Author Topic: A Long Journey  (Read 53460 times)

2ndAcr

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A Long Journey
« on: 29 July 2024, 21:49:40 »
4 April 2774
Al Na'ir (Terran Hegemony)


 Commodore Patricia Mitchell, commander 83rd Fleet Recovery and Salvage, one of many thrown together commands to assist in emergency repairs of damaged ships, watched her escort, a single Essex II Destroyer bear down on the incoming three Vigilant Corvettes. Besides deploying all her Dropships, which she had done already, her Jumpships were helpless for another 27 hours. The Essex II managed to hammer the first Vigilant hard enough that it lost all power. As it turned maneuvered to engage the next Vigilant, missiles streaked across space and a nuclear flash hit the Essex II causing near catastrophic damage, but as the missiles were inbound, return fire from the Essex savaged the second Vigilant which caused a massive explosion, obviously an internal ammunition explosion. The dying Essex II raked the third Vigilant with fire but not enough to destroy it as it bore in on the lightly defended Jumpships.

 She had three Elephant Dropships deployed and all three were on an intercept course for the incoming Vigilant, and they had deployed all twelve of their small craft. The lead Elephant took a beating from the incoming Vigilant, but it's stiff armor kept it in the fight. She saw the Elephants engines flare bright as it accelerated towards the Vigilant, it never wavered and matched the evasive action of the Vigilant impacting at full thrust, both vessels seemed to merge into one and then exploded.

 She felt the tear in her eye break loose as she gave the order for one Elephant Tug to make for the dark Vigilant and commence boarding action with their marines and the second Elephant to grab the Essex II.

7 April 2774

 The massive emergence wave caused a brief panic until the incoming ships IFF reported friendly. A Riga II Destroyer and two Essex II Destroyers escorted the massive Newgrange Yardship into the Zenith Jump Point. They had been summoned by a lurking Bug Eye in the outer system.

 "Rear Admiral Beckley is hailing us ma'am."

 "Good to see you sir." Commodore Mitchell said

 "Sorry we are late, I heard about your losses and am sorry for them also. Status?"

 "The Essex II will need an extremely long stay in a shipyard, estimates are over a year. She took a nuke that almost broke her back. She has a ton of warped frames. We captured a Vigilant Corvette, probably a month in a yard to repair her." Commodore Mitchell replied

 "Push the Essex II into the sun, we do not have that kind of time."

 "Aye sir, replacement escort?" Commodore Mitchell asked

 "We do not have the ships to spare Commodore, the SDS systems are proving to be more deadly than predicted."

 "Admiral, that last Vigilant almost got all of us, my entire squadron. We cannot operate without an escort. I have over a thousand personnel out here doing EVA work on ships that should be in shipyards. Repair the Vigilant and we will use that as our escort ship. We have recovered 80% of the Essex crew and they can man the Vigilant, hell, they already are. The armor is easy to fix, but it needs new reactors, engines are fine, but quite a few weapons are offline or destroyed." Commodore Mitchell argued her point

 "One month Commodore Mitchell, that is all I will allow. Get the Vigilant into the Newgrange. I have a priority meeting to get to, I will return and when I do, all repairs halt. Clear?"

 "Yes sir, one month of repair time. No problem sir." Commodore Mitchell replied

 13 April 2774

 "Patricia, glad you made it. What have you brought me to fix this time?" Commodore Paul Jamus asked

 "Vigilant Corvette we captured. It's going to be my new escort but I want to make some changes. Not really structural but it should not be too hard for your Newgrange to handle. I have seen them strip 90% of the armor off a Luxor Cruiser and replace it in just over a week." Commodore Patricia Mitchell said as she handed over a list of changes she wanted to make.

 Commodore Jamus looked the list over and coughed "Jesus Patricia, you are almost redesigning the damned thing. Your going all energy weapons, gonna need a bigger reactor suite to handle the load plus additional wiring. HPG? That could cause some problems down the road, those are super controlled items."

 "We play right after the initial fight ends, I like being able to call for help if I need it. You saying it cannot be done?" Commodore Mitchell asked

 "I didn't say that, just that there will be hell to pay later on. Not sure I want my head under the ax." Commodore Jamus replied

 "I got you thru astrophysics and navigation. All the extra hours working with you in the sims. I even covered for you when you were technically AWOL. I was there for you when needed, be here when I need you Paul." Commodore Mitchell said

 "No need to play the trump cards Patricia, we will make it happen. I have some excellent ship wright engineers onboard who can work magic. But we are even after this, we are still friends but my debt to you is paid in full, agreed?" Commodore Jamus replied

 "Clean slate Paul. I will even owe you a favor. You need me, I will be there." Commodore Mitchell said

5 May 2774

 The rechristened SLS Second Chance, Vigilant Corvette was like a new ship, she was almost brand new after all. Her armor had been upgraded and increased, 90 tons of Improved Ferro Aluminum now coated her hide. She had a Mobile HPG installed along with a Large Naval Comm Scanner sensor suite. Her weapons were totally revamped, a pair of NL/55 now occupied each firing arc, a pair of HNPPC were mounted in each broadside, each firing arc also included four large pulse lasers and a point defense bay of four small pulse lasers. Her onboard fight compliment had been increased to twelve. The changes actually increased her cargo capacity to 14,067 tons and every crew member AND attached bay personnel and marines actually had their own quarters, even if the marines were assigned to steerage level quarters, it was better than being in a bay. Twelve hundred double heat sinks now could handle every weapon firing around the clock.

 Instead of four reactors, she now sported two, but these were meant to power a Lola III Destroyer, a ship 5 times the Vigilant's size and easily handled the load required from the new Vigilant Corvette. They just barely made the deadline, but they made it.

 Rear Admiral Beckley looked over what work had been done and blew his top. "What the hell did you do Commodore Mitchell? I said repair her NOT redesign her into something else. I should have you court martialed for this. What do you have to say for yourself?"

 "She is repaired, we had to make some changes. Neither of us had any NAC/10's to replace the ruined ones. Nor did we have the right reactors. No sense putting in the reactors and have so much power we could never use. I pulled the weapons from my own issued equipment. When they formed these Recovery and Salvage groups, we were given leave to modify designs to fit mission profiles or to make battle ready ships recovered. I have replaced Naval Lasers with larger ones if the power plants could handle the load on my own authority. We work alone with minimal outside support so that the main fleets can continue the fight against Amaris. I have had you yourself tell me that every ship is extremely valuable and we must make every effort to return a repairable ship to service. I did just that sir." Commodore Mitchell replied

 "You will never make Rear Admiral, I can promise you that. You hear me Commodore Mitchell?"

 "Loud and clear sir. May I return to my squadron now, we have missions to complete?" Commodore Mitchell replied stiffly

 "Dismissed Commodore Mitchell, return to your taskings." Rear Admiral Beckley said sternly

lowrolling

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #1 on: 29 July 2024, 23:49:21 »
Great start and good to see you back. Looking forward to more Mitchell adventures
Have mercy on me, I refuse to go beyond 3075

Daryk

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #2 on: 30 July 2024, 03:18:17 »
Indeed!  So good to see you back! :)

False_Prophet75

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #3 on: 30 July 2024, 04:04:32 »
Very promising so far. Any brief overviews of what direction this story will take? It’s so left field from anything I’ve read besides Fate Can be Cruel you’ve got me genuinely curious.

Wolf72

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #4 on: 30 July 2024, 06:12:14 »
Tagged!

Will this turn into some sort of precursor to a trip with the Exodus, and possible some pragmatic Snow Raven officers?
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Brother Jim

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #5 on: 30 July 2024, 10:23:41 »
Very Interesting !!

Cannonshop

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #6 on: 30 July 2024, 11:05:25 »
tagged!!!
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Dave Talley

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #7 on: 30 July 2024, 14:17:59 »
Tag
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Sir Chaos

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #8 on: 30 July 2024, 15:04:57 »
Promising.

But I have to ask... has there ever been a single Mitchell in all of history who lived a quiet, uneventful life?
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Euphonium

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #9 on: 30 July 2024, 16:52:23 »
Ping!
>>>>[You're only jealous because the voices don't talk to you]<<<<

2ndAcr

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #10 on: 30 July 2024, 17:47:37 »
14 September 2774
Mizar (Terran Hegemony)


 Major General Yakov Gregory, commander 322nd Armor Division, did not like the assignment her had been given, garrison Mizar and assist in recovery operations. He yearned for a frontline combat assignment alongside the Battlemech commands, who always garnered all the glory and awards, while the Infantry and Armor did the nastiest work. He was tired of playing a support role. The SLDF had secured Mizar within a month, with most of the fighting being concentrated around the area containing the Fairchild Dornier complex which had been seriously damaged during the fighting. He had chosen today to see what was left of the complex, lord knows he had no one to fight.

 He walked along the taxiway which bordered massive piles of rubble where once large hangers had stood. His small staff followed along slightly behind, trying not to draw the attention of an irritated commander. He angled towards a work party directed by one of the SLDF RRU units (Resource Reclamation Unit). As he neared, he slowed and tried to pick out who was in charge, once he thought he had it figured out, he sped back up. Reaching the officer he got the mans attention.

 "This is not the main factory complex, what is so important that we are using so much machinery here?" Major General Gregory asked

 "We have already surveyed the main factory, it is almost a total loss. Seems some bonehead waded what look like a Battalion of Battlemechs inside to wage a close combat fight. This was an underground storage area for fighters already flight tested but awaiting transport. I have been told there are several hundred down there, the SLDF needs all the replacement fighters we can get."

 Major General Gregory thought about this for almost a minute, before saying "You are correct, if you need any more assistance, I can send my own engineers over to help you. If not, keep me apprised of your progress and I will even make my Dropships available to transport them where they are needed."

 "I think we have it under control General, but we could use more winch equipped units to tow the fighters out. Dropships we can bring in on the runway for easy loading."

 "Armored Division, the one thing I have a bunch of is winch equipped vehicles. I will have them sent right over to be at your disposal." Major General Gregory said

 "We hope to have everything cleared by tomorrow morning sir."

 "I will have my people standing by." Major General Gregory replied

Daryk

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #11 on: 30 July 2024, 18:58:12 »
Cool... more ASFs for the whatever ends up being the unit... :)

lowrolling

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #12 on: 30 July 2024, 21:13:48 »
A few hundred Rapiers should never go unused or unappreciated
Have mercy on me, I refuse to go beyond 3075

Seydlitz

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #13 on: 30 July 2024, 22:14:51 »
A few hundred Rapiers should never go unused or unappreciated

They're probably SL-25 Samurai. The Rapier was manufactured on Tharkad by Bauer Enterprises.

DOC_Agren

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #14 on: 30 July 2024, 23:49:02 »
tagging in
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David CGB

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #15 on: 31 July 2024, 03:47:30 »
Very interesting, yes more please!
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Wrangler

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #16 on: 31 July 2024, 07:58:32 »
Looking for long journey indeed.
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2ndAcr

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #17 on: 31 July 2024, 21:27:32 »
18 November 2778
Terra (Terran Hegemony)


 Colonel Samuel Mitchell, acting commander Armor Brigade, 37th Mechanized Infantry Division, which was only a reinforced Regiment in strength, washed his dirty face and then dried off with a beaten up towel. The fighting on Terra had beaten the 37th Mechanized Infantry Division to a pulp. So bad, that rumors said, it was to be disbanded and troops sent to other commands to keep them combat effective. Foot steps caused him to turn and he snapped to attention.

 "Stand easy Colonel Mitchell." Major General Maria Gomes, commander LI Corps, said.

 "Yes Ma'am, what can I do for you?" Colonel Mitchell asked as he relaxed just barely

 "I have been told your one of the best armor commanders in the Corps." Major General Gomes said

 "I would say that I am decent ma'am." Colonel Mitchell replied wondering where this was headed. Probably a death ride, no other reason for a Corp Commander to come down here, he thought.

 "The 37th Mechanized Infantry Division is being disbanded. Eleventh Army put out a call, seems the 322nd Armor Division needs a new commander. So, your being frocked to Lieutenant General and given command of the 322nd Armor Division. You will take the remaining Armor, Mechanized Infantry and Artillery over to the 322nd Armor Division and assume command. I am told that will put the Division at 75% strength." Major General Gomes said

 "Might I ask what happened to the previous commander? The 322nd Armor Division was attached to Eleventh Army, but I have not heard about any serious losses recently, we have been stood down for two weeks." Colonel Mitchell said

 "Killed in a vehicle accident. Gather your troops and get over to 11th Army headquarters." Major General Gomes said and turned to walk back to the 37th's HQ.

 "Yes ma'am. I will get everyone ready to move." Colonel Mitchell replied. On to my fourth unit of the265th  war, only this time I am the commander, sure doesn't sound like I am very good. He thought to himself.

 Colonel Samuel Mitchell was 33 years old and had been an officer in the SLDF for 13 years. His first assignment had been to the 262nd Battlemech Division until it took catastrophic casualties and was disbanded in 2765, transferred to the265th Mechanized Infantry Division which was then disbanded due to heavy losses in 2766, he was then placed in the 37th Mechanized Infantry Division which was his longest tenure yet. Almost his entire time in the SLDF had been in heavy combat. His father had retired from the SLDF in 2762 and retired to a large plot of land he had purchased in 2750 on Mackolla when it had been accepted into the Federated Suns. The entire family had moved to Mackolla over the next decade and now called it home. He knew his two older brothers had died during the war while serving in the SLDF, his younger sister by a year was in the SLDF Navy, a cousin had died during the war and another cousin was in the SLDF and still alive. To say that his entire family was pro Star League would be an understatement. But they were also pro Federated Suns, only it was second in line.

 He scratched at the large scar on his left forearm, a present from a rebel shell fragment during the Taurian Campaign, usually it itched when bad stuff was about to happen, and this seemed like a bad omen.

20 November 2778

 Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell and the former 37th Mech Infantry troops had arrived close to midnight and gotten some sleep. It was 0545 as he entered the Mobile HQ which was his command post. No one said a word when he entered, since all three watch personnel were fast asleep. He used his boot to flip a chair over spilling a Captain onto the floor with a loud thud.

 "Who the hell did that!!!!" The Captain said as he scrambled to his feet and then saw an unfamiliar Lieutenant General standing there. He snapped to attention and yelled "ATTENTION!!!!!"

 "A little late for that Captain, don't you think? At ease, but not as you were. Obviously. I am Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell, the new Division commander."

 "Captain Jeffrey Engles, your aide. Or I was Major General Gregory's aide. Sir."

 "Your position remains to be seen Captain. Not a very good impression so far." Lieutenant General Mitchell said

 "No sir. Sorry sir." Captain Engles replied

 "Now that everyone in here is awake and alert, how about you go wake the Brigade commanders and tell them I want them outside of here by 0630." Lieutenant General Mitchell said

 Captain Engles glanced at his watch and said "38 minutes sir? That is short notice."

 "Tell them anyone late is relieved of duty and I will request replacements for them. It is now 37 minutes Captain Engles. I suggest you get a move on." Lieutenant General Mitchell said

 "Yes sir." Captain Engles replied as he left the Mobile HQ at a dead run.

 "There a coffee pot in here somewhere?" Lieutenant General Mitchell asked as he glanced at his watch.

 Lieutenant General Mitchell stood in the doorway and sipped his coffee as he watched the large encampment come alive as the word spread that the new Division commander was here and not in a good mood. He glanced at his watch, 0618, as the first Lieutenant General arrived, still buttoning his uniform blouse.

 "Lieutenant General Colin Sanderson, commander Third Brigade, your Mechanized Infantry."

 "Your the first here, grab some coffee. We will do the meet and greet when the others are here." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied

 "Yes sir, thank you sir." Lieutenant General Sanderson said

 The second Lieutenant General arrived at 0627 with his tanker boots still unsnapped. He snapped a salute "Lieutenant General Hank Newman, First Brigade reporting."

 "Stand easy, we are waiting for the rest to arrive. Who was the furthest away from here?"

 "Lieutenant General Sanderson there sir, but he runs for fun."

 "Then no excuse for the others to be late then." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied

 "Uh sir, you might start the meeting now, Lieutenant General Barnes sleeps in and sleeps real heavy, but he is damned good and I have to say, worth the wait sir. Colonel Mathews is coming up beside the HQ now, commands the artillery and support troops." Lieutenant General Sanderson said from slightly behind him.

 "That's it? No Ground Aero? No Battlemech?" Lieutenant General Mitchell asked aloud

 "No sir. We are pure conventional armor, infantry and artillery. We have about two dozen VTOL though." Lieutenant General Newman replied

 "Okay, lets get some chairs and get started then. Someone give me a quick rundown on the Divisions current equipment and troop status." Lieutenant General Mitchell said

 "First Brigade is short two Battalion of armor, with crews needed. Second Brigade is down five Battalions, they have gotten hammered." Lieutenant General Newman said

 "Third Brigade is down 5 Battalions, but to be honest, most of our losses were to the initial landings themselves and not direct action. 11th Army held us in reserve and used for rear security duties." Lieutenant General Sanderson said

 "Okay, I brought four Armor Battalions, three Mech Infantry Battalions and two Artillery Battalions. Not sure I can get 11th Army to find me anymore equipment or troops, but I will try. Second Brigade gets the Armor Battalions I brought, that will equal out First and Second Brigade. Third Brigade obviously gets the Infantry Battalions. Colonel Mathews, how are we fixed on Artillery and support?" Lieutenant General Mitchell asked

 "With your two Artillery Battalions, that will put us over strength actually. I currently have five Artillery Battalions, three Tube and two Arrow. Support troops, outside of those assigned to the Brigades, we are full strength." Colonel Mathews said

 "So now we have four Tube Battalions and three Arrow Battalions. Let's go get some breakfast and if someone could please go kick Lieutenant General Barnes out of his bunk and have him join us." Lieutenant General Mitchell said
 

« Last Edit: 03 August 2024, 11:39:40 by 2ndAcr »

lowrolling

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #18 on: 31 July 2024, 22:01:02 »
And we are well on our way to seeing the Second ACR in a strengthened and expanded form. This is getting better. May want to try the Royal Bulldog in it as well. It really is good to see you back.
Have mercy on me, I refuse to go beyond 3075

Daryk

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #19 on: 01 August 2024, 17:19:42 »
Overstrength artillery!  Woo!! :D

wolfcannon

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #20 on: 03 August 2024, 05:00:58 »
*tag*
Daniels Avenger                Clan Coyote
General Jennifer Daniels    Galaxy Commander Jim Skyes
                                        Omicron Galaxy
Clan Wolf in Exile
328th Assault Cluster(the Lion Hearted)
Star Captain James Sword

2ndAcr

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #21 on: 03 August 2024, 12:52:45 »
14 February 2784
Terra (Terran Hegemony)


 Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell sat beside his sister, Commodore Patricia Mitchell while they listened to General Kerensky outline his plan to leave the Inner Sphere. They exchanged slight looks as they listened to the plan. This was also the first time either had seen the other in over a decade. Every Army, Corp and Division commander was present while the Navy had every Fleet and Squadron commander here. Commodore Patricia Mitchell was the lowest ranking officer present as far as either could tell. They watched as many in the room voiced support for the General's plan, they also noticed some dissent among other officers. When the order to poll every member of the SLDF on whether they wished to leave with General Kerensky or remain behind was given, they again shared a look between them. After the meeting was dismissed, they exited the building and walked to where Lieutenant General Mitchell's Cobra VTOL had been parked a quarter mile away. They did not speak until they arrived at the Cobra VTOL.

 "I don't want to leave Sammy." Commodore Patricia Mitchell said

 "I am not keen on the idea either, but we also have to think this all the way thru. If we choose to stay behind, it will not be the SLDF we joined and love. The Terran Hegemony is dead, the SLDF is the only thing holding the Houses back from ripping it apart. When General Kerensky leaves, all that stay behind to defend the Hegemony will perish defending it. If we stay behind, I highly doubt we will be allowed to keep our equipment. I would bet on General Kerensky and the departing SLDF to strip every unit to the bones of equipment to fill out the commands leaving." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied

 "Then what do we do? If we stay, I want to go home." Patricia said

 "So do I, if I have to die defending something other than the Star League, I prefer it to be our home." Samuel replied

 "Not sure when you last spoke to mom and dad, but last message I got was pirate attacks are becoming quite regular out there. Has been a big problem since the SLDF left the Periphery. The Suns army is stretched too thin to cover the region properly. If we do not have the stuff, how do we make a difference?" Patricia asked

 "It's been a few years, we move around too much and most of our stations have not had a working HPG. But that was the information he gave me last I spoke to him. As for equipment, we will have to plan very carefully and quietly." Samuel replied

 "Here is the problem as I see it. No way I will be allowed to keep my squadron, no way at all. If say we are leaving with the General and then try to break off, I will be facing possible part of my crew that do not wish to stay behind and face a mutiny or fighting. I cannot have that. I will not allow that to happen. So, it better be a good plan." Patricia said firmly.

 "I fear it would be the same thing in my Division also and I will not allow that to happen either. I need to think about this, a bunch. But first, let's go poll the troops and see where we stand." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied

22 February 2784

 The fighting for North America had been brutal for the 322nd Armor Division, he had started the campaign at 75% strength in his combat elements but ended the campaign at 38%. The three years since the end of fighting at seen his strength rise back to around 40% strength, most replacements were being shuttled to the front-line Divisions. He studied his Divisions current TOE and wondered how the voting would go.

322nd Armor Division

First Brigade
1/1 Regiment
27 Alacorn MkVI (189 men)
13 Manitcore (52 men)
2/1 Regiment
28 Manticore (112 men)
16 Alacorn MkVI (112 men)
3/1 Regiment
28 Zephyr Hover (84 men)
17 Beagle Hover (17 men)

Second Brigade
1/2 Regiment
37 Demon (148 men)
11 Chevalier (33 men)
2/2 Regiment
15 Demon PPC (60 men)
22 Chevalier (66 men)
3/2 Regiment
15 Zephyr Hover (45 men)
18 Beagle Hover (18 men)

Third Brigade
1/3 Regiment
10 Platoons Mech Inf (280 men)
15 Goblin (45 men)
5 Bulldog (20 men)
2/3 Regiment
7 Platoons Mech Inf (196 men)
11 Goblin (33 men)
3 Bulldog (12 men)
3/3 Regiment
8 Platoons Mech Inf (224 men)
22 Goblin (66 men)
7 Bulldog (28 men)

Artillery Brigade
42 Thor Artillery (168 men)
16 Long Tom Artillery (112 men)
24 Marksman Artillery (120 men)
37 Chaparral Artillery (148 men)
18 Padilla Artillery (90 men)

VTOL Battalion
8 Vector Transport (16 men)
6 Vector Attack (12 men)
3 Vector EW (6 men)
4 Vector Scout (8 men)

Support Brigade
2 Mobile HQ (4 men)
22 Jeep (22 men)
2 MASH (4 men)
82 Sherpa Cargo (246 men)
21 Sherpa Canteen (63 men)
18 Sherpa Fuel Truck (54 men)
31 Heavy Track APC (62 men)
10 BFFL Buffalo (30 men)
8 Wayland Mobile Bases (88 men)
6 Engineering Vehicle (18 men)
8 Lessups Dump Truck (16 men)
4 Buffel Engineer Support (12 men)
3 Prometheus Bridgelayer (15 men)
22 RR-3 Recovery Vehicle (44 men)
16 UTR-588 Recovery Vehicle (32 men)
Mechanics (1278)
Doctor (14 men)
Medics (68 men)
Astechs (6341)

Total Personnel - 10,869

Dropship Assets
9 Triumph Dropship (81 men)
3 Gazelle Dropship (24 men)
4 Czar Dropship (48 men)
4 Mammoth Dropship (68 men)

Total Personnel - 221

Daryk

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #22 on: 03 August 2024, 13:22:38 »
Plenty of Goblins... Sweet! :)

2ndAcr

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #23 on: 03 August 2024, 22:10:02 »
24 February 2784
Terra (Terran Hegemony)


 "Sir, there is a Colonel Colin Blaine from the Quartermaster Command to see you." Major Jeffery Engles announced at the open door.

 "Send him in Major and close the door, I don't want to be disturbed for this meeting." Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell said as the Colonel was let in and the door shut behind him.

 Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell walked across the office and grasped the SLDF Colonel in a hard hug. "Damn Colin, it is great to see you."

 "HMMPH. back off cuz your gonna make me pass out, I'm a office puke not some damned grunt." Colonel Colin Blaine said as Samuel released him.

 "You still look fit." Samuel said looking his cousin over.

 "Yeah well, I do try. SO, what did you want to see me about and why the secret agent crap?" Colin asked

 "You going with General Kerensky?" Samuel asked

 "I planned on it, your not?" Colin replied

 "No, me and Patricia want to stay and go home. It's getting bad back there and we might be able to help." Samuel said

 "Well shit, I haven't kept up with home in a long while. The war kept me pretty busy and on the move. Well if your staying, I'm staying. I will inform them of my decision tomorrow." Colin said

 "Whoa there Colin, not so fast. If you want to stay and join us that's great, but if we say it out loud right now, you know they are going to send us packing with the clothes on our back and that's it.  We are not going to be much help to the folks back home like that. I have a plan I want to run by you, Patricia is already onboard, but we have to get a bunch of pieces in place and you can help with that." Samuel replied

 "And what plan do you have Sammy?" Colin asked

 "If we are going to help folks back home we are going to need equipment and resources we might need. Just having people is not going to be enough." Samuel said

 "What kind of equipment?" Colin asked

 "More than likely a few more transports, but they have to have crews staying behind. I am going to need equipment for my Division, replacement parts, ammunition, maybe some kind of manufacturing base. Mackolla had limited heavy industry but a decent amount of light industry. That particular list could get really big fast, so I would prefer to focus on what we can get without attracting any more attention than we have to. The recent defections to the Houses has got to have General Kerensky on edge and he probably has SLIC watching everything." Samuel replied

 "Equipment could be hard, outside of the troops pledging to Hayes, it is all slated to rebuild Kerensky's units. I have not seen all the plans but have been given the heads up that if it is not nailed down, he plans to uproot it and take it with him. As much as he can pack aboard the ships and it is going to be quite a bit. I know for a fact he plans to take every warship he can with him to deny them to the Houses. Rumor has it that when Epsilon Indi was liberated there were sensor contacts of quite a few wrecked Dropships in the outer system, possibly from the 34th Royal Battlemech Division, but they didn't have any way to recover those ships. I might be able to get Patricia assigned to make a recovery attempt. I know most of the commands that have so far voted to remain behind have volunteered to assist in getting Kerensky everything they need." Colin said

 "That is a starting point then. What I have in mind is we wait until the last second to join Kerensky, late enough that we can avoid taking on folks that might resist staying behind when we make our move. We leave with the General and pick our moment to leave the convoy and head home. I doubt the General will chase us, I am pretty sure once he starts off, he will want to move as quick as he can. But not so late that we cannot be equipped as best we can manage." Samuel said

 "That is going to be a bunch of moving parts cuz. Sort of dangerous too, if SLIC gets wind, it is going to get ugly quick. I will tell you this, every command that is staying behind is on a list to be disbanded and their equipment gathered up, again to keep it from the Houses. I expect your unit will be added to the list also when you make your intentions known. I will at least try to keep it all in one place as best I can for you." Colin said

 "That is all we can do. If you get the feeling your being watched, stop and keep your head down. We will just do what we can. Glad your with us cuz, I would hate to lose you. We have lost enough family in the war." Samuel said

 "Family sticks together, we have a long journey ahead of us. I best be going Sammy." Colonel Colin Blaine said

 "Yes, a long journey indeed. Speak to you soon Colin." Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell replied

26 February 2784

 The polling had been completed and the majority of the 322nd Armor Division had voted to stay behind, but he was still losing almost 2,000 people that wanted to go with General Kerensky. He had gotten word yesterday that Patricia's people had all voted to stay behind. Which said a tremendous amount about what they thought of her. He wished he could have that sort of loyalty. He looked at his watch and decided it was close enough to dinner time that he would head for the combined officers mess instead of the 322nd's own mess hall. He just wanted to talk with some other officers, maybe get a feel for things.

 He was picking at his food when someone sat down next to him with a tray of food. He looked up and saw Colonel Reginald Macy, 457th Heavy Tank Regiment, they had actually been classmates at West Point together. "Hey Reginald, it has been a long time."

 "Sammy, or should I say General?" Colonel Reginald Macy asked

 "It is always Sammy for you Reginald. Why the long face?" Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell asked

 "Me and my command chose to remain behind, been treated sort of like lepers ever since. How about you?" Reginald asked

 "Not as lepers but most of my command and myself are staying behind, but I have not informed higher of that decision yet, that will be tomorrow." Samuel replied

 "Well, the moment you do, expect orders to come down quick to marshal your equipment for redistribution. They are going to leave us defenseless." Reginald said

 "I plan on going home, back to Mackolla, in the Federated Suns. Your from the Free Worlds if I remember right." Samuel said

 "Yeah, but I didn't have any family. Was raised in an orphanage and joined the SLDF first chance I got, so no loyalty there. The Star League was my loyalty, and I fear that is doomed. Too much damage has been inflicted." Reginald replied

 "Your welcome to head for Mackolla with us, plenty of land, good clean air and water. Only drawback is it is right next to the Periphery and word is the pirates are back in force and worse than ever." Samuel said

 "So you plan to fight them off when you arrive?" Reginald asked

 "Not sure, but I do hate pirates." Samuel said

 "Only good pirate is a dead pirate. I got a hair over a Battalion left and about a Company of Mech Infantry, but I have been ordered to park my tanks in three days. But I guess we can play Infantry against the pirates. Yeah, I will tag along, but having equipment to really hurt them would be much better. I am too old to hump a rucksack and those Mausers are heavy as hell." Reginald replied

 "Your talking Battlemechs, I don't have any nor do I even have pilots for them if I did. I only know how to support or kill Battlemechs." Samuel said

 Colonel Reginald Macy looked around and spotted who he was looking for, Major Harold Tanaka, commander 306th Hussar Regiment, who he waved over. "Easy Reg, let's not attract too much attention."

 "Easy Sammy, this particular mess hall is catering to us that are staying behind." Reginald said as Colonel Tanaka sat down with them. "Hey Reginald."

 "Colonel Tanaka, this is Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell, 322nd Armor Division, we went to West Point together." Reginald introduced

 "General, you staying behind too?" Colonel Tanaka asked

 "Yes, I want to go home, back to Mackolla in the Federated Suns. Seems my home is being plagued by some pirates." Samuel said

 "Never heard if it. Wish I could help you, but they already took my Battlemechs away." Colonel Tanaka said

 "What if I could get some?" Samuel asked

 "I got no problem pirate busting, damn sure don't want to go home and get drafted into the DCMS and damned sure am not keen on staying here in the Hegemony and getting slaughtered by the Houses when they make their move, and they will." Colonel Tanaka said

 "Same here. How many people you got that would join up with us?" Samuel asked

 "Myself and probably all 19 of my mechwarriors left." Colonel Tanaka said

 "It is a start, keep this quiet, very quiet. We are still in the early planning stages. But it is a long journey." Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell said

Cannonshop

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #24 on: 03 August 2024, 22:23:01 »
so good.
"If you have to ask permission, then it's no longer a Right, it has been turned into a Privilege-something that can be and will be taken from you when convenient."

vianca

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #25 on: 04 August 2024, 05:01:39 »
There is something I don't get, can somebody check the math?
Quote
"With your two Artillery Battalions, that will put us over strength actually. I currently have five Artillery Battalions, three Tube and two Arrow. Support troops, outside of those assigned to the Brigades, we are full strength." Colonel Mathews said

 "So now we have four Tube Battalions and three Arrow Battalions. Let's go get some breakfast and if someone could please go kick Lieutenant General Barnes out of his bunk and have him join us." Lieutenant General Mitchell said
How in the hell does 2T + 3T & 2A, give you 4T & 2A, when 2 + 3 = 5???
That's the thing that has been bugging me, where did that one unit go too?
Where those three tube units, that damaged?

Edit:
Recovery of jumpships & scrapping them of parts, could be a good reason to get assigned a Potemkin or two, loaded with Mammoths.
Parts stripping coukd be a good reason.
They need a full non-editted Prometheus datacore and map data of SLDF location with Storage, Factory, yard & experimental location.
If tgey can recover a M9, they can spread out the yard upkeep up to Lola III size, out over two yardbays.
And if they can recover a M5, add a Explorer grav-deck, to get a low crew warship.
They are going to need it.
They also will need a ground focused engineerings team as well, that also has quite the ammount of know-how.

Second Edit:
Kerensky and his ilk, planning the biggest desertion in the history of the Sphere.
Leaving the Hegemony defenseless from the House Lords, who naturally will thus prey on it.
I wonder if explaining that little fact, plus what normally happends with deserting troops and their loyalty to each other, might sway some of those that are planning to leave.
After all, they swore a oath and now they are planning to not uphold it, at all.
Nightstar & Nighthawk, if they can get those two units, their fabrication macinery, then they would have a good start.
Same for the Fury Combat Vehicle, anything they can aquire on it's fabrication...
Heh, will they butterfly Helm & Outreach?
What about Victory CC it's SLDF experimental fabrication capacity?

One thing is sure, they will need a few Snowdens, for long term operations of that Newgrange.
« Last Edit: 04 August 2024, 05:59:00 by vianca »

Daryk

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #26 on: 04 August 2024, 05:46:34 »
The part you quote says
Quote
So now we have four Tube Battalions and three Arrow Battalions.

That adds up because the "2 artillery battalions" being added are one Tube and one Arrow.

vianca

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #27 on: 04 August 2024, 06:01:40 »
The part you quote says
That adds up because the "2 artillery battalions" being added are one Tube and one Arrow.
No, he brought TWO tube.
They already had THREE tube & TWO arrow
So how can Two Tube plus THREE Tube, become FOUR Tube???
Should be FIVE Tube, you know, as in 2 + 3 = 5 or FOUR  tube & FOUR Arrow, then, if what you say, is true.
ONE unit is missing.
Simple math.

Here, the piece it's from, three story post upwards, on it's ending lines.
Quote
Okay, I brought four Armor Battalions, three Mech Infantry Battalions and two Artillery Battalions. Not sure I can get 11th Army to find me anymore equipment or troops, but I will try. Second Brigade gets the Armor Battalions I brought, that will equal out First and Second Brigade. Third Brigade obviously gets the Infantry Battalions. Colonel Mathews, how are we fixed on Artillery and support?" Lieutenant General Mitchell asked

 "With your two Artillery Battalions, that will put us over strength actually. I currently have five Artillery Battalions, three Tube and two Arrow. Support troops, outside of those assigned to the Brigades, we are full strength." Colonel Mathews said

 "So now we have four Tube Battalions and three Arrow Battalions. Let's go get some breakfast and if someone could please go kick Lieutenant General Barnes out of his bunk and have him join us." Lieutenant General Mitchell said

Edit:
When I first read those lines, he brought TWO tubes, but thing are being editted, in the wrong way, I believe.
I can buy one unit being used to repair three units, though.
But that hasn't been written down, at all.
« Last Edit: 04 August 2024, 06:25:55 by vianca »

Daryk

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #28 on: 04 August 2024, 06:28:59 »
All that says is "two Artillery Battalions" without specifying if they're Tube or Arrow.  The final total is 7 total Artillery Battalions (5+2), and it becomes apparent the two new ones are one Tube and one Arrow.

vianca

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Re: A Long Journey
« Reply #29 on: 04 August 2024, 06:31:36 »
All that says is "two Artillery Battalions" without specifying if they're Tube or Arrow.  The final total is 7 total Artillery Battalions (5+2), and it becomes apparent the two new ones are one Tube and one Arrow.
Heh, your right.

Was looking too much at the tubes I guess.
Plus that originally it was said too be two tubes and now it says nothing about what is what.

Edit:
Now I wonder about one thing, how intact are their transport dropships?
Do they still have them all?

Getting the blueprints for a Hudges, if they don't have them already, might actually help them quite a bit.
Their problem will be transport and the limited amount of time they have, when the Kerensky Desertion, happens.
The Hegemony will become a combat zone, quite soon, same for any travel roads, they might want to take.
It's a very small window.
They might want to see if they can find a M9 and some M5's, to guard a mothball fleet.
Mmm, do they have the nav data for the Hidden SLDF Shipyard Star Systems?

Second Edit:
With that structual design flaw and the cramped space, the Excalibur classdropship has, would she not do better in a more Fortress layout, basing it on the Seeker & Union class dropships?
Limit the bays to 50 tons or less and...
Actual troop bays, might help off set some of that cramped space and not max loading, will help with not overloading, thanks to that structual flaw.

Heck, I can see Kerensky his ilk, going for the heavier units, first, so grapping lighter ones, might actually be easier.
Are there any that are actually good and how could you thus accidentally counter the Excalibur it's structual flaw, from the get go, via a conversion?
Are there any SDS Modular Defense Stations that they could lay their hands on?
They might be able to upgrade their fabrication ability, for one.

I wonder what for sort of fabrication machinery they will be able to get, though.
And what about food production?
A Invader uses about three collars, their weight, for food production, can they thus set something up for that, in some way?
They will have to figure out some way to lower the amount of resupply, while getting access to full on royal gear & manufactoring.

A fun butterfly could be them getting a few more HPG's, with the ability to make them.
I would laugh if the 295th would thus end up getting a different fate.
Same for the SLS Mannassas.
But I guess not.
I can see some hulks still having a intact FTL system, that is actually still quite new as well, while some of the surviving SLDF warships, are in a need of a yard job, for dtive uokeep reasons.

That wrecked ASF factory, did it still have some intact machinery or parts, that could be of use?
Might let them do refits, later on or maybe couble together, their own ASF line.
Even if it are the parts that could alter deathrides to quite save birds to fly.
Just look up Nova CEWS and it's for-runner, then the CC Raven(?) Battlemech it's attempt to such a setup..., if recovery of machinery, happend to give them the fabrication machinery for the better elements for this...
We all know the Raven ended up sporting standaard Royal SDLF based Gear.
So them thus getting some of the better elements, for such a setup, I can see happing.
I do think them laying their hands on Dragoon & Mercury Battlemechs, can only be a good thing, since if implimented on a larger scale.....
Just think of the dropships their weapon mounts, what if if that standaardisation can be implimented there?
The SLDF had a ASF with a similar modularity setup, so the needed technology exist.
Same for stealth systems and automation.
Being able to sneak up on a balistic course...
« Last Edit: 04 August 2024, 07:54:42 by vianca »

 

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