Into October my thanks to James Tanaga for the continued development into the remains of Clan Fire Mandrill
Sphinx Raptor Pyramid, Clan Enclave
All Dawn, Rim Collection
Periphery
1st October, 3101
Khan Aemelia Showers walked through the small step pyramid that served as the Sphinx Raptor’s primary base on All Dawn, escorted by a full point of Sphinx Raptor Elementals in their legacy Corona battle armor. The barren corridors of the pyramid served to remind her how small the Raptors were compared to her own Mandrills. The pyramid, gifted to the Raptors by her Clan, could house upwards to five hundred thousand civilians of all Castes, yet here, she had not seen any of the Raptors own. Not one. And that worried her. The Raptors held the worlds of Ceram and Harlez which Aemelia knew they had constructed factories and training bases there but surely not all their civilians had been left on those backwaters too?
What was a Clan’s worth without its lower castes? That was a question she often asked the many Warrior sibkos within her Clan, and even the Raptors own since their arrival into the Collection, to highlight the importance of the lower castes were to them, often before sending the munchkins to spend the day helping the lower castes. It was a common assignment within her Clan that served to connect the Warrior Caste with the lower castes. It was that connection to its lower castes that served to unite the Mandrills with the Rim Collection, she reflected.
It no longer was Clan, was her answer to the munchkins. Without the lower castes, the Warrior Caste would be nothing but a shadow of what a Clan was supposed to be. And as she followed the lead Warrior, it confirmed this belief to her.
A sudden stab of pain in her chest forced her to stumble. Leaning against the wall, she cursed her own weak heart. Yet there was nothing she could do about it now. “I am alright,” she mumbled loudly as she pushed herself from the wall, her chest still burnt with stabbing pain.
She would persevere, as she always did. Or die. It was the way of the Clans, she knew. The Sphinx Raptors around her began escorting her once again, as the Jaguar within was humiliated by her show of weakness, yet the Mandrill was proud she had continued with her mission.
Soon, they made it to the comm room and she was let in. She was sweating now and her left arm began to tingle. Perhaps it was her time to go, she reflected. Not yet, she decided not a moment later, for the faces and holoimages of Sphinx Raptor Warriors looking at her in concern reminded she was here on a mission. To keep the Raptors within the Collection was her mission, and she would complete it, even if her damn body dropped dead right after.
She brought herself up, her now-aching back straight, her chest now painfully reminding the aging Warrior her time was near. She ignored it, determined to show the pride she had as a Warrior.
“You honor this old monkey with your presence, Warriors of Clan Sphinx Raptor,” she iterated.
“We honor a Warrior who stood side by side with us even when she not needed to,” answered one, a Star Colonel wearing the badge of the Second Raptor Calvary. Star Colonel Jonathan Banacek, one of Dante’s closest followers, she idly noted. “The very same who saved us when she did not need to,” the man reminded the others.
“Yet a monkey all the same,” rebutted another, a female this time. Aemelia flicked her eyes to study the other woman. Galaxy Commander Laura Truscott of the Raptor’s Kappa CCT, she decided after seeing a badge belonging to the Kappa CCT along with the woman’s rank.
Aemelia saw the battle lines now. Banacek would likely support staying within the Collection as a Mandrill, yet held only a minor bloodname, as far as the Raptors were concerned. Laura held the right bloodname and her rebuke likely meant she would instead support for fleeing the Collection, as per the Raptor’s right. Aemelia knew she would need to find a supporter with the Truscott name to succeed her mission.
Laura Truscott confirmed this belief a second later, as she theatrically raised her hand towards Aemelia. “We may hold a debt to her. Yet that debt does not mean our Clan should lay down and die like the other Clans would demand us of. ”
Aemelia’s eyes darted through the crowd as many of the Raptors bloodnamed Warriors supported the Galaxy Commander. A sharp pain stabbed her heart, causing her to nearly black out, as she grabbed her chest. Damn body, she once again cursed. She forced herself to return to the matter at hand.
“We run, we survive. We fight, we die,” the other woman continued on.
“Yet our Clan brought this upon ourselves, Galaxy Commander,” Jonathan Banacek reminded everyone sharply. Aemelia inhaled, forcing air into her now-aching lungs. “We brought the dezgra Society to the doorstep of the Inner Sphere. They caused thousands of deaths and brought us to war twice with the Lyrans.”
“The Society did so, not us!” the other Sphinx Raptor exclaimed with anger.
“Yet it was us that brought the Society cell into the Inner Sphere, jeopardizing not only ourselves, but our allies as well,” another male voice reminded the angry Galaxy Commander. Star Commodore Eric Truscott, commander of the Raptor’s sole warship, the Elysium, she noted, licking her now-suddenly dry lips. “Perhaps even all of the Inner Sphere.”
She was lightheaded and began to weave. Aemelia did notice nearly as many Warriors seemed to agree with the Star Commodore though, which was good. He continued. “By Clan Law, that is more than enough for a Trial of Absorption to be declared.”
Laura snorted. “By Clan Law, we should have been absorbed countless times over, Star Commodore,” she commented dryly. “And yet here we stand.”
“And yet here we stand,” rebuked the Star Commodore.
“And yet here we stand,” Aemelia rejoined, turning all eyes to the now sweating Mandrill. “We stand together or not at all. The other Clans will declare Clan Fire Mandrill dezgra and yours to be Annihilated when my Clan and the Collection allow yours to depart in peace,” she retorted to the crowd of Raptors as she begun to see stars.
“You and your Clan would allow us to depart in peace,” Laura Truscott asked, in shock.
Battling through the now-crippling pain in her chest and numb arm, she nodded. “My Clan and the Collection swore an oath to yours upon your arrival into the Collection. And I stand by that oath, until my dying breath,” she answered.
She saw many studying her more closely. “As you stand right now, quiaff,” asked Jonathan Banacek after a moment. She knew he was implying she was on death’s door. She nodded to him
“Aff,” she wheezed back. “Until my dying breath,” she wheezed again. “Here I stand,” she forced herself from wheezing as she sent a challenging glare to the assembled Warriors, forcing her body to give in to her will. “Here I stand,” she again rejoined, now feeding on the tired determination and the resolution of the Fire Mandrill within her as never before, “Until my dying breath. I swore the same oath to the Collection as all of you. My Clan swore the same oath as yours. A sacred oath to defend the Collection and each other and I stand by that oath even now, when it would be far easier to do as the other Clans demand and Annihilate you. To my dying breath, I stand loyal to my oath,” she spat out before coughing out blood.
As the other Warriors looked upon one another or kept their gaze on her, she felt her body give out. Landing on the floor, she forced herself up on her knees and looked through the eyes of the Warriors around her. Many showed concern, yet many others looked upon her stoically. As proper Warriors watching the noble death of one of their own, she realized belatedly.
It was then the pride and ferocity of the Smoke Jaguar within her finally pass away. The tired, determined Mandrill within gave a sharp victorious howl before it too left her. Aemelia followed soon thereafter, her body hitting the floor.
No one spoke for minutes after ward, too shock and in awe of the dead Warrior. It was Jonathan Banacek who recovered first.
“To this day and to the last, to my dying breath, I stand ready to protect the Collection from all threats, here I stand,” he vowed, all the while staring down Galaxy Commander Laura Truscott.
One by one, he was joined by other Warriors, who recited his vow. Soon, Star Colonel Justine Truscott, one of Laura’s most ardent supporters took the vow. “To this day and to the last, to my dying breath, I stand ready to protect the Collection from all threats, here I stand,” she reverently recited.
Laura’s eyes darted to her remaining supporters as they too began to recite the now sacred vow Jonathan Banacek had begun. “I refuse to be a damn vermin Monkey!” she screamed at Banacek.
“Then die,” he calmly answered back, his voice steel. “Point Commander Cho, get this dezgra out of here and held until I can properly dispose of her in a Trial of Grievance.”
“You will be the one to die, vermin!” she screamed at him as two of the Corona-suited Elementals began making their way to her.
“Perhaps, Galaxy Commander. Yet you will die eventually. We all do, as Khan Showers’ death just now reminds us,” Star Commodore Eric Truscott answered, waving a hand to the Monkey Khan’s corpse.
“Seyla,” Justine Truscott gave her support. All around them, their fellow Warriors nodded or replied similarly.
Seeing no support remaining in her fellow Warriors, all fight left the Sphinx Raptor Warrior, and she allowed herself to be dragged from the room.
A moment of silence intruded into room following Laura Truscott’s eviction, as the Warriors within took stock of the abrupt change they had just endured. Walking to Aemelia’s body, Jonathan Banacek knelt down, brushing the dead woman’s grey hair with a hand. “Loyal to her oath, she stood defiant to her death. And gave us our sacred charge,” he spoke reverently as he looked upon her body.
“Seyla,” spoke first one, then another, of his fellow Warriors around him, until finally only he remained.
“Seyla,” he whispered reverently, as he begun to pick up the old Warriors body.
Cassandra, Clan Enclave
All Dawn, Rim Collection
Periphery
6th October, 3101
Jonathan Banacek stood with his arms cross as the HPG was activated. Khan Natasha Faraday sat in a chair slightly in front of him. Soon, the holoimage of the Loremaster of the Clans Zane Carns appeared. Jonathan felt the glare the older man gave him and Natasha; one he returned with full strength.
“Who are you and where is Khan Showers?” he demanded Zane Carns was not a young man but both of them could see the fire of youth still burned inside him.
“Killed in honorable combat during the Trial of Absorption against Clan Sphinx Raptor, Loremaster,” his new Khan reported succinctly. Jonathan would have rolled his eyes if not for the importance of the cover story. “Following her death, I was selected as the new Khan of Clan Fire Mandrill. I am Khan Natasha Faraday. You and the Grand Council will be dealing with me and saKhan Jonathan Banacek until we die or are replaced by others more capable of the position.”
“Banacek. That is a dezgra Serpent Bloodname. Your Clan was to deal with them,” he commented as he studied them Zane’s inference was that the Mandrills should have annihilated the remaining Serpent presence to ensure no Society elements remained.
“Khan Showers changed the order to a Trial of Absorption, Loremaster and took full responsibility for her actions,” Natasha informed the Nova Cat Warrior. “We will carry out the order when the Great Clans do so as well,” she answered the unasked question.
“It would seem a bit hypocritical of your Clan to annihilate your former Serpent Warriors, when they themselves did not,” he acknowledged. “Admirable. Still, you make no friends and strengthen your enemies with this change to the Council’s demands, Khan. The Falcons, Horse, and Wolves in particular will want your blood even more.”
“Good thing they have to make it past either the Lyrans or the Spirits to get to us, quiaff,” Jonathan baited the man.
“I doubt the Spirits are that much of a threat, saKhan,” the Nova Cat dismissed the Spirits. “Still, your remark, though baited, is valid concerning the Lyrans. Are you sure you want to do this, quiaff,” he asked a moment later, gazing intently to Natasha.
Natasha turned to Jonathan and both met each other’s gaze before turning to meet Zane Carns’ own.
“Aff, Loremaster. It is. Here we stand,” was her simple answer, paying homage to the deceased Aemelia Showers.
The older man sighed “very well.” He said pausing for a moment looking at the Mandrill leader “Khan Faraday understand this you were not abjured by the Clans of this Council however you were part of a system that caused us to take the act to form our own Council abandoning our Homeworlds” he said even though the Nova Cats had been one of the first Clans to fully abandon the Homeworlds it seemed that Zane still had desires on the worlds that had birthed the Clans. “I will not stop you attending future Grand Councils however ensure you have very valid reasons for being there. Otherwise I believe it would be best for your Clan that you keep your attendance to a minimum and your heads low” he advised it riled Natasha Faraday that the Loremaster thought he could talk to her like that.
“We are Clan…” Jonathon Banacek began before being silenced by the deadly gaze of the Loremaster.
“Aff you show the honour of the Clans but not…” he paused for a moment finding the right word “not the self reliance.”
“Could you be more precise Loremaster, Quiaff?” Natasha Faraday said questioning his words her Clan, yes her Clan, she thought poudly were more than self reliant.
“Your relationship with the Rim Collection will be honoured by some but questioned by others. You will find allies among the Clans but also enemies both of which will see your standing in the Collection in different ways.” He explained the conservative Wardens would see the Mandrills working with the Rim Collection as forfillment of prophecy of the Clans working with the Inner Sphere to bring fourth a new Golden Age. The aggressive Crusader would see the Mandrills are holding onto the periphery state to survive despite their successes against the Lyran Commonwealth.
“As it has always been” Natasha replied the Council was never a friendly environment “the other Clans will soon learn that… the Rim Kindraa makes my Clan stronger.” She said using an old term which the other Clans would understand well.
“You must have the blood of Cassandra Faraday running though your veins Quiaff? It is a term that she would have used.” Zane Carns said laughing in reply.
“She was my sibko’s gene-mother” Nathasha Faraday confirmed.
“She serves you well” Zane said finally terminating the link between them.
Jonathon’s gaze soon returned to his Khan’s and saw her own looking upon him. “So depite our sacrifices we remain the pariah of the Clans alongside the Mountain Wolves, though marginally in a better position then they since we can attend the Grand Council meetings, though it would be much safer if we keep it to a minimum.” He said mocking the Loremaster’s words “better that then being as pariah as the Spirits, quineg,” he joked with his new Khan.
“I doubt the other Clans will ever consider the Spirits a Clan again after the orbital bombardment to your former Clan on York,” she answered him outing that matter to rest. “Watch your tongue in the future” she said referring to his interruption of the Loremaster “less I personally cut it out of your skull,” she threatened him. “Our Clan is much too open to our enemies in the Grand Council for you or any other Warrior to be lobbing insults like that around and putting targets on our backs. Kerensky knows we have a large enough one already,” she grumbled before getting up and leaving him alone in the room.
Planning Hall, Marik Palace
Marik, United Marik Worlds
9th October 3101
“Sire, you cannot be serious” Governess Anita Coleman of the Public Spending Commission said looking at the plans that Captain-General Joseph Marik had proposed.
“You do not think that a good defence is what we need?” He asked part of his plan was to fortify nearly a dozen United Marik Worlds with fortifications similar to that of a Castle Brian which had been employed by the Star League Defence Force during the original Star League-era.
“It is not that” she said carefully “the expense of these fortifications to build and to run we could build so much more Mechs, vehicles, fighters and personal weapons."
“Conventional defences are not enough to bottleneck our enemies not will they protect our citizens from naval or nuclear bombardment should the old ways return.” Joseph stressed he was concerned that the Capellans or Lyrans would resort to such tactics in the future.
“The Star League won’t allow it” she said Anita Coleman was a strong believer in the reborn league.
“I do not believe they would support such actions either but the Star League Defence Force cannot be everywhere at once and words do not stop naval autocannon fire.” He said defiantly
“Then there is the second part” she said even more carefully “what you propose just is not possible” she as defiant as he was being.
“Really?”
“Washburn already has a capital city in New Chicago. We would be best to focus on words that are in need of greater infrastructure or improving the cities that need it.”
“New Chicago is a joke” Joseph snapped “for decades the leaders of that planet have run it down and filled their pockets with the money while unemployment and crime has spiraled out of control. No more” he revealed “as of this morning I am making Washburn the personal property of the Marik family. An act that will be rectified by parliament this afternoon your structural engineers can move in anytime they wish I want local workers to provide manpower for the project.” He said his plan was to build an entirely new capital city nearly forty kilometres from New Chicago. The city would be based on Salt Lake City on old Terra and be a new capital to the planet and to his faith in the Free Worlds League.
“But Washburn is right on the Wolf border we could invest in the world and then lose it!”
“Which is why we will be fortifying Washburn as part of our other project” Joseph pointed out “we will also be purchasing dozens of Oriente Orbital Guns as part of the military budget for future system defence.”
“You will break our budget for the next one hundred years with these plans” she warned.
“Negative we will implement these changes over the span of years I do not expect you to complete these changes this year or in five years." He said throwing out a number "we will move forward within our own means.” He promised her.
“There will be opposition to your plans.”
“And I will refute them.” Joseph promised again these were the first changes he would make in his rule as Captain-General but they would not be his last. Soon he would leave for Terra and the Star League Conference and there he would show that his nation without Stewart family influences would be a positive influence on the Star League.
AFFS Reinforcements
Broden, Andurien Commonality
Capellan Confederation
10th October 3101
Following the defection of a civilian trade JumpShip in Jacson system detailing the destruction that was being wrought on Broden by the Capellan Confederation’s Armed Forces in an effort to destroy the First Kathil Uhlans an AFFS ground force supported by the FSS Jackson Davion, an Avalon Block II-class Cruiser, and the Foundation Industries owned WarShip Vidar, a Riga-class Frigate, from Sirdar enters the system. From the orbit of the planet Capellan Pocket WarShips attempt to engage the incoming AFFS units with nuclear tipped capital missiles however these are stopped by the anti-missile systems deployed by the Federated Suns Naval WarShip and escorting DropShips. The AFFS and mercenary units smash through the Capellan blockade and force their way to the planet.
On short notice the AFFS had only been able deploy the Tenth and Eleventh Syrtis Fusiliers LCTs to the planet supporting them were the New Hessen Armoured Scouts Regiement off of Sirdar. Fortunately the Kathil Uhlans had already secured much of the planet and there was little resistance to the newly arriving forces the New Hessen Armoured Scouts provide the majority of the firepower for the assault as the reinforcement’s steamroll over the defenders freeing the Uhlans. With all Capellan Confederation forces in the system eliminated by the Federated Suns are left in control of the planet as the people had suffered with his unit and helped many Uhlans survive the Capellan bombardment Colonel Richard Steiner pushes for AFFS aid to be deployed to the system to assist the population as winter begins to hit the northern hemisphere. Over the coming weeks additional Federated Suns and Star League aid arrives on the planet to assist the population.
Trials of Possession
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
25th October 3101
In an effort to take Clan Jade Falcon’s attention off of Donegal and Tharkad and onto their own defence Clan Mountain Wolf launch four Trials of Possession against Zandera, Esteros, A Place and Morges. In the Morges system they deploy their entire Alpha Galaxy and Clan flagship Werewolf, a McKenna-class Battleship, all commanded by Khan Even Kell himself.
In the system they found the Silver Talon, a Nightlord II-class Battleship, and three clusters of Jade Falcon troops. While Alpha Galaxy is able to reach the planet the Werewolf and Silver Talon engage at extreme ranges. Over the course of eight days the Mountain Wolves secure the planet and the Werewolf cripples the Silver Talon but not at great cost the Werewolf is heavily damaged and the Second Wolf Legion Cluster is completely destroyed. The Jade Falcon ground forces accept Hegira and withdraw from the system pulling back into the Jade Falcon occupation zone with the crew of the Silver Talon abandoning the crippled hulk.
Unfortunately in the other systems that the Mountain Wolves had struck were able to resist the Wolf assault holding position costing the Wolves another two clusters of ground forces in failed assaults.
