Alternate Timeline with Thanks (FULL) Part 2

[marauder648]

Hopefully the Ravens are doing some refits on their ships to give them AMS defences. They also probably need a new assault dropship (perhaps use the Arcadia as a base design?) and are doing things like expanding the Alliance's industrial base. 

They have two battleships of their own, a Nightlord II and a Texas, and they also have the big advantage of distance between them and other Clan's.  I don't know of their diplomatic ties to the other IS Clans, but they seem to be very wary of the Combine, which is understandable really.  The Alliance does not really have space to trade and can't give up worlds without its core ones being threatened. 

Because of this I think they would be a tad silly to not do something like a SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) on their ships to increase protection and add AMS.  Perhaps take them into the yards to upgrade the hull plating to modern compounds and add AMS's at the same time.  All depends on the number of yards they have.

[cawest]

with the lose of all of those cargo hauling jumpships of the last two years. building new ones, repairing and refitting old ones must be a "Booming" business. 

[snakespinner]

I was wondering when the SLDF and LCAF were going to start thinking about battleships.
I was looking at your naval charts and saw how bad their rosters are in big ships.
I wonder if they will buy off the FS, Sea Foxes or design their own.

You don't need to be a member of an rival unit to enjoy some light entertainment in a bar. >:D

[Arvanna]

While I can see Victor agreeing to build battleships for the Lyrans , I imagine he'll tell the SLDF to suck vacuum after the theft of the Caliburn concept.

[cawest]

While I can see Victor agreeing to build battleships for the Lyrans , I imagine he'll tell the SLDF to suck vacuum after the theft of the Caliburn concept.

but the SLDF had 7 warship slips.  they also have hulls to start with.  they just done have the money.  that could be were the lyrans come in.  Would the ravens or sea fox sale warships or the slip space?

[snakespinner]

The SLDF are good at borrowing designs, so with 7 slips that would be the cheap way.
Anyway the FS won't notice until the ships are actually launched. }:)

[Arvanna]

The SLDF are good at borrowing designs, so with 7 slips that would be the cheap way.
Anyway the FS won't notice until the ships are actually launched. }:)

Look back a bit the SLDF already has launched the first two ships of their version of the Caliburn, even using Arthurian names that had to be a deliberate snub at the Suns IMO.

[JA Baker]

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if more of my designs are going to be repurposed... ???

[snakespinner]

You weren't supposed to be listening. ::)

[JA Baker]

You weren't supposed to be listening. ::)

DC's already threatened to turn one of my glorious FedSuns battle-waggons into some accused Leaguer gunboat  :-[

[DOC_Agren]

DC's already threatened to turn one of my glorious FedSuns battle-waggons into some accused Leaguer gunboat  :-[

NO SAY IT ISN'T SO!!!
 :'(

[Dragon Cat]

Geez you guys speak a lot.  Not that I'm complaining I love the interest that's been generated by this timeline and all your little theories.

Time to answer a couple of the points that's turned up...

I don't know of their diplomatic ties to the other IS Clans, but they seem to be very wary of the Combine, which is understandable really.

All of the Clans are linked by the Clan Council that sits on the neutral territory of Tukayyid.  Generally the Loremasters represent the Clans here however occasionally the Khans sit in.  The Ebon Guard protect the planet and are commanded by the Loremaster of the Clans (basically independent of all the Clans) so far this has kept trouble out of the chambers.

All depends on the number of yards they have.

The Ravens have a fully operational shipyard at Quatre Belle and a JumpShip shipyard at Ramora

with the lose of all of those cargo hauling jumpships of the last two years. building new ones, repairing and refitting old ones must be a "Booming" business. 

Yup pretty much

I was wondering when the SLDF and LCAF were going to start thinking about battleships.

Now

While I can see Victor agreeing to build battleships for the Lyrans , I imagine he'll tell the SLDF to suck vacuum after the theft of the Caliburn concept.

No comment, just wait for the Star League Conference in November...

but the SLDF had 7 warship slips.  they also have hulls to start with.  they just done have the money.  that could be were the lyrans come in.  Would the ravens or sea fox sale warships or the slip space?

There up to 10 of their own WarShip slips at Titan all are occupied.  Answers no the Lyrans won't build for both, no the ravens and sea fox won't that would cause far far bigger problems.

DC's already threatened to turn one of my glorious FedSuns battle-waggons into some accused Leaguer gunboat  :-[

Wasn't a threat  O0 I've actually solved this problem for the SLDF.  I solved it two years ago when I first saw the design...

[Dragon Cat]

Subtlety Profitable College of Military Arts
Oriente, District of Oriente
Free Worlds League
2nd June 3104

   The Subtlety and her attached JumpShips arrive in the Oriente system under escort from the Oriente Navy.  When they arrive they are met by Duke Jonas Halas and are given full honours as visitors to the realm.  Captain William Leroy-Dietrich agrees for the Subtlety to spend three weeks training with the people of Oriente including assisting them with simulated attack runs on the Fletcher Shipyard and a simulated attack on Oriente by a Capellan Du Shi Wang-class Battleship, which the Subtlety herself doubles for.

   During the time Commander America Park, formerly of the Magistracy of Canopus Armed Forces, is certified to fly all of the Subtlety’s aerospace fighters and for work at one of the Subtlety’s weapons batteries.  When they leave at the end of June they head towards Regulus with three students from Oriente still on board wishing to complete their studies Captain Leroy-Dietich promises Duke Jonas Halas that if the students wish to return to Oriente he will personally pay for them to make the trip via JumpShip.

Contested Space
Isle of Skye Lyran Commonwealth
4th June 3104

Following months of low scale raids DCMS units retaliate against the Isle of Skye striking at Baxter, Yed Posterlor, Corridan IV, Eaglesham and Phalan.  On each of the worlds the DCMS troops find only small numbers of LCAF and mercenary troops but they are unable to secure them.  By accident or by desire to cause further chaos the Fifth Benjamin Regulars Regiment off of Benjamin jump into the Accrington system, controlled by the Rasalhague Dominion, instead of jumping through the system into the Lyran Commonwealth the Fifth Benjamin Regulars launch an attack on Accrington assaulting the Bear positions.  Within an hour the Fifth surround the Bear’s Third Kavalleri Cluster of Zeta Galaxy the native Rasalhaguan unit refuses repeated calls to surrender and are completely destroyed by the DCMS unit.

More than a month later on the 12th July while fighting continues on several of the worlds the Rasalhague Dominion reacts to the attack on Accrington.  Ghost Bear units led by those of Zeta and Epsilon Galaxies strike against the worlds of Eaglesham, Phalan, Accrington, Cabalari, Shinonoha, Sakhalin and Dalkeith.  With heavy fighting already taking place in this area and with none of the three nations able to dominate the fight this area is classed as contested space with all civilian traffic advised to avoid the area unless escorted by military units.

In late July the DCMS add to the chaos by adding additional Regiments and WarShips into the region expanding their attacks against the Dominion to include Aubisson, Buckminster and Port Moseby.  With the Rasalhague Dominion concentrating on the previously attacked worlds the Draconis Combine is able to liberate Buckminster from the Clan forces which is a powerful political message leading up to the Star League Conference in November.

Thirty-First Star League Games
Solaris VII, Star League Protectorate
Lyran Commonwealth
18th June 3104

   At the Thirty-first Star League Games Clan Wolf’s 328th Assault Cluster, The Lion Hearted, dominate the games taking the top five slots in the competition with Star Colonel Ivan Ward, the unit’s commander, claiming victory in the games.  Independent competitors and the Star League Stables complain that the Wolves should never have been allowed to enter the fifteen competitors that they entered but the Star League Games organizers point out that the Wolves entered independently of each other and throughout the competition they attacked each other as often as they attacked the other competitors.

Several of the stables point out that there were several cases where the Wolves worked together and concentrated their fire on individual targets, the majority of these against Zellbrigen Stables run by Clan Sea Fox and Clan Jade Falcon, but the organizers note that throughout the history of the games there have been times where groups of warriors banded together to get themselves further along the competition and rule in favour of the Wolves.

   Outside the Star League Stadium there is a small amount of public disturbances the Solaris Police forces control most of the trouble while the First and Second Solaris Security Regiments of the SLDF provide support and target the worst offenders.  Within a few hours Solaris is back to normal business and heading towards the year’s regular games season with Clan Wolf expected to dominate as the Lion Hearted have entered a team much to the disappointment of many Solaris fans Star League Games winner Ivan Ward is not part of the team.

Third Battle of Incukalns
Incukalns, Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
30th June 3104

The Clan Mountain Wolf Warhawk OmniMech side stepped a torrent of autocannon fire from the Jade Falcon Bane BattleMech and returned fire with its remaining two particle cannons mounted on the left arm the right arm ended just below the shoulder blown off by Jade Falcon fire.  The two man-made lightning shots flew through the air for an instant linking the two Mechs before the blast burned away armour from the upper chest and head area of the Bane.  For a moment the one hundred ton BattleMech stood there like a standing stature before it fell smashing into the ground between the Mountain Wolf Mech and its attacker.  The Mountain Wolf pilot coughed heavily as the heat slowly drained from the Mech’s cockpit before looking for another target.
The Third Battle of Incukalns had started eight days before with the arrival of the Clan Mountain Wolf flagship Werewolf, the SLS St Patrick and the LCS Lightning escorting the same ground forces as before with two Clusters of Clan Mountain Wolf attached at a pirate point close to the planet.  The ground forces had streamed towards the planet while the three WarShips charged at the Night Talon which was still in the same position as before close to the planet.

As the ground forces charged towards the planet the three WarShips had turned on the Silver Talon blasting the Nightlord II with multiple volleys of naval particle cannon, autocannon and missile.  The combined fire of the three WarShips on the single Nightlord II was too much for the Battleship but its return fire and the attacks from the Jade Falcon WarShips aerospace fighters was enough to destroy the SLS St Patrick and the LCS Lightning while the continued fighting caused further damage against the Werewolf.

Now for five days the combined Inner Sphere and Mountain Wolf had fought against four front-line Clusters of Jade Falcon troops.  Their losses had been heavy but so were the losses taken by the Jade Falcons it was only a matter of time before the world was back under Lyran control.  “This is General Trudeau to all units fall back to your DropShips prepare for an immediate evacuation.”  General Shelly Trudeau, commander of the 789th Striker Regimental Brigade of the SLDF, said contacting all commands.  Star Colonel Mark Vickers reached for the communication system inside the Warhawk’s cockpit but General Luther Sloan of the Fourteenth Lyran Guards RCT beat him to it.

“WE CAN STILL WIN” he shouted angrily into the communications system Mark Vickers recalled from speakers for a moment surprised about the volume of Sloan’s call.

“An additional WarShip has arrived in the system along with ground forces.  Combined with the Ares Might they outgun the Werewolf.  We need to get off the planet and back to the pirate point before they are able to get into range so get your ass back onto your DropShip and get the hell off this rock!”  Trudeau responded the Mountain Wolves could not afford to lose the Werewolf in this nothing system Star Colonel Vickers immediately shut down the communication channel that linked him to the other units.

“All Mountain Wolf forces fall back to the DropShips as soon as all units are accounted for launch and rejoin with the Werewolf.”  He ordered the other Mountain Wolves knew that he would only call for a withdrawal if there was no chance of them succeeding.

From the planet Mountain Wolf, Lyran Commonwealth and Jade Falcon units withdrew from the planet’s surface rendezvousing with the Werewolf. For three days the combined forces burned quickly back towards the pirate point and their waiting JumpShips.  As they approached the jump point the Ares Might, the Jade Falcon Mississippi-class Battleship, entered extreme weapons range.  The Werewolf and the upgraded Jade Falcon Battleship traded blow after blow with naval particle cannons and naval lasers as the ground forces joined up with their JumpShips.  Before the Ares Might entered a range where it could do any meaningful damage to the Werewolf the Mountain Wolf was also able to jump clear of the system.

Elsewhere in the Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone the Clan turns Graceland, Koniz and Blair Atoll to Hell’s Horses control in small trials of Possession freeing up additional troops and equipment which they can funnel into the defence of Incukalns and other areas of the Occupation Zone.

[JA Baker]

Wasn't a threat  O0 I've actually solved this problem for the SLDF.  I solved it two years ago when I first saw the design...

WTF was I working on two years ago?  ???

Solaris7.com is still down, so no easy way to check there...

No! No, not the Duke! I'm not letting you turn my masterpiece on the Suns!

[Shadow_Wraith]

 ??? I wonder what the DC will point out with their win at Buckminster at the Star League Conference?  I wonder how well they would do if SLDF did withdraw any support to future ops?  Clan Wolf joining in the Solaris Games?  A good way to send a few Clan hot heads/egomaniacs to test their mettle on a diverse set of opponents.

Looking forward to seeing what Warships are coming out for the SLDF?  New upgraded designs or Brand new designs?  Hmmm....

[Vition2]

Wow, nice update, now why do I get the feeling that the Horses are setting the Falcons up for an absorption?  Sudeten is ripe for the picking, with the gift of Blair Atholl the Falcons must either go through unpopulated systems or Horse controlled systems to reach their capital.

Also, I love the chaotic regions such as the new front between the RD, DC, and LC - so much opportunity for shenanigans there. xD

[marauder648]

The falcons are trading systems they see as worthless it seems, so they can move troops on them to the front against the Lyrans, basically they are claiming Lyran worlds whilst giving up ones in their OZ, slowly moving it forwards that way. Sudeten though is basically sacred and if the Horses tried an Absorption I think it would go very badly for both Clans.

[Vition2]

Yeah, but they've been in high level conflict with the LC for 4 or so years, and their war machine is starting to show signs of fatigue, they've had to give up large swaths of territory to both the Horses and Foxes for roughly 3 clusters of troops and they seem to be burning through war material at a prodigious rate. 

The question in my mind is how long can they keep up this level of conflict before running out of resources?  It'll be at that point that absorption or outright destruction by the LC would become an option - not right away.

[Dragon Cat]

??? I wonder what the DC will point out with their win at Buckminster at the Star League Conference?

Bragging rights  :D

Looking forward to seeing what Warships are coming out for the SLDF?  New upgraded designs or Brand new designs?  Hmmm....

Brand new... well two years old (at least) with a little modding probably thank JA Baker for the initial good start then blame me for screwing it up

Also, I love the chaotic regions such as the new front between the RD, DC, and LC - so much opportunity for shenanigans there. xD

New Chaos March sort of for a while

The falcons are trading systems they see as worthless it seems, so they can move troops on them to the front against the Lyrans, basically they are claiming Lyran worlds whilst giving up ones in their OZ, slowly moving it forwards that way. Sudeten though is basically sacred and if the Horses tried an Absorption I think it would go very badly for both Clans.

I'll neither deny or confirm such a claim... its something on an unsaid rule that the Clans won't try to destroy each other or what's left of their culture...  although there's things coming up that will bring that into question.

The question in my mind is how long can they keep up this level of conflict before running out of resources?  It'll be at that point that absorption or outright destruction by the LC would become an option - not right away.

Long enough...

[Dragon Cat]

Clan Wolf offensive
Isle of Skye, Lyran Commonwealth
8th July 3104

   Building on their victory in the Solaris games and the victories of Clan Jade Falcon against the Lyrans Clan Wolf launch assaults against the Lyran Commonwealth with Wolf Clusters striking at Kalidasa, New Hope, Alkes.  On each of the planet they come across elements of the Second Isle of Skye Guards RCT and planetary militia units.  The 328th Assault Cluster, the Lion Hearted, leading the way by hitting Kalidasa the unit commanded by Ivan Ward, winner of the Star League Games, quickly breaks the defenders lines forcing them from their base with three Trinaries of his elite Cluster.  The Wolf Star Colonel allows the survivors to regroup and retreat off world.  The Wolf attack catches the Lyran Commonwealth completely by surprise with nothing from the Intelligence services suggesting an attack was imminent.

Border conflict
Capellan Confederation/Federated Suns
18th July 3104

   As a new battle begins on the Lyran/Wolf border another conflict continues with little sign of ending.  For months the Capellan Confederation/Federated Suns border had been lit aflame with conflict.  Prince Burton Davion joins an attack on the historical Ares system with the First Davion Guards RCT and the First Federated Suns Lancers Regiment.  The Prince leads the First Davion Guards from the fore and does not hide his presence on Ares instead crushing the local militia and elements of the Capellans Fourth Defence Force.  For decades Ares had avoided heavy combat due to its historical significance and its status as a free port however Burton had chosen it exactly for those qualities.  With Federated Suns and mercenary units engaged in combat with the Capellans on six different Capellan worlds the Prince repeats a trick he used against the Draconis Combine previously and contacts Sian using the planetary HPG.  He calls on the Capellans to end the conflict before more lives are lost.

   Nearly two weeks later Warrior House Doru takes a run at the planet attempting to strike directly at the Prince however they are unable to get past the AFFS WarShips assigned to the system.  The Warrior House dies to the man attempting to run past the FSS Gold Archer a Robinson-class Transport.  Prince Burton Davion uses the HPG one more time calling for a cease fire Chancellor Dao-Shen Liao contacts New Avalon and agrees to a cease fire with the Federated Suns claiming four of the planets that were contested while the Capellans successfully liberate Grand Base and Holloway.  The District of Oriente of the Free Worlds League uses the distraction of the fighting between the Capellans and Federated Suns to seize control over Palos and Ulan Bator.

Briefing, Anders McKenna (Swiftsure-class Cruiser)
Varnay Anchorage, Nova Cat’s Den
Periphery
21st July 3104

Khan Canin Rosse stood on the gravity deck of one of the Nova Cat’s newest WarShips the Anders McKenna, a Swfitsure-class Cruiser, beside him stood Star Commodore Rachel Bavros, Star Colonel Fallon and Star Colonel Dominic the commanders of the Anders McKenna, the First and the Second ProtoMech Clusters.  “You are aware of your task and the limitations of it?”  He asked looking at them.

“We’re to be based off the Anders McKenna” Dominic said “we are to raid the Taurian Concordat and see if we can find the source of the raids on our shipping to Davetal III.”

“We are then to supplement the defenders there.”  Fallon said Rosse looked at the WarShip’s commander.

“We are to act as escort and only engage space bound targets.  We are to pay particular attention to any encounter we have with the Taurian’s Hyades-class vessels.”  She said naming the new class of armed JumpShip the Taurians had deployed so far however the single vessel deployed had not been seen.  “We are to test each system of the Anders McKenna and ensure the WarShip is ready for service with our Clan.  And scan any systems that we could use in the future for colonies or supply bases.”  She said

“Very good good hunting to you all” he said.

Over the next six months the Anders McKenna and its two attached ProtoMech Clusters discovered several additional planets the Nova Cats could use as colonies and supply points this information would eventually be passed to the New Worlds Exploration Cluster for further checks.  These worlds would eventually become known as the Cat’s Tail after further exploration by the Nova Cats.

The Nova Cat units also raided eight different planets in the Taurian Concordat, for the most part these raids went well with one of the Clusters taking part while the other remained in their DropShip either in orbit or at the landing zones.  On Cadiz the First ProtoMech Cluster lost nearly a Binary of units fighting against The Foul Tempered Mercenary Command this caused Star Colonel Dominic to hot-drop his entire cluster of ProtoMechs on top of the Foul Tempered scattering their second Battalion.  The Nova Cats and the mercenaries continued to fight for three further days before the Clan forces were able to withdraw from from the planet.   

[marauder648]

Ivan Ward's seemingly setting himself up for something, perhaps eyeing the Khan's post, he's certinally a Ristar because of his victories and these assaults against Lyran woulds probably come at a bad time with me assuming that most of the Lyran military has its eyes to the North and against the Falcons.

Six planets lost is a heavy toll for the Cappelans but it seems the Davion plan was more to place the Cap-con in a meat grinder.  I don't know how big a Warrior House is but I'm going to assume its a large formation, and to loose one in its entirity is probably something the Capellans can't afford.

And interesting, didn't know the Nova Cat's used Proto's, don't think i've seen them mentioned in their Tourman in this TL, and I do love how the Clan's 'test' something, in the crucible of battle. 

[Vition2]

Long enough...

For what I wonder, muahahaha!

Great update, but did I miss something, or did the FWL attack "behind the lines" to get at Palos and Ulan Batar?

[JA Baker]

I don't know how big a Warrior House is but I'm going to assume its a large formation, and to loose one in its entirity is probably something the Capellans can't afford.

Your typical Warrior House is a combined-arms regiment, some bigger, some smaller. Think an under-strenght LCT.

[cawest]

what ever happened to that clan DD that Kat wolf (stiner/Davion/ect had when she died?

[Dragon Cat]

I'll answer now as I've a ton of work and won't be writing for a few days

Marauder648 - Ivan is a ristar how high he'll rise well that's still to be decided
The Capellans lost 4 planets retained 2 sorry that should have been more clear
The Nova Cats have always had Protos they just don't get out much

Vition2 - both systems are on the border between the FWL/Cappies and Suns

JA Baker - pretty much that particular house was a reinforced Mech Battalion, 2 Battalions of armour and a mixed infantry BA battalion they were under orders to resist Davion or don't come back they chose the latter option

Cawest- it's a Lola III and currently still over Alphard it's barely moved since Katrina passed there's some Hegemony bits coming up sooner or later

[Vition2]

Okay, figured out where I may have missed some stuff, the systems bordering Palos and Ulan Batar are probably among these:

“I think the Taurians have more to worry about that us attacking them” Erik said “in the last week the Federated Suns captured Tsitsang, Wei and Shipka while the Free Worlds League threaten eight different systems.”  He explained

I suspect this means that Second Try, Yunnah, Elnath, Corey, Phact, Wazan, Old Kentucky and another of a few options are included in these 8 systems.

[Dragon Cat]

Indeed I tried to incorporate it into that piece instead of just adding a timeline entry makes you all read every bit never know what's hidden

EDIT yes I noticed the horrible wording of that paragraph for you that noticed it and have gives it thanks Vition2 for pointing it out

[marauder648]

Whilst the Capcon didn't loose too many worlds, I think they must have lost a lot of resources trying to hold back the FedSuns forces.  This seems to have basically been a Battle of Verdun, the Suns took worlds and the Cappies kept feeding units into the mincing machine the Suns had prepared for them.

[Vition2]

Over the last 2 years of the timeline the CC has lost a bit more than they have gained, but a lot of them have been those closer to Terra, and possibly are a little bit better off.  Meanwhile their gains have mostly been near periphery worlds of the Fed Suns which the Suns have a poor record of making sure they are better off.  In addition, the CC lost Ares - which is probably a huge blow, both morale-wise and industrially.  Overall the CC is looking to be in a very bad spot.

Edits:
Edit and update with numbers now that I'm able to look at the map.  The CC has lost a total of 36 worlds, including one of their few dropship manufacturing worlds (Ares).  In return they captured 13 worlds the Fed Suns had controlled, including Menke and (if I recall correctly) an industrially damaged Victoria.  The Taurians meanwhile have captured anywhere between 9 and 18 (with suggestions pointing at 15ish).

This comes to a net loss for the CC of 23, which ends up being roughly 15% of their 3100 territory.  The Fed Suns end up with a net loss of 5ish worlds, which is almost insignificant to them.  The Capellan Confederation seem to be rapidly becoming the newest near periphery power.

[Dragon Cat]

If it makes you feel better the Capellans will increase in size soon enough... although not likely in the way you expect.

Unfinished Book Movement
Avalon City, Albion
New Avalon, Crucis March
9th August 3104

   With the formation of the Federated Commonwealth, the arrival of the Clans, the formation of the new Star League Defence Force and the fall of the Federated Commonwealth the Unfinished Book Movement begins a Sixth Edition of their sacred texts.  With information provided by Sterling McKenna and acquired from Clan Sea Fox traders the Unfinished Book name the revision after The Rememberance.

Planning Room, Marik Palace
Marik, District of Marik
Free Worlds League
12th August 3104

   “The timing could not be more perfect!”  One of the Generals said triumphantly looking at Captain-General Joseph Marik.  As Joseph grew up he had been told for many years by the church that violence brings only violence in return and that words could solve many problems.  When he championed the idea to rebuild the Free Worlds League he used words not force of arms to bring by his desires.  But with the Clans they only understood one thing.  “With the Wolves invading the Lyran Commonwealth the time is right for us to strike and strike hard.”  He said continuing Joseph couldn’t stop himself agreeing.  Since the Wolves had secured their first three targets the Clan had struck out at three more targets hitting Shiloh, Athena and Dieudonne all former Free Worlds League worlds under Lyran Commonwealth control.  Although they did not have concrete information on what was happening it appeared that Athena had fallen within hours of the Wolf landing while the remains of the Second Isle of Skye Guards RCT were engaged in heavy fighting on Dieudonne; a battle Joseph’s advisers noted they were unlikely to survive.  Elements of the First Isle of Skye Guards had moved from New Kyoto to support militia forces on Shiloh but by the time they arrived in range the Wolves had already overrun the defenders.  Now the First Guards were fighting against superior Wolf numbers and would likely have to retreat sooner rather than later.

   “We are sure we can pull this off?” Joseph asked his advisers carefully together they had assembled regiments and mercenaries from across the reunited Free Worlds League for this move but he needed to know they could do it.

   “We are sure” General Michael Donovan said casting his hand over the planning table.  “Tomorrow morning the Fourth Marik Guards and the Sixth Fusiliers of Oriente Regiments supported by there mercenary Daniel’s Avengers, Graves’ Dancers and Arlington’s Angels will strike at Helm, Tania Australis, Stewart and Danais.”  He said marking the three systems with a red marker pen.  “We believe that Tania Australis, Helm and Danais will fill within a matter of hours Stewart will be more difficult as the Wolves seem to value it as much as the family it is named after did.”  He said “we have unconfirmed reports that the Nicholas Kerensky, a Texas-class Battleship, has been repaired and is operational in the system so we are sending all four WarShips of the Thessaly Battle group to the system.”

   “The day after” General Katherine Todd said speaking up the First Marik Militia, the Fourth Regulan Hussars, and the mercenary units the Blade Legion and Brotherhood of Randis will strike at the Wolves soft underbelly of Autumn Wind and Rasalas.  According to our reports these have been stripped of front-line troops it will send a clear message to Clan Wolf that we do not want them on our border.”

   “And finally by the end of this week the First Bowang Border Guards, the Ninth Tamarind Militia, Second Rim Guards and Gamma Regiment of the Wolf’s Dragoons will strike at Tamarind and Simpson Desert” General Trent Higall, a former Clan Nova Cat warrior himself, said.

   “Why the delay our forces were to be in place to act within days of each other?”  Joseph asked.

   “We had a JumpShip carrying the Ninth Tamarind Militia’s BattleMechs and Infantry forces develop a jump drive problem.”  Higall explained “the unit is operational once more.”  He promised the Captain-General.

   “What Capital assets have been assigned?”

   “The Wolf’s Dragoons vessel Athena, Tamarind’s Galisteo and Promised Land and the Bowang.”  He said naming the four WarShips assigned to the battle the toughest part of that fight would be Tamarind which the Wolves were desperate to hold onto due to the shipyards there.  Joseph had been tempted to authorize the Free Worlds League units to target the shipyards to break the resolve of the Clansmen but he knew it would damage his own people’s morale as well so had left it to the unit commander to choose for themselves.

   “Very good to the Inner Sphere it will appear that we are helping the Lyrans stop Clan Wolf in its tracks in fact we will be testing a reborn Free Worlds League working as one collective unit.  I have faith in our people and should this campaign bore the results we wish there will be more.”  Joseph Marik said the Districts of Oriente, Gibraltar and Lesnovo had all called on the “united force of the reborn Free Worlds League” to fight their battles.  By using units from across the nation Joseph planned to bind the people to each other but knew he’d have to pay a price for their help down the road.

   By the end of the week the entire Wolf/Free Worlds League border was ablaze but not everything had gone as Captain-General Joseph Marik had hoped.  The attacks on Autumn Wind, Rasalas, Tania Australis and Helm had been a stellar success with the Free Worlds League finding old warriors piloting vintage Star League-era BattleMech and armour designs defending the planet.  By the time the Free Worlds League had pushed onto Bainsville and Gallatin they found the Wolves had already abandoned both worlds.  Simpson’s Desert had followed the same routine lightly defended by old warriors.  Stewart and Tamarind had been another story…

   In the Stewart system the Free Worlds League forces jump in and encounter the Ward’s Legacy as expected.  Supporting this McKenna-class WarShip are no fewer than ten Isegrim-class Pocket WarShips and hundreds of aerospace fighters.  Supported by the Thessaly Battle Group the Free Worlds League regiments attempt to force their way through the Wolf vessels heading for the planet.  While the Free Worlds League units had an advantage in numbers of aerospace fighters and their WarShips were good vessels in their own right but against the Ward’s Legacy and the Wolf DropShips they were in trouble.  While the ground forces streamed towards Stewart the Ward’s Legacy opened up on them with its massed array of naval particle cannons and in the opening volley the Remember Stewart, a Zechitinu II-class Corvette, and two Leopard CV-class DropShips of the Arlington’s Angels Mercenary command were wiped out along with two DropShips of the Fusiliers of Oriente.  Aerospace fighters from the Thessaly engaged the Ward’s Legacy at close range the Wolf Pocket WarShips and aerospace fighters tore into them at close range taking a heavy toll on the attackers.  Allowing the DropShips to engage the aerospace fighters the Ward’s Legacy opened fire on the Thessaly with its particle cannons in the confusion of battle the Abbot, an Eagle-class Frigate, got caught in the crossfire and was split in half by the Ward’s Legacy’s fire.  Even with the Abbot’s sacrifice several of the McKenna’s naval particle cannons struck the Thera-class Thessaly causing damage to its armour and forward launch bays.  The damage to the Thessaly caused the Thera to pull back along with the Mordred, another Eagle-class Frigate, this allowed the Ward’s Legacy to roll out of combat and escape moving beyond Stewart.  This withdrawal allowed the Fourth Marik Guards, the remains of the Sixth Fusiliers of Oriente, the Daniel’s Avengers and the Graves’ Dancers to complete their transit to the planet.  The Free Worlds League forces fought against the Wolves on Stewart for the remains of August and into September while the Ward’s Legacy, the Thessaly and Mordred danced around the planet attempting to engage each other.  By the beginning of September the Free Worlds League forces withdrew from the planet the Sixth Fusiliers of Oriente and the Graves’ Dancers completely destroyed, the remains of the Graves’ Dancers were folded into the Daniel’s Avengers with Captain Jean Graves and the survivors of her unit accepted as part of the command.  Once clear of the system the remains of the Arlington’s Angels were also absorbed into the Free Worlds League Navy.

   In the Tamarind system the Free Worlds League found a worse situation than that in the Stewart system.  From the moment they emerged in the system on top of the Victoria Ward the invasion force was at a back food.  The Victoria Ward, an Anna Rosse-class Battle-cruiser, had just arrived in the system and as soon as she detected the incoming forces the crew cut loose their jump said and manned their battle stations meaning she was ready for the arrival of the Free Worlds League units.  As they entered the system the Victoria Ward concentrated on targeting the Galisteo and Promised Land, the two Unity-class Frigates, causing heavy damage to the two missile laden vessels as she withdrew deeper into the system.  For their part the Free Worlds League WarShips and the Wolf’s Dragoons vessel Athena caused heavy damage to the Battle-cruiser all but stripping her of weapons along her port side while crippling or destroying all of her DropShip escorts and most of her aerospace fighters.  This was however a small costly battle which won the Free Worlds League no control over the Tamarind system.  From deeper in the system the Wolves second Battleship the Texas-class Nicholas Kerensky charged down on the incoming Free Worlds League units.  From the command centre on board the WarShip saKhan Fredrick Ward declared the Free Worlds invasion force dezgra and promised their destruction if they remained.  With half of their WarShips crippled and a fresh Battleship ready to enter the fray the Free Worlds League commander ordered their combined ground forces and mercenary support to withdraw leaving Tamarind in Wolf hands.

   The woes for the Free Worlds League were not over with the failed assaults on Tamarind and Stewart however.  Clan Wolf angered by the intrusion into their territory turned their next wave of attacks against the Free Worlds League.  Unleashing their newly raised Epsilon Galaxy on the Free Worlds League worlds of Adhafera, Tania Borealis and Merak the Wolf force completely annihilated the Free Worlds League forces in those systems including the WarShip Voyager in the Tania Borealis system the Venturer-class Light Cruiser which was shattered by attacks from the Wolf Anna Rosse-class Battle-cruiser Jerome Winson and the Second Atrean Dragoons which were crushed by

From analysing the sensor logs taken from the WarShips in the Tamarind system the Free Worlds League’s SAFE Intelligence organisation were able to confirm that Clan Wolf had restored the Tamarind Shipyards to working condition and that they were building a new type of WarShip there which explained the presence of the Battleship and the saKhan.  While on Tania Borealis intelligence officers identify several former-Free Worlds League citizens among the Wolf forces serving as warriors.  The Intelligence operatives are able to positively show that these warriors in particular are responsible for executing nearly three quarters of the prisoners taken by the Wolves during the battle, while most others die from injuries sustained during the battle, it appears to SAFE that these members of Epsilon Galaxy feeling abandoned by the Free Worlds League have taken to the Clan indoctrination fully and embraced their new path as Wolves.  These assaults put the Wolves within striking distance of Marik itself while the brutality, and the identity of some of their warriors, shock the leaders of the Free Worlds League.