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Watch Cluster DropShip Vanguard
High Orbit, Strana Mechty
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Homeworlds
4th December 3064

   Leaving their WarShip at the Nadir point the Nova Cat DropShip Vanguard carrying the Watch Cluster, the saKhan and Yvonne had burned into the Strana Mechty system.  Three times the vessel had been challenged by other Clans wanting to know what the vessel was? And, possibly more importantly, what its capabilities were?  When they discovered that the vessel was of Nova Cat origin there was veiled threats against the Nova Cat Clan but no challenges, they would respect the Nova Cats superior Naval experience and attack them on the ground.

   Entering orbit Canin and Yvonne entered the DropShips forward observation lounge as the vessel began a slow roll before entering the planets atmosphere.  Artificial Gravity was marginal at best under these conditions so both wore gravity slippers over their shoes or boots, the slippers had magnets on them giving better grip against the decking during zero-g moments.

   On the trip here Canin and Yvonne had acted like a married couple and been all over each other every minute they were not on duty.  The Watch Cluster already highly experienced with Inner Sphere citizens had taken in Yvonne like any other outsider and had treated their marriage with more interest that anger or aggression.  They both knew however that Strana Mechty would not be so forgiving and that Yvonne would be a simple freeborn administrator once they landed.  The Watch Cluster personnel and DropShip crew had also been sworn to secrecy as well, hopefully the secret could be kept long enough for the Nova Cats to complete their short mission and get off the Clan Capitol World.  “There it is, Strana Mechty, capital of the Clans and birthplace of the Clans.”  Canin said pointing at the world a largely landlocked world there was only a small portion of the planet dedicated to water, which were held in several small landlocked seas, the word was the complete opposite of the Nova Cats new capital New Barcella.

   â€œIt does not look much.”  Yvonne said flatly Canin looked at her not angry but curious.

   â€œAll the way here you were asking me questions of Strana Mechty and reading data on the world and all you can say is ’it does not look much’ are you trying to wind me up?”  He asked a small smile creeping onto his face.

   â€œOh look the city!” Yvonne said almost like a child seeing Katayusha City for the first time as the city appear over the horizon as the Vanguard manoeuvred.

   Katayusha City was the city the Nova Cats had based the design of Philip Drummond City on at its centre was a five pointed star, Old Katayusha was an area that had grown around the city was almost as big.  In all the City was over around sixty Kilometres in diameter and could rival any city in the Inner Sphere for size and presence.  At the cities centre was the Clan’s Primary Genetic Repository, where samples of the DNA of every Clan Warrior who had ever lived were kept.  Canin had told her that the building itself covered a vault under the city buried so deep that it could survive a direct Nuclear strike from the most powerful weapon ever created by man.

   In orbit directly above the city there were WarShip and DropShip servicing and construction yards and all over the place there were military DropShips and fighters intermingled with merchant and scientific DropShips a scene the same as seen on hundreds of different worlds.  “Now I’m beginning to feel impressed.”  Yvonne said quietly Canin looked over at her and shook his head noticing a small smile creep onto her lips she was messing with him again.  Ever since they had married Yvonne had been constantly testing his Clan beliefs, Canin found it annoying at times but also very entertaining as well.

   â€œJust a flying visit today.  We land you go off to the civilian administration sector with the orders and I head for the Hall of the Khans to see the Wolf leader.”

   â€œHow do you think they will take the challenge?”  She asked, civilians of the lower caste did not normally ask such things but Canin was beginning to get used to her constant questions of the unknown.

   â€œAnger and aggression.  The Wolves will not like us trying to take something out of their genetic pool, especially not something they gained in combat but they will accept it eventually and then we will have a fight on our hands.  Knowing normal Wolf response to such a thing I will need the full Cluster and maybe some elements of the other Nova Cats in the Homeworlds.”  He said quietly, hopefully it would not escalate but he was willing to use all three Galaxies in the Homeworlds if he had to.  “Then we will have a trial, a location and a date.”

   â€œThen once you have won?”

   â€œIf we win, we head to Barcella and ensure the Oathmaster can handle claiming all Wolf Genetic Material we are entitled to then we head for Arc-Royal for phase two.”

   â€œWhat if I need some things transferred from here to the Den?”  She asked not phased in the slightest by his mentioning of a Lyran world, she knew they Nova Cats were not invading Arc-Royal only claiming the Wolf (in-Exile) Genetic Material as well ensuring that the Nova Cats had full control over the Bloodname.

   â€œMake a list package it to the Oathmaster and the commanders on Barcella then they will take it next time they transfer back to the Den.”  He said as the Vanguard entered the atmosphere, the mission had begun.
   
Hall of the Khans
Clan Wolf Hall, Strana Mechty
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Homeworlds
4th December 3064

   An hour later the DropShip was secured at one of Strana Mechty’s many Spaceports and Canin had travelled to the Hall of the Khans first checking in on the Nova Cat Hall then heading to the Wolf Hall, he had not been in the Hall of the Khans before now and he felt it was an honour just to be in the Nova Cat Hall and now he was heading for another Clan’s Hall.  On the way to the Wolf Hall he was intercepted by the Nova Cat’s new Oathmaster, Zane Carns.  “Oathmaster, I am curious to know how you knew where to find me and what your purpose here is?”  Canin said stopping in one of the reception halls.  As far as he knew the Oathmaster was on Barcella tending to the Nova Cats only holdings remaining in the Homeworlds.

   â€œThe Wolf will destroy us if we anger them.”  Zane said looking at Canin, there was no-way Zane could have known of the Nova Cat challenge to the Wolves only a select few Nova Cats knew and there had been no communication to Barcella about the challenge.

   â€œHow?”  Canin asked covering both ‘how do you know I am challenging the Wolves?’ and ‘how will they destroy us?’

   â€œI had a vision.  It showed a nova cat attacking a wolf and savagely defeating it in combat, the wolf pack then chased the nova cat and destroyed not only the nova cat but its home and its young.”

   â€œMy mission is to challenge the Wolves, Oathmaster, I will not fail in this mission.”

   â€œOf course not” Zane said dismissing failure with a flick of the wrist “however defeating the Wolves does not mean doing so militarily.  We could see what the Wolves want in exchange for our prize and deal with them with honour.”

   â€œWhat could the Wolves want from us?  We have little in the way of Homeworlds territory and we certainly will not let them know of the Den.”  Canin said his voice but a whisper.

   â€œI know this but perhaps the Wolves will be interested in something more material.  Nevertheless I suggest that we leave a fight to the last resort.”  Zane warned Canin could hear the threat in his voice but knew the Oathmaster was just looking out for the Clan’s best interest.  He nodded then continued down the corridor into the office of the Wolf Khans.

   The Wolf offices were very minimalist, perhaps even more so than most Canin had seen.  The room included a large wooden desk, four comfortable chairs, one placed behind the desk, and a Wolf Clan crest on the wall behind.  SaKhan Marialle Radick sat behind the desk, from what Canin knew of the Wolf Clan’s second-in-command she was like Canin before his dealings with the Watch and the people of the Inner Sphere an ardent Crusader.  According to rumour she was always looking for a way to get the Wolves to the forefront of Clan politics and military might.  Marialle did not even look up at Canin as he stepped into the room “what do you want?”  She asked, she sounded bored and not interested.

   â€œSome respect for a start.”  Canin said his voice devoid of emotion but firm Marialle’s head shot up as her entire body launched out of the chair to her feet.  Marialle was quite an attractive woman with long wavy blond hair allowed to grow, she had an athletic body and full breasts which she emphasised by wearing tight clothing.  Around her neck she had two golden chains and around her left fore arm was a coiled leather and fur band that overlapped several times as it circled the length of her arm from elbow to wrist.

   â€œWho the hell are you?”  She blurted out before realising that Canin was not just a symbol warrior and that he wore the insignia of the Nova Cat saKhan.  “saKhan?”

   â€œCanin Rosse, Clan Nova Cat” he said bowing his head slightly “should we start again?”

   â€œHow the hell did you get in here?  That freebirth assistant knows better than to let someone important without announcement.”  Marialle said angrily.

   â€œImportant? That is a start at least.” Canin muttered “He did not have much choice, I walked right past him.”  Canin said, he had done just that the lower-casteman now stood behind Canin looking worried.  “I am here to either negotiate for or challenge for a piece of Wolf property the lower-caste man had nothing to do with such business, I came to see you.  Now should we get down to business as a pair of saKhans or shall we continue cursing, I have all day.”  Canin said stepping closer sitting down on one of the seats, as he passed to the chair they passed very closely Canin could smell her perfume, something Clan Warriors rarely bothered with but Canin recognised because Yvonne always wore.

   â€œOf course, take a seat.”  Marialle said sitting down opposite smiling to cover her anger “Joshua shut the door, I will deal with you later!”  She shouted at the lower-casteman Canin knew the man was probably in trouble because of him but knew it would not be the first nor the last time that a freeborn Wolf had bothered the Wolf saKhan.  “What does the Nova Cat Clan want today?  Some help running from the Homeworlds again?  Or perhaps some ring seats to watch as brave Wolf warriors die in the Inner Sphere.”

   â€œIt is not the Nova Cats’ fault that the invasion of the Inner Sphere has stalled, the Smoke Jaguars were too weak to have ever been allowed to join the Invasion, relying on Inner Sphere Mechs to defend their Homeworld was yet another sign that they were ready for annihilation and let us remember that soon the Tukayyid Truce will be over and invasion will begin again.”

   â€œTrue.”  Marialle said looking at Canin leaning over her desk at him, again he was covered by a wave from her perfume.  Canin guessed she did this to put Clan warriors in an uncomfortable position, as they were unfamiliar with such a strong scent, Canin had smelt far stronger however and sat there without a single motion.  Marialle leaned back in her chair realising the tactic was having no effect, she stood up and circled the desk leaning against the front of the table mere centimetres from Canin.  His initial thought on her had been correct, she was an attractive woman with a beautiful body and a willingness to use it to get what she wanted.  “So what do the Nova Cats want from the Wolf Clan today.”  She asked standing walking around Canin’s chair her fingers touching Canin’s braided uniform shoulders.

   â€œThe Bloodhouse Leroux.”  Canin said getting straight to the point Marialle stopped fingering his uniform and walked back to her chair sitting down looking at him.

   â€œWhat happened to Karl Devalis?  I thought he was the Nova Cat saKhan.”  She said trying to get away from that topic to loose a Bloodhouse would not devastate a Clan but it would take some of the prestige away any Clan, even a minor house like the Lervoux house was for the Wolves.

   â€œHe was.  He died in combat fighting against a group of Bandit Caste warriors.”

   â€œBandit Caste?  I had heard no such report.”

   â€œIt was not in Clan Space, so I am not surprised, I can forward you the data.”  Canin said the Nova Cats had falsified reports and locations creating data they could give the other Clans if asked. “The Bloodhouse Leroux?”  He said brining them back onto the topic and away from her trying to mislead him.

   â€œWhy do you want a Widowmaker Bloodhouse?”  She asked naming the Clan that had originally owned the name before the Wolves had absorbed the Clan, its holdings and its Bloodnames centuries before.

   â€œThe Nova Cats already control the Leroux Bloodname handed down from one of the original warriors of Nicholas Kerensky.  The Widowmakers also had a Leroux who helped guide their Clan’s genetic legacy.  The Wolves have controlled it since they were absorbed, the Wolves have rightly treated this name as a minor house as the Wolf Clan is a proud MechWarrior Clan.”  He noticed Marialle enjoyed hearing that both she and the Khan of the Wolves were MechWarriors as were most of the Galaxy and Cluster commanders.  “The Nova Cats have always had a strong Naval tradition and out WarShip fleet has always been given as much respect as our ground forces.  We want to honour and rejuvenate them with an influx of new genetic material.”  Canin said making his best case for the Nova Cats taking over the name as he could, the Nova Cats were still willing to fight for the Bloodname Legacy if it was required.

   â€œYou are willing to trade for this, Quiaff?”  Marialle asked.

   â€œAff, saKhan Radick.”

   â€œCall me Marialle” she said smiling Canin nodded and they got down to work negotiating.  Following six hours of negotiating the Wolf saKhan asked for the blueprints of the Nova Cat’s new Anna Rosse-class Battle-cruiser, information regarding the Stone Rhino Quad-OmniMech and a Cluster of Nova Cat OmniMechs.  Although Canin did not like giving another Clan access to the Anna Rosse-class due to the firepower available to the design compared to other modifications of the Avatar-class Cruiser, he saw it as a small price to pay for the information on the Lervoux Bloodhouse.  The same went for the Nova Cat OmniMech on his way to Strana Mechty he had found out the Diamond Sharks, Snow Ravens and Cloud Cobras had all won examples of the Mech in Trials of Possession so loosing it to the Wolves like this was a small price to pay.

Clan Nova Cat Administration Block Alpha
Svoboda Zemylya, Strana Mechty
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Homeworlds
4th December 3064

   When they had landed in Katayusha City Canin had told Yvonne that they would be entering the most protected and sacred place in all of Clan society and that no-one would allow her to slip up with the use of contractions or allow her to mention the Inner Sphere with anything but disdain.  He had also told her not to mention the Nova Cat’s Den or the new Nova Cat worlds outside their own Clan’s Administration area.

   Their small car had entered the Svoboda Zemylya and been stopped at the very first checkpoint.  The Svoboda Zemylya was a thirty kilometre diameter park that surrounded the Hall of the Khans and the Clan administration blocks.  The Black Armoured Elementals Guards had only allowed them to enter because of Canin’s rank and warned that his lower-castewoman better stick to the rules or else.  On their own again travelling into the park Canin had explained that they were the Ebon Keshik, the most elite force of all the Clans picked from the best warriors of the Clans for the sole duty of defending the Svoboda Zemylya and the Khans of the Clans.  And on these grounds their word was a strong as any of the Khans.

   When Canin had left Yvonne to go and see the Wolf Khan or saKhan, whomever was in residence, Yvonne had gone straight to the Nova Cat Administration Block there two Ebon Keshik Elementals had once again checked her identification tag ensuring she was authorised to enter the four storey building.  Canin had given her a document that upon handing it to the highest placed lower-castewoman in the building had placed her in charge and able to go anywhere in the building.  Several of the day-to-day workers in the administration block were openly hostile to Yvonne stating that she was no better than them and just because she was off gallivanting with the rest of the Clan did not put her at a higher position, ’if only they could know how high I am’ Yvonne thought quietly.  Although she knew she was only a civilian in a society dominated by the military she still held a MechWarrior rank and if need be she could and would defend herself.  Also she was married to the saKhan, something she and Canin would have to hide from the Clansmen here in the Clan Homeworlds, that position alone gave her the ear of the saKhan and the Khan and finally she was a member of the ruling family of the Federated Suns, an even bigger secret she would have to hide while here.

   For hours she had read though reports on what the Nova Cats had access to in the Homeworlds and what it was possible to acquire.  One thing that Yvonne had wanted was any equipment that could be used in a marine environment, mainly due to the water dominated New Barcella, the Nova Cats had little resources that would help with such things however the Goliath Scorpions had pioneered the Underwater-Manoeuvring Unit that propelled Undine Battle Armour under the water and they had developed several small submarines that could transport Cargo and Elementals over short distances.  Yvonne added them to the list and a couple of other things, she would suggest that the Nova Cats enter trials with the Goliath Scorpions for the equipment when she saw Canin next.  Some other things from Barcella, in the Homeworlds, were also ready to move to the Nova Cat’s Den.  One thing she did want to move was from this very building, in the basement of this very administration block the Nova Cats had a database on the whole Nova Cat Clan.  So far they had resisted moving it from the Homeworlds however Yvonne had another idea.  Instead of moving it she would suggest they copy it and take it with them.

   After almost eight years Canin walked into the office and crashed out on one of the comfortable sofas that was along the wall.  Yvonne grabbed him a cup of steaming coffee and closed the binds around the small compact office “you get what we need?”  She asked quietly stroking his arm in the privacy of the office.

   â€œAff, the Wolf saKhan knows how to negotiate as well as fight.”  He said admiring the Wolf second-in-command slightly, Yvonne smelled the air and stood up.  “What is wrong?”

   â€œI can smell her on you.”  Yvonne said a tear running down her cheek she had feared this might happen, that the transition between being able to pick anyone they wanted at any point to being committed to one partner may be too much for Canin.

   â€œShe has a very strong perfume.”  Canin said leaping to his feet putting his hands on her shoulders kissing her neck gently “nothing happened between us.”  He promised her “although I think she wanted something to happen, I never even thought about it.”  Yvonne turned back to him kissed him on the lips then moved away sitting behind the desk.  “You believe me, Quiaff?”

   â€œAff” was her only answer as she got back to work, Canin shook his head and returned to the sofa laying back looking over at Yvonne who continued to work.  Over the next couple of days they finished what work that needed to be done on Strana Mechty then left the Clan Capitol heading for Barcella for a brief stop there before beginning the long journey back to the Inner Sphere.  Oathmaster Zane Carns could complete the trades with Clan Wolf and take custody of the Bloodhouse without Canin and Yvonne having to remain in Clan Space.  Leaving with Canin and Yvonne are the Homeworlds primary Garrison force Sigma Galaxy at the same time elements of Alpha Galaxy being to arrive.  The Khan would not arrive until mid-3065.

Borealis City
New Barcella, Open water
Nova Cat’s Den
28th December 3064

   As agreed the Federated Suns had sent the Nova Cats a specially modified Mammoth-class DropShip carrying three wet-navy vessels, one twelve thousand ton Persecutor-class Attack Submarine and two eight thousand-five hundred ton Rapier-class Patrol Destroyers.  Aboard the vessel were a crew trained to unload the vessels, the Nova Cats had taken steps ensuring that none of the Federated Suns personnel were allowed into the vessels bridge while it was in the New Barcella system ensuring they could not report back on the location or anything about the system.  The crew would be transferred aboard another vessel and shipped back to the Federated Suns ensuring any hidden recording devices aboard the vessel remained in Nova Cat control.