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McKenna Shipyards of Kathil
High Orbit, Kathil
Capellan March, Federated Suns
21st September 3070

   The McKenna Shipyards of Kathil had been around for centuries upon centuries they had survived the Succession Wars damaged but still operational and since the discovery of the Helm Memory Core they had been fully rebuilt to their former glory.  With main power beamed up to the shipyards from Microwave Generators placed all across the planet below the shipyards were able to concentrate on building WarShips.  Crew Chief/Engineer Harold Kim had been working at the Kathil Shipyards for eighteen years he’d seen the first keel of the first Avalon-class Cruiser laid down and had been present at every single Avalon launch to date he’d even been called out and done some structural work on the FSS Robert Davion before the Capellans had destroyed it a couple of years previously during the Battle of Ares.

   Inside the Federated Suns outside the design team of the Avalon-class Cruisers Harold Kim considered himself to be one of the foremost minds on the Cruiser.  This made today a special day and a little bit of a bittersweet one because today Harold retired at the age of sixty-two soon he and his wife would move away from Kathil and he would never see the shipyards or any of the Avalons again.  Thinking about it almost brought a tear to his eye but he fought it back he knew to loose concentration on the Shipyards could, and probably would, mean your death.  Thoughts about today and the memories of his time here would be for another day.

   â€œWhat do you mean I’m with a damned trainee!  This is my god-damned last damn day!”  Harold screamed at the Dock Officer for the day Cynthia Graham his immediate boss.  “I was scheduled for some EVA on the Melissa Steiner-Davion!”  He said mentioning the vessel being built to honour the wife of Hanse Davion and the mother of the current First Prince, Victor Steiner-Davion.

   â€œWell we’re cutting the entire EVA operation for today, budget cuts.  So I have a dozen spare bodies and what better for you to do on your last day than to show around the man who will replace you.”  Cynthia said smiling Harold could feel his blood boil he’d wanted to touch one of the Avalon’s before his retirement but he’d been robbed from it by a penny pusher office monkey and there was nothing he could do to fight it either.

   â€œWho the hell am I showing about?”  He said resigned to his fate.

   â€œA new body to the company Jamie Kingston, they are waiting for you in the recreation room, have a fun last day old timer.”  Cynthia said as Harold stalked out of the office and headed for the shift recreation room down the corridor.  As he’d expected it was abandoned except for a single person sitting on the chair, it wasn’t who he’d expected.  Sitting on the chair with her feet up on the table was a young woman, she was in her late twenties maybe early thirties, with short blond hair, shapely legs and large round breasts barely held back by her work jacket.  Harold ignored her and scanned the room no-one else here ‘damnit’ he thought.

   â€œLooking for someone honey?”  The young woman asked looking up at him.

   â€œThe new body on the line Jamie Kingston.”  He said gruffly, what the hell would she know she was new herself from the look of her uniform.

   â€œThat’s me.”  She said leaping to her feet her breasts jumping as she moved quickly.

   â€œThis has gotta be a joke” Harold said before he could think of what to say “where the hell is the damned camera?  I’m not falling for this guys!”  he called out waiting for the crew gang to appear from their hidden places, no-one appeared.

   â€œThis isn’t a joke.”  She said “I’m ready to start when you are.”  She said looking at him picking up her hard hat.

   â€œAnd you’d know where to start on a shipyard dock?”  he asked looking her over she smiled as she watched him look at her body.

   â€œI spent three years at the Galax Shipyards before coming here including structural work on three Fox-class Corvettes and one of the new Hound-class vessels.  I think I can handle whatever you want to throw at me.”  She said.

   â€œWell Galax is a lot different from here trust me, so don’t expect to instantly make the grade come on we’ll soon see if you match up” Harold said without another word he turned and headed out.  For most of the morning he was pointing out the dangerous points around and what she should keep her eye out for Harold noticed Jamie took note of everything she saw, ‘maybe she would cut it’ he’d thought more than once.  As they walked around Jamie pointed out something in the corner of one of the orbital warehouses inside of the largest Gravity Decks in the entire station.

   â€œWhat’s that?”  She asked inquisitively Harold didn’t have a clue but whoever had left it there would get trouble no-one left anything near a wall in the warehouse it was a fire hazard for a start.

   â€œDon’t know, let’s have a look.”  He said wondering over he noticed a wire sticking out of the zipper on the top it was a carry bag less than half a metre across.  As he unzipped it to his horror Harold realised what it was reaching for his radio “Control, Sierra Nine, Code Omega Warehouse six-three-seven, evacuating immediate area close all doors behind us” he said into his the microphone moving back from the bag “we need to go” he said to Jamie his voice quivering slightly he could see in her facial expressions that she was scared she’d read her safety manual a ‘Code Omega’ was a bomb alert.  Together they ran in the low gravity environment of the gravity deck it was difficult and soon Harold could feel a rumbling then hear an explosion “Hell!”  he screamed grabbing Jamie around the waist catapulting her into one of the escape pod hatches they were not getting out of here on foot.

   Once inside the pod Harold felt at least six more explosions rock the station just before he pulled the release rocketing the pod away from the facility.  Out the emergency windows he could see explosions ripple through the gravity decks decompressing every single warehouse on the ring and the adjoining ring fire wrapping the facility “hell of a way to end my career” he said quietly.

   â€œYeah it is” Jamie said Harold heard a clicking behind him turning he was face-to-face with a Sternsnatch Pistol.

   â€œJesus H. Christ!”  He cursed “you have gotta be joking me!”  He shouted as he saw her lips blossom into a smile.

   â€œNot a bad way to end, you get branded a traitor, a terrorist and kill yourself unable to live with what you did.”  She said smiling.

   â€œYou fire that in here and we’re both dead.”  He warned her out of the corner of his eye he saw more trouble heading their way hopefully she wouldn’t notice and be unable to change the pod’s trajectory.  “So your five years at Galax?  A cover.”  He’d known she was no-way an engineer.

   â€œOne you saw through quite quickly I think?”  She asked Harold nodded “I thought so, you are a smart man Harold Kim, I would happily give you the time of your life before you die.”  She offered unzipping her top showing off her body, a distraction if there ever was one.

   â€œI’ll pass” he said quietly “I’m very happy with my Mary” he said thinking of his wife planet side.

   â€œAs you wish” she said cocking the pistol just then the trouble Harold had seen before hit the pod hundreds of tons of wreckage and equipment from the decompressing cargo bays.  The seven ton escape pod was buffeted from left to right by the debris and the pod was carried along Harold made a grab for the pistol quickly ejecting the round from the chamber then the magazine he saw from Jamie’s shocked expression she hadn’t expected him to be able to do that so quickly.  Moments late he saw she was still looking past him a shocked, scared look on her face.

   Glancing over his shoulder he noticed a growing red wall in front of them he smiled then looked back at Jamie‘s still shocked expression “you know looks like I’ll get my wish after all.” he said quietly ‘he’d get to touch an Avalon again and the WarShip would help him get sweet revenge on this little terrorist’ as the pod slammed into the Avalon’s port side along with dozens of containers, although the pod was designed to survive such an impact it wasn’t designed to survive being crushed between a seven hundred thousand ton WarShip and a moving hundred ton container it was crushed into a million pieces by the impact killing Harold Kim and his would be assassin/terrorist.

   Following the attack both Harold and Jamie were both listed as missing-in-action, believed dead, Jamie’s cover was blown soon after during the following investigation her true identity was never uncovered although DMI and MIIO investigators did find a link between the explosives and the Capellan Confederation leading to the deployment of half a dozen Rabid Fox teams to the Confederation for retaliation strikes.  The damage caused to the Kathil yards would delay construction efforts by up to five years on all vessels being built.

Nova Cat Construction/Upgrade Station
Varnay System, Nova Cat’s Den
Periphery
30th September 3070

   As the Federated Suns was cursing their bad luck following the terrorist attack/sabotage on the McKenna Shipyards in the Kathil system the Nova Cat Clan celebrate the re-launching of the captured Jade Falcon vessel Gauntlet, Liberator-class Cruiser, as their brand-new Anna Rosse-class Battle-cruiser.  The Gauntlet renamed the Santin West in honour of the Nova Cat’s fallen-Khan is the fourth Anna Rosse-class vessel to come online for the Nova Cat Clan Touman and the sixth vessel in the class to exist, the two others being in service with Clan Wolf the Victoria Ward and Jerome Winston respectfully.

   The Santin West is unique in the Anna Rosse-class however as it is the first vessel to feature the newly developed Clan Hell’s Horses designed 20-rated Heavy Assault Gauss Rifle systems that replace the LB-class Heavy Autocannons on standard models.  Following several successful tests of these new weapons and the far increased effectiveness of anti-fighter defence, because of the weapons, Khan Canin Rosse orders that all Nova Cat Anna Rosse-class vessels be upgraded to this new configuration.

First Filtvelt Guardians Firebase, Filtvelt
Filtvelt Coalition, Periphery
4th October 3070

   Citizens of the Outback Unite.  This phrase, or one like it, has been used countless times to inspire people to join forces against a common threat, people who do not realise they have as much in common as they truly do.  People unaware of the strengths too focused on their individualism and isolationism.  But that is who we are.

   For centuries now we have all suffered under the neglect of our ‘sovereign.’  They constantly war with neighbours, often hundred of light-years from us.  They come to take our children, our resources and our precious few riches with empty promises in return.  We receive empty gestures, under-funded projects and education, hallmarked by incompetence and lack of commitment.

   We ask ourselves, when will it be our turn?  We pay our taxes and contribute to ‘our’ nation everyday, we pull our weight and then some for the team, an alliance wrought centuries ago, and still for all our hardships we receive nothing.

   Although our hardships, the pirates that plague our worlds, have disappeared recently to just a trickle from the ‘Lady Death’ Trevaline’s Pirate Cluster continuing we still need protection we need protection.  The AFFS have promised us defences, the formation of more training battalions and a better equipped militia we have received nothing.  Today we received orders to move the Filtvelt Training Battalion, the largest AFFS BattleMech force in the area, to the Raven Alliance Border to reinforce the AFFS forces there in case of a push from Clan Snow Raven.

   We are all tired of waiting for House Davion to send us alms, band-aids and crackers to deal with our problems.  We can no longer afford to give while receiving nothing in return.

   If the AFFS is so eager to abandon us, we no longer owe them enough to follow these orders.  Thus effective immediately the First Filtvelt Training Battalion will form the core of the First Filtvelt Guardians, a force dedicated to the protection of our neighbours, and the destruction of the pirates we face.  It is being joined by the Filtvelt Militia and local forces of the Skepptana and Marielund.  Together we will forge a military coalition to oppose any and all invaders including any AFFS forces that choose to try and bring us under the heel of House Davion once more.

   We ask all of you to join us, for our mutual defence.  It is time we provide for ourselves.  Together we can face any threat and defeat it.

   Respectfully

   Colonel Erich LeBeau

   Official communiqué issued from the office of the Kommandant, Filtvelt Training Academy, to “all military, paramilitary and mercenary forces in the Broken Wheel PDZ, Federated Suns.”

   This letter sent shockwaves through the Federated Suns Outback region within hours of its official release many were calling for their worlds to join the newly formed Filtvelt Coalition while others were calling for the AFFS to land on Filtvelt and impose martial law over the world and arrest Colonel LeBeau and Marquees Helen Trempealeau the leader of a well known Filtvelt Independence Movement.

   Through the storm of this infighting in the Royal Court and High Command on New Avalon First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion makes a decision.  Ordering the Third NAIS Cadre Regiment to Broken Wheel itself he orders the FSS Filtvelt, Hound-class Corvette, to rendezvous with the FSS New Avalon, Whirlwind Block II-class Destroyer, and escort him to Filtvelt.  The First Prince himself will travel to Filtvelt and hear the people’s thoughts and troubles.  With Victor travels the First Davion Guards RCT which leaves a single Battalion to defend the Royal Palace as is tradition.  Word that Victor Steiner-Davion is travelling to Filtvelt with two WarShips and an entire Regimental Combat Team quickly circulates the Federated Suns, fear spreads that Victor will pound the break-away Filtvelt worlds into nothing with his hammer, the First Davion Guards.  In the background on New Avalon the Varnay family and their ally Field Marshal Roger William Waters move quietly against the First Prince continuing efforts to undermine Victor and the AFFS High Command.

Zi-jin Cheng (Forbidden City), Sian
Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation
10th October 3070

   With the First Prince busy dealing with Periphery worlds breaking from the Federated Suns Field Marshal George Hasek goes behind Victor Steiner-Davion’s back and orders his Capellan Assassin codenamed Agent Tamroy to kill Naomi Centrella-Liao, Sun-Tzu Liao and Dao-Shen Liao decapitating the Capellan nation, so the Capellan March forces under the command of George himself can trundle in and capture the nation.  George even has plans to turn on the St Ives Compact once he has crushed the Capellan Confederation resistance and has the Chancellor’s head on a platter.  Only the quick actions of Tamroy’s controllers within the DMI on Sian are able to stop him/her before the attack saving the Federated Suns from sparking a new Succession War.

   Following this incident Tamroy is recalled to Federated Suns to ensure he/she cannot be used again by someone wanting to spark a war between the Succession States.  The DMI also report this incident and the loss of their highest placed Capellan Agent to the First Prince and the High Command pointing the finger for the troubles solely at the doorstep of Field Marshal George Hasek and the Capellan March.

First Filtvelt Guardians Firebase, Filtvelt
Filtvelt Coalition, Periphery
24th October 3070

   It had taken almost two weeks for First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion and his escorts to reach the world of Filtvelt.  With the FSS New Avalon and FSS Filtvelt in orbit over the cities along with the First Davion Guards RCT the people of Filtvelt prepared for the worst as did the rest of the Federated Suns.  If Federated Suns troops began firing on people fighting for the freedoms the Federated Suns guaranteed then it could end up beginning a civil war that would consume them all.  From Orbit Victor transmits that only one DropShip will land and that he is here to talk.

   Descending through the atmosphere flying low over the crowds Davion Aerospace Fighters watch for trouble despite their non-aggression messages and no targeting sensors.  The crowds see a single Excalibur-class DropShip come down to land.  Out of the vessel steps five Clan blue and red painted Elemental Battle Armour suits followed by First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion dressed in his full livery as a Federated Suns Marshal of Armies, with golden bars, the official uniform of the First Prince during duties as an AFFS Officer.  Under the escort of the Elementals Victor approaches the crowd “I would like to speak to Colonel Erich LeBeau” he said loud enough for all to hear.  Although there was a murmuring from the crowd they parted ways allowing Victor to enter the Firebase command structure properly behind three of the Elementals with two standing guard at the main doors.  Victor was led to a conference room and after a quick sweep of the surrounding rooms Victor was met by Colonel Erich LeBeau and Marquees Helen Trempealeau all sat around a table in the centre of the room while one Elemental watched each door and another watched LeBeau and Trempealeau.  “Quite a hornet’s nest you stirred up here.”

   â€œSire, we are only wishing to look after ourselves.”  Erich said raising from his chair.  The Elemental watching the group raised its arm ready to defend Victor but the First Prince remained completely passive.  “We have given more and more over the years to the AFFS and to House Davion and received nothing in return.  Now you want my troopers to sit on the Clan border in case the Ravens jump over and decide to give us a pasting, while the very real threat of pirate attack hangs over our homes and our families on a daily basis.”  Victor listened to the Colonel, he was passionate about his beliefs and his dedication to his duty to his people things Victor couldn’t help but admire, unfortunately he couldn‘t just grant them freedom either that would be showing weakness, the Federated Suns stayed together because they trusted each other and their First Prince.  If Victor began allowing systems to leave forming their own nations the Federated Suns would fragment and the House of Davion would falter.

   â€œWhat if we found a compromise?”  Victor said quietly looking mainly at Marquees Trempealeau her face was completely neutral.  “Filtvelt and the surrounding worlds want their own rule and their own people looking after them.  What if I grant Filtvelt, Skepptana and Marielund their independence into this new Filtvelt Coalition…”

   â€œBut” the Marquees said quietly a small smile creeping onto her lips.

   â€œBut” Victor said “in ten years the Coalition and the Federated Suns come back to the trading table and decide on how to continue.”

   â€œThat isn’t independence that’s just a lease!”  LeBeau said raising back to his feet again the Elemental watched them its weapons ready for a sudden movement.  “We want independence from a realm more interested in making war with its neighbours at the Core of the Inner Sphere than looking after its far flung member worlds.”  It stung but the words rang true, for a moment Victor considered ending this meeting with a stalemate and leaving Filtvelt maybe sending in the Davion Guards to end this independence, but then Victor thought about it listening to them and giving into their demands would cause more worlds to run, but ignoring them could tear the Federated Suns apart in the fighting that would inevitably follow.

   â€œFine you want independence.  And I don’t want you leaving the Federated Suns a stalemate.”  Victor said raising looking LeBeau in the eyes “do you think your men are ready for mine?”  He said the Elemental stepped forward LeBeau took a step back and the Marquees was on her feet surprised by the First Prince’s new dangerous tone.

   â€œYour proposal requires some thought” Helen Trempealeau said quietly motioning towards the door.

   â€œNo, it requires a decision.”  Victor said stepping out from behind the desk blocking her path “if I do not receive a decision by the end of the day when my DropShip leaves this world I will have no choice but to land an entire RCT on these three worlds to forcibly maintain control.”  Victor said “I do not want to rush this but the Star League Conference starts in about two weeks and I am the host.”  He said the First Prince being late for the Conference would not look good.

   â€œI have a question” Trempealeau said quietly Victor nodded “how would this ten year plan of yours work?”  She asked Victor quickly suppressed a smile as he turned and sat back down again Trempealeau and LeBeau also sat down.

   â€œI will announce that the Federated Suns and the newly Formed Filtvelt Coalition have mutually separated parties.  I will announce that it is with great displeasure that this action has occurred but that the people of Filtvelt believe that independence is best for their people.  I will announce that every single Federated Suns Pound and C-Bill will be withdraw from your treasury to pay for the taxes still owed to the Federated Suns and that the Filtvelt Coalition will have to pay the AFFS for the Battle Value of its military assets, risk having them seized or face an invasion…”

   â€œWait you said battle value?”  LeBeau said interrupting “the Battle Value of these machines will be far lower than the actual monetary value of the equipment.”  He pointed out Victor could bankrupt them if he wished but that he obviously didn’t as he smiled and continued.

   â€œâ€¦once this has been paid whatever taxes and other profits your world and those who join them will become Filtvelt funds for the people of Filtvelt and the Filtvelt Coalition Armed Forces.”  Victor finished.

   â€œAnd your ten year bargain?”  Trempealeau asked carefully she didn’t like the idea of visiting this ten years along but then again she may not be here in that amount of time.

   â€œIn ten years we will return to this table and find out how things have gone for Filtvelt and its Coalition.  If things are going well then you can remain independent however any world wishing to return to the fold will be welcome.  Also under this deal any world may return to the Federated Suns at anytime without retribution from you upon risk of war.”  Victor said under his idea the Federated Suns held almost every card the only thing the people of this new Coalition would have is a large degree of freedom and control of their own limited budget.

   â€œI think this may work” Trempealeau said quietly LeBeau almost looked like he would explode with anger at her agreeing with Victor but he remained quiet after a stern look from the Marquees.  “Having the Federated Suns remain on friendly terms cannot hurt us and our new Coalition has resources that would make parties not interested in deals with the Federated Suns interested in us that would bring in its own money.”  Victor agreed with her reasoning and thinking about it remembered to inform the DMI to send a team here so that when those foreign national DropShips arrived they could slip trackers and agents aboard making the Coalition the perfect insertion nation.  “This will work, we will make it work” the Marquees said that afternoon Victor and the Marquees made the announcement there was widespread shock around the Federated Suns at their First Prince’s move but many others that heralded Victor as a generous.  Filtvelt, Skepptana and Marielund separated company with the Federated Suns that day then the next day Lackland, Gillingham and Mararn all nearby worlds joined the brining them to a of six worlds if the trend had continued Victor would have made a move to halt it further but in the days that followed experts from around the Inner Sphere and nearby worlds gave the nation six months before something befell it and the Federated Suns was forced to step in and take charge once more.  With things on the Periphery sorted at least for now Victor headed back to the Federated Suns with his two WarShips and the First Davion in tow, it was time for them to welcome the rest of the Inner Sphere to New Avalon.

Geneva
Terra, Chaos March
28th October 3070

   With ComStar back in complete control of Terra assisted by the Star League Defence Force and Sphere Red Cross in relief efforts ComStar begins to look beyond Terra and beyond the Chaos March worlds to the wider Inner Sphere.  Although there is no way they will be able to help defend the Inner Sphere with what remains of the ComGuard they do have just enough engineers and technicians to begin work on re-establishing the HPG Communication grid at least for major worlds on the Class A network.

   As ComStar techs begin moving throughout the Inner Sphere no Class A station is missed however when it comes to the Federated Suns on nearly a dozen worlds the AFFS refuse to allow the ComStar personnel into the complex and only an order from the First Prince and the ComStar threat to completely ignore the Federated Suns in the future gets the AFFS commanders to back down.  ComStar directs its ROM intelligence agency to discover why the Federated Suns believed they could operate their HPGs independently however because the ROM ranks were gutted of all high ranking personnel during the Liberation of Terra they make very little headway.

   By the beginning of the next Star League Conference ComStar has regained full control of the Class A HPG Network in all the Succession States and on the capital worlds of the Magistracy of Canopus, Taurian Concordat and the newly established HPG in the Fronc Reaches.  ComStar makes an announcement to all realms that they will re-establish the Class B and C networks by the end of 3071.

   Meanwhile the Allied Mercenary Command, which had formed to counter the Word of Blake’s take over of the worlds of the Chaos March, met one last time on Northwind at the Northwind Highlander’s command base Castle Northwind just outside the capital of Tara.  Although the AMC members had fought well together they knew that the Succession Lords and the resurgent Star League Defence Force would never allow them to remain as one unit and now that their enemy was gone as was their time.  By the agreement of all the commanders present the Allied Mercenary Command was disbanded and the surviving mercenaries who had formed it began licking their wounds before looking for their next pay-check.

Fifth Whitting Conference, Main Meeting Hall
Defiance City, Defiance
Crucis March, Federated Suns
8th November 3070

   With the Star League Advisory Council Chambers complete on Defiance the Federated Suns had chosen to hold the conference on Defiance instead of the Capitol World of the Federated Suns, as other realms had done, so as soon as the Succession Lords had arrived there was a series of complaints that the Federated Suns was not complying with the rules of the Whitting Conference and not honouring the Star League however when the delegates saw the custom built facility and the views they were being given of the still continuing Martial Olympiad these fears and complaints subsided.

   When she had opened the Fifth Whitting Conference Danai had informed the delegates that she would be acting as Victor’s Regent until he returned from Filtvelt in a few days, again Sun-Tzu Liao and Hohiro Kurita had complained that Victor had never taken the post of First Lord seriously or given it the respect it deserved and called for sanctions however the St Ives Compact, Lyran Alliance, ComStar and surprisingly the Taurian Concordat had all squashed this claim.

   The first day’s meeting had broken up soon afterwards as the leaders of the Succession States retired to their meeting rooms for individual briefings by their representative from the Star League Advisory Council or some other meeting.  Danai Centrella-Davion and Archon Peter Steiner-Davion and their respective families were able to spend some time together reuniting the two halves of the Steiner-Davion line keeping the link the two families shared still alive.  Reinhart Steiner, his wife Faith and their two baby children Richard and Ariana were also present making it a truly family occasion.  The only people missing were Victor still en-route from Filtvelt and Katherine still in exile with Clan Wolf.
 
Fifth Whitting Conference
Private Meeting Hall
Defiance City, Defiance
Crucis March, Federated Suns
10th November 3070

   With the First Lord still not returned to New Avalon there was more time available for more individual meetings and briefings and time to enjoy the closing battles of the Martial Olympiad.  With the Lyran Alliance and Draconis Combine still battling it out for the final prize following the Federated Suns loosing several key events and dropping out of the running for the top spot.

   While watching one of the matches Primus Anastasius Focht and Commanding-General Morgan Hasek-Davion were sitting inside one of the observation boxes a small table between them with two glasses and a decanter of scotch was the only thing on the table.  Morgan had been surprised when Focht had asked to hold this meeting but had agreed to it, so far ComStar’s leader had said very little, Morgan decided to make his move.  “So Primus Focht, what can the Star League do for ComStar today?”  Focht looked over at him and smiled then looked back to the battle scene below the Lyran forces were showing their true metal today and turning the battle around very convincingly.  When Focht continued to remain silent Morgan tried a different tactic  “Fredrick, please don’t mess around with me, we all know things.”  Morgan whispered even if there was someone else in the room they would never have heard Morgan but Focht had and he shot Morgan a cold very dangerous look.  Morgan couldn’t help but smile something he had always suspected, but never proven, had just been confirmed.  “Don’t worry I have no interest in exposing this little secret.”  Morgan said raising his glass of scotch to his lips.

   â€œI’d hope not, Morgan.  That little piece of information could start another war, one ComStar or the Star League could never survive.”  Focht warned it wasn't so much a threat but Morgan knew where Focht was meaning.

   â€œVery true, Anastasius, now what can I do for you?”  Morgan asked more loudly this time he was making it personal getting rid of the faction responsibilities.

   â€œIt’s more like what can I do for you, Morgan” Anastasius said keeping it equally informal.  “As you know the ComGuards have been decimated by the fighting on Terra” Morgan nodded this had opened the door for SLDF units to return to Terra for the first time since the Exodus by Kerensky's SLDF.  “However, what you may not know is that the Word of Blake had hundreds of secrets.”  Morgan smiled, it was an open secret that the Word of Blake had secrets, uncovering them would likely take decades.  “Well we discovered one that could be great boon to ComStar and the Star League Defence Force but only if we are both willing to keep a secret.”

   â€œSecret’s are ComStar’s line of work, Fredrick”  Morgan reminded Anastasius, “Although I believe perhaps the Combine had a hand there too.”  Morgan said quietly Focht was getting angry with Morgan which the Commanding-General thought was good because then he’d let something slip, Focht just smiled refusing to speak further.  “Fine, the Star League will keep your secret if it is one worth keeping.”

   â€œOh, I think it is.  One the great Aleksandr Kerensky would be proud of.” Inside Morgan there was a voice screaming this was trouble, why the hell would Focht bring up the Commanding-General who took the Star League from the Inner Sphere but Morgan simply nodded.  “This situation originates during the War against the rebellious periphery factions just before Amaris Coup and was the brain child of Aleksandr Kerensky.”  Focht began “this facility did its job perfectly and remained perfectly secret, then when the SLDF evacuated the Inner Sphere in their great Exodus it was shutdown automatically and never discovered until the Word of Blake dug into the records left behind by the SLDF on Terra.”

   â€œWhat did the records reveal?”  Morgan asked becoming impatient.

   â€œThe location of what the Word of Blake called the Ruins of Gabriel.”

   â€œRuins of Gabriel… sounds like some sort of lost city.”

   â€œIf that was all it was then I wouldn’t care.  But when we arrived at the location of Gabriel we found something else something far more special and scary.” Focht’s tone made Morgan look fully at the ComStar Primus, what the hell was this twenty-questions?

   â€œWhat?” Morgan asked.

   â€œWe found a shipyard with almost two dozen WarShips all Battle-cruiser or better and a massive space habitat.”  Anastasius said Morgan coughed up his scotch back into the glass the sat there looking over at the Primus looking for some sign he was messing around with Morgan, Anastasius sat there looking back at him stone faced.

   â€œWhere?”  Morgan asked taking another drink he guessed it was somewhere in the deep periphery on what the Clan’s called Exodus Road, the path between the Inner Sphere and the Clan Homeworlds.

   â€œThe Odessa system, Donegal Province, Lyran Commonwealth.”  Focht said again Morgan coughed up his scotch but this time the Commanding-General was straight to his feet.

   â€œWhat!"  Morgan cried "are you trying to tell me that there is a shipyard in the Lyran Alliance with nearly two dozen Star League WarShips and a massive city in space, and the blasted Word of Blake had control of it?  All in a damned inhabited system?  How did the Lyrans not find it all those years?”  He wondered to himself

   â€œCorrect, but it is now nearly completely evacuated has been since ComStar attacked Terra, and it is now under guard of around two hundred ComStar Marines and three Aerospace Wings.”

   â€œNo offence Focht but, considering where the Word of Blake originated that doesn’t calm me terribly.”  Morgan said quietly sitting back down.  “How in Kerensky’s name does such a facility exist and has never been found?”  He asked again, if it had been found during the Succession Wars or even the Clan War it could have changed the balance of power markedly.  Battles that had been lost could have ended differently, or they could have turned out a lot worse.

   â€œIt was hidden exceptionably well for a start, over a week from the planet, and once Kerensky’s army left the facility shut itself down into a hibernation state. Also at the site we found this.”  Focht said placing a small holographic projector down on the table the projector immediately came to life showing the Tharkad-class Battle-cruiser LCS Invincible fully painted up in SLDF Colours.

   â€œBlake’s Blood” Morgan cursed looking at the image “where did they find her?” Morgan asked immediately recognising the vessel despite its new paint job.

   â€œWe haven’t worked that one out but she is fully operational and ready for duty and I am ready to turn the vessel over to you and the SLDF.”  Anastasius said quietly Morgan prised his eyes from the image to the ComStar Primus.

   â€œWhy? She was a under Lyran colours when she went missing, you’re Lyran, I thought you’d want to return her home it would certainly help rebuild ComStar’s image and you‘d have the Lyrans eating out of your pocket for the next century.”  Turning away the chance of another WarShip, especially one the size of the Invincible, hurt but Morgan needed ComStar back on its feet almost as much as the Precentor-Martial.  The quicker HPG communication was fully reliable again the better.

   â€œTrue” Anastasius admitted “however the Word of Blake despite all their short-comings wanted the vessel to go to the SLDF" Morgan looked surprised "we have no idea why, her registration is under the SLDF and if we returned the vessel to the Lyran people then we’d have to try and explain where the vessel had come from and why we restored her and painted her in SLDF colours before handing her over to the Lyrans.”

   â€œWhich would be messy.”  Morgan said nodding if the Lyrans discovered they had a shipyard in their space they’d want to annex it, just as the other Succession Lords had to other former SLDF property following the end of the First Star League, making the rest of the Succession States edgy and if the Clans discovered it was of Star League origin then they’d want a piece of it as well it would cause a war, a big war.

   â€œMessy is an understatement, it would make the Liberation of Terra look like a picnic.”  Anastasius said looking at the Commanding-General “Morgan, if ComStar was to turn the vessel over to the SLDF claim we found it at a secret holding area in the Terra system and that ComStar had found it a century ago, kept it hidden to stop an escalation of the Succession Wars, and the Word of Blake had renovated it to its current state but were unwilling to commit it to the defence of Terra against the Star League Forces assisting ComStar, then you could pass it off as the Star League’s prize for helping defeat the Word of Blake.”  Morgan nodded that could work, it would be messy but the SLDF had enough muscle nowadays to survive that kind of mess.

   â€œWhat of the other ships and the shipyard?”

   â€œWe plan on making the ships operational and moving them to Titan Shipyards then begin disassembling the shipyard.  The Space-station we haven’t decided what to do with, yet.”

   â€œGive it to the Lyrans.”  Morgan said “once you have gotten every incriminating piece of evidence out of the way drop a sniff of what you have found where the LIC can find and make sense of and let them discover the treasure trove of the century themselves then what they do with it is off your back.”

   â€œI like that idea, the Lyran Intelligence Corps are good enough to work out a cryptic clue or two. What do you want in return?”  Anastasius asked looking at Morgan knowing the Invincible wouldn’t be enough.

   â€œNothing you cannot pay, Fredrick.”  Morgan said smiling broadly, he liked having one up on the ComStar Primus, then again hadn’t Davion’s always held all the cards against the Steiners just cause he wore another name Focht fit into that name very snugly.

   Three days later the SLS Invincible jumped into the Defiance system and was presented by Primus Anastasius Focht to Commanding-General Morgan Hasek-Davion as a gift from ComStar to the Star League for its assistance in the Liberation and Rebuilding of Terra.  As expected the Lyran Alliance is not happy they have not received the vessel back and lodge an official protest at Star League Council.  However everyone else appeared to buy the Focht/Hasek-Davion story that the vessel was recovered to and renovated in the Terran system by the Word of Blake and not the Ruins of Gabriel, in fact no-one appears to know the Ruins even exists.  As agreed ComStar and SLDF engineers begin operations to dismantle the facility before it is 'discovered' again.

Main Dining Hall
Davion Royal Palace, Avalon City
Crucis March, Federated Suns
5th December 3070

   As the new First Lord of the Star League Archon Peter Steiner-Davion could go anywhere in the Inner Sphere but because he was in the Federated Suns and because his family was here with him and on the invitation of First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion, his brother, Peter and the family had chosen to remain on New Avalon allowing both halves of the Steiner-Davion family to spend some time together keeping the bonds created by Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner’s marriage alive and kicking.  However the times they lived in would work against them.

   Along the Lyran Alliance/Clan border Clan Jade Falcon units charged over the border assaulting several worlds in the Arc-Royal Theatre and the Isle of Skye.  The Fifteenth Arcturan Guards Regiment that had been training with Clan Wolf (in-Exile) forces is overwhelmed quickly and destroyed to the man on Kelenfold.  With this news the Archon, his escort in the First Royal Guards and Royal Black Watch Regiment, and the WarShips LAS Yggdrasil and SLS Invincible began moving towards the Clan border.  Peter also ordered the SLS Troy to the Jade Falcon border along with the First and Third Brigades of the First Division based on Kittery to join them on the Jade Falcon border.

Kittery Training Battalion Base Ft. Damien Hasek
Kittery, Capellan March
Federated Suns
9th December 3070

   It had been years, decades even, since Andrew Redburn had walked the soil of Kittery.  The last time had been just before the beginning of the Fourth Succession War when he’d taken command of the Kittery Training Battalion, Hanse Davion’s pet project that had borne fruit with the First Kathil Uhlans Regiment being born from several of the units and the entire AFFS benefiting from a more professional and competent class of solider.  Today Andrew, now retired from the AFFS, was here for another reason his youngest son eighteen year old Damien had chosen to enrol with the Kittery Training Battalion instead of going to one of the Federated Suns Academies and Andrew was interested to find out why.

   As his limo moved through the gates of the Training Battalion’s base Ft. Damien Hasek, it brought back the memories for Andrew, he noticed the base had changed very little in the years he had been away and instantly he began to think of his time at this base with Justin Allard and the others of his training battalion, his first real command.  Recently the Kittery Training Battalion had become permanently assigned to combat duties with the First Kittery Borderers Regiment and Andrew had thought this would improve life on the base but he noticed it hadn’t.

   In fact the Base looked like it hadn’t been improved in many, many years possibly even since Andrew left.  Since the end of the Fourth Succession War not a single enemy had landed on Kittery’s soil and slowly the Capellan March had abandoned the world and base.  With the SLDF having major facilities on the planet as well meant the base was no longer needed as a front-line installation.  When Andrew had been Prince’s Champion of the Federated Suns he’d had to fight calls for the base to be closed only narrowly winning.

   Standing to attention in front of the modest Training Battalion Headquarters building stood Damien in a freshly pressed uniform with the Training Battalion uniform on, standing beside him was Major Raul Bethune the Battalion’s commander wearing the exact same type of jumpsuit and togs that Andrew wore when he was assigned here.  Andrew couldn’t help but smile the Major certainly knew how to play the game.  Stepping from the limousine both snapped to a salute which Andrew although retired and out of uniform returned the salute.

   â€œWelcome to Kittery sir” the Major greeted him with a smile maintaining the salute.

   â€œThank, you major.”  Andrew said returning the smile lowering his salute the Major and Damien followed suit in lowering his salute.  “good to see you Damien.”

   â€œAnd you sir, I’m not changing my mind, father.” Damien said defensively, ‘good he’ll need that here’ Andrew thought

   â€œI never expected you would.”  Andrew said quietly to Damien then turned to Raul Bethune “Major, if you could give us a couple of minutes.  I’ll be here long enough for you to notice me and show me around.”  The Major nodded, smiled and walked away several meters.

   â€œI’m not moving on father.” Damien said defiantly Andrew smiled.

   â€œDamien, the last thing that I planned to do was mess with your choice.  Your older brother and sister both made their lives outside the military following your mother’s path.  I always wanted the best for you…”  Andrew said looking at his teenage son.

   â€œDad, I need to take my own path.”  Damien interrupted Andrew had asked him a hundred times not to but still he did, sometimes he thought it was just to annoy him.

   â€œâ€¦I know that.”  Andrew said strongly “I have no intention in asking you to move or asking the Major here to kick you out.”  He said looking over at Bethune, Damien looked over at his commander who nodded in his direction then looked away.  “Instead I wanted to congratulate you, an interesting choice of unit to enlist with.”

   â€œBut also the best one.” Damien said quietly.

   â€œIt was when I was here, but that was a special time.”  Andrew said again thinking of his time with the unit before the Fourth Succession War and before the Clan War.

   â€œNow can be a special time too.”  Damien said “the unit is on deployment on a regular basis.  We have full access to the SLDF’s ranges, this is the best choice of training Battalion’s for me.”

   â€œWhat Mech have they given you?”

   â€œI share a Watchman with one of the other cadets.”  Damien said naming the most common Medium training Mech in the Federated Suns.

   â€œI could twist an arm or two…”  Andrew began he didn’t like the idea of his son getting a second-rate military education.

   â€œNo, sir, I’m happy with the cadet I’m sharing with.”  Damien said immediately.

   â€œWhat’s her name?”  Andrew asked, he’d seen Damien like this before when it came to women he became stupid.

   â€œDad, please let me run, or ruin, my own life.”  Damien pleaded Andrew though about it for a moment then nodded Damien would make his own choices and mistakes.

   â€œAlright then, let’s go and allow your CO show me around this base, and I’ll show you a couple of things later that even he doesn’t know about.”  Andrew said with a wink and smile, Damien could see a spark in his eyes it was like his father was twenty years younger again.  Throughout the rest of the day Major Bethune showed them around then that night Andrew showed Damien a couple of extra things before heading over to the Star League’s High Command base to see how they were getting on building their own facilities.  As he’d expected things were well underway and Morgan Hasek-Davion was more than happy to show him around and show him the future plans, in a few years time the facilities would be twice as large and would include an entire area for the Kittery Training Battalion to use as they shared the facility, when that happened Ft. Damien Hasek would close for the final time.  Andrew was glad he had come here now just so he saw the Fort one last time before it was closed.

Marius’ Tears, Asteroid Cluster
Marian Hegemony, Periphery
14th December 3070

   In the early part of the twenty-first century the system now known as Marius’ Tears a cataclysmic event happened and the most distant planet had shattered into one hundreds of asteroid fragments.  Nearby planets gravity pull had held them together and they were now collectively known as the Marius’ Tears Asteroid Cluster.

   The Marius’ Tears system was on the farthest edge of known space in a region claimed by the Marian Hegemony and had never been fully explored.  That was until now.  In recent years the Marian Hegemony had gained some legitimacy as a major Periphery nation, with the Free Worlds League shattering and with the Word of Blake destroyed the amount of people who had fled to the Periphery from central worlds had increased as had the Marian Hegemony’s population.  The Hegemony’s leader Caesar Julius O’Reilly had directed several DropShips and two JumpShips to scout out his Hegemony’s distant systems and nearby systems, for the first time ever a Marian Hegemony DropShip would penetrate the Marius’ Tears Asteroid Cluster and find out exactly what was in there, hopefully the Hegemony could exploit and use to increase the size of its army or its Hegemony.

   The Gazelle-class DropShip Caesar’s Gift breached the Cluster’s outer barrier and after eight hours the crew led by Captain Sharapay Wilson was becoming tired of asteroid dodging and were ready to go home, or at least get out of here.  They were ready to leave when some strange sensor readings detected something strange turning towards it and dodging several more asteroids they discovered a diffident trace of germanium the first, and most crucial, building block of K-F core construction the lifeblood of Interstellar travel.  Moving closer the Caesar’s Gift crew thought they were onto a gem of a discovery however moments later they discovered something far greater, a treasure trove of gems.  Orbiting in between three huge asteroids was a battle damaged and disabled Dart-class Light Cruiser, a class of WarShip thought extinct to the Inner Sphere and Periphery.

   Reporting this find back to the Caesar the whole crew of the Caesar’s Gift is promoted two ranks each and given fifty thousand C-Bills per crewmen.  Now Admiral Sharapay Wilson was guaranteed command of the newly named MHS Caesar, when the former Word of Blake and Free Worlds League techs found amongst the people who had emigrated to the Hegemony worked out how to bring the vessel operational, and she had won the eye of the Caesar, something no-one would ever turn away from.  By the end of the month Sharapay was pregnant with Julius’ child and they were engaged to be married.
 
Blue Diamond
Lyran Alliance/Jade Falcon Border
22nd December 3070

   With Kelenfold and Meacham securely held by the Jade Falcons the defending Lyrans sent running or dead the Jade Falcon Khan, Marthe Pryde, ordered her clan forward to Blue Diamond.  Led by two WarShips the Texas-class Battleship Falcon’s Nest and the Aegis-class Heavy Cruiser Black Talon the Jade Falcons entered the system in force with Khan Marthe Pryde leading her Turkina Keshik and the whole Jade Falcon Galaxy (Gamma).  With two dozen DropShips and two WarShips burning towards the planet the on planet Seventh Alliance Guards RCT knew they were no match for the Jade Falcons in space or open ground so they fell back to defendable positions and waited for the Jade Falcons to arrive.

   Three days later the Jade Falcons landed at exactly the same time as the WarShips LAS Yggdrasil, SLS Invincible and SLS Troy all arrived in system followed by Archon (First Lord) Peter Steiner-Davion, the First Royal Guards RCT and the Royal Black Watch Regiment of the SLDF.  Khan Marthe Pryde suddenly realised that she was caught between an entrenched defender and a very powerful attack force and began reorganising her forces accordingly.  Setting her Jade Falcons up in their own entrenched positions while attacking the weaker of the Seventh’s fortifications causing heavy casualties amongst the Seventh’s Infantry and destroying all their aerospace assets on the ground.  She then ordered the Falcon’s Nest and the Black Talon to engage the three incoming WarShips delay them and if possible destroy them.  Although out numbered the Jade Falcon crews never once questioned their Khan and began to move towards the SLDF/LAAF forces incoming towards the planet.

   Two days later the two Falcon WarShips and their fighters met the entire SLDF/LAAF force burning towards the planet.  Luckily for the Inner Sphere force there was no coordination between the two Jade Falcon WarShip commanders.  The commander of the Black Talon targeted enemy DropShips almost exclusively downing almost two dozen vessels and devastating the support units of the First Royal Guards RCT.  Seeing the Black Talon’s actions the First Royal Black Watch Air Wing concentrated on and destroyed the Aegis-class Heavy Cruiser running dozens of assaults on the vessel loosing half their number as they ignored the Jade Falcon fighters attempting to defend the Black Talon.

   The Falcon’s Nest commander knew his vessel would be the target of the three Inner Sphere WarShips and made a decision seeing the SLS Troy moving ahead of the enemy units he ordered his forward and broadside gunners to target the smallest Inner Sphere vessel.  Starting with a barrage of Heavy Naval PPCs from the forward guns, that ravaged the armour of the Troy, the Falcon’s Nest then turned to port and opened fire with a full broadside of Naval Lasers and Naval Capital Missiles.  This barrage penetrated the already damaged armour and touched off the Troy’s ammunition bays the resulting explosions ripped the former-Free Worlds League vessel to pieces destroying it in an instant.  As the Inner Sphere force was momentarily stunned the Falcon’s Nest’s helmsmen rolled the Battleship over and the mighty Texas-class vessel opened fire with another barrage of weapons fire this time the naval lasers and missiles struck the LAS Yggdrasil and the SLS Invincible ignoring the surrounding DropShips, which likely saved the First Lord, Lyran Archon Peter Steiner-Davion.

   The Falcon’s Nest’s guns damaged both Battle-cruisers approaching the planet however the sight of Lyran vessels of old, Tharkad-class (Invincible), and new, Mjolinir-class (Yggdrasil), approaching them the Invincible decked out in Star League Defence Force colours the Falcon’s Nest commander lost his nerve and ordered the vessel to jump away abandoning about eight Jade Falcon fighters still battling their Lyran counterparts with no place to retreat the Clansmen rammed into DropShips and the WarShips around them or were destroyed in their suicidal attempts refusing to be captured by the Inner Sphere forces.

   With the Jade Falcon WarShips out of the way the Lyran and Star League forces continued to the planet for a confrontation with the Jade Falcons on planet.  Because of the naval battle the SLDF/LAAF forces was delayed by another three days before they could reach the world of Blue Diamond in force.  This delay gave the Jade Falcon’s Gamma Galaxy the time to destroy the Seventh Alliance Guards RCT giving them full control of the world ready for the SLDF/LAAF forces to arrive.  Hearing that her WarShips had been defeated Khan Marthe Pryde sent a message to First Lord/Archon Peter Steiner-Davion.  The Khan challenged the incoming forces to a one-off battle to decide the fate of the Invasion and the world.  The Archon accepts bidding the First Royal Black Watch and the remains of the First Royal Guards RCT against the Khan’s bid of the whole of her Jade Falcon (Gamma) Galaxy.  A battle to take place on the 30th December on the plains on Blue Diamond’s southern continent, a largely uninhabited part of the world.

Trial of Possession
Blue Diamond, Southern plains
Lyran Alliance/Jade Falcon Border
30th December 3070

   As agreed the Jade Falcons lined up on the northern edge of the plains while the SLDF/LAAF allies lined up on the southern plains.  Knowing that the Clan force’s technological edge could hit them more accurately and at longer ranges the Inner Sphere forces pushed forward straight into a close quarters brawl.  With slight numerical edge and fresher troops things looked quiet good for the Inner Sphere forces until Khan Marthe Pryde herself, and her bodyguard Keshik, joined the battle.  The most elite force of the entire Jade Falcon Touman had so far been withheld from the heaviest of the fighting on Blue Diamond and were now unleashed straight into the command companies of the Royal Black Watch and the First Royal Guards with Marthe Pryde targeting her seventy ton Summoner on Peter Steiner-Davion’s one hundred ton Fafnir.  During a battle which would last an hour neither Peter or Marthe could find a killing blow and they retreated from the field to rethink their battle strategies.  It was during this time they noticed something wrong with the battle, a third unknown force.

   As the two leaders and their bodyguards fought all around them the Inner Sphere and Clan forces fought each other an unknown company of BattleMechs enters the field targeting both Inner Sphere and Clan forces.  These BattleMechs are all identical and are all painted with a beige front, blood-red back black weapons and cockpit, the traditional colours of the Spartan warrior on Ancient Terra.  Although no-one recognises the unit or the BattleMech-class during the battle experts believe that they are variants of the Spartan BattleMech that originally served the First Star League and have not been mass produced in centuries.

   These BattleMechs are of assault class, are capable of reaching top speeds of upwards of ninety kilometres per hour and are armed with a mixture of advanced pulse laser technology, Short Range Missiles and massive elaborately constructed BattleMech sized swords.  For defence they have thick armour and carry a large round shield in their second hand.  Following further examination of the design by both Inner Sphere and Clan experts both sides note the close resemblance of the sword and shield to those used by the ancient Spartan warriors of Sparta on Terra.  However, no-one can find a single unit that has ever used these colours or this Mech design.

   None of the Spartan BattleMechs are destroyed, or even heavily damaged, and between them they rack up nearly a full Battalion’s worth of kills only coming into difficulties when facing the Elementals of Clan Jade Falcon pointing towards a weakness against Battle Armour forces. Once they have caused their damage the Mechs disappear and due to the confusion of the Battle no-one is able to track them.

   Following the uncovering of this evidence both Marthe Pryde and Peter Steiner-Davion accuse the other side of fielding an unknown, un-bid, force on the planet.  With both realising that the other’s anger at the appearance of the Spartan BattleMechs rules out their involvement with either side.  Khan Pryde and Archon Steiner-Davion agree to a truce on the planet noting the day’s battle had devastated both forces and if anyone wanted to take the world they’d need more forces, forces neither side could spare.

   Knowing their was no easy way to end this and that conflict would destroy his forces Archon Peter Steiner-Davion was ready to offer the Jade Falcon Khan a chance at the peace table however the Jade Falcon’s had other ideas.  On the next morning the Jade Falcons charged the Inner Sphere forces base camp causing heavy damage to the ground forces and their DropShip transport before retreating to their DropShips and boosting off planet.  At the same time the Falcon’s Nest returned jumping in very close to the planet opening fire with three full broadsides into the Yggdrasil and Invincible still in close orbit of Blue Diamond ready to commence orbital bombardment if ordered to.  The attach caused heavy damage to both Battle-cruisers and opening a path large enough for the Jade Falcon ground forces to retreat off planet without being harassed.  With their ground forces gone the Falcon’s Nest also then retreated before the two damaged Inner Sphere WarShips could respond.  Blue Diamond had been saved from the Falcons but at a heavy price in manpower and resources.  For now the threat posed by the Jade Falcons was over but only time would tell when the Clan threat would return, so far the Wolves had been quiet and everyone knew that the Wolves would lead the real charge for Terra, as they had done before.

And so ends 3070, hope you enjoyed, comments welcome

Open Countryside
Rostock, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
21st February 3071

   Travelling Home to the Royal Palace Duchess Danai Centrella-Davion, her son Burton, seven, and daughter Jaylen, four, were tired both children had been at school all day and Danai had been attending meetings across Avalon City then she‘d come to collect them and now they had to travel to Flensburg where a DropShip would take them on a sub-orbital flight back to Avalon City.  For more than once Danai questioned why she and Victor had chosen the school on Rostock but then she was reminded, it was private and isolated in Graveston’s Forest.  The press on New Avalon had promised their First Prince to leave the children when they were not with either Danai or Victor but they couldn’t guarantee all would agree by those terms.  The one thing they all wanted was to go home and rest, hopefully Victor would be at home when they got there and they could spend some time together as a family.

   Around their vehicle were four OmniMechs with sixteen Battle Armour Troopers all riding aboard their backs.  Both the OmniMechs and the Battle Armour were from the First Davion Guards RCT for close protection each had sworn an oath to die before any harm came to the First Prince or his family.  As the vehicle moved Danai could sense something was wrong the Mechs seemed to be loosing pace on the Hovercraft.  The Deusenberg VIP Luxury Hovercraft limousine, know as Deusenberg One - the First Prince’s transport created by Victor’s father Hanse Davion, had accelerated and was now travelling over one hundred kilometres per hour the escorting Mechs were struggling to keep up.  She looked over at the children worried, she see Burton could sense something was wrong too, he was old enough to notice such things nowadays, while Jaylen was fast asleep against a large cushion.  Burton glanced from his mother to his sister but Danai shook her head for him to leave her be.

   Looking out the window Danai watched as the lead Mech was hit by at several flights of missiles, two of the four riding Cavalier Battle Armoured troopers fell from the Mech’s back knocked clear by the blasts and the Deusenberg One’s driver was forced to veer to avoid hitting the falling troopers throwing the passengers around, this woke Jaylen as she flew straight into Burton who luckily was able to grab his sister stopping her hitting the insides of the vehicle “Down!”  Danai shouted, they were under attack, she didn’t know by who but it was trouble and being on the floor was the best bet for them.  As the two children reached the ground Danai covered them the best she could her growing ‘baby-bump’ made this a little difficult but she got there for the most part.

   Now the Deusenberg One was at full speed the driver using all four lanes of the Highway as he avoided weapons fire from both sides.  The four OmniMechs were doing their best to keep up but they were all engaged with the enemy and were steadily falling behind.  The attackers had no such worries of the original twenty-four attackers eighteen remained each riding in a Firerider Dune-Buggy weighing in at ten tons and could reach speeds of over one hundred-and-twenty kilometres per hour making hitting them a real problem for the MechWarriors and impossible for the Battle Armour troopers.

   The Deusenberg One driver had made a break for it however with the OmniMechs tied up fighting the vehicles and the Battle Armour isolated the hovercraft was a sitting duck for four of the Fireriders which quickly closed on the hover craft and took out its hover skirt with some well placed call shots shredding the air cushion.  The Deusenberg One span a full three hundred and sixty degrees three times, barely avoiding flipping over onto its back, finally coming to rest against the central divider several hundred metres away from the AFFS Bodyguard forces still having trouble hitting the attacking troops which had employed inferno missiles against them causing Mechs to overheat and Battle Armour to die in napalm fire.

   From her time in the military Danai knew they were in serious danger and that soon they would be dead or held for ransom against the First Prince.  Danai silently thought of her husband, one of the most powerful men in the Inner Sphere, she didn’t care about his standing she just wished that he was here now “Victor, help us” she whispered knowing he could never hear her but feeling better by saying his name.

   Unbelievably fortune would be on the Bodyguard and the Duchess’ side, while this was going on about two kilometres a pair of brand-new prototype conventional fighters known as Thunder and Lighting from private corporation Nock Engineering Inc. were testing at a nearby range.   Test pilots Rosanna Kowalski and David Tinselly had detected the fire-fight and following a check with their flight tower the fighters had diverted to the battle.  Using a mix of Light Autocannons and the brand-new Multi-Missile Launcher the that had been debuted four years before by the Battle Magic Mercenary Command, a command dedicated to weapons development and maintenance, and since been sold to the Militia and Mercenary Commands alike.  The AFFS had been experimenting with using the MML and Light Autocannon on different units and these conventional fighters were the perfect test bed.

   â€œRosanna, clear the limo, I will take the rest.”  David said quickly flicking off the safeties on his fighters weapons diving in low. David took his fighter known as Lighting in on a group of Fireriders attacking a pair of the AFFS OmniMechs.  The Fireriders were travelling too fast for the MechWarrior to clearly get a shot at while being able to constantly hit the heavy Mech in the back where its armour was lighters already one of the OmniMechs was struggling with heavy damage to either its engine or gyroscope and was barely standing.  Using his light autocannons, one per wing, David hit one of the enemy vehicles hard enough to flip it over, rupturing the fuel tank and the inferno missile bay causing a massive explosion which consumed another Firerider “how do ya like that?”  David shouted watching the Fireriders suddenly scatter now realising they were under attack by something that could hit them easily.

   While at the other side of the battle Rosanna targeted her Thunder’s weapons on the Fireriders surrounding the limousine.  “First you, I think” she whispered hitting one with a group of SRM and medium laser fire causing the parked buggy, and its crew, to explode in fire.  She then quickly switched targets hitting a second with LRM and light autocannon fire destroying both vehicles in one pass.  The Fireriders suddenly realising they were in serious trouble began to try and disengage they were running for their lives.

   For his second pass David concentrated on the fleeing Fireriders “now who said you could leave the party?” gunning down one damaged craft with an LRM salvo followed by a medium laser hit while Rosanna hit another with her light autocannons.  Unfortunately the pair had been testing their aircraft before this engagement and fuel was getting low, with the Fireriders retreating the two test pilots were forced to disengage after their passes.  Linking up high above the battle David dropped a comm.-laser on the lead First Davion OmniMech a battered but still standing Black Hawk-KU “Lighting to Davion Guards One.”

   â€œGo ahead, Lightning” the MechWarrior’s daggered reply came through moments later.

   â€œGuards One, they are heading south west, we show no other targets.  We are bingo fuel heading for home plate.”  David said looking at his sensor data as he and Rosanna turned their fighters away from the battleground.

   â€œUnderstood, Lighting, you and your wing’s help is most appreciated, we owe you a drink.  Guard lance open fire, Bodyguard One, have your people check on packages.”  The MechWarrior ordered.

   With the Fireriders in full retreat the damaged First Davion Mechs and Battle Armour were able to destroy the last Fireriders and form a close-protection perimeter around the wrecked Deusenberg One waiting for further reinforcements.  Danai and her children were all shaken but uninjured by the attack while both limo drivers, one MechWarrior and four Battle Armour troopers were dead from the attack.  The Deusenberg One was destroyed in the battle, there was no-way to recover the hovercraft, though it had done its job.

   From examination of the craft and the surviving bodies the DMI investigators found nothing to point to who sent them after Danai however old suspicions fall on the Capellan Confederation and several covert strikes are made against the nation in retribution.  The AFFS also orders that all Firerider vehicles in the Federated Suns are destroyed, including vehicles serving with periphery militias, and that the AFFS destroy these craft on sight.

   The next day in front of the Royal Court and his parents Prince Burton Davion hands out his first medals.  Presenting two Sunburst Medals to the two civilian test-pilots who risked their lives in prototype craft to engage an unknown enemy in a successful attempt to save their first family.  The aircraft Thunder and Lightning are immediately bought by the NAIS, for an undisclosed amount, as museum pieces while Nock Engineering Inc. found an order for three hundred copies of the fighters for the AFFS waiting for them in the next day‘s post.  This marked the biggest conventional fighter order in over fifty years and one that would keep Nock Engineering Inc. busy for two years.  On the request of Field Marshal Bishop Sortek, as commander of the First Davion Guards RCT, an entire wing of twenty fighters is added to the First Davion’s TO&E.  In a universe where the Aerospace Fighter is King of the Skies this makes them highest placed and most respected conventional fighters in the entire Inner Sphere.

   It is also a massive advertising boost for Nock Engineering Inc. which use this deployment across the Inner Sphere as proof of their fighter’s capabilities orders increase one hundred percent in a matter of weeks with mercenary units and militias throughout the Inner Sphere wanting to test out the Nock‘s products.  Nock used the resulting boost in finance to venture forwards creating their own in-house aerospace development block looking to produce their first aerospace fighter by around 3075.

Local Space
Barcella, Nova Cat Territory
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Space
28th February 3071

   Raising from their bases on Barcella the Nova Cat’s 153rd Nova Cat Regulars Aerospace Cluster, Alpha Galaxy, supported by six Vanguard-class DropShips and two Carrier-class vessels moved to engage three Clan Star Adder Clusters of troops and the WarShip Centaur, a Vincent Mk 42-class Corvette.  Three days before the Star Adders had arrived, refused to issue a batchall and informed them they would pay for their finding a new home so close to the Inner Sphere without consulting the Clan council and for their actions in collusion with the Federated Suns.  The Star Adders also charged the Nova Cats with helping the Inner Sphere to destroy Clan Smoke Jaguar by providing the reborn Star League with the location of their greatest enemies Homeworld Huntress.

   With the Nova Cat Homeworld WarShip fleet, comprised of the six vessels of the Vision Star standing off the 153rd moves to engage the Star Adders with its DropShip support.  The 312th Cluster of Omicron Provisional Galaxy of Clan Star Adder was destroyed in space by the Nova Cat DropShips and fighters while the 1015th also of Omicron Provisional Galaxy were destroyed minutes after landing on Barcella by elements of the First New Barcella Guards of Clan Nova Cat’s Alpha Galaxy.  The third Cluster, the Ninety-seventh Adder Sentinels of Xi Provisional Galaxy, realised it could not win the battle and attempted to run however its engines were shot out before it could reach the Centaur, which itself was now under threat.

   The Centaur, under orders not to engage the Nova Cat fleet only to help defend the DropShips, tried to run however it was confronted by the Remembrance, an Aegis-class Heavy Cruiser.  The Nova Cat crew on board Remembrance offered the Star Adder crew one chance to surrender and become abtakha, adopted warriors, the Centaur replied with naval autocannon and capital missile fire however these weapons were pop guns compared to the fire the Remembrance could use or withstand.  The Nova Cat crew given no choice but to fight returned fire with fire and the Centaur was gutted with a broadside of ten Naval Autocannons that tore the Corvette to pieces breaching the hull in several places venting the vessel to space killing every member of the Centaur‘s two hundred crew in seconds.  The Ninety-seventh Adder Sentinels, stranded in their disabled DropShip, are taken as Isorla by the Nova Cat forces and used to strengthen the still recovering Upsilon Galaxy bringing it back to full strength.  The Nova Cats also began planning their revenge for this attack on their only Kerensky Cluster holding knowing that if they did not retaliate then it would open them to further attacks from the other Homeworld Clans.

Victoria Shipyards
Victoria, Sian Commonality
Capellan Confederation
12th March 3071

   All across the Capellan Confederation celebrations are held as the Chancellor’s Pride, a Thera-class Carrier formerly known as the Delos in the Free Worlds League Navy, is launched from the Victoria Shipyards.  Although this mighty vessel still has no fighters or DropShip support the vessel is fully operational and ready to serve its new masters and bolster the power of the Capellan‘s small WarShip fleet.  All along the Capellan/Free Worlds League Remnant border there are heavy raids as several of the former Free Worlds League states launch raids into the Confederation in response for the launch.  Speaking with his wife, Naomi, and son, Dao-shen, at the Forbidden City on Sian Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao vows that the Chancellor’s Pride will not be the last mighty WarShip to enter the Capellan Navy ready to serve its people and forward the nations goals.  The Chancellor receives condemnation from several of the Succession Lords because of this statement and an official protest thought the Star League Advisory Council for his obvious attempt to destabilise the Inner Sphere.

Star League High Command
Kittery, Capellan March
Federated Suns
18th March 3071

   Following the Capellan Chancellor’s words, and following a discussion with the First Lord, Commanding-General Morgan Hasek-Davion offers Northwind and Outreach Protectorate status under the aegis of the Star League.   Although the SLDF will not garrison either world with troops they will be able to hire warriors from the Northwind Highlanders or Wolf’s Dragoons without hassle and move to their defence/liberation if the Northwind Highlanders or Wolf’s Dragoons are overrun.  Both worlds will also get a say via the Protectorate at the Star League Council.  After a week negotiation both parties agree adding Northwind and Outreach to the growing list of protectorate worlds and giving the Star League Protectorate a greater say at future meetings of the Whitting Conference Council and in the Advisory Council meetings on Defiance.  Both units remain mercenary worlds although the SLDF begins building recruitment centres on both worlds as they have on all Protectorate Worlds further increasing the size and power of the growing Star League.

Are you planning on posting the stats for the SLDF Carrack Light Corvette?

Are you planning on posting the stats for the SLDF Carrack Light Corvette?

Yeah It is a great ship

Glorified transport is up

Welcome to thread lonewolf

JumpShip Shipyard
Trznadel Cluster
Magistracy of Canopus
8th May 3071

   Because of their troubled relations with the Free Worlds League Remnant, the St Ives Compact and the Federated Suns the Capellan Confederation High Command had turned to the Chancellor with a proposal to build a shipyard in Magistracy of Canopus Space far from any regular trade routes and controlled exclusively by Capellan-born personnel, effectively keeping a facility in their space secret from the Magistracy.  Sun-Tzu Liao had agreed and the Capellans had chosen the Trznadel Cluster deep within Magistracy space and an area avoided by most commercial shipping.  The shipping that did come into the area could be diverted by warning beacons that warned them away from the shipyard due to gravity shifts common in a Star Cluster that could tear a fragile JumpShip to pieces.

   With structural work complete on the first stage of the Shipyard the Capellans brought the first three JumpShip yards online, although the facility can only build shipyards at present it is planned for the facility to be able to build WarShips by 3080.  Defending the facility is an entire wing of Hell’s Black Aces Aerospace Regiment pilots, these mercenary warriors are amongst the most trusted in the Capellan’s arsenal despite their gun-for-hire status and will be rotated on a six month basis.  Supporting these pilots is a dozen brand-new Assault DropShips and an entire regiment of Capellan Marines trained to fight in Zero-g.  The troops are loyal to the Chancellor beyond everything and are under orders to destroy any intruders including Magistracy-born civilians who accidentally wander into the area.

Star Adder Claimed Territory
Sheridan, Kerensky Cluster
Clan Homeworlds
16th May 3071

   Following the attack against Barcella by Star Adder forces the Nova Cats choose to retaliate in kind.  Deploying the WarShips Nebulous, a York-class Destroyer/Carrier, and Blood Oath, an Aegis-class Heavy Cruiser, along with the entire Upsilon Galaxy to the Star Adder holding of Sheridan in the Kerensky Cluster.  Sheridan was one of the worlds the Adders hold exclusively so everyone would know the Nova Cats were getting back at them and not expanding the conflict by attacking other forces.

   Entering the system first with most of Upsilon’s JumpShips the Nebulous immediately goes on the attack against the defending Nygaard, a Star Adder Sovetskii-Soyuz-class Heavy Cruiser, the Nova Cat Destroyer/Carrier was outclassed by the Heavy cruiser however the York-class vessel’s DropShips and Fighters are far superior to their Star Adder counterparts, and the skill of the Nova Cat crews is legendary amongst the Clans rivalling that of the famed Clan Snow Raven.  After a brief bloody battle in which most of the DropShips and fighters on both sides are destroyed the heavily damaged Nygaard jumps clear of the system before it is destroyed abandoning a Carrier-class Fighter DropShip to the Nova Cats, the vessel and surviving crew are taken as isorla.

   Scanning the system the Nebulous crew discover that the Cameron’s Flame, a Lola III-class Destroyer, is deeper in the system.  Being a Kerensky Cluster system the Clans have full access to the system’s records and know everything about the Sheridan system and the various gravitational forces in the area.  So using this data and the Nebulous’ sensor data the Blood Oath jumps into the system less than a day’s burn from the Cameron’s Flame.  While the Blood Oath engages the smaller, lighter Star Adder vessel the Nova Cat Upsilon Galaxy arrive in JumpShips and troops DropShips beginning their drive into system.

   A day later the Blood Oath and Cameron’s Flame make a couple of brief passes of each other causing heavy damage to both vessels, however, the Cameron’s Flame comes off worse with the Heavy Naval Autocannons of the Blood Oath making several massive hull breaches on the Destroyer.  The Star Adder commander decides to leave the system to save his vessel leaving the Nova Cat’s in space superiority in the Sheridan system.

   Days later the ground battle of Sheridan begins with the Nova Cat Upsilon Galaxy land under full fighter cover with their WarShips in close orbit.  After a brief batchall with the Star Adder commanders the 889th and the 1114th Gatekeeper Clusters of Tau galaxy engage the Nova Cats in a brutal no holds barred battle on the salt plains of the barren northern continent while the rest of the Nova Cats and their WarShips watch the Star Adders other forces ensuring that no-one breaks the Trial.  By the end of an eighteen hour battle the two Star Adder Clusters are left destroyed by the forces of Upsilon Galaxy the Nova Cat Commanders decide that once the Nova Cats have taken the salvage and a dozen bondsmen from the battle that their revenge has been taken and begin the long trek back to Barcella.

Wolf/Jade Falcon Territory
Eden, Kerensky Cluster
Clan Homeworlds
21st-28th May 3071

   Despite Nova Cat attacks on their holdings on Sheridan the Star Adders continue with plans to launch assaults against Wolf and Jade Falcon Homeworld territories.  Launching a full assault against the Jade Falcon’s territories on Eden the First Adder Sentinels Cluster and the Galaxy Command Trinary of the Star Adder’s Kappa Galaxy they first target the Jade Falcons destroying the First Falcon Dragoons and Third Falcon Velites Clusters of the Falcon’s Sigma and Theta Galaxies in four days of fighting taking over one third of the planet and throwing the Jade Falcons completely off the planet.

   Not happy with just one third the Star Adders call in reinforcements in the form of the Three Hundredth Adder Sentinels Cluster also of Kappa Galaxy.  With these extra fresh troops the Star Adders launch another campaign this time against Clan Wolf’s Twelfth Wolf Regulars Cluster which was spread over another third of the planet.  Over the next three days the Star Adders are able to whittle the Wolf defenders down to a single Trinary of warriors which are taken as Isorla by the victorious Adder forces leaving only Star Adder and Stone Rhino Clans on the world, although previously allied the Stone Rhinos move their forces to a higher state of alert due to the present unpredictable nature of the Star Adders.

   The Star Adder Khan, Stanislov N’Buta, contacts the Clan Stone Rhino Khan, Elizabeth Radick and asked the Stone Rhino Khan if she would still be interested in honouring the Alliance the Stone Rhinos and Star Adders shared from their brief time together in the Inner Sphere together.  Not wanting to anger the Star Adders and seeing the wisdom of the move Elizabeth Radick agreed to the continuance of the alliance with shared mining and construction agreements between the two clans within an hour of the Star Adder victory.

Castle Northwind
Northwind, Tara
Chaos March/Star League Protectorate
15th August 3071

   After living with her disability for a time and after council with doctors, family and other members of her command Rianna Rose pledges to take Myomer Implants to allow her to live a normal life Jeremiah Rose agrees to join his Black Thorns with the Highlanders following a joint offer of support from the other Northwind Highlander regimental commanders and the Clan Elders.

   Plans are laid down for an entire regiment to be built around the Black Thorns.  This regiment will depart from tradition by forming units made of ComGuard-type Level II demi-company sized units fully integrating Infantry, Armour and Mechs.  The new unit will be known as the Northwind Renegades.  Like Loren Jaffray, an officer from the outside, Jeremiah Rose is promoted to the rank of Lt. Colonel instead of full Colonel, the rank of other Highlander Regiment Commanders, he will, like Jaffray, have to win the respect of the others before full acceptance.

Marian Hegemony/Free World’s Remnant
Periphery/Inner Sphere (Various Worlds)
20th-28th August 3071

   Striking deep into several of the Free Worlds League’s remnant realms, these raids do little damage and took very little in the grand scheme.  The remnant realms mostly chose to ignore them for the most part continuing their plans against each other.  For his part Caesar Julius O’Reilly was pleased with the results his realm now had equipment and personnel capable of renovating the MHS Caesar, the Dart-class Light Cruiser found a year earlier.  With other realms still unaware of the vessel’s existence the Hegemony could continue work on their most secret of projects.

Primary Conference Room, Gravity Deck Alpha
Terror of the Deep, Nightlord-class Battleship
Deep Periphery, Near Jarnfolk Territory
4th September 3071

   Onboard the Clan’s flagship WarShip Terror of the Deep, a Nightlord-class Battleship, Clan Diamond Shark holds its annual Bloodnamed Warrior’s Council.  This meeting involved every single Bloodnamed Warrior in the Clan involved in a free-for-all question and answer with the leaders of the Clan.  If they agree things return as normal, if not then Trials follow the meeting, however, no trials take place during the meeting.  At the meeting Loremaster Semi Kalasa brings forth information surrounding the Diamond Shark’s successes in breeding Sea Foxes on ever one of their Homeworld holdings and in several periphery held and Inner Sphere trading Worlds.

   The Sea Fox had been the Clan’s animal Totem when Founder Nicholas Kerensky had formed the Clan and the Clan had been known by that name until the Sea Fox species was almost totally wiped out by the Diamond Shark a genetically modified shark created by Clan Snow Raven scientists.  The Sea Fox had adopted the Diamond Shark as their Totem because it was the superior animal however they had secretly maintained a breeding program for the Sea Fox keeping the species alive.  Only recently had their breeding programs truly begun to bore fruit and the Sea Fox species was more numerous than it had ever been in its history breeding in the wild on more worlds than ever.

   Following a call by several of the Galaxy Commanders and the warriors under the command the Diamond Shark Khans put it to a vote of all the Diamond Shark Bloodnamed should the Clan revert once more to the name it was given from the Founder?  The answer from the Bloodnamed warriors was a resounding yes and the Clan officially renamed and reformed under the Sea Fox name, although the decision was made to maintain the Diamond Shark as their second totem honouring the animal that had taken them to this point.

   Following the meeting there is a definite change in the Clan and not only because of the name change and the rebirth of the Sea Fox.  Factions within the Clan loyal to either a Bloodname, Galaxy or individual begin to become more and more noticeable, certain units preferring to be assigned with each other WarShips staying close to certain other vessels.  Although there is not official split now the lines of such a break become to be visible to outsiders and people within the Clan.

Cosara Weaponries Factory
Northwind, Tara
Star League Protectorate
18th September 3071

   Using knowledge and experience gained while building the Shriltron OmniVehicle and the Black Watch BattleMech Cosara Weaponries on Northwind produces their first combat capable OmniMech.  Named the BKW-01 Black Watch the Mech is a direct upgrade of the companies Black Watch BattleMech supplied to the Northwind Highlanders and the Star League Defence Force.  The Mech combines the features of the original BattleMech with new modular weapon, equipment and heat sink systems and upgraded electronics system producing a superior design.  The initial designs generally follow the standard Black Watch load-out options however Cosara promise that there will be a wider variety of weapons options available in the future.

   In a move directly mirroring the launch of the original Black Watch Cosara gift a companies worth of the new OmniMech to the Royal Black Watch Regiment of the Star League Defence Force and allow the SLDF the same buying options as the Northwind Highlander regiments, marking the first time this has happened since the early 3050s when the Highlanders secured Cosara as their exclusive supplier of weapons systems.  Among the Highlanders the newly formed Northwind Renegades Regiment is the first to receive this powerful new design greatly increasing its still limited firepower.

Jade Falcon held Territory
Lum, Marshall, Huntess
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Space
21st September 3071

   In a series of coordinated strikes Clan Star Adder launches a far ranging strike against Clan Jade Falcon’s Kerensky Cluster garrison forces on three worlds.  In the Lum system the Star Adders destroy the Jade Falcon WarShip White Talon, an Aegis-class Heavy Cruiser, and the Sixth Provisional Garrison Cluster of Epsilon Provisional Galaxy.  The Star Adder losses are light in comparison a trinary of ground troops, two DropShips and some light damage to their WarShip Exodus Avenger, a York-class Destroyer/Carrier.

   On Marshall the Adders take heavier damage losing the 935th Gatekeeper Cluster of Mu Provisional Galaxy while securing over a third of the planet taking out the Jade Falcon’s Eighth and Eighteenth Falcon Regulars Clusters both of the Jade Falcon’s Epsilon Provisional Galaxy.

   Finally in the Huntress system the Star Adder’s experience their best victory and their biggest losses.  The Jade Falcons had stationed the veteran Fifth Battle Cluster, the last of Epsilon Galaxy, and the WarShip Blue Aerie, a Black Lion-class Battle-cruiser, in the system to keep watch on the Star League Garrison forces on Huntress.  First the Star Adder WarShips Constantineau, a Liberator-class Cruiser, and the Warlock, a Lola-III-class Destroyer, both engaged the Blue Aerie destroying it at the cost of the Warlock and heavy fighter and DropShip losses.  With the Nadir point secured the Star Adder forces moved in system contacting the Stone Rhino forces on Huntress, as the 178th Adder Sentinels of Mu Provisional Galaxy landed the Stone Rhinos also launched an assault on the Jade Falcons flank.  Within three hours the Jade Falcons had surrendered the territory to the Star Adder/Stone Rhino forces.  The Star Adders grateful for their allies assistance seeded half the territory gained on Huntress to the Stone Rhinos, the Jade Falcons on the other hand were furious launching a furious attack on the two Clans in the Grand Council on Strana Mechty however without the resources in the Homeworlds to launch an effective counter attack, and almost no support on the Clan council, the Jade Falcons can do little about the attacks.