Fate Can Be Cruel (Part One)

[cawest]

Intel drives operations. 

[Daryk]

Interesting post... 20 million people that far out will be a problem...

[nroe03742]

what is the situation with the recharge stations is there one in all of the systems except for the ones only recently added. also it would be interesting to see the modified version of the station that they made installed at more systems.

[2ndAcr]

1 March 2781
Terran Hegemony (Periphery)

 Rear Admiral Trishia Delvaney had put her engineers to work on the Surveillance Ship request. After a few weeks, they had determined that they completely lacked the ability to duplicate the Bug-Eye Surveillance Ship. No method they could come up with could duplicate the tiny jump core, and they deemed it too risky to tear the only Bug-Eye they had apart to even attempt it. But they did come up with a reasonable design that met all of the requested design parameters.

 They took the Merchant Jumpship design and modified it. Removing the 114,000 ton Jump Core and fitted it with a 54,300 ton compact core. They then designed a transit drive that could propel the new design at a safe thrust of 2.5g and max 4g. It was buried deep enough into the rear of the ship so as to be invisible unless it was needed. They fitted extended fuel tanks into the hull with 7,000 tons of fuel. Enough for a full year of burn time at 1g constant or 88.6 days at max thrust. It would maintain the 2 Dropship collars, and from the outside, it was identical to the standard Merchant Jumship, even it's jump signature would be identical. For extended missions, they provided everyone aboard the ship with their own quarters, 18 First Class and 200 Standard Quarters. A 28 man Marine detail would prevent boarding.

 Every firing Arc held 6 ERLL, 6 LPL and 6 SPL for anti fighter defense. The AFT also held the only capitol weapons, 4 NL/55. This was to discourage any pursuit, the ship was designed the run away, not fight it out. To aid the running away part, the ship was fitted with a LF Battery. A HPG was also installed to pass on information or call for help. The structural integrity was reinforced to 30% and 72 tons of Ferro Aluminum armor coated the ship, providing as much protection as an original Vigilant Corvette. A total of 313 Double Heat Sinks were spread around the hull for the ships cooling. Buried into the hull were a Large Naval Comm Scanner, High Resolution Camera, Infrared Camera and Look Down Radar Imager.

 The ship was fitted to carry 4 small craft with 2 doors, a single Aerospace Squadron of 6 with 2 Doors and 5,735 tons of cargo rounded out the ships design. Try as they might, they could not increase the Grav Deck to a larger size without changing the visual aspect of the Merchant Jumpship so they had to leave the 40 meter Grav Deck. The final cost of the new design, called simply Merchant Surveillance, was 14,089,162,000 dollars. Not cheap at all, but it met every design parameter they had been sent and even exceeded some of them, by a large margin. As long as it acted just like a Merchant Jumpship, it would be virtually invisible among it's standard sister. She forwarded the design to General Rita Mitchell for approval, construction time was roughly 4 months for each ship.

 SLS Salvation had completed expanding Linden's Deep Spin operation and it now held (4) 1M ton Pressurized Shipyards and all supporting factories. Rear Admiral Delvaney had forwarded her concern about tearing apart one of the new Monolith Jumpships for reverse engineering. This was not a simple truck or tank, but the largest standard Jumpship ever built. She just did not want to risk destroying one of them.

 She also monitored the 3 Builder Yardships and their activities around the Terran Hegemony. They were currently working on long term support missions, mainly building Snowden Orbital Mining Stations, repairing Olympus Recharge Stations and even constructing a few new ones. Though it was a tremendous amount of resources to build one.

 Orbital Support Operations

 Barahona - Olympus Recharge Station repaired (Nadir)
 Tanz - Olympus Recharge Station repaired (Zenith)
 Ammon - Olympus Recharge Station repaired (Nadir)
         Modified Olympus Station New Build (Zenith) (est 2784)
 Hergazil - Olympus Recharge Station repaired (Zenith)
 Onverwacht - Olympus Recharge Station repaired (Nadir)
 Raetia - Olympus Recharge Station repaired (Zenith)
 Taumaturgo - Olympus Recharge Station New Build (Nadir) (est 2783)
 Rondon - Olympus Recharge Station New Build (Nadir) (est 2783)
 Schrim - Olympus Recharge Station New Build (Nadir) (est 2785)
          (3) Snowden Orbital Mining Stations (est 2784)

 Ammon had been selected as a forward Naval Repair Base and a Modified Olympus Recharge Station was being built there. Able to handle 3 ships of up to 1M tons. It would have minimal production ability and would not be able to build new vessels. At Onverwacht, the Essex Jump Core had been ground and returned to Linden for recycling.

 DoME Engineering Operations

 Onverwacht (OP) - HPG Built
 Kent (OP) - Build HPG (2786)
 Sornath (OP) - Build HPG (2786)
 Ype-Jhu (OP) - HPG Repaired
 Vonja (OP) - Build HPG (2785)
 Coyle (OP) - Repair HPG (2782)
 Flynn (OP) - HPG Repaired
 Totness (OP) - Repair HPG (2782)
 Calingasta (OP) - Repair HPG (2782)
 Santa-Ana (OP) - Repair HPG (2782)
 Achnoly (OP) - Build HPG (2783)
 Schrim (OP) - Build HPG (2786)
 Ammon (OP) - HPG Repaired
 Voehn (OP) - Build HPG (2783)
 Braden's Frontier (OP) - Repair HPG (2782)
 Crichton (TD) - Repair HPG (2782)
 Hrafn (TD) - Build HPG (2785)
 Glitnir (TD) - Build HPG (2786)
 Michtal (TD) - Build HPG (2784)
 Aalzog (TD) - HPG Repaired
 Koury (TD) - Build HPG (2787)
 Fallry (TD) - Build HPG (2784)
 Blueys (TD) - Build HPG (2784)
 Wynn's Roost (TD) - Build HPG (2787)
 Vangburg (TD) - Build HPG (2787)
 Nerum (TD) - Build HPG (2786)
 Zebuluraskai (TD) - Build HPG (2785)
 Renorsal (TD) - Build HPG (2787)
 Salvende (TD) - Build HPG (2787)
 False Dawn (TD) - Repair HPG (2781)
 Ourem (TD) - HPG Repaired
 Hergazil (OP) - Repair HPG (2781)
 Shiri (OP) - Build HPG (2783)
 Achton (OP) - Repair HPG (2781)
 Raetia (TD) - Repair HPG (2782)
 Bannerhoft (TD) - Repair HPG (2782)
 Grankum (TD) - Build HPG (2784)

 In an effort to speed up repair and construction of the HPG grid, 5 more DoME Teams were undergoing training to add to the 7 existing DoME Teams already active. All terraforming which consisted of mainly seeding the ground to boost agriculture had been suspended until the HPG grid was re-established fully. It was hoped to have the 5 new DoME Teams ready by 2782 but 2783 at the latest. Survey teams from Linden were already making detailed lists of the needed equipment to repair all the HPG's.

 SLS Salvation, Newgrange Yardship, would soon be moving to Onverwacht to begin construction of the Civilian Jumpship Complex and Supporting Factories. It was estimated to take at least until 2784 to get it fully operational.

[ThePW]

OK, question: Does historical events are still in play?

https://www.sarna.net/wiki/2781

or are we already into a AU? I'm curious because IDK what the end goal for this thread is, as yet.

[2ndAcr]

See PM. But yes, Historical events will effect this AU to a large degree.

We veered into AU country the moment the story started pretty much. Went real hard into AU when the new Hegemony was established and Amanda Cameron survived.

[cawest]

after 2782 they might pick up some lost lambs.  Maybe like parts of the 222nd mech inf Div and others.  That would add a different mix of dropship, mechs, tanks and ect to the THiE.  Maybe they received some house designs to help with rebuilding or late war designs for the SLDF.  just something for you'll to think about and what if all day.   >:D

[Ammonios]

Interesting  developments concerning the new surveillance vessels. They may not replace the Bug Eye in all categories but they easily expand the Hegemony's strategic recon abilities while the Bug Eye can be sent on highly sensitive missions only it can fulfill.
This is only my opinion but the Hegemony's current equipment designs in use seem to fulfill the military's needs more than adequately. Furthermore it is almost a miracle that the Hegemony now has the ability to reverse engineer and manufacture those designs. I think these capabilities will keep logistics straightforward and any need for new designs can be easily met by modifying one of them.

[2ndAcr]

15 March 2781
Bastrop (Federated Suns)

 Harvey Grissum was a lawyer for Fleesum and Gougem. He had spent the last year attempting to purchase the license rights from Krester's Ship Construction for the Aqueduct Dropship and Mammoth Dropship. But today, he had gotten the HPG message that he had been waiting for. With many of it's facilities destroyed, Krester's Ship Construction was in dire need of funds and had finally agreed to their last offer. He had already instructed the bank to transfer the funds, 550,000,000 dollars for the license, design specifications and specialized manufacturing equipment.

 He had given up trying to purchase the Monolith Jumpship license from LVT Aerospace. They wanted 3 Billion for the license rights and design specifications. It was just too new and several other firms had already paid that amount to secure rhe rights. His client had set a 800 Million hard cap for the purchasing and no amount of negotiating was going to budge LVT Aerospace to a lower price.

 But he had wracked up a large number of victories. He stared at his computer to see what was left for him to purchase.

 Krester's Ship Construction - Aqueduct and Mammoth Dropship (Done)
 LVT Aerospace - Monolith Jumpship (No Go)
 Harrow-Deerfield - ED-X1 Crosscut Loggermech (Done)
                    Harvester Ant (Done)
                    DemolitionMech (Done)
                    SC-V Scavenger Salvage Mech (Done)
 Osaka Heavy Metrics - K-3N-KR4 Kiso (Done)
                       K-3N-KR5 Kiso (Done)
 Avanti Industries - Maglev Train (Done)
                     Maglev Cars (Done)

 All he waited on now was the actual license agreement from Krester's Ship Construction along with the design specifications and any specialized machinery. He had already turned over the other designs and equipment to ZaP Shipping for transport to their new owner, Allied Industries. He had no clue who they were or where they were located, he had asked Jonathon Fleesum, founding partner of Fleesum and Gougem and had been told to mind his business and do what he was told. It had been delivered in such a way that only a deaf and very dumb person would ignore the warning.

Thazi (Terran Hegemony)

 General Rita Mitchell read Rear Admiral Delvaney's report, she had sighed heavily on seeing the cost of the Merchant Surveillance Ship. But they were needed, so she had sent back an order to build 12 of them. She then made a note to have the Special Forces Regiment expanded, they had proven invaluable during the last operation. With a lack of Nighthawk Power Armor, she wanted it expanded to provide advance ground intel. She planned to "seed" the systems near Hegemony borders with Special Forces Detachments. If they could ever produce the Nighthawk Power Armor, she would equip the new commands, same for the advanced Spector and Exterminator Battlemechs, which continued to elude them. She expected it to take some time to get them up to speed.

 Special Forces Brigade

 1st Special Forces Regiment (Current)
 3391st Special Forces Batt - 192 Nighthawk PA(L) MkXXI, 24 Spector SPR-4F
 2282nd Special Forces Batt - 336 Special Forces Troops, 12 Vector Scout VTOL, 12 Vector Transport
 2972nd Special Forces Batt - 192 Nighthawk PA(L) MkXXI, 8 Spector SPR-4F, 4 Exterminator EXT-4C
 3157th Special Forces Batt - 336 Special Forces Troops, 12 Vector Scout VTOL, 12 Vector Transport

 2nd Special Forces Regiment (2783)
 3160th Special Forces Batt - 336 Special Forces Troops, 12 Vector Scout VTOL, 12 Vector Transport
 3161st Special Forces Batt - 336 Special Forces Troops, 12 Vector Scout VTOL, 12 Vector Transport
 3162nd Special Forces Batt - 336 Special Forces Troops, 12 Vector Scout VTOL, 12 Vector Transport
 3163rd Special Forces Batt - 336 Special Forces Troops, 12 Vector Scout VTOL, 12 Vector Transport

 3rd Special Forces Regiment (2784)
 3164th Special Forces Batt - 336 Special Forces Troops, 12 Vector Scout VTOL, 12 Vector Transport
 3165th Special Forces Batt - 336 Special Forces Troops, 12 Vector Scout VTOL, 12 Vector Transport
 3166th Special Forces Batt - 336 Special Forces Troops, 12 Vector Scout VTOL, 12 Vector Transport
 3167th Special Forces Batt - 336 Special Forces Troops, 12 Vector Scout VTOL, 12 Vector Transport

[Daryk]

I see three Special Force Regiments, and three companies of 'mechs among them.  But they're all in the first Regiment...

That lawyer deserves a raise!  :thumbsup:

And I have to say... if any word of the THiE reaches Kerensky, I think the Exodus just might have an actual destination...  ^-^

[ThePW]

I see three Special Force Regiments, and three companies of 'mechs among them.  But they're all in the first Regiment...

That lawyer deserves a raise!  :thumbsup:

And I have to say... if any word of the THiE reaches Kerensky, I think the Exodus just might have an actual destination...  ^-^

That's... a hilarious good idea. But will word reach the THiE too late to respond?

[richard3116]

I think the DOME teams need to be restructured. If you stopped Terraforming operations to build HPG's won't the Terraforming specialists be sitting on their hands? I understand the teams may be sharing Command and Support resources but it seems a waste. With all the work they have dedicated teams may be more appropriate in the short term.

Also where are all the support personnel coming from to build and staff all these factories, yards and support units. Have training commands been established and educational systems funded to feed into these endeavours?

One of the things I have always enjoyed about your stories is the you included the impact of logistics systems and the limitations they cause, then solve them. :thumbsup:

[Kyryst]

I think that 2ndACR is trying to get Hegemony worlds up to standard standards of infrastructure, communications, and military defenses before allowing secondary and tertiary production sites to be established. It seems to be the pattern. Building a Primary site that produces large quantities for economies of scale, then establishing secondary sites for further production, either of items needed in such quantities the primary site can’t keep up or for variation.

Because having redundancy is your friend in the world of Battletech. You go about your business and boom! Someone nukes your factories and calls ortillery down on your cities. DAY. RUINED.

Might be a good idea to have a prometheus library put together and stored in a couple places.

[2ndAcr]

I think the DOME teams need to be restructured. If you stopped Terraforming operations to build HPG's won't the Terraforming specialists be sitting on their hands? I understand the teams may be sharing Command and Support resources but it seems a waste. With all the work they have dedicated teams may be more appropriate in the short term.

Also where are all the support personnel coming from to build and staff all these factories, yards and support units. Have training commands been established and educational systems funded to feed into these endeavours?

One of the things I have always enjoyed about your stories is the you included the impact of logistics systems and the limitations they cause, then solve them. :thumbsup:

 A lot of the factories train the people on site. Take the former Outpost industries, their work force trains the next batch of green horns etc. The shipyard workers, Dropship construction are trained at Linden and Thazi stations. Lead engineers and such are drawn from there also, more experienced folks.

 DoME Teams are stretched thin. Getting the HPG grid back up is first priority. Lack of communication is a killer even though the SLDF garrison have Mobile HPG's. The HPG grid provides a good chunk of income.

[2ndAcr]

1 April 2781 to 1 January 2784
Terran Hegemony (Periphery)

 On Thazi, General Rita Mitchell looked up as Amanda Cameron walked into the small den. She had grown so much and was now almost 18 years old. Over the last few years, she had performed her "tasks" with skill. The systems of the Onverwacht and Traders Province had slowly improved in all respects. General Mitchell could not be prouder of her. "What's up Amanda? Can't sleep?" She asked

 "Not really, I cannot get my brain to shut down." Amanda said as she plopped onto the small couch next to Rita.

 "What's on your mind that has you so wound up?" Rita asked

 "Most of the hard part is done out here. The new systems are rapidly closing in on the older systems economically. We are still working on the HPG grid, but all repairs have been completed and we are deep into building HPG stations from the ground up. The new civilian shipyard over Onverwacht is almost ready to complete their first Jumpships. I think it is time you took me to Terra. From the news reports, things are not going so well there. Maybe we can help, I have some experience now and won't screw things up too badly, not with you there." Amanda replied

 "You sure about this? I promised not to push the issue with you." Rita asked, sitting up straighter

 "Yes, I am sure. And you kept your promise. How soon could we leave?" Amanda asked

 "Mid March. It will take that long to gather the units I want to take, plus escorts and supplies. I need to get the commanders all lined up, we could be gone for a long while, they have to be prepared to hold their own out here for a time with neither of us close by. We have not linked into the Star League HPG grid, unless you want us to." Rita said, reaching for her portable computer

 "No, we do it like we agreed years ago. We notify them of my arrival no more than 2 weeks before we get there. One for security, second, I would prefer them to not have much time for my arrival. I don't need no big ceremony and such." Amanda stated

 "Okay, we do it your way. I will be taking the 359th Battlemech Division, 181st Royal Mechanized Infantry Division, 280th Mechanized Infantry Division and Royal Black Watch of course. All 3 Divisions have the Potemkin Transports, that will minimize the amount of Jumpships we have to pull away. I will have the 89th Cruiser Division escort us. I want to leave Admiral Tanaka, General Rommel and Vice Admiral Coltrain here. Between them, everything should be safe here while we are gone." Rita said, checking her constantly updated notes

 "The 280th MID huh, isn't that where Patrick got assigned when he graduated last October?" Amanda said with a smile. Patrick Mitchell, Rita's son, had graduated Battlemech School and been assigned to the 280th MID under Major General Iris Carmen. Like his father, he piloted a Thunderbolt TDR-5Sb.

 "Why yes it is. Are you accusing me of some sort of favoritism?" Rita replied with a smile

 "I would do no such thing. Might as well make it a family affair after all." Amanda said with a short laugh

 "We cannot do that. You have gotten to where most of the Division Commanders are all Aunt's or Uncle's. It would gut out entire command structure." Rita said

 "You fault. I grew up with all of them being around all the time. Now I hardly get to see any of them any more." Amanda said

 "Well, then it is settled. I will start getting the ball rolling, you young lady go get some sleep." Rita said

 "Okay. But you don't stay up all night working on this either." Amanda ordered as she stood

 "Yes your highness. Now git." Rita responded with a smack on Amanda's backside

1 March 2784
New Earth (Terran Hegemony)

 Commanding General Aleksandr Kerensky looked over the countless reports coming in while the SLDF continued making ready for their Exodus. Many shipyards were filled with warships and transports. LVT Aerospace was cranking out their Monolith Jumpships at a furious pace to fill the massive orders the SLDF had placed. Worn out equipment was being replaced as fast as it could. SLDF engineers were dismantling as many factory complexes and every type of manufacturing equipment they could lay the hands on. The one report he hated looking at was the folder that contained all the SLDF commands that he would be disbanding right before they departed, but look at it he did.

 2784 Disbandment Prior Exodus

 43rd Infantry Division
 3002nd Heavy Tank Regiment
 457th Heavy Tank Regiment
 28th Light Horse Regiment
 149th Dragoon Regiment
 5th Mechanized Infantry Division
 231st Light Horse Regiment
 112th Royal Hussar Regiment
 114th Hussar Regiment
 251st BattleMech Division
 306th Hussar Regiment
 63rd Mechanized Infantry Division
 189th Jump Infantry Division
 5th Hussar Regiment
 23rd Heavy Assault Regiment
 133rd Jump Infantry Division
 3rd French Infantry Regiment
 166th Mechanized Infantry Division
 4674th Striker Regiment
 7th Jump Infantry Division
 258th Dragoon Regiment
 68th Infantry Division
 396th Dragoon Regiment
 38th Jump Infantry Division
 1894th Light Horse Regiment
 8th Striker Regiment
 20th Mechanized Infantry Division
 90th Dragoon Regiment
 359th Dragoon Regiment
 202nd Mechanized Infantry Division
 235th Striker Regiment
 15th Dracon Regiment
 322nd BattleMech Division
 168th Jump Infantry Division
 125th Royal Hover Armor Regiment
 267th Dragoon Regiment
 258th Hussar Regiment
 361st Dragoon Regiment
 963rd Independent Aero Wing
 48th Infantry Division
 205th Light Horse Regiment

 Major General Lauren Hayes Force

 151st Royal Battlemech Division
 213th Battlemech Division
 287th Battlemech Division
 326th Battlemech Division
 368th Battlemech Division
 79th Mechanized Infantry Division
 123rd Mechanized Infantry Division
 184th Mechanized Infantry Division
 197th Mechanized Infantry Division
 13th Royal Infantry Division
 3rd Striker Regiment
 231st Striker Regiment
 321st Hussar Regiment
 89th Dragoon Regiment
 349th Dragoon Regiment

 SLDF Warships for Major General Hayes

 Cameron Battlecruiser - 1 (heavy damage)
 Potemkin Transport - 4 (all heavy/severe damage)
 Black Lion Battlecruiser - 1 (heavy damage)
 Aegis Cruiser - 4 (all heavy/severe damage)
 Congress Frigate - 4 (all heavy/severe damage)
 Sovetskii Soyuz Cruiser - 1 (severe damage)
 New Samarkand Carrier - 2 (all heavy/severe damage)
 Lola III Destroyer - 5 (all heavy/severe damage)
 Essex Destroyer - 6 (all heavy/severe damage)
 Vincent Corvette - 5 (all heavy/severe damage)
 Volga Transport - 4 (all heavy/severe damage)
 Carrack Transport - 9 (all heavy/severe damage)
 Newgrange Yardship - 5 (all heavy/severe damage)

 Rimworld/SLDF Warships Cached

 Graham X
 Riga Frigate - 10 (Jump Cores removed and destroyed)
 Farragut Battleship - 2 (Jump Cores removed and destroyed)
 Carson Destroyer - 8 (Jump Cores removed and destroyed)

 Terra Asteroid Belt

 Dart Light Cruiser - 2 (all heavy/severe damage)

 Though he wanted to take all the warships with him, there just was not time to repair all of them. Every functional shipyard in the Hegemony was prepping SLDF ships for their journey. They would be left to Major General Lauren Hayes' force. Once repaired, they should provide her with a credible defense force. The units slated to be disbanded would turn all their equipment for storage on Terra or used to bring the forces leaving with him to full strength. He just could not risk all that material falling into the hands of the Houses.

[Kyryst]

Oh. Wow. Kerensky is pulling a D*** Move. Leaving the Terran Hegemony with effectively 2 Corps and no warship support to defend itself, after being torn apart. Can we say Fresh Meat?

I hope at least 1 Builder yardship is coming along to deal with any unexpected complication. Honestly, the escort could probably use that Independent Aero Wing, too, for ranged defense, cause I think Pentagons are slim pickings right now in the Hidden Hegemony.

[cawest]

Oh. Wow. Kerensky is pulling a D*** Move. Leaving the Terran Hegemony with effectively 2 Corps and no warship support to defend itself, after being torn apart. Can we say Fresh Meat?

I hope at least 1 Builder yardship is coming along to deal with any unexpected complication. Honestly, the escort could probably use that Independent Aero Wing, too, for ranged defense, cause I think Pentagons are slim pickings right now in the Hidden Hegemony.

a lot of those ships might be able to make a shorter run to the THiE than what GEneral K was planning. 

[2ndAcr]

14 March 2784
Thazi (Terran Hegemony)

 The massive convoy was assembled at the Zenith Jump Point. All Dropships were docked with their transports, all supplies were loaded and final goodbye's were being said. Changes had been made, Admiral Tanaka had demanded that SLS Salvation, Newgrange Yardship accompany the convoy in case of an emergency. Along with SLS Salvation, SLS Borneo, Volga Transport would also make the journey. It was a massive convoy that reminded everyone just how powerful the SLDF really was. And this was a very small portion of it.

 Operation Homecoming

 SLS Tirpitz, Black Lion Battlecruiser
 SLS Conroy, Avatar Heavy Cruiser
 SLS Shield, Avatar Heavy Cruiser
 SLS Independence, Samarkand II Carrier
 SLS Solomon, Essex II Destroyer
 SLS Cartagena, Essex II Destroyer
 SLS Buccaneer, Essex II Destroyer
 SLS Salvation, Newgrange Yardship
 SLS Borneo, Volga Transport
 SLS Devon Pulman, Potemkin Transport
 SLS Midnight Dancer, Potemkin Transport
 SLS Mighty Lift, Potemkin Transport
 12 Star Lord Jumpship
 359th Battlemech Division
 280th Mechanized Infantry Division
 181st Royal Mechanized Infantry Division
 Royal Black Watch
 3391st Special Forces Battalion

 Every Dropship collar was filled. Every member was assigned quarters either on a Warship, Dropship or the Potemkin Transports to maximize comfort and reduce supply usage. It would take 238 days to reach Terra, Martha Pruitt had already promised to have enough supplies at Bastrop to restock their cargo holds ready to transfer. Amanda Cameron, at General Rita Mitchell's advice, had named General Heinrich Rommel acting Regent of the Hegemony. Major General Nathan Baxter had threatened to resign if he was not allowed to accompany them on their journey. General Mitchell had relented and assigned him Ground Force Commander.

 At the signal, the massive Task Force began jumping from the Thazi system and the journey to Terra began.

22 May 2784
Bastrop (Federated Suns)

 Task Force Homecoming began materializing at the Zenith Jump Point whicb caused a huge amount of discomfort for the few AFFS forces in the system. General Mitchell knew that this was going to be a touchy subject. When Customs personnel from the Federated Suns made their expected call, Rear Admiral Zeibler was ready.

 "This is Bastrop Customs to SLDF convoy. We show no authorization for your transit. Please repond."

 "This is Rear Admiral Zeibler, 89th Cruiser Division escorting SLDF forces from periphery garrison's back to the Terran Hegmeony. Our transit authrorizations must have gotten lost. If you could please file a course plan direct to Terra, I would be mighty thankful. I will file a complaint for the lost transit authorization upon our arrival. Seems we are still sorting stuff out from the war." Rear Admiral Zeibler responded

 "Roger, we have been having those kind of problems for quite a while. I will file your course plan for you sir. Please inform Transport Subcommand that they need to get their act together. You are cleared to conduct recharge operations and we will declare your immediate area an exclusion zone for traffic. Your cleared for local CAP only."

 "Thank you very much Customs Control. We will be taking on cargo from ZaP Shipping and will assume local control of their ships during our resupply operations." Rear Admiral Zeibler said

 "Local control is your sir. Safe journey, Custom Control out."

 Rear Admiral Zeibler handed the mic back and turned to General Mitchell "Told you. Even after all these years of chaos, everyone is just so used to SLDF ships transiting an area that they don't even react. As long as your explanation makes sense to them, they will pass you on."

 "What are the odds that they will relay our passage up the chain and word gets to General Kerensky?" General Mitchell asked

 "I would say 60/40 for them punting it up the chain. This is not a single ship, or even a single Division. We are a potential invasion force. It is a risk we have no choice but to take. I would not be surprised if we don't have a AFFS Warship escort soon shadowing us." Rear Admiral Zeibler replied

 "Oh that is just great. Keep me posted please." General Mitchell said

[Daryk]

Yep... the word may not make it to Kerensky, but it will SURELY make it to John Davion...

[2ndAcr]

1 June 2784
New Avalon (Federated Suns)

 First Prince John Davion never did like the way things had ended in the Star League High Council. He felt he betrayed the trust that General Aleksandr Kerensky had placed in him. With the Hegemony Civil War over, production of the advanced designs given to the Federated Suns had shifted with the AFFS now purchasing 60% and the SLDF 40% since 2781. This had allowed massive upgrades to the equipment being used in the AFFS commands.

 Though the AFFS had managed to recruit a few SLDF commands, he had ordered a temporary halt to active recruiting to try and save what little "friendship" he had with General Kerensky, who he knew was furious at the recruitment. He knew the other Houses were very much pursuing recruitment of SLDF commands and also trying to lay claim to Hegemony systems. Once the Hegemony Civil War had ended, a virtual tidal wave of refugee's had fled the Hegemony, especially from Terra. Estimates placed the refugee's fleeing Terra at over 5 Billion people. The Federated Suns had mobilized almost a thousand Jumpships and many more Dropships to help transport refugee's, holding up his promise to General Kerensky to aid any refugee's.

 Already, over 500 million refugee's had been settled inside the Federated Suns. They were the ones that wanted to live in the Federated Suns permenantly. Another 25 million refugee's had been transported to the Taurian border which was their stated destination. Heading for the Outwrolds Alliance was another 40 million refugee's. But still inside the Federated Suns were almost 845 million Hegemony refugee's from early in the war or those who just did not know where to go. They were a huge drain on the Federated Suns resources, but First Prince John Davion was a man of his word and the moment they decided where they wanted to go, he would assist them on their way.

 He had been alerted to a SLDF convoy that had entered Federated Suns space around Bastrop moving to Terra. Though unexpected, as long as they caused no trouble, he had authorized their passage without delay. General Kerensky had been pulling in far flung garrisons for over 2 years, so it was not an unheard of event. He was a little put off by the lack of notification, but not enough to throw a stink about it.

8 July 2784
New Earth (Terran Hegemony)

 Aboard SLS McKenna's Pride, McKenna Battleship, Commanding General Aleksandr Kerensky looked at the massive fleet assembled. Simliar convoy's were located at staging points at over 50 star systems. He could not help but once again look at the massive list of commands he had ordered disbanded on 15 June. Many commands had instead of obeying orders to disband had joined some of the Houses or even went mercenary.

2784 Disbandment/Status

 43rd Infantry Division - Disbanded
 3002nd Heavy Tank Regiment - Lyran
 457th Heavy Tank Regiment - Disbanded
 28th Light Horse Regiment - Combine
 149th Dragoon Regiment - Federated Suns
 5th Mechanized Infantry Division - Disbanded/Marik
 231st Light Horse Regiment - Lyran
 112th Royal Hussar Regiment - Disbanded
 114th Hussar Regiment - Combine
 251st BattleMech Division - Disbanded/Federated Suns
 306th Hussar Regiment - Disbanded
 63rd Mechanized Infantry Division - Marik/Lyran
 189th Jump Infantry Division - Disbanded
 5th Hussar Regiment - Federated Suns
 23rd Heavy Assault Regiment - Mercenary
 133rd Jump Infantry Division - Disbanded/Capellan
 3rd French Infantry Regiment - Capellan
 166th Mechanized Infantry Division - Disbanded/Marik
 4674th Striker Regiment - Combine
 7th Jump Infantry Division - Disbanded/Combine
 258th Dragoon Regiment - Capellan
 68th Infantry Division - Exodus/Lyran
 396th Dragoon Regiment - Federated Suns
 38th Jump Infantry Division - Disbanded
 1894th Light Horse Regiment - Federated Suns
 8th Striker Regiment - Federated Suns
 20th Mechanized Infantry Division - Disbanded
 90th Dragoon Regiment - Disbanded
 359th Dragoon Regiment - Disbanded
 202nd Mechanized Infantry Division - Disbanded/Capellan
 235th Striker Regiment - Disbanded
 15th Dracon Regiment - Mercenary/Capellan
 322nd BattleMech Division - Disbanded
 168th Jump Infantry Division - Disbanded
 125th Royal Hover Armor Regiment - Disbanded
 267th Dragoon Regiment - Disbanded
 258th Hussar Regiment - Capellan
 361st Dragoon Regiment - Combine
 963rd Independent Aero Wing - Combine
 48th Infantry Division - Disbanded
 205th Light Horse Regiment - Disbanded

 Much of the equipment from the disbanded commands was placed into storage on Terra, that which was not taken for the Exodus. The entire 3rd RCT had refused to leave with him, but he also could not bring himself to disband the storied command. He finally closed the folder and slid it into his desk drawer. He made his way to the bridge and once he confirmed everything was ready, he ordered "Exodus". This was flashed to every assembled fleet and they all began jumping from their systems. The Exodus had begun.

[Daryk]

SLIC falling down on the job again... that convoy from Bastrop should have been reported by then...

[Iron Grenadier]

So the big question then is how fast Mitchell and Cameron can find one of the Exodus convoy's? As I recall they started from over 50 different systems.

[Daryk]

Ohhh... good point!  If they run across one of those, I can see it changing course...  8)

[Cannonshop]

what will they do when they FIND the deserters? 

seriously, what are they going to do? what do they expect to be able to do?

[Daryk]

Mitchell has been extremely lenient with "deserters"... I'd expect her to simply incorporate them into the THiE...

[Cannonshop]

Mitchell has been extremely lenient with "deserters"... I'd expect her to simply incorporate them into the THiE...

um, I think the core of the problem here, is convincing them NOT to desert, or convincing them to pull over, stop...come back?

I honestly don't think that's going to work out real well, and I doubt Mitchell's dumb enough to try.  These guys basically decided to go kick it as bandits after winning the war, rather than honoring either their service oaths, OR the 'ideals' they were essentially fighting for.  (Such inconveniences as rule of law, which was the whole cassus belli behind dethroning Amaris in the first place, these are the guys who said 'nope, I'm loyal to Kerensky, not the people whose taxes paid for my training, salary, upkeep...')

In essence, the conspiracy to desert en masse like that shows these are NOT people you want on your side-they're WORSE than the guys who cut and ran because they were getting their asses handed to them and didn't have a coherent line of communication because they were ****** isolated.  Kerensky's bunch basically left-and took all the infrastructure needed to defend the only member state that, by dint of NOT voting to leave the Star League, was still a member.

and left a token force with some uncoordinated planetary militias to be overrun, steamrolled, and destroyed.

Her best move, would be to move in and start pulling shit together and LET THE DESERTERS GO, being thankful she doesn't have to rely on Kerensky and his traitors for anything serious or significant.

[Daryk]

Could be... or the second (or rather, third or fourth) thoughts on the part of the "deserters" might make them useful in the ensuing defense.  THiE has the advantage of not being surrounded by circling sharks...

[Iron Grenadier]

Well let's just see how the story plays out.

[Cannonshop]

Could be... or the second (or rather, third or fourth) thoughts on the part of the "deserters" might make them useful in the ensuing defense.  THiE has the advantage of not being surrounded by circling sharks...

at this point, Kerensky and his gang ARE the circling sharks.  Think about it: they won, they saved the nation from a usurper, so they looted the treasury and abandoned it en-masse with all the equipment they could steal.  This is conduct far worse than the guys who deserted after being abandoned and while still under fire.  THOSE deserters (the ones Mitchell brought into her force) broke under combat pressure and could be salvaged/saved.

Kerensky and the gang, they won the war, they were the winners, they didn't desert under fire, they deserted and robbed the paymaster on the way out, effectively doing everything possible they could short of actual combat to make sure their homeland, their employer would be overrun and destroyed with ease shortly after leaving.

What's left to salvage? How could anyone like Mitchell ever trust them again?  the answer is thus:

She can't. she can't trust them to uphold their oaths, or to support their brother units that didn't conspire to desert, she can't trust them, means she can't use them, and they're WAY too dangerous to have sitting in her backyard.

[Daryk]

I think the Prinz Eugen showed that not everyone that initially left was that committed to desertion, though...

As Iron Grenadier said, we'll see...

And I'm working on that spreadsheet for you...  :thumbsup: