OBT Forum

WOB gets Contract from Concordat to Run HPGs
New Chappelle Defender, Les Rollins January 1st, 3063

In a statement released by the Taurian Ministry of the Interior, the Word of Blake has been issued a contract to run and maintain the HPG network in the Concordat.  In explaining the decision, Minister Alistair Cranston stated that the Word of Blake made a very competitive offer, undercutting the Comstar bid by nearly 20%.  From rumors we are hearing, the Word of Blake also made offers of technological assistance and, if it can be believed, they offered to provide military aid against any possible attack by the Federated Suns.  An unnamed government official stated that the Word promised to not only help increase production of Ferro-Fibrous armor by 500% this year alone, they have offered to provide the technological know how need to upgrade our factories to produce the latest military technologies.  If this is true, it should prove to be a huge boon to our forces that are fighting in the St Ives War, giving them access to advanced technologies without being dependent on the Capellans.  So far Comstar has not responded to requests for comments about losing the HPG contract with the Concordat.

Concordat Cuirassiers Stricken From the TDF
From: Senior Marshal Brenda Calderon
To: All Officers of the TDF
Date: May 5th, 3063
RE: Concordat Cuirassiers
Classified: Secret

It is with great regret that I inform you of the destruction of the Concordat Cuirassiers.  Fighting against the forces of the St Ives Compact, the Cuirassiers were out numbered nearly 2 to 1 when they landed on Texlos.  Deprived of promised support from the Capellan Confederation, the Cuirassiers pressed on any way, inflicting heavy losses on the Federated Suns 7th FC Regiment and the 2nd St Ives Lancers.  Ultimately, despite numerous acts of heroism and bravery, the Cuirassiers were forced to retreat from Texlos.  A number of soldiers have been captured, we are currently working through intermediaries from the Outworlds Alliance to obtain a list of those currently held as POWs.  What we do know for certain is that less then a company of mechwarriors, 2 companies of armor and 2 battalions of infantry managed to escape from Texlos. It is with a heavy heart that I have been forced to disband the Concordat Cuirassiers.  The surviving members of the regiment have been assigned to the Taurian Velites, helping to replace some of the losses they suffered during the St Ives War. Even so the Velites remain severely understrength at less then 2 full battalions.  At this time I want to offer my thoughts and prayers to all those who have lost friends and loved ones during the fighting in the St Ives Compact.  At the request of the Protector, this information I am providing you has been classified secret and is not for distribution.  The Protector fears that should the public learn of the Cuirassiers heavy losses and the disbanding of the regiment it will  have a very negative effect on public morale.  I trust all of you to use your best judgement regarding the dissemination of this information.

Transcript of Press Conference- Marshal Cham Kithrong, Commander VI Corps, Erod's Escape May 15th, 3063

My fellow Taurians, today I take an action that should have been taken long ago.  Unknown to all but a handful of people, Jeffrey Calderon did not die without an heir.   He does in fact have a son, Erik Martens-Calderon, who was born to Talia Martens, a member of the Prey's Divisionals mercenary unit.   Erik was born in 3056 and while was not officially recognized as his son by Jeffrey, the Protector was planning to announce his existence when he was killed on Detroit.  As a friend to both Jeffrey and Talia, I was aware of Erik's existence and I have worked behind the scenes to try and convince Grover Shraplen to name the boy the next ruler of the Concordat and assume the role of Regent. Despite DNA tests showing that Erik is indeed the son of Jeffrey Calderon, Grover Shraplen has refused to recognize him as the rightful heir.  He has instead been focused on securing his power as Protector of the Taurian Concordat.

I had been content to wait until Erik was older to announce his heritage, but recent events have left me no choice.  Grover Shraplen has committed us to alliance with the Capellan Confedertion, an alliance that has forced us to send our sons and daughters to fight for the Inner Sphere warlords.  Jeffrey Calderon would never have allowed this to happen.  I know this because Protector Calderon had confided in me prior to his death that he was opposed to the Trinity Alliance.  He knew in his heart that the only reason the Capellans sought an alliance was so that they could rape our worlds and use our troops to fight their wars.  Unfortunately, Grover Shraplen was so convinced that the Davions are out to get us, that he was willing to sign up with the Capellans, and you can see the results.  Every day we hear of losses suffered by our forces and increasing casualties in the war with St Ives.

It is time for this to stop.  Today I am declaring my self Regent for Erik Martens-Calderon, the rightful heir to the Protectorship of the Taurian Concordat.  I will hold that position until young Erik reaches his majority.  I call upon Grover Shraplen to recognize the legitimacy of this claim.  If Lord Shraplen truly has the best interests of the Concordat as his goal, he must certainly recognize that putting the true heir to Jeffrey Calderon in position to become the next Protector is the only choice.  By acting now we can assure that young Erik receives the best training and education, so that he will grow into a fine young man and an excellent leader like his father.

Thank you for your time, and God bless the men and women of the TDF. 

Things are heating up!

Are things getting hot enough?  The next chapter is really going to blow things up in the Concordat. 

Brenda Calderon's Address  July 11th, 3063

My fellow citizens, for those who do not know me, I am Senior Marshal Brenda Calderon.  For the last 55 years I have served as a soldier in the Taurian Defense Forces.  As an officer in the TDF I have had to learn to put aside my political views and beliefs to execute the orders given to me by the Protector.  I have served under 3 Protectors and despite many differences of opinions, I have always felt that the Protector has had the best interest of the Taurian people in his mind, until now.

I can no longer stand by silently while Protector Shraplen tramples over the freedoms that we hold so dear.  We are not a police state like the Capellans and Combine, we are the Concordat, and ability to question our government is not just our right but our civic duty. The Protector has over stepped his bounds by using the Concordat Constabulary as thought police.  He has ordered them arrest anyone who dares to question the government and its actions, claiming they are Davion sympathizers.  These citizens have been placed in prison without the benefit of a trial and no legal recourse.  When the Court of Judicial Review began overturning these arrest the Protector took the unprecedented and illegal action of disbanding the Court, arresting its members and replacing them with people who would rubber stamp his decisions.   In response to these actions I approached the Protector and asked him to reconsider his views.  Upon returning to my headquarters I was greeted by members of the Concordat Constabulary seeking to arrest me for treason against the Taurian Concordat.  Their charge claimed that I was a Davion sympathizer.  The basis of this charge was that I had the temerity to ask the Protector to reconsider his actions.  These Constables are now enjoying the comforts of the Fort Samantha Stockade.           

Protector Shraplen has violated the trust put into him by the Taurian people.  The Concordat exists to protect its citizens, not to terrorize them.  His actions are no better then those of the Capellan Chancellors.  I can no longer stand by and watch this situation from the sidelines.  I am calling on Protector Shraplen to stand down and relinquish his title.  It is with great reluctance that I am accepting the position of Acting Protector for the duration of this crisis.  As my first act I am ordering an investigation into the claims that Erik Martens in the son Jeffrey Calderon.  Should these claims be proven true, I will serve as Regent for Erik until he comes of age. 

It is with great reluctance that I take these actions.  Effective immediately I am resigning my commission in the TDF and I am promoting Marshal Valerie Makepeace to Senior Marshal and appointing her commander of the TDF.  It is my hope that this situation can be resolved without any bloodshed.  We are all Taurians and it is time that we started acting like it again. 

Really enjoying the story so far, only thing i did notice is the name of one of the merc units, bluewood's longcoats? Should this be Longwood's Bluecoats?