Author Topic: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War  (Read 143012 times)

marauder648

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #360 on: 25 June 2019, 02:19:46 »
Blimey...thats. just...wow..heavy, very very heavy. Damn well written but jeeze.
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DOC_Agren

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #361 on: 25 June 2019, 14:00:27 »
Wow...  very dark, but I can see both sides
"For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed:And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!"

ckosacranoid

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #362 on: 25 June 2019, 20:16:33 »
Singing about nuking sain in the new year and watching as units run like svared ponies.

PsihoKekec

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #363 on: 26 June 2019, 00:43:26 »
Operation Downafall, BT edition.
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panzerfaust150

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #364 on: 26 June 2019, 16:18:25 »
Message to the Capellan People delivered by "various 'National Technical Means'" on July 1st by Federated Commonwealth forces on the eve of the invasion of Sian

An image crackles to life as the video track begins to play. First, there is a test pattern, and then, the Fist and Sun of the Federated Commonwealth against a blue field, which fades to a woman sitting at a large oak desk, in a well decorated office. Behind her is a shelf with unit patches from all of the AFFC, and standing to one side is a young blond man, short in stature, one sleeve is pinned up, and the other hand is on the seated woman's shoulder. A woman of Asian descent stands next to him, her face the very image of stone.

The woman seated at the desk begins to speak:

"Greetings, people of the Capellan Confederation, and specifically, the people of Sian. I am Katherine Morgan Steiner-Davion, Acting Archon-Princess of the Federated Commonwealth. No doubt, you have heard a lot about me, and my family. I am sure none of it was very flattering.

"The reason I take the unusual step of speaking to you today is to speak to you about your nation, your future, and the situation you find yourselves in now. Ten months ago, your leaders made the decision to attack my nation. They did so by opening that attack not with a formal declaration of war, but by a perfidious stab in the back that murdered approximately six thousand people here, on New Avalon. Among the casualties were my mother, and my father. They have followed it up with continued terror attacks across the realm. Thousands have died, and thousands more have empty chairs at the table.

"This was followed up with an assault on our realm at the very time we were in the process of ridding the Inner Sphere of the scourge of the Clans. The Clans are, and in some cases, continue to be a threat to the lives of us all, even you, the Capellan citizens who watch this video. The AFFC has faced the Clans, and has triumphed. We have now come to set right the situation your leaders have created.

"We know what your leaders have told you about our best, our AFFC. Nothing could be further than the truth. We have, in my brother's words, always stood for 'might for right' and as long as I or my family rules this Commonwealth, this will never change.

"Our quarrel is with your leaders, your Chancellor who has led you down this road of ruin you find yourselves in today. To all of you I beg you, lay down your arms. If you are members of the armed forces, you will be treated according to interstellar conventions. If you are a civilian, you will be allowed to return home. Please, do not force our hand and force us to fight. You know what the outcome will be. Why die for a man whose actions have never benefited the average citizen of the Confederation, but have asked you to sacrifice more and more for a state that has never lifted a finger for you, especially now?

"As for those of you who are commissioned officers in the CCAF, you bear a special responsibility now. Your nation can have a new birth, or it can experience ruin. I would remind you that long standing Federated Commonwealth policy, set by generations of First Princes, and Archons have equated any WMD use on our troops as equivalent to the use of a nuclear weapon. I would implore you, if you receive such orders to use such terrible weapons, refuse them. We have all seen what has happened to Luthien. I do not wish to repeat that on Sian.

"We do not come to conquer, we do not come to pillage, or visit mindless destruction. We come to liberate you. Please, help us do that. Help us help you.

"This next message is for all those of the 'Victory Battalions'. Kids, I know you're scared. I don't blame you. But courage sometimes is found simply by saying 'no'. This is that time. Say no. You will find there are others who feel likewise. We don't want to murder children. Please, don't make us. And as for your minders? Your day is coming, either in this world, or the next. I promise you that.

"And finally, for Sun-Tsu, you have 24 hours to surrender, cease all hostilities, and abdicate your throne. Otherwise, remember the promise I made? Well, I am coming to collect."

The video then fades to the same test screen, and then black, before cutting off.
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panzerfaust150

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #365 on: 26 June 2019, 16:20:41 »
Khan’s Personal Chambers

Tamar City

Tamar

Wolf Clan Occupation Zone

June 24th, 3057



Natasha Kerensky looked on as the data feed droned on as the various Khans assembled back home made charges and countercharges about who was responsible for the obvious breakdown in the Honor Road. Kael Pershaw may be a Falcon, but right now, I feel damned sorry for him. Ulric, I know he said you were safe coming back, but I still think you should have ran things from here, where we could have kept you safe. But that damn inscrutable logic of his won the day? “Natasha,” he said “I cannot very well restore order via some impersonal video link from Tamar. I must be home, and the other Khans must see me. Present, and unafraid.” Damn you Ulric. Don’t you go and make yourself a martyr.

Phelan hadn’t said a word since the meeting had begun. He was usually content to mock the other Khans with various obscure quips that never failed to at least get a smirk out of Natasha. Not today. Today, Phelan had some sense of foreboding that had him on edge. Even Ranna had confided in Natasha that Phelan did not seem himself, and the worst part, he couldn’t explain why.

Yeah, when the son of Morgan Kell gets a bad feeling, it’s a good time to listen, but Ulric, you didn’t know Morgan like I did. Dammit. Even I have the heebie jeebies about this.

“The chair recognizes Clan Ice Hellion.”

Khan Asa Taney rose with a sense of dignity and importance he never possessed, even on a good day, of which, for the Clans as a whole, this was not.

There’s been motions to absorb Clan Jade Falcon, to censure the Adders, and to recognize ‘Clan Blood Viper?’ While we weren’t looking, the Vipers and the Blood Spirits merged? Nice move on the Vipers part, and how they managed to get Karianna Schmitt out of the way, I will never know. But I must tip my hat to the Vipers. Nicely done.

Taney had a booming, if high pitched voice. It was like listening to the mother of all reverb from a microphone that had been left too close to a speaker. “ilKhan, I must insist that the motion proposed by the Blood Viper Khans, censuring Clan Star Adder for their perfidious conduct in moving against the Smoke Jaguar homeworld holdings without consulting the Grand Council as a whole, be censured strongly. This sort of thing will only undermine the very underpinnings of the Honor Road, and-“

Cassius N’Buta, Khan of the Star Adders laughed “Taney, you yapping little idiot, are you just upset you did not get any of the spoils from the Jaguars pelt? It is not as if the Council would have let your pathetic little Clan try?”

Taney’s face turned dark crimson, “I will see you in a Circle of Equals for that, N’Buta.”

N’Buta smiled cruelly “A Circle of Equals? That assumes you are my equal, Taney. And you most clearly, are not.”

Taney lunged in N’Buta’s direction, but was restrained by his saKhan and several members of the Ebony Keshik, much to the delight of several attendees. Kael Pershaw shook his head in amused disgust, and then said “We still have another, graver motion on the floor, that I call to a vote, reluctantly. It is the motion for the absorption of Clan Jade Falcon. I now call the roll call of the Khans present.”

“Blood Viper”

Khan Allan Mercer, selected when he was the only survivor of an epic Grand Melee between a record 19 claimants for the Khan of the new Blood Viper clan. He had been hailed by the survivors as “a fighter’s Khan, and one who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.” He was a mechwarrior, and his bright green eyes hid a keen intellect, according to the Wolf Watch. The ugly scar on the left side of his face, and the bald head were new.

Mercer rose and smiled a smile of a wolf in a henhouse. “Clan Blood Viper votes Aye.”

“Burrock”

The Clan Burrock Khan, what the hell was his name again? Natasha puzzled, rose and shouted “Aye” and sat down just as fast.

“Cloud Cobra”

“Neg”

“Coyote”

“Aye”

“Diamond Sharks”

“Abstain”

“Fire Mandrills”

“Aye”

“Ghost Bears”

“Aye”

“Golaith Scorpions”

“Aye”

“Ice Hellions”

Asa Taney looked over at the Jade Falcon Khans, and smiled cruelly. Natasha noticed Elias Crichell had his head in his hands, and appeared to be sobbing. I think Crichell has finally broken. I mean, other than a large warship force, the Falcons really don’t have much. And Taney knows it. But look at Marthe Pryde. She is locking eyes with Taney, and her eyes ken death. I am afraid for whoever wins this vote.

“The Ice Hellions vote Aye, the Falcons should see reason and make way for the strong. It is our way.”

“Hell’s Horses”

“Aye”

The Nova Cats had not shown up for the Council meeting, citing martial responsibilities, Natasha smirked at the thought, Too busy probably absorbing as much of the Combine as they can, as well as getting the hell out of the Homeworlds. Speaking of which, I need to arrange a meeting with the Coyotes to transfer our homeworld holdings to them. It’s about time we cut our ties to the madhouse the Homeworlds are becoming.

“Star Adders”

Cassius N’Buta flexed his muscles, and grinned “Clan Star Adder votes Aye. It will be a pleasure to absorb the Falcons and see they learn a more pragmatic vision of the Founder’s teachings.”

Marthe Pryde’s face darkened at the thought. Girl has murder on her mind, and lately, that’s been a thing in the Grand Council.

“Snow Ravens”

“Aye”

“Wolf”

Natasha turned to Phelan, “That’s your cue, kid. Frankly, I think its best we abstain considering what’s going on, and I really don’t like that look on Marthe’s face.”

Phelan nodded, and keyed the mike “Clan Wolf abstains, our pack sees no gain in this hunt.”

There were murmurs of surprise throughout the hall in reaction to the vote by Clan Wolf.

Kael Pershaw looked up from his noteputer. The look on his face was pained, like he was losing a good friend, but duty won out, and he dryly stated “With a vote of ten yays, one neg, and two abstentions, the motion to absorb Clan Jade Falcon has passed. I will now accept initial bids for who will absorb the Falcons-“

“You dezgra scum! Come to finish what the Federated Commonwealth surats could not!” Pryde was on her feet screaming before Pershaw could say a word.

“Be seated Khan Pryde. All is being done according to the Martial Code.” Perhsaw said assuringly.

She turned to face Pershaw. “I remember when you were a Falcon once Perhaw. Now you are a toy of the IlKhan, a mongrel who has ambitions that have doomed us all!”

“Trothkin, let us calm our tempers before we say or do things that will only delay the vote with endless Circles of Equals. We have much-“Ulric Kerensky had his arms outstretched, as if even a man such as him could embrace all the Clans and bring them together, even in a grave time such as this.

Two shots rang out, and gouts of blood and vicera erupted from Kerensky’s chest, and then a third, and a hole appeared in his forehead, the back of his head exploding in a shower of blood and brains as he collapsed like a puppet. Two more shots occurred, catching Kael Pershaw in the chest, knocking him down, but his mechanical enhancements saved his life.

The shooter was none other than Marthe Pryde, she howled in triumph as she turned her ceremonial revolver on Crichell, putting a round through his head, as he collapsed, dead as his blood sprayed all over his side of the shared council desk. “I have redeemed us, Falcons! Join me, and together we will hold off-“

An Ebon Keshik Elemental fired a three round burst from his submachinegun, catching Pryde in the chest, and she went down in a violent spray of blood and guts, he then calmly walked over and put another three round burst into her head.

The rest of the chamber erupted into chaos, accusations and counter accusations passed like wildfire, and Khans lunged at each other with knives, barehands, and improvised clubs, while others simply made a hasty exit.

Natasha and Phelan looked at each other, Natasha’s eyes leaking tears like a waterfall.

“They killed him, they just..killed him. Goddamit! I told him not to go!”

Phelan snatched her up in an embrace. How will we tell the rest of the Clan? How will we tell them that the greatest Kerensky since the Great Father himself is gone, fallen to a dezgra assassin?

“For many, the question is ‘Where were you when you heard Hanse and Melissa Steiner-Davion were murdered?’ For me and most members of the Wolf Clan, it was ‘Where were you when you heard our One Father, Ulric Kerensky, was murdered at the foul hand of a dying Clan?’ And what we didn’t know then, but we know now, is Ulric’s death touched off a bloodletting back home not seen since the Pentagon Wars. We had refugees tell us for years about it, the ones that managed to make the trip to find us or the Ghost Bears. They called it “The Harrowing”. And indeed, it was.

-Excerpt from the unpublished memoirs of Khan Phelan Kell-Ward, First saKhan and later 3rd Khan of the Wolf Dominion, released by his estate in 3091
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ThePW

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #366 on: 26 June 2019, 21:07:47 »
I hope that a Historical event talley, done up in the fashion used recently in most official books, is done for this AU, to allow players to run a campaign in this setting? Cause I'd love to...
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marauder648

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #367 on: 28 June 2019, 04:58:29 »
Absolutely superb!
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PsihoKekec

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #368 on: 28 June 2019, 05:19:08 »
I sure hope IS gets treated to the holovid of Khan Brawl Mania 3057.
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RolandHTG

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #369 on: 28 June 2019, 11:57:18 »
I sure hope IS gets treated to the holovid of Khan Brawl Mania 3057.

Boddy Heenan hologram and Duncan Fisher doing Commentary?

DOC_Agren

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #370 on: 30 June 2019, 01:13:48 »
So how many Khan and saKhan made it out alive from the grand melee?
"For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed:And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!"

marauder648

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #371 on: 30 June 2019, 01:22:14 »
Blimey, well..that sure as hell happened. Truth is, the Clans were going to rip themselves apart one way or another. in this setting, who's left in the IS from the Clans, the Wolves, the Bears and the Nova Cats right?
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Billy Boy Mark II

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #372 on: 30 June 2019, 06:37:14 »
Finally caught up on this... And absolutely loving it! Superb work!

panzerfaust150

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #373 on: 01 July 2019, 18:36:12 »
Private Quarters of the Archon-Prince
Castle Davion
New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
July 2nd, 3057

Victor Steiner-Davion gazed over the latest intelligence estimate from the Capellan front that was laid out on his coffee table. Such nice surroundings for news so grim. While most of the CCAF was in a pell-mell retreat for the 3055 border, or at least what parts of it were still in Capellan hands, the word from Sian was grim. Jesus, Sunny is giving daily exhortations to everyone on the planet between the age of twelve and fifty five to fight to the last, and 'take five Davions with them when they die'. One particularly grim example was a two-page ad in a popular Capellan women's magazine published on Sian, that gave detailed instructions on how to use an SRM launcher to stalk and kill a 'Mech. The advice here is criminally optimistic. Even if you do score a hit, it's not going to do much more than scratch the paint on most 'Mechs. But I guess Sunny and the Mask can't tell folks that, lest he face an outright revolution.

Summer was in full bloom on New Avalon, and with it, the heat, but Victor was dressed in a pair of his old physical training clothes from his days at the Nagelring. He'd left the windows open, mainly because today had a nice breeze going, but he had followed the instructions of the security people who had begged him not to throw open the Kevlar-lined shades, so the breeze was a bit...anemic. And between them and the doctors, they won't let me get a decent run in around New Avalon. Nope, gotta use the boring old palace track. I wonder if this is how Dad felt? Being trapped in a gilded cage.

And the advice Katherine was getting from the general staff at the Fox's Den was downright apocalyptic. Jackson's all but expecting the Capellans to use WMD the minute we land on Sian. He is probably resigned to the fact we'll have to respond to any Capellan first use in kind. Katherine is practically holding on by her fingernails at the prospect, and I cannot say I blame her. Jackson's slowed down the rate of advance till we've cut the planet off from the rest of the Confederation, probably a good move overall, but we need to finish this, not that I think it will be quick, or cheap by any means.

Victor glanced again at the latest order of battle estimates for the Capellan defenses of Sian. He'd practically memorized the telling passage that made his heart sink every time he read it "...CCAF defenses are expected to be heavy, and in-depth. We expect extensive use of fortified belts, both pre-existing, and newly created, and we have seen massive projects to construct all kinds of anti-mobility obstacles. We have identified, in addition to at least three divisions of the Sian Home Guard, elements of the Red Heart Guards brigade, both battalions of Warrior House Immarra, the 4th Tau Ceti Rangers, two divisions of the Word of Blake Militia (unit designations unknown), as well as a provisional CCAF 'Mech regiment made up of convalescents and comb outs from various government ministries of anyone with any Battlemech experience. We also estimate upwards of 100-150 "Victory Battalions." Assets in place have also identified the arrival of several company sized units that we think are survivors of various units that have been destroyed during Active Panther..."

"Shit," Victor cursed softly. He knew the AFFC could take Sian, 8-10 RCTs along with an additional 8 Artillery Brigades should be enough, though getting them there is proving to be difficult. He was glad Omi was off with Pavvrati and Yvvone, she didn't like it much when he was grouchy, and the fact was, the military situation, while a winning one, was enough to make one very, very grouchy indeed.

There was a knock at the door, and his servant opened it, placing himself between Victor and whomever was at the door on the off chance it was an assassin. Not that I am too worried. The other two servants in the room are with the Guards, and there's a Rapid Fox reaction force on thirty second standby downstairs. Yeah, the Blakists would have to work hard....but they got lucky already, didn't they?

The servant conversed softly with whomever was at the door, and then closed it, he walked over to Victor in three steps, and stopped 5 feet in front of his sovereign, saluting palm out and stating "Sir, we have received diplomatic traffic from our embassy in Orestes. It's a verigraphed ROM from Natasha Kerensky of the Wolves."

Victor's jaw dropped. "Are they sure about it's authenticity?"

The servant nodded, and handed the disk to Victor, who inserted it carefully into a nearby reader set into the wall, that broadcast it into a nearby screen usually meant for entertainment purposes. Rather not go to my office for this.

The screen came to life, and after ten seconds of the sigil of a snarling wolf, the insignia of the Wolf Clan, the image resolved into none other than Natasha Kerensky. Her face was drawn, and her eyes were red. She sat at a plain metal desk in an non-descript office. She was dressed simply, a pair of green overalls with the Clan Wolf insignia over the left breast. But the fire in her eyes had not changed. Is this to be a batchall for the survival of your Clan, Natasha. Please God, please don't be.

"Greetings Victor Steiner-Davion. I may not have been able to do so before, but I wanted to extend my sympathies on the deaths of your Mother and Father. They were great rulers, and good people. They always did right by the Dragoons, which is something not a lot of the Inner Sphere can say." Natasha exhaled and smiled weakly "You must be wondering why I have sent you this verigraphed ROM. Well, simply put, you've won. You've won a far bigger victory over the Clans than you have realized. Attached to this disk is the video of the last hours of Ilkhan Ulric Kerensky's life. He was murdered on the 24th of last month by the saKhan of the Jade Falcons. His murder has touched off a spate of violence back in the Clan Homeworlds that is reminiscent of some of the earlier aspects of our history, and yours."

"Needless to say, I am now responsible for the lives and future of Clan Wolf. Ulric bequeathed me that responsibility, and some assets that will help our Clan in the days, months, and years to come. But I send you this message to bargain not for the terms of a war between us. If your war has demonstrated anything, is that our way, including the way of Zellbrigen must change. No, I come to bargain for the terms of a peace between us. A lasting one that gives both our nations a shot at a future worth having. I am prepared to do much to achieve it, including the discussion of the return of Tamar to the Federated Commonwealth, as well as negotiating a permanent border between our two nations..."

Victor's mouth hung open, he paused the playback, hardly believing what he had just seen and heard. He motioned over his servant. "Niles, get the bottle of Glengarry Special Reserve, and pour you and I a glass. I think I just saw the end of the Clan War."
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mikecj

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #374 on: 01 July 2019, 21:04:04 »
Nice!
There are no fish in my pond.
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marauder648

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #375 on: 03 July 2019, 06:29:42 »
Absolutely superb, but the Suns is facing a bloodbath on Sian.
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Sharpnel

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #376 on: 03 July 2019, 06:35:13 »
I've got two words for you, "Orbital Artillery"
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ThePW

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #377 on: 03 July 2019, 07:01:38 »
I've got two words for you, "Orbital Artillery"
Good Luck getting ships into orbit first (not to mention that would cause tremendous civilian casualties NOT DESIRED by the FEDCOM). OA is not a option...
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ckosacranoid

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #378 on: 03 July 2019, 14:41:30 »
They might now have much choice for shooting things from orbit if the fighting is going to as bloody as the idiot on the toliet wants it to be, its going to leave the world a mess and not many people alive to think about the world after that.

Takiro

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #379 on: 03 July 2019, 17:36:41 »
I'd be more inclined to hurl an asteroid or two at planet while maintaining a complete naval blockade. See the end of Clan Blood Spirit in Wars of Reaving.

Sir Chaos

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #380 on: 04 July 2019, 07:58:47 »
Good Luck getting ships into orbit first (not to mention that would cause tremendous civilian casualties NOT DESIRED by the FEDCOM). OA is not a option...

"Tremendous civilian casualties" is already a given, seeing as how Sunny Boy is whipping up his people, and especially when he breaks out the nukes. Orbital artillery may just be the least of all evils here.
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Zureal

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #381 on: 09 July 2019, 23:58:25 »
wow, just wow, i hope we get to hear the rest of her video

panzerfaust150

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #382 on: 05 August 2019, 19:35:33 »
AN: Another Omake by Yellowhammer of SB!

Cat Fight Part 7

"I once read something that perfectly encapsulated my journey from the granddaughter of Takashi Kurita, Coordinator of the Draconis Combine, Duke of Luthien, Unifier of Worlds, to Archon-Princess Omiko Steiner-Davion, Duchess-by-Marriage of Tharkad and New Avalon, Lady of the Crucis March. It was simply 'I did not leave my party, my party left me'. Like many changes we face, comprehending that was extremely hard. Knowing that I would never see the home I grew up in and the people that I knew as a girl, knowing that I could never visit the graves of my father, mother, or brothers to mourn, knowing that I would be viewed at best with wary suspicion in my new home until I proved myself as more than a 'damned Snake' if I ever did in the beholder's eyes. All these things are very painful and hard to bear, but I have my honor to sustain me, and that honor lets me endure the unendurable because I know that it is the right thing, the honorable thing to do.."

Omiko Steiner-Davion, My Path To The Top Of The Mountain: A Journey from Luthien to Kentares, New Avalon Press 3083

Masamori City

Hachiman, Galedon Military District

8 June 3057

Miyako Kurita scowled at the tactical map projected inside her headquarters in the Urizen Kurita Junior Warrior's Academy. Planetfall had proceeded as per her wishes, but the rest of the campaign had not.

The first indication that the plan was not going according to her desires was when Gin battalion of Ryuken-yon -- her old command! -- had crossed the Yamato River on the Sanethia Kurita Memorial bridge. Forward elements had secured the far side and the bulk of Ryuken-yon was crossing when a yacht approached the bridge.

The resulting nuclear detonation incinerated two companies of her elites, including Sho-sho Shodaru and his mobile HQ unit along with the bridge that they were on, and was the signal for a regiment of Black Dragon Battlemechs to slam into the battalion that had made it across. None of her men and women made it back, with the survivors pulled from their cockpits, tied up, and then dropped onto the radioactive glass of the steaming crater to expire in agony from their wounds, heat, and lethal doses of radiation in front of her soldiers' horrified eyes.

She was fortunate that she had stopped her Naginata in the rear of the advance to deal with a logistics tie-up at her spacehead when the trap was sprung. Instead her comrades died screaming while she tried to funnel reserves to salvage the situation.

The battered remnants of Ryuken-yon plus her personal guards held the riverbank under her direct command until Ryuken-san's assault Mechs could join the two companies of survivors clinging to the shattered buildings lining Tai-so Dalton Way and begin to exchange fire with the enemy across the river. Seeing the garrison regiment of the Sixteenth Galedon Regulars here, she had ordered the mobile forces of the Twelfth Dieron Regulars to probe the flanks to try to locate a weak point, or as it turned out, hostile reinforcements. The probe south found the Thirteenth Sun Zhang dug in along the riverbank and desultory long-range fire was exchanged when the other shoe dropped.

Second Battalion of the Twelfth Dieron hit a battlemech force coming their way as they probed north into the Floating District pleasure district. The Ninth Benjamin Regulars, which had claimed their loyalty to her and were supposed to be on Proserpina watching the Davions had turned their coats and been smuggled here. Once again, Miyako led Ryuken-yon into the fire, along with a backing battalion from Ryuken-san and the loyalists of HTE's Corporate Security Force.

Somehow, her scratch force held, although one of every two of her samurai fell like cherry blossoms around her as the Floating District burned on her orders to delay the enemy. As the flames raced through town uncontrollably she was able to dig in along a defense line shielding HTE and the spaceport and finally rotate her weary soldiers back for repair and rest.

Scouting probes over the next days revealed the stalemate. The enemy had two veteran city fighting units in Masamori City with the cadets of the Thirteenth to provide pickets and reinforcements. Worse, they were dug in along the river facing her to the steaming crater that was once the main bridge linking the two halves of the city. From there, her line bent sharply back west through the smouldering rubble of the residential districts servicing the Floating City and the factories to be anchored at the HTE complex's fortifications.

The enemy had not been idle either and constant lance and company-sized skirmishes flickered along the battlefront as armor and ashigaru infantry units lurked in ambush. Any retreat offworld would be unthinkable to contemplate, but without fresh troops, she saw no way to break the deadlock.

With that she flipped a switch and the strategic map replaced the tactical map.

She surveyed the scattering of crimson icons and hateful yellow icons of the suspected positions of the traitors. along the Galedon/Benjamin border, with the upper boundary the gray of the Clan OZ and the lower the blue of the FedCom. She tapped keys, pulling up transport availability and fore readiness projections as her eyes narrowed.

"Sho-sa Tomokamai!"

"Yes, Coordinator?" The young soldier barked out with a light Swedenese accent to his Japanese.

"Take a message directly to our ComStar representative personally. message is as follows. Priority HPG transmission to the following units. To Marduk, the Twenty-Second Benjamin Regulars dispatch a battalion to Proserpina to backstop the planetary militia and secure the planet, and send their best battalion to reinforce Hachiman. To Xinyang, move the Fifteenth Benjamin Regulars to Hachiman. To Arkab, move the Sixth Arkab Regiment to Xinyang to cover our supply base. To Shimonoseki, Planetary Militia Commander will retransmit to the Twenty-Second Dieron Regulars to stand in readiness to be dispatched to Hachiman if needed to reinforce efforts to liberate the planet once their convoy jumps into system.”

A second aide entered the room with a message form in hand. “Coordinator! The Forty-Fifth Dieron Regulars have gone rogue! Elements of their regiment have been reported as raiding Camlann, Buckminster, and Shionoha! Planetary militia forces are reporting serious damages to industries and personnel.”

Miyako scowled and pinched her nose. “I do not have the forces to hunt these ronin down. Once the Black Dragons are crushed, then we can proceed with exterminating traitors and bandits such as these. Give the orders for troop movements as directed.”

As Ichiro Tomokamai saluted and departed, he began to mentally prepare an addition for the message to the Sixth Arkab. “I should notify my father that in the event of a Clan attack into the military district he commands or if the bandits of the Forty-Fifth assault his words, Miyako Kurita will not defend them. Tai-sa Bjutial of the Sixth and he are long friends and will pass the warning along.”

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

Fox’s Den

New Avalon, Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth

15 June 3057

Lieutenant Colonel Parvati glanced over at her ’aide’ as they cleared the checkpoint and the armored hatch irised open deep under Mount Davion. “Don’t worry, everyone has these moments their first time in the Den, Agent Tanaka.”

Beside her, clad in the uniform of an AFFC officer with no rank insignia, Omiko Kurita nodded as they headed down the passage. Her face was impassive save for a sheen of sweat on her brow as for the first time in the history of the Federated Suns, a Kurita entered the nerve center of House Davion’s military machine.

Presently they came to a door marked with an alphanumeric stencil. ‘MI2SECCONF-083J’. Here they halted and watched by multiple security cameras, presented palmprint and iris scans for authentication. The door unlocked and they stepped inside.

Inside was a sterile conference room with a coffee and tea bar on one wall, a dozen seats around a holotable and a security panel.

“Tea?” Parvati asked.

Omi nodded as she disarmed the self-destruct device on her briefcase and began to remove datachips. “Tea, please.”

She nodded thanks to Parvati as a steaming mug with a cartoon fox digging a burrow was placed in front of her. She sipped it and made a face. “Irony. According to Father, the tea in the Black Room was atrocious and could peel paint from his battlemechs with its strength. I suppose that the Davions buy their tea from the same plantations then to use in their secure headquarters.”

Parvati laughed as the door opened again to reveal Tancred Sandoval in his general’s uniform. “I have no doubt that your tea was purchased from the lowest bidder too.”

Tancred looked over at Omi as he made himself a mug of coffee and then moved to sit across from her as she finished inputting her data. “I must ask, what prompted your change of heart?”

Omi looked the Sandoval heir in the eyes, Kurita steel-blue meeting Sandoval dark brown as their wills clashed. “My nation is in its death agonies, Sandoval-san, and whatever survives this war will be a pale shadow of our past glories. There shall be no winners, no honor, and no glory from the madness between my cousin and my half-brother, not anymore. Only survivors and the dead, just as in the Succession Wars under Jinjiro Kurita. All I can do now is act to minimize the suffering for those who my family has ruled for centuries; to fulfill a ruler’s obligation toward his subjects and the demands of Honor before those fighting over the Dragon’s corpse destroy all they touch. I wish it were otherwise, but wishing does not make it so. If my wishes bore fruit, I would still have my family with me, or at least be able to mourn at the graves of my father, mother, and brothers who have gone before me.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then opened them to speak quietly and bitterly, “Congratulations on your victory. The Yellow Bird has defeated the Dragon at last. Shikata ga nai.”

With that she flipped a switch and a holomap of the Combine appeared, showing the best estimates that the remnants of the Order of Five Pillars had on the positions, strengths, and loyalties of the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery. Sandoval inserted his own datachip and blue units began to gather along the stripped-clean border of the Combine.

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

Nadir Jump Point

Xinyang, Xinyang Prefecture, Benjamin Military District

16 June 3057

“Jump signature inbound!”

Tai-sa Samuel Lepke of the Fifteenth Benjamin Regulars looked over at the sensor operator. “Another one of our jumpships?”

“Negative, sir! It’s massive, estimate in the three quarters of a million megaton range!”

The commander blanched at the news, since there was only one thing that it could be.

Warship…

“General signal to all ships, emergency undock from jumpships, battle stations, launch all ASFs, and stand by to engage enemies! Honor the Dragon!”

Fifteen minutes later, the Black-Lion class battlecruiser CSJ Streaking Mist led the remnants of the Smoke Jaguar Touman into the system to claim the desperately-needed supply dumps that one of their newly captured bondsmen had reported were present.

Seventeen minutes after the alert had sounded, Sho-sa Peter Yoshuka rammed the newly arrived Potemkin class cruiser CSJ Osis’ Pride amidships with his Achilles at maximum thrust, sparking a series of explosions that gutted the ship.

Twenty-eight minutes after the battle began, the CSJ Streaking Mist began to burn toward Xinyang at the .75G that she was now barely capable of, while trailing air from her wounds.

None of the Fifteenth Benjamin survived to oppose the Jaguars. Not any longer.
Clover Spear author and cat wrangler!
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Zureal

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #383 on: 06 August 2019, 20:18:01 »
wow, that was brutal

panzerfaust150

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #384 on: 24 August 2019, 14:03:36 »
“As June faded into July, the plight of the Confederation deepened, and five Capellan worlds, Relevow, Geifer, Cordaigr, Glasgow, and Imalda fell into Allied hands with barely a shot fired. Most of these worlds were wracked by a collapse of Capellan authority even before the arrival of Allied troops, and often it was sufficient for the allies to install a company-sized garrison, change the flags, and drive on to the ultimate prize: Sian.”

pp. 197, “The Defense of the Sarna and Capellan Marches and Active Panther” by the Federated Commonwealth Office of Military History, Government Press, New Avalon, 3060.

“I do remember that things at the main command center were chaotic by the beginning of July. Sun-Tsu hardly took our briefings anymore. Our section’s bosses spent more of their time burning or shredding documents, or making false identity documents for themselves. There was a thought most of us could flee to Marik space. That was until we saw troops massing in the Concordat and Andurien. I think that’s when we all knew it was over. We had twelve suicides that day alone. Me? I packed my bags, grabbed my false Augrian papers, 35,000 C-Bills and made a run for the Periphery border. Of course, I ran into your troops first?”

“Capellan Perspectives Project” Federated Commonwealth Office of Military History. Interview No 191, Interview of Maskirovka Commander Ling Po-Tsien, Age 30, formerly of the Analysis and Intentions Section, AFFC Desk.



Caeme Falls
Yuris
Capellan Confederation
July 17th, 3057

The LRRP team had been out for five days, and had done little more than spend their time dodging Capellan infantry and helicopter patrols for most of the patrol. So far, they hadn’t seen more than the Home Guard, but they’d seen evidence of Capellan ‘Mechs about, as they’d found tracks and remains of FARPs all over their patrol AO, but so far, they hadn’t actually seen a single Capellan ‘Mech.

And this was beginning to get on Corporal Ander’s nerves. That, and that weird thing Pappy did with his damn lower bridge. Sounded like a dancing skeleton. And the ****** thinks it’s a laugh riot. He’ll get us all killed because of that stupid lower bridge of his. He isn’t fit to be out here. Can’t be quiet enough to do the job. But, the rest of the lads trust him. So, I gotta trust him.

And sure enough, Pappy, also known as Private Les Winningham, was expertly scanning his sector with his Federated Light Machine Gun, his assistant gunner, Private Danni Lesko, was behind him, and a little low to the left, the entire patrol was at a listening halt. Daylight was waning in the sky, and the setting sun cast everything in a red-orange hue, making everything seem on fire. It would be beautiful, if not for the circumstances.

Anders looked again at the rest of his squad, and passed another hand and arm signal to set out, slow, then pointed an azimuth that paralleled a trail up the looming hill ahead. It was some 100 meters to the left of the falls, and the falls were loud enough to make it hard to think, let alone hear. Shit this would be a damn good place for an ambush. A real good place.

The walk up the hill was challenging, as the hill had a gentle, but steady grade, but the 40-50 kilogram loads the LRRPs were carrying, plus the fact they’d already covered close to 40 kilometers already was conspiring to make the climb far harder than it would be normally. The squad was tired, and all most of it could focus on was the next step, let alone their sectors. They tried, oh they tried, and discipline warred with sheer exhaustion.

It was inevitable that the second man in the file missed the whine of an actuator. The poor private, a replacement from Archenar, didn’t miss being torn apart by half a dozen .50 caliber rounds as tracers reached out to him from a position some 200 meters in front of him as a bird-like shape rose from the hilltop like a moss covered preshistoric monster, belching fire and death.

Anders screamed “SCATTER!” as he snapped off a long burst at the ‘Mech. It was a Locust, but the attached foliage made it impossible to tell which Capellan unit they were a part of. The LRRPs expertly executed a “break contact peel”, each emptying a magazine or belt into the advancing ‘Mech. But it didn’t matter, as it shrugged off most of the small arms file like the buzzing of flies. Pappy soon went down as he stopped to fire on the Locust with a V-LAW. A beam of light from the ‘Mech’s torso soon connected killer and victim, and Pappy simply ignited like kindling, not even having had enough time to scream.

The unit did its best to try to hold off the monster in their midst, but it was useless. If you stopped, you were dead, and if you didn’t, you couldn’t do anything substantial to stop it. The four survivors of the squad half ran and half tumbled down the hill, and that’s when another monster rose from the forest on their right. It was of a different shape, more humanoid, and less alien, but just as large, and just as faceless. Another beam of light shot out and blew Cho, the squad’s radio operator to ash. Her scream was cut like a knife. Ander’s mind snapped, he hit the quick release on his ruck and took off at a dead run, machine gun rounds tearing apart the ground all around him as he ran, to get as far from the monsters as he could. He was so intent on running he missed the large branch that hung low in front of him, the one that he ran into full force, and knocked himself unconscious.

Seven hours later, he was the only survivor of First Squad, LRRP Company, 41st Avalon Hussars RCT. He wouldn’t manage to report in for three additional days, and by then, all of the FC forces on Yuris already knew what Anders knew. The Capellans had been reinforced by the Metal Phalanx Mercenary Battalion, and Warrior House Diadachi.



Zenith Jump Point
Sian System
Capellan Confederation
July 27th, 3057

Kai Allard-Liao looked on from the viewport of the Phoenix Rising. She was one of four Union-C dropships attached to the Jade Phoenixes, and had proven the most difficult to acquire from the Federated Commonwealth for the unit. It helps being a friend of Victor’s as well as having the bank account I do. But this wasn’t cheap, but it’s worth it. So worth it.

Kai looked on as Sian loomed ever larger in the viewport, it was a dull blue green orb some distance away, but every day, it got a little bigger, since their entry into the system three days before. They’d been travelling at a stately one gee, the Fedcom force commander had decided that it was probably best not to tire the troops out by burning hard for Sian itself. We have a tomorrow, they don’t. Strange to see this as a battle. It’s going to be a damn execution. All the Capellans are doing to prepare, it won’t mean a damn thing. We’re just going to be forced to kill more people who have no business being on a damn battlefield in the first place. And why? Because Sun-Tsu won’t see reason. Not that he ever did. Mom was right. We’d be having a reckoning one day. And where we are. Mom, why the hell did you not let Hanse Davion settle things ten years ago?

Kai felt a large hand settle gently on his shoulder. “So, ovKhan. Are you trying to intimidate all of Sian by yourself?”

Kai didn’t turn to face Taman Malthus “No, I am trying to get my thoughts together before we ground. Before I have to kill a bunch of people who have no business holding a damn rifle.” He then turned to face Malthus. “Taman, tell me you are bothered by this?”

Taman nodded “We all are, Kai, we all are. The Fedcom’s patched in what passes for entertainment and news from Sian…and its contents are unsettling. They have children’s shows teaching how to emplace magnetic mines on our ‘Mechs. Kai, I did not agree with putting our sibkos into harms way to face the Federated Commonwealth. I was captured in the first wave, but had I known, I would have faced Chistu in a circle of equals myself. And I would have made sure he never left that circle alive. To arm sibkids as young as ten and expect them to stop ‘Mechs is wasteful.”

“What will we do, Taman?”

“Fight according to our ideals and what you established this unit to be. Redemption for us, and all the Clans. We will not willingly murder children and non-combatants. On this, you have my rede.”

“Selya, Malthus, but I think the Capellans get a vote there.”

“Seyla, trothkin. But you are Kai Allard-Liao, and if anyone can find a way, you will. Of that, OvKhan, you have my faith, and the faith of every warrior and tech in this unit. You gave us a way to be warriors again, Kai. And we will never forget that, in a cause truly worthy of us. Worry not. We will liberate these poor people from the lies and delusions of this Celestial Wisdom.” Malthus spat the last comment as if it was poison.

Kai smiled. “Perhaps we will, Taman, perhaps we will.”
« Last Edit: 25 August 2019, 01:23:48 by panzerfaust150 »
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Always Late

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #385 on: 25 August 2019, 01:37:26 »
Hm. Not gonna lie, having a little bit of mixed feelings. On the one hand, the use of ambush tactics and amassing forces for the decisive by the Cappies is pretty accurate for Japanese preparations against Operation Downfall. And them being able to keep a cohesive and elite military force together is not too surprising given the feudal logic things run under sometimes. The gov't has disintegrated, but one man can still set up a defense for one planet. And the Chancellor still has enough sanity to do just that. And the whole light-mechs vs infantry slaughter plus the talk with the ex-Jade Falcons and Kai was just gold. Horror and character in equal yet immense amounts.

On the other, I can't ignore that Sun-Tsu did just pull not only a fully-stocked Warrior House, but yet another mercenary regiment out from nowhere. He's got no government from which to pull funds, his own personal wealth is tied up in the now non-existant government, his military is running on indoctrinated loyalty and gunpoint, and massively bad rep from the bloodbath he subjected McCarron’s Armored Cavalry and his other past merc units to. He's got nothing to offer any units but a long, agonizing death at the hands of the Feddies. The whole 'they have nothing' point was kinda hammered in extensively, so the bait-and-switch occurring in the same chapter kinda misfires.

Unless he's got a massive secret stash of C-bills or hard gold somewhere and enough guns to make sure the mercs don't take their first paycheck and run. Or something. Hopefully a new chapter shows that very impressive negotiating skill of Sun-Tsu.

marauder648

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #386 on: 25 August 2019, 02:50:52 »
Superb stuff, you conveyed across just how terrifying a Battlemech can be for us squishies. Sian's going to be a nightmare of a battle though.
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panzerfaust150

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #387 on: 25 August 2019, 15:53:19 »
@Always,
 Basing Yuris on the defenses of Budapest and Breslau in 1945. The Germans then, and the Capellans now, have an alarming ability to pull together kampfgruppen ofrom varying sources and commit them to action time and again till they disintergrated due to a lack of logistics, combat strain, or just plain surrendered en masse. Yuris, like the defenses of Breslau and Budapest, will do little to save the Capellan State. They'll only serve to kill more on all sides.

  So, as long as the madman is still shouting orders from Sian, some units are going to obey...some. These two just happened to be based together. And a fresh Capellan Warrior House (the last one outisde of Sian) can be very pursuasive to a green Merc outfit.
« Last Edit: 25 August 2019, 15:55:30 by panzerfaust150 »
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PsihoKekec

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #388 on: 26 August 2019, 00:35:54 »
So the capital will probably have the habitable buildings counted on one hand.
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Sir Chaos

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Re: Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War
« Reply #389 on: 26 August 2019, 08:57:37 »
So the capital will probably have the habitable buildings counted on one hand.

How do you count to zero with one hand?
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