Nice turn of events, I like your idea of use of Kyushu-class Frigate's ability to carry all those Mechs. Using LAMs is great idea, wish it were canon feasible. Given there only one Kyushu-class left....nevermind extinct LAMs...
I have 5 active Kyushu O0 Unfortunately the Draconis Combine has pretty much thrown ever LAM it has in active service, and every one it has been able to buy from LexaTech and Gilmour MilTech to form this unit. With the losses taken in this Battle the First Yokosuma SNLF are about 60% so they won't be much use for a small while, and since the First Yokosuma needs rebuilt a second will be further delayed. But the concept is there.
The end of 3090 - attached I have the most up to date WarShip list for the end of 3090. If anyone would like an up to date map for the end of 3090 it is also available just send me a PM.
SLDF/Nova Cat Joint assault
Davetal III, Taurian Concordat
1st December 3090 The Davetal system was a rare one in human occupied space with two habitable worlds orbiting a single star. The binary planets of the system Davetal II and Davetal III were smaller than most habitable worlds but both were completely habitable and orbited a common barycentre. Both planets orbited around each other over approximately a month and were separated by around one million kilometres.
Clan Nova Cat's Bug Eye-class Surveillance Craft Storm had jumped into the outer edge of the system beyond the planet's two gas giants and its asteroid belt. Burning slowly in system the craft had found that most traffic moved around the two planets and between the two main jump points above and below the system's star, none of this was unusual however the common orbit Davetal II and Davetal III did open some interesting challenges and opportunities. Identifying three “pirate” points in the system the Storm transmitted its findings to the main assault force.
Two days after the Storm had entered the system the FSS Alexander Davion and the SLS Mopelia Island led the first group of JumpShips in at one of the pirate points not far from Davetal IV while the Nova Cat vessels Path of Honour and Principle, two Aegis-class Heavy Cruisers, emerged from another pirate point escorting Upsilon Galaxy on board several Nova Cat JumpShips near Davetal I. Neither the FSS Alexander Davion or SLS Mopelia Island faced serious opposition at their entry point, the Nova Cat vessels were not so lucky. Jumping in the Nova Cat's Path of Honour along with its four attached DropShips and their cargo the Second Nova Cat Titans Cluster became the Nova Cat's first casualties as the Heavy Cruiser struck a nuclear armed space mine that had been missed by the Storm. Immediately attacked by aerospace fighters from a hidden base on Davetal I the 274th Battle Cluster became the Nova Cat's next casualties as their DropShips were cut apart before they could leave their JumpShips.
Angered by these losses the Principle avenged its fallen sister ship firstly by wiping out the Taurian aerospace assets with its massed Naval Autocannons and then by bombarding Davetal I until no life signs were detected at the aerospace fighter's launch site. Fortunately Davetal I was too small and too warm to host a native civilian population limiting the casualties to military ones. However the Principle's assault showed exactly what the Inner Sphere had feared ever since the return of the WarShip fleets. In some ways the Smoke Jaguar attack on the world of Turtle Bay, with the complete destruction of the City of Edo, had shown the Inner Sphere what none of them wished more worlds turned to cinder like those that had fallen during the First and Second Succession Wars.
Witnessing these attacks from long range the FSS Alexander Davion and SLS Mopelia Island moved within range of Davetal II and Davetal III the binary planets were at the mercy of the invaders lacking any sort of Capital ship. Arriving first SLDF instantly gained aerospace superiority over both worlds. On the 8th December 3090 the Principle escorting the remains of the Nova Cat Upsilon Galaxy and saKhan Michael Drummond's own command cluster arrived at Davetal III. “Hail them” First Lord Victor Steiner-Davion ordered from the command bridge of the FSS Alexander Davion. “This is First Lord Victor Steiner-Davion to Nova Cat force, I request you follow the agreed plan of attack?” He said after seeing the destruction of the Path of Honour and the Nova Cat response against Davetal I's rocky surface he was unsure exactly what the Clansmen had planned.
“These dezgra used nuclear weapons against us!” The voice replied “I saKhan Michael Drummond vow that these Taurians will pay with their blood, there will be no batchall.”
“Neg, there will not be” Victor replied agreeing they would not cut down their forces against the Taurian's rogue unit, no honourable battle. “However, I will not allow you to use capital weapons against the population of this system they are not all to blame for these problems, Quiaff?” He pointed out using the Clan interrogative to make sure the Clan saKhan knew he wanted an answer there were several moments of silence before the Nova Cat answer came through.
“Aff” the Nova Cat admitted after a few moments “we will follow the plan.” saKhan Michael Drummond replied “we have detected Taurian military transmissions on both planets. I suggest that your forces land on Davetal II and we shall take Davetal III?”
“Agreed” Victor said “with one modification I request that the Principle provide naval protection and aerospace fighter support for my forces this is a joint operation and I think we would benefit from the Principle's experience should we need naval support. The SLS Mopelia Island will be made available to Clan Nova Cat's assault forces while the Alexander Davion will provide support for both forces should it be needed.” He suggested the last thing he wanted to see was the Nova Cat's Principle engaging ground targets again, he knew the Mopelia Island and Alexander Davion would only fire on a planet after being given a direct order, the Nova Cat Heavy Cruiser was an unknown.
“I agree to your request First Prince Davion” Michael Drummond replied using Victor's Federated Suns title instead of his SLDF position clearly showing that he respected Victor for the relationship that the Nova Cats and Federated Suns shared not because of the Star League Defence Force.
Soon after SLDF and Nova Cat forces were descending on their allocated targets as they did the defenders moved to oppose them. The SLDF landed together in one solid mass the First Royal Black Watch BattleMech Regiment fronting three full Armour Regiments and an entire Battle Armour Regiment. Leading from the front piloting his Dire Wolf OmniMech, Prometheus, First Lord Victor Steiner-Davion led the attack on the two Battalions of BattleMechs supported by several conventional vehicle and infantry units. Within the Taurian Concordat forces the SLDF troops fought against several companies worth of Hipparch Cavalry Tanks and Ignis Infantry Tanks not seen in combat since the fall of the Rim Worlds Republic. These units designed to hunt down conventional infantry forces struggle to fight off the First Royal Black Watch's exclusively equipped Battle Armour Troopers. The Mech force was something completely different however instead of periphery relics each of the two Battalions of BattleMechs were of a Clan design painted in one of the Clan's favoured camouflage. Because of the frequency and firepower of the Clan designs the First Royal Black Watch, and its purely Inner Sphere technology base, took heavy attacks overcoming the Taurians as they fell back deeper and deeper within a fortified encampment.
Unfortunately for the Taurians several things counted against them, firstly the SLDF outnumbered them in BattleMechs two-to-one, they had five or six times as many armoured vehicles and complete aerospace superiority. With the Principle hanging overhead the Taurians had nowhere to run instead of surrendering the periphery troops fought to the last taking many of the Black Watch with them but in the end they had no real chance.
On Davetal III the battle was just as tough the Veteran Nova Cat troopers led by their Clan's saKhan had followed a different approach than that of the SLDF. While the SLDF hit like a sledgehammer the Nova Cats broke into their individual Clusters striking at the Taurian troops at the helm of his Blood Asp OmniMech Star Colonel Grayson once again headed the 450th Assault Cluster. Although his unit was part of the Nova Cat's Alpha Galaxy the Khan had sent them along with Upsilon Galaxy to give Grayson a command for this battle Michael Drummond had given them a support role in the battle. Grayson knew that the Nova Cat saKhan not only did not like freeborn warriors but he did not like the fact that Grayson had been the one to uncover the truth about the attack on the First ComGuard Regimental Brigade. On New Aega Michael Drummond had his own “playground” where he could send and lead Nova Cats into battle against the SLDF troops present he had intentionally kept them bottled up within the trading post on that world to give the Nova Cats live fire targets. Grayson had also been informed by his father, via a Watch Operative imbedded in Upsilon Galaxy, that Michael Drummond had intentionally allowed Nova Cat ammunition and supplies to be captured by the SLDF troops on New Aega allowing them to continue to fight. The Watch Operative did not have information for Grayson on why Khan Canin Rosse had allowed the fighting to go on as long as he had but he guessed his father must have had a valid reason.
Now on New Aega he could ignore the politics and forget the words spoken during negotiations with the Federated Suns now piloting his Blood Asp he could see the enemy he was against. He could engage and destroy him and end the threat instead of dancing around the answers. Moving over the rocky terrain of Davetal III Grayson searched for Omega Six targets ever since they had landed the Nova Cats had pushed the Taurian defenders. So far both sides had taken a lot of damage but the Nova Cats were winning the battle through the air a Deimos Assault OmniMech flew through the air landing near his Blood Asp. Grayson knew of only one of the eighty-five ton OmniMechs that were not possessed by Clan Snow Raven, glancing at his communication system he noticed the waiting call “Star Captain, welcome to the battle.” He said activating the system.
“Star Colonel” Katrine Nova Cat said greeted him in return “is there a reason we, as the strongest unit assigned to this attack, are assigned to this position of the battle?”
“Aff, the saKhan has decided that this is where we should be.” Grayson said the 450th Assault Cluster had been tasked by the saKhan moving along behind the Nova Cat lines. So far they had struck at several of the trailing Omega Six units but they had missed out on some of the heaviest, most honourable fighting.
“We should be at the front” Katrine said angrily “our Cluster should have been the first to engage.”
“There was no batchall” Grayson pointed out keeping his frustration under check he felt the same as her but wouldn't show it “the saKhan made this bid, he makes the decision on when we attack.”
“Surely you can smell them Star Colonel, we should be allowed to strike at them.”
“We will soon enough Katrine, let us take the high ground and prepare, the time will soon be here.” He said launching his Blood Asp into the air on its jump jets, moments later Katrine's Deimos followed him onto the higher level. Immediately they detected several Clan Mechs none painted in Nova Cat camouflage. “It looks like you have gotten your wish. 450th Assault Cluster, break in attack.” He ordered turning his Blood Asp's torso towards an enemy Mad Cat II BattleMech immediately opening fire with both the Blood Asp's torso mounted extended-range particle cannons. One struck the Mad Cat II's torso staggering the Mech back slightly the other shot missed the assault Mech. The Mad Cat II's counter attack was a pair of Gauss Rifle shots back due to the range, and no doubt the pilot's lack of skill, both shots missed Grayson's Mech. The Nova Cat MechWarrior smiled knowing his force could not lose as he opened up on the Mad Cat with further particle cannon fire as he closed on the enemy Mech. Across the Taurian line the Mechs opposing the Nova Cats faced not only Grayson and Katrine but now the entire 450th Assault Cluster as the eager Nova Cats turned on their enemies. “Do not break Zellbrigen unless they do.” Grayson ordered seeing more Mechs raising to engage the Taurians Grayson noticed one of the enemy Mechs was down already. Another pair of Gauss Rifle shots flew passed Grayson's Blood Asp followed by a flight of LRMs that exploded all across the front of his Mech.
Glancing at the distance between the Mechs Grayson smiled as he triggered the Blood Asp's secondary torso weapons at the same time as the particle cannons. Exiting the torso weapon mounts along with the particle cannon fire was a pair of plasma cannons some when, Clan Star Adder had first developed the weapons configuration, had commented on the Blood Asp had “Plasma PPCs” when both weapons were in range at the same time. The Mad Cat II was hit by all four weapons at the same time as well as losing nearly two tons of armour the Mech had to deal with more heat build up than the assault Mech built-up on firing all its weapons. The MechWarrior fought his BattleMech all the way as it lost its balance and tumbled to the ground Grayson felt no sympathy as he triggered the Blood Asp's Streak Short Range Missile system and quad arm mounted Heavy Medium Lasers. The weapons fire tore into the downed assault Mech one of its shoulder mounted Long Range Missile Launchers exploded into a million to pieces adding to the MechWarrior's woes. In an act of surrender the Mad Cat II pilot stopped trying to raise their Mech to its feet instead pointing its arms towards the ground and shutting the Mech down. “Surrender accepted on the Mad Cat II, no-one shoot it.” Grayson ordered over a general frequency ensuring that both sides could hear it, at least the MechWarrior that had surrendered would know they would not be target of any further attacks. Moments later the Blood Asp staggered as a Heavy Large Laser struck the Mech's left side twisting the Mech at the torso Grayson sighted a twenty-five ton Solitaire the fast light Mech sped into sight looking like it carried its main weapon on its shoulder.
With his Blood Asp already running hot Grayson fired on the the light Mech with only the SRMs and one of the particle cannons adding in a plasma cannon in an attempt to slow the Mech. While the Solitaire moved too quickly for the PPC and plasma blasts the SRMs tracked the Mech exploding all over the light Mechs's. Because Grayson's weapons had missed a second Heavy Large Laser followed by two Heavy Medium Lasers ripping away another ton of armour from the OmniMech's leg as the Heavy Large Laser struck. One of the Heavy Medium Lasers burned over the Blood Asp's torso burning away more armour somewhere the laser found a weak spot punching through the Blood Asp's torso shattering one of the OmniMech's Double Heat Sinks.
As coolant fluid leaked to the ground Grayson twisted his Mech's torso tracking the lighter Mech blasting at the Solitaire with his Blood Asp's Heavy Medium Lasers. The silver beams burned over the Solitaire burning through the hip joint on the left leg severing the entire leg from the Mech's body. The light Mech traveling at over one hundred kilometres per hour completely lost its balance as the leg fell away from its twenty-five ton body. The Mech tumbled forwards slamming into the ground, the force of the impact and the speed the Mech was traveling at tore the Heavy Large Laser nestled on its shoulder completely off the Solitaire's body as the Mech flipped though the air. As it rolled the Mech's cockpit was crushed by the force of the impact killing the warrior ending the Mech's fight permanently. Twisting the Blood Asp's torso back in line Grayson saw that all the other Taurian Mechs in the area were down his communication system squeaked into life “Star Colonel, saKhan Drummond's Mech is down. He is calling for immediate back-up at the front-line.” One of his troopers reported the fact that Drummond was down but alive was only a good thing in Grayson's eyes.
“Then there is no time to waste” Grayson replied “450th move out.” He ordered the cluster eager for further combat didn't need told twice and quickly turned towards the thickest of the fighting. By the end of the day the Nova Cats had completely secured Davetal III and called in the Watch to begin an investigation into where the Taurians had gained so much Clan technology from. On Davetal II a similar investigation was beginning but this time by the Star League Intelligence Corps as the SLDF began its own investigations.
With the fighting over First Lord Victor Steiner-Davion informed the Nova Cats that he would be ready to turn the system over to Taurian authorities and escort the Nova Cats clear of Taurian space within two days, saKhan Michael Drummond however had other ideas, the Nova Cat saKhan informed the First Lord and Taurus, via HPG, that Davetal III had been won by Clan Nova Cat in combat and would be retained by Clan Nova Cat as one of its holdings. The Taurian Protector Erik Martens-Calderon already angry that the SLDF and Nova Cats had operated within the Taurian Protectorate behind his back informed saKhan Drummond that the Nova Cats would face the full force of the Taurian Concordat should they remain and his people would use every weapon at their disposal if needed. Drummond replied that should the Taurians be rash and deploy nuclear weapons against the Nova Cats again then Taurus would be forfeit and to back up this threat the WarShips Santin West, Clarkston and Tenacity all jumped into the system bringing with them the Nova Cat Rangers and Nova Cat Renegades Clusters of Kappa Provisional Galaxy and the Third Watch Cluster, the special operations unit of Clan Nova Cat's Watch Intelligence Operation, which had trained with the Federated Suns Rabid Fox units.
With the Nova Cats apparently there to stay the Taurian Protector requested a permanent SLDF presence in the system as well. Naming Davetal II as an SLDF holding Protector Erik Martens-Calderon demanded that the SLDF appropriately defend the world. Victor Steiner-Davion announced that the SLS Mopelia Island would be remaining in system while Nineteenth Cavalry Regiment and the Fourth Royal Pathfinders Battle Armour Battalion, both of the Eridani Light Horse Brigade, would be deployed to the world as a permanent garrison force. While the Taurian Protector promises to support the SLDF forces as much as he can and he warns saKhan Drummond that Nova Cat forces can expect regular raids by the Taurians and should they be able he will order his military to recapture the world.
First Ceti Hussars RCT Basecamp
Eridanus Continent, Achernar
Draconis March, Federated Suns
22nd December 3090 Leftenant Fredrick Davion, son of First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion and Duke of Marlette, stood nerviously at the door of his commander's office. This was his first unit position since leaving NAIS he'd spent nearly three months traveling to Achernar to meet with the First Ceti Hussars RCT. He would be the first member of the Davion family to serve with a Ceti Hussars Regiment. His twin sister Sarah Davion had chosen to join the Federated Suns government but he had chosen to follow his father into the AFFS. “Come in” Vice Admiral Elias Briggs, the commander of the Ceti Hussars, called out from inside the office. Fredrick stepped into the room unlike his father he was tall and had inherited the darker hair and skin-tone of his mother in his uniform he was the poster-boy of the AFFS, in fact if it were not for his name he may have been, his parents had both vetoed a High Command plan to use Fredrick for such a campaign. Elias Briggs was a man in his late forties and had only recently taken command of the RCT “welcome to Achernar” Briggs said standing up.
“Thank you sir”
“I hope your journey was not too hard?”
“Negative sir, Achernar isn't the easiest planet to get to but, I managed.” He said the main jump point to the planet was over one hundred days away while the pirate point Fredrick had used had still taken eleven days to reach. “An impressive sight above” he said quietly referring to the FSS Gold Lance, the RCT's Robinson Block III-class Transport, which had been permanently assigned to the unit.
“Yes indeed, the First Ceti Hussars have been lucky to gain the craft. However we have not been the only ones so lucky to gain gifts?” He said knowingly Fredrick had arrived with a very special BattleMech.
“I was one of six to gain the Mech sir, its an experimental Rifleman the RFL-X4, hopefully should the testing go to plan it will be the first of a new production class of Rifleman. I have a General Motors Tech to cover the additional maintenance costs and additional ammunition for the main guns.”
“Two Hyper Assault Gauss (HAG) Rifles” Elias Briggs said quietly “very exotic technology to be placed in the hands of a newly graduated MechWarrior, Leftenant.”
“I was one of the highest placed officers of my year” Fredrick protested.
“I am aware. I am also aware that you would not have received that Mech without your name.”
“I will differ in opinion with you, sir.” Fredrick said respectfully standing fully to attention.
“Very good, Leftenant, understand me son I respect your father and I respect your family.” Elias Briggs “I will respect you when you earn my trust. Until then you are a new recruit in a flashy, unproven BattleMech.”
“Yes, sir” Fredrick replied curtly as he promised himself that he would prove his new CO wrong.
“Good, you will get your new lance assignment tomorrow morning, we defend San Marino Spaceport and the Achernar BattleMechs plant as immediate concerns in this system. Luckily for us it takes so damned long to get to this planet most people don't bother.”
“I will familiarize myself with the planet sir.”
“A very good idea” he said extending his hand shaking Fredrick's “welcome to the First Ceti Hussars Leftenant” Elias Briggs said finally smiling.
“Thank you sir” Fredrick said he guessed that meant he had passed his new CO's welcoming test. Now all he had to was prove that he, and his new Mech, deserved a place within the unit.
Command Bunker, Castle Masters
Gibson, Principality of Gibson
Former Free Worlds League
29th December 3090 In the darkened Command Bunker deep within Castle Masters staff worked at various consoles but the room was dominated by a single figure. Standing over six foot tall the figure was dressed in a full red cloak and had what appeared to be a metal plate covering half of his bald skull. A figure dressed in all white approached the figure carefully. “Sire” the man said removing his glasses carefully “I regret to inform you that our Master has succumb to the illness that struck him down.” He said looking more at his removed glasses than the figure dressed in red.
“Did he say anything before he passed?” The figure asked in a deep voice.
“He spoke the same words he has for the last three days Lord Apollyon. He spoke of the need for a Third Transfer and an end to the corruption at the heart of everything.”
“A Third Transfer?” Apollyon asked quietly knowing what it was but wondering if the Doctor knew.
“Yes” the doctor said nervously “the first being the original Star League Defence Force's rise to power with the backing of the Terran Hegemony only to be broken by the corruption of those who wished to see it fail. The second has been the steady rise of the Second Star League Defence Force which has failed spectacularly to protect the people of the Inner Sphere. The Clans still exist, the Succession States fight their petty wars of aggression and the Star League does nothing. A Third Transfer would protect not only Terra but all of humanity. That is what our Master spoke of.”
“Well spoken Doctor. We are the Manei Domini, We are the Hands of Our Master, We are the will of the Blessed Blake. We will be the saviours of all humanity. But first some blood will have to be spilled, can you live with that Doctor?”
“Someone always dies, our Master died, it is a part of nature.” The doctor replied
“Good, we agree” he said turning to one of the staff within the bunker “send word to the Manei Atrocis they are to begin operations on receipt of this order.” He ordered turning to another “send word to the Thirteen and to Obeedah and Taussen, inform them that we will need them all, and that the time for the Third Transfer begins now.” He said turning away marching from the room “Our Master's and the Blessed Blake's Will! Will be done, we will have vengeance for the Word of Blake!”
Hope you enjoy
