Author Topic: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)  (Read 10919 times)

Dragon Cat

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Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« on: 20 October 2022, 01:49:39 »
This story has finally reached its 3 thread  :o

It wouldn't have gotten to where it is without the support of others and everyone who has contributed over the years has mine.  Anyone who ever wished to suggest a character, unit or story line please you're always welcome to make a suggestion.

Starting this thread up a little differently with a couple of parts from James Tanaga regarding the integration of Clan Fire Mandrill and the Rim Collection into the Rim Collective.

To:

From: Heather Lockleer; Star League Ambassador to Mandrill Collective (Rim Collection)

Date: 1st February, 3118 22:37 LPT

Subject: Mandrill Collective

Flag: URGENT!


First Lord and Exarch and other parties,

I’ll get to the meat of things, ladies and gentlemen. The reformed Mandrill Collective has “returned” nearly all primary and much of the secondary intelligence assets we had scattered throughout the Mandrill Collective at just after midnight this morning. Furthermore, President Redburn has confirmed our civilians within the Rim Collection have been flagged by the Mandrill Collective’s security services and warned not to violate Collective law or they will be detained and depending on their charges, either sent to the embassy or into the Collective’s legal system. Something he did note is that he confirmed his government won’t hold the civilians as potential hostiles or hostages, merely flagged in case of being sleeper agents. So long as they act as proper civilians, the Mandrill Collective will as well.

This doesn’t seem to be one of their “practice runs” involving the removal of intelligence assets as we come to know it, either. Most times they only grab a third to half our primary assets and only a token of our secondary assets, and return them to the embassy twice yearly, often with only a token amount of interrogation, if any. This time, this appears to be the real thing. All our agents have been found with signs showing they underwent full and intensive interrogation. We are still combing through our agents, but have confirmed FedSuns and Lyran Commonwealth agents were also grabbed.

FedSuns Ambassador Keith Malrieux confirmed their agents were returned this morning as well with a warning advising no more “games” until the end of the current conflict is over. Lyran Commonwealth Ambassador Margarette Killner passed on a note informing me of their agent’s executions this morning. This is not, and I must stress this, NOT the usual concerning the Collective. This time they mean business.

What do we know?

Not as much as I would like, but much more than the Lyrans at the moment. My cultural attaches on staff have worked around the clock since the 29th of last month to get this, but as with anything concerning our monitoring of the now-Mandrill Collective, the below is just a juxtipulation of what they saw or have heard and may or may not be fully correct. Please pass on our appreciation to the Federated Suns as I and my staff could not complete this without information they politely and enthusiastically disclosed to us.

And another note…Lyrans are behind the 8 ball…again.


Mandrill Collective

Government: The reformed Mandrill Collective is not a new formation, but rather what appears to be the final evolution of the Rim Collection and Clan Fire Mandrill into one formalized government, with three separate branches of government as the former Rim Collection. Unlike the Rim Collection, the Mandrill Collective seems to now have Clan Caste leanings at all levels within government and society. More on this recent development below.

Castes: The Rim Collection originally kept the Clan Caste system to the Fire Mandrills and Sphinx Raptors during their existence. Unfortunately, the death of Khan Natasha Faraday and the rise of Khan Jordan Truscott has pushed this effort across all levels of government and into mainstream society. Unlike most other Clans, however, the Mandrill Collective allows members to move between the Castes at their leisure and has laws ensuring the rights of the Five Castes are guaranteed and to always be equal among each other. Whether or not that will actually happen is unknown at this time.

Mandrill Collective Senate: The Mandrill Collective Senate is a small council of fifteen members that operate as an oversight council within the Mandrill Collective and is made up of the two senior leaders of each Caste, The Chancellor of the Congress, the Supreme Justice of the Supreme Court, The President of the Mandrill Collective, the Mandrill Collective’s Loremaster, and finally the Sovereign of the Mandrill Collective or their Regent.

Interestingly, the President of the Mandrill Collective serves as the Chairperson of the Senate and the Loremaster and Sovereign (or Regent) serve merely as advisors on the council unless a tie happens. Should a tie happen, the Sovereign acts as the deciding vote.

While the Senate is a powerful institution, it is ultimately held subordinate to the Caste Councils, Congress, President’s Council, and Supreme Court.

Executive Authority: The President’s Council serves as the primary day to day executive authority within the Mandrill Collective. The President is elected every five years and outside the five leaders of each caste, decides the vice-president positions on the Council, subject to Congressional and Senate approval.

Legislative Authority: Congress operates as the supreme legislative authority. Each member sends fifteen members to Congress. Two from each Caste and the final five serving as the popular-elected members.

Judicial Authority: Judicial Authority is divided between the Five Caste Councils and the Supreme Court. If a crime is ascertained to have happened between two members of the same Caste, a judge and jury is assigned by said Caste. In case of a crime happening between members of separate Castes, the Jury is made up from two of each Caste. If the decision of conviction between four and eight, a Trial of Refusal is allowed, in which case ten members (usually Warriors) are selected to fight according to the votes.

Each Supreme Justice of each member and Caste sits on the Council and the presiding Supreme Justice of the Court is elected internally with Senatorial consent.

Caste Councils: Caste Councils serve as elected oversight bodies within the Mandrill Collective, each having investigative and inquisitorial powers. Importantly, they share authority with one another at all levels of government. They delegate local governance to Adjutants who altogether exercises executive authority at the Member and Provincial levels and who act as liaisons to their Caste Councils.

Voting: The decision of how voting would be decided was of predominant importance in the restructuring of the Rim Collection into the Mandrill Collective, as Fire Mandrill Warriors were concerned the reformed Warrior Caste, even enlarged to include the Freeborns of the former Collection, was still the smallest of the Castes. It was ultimately decided the Mandrill Collective would allow a priority-based voting system contingent on assigned Castes (i.e. Warriors had a Priority 5 for their fellow Warriors, but a Priority 1 for voting a Labourer) and vice versa for a Labourer. As citizens are allowed to freely move between the Castes, each is allowed to vote for Electors in each of the Caste Councils.

Uniquely, to be a citizen, a member of the Mandrill Collective must agree to serve at least five years as a service member (i.e. in any one of the myriad services the Mandrill Collective allows) and can be called up if ever needed until becoming a solahma (50 years of age). If not, a civilian is still permitted to vote for their Caste officials, but not outside their Castes. This allows civilians a degree of freedom and say within the Collective, but ultimately ensures the citizens have more power. Members of the Warrior Caste and any member that could theoretically be called up for emergency services are uniquely afforded immediate citizenship within the Mandrill Collective.

Military: The Mandrill Collective has inherited the Rim Collection Touman, already confirmed to be reformed as the Mandrill Collective Touman. Inheriting a strong inclination for combined arms, with heavy use of vehicles, aerospace, and infantry, the lack of contracted amounts of ‘Mechs was not seen as a deterrent, yet reforms in the last two years have strengthened the normal amounts of ‘Mechs found in the touman, targeted within the Regulars, Sentinels, Lancers, Battle, Assault, and the new Hussar Clusters. Thirty to forty-five ‘Mechs are now assigned to each of the units. These units easily make up the bulk of the MCT.

Organizationally, the Rim Collection Touman historically each of the same units usually assigned to a galaxy, with smaller Cluster Combat Teams formed around 2-3 clusters from said galaxy. While this allowed a degree of uniformity with equipment, it made the Cluster Combat Teams predictable on the battlefield. Reforms in the last two years have distributed the type of units found to each galaxy and Cluster Combat Teams reformed into Arms. Instead of the permanent Cluster Combat Teams, the new Arms are designed to be task-related, with clusters rolled in and out dependent on need, granting the Mandrill Collective Touman much-needed flexibility. What we know about the formation of additional clusters for the current conflict is the First and Second Hussars seem to be formed from former Ender’s Cluster militia members, while the 3rd Hussars is made from Kindraa Stewart’s protection detail. With the reform into the Mandrill Collective, the names of many clusters will likely change as well and we will forward them as that information becomes available.

The Mandrill Collective Navy is technically a subordinate of the Mandrill Collective Touman, but is often treated as its own separate branch since before Natasha Faraday’s death. The Mandrill Collective Navy has proven to be a match to any other navy in the Inner Sphere in terms of training and combat preparedness, if not outright numbers, even with the combat losses it has sustained in the last month. It still remains a carrier and dropship-oriented force, but the presence of the Warrior-class battlecarriers in decent numbers now allow the Mandrill Collective the hard-hitting strength it truly needed. The beginning of January saw the full activation of the battlecarriers MCS All Dawn and MCS Fire Mandrill into the Mandrill Collective Touman, though their location is unknown at this time. Currently, Viborg Fleetyards is completing construction of two as-yet unnamed Cassandra-class support cruisers.

The Mandrill Collective Security Forces operate the many militia clusters of the Mandrill Collective and are not officially part of the Mandrill Collective Touman, but rather fall under the authority of the Loremaster. National militia clusters are easily identified from member clusters due to member clusters being named after the member (i.e. First All Dawn Militia, Second Timbuktu Militia). Interesting note is that member clusters cannot be activated for military operations without the approval of the member in question. All but one of the militia clusters seen during the recent conflict have been national clusters, though member clusters have all been reported as being activated for the duration of the recent hostilities.

Current strength:
9 Galaxies (39 clusters, separated into 13 current Arms)
8 Warships (with 2 more expected to be available by 3120)
MCS Warrior (Warrior-class battlecarrier)
MCS All Dawn (Warrior-class battlecarrier)
MCS Fire Mandrill (Warrior-class battlecarrier)
MCS Cassandra (Cassandra-class support cruiser)
MCS Ashstorm (York-class destroyer-carrier)
MCS Firebrand (Hakaze-class escort-destroyer)
MCS Firetender (Isis-class scout-carrier)
MCS Eye of Providence (Fox-III -class yardship)
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #1 on: 20 October 2022, 02:00:46 »
And the second part which was prompted by some back and forth between me and James Tanaga

12 Questions the Recent Star League Informational Didn’t Answer (And their answers!)
Author: Matthew Davion, Sovereign Regent of Mandrill Collective

1: Are the Fire Mandrills subordinate within the reformed Mandrill Collective or now the dominant power?

Tricky question to answer. With the former Rim Collection, the Mandrills were subordinate to the Rim Collection and was merely an important member. The new Mandrill Collective still affirms them as a subordinate member, but largely identifies them as the dominant military power within the new government. Thus, the introduction of the Clan Caste system across the Mandrill Collective in return for said Castes to be seen as equals (This will definitely chafe the other Clans), allowing for social mobility across the Castes, and allowing other members critical input into government decisions.

Quick answer: Dominant, but not decisive control of the Mandrill Collective. Forced to share internal power within the Collective and be mindful about other members' attitudes concerning military and foreign affairs.


2: What is the current position of Khan in relations with other senior Mandrill Collective government members?

The Fire Mandrill Khan oversees the Mandrill Collective Touman (their military) and is the senior member of the Warrior Caste in the Mandrill Collective Senate. They are in charge of all military operations and the foreign affairs of the Mandrill Collective, though the Senate, the Warrior Caste Council, or Congress itself can override the Khan. Through the control of those Bloodnamed who have either not named their Elector or those who selected the Khan to vote in their stead, the Khan wields great political influence within the Mandrill Collective.

Within the Collective, the Fire Mandrill Khan shares power with the Mandrill Collective President, Chancellor of the Mandrill Collective Congress, Supreme Justice of the Supreme Court, and lastly the Sovereign of the Mandrill Collective. The Khan has large degrees of political influence.

Quick Answer: Senior military and political official within the Mandrill Collective. Primary military leader of the Mandrill Collective. Shares power with other leaders, but political power has largely been rising since Clan Fire Mandrill became a member of the Rim Collection, as shown by the Collection reforming into the Mandrill Collective and this is expected to continue until a relationship between the military and civilian is largely consistent with established liberal Clan norms.


3: Nutshell answer of what each of the five senior leaders of the Mandrill Collective do? And who are they?

The President oversees the civilian executive government, the Chancellor oversees the legislative apparatus, the Supreme Justice the judiciary and oversight of the Watch, the Sovereign acts as the spiritual leader of the Mandrill Collective and Kindraa Leader of Kindraa Able, the Khan leads the military and foreign affairs. Each branch has input into the other via the Caste Councils and the Mandrill Collective Senate.

President: Damian Redburn
Khan: Jordan Truscott
Chancellor: Elizabeth Becker
Supreme Justice: Miguel Tomata
Sovereign: Victoria Able (Currently represented by Regent Matthew Davion)


4: What is the status of Clan Fire Mandrill's Clan Council with the currently seen political makeup? How politically powerful are Bloodnamed members and the Bloodhouses?

The Fire Mandrill Clan Council has largely been absorbed into the separate Caste Councils. Due to the recent reformation of Clan Fire Mandrill and the Rim Collection into the Mandrill Collective, voting power among members was especially important. Not wanting to potentially incite infighting and conscientious of Clan Fire Mandrill's growing influence within the military, it was ultimately decided in a quiet general referendum late last year to allow each Caste a vote on the national level and to reform the Mandrill Collective Congress.

The recent return of the Kindraa system and the importance of the Bloodnamed Warriors and Bloodhouses to said system means the Bloodnamed and Bloodhouses remain an integral part of the Mandrill Collective. The Bloodnamed Warriors and Bloodhouses assert their political control through the Kindraa and their unique vote in regards with the Caste Councils.

Quick Answer: Highly influential politically. It is expected their influence will continue to expand as the reformed Kindraa system stabilizes.


5: What are the Kindraa and their current status? Why are they important to the Mandrill Collective?

The Kindraa are a by-product of Clan Fire Mandrill from its time as a power in Clan Space. Formerly political-military organizations built around one or two dominant and numerous subordinate bloodhouses, the Kindraa save Kindraa Faraday-Tanaga were all but wiped out as Clan Fire Mandrill fought its way into the Inner Sphere. Later, the integration of House Stewart, the Sphinx Raptors absorption, and the recent joining of Ender's Cluster all helped prompt the reintegration of the Kindraa into Mandrill Collective society.

The Kindraa of the reformed Mandrill Collective are political-merchant entities for the most part. They help to centralize the many disparate political and merchant groups and provide them representation within the new government. Unlike Kindraa of old, the new Kindraa are disallowed from being or becoming military entities, though are permitted shared control over genetic legacies with that of the Scientist Caste. This allows the Kindraa a large, but overall indirect say, in society and government, and are expected to become the economic lifeblood of the Collective.

Essentially, the Freeborn of the Mandrill Collective form a Kindraa using a volunteering Bloodnamed Warrior or group of Warriors to provide genetic legacies in return for material and political return. Per established Fire Mandrill custom, the "father" DNA is allowed to be Freeborn. While Clan Laws does allow for this, it is safe to assume the Mandrills are easily the most liberal of this.

Quick Answer: Think of the Kindraa as a combination of the Noble Houses found within the Inner Sphere and the mercantile aspects of the Sea Fox Khanates who use the Bloodhouses and Bloodnamed to represent them in politics. Notable difference from prior Kindraa and those recently reformed is the clear disallowance of military assets and threat of Annihilation should this ever happen.



6: What are the names of the Kindraa? And are there Freeborn Kindraa?

Already in the dozens, but likely to begin coalescing around traditional Clan Bloodhouses within the next two years. There are Freeborn Kindraa, but as they lack control of Bloodnames, their political power will likely wane once the coalescing begins unless they either negotiate with a Bloodnamed to join them or one of their members win a Trial of Founding. Currently, only the Freeborn Kindraa Able, Redburn, and Sereal are certain to continue once this expected coalescence happens, though Kindraa Stewart's survival is likely.

Kindraa Able will continue due to its national name identity associated with the Rim Collection and now to the Mandrill Collective as their continued survival is needed to continue stabilizing the nation. Kindraa Sereal has already secured a coalition of minor Bloodnamed to join them and continues to ensure its political and mercantile dominance in the Ender's Cluster, so its survival is confirmed. As to Kindraa Redburn, President Redburn and his daughter have both already declared their intent on their respective Trials of Founding, each having the capability to likely win them, and Brienne Redburn has been confirmed to having a shared sibko with the legacy of Natasha Faraday. As to Kindraa Stewart, its survival is likely due to its continued political and mercantile support to Timbuktu and its protective detail being absorbed into the 3rd Rim Hussars.

Quick Answer: Yes

Clan Examples: Faraday-Tanaga, Truscott, Banacek, Nevversan, Showers, Matilla-Carrol, Goulet, Izumi-Quong.
Freeborn Examples: Able, Redburn, Sereal, Hall, Stewart, Howlett, Summers, Sisko


7: Explain the Mandrill Collective Congress and the Councils, specifically the allotment of each vote and how Clan Fire Mandrill and the Kindraa play into it? And is Congress and the Councils one or separate entities?

Altogether, each Caste Council forms a subordinate Council within Congress. Each Mandrill Collective member including Clan Fire Mandrill has 15 votes total set aside in the Rim Congress and the Bloodnamed the remainder. Within that allotment, each member has 1 vote dedicated to each of the Caste Councils. The remaining 10 are divided among each Caste depending on which Caste said Elector is from. (i.e. a Laborer Elector will join the Laborer Caste Council, a Warrior Elector to the Warrior Caste Council, etc). Voting is done by popular priority-selection.

Those Bloodnamed and thus the Bloodhouses and the newly formed Kindraa crucially control the Bloodnamed votes. Each Bloodnamed has a vote allocated to them dependent on Caste (usually Warrior Caste). Bloodnamed either vote in person or their Elector, someone entrusted to vote on their behalf. And most importantly, the votes of those Bloodnamed who are unable to sit in person, nor have entrusted their vote to an Elector, or are a Bondsman, are entrusted to the sitting Khan or the Khan's Elector when unable to vote. And finally, only the Bloodnamed can vote for the Khan and saKhan of the Mandrill Collective, ensuring that while both need not necessarily be Bloodnamed, they nearly always will be.

Quick Answer: Caste Councils are subordinate entities of Congress. Voting is convoluted and ensures Bloodnamed representation and firm control over who becomes the Khan and saKhan of the Mandrill Collective. Khn exercises vast political and military influence in the reformed nation.


8: What are the Adjutants and what do they do?

Adjutants are local leaders voted by the citizens and civilians of each world to act together as their local executive authority at the Membership level and a senior member from each Caste Council is delegated the authority at the Provincial level. While they wield broad executive authority over matters at the day to day level, they are subordinate to the will of the national government.


9: What are provinces and what are their names?

Provinces are an intermediate level of governance within the Mandrill Collective, in between the Member and National levels. Provinces are usually made up of nearby worlds and systems that often share regional issues with one another. Special Provinces (currently only Clan Fire Mandrill Enclaves) can be assigned if the national government deems necessary. The former Lyran systems taken in the recent conflict are likely to form their own Province once the recent conflict ends.

Provinces: 5 Official, 1 To Be Confirmed
Clan Fire Mandrill Enclaves (Special Province)
All Dawn Province
Ender’s Province
Caldarium Province
Erdvynn Province
Florida Province (Awaiting Confirmation)


10: What is the current status of the Clan Fire Mandrill Watch and is it active? If it is active, is its status to the other listed services in the informational? And if active, what is its strength in comparison to other powers and Clans?

Active. The Criminal Investigative Service, National Intelligence Service, Mandrill Collective Militia, Mandrill Collective Security Services, and select military units all combine to represent different aspects of the Watch in total. Additionally, the Watch counts each member's police, emergency services, and public medical services as subordinate elements. The Mandrill Collective Watch is led by the Loremaster and is a member of the Mandrill Collective Senate.

The Mandrill Collective Watch is noted for being strong in analytical and signal intelligence and has a heavy presence in counter-intelligence and domestic security operations. It is average in propaganda, espionage, and psychological warfare operations and is considered especially weak in on-the-ground direct foreign operations, forced to use allied and Clan-shared foreign intelligence assets. Overall, it is considered a respectable intelligence power.


11: Why is the Mandrill Collective expanding?

Two-fold answer. One is to safeguard the precious shipyards at Viborg. The other is to allow some breathing space so the Mandrill Collective can actively begin recolonizing abandoned systems. Once control over the former Lyran worlds have been solidified and the recent conflict has ended, the newly formed Kindraa will likely begin extending the number of Iron Wombs gifted to them by Clan Fire Mandrill and then continue the efforts to economically allow the recolonization to take place.

Quick Answer: Living space without the need to constantly keep an eye on their border as the Mandrill Collective is likely about to start a population boom and rather not have to worry about safeguarding one of their most important assets.


12: What is the Mandrill Collective's relations with the other Clans? Are they a member of the Tukayyid Grand Council? If so, why were they accepted? And how are they viewed?

Another tricky question to answer. They are Clan, but their acceptance among their brethren is mixed and tentative at best. So I will need to break this down.

Clan Status: As Kindraa Farday-Tanaga, they fought their way into the Inner Sphere with barely a galaxy-worth of Warriors. Claimed the Fire Mandrill mantle as their own soon thereafter. Tukayyid Clans grudgingly accepted their resumption as Clan Fire Mandrill once a successful Trial of Absorption took place against Clan Sphinx Raptor due to a technicality of some sort and warning them of the Society. This was publicly accepted via Grand Council decree. Clan status grudgingly confirmed.

Grand Council Membership: They do have a seat on the Grand Council. However, due to their subordinate role within the Rim Collection and arguable Mandrill Collective, said technicality, and their habitual disregard over certain Grand Council agreements concerning technology trading, their membership is tentative, and the Mandrills remain classified as a provisional member. Due to this provisional status, the Mandrills are known as neutral-minded in the affairs of the Grand Council and follow zellbrigen of their opponents, less they fall in favor.

Relations with other Clans: Due in large part to how they came to the Inner Sphere, the Fire Mandrills lack allies. Clans Sea Fox and Ghost Bear have created strong ties with them, the former due to the Mandrills bringing the last of their Clansmen in the Homeworlds along with them to the Inner Sphere and the latter both sharing a close bond of family with their lower Castes. The other Clans respect them for their continued survival yet animosity over their separate ejections from the Homeworlds and the Mandrills part in them and the Mandrills’ continued subordinate role and ultra-liberal attitude among the Clans make them unfit to sit on the Grand Council. Clans Hell’s Horses and Coyote in particular continue their historical rivalry with intense Trials of Possession against the Mandrills. Only the ultra-conservative Falcons remain their true enemies, their disgust of the Mandrills apparent in their Trials.

Quick answer: Murky at best. Clans Sea Fox and Ghost Bear are their allies. The others have a grudging respect for them and will deal with them honorably, but do not want them on the Grand Council. The Falcons hate them. The Grand Council as a whole is undecided but lacks the will to officially welcome or denounce them and instead favors them as a provisional member until the Fire Mandrills show their resolve to finally become an equal. The Grand Council is back to keeping an uncomfortably close eye on the Mandrills since Damian Redburn's announcement of the reforming of the Rim Collection and Clan Fire Mandrill into the Mandrill Collective.
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #2 on: 22 October 2022, 02:42:09 »
Carrying on with the timeline proper now with the first part a race featuring the Vector Storm motorcycle from TRO Lancaster (Thank you to the creator and the permission to use it)

This update sets us down a course I've wanted to investigate for a long time - thankfully James Tanaga gave me an idea when discussing the Fire Mandrills current predicament and Clan Smoke Jaguar gave me the motivation for it (let's have some fun)

First Race of Solaris Racing League
Exhibition Track, Dunnet Forest
Solaris, Independent Clan Space
3rd June 3118


   The coming of the Clans to Solaris had initially caused nothing but trouble for the Mech circuits and all the other sports based on the planet but that was not the case in recent years.  With the Clans and Star League Defence Force essentially sharing responsibility for the system everything was becoming more popular and that could not be truer than with the Solaris Racing League (SRL).  Following the smash success of the first season it had been decided that before the season began a high-performance racing aircraft would race against a Dreadnaught Interstellar Industries two wheeled Vector Storm V High Performance Motorcycle.  As the aircraft of the SRL were powered internal combustion engines it had been decided to use the enthusiast’s motorcycle instead of the pure racing fusion powered model the VI.  The spectacle was to promote the SRL but also the league’s sponsor Dreadnaught which would be putting on their own shows across the planet in conjunction with every race intending on promoting their civilian, support and military equipment across the planet.

   Before the race there was an aerial display from a group of ten turbine propelled aircraft from Noisiel.  The exhibition team “Spiraling Zeros” fly a half red half white aircraft and put on some stunning flying displays above the crowds before the race even begins filling the air with multi-coloured streams of air.  These aircraft were far smaller than the aircraft used in the SRL and they were a throwback to some sort of ancient design.

   The race itself was a simple affair Koskova Yartseva in her HL-15 Hellfish Light Attack Fighter would fly the regular Dunnet Forrest track with the Yartseva showing the crowd what they could expect when the actual race happened after while the Vector Storm which was designed to travel faster than the aircraft and at continue cruising at high speed would race around a longer track which went around the forest with its progress broadcast to all crowds on massive Tri-vid screens.  The Vector Storm and its driver Martha Alberchtsen were coloured blue and white while the aircraft was painted bright green setting the two apart.

   The lights went green and the two racers took off on their respective race Martha Alberchtsen was hallway along its raceway while the Hellfish banked and turned around the twisty course through the forest.  On the screens the progress of the two exhibition racers were broadcast to an excited crowd as the motorcycle reached the half way point it was ahead of Yarseva exited Nevis Tunnel entering the Hillhead Stadium to a cheering crowd.  The Dreadnaught built Vector Storm was slightly ahead as it moved under the Interstate Highway 16 and began to climb up over Ben Hob this played to Hellfish’s advantage as it did not have to travel up the hill instead continuing its flight.

   The Vector Storm entered the final stage of the race ahead of the Hellfish entering a modified Janet Porter Stadium the Hellfish banked above the motorcycle as it moved around the tight corners of the stadium having to move at a slower speed than the aircraft bringing the two to a near photo finish with the Hellfish moving across the finish line seconds before the Vector Storm.

Council of Clan Smoke Jaguar
Jaguar’s Howl, Twin Sons
District of Lesnovo, Free Worlds League
9th June 3118


   While the reborn elements of Clan Smoke Jaguar held territory throughout the District of Lesnovo their primary holdings remained on Twin Sons in their capital city which had been built in the equatorial sector of the planet.  There more than one million men, women and children lived most of whom had been born in the District of Lesnovo or the greater Free Worlds League and flocked to the banner of Clan Smoke Jaguar.  Some would learn from the Clansmen and become warriors within the Clan while others would serve its growing worker, scientific and merchant castes unlike the original Clan Smoke Jaguar the current Clan allowed these castes to follow their own paths as long as they benefited the Clan.

   Today all members of the Clan’s Bloodnamed castes had traveled to Twin Sons after being summoned there by Khan Petra Furey.  None of the warriors could miss the green and gold painted Arbitration-class Battleship Arbitration which served as the flagship of the fleet which was based out of Tukayyid and served as the Loremaster of the Clans personal transport.  The Arbitration could engage and destroy almost any other WarShip in known space with a good chance of victory and nothing the reborn Smoke Jaguars had could destroy the vessel.

   For weeks the Smoke Jaguars streamed back onto Twin Sons making their way to Jaguar’s Howl finally entering the Hall of Clan Smoke Jaguar on the required date. The Hall of Clan Smoke Jaguar was a perfect circle and had five tiers of seating which went higher with each tier the lowest ranking Bloodnamed would be furthest from the centre and the higher ranks would be the closest.  Microphones and speakers were built into the entire building so any warrior who wished to be heard could be.  Today standing in the centre of the room stood Khan Petra Furey dressed in the ceremonial uniform which was grey with the Smoke Jaguar crest on its chest, a black belt and black knee-high boots the uniform’s full cape was also grey on the outside with red underneath while on her head Khan Furey wore the head of a Smoke Jaguar, the face of the snarling car above her own.  Beside her stood a shorter woman wearing a similar uniform but this one coloured green on her head she wore the head of a Wolf, the Clan she had come from.

   “This is Loremaster of the Clans Sandra Ward” Petra Furey said introducing the other woman to the Clan’s elite warriors “she has traveled her from Tukayyid to address the elite warriors of Clan Smoke Jaguar.  Listen to her” she commanded them.

   “I am Sandra Ward; I was born a Wolf but I now serve as the Loremaster of the Clans and of the Clan Council which is held on Tukayyid.”  She said “Tukayyid was the Clan’s greatest failure, where our invasion ended, now it is our greatest triumph a world held equally by all of the Inner Sphere and periphery Clans.”  She stepped around the room looking up at the assembled Smoke Jaguar warriors “your greatest failure came after Tukayyid when your Clan died” she snarled looking at them all “the Smoke Jaguars ceased to be, annihilated by the Inner Sphere here and in the Homeworlds, joining the ranks of the fallen Clans.”  She taunted almost daring them to challenge her to a Circle of Equals “but that was not the end of Clan Smoke Jaguar.” She continued “somehow your people, your ideals survived and now you are on the cusp of your greatest triumph.  Cast off the dressing your Clan has collected, come to Tukayyid, reclaim your place within the Clan Council.”

---

   A week had passed since Sandra Ward, the Loremaster of the Clans, had made her challenge to Clan Smoke Jaguar and the debate between the Bloodnamed warriors was continuing.  Some of the warriors were angry that the Loremaster had challenged them to abandon their position in the District of Lesnovo and Free Worlds League while other Clans like the Mandrill Collective, Rasalhague Dominion and Raven Alliance had been allowed to maintain their connections to their partner realms and join the council.  Unfortunately for the Smoke Jaguars as Ward had explained in each case the Clan force was the dominant one, should the Clan decide the realm they were part of would cease to be, the Jaguars were not in that position with the Free Worlds League.  To rejoin the other Clans the Jaguars had to prove that it could stand on its own feet.

---

   A week later the debate still raged between the members of the Bloodnamed council with no clear favourite in sight.  In her private office inside the Hall of Clan Khan Petra Furey spoke with her saKhan Vanik Ismiril who towered over her as she hatched a plan to sway her Clan to her line of thinking.  Born to an Elemental Sibko Ismiril like all of the genetically modified infantry troopers of the Clans was taller than any MechWarrior could ever be, his muscles literally had muscles and there were few equals to him in hand-to-hand combat.  Vanik’s dark skin was virtually hairless something he prided himself on maintaining it regularly.

   “They will not miss me immediately.  The District’s politicians can run things day to day and the Clan is busy building up its forces and strongholds within this territory.”  She explained to him “once they do realize I have been gone too long there will be no choice but to reveal that I am no longer within the District.”

   “At which point you will likely lose control over the District” Vanik boomed “I do not have the pool to maintain that for our Clan.” Petra Furey was a power of nature she was charismatic enough to sway many non-Clansmen to their cause.

   “A necessary sacrifice” she said “you may be able to maintain control over the Clan however and with our enclaves across the District we will still hold some sway with the people of Lesnovo.  They allowed us into their space now we can take advantage of it.”  She said viciously smirking “use the people of Illion to help maintain security in the region, I will be taking the Streaking Mist, we will likely need her firepower.”

   “But to turn to them, why make such a call?”

   “Symbolism, our great rivalry put to bed for all to see once the truth is revealed our people together bringing what others have only dreamed.”  She said wistfully “the Loremaster said we needed to make a symbolic gesture to regain our position.  She was right we do and what better one for our people and all Clan peoples, it will win us support where we otherwise would not receive it.”

   “And you believe they can be swayed, Quiaff?”

   “Aff, outsiders far from the fight for Terra their Khan needs a symbol just as we do, we can prove that anything is possible I believe he will buy into that.”

   “And if he does not?”

   “Then I die, and the Smoke Jaguar continues.”  She replied in a matter-of-fact way “this exhibition will not end our Clan but it could inspire its future.  Just keep the Jaguars on the prowl until I return” Petra Furey commanded her saKhan.

Training Mission
Dentieth Pass, Dustina
Arcturus, Clan Hell’s Horses Occupation Zone
14th June 3118


   The green painted customized Timber Wolf cut through the formation of Hell’s Horses troopers but the OmniMech was not part of the scenario and its pilot was intent on killing as many of the Horses troopers as possible with its pulse lasers while calling in artillery barrages with its TAG laser.  Behind the Timber Wolf laid three of its gutted lancemates while a second lance of a Catapult, Adder, Ebon Jaguar and Shadow Hawk remained active in support.  In the air a Hawk Moth VTOL, Verwandlung, buzzed the Hell’s Horses formation.

   Tearing their way into the Clan unit the Timber Wolf targeted a Mars Assault Tank which held the commander of the unit.  From one of the Hell’s Horses units paired particle cannon shots flew high above the Timber Wolf tearing through the air into the Verwandlung tearing the back of the aircraft off completely.  In the cockpit of the Timber Wolf Dominic Nostra turned to see the VTOL spin out of control and disappear over a hill exploding in a ball of flames in the trees beyond, this contract had already been too costly he turned the Timber Wolf back onto the Mars lining up the TAG Laser but as he did a pair of gauss rifles savaged the left side of the OmniMech.  “You son of a…” he cursed twisting his OmniMech onto the vehicle, an Athena Heavy Tank and unleashed a volley of pulse blasts.

   The Athena took the attack and replied with two more gauss shots one fortunately missed the damaged Timber Wolf but the other slammed into the Bounty Hunter’s OmniMech just below the cockpit.  Lasers, missiles and autocannon slugs slammed into the Timber Wolf from the Mars Assault Tank causing damage all over the OmniMech as an artillery barrage from the Catapult consumed the Athena.  As it did a gauss rifle shot from the Athena tore through the head of the Bounty Hunter’s Shadow Hawk killing the red painted BattleMech’s pilot instantly.

   “The Bounty Hunter won’t fall today” Nostra said turning his Mech’s torso savaging the side torso of a Fire Falcon OmniMech.  He then continued his turn and fired more shots into the Mars which sat at the centre of the formation but the large assault tank had kept its front armour towards him and the thick armour held firm.

   “MechWarrior continue your assault; we are on our way to assist!”  Another transmission broke in from the Timber Wolf’s left flanking both the Bounty Hunter and the enemy Mars came a fifty-ton green and black painted Chalchiutotlin Urban Assault Vehicle its pulse laser and missiles engaging the heavier Mars but striking its weaker rear armour.

   “Identify yourself!” Nostra demanded firing more pulse shots into the weakening Mars

   “Arcturus Resistance, we may need a lift after this though!”

   “You’re paying for your travel right now.”  Nostra confirmed guiding an artillery shell from the Catapult down on top of the Mars.  The vehicle was consumed in fire from the artillery shell as pulse laser fire from the Bounty Hunter and the resistance vehicle continued to pound the vehicle.  As pulse lasers burned through the armour of the Mars.  “Mission complete let’s go, resistance stay close.”

   As they retreated through the formation of Hell’s Horses the Chalchiuhtotolin’s missiles, lasers and machine guns cut down enemy Elemental forces in their droves as they retreated.  The Bounty Hunter did not know where they had come from but the vehicle and its crew would be a worthy addition especially with the fall of Kafka.

Four of the Bounty Hunter’s team had been lost on this contract, the Bounty Hunter would need to start again.  Withdrawing into the Lyran Commonwealth Kafka’s support team agreed to take their retirement papers from the Bounty Hunter’s team and left the crew each of them agreeing to keep Nostra’s identity safe, knowing that should they betray that trust then they would pay the price with their lives.

Prison Breakout
Royal Foxx, Magistracy of Canopus
20th June 3118

   Small arms fire filled the air as the small team tore through the prison facility.  Their goal simple reach the high security section of the prison at all costs, killing anyone who got in their way, rescue their lost MechWarrior and escape.  Sparks flew from ricocheting shots and bodies fell on both sides as the team pressed through the facility.  Entering the prison block the guards were shot down at their posts while the team entered.

   “Release the prisoners, find Amanda” one of the troopers said turning back towards the doors aiming his gun towards the door.  Several of the others did the same while two headed into the cells gunning down another of the guards as they did.  A team of guards attempted to breach the prison only for them to be gunned down in a hail of bullets.  The lead trooper turned as his two troopers returned carrying a prisoner between them her face was a nasty mix of blue, red and purple from the beatings she had received but it was unmistakably Amanda Cavalcanti “good to see you.”   The masked leader said looking over the prisoner her navy jumpsuit was torn in several places and there was the hint of blood from injuries elsewhere too. “Those monsters, we’ll make them pay.”  He said glancing over her shoulder seeing several other prisoners “listen up you men and women, I don’t know why you are here or what you’ve done before today but you’re now free and you can come with us.  Or you can stay out of our way.”  Several of the prisoners moved to pick up weapons from the fallen guards readying themselves for a fight.

   The troopers and former prisoners fought out the same way that they had come in fighting their way back out of the facility the same way they had entered gunning down more guards as they did.  Moving back to the loading facility they continued to fight their way out of the building where two BattleMechs stood gunning down any infantry forces trying to get too close.  Beyond them more Mechs stood engaging the defenders.  “All Malcontents this is McCoy package secured, mission accomplished, we’re loading onto the APC and we’re leaving.”  They then fought their way clear of the base and back to their waiting DropShip days later a JumpShip was ready to evacuate them from the system heading back towards Whittington.  War had been declared the day that the Magistracy of Canopus had taken Amanda Cavalcanti away from Schyler McCoy and this round the Malcontents had been victorious.
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Wrangler

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #3 on: 22 October 2022, 05:24:07 »
Nice to see things carrying on. Can't say I like  Rim name being dropped and more Clan society rising.

Good writing, Dragon Cat!
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
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DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #4 on: 22 October 2022, 08:42:51 »
Interesting update
"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!"

truetanker

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #5 on: 23 October 2022, 23:40:26 »
Insert drool here...  :drool:

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
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Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
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David CGB

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #6 on: 24 October 2022, 02:27:55 »
Nice update, very interesting
Federated Suns fan forever, Ghost Bear Fan since 1992, and as a Ghost Bear David Bekker star captain (in an Alt TL Loremaster)

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #7 on: 27 October 2022, 20:19:09 »
Nice to see things carrying on. Can't say I like  Rim name being dropped and more Clan society rising.

Good writing, Dragon Cat!

Unfortunately for the Inner Sphere there's a few Clan states

Insert drool here...  :drool:

TT

Read this one... a reveal I've been working on for a long time (created the planning document for this in 2013 - first update)

Gravesite Pilgrimage
Gamma 1551 AW
Deep Periphery
4th July 3118


   Under the light of a yellow sun in a clearing on a battle-scarred jungle world once known as Barbados in the deep periphery two figures wearing full Star League-era combat armour with cloaks attached entered a small maintained grave site both carried flowers.  Across the planet there was wreckage from destroyed ships, BattleMechs and vehicles from a battle centuries before where thousands of people had died but not for conquest of the planet instead it was for the extinction of a people. Today there was no fighting instead it was a pilgrimage made by descendants of the survivors.

   The two figures made their way through the grave site until they reached a grave surrounded by sixteen seats over the grave was an archway with nineteen totem animals, the totem animals of the Clans.  “Why do we keep coming back to this world?  When the clans have not returned here in decades.”  The male warrior asked glancing over at the woman he had brown hair which had grown longer than a standard military formation would allow he was in his thirties.  The woman was around his age she had long ginger hair which was tied back behind her head in a ponytail.

   “Tradition” she replied “our ancestors died here to allow us to survive into today.”

   “And soon we will be revealed to have survived” he said “and all of those survivors will curse our existence, not that there are many of them left.”  He continued looking over the archway above the grave.

   “There are enough and they have expanded further than we could have expected, if we are revealed too soon, we will face trouble.”  She cautioned him “We won’t squander the chances we have and we will make the Clans remember our name.”

   “Kerensky’s Wolf has their back turned focused on Terra” he said smirking savagely. “The Clans have lost their Homeworlds and soon will lose everything else, we should cleanse the Homeworlds too. There are Clans there which need taught lessons, perhaps we should target them first? Do what the Clans cannot.”

   “Don’t get overconfident, one step at a time, the Clans have messed things up in the Homeworlds enough without us those worlds are not important right now.” The woman warrior said clearing flowers away from the gravesite replacing them with the flowers that they had brought with them.  “We are positioned to make our move on the Inner Sphere and stop the ilClan being formed” she said standing up looking back at the male warrior “we are the Inner Sphere’s only hope of stopping a Wolf led ilClan and if we stop one, rally the Inner Sphere, then we could stop them all.”

   “There is so much Clan space now in the Inner Sphere.” He replied “we might get our revenge on Kerensky’s Wolves but the others are closing on Terra as well.”

   “Aff, we could have moved sooner, helped the Inner Sphere, but we were not ready” she replied “you know this” she said becoming irritated by him they only had so much time to make their plan work.  Their teachings were clear their people had a duty to resist the formation of an ilClan at all costs.  The timeline of this intervention had changed with Clan Wolf moving their occupation zone away from the original invasion corridor now they could not simply position themselves between the Clans and Terra, now they needed to take another plan.

   “Our people descend from those that suffered under the Usurper, suffered following the Great Father and then his despot of a son, we have the outcasts of the Dragon, those that pillaged the periphery and those who explored it.  We have perhaps the most diverse culture mankind has ever known.”

   “And your point is?” The other warrior asked looking up at him from the grave.

   “When does the suffering end?”

   “We have a mandate to follow, it has been the plan since our exile.”

   “And when the Inner Sphere resists us?”  He asked looking at the female warrior “you know the Succession Lords will not simply turn over territory and the Spartans have learned that the Star League has not only been reformed but that it is powerful.”  He warned “I know our plan, and I support it, but our path isn’t as clear as it once was are we going to become the same conquerors that our Khan fought against.”  He asked invoking the title of the one and only Khan of their people, no-one had ever taken the title again after her death.

   “On the bodies that are buried on this world and every other we have fought on we owe them to hold to the course.  We will show the Inner Sphere that our people can protect them from madness of Nicholas Kerensky!”  She snapped “enough of this, we came here for a reason, we must fulfil our purpose.”  She said turning back to the grave her eyes looking over the stone at the Wolverine head emblem engraved at the top it was a symbol of their past, and a symbol of their promise.

   “Aff, Commanding-General Ebon” the other warrior said joining her in prayer.

Clan Hall, Goliath Scorpion Territory
Goldwater, Arizona
Deep Periphery
16th July 3118


   Deep in the heart of Clan Goliath Scorpion Territory on the world of Arizona saKhan Connor Rood entered the Khan’s appointment hall of the Clan’s command Hall in the city of Goldwater.  While the Goliath Scorpions alongside the Blood Spirits had retaken several of the worlds in the Homeworlds they maintained their strongest hold on the colony world of Arizona which they held exclusively.

   Today the righty year old saKhan Connor Rood entered his Khan’s office.  “My Khan” he said approaching Khan Freema Kirov the light of the office glistening off his shaved head.

   “How go the Sand Runners?” The Khan asked using his command’s nickname

   “Hellion Galaxy improves daily my Khan” Rood said looking at the Khan using the Galaxy’s adopted name the Galaxy had taken, of all the Goliath Scorpion units Rood’s Galaxy had the most orphans from former Clans with the majority coming from Clan Ice Hellion.

   “And what brings you back to Arizona?” She asked despite Rood’s age he was a powerful man within the Clan.

   “You brought me back to the Homeworlds now I want to pay it forward and bring other Clansmen back to the Homeworlds.”

   “We do not have the resources to continue sending troops beyond the Homeworlds while the Society remains a threat.”

   “There are men and women who were born as Clansmen.  I do not wish to take all of Hellion Galaxy only the First Cateran Cluster we will join with the Seekers, I know you have out there.  Our Clan needs trained troops” he said “and you need to get rid of me” he suggested “this will be my last mission for our Clan and I want to improve our strength not divide it.”

   “We will not be able to continue to support these adventures, Quiaff?”

   “Aff, my Khan I am aware. I will keep our command going by incorporating some of the warriors I redeem while sending others back to the Clan.”

   “Agreed” Kirov said quickly “good luck saKhan” they both knew she saw him leaving Arizona as a way of removing any sort of challenge towards her leadership.

   “I will make our Clan stronger” he said saluting her with his fist across his chest before leaving without another word.

Star League Deployment Base
Caph, Northwind EDZ
Star League Protectorate
21st July 3118


   After four years on the far-off Magistracy of Canopus world of Gallis Colonel Janina el Arguioui was finding her way around her office.  The last four years had been a busy four years her command the Integrated Combat Support Services had assisted the SLDF in building a new base on the periphery world. What they had built essentially amounted to facilities that rivalled a Castle Brian.  The SLDF at present had a regiment based on the world which had taken over from her Integrated Combat Support Services but the facilities there could easily house a full Regimental Brigade and support it for months in a reinforced series of bunkers.  At present the plan was to share the facilities with the local Magistracy of Canopus troops but what was only known to the SLDF and the Integrated Services was that the SLDF could shut down certain parts of the base, namely those which the Magistracy troops would be assigned to, and not compromise the bases defences.  They could then drive out the Magistracy forces and retake the full base with minimal casualties.  Arguioui did not see that scenario being a problem at present the Magistracy of Canopus was a very strong supporter of the SLDF and was sending as many new recruits as any other member state.  Life had also been busy for Arguioui herself while in the Magistracy she had gotten married and had a daughter making life even more complicated.

   “Colonel” Lt. Colonel Andreas Dandekar said from the door, he was her XO and the man who had turned the world of Caph into cleaner more habitable world while also expanding the forces she had left on Caph to nearly a full regiment of support workers.  As soon as Arguioui had returned to Caph she had promoted the man to Lt. Colonel for his efforts with her new family commitments she wanted to pass on more responsibilities to him after she negotiated a new contract with the SLDF.

   “Yes, Andreas” she said turning towards him

   “Commanding General Victor Focht, Colonel” he said stepping aside to reveal Victor Focht the commander of all of the Star League Defence Forces.  Andreas Dandekar was a mountain of a man an engineer before an officer he barely wore the official unit uniform instead favouring custom made overalls which he said fitted him better.  There was a joke around the unit he could match an Elemental in an arm wrestle while drinking the bar dry.  Their visitor was far smaller and looked slightly younger than the big man Victor Focht was a MechWarrior by training before rising through the SLDF ranks, she had planned to meet with him on Terra in a few months’ time, seeing him here was concerning.

   “Welcome to Caph” she said greeting him he was her employer but not her superior due to her command’s continued status as a mercenary registered unit.

   “Thank you, Colonel, congratulations to you on your marriage and the continued growth of your family” he said stepping into the office.  He wore the green day-to-day uniform of the SLDF with a red sash which was clasped by an SLDF Cameron Star.  “And congratulations to you as well Lt Colonel Dandekar on your promotion and your efforts here on Caph, you have done wonders here” he said looking at the other man who fought his body’s urge to blush in embarrassment.

   “Your praise is greatly appreciated” Arguioui said attempting to cover for Dandekar.  “Thank you, Lt Colonel I’m sure you have duties to attend to.”

   “Yes, Colonel” he said turning to leave the two in the room alone.

   “Actually, Colonel would you mind if he stayed a moment?” Focht asked looking at the retreating Dandekar as he began to sit down.

   “Of course, take a seat Andreas” the Lt Colonel nodded and sat down on a chair at the back of the room.  “Please Commanding-General” she said inviting him to continue.

   “As I said you’ve done incredible work on Gallis and here on Caph” he said “you’ve gone far and beyond the terms of your contract.  You have done very well but now the SLDF wants more.”

   “More?  Our people just spent four years in the arse end of the periphery” Arguioui explained unhappy with the prospect of further travelling for her unit. “We need time to rest and refit.”

   “Absolutely, and we plan on giving you that time.  The Integrated Combat Support Services might never have to collectively leave Caph again.” Focht offered “Colonel, I don’t want your command to travel around the Inner Sphere, I want to use your skills and your resources to train the next generation of engineers who can build a future for humanity.”

   “That sounds like a very long and expensive contract.” Dandekar remarked from the back of the room Focht turned towards him and smirked seeing the man’s motivations.

   “I want to offer something greater than a contract” he said turning back towards Arguioui “I offer your people the chance to leave a legacy on the entire Inner Sphere.”

   “You want to Company Store us?” Arguioui asked using the term when one of the Great Houses absorbed a mercenary unit into their forces.

   “Not quite, you’re not in debt to us, instead you would become serving members of the SLDF” he said glancing over at Dandekar who looked more intrigued than worried.  Your unit would continue to do what it has done for its entire existence, there are hot spots out there that need work, units that need supported built up.”  He explained “the worlds that make up the Protectorate are some of the heaviest fought over worlds in the Inner Sphere some of them need cleaned up, others we wish to fortify along the lines of Gallis and who better to be in command of building it than those that built Fort Gallis and restored parts of Caph?”

   “That’s a lot of responsibility.”

   “Yes, it is Colonel but your unit is one I think that can handle it.  As the command brigade of this new Division, I’d expect some of you to remain here continuing to restore Caph, coordinating the others and training new recruits.” Behind him he heard Dandaker make a noise, he clearly did not want to remain on Caph again.  “Others will want to take on challenges beyond Caph.”

   “That’s quite an offer Commanding-General.” Arguioui stated “but my people are not fighters, we have minimal combat assets.  The SLDF go to hot spots where trouble follows.”

   “I am aware which is why I am going to move the First Special Operations Group into your Division.  They will be the combat arm of your command, they can handle any unit in the Inner Sphere and Clans, but they also specialize in hot zone incident clean ups.”  He suggested the First Special Operations Group was originally formed by two mercenary commands the Devil’s Advocates and Killer Bees that specialized in asymmetrical warfare.

   “Our people will have to discuss this before we agree” Arguioui said the Commanding-General nodded his understanding “but I am leaning to suggesting that they agree to the proposal.”  She said “I think our people have found a home with the SLDF.”  She said over Focht’s shoulder she could see Dandaker nodding his agreement.

   “I will be on planet for at least a week Colonel, feel free canvass your troops before your decision.”

   “Thank you, Commanding-General” she said raising from her chair Focht and Dandakar followed suit with Arguioui reaching out shaking Focht’s outstretched hand.  Focht turned away a moment later ready to shake Dandakar’s hand as well but the large Major was already standing at attention when he turned with perfect military precision he saluted the Commanding-General showing exactly where he believed the unit were going.

   A week passed and the Integrated Support Services officially became part of the Star League Defence Force forming the core of a new support Division.  Colonel Janina el Arguioui remained in command of the unit taking a promotion to Lt. General with her responsibilities focusing on the command, recruitment, and training for further brigades for the Division, as part of these responsibilities she remained in overall command of the unit which was based on Caph and she was in charge of the continued clean-up of the planet.  Major Andreas Dandekar also received a promotion to Lt. Colonel taking over command of the newly formed Second Integrated Support Service Regimental Brigade which was formed primarily from the troops he had commanded on Caph during the unit’s deployment to Gallis.  The Second were being sent to Thorin with instructions to expand the SLDF fortifications and facilities on Thorin.

Forty-Fifth Star League Games
Solaris VII, Star League Stadium
Independent World
28th July 3118


   In the history of humanity there were buildings that never slept, cities that were active throughout the day and night and then there was Solaris VII, the Game World, at no point in the year was the game world “quiet” there was never a day on Solaris in the entire year that you could not make a bet on a live game where a MechWarrior, pilot, vehicle crew or fist fighter were fighting or racing for the win.

   Outside of the primary Solaris Game BattleMech season one competition had gained people’s attention the Star League Games since it was established in 3074 there had been forty-three previous engagements with forty-two winners.  Only in 3091 when the game had been interrupted by a terrorist attack and in 3093 when the games had been cancelled due to war commitments.  Originally taking place in Solaris’ Colosseum more recently it had taken place within the Star League Stadium, the newest and most advanced of all the stadiums on Solaris.

   The competition itself was open to everyone, as Solaris was jointly held by the Star League Defence Force and the Clans, and warriors from across known space traveled to the games to test themselves against other competitors. Due to it being an arena battle the regulars on the Solaris often did well but visitors to Solaris also had as good a chance as anyone who made their livelihood on the game world.

   This year the competition was dominated by visitors with exclusively Clansmen making it through to the final battle.  Star Captain Robin Kerensky of Clan Wolf, Star Commander Warner of Clan Coyote and MechWarrior Hampus of Clan Nova Cat were the final three standing warriors with Robin Kerensky’s Timber Wolf, Warner’s Linebacker and Hampus’ Shadow Cat the last fighters.

   During the battle with his short-range missile system empty Hampus Nova Cat ran circles around the two other OmniMechs sniping at them with the paired extended-range large lasers on his own forty-five-ton machine.  With the traditional dueling rules of the Clans abandoned in the melee of fighting the two heavier Mechs tried to split fire against each other and the speeding Shadow Cat.  The Nova Cat warrior continued to move and hit the other two Mechs wearing them down with pin-point laser fire which degraded thee two enemy OmniMechs to the point that they could no longer fight.  The with neither other two warriors were able to concentrate on one enemy the two heavier OmniMechs fell leaving only one winner.  A secret held by Hampus Nova Cat and his support crew was that Hampus was a member of a new breed of MechWarriors and was known as an “Elstar.” A trueborn MechWarrior bred to be better than the previous generation by focusing on one aspect of warfare in Hampus’ case this additional training was in the accuracy of his laser shots.  All of the Clans had begun to breed “specialist” MechWarriors and only time would tell if they were superior to the regular trueborn warriors.


 
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

snakespinner

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #8 on: 28 October 2022, 17:23:40 »
The Wolverines return, interesting, but now you'll never stop TT drooling. :D :beer:
I wish I could get a good grip on reality, then I would choke it.
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Growing up is optional.
Watching TrueToaster create evil genius, priceless...everything else is just sub-par.

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #9 on: 31 October 2022, 19:10:27 »
The Wolverines return, interesting, but now you'll never stop TT drooling. :D :beer:
but at least we can clean it up easier now.. 
"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!"

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #10 on: 13 December 2022, 09:09:24 »
After a health break and a recharge of the batteries I thought I'd give this one some more attention before the close of year. Hope you enjoy

In the tradition of this timeline I'm going to start this entry with a "Thanks" this time to the author of the excellent Project Lancaster Sumaire_STi who allowed me to borrow a unit or two and Dreadnaught Interstellar Industries for this AU.  In the next update a fun new Battle Armour the Vixen makes its debut.

Canon materials also continue to influence this AU and a couple of them appear in this update too

First Class, Battle Armour Orientation
Cameron-Jones Battle Armour School, Wallis
District of Regulus, Free Worlds League
9th August 3118


   The class of fifty-two cadets stood at attention as the next class of battle armour cadets waited for their training commandant to arrive.  In front of them stood a single battle armour suit which had a large double-barrelled weapon over its right shoulder it was a new design built by a new Dreadnaught Interstellar Industries Battle Armour plant here on Wallis named the Vixen BA-X1.  The Vixen which was at present being sold exclusively to the District of Regulus was planned to become the primary light battle armour suit for the armed forces units raised by Regulus.

   After a few minutes the Commandant stepped out he was a large barrel of a man with a completely bald head.  “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Jim Montgomery the Commandant of this training facility welcome to the Cameron-Jones Battle Armour School of Wallis.  Together you will be assigned to this school’s training unit the First Battle Armour Regiment you will learn how to pilot, how to fight and how to operate Battle Armour tactics here on Wallis before being transferred to units based across the District of Regulus.”  He explained to the gathered cadets the term ladies and gentlemen was a loose one with forty-four women standing in the formation and only six men that was due to the Vixen’s design which favoured smaller users and was incapable of being worn by troopers of a larger frame.  “This is the Vixen BA-X1 you will become intimately familiar with this design during your time here at this college.  You will then take it into battle as members of the Regulan Defence Force.”  He said as the trooper began to move forwards between the assembled cadets down the middle of the assembly hall.  “The Vixen is able to jump one hundred and twenty metres in a single bound, it is coated in stealth armour and armed with two over-shoulder David Light Gauss Rifles for striking enemy units.”

   In the crowd watching Duchess Rene Cameron-Jones the seventeen-year-old daughter and heir to Prince Lester Cameron-Jones stood.  Up until three months before she had lived in the District of McKenna with her mother Duchess Saadia Cheynov the Prince’s former wife.  On her return to Regulus Rene had demanded that she be allowed to serve the nation of her birth and her father had agreed to allow her to serve in the growing Battle Armour Corps. Looking at the Battle Armour suit Rene watched as the trooper reached up towards the shoulder mounted weapon as they did a handle lowered to meet the glove and the trooper was able to guide the weapon. Rene watched as the trooper turned scanning the gathered troopers its arm on the weapon, she immediately disliked the look having to use an arm to control the weapon was a serious design limitation.  But she had volunteered for this, her father had swayed Dreadnaught Interstellar Industries to build factory here in the District of Regulus and she would make the most of the new design.

Border skirmishes
Capellan March, Federated Suns
19th August 3118


   With Federated Suns units out of position in the Capellan March attending training exercises the Capellan Confederation and Taurian Concordat raid multiple worlds in force.  As part of a coordinated strike the Capellan Confederation strikes at the Ziliang salient while the Taurian Concordat strike at border worlds.

   In the Ziliang Salient the Capellans find the Eighth New Avalon Guards RCT, multiple militia regiments and mercenary commands.  Hit on multiple worlds and by overwhelming force the Eighth folds under the pressure as they attempt to resist the incoming Capellans.  With Capellan WarShips supporting the ground forces the Capellans quickly cement control over Uraven, Valhas, Homestead and Immenstadt leaving only Ziliang and Ambergrist standing in the face of the Capellans.  With no major industry on either world the Capellan March’s High Command order Ziliang and Ambergrist abandoned by the AFFS leading to a mass exodus from the population who flood the spaceports looking for a way off the planet before the Capellans gain full control.

   While not as successful as the Capellan attacks the Taurian Concordat are able to secure control over Brockway, Mithron and Amber Grove along their border.  Attacks against Hyalite, Lothir and Brusett are unsuccessful but it shows where the Taurians wish to expand.  From the Federated Suns point of view the resistance to the Taurian attacks is minimal, each of the systems targeted formerly belonged to the Taurians and the Federated Suns had invested minimally in the worlds since their conquest maintaining what was there but adding little else.

Trial of Possession
Fletcher’s Feast, Core Territory
Nova Cat’s Den, Periphery
23rd August 3118


Days after the capture of Xenia in the Federated Suns by Clan Nova Cat in a Trial of Possession the Federated Suns surprised Clan Nova Cat with a deep raid targeting the world of Fletcher’s Feast.  The world of Fletcher’s Feast had been part of the Nova Cat’s Den since its foundation when the Clan invaded what was the Tortuga Dominions and destroyed the pirates who inhabited the world.  The world had historically been too warm for human habitation, the limited water and vegetation had kept numbers down and life harsh but it also had great deposits of metals which the pirates had found useful so a continuous stream of people had been brought into the system.

In the time that Fletcher’s Feast was a pirate world the world had been the site of ammunition and petroleum production facilities but since the Nova Cats had come to the system the facilities the Federated Suns troops found there staggered them. Small settlements which once dotted the landscape had been replaced with massive cities which housed hundreds of thousands of people. The old facilities were still there with the petroleum refinery expanded and the ammunition production facilities expanded to supply the Nova Cat war machine dozens of buildings produced all the types of ammunition needed beside them was an extensive live fire area.  The Nova Cats had built an area dedicated to science with their own firing ranges, along with a massive aerospace fighter training complex with ground and orbital facilities catering for recruits.  Alongside the aerospace training complex was the largest Bavros Bloodhouse Sibko in the entire Nova Cat’s Den.  Against the backdrop of all these changes for the last sixty years a terraforming facility had turned the too warm windswept world into a greener one with rivers and lakes where previously there were none before.  While not the perfect world Fletcher’s Feast was thriving compared to when it had been a pirate world.

As the Overlord-class DropShip came down to land at the spaceport a solitary Naga II OmniMech stood opposing the incoming DropShip.  The Mech was painted with light blue arms and legs which were dotted with red stars the torso was painted in blue, yellow and green colours which were diagonally stripped with stripes leading from each arm and leg towards the centre of the torso the head structure was painted red. “I am Star Colonel Lucian, of Clan Nova Cat, I command the Fourteenth Nova Cat Vision Cluster which defends Fletcher’s Feast who brings this trial to this soil and what do you bring with you?”

“This is Major Daniel de Oliveira of the Federated Suns Rabid Fox Ninth team we declare a Trial of Possession for this system in the name of the Federated Suns.”  The male’s voice replied “I bring two companies of BattleMechs and a mixed company of vehicles and battle armour suits to this trial.”

“I counter this bid with a Supernova Trinary, and three Combined-arms Trinaries.”  The Nova Cat Warrior countered as the Overlord continued to vent gasses on the landing pad none of the doors had opened yet.  The combined forces of the Fourteenth Vision would easily be enough to counter the Battalion of troops the Federated Suns had taken to the battle even if they were an elite unit.

“These trials have been beneficial to both our peoples, we should not be wasteful of lives and equipment, I will counter this bid with my command company augmented by two Battle Armour Platoons.” Daniel de Oliveira said challenging the Nova Cat command to lower their bid reducing the number of combatants to twelve BattleMechs and thirty-two Battle Armoured troopers. Due to the ongoing trials with Clan Nova Cat all Federated Suns commanders had been instructed to attempt to minimise the damage caused by the trials and minimise losses in equipment and personnel.

“I will bid a single Supernova Binary augmented by a single point of aerospace fighters” Lucian said bidding ten BattleMechs and twenty-five Battle Armour troopers and two aerospace fighters, the aircraft were a simple addition which he would only use in an observation capacity, they would only come into play if the Federated Suns troops broke Zellbrigen

“Well bargained and done.” De Oliveira said ending the bidding as the Clans preferred, the more they honoured the Clan way the more likely they would get the result they wanted.

“The Trial will take place in three hours on the Steam Plains to the west of this spaceport.  You are invited to explore the Plains during the preparation time.”  Lucian explained before turning his Naga II OmniMech away from the Overlord.
The Steam Plains were a by-product of the terraforming process the water reserves buried deep within the planet had been released into the warm planet causing a near constant steam haze over the area.  The area would interfere with communications, sensors, and missile guidance the Nova Cat troops trained in the region regularly and it was only fair to allow the visitors into the area.

---

Three hours and thirty minutes later the two sides were in the middle of a huge battle and Star Colonel Lucian’s Naga II was in the heart of it.  Surrounded in weapons fire and steam Lucian leaned to the right and opened fire with his assault LB-X Autocannon filling the air between Lucian’s Mech and a Federated Suns Centurion tearing open the side of the fifty-ton BattleMech. Through the steam the Centurion attempted to avoid further fire but the Naga II’s Streak equipped short range missile rack maintained a lock further damaging the enemy Mech. Autocannon and laser fire from the Centurion flew back on the Naga II but the assault OmniMech’s armour could take it standing his ground Lucian added lasers to his counter attack not everything connected but enough did to end the Centurion’s fight.

“Star Colonel, Point Three, the remaining Federated Suns forces are combining fire.” The Huntsman pilot off to his right reported Lucian twisted his Naga’s torso seeing what the pilot was reporting seeing an Enforcer III and JagerMech III targeting the Huntsman he opened fire with his Mechs lasers on the JagerMech intending on assisting the Huntsman pilot while switching comm. frequencies.

“Archangel Point, Immolation Protocol” he ordered the two orbiting Scytha OmniFighters.  With the order given the two pilots dived into combat the two ninety-five-ton aircraft were loaded with short range missiles which were equipped with inferno munitions and plasma cannons.  The two craft dived through the steam targeting Federated Suns units setting the OmniMechs on fire and burning down Battle Armour squads where they stood. The two fighters using the steam as cover dived through the battle laying down short range missile and plasma fire before repeating the pass covering the targets in more fire until every Federated Suns unit was covered in inferno jelly. The tactic was a dishonourable one but Lucian was content with the fact that the Federated Suns had broken the rules of Zellbrigen first and now the Nova Cats would finish the fight. With their BattleMechs overheating the Federated Suns troops found it harder and harder to defend themselves against the Nova Cat attacks. Unable to effectively fight the remaining MechWarriors surrendered the trial leaving the Clansmen in control of Fletcher’s Feast. After the fighting and the final fighter attack only eight of the Federated Suns pilots and troopers survived the battle.

Meeting Room, Abandoned Firebase
Voltenna Island, Dieron
Star League Protectorate
29th August 3118


   The military facilities of Dieron had largely been decommissioned following the District’s absorption into the Star League Protectorate.  All the surviving military units had been recalled to their primary bases to be re-organised as Star League Defence Force units this had left plenty of spare bases for those needing a place to think and move forward with their lives. One such warrior was Tai-sa Harold Nakayama who had served the District of Dieron before being critically injured and evacuated to Dieron.

While receiving the best of care from the District and Star League doctors Harold Nakayama had learned the truth regarding the war with the Rasalhague Dominion how the Draconis Combine had started the conflict using a mercenary unit to conduct a false-flag operation. Although he had been offered a commission as a Major within the Star League Defence Force Harold had refused the commission instead, he had taken his family-owned Archer and retreated to this firebase.  In the last few months, he had assembled nineteen others who felt the same way as he did and now it was time to declare their intentions.

Although his dark hair was beginning to lose its colour, turning grey with age, he still wore it in the traditional Draconis Combine topknot he wore a traditional Draconis Combine outfit which was coloured brown and had no insignia.  Entering the meeting room, he saw the other nineteen members of the command “Thank you for all attending” he said “you have all decided that you cannot continue to serve with the Dieron Regiments now that they are joining the Star League Defence Force.  You all agree that while the Rasalhague Dominion ravaged our nation that it was the Draconis Combine and their mercenaries that truly doomed our nation.”

“Death to the mercenaries!” Several of the gathered members called out in unison echoing a call once made by Coordinator of the Draconis Combine Takashi Kurita. It was a call that had been made after the Wolf’s Dragoons embarrassed the DCMS by standing up to them and resisting their efforts to destroy the unit.

“We will have no support in our mission” Harold Nakayama warned “Nakayama’s Blood will be a command with no home and no lord. We will be Ronin warriors.” He said meeting each of the MechWarriors eyes making sure they understood exactly what they were proposing.  They would take what they wanted and they would hunt down mercenary commands, specifically those under contract with the Draconis Combine but all such units would be forfeit in the eyes of the command.”

“Death to the mercenaries!” The group called out a second time this time all of them had spoken together.
“Your call is heard; I have spoken to a JumpShip captain he is willing to ferry us and our DropShips between the stars. Our hunt is on.” He said the Nakayama’s Blood, Ronin warriors, were now alone cutting their ties with their past they looked for revenge against those who they believed had wronged them intending on taking what they needed from their targets. To show their disdain for the nation that had destroyed their home every BattleMech in the command was one which had been produced within the District of Dieron or Draconis Combine and the entire unit was devoid of Clan technology.
« Last Edit: 25 February 2023, 20:44:37 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

marauder648

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #11 on: 13 December 2022, 15:05:25 »
Bloody superb stuff, just been catching up with the updates, great writing and world building as always :)
Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #12 on: 13 December 2022, 19:48:51 »
Nice to see the Smoked Kitty still cheating.. 
Naga II, a clan assault mech right, dueling by clan rules a IS medium mech - Centurion Yeah that a honorable fight.   ::)
Might have jumped the gun on turning it into a grand melee, because the ones who should have be reporting issues were two orbiting Scytha OmniFighters for observation capacity. 

Fed Sun Commander was dumb for not "bidding" an Aerolance for observation capacity/protection
"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!"

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #13 on: 13 December 2022, 21:01:07 »
Nice to see the Smoked Kitty still cheating.. 
Naga II, a clan assault mech right, dueling by clan rules a IS medium mech - Centurion Yeah that a honorable fight.   ::)
Might have jumped the gun on turning it into a grand melee, because the ones who should have be reporting issues were two orbiting Scytha OmniFighters for observation capacity. 

Fed Sun Commander was dumb for not "bidding" an Aerolance for observation capacity/protection

On your point there I actually wish I'd expanded the battle a bit, the Centurion was his second or third opponent.

Due to telling it from the Nova Cat side the Federated Suns rationale was that the Steam Plains would make strafing runs impossible due to the thick clouds of steam.  They thought the Nova Cats were using them as spotters to guide them to targets thinking the aircraft would be useless hindsight being what it is they should have taken aircraft.  What they didn't expect (you're right) the Nova Cats to (cheat) I mean use them they way they did and lay down thick coats of inferno munitions to blanket the Federated Suns forces not needing to target units directly.
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #14 on: 14 December 2022, 01:11:08 »
On your point there I actually wish I'd expanded the battle a bit, the Centurion was his second or third opponent.

Due to telling it from the Nova Cat side the Federated Suns rationale was that the Steam Plains would make strafing runs impossible due to the thick clouds of steam.  They thought the Nova Cats were using them as spotters to guide them to targets thinking the aircraft would be useless hindsight being what it is they should have taken aircraft.  What they didn't expect (you're right) the Nova Cats to (cheat) I mean use them they way they did and lay down thick coats of inferno munitions to blanket the Federated Suns forces not needing to target units directly.
that would make it a better "honorable combat" of course clan Honor really is only what they claim it is..  IE how they win easy. 
"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!"

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #15 on: 24 December 2022, 09:54:53 »
An update for Christmas, everyone who reads this timeline if you celebrate it I hope you have a Merry Christmas

Border skirmish
Fujidera, District of Oriente
Free Worlds League
6th September 3118


   During what should have been a confidence boosting trip around the District of Oriente the twenty-four-year-old leader Duchess Sophie Halas becomes embroiled in a border skirmish with raiders from the Capellan Confederation.  While the defenders of the world, the Sixth Fusiliers of Oriente Regiment, seemed to have the battle in hand the Duchess chose to join the battle appropriating a sixty-ton Anzu BattleMech from the Sixth’s stores.  While she was trained as a Land-Air-Mech pilot Sophie was more than capable of piloting the heavy Mech and had joined the Sixth’s battle line.

   The chain of events which followed were the result of a chain of failures from Oriente Intelligence and a well-crafted plan by the Capellan Confederations Maskirovka.  Drawing the Duchess and her protection lance into a battle which they could not immediately disengage they trap the unit in place with a suppression barrage of artillery which cuts the Duchess off from the Sixth Fusiliers of Oriente.

   Sophie Halas fights for her life as the Capellan Confederation pour in fire from every side in a slowly tightening noose as the Sixth attempts to break through with reinforcements. In a battle that essentially guts the Sixth’s fighting strength as it attempts to battle through the thick artillery screen.  Three hours into the battle autocannon flak penetrates the Anzu’s cockpit and Sophie Halas, Duchess of the Oriente Protectorate, is instantly killed inside the sixty-ton BattleMech.

   With their Duchess dead on the battlefield and the Sixth torn to pieces by their multiple attempts to penetrate Capellan Confederation lines the battle turns into a rout with District of Oriente forces streaming towards their DropShips in retreat and disarray.  A raid and assassination attempt becomes an occupation as the Capellan forces allow the Oriente forces to retreat.

---

   Three days later a flustered aide rain into the Mechbay where Ralph Halas was assisting technnicians on one of the Halas family Persus OmniMechs.  “Sire! I bring important news on your sister” the young dark-skinned woman shouted up towards him. Ralph stood on a gantry watching the techs, he wore his blonde hair down to his shoulders and wore a grey jumpsuit, he looked down at the woman who wore a grey suit.

   “What is it, Amanda?” He nearly snapped, the last thing he needed to hear was how his big sister was growing her strength in the District of Oriente. He had a lot of respect for her but he also believed she was stumbling in the dark as she attempted to lead their small nation.

   “Sire, the Capellans ambushed her unit on Fujidera, she was killed in the ensuing firefight.” She reported “the Capellans have taken over the planet and driven off our people. I’m sorry for your loss.”

   “Where is Javier?” He demanded immediately asking about his twin brother they were both twenty-one years old, almost twenty-two as he had reminded his sister several times, neither had enlisted in the military but both had received extensive BattleMech training even after their joyride in 3100.  Both their father and elder sister had insisted they knew how to defend themselves.

   “I… I… I don’t know sire” she stammered over the words

   “Find him!” He shouted “Now!” Amanda ran off as quickly as she could.  Ralph was right to be concerned, an aide of Javier’s had informed him of their sister’s death at approximately the same time and already Ralph was in the process of contacting media outlets not to commemorate their sister’s passing but to declare himself the rightful ruler of the District of Oriente.  Ralph, on hearing of his brother’s actions, acted quickly and declared himself the true ruler which sets the two brothers on a collision course.

   As the District of Oriente teeters on the brink of invasion and potentially civil war elsewhere in the Free Worlds League Duke Anson Marik, the eldest child of Captain-General Joseph Marik and Duchess Lucy Marik, joins the District of Marik’s military training program.

Ruling Council Meeting
Jetheitania, Zeta Atheni
Zeta Quadrant Periphery
11th September 3118


The four leaders of the Zeta Quadrant worlds were sat in their council chambers on the outskirts of Jetheitania when the doors opened and a tall figure wearing a full set of infantry combat armour with a grey cloak which was draped over the uniform and over their face strode past the two guards who stood just outside the door. The cloak was open at the front but it was still closed enough to conceal any markings. “Thank you for gathering.” The cloaked figure said by her voice they could tell she was a woman but nothing else “I am here to inform you that the mercenary units within your nation have been disarmed. Most of them realized they were outgunned and surrendered with little or no loss of life…”

“Glad to see the money we paid them meant so much” Richard Mashida said interrupting the figure, he was dressed in a navy-coloured suit.

“…they were hopelessly outgunned. Those that resisted died with no chance of survival.” The figure said continuing.

 “With our agreement made we will now take over full responsibilities for your defence.” She explained “you will continue to be the face of your planets. You will inform anyone who asks that you are still defended by the same mercenaries that previously defended you.”

“But if you have the power that you claim, we could be far better placed!” Council member Rachel Marshand protested, their new partners claimed to have great power, enough to resist the Cirincus Federation and nearby Rim Collection.

“Council woman this will be your one warning.” The figure said “any deviation from our instructions will result…” she suddenly stopped speaking looking at them she removed her cloak revealing she had white, near albino, coloured skin, someone who had spent little to no time under a planet’s sun. She had ginger coloured curly hair which was pulled back and tied into a pony-tail and she appeared to be in her thirties. “A warning with words is not enough I can see, fine” she said with some finality she drew her sidearm aimed it at them and fired four times in rapid succession striking each of the council members in the chest with a slug throwing weapon. The figure did not make a step but turned on the spot and dropped to one knee as the two guards rushed inside, she didn’t hesitate and fired twice more gunning down both men in rapid succession.

Standing back up she glanced over the dead council members again for a moment before re-holstering her weapon and drawing out a communicator. “One to Two, Elections” she said before turning on the spot and marching out.  That afternoon the four former members of the council were reported lost in an atmospheric aircraft crash in Zeta Atheni’s atmosphere. In the days and weeks that followed four new “Ruling” members were elected to the Council each of them was far more agreeable to the changes which had been made to the nation. While each of them had lived on their homeworlds for their entire lives all four were not just natives of the worlds but also agents of the new ruling force. Their first ruling was that the four ruling council members could not be on the same aircraft atmospheric or aerospace in the future. To maintain the ruse that Zeta Quadrant was defended by the same forces than previously the mercenary unit’s forces were used as part of the defence force and all their colours were adopted by any newly arrived forces.

Landing Sequence
Raider’s Roost, Tortuga Prime
Nova Cat’s Den, Periphery
20th September 3118


In formation four Union-C type DropShips each bearing the crest of Clan Smoke Jaguar burned towards the surface of Tortuga Prime landing near the former capital of the planet Raider’s Roost.  When they had arrived in the system Khan Petra Furey, the leader of Clan Smoke Jaguar, had identified herself as a passenger of the lead vessel. She asked for and was granted Safcon and allowed to land around a barracks facility on the planet’s surface. The long journey from the Free Worlds League to the Nova Cat’s Den had been a hard one Khan Petra Furey was not a fan of space travel at the best of times and was just glad to have a planet under his feet even if it was a desolate rock like Tortuga Prime.

All the Smoke Jaguars knew about Tortuga Prime came from the information brought to the Smoke Jaguars by the rogue Nova Cat unit, the Fifteenth Battle Cluster, they knew that Tortuga Prime had been the first world of the former Tortuga Dominions captured by the Clan but that they had all but abandoned it turning it into a live-fire range. That was not to say that there was no population on the planet, there were several thousand people who lived in the system. These people were captured prisoners of the Nova Cat Clan who had not adapted to Clan life, raiders, pirates, members of their own Dark Caste were often marooned there, they were given enough supplies to survive and live their lives but otherwise left to their own devices. To secure the system the Nova Cat’s had often up to two Clusters of Warriors on the planet to maintain order and stop all out wars breaking out between the factions, while a WarShip or multiple assault DropShips were also assigned to the system ready to shoot down anyone who attempted to rescue those that had been left on the planet.

---

For three days the Smoke Jaguars were made to wait in a barracks facility which the Nova Cats maintained on the base.  From what her people could tell, based on items left on the base, the Nova Cats had previously held a Federated Suns command at the facility. Walking around the facility Khan Petra Furey was getting more and more annoyed by the wait before there was noise outside the facility looking out the windows, she saw a group of Nova Cat OmniMechs and Elementals burning down towards the surface. “A little show from our hosts” she whispered seeing the Dragon Cat OmniMech in the lead coming in for a landing, the seventy-ton OmniMech was painted black with gold and red highlights like a Nova Cat’s mane when it was ready to attack. “Welcome Khan Rosse” she said satisfied she had gotten the response from the Nova Cat’s she had expected.

Soon afterwards Khan Canin Rosse and his security force entered the facility. There were other Nova Cats here before he had arrived but they had given the Smoke Jaguars a wide berth so far now she was face to face with a Khan of another Clan, one which was far superior to her own. “Welcome to Tortuga Khan Rosse” Petra Furey said as the Khan entered. The two of them could not be more different Khan Canin Rosse was eighty years old, while he looked healthy, fit, content with his position, and he appeared to have seen a lot he also had many of the scars to prove it, he was dressed in a plain black-and-gold coloured jumpsuit while Petra Furey was twenty-eight years old, full of energy, drive and desire. Her jumpsuit was grey in colour but she had fur lined over the shoulders and down the arms, it wasn’t Smoke Jaguar fur but it was a star and a link to what her people needed to be, what the Founder had designed them to be.

“Thank you, Khan Furey, you are a long way from home” he noted entering the meeting room, the room doubled as a mess hall for Furey’s people while they were here. They had moved the tables and chairs which were in the room to the far side. “It is impressive that you were able to make it to Tortuga without being detected” he said walking between the Jaguars who were with Furey “and you have brought interesting company.” He said stopping beside a young woman with short blonde hair and a denim jacket over her jumpsuit on the shoulder was a unit patch the insignia of Clan Nova Cat with a BattleMech’s silhouette superimposed over it and the number “15” above it. “You MechWarrior are too young to be a member of the Fifteenth Battle Cluster.” He said ignoring Petra Furey to look at the woman who could not have been older than twenty-five years old.

“Aff” she responded looking at him “I am Star Captain Kimberly Higall, Lost Ones Cluster, Liger Warriors Galaxy. ovKhan” she answered using the term to honour her superior.

“Higall is a Nova Cat name, for a Nova Cat unit.” He said nodding towards the unit patch.

“I took my grand-father’s name Khan Rosse, I have fought with honour under his name.” She said defiantly.

“I believe you, but you are not a Bloodnamed warrior yet.” He said turning back to Khan Petra Furey “as I said Khan Furey you have impressed me enough to listen to you.”

“I need your assistance Khan Rosse” Furey said watching the older Khan’s movements around the room before he returned to where he first stood. “A representative of the Clan Council approached my Clan and intimated that it may be time for the Smoke Jaguars to re-join Clan society.” She explained

“I am a member of that Council; and I am aware of this offer.”

“Good, but my people are not ready for this yet.” Furey said glancing down not out of shame but in thought “my people need a true link to our Founder.” She explained raising her arms “you are correct Khan Rosse I did bring the descendants of your Fifteenth Battle Cluster on this mission because they are a link to our past as a true Clan. But I also want some true links to being the Clans and to make a bold statement about our return.”

“A worthy goal” Rosse said approvingly but giving away nothing with his words or his body language instead the elder Khan stood still resting. She was able to study him while his age was advanced and there were signs of deterioration he still stood steadily and proudly, she had little doubt he could fight right now if he needed to. Other Clans, her Jaguars included would relegate warriors his age to garrison duty, but the Nova Cats had always continued to use their warriors beyond others.

“I want to prove to the Clans that the Jaguars are ready to take their place within our society and that we can prove our worth.” She explained “unfortunately I need Nova Cat resources to complete the mission I have in mind.”

“Which is?” Canin Rosse asked his curiosity peaking as she began to explain her thoughts.

“I will not disclose it now, but I will credit the victory to your Clan as well as mine” she promised him, Rosse did not look convinced by the promise of words. “I will also offer you the rights of isorla, for anything your Clan wishes to salvage from the mission.”

“You believe your prize will be of interest to us?” Rosse wondered out loud as Furey continued to speak.

“Aff, you will find what I want to target to be very interesting. But to sweeten the deal I am willing to give your scientists access to our Advanced Gun System immediately.” She offered the Mech-sized weapons were half the weight of normal weapons. While they had limited applications, they did give different weapon options to standard BattleMechs which could offer tactical options.

“And what is it you need from my Clan to prosecute this mission?”

“Your Clan’s Storm and Dezgra.” She said smiling broadly as she saw she had caught the elder Nova Cat Khan by surprise.

“Why would you need either of those units?” Rosse asked the Nova Cat’s Dezgra command was the Third Watch Cluster, they were so named because of their use of BattleMechs, Battle Armour and vehicles which employed stealth armour and sneak attacks directly against the rules of Clan honour.  While the Storm was the Nova Cat’s one and only operational Bug-Eye class vessel a ship which was useless in combat but vital in intelligence gathering missions.

“A mission of the utmost importance, and one with rewards that cannot be underestimated.” She promised him “it will not be without peril; we may lose some of our assets but we will gain rewards which I guarantee none of the Clans in the Clan Council have access to from a place that none of the Clans have been willing to go.”

“You have piqued my interest. What naval escorts will our people have?” Rosse asked now honestly willing to consider the operation.

“I have none to give.” Furey admitted “I will use the Storm to scout for our JumpShip and avoid any targets.”

“There may be naval assets at your target quiaff?” Rosse challenged now angry that the Smoke Jaguar leader was being so cavalier about her apparent important mission.

“Aff” she admitted “we can only take what we have to take.”

“And if there is a hardened asset over your target? Will you run away with your tail between your legs?” He challenged her stepping closer “or do you want to fight? I have naval assets I can detach to assist in your quest.”

“In exchange for what? I have nothing else to give you Khan Rosse. My Smoke Jaguars while proud are not the Clan which was your Clan’s equal once. We are rebuilding I want to complete this mission to help in that not squander more strength.” She said becoming angry at the suggestion.

“Information on your mission, what we could encounter? And what you are looking for? And blood.” He said looking at the younger Khan and the others in the room. “I will maintain the secrecy of what you plan until you are ready to release the information.” Petra turned and walked away from Khan Rosse angrily flailing her arms in the air as she moved, other members of her Clan get out of the way allowing her to move around the room. The thing that angered her the most was that she knew he was right.

“I wish to return to Huntress.” She said looking away from Khan Rosse before turning around “I wish to salvage at least one ProtoMech assembly line for my Clan.”

“You could salvage that anywhere, Quineg?” Rosse asked confused Huntress was a lofty goal but it could not be the only reason.

“Neg, I want one that the Smoke Jaguars built, we pioneered the technology, I want our birthright back.” She said “I also want to salvage any Society or Clan technology we encounter in the Homeworlds and gain intelligence.” She explained “we will give that to the Clan Council as our giftake when we re-join the council.  As for blood I will not dilute what we have before we head on our mission.”

“Tortuga is a testing world each of you that claims a Bloodname will fight for that honour. If you succeed the Nova Cat Clan will recognize you as being a founder of that line within Clan Smoke Jaguar giving you the honour of the Bloodnamed in the eyes of all the Clans. Those that fail will be consigned to history, you may retain your names in your own company but we will not recognize them.” He explained looking at all the warriors “as for blood” he said drawing a dagger from his belt opening his left palm he drew the dagger across his palm. “You are so challenged”

“Well bargained and done Khan Rosse” Khan Petra Furey said drawing a dagger of her own agreeing to the Khan’s terms taking up the challenge, each of her warriors did the same.

---

Over the course of the next week each of the members of the Clan Smoke Jaguar party fought against members of Clan Nova Cat in simulated battles. Many of the warriors had been defeated in battle but eleven including Kimberly Higall had been successful so far. Today Khan Petra Furey herself proved that she was the warrior that they all believed in.
Moving her Shadow Cat OmniMech through the urban battlefield on the outskirts of Raider’s Roost the forty-five-ton OmniMech’s advanced active probe tracking a fast-moving Nova Cat Locust IIC. She twisted the OmniMech’s torso expecting the Locust to appear but nothing appeared “damned ECM!” She snapped realizing she had been tracking a fake signature as she realized the Locust IIC ran past her Mech’s back spitting fire pulse laser at the Shadow Cat’s back. Petra Furey launched her OmniMech into the sky carried by its jump jets twisting the Mech as it took off Furey opened fire with both arm mounted lasers, one of the green lasers burned down the side of the Locust while the other went wide. The Shadow Cat came in for a landing and Petra continued to stalk the lighter Mech, even though the Locust IIC was half the size of the Shadow Cat the pilot was clearly one of the Nova Cat’s best.  Choosing an aggressive strategy, she ran the OmniMech through the ruined city making herself a harder target, the Locust was faster and was shrouded by ECM but the Shadow Cat had advanced sensors and Furey was confident in her abilities.

As she prowled the area searching for her prey the two Mechs stumbled into each other on one of the broken streets. The Locust pilot unleashed a volley of pulse lasers the sensors indicating that had they been at full strength they would have burned several parts of the armour but failed to penetrate the armour. Petra’s returned fire with a simulated gauss rifle shot which simulated a torso hit, the gauss slug would have penetrated deeply into the Locust and damaged the fusion engine irreparably. With the Locust disabled Petra had proven that she was a Clan MechWarrior in the eyes of her peers but that was not enough, moments later a Goshawk II walked past the disabled Locust and opened fire with its large laser and pulse lasers the large laser went over the low-slung Shadow Cat while the pulse lasers pitted the armour in several places.

With the gauss rifle recharging Petra opened fire with both lasers causing simulated burn damage to the Goshawk II’s right torso, Petra immediately jumped her OmniMech over the enemy Mech. The Goshawk II was a humanoid BattleMech which was built by the Snow Ravens but the Nova Cats had obviously gained this one through combat or trade. Landing behind the Goshawk II Petra twisted the BattleMech’s torso trying to bring the gauss rifle in line but the Goshawk II was already prepared blocking the twist with its arm the gauss slug flew harmlessly into the air heading into a nearby building. The Goshawk II’s pilot fired its pulse lasers at the Shadow Cat causing damage but still not penetrating the armour Petra screamed angrily turning her laser equipped arm onto the Goshawk II firing both lasers into the target. The Goshawk II staggered backwards slightly and Petra followed it up by stepping into the other Mech punching out with the same arm knocking the Goshawk backwards, the pilot was unprepared for the punch the Goshawk II stumbled away its arms flailing Petra took advantage launching another gauss slug into the medium BattleMech’s torso. She followed up with both lasers again further damaging the enemy Mech. Petra screamed viciously stepping forwards at the stumbling Goshawk II hitting the Shadow Cat with another gauss rifle shot at near point-blank range before activating the OmniMech’s jump jets jumping into the nearby enemy Mech kicking it knocking it to the ground as it fell the left leg twisted and snapped below the knee. While the weapons fire had been simulated to this point the physical attacks, she had engaged in had damaged the Goshawk and now it laid on the ground disabled.

“Two down” she said further rising her name’s honour just then a Nova Cat OmniMech, her final challenger stepped into the fray. Two particle cannon blasts rocked the Shadow Cat almost immediately as one manmade lightning blast hit the left leg and the other on the right arm. Immediately the seventy-ton OmniMech opened fire with three large lasers from the its other weapon arm these burned into the Shadow Cat’s arm which held the Mech’s gauss rifle. The weapon slowly pointed towards the ground its links to the cockpit disabled by the simulated damage. Ever the Smoke Jaguar Petra continued to fight defiantly firing her lasers into the enemy Nova Cat causing damage to the OmniMech. Unfortunately, it was nowhere near enough and the Nova Cat stepped forwards opening fire again with an “alpha strike” the simulated damage washed over the Shadow Cat disabling system after system as Petra was jolted around the cockpit before the whole cockpit went dark defeated.

---

Eight days later the Smoke Jaguar’s JumpShip, along with a Nova Cat Carrack-class Transport the Eon Trespass and a Drake-class Corvette the Foxhound jumped out of the Tortuga system heading into the periphery. The Eon Trespass carried two DropShips which served as transport for the Third Watch Cluster, the ship had also been chosen to support the mission carrying supplies and serving to transport anything that they encountered at the end on Huntress. The Drake-class was a capable Corvette which was carrying several assault DropShips which would escort the Corvette and the ground forces should it be needed. While the Nova Cat forces outnumbered those that the Smoke Jaguars had taken they had agreed that this was Khan Furey’s mission and planned on following her orders assuming that they did not put the Nova Cats in any undue danger.
« Last Edit: 25 February 2023, 20:45:32 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

snakespinner

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #16 on: 24 December 2022, 16:38:07 »
Merry Christmas DC. :beer:
I wish I could get a good grip on reality, then I would choke it.
Growing old is inevitable,
Growing up is optional.
Watching TrueToaster create evil genius, priceless...everything else is just sub-par.

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #17 on: 10 January 2023, 19:18:16 »
Opening Ceremony, Liao Naval Arts Academy
Buenos Aires, Andurien Commonality
Capellan Confederation
7th October 3118


   The Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation Dao-Shen Liao had travelled far from the Forbidden City on Sian to the system of Buenos Aires which was located deep within the nation.  “Today, we add to the capabilities of this great nation.” He said addressing the twenty or thirty people who were gathered in the meeting room in recent years while the other nations had fought wars the Confederation and its Chancellor had quietly built up the Confederation’s strength.  Today he stood in front of them, the symbol of the Confederation dressed in green and gold robes. “This space station will be a centre of teaching for the people of the Capellan Confederation and here we will improve the capabilities of our naval arm.”  He explained from the crowd there was polite applause. “I will also open this academy to recruits from our allies the Magistracy of Canopus, our friends in the Taurian Concordat and our trading partners in the Fronc Reaches and Aurigan Collective.”  He said surprising the crowd with the news “this is a state-of-the-art facility and we will collectively improve our capabilities against those that threaten us.” Dao-Shen explained “one thousand cadets will be trained here by the best pilots and ship commanders that the Capellan Confederation can muster. There will be aerospace fighters, DropShip and the WarShip CCSS Marcus Baxter on hand to assist in the training of the cadets, the defence of this station and of Buenos Aires.” He explained the Marcus Baxter was a Impavido-class Destroyer while it was not the strongest ship to defend the station and world it was more than Buenos Aires had before. The station and the additional resources added to this system’s defence were a significant investment by the Capellan Confederation.

Patrol
Sutama, District of Philadelphia
Draconis Combine
12th October 3118


While mercenaries were not a popular choice in the Draconis Combine they often leaned on the warriors of fortune in assisting in their defence, some that were hired by the Combine directly and some by individual worlds. The world of Sutama was one such which had augmented its defences with a combined arms mercenary battalion Butler’s Brigands. Today the Brigands exercised with the Sutama Militia and Major Christopher Butler’s Longbow Assault BattleMech marshalled the lines of his people in conjunction with the militia forces. The world of Sutama was a desolate one instead of being covered in vegetation the world was covered in red sand and rock, there were no running rivers on the world instead all the water was contained underground in massive lakes which also supported the only native lifeforms. Out of the red sand on the surface massive crystal formations grew from the ground instead of vegetation, the shards of rocks were sharp enough to injure infantrymen or shatter the lift skirts of a hovercraft. The atmosphere was barely breathable and with the sand regularly being blown around it was a good idea to always wear full face protection outside, the only thing that made Sutama a worthwhile prospect was the massive mineral deposits that came with the crystal formations and the adventure hunting expeditions which took place in the underground rivers and caves.

“Bravo-Bravo-One, this is Foxtrot Bravo-One!” Called in one of his company commanders off who was off to the left of the command.

“Go ahead Clive” Butler replied hearing the panic in the other man’s voice

“Sir, we’ve got a problem over here” Clive Harleston replied “a militia company just reported that they were fired on by someone carrying our colours. The local battalion commander is getting edgy.”

“All units accounted for?” Butler asked

“Affirmative, Major all my troops are in play and accounted for…” he reported in suddenly Christopher’s communication lines with the head of the militia were active.

“Tai-sa Staples” Butler responded to the militia commander

“Mercenary Major Butler, your forces have been attacking elements of the militia! I have casualties!” Tai-sa Staples screamed at Butler, unlike the mercenary commander who was in the field the Tai-sa was most likely onboard his command vehicle or back in the main deployment base.

“Sir, I have accounted for my troops in the area and I am currently accounting for others.” He said quickly sending a text message challenge to his company captains to check their troops.

“I am watching captured footage of your attacks Major and now there is a second report from the west!” Staples shouted angrily “Major your Brigands are to stand down immediately, your unit is under arrest, pending review.”

“Tai-sa, my forces are innocent in this…” he began when a Grand Dragon BattleMech opened fire on his Longbow, this one painted in militia colours. The eighty-five-ton support Mech rocked under the attack “Tai-sa, one of your Grand Dragon’s just fired on me!” He exclaimed in shock and anger turning his Mech towards the sixty-ton Grand Dragon as it lined up another shot, elsewhere in the line he saw other militia units turning on his Brigands. Swapping frequencies as the Grand Dragon fired again Christopher Butler made the fateful decision “Brigands, withdraw from the militia, defend yourselves of fired upon!” He ordered as his Longbow took more hits, he leaned into them and returned fire with a volley of long-range missile fire on the Grand Dragon. The forty missiles arced the short distance between the two Mechs and really could not miss, explosions landed all over and around the feet of the Grand Dragon as the sixty-ton Mech weathered the damage.

---

From behind a crystal covered ridge Harold Nakayama watched as the militia and Brigands lines fell to pieces from the cockpit of his Akuma BattleMech. “All Blood hold” he ordered swapping frequencies “Chikai Lance, break contact when you can, we are ready to support.” The night before four members of Nakayama’s Blood had infiltrated the militia lines replacing four members of the command who had been taken out by members of the Blood when they were on leave, due to the requirement to wear full face masks outside they had passed barely noticed as they made their way into the unit. Now in the middle of nowhere far from the base or any support they had sown chaos in the militia and mercenary lines.

“We’re doing our best” Chu-I Carlos Itou communicated instead of his normal Naginata he had commandeered a militia Shadow Hawk. Nakayama could see the fifty-five-ton Mech’s autocannon and short-range missiles engaging enemy targets. Svein Laaksonen’s Grand Dragon staggered out of the mercenary lines its armour pitted and both arms missing, unlike the others Svein was piloting a Mech like his own in the blood, now the militia-coloured machine was barely operational. “Gisei Lance, cover fire.”

From the crystalline ridge Gisei Lance was painted like Butler’s Brigands BattleMech and was comprised of a Hatamoto-Hi, Catapult, Penetrator and Ninja-To. Each stepped up and between them they began to lay down cover fire in the form of long-range lasers, missiles and particle cannons a pursuing militia Phoenix Hawk staggered and fell the Grand Dragon continued its retreat. Behind the Shadow Hawk staggered out of the line and followed the Grand Dragon, Chikai Lance continued do retreat.

“Chikai Four to Chikai One, I’m not making it out of this fight.” The last lance member said Harold Nakayama could not see the Griffin BattleMech.

“I can extract you” Carlos Itou replied spinning his Shadow Hawk around, he was prepared to re-enter the fight.

“Negative, left leg is gone, I will not be taken alive for the blood…” he communicated and then the line went dead.

“Four… Four! Four!” Itou shouted angrily but the other pilot was gone. Finally, the command sighted the last of the four undercover pilots Leesel Leander who was fighting her way clear of the lines in her Vagabond BattleMech running as its anti-missile systems shot down missiles which were converging on it.  The armless Vagabond was not engaging any of the targets around it instead just running at pace Gisei Lance opened fire providing cover fire as the Vagabond smashed small crystal formations dodging incoming weapons fire. The surviving members of Chikai Lance passed through the Nakayama’s Blood’s lines and continued to run.

“Blood withdraw” Nakayama ordered and Gisei Lance slowly stepped down from the line while the mercenaries and militia continued to beat each other into oblivion. The plan had been simple sow discord between the militia and the mercenary force they had hired, whatever the outcome of the battle the fighting had expanded now and Butler’s Brigands would not survive the battle, which was perfect for Harold Nakayama and his personal crusade against mercenary commands.

Scouting Mission
Temple of the Muses, Roche
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Homeworlds
19th October 3118


After everything Clan Goliath Scorpion had been through with the infighting between the Clans and the Society the one value, they had held above all else was their reverence for everything that came from the Star League era.  While the Scorpions no longer had an entire galaxy of Seekers searching for relics from bygone areas, they still had the Crimson Seeker Trinary which while fighting the Society would try to salvage anything they could from the past.

Having being dropped onto the world of Roache the Crimson Seeker Trinary had headed towards the Temple of the Muses, a facility once held exclusively by the Scorpions, a place which played homage to the relics found by Goliath Scorpions. Below the facility was an enormous bunker which contained other relics the Scorpions had collected while the Crimson Seeker had no plans on clearing out the bunker today they were planning on checking its integrity.

Moving in Star Colonel Fiona Henriquez moved her Summoner OmniMech closer to the Temple her seventy ton OmniMech’s sensors began to scan the ruins of the Temple a tear ran down Henriquez face seeing the facility “the stavags demolished it.” She stated angrily looking at the facility. “They most likely removed the display items.”

“Aff Star Colonel, but the Bunker’s signal is still working indicating the bunker is intact.” Star Captain Robert Scott commented his Phantom’s sensors the best of the leading Mechs.

“Aff, these relics are not worth the Society’s time.” Someone commented “they are more interested in destroying these worlds.”

“Aff, we should take the fight to them, raise the Society from these sands.” Star Captain Scott responded “Star Colonel, the bunker’s entrance is buried under what looks like ferrocrete “the stavags could not get in so they sealed it.”

“Just as well they didn’t get in or they would have realized they had bit off more than they can chew” one of the warriors said in her Summoner’s cockpit Henriquez shuddered at the use of a contraction but she knew what the warrior meant while the Clans hated fixed defences and traps seeing them as dishonourable the Goliath Scorpions had no qualms of using them to defend their facility. The other Clans had no interest in the bunker so the traps did not violate their honour, instead the traps were intended on stopping the Clan Dark Caste, anyone from the Inner Sphere or more recently the Society.

“We will check the secondary entrance before withdrawing, our mission is the relics safety.” Fiona Henriquez commanded “Alfonzo are you ready, quiaff?” she said glancing over at the other OmniMech which stood ready.

“Aff” he responded his Ebon Jaguar was equipped with underwater maneuvering units which would allow his Mech to check the secret secondary entrance.

“Go, we will continue to make it look like we are searching here.” She said, there could still be observers somewhere watching her unit's movements.

“Aff, Star Colonel” the MechWarrior replied turning his Ebon Jaguar towards the east he walked through the undergrowth and into the nearby water there the sixty-five-ton Mech turned into an effective submarine as the UMUs gave the pilot far more control than any regular Mech would have. Alfonso put his Mech into a spiralling dive heading down nearly two hundred metres until landing on the bottom, there was a very specific way to approach the bunker’s secondary entrance.  Stepping forwards he looked over he saw a large submarine hovering near the bunker’s entrance, alongside were two smaller vessels while below there was a group of engineers in diving gear near the entrance of the facility. “Star Colonel, there are Society Submarines at the entrance along with the engineers.” Alfonso reported.

“We can deploy more units” Henriquez offered other members of the unit carried weaponry that could be used underwater but none of them had the UMUs.

“Negative Star Colonel, other units would not be maneuverable enough, this sub looks like is designed to support the engineers, minimal armaments. The bigger threat is two Star League-era Manta Submarines I hate to sink them but…”

“Do what you need to, Alfonso.” Henriquez ordered it hurt damage the craft that should be museum pieces but it needed to be done.

“Aff, Star Colonel, if I cannot stop them, I will stop them gaining access.” He said walking the Ebon Jaguar off the ledge he let the sixty-five-ton Mech to sink deeper as he entered range, he opened fire with both long-range torpedo launchers. Thirty torpedoes swam in on the engineers working near the entrance bombarding their positions with explosives. The larger submarine opened fire with its own torpedoes targeted on the Ebon Jaguar while the two Mantas accelerated towards it firing their lasers. One laser missed completely while the other struck the Ebon Jaguar’s leg, moments later the torpedoes struck the Ebon Jaguar’s torso.  With the two submarines incoming Alfonso targeted each with a large pulse laser and salvo of long-range torpedoes at each.

The two submarines opened fire on the Ebon Jaguar again with their lasers striking a leg and the torso area again more torpedoes from the larger submarine came in but they missed wide. Alfonso looked at his Mech’s armour coverage and saw the lasers were beginning to weaken it, a breach would lead to an area of the Mech being flooded. The two Manta’s opened fire with their short-range torpedoes only a few hit the Mech’s arms before the two Manta’s sped past the OmniMech. Alfonso triggered his UMUs spinning the Ebon Jaguar on the spot he opened fire with his torpedoes and pulse lasers again this time concentrating on the backs of one of the submarines. The thirty torpedoes and two pulse lasers were enough to penetrate the armour causing several breaches which caused one of the Manta’s to explode.

   With his Mech’s back turned to the larger submarine Alfonso was braced for the torpedoes to the back. The concussive blasts of the torpedoes exploding forced the Ebon Jaguar forwards the UMUs struggling to keep the BattleMech stable in the water. The remaining Manta turned quickly and opened fire with its laser again but missed giving Alfonso the opening another volley of torpedoes and pulse laser blasts knocked out the remaining Manta as torpedoes and pulse lasers penetrated the armour and blew up the ammunition reserves. His concentration on the Mantas however allowed the larger submarine to target his back again, this time torpedoes hit the rear of the OmniMech causing damage to the rear of the torso penetrating the armour.

   “Star Colonel, both Mantas are down but my Mech has sprung a leak and I cannot disable the larger sub. I am going to eliminate their ability to access the secondary entrance.” He said in a matter-of-fact way he turned his Mech targeting the larger submarine with the pulse lasers and torpedoes he’d used before but the larger submarine had the armour to take it and it had anti-missile point defence lasers to protect it. “Fine, I don’t need to sink you anyway” Alfonso said angrily moving his focus to target the ledges above the secondary entrance he opened fire with his Mech’s weapons damaging the rocks above the entrance. Systems of the Ebon Jaguar were beginning to fail as the OmniMech passed under the submarine Alfonso removed the safeties from the fusion engine even as it filled with water.  “You will not get through this” Alfonso said slamming the Ebon Jaguar into the walls above the entrance even as more torpedoes arced in on the OmniMech, it was too late to stop Alfonso though as the fusion engine exploded destabilising the rocks above the secondary entrance.

   On the surface above the explosion and shock was felt as water flew into the air above the battle site. Suddenly and slowly the ground disappeared as the explosion caused by the 325 rated fusion engine in the heart of the Ebon Jaguar caused a massive cave in burying the only other entrance to the vault. “Until Roche is liberated no-one will access the vault, move out and remember Alfonso’s sacrifice.”  Fiona Henriquez cursed, due to the lack of resources she had only been able to equip Alfonso’s OmniMech with UMUs if they had been able to outfit more Mechs or Battle Armour then the MechWarrior might not be dead and the submarine may have been stopped, she would speak with the Khan and Quartermasters when they returned to Arizona, this couldn’t happen again.
« Last Edit: 25 February 2023, 20:45:53 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #18 on: 26 January 2023, 15:41:13 »
Construction Facility, Madeira BattleMech Factory
Guldra, Southern Continent
Aurigan Collective, Periphery
8th November 3118


   The world of Guldra was a pleasant located near the centre of the Aurigan Collective it was the home of the Madeira family who were one of the largest mercantile families in the region. The Madeira family were also the holders of the Madeira Archives which was the most extensive library of history and culture in the entire Aurigan Collective. The Madeira family were also one of the largest supporters of the Arano family in the entire region.

   The Aurigan Collective was a relatively safe place in the periphery, they had weapons but they also had peace agreements with the Capellan Confederation, Taurian Concordat, the Magistracy of Canopus and the Fronc Reaches this had led to the Aurigan Collective being a centre for refugees as many saw it as a haven in the periphery. While a population boom was costing the worlds of the Aurigan Collective millions of C-Bills in providing housing and jobs for these new arrivals some of them also provided the Aurigan Collective with knowledge and access to resources which they would not have had access to otherwise. These factors had led the Emir of Guldra Abrax Madeira to his current situation dressed in the formal wear of the leader of Guldra the Emir’s outfit consisted of a golden squared off crown with two short spires and one larger one in the middle. His robe was black and rimmed in gold, his clothing under the robe was a gold-coloured business suit.

   Standing in the Mechbay adjacent to the newly finished factory Abrax Madeira looked up at the advanced BattleMech which stood in front of him it was named the Kharon and it was built with Clan technology, perhaps the most unique BattleMech in the entire Aurigan Collective. The Kharon was easily more than a century beyond what could be produced in the entire realm “Impressive is it not Emir, Quiaff?” a figure asked off to the side Madeira turned towards the shorter woman she was of Hispanic descent and in her early thirties, she had long brown hair and brown eyes with delicate features. She wore a dark top shirt, with a leather MechWarrior’s jacket over it and blue work jeans. On the leather jacket was the insignia of Clan Mountain Wolf but she was not a MechWarrior, she was a scientist born in the Lyran Commonwealth to the Mountain Wolf faction before its destruction at the hands of the Lyran Commonwealth

   “Yes, Marcela it is” he said looking at it the seventy-ton BattleMech “but so is the BattleMech we have designed from its bones.” She said, the BattleMech they had designed and build on Guldra was a pale imitation of the BattleMech which stood in front of them but it was the best that the Aurigan people could do, and it had a couple of features that the Clan Mech did not have.

   “Where is Anthony Wolf?” the Emir asked wondering about the MechWarrior, her protector who had piloted the BattleMech and brought it, Marcela and the BattleMech’s schematics to the Aurigan Collective.

   “He is asleep” Marcela said her tone betraying her disgust, she had coupled with him tonight and after a coupling Anthony always slept soundly. Anthony was fifteen years Marcela’s senior he wasn’t a very creative MechWarrior nor would he have had the guts to betray his Clan and run away with Marcela without her encouragement.

   “I assume he will not be a problem” the Amir knew Marcela had used Anthony to get out of Mountain Wolf territory, she had used her body to win his heart and then twisted his mind to her will while they travelled, but her heart belonged to another to the Amir.

   “Neg, my Amir” Marcela said “he is prepared for the Prototype’s demonstration tomorrow.”

   “Good, good, and my people are ready for when he returns here.” The Amir said quietly looking back at the Kharon “they will make it quick.” Abrax Madeira whispered despite there only been the two of them there.

   “He would prefer a MechWarriors death but there is no need to waste resources. Quineg?”

   “No, I would rather not kill him…”

   “But if he were to find out about our involvement, he would be a wildcard and a threat.” Marcela cautioned

   “I am aware of your concerns; it will be done.” He promised her his hand mingling with her “you have brought a great weapon to my nation. We will build them and strengthen the Aurigan Collective, together. I think I will take this Mech as my own.” He said intending on taking everything that once belonged to the Clan MechWarrior.

   The next day the prototype Kharon was piloted by MechWarrior Anthony the seventy-ton BattleMech performed perfectly the design was a solid heavy design. Unlike the Clan design which had an extra-light the Aurigan Kharon used a standard fusion engine which led to a slower top speed of only sixty-four kilometres per hour. Unlike the Kharon which featured heavy large lasers and extended range lasers the locally produced BattleMech had a single large laser backed up with a Plasma Rifle, in the periphery where vehicles and infantry would be a more common threat the plasma rifle would be very effective, both weapons were mounted on the right arm for full flexibility. For support missions the local Kharon featured an over the right shoulder mounted fifteen-tube long range missile launcher unlike the Clan build design which had an Advanced Tactical Missile launcher with twelve tubes. Finally, the main weapons were backed up with two medium lasers, one a pulse model, mounted in the left arm and a Guardian Electronic Counter Measures suite like the back-up weapons on the original Kharon.

   For thirty minutes MechWarrior Anthony shows the new BattleMech’s capabilities destroying several stationary targets, two targets which were moving on tracks and a target suspended below a VTOL before retiring the Mechbay. There he was expecting a warm welcome after a successful demonstration but instead he was welcomed with a white hot vibroblade to the stomach. While someone could survive a vibroblade strike the shock of the unexpected strike gave the assassin time to withdraw the strike and stab Anthony again in the stomach, the damage done by the strikes and bloodloss were enough to make recovery impossible. The Aurigan Collective had a capable new BattleMech but the man who brought it there would not see its general deployment.

Order of Sortek Fieldbase, Mobile Maintenace Cradle
Delacambre, Draconis March
Federated Suns, Periphery
14th November 3118


   There were not many systems in House Davion this deep into the periphery. Located deep within the outback of the Draconis March the system of Delacambre was in space between territory claimed by the Snow Ravens and Nova Cats but not on either’s border. Due to this remoteness and lack of heavy industry the world had no line defence units and instead was defended by a locally funded and equipped militia and whatever units happened to be passing through. Today the Order of Sortek Detached Lance was on the world, officially the lance of three Mechs had only passed through to resupply with food and munitions but they had also been training with the local militia sharing some of their wisdom and training.  When a pirate force had arrived in system Leftenant Laure Bieganski, the lance’s commander, had volunteered their assistance immediately.

In battle against the pirate force the three front-line BattleMechs fought like they were twice as numerous and had helped repel the pirate force after several hours of fighting. While the lance was not a mercenary formation, the Order of Sortek were officially members of the AFFS, the Governor of the world had decided to award the Order with a salvaged BattleMech which now was held up by the maintenance cradle.

   “What do we have? Tech Gaubert” Leftenant Bieganski asked the tech who was on the maintenance cradle, looking at the BattleMech she knew what she thought it was it looked like a Rifleman but there was something off and it was too heavy.

   “Believe it or not Leftenant this is eighty tons of Rifleman II. Or it was once upon a time.”

   “A Rifleman II?”

   “She’s SLDF Leftenant, through and through to the structure there’s numbers on this Mech that tells us she was originally built in 2773.” Brigitte Gaubert said

   “That Mech’s almost is almost three hundred and fifty years old?” She asked looking at the BattleMech in shock “they were built to last.” She whispered

   “Oh, they were at that Leftenant, the problem is the SLDF abandoned this beast in probably during the reunification war. Whoever found it did not know how to repair Endo Steel, they didn’t have a spare extra-light so it has a smaller standard fusion engine and they didn’t have LBX autocannons.” The tech explained reaching over to point at the Mech’s chest and arms.

   “So, we have some sort of hybrid?” Bieganski groaned she hated FrankenMechs when techs took parts of one Mech and mated them with another, they were always very unpredictable.

   “Sort of Leftenant” Gaubert admitted “but whoever did it is a fricken genius.” She admired “they somehow mated standard structure to the Endo creating an Endo-composite I’d guess from an Awesome, you can see it around the shoulders and upper chest mainly” she said.  “It is not nearly as strong to as your normal structure but still lighter.  You can see it around the upper torso, they probably made the change when they ripped the old engine out.” It hit Laure Bueganski like someone had hit her, there were no extensions to the torso instead the armour curved downwards towards the torso mounted lasers “you’ve got standard autocannons replacing the LBXs, two medium lasers in the torso and someone’s bolted a small laser to the outside of one of the autocannons.  Honestly, I’d rather take off the small laser and have more armour she’ll only carry twelve tons total once we get her repaired fully.” Bieganski nodded twelve tons of armour on an eighty-ton Mech was not a lot of

   “Something you can do?”

   “Not out here boss, maybe if we ever land somewhere with a full Mechbay I could have a look at it, honestly this thing is carrying too much ammunition, hasn’t got any CASE and there is not nearly enough armour. The SLDF might have been able to field companies of the same Mech and could afford acceptable losses from under-armoured Mechs but we cannot.”

   “Agreed, but if you can get it operational, we can use her as an anchor. She’s slower than our other Mechs but heavier.” Laure said looking at the hulk “Mr Kelly, you think you can pilot her?” She asked looking up at one of Gaubert’s assistants. While acting as a tech now Scott Kelly, formerly a member of one of the Dragon Lords regiments was trained as a MechWarrior first.

   “Yes, sir Leftenant”

   “Then once its operational you get to walk her to the DropShip, if you don’t drop it on its face, you’re a member of the lance.” Bieganski said offering the applicant a chance to prove his abilities in battle. The other applicant they had in the unit Charlie Johnston would get a chance in the future; it was an unfortunate fact.

   “Thank you, Leftenant, I’ll do my best”

   “You don’t need your best today, Kelly, but I’ll expect that in battle.” The Order’s lance would not be staying on Delacambre, that was not the job of this lance, soon they would leave heading to another system bringing the teachings of their Order to more who needed it.

Command Deck, CBS Rocinate (Black Lion-class Battle-cruiser)
Nadir Point, Priori
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Homeworlds
22nd November 3118


   The Clan Homeworlds were a battleground both in space and on the ground. Clan Blood Spirit and Clan Goliath Scorpion continued to try and liberate systems from the Society, the Clan’s self-made menace.  To keep the pressure on the Society and continue to blood their troops Clan Blood Spirit planned to liberate the Priori system and capture a significant ProtoMech production and training facility which dominated a large part of the north eastern island.

   In a flash of light, the CBS Rocinate, Clan Blood Spirit’s last Black Lion-class Battle-cruiser, lead a group of JumpShips into the Priori system arriving at the Nadir point and immediately came under naval autocannon fire. “REPORT!” Star Commodore Phoenix Keller screamed as the vessel was rocked.

   “Sir, two unidentified WarShips below the system’s plain.”

   “Cut loose the Jump Sail. Set an intercept course now, Assault DropShips with us all others scatter!” Keller ordered the WarShip’s jump sail fell away from the ship and the engines kicked into drive. “Weapons stations fire at will!”

   “Sir, sensors suggest two more WarShips of the same class are at the Zenith point! They are engaging our DropShips.” The operator reported “sir, sensors now tentatively identify as Molniya-class Vessels.” He explained as the Rocinate’s own autocannons engaged at long range, there were a couple of hits but at this range they were struggling to zone in on their targets.  Some distance from the Rocinate the two enemy WarShips hard their main engines facing the Rocinate with their rear mounted autocannon arrays targeting the WarShip. From their mid-ships aerospace fighters dropped from the aerospace bays.

   “It’s a trap!” Keller called out realizing that the Society must have been tipped off about this offensive since the liberation of six of the homeworlds by the two Clans still operating in the Kerensky Cluster there had been an increase in intelligence leaks.  “Communicate with all troopships, remain as close to the JumpShips as they can!” Keller ordered as the Rocinate rocked again.

   “Helm roll the hull!” The vessel’s executive officer ordered “weapons break them!” He ordered as the Rocinate spun in space, presenting fresh armour at the enemy ships, autocannons fired from turrets around the hull and capital missiles left launchers amid-ships. “Sir, with your permission?”

   “Aff” Keller nodded “sensors, why a tentative identification?” He asked thinking about what had been said

   “This is a nuclear launch order!” the executive officer called out in the background, the Homeworld Clans had long realized that they could not match the Society in WarShip production, there was only one way to stay relevant.

   “Sir, the ships are definently based on the Molniya-class hull but they have been modified, they have significantly more weapon emplacements and it would appear thicker hulls. The conclusion must be these have been newly built.” He explained as the Rocinate launched a nuclear tipped capital missile along with it several other missiles flew from the tubes acting as decoys. As aerospace fighters and DropShips duelled between the closing WarShips the missiles flew in on one of the enemy WarShips immediately hull mounted anti-missile systems and lasers opened fire attempting to swat the incoming capital missiles from space. Small explosions filled the air as several of the missiles were destroyed and then there was one almighty explosion as the nuclear tipped White Shark Missile struck the two-hundred-and-fourty thousand-ton WarShip’s hull. A flash of light and explosive power enveloped the Molniya and the small ship’s hull buckled under the attack as more naval weapons flew and penetrated the hull.

   The remaining Molniya continued to fire back at the Rocinate with naval class autocannons, missiles and lasers engaging the larger WarShip but now the Black Lion was closer it switched to its heavier autocannons presenting a heavy broadside of firepower. The Clan gunners were intent on destroying the enemy WarShip in a single pass. “Have all DropShips rendezvous with JumpShips, JumpShips are to Jump when Collars are full” Keller ordered “any JumpShip with spare collars are to remain, we might need them for the Zenith Point DropShips.” He said as the Rocinate blew past the Molniya destroying the smaller ship. “Communications, transmit all date we have on that Molniya, I want it to be taken out of this system, the Clan needs to know what we found here.” He ordered the Rocinate had an HPG but the Blood Spirit WarShips only used them to communicate with each other and liberated homeworlds Colleen and Arizona, the two capitol worlds of the two Clans, were not on the HPG network meaning there was no chance of a transmission being tracked.

   Past the destroyed ships the Rocinate twisted in space and its main drives activated boosting the ship at speed towards the Zenith point rapidly leaving the aerospace fighters and DropShips to complete their own battles against the remaining Society craft. “Engineering, vessel status?” Keller asked as the WarShip accelerated heavily but was far from the fighting.

   “Sir, we are down to approximately 75% autocannon ammunition, 50% capital missiles, 3 nuclear warheads remain, forward armour at 38%, port armour at 49%, aft armour at 88%.”

   “XO, before contact with the enemy turn the ship, I want to go right between them” Keller ordered from the Rocinate’s holotank he could see the two remaining Molniya WarShips were engaged with multiple DropShips from the Blood Spirit flotilla. With no WarShip escort they had been forced to throw themselves at the WarShips and try to break through. Keller had argued that another of the Blood Spirit WarShips needed to be deployed on this mission but Caraxes had recently been ambushed by two Society WarShips and was under repair at Colleen. The only other available WarShips were the Blood Spirits own Molniya-class WarShips were of the original build of the class and they were seen as only good for defensive work.

   “Aff, Star Commodore, helm at my count minus… three, pivot manoeuvre using starboard thrusters present our best to the enemy.” He ordered as the two ships they were approaching realized that the Rocinate was burning in on them at pace “weapons all aft weapons as we approach then both broadsides as we pass between them.” He said looking around the command deck seeing their faces “we are going to burn going between them, but it is the only way we can engage both of them! Out Blood may run but our Spirits remain HIGH!”

   “SEYLA!” Everyone on the deck repeated in unison as the ship continued to be rocked by incoming fire the ship began its rotation showing fresh armour their target and then the ship’s main engines as it completed its pivot and the rear weapons activated engaging their targets.

   With their engines now pointing at the enemy the Rocinate was presenting critical systems towards the enemy but also heavier armour protecting the crew from harm. Enemy weapons fire slammed into the Rocinate damaging several systems but the Black Lion had already built-up significant speed approaching the enemy targets and many of the shots missed. The WarShip passed between the two smaller Corvettes and the entire side of the Rocinate appeared to be on fire from both the vessel receiving fire and the WarShip giving out heavy punishment on the two Molinya-class vessels. The Rocinate could not take such punishment without heavy damage of its own the crippled ship continued on its course away from the two Corvettes leaving the two broken hulls behind them.

   “Status” Keller coughed picking himself up off the deck, he felt the gravity beginning to fail as the engines lost power. Looking around the command deck he noticed several crewmen were dead after the command deck had taken damage during the final enemy attacks. He glanced over and saw his XO was among the dead “Jonas” Keller whispered seeing the young unblooded man, Keller had believed he could one day replace him, but in this game death did not discriminate. “Keller all hands, I need help on the Command Deck, medics and crewmen with Command training get up here.” He said glancing around the darkened two-tiered deck, he realized that the holo-tank was dead knocked offline along with dozens of other systems, he saw one or two members of the crew were alive and had retaken control over their stations. “Angela, tell me something good” he asked the young woman at the engineering deck dropping all pretence of professionalism.

   “Massive damage Star Commodore” she said, “we have breaches on multiple decks, most of our broadside and after weapons are gone.” She said “engines took a hit; we are down to half a G left for deacceleration.”

   “That’s something, bring online the engine bring it up to half a G slowly, we don’t need to burn out the damned engine!” He ordered his voice breaking with joy that they had something “the jump drive?”

   “Damaged” Angela answered as crewmen entered the Command Deck some of tending to the injured some trying to take control over the ship. “But operational, we will be better off out of this system than remaining.”

   “Affirmative, agreed, communications? Sensors?”

   “All communications are down, we only have internal, sensors…” she said glancing at the sensor displays and a feral smile appeared on her lips “Star Commodore, we paid a price but both corvettes have been destroyed the Rocinate has four WarShip kills today.”

   “Outstanding, they might be able to build them in numbers but they don’t have our skills.” Keller said looking around the bridge triumphantly as two crewmen carried Jonas out of the Command Deck Keller triggered the internal comms. “Crew of the Rocinate, this vessel and her crew have paid the price for our victory today but we have saved most of our assault forces with our skills and our sacrifices. Rocinate, is not lost, she will rise again as will this crew. Look to the warriors around you, this crew have done our Clan proud today and will be remembered in our Remembrance.”

Protest March, Central Bazaar of Marion
Loxley, Sherwood
Crucis March, Federated Suns
26th November 3118


   It felt good to be home Jonas Tyler, the Earl of Sherwood-in-exile, but Sherwood was not the world that he remembered. The world had long been occupied by Clan Nova Cat and much had changed during that time the Nova Cats had brought industry to the world, the former Jabberwocky Headquarters and IndustrialMech plant was now a BattleMech factory capable of building Pack Hunter, Ocelot and Jenner IIC BattleMechs. The Nova Cats had also reopened mines across the continent deep in the Watling and Ermine Mountains which fed raw material into the BattleMech factory and built a MagLev to transport the goods and enlarged the Spaceport all of which employed hundreds of people. Now rumours were abounded on Sherwood that the Federated Suns planned on packing up the BattleMech factory and transferring it all off planet away from the Nova Cat border. The factory was a prize and one the Federated Suns wanted to keep it regardless of cost.

   Facing the prospect of people masses of the people being out of work following the closure of the factory and the mines that supported it the people were protesting and the Central Bazaar was just one of those places. Named as it was at the centre of Loxley, the planetary capital, the Bazaar was so named because it brought multiple cultures together the area was generally rectangular in shape and could be entered from either side. On the east and west side there was a tall set of stairs with an observation platform at the top. In the middle of the low area there were dozens of stalls which sold food, drink, clothing, and other goods.

   Walking across the bazaar Jonas Tyler walked up the eastern stairs stopping near the top he turned to face the bazaar and sat down watching the activity below, all around the stalls there were literally hundreds of people standing to protest the changes the Federated Suns were making and planning to make.  Tyler was shocked to see that several of the flags waved by the protesters were Federated Suns flags which had been crossed out or defaced while even more surprising several other flags carried the rest of Clan Nova Cat, the Clan’s roaring cat set against a starburst. Many were clearing “for” the Clan invaders, he could not believe his eyes, how much the people of his homeworld had changed.

   Suddenly on the western stairs several AFFS riot troops moved into position at the top of the stairs in full gear. The troops remained in position silently watching the protest crowd then suddenly near the bottom of the eastern stairs there was an explosion like a grenade had gone off, Tyler rolled backwards from the explosion rolling back onto his feet staying low below at the bottom of the stairs he saw at least a dozen were injured, he immediately began to move forwards down the stairs to help the injured but he stopped and looked up. All around him the crowd were moving in several different directions including towards the AFFS riot troopers who instead of trying to help moved down one step closer banging their riot shields with the batons.  Some of the crowd ran away from the riot troopers while others ran straight towards the riot troopers who pushed them back with their shields several people fell backwards some of them being injured the troopers slammed their batons against their shields again and moved forward one more time.

   “Earl Tyler, you should come should come with me” a mysterious woman said she wore a red and white summer dress, her dark hair was highlighted blonde and she had a Latino complexion.

   “I’m sorry, do we know each other?” Tyler asked watching the troopers move down another step, the pro-Nova Cat protesters were now resisting their movements. Several first responders had moved in to support those that were injured, Tyler stood watching the scene of chaos as it continued to get worse.

   “Neg, Earl Jonas Tyler, but my people respect you.” The woman said her use of the Clan term informed him of who she was, a member of Clan Nova Cat.

   “Did you set this up!” He asked angrily looking around the scene the troopers and the crowd were continuing to engage each other while innocent bystanders were running out of the area.

   “Neg, if we wanted to take Sherwood back with force, we would use a Trial of Possession. As you did, this is the work of people who do not want peace on Sherwood and want an excuse to rule this world with a stronger hand.”

   “The Governor?” He asked because his family were technically still in exile and he had failed to gain control of the world for the Federated Suns Field Marshal Paul Bowman had assigned a temporary military governor to the system.

   “I do not know; we should go now” she said leading him away from the bazaar nearby DS7-FC Successor Armoured Supercar the six wheeled vehicle was far flashier than he expected as they approached the gull-wing doors swung upwards.

   “A little flashy?” Tyler asked looking at the vehicle for a moment as the younger woman got into the vehicle while it was the fusion powered version of the vehicle the Successor was still a high-end civilian vehicle produced by Dreadnaught Interstellar Industries on Acala III for one to be this far out should be a red-flag for anyone watching.

   “It is part of my cover as an Executive Director of Sherwood BattleMech Incorporated.” She said smirking getting into the vehicle, he followed her shocked at what he was hearing. Sitting inside both doors slowly closed sealing them inside she reached over and started the vehicle also activating the car’s inbuilt wireless radio.

   On the news the riot was already making the news, along with a terrorist attack and further riots elsewhere. “My name is Libby, as you have no doubt guessed I am a member of Clan Nova Cat’s Watch” she said moving the Fuel-Cell powered vehicle away from the city centre. “Earl Tyler, we do not want a Civil War on Sherwood, this world was ours for sometime and these people benefited Clan Nova Cat’s presence.” She explained “the Federated Suns does not mean Sherwood harm, I can guarantee you that but we felt this could happen.”

   “Could happen!” Jonas snapped as the vehicle sped out of the city “a fracking grenade exploded at a protest and now we have a riots! People have been injured potentially killed.” He said the vehicle was travelling quickly through a wooded area there was a stream of traffic heading out of the city and also AFFS APCs heading into the city he guessed with additional security troops. The Successor sped through the Woods of Sherwood which surrounded Marion before turning off the main road entering a secluded gated residential area, the radio was still broadcasting information on trouble flair ups in the city and beyond. “How can you be so cavalier with people’s lives?”

   “We have done nothing. We treated the population of this world well, it is not our fault that the population believe that they did a better job than the Federated Suns is. Our intention was not to start something here, they people are doing it all by themselves.” She said drawing the vehicle up to a gated residence. Moments later the gate opened allowing the vehicle to enter. “Earl Tyler someone else is pulling the population’s strings, they want to make it appear that it is not viable for the facilities my Clan built here to remain and in turn winding up the population into a frenzy.” She said stopping the vehicle in front of a luxurious residence the gate closed behind them and around the compound Tyler could see several troopers were hidden. “The grenade was only the beginning.”

   “What is your plan?”

   “We wish to help keep the peace on Sherwood Earl Tyler” Libby said stepping out of the Successor “we cannot do it ourselves; we need your help.”

   “I will not assist you in retaking this system.” He said defiantly standing beside the vehicle as Libby began to head towards the building.

   “Neg, we know you will not, but that choice may be beyond your capabilities to influence. How Sherwood makes that choice, and what remains of it, may however remain in your hands.” She said entering leaving the door open Tyler headed away from the vehicle into the building. Tyler stood beside the Successor for several moments and then followed her inside as the rain began to fall he wasn’t about to allow his home to fall into internal conflict, especially when he had now identified a Clan intelligence unit on the planet.

This is a month of thanks from the AU with thanks.

The Kharon is an Inner Sphere BattleMech based on the BattleMech seen in the Fan-made Society XTRO, which I'll post separately

The Molniya is a modified variant of the canon WarShip, which I'll post separately

Jonas Tyler is a character based on the canon product Tour of the Stars: Sherwood

And finally the Successor Supercar is from Fanbook: Operation Lancaster

So my thanks to the canon writers, the fan writers and the readers of this timeline of stories
« Last Edit: 25 February 2023, 20:46:32 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

marauder648

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #19 on: 03 February 2023, 06:52:34 »
Superb updates as always! You always throw new things at us, I'm wondering if the homeworlds will be reclaimed, at this point though is it worth it other than Clan pride.
Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #20 on: 06 February 2023, 18:45:28 »
Superb updates as always! You always throw new things at us, I'm wondering if the homeworlds will be reclaimed, at this point though is it worth it other than Clan pride.

I only make new stuff because people enjoy the AU and because people keep making new stuff for BattleTech

The Kharon AuCol

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/battlemechs/kharon-aucol-au-with-thanks/new/#new

The Kharon AuColP and AuColA have both been added to that post
« Last Edit: 07 February 2023, 21:16:59 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

  • Lieutenant Colonel
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  • Posts: 7832
  • Not Dead Until I Say So
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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  • Not Dead Until I Say So
Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #22 on: 28 February 2023, 03:06:11 »
Ending 3118 - I've got some housekeeping to do with my support documentation but once that's sorted I'll post the current map, units and WarShip listings

Public unrest
Sherwood, Crucis March
Federated Suns
1st December 3118


The rioting on Sherwood had continued for days after Jonas Tyler’s “rescue” by the Nova Cat Watch team now he began to understand the troubles that Sherwood was facing and what he had missed when he was away from the system. There were more and more people rising in support of Clan Nova Cat’s return to the system, which shocked Jonas, this rising support was also causing tension for with those who had openly welcomed the Federated Suns return.
Jonas had spent time with the Nova Cats, mostly Libby but also some of the others who were willing to speak, from what he could understand that while the Nova Cats were willing to accept the Federated Suns had won a Trial of Possession for the world and everything on it but this acceptance came at a price. The Watch’s presence was officially one of observation but in the last few days Tyler had seen that they were also capable of being an actionable force should they need to.

“I thought you Clanners were supposed to be honourable, this whole outfit doesn’t feel very honourable.” Jonas said he was sitting in Libby’s lounge with the Clan woman who was taking a break from her spying.

“We are not” Libby said glancing down “the Watch are not honourable warriors, we are the Watch, we would not be welcome on the field with members of our Clan.” She said quietly looking away.

“I heard your Khan was once a member of your Watch, how can that not bring your people honour?” Jonas asked wondering how the two could be separated. In his efforts to release Sherwood from the grips of Clan Nova Cat he had studied all of the information he could on the Federated Suns neighbours preparing himself for the time when he would face them.

“Aff, but our ways are not your ways. Khan Canin Rosse is different from other members of the Watch; within our Clan he was a ristar” she said seeing some recognition on Jonas face “you have heard the term Quiaff?” he nodded “the Khan chose to join the Watch and serve as he knew it would bring him closer to the Inner Sphere and our leadership in the days when the Watch was needed. He happened to be in the right place at the right time for our encounter with the Fox’s Teeth which catapult his unit into the spotlight within out Clan. A spotlight on which he rode to the leadership of our Clan.”

“Impressive” Jonas admitted, considering Canin Rosse was one of the longest and oldest serving Khans and he continued to hold an impressive reputation within the Clans showed exactly how good the Khan was. The Watch’s presence here also showed that while the Nova Cats held an impressive marital presence, they were also willing to do things which were not within the honour of their Clan. “How does that effect Sherwood?” this world was won by Clan Nova Cat from the Federated Suns and became a Nova Cat territory. Now it has been won again and it is once again a Federated Suns territory, by the agreements made between your people and the Federated Suns this world does not belong to your people.”

“Another Trial of Possession” she answered she answered simply as if the Trials were an answer to everything.

“But there are no Nova Cat forces, other than your own, in this system.  You have no way of calling a Trial of Possession, Quineg?” He asked confused and angry by her simple answers which answered nothing.

“Neg, we do not, Clan Nova Cat will not be the entity declaring this, Trial. You will.”

“Me?” He asked shocked looking at her the Nova Cat woman laughed at his surprise curling up on the sofa opposite him, in a different circumstance he could see himself attempting to impress her enough to join him in bed, today however her beauty and words were winding her up. “How my Terrors were destroyed by your forces in a Trial of Possession? I have a lance left and they are stuck in a DropShip at the Spaceport.”

“The people will be your force Earl Jonas Tyler; you will rouse them to make a peaceful decision about their future with your actions.” Libby said uncurling her legs on the sofa she swung them out onto the floor standing up she stretched her muscles with the grace of a cat before reaching out with her hand. “And I will provide you with your sword.” She said taking his hand leading him through the complex. The former owner of this house had provided it with a massive garage space which took up a fair amount of the rear of the property, the Nova Cats had gutted it and replaced it with their own space enough space for a single BattleMech cradle which they had filled with a single BattleMech, the executive of the Sherwood BattleMech Factory had made big news when she’d purchased a brand-new Shadow Hawk SHD-2Hb model for her own personal use.

“What is this?” Jonas was a Shadow Hawk pilot, looking at the Mech he could see the Nova Cats had done further work to the design, but the fact they had a Shadow Hawk indicated there had been a significant amount of planning done behind his back.

“You need a sword Jonas Tyler, this BattleMech will be that sword, how you use it will entirely be up to you. This sword will give you the stage to make a statement after which Sherwood will make its choice.” Libby said looking from Jonas to the Mech and back again “we hoped you would agree to work with us, but we have a contingency should you refuse.”

“And should you need the contingency, what happens to me?”

“The same thing that happened to the person who used to own this house, and the person who bought that BattleMech.” Libby said in a matter-of-fact fashion informing him that he would not make it out of here alive. “Jonas, you do not have to work with us, you can take that BattleMech to the AFFS garrison and turn us in become a hero of the Federated Suns because of it. But I guarantee you that your people will suffer from that choice, not from Clan Nova Cat but from their own distrust of each other and of the changes that will come to Sherwood.” She explained “give the people their voice back, show them their Earl is willing to stand up to the powerful and fight for the people, even if it is only with words.”

“You think that will make any sort of difference?” Jonas asked looking up at the Shadow Hawk, it was tempting to do as she said. Not help the Nova Cats but turn them in, perhaps regain his Earlship of Sherwood and resist the Federated Suns policy of moving the factory away from the Nova Cat border and instead fortifying the system from attack.

“That is up to you and the people Jonas. I think a homegrown hero could help the people along.” She suggested turning and leaving him alone to stare at the BattleMech, it was painted in a forest camouflage with no insignia on it, anyone could own that Mech, he could own it. It was a simple choice he leaned on a tool rack and looked up at the BattleMech trying to clear his head.

---

Several hours later Earl Jonas Tyler was walking the Shadow Hawk BattleMech towards the centre of Marion, the planetary capital, Jonas had been taught by his father the legends of Sherwood and where Sherwood and the places on the world had gained its name. He had never seen himself in any of the roles from the legend but today he could almost fit the role of Robin Hood. He was illegally piloting a BattleMech through the roadways and forests of Sherwood, he had no authority other than the moral obligation he felt for the people of Sherwood just like the legendary character. Unlike the story he wouldn’t be fighting the Federated Suns authority, he had made that clear to Libby before leaving in the BattleMech instead he planned on speaking to the people and seeing where it went from there.

Moving through the streets of Marion he saw the streets were quiet it was early afternoon, normally the streets would still be busy but today things were quiet people staying home after the riots. He hoped this little stunt would have enough of an impact making his way to the middle of the city his BattleMech stood there and he flicked the external speakers to active. “People of Marion, I am Jonas Tyler the Earl of Sherwood, I have been missing from this world for several years. I did not experience what Sherwood was like during the occupation of this world instead I fought against Clan Nova Cat with my unit the Terribles.” He said making sure everyone around the BattleMech knew who was talking to them, he saw out of several corners of the central square there were several people looking at the BattleMech.

“You suffered during that time I am sure of that but Sherwood has risen from the occupation stronger than ever. We have industries and jobs on Sherwood now that were not here before, there are recharge stations at the jump points, Sherwood stands at the precipice of being a centre for trade within this region, do not allow your fears to bring trouble and death to our streets. Whatever happens to our system is in our hands.” He said pausing as he saw a Davion militia Cuirass moving to the edge of the square the forty-ton BattleMech carried a nasty rotary autocannon, laser and Mech sized-sword but his Mech outweighed it by fifteen tons.

“I didn’t come here to fight” he saw watching the Cuirass, dozens of members of the public had flocked closer to his Mech to listen to his speech “I am here to encourage the people of Sherwood to take charge of their destiny peacefully and support a better future for Sherwood.” He said his words as much for the other MechWarrior as anything else but his words caused the crowd to cheer. “Make your choice, but respect your neighbours, keep the peace and make Sherwood better because of it.” His words caused more cheering which brought out other people. Jonas was doing his best to remain apolitical and keep a jovial atmosphere trying to turn their minds away from the riots which had proceeded such gatherings. For nearly three hours Jonas’s speech led to others a word of the gathering passed but unlike previous gatherings at this one there was no animosity between the groups instead there was a friendly atmosphere.
Following the gathering Jonas was escorted by the guarding Cuirass to a nearby militia base there he was debriefed by AFFS commanders he chose to stick to the story which he had agreed with Libby. Their story was a simple one Executive Amanda Brownhill of the Sherwood BattleMech Factory had seen Jonas and knew of him as a “war-hero” they had spoken briefly which had led to drinks at her property and personal relations had followed. When he had seen the riots, she had loaned him the BattleMech to try and bring back a sense of peace to the world. The AFFS authorities had believed the story and he had been released to return to his DropShip where the rest of his lance mates had remained during his excursion.

Lower Atmosphere, ODS Hampus Lindholm, Selecus Infantry Transport-class DropShip
Calloway IV, District of Oriente
Free Worlds League
17th December 3118


It was continuing to be troubled times for the Free Worlds League’s District of Oriente while Federally controlled troops and WarShips were moving into the region to support Oriente’s defence the Capellan Confederation’s successful invasion of Jasmine and Shuen Wan had seen the destruction of two regiments of Oriente troops and the loss of two WarShips. On Jasmine there was a suggestion that the Eighth Fusiliers of Oriente had divided their forces based on their loyalty to the two brothers which led the nation leading to the destruction of the unit.

Instead of allowing things to continue Duke Ralph Halas had called for a meeting with his brother Javier meeting in the Calloway system onboard a Selecus-class DropShip which was delivering additional battle armour suits to the planet.
“Why are we meeting here Ralph? We could have just spoken on Oriente, and remained in command of our forces.” Javier asked complaining to his brother as they entered the infantry bay which had been cleared of troops.

“Symbolism” Ralph answered leading his brother past the silent battle armoured suits towards one of the deployment hatches. He saw his bother eyeing the suits, no doubt wondering if Ralph had an assassin waiting inside one of them ready to ensure his leadership of the district. Instead, Ralph headed over to the hatch standing to the left of the hatch he toggled the controls to observation mode. The pressure doors which were large enough for an entire squad of Battle Armoured troopers to deploy at once opened fully before a third door segment rose from the floor to nearly waist height. Ralph stood in the doorway looking out as Javier stepped up beside him the DropShip was cruising over the plains of Calloway banking gently in a slow orbit below there was a herd of nearly three thousand Calloway Wildebeests. “Almost fifty years ago scientists used the Helm Memory Core to reverse engineer and clone DNA preserved of an extinct species bringing it back.” He said looking down at the herd of brown haired four hooved, multi-horned beasts below early colonists on the planet had hunted them into extinction. “Short-sightedness had resulted in excessive hunting of those animals and like so many species on old Terra man thought it knew better and man killed an entire species.”

“And then man’s ingenuity brought it back” Javier pointed out a lesson in how man mis stepped was not what he needed.

“What is your point? We didn’t hunt those beasts into extinction, the people of Calloway farm them now sustainably and they are one of this system’s greatest exports. Calloway is a basket world of our district because of how we have protected it.” Javier hated being preached at, their elder sister had done it often, especially about something that he had nothing to do with.

“Yes, but our continued opposition threatens it just as it did the security of Jasmine and Shuen Wan” Ralph snapped back “we need to present a united front even if we don’t agree. Or our nation will go the same way as those original Wildebeests” he warned as the DropShip completed its second  orbit of the herd the ship bobbled slightly as it hit a little turbulence as Ralph moved to close the hatch once more and Javier took his moment.

“I’m sorry this is for our people” he said lunging forwards he grabbed his brother’s stumbling form and shoved him over the low guard. Ralph Halas screamed in surprise but he had no chance to stop his motion with his knees slamming into the metalwork there was a large snapping noise as one of them broke instantly. Ralph screamed as his body tumbled over the gap, there was no hope of him holding on, Javier stood and watched as his own twin brother disappeared out of the gap and out onto the short wings of the DropShip. Ralph tumbled across the wing before rapidly moving backwards across the craft's hull as the engines drew him across the hull of the ship and straight through the air intake, there was little chance of survival from the fall but the DropShip’s movement and the damage done by the engine was enough to end Ralph’s life. “MAN OVERBOARD! MAN OVERBOARD!” Javier screamed breaking down in tears as crewmen rushed into the DropShip bay.

Within hours of the “accident” Duke Javier Halas stood in front of a tri-vid camera on the surface of Calloway IV. He wore the full uniform of an officer of the Free Worlds League military. “Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my sad duty to announce that my brother Ralph Halas today committed suicide onboard a DropShip heading to Calloway IV. I cannot tell you the reason behind his motives only the that he was dealing with grief from the hurt and pain our nation is feeling due to the damage caused by the Capellan Confederation. I will put everything I have to heal the pain of that grief our nation is feeling.”

Trial of Possession, Clan Wolf Incursion
Augustine, New Canton EDZ
Star League Protectorate
19th December 3118


   Border skirmishes between Clan Wolf and the Star League Protectorate were a common and bloody occurrence. This was the first one on Augustine in several months and the first that Kay’s Jokers had joined the SLDF in the defence of the world. Prowling her Ryoken II along the battleline Tassa Kay, the commander of Kay’s Jokers, was looking for a specific Clan Wolf BattleMech as their incursion was repulsed by the SLDF and mercenary forces. The Wolves were going to leave Augustine in defeat but she wanted to make it extra special for the Wolves.

   “There you are” she said smiling savagely looking at the gold, black and red painted Linebacker near the rear of the formation “you always did like commanding from the middle.” She said adjusting the straps of her command couch inside the Mech she wore a green tank top and shorts under her coolant vest, she had never been a fan of the full coolant suits favoured by some warriors instead preferring to feel some of the heat her Mech was producing. She reached to the right of the cockpit flicking a switch “Jokers target identified, I want a wedge of targets attacked between line four of their line and line…” she paused looking at the enemy line, her Jokers were not a massively powerful unit “line 7 hit them all except the Linebacker, he’s mine.”

   Moments later almost as one the Kay’s Jokers burst into action firing on the Wolf lines. Tassa remained behind the other Jokers for several moments allowing them to engage the Wolves first before turning her Ryoken II and charging it straight at the enemy Linebacker. As a Wolf Timber Wolf attempted to move to engage with her, she triggered the BattleMech’s jump jets launching the blue, green and grey painted Ryoken II into the air avoiding its charge flying clearly over the Wolf front-line and into the middle of their formation “Star Colonel Quinton Sender, I Challenge you to a Circle of Equals, you against me.” She said on an open frequency, other challenges had been made during the battle which had been honoured and throwing his name into the mix should get his attention. Before the battle Star League Intelligence had provided the unit with the breakdown of the Wolf Cluster, the First Wolf Guards an elite formation, a formation that used to be part of Clan Mountain Wolf before it “returned to Clan Wolf” among its roster Tassa had seen a name which she knew, her target.

   “You know my name?”

   “I know you” Tassa said as the battle raged all around everyone ignored the two warriors as a challenge had been made. “Do you accept this challenge?”

   “What is your ransom?” He asked wondering what she wanted from the trial, during these sorts of trials the Wolves often agreed to honour reasonable ransoms from enemy warriors. Of course, more often than not the challenging warrior either lost their life, or lost their position becoming a bondsman of the Wolves.

   “I will tell you, or whomever remains in command, what I want after this battle is done.”

   “Your overconfidence will be your undoing.”

   “That’s been said, but not today shorty” she snorted knowing that neither the Mech or its pilot were up to her.

   “When you are defeated, you will be taken as a bondsman of Clan Wolf and those contractions will be beat out of you.” He warned she saw a twitch in the arms seeing the particle cannons mounted there moving.

   “Well bargained and done” she said triggering both of her Ryoken II’s torso mounted particle cannons one struck the hunched over enemy OmniMech while the other hit the upper right arm of the enemy Mech. Her attacks knocked off the shot of one of the Linebacker’s own particle cannons sending the shot wide while the other shot flew into Tassa’s Ryoken II’s humanoid chassis.

   Cutting to the right Tassa twisted the Mech’s torso tracking the Linebacker both torso mounted missile racks locked on target and she pulled the trigger sending twelve streak short range missiles straight at the enemy Mech the Linebacker was beginning to move just as the missiles exploded all over the enemy Mech. Tassa added in both of the medium lasers but both went wide missing their target completely.

   Missiles from the Linebacker flew in five long range missiles arced high above but missed the Ryoken completely, four short range missiles of the same streak type flew in low from the Linebacker hitting the Ryoken in the stomach area. Tassa ignored the damage and continued to run her Ryoken in a circle before planting the feet bringing the Mech to a sudden stop, Sender continued to try and track the enemy Mech which was no longer running there. “You old fool!” Tassa shouted triumphantly firing both particle cannons into the right arm of the Linebacker, the double impact of the two man-made lightning bolts severed the arm just above the elbow parts of the arm flew everywhere and the particle cannon carried by it fell uselessly to the ground. “You’re going to die Sender! I’m coming for you!” She screamed launching the Ryoken II into the air high above the Linebacker the Ryoken II flew as the Mech rose, she triggered both medium lasers but they went hight above the enemy BattleMech.

   Tassa twisted the Ryoken in mid-air but was unable to complete an entire turn coming into a landing. The Ryoken stumbled a little as she fought the momentum, the damage display showed the jump had cost her a damaged ankle actuator. Even as she checked the damage missiles and a particle cannon shot from the Linebacker slammed into the Ryoken II causing it to stumble further. “Stavag! I will not lose to you Sender!” She snapped angrily turning the Mech quickly she briefly exposed the back of the Ryoken II to her enemy but that enemy had just used his weapons against her and would have to wait for another shot. Continuing her turn she brought the two particle cannons in line and took a snap shot but both bolts missed their target she began to run again in a circle opposite the Linebacker trying to keep her opponent off pace, with the damaged ankle the Ryoken II was moving less fluidly this time. One of the two Streak racks obtained a lock and six missiles shot out at the enemy Mech as four missiles from the Linebacker flew in the opposite direction again aimed at the gut of the Ryoken II. This time immediately followed were five closely bunched long range missiles which arced upwards and then came back down on top of the seventy-five-ton BattleMech.

   The Linebacker started tightening the circle between them “Yes, Sender com’on put up a fight” she taunted him Tassa smiled squaring the shoulders of the Ryoken facing the Wolf BattleMech “Com’on!” She shouted again triggering one particle cannon and medium laser which smashed into the Linebacker’s hunched over torso heat rose quickly in the cockpit of the Ryoken II as she stepped forwards. With her next step she triggered the other particle cannon and other laser it was like a boxer’s one-two punch against the Linebacker forcing it backwards. As she closed the Linebacker struck out with its remaining particle cannon and the long-range missiles. With neither Mech moving quickly the particle cannon couldn’t miss nor could the five missiles causing armour damage on the torso. As the Linebacker closed on the Ryoken II Tassa’s streak missiles activated gaining a lock against their target and essentially throwing a third punch to the combo she had delivered against the Linebacker. Explosions from the short-range missiles covered the Linebacker even as the Wolf pilot attempted to return fire but the man-made lightning bolt flew high into the air missing wildly. More long-range missiles were fired but they harmlessly flew past the sidestepping Ryoken II.

   Another “one-two” particle cannon and laser combination followed from the Ryoken II and this was enough for the Linebacker, the OmniMech stumbled and then fell on its face. Tassa Kay stood over the fallen Linebacker “Star Colonel Sender, you are defeated, surrender” she said.

   “Neg, freebirth” he responded his prone Linebacker was attempting to get back up but Tassa delivered a physical punch to the back of the sixty-five-ton OmniMech knocking it back down onto the ground. “Stavag!”

   Inside her Ryoken II’s cockpit she toggled the comm. frequency to one used only by Clan Wolf command staff “I’m not a freebirth you old fool, surrender before you die.”

   “I’d rather die in my cockpit, if you are not a freebirth then I die with honour, finish…” he began to say before Tassa Kay delivered a particle cannon blast directly into the cockpit of the Linebacker incinerating the Wolf warrior where he sat, she knew where he was coming from, it was a great fear of all Clan warriors to become a solahma and be relegated from the front lines.

   Changing frequencies back over again she sat in the middle of the Wolf formation as warriors died all around them. She looked at the Jokers IFF codes and saw that many of them had paid the price for her little excursion, she smiled, they had played their part. Swapping back to a general frequency she challenged the Wolves “Clan Wolf warriors of the First Wolf Guards I have defeated your commander in a Circle of Warriors, it was a duel of warriors to which honour was served and blood was spilled. I demand safcon to your DropShip to collect my ransom.”

   “This is Star Captain Finola Shaw, I accept your demand of safcon. We are falling back you may join us at our DropShip and recover your ransom, Quiaff?”

   “Aff” Tassa answered smiling she then about turned the Mech and began walking it towards the Wolf landing zone. She saw communications from the surviving jokers but she ignored them instead continuing to march along with the Wolves. On reaching the Wolf DropShips she marched the BattleMech inside and entered the Mechbay, there was a combined panic from the technicians below as they expected her to attack them, the BattleMech was an enemy combatant, several infantry troopers raised weapons towards the BattleMech but did not fire.

   Inside the cockpit of the Ryoken II she played with the idea of raising her weapons but the Wolves had given her safcon and she would honour that, she would trust their honour. She manoeuvred the BattleMech into one of the Mech maintenance gantries shutting everything down and putting the BattleMech into safe mode. She removed the neurohelmet placing it on its storage shelf before unhooking her coolant vest and squeezing out of command couch, she reached the rear hatch and keyed the lock, the hatch opened and the cold air rushed in. Tassa loved the feeling of the cold air following BattleMech operations the cold air on her bare skin was as refreshing as any shower. She clambered out of the seventy-five-ton BattleMech’s cockpit and onto the metal gantry that ran around the back of the Mechbay. Climbing up onto the gantry were two security officers with basic armour and hand weapons, she assumed they were lower castemen left to defend the DropShip as a last resort glancing downwards, she saw her weapon belt just inside the Ryoken II and was tempted to reach for it but decided she could intimidate them just fine on her own instead she pulled a red hair bobble from a hook just inside the door and then toggled the lock controls. The hatch slid slowly shut just as the guards reached her. She looked them up and down their weapons not drawn, “sloppy, just as well I am not an intruder” she silently thought.

   “I have been granted safcon to this DropShip and a ransom by your commander” she announced stepping forwards both men flinched at her movement which made Tassa Kay smile broadly “take me to your leader, or should I take you?” she joked with them both men continued to look nervous but allowed her to pass. She made her way confidently along the gantry as more Mechs were staggering into the Mechbay of the Union C-class DropShip. The DropShip could hold fifteen Mechs but she would be shocked if that many returned to the bay after the fight the Star League and Jokers had given them. She climbed down the steps and stood in the bay waiting for whoever decided to take charge of the situation. She saw warriors and techs assembling and the admiring eyes from many of the warriors Tassa was beautiful, her skin was perfect, she was well built with an athletic frame, her green tank top did nothing to hide the womanly curves she had, if anything it drew attention to them as did not wear a bra while in the cockpit and she was soaked in sweat. Her exposed belly was trimmed and muscled, and the shorts did their own job attracting attention to her perfectly formed legs. Topping this off was her long bright red hair which she had tied back in a ponytail behind her head. She could be the poster girl for any recruitment poster and would turn heads in any bar in the Inner Sphere and she knew it, she had used these charms more than once she knew what they did to both men and women and her body was a weapon in every sense of the word. She almost felt sorry for the Wolf who would try to contain her.

   Finally, an Elemental warrior still fully suited up marched up to her. The suit had been in the thick of the fighting, its missile launcher was gone, the armour pitted and burned over more than seventy percent of its frame, the V-shaped visor at the front slid open revealing a sweat covered dark skinned elemental warrior inside. “I am Finola Shaw, you fought well warrior, what is your ransom? I will honour your victory and give you what you want from this DropShip, including repairs to that fine BattleMech.” She announced

   “You cannot give me anything” Tassa Kay said “instead I challenge you Star Captain Finola Shaw” she said reaching into her tank top and pulling out a small cannister which was attached to a think chain around her neck. “I challenge you to read this codex.”

   “You’re Clan” Shaw said after moments shock her voice slipping in surprise.

   “Aff” she confirmed off to the side a pale looking male technician rushed in with a portable reader and carefully took the codex from Tassa Kay’s out stretched hand. In front of everyone the tech read the codex and his mouth visibly dropped even further open than the Star Captain’s had a moment before. He turned the display towards Shaw “its authentic” she confirmed “I am a Wolf!” She said loud enough for them all to hear “as much a Wolf as any of you. I am Anastasia Kerensky, a Kerensky born on Arc Royal to the same Clan that many of you were once tied to, I was born from the same blood as Natasha Kerensky, the Black Widow herself and I will have my place in my Clan.”

   “You will be its bondswoman” Shaw said after giving her a moment to showboat. “I will afford you the respect you are due as one of the Bloodnamed but until we return to Wolf territory, you will be confined to quarters.”

   “Don’t forget about me!” She said cheekily as she was led off by the security staff.

   “I do not think that would be possible.” Shaw said more to herself than anything “the show is over people, at least for now, prep this ship for immediate lift off. We are going home.” She announced to the rest of the assembled warriors and techs, taking a final look at Tassa… no, Anastasia Kerensky’s Ryoken II before heading off to get her Elemental suit removed.

   Back on Augustine with their commander gone and more than half of their BattleMechs damaged beyond the capability to repair the Kay’s Jokers cease to be with the personnel offered positions in other commands or packing their bags and heading towards a mercenary hiring hall looking for new work.

My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

  • Lieutenant Colonel
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  • Not Dead Until I Say So
Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #23 on: 28 February 2023, 03:06:26 »
Diamond Crash Bar, Oldtown Square
Hon Hu, Matsuida Prefecture
Military District of Midway, Draconis Combine
24th December 3118


   There were many in the Inner Sphere that said that Christmas was not celebrated in the Draconis Combine, that was a myth it was just different. There were many who also said that the Combine did not have much to celebrate with their borders besieged on almost every front by one aggressor or another, while accurate many of the worlds were dozens of light years from any battle front. Even an intelligence release which glorified the DCMS’ success in the periphery against Clan Lynx with six systems liberated by the brave sons and daughters of the Dragon had been overshadowed when a release of information, which was being blamed on Azami Separatists revealed that the Lynx had almost completely abandoned all six systems with no ground forces and token aerospace defences in each. If anything, the Dragon had added more territory to defend while the Lynx had moved troops possibly into striking range of other worlds.

   Making his way through the group a single bar customer moved passed one of the Diamond Crash Bar’s stalls and slumped onto the seat his pint glass landing thankfully upright on the table “do you mind if I take this chair young lady?” He asked her his voice was slurred his brown hair looked greasy, a full beard over grown and dark shades hiding eyes which probably showed not enough sleep. He wore a checked blue, brown and yellow shirt, and a pair of denim jeans, he didn’t stand out at all in the room which was full of men wearing the same enjoying the last day before Xmas.

   “Sure, I’m just waiting for friends” she replied she was his opposite she looked tidy her blonde/brown hair cut short she wore a white shirt and, hidden by the table, plain blue velvet bottoms.

   “Of course, you are!” He said loudly “quite right too, enjoying Christmas Eve because we can and the Coordinator cannot stop us having a bit of fun!”

   “No, he can’t you have a good night though” she said sounding more nervous, talk against the Coordinator even in jest could be dangerous.

   “So, you can go drink a water slowly alone elsewhere” the man asked sounding far more sober for a moment before returning to his drunken state speaking quickly. “You’re never going to believe this!” He said giggling away “today the government attempted to release some good news!” He said “they’ve got a brand-new Land Air Mech plant right here on Hun Ho!” He said excitedly “LexaTech is expanding its production base and its products a brand-new LAM design too.”

   “I don’t really follow the military news, it’s a long way away from here in the core” she said sounding nervous Hun Ho was a warm jungle world far from any threats and hosted little in the way of industry to make it a target.

   “Of course, you don’t lass, quite right too! And tonight, is about celebration!” He said standing up and singing away to a tune, the young woman began to move again “but hang on, I didn’t finish my story.” He said she reluctantly stopped moving “so the government was trying to give us some good news a new factory, new jobs for the folk here and a new LAM design the Needletail, they are calling it a wee nipper of a thing.” He said “but here’s the kicker two nights ago one of the leading development pilots stole one of the prototypes!”

   “Oh my, that’s shocking” the young woman said “you have a good night old fella” she said half joking beginning to slide off the booth.

   “The pilot of that Needletail will never get out of this system to sell that craft.” The man said “especially if she spends all night sipping a drink of water and then slips out of a booth when someone is trying to speak to her.” He said stopping her movement completely

   “You’re my contact!” She said her eyes open in surprise looking at him. She had stolen the LAM after having contact with someone outside the factory who said they’d pay good money for the design.

   “Keep your voice down little lady, now listen you can’t stay here with a drunk like me and have water, so go get yourself a double at the bar and a drink to take and if you still want to talk come back here.” He said having a large sip from his glass.

   She returned several minutes later with a drink for herself and a drink for him which was well timed as he had just finished his drink, it was like his previous drink so most likely a lager. “So still interested then?”

   “That was a test” she said realizing he had let her go for a reason. To see if she would return “what can you offer me?” She asked drinking some of her drink which was not quite a pint but looked like a similar lager to what she was drinking.

   “Initially transport out of this system and out of the Combine” he said “in exchange I’ll take the LAM as payment, you’ll get enough to start over elsewhere.” He said seeing her resistance as he continued to drink “if you want to keep the LAM then we need you to work off the debt for transporting it and you. I have a small unit; we could use the unique scouting and strike capabilities a LAM would bring.” He explained, she had thought her contact had wanted the LAM to sell it, a brand new design would make a massive profit.

   “Will I get paid anything over and above the debts?” She asked drinking more of the drink. She should be afraid that all would happen is she would be murdered and her LAM taken but she was not, if she remained in the Hon Hu system she would be discovered and the same fate would follow.

   “You’ll be well taken care of as long as you’re with us you’ll be part of the team. There is a non-disclosure agreement you’ll need to agree to but I’m sure once you are onboard, you’ll agree.” He explained, the fact that he was explaining this suggested that he ran some sort of black ops unit, but then only someone who was operating under the radar could offer what he had offered.

   “If you get me off this world, I’ll sign whatever you want.” She admitted downing the drink “another?” She asked she had loosened up a bit and was relaxing now her contact was real and she had a chance of getting off the world alive.

   “I don’t think we need one, not here anyway” he said the effects of the alcohol all but gone from his voice. “Where’s your Mech?” He asked all business.

   “In the jungle” she said, that was not much of an answer as the most of the world was covered by jungle foliage.

   “Space capable?” He asked she nodded it was a LAM it should be space capable but he wanted to be sure. “Good, lay low tonight and during the day tomorrow if you can. I have a supply shuttle you can shadow until you reach orbit, there I’ll have a Mule-class DropShip, if you can rendezvous with us then we can disappear before the militia finds us.” He explained “from there we can figure out what you want.”

   “How will a Mule-class vessel avoid detection and hide my fighter?” She asked a Mule was a transport class of vessel many were used by the military but they were built to a civilian spec. While Hon Hu did not have extensive sensor networks and naval defences they would still have enough to penetrate a Mule’s hull.

   “We won’t avoid detection, but if they have anything capable of penetrating our screens then they deserve to detect you.” He said confidently the glint in his eyes showing that the drunken state that he previous showed was gone.
“I’ll get you off this rock.”

---

The next night a Sopworth Supply Craft flew low over the jungle and the single forty ton red and black painted Needletail LAM joined it in the lower atmosphere. The pilot showing an impressive skillset to remain just in the one-hundred-and-ten-ton Small Craft’s sensor shadow. If one looked close enough you could see where the arms of the BattleMech had folded forwards to create the nose of the craft and the engines on the rear of the torso and legs were now creating the thrust that propelled the aircraft. The two arm mounted extended range lasers mounted on the arms were now nose mounted weapons while the torso mounted multi-missile launcher gave the Mech a long range and short range punch in the aircraft mode the launcher was near the rear of the craft giving it its name. The problem, like with all LAMs, was the design could not heavy damage with only seven tons of amour and a composite structure making nearly any it did take a lethal one. The advantage that the Needletail had over other LAM designs was the modular weapons bay in the left torso while not a true OmniMech the weapon system could be replaced far faster than a regular refit.

As the Sopworth and Needletail approached the waiting Mule just outside standard orbit the small craft rotated allowing the Needletail to approach the first small craft bay undetected it slipped into the bay and the doors rapidly closed behind it. Once the small craft had also docked the Mule boosted away from the planet to an awaiting a JumpShip.

I posted the Needletail previously on the forum but it's gone through a change or two since that posting so I'll post it again soon
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #24 on: 04 March 2023, 15:06:59 »
nice update
"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!"

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #25 on: 23 March 2023, 09:12:27 »
Finally got around to finishing and updating the active units and WarShips for this timeline (long overdue but life happens sometimes) (I left the wrong dates on it but it is for the end of 3118)
« Last Edit: 23 March 2023, 09:21:40 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #26 on: 23 March 2023, 09:22:18 »
And the map (I had to shrink it to fit so some details may not be clear if anyone has questions feel free to ask)
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

truetanker

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #27 on: 23 March 2023, 11:09:22 »
I didn't see any of the Scorpion-class on the Lost Warships.

They all survived?
TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
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Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #28 on: 23 March 2023, 13:22:31 »
I didn't see any of the Scorpion-class on the Lost Warships.

They all survived?
TT

They are still active I believe on the Goliath Scorpion's rolls if not I've missed them but I don't think so

Attached I've also added the Clan Homeworlds Map, I forgot earlier
« Last Edit: 23 March 2023, 13:24:08 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Wrangler

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #29 on: 28 March 2023, 12:43:12 »
I guess Kay's Jokers was a joke. They didn't last long.
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
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"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
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truetanker

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #30 on: 29 March 2023, 10:33:52 »
I hope something I know happens...

It's the waiting that drives me insane!

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #31 on: 03 April 2023, 18:14:28 »
I hope something I know happens...

It's the waiting that drives me insane!

TT

Cryptic, there are certain events that will happen - like Victor Steiner-Davion's eventual demise ^-^. But I'm moving them around a bit to try and work out when.

Finally into 3119

3119

Border skirmish
Warren, Warren PDZ
Capellan March, Federated Suns
3rd January 3119


On a world like Warren border skirmishes were almost a way of life with multiple raids against the world most months from either the Capellan Confederation, Taurian Concordat or independent pirate forces. This meant that joining the AFFS and importantly the local militia was a call many of the locals answered Private Jonas Lobotka was one such recruit.
Jonas did not have the academy training or the family money to be a MechWarrior instead he had joined as a member of the militia’s infantry corps. He had immediately been assigned to the artillery section of the Warren Capellan March Militia joining a crew of a towed Long Tom Artillery piece, the nineteen-year-old had barely been with the command when the Silent Reapers Mercenaries had raided the planet.

The rain beat down on the artillery crew as they bombarded a target far out of visual range. “SPEAR! SPEAR! SPEAR!” their radios collective shouted all at once the crew all shared a look and then began to pull on their chemical protection masks from their gear. Jonas did the same but he stopped for a moment looking up into the sky watching as three long range missiles arced over their position heading towards Warren’s capital city of Aagtekerke.

“What are you doing? Get your gear on now!” His Sergeant screamed at him snapping him out of his momentary trance Jonas pulled on his face mask and then his protective gloves. “Everyone get down now! Turn away from the b…” he screamed at them as the three missiles hit the city a few kilometres beyond their position blast waves tore across the city but it was not the blasts that worried people. A SPEAR call was a chemical warhead attack, they all drilled for it but this was the real thing none of them knew what was going to happen next. Across the city a blue haze spread out from the missile strikes coating the city and its inhabitants.

With the defenders turning to help Aagtekerke recover from the Silent Reapers chemical attack the mercenary force was able to disengage and escape retreating to their two DropShips and then onto the JumpShip. The Silent Reapers had been under contract with the Taurian Concordat and as word of the attack on Warren spread Kathil raised an official complaint against the attack which the Taurians denied all knowledge of and stated that the Silent Reapers were out of contract with the Taurian people. On Warren thousands were sick and the death toll was beginning to rise as Federated Suns medical teams attempted to help the capital’s population.

Public Announcement
Halas Royal Household, Oriente
District of Oriente, Free Worlds League
11th January 3119


Stepping out from the right-hand side of the stage Duke Javier Halas stepped in front of the assembled press dressed in a bright red version of a Free Worlds League Marshal’s uniform. His beard was gone but he had kept a full moustache while his brown hair which had been growing during their month of mourning had been cut shorter.

“Gentlemen and Ladies” he said speaking to the reporters with an emphasis on the ‘Ladies’ part “today I am announcing the ending of our month of mourning since my brother’s suicide on Calloway IV.” He said glancing down for a moment of reflection and then he looked up “I am not over my brother’s death… in the end he could not deal with where he had led our nation and the constant pressure, we were under from our neighbours. Today we together as a nation are going to reverse these fortunes, I am declaring War on behalf of the Free Worlds League against the Capellan Confederation. As I make this declaration units of the District of Oriente are making strikes against worlds of the Capellan Confederation, I call on the Free Worlds League to support us in our second round of assaults. I will avenge my brother’s death and I will make the Capellan Confederation burn for what they drove him to.”

Within hours of his announcement on Oriente six regiments of the District of Oriente landed on the systems of Varna, Hassad and Fujidera with the Oriente flagship Santorini supporting the invasion of Hassad. The Santorini’s presence was to counter the presence of one of the Capellan Confederation’s Tikonov-class Carriers, the Qingdao. While the fighters from the two WarShips cancelled each other out two additional Oriente WarShips jumped in and engaged the Qingdao directly. The Tikonov-class Carrier was not designed to engage WarShips directly instead it was intended on deploying aerospace fighters and protecting itself from aerospace fighters. Against an Eagle-class Frigate and a Monolisk-class Destroyer the eight hundred-and-sixty thousand ton had no chance against two dedicated WarShips even with several escorting DropShips and it was torn to pieces. Soon after the destruction of the carrier the aerospace fighters were forced to surrender or be left abandoned in space, likewise when the Oriente troops reached Hassad the CCSS Qiandaohu, a Britannic-class Heavy Freighter, was boarded and the crew forced to surrender. The ship was escorted to Oriente where Javier Halas christened the vessel after his brother Jonas Halas.

On the ground the District of Oriente troops outclass the troops of the Capellan Confederation with naval firepower supporting the ground troops providing Orbital Fire-support when the ground forces needed it to shatter four separate commands bringing all three worlds into the District of Oriente. The Dragonkind a mercenary BattleMech company were also destroyed along with the Capellan unit that they were attached to.

Border Raids
Southwest Covenant
16th January 3119


After a series of raid by companies of Spartan BattleMechs the Cirincus Federation invades the worlds of Zorn’s Keep and Poulsbo. The Spartan raids had caused heavy damage to infastructure and militia forces on both worlds crippling their ability to respond to the occupation raid which followed. During the invasion of Poulsbo, the mercenary company Antian Lanciarii are wiped out to the man as the Cirincus Federation occupiers take no prisoners. In the coming days the Southwest Covenant government officials are banished from the systems and sent to JumpShips which would take them away from the two systems and into the periphery where they would live their lives as members of the Cirincus Federation’s slave caste in mines. This marks just the start of the Cirincus Federation’s rule as more and more people are shipped off the worlds along with resources and industry.

Wedding Ceremony
McCoy Estate, Whittington
Periphery
25th January 3119


   While the Cirincus Federation were in the process of showing some of the horrors of the periphery on Whittington a ceremony as old as humanity was taking place showing that beauty still existed. On a beautiful Whittington day at the estate of House McCoy sixteen BattleMechs stood in two lines of eight flanking a seated area. The Mechs that had arms had at least one arm extended into the air, while those that did not have arms had poles attached to their body’s, from the Mechs hung a white awning which let the sunlight through but protected the patrons from being blinded by the low yellow sun.

   Under the awning were rows of white seats which were filled by members of McCoy’s Malcontents, their support crews, families, and members of the local community. All the chairs were facing a heavily flowered area closest to the McCoy house while in the middle Schuyler McCoy stood waiting. From the far end of Amanda Cavalcanti entered the awning area she was dressed in a beautiful bright red dress. He had known that is what she had planned to wear and he had asked her why red and not the traditional white? Ever the practical woman Amanda had explained that for three reasons firstly in the periphery keeping white clean and looking perfect was near impossible, secondly, she was not a virgin and she had killed many warriors in combat and three her hair was bright red and it would not look good with a white dress!

   They had laughed together about it and he had agreed with her choice, but seeing her in it now made the choice complete and perfect, his bride soon to be his wife, she looked stunning. Without any family to walk her down the aisle she began walking down by herself but then Chief Tech Matthew Yingling dressed in a suit which resembled one of his boilersuits stood up and took her by the arm walking her the remainder of the way. Schuyler McCoy did not have a best man so he stood waiting her to join him in front of all the others, likewise they did not have a religious representative instead they both stood facing the crowd of nearly two hundred.

   “You look amazing” he whispered to her drawing a smile her hair was tied back in a simple braid which went down her back but the red stood out for all to see. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming here today.” He said addressing the crowd “myself and Amanda did not meet through a conventional sense.”

   “You abducted me” she broke in, with perfect timing just as they had agreed, it brought a quiet laughter from the crowd.

   “I recruited Amanda into our little community during one of our missions.”

   “Also known by some as raids” Amanda added, not all of their ‘missions’ were of a legal nature and she’d been one of those trying to stop the Malcontents.

   “Thank you, dear” he said glancing over “after joining us Amanda won a place within this unit and from there it was only a matter of time before she won also won my heart.” He explained looking at her as there was a collected ‘awww’ from the crowd, we have been through quite a bit since she joined us, we’ve had some adventures, made some friends and some enemies along the way and we have lost some friends.” He said bowing his head as did most of the people gathered Malcontents had died bringing goods to Whittington to improve all their lives and they had died defending the world as well. “But through it all we’ve had each other and I want that for the rest of my life.”

   “I did not come to you in the traditional way” she said

   “I swept you off your feet…” he interrupted

   “Well you took off my BattleMech’s legs” she said countering him recounting how they met when Schuyler had use his Archer’s BattleMech sized axe to smash her BattleMech’s legs, again their back and forth brought the crowd into their story even if they were not there “but I sensed from my first meeting with you that there was something honourable and that you had a deeper integrity. And then we came here, to our home, to these people” she said looking at the crowd “and I realized that the life I had before…”

   “The one I kidnapped you from…”

   “Was no life at all” she said even as the crowd laughed “you’ve given me a home and a life that I would not change it.” She finished “I want to stay with you for the rest of my life.” She said completing their vow.

   “For the rest of our lives”

   “I do” she said agreeing to their vow in front of all the witnesses they became Schuyler McCoy and Amanda Cavalcanti-McCoy.

Freedom Riot
Herndon, Clan Lynx Occupation Zone
28th January 3119


   After months of behind the scenes work by Draconis Combine special forces personnel the people of Herndon riot against Clan Lynx demonstrating for their freedom. For three days to end the month the people of Herndon protested peacefully in the streets of every town and city on Herndon. Unlike on previous worlds where protests had occurred, like Turtle Bay during the initial Clan invasion almost seventy years before, the Clan military forces do not even make an appearance instead leaving every law enforcement issue up to the local police and paramilitary forces.

Unlike Clan Smoke Jaguar which had enforced law on Combine world using their military forces to enforce Clan law Clan Lynx takes a stepped back approach allowing the locals to be angry for a period of time. The Clan’s stepped back approach shows the population the Clan’s attitude towards its population which is far different from both Clan Smoke Jaguar and the Draconis Combine. Several hundred people are arrested during the course of the protests but all are processed under local laws instead of being charged with various other offences.

Still hidden from the Clan Lynx forces the Draconis Combine forces based on Herndon have too change tactics instead of relying on the people to do their dirty work they instead turn to sabotage. On the 30th January 3119 the DEST teams on Herndon bomb a power plant and a money exchange building killing nearly eight hundred people including a dozen of members of Clan Lynx. Within days of these actions Clan Lynx deploy two additional Elemental stars and two additional stars of conventional infantry along with infantry support vehicles which are sent to hunt down the DEST commandos regardless of cost. After the terrorist actions which cost hundreds of lives the people of Herndon do not stand in the Lynx way.
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #32 on: 09 April 2023, 21:46:35 »
Clan Sea Fox Trade Outpost
Coates Continent, Ito
Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation
2nd February 3119


   In an organised move Clan Sea Fox claim the Coates Continent on the world of Ito in the heart of the Capellan Confederation as a trade world.  Initially the Capellan Confederation refuses to trade the continent to Clan Sea Fox refusing any sort of fighting trial with the Sea Foxes. Instead, it took the Sea Fox ArcShip Red Tide journeying to Capellan Confederation capitol and negotiating directly with the leadership of the Capellan Confederation. Although they do not gain an audience with the Chancellor they speak with Dao-Shen Liao’s chief military advisor, and wife, Sang-jiang-jun Erin Liao.

   During the negotiations the Sea Foxes agree to trade away to the Capellan Confederation an entire star of assault DropShips and the makings of an entire combined-arms regiment to allow the Sea Fox Clan to take possession of the entire southern Coates Continent. The Sea Foxes also secure the Capellan’s agreement to for the Capellans remove all civilians from the Coats Continent before the Foxes land on the ground. For eight weeks the Capellans forcefully relocate civilians from Coates there are several protests however the Eighth Capellan Defence Force are aggressive with the population and do not allow things to get out of hand. The Sea Foxes attempt to make things easier on the people that are relocated by deploying over one hundred temporary housing blocks, often used when creating Clan firebases, to give the people at least a roof over their heads. The Capellans organise these into small towns with everyone from Coates housed together but it does little to dispel the anger from the population.

   With the equipment brought in from Clan Sea Fox they deploy the new DropShips with the Confederation’s best WarShips while the ground equipment is deployed to the best regiments in the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces the released equipment from other regiments is sent to Ito where a new Warrior House Mitsukurina owstoni named after the Goblin Shark which is native to Ito having been engineered from the Terran species introduced during the First Star League-era. The new Warrior Houses primary task during peace time will be to guard against any intrusions by Clan Sea Fox forces. The continent of Coates was an island which made up roughly two thirds of the southern hemisphere of Ito it was temperate in climate, with mostly flat farm landed and a massive mountain range making up the southern most part of the land.

   Elsewhere in the Clipperton system the reborn Clan Smoke Jaguar, operating as part of the Free Worlds League’s military, claim a newly completed Aumaku-class Destroyer from Clan Sea Fox in a Trial of Possession adding it to the naval forces available to the District of Lesnovo. The trial is fought between two DropShips and their attending fighters on both sides.

Field Base Command, StarCorps Industries
Farrarrah, Annesland
Crofton, Crofton OZ, Nova Cat’s Den
10th February 3119


The Khan of Clan Nova Cat Canin Rosse continued to occupy the office formerly occupied by the CEO of StarCorps Industries on Crofton. The Nova Cats continued to fight trials with the Federated Suns targeting worlds near their expanded Crofton Occupation Zone recently adding Bulford, Kettering and Vincente to the Nova Cat’s claimed worlds on Kettering there was a Cicada factory which the Nova Cats were now evaluating for potential of deploying within their forces.

The most recent Trials of Possessions had drawn the ire of the Federated Suns however two days before at a pirate point the Federated Suns Battleship the FSS Black Prince, a Mercury-class Battleship, had jumped into the system. Immediately the vessel had requested Safcon and announced that the First Prince of the Federated Suns wished to speak with Khan Canin Rosse. The Nova Cats had five WarShips in the system including a Nightlord II-class Battleship but nothing that could match the size of the massive Federated Suns vessel. Not wanting to see five WarShips badly damaged or destroyed Khan Rosse had agreed to grant Safcon and allow the Federated Suns to land one DropShip at the Marcus Spaceport.

The Federated Suns had landed one of their premier aerodyne DropShips, a Conquistador combined arms carrier, and then a convoy had been escorted to the StarCorps facility’s gates. After being checked over the armoured limousine along with a squad of Infiltrator III Battle Armour suits had been allowed into the complex.

Now the First Prince of the Federated Suns walked into Khan Canin Rosse’s office wearing the uniform of a Federated Suns Field Marshal at fifty-five years old Canin Rosse could see that grey was peppering the First Prince’s hair and his hairline was slowly receding. He also noted the First Prince had put on some weight since they had last met a few years before and Khan Rosse wondered if that was why he had not taken his BattleMech to the Nova Cat base. Rising from his chair Khan Rosse wore a simple charcoal coloured combat jumpsuit, with ablative inserts, on his belt he had a vibro-dagger and a gauss pistol, he was dressed for any occasion. In the corner of the room sitting along with his hanging coolant suit and outside jacket there was a compact Gauss SMG, for decades the weapon had been standard issue to most MechWarriors who deployed out of their Mechs Rosse was proficient with the weapon but had not used it in anger for years. The Nova Cats controlled this system but there were still many who would be willing to take a shot at the Nova Cat Khan, and even though he was approaching his eighty-first birthday Canin Rosse was always ready to defend himself.

“Welcome to the Nova Cat’s Den, First Prince Davion.” He said looking to see how the First Prince would react.

“Thank you, Khan Rosse,” his visitor replied stopping short of Khan Rosse’s desk, the Khan noticed that the First Prince had a large heavy slug thrower pistol. “Thank you for granting me an audience. I will cut straight to the point, these raids against the Federated Suns must stop.”

“Neg” Rosse said simply looking at the younger man, from his facial expression it was clear Burton Davion was not used to someone defying him so bluntly.

“Khan Rosse, you must understand you are pushing the Federated Suns to the point of total was in retaliation in response to your actions. I came here in a Mercury-class Battleship, I have access to five more of that class of vessel along with dozens of support vessels, and six combat capable Regimental Combat Teams are within strike distance of your realm. I could bring great harm to your nation even without the support of the Star League Defence Force, which I would get.”

“An over-reaction but your choice First Prince.” Khan Rosse said turning and stepping away from the First Prince looking out of the window over the base “the Trials of Possession my Clan have undertaken are part of an agreement I made with your father decades ago. They are a cornerstone of our culture and one I will not let go.” He said defiantly turning back towards the First Prince. “Given our agreement with your father my troops have done the absolute minimum damage to the worlds we have targeted, and we have sought to avoid civilian casualties with a near one hundred percent success rate.” He said every Trial of Possession was ordered to be fought outside civilian population centres with Nova Cat troops drawing Federated Suns defenders out and even engaging them on grounds that favoured the Federated Suns defenders instead of taking the fight into a civilian zone.

“And as for your willingness to run to the Star League for assistance I could easily do the same and turn to the Clan Council for assistance with your nation. The Ravens, Foxes and now the Ghost Bears all share borders with your realm First Prince. Do you want to see what the coordinated efforts of the Clans can do?” Rosse asked allowing some anger to enter his voice “ask the Draconis Combine or the Lyran Commonwealth.” While the Inner Sphere had closed on the Clans in terms of firepower and technological knowledge ton for ton Clan units still tended to be superior to their Inner Sphere equivalents with few exceptions. The Nova Cats would struggle to repel a Federated Suns invasion of the Nova Cat’s Den but he also knew that if the Federated Suns tried to invade his realm en masse they would pay the price fighting the Nova Cats and he could count on at least the Ravens for assistance.

“While I respect the agreements you made with my father, I cannot allow your constant violations of our territory.” He said turning away from the Khan briefly before turning back his arms resting on the holster of his pistol. “A Davion does not flagrantly break an agreement with a neighbour.” He said repeating a phrase his father liked as he eyed the Khan?” refusing to copy the Khan by raising his hands towards his own weapon. “I wish to modify our agreement” He asked switching pace and to diplomacy, he did not want a large-scale war with the Nova Cats over periphery worlds even if worlds like this very one had been valuable to his nation. “I will not take these Trials away from you. But we must limit them.”

“Out of respect for your father, your nations strength and your willingness to negotiate I am willing to discuss this.” Rosse said bowing his head slightly. “I will start the bidding at twelve trials per year, equal to one per month of the year.”

“No, that is far too many, that is more than you presently conduct.” Burton responded annoyed that the Khan had started at such a high number. He preferred having a diplomat with him during a negotiation or having his wife Sterling McKenna, formerly the Khan of Clan Snow Raven providing support.

“Counter my bid First Prince Davion” Khan Rosse said trying to not smile, the First Prince probably saw this as a game but this was part of his life and it had been for his entire fighting career.

“Four trials per calendar year.”

“Ten”

“Six”

“Eight” Rosse said finally following the reduction by two that he had started with. He had not intention in going lower, the First Prince had been willing to increase his agreed number of trials. Eight he could sell to the Nova Cat Clan Council “with one additional modification?”

“I could agree to eight, assuming you would still allow any civilians who wished to leave captured systems to leave? And the eight Trials of Possession would be win or lose contests, your Clan is not allowed to simply continue to fight until you win eight trials, Quiaff?” He asked using the Clan word

“Aff, they may leave should they wish, eight trials win or lose” he agreed

“What is your modification?”

“Should the Federated Suns start a conflict with Clan Nova Cat then we are allowed additional trials equal to the number that your nation launched against out Clan?” He said he would not allow his Clan to be cornered by the Federated Suns and bound to only fight defensively should the Succession State prosecute a war against the Nova Cats.”

“Agreed” First Prince Burton Davion said extending his hand to shake the Nova Cat Khan’s hand.

“Seyla” The Nova Cat Khan said extending his own hand to shake the First Princes hand which they both met with a firm handshake. “Would you like to remain on Crofton for refreshments? I can have our kitchens prepare you a meal before returning to your DropShip?” He asked releasing the First Prince’s hand.

“I shouldn’t” Burton said after a moment “however to foster continued cooperation between us, I would be willing to share food with you to show my respect for you Khan Rosse and your Clan.” Canin Rosse nodded extending his hand showing the First Prince to the office door.

Salvage mission, Unknown Asteroid
Uncharted System, Aurigan Collective
Periphery
19th February 3119


“Alright people lines are attached” the commander of Rampant Company Karen “Sunbird” Andris said “engines are at station keeping, we’re ready let’s see if we can get her up.” She said in the space near the asteroid a Leopard and Mule-class DropShips were hovering nearby both had cables attached to their find ready to assist while Rampant Company itself was around the DropShip and they had spent time digging it out. “0.5G acceleration, take us up” She ordered slowly the DropShip began to lift off away from the asteroid sand tumbling off the off the craft “retract tow cords” she ordered the two DropShips in space began to drag their lines back in with the DropShips engines keeping them up and away from a collision.

Slowly the ninety-seven-thousand-ton DropShip cleared the asteroid and sand continued to climb away from the asteroid “one G acceleration, cut the lines” she said looking around the DropShip’s command deck she like the other members of the on the bridge wore full EVA suits due to the ship’s hull being open to space. “Rampart Company, this is Sunbird, she’s flying” she said smirking looking around the other crewmen. “Federated-Boeing obviously made this thing to last” she said the Argo was ancient dating back to the end of the First Star League era but her company had gotten her into a working condition. “I think we’ve maybe got a new home.”

Clan Raid in Force
Goslar, Hanseatic League
Deep Periphery
28th February 3119


   While continuing to search for former Clansmen within the deep periphery Galaxy Commander Connor Rood of Clan Goliath Scorpion leads a conquest of the Goslar system. Far from the Clan Homeworlds the forces under Rood’s command needed a base of operations for which to train and being any found warriors before sending them back to the Clan Homeworlds. On the outskirts of the Hanseatic League and sparsly populated Goslar had made a perfect choice, the more advanced and battle hardened Goliath Scorpions had made short work of the militia forces defending Goslar and the local population had offered no resistance of their own.
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #33 on: 10 April 2023, 00:30:26 »
gee I never saw First Prince say he was going to bring in the Star League, but the 1st thing Khan does is threatened to bring this to total war with all Clans with a border.   

Typical of the Clanners, this is how they abuse the system to their own benefit.  Like when they treated the TC to orbital bombardment with their own orbitals, from a brand new starship..  which means they should be treated like pirates that they are.  When the TC responded in kind on one of their own world.  The Clanner go nuts. 
Yet no one was willing to stand against them.

"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: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #34 on: 10 April 2023, 03:04:11 »
Rules for thee but not for me seems to often be the Clan way, although they'll happily hide behind them and say they're honourable.

Excellent updates as always!
Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #35 on: 10 April 2023, 11:23:41 »
Rules for thee but not for me seems to often be the Clan way, although they'll happily hide behind them and say they're honourable.
Thank you for saying that much better then I could... :thumbsup:
"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!"

truetanker

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #36 on: 10 April 2023, 12:46:17 »
I hope something I know happens...

It's the waiting that drives me insane!

TT

Cryptic, there are certain events that will happen -

SQUEE!

Something happened!

Argo lives!

TT
Khan, Clan Iron Dolphin
Azeroth Pocketverse
That is, if true tanker doesn't beat me to it. He makes truly evil units.Col.Hengist on 31 May 2013
TT, we know you are the master of nasty  O0 ~ Fletch on 22 June 2013
If I'm attacking you, conventional wisom says to bring 3x your force.  I want extra insurance, so I'll bring 4 for every 1 of what you have :D ~ Tai Dai Cultist on 21 April 2016
Me: Would you rather fight my Epithymía Thanátou from the Whispers of Blake?
Nav_Alpha: That THING... that is horrid
~ Nav_Alpha on 10 October 2016

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #37 on: 13 April 2023, 15:10:53 »
Rules for thee but not for me seems to often be the Clan way, although they'll happily hide behind them and say they're honourable.

Excellent updates as always!

Probably better than I could have put it as well. Clan big stick wins when there's a disagreement about honour and tactics... similar way that the big succession states pick on the little succession states and don't care about the repercussions.  Unfortunately we're going to see both sides of this coming up in the timeline.

Funeral March
Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Sun
3rd March 3119


   Rarely did a someone born outside the ruling houses of the Federated Suns earn the right to be buried within the grounds of the Royal Cemetery on New Avalon but Galen Cox was a man who had broken the mold, he had served the Federated Suns loyally for decades despite originally being born within the Lyran Commonwealth he had helped hold the nation together during the brief Varnay Civil War and had been inducted into the Order of Davion by Victor Steiner-Davion himself and his wife Danai Centrella-Davion both were dressed in military uniforms of the Federated Suns with all of the awards that they were due.

   Today, however it was his funeral. At ninety-nine years of age and after decades of service Galen Cox had passed away at his home on New Avalon, as per his wishes he would be buried on the capital of his adopted home nation and the nation had responded with thousands of members of public lining the streets to pay their respects to a true hero. Escorting Galen’s body on its final journey were four Crusader BattleMechs the same design that he had piloted for most of his career. Behind the coffin were hundreds of officers and warriors who had served with Galen over his years of service in the Federated Commonwealth, Federated Suns and with the Star League Defence Forces. All around the procession were members of the elite First Davion Guards RCT and the First New Avalon Guards RCT, two units which had been close to Galen’s heart and that he had served with on several occasions. With them members of the Royal Black Watch Brigade of Guards, the Rabid Fox, and the Star League Defence Forces’ Special Armed Service all watched ensuring that no-one caused harm to those who were paying their respects to the fallen hero.

   After the funeral Exarch Victor Steiner-Davion spends nearly two weeks with members of his family on New Avalon remaining on the world until First Prince Burton Davion returns from Crofton. The First Prince apologises to his father for missing the ceremony but he explains that affairs of state had to come first and that he had wanted Galen to be remembered a hero of his father’s era, that the two of them had served together and that it had seemed fitting. While relations between the two were strained the heart to heart was good for both men.

Race of Noisiel
Noisiel, Alarion Province
Lyran Commonwealth
10th March 3119


   For decades on the world of Noisiel had been host to a variety of games using Mechs, Battle Armour and tanks, these games had evolved over time adding the great BattleMech race of Noisiel and then in 3094 Duke Michael Alextep added the Tournament 1945 which was a ground-based battle using drone controlled, fuel cell powered, primitive armoured vehicles based on the Armoured Tanks used on Terra during the Second World War. These events alone had made Noisiel almost as popular as Solaris in entertainment at least within the Lyran Commonwealth.

   Duke Alextep had not rested on his laurels however and in support of the Tournament 1945 he had built an aircraft industry capable of constructing aircraft from the same era as the drone tanks which took part in the popular deathmatch contest on the planet’s surface. Initially these aircraft performed air displays including a special guest appearance on Solaris before the run up to the Solaris Racing League season.  Duke Alextep enjoyed the sceptical of the Solaris Racing League and wanted to create something like the event on Solaris but not the same, not in competition, instead of using modern conventional aircraft the Noisiel race would use “1945-era” conventional aircraft built using recovered schematics from Star League Defence Force records. These aircraft like the ground craft would be powered by fuel cell engines but unlike the armoured vehicles the aircraft would be flown by pilots. With the minimal armour available to these designs this made the competition dangerous at best but Duke Alextep added yet another element which would make it even more lethal. Unlike the Solaris Racing League events which were essentially time trials over a difficult course the Noisiel race would be around a simple oval course. But instead of individual aircraft flying at once all twenty racers would fly around the course at the same time at less than one hundred metres from the ground. The multi-aircraft race and the lower armour available to the aircraft caused multiple crashes which led to the deaths of six pilots, Free Worlds League native Deco Xavier piloting a Supermarine Spitfire replica is victorious in the race.

   During the promotion of the event MechWarrior Brittany Hale, the most recent winner of the BattleMech Race of Noisiel, promotes the racing events on the world by taking her modified Ostscout in a race against BattleMechs, vehicles and VTOL aircraft through various sights in and around the race course promoting other areas of Noisiel as well as the known race courses. Supporting Brittany Hale and the ground armour tournament are guards from the Armoured Toads and Gorillas, the armour of the Battle Armour is more than enough to compensate for any missed shots by the ancient armoured vehicles.

Unexplained Explosion
Terada WarShip Yard, Dieron
Northwind EDZ, Star League Protectorate
22nd March 3119


In the Dieron system at the Terada Shipyards work continued as it had for months on end. While the District of Dieron had ceased to exist the shipyards which had produced WarShips for Dieron now produced them for the Star League Defence Force directly. While nowhere near the size of the Star League’s shipyards in the Terran system the Dieron shipyards easily dwarfed the shipyards that were in the Fenwick and they were deeper within the Star League Protectorate behind layers of WarShips and ground troops making them far better protected.

On one of the largest civilian structures of the shipyards CEO Keisuke Nishi sat within his office which was on one of the many gravity decks doing what he did every day, when an alert sounded throughout the complex. Reaching over to the communication system built into the desk he activated the controls “Command, what is going on?” He demanded in Japanese.

“Sir, apologies, but please look at your monitors on bay three!” The controller responded with a slight sense of panic; Nishi would discipline the man when they next spoke, he expected all his people to be always professional. They may no longer be in the Draconis Combine but they should all respect their responsibilities to Honour and Duty.

He changed the controls to bay three and saw several of the monitors were off he was about to berate the someone over the comm systems when he finally found a monitor that was working and he himself was lost for words. One of the recently completed Tatsumaki III-class Destroyers which were waiting to be assigned to a crew had exploded amid-ships from what Nishi knew of the ships it appeared to be near one of the main ammunition bunkers, an area which was heavily armoured and protected, the explosion had come from within the ship and it was tearing the bay apart. He could see that the administration block attached to bay three was ablaze and venting atmosphere and crew were abandoning the complex, hundreds would be dead already and the death toll could still rise.

To make matters worse debris from both the destroyer and the construction bay were impacting the other vessels which were under construction. While technically each bay was an independent entity, they were close enough to support each other with both resources and in times of crisis unfortunately that proximity was working against them now. Suddenly there was a flash of light as the Tatsumaki III-class Destroyer inside Bay Two attempted to jump still within its construction bay as someone onboard the vessel panicked. Almost as soon as the light had subsided Nishi could already see the effects the Tatsumaki along with half of Bay Two were now a twisted mess some parts of the bay were embedded within the WarShip as the Jump Engine had warped space all around them both. Because there were things on both structures now located where they should not be further explosions were tearing through the second destroyer and the construction bay, Nishi was powerless but to watch it all unfold.

Watching the sceptical unfold Nishi could not understand how it was possible, none of the jump cores should be powered while in space dock, and then he remembered that Bays two and four were testing their Jump Engine battery system ensuring that they could hold full capacity power for a jump, he looked at bay four and noticed that the bay had been battered by debris, there were parts of WarShip and dock where the destroyer which had been berthed there had previously been.

Of five operational WarShips at the shipyard only two Tatsumaki III-class vessels remained within their docks both WarShips had been battered by debris from the exploding ships and docks while the entire facility was in crisis mode as areas of the station decompressed and burned. Looking at the reports coming from both ships it appeared that both had suffered hull breaches and were dealing with their own issues following the destruction within the shipyards. Thousands were dead and Terada Shipyards were crippled, all by one simple accident. Straightening his suit Keisuke Nishi walked out of his office and directly towards the command centre hoping to salvage the situation and find out exactly how much damage had been done, and how many of his workers had he lost today.

For the next three months Terada would investigate the explosion using salvaged video and sensor logs. Despite their best efforts they were at a loss as to how the initial explosion had occurred. Every scenario they ran through led to the same conclusion, that the safety protocols built into the WarShip should have prevented a catastrophic explosion but they had failed. This led to further questions regarding the design of the Tatsumaki III which was an evolved design of the original hull leading to questions about the viability and safety of the overall class of vessel.

Further investigations also found that while the SLS Akira Kurita was missing from the shipyard the WarShip, which they all had thought destroyed by a second ill-timed and conceived jump may have survived. Salvaged Tri-vid records showed the WarShip in bay four had cut its ties to the shipyard as soon as the first vessel exploded allowing it to drift far enough clear of the shipyards for its transit drive to be activated. While the ship had only moments to act a quick burst of acceleration and then an immediate jump had taken the ship safely out of the system but so far it had not shown up anywhere and remained missing. Although the incident was officially still classed as an accident several things remained clear, firstly two Tatsumaki-class vessels had been destroyed during the event, two more vessels were damaged to the point of not being serviceable while the fifth previously mentioned Akira Kurita was currently listed as missing/presumed lost in an emergency jump. On Terada shipyards sixteen thousand workers and support staff had been killed and the shipyards themselves while salvageable they were currently crippled and would not be producing any new WarShips for several years.

Planning Room
Lothario, District of Lothario
Free Worlds League
27th March 3119


   Wearing an elaborate light pink dress with a purple sash and jewellery Grand Mistress Clarissa Logan entered the ruling council chambers on her capital Lothario over her shoulders she wore the pelt of the Lothario polar bear. The world had come a long way from being the centre point of the Lothian League, as part of the Free Worlds League Lothario was moving forwards by leaps and bounds with the capital city becoming large enough and advanced enough to make all of her people comfortable. In orbit over the planet a JumpShip production yard had been completed which would soon be producing a new class of JumpShip for her District’s fleets. The Free Trader-class JumpShip was two hundred-and-seventy-five-thousand-ton vessel capable of carrying twelve aerospace fighters and four DropShips and they would be capable of making the entire military might of the District of Lothario far more mobile than before.

   Approaching the leadership caste of the District of Lothario she smiled taking in their faces. Clarissa Logan was only in her forties and younger than many of the planetary leaders of the District of Lothario. “Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for assembling today here today, I have two announcements to make firstly the Angelina Logan Shipyards are now operational over this world while secondly I am deploying the First through Sixth Lothian Legionnaires into the Southwest Covenant as a peacekeeping force.” She announced informing them all the six new BattleMech regiments her district had raised over the last few years. “These regiments were raised from the equipment discovered in the Star League-era weapons cache on New Venice.” She explained “pilots and fighters from across the District of Lothario have been training for the last year and are ready for deployment.” She said “actions by the Cirincus Federation have placed the Southwest Covenant at the point of capitulation. These people used to be members of the Free Worlds League; we will make sure they are protected from these pirates.”

   Within days of the announcement on Lothario the six regiments launched a full assault on the four remaining worlds of the Southwest Covenant taking control over them from the mercenaries and the remaining governments located on each world. Unlike treatment by the Cirincus Federation forces the government workers for the most part are allowed to retain their positions as long as they were willing to follow the direction of the District of Lothario government. On Sierra the BattleCorps Legion is wiped out to the man trying to resist the Lothario invasion. Only on Hardisey’s Haven is there a similar occurrence where The City Boyz combined-arms regiment are also forcefully disarmed by the District of Lothario troops. Unfortunately for both the BattleCorps and The City Boyz units are no match for the Star League tech equipped regiments fielded by the District of Lothario.

   In an election year on Atreus Lothario’s independent action by Lothario following the actions by Oriente threaten the very leadership of Atreus and the coordination on Oriente. At the other side of the Free Worlds League Oriente continues to attack Capellan Confederation systems in unilateral action with no support from Atreus or the Free Worlds League government. Actions by these two nations cause issues and debate on Atreus which leads to a lot of anger directed at the two districts.
« Last Edit: 08 January 2024, 12:07:21 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #38 on: 17 April 2023, 17:47:32 »
System Survey, Saratoga (Intrepid A-class ArcShip)
Paran, Chainelane Isle
Sea Fox Territory, Periphery
2nd April 3119


Straight from its refit at the shipyard in the Chainelane Isles the Saratoga jumped into the Paran system. Originally an Intrepid-class Troopship built for war by ComStar, had been configured as a new class of ArcShip for Clan Sea Fox. As part of the refurbishment the class’s internal BattleMech complement had been removed, several of the standard scale anti-aircraft weapons had been removed and replaced with Sub-Capital weapons reducing the crew requirements, its anti-missile systems expanded, as had the fuel storage capacity been increased and one Aqueduct-class DropShip and three Mammoth-class DropShips had been permanently attached to the hull at their collars. Because of the additional mass added to the hull with the DropShips added the ship’s effective minimum force had been reduced to a single gravity of acceleration. With these modifications a total of seven thousand civilian families made the vessel their home, they lived, worked and trained for the betterment of Clan Sea Fox.

With the refurbishments and changes done to the ship the Saratoga needed an extensive testing leading to it being assigned to an exploration mission in the Paran system. During its time in the system the Sea Foxes would test the WarShips systems from before the refurbishment to ensure they were still operational and unhindered by the changes. They would also be checking the transit drives to see if they could cope with the near constant 1G acceleration the craft would be using. The Paran system had been chosen for a specific reason when the Sea Foxes had first taken steps to take military control over the Chainelane Isles they had heard stories of the SLS Pioneer.

The Avatar-class Cruiser had been commissioned into the original Star League Defence Forces navy as an exploration and scientific vessel which was operated by the Star League Expeditionary Brigade. The Sea Foxes had been curious about the vessel and done an initial search but had failed to find her now when a ship completed its construction or refitting at the shipyards they came here for testing and to search another part of the system searching for the missing Cruiser. So far eight ships had completed their trials in the system but star systems and the space beyond them were vast.

Trial of Reaving
Cuneo, Rushaven
Raven Alliance
12th April 3119


Jeremy Howe was going to die, he knew this, he had known this since about three minutes ago when his Crimson Langur’s had lost its right arm and its longest ranged weapon, its extended-range large laser. Now he was reduced to two heavy medium lasers against a OmniMech that had a particle projection cannon, two lasers which matched his own and a six-tube streak equipped short range missile launcher. And with his death his only hope was that his genes would be passed on would be in a now reduced Bloodhouse he thought angrily as he ran the OmniMech at over one hundred kilometres per hour as a man-made lightning blast flew past him missing his Langur by metres. Dancing his fifty-ton OmniMech to the left he twisted the torso and fired both heavy medium lasers into the charging Craven. The enemy pilot Richard Cooper had given up trying to snipe at him and was now charging the Craven opened fire with its particle cannon and short-range missile launcher as it closed the particle cannon slammed into the Mech’s left chest tearing through the armour there penetrating the fusion engine. Warm air rushed into the cockpit as the damaged engine’s shielding was compromised Jeremy gasped for breath in the searing heat as the short-range missiles peppered his BattleMech, there was nowhere to run. He locked on and triggered both heavy medium lasers burning into the Craven’s armour but it was not enough to stop the enemy Mech which had fired both of its own heavy medium lasers at the same time. Opal coloured heavy laser beams criss-crossed in between the Mechs and the last thing that Jeremy Howe experienced was the lasers burning through the OmniMech’s cockpit incinerating him ending the trial.

The Trial had not been Jeremy Howe’s idea, he had not even been involved in the decision for the trial to take place, instead he had been picked as the champion in a political fight between the Howe and Cooper Bloodhouses. The Cooper Bloodhouse believed that the Howe Bloodhouse was weak and had been the cause of a great number of the recent trials with the Draconis Combine the Howe family had refuted this and it had led to a series of Circle of Equal challenges as individual warriors disagreed fought, and in several cases died. Khan Porter McKenna had decided enough was enough and ordered a Trial of Reaving to sort out the disagreement, while some had seen it as an extreme case but it also made things clear to all the Bloodhouses that should a disagreement not be settled quickly then he could and he would take it to the next level and punish the Bloodhouse that could not match its argument with its fighting prowess.

The fighting in the Rushaven system was not over with the Snow Raven Trial however as the Draconis Combine launched an invasion of the system only a day after the Trial of Reaving. In the system the Ravens had three WarShips but it was no match for what the Draconis Combine had brought to the fight in total nine Draconis Combine WarShips invaded the Rushaven system. Following a recent re-organisation of the Draconis Combine Admiralty’s forces the Draconis Combine deployed a force now known as Carrier Force One. This new grouping which was specifically brought together for invasions or defences involved three massive carriers, two Omi Kurita-class Carriers with aerospace fighters and one Akagi-class Assault Carrier with Land Air Mechs. Supporting these craft were six Kirishima II-class Cruisers which defended the carriers and added naval firepower to the group. Adding in the massed assault DropShips and Pocket WarShips the nine WarShips quickly overpowered and destroyed the Snow Raven WarShips.

Four of the Kirishima II-class Cruisers are destroyed in the fighting but among the vessels destroyed on the Snow Raven side is the Montbatton, a Texas-class Battleship which dated back to the first Star League-era, the vessel was also the flagship of saKhan Lydia Sukhanov resulting in her death. Also destroyed during the battle is the Aegis-class Heavy Cruiser Lord Death, another vessel which had survived from the first Star League-era. The result of the battle leads to another Trial of Reaving where the Sukhanov Bloodhouse is also reduced in strength by one Blood Heritage. The Draconis Combine does not push position from the Rushaven system instead content with one victory and what they see as a successful test of their newest WarShip formation. One thing that the Snow Ravens do realize is that they need to concentrate on Battleship and Carrier production if they want to defeat the Draconis Combine with their new formations. Ashkhan McCorkell wins a Trial of Possession and the support of the Clan Council to become the new saKhan.

Trial of Possession
Alexandretta, Alexandria
Isle of Skye, Lyran Commonwealth
27th April 3119


   The star of OmniMechs charged through the forest near Alexandretta MechWarrior Daeron Jerricho smiled viciously as his OmniMech ran through the trees intending on outflanking the Sixth Isle of Skye Guards RCT. The OmniMech was brand new, manufactured at a new factory in the Blue Diamond system, but the design was as old as the Clans it was in-fact the first OmniMech the Coyotl. Recently brought back from the grave the Coyotl was filling the ranks of Clan Coyote. Daeron’s unit the recently formed Ninety-sixth Striker Cluster was made up exclusively of eight stars of the nimble forty-ton Coyotl design with Elementals and a star of aerospace fighters in support.

   Despite the age of the design Daeron Jerricho loved the Coyotl it was fast, well armoured, and well-armed. For this mission knowing he would be going into a close-range battle with infantry, battle armour and armour he had chosen the alternate C configuration which gave him an extended-range large laser, plasma cannon and a six-tube Advanced Tactical Missile launcher, which for this mission had close range high explosive munitions. The OmniMech also had an Electronic Counter Measures suite which helped hide the BattleMechs in their current mission.

   Smashing aside the trees with green and blue leaves the first of five Coyotls burst into the clearing near the eastern flank of the Sixth Isle of Skye Guards. “Engage!” Star Captain Amanda Heller called out; she was riding on Jerricho’s Coyotl back in her Elemental Battle Armour suite. While her suit was painted white like all the other Elemental suits on its helmet was a silver coyote’s head. He reached out with his right arm mounted laser and blasted a Lyran Red Shift BattleMech burning the arm and torso of the enemy Mech. “Keep moving, break through their lines we need to get to their support personnel. Our other forces will engage their main line forces.”  Behind the first five OmniMechs came another five and another five each of them carrying five elementals dressed in their battle armour. At the same time two other Clusters of Coyotes hit the main defence lines. The Lyran Regimental Combat Team were ill prepared for the Coyote assault as the entire cluster of Coyotl OmniMechs burst through line after line of defenders. From every Coyote OmniMech weapons fire flew into enemy Mechs, armour and infantry troopers as all thoughts of Clan Duelling laws were forgotten. The Coyotes had brought four Clusters to the planet and they had decided that duelling laws were not to be followed. “Take us to that Atlas! Then keep going Daeron lead the star into our backlines wipe them out. If you do well today you will be commanding this star tomorrow.”

   “Aff, Star Captain, win honour today” he said to her as the forty-ton OmniMech ran past, from the OmniMech five Elementals launched into the air firing short range missiles into the Atlas before jumping onto the BattleMech into the support area behind the main battle lines. “Wipe them off the face of this planet, target all support assets!” Daeron said as he twisted the OmniMech’s torso he opened up with the plasma cannon and fired a salvo of high explosive missiles. The yellow-coloured plasma cannon blast was fired into several Mechbays burning the equipment and the technicians there while the missiles flew into an ammunition store setting off a huge explosion.

   “Point 2, Point 2! We have incoming Battle Armour and Mechs they have Star League colours and the insignia of the Tenth Special Operations Group!” Someone shouted, Daeron Jerricho realized they were shouting on him for orders.

   “Excellent, proper enemies turn into them!” Jerricho ordered even without rank the other MechWarriors listened, the star’s MechWarrior commander was dead. Without their supporting Elementals they would be a match for most enemy Mechs even if the power armour became a problem. More and more Coyotl’s staggered through the Lyran lines several with Elementals still on board.

   “This is MechWarrior Daemon Jerricho acting commander of lead BattleMech star, Elementals engage the battle armour, MechWarriors be alert there is an entire battalion coming in and it looks like Star League Special Forces be, careful Quiaff?”

   “Aff, MechWarrior” they answered and the Coyotls moved quickly towards the enemy the Elementals launching from their frames as they ran. From his position Jerricho opened fire with his Mech’s laser supporting their movements striking a seventy-ton Archer BattleMech.

   With Zellbrigen being ignored BattleMechs and Battle Armour were flying and firing in all directions and Daeron Jerricho was in the middle of it from the Archer he laid down cover fire for a point of Elementals firing ATMs into a group of SLDF Battle Armoured troopers. Missiles came back towards Daeron’s OmniMech but the Coyotl was already in motion reaching out with the Mech’s arm Daeron fired his large laser into a Star League painted Shadow Hawk BattleMech just as the medium Mech was hit by a tight grouping of long-range missiles. As the front of the Shadow Hawk exploded under the coat of missiles Daeron’s laser burned into the Mech’s side penetrating the damaged Mech. Something inside the Star League Mech exploded setting off a chain reaction of explosions with the only thing saving the Mech being the CASE equipment built into the ammo bins.

   Running his Mech through the battlefield Daeron Jerricho slowed his OmniMech enough to allow a point of five Elementals to leap through the air landing on the forty-ton Mech’s speeding form. The Coyotl was mostly a humanoid form OmniMech with the right arm made up primarily with the extended-range large laser. The Coyotl rocked slightly as the Elementals arranged themselves as a Trueborn bloodnamed warrior Daeron Jerricho did not miss a step and continued to accelerate even as the Elementals arranged themselves on the Mech’s back. Running forwards several hundred metres the Elementals short ride onboard the medium OmniMech came to an end as they launched off the Coyotl landing on a Salamander Assault BattleMech. The Salamander was a support BattleMech with multiple long range missile launchers Daeron Jerricho waited until the Elementals were off the Mech then he twisted the torso towards the Salamander hitting the eighty-ton BattleMech was double the Coyotl’s weight and stood almost double its height but now the MechWarrior was distracted by the landing Elementals and Jerricho made it worse adding in a plasma cannon shot and a flight of ATMs straight into the assault Mech’s left flank. He had to watch his shots with his Elementals who were now attacking from onboard the BattleMech, but Daeron continued to circle the Salamander firing his weapons when he got a clear shot. Finally, a high explosive salvo of ATMs slammed into the Salamander’s right leg causing the knee to explode ending the BattleMech’s battle as it tumbled towards the ground. The Elementals were not finished and they continued to attack the fallen BattleMech until the pilot issued his surrender no doubt worried about the battle armoured troopers tearing into his Mech’s armour with their razor-sharp battle claws.

   “This is saKhan Vladamir Heller” the communication cracked to life bringing Daeron Jerricho back to reality for a moment “all Coyote forces stand down. I have received a message of surrender from the Lyran forces and have accepted their request for Hegira. All Lyran forces will be allowed to retreat if they end all hostile acts. Alexandria is ours.” He said the message ended and Daeron throttled down the Coyotl’s speed, his new OmniMech had done well in its first battle. He did not think he had a single personal kill during their flanking battle but he had driven the attack an elemental landed in front of him he could see the insignia on its helmet despite the battle damage a silver painted Coyote’s head.

   “Well done MechWarrior” Star Captain Amanda Heller said her suit so small compared to his BattleMech but the complete opposite to the massive hulking warrior that Heller was. “You took command when you needed to and you aided in our victory. Now you must prepare, you will face a Trial of Position in the morning for command of this star.” She said before turning her suit and jumping away with the suit’s jump jets. Today’s battle was over but the fight was not over for Clan warriors until they were dead and tomorrow would be another challenge.
« Last Edit: 08 January 2024, 12:08:15 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #39 on: 20 April 2023, 14:54:14 »
Trial of Refusal
Goslar, Hanseatic League
Deep Periphery
2nd May 3119


Although the Goliath Scorpions had been operating in the Hanseatic League for two months without real opposition rescuing a total of thirty Clan born warriors and nearly two hundred civilians in the process their actions had drawn the attention of Clan Blood Spirit. From orbit the Clan commander Star Colonel Lionel Cluff had challenged the Goliath Scorpion ground forces to a Trial of Refusal citing that while an entire Cluster had been in the Hanseatic League for more two months, they had barely recovered a clusters worth of warriors, and even less equipment. Cluff believed that the Clan’s attention should be on the homeworlds and challenged the Goliath Scorpions to a Trial of Refusal. Because it was a standard trial the two Clans had lined up opposite each other, with both Clans fielding a Trinary of troops on the battlefield. MechWarrior Jasec waited in his Whipscorpion BattleMech watching as the Blood Spirits approached, he spied a Blood Spirit Ice Ferret OmniMech and decided that was his target. “This is MechWarrior Jasec of Clan Goliath Scorpion to the warrior piloting the green and red Ice Ferret, I challenge you to a duel of equals.”

   “We are not equal MechWarrior Jasec, I am Erik Posavatz of Clan Blood Spirit, I accept your challenge.” His opponent responded the Ice Ferret dancing to the side and it fired its left arm extended range particle projection cannon which barely missed the Whipscorpion.

   Running to the right Jasec used his BattleMech’s advanced tactical missile launchers to engage the dodging Ice Ferret six missiles flew in on the enemy Mech with only three of them striking their target. Another particle cannon shot flew towards the Whipscorpion striking the forty-ton BattleMech’s right leg burning away the armour and exposing the structure underneath one of the BattleMech’s jump jets showed inactive and the knee actuator was damaged. “Stavag!” he said angrily launching the Whipscorpion into the air on its remaining jump jets angling towards the running Ice Ferret. Jasec feathered the jump jets controlling the flight dropping down towards his enemy he unleashed the BattleMech’s two improved heavy medium lasers hitting the Ice Ferret with everything he could muster only one of the beams hit as the Whipscorpion fell the beam slammed into the Ice Ferret’s left leg. Like the particle cannon shot which had hit his own Mech Jasec was glad to see the beam wrought chaos on Ice Ferret’s armour burning through to the structure. The other beam missed by a few feet and slammed into the ground beside the OmniMech where it turned the turf beside the Ice Ferret into glass.

   The forty-five-ton OmniMech fired its particle cannon again but this time it missed its target. On landing the Whipscorpion began running again Jasec kept his aim on his target launching another two flights of ATMs at the enemy OmniMech. All six missiles were armed with high-explosive munitions and four of them slammed into the Ice Ferret blowing away pieces of armour away from the Blood Spirit OmniMech. Two short range missiles flew from the Ice Ferret slamming into the Whipscorpion guided by its streak suite one of the two missiles slammed into the Whipscorpion’s head throwing Jasec around the cockpit. His head slammed into the side of the command chair and only the presence of the neurohelmet stopped the impact splitting his head open. Jasec triggered both plasma cannons out of rage, one missed the Ice Ferret but the other heated ball of plasma slammed into the Ice Ferret. The heat washed over the Ice Ferret just as the pilot triggered his particle cannon, the man-made lightning launcher flew over the Whipscorpion missing widely the heat produced by the weapon and the ongoing rising heat caused by the Plasma Cannon caused the Ice Ferret to stumble and stagger as its heat system was overwhelmed. To add to the Ice Ferret’s wows the streak launcher obtained a lock and the two-tube launcher fired its missiles adding to the OmniMech’s heat problems. As both missiles slammed into the Whipscorpion’s right arm Jasec could see the Ice Ferret was struggling to track his BattleMech’s movements so he accelerated and continued behind the OmniMech unleashing both heavy medium lasers again, moments later he launched another high-explosive flight of advanced tactical missiles into the OmniMech.

   The lasers savaged the back of the Ice Ferret burning through the armour causing havoc in the rear of the OmniMech with engine and possibly gyroscope damage occurring. Moments after the lasers hit their target the six missiles slammed into the back of the Mech, all six hitting their target causing even more damage, too much damage. The Ice Ferret rocked as explosions continued to rock the insides of the, stumbled and fell to the ground in a crumpled heap disabled. While having heavier weapons gave a pilot an advantage over the other being able to manage heat build-up was even more important.

   Twisting away from the downed Ice Ferret Jasec spotted five damaged painted red and black Elemental Battle Armour suits. “Elemental point, this is the Whipscorpion pilot on your left, I challenge you to a battle of equals”

   “Seyla” the lead Elemental responded saying nothing else all five launched into the air releasing their remaining short-range missiles. Ten missiles between the suits flew towards the Whipscorpion even as their launchers fell away from their suits. Jasec opened with both plasma cannons and the advanced tactical missile launchers filling the air with munitions attempting to engage the flying battle armour suits.

   The suits and missiles converged in mid-air as missiles slammed into several of the elementals followed by the balls of burning plasma. Two of the elemental suits lost control flying out of formation just as the remaining missiles slammed into the Whipscorpion four slammed into the already damaged right leg crippling the limb.  While nothing broke or fell off the BattleMech Jasec noticed he had no control over the limb and he swore triggering his lasers coring a third Elemental suit. The last two suits landed on the Whipscorpion’s chest and fired their small lasers burning into the chest armour of the BattleMech. “Enjoy this” Jasec whispered triggering both torso mounted ATM launchers at point blank range the missiles exploded almost as soon as they left their launchers sending limbs of elemental troopers in various directions as they over penetrated the armour knocking both warriors off the BattleMech disabling or killing the Blood Spirits. The damage to the Whipscorpion was almost equally vicious to the Whipscorpion the explosion blew back disabling both missile launchers and knocking the Whipscorpion back off its feet as Jasec struggled to control his Mech with the disabled right leg. The fall twisted and snapped the broken limb leaving the Whipscorpion flat on its back.

   Just because one leg was broken did not mean a Mech was out of the fight. Jasec immediately pushed out with both arms propping up the Whipscorpion. He looked for another target sighting a fast-moving pair of Mithras Light Tanks “Armour point this is MechWarrior Jasec, I challenge you” even as he finished speaking the two tanks opened fire with their light-class ultra-autocannons and medium lasers savaging the Whipscorpion’s chest. The immobile Whipscorpion was an easy target for the two tanks but it wasn’t one without teeth Jasec brought one arm up and fired at one of the vehicles missing wildly, the angle was different than he was used to being essentially sat down, moments after the laser fired he’d targeted both plasma cannons as well, they didn’t miss their target and the  two plasma shots burned through the armour and caused a fire inside the vehicle, the twenty-five ton tracked vehicle burned for a moment before exploding in a fireball. The remaining Mithras was far enough away not to be affected by the explosion and the crew were ready to resume their attack the ultra-autocannon and laser both cored into the cockpit of the Whipscorpion killing Jasec immediately.

   The efforts of MechWarrior Jasec had not been in vain however killing an OmniMech, a point of elementals and crippling a point of vehicles had been enough to help the Goliath Scorpions to a victory of Clan Blood Spirit. The victory meant that Clan Blood Spirit would return to the Clan Homeworlds while the Goliath Scorpions would be allowed to continue their efforts to find reinforcements within the Hanseatic League.

Training Camp
Outskirts of Macheema, Arcturus
Hell’s Horses Occupation Zone
18th May 3119


   The founding capital of the Lyran Commonwealth before the leadership moved to Tharkad and then a Province capitol for centuries the world of Arcturus was now deep within the Occupation Zone of Clan Hell’s Horses. Arcturus was not the capitol of the OZ but it was important to the Hell’s Horses serving as a manufacturing and training centre. One thing that people did not think about when they fought about the Clans was the freeborn warriors who also received training to serve the Clan. Arcturus with its plentiful population was one such world where freeborns learned how to serve and fight for the Clan. While there were some civilians within the occupied worlds of the occupation zones would never serve the Clans that now controlled their worlds, in some cases there were still those that dreamed of “freedom” from their Clan oppressors but these movements were routinely crushed by the Watch units employed by the Clans. To serve with the Clan’s Touman freeborn recruits from the population went through many checks and an even more rigorous training regime than those who were born from within the Clan population and breeding programs. Unlike the Ghost Bears, Sea Foxes and Nova Cats which integrated Clan born and native born freeborns into one training program, the Hell’s Horses took an approach like that of Clans Wolf and Jade Falcon which kept the population’s separate. They also trained them with sub-standard weapons and equipment which often dated back to the succession wars.

   Over a sprawling training complex which was north of the planetary capital hundreds of recruits practiced drills and trained in preparation for their initial Trial of Position. The noise was like any other across the Inner Sphere with men and women gasping for breath, boots stamping on the courtyard ground and the almost rhythmic crack of semi-automatic weapons fire as recruits practiced. This noise was drowned out by the sound of a VTOL approaching in the blue sky above the facility a Garuda Heavy VTOL appeared high above. The single rotored snub-nosed craft turned as it approached the facility below as if it was turning towards the landing pads but instead of lowering in altitude the Garuda opened fire with its forward mounted long range missile launcher which sent fifteen missiles down on the VTOL which was based at the training facility blowing it to pieces. The VTOL’s second action was to use its chin mounted laser to vaporise a guard tower causing an explosion which killed several members of the Hell’s Horse guard staff as burning wreckage from the tower showers the ground crushing several people below. Even as the Garuda circled the training base below the laser spat out again this time blowing up a supply building off the right of the VTOL, the laser was mounted on a chin turret which hung under the cockpit of the craft. As the laser flew across the camp below the targeted building burst into flames, within moments of the fire starting there was a gigantic explosion as the ammunition contained within burned off and exploded. Moments later the missile launcher activated again this time missiles flew into the main training complex with missiles flying through the windows on the first floor causing a massive internal explosion. Although it was a military complex the building was not designed to take military grade weapons and it was quickly enveloped in fire.

   Small arms fire from the trainees and guards below raised into the sky as the Garuda circled the camp alternating between lasers and missiles pounding the facility and those that occupied it. The Hell’s Horses had nothing that could oppose the VTOL as black smoke from the supply building, and most of their ammunition filled the air and further obscured the Garuda. The troops on the ground were still firing into the air when there was a large “boom” from above as the VTOL activated its jet assisted booster engine and accelerated away from the training camp at high speed.

   For days the Hell’s Horses locked down Arcturus searching for the renegade VTOL but to no avail the VTOL was confirmed to have been stolen from a Hell’s Horses supply depot three hours before the attack on the training base. The attack itself had taken no longer than three minutes and in that time nearly three hundred Hell’s Horses trainers and trainees had been killed or injured. On the planet-wide public address system an individual claiming to be Kafka, the legendary assassin who it was thought had been killed on the world, claims responsibility for the attack. The individual remains in shadow and they cannot be identified, they call on all people on Arcturus too resist the illegal Clan occupation.

Anti-Clan Strikes
Clan Occupation Zones
23rd May 3119


   In an effort to bolster public opinion regarding their opposition to the “Clan Menace” on the borders and to foster closer ties with the SLDF Archon Jessica Steiner authorises strikes by the LCAF and SLDF against Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon. In a series of assaults supported by Lyran and Star League Naval forces the combined forces liberate the systems of Cameron and Gibbs from the Jade Falcons and Nestor and Concord from Clan Wolf. In the Gibbs system the Fleet Admiral Lynn Hood Battlegroup of three Hyperion II-class Heavy Cruisers, supported by the SLDF’s SLS Victor Focht an Enterprise II-class Supercarrier destroy the Texas-class Battleship Falcon’s Nest at the cost of the LCS Fleet Admiral Lynn Hood herself.

   Poised to attack Tharkad itself two Elite Gamma Galaxy Clusters of Jade Falcons are wiped out on Gibbs by the combined forces of two elite RCTs and a brigade of SLDF troops. While in the Wolf Empire two Clusters of Wolves are similarly destroyed. The Isle of Skye commends the Lyran Commonwealth and SLDF’s efforts but they point out that the Clans are closing on Hesperus II, which the Lyran Commonwealth have said many times over the centuries is one of the critical worlds to the realm yet none of the systems which have been retaken are anywhere near the Isle of Skye world continuing it leave it vulnerable to Clan assault. In an effort to keep the Isle of Skye onside Concord is added to the worlds under the remit of the Isle these actions however leads to other disposed nobles to petition the Lyran Commonwealth High Command to liberate their conquered worlds.
« Last Edit: 10 January 2024, 23:07:51 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #40 on: 26 April 2023, 20:46:32 »
In the mood to write at the moment so here's another update

Evacuation
Clan Blood Spirit Landing Zone
Hellgate, Clan Homeworlds
8th June 3119


As BattleMechs, vehicles and battle armour fought as civilians and equipment were evacuated into six egg shaped DropShips. The sky of Hellgate was darkened by smoke and ash as another massive double explosion echoed through the area moments later another mushroom cloud rose into the air, ash blew across the ground slamming into the DropShips and evacuating troops, one crippled BattleMech was literally blown to the ground. Walking out of the darkness and approaching the evacuation site were two lines of identical BattleMechs, each line numbering twenty BattleMechs, all of them were painted blue and silver, a stark contrast to the red and brown BattleMechs of Clan Blood Spirit. These Mechs while they looked completely different from the defenders, they moved through the Blood Spirit lines without opposition before turning around and facing the enemies of the Blood Spirits.

Each BattleMech was painted the same and was of the same design with two large shoulder mounted long range missile launchers, each arm ended in two machine guns with a laser under-slung beside them. Between the two large missile launchers sat the bulbous cockpit while below them along the central-line was another medium laser. The fifty-ton design was a two-legged design and on the thigh of each leg was a two-tube short range missile launcher, it was a design that had been extinct in the Clan Homeworlds for over one hundred years and was known as the CS-1 Fox and it was one of the first BattleMechs constructed by Clan Sea Fox. During their time in the Clan Homeworlds the Blood Spirits and Goliath Scorpions had been making a concentrated effort to open the Brian Caches created since the dawning of the Clans and to use that equipment to engage the Society’s forces.

Behind the new line of Fox BattleMechs one of the DropShips launched off the ground as Clan Blood Spirit aerospace forces attempted to defend its rise. As the Overlord C-class DropShip rose into the sky on a trail of fire there was another gigantic explosion as another nuclear weapon exploded. This one even closer than the last the blast rolled over the launching site and the taking off Overlord C, the DropShip rolled over out of control spinning down towards the ground out of control. Moments later a huge explosion followed as the DropShip impacted on the ground destroying the DropShip and killing every person on vessel.

With the destruction of one DropShip the Blood Spirits upped their evacuation efforts entering the remaining three DropShips as more nuclear weapons exploded in the distance the planet’s name was Hellgate and today it was turning into a reality. A few brave souls, the old and the injured mainly remained behind as a final rear-guard while fixed defences were set to automatic. As many of the remaining survivors crammed into the remaining DropShips as they launched from the surface of the planet heading up into the atmosphere. Aerospace fighters of the Blood Spirits and Society duelled around the DropShips as the Clan’s left the dying world of Hellgate for the last time. Today the Society could claim a pyrrhic victory while they had driven off or killed all remaining Clan influences on the world their efforts had destroyed Hellgate and the remaining population would have to leave or be wiped out within months of the final battle.

Trial of Possession
Enif, Military District of Pesht
Draconis Combine
16th June 3119


   A Trial of Possession between the Fifteenth Ghost Regiment and the First Cataphract Cluster of Clan Snow Raven’s Hawk’s Head Galaxy sees the introduction of the War Crow Heavy OmniMech. Designed as a follow on from the Craven and the Carrion Crow Medium OmniMechs unlike the previous two designs the War Crow is seventy tons and built from the ground up as a main battle line design capable of carrying twenty-five tons of weapons and equipment. The War Crow had a pair of large over shoulder missile launchers, heavy weapon arms and a beak like hook-like low slung cockpit.

   The battle on the surface of the world expands quickly from a simple trial into an all-out brawl with the two sides slugging it out for hours. The Snow Ravens air superiority eventually proves too much for the Fifteenth Ghost even with their Battalion of Land Air Mechs supporting the ground forces both on the air and in the ground. Eventually the Draconis Combine defenders surrender with over a regiment’s worth of personnel, survivors from the combined units which lost the trial are taken off the planet and transported to a world previously known as JP-M-774.

The system which was near the Draconis Combine border had recently been renamed as Montbatten in honour of the recently lost Texas-class Battleship of the same name. While currently not completely habitable the Snow Ravens had found that Montbatten held significant amounts of natural resources which they could use on other worlds. The members of the Fifteenth Ghost would be used as a work force in the many mines that the Snow Ravens were building on the world, these warriors are little more than slave labour for the Clans military working in very harsh conditions on the world’s surface.

Vision Quest, Ways of Seeing Park
New Barcella, Core Territory
Nova Cat’s Den
22nd June 3119

   The Ways of Seeing park on New Barcella was a place of pilgrimage for many Nova Cats the lush undisturbed nature park was used as a breeding ground for nova cats and for Vision Quests. The Oathmaster controlled the number of visits that could be taken monthly there was a delicate balance between nature and Vision Quests which the Nova Cats jealously defended. Other places within Nova Cat’s Den were used occasionally by Nova Cat’s but the grounds of the Ways of Seeing Park were particularly important to the Clansmen.

   Moving through the underbrush Star Captain Kev Rosse was looking for the perfect place for a vision quest, Kev Rosse was in his mid-twenties a trueborn MechWarrior, he was dressed in Nova Cat furs from top to bottom. Unlike most MechWarriors he wore his dark hair to shoulder length while in both ears he wore an earring which held a green Jade Falcon feather. He was armed with a survival knife which he used to cut down brush and defend himself against any threats although it would not be easy. A dark fur covered nova cat bounded past him, it was one of the main predators in the Ways of Seeing Park, but this one did not see interested in him it turned and looked at him snarling once before jumping clear.

   After three days making his way through the underbrush Kev was in no mood to fight a nova cat and he let it go watching the bushes where the nova cat had gone carefully, he decided to make his camp here taking the animal’s appearance as a sign. He spent nearly thirty minutes clearing the area of underbrush and setting a fire before beginning his meditations. A Nova Cat warrior’s vision quest was a very personal thing where they sacrificed vineers, souvineers taken in battle, in an effort to bring a vision which would show them the future.

   For hours Kev sat in front of the fire searching for a vision before finally a nova cat appeared in front of him and snarled but not in an aggressive way instead it seemed to enjoy the heat from his fire. The big cat then turned around and began to walk away for a moment, when Kev did not move the cat snarled at him again prompting him to stand and move away from the fire. For what felt like miles Kev followed the cat through the undergrowth until they entered a clearing which was covered by low grazing grass. Out on the plain in front of them Kev saw an entire herd of what appeared to be bulls, forty or more of them, there were no such creatures in this area of the planet nor were the indigenous creatures on New Barcella like these bulls. The indigenous bulls were small in stature and were covered in brown black fur and they had four small horns these were larger, they had two large horns which extended sideways from their skulls and they were solid gold in colouring.

   Beside Kev the Nova Cat snarled angrily its red, yellow, and orange coloured sunburst mane was standing on end threatening the bulls away from attacking. The nova cat while smaller than the bulls was the aggressor moving forward on the herd, against one bull the cat would have a chance at bringing down one of the herd animals but against them all there was more of a chance of the cat being trampled. Kev stood and watched as the nova cat continued to snarl while it stepped forwards but its mane slowly lowered as it got closer. Instead of attacking the cat joined the bull for a moment before moving off and joining Kev once more, the herd now appeared more aggressive with what almost like they were armoured, their horns looked sharper and more defined, the herd was also now coloured gold. The nova cat hissed at them once more and the herd turned and charged away from Kev, the nova cat beside him looked up tilting its head before leaping after the hard breaking into a run, Kev ran after the cat following it only a short distance before he saw the herd charge down a nearby rise. Reaching the top of the rise Rosse looked down and saw the herd was charging a massive fortress, which he knew was not of Nova Cat construction, the herd did not stop smashing their way through the gates inside they continued to smash the knights inside trampling under their heavy hooves and gorging them with their horns. Beside Kev the nova cat hissed and snarled at the scene below seeing defenders streaming away from the base the nova cat leapt towards them cutting them down. “I think I understand” he said quietly.

   “Do you?” a voice asked snapping Kev back into reality, he was still sitting at the fire opposite him was the huge form of the Oathmaster Klick Lenardon, the Oathmaster was in his thirties almost ten years older than Kev Rosse.

   “I think I do” he repeated “Clan Nova Cat cannot fight all of its battles by itself, there are targets beyond our reach but we can use others to do what we need to do.” He said the bull was the emblem of the Taurian Concordat which shared a sizable border with the Federated Suns, recently the Federated Suns had begun to resist the Nova Cats efforts to seize territory through Trials of Possession.

   “But we must be careful, those you speak of arming have been our opponents in battle and there is nothing that says they will turn against those we want them to. Quiaff?” Lenardon cautioned his voice was quite soft for someone of his size.

   “Aff, Oathmaster, I think I know how we could do this.”

   “You have a plan Kev Rosse, Quiaff?”

      “I think I do” he said thinking about a scenario, “I must now convince the Khan.” He said thinking further about his vision and his plan. “You will support my vision, Quiaff?”

   “I will discuss with the Khan that you experienced a vision” Klick Lenardon confirmed he said rising from his position near the fire “may your visions guide you Kev Rosse.”

Ullmark Plasma Productions
Morrice, Trylon
Aurigan Collective, Periphery
29th June 3119


The Ullmark Plasma Productions factory had been a godsend for the city of Morrice on Trylon. Before the factory had been built by Count Mikhail Ullmark unemployment had been rife in the small city now more than six hundred people were employed there. Josef Potty was one of the lucky ones to call the factory their workplace the construction of the factory and then the jobs that followed had saved Josef’s life, before he was unemployed trying to look after three children one of which suffered from several medical conditions, he had taken several jobs to support his family but the Plasma Productions factory had brought stability for the family.

“Morning Josef” the gate guard Jacob Smith greeted him as he arrived for the morning shift at work “how is Dakota?” He asked seeing the older man arrive, Dakota was his youngest child and she had suffered from medical problems since her birth.

“Urm… sorry what Jacob?” Josef asked obviously distracted

“Dakota, how is she?” Jacob repeated

“Excited” Josef admitted “she and Katja have been packing for hours, they should be launching soon. It is her first-time off world.” He explained

“I’m not surprised, an important trip, this could change her life.” Jacob said, everyone knew Josef’s story and his daughter’s plight. After years of saving and a whip around among the six hundred workers at the plant had allowed for the family to pay for a trip into the Capellan Confederation for treatment. His wife Katja would take the three children on the trip while he continued to work to keep the family going.

“Yes, she isn’t thinking about that right now just being weightless.” He said laughing as he walked through the gate and entered the facility.

It took him nearly twenty minutes to get to the reactor control room at the rear of the facility. As a newly built facility it had its own fusion power plant which allowed the factory to operated twenty-four hours a day. He arrived at his seat and looked over the systems, his back to back had left already, there were three others in the control room looking at their own screens. Josef logged into the system and loaded up his systems he glanced over the systems and almost immediately noticed trouble he stood up and slammed the emergency button on the wall before going onto the intercom button. “ALL HANDS WE HAVE A PRESSURE BUILD UP IN THE REACTOR! EVERYONE OUT!” He shouted at the top of his voice turning seeing the other three members standing nearby “get the hell out of here, it’s going up!” He warned them, he did not know the cause but one off the coolant lines had been completely shut off and the reactor was unable to clear the excess heat. He did not know how long it had been like that but the damage was too much to be stopped.

He turned back to the controls and attempted to boost the coolant from the other lines to buy his colleagues time but there was little he could do. He began to run after his colleagues through the facility just as the pressure reached critical levels. Running through the facility Josef could not think about anything but his girls hoping that they were off planet before the explosion that would soon come. Even as he climbed the ladder up to the exit level Josef had hopes of escaping the power plant but it was not to be the reactor finally gave up and its shielding failed the resulting explosion tore through the facility incinerating the power plant and anyone who remained inside. The explosions blew through the rear of the factory blowing open the facility causing heavy damage further explosions resulted inside the factory as plasma cartridges exploded inside crippling the entire facility.

The damage done would take the factory out of action for more than a year leaving the only source of plasma rifles residing in the Capellan Confederation. As for the Potty family Katja learned of her husband’s death while their DropShip was heading towards the jump point but she chose to keep this a secret from her children instead allowing the to focus on the journey and on Dakota’s upcoming treatment. Two months later after the successful surgery which would change their daughter’s life Katja Potty informed her children of their father’s passing in what was now being investigated as deliberate sabotage on Trylon which had crippled Ullmark Plasma Productions, the children were informed that their father had saved four hundred other workers.
« Last Edit: 10 January 2024, 23:08:46 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #41 on: 28 April 2023, 15:15:42 »
Novacat Kev Rosse want to be "friends" with the TC.   The same nation they went full Star League General Forlough on when they treated them like the pirates they were following an Endor event from a brand new ClanPirate warship.

Yeah not sure the TC is big on the whole forget and forgive  :thumbsup:
"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!"

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #42 on: 28 April 2023, 19:58:16 »
Novacat Kev Rosse want to be "friends" with the TC.   The same nation they went full Star League General Forlough on when they treated them like the pirates they were following an Endor event from a brand new ClanPirate warship.

Yeah not sure the TC is big on the whole forget and forgive  :thumbsup:

I have a plan :thumbsup:
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

snakespinner

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #43 on: 29 April 2023, 20:00:19 »
Is it a cunning plan. ;)
I wish I could get a good grip on reality, then I would choke it.
Growing old is inevitable,
Growing up is optional.
Watching TrueToaster create evil genius, priceless...everything else is just sub-par.

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #44 on: 29 April 2023, 22:35:41 »
Is it a cunning plan. ;)

It's one that is right in the Taurian decision wheelhouse, it also kind of sets up a future (canon inspired but delayed) event

While this story/timeline has diverged significantly from canon I am still trying to keep it relatable to canon materials... how relatable it is with hundreds of WarShips and the Clans on a power  trip in the 3110s not sure but I'm trying
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

snakespinner

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #45 on: 30 April 2023, 17:35:43 »
Canon does not treat the Taurians well, looking forward with interest to see your plan. :beer:
I wish I could get a good grip on reality, then I would choke it.
Growing old is inevitable,
Growing up is optional.
Watching TrueToaster create evil genius, priceless...everything else is just sub-par.

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #46 on: 30 April 2023, 19:03:08 »
Canon does not treat the Taurians well, looking forward with interest to see your plan. :beer:
they do not, they took many many dumb decisions...  and no wild lucky breaks.

I have hope the DC treats the TC as they were written, with the grudge holders champions of the Inner Sphere, especially against the Terrans and the Star League...
"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!"

Sumaire_STi

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #47 on: 17 July 2023, 21:00:05 »
Out of curiosity, is there a plan to make one or more collections of these stories in PDF form at any given point? Just curious! Would be neat to have them assembled into collections!

Even though I haven't had time to consume much of this, I still have to say--wonderful work!

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #48 on: 21 July 2023, 08:16:26 »
Out of curiosity, is there a plan to make one or more collections of these stories in PDF form at any given point? Just curious! Would be neat to have them assembled into collections!

Even though I haven't had time to consume much of this, I still have to say--wonderful work!

Firstly I'm glad your enjoying it

I discussed this a while ago privately with a few people, this story/timeline/universe... whatever it is :grin: was written for the forums I'm not convinced it would translate well to a PDF, I also don't have the finances for the art needed or the skill to pull off such a product

This was written with a lot of input from people on the forums - entire storylines have been written by others with a little nudging from me so I'd say it's where it belongs
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #49 on: 24 July 2023, 18:57:22 »
It is a hell of a AU that Dragon Cat has wrestled into existance, with help from many of us throwing ideas towards him.

Welcome to the wild ride Sumaire_STi

Me I'm interested in how the TC deals with the Novacat Kev Rosse plan of friendship to be as I read it, used against the Fed Suns.  Because I'm sure those grudge holding champions will not have in any objection to the Pirate nation who went Star League General Forlough on them wanting to be friends again.  I mean look how long they held a grudge against the Fed Suns for their actions with the Star League trying to put them in the place the Camerons wanted.
"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!"

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #50 on: 25 July 2023, 21:03:43 »
I have a plan... yes its a cunning plan and yes it's totally Taurian and I know it'll work... I just need to write it been tidying up some non-BT related stuff on FanFiction.net recently but helping Maingunnery has relit the fire for BT and now I see Marauder has made a thing so I'm sure that will help Stoke the creative spirit a bit
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #51 on: 18 August 2023, 20:15:16 »
Hiatus over, at least for now, I've been helping Maingunnery with the Society Handbook and now something else really special :cool: and what do you know doing that has drawn me back into the world of BattleTech to the fanfiction timeline that just won't die. (even if it did I'd post my notes for the future... but that day is not today)

As a thanks to Sumaire_STi for allowing the use of Dreadnought Interstellar Industries they return as does one of their units  :grin:

The Solaris Games, Game World Extreme
Solaris VII, Independent/Clan World
4th July 3119


   Despite being on the Clan Wolf border and having a combined Clan Wolf/Star League Defence Force and Ebon Guard garrison the world of Solaris VII had never been busier or more profitable for both the competitors and the gamblers. While there were nearly regular scuffles between the clan born and inner sphere born populations and even restricted fights between the Clan Wolf defenders and the Star League forces generally speaking the main conflict on Solaris VII was contained to the arenas and race courses. According to Clan Wolf’s Watch and traders it was a symbol of what the entire Inner Sphere could be under an ilClan, with them at its head, a merger of Clan and Inner Sphere life into a perfect meld, from the Inner Sphere leadership it concerned them that Clan Wolf and the Ebon Guard were so willing to allow Solaris to continue as it was. The competitions on Solaris VII are sponsored by Dreadnought Interstellar Industries from Acala III in the Federated Suns and Defiance of Hesperus II in the Lyran Commonwealth.

   3119 had been advertised as Game World Extreme on holo-advertisements across the Inner Sphere due to the multiple competitions which were taking place at once.  At the start of the month the games begin with the Solaris Racing League (SRL) beginning this year the even includes four separate events at all five of the tracks with races spread from July through to November. During the course of each “Race Week” there would be an Individual Time-Trial, a Multi-Racer event, a single aircraft Obstacle Course and a Bombing Competition. With scores taken from each, from the first race week previous season champion Jonnie Mjalby from Aubisson in the Rasalhague Dominion scores the most points.  On the 21st of the month the regular Solaris VII Games Season kicking off in the Inner Sphere-wide famous Coliseum, games would continue from July through to March 3120 before the three-week spectacle of the Grand Champions.  Finally, just a week into the regular season the 46th Star League Games, with some of the normal competitors and many seasoned warriors from across the Inner Sphere and Clans, takes place in the Star League Stadium with Michael Noonan an independent warrior from Terra winning the Star League title he pilots a Dreadnought Interstellar Industries assault BattleMech Sumaire (DII-SMR-D1) adding to the publicity for the company.

There is a suggestion from some quarters of Solaris VII that they should copy the Naval Competitions from the Star League Defence Forces’ Martial Olympiad on Defiance however aerospace fighter competitions have never drawn large crowds on Solaris so the competition supporters are wary about such a large investment.

AFFS Command Bunker, Appleton
Sherwood, Minette PDZ
Crucis March, Federated Suns
8th July 3119


   For eight months Earl Jonas Tyler had been attending rallies with the people of Sherwood and working with the Nova Cat Watch forces based on the planets. The clansmen had been true to what they had promised and they had avoided turning the public disorder into an open fight while they had conducted operations against the AFFS troops causing damage to some infrastructure and AFFS supply bases the Nova Cats had avoided taking the fights into the towns.

   Eventually the public issues with the AFFS had come to a head and a public vote had been held despite objections from the AFFS Command. With 82% of the vote in and 75% of the populations voting Earl Jonas Tyler was returned to the position of leader of the world removing the AFFS appointed official. While the Davion family and the AFFS ruled the Federated Suns it was not a dictatorship like many saw it, many worlds Sherwood included allowed the people to choose their leadership. Today the Tyler family had returned to a leadership position on the world with the population supporting his ticket which included inviting Clan Nova Cat to return to the world… now it was his duty to break them to the AFFS leadership.

   Escorted through the command bunker Earl Jonas Tyler was led into the command bunker “General Harris, thank you for seeing me” he said approaching the general who wore a green duty uniform of the AFFS he had grey hair which was receding at the sides but it remained longer on top. He was easily in his early seventies but still strode a commanding figure.

   “Congratulations on your election victory Earl Tyler, I’m coordinating my two infantry regiments with my armour and BattleMech regiment. We are going to corner and crush the insurgency and start your term with a bright beginning.” He said leaning forwards over a planning table which he invited Jonas to join him at, Jonas felt like a traitor, in truth he was one, and soon they would all know it standing at the table but he loved Sherwood. He had promised his father he would do the best by Sherwood and at present the Federated Suns did not have his world’s best interests in mind.

   “Thank you General but I’d rather you didn’t.” He began the General stood his full height dwarfing Jonas but he pressed on. “In fact, I’d like you to recall all of your forces and stand them down until you are able to remove them from Sherwood.”

   “Excuse me?” He asked there was a hard edge to his voice “what is that supposed to mean?” From behind Jonas, he heard a soldier drawing their weapon. Jonas placed a portable tri-vid camera on the table anyone could see it was smaller and more advanced than generally available to the people of the Inner Sphere, a design from the Star League-era. “What is the meaning of this Earl Tyler?”

   “This is a remote tri-vid camera we are now being broadcast across Sherwood” he said he knew that announcement meant that the AFFS Techs would be working to block the signal so he had to speak quick. “I was elected on a promise to remove the AFFS from Sherwood’s soil and to send a message to Clan Nova Cat to bring them back to this system. While the Federated Suns have done many things for this world over the years the recent actions taking away industries which our people rely on are causing untold hardship on our people and despite being invaders Clan Nova Cat built on what made Sherwood a great world and enhanced our worlds position.” He felt a soldier coming up beside him and he knew he had to be quick “by vote of the people General Harris I have been asked to deliver this message and to inform you that a message has been sent to Clan Nova Cat requestion military assistance with our future garrison and…” he paused for a moment feeling his arms being grabbed “and if necessary, your removal by peaceful action or OTHERWISE!” He shouted as the troops dragged him out of the command bunker. General Harris for his part swung a heavy baton down on the holo-vid camera smashing it.

---

   Two weeks later a Nova Cat WarShip and three JumpShips arrived in the system disgorging three Clusters worth of ground forces all of which began burning towards the planet. When they are close enough General Harris receives a communication and Earl Jonas Tyler was dragged from his cell to witness it. “This is Galaxy Command Jacob Nostra of Clan Nova Cat declaring a batchall for control over the Sherwood system. We have received a message stating Clan Nova Cat is welcome in this system. If you are willing to accept Hegira, we have brought enough DropShips to evacuate your entire unit from its soil to a safe port. If you oppose us, we will destroy you entirely.”

   “You traitorous bastard” Harris said looking at Tyler “I should execute you right here right now” he said during his two weeks of solitary confinement Jonas had been interrogated on multiple occasions, he had been beaten by the guards but he had refused to talk. Outside he knew that the people had protested his incarceration but so far there had not been any violence.

   “You could do that general, I could not stop you, you could execute me and still take the Nova Cat’s offer I do not factor in what will follow.”

   “You fought these freaks!” Harris said angrily drawing his sidearm pointing it at him “how can you now turn your homeworld over to them?” So far, the AFFS authorities had been unable to track down how Tyler had reached out to the Nova Cats only that the planetary HPG had not been used.

   “They have our best interests in mind, I was wrong, you are strip mining this world taking everything we need because it is too close to the Clan border to defend.” He said struggling against the troopers holding him. “We need some of the resources that you are taking from this world.”

   “The Clans will do the same!” Harris screamed angrily his gun still aimed at Jonas

   “They built recharge stations; a moon mining facility and they expanded Sherwood Jabberworky’s into a fully BattleMech factory ALL of which were manned by people who were from Sherwood. You’ve shut down the moonbase and the factory is gone.”

   “Without the factory you don’t need the resources it was mining and there are dangers of mining in space…”

   “We needed those jobs!” Jonas shouted back angrily “they made this world better; you are taking everything away from it.” He couldn’t believe he was arguing FOR Clan Nova Cat but over the last few months Jonas Tyler had realised just how much difference Clan Nova Cat had made to the world.

   “We couldn’t defend it” Harris said lowering the gun “we are within a jump of two of their systems.”

   “Well now you’ll have to and the people won’t support you.” He said Harris arm suddenly came back up and a single shot range out as the slugthrower trigger was pulled and within moments Earl Jonas Tyler’s lifeless body fell to the ground blood streaming from his headwound.

“Shit” Harris exclaimed looking down at the body he had acted on an impulse. “Prepare for evacuation” he said to his staff looking around he knew that his people couldn’t resist three clusters of Clan forces intent on taking the world let alone the WarShip his first duty was to his men and to the Federated Suns.

Five minutes after the order General Ronald Harris communicated with Galaxy Commander Jacob Nostra and accepted the offer of Hegira securing safe passage for his people from the world, with Earl Jonas Tyler's sacrifice a footnote in history. The people remembered him as a visionary who realised his personal mistakes and honoured his sacrifice for their future. From the Nova Cats perspective, they were annoyed that the Federated Suns had removed the Jabberworky factory along with its Ocelot, Pack Hunter, and Jenner IIC manufacturing lines but they resolved to do what they had intended. On the Jabberworky factory site they constructed a new factory and they reopened the moon-based mining facility bringing jobs back to the people they also created job opportunities for the people beyond Sherwood within the Nova Cats Den adopting them as citizens of the Clan instead of treating them as an occupied world. Additionally, unlike other recently occupied worlds the citizens of Sherwood, with their status as members of Clan Nova Cat, were invited to join the Touman as freeborn warriors a challenge several young people took up.

Parliament Elections
Free Worlds League
15th July 3119


   Between the Fifteenth and Thirty-first of July elections take place across the Free Worlds League as leaders of the individual states and of the Free Worlds League as a nation are decided by the people. While these elections are open to all candidates there is no question of who will remain the leader of the District of Marik with Captain-General Joseph Marik easily remaining in control the same result occurs in the Districts of Oriente, Regulus, Gibraltar, Bowang, Lothario and McKenna with every current leader remaining in their position with landslide victories. The only change that occurs is in the District of Lesnovo with Khan Petra Furey of Clan Smoke Jaguar “missing” she is in no position to stand for votes leading Duchess Anastasia Legend the seventy-nine-year-old leader of the Bismark system to ascend to the position of District-General.  By the end of the month Prince Lester Cameron-Jones the leader of the District of Regulus is elected to the position of Captain-General of the entire Free Worlds League promising the people that the aggressors at their borders will be pushed back.

While Khan Petra Furey is not with her Clan within the District of Lesnovo her people are going from strength to strength. Within their home District the Clan control all military forces while they are also welcomed across the Free Worlds League as warriors willing to fight for the Succession State taking on enemies on all borders. In the District of Lesnovo itself the Clan introduces a new mixed-tech Battle Armour Suit, the King Cheetah, which is built on the world of Romita. While a new Aerospace Sibko training facility has also been built in the Trinity Moons system as their people continue to go from strength to strength.
« Last Edit: 10 January 2024, 23:11:04 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #52 on: 20 August 2023, 15:01:20 »
General Harris, by your actions you have ended any chance that the AFFC has of ever being welcome back to Sherwood.  I am at least impressed that you did not take your unit out as well.

That being said with Earl Jonas Tyler working with the enemy for over 8 months in an armed insurrection to hand the planet to an enemy.  What is the official Fed Suns rules, no different if it had been the CC, DC, or TC would that not be treason and punishment is death.  By the way, I think under the Nova Cat rule had Earl Jonas Tyler lived to see, there would have been soon an "accidental" or "Fed Sun terrorist" death in your future.  You already proved that you could be used to sway the people of this world, you were a threat to "New Order".





"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!"

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #53 on: 18 September 2023, 10:44:39 »
Yup Tyler was never surviving, let's see what else is happening (finally feeling like writing more)

Emergence Wave SLS Markov (Indefatigable-class Battleship)
Canopus, Magistracy of Canopus
Periphery
4th August 3119


   The SLS Markov jumped into the Canopus system at the head of a group of three WarShips but they were not leading an invasion force instead the ships were an escort for Exarch Victor Steiner-Davion and his wife Duchess Danai Centrella-Davion. For the first time in nearly six decades Danai was returning to her homeworld as they stood onboard the massive WarShip deep within one of the command rooms DropShips were deploying from along the vessel’s hull and from the hull of its attending two WarShips. The fleet then began a slow 1G burn towards Canopus for the official state visit. Watching as the fleet deployed via a massive holo-tank which dominated the centre of the room Victor watched his wife who was silently watching the traffic in the Canopus system he was unsure what to say before spotting something on the Indefatigable sensors. Manipulating the controls of the holo-tank Victor could not help but smile “By the Unfinished Book” he exclaimed zooming in on one of the contacts.

   “What is it?” She asked rarely hearing him quote scripture, he had inherited the belief from his father but did not follow it closely.

   “That DropShip” he said smiling as the image zoomed in displaying the wireframe of what appeared to be a Conquistador-class DropShip. “That DropShip is perhaps the one single Conquistador-class DropShip in the entire Inner Sphere which is owned by a civilian it is called the ConquistaVisho.” He explained trying to distract her seeing her interest wane when she realised what the topic was on “there’s a few owned by mercenary companies but that one, that one is owned by a single man and it is kitted out like a flying party bus.” He said beaming looking at the ship “she is a one of a kind, me and Galen spoke once about jumping on an MIIO flight and coming to the Magistracy to see her.”

   “You’re kidding me?” She said, she had been with Victor since the Clan invasion before the class of DropShip had been constructed but she had not heard this story from either her husband or they recently departed friend.

   “No, she was supposed to join the Starliner One but after that disappeared the only way would have been to come to the Magistracy, we were going to take a leave of absence to see it.”

   “And what about me and Cynthia?” She asked realizing she would have been left on New Avalon with their children as would Galen’s wife.

   “That was one reason we didn’t come all this way, that and MIIO would have had a heart attack if we came to a Capellan allied state without an entire battle-group at our backs.” He said his smile reduced to a smile as the sobering thought came to him and he realised that even today he only came here with three WarShips and the entire First Knights of the Inner Sphere Regimental Brigade at his back.

   “Trust me if I’d found out about your little joyride to see a “partybus” DropShip the Capellans would have been the last thing either of you would have had to worry about.” She said playfully punching him in the arm.

   “Owww” he muttered rubbing the arm “we were coming for the DropShip dear.”

   “Of course, you were Prince Davion” she said using an old nickname for him leaning into him “thank you.” She whispered as he wrapped his left-arm around her.

   “Always, I love you.” He replied holding her as the DropShips arrayed themselves in a protective screen around the three WarShips, they had been invited here by the Canopian leadership for a month long stay but it did not hurt to be prepared.

   During the couples planned month of vacation/diplomacy Victor and Danai would visit several of the sights across Canopus, attend diplomatic functions at the Star League Embassy, at the Canopian Family’s Residence and to the shipyard in orbit which would include a tour of the under-construction MCS Magestix an Athena II-class Cruiser.

   A blackmark during the trip was several protests against Danai’s presence with some calling her out as a “traitor” as well as several other expletives regarding her and her Davion Prince. For the most part however, the people are welcoming and warm to her return to the Canopus drawing massive crowds from across the Magistracy of Canopus with few incidents. At every event the Knights of the Inner Sphere are out in force and dressed in their ceremonial SLDF Uniforms behind the scenes three battalions of Knights are kitted out in combat dress prepared to evacuate the Exarch and his wife at a moment’s notice while just outside planetary orbit the SLDF WarShips are ready to assist with entire wings of aerospace fighters and assault DropShips deployed and on standby. While the Magistracy of Canopus government officials watch and attend many of the events the nation’s military is very hands off with the whole process giving the SLDF great latitude in their operations even though they are on the Magistracy capital. The obvious reason for this hands-off attitude is that the SLDF is not here as an occupational force and they do not have the necessary forces to hold the world or supply their units on the ground should it become an open conflict.

---

The second and less obvious reason for the Magistracy’s approach to their SLDF visitors is the nation’s military forces are prepared for another operation, one that causes far deeper issues for the reborn Star League than a military operation involving their own forces. The Davion’s trip is cut short on the 21st August when six Canopian WarShips supporting ground force regiments force their way into the Oriente system landing en masse occupying the Halas Family Residence in a surprise military operation.

Over the course of a week the entire Oriente system becomes a battleground with WarShip wrecks littering the system as running battles claim four Oriente-aligned WarShips and three of the invading Magistracy of Canopus vessels. On Oriente the Elite Ducal Guard and two small mercenary units are destroyed to the man while the Sixth Oriente Fusiliers attempt to hold onto their homeworld against several invading regiments.

   In what appears to be a coordinated attack the Capellan Confederation occupy Fletcher, Fujidera and Anegasaki cutting off reinforcements who could have retreated to Oriente essentially sealing the fate of the defence of the world with the system of Oriente officially surrendering to the Magistracy of Canopus on the 30th August. Exarch Victor Steiner-Davion, his wife and their escorts leave the Magistracy of Canopus after a formal protest to the actions of the Canopian troops, just as they jump out of the system it is announced that Javier Halas, the leader of the District of Oriente, was killed leading the Ducal Guard’s defence.

Running Battle, Great Southern Farmlands
Broken Wheel, Minette PDZ
Crucis March, Federated Suns
11th August 3119


   During their spell detached from the Order of Sortek the lance of BattleMechs commanded by Leftenant Laure Bieganski had been charged with spreading the teachings of the Order of Sortek and helping in the defence of the Federated Suns from outside threats. While on the world of Broken Wheel the Order had successfully held several meetings with people and worked with the local Broken Wheel Training Battalion teaching them some of the drills which made the Order of Sortek such a successful combat unit. Laure’s people had passed on that training, practice and working as a team were key to success now however, she found herself alone and separated from the remaining two BattleMechs of her lance and she was being hunted by a BattleMech belonging to Clan Nova Cat.

   In the early hours of the morning a raiding party had arrived with long range autocannon, missile and laser weapon attacks lighting up the night’s sky. During several hours of fighting which had followed one of her pilots Jean-Claude Galley had been shot out of his Cuirass BattleMech, he had been found a short while ago still in his ejection seat killed on impact following a failed parachute.

   Now Laure ran her Enforcer III hunting an injured Clan Nova Cat Piranha BattleMech the Mech weighed in half as much as her medium class machine but carried a fearsome amount of firepower twelve machine guns backed up by three lasers. The pilot had wiped out two platoons of the Training Battalion’s infantry and destroyed two vehicles before retreating as Laure’s BattleMech approached. Angered by the cowardly attack on the support forces Laure had pursued the Piranha into the darkness causing damage with a long-range laser shot as the light Mech retreated.

   The two BattleMechs were running passive sensors attempting to catch each other out in the corn fields which they now walked through. The genetically modified corn stalks easily stood around eight metres high concealing the Mechs from each other visually until they were directly on top of each other. It was down to wits and chance who the victor would be, despite her Mech’s superior size over the Clan BattleMech due to the tech advantage Clan technology held.

   Suddenly, the left-hand side of her BattleMech’s armour registered damage and she heard the ferocious roar of machine gun fire tearing into the Enforcer III’s armoured hide, knowing the potential of the Mech she faced Laure decided not to take the chance of trying to resist the damage she cursed and launched the fifty-ton BattleMech into the air on its jump jets escaping the attack just as two opal-coloured heavy lasers and more machine gun fire tore through the place her BattleMech had been in. Laure controlled the short jump her Enforcer had made coming to land inside the corn field and turned again to hunt her pray, round one to the Clan MechWarrior.

   The Enforcer III had taken light damage from the ambush fortunately nothing critical had been crippled but she had surrendered the initiative against the enemy Mech. Standing in the cornfield Laure decided to leverage one advantage she did hold turning her Mech back towards her former location she pointed the BattleMech’s ultra-autocannon left arm and triggered a burst of fire through the cornfield firing blindly, she had ammunition to spare and one lucky hit would cripple the Piranha. The weapons fire was a distraction though she saw that the Enforcer III’s jump jets had recharged she toggled the controls of the Mech’s jets firing them at less than a fifth of their maximum potential making the fifty-ton BattleMech hop into the air on a cushion of fire over the dry cornfield.

At full power the jump jets would incinerate the crops but at this power they had a different effect starting a fire which would likely consume the entire field of corn and drive the Piranha in the direction she wanted it to go. The Enforcer III’s double heat sinks would help resist the increased heat caused by the fire while she knew the enemy Mech only used single heat sinks which would put it at a disadvantage. Setting fire to crops to win a battle was not the honourable thing to do but the greatest honour was to win, should she be asked about how the fire started she would inform anyone who asked that it was an accident they were the only two warriors out here and only she would be walking out of the battle.

---

For thirty minutes the fire continued to build and the two BattleMechs continued to duel Laure had been able to catch the lighter Mech unaware with its large laser and she had burned through the connections which held the Clan Mech’s left arm reducing it to a useless piece of slag metal. The Piranha had returned fire with its single remaining laser causing armour damage but Laure had kept her Enforcer III out of the range of the Piranha’s machine gun salvo which the Clan warrior had fired in frustration filling the air around the Enforcer III as she faded into the flames.

The final moments of the battle had come as a surprise to both warriors fighting exhaustion and heat build up the Piranha pilot stumbled upon Laure’s Enforcer III hitting it with its remaining lasers and machine guns devastating the fifty-ton BattleMech’s armour and damaging the large laser and destroying the Mech’s medium laser at near point-blank range. The Enforcer had weathered the assault though and replied with an equally devastating blow with autocannon fire at point blank range which had gutted the Piranha’s torso shattering links between the fusion engine and the Mech’s other systems. Without power the Piranha had fallen to the ground and was consumed with fire. Unable to escape the flames from their prone BattleMech the Nova Cat warrior was consumed by the fire.

With her Enforcer’s battle records “unfortunately corrupted” by damage caused during the battle Laure was cleared of wrongdoing and the fire, which burned for three days after the battle, was put down to being started incidentally during the fighting. The fire had destroyed the cornfield she had fought in and burned through had burned through several acres in every direction but she had been victorious and that was all that mattered for a member of Warrior House Sortek. Despite its “friendly-trappings” of the Order of Sortek Larie Bieganski had been born into the unit and raised with the full knowledge and upbringing which had been instilled in the unit when it was part of the Confederated Suns and was a fanatical believer in the ends justified the means when it came to victory.

Following the battle Laure learned that another of her warriors Ted Souffrant had been killed in the cockpit of his Caesar which had also been destroyed during the battle reducing her lance to two battered BattleMechs and one wrecked Cuirass with no pilot. To rebuild her unit and continue her mission Laure chose to promote a trainee Charlie Johnston to the position of pilot of the Cuirass while also recruiting a Watchman BattleMech independent MechWarrior Lena Hurst to the command, Hurst would be trained in the way of the Order while serving as a MechWarrior which was a break from protocol but required for the current situation. Additionally, the lance brought in two members of the local training battalion as trainees who would be inducted into the order and trained as future pilots.

Marketing Campaign, Sanrio Galactic Incorporated
Oshika, Midway Prefecture
Military District of Midway, Draconis Combine
18th August 3119


   In the heart of the Draconis Combine the most unlikely marketing campaign gathers an immediate following. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Director Yasuhiro Auki and I stand before you as a man humbled by the support that the people of Oshika have shown my company Sanrio Galactic.” A short Japanese-descent man said standing on a stage beside a table which had a grey cover concealing what was on top of it. “We started with a goal of funding a collectible which would be admired and be desirable to the masses. With every entry there was a promise that while every supporter would receive their own collectible for supporting this project everyone would also be entered into a prize draw for an all-expenses trip to our production facilities here on Oshika along with a week-long vacation on this beautiful world.” He said clicking a small button which activated a screen behind him “I present you with our initial product Urbie the UrbanMech” he announced on the screen a yellow, green, and grey “cuddly” UrbanMech was shown with rounder and wider limbs and body than the real Mech but with the same proportions as the UrbanMech with two short legs an autocannon arm on the right and a laser arm on the other side all of which were rounder and more exaggerated than the standard BattleMech.

   “Our campaign has not ended there however while we have begun shipping these collectibles across the Draconis Combine, our campaign has reached stretch goals that we never expected to reach” Auki admitted “this has led us to release new products” he said pulling away the cover from the table and picking up the first of their new plushies “allow me to humbly present you with Uhu the Peregrine.” He said holding the grey, blue, and orange coloured Peregrine unlike the UrbanMech the Peregrine BattleMech’s armour was normally more rounded now the two-legged Clan designed BattleMech was recreated in plushie form. “Uru like Urbie will be available for general sale on Oshika by the end of the month with orders beyond Oshika being fulfilled in due time.” He said holding the BattleMech out showing off the cushion.

   “All backers of the second stage of our campaign will receive their own version of Uru as part of their backing” he said placing down the second plushie. “We would have been honoured beyond what anyone can imaging if only Urbie had been funded, but for Uru to also be funded led to further questions.” He said looking at the tri-vid camera “what else could catch your imagination.  Allow me to present the first products beyond our Kickstarter which will go on general said exclusively on Oshika by the end of this month.” He announced picking his next two products “first is Cutiecat” he said picking up a red, brown, white, and yellow coloured plushie version of the Mad Cat (Timber Wolf) OmniMech. The iconic image of the Clan invasion and a Mech design known in every corner of human space. “And the second is Drago the Great Lizard” he said holding up a larger beast of an animal plushie which appeared to be covered in thick scales and armour, its “sharp” teeth and wicked appearing tail were completely harmless but would provide the other plushies with an opponent worthy of them.

   “All of these plushies will be available in retailers across Oshika by the end of the month and they will be sold exclusively in this system.” With this announcement the craze for collecting the four initial plushies spread like wildfire across Oshika and quickly to the entire Draconis Combine with orders from across the state coming into the company as the craze brought the company to greater and greater heights.

Mechbay, Wolf Site Alpha 4
Helm, Wolf Empire
22nd August 3119


   The Mechbay was the same as those across human occupied space with BattleMechs of various sizes in various states of operation, some ready for deployment others undergoing maintenance or repairs. In front of one of the BattleMechs stood a MechWarrior with bright red hair tied back in a ponytail she wore a simple black tank top and shorts as she looked up at the Ryoken II BattleMech which was once again hers.

   “MechWarrior Kerensky your BattleMech is ready for deployment” the tech said off to her side she turned towards him and nodded. “With respect should someone of your heritage not be piloting something befitting your position, quiaff?” The tech asked looking at the Ryoken II the seventy-five-ton BattleMech was an impressive design but she was a Bloodnamed MechWarrior of Clan Wolf holding the name of the Great Father and of the Founder of the Clans.

   “Aff, I am out of favour with the current Khan” Anastasia Kerensky replied her path to the true Clan Wolf had been a difficult one. Born from the Iron Wombs on Arc Royal to the then Warden Mountain Wolves she had followed her heart and headed out soon after winning her Bloodname with the same BattleMech that stood in front of her now and she had fought for several years as an independent warrior. “It will do for now, I am heading to the ranges” she announced after serving as a Bondsman for a year it was time she began her rise once more within Clan Wolf, this time the true Clan Wolf.

---

   As Anastasia Kerensky’s modified Ryoken II walked out of the Mechbay on the infantry ranges beside conventional infantry troops were facing their first Trials of Position. While conventional infantry troops, like conventional vehicles, had always been part of a Clan’s Touman. These were more often deployed as part of paramilitary and police forces which controlled the civilian populations and were rarely deployed as combat assets by the Clans in the defence of their territory. Since moving to their Empire territories Clan Wolf had seen the need for troops in numbers capable of garrisoning and defending these systems were far outstretching the numbers of troops traditionally fielded by the Clans. Several of the Clans had begun to field conventional troops as part of formations throughout their Toumans and were challenging their conventional forces to be better than they had ever been.

   To fill these new roles of Clan Wolf the Clan’s leadership had opened training to every member of the Wolf Empire whether they were Trueborn or Freeborn, Wolf-borne or a native of the occupied worlds. Every new trooper would be trained for a year before their Trial of Position and to join Clan Wolf they would have to face three trials the first was a fitness test a run for two kilometres in full gear followed by an obstacle course. While there was not a finish time limit the faster one finished the higher the prestige. The second test was a marksmanship test with candidates having to hit a target with a ballistic, laser and gyrojet weapon, all three weapons had to be completed before the final test. In the final test potential warriors had to defeat a serving member of the Clan Wolf Touman in hand-to-hand combat. Due to these three gruelling tests the dropout rate was high but Clan Wolf were also gaining some of the best conventional troops of all the Clans due to these requirements.

I am 99% certain that Urbie the UrbanMech and Uru the Peregrine originated from something that someone sent me (outside the BattleTech Kickstarter which was also an influence) but I cannot for the life of my find who sent me the piece they were originally in  :cry: so I'm going to say thanks to the contributor who suggested them, it was a while ago but I rarely ignore anything that's ever sent me it just takes a while for them to appear sometimes.
« Last Edit: 10 January 2024, 23:11:50 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

marauder648

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #54 on: 18 September 2023, 13:23:12 »
Excellent updates as always, great to see this story going strong!

Also Uhu the Peregrine's theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAIGb1lfpBw&t
Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #55 on: 18 September 2023, 15:00:53 »
Excellent updates as always, great to see this story going strong!

Also Uhu the Peregrine's theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAIGb1lfpBw&t

I thought you came up with that, I thought it was from a piece based on a Shark ArcShip but i can't find it :cry:
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Wrangler

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #56 on: 13 November 2023, 17:39:28 »
Not scare people, just wanted make sure I was getting updates.  I love this saga of a story.
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #57 on: 13 November 2023, 21:01:29 »
Not scare people, just wanted make sure I was getting updates.  I love this saga of a story.

Scared me does that count?

Combination of new job, broken relationship and poor health

But... drum roll... I have been writing again...
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Wrangler

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #58 on: 13 November 2023, 21:08:22 »
Scared me does that count?

Combination of new job, broken relationship and poor health

But... drum roll... I have been writing again...
Take your time, you should enjoy what you do.  We're all going through something. Were here for each other and enjoying our hobby.

Scared me does that count?

Combination of new job, broken relationship and poor health

But... drum roll... I have been writing again...
Take your time, you should enjoy what you do.  We're all going through something. Were here for each other and enjoying our hobby.

I've finally got some of the ATwT's stuff on wiki, I've been meaning to archive.  Updating the files so their usable on MegaMek.
« Last Edit: 13 November 2023, 21:09:56 by Wrangler »
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #59 on: 20 November 2023, 13:58:18 »
Take your time, you should enjoy what you do.  We're all going through something. Were here for each other and enjoying our hobby.

Well I do enjoy this dual hobby of writing and the greater hobby of BattleTech so... here's an update

The “Feast of Oriente”
Former District of Oriente
Free Worlds League
1st September 3119


   The so called “Feast of Oriente” begins with the fall of Oriente to the Magistracy of Canopus. Instead of the rest of the Free Worlds League standing up for the small District they turn on the former worlds of the District glad to be gone with the bickering Halas twin brothers. Instead, the Districts of Regulus and McKenna move on the former worlds while the Capellan Confederation and Magistracy of Canopus move on other worlds.

   The worlds of Hassad and Varna are rolled into by the District of McKenna with Duchess Saadia Cheynov personally leading the Seventh Regulan Hussars Regiment to the world of Hassad. Initially there is a standoff between the Santorini Battle Group and the District of McKenna’s forces but eventually an assault DropShip is allowed through carrying the Duchess to the planet. There she meets with the leaders of the Second Ducal Guard and Second Militia promising them that the District of McKenna will recover the lost worlds of Oriente from the respective powers that had seized them.  As a result of Cheynov’s promises both Hassad and the system of Varna surrender without a single shot fired with the defenders remaining loyal to the Free Worlds League. Within hours the Santorini Battle Group agree to the terms set by the District of McKenna joining forces to resist the Capellans and Regulans.

   The worlds of Carbonis and Las Halles fall far more violently with the Elite and Veteran defenders being dug in and ready to resist the Capellan Confederation forces invading but unfortunately, they are hopelessly outgunned with the Capellans dominating the space over the two worlds with several WarShips providing dominance in the sky and in space. With the dug in defences costing the attackers heavy casualties over the course of two weeks Capellan commanders lose their tempers resort to extreme measures calling in orbital bombardment on the District of Oriente troops positions.  Overwhelming firepower is brought down on the remaining defences wiping them out in devastating one sided engagements, with the ground troops unable to defend or return fire.  The attacks caused massive damage to both Carbonis and Las Halles support infrastructure and tens of thousands of civilian casualties in collateral damage over the two worlds.  The damage done to the two worlds would eventually cause humanitarian and ecological problems with both and their Capellan Confederation’s actions would send ripples through the Inner Sphere as a spectre from the First and Second Succession Wars rears its ugly head.

   At the same time as the Capellan Confederation assaults take place from the Magistracy of Canopus and District of Regulus on the worlds of Salur and Loaches from the Magistracy and the Matheran and Daneshamand from the District of Regulus. For all four systems mercenaries are the defenders and by the time any opposition forces arrive in the system word has come down that Oriente has fallen none of the mercenaries wish to fight to their deaths for a fallen nation. Instead, the commands negotiate out of their contracts or agree to defence contracts with the new landlords. During the negotiations word of Capellan Confederation’s actions on Carbonis and Las Halles makes its way through the HPG Network and no-one on either side has an appetite for more conflict.

Bloodname Grand Melee, Ways of Seeing Park
New Barcella, Core Territory
Nova Cat’s Den, Periphery
9th September 3119


   In the heart of the Nova Cat’s Den warriors eligible for a Bloodname contest but unable to gather individual support by the Clan’s various bloodhouses enter the Clan’s Grand Melee. Each warrior’s one desire is to win as the victor of the Melee will be eligible for a Bloodname for the reborn Bloodhouse of Attwater.  The Nova Cats have breathed new life to this founding Bloodhouse by opening their vaults of DNA from previous Clan warriors, they also take samples of DNA from every contestant joining the Melee adding new life to the Bloodhouse.

   From his recent victory on Fletcher’s Feast Star Colonel Lucian Nova Cat had travelled to New Barcella intent on competing in the Grand Melee. As he approached the barriered off area in the Ways of Seeing Park Lucian like all Nova Cats who were attending were dressed in the traditional leathers of the Nova Cat Clan. Lucian had opted for the more conservative soft leather jumpsuit while others wore far more elaborate costumes which they believed would assist them in winning the contest.  As he made his way through the crowds of warriors, he approached the perimeter formed by Elemental warriors dressed all in white.

   Lucian did not look at any of the warriors instead he handed over his Codex and waited admittance, he was an unblooded warrior of the Rosse Bloodhouse through his father and at twenty-eight years old he was a Ristar within the Clan commanding a successful Cluster.  None of the Elementals moved to allow him admittance instead within moments another huge hulking figure arrived beside him Lucian immediately recognised him Klick Lenardon the Elemental who served as the Clan’s Oathmaster, the overseer of this entire contest.

   “Walk this way” he boomed his deep but soft voice ordered guiding him away from the Grand Melee Lucian hung his head knowing already what was happening. They walked nearly a kilometre away from the Grand Melee site in silence before Lenardon stopped “you cannot join this contest.”

   “Why? I am a warrior of this Clan; I have earned the right!” He almost shouted the contraction in his speech sneaking through with his anger.

   “You are freeborn.” Lenardon said simply

   “Grayson and Sonya were freeborn both were allowed to carry the Rosse name honouring our Khan. I am the Khan’s grandson; I am the son of a Nova Cat hero.”

   “Your father and his sister carried the Rosse name to honour their father neither competed for the name in an open contest…”

   “They EARNED that name; I want to earn a name!” He snapped angrily defending his father’s position holding the Rosse name until his death.

   “Aff, he did, but his holding of that name and your freeborn status precludes your entry into this contest, you cannot be a holder of any name other than the Rosse name.” Lenardon explained “and even then, your father is dead, his sister is dead and the Khan’s position is not as strong as it once was…”

   “So I am in limbo, quiaff?”

   “Unfortunately,” he answered “I do however have orders for you from the Khan” he said seeing Lucian’s surprise “take it as a blessing, your Cluster is at the jump point.” He explained Lucian had left them on Fletcher’s Feast being reinforced with new equipment, obviously someone had leaked his travel arrangements which had resulted in the Cluster being ordered to follow him. “Good hunting Star Colonel” Lenardon said turning leaving Lucian to stand alone and work out his anger.

   As Lucian stood there in the middle of nowhere a nova cat leapt from a tree where it had been hiding, in a flash the agile black cat struck quickly tearing a bird from the air pulling its prey to the ground not caring for the human nova cat warrior. Quickly the nova cat killed its prey, not playing with its target, before acknowledging Lucian's presence with a quiet warning snarl. “I hope my prey falls as easy” he muttered walking away from the nova cat which was enjoying its dinner.

Trial of Possession, SLDS Terence Gilliam (Pueblo-class Surveillance DropShip)
Jade Falcon Shipyards, Dark Nebula
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
25th September 3119


   Hidden within the Dark Nebula the SLDS Terence Gilliam sat on low power watching the operations at the Jade Falcon’s shipyard in the deep periphery. The Gilliam was one of a new generation of spy ships based on a classic Star League-era design of which dozens had been recovered from within hangers on Terra. According to the SLDF ComStar had operated several of the DropShips but eventually turned to using their own designs following the disappearance of several of the expensive ships. Following Terra being taken over by the SLDF the Pueblo-class was one of the first that had been quietly re-added to the SLDF arsenal working for the Star League Intelligence Corps watching for threats. None of the crews knew where any other was based but it was widely believed that the SLDF watched all the Succession States and all of the Clans.

   “Captain on deck” one of the crew called out as Lisa Loven entered the observation deck, when the ship was running silent like it currently was the most important room on the ship. Although named the Observation desk on the Pueblo this was not on the outside of the hull observing space but instead located deep within the ship near the sensor feeds and observation telescopes which for now were trained on the Clan shipyards.

   “What do we have Michaels?” She asked, she was in her fifties her ginger hair tied back and her square glasses perched on her nose, she wore a plain red jumpsuit with multiple buttoned cargo pockets.

   “New Falcon Mississippi-class just launched she’s a beast.” Michaels reported he was in his early forties with short dark hair, like the rest of the crew they did not wear uniforms instead he wore a uniform instead he wore a navy hoodie, grey work vest and pants.

   “Aren’t they all” she said looking at the high-definition screens at the huge WarShip “who is that?” She asked looking at the screen seeing another WarShip which had arrived and it was surrounded by DropShips.

   “Snow Raven ship, the Black Lancer a Patriot-class Heavy Cruiser.” Michaels responded “they arrived forty minutes ago; we’ve been trying to break their encryption but no such luck so far.”

   “Seriously?” Loven asked a little annoyed her crew had not been able to break the encryption “since when can the Clan’s encrypt something we can’t break?” She asked rhetorically “get on it!” She snapped watching the screens.

---

   For a day the Gilliam watched silently before a third vessel joined them in the area. The Gilliam like all spy ships remained unseen because it did not do anything flashy to allow itself it get noticed. The ship would sit beyond visual range of the shipyard often near a piece of planetary debris drifting as it observed the Jade Falcon shipyards.

   The door chime to Loven’s quarters activated and she called out “enter” Michaels floated into her quarters.

   “It’s a Trial of Possession for the Mississippi and its plans.” He said proudly floating in the entrance way like all quarters on the Pueblo Loven’s had a small entrance, a main room and food preparation area and a toilet, the ship was designed to be comfortable for its crew on long duration missions.

   “Excellent, the fireworks of the Trial will give us an opportunity to boost away towards the rendezvous point.” Loven suggested rarely did the ship use its main drives but when there was a lot of activity it was a good opportunity to do so, they had planned to leave when the Mississippi began its post-launch trials but this was as good an opportunity as any.

   “There will be a lot of fireworks around…”

   “The Clans normally bid down…” Loven started but Michaels shook his head “oh…” she whispered “when does their trial begin?”

   “One hour’s time.”

   “I’ll see you on the bridge.”

   An hour later Loven floated onto the ships small compact bridge joining the other three crewmen there. “Status report.”

   “Surveillance Arrays stowed – ready for transit”

   “Engines standing-by”

   “Weapons online… just in case.” Michaels added

   “All crew ready.” The crew reported as she strapped herself into her command chair none of them wanted to do unnecessary moving around during a burn.

   “Has the trial started?” Loven asked Michaels looked over his screens.

   “Affirmative, the two Patriots are squaring off along with their support craft.”

   “Helm, thrusters take us away from the rock, main engine burn when we’re clear they won’t have a chance of catching us even if they pick us up.” She ordered the Gilliam slowly turned in space moving gently away from the space rock. Moments later the main engines activated sending them into a gentle one G burn which quickly accelerated to a three G burn as they burned deeper into the nebula.

   “Two Avars incoming! They must have been on deep perimeter patrol!” Michaels called out the thirty-ton OmniFighters had better speed than the DropShip but would not have the range or the firepower.  “Missiles away from targets, they are configured with LRMs!”

   Through the darkness of space flights of long-range missiles flew in on the DropShip “AMS engaging” one of the crew called out. One of the upgrades the SLDF had mandated went on the Pueblo after the class was taken out of mothballs on Terra was the installation of two dozen anti-missile cannons as the missiles got close enough the AMS cannons fired automatically knocking more than half of the missiles out of the sky before they impacted the ship. The remaining dozen exploded across the rear of the DropShip.

   “Cut main thrust, thrusters bring our nose on target, it’s a pair of lights Weaps split your fire half and half.” She ordered Michaels who nodded.  The ship ceased its forward acceleration but had already built up enough momentum that without the friction of an atmosphere the ship continued along the same course as it did the ship rotated in space suddenly facing off to an angle as the two Jade Falcon fighters continued to close. To the naked eyes the two fighters would be impossibly far away but a DropShips targeting systems were designed to track enemy targets.

Form the nose and wings of the Pueblo the weapon ports which were rarely if ever used engaged as one. Space was filled with man-made lightning particle cannons and red laser fire as the six forward facing particle cannons lashed out nearly as one targeting one ship, while the ships six forward mounted large lasers targeted the other ship destroying both ships in twin balls of flame.  “Sensors any more contacts?” Loven asked as the DropShip continued to move away from the two expanding balls of wreckage.

   “Negative, scopes clear”

   “Damage report” Loven ordered

   “Minimal armour kept it out, we’re good.”

   “Excellent, Helm turn us back onto course keep the engines silent we do not need to draw any undue attention. We will let the Clanners figure out where their two Avars went.” While the Star League DropShip made its escape the two Clans continued to engage each other eventually the two WarShips fought to a draw with the Snow Raven vessel accepting defeat. They had however done enough damage to win the plans for the Mississippi-class Battleship while not quite a new WarShip the Ravens has extensive facilities for building WarShips of their own.

   A month later Clan trials for WarShips continues as Clan Sea Fox challenge Clan Hell’s Horses for control over one of the Hell’s Horses Forge-class Yardships. The Foxes are more successful than the Ravens and they win control over the Forge adding it to the Starstrike Khanate.
« Last Edit: 10 January 2024, 23:12:36 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Wrangler

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #60 on: 20 November 2023, 21:17:03 »
Nice update!  Do we have stats for the Forge?
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
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Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #61 on: 22 November 2023, 17:02:27 »
Nice update!  Do we have stats for the Forge?

I'm pretty sure it was the Hell's Horses version of the Legacy which in itself was a Clan copy of the Faslane, I'll work on stats for it this week (the original stats have been lost I think)

Small October update, you can call thank/blame Wrangler for getting me out of my slump and making me want to write this AU again

Castle Nautilus
Artu, Aurigan Collective
Periphery
6th October 3119


   On the deep periphery moon of Artu in the Aurigan Collective engineers dug through the permafrost and earth for nearly a full month before they had finally come across a pair of armoured doors which had a massive Cameron Star engraved into them.  After recovering the DropShip Argo in deep space, they had spent time searching through the vessel’s archives which had pointed them to the moon world. To the Aurigan Collective Artu was a mining world with resources worth taking off but otherwise of little importance, a small population lived on four space stations which orbited Artu while the facilities on the moon were mostly automated with only a few thousand people making the surface their home.  Artu was one of fourteen moons which orbited a blue coloured gas giant which dominated the frozen skies.

   It would take the Aurigan’s the better part of a month to gain access to the vault under the ground.  Inside they found a facility that went a dozen levels down and two entire brigades of armoured vehicles and BattleMechs all of Star League-era vintage and in pristine condition.  With the Aurigans presently relying on mercenary forces for their defences the equipment found will go a long way to strengthening the case for the small nation which was nestled between three other powers to remain independent.

SRJS Grumdale (Monolith-class JumpShip)
Uninhabited System
Raven Alliance, Periphery
17th October 3119


   In an uninhabited system located within the Raven Alliance located roughly three quarters between Bell and Antallos an elite Draconis Combine assault team had encountered a Snow Raven supply convoy of five JumpShips heading towards Antallos the Combine forces had deployed several DropShips to interdict the JumpShips. The DCMS DropShips were hovering near the JumpShips their weapons locked onto their targets one-by-one the DropShips would dock with their targeted JumpShips and board them.

   Onboard the SRJS Grumdale Draconis Combine marines boarded the JumpShip through one of the clear DropShip docking collars due to the general tight confines of a standard JumpShip the Draconis Combine marines wore standard armoured space suits which were sealed in case of a hull breach. The twenty marines floated or walked with magclamps into the loading bay taking up defensive positions the bay was empty other than several cargo containers.
Almost as soon as the marines had got on board the figures appeared from the both corners of the room below and above their position. Larger than standard human bodies these figures stood about seven feet high the suits had triangular helmets, mostly rounded armour, and thrusters on the legs, back and on extended helmet level thrusters. The suited troopers were armed with hand-held Mauser IIC Assault Pulse Rifles and they immediately began engaging their targets, the Combine troopers attempted to resist but their low velocity, mostly non-armour penetrating weapons (deployed to protect the ships from an accidental hull breach) struggled to damage the suits with only a few troopers having effective weapons.

On all the JumpShips hidden doors opened and weapons arrays began engaging the nearby DropShips. While they could not target the DropShips which had docked with their own JumpShip they could target the DropShips docked with other vessels. Even as the JumpShips engaged the DropShips more Power Armoured troopers exited the JumpShips traversing the vessels hull using thrusters boarding the Draconis Combine DropShips entering through the holes punched in the hulls by the hidden DropShip weapons.

With the DropShips damaged and boarded and the JumpShip boarding parties contained the Draconis Combine JumpShips jumped clear of the system abandoning their boarding parties ordering them to fight on. Following communications that they had been abandoned reached the marines and DropShips several of the DropShips immediately surrendered. With their escape ships surrendered and boarded the marines had little option but to surrender to the Snow Ravens with close to one hundred DCMS personnel captured in total. Scans from the DCMS JumpShips showed that the Snow Ravens had removed one of the DropShip collars from each of the JumpShips to add additional weapons, targeting systems and heat sink systems combined with the new Power Armour design this would make the commercial JumpShips a more difficult target for raiders in the future.

Trial of Possession
Stewart, Wolf Empire
23rd October 3119


   In a Trial of Possession between Clan Wolf and Clan Sea Fox the system of Stewart changes hands with Clan Sea Fox defeating Clan Wolf for Possession over the world. The Wolves put up a light defence with the Sea Foxes winning but allowing the Wolves to remove several assets from the world.  The Sea Fox victory gives the Clan a trade world within Wolf space and another point on their network of trade worlds which were located throughout the Inner Sphere and Clan realms.
« Last Edit: 10 January 2024, 23:13:27 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

marauder648

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #62 on: 23 November 2023, 03:21:37 »
Great update :) The Raven's armour sounds like my Skua PA(L)

Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

Wrangler

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #63 on: 23 November 2023, 09:30:29 »
Great update :) The Raven's armour sounds like my Skua PA(L)



Lol!  WHen I saw this with the hatchet, I though it was a hockey stick. (it's morning here, don't blame me.)

I'm pretty sure it was the Hell's Horses version of the Legacy which in itself was a Clan copy of the Faslane, I'll work on stats for it this week (the original stats have been lost I think)

Small October update, you can call thank/blame Wrangler for getting me out of my slump and making me want to write this AU again

Yay, blame!

Side note, I've been taking all the old ships and re-stating theme so their usable on MegaMek with Mr. Dragon Cat's approval.   Archiving every chapter, hoping to make them available on the wiki and in PDF/E-Pub form.   Eventually.  (Looks at Willis says  "I'm doing this one! Lol")
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #64 on: 23 November 2023, 12:55:17 »
Great update :) The Raven's armour sounds like my Skua PA(L)



It was I forgot to credit apologise
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

marauder648

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #65 on: 25 November 2023, 05:47:39 »
Lol!  WHen I saw this with the hatchet, I though it was a hockey stick. (it's morning here, don't blame me.)
Yay, blame!

Its a Boarding Gaff, think vibro-poleax, its designed to cut through hull plating and bulkheads. :D
Ghost Bears: Cute and cuddly. Until you remember its a BLOODY BEAR!

Project Zhukov Fan AU TRO's and PDFs - https://thezhukovau.wordpress.com/

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #66 on: 28 November 2023, 05:48:23 »
The intention of this update is to show the scale of the agreements that were made during the First Star League and can now be made with the Second Star League. And other stuff that's happening elsewhere. We're almost in December in reality and December 3119 is almost finished as well so I'll post that soon.

Parlimentary Discussion
Atreus, District of Marik
Free Worlds League
5th November 3119


   “Deals like this have been done before” Ambassador Rebecca Sharangovic said as she addressed the gathered parliament “during the Clan Invasion the Free Worlds League provided weapons…”

   “Nothing has been proposed like this before!” Senator Elias Hartman responded “Madam Ambassador, the Free Worlds League waited decades for payment yet the Federated Suns want upfront payment for this deal.”

   “They want payment for the first batch due to construction already beginning on these assets.  The Federated Suns will build these assets regardless of our decision; however, they are giving us the option to get ahead of the game and purchase these before they enter Federated Suns service.”

   “We should just build our own” Dietrich Newall said as the representative of Ionus with its shipyards this was not a surprise.

   “We do not have time, this parliament tasked me with finding a contractor willing to produce a vessel to be directly attached to the Marik Protectors Brigade because we do not have the resources or time to develop and produce a ship up to the task ourselves.” Sharangovic said swiping a loose strand of grey hair from her face “through the Star League, I have secured us this deal.” She said trying to appeal to the parliament’s senses, yes they would be supporting a rival succession state but this support would bring much needed military resources into the Free Worlds League.

   “I believe the Parliament was expecting something from our long term or known allies.” Captain-General Lester Cameron-Jones suggested speaking up for the first time in a while, he had been against going externally the buy WarShips but the Parliament had out voted him, now he felt vindicated by his opposition as they would be directly funding the Davion military machine.

   Lester Cameron-Jones had not intended on opening this door, but as he had Sharangovic decided to take advantage “assuming you mean our Kaptyn “allies” allow me to summarize. The Draconis Combine faces enemies from five separate sources while the Capellan Confederation was part of the attacking forces which conquered Oriente.” She reminded everyone, there was a quiet angry murmur which travelled around the Parliament Chamber and the Captain-General Cameron-Jones looked uncomfortable. She let him squirm for a moment then decided to bail out the younger noble “however if you meant the Star League Defence Force, they were our first point of contact. Unfortunately, the SLDF continues to build its own navy in an effort to hold the Wolves at bay. It was in fact the Star League Ambassador to Atreus Angelica Hawker who directed us to Federated-Boeing...”

   “A FEDRAT COMPANY!” Someone in the Parliament cursed interrupting her.

   “Yes, the company is based in the Federated Suns, but as an allied nation in the Star League and one that currently shares not a single border with us, they are not a threat to the Free Worlds League and they are willing to assist us!” She called back angry at the interruption.

   “What about the Davion over the other border from us? They aren’t going anywhere.” Another called out Rebecca Sharangovic recognised the dark-skinned man with long dark hair tied back as Duke Lieke Modiba the leader of the world Kosciusko.

   “Duke Modiba, the Lyran Archon has made a concentrated effort to distance herself from her father’s name. House Steiner faces a greater threat to its security than us that of the multiple Clans beating at their border.” She said attempting to allay his worries and not take the debate away from their deal with a Federated Suns company. “The government of the Federated Suns has agreed for us to approach Federated-Boeing and the company has agreed to supply us with fifteen Robinson Block II-class Transports. They are also willing to modify the design to our requirements should we have any beyond the main design, for example change the weapons to match those manufactured here in the Free Worlds League to make maintenance easier.” She explained the Robinson-class Transport was a support design used to assist in the rapid deployment of ground forces to a planet. The Free Worlds League wished to integrate them into the Marik Protectors Brigade much as the Federated Suns had with their Ceti Hussars Brigade giving the units their own built in WarShip support and a chance of air superiority with every deployment. “If we wish to modify the WarShip our decision must be made immediately or there will be delays in the deployment of the first three vessels. Should we decide to accept the design as it is then we will receive them within months allowing for operational trials and travel to the Free Worlds League.”

   “Why can we not build a Thera-class vessel to match its capabilities? We have the technology and a hull design that is native to the Free Worlds League which would be more than capable of supporting our premier Brigades.” Ambassador Will Gorski representing Ionus suggested a murmur especially from within the District of Marik worlds went around the room.

   “No” Captain-General Lester Cameron-Jones said as the murmur continued “we discussed this already. The Thera is a Carrier designed for combat in space, its weapons array and fighter deployment bays are deigned specially for that task.” He said using the words which had been used in a previous meeting of Parliament, he also did not want money and manpower being funnelled into a District which was not his own, “with the loss of Oriente and possibly more importantly Fletcher with its small shipyard facilities we have a gap in our production capabilities. Purchasing ships, it was agreed by this Parliament that this was the best way to fill this gap until we can build more facilities in more secure systems.” He said glossing over his own intentions by reminding them all of the loss of a shipyard along with Oriente, which he considered a failure of the entire Free Worlds League, unfortunately there was no way to defend Free Flight from the Capellans and Magistracy.

   “Captain-General if I may?” District-General Anastasia Legend the leader of the District of Lesnovo asked formally even going as far to activate her light looking for attention unlike the other representatives and leaders who had spoken.

   “Please” Cameron-Jones said surrendering the floor for her to speak.

   “My military leadership has concerns regarding the loss of Fletcher, they had deals with Free Flight that they wish are honoured…”

   “That is a discussion that your pets will have to take up with the Capellan Confederation, not something that this Parliament will engage in.” Cameron-Jones said cutting her off speaking of the Smoke Jaguars who resided within the District of Lesnovo, Anastasia Legend was not a member of the fragment of Clan Smoke Jaguar that survived on the Free Worlds League’s periphery but was angered by his a derogatory to refer to them.

   “So, they can approach the discussion themselves should they desire?”

   “And no doubt buy a bullet in the process” he replied in an answer not saying yes or no intentionally he would not authorise the Jaguars to go to Fletcher but he also would not try to stop them the Clan which had survived in the Free Worlds League had a strong following in the District of Lesnovo with many native Free Worlds Leaguers seeing them as the District’s way to power within the Free Worlds League. Even with the recent disappearance of the Smoke Jaguar’s Khan they were gaining power at a frightening speed, and with many with the Free Worlds League simply ignoring them as a fragment of a dead Clan.

   “Thank you”

   “Captain-General, I need an answer from this body, will we progress with the deal with the Federated Suns and accept the deal to purchase fifteen Robinson Block II-class Transports? And will they be modified to suit our needs?”

   The questions were put to the Free Worlds League Parliament and it was agreed that the fifteen ships would be purchased from the Federated Suns with the first three to be delivered before July 3120. Initially the ships would be accepted as standard Robinson Block II-class Transports however the deal with Federated-Boeing accepted that should there need to changes to the design then there was room for modifications over the length of the production run.

Trade Deals
Taurus, Taurian Concordat
Periphery
14th November 3119


   With the assistance of the Clan Watch and the Merchant Caste Star Captain Kev Rosse of Clan Nova Cat had spent nearly two weeks on Taurus before his presence had been reported to the authorities. For months the Nova Cats traders had been welcome within the spaceport’s international zone for trades making deals with the Taurians who were passing through, they had been restricted to deals within the Spaceports jurisdiction but it was a start. Kev Rosse had remained with the Nova Cat traders making no effort to cause any trouble for the Taurians and so instead of acting against the Nova Cat officer the Taurians had decided to intercept him and confirm what was going on.

   During the negotiations Star Captain Kev Rosse had watched the Nova Cat and local negotiator speak from the corner of the small grey room located in a store room in the Taurus City Spaceport when a woman twenty years Kev’s senior entered, she was obviously a military officer and wore the brown and gold uniform, with a red tunic and white gloves of a Taurian officer of high rank. The two negotiators stopped briefly but she waved them on instead she walked around the small room leaning against the wall beside the Nova Cat warrior.

   “Star Captain?” She asked watching the now two nervous negotiators.

   “Aff, Kev Rosse” he responded quietly

   “I am Marshal Carol Trenouth, Taurian Defence Force I am the commander of Corps I, it is nice to meet you, shall we take a walk?” She asked him. “We will allow the negotiators to continue their work.”

   “Aff” he nodded agreeing with her, off world traders were allowed to walk around the spaceport’s grounds if they did not enter the buildings unescorted.

   Outside the air on Taurus was a temperate but over populated world during the years the Taurians had built heavy industry on the world to support the Taurian Concordat this had led more and more people to move to the system looking for work which had led to more and more being built on the world.

   “When we found out about you on this world your presence here was unexpected” she said as they walked “the last time Nova Cat military forces came to this system it was not in a friendly capacity.”

   “Our Clan has not always treated your realm with honour” Rosse admitted “I am here to observe our traders’ dealings with your people and make sure that they are treating you with honour and respect.” He said explaining his presence “it will not make up for what we have experienced in the past but it is a small strep.”

   “Your traders have caused no problems since being allowed to trade here, but your Clan is still seen as a threat to our nation.” She admitted he had been willing to admit issues in the past she would do the same. “Please Star Colonel, your role as a… “supervisor” for your traders appears to be for lack of a better term overkill.”

   “I go where our Khan orders.” He said trying to sound convincing by his words, sending a Star Commander or a Star Captain would have made more  sense instead of someone of his rank and position. There was no honour to be won watching traders make deals. “We are not a threat to you, our Clan has re-evaluated our future threats and are taking actions to counter them.” He said giving little away “we do not presently believe that the Taurian Concordat has any hostile intentions towards our Clan and as such are taking no actions against you.”  Anyone could see that the Nova Cats shared a border with the Federated Suns who were a threat and to the Snow Ravens who often worked with the Nova Cats.

   “We are still your neighbours, you are being very open with us considering we were last on the opposite side of you on the battlefield.” She replied pointing out “we do not want another war with your Clan, but you can understand our wariness when a Clan Nova Cat Colonel successfully sneaks onto our capital?” She  asked he nodded in response “perhaps we can be trading partners should these deals continue but Clan Nova Cat will have to be more open with the Taurian people about what they are bringing to our world.”

   “Aff” Rosse agreed “in an effort to show this openness” he said suddenly stopping bringing a radio up to his lips “release” he said simply. From the Outpost-class DropShip which the Nova Cats had used to come to Taurus one of the doors opened as they watched two brown and yellow camouflage SM1 Tank Destroyer hovercraft exited the DropShip and screamed towards them.

   “What is this?” Carol demanded reaching for her emergency radio but she caught Kev’s eyes and stopped seeing the look he gave her. She looked at the Nova Cat DropShip and saw no more vehicles or Mechs had left the craft and she hesitated “explain this now” she demanded angry at the Clansmen’s actions she could imagine that the control tower was rushing to direct defenders towards the DropShip and hovercraft.

   “These are for the Taurian people” he said as the two craft slowed beside them, nearby spaceport defences were rallying having detected the two unauthorised craft on the ground.

   “A bribe?” Carol asked looking at the two fifty-ton hovertanks both carrying huge central autocannons and multiple machine guns. Behind them she saw two Marshal BattleMechs turning around one of the hanger buildings.

   “Neg, we want you to do nothing for these vehicles, in fact you already have acted allowing us to come to this world.” He said as the Marshals continued to close on their position several missile carriers were also moving into position. “These are an acknowledgement from my Clan to your nation that we do not have to be enemies and they are payment for you allowing us access to your trade markets.” Kev Rosse explained “Clan Nova Cat wishes to show it knows who its true neighbours and enemies are.”

   “Frak, you could have warned us!” She said angrily grabbing her radio “this is Marshal Trenouth security patrol to Condition Two maintain distance and monitoring, no hostile actions from Clan vehicles.” She ordered lowering the radio turning back to Kev Rosse “Two hovercrafts will not change the perception of the Taurian people or its leadership, nor will this stunt we do not take kindly to surprises.”

   “They are not intended to make the peace instantly Marshal. We never expect to be your friends, you are of the periphery, you fought against our Star League ancestors and you would resist any attempt for a Clan that becomes ilClan to be your overseer, Quiaff?” He asked he was using some terms that Carol was unfamiliar with but she nodded hating the idea that someone would rule over her realm. “Exactly, Clan Nova Cat and the Taurian Concordat have differing priorities for the future and believe there will be different outcomes to the wars that are coming, perhaps we will be enemies again at some point but perhaps we also have the same enemies.” He said pausing for the moment “there is an old Clan saying ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’” he joked smiling knowing fine that the saying was older than spaceflight itself, it belonged to anyone and everyone “perhaps that will be true for our people and yours in the future.”

   Elsewhere on the worlds of Tukayyid, Tamar and Lothan in the Clan Occupation Zone on the other side of the Inner Sphere Clan Nova Cat opened new trade opportunities offering all of the Clans an opportunity to trade for or trial for dozens of second line BattleMechs which the Nova Cats had produced and held in reserve. These Mechs are all of the same model a recently developed and tested Shadow Cat IV model which is a standard BattleMech based on the successful Shadow Cat III OmniMech. For the trade market the Nova Cats have produced four variants of the Shadow Cat IV which are based on configurations of the OmniMech predecessor with one key difference instead of the Ferro Fibrous armour seen on the Shadow Cat III the IV models have laser reflective armour which showcases the new type of armour recently perfected by Clan Nova Cat.

High Orbit, Spacestation Key
Lothario, District of Lothario
Free Worlds League
20th November 3119


   With the Clans on the move from several directions in orbit over the world of Lothario the Free Worlds League brings online a new shipyard capable of building assault DropShips, this is added to the JumpShip facilities already by the present. With the District lacking their own WarShip production facilities the small shipyard owned by the Stroud family is seen as the literal “Key” to solving this issue. Unfortunately, full WarShip production is seen as being at least a decade away.
« Last Edit: 10 January 2024, 23:14:16 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #67 on: 04 December 2023, 17:31:23 »
Trials of Possession
Freedom, Isle of Skye
Lyran Commonwealth
8th December 3119


   Following successful Trials of Possession conducted by Clan Coyote against six Rasalhague Dominion systems and the successful seizure of Yed Posterlor, Baxter and New Wassen Clan Coyote surprise everyone with an early morning assault on the Isle of Skye system of Freedom which was defended by a combined Lyran Commonwealth, Star League Defence Force, and mercenary force. The Coyotes deploy their entire Coyote Prime Galaxy supported by an entire star of WarShips, a rare mass deployment for the Clan which usually deployed its WarShips in single deployments.

   While the world of Freedom was on the border of Clan Wolf it was not seen as a priority target of the Clans as Clan Coyote and the Rasalhague Dominion which were two Warden Clans while the Jade Falcons and Hell’s Horses were more interested in charging deeper into the Isle towards Hesperus II and Skye itself.

   At and near the main system jump points a pitched battle between defending and attacking WarShips breaks out as soon as the Coyotes attack. Four WarShips jump into the Nadir point ambushing the two SLDF WarShips based there, in a mass attack with fighters, DropShips and weapons from the WarShips themselves. In the attack an Essex-class Destroyer, the SLS Loch Lomund, and a Dante II-class Frigate, the SLS Hamburg are overwhelmed by the attacks with both ships destroyed. As the four WarShips move to secure the Zenith point the Coyotes Potemkin-class Troop Cruiser along with a dozen JumpShips enters the system carrying the ground forces. During their defence of the planet the Lyran and SLDF forces have destroyed the Spirit of the Sky, a Liberator-class Cruiser, crippled a second WarShip and heavily damaged two others while securing the main jump points.

The ground-based defenders have two-and-a-half days to prepare for the onslaught from Clan Coyote’s armada which has almost four dozen DropShips and the Potemkin-class Troop Cruiser Cordoba.  Duke Everett Gunther the leader of Freedom orders all Lyran aerospace assets to stop the invaders deploying two wings of aerospace fighters and six DropShips, the 208th Hussar Regimental Brigade’s commander General Amelia-Rose Knott advises against throwing everything at the incoming Clansmen but agrees to support the Lyran defenders sending two more aerospace fighter wings to join the Lyrans. Of the four mercenary commands on the planet only the Wolf’s Dragoons Alpha Regiment has enough aerospace fighters to be of any use in supporting the fight, the Dragoons who are under Lyran contract agree to support the defence of the planet. On the planet Duke Gunter calls for support from the Isle of Skye and the SLDF.

---

   If it were possible, it looked like you could step from one aerospace fighter to the next in the space near to Freedom.  “Dragoons and SLDF forces you have the heaviest fighters, you will launch a strike and open up the wings, this will hopefully allow our DropShips to get to the WarShip and their DropShips and blunt this invasion before it begins.” Admiral Griedge Tylinski the Lyran commander ordered the aerospace fighters with them.

   “Admiral, once again the Wolf’s Dragoons protest this in the strictest terms, we are under contract not cannon fodder.”

   “You Dragoons should have thought about that when you didn’t deploy a WarShip to the front-lines!” Tylinski commented “the attack goes ahead as ordered, punch us a hole Major Koslov, punch us a hole and the assault DropShips, yours included, can make a difference in this fight.” The Lyran said, the Dragoon fighter pilots were angry at being up front with the SLDF troops while the house troops who were defending their own territory took up the rear with the DropShips. The fact was the strategy was sound the Lyran fighters were lighter and suited for close in dogfighting which would take place once the two forces had met, the SLDF and Dragoon fighters on the other hand were configured for strike missions intending on causing as much damage as they were able knocking down as many enemies down as possible.

   Lieutenant Derek McClean was a pilot of the Wolf’s Dragoons and flew a Clan built Scytha Heavy Fighter, the ninety-five-ton aerospace fighter had been captured from Clan Smoke Jaguar during the Battle of Luthien and several pilots had flown the aircraft in the last fifty years.  His aerospace fighter had been configured in the alternate B configuration with five large pulse lasers up front he bore down on one Coyote fighter burning it from stem to stern with green pulse laser fire destroying the craft. He then spun his craft to the port engaging another craft as it flew past, he could barely tell the models he was firing only that his targeting systems were identifying them as hostile. The furball had disrupted the lines of the Coyotes enough that the Lyran fighters and DropShips were now moving in, an egg-shaped Excalibur-class Pocket WarShip moved through the middle of the Lyran formation heading straight for the Potemkin accelerating beyond the Lyran fighters and DropShips. “What the hell are they doing!” He called out turning to join the charge which was most likely going to be a suicide charge. “Breaker One, what are they doing?”

   “Unknown Four…” his flight leader began to reply before the Lyran channel broke over all frequencies as the Excalibur’s missile launchers fired. The Excalibur Pocket WarShip was configured with six capital missile launchers.

   “All allied units: Vitas, I repeat VITAS!” Someone McClean guessed was on DropShip called out on his HUD the Scytha’s computed recognised the command as one agreed with the Lyrans before the battle began. VITAS was a code for a nuclear launch order.

   “Oh my god…” McClean whispered his eyes transfixed on the missiles as they flew towards the Potemkin, the Troop Cruiser engaged the DropShip at the same time with multiple naval particle cannon shots. The capital man-made lighting shots lit up the space in between the two ships and the Excalibur was shredded in a second, no-one on board would have had a chance to evacuate. McClean was not watching the Excalibur though instead even as his Scytha was targeted by missiles itself he had his eyes on the six capital missiles burning towards the Potemkin. The two Kraken Telescopic Capital Missiles struck their target first causing heavy armour damage but they were not the missiles that would deliver the real blow, moments after the Kraken hits all four missiles following them slammed into the hull of the Potemkin.
Nuclear warheads while rarely used in ground combat and controlled by multiple weapon conventions in space there was no such restrictions. This was due to the weapons not having a huge blast radius or leaving radioactive residue for decades afterwards due to the lack of atmosphere, instead the multiple impacts channelled their destructive force through the remaining armour on Potemkin and into the ship. Nuclear weapons were known as WarShip killers and rightfully so the explosive blasts hit the atmosphere inside the ship and lit the entire 1.5 million tonne WarShip up from stem to stern. Along its entire 1.5 kilometres of length parts of the ship were being blown clear of his huge rounded hull as the explosions tried to escape the metal hull. “Oh my god…” McClean continued to repeat looking at the dying WarShip, he had not even known that the Lyrans had nuclear weapons.

“MCCLEAN! PILOT YOUR FRACKING FIGHTER!” Simone Montour shouted through his comms snapping him out of his shock he saw his fighter had taken several missile hits but its heavy armour had protected him he spun his aerospace fighter along its axis and boosted away from the dying Potemkin.

“Did you see that?” He called back heading back to the other fights the destruction of the WarShip had shocked both sides into a general retreat.

“We all saw it McClean” Koslov said speaking up for the others “we now have to hope they haven’t made a mistake; we took heavy losses in this fight; we have the forces on planet to hold them for months.” He said within hours Koslov was proven correct as the Canis Latrans, a massive Mississippi-class Battleship which had been damaged in the initial fight but was still fully operational, boosted from the jump point.

With the Coyotes offensive blunted temporarily the Lyran, SLDF and mercenary forces prepare for a surge from the Coyotes when the Canis Latrans arrives. During the two days burn in the forces on planet learn that there will be no reinforcements coming into the system as two Mississippi-class Battleships of Clan Jade Falcon had jumped into the Gladius system and were threatening to burn towards the Isle of Skye’s only shipyard tying up the two Mjolnir-class Battle-cruisers based there. The two Jade Falcon WarShips do not have ground forces with them but their presence in Gladius is clearly one to tie up Lyran forces and threaten the shipyards in aid of Clan Coyote. It was impossible to know if this had been a preplanned move by the Falcons but it clearly is intended to tie up the naval defences and weaken the response that could be made towards Freedom.

Back in the Hell’s Horses Occupation Zone two Clusters worth of Hell’s Horses troops are transferred to Jade Falcon control both former Hell’s Horses units are picked up by JumpShip from the OZ and head straight to the Cameron system where they drop on top of the First Coventry Cuirassiers RCT. The two new Falcon clusters wishing to prove themselves throw their units straight into the well-prepared Coventry unit which has a three-regiment strong brigade of armour waiting for them. The Horde clusters were designed to cause trouble for these units moving quickly and in between armour units the Hell’s Horses despite having many vehicles themselves use inferno rounds and flamers to great effect causing heavy damage. While it may sound almost foolish the now former Hell’s Horses armour warriors know that their time as warriors might be short-lived as the Falcons do not respect armour crews like the Hell’s Horses.

While this does not appear linked to the ongoings in the Freedom system Lyran Intelligence Command (LIC) learn through Clan Sea Fox that the Hell’s Horses agreed to send troops to the Jade Falcon Clan in exchange for the plans to the Coyotes newest OmniMech the Sojourner, a mobile sixty-ton battle line design. The Sea Foxes are willing to broker the information with the Lyrans because the Coyotes had cut them out of the trade of the new OmniMech and had rebuffed their attempts to gain control of the design.

On the morning of the fourteenth the Canis Latrans approaches Freedom along with a protective screen of DropShips and fighters. The Lyrans and their allies rise to meet them once more but unlike the commander of the Potemkin-class Troop Cruiser the commander of the Mississippi-class Battleship takes no chances and engages the DropShips and fighters with everything at its disposal at the longest ranges possible. The engagement is extremely one sided with the Inner Sphere forces unable to close on the Battleship and stop the ground forces at the same time.

   With an entire galaxy streaming to the ground things go from bad to worse as the Coyotes broadcast to the planet below that the nuclear attack against the Morning Star required a ransom to be paid. They broadcast planet-wide that the main planetary spaceport and the Duke’s personal estate were forfeit along with everything on those grounds and that everyone at these places had eight hours to evacuate before they would be destroyed. One minute to the eight hours mark the Canis Latrans moved over the planetary spaceport and blasted it from space with its naval particle cannons, the huge battleship then moved over the Duke’s residence and flattened it from orbit. The explosions from the two strikes are seen for several kilometres in several direction, following the assault the battleship informs the planet below that it will not commit further attacks against the planet itself unless it is attacked.’ The year would end with Freedom being an embattled world with both sides attempting to reinforce their position with neither able to establish superiority.

System Defence Station One
Moon of Tybalt, Terra Firma
Liberty EDZ, Star League Protectorate
17th December 3119


   It was impossible for the Titan shipyards to produce enough Casper WarShips for every system of the Star League Protectorate instead the Star League Protectorate defences was being pursued from a second angle. With worlds that had lesser threats towards them the Casper II system was being deployed it consisted of moon-based stations and space stations both of which could launch drone small craft which would provide support for planetary defences and a nasty surprise for enemy forces.

   On the airless moon of Tybalt, the Star League Protectorate Defences had built a base capable of supporting two hundred personnel, a squadron of Dragau DropShips and eighteen Cockatrice Drone Small Craft while in orbit of the moon a Drake System Defence System (SDS) Control Station would extend the range that the drones could be deployed. Near Tybalt the SLS Wasp, a Potemkin-class Troop Cruiser, which was controlling the station coming online while its support ships the SLS Balder Viking and the SLS Ethan Allen making the final touches to the Drake and delivering the drones that would be based there. The additions of the Drake, Dragau and the Cockatrice gave the Terra Firma Casper II fleet more teeth than previously Casper II fleets. To further reinforce the Terra Firma defences naval weapon emplacements on Tybalt were planned as were more Drake stations and additional fighters, small craft, and DropShips.

Trial of Possession
Ferris, Raven Alliance
Periphery
21st December 3119


   From New Barcella the Fourteenth Nova Cat Vision Cluster had travelled through the periphery to the world of Ferris in the Raven Alliance where the Snow Ravens and the native company United Outworlders Corporation had constructed a factory capable of producing the fifty-five-ton Wusun OmniFighters. When they had arrived in the system the Nova Cats had requested and they were granted safcon which had allowed them to land on the world unmolested.

   Once on the planet Star Colonel Lucian Nova Cat had met with Star Colonel Ryuzo Shu the Elemental commander of the Eighteenth Raven Battle Cluster. Lucian had declared his intention to seize a production run of Wusun OmniFighters from the planet’s factory which Ryuzo had initially refused…

   “That was until you, stupid idiot agreed to their Ransom” Lucian cursed himself running his Shadow Cat III OmniMech through the foliage on Ferris. The foliage was not normal trees instead while they were as tall as trees instead of brown wood and green or orange foliage these had completely black with blue, green, and purple bulbs which produced light.  “Well, you’re not getting me today” he cursed twisting the Shadow Cat’s torso and letting rip with the arm mounted LB 10X-AC equipped there blasting the chasing Wusun. The Raven Ransom was if the Nova Cats lost the battle, then the entire Fourteenth Vision would become a Snow Raven unit, while Lucian had been rejected at the Grand Melee his father had been a Nova Cat and his mother had brought him to the Clan from St Ives, it was his home.

   Today he was going to defend his home and win the battle “One-One, to Command Star I’ve got a pair of Wusuns tracking me through the Blue Forest, status.” He asked realizing he had used a contraction after he used it. He had been separated from the lead Trinary when his star had been ambushed by an aerospace fighter star, he had ordered them to scatter and regroup but his path had brought him into an enemy vehicle unit and then more aerospace fighters.

   “We are holding Star Colonel, Assault hit them full force at the same time as the Snow Tigers, the Ravens tried to counter us with fighters but we have them boxed.”

   “Roger, I am…” he paused for a moment turning and blasting the lead Wusun with another salvo of autocannon fire, following up with lasers and then finally an SRM salvo as the two craft strafed overhead. Fire hitting the underside of the fighters brought one craft down and crippled a second. “two Wusuns out of the fight, I’m heading back.”

   “Star Colonel…” his XO interrupted

   “Frack it Jack, I am heading back” he repeated speaking properly “no-one gives a damn.”

   “We care Star Colonel and so do you, remember that, things come around in their own time.” He said Jack was six years older than Lucian and a freeborn warrior like Lucian, unlike Lucian he did not have the blood that he had and would never have a chance to fight for a Bloodname.

   “Roger” he answered running the Shadow Cat III back towards Nova Cat lines when he arrived, he entered at the far-right flank of the battle and saw the units were adhering to Zellbrigen, the Clan duelling rules. “This is Star Colonel Lucian to the Cougar; you are challenged to a Circle of Equals…” he said seeing an unengaged Snow Raven light OmniMech.

   “Neg, let us end this Star Colonel Lucian, this is Star Colonel Ryuzo Shu you are so challenged.” A booming voice broke in leaping from the Cougar came five Elemental warriors quickly closing the distance between them.

   “Accepted” Lucian said dodging his Shadow Cat III to the right leaning with his autocannon towards the Elemental point filling the air with munitions several of the brown Snow Raven suits were battered by autocannon pellets but they kept coming. As his Shadow Cat moved missiles impacted on the side and back of the OmniMech further damaging armour plates on the medium Mech’s back and left shoulder. Lucian twisted the Shadow Cat’s fleet while continuing to circle the Elemental’s position a Mech could easily run away from the Elementals but that would make the trial pointless. Instead, he allowed them to stay in range the autocannon clicked as it reloaded and he fired another salvo at the Elementals, as the autocannon munitions flew in on the Elementals while they leapt through the air trying to close on the OmniMech. At the crest of their leap another ten short range missiles launched from the suits heading for Lucian’s Mech, Lucian decided to throw off the Elementals by turning straight into the missiles ducking the head of the Mechs cockpit under the missiles. As he did his own short-range missiles locked on the battle armour point and the launcher sent its four missiles towards the Elemental point, he also pulled the trigger on the large laser which was built into the Mech’s torso. Due to the speed of the Shadow Cat Lucian had outfitted the medium design with an Improved Heavy Large Laser which was mounted above the missile launcher, heavy large laser was a double-barrelled laser, the opal laser tore through one of the Elementals tearing the trooper in half.

   Now facing the remaining four Elementals Lucian braced seeing the suits land then launch into the air bringing them within range. Lucian reacted quickly as they closed with the right arm of the Shadow Cat III swatting one of the four battle armoured troopers out of the air sending it flying. The trooper slammed into the ground and flipped several times across the ground and did not get back up. The remaining three troopers latched onto the OmniMech and fired their arm mounted lasers to damage the Shadow Cat III’s armour. Inside the cockpit of the Mech Lucian tried to swat the Elementals using the OmniMech’s arm but did not hit any of the three troopers, instead of allowing them to continue to attack the Shadow Cat he brought the right arm across the OmniMech’s chest and threw the Mech forward rolling onto the ground over the arm. One of the scrambling Elementals were crushed under the forty-five-ton OmniMech’s sprawling form while the other two Elementals jumped clear. Lucian continued to roll his OmniMech bringing the legs back up under it and standing it back up, the roll had caused more armour damage but nothing critical, he brought the OmniMech back under control and spied the remaining two Elementals but before he fired on them, he saw that his comm. unit was active and he flicked the switch.

   “Star Colonel this is Elemental Pacheco you just crushed Star Colonel Shu; you have won this Circle of Equals.”

   “Elemental Pacheco I accept your surrender, you fought well and I claim you and your point mate as Isorla, you will serve Clan Nova Cat now.” He said seeing that the battle around them had almost grinded to a halt as the two Star Colonels fought, more Nova Cats appeared to be active than Snow Ravens and their commander was dead, the Nova Cats had secured victory, and the aerospace fighter production which was the goal.
   
Pirate Raid Aftermath
Sierra, District of Lothario
Free Worlds League
25th December 3119


   On the world of Sierra near the border of the Cirincus Federation Phil Langenberg laid flat on the roof of the warehouse he was based on. Langenberg was a former twenty-year veteran Free Worlds League military trooper who had retired and returned to his homeworld joining the local militia as a weekend warrior to supplement his retirement funds. Now in the aftermath of the worse raid he had ever experienced he was probably the only remaining militia trooper and he believed it was his duty to the people of Sierra to gather as much information on the invaders as possible before they either left or they killed him.

On his rooftop he watched the victors at the spaceport through binoculars they had hit in the middle of the night with airstrikes against the local militia’s base which had flattened the Mechbay before a single BattleMech had been able to deploy. The raiders ground forces then had steamrolled into the local mercenary base and dispatched every member of The Green Resistance Battalion including their dependents wiping out the combined arms battalion.

   Now Langenberg was watching as the pirates secured and stripped equipment from the space port and the nearby militia base. They appeared to have an entire Battalion of BattleMechs supported by vehicles, and aerospace forces. He had not seen a single aerospace fighter so he believed they had returned to orbit probably to a carrier DropShip as nowhere else on the planet had the defences nor the facilities to support their number. There was nothing special with the vehicles other than they appeared to be from manufacturers that were based across the Inner Sphere and from the Star League-era giving no indication of whom they belonged to.

The strange thing about these invaders were their BattleMechs, the tactics of overwhelming force was nothing new but this Battalion of invaders appeared to use only two designs of BattleMech both of which Langenberg classed in the assault category. There were units in the Inner Sphere like the Davion Assault Guards or the Lyran Royal Guards which were known to have entire regiments of assault machines but pirates rarely had more than a lance of the type of unit. The second strange thing was that he did not recognize either design after twenty years as an infantry trooper Langenberg thought he was familiar with the majority of the Inner Sphere and Clan designs but neither of these he could say for absolutely certainty that he knew where they were from.

The first and more numerous designs was a humanoid design with two boxy but agile looking legs supporting a torso which appeared to be split into three sections in the middle the chest almost looked like the figure “8” with a rounded lower part and a rounded upper chest which blended almost seamlessly with the rounded cockpit. From the just above middle of the “8” in were four missile ports but otherwise the central torso section appeared to lack weapons. On either side of this there were two rectangular side torso which extended from the waist to the shoulders extending beyond the central torso and curved over down the back of the Mech. Unlike the central section these side sections featured two weapon ports which extended from the torso which Langenberg had noted that they were probably medium lasers of some type. The right shoulder section of the torso sported a small turret which appeared to be an anti-missile system. Finally, from the right shoulder another laser extended from the arm’s structure while the arm itself held a large Mech sized sword while the left arm held a Mech sized shield. The BattleMech was like a variant of the Spartan BattleMech manufactured during the days of the original Star League but it was like no production model he had ever seen before.
While the first design was similar to something that Langenberg had seen before the second BattleMech was like nothing he had seen before. The design looked like it was around the same size as the first design but took a different approach, this design featured two heavily armoured legs with the armour angled off in multiple directions. Langenberg was no expert in armour design but he believed that the armour may be a form of stealth armour and he had made such remarks in his logs. These legs were connected to one angled box of a torso which extended forward of the Mech’s body the lower part had long angled armour slabs which angled upwards and supported the low-slung cockpit of the BattleMech. It was possible that the heavily armoured cockpit was even a torso mounded variant but Langenberg was sure that the plates of armour on the front of the design were armoured viewports meaning it was more likely a lower slung cockpit. On top of this cockpit was almost like an angled helmet of a ground trooper again like the leg and torso armour this was angled in various directions and looked like it was designed to deflect radar signals while also acting as the ships sensor suite. Finally, the torso featured what looked like a forward mounted ten-tube long range missile launcher over its left side. Both arms were of a similar design featuring the same angled armour as the rest of the BattleMech, the upper arm sections almost appeared like they had been applied in rectangular sections while the bottom of the arms both ended in full battle fists. Over the left wrist there were two large tubular weapon mounts they featured insulation piping and no obvious vents so Langenberg believed that they were some type of laser weapon probably of the large calibre. On the right arm, like the other arm, the rounded weapon was fitted over the wrist of the Mech and it took the form of a wider tube almost like a box with rounded sides the weapon appeared to have several capacitors attached to it leading Langenberg to believe it was a particle projection cannon of some type.

Neither of the Mechs had any insignia or numbers that Langenberg could make out and both designs featured standard forest/urban camouflage giving no clue to their origins. The only thing that Langenberg had decided was that these Mechs did not belong to the Cinincus Federation, they felt far better maintained and disciplined than anything he had encountered out of the nearby realm. He  also could not imagine any mercenary unit other than the Wolf’s Dragoons who could build such a unit so that only left the Lyrans, the Star League or one of the Clans but none of them had motives for striking Sierra. With the defenders destroyed and the planetary HPG disabled the invaders had full control over the local planetary region for nearly a week unlike most raiders they did nor pillage the town instead they only acted if anyone attempted to enter the spaceport. Following the week-long occupation, the pirates pulling out leaving the local population to try and recover from the stunning attack.
« Last Edit: 10 January 2024, 23:15:03 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

namar13766

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #68 on: 04 December 2023, 19:17:16 »
I’m guessing these are wolverines

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #69 on: 04 December 2023, 20:24:09 »
Eesh Freedom not going be much free for much longer.   I was hoping Coyotes would crash into the wreck of the Barcelona that supposedly still tumbling around that system.  Read that short story by marauder648 just recently again (just archived it)  I was bit confused if the Lyrans were at fault or they were right that Wolves then were pulling fast one.
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
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Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #70 on: 05 December 2023, 21:23:21 »
Eesh Freedom not going be much free for much longer.   I was hoping Coyotes would crash into the wreck of the Barcelona that supposedly still tumbling around that system.  Read that short story by marauder648 just recently again (just archived it)  I was bit confused if the Lyrans were at fault or they were right that Wolves then were pulling fast one.

Well given that the Wolves had two WarShips ready to jump in and slaughter the Barcelona I'd say it was a fast one but its also history so the victor gets to speak.
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #71 on: 05 December 2023, 21:42:56 »
Updated active unit stats end of 3119
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #72 on: 05 December 2023, 21:46:04 »
An updated map for the end of 3119
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Wrangler

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #73 on: 06 December 2023, 13:38:43 »
Dragon cat, do you think you can possibly open a separate thread and attach the other years maps to them? Most of the old ones are essentially on ourbattletech.com
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
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"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
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Dragon Cat

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #74 on: 07 December 2023, 18:21:21 »
Yup can do not tonight but I can
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Dragon Cat

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My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #76 on: 11 December 2023, 08:52:10 »
Thanks!
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
-Editor on Battletech Fanon Wiki

DOC_Agren

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #77 on: 12 December 2023, 21:36:22 »
Nicely done updates
"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!"

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #78 on: 23 December 2023, 16:36:55 »
Despite my work with the maps through the years of this timeline I've also done a little writing

Into 3120 the start of a new decade

3120

Avachinsky (Dove-class DropShip)
Freedom, Disputed System
Lyran Commonwealth
9th January 3120


   Little equipment had been loaded onto the dozen DropShips that were evacuating the world of Freedom instead the ships were filled with mostly injured members of the Wolf’s Dragoons, the Star League Defence Force, and the Lyran Commonwealth. The evacuation was only possible due to the arrival of the Wolfpack a Wolf’s Dragoons Congress II-class Frigate, the WarShip along with six assault DropShips had launched a full strike against the Coyote Battleship Canis Latrans creating a distraction enough for the DropShips to evacuate with the wounded. On Freedom the remaining troops were fighting a battle in which they were losing ground hourly.

   On the DropShip Avachinsky Lieutenant Ezekiel Crow of the 208th Hussar Regimental Brigade, laid on a gurney while they were evacuated. He had worked hard over the last nine years, since Liao, to make becoming and integral part of the 208th and now he was abandoning them. A nurse moved between the cots of the ship as it burned towards their waiting JumpShips. As soon as the Wolfpack had begun its attack the friendly JumpShips had arrived waiting to evacuate as many as they could. “Name soldier” she asked over the moans of the wounded.

   “Ezekiel Crow, Lieutenant, 208th Hussar Regiment, Star League Defence Force” he replied

   “Home planet?”

   “Li… Liberty” he stuttered answering her question

   “Don’t worry Lieutenant, we’ll have you out of here soon.”

   “Have the navy arrived?”

   “The Wolf’s Dragoons vessel Wolf Pack is assisting us, the SLDF and Lyran Navies have not arrived.” The nurse explained

   “Why not?”

   “Freedom does not have enough tactical significance, there are bigger systems that need protected.” She said giving the most basic of explanations, in truth the SLDF were assisting in defending the shipyards in the Gladius system, the factories on Glengarry and the factories on Hesperus II, additional WarShips including the First Lord’s escort group were enroute to Skye along with the Archon and current First Lord but the were still several jumps away from being nearly in a position to help and the troops on Freedom were running short on supplies while the Coyotes with their naval blockade had been able to bring in several additional clusters.

   “Not even to evacuate us?” Crow wondered “isn’t that wrong.”

   “It’s war son it’s never right.” She said moving on leaving Crow to wonder, he had reinvented his life and fought for the Star League Defence Force but they were ready to leave a system to the invaders due to its lack of industry and its position in the Inner Sphere.

   While the DropShips carrying the injured did escape to their JumpShips the Wolf Pack was destroyed battling the Canis Latrans and the ground forces were abandoned to Clan Coyote’s control with the Wolf’s Dragoons Alpha Regiment, along with General Sean Dorran are killed to the man. In protest for the lack of action by the Lyran and SLDF navies the Wolf’s Dragoons Gamma Regiment activates an escape clause in their contract with the Lyran Commonwealth refusing further contracts with the state. Gamma Regiment return to their base on Outreach where despite the world now being under Star League stewardship the Dragoons still have significant training, construction, and recruitment facilities.
On Freedom the Fourth Isle of Skye Guards RCT and the Second Skye Jaegers are reduced in strength to less than four regiments of combined troops by the time they surrender while the two regiment’s worth of the SLDF’s 208th Hussars are also taken as prisoners as Freedom surrenders to Clan Coyote.
   
Star League Response, Office of the First Lord
Unity City, Court of the Star League
Terra, Star League Protectorate
17th January 3120


   Rarely since the formation of this current Star League did the First Lord come back to Terra and use the official Office of the First Lord but the office had existed since the people of Terra had reopened Unity City and begun the renovation of the mighty city. Normally when the First Lord returned to Terra it was for one of the Whitting Conferences where a new First Lord would be elected to replace them but today was not one of those days instead Archon Jessica Steiner, the currently elected First Lord, had returned to Terra for a dual announcement.

   Sitting at the desk of the First Lord which was really more of a Tri-Vid studio than a true working office with additional lights set around the room so it could be lit in any way they wanted. Jessica had decided against wearing the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces armed forces uniform, because that was not the only people she represented, and she would not wear the Star League uniform and dishonour the men and women who had fought under that banner. Instead, she had worn a stunning dress which changed colour between Steiner blue and Star League green depending on how the light hit it. She had directed the Tri-Vid directors of this message to change the lighting during the broadcast so her dress showed the Green of the Star League and Blue of House Steiner equally.

   “Ladies and gentlemen, I am Archon Jessica Steiner the First Lord of the Star League. Today I remind our enemies that this Star League was created to protect the citizens of its members states and of those that live on worlds designated to be Protectorate worlds.” She said calmly “recent attacks by our neighbours have called into question this Star League’s strength. Today we say enough it enough, two full Star League Divisions are being deployed to the Isle of Skye along with full naval support. Our message to our neighbours is if you think you can continuously use your naval strength to attack us, we will respond in kind.”

   She said pausing imagining how those words would hit for a moment, no one was alive today to remember the horrors of the early Succession Wars when naval strength and weapons of mass destruction were unleashed on a mass scale against the populations of the Inner Sphere. That was not what she was advocating but she also had to show that the Star League had steel. “Strength does not mean the reckless employment of firepower; the population of a planet should NEVER be the target of a nation’s ambitions. I will NEVER support or forgive a leader who employs weapons of mass destruction against a population centre whether it be on a planet or from the space around it, it will NEVER be acceptable.”

   The warning would not be enough, she knew that, she and the other leaders of the Star League nations had discussed this, none of them would accept the position that words would be enough to send a message. “This Star League was not created to stop a nation’s ambitions nor was it intended of being employed as a peacekeeping force which would take away our traditions of marital spirit or contain our great military units but it was created to protect the Inner Sphere’s people from the Clans and from ourselves.” She said lingering on the word for several moments before continuing, time to wrap this up.

   “Some of us have turned away from the Star League Defence Force and its principles, they have turned to isolationism and embraced the ideals of the past. It is an individual nation’s choice to decide the direction to take their nation in. We will not force a nation to join the Star League, but we will punish one that brings total war against civilian targets.” She said issuing her final warning, now for the promise “this morning in coordinated strikes by Star League members and the Star League Defence Force made retribution strikes against the Capellan Confederation for their actions in bringing war to the populations of Carbonis and Las Halles.” She announced, for the most part the attacks had come as a complete surprise in the Capellan Confederation but that was not the end of it. “This message goes to the Capellan Confederation Chancellor and to anyone who thinks we do not take attacks against Star League nation states seriously, attacks will continue until retributions are made for what you have done.”

   Jessica Steiner had tried to sway opinions for such a campaign against the Clans but the actions of the Capellan Confederation on Carbonis and Las Halles had all but crippled both world’s ability to support their populations. Some of the Star League experts had put their recovery at decades, possibly longer, possibly never if the Capellan Confederation followed its standard practice of strip-mining border worlds to support its core industry. Instead, twelve systems had been targeted by the Free Worlds League, Federated Suns and Star League Defence Force by all accounts they had taken the mercenaries and militia forces by surprise and rolled over the defenders in nearly every system.

The largest battle had happened in the Vertabren system when three Star League Defence Force WarShips led by the SLS Truce of Tukayyid had led two Otey-class Battleships against the CCSS Chancellor’s Might, a Bain Cheng Wang-class Battleship, the CCSS Qetesh, a recently acquired Independence-class Escort Carrier, and the CCSS Mandarin, a Mandarin-class Battle-cruiser. During the battle the SLS Tukayyid a vessel which had served the original Star League before being held in reserve by ComStar during the Succession Wars, the vessel finally reactivated into Star League service in 3082 took fatal damage in a head-to-head pass forcing the Capellan WarShips to manoeuvre exposing the Chancellor’s Might’s flank to barrages from the two Otey-class Battleships which were enough to break the back of the mighty WarShip and end its fight. Neither the Qetesh or Mandarin had enough firepower to resist the two Battleships and both were destroyed.

In the Elnath system two Mandarin-class Battlecruisers are destroyed by SLDF forces at the cost of the SLS Makarov, an Indefatigable-class Battleship. The two ships concentrate on the command ship of the Second WarShip Squadron but they have nowhere near enough firepower or fighters to counter the DropShips and fighters of the Star League Defence Force.

Elsewhere near Capellan Confederation space the Free Worlds League on the world of Wisconsin Lord Simeon Simmerson announces that Hindmarsh, Fieferana, Mauripur and Al Jubaylah are joining Wisconsin and joining the Magistracy of Canopus following repeated disagreements with Lesnovo and Atreus over the presence of Clansmen specifically the Smoke Jaguars in the District of Lesnovo and Sea Foxes traders within the Free Worlds League, the Free Worlds League’s inability to liberate territory from the Wolves nor stop the Magistracy of Canopus gaining territory.

Intelligence Briefing
Buena, Buena Archonette
Alarion Province, Lyran Commonwealth
30th January 3120


   Agent Aaron Price-Lewis walked into the office of Archonette Kelly Varnay the present leader of Buena and of the Buena Archonette which controlled the territory in the Lyran Commonwealth which bordered with the Mandrill Collective, the Cirincus Federation and Free Worlds League. “Aaron good to see you what do you have for me today?” She asked not standing on ceremony, Kelly Varnay was a military officer at heart and had taken on the position on Buena simply to ensure the region remained part of the Commonwealth, with support from Tharkad and then Carlisle waning the people needed to know that they had a leader who cared for them. Today she was dressed in a simple duty uniform but her slightly greying grey hair was worn down to her shoulders.

   “News from Cirincus” he said, Aaron was in his mid-thirties he wore his brown hair longer than regulation and looked like he could do with a shave but what else could be expected from someone in the intelligence community.

   “What are our pirate friends up to?” She asked, more often she was interested in the Fire Mandrills movements especially considering their recent actions had secured the Cruz Alta and Sarikavak systems from Buena defenders completely destroying the Fifth Buena Guards LCT using air superiority provided by their WarShips and attending DropShips, something Buena simply struggled to match. Varnay had applied to the province capital and to both co-capitals of the Lyran Commonwealth but so far there had been no definitive answer.

   “It looks like their campaign in the Zeta Quadrant worlds is coming to an end quicker than expected, the mercenaries hired to cover that region are laying down arms. Apparently, there is a crack mercenary unit that has deploying companies of the same Mech to knock down defenders.” He explained

   “The same company that has been hitting worlds in the Free Worlds League?” She asked having read the reports of four worlds in the Free Worlds League being struck by similarly equipped units.

   “We believe so SAFE has only just arrived on Sierra where the most successful attack occurred, we will probably find out something from them in the next six months to six years.” He said only half-jokingly SAFE had never been classed as a first-rate Intelligence organisation and was not known for its speed. “Either way the Cirincans appear to be gaining the upper hand and securing their border.” He explained

   “Do you think they will be willing to listen to my proposal?” She asked, she was struggling to gain support from any place of authority, none of them saw the threat that the Fire Mandrills posted. The Rim Collection was no-more the Clan now fully controlled by the Clan influences which had been allowed to settle there. According to briefings she had read there were as many as the remnants of five different Clans within the Collective all living under the Fire Mandrill banner each of them had been absorbed just like the Rim Collection, and what she feared would happen to the Buena worlds.

   “They may, these mercenaries can only do so much your offer of weapons and materials I think would go a long way to building back up the Cirincus state.” He suggested “but it may also build a rod against our own back if they turn on us.”

   “Agreed, but we have already stripped all manufacturing assets from Andrion and Baltazar III as well as all resources they could find useful.” She suggested, both worlds had small native populations she could not negotiate with their sovereignty but she needed the Cirincus Federation to act with them against the Mandrills to have any hope of resisting further occupation from the Clan force.

   “True, but it is a pirate state just having the territory and population may be enough.” Price-Lewis said “that said your presence alone in the Cirincus Federation may be enough of an incentive for them to take action, they could capture you.”

   “Hopefully it does not come to that” she said agreeing with him “I am taking the Maersk as part of my escort, that should stop them thinking about doing anything stupid.” She suggested it was only a Fox II-class Merchant vessel but at its core it was a WarShip and would provide superior firepower to any JumpShip.

   “They are pirates, stupid is at their core.”

   “Someone may suggest our actions fall into that category.” The Intelligence Agent cautioned knowing exactly how Tharkad and Carlisle would react when they found out about Kelly Varnay’s actions.

   “If we do not do something then the Fire Mandrills will continue to spill over the border. We need to hit their supply lines and Cirincus has the access. I will not stand ideally by and let them win. The Clans do not do support structures, they will not defend their lines sufficiently enough to stop the Cirincans and if they do then we’ll eliminate Cirincus as a threat as a by-product.”
« Last Edit: 10 January 2024, 23:16:14 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #79 on: 23 December 2023, 21:53:01 »
Yay new decade! Looks like Archon / Star Lord taking a hard stance against Liao/Centrellas.  I'm curious if strong speech will be enough to save off them and the Clans coming for Terra.

Great Writing, Dragon Cat!
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
"How do you defeat a Dragau? Shoot the damn thing. Lots." - Jellico 
"No, it's a "Most Awesome Blues Brothers scene Reenactment EVER" waiting to happen." VotW Destrier - Weirdo  
"It's 200 LY to Sian, we got a full load of shells, a half a platoon of Grenadiers, it's exploding outside, and we're wearing flak jackets." VoTW Destrier - Misterpants
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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #80 on: 01 January 2024, 17:28:01 »
After playing with some maps for a while it time to get back to proper writing. With a nice update from Marauder648 from the Hell's Horses included in this update (yes Marauder this is years old, I don't leave anything that people send me)

Border Conflict
Aurigan Collective
Periphery
2nd February 3120


   The Aurigan Collective and Fronc Reaches come into conflict when the systems of Lost World and Aether choose to join the Aurigan Collective through democratic process over their current position within the Fronc Reaches. On both worlds the defences and mercenaries hired to support the Fronc Reaches government them attempt to resist but it becomes very clear that the local populations support the change in overall government and they withdraw into the Fronc Reaches. Interstellar messages exchanged via Fronc and Coromodir make it clear from Fronc that they will not allow the Aurigans to muscle Fronc out of their current territories while Coromodir respond by stating they will fully support anyone who wishes to make a choice about the government they follow.

Site 03-Gamma, Test Site 0930 AM
Csesztreg, Hell’s Horses Occupation Zone
11th February 3120


Csesztreg was cold and barren, a world of grey mountains, seemingly endless tundra and cold dark seas. Its rather thin atmosphere and cold temperatures would have left it to be passed over if not for its huge mineral wealth and in the early days of the human diaspora, Csesztreg’s resources made it a world ripe for colonization.

During the Star League era, efforts to thicken the atmosphere so you could breathe outside without wearing a re-breather or having to carry an oxygen tank paid off, and as soon as people could breathe normally, the mining begun.

Even now, centuries later Csesztreg was an industrial powerhouse, its reserves of metals and other ores nowhere near close to being depleted and whilst it was far from the most habitable world, its strategic value was one of the reasons that Clan Hell’s Horses chose the world as the capital of their Occupation Zone.

Although the administrative capital of the entire OZ was the capital city of Budapest, the Hell’s Horses had made their home several hundred miles from the city in a far more defensible location. The Horse’s Blood Chapel was buried in a former mine which was covered from above by over a kilometre of rock from the mesa that the Horses had made their military capital.

Nicknamed ‘The Stables’ or Istállók in the local Hungarian dialect, the Mesa was the seat of the Hell’s Horses Khan as well as the meeting place for the Bloodnamed of the Clan, as well as a major R&D centre. Because of its importance, several batteries of fifty-five-centimetre Naval Lasers as well as heavy anti-ship missiles dominated the space above ‘The Stables’ whilst at lower altitudes any attackers would have faced turreted weapons and concentric walls that gave the whole facility a layer of protection and defence that would have rivaled a Star League-era Castle Brian.

Despite being purpose built for their use Khan Teresa Cooper did not like spending much time at her Headquarters, and much preferred being closer to the front lines, and thus closer to the action. But she had duties to perform and this was one of them especially with a recent Lyra counter attack which had seen Nekkar and Whittington liberated from Hell’s Horses forces.

Research and Development Site 03-A was not a glamorous name for any facility, but its name belied its importance. Here the Scientist and Technician Castes worked on new weapons and configurations as well as new Mechs and more.

The Khan was met by a deputation of Scientists and Technicians, all of whom bowed low as the Khan approached at the door behind additional Elementals stood and waited guarding the exit.

“Scientist Kline, what do you have to report?” She asked the Elemental Khan stood over all others in the room. The Scientist in question stepped forwards his long lab coat flapping in the cold air before the facilities hangar door closed with a rumbling boom.

“Initial testing goes well; we have used data from our SLDF archives as well as field data obtained on ChatterWeb regarding the Inner Sphere’s new LAM designs and applied it to our three prototypes.”

“Three? I authorised two…” Khan Cooper said, a coldness entering her tone several of the scientists withdrew from her immediate presence. If the Khan flew into a rage and took it out on them physically none of them would survive.

“Aff my Khan, and I apologise for overstepping our boundaries but with three prototypes we can explore and examine the three different weights to see if the design is indeed viable. Also, we have verified that, unlike LAM’s we can make the new ATV modular.” The Scientist hurried his words, hoping to impress the Khan with information instead of immediate demonstration.

“The construction of the third prototype has not delayed testing, and whilst it did take slightly more resources than initially planned, we have made use of as many off the shelf components and all three units share the same electronics suite and communications systems.

The Khan and several other Warriors who were part of her Keshik stepped forwards as they beheld the result of the labours of the Scientists and Technicians. Called ATV’s or ‘All-Terrain-Vehicles’ to hide the program from any causally prying eye, the concept was in essence a Land Air Mech but for the ground, able to move between a vehicle mode or a rugged quadrupedal BattleMech design, offering stability and flexibility as well as superior cross-country performance to vehicles. The ‘Quadvee’ as they were really called would not have to rely on bridging vehicles to cross rivers and could move through heavier terrain than any tank could ever dream of.

But to the Khan’s eyes, the three largely similar vehicles were tall, ungainly things. The smallest of the three massed thirty-five tons and stood on four rather spindly legs, each one bulked out by the tracks that were its motive system when in vehicle mode. Its ‘double-decker’ cockpit was repeated on the fifty-five and seventy-five-ton designs, making them look rather top heavy and presenting a rather easy target.

“And what of the transformation system itself? Three months ago, you reported that there were ‘difficulties,’ have these difficulties been overcome?” Khan Cooper turned to look at the Scientists some of whom all but wilted under her gaze. There was an almost agonising silence until a Technician spoke up.

“Not entirely my Khan, while the actual process of transitioning between the two modes has been done, it is slow, and there has been issues with stability on the prototypes. We are also working on ensuring redundancy and toughness. If I may be so bold My Khan, I saw the distasteful look you gave them and honestly, I do not blame you. But… these are only prototypes, once we have the basics fully worked out, then we can refine the units for combat roles. The lighter unit has been tested on ranges and we have had no problems with weapon system integration.”

“Aff!” Scientist Klein spoke up, eager to regain control of the conversation “We are now ironing out the bugs and with each iteration of the conversion systems and their associated electronics, we are getting closer to a fast, fluid and stable conversion.” He promised his leader, he was confident that they would perfect the project and create a weapon system superior to the SLDF’s LAM project.

The Khan looked at the Technician who had spoken up “Your name please.”

Several Scientists and more junior technicians shuffled ever so slightly away and to the side. “I am Technician Hector my Khan.”

“It took courage to speak to me over your supervisor and senior, how long have you been working on this project?”

“Since its inception My Khan, I work on the mechanical part of the conversion system, overseeing my work teams on the project.” He said confidently he could see the disapproving looks from the two supervisors.

“You are a plain-speaking man; I want your appraisal. How soon do you think the conversion process will be finished and fully viable?” The Khan demanded; the scientists could talk in riddles for hours trying to hide their inadequacies.

Hector glanced at the Scientists and his fellow Technicians and Khan Cooper could not help but smile slightly as she pointedly cleared her throat. “Now is not the time to be quiet…” She stated becoming angry

“My Khan, once the conversion process is done, we can then work on a true combat capable prototype, and of course there is the training program for any crew.” The Tech said confidently he was sure that the QuadVee concept was a sound one, it just required the last few kinks to be worked out.” He said the conversion process was the most difficult part of the entire process. “I do have a suggestion which may further our progress, one which our Touman may be best placed to assist…”

“Advising your Khan on military matters now hmmm?” She said calming after hearing someone with confidence.

“N-Neg My Khan, I would never think to…” His confidence melted in moments facing a challenge from an Elemental but that was to be expected, she was more than their Khan she was a member of the ruling warrior caste, none of them would ever be allowed to forget it. The Clans knew the chaos which had over taken the Homeworlds was caused by scientists rising above their station and attempting to rule, they would not allow that to happen here.

“I have decided I like you Senior Technician Hector. Scientist Klein, Senior Technician Hector, I will hold you to your time schedule. But I will not tolerate delays or excuses.” She said stepping back “what is your suggestion?”

“A Trial of Possession” he suggested looking straight at the Khan specifically one aimed at one of two targets.” Hector said pausing waiting for Khan Cooper to nod “there are many military units that are equipped with Land Air Mechs but to inspect their conversion systems we would need to disassemble them and attempt to reverse engineer the systems.” He explained “my suggestion is a Trial of Possession against Irece in the Draconis Combine or Talitha in the Star League Protectorate, the site of two of the largest LAM factories in the entire Inner Sphere.”

“Two of the most heavily defended systems in the entire Inner Sphere.” Cooper noted “we would need half of the Touman to capture either system.” She said dismissing the idea completely out of hand. “Not to mention Talitha is through not only Star League claimed space but also Lyran territory and Wolf space.” She continued thinking out aloud “Irece is more vulnerable, but neither the Bear nor the Coyote is likely to wish to negotiate with us…” She said beginning to pace, sometimes it helped her think, members of the gathered scientist caste scattered out of the way. “The Lynx however…”

“My Khan we would not need to seize the factory, our records from the Star League-era are spotty on the Land Air Mech technology, much of the information was destroyed during the Exodus Civil War we are literally reinventing the systems hence our issues with the conversion technology. The Star League scientists were impressive.”

“Perhaps the Clans made a mistake in only breeding warriors in the Iron Wombs, we should have harvested some scientist DNA as well.” Cooper half joked she could just imaging if the Scientist, Technician and Merchant castes gained access to Iron Womb technology, trueborns in every caste… she shuddered at the thought.

“I will get you your technology, Hector you will accompany our strike force to Irece.” She said to his shock “you appear to be the only one that believes in making this a success, now it’s time to put your beliefs where your mouth is.” She said smiling then glancing back at the other scientists “I will get you what Hector believes you need. And then you… You -will- be finished on time…” She turned her eyes back to one of the towering QuadVee’s, in Mech form its tall ‘turret’ like body stuck out like a sore thumb. “And for Kerensky’s sake and for the morale of those who have to use the damn things, reduce their height and make them more aesthetically pleasing! We are the Hell’s Horses we ride into battle gracefully.”
A chorus of “Aff’s” greeted Khan Cooper’s words and she smiled, perhaps the day had not been a complete waste after all. She had lit a fire under the QuadVee design team as well as tour the production lines for the Kratos and Alke tanks. It was good for her people to see her taking an interest in things other than combat. Although the role of governing the people was left largely to the various Factors of her Clan, they still needed to see the person who was their leader. Not a Scientist, not a Merchant and not a technician, but a Warrior. And now thanks to Hector she had her next target… the Lyrans could wait.

Political Debate
Royal Court, Carlisle
Alarion Province, Lyran Commonwealth
20th February 3120


   At a closed session on the co-capital world of Carlisle deep in the Lyran Commonwealth the Royal Court meet and discuss the Archon Jessica Steiner’s recent performance as leader of the Lyran Commonwealth and as the First Lord of the Star League. Many of the system leaders believe that her actions in targeting the Capellan Confederation instead of the multiple Clan threats is a failure to the people of the Lyran Commonwealth. Not only had the Coyotes threatened and invaded House Steiner but now both the Fire Mandrills and Stone Spirits were causing more trouble invading multiple systems between them.

   Recent counter attacks by the Lyrans which had seen Nekkar and Whittington liberated from the Hell’s Horses and the securing of Star League Defence Force reinforcements to protect the Isle of Skye gave many of the Archon’s supporters counter arguments to the calls against the Archon. Also unknown to many Lyrans the Cirincus Federation had begun striking logistical targets within the Mandrill Collective causing issues with their assaults against the Buena Archonette.

SAFE Investigation
Sierra, District of Lothario
Free Worlds League
22nd February 3120


   Following the heavy raid and short occupation of Sierra in 3119 a SAFE investigation team of twenty arrive on Sierra to investigate who raided the world and search for evidence. During their investigation they take witness statements, gun camera footage and fragments of armour which had been blown off the invading BattleMechs and vehicles.

   Without the resources to analyse the armour fragments on Sierra the samples are taken off world for further laboratory work on Gibraltar, the travel and work will take a minimum of two months for the results to come back to Sierra. The people of Sierra are still recovering from the attack and scrambling for answers to what happened to their world and who is responsible.

Scout mission, Bug-Eye-class Surveillance Craft
Huntress, Kerensky Cluster
Clan Homeworlds
26th February 3120


   On the outskirts of the Huntress system there was a flash of light as a small vessel appeared in the system. The ship was one of the smallest WarShips ever designed, a relic from the first Star League, the Bug-Eye-class Surveillance Craft it looked more like an aerodyne-type DropShip. The black-painted ship’s main maneuvering drives fired and the ship began to move in system as it did several sensor dishes and radio antennas extended from hatches along the hull scanning the system as it went.

Within two days the Bug-Eye reached Huntress’ ship lanes which would take it to the main jump point continuing to scan as it went. Huntress, the former homeworld of Clan Smoke Jaguar, was now fully under the control of the Society which controlled most of the Kerensky Cluster. As a result of the domination of Kerensky Cluster by the Society ship traffic in the system was far lower than at any other time in the history of the Clans but the current levels of traffic and the system's damaged sensor net is enough for the Bug-Eye to slip through the traffic relatively unnoticed.

For five days the ship cruised silently through the Huntress system intentionally changing course away from incoming ships to avoid direct contact, when the ship received any messages an automated message is sent reporting that the ship’s receiver was damaged, they were unable to answer and they were heading for a JumpShip and then onto Circe. After the five days the ship passed beyond Huntress' star where it used its Jump drive to escape the system. There were no WarShips in the Huntress system and few of the JumpShips cared about one DropShip disappearing off their sensors.
« Last Edit: 10 January 2024, 23:16:32 by Dragon Cat »
My three main Alternate Timeline with Thanks fan-fiction threads are in the links below. I'm always open to suggestions or additions to be incorporated so if you feel you wish to add something feel free. There's non-canon units, equipment, people, events, erm... Solar Systems spread throughout so please enjoy

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,20515.0.html - Part 1

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,52013.0.html - Part 2

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,79196.0.html - Part 3

Wrangler

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Re: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (Part 3)
« Reply #81 on: 01 January 2024, 22:21:36 »
Interesting update! Quadvees will be interesting if those are indeed marauder628 Innovations.

Hope they don't trash LAM factory however!  :grin:
"Men, fetch the Urbanmechs.  We have an interrogation to attend to." - jklantern
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