Nice, tying up all the loose ends...
Can't do an entire story in flashback, I mean I guess you could but at that point, its not a flashback anymore. You just glimpse the Future
Begin Story11/25/3067 06:00 Location – Government House, Minette, FedComThe Fourth Whitting Conference Video had just been downloaded by the Minette HPG. Two days had passed since it occurred which was a record fast time to travel the whole of the Galaxy along “Tin Can Alley,” DRUM relays used to broadcast from New Avalon to Minette and the other Edgeward Outback Worlds from the Coreward Ones without having to go around the vast border worlds of the Federated Commonwealth. The vid-disk was tagged
'extremely critical to show the Grand Duchess first' by Precentor New Avalon.
Precentor Minette Jelica Vidya arrived at the Government House with a group of Adepts all of whom were seated outside in the lobby under the watchful eye of Marshals since they arrived before regular hours. When Yvonne walked out of the elevator to her living quarters she was surprised to see so many people here, before breakfast or the sunrise, which made her stomach ache. She walked up to the white clad COMSTAR Precentor,
“Please tell me it’s not something terrible Jelica.”
“Well Yvonne, it didn’t come with a seal from the Estates General and Privy Council making you Regent again but it did say urgent. I haven’t even looked at the files yet.”Yvonne relaxed a little and told the staff to just send her breakfast for the conference room.
“Fine let’s take it to the conference room and see what my sister is up to on Tharkad.”The COMSTAR White and Marshal Khaki was only interrupted by a splash of green from Yvonne’s combat jacket as the conference room was always freezing. One of the Adepts inserted the disk and played the raw feed sent from Tharkad two days ago. Tharkad time and the Terran date were displayed underneath as the holographic projector warmed up.
Video/Callback to end of White Wolf of Ragnarok_Katherine takes the stage, her outfit immaculate, blue and gold dress with a white and red gold ruby and sapphire coronet spiraling into her braided hair, platinum and diamond necklace, her watch, wolf styled bracelet, and signet ring were joined with another ring on her opposite hand.
“Hello everyone, I hope you have enjoyed the conference thus far. The Federated Commonwealth is an open and prosperous nation and we strive to be welcoming to the Inner Sphere and Periphery alike. You are no doubt wondering who I am to sponsor this evening. It is my great pleasure to invite my husband Vladimir Ward, Khan of the Wolf Empire, to these proceedings.”Everyone was shocked into silence as Vladimir Ward followed by a Star of Elemental Battle Armor from his Golden Keshik arrived through the grand doors. He walked up to the stage wearing a gray military uniform with a big red star across the back, his brown hair close cropped, face and scar visible, walking confidently despite his many potential enemies, it was just another day for him.
The Elementals stood below the stage and locked ranks carefully watching the crowd of freeborn before them. Three small children walked in from backstage, two boys and a girl and joined the Archon-Princess and Khan.
“I sponsor the Wolf Empire for entry into the Second Star League, Khan Ward has graciously offered to join in our efforts to bring back the glory of the Star League.”Still First Lord Christian Mannsson stepped up,
“You cannot seriously expect us to welcome the enemy into our midst.”
“Why not First Lord? Coordinator Kurita has no problem using the Nova Cats as human shields against the Ghost Bears...yet he doesn't give them anything in return, not even a vote. Surely you feel that is more unjust than partnership.”Former First Lord Theodore Kurita rose up,
“Lies! The Nova Cats volunteered, they are duty bound to protect us from their menacing kin. Our nations suffered greatly at the hands of the Clans, this entire endeavor is dedicated to their eradication.”
“Is that so, here I thought it was to promote unity in the Inner Sphere and put an end to the Succession Wars, how foolish of me. This eradication you speak of, did not the Rasalhague people elect a Ghost Bear as their Prince? Surely you wouldn't let the Combine or the SLDF kill him.”
“We are still trying to get him back and liberate our people from their occupiers...”
“Oh do you want Rasalhague back so dearly? Darling it is a bit of a problem, what with those Ghost Bears always trying to get it. Why not let them try.”Khan Ward was un-phased no one here could threaten him and he knew it,
“It is, but it has been good training for our Warriors...and I do so love to spite the Bears. You can of course trial for it, Regent Prince-General. Perhaps your people do not wish to return because they find Wolves and Ghost Bears more hospitable.”
“You are all monsters to me Wolf Khan and I will never accept you into the Star League.”
“Harsh words First Lord, I might be offended but I have more important things to do. I feel as if I am unwelcome on your world Katherine.”
“They will get over it. I do not appreciate the vitriol expressed on this wonderful day. Think of the children”Precentor William Blane of the Word of Blake stood up and was eyed by the Elementals that stood guard over the stage,
“The Word of Blake will never accept the Wolves or any Clan into the Star League.”Theodore and Hohiro Kurita stood as well,
“Nor will the Draconis Combine”Captain-General Thomas Marik,
“Neither will the Free Worlds League.”Katherine looked disappointed but not surprised,
“As I feared they will not let you join Vladimir, I suppose then if you will not accept the Federated Commonwealth's decision and so rudely spurn my husband on my world. I declare that we are withdrawing from this mockery of an institution effective immediately.
I have long tried to deal with you fairly, but receiving nothing but insult to my character and that of the Commonwealth. This 'Star League' is nothing but a mechanism to stifle the bright future that awaits us.”_End VideoYvonne and everyone in the room was shocked by the video, eight thoughts immediately popped into her head
Husband?
Since When?
Why wasn’t I invited to the Wedding?
My brother-in-law is a Wolf Khan.
I have secret Nephews too?
Where and when did they meet?
They make a cute couple.
This is going to be a problem.Everyone was looking at her for answers but all she was doing was looking at her fresh cup of coffee. She looked at one of the pages that worked for her,
“James, I’m going to need some whiskey for this coffee.”The young man looked confused,
“It’s not even six thirty a.m. Grand Duchess, are you sure?”
“I’m sure." sigh,
"You know where it’s at.” The man disappeared and shortly returned with a flask bearing her Ducal Seal handing it over. Yvonne then poured a generous double shot into her coffee cup.
“Precentor, I’m not sure where to go with this but would you join me for a drink? I think we need to discuss some things.”11/30/3067 17:58 Location – Trip, Magistracy of CanopusAdonis Valentine (Arthur Steiner-Davion) and Erdê Centrella were both deployed as part of the Magistracy Development Corps mission to Trip/Adhara. The planet had been exposed to a virulent biological agent during the Taurian-Magistracy War in the 29th Century and abandoned but had recovered naturally.
As part of the Niops Association deal with Magestrix Centrella they would settle here by 3072. As such survey crews were busy searching for potential hazards, settlement locations, and areas to exploit. Erdê was managing a team of Biowarfare specialists from the MMC remotely from a Magellan Survey Vehicle monitoring them for exposure to the Tetski Terror.
Commander Valentine patrolled the area in his Thug, the rest of the sole company of 3rd Canopian Grenadiers remaining at base or working alongside the Niops teams.
The Word of Blake’s mobile HPG keyed in on the Command Frequency forcing everyone to pay attention.
“Major Centrella this is Adept Ullen, urgent transmission just came through from Canopus. You’ll have to report to the habitat though my broadcast dish is nonfunctional.”
“We were already coming in for dinner Ullen, just have it ready for us.”The teams returned to the habitat and followed standard decon procedures changing into clean clothes before being allowed inside. There was no sign of the Tetski Terror in the biosphere but that didn’t make caution any less warranted, every planet that had life had its fair share of unique diseases. Some were harmless but others rendered a planet inhospitable like the dreaded Brisbane Virus in the Taurian Concordat. At least that the MMC had fixed (or rather MIM stole it from the research lab on New Syrtis where it was developed) saving many lives and earning plenty of good will with the notoriously combative Concordat.
Ullen was reciting passages of his repair manual to the broken broadcast dish asking Blake to guide his hands while replacing the damaged components. The rest of the survey team sat in their cramped briefing room and activated the holodisk.
The disk played the final meeting of the Whitting Conference, many of the assembled were speechless but headed back to the mess hall to discuss current events. Arthur and Erdê remained in the briefing room after they departed,
“Erdê, I am apparently collecting a lot of interesting potential brothers-in-law slash mortal enemies. I am so glad I’m on the other side of the universe from both of them and I really hope this doesn’t go as bad as I fear it might.”