Topic: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (FULL) (Read 158963 times)

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1080 on:** February 25, 2023, 08:46:58 PM »

Construction Facility, Madeira BattleMech Factory
Guldra, Southern Continent
Aurigan Collective, Periphery
8th November 3118

   The world of Guldra was a pleasant located near the centre of the Aurigan Collective it was the home of the Madeira family who were one of the largest mercantile families in the region. The Madeira family were also the holders of the Madeira Archives which was the most extensive library of history and culture in the entire Aurigan Collective. The Madeira family were also one of the largest supporters of the Arano family in the entire region.

   The Aurigan Collective was a relatively safe place in the periphery, they had weapons but they also had peace agreements with the Capellan Confederation, Taurian Concordat, the Magistracy of Canopus and the Fronc Reaches this had led to the Aurigan Collective being a centre for refugees as many saw it as a haven in the periphery. While a population boom was costing the worlds of the Aurigan Collective millions of C-Bills in providing housing and jobs for these new arrivals some of them also provided the Aurigan Collective with knowledge and access to resources which they would not have had access to otherwise. These factors had led the Emir of Guldra Abrax Madeira to his current situation dressed in the formal wear of the leader of Guldra the Emir’s outfit consisted of a golden squared off crown with two short spires and one larger one in the middle. His robe was black and rimmed in gold, his clothing under the robe was a gold-coloured business suit.

   Standing in the Mechbay adjacent to the newly finished factory Abrax Madeira looked up at the advanced BattleMech which stood in front of him it was named the Kharon and it was built with Clan technology, perhaps the most unique BattleMech in the entire Aurigan Collective. The Kharon was easily more than a century beyond what could be produced in the entire realm “Impressive is it not Emir, Quiaff?” a figure asked off to the side Madeira turned towards the shorter woman she was of Hispanic descent and in her early thirties, she had long brown hair and brown eyes with delicate features. She wore a dark top shirt, with a leather MechWarrior’s jacket over it and blue work jeans. On the leather jacket was the insignia of Clan Mountain Wolf but she was not a MechWarrior, she was a scientist born in the Lyran Commonwealth to the Mountain Wolf faction before its destruction at the hands of the Lyran Commonwealth

   “Yes, Marcela it is” he said looking at it the seventy-ton BattleMech “but so is the BattleMech we have designed from its bones.” She said, the BattleMech they had designed and build on Guldra was a pale imitation of the BattleMech which stood in front of them but it was the best that the Aurigan people could do, and it had a couple of features that the Clan Mech did not have.

   “Where is Anthony Wolf?” the Emir asked wondering about the MechWarrior, her protector who had piloted the BattleMech and brought it, Marcela and the BattleMech’s schematics to the Aurigan Collective.

   “He is asleep” Marcela said her tone betraying her disgust, she had coupled with him tonight and after a coupling Anthony always slept soundly. Anthony was fifteen years Marcela’s senior he wasn’t a very creative MechWarrior nor would he have had the guts to betray his Clan and run away with Marcela without her encouragement.

   “I assume he will not be a problem” the Amir knew Marcela had used Anthony to get out of Mountain Wolf territory, she had used her body to win his heart and then twisted his mind to her will while they travelled, but her heart belonged to another to the Amir.

   “Neg, my Amir” Marcela said “he is prepared for the Prototype’s demonstration tomorrow.”

   “Good, good, and my people are ready for when he returns here.” The Amir said quietly looking back at the Kharon “they will make it quick.” Abrax Madeira whispered despite there only been the two of them there.

   “He would prefer a MechWarriors death but there is no need to waste resources. Quineg?”

   “No, I would rather not kill him…”

   “But if he were to find out about our involvement, he would be a wildcard and a threat.” Marcela cautioned

   “I am aware of your concerns; it will be done.” He promised her his hand mingling with her “you have brought a great weapon to my nation. We will build them and strengthen the Aurigan Collective, together. I think I will take this Mech as my own.” He said intending on taking everything that once belonged to the Clan MechWarrior.

   The next day the prototype Kharon was piloted by MechWarrior Anthony the seventy-ton BattleMech performed perfectly the design was a solid heavy design. Unlike the Clan design which had an extra-light the Aurigan Kharon used a standard fusion engine which led to a slower top speed of only sixty-four kilometres per hour. Unlike the Kharon which featured heavy large lasers and extended range lasers the locally produced BattleMech had a single large laser backed up with a Plasma Rifle, in the periphery where vehicles and infantry would be a more common threat the plasma rifle would be very effective, both weapons were mounted on the right arm for full flexibility. For support missions the local Kharon featured an over the right shoulder mounted fifteen-tube long range missile launcher unlike the Clan build design which had an Advanced Tactical Missile launcher with twelve tubes. Finally, the main weapons were backed up with two medium lasers, one a pulse model, mounted in the left arm and a Guardian Electronic Counter Measures suite like the back-up weapons on the original Kharon.

   For thirty minutes MechWarrior Anthony shows the new BattleMech’s capabilities destroying several stationary targets, two targets which were moving on tracks and a target suspended below a VTOL before retiring the Mechbay. There he was expecting a warm welcome after a successful demonstration but instead he was welcomed with a white hot vibroblade to the stomach. While someone could survive a vibroblade strike the shock of the unexpected strike gave the assassin time to withdraw the strike and stab Anthony again in the stomach, the damage done by the strikes and bloodloss were enough to make recovery impossible. The Aurigan Collective had a capable new BattleMech but the man who brought it there would not see its general deployment.

Order of Sortek Fieldbase, Mobile Maintenace Cradle
Delacambre, Draconis March
Federated Suns, Periphery
14th November 3118

   There were not many systems in House Davion this deep into the periphery. Located deep within the outback of the Draconis March the system of Delacambre was in space between territory claimed by the Snow Ravens and Nova Cats but not on either’s border. Due to this remoteness and lack of heavy industry the world had no line defence units and instead was defended by a locally funded and equipped militia and whatever units happened to be passing through. Today the Order of Sortek Detached Lance was on the world, officially the lance of three Mechs had only passed through to resupply with food and munitions but they had also been training with the local militia sharing some of their wisdom and training. When a pirate force had arrived in system Leftenant Laure Bieganski, the lance’s commander, had volunteered their assistance immediately.

In battle against the pirate force the three front-line BattleMechs fought like they were twice as numerous and had helped repel the pirate force after several hours of fighting. While the lance was not a mercenary formation, the Order of Sortek were officially members of the AFFS, the Governor of the world had decided to award the Order with a salvaged BattleMech which now was held up by the maintenance cradle.

   “What do we have? Tech Gaubert” Leftenant Bieganski asked the tech who was on the maintenance cradle, looking at the BattleMech she knew what she thought it was it looked like a Rifleman but there was something off and it was too heavy.

   “Believe it or not Leftenant this is eighty tons of Rifleman II. Or it was once upon a time.”

   “A Rifleman II?”

   “She’s SLDF Leftenant, through and through to the structure there’s numbers on this Mech that tells us she was originally built in 2773.” Brigitte Gaubert said

   “That Mech’s almost is almost three hundred and fifty years old?” She asked looking at the BattleMech in shock “they were built to last.” She whispered

   “Oh, they were at that Leftenant, the problem is the SLDF abandoned this beast in probably during the reunification war. Whoever found it did not know how to repair Endo Steel, they didn’t have a spare extra-light so it has a smaller standard fusion engine and they didn’t have LBX autocannons.” The tech explained reaching over to point at the Mech’s chest and arms.

   “So, we have some sort of hybrid?” Bieganski groaned she hated FrankenMechs when techs took parts of one Mech and mated them with another, they were always very unpredictable.

   “Sort of Leftenant” Gaubert admitted “but whoever did it is a fricken genius.” She admired “they somehow mated standard structure to the Endo creating an Endo-composite I’d guess from an Awesome, you can see it around the shoulders and upper chest mainly” she said. “It is not nearly as strong to as your normal structure but still lighter. You can see it around the upper torso, they probably made the change when they ripped the old engine out.” It hit Laure Bueganski like someone had hit her, there were no extensions to the torso instead the armour curved downwards towards the torso mounted lasers “you’ve got standard autocannons replacing the LBXs, two medium lasers in the torso and someone’s bolted a small laser to the outside of one of the autocannons. Honestly, I’d rather take off the small laser and have more armour she’ll only carry twelve tons total once we get her repaired fully.” Bieganski nodded twelve tons of armour on an eighty-ton Mech was not a lot of

   “Something you can do?”

   “Not out here boss, maybe if we ever land somewhere with a full Mechbay I could have a look at it, honestly this thing is carrying too much ammunition, hasn’t got any CASE and there is not nearly enough armour. The SLDF might have been able to field companies of the same Mech and could afford acceptable losses from under-armoured Mechs but we cannot.”

   “Agreed, but if you can get it operational, we can use her as an anchor. She’s slower than our other Mechs but heavier.” Laure said looking at the hulk “Mr Kelly, you think you can pilot her?” She asked looking up at one of Gaubert’s assistants. While acting as a tech now Scott Kelly, formerly a member of one of the Dragon Lords regiments was trained as a MechWarrior first.

   “Yes, sir Leftenant”

   “Then once its operational you get to walk her to the DropShip, if you don’t drop it on its face, you’re a member of the lance.” Bieganski said offering the applicant a chance to prove his abilities in battle. The other applicant they had in the unit Charlie Johnston would get a chance in the future; it was an unfortunate fact.

   “Thank you, Leftenant, I’ll do my best”

   “You don’t need your best today, Kelly, but I’ll expect that in battle.” The Order’s lance would not be staying on Delacambre, that was not the job of this lance, soon they would leave heading to another system bringing the teachings of their Order to more who needed it.

Command Deck, CBS Rocinate (Black Lion-class Battle-cruiser)
Nadir Point, Priori
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Homeworlds
22nd November 3118

   The Clan Homeworlds were a battleground both in space and on the ground. Clan Blood Spirit and Clan Goliath Scorpion continued to try and liberate systems from the Society, the Clan’s self-made menace. To keep the pressure on the Society and continue to blood their troops Clan Blood Spirit planned to liberate the Priori system and capture a significant ProtoMech production and training facility which dominated a large part of the north eastern island.

   In a flash of light, the CBS Rocinate, Clan Blood Spirit’s last Black Lion-class Battle-cruiser, lead a group of JumpShips into the Priori system arriving at the Nadir point and immediately came under naval autocannon fire. “REPORT!” Star Commodore Phoenix Keller screamed as the vessel was rocked.

   “Sir, two unidentified WarShips below the system’s plain.”

   “Cut loose the Jump Sail. Set an intercept course now, Assault DropShips with us all others scatter!” Keller ordered the WarShip’s jump sail fell away from the ship and the engines kicked into drive. “Weapons stations fire at will!”

   “Sir, sensors suggest two more WarShips of the same class are at the Zenith point! They are engaging our DropShips.” The operator reported “sir, sensors now tentatively identify as Molniya-class Vessels.” He explained as the Rocinate’s own autocannons engaged at long range, there were a couple of hits but at this range they were struggling to zone in on their targets. Some distance from the Rocinate the two enemy WarShips hard their main engines facing the Rocinate with their rear mounted autocannon arrays targeting the WarShip. From their mid-ships aerospace fighters dropped from the aerospace bays.

   “It’s a trap!” Keller called out realizing that the Society must have been tipped off about this offensive since the liberation of six of the homeworlds by the two Clans still operating in the Kerensky Cluster there had been an increase in intelligence leaks. “Communicate with all troopships, remain as close to the JumpShips as they can!” Keller ordered as the Rocinate rocked again.

   “Helm roll the hull!” The vessel’s executive officer ordered “weapons break them!” He ordered as the Rocinate spun in space, presenting fresh armour at the enemy ships, autocannons fired from turrets around the hull and capital missiles left launchers amid-ships. “Sir, with your permission?”

   “Aff” Keller nodded “sensors, why a tentative identification?” He asked thinking about what had been said

   “This is a nuclear launch order!” the executive officer called out in the background, the Homeworld Clans had long realized that they could not match the Society in WarShip production, there was only one way to stay relevant.

   “Sir, the ships are definently based on the Molniya-class hull but they have been modified, they have significantly more weapon emplacements and it would appear thicker hulls. The conclusion must be these have been newly built.” He explained as the Rocinate launched a nuclear tipped capital missile along with it several other missiles flew from the tubes acting as decoys. As aerospace fighters and DropShips duelled between the closing WarShips the missiles flew in on one of the enemy WarShips immediately hull mounted anti-missile systems and lasers opened fire attempting to swat the incoming capital missiles from space. Small explosions filled the air as several of the missiles were destroyed and then there was one almighty explosion as the nuclear tipped White Shark Missile struck the two-hundred-and-fourty thousand-ton WarShip’s hull. A flash of light and explosive power enveloped the Molniya and the small ship’s hull buckled under the attack as more naval weapons flew and penetrated the hull.

   The remaining Molniya continued to fire back at the Rocinate with naval class autocannons, missiles and lasers engaging the larger WarShip but now the Black Lion was closer it switched to its heavier autocannons presenting a heavy broadside of firepower. The Clan gunners were intent on destroying the enemy WarShip in a single pass. “Have all DropShips rendezvous with JumpShips, JumpShips are to Jump when Collars are full” Keller ordered “any JumpShip with spare collars are to remain, we might need them for the Zenith Point DropShips.” He said as the Rocinate blew past the Molniya destroying the smaller ship. “Communications, transmit all date we have on that Molniya, I want it to be taken out of this system, the Clan needs to know what we found here.” He ordered the Rocinate had an HPG but the Blood Spirit WarShips only used them to communicate with each other and liberated homeworlds Colleen and Arizona, the two capitol worlds of the two Clans, were not on the HPG network meaning there was no chance of a transmission being tracked.

   Past the destroyed ships the Rocinate twisted in space and its main drives activated boosting the ship at speed towards the Zenith point rapidly leaving the aerospace fighters and DropShips to complete their own battles against the remaining Society craft. “Engineering, vessel status?” Keller asked as the WarShip accelerated heavily but was far from the fighting.

   “Sir, we are down to approximately 75% autocannon ammunition, 50% capital missiles, 3 nuclear warheads remain, forward armour at 38%, port armour at 49%, aft armour at 88%.”

   “XO, before contact with the enemy turn the ship, I want to go right between them” Keller ordered from the Rocinate’s holotank he could see the two remaining Molniya WarShips were engaged with multiple DropShips from the Blood Spirit flotilla. With no WarShip escort they had been forced to throw themselves at the WarShips and try to break through. Keller had argued that another of the Blood Spirit WarShips needed to be deployed on this mission but Caraxes had recently been ambushed by two Society WarShips and was under repair at Colleen. The only other available WarShips were the Blood Spirits own Molniya-class WarShips were of the original build of the class and they were seen as only good for defensive work.

   “Aff, Star Commodore, helm at my count minus… three, pivot manoeuvre using starboard thrusters present our best to the enemy.” He ordered as the two ships they were approaching realized that the Rocinate was burning in on them at pace “weapons all aft weapons as we approach then both broadsides as we pass between them.” He said looking around the command deck seeing their faces “we are going to burn going between them, but it is the only way we can engage both of them! Out Blood may run but our Spirits remain HIGH!”

   “SEYLA!” Everyone on the deck repeated in unison as the ship continued to be rocked by incoming fire the ship began its rotation showing fresh armour their target and then the ship’s main engines as it completed its pivot and the rear weapons activated engaging their targets.

   With their engines now pointing at the enemy the Rocinate was presenting critical systems towards the enemy but also heavier armour protecting the crew from harm. Enemy weapons fire slammed into the Rocinate damaging several systems but the Black Lion had already built-up significant speed approaching the enemy targets and many of the shots missed. The WarShip passed between the two smaller Corvettes and the entire side of the Rocinate appeared to be on fire from both the vessel receiving fire and the WarShip giving out heavy punishment on the two Molinya-class vessels. The Rocinate could not take such punishment without heavy damage of its own the crippled ship continued on its course away from the two Corvettes leaving the two broken hulls behind them.

   “Status” Keller coughed picking himself up off the deck, he felt the gravity beginning to fail as the engines lost power. Looking around the command deck he noticed several crewmen were dead after the command deck had taken damage during the final enemy attacks. He glanced over and saw his XO was among the dead “Jonas” Keller whispered seeing the young unblooded man, Keller had believed he could one day replace him, but in this game death did not discriminate. “Keller all hands, I need help on the Command Deck, medics and crewmen with Command training get up here.” He said glancing around the darkened two-tiered deck, he realized that the holo-tank was dead knocked offline along with dozens of other systems, he saw one or two members of the crew were alive and had retaken control over their stations. “Angela, tell me something good” he asked the young woman at the engineering deck dropping all pretence of professionalism.

   “Massive damage Star Commodore” she said, “we have breaches on multiple decks, most of our broadside and after weapons are gone.” She said “engines took a hit; we are down to half a G left for deacceleration.”

   “That’s something, bring online the engine bring it up to half a G slowly, we don’t need to burn out the damned engine!” He ordered his voice breaking with joy that they had something “the jump drive?”

   “Damaged” Angela answered as crewmen entered the Command Deck some of tending to the injured some trying to take control over the ship. “But operational, we will be better off out of this system than remaining.”

   “Affirmative, agreed, communications? Sensors?”

   “All communications are down, we only have internal, sensors…” she said glancing at the sensor displays and a feral smile appeared on her lips “Star Commodore, we paid a price but both corvettes have been destroyed the Rocinate has four WarShip kills today.”

   “Outstanding, they might be able to build them in numbers but they don’t have our skills.” Keller said looking around the bridge triumphantly as two crewmen carried Jonas out of the Command Deck Keller triggered the internal comms. “Crew of the Rocinate, this vessel and her crew have paid the price for our victory today but we have saved most of our assault forces with our skills and our sacrifices. Rocinate, is not lost, she will rise again as will this crew. Look to the warriors around you, this crew have done our Clan proud today and will be remembered in our Remembrance.”

Protest March, Central Bazaar of Marion
Loxley, Sherwood
Crucis March, Federated Suns
26th November 3118

   It felt good to be home Jonas Tyler, the Earl of Sherwood-in-exile, but Sherwood was not the world that he remembered. The world had long been occupied by Clan Nova Cat and much had changed during that time the Nova Cats had brought industry to the world, the former Jabberwocky Headquarters and IndustrialMech plant was now a BattleMech factory capable of building Pack Hunter, Ocelot and Jenner IIC BattleMechs. The Nova Cats had also reopened mines across the continent deep in the Watling and Ermine Mountains which fed raw material into the BattleMech factory and built a MagLev to transport the goods and enlarged the Spaceport all of which employed hundreds of people. Now rumours were abounded on Sherwood that the Federated Suns planned on packing up the BattleMech factory and transferring it all off planet away from the Nova Cat border. The factory was a prize and one the Federated Suns wanted to keep it regardless of cost.

   Facing the prospect of people masses of the people being out of work following the closure of the factory and the mines that supported it the people were protesting and the Central Bazaar was just one of those places. Named as it was at the centre of Loxley, the planetary capital, the Bazaar was so named because it brought multiple cultures together the area was generally rectangular in shape and could be entered from either side. On the east and west side there was a tall set of stairs with an observation platform at the top. In the middle of the low area there were dozens of stalls which sold food, drink, clothing, and other goods.

   Walking across the bazaar Jonas Tyler walked up the eastern stairs stopping near the top he turned to face the bazaar and sat down watching the activity below, all around the stalls there were literally hundreds of people standing to protest the changes the Federated Suns were making and planning to make. Tyler was shocked to see that several of the flags waved by the protesters were Federated Suns flags which had been crossed out or defaced while even more surprising several other flags carried the rest of Clan Nova Cat, the Clan’s roaring cat set against a starburst. Many were clearing “for” the Clan invaders, he could not believe his eyes, how much the people of his homeworld had changed.

   Suddenly on the western stairs several AFFS riot troops moved into position at the top of the stairs in full gear. The troops remained in position silently watching the protest crowd then suddenly near the bottom of the eastern stairs there was an explosion like a grenade had gone off, Tyler rolled backwards from the explosion rolling back onto his feet staying low below at the bottom of the stairs he saw at least a dozen were injured, he immediately began to move forwards down the stairs to help the injured but he stopped and looked up. All around him the crowd were moving in several different directions including towards the AFFS riot troopers who instead of trying to help moved down one step closer banging their riot shields with the batons. Some of the crowd ran away from the riot troopers while others ran straight towards the riot troopers who pushed them back with their shields several people fell backwards some of them being injured the troopers slammed their batons against their shields again and moved forward one more time.

   “Earl Tyler, you should come should come with me” a mysterious woman said she wore a red and white summer dress, her dark hair was highlighted blonde and she had a Latino complexion.

   “I’m sorry, do we know each other?” Tyler asked watching the troopers move down another step, the pro-Nova Cat protesters were now resisting their movements. Several first responders had moved in to support those that were injured, Tyler stood watching the scene of chaos as it continued to get worse.

   “Neg, Earl Jonas Tyler, but my people respect you.” The woman said her use of the Clan term informed him of who she was, a member of Clan Nova Cat.

   “Did you set this up!” He asked angrily looking around the scene the troopers and the crowd were continuing to engage each other while innocent bystanders were running out of the area.

   “Neg, if we wanted to take Sherwood back with force, we would use a Trial of Possession. As you did, this is the work of people who do not want peace on Sherwood and want an excuse to rule this world with a stronger hand.”

   “The Governor?” He asked because his family were technically still in exile and he had failed to gain control of the world for the Federated Suns Field Marshal Paul Bowman had assigned a temporary military governor to the system.

   “I do not know; we should go now” she said leading him away from the bazaar nearby DS7-FC Successor Armoured Supercar the six wheeled vehicle was far flashier than he expected as they approached the gull-wing doors swung upwards.

   “A little flashy?” Tyler asked looking at the vehicle for a moment as the younger woman got into the vehicle while it was the fusion powered version of the vehicle the Successor was still a high-end civilian vehicle produced by Dreadnaught Interstellar Industries on Acala III for one to be this far out should be a red-flag for anyone watching.

   “It is part of my cover as an Executive Director of Sherwood BattleMech Incorporated.” She said smirking getting into the vehicle, he followed her shocked at what he was hearing. Sitting inside both doors slowly closed sealing them inside she reached over and started the vehicle also activating the car’s inbuilt wireless radio.

   On the news the riot was already making the news, along with a terrorist attack and further riots elsewhere. “My name is Libby, as you have no doubt guessed I am a member of Clan Nova Cat’s Watch” she said moving the Fuel-Cell powered vehicle away from the city centre. “Earl Tyler, we do not want a Civil War on Sherwood, this world was ours for sometime and these people benefited Clan Nova Cat’s presence.” She explained “the Federated Suns does not mean Sherwood harm, I can guarantee you that but we felt this could happen.”

   “Could happen!” Jonas snapped as the vehicle sped out of the city “a fracking grenade exploded at a protest and now we have a riots! People have been injured potentially killed.” He said the vehicle was travelling quickly through a wooded area there was a stream of traffic heading out of the city and also AFFS APCs heading into the city he guessed with additional security troops. The Successor sped through the Woods of Sherwood which surrounded Marion before turning off the main road entering a secluded gated residential area, the radio was still broadcasting information on trouble flair ups in the city and beyond. “How can you be so cavalier with people’s lives?”

   “We have done nothing. We treated the population of this world well, it is not our fault that the population believe that they did a better job than the Federated Suns is. Our intention was not to start something here, they people are doing it all by themselves.” She said drawing the vehicle up to a gated residence. Moments later the gate opened allowing the vehicle to enter. “Earl Tyler someone else is pulling the population’s strings, they want to make it appear that it is not viable for the facilities my Clan built here to remain and in turn winding up the population into a frenzy.” She said stopping the vehicle in front of a luxurious residence the gate closed behind them and around the compound Tyler could see several troopers were hidden. “The grenade was only the beginning.”

   “What is your plan?”

   “We wish to help keep the peace on Sherwood Earl Tyler” Libby said stepping out of the Successor “we cannot do it ourselves; we need your help.”

   “I will not assist you in retaking this system.” He said defiantly standing beside the vehicle as Libby began to head towards the building.

   “Neg, we know you will not, but that choice may be beyond your capabilities to influence. How Sherwood makes that choice, and what remains of it, may however remain in your hands.” She said entering leaving the door open Tyler headed away from the vehicle into the building. Tyler stood beside the Successor for several moments and then followed her inside as the rain began to fall he wasn’t about to allow his home to fall into internal conflict, especially when he had now identified a Clan intelligence unit on the planet.

This is a month of thanks from the AU with thanks.

The Kharon is an Inner Sphere BattleMech based on the BattleMech seen in the Fan-made Society XTRO, which I'll post separately

The Molniya is a modified variant of the canon WarShip, which I'll post separately

Jonas Tyler is a character based on the canon product Tour of the Stars: Sherwood

And finally the Successor Supercar is from Fanbook: Operation Lancaster

So my thanks to the canon writers, the fan writers and the readers of this ti

Takiro · « **Reply #1081 on:** February 26, 2023, 09:20:50 AM »

Very cool Dragon Cat!

Rainbow 6 · « **Reply #1082 on:** February 27, 2023, 05:23:28 PM »

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1083 on:** February 28, 2023, 03:05:40 AM »

Ending 3118 - I've got some housekeeping to do with my support documentation but once that's sorted I'll post the current map, units and WarShip listings

Public unrest
Sherwood, Crucis March
Federated Suns
1st December 3118

The rioting on Sherwood had continued for days after Jonas Tyler’s “rescue” by the Nova Cat Watch team now he began to understand the troubles that Sherwood was facing and what he had missed when he was away from the system. There were more and more people rising in support of Clan Nova Cat’s return to the system, which shocked Jonas, this rising support was also causing tension for with those who had openly welcomed the Federated Suns return.
Jonas had spent time with the Nova Cats, mostly Libby but also some of the others who were willing to speak, from what he could understand that while the Nova Cats were willing to accept the Federated Suns had won a Trial of Possession for the world and everything on it but this acceptance came at a price. The Watch’s presence was officially one of observation but in the last few days Tyler had seen that they were also capable of being an actionable force should they need to.

“I thought you Clanners were supposed to be honourable, this whole outfit doesn’t feel very honourable.” Jonas said he was sitting in Libby’s lounge with the Clan woman who was taking a break from her spying.

“We are not” Libby said glancing down “the Watch are not honourable warriors, we are the Watch, we would not be welcome on the field with members of our Clan.” She said quietly looking away.

“I heard your Khan was once a member of your Watch, how can that not bring your people honour?” Jonas asked wondering how the two could be separated. In his efforts to release Sherwood from the grips of Clan Nova Cat he had studied all of the information he could on the Federated Suns neighbours preparing himself for the time when he would face them.

“Aff, but our ways are not your ways. Khan Canin Rosse is different from other members of the Watch; within our Clan he was a ristar” she said seeing some recognition on Jonas face “you have heard the term Quiaff?” he nodded “the Khan chose to join the Watch and serve as he knew it would bring him closer to the Inner Sphere and our leadership in the days when the Watch was needed. He happened to be in the right place at the right time for our encounter with the Fox’s Teeth which catapult his unit into the spotlight within out Clan. A spotlight on which he rode to the leadership of our Clan.”

“Impressive” Jonas admitted, considering Canin Rosse was one of the longest and oldest serving Khans and he continued to hold an impressive reputation within the Clans showed exactly how good the Khan was. The Watch’s presence here also showed that while the Nova Cats held an impressive marital presence, they were also willing to do things which were not within the honour of their Clan. “How does that effect Sherwood?” this world was won by Clan Nova Cat from the Federated Suns and became a Nova Cat territory. Now it has been won again and it is once again a Federated Suns territory, by the agreements made between your people and the Federated Suns this world does not belong to your people.”

“Another Trial of Possession” she answered she answered simply as if the Trials were an answer to everything.

“But there are no Nova Cat forces, other than your own, in this system. You have no way of calling a Trial of Possession, Quineg?” He asked confused and angry by her simple answers which answered nothing.

“Neg, we do not, Clan Nova Cat will not be the entity declaring this, Trial. You will.”

“Me?” He asked shocked looking at her the Nova Cat woman laughed at his surprise curling up on the sofa opposite him, in a different circumstance he could see himself attempting to impress her enough to join him in bed, today however her beauty and words were winding her up. “How my Terrors were destroyed by your forces in a Trial of Possession? I have a lance left and they are stuck in a DropShip at the Spaceport.”

“The people will be your force Earl Jonas Tyler; you will rouse them to make a peaceful decision about their future with your actions.” Libby said uncurling her legs on the sofa she swung them out onto the floor standing up she stretched her muscles with the grace of a cat before reaching out with her hand. “And I will provide you with your sword.” She said taking his hand leading him through the complex. The former owner of this house had provided it with a massive garage space which took up a fair amount of the rear of the property, the Nova Cats had gutted it and replaced it with their own space enough space for a single BattleMech cradle which they had filled with a single BattleMech, the executive of the Sherwood BattleMech Factory had made big news when she’d purchased a brand-new Shadow Hawk SHD-2Hb model for her own personal use.

“What is this?” Jonas was a Shadow Hawk pilot, looking at the Mech he could see the Nova Cats had done further work to the design, but the fact they had a Shadow Hawk indicated there had been a significant amount of planning done behind his back.

“You need a sword Jonas Tyler, this BattleMech will be that sword, how you use it will entirely be up to you. This sword will give you the stage to make a statement after which Sherwood will make its choice.” Libby said looking from Jonas to the Mech and back again “we hoped you would agree to work with us, but we have a contingency should you refuse.”

“And should you need the contingency, what happens to me?”

“The same thing that happened to the person who used to own this house, and the person who bought that BattleMech.” Libby said in a matter-of-fact fashion informing him that he would not make it out of here alive. “Jonas, you do not have to work with us, you can take that BattleMech to the AFFS garrison and turn us in become a hero of the Federated Suns because of it. But I guarantee you that your people will suffer from that choice, not from Clan Nova Cat but from their own distrust of each other and of the changes that will come to Sherwood.” She explained “give the people their voice back, show them their Earl is willing to stand up to the powerful and fight for the people, even if it is only with words.”

“You think that will make any sort of difference?” Jonas asked looking up at the Shadow Hawk, it was tempting to do as she said. Not help the Nova Cats but turn them in, perhaps regain his Earlship of Sherwood and resist the Federated Suns policy of moving the factory away from the Nova Cat border and instead fortifying the system from attack.

“That is up to you and the people Jonas. I think a homegrown hero could help the people along.” She suggested turning and leaving him alone to stare at the BattleMech, it was painted in a forest camouflage with no insignia on it, anyone could own that Mech, he could own it. It was a simple choice he leaned on a tool rack and looked up at the BattleMech trying to clear his head.

---

Several hours later Earl Jonas Tyler was walking the Shadow Hawk BattleMech towards the centre of Marion, the planetary capital, Jonas had been taught by his father the legends of Sherwood and where Sherwood and the places on the world had gained its name. He had never seen himself in any of the roles from the legend but today he could almost fit the role of Robin Hood. He was illegally piloting a BattleMech through the roadways and forests of Sherwood, he had no authority other than the moral obligation he felt for the people of Sherwood just like the legendary character. Unlike the story he wouldn’t be fighting the Federated Suns authority, he had made that clear to Libby before leaving in the BattleMech instead he planned on speaking to the people and seeing where it went from there.

Moving through the streets of Marion he saw the streets were quiet it was early afternoon, normally the streets would still be busy but today things were quiet people staying home after the riots. He hoped this little stunt would have enough of an impact making his way to the middle of the city his BattleMech stood there and he flicked the external speakers to active. “People of Marion, I am Jonas Tyler the Earl of Sherwood, I have been missing from this world for several years. I did not experience what Sherwood was like during the occupation of this world instead I fought against Clan Nova Cat with my unit the Terribles.” He said making sure everyone around the BattleMech knew who was talking to them, he saw out of several corners of the central square there were several people looking at the BattleMech.

“You suffered during that time I am sure of that but Sherwood has risen from the occupation stronger than ever. We have industries and jobs on Sherwood now that were not here before, there are recharge stations at the jump points, Sherwood stands at the precipice of being a centre for trade within this region, do not allow your fears to bring trouble and death to our streets. Whatever happens to our system is in our hands.” He said pausing as he saw a Davion militia Cuirass moving to the edge of the square the forty-ton BattleMech carried a nasty rotary autocannon, laser and Mech sized-sword but his Mech outweighed it by fifteen tons.

“I didn’t come here to fight” he saw watching the Cuirass, dozens of members of the public had flocked closer to his Mech to listen to his speech “I am here to encourage the people of Sherwood to take charge of their destiny peacefully and support a better future for Sherwood.” He said his words as much for the other MechWarrior as anything else but his words caused the crowd to cheer. “Make your choice, but respect your neighbours, keep the peace and make Sherwood better because of it.” His words caused more cheering which brought out other people. Jonas was doing his best to remain apolitical and keep a jovial atmosphere trying to turn their minds away from the riots which had proceeded such gatherings. For nearly three hours Jonas’s speech led to others a word of the gathering passed but unlike previous gatherings at this one there was no animosity between the groups instead there was a friendly atmosphere.
Following the gathering Jonas was escorted by the guarding Cuirass to a nearby militia base there he was debriefed by AFFS commanders he chose to stick to the story which he had agreed with Libby. Their story was a simple one Executive Amanda Brownhill of the Sherwood BattleMech Factory had seen Jonas and knew of him as a “war-hero” they had spoken briefly which had led to drinks at her property and personal relations had followed. When he had seen the riots, she had loaned him the BattleMech to try and bring back a sense of peace to the world. The AFFS authorities had believed the story and he had been released to return to his DropShip where the rest of his lance mates had remained during his excursion.

Lower Atmosphere, ODS Hampus Lindholm, Selecus Infantry Transport-class DropShip
Calloway IV, District of Oriente
Free Worlds League
17th December 3118

It was continuing to be troubled times for the Free Worlds League’s District of Oriente while Federally controlled troops and WarShips were moving into the region to support Oriente’s defence the Capellan Confederation’s successful invasion of Jasmine and Shuen Wan had seen the destruction of two regiments of Oriente troops and the loss of two WarShips. On Jasmine there was a suggestion that the Eighth Fusiliers of Oriente had divided their forces based on their loyalty to the two brothers which led the nation leading to the destruction of the unit.

Instead of allowing things to continue Duke Ralph Halas had called for a meeting with his brother Javier meeting in the Calloway system onboard a Selecus-class DropShip which was delivering additional battle armour suits to the planet.
“Why are we meeting here Ralph? We could have just spoken on Oriente, and remained in command of our forces.” Javier asked complaining to his brother as they entered the infantry bay which had been cleared of troops.

“Symbolism” Ralph answered leading his brother past the silent battle armoured suits towards one of the deployment hatches. He saw his bother eyeing the suits, no doubt wondering if Ralph had an assassin waiting inside one of them ready to ensure his leadership of the district. Instead, Ralph headed over to the hatch standing to the left of the hatch he toggled the controls to observation mode. The pressure doors which were large enough for an entire squad of Battle Armoured troopers to deploy at once opened fully before a third door segment rose from the floor to nearly waist height. Ralph stood in the doorway looking out as Javier stepped up beside him the DropShip was cruising over the plains of Calloway banking gently in a slow orbit below there was a herd of nearly three thousand Calloway Wildebeests. “Almost fifty years ago scientists used the Helm Memory Core to reverse engineer and clone DNA preserved of an extinct species bringing it back.” He said looking down at the herd of brown haired four hooved, multi-horned beasts below early colonists on the planet had hunted them into extinction. “Short-sightedness had resulted in excessive hunting of those animals and like so many species on old Terra man thought it knew better and man killed an entire species.”

“And then man’s ingenuity brought it back” Javier pointed out a lesson in how man mis stepped was not what he needed.

“What is your point? We didn’t hunt those beasts into extinction, the people of Calloway farm them now sustainably and they are one of this system’s greatest exports. Calloway is a basket world of our district because of how we have protected it.” Javier hated being preached at, their elder sister had done it often, especially about something that he had nothing to do with.

“Yes, but our continued opposition threatens it just as it did the security of Jasmine and Shuen Wan” Ralph snapped back “we need to present a united front even if we don’t agree. Or our nation will go the same way as those original Wildebeests” he warned as the DropShip completed its second orbit of the herd the ship bobbled slightly as it hit a little turbulence as Ralph moved to close the hatch once more and Javier took his moment.

“I’m sorry this is for our people” he said lunging forwards he grabbed his brother’s stumbling form and shoved him over the low guard. Ralph Halas screamed in surprise but he had no chance to stop his motion with his knees slamming into the metalwork there was a large snapping noise as one of them broke instantly. Ralph screamed as his body tumbled over the gap, there was no hope of him holding on, Javier stood and watched as his own twin brother disappeared out of the gap and out onto the short wings of the DropShip. Ralph tumbled across the wing before rapidly moving backwards across the craft's hull as the engines drew him across the hull of the ship and straight through the air intake, there was little chance of survival from the fall but the DropShip’s movement and the damage done by the engine was enough to end Ralph’s life. “MAN OVERBOARD! MAN OVERBOARD!” Javier screamed breaking down in tears as crewmen rushed into the DropShip bay.

Within hours of the “accident” Duke Javier Halas stood in front of a tri-vid camera on the surface of Calloway IV. He wore the full uniform of an officer of the Free Worlds League military. “Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my sad duty to announce that my brother Ralph Halas today committed suicide onboard a DropShip heading to Calloway IV. I cannot tell you the reason behind his motives only the that he was dealing with grief from the hurt and pain our nation is feeling due to the damage caused by the Capellan Confederation. I will put everything I have to heal the pain of that grief our nation is feeling.”

Trial of Possession, Clan Wolf Incursion
Augustine, New Canton EDZ
Star League Protectorate
19th December 3118

   Border skirmishes between Clan Wolf and the Star League Protectorate were a common and bloody occurrence. This was the first one on Augustine in several months and the first that Kay’s Jokers had joined the SLDF in the defence of the world. Prowling her Ryoken II along the battleline Tassa Kay, the commander of Kay’s Jokers, was looking for a specific Clan Wolf BattleMech as their incursion was repulsed by the SLDF and mercenary forces. The Wolves were going to leave Augustine in defeat but she wanted to make it extra special for the Wolves.

   “There you are” she said smiling savagely looking at the gold, black and red painted Linebacker near the rear of the formation “you always did like commanding from the middle.” She said adjusting the straps of her command couch inside the Mech she wore a green tank top and shorts under her coolant vest, she had never been a fan of the full coolant suits favoured by some warriors instead preferring to feel some of the heat her Mech was producing. She reached to the right of the cockpit flicking a switch “Jokers target identified, I want a wedge of targets attacked between line four of their line and line…” she paused looking at the enemy line, her Jokers were not a massively powerful unit “line 7 hit them all except the Linebacker, he’s mine.”

   Moments later almost as one the Kay’s Jokers burst into action firing on the Wolf lines. Tassa remained behind the other Jokers for several moments allowing them to engage the Wolves first before turning her Ryoken II and charging it straight at the enemy Linebacker. As a Wolf Timber Wolf attempted to move to engage with her, she triggered the BattleMech’s jump jets launching the blue, green and grey painted Ryoken II into the air avoiding its charge flying clearly over the Wolf front-line and into the middle of their formation “Star Colonel Quinton Sender, I Challenge you to a Circle of Equals, you against me.” She said on an open frequency, other challenges had been made during the battle which had been honoured and throwing his name into the mix should get his attention. Before the battle Star League Intelligence had provided the unit with the breakdown of the Wolf Cluster, the First Wolf Guards an elite formation, a formation that used to be part of Clan Mountain Wolf before it “returned to Clan Wolf” among its roster Tassa had seen a name which she knew, her target.

   “You know my name?”

   “I know you” Tassa said as the battle raged all around everyone ignored the two warriors as a challenge had been made. “Do you accept this challenge?”

   “What is your ransom?” He asked wondering what she wanted from the trial, during these sorts of trials the Wolves often agreed to honour reasonable ransoms from enemy warriors. Of course, more often than not the challenging warrior either lost their life, or lost their position becoming a bondsman of the Wolves.

   “I will tell you, or whomever remains in command, what I want after this battle is done.”

   “Your overconfidence will be your undoing.”

   “That’s been said, but not today shorty” she snorted knowing that neither the Mech or its pilot were up to her.

   “When you are defeated, you will be taken as a bondsman of Clan Wolf and those contractions will be beat out of you.” He warned she saw a twitch in the arms seeing the particle cannons mounted there moving.

   “Well bargained and done” she said triggering both of her Ryoken II’s torso mounted particle cannons one struck the hunched over enemy OmniMech while the other hit the upper right arm of the enemy Mech. Her attacks knocked off the shot of one of the Linebacker’s own particle cannons sending the shot wide while the other shot flew into Tassa’s Ryoken II’s humanoid chassis.

   Cutting to the right Tassa twisted the Mech’s torso tracking the Linebacker both torso mounted missile racks locked on target and she pulled the trigger sending twelve streak short range missiles straight at the enemy Mech the Linebacker was beginning to move just as the missiles exploded all over the enemy Mech. Tassa added in both of the medium lasers but both went wide missing their target completely.

   Missiles from the Linebacker flew in five long range missiles arced high above but missed the Ryoken completely, four short range missiles of the same streak type flew in low from the Linebacker hitting the Ryoken in the stomach area. Tassa ignored the damage and continued to run her Ryoken in a circle before planting the feet bringing the Mech to a sudden stop, Sender continued to try and track the enemy Mech which was no longer running there. “You old fool!” Tassa shouted triumphantly firing both particle cannons into the right arm of the Linebacker, the double impact of the two man-made lightning bolts severed the arm just above the elbow parts of the arm flew everywhere and the particle cannon carried by it fell uselessly to the ground. “You’re going to die Sender! I’m coming for you!” She screamed launching the Ryoken II into the air high above the Linebacker the Ryoken II flew as the Mech rose, she triggered both medium lasers but they went hight above the enemy BattleMech.

   Tassa twisted the Ryoken in mid-air but was unable to complete an entire turn coming into a landing. The Ryoken stumbled a little as she fought the momentum, the damage display showed the jump had cost her a damaged ankle actuator. Even as she checked the damage missiles and a particle cannon shot from the Linebacker slammed into the Ryoken II causing it to stumble further. “Stavag! I will not lose to you Sender!” She snapped angrily turning the Mech quickly she briefly exposed the back of the Ryoken II to her enemy but that enemy had just used his weapons against her and would have to wait for another shot. Continuing her turn she brought the two particle cannons in line and took a snap shot but both bolts missed their target she began to run again in a circle opposite the Linebacker trying to keep her opponent off pace, with the damaged ankle the Ryoken II was moving less fluidly this time. One of the two Streak racks obtained a lock and six missiles shot out at the enemy Mech as four missiles from the Linebacker flew in the opposite direction again aimed at the gut of the Ryoken II. This time immediately followed were five closely bunched long range missiles which arced upwards and then came back down on top of the seventy-five-ton BattleMech.

   The Linebacker started tightening the circle between them “Yes, Sender com’on put up a fight” she taunted him Tassa smiled squaring the shoulders of the Ryoken facing the Wolf BattleMech “Com’on!” She shouted again triggering one particle cannon and medium laser which smashed into the Linebacker’s hunched over torso heat rose quickly in the cockpit of the Ryoken II as she stepped forwards. With her next step she triggered the other particle cannon and other laser it was like a boxer’s one-two punch against the Linebacker forcing it backwards. As she closed the Linebacker struck out with its remaining particle cannon and the long-range missiles. With neither Mech moving quickly the particle cannon couldn’t miss nor could the five missiles causing armour damage on the torso. As the Linebacker closed on the Ryoken II Tassa’s streak missiles activated gaining a lock against their target and essentially throwing a third punch to the combo she had delivered against the Linebacker. Explosions from the short-range missiles covered the Linebacker even as the Wolf pilot attempted to return fire but the man-made lightning bolt flew high into the air missing wildly. More long-range missiles were fired but they harmlessly flew past the sidestepping Ryoken II.

   Another “one-two” particle cannon and laser combination followed from the Ryoken II and this was enough for the Linebacker, the OmniMech stumbled and then fell on its face. Tassa Kay stood over the fallen Linebacker “Star Colonel Sender, you are defeated, surrender” she said.

   “Neg, freebirth” he responded his prone Linebacker was attempting to get back up but Tassa delivered a physical punch to the back of the sixty-five-ton OmniMech knocking it back down onto the ground. “Stavag!”

   Inside her Ryoken II’s cockpit she toggled the comm. frequency to one used only by Clan Wolf command staff “I’m not a freebirth you old fool, surrender before you die.”

   “I’d rather die in my cockpit, if you are not a freebirth then I die with honour, finish…” he began to say before Tassa Kay delivered a particle cannon blast directly into the cockpit of the Linebacker incinerating the Wolf warrior where he sat, she knew where he was coming from, it was a great fear of all Clan warriors to become a solahma and be relegated from the front lines.

   Changing frequencies back over again she sat in the middle of the Wolf formation as warriors died all around them. She looked at the Jokers IFF codes and saw that many of them had paid the price for her little excursion, she smiled, they had played their part. Swapping back to a general frequency she challenged the Wolves “Clan Wolf warriors of the First Wolf Guards I have defeated your commander in a Circle of Warriors, it was a duel of warriors to which honour was served and blood was spilled. I demand safcon to your DropShip to collect my ransom.”

   “This is Star Captain Finola Shaw, I accept your demand of safcon. We are falling back you may join us at our DropShip and recover your ransom, Quiaff?”

   “Aff” Tassa answered smiling she then about turned the Mech and began walking it towards the Wolf landing zone. She saw communications from the surviving jokers but she ignored them instead continuing to march along with the Wolves. On reaching the Wolf DropShips she marched the BattleMech inside and entered the Mechbay, there was a combined panic from the technicians below as they expected her to attack them, the BattleMech was an enemy combatant, several infantry troopers raised weapons towards the BattleMech but did not fire.

   Inside the cockpit of the Ryoken II she played with the idea of raising her weapons but the Wolves had given her safcon and she would honour that, she would trust their honour. She manoeuvred the BattleMech into one of the Mech maintenance gantries shutting everything down and putting the BattleMech into safe mode. She removed the neurohelmet placing it on its storage shelf before unhooking her coolant vest and squeezing out of command couch, she reached the rear hatch and keyed the lock, the hatch opened and the cold air rushed in. Tassa loved the feeling of the cold air following BattleMech operations the cold air on her bare skin was as refreshing as any shower. She clambered out of the seventy-five-ton BattleMech’s cockpit and onto the metal gantry that ran around the back of the Mechbay. Climbing up onto the gantry were two security officers with basic armour and hand weapons, she assumed they were lower castemen left to defend the DropShip as a last resort glancing downwards, she saw her weapon belt just inside the Ryoken II and was tempted to reach for it but decided she could intimidate them just fine on her own instead she pulled a red hair bobble from a hook just inside the door and then toggled the lock controls. The hatch slid slowly shut just as the guards reached her. She looked them up and down their weapons not drawn, “sloppy, just as well I am not an intruder” she silently thought.

   “I have been granted safcon to this DropShip and a ransom by your commander” she announced stepping forwards both men flinched at her movement which made Tassa Kay smile broadly “take me to your leader, or should I take you?” she joked with them both men continued to look nervous but allowed her to pass. She made her way confidently along the gantry as more Mechs were staggering into the Mechbay of the Union C-class DropShip. The DropShip could hold fifteen Mechs but she would be shocked if that many returned to the bay after the fight the Star League and Jokers had given them. She climbed down the steps and stood in the bay waiting for whoever decided to take charge of the situation. She saw warriors and techs assembling and the admiring eyes from many of the warriors Tassa was beautiful, her skin was perfect, she was well built with an athletic frame, her green tank top did nothing to hide the womanly curves she had, if anything it drew attention to them as did not wear a bra while in the cockpit and she was soaked in sweat. Her exposed belly was trimmed and muscled, and the shorts did their own job attracting attention to her perfectly formed legs. Topping this off was her long bright red hair which she had tied back in a ponytail behind her head. She could be the poster girl for any recruitment poster and would turn heads in any bar in the Inner Sphere and she knew it, she had used these charms more than once she knew what they did to both men and women and her body was a weapon in every sense of the word. She almost felt sorry for the Wolf who would try to contain her.

   Finally, an Elemental warrior still fully suited up marched up to her. The suit had been in the thick of the fighting, its missile launcher was gone, the armour pitted and burned over more than seventy percent of its frame, the V-shaped visor at the front slid open revealing a sweat covered dark skinned elemental warrior inside. “I am Finola Shaw, you fought well warrior, what is your ransom? I will honour your victory and give you what you want from this DropShip, including repairs to that fine BattleMech.” She announced

   “You cannot give me anything” Tassa Kay said “instead I challenge you Star Captain Finola Shaw” she said reaching into her tank top and pulling out a small cannister which was attached to a think chain around her neck. “I challenge you to read this codex.”

   “You’re Clan” Shaw said after moments shock her voice slipping in surprise.

   “Aff” she confirmed off to the side a pale looking male technician rushed in with a portable reader and carefully took the codex from Tassa Kay’s out stretched hand. In front of everyone the tech read the codex and his mouth visibly dropped even further open than the Star Captain’s had a moment before. He turned the display towards Shaw “its authentic” she confirmed “I am a Wolf!” She said loud enough for them all to hear “as much a Wolf as any of you. I am Anastasia Kerensky, a Kerensky born on Arc Royal to the same Clan that many of you were once tied to, I was born from the same blood as Natasha Kerensky, the Black Widow herself and I will have my place in my Clan.”

   “You will be its bondswoman” Shaw said after giving her a moment to showboat. “I will afford you the respect you are due as one of the Bloodnamed but until we return to Wolf territory, you will be confined to quarters.”

   “Don’t forget about me!” She said cheekily as she was led off by the security staff.

   “I do not think that would be possible.” Shaw said more to herself than anything “the show is over people, at least for now, prep this ship for immediate lift off. We are going home.” She announced to the rest of the assembled warriors and techs, taking a final look at Tassa… no, Anastasia Kerensky’s Ryoken II before heading off to get her Elemental suit removed.

   Back on Augustine with their commander gone and more than half of their BattleMechs damaged beyond the capability to repair the Kay’s Jokers cease to be with the personnel offered positions in other commands or packing their bags and heading towards a mercenary hiring hall looking for new work.

Diamond Crash Bar, Oldtown Square
Hon Hu, Matsuida Prefecture
Military District of Midway, Draconis Combine
24th December 3118

   There were many in the Inner Sphere that said that Christmas was not celebrated in the Draconis Combine, that was a myth it was just different. There were many who also said that the Combine did not have much to celebrate with their borders besieged on almost every front by one aggressor or another, while accurate many of the worlds were dozens of light years from any battle front. Even an intelligence release which glorified the DCMS’ success in the periphery against Clan Lynx with six systems liberated by the brave sons and daughters of the Dragon had been overshadowed when a release of information, which was being blamed on Azami Separatists revealed that the Lynx had almost completely abandoned all six systems with no ground forces and token aerospace defences in each. If anything, the Dragon had added more territory to defend while the Lynx had moved troops possibly into striking range of other worlds.

   Making his way through the group a single bar customer moved passed one of the Diamond Crash Bar’s stalls and slumped onto the seat his pint glass landing thankfully upright on the table “do you mind if I take this chair young lady?” He asked her his voice was slurred his brown hair looked greasy, a full beard over grown and dark shades hiding eyes which probably showed not enough sleep. He wore a checked blue, brown and yellow shirt, and a pair of denim jeans, he didn’t stand out at all in the room which was full of men wearing the same enjoying the last day before Xmas.

   “Sure, I’m just waiting for friends” she replied she was his opposite she looked tidy her blonde/brown hair cut short she wore a white shirt and, hidden by the table, plain blue velvet bottoms.

   “Of course, you are!” He said loudly “quite right too, enjoying Christmas Eve because we can and the Coordinator cannot stop us having a bit of fun!”

   “No, he can’t you have a good night though” she said sounding more nervous, talk against the Coordinator even in jest could be dangerous.

   “So, you can go drink a water slowly alone elsewhere” the man asked sounding far more sober for a moment before returning to his drunken state speaking quickly. “You’re never going to believe this!” He said giggling away “today the government attempted to release some good news!” He said “they’ve got a brand-new Land Air Mech plant right here on Hun Ho!” He said excitedly “LexaTech is expanding its production base and its products a brand-new LAM design too.”

   “I don’t really follow the military news, it’s a long way away from here in the core” she said sounding nervous Hun Ho was a warm jungle world far from any threats and hosted little in the way of industry to make it a target.

   “Of course, you don’t lass, quite right too! And tonight, is about celebration!” He said standing up and singing away to a tune, the young woman began to move again “but hang on, I didn’t finish my story.” He said she reluctantly stopped moving “so the government was trying to give us some good news a new factory, new jobs for the folk here and a new LAM design the Needletail, they are calling it a wee nipper of a thing.” He said “but here’s the kicker two nights ago one of the leading development pilots stole one of the prototypes!”

   “Oh my, that’s shocking” the young woman said “you have a good night old fella” she said half joking beginning to slide off the booth.

   “The pilot of that Needletail will never get out of this system to sell that craft.” The man said “especially if she spends all night sipping a drink of water and then slips out of a booth when someone is trying to speak to her.” He said stopping her movement completely

   “You’re my contact!” She said her eyes open in surprise looking at him. She had stolen the LAM after having contact with someone outside the factory who said they’d pay good money for the design.

   “Keep your voice down little lady, now listen you can’t stay here with a drunk like me and have water, so go get yourself a double at the bar and a drink to take and if you still want to talk come back here.” He said having a large sip from his glass.

   She returned several minutes later with a drink for herself and a drink for him which was well timed as he had just finished his drink, it was like his previous drink so most likely a lager. “So still interested then?”

   “That was a test” she said realizing he had let her go for a reason. To see if she would return “what can you offer me?” She asked drinking some of her drink which was not quite a pint but looked like a similar lager to what she was drinking.

   “Initially transport out of this system and out of the Combine” he said “in exchange I’ll take the LAM as payment, you’ll get enough to start over elsewhere.” He said seeing her resistance as he continued to drink “if you want to keep the LAM then we need you to work off the debt for transporting it and you. I have a small unit; we could use the unique scouting and strike capabilities a LAM would bring.” He explained, she had thought her contact had wanted the LAM to sell it, a brand new design would make a massive profit.

   “Will I get paid anything over and above the debts?” She asked drinking more of the drink. She should be afraid that all would happen is she would be murdered and her LAM taken but she was not, if she remained in the Hon Hu system she would be discovered and the same fate would follow.

   “You’ll be well taken care of as long as you’re with us you’ll be part of the team. There is a non-disclosure agreement you’ll need to agree to but I’m sure once you are onboard, you’ll agree.” He explained, the fact that he was explaining this suggested that he ran some sort of black ops unit, but then only someone who was operating under the radar could offer what he had offered.

   “If you get me off this world, I’ll sign whatever you want.” She admitted downing the drink “another?” She asked she had loosened up a bit and was relaxing now her contact was real and she had a chance of getting off the world alive.

   “I don’t think we need one, not here anyway” he said the effects of the alcohol all but gone from his voice. “Where’s your Mech?” He asked all business.

   “In the jungle” she said, that was not much of an answer as the most of the world was covered by jungle foliage.

   “Space capable?” He asked she nodded it was a LAM it should be space capable but he wanted to be sure. “Good, lay low tonight and during the day tomorrow if you can. I have a supply shuttle you can shadow until you reach orbit, there I’ll have a Mule-class DropShip, if you can rendezvous with us then we can disappear before the militia finds us.” He explained “from there we can figure out what you want.”

   “How will a Mule-class vessel avoid detection and hide my fighter?” She asked a Mule was a transport class of vessel many were used by the military but they were built to a civilian spec. While Hon Hu did not have extensive sensor networks and naval defences they would still have enough to penetrate a Mule’s hull.

   “We won’t avoid detection, but if they have anything capable of penetrating our screens then they deserve to detect you.” He said confidently the glint in his eyes showing that the drunken state that he previous showed was gone.
“I’ll get you off this rock.”

---

The next night a Sopworth Supply Craft flew low over the jungle and the single forty ton red and black painted Needletail LAM joined it in the lower atmosphere. The pilot showing an impressive skillset to remain just in the one-hundred-and-ten-ton Small Craft’s sensor shadow. If one looked close enough you could see where the arms of the BattleMech had folded forwards to create the nose of the craft and the engines on the rear of the torso and legs were now creating the thrust that propelled the aircraft. The two arm mounted extended range lasers mounted on the arms were now nose mounted weapons while the torso mounted multi-missile launcher gave the Mech a long range and short range punch in the aircraft mode the launcher was near the rear of the craft giving it its name. The problem, like with all LAMs, was the design could not heavy damage with only seven tons of amour and a composite structure making nearly any it did take a lethal one. The advantage that the Needletail had over other LAM designs was the modular weapons bay in the left torso while not a true OmniMech the weapon system could be replaced far faster than a regular refit.

As the Sopworth and Needletail approached the waiting Mule just outside standard orbit the small craft rotated allowing the Needletail to approach the first small craft bay undetected it slipped into the bay and the doors rapidly closed behind it. Once the small craft had also docked the Mule boosted away from the planet to an awaiting a JumpShip.

I posted the Needletail previously on the forum but it's gone through a change or two since that posting so I'll post it again soon

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1084 on:** January 06, 2024, 08:59:32 PM »

OBT is back, I did not realise so here we go time for more Alternate Timeline with Thanks (FULL version), I'll try and update the short one too it just takes time to pick it all out of the pile.

3119

Border skirmish
Warren, Warren PDZ
Capellan March, Federated Suns
3rd January 3119

On a world like Warren border skirmishes were almost a way of life with multiple raids against the world most months from either the Capellan Confederation, Taurian Concordat or independent pirate forces. This meant that joining the AFFS and importantly the local militia was a call many of the locals answered Private Jonas Lobotka was one such recruit.

Jonas did not have the academy training or the family money to be a MechWarrior instead he had joined as a member of the militia’s infantry corps. He had immediately been assigned to the artillery section of the Warren Capellan March Militia joining a crew of a towed Long Tom Artillery piece, the nineteen-year-old had barely been with the command when the Silent Reapers Mercenaries had raided the planet.

The rain beat down on the artillery crew as they bombarded a target far out of visual range. “SPEAR! SPEAR! SPEAR!” their radios collective shouted all at once the crew all shared a look and then began to pull on their chemical protection masks from their gear. Jonas did the same but he stopped for a moment looking up into the sky watching as three long range missiles arced over their position heading towards Warren’s capital city of Aagtekerke.

“What are you doing? Get your gear on now!” His Sergeant screamed at him snapping him out of his momentary trance Jonas pulled on his face mask and then his protective gloves. “Everyone get down now! Turn away from the b…” he screamed at them as the three missiles hit the city a few kilometres beyond their position blast waves tore across the city but it was not the blasts that worried people. A SPEAR call was a chemical warhead attack, they all drilled for it but this was the real thing none of them knew what was going to happen next. Across the city a blue haze spread out from the missile strikes coating the city and its inhabitants.

With the defenders turning to help Aagtekerke recover from the Silent Reapers chemical attack the mercenary force was able to disengage and escape retreating to their two DropShips and then onto the JumpShip. The Silent Reapers had been under contract with the Taurian Concordat and as word of the attack on Warren spread Kathil raised an official complaint against the attack which the Taurians denied all knowledge of and stated that the Silent Reapers were out of contract with the Taurian people. On Warren thousands were sick and the death toll was beginning to rise as Federated Suns medical teams attempted to help the capital’s population.

Public Announcement
Halas Royal Household, Oriente
District of Oriente, Free Worlds League
11th January 3119

Stepping out from the right-hand side of the stage Duke Javier Halas stepped in front of the assembled press dressed in a bright red version of a Free Worlds League Marshal’s uniform. His beard was gone but he had kept a full mustache while his brown hair which had been growing during their month of mourning had been cut shorter.

“Gentlemen and Ladies” he said speaking to the reporters with an emphasis on the ‘Ladies’ part “today I am announcing the ending of our month of mourning since my brother’s suicide on Calloway IV.” He said glancing down for a moment of reflection and then he looked up “I am not over my brother’s death… in the end he could not deal with where he had led our nation and the constant pressure, we were under from our neighbours. Today we together as a nation are going to reverse these fortunes, I am declaring War on behalf of the Free Worlds League against the Capellan Confederation. As I make this declaration units of the District of Oriente are making strikes against worlds of the Capellan Confederation, I call on the Free Worlds League to support us in our second round of assaults. I will avenge my brother’s death and I will make the Capellan Confederation burn for what they drove him to.”

Within hours of his announcement on Oriente six regiments of the District of Oriente landed on the systems of Varna, Hassad and Fujidera with the Oriente flagship Santorini supporting the invasion of Hassad. The Santorini’s presence was to counter the presence of one of the Capellan Confederation’s Tikonov-class Carriers, the Qingdao. While the fighters from the two WarShips cancelled each other out two additional Oriente WarShips jumped in and engaged the Qingdao directly. The Tikonov-class Carrier was not designed to engage WarShips directly instead it was intended on deploying aerospace fighters and protecting itself from aerospace fighters. Against an Eagle-class Frigate and a Monolisk-class Destroyer the eight hundred-and-sixty thousand ton had no chance against two dedicated WarShips even with several escorting DropShips and it was torn to pieces. Soon after the destruction of the carrier the aerospace fighters were forced to surrender or be left abandoned in space, likewise when the Oriente troops reached Hassad the CCSS Qiandaohu, a Britannic-class Heavy Freighter, was boarded and the crew forced to surrender. The ship was escorted to Oriente where Javier Halas christened the vessel after his brother Jonas Halas.

On the ground the District of Oriente troops outclass the troops of the Capellan Confederation with naval firepower supporting the ground troops providing Orbital Fire-support when the ground forces needed it to shatter four separate commands bringing all three worlds into the District of Oriente. The Dragonkind a mercenary BattleMech company were also destroyed along with the Capellan unit that they were attached to.

Border Raids
Southwest Covenant
16th January 3119

After a series of raid by companies of Spartan BattleMechs the Cirincus Federation invades the worlds of Zorn’s Keep and Poulsbo. The Spartan raids had caused heavy damage to infastructure and militia forces on both worlds crippling their ability to respond to the occupation raid which followed. During the invasion of Poulsbo, the mercenary company Antian Lanciarii are wiped out to the man as the Cirincus Federation occupiers take no prisoners. In the coming days the Southwest Covenant government officials are banished from the systems and sent to JumpShips which would take them away from the two systems and into the periphery where they would live their lives as members of the Cirincus Federation’s slave caste in mines. This marks just the start of the Cirincus Federation’s rule as more and more people are shipped off the worlds along with resources and industry.

Wedding Ceremony
McCoy Estate, Whittington
Periphery
25th January 3119

   While the Cirincus Federation were in the process of showing some of the horrors of the periphery on Whittington a ceremony as old as humanity was taking place showing that beauty still existed. On a beautiful Whittington day at the estate of House McCoy sixteen BattleMechs stood in two lines of eight flanking a seated area. The Mechs that had arms had at least one arm extended into the air, while those that did not have arms had poles attached to their body’s, from the Mechs hung a white awning which let the sunlight through but protected the patrons from being blinded by the low yellow sun.

   Under the awning were rows of white seats which were filled by members of McCoy’s Malcontents, their support crews, families, and members of the local community. All the chairs were facing a heavily flowered area closest to the McCoy house while in the middle Schuyler McCoy stood waiting. From the far end of Amanda Cavalcanti entered the awning area she was dressed in a beautiful bright red dress. He had known that is what she had planned to wear and he had asked her why red and not the traditional white? Ever the practical woman Amanda had explained that for three reasons firstly in the periphery keeping white clean and looking perfect was near impossible, secondly, she was not a virgin and she had killed many warriors in combat and three her hair was bright red and it would not look good with a white dress!

   They had laughed together about it and he had agreed with her choice, but seeing her in it now made the choice complete and perfect, his bride soon to be his wife, she looked stunning. Without any family to walk her down the aisle she began walking down by herself but then Chief Tech Matthew Yingling dressed in a suit which resembled one of his boilersuits stood up and took her by the arm walking her the remainder of the way. Schuyler McCoy did not have a best man so he stood waiting her to join him in front of all the others, likewise they did not have a religious representative instead they both stood facing the crowd of nearly two hundred.

   “You look amazing” he whispered to her drawing a smile her hair was tied back in a simple braid which went down her back but the red stood out for all to see. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming here today.” He said addressing the crowd “myself and Amanda did not meet through a conventional sense”

   “You abducted me” she broke in, with perfect timing just as they had agreed, it brought a quiet laughter from the crowd.

   “I recruited Amanda into our little community during one of our missions.”

   “Also known by some as raids” Amanda added, not all of their ‘missions’ were of a legal nature and she’d been one of those trying to stop the Malcontents.

   “Thank you, dear” he said glancing over “after joining us Amanda won a place within this unit and from there it was only a matter of time before she won also won my heart.” He explained looking at her as there was a collected ‘awww’ from the crowd, we have been through quite a bit since she joined us, we’ve had some adventures, made some friends and some enemies along the way and we have lost some friends.” He said bowing his head as did most of the people gathered Malcontents had died bringing goods to Whittington to improve all their lives and they had died defending the world as well. “But through it all we’ve had each other and I want that for the rest of my life.”

   “I did not come to you in the traditional way” she said

   “I swept you off your feet…” he interrupted

   “Well you took off my BattleMech’s legs” she said countering him recounting how they met when Schuyler had use his Archer’s BattleMech sized axe to smash her BattleMech’s legs, again their back and forth brought the crowd into their story even if they were not there “but I sensed from my first meeting with you that there was something honourable and that you had a deeper integrity. And then we came here, to our home, to these people” she said looking at the crowd “and I realized that the life I had before…”

   “The one I kidnapped you from…”

   “Was no life at all” she said even as the crowd laughed “you’ve given me a home and a life that I would not change it.” She finished “I want to stay with you for the rest of my life.” She said completing their vow.

   “For the rest of our lives”

   “I do” she said agreeing to their vow in front of all the witnesses they became Schuyler McCoy and Amanda Cavalcanti-McCoy.

Freedom Riot
Herndon, Clan Lynx Occupation Zone
28th January 3119

   After months of behind the scenes work by Draconis Combine special forces personnel the people of Herndon riot against Clan Lynx demonstrating for their freedom. For three days to end the month the people of Herndon protested peacefully in the streets of every town and city on Herndon. Unlike on previous worlds where protests had occurred, like Turtle Bay during the initial Clan invasion almost seventy years before, the Clan military forces do not even make an appearance instead leaving every law enforcement issue up to the local police and paramilitary forces.

Unlike Clan Smoke Jaguar which had enforced law on Combine world using their military forces to enforce Clan law Clan Lynx takes a stepped back approach allowing the locals to be angry for a period of time. The Clan’s stepped back approach shows the population the Clan’s attitude towards its population which is far different from both Clan Smoke Jaguar and the Draconis Combine. Several hundred people are arrested during the course of the protests but all are processed under local laws instead of being charged with various other offences.

Still hidden from the Clan Lynx forces the Draconis Combine forces based on Herndon have too change tactics instead of relying on the people to do their dirty work they instead turn to sabotage. On the 30th January 3119 the DEST teams on Herndon bomb a power plant and a money exchange building killing nearly eight hundred people including a dozen of members of Clan Lynx. Within days of these actions Clan Lynx deploy two additional Elemental stars and two additional stars of conventional infantry along with infantry support vehicles which are sent to hunt down the DEST commandos regardless of cost. After the terrorist actions which cost hundreds of lives the people of Herndon do not stand in the Lynx way.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1085 on:** January 06, 2024, 09:03:02 PM »

Clan Sea Fox Trade Outpost
Coates Continent, Ito
Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation
2nd February 3119

   In an organised move Clan Sea Fox claim the Coates Continent on the world of Ito in the heart of the Capellan Confederation as a trade world. Initially the Capellan Confederation refuses to trade the continent to Clan Sea Fox refusing any sort of fighting trial with the Sea Foxes. Instead, it took the Sea Fox ArcShip Red Tide journeying to Capellan Confederation capitol and negotiating directly with the leadership of the Capellan Confederation. Although they do not gain an audience with the Chancellor they speak with Dao-Shen Liao’s chief military advisor, and wife, Sang-jiang-jun Erin Liao.

   During the negotiations the Sea Foxes agree to trade away to the Capellan Confederation an entire star of assault DropShips and the makings of an entire combined-arms regiment to allow the Sea Fox Clan to take possession of the entire southern Coates Continent. The Sea Foxes also secure the Capellan’s agreement to for the Capellans remove all civilians from the Coats Continent before the Foxes land on the ground. For eight weeks the Capellans forcefully relocate civilians from Coates there are several protests however the Eighth Capellan Defence Force are aggressive with the population and do not allow things to get out of hand. The Sea Foxes attempt to make things easier on the people that are relocated by deploying over one hundred temporary housing blocks, often used when creating Clan firebases, to give the people at least a roof over their heads. The Capellans organise these into small towns with everyone from Coates housed together but it does little to dispel the anger from the population.

   With the equipment brought in from Clan Sea Fox they deploy the new DropShips with the Confederation’s best WarShips while the ground equipment is deployed to the best regiments in the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces the released equipment from other regiments is sent to Ito where a new Warrior House Mitsukurina owstoni named after the Goblin Shark which is native to Ito having been engineered from the Terran species introduced during the First Star League-era. The new Warrior Houses primary task during peace time will be to guard against any intrusions by Clan Sea Fox forces. The continent of Coates was an island which made up roughly two thirds of the southern hemisphere of Ito it was temperate in climate, with mostly flat farm landed and a massive mountain range making up the southern most part of the land.

   Elsewhere in the Clipperton system the reborn Clan Smoke Jaguar, operating as part of the Free Worlds League’s military, claim a newly completed Aumaku-class Destroyer from Clan Sea Fox in a Trial of Possession adding it to the naval forces available to the District of Lesnovo. The trial is fought between two DropShips and their attending fighters on both sides.

Field Base Command, StarCorps Industries
Farrarrah, Annesland
Crofton, Crofton OZ, Nova Cat’s Den
10th February 3119

The Khan of Clan Nova Cat Canin Rosse continued to occupy the office formerly occupied by the CEO of StarCorps Industries on Crofton. The Nova Cats continued to fight trials with the Federated Suns targeting worlds near their expanded Crofton Occupation Zone recently adding Bulford, Kettering and Vincente to the Nova Cat’s claimed worlds on Kettering there was a Cicada factory which the Nova Cats were now evaluating for potential of deploying within their forces.

The most recent Trials of Possessions had drawn the ire of the Federated Suns however two days before at a pirate point the Federated Suns Battleship the FSS Black Prince, a Mercury-class Battleship, had jumped into the system. Immediately the vessel had requested Safcon and announced that the First Prince of the Federated Suns wished to speak with Khan Canin Rosse. The Nova Cats had five WarShips in the system including a Nightlord II-class Battleship but nothing that could match the size of the massive Federated Suns vessel. Not wanting to see five WarShips badly damaged or destroyed Khan Rosse had agreed to grant Safcon and allow the Federated Suns to land one DropShip at the Marcus Spaceport.

The Federated Suns had landed one of their premier aerodyne DropShips, a Conquistador combined arms carrier, and then a convoy had been escorted to the StarCorps facility’s gates. After being checked over the armoured limousine along with a squad of Infiltrator III Battle Armour suits had been allowed into the complex.

Now the First Prince of the Federated Suns walked into Khan Canin Rosse’s office wearing the uniform of a Federated Suns Field Marshal at fifty-five years old Canin Rosse could see that grey was peppering the First Prince’s hair and his hairline was slowly receding. He also noted the First Prince had put on some weight since they had last met a few years before and Khan Rosse wondered if that was why he had not taken his BattleMech to the Nova Cat base. Rising from his chair Khan Rosse wore a simple charcoal coloured combat jumpsuit, with ablative inserts, on his belt he had a vibro-dagger and a gauss pistol, he was dressed for any occasion. In the corner of the room sitting along with his hanging coolant suit and outside jacket there was a compact Gauss SMG, for decades the weapon had been standard issue to most MechWarriors who deployed out of their Mechs Rosse was proficient with the weapon but had not used it in anger for years. The Nova Cats controlled this system but there were still many who would be willing to take a shot at the Nova Cat Khan, and even though he was approaching his eighty-first birthday Canin Rosse was always ready to defend himself.

“Welcome to the Nova Cat’s Den, First Prince Davion.” He said looking to see how the First Prince would react.

“Thank you, Khan Rosse,” his visitor replied stopping short of Khan Rosse’s desk, the Khan noticed that the First Prince had a large heavy slug thrower pistol. “Thank you for granting me an audience. I will cut straight to the point, these raids against the Federated Suns must stop.”

“Neg” Rosse said simply looking at the younger man, from his facial expression it was clear Burton Davion was not used to someone defying him so bluntly.

“Khan Rosse, you must understand you are pushing the Federated Suns to the point of total was in retaliation in response to your actions. I came here in a Mercury-class Battleship, I have access to five more of that class of vessel along with dozens of support vessels, and six combat capable Regimental Combat Teams are within strike distance of your realm. I could bring great harm to your nation even without the support of the Star League Defence Force, which I would get.”

“An over-reaction, but your choice First Prince.” Khan Rosse said turning and stepping away from the First Prince looking out of the window over the base “the Trials of Possession my Clan have undertaken are part of an agreement I made with your father decades ago. They are a cornerstone of our culture and one I will not let go.” He said defiantly turning back towards the First Prince. “Given our agreement with your father my troops have done the absolute minimum damage to the worlds we have targeted, and we have sought to avoid civilian casualties with a near one hundred percent success rate.” He said every Trial of Possession was ordered to be fought outside civilian population centres with Nova Cat troops drawing Federated Suns defenders out and even engaging them on grounds that favoured the Federated Suns defenders instead of taking the fight into a civilian zone.

“And as for your willingness to run to the Star League for assistance I could easily do the same and turn to the Clan Council for assistance with your nation. The Ravens, Foxes and now the Ghost Bears all share borders with your realm First Prince. Do you want to see what the coordinated efforts of the Clans can do?” Rosse asked allowing some anger to enter his voice “ask the Draconis Combine or the Lyran Commonwealth.” While the Inner Sphere had closed on the Clans in terms of firepower and technological knowledge ton for ton Clan units still tended to be superior to their Inner Sphere equivalents with few exceptions. The Nova Cats would struggle to repel a Federated Suns invasion of the Nova Cat’s Den but he also knew that if the Federated Suns tried to invade his realm en masse they would pay the price fighting the Nova Cats and he could count on at least the Ravens for assistance.

“While I respect the agreements you made with my father, I cannot allow your constant violations of our territory.” He said turning away from the Khan briefly before turning back his arms resting on the holster of his pistol. “A Davion does not flagrantly break an agreement with a neighbour.” He said repeating a phrase his father liked as he eyed the Khan?” refusing to copy the Khan by raising his hands towards his own weapon. “I wish to modify our agreement” He asked switching pace and to diplomacy, he did not want a large-scale war with the Nova Cats over periphery worlds even if worlds like this very one had been valuable to his nation. “I will not take these Trials away from you. But we must limit them.”

“Out of respect for your father, your nations strength and your willingness to negotiate I am willing to discuss this.” Rosse said bowing his head slightly. “I will start the bidding at twelve trials per year, equal to one per month of the year.”

“No, that is far too many, that is more than you presently conduct.” Burton responded annoyed that the Khan had started at such a high number. He preferred having a diplomat with him during a negotiation or having his wife Sterling McKenna, formerly the Khan of Clan Snow Raven providing support.

“Counter my bid First Prince Davion” Khan Rosse said trying to not smile, the First Prince probably saw this as a game but this was part of his life and it had been for his entire fighting career.

“Four trials per calendar year.”

“Ten”

“Six”

“Eight” Rosse said finally following the reduction by two that he had started with. He had not intention in going lower, the First Prince had been willing to increase his agreed number of trials. Eight he could sell to the Nova Cat Clan Council “with one additional modification?”

“I could agree to eight, assuming you would still allow any civilians who wished to leave captured systems to leave? And the eight Trials of Possession would be win or lose contests, your Clan is not allowed to simply continue to fight until you win eight trials, Quiaff?” He asked using the Clan word

“Aff, they may leave should they wish, eight trials win or lose” he agreed

“What is your modification?”

“Should the Federated Suns start a conflict with Clan Nova Cat then we are allowed additional trials equal to the number that your nation launched against out Clan?” He said he would not allow his Clan to be cornered by the Federated Suns and bound to only fight defensively should the Succession State prosecute a war against the Nova Cats.”

“Agreed” First Prince Burton Davion said extending his hand to shake the Nova Cat Khan’s hand.

“Seyla” The Nova Cat Khan said extending his own hand to shake the First Princes hand which they both met with a firm handshake. “Would you like to remain on Crofton for refreshments? I can have our kitchens prepare you a meal before returning to your DropShip?” He asked releasing the First Prince’s hand.

“I shouldn’t” Burton said after a moment “however I would be willing to share food with you to show my respect for you Khan Rosse and your Clan.” Canin Rosse nodded extending his hand showing the First Prince to the office door.

Salvage mission, Unknown Asteroid
Uncharted System, Aurigan Collective
Periphery
19th February 3119

“Alright people lines are attached” the commander of Rampant Company Karen “Sunbird” Andris said “engines are at station keeping, we’re ready let’s see if we can get her up.” She said in the space near the asteroid a Leopard and Mule-class DropShips were hovering nearby both had cables attached to their find ready to assist while Rampant Company itself was around the DropShip and they had spent time digging it out. “0.5G acceleration, take us up” She ordered slowly the DropShip began to lift off away from the asteroid sand tumbling off the off the craft “retract tow cords” she ordered the two DropShips in space began to drag their lines back in with the DropShips engines keeping them up and away from a collision.

Slowly the ninety-seven-thousand-ton DropShip cleared the asteroid and sand continued to climb away from the asteroid “one G acceleration, cut the lines” she said looking around the DropShip’s command deck she like the other members of the on the bridge wore full EVA suits due to the ship’s hull being open to space. “Rampart Company, this is Sunbird, she’s flying” she said smirking looking around the other crewmen. “Federated-Boeing obviously made this thing to last” she said the Argo was ancient dating back to the end of the First Star League era but her company had gotten her into a working condition. “I think we’ve maybe got a new home.”

Clan Raid in Force
Goslar, Hanseatic League
Deep Periphery
28th February 3119

   While continuing to search for former Clansmen within the deep periphery Galaxy Commander Connor Rood of Clan Goliath Scorpion leads a conquest of the Goslar system. Far from the Clan Homeworlds the forces under Rood’s command needed a base of operations for which to train and being any found warriors before sending them back to the Clan Homeworlds. On the outskirts of the Hanseatic League and sparsely populated Goslar had made a perfect choice, the more advanced and battle-hardened Goliath Scorpions had made short work of the militia forces defending Goslar and the local population had offered no resistance of their own.

Rainbow 6 · « **Reply #1086 on:** January 07, 2024, 04:35:51 AM »

Good to see this and you back DC.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1087 on:** January 08, 2024, 12:07:34 PM »

Funeral March
Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Sun
3rd March 3119

   Rarely did a someone born outside the ruling houses of the Federated Suns earn the right to be buried within the grounds of the Royal Cemetery on New Avalon but Galen Cox was a man who had broken the mold, he had served the Federated Suns loyally for decades despite originally being born within the Lyran Commonwealth he had helped hold the nation together during the brief Varnay Civil War and had been inducted into the Order of Davion by Victor Steiner-Davion himself and his wife Danai Centrella-Davion both were dressed in military uniforms of the Federated Suns with all of the awards that they were due.

   Today, however it was his funeral. At ninety-nine years of age and after decades of service Galen Cox had passed away at his home on New Avalon, as per his wishes he would be buried on the capital of his adopted home nation and the nation had responded with thousands of members of public lining the streets to pay their respects to a true hero. Escorting Galen’s body on its final journey were four Crusader BattleMechs the same design that he had piloted for most of his career. Behind the coffin were hundreds of officers and warriors who had served with Galen over his years of service in the Federated Commonwealth, Federated Suns and with the Star League Defence Forces. All around the procession were members of the elite First Davion Guards RCT and the First New Avalon Guards RCT, two units which had been close to Galen’s heart and that he had served with on several occasions. With them members of the Royal Black Watch Brigade of Guards, the Rabid Fox, and the Star League Defence Forces’ Special Armed Service all watched ensuring that no-one caused harm to those who were paying their respects to the fallen hero.

   After the funeral Exarch Victor Steiner-Davion spends nearly two weeks with members of his family on New Avalon remaining on the world until First Prince Burton Davion returns from Crofton. The First Prince apologises to his father for missing the ceremony but he explains that affairs of state had to come first and that he had wanted Galen to be remembered a hero of his father’s era, that the two of them had served together and that it had seemed fitting. While relations between the two were strained the heart to heart was good for both men.

Race of Noisiel
Noisiel, Alarion Province
Lyran Commonwealth
10th March 3119

   For decades on the world of Noisiel had been host to a variety of games using Mechs, Battle Armour and tanks, these games had evolved over time adding the great BattleMech race of Noisiel and then in 3094 Duke Michael Alextep added the Tournament 1945 which was a ground-based battle using drone controlled, fuel cell powered, primitive armoured vehicles based on the Armoured Tanks used on Terra during the Second World War. These events alone had made Noisiel almost as popular as Solaris in entertainment at least within the Lyran Commonwealth.

   Duke Alextep had not rested on his laurels however and in support of the Tournament 1945 he had built an aircraft industry capable of constructing aircraft from the same era as the drone tanks which took part in the popular deathmatch contest on the planet’s surface. Initially these aircraft performed air displays including a special guest appearance on Solaris before the run up to the Solaris Racing League season. Duke Alextep enjoyed the sceptical of the Solaris Racing League and wanted to create something like the event on Solaris but not the same, not in competition, instead of using modern conventional aircraft the Noisiel race would use “1945-era” conventional aircraft built using recovered schematics from Star League Defence Force records. These aircraft like the ground craft would be powered by fuel cell engines but unlike the armoured vehicles the aircraft would be flown by pilots. With the minimal armour available to these designs this made the competition dangerous at best but Duke Alextep added yet another element which would make it even more lethal. Unlike the Solaris Racing League events which were essentially time trials over a difficult course the Noisiel race would be around a simple oval course. But instead of individual aircraft flying at once all twenty racers would fly around the course at the same time at less than one hundred metres from the ground. The multi-aircraft race and the lower armour available to the aircraft caused multiple crashes which led to the deaths of six pilots, Free Worlds League native Deco Xavier piloting a Supermarine Spitfire replica is victorious in the race.

   During the promotion of the event MechWarrior Brittany Hale, the most recent winner of the BattleMech Race of Noisiel, promotes the racing events on the world by taking her modified Ostscout in a race against BattleMechs, vehicles and VTOL aircraft through various sights in and around the race course promoting other areas of Noisiel as well as the known race courses. Supporting Brittany Hale and the ground armour tournament are guards from the Armoured Toads and Gorillas, the armour of the Battle Armour is more than enough to compensate for any missed shots by the ancient armoured vehicles.

Unexplained Explosion
Terada WarShip Yard, Dieron
Northwind EDZ, Star League Protectorate
22nd March 3119

In the Dieron system at the Terada Shipyards work continued as it had for months on end. While the District of Dieron had ceased to exist the shipyards which had produced WarShips for Dieron now produced them for the Star League Defence Force directly. While nowhere near the size of the Star League’s shipyards in the Terran system the Dieron shipyards easily dwarfed the shipyards that were in the Fenwick and they were deeper within the Star League Protectorate behind layers of WarShips and ground troops making them far better protected.

On one of the largest civilian structures of the shipyards CEO Keisuke Nishi sat within his office which was on one of the many gravity decks doing what he did every day, when an alert sounded throughout the complex. Reaching over to the communication system built into the desk he activated the controls “Command, what is going on?” He demanded in Japanese.

“Sir, apologies, but please look at your monitors on bay three!” The controller responded with a slight sense of panic; Nishi would discipline the man when they next spoke, he expected all his people to be always professional. They may no longer be in the Draconis Combine but they should all respect their responsibilities to Honour and Duty.

He changed the controls to bay three and saw several of the monitors were off he was about to berate the someone over the comm systems when he finally found a monitor that was working and he himself was lost for words. One of the recently completed Tatsumaki III-class Destroyers which were waiting to be assigned to a crew had exploded amid-ships from what Nishi knew of the ships it appeared to be near one of the main ammunition bunkers, an area which was heavily armoured and protected, the explosion had come from within the ship and it was tearing the bay apart. He could see that the administration block attached to bay three was ablaze and venting atmosphere and crew were abandoning the complex, hundreds would be dead already and the death toll could still rise.

To make matters worse debris from both the destroyer and the construction bay were impacting the other vessels which were under construction. While technically each bay was an independent entity, they were close enough to support each other with both resources and in times of crisis unfortunately that proximity was working against them now. Suddenly there was a flash of light as the Tatsumaki III-class Destroyer inside Bay Two attempted to jump still within its construction bay as someone onboard the vessel panicked. Almost as soon as the light had subsided Nishi could already see the effects the Tatsumaki along with half of Bay Two were now a twisted mess some parts of the bay were embedded within the WarShip as the Jump Engine had warped space all around them both. Because there were things on both structures now located where they should not be further explosions were tearing through the second destroyer and the construction bay, Nishi was powerless but to watch it all unfold.

Watching the sceptical unfold Nishi could not understand how it was possible, none of the jump cores should be powered while in space dock, and then he remembered that Bays two and four were testing their Jump Engine battery system ensuring that they could hold full capacity power for a jump, he looked at bay four and noticed that the bay had been battered by debris, there were parts of WarShip and dock where the destroyer which had been berthed there had previously been.

Of five operational WarShips at the shipyard only two Tatsumaki III-class vessels remained within their docks both WarShips had been battered by debris from the exploding ships and docks while the entire facility was in crisis mode as areas of the station decompressed and burned. Looking at the reports coming from both ships it appeared that both had suffered hull breaches and were dealing with their own issues following the destruction within the shipyards. Thousands were dead and Terada Shipyards were crippled, all by one simple accident. Straightening his suit Keisuke Nishi walked out of his office and directly towards the command centre hoping to salvage the situation and find out exactly how much damage had been done, and how many of his workers had he lost today.

For the next three months Terada would investigate the explosion using salvaged video and sensor logs. Despite their best efforts they were at a loss as to how the initial explosion had occurred. Every scenario they ran through led to the same conclusion, that the safety protocols built into the WarShip should have prevented a catastrophic explosion but they had failed. This led to further questions regarding the design of the Tatsumaki III which was an evolved design of the original hull leading to questions about the viability and safety of the overall class of vessel.

Further investigations also found that while the SLS Akira Kurita was missing from the shipyard the WarShip, which they all had thought destroyed by a second ill-timed and conceived jump may have survived. Salvaged Tri-vid records showed the WarShip in bay four had cut its ties to the shipyard as soon as the first vessel exploded allowing it to drift far enough clear of the shipyards for its transit drive to be activated. While the ship had only moments to act a quick burst of acceleration and then an immediate jump had taken the ship safely out of the system but so far it had not shown up anywhere and remained missing. Although the incident was officially still classed as an accident several things remained clear, firstly two Tatsumaki-class vessels had been destroyed during the event, two more vessels were damaged to the point of not being serviceable while the fifth previously mentioned Akira Kurita was currently listed as missing/presumed lost in an emergency jump. On Terada shipyards sixteen thousand workers and support staff had been killed and the shipyards themselves while salvageable they were currently crippled and would not be producing any new WarShips for several years.

Planning Room
Lothario, District of Lothario
Free Worlds League
27th March 3119

   Wearing an elaborate light pink dress with a purple sash and jewellery Grand Mistress Clarissa Logan entered the ruling council chambers on her capital Lothario over her shoulders she wore the pelt of the Lothario polar bear. The world had come a long way from being the centre point of the Lothian League, as part of the Free Worlds League Lothario was moving forwards by leaps and bounds with the capital city becoming large enough and advanced enough to make all of her people comfortable. In orbit over the planet a JumpShip production yard had been completed which would soon be producing a new class of JumpShip for her District’s fleets. The Free Trader-class JumpShip was two hundred-and-seventy-five-thousand-ton vessel capable of carrying twelve aerospace fighters and four DropShips and they would be capable of making the entire military might of the District of Lothario far more mobile than before.

   Approaching the leadership caste of the District of Lothario she smiled taking in their faces. Clarissa Logan was only in her forties and younger than many of the planetary leaders of the District of Lothario. “Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for assembling today here today, I have two announcements to make firstly the Angelina Logan Shipyards are now operational over this world while secondly I am deploying the First through Sixth Lothian Legionnaires into the Southwest Covenant as a peacekeeping force.” She announced informing them all the six new BattleMech regiments her district had raised over the last few years. “These regiments were raised from the equipment discovered in the Star League-era weapons cache on New Venice.” She explained “pilots and fighters from across the District of Lothario have been training for the last year and are ready for deployment.” She said “actions by the Cirincus Federation have placed the Southwest Covenant at the point of capitulation. These people used to be members of the Free Worlds League; we will make sure they are protected from these pirates.”

   Within days of the announcement on Lothario the six regiments launched a full assault on the four remaining worlds of the Southwest Covenant taking control over them from the mercenaries and the remaining governments located on each world. Unlike treatment by the Cirincus Federation forces the government workers for the most part are allowed to retain their positions as long as they were willing to follow the direction of the District of Lothario government. On Sierra the BattleCorps Legion is wiped out to the man trying to resist the Lothario invasion. Only on Hardisey’s Haven is there a similar occurrence where The City Boyz combined-arms regiment are also forcefully disarmed by the District of Lothario troops. Unfortunately for both the BattleCorps and The City Boyz units are no match for the Star League tech equipped regiments fielded by the District of Lothario.

   In an election year on Atreus Lothario’s independent action by Lothario following the actions by Oriente threaten the very leadership of Atreus and the coordination on Oriente. At the other side of the Free Worlds League Oriente continues to attack Capellan Confederation systems in unilateral action with no support from Atreus or the Free Worlds League government. Actions by these two nations cause issues and debate on Atreus which leads to a lot of anger directed at the two districts.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1088 on:** January 08, 2024, 12:08:33 PM »

System Survey, Saratoga (Intrepid A-class ArcShip)
Paran, Chainelane Isle
Sea Fox Territory, Periphery
2nd April 3119

Straight from its refit at the shipyard in the Chainelane Isles the Saratoga jumped into the Paran system. Originally an Intrepid-class Troopship built for war by ComStar, had been configured as a new class of ArcShip for Clan Sea Fox. As part of the refurbishment the class’s internal BattleMech complement had been removed, several of the standard scale anti-aircraft weapons had been removed and replaced with Sub-Capital weapons reducing the crew requirements, its anti-missile systems expanded, as had the fuel storage capacity been increased and one Aqueduct-class DropShip and three Mammoth-class DropShips had been permanently attached to the hull at their collars. Because of the additional mass added to the hull with the DropShips added the ship’s effective minimum force had been reduced to a single gravity of acceleration. With these modifications a total of seven thousand civilian families made the vessel their home, they lived, worked and trained for the betterment of Clan Sea Fox.

With the refurbishments and changes done to the ship the Saratoga needed an extensive testing leading to it being assigned to an exploration mission in the Paran system. During its time in the system the Sea Foxes would test the WarShips systems from before the refurbishment to ensure they were still operational and unhindered by the changes. They would also be checking the transit drives to see if they could cope with the near constant 1G acceleration the craft would be using. The Paran system had been chosen for a specific reason when the Sea Foxes had first taken steps to take military control over the Chainelane Isles they had heard stories of the SLS Pioneer.

The Avatar-class Cruiser had been commissioned into the original Star League Defence Forces navy as an exploration and scientific vessel which was operated by the Star League Expeditionary Brigade. The Sea Foxes had been curious about the vessel and done an initial search but had failed to find her now when a ship completed its construction or refitting at the shipyards they came here for testing and to search another part of the system searching for the missing Cruiser. So far eight ships had completed their trials in the system but star systems and the space beyond them were vast.

Trial of Reaving
Cuneo, Rushaven
Raven Alliance
12th April 3119

Jeremy Howe was going to die, he knew this, he had known this since about three minutes ago when his Crimson Langur’s had lost its right arm and its longest ranged weapon, its extended-range large laser. Now he was reduced to two heavy medium lasers against a OmniMech that had a particle projection cannon, two lasers which matched his own and a six-tube streak equipped short range missile launcher. And with his death his only hope was that his genes would be passed on would be in a now reduced Bloodhouse he thought angrily as he ran the OmniMech at over one hundred kilometres per hour as a man-made lightning blast flew past him missing his Langur by metres. Dancing his fifty-ton OmniMech to the left he twisted the torso and fired both heavy medium lasers into the charging Craven. The enemy pilot Richard Cooper had given up trying to snipe at him and was now charging the Craven opened fire with its particle cannon and short-range missile launcher as it closed the particle cannon slammed into the Mech’s left chest tearing through the armour there penetrating the fusion engine. Warm air rushed into the cockpit as the damaged engine’s shielding was compromised Jeremy gasped for breath in the searing heat as the short-range missiles peppered his BattleMech, there was nowhere to run. He locked on and triggered both heavy medium lasers burning into the Craven’s armour but it was not enough to stop the enemy Mech which had fired both of its own heavy medium lasers at the same time. Opal coloured heavy laser beams criss-crossed in between the Mechs and the last thing that Jeremy Howe experienced was the lasers burning through the OmniMech’s cockpit incinerating him ending the trial.

The Trial had not been Jeremy Howe’s idea, he had not even been involved in the decision for the trial to take place, instead he had been picked as the champion in a political fight between the Howe and Cooper Bloodhouses. The Cooper Bloodhouse believed that the Howe Bloodhouse was weak and had been the cause of a great number of the recent trials with the Draconis Combine the Howe family had refuted this and it had led to a series of Circle of Equal challenges as individual warriors disagreed fought, and in several cases died. Khan Porter McKenna had decided enough was enough and ordered a Trial of Reaving to sort out the disagreement, while some had seen it as an extreme case but it also made things clear to all the Bloodhouses that should a disagreement not be settled quickly then he could and he would take it to the next level and punish the Bloodhouse that could not match its argument with its fighting prowess.

The fighting in the Rushaven system was not over with the Snow Raven Trial however as the Draconis Combine launched an invasion of the system only a day after the Trial of Reaving. In the system the Ravens had three WarShips but it was no match for what the Draconis Combine had brought to the fight in total nine Draconis Combine WarShips invaded the Rushaven system. Following a recent re-organisation of the Draconis Combine Admiralty’s forces the Draconis Combine deployed a force now known as Carrier Force One. This new grouping which was specifically brought together for invasions or defences involved three massive carriers, two Omi Kurita-class Carriers with aerospace fighters and one Akagi-class Assault Carrier with Land Air Mechs. Supporting these craft were six Kirishima II-class Cruisers which defended the carriers and added naval firepower to the group. Adding in the massed assault DropShips and Pocket WarShips the nine WarShips quickly overpowered and destroyed the Snow Raven WarShips.

Four of the Kirishima II-class Cruisers are destroyed in the fighting but among the vessels destroyed on the Snow Raven side is the Montbatton, a Texas-class Battleship which dated back to the first Star League-era, the vessel was also the flagship of saKhan Lydia Sukhanov resulting in her death. Also destroyed during the battle is the Aegis-class Heavy Cruiser Lord Death, another vessel which had survived from the first Star League-era. The result of the battle leads to another Trial of Reaving where the Sukhanov Bloodhouse is also reduced in strength by one Blood Heritage. The Draconis Combine does not push position from the Rushaven system instead content with one victory and what they see as a successful test of their newest WarShip formation. One thing that the Snow Ravens do realize is that they need to concentrate on Battleship and Carrier production if they want to defeat the Draconis Combine with their new formations. Ashkhan McCorkell wins a Trial of Possession and the support of the Clan Council to become the new saKhan.

Trial of Possession
Alexandretta, Alexandria
Isle of Skye, Lyran Commonwealth
27th April 3119

   The star of OmniMechs charged through the forest near Alexandretta MechWarrior Daeron Jerricho smiled viciously as his OmniMech ran through the trees intending on outflanking the Sixth Isle of Skye Guards RCT. The OmniMech was brand new, manufactured at a new factory in the Blue Diamond system, but the design was as old as the Clans it was in-fact the first OmniMech the Coyotl. Recently brought back from the grave the Coyotl was filling the ranks of Clan Coyote. Daeron’s unit the recently formed Ninety-sixth Striker Cluster was made up exclusively of eight stars of the nimble forty-ton Coyotl design with Elementals and a star of aerospace fighters in support.

   Despite the age of the design Daeron Jerricho loved the Coyotl it was fast, well armoured, and well-armed. For this mission knowing he would be going into a close-range battle with infantry, battle armour and armour he had chosen the alternate C configuration which gave him an extended-range large laser, plasma cannon and a six-tube Advanced Tactical Missile launcher, which for this mission had close range high explosive munitions. The OmniMech also had an Electronic Counter Measures suite which helped hide the BattleMechs in their current mission.

   Smashing aside the trees with green and blue leaves the first of five Coyotls burst into the clearing near the eastern flank of the Sixth Isle of Skye Guards. “Engage!” Star Captain Amanda Heller called out; she was riding on Jerricho’s Coyotl back in her Elemental Battle Armour suite. While her suit was painted white like all the other Elemental suits on its helmet was a silver coyote’s head. He reached out with his right arm mounted laser and blasted a Lyran Red Shift BattleMech burning the arm and torso of the enemy Mech. “Keep moving, break through their lines we need to get to their support personnel. Our other forces will engage their main line forces.” Behind the first five OmniMechs came another five and another five each of them carrying five elementals dressed in their battle armour. At the same time two other Clusters of Coyotes hit the main defence lines. The Lyran Regimental Combat Team were ill prepared for the Coyote assault as the entire cluster of Coyotl OmniMechs burst through line after line of defenders. From every Coyote OmniMech weapons fire flew into enemy Mechs, armour and infantry troopers as all thoughts of Clan Duelling laws were forgotten. The Coyotes had brought four Clusters to the planet and they had decided that duelling laws were not to be followed. “Take us to that Atlas! Then keep going Daeron lead the star into our backlines wipe them out. If you do well today you will be commanding this star tomorrow.”

   “Aff, Star Captain, win honour today” he said to her as the forty-ton OmniMech ran past, from the OmniMech five Elementals launched into the air firing short range missiles into the Atlas before jumping onto the BattleMech into the support area behind the main battle lines. “Wipe them off the face of this planet, target all support assets!” Daeron said as he twisted the OmniMech’s torso he opened up with the plasma cannon and fired a salvo of high explosive missiles. The yellow-coloured plasma cannon blast was fired into several Mechbays burning the equipment and the technicians there while the missiles flew into an ammunition store setting off a huge explosion.

   “Point 2, Point 2! We have incoming Battle Armour and Mechs they have Star League colours and the insignia of the Tenth Special Operations Group!” Someone shouted, Daeron Jerricho realized they were shouting on him for orders.

   “Excellent, proper enemies turn into them!” Jerricho ordered even without rank the other MechWarriors listened, the star’s MechWarrior commander was dead. Without their supporting Elementals they would be a match for most enemy Mechs even if the power armour became a problem. More and more Coyotl’s staggered through the Lyran lines several with Elementals still on board.

   “This is MechWarrior Daemon Jerricho acting commander of lead BattleMech star, Elementals engage the battle armour, MechWarriors be alert there is an entire battalion coming in and it looks like Star League Special Forces be, careful Quiaff?”

   “Aff, MechWarrior” they answered and the Coyotls moved quickly towards the enemy the Elementals launching from their frames as they ran. From his position Jerricho opened fire with his Mech’s laser supporting their movements striking a seventy-ton Archer BattleMech.

   With Zellbrigen being ignored BattleMechs and Battle Armour were flying and firing in all directions and Daeron Jerricho was in the middle of it from the Archer he laid down cover fire for a point of Elementals firing ATMs into a group of SLDF Battle Armoured troopers. Missiles came back towards Daeron’s OmniMech but the Coyotl was already in motion reaching out with the Mech’s arm Daeron fired his large laser into a Star League painted Shadow Hawk BattleMech just as the medium Mech was hit by a tight grouping of long-range missiles. As the front of the Shadow Hawk exploded under the coat of missiles Daeron’s laser burned into the Mech’s side penetrating the damaged Mech. Something inside the Star League Mech exploded setting off a chain reaction of explosions with the only thing saving the Mech being the CASE equipment built into the ammo bins.

   Running his Mech through the battlefield Daeron Jerricho slowed his OmniMech enough to allow a point of five Elementals to leap through the air landing on the forty-ton Mech’s speeding form. The Coyotl was mostly a humanoid form OmniMech with the right arm made up primarily with the extended-range large laser. The Coyotl rocked slightly as the Elementals arranged themselves as a Trueborn bloodnamed warrior Daeron Jerricho did not miss a step and continued to accelerate even as the Elementals arranged themselves on the Mech’s back. Running forwards several hundred metres the Elementals short ride onboard the medium OmniMech came to an end as they launched off the Coyotl landing on a Salamander Assault BattleMech. The Salamander was a support BattleMech with multiple long range missile launchers Daeron Jerricho waited until the Elementals were off the Mech then he twisted the torso towards the Salamander hitting the eighty-ton BattleMech was double the Coyotl’s weight and stood almost double its height but now the MechWarrior was distracted by the landing Elementals and Jerricho made it worse adding in a plasma cannon shot and a flight of ATMs straight into the assault Mech’s left flank. He had to watch his shots with his Elementals who were now attacking from onboard the BattleMech, but Daeron continued to circle the Salamander firing his weapons when he got a clear shot. Finally, a high explosive salvo of ATMs slammed into the Salamander’s right leg causing the knee to explode ending the BattleMech’s battle as it tumbled towards the ground. The Elementals were not finished and they continued to attack the fallen BattleMech until the pilot issued his surrender no doubt worried about the battle armoured troopers tearing into his Mech’s armour with their razor-sharp battle claws.

   “This is saKhan Vladamir Heller” the communication cracked to life bringing Daeron Jerricho back to reality for a moment “all Coyote forces stand down. I have received a message of surrender from the Lyran forces and have accepted their request for Hegira. All Lyran forces will be allowed to retreat if they end all hostile acts. Alexandria is ours.” He said the message ended and Daeron throttled down the Coyotl’s speed, his new OmniMech had done well in its first battle. He did not think he had a single personal kill during their flanking battle but he had driven the attack an elemental landed in front of him he could see the insignia on its helmet despite the battle damage a silver painted Coyote’s head.

   “Well done MechWarrior” Star Captain Amanda Heller said her suit so small compared to his BattleMech but the complete opposite to the massive hulking warrior that Heller was. “You took command when you needed to and you aided in our victory. Now you must prepare, you will face a Trial of Position in the morning for command of this star.” She said before turning her suit and jumping away with the suit’s jump jets. Today’s battle was over but the fight was not over for Clan warriors until they were dead and tomorrow would be another challenge.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1089 on:** January 10, 2024, 11:08:24 PM »

Trial of Refusal
Goslar, Hanseatic League
Deep Periphery
2nd May 3119

Although the Goliath Scorpions had been operating in the Hanseatic League for two months without real opposition rescuing a total of thirty Clan born warriors and nearly two hundred civilians in the process their actions had drawn the attention of Clan Blood Spirit. From orbit the Clan commander Star Colonel Lionel Cluff had challenged the Goliath Scorpion ground forces to a Trial of Refusal citing that while an entire Cluster had been in the Hanseatic League for more two months, they had barely recovered a clusters worth of warriors, and even less equipment. Cluff believed that the Clan’s attention should be on the homeworlds and challenged the Goliath Scorpions to a Trial of Refusal. Because it was a standard trial the two Clans had lined up opposite each other, with both Clans fielding a Trinary of troops on the battlefield. MechWarrior Jasec waited in his Whipscorpion BattleMech watching as the Blood Spirits approached, he spied a Blood Spirit Ice Ferret OmniMech and decided that was his target. “This is MechWarrior Jasec of Clan Goliath Scorpion to the warrior piloting the green and red Ice Ferret, I challenge you to a duel of equals.”

   “We are not equal MechWarrior Jasec, I am Erik Posavatz of Clan Blood Spirit, I accept your challenge.” His opponent responded the Ice Ferret dancing to the side and it fired its left arm extended range particle projection cannon which barely missed the Whipscorpion.

   Running to the right Jasec used his BattleMech’s advanced tactical missile launchers to engage the dodging Ice Ferret six missiles flew in on the enemy Mech with only three of them striking their target. Another particle cannon shot flew towards the Whipscorpion striking the forty-ton BattleMech’s right leg burning away the armour and exposing the structure underneath one of the BattleMech’s jump jets showed inactive and the knee actuator was damaged. “Stavag!” he said angrily launching the Whipscorpion into the air on its remaining jump jets angling towards the running Ice Ferret. Jasec feathered the jump jets controlling the flight dropping down towards his enemy he unleashed the BattleMech’s two improved heavy medium lasers hitting the Ice Ferret with everything he could muster only one of the beams hit as the Whipscorpion fell the beam slammed into the Ice Ferret’s left leg. Like the particle cannon shot which had hit his own Mech Jasec was glad to see the beam wrought chaos on Ice Ferret’s armour burning through to the structure. The other beam missed by a few feet and slammed into the ground beside the OmniMech where it turned the turf beside the Ice Ferret into glass.

   The forty-five-ton OmniMech fired its particle cannon again but this time it missed its target. On landing the Whipscorpion began running again Jasec kept his aim on his target launching another two flights of ATMs at the enemy OmniMech. All six missiles were armed with high-explosive munitions and four of them slammed into the Ice Ferret blowing away pieces of armour away from the Blood Spirit OmniMech. Two short range missiles flew from the Ice Ferret slamming into the Whipscorpion guided by its streak suite one of the two missiles slammed into the Whipscorpion’s head throwing Jasec around the cockpit. His head slammed into the side of the command chair and only the presence of the neurohelmet stopped the impact splitting his head open. Jasec triggered both plasma cannons out of rage, one missed the Ice Ferret but the other heated ball of plasma slammed into the Ice Ferret. The heat washed over the Ice Ferret just as the pilot triggered his particle cannon, the man-made lightning launcher flew over the Whipscorpion missing widely the heat produced by the weapon and the ongoing rising heat caused by the Plasma Cannon caused the Ice Ferret to stumble and stagger as its heat system was overwhelmed. To add to the Ice Ferret’s wows the streak launcher obtained a lock and the two-tube launcher fired its missiles adding to the OmniMech’s heat problems. As both missiles slammed into the Whipscorpion’s right arm Jasec could see the Ice Ferret was struggling to track his BattleMech’s movements so he accelerated and continued behind the OmniMech unleashing both heavy medium lasers again, moments later he launched another high-explosive flight of advanced tactical missiles into the OmniMech.

   The lasers savaged the back of the Ice Ferret burning through the armour causing havoc in the rear of the OmniMech with engine and possibly gyroscope damage occurring. Moments after the lasers hit their target the six missiles slammed into the back of the Mech, all six hitting their target causing even more damage, too much damage. The Ice Ferret rocked as explosions continued to rock the insides of the, stumbled and fell to the ground in a crumpled heap disabled. While having heavier weapons gave a pilot an advantage over the other being able to manage heat build-up was even more important.

   Twisting away from the downed Ice Ferret Jasec spotted five damaged painted red and black Elemental Battle Armour suits. “Elemental point, this is the Whipscorpion pilot on your left, I challenge you to a battle of equals”

   “Seyla” the lead Elemental responded saying nothing else all five launched into the air releasing their remaining short-range missiles. Ten missiles between the suits flew towards the Whipscorpion even as their launchers fell away from their suits. Jasec opened with both plasma cannons and the advanced tactical missile launchers filling the air with munitions attempting to engage the flying battle armour suits.

   The suits and missiles converged in mid-air as missiles slammed into several of the elementals followed by the balls of burning plasma. Two of the elemental suits lost control flying out of formation just as the remaining missiles slammed into the Whipscorpion four slammed into the already damaged right leg crippling the limb. While nothing broke or fell off the BattleMech Jasec noticed he had no control over the limb and he swore triggering his lasers coring a third Elemental suit. The last two suits landed on the Whipscorpion’s chest and fired their small lasers burning into the chest armour of the BattleMech. “Enjoy this” Jasec whispered triggering both torso mounted ATM launchers at point blank range the missiles exploded almost as soon as they left their launchers sending limbs of elemental troopers in various directions as they over penetrated the armour knocking both warriors off the BattleMech disabling or killing the Blood Spirits. The damage to the Whipscorpion was almost equally vicious to the Whipscorpion the explosion blew back disabling both missile launchers and knocking the Whipscorpion back off its feet as Jasec struggled to control his Mech with the disabled right leg. The fall twisted and snapped the broken limb leaving the Whipscorpion flat on its back.

   Just because one leg was broken did not mean a Mech was out of the fight. Jasec immediately pushed out with both arms propping up the Whipscorpion. He looked for another target sighting a fast-moving pair of Mithras Light Tanks “Armour point this is MechWarrior Jasec, I challenge you” even as he finished speaking the two tanks opened fire with their light-class ultra-autocannons and medium lasers savaging the Whipscorpion’s chest. The immobile Whipscorpion was an easy target for the two tanks but it wasn’t one without teeth Jasec brought one arm up and fired at one of the vehicles missing wildly, the angle was different than he was used to being essentially sat down, moments after the laser fired he’d targeted both plasma cannons as well, they didn’t miss their target and the two plasma shots burned through the armour and caused a fire inside the vehicle, the twenty-five ton tracked vehicle burned for a moment before exploding in a fireball. The remaining Mithras was far enough away not to be affected by the explosion and the crew were ready to resume their attack the ultra-autocannon and laser both cored into the cockpit of the Whipscorpion killing Jasec immediately.

   The efforts of MechWarrior Jasec had not been in vain however killing an OmniMech, a point of elementals and crippling a point of vehicles had been enough to help the Goliath Scorpions to a victory of Clan Blood Spirit. The victory meant that Clan Blood Spirit would return to the Clan Homeworlds while the Goliath Scorpions would be allowed to continue their efforts to find reinforcements within the Hanseatic League.

Training Camp
Outskirts of Macheema, Arcturus
Hell’s Horses Occupation Zone
18th May 3119

   The founding capital of the Lyran Commonwealth before the leadership moved to Tharkad and then a Province capitol for centuries the world of Arcturus was now deep within the Occupation Zone of Clan Hell’s Horses. Arcturus was not the capitol of the OZ but it was important to the Hell’s Horses serving as a manufacturing and training centre. One thing that people did not think about when they fought about the Clans was the freeborn warriors who also received training to serve the Clan. Arcturus with its plentiful population was one such world where freeborns learned how to serve and fight for the Clan. While there were some civilians within the occupied worlds of the occupation zones would never serve the Clans that now controlled their worlds, in some cases there were still those that dreamed of “freedom” from their Clan oppressors but these movements were routinely crushed by the Watch units employed by the Clans. To serve with the Clan’s Touman freeborn recruits from the population went through many checks and an even more rigorous training regime than those who were born from within the Clan population and breeding programs. Unlike the Ghost Bears, Sea Foxes and Nova Cats which integrated Clan born and native born freeborns into one training program, the Hell’s Horses took an approach like that of Clans Wolf and Jade Falcon which kept the population’s separate. They also trained them with sub-standard weapons and equipment which often dated back to the succession wars.

   Over a sprawling training complex which was north of the planetary capital hundreds of recruits practiced drills and trained in preparation for their initial Trial of Position. The noise was like any other across the Inner Sphere with men and women gasping for breath, boots stamping on the courtyard ground and the almost rhythmic crack of semi-automatic weapons fire as recruits practiced. This noise was drowned out by the sound of a VTOL approaching in the blue sky above the facility a Garuda Heavy VTOL appeared high above. The single rotored snub-nosed craft turned as it approached the facility below as if it was turning towards the landing pads but instead of lowering in altitude the Garuda opened fire with its forward mounted long range missile launcher which sent fifteen missiles down on the VTOL which was based at the training facility blowing it to pieces. The VTOL’s second action was to use its chin mounted laser to vaporise a guard tower causing an explosion which killed several members of the Hell’s Horse guard staff as burning wreckage from the tower showers the ground crushing several people below. Even as the Garuda circled the training base below the laser spat out again this time blowing up a supply building off the right of the VTOL, the laser was mounted on a chin turret which hung under the cockpit of the craft. As the laser flew across the camp below the targeted building burst into flames, within moments of the fire starting there was a gigantic explosion as the ammunition contained within burned off and exploded. Moments later the missile launcher activated again this time missiles flew into the main training complex with missiles flying through the windows on the first floor causing a massive internal explosion. Although it was a military complex the building was not designed to take military grade weapons and it was quickly enveloped in fire.

   Small arms fire from the trainees and guards below raised into the sky as the Garuda circled the camp alternating between lasers and missiles pounding the facility and those that occupied it. The Hell’s Horses had nothing that could oppose the VTOL as black smoke from the supply building, and most of their ammunition filled the air and further obscured the Garuda. The troops on the ground were still firing into the air when there was a large “boom” from above as the VTOL activated its jet assisted booster engine and accelerated away from the training camp at high speed.

   For days the Hell’s Horses locked down Arcturus searching for the renegade VTOL but to no avail the VTOL was confirmed to have been stolen from a Hell’s Horses supply depot three hours before the attack on the training base. The attack itself had taken no longer than three minutes and in that time nearly three hundred Hell’s Horses trainers and trainees had been killed or injured. On the planet-wide public address system an individual claiming to be Kafka, the legendary assassin who it was thought had been killed on the world, claims responsibility for the attack. The individual remains in shadow and they cannot be identified, they call on all people on Arcturus too resist the illegal Clan occupation.

Anti-Clan Strikes
Clan Occupation Zones
23rd May 3119

   In an effort to bolster public opinion regarding their opposition to the “Clan Menace” on the borders and to foster closer ties with the SLDF Archon Jessica Steiner authorises strikes by the LCAF and SLDF against Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon. In a series of assaults supported by Lyran and Star League Naval forces the combined forces liberate the systems of Cameron and Gibbs from the Jade Falcons and Nestor and Concord from Clan Wolf. In the Gibbs system the Fleet Admiral Lynn Hood Battlegroup of three Hyperion II-class Heavy Cruisers, supported by the SLDF’s SLS Victor Focht an Enterprise II-class Supercarrier destroy the Texas-class Battleship Falcon’s Nest at the cost of the LCS Fleet Admiral Lynn Hood herself.

   Poised to attack Tharkad itself two Elite Gamma Galaxy Clusters of Jade Falcons are wiped out on Gibbs by the combined forces of two elite RCTs and a brigade of SLDF troops. While in the Wolf Empire two Clusters of Wolves are similarly destroyed. The Isle of Skye commends the Lyran Commonwealth and SLDF’s efforts but they point out that the Clans are closing on Hesperus II, which the Lyran Commonwealth have said many times over the centuries is one of the critical worlds to the realm yet none of the systems which have been retaken are anywhere near the Isle of Skye world continuing it leave it vulnerable to Clan assault. In an effort to keep the Isle of Skye onside Concord is added to the worlds under the remit of the Isle these actions however leads to other disposed nobles to petition the Lyran Commonwealth High Command to liberate their conquered worlds.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1090 on:** January 10, 2024, 11:09:37 PM »

Evacuation
Clan Blood Spirit Landing Zone
Hellgate, Clan Homeworlds
8th June 3119

As BattleMechs, vehicles and battle armour fought as civilians and equipment were evacuated into six egg shaped DropShips. The sky of Hellgate was darkened by smoke and ash as another massive double explosion echoed through the area moments later another mushroom cloud rose into the air, ash blew across the ground slamming into the DropShips and evacuating troops, one crippled BattleMech was literally blown to the ground. Walking out of the darkness and approaching the evacuation site were two lines of identical BattleMechs, each line numbering twenty BattleMechs, all of them were painted blue and silver, a stark contrast to the red and brown BattleMechs of Clan Blood Spirit. These Mechs while they looked completely different from the defenders, they moved through the Blood Spirit lines without opposition before turning around and facing the enemies of the Blood Spirits.

Each BattleMech was painted the same and was of the same design with two large shoulder mounted long range missile launchers, each arm ended in two machine guns with a laser under-slung beside them. Between the two large missile launchers sat the bulbous cockpit while below them along the central-line was another medium laser. The fifty-ton design was a two-legged design and on the thigh of each leg was a two-tube short range missile launcher, it was a design that had been extinct in the Clan Homeworlds for over one hundred years and was known as the CS-1 Fox and it was one of the first BattleMechs constructed by Clan Sea Fox. During their time in the Clan Homeworlds the Blood Spirits and Goliath Scorpions had been making a concentrated effort to open the Brian Caches created since the dawning of the Clans and to use that equipment to engage the Society’s forces.

Behind the new line of Fox BattleMechs one of the DropShips launched off the ground as Clan Blood Spirit aerospace forces attempted to defend its rise. As the Overlord C-class DropShip rose into the sky on a trail of fire there was another gigantic explosion as another nuclear weapon exploded. This one even closer than the last the blast rolled over the launching site and the taking off Overlord C, the DropShip rolled over out of control spinning down towards the ground out of control. Moments later a huge explosion followed as the DropShip impacted on the ground destroying the DropShip and killing every person on vessel.

With the destruction of one DropShip the Blood Spirits upped their evacuation efforts entering the remaining three DropShips as more nuclear weapons exploded in the distance the planet’s name was Hellgate and today it was turning into a reality. A few brave souls, the old and the injured mainly remained behind as a final rear-guard while fixed defences were set to automatic. As many of the remaining survivors crammed into the remaining DropShips as they launched from the surface of the planet heading up into the atmosphere. Aerospace fighters of the Blood Spirits and Society duelled around the DropShips as the Clan’s left the dying world of Hellgate for the last time. Today the Society could claim a pyrrhic victory while they had driven off or killed all remaining Clan influences on the world their efforts had destroyed Hellgate and the remaining population would have to leave or be wiped out within months of the final battle.

Trial of Possession
Enif, Military District of Pesht
Draconis Combine
16th June 3119

   A Trial of Possession between the Fifteenth Ghost Regiment and the First Cataphract Cluster of Clan Snow Raven’s Hawk’s Head Galaxy sees the introduction of the War Crow Heavy OmniMech. Designed as a follow on from the Craven and the Carrion Crow Medium OmniMechs unlike the previous two designs the War Crow is seventy tons and built from the ground up as a main battle line design capable of carrying twenty-five tons of weapons and equipment. The War Crow had a pair of large over shoulder missile launchers, heavy weapon arms and a beak like hook-like low slung cockpit.

   The battle on the surface of the world expands quickly from a simple trial into an all-out brawl with the two sides slugging it out for hours. The Snow Ravens air superiority eventually proves too much for the Fifteenth Ghost even with their Battalion of Land Air Mechs supporting the ground forces both on the air and in the ground. Eventually the Draconis Combine defenders surrender with over a regiment’s worth of personnel, survivors from the combined units which lost the trial are taken off the planet and transported to a world previously known as JP-M-774.

The system which was near the Draconis Combine border had recently been renamed as Montbatten in honour of the recently lost Texas-class Battleship of the same name. While currently not completely habitable the Snow Ravens had found that Montbatten held significant amounts of natural resources which they could use on other worlds. The members of the Fifteenth Ghost would be used as a work force in the many mines that the Snow Ravens were building on the world, these warriors are little more than slave labour for the Clans military working in very harsh conditions on the world’s surface.

Vision Quest, Ways of Seeing Park
New Barcella, Core Territory
Nova Cat’s Den
22nd June 3119

   The Ways of Seeing park on New Barcella was a place of pilgrimage for many Nova Cats the lush undisturbed nature park was used as a breeding ground for nova cats and for Vision Quests. The Oathmaster controlled the number of visits that could be taken monthly there was a delicate balance between nature and Vision Quests which the Nova Cats jealously defended. Other places within Nova Cat’s Den were used occasionally by Nova Cat’s but the grounds of the Ways of Seeing Park were particularly important to the Clansmen.

   Moving through the underbrush Star Captain Kev Rosse was looking for the perfect place for a vision quest, Kev Rosse was in his mid-twenties a trueborn MechWarrior, he was dressed in Nova Cat furs from top to bottom. Unlike most MechWarriors he wore his dark hair to shoulder length while in both ears he wore an earring which held a green Jade Falcon feather. He was armed with a survival knife which he used to cut down brush and defend himself against any threats although it would not be easy. A dark fur covered nova cat bounded past him, it was one of the main predators in the Ways of Seeing Park, but this one did not see interested in him it turned and looked at him snarling once before jumping clear.

   After three days making his way through the underbrush Kev was in no mood to fight a nova cat and he let it go watching the bushes where the nova cat had gone carefully, he decided to make his camp here taking the animal’s appearance as a sign. He spent nearly thirty minutes clearing the area of underbrush and setting a fire before beginning his meditations. A Nova Cat warrior’s vision quest was a very personal thing where they sacrificed vineers, souvenirs taken in battle, in an effort to bring a vision which would show them the future.

   For hours Kev sat in front of the fire searching for a vision before finally a nova cat appeared in front of him and snarled but not in an aggressive way instead it seemed to enjoy the heat from his fire. The big cat then turned around and began to walk away for a moment, when Kev did not move the cat snarled at him again prompting him to stand and move away from the fire. For what felt like miles Kev followed the cat through the undergrowth until they entered a clearing which was covered by low grazing grass. Out on the plain in front of them Kev saw an entire herd of what appeared to be bulls, forty or more of them, there were no such creatures in this area of the planet nor were the indigenous creatures on New Barcella like these bulls. The indigenous bulls were small in stature and were covered in brown black fur and they had four small horns these were larger, they had two large horns which extended sideways from their skulls and they were solid gold in colouring.

   Beside Kev the Nova Cat snarled angrily its red, yellow, and orange coloured sunburst mane was standing on end threatening the bulls away from attacking. The nova cat while smaller than the bulls was the aggressor moving forward on the herd, against one bull the cat would have a chance at bringing down one of the herd animals but against them all there was more of a chance of the cat being trampled. Kev stood and watched as the nova cat continued to snarl while it stepped forwards but its mane slowly lowered as it got closer. Instead of attacking the cat joined the bull for a moment before moving off and joining Kev once more, the herd now appeared more aggressive with what almost like they were armoured, their horns looked sharper and more defined, the herd was also now coloured gold. The nova cat hissed at them once more and the herd turned and charged away from Kev, the nova cat beside him looked up tilting its head before leaping after the hard breaking into a run, Kev ran after the cat following it only a short distance before he saw the herd charge down a nearby rise. Reaching the top of the rise Rosse looked down and saw the herd was charging a massive fortress, which he knew was not of Nova Cat construction, the herd did not stop smashing their way through the gates inside they continued to smash the knights inside trampling under their heavy hooves and gorging them with their horns. Beside Kev the nova cat hissed and snarled at the scene below seeing defenders streaming away from the base the nova cat leapt towards them cutting them down. “I think I understand” he said quietly.

   “Do you?” a voice asked snapping Kev back into reality, he was still sitting at the fire opposite him was the huge form of the Oathmaster Klick Lenardon, the Oathmaster was in his thirties almost ten years older than Kev Rosse.

   “I think I do” he repeated “Clan Nova Cat cannot fight all of its battles by itself, there are targets beyond our reach but we can use others to do what we need to do.” He said the bull was the emblem of the Taurian Concordat which shared a sizable border with the Federated Suns, recently the Federated Suns had begun to resist the Nova Cats efforts to seize territory through Trials of Possession.

   “But we must be careful, those you speak of arming have been our opponents in battle and there is nothing that says they will turn against those we want them to. Quiaff?” Lenardon cautioned his voice was quite soft for someone of his size.

   “Aff, Oathmaster, I think I know how we could do this.”

   “You have a plan Kev Rosse, Quiaff?”

“I think I do” he said thinking about a scenario, “I must now convince the Khan.” He said thinking further about his vision and his plan. “You will support my vision, Quiaff?”

   “I will discuss with the Khan that you experienced a vision” Klick Lenardon confirmed he said rising from his position near the fire “may your visions guide you Kev Rosse.”

Ullmark Plasma Productions
Morrice, Trylon
Aurigan Collective, Periphery
29th June 3119

The Ullmark Plasma Productions factory had been a godsend for the city of Morrice on Trylon. Before the factory had been built by Count Mikhail Ullmark unemployment had been rife in the small city now more than six hundred people were employed there. Josef Potty was one of the lucky ones to call the factory their workplace the construction of the factory and then the jobs that followed had saved Josef’s life, before he was unemployed trying to look after three children one of which suffered from several medical conditions, he had taken several jobs to support his family but the Plasma Productions factory had brought stability for the family.

“Morning Josef” the gate guard Jacob Smith greeted him as he arrived for the morning shift at work “how is Dakota?” He asked seeing the older man arrive, Dakota was his youngest child and she had suffered from medical problems since her birth.

“Urm… sorry what Jacob?” Josef asked obviously distracted

“Dakota, how is she?” Jacob repeated

“Excited” Josef admitted “she and Katja have been packing for hours, they should be launching soon. It is her first-time off world.” He explained

“I’m not surprised, an important trip, this could change her life.” Jacob said, everyone knew Josef’s story and his daughter’s plight. After years of saving and a whip around among the six hundred workers at the plant had allowed for the family to pay for a trip into the Capellan Confederation for treatment. His wife Katja would take the three children on the trip while he continued to work to keep the family going.

“Yes, she isn’t thinking about that right now just being weightless.” He said laughing as he walked through the gate and entered the facility.

It took him nearly twenty minutes to get to the reactor control room at the rear of the facility. As a newly built facility it had its own fusion power plant which allowed the factory to operated twenty-four hours a day. He arrived at his seat and looked over the systems, his back to back had left already, there were three others in the control room looking at their own screens. Josef logged into the system and loaded up his systems he glanced over the systems and almost immediately noticed trouble he stood up and slammed the emergency button on the wall before going onto the intercom button. “ALL HANDS WE HAVE A PRESSURE BUILD UP IN THE REACTOR! EVERYONE OUT!” He shouted at the top of his voice turning seeing the other three members standing nearby “get the hell out of here, it’s going up!” He warned them, he did not know the cause but one off the coolant lines had been completely shut off and the reactor was unable to clear the excess heat. He did not know how long it had been like that but the damage was too much to be stopped.

He turned back to the controls and attempted to boost the coolant from the other lines to buy his colleagues time but there was little he could do. He began to run after his colleagues through the facility just as the pressure reached critical levels. Running through the facility Josef could not think about anything but his girls hoping that they were off planet before the explosion that would soon come. Even as he climbed the ladder up to the exit level Josef had hopes of escaping the power plant but it was not to be the reactor finally gave up and its shielding failed the resulting explosion tore through the facility incinerating the power plant and anyone who remained inside. The explosions blew through the rear of the factory blowing open the facility causing heavy damage further explosions resulted inside the factory as plasma cartridges exploded inside crippling the entire facility.

The damage done would take the factory out of action for more than a year leaving the only source of plasma rifles residing in the Capellan Confederation. As for the Potty family Katja learned of her husband’s death while their DropShip was heading towards the jump point but she chose to keep this a secret from her children instead allowing the to focus on the journey and on Dakota’s upcoming treatment. Two months later after the successful surgery which would change their daughter’s life Katja Potty informed her children of their father’s passing in what was now being investigated as deliberate sabotage on Trylon which had crippled Ullmark Plasma Productions, the children were informed that their father had saved four hundred other workers.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1091 on:** January 10, 2024, 11:11:18 PM »

The Solaris Games, Game World Extreme
Solaris VII, Independent/Clan World
4th July 3119

   Despite being on the Clan Wolf border and having a combined Clan Wolf/Star League Defence Force and Ebon Guard garrison the world of Solaris VII had never been busier or more profitable for both the competitors and the gamblers. While there were nearly regular scuffles between the clan born and inner sphere born populations and even restricted fights between the Clan Wolf defenders and the Star League forces generally speaking the main conflict on Solaris VII was contained to the arenas and race courses. According to Clan Wolf’s Watch and traders it was a symbol of what the entire Inner Sphere could be under an ilClan, with them at its head, a merger of Clan and Inner Sphere life into a perfect meld, from the Inner Sphere leadership it concerned them that Clan Wolf and the Ebon Guard were so willing to allow Solaris to continue as it was. The competitions on Solaris VII are sponsored by Dreadnought Interstellar Industries from Acala III in the Federated Suns and Defiance of Hesperus II in the Lyran Commonwealth.

   3119 had been advertised as Game World Extreme on holo-advertisements across the Inner Sphere due to the multiple competitions which were taking place at once. At the start of the month the games begin with the Solaris Racing League (SRL) beginning this year the even includes four separate events at all five of the tracks with races spread from July through to November. During the course of each “Race Week” there would be an Individual Time-Trial, a Multi-Racer event, a single aircraft Obstacle Course and a Bombing Competition. With scores taken from each, from the first race week previous season champion Jonnie Mjalby from Aubisson in the Rasalhague Dominion scores the most points. On the 21st of the month the regular Solaris VII Games Season kicking off in the Inner Sphere-wide famous Coliseum, games would continue from July through to March 3120 before the three-week spectacle of the Grand Champions. Finally, just a week into the regular season the 46th Star League Games, with some of the normal competitors and many seasoned warriors from across the Inner Sphere and Clans, takes place in the Star League Stadium with Michael Noonan an independent warrior from Terra winning the Star League title he pilots a Dreadnought Interstellar Industries assault BattleMech Sumaire (DII-SMR-D1) adding to the publicity for the company.

There is a suggestion from some quarters of Solaris VII that they should copy the Naval Competitions from the Star League Defence Forces’ Martial Olympiad on Defiance however aerospace fighter competitions have never drawn large crowds on Solaris so the competition supporters are wary about such a large investment.

AFFS Command Bunker, Appleton
Sherwood, Minette PDZ
Crucis March, Federated Suns
8th July 3119

   For eight months Earl Jonas Tyler had been attending rallies with the people of Sherwood and working with the Nova Cat Watch forces based on the planets. The clansmen had been true to what they had promised and they had avoided turning the public disorder into an open fight while they had conducted operations against the AFFS troops causing damage to some infrastructure and AFFS supply bases the Nova Cats had avoided taking the fights into the towns.

   Eventually the public issues with the AFFS had come to a head and a public vote had been held despite objections from the AFFS Command. With 82% of the vote in and 75% of the populations voting Earl Jonas Tyler was returned to the position of leader of the world removing the AFFS appointed official. While the Davion family and the AFFS ruled the Federated Suns it was not a dictatorship like many saw it, many worlds Sherwood included allowed the people to choose their leadership. Today the Tyler family had returned to a leadership position on the world with the population supporting his ticket which included inviting Clan Nova Cat to return to the world… now it was his duty to break them to the AFFS leadership.

   Escorted through the command bunker Earl Jonas Tyler was led into the command bunker “General Harris, thank you for seeing me” he said approaching the general who wore a green duty uniform of the AFFS he had grey hair which was receding at the sides but it remained longer on top. He was easily in his early seventies but still strode a commanding figure.

   “Congratulations on your election victory Earl Tyler, I’m coordinating my two infantry regiments with my armour and BattleMech regiment. We are going to corner and crush the insurgency and start your term with a bright beginning.” He said leaning forwards over a planning table which he invited Jonas to join him at, Jonas felt like a traitor, in truth he was one, and soon they would all know it standing at the table but he loved Sherwood. He had promised his father he would do the best by Sherwood and at present the Federated Suns did not have his world’s best interests in mind.

   “Thank you General but I’d rather you didn’t.” He began the General stood his full height dwarfing Jonas but he pressed on. “In fact, I’d like you to recall all of your forces and stand them down until you are able to remove them from Sherwood.”

   “Excuse me?” He asked there was a hard edge to his voice “what is that supposed to mean?” From behind Jonas, he heard a soldier drawing their weapon. Jonas placed a portable tri-vid camera on the table anyone could see it was smaller and more advanced than generally available to the people of the Inner Sphere, a design from the Star League-era. “What is the meaning of this Earl Tyler?”

   “This is a remote tri-vid camera we are now being broadcast across Sherwood” he said he knew that announcement meant that the AFFS Techs would be working to block the signal so he had to speak quick. “I was elected on a promise to remove the AFFS from Sherwood’s soil and to send a message to Clan Nova Cat to bring them back to this system. While the Federated Suns have done many things for this world over the years the recent actions taking away industries which our people rely on are causing untold hardship on our people and despite being invaders Clan Nova Cat built on what made Sherwood a great world and enhanced our worlds position.” He felt a soldier coming up beside him and he knew he had to be quick “by vote of the people General Harris I have been asked to deliver this message and to inform you that a message has been sent to Clan Nova Cat requestion military assistance with our future garrison and…” he paused for a moment feeling his arms being grabbed “and if necessary, your removal by peaceful action or OTHERWISE!” He shouted as the troops dragged him out of the command bunker. General Harris for his part swung a heavy baton down on the holo-vid camera smashing it.

---

   Two weeks later a Nova Cat WarShip and three JumpShips arrived in the system disgorging three Clusters worth of ground forces all of which began burning towards the planet. When they are close enough General Harris receives a communication and Earl Jonas Tyler was dragged from his cell to witness it. “This is Galaxy Command Jacob Nostra of Clan Nova Cat declaring a batchall for control over the Sherwood system. We have received a message stating Clan Nova Cat is welcome in this system. If you are willing to accept Hegira, we have brought enough DropShips to evacuate your entire unit from its soil to a safe port. If you oppose us, we will destroy you entirely.”

   “You traitorous bastard” Harris said looking at Tyler “I should execute you right here right now” he said during his two weeks of solitary confinement Jonas had been interrogated on multiple occasions, he had been beaten by the guards but he had refused to talk. Outside he knew that the people had protested his incarceration but so far there had not been any violence.

   “You could do that general, I could not stop you, you could execute me and still take the Nova Cat’s offer I do not factor in what will follow.”

   “You fought these freaks!” Harris said angrily drawing his sidearm pointing it at him “how can you now turn your homeworld over to them?” So far, the AFFS authorities had been unable to track down how Tyler had reached out to the Nova Cats only that the planetary HPG had not been used.

   “They have our best interests in mind, I was wrong, you are strip mining this world taking everything we need because it is too close to the Clan border to defend.” He said struggling against the troopers holding him. “We need some of the resources that you are taking from this world.”

   “The Clans will do the same!” Harris screamed angrily his gun still aimed at Jonas

   “They built recharge stations; a moon mining facility and they expanded Sherwood Jabberworky’s into a fully BattleMech factory ALL of which were manned by people who were from Sherwood. You’ve shut down the moonbase and the factory is gone.”

   “Without the factory you don’t need the resources it was mining and there are dangers of mining in space…”

   “We needed those jobs!” Jonas shouted back angrily “they made this world better; you are taking everything away from it.” He couldn’t believe he was arguing FOR Clan Nova Cat but over the last few months Jonas Tyler had realised just how much difference Clan Nova Cat had made to the world.

   “We couldn’t defend it” Harris said lowering the gun “we are within a jump of two of their systems.”

   “Well now you’ll have to and the people won’t support you.” He said Harris arm suddenly came back up and a single shot range out as the slugthrower trigger was pulled and within moments Earl Jonas Tyler’s lifeless body fell to the ground blood streaming from his headwound.

“Shit” Harris exclaimed looking down at the body he had acted on an impulse. “Prepare for evacuation” he said to his staff looking around he knew that his people couldn’t resist three clusters of Clan forces intent on taking the world let alone the WarShip his first duty was to his men and to the Federated Suns.

Five minutes after the order General Ronald Harris communicated with Galaxy Commander Jacob Nostra and accepted the offer of Hegira securing safe passage for his people from the world, with Earl Jonas Tyler's sacrifice a footnote in history. The people remembered him as a visionary who realised his personal mistakes and honoured his sacrifice for their future. From the Nova Cats perspective, they were annoyed that the Federated Suns had removed the Jabberworky factory along with its Ocelot, Pack Hunter, and Jenner IIC manufacturing lines but they resolved to do what they had intended. On the Jabberworky factory site they constructed a new factory and they reopened the moon-based mining facility bringing jobs back to the people they also created job opportunities for the people beyond Sherwood within the Nova Cats Den adopting them as citizens of the Clan instead of treating them as an occupied world. Additionally, unlike other recently occupied worlds the citizens of Sherwood, with their status as members of Clan Nova Cat, were invited to join the Touman as freeborn warriors a challenge several young people took up.

Parliament Elections
Free Worlds League
15th July 3119

   Between the Fifteenth and Thirty-first of July elections take place across the Free Worlds League as leaders of the individual states and of the Free Worlds League as a nation are decided by the people. While these elections are open to all candidates there is no question of who will remain the leader of the District of Marik with Captain-General Joseph Marik easily remaining in control the same result occurs in the Districts of Oriente, Regulus, Gibraltar, Bowang, Lothario and McKenna with every current leader remaining in their position with landslide victories. The only change that occurs is in the District of Lesnovo with Khan Petra Furey of Clan Smoke Jaguar “missing” she is in no position to stand for votes leading Duchess Anastasia Legend the seventy-nine-year-old leader of the Bismark system to ascend to the position of District-General. By the end of the month Prince Lester Cameron-Jones the leader of the District of Regulus is elected to the position of Captain-General of the entire Free Worlds League promising the people that the aggressors at their borders will be pushed back.

While Khan Petra Furey is not with her Clan within the District of Lesnovo her people are going from strength to strength. Within their home District the Clan control all military forces while they are also welcomed across the Free Worlds League as warriors willing to fight for the Succession State taking on enemies on all borders. In the District of Lesnovo itself the Clan introduces a new mixed-tech Battle Armour Suit, the King Cheetah, which is built on the world of Romita. While a new Aerospace Sibko training facility has also been built in the Trinity Moons system as their people continue to go from strength to strength.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1092 on:** January 10, 2024, 11:12:05 PM »

Emergence Wave SLS Markov (Indefatigable-class Battleship)
Canopus, Magistracy of Canopus
Periphery
4th August 3119

   The SLS Markov jumped into the Canopus system at the head of a group of three WarShips but they were not leading an invasion force instead the ships were an escort for Exarch Victor Steiner-Davion and his wife Duchess Danai Centrella-Davion. For the first time in nearly six decades Danai was returning to her homeworld as they stood onboard the massive WarShip deep within one of the command rooms DropShips were deploying from along the vessel’s hull and from the hull of its attending two WarShips. The fleet then began a slow 1G burn towards Canopus for the official state visit. Watching as the fleet deployed via a massive holo-tank which dominated the centre of the room Victor watched his wife who was silently watching the traffic in the Canopus system he was unsure what to say before spotting something on the Indefatigable sensors. Manipulating the controls of the holo-tank Victor could not help but smile “By the Unfinished Book” he exclaimed zooming in on one of the contacts.

   “What is it?” She asked rarely hearing him quote scripture, he had inherited the belief from his father but did not follow it closely.

   “That DropShip” he said smiling as the image zoomed in displaying the wireframe of what appeared to be a Conquistador-class DropShip. “That DropShip is perhaps the one single Conquistador-class DropShip in the entire Inner Sphere which is owned by a civilian it is called the ConquistaVisho.” He explained trying to distract her seeing her interest wane when she realised what the topic was on “there’s a few owned by mercenary companies but that one, that one is owned by a single man and it is kitted out like a flying party bus.” He said beaming looking at the ship “she is a one of a kind, me and Galen spoke once about jumping on an MIIO flight and coming to the Magistracy to see her.”

   “You’re kidding me?” She said, she had been with Victor since the Clan invasion before the class of DropShip had been constructed but she had not heard this story from either her husband or they recently departed friend.

   “No, she was supposed to join the Starliner One but after that disappeared the only way would have been to come to the Magistracy, we were going to take a leave of absence to see it.”

   “And what about me and Cynthia?” She asked realizing she would have been left on New Avalon with their children as would Galen’s wife.

   “That was one reason we didn’t come all this way, that and MIIO would have had a heart attack if we came to a Capellan allied state without an entire battle-group at our backs.” He said his smile reduced to a smile as the sobering thought came to him and he realised that even today he only came here with three WarShips and the entire First Knights of the Inner Sphere Regimental Brigade at his back.

   “Trust me if I’d found out about your little joyride to see a “partybus” DropShip the Capellans would have been the last thing either of you would have had to worry about.” She said playfully punching him in the arm.

   “Owww” he muttered rubbing the arm “we were coming for the DropShip dear.”

   “Of course, you were Prince Davion” she said using an old nickname for him leaning into him “thank you.” She whispered as he wrapped his left-arm around her.

   “Always, I love you.” He replied holding her as the DropShips arrayed themselves in a protective screen around the three WarShips, they had been invited here by the Canopian leadership for a month long stay but it did not hurt to be prepared.

   During the couples planned month of vacation/diplomacy Victor and Danai would visit several of the sights across Canopus, attend diplomatic functions at the Star League Embassy, at the Canopian Family’s Residence and to the shipyard in orbit which would include a tour of the under-construction MCS Magestix an Athena II-class Cruiser.

   A blackmark during the trip was several protests against Danai’s presence with some calling her out as a “traitor” as well as several other expletives regarding her and her Davion Prince. For the most part however, the people are welcoming and warm to her return to the Canopus drawing massive crowds from across the Magistracy of Canopus with few incidents. At every event the Knights of the Inner Sphere are out in force and dressed in their ceremonial SLDF Uniforms behind the scenes three battalions of Knights are kitted out in combat dress prepared to evacuate the Exarch and his wife at a moment’s notice while just outside planetary orbit the SLDF WarShips are ready to assist with entire wings of aerospace fighters and assault DropShips deployed and on standby. While the Magistracy of Canopus government officials watch and attend many of the events the nation’s military is very hands off with the whole process giving the SLDF great latitude in their operations even though they are on the Magistracy capital. The obvious reason for this hands-off attitude is that the SLDF is not here as an occupational force and they do not have the necessary forces to hold the world or supply their units on the ground should it become an open conflict.

---

The second and less obvious reason for the Magistracy’s approach to their SLDF visitors is the nation’s military forces are prepared for another operation, one that causes far deeper issues for the reborn Star League than a military operation involving their own forces. The Davion’s trip is cut short on the 21st August when six Canopian WarShips supporting ground force regiments force their way into the Oriente system landing en masse occupying the Halas Family Residence in a surprise military operation.

Over the course of a week the entire Oriente system becomes a battleground with WarShip wrecks littering the system as running battles claim four Oriente-aligned WarShips and three of the invading Magistracy of Canopus vessels. On Oriente the Elite Ducal Guard and two small mercenary units are destroyed to the man while the Sixth Oriente Fusiliers attempt to hold onto their homeworld against several invading regiments.

   In what appears to be a coordinated attack the Capellan Confederation occupy Fletcher, Fujidera and Anegasaki cutting off reinforcements who could have retreated to Oriente essentially sealing the fate of the defence of the world with the system of Oriente officially surrendering to the Magistracy of Canopus on the 30th August. Exarch Victor Steiner-Davion, his wife and their escorts leave the Magistracy of Canopus after a formal protest to the actions of the Canopian troops, just as they jump out of the system it is announced that Javier Halas, the leader of the District of Oriente, was killed leading the Ducal Guard’s defence.

Running Battle, Great Southern Farmlands
Broken Wheel, Minette PDZ
Crucis March, Federated Suns
11th August 3119

   During their spell detached from the Order of Sortek the lance of BattleMechs commanded by Leftenant Laure Bieganski had been charged with spreading the teachings of the Order of Sortek and helping in the defence of the Federated Suns from outside threats. While on the world of Broken Wheel the Order had successfully held several meetings with people and worked with the local Broken Wheel Training Battalion teaching them some of the drills which made the Order of Sortek such a successful combat unit. Laure’s people had passed on that training, practice and working as a team were key to success now however, she found herself alone and separated from the remaining two BattleMechs of her lance and she was being hunted by a BattleMech belonging to Clan Nova Cat.

   In the early hours of the morning a raiding party had arrived with long range autocannon, missile and laser weapon attacks lighting up the night’s sky. During several hours of fighting which had followed one of her pilots Jean-Claude Galley had been shot out of his Cuirass BattleMech, he had been found a short while ago still in his ejection seat killed on impact following a failed parachute.

   Now Laure ran her Enforcer III hunting an injured Clan Nova Cat Piranha BattleMech the Mech weighed in half as much as her medium class machine but carried a fearsome amount of firepower twelve machine guns backed up by three lasers. The pilot had wiped out two platoons of the Training Battalion’s infantry and destroyed two vehicles before retreating as Laure’s BattleMech approached. Angered by the cowardly attack on the support forces Laure had pursued the Piranha into the darkness causing damage with a long-range laser shot as the light Mech retreated.

   The two BattleMechs were running passive sensors attempting to catch each other out in the corn fields which they now walked through. The genetically modified corn stalks easily stood around eight metres high concealing the Mechs from each other visually until they were directly on top of each other. It was down to wits and chance who the victor would be, despite her Mech’s superior size over the Clan BattleMech due to the tech advantage Clan technology held.

   Suddenly, the left-hand side of her BattleMech’s armour registered damage and she heard the ferocious roar of machine gun fire tearing into the Enforcer III’s armoured hide, knowing the potential of the Mech she faced Laure decided not to take the chance of trying to resist the damage she cursed and launched the fifty-ton BattleMech into the air on its jump jets escaping the attack just as two opal-coloured heavy lasers and more machine gun fire tore through the place her BattleMech had been in. Laure controlled the short jump her Enforcer had made coming to land inside the corn field and turned again to hunt her pray, round one to the Clan MechWarrior.

   The Enforcer III had taken light damage from the ambush fortunately nothing critical had been crippled but she had surrendered the initiative against the enemy Mech. Standing in the cornfield Laure decided to leverage one advantage she did hold turning her Mech back towards her former location she pointed the BattleMech’s ultra-autocannon left arm and triggered a burst of fire through the cornfield firing blindly, she had ammunition to spare and one lucky hit would cripple the Piranha. The weapons fire was a distraction though she saw that the Enforcer III’s jump jets had recharged she toggled the controls of the Mech’s jets firing them at less than a fifth of their maximum potential making the fifty-ton BattleMech hop into the air on a cushion of fire over the dry cornfield.

At full power the jump jets would incinerate the crops but at this power they had a different effect starting a fire which would likely consume the entire field of corn and drive the Piranha in the direction she wanted it to go. The Enforcer III’s double heat sinks would help resist the increased heat caused by the fire while she knew the enemy Mech only used single heat sinks which would put it at a disadvantage. Setting fire to crops to win a battle was not the honourable thing to do but the greatest honour was to win, should she be asked about how the fire started she would inform anyone who asked that it was an accident they were the only two warriors out here and only she would be walking out of the battle.

---

For thirty minutes the fire continued to build and the two BattleMechs continued to duel Laure had been able to catch the lighter Mech unaware with its large laser and she had burned through the connections which held the Clan Mech’s left arm reducing it to a useless piece of slag metal. The Piranha had returned fire with its single remaining laser causing armour damage but Laure had kept her Enforcer III out of the range of the Piranha’s machine gun salvo which the Clan warrior had fired in frustration filling the air around the Enforcer III as she faded into the flames.

The final moments of the battle had come as a surprise to both warriors fighting exhaustion and heat build up the Piranha pilot stumbled upon Laure’s Enforcer III hitting it with its remaining lasers and machine guns devastating the fifty-ton BattleMech’s armour and damaging the large laser and destroying the Mech’s medium laser at near point-blank range. The Enforcer had weathered the assault though and replied with an equally devastating blow with autocannon fire at point blank range which had gutted the Piranha’s torso shattering links between the fusion engine and the Mech’s other systems. Without power the Piranha had fallen to the ground and was consumed with fire. Unable to escape the flames from their prone BattleMech the Nova Cat warrior was consumed by the fire.

With her Enforcer’s battle records “unfortunately corrupted” by damage caused during the battle Laure was cleared of wrongdoing and the fire, which burned for three days after the battle, was put down to being started incidentally during the fighting. The fire had destroyed the cornfield she had fought in and burned through had burned through several acres in every direction but she had been victorious and that was all that mattered for a member of Warrior House Sortek. Despite its “friendly-trappings” of the Order of Sortek Larie Bieganski had been born into the unit and raised with the full knowledge and upbringing which had been instilled in the unit when it was part of the Confederated Suns and was a fanatical believer in the ends justified the means when it came to victory.

Following the battle Laure learned that another of her warriors Ted Souffrant had been killed in the cockpit of his Caesar which had also been destroyed during the battle reducing her lance to two battered BattleMechs and one wrecked Cuirass with no pilot. To rebuild her unit and continue her mission Laure chose to promote a trainee Charlie Johnston to the position of pilot of the Cuirass while also recruiting a Watchman BattleMech independent MechWarrior Lena Hurst to the command, Hurst would be trained in the way of the Order while serving as a MechWarrior which was a break from protocol but required for the current situation. Additionally, the lance brought in two members of the local training battalion as trainees who would be inducted into the order and trained as future pilots.

Marketing Campaign, Sanrio Galactic Incorporated
Oshika, Midway Prefecture
Military District of Midway, Draconis Combine
18th August 3119

   In the heart of the Draconis Combine the most unlikely marketing campaign gathers an immediate following. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Director Yasuhiro Auki and I stand before you as a man humbled by the support that the people of Oshika have shown my company Sanrio Galactic.” A short Japanese-descent man said standing on a stage beside a table which had a grey cover concealing what was on top of it. “We started with a goal of funding a collectible which would be admired and be desirable to the masses. With every entry there was a promise that while every supporter would receive their own collectible for supporting this project everyone would also be entered into a prize draw for an all-expenses trip to our production facilities here on Oshika along with a week-long vacation on this beautiful world.” He said clicking a small button which activated a screen behind him “I present you with our initial product Urbie the UrbanMech” he announced on the screen a yellow, green, and grey “cuddly” UrbanMech was shown with rounder and wider limbs and body than the real Mech but with the same proportions as the UrbanMech with two short legs an autocannon arm on the right and a laser arm on the other side all of which were rounder and more exaggerated than the standard BattleMech.

   “Our campaign has not ended there however while we have begun shipping these collectibles across the Draconis Combine, our campaign has reached stretch goals that we never expected to reach” Auki admitted “this has led us to release new products” he said pulling away the cover from the table and picking up the first of their new plushies “allow me to humbly present you with Uhu the Peregrine.” He said holding the grey, blue, and orange coloured Peregrine unlike the UrbanMech the Peregrine BattleMech’s armour was normally more rounded now the two-legged Clan designed BattleMech was recreated in plushie form. “Uru like Urbie will be available for general sale on Oshika by the end of the month with orders beyond Oshika being fulfilled in due time.” He said holding the BattleMech out showing off the cushion.

   “All backers of the second stage of our campaign will receive their own version of Uru as part of their backing” he said placing down the second plushie. “We would have been honoured beyond what anyone can imaging if only Urbie had been funded, but for Uru to also be funded led to further questions.” He said looking at the tri-vid camera “what else could catch your imagination. Allow me to present the first products beyond our Kickstarter which will go on general said exclusively on Oshika by the end of this month.” He announced picking his next two products “first is Cutiecat” he said picking up a red, brown, white, and yellow coloured plushie version of the Mad Cat (Timber Wolf) OmniMech. The iconic image of the Clan invasion and a Mech design known in every corner of human space. “And the second is Drago the Great Lizard” he said holding up a larger beast of an animal plushie which appeared to be covered in thick scales and armour, its “sharp” teeth and wicked appearing tail were completely harmless but would provide the other plushies with an opponent worthy of them.

   “All of these plushies will be available in retailers across Oshika by the end of the month and they will be sold exclusively in this system.” With this announcement the craze for collecting the four initial plushies spread like wildfire across Oshika and quickly to the entire Draconis Combine with orders from across the state coming into the company as the craze brought the company to greater and greater heights.

Mechbay, Wolf Site Alpha 4
Helm, Wolf Empire
22nd August 3119

   The Mechbay was the same as those across human occupied space with BattleMechs of various sizes in various states of operation, some ready for deployment others undergoing maintenance or repairs. In front of one of the BattleMechs stood a MechWarrior with bright red hair tied back in a ponytail she wore a simple black tank top and shorts as she looked up at the Ryoken II BattleMech which was once again hers.

   “MechWarrior Kerensky your BattleMech is ready for deployment” the tech said off to her side she turned towards him and nodded. “With respect should someone of your heritage not be piloting something befitting your position, quiaff?” The tech asked looking at the Ryoken II the seventy-five-ton BattleMech was an impressive design but she was a Bloodnamed MechWarrior of Clan Wolf holding the name of the Great Father and of the Founder of the Clans.

   “Aff, I am out of favour with the current Khan” Anastasia Kerensky replied her path to the true Clan Wolf had been a difficult one. Born from the Iron Wombs on Arc Royal to the then Warden Mountain Wolves she had followed her heart and headed out soon after winning her Bloodname with the same BattleMech that stood in front of her now and she had fought for several years as an independent warrior. “It will do for now, I am heading to the ranges” she announced after serving as a Bondsman for a year it was time she began her rise once more within Clan Wolf, this time the true Clan Wolf.

---

As Anastasia Kerensky’s modified Ryoken II walked out of the Mechbay on the infantry ranges beside conventional infantry troops were facing their first Trials of Position. While conventional infantry troops, like conventional vehicles, had always been part of a Clan’s Touman. These were more often deployed as part of paramilitary and police forces which controlled the civilian populations and were rarely deployed as combat assets by the Clans in the defence of their territory. Since moving to their Empire territories Clan Wolf had seen the need for troops in numbers capable of garrisoning and defending these systems were far outstretching the numbers of troops traditionally fielded by the Clans. Several of the Clans had begun to field conventional troops as part of formations throughout their Toumans and were challenging their conventional forces to be better than they had ever been.

To fill these new roles of Clan Wolf the Clan’s leadership had opened training to every member of the Wolf Empire whether they were Trueborn or Freeborn, Wolf-borne or a native of the occupied worlds. Every new trooper would be trained for a year before their Trial of Position and to join Clan Wolf they would have to face three trials the first was a fitness test a run for two kilometres in full gear followed by an obstacle course. While there was not a finish time limit the faster one finished the higher the prestige. The second test was a marksmanship test with candidates having to hit a target with a ballistic, laser and gyrojet weapon, all three weapons had to be completed before the final test. In the final test potential warriors had to defeat a serving member of the Clan Wolf Touman in hand-to-hand combat. Due to these three gruelling tests the dropout rate was high but Clan Wolf were also gaining some of the best conventional troops of all the Clans due to these requirements.

I am 99% certain that Urbie the UrbanMech and Uru the Peregrine originated from something that someone sent me (outside the BattleTech Kickstarter which was also an influence) but I cannot for the life of my find who sent me the piece they were originally in :cry: so I'm going to say thanks to the contributor who suggested them, it was a while ago but I rarely ignore anything that's ever sent me it just takes a while for them to appear sometimes.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1093 on:** January 10, 2024, 11:12:51 PM »

The “Feast of Oriente”
Former District of Oriente
Free Worlds League
1st September 3119

   The so called “Feast of Oriente” begins with the fall of Oriente to the Magistracy of Canopus. Instead of the rest of the Free Worlds League standing up for the small District they turn on the former worlds of the District glad to be gone with the bickering Halas twin brothers. Instead, the Districts of Regulus and McKenna move on the former worlds while the Capellan Confederation and Magistracy of Canopus move on other worlds.

   The worlds of Hassad and Varna are rolled into by the District of McKenna with Duchess Saadia Cheynov personally leading the Seventh Regulan Hussars Regiment to the world of Hassad. Initially there is a standoff between the Santorini Battle Group and the District of McKenna’s forces but eventually an assault DropShip is allowed through carrying the Duchess to the planet. There she meets with the leaders of the Second Ducal Guard and Second Militia promising them that the District of McKenna will recover the lost worlds of Oriente from the respective powers that had seized them. As a result of Cheynov’s promises both Hassad and the system of Varna surrender without a single shot fired with the defenders remaining loyal to the Free Worlds League. Within hours the Santorini Battle Group agree to the terms set by the District of McKenna joining forces to resist the Capellans and Regulans.

   The worlds of Carbonis and Las Halles fall far more violently with the Elite and Veteran defenders being dug in and ready to resist the Capellan Confederation forces invading but unfortunately, they are hopelessly outgunned with the Capellans dominating the space over the two worlds with several WarShips providing dominance in the sky and in space. With the dug in defences costing the attackers heavy casualties over the course of two weeks Capellan commanders lose their tempers resort to extreme measures calling in orbital bombardment on the District of Oriente troops positions. Overwhelming firepower is brought down on the remaining defences wiping them out in devastating one sided engagements, with the ground troops unable to defend or return fire. The attacks caused massive damage to both Carbonis and Las Halles support infrastructure and tens of thousands of civilian casualties in collateral damage over the two worlds. The damage done to the two worlds would eventually cause humanitarian and ecological problems with both and their Capellan Confederation’s actions would send ripples through the Inner Sphere as a spectre from the First and Second Succession Wars rears its ugly head.

   At the same time as the Capellan Confederation assaults take place from the Magistracy of Canopus and District of Regulus on the worlds of Salur and Loaches from the Magistracy and the Matheran and Daneshamand from the District of Regulus. For all four systems mercenaries are the defenders and by the time any opposition forces arrive in the system word has come down that Oriente has fallen none of the mercenaries wish to fight to their deaths for a fallen nation. Instead, the commands negotiate out of their contracts or agree to defence contracts with the new landlords. During the negotiations word of Capellan Confederation’s actions on Carbonis and Las Halles makes its way through the HPG Network and no-one on either side has an appetite for more conflict.

Bloodname Grand Melee, Ways of Seeing Park
New Barcella, Core Territory
Nova Cat’s Den, Periphery
9th September 3119

   In the heart of the Nova Cat’s Den warriors eligible for a Bloodname contest but unable to gather individual support by the Clan’s various bloodhouses enter the Clan’s Grand Melee. Each warrior’s one desire is to win as the victor of the Melee will be eligible for a Bloodname for the reborn Bloodhouse of Attwater. The Nova Cats have breathed new life to this founding Bloodhouse by opening their vaults of DNA from previous Clan warriors, they also take samples of DNA from every contestant joining the Melee adding new life to the Bloodhouse.

   From his recent victory on Fletcher’s Feast Star Colonel Lucian Nova Cat had travelled to New Barcella intent on competing in the Grand Melee. As he approached the barriered off area in the Ways of Seeing Park Lucian like all Nova Cats who were attending were dressed in the traditional leathers of the Nova Cat Clan. Lucian had opted for the more conservative soft leather jumpsuit while others wore far more elaborate costumes which they believed would assist them in winning the contest. As he made his way through the crowds of warriors, he approached the perimeter formed by Elemental warriors dressed all in white.

   Lucian did not look at any of the warriors instead he handed over his Codex and waited admittance, he was an unblooded warrior of the Rosse Bloodhouse through his father and at twenty-eight years old he was a Ristar within the Clan commanding a successful Cluster. None of the Elementals moved to allow him admittance instead within moments another huge hulking figure arrived beside him Lucian immediately recognised him Klick Lenardon the Elemental who served as the Clan’s Oathmaster, the overseer of this entire contest.

   “Walk this way” he boomed his deep but soft voice ordered guiding him away from the Grand Melee Lucian hung his head knowing already what was happening. They walked nearly a kilometre away from the Grand Melee site in silence before Lenardon stopped “you cannot join this contest.”

   “Why? I am a warrior of this Clan; I have earned the right!” He almost shouted the contraction in his speech sneaking through with his anger.

   “You are freeborn.” Lenardon said simply

   “Grayson and Sonya were freeborn both were allowed to carry the Rosse name honouring our Khan. I am the Khan’s grandson; I am the son of a Nova Cat hero.”

   “Your father and his sister carried the Rosse name to honour their father neither competed for the name in an open contest…”

   “They EARNED that name; I want to earn a name!” He snapped angrily defending his father’s position holding the Rosse name until his death.

   “Aff, he did, but his holding of that name and your freeborn status precludes your entry into this contest, you cannot be a holder of any name other than the Rosse name.” Lenardon explained “and even then, your father is dead, his sister is dead and the Khan’s position is not as strong as it once was…”

   “So I am in limbo, quiaff?”

   “Unfortunately,” he answered “I do however have orders for you from the Khan” he said seeing Lucian’s surprise “take it as a blessing, your Cluster is at the jump point.” He explained Lucian had left them on Fletcher’s Feast being reinforced with new equipment, obviously someone had leaked his travel arrangements which had resulted in the Cluster being ordered to follow him. “Good hunting Star Colonel” Lenardon said turning leaving Lucian to stand alone and work out his anger.

   As Lucian stood there in the middle of nowhere a nova cat leapt from a tree where it had been hiding, in a flash the agile black cat struck quickly tearing a bird from the air pulling its prey to the ground not caring for the human nova cat warrior. Quickly the nova cat killed its prey, not playing with its target, before acknowledging Lucian's presence with a quiet warning snarl. “I hope my prey falls as easy” he muttered walking away from the nova cat which was enjoying its dinner.

Trial of Possession, SLDS Terence Gilliam (Pueblo-class Surveillance DropShip)
Jade Falcon Shipyards, Dark Nebula
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
25th September 3119

   Hidden within the Dark Nebula the SLDS Terence Gilliam sat on low power watching the operations at the Jade Falcon’s shipyard in the deep periphery. The Gilliam was one of a new generation of spy ships based on a classic Star League-era design of which dozens had been recovered from within hangers on Terra. According to the SLDF ComStar had operated several of the DropShips but eventually turned to using their own designs following the disappearance of several of the expensive ships. Following Terra being taken over by the SLDF the Pueblo-class was one of the first that had been quietly re-added to the SLDF arsenal working for the Star League Intelligence Corps watching for threats. None of the crews knew where any other was based but it was widely believed that the SLDF watched all the Succession States and all of the Clans.

   “Captain on deck” one of the crew called out as Lisa Loven entered the observation deck, when the ship was running silent like it currently was the most important room on the ship. Although named the Observation desk on the Pueblo this was not on the outside of the hull observing space but instead located deep within the ship near the sensor feeds and observation telescopes which for now were trained on the Clan shipyards.

   “What do we have Michaels?” She asked, she was in her fifties her ginger hair tied back and her square glasses perched on her nose, she wore a plain red jumpsuit with multiple buttoned cargo pockets.

   “New Falcon Mississippi-class just launched she’s a beast.” Michaels reported he was in his early forties with short dark hair, like the rest of the crew they did not wear uniforms instead he wore a uniform instead he wore a navy hoodie, grey work vest and pants.

   “Aren’t they all” she said looking at the high-definition screens at the huge WarShip “who is that?” She asked looking at the screen seeing another WarShip which had arrived and it was surrounded by DropShips.

   “Snow Raven ship, the Black Lancer a Patriot-class Heavy Cruiser.” Michaels responded “they arrived forty minutes ago; we’ve been trying to break their encryption but no such luck so far.”

   “Seriously?” Loven asked a little annoyed her crew had not been able to break the encryption “since when can the Clan’s encrypt something we can’t break?” She asked rhetorically “get on it!” She snapped watching the screens.

---

   For a day the Gilliam watched silently before a third vessel joined them in the area. The Gilliam like all spy ships remained unseen because it did not do anything flashy to allow itself it get noticed. The ship would sit beyond visual range of the shipyard often near a piece of planetary debris drifting as it observed the Jade Falcon shipyards.

   The door chime to Loven’s quarters activated and she called out “enter” Michaels floated into her quarters.

   “It’s a Trial of Possession for the Mississippi and its plans.” He said proudly floating in the entrance way like all quarters on the Pueblo Loven’s had a small entrance, a main room and food preparation area and a toilet, the ship was designed to be comfortable for its crew on long duration missions.

   “Excellent, the fireworks of the Trial will give us an opportunity to boost away towards the rendezvous point.” Loven suggested rarely did the ship use its main drives but when there was a lot of activity it was a good opportunity to do so, they had planned to leave when the Mississippi began its post-launch trials but this was as good an opportunity as any.

   “There will be a lot of fireworks around…”

   “The Clans normally bid down…” Loven started but Michaels shook his head “oh…” she whispered “when does their trial begin?”

   “One hour’s time.”

   “I’ll see you on the bridge.”

   An hour later Loven floated onto the ships small compact bridge joining the other three crewmen there. “Status report.”

   “Surveillance Arrays stowed – ready for transit”

   “Engines standing-by”

   “Weapons online… just in case.” Michaels added

   “All crew ready.” The crew reported as she strapped herself into her command chair none of them wanted to do unnecessary moving around during a burn.

   “Has the trial started?” Loven asked Michaels looked over his screens.

   “Affirmative, the two Patriots are squaring off along with their support craft.”

   “Helm, thrusters take us away from the rock, main engine burn when we’re clear they won’t have a chance of catching us even if they pick us up.” She ordered the Gilliam slowly turned in space moving gently away from the space rock. Moments later the main engines activated sending them into a gentle one G burn which quickly accelerated to a three G burn as they burned deeper into the nebula.

   “Two Avars incoming! They must have been on deep perimeter patrol!” Michaels called out the thirty-ton OmniFighters had better speed than the DropShip but would not have the range or the firepower. “Missiles away from targets, they are configured with LRMs!”

   Through the darkness of space flights of long-range missiles flew in on the DropShip “AMS engaging” one of the crew called out. One of the upgrades the SLDF had mandated went on the Pueblo after the class was taken out of mothballs on Terra was the installation of two dozen anti-missile cannons as the missiles got close enough the AMS cannons fired automatically knocking more than half of the missiles out of the sky before they impacted the ship. The remaining dozen exploded across the rear of the DropShip.

   “Cut main thrust, thrusters bring our nose on target, it’s a pair of lights Weaps split your fire half and half.” She ordered Michaels who nodded. The ship ceased its forward acceleration but had already built up enough momentum that without the friction of an atmosphere the ship continued along the same course as it did the ship rotated in space suddenly facing off to an angle as the two Jade Falcon fighters continued to close. To the naked eyes the two fighters would be impossibly far away but a DropShips targeting systems were designed to track enemy targets.

Form the nose and wings of the Pueblo the weapon ports which were rarely if ever used engaged as one. Space was filled with man-made lightning particle cannons and red laser fire as the six forward facing particle cannons lashed out nearly as one targeting one ship, while the ships six forward mounted large lasers targeted the other ship destroying both ships in twin balls of flame. “Sensors any more contacts?” Loven asked as the DropShip continued to move away from the two expanding balls of wreckage.

   “Negative, scopes clear”

   “Damage report” Loven ordered

   “Minimal armour kept it out, we’re good.”

   “Excellent, Helm turn us back onto course keep the engines silent we do not need to draw any undue attention. We will let the Clanners figure out where their two Avars went.” While the Star League DropShip made its escape the two Clans continued to engage each other eventually the two WarShips fought to a draw with the Snow Raven vessel accepting defeat. They had however done enough damage to win the plans for the Mississippi-class Battleship while not quite a new WarShip the Ravens has extensive facilities for building WarShips of their own.

   A month later Clan trials for WarShips continues as Clan Sea Fox challenge Clan Hell’s Horses for control over one of the Hell’s Horses Forge-class Yardships. The Foxes are more successful than the Ravens and they win control over the Forge adding it to the Starstrike Khanate.

Dragon Cat · « **Reply #1094 on:** January 10, 2024, 11:13:45 PM »

Castle Nautilus
Artu, Aurigan Collective
Periphery
6th October 3119

   On the deep periphery moon of Artu in the Aurigan Collective engineers dug through the permafrost and earth for nearly a full month before they had finally come across a pair of armoured doors which had a massive Cameron Star engraved into them. After recovering the DropShip Argo in deep space, they had spent time searching through the vessel’s archives which had pointed them to the moon world. To the Aurigan Collective Artu was a mining world with resources worth taking off but otherwise of little importance, a small population lived on four space stations which orbited Artu while the facilities on the moon were mostly automated with only a few thousand people making the surface their home. Artu was one of fourteen moons which orbited a blue coloured gas giant which dominated the frozen skies.

   It would take the Aurigan’s the better part of a month to gain access to the vault under the ground. Inside they found a facility that went a dozen levels down and two entire brigades of armoured vehicles and BattleMechs all of Star League-era vintage and in pristine condition. With the Aurigans presently relying on mercenary forces for their defences the equipment found will go a long way to strengthening the case for the small nation which was nestled between three other powers to remain independent.

SRJS Grumdale (Monolith-class JumpShip)
Uninhabited System
Raven Alliance, Periphery
17th October 3119

   In an uninhabited system located within the Raven Alliance located roughly three quarters between Bell and Antallos an elite Draconis Combine assault team had encountered a Snow Raven supply convoy of five JumpShips heading towards Antallos the Combine forces had deployed several DropShips to interdict the JumpShips. The DCMS DropShips were hovering near the JumpShips their weapons locked onto their targets one-by-one the DropShips would dock with their targeted JumpShips and board them.

   Onboard the SRJS Grumdale Draconis Combine marines boarded the JumpShip through one of the clear DropShip docking collars due to the general tight confines of a standard JumpShip the Draconis Combine marines wore standard armoured space suits which were sealed in case of a hull breach. The twenty marines floated or walked with magclamps into the loading bay taking up defensive positions the bay was empty other than several cargo containers.
Almost as soon as the marines had got on board the figures appeared from the both corners of the room below and above their position. Larger than standard human bodies these figures stood about seven feet high the suits had triangular helmets, mostly rounded armour, and thrusters on the legs, back and on extended helmet level thrusters. The suited troopers were armed with hand-held Mauser IIC Assault Pulse Rifles and they immediately began engaging their targets, the Combine troopers attempted to resist but their low velocity, mostly non-armour penetrating weapons (deployed to protect the ships from an accidental hull breach) struggled to damage the suits with only a few troopers having effective weapons.

On all the JumpShips hidden doors opened and weapons arrays began engaging the nearby DropShips. While they could not target the DropShips which had docked with their own JumpShip they could target the DropShips docked with other vessels. Even as the JumpShips engaged the DropShips more Power Armoured troopers exited the JumpShips traversing the vessels hull using thrusters boarding the Draconis Combine DropShips entering through the holes punched in the hulls by the hidden DropShip weapons.

With the DropShips damaged and boarded and the JumpShip boarding parties contained the Draconis Combine JumpShips jumped clear of the system abandoning their boarding parties ordering them to fight on. Following communications that they had been abandoned reached the marines and DropShips several of the DropShips immediately surrendered. With their escape ships surrendered and boarded the marines had little option but to surrender to the Snow Ravens with close to one hundred DCMS personnel captured in total. Scans from the DCMS JumpShips showed that the Snow Ravens had removed one of the DropShip collars from each of the JumpShips to add additional weapons, targeting systems and heat sink systems combined with the new Power Armour design this would make the commercial JumpShips a more difficult target for raiders in the future.

Trial of Possession
Stewart, Wolf Empire
23rd October 3119

   In a Trial of Possession between Clan Wolf and Clan Sea Fox the system of Stewart changes hands with Clan Sea Fox defeating Clan Wolf for Possession over the world. The Wolves put up a light defence with the Sea Foxes winning but allowing the Wolves to remove several assets from the world. The Sea Fox victory gives the Clan a trade world within Wolf space and another point on their network of trade worlds which were located throughout the Inner Sphere and Clan realms.

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