31 March 3068
Terra
First Lord Katherine Steiner Davion was standing in the Star League High Council chamber where numerous holo camera's were set up. This was going to be a live Inner Sphere wide broadcast. Even into area's using WoB controlled HPG stations, since they were still using the old Comstar standard coding. When the director pointed at her, she began.
"Fellow citizens of the Inner Sphere, I come bearing horrible news. On 7 February of this year, during fighting on Alphard in the former Marian Hegemony, Word of Blake forces detonated several nuclear and neutron devices destroying the planet's capitol Nova Roma. An estimated 50+ million people perished. Innocent civilians. To prove to mankind that they are the absolute worst since Stephan Amaris, Word of Blake forces also used a most evil and deadly biological weapon on the planets Stafford, Addhara and New Venice also in the former Marian Hegemony. This virus or biological weapon is so contagious and deadly that SLDF forces have been forced to declare an absolute blockade of all three systems.
To the Word of Blake and their supporters, before the SLDF was being used in a limited manner, now, after the multiple atrocities you have committed, you have forced me into a position that I would rather have avoided. But now I see that the Star League Defense Force must now be used in greater numbers. The Star League cannot stand aside and allow you to continue the use of weapons of mass destruction with a total disregard for civilian casualties. You have shown yourself to have nothing resembling human compassion, therefore you will be treated as such. You have but one chance to surrender, you have until 1 June of this year to surrender to the nearest SLDF or Star League members forces. After 1 June, expect the exact mercy you have shown others.
To the Free Worlds League, these are the monsters you have been harboring and supporting. I have consulted with Archon Prince Victor Steiner Davion and he has agreed to suspend offensive operations until 1 June of this year. I call upon the people and forces of the Free Worlds League to rise up and cast out the Word of Blake. You will not be alone, for we are coming for them. We do not wish to fight the people of the Free Worlds League, our fight is with the Word of Blake and those that support them. Let your voices be heard and we will listen.
I have also been informed that the world of Detroit has been liberated. I have declared that Detroit will be a Star League protectorate until such time as the people have a chance to vote on their future."
When the little green light turned to red, Katherine walked off the small stage and headed for the nearest bathroom for she felt sick to her stomach.
Back in First Lord Katherine's office, Archon Prince Victor Steiner Davion, Quintus Allard, Commanding General Alexander Cocus and Commanding Admiral Alan Beresick were working on planning.
"How sure are we of the loyalty of the SLDF units?" Victor asked
General Cocus and Admiral Beresick exchanged looks and then both looked at Quintus Allard who spoke up "Highness, there will never be a sure thing. The SLDF is still 75% former Comstar. All the time we have spent reviewing and interviewing people, we have only scraped the surface with over 125,000 interviews conducted. We will just have to risk it."
"Okay, General Cocus, what do you plan to deploy?" Victor asked
Commanding General Cocus clicked the remote he held and a wall monitor displayed a listing of the various SLDF Armies.
SLDF Deployments 3068
1st SLDF Army (Redeploying FWL)
91st SLDF Division - Current Steelton, New
211th SLDF Division - Current Romulus
308th SLDF Division - Current Seiduts
103rd SLDF Division - Current Zoetermeer
2nd SLDF Army (Redeploying FWL)
81st SLDF Division - Current Montmarault
301st SLDF Division - Current La Grave
82nd SLDF Division - Current Orkney
77th SLDF Division - Current Quarell
3rd SLDF Army (Redeploying FC)
11th SLDF Division - Current Tukayyid, New Quarell
2nd SLDF Division - Current Tukayyid, New Montmarault
323rd SLDF Division - Current Tukayyid, New Zoetermeer
299th SLDF Division - Current Tukayyid, New Romulus
4th SLDF Army (Free Rasalhague)
83rd SLDF Division - Current Ueda
87th SLDF Division - Current Dehgolan
79th SLDF Division - Current Karbala, New Tukayyid
366th SLDF Division - Current Grumium, New Tukayyid
5th SLDF Army (Draconis Combine)
76th SLDF Division - Current Pilkhau
379th SLDF Division - Current Najha
394th SLDF Division - Current Kiesen
467th SLDF Division - Current Meilen
6th SLDF Army (Redeploying)
31st SLDF Division - Current Vega, New Murphrid
12th SLDF Division - Current Vega, New Murphrid
102nd SLDF Division - Current Vega, New Murphrid
1st SLDF Division - Current Vega, New Murphrid
7th SLDF Army (Redeploying FWL)
244th SLDF Division - Current New Macao
222nd SLDF Division - Current New Macao
214th SLDF Division - Current New Macao
431st SLDF Division - Current New Macao
8th SLDF Army (Draconis Combine)
9th SLDF Division - Current New Samarkad
39th SLDF Division - Current New Samarkad
79th SLDF Division - Current Land's End
143rd SLDF Division - Current Enif
208th SLDF Division - Current Suianheer
9th SLDF Army (Capellan Confederation)
2nd SLDF Division - Current Lothario
3rd SLDF Division - Current Ward
4th SLDF Division - Current Sian
5th SLDF Division - Current Borden
10th SLDF Army (Federated Commonwealth)
301st SLDF Division - Current Lindsay, New Detroit
302nd SLDF Division - Current Robsart
303rd SLDF Division - Current Robsart
304th SLDF Division - Current Robsart
11th SLDF Army (Invader Army)
472nd SLDF Division (Invader Galaxy) - Terra
473rd SLDF Division (Beta Galaxy) - Current Wing
474th SLDF Division (Gamma Galaxy) - Current Dubhe
475th SLDF Division (Kappa Galaxy) - Terra
278th SLDF Division - Current Illyria
250th BattleMech Division - Current Connaught
1st SLDF RCT - Current Barcelona
2nd SLDF RCT - Current Alphard
3rd SLDF RCT - Current Alphard
"Archon Prince Davion, as you can see the SLDF will be doing a huge movement. I have had a plan for this since you started your offensive last year. I have 2 Potemkin deployed at Vega ready to load all 4 Divisions of 6th Army and I the other 2 Potemkin at Orkney ready to pick up 2nd Army and the Jumpshps ready to ferry her Divisions back to Orkney.
I have enough Tarawa LF Transports at Robsart to carry all 3 Divisions of 10th Army and 2 Tarawa LF Transports ready to carry the 301st Division from Lindsay to Detroit. Both deployed Divisions in the Lothario Palatinate are fully equipped with Tarawa LF Transports. I have already dispatched warning orders to all units." Commanding General Cocus briefed
Victor sat back and studied the wall display. He would have to send a fax to Scott, Victor would not order him to go for Gibson, but he doubted he could hold Scott back if he suggested it.