Chapter Ten
HAF Command (Forward)
Tacoma, North America
Terra, Terran System
19 August 3060
General Thomas Gates listened to his staff Intelligence Officer – Brigadier General Gabriella Rhett – as she reported on Word of Blake activities in the Terran System. Along with both Central Intelligence and SAS operations to counter them. With Com Star’s ROM so littered with Blakist agents and sympathizers. Calling upon Com Star’s ROM for assistance was itself a worrisome problem.
“With the help of the Primus and Precentor Koenigs-Cober, we have begun to use Com Star files to vette the intelligence we are collecting.” Rhett reported. What she didn’t report was that with the CIA’s continual infiltration of Com Star and both the Guard and ROM, this would allow CIA operatives to begin tracking down and arresting Word of Blake ROM operatives within Com Star. Thus vetting and cleaning up Com Star for themselves. When the schism happened things moved so fast that only a few of the planted agents joined with the Blakist and most of those were junior. Some are starting to miss check-ins indicating they have been compromised or that the rumored Toyama sect purge is real.
“Thank you General Rhett. I think with the arrival of Read Admiral Gonzales from Aerospace Defense Command, we will be able to begin to plug some of those gaps in SOL’s defenses.” Gates said looking over towards Admiral Gonzales. “What is your initial operating capability Admiral?”
“Thankyou sir, however SDS is not a perfect solution it is however one which will allow us to extend our reach. As of now I have one Drone Squadron. Commanded by the Bismarck. That’s twelve M-3’s, six M-10’s, seventy-two Mk 39-004 Interceptors and thirty-six Mk 39-007 Strikers with the autonomous units. Three Model 96C Howdah command ships are also deploying to serve as interim mobile controllers until the system swarm logic is established.” Gonzales reported.
“Very well, coordinate with Admiral Renaldi’s command for patrol assignments.” Gates ordered.
“Yes sir.” Gonzales answered.
Gates shifted the display on his tablet to a view of the Inner Sphere. “Ok let’s look around the Sphere.”
Rhett called up the information. “Yes sir, I will skip SLDF operations against the Clans as the info hasn’t changes since Task Force Bulldog departed for the Home worlds.” She adjusted the display. “With the Captain-General on Nova California with his son, the Free Worlds League Militia is more postured to defense at the moment.
“On the Lyran front Archon Katherine has been politically active in her anti-Victor campaign in both the Alliance and Commonwealth. Intentions is currently postulating that Katherine may attempt to depose her Brother soon. Duke Ryan is aware of this and is planning on traveling to New Avalon with a Battlegroup to conduct training with New Avalon’s defenders. The invitation will be sent via Tancred Sandoval and Field Marshal Jackson Davion.” Rhett looked again at her intentions and current threats.
“The greatest pause is rumblings of Capellan intelligence trying to stir something up with the Compact. I would look at a provocation between the two nations.” General reported.
Gates thought about the situation for a moment. “Gabriella, where would you deploy a naval defense force in the Compact should the need arise?”
She thought about that for a moment. “I would like to put one in the Denbar system. It’s central along the Confederations border and would allow for quick deployment along the line.”
“Admiral Gonzales?” Gates asked.
“Yes sir, a wing could deploy and if properly supported could defend the system primary.” The ADC expert reported.
Thomas Gates, commanding general of I Corps was about to make a decision that could be both insightful or disastrous. However, the moral code he had been trained to uphold, what ensured his rise to command of I Corps and himself sitting in the Tacoma Castle Brian while the virtual commander of Terran defenses. No he had been chosen for his skill, experience and character for this position. This was his time and he would be supported by Command and the Duke as they expected him to act in the best interests of the Hegemony and the people of the Inner Sphere.
“Doug,” he said getting the attention of his chief of staff. “draw up orders to redeploy Admiral Gonzales along with two Assault DropShip Flotillas to Denbar. Have them hold inside Commonwealth space until ordered to move in. I want RCT 1 ready to push towards the Compact and push our plan to Army G3 for approval. However, we can deploy naval forces now. I want a Combat Team ready to ship out aboard an Assault Transport to provide relief if needed.”
Major General Doug Tanner looked at his tablet and then back. “Yes sir, we should be able to pull that off easily.”
“Very well. Sandy,” he said changing to his logistics’ officer Colonel Sandra Palmer. “When will our reserves begin to arrive?”
Already expecting this question, she had the info pulled up. “The first wave will arrive next week and transition First Legion into 1ST BattleMech Division. Then in about a month we will have enough to outfit two mechanized infantry divisions. Our jump infantry divisions will be next.” She stopped, looked at her notes and continued. “Call it six months’ and we will be fully mobilized with two BattleMech divisions, four mechanized and two jump infantry divisions fully outfitted.”
“Very well. It will be nice to be able to expand our perimeter out some.” Thomas said to the others.
“Sir we will begin our survey of Star League facilities in the Terran system, our teams have already begun to survey New Earth and the old SLDF academy and command center.” This came from Colonel Talasko. As the liaison to the Replacement – Deployment (RepDep) Command. “We have been working with Colonel Suk and his people to ensure we remain covert in our efforts. General Hammond has reported that several of our prospective sites may have been compromised by Com Star. Everything we stored there during Operation EXODUS is still present however.”
“Then what is the problem Colonel?” Gates inquired.
“1ST SOG is already looking into the situation and Colonel Suk is traveling to linkup with his command and investigate further.” Colonel Talasko reported.
“Alright, keep me informed. Now moving on. Doug when is Exercise Fowl Eagle going to kick off?” Hates asked his Chief of Staff.
“Two weeks. The 149TH Battle will support 8TH Mechanized Infantry Division as they simulate a Word of Blake landing on the Korean peninsula. After that the Com Guard 201ST will respond supported by both a Terra Sec and 21ST Centauri Lancer Battalions. Both of the supporting Battalions will have a Level III of Com Guard Infantry in support.” Tanner briefed.
“Well I hope this goes well for the Com Guard. This will be the largest defense drill Terra has seen since Operation PERSUASIVE FORCE back before the Coup.” Gates looked around. Everyone knew what the Coup was. No one spoke of it as the Amaris Coup or the Star League Civil War. It was the Coup to the Hegemony. “If there is nothing else?” He said standing.
Everyone around the table stood to attention and saluted. “Victory.” They all sounded off with the Corps motto.
* * *
Word of Blake AA Sierra-3
Amazonia, South America
Terra, Terran System
Precentor Randolf Kanni watched as the survivors of his battered Division continued to repair their equipment in the Jungles of the Amazon rain forest. With no air cover and DropShips able to fly he had no way of escaping Terra and returning to Gibson. He was still in denial over the mission. How had their plan fallen apart, where had these heretics come from claiming to be the Terran Hegemony-in-Exile? These were all questions he must answer now.
He had rallied what was left of his Division to here. Located around 250 kilometers south east of Santo Antônio Do Içá deep in the Amazon. Now he had to find away to keep his battered command alive. While his Division was not at full strength before jumping into the system with only four Level III’s. He now had a core based around his Sacred Dreams III-omicron and around two level II’s each from his own Crown of Light III-iota and Blazing Hearts III-kappa. His fourth Level III so aptly named Bloody Skies III-mu, as to how their DropShips were destroyed while executing their drop and the Pods that did get clear were hunted down by aerospace fighters.
Precentor VI Shilpa Pai was his only other battalion commander alive was in the cockpit of his Orion as he thought about his position on Terra. He wasn’t in any shape to conduct an offensive. He was well situated to conduct an insurgency, if however, he was able to get supplies brought in. And with how long it took to pull this camp together it would take even more to get a message out.
Twenty-four BattleMechs, nine tanks of various types, three useless in the jungle as they were too heavy, ten squads of Battle Armor, three squads of Achileus, two Longinus and three Inner Sphere Standard squads. Rounding out the force was nine platoons of infantry. Now how to use them.
“Precentor Pai, if you would please?” Kanni bade him over to where he was located. Dressed in his coveralls Pai walked over to where Kanni was near a tree.
“Yes sir?” He asked.
“I have been thinking. Since we tried to take this world so long ago we have been on the run. Able to scavenge what we can. But soon we will have to do something. Our food stocks are about to run out what do you think our next course of action should be?” Kanni asked.
Pai looked grim. “With what we faced in space and on the surface we need to either ditch our equipment and try and book civilian passage off of this planet or prey that our brethren can relieve us soon.”
“That is what I am afraid of Shilpa.” Kanni said sitting down. “I don’t think they will come for us for some time if they ever can. They must think us lost by now, either dead or as prisoners.”
“Yeah.” Pai exhaled as he sat next to Kanni. “I believe that we have only two real options. Surrender to the Hegemony and hope that they don’t turn us over to Com Star. Or find a way off of this planet and back to the League.”
Kanni watched Pai for several minutes as he pondered the choices before him. The mission was over, no matter what they tried to do. There were just too many variables right now. And from the reports being picked up over the airwaves and the few recon missions to civilian populations, the Hegemony had landed eight Divisions onto Terra. These were not Com Guard or Blakesit Militia Divisions either. These were Star League Defense Force Style Divisions.
“We need a little bit more information. There is a space port at Eirunepé. We need to push a recon force there to determine what they have that we can use.” Kanni decided. “Then we bring up our wounded and what other equipment we can.”
Pai thought about it for a bit. Looking at his old friend and Commander he made his support known. “Let’s do this then. I’ll take the recon team. You bring up the assault force?”
Precentor Kanni stood up from his spot leaning again the Amazonian rubber tree. “Then its decided. Let’s get moving.”
* * *
THS Regent
Nadir Jump Point
Terran System
The bluish-white energy flash burst into the Terran System at 1432 TST. Captain Carlos Delgado watched his crew go through their post jump checks. He was proud of his crew as each station from the ships command center reported to the ships Executive Officer. As they completed their checks everyone aboard was at battle stations as per the protocol when jumping into a non-Hegemony system.
“Sir, combat reports our jump zone is clear. Traffic control is ordering us clear along heading 235 mark 127.” Commander David Rothenberg reported from his jump station.
Checking his relay screen Delgado gave his nod of approval. “Very well XO set course 235 mark 127 all ahead one half gravities. Set condition two throughout the ship. XO you have the bridge.”
Delgado stood up and made his way out of command and into the lift. It took him five minutes to make his way to the Duke’s stateroom. He keyed the door alert and waited. After about ten seconds the hatch opened and he stepped in.
“I take it that we have arrived at our destination Captain?” Duke Michael Ryan inquired from his desk. Delgado noticed that he was working over a star chart.
“Aye sir. We have maneuvered clear and will begin recharging within the next thirty minutes. Are you still intending to maneuver in-system?” Delgado asked of the Regent.
“At this moment yes. However, spin up the HPG and prepare two way communications with General Gates.” Ryan ordered.
“Aye sir.”
“And Captain?” Ryan said catching Delgado before he departed.
“Sire?”
Ryan looked up from his notes looking at the Captain standing across from him. “What do you think of what we are doing here on Terra and in the Commonwealth?”
Delgado thought about everything that has happened up until this point. The intervention during both the splitting of the Commonwealth along with the defense of Terra and the strike at Gibson. He thought about his time as a Midshipmen aboard the THS Reliant before the Davion IIA-class came online and replaced numerous Lola III and Essex II hulls which had been in use for centuries. He remembered reading about the Succession Wars and how if the Project LEGION forces hadn’t supported Kerensky during the coup and remained aloof of the fighting how they would have been in a position to defend the Hegemony and perhaps stem the tide of destruction being wrought by the Houses.
“I just have to say one thing sir.” Delgado said drawing himself up to attention. “Its about damn time.” Delgado thought he had finally overstepped his bounds even as the Hegemony’s Flag Captain.
The hard piercing stare he received from Ryan almost confirmed this. “I couldn’t agree more. That is why we will be talking with General Gates in a few about reinforcing the Compact before me move on to New Avalon.”
“Very well sir.” Delgado said before departing with a noticeable spring in his step.
* * *
THS Regent
Nadir Jump Point
Terran System
Michael sat at his terminal anchored down in the chair as he reviewed the plan for deployment of forces being suggested by General Gates and reviewed by Fleet Admiral Mancuso his second in command over the THAFiE. He added the changes he wanted to make ensuring that Operations would cut the appropriate orders while switching back to review Mancuso’s recommendations. She wanted to surge an Escort Flotilla towards the Compact enabling them to jump straight for St. Ives and deploy as needed from there. Alert orders would place a brigade from each of the tagged divisions as a ready force assigned to deploy and establish beachhead’s for follow-on forces.
General Gates suggested a combined force of three divisions and four independent regiments from III Corps. As Ryan reviewed the troop deployments he decided to include a Fourth Division the 7TH BattleMech Division. Supporting this force was the 10TH Infantry, 39TH Mechanized Infantry and the 13TH Jump Infantry Divisions. The independents were still up for debate but the only logical choice would be the 8TH Light Horse, 2ND Dragoons, 69TH Striker and 66TH Heavy Assault Regiments.
Ryan added another element to the orders being written. He wanted the entire Task Force placed under Duchess Allard-Liao’s command. With that he hit send and beamed it to his staff section which would be written into official orders and sent to both I and III Corps commands along with 2ND Fleet.
Ryan waited in his stateroom while his staff worked. He knew Mancuso was returning from the Free Worlds League where she escorted the Captain-General and his Son Joshua home to Atreus. One thing that the rest of the Inner Sphere had yet to catch onto is the Hegemony’s communications capability independent of Com Star and Word of Blake. Even with the HAF’s second in command away in the League Michael was still able to talk with the Admiral via a series of small Hyperpulse Generator equipped Jump Ships and automated relay stations had been seeded throughout the Inner Sphere as part of the Exile’s military build up.
Michael’s terminal chimed for his attention. The incoming transmission signal alerted him to a connection being established between the THS Regent and Fleet Admiral Candice Mancuso’s flagship THS Hegemony.
Activating the link, he watched as Mancuso flashed into existence. “Hello Candice, how is your trip to Atreus going?” Michael began.
The middle aged woman looking back towards him smiled. “Well sire,” she began giving him the impression she was not alone. “We are about an hour from jumping out of the system.”
Michael thought about that before continuing. “Sounds good. This is more than a call to check on if you managed to make your drop off or not.” He said waiting for the relay through the HPG network. Each leg of the relay would incur 1.2 seconds of lag and with five relay stations in use between the two transmitting stations that left a lag of 6 seconds. Not crippling but sometimes bothersome.
“Very well.” She said looking off screen she excused someone and waited for several seconds before continuing. “Alright Michael we are alone.”
“Good.” He looked over his notes. “Intel thinks Sun-Tzu is going to make a move on the Compact soon and he’s already moving his troops around and ramped up training. The Forbidden City is stating that its training to send reinforcements to support the SLDF.”
Candice snickered. “Yeah that’s bullshit.” She said looking over a file she had on a tablet. “What are you thinking?”
“That I want to put four divisions and another four independent regiments into the Compact ahead of him. III Corps has the troops available now and I want to push them along with fleet assets in as soon as we can.” Michael said. “What do you think about that?”
“I would love to agree but aren’t we committed pretty heavily now as it is?” Candice asked.
“I guess you could say that. II Corps will be returning home from the Combine soon which should alleviate much of those concerns while III Corps is spread across much of what remains for the Sarna March. I Corps is completely deployed within the Terran System. II Corps will move to reinforce Phase Two and III Corps will assist both the Compact and the Commonwealth.” Michael stated outlining his plan for the region.
“That is still awfully risky Michael.” She said. “If any of the Houses chose to gang up on us then we may be faced with falling back into our home systems. What do we do if that happens?”
“Well I’ve already given the order to Admiral Nimitz to begin calling up the Naval reserves and to begin mobilizing the Reserve Fleet. General Gates is about to be promoted out of command of I Corps and become head of Regular Army Command…”
“That’s about time. Tommy’s going to hate it but we’ve needed someone in that position since you canned Mark Reynolds.” Mancuso said with a sardonic smile.
“Yes and Tommy’s the best choice that I can think of. I want Austin to take over I Corps when he gets back from the Combine. That should leave us in a good position for when we kick off Phase Three.” Michael revealed.
Candice nodded to herself as she listened to her Duke. “Alright I can see that. I’ve talked with General Terry.” She said.
“And?” Michael asked.
“And, he thinks he can complete the mobilization of the reserves sooner then he planned. Those BattleMech regiments will be fully deployed by September. Now mobilizing additional brigades and divisions may be a tougher nut to crack but as of right now I’ve instructed him to mobilize two reserve infantry divisions per system to assume responsibility for the Home Systems. After that he is free to begin building IV Corps.”
Michael found himself nodding to the logic in that. “I like it but I want to make a change. I’m enroute to New Avalon now with the 101ST and I am going to approach about a trade deal.”
Candice thought about that for a few moments before responding. “What do you plan to ask for? More importantly what are you going to offer?”
That was when Michael gave her that smile she dreaded…
