Battletech Clover Spear - The War of 3056 (Battletech AU)

[CurtisLemay]

Secure Wing, New Avalon General Hospital ICU

Avalon City

New Avalon

Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth

October 15th, 3056


Unshed tears glistened in the stark blue eyes of Katherine Morgan Steiner-Davion’s pale face, her blond hair was not its usual tidy, lustrous, nature that the palace makeup artists spent hours making right for public appearances. Hides the electroshock scars nicely, doesn’t it? Can’t have the people know the Princess once had dark thoughts about hurting herself and might have turned into a monster up there with Claudius the Mad, never mind he never had Dombrowski-A? I can’t tell them that she still cries at the drop of a hat and is scared to death of being in public.


But not today. Today she was still wearing the sweatshirt and jeans she had been wearing when she and Misha Auburn had been watching the Orient Express remake that had just hit the vids from Donegal Broadcasting Corporation. They’d been only a half hour in, when the door had been thrown open, and the security personnel had roughly grabbed her while screaming “WARY RACE!” at the top of their lungs. She’d spent hours in a locked, windowless room, with over a dozen guards armed to the teeth surrounding her telling her not much more than “there has been an incident.”


It wasn’t until 0300 the next morning that Katherine had been told, by Ardan Sortek. “Your highness,” he had said, “there has been a terror attack, we think by the Capellan Confederation. It hit the Convention Center with several large truck bombs from outside the frozen zone. The blasts leveled buildings within a six-block radius of the center. Thousands are dead, wounded, or missing, your highness. Your brother has sustained a critical injury to his left arm, and has lost a lot of blood, and suffered a concussion, and both of his legs are broken. He is currently in a medically induced coma at New Avalon General. As for your mother and father…Your highness. I am so sorry to be the one to tell you this…but they are both dead, I’ll spare you the details. It wasn’t pretty. I took the liberty of identifying the remains, so that you would not have to remember them like that.”


Katherine remembered nodding numbly, not saying a word. She was in shock; her parents were dead? How could that be? Mom and Dad had cheated death before. Why, it’s just a bad identification. Mom and Dad are going to crawl out of that rubble, dust themselves off, and go give the damn Capellans the beating they deserve. The look in Ardan’s eyes, red from lack of sleep and uncontrolled weeping for the loss of a friend of over 50 some odd years, said it all. Mom and Dad were gone, my brother is fighting for his life, and I am the one in charge? Oh god, where the hell is Peter? Why can’t they put him in charge?


Jackson Davion had answered that one during the first conference at Mount Davion. “Your highness, we cannot be leaderless at a time like this. You are the designated successor. Peter is currently out of position on extended exercises with the Lyons SMM. He’ll be informed once he gets back from the field. But you are ahead of him in the line of succession. You. Are. It. Your highness.”


The Capellans had not just hit New Avalon. There had been much chaos sown yesterday, not just the terror attacks on New Avalon. On New Syrtis, they had attacked Morgan Hasek-Davion’s motorcade while he was on his way to a hospital to greet wounded from the Clan front. His wife Kym was killed, he was badly wounded and clinging to life in a New Syrtis hospital. There had been six other attacks throughout the Capellan and Sarna Marches, as well as St. Ives. Candace Allard-Liao had been assassinated by an unknown shooter while she had stepped out onto the balcony of the Ducal Palace on St. Ives to give the State of the State address to the assembled throngs of media and well-wishers.


And the Capellans had followed it up with an invasion. They had hit eight worlds thus far in the Sarna March. Details were sketchy, but it looked like there wasn’t just Capellan units participating, but Word of Blake units as well. This would explain the terror attacks, they seemed a bit extreme, even for the Death Commandos. It had caused temporary paralysis in the higher command levels of the Capellan and Sarna Marches, and Katherine had passed orders for all units in contact to hold in place as long as possible until a clearer picture of just what the hell the Capellans were up to could emerge. It may be time to fetch Daddy’s map case. I need to begin to work that list. The Blakists better know who the hell they decided to dance with. Even if all I want to do right now is curl up in a ball and cry. I can’t, I must be the sister Victor needs.


It had been a whirlwind day, she had signed every proclamation they had put in front of her, declaring a day of mourning for her parents, declaring a state of emergency for the Capellan and Sarna Marches, authorizing Nondi Steiner greater powers in the Lyran half of the Commonwealth to prosecute the war against the Clans…the list went on.


The condolences had rolled in from almost every nation and polity in the Inner Sphere, including the Combine, through Comstar. But that was to, Katherine, a trivial thing. She was feeling a mixture of deep sorrow, and white-hot rage. I will burn the Forbidden City to the damn ground as a memorial to my parents, and if necessary, my brother, Sun-Tsu, you bastard. By about 1400, she had had enough. “I want to see my brother.” Katherine had said to an aide. Security and her media handlers had thrown a fit. It wasn’t secure, they said. She looked like a disheveled mess, they said. She didn’t care. “I am the Archon-Princess, I want to see my brother and I want you to take me to him. Now.”


Within minutes, she had been ushered through a back entrance to the hospital, and whisked up to her floor, where she was greeted by a phalanx of green surgical scrub wearing doctors and nurses, at their head, a balding, older doctor, his features betraying how tired he was from working long hours on little more than willpower, energy drinks and the occasional stolen take out meal. His brown eyes bloodshot, run through with enough red to replace the white of his pupils. His face a tinge of grey, that matched his rapidly thinning hair. Yet he had an air of someone used to being in charge, and his easy use of his command voice, as horse and gravelly as it was, confirmed Katherine’s suspicions. He also looked exasperated, yet still managed to project a measure of caring for those under his care.


“Archon-Princess,” he began, “my name is Doctor Alan Tadmere, I am a neurosurgeon and the lead physician on the team treating your brother. I am also chief of Neurosurgery here at this hospital. His prognosis is critical, but stable for now. He sustained a TBI, two broken legs, and his left arm took a mix of blast damage, and lacerations from flying glass so severe, that we had to amputate it. He also has gone into hypovolemic shock due to high blood loss, hence for those reasons, we had to put him into a medical coma and we are giving him all the blood we can. If he makes it through the next 24 hours, we’ll see about bringing him out of it, but for right now, he needs rest. I can let you and one security man in the room with him for a few minutes, in masks and scrubs to prevent infection. He’s bandaged all over because of a series of minor wounds and burns, his left arm is gone above the elbow and the stump is heavily bandaged. Both legs are broken and are in traction. He is also on a ventilator. He is getting the best care we can give him, your highness, but we are in the middle of a mass casualty event and we are stretched to the maximum. Frankly, your brother is one lucky individual to have made it this far. “

Katherine simply nodded, and suited up in the scrubs and mask that she was given. Her brother, once so powerful and full of life, lay broken on the hospital bed, looking small, and frail, with multiple tubes leading into and out of him. Machines wheezed, beeped, and made all the other sounds one associated with an ICU. “Does he feel anything?” she asked a nurse as she suited up.


“Probably not, your highness. He’s pretty doped up on a variety of pain meds and nerve blockers.”


Her visit had been short, a few whispered words to Victor close to his ear, and she soon found herself in the waiting area, which was like most hospitals, drab, with everything a mix of white and sickly orange, a smell of medical disinfectant wafting through the air. Dear God, I didn’t want this. But I am going to do the best with it I can, for Victor. But please God, let Victor wake up. I don’t want the job. I never did.


Galen had shown up from his own room a few minutes later, he was dressed in a white hospital gown that was firmly closed, as he had a large sense of modesty. His right arm was broken and in a sling, and he had a minor concussion of his own, as he had been thrown into a pillar by the blast, thus he was spending 24 hours at the hospital for observation. No words were said between the two, she had simply collapsed into his arms, weeping, both of them praying Victor woke up.


Taken from the daily CCAF briefing provided to Sun-Tsu Liao, then-Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation, dated November 2nd, 3056, declassified by the Capellan State Archives, April 11th, 3067.


“…disruption operations against enemy command and control has been at least 60% effective by all estimates. The Blakist operatives have, in conjunction with our own Death Commandos, been successful beyond all estimates. The conventional offensive, however, has been met with mixed results, as the CCAF was as surprised as our enemies, and our option of attacking from barracks has found some units not as ready for war as we here at the Strategios were led to believe. Furthermore, the inactivity by the FWLM as of now is a cause for concern. We cannot ultimately succeed in securing our modest objectives by ourselves, the FWLM must enter the conflict on our side if we are to have a chance at all.”


Sarna
Attacking Units: Blanford Grenadiers, Kingston’s Legionnaires, Kincade’s Rangers, Bordon’s Blood Drinkers (1 Battalion), 2nd Division, Word of Blake Militia.

Defending Units: Sarna Martial Academy Training Group, Sarna Planetary Guard

The Capellan invasion of Sarna on the first wave of EAST SEA caught the Fedcom by surprise, with the Sarna Martial Academy Training Group (MATG) caught in garrison as the Capellan invasion force appeared at a pirate point 2 days out. The Sarna MATG dug in around the planetary capitol of Sarna and prepared for a long defense, but Bordon’s Blood Drinkers more experienced warriors easily dug out and routed the MATG, and the other units easily crushed them under the weight of numbers. The Planetary Guard was racked with dissention by pro-Capellan elements, with the loyal elements being crushed within days. The Capellan invasion force then dug in to face the expected FC counterattack.


Campertown
Attacking Units: Stalpleton’s Grenadiers

Defending Units: Alpha Regiment, 12th Vegan Rangers, Campertown Planetary Guard

Stapleton’s Grenadiers had a bad invasion from the start, with an accident destroying a Leopard-class Dropship, a lance of ‘Mechs and causing massive confusion in the landing force. The landing itself was a confused mess, with the drop being scattered halfway across the main continent. Alpha Regiment was waiting, and made short work of most of the scattered elements, with 3rd Battalion, Stapleton’s Grenadiers being the only organized elements of the invasion force (at about 50% strength) being able to escape the world a week later.

Sarmaxa
Attacking Units: House Hiritsu, Sarmaxa Militia

Defending Units: Grim Determination

House Hiritsu, though filled with inexperienced warriors, made up for their lack of experience with sheer fanaticism, and managed to pin Grim Determination down long enough for the militia to switch sides almost in their entirety. Grim Determination lost two companies before managing to hole up in an old Star League fortress and sent word for help while settling in for a siege.

Tsinghai
Attacking Units: House Matsukai

Defending Units: Beta Regiment, 12th Vegan Rangers

House Matsukai found itself in a nasty fight from the start, but managed to hold onto it’s LZ by it’s fingernails, and forestall Beta Regiment from crushing it outright. Both sides have settled into an attritional fight as both sides have sent for reinforcements.

Truth
Attacking Units: 15th Dracon (all four battalions)

Defending Units: 8th Arcturan Guards

The 8th Arcturan Guards fought gamely to hold Truth, but found themselves slightly overmatched, with the 15th’s 4th veteran battalion always seeming to find the 8th’s flanks, and turning them. After three weeks of this, the 8th, having taken 15% casualties, packed up and retreated to Kaifeng. The 15th dug in and awaited further orders. The Truth Planetary Guard remained in their barracks, declaring for the Capellan Confederation only after the 8th left the world.


Lesalles
Attacking Units: 3rd Division, Word of Blake Militia

Defending Units: 4th Fedcom RCT, Lesalles Planetary Guard

The WoBM 3rd Division found itself evenly matched against the 4th Fedcom in numbers, and a slight edge in experience. It wasn’t enough to force the 4th to retreat and both sides like on Sarmaxa, settled into a long, attritional fight.

Diversionary Raids
Fraizer
Attacking Units: House Lusann, Bullard’s Armored Cavalry

Defending Units: 41st Avalon Hussars, Fraizer Planetary Guard

The 41st Avalon Hussars were caught by near surprise, being in a state of confusion in the wake of the terror attacks on New Avalon and New Syrtis. The 41st, to it’s credit, recovered quickly, but was unable to prevent the Capellan raiders from making off with a half-billion C-Bills worth of raw materials. The Planetary Guard was unable to mobilize in time to assist the 41st.

Horsham
Attacking Units: 1st Battalion, 5th Confederation Reserve Cavalry

Defending Units: 1st Capellan Dragoons, Horsham Planetary Guard

The 1st Battalion’s raid on Horsham was a mixed bag, while the battalion managed to land in one piece, and smash up a few half-hearted counterattacks by the 1st Capellan Dragoons and the Planetary Guard, but they did not carry off anything of value on world, and left a week later, frustrated that their raid had achieved so little.

Bromhead
Attacking Units: 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 5th Confederation Reserve Cavalry

Defending Units: Bromhead Planetary Guard

The Planetary Guard did it’s best, but was overmatched by the ‘Mechs of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions. Within 48 hours, the planetary government was offering it’s surrender to the Capellan force, only to find the Capellans had left, making off with an entire months’ worth of production of refined petrochemicals (worth about 5 Billion C-Bills).


Velhas
Attacking Units: Ishihara’s Grenadiers, Marshigama’s Legionnaires

Defending Units: 10th Donegal Guards, Velhas Planetary Guard

The 10th fought reasonably well, until a week into the fighting, they left an exposed flank that the Marshigama’s Legionnaires jumped upon and rolled up, forcing the 10th into an ignominious rout. The Capellans salvaged 2 companies of FedCom ‘Mechs and left soon after, feeling they had achieved all they were going to.

Verlo
Attackers: Albermale’s Highlanders (1 Btn)

Defending Units: 15th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT

The raid on Verlo was an unmitigated disaster for Albermale’s Highlanders, as their attempted drop on top of the 15th’s ‘Mech barracks ended with the unit being scattered all over the continent because of heavy FedCom aerospace activity. It took a week for the 15th to mop up the survivors.

Indicass
Attacking Units: 2nd Confederation Reserve Cavalry

Defending Units: St. Ives Cheveau-Legurs

The raid by the 2nd CRC was hoped to keep St. Ives from doing anything to help the FedCom while East Sea ran its course. What happened however, probably did more to encourage St. Ives than discourage it. The 2nd CRC landed with little trouble, but soon found itself in a hornet’s nest. The St. Ives forces were in no mood to see the Capellan landings as a limited raid, and showed the Capellan raiders no mercy at all, chasing the 2nd CRC all over the planet. This was exacerbated when news arrived of what had happened to Duchess Liao. Barely a battalion of the 2nd CRC survived the week to surrender to the Cheveau-Legurs.

Mendham
Attacking Units: 4th Division, Word of Blake Militia

Defending Units: 21st Rangers, Illician Lancers, Mendham Planetary Guard

The Blakists managed to get to ground at a cost of half of the Division’s aerospace fighters, and met the 21st Rangers amongst the planetary starport. Both sides went after each other without restraint and left the starport a wreck, and heavy casualties on both sides, after a week’s worth of fighting, when the 2nd Division suddenly withdrew and returned to Capellan space.




Alternative Relocation Site, Clan Steel Viper

20km North of the Great Gash

Twycross

Clan Steel Viper Occupation Zone

October 20th, 3056


The relocation site was an underground bunker, left over from the days of the old Lyran Commonwealth, and it hadn’t seen use since the 3rd Succession War. It had taken quite a few work credits to get to a minimal Clan standard, but Perigard Zalman, Khan of Clan Steel Viper was glad he had spent the money. Considering how quickly the Federated Commonwealth kicked us off Waldorff? This was a very good idea indeed.

“Ahmed, what does the Watch tell us about the movements of the Federated Commonwealth forces?” Zalman thundered, he had been a man possessed of late, his very nature despised being on the defensive, and wanted to hit back. But thus far, the FedCom had not given him the opportunity, that was, until now.

“My Khan, our sources, as well as information we have managed to contract from the Diamond Shark Watch, has confirmed that the Federated Commonwealth forces have had a short operational pause. They seem to have overstretched their logistical chain, and I believe, my Khan, that we have a small window to launch a counterattack to restore a corridor to our forces currently cut off to coreward.

Zalman exhaled. “And what of the Wolves? Any actions on their part? Surely they cannot believe that the FedCom will cease their actions once they have driven us and the Falcons from the Inner Sphere?”

“Neg, my Khan, there is little word from the Wolves, other than some seemingly routine troop movements. We have also heard nothing from the ilKhan himelf…which does concern me, my Khan.”

Zalman nodded. What are you up to, Kerensky? What little ploy are you planning to better your “former” clan?

“Ahmed, pass word to the units on world, that they are to be ready for combat operations within thirty days. I intend to lead the counterattack myself. The FedCom savashrihave only faced lucrewarriors and solahma. Now it is time to face our best.” Zalman wore a feral grin, he was sure of the glory to come.


Command Post of 1st Falcon Velites

Quarell

Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone

October 22nd, 3056


Star Colonel Serendice Helmer was annoyed, he had been woken from a very enjoyable slumber, with dreams of glory for himself and his clan filling his head. To be awoken by a bondsman and almost ignominiously tossed into the back of a General-Purpose Vehicle and driven back to the main command post. The command post was in chaos, not befitting an elite unit of Clan Jade Falcon, especially one that was holding the Clan’s most important holding, so close to Terra.


“CEASE YOUR CONFUSED MEANDERINGS, YOU SAVASHRI FOOLS!” Helmer boomed, his voice of command filled the main map room. Everyone stopped in their tracks, and gave him their rapt attention.


Helmer silently exhaled, and ran his hands through his straw blond hair. His jade green eyes searched the room. “We are Jade Falcon. We do not run about like confused chicks, we soar on the winds of glory. We WELCOME a batchall! No matter whom it may be! Now, put me through, we will make those who challenge our clan regret their decision to hunt us!”


Another bondsman showed up with his dress uniform, which he hurriedly donned, and a wall screen came to life. The image coalesced and took form. It couldn’t be. The form was nothing less than the saKhan of Clan Wolf, Natasha Kerensky herself.


“Hello, Star Colonel Helmer. You know whom I am, and my codex, so we don’t have to engage in that tiresome Falcon tradition. I am challenging Clan Jade Falcon’s right to Quarell, with what do you plan to contest my challenge, Green Pidgeon?”


“Khan Kerensky. I bid my entire cluster. I will award you safecon, this should be decided by warriors. And I hope you are so cocky, when I make you my bondsman?”


Kerensky shook her head with a mirthful grin. “Star Colonel? I have had Jade Falcons bigger and badder than you make that threat. They are either dead, or Wolves now. I do hope you join the ranks of the latter, as your codex would be a shame to lose. So be it, I will face you with my 13th Wolf Guards.”


Helmer muttered “Well bargained and done, Kerensky, I shall see you soon.” He drew his hand across his throat to kill the signal. The glory I will win from this fight!

 

[CurtisLemay]

Situation Room

Fox’s Den, Mount Davion

New Avalon

Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth

November 6th, 3056



As the briefing droned on with news of an inconclusive battle here, a Blakist or Capellan terror attack there, the litany all meant one thing to Katherine. It’s all on my damn watch, and I am dancing to Sun-Tsu’s tune. She drummed her fingers as she reached through her mind. She’d been mostly a passive observer in the military and intelligence briefings, still a bit in shock over the events of nineteen days before. She’d given Nondi more autonomy on the Clan front, and Nondi in her last communication said that the Steel Vipers “..were horribly telegraphing their intentions”. Whatever the hell that meant.

Victor was still in a coma, and Katherine made a point of reading to him by his bed, a chapter a day from the classics. Katherine smiled at that, he wasn’t much for classic literature, but now? Now I think he’s a bit of a captive audience. They were on the third chapter of Moby Dick, but reading to Victor just reminds me how I miss him, and how I am on the damn backfoot because of that murderous jackal on Sian! And Peter, Yvonne, Arthur? Jesus, they’re in godddamned seclusion! I can’t even send a message to them! I can’t be the big sister I need to be, the ruler I need to be? All I can be is angry, impotent..and…

There was a SNAP, Katherine hadn’t realized it, but she had snapped her stylus from the anger over the fate of her parents. All the heads in the Situation Room turned. A thought came unbidden to Katherine. “Ladies and Gentlemen, can everyone but the principals clear the room?” Katherine queried. It wasn’t long before a rustling of papers and chairs commenced as the veritable army of junior aides, briefers, and clerical personnel cleared the room. Katherine waited for all of them to clear the room. Once the last of them left, the door closed with a snick, it seemed louder to Katherine that it possibly could have. She took a deep breath, surveyed the room. Time to show them the nutcase has some teeth after all.

“Ladies and Gents, to put it in terms my father would have said, these last three and a half weeks have been a terrible ass kicking. I intend we begin to put an end to it: Now.”

Quintus Allard cleared his throat, his deputy Alex Mallory rustling through his papers expecting a request from his boss for information to back up a point his boss to make. “Your Highness, as much as I would like to, it’s been a little tough just keeping ahead of all the Capellan and Blakist terror cells loose in the Sarna and Capellan Marches. And with Sarna under Capellan control…”

“I am aware of these challenges, but my family has been murdered, my brother clings to life in a hospital bed, and worse, our people cower in fear of almost daily terror attacks. No Quintus, I am done reacting. We are going to start taking control of this mess back. And that begins now.” Katherine reached for an old, tattered olive green mapcase, it was standard Davion issue, and had a faded patch of the 3rd Davion Guards, a bird of prey soaring with a sword in it’s talons. She opened it and removed a folder and placed it on the table. Alex Mallory leaned over and picked it up, and then leafed through it, his face slowly going white.

“Who compiled this, your Highness?”

“My father, he did so with the cooperation of your office. He just compiled names he saw in the daily briefs he still received. I suspect he knew we might need this. I am sad to say that he was right. I want all the names on this list dead by the end of the month, Alex. And no, damn the consequences!”

“Your highness, some on this list are prominent citizens of the Free Worlds League, two are members of their Parliament. One is an adviser to Thomas Marik. We can’t just…”

Katherine saw red. “Yes, we can, Alex. I am tired of having open season declared on my family. Of letting that little bastard on Sian call the tune! He decided the type of war he wanted. Well, now he gets it. And if Thomas wants to give aid and comfort to the doers? Then a little of this is going to splash on him. And no, if that means war with him too, then so be it. He should know better. I will give him the chance to hand these people over to us before we take them out, but if they aren’t in our hands by the end of the month, then they will have seen their last sunrise. No ifs, ands, or buts, Alex.”

Alex blanched “Your Highness, this could hurt our agent networks in the League.”

Katherine breathed “I am aware of that. I know it’s a big risk for those men and women we have sent there. But, it’s what we have trained them to do. And its cold comfort that we ask them to do it simply for queen and country, but ladies and gentlemen, this goes beyond politics as usual in the Inner Sphere. If we don’t do this, no one and nothing is safe. The Blakists hit a damn shopping mall on Kestrel a week ago full of Christmas shoppers. No, we need to make it very unhealthy for these people. And Alex?”

“Yes, your Highness?”

“I want the targets to know who and why they are dying. Instruct the agents to tell their targets, or leave a calling card that says, “Greetings from Hanse and Melissa Steiner-Davion.” And I want two Capellan names added to that list. Kali Liao, and Dina Fererra.”

“You want us to kill the head of the Maskirovka and the Chancellor’s sister?”

“She planned the operation that killed my parents, and he needs to know the pain of losing family.” Katherine said serenely. “After this, Alex, no more killings. We win this war clean. But now, we let them know they chose this war and the form it takes. We get to choose our form of retribution, and we will choose the form in which it ends. And I fully intend for it to end in our favor.”

 

[CurtisLemay]

Throne Room

Forbidden Palace

Sian

Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation

November 18th, 3056


Sun-Tsu Liao was somewhat satisfied with himself thus far, EAST SEA’s first wave had gone about as well as he had any right to expect. Taking Sarna was a damn coup, and one you didn’t expect at all, I wish they’d all been that easy. Now if my father in law would get off his overstuffed ass on Atreus, we could really humble the Davions and their spawn. But until then, we will do the best with what we have.

The briefing teams were shuffling into the room for twice daily briefing, and from the looks on their faces, it appeared that the news was as usual, mixed. Shang was on an troubleshooting assignment, which might even involve actually shooting someone, as the war was discovering the rot in the CCAF did run pretty deep. Even with the Blakists helping us, the CCAF isn’t equal to the task we have asked it to perform, but the Mask and ROM is doing a fine job of keeping the enemy off balance. I may personally not approve of the methods, but as Grandfather used to say, or at least as the official records said he said, “Never hesitate to complicate the life of your enemy by any means possible, they won’t hesitate to do it to you if give half a chance.”

What frustrated Sun-Tsu is that he had to keep so many units watching St. Ives or the Marik frontier, or the Periphery, for EAST SEA, the Capellans didn’t have that much to work with, but he was tempted to make a fast grab of Bromhead, it’s not like the Davions had a garrison there. Not that the planet’s worth much.

The briefing droned on with the usual news, stalemate here, minor successes there. More terror attacks on “soft” targets in the Capellan and Sarna Marches, when a courtier, resplendent in an outfit of Liao Jade Green and piped with Gold, came to one knee and cleared his throat to get the attention of all in the room. “Celestial Wisdom. I come bearing an important delivery from ComStar. It is a message from the current regent of the Davions, Katrina Steiner-Davion herself. May I approach the throne with the ROM and hand it to you, Celestial Wisdom?”

Sun-Tsu nodded, and the courtier deftly walked up the few steps to the dais, bowing while averting direct eye contact and handing the disk to Sun-Tsu, then quickly retreating off the dais, down the stairs, and to the rear of the throne room. Sun-Tsu examined the disk. It was a normal enough ROM disk. It had the Fist and Sunburst of the Federated Commonwealth inlaid into the disk, and a simple message printed into it “FOR THE EYES OF THE CAPELLAN CHANCELLOR ONLY.”

There was a small slot for the playing of ROMs laid into the design of the Celestial Throne, and a screen on the opposite wall where the playback would be displayed. Sun-Tsu inserted the disk, and rose from his throne “Perhaps the Davion bitch has come crawling to us for our mercy, eh?” I doubt it, the last time the Davions sent a ROM here, it was an ill omen, but appearances must be kept up. Sun-Tsu’s mind groaned even as he kept an outward smile.

The screen showed a test pattern, beeped three times, and then came to an image of a blonde, blue-eyed woman of about twenty years of age. She looked tired, haggard, but there was a steel in her eyes, and a righteous anger too. I will have to be careful with this one. Katherine Steiner-Davion has something of her Grandmother in her. The Mask clearly underestimated her.

“Greetings Sun-Tsu Liao,” the video began. “You know me, and who I am. But if you think I sent this video to beg for mercy, or offer you worlds or praise you don’t deserve, you are clearly mistaken. I sent you this message to inform you of something: Your sister is dead. In fact, she, her staff, and all of her courtiers are dead.”

The image soon switched to a first-person camera view of what had to be a soldier running through the halls of a mansion, a mansion Sun-Tsu knew quite well. It was Kali’s on Highspire. The radio transmissions were clipped, professional, and from people who knew what the hell they were doing.

VALKYRIE SIX, THIS IS TWO, WE GOT THREE DOWN IN THE FOYER, NONE ARE PRIMARY TARGET, CHARLIE MIKE.

ROGER TWO, MEET US UPSTAIRS, PRIMARY TARGET HAS A SAFE ROOM AND WE WANT TO HEAD HER OFF FROM THAT.

One could hear the soldier’s elevated briefing as he took the stairs two at a time, and it soon became clear the camera was attached to the primary sight of the soldier’s weapon. The weapon came up and the muzzle flashed, and two of Kali’s servants fell, blood and gore blossoming from their wounds as they fell at the head of the stairs.

The soldier moved with practiced, ease, checking room to room, when he met resistance in one room, he simply fell back, pitched a grenade into the room, which after a few seconds, went off with a stark white flash, and a small cloud of dust. He then fired several quick bursts at a collection of overturned furniture in the corner of the room. As he approached the body it resolved to be one of Kali’s pet Thugees, tattooed and maimed in the name of Kali and her self-proclaimed godhood. Who are these people, they are going through her people like a buzzsaw?

The figure turned right, then left and came to a set of teak double doors, inlaid with jade and gold in the form of characters in Chinese and Punjabi. Oh no, they got to Kali’s room. Sun-Tsu showed no outward sign, but inwardly, he knew what was to come next.

The doors were quickly wired with some form of explosive from another commando, and then they blew open with a small, sharp BANG. A group of commandos then kicked open the door and flew into the room, the POV camera going right, then shifting towards the middle of the room, swinging towards the image of his sister, Kali, her slender frame clothed in a green and red silk robe, and armed with an semi-automatic pistol, she was trying to get around to shoot the person with the camera, but she was too late. Several off-screen reports sounded, and gouts of blood, bone, and vicera exploded as if by magic from her head and chest. Kali dropped like a puppet with her strings cut, she said not a word as the pistol clattered to the floor. The POV approached Kali, kicked away the pistol and in the same motion, put two more bullets into her already shattered skull.

An excited voice soon got on the radio, it was out of breath, but the elation was obvious: RINGMASTER, THIS IS VALKYRIE SIX, PRIMARY TARGET IS DOWN. REPEAT PRIMARY TARGET IS DOWN AND WE HAVE CONFIRMATION. EXECUTING EXFIL NOW, OVER.

RINGMASTER CONFIRMS VALKYRIE SIX, WELL DONE, SEE YOU AT THE EXFIL, OUT.

The image froze and returned to Katherine Steiner-Davion. “Sun-Tsu, you killed my parents in cold blood, you have gravely wounded my brother in cold blood, and forced the rest of my family into hiding. Worse, you have murdered thousands of my people. My father attacked your grandfather for a lot less. Now, now I intend to finish what you started. I don’t intend to just destroy the Capellan Confederation or make you part of the Commonwealth. No, I intend to end you. You and your entire diseased line. Your sister was just the start.

“You started this war with a perfidious stab in the back, when I come for you Sun-Tsu? You’ll see the goddamned knife coming. I promise you. Because, to quote an old move, ‘I am coming, and hell is coming with me.’ Until then, see you on the battlefield, Sun-Tsu, because your victories won’t last long, and I think you know that.”

The recording froze on Katherine’s ice-cold smile. It was then that Sun-Tsu noticed two things. First, was the fact that that smile had never left Katherine’s face, and that it never, ever reached her eyes, and the second? That a chill had entered the throne room, and it was only getting colder.

Sun-Tsu barked “Send a company of the Red Heart Guard to Highspire. Confirm the claims of this video. NOW! Second, fetch Major Tsang and my Senior Colonels, and my Maskirovka Director! I WANT OPTIONS!”

The senior Maskirovka briefing officer got on his phone and called his superior, attempting to summon his boss, but his demeanor soon changed. “Sire, Chairman Ferarra is dead, her VTOL was shot down by a SRM launcher, we just found out. A note was recovered at the scene. It said, “Greetings from Hanse and Melissa Steiner-Davion.”

“Where was her security detail?” Sun-Tsu thundered.

“Their helicopter was shot down too. We’ve brought in the Death Commandos to find the assailants.” the briefer answered meekly.

Sun-Tsu saw red. “Out, everyone OUT NOW!!!” Sun-Tsu came down off the throne in a fury and snatched a polearm out of the hands of one of the throne room guards and began to randomly smash items in the throne room in a cacophony of metal, ceramics and wood until he was tackled by several courtiers and guards. The tangle of limbs struggled with him mightily, one courtier being badly disfigured by a swipe of Sun-Tsu’s reinforced claws. It took three minutes to tackle him to the ground, and drag him back to his private quarters, with everyone involved whispering apologies for having violated his person the entire way.

Sun-Tsu didn’t stop screaming until he was administered a sedative ten minutes later.


Free Worlds League Parliament Chamber

Atreus

Free Worlds League

November 20th, 3056

“The Chair recognizes the Captain-General for the purposes of answering the questions of this august body today, and thanks him in advance for making time from his schedule for us.”

Captain-General Thomas Marik rose from his chair, his uniform resplendent with medals that in many cases, were little more than honorifics and attendance awards. His beard covering the worst of the scars from the bombing that had killed most of his family, and his body stooped with age as his brown eyes searched the aisles for friends. There doesn’t appear to be any today. His hair shone with grey, the brown of his youth having been chased away by the years long ago.

He arrived at the podium and cleared his throat, waiting for the deluge of questions to begin, the wait wasn’t long at all.

“The chair recognizes Lady Demantha Korenth, MP Marik Commonwealth.”

“Captain-General, I would ask if it is a good idea to maintain relations with two powers whom in the last month, have shown a great predilection to shed innocent blood, and even now, may being some wholly justified down upon the League. I would remind the Captain-General that we were not consulted before one of these powers were allowed to enter the League?”

Thomas Marik cleared his throat. “Ms. Kortenth, I would remind her Ladyship that foreign policy is a exclusive domain of the Captain-Generalcy, and I made the decision to allow the Word Of Blake entry to the League under my reserved powers in that arena. As for their recent actions, I, and my cabinet are monitoring events in the newfound war between the Federated Commonwealth and the Capellan Confederation. The Word of Blake is allied with the Confederation, and they have the right to do so. I acknowledge that reports of their activities in the conflict thus far are alarming, but much of that can be dismissed as Federated Commonwealth propaganda.”

There was an uproar. One MP shouted “Propaganda my ass! You’ve thrown our lot in with murderers!”

The Speaker attempted to gavel the body to order, but he was shouted down by at least a dozen voices shouting, “impeach the Captain-General” and “Repeal 288!”

Thomas took this as his cue to leave, turning and making for a side entrance that was intended for parliamentary pages, and reporters, but was also useful when a Captain-General had to make a quick exit, such as today.

His SAFE Director, Wilson Chernikov, was waiting. Wilson’s flowing white hair and green eyes belied long hours at the office, tracking the two wars that were coming uncomfortably close to the League’s borders..not to mention the fact that the League may have unwittingly allowed a bunch of terrorists to start up shop inside the borders of the League.

“Tell me you have some good news, Wilson? Thomas asked.

“I do.” Wilson answered in a clipped tone, as he handed a lengthy stack of documents in a folder marked “Special Tasks”.

“I will do the Captain-General a service and summarize. He’s been cheating on your daughter with a member of his palace staff for some time. Were this to come to light, we could…”

“..back out of the alliance with little issue, and avoid war. But what’s the chance that lunatic comes after us? Or worse, Joshua on New Avalon? He blew up six thousandpeople to get at Hanse and Melissa Davion for Christ’s sake!”

“Word is Sun-Tsu’s on some sort of crusade and the Blakists may have sold him a bill of goods, sire.”

Thomas swore softly. “So it’s either war on a faulty premise where most of the provinces are going to stay home, Addendum or no. Or, I betray an alliance where I let my only daughter marry a man who’s cheating on her rather than produce a goddamned heir! It seems obvious on what I should do.”

“It does sire, and frankly, I agree, but there is the small issue of the Blakists still in the League. Were we to announce our neutrality in this war..”

“..they might turn on us. And you’re worried you cannot find them all?” Thomas opined.

“Sire, they’ve had six years to burrow into our military, intelligence agencies, and our bureaucracy. If they wanted to, they could cause some real havoc. But, Katherine’s offer is worth entertaining. We just have to tread very, very carefully.”

Thomas nodded “Ok, Wilson. Compile a list and get set to move on these people. I want them alive to turn over to the Fedcom, but if not, their bodies will do. If the Fedcom come for them first, don’t get in the way. Meanwhile, let’s let the Blakists think we’re are about to jump into the war on the side of the Capellans, for now. If somehow, the Capellans beat expectations…then we can just honor the alliance..and if not..”

“We can back down. Iffy game of brinkmanship, Sire.” Chernikov intoned, raising an eyebrow.

“Do we have a choice, Wilson?” Thomas stated, a tone of exasperation obvious in his voice.

“No, we do not sire. No, we do not.” Wilson stated, as he shook his head with his own sense of resignation.

 

[CurtisLemay]

Taken from the daily FC operational briefing provided to Field Marshal Ranier Poulin, Supreme Commander of “Operation Clover Spear”, declassified October 9th, 3076.


“..current Jade Falcon and Steel Viper operations are characterized as “chaotic, but recovering” due to the current pause in operations. We expect enough ammunition and POL restocks to be on-hand within the next ten days to jump off for the third wave sometime in early November. The fall of Sudeten has eased the logistical situation due to the improved cargo handling facilities both at L5 and planet side.”

“SIGINT and HUMINT sources have detected signs of an impending Steel Viper counterattack coming within the next 10-15 days (see Appendix A – Enemy Dispositions and intentions) for details on this, but we feel confident we can defeat any counterattack they mount due to the fact that they have no intelligence as to current defenses of potential target worlds and from the size of the logistical dumps we have captured, it suggests that both the Falcons and Vipers were having supply problems even before Clover Spear commenced.”


Sudeten, Part 2

Attackers: Von Strang’s Legion (Reinforced Regiment, Elite), Wolf’s Dragoon’s Volunteer Cluster, Provisional Royal Guards Battalion.

Defenders: Doberung Garrison Cluster, Clan Jade Falcon, saKhan’s Provisional Keshik, Clan Jade Falcon, “Hazen’s Heroes” Cluster (scratch three trinary cluster of a mix of solahma trainers and sibko children who fought as infantry).


Results: The defense of Maakar Island by the scratch force of Jade Falcon defenders was by all accounts, brave, determined, and doomed. After a short, violent bombardment by Dragoon warships and FC aerospace of the fixed defenses in the early morning hours, Von Strang’s Legion performed an avalanche drop right on top of “Hazen’s Heroes.” The Falcon defenders met the initial drop by Von Strang’s Legion gamely and fought hard every step of the way to the command bunker, where Von Strang was hit in the flank by the Falcon Provisional Keshik. Even with a weight and technology advantage favoring the Falcons, the Legion, wheeled to meet them and held them in place, coolly meeting them head to head and unhorsing saKhan Chistu in the initial volleys.

After a long four hour fight, Jamie Wolf arrived with his Volunteer Cluster, built mostly around the elements of Zeta Battalion and a few warriors from the other component units of the Dragoons, they dropped behind the Provisional Keshik, and the Legion and the Dragoons closed the vise in another two hours of a fight that was described as “like firing submachineguns at each other in a vidphone booth, with blindfolds.”

A counterattack by the remains of the Doberung into the flank of the Dragoons was met by the provisional Royal Guards Battalion, and smashed handily, with copious assistance from airstrikes by aerospace elements from the Legion, the Dragoons and the Royal Guards.

Two hours later, the senior surviving officer, a Star Captain Lisl, ordered all surviving Jade Falcon forces to surrender. It was mute testimony to the severity of the short, sharp fight, that only 80 Jade Falcon EPWs were taken, but among them was saKhan Vandervahn Chistu himself. He has since been handed over to LIC and MOJ officials for debriefing. Sudeten was declared secure by Jamie Wolf on October 9th, 3056.

**************************************************

1800m AGL above Maakar Island

Sudeten

Jade Falcon Occupation Zone

October 9th, 3056



Juliette grunted as the DropShop shuddered around her 'Mech, the Tepes clearly hitting turbulence. Glancing at the status display, she nodded, feeling the weight of her neurohelmet with the gesture. Flipping switches on her console, she activated the Legion-wide circuit. "Legionaires. You know me. I have no grand speech for you: simply know that this, today, is our day. This is the first step on the long road home. We have fought on a dozen worlds, slaughtered a thousand beasts, but today, my Legion," she glanced over at the rapidly ticking altimeter, "Today, we murder a khan."


With that, the bottom dropped out of the world as all three of her Legion's 'Mech carrier DropShips deployed their cargo. Instead of dropping from orbit, wrapped in ablative cocoons and rocket engines, her 'Mechs were dropping from low altitude, relying on strap-on jump packs to break their fall ... mostly.


The Dragoon WarShip had managed to suppress the Falcon's heavy weapon turrets, and a swarm of Legion and FedCom fighters had distracted the anti-air weapons of the island, enough to allow three Overlord class ships to penetrate their defenses and deploy their passengers ... right on top of the Falcon defenders.


Screaming in fury, Juliette's Devastator landed feet first on a Falcon 'Mech, smashing the ugly, green painted thing to the ground with a hundred tons of gravity-accelerated force. Biting her lip, she shuddered to find her footing, then focused on the enemy ... the targets ... that surrounded her.


Swinging the long, heavily armoured barrel of her right gauss rifle, she smashed a Falcon Galahad aside, before raising her left rifle to place almost against the Rifleman-like 'Mech's torso and pumped a 125kg slug of nickel-iron into it, slagging the second-line 'Mech's engine and smashing it's gyro to splinters.


She was vaguely aware of her men and women fighting around her, with her friend and bodyguard Andre Winters, who had traded in his normal quad-gauss rifle toting Marauder II for a Berserker for this fight, decapitating a Falcon Baboon, and Shou squaring off his King Crab and letting loose with both heavy, rapid fire autocannons to shred a Phoenix Hawk IIC. But she couldn't focus on that, as the Falcons were fighting back, downing a brand-new Rakshasa from Third Company, First Battalion. "Tighten up, people," she shouted across the Legion's channel, even as rocket-assisted pallets slammed into the ground, dispensing their cargo of Patton, Rommel and Manticore tanks, firing autocannon, gauss rifles and PPCs even before they were completely unstrapped. Ferrocrete crumbled beneath their treads as they advanced, adding their firepower to the battle against the Falcons. "Concentrate fire! We've trained for this! Bring them down! Keep up the pressure!" she howled and grinned in savage fury as a Legion Banshee stepped on the cockpit of a downed Guillotine IIC, crushing the pilot.


"Omnis!" cried one of her 'Mech pilots, trilling lasers in the background, "Falcon Omnis hitting us from the wes-" The signal cut out, and Juliette swore, even as her PPCs savaged a dodging Falcon medium.


"Legionaries! Wheel!" she ordered, and in practiced efficiency, the black-coated 'Mechs of the Legion lurched to obey her command.


***

SaKhan Vandervhan Chistu swore viciously as he strode in his Warhawk towards the Docks, where the Spheroid attackers had landed. The day had started out well, all things considered: while the massive, brutal onslaught of the Federated Commonwealth upon the Jade Falcon Liberation Zone had been a shock to the system, especially an invasion by the thrice-accursed Dragoons upon Sudeten itself. Still, he had rallied, gathered the remains of the planet's defending Clusters to the Island where the backup command centre was located, protected by heavy weapons and fortifications. Fortunately, the Dragoons and their freebirth allies were savaged by the fighting as well, and this had given Chistu the chance to use the Island's HPG to contact other units and redirect them towards Sudeten. The planet's central and strategic location made it a perfect rally point, and he had already managed to order three fractured Clusters and two WarShips to join him, as well as a fresh Cluster, escorted by a Falcon Aegis, direct from the Homeworlds with the latest in Clan weapons and warriors.


But this blasted attack was frustrating matters: bad enough that the traitor Wolf had demanded his surrender - as though that were a possibility! - but now nameless lucre-warriors were sent to vex him. The incompetence of his subordinates had allowed them to land on the Island, so it was up to him and his personal forces to deal with the invaders. Fifteen heavy and assault OmniMechs should be enough to shatter this little band of thugs.


Even as his Trinary approached the fighting, marching around heavily reinforced buildings, he overheard the radio chatter from the other Falcon leaders.


"Connor! Get that stravag Zeus before -"


"- they are ignoring zelbrigen! Honorless freebirths, they -"


"Well, return the favor! Concentrate your fire on -"


"Neg, you cretin: my warriors are not trained for such gutter tactics! Star Commander Fuller, on your eight! I -"


Cursing into his neurohelmet, Chistu stepped around the last corner, and faced the madness.


Black painted Battlemechs and tanks were slugging it out with green painted Clan 'Mechs at point blank range. This was not the elegant ballet of destruction that the Jade Falcons preferred, dancing about their opponents with deadly precision, using their speed and range advantage to tear them apart: this was brutal, uncompromising, savage. His jaw dropped as he witnessed a Charger and a Grasshopper grip the arms of a solhama 'Mech, so that a Spheroid Axeman could slam its titular hatchet into the green 'Mech's cockpit. Elsewhere, a Warhammer, Flashman and Penetrator trio bracketed a Hunchback IIC that appeared to have expended its autocannon ammunition, the medium 'Mech virtually disintegrated under a barrage of energy weapon fire.


True, the Falcon defenders were giving as good as they were receiving: after all, Clan weapons were still vastly superior, being more accurate, more heat efficient, deadlier ton-for-ton, and Clan armor was more protective. Many spheroid 'Mechs were already crippled or destroyed, and many others showed clear battle damage. Yet the fighting was more vicious and close than any the Falcon saKhan had seen since Tukkayyid, and even the way the attackers were panted black reminded him of the pristine white of the Com Guards.


In the back of his mind, something about the black-painted 'Mechs tugged at his brain, something about a brutal raiding force that struck at isolated garrisons and units, but he forced himself to concentrate as he opened a channel. "Who dares attack the Falcon? Who brings doom upon -" he cut off as something grabbed the ankle of his Warhawk, and he looked down to be stunned by the black Caesar, it's legs blown off and one arm removed, scrabbling at his Omni's leg. The sheer stubborn desire to fight, to struggle to simply annoy him was surprising, and he took a moment to lower two ER PPCs and send bolts of charged particles to vaporize the offending 'Mech's cockpit and pilot. "Who brings doom upon themselves in this way?"


The comm channel crackled, and while the voice was of a young woman, the words send icy shivers down his spine: he had heard them before, many years ago. "I, the Baroness of Strang, care not for your new names." Horror and rage fought within him at the sheer gall at someone claiming that name and title. "Clans? Jade Falcons? I call you by your true name: Scum of the Star League, traitors of free will, persecutors of the Periphery come back to lord it over freedom-loving people. Come ahead, you steel-eyed robots! Come ahead and taste what a million-like-minded people think of you and your damn Clans!"


From the melee came a massive, blocky Devastator, deep rents in its armor but still standing tall. No markings relieved the dark paint over the metal, but Chistu knew that this was the bandit's leader. "You killed my father. Stole my world. Murdered my people."


From cover, an infantryman in Clan fatigues rushed the mercenary, raising a shoulder mounted SRM launcher. Without breaking stride, the hundred ton 'Mech stepped on the unfortunate solhama trooper, leaving little but a bloodstain and twisted metal. "I come to return the favor."


***


Jaime Wolf settled his neurohelmet on his shoulders as the Overlord-C class Dropship around him shuddered in flight. It had taken hours to scrape together a full Cluster of 45 'Mechs, the heaviest, freshest and most battle ready he had available, and it may already have been too late: the scattered reports from the fighting suggested that casualties among the Legion were high, and there was no guarantee that any would still be alive when his scratch troop arrived. Still, intelligence suggested that enough missile and cannon batteries had been neutralized to allow a DropShip to insert his force onto the island, and he planned to take advantage of that fact to wipe out the Falcon defenders once and for all.


"... don't know why we're doing this: it's the fucking von Strang bitch! The fucking Vampire!" he overheard over the general channel. He knew exactly who it was but chose not to interfere: the legacy of the von Strang name was well earned, even centuries after the Coup, and he understood the sentiment. Still, it wasn't the first time he had had to fight alongside someone he disliked. Luthien, for example ...


Instead, he cleared his throat. "In ages past, cities would be surrounded by high, thick walls of brick or stone. Cannon - not autocannon, but muzzle loading tubes of bronze or iron - would be used to batter a hole in the wall. Then the call would be sent out for volunteers ... volunteers for the forlorn hope.


"The forlorn hope were sent in to force the breech, to drive back the defenders, to clear away obstacles, to provide a gap for the main force to push through into the city. It was brutal, hand-to-hand fighting, and the casualties were, understandably, high. The name, after all, proclaimed one’s chances of survival: slim to none.


"Nevertheless, whenever the call went up, there were always those among the attackers who would volunteer to join the forlorn hope, because while they may die, if they survived, they would be guaranteed fame, glory, wealth and promotion. For in taking such a gamble, for risking everything and braving such danger, they demonstrated their courage and dedication, and in doing so, saved the lives of those who would follow."


For a moment, the channel was silent, as almost four dozen Mechwarriors waited for their commander to continue: the only sound was the roar of the DropShip's engines and the hiss of the environmental systems.


"That is what the Legion is doing today. They are the forlorn hope. We follow in their footsteps, and whatever happens, no matter what we may think of them, we will recognize their courage and dedication."


He closed his microphone, and leant back in his command chair, closing his eyes as he prepared himself. For the most part, his men accepted his words. Still, one wiseass just had to get the last word in.


"Courage? More like sheer bloodthirst. Fucking vampire ..."


***


Chistu grunted as he came too, as he was dragged over a chunk of rubble. He opened his eyes, groaning as he looked up at the burly infantryman in black fatigues, ballistic plate vest and helmet who had a firm grip on his cooling vest. Pieces of ferrocrete and splinters of armor plating scraped and tore at his bare limbs, and he could feel the rumble and thud of continuing battle in the distance: the war for Sudeten was not yet over.


Still, even as he shook his head to clear it, he was hauled up and then tossed to the ground, next to a fallen war machine. Forcing himself up on his forearms, he looked up to stare up at a young, red haired woman wearing a black cooling suit, resting her butt on the severed hand of a 'Mech like a throne. She glared disdainfully at him as her hands played with a long, thin strand of myomer. That awful, familiar and hateful voice flowed from her mouth: "Don't bother getting up, creature: this won't take long." Around him stood a circle of soldiers, infantry and dismounted Mechwarriors and tankers, all glaring daggers at him.


Again, the ageing Clansman struggled to concentrate. Last thing he remembered was fighting von Strang, his Warhawk against her Devastator. The infamy of having a 'Mech designed by the Great Kerensky himself being piloted by the spawn of the Vampire had been infuriating, but the pirate was deceptively nimble and skilled: despite being in a lighter, faster Omni Mech, the battle had been fierce ... the details faded as fast as he grasped at them, his head pounding in neural feedback, likely from an ammunition explosion.


"My father was never confused or deceived by your pretense and false names: he knew who you were the moment you arrived in our home system," she continued. "Yet even he failed to perceive just how low you had fallen, out there in the Dark. What madness drove you to abandon your humanity, I cannot comprehend, and choose not to even try. When an invasive species infests one's biosphere, you do not try to reason with it: you break out the pesticide." Her hands jerked decisively, and his dazed mind finally recognized what she had been fashioning.


A noose.


Even as she tossed the coil to one of her thugs, who threw one end over a nearby section of broken 'Mech to create a crude gallows, he gabbled in horror, shaking his head in denial as the fiber was slipped over his head, fighting feebly against the strong pirates who held him fast. "I ... I ... I AM JADE FALCON!" he finally forced out of his lips.


She smiled at him, baring sharpened fangs that belonged in no human mouth. "I know. That is why you are about to die."


***


Despite her bravado, Juliette did her best to hide her shaking as a team of her men gripped the rope, ready to haul the Falcon khan into the air. Father, I know this is not the man who killed you, not their pestilent leader, but he is that murderer's second, his right hand. Until I have my hands on Critchell, he will have to do.


The thud of a stamping 'Mech drew her attention away from the impending lynching, and she blinked as she looked up at the blue and gold Archer that strode towards her little gathering. The exterior speakers crackled. "Colonel von Strang: stand down!"


Fury rose in her. "Back off, Wolf!" she cried, and noted out of the corner of her eye as the Falcon scrabbled at the noose, trying to loosen it. Should have tied his hands. Oh well. "This is my operation! My assault! My justice!"


"It is murder," Wolf rejoined, coming to a halt, the ground shaking beneath seventy tons of war engine.


"Yes, I know! It is! And well earned!" she insisted. Raising a hand, she called out, "Haul away, boys!"


"No!" shouted Wolf, but her Legionnaires obeyed her, and put their backs into it, pulling on the rope and raising Chistu into the air by his neck.


Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on one's perspective) the Tanker's neck failed to snap, and his eyes bulged out as he fought to force his fingers beneath the corded pseudo-muscle wrapped around his throat. Taking in the glorious sight of the penultimate leader of her mortal foe slowly strangling to death, she barely noticed the Dragoon clambering down a rope from his 'Mech's cockpit. One of her men moved to intercept him, but the ageing mercenary shoved him aside. "You cannot do this!" he stated.


She glanced over at him, taking in his greying hair and slight build, barely taller than her own. "I can, I will, I must!" She turned back to the hanging, fury fighting with satisfaction within her. "You turned down this battle, Wolf: you could have fought here, bled here, died here, like so many of my Legionnaires! My Kindred, my Forsaken, my Damned. You lost all right to decide who lives and who dies! That right is mine!"


"And when the Archon hears that you murdered this man in cold blood? Not killed him in battle, but lynching him like a common pirate?"


"He is a common pirate!" she cried, turning to face Wolf again. "You just want to save the life of a fellow Tanker, Wolf! Beasts run together, honor among thieves and murderers -"


"Girl, I have hated the Falcons longer than you've been alive!" he shouted, gripping her shoulder through her suit's padding. Furious, an infantryman raised his Blazer rifle, but she waved him back. "I have lost my father to the Falcons, my brother to the Eagle, my friend to the Dragon. I have walked the path of vengeance and blood feud, and it has cost me, and it is costing me still!"


"I am willing to pay!" Juliette shouted back, her voice breaking as her eyes started to tear up.


"And your men? Your Legion? Your world? I know Hanse, I know Melissa ... fuck, I know Victor! Whatever your bargain with them, if you take this life in this manner, they will wash their hands of you! Do you want this all to have been for nothing?"


Tears flowing down her face, she glared up at the kicking, twitching Chistu, whose face was turning purple as he glared down at her. "They murdered my father!" she wailed.


"I know, girl," whispered the legend, whom she had admired for years before learning of his heritage. "And he will pay for his crimes against your world, and a hundred more ... but not like this!"


Her heart tearing in two, her grief raging against her hope, she screamed wordlessly against the universe ... and then raised her hand and chopped it down. Obediently, her men let go of the rope, and the Falcon fell to the ground with a crunch, moaning in agony as one leg snapped against the ground. She took a little solace in that as she sank to one knee, even as Wolf crouched next to her, his hand still gripping her shoulder, while her warriors looked on in shock and surprise.


"Father," she whispered in a small voice, and for once, the indefatigable, indomitable and relentless mercenary they called the Vampire wept, even as the battle for the Falcon's capital in the Inner Sphere ground to a halt, comforted by an old freebirth as her loyal men stood guard, and a hated foe whimpered in fear and pain.

**

As the sun set, Jaime Wolf found Juliette von Strang standing on the roof of a building, watching as DropShips landed and took off, transporting troops, wounded, booty and supplies. She didn't look up as he approached, and just fiddled with a small chip between her fingers. The part of Wolf that was born in Clan space shuddered at her possession of a khan's codex chip, but the seasoned mercenary in him just shrugged. "Your butcher's bill?"


A flaring of the nostrils was her only sign of distress. "Significant. Twenty-three 'Mech pilots dead, sixty two machines out of commission: we may be able to salvage a dozen of those. Nine tanks and crews lost, and forty-seven infantry dead. Many more are wounded." She smiled tightly. "No aerospace personnel or machines lost, bar minor armor damage and expended munitions, so that's something. As it is, my Legion will be some time rebuilding ... if the war allows us that luxury."


He nodded. "I recall a similar time, long before you were born."


"Misery," she noted, and he grunted. "My losses must seem paltry in comparison to your casualties on that world."


"Perhaps, but that was over weeks. You suffered yours in under six hours." He paused. "'Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.'"


"Arthur Wellesley. I prefer his opponent: 'Between a battle lost and a battle won, the distance is immense ... and there stand empires.'"


"Boney had a way with words on occasion," admitted Wolf.


The two colonels, one young and female, the other elderly and male, stood in companionable silence for a time, before Juliette spoke again. "I know I can trust my men, but I would appreciate it if you could ... see your way clear to forgetting today's events. Regarding the khan."


Wolf bowed his head. "Of course." He paused. "I believe, in time, you would have regretted -"


She snorted in a most unladylike fashion. "Wolf, I could kill them all, burn their empire to the ground and dance on their ashes. No, this is fitting: let him be their Vercingetorix: a living trophy to parade in front of the crowds. Let him live in misery and humiliation, proof of his people's defeat until shame takes him or they grow weary of him. Less immediately satisfying, of course, but perhaps more so in the long run." Then she glanced over at him. "But this campaign is under the Commonwealth flag, under their rules of engagement. When I retake my home world ... I assure you, the flag I fly shall be black as night.


"No mercy. No quarter. No exceptions."

_____________________________________

FLASH FLASH FLASH


NCA NEW AVALON AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF A TERRORIST ATTACK ON NEW AVALON ON 11 OCTOBER, 3056. GALAHAD AND GUENIVERE ARE CONFIRMED KIA. DURAN IS WIA. PROGNOSIS IS IN DOUBT. LE FAY IS NOW NCA. RPT, LE FAY IS NOW NCA. NATURE OF ATTACK IS THOUGHT TO BE CAPELLAN-STATE SPONSORED, RPT CAPELLAN STATE-SPONSORED.


HUNTRESS ORDERS THAT ALL UNITS MAINTAIN CURRENT OPERATIONS AS PER PLAN


PLEASE INFORM YOUR SUBORDINATE COMMANDERS OF EVENTS AND PROCEED ACCORDINGLY.


POULIN


END MSG

FLASH FLASH FLASH

Flash Transmission sent out to all commands involved in Clover Spear, 23 October, 3056 informing them of the attack on New Avalon. Message was declassified after Information Act request made by DBC on 31 January, 3061.

 

[CurtisLemay]

“People often ask me, “Why did I leave it all behind?” Simple, Galen. He’s been a rock for me when I needed it during the worst of the war. And, after, when the normal pressures of life can get to be too much, he is there. I get to stand on my own and often go by just Katherine Cox, rather than on my parents, or my brother (The publisher was rather insistent on the full name for the book, not even my brother nor my husband could sway him). Not to say they haven’t been helpful, but I gotta be honest, it’s fun being a philanthropist, author, and mom. Well, except for the deadlines. They still suck, but not as bad as the war. Nothing was as bad as that. Thank god for Galen, and yes, Omi. I owe my life and continued sanity to those two.”

It's Not All Fairy Tales – The Life and Times of a Cracked Princess, by Katherine Cox-Steiner Davion, Tharkad Press, Tharkad, 3084


****************************************

Acting Archon-Princess’s Private Quarters

New Avalon

Federated Commonwealth

October 30th, 3056

At least we have a date for the funeral. Now if the bureaucrats would just make it happen instead of worrying about my signature on permit applications for the Heavy Guards to march down Davion Avenue in the procession. It’s not the first group of battlemechs to do that! The things those idiots concern themselves with. We’re at war on two fronts, our people are scared and feeling the pinch of wartime rationing, and they want to make sure the forms are in triplicate. Ugh! Mom, Dad? How in the hell did you guys deal with this?

Katherine Morgan Steiner-Davion had had better days. She’d taken to dressing casual around the palace. Contrary to her “media darling” personality with her being seen wearing the finest labels in the Commonwealth, she really did like being more of a “jeans and t-shirt gal”. It was also easier to curl up in after a bad day. And god knows, I had plenty of those growing up. I know you and Mom tried, Dad. I am just scared, what I am doing, what I MUST do, it’s going to bring those feelings back. Make me into another Claudius. I cannot let that happen. For the good of our people, I must not.

It was then her reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door. “Your Highness, Kommandant Cox is here to see you.” Galen, here? At a time like this, and I am a mess, hair not done, the bags under my eyes have bags for heaven’s sake. And I am wearing a ratty old t-shirt and jeans that make me look like a college student. Then again, I am not THAT far out of college. Ah, what the hell, if he doesn’t run, it will be a good test to see how he really feels?

“Send him in, Hauptmann, and do not disturb us.”

“Yes, your Highness.”

The door opened, and Galen entered, he was resplendent in a AFFC dress uniform, that was only marred by his right arm in a sling. The uniform itself was immaculate, the shine of the brass practically blinded an onlooker and the boots, well one could see their reflection in his boots. And Katherine could detect a whiff of Old Spice Tharkad in the air. Galen, really? Old Spice? You don’t have a lot of experience with women, do you? To round out the picture, he had a bouquet in his good hand of blue Mycosia flowers. Perhaps my initial assessment was a bit hasty, Galen, you asked my brother about me. Extra points there. Katherine could not help but smile, it was a crooked one, but it was full of mirth nonetheless.

Galen exhaled, and smiled “Um, hi..I was in the neighborhood you see, and these flowers, well they just..”

Katherine barked a laugh “Um, Galen. I already like, like you. Drop the pretense, okay? I mean look at me? I’m hideous. If the scandalsheets saw me now?”

“Then you’re lucky. If I can get away with decking the heir to the throne, then what’s a few paparazzi?”

“Other than we’re supposedly a civilized nation, not the Clans and you can’t do that when the whim strikes you, Galen” Katherine smiled. As much as I love my big brother, I would have loved to have been on Trellwan for that. Victor can stand to learn not to be ready to be such a damn martyr. What the hell was he thinking, staying behind? I never did talk about that with him..when he wakes up..if he wakes up. Katherine frowned at the thought, then sat down on a nearby setee with a loud thump.

Galen grabbed a nearby chair and sat near her. “Katherine, what’s wrong?”

Katherine exhaled “I am a fraud, Galen. A damned fraud. I’m crazy, certifiable. Diagnosed with Dombrowski A Depressive Disorder, a textbook case and a well known scourge of the Steiner line. And I am holding it together by wanting to be more than a shell-shocked little girl whose father and mother were willing to do anything to help me. Even if it hurt like hell. It hurt my Dad the worst, Galen. I remember after one bad seizure when I was 13, they didn’t think I would come out of it. I did..but it was ugly. Dad was distraught. He bawled like a baby, then punched a hole in the wall right over there.” Katherine chuckled, as she pointed at a point on the far wall, which Galen noticed was a slightly different shade of paint from the rest of the wall “Broke his hand, as it turns out he hit a wall stud. Oh, Galen, you can do better than me.”

Galen shook his head. “Katherine, stop. Just stop, OK? You are making the decisions that need to be made. You are doing a good job thus far. Victor would be proud of you. And, I knew about the Dombrowski A. Victor confided in me on Trellwan. You know, he thinks you’re smarter than he is. Always wanted to keep you on as an adviser on political matters. He also knew you didn’t want the throne.”

Katherine’s mouth dropped. “How did…he know? I never said that to anyone. I was afraid...”

“Of what folks might think?” Galen interjected. “Screw ‘em. Katherine. I like you because of you. All of you, yes, even the depression. Not many folks know this. I had a kid sister, she was depressed too, made it a project of mine to get one smile a day out of her. I would like to think I succeeded more times than I failed. But it didn’t matter in the end, she died along with my parents when Kurita destroyed our farm.”

“What was her name, Galen?”

“Chloe. Her name was Chloe. She was 9. And yeah, her, and my parents are the reason I joined the AFFC. To get even with the bastards who did it. But as I discovered? We wind up doing a lot of the same things when we raid Combine and Capellan border worlds. Not out of malice, nope, just a lot of poor, innocent folks being in the wrong place, at the wrong time. It’s not nice, and it’s not right, but it happens. Nobody set out to kill them, but they’re dead nonetheless. And that’s what is eating at you. All those Capellan and Blakist terror attacks, no?”

“Yes, I know, I did the right thing. I set the right message. But I am ordering the deaths of people I have never met, only know from some briefing, or a list in my father’s mapcase. I should feel something, remorse, pity, something...”

“But you don’t feel anything?”

“No, I do. It’s rage. Rage that that bastard on Sian killed six thousand innocent people to get to my parents. Rage that he’s killing more of those innocents to prosecute a war he really cannot win. Rage I can’t stop the damn killing no matter what I do? Rage I am nothing but a fraud under it all, afraid every day I am going to make a bad call.”

Galen laughed. “Welcome to being the one in charge. All those feelings are normal. And as for the son of a bitch of Sian, He will get his. Anything we do to him personally or those in his inner circle is justified. Do you think he gave one whit about the what, 10,000 plus innocents he’s already killed in terrorist attacks throughout the Capellan and Sarna Marches? Nope. I doubt it. And from what I read? Inner Sphere’s a better place without Kali Liao in it. Here we were, saving their ungrateful asses from the Clans, and he’s still upset over the 4th War. Putz. I suspect you and he might have worked out a diplomatic deal, if we could have trusted him to stick to the bargain. Too late for that now.”

“You think the Blakists maneuvered him into this?”

“Possible, Katherine, but does it matter? It takes two to tango, and he took up his role without a damn bit of hesitation.”

Katherine nodded, “So, do I ride the tiger too?”

“No Katherine, you bury your parents, bind your brother’s wounds, and as the media’s saying, be the ‘avenging child’ we need you to be.”

“It’s not really me you know?”

“Then make you a deal, your highness.” Galen smiled “What do you say we agree whatever happens, however this all turns out, we promise one thing: To be real and honest with each other.”

Katherine nodded. “I’d like that Galen. Frankly, it’s the most..attractive thing anyone has ever said to me.”

Galen turned red and coughed. “Um..”

“It’s a bit early for that, but just to let you know Galen Cox, you owe me a date when this is all over. And yes, I like you very much too.”

There was another knock at the door. “Your highness, I’m sorry, but there is an urgent message here from the Foreign Ministry. It’s being delivered by courier.”

Katherine went to the door and opened it, there stood her usual plain clothed detail, a courtier in court dress who had been the voice at the door, and a dapper courier with a metal briefcase. “Your Highness, this is your eyes only, I was told. I must ask that you clear the room of all but security personnel.” said the man with the briefcase.

“Kommandant Cox stays on my express order.”

“I understand. But I will have to log it.”

“Do what you must, Agent-“

“Curatis, mam, Curatis”

Curatis entered the room and placed the metal briefcase on a nearby table. He then placed his hand on a palm lock attached to the briefcase, and said aloud “Curatis 4552, priority message delivery for Acting Archon Princess 1102 Zulu, 102156.”

The briefcase snapped open without further comment, and inside was two sheets of paper, which Curatis handed to Katherine without ceremony.

Katherine skimmed them both, the first, had Katherine smiling, the second..her face drained of color. She handed them to Galen.

“Jesus, is this confirmed?” Galen inquired of Curatis.

“I can’t answer that, Kommandant Cox.” Curatis stated neutrally.

“Answer the man, Curatis.”

“Yes sir, both are as of a week ago.”

“Jesus H. Almighty Christ. Well this is a whole new ball game.”


FLASH FLASH FLASH

FROM: MIIO STATION, EXTER, DRACONIS MARCH

TO: NCA NEW AVALON

TIMESTAMP: 1015560945Z

OMI KURITA IDENTIFIED ARRIVING TODAY ABOARD DCS WANAKAZE FROM LUTHIEN. IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED TO PLANETARY NOBLE’S OFFICE WHERE SHE HAS ASKED FOR POLTICAL ASYLUM AND SAFE PASSAGE TO NEW AVALON. SHE HAS BEEN INFORMED AS TO THE CONDITION OF DURAN. RPT SHE HAS REQUESTED POLITICAL ASYLUM.

DURING HER DEBRIEF BY MIIO, OMI KURITA STATEDTHAT LUTHIEN WAS FALLING TO CLAN SMOKE JAGUAR AND THAT BLACK DRAGON SOCIETY HAS LAUNCHED A COUP AGAINST SURVIVING ELEMENTS OF THE KURITA FAMILY THAT MADE IT TO NEW SAMARKLAND. NEW COORDINATOR IS REPORTEDLY FRANKLIN SAKAMOTO, A ILLEGITIMATE SON OF THEODORE KURITA.

WILL CONTINUE TO OBSERVE AND REPORT.

FLASH FLASH FLASH


FLASH FLASH FLASH

FROM: MIIO STATION, ATREUS

TO: NCA NEW AVALON

TIMESTAMP: 1020560415Z

THERE HAS BEEN A COUP ON ATREUS AGAINST THOMAS MARIK. HE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED DEPOSED. FATE OF OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY UNKNOWN. CORRINE MARIK IS NOW THE NEW CAPTAIN-GENERAL. FIGHTING ON ATREUS REPORTEDLY HEAVY, UKNOWN AS TO UNITS INVOLVED. RUMORS OF WORD OF BLAKE INVOLVEMENT ARE RIFE AT THIS TIME

WILL CONTINUE TO OBSERVE AND REPORT. ARE SUSPENDING ACTIONS AGAINST TARGET LIST AT THIS TIME TO PRESERVE OUR REMAINING ASSETS TO OBSERVE THE COUP.

FLASH FLASH FLASH

 

[CurtisLemay]

Wolf Clan Council Chambers

Tamar

Wolf Clan Occupation Zone

November 3rd, 3056

“I remember thinking during that Grand Council meeting that the Khans were shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic, that what the Fedcom had done was really so far out of their experience or understanding that the meeting was a waste of time. What would I have said? Von Rundstedt’s advice to the German General Staff after the Normandy invasion seemed appropriate. But the Clans weren’t those kinds of animals, they were warriors, it’s all they knew. They really did flounder when they began to realize that they weren’t as good at war as they thought they were.”

- Excerpt from the unpublished memoirs of Khan Phelan Kell-Ward, First saKhan and later 3rd Khan of the Wolf Dominion, released by his estate in 3091.

Phelan Kell warily stood for the invocation by the loremaster at the beginning of the Clan Council meeting, this meeting was being held digitally, as the Khans were scattered all over the place, what with the confusion the FC offensive and the Jaguar strike into the Combine had caused. Wait till Natasha announces what we’re doing to this bunch. He sat without another word, preparing to take in what was probably going to be the liveliest Grand Council meeting he had attended in a long time.

“You are recognized, Asa Taney of Clan Ice Hellion. On what matter do you address this conclave?”

Taney rose at a stately pace, his ceremonial garb resplendent as he removed his mask, and placed it on the table in front of him, his white fur and leathers almost washing out his face on the screen. “I address our gathered Khans, Loremaster, on a day of import, a day where the Clans find themselves having lost their way towards the true light and goal of our invasion. Terra itself. Instead, we have allowed the corruption of the Inner Sphere, and their ways to taint our purity of thought, and our martial glory. And several Clans have shown themselves to be unworthy, too weak to carry on the mission of the Great Father.” As Taney finished, his gaze settled right onto Khan Elias Crichell of Clan Jade Falcon.

“I therefore, Loremaster, call for a vote to absorb Clan Jade Falcon.” Taney crossed his arms, a satisfied smirk crossing his lips. The uproar of dozens of shouts filled the chamber, Kael Pershaw frantically banging his gavel to restore order.

Crichell shot to his feet, not even waiting to be recognized. “And you and your pack of honorless surats would of course, join the bidding like the jackals they are?”

Taney laughed “Come now, Khan Crichell, the wings of the Falcon have well and truly been clipped, and it must give way to younger, more vibrant clans ready to carry forward the true word of the Great Father.”

Crichell laughed. “Taney, you and your pack of fools couldn’t lead a sibko to the latrine, let alone take us. Hold your vote, you will lose, and even if you do win, you will find our talons sharp and our eyes clear.”

Taney smiled, “I am sure the Federated Commonwealth is so very intimidated by your clan right now, didn’t they take Chistu alive on Sudeten a few weeks ago? Paraded him in front of the holocams for the entertainment of the savashiri dogs.”

Crichell’s face turned red. “I will see you in a Circle of Equals, and kill you, Taney.”

“You’ll try, old man.” Taney barked a contemptuous laugh.

“Sit down, both of you. I am the Loremaster here,” barked Kael Pershaw. His cyborg body creaked as he shifted position in front of the dais. “We have a motion in front of the council to absorb Clan Jade Falcon. What say you, my assembled Khans?”

“A question, for the Khan of Clan Jade Falcon, if I may?” the questioner was Ariel Suvarov, Khan of Clan Goliath Scorpion. “Your position of saKhan lies empty, and you have lost at least a galaxy of frontline troops, as well as your occupation zone capital, what does the Falcon plan to do to bind its wounds and show its strength to all of us?” her voice was slightly contralto, and rang out clearly above the low level of murmured conversation amongst the assembled Khans.

“Order, I will have order, my Khans. Or I will censure you all!” Kael Pershaw was in a rare mood, and it was not improved by the fact that it was HIS clan that was the target of an absorption vote.

Crichell nodded and smiled at Suvarov. Well played, Suvarov. See where the smart money lies early. Phelan mused.

“Khan Goliath Scorpion, I appreciate your question, and I will answer it. The Clan is regrouping even now for a counterattack against worlds in the Commonwealth’s rear. We will force them to turn to deal with us, and then we will retake our worlds and beat them like the stravag dogs that they are. As for the issue of a saKhan, we are currently holding trials for the position, and I will be able to report a new candidate by tomorrow. As for our losses, we will make them good, once we have seen off the sphereoids, and we will remind those-“looking at Taney as he said it “-that the Falcon soars over it’s foes on the winds of glory, not feeds like a carrion animal on the glory of others.”

Suvarov nodded and sat and reached for her noteputer.

Khan Malavai Fletcher pressed his call button and got the attention of the Loremaster. “Loremaster, I move that this be a roll call vote? Clan Jade Falcon is one of the two largest Clans amongst us, and I do think whatever happens, that all Khans assembled here be ready to stand by their votes.”

Kael Pershaw nodded “The vote will be by roll call, I will call the name of each clan, and the Khan of that clan will rise and announce their vote.”

“Blood Spirit?”

Khan Karianaa Schimdt rose slowly, removed her mask and stated loudly “The Blood Spirits vote Neg to this ridiculous motion. The Falcon will teach all of her enemies the lesson of humility…and soon.”

“Burrock”

Khan Anton Hutchinson rose, and shouted “We vote Yay, the Falcons have made unclanlike fools of themselves in the Inner Sphere, and it would beehove us to give their resources to a clan more deserving!”

And so, the voting went. Clans Cloud Cobra, Coyote, Nova Cat, Snow Raven, and Ice Hellion voted for absorption. The Blood Spirits, Fire Mandrills, Goliath Scorpions, Hell’s Horses, Jade Falcons, Steel Vipers, Diamond Sharks, Ghost Bears, Star Adders, and Smoke Jaguars all voted against the motion.

When the Wolf turn came to vote, Natasha Kerensky rose and faced the screen, true to her nature, she had forgone formal council wear in favor for a pair of green coveralls, and a leather jacket. It was a direct slap at the council at a whole, but one they knew they could do little about. “Sorry boys and girls, we’re going to mind our own knitting on this one. Clan Wolf abstains.”

Pershaw banged his gavel. “The vote stands at 6 yays, 10 nays, and 1 abstention, the motion is defeated, unless, Khan Taney, you wish to demand a trial of refusal?” Pershaw smiled at Taney, his eyes were black coals, and his smile was colder than anything Taney had ever felt in his life.

“Neg, Loremaster, Clan Ice Hellion will not contest the results of the vote.”

Khan Lincoln Osis cracked his knuckles and rose "I would encourage any of those seeking to gain glory by absorbing an invading clan, not to look in the direction of Clan Smoke Jaguar. We have gained much glory in crushing the Dragon of the Draconis Combine in it's lair! I held Theodore Kurita's severed head in my own hands! Seyla Trothkin!"

Natasha chuckled and punched a few notes into her noteputer, it appeared as an instant message on Phelan's with a soft chime. The screen read: He left out the part that it took the entirety of Alpha, Beta, and Delta Galaxies' strength, massive orbital fire support in violation of every honor code that we have, and of the fourteen clusters that made planetfall, only five are even remotely close to combat capable weeks later. At least he 'only' lost a third of his Warship strength that he brought with the nearest dockyard for the cripples all the way back over Lum in the talons of the Snow Ravens.

Oh, and that glorious prize of Luthien, oh, I mean DeChavilier, as the Singed Kitties have renamed it? That poisoned and radioactive chalice is riddled with resistance cells who are still killing the warriors who are occupying his 'great prize' as he sifts through the ashes. Great Father save us from 'victories' such as these!"

Phelan typed back: Lincoln Osis was never a deep thinker, even by Elemental standards.

“Any other business?” Pershaw then inquired of the rest of the body.

Two khans rose with unseemly haste, one was Khan Amanda Carrol of Clan Fire Mandrill, and the other was Khan Lynn McKenna of Clan Snow Raven. They said in near unison “We move for the absorption of Clan Steel Viper!”

The hall descended into sheer chaos. It took Pershaw 15 minutes of furious gaveling to restore order in the hall. Perhaps we need a new loremaster, quiaff? Phelan mused.

“Another absorption vote? So be it, we might as well end this foolishness as well. The vote shall be by roll call.”

Phelan looked on half bored as the roll was taken once again.

This time, the vote was closer, with the Burrocks, Cloud Cobras, Fire Mandrills, Golaith Scorpions, Hells Horses, Nova Cats, Snow Ravens, Coyotes, and Ice Hellions all voting yes. The Blood Spirits, Jade Falcons, Steel Vipers, Star Adders, and Smoke Jaguars voted no, with the Sharks, Bears, and of course, the Wolves abstaining.

“The vote stands at 9 yays, 5 nays and 3 abstentions. The motion has carried. I will now entertain bids to decide who shall absorb Clan Steel Viper.”

Khan Perigard Zalman rose at a start, throwing his chair back and tearing off his helmet and cape. His face was a mask of anger. “I demand a Trial of Refusal. And I demand it NOW! I will face any one of you in a Circle of Equals. If you cannot defeat me, the life of my Clan, then you do not deserve to absorb us!”

Before the loremaster could speak, Khan Fletcher of the Horses spoke. “I shall dispose of this obstacle, and prove we are worthy to absorb the Vipers. I shall make your death quick, Zalman.” Fletcher's muscles bulged as he flexed them in anticipation of the fight to come. He was of Elemental stock, and savored chances to fight hand to hand, as he had a distinct advantage there.

Shit, this is going to get ugly. Phelan’s mind idly observed.

An orderly of Kael Pershaw’s drew a circle with a marker on the floor of the great hall. Kael Pershaw hobbled forward, “In this solemn trial, let no one interfere. The fight will either be to the death, or when one is forced from the circle! Seyla!”

The hall responded with “Seyla!”

The two combatants removed their accoutrements and stepped into the circle half naked, both wearing only a pair of shorts. Zalman was at least a meter shorter than his opponent, and a ‘Mechwarrior. The look on his face suggested that he had not counted on this development. You really need to look before you leap, Zalman. Phelan grinned, no matter who lost today, the Wardens won, as a prominent Crusader was going to die. Nominally, the Steel Vipers say they are Wardens, but their actions suggest otherwise. Perhaps this will wake them up.

Fletcher swung first, Zalman moved out of the way easily, dodging under his fist and jabbing hard at Fletcher’s ribs. Fletcher smiled as Zalman’s punch connected and did little more than merit a swift kick to Zalman’s groin that sent him sprawling. Zalman however, got up quicker than Phelan had expected from an injury like that, put his fist inside his other and lept towards Fletcher, his elbow jutting out as he swung it for Fletcher’s face, Fletcher tried to get it out of the way, but the elbow connected with Fletcher’s jaw, which gave with an audible, sickening SNAP! Fletcher dropped like a sack of potatoes, Zalman following it up with a swift kick to Fletcher’s throat, which was rewarded with another snap, as Fletcher’s hands rose to his throat as he began to turn blue, and gasp for air, his legs and arms flailing as he willed himself to breathe. But air never came to Malavai Fletcher, and he expired painfully on the floor within minutes.

Zalman raised his hands “My Khans, the vote is invalidated. And I have killed a Khan. Please let it be a lesson to the rest of you that our Clan is not ready, nor willing to be absorbed.”

He then left the Circle, flanked by his saKhan and his aides, leaving a confused Grand Council in his wake.

Pershaw’s jaw had dropped. He didn’t seem to expect that Zalman had seriously thought about killing Fletcher, but he had, and he had done so in honorable combat no less. But he had done so in the very hall of the Clans! “Ahem” he cleared his throat “Do we have any other business, my Khans?”

Natasha Kerensky rose again to face the screen, Phelan rose with her..Here it comes.

“Khan Crichell. I apologize for the unconventional nature of this batchall, but you’ve been busy, and this saves time…Natasha produced a noteputer, and projected a map of the current Falcon OZ, then highlighted six worlds. “So, tell me, Khan Crichell, what do you bid for these worlds?”

The council collapsed into complete pandemonium.


Star Adder Enclave

Strana Mechty

Clan Homeworlds

November 3rd, 3056

“Dante, you observed the Grand Council meeting today, your impressions?” Cassisu N’Buta, Khan of Clan Star Adder observed his saKhan. They were discussing as they often did, their impressions of the General Council meeting, as both men felt it improved communication and was useful to gather their wits. The small room they used once was the office of Clan Star Adder’s founder, Absalom Truscott, and had not been used by anyone in the Clan after his death, but N’Buta found it useful as a place where he and his saKhan, Dante Truscott, could talk without intra-Clan politics getting in the way. Many in my Clan wish to pick up where the Falcons left off in the Inner Sphere, they lack understanding or clarity as to what is going on. The spheroids have remembered, soldiers tend to beat warriors. And they are demonstrating it with an admirable sense of ruthlessness. N’Buta smiled at that last thought. I must meet the architect of this plan, it was simple, ruthless, and played well to all our weaknesses.

“My Khan, I cannot believe I am saying this, but the behavior in the Hall today was at times, very unclanlike. And furthermore? I worry that politics is weakening us unnecessarily. “

“You are correct Dante, and a very astute observation. It was an easy one to make, but astute nonetheless. Dante, what if I were to tell you that I think that Clan society is headed for a fall, and that soon, institutions like the Council will be as useless as a horse and buggy?”

Truscott turned white. “My Khan, such thoughts are contrary to the path of the Honor Road!”

N’Buta waved away his concerns. “The Honor Road, while an admirable pursuit, Truscott, is leading us down a destructive path. We have always been a clan of pragmatists. And we need to be one now. Clan Jade Falcon's and Steel Viper's times are at an end. But the council will protect them both because the current structure of the council cannot imagine life without either of those Clans, or admitting that the Inner Sphere might beat us, quiaff?”

Truscott replied “Aff, my Khan. But what are we to do, and remain a Clan? I mean, if we adopt these new methods the Federated Commonwealth has demonstrated on the battlefield, we lose ourselves. They win anyway.”

“Aff Truscott, they do. So, we must adapt in our own way, and we must do it quickly. And we must be prepared to act with, or without those fools on the Grand Council approving of what we do.”

 

[CurtisLemay]

Duke Thomas Bradford smiled as he rose from behind his desk to greet his guest. "Colonel Marik! Welcome to Coventry! I hope the trip in system was not too unplesant?"

The handsome woman in her late fifties bowed, then took his offered hand. "Thank you, your Grace: no, we had no need to push our engines, and proceeded at a leisurely single gravity." He offered a chair, which she gratefully took. "Ah, thank you again ... my bones aren't as spry as they once were."

"I know how you feel ... fortunately, my own days of burning hard towards enemy planets are over: my greater concern is rallying the nobility of this planet to all pull in generally the same direction."

"Somehow, your Grace, I think I have the better situation," the League-born mercenary winced, obviously thinking of her own nation's recalcitrant parliament.

"Please, Colonel: enough with the 'your Grace's'. I might feel forced to style you 'Her Grace, the Duchess of Augustine.'"

Kristen blanched. "Heaven forefend: I've put a great deal of work into avoiding that little planet. It does quite well enough without me being reminded I'm supposed to run the bloody place. A regiment is far easier to command, and less likely to result in backchat and whining."

Bradford smiled. "There are some perks," he offered, as a servant brought in two frosty bottles of beer marked with the Coventry kangaroo, and she took one with relish. They sampled their brews, and sighed in satisfaction. Then the duke grew serious. "Pardon me, Colonel, but I wished to take a moment to extend my most sincere condolences for the situation in the League. Is there any word on your brother? Your niece?"

She sighed. "Nothing on Thomas or Isis, I'm afraid: cousin Corrine is keeping a firm lid on things, and relations with Sian is not exactly conducive to correspondence. Joshua, thank God, is on New Avalon surrounded by the best doctors and guards available." She took another sip. "The Archon Princess sent her own best wishes, and I know her people are working on learning more." Kristen shrugged. "It seems that civil war remains the Free World's League's nation passtime. All I can do is focus on doing my job ... which, today, is getting my boys and girls ready to defend this little mudball of yours."

"I'm actually quite fond of this little mudball," Bradford rejoined in mock offense, but smiled. "Actually, I have also recieved a letter from Katherine Steiner Davion, and it was ... quite interesting. It seems that she is interested in activating a clause in your contract, and transferring your employment at a significant markup."

"Oh?"

"Yes: of course, it's your decision, but it will pay far better than your current commitment, and either way Coventry will be delighted to house and protect your dependents as though they were our own." He pulled a data chip from his desk, and offered it to her. "It is a combat assignment, and will involve venturing into Periphery space as part of a multi-regimental task force to liberate five worlds from the Jade Falcons ..."

*********

"With all due respect, my lady," offered Kommandant Ryan Cooper, as he cut his steak, "And, if I may, after the Island, that's a heck of a lot, whatever the newsies say ... I'm not sure if I or any of my boys and girls would be interested in joining the Legion." He paused to take a sip of wine, then continued. "I mean, sure our enlistments are up, and we're all thinking about whether or not to re-up, but the Legion has something of a reputation ... and not everyone agrees with me that it's overblown."

"Perfectly understandable," agreed Juliette as a server reloaded her scotch. The private room in a Sudeten hotel that until recently had been used as a Falcon administration center had held up fairly well after years of occupation and misuse, with mercenaries now recouperating in various rooms and halls, while the kitchens and resturants worked overtime to feed them. Fortunately, rank had it's privileges. "And to be honest in return, I do not think that your troops would fit with the Legion style of warfare: our agressive tactics have a tendancy to be ... costly, despite our best efforts. We are already recuiting heavily for the Forsaken, our conventional branch, to bring them up to full regimental strength, we have something else in mind for your troops.

"Essentially," she sipped at her liquor, "We envision you forming a mercenary command of your own, and I, as Baroness of Strang and ... well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. As Baroness, I can hire your troops, and you remain independent of the Legion. After the campaign, we can revisit the matter, and you can either remain mercenaries - in which case we will likely at least keep some of you on - or you can sign on with whatever national defense force we form. Your missions will likely be crowd control, security and some urban combat, door knocking and rooting out stubborn Falcon holdouts: the Legion and heavier units will handle field combat."

"So, you basically want regime support forces."

"Essentially. I'm not expecting you to liquidate neighborhoods that disagree with me, Kommandant, but as you know, it takes more than landing a few dozen 'Mechs on a planet to claim it as yours: you can drive over it, bomb it, fly over it, but you can't claim it as yours -"

"Unless you've got a scared eighteen year old with a rifle and bayonet standing on top of it," chimed in Cooper, scooping up some peas. "If I agree, I intend to run my command as though I still served the Commonwealth: that means regular discipline, training, protocols and ethics. If I receive orders that violate those ethics, I won't follow them."

"I'm sure we can have that written into your contract, Kommandant," smiled Juliette.

"Equipment needs to be decent: I'm not sending my troops into the fight without proper gear."

"I have an agreement with the AFFC: you will draw your weapons, armour and equipment from their quartermaster. I envisong a mix of foot and motorised infantry, although the precise details will likely become more clear after future discussions. I have here a list," she touched a small data chip, "Of other officers and NCOs the AFFC has recommended, for your perusal. Some you have served with before, others you may have heard of. Once you have a core, you can recruit from there."

He looked thoughtfully at the young mercenary. "You seem to have thought this through pretty well. How many troops, exactly, are you imagining I could organise?"

She lifted a bite of steak to her mouth. "I'm thinking three or four regiments, with appropriate artillery and VTOL support, medical teams and administration." As he blinked in shock, she reached into a pocket and pulled out a small golden pin. "I imagine a promotion is in order ... Brigadier Cooper."

 

[CurtisLemay]

Luneberg Plain

10km South Southwest of Waldorff City, Waldorff

Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth

November 9th, 3056


Star Captain Hardek laughed with delight as his Stormcrow Prime grounded with a shudder in a cacophany of braking jets and a barely controlled impact on the earth of Waldorff. He howled with delight as his ‘Mech’s systems reported in that they were working nominally. Good, the drop was within acceptable parameters, and now we crush the surats who dare attack our Clan, and then deal with the foolish home clans who dare oppose us? The Steel Viper plan was simple, two clusters, the 423rd Assault Cluster, of which Hardek and his trinary belonged to, and the 94th Battle Cluster would drop onto the Luneberg Plain and attempt to suck the FC defenders into a long-range fight, one more clanlike, Hardek’s mind echoed. Meanwhile, 12 hours from now, the 428th Assault and 57th Striker Cluster were going to do an avalanche drop onto Waldorff City itself, seize the starport, and cut off the FC forces from their base of supply. The Khan had assured them all that “This will be a simple matter, a bandit execution.”

“All Stars, report readiness” Hardek barked. He was eager to get going, to restore the honor of the Steel Vipers. He smiled, as he mentally counted the ‘Mechs of his trinary in the distance. 15 for 15, excellent. Trinary Bravo looks ready to walk the Honor Road.

“Alpha Krait Star, we are ready to dispose of the enemy.” Star Commander Susan was a no-nonsense warrior, quite shy in social matters, but a terror on the battlefield, and someone who did not brook any issues from her subordinates. She was probably going to be a candidate for the next Mercer bloodname contest, as she had impressed many in her blood house. Her short stocky build had many wondering if she was the freebirth product of coupling between a ‘Mechwarrior and an Elemental. It was not a question anyone ever asked twice.

“Bravo Boa Star, we are ready” Star Commander Haskell Moffat was the only bloodnamed member of the Trinary, and normally, he would be a lot more than a simple Star Commander by now. But ever since his bloodname trial 4 years before, he had proven to be a disappointment. He had just turned 31, and any day now, he would probably get orders for a solahma cluster. Watch this one, Hardek, he might get his Starmates killed seeking glory that is not his. He was tall, and lanky, with hair that had prematurely greyed and worry lines that creased his face like old parchment.

“Charlie Mamba Star, we are ready for the glory that awaits!” Star Commander Chase was an interesting fellow, he was another ristar fresh from his Trial of Position on the Homeworlds. He had managed two kills in his graduation trial, and worse yet, had graduated early. Seems a lot of sibkos are doing that these days. He was a young puppy, eager to please and overly eager to come to grips with the Fedcom. A little too eager, it was all so…unclanlike. Chase was a short fellow, socially awkward, and somewhat befuddled as to his responsibilities as a Star Commander, and worse, he was a complete incompetent when it came to land navigation. He had gotten his entire Star lost on a night exercise a week before and had almost led them into a sandstorm back on Twycross. He used the radio entirely too much often clogged it on exercises. Hardek had threatened him with a circle of equals and that had, for now, put an end to that. He might be the Trinary’s point of failure. I must watch him as well.

“All Stars, we go forward to determine the future of our Clan. Our Khan has already taught the Hell’s Horses a lesson in humility. Now, we shall teach it to the sphereoids. The order is, advance and no bondsmen, we shall not have these honorless surats sully the honor of the clan!”

A chorus of “Aff, Star Captain!” filled the trinary radio frequency. Hardek had the secondary radio tuned to the Cluster frequency. That radio could not transmit, but it was useful for getting the intent of his Star Colonel and acting upon it before it was transmitted over the radio to Hardek. And it improves my chances for being selected for the next Ahmed bloodname contest.

The secondary radio crackled to life, it was a bit staticky, more than usual. A series of squeals tore through the air and obscured part of the Star Colonel’s orders “- Trinary Delta, I want you to work around the enemy Hardek, see if you can find a seam between their two RCTs, and get at that artillery. Without it, the surats are helpless, and we will dispose of them as we did during the invasion.” The radio squealed again, and then gave way to harsh static, and then, the faint musical notes that sounded as if a cat was being strangled..strange, Davion units, at least the ones the Clans have encountered, do not often play music in battle. It did not matter to Hardek, he had his orders.

“Aff, ovKhan.” Hardek replied. He was unsure if the Star Colonel had heard him acknowledge the order, but he lurched his Stormcrow forward at a loping pace, eager to come to grips with the Davion units reported to be on the planet. Three RCTs of their vaunted Guards, this will be an execution. Let us see them fight without their tricks.

“Charlie Mamba, advance to full speed, and flush out any surprises the enemy has in store for us!”

The radio was dead, except for harsh squeals and the occasional pop of static. All of the ‘Mechs of his trinary remained in the double column with him at his head. He made hand and arm signals to deploy the trinary into line, which took time, and forced Hardek to halt his ‘Mech, and observe the shakeout of the trinary. That too more valuable time, 5 whole minutes by Hardek’s chronometer.

Once the line was shaken out, they advanced at the walk, the controlled thunder of 15 Battlemechs at walking speed shaking the earth for at least half a mile as they advanced along the azimuth of the inertial navigation of Hardek’s mech, who was still leading the trinary, some 100 meters forward of the center of the line. Charlie Mamba had still not advanced to screen the line.

Hardek turned his ‘Mech to pass hand and arm signals to Star Commander Moffat in his Kit Fox, when threat warnings blared through his cockpit. A series of small heat signatures had appeared as if from nowhere to his front. Stravag! Enemy infantry to my front…and we have no Elemental support. They were formed into provisional clusters for the drop onto Waldorff City, and who knew how they were making out? Several smoke trails shot out from a series of well hidden positions to Hardek’s front, some 90 meters away. Two of them intersected with a Viper A from Charlie Chase. The rockets exploded short of the mech, making popping noises as the ‘Mech was soon covered in burning gel, as it stumbled and fell..as it did so..the ground exploded, separating the Viper’s left arm at the elbow, and the right leg at the knee. The ‘Mech’s ammunition soon began to cook off and an inferno began to consume the ‘Mech.

Hardek slammed the arm of his command couch with his left fist in frustration and anger. There was infantry in prepared positions out there, he had the wrong weapons and loadouts to deal with them. He had no elemental support, and worse? He’d walked right into a minefield. He halted again and made more hand and arm motions for the rest of the trinary to withdraw, he’d find a way around these surats, and accomplish his mission. He checked his map, there was an entrance to a small rolling valley that led into the Davion rear, it could be used to reach his objective, and keep him covered, he’d just have to find somewhere sheltered to brief his people face to face and-

It was then that his threat warning system went off again. Air threat. Dammit, where the hell were our fighters? Hardek’s mind questioned. It wasn’t long before a pair of what the computer identified as Corsairs roared past, with half the trinary opening fire on them with everything bigger than a small laser. Naturally, they did not hit them, but a series of dark shapes tumbled from their wings..right over the center of Alpha Krait. The shapes split open into multiple smaller shapes, too many to count, and small parachutes blossomed. Oh no, that new Fedcom munition. They can drop it from the skies too. Many of the munitions fired small thrusters and landed on the tops of the three ‘Mechs caught in the beaten zone. A Mad Dog C caught the worst of it. It blossomed in a series of explosions that dropped the ‘Mech like a puppet with it’s strings cut. The wrecked remains fell to the ground, streaming gouts of black smoke and hit the ground with a loud crash that shook the ground under the feet of Hardek’s ‘Mech.

It was then that Hardek’s secondary radio crackled to life. “Steel Vipers, this is Star Colonel Ravill Pryde of the Jade Falcon Guards, I come with two Clusters, my own and the 8th Falcon Regulars, we come to bid for the right to face the FC forces on world. We will do so, with, or without your cooperation.”

Freebirth! Have the Falcons gone mad? Those units were badly hurt defending Sudeten according to the Chatterweb. And now, they are here? And they bid against four FRESH clusters to participate in our counterattack? Everything is madness.

“This is Galaxy Commander Sarah Andrews to all Gamma Galaxy callsigns, break contact and withdraw to the dropships, FC forces have broken through our security screen. Withdraw and break contact. “

The frequency then squealed painfully again, and this time, the cat strangling music was back, even louder this time. It was then that his cockpit glass polarized as a double flash ripped across the sky, high in the atmosphere, then another..then three. Stravag, what was that?

“Star Captain, Mechwarrior Gerd of Alpha Krait, Sir, they’re saying the Steel Python has been destroyed. The surats nuked it!”

"Stop spreading rumors and get off the air, Gerd. You will submit yourself to your Star Commander for punishment when this is over!" Hardek barked.

“Aff Star Captain, I would, but she is down, it was her Mad Dog that went down from that air strike!”
“Then who oversees your star? Mechwarrior?” Hardek barked again.

“I am, I am senior.” The voice came through the radio small, and distant.

Hardek shook his head. Gerd was fresh from the homeworlds, like about a 1/3rd of the Trinary. He had no idea HOW to run a star. And what made it worse, learning how during what was looking like a nasty ambush was not the way to learn.

“All Trinary Charlie elements, execute the orders of the Galaxy Commander.” Whom I will face in a Circle of Equals when this is over. “Keep your intervals and spacing.”

A chorus of “Affs” echoed over the radio.

The trinary moved out in a south westerly direction. The radio was a hash, a mix of cat strangling music, jumbled orders and situation reports, screams, and harsh squeals. Hardek couldn’t raise anyone after some time. Who even knows if we are out here? We went wide to the left to try and overrun the enemy artillery. And we should be seeing our dropships by now?

Hardek’s threat receivers went off again. Ten, no, twelve MAD contacts, mix of weight classes, but 12 ‘Mechs 450 meters to his front only meant one thing. The Davions got there first. And now they are here to finish us off. He glanced at his repeater screen. Charlie Mamba had lost two ‘Mechs in the initial exchange, and Alpha Krait had done likewise. He had 11 ‘Mechs with all sorts of levels of damage. Hardek was willing to bet the Inner Sphere company to his front was as fresh as Arcadia daisies.

His radio crackled to life again. The voice was tinged with a mild brogue that Hardek could not place “Steel Viper Commander, this is Captain Tam McIvish, Charlie Company, 78th Highland Battalion, 1st Kearny Highlanders. I know who you are, and I know what kind of shape you are in. I have air from the Kell Hounds five minutes out. We just took your dropships. They won’t be waiting for you. Power down and surrender. You cannot win, and we don’t want to kill good men in a bad cause.”

“If you know me, Captain Tam, then you know what my answer will be.” Hardek replied.

“Aye, Steel Viper, Aye. But, I had to try.”

“I thank you for that. I assume we will not be fighting according to the rules of Zellbrigen?”

“No Clanner, we won’t. It’s my rules this time. And for the record, I lost a son with the 10th Lyran Guards on Twycross. I won’t be taking revenge, he took a soldier’s risk. But, I won’t be playing by your rules. Now, come at us, Clanner. You won’t find Highlander steel to your liking.”

“Trinary, full advance. No zellbrigen, No bondsmen!” Hardek cried.

The trinary again shook out into a rough line, and before long, broke into a full-on run that left the trinary advancing as more of a gaggle, as lighter machines outpaced heavier ones. Gouts of flame and earth erupted from the ground. Artillery or mines? It does not matter. Hardek pushed his throttle to the stops and put the targeting reticule in his HUD on what the warbook identified as a Shadow Hawk. It was resplendent in the tartan of the 78th battalion and it was advancing as part of a loose line with its comrades, a Battlemaster was next to it, giving hand and arm signals to the rest of the company. That must be McIvish. I shall kill him last, he attempted to honor me.

The reticule pulsed twice, and a growling noise in the speakers of Hardek’s neurohelmet let him know he was in range and on target. He fired his ER Large Lasers and one went wide, leaving a cerulean beam cutting the distance between the two combatants, the other impacted into the left torso of the Shadow Hawk, leaving a scorch mark and knocking loose a few burning armor plates. Good Start, Hardek

The distance closed, 300 meters, 200 meters, 100 meters…soon 80 meters. And it became a knife fight, ‘Mechs swirled around each other, the radio filled with warnings, shouts of triumph, and of pain. To Hardek’s left, a Fire Moth was pinned on a spit of lightning from a pair of PPCs from a Warhammer. It’s right leg violently separated from it’s body, and the ‘Mech crashed to the ground, sliding headfirst a dozen meters down a rolling incline. The Warhammer turned to Hardek and fired a PPC and a pair of medium lasers at him, the PPC slamming into the Stormcrow’s left torso. Hardek fired all his weapons at the Warhammer, catching it with both ER Larges in the left arm. The PPC flared, then gouted a bit of smoke. Good, I took away one of his PPCs. Hardek moved on, aiming to get around the Battlemaster, who was taking on all comers, and already had two dead Steel Viper ‘Mechs at his feet.

“So, you want to do this your way, do you Clanner?”

“As you say, aye, sphereoid.”

“Alright”. The Battlemaster made a transmission in the clear. “Boys, I intend to sort this Clanner out myself, everybody else, stay out of it.”

Hardek smiled then said over his trinary’s frequency “Trinary, I intend to duel this spheroid. Let no one interfere.”

Hardek turned and closed on the Battlemaster, he smiled ferally. I have you now, freebirth. The Battlemaster began to walk backwards, trying to buy some distance for time. Two PPC shots hit Hardek’s Stormcrow square in the torso, momentarily unbalancing the ‘Mech, but Hardek compensated and kept trying to get around the Battlemaster. As he rounded the left side of the ‘Mech, Hardek had a nasty surprise, the Battlemaster turned a lot faster than any assault mech had a right to. Six medium lasers speared the left side of Hardek’s ‘Mech and tore open the left torso. The engine inexplicably shut down, and the ‘Mech’s momentum threw it into the side of a rolling hill, throwing up great gouts of earth. Hardek’s restraints failed..and he was thrown against the control panel, mercifully losing consciousness.

Two Hours Later

“Wakey, Wakey, Clanner. Don’t get any ideas, we already took your sidearm. Now let the nice medic treat you.”

Hardek awoke to his ‘Mech’s head open to daylight, someone had pried open the hatch, and now two figures were inside, one, an obvious medtech, was attempting to treat Hardek’s wounds. He attempted to move his limbs, but the medtech leaned on him to stop him. “Don’t move Clanner. I think you have a concussion and possible bruising of the spine. I got a C-spine coming for you and we’ll be medivacing you shortly.”

“My trinary?” Hardek croaked.

The medtech shook his head. “Sorry Clanner, you lost. The six other survivors surrendered when they saw you go down. One, named Moffat, he keeps asking for bondsref, whatever the hell that means? Do me a favor, live long enough so that I don’t feel my efforts were wasted here? OK?”

Hardek nodded, as his vision began to grey out.


Taken from the daily FC operational briefing provided to Field Marshal Ranier Poulin, Supreme Commander of “Operation Clover Spear”, declassified October 9th, 3076.

“..while the Jade Falcon raids along the Periphery frontier have caused some issues on the homefront, as well as political liabilities that are beyond this command’s purview, we can confidently state that the counterattack as we expected on Waldorff was not only shortlived, but costly for both Clan Jade Falcon and Steel Viper. We have no idea why the Falcons appeared in the midst of the fight, but the fact remains, they did, and caused a measure of confusion that in the end, worked to our benefit…”

Waldorff

Friendly Forces: 1st and 2nd Davion Guards RCT, Davion Assault Guards RCT, 20th Avalon Hussars RCT, 1st Kearny Highlanders, 1st Kell Hounds

Enemy Forces: 423rd Assault Cluster, 428th Assault Cluster, 94th Battle Cluster, 57th Striker Cluster, Clan Steel Viper. Jade Falcon Guards (50% Strength), 8th Falcon Regulars (50% Strength). CSV Steel Python (Aegis Class Cruiser)

Results: The clan counterattack at Waldorff was an unmitigated disaster from the beginning. The initial Clan drops went well, but the fight for Waldorff City was a meatgrinder for the 428th and 57th Clusters, with the Davion Assault Guards and local resistance fighters turning the city into a patch of urban hell. As for the 423rd and 57th, both clusters advanced across the Luneberg Plain to pin the remaining Davion units between the Tief river and the capitol. It did not work out that way. First, the 20th Avalon Hussars hit the 94th in the flank, and in a two-day running battle, shattered the 94th, which barely had two trinaries escape back to Twycross. The 423rd was even unluckier, being hit by the 1st Kearny Highlanders in the flank, and then having both RCTs go on the attack, and within hours, being plowed under, barely three trinaries surviving to surrender. They also lost most of the Galaxy’s dropships, along with the Gamma Galaxy Command Keshik. Galaxy Commander Sarah Andrews died attempting to organize a defense of the dropships, as Davion fighters nuked the Steel Python, disabling her, then boarding her with a battalion of marines.

It was then that the Falcons showed up, executing an avalanche drop onto Waldorff City, and for a time, initiating a three-way fight for the capitol before both Star Colonel Pryde and Star Colonel Thomas Mercer, commander of the 57th Striker Cluster managed to forge a rough pact and the surviving elements of both clans (a Cluster) and held off the 1st Kell Hounds and the 20th Avalon Hussars for another 10 days before being wiped out.

Casualties for the FC forces were heavy, with the Assault Guards having lost 45% of their equipment and manpower, the 2nd Davion Guards having taken 20% casualties, and the 1st Kearny having lost 25% casualties. The Kell Hounds and Avalon Hussars lost 15%, mostly in the fight for the capitol.

 

[CurtisLemay]

Let’s take Malibu, it has a reputation of being a world that was well, very placid under Falcon rule. The local planetary administrator surrendered after the militia was routed within 5 minutes. In short, the world caved pretty quickly to the Falcons. It used to be a world from the old RWR, and remained loyal to the Aramis family during the RRA uprising, so the Falcons were probably pretty tough on the populace early on.

So, how do you get these folks to foment a revolt?

By early 3054, Malibu had largely settled into a cozy, if not comfortable relationship with the Jade Falcons. The world had a reputation of being an easy posting among the Falcon Tourman, and acts of resistance were rare.

In fact, the Planetary Administrator (the same one who had surrendered the planet in the first place) had been allowed to form a police force and militia (under warrior supervision). It was expected that this militia would take over much of the occupation duties, allowing the 124th to not have to deal with such “un-Clanlike matters”.

This all changed June 19th, 3054. On that date, 3 Loki and 3 MI-6 Teams were inserted onto Malibu with orders to start a resistance movement where there was none…and where none had really existed. Reports from the LIC agents in place were not promising, but each team was given an area of responsibility, and told to cause enough mayhem to encourage a Jade Falcon overreaction against the populace.

The FC SF teams started small, they ambushed small militia patrols, in some cases, making it look like trigger happy Clan warriors looking for something to kill (The fact that Jade Falcon warriors did not tend to this sort of behavior was lost once a few of these ambushes occurred). Next, the various SF units, along with a few trusted local confederates planted IEDs all over the planet. Many of them, sadly, did little but kill civilians, but even that began to get a reaction from the Jade Falcons, who, were by now, angry the militia they had created could not find these “guerillas”.

As time went on, the attacks of the “Ghosts of the Rim Worlds” (A name that fully enraged the commander of the 124th, along with the shark graffiti, also done by MI-6 and Loki) began to kill Clan warriors at a low rate. But it was the steady drip of casualties to snipers, rockets, and IEDs that eventually forced a reaction.

On September 18, 3054, a Clan Elemental Star under the command of a Star Commander Beck had run into a particularly nasty set of IEDs south of the small fishing community of Teller’s Bay. After triggering a half-dozen of the devices, and losing 3 men and women to the infernal things, Star Commander Beck decided that since Teller’s Bay had said nothing about the IEDs, then they were in league with the guerillas. The fact that they were not mattered not to Beck.

By the time the Falcons were done, 528 men, women, and, children lay dead at the hands of the Clan, and the massacre was broadcast across the planet by the Falcons in an attempt to cow the populace.

The attempt failed. Police and militia deserted into the night with their weapons, ordinary people grabbed long-buried firearms and began to snipe (and worse) isolated Falcon patrols. One bondsman planted a bomb in the ‘Mech of his bondholder, a Star Captain. He died in the escape, screaming “Long Live the Commonwealth!” as he died. Soon, there were a dozen known resistance groups on planet, some loyal to the Commonwealth, some seeking to reinstate the Rim Worlds Republic, and one, inexplicably, hewing to an ancient idea known as “Euro-Communism”.

The SF teams soon reverted to their training and leadership roles, gently nudging their proteges against targets that would be useful in the event of an FC invasion. The attacks grew more brazen, a bombing of the drop port fuel pipeline, (where the fire department had been told not to show up), a rocket attack on a “Clan-Spheroid Friendship Center”, and a campaign against the power lines and fiber optic communications net. It all drove the commander of the 124th to utter distraction. Reprisal and counter-reprisal became commonplace.

The crowning achievement was on January 6th, 3055, when the “Ghosts of the Rim Worlds” kidnapped the Planetary Administrator (the same one who had surrendered the planet and was now a stooge of the Jade Falcons) and bundled him off world to face a trial in the Commonwealth for high treason. He was found guilty and executed in early 3056.

At that point, the commander of the 124th assumed direct control of the planet, and disbanded what was left of the militia and police. Soon, he managed to get the violence under control, but his units were scattered across the planet, chasing small bands of guerillas. The 124th was often out of contact with her subunits, as the planetary comnet was often the target of guerilla attacks, both physical, and cyber.

By the beginning of 3056, Malibu had gone from docile, to a full blown rebellion.

 

[CurtisLemay]

AN (Panzerfaust 150): Even though this is threadmarked as a sidestory, it is canon for Clover Spear. Please give Yellowhammer a big round of applause!

*************
Imperial City

Luthien

October 7th, 3056, 1100 Hours

Omiko Kurita knelt before her low writing desk and concentrated on the blank white sheet of mulberry paper in front of her as she breathed in and out to center herself. With slow, formal motions she tied the sleeve of her kimono back as her breathing fell into a steady pace. The embroidery of lotus flowers along the hem drew a secret smile for an instant at the multiple meanings of the flower that never reached her face then was gone for an instant as she picked up her inkstick and ground a small quantity of ink into the stone.

Finally one with what she meant to write, her brush dipped into the ink and glided across the paper. The polite cough of her door guard did not register until she lowered the brush to reveal a hand drawn cherry blossom next to her signature.

"Kurita-sama, there is a summons from the Dragon. It is of some urgency."

Omi stood and untied her sleeve, letting it hang free.. "So ka." Questions raced behind her calm face, yet she let nothing show as she carefully folded the drawing and then walked to the door.

Outside a familiar Afro-Asian woman waited in the black uniform of the Otomo, adorned only with the blue katakana of her rank and the Dragon set upon a gold shield showing her status as a bodyguard. She bowed to Omi, who in turn bowed slightly less in acknowledgement. "As summoned, so I obey the Dragon's will, Tai-i Tetsuhara."

Tetsuhara nodded once, and gestured. "Follow me, Kurita-sama"

Omi's heart skipped a beat as instead of heading to the parts of the palace where the Pillars of Ivory, Gold, Jade, or Teak held sway, instead she approached the security checkpoint for the command center. The Pillar of Steel, the heart of the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.

After submitting to fingerprints and retina scan along with a search of her person for weapons and transmitters, the armored door opened for her and she entered at Tetsuhara's gesture. Inside, the atmosphere was visibly tense.

The room was dominated by a large holotank in the center currently showing Luthien's star system from a point centered on the planet. Most of the icons burned different shades of warm crimson with arcane codes that Omi only vaguely understood from speaking to her father, mother, and brothers rather than formal training. However, one set of icons appeared as white arrows pointing toward the planet from a pirate point as if a shinigami had fired a volley of them at a target fated to die.

At the far end of the room her father stood in consultation with several other officers, dominating the room with his presence despite his unadorned uniform. Unlike the other officers visibly showing tension in their posture and faces, Theodore was instead radiating quiet confidence, but his eyes were unreadable. The conversation ended and he gestured for Omi to approach.

"Coordinator Kurita-dono. Your servant awaits the will of the Coordinator." Her voice was controlled but she felt as if it was someone else speaking in her place.

She bowed low before her father-no the Dragon-as the room stilled then Theodore's lips quirked in the ghost of a smile as he spoke confidently. "Keeper of the House Honor. It seems that the Jaguars in their arrogance seek to face the Dragon's Claws once more. How kind of them to send him their pelts to keep us warm this winter! We shall prepare a warm reception for such unexpected and generous guests, my samurai. Walk with me for a moment."

Omi nodded, unwilling to risk her voice betraying her as her father escorted her to a writing desk prepared for him. For a moment he contemplated the blank white paper and then his brush moved across the paper with a fluidity and sureness at odds with his normally 'adequate' calligraphy. Omi's eyes burned with unshed tears as she read the characters of the poem he wrote as they took shape before her. "I leap from the depths/Of duty into the skies:/Autumn of the Dragon." A death haiku..the image of the Dragon at the end of its life ascending to the skies in a great pillar of clouds and rain...oh Father.

As Theodore finished and signed the poem with both his name and the circle representing enlightenment, a low stir ran through the room and conversation resumed. He leaned close to Omi and spoke quietly. "Our duty is clear, Omi-chan. See your brother, for time is short for us all."

She bowed her head and whispered back. "Hai, Otousan. I shall make you proud."

"You always did, Omi-chan. You always did."

With that he stood and walked back to speak to his staff. Omi watched him go then carefully folded the paper inscribed with her father's death poem before walking to her brother. She could see the pain in his eyes mirroring what she felt in her heart as she bowed her head. "Brother. The situation is that dire?"

He swallowed once, then handed over his own poem. "The Jaguars are coming with a force equal to last time. We shall fight them with our strength, but even the mightiest warrior will have trouble with many." His eyes searched hers as she nodded sadly.

"I understand. I shall take the Lady Fiona with me as a chaperone on my travels, it is not proper for one such as I to travel unescorted."

Hohiro nodded, some tension leaving him at the mention of the noblewoman that he had fallen in love with. "Indeed, Chu-sa Yodama awaits at the spaceport with your ship. Tell...he who you go to meet. Tell him that...." Hohiro's voice trailed off as he struggled for words.

Omi smiled wistfully. "He knows that you shall be present in spirit. Perhaps I shall get married in spring under the cherry blossoms, neh?" With that she handed him her own drawing of a cherry blossom. Hohiro took it and nodded sharply before the siblings exchanged bows of farewell.

"Sayonara."

 

[CurtisLemay]

Imperial City

Luthien

October 7th, 3056, 1214 Hours

For a house that will endure
one thousand years carve its beams from honor.

Haiku by Coordinator Siriwan McAllister-Kurita 2579

Omi walked through the halls of the Imperial Palace with a purposeful gait, her steely-blue eyes narrowed slightly in an expression that she had learned from her father's example. Rounding the corner, she came to an ornately carved teak door decorated with the Dragon insignia of House Kurita and guarded by a trio of Pillarine monks in their hooded brown robes. The clack of wood on wood sounded as two of the monks crossed their staves to halt her passage.

She halted, locking her eyes with the eyes of the third under the black armorplast visor that the monks wore to cover their faces. For long moments the corridor was silent, the four of them standing like statues before the monk bowed formally and the others returned to their guard position.

"Guard me on the path that I must walk now, Adept Gozen." Omi commanded in a very controlled voice. "Let no one enter the Sanctum until I am finished here."

The whisper of ballistic polymer fabric was her answer as the silent sentinels bowed in obedience to the command of the Keeper of House Honor and head of the Order of the Five Pillars. The door opened soundlessly, then closed behind Omi and Gozen as they entered the Sanctum Arcanum.

Inside the air was thick with incense and tradition. The room was dimly lit by indirect lighting from hanging braziers, each one shaped in the form of the Dragon wrapped around a pearl. Fragrant smoke issued from the nostrils and mouths of the symbols of the Combine as Omi walked beneath them then halted at the foot of a low platform that reached her knees and was covered by a Persian-style Azami carpet showing an ornate Oriental dragon . To either side of her knelt two more Pillarine monks on their heels in positions of deep meditation and guard. However Omi's focus was not on them, but what lay ahead.

The platform was dominated by a circle of five massive ivory pillars mounted in masterwork gold bases and capitals. Omi's eyes flickered first to the leftmost one from her perspective, a column as clear as glass from a hippopotamus on Thimphu. She knew that if struck with steel it would give off sparks, so hard and rigid it was. So too, was the honor codes that bound her in this endeavor.

The one behind it was a stark contrast, mottled brown, rough and unfinished...one of a pair of elephant tusks from distant Terra from a kill that Urizen Kurita I had made on humanity's home world in the days of the Star league. Just like the Combine's citizens, it was waiting the hand of a sculptor to guide it to a finished state.

Omi's eyes then flicked to the near one on the right. The matching tusk to the unfinished one, it had been carved into a pillar supporting the roof, both strong and flexible, it showed her that the code could adapt and change to handle circumstances like those that she-and the Combine-were faced with. Behind it was a vivid turquoise blue column formed from the ivory of a woolly mammoth from distant Terra which had leeched metallic salts into the ivory from it's resting place in humanity's home world to give such a striking color.

Finally the last column was a spiraling Asian dragon rising to the ceiling carved from the horn of the extinct Giant Narwhal of Labrea. None of those were the focus of Omi's attention, however.

That was the simple black lacquered sword stand resting in the exact center of the room. The katana there was ancient, with chips taken out of the blade from the clash of steel and the etching that the salt of blood had scored into the patterned steel forged by the hands of a master on her family's ancestral home of New Samarkand. Omi reverently approached the sword, then knelt with a whisper of fabric from her robes, prostrating her head onto the carpet before the sword carried by Shiro Kurita.

The First Egg. The Founder of House Kurita. The First Coordinator. Her Ancestor. The warlord who with cunning, blood, and steel had unified his planet, then raised his Dragon banner across the stars. The example that all the Sons and Daughters of the Dragon strove to model themselves after.

The immortal whose sword, whose soul, was now threatened by the barbarians storming the Black Pearl of the Combine. Omi clapped once to summon his spirit as she sank back from her prostration to rest her weight on her heels and knees. Beneath her the dragon on the tapestry writhed in the lighting as she drew breath.

Her reverent whisper filled the echoing silence of the room. "Kurita Shiro-dono, your child brings news. The Jaguars attack us now, and the Coordinator in his wisdom has decreed that even if Luthien falls, our Honor shall yet remain untainted by their unworthy hands. He has entrusted me to carry you to my brother Minoru Kurita so that your spirit may guide him as he rallies our forces from the Galedon District...if such is necessary in these evil times."

Silence filled the room after Omi's words, then the whispered hiss of oiled steel on bamboo ending in a click as the tsuba hand guard met the mouth of the scabbard. Another whisper of silk as the sheathed sword was placed in a black silk bag hand-embroidered with five dragons writhing around each other. Ivory white, steel-gray, jade green, teak-brown, and thread of gold flashed as they all chased each other endlessly to represent the Five Pillars of the Combine: Religion, Military, Economy, Culture, and Government.

The first part of her duty done, Omi turned and walked from the Sanctum Arcanum with a slow, dignified stride ahead of the monk guarding her. The other Pillarine monks prostrated themselves as she passed them, her spine straight and face calm and reverent, reflecting none of her thoughts at the duty assigned to her by the Coordinator, no, her doomed father.

After all, she was Kurita, as he was. For both of them, duty was heavier than mountains.

 

[CurtisLemay]

Dropship DCA Shigure

Outbound to Luthien V L1 Pirate Point

Luthien

October 11th, 3056

To all appearances, the Shigure was nothing special. A humble Mule, she and thousands of her sisters could be seen transporting cargo and passengers along the space lanes of the inner Sphere. Perhaps a little more battered and worn than most, she was also proof of the saying that appearances were deceiving.

Behind a false bulkhead in the #1 Fuel Tank, a hidden compartment contained the best ELINT gear that the Combine could manufacture, buy, or steal. Likewise, her transponder had been subtly altered to broadcast a variety of different identities upon request. FSS Wildfire, LCS Niederbayern, CCS Tan Yang, and a double dozen more were identities that she had carried across the Inner Sphere for her actual masters in the ISF. While her stock in trade had been to be the all-seeing eye of the Combine, listening and watching for scraps of information, she had over the decades also engaged in other actions. Delivery and pickup of agents and even DEST commando teams were not uncommon, along with smuggling proscribed items of technology to serve the Dragon.

Now she served the needs of the Dragon once more as the transport for a princess fleeing her homeworld. One of dozens of dropships that had left the planet ahead of the battle, she was broadcasting a routine flight plan to the asteroid mining facilities in the outer system to pick up a load of refined ore for Luthien's hungry industries.

Omiko Kurita grasped the welded bar above the hatch at the top of the ladder that she had climbed and used it to swing into the small compartment feet first. Unlike her time in court, she was in plain tan shipboard coveralls marked with the insignia of a junior assistant navigator and the stenciled name 'A. Nakamura'. The bass rumble of the fusion drive sending her away from her homeworld and toward the Jumpship that had been hastily called to transport her deeper into the Combine faded to a dull roar as she then closed and locked the hatch down inexpertly.

The man strapped into the seat in the small lounge bowed to her from where he had been cleaning a Mauser & Gray Flechette Pistol on the holotable set into the deck. Like her he was dressed in shipboard coveralls with the sleeves rolled up, showing his heavily tattooed forearms. He gave her an inquisitive look as she returned the bow before sliding into the seat opposite him and buckling herself in.

"How is Lady Fiona handling the demands of the trip?"

Omi sighed. "Sleeping now, with the aid of a mild sedative that the doctor provided. She cried herself to sleep when she learned that Hohiro had confided to me in private that he planned to ask her father for her hand in marriage at the Autumn Full-Moon Festival. Inconsiderate and uncourteous of the Jaguars to interrupt my brother's happiness, neh?"

Shin Yodama nodded slowly in turn as he continued to work on his firearm. "Quite. Quite. He had expressed some admiration of her to me in private. Now...for them is is only the teahouse on the slopes of Death Mountain that awaits their love."

Omi gave a very sad smile as she quoted from the death poem that her brother had passed her at their leave taking, her eyes gelaming with unshed tears. "Surely there's a teahouse/with a view of plum trees/on the Mountain of Death, too. At least she has some comfort from those words in her grief. I admire his use of the plum blossom in it as a reference to the mon of her family's company. Quite artistic of him, not that I would have admitted it to him growing up. Oniisan was insufferable enough at the time, or so it seemed to me when he taught me the basics of poetry as a young girl."

Yodama gave a deep sigh as he spoke in turn. "When I first met him, I was concerned that someone of his youth as a Sho-sa commanding me would be giving orders based on flower arrangement or similar pursuits. A failing of mine, for the blood of the Dragon flows true in him, as it does in you. Now I follow my orders from him to keep you safe on your travels until he relieves me. Wherever they may take us." He cocked an eyebrow at her in silent inquiry.

Omi gave a nod of acknowledgement in return as she spoke in a voice full of fatigue. "First to Benjamin, my brother Minoru will meet us there. Father sent messages to Warlord Dieron to release him from his service obligation and provide him transport from his posting on Dieron. Once I discharge my sworn duty to the House...."

Omi's voice trailed off and she looked distant, biting her lip absently before speaking once more in a hushed voice. "Once I transport what I carry to Minoru and take counsel with him, Father recommended that I find a safe haven to continue the bloodline. We may fall but the Dragon must endure to fulfill our destiny. Father in his wisdom made arrangements with the Fox to give me sanctuary on New Avalon if needed. If Luthien falls and with the increased activities of...disloyal elements opposed to what I plan to do...I shall make my way to the Suns. Far better that way than to be a brood mare for the Black Dragon Society's intrigues."

Shin Yodama's jaw dropped as he stared at the clearly nervous girl across from him as she lowered her head to stare at her hands. He had observed the clear bond between her and the blond-headed Archon Prince on Outreach, but to think that she would leave her homeland willingly....

He then collected his thoughts, using the familiar routine of assembling the pistol to provide a framework as his hands automatically moved. "Well, Tai-sa Kurita's orders were very specific and unambiguous. I am to keep "my little sister"-his exact words-safe and assist her in her travels. I shall need to speak to some 'acquaintances' in the Kuromaku-gumi who have a trading license when we arrive on Benjamin, but I am certain that something can be arranged for travel across the border. More trade happens there than one may expect at first glance. Sho-sa Galen Cox was the person who introduced me to Tharkad Hefelweisen, and it would be discourteous not to thank him for such sage advice, no? I also feel disinclined to disturb the Bureau of Interstellar Trade with such a minor matter in their greater concerns."

Omi's smile at his words and the message behind them lit up her face. "Indeed not. I also shall have certain funds available to me as needed to arrange for matters to be handled swiftly and discreetly by your 'acquaintances'. I bow to your expertise in such matters, save to say such friends such as those you mention should be richly rewarded for their assistance. My brother trusted his life to you, and my father trusted his plan to defend Luthien to you, I shall trust my happiness to you in turn."

Omi's words were cut short by the warning chime of the intercom.

The voice of the sensor officer spoke without preamble. "We have received a transmission from Luthien that you may wish to observe. Channel three"

Shin punched in the command and an image formed. Theodore Kurita was there in military dress uniform, flanked by his wife Tomoe, son Hohiro and daughter Omi as he stood on the reviewing stand overlooking the Sanethia Kurita Parade Grounds. Rank upon rank of Battlemechs stood behind him painted the scarlet of the Sword of Light and the midnight black of the Otomo and Genyosha as he raised a hand.

"People of Luthien! I bring news of victory! The cowardly Smoke Jaguar warship that bombarded Skytower City yesterday in an act of barbarity is no more! My Samurai have struck it from the sky and the degenerate mewling kittens crewing it burn in the Dragon's Breath! The honorless barbarians that attack us have yet to challenge us, perhaps they are afraid of defeat once more, no? Take heart, support your children, siblings, neighbors, and parents who serve as my samurai, and with unified heart we shall cleanse the stain of Kerensky's degenerate descendants from our just dominion!"

The transmission froze on the Coordinator lifting his right fist, mirrored by the ranks of Battlemechs raising their right arms in salute. Shin Yodama looked a question at Omi, who spoke with quiet pride in her voice. "Chu-i Mariko Ishikawa, from the 40th Dieron Regulars, has a remarkable resemblance to me. When asked to serve as a body double for me, she volunteered to be transferred from her regiment to 'special duty'. The Bureau of Substitution agreed with her request and the ISF cleared her after a rigorous loyalty check and some minor cosmetic surgeries. I have spoken with her a few times, and swore to her that I would strive to be worthy of all that she is sacrificing for me."

 

[CurtisLemay]

Nadir Recharge Station

Benjamin, Benjamin District

October 19th, 3056

The light above the hatchway turned green and Omi swam out onto the passenger concourse in the microgravity of the Olympus space station. Dressed in plain shipboard coveralls and with a tethered soft bag floating behind her wrist, she was the image of another anonymous crew member as she approached the security checkpoint where a quartet of Friendly Persuaders waited in their distinctive red and white striped uniforms. She took a deep breath as she paused, noticing the unholstered stunner one carried and the riot shotgun not quite pointed at her by another as she presented her credentials.

"Identify yourself."

Omi suppressed her feelings of disquiet as she fed her DCMS-issue identity card into the offered reader. While the crew of the Shigure had used the equipment on board to forge her a set of papers, this was the first time that they would be tested. "Petty Officer Nakamura Ami, currently traveling on orders from the Draconis Combine Admiralty."

"Purpose for travel to Benjamin?"

"I am here to meet my brother to honor his new posting before I travel to Proserpina to get married, Persuader-sama." A lesson from Shin Yodama during the interminable series of jumps as the Shigure made its way from dying Luthien. Use the truth to lie.

"Proceed."

Omi bowed her head as she retrieved her papers, and then proceeded through the checkpoint, waiting on the other side so Shin Yodama could clear it. The ex-yakuza looked at her. "Where should we meet?"

Omi scanned the directory of services available on the large grav-deck of the station and gave a small smile. "Once you speak to your acquaintances, make your way to Benzaiten's Ivories. They will have a meeting area that we can use."

"Hai." With that, he nodded to her and proceeded toward an area of the station marked with bright-almost garish-lighting advertising the delights found within. Omi shook her head minutely as she remembered a conversation from two days ago where she had raised the possibility of assisting Yodama in his travel negotiations. He had stared at her, laughed briefly, and then said that it would be a race between her brother's ghost and Victor to see who throttled him first for subjecting someone like her to the underbelly of Combine life.

With that, she took a deep breath and slid out a smartphone from her bag. Tapping in a number from memory, she bit her lip as she listened to the dial tone. Finally there was a click.

"Moshi moshi?"

"Minoru, it's your Oneesan. I am waiting at gate ten. Could you send your aide to pick Ami Nakamura up? I have matters that I must discuss with you in person." She took a deep breath. "Remeber the time that Mother caught us using her kitchen without permission to make dango when I was eight?"

There was an indrawing of breath on the other end of the line. "I...see. I shall make arrangements. Gate ten then and Ami Nakamura. Sayonara."

Omi turned off the phone after locking it and took a seat as she concentrated on the ebb and flow of people. Red-and white striped Friendly Persuaders patrolling to deter criminals and vagrants; tan-uniformed DCMS personnel crewing the station; a dark-skinned Azami patriarch shepherding his burqua clad female relatives all passed before her as she immersed herself in the movements of society to find the inner peace that she so desperately needed.

Finally the crowd resolved into a stocky silver-haired man dressed in DCMS uniform with a wrinkled almond skin color that made Omi think of nothing so much as a hazelnut. He bowed to her. "Nakamura-sama?"

She stood and returned the bow, her eyes tracking automatically to the stylized katakana '5' in lavender on the brown backing of his rank tabs. "Hai, Shujin-sama. I am she." Even if she was a Kurita and he was merely a lowly master sergeant from the infantry, such a man was worthy of her respect as a warrior. While her grandfather may not have approved, her father had taught Omi otherwise.

His dark eyes scanned her...looking for what? Finally he grunted, "Follow me please." With that, he gestured brusquely and turned in an automatic about-face.

Omi hefted the bag containing the katana and followed him, reassured by his solidity. He was a rock, and the Combine would have need of such in these troubled times.

Ten minutes and two security checkpoints later, the Shujin tapped an intercom panel next to a guarded hatch. "Sir, she is here."

A voice sounded from within. "Then show her in!" The hatch then opened and Omi stepped inside.

Beyond it, two familiar faces sat in conversation. Her younger brother-had he grown since Omi had seen him off to Sun Tsu School of Combat five years ago?-turned, his eyes examining her and pausing at the bag she carried. Though slight in form, barely filling out the DCMS uniform that he wore with understated pride, he dominated the room with his quiet strength of presence. Next to him, her father's cousin had his eyes widen as he saw her, the apple-green katakana with the gold bar showing his rank as Warlord of Dieron District flashing in the lights.

Omi bowed deeply and took a deep breath. Her voice was tightly controlled, drained of all emotion. As much as the words she had to say would tear at her wounded heart, she was Kurita, and would not dishonor her father and brother's sacrifice in this moment. "Tai-shu Kurita Isoroku-sama, Chu-i Kurita Minoru-sama. I come bearing news. Luthien has fallen to the Smoke Jaguars and the Coordinator is now with his ancestors."

Naked shock appeared for a moment on both faces before iron discipline reasserted itself. Isoruku was the first to respond as he narrowed his eyes. "Then my nephew Hohiro...?" His voice was hoarse with emotion as he spoke despite his decades of service to the Dragon.

Omi lowered her head in respect for the dead before speaking in that controlled voice despite her burning eyes. "He died with his face to the enemy. Father was in the Palace commanding our troops when the Jaguars sent a headhunter unit to attack. During the confusion after he died, major elements of their 'Mech forces broke through and made their way into the Kado-Guchi valley. Chu-sa Kur---" Her voice broke and she swallowed before resuming in a sadly proud voice. "Hohiro led the remnants of the Black Ocean to halt their advance, and when he was being overrun called for a nuclear strike on his position."

Minoru stood and walked over to hug his sister as tears streamed down their cheeks. "Then I must rally us and get vengeance. Our blood cries out for it."

Omi nodded sadly after their tears had ceased and unzipped the bag. "Indeed. All is not lost, for Father in his wisdom ordered me to carry the heart of the Dragon to the next Coordinator."

Steel flashed in the light as she unsheathed the sword of Shiro Kurita. Isoruku's eyes widened and he prostrated himself as Omi knelt to offer the ancient blade to her brother. Minoru's face was unreadable as he looked down at the blade that she offered.

"Kurita Minoru-dono, son of Coordinator Kurita Theodore-dono, grandson of Coordinator Kurita Takashi-dono. Our blood cries out for vengeance for our dead all the way to Kurita Shiro-heika. Shall you accept the mantle of the Dragon?" Despite the tear tracks on her pale cheeks, Omi's voice was as hard and resolute as the steel she offered her only surviving kin.

For a long moment all was still, then Minoru reached out and took the sword from where it lay on the outstretched palms of his sister. He raised it over his head with both hands in a smooth, practiced movement. Omi remembered her brothers practicing the men strike in kendo as she secretly watched them as a child as Minoru assumed the position for the pear-splitter.

"I shall. Keeper of the House Honor, I swear upon my name and lineage that as no man may rest under the same sky as the murderer of his kin, so shall the Dragon not rest until the Smoke Jaguar is no more. Warlord, summon my generals to conference on Benjamin." His voice was a growl of grief, pain...and the iron pride that had driven his ancestors to make their mark on history.

Isoruku silently bowed and departed, leaving the siblings alone. Omi watched in silence as Minoru sheathed the sword then turned to her. "I have a war to fight, Sister, but I would see you safe."

She nodded. "Such was father's intent. He spoke to the Fox to make arrangements for my safety if such was necessary. I shall travel to New Avalon and gather what aid I can muster to support you...unless you command otherwise."

Minoru walked to her, and placed his hand gently on her shoulders. For long moments he stared into her eyes, into her soul, then nodded sharply. "I shall obey Father's wishes in such matters. I merely request that you do not travel openly, for Father and Uncle Isoroku have shared concerns about dissident elements with me. What...has happened recently may embolden them and I...the Coordinator does not need distractions from his duty."

Omi smiled through her tears and hugged her little brother as she choked out her thanks. "Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, Minoru-chan. I shall go to make arrangements for my travel now."

 

[CurtisLemay]

Benzaiten's Ivories, Nadir Recharge Station

Benjamin, Benjamin District

October 19th, 3056

Why, then, ivory, as the substance of the Pillar that
signifies the thought and conduct of the Kuritan people?

Of the Five Pillars, only Ivory and Teak represent living materials, and only Ivory comes from sentient beings like ourselves. Starting in earliest youth, the animal's tusks continue to grow during the whole of its existence; the tusk is built up in layers, the innermost layer being the last produced, while the outermost eventually becomes a hard and impervious protection.

In like manner, the Pillar of the people's consciousness continues to grow with the expansion of House Kurita. As in the layered tusk, each stratum of society is assigned the mode of faith and conduct most suited to its position. As with the protective outer bark of the tusk, all is kept safe by the strength of character of the First Lord and the diligence of the Keeper of the House Honor.

-Constance Kurita, Keeper of the House Honor, in
Commentaries, Office of Educational Materials, Order of the Five Pillars, Luthien, 3007

The antique brass bell above the door of Benzaiten's Ivories chimed musically as Omi entered. She gave a thankful smile to the silent Shujin who had been escorting her after her meeting with the new Coordinator as he assumed a position to watch the door. She then looked over to the counter where the assistant manning it was speaking to a white-haired noble in a stylish dark-red outfit styled similar to DCMS uniforms.

Her ear catalogued the noble's speech patterns as that of lost Rasalhague and something about him rang faint bells of recognition. One of her grandfather's courtiers who had gone into seclusion shortly before the Clans arrived...the 'Red Duke' was what he had been called when she was a girl.

With a silent inward sigh at the delay in her plans, Omi instead walked over to the display case and used one of the offered magnifying glasses next to the case to examine the exquisite carvings being presented. While no stranger to artistry in her own life in Imperial Palace, the miniature okimono figurines presented took her breath away. In particular a Kitsune no Yomeiri set caught her eyes, with their depiction of the fox-spirits' wedding procession with the groom as a swaggering samurai dog-fox, the vixen bride in her white kimono folding an origami crane for happiness, and the officiating priest as an elderly, chubby monk leaning on a cane.

Behind her, the noble finished paying for his purchase and turned to go. His eyes widened as he saw Omi's profile and then he turned to go with almost indecorous haste, reaching for his buzzing phone as he departed the shop.

"Does the honored customer see something that she likes in our humble business?" A soft and polite voice interrupted Omi's examination and she turned to see the assistant standing next to her.

"Hai, the Kitsune no Yomieri lifts my spirit in these troubled times. But I am not here to admire the work of a master, unfortunately. Notify Jukurensha Futsumi-ji that 'Sanyu Kurita has decided that the need is great enough'. I must speak to him in privacy, along with Sho-sa Yodama when he joins us."

A widening of the eyes was the only sign of the impact that her words had given the assistant, who quickly scurried off. Several minutes later, he returned and bowed low to her before escorting her behind the counter. The room she was led to was laid out in the classic style of a Japanese dwelling. White tatami mats covered the floors, the soundproofing on the walls was hidden by rice paper and wood, and the lighting was indirect. Omi bowed to the assistant, slipped off her shoes to take the offered slippers with the ease of long practice and then entered.

She knelt before the tokonoma alcove, contemplating the objects on display. The wall scroll's calligraphy was almost as good as hers, and the subject was...interesting to say the least. 'Might makes Kurita' was the first line of one of the traditional haikus every schoolchild learned and she mentally filled in the remainder 'Pillar of Dragon Steel/Victory over all!' automatically. Pain filled her heart at the memory of her brother and father's last moments, along with a fierce pride that they had died like a Kurita should with their face toward the enemy. Duty was heavier than a mountain, true, but death was lighter then a feather when the time came for duty to embrace it.

Her eyes then lowered to the object on display, a ivory handled katana, with the hilt an exquisitely carved dragon writhing around in such a way to almost seem alive. Not a show piece though, she could see the wear where hands had grasped the dragon, and the faint marks on the blade from duty on the battlefield and dueling grounds. Time stilled and her breathing settled into a slow rhythm as her eyes traced the woodgrains in the blade formed by the folded steel and then followed them to the writhing ivory dragon grasping the steel, then back along the curve of the blade to the chisel point.

A soft male voice spoke in her ear and for the space between two heartbeats she thought that Hohiro's ghost spoke those words. "I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. Forgive my tardiness, honored guest, the ivory was calling me when Hiro-kun notified me of your arrival."

Omi turned and bowed to the middle aged man with the shaved head kneeling next to her. "Iie, Futsumi-ji. This one was caught in the dance of the Dragon across the steel and remembering those who have passed onward before her. Peace in such troubling days is all the more precious when it sneaks up on her, neh?"

The man returned the bow then as he raised his head, Omi's breath caught in her throat. His face was hideously scarred and his eyes the milky white of the ivory that he carved. "Indeed it is. Indeed it is. Do not be troubled, young one. I gave my sight in the service of the Dragon willingly on Halstead Station in 3039 only to find it again in contemplation of what the ivory speaks to me when I touch it. Your voice...? Forgive an old man's impertinence, but may I see your face?"

"Hai." Omi guided his hand, scarred by the tools he used to carve the ivory over the calluses of a swordsman and 'Mechwarrior, to her cheek. Feather-light fingers danced across her face as he nodded his head quizzically and spoke to himself.

"Strength, the strength of the bamboo which bends in the hurricane winds and then stands proudly when all around it are laid low in their foolish pride. Strength mixed with the pride of her heritage...and such terrible sorrow for one so young. Secrets too, so many secrets. How may this one be of service to you Kurita-dono?"

Omi's eyes widened fractionally and the ivory carver laughed with the sound of unalloyed happiness as he sensed her surprise. "Your father came to those of us who survived Halstead Station while we were recovering from our injuries to thank us for our sacrifice and honor our service. You have much of him in your voice and to those unencumbered by the illusion of sight the Dragon speaks through you as it did through him when he ordered the Ivory Dragon into battle against the lesser enemy. Just as your voice now speaks to me of the pain he felt at the cost of the battle when he honored my sacrifice at the head of my company. So the whispered rumors are true then?"

Omi whispered. "Hai. Father and my elder brother died at the claws of the Smoke Jaguar along with many of our finest, and now Coordinator Kurita Minoru-dono rallies the Dragon to take revenge. I must travel in secrecy to NewAvalon to secure what aid I may. Therefore, I need to make arrangements to travel to Proserpina in secrecy for the first step of my travels."

"Such can be arranged. The Yukikaze leaves tomorrow to purchase ivory, and schedules shall be adjusted. Hiro will supply traveling garb for you and your companion, a pair of acolytes on pilgrimage will attract no attention."

Omi smiled. "My thanks."

"Such are not needed, service is its own reward. Although, if you could indulge an old man's whimsy, I wish you to take tokens of your visit along with you. Hm, for peace...the Kitsune no Yomeiri shall do well, it called to me strongly when I touched the tusk that gave it birth. And for the other...while it is a poor grasping at beauty for my first attempt, I wish you to have my sword."

Omi shook her head. "You do me too much honor! I could not..."

"No, I regretfully insist, Kurita-dono. If you must, hold my sword in trust for your husband-to-be."

He laughed merrily again at the note of shock in her voice as she started the customary second refusal. "I have three younger sisters, each happily married along with my youngest brother, Kurita-dono. I know the signs all too well even in my blindness. No, no, please take them with my modest blessing for many children to fill your life."

 

[CurtisLemay]

Nadir Recharge Station

Benjamin, Benjamin District

October 20th, 3056

Mist-covered mountains
Move in and out of vision.
Real or just fog dreams?

-Haiku found upon the body of Minoru Kurita in 2796

Bronze chimed musically as the four rings attached to the top of Omi's shakujō staff gave a musical counterpoint to her steps through the station. Attired in the robes of a Pillarine monk, she led the way for Shin Yodama, likewise dressed in the robes of an acolyte and carrying a dark-stained wooden box reverently in both hands. Supposedly based on a pre-spaceflight Terran sect called the 'Jedi', the armored fabric of the brown robe whispered gently as a soft counterpoint to the chiming of the staff Omi held in her right hand to guide her steps and announce to the traffic that a priestess was passing.

Beneath the armored cowl with the one-way visor lowered to cover the top of her face, Omi's eyes darted left and right, trying to catalogue the images of life in the Combine to hold in her spirit for the journey ahead. A brief flicker of movement in the crowd heralded a clearly pregnant young woman stepping out with her belly bulging under her cheap patterned kimono.

"Enlightened One, if you would be so kind?"

"Hai." Omi bowed her head and chanted a Buddhist prayer for a painless childbirth, placing her free hand on the woman's bent head. Behind her, Shin Yodama paused, then frowned slightly as he saw a fair-haired man in a Tech's utilitarian jumpsuit turn his head at Omi's words and then start to speak into a DCMS-issue portable radio as he watched the scene.

"Ruby, Carmine three here. Possible identity of target, monk heading to the docking ring. Observing, over."

Omi finished her benediction then rang the staff to conclude the invocation, before turning andproceeding. Shin's eyes traveled to a merchant's stall selling cheap mirrors as he followed his superior and his frown deepened as he saw the Tech following them. As they waited for a lift to arrive to carry them from the mercantile district of the station to the docking bay he leaned close to Omi and spoke in a low voice.

"I fear we are not unnoticed. I sense danger on the wind."

Omi returned a fractional nod, her grip tightening on the teak of her staff. "Hai. Audacity is the virtue that we must meditate on now."

As the lift arrived, Shin 'fumbled' with the box that he was carrying in the outflow of people. This delayed their entrance long enough to be the last ones inside the doors before they slammed shut in the face of their pursuer.

"Ruby, Carmine three. Targets are heading for Docking Bay Four. Over."

"Scarlet seven, Ruby. Proceed to Docking Bay Four, neutralize and secure monks there, alive if possible. Over. Carmine three, Ruby. Reinforce Jasper-six. Over."

Inside the lift traveling to the docking bay, Omi lowered her head. Her eyes closed and her breathing slowed into a steady, slow rhythm as she mediated. She had made her decisions and discharged her duty to the Combine and her father's spirit and now the vista that opened up was both enticing and terrifying. Another slow breath and hold as the lift slowed, then a vision of memory from the past filled her mind's eye.

She had sought out her Father after her fifth birthday and found him kneeling in his dropship cabin meditating on a scroll as she and the rest of the family traveled to Luthien. When she had asked Father what he was doing, he responded. "I am seeking guidance for my path in the writings of one far wiser than I, Omiko-chan. Musashi-sensei wrote in the Book of Five Rings: 'You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain' before our ancestors left Terra. I am seeking my own path to fulfill my duty as a Kurita must. One day you and your brothers will make your own journey to the top of the mountain in turn."

Omi knew now more of the reasons for Father's disquiet on that journey. That was the journey that ended with her presentation of court and the revelation of her parents' secret marriage to Grandfather, who had not taken the news well. Grandfather and Father's relationship had been strained often but rarely had it come as close to violence as in that moment. Still just as Father had planned, weighed his decision, then acted, so must she. A Kurita could do nothing less, after all.

"Ruby, Scarlet-Seven. Approaching Docking Bay Four."

"All elements, Ruby. EXECUTE! EXECUTE! EXECUTE!"

Omi bowed to the Friendly Persuaders at the checkpoint to enter the docking bay as they returned her travel papers, then gestured with her staff sharply to 'order' Shin Yodama to follow her across the bustling floor to the waiting Yukikaze. As sheapproached a pallet loaded with drums of gasoline bound for the ever-hungry maw of the DCMS' Procurement Department, suddenly there was a muffled explosion and the station shook.

Omi stumbled at the unexpected shock as the million-ton station shuddered. Years of training with her mother, brothers, and a selection of hand-picked Shihan masters of their schools in the family dojo converted that into a roll that landed her behind the cargo pallet. Seconds later Shin Yodama slid to a stop next to her. Behind it, there was a chorus ofscreams over the rattle of gunfire and the thumps of the Friendly Persuader's riot shotguns.

"Shimatta! Terrorists?" He gasped as he spun the wheels on the combination lock holding the boxclosed then threw it open to reveal their personal weapons. He grabbed his needler pistol and DCMS-issue tanto dagger, charging the pistol as hecrouched low behind the barrels.

Omi slid her sheathed katana through the sash of her robe and picked up the Nakjima Hand Laser pistol that Shin had been extremely vague about the origin of when he showed up in Benzaiten's Ivories with it. Considering that it was normally restricted to DCA naval officers, Omi decided in this case that discretion would be wise as she dialed the beam selector to a two-second burst. "If we are fortunate. If our karma suggests otherwise, we are targets."

Shin risked a quick peek over the barrels, thenscowled. "Two Persuaders up fighting six of them. Hachimaki headbands, and maintenance Techs' coveralls."

Alarm sirens sounded in the distance and the station shook again. Omi swallowed hard and willed her voice to a calm that she did not feel in the slightest. "Ambush or flight, Yodama-san?" She looked at the hatchway to the Yukikaze across twenty meters of open space from where they were at.

The rattle of one of the attackers' submachine guns and a suddenly choked off cry of pain punctuated Shin Yodama's next words as he drew his dagger in his off hand. "In death ground, fight."

"Hai." Omi drew her hood back to reveal her face, stood in one smooth movement, and then braced her right hand with her left as she took aim. Her shaking wrist steadied itself automatically as in the space between two heartbeats she became one with the man waving the attackers forward from the rear. The right shot at the right moment does not come because you do not let go of yourself. You do not wait for fulfillment, but brace yourself for failure.

Fifty meters away, Sergeant Paul Hughes of the 37th Benjamin Jump Infantry, attached to the 6thBenjamin Regulars and detached for 'special duties' at the request of Duke Hassad Ricol had his head explode like a pumpkin in a microwave under a two second pulse of laser energy impacting his hachimaka.

Omi never noticed the corpse of Scarlet-Seven hit the bloodstained deck like a puppet with its strings cut. Her steel-blue eyes tracked to one of the two attackers firing down at a wounded Friendly Persuader begging for mercy and her finger squeezed the firing stud again.

The second body falling alerted Scarlet squad to their danger and they responded like the trained soldiers that they were. Two of them knelt and returned fire as the Corporal who was now in charge of the squad hurried to his superior's corpse. Cursing under his breath at the destruction of the microphone, he stuffed the viscera-covered radio headset in his pocket to muffle the squawks from it and issued his orders. "Shirosama! Kim! Suppressive fire! Eriksson and I will close. Bounding advance!"

"Hai, Go-cho Tadasa!"

Sparks flew from the steel fuel drums as stray rounds ricocheted off them. Omi grunted as a trio of impacts punched her torso, the body armor in the robes preventing penetration and locked her eyes on Shirosama as he fumbled for a new clip. Her pistol twitched and Kim blanched as his squadmate dropped with a limp finality. A shaking finger flipped the selector switch to full automatic and the DCMS trooper locked eyes with the Keeper of House Honor across the bay.

Both fingers closed on the triggers simultaneously. Kim felt a whip of fire lash across his torso and hisdarkening vision saw the young woman fall away behind the drums as he fell into the embrace of death. Behind the drums Shin raced to cradle Omi as blood stained her brown robes a deeper color across her torso and left shoulder. Her eyes focused on him as she dropped the now drained pistol.

"Two left, breaking left and right to pincer us." Omi choked out as she fumbled for the ivory hilt of the katana. "I'll cover your back."

Shin Yodama nodded, taking an instant to squeeze her shoulder before duckwalking to the far corner of the pallet.

Tadasa dashed around the near corner, SMG tracking the motionless figure in a pool of her own blood, then raising the muzzle to track where Eriksson should have joined him. "Eriksson!" he called as the expected squadmate failed to show. He advanced, slowly taking a firmer grip on his weapon as he nudged the body with a toe. Satisfied, he kicked the pistol away from where it lay next to her arms crossed over her belly and then nodded grimly to himself. "Eriksson, Report!", he cried as he kicked the pistol away from where it lay next to her arms crossed over her belly.

The only answer was a pained cry from around the corner.

Tadasa advanced, stepping over the corpse at his feet then took two more steps. A gasp of pained effort from behind him was the only warning he had before eleven centimeters of bloodstained steel suddenly protruded from his chest. As his gun fell from nerveless fingers, a hate-filled voice hissed inhis ear.

"Kuritas take a lot of killing."

 

[CurtisLemay]

DCA Yukikaze

Benjamin, Benjamin District

October 20th, 3056

Gionshōja no kane no koe, Shogyōmujō no hibiki ari. Sarasōju no hana no iro, Jōshahissui no kotowari wo arawasu. Ogoreru mono mo hisashikarazu, tada haru no yo no yume no gotoshi. Takeki mono mo tsui ni wa horobin(u), hitoeni kaze no mae no chiri ni onaji.

The sound of the Gion Shōja bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sāla flowers reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline. The proud do not endure, they are like a dream on a spring night; the mighty fall at last, they are as dust before the wind. (translation)

Heike Monogatari (written sometime 1200-1330) Chapter 1.1

The crew member who had let Omi and Shin on board the Buccaneer-class cargo-hauler was still pale faced and shooting glances at them as he escorted them to the VIP cabins reserved for an ivory merchant and her aide. He could hardly be blamed, since Shin presented quite a piratical appearance with two pistols and a dagger stuffed through his belt sash along with a very bloody radio headset that was squawking commands periodically. The reason for the small arsenal was that he needed his hands free to help support Omi, who was being half-carried and half supported by him, with her one good hand still holding a bloody katana.

"Ahh, honored guests, here are your cabins. I shall notify the ship's doctor---"

"Iie." The whiplash command cut through the babble of the crewmember like a knife as Omi turned her head to face him, with a furious stare. "Notify the captain that we depart immediately for Proserpina. A bonus of triple the normal hiring costs for arrival ahead of schedule. Patch us in to news from the station, and once we are undocked and maneuvering for the Jumpship, then the doctor can see myinjuries. Yodama-san?"

"Hai." The ex-Yakuza reached into his belt pouch and withdrew a stack of 50 C-Bill notes. "A downpayment. Our business is quite urgent."

Shaken, the crew member took the bills, bowed, and departed at a run for the bridge. As the door slammed closed, Omi shook in the grasp of some strong emotion, then placed the blade of her katana on her left shoulder, drawing a hiss of pain as it rested on the bloodstained cloth over her injuries. "I need a clean cloth, Yodama-san."

Shin nodded and pulled out a traveling towel from the footlocker in the cabin which he carefully laid on her shoulder so that she could perform the chiburui maneuver to ritually clean her katana before resheathing it. She wiped the sword twice on her shoulder in slow, formal motions, then breathed in sharply suddenly slashing in arc across her body from left shoulder to right hip before reversing and resheathing her blade with a huff of exhaled air. That seemed to deflate her and she visibly returned to herself from whatever place her spirit had been in during the attack.

"Minoru... Minoru must be warned." Omi dug one-handed in her belt pouch for her phone then frowned at the lack of signal. "Shimatta, we will have to use the ship's communications to contact Minoru."

Shin nodded and began to punch commands into the terminal of the passenger cabin as the maneuvering engine began to growl in the background. A minute later, he nodded in satisfaction at the menu presented as the holoscreen flickered to life. "Now to punch in your brother's num---"

The screen suddenly displayed a red priority override command in katakana along with a rotating Combine seal, then sharpened into a image of carnage. The station traffic control center in the broadcast had a dozen clearly wounded men in it, along with a row of bodies in the corner. One, in a Tech's coveralls, gave a thumbs up sign to someone offscreen with his arm that was not in an improvised, blood-soaked sling that had started life as a DCMS dress uniform jacket. The Tech then bowed and headed to where other survivors were barricading a fire-scorched and damaged hatch with furniture as some stood guard with small arms and one lifted a missile launcher.

Minoru stepped into view of the camera slowly. Bloody bandages covered his chest and abdomen in the absence of his uniform jacket, and one eye was covered by a blood-soaked hachimaki headband that was leaking crimson tears. Behind him, Isoroku limped with the aid of another of the walking wounded, who helped seat him in one of the chairs that were not being cannibalized to barricade the hatch. Gunfire sounded behind them as Minoru stared into the screen with his one good eye, pinning the viewers like a snake would pin a field mouse.

"People of the Combine! Dark days are upon us! Luthien has fallen to the Smoke Jaguars with the aid of traitors among us. Not content with aiding the barbarian degenerate remnants of Kerensky's army, the Black Dragon Society has dishonorably struck our samurai in the back as they rallied to get vengeance for our dead! My children..." Minoru's voice softened as he touched the blood streaming down his cheek. "The Dragon weeps for your pain and counsels you to faith. While I, my uncle Tai-shu Kurita Isoroku, and my remaining loyal samurai must make the same choice that our ancestors did at Shiroyama under the guidance of Saigō Takamori, you have your own duty!"

The firing behind him intensified as Minoru leaned forward to speak intently. "Keep the Dragon in your hearts. The Black Dragons will try to use the example of the Von Rohrs." Minoru's voice was full of hatred for the notorious bastard usurpers who had nearly ended the Kurita line in the twenty-fourth century as he spoke their reviled name. "They will lie and flatter you for their own dishonorable ends. Do not let them! Even now, my sister Keeper of House Honor Kurita Omiko-sama goes to bring us aid, and my cousin Kurita Miyoko-sama, daughter of my loyal Tai-shu is outside their grasp. Aid them! I repudiate them and show my defiance in the moment of the illusion of their victory! Hear now my final words, my children."

Minoru's face became calm as he unsheathed his wakazashi. "My whole life long, I've sharpened my sword./And now, face to face with death/I unsheathe it, and lo--/The blade is broken--/Alas!" With that Minoru grasped his wakazashi and plunged it into his belly, serenely smiling throughout his defiant seppuku and Omi's flowing tears.

Behind Minoru, Isoroku lifted Shiro Kurita's sword in both hands with a strength at odds with his visible wounds and pain. At Minoru's nod, the ancient steel flashed once. Isoroku then turned to one of his few remaining guards who was leveling a SRM launcher with the red bands of an Inferno missile at him as the first Black Dragon troops clambered over the barricade and Minoru's headless corpse slumped.

"Perform your duty, Kashira"

Fire and screams filled the screen then thetransmission faded to black.

Omi collapsed into Shin's arms, her tears flowing like a waterfall of pain and loss.

 

[CurtisLemay]

Exeter, Draconis March

Federated Commonwealth

November 14th, 3056.

There is always something to upset the most careful
of human calculations.
-Ihara Saikahu, 1642-1693

Hagiwawa. Kitalpha. Junction. Homam. Proserpina.

The systems and jumps passed by in a blur as Omi traveled onward. One planet was the same as another to the grieving princess as she fled the ruin of her family. Her days were filled with little but the attempt to deal with the ghosts of her dead father, uncle, and brothers. Nights...the nights were worse.

More than once Omi woke up from fitful sleep in tears or a cold sweat. The memory of the men she had killed blurred with Hohiro and Minoru's faces in her dreams. Sometimes in her dreams, she was the one to stab her brother in the back and feel his blood splash against her robes and hear his dying rattle of breath.

Those nights, sleep totally abandoned her.

It was on Proserpina when Omi left the Yukikaze as one of the flotsam flung free by the explosion engulfing the Combine. Walking down the ramp to the port like a ghost, her heart numb and her tears having ceased only when she had no more to give from her burning eyes in the weeks since her brother's final words, news reached Omi. The recording of her brother's defiant death as all was lost for him had spread from Benjamin on the wings of dropship traffic and HPG transmissions. Like a rock thrown into a lake, the ripples were spreading throughout the Combine.

Warlord Benjamin was dead in the second day of rioting that had engulfed his capital, blamed for the treason that had claimed her brother. Warlord Galedon had pledged his support to her half-brother Franklin Sakamoto, who was forming a government on her ancestral homeworld. Warlord Pesht was incommunicado, although unconfirmed reports spoke of fighting that mirrored the worst of the First Succession War on worlds bordering the Smoke Jaguars . Meanwhile her cousin Miyako called for loyal samurai to flock to her banner raised on Dieron to take revenge for her father's death by treachery.

Omi roused herself to act then through her will to perform one last duty to the Combine as Keeper of the House Honor. As Shin Yodama made the final arrangements to cross the border, she visited the Proserpina HPG and the Pillarine temple. Orders were sent; the same orders as those of Jamila Benhashemi when the Von Rohrs took over. "Go underground, preserve the Combine, aid the true Kuritas, not the usurper Sakamoto." A brief message of commiseration to Miyako for their shared loss and a promise of support for her now-orphaned cousin on Dieron. Finally, Omi stared at the screen and then slowly typed a line of poetry that she had memorized.

"Les sanglots longs/Des violons/De l’automne/Blessent mon coeur/D’une langueur/Monotone."

Next came the address of a trading concern on Robinson, and she then slid her new identification card made out to Aihara Tokiko to send it priority to the location which the diplomatic courier from New Avalon had specified int he message that she received last year.

With that, she exited the HPG compound and headed down the street past the flapping Combine banners with a heavy, leaden tread to her rendezvous with Shin Yodama. She knew in her heart that she would likely never return to her homeland; no chance that she could visit the graves of her brothers, father, and ancestors to pray for their spirits. Her last sight of the Combine was the poison-filled clouds of Proserpina, poisoned by the centuries of war between her family and Victor's as her shuttle broke ground enroute to the Wanakaze.

Xhosa VII. Clovis. Exeter.

"Purpose of entry?"

Omi controlled an involuntary wince as her healing shoulder took the opportunity to remind her of how close to death she had come. She was fortunate to have only suffered a punctured lung and a clean fracture of her collarbone in the escape from Benjamin.

"Trade in ivories." She responded coolly, taking the opportunity to open the teak box to show the customs clerk the exquisitely carved Kitsune no Yomieri set of figurines that she had brought with her across the Combine. The katana was hidden underneath the velvet holding the other ivories, of course. Omi refused to part with the sword, even if she still had nightmares about the man she had killed with it.

"Identification?" The clerk adjusted his half-moon glasses to look at her as she handed over her identity card.

He swiped it in the reader, and the computer beeped twice, relaying a message generated automatically.

"Miss Aihara, there is a security hold on your party. Take a seat there until a supervisor can arrive to process you." He pointed to a waiting area guarded by a pair of soldiers in AFFC green undress uniforms under the Fist and Sunburst.

Omi nodded and waved Shin over to sit next to her under the eyes of the guards. The ex-Yakuza raised an eyebrow and leaned his head toward the pale-faced girl with bags under her eyes dressed in the utilitarian coveralls prevalent Sphere-wide for ship crew. "Problems?"

Omi shook her head. "I sent a code before we left that should have flagged this identity for special processing. The Fox relayed it to allow me to contact authorities of sufficient rank to process me and provide swift transportation to safety." She inclined her head to the nearer guard, who was staring at the two Combine refugees with naked suspicion tempered by hatred. "Old feuds run deep in this part of the Inner Sphere."

"Hai." Shin replied laconically before leaning back in his chair to read a magazine from the waiting room table showing a stunning young blonde woman in a sundress clearly patterned after the Lyran Royal Guards' colors.

Half a hour later, Omi focused her attention on a short, finely featured brunette woman in uniform with striking hazel eyes and a dark chocolate skin tone entering the waiting area with an obvious aide in tow. The guards saluted her, which she returned as she zeroed in on Omi. "Miss Aihara?" she questioned in a slightly musical voice. "Hauptmann Indira Parvati of Panpour. I just need you to verify your identity." With that she waved her aide to open his briefcase to extract a portable DNA scanner.

Omu nodded and placed her finger in the indicated sample tube. there was a brief prick of pain as the machine took the blood sample, then a beep and a flashing green light. Parvati gave a brilliant smile. "There! You are who we have been expecting. If you will follow me, we have a car."

Omi stood wearily and walked with the Feddies through the building to where a green-painted hoverlimo waited in a parking spot marked OFFICIAL BUSINESS ONLY with a burly sergeant standing guard next to it. Parvati opened the rear door for them, and then followed as her aide took a seat up front behind the armored partition.

As the limo began to move, Parvati rubbed her temples then gave Omi an inquisitive look as she spoke in accented Combine Japanese. "I don't know who you are, or what's going on, but I received FLASH orders to assist a young lady showing up with your name and that DNA profile two weeks ago, as did every other MIIO and DMI office in the March. So, if you don't mind me being blunt, what in the world is going on and how can DMI assist you?"

Omi gave a wan smile, then glanced at Shin. Her companion gave a small nod and a reassuring squeeze of the hand. "My name is Omiko Kurita, daughter of Theodore Kurita, and I wish to ask for asylum on New Avalon as quickly as I can be transported there. I fear that I am the last survivor of my family."

Across from her, the DMI officer opened and closed her mouth like a fish on dry land, forcing Omi to stiffle a highly inappropriate case of the giggles.

"Arey, Kya?!?" Parvati swore, the tone of the expression showing her shock despite Omi not knowing a word of Hindi. She then punched the intercom button. "Driver! Get us to the Duke's residence and step on it. Call McLauren from MIIO and tell him to meet us there too. This promises to be an all-nighter." Parvati then shook her head and focused on Omi.

"Well on behalf of the FedCom welcome to Exeter, Kurita Omiko-sama. We will get you the rest of the way to New Avalon, although I have to warn you, it's a kicked over anthill for us as well these days.

 

[CurtisLemay]

“..operations against FC forces continue in the stolen regions (Capellan name for the Sarna March) and we have achieved all goals of East Sea, with the limited assistance of the League. We are therefore content to go on the defensive and bleed the inevitable FC counterattack while causing maximum confusion against enemy soft targets through diversionary raids and revolutionary actions (the Capellan euphemism for state sponsored terrorism). We cannot underestimate the size nor intensity that the FC counter attack will take, and we should consider the release of the operational reserve no later than…”

Excerpt from report to the Chancellor on the Progress of East Sea from the Strategios, dated 1 December, 3056 (damaged copy was released by Capellan Joint Committee to Investigate the Prosecution of the War (Joint Committee formed from both the House of Scions and Prefectorate.) The document was released to the public in open hearings on 19 July, 3058.

Operation East Sea, Wave 2

Bromhead
Attacking Units: 5th Confederation Reserve Cavalry

Defending Units: Bromhead Planetary Guard

The 5th CRC came this time to finish the job they had begun, and quickly disposed of the depleted planetary guard within a week, and intergrating Bromhead into the Capellan Confederation.

Palos
Attacking Units: Kincade’s Rangers

Defending Units; Palos Planetary Guard

The Palos Planetary Guard did its best but was ground under after 48 hours of a confused fight for the planetary capital.

Manapire
Attacking Units; Ishihara’s Grenadiers, Marshagima’s Legionnaires

Defending Units: 3rd Ceti Hussars RCT, Manapire Planetary Guard

The invasion of Manapire went wrong from the start, both in that the intelligence that the 3rd Ceti Hussars was no longer on world (false) and that the local militia would side with the Capellans (also false), in fact they enthusiastically turned out to shoot at the Capellans.

On the ground, it was worse, as the 3rd seemingly managed to be everywhere at once, harrying the Capellans from the start. The two Capellan units holed up in a series of caves in the planetary uplands and waited for reinforcements.

Frazier
Attacking Units: 4th Word of Blake Militia Division

Defending Units: 41st Avalon Hussars, Frazier Planetary Guard

The 41st Avalon Hussars fought gamely, as they were smarting from last month’s raid. They fought well for a green unit, but they were outnumbered by the Blakists, even with help from the Planetary Guard, the 41st held out for two weeks, suffering 15% casualties. The 41st then broke contact and withdrew to Mendham. After two more weeks of crushing guerilla resistance by the Planetary Guard, the 4th secured the planet in the name of the Capellan Confederation.

Quemoy
Attacking Units: Kingston’s Legionnaires

Defending Units: Quemoy Planetary Guard

The Quemoy Planetary Guard had no intentions of willingly returning to Confederation control, and fought hard, but after 4 days, most of the militia was either dead, or POWs and they had done little in the way of casualties to the Legionnaires.

Ulan Bator
Attacking Units: 2nd Word of Blake Militia

Defending Units: Ulan Bator Planetary Guard

The planetary government saw no point in resisting the CCAF and ordered the militia to surrender without a fight.

Zilang
Attacking Units: Green Machine, Lockhart’s Ironsides

Defending Units: 5th Avalon Hussars

The 5th Avalon made the classic mistake of “running to the sound of the guns” and moving all of it’s forces to attack the Ironsides LZ. This gave the Green Machine a chance to catch the 5th’s third battalion in the flank and annihilate it. They didn’t manage that, instead they mauled it, inflicting 30% casualties and forcing the 5th to retreat to their fortified base, where they were besieged by the two Capellan units.

Sakhalin
Attacking Units: Bordon’s Blood Drinkers

Defending Units: Sakhalin Planetary Guard

The Blood Drinkers showed the Planetary Guard little mercy, and crushed them within 72 hours, they then slaughtered the survivors when they tried to surrender. The CCAF’s Mercenary Relations department threatened Colonel Wesley Bordon with censure, and possible forfeiture of his unit, but Bordon ignored them and was reputed to have said, “With what coin will you pay the unit that replaces me?”

Kaifeng
Attacking Units: 15th Dracon, Kaifeng SMM (Renamed the 1st Citizen’s Honored Brigade), Kaifeng Planetary Guard.

Defending Units: 8th Arcturan Guards (-) (Had taken 10% casualties on Truth)

The 8th’s position was untenable from the start, as the planet was a veritable pro-Capellan hotbed of resistance. The 8th’s commander knew this, and stayed only long enough to evacuate all those that wanted to leave, fighting their way to the dropport and their dropships before boosting off world and retreating to Maetsu.

Tsinghai, Part 2
Attacking Units: House Matsukai, Redfield’s Renegades

Defending Units: Beta Regiment, 12th Vegan Rangers, Tsinghai Planetary Guard

With the arrival of Redfield’s Renegades, the numbers had shifted to the Marik-Liaos, and Beta’s commander felt it best to fall back on their sister regiment and come back in strength later. Beta regiment left 3 days after the arrival of the Renegades, headed for Old Kentucky. The Planetary Guard declared their loyalty to the Confederation and laid down their arms.

Sarmaxa, Part 2
Attacking Units: House Hiritsu, Tooth of Ymir

Defending Units: Grim Determination

With the arrival of the Tooth of Ymir, the numbers were against Grim Determination and realizing the unit was in fact, cut off from the rest of the FC, it was decided to negotiate with the Capellans. After a short council of war, Colonel Fiona Trent asked for and received honors of war from the Capellans after paying a ransom of a company of ‘Mechs (most of them captured Capellan salvage), and left the world, which passed quietly into Capellan control and Grim Determination left for Bora.


Operation Lattikia, Wave 1

Van Diemen IV
Attacking Units: 4th Free Worlds “Volunteers” (ex – 4th Free Worlds Legionnaires), Van Diemen IV Planetary Guard

Defending Units: 3rd Republican

The 3rd Republican was caught by near-complete surprise, as it was scattered in penny packets attempting to provide security against a “Capellan/Blakist terror threat” (the post war board of inquiry could find no evidence such a threat had been issued). It was a credit to the 3rd’s experience that they recovered quickly, coalescing around their 2nd and 3rd Battalions, as the 1st was destroyed piecemeal in the first hours of the Marik landings. Both battalions proceeded to hole up in the swamps north of the planetary capital and waited for help to arrive. Worse, the Planetary Guard led a pro-Marik uprising that simplified the rear area issues for the Mariks.

New Canton
Attacking Units: 3rd Free Worlds “Volunteers” (ex – 3rd Free Worlds Guards)

Defending Units: 1st Kestrel Grenadiers, New Canton Planetary Guard.

The elite 1st Kestrel made short work of the Marik troops, destroying almost a battalion of them in a wide ranging mobile fight in the arid plains of the planet’s southern continent over the course of three days. The rest of the 3rd fled back to Marik space.

Elnath
Attacking Units: 1st and 2nd Smithson’s Chinese Bandits

Defending Units: 15th Arcturan Guards, Elnath Planetary Guard

The 15th Arcturan Guards did their best to try to face both merc units, but the weight of numbers was not with them, and after two weeks and 15% casualties, the unit retreated to Wei

Unsanctioned Operation by Sirus against Skye March

Wyatt
Attacking Units: 1st Sirian Lancers

Defending Units: 17th Arcturan Guards RCT, Wyatt Planetary Guard

The operation was doomed from the start, and the 1st grounded alone, with no plan, and little idea of what to do, the Wyatt Planetary Guard quickly fixed the 1st Sirian in their dropzones, and the 17th encircled them and annihilated them in a two-day battle that saw little more than a battalion survive to surrender.

Callison
Attacking Units: 3rd Sirian Lancers

Defending Units: 11th Lyran Guards RCT, Callison Planetary Guard

The 3rd, like it’s sister unit on Wyatt, met much the same fate, but unlike the 1st, quickly bowed to the inevitable and surrendered within hours of grounding on Callison.

Diversionary Raids

Glentworth
Attacking Units: House LuSann

Defending Units: 3rd Illician Lancers, Glentworth Planetary Guard

House LuSann’s raid accomplished little but looting an outlying warehouse of a local beer distributor, as they were only one step ahead of a very enraged and alert 3rd Illician Lancers. The Warrior House barely got out intact three days after they landed.


Solaris
Attacking Units: Dragon’s Breath

Defending Units: 32nd Lyran Guards RCT, Solaris Planetary Guard

The Dragon’s Breath embarrassed the green RCT, running rings around them as they looted a number of AFFC warehouses over a two-week period, and mauling several units of the Planetary Guard.

Cavanaugh II
Attacking Units: Greenberg’s Godzillas

Defending Units: 6th Donegal Guards RCT

An early attempt at a ruse by the Godzillas backfired as the commander of the 6th was a movie buff and knew a special effect when he saw one. His approach was direct, a full on frontal assault against the Godzilla’s LZ, which turned into a rolling fight across the Eastern snow-covered plains of Cavanaugh II. Casualties on both sides were moderate, and the Godzillas left after 4 days with little to show for it.


Office of the Captain General

Atreus, Marik Commonwealth

Free Worlds League

October 11th, 3056

Thomas Marik was putting in another long night trying to rally Parliament to the idea of approaching the Fedcom and turning over the remaining citizens SAFE had determined were on the FC’s list of people they had determined were associated with the Word of Blake, and the associated terror attacks that were still going on in the Commonwealth.


Jesus, between a potential threat to Joshua, as well as the fact we might get drawn into this war of my son in law’s? No, I know what I said in Parliament, but the fact is, a wounded FC is far more damned dangerous than anything, especially with Katherine at the helm. She isn’t playing around, and she has an alarming tendency to do what she likes. Thomas banged away on the keys of his noteputer, crafting yet another message for another influential MP who probably would promise little, and deliver less when the time came to vote. They don’t want war, but they don’t want to do the right damn thing either. “Delivering League citizens to a foreign court is a bad idea…sets a bad precedent they say.” Screw that! If they could see the reports coming out of Skye and Tamarind that SAFE drops on my desk? I would say that Katherine isn’t going to wait for us to make up our damned minds, new supply depots, snap alerts? Jesus. The Lyrans are getting ready for something.



What makes this all even worse is that the Master didn’t even warn me when he was going to pull this little stunt. Just what the hell has he done to get the Capellans in bed with him? What has he promised them? And whom has he suborned amongst my own to make sure I play ball? With the history our nation has, it damn well could be anyone.



Thomas almost didn’t notice the door open to his private office. “I told you I was not to be disturbed!” he snarled. Three figures dressed head to toe in black stepped into his office. They were all cradling very evil looking Roynex submachine guns, equipped with laser sights and suppressors and all the muzzles were pointed in his general direction. The middle figure removed her black balaclava, and shook her dark hair loose, Corrine?



“Hello Uncle, Father sends his greetings..or he would…if you were whom you say you were.”


Thomas made a subtle move for a concealed button “And why would you say that, Corrine?”


“Because the Blakists have thoughtfully provided the evidence of the fact you are a ComStar stooge. So, what was the plan, Uncle? Deliver us into the hands of the Federated Commonwealth? Was Joshua the blood price for the deal, a hostage in case it all went wrong? Oh, and your guards…they aren’t coming. They had a fatal disagreement with me..and some friends of father.”


“So why not just shoot me now?” Thomas felt a lightness in his bladder, but he had had little to drink, so not much came forth from there. Even so, his sweat glands went into overdrive.


“Because, you traitor, I wanted you to know, one, the Regulans and the Guards are with us. We’re moving against that nest of traitors you call the Knights of the Inner Sphere. We’ve already subdued those not with us. All of this should be wrapped up in a couple of days.”


“And after that?”


“That is not your concern, scum.” and Corinne in one smooth move, pointed the muzzle of her Roynex towards Thomas. Her weapon spoke three times. Thomas’s chest erupted in a series of explosions of guts, blood, and bone as he slumped in his office chair, dead.


She turned to one of the masked men. “Get this office cleaned up, burn this..rubbish. Inform the Blakists we will honor our deal and intervene in a limited fashion on the side of the Capellans. But inform them, I will not commit my nation completely to war without some…guarentees.”

The masked man hissed “This was not the deal.”


“I give a damn, the deal is what I say it is, or would you like me to do to you what Thomas was about to? I promise I would be a lot professional about it.”


“And your uncle, you know his life would be…endangered, if you were that stupid.” replied the masked man.


Corrine made her way to the left corner of the desk, and sat down on the corner of the desk, hefting her submachine gun contemplatively. “And whose realm are you in, Blakist? Best you mind your manners. If my father gets so much as a hangnail? You will pay the price.”


She turned to the other figure “Markos, pass the remaining orders, we need this wrapped up..and the troops on the move into FedCom space. And send an HPG to my cousin in law on Sian…”


Chancellor’s Throne Room

Forbidden City

Sian, Sian Commonality

Capellan Confederation

November 11th, 3056


There has been some fortuitous developments overnight, and I intend to make the most of them. Now if my bureaucracy and the Prefectorate would stop fighting me on it. The throne room had been emptied for the briefing on current military operations, with only James Teng, the Strategic Military Director, Alexa Shang, and the House Master of House Immara, Alexander Zhao allowed to remain.



“I am surprised we have managed to achieve all of the goals for East Sea so early. Major Shang, you have attended many Strategios meetings in my stead? Why do you think this so?” Sun-Tsu inquired, stroking his chin.


“Celestial Wisdom,” Alexa spoke, her voice far more precise than most days “We have been fortunate beyond belief, but that cannot last. We know the FC is gearing up for a long war with us. We know that they outclass us in numbers, and in industrial might. And they will soon return home with better technology. We have already received reports that certain RCTs are being released from combat operations in the Tamar March. We can only guess where these units will be sent, but to the stolen regions is one very good guess. We cannot hold all of the planets we have seized forever, but we can make the Davions bleed on one, well-prepared planet.”


“And which planet would you choose, Major Shang?”


Alexa smiled cruelly. “I suggest, Celestial Wisdom,” fixing Sun-Tsu’s gaze with her own one good eye “that we choose Sarna. It is already an ill omen for the Davions. And, we can release all of McCarron’s troops to properly fortify the planet.”


Sun-Tsu smiled. “Excellent Major Shang, make it so. Cut the orders as soon as possible. Oh, and another matter, I wish to know the circumstances behind the slaughter of Capellan nationals on Sakhalin by one of our mercenary units? Bordon’s Blood Drinkers they are called, I believe?”


“It was claimed by the Blood Drinker’s commander that the planetary militia had used infernos on Colonel Bordon’s men, and that they had used a flag of truce as a ruse de guerre.”


“And what did the Mask find out?” Sun-Tsu leaned forward in his seat, a look of warning on his face.


“According to their report? No such weapons even belonged to the militia, and the catalyst for the massacre was some of Bordon’s men acting like medieval conquerors and trying to take liberties with various prisoners of war.” Alexa's eye narrowed in disgust.


Sun-Tsu saw red. “Even servitors have rights! No, I want this Bordon fired, and no..I want him permanently dealt with. Send my Death Commandos to make sure of it.”


“An incident like this will only reinforce the FC resolve. Celestial Wisdom, but were we to punish Bordon…”


“It would have advantages and disadvantages. It would help to mollify the Commonwealth, on the other hand, it would get more difficult to hire more mercenaries. See this is handled…delicately. Kill all the officers and NCOs of the unit..the rest, can be formed into a new penal infantry battalion. I am sure they will serve the Capellan state well there.” Sun-Tsu snapped the fingers of his left hand, as if the idea had come from thin air.


“And for the general situation? We ultimately cannot win this war, but we can bleed the Davions to the table, if our luck holds. If not, we may be greeting Davion troops on Sian by the new year.” James Teng stated flatly.


“Ours of theirs, Major Shang?” Sun-Tsu growled.


“Ours, Celestial Wisdom, but even that is a middle case scenario.” Alexa admitted sheepily.


“Then Major Shang, I expect you to perform an extraordinary service to the Capellan State and ensure that my cousin assumes my throne. He is all that is left of my effort to give the Capellan people their pride back.”


“The people have their pride for now, but it will not, and it cannot last forever when the Davions come.” Alexa stated starkly.


“Then we must bleed the Davions to the table, Major Shang, we must bleed them to the table.”


Oflag 113

Kaumberg

Donegal Province

Federated Commonwealth

December 1st, 3056



“It is a poor omen to be called to the camp commandant’s office” Taman Malthus swore softly. He’d been at Oflag 113 for four months, along with a collection of other captured Jade Falcon officers. The other side of the camp was for the Steel Vipers. When that had been found out, there was a near riot in both camps that the Lyrans had put down rather…harshly, and 5 POWs (the Inner Sphere term for bondsmen) were killed and the Senior Prisoner Officer, who had been an elderly Star Colonel named Jessup, had been sent to another camp..one more dreary than this..or so Malthus had been informed.


And we spend our days being worked like laborers in the unceasing forests of this place. I see trothkin lose their minds as to the enormity of this place. And, to the isolation. They do not let us couple, they do not let us spar for fun. We are left with nothing but work and more sedate Inner Sphere pursuits. They had someone come in here to try to teach us Lyran German!


Yesterday, Malthus had been informed that he had a vistor coming, and that he could use the Camp Commandant’s office to greet him. An unknown luxury here, privacy. So, to whom do I owe this small joy? LIC?



The door threw open to reveal a small figure, about 1.5 meters tall, wearing a Fedcom Officer’s duty uniform, with a cloak attached to the issue poncho. So he does not want to be seen. He must be LIC. And no school rag..how..interesting, but he is wearing spurs. Davion in a Steiner uniform, so who is this mysterious guest?



A hand threw back the hood of the poncho to reveal the personage of none other than Kai Allard Liao himself. “Greetings Taman, I am damn glad to see you alive.”


Taman barked a laugh “It might be poor taste to say I wish I had died with my men in glorious battle, but you fought well, and I cannot complain about my treatment here, though many amongst the camp’s residents wish to be proper bondsmen and serve their new Clan. They do not understand the concept of being a ‘Prisoner of War’.”


Kai nodded. “Taman, I have a problem. You may not be aware, but my mother is dead, she was slain by an assassin. One bought and paid for by my cousin.”


“Sun -Tsu Liao? Yes we hear much about that. They allow us unfettered access to your news services on the camp datanet. I thought of you when I heard of her death. She was a warrior, and for her to die like that, is…unClanlike.”


“Aff, Taman, Aff. It seems I need a travelling companion, one who is possessed of a certain set of skills. And one whom I know and trust implicitly.”


“When do we leave and where are we to go?” Taman smiled, flexing his muscles.


“As soon as you can pack, and we are headed to the belly of the beast, Sian.”


Taman smiled and laughed “Oh, Kai, this promises to be a tale for the Remembrance, indeed.”

 

[CurtisLemay]

AU: The letter from Juliette Von Strang was written by Gladiusone of Spacebattles.com. I really want to take this time to give him and Yellowhammer a shoutout as they have helped to make Clover Spear what it is.

“..Jade Falcon warriors have fought poorly in many circumstances and our warriors said that dezgra bandits were better in some cases. I have had to discipline more than few under my command who suggested that we should not have bothered to take bondsmen. While I tend to agree privately, they are still misguided trothkin, even if they are solahma by anyone’s standard, and in some way, they can still benefit the Clan. But yes, the state of their garrisons was pitiful to say the least, not to mention of their lower castes. Both Clans are on the verge of collapse in the Inner Sphere. Khans Kerensky and Ward were prescient in acting now before the 3rd wave of the Federated Commonwealth resumes.”

Excerpt from the unpublished diary of Star Commander Anton Fetladral, 5th Wolf Guards Striker Cluster, dated November 9th, 3056

Results of the Clan Wolf “Land Grab”

October 3056

Quarell
Attacking Forces: 13th Wolf Guards

Defending Forces: 1st Falcon Velites

Results: The First Falcon Velites met the 13th on a series of rolling plains outside the planetary capitol of Hedemarr. The fight was short and brutal, with Kerensky leading a brutal attack on the Falcon left flank that buckled but did not break the Falcon line. Neither side could gain a decisive advantage, as the Falcons were slightly outgunned by the Wolves, they were more skilled, and as such, neither side could gain a ready advantage. Kerensky came close to breaking her bid and calling down the 24th Wolf Rangers, but after two days of inconclusive fighting, the commander of the 1st Falcon Velites, Star Colonel Serendice Helmer asked for a duel with Kerensky to decide the fate of the planet. Kerensky took a Mad Dog to face Prentice in his Thor. At first, it looked as if Prentice might win the duel, as he landed a couple of lucky SRM hits to the head of Kerensky’s ‘Mech, but Kerensky cored his right torso with a pair of Large Laser hits from the rear, and then put two racks of LRMs into the legs of his ‘Mech, destroying several actuators in the right leg, and toppling Helmer’s Thor. Kerensky made Helmer her bondsman, and then took the rest of the 1st as isorla.

November 3056

Toland
Attacking Forces: 37th Striker Cluster

Defending Forces: 5th Talon

Results: The 5th Talon did not respond to the batchall of the 37th’s commander, and thus, he grounded with his entire cluster, expecting the worst. He was not met with resistance initially, but the 5th massed for an all-or-nothing assault on the 37th’s dropships and landing zone. It was a 12-hour desperate fight on the part of the 37th to stop the enraged Falcons from overrunning the LZ. Little observance of the Honor Road was in evidence on either side and by the time the smoke had cleared, the 37th had taken 20% casualties, but the 5th was barely a half-dozen confused and wounded bondsmen whom were only taken after the intervention on their behalf of the commander of the 37th.

Steelton
Attacking Forces: 5th Wolf Guards Striker Cluster

Defending Forces: 5th Provisional Garrison Cluster

Results: Considered by Clan Jade Falcon to be one of their worst units, and little more than solahma trash, it was little surprise that they did not fight very hard to keep the 5th Wolf Guards Striker Cluster, with many members of the unit preferring to become bondsmen to Clan Wolf after desultory duels that were little more than surrenders en masse.

Maxie’s Planet
Attacking Forces: 11th Battle Cluster, 24th Wolf Rangers

Defending Forces: 8th Talon Cluster

Results: Maxie’s Planet was the closest the Wolves came to a disaster during the Land Grab. The Wolf Clan Watch missed the fact that the 8th Talon Cluster was being upgraded to a frontline cluster and had had a recent draft of experienced trueborns arrive to whip the unit into shape. Their lessons soon proved to be just in the nick of time, as the 11th soon arrived to bid for control of the planet. The 8th honored the 11th’s batchall, and the 8th gave them a good fight, forcing the 11th to break their bid twice, and then for good measure, call in the 24th Wolf Rangers, who by force of numbers, managed to finally force out of the planetary capital and back towards their dropships. The 8th took the hint and left hours later, bound for Trell I. The commander of the 11th was killed by a subordinate in a Trial of Position within hours of the departure of the 8th Talon Cluster.

Romulus
Attacking Forces: 4th Striker Cluster

Defending Forces: 7th Provisional Garrison Cluster

Results: The 7th was made up almost exclusively of older trueborns whom had been declared solahma and were looking for an honorable end. They answered the call of the 4th, demanding a series of duels to the death to decide who got the planet. Honors were about even after the duels were fought, but the Wolves managed to win two more duels than the Falcons, and under the terms of the deal, the 7th left for Evcilier two days after the last duel was fought.


Both Seiduts and Zoetermeer fell without a shot, as the Falcon sponsored militias surrendered without issue to the Wolves en masse.


Grand Hall of Castle Davion

New Avalon

Federated Commonwealth

December 9th, 3056



“..how many can say they had a life well lived? I am happy to say; my parents didn’t have that problem. I’d like to think that’s why we loved them so much for it. Many will remember my father for the wars he started, and my mother for the wars she helped prevent. I just remember them as my Mom and Dad, and they were great parents, as well as leaders, and I hope, no, I pray I am half the parent they were when the time comes. ”

From the eulogy delivered by Katherine Steiner Davion at the state funeral for Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner Davion, December 9th, 3056

Katherine surveyed the wake for her parents. The ballroom was packed, and yet, it seemed few were willing to approach Katherine, except to say some whispered condolences, Galen was running interference for me today. God I need it after all that. It seemed all New Avalon had turned out for the state funeral, led by a single Albion cadet in full mess dress, carrying her father’s graduation sword on a white satin pillow with the Federated Commonwealth sigil, marching slowly and alone the length of Avalon Boulevard to the Peace Park, where both had said they had often wanted to be buried, overlooking the Silver Eagle memorial.

They’d been followed by a riderless horse, led by another Albion cadet, the horse had reversed boots in the stirrups, the clops of the horse on the pavement rang throughout the silent city, silent except for a wail or a sob. Then came a pair of horsedrawn herses, each with a single black coffin, with the Federated Commonwealth seal inlaid into the coffin. They were made of hardwoods from Tharkad for her mother, and New Avalon for her father. Thankfully, the laying in state was closed casket, I am not sure I would want to remember my parents like that. Behind the herses marched Katherine, Galen, Ardan Sortek, and Quintus Allard, as well as the rest of Katherine’s siblings. Yvonne was trying, and failing to hide her tears, but the rest managed, if only by force of will, their manner somber. Ardan and Galen wore full mess dress, their medals and brass gleaming in the winter day’s sun. Katherine wore a black dress but did not wear a veil. I want them to see my pain, to know I loved my parents, my family. How do I tell them without losing it?

Behind the family and close friends marched an entire company of infantry from the Davion Heavy Guards. Mechs from all the units of the New Avalon garrison lined the route. Half of them had been repainted in the Steiner Royal Guards scheme. All the infantry was in full dress uniform and everything gleamed in the sunlight. They marched perfectly in step, colors lined in black, and black armbands on every soldier’s left sleeve.

A single drummer, this time an Albion student from the Commonwealth, she had been told, beat a single steady somber beat on a military drum. The echo of the drum filled the streets. Behind her, marched the rest of the friends, well-wishers, and heads of state that were at the funeral.

The mood of the people was a mix of sorrow, and anger. Anger at the Capellans, who had been the cause of this funeral, and so, so many others on New Avalon, and elsewhere. Katherine had already attended funerals for at least three Avalon City police officers who had been killed trying to rescue people after the blast. They’d been caught in a collapse of rubble and crushed. They died trying to save people, my people. Their sovereign has a duty to be there. Many were dressed in black, with veterans saluting as the caskets passed. Some held hand written signs that read “God Bless You Hanse and Melissa” and “We’ll Miss You Both”. Katherine felt a stab of pain at every one. Thank you, but seeing that, it just makes me want to bawl. How did my parents lead these people so well? And when will they figure out what a damned fake I am? she remembered thinking.

The service at the Grand Cathedral had been elaborate, but tasteful. Her parents staff, as their last act before handing in their resignations pro-forma (which Katherine had rejected out of hand), had done a marvelous job of planning the funeral. Katherine still had to approve everything, but she’d been surprised how little of her time the staff had taken up with the details of the funeral. Mom and Dad was beloved by them too. I really should say something to them. Ran Felsner, Ardan Sortek, Galen, James Sandoval, and a pair of very large soldiers from the Heavy Guards acted as pallbearers for her father. Her mother had Misha Auburn, her brothers Peter and Arthur, and some Lyran Guardsmen from the 10th Lyran Guards standing in for Victor. Please God, if you’re listening? Don’t let us have to have one for Victor, her mind had echoed.

The service had been full of the usual pomp and circumstance, with the Pope of the New Avalon Catholic Church presiding, but with some allowances made for Melissa’s Lutheran faith. The Pope had talked of her father’s faith. Of how he and her father had spoken of both’s love of the Unfinished Book and how Hanse, for all his roguish nature, and his being a ‘Mechwarrior, had become a true father, husband, and leader of his people. He spoke of his mother and told a story of how she had offered to convert to the New Avalon Church, but that both Hanse and the Pope had talked her out of it, admittedly, as much for political reasons, as both men were believers in the Unfinished Book, and felt such a thing was anathema to its tenets.

Then began the eulogies. Ran Felsner went first, he spoke of meeting Hanse for the first time as a Major General in 3010, how even with all his accomplishments, he was still as nervous as a firstie at NAIS. Hanse’s advice? “Fake it till you make it, Ran, and knowing you, that won’t be long.” Ran spoke of how he, Ardan Sortek, and Hanse would often have drinks in Hanse’s drawing room in the palace after working hours, trying to solve the problems of the Inner Sphere..and often getting fairly tipsy, but occasionally getting a good idea out of it. He spoke of Melissa, and how they first met at the wedding, and how she seemed quiet and bookish, but had a spine of steel, and a heart of gold, and how it was evident in her children.

Ardan Sortek spoke of knowing Hanse as a boy, and as a younger man, he asked Melissa to forgive him those trespasses, and to know, she was the best wife and mother Hanse could have asked for. He laughed when he remembered a few things from Hanse’s bachelor party that he swore he would tell no one until after Hanse and Melissa had passed and the kids were old enough to understand. They weren’t particularly ribald, more sophomoric hijinks that Katherine could never picture her father having a hand in, or at least the Hanse Davion she knew. Filling Myndo Waterly’s swimming pool on Hilton Head with a mix of Jello and lunchmeat? Inspired Dad, inspired. I do wonder what Mom thought when she found out just how close you guys came to order MIIO to do it!

Then it came to be Katherine’s turn. She’d written and re-written her eulogy a dozen time the night before. She still wasn’t happy with it. It was some proforma thing that the Press Office had cleared, and it well, wasn’t her. But she didn’t have the luxury of being her. Or at least she didn’t think so, till she looked over at Galen once she reached the lectern, and he smiled weakly, and mouthed “be yourself.”

Katherine nodded, and tossed away the speech, much to the gasps of the crowd. “That’s better. Apologies to my speechwriting staff. I know you guys work hard, but this was my Mom and Dad. And well, I am going to talk about them as my Mom and Dad, not great personages of history. At least, not yet. Everyone OK with that?”

The cathedral was silent as a tomb

Katherine cleared her throat, and sniffled a bit, holding back tears. “My Mom and Dad were wonderful people. They raised five kids to inherit one of the toughest family businesses in the Inner Sphere. They did it with grace, humility, and still managed to find time for each other even with the demands of state and us five pains in the rear, and yeah, we were hellions at times.” That got a chuckle from the crowd.

“Mom was brave beyond words sometimes. She knew the lives we would lead, lives we did not choose, and lives some of us aren’t sure we wanted. But she showed us that those lives were accidents of birth, and those lives didn’t make us better, or superior. I remember once, I was going through a bratty phase when I was 7, and I tripped one of the maids in the palace just to do it. Poor woman hurt herself badly with a knee injury. I thought it funny. It wasn’t, and Mom made sure I knew that. She gave me a hiding I deserved, and I never thanked her for it, because I deserved it…and I needed it. Well, I am thanking you now. Thank You, Mom. You made me a woman. A woman who mourns her mother as the strong, wonderful mother and ruler she was.”

She remembered smiling weakly as she thought of her father “My father. If ever there was a roguish influence in my life, it was him. Daddy, and yes, to me, he will always be Daddy, well, for all the tough Mechwarrior exterior, was a ball of mush when it came to his daughters. I will never forget how he snuck out of the palace one Christmas to buy us the “it toy” that year. He did it himself with a small security detail, and a elaborate disguise. I am happy to say; Yvonne and I had that toy under the tree! He doted on us perhaps too much, but he showed me, and Yvonne never settle for a man who won’t treat you like he did. I am glad to say, I found him Daddy!”

“I know we can all ask; how many can say they had a life well lived? I am happy to say; my parents didn’t have that problem. I’d like to think that’s why we loved them so much for it. Many will remember my father for the wars he started, and my mother for the wars she helped prevent. I just remember them as my Mom and Dad, and they were great parents, as well as leaders, and I hope, no, I pray I am half the parent they were when the time comes.”

The cathedral filled with applause.

The rest of the service had been a blur, the graveside service, the honors rendered, though the young Leftenant who had handed her the flags for her parents on “behalf of a grateful Commonwealth” had tracks of tears running down his face and had apologized for it. Katherine smiled and whispered “It’s alright, Leftenant, we just buried the soul of the Commonwealth today. I think tears are the order of the day.”

And now, there came the wake. “Galen, dear, thanks for running interference.”

Galen smiled, “Hon, I know you have to greet some of these people, but it it wrong if I get to say “not now?”

Katherine shook her head “I get it, with Omi reading to Victor now, I kinda want some alone time with you after all this. Been trying not to lose it all day, and well, I need to.”

“Me too, Katherine, me too,” as Galen took her hand gently in his.

Later that evening

Katherine surveyed the roomful of cards and flowers that filled the private sitting room of her mother. I really don't know what the hell I am going to do with this place? She wanted to do something other than a stuffy old granite memorial to her parents. Something alive, something that continues their legacy. If I do anything with my time here, it's that. She surveyed the heaps of cards, well wishes, and condolences. One in particular, marked with the unique sigil of the Von Strang family caught her eye. That crazy pirate even sent condolences? Oh, this I gotta read. She grabbed a letter opener off of a nearby table, and opened the black and silver envelope deftly in a single motion, and carefully removed the finely weighted paper. It was high quality, with the note penned with what could only be a high quality pen. Jeez, that Von Strang woman went all out.

29 October, 3056

Princess,

We have not met, but I spent several days negotiating with your mother. She was a brilliant, honest and powerful woman, and the Inner Sphere is a lesser place without her. As someone who has also lost a parent to murderous barbarians, you have my most serious condolences.

I never had a chance to meet either your father or brother, but your fathers reputation for war and politics echoed even to my fathers halls as I grew, and your brothers valour against the Clans is unquestioned. Such strength is not easily conquered: he will recover to rain hellfire down upon the spawn of Hazen again, I am certain.

My Legion is reforming on Sudeten, preparing to resume the drive to rid your worlds of the Tanker plague, and then to hound them through the Periphery until they are driven back to their cold, barren holds in the deepest black. This is accomplished through the will of your mother, the wit of your father and the prowess of your brother. You are of that same stock: you will not fail them, or your people.

Perhaps I should not have written thusly: I do so only with the recommendation of your cousin, Colonel Morgan Kell, whom I count as both mentor and friend. Yet I felt compelled to speak, as one ruler, one orphan, one woman, one seeker of vengeance to another: you will prevail.

I saw the video of Kali Laois death: it is a good start. You are doing well ... for a Spheroid.

Sincerely,

Colonel the Baroness Juliette von Strang, Sudeten.


Secure wing of New Avalon General Hospital

New Avalon

Federated Commonwealth

December 9th, 3056

“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.” Omi Kurita smiled as she read the passage in Moby Dick. What a very Kurita statement, for such a Gaijin? Did Hohiro or Minoru go to their end laughing? Did Father? I do not know whether I wish they did..or did not. And as such, is me wishing they had not made their sacrifices, that I still had them here, does that stain the honor of what they did?

Omi’s sleep had been troubled of late with these questions and more. She had attended the funeral for Victor’s parents in disguise, it was thought best by both Shin Yodama, as well as the head of Katherine’s security detail. They had made up a fictional identity as a minor noblewoman from Ozawa who had come to pay her respects, as well as get her title of nobility confirmed at the hand of the Archon-Princess herself.

The funeral had been very unlike Combine affairs, more a celebration of life of the deceased, rather than a focus on the afterlife. She’d come to appreciate it, and it made her think about her future with Victor. I love him, and there really is no other. If what I believe is true, then if he does not return from his sojurn in the land of the dead, then I shall join him there. Lady Fiona has gone mad with everyone trying to restrain her from doing so with Hohiro. I will not share that fate.

Omi put the book down and smiled at Victor, he looked better than he had when the doctors briefed her as to his condition. Most of the smaller bandages were gone, and he was off the ventilator, she helped the nursing staff do what they could for him, to Omi, nobility did not preclude hard work.

She heard a gasping noise...ie, could it be? No, the doctors said he was probably not going to come out of his coma anytime soon! She heard it again. It was clearly coming from Victor. He had made random noises before, and his eyes opened and closed randomly, but there was no spark, no consciousness behind them. But this time..the eyes opened as gummy slits, and the rasp was making a sound, Omi dropped the book in shock, throwing the chair aside, and rushing to his bedside. She smiled and leaned over his head.

Victor rasped “My love, what are you doing here?”

Omi lunged for the call button, tears and giggles of joy warring as her prayers had been answered.

 

[CurtisLemay]

December 31st, 3056 (Year of the Yang Fire Dragon)

Byodo-in Temple (reference image)
Spoiler
New Avalon, Crucis March

A pair of hover limos slowly climbed up the low wooded hill along a road marked off by Avalon City Police for the New Year's Celebration to where the Buddhist temple overlooked the river running through Avalon City. Inside the lead one, marked with the flags of the Davion Heavy Guards and an AFFS license plate, Omiko Kurita sat like a marble statue.

While she had been invited to the traditional New Year's Party at the Davion Palace by Katherine, she had politely requested to arrive after midnight. As much as she wished to stand with Katherine as she gave the traditional address to the Federated Suns from the Great Hall or celebrate with Victor as he recovered from his injuries, she felt that the time was not yet right for her to do so. While the Western tradition was purely a celebration; in the Japanese tradition, Ōmisoka was a period of reflection and preparation in part.

Omi felt that she had much to reflect on as this year turned to its close.

To keep her mind occupied, she looked over at the other woman in the back of the limousine. "Tell me of this temple, please, Parvati-san."

The dark-complexioned woman with her face showing the fine features of her ancestors from distant India shifted slightly. Her AFFC dress uniform was now adorned with a Kommandant's thick white stripe on the dark yellow epaulets showing her posting in Administration. "An useful fiction for DMI," she had explained to Omi during one of their conversations on the trip from Exeter to New Avalon.

"Omiko-san, I must confess that I only visited Byodo-in three times. Twice when I was a cadet at Albion as part of a class on religious studies and then Combine culture, and then the third time for a friend's wedding in '53. I'm Panpouran, which means mainly Hindu with Theravada Buddhism synthesis. Byodo-in is one of the Mahayana East Asian branches of Buddhism such as you would have found in China or Japan. As I recall..." Parvati drummed her fingers on the car door briefly, then spoke again, "it is shared by the Jōdo Pure Land and Tendai Schools."

Omi's face lit up in a smile. "That is fortunate! I follow the Sōtō Zen school, which was developed from Jōdo during the Kamakura Shogunate era in Japan." At Parvati's inquisitive look the Kurita elaborated. "Religion is one of the key duties of the Keeper of House Honor, and I found that it suited me well. While I was no nun such as Aunt Constance, it did...does grant me solace." The smile faded at the mention of yet another of her relatives who had vanished in the chaos enveloping the Combine.

Parvati reached over and gently squeezed Omi's hand, who gave her a grateful smile in return before deliberately changing the subject away from too-fresh worries. "You mentioned that this temple is famous for its beauty, no?"

Parvati smiled. "Yes, it was founded in 2373. These are not the original wooden buildings, of course, although they are constructed to the original plans with some cosmetic modifications." Omi frowned minutely at the odd tone of Parvati's voice. She was familiar with the Sengu tradition in Shinto that had a shrine be rebuilt every twenty years both to honor the impermanence of nature and transience of beauty, as well as insure traditional building techniques were taught to the next generation. However, this seemed to be something different, with an undertone of hidden..pain?

Curious now, Omi probed further with her next question. She schooled her voice to project innocent curiosity as she gave the DMI officer a shy smile. "Parvati-san, did something happen that caused a modification to the plans?"

Parvati's smile soured, and she looked like she had just bitten into a lemon. "You could say that, Omiko-san. You must understand that it was a different, darker time back then." The Indian woman visibly collected her thoughts before proceeding. "There has sometimes been a current of antipathy toward Asian culture in the Suns. Many people see it as alien to their culture, and worse see it as the subtle creeping influence of the Liaos and Kuritas." Parvati then hastily added, "No insult intended, Omiko-san!"

Omi gave a reassuring smile, "It is understandable. I am well aware that my family's relations with the Suns have been rather strained at best."

Parvati grimaced and continued. "That is one way to describe it, yes. But...during the First Succession War, when we were reeling, as the Dragon thrust to the gates of New Avalon while the Capellans gobbled up worlds...it turned very ugly. People of Asian ethnicity were hounded as 'enemy agents' and 'traitors', and sometimes attacked by mobs. Then the news came about Kentares..."

Now it was Omi's turn to go pale and make her own sour face. While the subject of the Kentares Massacre ordered by then-Coordinator Jinjiro Kurita was glossed over in the official histories of the Combine by being described as 'Fedrat propaganda and lies', as the Keeper of the House Honor Omi knew the truth. She had read the actual eyewitness accounts of the Massacre in the secret archives of the Order of the Five Pillars, along with the scathing diary entries penned by Keeper Izumi Kurita as Jinjiro Kurita ordered the murder of an innocent planet for vengeance for his father's death on Kentares. "I...see, Parvati-san," she whispered in a tightly controlled voice.

"When the news of Kentares hit New Avalon...a mob formed, and marched on Byodo-in, and put it to the torch, beating and killing the monks who prayed for the souls of their attackers as they were brutalized. It took over an hour for the police to manage to quell the riot and allow firefighters to quench the flames."

Omi shivered, staring at the beautiful carved wooden buildings of the Buddhist shrine. "How terrible."

Parvati whispered, "Yes, it was. First Prince John Davion stepped in to call for an end to the attacks on innocent citizens. He visited the surviving monks, along with the head of the New Avalon Catholic Church and the Chief Rabbi of Avalon City, as well as his son and grandson." Parvati pointed through the window as their car stopped in a cordoned off parking spot for the 'Baroness Murasaki Tanaka of Ozawa'. "He stood there, where you see the torii gate with the fox statues on either side with the still smouldering main hall behind him as his words were broadcast across the Suns, and explained to the citizens that the Combine was the true enemy, not their own fellow citizens. Prince John stated that this madness was a stain on the realm's honor, and his own honor as First Prince. He then asked the chief monk of Byodo-in to stand beside him and lead him, his family, and the other clergy in a prayer for the souls of the victims of the Asian Purge. He even paid out of his own personal funds for the rebuilding of the temple, although he would never see it since he was assassinated later in the year. His grandson Prince Paul was the one to represent the Suns at the reconsecration of the temple five years later."

Omi was shocked to her core. To admit wrongdoing and show himself at fault publicly in such a manner was unthinkable for the Coordinator. She knew how desperate the situation was for the Suns in that hour and how close to victory the Arm of the Dragon had come, only distracted by Jinjiro's madness from storming the capital. The Suns were fighting for their life, with all resources turned toward the battlefield...and yet the First Prince elected to try to stop this madness instead of channeling that toward his own ends and his realm's survival. "I...see. I would have liked to meet Prince John. Such magnanimity of spirit is rare among rulers."

Parvati nodded as several plainclothes security personnel and Shin Yodama exited the other car to secure the area. "It is. Unfortunately, Prince John's reputation is tarnished by his actions as the Star League fell and then the First Succession War. A string of military defeats does not sit well for Davions in the history books, especially since Prince Paul was one of our most brilliant commanders. To be fair to John, it was a systemic failure, I can assure you. DMI missing the signs of your surprise attack into the Draconis March is a case study in intelligence blunders that we have to study both to see what we did wrong then and as a warning about how important it is to get it right."

Omi nodded. "True, we should learn the lessons that those who went before us can teach. Thank you for escorting me to the Ōmisoka celebration. If it allowed for visitors to assist the monks in ringing the bonshō bell 108 times to cleanse the listener of the 108 human sins and worldly desires such as anger, regret, and sadness, I would like you and Yodama-san to be with me as we swing the timber to strike the bell."

Kommandant Parvati gave a grin and opened the limousine door. "It would be my pleasure, Omiko-san. After all, you are my assignment now, by direct order of Princess Katherine no less. I need to do something to justify the promotion that she requested for me!"