OBT Forum

Time for July and time to move things on a bit.  For anyone who took interest before in my Solaris Racing League post the first part of this story has been told before but I've cleaned it up a little.  For the original championship the story is on the following link.  The rest of it will be added into the main story with little changes here and there.

https://bg.battletech.com/forums/fan-fiction/solaris-racing-league-alternate-timeline-with-thanks/msg1598454/#msg1598454


Solaris Racing Event
San Bardo Canyon, Equatus
Solaris VII, Independent Clan Territory
7th July 3115

   On a sunny day on the world of Solaris VII a Lexan Oceanic Series Luxury VTOL flew high above the San Bardo Canyon on the mountainous Equatus continent far to the east of Solaris City.  The area had long been used as a training ground by MechWarriors preparing themselves for the hardships they would encounter in Solaris’ famous Arenas while more recently Equatus had become home to a large number of the Clan Wolf population who were based on the world.  Today, however the canyon was going to be used for an entirely new event intent on bringing in new audiences from Solaris and across the Inner Sphere.  From the rear cabin of the aircraft announcer Rick De Graff stood in front of the Tri-vid camera wearing his customary navy suit and multi-coloured bow tie waiting for the broadcast to begin.  The Lexan was designed for long distance travel and had a fully kitted out set of luxury passenger quarters normally allowing the passengers to travel in complete comfort, but today the comforts had been pushed to the side or completely replaced with tri-vid cameras and six crewmen from the Solaris Entertainment Company.  The red light behind the camera turned to green and the broadcast began.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen my name is Rick De Graff and for the last thirty years I have commentated on the various competitions that have taken place here on Solaris VII.”  He said beginning the broadcast in his customary manner.  He’d spoken to the people of Solaris for three decades and he “knew” what they liked.  Newer broadcasters had constantly tried to get him to change his style but De Graff was set in his ways and had no plans in changing.  “I stayed on with the Leagues when the Clans came to Solaris and have seen them go from strength to strength, even though the Clan culture is completely at odds with the life of Solaris they understand the need for a good fight.”  He said pausing few of the “natives” on Solaris liked the new Clan populations that had augmented their population but they all understood that the Clans simply had more firepower than anyone else around them and could hold the world in a far stronger grip than they currently did if they wished.

“But now, today we have the debut of a new organised competition on Solaris based out of the San Bardo Canyon here in sunny Equatus, I bring you the Solaris Racing League!  Gone are the days of two pilots racing to show who has the fastest aircraft in a straight line and gone are the guns!"  He said drawing another difference between the SRL and other racing competitions on Solaris.  "Now they need skill and they need the crowds to win in a competition fully supported and sponsored by the Solaris Entertainment Company and TD Investments.”  He announced as two conventional aircraft flew past the Lexan rocking it slightly with the wind caused by their passing external cameras on the aircraft cut from De Graff to show the two multi-coloured aircraft banking away and towards the canyon.  “Featuring conventional aircraft of various sizes and capabilities the Racing League will be almost unique on Solaris in that we won’t be using weapons on any of the aircraft taking part.”  He said pausing for a moment wondering just how the population would take to a competition with no weapons fire?  It wasn’t the only competition on the world that didn’t use weapons conventional vehicle stock car racing still consisted of drivers racing without weapons but those kinds of races saw the vehicles themselves used as weapons in almost every race.  “Each craft will be expected to carry these weapons or appropriate weights to represent them and to ensure that the race judges and ourselves are kept in contact with all craft each has been fitted with a Slave C3 system allowing us to take data directly from the aircraft and from specially fitted video cameras on each aircraft.”  He said as the camera again cut from De Graff now switching to a camera fitted onto one of the two aircraft which had flown past the Lexan previously.  Now the two aircraft were down in the canyon below flying in close formation as low as they dared with one aircraft slightly further ahead of the camera carrying aircraft.  The two craft changed direction several times as the canyon terrain changed before switching to a wire frame image of the aircraft showing the stress being put on the aircraft.

“We’ll also all be able to follow the action from camera crews situated around the course and from drone craft positioned waiting for the competitors.”  He said finally as the camera switched back to De Graff in the flying studio.  Beside him in the studio images showed camera equipment that had been set up around the canyon as perfectly timed shots of the formation flying races flew past.  The two racers then flew past a hovering VTOL covered in cameras which was also monitoring them.

   “The rules are simple the winning aircraft will be the one with the fastest time through San Bardo Canyon, each aircraft will also gain points for completing each challenge while remaining under one and fifty hundred metres, anytime spent above this height will result in point deductions, these points will be result in subtractions or additions to the finish times at the end of the race.  “Any aircraft that leaves the canyon will be disqualified.”  He explained

   “Now let’s see the course!”  He said and Rick De Graff’s image was replaced by images taken from one of the racing turbine powered aircraft as De Graff narrated.  “Initially the flight will involve a forward dash through the firebreak between the Redwood and Riverbank Forests.”  He said as the aircraft began to fly through the trees with greens, browns and oranges flashing past the wings of the aircraft as it flew. “Our competitors will then raise up the right-hand side of the canyon walls staying as low as they can before entering a natural formation known as Hamilton Tunnel.”  He said as the small aircraft entered the tunnel.  Now natural light was replaced with artificial light as the aircraft changed direction inside the man-made tunnel. “The pilots will navigate in a tight downward spiral through the tunnel avoiding any obstacles and keeping their speed up” he said as the pilot avoided several rock formations inside the tunnel and then dodged between two sets of containers” before they exit and sprint past the northern edge of Riverbank Forest.”  He said as the light changed again and the aircraft was illuminated from above by natural light.  Camera images changed showing the aircraft flying above them though the daylight air above the canyon floor the cameras panned to show the aircraft now flying over water and De Graff continued his commentary.

“After crossing over Forss Water the competitors will then fly up over the Solaris Steps where we’ll have spectators camped out waiting for them.”  The camera then cut to people already camping out on the natural stone Solaris Steps which were bathed in sunlight “those people are in for a treat.”  De Graff said as the image shifted to the aircraft which flew from the tunnel over the choppy river then up over the stone steps missing the crowds by several hundred feet as the crowds cheered. “They’ll climb to one hundred metres and dart through the Loch Gateway” he said as the aircraft flew through a stone archway which faced onto the open water below.  “They’ll then fly over Loch Scramclate banking to the left around Grant Island where we’ve got more people waiting for them” again the camera showed crowds gathering this time on beach-built bandstands. “Each aircraft will be expected to do the pilots own chosen signature move in front of the crowds at Grant Island with bonus points voted by you being awarded to each pilot after the race is complete.”  He said as the racing aircraft did a simple barrel roll over the crowds below.  “These points will go towards each pilot’s own personal ranking score which will count towards their season points.  After their excursion over the waters of Loch Scramclate they will fly through the firebreak of Sibster Forest before climbing to the final area of the competition.”  He said as the small craft flew between the trees of the forest again the various colours of the trees flashed past the wings of the aircraft before raising into TD Investments Stadium an artificially flattened area in the Canyon Wall which had multiple built up bandstands waiting “In TD Investments Stadium, along with you at home, we have 7,500 people waiting for them there each pilot can again preform their signature move and be awarded additional points for their efforts before hitting the finish line.”  He said as the aircraft finally through the stadium doing further barrel rolls as it did in front of the waiting crowds.

   “Without further waffling from me here comes our first competitor” he said as an HL-15 Hellfish Light Attack Fighter flew into the area.  The craft’s wing edge tilt-rotor turbines pulling it through the air while the pilot could be seen in the forward bulbous cockpit the Solaris sun glinting off of the twin tailed rear boom.  “Allow me to introduce Koskova Yartseva piloting a Hellfish Light Attack Fighter from Silver in the Free Worlds League, let’s see how he gets on.”  The small ten-ton aircraft flew through the trees before diving down into Hamilton Tunnel inside gun cameras from the small aircraft showed just how close the tiny ten-ton aircraft came to the obstacles inside the tunnel.  “The small Hellfish is perfect for this type of close quarters flying and is able to avoid everything in the tunnel with ease.”  Turning left Yartseva expertly brought the craft down through the tunnel and out the other side then across the water before climbing up over the Solaris Steps tipping his wings ever so slightly as he passed over the heads of the spectators “KEEP your heads down there!”  De Graff called out as the spectators cheered at the aircraft passing by the Hellfish didn’t stop it continued on diving through the Loch Gateway and then over Loch Scramclate.  “Here come’s Yarseva to our first display area what will he do for the crowds?”  Turning towards Grant Island as the aftcraft quickly flew past the crammed spectator stands on the island’s western edge flicking the VSTOL controls Yartseva brought the engine nacelles up into a hover turning his fighter to face the people below as he did causing the aircraft to do a near perfect reverse turn as it moved past the island one hundred metres below.  “HA!  Using the Hellfish’s VSTOL equipment to pull an entirely unique move in the spectator region.  The crowd down there are going to be in for a treat with the rest of the competitors.”  He then flicked the engines back into normal flight function and accelerated away from Grant Island banking again to the left towards Sibster Forest.  “Here comes Yarseva towards the homestretch and here in TD Investments Stadium!”  De Graff said as the crowd below his aircraft went wild in anticipation the cameras showed the small Hellfish flying between the trees then pulling upwards towards the bandstands of TD Investments Stadium.  As the small aircraft flew into the stadium area the Hellfish’s engine nacelles again slowly turned pointing upwards bringing a halt to the craft’s forward movement as it did so allowing the craft to turn in a full 360 degrees before finally pointing to the exit of the course.  “Well ladies and gentlemen there we have it the end of the first competitors run and a time on the board now everyone knows what to beat.  Remember ladies and gentlemen your vote from home can make all the difference for all Solaris Residence you can instant message on the numbers below to cast your vote at the standard calling price.  The pilot has done his best job now its up to you to enhance his finishing position.”

   Over the course of the next hour eight more competitors flew through the course each piloting their own type of aircraft.  Most of the competitors were based on Solaris and had been seen flying in the adhoc events that had taken place on Solaris before but finally it was Jonnie Mjalby from Aubisson in the Rasalhague Dominion piloting an ASF-23 Protector Aircraft that won the first organised league race on Solaris VII.

   “Congratulations to Jonnie Mjalby for his victory here at San Bardo Canyon on Solaris VII.  I hope you enjoyed that ladies and gentlemen because this debut season is not done, we’ll have another race which will take place in Dunnet Forest on October 22nd.  You can click on the link below to find out how you can be a spectator at that event and stay tuned to the Solaris Entertainment Sports IV for an interview with Jonnie Mjalby and some of the other cometitors with me Rick De Graff.”

Trade mission, DCJS Vancouver Sun (Tramp-class JumpShip)
Richmond, The Havens
Periphery
16th July 3115

   The Draconis Combine registered trade JumpShip Vancouver Sun jumped into the Richmond system for a standard trade mission arriving in a flash of light at the Zenith point.  The Captain of the ship Invar Lofgren floated in the micro-gravity into the small CIC of the vessel as the jumpsail was being unveiled to begin the days long recharging process.  Unlike many JumpShips the Tramp-class did not have a cockpit-styled “bridge” but instead had a larger bowl-shaped combat centre similar to that on a WarShip with several stations dotted around the room manned by members of his crew.  “Anything to report?”  Lofgren asked his bridge crew

   “Hai, Captain” Lt. Commander Masao Suzuki said in response unlike a DCMS vessel the Vancouver Sun was not a military vessel and did not follow military ranks, in fact Lofgren refused to use the Japanese ranks of his native Combine in protest for what had happened to his family in the Free Rasalhague Republic.  “We are being approached by a group of ten tightly grouped aerospace fighters, they are of Clan design.”

   “Clan design?”  Lofgren asked aerospace fighters were concerning, he had a few of his own craft onboard this JumpShip for self defence but his pilots were trained to defend agains pirates not Clan bred and trained pilots. “And where did they come from?  We are on the wrong side of the border for them to be here.”  He demanded answers “extend sensor concentration identify the source of these fighters.”  He ordered looking at the sensor data himself he saw they had a few minutes to check the situation.

   “Captain Lofgren we are detecting a Carrier-class DropShip at the edge of sensor range.  The vessel does not identify as a Rasalhague Dominion vessel, our sensors cannot identify the tag.”

   “Understood, communications attempt to raise the aerospace fighters, identify us to them.  We are a civilian vessel we have no interest in contesting Richmond if Clan Ghost Bear have decided to take it from the Combine.  This is not our fight and we will leave if they let us.”  Lofgren said making his decision the Vancouver Suns’ DropShips carried various trade items that the people of Richmond generally bought but if the world was being contested then he wouldn’t be sending his people to the planet today.

   “Incoming message!”

   “This is Captain Akira Tempest, the commander of the approaching aerospace fighter star, we represent the defence force of Richmond and The Havens.  These worlds are claimed by The Havens all threats will be met by our defences.  Traders are welcome to our worlds.”  The voice responded Lofgren was taken aback he’d never heard of The Havens nation before.

   “This is Captain Invar Lofgren of the trade JumpShip Rainbow Sun, forgive me, I have never heard of your nation.  My vessel is a trade ship, we carry weapons only to defend ourselves and our cargo and we do not carry weapons of war.”  He said watching as the aerospace fighters continued to close.

   “The Havens have gained their independence from the Rasalhague Dominion.”  Tempest responded “we have freed from the constraints of the Dominion and offered the chance to forge our own future.”

   “We are an independent vessel we will not threaten your worlds.  My family comes from the Rasalhague worlds, as do many of those on my crew, we now live on this ship.  “While I cannot speak to that of the rest of my crew for now, I would be willing to trade with you going forward depending on the terms available.”  He said as he watched the aerospace fighters approaching as the sensors updated it showed them turning away from the JumpShip.

   “We welcome friendly traders to our nation” Captain Tempest responded “I will allow you to speak with your crew, we will welcome you to Richmond if you decide to continue hostile acts will be dealt with harshly however you are free to leave if you wish.”  He said as the aerospace fighters began peeling off heading back towards the Carrier which continued its approach.  “Good luck, captain.”

   Invar Lofgren watched as the fighters continued to move away as the communications cut off, he looked around his crew wondering how many of them would be willing to take on another challenge in this “new nation” The Havens.  He’d wondered for years about taking the Rainbow Sun beyond Combine borders but the DCMS kept them under contract doing work.  “Lt Commander Suzuki assemble the crew, if we decide to trade our cargo with Richmond it is unlikely, we will be welcome back in the Combine.  These ships are our home but it is a choice that all the crew must agree to.”

   “Hai, Captain” Suzuki responded he was proud of his Combine heritage but he was loyal to the ship first hours later the crew of the Rainbow Sun proved that they too were loyal to the ship of the Combine and they chose to trade with Richmond and remain in the Barrens.  Both of the JumpShips trade DropShips headed in system leaving the Rainbow Sun to recharge at the jump point with its Leopard CV-class vessel still attached that vessel carried the JumpShips six aerospace fighters and was unsuitable for trade missions.  On the planet the traders based onboard their two DropShips are welcomed with open hands and given generous prices.  On Richmond they are given contracts to take cargo deeper into the new nation of the Havens which spreads from Richmond to Santander and to Outpost beyond and has eight systems in total.

   Within days of the JumpShip Rainbow Sun jumping deeper into the Havens and its disappearance from Combine trackers the DCMS send out search parties into the Havens only to be rebuffed by the nation’s defences.  The Rasalhague Dominion then launch attacks against Schuyler, Garstedt, Turtle Bay and Rockland with Star Colonel Ramille Bekka, a Ghost Bear ristar, leading the attack on Turtle Bay announcing to the Combine that the Rasalhague Dominion had released the Havens from their rule, but they would allow the Draconis Combine to counter attack against the nation should it choose to try and conquest as an option but it would not allow the Combine to attack first and take over.  This new nation was still heavily linked to the Dominion through trade and unlike many of the other worlds in the area had been provided with the means to provide for their people on their own and encouraged to cooperate with the worlds around them.

Command Council, Stone Spirit City (Forbidden City)
Strabo, Outpost 27
Stone Spirit Space, Periphery
17th July 3115

   In the heart of what had once been a Rim Worlds Republic training ground based on the First Star League-era Forbidden City laid the Stone Spirit Command Council Building.  It is an imposing structure that had been built on the rubble of dozens of buildings which the Clan force had destroyed when they had arrived on the world and chosen to make this city their new Capitol.  While it stood ten stories tall the building looked more like a bunker than a command facility with sloped walls on either side extending several hundred metres in three directions from the summit to the ground.  A BattleMech or armoured vehicle could ascend up the side of the building from the ground if it needed to. On the one slopped side the building had a completely flat face with a single massive entrance at the front of the building which was tall enough and wide enough for any BattleMech to walk through.  On either side of the entrance were statues the size of a QuadMech both were identical a massive Stone Rhino with droplets of blood engraved across its body.

   Walking into the main auditorium Commander Tanya Furey approached her three Galaxy Commanders each of them saluted with standard Star League Defence Force salutes, the Stone Spirits having abandoned the Clan salute when they arrived on Strabo.  “Report.”

   “Commander, all of our Galaxies are now at full strength.  Further production and recruits will go to strengthen these units until you decree, we should raise further Galaxies.”  Jasper Osis reported he commanded the Stone Spirit Galaxy and next to Tanya was their most senior commander in both rank and age as he approached sixty-two years old his short hair now long gone leaving only his scarred and well tanned head.  Tanya nodded her understanding.

   “Galaxy Commander Leroy Church?”  She asked the next senior Galaxy Commander who was more than ten years Jasper Osis’ junior and commanded their Rhino Galaxy.  Unlike Jasper Osis Leroy Chruch still had some of his youthful looks while his hair was short there was still colour as well as gray while he remained as fit as a person ten years his junior.

   “Commander, the disarray of the Fire Mandrills forces continues following the death of Khan Natasha Faraday on Sapienza to a Lyran sniper.  We believe Loremaster Jordan Truscott will ascend to command the Clan while efforts by the Mandrills to secure Sapienza continue against the Fesnyng forces based there.”  He said describing the Lyrans irregular warfare unit that had been supporting the local militia forces.  “Truscott is a former Serpents warrior and before that he served in the Star Adder Clan.  He said sharing his disgust for that group that all Stone Spirits felt for the Adders.  “We believe that once he has cemented his control over the Fire Mandrills, he will take full control over the Rim Collection.”

   “I’m surprised that the Mandrill population hasn’t demanded that for years before now” Tanya Furey commented “it is Clan technology that is propping up the Collection and the only reason they have had any success.  Their future is Clan.  Please continue Leroy”

   “In the confusion Edmine, Brank and Oporto from the Fire Mandrills as per tradition we have taken bondsmen from the Eleventh Rim Regulars, Second Rim Regulars and Third Rim Regulars as well as Isorla.  We have reinforced our positions awaiting the Fire Mandrill response.  Also, per your orders a JumpShip with all forces we are not claiming is being returned too the Fire Mandrills.  With what we have taken from the Fire Mandrills we could potentially raise another Cluster or two of our forces with new recruits bulking it out.”

   “Excellent, well done.”

   “Galaxy Commander Boques” she said finally looking at the youngest of their Galaxy Commanders Kari Boques was only thirty years old ten years younger than Tanya Furey blonde haired and blue eyed she could have been a model if she hadn’t been born into the Clan life.

   “As per your orders the last of our forces have abandoned Port Vail to Clan Sea Fox.  They are settling in well.  Lushann and Elba in the Lyran Commonwealth have fallen to our forces.”  She said giving them her quick short report.  Unlike the fighting between the Stone Spirits and the Fire Mandrills there was no need to return the dispossessed defenders of the two Lyran worlds they would instead be left to languish on the worlds under Stone Spirit rule until they proved their worth.

   “Unfortunately, I do not carry as good news” she said looking between the three of them “unlike the relations and respect we have faced with the Fire Mandrills and now the Sea Foxes we are being stonewalled by the Clan Council on Tukayyid with our approaches rebuffed.”  She explained “we have had better responds from Von Stranges World, the New Oberon Confederation and from the Ragnarok Union but each of them while they serve as trade partners, they will not bring us further into Clan society.”

   “Will they ever accept us?  We are two Clans made into one.  We have because of what we have lost been forced to abandon much of the genetic engineering that they all follow.  We may never be accepted into Clan society again.”  Jasper Osis said the Stone Spirits simply didn’t have the resources nor the scientific minds to build defences and build up a genetics program.

   “Unacceptable” Tanya Furey stated “they accepted the Fire Mandrills when that Clan only held part of the Rim Collection!  That Clan was on life support and still they were welcomed back in with open arms!”  She said angrily “I will not accept double standards; the Stone Spirits are rightful heirs to the honour of the Blood Spirits and the Stone Rhinos.  No, they will accept us back in.  But first we will make a mark that they cannot ignore.”  She said “firstly, I will send a message to Khan Truscott once he has gained control over the Fire Mandrills and subjected the Collection.  I will make it clear to him we will continue what we have started in our recent battles and offer them the honour they deserve as a Clan of Kerensky.”  She said gaining nods from the others around her “then we as one Clan will strike at Swartklip and eliminate the Star League Defence Force garrison there, we will destroy the pretenders on that world and we will prove standing in their blood to our brethren we belong.”

Invasion
Gibbs, Donegal Province
Lyran Commonwealth
19th July 3115

   What had started with news on the invasions of Upona, Westerstead, Callisto V and finally Donegal had quickly been followed with an invasion of Gibbs by Clan Jade Falcon forces.  By the sounds of what Captain Aksel Youngblood was hearing the entire remains of the Donegal province excluding Tharkad had been attacked by the Clan in an all-out assault which was sending the Lyrans reeling.  The Crescent Hawks had been assigned to protect Gibbs along with Carlton’s Cavaliers a reinforced combined-arms unit and the local militia forces.  Gibbs had long been the site of a JumpShip construction yard but companies had been streaming out of the system for months following intelligence that a big Clan push was coming leaving only the skeleton remains of the construction site above the planet.

   Now that the Falcons were here the Crescent Hawks needed to escape the all-out assault.  Fortunately, no Falcon WarShips were present but that could only last so long.  Aksel had already secured them a JumpShip which was waiting in a pre-organized spot ready to evacuate the unit, an additional DropShip captain had also signed on with his own crew to assist in evacuating as many of the people from the planet as they could.  Walking from his command tent towards his Shadow Hawk LAM which stood waiting for him his communicator bleeped before he could make it ten steps to his ride.  “Youngblood go!”  He called back

   “Sir, we have a single Ryoken II approaching the base its painted in Clan Wolf colours.”

   “Clan Wolf?  Are you sure?”

   “Confirmed Captain, Clan Mountain Wolf, its just standing beyond the gates.  The pilot wants to speak to you.”  The guard said Aksel looked at his Mech and wondered what was going on he knew Clan Mountain Wolf had traders on the world, he’d heard they had been working to try and get the shipyard facility transferred to their holdings on Gallery but he didn’t know why they’d want him.

   Soon after Aksel arrived at the gates to see the Ryoken II standing there silently waiting for him he found it strange that the seventy-five-ton BattleMech was so silent when the entire world around them was fighting.  “I am Aksel Youngblood, commander of the Crescent Hawks, how can I help you MechWarrior?”

   “My name is Tassa Kay, I am looking for transport off this rock.  I heard this was a good place to look.”

   “What is a Clan Mountain Wolf pilot doing here?  I heard your unit was engaged with the Falcons and militia.”  He asked suspiciously

   “Ha, the Fourteenth Mountain Wolf are not my command, I’ve no intention on fighting and dying with those Clansmen!”  She said laughing her germanic accent suggested she was a native of the Lyran Commonwealth. “the MechWarrior that previously piloted this Mech chose the paint-job, I would not have.  I fight for myself and I am looking to leave Gibbs to continue the fight elsewhere.”  Suddenly there was several explosions at the far side of the base.  “From where I am sitting, I think you can use the help” she said the Crescent Hawks and local defenders numbered less than a company of Mechs he could definently use additional help.

   “Jade Falcon forces approaching perimetre!”

   “You want a ride?  Prove to me you are use in a fight!”  Aksel shouted launching his own Shadow Hawk into the air converting the Mech quickly into its aerospace fighter mode joining the other Crescent Hawk pilot who was already airborne.  He saw he didn’t need to communicate further with this Tassa Kay as she’d also launched her Mech into the air and was engaging a Jade Falcon Mech with paired the particle cannons mounted on her Mech.  “Crescent Hawks the Ryoken II is allied we need to hold the Falcons at the perimetre until the DropShips are ready to go!”

   For the next thirty minutes the Crescent Hawks fought, and died, for every metre of ground as they defended their own Leopard-class DropShip and an Aurora-class DropShip which was parked on the tarmac beside it.  In that time the unit’s civilian support staff and dependents gathered and boarded the vessel while the unit fought off the Clansmen above Aksel and his wingman Amanda Tracy provided air support for the defenders until they were finally ready to escape.

   “Kay this is Youngblood, unless you want to be left behind get onboard that Aurora now!”  He ordered as the Wolf painted Ryoken II completed a death from above maneuver crushing a forty-five-ton Shadow Cat OmniMech under its feet.  The seventy-five-ton BattleMech’s feet tearing through the green painted armour of the Clan Mech as it crushed the Shadow Cat into the ground.

   “I am not finished yet!”  She screamed angrily sending short range missile fire into another Falcon Mech “these honourless dogs deserve more.”

   “We’ve given enough!  I’ve lost three people on this world we’re not giving them more blood.  If you want a ride off this planet, you are!”  Youngblood communicated “Trenchant, give Kay another minute to get onboard then close doors and initiate take off!”  He ordered flying around above the DropShips.  “Crescent Hawks fighting withdrawal get onboard the Gold Rover, now!”  He commanded his small unit couldn’t hold for long.  He saw the three surviving MechWarriors scramble onboard their Leopard-class vessel he spared a glance at Panuwat Selanon’s Spectre BattleMech, unfortunately he wouldn’t be leaving this world with the rest of the unit two other MechWarriors had died defending the DropShips but Aksel knew neither of them personally they had arrived on the base days before and agreed to help the Hawks escape.  As the last of his MechWarriors boarded the DropShip the Gold Rover’s engines engaged and the vessel began to run down the runway away from the fighting shrugging off Jade Falcon fire as it went.  Moments later the Trenchant followed the Leopard accelerating across the runway escaping the world Youngblood was glad to see the Ryoken II was not being left behind.  “Amanda head to orbit, we’ll dock there!”

   “Affirmative, see you soon.”  His wingman answered turning her LAM towards space Aksel accelerated his own aircraft following.  Soon after they were in orbit and Youngbloods sensors immediately began screaming as four light Jade Falcon aerospace fighters were detected approaching.  Aksel and Amanda’s LAMs couldn’t handle multiple aerospace fighters their machines were designed for specialist situations not open combat.  He was responsible for all of the people onboard all of the ships present he couldn’t lead them to their deaths, he knew that could happen when they left the Kell Hounds, but he needed to find a way out for them.

   “This is Aksel Youngblood of the Crescent Hawks we are trying to leave this system; I request safcon” he communicated asking the Falcons for safe passage from the system.  He didn’t expect it to be granted but he had to try holding his course forwards he was prepared to do all he could to stop the Clan fighters.  When there was no answer, he accepted today he’d die but he hoped he could help the two DropShips could escape.

   “Crescent Hawk DropShips turn to course one-eight-three repeat turn to one-eight-three Asterix Flight will cover!”  A new heavily German accented female voice came across the communications channel the two DropShips and LAMS turned immediately and the sensors lit up showing the new contacts on sensors.  Six locally produced TFN-5H Typhoon Heavy Aerospace Fighters and a DropShip approaching each was painted in the colours of Lockheed-CBM of Gibbs which was primarily a light blue, with a yellow and red striped pattern and their weapons were already active engaging the incoming Jade Falcons with missiles, particle cannons and laser fire.

The mass assault from the Lockheed fighters overcame the Clan fighters rapidly knocking the four craft out of the fight.  Behind the Typhoons came their Leopard CV-class Aerospace Fighter Carrier DropShip together the seven craft flew past the Crescent Hawks continuing to fire into the disabled Clan fighters until they were nothing but wreckage remained.  “Thanks for the assist” Aksel communicated before watching the force come around behind the Crescent Hawks joining them in formation.

“You’re welcome Leutenant Kelly DeBrusk of Lockheed-CBM.”  The pilot said introducing herself.  “We’ve had to abandon the shipyard facility to the Clans, I’ve got dozens of civilians on the DropShip and we’re looking for a way out of this system, any chance of repaying our assist with one of your own? I’m sure Lockheed-CBM will pay up if you are anywhere near Tharkad?”

“Our next stop” he replied “we have a JumpShip waiting I’ll have coordinates transmitted it’s time we leave this place.”  He said as the three DropShips and eight fighters turned away from the burning planet below.  Fortunately, the Falcons WarShip which was assigned to this invasion had remained at the captured shipyard facility on the far side of the planet allowing the ships to escape to their Invader-class JumpShip.

This invasion by Clan Jade Falcon sees Khan Jana Pryde personally lead the assault on Donegal which sees the destruction of the Second Royal Guards RCT, the death of Lyran Commonwealth General of Armies Admiral Michael Washington, the crippling of the Star League Defence Forces First Kearny Highlanders and the destruction of the 789th Striker Regimental Brigade.  Stories of the 789th’s sacrifice on Donegal to save Duke of Donegal Nejama Beersheba-Marsden from capture by the Falcons and the fighting retreat put up by the Second Royal Guards and First Kearny Highlanders increase support by the Lyran people for the Star League Defence Force and the Steiner crown.
The Battle of Donegal also sees the destruction of two Jade Falcon WarShips including the Mississippi-class Battleship Jade Spear and four Lyran Commonwealth WarShips including the LCS Elfurt, an Indefatigable-class Battleship.  While the attacks on Gibbs and Donegal robs the Lyran Commonwealth of many major production facilities of aerospace fighters.

In all the attacks the Jade Falcons invade eight systems losing multiple clusters as they push through the Lyran defenders shattering multiple commands and driving the Lyrans back while also blooding several other new formations.  The invasion also leaves Tharkad, capitol of the Lyran nation, perilously close to the Clan border.  The loss of Donegal, Gibbs and the threat to Tharkad leads to questions in the Commonwealth regarding the viability of the leadership remaining on Tharkad.

The Thermo Police are of course the canon unit from the Spotlight On of the same name.  They've got several more parts coming for their story.  It's sort of a thing that's developing quite naturally as I'm writing the story line the same people will get several parts as it progresses and it'll bring us forward while also telling their stories.

I'm glad you both (and I hope others) liked the updates so far.  Festung Tharkad?  I like that I may have to use it, I know exactly where that story line is going so here goes.

The next Solaris Racing Event is from the previous threat I left a link to before the other update.  I have cleaned it up a bit and added to it.  I will have additional Racing Events in the distant future if anyone wants things added or to have a go at a race feel free I'll welcome it!  I may even draw out your race just for fun (or feel free to give it a go).

Solaris Racing Event
Dunnet Forest, Thurso
Solaris VII, Independent Clan Territory
8th September 3115

The second event in the Solaris Racing League had come up quickly following the success of the first.  Viewer ratings had gone through the roof and the Solaris Entertainment Company (SEC) had pushed and pushed for the next race to be brought forward to keep the hype rising but the newly formed league had held its ground and kept to their planned schedule.  As the racers and their support crews had packed up their equipment into a dozen GESV’s and other transport vehicles and traveled from San Bardo Canyon across Solaris to the city of Thurso near Dunnet Forest the SEC had contented itself with highlights from the first race and in-depth interviews with the racing drivers and close looks at the new aircraft in use over the Game World with feature presentations being shown regularly on Tri-Vid screens across Solaris.

This race track was longer than the San Bardo Canyon race and took place in and around the City of Thurso and the nearby Town of Crownkirk.  From what the mayors of the two towns were passing onto the SEC every hotel room and hired house were booked out for the entire week.  Additional housing had been brought in by a cargo DropShip with dozens of GESV’s configured to carry civilian housing cubicles.  The Generic Expandable Service Vehicles were not comfortable living with some of the guests describing their “rooms” inside the vehicles and trailers as little more than brightly lit coffins long enough for a single sleeping cubicle, an overhead video recorder and shared toilet facilities but they provided sleeping accommodation for the die-hard fans.  Already both Thurso and Crownkirk were considering building holiday home expansion areas should the race season return a second year.

High above Solaris waiting for the next race to begin sitting in his ASF-23 Protector Aircraft Jonnie Mjalby wasn’t thinking about the sleeping accommodation of his fans instead his thinking was focused on the race ahead.  He felt pretty confident his win at San Bardo had been partly because of a decent time and partly because the public had gotten behind his race style but today was a whole new challenge.  The San Bardo Canyon relied on maneuverability over speed Dunnet Forest/Thurso Racetrack on the other hand depended on speed with several long straights on which Mjalby’s Protector would struggle with.

Listening to the announcer Rick de Graff Mjalby maintained his altitude at just over two hundred metres and maintained cruising speed on his main HUD he saw the countdown timer had started.  “Today ladies and gentlemen here high in the skies above Solaris, our winner from the previous race Jonnie Mjalby, piloting an ASF-23 Protector aircraft, begins proceedings the others will be using his time as a benchmark and watching his performance for tips.  Good luck Mjalby!”  He said as he did the countdown timer hit zero and Mjalby banked his aircraft below one hundred metres and headed for the starting line.

Unlike San Bardo Canyon the Dunnet Forest was designed from the ground up as a spectator stadium with dozens of stands filled with a live audience just to add to the pressure on the pilots.  Now was not the time to think of spectators Mjalby thought as his fighter crossed the starting line.  Almost immediately he turned the Protector into a hard-right turn onto the first straight maintaining altitude of eight metres he flew past the towering spectator stand on his left-hand side before heading out across the Thurso River which bisected the course.  The trip across the choppy river water was a short one and Mjalby was quickly over land again entering the first stadium section known locally as Pittodrie.

The area was essentially an oval cut out of the forest with spectator stands, multiple food and drink stands and medical facilities on all side’s spectator safety was paramount but if one of the planes crashed in the stands it would be carnage.  Mjalby had not intention of creating such a scene and maintained an even speed as he flew into the area ignoring the flashing lights from the stands, he concentrated on making the perfect right-hand turn fighting the g-forces put against his body he clenched his muscles forcing the blood back towards his brain as the aircraft completed the turn the speeds travelling at and maneuvers he was attempting were relatively low-g force turns but anything placed on the body could cause issues if the pilot was not prepared.  Leveling out his fighter leapt forward as he accelerated and Pittodrie Stadium was a memory as quickly as it had entered his mind.  After the stadium the fighter was heading back across Thurso River flying parallel to the Interstate Highway 16 Bridge passing by the town of Crownkirk where more spectators were cheering him on and watching the race on massive Tri-Vid screens Mjalby intentionally tipped the wings while maintaining speed giving the public a little show.

The Protector quickly passed over the Road Tunnel leading into the town and then Mjalby pushed the aircraft into a shallow dive slowing his speed slightly he entered Nevis Tunnel, a man-made paved tunnel through the hard rock of the same name.  Following the “S-Bend” track of the Tunnel Mjalby accelerated as he exited entering the second stadium Hillhead.

Smaller than Pittodrie but still packed with people Hillhead was a loop with four tight left turns and one tight right turn.  Too fast you’d overshoot and have to raise in altitude to turn and re-enter the course losing time and points, too slow and this section would cost you valuable time.  Mjalby’s Protector was well suited for this section maintaining the same speed he held the turn again fighting the g-forces once more he put on a show and the crowd loved it.  As with the previous stadium section Hillhead Stadium passed quickly and he was soon heading back into Dunnet Forest flying between the trees on one side and Nevis Rock on the other he followed the path of the course left around Nevis Rock and back towards Crownkirk and into the next section.

This part of the course Jonnie Mjalby knew his Protector was not well suited for it with long sweeping turns that took them through the forest and towards a raised area known as Beinn Hob.  Here planes with a high-top speed would have a significant advantage the turns suited high-speed flying with relatively low g-forces there wasn’t much he could do but ride through the long turn and concentrate on not messing up.  Raising out of the trees and up Beinn Hob Mjalby focused on the next section which would see him travel up, down and then up again long “S-Bend” over the hill which would take him into the third S-Bend.  By the time Mjalby’s Protector had the hill for a second time he could see the third stadium section the Daniel Keith Stands.  Named for one of the founders of Crownkirk the Daniel Keith Stands jutted out of the side of Beinn Hob and Mjalby felt a little sorry for the packed spectators below as the winds up the side of the hill buffeted the area.  But he wasn’t here to feel sorry for them or watch the crowd however instead he was here for an almost leisurely right turn between the stands followed by a second right turn that took him back down the hill and into Dunnet Forest.  According to the race guide this section could catch a pilot off guard as the trees appeared to come up rapidly as the aircraft accelerated down the hill and back into the forest but they were no trouble for Mjalby who carried on the straight towards the bridge of Interstate Highway 16.

Unlike his previous encounter with the ground road this time the course took Mjalby’s fighter under the huge bridge that connected Thurso with other parts of the region.  He could see plenty of spectators and emergency services in the area watching his fifty-ton fighter pass under the bridge and then once cleared from that obstacle make an immediate right turn under a natural rock formation known as Angelica’s Archway.  From there Mjalby crossed the Thurso River for a third and last time now entering Thurso itself to finish the race.  Along the sides of the course there were lines of trees which helped dampen the noise for the residence of the city who were only a few hundred feet away.  The trees also hid energy barriers similar to those in the Solaris Mech arenas which were designed to absorb an aircraft hitting them and force the craft either into the ground or into the air Mjalby hoped if he ever hit any of them it was the latter result and not the former.

Travelling past the trees Mjalby’s Protector entered the final section known as the Janet Porter Stadium, again named after a founder of Thurso, it was a commercial haven like the other spectator stands with food, drink and advertising throughout designed like the rest of this course to make money little else.  Flying around the series of left turns Mjalby intentionally rolled the aircraft in a barrel roll showing off for the crowd counting on their votes to help keep him up the boards as they headed into the final race of the season.  Making the last left turn before the finish line Mjalby knew that speed alone would not help him win and instead pulled the aircraft back doing a loop-the-loop just short of the finish line adding a little flourish to his performance.

As he flew away from the course Jonnie Mjalby knew all he could do now was wait for the other competitors to finish.  There were seven other competitors that would follow him five of those aircraft would outrun his Protector in open flight he just had to hope the crowds were still on his side or one of the others made a mistake.


Hours later the final competitor had crossed the line and the spectator vote had been counted leaving Jonnie with a fourth-place finish.  During the course of the other competitors flights Irene Steele the Guardian pilot who had come second in the San Bardo Canyon run had lost control of her fighter and crashed.  She’d been able to eject but the fighter was a right-off in the medical GESV Mjalby visited her they’d known each other for years competing in various one-off events.

“Glad to see you made it out of that wreck in one piece” he said greeting her Irene was the same age as Jonnie Mjalby, twenty-six, originally from the Federated Suns she’d moved to Solaris sixteen years before when her father had come looking for fame and fortune.  He’d been killed in the Solaris Mech Arenas and Irene had decided that life was not for her instead taking aerospace fighter lessons with the intention of gaining a position within the LCAF.  Things hadn’t turned out that way and instead she’d started flying acrobatics on Solaris to make money now that income had been taken from her.

“Yeah, Segura didn’t come out of it so well.”  Irene replied, the fighter had been destroyed in the crash.  “That’s me out, I see you didn’t do so well either?”

“Still there” Jonnie Mjalby said looking down at his injured friend.  “Listen, I asked the doc you’re still flight capable; your injuries are not all that severe.”

“Thanks for reminding me Jonnie, but I’m lacking a fighter.”

“I happen to have a spare” he said smirking he saw her surprised one fighter was expensive a second was nearly unheard of.  “Juliusz Kamil decided to hang up his flight gloves before this tournament” he explained she’d heard the “Grandfather of Flight” had retired earlier in the year.  “His Striking Cobra was going cheap.”

“I thought Kamil wanted to put it in a museum?”

“He did, it might still end up there, but it’s got more miles in it and I offered him more.”  He admitted what Kamil wanted was important but the fighter belonged to him now.

“What difference does that make to me, Jonnie, I’ve barely got enough for my medical bills and to pay off the support staff.  I’m out of this game.”

“I’ll give you the Striking Cobra” he said raising his hand to stop her speaking “on credit.  You place in this tournament you pay me some of the money for it.  You win it you can buy it outright from me.”  He suggested offering her a lifeline he could see tears in her eyes.

“Why?”  She croaked

“You deserve to see it to the end, just don’t crash that thing before I get a chance to fly it.”  He said winking to her before turning to leave.  With her last place at Dunnet Forest she was fourth place in the championship out of the major money-making positions but still in touching distance to the leaders going into the last round at the Slanotov Industrial Zone in Solaris Arctic Zone.  If she placed and he didn’t at least he’d get some of the money back from this event.

Trade Mission, International Zone
Westover, Sea Fox Claimed territory
Free Worlds League
20th September 3115

   The Clans and Mercenaries tended not to get on in fact most occasions Clan forces saw them as dezgra and hunted them to extinction.  International Zones on Sea Fox trade worlds were different however, run by Clan merchants the warrior caste was here only to ensure Inner Sphere visitors were not armed and to take part in various Trials of Combat.

   Mercenary commander Colonel Naomi Wrangler, the commander of The Thunder Road mercenary regiment, stood near the back of a crowd which had gathered to watch Smoke Jaguar leader Khan Petra Furey dispatch a Sea Fox Star Colonel in hand-to-hand combat.  For several years now Naomi had been aware of the Smoke Jaguar faction for a couple of years now since she had taken over control of the Lesnovo District following a popular vote.  According to intelligence reports she’d read from Bowang the Free World’s League’s Intelligence Agency SAFE had vetted these Smoke Jaguar survivors and found that they were not acting like the Clan they once were instead helping build up native populations.  So far, the Smoke Jaguar faction had little contact with the Clans other than the traders here on Westover.  As Naomi watched the young Khan dispatched a second Sea Fox warrior claiming victory in the Trial of Possession over an Elemental Battle Armour Production Facility.  As far as Naomi knew up until now almost all of the Smoke Jaguar’s power armour had been of the Nighthawk type built on the world of Niops.  For them now to possess Elemental Power Armour was a significant upgrade in capabilities.

   As she stood and watched the Clans exchange pleasantries not the battle was over, she felt the approach of Lt. Colonel Ariel Peregrine-Simpson, the former co-commander of the Chaos Irregulars, like her fellow co-commander she’d accepted the new rank when her unit joined The Thunder Road.  “I’ll never understand them” Ariel said watching the Clansmen, as a former commander of a unit herself Naomi had given Ariel and Jake leeway when they spoke with her, allowing them to voice their opinions and join her on this mission.

   “No, me neither” Naomi admitted the Clans were alien to them even if they were willing to trade with anyone willing to pay. “How did you do?”  She asked she’d tasked Ariel with securing transport assets for the Thunder Road given that their command was bigger now than ever.  Although a significant military asset the Sea Foxes allowed any trades to occur in the International Zone as long as they were done peacefully, to enforce this both women had given up their weapons when they arrived.

   “Not bad, but also not great” she said “Free Worlds League rejects I’m afraid.”  She admitted they’d hoped for Clan equipment but Naomi had ordered her to buy what they could afford and what they needed, not wants. “Three Hamilcar DropShips for a cut down price.”  Ariel said Naomi didn’t much like the sound of it and her face probably showed it, the Hamilcar was a very specialist design mainly intended for Zero-G assaults.  “The Sea Foxes captured them when they captured Westover but no-one had taken any interest in them so they modified them a little bit.”  Ariel reassured her explaining her choice.  “On each ship they removed a pair of aerospace fighter bays and gave them a bit more fuel making them more useful in an atmosphere, they then streamlined the guns to Particle cannons, long and short-range missiles and anti-missile systems.”  She explained “less to break on all three of them, they’ll be easier to maintain and they’ve got better range and uses. I’d class them almost like a modified Leopard.”

   “Well, we won’t likely be launching any space borne assaults in the near future but I’ll take the chance to move a company in a pinch.  We’ll have to keep an eye on them but they might be worth it.”  Naomi admitted “I got off a little better.”  She said as the two of them moved away from the trial location.  “They’ve started up a modified Dictator-class DropShip manufacturing line here on Westover but sales have been dismal, no-one knows what to expect from them.”  She said the design had been modified with more modern weapons and defences and had a reconfigured cargo bay.  “The Clans themselves don’t want to buy an ancient DropShip design with Inner Sphere weapons even if it is configured to carry three Binaries of troops.”  She explained the Sea Fox idea seemed to be to build up interest in the design and then improve it with Clan technology.  “So, the trader was more than happy to turn one over to us, and if we spread the news of its use then we may get a kick-back from them in the future.”

   “Sweet, now we just have to hire crews.  Our current staff can probably get them back home but operational use will be more different.”

   “Agreed, how do you think the boys are getting on?”  By ‘the boys’ Naomi was referring to her father John Wrangler and Ariel’s former co-commander Jake Chowla.

   “I’m sure Jake is doing his best to get into as much trouble as he can while away from the burden of command.”  She admitted Jake’s continued recovery from losing his wife was being helped by her former command’s new place within the Thunder Road and time away from the unit would help too.

   “Yes, I’m sure my father is doing the same.  Our first major supply run since his retirement and he just happens to come along.”  She mused wondering why her father came along.

   “He trusts you Naomi, I’m sure of that, I think he mainly came for Jake’s benefit.”  She said having been able to observe them a little bit.  “You have done a lot for him since Reema’s death and the Chaos Irregulars becoming part of The Thunder Road has been great for him too but your father is quite active with him too.”

   “He’s still grieving for my mother’s passing a few years ago and I think he sees Ob, as a bit of a project.”

   “Ob?”  Ariel questioned Jake’s first name was Obadiah but she rarely heard anyone else use it especially since Reema’s passing.

   “Yes, I think my father sees Jake as a bit of a project, seeing a lot of my father in him.”  She said dancing over Ariel’s question.

   “Ob?” Ariel pushed

   “I’m sure they are getting into trouble and will have a surprise for us, I’m sure.”  Naomi said carrying on walking “Com’on, we’ll head back to the field we can inform the crews and have them come and collect our new DropShips while we wait.”

   “Seriously Naomi?  What the hell!”  She said as the Colonel kept walking away from her not answering Ariel’s question the two of them were close in age and despite the hierarchy of command, they got on quite well personally but if Naomi didn’t want to share it didn’t seem like she would.


   Several hours later Naomi Wrangler was back at the landing field which the small contingent of Thunder Road personnel who had accompanied her.  She’d arranged the collection of the units newest four DropShips and was now just waiting for her father to return but he was already an hour overdue.  Now standing inside the command deck of the Overlord-class DropShip Stonewall she waited trying to show she was calm and not worried he was missing.

   Suddenly the radio crackled to life “Road House to Stonewall, permission to approach” it said using her father’s old callsign.  Naomi nodded to the crewmen who granted permission.  “Received Stonewall, be prepared for a flyby.”  Her father said which got Naomi’s attention her father was airborne?  She walked over to the sensor desk and watched as from the south a two-hundred-and-forty-ton Koi Heavy Transport WiGE approached the airfield at speed flying low as the Wing-in-Ground-Effect aircraft were known for.

   “What on earth?”  Naomi wondered heading out of the command deck and down towards the ground.  By the time she reached the ground the massive Koi was touching down on the tarmac it was painted in a deep red on the primary wide-bodied hull with the wings painted in black.  She could see where insignia had been painted over but it was clearly the insignia of the Draconis Combine which wasn’t too surprising as the craft was designed and built there.  How it had crossed the Inner Sphere and ended up in the arse-end of the Free Worlds League was anyone’s guess but here it was and it appeared to be commanded by her father.  The craft was designed to land on land or in water with the hull curved underneath like the underside of a boat and the four turbine engines high above the waterline at the rear of the craft with two near the tail on either side of the craft and two more engines over the top of the hull.  The massive craft larger than anything else in the Thunder Road’s organisation Naomi did not have a clue how they were going to get it back to Bowang.

Stopping several hundred metres from the Stonewall the massive clamshell doors at the front of the Koi opened with the nose of the craft splitting open like a massive sideways mouth.  From inside the craft a ramp extended to the ground and locked in place.  From inside she could hear the revving of fuel cell engines and within a couple of minutes the first of two large wheeled transport vehicles drove out.  Both vehicles were the same painted in primarily blue and white the vehicles looked like long range transport trucks with extended trailers once they came out onto the ground, they turned to either side and stopped flanking Naomi’s position.  From both sides the trucks and trailers of the vehicles opened automatically raising upwards creating a canopy over the side of the truck.  From the inside of the truck counters extended and lowered to the ground creating service counters.  From the cabs of the two trucks her father and Jake Chowla exited the vehicles heading over to them.

“Good afternoon, Colonel” her father greeted her formally as he approached.

“Father, what the hell?”

“This?”  John Wrangler asked surveying the two vehicles and the Koi behind “this is for my retirement” he said “I’m calling it the Road House.”  He explained “I’m not going to mope around the Complex back home, I need something to throw myself into this is going to be it.  Bowang has a growing entertainment industry especially with all the mercs that have come through in the recent years but outside Darby they don’t have many entertainment venues.  Road House is the answer, we’re going to travel across Bowang and we’re going to bring the entertainment to the people and bring in some money for the unit.”  John explained Naomi looked at Jake for support but he just smirked at the idea her father had retired but this idea seemed to reinvigorate him.

“How are we going to get it home?”  She asked but almost on cue she had her answer as a purple and red painted Danis-class DropShip approached the airfield from a sub-orbital trajectory.

“The DropShip will transport the Koi and anything else we need then she’ll transfer to the Thunder Road full time, use it as you want Naomi myself and my silent business partner here” he said indicating to Jake “have bought the DropShip, the Koi and the GESV’s.  Jake will assist me when he’s not deployed with the unit but over wise it’s my show.”  He said Naomi glanced at the younger man who seemed like he relished the idea.

   “Colonel, I’d expect your commitment to the Thunder Road to continue.”

   “Understood, I know what I’ve signed up for.”  He said but his eyes told her that he was thrilled by the idea of getting on the road with her father.  “Road House will be a success as will the Thunder Road.”  He promised her but Naomi couldn’t help but wonder what they’d gotten themselves in for.
   
Weapons Research Facility WD-1152
Rosice, Halfway Province
Lyran Commonwealth
28th September 3115

   If the Lyran Commonwealth was not facing enough troubles with the Clans pressing at their borders and the Isle of Skye again pushing for a breakaway from the state on the world of Rosice in the Halfway province a huge explosion engulfs a weapons research facility killing dozens inside and dozens more in the nearby area costing millions of C-Bills.  Within days of the explosion terrorists claiming to be part of the Democracy Now movement take responsibility for the attack.

Another good update there DC.

Thanks

Royal Mechbay, Davion Royal Palace
Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
16th October 3115

   Walking slowly across the Mechbay’s floor Prince Luther Davion approached his father Burton Davion who stood in front of three BattleMechs which stood proudly waiting for orders.  The first BattleMech was Hanse Davion’s famous Battlemaster “Dana” painted primarily in royal blue the number “24” was written in red on the right torso while two stripes one in red and one in white ran from the left shoulder down across the BattleMech to the floor.  The BattleMech was over one hundred years old and was only moved once a month as the test pilots ensured its actuators did not seize up.  Recently his father had suggested permanently moving it to a display in the city celebrating the successes of the Federated Suns during the Fourth Succession War.  Luther stood and looked at the Mech as he approached his father and wondered why he cared for the BattleMech it had sat in this Mechbay for both of their lives and neither of them had met Hanse.

   Next stood the Templar III which belonged to his father the eighty-five-ton OmniMech named “Dragon’s Wrath” by Burton Davion.  The BattleMech was painted identically to the Battlemaster beside it.

   Finally stood Luther’s own OmniMech the Dire Wolf known as “Prometheus” which had originally belonged to his grandfather Victor Steiner-Davion.  Luther had piloted the BattleMech twice since returning to New Avalon but the pain from the injuries he took on Terra returned both times.  The OmniMech was in the middle of being repainted with the traditional Steiner blue of the Lyran Guards with yellow piping highlights being painted over to match the others.  Luther had not known about the new paint job but then he hadn’t been here for several weeks.

   “How do you like it?”  Burton asked seeing his son appear Burton was tall nearly six foot tall and broad shouldered far unlike his father Victor.  Luther had fallen between the two slightly shorter than his father and slightly taller than Victor.  They all had the same lightly coloured hair of most Davion men but unlike his father Luther had grown his hair out a bit as long as his shoulders.

   “I had not been aware you were having Prometheus repainted” he said looking at the OmniMech.

   “It is time, Victor’s time is over with the Federated Suns.”  Burton said his father using his Grandfather’s first name felt strange to Luther but recently Burton’s opinion on his father had fallen significantly due to the political changes Victor Steiner-Davion had brought to the growing Protectorate.  “The time for us to honour our link to House Steiner is over, now we must show pride in our own House and get you ready for the field.”

   “I am not ready” Luther said “I have many studies to complete and my physio-therapy is not complete.”

   “Your doctors say otherwise” Burton said angrily his voice raising.

   “What do they know!”  Luther snapped back at his father “each time I exercise the pain returns, I cannot pilot a BattleMech until my body is ready.”  He complained “until then I will continue with my studies.  These icons you are so proud of” he said nodding at the three Mechs standing silently “can wait for me to be ready.”  He said turning to march off away from his father.

   “Then perhaps your sister will accept the challenge of taming Prometheus if you are not willing!”  Burton challenged his son to react but instead Luther kept walking.  Luther’s sister Leah was seventeen and had already begun training as a BattleMech pilot but she had yet to begin real studies.

Objective Raid, Edasich Motors
Vesteralen, Forbidden Islands
Edasich, Hell’s Horses Occupation Zone
19th October 3115

   After a brief Trial of Possession on Edasich against the Hell’s Horses defenders the Crescent Hawks were more than pleased with what they found at the the Edasich Motors production plant on the Forbidden Islands.  When they had arrived Captain Aksel Youngblood had challenged the Clan defenders to a single production run of the contents of the Edasich Motors complex expecting a haul of the fusion engines that had been produced there since the fall of the first Star League.  In a hard-fought battle, which had seen two Crescent Hawks BattleMechs fall and the death of MechWarrior Stephen Livingston the Crescent Hawks were victorious against a Trinary of Hell’s Horses from the Thirty-second Mechanized Strike Cluster.  To the mercenaries surprise they found that Edasich Motors plant had been refurbished to produce Thor, or Summoner, OmniMechs by Clan Hell’s Horses and standing waiting for deployment were fifteen brand new machines.

   With the loss of two of their own BattleMechs and a vacant slot within the Crescent Hawks already existing the Hawks had claimed three of the OmniMechs for themselves while the remaining twelve would go to their employers in Lyran Commonwealth space not a bad haul for a single raid.  The Mechs were brand-new and lacked any security precautions of systems making them easy for the Hawk pilots to move them into the waiting DropShips.

   Standing guard over the operation was Tassa Kay in her Ryoken II BattleMech.  She watched as the brown painted OmniMechs were moved into the waiting DropShips and could help but smirk the Horses had been foolish to upgrade a factory so close to their front lines and then to accept a Trial despite having a full cluster defending it.  She knew the Star Colonel in command of the Thirty-second would be facing a Circle of Equals following this failed operation for their failure to stop the Crescent Hawks which would likely cause them to do something rash.

   As she stood guard over the loading operations something rash happened almost on queue a single Vulture, or Mad Dog, OmniMech painted in the brown, blue and gold camouflage paint scheme of the Thirty-second Mechanised Cluster approached their position.  “Contact, single Mad Dog OmniMech approaching.  I am intercepting them.”  She said pivoting her Ryoken’s stance towards the incoming Mad Dog switching her communication system to a general frequency she challenged the enemy Mech just as it walked into range of her particle cannons.  “I am Tassay Kay of the Crescent Hawks; we are loading our Isorla into the DropShips as agreed upon by our victory in the Trial of Possession.  Identify youself and the reason you are here.”  She challenged the incoming pilot.

   “I am Star Colonel Tvedten Ravenwater of Clan Hell’s Horses I declare a Trial of Refusal against the Crescent Hawks.”

   “There is no Trial of Refusal following a Trial of Possession.”  Tassa Kay said shooting down the challenge “however, I will allow you to fight in a Circle of Equals with me to show your people that you tried to win honour.”  She offered him she saw her personal radio link to Aksel Youngblood was active, he was no doubt monitoring her, but she ignored it, this was something he couldn’t understand a battle between warriors over more than possessions.

   “I accept your terms warrior; may no other enter.”

   “Seyla” Tassa said accelerating her Mech forwards she fired paired particle cannon blasts from the two torso mounted cannons.  The man-made lightning bolts crossed the distance between the two Mechs with one slamming into the Mad Dog’s right leg while the other ripped up the ground beside the Mech.  A wave of heat surged through Tassa’s cockpit as her the BattleMech’s heat sinks struggled with her weapons fire Tassa ignored the heat build up and instead turned her Mech to the right firing the Mech’s jump jets launching it into the sky just as a pair of large laser blasts slammed into her Mech’s left arm.  The heat from the lasers burned into her seventy-five-ton BattleMech’s arm but she ignored it, there were no weapons there, instead Tassa feathered the engine throttles expertly bringing the Ryoken II down with her heat now lower she fired another pair of particle cannon blasts towards the Mad Dog just as the sixty-ton Mech fired forty long range missiles back at her.

   As the flight of forty missiles flew towards her Tassa accelerated the Ryoken II into the fire closing the range between the two Mechs.  Missiles slammed against her Mech as she closed on the lighter Mad Dog at range the way the warrior had configured his BattleMech he actually outgunned her at range but as the distance closed between them the weapons would favour her.  As the range ticked down, she saw her particle cannons had recharged and she fired again at the Mad Dog just as her enemy fired his lasers again.  The armour of her Ryoken II held up under the onslaught but she was glad to see the Mad Dog’s didn’t as one of her particle cannon blasts tore through the armour covering its torso and tore the long-range missile launcher to pieces.  The Mad Dog staggered backwards with the loss of the launcher but it didn’t stop the warrior returning fire with another volley of missiles from its remaining launcher most of the missiles missed her still charging Ryoken II but a few hit their target smashing armour on her Mech’s right torso.

   “Well done” Tassa commented cutting to the right twisting the Ryoken’s waist to track her target she opened up with both medium lasers mounted there and as soon as the computer gave her a tone the twelve streak short range missiles as well.  The heat produced by these weapons was far less than her particle cannons but the damage was not the lasers burned across the Mad Dog’s armour while the streak missiles caused explosions all over the Mech’s left leg and arm which buckled and then broke the large and medium laser there hanging loose away from the OmniMech.

   Ravenwater didn’t give up his OmniMech was damaged but not out of the fight as Tassa’s Ryoken II circled he forged forwards unexpectedly and caught her slightly by surprise firing his remaining large and medium laser as well as a flight of long-range missiles into the back of her OmniMech “Stavag!”  She shouted angrily firing the Ryoken II’s jump jets she launcher her Mech into the air angling the Mech backwards the seventy-five-ton unconventionally jumped backwards.  She fought her instincts allowing the Mech to fall towards the ground she pulled the primary triggers as her Mech came towards the ground sending two particle cannons shots straight into the back of the Mad Dog.  At the same time Tassa fired her own Mech’s jump jets one last time countering the falling Mech’s trajectory keeping her Mech standing as it landed on the ground.

   The Mad Dog was not as lucky one particle cannon blast tore through the Mad Dog’s right torso vapourizing the armour there blowing through the long-range missile ammunition.  The OmniMech’s built in CASE panels blew away from the Mech channeling the blast away from critical components but the ammunition was gone.  The second blast tore straight through the back of the Mech punching straight into the OmniMech’s gyroscope destroying it as well.  Without the gyro the Mech’s fight was over and the Mad Dog fell forwards giving into the battle with gravity as it slammed into the ground disabled.  “MechWarrior Tvedten Ravenwater you are defeated in single battle, I will spare you the embarrassment of returning to your unit following the defeat by a dezgra mercenary and I claim you and your Mech as Isorla, you both belong to me until I decide if you deserve to return to MechWarrior status.”  She said opening up the communication channel once more letting the MechWarrior know his fate.  She saw that Aksel Youngblood was still waiting to speak to her.  “Go ahead Captain.”  She said, she was sure he’d be able to tell she was smiling following her personal victory.

   “Nice fight, Tassa, the Horses should have known better than to challenge a victor after their battle.”  He said she’d almost expected him to try and give her into trouble for her actions but instead he was supportive?  Perhaps the time he’d spent with the Kell Hounds and exiled Wolves had done him well, there was hope for Aksel Youngblood.  Following the end of the battle the Crescent Hawks completed their loading from Edasich Motors and left the planet soon afterwards.  The Union-class DropShip carrying the captured Summoner OmniMechs would go to Freedom while the Crescent Hawks were heading back to Galatea Station.

Meeting Room, SLSS Swartklip Major
Swartklip, Star League Protectorate
Periphery
28th October 3115

   The news had filtered into Swartklip that morning that forces of the Stone Spirits had raided Elume, Kwangjong-ni, Ma’anshan and Issaba this morning.  Elume’s defenders the First Obsidian Lancers had held as had the forces hired to protect Issaba and Ma’anshan but Kwangjong had fallen to the clan raiders.  The lack of Lyran Commonwealth defenders was telling for those in the Swartklip system, which was protected by the Star League Defence Force it was also telling for representatives of Elume, Sweet Water, Canal, Tsarahaven and Howick that as they met onboard the Star League Space Station Swartklip.  This fact was further supported as during the meeting the civilian run MS Glomar Explorer, an Explorer-class Mobile Refinery run by the Belters of the Sol system, and two Monolith-class JumpShips filled with supples arrived in the Swartklip system to further support building up the world.  The presence of SLDF ground forces and naval forces in the region only added to the sense that the SLDF was supporting the worlds it protected while the Lyran Commonwealth was forgetting them.

Raid in Force
Zanzibar, Tamarind
Wolf Empire
31st October 3115

   Lasers and missiles criss-crossed the battlefield as the four Havoc BattleMechs led a group of vehicles towards in a breakout from Zanzibar spaceport.  Behind the Havocs came a group of eight Partisan AA Vehicles and a group of R10 Infantry Fighting Vehicles.  Each of the vehicles and Mechs were painted in the colours of the First Tamarind Militia as it raided the world of Tamarind taking the Wolf defenders by surprise.  The Mechs were painted mostly purple with a red sash that ran from its right shoulder down towards and over the entirety of the left leg while the vehicles were primarily purple with red turrets.  Over the days before their two combined arms battalions had been brought to the world right under the Wolves noses aboard cargo DropShips hidden within cargo containers and now they were striking out.

   The raid’s objectives were for the ground forces to break free from the spaceport and charge towards the Wolves manufacturing plant at the former Graham-Davies Manufacturing site to the north.  The aim of the raid was to destroy the facility in its entirety.

   Bursting from the spaceport short range missiles and laser fire from a pair of Havocs turned one of the sentry guard towers into a burning mess as the two light Mechs ran out.  Behind them the Partisans opened fire on the Wolves initial reaction forces which was made up of a flight of Red Kite Attack VTOLs.  The sight of the Free Worlds League designed VTOL serving Clan Wolf had angered the Tamarind troopers and now they had an opportunity to take them out, from two Partisans paired LBX-class Autocannons filled the air with flak munitions.  Each of the four Red Kites took multiple hits as the cluster munitions exploded around them immediately one of the Kites lost power to its right engine as multiple pieces of shrapnel slammed into the VTOL’s thin armour and pulverized the engine unit housed there.  As the other engine failed to compensate and the twenty-five-ton craft spun out of control to the ground slamming down hard against the tarmac it exploded.  Two of the Red Kites returned fire against the vehicles their nose mounted chemical lasers glowed momentarily as the weapons were loaded with ammunition and then they fired melting armour on a pair of Partisans below more autocannon munitions slammed into the VTOLs even as one of the Partisans exploded open its front armour completely melted away.

   From behind the Partisans a flight of long-range missiles followed by a particle cannon blast flew quickly into one of the remaining Red Kits penetrating the aircraft below and behind the forward cockpit the twin attack shattered the control section from the mid-line engine modules.  Lasers and then the roar of an Ultra-class autocannon joined the attack as a second Red Kite was torn to pieces in a hail of weapons fire from the leading purple and red coloured Anzu class BattleMech.

   The radio channels crackled open as another three sixty-ton Anzu BattleMechs joined the fire “I am Duke Robert Brett-Marik, the true Heir to Tamarind and I am here with my fellow Tamarind citizens in the First Militia to oppose Clan Wolf’s rule over our homeworld.”

   “Finally,” the voice a response came as the Free Worlds League’s sensors lit up with contacts “when the Clan Watch said that forces hostile to Clan Wolf’s rein here on Tamarind had arrived, I wished to challenge you immediately but I was cautioned not to.  Instead, we have waited for you, waited for you to display your strength and now that you have you will meet the Wolfkin Keshik in battle.  I am Galaxy Commander Herbert Kerensky and I will be your end.”  The Clan warrior laughed as a Vulture Mk III stood up from its concealed position from the Mech a point of Elementals disembarked from its hull and on either side of it nine other OmniMechs stood up each carrying a point of Elementals.  It was clear the Wolves had laid in wait for them to move and they were more than prepared for the attack.

   “We will fight for our home and we will win.”  Robert Brett-Marik said defiantly targeting the Vulture III with his particle cannon and autocannon which were in range the particle cannon had not fully charged and it sparked against the hull of the heavily armoured Clan OmniMech while the autocannon went wildly wide soaring through the sky past the Mech.  With their battle decided the Vulture III returned fire with eighty long range missiles.  The missiles arced over the battlefield and blanketed the Anzu in waves battering the heavy BattleMech in waves which exploded all over the armour and the ground beside the Mech.  Under such fire Robert struggled to keep his BattleMech standing stepping back under the waves of fire stumbling backwards the Anzu dropping to a knee.  Either side of the Anzu the other Free Worlds League troops were under heavy attack from the the other Wolf forces.  Bringing his BattleMech back up to his feet Robert saw that the Vulture III was on the move walking towards his position with more long-range missiles arcing over the battlefield towards him.  Robert braced the BattleMech for more hits and fired his own long-range missiles in return fire against the Clan Wolf OmniMech.  His ten missiles passed the eighty incoming missiles in mid-air and flew towards the Vulture III as the Mech continued to close on his position missiles rained down on his position.  A flight of long-range missiles slammed into the top of the Anzu’s head section rattling Robert Brett-Marik’s cockpit, the MechWarrior strapped into his command chair was thrown around the cockpit like a rag doll as he tried to maintain control of his under-fire machine.  “Continue to fire!  Any unit that can breakout do so and head to targeted plant!”  He ordered his troops over the roar of fire inside his cockpit “we must complete this mission or it maybe our last!”  He said defiantly at the same time he sent an encrypted message to one of the cargo DropShips located within the spaceport.  Moments later he received a message from the DropShip stating his command was understood “our friends will be here soon” he said targeting the charging Vulture III with his autocannon again explosive ammunition battered the enemy Mech with fire.

   The plan had never been for this to be a one-way mission for Robert he wished to hurt the Wolves and if possible, liberate Tamarind but there was always a plan to escape.  Just beyond Tamarind orbit the second phase of the battle began as the WarShips Sardis, Abbey and Stormos jumped into the system disgorging more than a dozen DropShips and hundreds of aerospace fighters.  The majority of the fighters, several DropShips and the WarShips Abbey and Stormos turned to engage the three Wolf Lola IV-class Destroyers which were protecting the shipyards over Tamarind.  The Impavido-class Abbey and the Monolisk-class Stormos would be outgunned by the three Wolf vessels but they had a significant advantage in small craft over the defending Wolves.  The Sardis with its lighter armour and smaller capital grade weapons arrays remained at long-range providing support and a base for the aerospace fighters to reload should they need it.

   Meanwhile several DropShips carrying two ground force regiments hard burned towards Tamarind intent on reinforcing the ground forces.  Should they be able to link up the combined firepower had a chance of liberating Tamarind from the Wolves and robbing them of their only shipyard.  Unfortunately for the Free Worlds League troops they had discounted the Wolves readiness to protect the system and from the surface rose an entire star of Isegrim-class Assault DropShips along with dozens of aerospace fighters to engage them.  In space, the upper atmosphere and on the ground, battle was engaged between the two forces.

   Fighting for his life on the ground Robert Brett-Marik cut in his Anzu’s jump jets attempting to jump over the Vulture III which had closed in on him.  He fired his autocannon as he jumped targeting the Clan Wolf Mech as he went autocannon rounds exploded all over the Vulture III.  Unfortunately for Robert the Clan warrior had at his disposal six extended range medium lasers for close in battle as the Anzu flew over the Vulture III the red laser blasts cut into and then through the knee of the Anzu shattering already damaged armour which had been pocketed by missile blasts the lasers penetrated the armour and caused the knee actuator of the Anzu to critically fail as the jumping Mech began to fall towards the ground.  As Robert Brett-Marik’s BattleMech landed the damaged knee actuator collapsed taking most of the lower leg with it the Anzu stumbled forwards and then fell crashing to the ground.

   In the cockpit of the Mech Robert Brett-Marik awoke realizing that he had been knocked out by the Anzu’s landing he immediately attempted to bring the Anzu back to its feet and turned looking for Herbert Kerensky’s Vulture III only to see the Clan OmniMech laying on the ground burning.  As he looked at the remains of the sixty-ton OmniMech he saw a group of eight Leonidas Battle Armour troops which had attacked the Vulture III when his Anzu had fallen.  “Thank you, warriors,” he said quietly as the troopers raised their arms in salute towards him, they had likely saved his life.

   Robert glanced across the battlefield and saw that several of the Wolf Mechs had fallen but so had many of his own forces.  In his thirty-seven years he had heard stories of huge battles against enemies of his home but he’d rarely been involved in battles larger than battalion strength.  Today was different he could see DropShips begin to come in for a landing several of them were heavily damaged.  Seeing the DropShips, and the condition of his own BattleMech, Robert realized that today was not the day for the liberation of Tamarind instead he’d be lucky to escape with his life.

   In orbit above the planet the WarShip Abbey exploded under fire from the remaining two Wolf Lola IV-class Destroyers.  One of the defending Clan vessels had been destroyed by massed fighter attacks but as the fighters ran low on fuel and muntions the tide of the battle had turned back towards that of the defenders.  From the ground DropShips rose from the ground fighting their way clear of the planet as they retreated enmasse from the battlefield onboard one of the DropShips Duke Robert Brett-Marik stood defeated in battle by the Wolves but still alive and ready to fight another day.

The Battle for Tamarind was over with a stalemate the Wolves continued to hold the world and its critical shipyards as well as the production facilities it had built on the surface.  The Free Worlds League forces had proven they could battle the Wolves on the surface of Tamarind but they would need more firepower before they were able to retake the planet.  As the DropShips escaped to their waiting WarShips before escaping the system ending the Free Worlds League assault on Wolf territory, until another day.  How the Wolves would react to the attack was anyone’s guess but today the battle was over.

Cracking update.

Good to see an update!

One small screw up on my part... normally at the end of every year I post all active units, warships and a map saying what's going on in the Inner Sphere.  (I still will)

But because I've jumped into 3116 and I'm half way through the next month's update the active units and the like will come after the January 3116 update.  I normally go through the production database before I jump forwards but I've been enjoying writing and I forgot... it won't be that out of date... just a few worlds changing hands in January... like a dozen or so changing hands... nothing major honest  O:-) :thumbsup:

McKenna Palace
City of McKenna, McKenna
District of McKenna, Free Worlds League
3rd January 3116

Sat on the throne of McKenna in the room once occupied by her father Duchess Saadia Cameron-Jones was dressed in a Marik purple gown which was lined around the edges with a thick black strip of mourning.  Her make up was likewise muted and with no colour visible against her dark skin while her blonde hair was tied back away from her face as she turned to face the waiting Tri-vid camera.  Beside her to one side stood her daughters twenty-two-year-old Captain Anita Cameron-Jones and sixteen-year-old Rene Cameron-Jones missing was her twenty-year-old son Caden Cameron-Jones who was presently with his regiment the First Cameron-Jones House Guard on Regulus.  She had asked him to travel to McKenna but he had refused and said his place was with his regiment she would miss her son but today needed to happen for her own sanity as well as the safety of her daughters.

“People of the Free Worlds League I am Duchess Saadia Cheynov, the Duchess of McKenna” she announced she’d kept this change a secret from everyone including her closest advisors and children for maximum impact.  “My father was Felipe Cheynov the true Duke of McKenna.”  She said pausing to allow that to sink in for a moment before speaking again.  She knew her worlds would be carried across McKenna live and it would reach the other worlds of the Free Worlds League over the next few days.  It would be weeks before her words crossed the Inner Sphere but soon everyone would know of this change.  “Today for the good of my people and for my children I am announcing my divorce from Duke Lester Cameron-Jones and the secession of the McKenna system from the District of Regulus effective immediately.  Lester Cameron-Jones is an evil man who murdered my father when his forces invaded the world of McKenna, he was not a casualty of war as my husband reported to the people.  He was murdered and placed in rigged-BattleMech which exploded under him.”  She said pausing again she knew the editors would be playing the video clip of two men dragging her father’s already dead body into his BattleMaster before leaving him onboard the powering up assault Mech.  Moments later two Wasp BattleMechs burst into the courtyard and sprayed the BattleMaster with machine gun fire but instead of returning fire the BattleMaster exploded from within as charges placed throughout the Mech exploded in a what was supposed to look like a freak ammunition explosion.

“I hav kept my silence for the sake of my children and for the people of McKenna who Lester threatened with harsh treatment should I not cooperate.  Only now with my husband distracted have I been able to act.”  She said as the camera returned to her and her children “today I announce the formation of the District of McKenna which will include the worlds of McKenna, Sorunda, Ling, Second Chance, Gomelsa and New Delos.”  She said naming them New Delos would be a surprise it was officially a world of the District of Oriente but it had been swayed by her words to join the newly formed District.  “In an effort to protect them from the inevitable fallout from my actions I have assisted the systems of Bernardo, Holt Park Place and Ibstock in joining the Star League Protectorate, these worlds are loyal to a peaceful Free Worlds League and wish to be part of what I expect will be my ex-husband’s attempt at taking our worlds back by force.”  She said the loss of four systems to the Star League would win her no fans in the Free Worlds League but it would protect them from Lester’s actions in the future, it wasn’t a perfect choice but she thought in time she could perhaps persuade them to return to the fold.  “If Regulan forces come to the District of Regulus understand we will protect ourselves as of today I have signed a letter of intent to reactivate the First, Second and Third Atrean Dragoons Regiments bringing them back into the Army of the Free Worlds League ready to protect her borders from enemies foreign and domestic.”  She said the Third Atrean Dragoons had been inactive since the First Succession War while the First and Second regiments had been around more recently but were currently inactive on FWL District Rosters.

   Within days of the announcement Captain-General Robert Brett-Marik of Gibraltar, the current overall leader of the FWL parliament announces his support for McKenna and announces that the Eleventh Tamarind Militia, a brigade-sized combined arms formation, would be placed on loan to the District of McKenna as a peace keeping force to assist with the protection of the new District until its ow military were ready to protect all of its worlds.  In an effort to save face from Brett-Marik’s selfless actions and to spite the District of Regulus the Free Worlds League deploy all three recently formed Marik Protectors Regiments to the District of McKenna to support the peacekeeping effort, their first deployment off of Marik as a Free Worlds League unit.  For his part Duke Lester Cameron-Jones denies his wife’s accusations claiming the actions that resulted in her father’s death were made by officers who were no longer part of his chain of command.  It is believed that he does not order immediate military action due to the presence of the League peacekeeping forces.

Border conflict
Swartz, Albiero Prefecture
Military District of Pesht, Draconis Combine
8th January 3116

   In a seemingly combined assault, the Rasalhague Dominions and Clan Lynx launch assaults against the Albiero Prefecture of the Draconis Combine.  In a blitzkrieg assault the Rasalhague Dominion’s Rasalhague Galaxy awakens from its slumber and assaults the systems of Albiero, Sainsville and Schwartz.  Only in the Albiero system do they encounter heavy resistance from the Thirteenth Pesht Regulars and the WarShip DCS Taipan, a Inazuma II-class Corvette, the Bears answer the DCMS defence with the WarShip Rudigen, a Leviathan 2-class Battleship, which blows through the Corvette and its supporting defences barely even noticing the ship was there.  On the ground the elite First Rasalhague Bears Cluster outclass and out shoot the Pesht Regulars unit until they are forced to surrender.

   At the same time in complete coordination with the Rasalhague Dominion Clan Lynx strike at the backs of the Draconis Combine forces forcing their way onto the worlds of Virentofta, Staplefeld and Echo.  On both Echo and Staplefeld the Lynx forces encounter elements of the Seventeenth Pesht Regulars.  The Seventeenth was oversized for a Regulars unit and should really have been two separate units with each subdivision of the unit comprised of two each of BattleMech Battalions, Armour Battalions, Infantry Battalions and an aerospace wing each. The unit had been raised in strength to meet Clan Lynx head on and stem its invasion into the Draconis Combine keeping the Clan to the periphery.

   Meeting both formations of the Seventeenth Clan Lynx offer the unit a simple Trial of Possession over the two targeted worlds.  The samurai of both halves of the Seventeenth jump at the opportunity to meet the Clansmen in honourable combat and agree to fight within the constraints of Zellbrigen.  As is Clan tradition the Lynx commanders agree to transmit their pilot and BattleMech data to the Draconis Combine defenders so they could prepare for an open battle the next day.

As dawn breaks the two sides of the battlefield line up the Draconis Combine gain their first look at the Clan Lynx’s newest weapon of war the Bobcat OmniMech.  A forty-ton OmniMech capable of almost one hundred-and-twenty kilometres per hour and covered in Ferro Lamellor armour.  Capable of carrying fourteen-and-a-half tons of weapons and equipment the Lynx commanders include five different variants of the capable medium OmniMech to confuse DCMS lines and break down the defenders.  The Bobcat’s appearance is a complete surprise to the Draconis Combine Intelligence Services who did not believe that the Lynx possessed the capability of building such and advanced OmniMech.  This leads many to believe the OmniMech had originally been designed and built for another Clan and either won or traded for by the Lynx.  The OmniMech’s pointed and nearly hooked “nose” torso suggests that originally the Bobcat went by a different name and in the service of Clan Snow Raven.

In two short trials both Echo and Staplefeld fall to Clan Lynx and with them in effect the Draconis Combine loses all control over that area of its periphery border with Clan vessel able to traverse any system in the region unmolested.  Star League Defence Forces arrive in the Pesht District to support the defences but they are too late to stop the recent gains by Clan Lynx and the Rasalhague Dominion.  For the Lynx Clan it is a successful debut of their new OmniMech and another step towards legitimacy working with the Ghost Bears of the Rasalhague Dominion.

CIC SLS Gryphon (Otey Block II-class Battleship)
Fenwick Shipyards, Fenwick
Star League Protectorate
17th January 3116

   “Ex-Oh, have all ties cut and take us out of the shipyard one half gravity acceleration” Commodore Charles Roven the commander of the SLDF’s newest WarShip the SLS Gryphon said from his command chair in the middle of the wide expansive bridge.  All of the CIC crewmen were strapped into their chairs while the ship was not under any acceleration saving them from the need of dealing with the challenges of micro-gravity.  Charles Roven was Terran born and had served on several WarShips before being assigned to the newly built Battleship.

   “Casting off ties, bringing us out of spacedock, sir” Captain Brian Smith, the WarShip’s executive officer, responded like Roven he was Terran born and had served on several WarShips before joining the Gryphon.  He’d commanded a DropShip under Roven once before and had been picked for the position specifically by the Commodore the two fit each other like a glove.

   As their commands were passed out the Otey-class Battleship slipped clear of the shipyard and slowly into open space.  Once the one million and forty thousand tonne ship was at a distance of one hundred thousand kilometres the engines brought the ship up to one gravity of acceleration.  “Sir, ship has answered the call to one gravity of acceleration.”  Brian Smith reported from his chair on the right side of the CIC.  With this announcement Roven released the catches on his chair and stood up experiencing the artificial gravity created by the ship being under at fifty-two years of age Charles Roven always felt better when his ship was under acceleration.  Like the other members of the CIC crew, he wore the green Star League Defence Force duty uniform.

   “Very good, Major” he said smiling as Brian Smith joined him standing on the bridge both walked several steps ahead of the captain’s chair and stood beside the expansive holo-tank which dominated the long CIC.  Around them the crewmen were releasing their chair straps and enjoying a little more freedom in the gravity.

   “Time to put the Gryphon through her paces, have a course set for the Pathfinder Group.”  He ordered quickly and efficiently Smith passed out the orders and they felt the ship adjust course.

   “Intercept course set for Pathfinder, expected rendezvous in three hours.”  Smith said checking some of the data presented on the holotank.  Roven could read himself but it was good protocol for Smith to call out any changes in the vessel’s status.

“Our DropShips will join us at the rendezvous point. I want to practice with our new toys before we get there.  Have each fighter wing take turns attempting to break through the other and attack us.”

“Understood Captain, it will be a good test of the new system.”  Smith responded unlike the other Otey-class Battleships in the service with the SLDF the Gryphon had been upgraded with new technology.  While the vessel had the same cosmetic profile of the standard Otey-class which hid the vessel’s heritage, which was based on the Stefan Amaris-class Battleship, the cosmetic changes the Otey Block II had were only the start of it.  Inside the ship the heat sink capacity had been increased by another half, its fuel storage had been increased significantly, halfway along the hull two full decks had been added to the ship which increased its length by a dozen metres taking the vessel to sixteen hundred-and-twenty-five metres in length packed into these decks were additional computers and servers supporting the ship’s operations.  The ship’s armour profile and coverage remained unchanged but half of the conventional pulse lasers had been replaced with laser based anti-missile systems providing superior coverage all around the ship.  While four screen launchers had also been added to the vessels defensive armament further enhancing the vessels defensive capabilities.  The new Otey II-class was still able to transport four DropShips and two wings of aerospace fighters but its small craft had been increased to eight craft from the previous six.  Four of these craft were general use craft which could be used in boarding actions, search and rescue or as support craft.  The remaining four were dedicated to a new class of craft which were currently unique to the Otey II-class and would give the ship additional capabilities.

“Yes, it will” Roven confirmed “Major, I want to make sure this system works before we get too far from spacedock.  Deploy Ancile craft.”

“Affirmative, sir.”  Smith replied the deployment of these ships were a prototype for all SLDF WarShips.  From half the way along the Gryphon’s hull four small craft deployed and quickly took up positions around the ship.  “Ancile deployment complete, all craft maintaining formation with Gryphon no change to ETA with Pathfinder Group.”  Smith reported the Ancile Point Defence Craft was a drone controlled “flying ball” which was designed to intercept incoming missiles targeted on the WarShip and engage those missiles with their massed anti-missile arrays the one-hundred-ton craft had no offensive armament at all.  They would enhance the Gryphon’s already impressive defensive armament while the WarShip was deployed in hostile conditions.

The Star League Navy wished to see how the Gryphon and her sister ships operated with the Ancile deployment before deploying a minimum of two of the small craft to every WarShip in the fleet.  Built on the world of Bryant the future of hundreds of jobs hung on the success of the deployment of the new craft.  Eventually the Ancile would also be sold to the member states of the Star League further improving the sales and giving shipyards work for years in refurbishments.

Rosice News Network
Dei Gratia, Rosice
Halfway Province, Lyran Commonwealth
22nd January 3116

   Live from the capitol city of Dei Gratia the Rosice News Network screens lit up as the broadcasters spoke to the people of the world.  “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Venla Nieminen, welcome to Rosice New Network’s Breaking Event” the middle-aged broadcaster said.  She had lightly coloured skin, blonde hair with blue eyes and delicate features, the stereotypical Lyran look.  She wore a dark blue “Steiner” business skirt and jacket with a white shirt which was open at the collar.  “Tonight, we bring you a news story which concerns us all.  According to reports which have begun to emerge a new virus has been discovered here on Rosice.  Sheridan?”  She said glancing over at her co-anchor.

   “Indeed” Sheridan Jansen her male co-anchor said.  He was more tanned than she was and he looked about ten years her senior with his dark hair beginning to go grey at the temples.  He wore a charcoal suit with a white shirt and blue tie.  “After first appearing in November last year the virus has reportedly spread across Rosice and displays with a discolouration of the skin, itchy rash and bleeding.  Should any of our viewers be experiencing any of these symptoms they should contact the emergency number displayed at the bottom of the screen.”  He said pausing

   “Rosice Medical are on the case working to protect us all from this new virus.  Health officials from Halfway have joined their colleagues here on Rosice and are ready to provide anyone sick of this virus with the best of care.”  Venla Nieminen finished off.  “At present officials from Rosice Medical do not know where this virus originated from but they have not ruled out that it has come from the weapons facility destroyed in a terrorist action by Democracy Now in September of last year.”  She said “thus far Lyran Military Command have refused to comment on what was being researched at the plant and only that they continue mop-up operations there and care for those who had been wounded.”

   “Separately Democracy Now have announced that their attack on a weapons facility on Rosice included no biological elements and that anything that may have caused the new virus came entirely from the facility themselves.”  Sheridan Jansen said taking over “Democracy Now have said that their actions were against the oppressive Steiner State and not against the people of Rosice or the Lyran Commonwealth.”

   Behind the news broadcast Lyran Health officials race to control the Rosice Virus spread.  The Virus itself seems to target specific genetic markers within the population and those infected appear to suffer shortly from the virus before bleeding out and dying rapidly.  By the time of the news broadcast over one thousand have died on Rosice.

Inner Sphere offensive
Clan Occupation Zones
28th January 3116

   In a combined offensive the Lyran Commonwealth, Star League Defence Force and several mercenary commands including two regiments of the Wolf’s Dragoons launch assaults against the Rasalhague Dominion, Hell’s Horses, Coyotes, Jade Falcons and Wolves.  By agreement from the Lyran leadership and with the Star League Defence Force all of the attacks are fought in accordance with Clan dueling laws known as Zellbrigen.  In each case except one these battles are fought exactly as planned leading to minimal casualties on both sides.

   In all the Inner Sphere forces successfully liberate Westerstede and Whittington from the Jade Falcons but fail to win the system of Halmyre Deans.  The Isle of Skyes forces and Wolf’s Dragoons Alpha Regiment liberate Edasich from the Hell’s Horses but fail to win on Eaton.  During the battle on Edasich the Isle of Skye’s Third Hesperus Guards are debuted against the Clan defenders.  While Korbin’s Kommandos fail to liberate Yedi Prior in their Trial of Possession against Clan Coyote.

   While the Isle of Skye’s Fourth and Fifth Hesperus Guards are seen in action against Clan Wolf along with several mercenary units no worlds change hands as the Wolves send them home back into the Isle of Skye missing several of their now used Defiance of Hesperus II products.

   The only battle to fail to adhere to the rules of Zellbrigen was the battle for Wing between Star League Defence Force troops and troops of the Ninth Wolf Guard Cluster.  Alaric Ward’s cluster minus their commander who had been on Tukayyid recently refuses to agree to a batchall with the SLDF troops and fight back against the First Knights Regiment of the Star League Defence Force.  Unable to match the ferocity of the attacking Wolves the Knights are sent back to Denebola to rethink their strategy.

Author note:  the Bobcat in canon is known as the Carrion Crow however with the Craven OmniMech already developed by the Ravens in this AU I moved the Carrion Crow's origin.

The Ancile was developed by Liam's Ghost and can be seen here: https://bg.battletech.com/forums/aerospace/ancile-class-point-defense-craft-pretend-it-was-there-the-whole-time/msg1560535/#msg1560535

I'll be posting the active units, WarShips and map in the next few days.  I hope you enjoy and as always and questions are welcome.