15 June 3064
Mackolla
Duke Scott Mitchell and Twyla were having a quiet dinner at home, he was happy that Twyla seemed to be getting over whatever stomach bug she had caught as her appetite had returned. They had been making idle talk, how was work, how was your day and all that sort. After 15 minutes of that, Twyla got serious.
"Scott, we need to talk. Serious talk." Twyla said
This was rare, Twyla had a very serious look on her face. "Sure, what do we need to talk about." Scott asked
"I know what caused my sickness and it is going to take 8 more months until it is out of my body." Twyla said
Holy crap, what had she caught that Clan medicine could not cure quicker? "Hon, what the hell did you catch? Is there a cure? Is it dangerous?" Scott asked in a near panic
"Scott, calm down. It is going to change both my life and yours forever. And you did it to me." Twyla said, but Scott missed the twinkle in her eyes.
"How bad? Dammit, what the hell?" Scott was almost to a full bore panic attack
"I am pregnant dummy. I am having a baby. I do not know what Khan West is going to say or think of this. It worries me. I was given a task to complete and this could get in the way of me accomplishing my task." Twyla said
It took several minutes for what she said to break into Scott's panic filled brain. PREGNANT!!!!!!!!! Holy shit, I am going to be a dad. A moment of joy flashed thru his body but then panic almost set back in, I don't know a damn thing about being a father.
Finally, the feeling of joy returned. "Hon, that is fantastic, but you know what has to happen now though don't you?" Scott asked
"No, what must we do?" Twyla asked
"Your pregnant, I am the father, now we must get married. I have wanted to ask you for a long time now, but I could not find the right way." Scott said
"I would have to get Khan West's approval. It would mean me leaving Clan Nova Cat. He might say no or worse, this pregnancy was not sanctioned." Twyla replied
"If he says yes, will you marry me? Will you spend the rest of your life with me?" Scott asked
"I do not want to be anywhere else but with you. If Khan West gives his approval, then yes, I will marry you." Twyla said
"Start planning the wedding, read up on it. Because Khan West is going to approve this." Scott said, because if he doesn't or hesitates, I am going to sick Katherine Steiner Davion on his ass. "Now, I will be right back, I need to go to the office and send off a priority message."
Scott stood and kissed her gently and then literally ran out the door.
Fifteen minutes later, Scott was in the fax room, he quickly wrote out the fax and handed it to the watch officer "Send this to Okeffenokee ASAP, tell them to run that to the HPG station and I want a priority message sent to Terra."
The watch officer took the message and started to encode it. He paused and looked up at Scott "First congratulations, second, you sure you want it sent just like this?"
"Word for word, you send it out just like that. I want to know the second a reply is received, no matter the time." Scott said "Now send it."
To: Archon Prince Victor Steiner Davion
From: Duke Scott Mitchell
Need a huge favor Prince Davion, I need you to show this message to Katherine also, have her there with you when you deliver this message to Khan West. I need Khan West's approval for Twyla to marry me. Tell him that if he refuses, I will bid all my forces in a Trial of Possession for her the moment he returns to Tortuga Prime. And that will be after he spends the next few days to a week getting beat down by your sister.
Scott
P.S. Twyla is pregnant, I am going to be a father.
Once the message was sent, Scott flew back to his estate and swooped Twyla into his arms. "We are getting married."
"There is no way you got a reply that fast Scott." Twyla said
"Oh, trust me. There is no way Khan West is going to stand in the way of this, no way." Scott said
Terra
First Lord Candace Liao called the High Council Meeting to order at precisely 9am. "This High Council Meeting is in session. We have many items on the agenda, but I believe Khan West has asked to make a proposal. Khan West, you have the floor."
"Thank you First Lord, fellow High Council Members, Clan Nova Cat would like to assist the BSLA in both constructing HPG stations along the Federated Commonwealth borders and also Clan Nova Cat can help provide the mobile HPG units for the Relay Ships. We off this for several reasons, first, Clan Nova Cat needs to establish a civilian industrial base. Second, if Clan Nova Cat is to be expected to pay taxes in the future, we need to earn revenue that can be taxed. Clan Nova Cat would prefer this revenue be from both a civilian economy and not just from military equipment sales. Third, we have the ability to build HPG units. Clan Nova Cat can build the mobile HPG units for roughly 200 million C-Bills less than they are currently costing. Clan Nova Cat can transport these very mobile HPG units to Mitchell Aerospace and Shipyards on Mackolla much quicker than those units be built and transported from here on Terra.
This will allow the HPG Relay ships to enter service much quicker than they are currently and to start earning the Star League revenue from those ships. From studying the BSLA reports and cost estimates for constructing HPG stations, currently the BSLA is estimating a cost of 25 Billion C-Bills for a Class A station, 20 Billion for a Class B and 15 Billion for a Class C. Clan Nova Cat would like to assist in building some of these stations. Clan Nova Cat can build the Class A station for 20 Billion C-Bills, the Class B for 15 Billion C-Bills and the Class C for 10 Billion C-Bills each. As proof of our ability, I offer the Tortuga Dominions as proof, all worlds under Clan Nova Cat control have what the BSLA considers a Class A HPG station on each world already in operation.
This will allow Clan Nova Cat to begin an industry in a civilian sector. From which we can grow our civilian economy. Clan Nova Cat does not possess shipyards, so we cannot build Jumpships to offer for sale. Clan Nova Cat would prefer to not sell military hardware as it's only source of revenue. But the one thing we do have is the ability to construct HPG's. I stand ready to answer any questions." Khan West said
"That is a very ambitious starting point for Clan Nova Cat. I think we should postpone this until Director Mori is here to provide assistance to the High Council in making an informed decision." First Lord Liao stated
Khan West just nodded his head to the First Lord in response. When no one else brought up any further items, First Lord Liao moved on "The Star League Defense Force will now brief us on it's current status and budget requests for 3065."
Commanding General Alexander Cocus took the podium "First Lord, members of the High Council, I am honored to deliver this briefing to you today. The current SLDF consists of 47 Divisions and 3 RCT's. Also, the SLDF Navy currently has in it's Fleet the following ships:
Texas Battleships- 4 combat ready, 1 ex Jaguar in repair, 2 in construction
Cameron Battlecruisers- 3 combat ready, 2 in construction
Black Lion Battlecruisers- 3 combat ready
Dante Frigates- 16 combat ready, 5 in construction
Congress Frigates- 2 combat ready, 3 ex Jaguar in repair
Nimitz Carriers- 4 combat ready
Saratoga Carriers- 6 combat ready
York Carriers- 2 ex Jaguar needing repair
Aegis Cruisers- 3 combat ready
Sovetskii Soyuz Cruisers- 1 ex-Jaguar needing repairs
Victory Cruisers- 15 combat ready, 5 in construction
Halsey Destroyers- 20 combat ready
Suffren Destroyers- 10 combat ready, 4 in construction
Impravadio Destroyers- 6 combat ready
Lola III Destroyers- 5 combat ready, 1 ex Jaguar needing repairs
Essex Destroyers- 3 combat ready
Buford II Corvettes- 60 combat ready
Fox II Corvettes- 5 combat ready
Vincent Corvettes- 2 combat ready, 1 ex Jaguar needing repairs
Fredesa Corvettes- 1 ex Jaguar needing repairs
Potemkin Transports- 3 combat ready, 1 ex Jaguar needing repairs
Tarawa LF Transports- 20 combat ready, 10 in construction
Tarawa II Transports- 36 combat ready, 14 in construction
Volga Transports- 1 combat ready
Falsane Yardships- 5 combat ready
As everyone can see, the SLDF Navy has grown quite a lot in the last 2 years. As such, the SLDF is not budgeting for combat warships this year, instead, on advise we have received the SLDF is going to be budgeting for supply transports, Yardships, and establishing several Fleet bases around the Inner Sphere. This will also allow the SLDF Navy to catch up on crew training. The SLDF also recommends retiring, selling the oldest warships in our fleet to Member nations if approved. This will not only provide a monetary offset for new ships, but allow us to free up crews off retired ship to newer vessels and also streamline our ship Classes. The proposed list the SLDF Navy wishes to retire and allow the High Council to approve sale of are:
Aegis Cruisers- 14 Billion C-Bills each
Lola III Destroyers- 5 Billion C-Bills each
Essex Destroyers- 4 Billion C-Bills each
Vincent Corvettes- 4 Billion C-Bills each
Volga Transport- 8 Billion C-Bills each
The SLDF Navy is requesting funding for the following items:
40 Carrack Transports- 270 Billion C-Bills
6 Falsane Yardships- 60 Billion C-Bills
6 Fleet Support Bases- 450 Billion C-Bills
Total Requested for SLDF Navy- 780 Billion C-Bills
The SLDF Army, while in good shape overall, is not requesting funding for expansion but for replacement and modernization of it's equipment. The SLDF Army is also requesting finding for the establishment of 9 permanent Army bases to be distributed around the Member nations. As such, the SLDF requests the following funding:
Equipment replacement and modernization- 800 Billion C-Bills
Permanent Army Bases- 600 Billion C-Bills
Ongoing expenses, payroll, maintenance, training- 600 Billion C-Bills
Total requested for SLDF Army- 2 Trillion C-Bills
We feel this will meet the SLDF needs for the fiscal year 3065 while allowing the SLDF to restructure itself and overcome various growing pains for lack of a better term." Commanding General Cocus ended
"Thank you General Cocus, does anyone have any questions or comments?" First Lord Liao asked
Coordinator Kurita spoke up "General Cocus, what is the delay on repairing the captured warships?"
"Coordinator Kurita, the delay is that the SLDF Navy currently does not have the ability to repair certain captured warships, either for technical reasons or lack of yard space. Some, the SLDF Navy currently does not want them at all." General Cocus said
"Well, if the SLDF doe not want them, there is one Member here who does have the ability to handle the technical repairs. If they so desire to take those vessels on that is." Coordinator Kurita said
All eyes turned to look at Khan West of Clan Nova Cat, he finally decided to speak up "While Clan Nova Cat has the ability to repair the captured vessel's, Clan Nova Cat lacks the monetary resources to purchase the ships in question."
"The Draconis Combine offers to provide the needed financial aid for Clan Nova Cat to purchase the ships in question in recognition of their service liberating Combine worlds. If the High Council votes to allow the sale of the ships in question that is." Coordinator Kurita said giving Khan West a slight nod of his head
"While that is a honorable thing Coordinator Kurita, Clan Nova Cat does not possess the needed shipyards to undergo extensive repairs of that sort. Clan Nova Cat has 2 Yardships that are hard pressed to maintain our current fleet. Both military and merchant." Khan West declared
This time Mitchell Avellar spoke up "Now that Clan Nova Cat is a full member of the Star League, it is only right that they should also have the same ability to ship construction as all other members have been given."
The moment Mitchell Avellar quit speaking it was obvious that several Members did not like the idea of Clan Nova Cat having unrestricted ship building ability. Even Prince Davion cringed just a bit, not much but a bit. Khan West picked up on this fact right away and moved to head off the coming protests.
"If it pleases the High Council, Clan Nova Cat, will agree to locate their shipyards in the Federated Commonwealth world of Mackolla where our construction can be monitored by another Member state. Clan Nova Cat understands that many are hesitant to allow us unrestricted construction at this time. We are also open to any location Prince Davion would allow Clan Nova Cat to establish a shipyard complex." Khan West said
Clan Nova Cat shipyard located in the same system as Mitchell Aerospace and their resident lunatic, combined with Scott and his care free, hell yes just build it attitude. That is a recipe for disaster. Victor thought to himself, but how am I going to get myself out of this without pissing off Khan West. "The Federated Commonwealth will agree to this providing Clan Nova Cat agrees to NOT build additional warships without the express permission of the High Council for 10 years. Standard Jumpship and all Dropship construction will be unrestricted."
"Clan Nova Cat agrees to this Prince Davion. I am sure it will be at least 10 years before Clan Nova Cat will have the ability to properly support any larger warship fleet." Khan West promised
"Then the Federated Commonwealth agrees to act as a monitor of Clan Nova Cat's shipbuilding based in the Mackolla system and will provide the needed equipment and facilities for this to happen" Victor said
"Are you out of your mind Prince Davion? I cannot even believe your agreeing to this. First Coordinator Kurita wants to pay for even MORE warships for Clan Nova Cat and now your providing shipyards to Clan Nova Cat, who if no one has noticed has massively increased the size of their military in less than a year. Not only do they sit on your border but mine also." Grover Shraplen said in a louder voice than he intended
"Has Clan Nova Cat threatened your nation in any way Shraplen? This is a serious question, has Clan Nova Cat threatened your nation in any way? Because they have not in any way threatened mine." Victor said
"Well no, but that large of a military for such a small nation is crazy. Sooner or later they are going to want to use it." Grover Shraplen countered
Okay, you want to play with the big boys Grover? Well, let's see how you take this Victor thought before speaking "And how do you feel about a large military in the hands of a non state? Because I know for a fact the Word of Blake has at least 8 Divisions inside your nation at this very moment along with warships. You don't hear me yelling about it, even though the Federated Commonwealth has suffered several attacks by this very military force INSIDE your nation. So let me put this thought in that head of yours, sooner or later the Word of Blake is going to want to use those toys of theirs, and when they do, it will quite possibly mean your nation will pay a very heavy price for their actions when they do." Victor said
This statement shook Grover Shraplen to his very core. He had stood behind Jeffery Calderon's father for many years as they prepared for the invasion from the Federated Suns that never came. Yet, just now, the First Prince of the Federated Suns had just all but told him that he was coming for him.
Khan West decided to try and defuse the situation "Mr. Shraplen, Clan Nova Cat promises your nation will come to no harm from Clan Nova Cat unless hostile action is taken by your nation or parties based in your nation against Clan Nova Cat. We want nothing but peace. We want to rebuild what we have lost moving to the Inner Sphere."
Grover Shraplen did not even respond, for his attention was on the very devil himself, Prince Davion sitting across from him. After a few minutes, he just nodded his head, but his mind was on the devil.
For 6 hours the pro's and con's of the SLDF proposal and the Clan Nova Cat issues were debated. Finally First Lord Liao called for the High Council Meeting to end for the day. "Let us pick this up tomorrow, it is getting late. The High Council Meeting will reconvene tomorrow at 9am sharp."
