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

Cat Fight, Part 6 (An Omake by Yellowhammer)

CurtisLemay

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Cat Fight Part 6

"I have often been asked how difficult it was to come to terms with my new family. Like all things in life, it was difficult in some areas, and even the simplest things can be very difficult.... But it was also very easy in some surprising ways. For instance, my birth family has been called many things by our enemies. Bloody-handed tyrants, warmongering militarists, monsters, and madmen; and I shall never deny that some of my family were all of these things and more. But even in the worst and most bitter fighting of the Succession Wars, there has always been a understanding, as unspoken and unwritten as it may have been then, that there were no and would never be any cowards named Kurita, Davion, Steiner, or Sandoval in the ranks of the combatants...."

Omiko Steiner-Davion, My Path To The Top Of The Mountain: A Journey from Luthien to Kentares, New Avalon Press 3083

FSS Lion of Judah

Inbound to New Avalon

29 May, 3057

Field Marshal James Sandoval, Duke of Robinson and Minister of the Draconis March stared at the approaching crescent of New Avalon with the same focus that he had spent preparing for planetary invasions in his 43 years of service in the AFFS and then AFFC. In a way, this would be the most important planetary invasion of his career, he thought as he clasped his hands behind his back.

The hatch behind him opened, and he noticed a familiar reflection in the armorplast glass enter the room. Dressed in the uniform of a FedCom Leftenant General with Military Intelligence shoulder flashes, his oldest son joined him at the glass.

"Father" Tancred said quietly as he stepped alongside him, "The reports from March Command on Robinson have been collated and forwarded to us."

"Summarize." James said equally quietly.

"In brief, we have identified the units responsible for the attacks into the Addicks and Raman PDZs. Addicks was the 15th Dieron out of Al Na'ir striking Helen, Murchison, and Towne in terror raids, reinforced with a company each of Ryuken-ni as it reconstitutes with production from the factories on Quentin and Al Na'ir after sustaining heavy losses in the continuing infighting in Benjamin. McComb and Royal were each the 22nd Benjamin out of Marduk in a similar battalion-sized raid." Tancred paused, and ran through his mental index cards. "The Snake raids into Addicks were clearly intended to damage infrastructure and cause casualties among our troops and civilians, and were exceptionally brutal even for them. Raman caused moderate infrastructure damage and targeted a militia base on Royal that we had built up into a forward supply dump, and three food processing and packaging plants on McComb."

James grunted acknowledgement of the horrors that the antiseptic words covered.

Tancred sighed, "Three further points. First, prisoner interrogation from the Regulars that we captured on Royal revealed that the cousin of Victor's pet Snake ordered these attacks to 'discourage any ideas that we would have to challenge the Dragon and gain needed supplies'. Quote unquote. Second, we received a flash communication from the Skye March reporting an incursion into the Lyons thumb, no further details yet. Third, the raid on Helen hit the Sak's training battalion hard and...well you need to see for yourself."

James turned and walked to the holoprojector as Tancred fed in the data. The display fuzzed, and then showed an attractive young brunette woman dressed in Sakhara cadet uniform. "Victoria Sanromea-Davion, Class of '57. She is the second child of Duke Diego Sanromea-Davion of El Dorado. One older brother and three younger siblings." Left unsaid but understood by both men was the importance of the cadet family that held the primary banking capital of the Suns for their older cousins under the Sword and Sunburst. "She was part of the force that defended Konstance City and shortly after she engaged, she opened a data link back to HQ. See for yourself what happened."

The display changed to the cockpit of an Enforcer, and the Sandovals watched impassively as the doomed cadet fought bravely but inexpertly before being ruthlessly killed in her downed Enforcer.

James nodded. "Indeed, I see. Who else has seen it?"

Tancred gave a slight smile. "No one on New Avalon as of yet. One of my friends from the Class of '40 picked it out of the data dump that we give the Fox' Den weekly and held it 'pending verification' while up-channeling it to me privately. It won't officially arrive at HQ for four more days."

James grinned like a shark, "You were right and I was wrong when you argued me into attending Sakhara versus Robinson Battle Academy. I'll notify Diego personally, and I need you to speak to Yvonne privately so that we can marshal our arguments with Victor and Katherine. Once we get our forces mustered..."

His smile widened, "...that Snake in the Palace won't know what hit her."

--------------------------------

Davion Palace

New Avalon

1 June, 3057

Omiko Kurita gave Victor Steiner Davion a happy smile that never reached her face as she sat in the private audience chamber next to him. Victor looked more at ease than he had been for the last two days now that the final strike to deal with the Liaos was scheduled. She reached over and took his remaining hand in hers, interlacing her fingers gently with his.

Her inner smile widened as she saw Katherine sipping tea before handing the empty cup to a servant. Her sister-in-law to be also looked like she had found some measure of inner peace now that the end was drawing night for the slayers of her parents.

The servant at the door coughed to get their attention. "Duke Sandoval of Robinson, Princess Steiner-Davion, Duke Sanromea-Davion of El Dorado, Leftenant General Sandoval, Your Highnesses."

Omi stiffened fractionally as Victor's hand clenched on hers in shock. Behind her impassive face, her mind raced faster than a sprinting Jenner as the four nobles entered.

The Lord of the Draconis March was immediately identifiable to her from her studies, of course, as was his son in his uniform. She spared a brief fond thought for the happiness that her friend Yvonne had in the presence of the dark-haired and dark-eyed military man on her elbow. The fourth man was unknown to her, although his reddish-brown hair, neatly groomed and waxed mustache, and slight resemblance to Victor identified him as the Sanromea-Davion Duke.

The delegation bowed as they reached their proscribed place. "Greetings Archon-Prince Steiner-Davion, Princess Regnant Steiner-Davion," Duke Sandoval's voice lost all warmth as he finished, "Baroness Tanaka of Ozawa."

Katherine smiled, "My Lords. Yvonne. Please be seated. It is good to see you all again again. What concerns you?"

James Sandoval handed a data packet to the servant, who then took it to the holoprojector. "The Dragon has struck, as I have warned you."

A star map formed and zoomed in on the border with the Combine six stars scattered up and down the border began to blink orange. Sandoval began to point out details as Victor, Katherine, and Omi leaned forward to examine the map.

"Combine Battlemech units have raided Royal, McComb, Helen, Murchinson and Towne with elements of three separate Battlemech regiments, including one of the Ryuken that Miyako Kurita is using for her shock troops. In addition, I just received words from Skye that the 40th Galedon Regulars have occupied Sabik and Atria in an apparent first stage attack to isolate and pocket the Lyons Thumb. DMI's analysis is appended."

Omi's eyes widened as red arrows struck from Kessel and Dieron to envelop the bulge of Lyran worlds between them. Victor withdrew his hand from hers and pointed. "We don't have much in the way of reliable units with the AFFC holding down Skye and disarming Ryan Steiner's separatists. That could be a big problem. How firm are these troop numbers?"

Tancred Sandoval stood alongside his father. "Sire, 72% probability. As you know, DMI, MIIO, and LIC all shifted the focus of their efforts to the Clan OZs for Clover Spear, and then to the Capellan March and Sarna March when the Liaos struck us. So we have had to rely heavily on your friend's networks. With the chaos in the Combine, multiple regimental forces believed to be loyal to both factions have gone missing. We know that Pesht was being stripped with unconfirmed reports of heavy shipping movements in Benjamin and Galedon. We have confirmation that Miyako is rotating the more damaged units back to Dieron to rebuild Mech losses and integrate replacements while Franklin is believed to have concentrated the Amphigean Light Assault Group and Proserpina Hussars on Matsuida where they act as a threat to the entire Dahar PDZ and the Rimward edge of Raman to Robinson. A pathway that they used in the First Succession War."

Hostile red icons formed and dotted lines showed two possible attack vectors to Robinson.

Victor glanced at Omi, "Have you seen evidence of this?"

The Kurita royal leaned forward with an intent look on her face, "Iie, not as such for invasion plans.... Although Miyako is growing more and more unstable from all my information. My advice to you regarding her may not have been the best, I fear."

Diego Sanromea-Davion glared at Omi with naked hatred on his face as he interjected. "Your advice! Your advice killed mi niña pequeña, because you did not call the Kuritas the threat that they are!!"

Katherine spoke up as Omi's eyes widened in shock, "What is this news, cousin?"

Tancred touched a control and the last moments of Victoria Sanromea-Davion were played. All eyes turned to Omi, who was watching with a pale face. The Kurita took a deep breath and stared into Duke Sanromea-Davion's eyes as she bowed her head in apology. "I have indeed erred, and my error has harmed you and yours. I swear upon my honor that I shall make amends for what my poor decisions have wrought."

"Words! Words are not enough, only deeds will serve now! I shall see the price that your honor is worth. Mi Victoria..." Sanromea-Davion subsided at a quelling touch and look from Yvonne, who shook her head silently.

Whatever response was coming to that was interrupted my Kommandant Parvati's entrance. "Pardon the interruption, but I have FLASH traffic from our Combine network that just arrived at the Palace communication center."

----------------------------

DCA Hiryu

Hachiman

28 May 3057

Miyako Kurita surveyed the holographic display as her three regiments drove toward the industrial planet below. Ryuken-yon, under her personal command spearheaded the wedge with the left flank being Reyuken-san's two battalions. To the right, was the rebuilt Sixth Ghost Regiment, filled out with the few survivors of the Seventh Ghost Regiment after their battle on Yumesta against the Jaguars.

"Transmission received from the surface, Coordinator."

"Display it." Miyako snapped out. The tactical map blinked out to show a corpulent, bald-headed Japanese man.

For long moments the two surveyed each other before the man bowed. "Coordinator-dono."

Miyako smiled slightly as she gestured for him to rise. "Uncle Chandrasekhar. You have news?"

"I do. The city garrison withdrew to their base, and boarded their dropships two days ago when they detected your presence. They have been moving supplies constantly from Masamori City to their new position at the Hachiman Technical Institute from the spaceport on their base by cargo dropship. My corporate security troops have secured Yoshitune Spaceport and I shall await your arrival there."

Miyako nodded, "Good, I will finish securing Masamori City from the main spaceport and then deal with their positions at the Institute."

"Be warned, I have little intelligence on their defenses there. Security is quite tight and the junkyard surrounding it is hazardous."

An alarm sounded on the bridge. "Enemy fighters coming from behind the moon, Coordinator!"

Miyako gave a slashing motion at the commtech to cut the transmission. "Deploy our fighter screen, assume air-defense formation!"

"Older craft. Sholagars. Hardly a threat to us, Coordinator even if they have caught us unawares."

The explosion of a nuclear armed kamikaze ASF flown by the fanatical cadets of the 13th Sun Zhang Academy Cadre gave the lie to that statement as DCA Urizen Kurita was shattered by the nuclear detonation along with the 2nd battalion of Ryuken-san.

Miyako's eyes narrowed as she chewed over the actions of the enemy and came to an unpleasant conclusion

Chandrasekhar Kurita had betrayed her. Betrayed the Dragon. The Spaceport was a trap.

Her eyes turned icy and she hissed. "Relay my orders to all naval units. Load Shinrikyō missiles for saturation bombardment of our planned spacehead. I shall lead the Battlemech deployment from atmosphere."

As the Dropships drove toward ground, their long-range missile launchers fired five salvos of missiles from their magazines at the city as they passed through the stratosphere. As the warheads flew toward the ground, the rotation and speed of their transit caused the seals between the two halves of the war head to fail and the contents to mix precursor chemicals together.

At 1000 meters, fuses fired and the missiles blew apart, dispensing a cloud of heavier than air droplets over the spaceport and Masamori City surrounding it. Developed early in the Second Succession War by direct order of Coordinator Jinjiro Kurita, the nerve agent chlorosarin-4 (code named Shinrikyō) was the holy grail of the search for a lethal agent to secure spaceheads. Highly lethal, inhalation would kill humans in minutes, but the compound was unstable and susceptible to breakdown in under an hour, obviating the need to wear chemical gear for anything but to handle the smell of the corpses that it generated.

The first indication Chandrasekhar Kurita and the other gathered dignitaries at the spaceport had that anything was amiss was when their pupils dilated. Drooling, urination, vomiting, and defecation followed as the nerve gas attacked their neurons, followed by muscle spasms, suffocation, and death by asphyxiation.

The cameras that were filming the welcome ceremony for Coordinator Miyako Kurita and broadcasting the spectacle planet-wide caught the full horror of the attack including Chandrasekhar Kurita's last moments even as their operators crumpled and died.

By the time Miyako's Naginata command Mech landed at the head of her troops from their mid-altitude drop, fatalities on Hachiman from her arrival were already in four figures and rising steadily.

Worse was to come to Masamori City. Far worse.

--------------------------------

Davion Palace

New Avalon

1 June, 3057

The room was silent as the grave as the images that had been transmitted from Masamori City finally came to an end.

Victor looked around the room, seeing equally shocked faces. "We have to do something. Options?"

James Sandoval cleared his throat. "I have a contingency plan worked up. Operation NAQAM would send additional forces to the Lyons Thumb to repel the invasion. I plan on the 2nd Robinson Rangers from Phecda since they just need jumpship assets to move from the Marik frontier to the Lyons Thumb. The First Rangers would move to Royal and then secure Marduk along with Raman DMM assets. meanwhile mercenary units will be assembled to pin down and secure the Mech factories on Quentin and Al Na'ir to punish the units responsible backed with conventional forces supplied from the Addicks and Kentares DMM. I have already arranged funding and have agents acting under my authority as Commander of the Draconis March speaking to representatives of several mercenary units on Outreach and Galatea."

Katherine rubbed her temples and sighed. "As long as it does not interfere with our planned attack into the Capellan Confederation, I can authorize that. But the Capellans must be put down for good now."

Yvonne and Victor nodded. "Agreed."

Omi spoke quietly as she looked at the corpse of another of her family members. "I... pledge you my full assistance. We must minimize the damage and that means that Miyako Kurita must be defanged. Uncle Chandy... Moushiwake gozaimasen deshita. Morning Glory, even though you wither, dawn will break anew."

The Kurita royal bowed her head and swallowed her tears as the holoprojector was switched off.
 
Enter the Destructor

CurtisLemay

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Assembly Area, Keller’s Battalion, Davion Assault Guards RCT

10km North of Ceres City

Capella

Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth

June 25th, 3057


Kommandant Sarah Keller ran her hands through her shaved head, her auburn stubble was slick with sweat, and the bristles of her vestigial hair stung at her callused hands. She’d been doing 18 hour days in the last two weeks, running down Capellan fugitives who’d refused to obey orders from the Home Guard commander to lay down their arms. You’d think after the fight they put up in Ceres City, that would have been enough for them?

She shook her head at the last thought. She wasn’t as lucky as Rhys-Davion, his battalion had managed to get all the new Clantech, and as such, they’d been kept in reserve while her and Artie’ Mackensen’s battalions led the way into Ceres City, block by bloody block. Please god, don’t let this be a preview of what the hell is to come on Sian. I suspect we’re going to be held in reserve for that mess, though who knows, I hear the 1st Davion Guards are on Hexare already.

She looked around her battalions FOB, here there was an overworked field hospital, with harried medical personnel running about trying to save as many as they could. Most of the critical patients from the worst of the fighting had already begun the trip home, but the guerilla phase of the fighting had a steady drip of casualties from snipers, IEDs and just plain bad luck. She’d lost two ‘Mechwarriors in a stupid incident involving a GPV overturning. Their replacements hadn’t filled Keller with confidence. To her right, came the sound of tools banging away, and the whine of machinery. The techs were doing what they could to fix the machines they could. Not my Awesome, “Happy Girl” is too banged up to do anything but can for parts. Hope I can get a new machine before we leave this rock. Wouldn’t do for the BC to be without a ride.

She heard a voice clear his throat. She turned to face her XO, Hauptmann Jason Zibler. Zibler was like most of his family. Davion to the core, fine mechwarriors, and had a lot to live up to. Trouble was, he was painfully aware of it, and way too young for his job. I don’t care if he was an honor graduate of Sakahara. He is too damn young to be a Cap-I mean Hauptmann. We have really got to talk to the Steiners about all these German ranks. Zibler was 23, ten years younger than Keller, and his boyish features, framed by brown hair and eyes, did little but reinforce that image in Keller’s mind. He wasn’t bad at his job. He was a hard-working guy who was eager to learn, she just wasn’t sure the Assault Guards was the place to do it. Then again, the lady he’s replaced caught a Falcon inferno round as she ejected from her Stalker on Hot Springs. I hear she’s on skin graft number seven now.

”Um mam, there’s a party from DQ, and some civilian tech reps. They’re saying we’re getting some newfangled ‘Mech design. Not sure I’m too happy about that. Seems like the time we got fresh eggs before we were committed on Waldorff.” Zibler smiled sheepishly. His face had a look of don’t shoot the messenger, as he pointed to a small gaggle of civilians in out-of-place looking freshly pressed chinos, and rear-area types whose field uniforms didn’t have a speck of dirt or blood on them. And I bet they won’t hang around long enough for them to collect either of those things.

Keller remembered ruefully. And then we fought street by street against Jade Falcons who didn’t have enough sense to know their asses were kicked. She suddenly felt tired, at this point, she remembered an old saying by her father, another veteran of the Assault Guards, who’d said “Military glory is like a fish in the moonlight, it shines and stinks at the same time.” Dad was right. Keller had written twenty-five letters to families since the beginning of Clover Spear. And now, there was only the prospect of more goddamned letters. Please, someone tell me we are closer to ending this thing and going home? My husband and kids are on Fraizer and I just want to go back to them when this is all over. She’d heard there was a Capellan raid back in November, and while she’d gotten an HPG from her husband that they were fine and with his family in the hills, it hadn’t done much for her morale overall.

“Send ‘em over, Zibler. Might as well find out what news DQ has for us?”

Zibler nodded, and waved at the gaggle, who numbered seven in total, five military and two civilian. They made their way over slowly, consciously avoiding the puddles and churned up mud that was often a feature of assembly areas and FOBs as vehicles and ‘Mechs did a fine job of churning the earth, even going at a sedate pace. He then came to attention, and grimaced.

As the group approached, she noticed one of the officers leading the group had his spurs, and was walking with a limp. His rank tabs were in the colors of the Deneb Light Cav, and he had a subdued 10th DLC patch on his right sleeve. Keller smiled weakly. Ok he’s seen the elephant. She regarded him further, his salt-and-pepper hair contrasted mixed with his crow’s feet had Keller thinking he might be some retread from ’39. Lordy, just what I need.

The party stopped at the proscribed distance. Keller came to attention, but didn’t salute, meriting a frown from a young Leftenant in the group. She was like Zibler, almost childlike in her appearance, her Asian ancestry not helping either. My god, she looks fourteen. And she wasn’t shy about her feelings either.

“We haven’t gotten a proper salute since we arrived here. AFFC is going right to hell, sir.”

Keller had had enough. “And you won’t, Leftenant. That is, unless you want to tell some Capellan sniper or FO who the hell you are and that you’re worth killing! So go ahead and expect something like back at Albion, or wherever the hell you graduated from?!”

The Kommandant turned and shot his Leftenant a warning look as if to say. We’ll be speaking about this later, Leftenant.

“My apologies for Leftenant Kwang. Like most Leftenants, she has a lot of rust to knock off. My name is Simmonson, late of Dominic’s Battalion, 10th Deneb Light Cavalry. I left a good chunk of my left leg in my Wolverine on Goat Path. They gave me a promotion, and this job being a DQ rep to Johnston Industries. In short, Kommandant Keller, we have a new ‘Mech for you. And, I think you’ll like her.” He handed over a datapad with a series of design specs.

“You run her yourself?” Keller asked, a bit of derision in her voice.

Simmonson nodded. “I have, even with this bum leg. But even as gimpy as I am, she responds well, and for an Assault ‘Mech, she’s pretty fleet of foot.”

Keller smiled as she scrolled through the contents of the datapad. “So, when do these fine new examples of Fedcom technology arrive?” she said as she picked her head up from the display, noticing for the first time Simmonson had grey eyes, and a smile that didn’t quite reach them.

Simmonson nodded as the vibration of ‘Mech footfalls could be felt in the distance. “Good of you to ask, Kommandant. How about “now?”



BattleMech Technical Readout



Type/Model: Destructor DCR-7D

Mass: 100 tons

Chassis: Foundation Type 10X Standard

Power Plant: 300 GM XL XL Fusion

Walking Speed: 32.4 km/h

Maximum Speed: 54.0 km/h

Jump Jets: 3 HildCo Model 12 Standard Jump Jets

Jump Capacity: 90 meters

Armor Type: Kallon Royalstar Heavy Standard

Armament:

5 Sutel Precision Line Medium Pulse Lasers

1 Poland Main Model A Gauss Rifle

2 BlazeFire Sweetshot ER Large Lasers

1 Holly LRM 5

1 Harpoon SRM 6

Manufacturer: Johnston Industries

Location: New Syrtis / FC (JI)

Communications System: Achernar Electronics HICS-15

Targeting & Tracking System: Federated Hunter Mk II


Overview:

The Destructor was born of the post-Clan War need by the Federated Commonwealth for more powerful designs to face the new threat. Companies from Defiance to GM submitted many designs to the AFFC, among them was one submitted by Johnston Industries. The Destructor.

The Destructor was designed in response to an RFP submitted in late 3052, while there was a lot of interest in the RFP, many of the FC's premier ‘Mech producers were occupied with their in house designs responding to other proposals. The only competitor was Johnston, who, had never taken on an Assault 'Mech design before. Johnston knew it had a real challenge on its hands.

The first thing the R&D staff at Johnston did was pore over all the BattleROMs and AARs they could get their hands on from the Clan War, and used it to create one of the most detailed Clan combat models to this date (in fact, the tool has stood the test of time and is used to this day in the AFFC in helping Battalion and Regimental staffs evaluate likely Clan responses to OPLANs). The model was then mated with an evaluation program that looked at all current known Assault ‘Mech designs and looked at what worked. The results of both studies were, after a year of work, mated and turned into a design.

By 3053, the Destructor had gone from idea, to prototype, and had even gotten an improptu combat test against a Capellan raid on the Johnston test range on Novalya Zemlya. The mech scored two kills, and an assist on a Battlemaster.

In 3054, two pre-production models were sent to the Clan front to be evaluated. Details are sketchy, but in a raid on a Black Earth by the 4th Davion Guards, the 'Mech acquitted itself well. Other examples have since been field tested by the Davion Assault Guards during ACTIVE PANTHER. All in all, the mech passed her combat tests with flying colors.

The first production mech rolled off the production line on Talon, March 5th, 3055. It was produced initially at a low rate, as there was three other competing Assault ‘Mech Designs, all from Steiner space, and the production of a Davion design had some associated political problems.

In its combat tests, the mech proved to be a solid, respectable design that did well in a fight. It's biggest problem was that it ran hot, which led to quite a variant with an alternate armament scheme to attempt to rectify the problem.

Capabilities:

The Destructor was designed from the outset to be a ‘Mech optimized to be the very best in Inner Sphere technology to date. Everything about the ‘Mech was new, and much in the way in Star League technology was utilized in the design.

First, an extra-light engine, with its associated risks, was chosen due to the superior power-to-weight ratios available with the new power plant technologies. The ‘Mech has only average speed for an assault ‘Mech, but it does it for less weight, and a set of Hildco Jump Jets improves the ‘Mech's mobility.

The weapons fit is a bit controversial, namely due to the fact that the heat generated by the ‘Mech in an alpha strike could be crippling, but when one sees the weapons as packages to be used at given ranges, the weapons fit makes sense. The Gauss Rifle and the two large lasers are meant to be the ‘Mech's long range punch, with the Pulse Lasers and the SRMs for when the range closes. The LRM rack is in case of loss of the Gauss Rifle.

Variants:

The Destructor has already had one variant designed and entered into production at a rate of one 8D model for every three 7D base models. The 8D model replaces the Medium Pulse Lasers with standard models and adds Triple Strength Mynomer. It also upgrades the LRM-5 to a 10 model with 240 rounds.

Deployment

The ‘Mech has been issued to the Davion Assault Guards, the 12th Vegan Rangers, and several other units currently involved in ACTIVE PANTHER. A lance of the design has also been given to the 1st Robinson Rangers.
 
Smashing the Jewel, Part 1

CurtisLemay

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Ilse Liao Secondary School for Young Women

Sian

Capellan Confederation

June 19th, 3057

Tears shone in the eyes of Mei Wong. She’d been a teacher for 25 years and had served the Capellan state loyally, turning out generations of proper Capellan women prepared to do their service to the state in all walks of life. She glanced around her classroom. It was small, with the desks cramped together around a small heater that barely worked in the winter months. In the summer, the room was near stifling with the windows closed, but the raid wardens had insisted that with the enemy so close to Sian these days, the windows had to remain closed, and taped.

But what she was being asked to teach her girls today? It was madness. She glanced at the “wall of honor.” The wall was a simple corkboard, with black framed photos of former students who had given the “last full measure for the Capellan State.” They had been old enough. They had volunteered or been properly conscripted at the legal age. This? This is the murder of children. And I am complicit. What kind of monster have I become?

Her morning Capellan History class filed into the room. Their ages were between twelve and fourteen, all were in the school uniform of Liao Green skirts, and silver sweaters, and most of them did the usual things young teen girls did, whispering to each other about the latest gossip. Who liked who, who did what? And how one could break the rules and get away with it. Mei always smiled when she saw this. It’s happy, and normal, and this, what I am being asked to do, it’s not something to be asked of these girls, damn them. Putting half trained girls against Davion ‘Mechs? What in the nine hells justifies this?

She turned towards the ever-present Maskirovka minder sitting in the corner. He was a small, bookish fellow who’d been a semi-permanent shadow for many years. He even had a teaching degree himself, which surprised Mei when he’d first been introduced ten years before. He’d never reported anyone. Usually, he simply cleared his throat, and corrected the behavior with a light touch. Everyone liked “Minder Po,” as he was known affectionately. He often participated as an teacher’s assistant and really helped Mei do her job, but even someone like him, supposedly so fanatically dedicated to the state, was unnerved by what was to come.

Mei clapped twice. She smiled a weak smile and said “Good Morning Class. Time for our daily devotions to the Chancellor and our beloved state!” A bit of hysteria crept into her voice at the last bit, knowing what was coming.

The class smiled, and bowed in the direction of the Forbidden City.

Mei led the class in the daily devotional:

“I am a Capellan, my citizenship is earned through devoted service. I serve my family, state and the Chancellor himself. I act every day to better these things, even if it may cost me life, or limb. I will act every day to bring ruin to traitors, Davions, and Mariks. This I pledge with my life, and the lives of my family, should I prove unworthy. Long Live the Capellan State!”

The class repeated the mantra half-interested. It had become routine to them by now, and like most teenagers, they already had a healthy mistrust of all things adult. But, growing up in the Confederation, they learned fast the truth of the old saying about being “the nail that stood out.”

“Greetings class, today, we will not be continuing our lesson on the reign of Warex Liao. Today, we have a guest lecturer. Subcommander Rytov is here from the local Home Guard, and he is here to discuss with you ways you can contribute to the defense of the Confederation!”

The rickety door to the classroom opened with a bang, and in stormed in a short, but muscular man, or at least he seemed to be. He wore a standard issue combat dress, neatly pressed, but faded, and threadbare. Mei recognized it from her own time in the CCAF with Stapelton’s Iron Hand on Tikonov, back in the Fourth War. She noticed one could see his reflection in his boots. His visage was frightening, his ears were gnarled remnants of flesh, and his face was badly scarred, with the left sleeve of his uniform empty. His right hand was encased in a black glove, and a black eye patch and missing teeth that made his smile even more horrifying completed an image that made Mei shiver involuntarily.

“Greetings children. Or should I say soldiers. I never had much use for school.” Rytov’s voice was booming. He was used to being on a parade ground, chivying around the part-time soldiers of the Home Guard on Sian for parades, memorials, and the like. But the medals on his chest suggested he’d seen action with someone. And so does that face.

“The Davions are at the door, soldiers. And it is time for you to cast off your youth and do your part for the state that has given you so much, eh? You’ll be like the heroes who gave their all on that wall!” as he pointed with his one good hand at the Wall of Honor. The class was of mixed reactions to this, some giggled, some looked at him with rapt attention, and some looked as if all they wanted to do was bolt from the classroom and run home to their parents. If I could, I’d encourage them all to do so. But the sad part is, I can’t. An order from the Chancellor, is an order from the Chancellor. Or as my father put it in his native Russian, “Prikaz y Prikaz – Orders are Orders.”

“For the next two hours, we’re going to teach you all we can to kill Davions. They may look tough, but it’s just looks. They will shrink at killing you because you are little girls. We will teach them you are instead, Capellan citizens willing to do their duty for the state!”

20 minutes later

“Good, Tsu Ling. It’s always the smallest they underestimate the most, nice work on that dummy with the bamboo stave!”

Tsu was fourteen, she’d been picked on a lot by the other girls and Mai often had to intervene. Now the state was handing her a bamboo stave, and an improvised shaped charge and telling her to ‘kill five Davions before she died!’ And she was eating it up like candy! Little Tsu was sensitive, wrote poetry about boys and love, not…not this.

“Next!” shouted Rytov.

Au Shang, a gangly girl of fifteen who had done well in track and field came up, she was shaking and crying. She dropped the stave and shook her head. “No, I won’t. I don’t want to die. I won’t do this! I want to go home!”

Rytov grimaced, and produced a small pistol as if by magic, and put it to Shang’s head.

“One chance, girl. Pick up the stave or die right here.”

She continued to cry.

Rytov’s pistol spoke once with a sharp retort, and Shang’s body fell like a puppet with its strings cut. Blood poured from the open wound in her head, her life flooding below her in a crimson mess of ichor and brains. Rytov then tucked away the pistol, and turned to the rest of the girls. “That is the price of disobedience from now on; death. You will follow orders with speed and cheer. I give everyone one chance, after that, you will be executed, as well as your families for cowardice in the face of the enemy.”

“Now, anyone else want to be a traitor?” the crowd was as silent as a tomb.

“Alright then, let’s break for lunch while the janitorial staff cleans up the unsightly mess.”


Situation Room

Fox’s Den

Mount Davion

New Avalon

Federated Commonwealth

June 20th, 3057

So far, so good, things appear to be on schedule, but Victor did mention ‘nothing ever goes to plan in war or love.’ And damn him, he’s been right about both. Katherine Morgan Steiner Davion was on tent hooks as she gazed intently at the holodisplay as Jackson Davion presented the plans for the second, and hopefully, last phase of ACTIVE PANTHER.

“If all goes according to plan, we should be concluding this operational pause by the middle of July, as we clean up things in Sarna. As of now, for the most part, CCAF units are pulling back across the 3055 border faster than we can catch them in many cases. We aren’t seeing a lot of mass surrenders, but units are fleeing hard for what they imagine is the safety of the Capellan border. We all know how safe that really is.” There was a chuckle at the last comment from around the room. Jackson had done a great job filling Morgan’s shoes while he was still in a coma on New Syrtis, but his prognosis was a bit grimmer than Victor’s had been. And who is going to tell him about his wife? God, will he want to live after that?

“As for our plans for Sian, we expect our initial landings to occur in late July, and follow on landings soon after. We are planning for a total of 8-10 RCTs to invest Sian once we get going, and we estimate, best case, we will reduce and secure Sian by the end of October. Worst case, end of December. They cannot stop us, but they can run out the clock, and kill a lot of our boys and girls.” Jackson grimaced at that last part.

Katherine shook her head. “Jackson, I know Victor hates me asking, because he always says the worst case predictions never come true, but how bad is worst case in terms of casualties?”

Jackson cleared his throat. “Your Highness, these are rough, but the estimates of our intelligence and medical staff here, and in theatre? And this is assuming the Capellans fight like we expect they will, plus twenty percent of the civilian populace actually fights as part of these ‘People’s Victory Banner Battalions’ we hear talk of, plus other considerations? The numbers of dead and wounded could top one million.”

“What other considerations, Jackson?”

“Capellan use of WMD.” Jackson said flatly, which led to some of the more junior aides gasping.

“You really think they’d do it, Jackson?” Katherine said, her knees feeling a bit weak at the thought.

“Considering the Combine didn’t hesitate on Luthien when the Smoke Jaguars came? I see no reason to think otherwise when it comes to us.”

“We have anything concrete?”

“My intelligence staff has seen increased movement and message traffic at a special weapons depot on Sian we keep regular tabs on. Nothing concrete, but no reason to expect that was just some sort of exercise.”

Katherine swore softly. “So, it’s come to this. What’s our response if they nuke our troops, Jackson?”

“We sterilize Sian, and become the damned pariah of the Inner Sphere, but honestly, we can’t recommend anything less or everybody will nuke our boys and girls.” Jackson grimaced, it was obvious this very thought was keeping him up at night. “Your Highness, the Capellans have had a robust WMD program for centuries. Our experiences during the 4th War on Tall Trees and Wei have shown us that. And we have no reason to believe they won’t use such weapons in an attempt to stave off defeat at a time like this. I might recommend such a thing if our situation was reversed.”

“You’re asking me to sterilize worlds, Jackson. Whole worlds.”

Jackson’s eyes bored into Katherine’s “Yes, mam. If it comes to that, I am. And I am sorry. If it comes to that. I will do my duty, and then I will resign. I didn’t join the AFFC to murder billions of people whose only crime was to be born in a nation with a seriously messed up cult of personality in charge. But I will do my duty, Unfinished Book help me.”
 
The Harrowing

CurtisLemay

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Khan’s Personal Chambers

Tamar City

Tamar

Wolf Clan Occupation Zone

June 24th, 3057



Natasha Kerensky looked on as the data feed droned on as the various Khans assembled back home made charges and countercharges about who was responsible for the obvious breakdown in the Honor Road. Kael Pershaw may be a Falcon, but right now, I feel damned sorry for him. Ulric, I know he said you were safe coming back, but I still think you should have ran things from here, where we could have kept you safe. But that damn inscrutable logic of his won the day? “Natasha,” he said “I cannot very well restore order via some impersonal video link from Tamar. I must be home, and the other Khans must see me. Present, and unafraid.” Damn you Ulric. Don’t you go and make yourself a martyr.

Phelan hadn’t said a word since the meeting had begun. He was usually content to mock the other Khans with various obscure quips that never failed to at least get a smirk out of Natasha. Not today. Today, Phelan had some sense of foreboding that had him on edge. Even Ranna had confided in Natasha that Phelan did not seem himself, and the worst part, he couldn’t explain why.

Yeah, when the son of Morgan Kell gets a bad feeling, it’s a good time to listen, but Ulric, you didn’t know Morgan like I did. Dammit. Even I have the heebie jeebies about this.

“The chair recognizes Clan Ice Hellion.”

Khan Asa Taney rose with a sense of dignity and importance he never possessed, even on a good day, of which, for the Clans as a whole, this was not.

There’s been motions to absorb Clan Jade Falcon, to censure the Adders, and to recognize ‘Clan Blood Viper?’ While we weren’t looking, the Vipers and the Blood Spirits merged? Nice move on the Vipers part, and how they managed to get Karianna Schmitt out of the way, I will never know. But I must tip my hat to the Vipers. Nicely done.

Taney had a booming, if high pitched voice. It was like listening to the mother of all reverb from a microphone that had been left too close to a speaker. “ilKhan, I must insist that the motion proposed by the Blood Viper Khans, censuring Clan Star Adder for their perfidious conduct in moving against the Smoke Jaguar homeworld holdings without consulting the Grand Council as a whole, be considered immediately. This sort of thing will only undermine the very underpinnings of the Honor Road, and-“

Cassius N’Buta, Khan of the Star Adders laughed “Taney, you yapping little idiot, are you just upset you did not get any of the spoils from the Jaguars pelt? It is not as if the Council would have let your pathetic little Clan try?”

Taney’s face turned dark crimson, “I will see you in a Circle of Equals for that, N’Buta.”

N’Buta smiled cruelly “A Circle of Equals? That assumes you are my equal, Taney. And you most clearly, are not.”

Taney lunged in N’Buta’s direction, but was restrained by his saKhan and several members of the Ebony Keshik, much to the delight of several attendees. Kael Pershaw shook his head in amused disgust, and then said “We still have another, graver motion on the floor, that I call to a vote, reluctantly. It is the motion for the absorption of Clan Jade Falcon. I now call the roll call of the Khans present.”

“Blood Viper”

Khan Allan Mercer, selected when he was the only survivor of an epic Grand Melee between a record 19 claimants for the Khan of the new Blood Viper clan. He had been hailed by the survivors as “a fighter’s Khan, and one who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.” He was a mechwarrior, and his bright green eyes hid a keen intellect, according to the Wolf Watch. The ugly scar on the left side of his face, and the bald head were new.

Mercer rose and smiled a smile of a wolf in a henhouse. “Clan Blood Viper votes Aye.”

“Burrock”

The Clan Burrock Khan, what the hell was his name again? Natasha puzzled, rose and shouted “Aye” and sat down just as fast.

“Cloud Cobra”

“Neg”

“Coyote”

“Aye”

“Diamond Sharks”

“Abstain”

“Fire Mandrills”

“Aye”

“Ghost Bears”

“Aye”

“Golaith Scorpions”

“Aye”

“Ice Hellions”

Asa Taney looked over at the Jade Falcon Khans, and smiled cruelly. Natasha noticed Elias Crichell had his head in his hands, and appeared to be sobbing. I think Crichell has finally broken. I mean, other than a large warship force, the Falcons really don’t have much. And Taney knows it. But look at Marthe Pryde. She is locking eyes with Taney, and her eyes ken death. I am afraid for whoever wins this vote.

“The Ice Hellions vote Aye, the Falcons should see reason and make way for the strong. It is our way.”

“Hell’s Horses”

“Aye”

The Nova Cats had not shown up for the Council meeting, citing martial responsibilities, Natasha smirked at the thought, Too busy probably absorbing as much of the Combine as they can, as well as getting the hell out of the Homeworlds. Speaking of which, I need to arrange a meeting with the Coyotes to transfer our homeworld holdings to them. It’s about time we cut our ties to the madhouse the Homeworlds are becoming.

“Star Adders”

Cassius N’Buta flexed his muscles, and grinned “Clan Star Adder votes Aye. It will be a pleasure to absorb the Falcons and see they learn a more pragmatic vision of the Founder’s teachings.”

Marthe Pryde’s face darkened at the thought. Girl has murder on her mind, and lately, that’s been a thing in the Grand Council.

“Snow Ravens”

“Aye”

“Wolf”

Natasha turned to Phelan, “That’s your cue, kid. Frankly, I think its best we abstain considering what’s going on, and I really don’t like that look on Marthe’s face.”

Phelan nodded, and keyed the mike “Clan Wolf abstains, our pack sees no gain in this hunt.”

There were murmurs of surprise throughout the hall in reaction to the vote by Clan Wolf.

Kael Pershaw looked up from his noteputer. The look on his face was pained, like he was losing a good friend, but duty won out, and he dryly stated “With a vote of ten yays, one neg, and two abstentions, the motion to absorb Clan Jade Falcon has passed. I will now accept initial bids for who will absorb the Falcons-“

“You dezgra scum! Come to finish what the Federated Commonwealth surats could not!” Pryde was on her feet screaming before Pershaw could say a word.

“Be seated Khan Pryde. All is being done according to the Martial Code.” Perhsaw said assuringly.

She turned to face Pershaw. “I remember when you were a Falcon once Perhaw. Now you are a toy of the IlKhan, a mongrel who has ambitions that have doomed us all!”

“Trothkin, let us calm our tempers before we say or do things that will only delay the vote with endless Circles of Equals. We have much-“Ulric Kerensky had his arms outstretched, as if even a man such as him could embrace all the Clans and bring them together, even in a grave time such as this.

Two shots rang out, and gouts of blood and vicera erupted from Kerensky’s chest, and then a third, and a hole appeared in his forehead, the back of his head exploding in a shower of blood and brains as he collapsed like a puppet. Two more shots occurred, catching Kael Pershaw in the chest, knocking him down, but his mechanical enhancements saved his life.

The shooter was none other than Marthe Pryde, she howled in triumph as she turned her ceremonial revolver on Crichell, putting a round through his head, as he collapsed, dead as his blood sprayed all over his side of the shared council desk. “I have redeemed us, Falcons! Join me, and together we will hold off-“

An Ebon Keshik Elemental fired a three round burst from his submachinegun, catching Pryde in the chest, and she went down in a violent spray of blood and guts, he then calmly walked over and put another three round burst into her head.

The rest of the chamber erupted into chaos, accusations and counter accusations passed like wildfire, and Khans lunged at each other with knives, barehands, and improvised clubs, while others simply made a hasty exit.

Natasha and Phelan looked at each other, Natasha’s eyes leaking tears like a waterfall.

“They killed him, they just..killed him. Goddamit! I told him not to go!”

Phelan snatched her up in an embrace. How will we tell the rest of the Clan? How will we tell them that the greatest Kerensky since the Great Father himself is gone, fallen to a dezgra assassin?

“For many, the question is ‘Where were you when you heard Hanse and Melissa Steiner-Davion were murdered?’ For me and most members of the Wolf Clan, it was ‘Where were you when you heard our One Father, Ulric Kerensky, was murdered at the foul hand of a dying Clan?’ And what we didn’t know then, but we know now, is Ulric’s death touched off a bloodletting back home not seen since the Pentagon Wars. We had refugees tell us for years about it, the ones that managed to make the trip to find us or the Ghost Bears. They called it “The Harrowing”. And indeed, it was."

-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.
 
The Ultimatum

CurtisLemay

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Message to the Capellan People delivered by "various 'National Technical Means'" on July 1st by Federated Commonwealth forces on the eve of the invasion of Sian

An image crackles to life as the video track begins to play. First, there is a test pattern, and then, the Fist and Sun of the Federated Commonwealth against a blue field, which fades to a woman sitting at a large oak desk, in a well decorated office. Behind her is a shelf with unit patches from all of the AFFC, and standing to one side is a young blond man, short in stature, one sleeve is pinned up, and the other hand is on the seated woman's shoulder. A woman of Asian descent stands next to him, her face the very image of stone.

The woman seated at the desk begins to speak:

"Greetings, people of the Capellan Confederation, and specifically, the people of Sian. I am Katherine Morgan Steiner-Davion, Acting Archon-Princess of the Federated Commonwealth. No doubt, you have heard a lot about me, and my family. I am sure none of it was very flattering.

"The reason I take the unusual step of speaking to you today is to speak to you about your nation, your future, and the situation you find yourselves in now. Ten months ago, your leaders made the decision to attack my nation. They did so by opening that attack not with a formal declaration of war, but by a perfidious stab in the back that murdered approximately six thousand people here, on New Avalon. Among the casualties were my mother, and my father. They have followed it up with continued terror attacks across the realm. Thousands have died, and thousands more have empty chairs at the table.

"This was followed up with an assault on our realm at the very time we were in the process of ridding the Inner Sphere of the scourge of the Clans. The Clans are, and in some cases, continue to be a threat to the lives of us all, even you, the Capellan citizens who watch this video. The AFFC has faced the Clans, and has triumphed. We have now come to set right the situation your leaders have created.

"We know what your leaders have told you about our best, our AFFC. Nothing could be further than the truth. We have, in my brother's words, always stood for 'might for right' and as long as I or my family rules this Commonwealth, this will never change.

"Our quarrel is with your leaders, your Chancellor who has led you down this road of ruin you find yourselves in today. To all of you I beg you, lay down your arms. If you are members of the armed forces, you will be treated according to interstellar conventions. If you are a civilian, you will be allowed to return home. Please, do not force our hand and force us to fight. You know what the outcome will be. Why die for a man whose actions have never benefited the average citizen of the Confederation, but have asked you to sacrifice more and more for a state that has never lifted a finger for you, especially now?

"As for those of you who are commissioned officers in the CCAF, you bear a special responsibility now. Your nation can have a new birth, or it can experience ruin. I would remind you that long standing Federated Commonwealth policy, set by generations of First Princes, and Archons have equated any WMD use on our troops as equivalent to the use of a nuclear weapon. I would implore you, if you receive such orders to use such terrible weapons, refuse them. We have all seen what has happened to Luthien. I do not wish to repeat that on Sian.

"We do not come to conquer, we do not come to pillage, or visit mindless destruction. We come to liberate you. Please, help us do that. Help us help you.

"This next message is for all those of the 'Victory Battalions'. Kids, I know you're scared. I don't blame you. But courage sometimes is found simply by saying 'no'. This is that time. Say no. You will find there are others who feel likewise. We don't want to murder children. Please, don't make us. And as for your minders? Your day is coming, either in this world, or the next. I promise you that.

"And finally, for Sun-Tsu, you have 24 hours to surrender, cease all hostilities, and abdicate your throne. Otherwise, remember the promise I made? Well, I am coming to collect."

The video then fades to the same test screen, and then black, before cutting off.
 
The Widow's Olive Branch

CurtisLemay

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Private Quarters of the Archon-Prince
Castle Davion
New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth
July 2nd, 3057

Victor Steiner-Davion gazed over the latest intelligence estimate from the Capellan front that was laid out on his coffee table. Such nice surroundings for news so grim. While most of the CCAF was in a pell-mell retreat for the 3055 border, or at least what parts of it were still in Capellan hands, the word from Sian was grim. Jesus, Sunny is giving daily exhortations to everyone on the planet between the age of twelve and fifty five to fight to the last, and 'take five Davions with them when they die'. One particularly grim example was a two-page ad in a popular Capellan women's magazine published on Sian, that gave detailed instructions on how to use an SRM launcher to stalk and kill a 'Mech. The advice here is criminally optimistic. Even if you do score a hit, it's not going to do much more than scratch the paint on most 'Mechs. But I guess Sunny and the Mask can't tell folks that, lest he face an outright revolution.

Summer was in full bloom on New Avalon, and with it, the heat, but Victor was dressed in a pair of his old physical training clothes from his days at the Nagelring. He'd left the windows open, mainly because today had a nice breeze going, but he had followed the instructions of the security people who had begged him not to throw open the Kevlar-lined shades, so the breeze was a bit...anemic. And between them and the doctors, they won't let me get a decent run in around New Avalon. Nope, gotta use the boring old palace track. I wonder if this is how Dad felt? Being trapped in a gilded cage.

And the advice Katherine was getting from the general staff at the Fox's Den was downright apocalyptic. Jackson's all but expecting the Capellans to use WMD the minute we land on Sian. He is probably resigned to the fact we'll have to respond to any Capellan first use in kind. Katherine is practically holding on by her fingernails at the prospect, and I cannot say I blame her. Jackson's slowed down the rate of advance till we've cut the planet off from the rest of the Confederation, probably a good move overall, but we need to finish this, not that I think it will be quick, or cheap by any means.

Victor glanced again at the latest order of battle estimates for the Capellan defenses of Sian. He'd practically memorized the telling passage that made his heart sink every time he read it "...CCAF defenses are expected to be heavy, and in-depth. We expect extensive use of fortified belts, both pre-existing, and newly created, and we have seen massive projects to construct all kinds of anti-mobility obstacles. We have identified, in addition to at least three divisions of the Sian Home Guard, elements of the Red Heart Guards brigade, both battalions of Warrior House Immarra, the 4th Tau Ceti Rangers, two divisions of the Word of Blake Militia (unit designations unknown), as well as a provisional CCAF 'Mech regiment made up of convalescents and comb outs from various government ministries of anyone with any Battlemech experience. We also estimate upwards of 100-150 "Victory Battalions." Assets in place have also identified the arrival of several company sized units that we think are survivors of various units that have been destroyed during Active Panther..."

"Shit," Victor cursed softly. He knew the AFFC could take Sian, 8-10 RCTs along with an additional 8 Artillery Brigades should be enough, though getting them there is proving to be difficult. He was glad Omi was off with Pavvrati and Yvvone, she didn't like it much when he was grouchy, and the fact was, the military situation, while a winning one, was enough to make one very, very grouchy indeed.

There was a knock at the door, and his servant opened it, placing himself between Victor and whomever was at the door on the off chance it was an assassin. Not that I am too worried. The other two servants in the room are with the Guards, and there's a Rapid Fox reaction force on thirty second standby downstairs. Yeah, the Blakists would have to work hard....but they got lucky already, didn't they?

The servant conversed softly with whomever was at the door, and then closed it, he walked over to Victor in three steps, and stopped 5 feet in front of his sovereign, saluting palm out and stating "Sir, we have received diplomatic traffic from our embassy in Orestes. It's a verigraphed ROM from Natasha Kerensky of the Wolves."

Victor's jaw dropped. "Are they sure about it's authenticity?"

The servant nodded, and handed the disk to Victor, who inserted it carefully into a nearby reader set into the wall, that broadcast it into a nearby screen usually meant for entertainment purposes. Rather not go to my office for this.

The screen came to life, and after ten seconds of the sigil of a snarling wolf, the insignia of the Wolf Clan, the image resolved into none other than Natasha Kerensky. Her face was drawn, and her eyes were red. She sat at a plain metal desk in an non-descript office. She was dressed simply, a pair of green overalls with the Clan Wolf insignia over the left breast. But the fire in her eyes had not changed. Is this to be a batchall for the survival of your Clan, Natasha. Please God, please don't be.

"Greetings Victor Steiner-Davion. I may not have been able to do so before, but I wanted to extend my sympathies on the deaths of your Mother and Father. They were great rulers, and good people. They always did right by the Dragoons, which is something not a lot of the Inner Sphere can say." Natasha exhaled and smiled weakly "You must be wondering why I have sent you this verigraphed ROM. Well, simply put, you've won. You've won a far bigger victory over the Clans than you have realized. Attached to this disk is the video of the last hours of Ilkhan Ulric Kerensky's life. He was murdered on the 24th of last month by the saKhan of the Jade Falcons. His murder has touched off a spate of violence back in the Clan Homeworlds that is reminiscent of some of the earlier aspects of our history, and yours."

"Needless to say, I am now responsible for the lives and future of Clan Wolf. Ulric bequeathed me that responsibility, and some assets that will help our Clan in the days, months, and years to come. But I send you this message to bargain not for the terms of a war between us. If your war has demonstrated anything, is that our way, including the way of Zellbrigen must change. No, I come to bargain for the terms of a peace between us. A lasting one that gives both our nations a shot at a future worth having. I am prepared to do much to achieve it, including the discussion of the return of Tamar to the Federated Commonwealth, as well as negotiating a permanent border between our two nations..."

Victor's mouth hung open, he paused the playback, hardly believing what he had just seen and heard. He motioned over his servant. "Niles, get the bottle of Glengarry Special Reserve, and pour you and I a glass. I think I just saw the end of the Clan War."
 
Cat Fight, Part 7 (An Omake by Yellowhammer)

CurtisLemay

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Cat Fight Part 7

"I once read something that perfectly encapsulated my journey from the granddaughter of Takashi Kurita, Coordinator of the Draconis Combine, Duke of Luthien, Unifier of Worlds, to Archon-Princess Omiko Steiner-Davion, Duchess-by-Marriage of Tharkad and New Avalon, Lady of the Crucis March. It was simply 'I did not leave my party, my party left me'. Like many changes we face, comprehending that was extremely hard. Knowing that I would never see the home I grew up in and the people that I knew as a girl, knowing that I could never visit the graves of my father, mother, or brothers to mourn, knowing that I would be viewed at best with wary suspicion in my new home until I proved myself as more than a 'damned Snake' if I ever did in the beholder's eyes. All these things are very painful and hard to bear, but I have my honor to sustain me, and that honor lets me endure the unendurable because I know that it is the right thing, the honorable thing to do.."

Omiko Steiner-Davion, My Path To The Top Of The Mountain: A Journey from Luthien to Kentares, New Avalon Press 3083

Masamori City

Hachiman, Galedon Military District

8 June 3057

Miyako Kurita scowled at the tactical map projected inside her headquarters in the Urizen Kurita Junior Warrior's Academy. Planetfall had proceeded as per her wishes, but the rest of the campaign had not.

The first indication that the plan was not going according to her desires was when Gin battalion of Ryuken-yon -- her old command! -- had crossed the Yamato River on the Sanethia Kurita Memorial bridge. Forward elements had secured the far side and the bulk of Ryuken-yon was crossing when a yacht approached the bridge.

The resulting nuclear detonation incinerated two companies of her elites, including Sho-sho Shodaru and his mobile HQ unit along with the bridge that they were on, and was the signal for a regiment of Black Dragon Battlemechs to slam into the battalion that had made it across. None of her men and women made it back, with the survivors pulled from their cockpits, tied up, and then dropped onto the radioactive glass of the steaming crater to expire in agony from their wounds, heat, and lethal doses of radiation in front of her soldiers' horrified eyes.

She was fortunate that she had stopped her Naginata in the rear of the advance to deal with a logistics tie-up at her spacehead when the trap was sprung. Instead her comrades died screaming while she tried to funnel reserves to salvage the situation.

The battered remnants of Ryuken-yon plus her personal guards held the riverbank under her direct command until Ryuken-san's assault Mechs could join the two companies of survivors clinging to the shattered buildings lining Tai-so Dalton Way and begin to exchange fire with the enemy across the river. Seeing the garrison regiment of the Sixteenth Galedon Regulars here, she had ordered the mobile forces of the Twelfth Dieron Regulars to probe the flanks to try to locate a weak point, or as it turned out, hostile reinforcements. The probe south found the Thirteenth Sun Zhang dug in along the riverbank and desultory long-range fire was exchanged when the other shoe dropped.

Second Battalion of the Twelfth Dieron hit a battlemech force coming their way as they probed north into the Floating District pleasure district. The Ninth Benjamin Regulars, which had claimed their loyalty to her and were supposed to be on Proserpina watching the Davions had turned their coats and been smuggled here. Once again, Miyako led Ryuken-yon into the fire, along with a backing battalion from Ryuken-san and the loyalists of HTE's Corporate Security Force.

Somehow, her scratch force held, although one of every two of her samurai fell like cherry blossoms around her as the Floating District burned on her orders to delay the enemy. As the flames raced through town uncontrollably she was able to dig in along a defense line shielding HTE and the spaceport and finally rotate her weary soldiers back for repair and rest.

Scouting probes over the next days revealed the stalemate. The enemy had two veteran city fighting units in Masamori City with the cadets of the Thirteenth to provide pickets and reinforcements. Worse, they were dug in along the river facing her to the steaming crater that was once the main bridge linking the two halves of the city. From there, her line bent sharply back west through the smouldering rubble of the residential districts servicing the Floating City and the factories to be anchored at the HTE complex's fortifications.

The enemy had not been idle either and constant lance and company-sized skirmishes flickered along the battlefront as armor and ashigaru infantry units lurked in ambush. Any retreat offworld would be unthinkable to contemplate, but without fresh troops, she saw no way to break the deadlock.

With that she flipped a switch and the strategic map replaced the tactical map.

She surveyed the scattering of crimson icons and hateful yellow icons of the suspected positions of the traitors. along the Galedon/Benjamin border, with the upper boundary the gray of the Clan OZ and the lower the blue of the FedCom. She tapped keys, pulling up transport availability and fore readiness projections as her eyes narrowed.

"Sho-sa Tomokamai!"

"Yes, Coordinator?" The young soldier barked out with a light Swedenese accent to his Japanese.

"Take a message directly to our ComStar representative personally. message is as follows. Priority HPG transmission to the following units. To Marduk, the Twenty-Second Benjamin Regulars dispatch a battalion to Proserpina to backstop the planetary militia and secure the planet, and send their best battalion to reinforce Hachiman. To Xinyang, move the Fifteenth Benjamin Regulars to Hachiman. To Arkab, move the Sixth Arkab Regiment to Xinyang to cover our supply base. To Shimonoseki, Planetary Militia Commander will retransmit to the Twenty-Second Dieron Regulars to stand in readiness to be dispatched to Hachiman if needed to reinforce efforts to liberate the planet once their convoy jumps into system.”

A second aide entered the room with a message form in hand. “Coordinator! The Forty-Fifth Dieron Regulars have gone rogue! Elements of their regiment have been reported as raiding Camlann, Buckminster, and Shionoha! Planetary militia forces are reporting serious damages to industries and personnel.”

Miyako scowled and pinched her nose. “I do not have the forces to hunt these ronin down. Once the Black Dragons are crushed, then we can proceed with exterminating traitors and bandits such as these. Give the orders for troop movements as directed.”

As Ichiro Tomokamai saluted and departed, he began to mentally prepare an addition for the message to the Sixth Arkab. “I should notify my father that in the event of a Clan attack into the military district he commands or if the bandits of the Forty-Fifth assault his words, Miyako Kurita will not defend them. Tai-sa Bjutial of the Sixth and he are long friends and will pass the warning along.”

-------------------------------

Fox’s Den

New Avalon, Crucis March, Federated Commonwealth

15 June 3057

Lieutenant Colonel Parvati glanced over at her ’aide’ as they cleared the checkpoint and the armored hatch irised open deep under Mount Davion. “Don’t worry, everyone has these moments their first time in the Den, Agent Tanaka.”

Beside her, clad in the uniform of an AFFC officer with no rank insignia, Omiko Kurita nodded as they headed down the passage. Her face was impassive save for a sheen of sweat on her brow as for the first time in the history of the Federated Suns, a Kurita entered the nerve center of House Davion’s military machine.

Presently they came to a door marked with an alphanumeric stencil. ‘MI2SECCONF-083J’. Here they halted and watched by multiple security cameras, presented palmprint and iris scans for authentication. The door unlocked and they stepped inside.

Inside was a sterile conference room with a coffee and tea bar on one wall, a dozen seats around a holotable and a security panel.

“Tea?” Parvati asked.

Omi nodded as she disarmed the self-destruct device on her briefcase and began to remove datachips. “Tea, please.”

She nodded thanks to Parvati as a steaming mug with a cartoon fox digging a burrow was placed in front of her. She sipped it and made a face. “Irony. According to Father, the tea in the Black Room was atrocious and could peel paint from his battlemechs with its strength. I suppose that the Davions buy their tea from the same plantations then to use in their secure headquarters.”

Parvati laughed as the door opened again to reveal Tancred Sandoval in his general’s uniform. “I have no doubt that your tea was purchased from the lowest bidder too.”

Tancred looked over at Omi as he made himself a mug of coffee and then moved to sit across from her as she finished inputting her data. “I must ask, what prompted your change of heart?”

Omi looked the Sandoval heir in the eyes, Kurita steel-blue meeting Sandoval dark brown as their wills clashed. “My nation is in its death agonies, Sandoval-san, and whatever survives this war will be a pale shadow of our past glories. There shall be no winners, no honor, and no glory from the madness between my cousin and my half-brother, not anymore. Only survivors and the dead, just as in the Succession Wars under Jinjiro Kurita. All I can do now is act to minimize the suffering for those who my family has ruled for centuries; to fulfill a ruler’s obligation toward his subjects and the demands of Honor before those fighting over the Dragon’s corpse destroy all they touch. I wish it were otherwise, but wishing does not make it so. If my wishes bore fruit, I would still have my family with me, or at least be able to mourn at the graves of my father, mother, and brothers who have gone before me.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then opened them to speak quietly and bitterly, “Congratulations on your victory. The Yellow Bird has defeated the Dragon at last. Shikata ga nai.”

With that she flipped a switch and a holomap of the Combine appeared, showing the best estimates that the remnants of the Order of Five Pillars had on the positions, strengths, and loyalties of the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery. Sandoval inserted his own datachip and blue units began to gather along the stripped-clean border of the Combine.

-------------------------------

Nadir Jump Point

Xinyang, Xinyang Prefecture, Benjamin Military District

16 June 3057

“Jump signature inbound!”

Tai-sa Samuel Lepke of the Fifteenth Benjamin Regulars looked over at the sensor operator. “Another one of our jumpships?”

“Negative, sir! It’s massive, estimate in the three quarters of a million megaton range!”

The commander blanched at the news, since there was only one thing that it could be.

Warship…

“General signal to all ships, emergency undock from jumpships, battle stations, launch all ASFs, and stand by to engage enemies! Honor the Dragon!”

Fifteen minutes later, the Black-Lion class battlecruiser CSJ Streaking Mist led the remnants of the Smoke Jaguar Touman into the system to claim the desperately-needed supply dumps that one of their newly captured bondsmen had reported were present.

Seventeen minutes after the alert had sounded, Sho-sa Peter Yoshuka rammed the newly arrived Potemkin class cruiser CSJ Osis’ Pride amidships with his Achilles at maximum thrust, sparking a series of explosions that gutted the ship.

Twenty-eight minutes after the battle began, the CSJ Streaking Mist began to burn toward Xinyang at the .75G that she was now barely capable of, while trailing air from her wounds.

None of the Fifteenth Benjamin survived to oppose the Jaguars. Not any longer.
 

trekchu

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Okay, make that a century before the Combine is anywhere near their old strength, if ever. Have they been compared to Space Afghanistan yet?

edited for spelling.
 

The Whispering Monk

Well-known member
Osaul
Okay, make that a century before the Combine is anywhere near their old strength, if ever. Have they been compared to Space Afghanistan yet?

edited for spelling.
Afghanistan is a good comparison, but I have a feeling the break up is more going to resemble the collapse of Yugoslavia after Tito died.

Neighbors gobbling up what they can through coercion and promise of aid while the internal parties play whack-a-mole with each other.
 
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trekchu

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
That's a good one too. Either way, Victor and Omi's grandchildren are going to be the first who have to deal with whatever emerges from this clusterfuck in any serious fashion.
 

Typhonis

Well-known member
Something to think about, how many Clan technicians did the Fedcom get their hands on? Because next to Clan tech, they are very valuable because they maintain clan tech.
 

trekchu

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Might not actually matter. If Victor is smart, he negotiates for some from the Wolves.
 

The Whispering Monk

Well-known member
Osaul
The Wolves won't give any techs away. Not without a serious fight. Each clan is struggling to hold onto everything they can in order to survive this winnowing. Clan Wolf has decided to adapt in such a way as to give them the best chance at survival. Ceding worlds back to the FedCom is a HUGE trading position. The question is really, "What can Natasha K. and Phelan the Traitor convince Victor and his sister to give up in exchange?"

This fact is even more important because it provides a point at which Victor can gain back worlds WITHOUT HAVING TO FIGHT FOR THEM! Considering FedCom is facing a 3, possibly 5 front war (Capellan front, Marik front, Kurita front, Clan front, and maybe even WOB Shenanigans) having one of those fronts be eliminated almost completely is a huge thing.
 
Sian's Agony Begins

CurtisLemay

Wargamer, Amateur Historian, Writer
Nuke Mod
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“As June faded into July, the plight of the Confederation deepened, and five Capellan worlds, Relevow, Geifer, Cordaigr, Glasgow, and Imalda fell into Allied hands with barely a shot fired. Most of these worlds were wracked by a collapse of Capellan authority even before the arrival of Allied troops, and often it was sufficient for the allies to install a company-sized garrison, change the flags, and drive on to the ultimate prize: Sian.”
  • pp. 197, “The Defense of the Sarna and Capellan Marches and Active Panther” by the Federated Commonwealth Office of Military History, Government Press, New Avalon, 3060.

“I do remember that things at the main command center were chaotic by the beginning of July. Sun-Tsu hardly took our briefings anymore. Our section’s bosses spent more of their time burning or shredding documents, or making false identity documents for themselves. There was a thought most of us could flee to Marik space. That was until we saw troops massing in the Concordat and Andurien. I think that’s when we all knew it was over. We had twelve suicides that day alone. Me? I packed my bags, grabbed my false Augrian papers, 35,000 C-Bills and made a run for the Periphery border. Of course, I ran into your troops first?”

  • “Capellan Perspectives Project” Federated Commonwealth Office of Military History. Interview No 191, Interview of Maskirovka Commander Ling Po-Tsien, Age 30, formerly of the Analysis and Intentions Section, AFFC Desk.



Caeme Falls
Yuris
Capellan Confederation
July 17th, 3057

The LRRP team had been out for five days, and had done little more than spend their time dodging Capellan infantry and helicopter patrols for most of the patrol. So far, they hadn’t seen more than the Home Guard, but they’d seen evidence of Capellan ‘Mechs about, as they’d found tracks and remains of FARPs all over their patrol AO, but so far, they hadn’t actually seen a single Capellan ‘Mech.

And this was beginning to get on Corporal Ander’s nerves. That, and that weird thing Pappy did with his damn lower bridge. Sounded like a dancing skeleton. And the asshole thinks it’s a laugh riot. He’ll get us all killed because of that stupid lower bridge of his. He isn’t fit to be out here. Can’t be quiet enough to do the job. But, the rest of the lads trust him. So, I gotta trust him.

And sure enough, Pappy, also known as Private Les Winningham, was expertly scanning his sector with his Federated Light Machine Gun, his assistant gunner, Private Danni Lesko, was behind him, and a little low to the left, the entire patrol was at a listening halt. Daylight was waning in the sky, and the setting sun cast everything in a red-orange hue, making everything seem on fire. It would be beautiful, if not for the circumstances.

Anders looked again at the rest of his squad, and passed another hand and arm signal to set out, slow, then pointed an azimuth that paralleled a trail up the looming hill ahead. It was some 100 meters to the left of the falls, and the falls were loud enough to make it hard to think, let alone hear. Shit this would be a damn good place for an ambush. A real good place.

The walk up the hill was challenging, as the hill had a gentle, but steady grade, but the 40-50 kilogram loads the LRRPs were carrying, plus the fact they’d already covered close to 40 kilometers already was conspiring to make the climb far harder than it would be normally. The squad was tired, and all most of it could focus on was the next step, let alone their sectors. They tried, oh they tried, and discipline warred with sheer exhaustion.

It was inevitable that the second man in the file missed the whine of an actuator. The poor private, a replacement from Archenar, didn’t miss being torn apart by half a dozen .50 caliber rounds as tracers reached out to him from a position some 200 meters in front of him as a bird-like shape rose from the hilltop like a moss covered preshistoric monster, belching fire and death.

Anders screamed “SCATTER!” as he snapped off a long burst at the ‘Mech. It was a Locust, but the attached foliage made it impossible to tell which Capellan unit they were a part of. The LRRPs expertly executed a “break contact peel”, each emptying a magazine or belt into the advancing ‘Mech. But it didn’t matter, as it shrugged off most of the small arms file like the buzzing of flies. Pappy soon went down as he stopped to fire on the Locust with a V-LAW. A beam of light from the ‘Mech’s torso soon connected killer and victim, and Pappy simply ignited like kindling, not even having had enough time to scream.

The unit did its best to try to hold off the monster in their midst, but it was useless. If you stopped, you were dead, and if you didn’t, you couldn’t do anything substantial to stop it. The four survivors of the squad half ran and half tumbled down the hill, and that’s when another monster rose from the forest on their right. It was of a different shape, more humanoid, and less alien, but just as large, and just as faceless. Another beam of light shot out and blew Cho, the squad’s radio operator to ash. Her scream was cut like a knife. Ander’s mind snapped, he hit the quick release on his ruck and took off at a dead run, machine gun rounds tearing apart the ground all around him as he ran, to get as far from the monsters as he could. He was so intent on running he missed the large branch that hung low in front of him, the one that he ran into full force, and knocked himself unconscious.

Seven hours later, he was the only survivor of First Squad, LRRP Company, 41st Avalon Hussars RCT. He wouldn’t manage to report in for three additional days, and by then, all of the FC forces on Yuris already knew what Anders knew. The Capellans had been reinforced by the Metal Phalanx Mercenary Battalion, and Warrior House Diadachi.



Zenith Jump Point
Sian System
Capellan Confederation
July 27th, 3057

Kai Allard-Liao looked on from the viewport of the Phoenix Rising. She was one of four Union-C dropships attached to the Jade Phoenixes, and had proven the most difficult to acquire from the Federated Commonwealth for the unit. It helps being a friend of Victor’s as well as having the bank account I do. But this wasn’t cheap, but it’s worth it. So worth it.

Kai looked on as Sian loomed ever larger in the viewport, it was a dull blue green orb some distance away, but every day, it got a little bigger, since their entry into the system three days before. They’d been travelling at a stately one gee, the Fedcom force commander had decided that it was probably best not to tire the troops out by burning hard for Sian itself. We have a tomorrow, they don’t. Strange to see this as a battle. It’s going to be a damn execution. All the Capellans are doing to prepare, it won’t mean a damn thing. We’re just going to be forced to kill more people who have no business being on a damn battlefield in the first place. And why? Because Sun-Tsu won’t see reason. Not that he ever did. Mom was right. We’d be having a reckoning one day. And where we are. Mom, why the hell did you not let Hanse Davion settle things ten years ago?

Kai felt a large hand settle gently on his shoulder. “So, ovKhan. Are you trying to intimidate all of Sian by yourself?”

Kai didn’t turn to face Taman Malthus “No, I am trying to get my thoughts together before we ground. Before I have to kill a bunch of people who have no business holding a damn rifle.” He then turned to face Malthus. “Taman, tell me you are bothered by this?”

Taman nodded “We all are, Kai, we all are. The Fedcom’s patched in what passes for entertainment and news from Sian…and its contents are unsettling. They have children’s shows teaching how to emplace magnetic mines on our ‘Mechs. Kai, I did not agree with putting our sibkos into harms way to face the Federated Commonwealth. I was captured in the first wave, but had I known, I would have faced Chistu in a circle of equals myself. And I would have made sure he never left that circle alive. To arm sibkids as young as ten and expect them to stop ‘Mechs is wasteful.”

“What will we do, Taman?”

“Fight according to our ideals and what you established this unit to be. Redemption for us, and all the Clans. We will not willingly murder children and non-combatants. On this, you have my rede.”

“Selya, Malthus, but I think the Capellans get a vote there.”

“Seyla, trothkin. But you are Kai Allard-Liao, and if anyone can find a way, you will. Of that, OvKhan, you have my faith, and the faith of every warrior and tech in this unit. You gave us a way to be warriors again, Kai. And we will never forget that, in a cause truly worthy of us. Worry not. We will liberate these poor people from the lies and delusions of this Celestial Wisdom.” Malthus spat the last comment as if itwas poison.

Kai smiled. “Perhaps we will, Taman, perhaps we will.”
 
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Kujo

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
Looks like a fight for Yuris, and that the Federated Commonwealth with St. Ives is preping for a long, long and bloody fight on Sain! Great Chapter!
 

trekchu

For the FEDCOM! For the Archon-Prince!
What's sad is that I don't think this will knock any sense into what survives of the Capellan leadership. I mean in Japan, even after the Emperor himself told them to knock it off, there very nearly was a military coup meant to continue the war...
 

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