The Federated Sun's Reborn

[Chris OFarrell]

Honestly I can understand if he and the rest of the Federated Suns feel resentment at the idea that Victor has to go and pull the Lyrans asses out of the fire after how the Alliance, as a whole, turned its back on him and really just went along with whatever Katherine said. And still havn't exactly taken ownership of their mistakes (and hell there are still some ****** people in the very estates generals who think KATRINA DID NOTHING WRONG even as she leads a new Clan Invasion of the Alliance!!!)

But seriously, the Lyrans. Gotta love them. Skye is still high on the 'special' punch it would seem and the Periphery is drinking their own version. I mean its not like they are at war on two possibly three sides and the most basic strategic appraisal of the situation shows that they need to stick together if they are going to have any hope of survival.

So of course, that means the time has come to make it as easy as possible for the Clans to overrun the Alliance one province at a time!

I think its about time for ComStar to start kicking off. With the WOBs Shadow Divisions trapped on Heph II and being ground down and a significant chunk of their fleet destroyed or scattered, it would seem to be time for a full scale offensive against Terra.

[Auberan]

I would argue that the Periphery area might be better off on their own. If they had the manufacturing ability to at least maintain a solid defensive force that would discourage pirates, they're pretty much sitting pretty. Skye on the other hand is serving itself up on a plate considering its location. The only reason the FWL is getting away with it is because everyone else is so thoroughly screwed and involved in their own stuff at the moment. That and plenty of WoB help that borders on the ridiculous, but that's a state of canon anyway.

[Adventwolf]

I would argue that the Periphery area might be better off on their own. If they had the manufacturing ability to at least maintain a solid defensive force that would discourage pirates, they're pretty much sitting pretty. Skye on the other hand is serving itself up on a plate considering its location. The only reason the FWL is getting away with it is because everyone else is so thoroughly screwed and involved in their own stuff at the moment. That and plenty of WoB help that borders on the ridiculous, but that's a state of canon anyway.

Not Really there is little to no presence of WoB forces in FWL space. Aside from giving them the corvettes, the WoB abandoned the FWL already. They simply don't have the numbers to maintain the Garrison let alone help them fight.

[Chris OFarrell]

I would argue that the Periphery area might be better off on their own. If they had the manufacturing ability to at least maintain a solid defensive force that would discourage pirates, they're pretty much sitting pretty.

They have very little industry really though (plus a lot of mixed areas, quite a few places would be much less inclined to break away from the Lyrans after all), no real economic centre and are terribly open to any new Clans looking to rip open an Inner SPhere holding as they evacuate the Kerensky Cluster. OR even the Wolves or Falcons looking for resource raids or anything like that.

Still, less immediate threads to be sure even if long term its a pretty bleak outcome.

Skye on the other hand is serving itself up on a plate considering its location. The only reason the FWL is getting away with it is because everyone else is so thoroughly screwed and involved in their own stuff at the moment. That and plenty of WoB help that borders on the ridiculous, but that's a state of canon anyway.

Free Skye has always been full of itself to an insane level.

Half the time I think Katrina should have let the Kuritans take it (except for Heph II of course) and told Skye that it wanted its independence and was always so confident that it could take care of itself, well, here's their chance!
And when the ISF swarm in right on the heals of the DCMS occupation troops without any kid gloves on and Free Skye rapidly finds out just how much of a soft touch the Lyrans actually used and how much self control they really had compared to the horror that living under Kuritan rule is...

Of course, the average person there doesn't deserve it, but the average person seems to tolerate an awful lot from Free Skye given how long the province has been a restive hotbed for.

Anyway. At this point without an actual Archon or clear central leadership figure and the LAAF badly overstretched and strategic command paralyzed (Adam should have been screaming recall orders to the FWL units before Peters body was cold in brutal honesty), its looking increasingly bleak for the Lyrans.  But if Victor can DO anything is probably going to depend if Comstar gets off its royal behind and starts striking back now, to tackle the WOB threat. 

[Billy Boy Mark II]

3070 - August - Operations Achilles, Ajax, Agamemnon VII and Heart Attack

Although the Draconis Combine's leadership had finally had the point that the war was lost driven home to them with sufficient force to seek peace by Operation Heart Attack the lack of working HPG network through most of the Pesht and Galedon Military Districts (and the WOB control of the rest) made informing the Federated Suns of this and requesting a ceasefire difficult. Jumpship chains (many of them cut by Operation Caesar) were unable to take up the slack. As such Minoru Kurita rushed towards the Davion border from Luthien, intending to divert to Galedon to ensure that this key Military District would obey his father, so as to arrange a ceasefire. In the meantime the fighting continued. The only "blessing" for the Kurita's is that only a single new world is invaded during August, the AFFS mostly attempting to complete the conquest of existing targets and mop up resistance.



Dieron



With the defensive lines under almost constant pressure Warlord Kurita was faced with the option of surrendering the remaining outworks of the fortress in order to preserve his remaining strength or continuing to fight for every inch of ground. Watching the losses mounted he realised he had little option and gave the withdrawal order. While this bought time and allowed him to consolidate and strengthen the inner lines he had now been forced to abandon almost 40% of the remaining territory he held. Rather than rush to attack his new lines (and fall into the multiple ambushes and traps the DCMS engineers had arranged prior to falling back) the AFFS forces proceeded to advance their lines cautiously and carefully. However by the end of the month they were back to a mix of overwhelming assaults and infiltration tactics against the DCMS's new positions. Even the most delusional fanatical amongst the defenders knew that the end was approaching.



Across the rest of the world Tancred Sandoval and Yvonne Davion-Sandoval's visit continued to cause an upsurge in support for House Davion. Promises of hospitals, better infrastructure and trade with the rest of the FedSun's were made and directly contrasted with the repression of House Kurita. Direct comparison's were soon made between the freedoms of the Federated Suns and the "old days" under the Terran Hegemony. In light of this Baron Sandoval personally attended the formation ceremony for the first units of the Dieron Planetary Guard - for now two infantry regiments with little beyond their rifles. However the donation of enough PAB-27 to equip both units from the large stockpiles assembled on the planet by the Baron at the ceremony goes a long way to raising morale for the assembled infantrymen.



Sadachbia



Facing mounting losses and with absolutely zero confidence that they would be relieved the 13th Ghost sought terms on the 10th of August after a three day artillery barrage that had broken the morale of the locally raised militia who were instrumental in holding most of their perimeter. Although knowing that they could almost walk through the shattered DCMS lines the AFFS commanding officer agreed to generous terms to avoid further loss of life within his own commands and also the civilians of the capital city.





Halstead Station


August largely consisted of mopping up operations for the troops of the 1st Chisholm Raiders and the Fighting Urukhai Slugger's regiment. Often the very threat of the AFFS unleashing the still angry Demestri's Sluggers on any holdouts was more than enough incentive to prompt a surrender. On the 24th the last mine complex which had been holding out for House Kurita refused to surrender and was stormed by elements of both units and a full battalion of battle armoured troopers - more than a match for the single lance of antique vehicles and two companies of militia infantry. Halstead Station is declared secure on the 26th.



Ashio



When the 1st Davion Lions and 8th Chisholm Raiders seem to withdraw from the pursuit the commanding officer of the remaining DCMS troops of the 24th Dieron Regulars (the remaining cadets have been folded in to fill out gaps within the unit) isn't fooled. Which means it comes as no surprise to him when the 12th Deneb Light Cavalry take over primary pursuing duties and continue to harry his ragged formation. Unable to stop and make a stand, knowing that larger and heavier Davion formations are being kept in reserve specifically for that eventuality he is forced to continue his headlong retreat. Losing a steady trickle of already damaged battlemechs and injured soldiers to the pursuing 12th, by the evening of the 20th of August despair has broken the morale of the remaining troops. The Tai-sa is forced to realise that his troops simply can't go any further. He can either make a stand where he is or attempt to seek terms. Looking at the battered battlemechs and equipment of his command and knowing that most of the ammunition bins are empty as well as the sheer number of walking wounded in the ranks he chooses to seek terms.



Andrew Redburn himself meets with the few remaining officers of the DCMS garrison and offers generous terms. They will be transported to prisoners of war camps, alongside the survivors of the earlier battles who have fallen into the AFFS's hands. As a mark of respect for the fight they have put up the AFFS will retain their battlemechs and other equipment, but will return them when they are released upon the cessation of hostilities. All equipment seized prior to the surrender however the AFFS will keep. While generous the simple fact of the matter is that most of the equipment remaining to the 24th Regulars simply isn't worth using by the modern day AFFS and would be relegated to militia formations or scrapped.



Atria



The single new invasion of the month, the 4th Davion Guards RCT having left the mopping up operations on Lyon's to the LAAF jump to the world of Atria and in a two week blitz across it's ice fields smash the few DCMS conventional units garrisoning the planet. Old FedCom banners are soon brought out and are seen flying above every town hall and city hall on the planet.



Iruzun



The arrival of the 1st, 20th and 42nd Avalon Hussars RCT's on the planet drastically shifts the force balance back in favour of the AFFS. Although the 2nd Dragonlords has been reduced to little more than a cadre, the new arrivals give the AFFS four experienced and battle hardened RCT's on the planet against the 1st Proserpina Hussars, 16th Galedon Regulars and 23rd Benjamin Regulars - of which only the 1st Proserpina Hussars is on the level of the AFFS units.



As soon as the three Avalon Hussar units are landed and set up the AFFS goes on a general offence. Taking full advantage of their numerical and skill superority the AFFS formations push forward on a wide front. The 42nd Avalon Hussar's Marshal May soon finds himself in a series of running battles against the elite 1st Proserpina Hussars which prove a major challenge for the more assault and heavy weighted 42nd Hussar's to match. So he doesn't try to. Instead he proceeds to advance relentlessly towards his object, battering off the raids and running battles that the 1st Proserpina Hussars try to engage him in with superior firepower and the sheer size of his command. In the meantime the other AFFS units hammer through the much weaker Regular regiments of the DCMS. The 4th Crucis Lancers RCT still smarting after the damage done to the 2nd Dragonlords smash into the green 23rd Benjamin Regulars and in a two week running battle drive the unit to the point of total destruction. Barely two companies of heavily damaged battlemech's manage to disengage and fall back on New Gotham. Similarly the 1st and 20th Avalon Hussars hammer the 16th Galedon Regulars in a brutal series of battles. Outnumbered by a single RCT the 16th can do little but fall back or face being pinned in place and annihilated. While the 16th Galedon is in better shape than the 23rd Benjamin when it falls back to within New Gotham it's not by much.



With the collapse of their flanks the bitter 1st Proserpina Hussars is forced to fall back itself and finds itself soon pinned within New Gotham as the AFFS formations envelope the city with defensive lines. By the end of August the massed guns and fighters of the various Davion forces are hammering the hurriedly prepared defensive lines of the capital.



Kaznejoy



The heavy weighted 3rd Tikonov Cossack's is soon taking the lead in battering down the defences of the city of Gondovia, while the 5th Davion Guards RCT holds the line and Hansen's Roughriders launch probing attacks. The bad feeling between the 45th Galedon Regulars and the 11th Ghost however is soon exploited and a battalion from the 3rd Cossacks cracks the defensive lines where the two units meet on the 18th. Both sides are soon far to busy blaming each other for the "failure", which does little to stop the Roughriders and 5th Davion Guards pouring in. By the time the situation has been stabilised from the perspective of the Kurita officers over half the city has fallen and the 45th Regulars in particular mauled heavily. The rest of the month passes with both sides probing at the new lines for weak points - and further recriminations between the DCMS units.



Matsuida



The last stand of the DCMS on Matsuida begins on the 4th of August when the 1st Crucis Lancers RCT, 4th Syrtis Fusiliers RCT and 1st Kestrel Grenadiers RCT combine to attack the worn down Ryuken-yon and Ryuken-go regiments. The roughly three companies of remaining DCMS troops attempt to put up the best fight they can, but the Davion attack is led by the massed battle armoured formations of the 1st Kestrel Grenadiers - who remain at a stronger force level than their parent regiment. With damaged battlemech's and tanks being overwhelmed by battle armoured troops the two DCMS formations are swiftly destroyed. The few survivors are marched off to prisoner of war camps, having to be protected from the local population who are now furious at them for the pointless and futile destruction of their city.

[Sir Chaos]

To quickly make contact with Victor, Minoru would probably be best advised to send someone to the Ghost Bears or the FRR - they are closer to Luthien than the front lines, and they have intact HPGs which can relay a message to Victor much more quickly than a jumpship sent to the nearest Draconis March HPG station.

[marauder648]

..I've just remembered something. Those WOB ships are still out there and are going to hit a Davion planet to 'make it burn' IIRC or were they caught or recalled? Because if the Combine goes "Peace!" then a few days later *Nuclear fireballs on a planet* the Davion's won't ever trust them again, if they ever did.

[Billy Boy Mark II]

To quickly make contact with Victor, Minoru would probably be best advised to send someone to the Ghost Bears or the FRR - they are closer to Luthien than the front lines, and they have intact HPGs which can relay a message to Victor much more quickly than a jumpship sent to the nearest Draconis March HPG station.

That would be the quickest way...

..I've just remembered something. Those WOB ships are still out there and are going to hit a Davion planet to 'make it burn' IIRC or were they caught or recalled? Because if the Combine goes "Peace!" then a few days later *Nuclear fireballs on a planet* the Davion's won't ever trust them again, if they ever did.

The WOB are still heading for Verde. As are Clan Nova Cat.

[Lone-Wolf]

To quickly make contact with Victor, Minoru would probably be best advised to send someone to the Ghost Bears or the FRR - they are closer to Luthien than the front lines, and they have intact HPGs which can relay a message to Victor much more quickly than a jumpship sent to the nearest Draconis March HPG station.

Wouldn`t it be easier to send a Fax message?

If I remember the real timeline correctly:
When Teddy was informed that Luthien was the next target he send a message by Fax to New Avalon.
But the Fax machine of the DC are very slow.
A Davion listening post picked up the message and sent it with a modern Fax machine to New Avalon.
And this message (modern Fax) arrived one week before the DC Fax message.

So, this should be the fastest way.

To the situation in the LC (and maybe all the other realms before alternate history was written by us Fan people):
Sorry, but if I look at the rulers of the IS I have the impression that they are not feudal rulers but just like normal politicians.
They do not prepare for anything, like destroyed factories.
Only Stefan Amaris did, like Kwangjong Ni (I hope I spelled it correctly.).
The most evil man (or contender) is able to build secret mech factories and not ONE IS ruler does the same.
(OK, I know, Battletech, the post-apocalyptic big stompy robots game).
But still.
The Reunification war showed clearly that factories and jumpship-/warshipyards can and will be blown skyhigh.
And nobody prepares.
Everybody thinks: OK, we have Hesperus, Tharkad, Arc Royal and these factories are enough.
Hello? Where they advised by a certain company of our time? Yes, the one the german Bundeswehr listened to. And now at least 50% of the heavy equipment (tanks, planes, ships etc) are out of order because replacement parts are cheaper when ordered just in time. As if this works especially in wartime.

No, Morgan Kell should take Adam Steiner by his throat, hammer some sense into him and make him follow the lead of his brother Victor. Building factories and shipyards. But there is one big catch: In the 3025 era you fought to achieve a tactical goal but not to kill the enemy, because mechs were expensive. So the number of factories was sufficient.
Now 3070 you fight to eradicate. And that means you need production capacity. And that means a lot of factories.
And build some hidden factories too. To avoid Holy Shroud X and destruction of factories by enemies. So hide them well and dont store the data on which planets they are in the main Computer of the Triad, because then you can send their location directly to Luthien, Atreus etc.

[Billy Boy Mark II]

Wouldn`t it be easier to send a Fax message?

If I remember the real timeline correctly:
When Teddy was informed that Luthien was the next target he send a message by Fax to New Avalon.
But the Fax machine of the DC are very slow.
A Davion listening post picked up the message and sent it with a modern Fax machine to New Avalon.
And this message (modern Fax) arrived one week before the DC Fax message.

So, this should be the fastest way.

To the situation in the LC (and maybe all the other realms before alternate history was written by us Fan people):
Sorry, but if I look at the rulers of the IS I have the impression that they are not feudal rulers but just like normal politicians.
They do not prepare for anything, like destroyed factories.
Only Stefan Amaris did, like Kwangjong Ni (I hope I spelled it correctly.).
The most evil man (or contender) is able to build secret mech factories and not ONE IS ruler does the same.
(OK, I know, Battletech, the post-apocalyptic big stompy robots game).
But still.
The Reunification war showed clearly that factories and jumpship-/warshipyards can and will be blown skyhigh.
And nobody prepares.
Everybody thinks: OK, we have Hesperus, Tharkad, Arc Royal and these factories are enough.
Hello? Where they advised by a certain company of our time? Yes, the one the german Bundeswehr listened to. And now at least 50% of the heavy equipment (tanks, planes, ships etc) are out of order because replacement parts are cheaper when ordered just in time. As if this works especially in wartime.

No, Morgan Kell should take Adam Steiner by his throat, hammer some sense into him and make him follow the lead of his brother Victor. Building factories and shipyards. But there is one big catch: In the 3025 era you fought to achieve a tactical goal but not to kill the enemy, because mechs were expensive. So the number of factories was sufficient.
Now 3070 you fight to eradicate. And that means you need production capacity. And that means a lot of factories.
And build some hidden factories too. To avoid Holy Shroud X and destruction of factories by enemies. So hide them well and dont store the data on which planets they are in the main Computer of the Triad, because then you can send their location directly to Luthien, Atreus etc.

Yes but fax's are omnidirectional. And if Hohiro finds out... All hell will break loose.

[Adventwolf]

They have very little industry really though (plus a lot of mixed areas, quite a few places would be much less inclined to break away from the Lyrans after all), no real economic centre and are terribly open to any new Clans looking to rip open an Inner SPhere holding as they evacuate the Kerensky Cluster. OR even the Wolves or Falcons looking for resource raids or anything like that.

Still, less immediate threads to be sure even if long term its a pretty bleak outcome.

Free Skye has always been full of itself to an insane level.

Half the time I think Katrina should have let the Kuritans take it (except for Heph II of course) and told Skye that it wanted its independence and was always so confident that it could take care of itself, well, here's their chance!
And when the ISF swarm in right on the heals of the DCMS occupation troops without any kid gloves on and Free Skye rapidly finds out just how much of a soft touch the Lyrans actually used and how much self control they really had compared to the horror that living under Kuritan rule is...

Of course, the average person there doesn't deserve it, but the average person seems to tolerate an awful lot from Free Skye given how long the province has been a restive hotbed for.

Anyway. At this point without an actual Archon or clear central leadership figure and the LAAF badly overstretched and strategic command paralyzed (Adam should have been screaming recall orders to the FWL units before Peters body was cold in brutal honesty), its looking increasingly bleak for the Lyrans.  But if Victor can DO anything is probably going to depend if Comstar gets off its royal behind and starts striking back now, to tackle the WOB threat.

ComStar has been fighting the WoB the entire time they never stopped. They just never hit Terra since they need more ships. But they have been hammering the WoB where ever they find them from the start of the story and when they started getting more support they kept going and increased operations.

[Chris OFarrell]

ComStar has been fighting the WoB the entire time they never stopped. They just never hit Terra since they need more ships. But they have been hammering the WoB where ever they find them from the start of the story and when they started getting more support they kept going and increased operations.

They're hardly hammering the WOB. They're playing paddy-cake with them really. The BIGGEST operation they launched was a single division supported by a flotila of warships to get in, rip up a WOBM unit and get out quickly. Which was great for what it did, but otherwise the only major operation they launched was the flotila to intercept the first shipment of Mechs to the Combine. They're not operating by any means at a high tempo but seem to just be sitting around, still building up...

If they're hitting the WOB at all, its on a very tiny scale. Its well past time for them to put up or shut up and REALLY get into the fight and stop screwing around. Especially as the WOB are never likely to be this overstretched again.

[Adventwolf]

They're hardly hammering the WOB. They're playing paddy-cake with them really. The BIGGEST operation they launched was a single division supported by a flotila of warships to get in, rip up a WOBM unit and get out quickly. Which was great for what it did, but otherwise the only major operation they launched was the flotila to intercept the first shipment of Mechs to the Combine. They're not operating by any means at a high tempo but seem to just be sitting around, still building up...

If they're hitting the WOB at all, its on a very tiny scale. Its well past time for them to put up or shut up and REALLY get into the fight and stop screwing around. Especially as the WOB are never likely to be this overstretched again.

No they have not been sitting around again we are mostly seeing things only from the FedSuns side not an omnipresent perspective. And the OP already made it clear that ComStar has been fighting the WoB on other fronts and engaging them. That is what is happening in the background.

[Billy Boy Mark II]

Okay just to say - I've not forgotten about this timeline ladies and gentlemen. I've been pretty ill and given that I lost almost 2 weeks work (I get paid for what I work not salaried) I've had to bust my ass trying to catch back up. But I haven't abandoned this. Promise.

[Hawkeye Jim]

We'll wait. Get your health and finances back in order. Real life always takes first place.

[mikecj]

Take your time, this is a story well worth waiting for.  Thanks for sharing.

[marauder648]

Aye, look after yourself first :)

[Tyler Jorgensson]

Ditto: we can wait. I mean come on we’re Battletech fans after all!

And personally I’m a Game if Thrones Fan, a fan of the series Gentleman Bastards (whose last book was 2013 and then 2007 previously), and a couple other things like that.

No worries man! Get healthy!

[Billy Boy Mark II]

Thank you guys, mostly back to normal health wise just having to catch up with work.

Then I have to reread everything I've done so far and my note so I  don't screw up the next update. :D

[Chris OFarrell]

Seriously dude, health and wealth first. This is just a hobby which we are all incredibly grateful for you participating in, but it sounds like you more than have your head screwed on straight with your priorities!

[Billy Boy Mark II]

Seriously dude, health and wealth first. This is just a hobby which we are all incredibly grateful for you participating in, but it sounds like you more than have your head screwed on straight with your priorities!

I tend to be pretty committed to my work (you have to be working legal aid :D), which is why getting ill was such a major problem. For one thing totally lost my voice on top of feeling absolutely dreadful. My colleague I work with actually got pretty worried that I was taking time off at all as he knows what I'm like for working through illnesses/weekends/migraines/etc... so called me and nearly had a fit when he heard how bad I sounded.

Anyway health is back to 95% and work is catching back up. So hopefully an update soon. 

Mostly my interests in battletech, various other sci fi and fantasy (including writing) tends to be to let me destress after a day of dealing with extremely challenging clients and helps keep me sane. :D

[Hawkeye Jim]

The purpose of hobbies is to help relief the stress of life and put your thinking back in order. If your life was stress free and in perfect order, would you even need a hobby?

[Billy Boy Mark II]

The purpose of hobbies is to help relief the stress of life and put your thinking back in order. If your life was stress free and in perfect order, would you even need a hobby?

Might not need it, but it would still be fun. :D

[Billy Boy Mark II]

3070 - September - Steel's Winter Warriors

"This is David Steele and welcome to Steele's Hard Truths's Tharkad Special - Winter Warriors! This is New Avalon's premier Military and Foreign Affair's talk show coming to you from Tharkad!" David Steele flashed his trademark and famous welcoming grin while inwardly seething that he wasn't getting paid nearly enough for this nonsense. Whatever idiot in scripts or development or PR had thought this lunacy up was going to pay for shipping him all the way to this freezing ice ball when (not if) he found out it was! While the excellent relations that Hard's Truth maintained with the AFFS had allowed he and his production and filming team to plug into the various jump-lines linking the former FedCom it still had resulted in a horrendous succession of jumps knowing that the WOB or some other lunatic group wouldn't care that a news team was piggy backing on the AFFS or LAAF jumpship! He should be back at home on sunny New Avalon with his new girlfriend, not stuck out here. Still appearances had to be maintained so he grinned at the camera with all his usual enthusiasm. "As every I am your host and I have some two special guests tonight for this very special show of Winter Warriors! Firstly I would like to introduce you to retired Hauptmann-General Isadora Agravaine, former commander of the Alliance Guard Brigade. Alongside her is retired General Geoffrey Berg, former commanding officer of the prestigious Donegal Guards Brigade... Yes General Agravaine?"

The beautiful face of the General was far to young for a women who was a retired general, but then again her links with the former Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion explained not only her swift rise to the rank of Hauptmann-General and also her subsequent "retirement". Now that beautiful face was twisted into a mien of unhappiness. "I prefer my civilian title since the disgraceful behaviour of the current officer corp of the LAAF in not launching a crusade to liberate my good personal friend Archon Katrina from the despotic clutches of her brother the so called First Prince Victor Davion... I do not wish to be associated with the current honour less leadership of the LAAF! I would request that you refer to me as the Grafina von Selby Mr Steele."

Before Steele could think of a suitable reply General Berg snorted. "Oh by all mean's please do ignore the Grafina's military service, those of us who were real soldiers with the AFFC and LAAF would love to ignore it and pretend it never happened!"

"I served my Archon with pride which is more than what you can say traitor!" The Grafina snapped back.

"You served a matricidal maniac and feathered your own nest you mean!" The General snapped back.

"Grafina von Selby, General Berg... Please... let's try and keep things civil... I realise that tempers are running a little high... But let's remember we're all friends here..." Steele almost had to lean forward between the two glaring former AFFC and LAAF officers. It was a little early in the show for a fist fight after all! "Now... Grafina... You were about to get into this evening's topic..."

"The current aid coming from FedRat's to help the LAAF? Yes... It's merely what the Feddie's are due us for the kidnapping and selling of the greatest Archon since her grandmother to the Wolves by the Davion High Command in December 3060! Even if they sent us a thousand times what they currently have done they couldn't even begin to pay us back for their military junta's crime of depriving us of her leadership!" Isadora Agravaine spoke coldly. "Had they seen the wisdom in supporting her perfectly legal assumption of power from her sister Yvonne in 3060 then I have absolutely no doubt's the the Federated Commonwealth would have been reborn and we would be entering a new Golden Age with the FedCom reforging the Star League for all the peoples of the Inner Sphere!"

This time the other guest panellist didn't snort, he stared in almost dumbfounded shock before turning to Steele. "My agent told me that we weren't allowed to drink before we came on the show... But the Grafina is clearly drunk out of her mind!"

"How dare you?!" She drew back to slap him.

"General! Grafina! Now please... no personal attacks, please... And no physical attacks either!" David barely managed to stop them coming to blows. "Now General, that wasn't a very diplomatic way of putting it, but I presume you disagree with the Grafina's points?"

"I couldn't disagree with them more Mr Steele. Frankly the worst mistake that the Lyran people have ever made was to follow the Usurper-Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion into her rebellion in the 3057. Had we stood side by side with our Davion allies and comrades under the leadership of Victor Steiner-Davion I don't doubt we would have prevailed against the Capellan and League invasions. Hell with the full might of the AFFC behind him the Archon-Prince might have done to the Capellan's in 3057 or '58 what he did to them in '68 and '69!" General Berg pointed over at the still enraged aristocrat. "It was due to the Social General's like the Grafina over there that we didn't. I'll even admit that officers like myself have to shoulder some of the blame for the mistakes made in those days, as we were prepared to take General of the Armies Nondi Steiner at her word that we should follow the Usurper-Archon. If we'd known then what we knew now..."

"So you regret the break up of the Federated Commonwealth General? That's something that many within the Federated Sun's will find hard to believe coming from a LAAF officer who was a key player back in '57 I have to say..." Steele saw Berg literally wince as the barb hit home.

Still the General rallied. "I do. Bitterly. We all make mistakes Mr Steele and that one has haunted me. The Grafina goes on about how had the AFFS's officer corp stood by and allowed Katherine Steiner-Davion to usurp control of New Avalon in the same way we stood by and allowed her to usurp Tharkad then the FedCom might have been reborn, but I think she's spent so long skiing that her brains froze. The AFFS's High Command stood by their oaths to the Archon-Prince and proved themselves better men and women than we did in '57..."

"If you love the AFFS so much why don't you join it?!"Hissed Agravaine.

General Berg smiled bitterly at her. "Because I'm too old, they wouldn't have me after my lack of action in '57 and honestly because I'm still a Lyran and love my country. I just refuse to pretend that what we did was right... Which is why I formally support the movement to offer the throne of the Lyran Alliance to the First Prince at his own discretion as per Honoured Representative Anand's motion to the Estates General..."

"Treacherous Quisling!" Agravaine.

"Lunatic!" Berg.

As the two lunged at each other Steele carefully sidestepped back to avoid getting caught up in the scuffle, giving it a good 20 seconds before indicating security to step in... Maybe he was warming to Tharkad's possibilities...

[Adventwolf]

Of course, the losers of the little coup are angry and grasping at whatever they can get. They know they are done and that they will have to pay the price of their betrayal. They think if they get the bitch back that they will regain power when in fact they are going to be some of the first to be killed in a new set of purges for letting her be taken in the first place.

[snakespinner]

You just started writing again and first thing comes out, a mixed catfight.
Good to see you back writing. :beer:

[Billy Boy Mark II]

You just started writing again and first thing comes out, a mixed catfight.
Good to see you back writing. :beer:

It's been a bad few months...  ;)

[Hawkeye Jim]

At least now you can return to the bosom of sympathetic friends and colleagues.

[EAGLE 7]

Good to see your back up and running.
Enjoying this story.

[PsihoKekec]

[Benny Hill theme plays in the background]