The Marathon 2 has a new name Vision Seeker my thanks to Abele for suggesting it
My thanks to James Tanaga for the Rim Collection scene
Jade Falcon assaults
Lyran Commonwealth
8th November 3102
Clan Jade Falcon crosses the Lyran Commonwealth border assaulting Atocongo, Timkovichi and Santana. On Atocongo Clan Mountain Wolf put up a spirited defence losing two full Clusters of warriors fighting the Jade Falcons before the Tenth Mountain Guards Cluster defended against the final assaults of Clan Jade Falcon which allowed dozens of civilians and traders to escape. The Tenth Mountain lost nearly half its strength in the defence but it was able to destroy the command elements of the Second Falcon Velites and the First Falcon Strike Clusters in the battle which disorganized the remaining Jade Falcons turning the battle into a general melee. After the Tenth’s escape from Atocongo both Jade Falcon clusters were struck from the Jade Falcon’s rolls by an angry Khan Ruel Chistu. The battles on Timkovichi and Santana were far more one-sided with both falling to the Jade Falcons within hours of the Clan’s landing on the planet.
At the same time as the Jade Falcon assaults on the Lyran Commonwealth Clan Hell’s Horses struck at the rear areas of Clan Jade Falcon seizing Benfeld and Ballymore. With the Jade Falcons increasing their territory and the Hell’s Horses increasing the size of their border with the Lyran Commonwealth Khan Evan Kell, of Clan Mountain Wolf, begins to worry about the security of his Clan on Arc Royal and begins to consider an alternate to remaining on the planet.
Federated Suns Embassy
Gilfillan’s Gold, Rim Collection
Periphery
11th November 3102
Matthew Davion sat in the bench as he relaxed in the small park that sat just inside the Federated Suns embassy, watching his daughter Victoria playing with other children in the small playground. He smiled congenially as she stopped and waved at him before returning to playing with the other children. While work may have brought him to the embassy for the day, it allowed him to spend much of the day with his little girl, something that meant more to him then he had thought possible when he first started the relationship with Karen.
“Your daughter seems at home here,” answered the man sitting to his left.
“You sound a bit surprised, sir. After all, she’s half a Davion,” he rebutted with pride as he continued to watch his daughter play.
“And the other half an Able,” Damien Redburn warned, causing Matt to turn and face the Federated Suns ambassador, his nominal superior.
“Still think Karen decided to jump in bed with the SLDF, I take it,” he asked humorously a moment later.
Damien Redburn sighed. “Your ‘Princely Cousin’ as you like to call him would have rather kept the Caliburn-class to only the Rim Collection and the Federated Suns, Matt. Turning her back on her allies like she did forced his hand.”
Matt turned away from his superior. “She received the news earlier, sir,” he commented idly as his eyes caught his daughter’s Rim Watch bodyguards being shadowed by FedSuns personnel, though at a distance. “I had guessed it was her pregnancy hormones talking until the right hook she gave me.”
Redburn shook his head humorously. “The sacrifices we make for the realm, Commodore.”
“But some sacrifices are so much worth it, don’t you think sir?” was Matt’s grin full rebuttal, causing the ambassador to laugh.
“Joking aside,” Matt continued a moment later. “The President was just as shocked as the First Prince was when the SLDF showcased their Caliburns. She thought we had given the SLDF the designs not the other way around.”
“That doesn’t make sense, Matt. How could the SLDF have grabbed your designs without help from the Rim Collection?”
“Hopefully this will be the answer,” Matt informed him as he handed a thick folder to Ambassador Redburn.
Opening the folder up, Redburn glanced through the contents. “SLIC? Is this a joke Matt,” he asked, not believing what he was seeing. Flicking through the pages, the colored photos of two men and a woman stood out.
“No sir. The Rim Collection Security Services arrested them three a week ago. Inside their lodgings, they found evidence of the Caliburn leak. The three will be released to the Star League with a warning in two days,” Matt concluded.
“Any idea how they found out about the Caliburns?” Damien asked, studying the pictures a bit more.
“Rim Collection Intelligence has no idea, but their file on the woman is a bit thicker than the two men. Apparently, she works for the Rim Collection’s Department of Communications. They believe she found out via a stray message from our embassy to the Rim Collection Touman since her position didn’t allow her to study Rim Collection encryption and the three had an old copy of our code book, sir,” Matt speculated.
Redburn flipped through the pages, than settled on one to study further. “This file is pretty deep, judging from the fact they included said code book into it, Commodore,” Damien commented.
“The advantages of being the President’s lover, Mr. Ambassador,” Matt replied humorously. “That and the Collection’s intelligence and investigation services have become downright scary over the past few years.”
Redburn nodded at that. “They returned our own DMI intelligence agents as well. Every six months, they round them up and return them to the embassy, like clockwork. They don’t ever get them all but the question always hangs over – did they leave the rest for the next round up?” The Ambassador mused overall the DMI operations in the Rim Collection were very limited and focused on the Mandrills and on gathering intelligence on the Stone Spirits but the Rim Collection’s own Watch was showing itself very effective.
“It’s almost like the Rim Collection Intelligence is using our agents as training. That or a game, sir” Matt said showing his own thoughts mirrored those of Redburn. “And whenever I broach the topic to Karen, she just smiled and shrugs,” Matt added.
Redburn nodded. “At least they return them to us. Less said about the Lyran agents the better,” he let that matter go, sighing, as he closed the thick folder and put it down beside him.
A few moments passed as they continued to watch Victoria play in front of them. “Any news on if my cousin will be allowing Able Arms to submit a bid to buy Avalon Arms Company?” Matt asked. “Karen is stressed her company has yet to receive permission.”
Redburn nodded thoughtfully. Avalon Arms produced Kruger reconnaissance vehicles for the AFFS and was a highly successful company for its size. A week before the SLDF’s unveiling of its two brand new Caliburn battle-cruisers, the private company had publicly began looking to merge itself with other military contractors roughly its own size or smaller.
“I doubt the First Prince will allow that, Matt. The Caliburn leak although an SLIC operation still happened on Rim Collection soil and hasn’t gone down too well on New Avalon.” Damien commented back to put it ‘hasn’t gone down too well’ was putting it mildly from what Damien had heard officials on New Avalon were raging at the SLIC actions. Unfortunately they were too embarrassed and wished to save face to mention it publicly in some ways Damien wondered if a war between the intelligence agencies was inevitable without a real war to distract them. Both turned to watch Victoria run with to the swings with another girl and her close protection minder, a female Watch bodyguard.
“A long while,” Matt informed the other man nonchalantly. Both men knew the effects of the First Prince not allowing Able Arms a shot at Avalon Arms, though Matt didn’t say anything. Able Arms had only an outside shot of being taken seriously in the bidding anyways they were on the other side of the Inner Sphere and though well funded would not be able to directly control the company instead offering only financial investments. Rim Motors had a better chance until the Caliburn situation had unfolded, yet had decided not to be included in the bidding.
As the female bodyguard began pushing the girls’ swings, Ambassador Redburn continued. “Tell me. I know Rim Motors recently acquired Millennium Industries on Terra. Is the company financially solvent enough to truly acquire Avalon Arms?” The Rim Collection’s interest in companies beyond its own borders was troubling, Redburn know that they worried about the Stone Spirits and relations with the Lyrans were still not brilliant but the Rim Collection’s ambition was startling.
The question caused Matt to snap his head to face Redburn in record time. “That would mean-,” he was cut off.
“He is open to allowing Rim Motors into the upcoming bidding war. I wouldn’t read too much into it,” Redburn chided the younger man, still watching Victoria and the other girl play on the swings.
It took Matt a moment to process what it meant. “Despite the loss of the Caliburn design, the First Prince would like the Rim Collection to remain as a possible counterweight to the Lyrans and it gives us a platform to watch the Stone Spirit threat which he takes seriously. Publicly welcoming Rim Motors an opportunity to acquire Avalon Arms after dismissing Able Arms, he sends a strong message the alliance with the Collection remains intact,” Matt concluded as he turned his gaze back to the girls.
“Don’t know if the opportunity is only for public consumption myself, but it’s something for Rim Motors to look into,” Redburn advised. “If it’s the real thing….”
Matt nodded. He understood all too well what it meant. “Seems the First Prince is no longer gambling on my children becoming the future rulers of the Rim Collection,” he commented nonchalantly a moment later.
“Blame Karen Able, not him,” Redburn commented back just as nonchalantly.
“Not blaming, just commenting,” Matt answered in kind. “And I don’t judge him. The factions within the Collection are acting like children, save for the Mandrills. Hiberius and Able are in a state of cold war with one another over who should lead, with smaller factions jockeying around and attempting power plays with one another. Stewart and the Trinity worlds are the new kids on the block and still learning the ropes while trying not to step on any one’s shoes. Finmark-Caldarium the troublesome brother attempting to rile the other factions into rescuing Lost from the Lyrans,” he summarized, sighing.
“Intel suggests the First Prince’s refusal to allow Able Arms into the bidding and switching his support to Rim Motors will cause Karen Able to support the Finmark-Caldarium faction into attacking Lost,” the ambassador inquired.
“Not directly, but it will force Karen Able into fully supporting plans which already been set into motion,” Matt answered as he rested his head in his right hand thinking as he watched his daughter run from the swings to the slides. “The militia and resistance forces on Lost are expected to take the planetary HPG any day now. When it happens, Karen will send the Rim Rangers and Forth Rim Lancers CCT’s to Lost as peacekeepers.”
Damien nodded. “And with them in place, hold the planet until a referendum to join the Collection passes. Democracy at its finest,” he bit out.
“Democracy is overrated and outdated,” Matthew rebutted despite the recent announcement in the Free Worlds League about a reformed parliament the Inner Sphere had long regarded the concept as a dead one. “But the illusion of democracy is not. And by supporting the Finmark-Caldarium faction into getting the Lyrans to withdraw from Lost, it will force a détente between the Able and Hiberius factions, for at least a little while.”
“Or a civil war. Your lover supporting the Finmark-Caldarium faction in this way will weaken her position militarily within the Collection,” Redburn reminded him.
“And that is why I said the Mandrills are behaving like adults. Their Khans privately informed both Karen and Hall they don’t care who starts a civil war, but they WILL end it,” Matt countered as he leaned back into the bench the Clan faction did not get involved politically in the Rim Collection they remained within their enclaves and continued to grow in strength. The recent announcement by the Mandrills that they would intervene in any active conflict had given both sides a pause to consider. “Being forced into backing the Finmark-Caldarium faction actually strengthens her position politically since Karen will be publicly showing she is putting the good of the Collection before the good of her own faction.”
“And why I hope the First Prince allows Rim Motors a real opportunity in the upcoming bidding war. Rim Motors has become a reliably politically neutral and independent party within the Collection. Strengthening its position within the Suns means the company can better act in our nation’s best interests,” the ambassador supplied.
Matthew Davion nodded. His family particularly had an interest in Avalon Arms Company, he well knew and wisely did not disclose to the ambassador. Matt hoped to inherit the said interest to better safeguard his growing position and the future of his children within the Collection he knew that the majority of the production would still go into the AFFS but any technical breakthroughs and at least some production would make its way to the Collection.
“I better leave you with your daughter Commodore,” Ambassador Redburn finally replied, standing up, picking up the thick folder by his side as he did so. “Have a good day with your daughter and make sure to give Intel a report on the Collection’s planned operation on Lost by thirteen hundred hours tomorrow.”
“Yes sir,” Matt replied as he stood and saluted the aging general, who returned in kind before leaving him to watch his daughter finish playing in the playground.
The very next day, the Federated Suns Ministry of Commerce and Trade publicly unveils a list of companies given permission to be included in the upcoming bidding war for Avalon Arms Company. The short list of fifteen companies for the most part is restrained to companies already operating within the Federated Suns, though does include three Lyran and two Star League companies, as well as the surprising entrant of Rim Motors, not the expected Able Arms, of the Rim Collection. When queried about why, the minister only replies that Rim Motors is now the more trusted of the two Rim Collection companies.
Planetary Assault
Royal, Matsuida Prefecture
Midway District of Midway, Draconis Combine
16th November 3102
Driven by anger at the assassination of Duke Tarncred Sandoval, and that they were not there, the First Robinson Rangers RCT launch an unprovoked assault on the system of Royal. The Ryuken-Ni Brigade of the DCMS who were defending the system out manuver the AFFS troops with the assistance of the Getting There Faster Mercenary Armour Battalion and Coulier’s Cossacks Mech Battalion. Within hours of their landing on Royal the First Robinson Rangers find themselves surrounded inside the City of Banchory. On the fourth day of the siege Tai-sa Pierrette Van Rumpade, the commander of the Ryuken-Ni, calls for a cease fire with the Robinson Rangers to allow the civilian population to leave the city.
Civil Disturbance
Lost, Inarcs Theatre
Coventry Province, Lyran Commonwealth
17th November 3102
In an intense firefight, Lost militia and resistance members hidden in a crowd of civilian protestors storm the planetary HPG and call for the freedom of Lost and aid from the Rim Collection. The Lyran authorities, backed by the Obsidian Lancers mercenary regiment, violently retake the facility six hours later, killing forty-three and wounding over a hundred and fifty protestors and resistance members while during the recapture. News of this bloody disturbance quickly spreads around the world’s small population leading to further disturbances.
Deep strike
Sarna, Sian Commonality
Capellan Confederation
22nd November 3102
Following a DMI Intelligence report that St Ives had been copied into Duchess Jaylen Davion leads two combined-arms Battalions with aerospace fighter support in a raid on the system of Sarna believing that her husband Duke Tristan Allard-Liao was being held in a military prison on the planet. For three hours the St Ives Lancers fought and defeated a small contingent of the First Capellan Defence Force securing the prison. Jaylen’s forces remained on Sarna for a further two days searching the prison facility and its attached annexes unfortunately not finding Tristan the Lancers evacuated Sarna before further Capellan units arrived in the area their mission an unfortunate failure. On their return from Sarna Jaylen Davion received a reprimand from her father First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion on her behaviour. While publicly Jaylen acknowledged her father’s message and agreed to refrain from further actions privately Jaylen had already begun to plan her next mission in search of Tristan. As news of Jaylen’s plans leaked out her dedication to this cause had won the hearts and minds of St Ives and the population was fully behind her.
