Stepping into 3105
3105
Draconis Combine Raid
Orestes District, Rasalhague Dominion
9th January 3105 The Warlord of Benjamin Mitsura Sakamoto feeling dishonoured by Warlord Minoru Kurita’s decision to award Dieron’s successes by transferring planets from Benjamin’s control to Dieron leads a personal attack on the Rasalhague Dominion planet of Kiesan leading the Ninth Sword of Light Regiment.
Landing on the planet the Warlord leads the Regiment from his Dragon BattleMech against the Ghost Bears of the 115th Striker Cluster and Nineteenth Battle Cluster of the Rasalhague Dominion. In the opening volleys of the battle the Warlord’s Dragon was cut down by the massed fire of the Bears against them. Within two days of battle the Ninth Sword of Light Regiment is completely destroyed by the Rasalhague Dominion forces.
Inside the Draconis Combine Shichiro Hayashida is named as the new Warlord of the Benjamin District by Warlord Minoru Kurita and is tasked with preparing the District of Benjamin for the Ghost Bear’s counter attack.
Nova Cat Counter-attack
Crucis March, Federated Suns
18th January 3105 Following the Federated Suns Raid against Clan Nova Cat’s territory the Clan counter attacks against the Federated Suns periphery regions striking at multiple worlds in heavy raids. For the most part the Nova Cat’s restrict these attacks to simple Trials of Possession however they also seize the sytems of Skepptana, Maram, Sodertalje and Adelson. The Nova Cat’s take their raids a step further with the elite Forty-fourth Nova Cat Cavaliers Cluster raiding Malagrotta distracting command elements of the Ninth Crucis Lancers RCT from defending against the Nova Cat raids. The Forty-fourth keeps the Ninth Crucis busy for two weeks before abandoning the system and returning to the Nova Cat’s Den.
Raids and Counter-attacks
Coventry Province, Lyran Commonwealth
19th January 3105As Clan Jade Falcon continue their efforts to keep the Lyran Commonwealth off balance three Clusters Solahma troops launch raids against the Lyran and Mountain Wolf supply lines on New Capetown, Bluque and Krievci. These raids are little more than suicide runs with all three Solahma destroyed by the Lyran Commonwealth, Mountain Wolf and Star League Defence Force units.
Despite the Solahma attacks the Lyran Commonwealth raids and successfully liberates Kolovrety, Annuniziata and Chapultepec from Clan Jade Falcon control. The Lyrans find little resistance from the Jade Falcons who have stripped units from the periphery area of their Occupation Zone to hold onto other more important systems.
Marseille Royal Hospital
Marseille, France
Terra, Star League Protectorate
23rd January 3105 It had been a week since Prince Burton Davion had been fitted with the myomer replacement arm the doctors had said it would have to be unpowered to allow his body to adjust to its presence before they took the next step and now was the day for the next step. “Prince Davion we are activating the power source now. You will feel a slight twinge” one of the doctors said “I’d like you to try to remain calm and do not try to move the arm” he said. A few moments later Burton felt like someone had sent a searing poker through his side he remained in position as the pain passed slowly before it was completely gone. “Prince Davion are you still with us?”
“Barely” Burton admitted clenching his right fist surprising himself the myomer left arm clenched the arm’s fist as well. “Damn” he said smiling opening both fists then closing his flesh hand and then the mechanical one separately.
“Very nice Burton” the doctor said as Burton tried to raise his arm sideways his flesh and blood arm move with ease but the other didn’t move. “Slowly” the doctor said seeing Burton’s frustration building “the new arm needs to learn how to work with you it’s not going to work overnight its all about muscle memory just like the real thing you need to teach this arm how to behave.”
“And once it knows what its doing?”
“Once you teach it what to do you’ll barely notice the difference between the two” the doctor promised bringing a grin from the Prince he was beginning to turn the corner since his injury on the Combine border. Over the course of the next three weeks Burton Davion learns how to use the artificial left arm as well as he ever used his natural limb. Once it was clear that Burton’s body was not rejecting the limb the Terran doctors fitted it with a synthetic skin which for all intensive purposes looked just like human skin with several courses of treatments the doctors matched the skin’s colour to Burton’s natural colour making the limb appear completely normal.
Garden of the Gods, New Greenland
New Olympica, Star League Protectorate
Free Worlds League
28th January 3105 The independent McKenna-class Battleship Subtlety and her attending JumpShips of the Subtlety Profitable Training College of Military Arts had spent the tail end of 3104 with the people of the District of Regulus and had on multiple occasions stated they would remain an independent force. Their arrival at New Olympica, the first planet to have an official Star League Defence Force presence, it was expected that the Subtlety would align itself and its trainers with the Star League Defence Force but Captain William Leroy-Dietrich made it very clear in his first meeting with the SLDF representatives that Subtlety would remain independent. Despite this the WarShip and its attached college was welcomed into the system and given full access to the SLDF training facilities including the SLDF’s own training WarShip the SLS Sheridan, a Bonaventure-class Corvette. The Star League officials had revealed to the Subtlety’s crew that the McKenna’s original name while under the flag of the first Star League Defence Force the SLS Billingsgate however even this revelation is not enough to sway the current crew of the Subtlety.
As well as training with the SLDF and seeing the facilities on offer at New Olympica the Subtlety’s crew had been offered the chance of shore leave at New Olympica’s many resorts. Over the years since the Star League’s take-over of the system they had promoted the rebuilding of the many resorts one such place was high in the mountains of the island of New Greenland known as the Garden of the Gods.
“It’s beautiful here” Commander America Park said glancing over the snow covered mountain range.
“Beautiful but cold” Captain William Leroy-Dietrich said pulling his fur lined jacket close to his body.
“It was your idea to come here” America teased closing on him she’d remained on the Subtlety because it offered her an opportunity she could not have in the Magistracy of Canopus. She’d stayed on the ship because of its commander. William Leroy-Dietrich was a puzzle to her although he was older than her by a decade but had the drive and desire of a young fighter pilot while commanding the Subtlety with what seemed like endless patience it was a series contradictions that confused her and attracted her.
“We were invited” William said simply blowing warm air into his hands then stuffing them in his jacket’s pockets.
“You were the one that was invited, perhaps they think you’ll have an accident and they can recruit the Subtlety with a new Captain.” She suggested half joking.
“There’s only one accident I want to have” William said kneeling down on the balcony beside her America Rebecca Park will you marry me?” he asked looking up from her having produced a beautiful studded ring.
“What?” She asked surprised by his question “where did this come from? When did you start feeling like this?” She asked in rapid succession.
“Will you marry me” he repeated himself “you know how I feel it’s been fun together but I know you miss home” he said she’d spoken of the Magistracy several times over the last few months often wondering if she’d given up her career for the bashed up WarShip. “I want you to make a new home on Subtlety, with me” he said she could see it in his eyes he was serious not just feeling sorry for her.
“You’re serious?” She asked still shocked William hadn’t moved from his kneeling position.
“I’m serious” he said “I bought this three months ago on Harmony, I’ve brought you to the Garden of the Gods one of the most beautiful places on New Olympica” he said looking out over the mountains “but Commander it is up to you.” He said more formally reminding her of what she could still have. The two of them had danced around this for months having fun together as a couple while also serving the Subtlety and the College. Now William Leroy-Dietrich wanted to take it a step further like he’d seen others of his crew do they’d talked together about renovating part of the cargo bay on board the Subtlety into new training rooms and accommodation William had even made note that such a renovation could include space for larger staterooms which she hadn’t thought much about before but now it made more sense.
“Yes” she said suddenly still looking down at him “yes I’ll marry you” she said agreeing to his proposal. The ring slipped onto her finger fitting perfectly, how he’d guessed her size she had no idea, but she didn’t care as the Captain rose to his feet and met her lips with his.
The two spent another two weeks together in the Garden of the Gods enjoying the winter sports on offer in the mountains while enjoying each others company. Their time on New Olympica was shared by dozens of others from their travelling college while in space the Subtlety, their aerospace fighters and DropShips trained against and with the Star League Defence Forces in system.