The mistakes of the past

[Gareth Lott]

I have been reading many great stories on this site.  This is my take on the start of the Battletech Universe, I hope to cover many centuries before it is complete.  As I get better, I will try to tell more individual stories. Just my thoughts.  Thanks!

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Title: Data does not lie 
Year: 2540.07.02
Location: Guangzhou, Boston, San Francisco, Cambridge, New Delhi and Orlando, Terra (extreme Cloud)

Today, a coalition of leading universities and corporate sponsors proudly announced the successful creation of the Selene Cognitive Engine (SCE)—a groundbreaking advancement in high-performance computing. Developed across six global innovation hubs, Selene represents the first quantum-mesh, single-processor system capable of modeling and analyzing hundreds of thousands of variables in real time.

The Selene Engine will be governed by a newly formed public-private partnership: the Cognitive Engine Consortium (CEC), LLC, uniting academic institutions, government research bodies, and defense-aligned corporations under a single operational framework.

Key Capabilities:
* Simulates full-scale planetary campaigns within hours.
* Predicts logistical breakdowns, morale collapses, and political revolts with unsettling precision.
* Requires a subterranean cryogenic cooling infrastructure to maintain operational stability.

Selene is not just a computational leap—it is a new lens on the future.
 ------------------------------------------

Title: Victory is forged first in the mind
Year: 2544.10.07
Location: Cambridge, Terra

Press Release

For Immediate Distribution

Terran Hegemony Announces Strategic Partnership Between Cognitive Engine Consortium and Hegemony Armed Forces

Today, the Terran Hegemony formally announced a landmark partnership between the Cognitive Engine Consortium (CEC), LLC and the Hegemony Armed Forces (HAF) to enhance support systems for military personnel and their families. This alliance marks a new era in data-driven military operations and well-being.

The collaboration will focus on advancing services in key areas, including:
* Logistics optimization
* Career and talent management
* Training and education
* Family and community support
* Predictive behavioral and operational studies

To oversee these efforts, the HAF is establishing a new command under the HAF Administrative Command: the Terran Alliance Wargames Institute (TAWI). This forward-thinking unit will be led by Professor-General Yara Turing, a pioneer in cognitive systems and strategic modeling.

Do you want to know more?

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Title:  The Long Vigil: The Assassination of Joseph Cameron
Year: 2549.09.19
Location: Joseph's Palace on Terra

The late afternoon sun slanted low over the spires of the Director-General's Palace, casting long shadows across the immaculate gardens. Birds flitted between the tall, ancient trees, and a hush had settled over the grounds — a deceptive peace masking the fury hidden among the leaves.

Unseen by the strolling dignitaries and palace guards, Captain Henry Green lay prone across a thick branch of a great willow near the main courtyard. Clad in civilian clothing, his Marine Corps-issue laser rifle wrapped in dark cloth, Green had been hidden in the foliage for twenty-seven hours. He had neither moved nor slept, fueled by a singular, burning purpose.

Joseph Cameron, Director-General of the Terran Hegemony, had inherited the mantle of leadership from his mother, Deborah Cameron — a woman who believed peace was forged by words, not by force. Joseph had embraced her path even more fervently, favoring diplomacy over military might, cutting defense budgets, and elevating foreign relations offices while sidelining the once-proud Hegemony Armed Forces.

Many in the military despised him for it. Whispers turned to meetings, meetings into plans. A cabal had formed: generals, officers, administrators, all sharing the belief that Joseph's policies were not just humiliating — they were dangerous. The Hegemony Central Intelligence Bureau, overburdened by foreign threats, failed to notice the slow rot creeping from within.

But the cabal was indecisive. They talked, plotted, but acted with the caution of men with too much to lose.

Henry Green had no such hesitation. A decorated Marine Captain turned administrative clerk — a bitter demotion under Joseph's reign — Green saw only one solution. If the cabal would not act, he would.

From his perch, Green's knuckles whitened as he gripped the laser rifle. His target was stepping from the back of a sleek black limo, laughing at something said by one of his aides. The Director-General wore no armor, no shield — he had removed his laser-resistant jacket moments before, carelessly tossing it into the car.

Green’s heart pounded in his ears.
 He aimed.
 Exhaled.
 And fired. Missed, Fired Again.

-------------------------

Title: Bad Day for Military Intelligence (Part 1)
Year: 2549.09.23
Location: Berlin, Terra

✶ TERRAN HEGEMONY CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BUREAU ✶

CLASSIFIED FILE: EYES ONLY
SUBJECT: Captain Henry Green – Internal Threat Assessment

File ID: HCIB/INT/2549-09-23-ALPHA
Classification Level: TOP SECRET – INTERNAL SECURITY
Compiled By: Senior Investigator Rafael Durand, Hegemony Central Intelligence Bureau
Date: 23 September 2549

SUBJECT INFORMATION:

Name: Henry Elias Green
Rank: Captain (Marine Corps, Administrative Division)
Date of Birth: 02 February 2518
Place of Birth: Newcastle, Terra

Service Record:
* Enlisted 2535, Marine Corps Infantry
* Commendations: 2x Bronze Spears, 1x Solar Valor Ribbon
* Transferred to Administrative Division 2546 (non-voluntary reassignment)

Psychological Profile:
* Diagnosed with moderate adjustment disorder post-reassignment.
* Noted by superiors as “resentful of civilian oversight” and “prone to fatalistic worldviews.”
* Recorded expressing dissatisfaction with Director-General Joseph Cameron’s diplomatic policies.

INCIDENT SUMMARY:
On 19 September 2549, Captain Henry Green, acting independently, infiltrated the grounds of the Director-General’s Palace on Terra. Utilizing personal administrative access credentials, he smuggled a Marine Corps-issued precision laser rifle onto Palace grounds.

Green concealed himself within the Palace arboretum for approximately twenty-seven (27) hours without detection.  At approximately 16:12 Local Palace Time, as Director-General Joseph Cameron disembarked from his transport vehicle, Green discharged two shots from his concealed position.
* Second shot: Direct hit to thoracic cavity, resulting in mortal injury. (first shot missed)
* Director-General Joseph Cameron succumbed to his wounds six days later.

MOTIVE ANALYSIS:
Post-incident psychological deconstruction indicates the following contributing factors:
* Extreme disenfranchisement stemming from perceived betrayal of military honor by the civilian government.
* Ideological alignment with elements of the “Silent Cabal,” an informal group of mid-ranking HAF officers opposed to continued diplomatic over military solutions.
* Frustration with perceived inaction of the Cabal leadership.
* Self-aggrandizing belief that the removal of Joseph Cameron would “restore strength and dignity” to the Hegemony.
* Evidence suggests Green acted without direct sanction from the wider cabal leadership, indicating a lone operative status during the event.

STATUS:
* Henry Green was neutralized during the loyalist response.
* Remains disposed of under Operation Ashveil protocols. No public record of death.
* All personal and military files officially marked as “administrative error; deceased in training accident.”

RECOMMENDATIONS:
* Immediate sealing of all information relating to Green’s motivations and ties to HAF discontent factions.
* Increased surveillance of Marine Corps administrative divisions for ideological subversion.
* Launch Operation Red Mantle: Discredit any emerging narratives framing Green as a “patriot” or martyr within military circles.
* Reinforcement of loyalty indoctrination at the Terran Alliance Wargames Institute and HAF Officer Schools.

AUTHORIZATION:
Director Markus Vellan, HCIB Counterintelligence Division
Signature On File

DISTRIBUTION:
Office of the Director-General
Department of Military Investigations (DMI)
Internal Security Division, Palace Guard

WARNING: Unauthorized access or distribution of this document is a criminal offense punishable under Hegemony Security Code Article 47B.

The week was about to get worse.

----------------------

Title: Bad Day for Military Intelligence (Part 2)
Year: 2549.09.29
Location: Geneva, Terra

The September Revolt (2549)

Following the death of Director-General Joseph Cameron and the swift ascension of his brother Ian Cameron to the leadership of the Terran Hegemony, tensions within the military erupted into open rebellion. Dissatisfied with the growing dominance of civilian leadership and angered by Ian's commitment to continuing his brother’s diplomatic policies, elements of the Fifty-First Dragoon Regiment mutinied.

On 29 September 2549, the mutineers abandoned their barracks in Geneva and launched a lightning assault on key government installations. Within hours, they had seized control of the Hegemony Congress, the Palace of the Director-General, and several surrounding administrative complexes. Their goal was clear: to overthrow Ian Cameron before he could consolidate power and to reassert military authority over Hegemony governance.

The uprising, later known as the September Revolt, threw Geneva into chaos. However, Ian Cameron acted decisively. Loyalist units, including elements of his elite Household Guard, executed a carefully coordinated counter-operation. The city was cut off from electrical and water supplies to force the rebels into desperation. After ten days of brutal urban combat and psychological pressure, loyalist forces crushed the revolt and retook the city.

The aftermath was swift and severe. The primary instigators of the rebellion—senior officers of the Fifty-First Dragoons—were arrested, court-martialed, and either imprisoned or executed for treason. However, Ian Cameron, mindful of the political cost of destroying an entire regiment, spared the Fifty-First Dragoons as a unit. The surviving soldiers were subjected to intense loyalty screenings, reassignments, and organizational restructuring. In the decades that followed, the Fifty-First carried the quiet stain of its betrayal, but also the chance for redemption within the ranks of the Hegemony Armed Forces.

The September Revolt ultimately served as a brutal lesson for the Terran Hegemony: that even the most honored regiments could become a threat if left unchecked—and that the supremacy of civilian rule must be vigilantly defended, even from within.

-----------------

Title: September Revolt, from a Guardsman Perspective
Personal Account – Sergeant Laura Myles, Household Guard
Recorded: 21 October 2549 | Location: Geneva Palace Archives
Status: Restricted - Internal Use Only

I remember the smell more than anything—the burnt plastic and cracked ferrocrete. Geneva wasn’t just a battlefield; it was a carcass we had to fight through, block by block.

When the Dragoons moved in on the Congress and the Palace, we were caught off guard. I’d just finished my morning rounds when the first alarms went off. By noon, half the government district was under enemy control. Orders came fast and clear: lock down, regroup, and take the city back—no matter the cost.

Ian Cameron made the call to cut power and water, and the darkness that swallowed Geneva after sunset… I’ll never forget it. It was like fighting ghosts. Every shadow could hide a mutineer; every silence meant a sniper might have you dead to rights.

They called themselves patriots. That’s what some of the Dragoons shouted when we cornered them. "We’re saving the Hegemony!" they cried. But I saw what they did to civilians caught in crossfire. Saw the fear in the faces of aides and clerks huddling in the Palace basement. If that was patriotism, I wanted no part of it.

The hardest day was the fifth. We breached the west wing of the Congress. Room-to-room fighting with people we used to drill with. Men and women I drank with on rotation leave. And I had to raise my rifle and kill them because they chose treason.

When it was over, when the Palace was ours again, the city stank of rot and betrayal. We paraded the ringleaders in shackles right through Geneva Square. No one cheered. No one even spoke. We all knew what it cost.

The Fifty-First wasn’t dissolved. Politics, they said. Appearances. Maybe they’re right. But I’ll always remember who stood with us when Geneva burned, and who turned their guns on their own people.

--------------------

Post Action Brief and intelligence Collection Summary 
Personal Account – Simon Vance (former LT – Fifty-First Dragoons)
Recorded: 4 December 2549 | Location: Hegemony Correctional Facility 12, Terra
Status: Restricted - Internal Use Only

I still don't think of myself as a traitor.

When Captain Mora stood in front of us that morning and said the time had come, I believed him. I believed every damned word. That Ian Cameron was going to sell out the Hegemony piece by piece. That he cared more about handshakes and treaties than strength. That the dreams of the Hegemony, the things we fought for, bled for, were slipping away.

So when they told us to gear up and seize Geneva, I didn't hesitate. I thought—this is what loyalty looks like. Loyalty to the real Terran ideal, not to politicians hiding behind palace walls.

The first hours were easy. Too easy. We rolled into the Congress and took it before half the guards even knew what was happening. Same for the Palace. It felt like history was turning in our favor. Like we were going to fix everything.

But the city turned into a cage. They cut the power. The water. Supplies ran thin. Sleep was a memory. And the Household Guard came for us like wolves in the dark. You don’t know fear until you hear your own capital burning and realize no one’s coming to save you.

We held out for ten days. Ten miserable days of blood and smoke and promises that no longer made sense. When the end came, I dropped my rifle and put my hands up. Some of the others weren’t so lucky—or so wise.

Now I sit behind bars, wearing a number instead of a uniform. They tell me the Fifty-First still marches, cleaned up and polished like nothing happened. Maybe that’s for the best. Maybe there’s still something worth saving.

But me? I fought for the Hegemony... and lost everything.

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✶ Commendation of Valor ✶
Issued by the Office of the Director-General
Terran Hegemony Armed Forces Command
Dated: 20 November 2549

In recognition of their unwavering courage, loyalty, and sacrifice during the suppression of the September Revolt, the following units and personnel are hereby awarded the Star of Unity and entered into the official rolls of the Hegemony's Eternal Honor Guard:
* The Household Guard, First Battalion
* Hegemony Internal Security Corps (Geneva Battalion)
* 5th Armored Regiment
* The Household Guard (CAV), First Battalion Company B

Through extraordinary perseverance in the face of treason, these forces reclaimed the capital of Geneva, secured the continuity of lawful civilian government, and upheld the sanctity of the Terran Hegemony.

Their actions preserved not only the physical heart of our civilization, but also its soul.
Their names shall be remembered as the shield against anarchy, and the living embodiment of the Hegemony’s founding ideals.

Strength Through Unity.
Hope Through Service.
Terra Endures.

Signed,
Ian Cameron
Director-General, Terran Hegemony

"Where law falls silent, let loyalty raise its voice."
— Inscription, Grand Memorial Wing, Directors Palace, Geneva

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[Daryk]

Did Royal Regiments exist that early?  I thought they came later...

[Gareth Lott]

Daryk, huge fan of your stories.  I consider it a win to have you review it and correct me on Royal units.  I do believe you are correct. The one I figured I messed up the most is the locations of HAF commands and the difference between Geneva and Unity City (which I believe is post SL) Thanks!

[Daryk]

Thank you, kind sir!  If you want to me review anything before posting, just let me know...

[Gareth Lott]

✶ "The Hardest Truth" ✶

Geneva, Terra – 12 October 2549
1400 - GST

The heavy, muted silence of Congress Hall weighed down the gathered officials like a funeral shroud. Director-General Ian Cameron sat at the head of the great marble chamber, flanked by a grim-faced members of the Hegemony Congress. Every eye was locked on the man now rising from the intelligence table — General Walter Hersch, newly appointed head of the Hegemony Central Intelligence Bureau.

His uniform was plain, almost civilian in its lack of awards and decorations. It was meant to convey humility.

Hersch cleared his throat once. A single, echoing sound.

Director-General, My Lords and Ladies, he began, voice steady, I stand before you to accept, without excuse, the responsibility for the intelligence failures that contributed to the tragedy of the September Revolt and the death of Director-General Joseph Cameron.

The room remained deathly still.

The Hegemony Central Intelligence Bureau failed in three critical areas, Hersch continued, raising a finger to tick off each failure:

First: Internal Monitoring Deficiencies. We lacked sufficient oversight of military dissident groups, particularly within elite units such as the Fifty-First Dragoons. Early indicators of unrest were detected by lower-level analysts but not properly escalated. Our trust in the discipline of our armed forces, historically justified, was exploited.

Second: Threat Prioritization Errors. HCIB resources were heavily focused on external threats — espionage, foreign manipulation, and border skirmishes. We underestimated the danger posed by domestic radicalization, believing our internal stability to be unshakable.

And third: Operational Inflexibility. The Bureau’s reporting structures were too rigid. Analysts with concerns could not bypass traditional chains of command. Warnings were delayed, diluted, or dismissed before they reached senior leadership.

A ripple of whispers stirred among the Congress members. Ian Cameron's face remained unreadable.

General Hersch pressed on, voice growing stronger:
In response to these grave failures, I submit for immediate action the following reforms:

One: the creation of a Rapid Internal Threat Taskforce, a dedicated division to monitor, infiltrate, and preempt domestic military and political extremism.

Two: the establishment of Direct Intelligence Channels to the Office of the Director-General, allowing critical reports to bypass conventional bottlenecks during times of crisis.

Three: a full retraining and reassignment of field agents with a focus on cross-disciplinary analysis — ensuring no single perspective blinds us to emerging threats.

He hesitated, then added quietly:
 And fourth: the formation of a new department — the Department of Military Investigations (DMI) — to operate alongside the HCIB, but with autonomous authority to investigate and audit military units for signs of disloyalty.

Murmurs now swelled to muted conversation among the delegates.

General Hersch looked directly at Ian Cameron. These measures will not erase the blood already spilled. They will not undo what has been done. But they will ensure that never again will Terra be so vulnerable from within.

For a long moment, Ian said nothing. Then, slowly, he rose to his feet.
So ordered, the Director-General said at last, his voice cutting through the hall like a blade. Begin immediately.

And with those words, the quiet rebuilding of the Hegemony’s intelligence apparatus began — forged not from pride, but from ashes.

----------------

✶ HCIB INTERNAL MEMORANDUM ✶

Classification: Eyes Only – Commanding General's Office
 Date: 15 October 2549
 From: Commanding General Walter Hersch
 To: Deputy Directors, Division Chiefs
 Subject: New Operational Philosophy – "Assume the Threat"

Commanders,

Let me be perfectly clear: the age of complacency is over.

The events of the September Revolt have proven beyond doubt that betrayal festers closest to the heart. Henceforth, the Hegemony Central Intelligence Bureau will operate under a new guiding principle:

ASSUME THE THREAT.
* We will no longer presume loyalty.
* We will no longer allow prestige, honor, or past service to shield individuals from scrutiny.
* We will no longer wait for evidence of a threat to begin considering its probability.

Effective immediately:
* All military units, including Household Guard formations, will be assessed quarterly for signs of ideological deviation.
* All civilian political offices, even those considered 'beyond reproach', will be monitored for potential extremist influence.
* Analysts are authorized to pursue "provisional leads" without initial corroborating evidence if behavioral indicators align with risk models.

Failures to escalate concerns within twenty-four hours of discovery will be treated as gross negligence and grounds for dismissal or criminal charges.

You are instructed to build operations with redundancy, encourage a culture of healthy skepticism, and prepare contingency plans for infiltration and neutralization—even within the highest levels of Hegemony governance.

Our future survival demands nothing less.

There are no "safe hands" anymore.
 Only hands we have not caught yet.

— W. Hersch
 Commanding General, Hegemony Central Intelligence Bureau

--------------

✶ Internal Message: HCIB SecureNet ✶

Confidential — Eyes Only
 From: Senior Agent Miranda Cole, Division of Domestic Intelligence
 To: Deputy Director Samuel Krysz
 Date: 18 October 2549
 Subject: Concerns Regarding "Assume the Threat" Directive

Deputy Director Krysz,

I respectfully submit the following observations and concerns regarding the new "Assume the Threat" operational philosophy instituted by General Hersch.

While I understand and accept the necessity of heightened vigilance following the September Revolt, I believe we are in danger of undermining the very stability we seek to preserve.

Over the past three days, I have observed the following trends emerging among field agents and analysts:
* Increased suspicion of allied units with little or no cause beyond standard political activity or minor social ties.
* Paralysis in decision-making as agents second-guess not only targets but also their own colleagues, fearful of missing an accusation.
* Resource strain from chasing provisional leads that, under previous standards, would have been deprioritized to focus on credible threats.

In short: we risk cultivating fear where loyalty once lived.

I urge you to consider implementing internal guidelines to balance vigilance with discernment, and to ensure that agents are reminded:
* Not all deviation is treason.
* Not all mistakes are conspiracies.
* And loyalty must still be rewarded — not merely expected under threat of purging.

We are not fighting a war against our own people.
If we forget that distinction, we may win every battle — and lose the Hegemony itself.

Respectfully,
 Senior Agent Miranda Cole
 Division of Domestic Intelligence
 HCIB

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✶ Historical Analysis Footnote ✶

Excerpt from "Foundations of the Star League: A Critical History" by Dr. Elana Korvis, 2815

Footnote: Internal Dissent within the HCIB (2549-2571)

The concerns raised by Senior Agent Miranda Cole — and others like her — were largely ignored or buried during the post-September Revolt reconstruction of the Hegemony's internal security apparatus.

In practice, General Hersch’s "Assume the Threat" philosophy hardened into institutional paranoia. Trust within the Hegemony Central Intelligence Bureau eroded. Field operations increasingly targeted not only external actors but domestic officials, scientists, industrialists, and even low-ranking soldiers on the flimsiest of suspicions.

This climate of distrust deeply influenced the intelligence culture of the early Star League Defense Force (SLDF) once the Hegemony became the League’s core in 2571. Former HCIB practices, including aggressive domestic surveillance, loyalty testing, and "quiet purges," were absorbed into the newly created Star League Internal Security Directorate (ISD).

Ironically, while these practices helped preserve the Star League during its fragile early decades, they also sowed the seeds of future disillusionment — particularly during the reign of First Lord Richard Cameron and the Amaris Coup of the 28th century, when paranoia became weaponized on a catastrophic scale.

In hindsight, voices like Agent Cole’s offered a path toward balance and sustainability that was tragically ignored — a choice that echoes through the centuries of Terran and Inner Sphere history.

------------------------

✶ The New Security Doctrine and the Evolution of the Terran Alliance Wargames Institute ✶

(Historical Context, circa 2550)

In the aftermath of the September Revolt and the assassination of Director-General Joseph Cameron, the Terran Hegemony underwent a profound shift in both intelligence and military philosophy. The near-collapse of central authority exposed two fatal weaknesses:
* A failure to anticipate internal threats within the armed forces and political elite.
* A failure to prepare military officers for political loyalty and rapid response in the face of irregular, decentralized uprisings.

General Walter Hersch’s "Assume the Threat" directive reshaped the Hegemony Central Intelligence Bureau (HCIB) into a deeply suspicious, aggressive organization focused on rooting out disloyalty at every level. But it was clear that intelligence reforms alone could not guarantee security.

What was also needed was a military culture that could simulate, predict, and swiftly respond to insurgency, treachery, and asymmetric threats before they spread.

Thus, under the directive of Ian Cameron, and with the backing of key civilian and military leaders, the Terran Alliance Wargames Institute (TAWI) was formally restructured and expanded in late 2550. Its new mission was twofold:

Train a new generation of officers — not merely in traditional combat tactics, but in political warfare, loyalty management, and anti-insurrection doctrine. Commanders would be taught how to detect signs of sedition, maintain morale under political pressure, and act decisively against internal as well as external enemies.

Model complex threat environments using cutting-edge simulation technology. Drawing on advances such as the Selene Cognitive Engine (SCE) and early quantum-mesh processors, the Wargames Institute pioneered strategic simulation scenarios involving mass uprisings, decentralized military coups, political hostage crises, and more.
 
These simulations would allow military and intelligence leaders to test their reactions to unpredictable, highly volatile domestic threats before encountering them in reality.

In effect, the Wargames Institute became the military’s counterpart to the HCIB’s new security posture:
* Where the HCIB watched the heart of the Hegemony for betrayal,
* The Institute trained the sword arm that would strike when betrayal emerged.

Together, they created a new Hegemony doctrine: unity through vigilance, and peace through strength — no matter the cost.

Though this mindset would help Ian Cameron stabilize Terra and eventually lay the groundwork for the Star League, it would also quietly plant the seeds of deep militarization, political paranoia, and rigid loyalty culture that would, centuries later, contribute to the tragic downfall of the League itself.

-----------------------

✶ Cognitive Engine Consortium (CEC)

Title: Data Tells the Truth — But Truth Can Be Twisted
 Date: February 2, 2550
 Location: Guangzhou, Boston, San Francisco, Cambridge, New Delhi, and Orlando (Extreme Cloud Network), Terra

Press Release

For Immediate Distribution

On this date—marked with deliberate silence—the Cognitive Engine Consortium (CEC) officially unveiled the successor to the Selene Cognitive Engine (SCE): the EOS Cognitive Engine (ECE).

Unlike its predecessor, the ECE would not fall under the authority of the Hegemony Armed Forces (HAF) or even the Terran Hegemony itself. Recent decisions by political and military leaders had deeply shaken the scientific community, convincing many that such transformative technology could no longer be entrusted to the ambitions of any single regime—be it individual, institution, or dynasty. This new engine was not a weapon to be wielded; it was a tool meant to sustain the future.

The EOS Cognitive Engine marked yet another profound leap forward for human science. But this time, its creators envisioned a radically different purpose. The ECE was designed to serve civilization itself: to accelerate the pursuit of knowledge, unlock clean and sustainable energy sources, revolutionize medical and environmental sciences, expand the boundaries of space exploration, and even aid in the terraforming of distant worlds.

No longer would blind loyalty to a single leader or ruling family determine the fate of humanity’s greatest breakthroughs. The EOS Engine would be a beacon for shared progress—a future founded on discovery, not domination.

Do you want to know more?

[lowrolling]

This is an interesting ride, thanks for starting it.

[Daryk]

Agent Cole missed the most powerful statement she could have made: "Who watches the watchmen?"...

[Gareth Lott]

✶ Internal Message: HCIB SecureNet ✶
 
Confidential — Eyes Only
From: Deputy Director Samuel Krysz
To: Senior Agent Miranda Cole, Division of Domestic Intelligence
Date: 08 October 2549
Subject: Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee
 
Senior Agent Cole,

The Director-general has met with Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee.  They discussed the actions performed during the September Revolt.  I need a complete work-up ASAP!

Deputy Director Samuel Krysz

---------------

Senior Agent Cole’s Report.....

Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee

Affiliation: Terran Hegemony / Seventh Cavalry Regiment
Rank: Captain (Deputy Regimental Training Officer, CO Company B, 1st Battalion)
Education: Saint-Cyr Military Academy (Graduated with Honors)
Specialty: Asymmetric Warfare, Mobile Fire Support, Officer Mentorship

Summary of Decorations 
6 Major Unit Commendations
1 Distinguished Service Banner
2 Campaign Ribbons (Algol, Thorin)
1 Strategic Mobility Citation
Numerous individual commendations awarded for leadership, valor, and exemplary service

Famous Engagement
Dance of Broken Spears (Thorin) (2548):
Outmaneuvered and shattered a superior DCMS raiding force through terrain control, decoy attacks, and superior fire coordination, suffering minimal losses.

Famous Quote
"Victory is not about standing tallest at the end — it's about being the last shadow that moves in the dark."
 — Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee, briefing before Operation Quiet Plains (2548)

----------------

Assigned BattleMech

Designation: Kyudo (KY2-D-01D)
Weight Class: Medium (45 tons)
Speed: 86 km/h (running)
Primary Armament:

Conan/20 LRM-20 Launcher (with Artemis II DFCS)

Sorenstein ER Large Laser

Tactical Role: Mobile Fire Support / Harassment & Skirmishing

-------------------------------

Based on analysis data collected during his Company Commander training at TAWI, the following data was collected.

Personality Overview
* Calm, calculating, highly respectful of history and tradition.
* Deep strategic thinker who emphasizes preparation, patience, and psychological pressure over brute force.
* Privately skeptical of centralized political power, but loyal to the ideals of defending civilization from chaos.

Traits
* Master of Asymmetry: Best when commanding forces outnumbered or operating in guerrilla / traditional Cavalry conditions.
* Precision Fire Specialist: Demands accuracy from his unit. Unit received High marks when using indirect fire or direct missile-based attacks.
* Terrain Expert: Skilled in the use of natural and urban terrain for ambushes and defensive positioning.
* Mentor's Touch: Lee’s command style provides high morale and tactical initiative.  NOTE: For ones that pass his test.
* Cautious Planner: Rarely takes unnecessary risks; prefers drawn-out engagements (using maneuver) where he can grind down enemies without exposing his own forces.
* Low-Profile Leader: Dislikes political spotlight; loyal to the mission and the regiment rather than to personal advancement.  Demonstrated a high-level of loyalty to Director-General and approaches to use diplomacy or brute military force to achieve objectives.

Preferred Tactics Sidebar
Preferred Tactics: "Ghost War Doctrine"
* Mobility First: Lee’s units are constantly moving. Even defensive positions are temporary staging points, never static fortifications.
* Ambush Chains: Coordinates layered ambushes using indirect fire (LRMs) to herd enemies into kill zones or force chaotic retreats.
* Deceptive Withdrawal: Frequently feigns retreats to bait overextension, then counters with concentrated missile and laser strikes.
* Fire and Fade: Relies on the Kyudo’s superior missile accuracy and ER large laser to strike hard and relocate before enemy retaliation.
* Disruption Over Destruction: Focuses on breaking enemy morale, supply lines, and command structure rather than seeking total battlefield annihilation.
* Psychological Warfare: Encourages false reports, sensor decoys, and nighttime attacks to erode enemy cohesion and confidence.

Operational Motto:
 "Strike unseen, vanish unheard."

------------
7th Cavalry Regiment — Officer Briefing Card

Subject: Command Overview — Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee
Classification: Internal Use Only — For Official Regiment Personnel Record

Commander Profile:
Name: Carlos Dangmar Lee
Rank: Captain
Callsign: "Whisper"
Mech: Kyudo (KY2-D-01D) — Mobile Fire Support Variant
Style: Calculated, Mobile, Psychological Operations Emphasis

Command Philosophy:
* War is won through disruption, not destruction.
* Flexibility and independent initiative are essential.
* No position is permanent — keep moving, keep thinking.
* Understand the enemy’s mind as much as their movements.

Expectation:
All officers under Captain Lee are expected to maintain a high degree of tactical autonomy, terrain exploitation skills, and mental flexibility. Strict adherence to outdated "stand and fight" doctrines will not be tolerated.

Tactical Guidelines:
Doctrine
* Application

Fire & Fade
* Strike with precision, immediately relocate.

Ambush Layering
* Set traps-in-depth, forcing enemy over-extension.

Mobility at All Costs
* Static units are dead units.

Psychological Warfare
* Use misinformation and indirect pressure.

Priority Targeting
* Focus fire on enemy C3 (command, control, communication) assets first.

Key Operational Mottos:
"Strike unseen, vanish unheard."

"One false signal is worth a hundred volleys."

"Survive first. Win second."

Personal Notes from Captain Lee (Extracted from Leadership Briefing, 2547):
"I don't need heroes. I need hunters. Move quiet. Hit fast. Think beyond the next engagement. Anyone seeking medals or headlines — transfer out now."

REMINDER:
Officers who master Captain Lee’s principles are fast-tracked for command opportunities.  Officers who disregard them are typically transferred — or buried.

-------------

Carlos Dangmar Lee and the Loyalty of the Seventh Cavalry
September Revolt, 2549

The September Revolt had ground the Hegemony to the edge of chaos. Civil unrest flared into full rebellion on half a dozen worlds, and among the ranks of the military, loyalty was no longer a certainty. In those days, it wasn’t just the civilians who questioned their leaders — it was colonels and generals, captains and sergeants. Everywhere, Ian Cameron’s young Terran Hegemony trembled under the strain.

Carlos Dangmar Lee, a Captain in the fabled Seventh Cavalry Regiment, was one who remembered the oath he had sworn. Loyalty to the civilian government, not to personal ambition or temporary rage, anchored his every decision.

When rumors began to circulate that Major Marcus Rendell, 1st Battalion, a respected but ambitious commander within the Seventh, intended to break ranks and throw his battalion in with the rebellious Fifty-first Dragoon Regiment, Lee recognized the danger immediately. The Seventh Cavalry was a linchpin unit — if it fractured, the entire government could collapse.  The 1st Battalion was ready for action (deploying for a training exercise in North America as a test of the Rapid Response Unit), it would take a few days to deploy the other battalions (maintenance, training and stand-down from recent deployments).

Lee moved carefully. First, he gathered a small cadre of loyal officers — people he trusted to place the Hegemony above personal politics. Together, they reinforced the importance of chain of command and the rule of civilian oversight to their troops, quietly shoring up loyalty company by company. They spread the word: no officer, however senior, had the right to unilaterally abandon their duty to the government. Not in the Terran Hegemony.

Lee also initiated subtle but critical safeguards: restricting access to key armories, changing access codes, putting the 1st Battalions Mechs in training mode (good to be the deputy training officer), monitoring troop movements, and ensuring that communications were routed through officers confirmed to be loyal. Every strategy was built around one principle — make it physically difficult for a coup to succeed without open, undeniable mutiny.

When Major Rendell finally made his move — issuing secret orders to redeploy the battalion toward a Dragoon stronghold — Lee and his loyalists acted. With stunning speed, they cut Rendell off from his command circuits, isolated his key supporters, and isolated the battalion’s command center. By the time Rendell realized the trap had sprung, it was too late. Surrounded, isolated, and faced with the reality that the majority of his own troops would not follow him against the Hegemony, Rendell surrendered without bloodshed.

The sun on Geneva was a molten coin in the smoky sky, and the Seventh Cavalry lay like a coiled serpent across the mountains — restless, uncertain, but still dangerous.

Carlos Dangmar Lee stood beside the battered comms array, a faint buzz of static the only answer to his last transmission. His uniform, once sharp, was dulled by dust and tension. Around him, officers murmured, their voices low and sharp-edged. News had spread in whispers: Major Rendell was making his move.

Lee felt it like a tremor in his bones — the way the battalion leader had shifted, as he leaned toward rebellion. He turned to LT. Krol, her face set and pale beneath her helmet.

“It’s now or never,” Lee said. He keyed the tactical frequency open and spoke, calm but firm.

“By order of the Seventh Cavalry’s Articles and the Authority of the Director-General, Major Rendell is relieved of command, effective immediately. Company units are to hold position and await lawful orders.”

For a moment, nothing but silence. Then a series of green-coded acknowledgements from, each Lance, flashed across his console. One after another. More than enough.

Lee exhaled slowly. We have them.

He moved quickly, leading a handpicked squad to the battalion command center. There, in the shadow of the ancient prefabricated walls, stood Marcus Rendell — a tall, silver-haired figure, his expression caught between fury and disbelief.

You don't know what you're doing, Captain, Rendell said, voice low and venomous. Cameron’s finished. If you had any sense, you’d stand aside.

Lee didn’t flinch. His voice was steady. You taught us yourself, Major: a soldier serves the Hegemony, not his ambition.

Around them, weapons were trained, safeties clicked off. Krol and Mentz stood like statues beside Lee. Rendell glanced around, reading the faces, the resolution written there. His shoulders sagged. The coup, so carefully plotted, ended not with gunfire but with a slow, bitter surrender.

Now that we have the Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) codes, we need to roll-up a supply train and cut off the support to the Fifty-first Dragoon Regiment.  LT Mentz, take your lance and capture the Fifty-first Dragoon support detachment, use these codes to get close before you pop the surprise.  I will join you after I see what happened to the old man.  Try to take prisoners.

LT Krol, you have Battalion HQ, maintain control and keep locked down until you check with me.   

---------------------------

Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee: The Quiet Hunter of the 7th Cavalry

Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee had the kind of career that would never inspire headlines — but in the hidden corners of the Inner Sphere, among those who truly understood war, his name carried a weight of respect. A graduate of the prestigious Saint-Cyr Military Academy, Lee embodied the best traditions of disciplined innovation and tactical cunning.

In his early years, as a Company Commander in the 7th Cavalry Regiment, Lee found himself facing the razor-edged realities of frontier defense. The Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS), hungry for resources and eager to test the Hegemony’s reach, launched a series of brutal raiding operations into border territories. Lee’s command (acting as a Rapid Response Force) was typically outnumbered, often facing forces two or three times the size of his own under-supplied company.

But Lee thrived in this imbalance. He refused to meet the enemy head-on where they were strongest. Instead, he turned to an ancient philosophy: the tactics of Native American warriors, who once danced circles around larger imperial armies on Earth. Lee and his officers studied those patterns of feint, ambush, mobility, and confusion, using the terrain to their advantage, disappearing into forests, canyons, and urban wreckage only to strike when the enemy least expected.

At the heart of Lee’s personal style was his Kyudo battlemech — a 45-ton machine built for high-precision fire support. With a top speed of 86 km/h, the Kyudo was faster than most heavier designs, enabling him to move between firing positions with lethal unpredictability. His primary weapon, a Conan/20 LRM-20 launcher, coupled with an Artemis II Direct Fire Control System, allowed him to deliver devastatingly accurate missile salvos from unexpected angles — whether in direct confrontations or indirect fire from hidden positions.

Backing up his missile arsenal was a Sorenstein ER Large Laser, deadly both up close and at range. Lee mastered the art of the running battle: striking from a distance to soften the enemy, then darting in to deliver precision laser strikes at critical points before vanishing again like smoke on the horizon.

During his most famous engagement — later nicknamed the "Dance of Broken Spears" — Lee led his company against a DCMS force nearly double their size. By fragmenting the raiders into isolated units through decoy attacks and hidden missile nests, Lee destroyed their command structure in a single night, forcing a full withdrawal without risking a single frontal assault.

His success earned him steady promotion, and eventually the command of a company in the 7th Cavalry. Yet Lee never sought glory or higher office. In the tradition of the warriors he emulated, he remained a quiet, focused professional, dedicating himself to mentoring younger officers in the importance of mobility, deception, and precision.

In the strategic circles of the Terran Hegemony, Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee became known as a specialist in asymmetric engagements — the officer you sent when defeat was expected, but survival, and sometimes victory, could still be carved out of impossibility.

His personal motto, carved into the cockpit of his Kyudo, read simply:

"The wind does not announce itself."

---------------

7th Cavalry Regiment — Officer Professional Development

Supplemental Directive: Commanding Officer’s Reading List
Issued by: Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee (Deputy Regimental Training Officer)

Required Reading

1. The Art of War — Sun Tzu
Timeless principles of indirect warfare, strategic patience, and deception. Officers will be expected to apply these concepts under field conditions.

2. On Guerrilla Warfare — Mao Zedong
Foundational treatise on using mobility, popular support, and small-unit tactics to defeat larger forces.

3. Once an Eagle — Anton Myrer
A study of military leadership — contrasts professional, ethical soldiering with ambition-driven command.

4. The Ghost Dance War: Indigenous Resistance Strategies in the Late American West — Dr. M.J. Trovitz
A historical analysis of Native American warfare methods and asymmetric resistance movements. Particular focus on mobility, ambush, and psychological warfare.

5. Psychological Operations and the Modern Battlefield — Lt. Gen. Eli Sanford (Ret.)
A practical manual on using misinformation, morale attacks, and strategic deception at the regimental and division levels.

Optional but Strongly Recommended

6. The March Up: Taking Baghdad with the 1st Marine Division — Bing West and Maj. Gen. Ray L. Smith
Study on operational momentum, speed, and decision-making under chaotic conditions.

7. Silent Legions: Covert War in the Rim Territories — Col. Naomi Barlow
A classified internal history (approved sections only) covering Hegemony black-ops campaigns against pirate and insurgent forces.

8. Understanding Enemy Culture: Warfare Beyond Weapons — Dr. Lena Han
Analyzing the cultural drivers behind enemy decision-making to predict and preempt battlefield behavior.

Standing Directive:
* All junior officers are expected to complete at least four of the above titles within their first year of assignment.
* Failure to demonstrate practical understanding during after-action reviews will affect career progression.

Captain Lee’s Personal Note:
"Strength wins battles.
 Understanding wins wars."

-------------

7th Cavalry Regiment — Officer Development Review

Oral Exam: Tactical and Strategic Principles
Administered by: Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee (or assigned staff)

Section I: Foundations of Asymmetric Warfare

Question 1:
According to Sun Tzu, what is the highest form of warfare? How does this principle influence our engagement strategies on the frontier?

Question 2:
Describe the key characteristics of a successful guerrilla campaign, as outlined by Mao Zedong. How would you apply these concepts in a conventional combined-arms operation?

Section II: Tactical Applications

Question 3:
In a running engagement against a numerically superior force, what are three tactical objectives you should prioritize according to Ghost Dance War principles?

Question 4:
Explain the importance of disrupting enemy command and control (C3) early in a battle. How would you use your Kyudo’s capabilities to contribute to this objective?

Question 5:
Given an enemy force dug into a fortified urban area, what combination of psychological operations and maneuver tactics would you employ to force a withdrawal without committing to costly frontal assaults?

Section III: Operational Mindset

Question 6:
Based on your reading of Once an Eagle, how do you distinguish between an officer leading for mission success versus one leading for personal glory? How does this affect unit cohesion under stress?

Question 7:
Silent Legions emphasizes the role of cultural intelligence in low-intensity conflicts. If intelligence reports suggest a local militia values honor duels and face-saving, how should that affect your negotiation and intimidation tactics?

Section IV: Reflection

Question 8:
Captain Lee’s personal motto is "The wind does not announce itself." In your own words, explain what this means in the context of modern mobile warfare.

Evaluation Notes:
* Tactical Comprehension (50%) — Practical application of theory to real operations.
* Strategic Awareness (30%) — Ability to see broader campaign impacts.
* Ethical Leadership (20%) — Demonstrated understanding of professional conduct versus personal ambition.

Passing Standard:
* Lance / Company Commanders must pass with 85% or higher.
* Officers scoring between 70-84% must complete a remedial field exercise.
* Officers below 70% are flagged for review and possible reassignment to staff roles.

-----------------

7th Cavalry Regiment — Field Training Exercise (FTX)

Exercise Name: Silent Thunder
Designed by: Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee
Location: Sector 14-B, Dust Flats Training Grounds, Terra Minor

Scenario Overview

Background:
* A simulated DCMS raiding force (the OPFOR, or Opposing Force) has seized the village of Brightwater — a strategic hub for local communications and supply routes.
* The enemy holds Brightwater with approximately 125% of your battalion/company's available strength and has fortified key approaches with sensor arrays and static defenses.

Objective:
* Disrupt enemy logistics and morale.
* Cause a general enemy withdrawal or collapse of their defensive perimeter.
* Capture or destroy the enemy C3 node within Brightwater.
* Minimize friendly losses (<15% battalion / company strength).

Rules of Engagement
* Direct frontal assault is forbidden.
* Friendly civilian structures must be preserved where possible.
* Decoy, deception, and mobility tactics are highly encouraged.
* All units must be prepared to operate with degraded communication systems.

Exercise Phases
Objective - Key Challenges

Phase 1 - Reconnaissance & Infiltration
Identify enemy patrol patterns, sensor gaps, and C3 node location. Must avoid detection.

Phase 2 - Psychological Pressure
Use hit-and-fade attacks, decoy transmissions, and false retreats to weaken enemy cohesion.

Phase 3 - Targeted Strikes
Neutralize key logistic and command assets with minimal engagement.

Phase 4 -
Seizure or Collapse
Force full enemy withdrawal or disintegration of command structure for final capture.

Victory Conditions
* Capture of Brightwater without exceeding 15% casualty rate.
* C3 node disabled or captured intact.
* 60% of OPFOR either captured, surrendering, or retreating.
* Environmental and civilian damage limited to 10% or less.

Commander's Notes (From Captain Lee):
"Any fool can bleed for a goal.
 The wise spill the enemy’s fear first — then their strength."

Special Intelligence 
* Weather reports: Thick early morning mist (low visibility).
* Civilian sympathizers inside Brightwater may aid if properly contacted.
* OPFOR commander rumored to be overly cautious after previous defeats.

Officer Grading Metrics
* Adaptability: Changes plans dynamically under pressure.
* Terrain Exploitation: Uses geography to create advantage.
* Psychological Warfare: Induces fear, doubt, or confusion in enemy ranks.
* Force Preservation: Accomplishes objectives with minimum necessary combat.
* Initiative: Identifies opportunities beyond original orders.

Bonus Challenges (For Honors Recognition)
* Capture the enemy commander alive.
* Secure at least 75% of Brightwater’s communications equipment intact.
* Induce an OPFOR surrender without requiring full kinetic engagement.

Senior Agent Cole Note - Capt. Lee is a master Cavalryman, dedicated, and loyal.  No red flags detected.  The Seventh's training regiment is very demanding and intense.  Not a military type, but for a rapid response unit would seem to be appropriate.

[Daryk]

It seems Lee should be a Major by now!  Also, there was a reference to "First Lord" in there.  I thought the revolt was prior to the Star League, so it should be Director-General, right?

[Gareth Lott]

I agree, he should be a Major, I demoted Lee based on page 48 of the reunification war manual.  It states "but instead of engaging the mutinous Fifty-first Dragoon Regiment, his battalion commander ordered Captain Lee and his fellow MechWarriors to reinforce the rebel Dragoons while the major staged his own coup within the regiment. In the confusing hours that followed, Lee and a core group of loyal officers ended the major’s revolt. Still, not before the regimental commander and another battalion commander were killed, and almost half of the regiment either defected to the Fifty-first Dragoons’ cause or were destroyed by them."  So, in this story, he was recently selected for promotion to Major, but has not put it on yet, promotion controlled by billet and assignment.

On the subject of First Lord comment, probably not clear, so my fault, but that section title is ✶ Historical Analysis Footnote ✶

Excerpt from "Foundations of the Star League: A Critical History" by Dr. Elana Korvis, 2815 Footnote: Internal Dissent within the HCIB (2549-2571)

So, it was my poor attempt to jump into the future to reinforce an event we all know is coming.

NOTE:  Nope, you are correct, it slipped in.  Fixed.   To steal from two different great stories.  It is easier on the tabletop, and I'm glad the dropship did not land on me.

[Gareth Lott]

Title: I Love It When a Plan Comes Together (Part I)

Date: 2549.10.07
Location: Guangzhou, Terra

Standing in the cold, steady rain, Professor-General Yara Turing waited outside the SCE complex, her uniform damp and her patience thinning.

This can’t be good, she thought. Maybe I should have said more—maybe even gone straight to the Director-General. But there’s no use crying over spilled milk now. That genie isn’t going back into the bottle. I wonder who they’re sending...

Ten minutes later, the answer appeared.

To her surprise, the arriving figure stepped out of the convoy with a calm poise and unmistakable authority.

“This is unexpected. Welcome, General Shandra Noruff-Cameron,” Turing greeted, gesturing toward the doors. “Please, follow me inside.”

General Cameron gave her a tight nod. “Thank you. If possible, I’d like to proceed directly to the SCE Nexus. I have two urgent questions that need answers.”

----------------------------

Title: I Love It When a Plan Comes Together (Part II)

Date: 2549.10.08
Location: Seventh Cavalry, 1st Battalion HQ – Terra

Lieutenant Krol, 1st Battalion Duty Officer, entered HQ with an uneasy expression and four sealed messages in hand. She approached the commanding officer’s desk and cleared her throat.

“Sir... I don’t know how to explain this. Honestly, it’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen.”

She handed the first message to Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee (acting 1st Battalion).

------------

EFFECTIVE DATE: 08 OCT 2544
ORDER NUMBER: HAF-PROMO/7CAV-2544-017

1. Upon recommendation of the Regional Command and approval of the Director-General’s Office, the Hegemony Armed Forces Administrative Command hereby notifies Captain Carlos Dangmar Lee of your promotion to the rank of Major, Hegemony Armed Forces.

2. You are hereby assigned to command 1st Battalion, Seventh Cavalry Regiment, with full operational authority, logistical priority, and staff privileges.

3. Your record of service, conduct under fire, and consistent demonstration of tactical excellence and ethical leadership have merited this advancement. 

4. You are expected to report to Seventh Cavalry HQ at Basel-Kleinhüningen for formal pinning and new orders no later than 08 OCT 2544. Uniform Code 8A applies.

Captain Lee blinked. “This is dated four years ago. Did you verify this order? If this is someone’s idea of a joke, they’re doing KP duty for a month.”

Krol nodded, still puzzled. “Sir, I confirmed it—twice. But... it gets better.” She handed over the second message.

------------

EFFECTIVE DATE: 08 OCT 2549
ORDER NUMBER: HAF-PROMO/7CAV-2549-043

1. Upon recommendation of the Regional Command and approval of the Director-General’s Office, the Hegemony Armed Forces Administrative Command hereby notifies Major Carlos Dangmar Lee of your promotion to the rank of Colonel, Hegemony Armed Forces.

2. You are hereby assigned to command the Household Guard (Cavalry Regiment), with full operational authority, logistical priority, and staff privileges.

3. Your record of service, conduct under fire, and leadership excellence have merited this advancement. Your role during and following the September Rebellion (2549) directly supported public trust and restored stability across Terra.

4. You are ordered to report to Household Guard HQ in Geneva for formal pinning and new orders no later than 08 OCT 2549. Uniform Code 8A applies.

------------

Now Colonel Lee simply said, “Wow.”

Before he could process further, Krol handed him a third envelope. Now wary, Lee took it with a dry chuckle. “If this one says I’m a general, then I’ll know this is a prank. Wait a second...” he trailed off, rereading the second message.

“There’s no Household Guard Cavalry Regiment in Geneva,” he muttered. Then he opened the third message.

------------

EFFECTIVE DATE: 08 OCT 2549
ORDER NUMBER: HAF-UNIT/7CAV-2549-176

1. Upon recommendation of the Regional Command and approval of the Director-General’s Office, the Hegemony Armed Forces Administrative Command hereby notifies you of the redesignation of the Seventh Cavalry to the Household Guard (Cavalry).

2. You are hereby ordered to report to Frankfurt for full unit refit no later than 08 OCT 2549.

------------

Colonel Lee stood motionless, then slowly exhaled.

“One word: wow.” He turned to Krol. “Lieutenant, I want Battalion, Company, and Lance Commanders in the briefing room in 20 minutes. Use emergency recall protocols if necessary.”

“We’re supposed to be a Rapid Response Unit,” he continued. “And we’re moving—328 miles. It’s going to be tight.”

“Ops and Plans—I want strategy and deployment orders with options and approvals for execution. I want hourly updates until this unit is in motion and squared away.”  You're briefing the command in 30 minutes.

Sergeant Miller, I need transportation to HQ in 70 minutes.  The Sergeant responds with a "Hooah".

As Krol turned to leave, she stopped and turned back.

“Sir... there’s one more message.”

Lee sighed. “Of course there is.”

------------

EFFECTIVE DATE: 08 OCT 2549
ORDER NUMBER: HAF-UNIT CO/HouseGuard (CAV)-2549-001

You are hereby ordered to report to Geneva for formal hearings and senior staff briefing no later than 12 OCT 2549.

SIGNED,
 General Shandra Noruff-Cameron

-------------------------------

Title: At least you will get paid (eventually) 
Year: 2549.10.8
Location: Indianapolis, Terra

At HAF Administrative Command (Defense Finance and Accounting Service), Pay Clerk Specialist 1st Class Deena Malkor stared in disbelief at the retroactive promotion orders sprawled across her terminal. "Back pay to 2544?!" she muttered, rubbing her temples. Somewhere deep in the SCE personnel database, a data integrity fault had misfiled Major Carlos Dangmar Lee's promotion—an oversight now requiring recalculation of five years’ worth of officer-grade compensation, hazard bonuses, and field command stipends. Muttering a few choice words about “SCE ghost errors,” Malkor initiated a full audit. “This is going to break three budget caps and a coffee machine,” she sighed—then submitted the pay adjustment request with the grim efficiency of someone who’d seen one too many bureaucratic miracles land in her lap. 

[Daryk]

The DFAS coda is the cherry on top!

[Gareth Lott]

✶ "The Hardest Truth" ✶ – Part II – After the Brief by HCIB to Congress
Geneva, Terra – 12 October 2549, 20:47 Hours

The echo of retreating footsteps and the heavy thud of closing chamber doors faded into the vast silence of the congressional hall. The scent of polished marble and recycled air still lingered. Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee of the HouseGuard (CAV) remained at attention in the upper gallery, having observed every second of the historic address below.

He was waiting for a post-briefing meeting with senior committee members and the Director-General’s staff. Carlos had a knack for being where the decisions were made.

“Are you cleared for this wing?” a voice asked sharply — calm, yet unmistakably firm.

Carlos turned. “As of today,” he replied, displaying his ID badge.

Standing ten meters away, Senior Agent Miranda Cole of the HCIB regarded him coolly. Her dark suit was cut with precise tailoring, her badge clipped at a deliberate angle. Her eyes were clinical, calculating — and not entirely surprised to find him here. Carlos blinked twice. Damn, he thought, he had to refrain from saying “wow”. But he recovered quickly.

“I could say the same, Agent Cole,” he said smoothly. “Last I checked, HCIB operatives weren’t supposed to be seen.”

Miranda raised an eyebrow and tilted her head slightly. “Colonel Lee. HouseGuard. Is your unit back from Frankfurt?”

“Not yet,” Carlos replied. “I’m here on orders from General Noruff-Cameron. She thinks my experience in tracking the mutineers might prove useful. My unit needs a week to finish assembling the new command group.”

Something passed between them then — a brief, shared flicker of loss and suspicion.

“I requested access to the classified briefings on the revolt,” Miranda said quietly. “It’s worse than what General Hersch admitted publicly.”

Carlos nodded. “Same here. I don’t believe the Dragoons acted alone. There’s a pattern — synchronized mutinies, sabotage, encrypted comms outside standard Hegemony protocols. Someone kept the Seventh Cavalry connected. I'm trying to find out who.”

Miranda stepped closer. “You want to know who coordinated it.”

“I want justice, I want to protect the Hegemony,” Carlos said. “And I want to make sure it never happens again.”

She studied him. “Good. Director-General Cameron just greenlit the DMI. I’ve been assigned as its lead investigator. I need someone with command experience — someone who’s seen betrayal from the inside.”

Carlos exhaled. “You’re recruiting me.”

“Call it a partnership,” Miranda replied. “We’re going to have to go deep — compromised units, corrupted files, even active-duty officers.”

Carlos hesitated. “We’re going to step on powerful toes.”

Miranda gave a faint smile. “That’s part of the job. Do you trust me?”

“No,” Carlos said bluntly. “But I respect that you didn’t flinch when I said I want justice.”

She nodded. It was enough.

“Then let’s start a list,” Carlos said. “We’ll need allies.”

---------------------

✶ Phase One: Building the Circle ✶

Deputy Director Samuel Krysz was the first. Gruff, bearded, and approaching retirement, he was fiercely loyal to Ian Cameron — and even more so to the truth. In a smoke-choked side office within the HCIB, he handed over encrypted access codes and flagged four buried reports detailing illicit militia funding routed through shell accounts.

“Start with these,” he grumbled. “But you didn’t get them from me.”

Next was General Shandra Noruff-Cameron, wife of the current Director-General, sister-in-law to the slain one, and head of the Hegemony Mech Forces, took more convincing. They met in the marble corridors of Congress Hall. Arms folded, suspicion etched into every line of her posture, she clearly didn’t want to believe what was unfolding.

But after her visit to TAWI, she already knew. It was the first question she had asked Professor-General Yara Turing.

Let’s see how they figure this out, she thought. This will be a good test — if the predictions about Colonel Lee’s role in the Terran Hegemony and the future Star League hold true.

Her second question cut straight to the core. “You think one of my generals sold us out?”

Carlos answered without hesitation. “I think someone used your generals. We don’t know who yet. But if we don’t find out, it’ll happen again.”

Shandra held Miranda’s gaze for a long moment, then silently activated her comm and granted them full access to the tactical deployment logs from the revolt.

“Find the bastard,” she said.

Before they left, she stopped them. “There’s someone I want you to meet. Go to Guangzhou. Find Professor-General Yara Turing.”

I’m already five moves ahead, Shandra thought. But I hope she’s as right as she claims to be.

[Daryk]

Interesting developments!

[Gareth Lott]

✶ HCIB MEMORANDUM ✶ 

Classification: All Departments 
Date: 03 November 2549 

From: Commanding General Walter Hersch 
To: All HCIB Personnel 

Subject: Department of Military Investigation (DMI)   

1. DMI has been approved, any personnel that desire a transfer should apply for positions using HCIBJobs portal. 
2. It is with great pleasure, even in this time of great need, to announce the promotion of Samuel Krysz, Director of Military Investigation (DMI) 

 — W. Hersch 
Commanding General, Hegemony Central Intelligence Bureau 

 -------------------------

✶ Meeting at TAWI – The Turing Intercept ✶
Guangzhou, Terra – 03 November 2549, 14:10 Hours

The air in the briefing dome of the Terran Alliance Wargames Institute (TAWI) was crisp, faintly ionized by the ring of silent holoprojectors. Floor-to-ceiling panes framed the Southern Ridge training fields beyond — still and quiet, a stark contrast to the turmoil mounting within the Terran Hegemony.

Carlos Dangmar Lee and Miranda Cole stood before the legendary Professor-General Yara Turing, a slender figure whose calm demeanor belied the magnitude of what she knew. Her uniform was immaculate. Her eyes were not — they carried the fatigue of decades spent uncovering truths buried under layers of sanctioned silence.

Miranda stepped forward, set her case down, and activated a portable node. With precise efficiency, she uploaded its contents to the Institute’s secure grid.

“Here’s what we’ve compiled,” she began, voice clipped but professional. “Four suppressed internal reports on illicit militia funding — routed through a dozen shell accounts using obsolete, semi-anonymous commerce satellites. Tactical deployment logs from the revolt, with anomalies suggesting intentional pre-positioning. And three weeks’ worth of analysis: encrypted traffic patterns, security gaps, redacted personnel movements.”

Turing didn’t even glance at the spinning arrays of data. With a flick of her hand, she dismissed them.  Everything I’m about to say, should never be repeated.

“Selene flagged all of this weeks ago,” she said calmly. “But thank you.”

Carlos raised a brow. “Selene?”

“My predictive AI cluster,” Turing replied. “She’s been running deepwatch protocols across the revolt and its aftermath. What your team found is correct — but it’s only the surface layer.”

Miranda tensed. “Meaning?”

Turing turned to them. “Meaning General Walter Hersch has been tracking your investigation. He’s been feeding you data — selectively. Enough to keep you chasing shadows, while the information that would’ve exposed him was buried or altered.”

Carlos stepped forward. “Wow, General Hersch is the bad guy. How accurate is your data?”

Turing met his gaze. “In this case? Ninety-nine point nine eight seven five percent.”

A beat of silence passed as the number sank in.

“Two key points,” she continued, stepping to a console and projecting a new cascade of overlays — routing logs, audit trails, tampered comms. “First — Hersch didn’t cover his tracks well. I believe he never expected scrutiny. A fatal mistake. He assumed the Hegemony would never place checks on the watchers themselves.”

Carlos exchanged a look with Miranda.

“Second — Selene’s been tracking his distortions: file edits, shifted timestamps, rerouted logs. Subtle changes. Designed to mislead you. Enough misdirection to divert a standard investigation. But Selene saw through it.”

Turing’s voice softened. “Agent Cole — I’m sorry to spring this on you, but… you’ll be promoted tomorrow. Congratulations.”

Miranda blinked. “What?”

“It’s not a commendation. It’s a maneuver,” Turing said, grim now. “The aim was to derail your investigation. After your promotion, HCIB planned to unveil fabricated evidence implicating a rogue senator and a so-called cabal within the HAF. "Every element was manufactured — a grand illusion. Hersch’s plan had a certain dark elegance to it. (this part needs to be said in a vizzini-the-sicilian Princess Bride accent) Not unlike the infamous political purges of the early 21st century, when President Trump dismissed the entire Joint Chiefs and thousands of civil servants in a single, sweeping move about loyalty. But where that upheaval made headlines, Hersch’s strategy was quieter — calculated misdirection. The September Revolt was never meant to succeed. It was always a decoy — a distraction crafted to mask the real operation."

Carlos stepped closer, frowning. “A throwaway operation. Cover for something bigger.”

Turing nodded. “Precisely. The goal was to install HCIB as an unseen power. Manufacture fear. Sow distrust. Then present themselves as the only answer. They’d have the means to silence anyone — military, civilian, political — without oversight or consequence. The revolt gave them the excuse.”

She turned back to the holodisplay. “The only problem… is you, Colonel Lee.”

Carlos stiffened. “Me?”

“You broke Selene’s projections. Repeatedly. You weren’t supposed to look past the planted clues. Your instincts — your unwillingness to be led — disrupted the probability chain. The models can no longer accurately predict your actions.”

Data cascaded across the screen again, silent and sharp.

Miranda raised a hand. “Hold on. Professor — this is comprehensive, yes, but I need something concrete. Something I can touch. Not just another theory.”

The room fell into a heavy, loaded quiet. Miranda folded her arms, eyes fixed on the frozen frame of Hersch’s betrayal. Carlos exhaled beside her, tension slowly draining.

Then Turing swiped the display again.

“It’s worth mentioning,” she said with clinical nonchalance, “Selene’s long-range modeling includes high-confidence branches beyond the crisis at hand.”

Carlos cocked a brow. “Like what?”

Another projection unfolded — warmer, slower. A timeline of personal events, annotated with precise notations and visual cues.

“According to Selene,” Turing said, “you and Senior Agent Cole will go on your first date 14.2 days after Hersch’s arrest. A tactical debrief turns into a late dinner. The probability of mutual romantic acknowledgment at that time: 82.9%.”

Miranda’s head snapped toward her. “Stop.”

Turing didn’t blink. “It gets better.”

Carlos grinned. “Let her finish, Cole.”

“Marriage follows two years and eight months later. Small ceremony. Off-world. New Earth Colony. Three children: twin daughters — Kaela and June — followed by a son, Marcus, within seven years.”

Miranda’s voice was flat. “Turing. Stop.”

“The projection’s accuracy is 97.593%,” the professor added evenly.

Carlos blinked. “Wait — what?”

“Wow,” he added, eyes widening. “You’re predicting lunch orders too?”

Turing allowed herself a faint smile. “It’s a convergence model — psychometric analysis, behavioral markers, and decision tree trajectories. The two of you form a rare pair: complementary strategic instincts under pressure. Intimacy, once established, is statistically resilient.”

Carlos gave a low whistle. “Wow.”

“But,” Yara added, eyes narrowing slightly at the display, “your son — Marcus. I can’t determine his eye color. Too many genetic variables. That’s the one detail Selene won’t commit to.”

Miranda stared at the floor for a moment, then slowly looked up at Carlos.

“You’re enjoying this,” she said.

Carlos shrugged, grinning. “I mean — we save the Hegemony, take down a shadow coup, and end up with adorable twins? I’ve had worse missions.”

Miranda rolled her eyes. “Perfect. The professor’s predictive algorithm just handed you a ten-year strategic plan.”

Carlos smirked. “Then I’d better make sure we both live through it.”

Turing remained composed. She tapped a new sequence on the console. “That’s the point. If the investigation continues unchecked, Agent Cole will face an ‘accident’ within the next fourteen days.”

She paused, then added, “I anticipated the threat. Selene projects it likely won’t occur — because of your partnership, and your shared drive to survive.”

She brought up another file. “This contains Selene’s deviation models, intercepted falsified audit trails, and a priority comm burst routed through an HCIB subnode two hours before the first public riot. It was personally authorized by Hersch — using access credentials cloned from a dead analyst.”

The screen shifted, revealing a still frame: Hersch’s authorization key, fully timestamped and cross-referenced.

Carlos leaned forward. “That’s all I needed to see.”

Miranda glanced back at the projection of their so-called future — just for a moment.

Miranda looked at the floor, then back at Carlos.

“You’re really not going to let this go are you," she said.

He grinned. “I hope not," paused and looked at her for a moment, "I like the kids’ names.”

She punched him — not hard, just enough to knock some air out of his lungs.

Then she turned. “Let’s finish this investigation first.”

Carlos gasped slightly and nodded. “Deal.”

Afterward…

In a moment of spare processing time (less than a nanosecond), Selene revised her projection.

First date revised: Day 15.7 Nighttime. Formal event. Human variables disrupt precise timing models. New probability of mutual romantic acknowledgment: 95.9%. Likely, a floral element is involved.  Overall prediction confidence drops to 95%. Survival variables unresolved.

----------------

✶ Return Flight: Geneva Vector ✶
En Route to Geneva, 03 November 2549, 20:42 Hours

The cabin’s hum was soft, the diplomatic shuttle slicing silently through high-atmosphere vectors over Terra’s Eurasian hemisphere. Outside, stars glittered above a sleeping planet. Inside, a thin tension lingered — not fear, but focus.

Carlos Lee sat across from Miranda Cole in the forward command cabin. Both were buckled in — not due to turbulence, but necessity. Between them, a secured tablet glowed faintly, still warm with encrypted data. The files recovered from Professor-General Turing held the evidence that could bring down General Walter Hersch and expose the shadow apparatus behind the HCIB.

The thought nagged at Miranda: I still can’t believe Hersch is the top of this conspiracy.

She broke the silence, flipping open her notes.
 “I see four actions,” she said crisply. “We land in Geneva in six hours. That’s enough time to figure out our next move. First: we secure the evidence with a third-party node — not Alliance Command, not Hegemony Central. Vault 9 at Davos Node. Old infrastructure, analog shielding. Selene flagged it as off-grid enough to trust.”

Carlos nodded. “Agreed. We can’t risk HCIB intercepting or corrupting the data before we present it. Once it’s there, we trigger a failsafe — a broadcast key to the Inter-Alliance Ethics Tribunal. If we’re compromised, the story still gets out.”

“Exactly,” Miranda said. “Which brings us to step two.”

Carlos leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Expose Hersch publicly. Not just in the tribunal chambers. He still has pull — and allies in the comms net. If he controls the narrative, we lose. We arrest him first, before he has a chance to spin this.”

Miranda nodded. “We’ll loop in General Kosta. He’s clean, and he owes me. A tribunal speech backed by a civilian datadrop. Leak it to the Earthside Free Press. Let them swarm the story while hearings begin.”

Carlos smiled faintly. “Hersch won’t know which direction the attack is coming from. That leaves step three.”

Miranda’s voice softened, but her eyes stayed sharp. “Protect the survivors — analysts, junior officers, anyone who helped us pull this thread. If Selene’s right, HCIB has a contingency plan to clean house if this gets out of control.”

Carlos leaned back, exhaling through his nose. “We coordinate with the Geneva Diplomatic Security Office. Set up extractions. Anonymous channels. Burner codes. If someone tries to disappear them, we vanish them first.”

Miranda added quietly, “Step four: we need a rapid-response force. Hersch’s household guard is still on Mars. They may not go quietly.”

Carlos gave her a sidelong look. “I’ve got that covered.”

He paused. “But you forgot step five.”

Miranda looked up. “Step five?”

“Misdirection. For your safety,” he said, his tone both serious and protective. “We need to give them someone else to chase. You’re being promoted tomorrow. Use that to launch a visible, conventional investigation you lead publicly — let them watch the wrong hand.”

Miranda frowned. “If you think I’m hiding—”

“God no,” Carlos said. “You lead. But you buy us time. Use your new authority to move while they’re watching your official steps. I just need you to do one more thing—”

A silence followed. Heavier than before. The kind that settles when two people have mapped the edge of a war and chosen to walk straight into it.

Miranda looked out the window for a long moment, then back at him.
 “Think we’ll make it through?”

Carlos gave her a crooked smile. “Yes. No doubt.”

Miranda raised an eyebrow. “You’re just counting on Selene’s matchmaking prophecy.”

He chuckled. “I’m counting on your instincts. The AI’s just a bonus. You earned that promotion, Miranda. Don’t ever doubt that.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze.

The stars outside shimmered slightly as the shuttle banked gently, engines adjusting for descent into Geneva. Below them, the world turned slowly — waiting.

They had six hours. Enough time to rewrite history — or die trying.

-----------------

✦ You Sometimes Get What You Ask For (Part I) ✦

Date: 2549.11.04 — Time: 02:35 Hours
 Location: Geneva, Terra – HCIB Landing Pad

His plan was never going to work the way he wanted it to. No matter how important it was to give her cover — to try and protect her — he could never attack her professional talent like that. He couldn’t call her incompetent, just a pretty face, someone unqualified for the position she now held. He couldn’t tear her down in front of people who worked with her, people who looked up to her.

He wasn’t sure if he loved her — he was interested, yes — but this was bigger than that. She needed protection and cover. And Carlos cared enough to take the hit, to survive her wrath, and hopefully accomplish what needed to be done.

As they walked apart in the HCIB situation room, Senior Agent Cole checked her notes while Carlos entered the adjacent conference room. A trusted assistant, Lt. Eleni Juno — Intelligence Forensics — approached Miranda. Her voice was just loud enough to carry, tinged with disbelief and anger.

“I can’t believe the report the Colonel wants to submit on this investigation,” she said. “It’s incomplete. Shoddy work. The conclusions are... frankly, Doosh. It’s almost like he’s joined the other side.”

Miranda’s brow furrowed. “Let me see that,” she said. “I didn’t even know he was writing a report.”
She scanned the datapad. The only word that came out of her mouth was: “Wow.”
Without hesitation, she spun on her heel and stormed toward the conference room.

“You’d better get the hell out of my office,” she snapped, voice rising as she burst through the door. She followed that with a few choice words that echoed through the hallway as Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee made a quick and hasty retreat.

-------------

✦ You Sometimes Get What You Ask For (Part II) ✦

Date: 2549.11.04
 Location: Geneva, Terra – DMI Director’s Office

“Send her in.”

The door slid open with a soft hiss.

“Director. Senior Agent Cole, reporting as ordered.”

“I heard about this morning,” the Director said. “But I haven’t seen the report.”

Miranda’s posture was composed, but her voice was resolute. “As the lead investigator, I would never let a report like that be submitted for review. The Colonel claimed the previous HCIB Director was involved with several HAF generals. But there’s no tangible — or even executable — evidence. In my view, he jumped the gun. I can’t have anyone on this investigation who doesn’t follow the evidence… or the chain of command.”

The Director nodded slightly. “Miranda, please — have a seat.”

That set her on edge. Miranda. In six years, he had never used her first name.

She sat, straight-backed and watchful.

“First,” the Director said, “changing the subject — I want to make you my Deputy. Congratulations.”

Miranda didn’t hesitate. “Director, I’ve always felt we disagree more often than not. I’m not going to pretend that’s changed. But as always, I’ll carry out your orders.”

“That’s exactly why I want you,” he said. “I don’t need a yes-person in this role. I need someone who challenges me — someone who speaks their mind. And while I don’t fully agree with your recent memo,” he added, “you raised a legitimate concern. One that must be addressed. I’m giving you the authority to do just that.”

“I accept,” Miranda said, without hesitation.

“Good.”

He leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Second — and more important — I want you to keep at it. Find out who orchestrated the September Revolt… and make them regret they ever existed.”

Miranda’s expression hardened. Not fear. Focus.

“I’ll need full clearance across HCIB archives,” she said. “Not the redacted summaries. The raw intel. And I want access to the internal comm logs from Strategic Oversight and the Dragoons’ command net for the final 72 hours before the revolt.”

“Granted,” the Director said.

“I also need a senior HAF officer to run the field team. Colonel Lee won’t work. We need battlefield knowledge — no analyst can replicate that. I need someone who can lead in the field.”

“Okay. Done.”

Miranda rose, the mission already forming in her mind.

“One more thing,” she added.

“Yes?”

“I’ll find them. But when I do — I don’t want this buried in a tribunal or written off as rogue actors. If there are generals or councilors behind this, I want them exposed. Fully. Publicly.”

The Director’s jaw tightened, but he gave a single nod.

“Burn them to the ground.”

Miranda turned to leave.

As the door slid shut behind her, the Director spoke one last time.

“Cole.”

She paused. “Director?”

“Don’t just look for traitors. Look for the people protecting them.”

Miranda’s eyes narrowed.

“I already am.”

 ------------------------------ 

A message arrives....

From Director,

Personnel assigned below.  Good hunting..... 

Name: Colonel Rena Maddox
Branch: Hegemony Armed Forces – 3rd Division, Mechanized Cavalry
Callsign: “Stone”

Background:
Colonel Rena Maddox is a battle-hardened officer known for her iron resolve and battlefield adaptability. A veteran of the Vega Uprisings and a frontline commander during the Cygnus Border Fires, Maddox rose through the ranks due to her decisive leadership under fire and her ability to turn collapsing flanks into counteroffensive platforms.

Combat Style:
* Tactical Discipline: Favors layered defense with counterstrike precision.
* Heavy Cavalry Specialist: Expert in coordinating multi-lance armored thrusts in urban and mountainous terrain.
* Battlefield Calm: Known for radio silence discipline under duress — a calm voice when everything else falls apart.

Reputation:
Respected among both enlisted and officer corps for “leading from the grind,” Maddox refuses detached command posts during major operations. Loyal to the Director-General, but quietly critical of internal factionalism in the senior officer cadre.

Key Engagements:
* Battle of Desmon’s Bridge (2546) – Held a critical pass for 36 hours against a numerically superior rebel force, allowing evacuation of 9,000 civilians.
* Operation Glass Mirror (2548) – Conducted deep reconnaissance raids into separatist territory, exposing blacksite munitions supply lines.

Current Posting:
Senior Strategic Officer attached to the HCIB. Currently consulting for DMI reorganization task force in Geneva.

-----------------------------------------

✶ One Step forward / Two Steps Back - Steps in the Investigation ✶ 

 Later that day, in the DMI operations center, Miranda convened a core investigative team: 
* Colonel Rena Maddox – Field Operations Lead 
* Lt. Eleni Juno – Intelligence Forensics 
* Major Aran Dell – PsyOps and Interrogation Oversight 
* Agent Rhys Marlowe – HCIB Liaison (reluctantly assigned) 

Miranda stood before them, the September Revolt timeline projected behind her. 

“We’re not looking for foot soldiers. We’re looking for the architect — the one who sent the signal, moved the money, or made the deal that lit the fuse.” 

She pointed at a redacted name buried in a comms report from the Strategic Oversight Division. 

“This designation — ‘Kestrel-One’ — shows up in four separate channels tied to rebel movements. It’s not a callsign we’ve seen before. Find out who or what it is. That’s your first priority.” 

Rena leaned forward. “And when we do?” 

Miranda’s tone was ice. 
 “Then we find out how many others were in the room.”

[Daryk]

Heh... so it's AI overlord vs. "sloppy" human mastermind.  We'll see what actually happens!

[Gareth Lott]

"In terms of the story timeline, this scene takes place before the first part of Reply #4 and all of Reply #12. While this may not be the most conventional way to structure a narrative, I’ve been grouping related story threads together for clarity. Would it make more sense to reorder the posts chronologically instead?"

-----------------------------------------------------------
Promotion Ceremony: Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee - Office of General Shandra Noruff-Cameron
– Geneva, Terra Date: 2549.10.08 | Time: 21:47 GST

The brass nameplate on the door still read Commander, Geneva Military Region, though everyone in the Hegemony Armed Forces knew General Shandra Noruff-Cameron had long since been more than that. She was the wife of the Director-General, the quiet architect behind much of the new doctrine reshaping the HAF, and—unknown to most—the shadow of the Star League project.

Her office—more command center than chamber—was dimly lit, its walls adorned with old Terran cavalry swords and holo-scrolls of unit citations going back two centuries.

Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee entered HQ in his dress blacks, a few flecks of road dust still clinging to his boots after moving his unit to the Frankfurt deployment grounds. He paused to dust them off and glanced into the mirror just outside the office. It wasn’t unusual; most HQs had a mirror at the entrance—for officers to check themselves before facing command.

Inside the General’s office, Lee stood at attention. There was no ceremonial finery today. His Seventh Cavalry Regiment—now officially reflagged as the HouseGuard (CAV) unit—was due to begin its refit cycle by sunrise. There was no time for speeches, receptions, or formations.

General Noruff-Cameron stepped around her desk, the thin brass of her shoulder tabs catching the overhead light.

“Colonel Lee,” she said, skipping formalities. “I’m not going to waste our time with a long-winded version of what you already know.”

She held out a dark velvet box, which he opened himself. Inside was the rank insignia of a full Colonel in the Hegemony Armed Forces, along with the ceremonial clasp of House Cameron’s personal military cadre. The Cameron rose embossed on the pin was a rarely granted honor.

“Those were my eagles, back in the day,” she said. “They always helped remind me of my duty and responsibility.”

“You’re the new Commanding Officer of HouseGuard (CAV), effective immediately,” she continued. “The Geneva Guard is yours. You’ve earned it.”

Lee nodded sharply, his expression steady, though his eyes flashed with the weight of the appointment.

“Thank you, ma’am. I’ll have the unit ready to roll inside twelve days. We’ve already begun equipment swaps on the forward lances.”

“Good,” she replied, crossing her arms. “Because I’m told you’re taking delivery of four brand-new experimental machines that just passed HAF field testing at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The Mobile Tycho-Artillery Projection Systems—MTAPS—that don’t exist on paper yet. I want you to break them in carefully. This isn’t the frontier anymore. You’re HouseGuard now. Precision, not just grit.”

She paused briefly.

“One more thing,” she added, her voice lowering. “The unit’s new call sign is Glasswatch. That’s what you are now. The shield at the center of Terra. You see the threat before it’s on our doorstep. You don’t chase war—you cut it off at the knees.”

Lee gave a single, crisp nod.

“Understood, General. Glasswatch will hold.”

She extended her hand. He shook it, and the promotion was done.

No applause. No marching band. No broadcast feed.

Just two officers, a sealed order packet, and a conflict that never stopped asking for more.

Lee turned, saluted, and exited her office.

Outside, in the outer office, he addressed the staffer. “Lieutenant Travis, do you have any field test data, equipment descriptions, technical specs, or even an owner’s manual on these new MTAPS?”

Lt. Travis picked up a package off the desk. “The General said you'd ask for this. Good night, sir.”

Minutes later, Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee was aboard his command shuttle, headed for the Frankfurt staging yards. As Geneva’s towers disappeared into the night haze, their reflection on the viewport reminded him of the burden that now rested squarely on his shoulders.

Buckled in, he pulled out his tablet and began reading about the MTAPS.

“No more raiding parties. No more retreats. We ride to end the war before it begins.”

-------------------------------------------

Title: "Crisis-Level Normal"
Location: Frankfurt Deployment Grounds, Terra
Date: 2549.10.09 | Time: 07:20 GST
Subject: Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee, Commanding Officer — HouseGuard (CAV)

The sun hadn’t yet cleared the towers to the east, but the hardpack runways of Frankfurt Deployment Grounds were already alive with motion. Chassis loaders rumbled, technicians barked confirmations over encrypted local comms, and rows of Cavalry-class Mechs and armored vehicles stood like watchful statues, their exhaust vents shimmering in the cold.

Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee adjusted his field jacket against the wind and kept walking, boots crunching across the gravel service path. He had canceled the 07:30 Battle Rhythm update—no slides, no sit-reps, no obligatory nodding from already-exhausted officers. There were too many moving parts this morning—and if he was honest, he just didn’t want another meeting.

“Back to crisis-level normal,” he muttered under his breath.

It had become the unofficial motto of his staff since the September Revolt—half sarcasm, half survival mechanism.

Four brand-new Tycho-Artillery Projection Systems had arrived, and crews were already inspecting thermal seals and balancing fusion cores. Logistics reported the ammo uplink node was finally syncing with CAVOpsNet, and mobile maintenance teams were rotating through preventive checks without needing direct orders. The HouseGuard wasn’t deployment-ready yet, but it was acting like a unit that could take on anything.

And Lee was proud. Deeply, fiercely proud.

He watched Captain Araseli Dorne—soon to be Major; he’d let her know at lunch and hold the ceremony tomorrow—standing on a loader gantry, coordinating the load plan for a Griffin GRF-1N from Swift Blades Squadron. No need to interfere. She had it locked down.

Further west, a knot of SCE-trained logisticians worked at a Selene-linked planning terminal, inputting battlefield telemetry profiles and generating predictive fault timelines for the unit’s ground support vehicles. Data moved faster than most officers could think—his people moved faster still.

Even the junior troopers were squared away. One of the greenest techs in Bravo Troop was leading a maintenance crew on a Fusigon large laser check—tools in hand, attitude focused. No grandstanding. No posturing.

Lee smiled. This wasn’t a formation. This was function.

A comm ping chirped in his ear.
DORNE: "Sir, you're skipping the staff meeting? I wanted to hear about your meeting with the General."
LEE: "It’s not skipping when I canceled it."
DORNE (dryly): "Of course. Well played, sir."
LEE: "Lunch. 1130. I’ll buy."
DORNE: "Hooah."

Lee gave a soft chuckle, then muted the channel. No further explanation needed. She knew the score.

They’d all lived through enough false alarms and high-profile posturing over the last eighteen months. But this—this calm, directed chaos—meant they were getting it right. They didn’t need to talk about the mission every hour on the hour.

They were the mission.

As he approached the forward line of hangars, Lee paused. One of the technicians noticed him and snapped a quick salute. He returned it with a brief nod—respect offered without ceremony.

“No medals for maintenance,” he’d once told a fresh lieutenant, “but you lose without it.”

His hand brushed the edge of his holotab, which buzzed with new pings from Geneva Command.

He didn’t check it.

Not yet.

There was still something sacred about walking among your people while the day took shape.

--------------------

Personal Journal Entry – Col. Carlos D. Lee
Location: Frankfurt Deployment Grounds – CO Quarters
Date: 2549.10.09 | Time: 21:12 GST

We didn’t hold Battle Rhythm today. Too many moving parts, too many people doing real work to waste time briefing each other on things we already know—or that I can see with my own eyes.

I walked the grounds early—before full light, before the noise crested. Watched the whole machine turning without me at its center. That’s what good leadership builds. Colonel Alaric R. Choudhury left me a strong foundation: a system that runs because of the people in it, not just the person at the top.

Dorne’s steady. Logistics are ahead of schedule. Maintenance is clockwork. And morale? Focused. No theater, no dramatics—just real soldiers doing real jobs. I haven’t felt this kind of quiet confidence since my last true engagement.

We’re not perfect. There’s some software drift in the targeting computers on the new Tycho units, and supply lag from Hegemony Central is slowing our reload cycles. But it’s manageable.

Geneva wants perfection. I’ll give them execution. The HouseGuard (CAV) is ready for whatever comes next. I just hope higher leadership has the same clarity we do down here on the ground.

I told the assembled officers yesterday: “Don’t wait for orders to be good. Be good anyway.”

I meant it.

– C.D.L.

------------------

Readiness Report – Command-Level Message

From: COL Carlos D. Lee, CO – HouseGuard (CAV), Frankfurt
To: GEN Shandra Noruff-Cameron, Commander – Geneva Military Region
Date: 2549.10.09 | Time: 22:04 GST
Classification: PRIORITY / OP-COM / SECURE

Subject: HouseGuard (CAV) – Deployment Readiness Assessment

General,

HouseGuard (CAV) will reach operational readiness for forward deployment by 2549.10.19. Unit cohesion is high, all critical systems are functional, and maintenance cycles remain on track.

Key Highlights:
* Tycho-unit (MTAPS) outfitting is 28% complete; remaining integration scheduled within 48 hours. Tactical simulation, unit evaluation, and ROC/POE testing are projected to conclude by the 19th. These platforms significantly enhance CAV capabilities.
* Ammunition uplinks and SCE logistics predictive modules are online and generating valid models.
* Morale and personnel readiness remain stable despite high operational tempo.

We are operating at what I call “crisis-level normal.” No illusions, no dramatics—just steady progress under pressure.

Pending final calibration of our two RFL-1N platforms, we are on course to meet or exceed all mission profile requirements.

Respectfully,
COL Carlos D. Lee
Commanding Officer, HouseGuard (CAV)

----------------

Title: First Formations: Steel in the Room
Location: Conference Chamber 3, Geneva Strategic Command Complex
Date: 2549.10.12 | Time: 06:00 GST

The lighting in Chamber 3 was too bright—sterile and strategic, like everything else in Geneva. Tactical projections lined the walls alongside coat-of-arms plaques from every legacy unit the Household Guard had ever absorbed, some dating back to Earth’s pre-spaceflight monarchies.

Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee entered precisely at 05:55, ahead of his own staff. He didn’t tolerate lateness. He liked pomp even less.

Already seated were the senior brass of the Hegemony Armed Forces: Vice Admiral Haruna Tokaji from Orbital Defense, Brigadier General Cressida Vang from Cyber-Integration, Colonel Idris Veklan of the Household Guard, and most notably, General Shandra Noruff-Cameron.

They stopped talking when he entered. Lee didn’t slow his pace.

Major Araseli Dorne, his executive officer, followed close behind, uniform crisp, secure tablet in hand. The rest of Lee’s field staff took their seats without hesitation: Major Isabella Moreau (S-2 Intelligence), Captain Sara Krol (S-3 Operations), Captain Kristen Moreau (S-4 Logistics), Captain Elias Durham (S-5 Plans), and Captain Charles Mentz (S-6 Communications). No ceremony. Just seamless function.

Lee stood at the head of the table, hands folded behind his back.

“Generals. Admiral. Colonel. Let’s begin.”

General Noruff-Cameron offered a tight smile. “Colonel Lee, we’d like to understand your command vision before the Household Guard begins its final movement from Frankfurt.”

Lee nodded sharply. “Understood, General.” He tapped his wristpad, activating a minimalist deployment schematic on the embedded holo-slab.

“Priority one: Operational independence. HouseGuard (CAV) isn’t a ceremonial unit. We are a combined-arms expeditionary cavalry force with a primary mission to protect the Director-General and other designated objectives.

“We’re modular. Three battalions—two Battle Mech, one Mechanized Recon Infantry—reconfigurable into two Combat Commands and a Sustainment Unit as needed. We move fast, hit hard, and clean up after ourselves.

“We’re not a brute-force unit,” he added, glancing at Colonel Veklan (HouseGuard) with a slight smile. “If you need a hammer to breach the line or storm a citadel, that’s your specialty.”

Veklan returned the smile. “None taken.”

Admiral Tokaji arched a skeptical brow. “And your integration plan with orbital and cyber warfare assets?”

“Admiral,” Lee replied smoothly, “unlike most HAF regiments, we have a dedicated company for integrated C4ISR—Command, Control, Communications, and Computers—tightly integrated with Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. That makes us the command node for all forces in the region, capable of executing directives from the Director-General or a general officer in real time.

“We’re agile enough to get out of trouble fast. Our recon battalion is SMFC—Special Mission Force Capable—giving the Director-General options in any operating environment.

“We also field dedicated medical, engineering, and VTOL support companies to extend mission flexibility.

“My entire staff, under Major Dorne, has completed TAWI certification. We are mission-ready and operate with full SCE support across all staff functions from S-1 through S-6.”

He paused just long enough for the weight of it to settle.

“We’ve already validated comms protocols and cross-training through Dorne’s SCE war-table simulations. We don’t rely on single uplinks unless they’re redundant.”

He gestured toward the schematic.

“Truthfully? We lost 36 mechs, compared to our sister HouseGuard unit in exchange for capability. We’re the Swiss Army knife. We won’t win a war already in full swing—but we’ll strike first, hit key targets hard, and serve as a force multiplier. We even have one lance of experimental mobile artillery using the Arrow II multi-missile platform.”

Dorne didn’t look up—she was already transmitting the supporting files across the secure network.

General Vang frowned. “You bypassed three authentication layers. That violates Central Command’s digital posture doctrine.”

Lee’s tone remained steady.

“Correct, General. Captain Mentz is scheduled to brief your staff next week on our proposed updates to digital posture doctrine for HouseGuard units. He’s been collaborating with Professor-General Turing.

“With multi-spectrum, frequency-hopping, encryption at Z-level and directed node-to-node connections, our system is more secure—at least until we lose circuits. At that point, survival trumps protocol.

“From the squadron level, the tradeoff is clear. In a live-fire zone, we save thirty-six seconds. That’s the difference between losing a Wasp and neutralizing enemy artillery.”

He let the silence settle before adding:
“Our doctrine is survival. But we must remain capable of executing the Director-General’s will.”

Noruff-Cameron chuckled. “Bluntness seems to be your policy, Colonel.”

Lee didn’t blink. “I prefer clarity, General.”

She tapped her stylus against her tablet.
“Very well. Frankfurt expects your departure by the 21st. You’ll coordinate with the Cognitive Engine Consortium during upgrades. I expect this level of performance to continue—without friction.”

Lee’s voice was calm but resolute. “Friction isn’t the problem, General. Friction is normal. Stagnation is fatal.”

That was it—his line in the sand.

Noruff-Cameron gave him a look that could have been approval… or a warning.

“Dismissed.”

As the staff filed out, Dorne stepped beside him.
“So. That went well.”

Lee didn’t smile.
“We’re here for the Director-General. Not to please. Let them adjust.”

--------------

Title: Actually, Before the Hardest Truth Meeting
Location: BattleSpace War Room A, HAF Command – Office of General Shandra Noruff-Cameron, Geneva, Terra
Date: 2549.10.12 | Time: 07:30 GST

The Geneva morning beyond the window was pale and cold, but inside the strategic suite, the air was tight with purpose.

General Shandra Noruff-Cameron sat at the head of the long oval table, her data-slate neatly folded before her, eyes scanning the room with practiced detachment. Behind her, the gilded seal of the Terran Hegemony gleamed against the wall, just above a mounted sabre from her days in the 1st Royal Armored. (Author: Not the same as the future Royal units, history has used Royal title in units for many centuries).

The room was full—fifteen staffers, advisors, and field commanders. Among them sat the newly promoted Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee, positioned quietly at the very, very far left. He was reviewing a deployment brief, Major Araseli Dorne at his shoulder. His presence alone was a message: the Household Guard (CAV) had new leadership—and it was already under scrutiny.

Shandra tapped her fingers once on the table—sharp and deliberate. The room went silent.

“Let’s begin. Security first.”

A colonel from Internal Surveillance delivered a short update on recent network intrusions—cyber-chatter around SCE relay points near Berlin and minor orbital grid fluctuations. Nothing conclusive, but enough to trigger another round of weekly threat recalibrations.

Then came the weightier matters.

“This afternoon, we meet with the Congressional Oversight Committee regarding the "Assume the Threat" (The Hardest Truth) report,” Shandra said, her voice flat. “You’ve all read the classified summaries. The implications are exactly what you think.”

A murmur of unease passed around the table.

“Directive 411-B—Assume the Threat—goes active in fourteen days. Every division commander across HAF is being briefed this week. Publicly, nothing changes—yet.”

She paused, letting the message settle in the silence.

“This evening, I meet with Senior Agent Miranda Cole and Deputy Director Krysz from HCIB Domestic Affairs. Their findings will shape the investigation on the September Revolt."

Colonel Lee leaned forward slightly. Shandra caught his eye.

“Yes, Colonel. You’ll be involved. You're now part of the next phase.”

The meeting continued—logistics updates, readiness assessments, political intel from Capellan space, fleet positioning reports. Fifteen speakers in just over three hours. No wasted words. No theater. These were professionals. This was the shield.

At last, Shandra folded her hands.

“Final item. The OPWAR Deployment Order is being drafted now. You’ll receive it by week’s end. The operation will secure the Director-General, designated state ministers, and our diplomatic envoys during a year-long series of visits across three Successor States.”

A 3D map unfolded above the table’s central node.
* Phase One: Capellan Confederation—likely February.
* Phase Two: Free Worlds League—still holding a ceasefire, but barely.
* Phase Three: Lyran Commonwealth—our final and most important destination.

All eyes turned to Lee.
“Colonel Lee—HouseGuard (CAV) will lead the protective detail for the entire Star League diplomatic mission. You’ll coordinate with HAF Central Command, SCE logistics, and foreign liaison officers. I want real-time updates and absolute clarity on the chain of command. You have four weeks to complete Frankfurt upgrades and begin simulations.”

Lee nodded firmly. “Understood, General.”

Shandra stood. “Any final questions before we walk into Congress and ten hours of bureaucracy?”

Silence.

“Good. You’re dismissed.”

“Colonel Lee, stay a moment.”

Once the room emptied, Shandra turned to him.

“Your Seventh Cavalry unit—performed quite a few roles beyond its ROC/POE functions, didn’t it?”

“General, I served as the Deputy Regimental Training Officer. The CO gave me wide latitude to prepare the unit for real combat.”

She gave a brief nod. “Thank you, Colonel. You’re dismissed.”

As the door closed behind him, Shandra remained by the window, her gaze drifting over the cloud-streaked Geneva skyline.

Somewhere beyond it, the Hegemony was buckling under its own weight.

But it hadn’t fallen. Not yet.

And not while she remained at her post.

[Daryk]

An excellent deep breath before the plunge...

[Dave Talley]

Tag

[mikecj]

Pretty good stuff!  More please!

I like your format.

[Gareth Lott]

✦ Time to Get the Ball Rolling ✦

Date: 2549.11.04
Time: 02:30 Hours
Location: Geneva, Terra — Military Spaceport

Fourteen hours ago, Major Araseli Dorne and the command staff received a mobilization order. The destination had been unclear—until now. The answer had arrived: Lipton.

S-2 through S-5 were already running with the new intel, and Araseli was receiving real-time updates from department heads as operational details firmed up.

S-2 had painted the initial picture: Lipton was one of the earliest frontier colonies, located on the edge of Terran Hegemony influence. Light industry sustained it, and its survival hinged on trade. Historically, Lipton had resisted centralized Hegemony orders—more independent than insubordinate, but a known trouble spot. The planet hosted a single military facility—Dresser Military Base—supporting a mechanized regiment of about 3,500 troops. Its forces included one battalion of medium and light BattleMechs and two mechanized infantry battalions. The gear was aging, but still deadly.

Complicating matters further: General Hersch’s personal command company was currently planetside—its presence near Dresser was confirmed, though the reason for their deployment remained classified.

S-4 remained frustrated with Hegemony logistics, still waiting for requisitioned supplies to move from depot to launch bays. “We’ll be ready by H-Hour,” she promised, though her tone wasn’t exactly reassuring.

To add more friction, the depot supply officer at Frankfurt was demanding a call from someone in authority. The entire supply of Arrow-2 prototype ammunition had gone missing. Dorne deflected. “Check your records again. We have no knowledge of its whereabouts—we’re not involved.”

From the corner, Major Drevin, CO of 3rd Squadron Infantry, muttered with a smirk, “Or will ever be able to prove, unless we tell him.”

Without missing a beat, Dorne turned to Captain Moreau. “Just make sure he gets the paperwork he needs to make the numbers match.”

“Yes, sir,” Moreau replied.

Dorne exhaled and scanned the room, a brief smile breaking her otherwise professional façade. Time to grab a ration pack of caf. She barely had a sip when a voice behind her interrupted.

“Major, you have a moment?”

She turned to see OPS and Plans moving toward her. At that same moment, the corporal at the HQ door called out:

“Attention on deck!”

Everyone snapped to attention.

“As you were,” came the immediate response as Colonel Carlos Lee stepped briskly into the command center.

He made a beeline for Dorne.

“How are we doing?”

“On schedule,” she replied. “We’ll be ready.”

She gestured to her left. “Three, Five—update the Colonel.”

Captain Krol (S-3 Operations) and Captain Durham (S-5 Plans) turned toward Lee. Krol began, “Most of our war plans are ancient—dated back to 2237 during the Outer Reaches Rebellion. We're relying on later data from the 2316 so-called Campaigns of Persuasion. Lipton City is the planetary capital. Dresser Military Base sits on its northern perimeter. There are two spaceports—one military, co-located with the base. Aerospace defenses are minimal to nonexistent. Landing shouldn't be a problem—if they give us time to deploy from the dropships.”

Colonel Lee shook his head. “Landing at the Military Spaceport won’t work. They will know why we are coming? ”

He turned to Durham. “Captain, what’s our transport and approach window?”

Durham replied, “We’ve got four CZAR-class dropships—enough to lift 1st and 2nd Squadrons with light sustainment support. One Jumbo-class has been re-tasked to support 3rd Squadron. It's slower, but conveniently, it was already scheduled for a supply run to Lipton during our timeframe. No other assets are available. It’s a hard burn to the Terra Jump Point—4.5 days—then we jump to Lipton under command circuit orders straight from the Director-General. Depending on final approach vectors, we're looking at 3 to 7 days until landfall.”

Captain Krol added, “The second, civilian spaceport is a day’s drive from Lipton City. It’s in an industrial zone—low profile, limited infrastructure. We could land there and roll in. Optionally, we could field deploy or go with a combat drop. But that might spark civil unrest—”

He paused, then added, “—manageable, but not clean.”

Dorne nodded slowly. “On paper, our forces and theirs are evenly matched.”

Lee responded, “Plan for the alternate spaceport for the CZAR’s. I want the Jumbo down there, but with an option of landing at the Military Spaceport. Work up an insertion strategy that gives us the upper hand. I need ten minutes. After that, we’ll hold a full Battle Rhythm Brief to lock in our strategic posture.”

Ten minutes later, Colonel Lee stepped to the central holo-table.

“Good morning,” he said evenly, hands resting on the edge. “This is how I see the battle unfolding…”

Twenty minutes later, after a round of targeted questions and tactical adjustments, Lee concluded the session.

“Final operational plans will be locked in during transit. Each troop—coordinate with your squadron. Final reviews go through the XO. I’ll personally hold an SCE Tactical Review for each squadron’s mission plan.”

He checked his chrono.

“We boost in six hours. Let’s get it done.”

The Colonel turned as his S-4 approached.
“Sir, I’ve loaded all the Arrow-2 missiles onto CZAR-3.   I have sent you, the XO and S8 a list of ammo types.  I was able to get some new prototype ammo that should be reviewed.  after a sec, “Where would you like the special BattleMechs you requested?”

“CZAR-3 is fine,” the Colonel replied. “I want them deployed with the main force.”

“Understood, sir—but that creates a slight issue. The Command Lance, along with one lance each from 1st and 2nd Squadrons, will need to be loaded onto the Jumbo.”

“Thanks. Got it.”

Inconvenient, the Colonel thought, but it might just work in our favor.

---------------------------

✦ Trying to control the Rolling Ball ✦

Date: 2549.11.08
Time: 22:30 Hours
Location: Terra – Zenith Jump Point

As preparations for the jump continued, Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee replayed the SCE simulation projections in his mind. Victory was within reach—but at a cost. Estimated casualties ranged from 15% to 35%.

It had been easier when he was a captain—then, losing one or two soldiers during an op was tragic, but manageable. Now, as a colonel, he commanded a unit he'd helped forge from the ground up—a force he loved, one that occupied every waking thought.

And yet, for it to survive, he might have to let parts of it die.

-------------------------------

✦ The Rolling Ball (Part I) ✦

Date: 2549.11.09
Time: 11:30 Hours
Location: Thorin System – Zenith Jump Point

Following final planning sessions and three full cycles through the SCE simulator, Colonel Carlos Lee was confident. The plan was solid. The teams were ready.

With that, he authorized the transfer of the Jumbo to a civilian-class jumpship under separate transit. It would arrive in the Lipton system two days after the main assault force—just as planned.

---------------------------

✦ The Rolling Ball (Part II) ✦

Date: 2549.11.09
Time: 12:30 Hours
Location: Lipton System – at HAF Skywatch Control, Lipton City- monitoring the Zenith Jump Point

Captain Terry Muller sat at his console when the system flagged an unscheduled spatial distortion at the Zenith jump point.

“Sir,” Sergeant Brenner called from across the room, “we’re detecting a Liberty-class jumpship. Four CZAR-class dropships attached. No scheduled arrivals for another two days.”

A few moments later: “IFF tags them as the 1st and 2nd Battalions, Fifty-First Dragoon Regiment. All codes check out.”

Captain Muller walked over to confirm. He hadn’t been briefed on any major exercises or the rumored presence of The Silent Cabal on Lipton. Still, he knew one thing for certain—General Hersch had arrived three days ago, also without prior notice.

Muller had been stationed on this backwater rock for three years. Part of him hoped something interesting might finally be happening.

“Sir,” Sergeant Brenner added, “they’re requesting release of all four dropships to land at Noresta spaceport to run drills. They've cited Deployment Order TACDEP HAF-2549-11. System flags it as a routine training deployment to the Rim World Republic for garrison duty.”

Captain Muller leaned back into his chair, frowning slightly. “Permission granted. Log the release and transmit an arrival notification to HQ.”

He stared at the screen a moment longer.
Training exercise, huh? Then why is General Hersch here?

--------------------------------------------

✦ Closer (Part I) ✦

Date: 2549.11.12
Time: 04:00 Hours
Location: Geneva, Terra – HCIB/DMI War Room – Command Center

Deputy Director (DMI) Miranda Cole reviewed the operational checklist on her tablet.  HCIB/DMI has been on lock-down since midnight.

Step 1: Complete.
Evidence secured. No compromise detected prior to scheduled release.

Step 2: In motion.
The release to the news media and the Earthside Free Press was set for 04:00. Raiding teams would move in at 04:10. All target sites are now surrounded and secured. Visual confirmation had been obtained for every high-value individual—except one.

Of course, the one we don’t have eyes on is General Hersch.

He’d been avoiding contact for a week, claiming severe illness and treatment by a personal physician. His estate was on lockdown under vague "security concerns." No visitors permitted. Even Director Krysz had been denied access.

Step 2A: On track.
General Kosta and the Director-General reviewed the critical data an hour ago in the tribunal chambers. Hearings would convene later this morning. Preliminary sessions were set to begin by mid-afternoon.  You are still innocent until proven guilty.

Step 3: Confirmed.
The Household Guard and Geneva Diplomatic Security Office had been given the projected threat list. Geneva was now on elevated alert for the next 72 hours. Activation: Immediate. Check.

Step 4: In progress.
Estimated completion: 2549.11.19.

Cole smirked slightly at the last item she mentally appended to the list:

Step 5: He’ll never alter one of my plans again.

She stood and approached the main briefing display. Twenty mission teams were online, plus external stakeholders. In one of the smaller conference windows, she noted the presence of the Director-General himself. She glanced across the room to Director Krysz, seated silently at the table. Her own operations team sat in the rear, close enough to support but quiet.

“Team leaders,” she began, her voice calm but unyielding, “we execute in ten minutes. The capture of General Hersch is the top priority. That said, the remaining senior generals and admirals are also valuable—alive, if possible.”

She tapped the comms interface. “This line will remain open. Report completion status and SITREPs as needed. Team leads, we’re T-minus nine. Begin final execution protocols.”

A few minutes passed.

Agent Rhys Marlowe approached, hands in his pockets. “Deputy Director—not complaining—but we could have launched at 08:00. Might’ve given the Director-General a full night’s sleep.”

Cole smiled faintly as she hit the mute button. “A wise man once told me: Indians always attack before dawn.”

She paused. I hope he’s okay.

She had tried—unsuccessfully—to access the SCE simulation models for the Lipton operation. Geneva Military Command had blocked her request, citing “need to know.” She did need to know. But for now, she’d have to rely on her instincts—and Selene’s predictions.

A small smile crossed her face. They’ll come true.

She said to the team at exactly 04:10 - “Time to get down to business. Execute.”

At roughly the same time, 34.5 light-years from Sol, aboard one of the newly detached dropships en route to Lipton III, Colonel Lee checked the time. Sleep continued to evade him. He considered getting up to run another SCE battle simulation.

"She’s got this," he thought, "but I hope she stays safe."

----------------------------------------

 ✦ Closer (Part II) ✦

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 03:00 Hours
Location: Lipton System — In Orbit over Lipton III, Contacting HAF Skywatch Control, Lipton City

Dropship Commander Elira Voss—though addressed as “Captain” per naval tradition—picked up the comm unit.

“Skywatch, Skywatch, this is CZAR-3 HAF Transport declaring an emergency. Request immediate landing clearance at civilian spaceport Suresta.”

As luck would have it, Captain Terry Muller was just beginning the next rotation of Skywatch Control’s 14-hour shifts (three days on, two days off).

“Skywatch to CZAR-3—state the nature of your emergency. Fuel onboard and souls?”

“Skywatch from CZAR-3 —we’ve got an atmospheric breach near cargo hold seal #2. Equipment came loose and slammed into the bulkhead. We’re running damage control procedures. Fuel state: about half, 65 tons. Personnel onboard: 231. Initiating de-orbit burn.”

Captain Muller glanced at Sergeant Brenner.

“You getting all this? Notify HQ, emergency protocol.”

“CZAR-3 from Skywatch — permission granted. Do you require emergency services or assist craft for landing?”

“Skywatch from CZAR-3 — negative at this time. Proceeding under HAF Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization, NAY-TOPS 734.6, line-item authorization.”

“Acknowledged, CZAR-3. Good luck. We’ll monitor your descent.”

Another voice came through:

“Skywatch, this is CZAR-1. Commodore Roades commanding. CZAR-1, -2, and -4 will remain in orbit to provide overwatch on CZAR-3’s approach.”

“Copy, CZAR-1. Permission granted.”

While CZAR-3 began its controlled descent, CZAR-4 activated its full C4ISR suite—monitoring troop deployments, scanning docked ships, and intercepting all military communications on the planet, aided by the HAF’s standardized daily encryption protocols. Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

Commodore Roades, after exchanging a glance with Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee, picked up the comm and received a nod.

“Captain Voss, from Command—execute.”

He placed the comm back in its cradle. Their orbit would last 90 minutes, with another 30 for atmospheric entry and deployment.

“Thank you, Commodore,” said Colonel Lee.

Switching to channel 2, Lee keyed the mic:

“Glasswatch 6 to all Glasswatch units: execute Plan A. I say again, execute Plan A.”

Three double-clicks echoed in reply—confirmation. The Colonel allowed himself a brief smile. Channel 2 was encrypted using an unauthorized protocol—outside of HAF’s approved digital posture. Whether Captain Mentz deserved a commendation or a reprimand was still up for debate. Maybe General Vang would have an opinion next time they met for a briefing.

Major Moreau signaled the Colonel over.

“Apologies for making you come to me, sir, but I wanted you to see this composite radar and IFF feed from the military spaceport.”

Colonel Lee studied the screen.

“Wow. Wonder what he’s doing here.”

“Sir, I’m not detecting large-scale troop movements. No hyperpulse generators. The 134th Mechanized Infantry is active, but their traffic suggests staging, not defensive readiness. I believe we still have surprise on our side.”

“Any threats nearby?”

“Minimal, sir. No significant military presence within a day’s travel from the civilian port. Unless they repurpose the General’s personal dropship for a suborbital deployment. That said, I recommend raising the threat level. One BattleMech battalion, one under-strength company—General Hersch’s unit—and two mechanized infantry battalions. Estimated strength: under 4,000 troops.”

Lee gave a curt nod.

“Good work, Major. I don’t plan to alter our strategy… not yet.”

------------------------------------------

✦ Closer (Part III) ✦

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 07:30 Hours
Location: Lipton III – Lipton City, Dresser Military Base

There was a knock at the door of the Commanding Officer of the 134th Mechanized Infantry. He was seated with General Hersch and senior staff, reviewing operational plans to coordinate with other loyal Cabal-aligned units. Their objective: remove the Camerons and the "idiots" propping up the current regime.

So far, the war wasn’t going in their favor.

The CO looked up.

“Enter.”

A young Captain stepped in and handed over a message from Skywatch Control. The message was brief:

"Dropship CZAR-3 has declared a routine emergency and is landing at the civilian spaceport Suresta. Do you have any specific directives?"

“Thanks, Captain...” the CO began.

General Hersch cut in, clearly agitated.

“What is a HAF dropship doing here? And why would it land at a civilian spaceport for a routine emergency?”

The Captain hesitated, sensing the tension spike in the room.

“Sir, I’m not certain. But from what I understand, it's part of a four-dropship convoy en route to the Rim World Republic on a training rotation.”

The General’s eyes narrowed. He turned to his Chief of Staff.

“Captain—did Skywatch say which unit?”

“Yes, sir. The Fifty-First Dragoon Regiment.”

General Hersch stood abruptly, his face grim.

“We need to deploy a company to Suresta immediately. Recon the landing zone and be ready to repel a ground assault if necessary.”

A staff officer nearby asked cautiously:

“General… what’s happening?”

Hersch didn’t answer right away. His silence said enough.

[Daryk]

Is there another AI overlord moving pieces?

[Gareth Lott]

✦ So It Begins (Part I) ✦

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 03:30 Hours
Location: In transit from Civilian Spaceport Suresta to Dresser Military Spaceport

A HAF Marine Tactical Assault Landing Craft, A/F-101 transport quietly lifted from CZAR-3 moments before touchdown, bound for Dresser Military Spaceport—specifically, Skywatch Control Center. Designed for eight passengers and up to 21 tons of cargo, the unarmed transport didn’t raise alarms.

Challenged en route, the crew replied they were retrieving repair parts for a malfunctioning cargo door. Their cover: an official HAF supply chit labeled:  FORMSINSTO-SF: Stocked Standard Forms – SF Available from GSA Global Supply 2540.

That bureaucratic phrase alone made Captain Terry Muller lose interest. The promise of a bottle of Andorian Ale from the "XO" of CZAR-3 sealed the deal.

Aboard the A/F-101 was Major Drevin, CO of 3rd Squadron (Mechanized Infantry - "Silent Blades"), accompanied by two four-man Talon Teams. The cramped interior held personal sidearms and crates of mission gear secured in the cargo bay.

Thirty minutes later, they reached Dresser Military Spaceport. The mission was low-risk, with strict abort protocols. During the final 18 kilometers, their recon camera scanned the Skywatch Command Center—isolated, flanked by a radar array and few surrounding structures.

Drevin circled once and spotted no immediate threats. On the second pass, he landed close to the ops building.

Dressed in a crisp HAF Lieutenant Commander uniform, Drevin stepped out, bottle of Ale in hand, grinning toward the door. Captain Muller opened it. Drevin wedged it ajar as they walked in, timing his steps—thirty seconds to the Ops Center. Long enough to pull both watchstanders’ attention.

Then the door cracked open. Talon Team One surged in. Two non-lethal darts fired—two bodies dropped.

Drevin swept through the terminal—snapping photos of arrival/departure logs and comms frequencies. Less than two minutes later, they were exfiltrating.

Talon One loaded Muller’s hovercar with supplies—base protocols typically didn’t inspect outgoing vehicles. Talon Two rigged a compact charge at the radar installation. Just enough to fry a circuit board—surgical sabotage, not destruction.

The unconscious ops staff were stowed aboard the A/F-101. Teams dispersed in pre-designated vehicles to forward spotting positions. VTOL support was expected within the hour.

General Hersch’s personal dropship sat distant and unguarded—no visible anti-air placements. Drevin mentally filed that away for debrief.

Ten minutes, start to finish.

Glasswatch 10 to Glasswatch 1. Mission complete. RTB.

Two clicks answered back.

Note: Talon Teams are elite four-person recon units—Ranger-trained, stealth-oriented, and equipped for deep-penetration missions. Designed by Major Drevin, endorsed by Colonel Lee, Talons specialize in forward observation, indirect fire coordination, and surgical strike operations. While BattleMechs dominate the field, boots-on-the-ground recon remains irreplaceable.

Their signature weapon: the Hammel Scout/Sniper system with flash/sound suppression. Firing 13mm mixed-load ammo—tungsten AP, incendiary, and anti-personnel fragmentation—they can neutralize anything they see, especially at close range. Each team also carries silenced sidearms, HF/UHF/VHF radios for terrain-adapted comms, and the infamous “V-42 stiletto” for silent work. Whoever coined ‘Poor Bloody Infantry’ never met these guys—and lived to talk about it.

-----------------------------------------

✦ So It Begins (Part II) ✦

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 03:30 Hours
Location: Civilian Spaceport Suresta (Post-landing of CZAR-3)

Seconds before touchdown, the dropship’s ramp began to lower. Major Dorne keyed into comms Channel 3:

"First Squadron, deploy by the numbers. Secure the landing zone and establish perimeter. BattleMechs first, followed by AFVs, C4ISR, VTOL, and gear. We have 120 minutes before the Colonel arrives—let’s keep him happy."

Green lights across her console confirmed acknowledgments. As senior officer, Dorne was first out. Her Victor VTR-9B powered down the ramp and took a forward overwatch position, scanning threat vectors near the spaceport entrance. The other three Victors followed suit from Door 1.

Door 2 released four Griffin GRF-1Ns, which moved to secure the left flank. From Door 3 came four FS9-A Firestarters—fast, nimble, infantry-hunters—moving to intercept likely soft-target avenues.

Door 4 opened last: two CRS-6B and two CRS-6C Crossbows established central rear defense behind the dropship.

From 3rd Squadron, Yurok Troop deployed next.

AFVs poured out of Light Vehicle Door 1: four standard Goblins with Talon Teams for building-clearing and overwatch. Door 2 delivered four LRM-armed Goblins to a central fire support position.

Then came 3rd Squadron’s sustainment elements: the Turhan Urban Combat Vehicle—C4ISR platform loaded with seven tons of comms gear. Next, the UAH-147 multi-role VTOL, requiring light assembly—operational in 30 minutes.

Engineering and MASH units rolled out last. The engineers set up initial fighting positions 50 meters from the main entrance, later reinforced and expanded by dismounted mechanized infantry. MASH personnel sheltered under the main hangar, praying their services remained unused.

Everyone remained at battle-ready alert until the VTOL performed five recon passes over the area. No contacts. Technical staff prepped the hangar for vehicle maintenance while others led infantry sweeps through lower-risk zones.

This combined force was now designated Combat Command A.

At the 30-minute mark, the VTOL established aerial overwatch, using its mask-mounted recon optics to stay hidden while surveying broad terrain corridors.

Talon teams deployed in a 180-degree arc up to 10 miles ahead of the spaceport. Goblin IFVs supported them from fallback positions—just within range to deliver fire support or retreat if needed.

At the one-hour mark, Major Dorne maintained a ready stance but relaxed comms restrictions. The big question on everyone's mind: Why were they painted in the livery of the Fifty-First Dragoon Regiment—the very unit that kicked off this conflict?

After explaining the deception plan, she keyed her mic:

"Glasswatch 6 from Glasswatch 1. Perimeter set. No contact. 28 POWs secured. One HAF heavy APC captured. No casualties. Glasswatch 10 has completed its op and is RTB."

------------------------------------------------

✦ So It Begins (Part III) ✦

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 05:00 – 08:00 Hours
Location: Civilian Spaceport Suresta to Dresser Military Spaceport

CZAR-1, 2, and 4 landed, deploying forces to assigned vectors. Colonel Lee stood beside the C4ISR vehicle, reviewing the updated tactical display. Time to reconfigure the formation.

He keyed in the orders:

Combat Command A (Major Dorne): Advance to Ambush Site Alpha. Based on VTOL and Talon recon, no enemy elements deployed yet—remain frosty.

Combat Command B (Major Moreau): Advance to Point Bravo and cover Ambush Site Charlie.

Sustainment Group (Major Drevin): Fortify and defend the civilian spaceport.

Major Drevin, operating from the C4ISR unit, tasked one A/F-101 from each dropship to deploy eight additional Talon Teams, expanding the surveillance grid. He coordinated with four VTOLs to provide terrain-masked escort along pre-mapped insertion paths.

He positioned four MTAPs—two hover and two wheeled—for artillery support. Hover variants would serve offensively, while wheeled versions handled defensive overwatch. Ammunition loads included cluster, smoke, and selective munitions approved by Colonel Lee.

Lee returned to Drevin’s position, checking progress. Drevin focused on Talon insertion—vulnerable until established in the field—and monitored VTOL and MK-III movement.

By 07:30, Commands A and B were still advancing. No contact. Fast-recon assets—Talon teams and VTOLs—had yet to observe a response.

Too quiet, Lee thought. Is the Hegemony this complacent? No... stick to the plan until reality demands otherwise.

He still had two days until the final 12 BattleMechs and combat vehicles arrived. His Command Lance lacked mechs, but his role now was orchestration, not direct combat.

Lee had studied Colonel Lloyd Fredendall’s dossier. No slouch—he favored defensive doctrine and often left exploitable gaps between his units.

Lee’s current plan assumed Fredendall would deploy a Recon in Force soon. Combat Command A had adopted a diamond formation: Griffins on point, Victors guarding the right, Firestarters on the left, Crossbows and AFVs in the rear.

Each command group had its own C4ISR vehicle with basic ECM and comms-jamming capabilities. Two Hover MTAPs shadowed Command A, ready to deliver precision strikes.

Finally, at 08:00, Gate 1 in Lipton City opened. A Hegemony mechanized infantry company rolled out, supported by a light BattleMech lance—departing the safety of Dresser Military Base.

So it begins...

[Daryk]

At the very least, this should be one heck of a wakeup call!

[Gareth Lott]

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 10:00–11:00 Hours
Location: Near Dresser Military Spaceport

Major Dorne’s ambush was textbook: a perfect L-shaped setup. In hindsight, maybe too perfect. Within 60 seconds, according to the SCE, all 16 hostile units were reported down. Reviewing the tactical display, Major Dorne noted the “real” enemy force was 20 kilometers out—estimated time to contact, 30 minutes.

The lead elements were eight IFVs, likely standard 45-ton Goblins armed with large lasers and carrying mechanized infantry each—same configuration as their own. Following were four Marsden I tanks, 65 tons, each armed with an AC/5 and SRM-6. Behind them, at 100 meters, a lance of BattleMechs under General Hersch’s banner.

The BattleMech lineup included:

1x Orion ON-1K (75 tons) – LRM-15, AC/10, Medium Lasers, SRM-4. Likely the lance leader, designated Target Alpha.

2x Griffin GRF-1N (55 tons) – PPC and LRM-10 each. Best countered up close.

1x Wasp WSP-1A – A low-priority target, likely recon.

Major Dorne tasked Red Cloud Lance (4x FS9-A Firestarters) to engage the Griffins up close, with Parker Lance (also 4x FS9-A) positioned to screen the APCs. The Firestarters' flamers would make quick work of the IFVs and AFVs, assuming they didn’t surrender. Victorio Lance (4x VTR-9B Victors with AC/20s) would target the Orion and Griffins. The goal was to split the IFVs and tanks from the Mech lance, forcing the forward elements to surrender, if possible.

At 10 kilometers, Major Dorne stepped onto the road in her BattleMech, bearing the Fifty-First Dragoons livery. She initiated direct laser comms with what she identified as the senior APC unit—standard Hegemony tactics. Her message was clear:

“I am Colonel Dorne, CO of the Fifty-First Dragoon Regiment. The Director-General has authorized our reintegration into the Hegemony Armed Forces. You may face consequences, but if you join us, you help rebuild a stronger Hegemony. If you're willing to talk, pulse twice.”

Two pulses. She continued:

“Good. In 1 kilometer, accelerate and veer right on the road. Rotate turrets to the right. Any turret pointed elsewhere will be considered hostile and engaged. We’re equipped with Firestarters—don’t test us. Pulse twice if agreed.”

Two more pulses. Then a transmission:

“We’re concerned about the Mechs behind us—they may be planning to make an example of us.”

Dorne promised protection. “Power down weapons, rotate turrets right.”

The plan was in motion—but it didn’t go according to plan.

At 5 km, then 3, 2, 1... the IFV turrets rotated right. The mechanized infantry commander reported contacts to that direction. The Marsden I tanks followed suit.

At 1 km (33 hexes), Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse Lances (both equipped with GRF-1Ns), with Parker Lance supporting, formed the base of the L-shape. The Griffins opened fire with LRMs at 600 meters. Ten seconds before, two MTAP hover vehicles launched Arrow II smoke rounds, creating a dense screen between the Mechs and vehicles.

As smoke shrouded the road, enemy BattleMechs advanced—Orion in the lead, Wasp in the rear. Two more Arrow IIs (cluster rounds) fired at ~600 meters. Impact time: <20 seconds.

At T+20 seconds, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse fired: 80 LRMs plus the MTAPS, fired two more Arrow II cluster warheads (this was half of the available ammo) streaked toward the enemy.

Major Tex Bingham, commander of Hersch’s personal guard, led the lance. His orders: ensure the 134th Recon Company was wiped out to enforce loyalty from the rest of the 134th. The "Fifty-First offers peace, then slaughters" narrative was the cover story.

Advancing to ~570 meters, the Orion took point, followed by the Griffins and Wasp. The CAV Turhan Urban Combat Vehicle “Crashgate” was configured for C4ISR with seven communication systems to jam and provide ECM support. With comms jammed, the enemy force, coordination was impossible. When the Orion saw the inbound LRM volley, it dodged—leaving the first Griffin exposed. The mech took eight groups of LRM hits, the missiles swarmed around the center torso, one missile critically hitting Griffin’s gyro. The left leg, torso, and arm were all struck.  The pilot struggled to remain standing.

Arrow II clusters landed. One blast severed Griffin-2’s left arm and damaged the torso. The second strike hit between Griffin-2 and the Wasp—Griffin-2 took serious rear armor damage from a cluster munition. The Orion and the remaining Mechs charged forward.

MTAPs expended another Arrow II missile; they had 1 left. The enemy pursued the fleeing tanks, nearly within engagement range.  MTAPS, at a rush, started retreating to the Forward Operating Base (FOB) to reload.  Three Attack VTOL’s, took off from the FOB, circled to cut off any escape, but the enemy kept advancing.

Major Dorne gave the signal. Victorio Lance and Red Cloud Lance jumped in—but now the terrain interfered, great for an ambush, not so good for a rescue. The road bordered dense forest and swamp.

Red Cloud 2, Sgt. Hailey Ro “Jet,” landed and began sinking. Her partner, Cpl. Edu Tan “Ripcord” of Victorio 4, jumped to defend her but also landed poorly and bogged down. The Orion pilot targeted Ro. Victorio Lead, Lt. Brian Naras “Hollowpoint,” landed clean and raised his AC/20 to challenge the Orion, but three shots missed. The Orion dodged skillfully.

Red Cloud’s remaining Firestarters attacked the Griffins. Cpl. Janeth Cruz “Backstop” flanked the Orion, damaging rear armor—but the Orion responded with a brutal alpha strike. Cruz lost her mech’s left arm, center torso’s engine was sparking and was ejected to safety.  Lt. Dane Farl “Echo” sent a SAR request with coordinates across the net.  The MASH unit, located also at the FOB, was prepared for casualties.

Combat Command A rallied. In two minutes—of which 20 seconds had close-quarters combat —they downed three Mechs: two heavily damaged (parts), one recoverable (Griffin).  On the CAV side, two mechs required extraction from swamp, one had moderate damage. One FS9-A, was a write-off.  Both “Jet” and “Ripcord” required medical assistance.  “Backstop” had the most serious injury.  Four other mechs had taken a moderate level of armor damage and would require hours to repair.   

The rescue of the IPV/AFV’s resulted in saving 80 lives, 8 Goblins and 4 Marsden I  captured. The Wasp nearly escaped—until the VTOLs intervened.  The company was put under guard until the Colonel could work those issues. 

Despite their reputation for poor accuracy, the MTAPs landed a lucky shot with the last Arrow-II's. After 40 seconds of constant VTOL harassment, the Wasp’s position was estimated. The MTAPs blanketed a 120-meter zone with Arrow II cluster fire. One round struck true—severing the Wasp’s left torso, arm, and a leg. The Mech spiraled into a river.

Warrant Officer Dax Korr “Skyline” deployed his Talon team from Cheyenne Troop to rescue the pilot. Though recovered, medical support came too late. Lt. Rima Tell “Highglass” covered the extraction, while Lt. Dane Farl “Echo” landed her team to secure and escort the two ejected enemy pilots back to the road.

--------------------------

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 10:00–11:00 Hours
Location: Dresser Military Spaceport

General Hersch and Major Fredendall watched in grim silence as explosions lit up the horizon. LRM contrails arced high across the sky, followed by a series of thunderous detonations—at least eight, likely artillery. The barrage lasted no more than three minutes.

Across the base, personnel halted and stared at the rising columns of smoke. Unease rippled through the ranks; many feared the recon element had been annihilated. Official statements claimed the unit had been destroyed by Hegemony forces—yet no one knew who to believe.

--------------------------------

Date: 2549.11.19
 Time: 11:00 Hours
 Location: Near Dresser Military Spaceport

With electronic jamming lifted, Colonel Dorne transmitted surrender terms again—this time addressed to the entire base. Moments later, the CO of the 134th Recon Company confirmed his unit was alive, unharmed, and now aligned with the Fifty-First Dragoons.

---------------------

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 11:05 Hours
Location: Dresser Military Spaceport

Inside the command center, General Hersch hurled his SCE terminal to the floor.

“This damned thing doesn’t work! Not a single simulation played out as expected.”

Major Fredendall asked quietly, “What now, sir?”

Hersch didn’t hesitate. “Deploy to the ridge. Heavy units in the center, light on the flanks. My BattleMechs stay in reserve.”

--------------------------

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 13:05 Hours
Location: Overwatch, Dresser Military Spaceport

Glasswatch Ten, Arrow Four—reporting: major enemy buildup at Point One.

--------------------------

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 13:35 Hours
Location: Civilian Spaceport – HouseGuard (CAV) HQ

Colonel Lee temporarily halted Combat Command A’s advance for rearming and field repairs. His aim: disrupt enemy efforts to entrench along the ridges outside Lipton City. The terrain advantage was critical.

Knowing Combat Command B couldn’t face the 134th alone, Lee chose deception over brute force—for now. He dispatched six Falcon-class VTOLs for a precision strike. Once they hit, Combat Command B would roll forward, with Chickasaw Troop and its CRS-6B Crossbow providing heavy fire support.

-----------------------

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 14:25–14:35 Hours
Location: Dresser Military Spaceport

Pre-planted charges detonated in rapid sequence across the facility. Skywatch lost all major communications infrastructure—antennas, radar, and satellite uplinks were gone. The base was suddenly blind and mute.

Talon Team 3 held a concealed position near the Mech and Vehicle Hangars, close to a suspected ammo dump and the base HQ. They’d wanted to drop artillery on the headquarters—but orders were orders. Instead, they deployed a portable recon camera to provide indirect fire support for inbound VTOLs and Arrow II missiles.

As the defenders scrambled to recover, the Falcons roared in from the north, hugging the terrain. Flying nap-of-the-earth, they used hills, buildings, tree lines—even a derelict car parts store—to stay hull-down, only exposing their mast-mounted sensors/wing launchers.

Then they struck.

In a coordinated assault, the VTOLs launched 720 LRM rounds and 48 Arrow II missiles at designated troop concentrations and high-value targets. Their orders were clear: fire from range, no heroics, keep moving.

----------------------------

Date: 2549.11.19
Time: 18:25–18:35 Hours
Location: Ridgeline West of Dresser Military Spaceport

The CAV forces won the race to the high ground.

Trying to keep things “polite,” Colonel Lee aligned Combat Command A along the base’s southern and western edges, while Combat Command B took up position farther to the north and west.

His plan? A maneuver inspired by Alexander the Great—or perhaps General Sheridan of the American Civil War. Tomorrow, his teams would push farther north, threatening the flank of the 134th Line. As the enemy shifted north to meet the pressure, Lee would pivot east—drawing them away from the spaceport.

It was a gamble. Lee planned to land the Jumbo at the military spaceport itself and launch a decisive “Thunder Road” strike straight into the heart of the enemy’s defenses—aimed at breaking their will to fight.

[Gareth Lott]

“Then We Find Out How Many Others Were in the Room”

Department of Military Investigation, Geneva Arcology – 2549.11.18    07:30 Hours

The hum of the VTOL transport echoed in Miranda Cole’s ears, even as she walked briskly through the HCIB/DMI’s Geneva compound toward her first meeting of the day.  All week she had been attending hearings with General Kosta at the Tribunal Chambers.  The short hop back had been quiet — too quiet, considering what she uncovered with her team about the September Revolt.  It was also day 14 since she had left TAWI with Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee, he had also had a part in uncovering the truth.  Truth, that’s a word.  Along with that question..... 

Was General Hersch really the top man?

She didn’t like General Hersch. That wasn’t the problem. He was arrogant, manipulative, and obsessed with consolidation. But he wasn’t stupid — and the deeper she dug, the more that directive he’d authored — "Assume the Threat" — looked less like a response to the September Revolt and more a trigger for something much darker. Something coordinated.

“Don’t just look for traitors,” DMI Director Kryst had said at the meeting she was promoted to her current role. “Look for the people protecting them.”

Now she wondered if Hersch had been covering for someone, or simply executing a plan not entirely his own.  She is starting to think the later.

Her schedule that morning was delicate: a series of security and loyalty interviews with the Palace Household Guard — the elite unit charged with protecting the Director-General, Ian Cameron, and the seat of Hegemony authority itself. Trust in them had to be ironclad.

The first interview was with Colonel Idris Veklan, Commanding Officer of the Guard. A rising star. He’d asked to be seen early, saying he had “other business” at HCIB.

Miranda’s team had already pulled two weeks of internal mics, biosigns, and AI-filtered threat matrices on Veklan.

Nothing pinged.  She’d learned long ago that the most dangerous men never did. But at the same time her checklist came up in her head :

Not all deviation is treason.  CHECK
 

Not all mistakes are conspiracies. CHECK
 

And loyalty must still be rewarded — not merely expected under threat of purging. CHECK, he seemed to be loyal.  One of the best of the Hegemony.

She had just finished cross-checking his service record when she noticed something. He and Carlos Lee had entered the HAF very close to the same time, and had attended initial training in Newport Rhode Island.  But while Veklan’s trajectory had been meteoric — brigade command by 2550 — Carlos had stagnated, trapped by a “processing error” in the Selene Cognitive Engine (SCE) for four years.

If the September Revolt hadn’t kicked loose that logjam...

Carlos would still be a Captain.

A whisper of unease slithered down her spine. That couldn't be coincidence. Not with everything else.

Colonel Veklan entered her office with perfect posture, his dark HouseGuard uniform crisp and immaculate. A predator's calm.

“Deputy Director, thank you for seeing me early,” he said, voice smooth. “I hope we can get this wrapped quickly. I have… additional obligations.”

Miranda kept her tone neutral. “Of course, Colonel. This is standard. Background integrity, loyalty reaffirmation. Normal process for your position. Nothing more.”

“HCIB and DMI doesn’t make it feel that way. But after the revolt… and the arrests... I hope sanity is still part of the process.”

He gave her a half-smile. She noted the careful emphasis. A warning? A test?

She stood. “I promise you, Colonel, this office will always treat the people of the Hegemony with respect and dignity.  You are returned to full duty”

A little bit surprised not being asked any questions, but they shook hands. His grip was firm. Polished. Practiced.

When he was gone, she sat back down and whispered to herself.

“Wow… could he be involved?”

She pulled up Carlos’s file again. Cross-referenced it with Veklan’s. The difference in their careers wasn’t just chance. It had intent.

She stood, fast, and crossed the corridor into the Intelligence Forensics cell.

“Eleni.” Lieutenant Eleni Juno (DMI Forensic Investigator) turned from the cluster of SCE terminals.

“I need a complete forensic trace on this promotion order,” Miranda said, holding up her tablet. “Carlos Dangmar Lee. 2544. Look for the error that delayed it — who initiated the packet, who reviewed it, and who touched it in the system. Network, command tree, policy gatekeepers. Full chain.”

Eleni blinked. “Do you need it by—?”

“Soon.” Miranda’s voice softened. She placed a hand on the lieutenant’s shoulder. “Soon as possible.”

Back at her desk, she tapped open the "Assume the Threat" directIIe again. The bolded sections were no longer orders to follow. Are they clues to decode?

“including the Household Guard.” Was Carlos involved, he was always in the right position,,,,,
 

Why start there? Unless someone feared they’d seen too much.

She flipped through her checklists. One stood out, that Director Kryst had told her.

✅ “Don’t just look for traitors. Look for the people protecting them.”

That, she thought, was done.  She had worked out a major piece, okay call it a strong belief. 

She stared at the final item on her Tablet, the one she'd never discussed with the Director Krysz — not yet:  She would tomorrow........

“Then we find out how many others were in the room.”

She typed it now. Saved her case notes:   

Ever sense she the Tribunal’s,  the hair on the back of her next has been trying to tell her something,  but she wasn’t seeing any threats.

And then, not knowing whether she was preparing to vindicate Carlos…

Or stop him.

—————————————-

Scene: “Ghost in the Code”

Location: HCIB/DMI Deputy Directors (Bullpen) Intelligence Forensics Section, Geneva Arcology  Timestamp: 2549.11.18    09:50 Hours

The glow of the SCE terminal cast soft lines across Lieutenant Eleni Juno’s face, her eyes locked on the query strings flooding across the holoscreen. Miranda had barely finished her sentence before Eleni had launched the investigation into the promotion packet that should’ve advanced Carlos Lee in 2544.

The terminal’s AI assistant “KARL” was designed to trace logic trees, command authorship, and administratIIe dead-ends. But even it was hesitating.

"Process timeout at Gate 18-Sigma. Source record fragment corrupted. External overwrite suggested."

“Not good,” Eleni murmured.

“Show me the access logs,” she said, and the screen shifted.
 Node: SCE Personnel Records ArchIIe.
 Date Range: 2543.9.04–2544.2.17
 Subject: CAPT. Lee, Carlos D.
 Field: Promotion Order ID# 7CAV-2544-017, Status: Delayed/Flagged

Dozens of entries appeared. More than there should have been.

Eleni’s brow furrowed.

“Too many hands touched this.”

She scrolled through the audit log. Most were routine — system pings, HR routing nodes, timestamping services. But four were human. All from different branches. All high-level. And one stood out immediately:

USER: shandra. noruff-cameron @haf.gov.hq | ACCESS LEVEL: FLAG-CINCGENEVA
ACTION: REDIRECTION REQUEST, PROMOTION QUEUE, REROUTE TO SECTOR ARCHIVE 12 (NON-PRIORITY QUEUE) JUSTIFICATION CODE: PENDING OPEVAL / HCMI-DOMESTIC AFFAIRS -SECURITY GRADE – DIRECTOR LEVEL

“Director Level – Security on a promotion?” Eleni whispered. That was a high level review for a Major in a dead-in job, no offense Colonel, used only for suspected psychological risk or loyalty compromise senior flag officers. No way it should’ve been applied to a normal promotion. No matching psych flags existed in Lee’s record.

“He was buried on purpose.”

She kept digging. Who approved the Harmony-flag reroute?

Approval node: SYSTEM-OVERRIDE / SIG-ID: BLACKGLASS - {Project Star League)

The screen pulsed red. KARL’s voice chirped:

“Caution. SIG-ID BLACKGLASS is compartmentalized. Approval authority unknown. Record locked under DirectIIe C-9E.”

Eleni stared. She knew what that meant.

“She just sound alarms all the way up to the Director-Generals office“ A ghost tag was hidden on that record.” A backdoor. Shadow access. Whoever did this had authority above any current HCIB official — maybe even beyond Director Krysz or Hersch.

The back of her neck tingled.

She scanned one last time. At the bottom of the stack was a quietly restored entry, dated just two days after the September Revolt:

RESTORE FLAG / BY: yara.turing@tawi.gov.heg
ACTION: Directiveh override. Promotion reinstated.

“Professor-General Yara Turing found it,” Eleni said aloud. “She’s the one who put it right.”

She took a breath, pulled the full trace data, and encrypted it into a slim black datarod. Then she left her desk.

——————————-

Scene Shift

Location: Deputy Director Miranda Cole’s Office, DMI HQ Geneva – 10:11 GST Hours

Miranda was pacing when Eleni arrived.  She had just had her office scanned for security concerns, no issues detected.   

“Deputy Director, you were right.” Eleni handed her the datarod. “The delay was artificial. Deliberate. Someone flagged Carlos Dangmar Lee, under a wartime psychological screening protocol and routed his promotion into a dead archive stack. The action was submitted by—”

“Director Krysz” Miranda didn’t blink, 

Eleni nodded. “But that’s not all. The approval wasn’t from any known directorate. It came from a compartmentalized access signature — ‘BLACKGLASS as part of a Project Star League.’ A non-attributed ghost. No name, no chain of command.”

Miranda stared at the datarod in her hand like it might burn her. It might.

Eleni added, “And between you and Professor-General Yara Turing, who found it after the revolt. Professor-General Yara Turing put an override into the SCE, and put Carlos back on track, four years late.”

Miranda sat heavily at her desk. Her mind reeled.

It wasn’t Hersch.
It wasn’t HAF.

✅ “Don’t just look for traitors. Look for the people protecting them.”

Check.....

It was someone hiding inside the system. 

Carlos had been buried on purpose — and not because he was unqualified.

Because he was dangerous to them.

She tapped her tablet again.

✅ “Then we find out how many others were in the room.”

And whispered:

“Now we start finding the rooms.”

Eleni, ma’am, I’m sorry to report that “BLACKGLASS and Project Star League.” are controlled projects.  Your going to get a call from someone asking why we tried to access those files..... 

-------------------------------

Location: HCIB / DMI Offices and Surrounding Streets, Geneva, Terra
 Date: 2549.11.18 | 18:55 Hours

Outside the Deputy Director's bullpen, Agent Rhys Marlowe made a quiet note—something important had been discovered.

Miranda Cole’s instincts told her to break protocol tonight. She would dismiss her protective detail and walk home. She needed time to think. The threat level was low, and frankly, she wasn't sure who she could trust—not even Colonel Lee, if he were here. She believed she would be safer this way, more in control. By the time she arrived home, she hoped to have it all figured out. That was the plan, at least.

She released her security team at 1700 hours. Even the Director had left for the evening. She would deal with him tomorrow. For now, she needed to answer one nagging question: What connection am I missing?

She had spent the last two hours on her tablet, combing through every note and transmission. Her instincts regarding the Colonel had never failed her before—but this time, something felt off. In contrast, her read on Agent Rhys Marlowe had been spot on: erratic, spineless, possibly compromised. She suspected him of reporting to someone inside either the HCIB or the Hegemony Armed Forces. He had activated an unauthorized comms device inside the building shortly after her meeting with Eleni. Intercept teams were already tracing the signal. With any luck, she'd have a source identified by morning.

She locked her tablet and secured all sensitive materials, double-checking the office before approaching her desk. Swiping her ID and pressing her thumb to the security scanner, she opened the top drawer. From it, she withdrew her service weapon, placing it at the small of her back.

Exiting the building, Miranda scanned the area. No threats in sight. She set off at a brisk pace. The street lights had begun to hum to life, casting amber halos on the cold pavement. Six blocks to her apartment. Few people were out—understandable on a cold winter night. Christmas was just over a month away. She liked the season—not for the symbolism, but because people treated each other better. It reminded her of what the Hegemony needed: more humanity.

She sensed movement behind her. Pausing, she turned down a side street, finding partial cover. Hand on her weapon, she waited.

Nothing.

She exhaled, stepped back into the open—and saw Agent Rhys Marlowe.

He stood 20 meters away, partially obscured in a recessed doorway. His arm lifted. His mouth opened.

“You bit—”

Nine shots rang out.

Marlowe collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. She turned, catching a glimpse of another figure—dark clothing, weapon drawn. She fired instinctively. More shots followed—four, maybe five, nearly simultaneous.

A soldier stepped into view.

Clad in black and grey tactical fatigues, a silenced submachine gun lowered to the ground in one hand, he raised the other in a non-threatening gesture. He stepped between her and the threat.

“Deputy Director Cole, you're secure. Corporal Hicks, Household Guard. We’re here under orders from Colonel Veklan. Stay behind me—we’ll get you to safety.”

By the time Geneva Diplomatic Security arrived fIve minutes later, the Household Guard had vanished without a trace. She hadn’t even gotten a chance to thank them.

A slightly overweight sergeant approached. “Ma’am, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Miranda answered automatically, her eyes distant. She was replaying the entire sequence of events in her head, running a mental checklist.

----------------------------------------------

Location: HCIB / DMI Offices, Geneva, Terra
 Time: 2549.11.18 | 20:37 Hours

Twenty minutes later, Colonel Veklan arrived.

“Miranda. You all right? Sounds like you had an eventful evening.”

She looked up. “The man I shot...?”

“Clean kill,” he said without hesitation. “He was a threat. You reacted exactly as you were trained. You did well.”

She didn’t respond immediately.

“Why were your men even there?”

Veklan smiled. “Funny thing. A certain Colonel—who left the capital —asked me to quietly assign a Talon Team to watch over you for seventy-two hours. He didn’t say why. Just said it was need-to-know. I’m glad I listened.”

“Take me back to HCIB,” she said, standing. “Please”

-----------------------------

Location: HCIB Headquarters – Director’s Office
Time: 2549.11.18 | 21:10 Hours

Miranda marched through the HCIB executive level, past the outer offices, and opened the Director’s door without knocking. Her hand remained on her weapon.

“Director Kryst. We need to talk.”

He stood from behind his desk, hands visible.

“What do you think you know?”

“I don’t believe you’re guilty of treason against the Director-General—but I can’t say I trust you either. Keep your hands where I can see them.”

“You’re welcome to call security,” she added. “But I suggest you answer my questions before things get messy. If anything happens to me, a full dossier of my findings gets released to every major media outlet in twenty minutes.”

Kryst didn’t move. “No harm will come to you. I give you my word. May I sit?”

“Hands on the desk,” she ordered. “Then yes.”

Kryst complied, then gestured toward the couch. “You’re welcome to sit.”

“I’ll stand,” she replied coldly. “I don’t think you’re the traitor. But I believe you were the architect behind General Hersch’s revolt. The timeline, your orders—they never lined up.”

“My promotion” and “Meeting Colonel Lee” 

Kryst exhaled. “Would you come with me?”

“Where?”

“The Palace.”

“To report me as a threat?”

“Yes,” he said calmly. “Maybe, to let you in on the real game”

“you're in the big leagues now.”

---------------------------------------

Location: Director-General’s Palace – Secure War Room Vault
Time: 2549.11.18 | 22:07 Hours

Miranda Cole stood before the most powerful table on Terra: the Director-General, General Shandra Noruff-Cameron, and Director Kryst seated before her.

Kryst nodded. “State your concerns, Deputy Director.”

She took a breath. If I’m wrong, I tried to protect the Hegemony. If I’m right… this  may change everything.

She detailed her findings—operational patterns, irregular communications, covert deployments, and the assassination attempt.  She talked about her visit to TAWI and being told her future. She concluded in silence.

The Director-General showed no emotion. He glanced at his wife.

“No questions,” Shandra said.  “I also liked the names of the kids.”

He turned back. “Thank you, Deputy Director. That was thorough.”

They don’t believe me, she thought.

Then he asked gently, “Are you all right? You’ve had quite a night.”

She nodded. “Yes, sir. I just want you to understand that everything I’ve done is to protect the Hegemony.”

“You made serious accusations tonight,” he said. “Until we can verify your claims, you are to be placed on paid administrative leave.”

Miranda blinked. This is it.

Then something broke. Words escaped before she could stop them.

“You’re behind the entire revolt.”

Silence.

“I don’t believe you killed your brother. But you knew the threat. That’s why you went to Mexico ahead of the uprising—why you kept the Fifty-First Dragoons intact—why you pardoned most of the rebels. You were managing the crisis. Just like you managed me. You sent me to Professor-General Turing, to focus me on threats, get me thinking about my future life outside the office  — and to see my loyalties to people like Colonel Lee and Director Kryst.  You plan to visit every Inner Sphere capital to prepare for something bigger.” “You need the home front safe and secure.  That was the mission”

Kryst said nothing.

General Noruff-Cameron finally spoke. “Impressive work.”

Even Kryst nodded. “Not entirely correct—but far closer than most ever get.”

The Director-General studied her. He could have her eliminated. That would be safest. Kryst had warned him—she couldn't be controlled, only aimed.  “But, maybe she would be useful?  Then there was the whole Colonel Lee link.”

And when aimed, she delivered.

“Miranda,” he said at last, “I’m going to ask you a few questions. How you answer will determine what happens next.”

“I understand, but Director-General, I have one question first.”

She paused. Now or never.

“How does Carlos Dangmar Lee fit into all of this? I can’t figure it out—is he one of the good guys or not?”

Everyone at the table smiled.

“Good guy,” the Director-General replied. “One of our best. Loyal, smart, and willing to sacrifice for the Hegemony.”

“Now,” he said, leaning forward, “question one: Can you swear never to discuss this operation again?”

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “I’ve already sworn to protect the Hegemony and your family. That hasn’t changed.”

More questions and responses continued for 30 minutes.

The Director-General nodded a few times.

“Welcome aboard.”

Kryst smiled. “Congratulations, Director Cole, DMI. Effective immediately. I’ve just been promoted to HCIB Director—replacing General Hersch.”

[Gareth Lott]

“Shadows Before the Storm”
Geneva, Terra | 2549.11.18 | 18:57–20:37 Hours
HCIB/DMI Offices and Surrounding Streets – Geneva Diplomatic Zone

Outside the DMI bullpen, an agent tapped a final note into his wrist slate. The device disappeared into his coat as the lights inside dimmed to overnight status. Without a word, he slipped through the west entrance, collar up against the cold.

Southwest Corner, Overwatch Post – Talon Team 9

Corporal Jonah Hicks had the mini-ReconCam trained on the DMI’s upper windows, relaying feed directly to the Talon Team. As the junior man, the gritty jobs always fell to him—surveillance, setup, overwatch. But tonight felt different.

He’d seen this pattern before.

Inside, the asset (DDMI Cole) stared at the security feed as it went dark. She seemed to be using caution, preparing, what are you up too. 

The Talon 9 Sergeant blinked at the surprise alert: Protective Detail Released. Timestamp: 1700 hours. Cole had dismissed them herself, citing a low-threat environment. No official movement request submitted. Just the vague claim of a private engagement.

Hicks had asked the obvious: “So what now, boss?”

The sergeant didn’t hesitate. “Orders stand. All units, on standby for direct action.”

Hicks watched from his perch as the DDMI exited the building.  Alone. She looked like she intended to walk—five blocks, maybe six—toward her residence. She paused to scan the area.

What she didn’t know—couldn’t know—was that the operation had already begun.

--------------------------

Ten Hours Earlier – HCIB Level 32, Protective Services Office

Colonel Veklan handed the overwatch comms to Deputy Director Baughman with one directive:
“You’ll never see them. That’s the point.”

Talon Team 9 was drawn from the Household Guard—blacklisted, off-books, and invisible. Their mission: protect DDMI Cole from any threat. No signatures. No questions. No trace.

Corporal Hicks had spent the last eight hours positioning optics, establishing fallback points, and marking clean lines of fire. Urban overwatch in Geneva wasn’t tactics—it was choreography. Rooftop Two, the old magistrate’s building, gave him a commanding view of three full blocks of the assets (Cole’s) likely route.

Now, she was moving. Time to get serious.

--------------------

19:25 Hours

From his position, Hicks caught it: a shimmer, a glint—recessed doorway, two blocks out. Male figure. Stiff stance. Wrong coat profile.

He clipped into the rappel line and stood.

He heard “Visual on Package. Shooter confirmed. Standby.” Double-tapped his earpiece. 

Below, the asset made her move—ducking into an alley, weapon drawn, using the shadows. Hicks nodded to himself.

Smart. Stay put. Let them make the next move.

But then—damn it—she stepped back into the open.

He began his descent.

The shooter raised his arm.

“You bit—”

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Hicks didn’t hesitate. Three suppressed rounds—followed by six more from the rest of the Talon Team—cut through the cold like surgical lightning. The man dropped mid-word, folding into the frost-rimed gutter.

Before the body hit the pavement, Hicks had landed, quick-release free, already moving. Not running—gliding. Purposeful. Weapon low, angled away from the asset but ready to cover his sector.

Then—movement. Left flank. Far side of the street. Too close.

Second shooter.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Two to the chest. One to the head. Hicks' rifle cycled flawlessly—every third round frangible. The final two shots echoed faintly as Miranda fired her own weapon, precise and steady.

Target dropped.

Hicks advanced, stepping in front of the asset, his body and the wall creating a protective shield.

His mind ran the math: five shots total. He’d fired three. asset - one. That left…

He swept the area. Nothing more moved.

“Deputy Director Cole, you’re secure. Corporal Hicks, Household Guard. Are you hit?”
 She said “no” and shook her head, still in shock.

“We’re here under orders from Colonel Veklan. Stay behind me—we’ll get you to safety.”

A heartbeat, passed.  Then—just one word:

“Understood.”

--------------------

19:32 Hours

By the time Geneva Diplomatic Security rolled onto the scene, the street was still and cold. Two bodies lay in the gutter. No witnesses. No visible shooters. No shell casings.

The Household Guard had vanished like ghosts.

-----------------------

From Hicks’ Vantage Point

A stocky sergeant in an ill-fitting overcoat approached the asset, carefully. “Ma’am, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she replied, but her voice was distant. Her eyes flicked down the street, replaying every step, every shot.

Hicks watched from shadows above, still covering. He knew what she was thinking.

This hadn’t been luck.
------------------

Meanwhile – HCIB Executive Annex, Level 32

Deputy Director Urbanus Edmund Baughman stared at the slate in his hand, face unreadable.

Two shooters. One confirmed: Rhys Marlowe.

He keyed a secure channel.

“Get me Director Kryst. Now.”
------------------

At that same moment, Talon Team 9 was already repositioning—back on overwatch. Silent. Watching.

And waiting.

[Daryk]

Curiouser and curiouser!

[mikecj]

Wheels within wheels.  At this point you almost have to make an appointment to run an op before you bump into someone else's

[Gareth Lott]

Date: 2549.11.21
Time: 18:00 Hours
Location: Dresser Military Spaceport

The base was in shambles.

The only reason anyone even knew a Dropship was landing was because they could step outside and see it for themselves. But stepping outside was a risk now—an invitation to die. The enemy had deployed snipers across the ridgeline, and if you were doing anything even remotely tied to the war effort, you were considered fair game.

The base was nearly empty. General Hersch and Colonel Fredendall had committed everything—every combat company, every reserve, even the last air mobile recon assets. Only a handful of military police and logistics personnel remained behind, clinging to their posts like skeleton crew on a sinking ship.

The Jumbo came down hard—its hull still glowing from the heat of re-entry. It would be at least an hour before the surface temperature dropped enough for safe offload and the all-clear could be sounded.

First came the passenger door. Then the cargo bay one began its slow, hydraulic descent. The MPs posted at the security checkpoint exchanged glances, shrugged, and figured they might as well go see what had just arrived. They pulled up in a dusty transport truck. Twenty-eight soldiers dismounted, spreading out across the loading zone, scanning for threats—though they all knew what they were really doing: watching.

With practiced grace and just a little theater, she appeared.

Laura Myles. (Secretly LT, S-10 PAO)

She bounded down the passenger ladder, cameraman close behind, eyes scanning the crowd with professional curiosity. Her energy hit the tarmac like a shockwave. The Terran News Bureau patch on her satchel was fresh. Her outfit—combat boots and field skirt just a little too short, blouse one button lower than regulation—managed to flirt with the line between journalistic daring and battlefield decorum.

But it wasn’t the clothes. It was the spark. The force of presence.

She stopped just shy of the nearest squad, hands on hips, and flashed that trademark grin—the one they all wanted to know more.

“Laura Myles,” she said, breathless, alive, like she hadn’t just landed in a combat zone but stepped onto a red carpet. “Terran News, Earthside Free Press, and Interstellar News Network. I’m here to cover the story of a lifetime.”

She looked around, practically vibrating with excitement.

“So… who wants to show me around?”

Silence. Then a few murmurs. Then, laughter. Tension broke like ice under heat. Even the MPs relaxed a little.

Whatever the next few days would bring, the war had just gained a witness—and the CAV, a voice.

------------

We all had forgotten we had a war going on and that people are dying.

Colonel Lee

-------------     

Date: 2549.12.14
Time: 07:30 GST
Location: Geneva Military Spaceport
Vessel: CZAR-1, Terran Hegemony Dropship, LEO Holding Orbit

Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee sat alone in the narrow stateroom aboard Czar-1, strapped into the crash couch as final checks echoed from the ship’s comms. The upcoming de-orbital burn would mark his return to Earth—his first homecoming as a full regimental commander. It should have felt like triumph.  It didn’t. He wanted to see Miranda, but all he could see was Araseli Dorne and the loss to her family.  He had work to complete, in a month, he was going to escort and provide security for some critical meetings for the future of the Hegemony.

He had exchanged multiple messages with Miranda, nothing to deep, but making plans for social events around the holidays.  Lt Laura Myles, HouseGuard (CAV) (S-10 Public Affairs Officer (PAO)’s holovid discussing the Battle of Lipton III was getting released today, he trusted her it would be fair and accurate.  He had sent a message to Aaron Dorne to express his sense of great loss with the death of Major Araseli Dorne, he promised to visit soon.     

The screen across from him scrolled telemetry from the dropship Jumbo. In its massive hangar bay, thirty BattleMechs sat in quiet rows, stripped down and dormant, their pilots back in the crew berths (under guard). At least the ones who still had pilots.

Lee rubbed his temples. He had reviewed the final numbers more times than he could count. Twelve dead. Seventy-six wounded. Five 'Mechs lost—two gone to reactor failures, the rest - catastrophic torso breaches, or the slow grind of sustained damage. Four Goblin IFVs turned to twisted slag. One VTOL  crashed behind enemy lines, the crew unrecovered.

And yet the enemy?

Eighteen BattleMechs destroyed. Nineteen enemy IFVs and AFVs turned to burning wreckage. Seven hundred twenty-three soldiers killed in action. Over 2,500 prisoners taken. Three hundred of those were wounded and are now receiving treatment by his people.

It was a decisive, even overwhelming, victory.

But it didn’t feel like one.

His eyes lingered on the list of salvage. The name Orion glared at him from the inventory manifest like a roach in a clean room. One unit remained. The others—five of them—had died screaming, their reactors detonating with a ferocity that haunted even hardened veterans.

He hated them.

No, that wasn’t the word. He despised them.

The Orion was the image of slaughter. Of Hersch’s madness. Of Dorne’s death.

He had every reason—every right—to order its destruction. One word, and it would be scrap. 

Instead, he stared.

He stared at the ghost of what had happened.

Major Araseli Dorne. XO of the HouseGuard (CAV). His second-in-command. She had held the left ridge. Had kept Combat Command A together through the worst of it. Had placed herself between the fleeing scouts of Lance Gail and the fury of General Hersch’s final charge.

Her Victor—VTR-9B—was a masterpiece of Hegemony engineering. It should have withstood a full frontal assault from nearly anything. But not four Orions. Not all at once.

The footage still played in his head. The calm tone in her voice. The cut-off message. Her mech falling backwards, the blinding light of her reactor breaching, ammo bins exploding, skyward like a funeral pyre and a failed ejection (it all happened so fast).

He hadn’t spoken about it. Not to the staff. Not even to the war diarists. For the last two weeks, he’d stayed buried in after-action reports, logistics manifests, and maintenance rosters. When he spoke to people, it was through dispatches. Cold, impersonal memos. No one asked why. They knew.

The war had been won, yes.

But it had torn something out of him.

And now, with the drop window ticking down and Earth below spinning into view, he finally allowed himself to feel it. The dull ache inside wasn’t just grief. It was something else. A question, quietly asking itself in every silence.

How can men send so many to die so easily?

He’d trained with with her. Gave her the callsign, her family, and their favorite drink. She  had shared barrack stories with him about a dozen deployments. Now, her bunk was empty. Her locker silent.

In officer training, they told you not to grow attached. The mission comes first, they said. Completion is victory. Loss is sacrifice. Glorious. Honorable. The price of command.

But those who said that had never seen what he saw. Hadn’t seen reactor cores melt through alloy plating. Hadn’t stood in silence while medevac VTOLs lifted off with someone’s arm in a bag and someone else’s wedding ring on a med tech’s clipboard.

He had outmaneuvered death for so long. Outthought it. Outplanned it. But now?

Now it stood across from him. Not as an enemy, but as a cruel, laughing companion—present at every table, every command brief, every dark corridor of his thoughts. It laughed like a lunatic, a madman who knew: you can’t win forever.

Not against time. Not against fate. Not against the galaxy.  “Your troops must die to win.” 

Colonel Lee closed his eyes and leaned back into the crash webbing.

He would land. He would debrief. He would see the flags lowered and the medals pinned. He would attend the ceremonies, write the letters, stand at the graves.

And then he would sit alone, in silence, and do the hardest thing any commander ever must:

He would remember.

He looked up and turned on the Holoscreen to watch Lt. Myles work.

 

-----------------------------------------

The final battle of Lipton III

Field Report: “One Minute, Forever”
 Filed by LT. Laura Myles, Embedded Journalist / PAO, Household Guard (CAV) /  Fifty-First Dragoon Regiment

[BEGIN TRANSMISSION – AUDIO & VIDEO SYNCED | DATE: T+4 hours post-CCA ridge engagement]
 [CAMBOT-3 ACTIVE | ID: LMYLES-CAV-357]
 [Visual: A ridge scorched black by autocannon fire. Burned-out husks of BattleMechs smolder in the background. Wind carries ash like snow.]

LAURA MYLES (Voice calm, face grim but resolved):
 “We say war is made of minutes. But what happened here… was one minute. That’s all. One minute that broke hearts and changed command forever. One minute that took from us a leader, a friend, and the woman who gave me my first ride in a Victor.”

[Cut to: Pre-battle footage. Major Araseli Dorne, in flight gear, climbing out of her VTR-9B, laughing with her lance.]

“You can’t write a story unless you’ve been dusted by a proper LRM barrage, Myles.”

LAURA (Voice-over, low and reverent):
 “That was three weeks ago. She had grit in her soul, and thunder in her blood. A mechwarrior who remembered names. Who rewired a reactor relay with bare hands in Frankfurt, then served soup to the line crews that night. People followed her because they trusted her to finish the mission—and bring them back.”

[Cut to: Drone footage from the battle – fast, jagged movements. Five Victors crest the ridge. A sharp pivot as four Orions—Hersch’s vanguard—snap into targeting configuration.]

LAURA (Voice clipped, holding emotion):
 “We were setting up for the final pullback. CCB was winning the left. The Shadow Blades were holding north. All Dorne had to do… was hold this flank. Then Hersch came. The traitor general. The butcher of Geneva.”

“He recognized her livery—the Fifty-First Dragoon Regiment. And he lost it.”

[Overlay: Audio log from intercepted comms – Hersch’s voice, ragged with hate]

HERSCH: “Colonel Dorne, you die. I will kill you for your treason.”

[CAMBOT: Zoom on the XO’s Victor. Suddenly: four simultaneous muzzle flashes. Four Orions fire. One minute follows.]

LAURA (quiet, then rising):
 “They focused fire. AC/10s tore through her centerline. Then the missiles. Four full LRM clusters. The Victor staggered, reactor screaming. Left and Right Torso armor barely holding back the attacks. We heard her trying to shut down the reactor, eject the ammo from her bins —then static.”   Her mech started to fall backwards. 

“When the final LRM volley hit, it breached the engine core, maybe the right or left torso ammo bins.  A mix bet, the ejection system failed. Just light. And silence.”

[Sound Design: Muffled explosion. Camera trembles. Soldiers flinch. The feed glitches, then steadies. Smoke billows.]

[Cut: Colonel Lee watching from behind Crashgate-3, lips pressed tight. He doesn’t speak. He just watches.]

LAURA (Voice-over, slow and clipped):
 “For a second, the entire line froze. We all felt it. Something had gone. Something important. And then came a voice.”

[Comms Log: Highborn comes in strong, clear]

CAPT. RENN MAYS (HIGHBORN): “CCA, this is Highborn. I have command. Attack. Don’t let any of them get away.”

[CAMBOT: Dozens of HouseGuard Mechs surge forward, silhouette against flame. The counterattack begins.]

LAURA:
 “They brought Seventeen (they had already lost three)  into the grinder. The enemy only had sixteen. It was fury. It was vengeance. It was discipline forged in loss.”

[Cut: Combat footage. LRMs whoosh and AC20 shells streak into the  Orions. Griffins folding under autocannon fire. Wasp Mechs trying to flee—chased down by angry steel and VTOLs.]

LAURA:
 “Three Orions down. Then two Griffins. The rest fell fast. The last two surrendered—crawled out with arms raised, reactors shutdown, VTOLs overhead like killer bee’s.”

“By the end, CCA held the ridge. The dropship unloaded. The mission survived. The war was won.”

[Cut: Field medics. Pyre and Tinder—Holt and Yates—being stabilized and medevac’d. A scorched FS9-A nearby.]

LAURA (emotion in her voice now):
 “We recovered two friendlies. Five enemy pilots survived, rushed to MASH units. General Hersch did not make it. His Orion was a molten crater.”

“But this story… isn’t about him.”

[Cut: Wreckage of Dorne’s Victor. Scattered armor plates. A melted HouseGuard emblem half-buried in mud.]

LAURA:
 “This story is about a minute. One minute, when Araseli Dorne stood between annihilation and survival. She didn’t flinch. She didn’t stall. She just fought. She knew what it would cost. And she paid it.”

[Closing shot: Laura facing the camera, her face lit by sunrise behind the ridge.]

LAURA (steady):
 “When people ask what it means to wear the Guard’s gold and black… I’ll show them this ridge. I’ll tell them this story. And I’ll say her name.”

“Colonel Araseli Dorne. Fifty-First Dragoon. Executive Officer (HouseGuard (CAV)). Warrior. Sister-in-arms.”

“One minute. Forever.”

[END TRANSMISSION – FLAGGED FOR MEMORIAL BROADCAST | INTERSTELLAR NETWORK]

-----------------------------------------

 

Date: 2549.12.14
Time: 12:40 GST
Location: Geneva Military Spaceport – Press Operations Suite, Concourse B

The cameras were already live when Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee entered the room. The backdrop behind the podium was emblazoned with the crest of the Terran HouseGuard (CAV), flanked by the black-and-gold banner of Combat Command Alpha and the deep crimson of the 51st Dragoons.

Laura Myles stood waiting—poised, polished, but unmistakably excited. Her Earthside Free Press badge caught the light just as she turned toward him with that signature mix of charm and authority. A cameraman tracked their approach, careful not to interrupt the moment.

Lee extended a hand. She took it. No fanfare. No rehearsed lines.

Just:
 “Colonel. Welcome home.”

Lee gave the smallest of nods. “Thank you, LT. Myles. It’s good to be back.”

They moved to the interview chairs off-stage—two simple seats, minimal décor, the war room aesthetic softened by the afternoon sun filtering through the reinforced glass. The city of Geneva glittered beyond, untouched by the fight but not untouched by the consequences.

The live broadcast began.

Myles: “Colonel Lee, the entire quadrant has followed your campaign. The HouseGuard’s success has been described as swift, precise, and decisive. What do you say to those who call it a masterclass in integrated arms warfare?”

Lee (slight smile): “I say they’re giving too much credit to one man. It was a team effort—from the logistics crews in orbit to the pilots flying overwatch to every trooper on the ground. What we achieved was because of them.”

Myles: “But it was your first field command. And the results were staggering—thirty ’Mechs secured, over 2,500 enemy troops taken prisoner, minimal friendly casualties compared to projections. What do you credit for that outcome?”

Lee: “Preparation. Discipline. And trust. We trained for this. My commanders—Major Dorne, Major Moreau, Captain Mays—they executed the plan better than I could have hoped. And when things broke down, when the unexpected hit... we adapted. We moved together.”

She hesitated, gauging him.

Myles: “You lost Major Araseli Dorne. She’s become something of a symbol to the troops, especially with the footage of her final stand circulating through news channels. Would you mind saying something about her?”

Lee looked down for a moment. Then back up.

Lee: “Major Dorne was the kind of officer every regiment hopes to have—and every commander dreads losing. She didn’t ask her team to do anything she wouldn’t do herself. When the time came, she stood exactly where she was needed. She gave her life for others to live. That’s not just courage. That’s leadership.”

Myles let the silence hang. Then, gently:

Myles: “Colonel, with the operation concluded and your forces rotating home, what’s next for the HouseGuard (CAV)? And for you?”

Lee leaned forward slightly, his posture grounded now in something steadier than grief.

Lee: “Recovery. Reflection. But not retreat. The CAV we need to prepare for the next mission.  Service to the Hegemony is about making life better for everyone else. Some will help stand up new units, train new soldiers. We won a victory—but it came at a cost. My job now is to make sure we learn from it. To make sure we honor the people who didn’t come back by building something better.”

Myles (with a knowing smile): “Final question. You once said in a war college lecture that commanders don’t get to have feelings. After what you've experienced—do you still believe that?”

Lee’s eyes held hers, steady and clear.

Lee: “No. I think feelings are what remind us why we fight in the first place.”

As the camera faded out, Myles removed her mic and stood, offering her hand again—this time in quiet respect.

“Boss,” she said, softer now, “That was one hell of a story. Thank you for letting me help tell it.”

Lee gave a small nod. “Just make sure they know the names that matter.”

“They will.”

----------------------

Afterwards
Location: Geneva Military Spaceport – Concourse B

Director Cole, stood and waited for Colonel Carlos Dangmar Lee.