04:00 Nha Tranh Local Time, Kowloon...
there was no warning, no alerts went off. instead, what happened began with small, stealthy watercraft coming up the river near the Nha Tranh interstellar spaceport.
The first 'warning' anyone had, was when the security office went silent, this was followed by the visible halt of patrol vehicles along the perimeter and then, the lights going off, on, then off, then on in the control tower.
Militia guards were quietly and efficiently subdued, and Operations resumed normally.
In the city, the next...'warning' if it could be called such, was the Barracks on Chanh street and Lanterns. This facility had been constructed in the late 30th century, and housed battlemechs. The power to the main doors went out, and the fire-suppression systems kicking on, filling the 'mech bays with Halon/nitrogen mix, followed by water.
The 'mechwarrior quarters, were taken in minutes by personnel from the Kowloon Coast guard, the on-duty officers were secured with few injuries. The district's motor-pool was secured in minutes by another force.
Ia Drang...
across the continent, the Militia base controlling Highway 1 out of Hue was hit at the same time that the main barracks/'mech bays of Hue were. The attack had no warning (again), Men and women in camouflage supported by 'mini 'mechs' struck the bases, shutting down communication and securing barracks areas while others took over armories and fueling docks.
This left roughly a company of 'mechs and tanks on patrol that weren't hit, but now had no communication. at the top of the Plateau, the former CGNAS Ia Drang, handed over to the Governor's forces four years ago, was secured in seconds, beginning with the flight-line.
No alarm was raised, nor orders given, as the encirclement concluded in New Saigon, where the Militia's 'police barracks', a fortified facility where the governor's men would go after 'mechs were deployed, was taken in seconds by armored, fast, mechanical troops working with 'Red's Rangers', a local security company that often clashed with officials in the city.
Nha Tranh, Government house, 0630 AM local time...
it was largely bloodless, thus far. by 0630 AM Nha Tranh time, Government House, which had served as the official administrative center on Kowloon since the 2750's, was cut off entirely, Governor Stonecipher rolled in his bed, only to be awakened by the sound of booted feet in the official residence, and the occasional shouts and screams of his security detail.
Strangely, no shots were fired, as he reached into his bedside table, and pulled out his sidearm before getting out of bed.
The bedroom door opened as he struggled into his pants.
"Mister James Stonecipher?" the woman was vaguely familiar, blonde hair worn loose, dressed in a stark white outfit.
"Who are you?"
"I am Kristiana Hoffenbakker, I work for Elizabeth Ngo, your boss." she said, "I would suggest you leave the sidearm where it is, finish getting dressed, and come to the sitting room. There are matters to discuss."
"In the sitting room?" he scoffed, "I wasn't informed!"
"she didn't want you to be. Right now, Ngo Industries affiliates and contracted mercenaries are conducting a security exercise to test the alert level of your militia. thus far, it has been found wanting."
he pulled on his shirt, tucked it in, fastened his belt, and tied his tie before donning his uniform jacket. "Securex, huh?"
"yes."
"I was not informed."
"you weren't supposed to be. the Duchess is here, and she ordered this necessary security test...oh my, yes, you should absolutely put the sidearm in its holster. you look silly without it."
he shoved the Federated handgun in its holster, and followed the female executive to the sitting room.
There were two metal sculptures that hadn't been there before, flanking the doorway. "When did those get here?"
"When I did." Elizabeth said, from one of the ancient, overstuffed leather chairs. a fire was beginning to catch in the old stone fireplace, she had a spread of documents on the coffee table, and a file open in her hands.
to James, she looked like a child, a sullen one, possibly just back from a funeral in her black skirt, mourning jacket, flats, and white blouse. "Sit." she said.
"I demand-"
"I said, 'sit', mister Stonecipher." the girl had cold, cold eyes, she indicated the other chair, opposite her. "Your militia failed a basic readiness review this morning. My people have taken the 'mech barracks, most of the Militia and Police barracks, and both of the operational military air stations, including the early warning center. had this been an actual attack, you would have no arsenals, armories or soldiers left with which to resist."
she closed the file, "This is flatly unacceptable, though it does explain the frequency of successful bandit and pirate raids reported to AFFC."
"The Green machine-"
"were asked to stand down for this exercise, since I'm not testing Al Green, I'm testing what is supposed to be My Militia forces." she said it pedantically, "completely unacceptable, especially for a man with your military record. I await explanations with the aforementioned 'baited breath'."
She glanced at the two, towering, chromed statues, "It's alright Lads, you don't have to play statue, though I'd appreciate it if you stick around here, Nick. pick somewhere in the room you might feel comfortable."
"Of course Miss Ngo." the statue on the left boomed. the one on the right stalked out, and Stonecipher felt a stab of outright terror. as the one she called 'Nick' moseyed casually to the window, and crossed its arms, leaning against a structural support that afforded a good view of the two of them.
Liz reached over, and lifted a steaming cup. "mmm...Ca'phe, I missed this..." she took a sip, and then, regarded him. "I guess you can say I have determined that I shall come home, with the deaths of my parents and brothers, to see to my responsibilities, You have done a remarkably poor job of stewardship, Mister Stonecipher, and I am still waiting to hear your reasons why."
"you..you're a child..."
"Yes, educate me." Elizabeth prompted. "You've worked with Bob Condit on robbing my company, you've mismanaged my world. explain yourself to me, and you might not have to explain your failure to Hanse Davion."
"I don't have to explain anything to you, you're a child, further you're a dependent child-"
she pulled a sheet from the file, and passed it to him. "This is my writ of Emancipation, do you recognize the signature of the Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth?"
"ah...adult status? she wouldn't-"
"She did." Liz said, pulling another document out, and passing it to him, "This authorizes me to do whatever i deem necessary to correct conditions here on Kowloon, including judiciary powers vested in the Ducal seat by law and tradition. as of right now, I am your Liege Lord and you will answer my questions, because I really can have you shot if you don't, and I have enough evidence that your prior lord has reason to have you imprisoned or put to death, so I'm going to give you the opportunity to use that expensive education you recieved on New Avalon, to convince me you're worth more to me and my people alive, than hanging on a cross."
