Alternate Timeline with Thanks (FULL) Part 2

[Dragon Cat]

Is there stats for the Kharon Heavy Cavalry BattleMech posted?

It's a variant of a mech posted recently in a fanbook... run by part of that faction in this AU all I'm going to say...

[Dragon Cat]

Before I jump into the next section please see attached the active units and active WarShips

[Rainbow 6]

Before I jump into the next section please see attached the active units and active WarShips

Good to see the Mailed Fist are still going strong.

[James Tanaga]

Only thing I can see is the Rim Collection's RCS Hellstorm (York-class) missing from the naval side. Great job continuing this timeline!  :thumbsup:

[marauder648]

As always, superb stuff!

[Dragon Cat]

End of 3113 map at the following link as it won't attach here

https://www.ourbattletech.com/forum/index.php?topic=1092.30#lastPost

[Dragon Cat]

3114

Launching Ceremony,
LCS Iron Fist (Mjolnir-class Battle-cruiser), Tharkad Orbit
Donegal Province, Lyran Commonwealth
3rd January 3114

   Doctor Michael Queen of Lockheed/CBM of Tharkad strode onto the gravity deck of the WarShip LCS Iron Fist waiting for him were a group of people including Lyran leader Archon Jessica Steiner.  “Thank you for waiting” he said as he approached “ladies and gentlemen today Lockheed/CBM are happy to announce that we have a new vessel for the use of the military and with your permission the greater market.”  He said for years the company had produced Sub-compact cored WarShips meaning they were producing the smallest jump capable vessels in space the Lyran Commonwealth had benefited greatly from the Peter-class Scout and the Isis-class Carrier Scout vessels and now their allies in the SLDF and Federated Suns were also benifitting through the SLDF alliance it was expected that other nations would also benefit.  He raised a small communicator to his mouth “DropShips release vessel” he said commanding the two modified Behemoth-class DropShips to disengage.  Both vessels were docked together in the “nose-on” position, both had been extensively modified turning them into Lockheed/CBM’s shipyard facility capable of facilitating the construction of the tiny WarShips the company specialized in.  This allowed them to move the facility around the Tharkad system, and beyond if they desired, to keep their work as secret as possible.  On the monitors the two huge DropShips detached from each other to reveal a slender, almost sharklike vessel within.

   “Designed like other vessels that Lockheed has produced to disappear into commercial DropShip traffic the end profit can be built to any hull shape you desire.  Twenty-five thousand tons in weight it is designed with stealth and speed in mind.  Its weapons are a mix of long range missiles, gauss rifles, particle cannons and lasers while Anti-missile systems protect the craft.  Two small craft can also be carried these can be armed or they can supplement the vessel’s primary mission which is Diplomacy and spy craft I give you the Nondi-class Executive Transport.”  He said naming the small vessel as it lit up its sub-light engines and began to turn gracefully away from the two Behemoth-class vessels.

   “Which is?  The Jade Falcons last week invaded and captured Krievci placing them a single jump from Coventry and you give us a pleasure yacht?”  Admiral Szabo Lilla asked angrily she stood off to the side of Archon Jessica Steiner and had served with her previously on other ships before taking command of the ship they were standing on.

   “Yes, Admiral we do, you say they are in striking distance of Coventry?”  Dr Queen asked but did not wait for an answer “I counter by saying that they were already in range.  A Lithium Fusion Engine would allow them to bypass any defences that we have and strike at any world of their choosing.  The Nondi will not win you a war Admiral but it could be instrumental in stopping one from starting, send this world to Sudeten, to Marik, to Luthien or any other world that could be a threat to us it will blend into the traffic over that would and allow you to speak directly to the people in charge.”

   “We thank you Doctor, we are sure that this vessel will complete all missions we give it.”  Archon Jessica Steiner said herself not sure what the vessel would be used for but deciding not to make a scene.

   “Archon, with your permission we would also like to sell this vessel on the open market to civilans and to other nations.”  Doctor Queen decided to push his luck, already there had been interest from the large companies of the Lyran Commonwealth.

   “Without any weaponry you may sell the hull to Lyran citizens.  The High Command will decide on whether this ship will be sold to other nations.”  The Archon said making a concession to the company beyond the Nondi herself the Archon didn’t see much need for the Lyran nation to purchase more of the vessel but if Lockheed/CBM wished to produce more for the Lyran people she wouldn’t stop them.

Clan Hall, Jaguar’s Den
Twin Sons, District of Lesnovo
Free Worlds League
12th January 3114

   “I am proud of what we have accomplished” Khan Petra Furey said to the leaders of the Smoke Jaguars on Twin Sons.  “We have taken control over the military of the District of Lesnovo and we have done so with the full support of the people and the government of this region.  We have rebuilt the dead Clan by our own standards.”  She said happy with their accomplisments the new Smoke Jaguars were not the same people as before, there was no way to compare the two, some members of the Clan were survivors who had hidden in the periphery and on Twin Sons, others were former crewmen of the disgraced Snow Raven WarShip Spectre which was still hidden in the Lesnovo system, but for the most part the Clan was made up of people born and bred in the Free Worlds League who had come to them with dreams of future glory within those numbers was Petra herself the freeborn daughter of two former clansmen.

   “Today we take the next step in the rebirth of this Clan, today our scientists have restarted the eugenics program and the use of Iron Wombs” she announced to her Clankin.  The program would remain a secret to the peoples outwith the Smoke Jaguars but her clan was on the path to being truly reborn, just as her parents had dreamed though neither Michael or Sandra Furey would see the reborn Smoke Jaguars as both had passed away the year before.  “Each member who has been completely inducted into our military will donate genetic material to this cause.  We will be the Founders of this reborn Clan as members of the Exodus Fleet were founders of the original Clans.”

SLS Fletcher (Peter-class Scout), Bridge
Blair Atoll, Hell’s Horses Occupation Zone
18th January 3114

   Their mission had been to act as a civilian freighter DropShip and disappear into the traffic over the important Hell’s Horses trade world of Blair Atoll conducting as much intelligence as they could while inserting a special forces team. Judd Thompson stared at the screen, which showed the rear of the SLS Fletcher and the space behind the vessel, and knew their mission had failed as it showed their mission had failed as pursuing them was flat boxy form of a Halcyon-class Cruiser of Clan Hell’s Horses.  “Right boys and girls, they are onto us clear the memory banks and then make your way to your escape pods.”  He commanded knowing fine that their scout ship had no chance of out running a Clan Cruiser and its support craft, and they couldn’t be boarded.

“You know the orders make your way into the civilian population find work, blend in and wait the Intelligence Corps will find you.”  He said making sure that his voice was reaching all the decks he had sixty-one people onboard and wanted to make sure they all got a fair chance or escape, each of them had been given alternate Clan identities but the chances of any of them escaping were slim.  As he spoke there was flashes of light from the Cruiser as its forward cannons fired exploding near the scoutship but not hitting it with that he knew that they intended to try and capture them.  “You’ve done well people, but today is not our day.”  He said cutting the all deck transmission “helm, put our nose in the atmosphere when they hit us, I want to make sure they knock us down and finish us then to the escape pod.”  He said the helm officer looked back at him and nodded modifying their flight path then leaving his station as escape pods began to be jettisoned from further along the ship each of them entering the atmosphere immediately it would be a bumpy ride but assuming their parachutes activated correctly the crewmen would get to the ground.

As more naval autocannon fire exploded near them buffeting the Fletcher with debris as its nose dipped into the atmosphere, the five thousand-five-hundred-ton vessel was not designed for atmospheric flight and immediately its hull began to show the stresses of re-entry.  “Launch bay, take your people in the shuttle and go, I won’t be making it down there” he said as one of the autocannon rounds exploded nearly on the vessel’s hull the shock wave ripping a huge chunk out of the rear of the ship the Peter-class began to waver and lose control under the stress of the impact.  “GO NOW!”  He commanded from the underside of the ship a Hell’s Horses built Pelican-class Small craft dropped from the rear of the ship diving straight into the atmosphere from behind it two diamond shaped Aretes Interceptors sped past the pursuing Halcyon and dived behind the small craft firing their particle cannons and lasers, there was little hope the Pelican would survive to a controlled landing.  Thompson activated the emergency HPG transmitter, sending the Flecher’s distress signal, before activating his command chair’s own eject system as well as regular escape pods which held multiple persons the Peter-class had been fitted with individual escape pods for certain positions.  As the system activated the Captain’s chair was wrapped in foam made from a similar material as HarJel while Thompson raised a mask to his face. “I hate these ****** things” he cursed as his face was covered moments later his entire command chair was ejected from the ship just before another naval autocannon round tore through the ship gutting the SLS Fletcher.  Debris of the small ship began to fall into the atmosphere burning up as it entered the atmosphere.

---

   The screens came up in the briefing room revealing a small room with almost two dozen observers who had been taking notes as they watched the broadcast.  “Ladies and gentlemen, that was the last broadcast from the SLS Fletcher we believe some of the crew survived to the surface.  You are the closest extraction and recovery team.  You’re going to Blair Atoll which is two jumps from our present location.  You will board this ship” he said showing a tiny aerodyne civilian DropShip with a thin hull and a pair of engine nacelles on the end of short wings on the holoimager “this is Freighter 42” he said “I know an imaginative title for a ship as common as the Firefly but it’s a design in common usage by the Horses as a Civilian transport as it is small and carries no weapons.  There is one of these vessels on its way to our next jump-point we will board it and commandeer it from its crew before using it to insert your team onto Blair Atoll.  You will be inserted onto the planet as two couples transferring between worlds for work.”  He said each of them looked at each other silently realizing what that meant, each of them had seen the other naked before it was part of their line of work.

   “Rules of engagement on planet?”

   “Assess the Fletcher’s crash site and if necessary, ensure its destruction should there be anything left, ensure the Fletcher’s commander’s personally held information does not fall into enemy hands and extract any survivors including the commander if applicable.”  He said immediately they recognized that the lives of the crew and of the commander were secondary to the intelligence.

   “Sir, can we know the reason…” one of them asked recovering other members of the SLDF was important but normally downed crewmen were expected to slip into the population and await extraction.

   “In your documents packs” he said immediately everyone flicked through the pages and found what he meant “is all the information you may need.  “Ladies and gentlemen, that is the face of the commander of the all Intelligence Operations in the Hell’s Horses OZ Major-General Judd Thompson code name Bat-22.  Why he was on that ship we don’t know but we know that the Watch know his identify.  The information he holds up here” he said tapping the side of his head “is information we can’t let the Clans have understood?”

   “Yes, sir” the Hunt for Bat-22 was on.

Ground battle
Wallis, District of Regulus
Free Worlds League
22nd January 3114

   Jake Chowla pushed his captured OmniMech through the ruined city of Brimal against the Whispers of Blake he’d learned over the last few weeks that the Mech was named as a Deva and had been produced for the Whispers by the Word of Blake on Gibson before their destruction.  As a result, he’d learned he could reconfigure the Mech as he desired and replacing damaged equipment was easy compared to his previous BattleMechs.

   Darting left and right he pursued a Whispers of Blake Buccaneer BattleMech as he helped hunt down the last renegade Blakist.  It had been a long battle but finally the Chaos Irregulars and the local milita forces were getting their revenge on the renegade Clansmen.  “Aletha go left!”  He ordered the other MechWarrior that was with him Aletha had recovered from her ordeal as a prisoner of the Whispers and was now piloting a Blade BattleMech which had been provided by the Free Worlds League Jake had been determined that the Irregulars would remain independent but his Co-Commander Aerial Peregrine-Simmson had said they needed the weapons and signed a deal with the militia.  Aletha, Jake’s wife, aimed her Blade’s autocannon ahead of the Buccaneer and fired a burst of
 fire into it ripping the leg off throwing the Mech into a cartwheel as it crashed across the ground away from them.

   “Now that’s what I’m taking about” she said the Blade wasn’t her Mongoose, it hadn’t been in her family for generations, but it packed a punch with the rotary autocannon and lasers.

   “Let’s get another one” Jake said searching for another target.

   “All forces SCATTER! SCATTER! SCATTER!” Aeriel suddenly screamed over the radio but it was too late already the first orbital fire was hitting the ruined City.  Unbeknownst to the Irregulars or anyone else on the planet within the last few days a Whispers of Blake special forces unit had struck Regulus killing Prince Lester Cameron-Jones and his first-born child Anita and wiping out the majority of the Elite First Cameron-Jones Guard Regiment using several thermonuclear devices.  Now in orbit over the planet a WarShip carrying Lester’s fathers name Prince Titus Cameron-Jones was bombarding every remaining Whispers of Blake position.

   “Aletha RUN!”  Jake screamed already her Blade was running and Jake turned to follow he was perhaps a few hundred metres behind her already as the Blade ran faster than his heavier Mech.  “Don’t slow down, they won’t be able to make out designs from where they are but we’re heading in the right direction not to be a target.  We’re going…” he never finished the sentence from above the gunners on the RS Prince Titus Cameron-Jones were firing at anything that moved they didn’t care what direction targets were heading in only where friendly bases were and where potential enemies were the entire city of Brimal was forfeit.  As Jake’s Deva got up to speed, he didn’t even see the naval autocannon rounds coming as they slammed down into the ground right in front of Aletha’s speeding Blade.  The small thirty-five-ton BattleMech was initially consumed in fire and then the shock wave hit picking the BattleMech up and throwing it like a child would a rag-doll.  Jake could do nothing as he watched his wife’s Mech fly through the air parts of the BattleMech separating from the main body of the Mech as it flew.  “ALETHA!”  Jake screamed as his own Mech was knocked to the ground by the following shock waves debris fell off nearby buildings pinning his Mech even as his sensors showed the Blade come to rest and more naval autocannon rounds impacting in the area around it more landed near Jake’s Mech but the debris protected him from most of the hits unfortunately his wife had no such protection.  The Deva’s damaged but functional sensor suite registered a critical failure in the Blade’s fusion engine shielding and he knew the truth, the cold fact that a computer would tell you without compassion or thought, his wife was dead killed at the hands of the very people they were contracted to help.

Spaceport
Blair Atoll, Hell’s Horses OZ
26th January 3114

   It had taken the four-person team more than a week to get to Blair Atoll and now they were making their way through customs on the world.  As they moved through the area each of them noted the number of unarmoured guards in the spaceport each armed with the Horses newest personal weapon the ballistic assault rifle HAR-201.

   “Security’s tight” Ned Glasberg said “the Flecher’s crash has them on edge.”  He said as they saw troopers search through visitor’s baggage.  The two men were in the queue like everyone else but didn’t react to what they were seeing, it wasn’t the Clan civilian castes way.

   “We keep going, less we’re suspicious the better.”  His partner said off to the side while they were a couple, they both knew that public signs of affection would gain the attention of the Horses guards.  They both approached separate booths the two customs officials glanced at each other and then at the two men before stamping their passes.  Further behind in the queue the other two in their team were waiting for their time they were under the cover as a pair of scientists.  They made their way through the process just the same passing themselves off as man and wife and were quickly processed.

   Outside the spaceport customs office the two men headed to the first vehicle a Praire Schooner Land Train which had been converted into a passenger transport.  While the two passing as scientists were led to a Sky Eye News Helicopter which was being used by the Horses as an executive transport for their scientists.  They would meet up when it was appropriate.

---

   Three hours later Glasberg and his partner Wesley Blood were at a recreational park trying to pass themselves off as civilians enjoying their downtime before being given their first job by their Clan.  In the field other people exercised and played games with balls it was a standard day on Blair Atoll.  Above the field the Sky Eye News Helicopter they’d seen earlier flew over the field.  The aircraft had two rotors on the top one above the other rotating in opposite directions while a pusher propeller at the back moving the chopper forwards.

   “I didn’t expect them to arrive with that” Glasberg said watching as the craft circled the field before landing.  The doors were opened as it landed and the two of them crossed the tarmac boarding the aircraft “nice to see you guys, nice ride” he said seeing Miia Lahtinen in the pilot seat and Liam Turton in the side seat.  In the back of the aircraft he noticed equipment was stacked up “you guys been shopping?”

   “Just stuff that was left laying around the helo was left by the transfer pilot, I think he’s done for the day, we’ll have to ditch it in the next couple of hours or security services will clock on but it’ll get us where we’re going.” Miia said cheerfully from the front as she brought the aircraft up into the air.  “The cases were exactly where we expected them” she said as Glasberg began looking over the equipment.

   “This is Clan stuff?”  Blood said seeing a Horse Gatling Gun X99 in one of the boxes it was a large multi-barreled weapon capable of chewing through armoured targets, much more than they should need.

   “Affirmative, our contact did their job.”  Turton said “we’re en route to the crash site, there’s not much left from what we’ve heard.”

   “And Bat-22?”

   “In the wind if he survived.”

   “Any other crewmen made contact?”

   “Negative if any survived, they've likely done what they are supposed to do gone to ground and are awaiting extract in time, we're the ones off schedule.” Miia said “we heard a news report stating that Hell’s Horses security forces had secured the Pelican’s crash site no survivors were found.”  She explaining dampening the mood significantly “no news on any of the escape pods or on Batt-22”

---

   Deep in the forests Judd Thompson moved slowly through the undergrowth as the rain began to get heavier and heavier.  Each step was a careful one as he knew he wasn’t completely alone the Horses had been on his trail almost since he had landed.  He bent down slightly leaving a grenade attached to a wire before heading deeper into the forests remaining still watching his trap within thirty minutes a squad of seven Hell’s Horses troopers began moving through the area one of the struck the tripwire he’d left causing an explosion immediately killing four of the troopers in the confusion Thompson struck with another grenade and his KA-23 Subgun cutting down the remaining troopers in explosions and a hair of bullets.  He ran down through the undergrowth firing the remaining Subgun ammo into the Hell’s Horses troops ensuring they were dead before gathering up a Gauss Sub-Machine Gun from one of the troopers and ammunition from the rest.  He also grabbed several Clan Meals-Read-to-Eat (MREs) and a radio to track enemy movements and finally Assault Grenade Launcher which had been carried by the squad’s heavy trooper it only had a single magazine of ten Dual Purpose High Explosive grenades but that could make a massive difference in the scope of things.  “Thanks boys” he said looking down at the dead bodies before darting off into the undergrowth he’d served in the SLDF for more than thirty years he wasn’t going to go down without a fight.

SLS Fletcher Crashsite
Blair Atoll, Hell’s Horses OZ
26th January 3114

   Flying quickly towards the crashsite Blood and Glasberg mounted the gatling gun onto a bracket attached to the side door of the Sky Eye giving them some firepower should they need it.  “I thought we were giving this thing back?”  Miia complained.

“Well it’s one of their guns, I’m sure they won’t mind too much” Blood suggested.

“This is a civie aircraft they don’t want to give them guns.”

“It’ll be a nice surprise for them.”  Blood said but Miia didn’t look happy as the aircraft continued to fly forwards towards their target.

The Sky Eye helicopter was soon over the crash site of the SLS Fletcher, there was very little left of the small ship, surprisingly there were few Hell’s Horses at the site either.  “Not much chance of much surviving onboard that.”  Miia said glancing back “what do you think?”

   “Fly over the target we’re dropping three boxes on it.”  Glasberg said as the aircraft continued to move forwards.  As it flew over the crash site Glasberg and Blood threw three boxes of high explosive out the side of the ship.  The packages fell slowly from the aircraft onto the wreckage exploding on contact covering the ground in high explosive fire destroying any data that still remained there.  “Keep flying broadcast on the emergency channel, see if any of our people are listening.”  He suggested Miia nodded

---

   Several kilometres from where the Fletcher had crashed Judd Thompson saw the explosion but didn’t know the reason for it.  He’d intentionally avoided what was left of his ship, there was nothing there for him.  As he moved through the undergrowth, he saw a path had been cut through the woods creating a road for the Horses to keep their people supplied part the way along the path was a small single story checkpoint station.  Slipping his Gauss SMG to his back he instead drew out the grenade launcher aiming it at the checkpoint he saw a single Hell’s Horses trooper coming out and thought about taking the shot.  Thompson had a second thought for a moment thinking about the flare he’d seen from the exploding Fletcher and decided that the checkpoint, while a smaller explosion would likely cause too much trouble for him.  Instead he turned to the right and continued into the forest.

   For what felt like hours Thompson moved through the undergrowth watching his back as he moved but no-one was following him darkness quickly began to envelop him as the rain returned once again.  Suddenly out of what seemed to be nowhere a structure appeared in the darkness there was no lighting on but it appeared sound.  Moving around the building he couldn’t see any sign that the place had been occupied anytime recently.  He moved quickly up to the building putting his boot onto the door kicking open the door he wasn’t a young man anymore but he still knew how to force open a door.  Entering through the door, he quickly scanned the room inside and found a comfortable hunting cabin which obviously hadn’t been lived in some time.  Turning he pushed the door closed securing it as best he could with its broken lock he’d stay tonight and move on in the morning once his clothing was dry.  Tonight, he’d try to get the rest he’d need to continue to avoid Hell’s Horses patrols.

---

   As night had closed in the crew of the Sky Eye had turned to their night vision goggles as their aircraft battled through the worsening weather.  “I’ve got something, SLDF troops engaging Horse units to the east three kilometres distant.”  Turton said glancing up from the radio set

   “Take us over their Miia low and fast” Glasberg said glancing at Blood “you fitted it get on the gun.”  He said as the aircraft began to bank tightly to the right speeding up as it turned and dived.  “Miia bring us over their position, we’ll see what we can see on the first pass” he ordered opening the side door a gust of wing blew into the aircraft along with plenty rain water.

   Leaning out the door Glasberg and Blood peered through their night vision googles and spotted the contacts as they approached.  On the goggles the four SLDF crewmen were easily identifiable as their uniforms had special reflective materials woven into them for exactly this sort of mission beyond their position were at least seven Hell’s Horses contacts who were getting closer to them.  “We’ve got seven enemy contacts to deal with Turton left door cover, we’ll take right, Miia I need you to get us into a decent firing position but keep us moving when I change magazines bring Liam into the fight.”  He said she nodded and slowed the aircraft’s speed as Liam Turton climbed over the seat and opened the other door raising his rifle to peer out the door.

   “Alright boys making the turn” she said bringing the nose of the aircraft around to the left but continuing to move the aircraft along its same path.  As she did, she tipped the aircraft’s right side down slightly.  Neither Glasberg or Blood needed any encouragement immediately Blood opened fire with the Gatling gun which spun rapidly throwing out hundreds of deadly bullets that ripped through the undergrowth below.  Ned Glasberg was more refined with his shots aiming his rifle from the shoulder he peered through the scope taking pot shots at targets missed by Blood’s indiscriminate fire.

   “Over the target Liam get ready!”  Glasberg warned as he began switching magazines from the other door Liam immediately began firing down on the targets below a each of them heard bullet’s hit the underside of the aircraft.

   “We’re taking damage hold on!”  Miia called out she kicked in the aircraft’s engines bringing the aircraft out of the firing line turning tightly through the night’s sky she turned the nose away from targets again allowing Glasberg and Blood another strafing run this time each of them gunned down members of the chasing Hell’s Horses.  “Great job”

   “Take us over them again” Glasberg ordered “make them count” he ordered the three nodded and this time aimed for the fallen troopers making sure they were dead.  “Miia take us down, you and Turton are taking the survivors back to civilisation and will find them a way to get home.”  He said looking at Wesley Blood “grab provisions and ammo, we’re going for a hike” he said as the helicopter came down to land on the ground, they shouted at the SLDF crewmen to approach as they did Glasberg and Blood hopped out onto the ground grabbing their personal weaponry.  “You two, get these people to safety, find them lives in one of the settlements where they can hunker-down and wait for extraction, then join us when you can.  We’re going to find Thompson and kill whatever else gets in our way.”  He said to his other team members as the crewmen arrived “the cavalry arrives!  You guys are safe now!”  Glasberg said to them as they climbed onboard, “you two take care of them and of yourselves.”  He said as the chopper took off again climbing into the skies.  “Let’s move, we need to be a few kilometres from here before that squad’s CO comes looking for them.”

[marauder648]

Excellent update as always, i'm not sure about the usefulness of the Nondi but she's sure as hell an interesting design for sure :)

[Wrangler]

Thank you for keeping the Saga a live and lively, Dragoncat!

[truetanker]

Such evil I is, eh?

 >:D

DC?  :thumbsup: and thanks,

TT 8)

[Dragon Cat]

Excellent update as always, i'm not sure about the usefulness of the Nondi but she's sure as hell an interesting design for sure :)

I realized I forgot to post the link.  As for her usefulness her sister class the Peter appeared in the horse section and against a true WarShip no chance

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=69245.0

Thank you for keeping the Saga a live and lively, Dragoncat!

No problem it might slow sometimes but I wont stop

Such evil I is, eh?

 >:D

DC?  :thumbsup: and thanks,

TT 8)

They had to go out in a blaze of glory

[Dragon Cat]

New unit and tech for the AU

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=69363.new#new

[Artifex]

Finally caught up to the current times, been reading this AU since like two to three weeks ago now. This is an excellent piece of fiction. Well done.  8)

[Dragon Cat]

Finally caught up to the current times, been reading this AU since like two to three weeks ago now. This is an excellent piece of fiction. Well done.  8)

Thank you, it wouldn't be anything without the contributions I've had from about a dozen helpful souls with hundreds of suggestions and contributions from them.

So marauder, James Tanaga, JA Baker, Truetanker, Vition2, Shadow Wraith, Wrangler, Red Pins, DOC_Argen, Maingunnery, CryHavok101, Blackhorse 6 and many others Thank you too

I'm glad you enjoyed Artifex more soon

[Dragon Cat]

Next bit edited with a bit from James Tanaga which I missed this morning

River Crimond
Blair Atoll, Hell’s Horses OZ
1st February 3114

   Judd Thompson hid in the undergrowth watching as the large Hell’s Horses controlled freighter moved down the river past his position, he had come to the river thinking that it would give him a source of water and make it easy for rescue teams to track him.  All of the SLDF flight crews had been trained to seek out water as a way of getting help.  It was a risk he knew it but he didn’t have much of a choice he couldn’t trust the locals to continue to help him like Jeremiah Miller had.  Unfortunately, a river like the Crimond, which was a trade river, was impossible for Thompson to cross without a boat which kind of left him boxed in.  Now less than three hundred metres from him a three-hundred-metre-long freighter and barge combo were moving slowly down the river and he was stuck watching them hoping none of the crew had heat vision goggles to see him.  He kept his weapons close to him ready to defend himself if need be but couldn’t do much else.

   As the ship passed, he saw dozens of other boats passing in both directions, perhaps coming this way had been a mistake he’d come across too much civilization.  As he watched the freighter Thompson heard a click behind him it was unmistakably a weapon hammer clicking into place.  “Drop your weapons and do not move, you are under arrest.”

---

   Glasberg and Blood had re-joined Miia and Thurton on the Freedom 900 and were travelling down the river trying to keep a low profile with the local traffic and Hell’s Horses patrols they had been passed by several Clan VTOLs that morning and not one of the aircraft had paid them any attention but they knew that it couldn’t continue by now the Sky Eye would have been found and the Hell’s Horses would know there was a hostile team on planet.

   As they passed a massive Avalonmax-class Freighter and barge they observed a lot of commotion on the riverbank as a small boat approached a ground team from the Freighter.  In between them they saw a single man in cuffs.  “Shit” Glasberg cursed glancing out of the Freedom 900 “Miia hold your course, keep your heads down boys we can’t do anything right now.”  He ordered as the Hovercraft sped past the scene.

   “Boss, if they get him on that freighter Thompson’s on his way to Horse interrogation.  I can hit him from here.”  Blood said checking the range as they continued down the river.

   “No” Glasberg ordered “hold the course” he said “we’ll swing around in a few kilometres.  And hit them tonight.”

   “What if they airlift him out?”

   “It’ll have to be a damned good pilot to land on that damned thing no helipad on that model of Avalonmax.   Thurton, we need an exit strategy for after we lift him out, send a message to the extraction boys we’ll be coming in hot tonight or tomorrow morning they need to be ready for lift.”

   “And hope the hell that Halcyon isn’t still in orbit.”

   “One problem at a time.”

---

   The laugh could be heard all around the camp as Star Colonel Vandermice Lassenerra received the news that an insurgent had been captured on the River Crimond and his picture was sent to him.  He recognised the man immediately “and to think I deployed an entire Cluster to track you down.  If I’d known it was a prize such as you, I’d had deployed an entire damned Galaxy!” Lassenarra commented “all I had to do is wait for you to stumble across a Solhama force on a freighter.  He laughed again finding the whole situation amusing.  His people had found a prize worthy of words in the Remembrance and a prize that may get him a posting to a world worthy of his name and abilities.  He immediately called for air support to be sent to escort the freighter into port.

---

   Hours later Glasberg and his team approached the Avalonmax using minimal thrust from their engine sneaking up on the huge ship.  Despite its size they knew the crew complement would be only between twenty and thirty the crew weren’t a great threat it was the additional security the Hell’s Horses had brought with them that would be the issue.  While the corridors of the civilian freighter would make it impossible for the Horses to use Battle Armour onboard the ship, they could still cram dozens of infantry soldiers onboard.  Each of them was armed with a Horse Assault Rifle-201, or HAR-201, because they were on a Horse planet ammunition for the weapons should be plentiful.  “We keep moving take down anything that we come across that isn’t Thompson.”  Glasberg briefed them finally as Miia Lahtinen brought them in closer time was of the essence Wesley Blood fired grappling hooks onto the back of the ship and they quickly made their way onboard.  “Miia, Wes take out the bridge sweep the corridors as you go each room.”  He ordered they nodded knowing their orders.  “We’re going through the ship until we find Thompson he said to Liam Thurton.”  Who nodded.

   What followed was ten minutes of utter carnage as the four special operations operators made their way through the freighter shooting anything that moved.  Some of the crew were likely innocent of the Hell’s Horses desires but the four operators were not taking any chances Blair Atoll was in the heart of Clan territory they’d take no chances with the people they were coming across.  Moving from room to room the troopers eliminated everyone in their path with heavy automatic weapons fire.  Finally, they reached the room that a badly beaten Judd Thompson was being held in.  “One, Three, target secured status!”  Glasberg panted as Thurton released the beaten General.  “Three, status.”

   “We’re both injured but mobile to extraction point, bridge is disabled.”  She said gasping for breath Glasberg didn’t like the sound of that but he’d see how they were when they got back together.

   “You need to move your ass sir; we’re getting out of here hold on to me you step where I step.”  He said Thompson nodded placing a hand on Glasberg’s shoulder “MOVING!”  He called out with Thompson forming the centre the threesome moved back through the ship picking their way through the bodies as they went Thompson picked up a sidearm.

   Back on the rear deck of the ship they found Miia Lahtinen and Wesley Blood waiting for them blood streamed from Miia’s left shoulder while Wesley Blood appeared to have a thigh and hand injury.  Glasberg looked at him questionably “got into a knife fight with an ex-Elemental” he explained Blood himself was a big man but an “ex”-Elemental was still likely a huge prospect.  “She came of worse, I’m good to go.”

   “Good back to the Freedom” Glasberg said the five of them headed to the ropes keeping their weapons ready for action as suddenly there was a roar overhead and a Durga Attack Helicopter buzzed the freighter flying its length.  “DOWN!”  Glasberg shouted seeing the twenty-five-ton craft begin to turn.  It was a fast-agile aircraft with coaxial blades above the craft a single rear stabilizing tail it was armed with a mix of pulse lasers and long-range missiles and could keep pace with most hovercraft.   “Ideas, because that thing will burn us with lasers and missiles if we try take off on the hovercraft.”

   “Cheap RPG” Liam Thurton said raising his HAR-201 which he’d fitted a grenade launcher to “I just need him to come close” he said dropping his backpack “you guys get ready to drop, I’ll drop them.”  He said “extract when you get onto the hover, I’ll get out the slow way” he promised them “take care.” He then turned without another word and began to head along the ship as the Durga began to approach again flying down the left side of the Avalonmax its chin turret nose chin turret turned covering the ship.

   “They are looking for crewmen.”  Miia Lahtinen said “they’re going to know something’s not right.”

   “He only needs one right moment, Com’on Liam” Blood whispered as he did Liam Thurton suddenly popped up from his point halfway along the freighter’s length and fired the grenade launcher directly at the twin top rotors on the Durga.  The armour-piercing round exploded between the two rotors shattering the linkages there causing the aircraft to stutter in the air as Liam opened fire with a stream of assault rifle fire on the cockpit armour.  Because of the height of the aircraft it drifted down and hit the water heavily.  “Yes, well done son!”  Blood shouted as behind him Miia had lowered herself onto the Hovercraft and Thompson was on his way as Blood turned back towards them several troopers appeared from the far side of the ship and opened fire on Liam Thurton with at least one shot hitting him in the shoulder the trooper turned back towards them and returned fire but another shot hit him knocking him off balance and over the side of the ship.  “You…” Blood cursed stepping towards the Horse troopers.

   “No!  We go and we go now!”  Glasberg ordered him “Liam’s off the boat I hope to hell he made it but even if he didn’t, we don’t help him by dying now.  Go!”  He ordered.  Soon after the Freedom 900 took off from the rear of the freighter leaving it and the burning VTOL.  House later they arrived at the waiting Pallas Transport Shuttle which had been acquired by another SLDF Team for extraction operation.  The two-hundred-ton twin winged long bodied Pallas was built by the Hell’s Horses and made for the perfect extraction aircraft able to lift into space and join regular Hell’s Horses space traffic.  They were soon off the surface of Blair Atoll and were heading into space, they’d soon receive a signal from a friendly JumpShip or WarShip which would extract the team from the system, they weren’t out of the woods yet but they’d done their job.

   Onboard the Pallas Thompson approached Glasberg, Miia and Wesley Blood were both receiving medical attention, Liam Thurton was god knows where but Jed Glasberg had gotten out with barely a scratch.  “Thank you for the rescue…”
   “Glasberg sir” he said identifying himself his rank didn’t matter.

   “I’m sorry for your man, he was very brave.”

   “It’s the job sir” Glasberg said “your crew knew that too, sir, we picked up a few of them they’ll work their way out of Clan space the same way Liam will.”  He said confidently

   “I hope they all make it.”

   “It’s the job, sir” Glasberg repeated rolling over into his bunk he’d rescued the General it didn’t mean he needed to like him his team had suffered on this op, they’d return to friendly space and get ready for the next op.  “It’s the job” Glasberg mused as he drifted off to sleep.

Clan Council Chambers
Phillip Drummond City, New Barcella
Core Territroy, Nova Cat’s Den
8th February 3114

   Khan Canin Rosse had been summonded to the Clan Council of Clan Nova Cat on New Barcella following questions regarding his leadership the seventy-six-year-old leader now stood in front of his Clankin while the challenger Star Admiral Alexandria Leroux held the floor.  “Under Khan Rosse’s leadership we have flourished here.”  She said flattering him “but we cannot continue to remain in isolation forever.  And now to hear that one of our JumpShips carrying the Forty-eighth Nova Cat Spirit Cluster was lost trying to enter the Pirate Star Cluster, these people are below us a nuisance why are we wasting resources chasing them down is it because Khan Rosse is afraid to take our fight to the true enemy the Federated Suns?”  She challenged him turning towards him on his final word she was young, smart and beautiful tall athletic with long blonde hair Khan Rosse could admit it after these years without his wife that he found her beautiful but she was also a Trueborn warrior and had gone on the record several times that she hated what Khan Rosse had done with his Spheroid born wife.  She was of a new generation of Clan Nova Cat warriors and they agitated under Clan Nova Cat’s self-imposed isolation.

   “They have been a constant nuisance to our territory, they need to be dealt with.  The Federated Suns, Taurian Concordat and Gaenir Collective have avoided all of our territorial systems.  The pirates continuously raid.”

   “And our units deal with them, or our WarShips blow them from space, I have killed many.”  She said “Khan Rosse, you have led the Nova Cat Clan for decades you have done what many others could not done and secured our Clan for decades to come.  But we cannot remain here and watch while the rest of the Inner Sphere continues without us.  Other Clans close in on the goal of being ilClan, we are as powerful, we should be there too.”

   “The Wolves descended on the Inner Sphere using a trick to close on Terra, the Bears and Falcons both benefit from their initial invasion corridors positions.  Unlike those Clans we do not have a shattered nation between us and Terra we have one of the most powerful nations between us.”

   “We should not be afraid of the Federated Suns, we showed the Taurians what we are capable of even facing their nuclear fire.”  Leroux taunted which caused Rosse to laugh.

   “The Taurian Concordat were nothing compared to the Federated Suns, the size of their nation alone should be respected.  I am not afraid of the Federated Suns, if this is the will of this Clan Council I will answer that call personally.”  He said looking around for another challenger before finishing on his challenger who looked surprised but covered it with a smirk, she no doubt hoped it would end with his death.  “Alexandria Leroux you will join the next Trial of Possession against the Federated Suns at the world of Minette, capital of the Minnete Combat Region.  Intelligence suggests that it is currently defended by two Davion-class Destroyers which will give you ample opponents to show your skill.”  Khan Rosse said Minnete had been a target he planned to attack for weeks but the timing had not been correct now Leroux had pushed the right button and the Nova Cats were heading to conflict.

---

   An hour later there was a knock at Khan Canin Rosse’s office which was in the wing adjacent to the Clan Council Hall as he called for them to enter Star Admiral Alexandria Leroux entered “Star Admiral welcome.”  He said rising from his chair.

   “You gave in too easily today” she said marching into the room.  “And volunteering to command this mission is risky.”

   “Aff, perhaps but they wanted a positive reaction not an explanation, I was not going to disappoint them.”  He said stepping around his desk approaching her “our Clan needed your argument and you carried it well better than many who have tried.  As for risk I’ve done it all before.”

   “You would know you have been around long enough”

   “Ooow, easy on the old jokes Nova Cats respect age remember” he chuckled pushing her lightly.

   “Only push me is you mean it Khan” she warned him smirking as he stepped closer to her grasping her uniform as he did she didn’t stop him so he knew what would follow, he spun her lightly directing her towards the bedroom using his larger stronger frame releasing her with a more forceful push which brought an even larger smile from the Star Admiral as she opened her jacket zip.  It was only coupling he knew this; she hated the idea of a proper relationship and he knew she opposed him on many polices but she also respected where he had taken the Clan and was a very able commander, she was a threat to his leadership, as the old saying went keep friends close and enemies closer.

Air battle
Vestallas, Kittery Prefecture
Star League Protectorate
13th February 3114

   Throwing his damaged Huscarl OmniFighter to the left and to the right Commander Jeremy Kincaid-Cameron could not shake the Menquin Fighter that was now behind him.  His squadron had been outgunned over Vestallas which had seen the WarShip SLS Immortal Spirit had been destroyed by the CCSS Wu Zetian, a Mandarinn-class Battle-cruiser, and now they were trying desperately to stop the Capellans reaching the ground but it was a losing battle.  Two more plasma shots from the Menquin slammed into the rear of his Huscarl causing more trouble for his fighter’s systems.  “This is Kincaid, I’m going down over Saint Paul, we have six DropShips landing in the vicinity of the city.”  He called out as SRMs slammed into the rear of the fighter.  “Repeat Kincaid punching out over Saint Paul, Capellans landing on Vestallas.”  He called out as he pulled the ejection cords which almost immediately threw his command couch clear of the aircraft unfortunately as he did more missiles from the Menquin slammed into the downed aircraft the shockwave knocking his command chair into a spiral causing unconsciousness.  The chair’s automatic sensors deployed its para-foil as he closed on the ground but without Jeremy’s input the chair slammed into a group of trees causing multiple injuries to the pilot before he came to a rest on the ground.

   Over the next several hours the SLDF defenders of Vestallas repelled the Capellan Confederation forces with the SLS Freedom and an assault DropShip squadron driving off the Wu Zetian and ground forces belonging to the First Kittery Regimental Brigade “Stone’s Lament” commanded by the Kittery Prefecture’s leader Protector-General Devlin Stone.  Jeremy Kincaid-Cameron was found by search and rescue teams and taken to Star League Medical Facilities for treatment.  Throughout his time in the academy Kincaid had wanted to see action on behalf of the SLDF and the Capellans were ensuring that happened.

RCS Rim Collection (Warrior-class battlecarrier)
Erdvynn, Circinus Federation
14th February, 3114

Star Coomodore Brittney Carrol smirked as another of the dezgra Circinus Federation dropships was destroyed under the guns of the RCS Rim Collection. That left only one other Overlord dropship for her warship to contend with. “Guns, I want the last dropship taken out yesterday,” she ordered.

The Fire Mandrill Star Commodore half-listened, nodding in reply to the Rim Collection Freeborn Warrior manning the Weapons terminal confirmed her orders. The RCS Rim Collection was the newest Rim Collection warship in the Rim Collection Touman, a battlecarrier designed to contend with enemy battleships if necessary. And so far, it was giving quite a good accounting of itself, she noticed in approval, as the last of the Circinus Federation dropships was quickly destroyed under heavy fire from Naval Autocannons and Naval Lasers onboard the RCS Rim Collection. She knew it better be, for the Rim Collection had bribed Clan Sea Fox heavily; two partially-built Cassandra’s had been the price for that Clan’s heavy assistance in getting the Viborg Fleetyards running three years ahead of schedule. The Merchant Clan took possession of both vessels the day before Operation: Valentine commenced.

She turned her head to her Clan’s leader, Khan Natasha Faraday, who leaned against the bridge bulkhead. “Khan, the last of the dezgra dropships are destroyed. Your forces are clear to deploy,” she informed her.

“Good,” the Fire Mandrill Khan replied. “Let me know when we receive word from either SaKhan Albiev,” she added as she turned to leave the bridge.

“Will do, ovKhan, was Brittney’s simple answer. Turning around she glanced down at her command terminal, somewhat lost in thought as she reviewed the plan.

This entire operation against the Circinus Federation was designed to hit the former Erdvynn Province systems still held by the Circinus Federation with overwhelming power. While the RCS Rim Collection took Erdvynn with four clusters worth of warriors under Khan Faraday’s command, saKhan Stephanie Albiev led the RCS Firestorm and RCS Ash Storm and four more clusters to Yidtall; Galaxy Marshal Monica Able meanwhile had led the RCS Firebrand and RCS Hellstorm to Calvados alongside five more clusters.

Already, they had cleared the dezgra from both Erdvynn and Calvados orbits and now had begun landing in force on both worlds. If everything went according to plan, they and Yidtall would soon fall.

She knew, however, that was only part of the plan. To hit the three worlds like this, the Rim Collection had pulled nearly all their available warships. Should the CF Erinyes decided to take advantage, the forces the Rim Collection had only limited options to respond with.

Yet one of those options caused her to smirk.This entire operation was designed to draw out the dezgra CF Erinyes. If it did, the CF Erinyes would no longer be a factor in the war to come. If it didnt, the Rim Collection would still have their beachhead needed. Her thoughts returned back to her duties, though her smirk remained.

Two hours later, it was confirmed. The Rim Collection had achieved aerospace superiority across all three systems, but the Circinus Federation and their dezgra mercenary allies had pulled back into defensive positions, forestalling hopes for a quick victory by the Rim Collection.

Forty-first Star League Games
Star League Stadium, Solaris
Independent Territory
22nd February 3114

   During the annual Star League Games Championship on Solaris VII Solaris Games pilot Heather “Sureshot” Mills of the Galahad Stables is victorious beating all others in her Carronade BattleMech in front of over fourteen thousand spectators.  The seventy-ton BattleMech built by StarCorps Industries was unstoppable with the pilot defeating all others with disabling shots from its Silver Bullet Gauss Rifle and kill shots delivered by its regular gauss rifle and laser.

   At the same time as Heather Mills victory Michael Raymond of the Raymond’s Hussars registers his unit at the MRBC Hiring Hall on Galatea accepting a job for his reinforced battalion to support a high risk against Clan Wolf in support of the SLDF.

[marauder648]

Excellent updates! The rescue mission for the SLDF operative was superbly written and so was the aerospace battle, hell all of it was great! :)

[Dragon Cat]

Next bit with a significant bit from James Tanaga in the Rim Collection and Lyran Commonwealth and an introduction of a character from Wrangler's Thunder Road

Lower deck, Niops shipyards
Niops IV, Niops
District of Lesnovo, Free Worlds League
1st March 3114

   Deep inside the facility that Niops claimed was a shipyard the damage control team led by Abdullah Ababneh rushed as quickly as they could in their magnetic boots would carry them.  The District of Lesnovo’s newest vessel was preparing to launch and the command centre had discovered a serious issue in one of the de-docking process that the damage control team needed to repair.  As he made his way through the ex-Showden Mining Station Abdullah already knew what the issue would be something related to the fact that Niops had repurposed a pair of Showden-class Mining Stations and latched them together to create their “shipyard” Abdullah had come across dozens of these issues since he’d arrived from Astrokazsy looking for work and a better life for his family.  “Move quickly people we need to sort this issue.”  He said trying to motivate them.

   “They should delay the damned launch!”  One of the workers called back “an exploration ship isn’t exactly going to save our worlds from trouble.”

   “It’s not a call we can make, we must trust our leaders know what they are doing.”  Abdullah replied trying to believe the words himself as they entered the are where control suggested there was a fault.  “Spread out, find the source of the issue!”  He commanded and the five-man team immediately got to work.  “Command, this is DC-4, we are in position and assessing the situation.”

   “We need answers DC-4 make them quick and accurate.”

   “Affirmative” Abdullah confirmed cutting the link “we would do no less.”  He said to himself beginning to work on his section looking for the fault.  Unfortunately, he and the other workers quickly established what was wrong there was a cascade fault in the power management of this section which was slowly building towards an overload.

   “Control, this is DC-4, we have established the origin of the fault.  Generator Six is building towards a cascade failure which will obliterate this section of the station.  We cannot stop it.”

   “DC-4, we need options other than watching a section of the station explode, you’re onsite work the problem.”

   “We are” he said “options people we need them any ideas.”

   “We get the frak out of here!”  One of them suggested

   “Won’t make a difference, the power in this section will spark throughout the corridor we just came down we’ll be fried.”

   “Shut all the bulkhead doors” another suggested “seal us in, vent the atmosphere and start a vent of all the local reactors.”

   “Ezra are you nuts that’ll flood this section with hard radiation, we’ll be turned to jelly by the heat!”

   “But the station will be saved from a serious explosion which could take the Spirit of Northumberland with us.” Ezra suggested “we will die if we try to run, we may as well make things count.”

   “Agreed” Abdullah said all of you seal your pressure suits and get into the airlock, it’s shielding will protect us from much of the radiation.”  He said and opened a communication with the control room as his team headed into the airlock.  Being in there was still probably a death’s sentence but it might give them another option.  “Control, this is DC-4, you need to shut all bulkhead doors and seal this section from the other station.  I would suggest also evacuation the sections directly adjacent as well before emergency shutting down and venting all local reactors into this section and the space away from the Spirit.  My team will be EVA from the station within the next thirty-seconds” he said flicking a control locking them inside the airlock much to the horror of the other five men “they will need a pick up as soon as possible.  I am remaining onsite to shutdown additional power relays to stop further damage.”  He said cutting the link hearing his team inside the airlock shouting angrily at him for his sacrifice.  “DC-4 assume explosive decompression protocol position now it’s your only hope!”  He snapped “you have ten seconds, stay apart once you are away from the station and make sure your emergency locators are on transmit.”  He said the team didn’t move but continued to complain “do it now!”  He commanded external door opening in ten seconds” he said as the team began to move into crouched positions facing the doors.  Elsewhere the station began to shut down sections of power and vent the reactors nearby.  “Good luck” he said flicking the control which released all the air and his team into space, it was their best chance to get as far from the radiation as possible, their suits would protect them from the hazards of space for a short period of time.  Abdullah then walked across the room and began to shut down the power circuits that would lead to the surface of the station stopping them from overloading would stop any additional hull breaches.  His suit’s radiation metre began to register greater radiation levels bleeping louder and louder Abdullah tuned it out by saying a prayer as he did his final duty of the shipyard in trying to save as much as he could before hot radioactive plasma flooded the compartment consuming him.

   Due to Abdullah Ababneh’s actions the station only suffered a single further hull breach and no-one was hurt by it.  The reactors returned to save mode after expelling their excess plasma and dampening their power output.  While Abdullah Abebneh had died protecting the station Niops newest Vengeance Pocket WarShip was able to collect up his team with minimal injuries taken to them.  For his sacrifice Abdullah Ababneh’s name was given to the Vengeance which had recovered his team and would be assigned to the nation’s newest vessel the Endevour-class Spirit of Northumberland which had been captured from the Marian Hegemony and refurbished over Niops.

Erinyes (Modified Newgrange-class)
Viborg Asteroid Field
Viborg, Rim Collection
3rd March, 3114

Calvin McIntyre smirked, watching in satisfaction as the CF Erinyes continued its slow crawl deeper into the system, intent on destroying the heretical Rim Collection sole shipyards. Drone fighters and DropShips crewed by righteous believers of the Word of Blake and their noble Circinian allies escorted the behemoth WarShip like a swarm of bees protecting their sacred queen.

And like the swarm, the drone fighters and DropShips would soon enter the battle against the heretics and non-believers of the Rim Collection, he knew, Against the Word of Blake battleship and its escorts, the heretics could only defend their oh so vital shipyard with a mere transport and a small construction ship and what fighters and DropShips the system held.

“Something’s not right,” she heard his beloved murmur. He allowed his lone remaining eye to dart to her. She stood next to the acolyte manning the tactical station, annoyingly tapping the side loudly.
“What’s not right,” he asked, his eyes returning to his screen.

“The system’s defenses,” she replied, no, snarked, backed at him. He approved of her fiery spirit, though was careful not to show it in front of the others. She was not a righteous believer as he and the others were on the bridge, though her continued belief and loyalty to him was just as strong as their zealotry, he knew.

“They seem to be concentrated around the lone transport,” he supplied. “Though I wonder where they hid their construction ship,” he thought out loud. His eyes traced a Behemoth DropShip leaving the enemy transport and fleeing to the enormous station that served as the shipyard.

“It’s not that. It’s the size of their forces.”

“Meager,” Mcintyre judged a second later. “All their forces are caught up in battles of fire and ash, too eager to free their brethren heretics,” he dismissed her concerns as the CF Erinyes and its swarm of escorts skirted the edge of the system’s asteroid belt. “They are too far to be part of this battle. Even if they left their battles immediately, they would be too little too late. And soon all in this system shall burn, as all heretics deserve.”

His concerned beloved’s answer was cut off before it began from the acolyte beside her. “The Heretic’s transport and its escort just entered into range. Soon victory and thereafter, fire and ash!”

“Fire and Ash!” he heard approvingly from the other members of the bridge crew as the CF Erinyes entered the fray. Ahead of the noble WarShip, the heretic WarShip and its meager escort lay, a final wall between the Erinyes and its target.

Moments later, his eyes squinted in annoyance as the bridge was slightly rocked by the first few volleys exchanged. The heretical WarShip’s weapon systems were surprisingly decent, he judged in disgust. He was soon proven correct.

“Moderate damage to our port dorsal batteries. Slight damage to that side’s maneuvering thrusters. Armor is holding, but getting red-lines across multiple segments,” the female acolyte manning Damage Control succinctly reported. “Recommend we turn to port so as to shield that side.”

He shook his head, silently cursing, as the acolyte manning the Pilot station immediately changed their course. The CF Erinyes, the finest WarShip remaining to the believers in their righteous crusade, unfortunately still had battle damage they could not repair and the Heretics had found the Achilles Heel of the Erinyes.

Another minute passed as the mighty WarShip presented its starboard side to the enemy heretics’ vessel, all the while. Just as the Erinyes began its next volley, his eyes widened in disbelief at his screen. He heard his lover a half second later.

“Radiation burst directly behind us! Another ship! Behind us!”

“Ship’s IFF reads the RCS Warrior! Battlenet confirms it matches same class that hit Erdvynn!” the acolyte beside her yelled out a moment later as Calvan paled in disbelief. Seconds later, the Erinyes began taking fire from recent arrival.

“Wepaons, fire the asteroid!” Calvan urgently yelled. “Helm, turn out about as soon as it leaves the mass driver!”
As he listened to his bridge crew reply back, he could not help but look back at his screen in dread. The heretical WarShip he judged as at least comparable to the Erinyes in terms of weapons as multiple damage reports immediately came across his screen.

“New contacts! From the belt!” his lover yelled. “Damnit! they ‘re heading for our JumpShips!”

“Comms, have our JumpShips jump out of system and into Steiner space. I doubt the Collection and their pet monkeys are stupid enough to jump across the border. And if they are, then all is well even if we die here!” ye yelled just before the bridge was rocked hard.

“A dozen or so assault fighters just broke through our fighter screen,” he heard his beloved’s voice report. “Having secondary gunners concentrate on the fighters-”
He saw a bright explosion and then nothing.

Mechbay, The Fort
Ecol City, Thorin
Thorin EDZ, Star League Protectorate
4th March 3114

   Morgan was clambering over his Shirke OmniMech which was in the SLDF Mechbay on Thorin.  The Mech was still painted in its Ghost Bear camoflague and while he had been allowed to take it out several times on exercises with local forces, he still hadn’t been given any sort of assignment.  On the ground below Marika Danko stood watching and waiting for him.  Since his return to Thorin and his release from the Rasalhague Dominion she had been assigned to him as his debriefing from the Star League Intelligence Command they’d slowly but surely rekindled their previous relations.  Suddenly there was commotion on the ground of the Mechbay Morgan manipulated the maintenance pully’s and he shot down quickly towards the ground grabbing a tech who was near Marika.  “What is going on tech?”  He demanded formally sometimes he still forgot his manners.

   “MechWarrior there’s been an explosion near Fell’s Fort, a disused mine imploded somehow took a bunch of buildings down with it.  There was a school group in the area, they are all missing!”  The tech said rapidly “the Guard’s all over the damned place on exercise.”  He explained

   “Then I need you to get my Mech equipped to assist” he ordered the Tech who looked surprised “I can get there before any of the guard get back, if there are any cadets still in the Fort get them in the training Mechs they can come with me, we’ll use the Mechs to dig for the school group.”  He suggested “do it now Tech.”  He said the man nodded and ran off.

   “You have no authority to make that order Morgan, be careful” Marika warned him.

   “I do not care, if I can help, I will help.”

   “Good luck, I’m going to try and help muster more help, be careful” she repeated stepping up beside him kissing him passionately before rushing off.  Morgan stood there for a moment gobsmacked since she’d shyed away from kissing him before despite their feelings for each other.

   Within the hour Morgan was in his BattleMech with a pair of Chameleons and at the disused mine between the three of them they began digging through the rocks supporting the ground teams that were already working on the area trying to clear debris.  For eight hours Morgan remained on station assisting the teams until more of the guard arrived.  Due to his actions and the others in the area twenty-eight school children and their teachers were rescued from the mine with minor injuries.

   Following the rescue mission Morgan gains greater respect from the local SLDF forces and he chooses now rather than later to propose to Marika Danko.  Instead of waiting Marika insists they marry now before he’s taken from her again so in the presence of the Thorin Guard members and his mother Duchess Katya Christifori.  Morgan Christifori and Marika Danko are married by Colonel Miguel Ángel Silvestre, the commander of the First Thorin Guard.

First Kathil Uhlans RCT Basecamp
Cassandra Station, Bruin
Irian, Free Worlds League
13th March 3114

The basecamp of the First Kathil Uhlans RCT was a hive of activity as Colonel Celeste Lussier exited the executive transport aircraft.  The unit’s equipment seemed to be a hodgepodge of Federated Suns, Free Worlds League, Capellan and Clan Wolf equipment unlike any other Federated Suns unit she had seen.  She was met by a young male Leftenant dressed in a duty uniform who escorted her across the assembly yard and into the main command building a battered structure which had seen some fighting but looked structurally sound.  Entering the building she was led to a back map room where Marshal Richard Steiner stood with three other Colonels all dressed in duty uniforms, she immediately saluted which was returned by the other officers.

“Welcome to Irian, Colonel” Steiner said greeting him.  “We have assisted the SLDF repulsing another Wolf attack this morning the First Wolf Regulars Cluster.  We probably damaged them enough that they won’t have enough to remain as a unit.”  He said proudly

“Well done Marshal, I have been dispatched by Marshal of Armies Fredrick Davion…”

“Very good, your forces can be integrated into our forces here, they will be very welcome…” Steiner began he knew she also had the FSS Emma Davion, an Avalon II-class Cruiser, at the Nadir point as well which would help secure Irian.

“Sir, sorry to interrupt you.”  Celeste said interrupting him the Marshal smirked and nodded for her to continue.  “I have arrived with an empty WarShip and some JumpShips.  My orders are to recall you back to the Federated Suns, your transport is waiting you’ll be welcomed home as the heroes you are.”

“Excuse me” one of the Colonels said his name tag read Wiig “we’ve lost a lot of people here, they are the heroes who sacrificed their lives for those who can’t fight for themselves.”

“The Marshal of Armies wishes to see the Kathil Uhlans returned to the Federated Suns and stood down for rest and refurbishment.”

“That’s a mistake, we are an integral part of the defence of this world with the SLDF.”  Wiig responded “the SLDF and FWL got us to this point, we owe them…”

“The Marshal of Armies does not agree” Celeste responded “Marshal Steiner, the Uhlans have been out of command for a long time.  It is time that the Kathil Uhlans to return home.”

“I’m struggling to agree with him” Steiner responded “Colonel, our people are going to have to discuss this.”

“Sir, with respect they are yours to command.”

“Affirmative they are but we’ve had to take unit orphans from SLDF, mercenary and Free World League units into our TO&E.”  He explained his name tag read Klimek but he carried a few other markings she didn’t recognize at first before thinking about what he’d said one of his unit patches was a Free Worlds League one!

“This is a Federated Suns line unit… they are expected!”

“COLONEL Lussier” Steiner said emphasizing her rank “the Kathil Uhlans are currently on station and they are under MY command.  Now I’m telling you that the Uhlans need to discuss their position on these orders.  You’ll be assigned guest quarters we’ll recall you when we’re ready.  Dismissed” he said and Celeste Lussier was escorted out of the room.

---

Nearly three hours later Colonel Celeste Lussier was escorted back to the map room to meet with Marshal Richard Steiner who now was on his own and dressed in his formal dress uniform.  As she entered, she immediately saluted the man who returned it immediately.  “Colonel, at ease” he said she stood down “Colonel Lussier, please accept this declaration from the members of the First Kathil Uhlans who originated in the Federated Suns for the Marshal of Armies and the First Prince.”  Steiner said handing her a written declaration which had dozens, no hundreds of signatures on it.  “This is a declaration that as of this date we are resigning our commissions with the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns.”  He explained Lussier’s face must have told the story “our unit has had a mix of nationalities in it since we served with Task Force Serpent.”  Steiner said “now we’ve all been away from the Federated Suns for almost two years we’ve been serving with people from several different backgrounds now we’re the Kathil Uhlans, our people are loyal to their unit and the unit have decided once and for all to align our futures with the Star League Defence Force.”

“You cannot betray your oaths and steal equipment.”

“We served the AFFS loyally for years Colonel, now we’ve had to survive on our own and we’ve taken others in.”  He explained “we’re moving onto the next stage of our careers and we won’t be leaving the people hear in the lurch.”

“You could be cut off from your families, refused entry into the Federated Suns, branded tra…”

“I’m going to cut you off right there COLONEL.”  Steiner said angrily “in that document it states that the people of this unit are ready to accept not being able to return to the Federated Suns.  We’ve made this decision in full knowledge of that fact but do not dare go further than that.  The men and women of this unit were exiled following orders to follow a Federated Suns combat mission, we did our damned jobs now we’re dealing with the consequences.”  He said feeling himself he was beginning to rant and tried to calm down “we’ve been accepted as commissioned and non-commissioned officers of the SLDF.  If the Marshal of Armies has a problem with it take it up with Terra, your dismissed do not let me delay you in your return to the Emma Davion.”

[Dragon Cat]

Trial of Possession
Sherwood, Nova Cat’s Den
20th March 3114

   While Clan Nova Cat’s 449th Assault Cluster declares a Trial of Possession over the Federated Suns world of Minette Tyler’s Terrors led by Earl Jonas Tyler land on Sherwood, their homeworld, for the first time in thirteen years.  There they face off against the Nova Cat’s 451st Pouncer Cluster and while they fight in accordance with Clan dueling rules of Zellbrigen they are soundly defeated and forced off world.  The attack is seen as a further afront to the Nova Cat’s territory by their neighbours and a greater challenge to Khan Canin Rosse’s rule.  With the Nova Cat’s returning from Minette in defeat further calls for a challenge against Rosse continue to boil beneath the surface.

District of Regulus Hiring Hall
Bowang City, District of Bowang
Free Worlds League
22nd March 3114

   The door to the hiring hall wooden slammed into the wood paneled wall taking the door off its hinge as Colonel Jocoam Chowla charged into the Hiring Hall for the District of Regulus on Bowang.  He marched up to the negotiators desk and threw down a set name tags in front of a middle-aged man dressed in a business suit.  “You want to explain to me what the hell happened on Wallis!”  He demanded the man looked back at him calmly and then down at the name tag they read Aletha Chowla “your guns killed the people you hired to defend you!”  Chowla continued angrily leaning over the desk grabbing the man and dragging him up off his seat “you killed my wife, you *******!”  He bellowed his anger beyond its boiling point.

   The District of Regulus had agreed to meet with representatives of the unit but the negotiator had been expecting the unit’s other co-commander Ariel Peregrine-Simpson not this muscled giant who could probably rival a small elemental.  He stammered for a moment but Chowla wasn’t finished dragging him over his desk he threw the man to the ground.  “I want ****** answers not excuses!”  Jake Chowla cursed taking a stomp towards him.

   “Stop right there!”  a young woman dressed in a mercenary coat said from the door her hand was on her sidearm, which was still holstered, as were the two guards behind her.

   “You know what the **** these pieces of crap did to my unit on Wallis!”  He said stepping towards the man who shuffled across the floor away from him the guards reached for their weapons but the woman motioned to them to stop.  He studied her for a moment she was in her early-to-mid thirties had long dyed red hair, someone who’d obviously been a fan of the old Natasha Kerensky stories.

   “I heard Colonel” she said, he guessed she’d recognized his unit patch “the sold you up the river, but this isn’t the way trust me.”

   “It might not be” he said grasping one of the office chairs in his hands “but I promise you he said looking down at the negotiator, I’ll get mine one way or the other and I’ll start with your sorry hide” he said swinging the chair up off the ground and across the room into the wall in one fluid motion.  The guards drew their weapons but the female mercenary didn’t.

   “We’re done here” she said to them “Colonel, I’ll escort you outside, calmer heads can come together tomorrow.”  She said flicking a lock of red hair over her shoulder motioning towards the door.  Jake took a step towards the negotiator again but then stepped over his still cowering form “until next time.”  He threatened

   Outside a light rain had started as Jake and the mystery merc stepped outside.  “I’m sorry for your loss Colonel, as a mercenary myself if I lost family as you have to your own employer, I’d be angry too.  Lt Colonel Naomi Wrangler of the Thunder Road” she said extended her hand as they stepped down the first set of stone steps.

   “Jocoam Chowla” he said formally introducing himself his touch was remarkably light for such a size and following the anger he’d shown.  “Thank you, they owe us.  I’ll get what I’m owed either here or I’ll go to Regulus and take it from there.”

   “You’ll get what’s owed to you Colonel, I know the MRBC has already looked into the case and is looking for a response from the District of Regulus.  They cannot afford to be taken off the hiring lists, you’ll get compensation for this, but I know whatever they give you will not help make up for your loss.”

   “Nothing ever will” he said stomping off down the remaining steps and into the rain Naomi Wrangler stood on the steps watching for a moment before retreating inside.

---

   The following day Colonel Ariel Peregrine-Simpson and a couple of the other Chaos Irregulars attend the Hiring Hall they bypass the District of Regulus hiring hall going straight to the MRBC’s central hall.  There their case is heard and evidence the Irregulars claimed from Wallis is taken into account before a ruling is made.  The MRBC rule that Regulus broke the contract with the Chaos Irregulars by bringing down orbital bombardment on their position with adequate warning.  They rule that Regulus owes the Chaos Irregulars equipment equal or superior to what the Irregulars lost, payment for the rest of their contract and compensation to the families who lost loved ones.  The District of Regulus agrees to make payments to the Chaos Irregulars.

   A few days later the District of Bowang offer the Chaos Irregulars a piece of land on the planet of Molokai where they can claim their compensation from the District of Regulus, rest their troops that survived Wallis and train new troops in exchange for them agreeing to help defend Molokai should it be attacked.  Colonel Ariel Peregrine-Simpson agrees on behalf of the unit, once on Molokai Jocoam Chowla takes some personnel time leaving Chaos Irregulars base camp in his captured Deva OmniMech heading into the Molokai wilderness to grieve.

RCS Warrior (Warrior-class battlecarrier)
Viborg Fleetyards
Viborg, Rim Collection
26th March, 3114

Loremaster Jordan Trustcott of Clan Fire Mandrill watched the holovideo in distaste. Three weeks ago, the dezgra Word of Blake and their lapdogs in the Circinus Federation had attacked the vital Viborg Fleetyards. They had sprung the Rim Collection’s trap and the Rim Collection nearly destroyed the CF Erinyes before it fled from battle.

It was a costly victory, he knew. The RCS Cassandra had taken heavy damage in holding the heavier WarShip at bay until the right moment for the RCS Warrior to jump in. Worse, the drone fighters the dezgra dogs had brought with them had been committed to an all-out kamikaze attack against the already damaged WarShip in the dezgra WarShip’s successful escape. The battered support cruiser was now just beginning repairs from the RCS Eye of Providence. It was estimated the WarShip would be back in action by the beginning of next year.

For three weeks the Rim Collection had detailed entire stars of Hunter-class JumpShips to find the dezgra vessel. And for three weeks, nothing was found of the missing vessel. That was until today.

The missing CF Erinyes had been found in the depleted system of Tatopani. Immediately the RCS Collection had been ordered to jump into the system and the other WarShips on the border with the Circinus Federation were ready to deploy. Unfortunately, before the RCS Rim Collection could engage the severely damaged dezgra WarShip, it had left the system.

But the holovideo was not of CF Erinyes’ escape from the wrath of the Rim Collection. It was instead focused on Ender’s Deep, a populated oceanic world in the Ender’s Cluster. Four days after the battle here at Viborg, the significantly important agricultural world had reported a pirate force entering the system with the IFF matching one of the Circinus Federation JumpShips that had fled the battle at Viborg.

Eight days later, an emergency HPG message had been broadcasted out loud and clear from the world, requesting immediate humanitarian aid. While the local militia had been able to neutralize the dezgra forces, it was not before they had set the planet’s primary fusion power plant into meltdown. Already, large amounts of radiation had begun to enter the important oceans and atmosphere that fed the huge schools of fish and underwater forests of kelp and seaweed that fed much of the remaining worlds of the Ender’s Cluster and supplied the cluster with medicinal herbs from the world’s aquafarms. Without immediate aid, the world would die and a famine would be unleashed across the remaining worlds of the Ender’s Cluster.

And that was the trick. Due to how the ten-star systems in the Ender’s Cluster aligned together, while JumpShips could jump freely between the ten systems often enough to keep trade and transport alive within the cluster, jumping into and from Ender’s Cluster was altogether a different story. The only time JumpShips could enter or leave the cluster was every eighty-two days for five-day windows and that window had sadly already passed. Very small windows of normally mere seconds and much more rarely a few minutes, enough for only a singular JumpShip to make the journey, but very dangerous, for whatever JumpShip that did not time its jump perfectly would be destroyed by the HPG bubble being affected by the cluster’s gravitational forces.

Already, multiple riots had been reported on all ten worlds as civilians began a mad dash to gather and hoard medicine and food. While the riots on the other worlds were forced back and law and order restored, if strained, the situation at Ender’s Deep was worsening by the hour. Order had ceased to exist within the first week, with the local nobility being lynched and as of yesterday, the HPG compound was barely holding on against rioters and rogue militia personnel. Without immediate aid, contact with the doomed world would end and complete and likely unstoppable anarchy would begin.

Now, only minutes ago, the Lyran Commonwealth had effectively announced they were abandoning the cluster!
Not abandoning, he amended a moment later. Archon Jessica Steiner was mobilizing a fleet of JumpShips at Florida. JumpShips laden with DropShips of food and medical supplies and personnel were arriving in the system. Two entire regimental combat teams were to help bring order to the cluster and the fleet to jump in as soon as the next window opened.

In two months.

In two months, the situation would be too far gone. Thousands, likely millions might die by then. That was unacceptable to him!

“Ender’s Cluster will not fall!” the tall battlemech-genotype warrior harshly whispered, causing the others on the bridge to stop what they were doing.

“Ender’s Cluster will not fall,” he reverently repeated himself as he stood up and scanned the bridge. He lacked the authority of what he was about to do. And he would answer for this, he well knew. But he would know he did the right thing.

“Comms!” he barked out. “Have all JumpShips assemble. I want all DropShips in the system to get loaded up and ready with supplies and send word out to all nearby units we will need any and all assistance they can provide, Collection and Lyran alike. And get me direct comms with Ender’s Cluster immediately! The Lyran Commonwealth may have abandoned the Ender’s Cluster but the Rim Collection will NOT! Seyla!”

“Seyla,” the others among the bridge answered his own and soon a renewed purpose was restored. Within minutes, word had spread throughout the WarShip. Within an hour, various Rim Collection units and local governments across the Rim Collection were coordinating with each other.

An hour past that, communication with Ender’s Cluster had been established when the videostream of a haggard young depressed woman who had all but lost hope finally came through. “This is Grafina Natalie Sereal of the Ender’s Cluster. I was told you wanted to help?”

“Aff,” Jordan responded. “I am readying multiple JumpShips to carry aid into the Ender’s Cluster. We should have the first ready by the end of the day. All we need are the coordinates and exact timings of all known jump points.”

The young Lyran noble raked her hand through her hair in obvious irritation. “We already thought of that approach! We might get a few JumpShips through, but many’ll be lost. It’s too dangerous.”

“Maybe for Lyran JumpShips but not those of the Rim Collection,” he steadily answered her. “Provide me those coordinates and any and all astrogation information you have for Ender’s Cluster and I vow assistance will arrive before the end of the month and regular assistance by end of next week.”

Jordan Truscott watched the conflict that spread across the young woman’s face.  And hoped she chose the right decision.

She did. “I don’t have much choice. Either I burn in hell among the Estates General when I inherit my father’s seat or I burn in hell when the riots begin again.” she paused, sighing. “I’ll get everything sent asap.”

Truscott nodded approvingly. The young woman in the holostream was a born leader. Too bad she was Lyran. “Comms, relay her information as soon as we receive it to all worlds and ships within the Collection. I want everyone even remotely trained on astrogation to analyze every single particle of data she sends over. We need to plan this down to the second! We just became Ender’s Cluster’s only hope. Now move!”

Trial of Possession
Vega, District of Vega
Rasalhague Dominion
27th March 3114

   The Second Legion of Vega Regiment raid the world of Vega facing off against the Eighth Bear Cuirassiers Cluster in a series of Trials of Possession.  The veteran Rasalhague Dominion unit are too strong for the Second facing off and defeating each of the District of Dieron forces before allowing them to leave the plant due to the honour they had shown in battle.

Briefing Room
LCS Iron Fist (Mjolnir-class battle-cruiser), Tharkad Orbit
Donegal Province, Lyran Commonwealth
31st March 3114

Archon Jessica Steiner made notes on her datapad as she reviewed the holovideo the Rim Collection was ‘kind’ enough to give to her government nearly a month ago. Really a short holofilm of separate battle ROMs the Collection had spliced together for public consumption and propaganda, it amounted to nearly all the hard evidence the Lyrans had on the Collection’s first home-built WarShip class. She had paid the class only a courtesy briefing a month ago, but that changed with news of the RCS Warrior, the lead ship of the class, had surprised the entire Commonwealth with something thought all but impossible; jumping into the Ender’s Cluster  outside of the quarterly jump window.and immediately declaring it was there for the duration of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Worse, the damn Collection and their pet monkeys had effectively taken the astrogation charts of the Ender’s Cluster and had figured out when to time their JumpShips to nearly a pinpoint accuracy for multiple of the jump points every day, allowing relief to reach the embattled cluster of stars. And they had done it less than a week after her announcement the Commonwealth planned to send a relief fleet as soon as the next quarterly jump window arrived.

In two months.

She clenched her teeth and her pride when the news broke publicly. To be fair, her government was warned two hours ahead of time and should the first jump be successful, the Rim Collection would immediately send their WarShip into the cluster and send their constructed jump algorithm for Ender’s Cluster to the Commonwealth. She and her staff had just enough time to write and go over a short speech complimenting the Rim Collection for their assistance during this crisis and agreeing to the RCS Warrior’s humanitarian assistance.In the same speech, she made sure the first Lyran responders, Colonel Varnay and her First Fesnyng, would jump into the star cluster using the Collection’s algorithm tomorrow morning.

While the Federated Suns-born colonel would lead the relief efforts on the ground, Jessica had given the Varnay scion a secret mission. Find out all she could of the RCS Warrior without starting a war with the Rim Collection and to investigate rather the Lyran Commonwealth could still hold onto the star cluster after this humanitarian crisis had run its course and if not, to quietly put in Lyran intelligence operatives.

While Jessica hoped for the best, she well knew she had likely lost the entire star cluster to the Rim Collection, especially with the Rim Collection risking another attack on their Viborg Fleet yards, all but saying the Ender’s Cluster was more important than that vital system. And it was a bitter pill to swallow; yet should the Lyrans acquire more information on the Rim Collection WarShip, the loss could at least be somewhat mitigated, she reflected privately to herself as she stared at the image of the RCS Warrior.

And what she saw worried her. The damned Rim Collection had once again pulled a proverbial rabbit out of their hats. Classified as a multi-role battle-carrier, Jessica read between the lines... Nominally a battleship and carrier hybrid in ancient and modern naval theories. The class was built to fight battleships. And able to bring in more DropShips and aerospace assets into battle than any WarShip the Lyran Commonwealth currently fielded. Most modern naval theorists, herself included, had thought the classification only effective with the heavier battleship hulls as shown by House Davion in their Mercury-class battleship.

Should it prove capable, it would be a massive coup and a downright impressive feat as the class was marked at 920,000 tons, noticeably below one million tons, the tonnage of what most modern naval theorists classified as the minimum for battleships and less than half the tonnage as the Mercury. Effectively a pocket battleship. The short holoreel of battle ROMs confirmed this to the Lyran Archon.

And if it did prove worthy of its classification, Jessica Steiner knew it was a slap in the face to long standing modern naval theory and tradition. Modern naval theory heavily stressed fleets should keep their multi-role WarShips limited to escort vessels like frigates and destroyers and often argued for their specialization, or to cruisers expected to be on independent patrol. These were the workhorses of any fleet. Battleships and battle-cruisers served as the heavy hitters and should be in the thick of the fighting. Conversely, carriers and transports should be protected and were primarily for support. And by tradition, nearly all respectable navies followed that train of thought.

The Warrior-class, if effective, merged all the concepts together and in a hull smaller than a battleship. A truly frightening and sobering thought. It meant the Rim Collection had the potential to effectively create a fleet that could outperform her own in the long run and could be much easier maintained and built, with production streamlined to only one class. The fact it took only an average of seventeen months to build both cemented the later fact.
The thought made her nauseated and she quickly flicked the holoterminal off and began making notes on how to mitigate the Collection’s advantage.

[Artifex]

Wow, what doozie the Rim Collection pulled there :thumbsup:

Also welcome back Dragon Cat and assorted assitants!!!  ;)

[Wrangler]

That's cool my character's kid appeared!

QUESTION: Warrior Class-Battlecarrier?   Was it redesigned from a Battlecruiser?

[Shadow_Wraith]

 ;D  Yay the story got updated!  I wonder what the LCAF will come up with to counter the RCS Warrior?  I like how the Kathil Uhlans stayed with the SLDF!  What could the AFFS do after two years being abandoned/let go behind enemy lines!

[marauder648]

Excellent as always! Sounds like the Erinyie's day's are numbered she's now quite badly damaged and can't do much beyond local repairs unless there's a hidden base out there.

[Dragon Cat]

Into the next bit.  And well it's April 1st so...

CIC, FWLS Galisteo (Unity-class Frigate)
Maxwell, District of Gibraltar
Free Worlds League
1st April 3114

“And this is the hub of operations control of the Galisteo, the CIC.”  Captain Mitch Mayweather the commander of the FWLS Galisteo said as he led the Duke of Maxwell Mitchell Lee onto the command deck of the Frigate.

“CIC?”  The elderly Duke asked looking around the brightly lit room which was dominated by the huge holo-tank in the middle of the room.

“Combat Information Centre or bridge as some people know it.  From here we can command all aspects of the WarShip’s operations.”  Mayweather explained leading them through the room as the crewmen tried to ignore them working on operations.

“I thought I saw it on the top of the vessel as we came in, so you could see your targets?”  He asked oblivious to WarShip operations or layout.

   “No, that is the Stellar Observation Lounge, our navigators use it to observe the space around the Galisteo and use it to double check our computers calculations.  It’s one of the few places on the ship that you can look out of a window into open space, during combat it is retracted into the hull.”  Mayweather explained the idea that the bridge would be on the top of the ship exposed to enemy fire was one that was solely restricted to science fiction. “For WarShip operations we use the Holotank which gives us full coverage around the vessel.” 

   “So, your crew use the holotank to track things outside the WarShip?”

   “No, each crewman who needs to see what is going on in the space around us they can see on their own systems.  We use the holotank to give us an overview of…” He began to explain but was interrupted as five new contacts appeared in the holotank.

   “Sensor contact, one Wolf WarShip and four JumpShips” one of the CIC crewmen reported.

   “Received and understood” Mayweather said looking up at the holotank, Duke Lee followed his gaze, “continue to monitor, maintain standard operations.”  He commanded turning back to the Duke “as I was explaining Duke each crewman who needs to can monitor operations from their own stations we use the holotank to give us a command overview of the space around the WarShip.”  He said but the Duke was still focused on the holotank.

   “Captain, pardon my ignorance but shouldn’t we be more concerned with that WarShip and those JumpShips?”

   “No, it’s a supply convoy, if the Wolves wanted trouble, they’d have jumped in closer than they have and we’d know about it already.”  He explained but saw the Duke was not happy.  “Allow me to explain Duke Lee, by the time I issue commands for our fighters to launch and our weapons to be turned on them the Wolves will have either jumped out or will have opened fire on us.  Those Wolves jump into the system fully ready for battle, if they wanted a fight, they are ready for it.”

   “Shouldn’t our CAP be ready to intercept them?”

   “Flying a CAP in space only wastes fuel, creates airframe fatigue, puts pilots at risk and our sesors can track threats far more effectively than any CAP could, all of our fighters are currently onboard this vessel.  At the distance the Wolves are currently at none of our CAP fighters could intercept them as they’d already have used fuel while they were out there.”  The Captain explained trying not to make the duke sound stupid while he did, he was thinking about aircraft in an atmosphere in space things worked differently.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw all five Wolf contacts jump out.

   “So, the Wolves can simply violate our space?  Perhaps your superiors need to send additional units to this system?”

   “Tactical control, extrapolate how many craft would be needed to guard this system?” Mayweather requested after several minutes the crewmen spoke back.

   “Captain, approximately fourteen hundred aerospace fighters, one hundred-and-eighty DropShips, eighteen space stations or WarShips.”  He reported

   “As you can see Duke Mayweather space is vast.”  He explained hopefully not making the Duke sound stupid while he did mentally Mayweather noted it was the First of April... if the Duke wished to waste his time it was up to him.

   “Perhaps, I will speak to Gibraltar after the tour of this vessel is complete.”  He said as Mayweather led him from the bridge through the Galisteo few people truly understood just how big space was to stop every intrusion into a system was simply impossible.
   
Exploration Mission, Spirit of Northumberland
Body 42, District of Lesnovo
Free Worlds League
5th April 3114

   Jumping into a system that was formerly part of the Marian Hegemony before its conquest by the Free Worlds League the Spirit of Northumberland begins its first scans of the system.  The system had not been permanently inhabited by the Marian Hegemony but they had used it for some limited mining.  Now it was up to the Endevour-class vessel and its crew to determine what viability the system had for longer term habitation.

Border conflict
Free Worlds League/Wolf Empire
11th April 3114

   In an effort to distract Clan Wolf from other operations and isolate Tamarind from the rest of the Wolf Empire the Free Worlds League, mercenary and SLDF launch an attack centred on the systems of Labouchere, Nihau, Preston and Zortman with the Concordia Battlegroup out of Atreus in support.

   With the only Wolf WarShip in the Zortman system the Concordia herself and the WarShip Baronnet concentrate on that system while the other two WarShips of the Battlegroup attack Preston and Nihau with ground forces.  The FWLS WarShips encounter multiple Nagasawa-class DropShips in each of the systems as the reason for a lack of WarShips in the systems becomes apparent with Clan Wolf having purchased dozens of the Sea Fox produced assault DropShip.  In the Preston system the Venturer-class Light Cruiser MS Monitor is overwhelmed by Clan Wolf DropShips and aerospace fighters which breaks up the attack forcing back the attack on the system.

   In the Zortman system while the Clan Wolf vessel Tigress, a Halcyon-class Cruiser, is able to damage the Concordia and the multiple Nagasawa-class DropShips are able to take out dozens of aerospace fighters but the Thera-class Carrier’s aerospace fighters are eventually able to overwhelm and destroy the Clan Wolf WarShip clearing the way for ground forces.

   On each of the worlds targeted by the Free Worlds League were elements of Clan Wolf’s Snarling Wolves Galaxy with each unit having instructions to slow any Inner Sphere intrusion by any means necessary until reinforcements arrive.  On Labouchere the attack on Wolf holdings falls to pieces as the Raymond’s Hussars mercenary command take their revenge on the SLDF by failing to support the Seventh Special Operations Group which results in the Elite Team being overwhelmed by Clan Wolf Elementals.  The Hussars pull off planet by overwhelming the SLDF defences at the DropShips and escaping.

   On Zortman, Preston and Nihau the Free Worlds League forces face heavy resistance from the Elite Wolf troops with the Fifth Marik Guards Regiment destroyed Nihau before FWL forces are forced to retreat with the arrival of the Werewolf and additional Clan Wolf ground forces.  The MS Macuahuitl, an Eagle-class Frigate, sacrifices itself in the system to allow ground forces to evacuate to their DropShips.  While Clan Wolf’s garrison forces on Preston fall quickly to the Free Worlds League ground forces.  For two worlds “liberated” from the Wolves two WarShips, an entire ground force regiment and an Elite SLDF team have been lost.  With the SLDF officially branding Raymond’s Hussars as a rogue command.

Fleet operations, Medusans Command Group
Fenwick, Star League Protectorate
20th April 3114

   In the space near Fenwick the Medusans Mercenary Command were continuing operations helping the people of Fenwick adapt to their return to the Inner Sphere.  The Medusans helped screen trader vessels through the system from nearby states ensuring they were not bringing in weapons or equipment that could cause issues in the system and ensuring that they remained away from the SLDF WarShips which were being refitted and testing the system.

   Today the Medusans were also taking part of the payment for their contract with the SLDF.  Four sixty-ton Schrack OmniFighters flew close to the Medusan JumpShips which sat away from the Jump point currently not needed by the command.  They banked to the left turning around the JumpShips and heading towards the Medusans newest vessel the seven hundred-and-eighty thousand-ton Quixote-class DropShip Tender which had arrived this morning, the Medusans had named the vessel Forrestal after an old Terra aircraft carrier.  The vessel was the first in a new class being developed for the SLDF and the Medusans would be the first to use it.  Approaching the vessel at high speed the four Schrack’s split into pairs near the front of the vessel flying down the length of the vessel.

   In the CIC of the vessel Admiral John Jellico (Retired) stood at the rear of the room like the seasoned naval officer he was.  For more than a decade he had commanded the Medusans before retiring two years ago in the middle of the room he watched his successor Admiral Samantha Harrington take command of the Forrestal.  He quietly wondered what he’d do with such a vessel if he still commanded the Medusans, the unit had always been a JumpShip/DropShip unit with some ground forces to support operations but the Quixote added a new element to the unit’s capabilities.  Now however was a day to be remembered for the Medusans he thought as Harrington guided the Forrestal through the Medusans JumpShip and DropShip formations parading the vessel in front of all of their people.  The vessel would bring a completely new capability to the Medusans one that they could not squander Jellico knew that he’d trained Harrington and the others well, his unit was in a good place.

Construction site, Buick Mountain Range
Marduk, Robinson PDZ
Draconis March, Federated Suns
28th April 3114

   Massive machines were at work hollowing out a huge tunnel which would lead deep into the Buick Mountain Range on Marduk.  Dozens of IndustrialMechs supported construction vehicles moving earth and rock out of the mountain as the new facility was constructed.  Warrior House Leader Imarra Sortek stood back and watched as the men and women worked their machinery creating her House’s new home.  After almost a decade in the Federated Suns her people had fully adopted their position in this new Inner Sphere it had taken some time but they had finally accepted their place in the nation instead of the Confederated Suns that bore them.

   Unfortunately their people had also given up on the dream of remaining on New Avalon within the confines of the Sortek family landhold they were too different from the other members of the Sortek family and few of them could forgive the actions of Arden Sortek or his son Conner in their nation it didn’t matter to many that Arden was a hero to the Federated Suns or that Conner was a loyal officer of the Armed Forces.  As a result of this tension Imarra had jumped at the offer from First Prince Burton Davion to take a landhold of their own on Marduk.  Although the world was on the Draconis Combine border and likely to be targeted by any invasion force she relished the challenge for her people.

   Since arriving on Marduk three weeks ago she’d searched for a suitable place for the Warrior House to call home and found the Buick Mountain Range was perfect for their requirements with massive reserves of granite which would protect her people should the Draconis Combine bring orbital bombardment against them.  She’d employed half the construction companies on Marduk for the effort to hollow out a cavern which would serve as their Castle and command complex which would host and protect their vehicle and Mech maintenance facilities and their infantry barracks.  The façade of the mountain face would be styled in a fashion which would be unique to her House forming a Monastery for their recruits to train and learn the ways of Warrior House Sortek before becoming fully fledged members of the command.  This world now would serve as a base world for her people as they traveled the Federated Suns and helped its people and it would serve as a symbol of the strength of Warrior House Sortek.

[Dragon Cat]

This is the design I used for the Quixote-class DropShip Tender, my thanks to the original designer I really liked it

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=1949.msg45841#msg45841

[Shadow_Wraith]

Another nice update!  It took a moment to remember, but nice to see that the Warrior House Sortek found a new home in Marduk.    We're they given any new equipment to expand or refit them?   

[Artifex]

Cheers, nice to see this story progressing! :thumbsup: :-)

[James Tanaga]

Was wondering when we would see Warrior House Sortek again. Nice update!  :thumbsup:

[Dragon Cat]

Burn-in system, Hell’s Horses Formidable (Arbitration-class Battleship)
Arcturus, Donegal Province
Lyran Commonwealth
3rd May 3114

   As the SLS Jerricho, an upgraded Black Lion-class Battle-cruiser exploded under heavy fire from the Formidable, Khan Teresa Cooper smiled this operation had been years in the planning and now with the Lyran Battleship LCS Diligence crippled and the Jerricho destroyed the path was clear for her Clan to begin landings on Arcturus, former capital of the Lyran Commonwealth.

   The three galaxies she commanded had been reinforced with additional Clusters made up of the best her Clan could offer and trained in the Mongol Doctrine that her Clan was now fully embracing.  Included in all these new clusters were warriors who had been bred through the Elstar program they were trained to be the elite of all warriors and were driven for success.

   On the planet below there were seven commands belonging to the Lyran Commonwealth and several mercenary units ready to defend the world against the Hell’s Horses invasion.  Normally she’d be concerned about retaliation by the Lyrans against her Clan but during discussions with the other Clans on Tukayyid she’d mentioned plans to invade this world.  As a result of her plans the Jade Falcons and surprisingly the Coyotes had seen opertunities to increase their territorial.  Only this morning the Watch had confirmed that Jade Falcon forces had invaded Bruekelen, Kirkcaldy, Aur and Edasich while the Coyotes had entered the Apostica and Ganshoren systems, the Coyotes had also taken several of the Hell’s Horses worlds in recent weeks freeing up troops for this operation.  It was glorious to see the Clans on the move again it was like the spirit of Operation REVIVAL had been reborn by the actions of her Clan and the march on Terra had begun again.

---

   Six days later Hauptmann Alex Gabriotti was fighting for his life as he had been since the Hell’s Horses landed on Arcturus as the Twentieth Arcturan Guards RCT had essentially been destroyed around him.  This world was important to the Lyran Commonwealth it had served for many years as a capital world and the people were loyal to the Commonwealth and its Archon.  Today it seemed all his troubles were coming from Hell’s Horses vehicles turning his massive Zeus ZEU-11S BattleMech to the right Gabriotti tried to track one of the two Vel Harrasser Hovertanks that were harassing him.  Dropping the targeting over the tank he let rip with his clan built long range missile launcher and torso mounted medium and large lasers.  Heat spiked in the Zeus’ cockpit as long-range missiles exploded all around and over the Vel Harrasser, the medium laser burned into the hovercraft’s armour and the large laser melted some of the scenary.  Alex cursed loudly in Italian as he saw the large laser miss it was his best chance of knocking out the twenty-five-ton hovertank.

   In response he felt his Zeus rocked as the return fire from the Vel Harrasser’s turret in the form of short-range missiles and medium pulse lasers cut into the legs and torso of his Mech.  From his right the second Vel Harrasser appeared adding its own short-range missiles and medium lasers to the attack.  Alone one of these craft would be no threat to his Zeus, together… Alex was in trouble.  “This is Gabriotti, I need some assistance in sector four, two squirly hovercraft making life horrible here!”  He shouted into the comm channel all he heard back was static one of the craft carried an ECM suite.  “Screw you!”  He cursed reaching out with his Zeus’ left arm and let rip with the gauss rifle mounted there the accelerated slug shot out of the gauss rifle and flew straight and true towards the Vel Harrasser entering the craft through the cockpit crushing the pilot in his chair the Hovercraft spun out of control its hover fans cutting to idle dropping it slowly to the ground.  “Gabriotti, one down any assistance appreciated” he called out turning back towards the other as more short-range missiles flew into his BattleMech’s torso section.  He returned fire blindly with long range missiles and was glad to see that some of the peppered the remaining hovercraft but didn’t penetrate the armour.  Pulse lasers followed from the Val Harrasser but Alex was even more determined now stepping forwards adding the large laser to the hovercraft’s hurt causing more damage to the craft.  This time the laser struck home and dug through the craft’s armour and sparked off the vehicle’s short-range missile launcher ammo bin.  The resulting explosion channeled by the vehicle’s CASE system saved the vehicle’s crew just long enough for Alex’s follow up gauss rifle shot which gutted the remains of the hovercraft finishing it off in a brilliant explosion.  “Gabriotti, two down!”  He confirmed standing still for a moment glad to have survived the encounter.

   From nowhere his Zeus was forced forwards as missiles slammed into the back of the Mech.  The missiles had penetrated his rear armour blowing through the long-range missile ammunition bin.  The CASE II built into the toros saved his Mech from a catastrophic death but his long-range missile launcher was now useless.  He glanced at his sensors somehow despite having taken a hit directly to the crew compartment the first Vel Harrasser was still active he spun the Zeus as quickly as an eighty-ton BattleMech coult and launched a ferocious attack with both the gauss rifle and large laser destroying what was left of the hovercraft which disappeared in an expanding fireball.  “Gabriotti, now it’s two down, am I the only one out here.”  He communicated now seeing that he was back on the Lyran communication net.

   “ALL LYRAN UNITS RECALL!  RECALL!  CODE OF DAY: ESSOVIUS REPEAT: ESSOVIUS” the transmission came across all channels Alex Gabriotti checked his code word and saw what ESSOVIUS stood for “Retreat to Royal Palace pending evacuation.”  His heart sunk they’d already lost his own Twentieth and the Second Arcturian Guards on Arcturus now it appeared that they were also losing the planet turning his broken BattleMech away from the destroyed hovertanks he heeded the call and began to head back towards to capital.

   The scene at the Royal Palace was chaos as the remains of various RCTs attempted to mount a final defence aganst the incoming Hell’s Horses.  As his Zeus entered the main staging area, he saw dozens of armoured vehicles carrying the insignia of the Royal Guards and the Eisenjagers leave the area intent on taking the fight to the Hell’s Horses.  Alex was directed to a Mechbay onboard a Union-class DropShip which was loading to leave the world.  Before he entered, he saw General of Armies Aiden Grey, the former commander of the Twentieth Arcturian Guards RCT and now commander of all Lyran forces, standing directing commands.  Alex’s battle was over his BattleMech could never be repaired intime for a last stand but the Lyran’s weren’t finished yet.  Reports suggested that four Hell’s Horses Clusters had been destroyed so far and the Seventeenth and Twenty-seventh Arcturian Guards intended on adding more Horses to the butcher’s bill.

   As Lyran ground forces and several mercenary units stream away from the planet the remaining defenders commanded by Aiden Grey vow to battle against the Horses until the end fighting into June trying to hold onto the territories they still held on Arcturus.  Unfortunately following a failed resupply mission which cost the Lyran Commonwealth the LCS Thorn, an Indefatigable-class Battleship, the defence of Arcturus was declared a lost cause and further counter-attacks were called off.

Nova Cat Raid in Force
Minette Combat Region, Crucis March
Federated Suns
11th May 3114

   Following the raid on Sherwood by Tyler’s Terrors Clan Nova Cat raid three worlds of the Minette Combat Region.  In each of the worlds of Crofton, Des Aro and Symsonia.  While both the Des Aro and Symsonia fall to the Nova Cats in standard Trials of Possession which the Federated Suns defenders fight honourably, but on Crofton the Nova Cats face the strongest opponents the veteran Regimental Combat Team the Fourth Crucis Lancers which is there to defend the massive Star League-era StarCorps Industries Manufacturing plant.  To counter this defence unit Clan Nova Cat hit Crofton with the full force of five front-line Clusters of Alpha Galaxy supported by two WarShips.

   Once on the ground Nova Cat saKhan Kalvin Rosse approached Marshal Yvonne Guillox the commander of the Fourth Crucis Lancers outside the planetary capital Marcus.  “Marshal, thank you for meeting with me, I am saKhan Kalvin Rosse I am here to declare a Trial of Possession for Crofton.”

   “I am happy to meet our neighbours in Clan Nova Cat, you have brought many warriors Khan.”  She said diplomatically while Kalvin Rosse was not a young warrior at nearly fifty years old Yvonne Guillox was at least seventy years in age.  Kalvin knew little about Inner Sphere MechWarriors only that most retired before they reached that age living out their last few decades in peace a Clan warrior could never accept that and nor it appeared could Guillox which was something Rosse had to respect.

   “Marshal, in retaliation for actions taken by the Federated Suns sponsored dezgra mercenary force known as Tyler’s Terrors on Sherwood Clan Nova Cat has decided that the systems of Des Aro, Symsonia and Crofton will belong to Clan Nova Cat going forwards.”

   “An extreme reaction, I had units on Des Aro and Symsonia” Guillox noted “perhaps Clan Nova Cat wishes more territory?”

   “They have been treated fairly and they fought well.  Those troops that survived are heading out of those systems to other Federated Suns garrisoned worlds.  We only desire what we are due” Rosse responded “I would prefer not to destroy this world in taking it from you.  It is the Clan way that we fight honourably so the equipment left can be used by the victors and in the future, it is available to be recaptured.  You understand this quiaff?”

   “Yes, I am aware of your practices.”

   “Will you be willing to abide by them quiaff?”

   “I have been ordered by my superiors to fight within your dueling rules and not use bring total war to you.”  She said Kalvin smirked he was the one with two WarShips in system backing up the ground troops if anyone was bringing ‘total war’ it would be him.

   “Good, I am glad.  Nova Cat forces will meet you here and on each of the continents of Annesland, Churchill, Edwards and Lowther the winner of the overall number of battles will be declared victor.  I will send you their combat information details.  Your individual unit commanders will be invited by my Cluster commanders to enter a Batchall so we can fight with the smallest unit available to both sides minimizing losses on both our sides.  It is your right as defender to decide to fight with your full force at any of these positions.”  Kalvin explained

   “I understand, I will ensure my people are aware of your laws.”

---

   
   In the following days the Nova Cat clusters engage groups of Federated Suns troops at various locations across the world.  Crowds of people gather to watch these events unfold as the two forces line up in full sight of each other before the combat breaks out.  For many of the people it is the first time they have seen anything but units of the Federated Suns and for almost all of them the first time anyone has seen a Clan force.

At the worlds capital of Marcus and on the continents of Churchill and Edwards the Nova Cats are victorious while on the continents of Annesland and Lowther the Crucis Lancers defeat Forty-seventh Nova Cat Spirit Cluster and the Fifth Nova Cat Roar clusters causing heavy damage to the Clan forces despite this with three out of five victories Crofton and its valuable manufacturing facility are captured by the Nova Cats.  The damaged remains of the Fourth Crucis Lancers are allowed to retreat out of the system.

---

   Across the Federated Suns questions are risen to the High Command asking why a manufacturing site like Crofton was allowed to be taken by a “friendly” Clan.  Questions are asked about the whole idea of an allied Clan especially after what the Lyran Commonwealth has experienced on Arcturus.

Passing Out Ceremony
Regulus, District of Regulus
Free Worlds League
20th May 3114

In a ceremony in front of great crowds Caden Cameron-Jones follows his older sister and becomes a MechWarrior in the service of the District of Regulus and the Free Worlds League.  He like his older sister will join the Second Cameron-Jones Guard Regiment in the defence of Regulus.

Elsewhere in the Free Worlds League various District forces come into conflict with what is believed to be pirate forces striking at several worlds before crossing into other districts and then the two district forces coming into conflict over who has the rights to chase down enemy forces that cross borders.

Contract Negotiation
Kelswa-Aten Palace, Skye
Isle of Skye, Lyran Commonwealth
22nd Mary 3114

   Following the fall of Arcturus multiple mercenary units were retreating to Galatea Station, Noisiel or other mercenary worlds but that wasn’t the place for Koblenz’s Wildcats.  Having served their way through the battles on Arcturus and had only left due to the evacuation orders issued by Lyran command now Kommandant Monzar Koblenz was determined to get his mixed battalion back into the fight and Skye was the way for it.

   Walking into the Kelswa-Aten Palace in Glasgow on Skye Kommandant Koblenz saluted Duchess Ilsa Kelswa-Aten.  “Welcome to Skye Kommandant” she greeted him.

   “Thank you, Duchess, my Wildcats would like to work for Skye.”

   “You would?”  She asked surprised she knew of the Wildcats by reputation only they had worked exclusively for House Steiner since their inception and they had grown to more than a battalion in size before the fight on Arcturus.  Used as a special operations/troubleshooting unit the Wildcats were a very experienced command.

   “Yes, we have loyally served House Steiner for fifty years but it is time that we took a stand.  The Clans are at the gates of Skye if they breach Skye then Terra is there next target and then my mercenary trade will end.”

   “So you’ll stand with us in our time of need.”

   “Yes mam, pay us enough to maintain our equipment, fuel our ships and put food in our bellys and we’ll fight for you.”

   “I will accept your terms Kommandant with one requirement from you.  How was Arcturus?”

   “Hell on earth” Monzar Koblenz replied “the Horses hit us from every angle you can imagine.  They hit fast and strong.”

   “Can they be stopped?”

   “Yes, if you train hard to counter them.”

   “Then until they come your duties will be to travel the Isle of Skye and train my people how t’ fight and how t’ stop them.”  She said her accent began to slip slightly as she spoke.

   “We can do that.”  He promised her their unit determined to now stand or fall against the incoming Clans.

Exploration Mission, District of Lesnovo Expedition-3
Algenib, Independent Periphery
Deep Periphery
29th May 3114

“MOVE YOUR ARSE!”  Lieutenant Amanda Cavalcanti screamed at the drivers of the two Pit Bull Trucks that were moving ahead of her, she had been in situations like this before when against a superior opponent you don’t try to stand up against them.  Their expedition had been ambushed by superior forces as the afternoon light began to fade.  One of their Pit Bull’s had been destroyed and several of her Mechs were lightly damaged.  “Cemetery Wind fall back by the numbers to the DropShip! These guys fired first and don’t want to talk to us.”  She ordered the other three MechWarriors her unit had been hired to support the District of Lesnovo expedition force which was based off the Spirit of Northumberland.  She twisted her Ebony Snake ultra-light BattleMech and let loose two salvos of rockets followed by some smoke from her BattleMech’s grenade launchers.  She watched as the rockets exploded over the chest of the Vindicator causing minimal damage to the forty-five-ton Mech.  She brought up her Mech’s handheld weapon and opened fire with the three machine guns mounted there with the rockets gone she was down to the machine gun fire.

“Boss, backtrack” one of the MechWarriors said as Rubiyov’s Rattlesnake stepped into view adding his own rockets to her fire as more enemy Mechs, four UrbanMechs moved into view.  The UrbanMech was a joke across the Inner Sphere but it weights double her Ebony Snake’s tonnage.

This was the Cemetery Wind’s first contract off Lesnovo the idea was simply take the contract with the Exploration Corps jump around the periphery with the Spirit of Northumberland for a year or so, then make enough money to buy some larger Mechs for the next contract but things were going way south.  As Amanda turned back towards the DropShip, she saw her biggest Mech the twenty-five-ton Mammoth piloted by Davie O’Connor step forwards firing long range missiles, two medium lasers and two machine guns into one of the UrbanMechs.  The UrbanMech’s response was to torso twist and hit the Mammoth square in the face with an autocannon volley.  Amanda saw the Mech’s advanced Reactive armour explode outwards deflecting some of the autocannon’s projectiles away from the Mech but she could also see heavy damage done to the Light Mech the pilot continued to fire even as he began to retreat.

They were in the clearing now and Amanda could see their Fortress-class DropShip which had began to lay down fire towards the incoming enemy Mechs.  “Clean break people move towards the DropShip.”  She ordered everyone the two Pit Bull trucks and her five Mech’s began making steady progress with the pirates unwilling to close on the DropShip, they were going to make it she thought.

Amanda Cavalcanti didn’t see the blow coming but she felt it as her fifteen-ton Mech was battered by the hatchet of a monstrous Archer.  The massive axe slammed through her Mech’s legs crushing them and forcing the Mech to the ground.  The Mech cartwheeled once beforce coming to a rest with Cavalcanti knocked unconscious by the impact.  Around her there was momentary chaos as her lance tried to counter attack only to be knocked back by the Archer which dropped a salvo of napalm filled short range missiles between her Mech and her allies blocking any chance of them reaching her downed Mech.  Despite the DropShip’s fire the ground forces from the Spirit of Northumberland were forced back to the DropShip which boosted towards orbit soon afterwards leaving Amanda Cavalcanti in her wrecked Mech behind.

---

When she came to Amanda Cavalcanti realized, she was in a cave and she was attached to a bed by a pair of handcuffs she wasn’t a kinky person so she guessed her encounter with the pirates wasn’t a really bad dream, she also realized that under the sheets she was in only her underwear and wrapped in a couple of large bandages which covered her side.  She also quickly realized she wasn’t alone glancing over she saw a man who looked like he was in his thirties he was unshaven, he had long hair, which was tied back in a ponytail his face had several shallow scars on it and one deeper one that ran from the centre of his forehead into his left eyebrow.

“Good morning” he said his voice was rough and the accent wasn’t regional.

“I assume I’m your prisoner?”  She asked rattling the handcuffs.

“You are.”

“Then I’d suggest you let me go, we have a WarShip in…”

“Your ship jumped out this morning, you’ve been unconscious for three days we suspect a concussion.  Your DropShip burned straight to the ship and it left the system.”  He said informing her “we now realise you are not a hunting band looking for us, you didn’t have to be our enemy, but you will not be collected by your people.”

“Too late not to be my enemy.” her mind raced their first job and she was abandoned by their employer.  No by O'connor he wanted the damned job and now he had it.

“You will not be collected by your people” he repeated again as if rubbing it in.  “But you do not have to be our enemy.  Your injuries were not life threatening we have salvaged your dinky toy BattleMech, you could pilot it again.”

“I can’t see it” she said angrily staring at the rocks above her.  “First thing you could do in proving your not my enemy is by giving me my clothes back?”  She said glancing down at the sheets aware, they’d seen a lot that the cave wasn’t the warmest place and that she was probably showing quite a bit.  “You salvaged my Ebony Snake, I should have a sachel in the cockpit with some spare clothing I’d like it back.”

“That can be arranged.  Do not try to escape, the people on this world are not well developed and could see you as lunch.  My people will continue to take care of you and we’ll take you with us if your cooperative but cross us…” he said leaning closer to her “cross us and you’ll pay a terrible price.”

[Dragon Cat]

McCoy's Malcontents and Cemetery Wind detailed here

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=57910.0#lastPost

[Dragon Cat]

Products of Twin Sons Manufacturing for the AU

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=70198.msg1631655#msg1631655