The Federated Sun's Reborn Part TWO

[drakensis]

This isnt a peace treaty. This is a cease fire for twenty years.

Better a cease fire for twenty years than a cease fire for five years.

This is Battletech. The idea that another war can be averted is a pipe-dream. Pushing it down the road as far as you can and putting yourself in the best possible position to survive it, is the only realistic option.

[thtadthtshldntb]

Realistically, the only way for the Combine to win a conventional war against the FedSuns is to spend time and money drastically building up its forces. This is doable, but not easy- it takes money, lots of money, to do this. But it IS possible- as we have seen in-story, it is very possible to use military production to build up the economy IF done right.


Now, as Victor has realized, the question isn't 'will the Combine attack us? Is there some way to have our nations become friends?'. Because they will, and there isn't, anymore than you can have a peaceful border with a powerful Clan- their entire culture is dedicated to war. You can't have peace because they don't WANT peace.

So now, for Victor, the real question is 'how do I make them stop attacking us long-term?'. The answer- take away their ability to do so.

Everyone- Victor, Theodore, the soldiers, their subjects, spectators from around the iInner Sphere- all knew that the Combine would want revenge. The question was only 'when' and 'how'.

So Victor was very rude, condecending, made sure that Minoru really wanted payback. And he's not gonna wait. So instead of spending 20-30 years building up his forces, his factories, his economy, bringing his nation up to the same level as the FedSuns, he's gonna attack as soon as his can. He's gonna do something daring, something high-risk-high-reward. Victor is gonna keep building up his nation, his army, his navy, his industry. So that WHEN the Combine attacks again, he'll be ready to take another chunk of the Combine- making it even harder for the Combine to ever build up to FedSuns levels.

Between the continuing territorual expansions of the FC (into the periphery) and the significant reduction of the DC, there is almost no way that the DC can ever rebuild to be capable of fighting even at their own level.

And the Bears are likely to delivery the killing blow.

[Lone-Wolf]

Between the continuing territorual expansions of the FC (into the periphery) and the significant reduction of the DC, there is almost no way that the DC can ever rebuild to be capable of fighting even at their own level.

And the Bears are likely to delivery the killing blow.

I do disagree, but as others have pointed out: You need time, at least 30 years.
Now, if Minoru would enter his Zen trance and read Sun Tzu (NOT Liao!!!! but The Art of War) he would understand this and he would act accordingly, like giving everybody the Order of Wakizashi who wants to go to war in the next thirty years.

I think we must make a difference between Victor the Patriot and Victor the Ruler.

Victor the Patriot: Curbstomp de luxe for the Combine! And again and again and again (ad infinitum)!

Victor the Ruler: Ok, I want peace, so I have the choice between destroying the DC and having to integrate 400 planets into the FS or keeping them alive, but weak.If the continue to exist I have a weak enemy but that protects me from an attack by the Ghost Bears for instance. But the question is: How strong do I allow them to be? (If anybody reminds this question of the Versailles treaty - gotcha, you are right. Till today there are people who say the treaty is too harsh, too lenient or just ok. And this discussion will continue as long as two people remember that treaty.)

On the other hand: this is Battletech, a soap opera which is based upon violence and that means: In the future there will be only WAR!

So, old factions will disappear, new factions will appear and one day even your own beloved faction will bite the bullet.

[Billy Boy Mark II]

3071 - October - Planning

Even as Wave 3 of Operation Harvest begins in October the High Command and the First Prince are not only engaged in planning it and any further waves but also several additional plans for the future of the AFFS and Federated Suns. To make matters worse for Victor Davion the situation in the Lyran Alliance continues to deteriorate, leaving him with no other option but to continue to devote most of his attentions to trying to keep things under control with the fracturing realm. One of the most blatant examples of this is his order to Field Marshal Sortek to dispatch a Carrier Battle Group to Skye to remind Duke Kelswa-Steiner that he is watching him. As far as hints go it isn't subtle, but the First Prince is hoping to avoid an outright rebellion within the Isle of Skye, so near to many of his own regiments and RCT's engaging the WOB.



At the same time the First Prince also approves the list of planned expansions to the AFFS. Given the ongoing combat operations and the need to replace losses within those commands either fighting the WOB or still recovering from the Draconis Combine War the High Command cannot afford large scale expansions. The first of these new units, the reorganised 1st Kentares Grenadiers RCT is ordered to prepare for it's move to Robinson where it would take up both garrison duties on the March capital, but also continue training and upgrading. The new Kentares DMM would be formed to replace them as a green rated unit but with a large number of brand new battlemechs, tanks and aerospace fighters. At the same time plans were put in place for the formation of a new 6th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT as a reinforced regiment. The Crucis Lancers Brigade was also earmarked for expansions - however instead of forming a single full strength RCT the High Command had decided to expand the brigade by no less than three RCT's, although all would hover around 30% strength of a reinforced RCT. This would mean that the three new Crucis Lancers RCT wouldn't be able to be used for front line offensive operations, however they were planned to be deployed in the Outback for anti-piracy and garrison work while they were brought up to full strength. Which would allow them to gain experience as they expanded to full strength. The High Command had also decided that within the Borderer Brigade they would activate the following Cadres which had slowly been expanding - the 1st Bell Borderer's, 1st Brockton Borderer's, 1st Bromhead Borderer's, 1st Claxton Borderer's, 1st Hurik Borderer's, 1st Jasmine Borderer's and 1st Preston Borderer's. Most of these commands would hover between 40-70% strength upon activation, but the feeling was that as active commands they would be more useful than merely cadres. The recruits from those Borderer units which were at full strength - the 1st  Kittery and 1st Mitchel Borderer's would form the core of a new Avalon Borderer LCT along with some odds and ends, the 9th Avalon Borderer's LCT. The First Prince sends for a staff officer from New Avalon to brief him on his potential new command of the 9th Avalon Borderer's.



The 5th Crucis Lancers RCT, 23rd Avalon Hussars RCT and 26th Avalon Hussars RCT's are during December planned to expand to Reinforced RCT's, as part of the gradual upgrading of the units of the Avalon Hussars and Crucis Lancers Brigades to reinforced regiments. This will leave only the 6th Crucis Lancers, 14th and 28th Avalon Hussars are "mere" battlemech regiments - and they are scheduled for the same treatment in December 3072.



It was also agreed that the Duchess of St Ives would be given approval to form a 2nd St Ives Cheveau-Legers LCT in December. While the League March was still rebuilding the shattered military educational infrastructure to build up it's forces, enough recruits could be found to form a single new LCT command as well as continuing to build the League March Militia and rebuild the shattered St Ives's Lancers. A new LCT style formation was hoped to give the League March something to be proud off and be a lighter counterpoint to the massed heavy and assault battlemech's of the Lancers.



As well as beginning to lay out the plans for the new units of the AFFS Marshal of the Armies Jackson Davion in October formed a small staff of military officers within Mount Davion to look at potentially reorganising the AFFS's from an organisational level to take better advantage of it's growing strength. It was becoming increasingly obvious that the days of single battlemech regiments or even RCT's launching attacks upon enemy worlds were passing. Massed AFFS formations hitting enemy worlds with overwhelming firepower and numbers were now the order of the day, and Jackson Davion felt that further developments were needed to best conduct these types of multi-RCT strikes. In this he had the full support of the First Prince.



With the return of the 1st and 2nd Messenger's of Shiva LCT to the FedSun's, the High Command instruct's the 6th and 7th Avalon Borderer's to prepare for their own sweep into the space in and around the border between the Periphery and the FedSun's new colonies. While it would have been easy for the AFFS (even during Operation Harvest) to launch these two LCT's into active patrolling it is felt that allowing a month or so between the return of the Messengers of Shiva and the next wave of anti-piracy patrols will allow some pirates at least to hope that the sweep is over. Both LCT's are to be supported by LF-battery equipped Tramp class jumpships.



Leftenant General Jonathan Tyler was also ordered to begin preparing his own 1st Sherwood Foresters LCT for a similar anti-piracy patrol into the stars beyond the expanding border of the Federated Suns. He was quietly informed that this patrol would not be launched until sometime in the new year and that he would not be the primary commanding officer, however his unit would be the premier combat unit assigned to the patrol.



On Capella a pro-Capellan riot breaks out that swiftly escalates. The Capella LMM (Cadre) and the 1st Capella Reinforced Training Battalion deploy alongside the strong conventional AFFS brigades deployed to put down the proto-revolt. The sight of the Capella LMM and the training unit help calm some tempers down, however a handful of the pro-Capellan rioters attempt to attack the single company of battlemech's so far assigned to the Capella LMM. One mech suffers light damage when a firebomb engulfs it's foot and lower leg - although the spraying flames kill nearly a dozen rioters. With battlemech's on the streets the riots swiftly die down, but don't entirely dissipate. Just in case the nearby 15th Avalon Hussars and 5th Crucis Lancers are ordered to prepare to deploy troops to support the garrison of Capella.



At various shipyards around the Federated Suns a large number of dropships begin to assemble for refits/rebuilds. Most of these are transport ships although there are a large number of civilian liners and infantry transports are also amongst them. Particularly noteworthy was the number of ancient Aqueducts being refitted.



Within Tikograd on Tikonov a wanted fugitive is delivered to the Ducal Palace...



The major industrial news during October would be the allocation of the much sought after Hound (Tonbo) Super Heavy Transport production licenses. With the demand expected to be huge, the FedSun's government declines to give a single company the rights to produce the design. Instead the premier VTOL supplier for the AFFS, Michaelson Heavy Industries, is given a license to produce the design, while at the same time Lycomb-Davion is given a license as well. There was some discussions as to which would be better to build the heavy VTOL, an aerospace company or a VTOL specialist. The end result was to have both to see which was the best option. Both companies would immedietly begin work to add at least a single line for the transport VTOL at each of their sites - with Lycomb-Davion planning to add two at New Avalon.



At Chesterton Achernar add's a Dervish-O line. Three quarters of all the battlemech's built at this site are now omnimechs, both Dervish-O and Argus-O. The remaining two lines are for the venerable but still popular Phoenix Hawk and Wasp battlemechs. Most of the production of this plant tends to head across the March border into the League March.



On Augusta the Centurion line is upgraded to the new Centurion-O omnimech. Given the huge demand for these new omnimechs Corean Enterprise immedietly puts plans in place to triple production of the new Centurion-O's on Augusta.



Corean also see's the first Valkyrie-O line be upgraded at their  June plant. The second Valkyrie line is fast on the first's heels as is the upgrading of the first Centurion line to Centurion-O, with the other two Centurion lines expected to finish their upgrading in the new year. The first of the new light omnimechs are immedietly dispatched to the Light Guards. A sign of the high prestige of the new mech's.



On the 11th of September Blackwell Corporation on Outreach announced a halt to their Shogun assault mech facility. Within a week the work that had already been completed began to be repurposed. It was evident to those watching that the new facility would no longer produce the venerable jump capable assault machine, but instead looked like it was going to produce Falcon-C class light battlemechs. Rumours also began to circulate that Blackwell was funding the construction of a new Shogun facility on Graham IV of all places...



Within the Arcadia systems the beginnings of a new construction slip begins to take form. This however is not a repair slip, but instead is a facility that will be fully capable of constructing warships. Challenge Systems flagged Monolith class jumpships are delivering the materials and the workforce constructing it is clearly drawn from the same company.



Clan Ghost Bear's Touman begins to move. While the bulk of the units continue to maintain their garrison postings, front line clusters are dispatched towards both the Clan Wolf border but also that of the Free Rasalhague Republic. Leading the move towards the FRR is the 1st Rasalhague Bears and the rest of the Rasalhague Galaxy.



Clan Wolf's situation continues to worsen throughout October. Clan Jade Falcon strikes out at Cusset and Suk II while completing the destruction of the Jabuka based garrison. At the same time Clan Hell's Horses seize Harvest, Kirchbach and Lovinac. Galaxy Commander Katrina Steiner has arrived at Tamar and immedietly declares Trial's of Position for a new 2nd Tamar Galaxy. Her own 1st Alliance Guard Cluster also secures some key genetic samples from the Clan Wolf Primary Genetic Repository under her orders. The guards assigned to the facility stand down in the face of her mandate from the saKhan to take command on Tamar, but they and the Scientists there do launch a formal protest to saKhan Raddick. The rest of her 1st Tamar Galaxy moves swiftly to the world of Tamar, to bolster the garrison and provide cadres for the new units.



The raiding forces of Clan Ice Hellion, reeling from the disaster at Chapultepec, are given no time to recover. The Wolves-in-Exile continue their blitzkrieg and hit their new conquests of Winter, Hood and Jesenice. Realising their attempt to carve out an Occupation Zone the remaining Hellion's flee in whatever ships they can to regroup within the Periphery.



General of the Armies Adam Steiner arrives back on Tharkad to screaming crowds of well wishers. However he is transported from the dropship immedietly to the medical facility built into Mount Wotan's Asgard fortress. There he takes back the reigns of the LAAF - however those officers who meet him are shocked at how badly injured he has been. Both of his legs and one of his arms have been replaced by cybernetic replacements. He does however clearly have his full faculties and he swiftly dispatches orders to various commands to bolster the frontiers of the struggling Lyran Alliance. Worlds along the Clan Wolf/Clan Jade Falcon border are retaken from the Wolf invaders and secured by follow on troops, while he begins gathering a number of the units from the Battle of Arcturus at nearby Garrison in preparation for an attack upon Odessa if it is required.



First Prince Victor's shift of a carrier battle group quells any thoughts that the Free Skye Movement has of declaring independence there and then. But they begin gathering a large flotilla of assault dropships at the Shipil Shipyards. Ostensibly to defend the shipyards, however few Federated Sun's Navy officers believe them and the three warships of the 2nd Carrier Battle Group prepare to defend themselves if required.



Captain-General Corrine Marik begins to position forces, informing her allies within the WOB that she is planning a major offensive against the Regulan's. She promises that as soon as she had warded her back in this way she will move troops to support them at Terra.



Within the Draconis Combine Minoru Kurita is informed of his brothers death... Despite his famed calm and focus he flies into a rage at the news that takes him a full day to recover from. At which time he summons his key advisers.

[Adventwolf]

Clan Ghost Bear's Touman begins to move. While the bulk of the units continue to maintain their garrison postings, front line clusters are dispatched towards both the Clan Wolf border but also that of the Free Rasalhague Republic. Leading the move towards the FRR is the 1st Rasalhague Bears and the rest of the Rasalhague Galaxy.

So the Clanner scum think sending their "show piece" of a Galaxy to deal with the FRR is a smart move. They are idiots here. The units of the Rasalhague Galaxy are just that Rasalhague units and people. And unlike in canon where they had already fought the FRR before and participated in several offensives that reclaimed many FRR worlds from other the other clans and showed that they are reclaiming the worlds "for the people" here they have not done or experienced any of that to make them loyal or willing to further betray their actual nation. The other two clusters of the galaxy the 1st Tyr Assault and the Gunzburg Eagles are literraly just FRR units almost fully and the 1st Rasalhague Bears are at least fully a fifth  of Rasalhauge Soldiers in them. Unlike in canon neither of the other two clusters were taken out or changed by the Jihad since they didn't get wiped out at the start. And because the Combine-Ghost Bear war didn't go the same way and there was no Hell Horses attack on the Ghost Bears the 1st Bears also didn't get the victories that might have turned them into loyal Clanner bootlickers. This is not going to go well for these units it is very likely that rebellions or defection will happen once they are close to or in the FRR expected to kill and subjugate their own people.

Captain-General Corrine Marik begins to position forces, informing her allies within the WOB that she is planning a major offensive against the Regulan's. She promises that as soon as she had warded her back in this way she will move troops to support them at Terra.

Well if she was smart and made the deal then the WoB garrisons and units are about to get hit all over the former FWL. This should distract them a little bit and corner them even more. Not that it will hurt them much though. The WoB already moved most of their units back to Terra.

First Prince Victor's shift of a carrier battle group quells any thoughts that the Free Skye Movement has of declaring independence there and then. But they begin gathering a large flotilla of assault dropships at the Shipil Shipyards. Ostensibly to defend the shipyards, however few Federated Sun's Navy officers believe them and the three warships of the 2nd Carrier Battle Group prepare to defend themselves if required.

So Free Skye is about to throw themselves at the meat grinder and try something stupid. Considering their only hope at winning is sneaking a nuke on board the FedSun Ships by ramming they are not going to get far. The Commanders should have their ASF ready to destroy any dropship that approaches them and doesn't comply and never allow any of them to dock.

Within the Arcadia systems the beginnings of a new construction slip begins to take form. This however is not a repair slip, but instead is a facility that will be fully capable of constructing warships. Challenge Systems flagged Monolith class jumpships are delivering the materials and the workforce constructing it is clearly drawn from the same company.

Well this is likely the Battacruiser yard being made along with the other yard that was hidden under the construction of two large frigate yards.

[Chris OFarrell]

The Bear has awoken.

And it's hungry.

And it's pissed.

And it seems to be ... taking on everyone around it at the same time.

Well, this could be interesting!  :D

[kelgar04]

The Bear are aware that sending 1st Rasalhague Bears and the rest of the Rasalhague Galaxy to the FRR that they will have ethier a lot of defectors failing that the FRR will fight harderand also they will be shot out of hand as traitors if any are taken.

[Adventwolf]

Actually the Galaxy should just be two clusters as the 1st Tyr Assault hasn't been wiped out by the opening move of the Jihad in this TL in 3068. That means the unit is still in the FRR as an Elite formation and should be a full Regiment instead of the two Battalions it was in 3068. As it would have expanded to full size by now. Not to mention that most of the other Garrison units and second line formations in the Ghost Bears' territory are FRR units as well. And since the Bears trying to disband those units causes an uprising by them when they have become more loyal in this TL it would be much worse.

[Billy Boy Mark II]

Actually the Galaxy should just be two clusters as the 1st Tyr Assault hasn't been wiped out by the opening move of the Jihad in this TL in 3068. That means the unit is still in the FRR as an Elite formation and should be a full Regiment instead of the two Battalions it was in 3068. As it would have expanded to full size by now. Not to mention that most of the other Garrison units and second line formations in the Ghost Bears' territory are FRR units as well. And since the Bears trying to disband those units causes an uprising by them when they have become more loyal in this TL it would be much worse.

There are basically two "Tyr" units.

The Ghost Bear Cluster and the regimental sized FRR unit.

[Adventwolf]

There are basically two "Tyr" units.

The Ghost Bear Cluster and the regimental sized FRR unit.

Yeah and the cluster wasn't made until near the end of the original Jihad as a political play to win over the people by remaking the unit that was wiped out but was deeply rooted in the Freedom and creation of the FRR. If the Ghost Bears were stupid enough to make one themselves and filled it with FRR people that unit will not believe themselves to be worthy of the name and are more likely to switch sides as a way to make up for stealing the honor. If the Ghost Bears were even dumber and created that unit with only clanners then they just slapped the entire occupied FRR with their blatant disregard and disrespect. And that will cause major resentment in both the clan occupied areas and the free areas. Basically the Ghost Bears are too arrogant like most clanners and have sent themselves up to lose a lot. A good portion of that Galaxy is going to turn and considering the brainwashed Elected Prince even said that the Galaxy was not going to be willing to fight and subjugate their own people it shows they aren't actually listening to the "inferior" spheroid freeborn scum. Which is just fine this way the FRR gets more units with high grade equipment and it likely makes the Ghost Bears back off and deal with the other fronts instead.

[Billy Boy Mark II]

Yeah and the cluster wasn't made until near the end of the original Jihad as a political play to win over the people by remaking the unit that was wiped out but was deeply rooted in the Freedom and creation of the FRR. If the Ghost Bears were stupid enough to make one themselves and filled it with FRR people that unit will not believe themselves to be worthy of the name and are more likely to switch sides as a way to make up for stealing the honor. If the Ghost Bears were even dumber and created that unit with only clanners then they just slapped the entire occupied FRR with their blatant disregard and disrespect. And that will cause major resentment in both the clan occupied areas and the free areas. Basically the Ghost Bears are too arrogant like most clanners and have sent themselves up to lose a lot. A good portion of that Galaxy is going to turn and considering the brainwashed Elected Prince even said that the Galaxy was not going to be willing to fight and subjugate their own people it shows they aren't actually listening to the "inferior" spheroid freeborn scum. Which is just fine this way the FRR gets more units with high grade equipment and it likely makes the Ghost Bears back off and deal with the other fronts instead.

The Ghost Bear one is similar in many respects to the 1st Rassalhage Bears, each star having at least one warrior who is from the local population.

[Chris OFarrell]

It may have been a better move for the Ghost Bears to send their 'native' units against the Draconis Combine or the Wolves. Sending them against 'their own people' while a fun test of their loyalty, could backfire badly on them.

Of course its also entirely possible Clanner Trueborn hardliners want it to backfire so they can push aside all this silly 'assimilation' crap and turn the clock back or something with some good old fashioned Operation Revival style conquest and blasting their way to Terra. Just to get in on the fun :D

[Adventwolf]

The Ghost Bear one is similar in many respects to the 1st Rassalhage Bears, each star having at least one warrior who is from the local population.

Then yeah they have two clusters that are made up of a fifth natives and a third that is just natives with maybe some clanner officers. Plus stealing the name and honor of the 1st Tyr Assault just shows every native under occupation that they are not worthy under the Clans. This is going to cause major rebellions in both the general population but also in the many FRR units that were stolen and used as glorified babysitters and collaborators occupation force.

[Billy Boy Mark II]

3071 - October - Interlude: Fugitive

Ducal Palace

Tikograd

Kazan

Tikonov

Achernar PDZ

League March

Federated Suns



The huge sprawling Ducal Palace of House Ryan-Bowman held many treasures and secrets, that any tourist guide touting pamphlets around the city would be sure to tell you. What few if any would tell you (if they even knew) would be the rumoured cells deep underground that were operated by the Duke of Tikonov's feared secret police - the Okhrana, an organisation that while it officially didn't exist was perhaps one of the worst kept secrets on Tikonov. Modelled upon the famed MASK of the former Capellan Confederation (although proud Tikonovite's would, if they were prepared to speak about such a topic, tell you that it was MASK that was modelled upon the Okhrana not the other way around), they were the secret guardian's of House Ryan-Bowman's rule upon Tikonov. Although they had become somewhat less heavy handed and less brutal in their methods since the conquest of Tikonov in the Fourth Succession War. Which didn't mean that they didn't still operate. Or that they didn't still conduct certain clandestine interrogations deep within the Ducal Palace when it was required.



 Walking slowly down a bare concrete corridor that on certain official maps was listed as being for the purpose of "storage, dry goods" - and which didn't appear on most at all, the Duke of Tikonov Paul Ryan-Bowman (Senior) himself reflected that most ruling houses wouldn't have kept interrogation and holding cells under their own palace but might have kept them at arm's distance, somewhere safe and out of the way. And indeed the Okhrana's main holding areas and interrogation facilities were hidden elsewhere. Yet sometimes he and his ancestors had required that someone, usually highborn, be dealt with closer to home. Somewhere that they themselves could visit the person if they needed too without having to create convoluted reasons to temporarily disappear. When you ruled a world with over six billion citizens, it wasn't always easy to just drop of the radar even for a few hours! Much easier to smuggle someone into the palace through several hidden tunnels when nobody was looking for them. It was just such circumstances that had led the Duke down into the maze of tunnels below his home.



Beside him the agent clad in an unmarked military style uniform who had met him at the heavily disguised entrance and guided him through the narrow corridors and steel reinforced doors stopped and indicated the door ahead of them. In a surprisingly pleasant voice for a man who looked like he chewed nails for breakfast the agent explained. "He is detained within your grace."



"Thank you Captain Aslanov." Paul Ryan-Bowman indicated the locked door. "If you would be so kind...?"



"Of course your grace." Captain Aslanov opened the door and stepped inside first, hand on the electric maul at his waist just in case. Checking the prisoner was still securely chained to the desk he was sitting at the Okhranan officer stepped aside to let his Duke follow him in.



Stepping into the room the Duke shook his head at the hunched figure sitting naked on a metal chair, his huge hands restrained by chains to a bolt set into the metal desk securely fastened to the floor. "Not quite the fancy uniforms and comfortable palaces you had got used to is it Leftenant General Baranov...?"



The bear of a man, his famous thick beard now liberally shot with grey and with his powerful figure sunken in upon itself looked up and recognition flared in his eyes. "Duke Paul...!"



"Hello "Bud"..." Duke Ryan-Bowman continued into the room and sat in the metal chair opposite the prisoner with little regard for his expensive suit on the rough metal of the chair. "Welcome back to Tikonov..."



The former Emperor of Hall and Supreme Leader of the Free Tikonov Province of the Free Worlds League shifted in his seat, eyes flickering to Aslanov who hadn't left the room but stood near the door, close enough to intervene with the shock maul he now had out and merely awaiting the pressure of his fingers to activate. Despite himself William Baranov shuddered, having experienced more than once just how painful those mauls were. Turning back to face the Duke he tried to force a friendly smile onto his face. "Not exactly how I saw myself returning home..."



"No, not quite the triumphant conquest you had in mind I'm sure. For one thing, as I recall from the transcript notes of Captain Rosilov's interrogation, you thought the next time you saw me would be when you put a pistol against my head and blew the back of my skull out... Wasn't that what you told him and the rest of your little group of traitors?" The Duke raised a single finger to stop the blurted denial before it could begin. "Don't even bother. The late captain's evidence was more than collaborated by others from your inner circle who confessed your plans for me if the so called "Free Tikonov" movement managed to take Tikonov. Shot as a traitor to Tikonov and a collaborator with the Davion's I think was how most of them put it..."



Baranov grunted. "So they talked..."



"Oh they all did." Paul's smile had nothing of joy or kindness in it. It was the smile that an Ufa Steppe Deer might see on the jaws of a Tikonov Dire Wolf just before the end. "Before the end."



Baranov shuffled slightly, sitting back with the chink of chains, trying to look resolute and stoic in the face of that news despite the impossibility of doing that while chained naked to a metal desk. "So what now? You hand me over to the Davion's to shoot as a traitor?"



A genuine bark of laughter came from the Duke. "Hand you over? Why do you think I would do a stupid thing like that? No... I didn't tell my agents to find you, capture you and bring you here so that I could hand you over to MIIO or even the DMI..." The Duke glanced around the room. "I do hope you like it here Bud... Because you are going to be here for a very, very long time. Captain Aslanov and his colleagues are going to get to know you very well... They are going to find out ALL your dirty little secrets down here in the dark. You see Leftenant General Baranov... Officially you aren't here. Officially you are somewhere else, hiding from justice. Probably some flea pit periphery world, looking over your shoulder while you plot your grand revenge on those who betrayed or failed you or who denied you your rightful place as ruler of Tikonov... Hell the official reward I put up for your capture of 2 million c-bills will remain open. I might even increase it to 5 million... Yes I think I just might, it will amuse me to offer a reward for a man that I already have down here in my cellar."



The Duke stood with that same dark smile on his face, rapping a knuckle on the metal table. "This is your new home Bud. For as long as there is a single ounce of value or whisper of information still to be wrung from your treacherous lips. Until finally you are of absolutely no value. Then and only then I'll have you quietly shot in the back of the head, still down here in this room. Your body will be smuggled out the same way you were brought in and then dumped in the deepest, most foul bog that I can find out in the wilderness."



Walking to the door the Duke turned around with a chuckle. "You won't see me again Bud. I'm too busy to indulge myself further with petty vengeance against a minor nuisance like yourself, even if I do have to admit I'd probably enjoy it. I have a world to run, the very world you dreamed of ruling. My world." Turning to the Okhranan captain he inclined his head. "I expect regular updates on the progress you are making with Leftenant General Baranov here..."



"Of course your grace." The captain followed the Duke out and slammed the door shut locking it. "If you will follow me your grace, I'll escort you out."

[Adventwolf]

I actaully had forgotten about that dude. Oh well whatever value he has left is going to be taken back from him and then we will never hear about him again.

[PsihoKekec]

Well, the details on how WoB supplied Barnov's army are probably useless now that AFFS is already pounding Woblies like it's going out of style, but who knows, maybe they will get some useful information out of him.

[Billy Boy Mark II]

Question, how would an officer address the first prince?

[Kiko70]

Question, how would an officer address the first prince?

Your Highness.

[Billy Boy Mark II]

3071 - October - Interlude: Rehabilitation

Fort Lucien

Addicks

Addicks PDZ

Draconis March

Federated Suns



Marshal Harrison Bradford marched into the small office and came to attention in front of the desk. "Marshal Harrison Bradford, reporting as ordered Your Highness!"



First Prince Victor Davion had stood up as the Marshal entered the room and saluted him back. "Have a seat Marshal Bradford."



While the Marshal dutifully took a seat in front of the desk he didn't relax his posture a single inch sitting in the tucked away office that would have been more fitting for a colonel in the Addicks DMM than the First Prince of the Federated Sun's as though on parade. Looking him over slowly Victor had to admit that the man looked the part. Perhaps to be expected from a former member of the 3rd Royal Guard Bradford's uniform was immaculate and clearly tailored to him to the point of almost not being regulation. Almost, but he somehow managed to pull off the not quite regulation uniform while also appearing like a soldier and not a martinet. No small feat, particularly given the slight bias that remained within the AFFS against most things "Lyran" - the 10th Revenant Guards and Prince's Champion Galen Cox being one of the few exceptions to that rule perhaps because they had become almost more Davion than the Davions. The man himself had aged in the almost exactly fourteen years since he had led his RCT to total defeat against the Northwind Highlander's and cost the FedCom Northwind. His hair had more silver in it, a few more lines on his face, but he didn't seem to have let himself go. Good. The First Prince was favourably impressed by the Marshal's bearing.



"Firstly Marshal, I intend to be honest to the point of bluntness in this meeting. I would appreciate the same from you." The First Prince watched and waited as Bradford gave a slight start and then nodded slightly before continuing. "Good. Very well. In that spirit, you are no doubt aware that you have been out of favour now for almost a decade and a half for your actions on Northwind. You and the officers who supported you ended up costing the FedSun's not only the vital planet of Northwind but also the use of the Northwind Highlanders for the better part off eight years. While Northwind has subsequently rejoined the Federated Suns and the Highlanders accepted contracts with us, it goes without saying that those units would have been damn useful in '57. As would have the 3rd Royals."



Bradford nodded his head slightly jerkily but firmly. "Agreed my Prince. I make no excuses."



"Good." Again the First Prince edged his opinion of the Marshal upwards. At least slightly. Victor pulled out a folder and opened it, flicking through page after page as he spoke. "Since that time you have been given a series of staff posts, most of them ranging from mind numbing to unpleasant. Garrison reviews off the Outback. Militia Training within New Avalon Combat Region. You headed up the team that oversaw the reactivation of the Broken Wheel CrMM. Military Liaison with the Arc Royal Mechwork's facility on Killarney. And a host of others. Every officer review and evaluation you have received during those positions has been positive. You have also at your own request been granted the right to address the NAIS final year students for a special lecture each year for the last three years at which you have given them lessons about knowing when not to fight... Using your own mistakes as a case in point."



Marshal Bradford's lips might have thinned slightly at that last point, but he nodded fractionally. Just as the three reports that Victor had read about the lectures had indicated, he clearly did not enjoy giving those classes. Tapping the final one of the three reports from Field Marshal Frederick Hastings of the NAIS who had attended each of them before completing a report on them, Victor continued. "It is that final action I have to say that has done the most to convince me that you have indeed completed your rehabilitation. It is one thing to bury yourself in your work and accept that your career has hit a dead end and just soldier on through that. It is quite another to stand up in front of hundreds of cadets and do your  best to help them avoid the very mistakes that ended your own career. That more than anything Marshal Bradford has decided me that it is time to return you to the field..."



"A field command...?" The hope in the officer's voice was almost painful.



"A combat command. Yes." Victor smiled at the man's entire posture shifting and nodded. He brought out a second folder and laid it on the desk. "I have to be honest Marshal, it's not a RCT and if you don't want it I'll understand..."



"I'll take it!" The Marshal had to stop himself from almost snapping at the First Prince, shrugging his shoulders apologetically. "Sorry Prince Victor, but even if it's a battalion of scratch troops drawn from the dregs of a Planetary Guard I'll take it!"



The First Prince chuckled and nodded his understanding. "I think we can do better than that Marshal... I'm offering you the 9th Avalon Borderer's LCT... Half the troops will be drawn from the Training Battalions, not exactly academy graduates... The other half will be a mix of experienced personnel drawn from existing commands and low end academy graduates... And you know as well as I do that you won't be getting the best troopers from existing units..."



Harrison found himself chuckling and nodding. "Guardhouse troopers, troublemakers and misfits. The ones their CO's want rid off..."



"Exactly." Victor nodded. "Hardly the 3rd Royals. Are you sure you still want it?"



"100% sir." Marshal Bradford spoke quickly.



"I thought you might." Victor stood and offered his hand to the Marshal who likewise stood and took it in a firm grip. "I'm planning to give you some time to get the unit formed up and then dispatching you on an anti-piracy sweep with the 1st Sherwood Foresters in early 3072. Give you some time to blow the rust off and get your unit shaken down and then pirate hunting to let the 9th Borderer's gain some experience."



"I won't let you down again my prince." Bradford promised saluting crisply.



Victor nodded saluting him back. "Welcome back Marshal Bradford and I know you won't..."

[Billy Boy Mark II]

I always thought that the end of Highlander Gambit left a huge opportunity for Harrison Bradford (who isn't the same Harrison Bradford as the Duke of Coventry, at least I don't consider him) to return to the story, but he never did. So I added him in.

Think I mentioned I was considering it earlier. Just always seemed a wasted plot potential not having him turn back up.

[Adventwolf]

Question, how would an officer address the first prince?

Your Highness, My Prince, Your Majesty, or Sire.

[Intermittent_Coherence]

Well, the details on how WoB supplied Barnov's army are probably useless now that AFFS is already pounding Woblies like it's going out of style, but who knows, maybe they will get some useful information out of him.

Maybe a supply cache or black research facility or two?

[PsihoKekec]

Research site is very unlikely as Woblies didn't trust them, but locations of depots from which they drew their supplies might be worthwile, if AFFS hasn't overrun them yet.

[Adventwolf]

He is unlikely to have any information that is valuable or important. They will figure that out soon enough and remove him so he isn't an issue to worry about.

[Sir Chaos]

Well, the details on how WoB supplied Barnov's army are probably useless now that AFFS is already pounding Woblies like it's going out of style, but who knows, maybe they will get some useful information out of him.

Who says the AFFS is going to get any information? Mr Tikonov did not sound like he´d ever admit to his liege that he had Baranov... which he would have to, if he were to explain how he got the information he shares with the AFFS.

[Blackhorse 6]

Your Highness.

You Grace works also, moreso if they are addressing a female, so I have heard.

Paul

[Blackhorse 6]

I actaully had forgotten about that dude. Oh well whatever value he has left is going to be taken back from him and then we will never hear about him again.

Ohhhhh. Christmas came early this year... looks like the Okhrana will be squeezing the podsvinok for months and months to come.

ocharovatel'nyy

Paul

[Adventwolf]

You Grace works also, moreso if they are addressing a female, so I have heard.

Paul

Your Grace is meant more for Dukes and Duchesses not so much for the monarch of a nation.

Ohhhhh. Christmas came early this year... looks like the Okhrana will be squeezing the podsvinok for months and months to come.

ocharovatel'nyy

Paul

Not really there is little he would have left to offer.

[thtadthtshldntb]

your Grace is a title that is used by lower tiers to refer to the highest tiers of nobility or ecclesiastical orders, inclusive of, but not limited to kings, queens, princes, dukes and in religious terms bishops, arch bishops, Patriachs and the Pope. It is also the translation for the honorics used in parts of the Middle East and Asia that refer to similar people.

[Billy Boy Mark II]

3071 - October - Interlude: Instructions

Imperial Palace

Luthien

Pesht District

Draconis Combine



The now undisputed Coordiantor of the Draconis Combine knelt under a cherry blossom tree and watched as the head of the Internal Security Force approached and bowed deeply, sinking into a kneeling in prostration using the old form of Dogeza before sitting facing him at a languid wave of his lord's hand to rise. Both men were dressed in the traditional Hakama that befitted their ranks, but neither wore any visible rank insignia or weapons. Minoru Kurita sat without speaking for almost a full ten minutes on the face of it watching a heron fishing in a nearby garden pond. Finally he spoke. "My brother is dead."



"Yes my lord. It has been confirmed." Ninyu Kerai Indrahar answered.



"Murdered." Minoru's placid exterior belied the anger in his voice.



"Assassinated my lord." Ninyu clarified before boldly continuing. "His death has brought much of the fighting to an end. Already several commands which had sworn to him have offered their surrender to your authority Lord Kurita and requested to make atonement..."



Minoru Kurita turned to face the head of his intelligence service and stared at him for a long moment with cold eyes before speaking with a dead monotonous tone. "They murdered my brother. A Kurita."



"Yes my lord." This time Indrahar didn't add anything.



"This insult cannot go unanswered." Minoru said in that same tone. "My brother must be avenged."



"Of course my lord." The head of the ISF raised an eyebrow and at the Coordinator's almost imperceptible nod waved one of his aides forward to bring him a file. As the aide quickly retreated Indrahar bowed from his kneeling position and placed the file before his lord. "Operation Hayai Kaze Lord Kurita."



Taking up the file Minoru flicked through it as he skim read it. "Bold."



"Lord Hohiro's shade deserves no less." Indrahar responded.



"Agreed. Approved. You will implement Hayai Kaze III." Minoru chose the most expansive of the options available within the folder. "You may draw upon whatever resources you need to complete the operation to my satisfaction."



Bowing again Indrahar made no effort to rise, knowing his lord was not finished.



Minoru despite himself smiled slightly in approval. "It is a prize beyond compare for a lord to be served by able men who are able to anticipate his needs and desires. As long as said servants do not overreach." With the commendation and warning delivered he continued. "I wish you to begin gathering the Son's of the Dragons. One thousand candidates at each of the District capitals and another thousand here. And Indrahar?"



"Yes my lord?"



"Use the gathering to bring me my nephews Shinjiro and Vincent. Unharmed." Minoru added the last word with steel in his voice. Remembering previous advice from the head of the ISF suggesting that the two boys have convenient accidents in the event their father died.



"Your orders will be obeyed Lord Coordinator."



"See that they are." Minoru waved a dismissal and at least on the face of it returned to contemplating the beauty of the garden around him...