Okay, we’re ready.”

“It’s them.”

The Archon and the First Prince exchanged looks. “You’re sure?”

“The Seventeenth Recon Regiment were carrying out some reprisal raids on the Valkyrate for Duke Kelswa. One of their companies ran into five unknown ‘Mechs on Gotterdammerung. Fortunately Captain Camancho had the wit to realise she was outmatched and she ordered their dropship to take off and transmitted her BattleROMs before she was taken out.”

“And they’re the Clans?”

Justin nodded. “We’re still going over the data in detail but everything matches so far. One Summoner, two Hellbringers, two Kit Foxes. The colours match Natasha’s information on Clan Jade Falcon and we have what might be Jade Falcon insignia – we’re still trying to clean up the data to confirm that. Also the handful of transmissions suggest the right speech patterns.”

“Jade Falcons.” Hanse frowned. “Natasha said they were fairly prominent in the pro-invasion faction, didn’t she?”

“That’s right. If they’re this close to the Inner Sphere, it seems likely they’ll be prepared to come the rest of the way. I’ve taken the liberty of issuing a war warning to all units in the Tamar March.”

Melissa had pulled a computer-pad out of her side table and was checking through data. “The Seventeenth Recon Regiment are commanded by a Colonel Comancho, Justin. Any relation?”

“Captain Patricia Comancho was his daughter, your highness. And an excellent MechWarrior, I might add. She took out one of the Kit Foxes almost singlehandedly in a damaged Phoenix Hawk.”

“Then we owe her regiment a debt. Without this warning…”

Hanse nodded and reached for the clothes he’d been wearing the previous night. “I’ll call for our car. If we leave now we should be back at the Triad in time for breakfast. For now, pass on all the information so far to Nondi Steiner and transmit it on to Morgan and Ardan. Tell them to send out a general war warning to all units and cancel the Operation Ragnarok war games.”

“Add Candace to that list,” Melissa added as she left the bed. “And tell Nondi I want a command conference with her and all her available department heads right after breakfast.”

“Understood. Anything else?”

“Nothing for now, but be ready to attend the meeting.” Hanse ended the call. “This is it then.”

“I’d hoped we’d have longer.”

The First Prince tilted his head slightly. “In some respects, so do I. In others…”

“What do you mean?”

“If it was five or ten years ago we’d not be half as prepared for them. But if this hadn’t happened for another five or ten years then Victor and Peter would have almost certainly been on the frontlines. This way there’s at least a chance I can deal with the Clans before our children have to.”

Melissa looked at her husband and then pressed a button on her phone. “Meg. Sorry to wake you, but have the staff get the car ready. My husband and I are leaving for the Triad in an hour. We’ll eat on the road.”

“An hour?” asked Hanse once the phone was down. “We can be on the road…”

“Hanse.” She started peeling off her nightdress, necessary in the cold weather. “Take your pants off.”
"It's national writing month, not national writing week and a half you jerk" - Consequences, 9th November 2018

drakensis

  • Lieutenant
  • *
  • Posts: 1543
Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #15 on: 01 December 2015, 16:00:50 »
ComStar Compound, Hilton Head Island
North America, Terra
19 October 3049


The Precentor-Martial of ComStar was decades older than the Primus but he looked infinitely more vigorous than she felt. A decade and a half of transforming the ComGuards from a mix of mercenaries and inexperienced acolytes into a professional army had only empowered him while Myndo Waterly felt that the same time struggling against the ever-rising menace of the Federated Commonwealth had sapped away at her.

Anastasius Focht bowed deeply and kissed the Primus’ hand respectfully. “My apologies that I could not be here sooner, Primus. I’ve only made a preliminary study of the data you sent me but I concur that it’s very disturbing.”

“Since I contacted you, the matter has grown more pressing.” Myndo Waterly turned from Focht and gestured towards the holographic projector in the middle of the room. Reactivated, the projector brought up a complete map of the Inner Sphere. Trails of light were expanding across those parts marked in the gold of the Federated Commonwealth.

“Hanse Davion has issued a formal war warning to all units of the AFFC, paying for maximum priority communication to units in the Tamar and Draconis Marches. In addition, the war games currently taking place in the Capellan March and St Ives Compact have been cancelled, although word hasn’t reached them yet.”

“Interesting.” Focht examined the projectors display for a moment. “It seems that Hanse Davion has more information than he has shared. However remarkable the clash here,” he gestured at the cluster of pirate kingdoms core-ward of the Tamar March and Free Rasalhague Republic, “That wouldn’t usually indicate concerns here.” He moved his hand down to indicate the Draconis March. “And if his concern was the Combine then why not alert the Terran March.”

“Indeed.” Waterly returned to her desk. “I know my own reasons for concern at both the initial reports and this new development, but I’d prefer to hear your own thoughts before I influence them.”

“Of course. With your permission?” Focht inserted a data disc into the projector. “Captain Camacho had close range footage of two of the enemy BattleMechs, in one case with considerable torso damage that let us see the internals – admittedly not in working order, but very useful nonetheless.”

The projector lit up with two views of the blocky ‘Mech sporting the missile pod and offset cockpit. One view show it intact, the other with the savaged left torso caused by the ammunition explosion.

“Despite the resemblance, this isn’t a Thunderbolt. It’s taller and heavier, the armour protection is at least as good and rather than the secondary weapon systems usually fitted, it adds a third heavy weapon system. Both the size and the heavier armament would generally make it difficult to maintain the same speed but this ‘Mech isn’t merely faster, it also fits jump jets and does so with no noticeable reduction in armour protection.”

“Are you saying that this ‘Mech is more advanced than those deployed by the AFFC or by the ComGuards?” enquired Waterly sharply.

“At least marginally superior to our own forces. The full capacity of the AFFC has been frustratingly hard to pin down, as we’ve discussed. Some aspects of the machine would certainly be within their capacity – the autocannon is a multi-munitions type which the SLDF perfected and we’ve retained with the ComGuards. It’s been confirmed that such autocannon are being fitted to ‘Mechs in the AFFC. However, the key to the impressive performance of this ‘Mech are the internal structures.”

Focht reached into the hologram and indicated each component. “Those structural members are broader than those used in most ‘Mechs because they’re a variation on SLDF endo-steel structures. The same materials are used in advanced heatsinks and given the infra-red signature of this ‘Mech it almost certainly has them. Also the reactor shielding extends much further to the sides than normal – again, bulkier but lighter than the commonly used hardware of used by the Successor States. We have all of these technologies although the preliminary figures suggest that whoever built this may have a marginal advantage. The Federated Commonwealth is definitely working on them – their latest armour refits are effectively equal to our own – but how far they’ve been able to deploy them and exactly how effective their internals are has been very hard to pin down.”

“You’re telling me that we can’t build this, that someone has new and more advanced technology than ComStar.”

“We could build something similar, although it would take time and possibly be slightly inferior – the numbers are still being reviewed. But yes, we have to assume that whoever they are, they’re at least as advanced scientifically as ComStar.” Focht folded his hands behind his back. “It doesn’t surprise me that Hanse Davion feels that this may be a major threat. Five of these ‘Mechs decisively defeated more than twice their numbers. While the Seventeenth Recon Regiment aren’t a first-class regiment, they’re no pushovers either. There was an entire battalion of Ryan’s pirates on Gotterdammerung as of our last reports from the area – given the boastful nature of pirates, if they were responsible for defeating the mercenaries they’d have made it known quickly. In fact there’s no news of them, suggesting that this is a third party who took out Ryan’s forces quickly and easily.”

“That leads us rather quickly to the most important question then: who are these people? Your thoughts have thus far been largely in accord with my own. Judging from what we have seen, do you think that these could be Kerensky’s forces returning?”

“The possibility has been raised by my staff,” Focht admitted. “However, when General Kerensky left the Inner Sphere with the bulk of the Star League Defence Force, they were last seen at New Samarkand. While it’s possible they moved core-wards after they entered the periphery, there’s no reason to expect that they did so, and returning via Tamar would be a rather indirect route.”

“Certainly the SLDF technology would have given them a starting point comparable to our own capabilities, but what departed were an army and their support personnel, not scientists with research and manufacturing facilities. It’s been questioned over the years how viable the Star League’s armies could have been as colonists, in fact.”

“Given the immense destruction of the Amaris Crisis and the First Succession War, it’s entirely possible that entire groups and facilities we think were destroyed actually left with Kerensky,” Waterly riposted. “You say that they could have travelled core-wards such that Tamar is a sensible route back to us. They could have had scientists with them that we’re unaware of. Surely it’s premature to rule out the possibility.”

“We’ve ruled nothing out at this stage, Primus. Not even the possibility that these are non-humans, far-fetched as that might seem. If it is Kerensky’s heirs, or some other colonial group we’re unaware of, they could have had centuries to build up the research and manufacturing facilities to produce these ‘Mechs. Despite the efforts of the Explorer Corps over the last century, we really know appallingly little about the deep periphery.”

“The same thoughts must have crossed Hanse Davion’s mind. If Kerensky’s forces are returning, the Draconis March would be the closest worlds of the Federated Commonwealth to the point of departure, while the Tamar March is the closest area to this new event. That may explain the prioritisation of alerting these areas.”

Waterly nodded and walked to the window. “And what if this is a cover for preparations to launch a new war of aggression? The source of this information is, after all, a mercenary regiment in the service to the Federated Commonwealth. It’s a convenient excuse for him to move forces adjacent to the borders of the Draconis Combine.”

“I believe we can be confident, from the nature of Colonel Camacho’s report, that his daughter is indeed dead. It’s not impossible that the unit responsible were AFFC troops in disguise, but I don’t see that this would be of significant benefit to him. Takashi Kurita and his son Theodore may give reports of unknown ‘Mechs in the Periphery some credence, but the heightened alert on their borders with the Federated Commonwealth will have them look towards that, not towards the periphery. That being the case, it’s highly probable that we are dealing with a genuine outside group.”

“Then we need to find out their scope and their intentions. If this is a small group and they have limited forces, so much the better, but the SLDF army was far larger than all the regiments of all the Successor States combined. If they have anything approaching that scale of forces…”

“It isn’t very likely that we’re dealing with numbers on that scale, Primus. The SLDF was supported by thousands of inhabited systems and trillions of Star League citizens. Still, even a force the size of, say, the Taurian Defence Force or the Kungsarme, could cause impressive losses to the House Militaries as they stand.”

Myndo Waterly nodded. “Not necessarily a bad thing if they were to cut the Fox down to size, but there would be other repercussions. I’ll order the Explorer Corps to make this their first priority. We must make contact with these people and learn more about them.”

“With your permission, I’d like to head out myself. The ComGuards are deployed in the area and if this does lead to fighting it’s not clear if they’ll respect the neutrality of our HPG stations. If I’m on the scene then…”

“You’re too valuable where you are, Precentor-Martial.”

“If I was irreplaceable, I would be serving you poorly Primus. There are many fine young officers who can be promoted if need be. Meanwhile, my experience makes me the best choice to assess the capabilities of these intruders first hand. Not to mention that if we do have to fight against them to defend our HPGs, I’ve the rank to deal with the high command of the Kungsarme and AFFC where a more junior Precentor might be forced into a subordinate position.”

The Primus frowned and then nodded. “Very well, but only as far as Rasalhague. If first contact is made by the Explorer Corps and all goes well, you can meet with these people after that. But I don’t want to send them the man with the greatest extent of knowledge of our military preparations until we have a better idea who they are.”

Focht bowed his head. “Blake’s will be done, Primus.”

“Yes,” she agreed. Blake’s will. And mine!

.o0o.

Frankfurt Drop-Port, Maxie’s Planet
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
23 October 3049


Kai Allard-Liao blinked as the early morning sunlight stabbed at eyes accustomed to the carefully regulated lights aboard the dropship. They’d arrived only shortly after sunrise.

“We’ll have your ‘Mech out in just a few minutes, Leutenant,” the loadmaster assured him. “There’s a heavy cargo mover on its way from the terminal as we speak and they’ll deliver it to the military loading zone just over there.” The hirsute man pointed over to a line of heavily reinforced warehouses, all spaced such that an accidental detonation within was unlikely to affect the others.

“Thanks.”

“Nothing to it. We do this run every month or so, there’s almost always something or someone military coming to or from Maxie’s Planet. Price of having a Regimental Combat Team here, I guess.”

“I’d imagine so.” Kai glanced around. “Looks like they’re having a busy day. Three other dropships loading?”

The man shrugged. “They look like they’re loading people not freight so it shouldn’t affect us. Not sure why so many people would be getting off-planet though.” He paused and looked at Kai questioningly.

“I’m not sure either.” Maxie’s Planet was only a jump away from the Free Rasalhague Republic but it didn’t seem likely that the Kungsarme would try to raid the planet while the Eleventh Lyran Guards were posted here – more than a hundred BattleMechs, three regiments of armour and five of infantry should handle almost anything short of an outright invasion. “I should call in and see if there’s anyone waiting for me.”

“Sure, we’re patched into the planetary commlines now.” The loadmaster ushered Kai into a cramped alcove that evidently served as an impromptu office for him. “Here.” He offered a handset. “Just dial nine and it’ll put you through to the terminal’s administration centre.”

“Thanks.” Kai dialled immediately and asked the clerk on the other end if there was anyone from the Lyran Guards here to pick him up,

“Pick you up? Hang on a moment.” The hold music didn’t last long. “There’s supposed to be a Feldwebel here, I’ll see if I can find him and call you back.”

Kai thanked the woman and hung up. “They’ll ring me back,” he told the loadmaster.

“They’re not too bad about that here. The cargo hauler’s almost here, I’ll go ahead and get the crane going.”

The newly graduated Leutenant watched with fascination tinged with apprehension as his ‘Mech was lifted carefully off the ground using the dropship’s overhead crane and slowly moved out onto the top of the powerful flatbed. More than sixty tons of equipment wasn’t something to move casually, even in this day and age. If this was a military transport he could have simply walked the ‘Mech off but the relatively low ceiling of the cargo hold here would have made that impractical.

The phone rang and he lifted it. “Leutenant Allard.”

“Ah, Leutenant. Feldwebel Jewell says he’ll meet you at Building B-3 in the military loading zone. Our drivers will know where that is. Is that okay?”

She hung up almost before he gave her an affirmative, but she was right and the driver didn’t have any difficulty finding Building B-3 for him, which proved to be a small ‘Mech hanger.

“It’s pretty standard – any time we’ve a civilian shipper bringing in something for the Guards, it comes to row B,” the driver explained. “Not so many ‘Mechs but tanks, crates of supplies – pretty big ones too sometimes. Wouldn’t say your Mech’s even the biggest thing we’ve ever brought in.”

“I’d be surprised if it was,” Kai replied absently and then straightened as he saw a small cluster of people by the entrance. “Are those… children?”

“Either that or they started recruiting real young,” the driver said with a cackle and slowed to a halt so Kai could jump down.

To Kai’s relief, one of the four was wearing AFFC uniform, a Feldwebel’s rank pin on the same white-horsehead-on-blue epaulettes that marked Kai’s own shoulders, the emblem of the Lyran Guards. The other three, though, were a civilian woman and two children.

The Feldwebel saluted. “Leutenant Allard, I’m David Jewell. Sorry for…” he gestured to the civilians, “but my family are shipping out today and I wanted as much family time as possible before that.”

“Shipping out?”

“Yes, sir. You hadn’t heard?”

“I’ve been on dropships for the last two months.” Kai looked back at the truck. “Look, let me get my ‘Mech squared away and we can get your family somewhere a little more… child friendly, okay?” He didn’t want to imagine the consequences if the little boy decided to wander in front of the heavy truck at the wrong moment.

“Thanks, sir.” Jewell coloured.

Twenty minutes later, Kai found himself squeezed against the truck door with Jewell’s wife Katherine next to him and Jewell between her and the driver as they rode back to the terminal. The children were in theory in their parent’s laps but the boy, David Junior, was at least half in Kai’s as he peered eagerly out of the window.

“So what’s the story, Feldwebel?”

“We got a war-warning, sir. Just two days ago, along with advice to evacuate military dependents back to our home worlds or at least somewhere deeper inside the Commonwealth.”

“War warning with who?”

“Didn’t say, but it’s gotta be the Combine. Who else is there? Rasalhague isn’t crazy enough to start anything unless the snakes were backing them, and probably not even then.”

“I wouldn’t have thought so. But why evacuate dependents from here? We’re the far side of the Republic from the Combine.”

“That’s what I said,” Kathrine asserted. “But worryguts here insists on not taking the chance.”

“I figure it’s more like we’re gonna get reassigned in a hurry.” Jewell glanced over at the driver. “No offense to Maxie’s Planet but if the balloon goes up, I’d prefer to have my family somewhere we’ve got roots. We’re from Coventry and Katrina and the kids are guaranteed free military housing there, plus having both our parents there… you know, just in case. Coventry’s even further from the Combine than Tharkad is.”

“It’ll be a long trip won’t it?”

“Not so bad.” Jewell looked over at him. “The dropships out there are chartered to go to Sudeten – that’s the hub for all military dependents. There’s pretty regular shipping from there, military and civilian, all the way back to Tharkad and then Coventry. Couple of weeks to get to Sudeten and about the same to reach Coventry, I guess.”

Kai frowned. “I suppose it depends on the jumpships. There’ll probably be command circuits being formed up to move troops – no reason they can’t move families in the other direction.”

“This wouldn’t have happened if Katrina Steiner was still in charge,” grumbled Katherine. “I bet it’s that Hanse Davion, wanting worlds back from the Combine after he lost so many in the last war.”

David Jewell Senior shot an embarrassed look at Kai past his wife. “Now hon’…”

Kai smiled and waved off the remark. Hopefully the whole thing would blow over and the Jewells would be reunited soon. The Sandovals might want another war with the Draconis Combine, but they were just about the only people in the Federated Commonwealth who did. Probably Haakon Magnusson had said something provocative and the whole war warning was just to try to remind him to tone down the rhetoric about worlds he wanted to claim for the Republic.

.o0o.

The Triad, Tharkad
Donegal March, Lyran Commonwealth
13 November 3049


“Phase one redeployments of the AFFC are underway,” Ardan Sortek reported, using a pointer to illuminate locations on the map of the Inner Sphere in the centre of the table. “By the end of the year we’ll have four Ceti Hussar, five Deneb Light Cavalry and ten of the Federated Commonwealth Regimental Combat Teams in the Tamar March, supported by the Federated Suns Armored Cavalry and four regiments of the Wolf Dragoons.”

He lifted his pointer and looked up at Hanse and Melissa. “We’ve reached the point where we need to decide on our defensive line and whether phase two redeployments go to Tamar or if we need to reinforce the outer end of the Draconis March.”

“Thank you, Ardan.” Hanse looked at the map and then over at Justin. “I think the second question takes priority here. Justin, what information do we have?”

“Very little at this point.” The Minister of Intelligence tapped controls and two stars lit up on the map. “There’s been no pirate activity, or communication of any kind from the Valkyrate, the Oberon Confederation or even the Elysian Fields. Two exploratory parties are on their way to drop by on Von Strang’s World and Star’s End. Unfortunately, the likelihood of their managing to return data is fairly slim if the Clans really are present. Both parties have been fully briefed on Clan traditions and hopefully if they do make contact they can… bargain for favourable terms of combat.”

“So the only actual evidence we have of the Clans is one set of recordings from a mercenary regiment?” asked Nondi Steiner.

“That and the atypical silence out of the bandit kingdoms.”

“And we’re sure this isn’t faked somehow?”

“Colonel Camacho’s people had absolutely no idea what they encountered. They only shared the data in the hope of salvaging something from what was otherwise a pretty bad defeat. They wouldn’t have the information to construct such a fraud.” Justin shook his head. “It’s possible, of course, that reasons for the Clans presence of Gotterdammerung isn’t what we believe, but they were definitely present.”

“Most probably they’re waiting for their frontline forces.”

Heads turned to where Natasha Kerensky was sitting, chair propped back and boot heels on the side of her workstation.

“Could you expand on that?” asked Ardan mildly.

She swung her feet down and leant forwards. “They’re dealing with bandits. That isn’t prestigious enough for the Clans to deploy their best troops. In their view there’s no honour to securing forward bases and getting rid of vermin like Morgaine or Ryan. So they probably sent second tier units ahead to clear the way for them. I’m surprised we’re even seeing OmniMechs in use, at a guess they wanted to blood some of their newer warriors on something easy so they could see what they were made of before giving them a place at joining the invasion force.”

“You’re saying that these are their equivalent of a training cadre?”

“Something like that. Probably they’ve got solahma units to do the infantry work, but most of them are probably right out of the sibkos.”

Nondi shook her head. “Those… kids… tore up two to one odds pretty handily.”

“They got into a city fight they had no business trying for and got at least one warrior killed and two ‘Mechs badly damaged. Granted that the Jade Falcons have never been the sharpest tools in the box, but if they’d more experience they’d have fanned out to control the perimeter and called in either air strikes or some Elementals.”

“Thank you, Natasha. However, to get back on point, is there anything similar happening near the Outworlds Alliance. Justin?”

“Not that we’ve been able to determine.” Justin lit up the portion of the map where the border between the Federated Suns and the Draconis Combine met the Outworlds Alliance. “We’ve contacted the Outworlds government per the anti-piracy treaty we arranged back in 3042 and they haven’t had any unusual activity. We shared the data from Gotterdammerung just in case anything turns up.”

“In that case I think that for now we have to work on the basis that the major threat is going to be to the Tamar March,” Melissa observed. “What would the phase two redeployments involve?”

“It’s primarily made up of large mercenary units. The 12 Star Guards from Tamarind March, the Dioscuri from the Terran March, the Dismal Disinherited from Draconis March and the Screaming Eagles from the Crucis March. Also the Kell Hounds, two of the Royal Guards RCTs and three Lyran Regular regiments.”

“Most of them aren’t refitted but if we’re going to stop the Clans we need to defend in depth and numbers are going to count there.” Hanse nodded. “Approved, Ardan. Get them on the move as soon as possible. The next decision is where exactly we draw the line. Nondi?”

The Lyran Commonwealth Marshal of Armies focused the map in on her command area. “I think we’ve already discarded Defensive Line Alpha, right at the edge of the Inner Sphere,” she concluded.

“Correct. We can retake those worlds if we stop the Clans but we can’t stop them there. We’ve too little information to concentrate our forces in the right places and with our current force strengths we need to bleed them before we slam the door.”

“Line Beta writes off all of Wotan PDZ and draws the line from Kolovraty in the Donegal March through Blackjack and to Planting, on the border with the Free Rasalhague Republic.” Nondi hesitated and then shook her head. “If we could be sure Rasalhague would also hold them, I’d recommend this line but that isn’t my take on their situation.”

“I agree.” Melissa looked regretful. “Even if we gave them full access to our information there’s simply no way that they could upgrade to the point they were ready for this in less than five years.”

“We did consider it,” her husband reminded her. “At the time, the chance of it becoming public knowledge and triggering an invasion seemed too much of a risk. Let’s not get bogged down by hindsight.”

“That takes us to Defensive Line Gamma.” Nondi lit them up. “It’s a longer line, right into the Radstadt salient, but it covers the factories on Sudeten and there’s also the political cost if we had to write off Tamar itself. I’m not going to deny we’ll be stretched if they push further into the Donegal March but I think this is the best choice. If absolutely necessary, we can hold reserves at Defensive Line Delta, the Benfled line, and either fall back on it or move them forward to plug gaps.”

“What’s built on Sudeten?” Hanse asked, checking his notes.

“It’s one of our major factories for upgraded tanks. Sturmfeur and Demolishers as well as J. Edgar hover tanks.”

Ardan and Hanse exchanged looks. “Well we don’t want to lose those factories. Do we have contingencies?”

“We have alternative component manufacture set up under Project Mulberry. The main assembly unit is another matter, we’d be looking at weeks to take it apart and months to set it up again.”

“I think we can all agree on Defensive Line Gamma,” Melissa said firmly.

“And warships?” asked Nondi.

“I’m sorry, we’re sticking with the existing plans there. I’ll authorise tactical nuclear strikes if need be but unless the situation changes we’ll be keeping those in reserve to keep Marik and Kurita honest while we’re focused on the Clans.”

“Not Liao?” asked Nondi snidely.

“That’s still under discussion,” Hanse said quietly. “Depending on the outcome, you may have some additional units to deploy along Line Gamma.”

“There is one more decision to make, your highnesses.” Ardan looked over at Nondi. “Meaning no offense, Marshal, but under the circumstances I feel…”

“If you’re referring to the Court, Ardan, I believe we’re on the same page. It’s entirely possible the Clans might decide to launch a deep strike at our command centre her on Tharkad. Under the circumstances, I recommend moving as many Court functions as possible to New Avalon.” Marshal Steiner turned to Hanse and Melissa. “That includes both of you and your children.”

“That puts us a long and expensive HPG connection away from the frontlines.”

“It’ll be far less expensive than switching to a regency until Victor’s old enough to inherit, particularly with an ongoing war.” Ardan looked at Hanse appealingly. “Trust us to do our jobs, Hanse. That little bit of extra security could mean all the difference.”
« Last Edit: 01 December 2015, 17:01:08 by drakensis »
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croaker

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #16 on: 01 December 2015, 16:15:12 »
Two bits to mention:

1) It's "Camacho", not "Camancho".

2) Your last post appears to have truncated the beginning....

drakensis

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #17 on: 01 December 2015, 17:03:42 »
Thanks. Fixed the truncation.

Correcting Camancho will be more of a pain to work with. (Stupid tiny character limit - all the other forums this is on accept a chapter as 1 post, not forcing me to break it up into 3)
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mikecj

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #18 on: 01 December 2015, 18:14:45 »
Wow.  Nice work as usual.  Won't the Clans be surprised this time...
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RunandFindOut

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #19 on: 02 December 2015, 00:27:45 »
I like it and will be watching.  Though I am disappointed in his stance on nuclear weapons vs warships.  Really the most logical inner sphere stance is that any Clan dropship, jumpship, or warship should be immediately nuked without warning.  Load every ASF in the system except interceptors with as many anti-shipping nukes as they'll carry and hit every Clan dropship and larger asset with them.  Don't let them reach the planet, don't play fair, don't even start, just nuke 'em till they glow.
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Chris OFarrell

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #20 on: 02 December 2015, 02:42:08 »
See the problem with that is not so much the Clans, but the Inner Sphere. Once you open that genie from the bottle, it takes very VERY little for the other Inner Sphere powers to declare that this becomes acceptable defensively against 'FedCom Agression' to nuke any attacking force. Then some blury line between attackers and defenders leads to it being used offensively ... and there goes the whole ballgame. The Inner Sphere has an institutional memory of the 1st and 2nd Succession Wars that makes them REALLY hesitant to jump in that way because of what comes next (and is one of my big problems with the WOB Jhiad, that the great powers should have quickly enough been systematically nuking the crap out of the WOB far FAR earlier and sooner, declaring them Hostis humani generis and simply exterminating them, but I digress)...

Not to mention while the Inner Sphere would win if they really went all out against the Clans with Nukes, they would still loose a LOT. Probably more than sticking to a strictly conventional hard defense, with Nukes held back to attack Clan warships that get used as tactical support platforms (in a pointed 'Do NOT do that again!' message if they ever try). Right now the AFFC is well set up to fight the Clans in a running engagement from the border on in, bleeding them across hundreds of light years until they will have utterly exhausted themselves and be absurdly overstretched ... then slamming the door back the other way until several Clans will probably be all but KIA and rich targets for being absorbed.

Going nuclear when you don't NEED to... gets far more messy and will result in far more civilian deaths.
« Last Edit: 02 December 2015, 04:29:54 by Chris OFarrell »
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snakespinner

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #21 on: 02 December 2015, 02:43:38 »
It will be interesting to see how they go against the clans with the upgrades.
That will be the first time Hanse has been told to remove his pants after being told of an invasion. :D O0
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Siden Pryde

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #22 on: 02 December 2015, 04:53:48 »
Loving this so far.  Looking forward to seeing where it goes.

Brother Jim

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #23 on: 02 December 2015, 10:46:18 »
Awesome so far!!

Thanks!!

panzerfaust150

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #24 on: 02 December 2015, 11:19:01 »
Quote
Going nuclear when you don't NEED to... gets far more messy and will result in far more civilian deaths.

Chris,
 I agree and disagree with your points:

 I agree because needless escalation is going to scare the entire Inner Sphere out of their damn minds, with the reaction you just stated, hell, some FedCom worlds may even preemptively surrender on the basis of the old Cold War paradigm of "Better Red than Dead." Tactical Nuclear Weapons used at the wrong time are going to lead to all kinds of issues...that said...

 I disagree because a) It's already legal under the Ares Conventions for use against Warships. As for dropships and ASF, that might be a bit much.. (they are dead yes, but legal fig leafs are where you find them), b) the Clans are fighting a war to utterly destroy the societal order of the Inner Sphere and replace it with something very few people are going to want to live under, and c) If things get bad enough that they reach Line Delta? The political pressure on Hanse and Melissa to USE them will be immense. I am surprised that the Clans didn't get a dose of instant sunshine once they landed on Tamar in the original timeline.

(personal pet peeve rant on)

Then again, I always thought the AFFC and DCMS reactions to the invasion in the actual timeline made the Red Army in 1941 look positively competent by comparison. Sure, don't send good troops after bad...but other than Twycross, not a single counterattack of anything bigger than company-size? No real attempt to set up a solid defensive line?

Yeah, Theodore and Hanse really dropped the ball, which was completely out of character for them...all in the name of fiat really. I can explain away the initial reactions as surprise. Sure, but after the lull? There should have been a defense in depth waiting for the Clans the minute they resumed their advance...kinda wasn't.

I cannot blame the FRR, they were the Battletech equivalent of Poland in 1939..brave but doomed. Still, they probably got more than a few victories at the tactical level we didn't hear about..just look at the Panzer losses in Poland in 1939...they were pretty heavy,     

Wanna bet the Wolves and Bears kinda cooked the books on the losses they took during the invasion to the Grand Council and the ilKhan? Yeah, methinks so.

(personal pet peeve rant off) 
« Last Edit: 02 December 2015, 11:20:57 by panzerfaust150 »
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consequences

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #25 on: 02 December 2015, 14:40:22 »
Chris,
 I agree and disagree with your points:

 I agree because needless escalation is going to scare the entire Inner Sphere out of their damn minds, with the reaction you just stated, hell, some FedCom worlds may even preemptively surrender on the basis of the old Cold War paradigm of "Better Red than Dead." Tactical Nuclear Weapons used at the wrong time are going to lead to all kinds of issues...that said...

 I disagree because a) It's already legal under the Ares Conventions for use against Warships. As for dropships and ASF, that might be a bit much.. (they are dead yes, but legal fig leafs are where you find them), b) the Clans are fighting a war to utterly destroy the societal order of the Inner Sphere and replace it with something very few people are going to want to live under, and c) If things get bad enough that they reach Line Delta? The political pressure on Hanse and Melissa to USE them will be immense. I am surprised that the Clans didn't get a dose of instant sunshine once they landed on Tamar in the original timeline.

(personal pet peeve rant on)

Then again, I always thought the AFFC and DCMS reactions to the invasion in the actual timeline made the Red Army in 1941 look positively competent by comparison. Sure, don't send good troops after bad...but other than Twycross, not a single counterattack of anything bigger than company-size? No real attempt to set up a solid defensive line?

Yeah, Theodore and Hanse really dropped the ball, which was completely out of character for them...all in the name of fiat really. I can explain away the initial reactions as surprise. Sure, but after the lull? There should have been a defense in depth waiting for the Clans the minute they resumed their advance...kinda wasn't.

I cannot blame the FRR, they were the Battletech equivalent of Poland in 1939..brave but doomed. Still, they probably got more than a few victories at the tactical level we didn't hear about..just look at the Panzer losses in Poland in 1939...they were pretty heavy,     

Wanna bet the Wolves and Bears kinda cooked the books on the losses they took during the invasion to the Grand Council and the ilKhan? Yeah, methinks so.

(personal pet peeve rant off)

If you tell yourself that Army Group Sudeten was engaged in counter attacks up and down the OZ, hence the Uhlans and Renny Sanderlin getting combat time, but all of the records got purged by Katherine/Peter/whoever took over post Jihad for political reasons, and thus didn't show up in any sourcebooks I find it does wonders for the blood pressure.

drakensis

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #26 on: 02 December 2015, 16:34:11 »
Chapter Two

Ducal Palace, St Ives
St Ives Compact
15 November 3049


Victor swore under his breath and stuck the left arm of his namesake ‘Mech out of cover to fire the lasers at the ‘Mech overlooking his position.

For a change, one of the lasers scored a hit and his displays suggested a second hit to the left arm would penetrate. Unfortunately, the Centurion he was facing didn’t have anything particularly significant in that arm. At this range, all that would reach him in her weapon suite were the LRMs and with fiendish accuracy, a flight of five smacked against the armour of his own left arm.

Granting that Victor’s armour was considerably thicker, it would have been significantly more use if that hadn’t been the first shot he’d landed on Cassandra.

“Your sister,” he advised, “Is a witch.”

Kuan-yin Allard-Liao, also in a Victor, triggered her autocannon at the incoming heavy ‘Mechs piloted by her mother and younger brother. “Prince Victor, after knowing my sister all our lives, I can assure you she is simply that skilled.” Then she added something in mandarin that Victor thought he should probably not repeat in polite company. “Although I’ll admit she’s diabolical in father’s ‘Mech.”

“Want some support?”

“I’d love it. But if you move then Cassandra will be all over our rears and believe me, that isn’t something either of us need.”

Victor grimaced and conceded the point. The advanced assault autocannon mounted in the right arm of each of their Victors was absolutely devastating at point blank ranges, but Yen-lo-Wang had been upgraded to mount one as well. In fact, the famous duelling ‘Mech had been brought up to the standard of a new construction Centurion fresh out of Corean’s New Avalon production lines. “Point taken, but if we don’t do something about the Cataphracts…”

“We are in rather an unfavourable position.” She paused. “Quintus can be occasionally reckless. I’ll give him what seems to be an opportunity. When I give the word, please join me and we’ll concentrate our fire on him.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Checking his display, Victor tried to pick out Cassandra’s position in the rubble and broken buildings of the simulated battlefield. It wasn’t easy – there was too much metal for magscan to be useful and she wasn’t firing enough to seriously strain the powerful heatsinks built into her reactor.

Okay, if sensors aren’t going to work, try to get inside her head… What would be the worst possible place for her to be…?

Victor scanned the surroundings and then picked out the best route for approaching under cover, behind a crumbling brick wall easily twice the height of a BattleMech. There was a crackle of static on his sensors that gave away that Quintus was moving close enough for this ECM suite to start affecting targeting. If they were co-ordinating – and why wouldn’t they? – then Cassandra might feel she had the opportunity to get close before being detected. In which case…

He raked the base of the wall with his autocannon, the powerful shells tearing a gouge out that was certainly more than the structural integrity of the bricks could withstand. It was about even dice which way the wall would fall but Victor loaded the dice by firing both his SRM launchers and several tons of bricks crashed on top of Yen-lo-Wang.

“Victor! Now!”

Slamming his feet down on the jump jets, Victor brought the Victor around and over the cover behind him to reveal Quintus blazing away with at Kuan-Yin’s position with his own autocannon and his PPC at a range of under three hundred metres. Victor squared the crosshairs as the knees of his ‘Mech absorbed the impact of the landing and fired everything.

The temperature soared – even with the powerful heatsinks fitted to the eighty-ton machine, a full alpha strike pushed it well into the red zone and Victor felt sweat dripping down his face as he slapped the override switch to prevent the reactor from shutting him down.

Quintus reacted quickly, the teenager throwing up both of his Cataphract’s arms to shield himself. It worked, but at a cost – the limbs were reduced to skeletal stubs by the combined fire of Victor and his elder sister.

That was when Candace stepped her own Cataphract out of cover and unlimbered her own weapons directly into Victor’s already damaged left arm. The status display flickered and then updated: one laser gone, not to mention that significant actuator damage would make aiming the remaining laser somewhat challenging.

Victor feathered his jump-jets to move back into cover and came face to face with Yen-lo-Wang. His reflexive snap-shot with the autocannon hammered into the cityscape behind her while her muzzle tracked un-erringly into the face plate of his ‘Mech.

The simulator rocked sharply and the main lights went out, controls dead in Victor’s hands. “BattleMech destroyed,” a recorded voice announced as the temperature inside began to drop now that heaters were no longer simulating the sensations of an overheating ‘Mech.

With a groan he started to unstrap himself from the seat, removing the medical sensors from his biceps and thighs. Only when the safety harness was completely removed did he take off the heavy neurohelmet and set that on its shelf above.

The hatch of the simulator hissed as it opened – in another aspect of the verisimilitude of the pods, they over-pressurised in the same way as a real cockpit would – and Victor clambered out and onto the gantry. As he made his way along it towards the locker room, two more pods opened and he saw Quintus start to emerge from his own simulator. Victor paused and bowed slightly to the third pod when Kuan-Yin’s head was visible. “Sorry that didn’t go better for us.”

She smiled and started unpinning her long dark hair from the bun she wore it in under a neurohelmet. “Even with these new technologies, three on two is a difficult proposition, Victor. If you’ll excuse me, I’d rather shower before mother and Cassandra are done, otherwise the after-action debriefing will start in the locker room.”

Kuan-Yin turned and walked away from Victor and Quintus, the two locker rooms being at either end of the gantry.

“Your mother and Cassandra aren’t done yet?”

“Last ‘Mech standing rule,” Quintus explained. “Once one team are eliminated, the winners turn on each other. Father doesn’t particularly like that but mother says it’s ‘part of our political education’.”

“Ah.” Liao, Victor reminded himself and wondered if that was how Candace had interacted with her own siblings. Tormano Liao was a not infrequent visitor to Tharkad, having taken up the role of St Ives ambassador to the Archon’s court when he wasn’t busy expanding House Liao’s financial portfolio in the Commonwealth. Somehow it was hard to see that smooth, cultured man engaged in political infighting.

That might explain why the dominance of the House fell to his sisters, of course, but equally it might simply be that he has a very good façade.

Thoughts such as this followed Victor through his shower and he was halfway dressed when his personal comm started to vibrate. “Victor,” he answered curtly.

“No debriefing today, your highness.” Candace’s voice held a note of tension. “Please come to my office with Quintus. I’ve had a message from New Avalon that I wish to discuss.”

While the ‘Mech simulators were one of the many palace facilities buried in among the deep bunkers of the ducal palace, Candace Liao’s office was on the second floor of one of the central spires. Rebuilt after a Second Succession War raid by the same Davion Assault Guards regiment Victor was now part of, the palace was heavily fortified and many of the granite and marble pagodas hid concealed weapon emplacements. Candace’s own windows looked out on a modest garden in the chinese style.

Candace herself sat with her back to this view, behind the large mahogany desk that she handled most correspondence at. The room’s two couches had been moved from the walls to form a V-shape with the desk at the wider end. Cassandra and Kuan-Yin had claimed one of the two couches so Quintus and Victor seated themselves opposite the girls.

“Victor, your father’s asked me to inform you of the reasons that the recent war games were cancelled. If the situation continues, it’s likely that the rest of your regiment will be briefed in soon, but he wanted you to have advance notice.”

“I’ve been wondering.”

“He also apologises to you and I that certain latitudes he’s been able to permit until now may no longer be feasible. I’ve had almost two decades to consider that possibility and I suspect he would have rather explained them to you himself. Unfortunately, the situation doesn’t permit.”

Victor frowned. “I don’t follow that.”

“It’ll make sense soon.” Candace looked at her own children. “Strictly speaking I don’t need to inform you of this, but I think it’s important you know. Until I give you permission, you aren’t to mention our conversation today to anyone outside this room. This is serious business and the consequences of a leak would be extremely damaging. Do you understand?”

The girls nodded and Quintus piped up: “Is this about Kai taking Legendkiller with him instead of Yen-lo-Wang?”

“It’s related, after a fashion.” Candace raised one eyebrow. “So, can you keep a secret?”

“I probably shouldn’t tell you about the secrets I’m already keeping,” the boy quipped. “It wouldn’t make me seem trustworthy.”

His mother nodded with a hint of amusement. “Very well then. Are you all sitting comfortably?”

Victor smiled at the parental expression. Then he saw Candace’s expression and the smile slipped off his face.

“Yes, this is a story, your highness. It’s also very real. It begins in 2784, when General Kerensky led the SLDF out of the Inner Sphere and out of our known history. It’s generally understood that he foresaw the Succession Wars and wanted to remove his armies before they broke up and joined the warring armies of Successor Lords – such as my ancestor Barbara Liao, or your ancestors Jennifer Steiner and John Davion. The process had already begun – the Crucis Lancers and Deneb Light Cavalry descend from soldiers who offered their services to House Davion, while the Northwind Highlanders are the heirs to an SLDF division that Barbara Liao won to her cause.”

“In 3005, more than two centuries after their departure, descendants of Kerensky’s exodus fleet returned to the Inner Sphere, although no one was sure of their identity for another quarter of a century.”

3005? What had happened in that year? Victor thought back and then straightened on the couch. “Wolf’s Dragoons?”

“The Wolf Dragoons, yes. Not ‘Wolf’s Dragoons’ as some mistakenly refer to them. While it isn’t an uncommon custom for a unit to take their name from their leaders, in this case Jaime and Joshua Wolf, in this case the Dragoons and the Wolf brothers both took their name from the same source, a group known as Clan Wolf. Clan Wolf had sent the Dragoons, equipped out of stockpiles of equipment left over from the SLDF, to gather information on the Inner Sphere.”

“To give some background,” Candace continued, “Kerensky’s armies colonised several worlds a considerable distance from the Inner Sphere – at least a thousand light years away from the edge of the Draconis Combine. We don’t know the exact location, since the Dragoons purged their navigational data, but we currently believe these worlds are core-wards of Rasalhague. Unfortunately, tensions between soldiers from different states combined with the fact that they were soldiers - rather than farmers or factory workers who might have been more suited to establishing new colonies - flared into civil unrest.”

“Kerensky wasn’t a young man, of course, and he died without resolving the problem. Even worse, his deputy had been killed in action shortly before and this left the question of who would succeed Kerensky undetermined. Ironically, having left the Inner Sphere to avoid the Succession Wars, the SLDF now faced a succession crisis of their own.”

“One of the contenders was Kerensky’s son Nicholas. While we don’t have detailed information, he appears to have been both charismatic and ruthlessly efficient. As a relatively junior officer he wasn’t able to establish his authority immediately. Instead, he gathered his supporters and while the five principal colonies – the Pentagon worlds - fell into civil war, he retreated to outlying colony worlds with smaller populations but resources that remained untapped. It seems he was able to bring them under his control quite easily and rather than returning to the Pentagon, he elected to reshape the society of his domain and build a new culture and military.”

“Part of this vision was to divide his followers into twenty Clans, each of which would be mostly independent and cut across the old national lines. Each would have its own military and its own culture, bound together by a general code of law and guided when necessary by a grand council of the leaders of all the Clans. A new Star League in miniature, you might say. After twenty years of training and preparation, Nicholas Kerensky led his followers back to the Pentagon worlds where decades of conflict had left the other factions exhausted and wearied. He crushed them decisively and spent the rest of his life integrating them into his new society.”

“It’s not clear how much the Clans have changed over the last two centuries. What is clear is that there’s a very stratified caste system, not entirely dissimilar to traditional Capellan society in some ways. The warrior caste are the top and they’re led by councils claiming descent directly from the warriors who initially followed Nicholas Kerensky in the conquest of the Pentagon. Rather than traditional dynasties, however, the Clans warriors are conceived in test tubes with genetic material from previous generations and raised in crèches.”

“Sounds like the Warrior Houses.”

“There are similarities – they’re fanatically loyal and they’re ferociously skilled.” Candace paused. “General Natasha Kerensky is the product of that system, in fact she’s a direct descendant of Nicholas Kerensky. Meanwhile, Jaime and Joshua Wolf were the natural born children of a Clan warrior with one of the civilian castes and entered the warrior caste on merit. Some Clans don’t permit that, but Clan Wolf are allegedly relatively liberal in that regard.”

“Relatively?” asked Victor.

“Relative to other Clans, that is. Their leaders don’t have quite the theoretically absolute power wielded by your parents, instead being elected out of the councils. And in general, the caste system is enforced approximately as brutally as my sister’s regime in the Capellan Confederation. I believe Justin put it best after discussing the various Clans with Natasha years ago: there are no ‘good’ Clans, just some Clans that are worse than others.”

“It seems probable that there have been changes over time, it’s unlikely that the Clans today are exactly as Nicholas Kerensky intended – or even quite the same Clans who sent the Dragoons almost five decades away. Interpretation of their Founder’s writings and his father’s are one of the few scholarly traditions that survive, other than the science behind the arming and the breeding of their armed forces. The most pressing point here is the interpretation that some of the Clans place on some of those writings.”

“It’s impossible not to see a parallel between Aleksandr Kerensky’s Exodus out of the Star League and his son’s withdrawal from the Pentagon worlds. In fact, Clan histories explicitly refer to them as the First Exodus and the Second Exodus. Some of them feel that the parallel should be extended further and argue that just as the Clans eventually returned to the Pentagon worlds and rebuilt them in their own image, so the Clans ought to now be doing the same to the Inner Sphere.”

Victor’s jaw dropped. “That’s… ambitious.”

“It isn’t entirely clear if they have the ability to fulfil that ambition or not. The Clans certainly don’t have the numbers of the old SLDF at their disposal – overall their colonies are relatively small and self-contained. On the other hand, while the Inner Sphere lost access to much of our more advanced military technology over the Succession Wars, the Clans retained the best of the SLDF’s hardware and even improved upon it.”

“But we’ve been improving our technology – look at the ‘Mechs we were using in the simulators. They’re generations ahead of…” Cassandra’s eyes widened. “Oh.”

Candace nodded. “As you’ve guessed, a lot of our recent advances – not all – were replicating some of the technology that the Wolf Dragoons provided to us. Back in 3005 we were just beginning to slowly recover. The Dragoons had been sent as a compromise between the pro-Invasion faction and their political opponents. Kerlin Ward, the leader of Clan Wolf, was very much opposed to the invasion and felt that the years it would take for the Dragoons to reach the Inner Sphere and gather information would let the issue fade in priorities.”

“What no one particularly foresaw was that the Dragoons, predominantly drawn from natural born warriors and out of contact with the Clans for years on end found that their sympathies lay more with the people of the Inner Sphere – not so much the Great Houses, as the general population. This was crystallised during one of their excursions out of the Inner Sphere when they received new instructions from Kerlin Ward. He advised them that while there was no immediate danger of the Clans invading, the issue wasn’t fading away. And however many times the motion was defeated in the Clans’ Grand Council, it would only take one successful vote for the invasion to be ordered.”

“Kerlin Ward ordered the Dragoons to stop sending reports and instead to do everything they could to prepare us to resist an invasion.” Candace steepled her fingers. “And until recently, that’s the last that was heard from the Clans?”

“Until recently? Then there’s been new contact? Is that why so many regiments are moving towards Tamar?”

“Very good, Prince Victor. A mercenary company carrying out anti-piracy operations in the Greater Valkyrate encountered five ‘Mechs from Clan Jade Falcon. The Clans defeated them fairly easily, but not before the mercenaries transmitted full recordings to their dropship which made its escape and fortunately had the sense to forward it to the local AFFC commanders.”

“Kai.”

Victor looked over at Kuan-Yin and then realised what she had. “The Eleventh Lyran Guards are deployed in that area – Twycross PDZ. If this is an invasion, they’ll be right in their path.”

“That’s correct.” Candace placed her hands flat on the desk. “We’ve always known that if the Clans attacked the Federated Commonwealth their most likely path was either through the Outworlds Alliance and into the Draconis March or through Rasalhague and into the Tamar March. Kai requesting a change of assignment to the Eleventh Lyran Guards instead of the Davion Heavy Guards was unexpected – he couldn’t take Yen-lo-Wang with him since the Lyran Guards regiments aren’t upgraded with such advanced equipment or the logistics to support it yet. But there was, at the time, no reason to expect the Clans would invade.”

“The Eleventh are a very good regiment,” Victor offered in weak support.

“Yes. But whether they’re good enough…”

“So does that mean the Assault Guards will be redeployed?”

Candace shook her head. “I recall what it’s like to be a young firebrand.” She reached up and touched her shoulder. “I also remember the price for that. The contingency plans for redeployments to face the Clans are built around moving rapid response forces initially. The Assault Guards, with all their heavy equipment and being oversized even as a Regimental Combat team, would take up a lot more dropships than other units so you’re a low priority for shipping to Tamar.”

Victor felt his face flush.

“On the other hand, if the Clans do arrive anywhere near the Draconis March as well, the Capellan March will have to be stripped to send reinforcements. And that raises a problem of its own.”

“Aunt Romano,” guessed Cassandra. “She’d see it as a chance to reclaim St Ives.”

Candace nodded. “It seems very likely. Victor’s parents and I discussed this a long time ago. At the time, my thinking was that if I seized power from Romano, it would leave the Confederation exposed to House Marik by removing the admittedly tenuous protection of the Kapteyn Pact. Even if the Captain-General himself didn’t approve, Andurien and Oriente would be eager to use their provincial forces and even combined the full resources of the Confederation and St Ives would be stretched. The likelihood seemed that I’d then have little choice but to accept further support from the Federated Commonwealth.”

“Even if that didn’t kick off a new Succession War, you’d still be destroying Capellan independence,” Victor concluded. “Meanwhile, with St Ives’ independence and the prestige of the worlds father ceded to you, you had the best of both worlds.”

“Essentially, yes,” she admitted frankly. “There was also the factor that none of us were sure how the Clans would react if their other sources of information about the Inner Sphere – deep periphery traders and the like – reported that the Inner Sphere was being reunited without their intervention. That was certainly one of the factors in your father’s decision not to follow up the Fourth Succession War with a similarly overwhelming offensive against the Draconis Combine.”

“Of course, none of us realised quite how barbaric Romano’s rule would be. And to be fair, Thomas Marik is a far stronger Captain-General – and much less prone to military adventurism – than his predecessors. Still, the fact remains that if I liberate the Confederation from my sister, I’d need the direct support of the Federated Commonwealth to ensure our external security while I dismantle my sister’s government.”

The four younger people in the room exchanged looks. “Mother, what exactly did you agree to as a price for the worlds Hanse Davion ceded to the Compact in 3030?”

“In return for concrete support and concessions at the time, I agreed that if the Clans did invade and if the Capellan leadership did pose a threat that could distract the Federated Commonwealth from dealing with the Clans, that I would give my full support to seizing control of the Confederation and to integrating the Compact and the Confederation into the Federated Commonwealth as equal members.”

“It isn’t ideal, but however similar Clan society is to some aspects of Capellan culture, the Federated Commonwealth remains vastly preferable.” Candace looked at Victor whose face was paling. “And yes, Prince Victor, while it isn’t an absolute requirement, our agreement does include the possibility of transferring the Liao claim upon the First Lord’s throne to House Steiner-Davion by way of marriage.”

“Mother!”

“Did you think I’d been joking, all of these years, Cassandra?”
"It's national writing month, not national writing week and a half you jerk" - Consequences, 9th November 2018

drakensis

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #27 on: 02 December 2015, 16:37:18 »
Eleventh Lyran Guards Headquarters, Maxie’s Planet
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
3 January 3050


“Did you know about this?” asked Dave Jewell quietly as the briefing officer began to go into a more detailed explanation of the Clan menace.

Kai shook his head. The general policy of the Eleventh Lyran Guards was to assign a company’s most senior NCO to the same lance as the most junior Leutenant – at least until he’d found his feet. Kai felt fortunate in finding that Dave Jewell was not only a fine MechWarrior and more than diplomatic in guiding Kai through the sometimes labyrinthine regimental traditions… he’d also found a friend.

It might also be that Dave was lonely after his family’s departure but whatever the cause, Kai felt relieved that his new lance were gelling well together. Another tradition of the Guards was to shuffle lances regularly so a new Leutenant never felt that he was moving into empty boots.

“My father doesn’t bring work home with him. If he did, there probably wouldn’t have been any family time at all when I was younger. Plus, he works enough hours when work takes him away that working more would probably kill him.”

“Sounds like a good policy.” Dave glanced up at the screen. “Do you think those Elementals really are that large? They look like they wrestle BattleMechs for a living.”

“I don’t think it’d be in the briefing if it wasn’t as accurate as possible.” Squinting at the numbers, Kai shook his head. “If I was in a Wasp or similar, I’m not entirely sure I’d bet on the ‘Mech either.”

“Eh, I bet we can take them.” MechWarrior Jack Delancie folded his arms confidently. “They’ve just been playing duelling games out there in the Periphery, they don’t know what war’s really like.”

The other MechWarrior in their lance shook her head slowly. Helen O’Connell-O’Bannon was the oldest of the four by a good many years and she’d earned the nickname ‘Double-O’ not only for her double-barrelled surname but also with a string of disciplinary reports involving her, alcohol and enlisted personnel from anywhere but the Isle of Skye. “The snakes are pretty keen on turning everything into one-on-one duels when they can get away with it, and they know war pretty damn well. Besides, how much do you know if it? You didn’t graduate until ‘45, Jack.”

“Settle down,” Kai warned them quietly, realising they weren’t the only MechWarriors discussing the situation while the briefing was still on, but also aware that as the regiment’s most junior lance commander he was the most likely one to be called on it. “Unless they jump in system tomorrow, we’ll have plenty of time to talk after we’ve heard the whole briefing.”

Jack and Helen subsided while Dave shot Kai a quick thumbs up before he also leant back in his seat. Kai took a moment to consider Helen before he turned his head forward again. According to her record, she’d been part of the raid on Dromini VI, one of the last military actions of the Fourth Succession War. There had been raids since but no battles where regiments faced off with their full force – not until now.

Am I ready for this? Is anyone in the regiment, except our handful of veterans ready? We’re rated as an elite unit but that hasn’t been put to the test yet.

Sunk in thoughts of this nature, Kai barely noticed that the official presentation had concluded. With the recordings out of the way, General Bryan took the podium.

“That’s our new enemy, boys and girls. They sound pretty tough and I’m sure they think they’re pretty tough too. But we’ve got a long history of puncturing that sort of confidence. The Eleventh have done that to the DCMS, to the FWLM, hell I think we even bloodied the AFFS once or twice back before my time. These Clans have come an awful long way to get the same lesson so we’ll be ready to give them a warm welcome.”

“You heard what the Archon said about not worrying about holding onto ground. She’s absolutely, one hundred percent nailed it. There isn’t going to be any holding ground going on – Marshal Steiner posted us here because she knows we’re the best. When the Clans come – if they don’t have a rush of brains and turn themselves around – we’re going to hit them hard, hit them fast and keep hitting them until they’re crying for their mommies – or their test tubes, whatever.”

Kai blinked. That wasn’t exactly his take on the orders – he’d gathered that the Archon envisaged more of a fighting retreat to a prepared defensive line well behind Maxie’s Planet. He shook his head. What was he thinking? The general had years of experience on him, who was he to second-guess her? Probably she was just firing up the troops, or she had more detailed instructions to work from.

“We’ve had a couple of months to make good any equipment deficiencies,” Sharon Bryan continued at the podium. “Now we’re going to shake things out – heavy sweeps through the hills around Frankfurt to make sure everyone’s familiar with the ground. If we have any deficiencies, we’re going to find them and fix them now.”

“And from now on, I want all ‘Mechs fully loaded with live ammo. No training rounds. We’re going to be at 100% readiness for anything and anyone. No weak links, people. I’m counting on every last one of you to uphold the honour of the Eleventh Lyran Guards.”

Kai felt the weight of doom settle on his shoulders. Maybe you should quit now, a traitorous voice whispered inside his head. Head back to St Ives where you can’t let anyone down on the battlefield.

.o0o.

ComStar Compound, Rasalhague
Free Rasalhague Republic
9 January 3050


Real-time HPG communication was expensive, even to ComStar. The Primus’ signal was being routed through a chain of stations along the Lyran side of the border and the Precentor-Martial’s replies were sent back through a similar chain on the Draconian side. Literally tens of thousands of messages were being delayed in favour of this conversation, not to mention the impact on maintenance schedules and the equipment wear of sustained signals rather than short bursts of compressed data.

Nonetheless, Myndo Waterly considered the effort worthwhile and was she not the ultimate arbiter of that?

“Hanse Davion has issued pre-prepared briefings to regiments all through the Federated Commonwealth,” she informed Focht without any preliminary courtesies. “He’s specifically identified their enemy as ‘the descendants of Kerensky’s SLDF’ and claims to anticipate an invasion of the Inner Sphere within the next twelve months.”

To her satisfaction, Focht’s brow furrowed and he picked out the key word immediately. “Pre-prepared? Then this can hardly come as a surprise to him. There must have been prior contact of some kind, maybe years ago.”

She nodded sharply. “I’ve analysts investigating previous pirate activity to check for anything that could match the ‘Clans’, as he’s identified them. Unfortunately we only have a verbal testimony of one of our sources at this time. A transcript should be with you shortly, you may find it useful.”

“Thank you, Primus. Do you have any changes to my instructions at this time?”

“The information suggests that these Clans consider warriors to be of primary significance in their society, which suggests your role as our Order’s emissary to them is fortunately apt. If they are indeed the heirs to General Kerensky, then it may be that our shared heritage in the Star League could open opportunities to move beyond merely neutrality. Naturally, I don’t wish to take the Fox’s word at face value.”

Focht nodded. “Nor would I suggest it. No doubt even if the information is largely accurate, it will have been shaded to a form which favours his goals.”

“Precisely so, Precentor Martial. Indeed, it may be some action by the Federated Commonwealth which has drawn them to return at this time. Your primary goal remains to establish our neutrality and second only to that, gather information about them so that we may draw up more effective policies to manage them. In the meanwhile, I’m sending instructions to all our garrisons, reminding them to be cooperative and non-confrontational should the government of the worlds they’re operating from… change hands.”

“That seems entirely prudent, Primus. In the event that these Clans object to the defensive forces at our compounds, is it your preference that I should order their withdrawal or would this be considered necessary to our neutrality?”

Waterly frowned at this. “A good point. If absolutely necessary, you may negotiate a withdrawal. Our operative suggests that there are some customs peculiar to the Clans that would allow for such an actions. Since Davion mentions multiple Clans rather than one single entity and suggests that it’s unlikely that more than half of the Clans will be participating in the invasion, you may find some Clans more cooperative than others.”

“Indeed.” Focht nodded. “I regret to advise you that two further Explorer Corps vessels have failed to report in. While it isn’t unusual for ships to be occasionally overdue with the vagaries of recharge times in unmapped systems, it does suggest that they may have run into elements of the Clans already. If so, I’ll see if they can be recovered.”

“So long as it doesn’t jeopardize your primary mission, of course.”

“Naturally. After all, they may have information applicable to my secondary objective.”

“Quite.” Waterly tugged on her pale hair. “It’s possible Davion will also share the information he has with Haakon Magnusson or even Thomas Marik. In the former case, the Elected Prince may make an approach to you. Under the circumstances it might be best for you to be unavailable.”

“With your permission, I can arrange to take a small escort to inspect our security on worlds along the Commonwealth border. If I’m on the move…”

“That will do nicely.” She relaxed slightly.

“If I may,” the Precentor Martial offered slowly. “It is possible that Hanse Davion will see merit in giving Theodore Kurita advance warning of the Clans.”

“Why in the world would he do that?”

“If it were merely Takashi Kurita, I wouldn’t expect it. However, if these Clans are indeed coming from somewhere beyond Rasalhague, it’s entirely possible he would want the DCMS to put up the best possible fight, grinding themselves down along with any Clans who might otherwise reach the Draconis March.”

“Do you really think that the Clans could advance that far?”

“I don’t have enough information to judge that, Primus. And in any event, the key question is -”

“Whether Davion feels that they may reach that point. Well-reasoned. I will discuss this with Sharilar Mori. It may be wise to inform Kurita of those ourselves – the father that is, not the son. Theodore Kurita has re-negotiated deals before to our detriment. Takashi is at least predictable.”

Anastasius Focht touched the scars that stretched up beneath his eye-patch. “I fear that the Coordinator is unlikely to give much credence to such a report.”

“Quite. But he will at least seek to verify it and what the ISF discover may very well be worth our time to acquire.”

“You are, as ever, several steps ahead of me, Primus.” He glanced aside. “If I pack immediately, I can be on a shuttle off Rasalhague within the hour.”

“Then I will not keep you. Blake’s blessing upon you, Precentor-Martial Focht.”

The holo projector shut off and Waterly turned back to her desk and the next task that awaited her, selecting a suitable replacement for Focht should he fail to return from this mission.

.o0o.

CSJS Streaking Mist
Santander System, Periphery
18 February 3050


“My congratulations on your conquest of Santander V.” Ulric Kerensky kept his face steady as he spoke to the saKhan of Clan Smoke Jaguar.

Sarah Weaver nodded curtly and then, with evident effort replied: “Clan Wolf’s bandit hunting was notably… efficient.”

Ulric returned the nod and then moved on to take his seat next to his own saKhan.

“Did you have to bait her, Ulric?”

“Neg. I chose to do that. When Khan Weaver is angry she makes mistakes. Admittedly, as a Smoke Jaguar she is almost always angry but why take the chance her brain might be functioning normally? Reminding her of how she let a mere pirate kill half the Shroud Keshik from ambush simply eliminates that possibility.”

Garth Radick looked like he wanted to sigh. On the one hand, Sarah Weaver was a fellow Crusader and both their clans were here to share in the glory of bringing the Inner Sphere under their reign. On the other hand…

“Since we are bound to this Crusade, Clan Wolf should show we are fit to take the lead in it, quiaff.”

“…aff.” Ulric always did have the annoying habit of knowing what he was thinking, Radick noted. “Has there been any response from the Dragoons?”

“None.” Kerensky looked thoughtful. “Interrogation of some of the bandits we’ve captured suggests strongly that they took extremely heavy casualties fighting the Draconis Combine some decades ago. Possibly they were wiped out or at least lost most of their leadership.”

“It would be good to confirm that. It would give the matter closure and allow the Scientists to make a final judgement on the value of their genetic material.”

“Some of their genetic material has already proven extremely valuable.”

“And then there’s Natasha Kerensky’s bloodright.”

Ulric nodded. “It might be quite heavily contested if she is dead.”

Their conversation was cut short as ilKhan Leo Showers entered the room and took his place on the throne. Although the room was hardly the Hall of Khans on Strana Mechty, the Smoke Jaguars had duplicated the general layout and the presence of so many Khans provided more than sufficient gravitas. More than thirty were present in person. Only Timur Malthus, saKhan of Clan Jade Falcon, and the two Nova Cat Khans weren’t present and attended via holo-projection through HPG chains laid out by the advance parties.

“We are convened here at a time of war,” Showers reminded them, giving each word weight as his intense gaze swept across the room – measuring each of them. “Everything we do shall be governed under the Code of Martial Conduct.” Garth wasn’t surprised when the ilKhan’s gaze lingered upon Ulric longest of them all. They had an old rivalry. Not just Wolf versus Smoke Jaguar but something more personal.

Ulric is his greatest enemy within the Council. Leo Showers yearns to destroy him, personally, with his own hands if the opportunity presents himself. There was no condemnation in the thought. The ilKhan’s feelings were completely understandable to Radick – such rivalry brought out the best in warriors for both men would do their utmost to ensure that they, and their Clans, dominated. “Seyla,” murmured Garth along with the other Khans, partly in agreement with Showers but also partly in affirmation of his own thoughts.

“We have reached the threshold of the Inner Sphere. I am assured by the leaders of all four of the Invading Clans that their toumans stand ready to carry out the first wave of Operation Revival. It is not the way of the Smoke Jaguars to draw back before we leap, but as your leader I must speak for all Clans and all Clans must look to me. So I give you all the opportunity to speak, before us all. If anyone sees anything more that should be done, say it now.”

Ulric Kerensky rose to his feet and placed his wolfshead helm upon the desk in front of him.

A ripple of noise – less murmuring and more frustrated growls – touched the room but then they fell silent again.

“I am sure, ilKhan, that few here desire anything but the command to begin operations – even if a few units may not be quite in place yet. Not to mention the occasional supply chain to straighten out. I see no reason though, that these problems will not be resolved by the date that has been decided upon for us all to begin operations.”

“Your vote of confidence is appreciated.”

“Indeed, ilKhan. Yet there is one measure more I believe should be enacted.”

“Then you have my undivided attention.” Showers’ eyes were wary as he looked for what he was sure must be a trap.

Ulric turned to look at one of the other benches. “Khan Breen, Khan Zalman. Your Clan has earned the right to stand as reserve, should any of the four invading Clans falter. While Clan Nova Cat and Clan Diamond Shark may also be called, you stand first in this regard. I submit that it is not sufficient for your forces to remain in the Home Worlds where any such need cannot be filled for between six to nine months. I therefore propose that you assemble the forces you have bid and transport them here as quickly as you can.”

“Do you expect it to be your own Clan to fail in this charge?” half-accused Elias Crichell.

“The Grand Council has with great consideration assigned my Clan the corridor with the least likely opposition. I suspect - for various reasons - that other Clans may find that the honour of the other corridors will be harder to win than they believe. If I am wrong, then no serious hardship is caused, but if I am right… Operation Revival is planned to take two years. If there we do have need of our reserves, let us not need to wait more than a quarter of that time between calling upon Clan Steel Viper and their arrival.” Ulric bowed his head respectfully and took his seat once more.

“What are you up to?” hissed Garth under his breath.

Ulric’s reply was equally quiet. “How much would you wager that the Steel Vipers will bargain for access to existing supply and transit shipping rather than establishing their own jump-chains?”

Khan Natalie Breen had risen to her feet upon Ulric’s ceding the floor. “Clan Steel Viper stands ready to fulfil our obligations. The three Galaxies of our invasion force can be here by September of this year, if the Grand Council but gives the word.”

“I see no need for such a word.” Karl Bourjon was as blunt as he appeared. “Four Clans is already more than sufficient. If one Clan cannot keep the pace then I am sure the others will more than make up for it.”

“You’re not going to offer them our supply ships, are you?” asked Radick.

“Of course not. The Falcons, Bears and Jaguars want the invasion – let them pay the cost.”

The holographic image of Lucien Carns rose. “Clan Nova Cat has made preparations to bring our forces forward if called for. I approve of Khan Ulric’s proposal. We all know that the battlefield may change swiftly – reserves that are unavailable might as well not have been bid.”

“And if we do not come forward, you will?” suggested Breen angrily. “You have no right to participate in the invasion unless the Steel Vipers do so first!”

“I do not care where the Vipers galaxies are, for we will not need them,” bragged Sarah Weaver. “Let us vote now and be done with this.”

There was general acclaim at the motion and along with Ulric, Garth cast his vote in favour. While the motion was opposed by the other three invading clans, the Steel Vipers and their traditional allies – the Cloud Cobras and the Star Adders – balanced them out, while the addition of the Wolf, Nova Cat and Diamond Shark votes was followed swiftly by further support by nine of the other Khans.

“The vote is in favour of calling forward Clan Steel Viper by twenty-one to eleven.” Showers didn’t show any sign of disappointment. “Any Trial of Refusal on this matter will be at odds of 2.1 to 1.1, does anyone wish to call for such a Trial?”

There was no reply so the ilKhan nodded. “So be it. Clan Steel Viper is hereby ordered to deploy their forces to the edge of the Inner Sphere by the end of September 3050[/b]. Your final bid to participate in Operation Revival was Alpha Galaxy, Gamma Galaxy and Zeta Galaxy. I am sure the Khans of the four Clans will bear this in mind in deciding when or if to call on you.”

“What worlds will we use as our staging grounds?”

Ulric smiled thinly at the Steel Viper Khan. “Whichever worlds you care to take, Khan Breen. Whether it is from one of us or some marginal colony we have not found yet matters little to me.”

Garth could practically hear the ilKhan’s teeth grinding. Clan Wolf, not hampered by the need to bid for participation after the Grand Council voted that as the Clan of Kerensky’s bloodline they must participate, had brought a substantial number of garrison units to secure new holdings. The other invaders hadn’t – and now they had to envisage the Steel Vipers descending on lightly guarded worlds to their rear…
"It's national writing month, not national writing week and a half you jerk" - Consequences, 9th November 2018

drakensis

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Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #28 on: 02 December 2015, 16:39:22 »
ComStar Internal Document
ROM Report #3042-5848796/F-L
Non-Classified


The combination of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF) and the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS) has necessitated a common table of ranks. In order to manage what is now the largest single military force in the Inner Sphere since at least the end of the First Succession War, the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth (AFFC) have adopted a slight rationalisation of the LCAF ranks for officers, with a total of twelve officer ranks. Enlisted ranks compromise between the nine LCAF enlisted ranks as compared to four for the AFFS so the AFFC has six ranks for enlisted soldiers. They’ve also extended the previous German-tradition military ranks of the LCAF from officers to enlisted, whereas previously both nations used English-tradition rank titles for enlisted.

The most junior enlisted rank is Soldat (literally: Soldier) which is accorded upon completion of basic training. This is equivalent to the previous rank of Private in the AFFS and LCAF. Relatively few soldiers, even limited term draftees, remain at Soldat for their full career as barring significant misdemeanour, promotion to Gefreiter (lit: Exempted) is automatic after one year of service, which usually includes advanced training of some kind. Usually at least half of any infantry squad or vehicle crew will hold the rank of Gefreiter, which is equivalent to AFFS Corporals or LCAF Privates First Class.

The first rank at which leadership is expected of a soldier is that of Stabsgefreiter (lit: Staff-Exempted). This is the rank of a crew or squad leader and therefore also the rank held by an Academy graduate who hasn’t completed a command course, which is the case for many MechWarriors or Aerospace pilots. The position is roughly equivalent to Sergeant in either precursor militaries or a LCAF Senior Corporal.

To provide an experienced non-commissioned officer to the leadership of every company or equivalent organisation, experienced soldiers may rise to the rank of Feldwebel (lit: field usher) which is roughly equivalent to an LCAF Staff Sergeant. At the battalion level, this position requires the rank of Stabsfeldwebel (lit: staff field usher) and each regiment has a single Oberstabsfeldwebel (lit: over staff field usher). As such, these positions are roughly equivalent to the various grades of Sergeant Major in other militaries.

Officer ranks begin with Leutenant (lit: lieutenant) which unlike the LCAF rank of the same name is considered a commissioned rank. With the exception of field promotions in a time of war, all Leutenants must have completed a command course at an academy or a specialised command school. Leutenants are assigned command of a Lance or Platoon. The next step is promotion to OberLeutenant (lit: over lieutenant) and service as second in command of a company. In most units this includes command of a Lance as well – the propensity of units such as the Federated Commonwealth RCTs to operate reinforced companies with four lances can leave an OberLeutenant in independent command of a short company for extended periods.

Command of a company is usually assigned to a Hauptmann (lit: head man) although some specialist companies may be commanded by a Kommandant (lit: commandant). More commonly a Kommandant will be in command of a battalion or filling a staff position in a RCT or regional headquarters. The old LCAF rank of Hauptmann-Kommandant has been abolished and the second-in-command of a regiment is now always ranked as a Leutenant-Colonel whether they operate as the senior battalion commander or as chief of staff.

The one rank which was the same in name and responsibilities for both the AFFS and the LCAF was Colonel and this remains the case for the AFFC, which reserves the rank for regimental commanders. This is the most senior rank to which an officer can rise without attendance at one of the AFFC’s two General Staff Colleges (attached respectively to the Nagelring academy on Tharkad and Sakhara Academy in the Draconis March). It also acts as a gateway rank in that no officer who hasn’t commanded a regiment will be considered for promotion to greater responsibility. With this rank the AFFC hopes to prevent the rise of new generations of ‘social generals’.

Having studied at a General Staff College and served as a regimental commander, an officer can expect to be promoted to Leutenant-General and serve in a staff or administrative role. The most prized roles are to act as aide to a Marshal or to be chief of staff in a RCT. The former is an opportunity to attract patronage for future patronage while the latter is likely to be the last opportunity to directly participate in combat, although such chances are slim.

Roughly equivalent to an AFFS Major General or LCAF Hauptmann-General, the AFFC Kommandant-General take charge of specific combat commands within those RCTs which maintain permanent sub-formations or head up an entire March Militia. For example, the Federated Commonwealth Corp RCTs each operate three combat commands built around a mechanized infantry regiment and reinforced battalions of BattleMechs, hover tanks and heavy tanks. Command of a complete frontline RCT is the responsibility of a General although such officers may also take charge of a major administrative department.

The three remaining ranks of the AFFC are concerned not with individual units but geographic region. Marshals command all forces active within a Polymorphous Defence Zone or an Operational Area. Field Marshals command all forces active within an entire March, of which there are seven at this time. At this stage the ranks begin to cross the line from military to political positions: the latest update to Burke’s Peerage states that Marshals hold the honorary title of Marquis/Margrave while Field Marshals are deemed honorary Dukes. In addition, in the Draconis March and Capellan March the Dukes of Robinson and New Syrtis respectively hold ‘first refusal’ rights on the position of Field Marshal, a precedent which the Duke of Tamar is eager to adopt with regard to his own hereditary domain.

The most senior rank in the AFFC is Marshal of the Armies, which is the rank held by the commanders of the two State Commands and the commander of the AFFC as a whole. Ardan Sortek, previously Prince’s Champion, fills the latter role while Archon Melissa Steiner’s aunt, Nondi Steiner, heads Lyran State Command. Her counterpart in the Federated Suns State Command is First Prince Hanse Davion’s nephew: Morgan Hasek-Davion, formerly Field Marshal of the Capellan March.

.o0o.

Imperial City, Luthien
Pesht District, Draconis Combine
14 March 3050


Takashi Kurita sat upon the throne of his ancestors and contemplated the weakening brought on by time. When he was a younger man he would have sat in seiza on the floor as a samurai should. But aging joints no longer permitted and thus the Dragon Throne, previously reserved for ceremonial occasions, was now used everyday.

Before him sat Subhash Indrahar, his strong left hand. Age had touched him even more heavily than his master for while Takashi might find the need on occasion for a suitably regal walking cane, the chief of the Internal Security Force was now confined to a wheelchair. And the years had not only withered away at his limbs. Takashi refrained from baring his teeth. The Dragon needed no friends. It was unfortunate, nonetheless, that the loyalty of the spy was at best now divided between the Dragon and the Dragon’s heir.

And that took him to the third man in the room. His son, Theodore.

His failure.

Certainly he was not yet fit for the throne – too soft – and might never be. He was no samurai, not in his heart. Still, it was worthy of note that the younger Kurita was not entirely without skill. The vanity of youth was less pronounced and his actions fighting the Steiners twenty years before had been acceptable. A shame there had been no opportunity to test him against Davion or even against the Wolf. But Takashi was growing used to disappointment. Perhaps there remained some hope for his grandsons to show promise…

“The Gunji no Kanrei has lost track of three of my regiments,” he enquired with careful dispassion. “And in an area that sees only bandits and the upstart Rasalhaguans? Most curious.”

Theodore had not yet broached the subject of the meeting, nor reported those losses, but he ignored the implied reprimand. “It would seem that bandits and Rasalhaguans are no longer the only opponents the DCMS faces in this area.”

“The First Alshain Regulars, the Fourth and the Seventh Pesht Regulars… I recall that the District Regulars might be considered the stalwarts of the Combine. Faithful to their Warlords and to the throne.” Takashi sat back. “Yet it seems that they may have been neglected if they have been so easily swept aside.” And where would the blame lie for that?

“My father is correct to question this,” Theodore agreed blandly. “With the Federated Commonwealth mobilising and our long border with his realm, it may be that regiments elsewhere may not have received the same share of the limited resources available to me as your deputy.”

Takashi considered in his mind’s eye the map of the Draconis Combine that stood behind his throne. Every world on it was marked by precious stones and it was updated at all times. Many worlds once marked out at his accession now had been removed as a result of the Lyran offensive twenty years ago. The worlds claimed from the Federated Suns did not adequately recompense for this, and that was before his son allowed Rasalhague to go its own way. Now five more worlds might need to be removed.

“And how does the Gunji no Kanrei propose that the Dragon will address this affront?”

Theodore turned his head slightly. “The Dragon’s eyes and ears may first inform him as to the nature of this adversary.”

“As they should. Speak, Director.”

Subhash’s famous smile was reserved for social occasions and now he was all business. “My lord, we have first received information from within the Federated Commonwealth. This information, we believe, was leaked to us deliberately by Davion’s Minister of Intelligence although whether it is to mislead or to inform us remains unclear.”

“Prince Davion has had his soldiers instructed that the redeployments being carried out – which we know from other sources are assembling a very sizeable army in the region of Tamar – are to meet with the degenerate descendants of General Kerensky’s armies. He claims that theses descendants have developed martial skill and military technologies on par with or exceeding those available anywhere in the Inner Sphere but at the cost that they have lost sight of civilised mores entirely.”

“The specific data he provides to describe these clans is largely in agreement with the reports we have received from Richmond, Rockland, Schwartz, Tarnby and Altona. The invaders’ general organisation and equipment, including BattleMechs never previously encountered and a form of armoured infantry that has significantly challenged our samurai is much as Davion informs us. There is some minor deviation as he cites an encounter with a group known as ‘Clan Jade Falcon’ while the challenges issued to our commanders speak of ‘Clan Smoke Jaguar’. This is accommodated by the data, which indicates that these Clans are in alliance to some degree.”

“Are you suggesting that we take this information ‘gifted’ to us by the Fox at face value?”

“The Dragon’s words, as ever, cut to the heart of the matter. This is very nearly too convenient. While it would be foolish to rule out the possibility that Hanse Davion may sincerely desire that we are informed accurately of these Clans, it would be a very well executed gambit if these were instead soldiers of the AFFC carrying out these attacks. Should we devote our attention to this matter and weaken our defences elsewhere, we could find ourselves exposed to invasion. Should we ignore it then the troops built up at Tamar can use the Radstadt salient to assault Alshain and thus threaten the heartlands of the Combine from two directions. Converging thrusts from the Periphery and Tamar could meet directly here.”

“The one flaw in that argument is that if these are AFFC troops then they have a significant advantage in equipment. We’ve obtained samples of SLDF equipment overlooked by ComStar when they delivered entire regiments of BattleMechs to us in exchange for permitting the creation of the Free Rasalhague Republic.” Theodore shook his head. “Even compared to the reverse-engineered technologies from this, the invaders have significant advantages in the power, range and even weight of their weapon systems. There have also been reports – admittedly, unconfirmed, that the invasion forces arrived in system escorted by warships of Star League design.”

Takashi froze. “No warships have been used since the last of our fleet was destroyed facing the last Lyran warship centuries ago. Surely this report is mistaken.”

“There have been reports of major construction taking place at several of House Davion and House Steiner’s major shipyards, for several years – Galax, Shipil, Alarion… even Panpour. The conclusion drawn at the time was that this was to support the significant increase in construction of Overlord-class dropships. However, with the financial resources of two Great Houses, it is possible – barely – that more ambitious projects could have taken place.” Indrahar bowed his head. “My analysts do not think that powerful vessels could have been built, but possibly ships previously considered uneconomic to restore to service may have been reconsidered.”

“If the Federated Commonwealth does have such a fleet,” Theodore observed, “Not to mention a significant number of regiments with highly advanced technology and soldiers who might possibly be as skilled as our own Sword of Light, then there would be little need for such a complex plan. It would be extremely difficult to prevent him from simply breaking our defences around Dieron and Benjamin, isolating well-defended worlds and overwhelming their defences one at a time with overwhelming force.”

The Gunji no Kanrei reached to his face, as if to tweak the moustache he no longer wore. “This hangs on limited information, of course. If we are facing the descendants of the SLDF then they would certainly have access to warships of these types. And the Fourth Succession War has shown at great cost how unwise it is to under-estimate Hanse Davion, as Maximilian Liao did.”

Takashi stroked his chin. “Your intentions then?”

“We have, as yet, no indication that the Ministry of Intelligence has successfully identified the extent and disposition of the hidden regiments over the last two decades. Since Hanse Davion has shown his hand to some extent, I intend to respond with these regiments. Thus there will be no obvious reduction in our border defences. Once we have prisoners and samples of the invaders technology we will be able to verify their origins and establish longer term plans to deal with them.”

“You appear to have considerable faith in these Yurei regiments of yours. Yet none of them have seen true action and it will take weeks or months to bring them to bear.”

“All soldiers must face their first battles at some point and I can hardly offer them greater motivation that to say the Combine may stand or fall depending on their performance. In addition, it’s my intention to deploy them as massed brigades.”

“Hmm.” Takashi dismissed that concern for now. “And there is one further point of concern.”

Theodore looked at the map, at Turtle Bay, only one jump from Rockland. “Soon it will be your grandson’s first battle. Make sure he knows we want prisoners.” And victory, for if he cannot deliver that then I must begin to prepare his brother as a successor.

.o0o.

Forbidden City, Sian
Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation
1 April 3050


There should have been alarms going off.

The sound of gunfire – small arms nearby and larger weapons further away – should not have happened without warning. Security around Chancellor Romano Liao and her family was extensive and intrusive at all times. Death Commandos, Warrior House ‘Mechs and infantry, the entire Red Lancer’s regiment…

Sun-Tzu Liao found it more than a little distressing that all these precautions came to essentially nothing.

The first clue he’d had of danger was when he was dragged out of bed by a security detail. Not towards one of the evacuation routes but deeper into the administrative sections of the Forbidden City. The fog of sleep hadn’t lasted long and it was entirely gone before two Imarra infantry caught hold of his wrists and a third used clippers to sever the longer fingernails on three fingers of his left hand.

They’d had to use metal clippers since, like his father, he’d had them reinforced and edged to use as a weapon of last resort. If it had been to disguise him for an escape they’d have at least asked. So Imarra was compromised. Not good.

Now he was sat in a relatively modest office, one full of dust and shadows. He’d never been in the room before but he knew what it was.

Justin Xiang’s office. The room where the downfall of the Confederation had been plotted out. It had been sealed long ago on the orders of Sun-Tzu’s mother for reasons that she’d never explained. So far as he knew, she’d never come here.

“I apologise for the dust. Housekeeping seems to have been a low priority since I was last here.” The owner of the office was sat in his old chair as if nothing had changed in the last twenty-one years. A subdued suit, one gloved hand. A touch of grey in the hair perhaps. “We haven’t met before, but I’m sure you know who I am.”

So that was how it was going to be. “Your name’s come up once or twice, Justin Allard.”

“Hmm.” The dark eyes settled on him measuringly. “My wife and your mother are settling their differences. It seems to me it’s not wise for men to get involved in that sort of conversation so I’ve arranged for us to be out of the way.”

Sun-Tzu nodded silently. There was wisdom in those words – but not much reassurance.

“I’m not sure your father takes the same view. If he survives tonight, perhaps we can ask him.” Justin reached down – not into a drawer but instead an open case beside him. “Would you like some water? I brought my own.”

“Thank you.” Sun-Tzu caught the bottle and removed the cap. His fingernails still glittered and he considered what his mother would expect him to do right now. Kill the spy and avenge… sundry wrongdoings. Just accepting this water would probably be treason in her eyes. “How long has this been planned, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“Long before I was a factor. Candace and your mother have hated each other since they were children. I imagine that if Candace was Chancellor that your mother would have had plans for a coup underway as a matter of course. No way to raise a family in my opinion, but your grandfather only ever had very selective interest in my advice.”

“And you told him what he wanted to hear.”

“Most of the time, yes. Wouldn’t you have?”

“You realise that if things go wrong for… Aunt Candace that you’ll probably die? Me too, of course, but…”

“Well I married her for better or for worse. And my presence is probably worth a few percentage points in shifting the chances in her favour so…”

Sun-Tzu inclined his head. “I admire your devotion to her.”

“No, you don’t.” Justin smiled. “In many ways you remind me of your grandfather’s better traits. But you strike me, nephew, as one thing that he wasn’t.”

“Oh?”

“You’re a survivor. Which suggests to me that you might see some benefit in coming to an accommodation with the new Chancellor. There would be plenty of room for an able government minister who happens to be the Chancellor’s nephew. Who else do you intend to look to for support? Thomas Marik? Thomas Calderon? I think we can rule out Emma Centralla and after that the list gets a bit short.”

Sun-Tzu nodded slowly. “I’m surprised that your Prince permitted this… adventure, given what I’m informed is something of a crisis developing on the Rasalhague border.”

“Actually that crisis is exactly why Prince Davion and my wife decided this was necessary. You see, it’s going to necessitate stripping the Capellan March and the St Ives Compact of much of their garrisons. Quite honestly, I couldn’t quite see Romano passing up on the opportunity to try to… reacquire certain worlds and settle their sibling feud in her own favour.”

“So my mother’s being killed because she’s a nuisance.”

Justin considered and nodded. “And we’re imposing a new Chancellor because the most likely alternative to us doing so is Thomas Marik doing exactly the same. You’ll excuse me for a little bias in thinking that this is the best of some less than optimal choices.”

“I can understand that position.”

“Something tells me your sister won’t, but fortunately that won’t be my problem.” Justin turned his head towards the door and Sun-Tzu realised the sounds of gunfire inside the palace had died down.

The door opened to reveal Candace Liao, dressed simply and carrying a laser rifle slung on her shoulder.

“Candace.”

She smiled slightly at her husband and then turned to Sun-Tzu. “I trust Justin has explained the situation, nephew?”

“In outline,” he conceded and rose from his chair. He hesitated a moment and then bowed his head to the woman who had just killed his mother. “Chancellor Liao.”
"It's national writing month, not national writing week and a half you jerk" - Consequences, 9th November 2018

drakensis

  • Lieutenant
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  • Posts: 1543
Re: Along Came A Spider
« Reply #29 on: 02 December 2015, 16:40:40 »
Schwarzwald, Maxie’s Planet
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
13 May 3050


Kai switched his gaze from the radar display to his surroundings and then back again. The invaders had landed on planet the day before, despite spirited resistance by the Eleventh Lyran Guards Aerospace Fighters. Outnumbered almost two to one, the enemy’s heavy fighters had torn apart efforts by light interceptors to disrupt their formations and then fallen on the Lucifers closing on their dropships.

The best that could be said at this point about the airspace above the Schwarzwald was that the Jade Falcons didn’t have uncontested control of it. Numbers had seemed so imbalanced that General Bryan had held back a squadron of heavy Chippewas to provide ground support. They had about an equal number of opponents left to deal with and combined with the efforts of anti-aircraft units on the ground – such as Kai’s Rifleman – that was enough to curtail strafing and bombing runs by the enemy aerospace fighters.

The relatively thick woodland of the Schwarzwald was another factor, Kai suspected. Quite a lot of the time the trees towered over even ten metre tall BattleMechs and his field of vision above was quite limited.

“All clear over the next rise,” reported Dave Jewell. His Wolverine was the fastest ‘Mech in the lance and thus he was taking point in moving through the woods.

“Thanks, Dave.” Kai pushed the Rifleman a little harder towards the rise. He wanted to be over it and back in cover before that status changed. “Fury One, this is Fury Nine. We’re moving forward.”

“Nine, this is Fury One. Roger that.”

Behind them, the other two lances in Fury Company positioned themselves to give fire support if it was needed. Despite General Bryan’s rousing speech at the start of the year, she’d ordered a slow and systematic approach as the guards’ ‘Mechs moved through the woods. The Schwarzwald lay direct between the Jade Falcons landing zone and their dropships and it was the most likely place for an encounter – unless the Falcons were ignoring the Guards approach entirely. It was also terrible ground for the heavy tanks and hover tanks that made up most of their supporting armoured regiments so all three armoured regiments and two of the infantry regiments were using underground transit routes constructed under the Star League to bypass the forest entirely.

If the Jade Falcons were waiting at the far edge, expecting only the ‘Mechs to arrive they’d instead find themselves facing a well-balanced battle group containing almost all the RCT’s heavy firepower. If they didn’t then they’d be fighting under conditions that would negate most of their range advantage and also have the tanks and infantry at their rear.

Over the ridge and Kai dropped Legendkiller to one knee, raising the large lasers and autocannon in his ‘Mech’s arms to cover the next ridge. Dave Jewell positioned himself to flank him, the PPC that had been fitted in place of the autocannon ready for the same mission.

A moment later and they were passed by the other half of the lance, Jack’s Enforcer and Helen’s Hunchback moving down to the bottom of the slope where their shorter ranged weapons could combine fire with Kai and Dave.

There was still no sign of activity. “Fury One, Fury Nine. We’re clear.”

Rather than acknowledgement or the arrival of the ‘Mechs of the other two lances, there was nothing but static on the line for a long moment. And then: “Fury Nine, hold ground. We have reports of contact from Third Battalion but it sounds like they’re being hit from behind.”

Behind? “Roger, Fury One. Holding position.”

“Are you picking anything up, Jack?”

The MechWarrior paused before answering Dave’s question, presumably checking the active probe that should pick up anything lying in ambush among the trees – particularly the armoured infantry described in the briefings. “Nothing on my sensors.”

Kai stood his ‘Mech up and backpedalled slightly so his shoulders rose above the ridgeline, then rotated his left arm to bring the guns to bear directly to the rear.

“Feeling paranoid, LT?”

“Just covering the bases.” Kai pulled up a map. “Given the terrain either side of the Schwarzwald, how long would you think it would take a fast force of light ‘Mechs to circle around and reach the regiment’s rear.”

“Two, maybe three days depending on how you define fast. The old mining areas are unstable as hell and there’s been a lot of flooding.”

“Which would be pushing it to get someone behind us if you started from when the dropships landed,” Kai concluded. “And that means they...”

“Found some other way?” asked Helen.

“They must have used the tunnels.” Kai closed his map. “That would take them a day at most.”

“There are entire regiments of tanks and infantry down there,” she protested.

“There were entire regiments, Double-O. If they got caught at close quarters down there by the enemy’s battle armour, they could still be jammed up down there – take out the tanks at the front and then roll up the column from front to back. The Elementals could even use the service side-passages to work around them and take out the tanks at the back, making it impossible to retreat.”

Dave half-turned his ‘Mech. “I’m thinking it might be smart for Jack and I to take a quick look over the next ridge, just in case we have to move that way in a hurry, sir. We’ve jump-jets so we can back up quickly if there looks to be trouble.”

“Sounds good to me. Double-O, back up so we can cover each other.”

The older MechWarrior started backing up in her Hunchback. “I miss my old autocannon. At the ranges in here it’d be more use than this pop-gun.”

“I guess they call that progress.” Helen’s Hunchback had been refitted to use a heavy multi-ammunition autocannon with twice the range and ammunition load. It did give up some of the raw firepower though.

“Heh. Listen, LT, any truth to them having multi-ammunition assault autocannon on the new construction Centurions?”

Kai cleared his throat. He hadn’t known his father was going to the expense and trouble of having Yen-lo-Wang refitted until it was too late and he’d been locked in as going to a regiment where he wouldn’t be able to use the gift. Legendkiller was a fine ‘Mech but the Centurion was the one that Justin Allard had wanted to entrust his son’s safety too. Just another way I let you down, father.

“That’s what I’ve heard, Double-O. You’ll have to give up the TAG system and anti-missile turret though.”

Double-O snorted. “Like I’d care if I had a gun like that to use.”

“Are you sure you’ve not got a little Davion in you?” Jack asked over the lance frequency.

“Hell, I’ve never even met Prince Victor.”

“Fury-Nine, we have contact,” snapped Hauptmann Hendricks – Fury One. “Looks like five Kit Fox ‘Mechs and a couple of dozen Elementals. Third Battalion report twice as many on them and they’re being forced north. We’re going to regroup on your position and play anvil while the rest of the battalion are the hammer.”

“Understood, Fury One.” Kai switched channel. “Dave, Jack, get back here. We have incoming.”

“Roger.”

Turning further, Kai brought both arms to bear in the right direction then went back to the radar. Nothing in the sky above that he could see. That was one small mercy.

Ober-Leutenant Marcone’s Archer came into view, followed by a Crusader. There was something wrong with them – partly their awkward gait and partly, Kai realised, the small armoured figures clinging to them and tearing away at the ‘Mechs with claws and lasers.

Although both ‘Mechs were batting at the Elementals with their heavy forearms, it didn’t seem to be having any great effect. “Double-O, use cluster rounds,” he ordered and drew a bead with his autocannon on one of the Elementals, not wanting to use his lasers in case he over-penetrated and caused more damage to the friendly ‘Mechs.

The slightly lower-pitched retorts of Helen’s autocannon were a counter-point to his own guns. One burst missed both ‘Mech and Elemental, but the second stream of shells caught the Jade Falcon squarely and he fell from Marcone’s ‘Mech.

Although he’d heard the briefing about the resilience of Elementals, a thrill of fire went through Kai as he realised the Elemental was rising to its feet and apparently game to continue the battle.

Then Marcone whirled around and lashed out with one of the Archer’s blocky feet, treating the infantryman as if he were a soccer ball. The Elemental went tumbling across the forest floor and this time it didn’t rise.

Continuing the turn, the Ober-Leutenant opened fire on one of the Elementals still clinging to the Crusader. Armour already pockmarked by scars from the cluster rounds fired at it by Helen’s Hunchback, the Jade Falcon didn’t survive hits from two 5cm lasers at point-blank range.

Kai took a moment to sigh in relief and then a ‘Mech stalked out of the shadows of the trees behind Marcone.

It was sleek and predatory, muzzle-smoke rising from what was clearly a powerful autocannon in one arm. The other arm ended in a hand but it was ringed by several laser emitters. Even as Kai turned to bring his guns to bear, this arm rose and lasers flashed as megajoules of energy were pumped into the back of the Archer.

Although the Archer was notorious for its thick armour even compared to some ‘Mechs ten or fifteen tons heavier, no ‘Mech carried as much armor on the rear as they did on the front and flanks.

Now the rear armour of Marcone’s ‘Mech peeled away under the savage barrage and hidden beneath that armour were the vitals: engine, gyro, missile launchers and the ammunition bins.

One shot, at least, penetrated the latter and seventy tons of BattleMech disintegrated, the remains scattering themselves across the woods.

“That’s no Kit Fox!” exclaimed Dave as he jumped his Wolverine up to join Kai and Helen at the top of the hill.

“Stormcrow. Bring it down.” Kai unleashed both autocannon and the coaxial lasers at the ‘Mech. Unbelievably, the intelligence on the Clans suggested that they considered the fast and deadly medium ‘Mech to be aging and in need of replacement.

Sluggish as its heatsinks tried to shed the heat built up by the laser salvo, the Stormcrow side-stepped and narrowly avoided Dave’s PPC shot. Armour peeled away under autocannon fire from Kai and Helen while the large lasers saved away entire plates from the left leg and left arm – at the expense of similarly raising his own internal temperature.

The Crusader added its own short-ranged weapons to the onslaught, connecting it to the Jade Falcon ‘Mech with missile contrails, machinegun tracers and its own lasers.

Apparently unconcerned, the Stormcrow locked its right arm and fired a long burst from the autocannon. A torrent of shells tore into the Crusader’s leg, shattering armour, blasting apart myomer bundles and finally severing the limb just above the knee.

“Blake’s blood! I want a gun like that!” exclaimed Helen.

“If we don’t deal with it that Falcon will give it to you muzzle first,” Dave told her.

Jack Delancie’s Enforcer sailed over the crest of the ridge and landed below Kai. “I’ll go get our guy!” he called. “Give me cover.”

“Dammit, Jack!”

The Stormcrow broke into a run, twisting between trees to mask it from return fire as it made its own run towards the fallen Crusader. Kai fired again at it, staggering laser pulses to try to bring his heat back under control.

Jack lowered his Enforcer’s guns and focused them, not on the Stormcrow but on an Elemental, the second that had been clawing at the Crusader and was now trying to crack the cockpit of the fallen ‘Mech. The 8cm laser severed one leg and autocannon shells finished the job, tearing through the chest armour and in some cases out through the combined missile launcher/jump pack that made up the rear of the suit.

A Sentinel burst from the trees, running towards Kai’s position. Maria Edgehill, he remembered. Part of the command lance. Jack half-turned as if to fire upon her then held his fire as he recognised the Lyran Guards colours banded on the shoulders.

The hesitation cost him for there was a second ‘Mech behind the Sentinel and the moment it saw Jack, the missile racks in each arm vomited a full salvo of LRMs.

Even the full fury of those missiles wasn’t enough to defeat the Enforcer’s armour, but caught off guard Jack staggered and only avoided a fall by catching himself with one arm against a tree.

And then the Stormcrow darted out, ignoring the punishing fire of Kai’s lance to fire three lasers into the chest before adding a short burst from the autocannon.

The left arm, the one Jack was using for support, went limp as the shoulder was shattered by those impacts. He cried out as the Enforcer fell and fired the autocannon desperately, shells digging into the forest floor.

A second volley of missile arched through the Schwarzwald and the Enforcer took the full force of them to the head and shoulders.

Inside Kai’s cockpit, the telemetry from Jack Delancie’s ‘Mech went dead.

Dropping his crosshairs slightly, Kai triggered one autocannon and then the other.

His shells smashed directly into the Stormcrow’s left knee-joint and the ‘Mech lurched as the joint locked.

“Fury Nine to all Fury units. Sound off.”

“There’s no one left.” Maria Edgehill’s voice was ragged. “Fury Nine, the Hauptmann and Ober-Leutenant are both down.”

Kai clenched his fists around the control sticks. “Alright.” It wasn’t, but what else could he say?

“Daring One, Fury Nine.”

The battalion command frequency gave no response.

“Fury Nine to any unit in Second Battalion.”

Nothing. Maybe he was being jammed. It didn’t make sense that an entire battalion could simply be wiped out so quickly.

The Stormcrow limped into the cover and the Kit Fox followed suit, salvoing LRMs up and over the tree’s raining down on what was left of Fury Company.

“We can’t go back so we have to go forwards. We’ll make for the rendezvous on the far side of the Schwarzwald. Best speed of the slowest ‘Mechs.” Which was he and Helen. “Hopefully the rest of the regiment will be doing the same.” Probably the wrong orders but at least it was some direction. Better a bad plan than none.

And maybe there’ll be another officer there or this will make the La Mancha scenario look like a training match between NAMA and Albion cadets.
"It's national writing month, not national writing week and a half you jerk" - Consequences, 9th November 2018

 

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