Finally into 3110 with a massive contribution from Vition2 it's time for the Ravens to fly.
3110
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Mechbay, Second Ducal Guard
Oriente, District of Oriente
Free Worlds League
7th January 3110 “The LB-X is a better weapon” fourteen year old Javier Halas said looking over at his twin brother Ralph while the two stood facing the paired Persus OmniMechs of the Second Ducal Guard Regiment. One of the two OmniMechs was equipped with the Primary weapons configuration which featured an LB-X autocannon while the other was configured with an ultra autocannon. Neither of them should have been there but it was late and security was far more lax than it should have been, especially for the twin sons of Oriente’s leader.
“Negative, the Ultra is superior, better firing rate means more damage you can knock a BattleMech down with an ultra.” Ralph replied confidently
“The LB-X is more versatile…”
“Ooooo it’s versatile” Ralph taunted Javier had always tended to read the technical manuals before entering a simulator while Ralph jumed straight to the action. “Read that in a book? This is the real world, brother; the ultra is the future of autocannon tech.”
“If the ultra was the future why have they not introduced a bigger version of the Rotary?”
“Because Davion scientists are idiots” Ralph said the Rotary was a faster ultra but it wasn’t his favourite weapon the barrels were too small. “The ultra is the Mech killer.”
“LB-X” Javier commented again resulting in his brother pushing him by the shoulder “hey!” He shouted pushing Ralph back.
“Hey yourself little brother” Ralph said trying to wind up his brother further.
“I’ll prove the LB-X is better”
“How you going to do that?” Ralph asked rolling his eyes but his brother reached into his pocket and produced a piece of paper “I don’t want to see new numbers.” He said looking up at the two seventy-five ton Mechs in front of him in a couple of years one like it would be his.
“Why not? These numbers are the codes to unlock those Mechs.”
“Where did you swipe those from?”
“That would be telling.” He said smirking “we could take a walk onto the firing range and prove which gun is better?” Javier suggested seeing his brother wanted to but hesitated. “Com’on what have we got to lose?”
“Our pocket money and maybe personal time for life” Ralph said looking up at the pair of Persus’ “but to pilot a real Mech… no more simulators…”
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Nearly an hour later the two brothers stood aside each other on the firing line their Mechs had joined an exercising lance the firing line and were facing several targets. Javier targeted one of the placards and fired his LB-X autocannon sending a stream of slugs through the target making a neat hole near the edge of the target. Moments Ralph did the same with his OmniMech’s ultra autocannon completely peppering the target with a stream of projectiles. “More effective” Ralph commented as Javier put another accurate shot through the target Ralph targeted another of the boards and fired destroying the target with a mass of projectiles.
“What a mess” Javier said proud of his own fire aiming at another target as suddenly his Mech was rocked by laser and short range missile fire as Ralph targeted the side and back of Persus causing armour damage. “What the hell?” Javier said seeing the damage twisting his own Mech towards Ralph’s along the firing line other Mechs stopped firing in surprise. “What are you doing we’re going to get into trouble.” He said lining up his weapons with his brother’s OmniMech.
“Like we’re not already in enough trouble when father finds out com’on let’s show who is best.” Ralph said lining up his weapons with his brother’s Persus.
“We wanted to prove which weapon was best” Javier said triggering his Mech’s autocannon and long range missile launcher firing at his brother’s OmniMech “but how can you judge a weapon without the other weapons on a Mech.” Explosions blossomed over the other Persus as it took the fire Javier trying to move his Mech away but taking the full brunt of the attack.
“BOTH OF YOU STAND THE HELL DOWN!” A voice screamed into their cockpits but already the two brothers were moving and firing again an autocannon blast from Ralph’s ultra autocannon went wide tearing into a pair of parked civilian vehicles as Javier avoided another attack. The missiles and laser fire fired back at Ralph’s Persus burned armour from the OmniMech’s skin as Javier provided himself to be an able shot. “MechWarriors this is your final warning standdown…” He said but his voice was droned out as the two OmniMechs continued to trade blows. Around the firing range the practice lance began to move to engage the Persus but already the two duelling twins as a flight of long range missiles from one of the Persus missed their target flying over smashing into a nearby office building shattering windows setting the building on fire. “Four… enth lance… get… legs bri… em down.” Came a broken transmission through Ralph’s cockpit moments later autocannons, particle cannons and missiles began to fire tearing into both Persus OmniMechs. Both of the Persus were targeted by two of the Fourteenth Lance’s BattleMechs and quickly their armour was penetrated and both Persus were disabled being knocked to the ground as their legs were torn open by rapid accurate fire.
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Several hours later Duke Jonas Halas and his wife Sherryl stood outside the isolation ward at Oriente’s main medical facility looking through the glass at their two sons who were currently under guard in their beds. Both of the twins had been injured during their “joyride” with Javier suffering a broken leg and arm while while Ralph had suffered broken ribs and a heavy concussion. Currently Jonas had the entire building under guard while the Second Ducal Guard were out in force in the capital. The twin’s battle had caused the deaths of forty-two civilians, most of which were caused by the office building fire, and when it had been announced at what the cause was the population of Oriente already reeling from Capellan Confederation assaults on their system and nation.
Second Terrorist Attack
Galatea Station, Isle of Skye
Lyran Commonwealth
8th January 3110A second terrorist attack on the Galatea Station causes nearly seventy-five deaths, including the station’s commander, and damage to two of the attached DropShips as well as damage to several sections of the ship. Without the intelligence resources to investigate themselves the station calls in Lyran Intelligence Agents to assist in the investigation. Despite the misgivings of the Security Chief, and without a station commander to support further investigation, the Intelligence Agents paint a picture that the Draconis Combine was responsible for the attack which causes further heavy raids by the Isle of Skye against the Military District of Dieron.
As the month of January ended Galatea Station received a new commander Leutenant-General Bruce Sheridan, a former WarShip commander with the Lyran Navy, a Lyran patriot and a man with a known dislike of the Draconis Combine and a distrust of the Star League Defence Force.
Battlefield
Morthac, Occupied Zone
Midway Military District, Draconis Combine
9th January 3110Bran revelled in the glory of combat facing the combined might equal to more than three times his Craven’s mass. Arrayed against him were a Panther, Grand Dragon, and a Hatamoto-Kaeru. Expertly utilizing his ‘mech’s jump jets and supercharger he made the Craven look almost like a dancer, moving out of the way of the PPC blasts, missiles and lasers intended for his OmniMech. He struck with near pinpoint accuracy targeting weak points of each of the ‘mechs he was facing slowly causing crippling damage. Regardless of his successes, by the time he had laid low both the Panther and Hatamoto-Kaeru his own ‘mech was pitted with damage showing it had been in battle, though he had managed to prevent any shots breaking through his armor.
“Star Colonel Bran MacTiernen,” a hard feminine voice came through his comms, “I require the use of two points of your aerospace fighters.”
“Hah, you interrupt my duel, and request help beyond your last bid? Your dishonor knows no bounds.” Knowing that releasing units of his own to assist in victory would only look favorably on him he connects to his bravo aerospace star, “Star Commander Venal, you and your star are being seconded to the Fourth, follow the commands of their Star Colonel.” The last two words of his command coming out as almost a curse.
Given the affirmative, Bran turned back to his duel, noting that with his mind on other things the armor on his ‘mech’s left torso now had some new holes in it. With his focus returned, he side-steps a volley of PPC and laser fire, one pulse laser splashing across his ‘mechs right chest and arm. He returned fire with a pair of heavy lasers following up with AP Gauss rounds targeted into the recently opened hole. Noting the heat spiking in the Grand Dragon he pulled back, but as the ‘mech fell the pilot fired in a last ditch effort, striking the shoulder area of the Craven with its PPC, and severing the arm.
Irritated but respecting the warrior’s desire to hurt his opponent, Bran walked his Craven over to the fallen ‘mech pointing a pair of heavy medium lasers at the cockpit. “I am Star Colonel Bran MacTiernen of Clan Snow Raven. You will surrender to me and submit to becoming a bondsman to the Snow Raven Clan or you will die in your broken BattleMec.” He said levelling the ultimatum over an open channel in response the Combine pilot turns off his targeting computer, indicating their submittal.
Elsewhere on Morthac, the Thirty-third Battle Cluster faced off against the Ryuken-san’s Second battalion, who had managed to lure them into a mine field. With only their ProtoMech and battle armor were immune, all being too small for the mines to register their activity, the Ravens were forced from the field with several of their BattleMechs left crippled as salvage to the Draconis Combine forces. During battle of particularly note, one of the ProtoMech pilots managed to down a pair of Ryuken BattleMech in single combat making many of the warrior’s superiors sit up and look at the warrior and at ProtoMechs in closer detail.
The Fourth Raven Guards Cluster was also led into a trap, though this one was due to limited intelligence. During the assault on the planet they had been charged with defeating the least of the battalions on planet, that of the Second Midway Regulars. Unbeknown to the Ravens the Regulars were bolstered by a pair of armored battalions, typically assigned to the Ryuken. The additional forces caused the Fourth’s Star Colonel Tina Harper to break her bid and call in additional forces from other Raven forces causing further tension in the Clan’s ranks. Even with the additional forces Harper struggled to contain the Draconis Combine forces and had to resort to the use of artillery and airstrikes to cut off the defenders from their supplies and support and force their surrender. Though suffering equivalent material losses as the Fifteenth Stoop, they come away with relatively massive amounts of salvage, enough to make up the losses of the rest of the galaxy. This becomes something of a theme in cadets over the next few years, as Columbia Academy graduates have a tendency to more fully utilize the differing assets they have on hand, though few of them have the requisite individual combat skill to make it above Star Captain.
Conflict Systems
Occupied Zone
Midway Military District, Draconis Combine
9th January 3110As the Snow Raven’s expand their conflict with the Draconis Combine Gamma Galaxy’s Fifteenth Battle, Sixteenth Battle and Seventh Chasseurs clusters assault Milligan’s World, where they expected to face off against the second battalion of the Seventh Midway Regulars and half of the Ryuken-san, a unit recently rotated into the area replacing a Ghost regiment. Fortunately for the Ravens the Ryuken-san had recently been reassigned leaving only a battalion of the Seventh Midway to face the combined might of three clusters.
With a limited force to face the Ravens took the opportunity to bid among themselves for the right to annihilate the Seventh, allowing the Combine unit the time to prepare their defenses and withdrawal. The extra time serves them no worth as they face elements of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Battle Clusters, a portion of which cuts off their retreat. Against such overwhelming odds from a superior equipped and trained force the battalion is destroyed causing little damage to the Ravens. With the planet secure the Sixteenth and Seventh clusters lift off planet to prepare for their second target, Zlatousi, leaving behind the Fifteenth Battle cluster to garrison the world.
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While the attacks struck Morthac and Milligan’s World further another attack struck the system of Rushaven as the Ravens hit the Combine from all sides. Expected to be among the most difficult systems to take, the Long Road Galaxy is prepared to meet the Third Sword of Light Regiment with a battalion of the First Midway Regulars in support. As the Ravens had expected, the battle quickly turned into a grind, with each side maneuvering to cut off portions of their opponents. Although it was seen as a stalemate, the Raven forces are slowly begin making gains as the former Alliance civilian population starts to take up arms against the Combine occupiers making it uncomfortable for the DCMS troopers. With the combination of a lack of reserves and the Ravens refusing to bombard the Sword of Light, the battle settles into a battle of attrition, which without relief for the Combine troops, the Ravens know they will eventually win.
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Corraines was expected to be the easiest of the targets in the first wave, as the Alliance knew there were cells of the old militia just waiting to help take back their world. With this in mind it was used as a testing ground to work up the experience of the three clusters to work together before they assaulted Quantraine, a significantly harder target. The attack went as expected with the First Midway Regulars requesting hegira quickly after the first engagement. It is denied but they are promised repatriation to the Combine after the conflict is finished if they surrender, nearly eighty percent of the survivors choose this option, the rest attempt a suicidal charge against the Raven forces and were quickly cut down, among these, three show bravery and skill enough to be taken as bondsmen.
HPG Compound
Ramgarh, Tabayama Prefecture
Midway Military District, Draconis Combine
17th January 3110Having recently received orders of his own the operative had been on the lookout for a particular transmission being sent onwards to Quantraine. The routine transmission was routed through the HPG on Ramgarh, explaining the general activities of units in the District, the priority tag already assigned as the district prepared for the invasion of the Federated Suns from near the Raven border. It was simple to amend the document to include just a few extra words in a particular order.
Three days later, the operative left the compound on his normal furlough, but this time would not return to his station.
Bridge, DCS Shiro Kurita, Omi-class Carrier
Quantraine, Occupied Area
Midway Military District, Draconis Combine
18th January 3110With recent reports indicating a full scale invasion of the occupied area, Cho-sho Shogura was pouring over reports around the area. It looked like most of the systems assaulted were already overrun, the only system where the units were holding out was in Rushaven where the Third Sword of Light was still fighting but due to the WarShips in orbit they could not escape the world. He made a note placing it at the highest priority before continuing the report, finally finishing at a security code.
“Get Captain Genji in here.” He said looking up from his desk at the aide who stood waiting for orders. A couple minutes later Genji and his aide appear at the door, prompting Shogura to immediately dismiss the aide. “We have high level orders, your code is required” he said, the two moved across to a wall safe with a digital lock and entered their codes. The safe opened to reveal three sealed, black envelopes each with a code in white. Shogura slowly read off the code as Genji confirmed it inside was a piece of paper titled: OPERATION DANTO.
Sitting down at his desk Shogura slowly read the orders his jaw takes on a set appearance as he nears the end. He looks up to Genji, hands him the orders before ordering “Set course for Quatre Belle at the highest levels of stealth, use the coordinates mentioned within the orders and prepare the jump batteries for forced recharges.”
Genji glances at the orders, his eyes going wide for a moment before steadying, “Yes sir… these are in the black, what will we do if a drive breaks down?”
“We will take all precautions but our orders are clear, the priority is the mission.” Shogura replies, had Genji known Cho-sho Shogura any worse, he would have missed the worry hidden behind his steady eyes.
From the WarShip further orders were sent to the Tenth Sword of Light to return to the planet, halting their movement towards the waiting JumpShips and WarShips. And then a few hours later in a series of flashes of light the entire demi-flotilla Shiro Kurita jumped out of the system heading to war.
Trial of Possession
Hoonaar, Expanded Region
Nova Cat’s Den
18th January 3110 As BattleMechs and DropShips wearing the crests of the Sixth Cruicis Lancers RCT of the Federated Suns descended through the atmosphere of Hoonaar the airwaves were filled with a single deep male voice. “This is Colonel David Hayditch of the Sixth Crucis Lancers RCT I declare a Trial of Possession for this world please state the forces that you will defend it with.” He said over the last fortnight the Nova Cats had invaded and captured Olindo, Sodertalke and Maram with similar tactics now the AFFS Crucis March Command on Tikonov had authorized a “proportionate response.” The Sixth Crucis Lancers RCT off Malagrotta had been directed to respond to the Nova Cat incursions with two combined-arms regiments broke off from the Regimental Combat Team and commanded to strike at Gronholt and Hoonaar.
“Our response? I am Star Colonel Samantha Rosse we will defend this world with the Twenty-first Nova Cat Roar Cluster.”
“We would prefer to limit the collateral damage done to this world. We request a suitable battle site.”
“You show us great respect today” Rosse replied “Federated Suns commander we will meet in battle in the hills of the southern continent south of our settlement there. I will warn you now that I allow this because of the respect you have shown if you deviate from this agreement at all our forces will fall on yours and destroy them.”
“We will not deviate, Star Colonel, we will meet you in battle later today and Hoonaar will become a Federated Suns holding once more.”
“We will see.”
Hours later the remains of the Twenty-first Nova Cat Roar Cluster were retreating from the planet as the victorious Federated Suns command allowed them an honourable retreat. Elsewhere on Gronholt the Sixth-fifth Nova Cat Roar Cluster had fought its own honour battle and lost to further elements of the Sixth Crucis Lancers.
The respect that the Nova Cats and the AFFS had shown each other proved to many on both sides that these trials were something that could work between a Clan nation and an Inner Sphere one without resorting to all our war. On the Draconis Combine/Nova Cat border an entirely different type of battle was being fought as Katrine Devalis’ Nova Cats invaded Gravenhage and Chapineria completely destroying the Draconis Combine’s Tenth District of Pesht Regulars Regiment in the process.
Trial of Possession
Shasta, District of Marik
Free Worlds League
22nd January 3110 The Clan Wolf Timber Wolf OmniMech fell to the ground flames tearing out of its shattered armour as the fusion engine shielding released the might of the BattleMech’s own power plant against the OmniMech. As the once mighty seventy-five ton OmniMech fell its killer a Clan Sea Fox Mad Cat II Assault BattleMech walked past firing its over should long range missiles at another target.
It had started three days before when the Wolves had arrived at Shasta and initiated a Trial of Possession. What the Wolves had not expected was the Clan Sea Fox trader unit on the planet to volunteer to assist in Shasta’s defence. Unbeknown to the Wolves when Clan Sea Fox had agreed with the Free Worlds League to build trade posts on Shasta, Ideyid and Mundrabilla they had also agreed to assist in the defence. The Wolf incursion against the planet threatened Sea Fox interests on the planet and so elements of the Thirty-fifth Cruiser Cluster had agreed to assist in the world’s defence causing much anger from the Wolf aggressors.
Despite the surprise caused by the Fox inclusion the battle was fought completely by the rules of Zellbrigen as the combined Free Worlds League/Sea Fox defenders resisted the Wolves forcing them from the world and system after a three hour Trial of Possession.