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Time to finally end 3105.  My thanks to marauder648 for the help with the Hell's Horses AFFS fight as I had severe writers block trying to write the piece.

Duke of Saffel Residence
Saffel, Alya Prefecture
District of Dieron, Draconis Combine
4th December 3105

As the Duke of Saffel Dean Singer entered his office within his official residence he knew there was something wrong.  There had been people against his appointment to the leadership of Saffel but the danger had never felt so closer.  Dean Singer reached for the light switch to his office and it was the last thing he did.  Moments later the office, along with the one time Duke of Saffel, was incinerated by an explosion which took out that half of the residence killing fourteen others who were in the building.

With emergency services charging to assist their Duke his personal BattleMech a customized Huron Warrior imported from the Capellan Confederation, at great cost to Singer and the people of Saffel, exited the residence’s reinforced Mechbay firing its silver bullet gauss rifle and pulse laser into the emergency services as he escaped into the night.

Days later the assassin and thief was identified as small time crook Bobby Winchester a known gun and drug runner but someone who had to date never resorted to violence.  With the Duke murdered, the leader of the local constabulary and the head of the planetary militia killed in the attack no-one is able to asset control over the planetary government before several transport ships leave the system including one carrying Bobby Winchester and the stolen Huron Warrior.  In an effort to support the planetary government Dieron dispatch the Sixteenth District of Dieron Regulars, a green unit, off of Dieron to bring order to Saffel.

Planning Rooms, Celestial Palace
Forbidden City, Sian
Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation
14th December 3105

   The Celestial Wisdom Chancellor Dao Shen-Liao stood listening to his advisers the war against Oriente continued well with attacks on Pella II, Shuen Wan and Anegasaki the Confederation’s goal now clear to Oriente under the Celestial Wisdom’s Banner like Andurien before it.  “Our forces are rolling back Oriente defenders even with their Orbital Defence Guns.”  Sang-jiang-jun Erin Liao, the Chancellor’s wife, said leading the briefing.  “Naval and ground forces from both nations have sparred in the Pella II system.  Our naval forces have destroyed the OPS Fletcher in that system but the Fourth Oriente Hussars continues to resist on the planets surface…” she said pausing as a young officer entered nervously she turned to the Chancellor.  “Sire, the Santorini Battle Group have been spotted…”

   â€œExcellent where?”  The Chancellor demanded the Santorini Battle Group was home to Oriente’s only Thera-class Carrier to kill it had been the Chancellor’s goal for years.

   â€œOver Sarna” she reported seeing Dao-Shen’s rage rising “it appears that they crossed the border at Sakhalin and quickly moved on Sarna they have also struck at Quemoy.”  She said reading the briefing.  “Oriente has called for our withdrawal from their territory or they will destroy our WarShips and our ground forces on the Sarna Supremacy worlds” she said.

   â€œThey cannot hope to take and hold Sarna while we will be on Oriente in weeks.”  Dao-Shen Liao stated confidently.

   â€œIf the rest of the Free Worlds League joins with Oriente we will lose all of the Sarna Commonality” she warned.  “Davion will not sit on his throne and watch as Oriente take our territory.  Without Sarna to administer and control its Commonality we will lose the territory completely.”  She said continuing her warning.

   â€œWe will not surrender!” Dao-Shen Liao snapped “order our forces to dig into their positions on Sarna and prepare the invasion of Oriente!”  He said turning leaving the planning room to Sang-jiang-jun Erin Liao and her commanders.  As Sian refuses to surrender the District of Oriente land ground forces on Sarna while naval and ground forces from both sides engage each other in multiple systems setting the border between these nations on fire.

Liberation
Grundwald, Hell’s Horses Occupation Zone
30th December 3105

   With the FSS Zibler still under repairs in the Summit system the Federated Suns navy units in conjunction with the Lyran Commonwealth military moved on Grundwald and Borghese.  While the Borghese system had surprisingly fallen easily to the Lyran forces in the Grundwald system they had found a Halcyon-class Cruiser and an elite cluster of ground forces.  With the Lyran Commonwealth’s LCS Typhoon, a Mjolnir-class Battlecruiser, beside them escorting the AFFS units it was time to engage the Hell’s Horses.  In the FSS Reinhart Steiner’s command centre Admiral Alexander Duvall glanced over at their guest and nodded for her to continue.  “This is Star Colonel Amanda Leroux to defending forces I challenge for control over this system for Clan Mountain Wolf and the Lyran Commonwealth.”  She said confidently Duvall had to admit when she had come on board she had not liked the Wolf warrior but she and the others from her Clan who were on board had adjusted well to the structure on board the FSS Reinhart Steiner.

   â€œWolf you are on a Federated Suns WarShip do not attempt to fool us.”

   â€œYou will see that this vessel and the others with it are identified as Lyran Commonwealth vessels.  I am a Mountain Wolf Cluster commander and I am fully in control of this battle.”  She said turning to the air-boss “deploy aerospace fighters on all vessels.  Order our DropShips to assume combat formations.”  She said from the belly of the FSS Reinhart Steiner aerospace fighters with AFFS, Mountain Wolf and Lyran Commonwealth insignia launched from the craft.  Several of the Federated Suns aerospace fighters had been replaced with those from Clan Mountain Wolf as had several of their DropShips.  “As you can see my forces are my own.”

   â€œYou will accept a Batchall Quiaff?”  The warrior asked a single Halcyon-class Cruiser and support DropShips would not be enough to turn back the assault forces against them.

   â€œAff” Amanda Leroux said carefully intent on not drawing the Inner Sphere forces under her command into a Clan bidding war.

   â€œI bid a single Halcyon-class Cruiser, four DropShips, their attached support units and the First Horde Cluster to the defence of this system.”  The Hell’s Horses commander responded a couple of moments later.

   â€œI respond with a single Avalon II-class Cruiser, its support craft and the First Commonwealth Guards Regiment to capture this system.  I will not be hobbling my forces further with a smaller bid.”

   â€œWell bargained and done” the Horses commander said surprisingly quickly without even a single barb about the lack of a smaller bid.

   â€œContact the FSS Jackson Davion and Star Captain Rygard Carns” Amanda Leroux commanded moments later there was a connection between the two WarShips.  “Star Captain your vessel and crew will lead the battle into this system.”  She said as per the Lyran, Federated Suns and Mountain Wolf agreement there were Mountain Wolf warriors embedded on board every WarShip, DropShip, fighter squadron and ground force battalion.  In each communication with the defenders of the systems the Mountain Wolves would lead meaning that any challenge came from the Mountain Wolves and every captured unit would go to the Mountain Wolf Clan helping rebuild it.  Amanda Leroux was sure that both the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth would end up with at least some of the salvage but the Mountain Wolves would gain the first choice and the best of their captures.

   With the FSS Jackson Davion and her escorts moving away from the AFFS fleet the Avalon II class cruiser began launching her fighters as did her escort group.  The three escorting Pocket Warships moved forwards at high speed, trying to close the range.

“Sir we’re getting a good clean data-link between all elements.  ID scans show a pair of Outpost Defenders, one Titan and an Arcadia running escort, the cruiser the CHH Nightmare's Edge is at the centre of their formation following at 600 km distance.”

“Time to intercept?”

“At current speed, thirty minutes.”

Aboard the Titan class Carrier Bon Homme Richard it was as scene of organised chaos on her forward hangar bay.  Under way there was gravity and this made life easier for the tech’s as they hauled weapon pods and linkages from their magazine elevators.

“Technician Jones, I do not care if the ghost of the Great Father himself appeared and bid you to halt, you WILL get my Star’s fighters reequipped before launch.”

The Technician, a long standing member of the Richards crew knew how to deal with arsey aerospace pilots; he had been doing it for twenty years.

“My men are trying their best, but we only have enough weapon pods to rearm six of your craft! The remainder will have to go into battle in the Charlie configuration.”

“Explain why.”

‘Because we were not expecting you do to anything more than be a ****** shuttle for Elementals you arrogant ass.’ Is what Jones wanted to say, instead he gestured to the row of tiger stripe painted Kirghiz fighters that aerotechs were swarming over whilst exoskeletons helped with the heavy loading.  “Simple logistics and the operational role of Lightning Star prior to the deployment in system.  We are trying our best, I can give you two Primes, two Deltas, one Bravo and an Echo but the rest will have to go out as Charlies.  Is that acceptable Quiaff?
“Aff” Inwardly Star Captain James Hawker growled, instead he just nodded.  After arriving in orbit his Star had been acting as a quick deployment force, carrying Elementals from point to point at the beck and call of the Horde, demeaning but important work.  Now with half stores aboard there simply wasn't the equipment to fully arm ten of the big fighters.

“Very good Star Captain, now can you please get out of the bloody way whilst we sort your fighter out. She will be an Echo and neg you do not get a say in the matter.”

FSS Jackson Davion

“Hostiles are launching fighters. Visigoths from the Outposts, they are forming up into a Star.  Another ten from the cruiser, Titan is launching now Sirs.  Reading…One star of Sulla’s one Star of hrm…Tyre’s and..shise..one of Kirghiz Sir”

On the holographic displays the Clan ships and fighters took position, the Titan hanging well back, she was no warship and despite its great size, was achingly vulnerable, the two Outposts and the Arcadia though were coming forwards along with every fighter the Horses had.  It was no ill-disciplined rush either, they were keeping close together, their fire lanes overlapping.
“Sensors what are those launching from the cruiser?”

“Pelican class shuttles sir…damn that’s a lot of them…count is 18..22..28..30!”

Captain Leonard Kyle glanced at his Mountain Wolf companion “The Pelican is an assault shuttle and primary mover; they can carry Elementals but they are not built for breaching operations.”
“How many Elementals?”

“Twenty five depending on weight of course.  Twenty-five standard suits.”

“And you say they’ve no mag clamps?”

“Aff, they could deposit troops on the hull but they cannot lock onto us and cut their way inside.”

“CAG! Keep an eye on those damn shuttles; I don’t fancy getting boarded today.”

“Roger that Sir.”

“Sir! We are within range and have a good feed from our escorts.”

“Very good.  Guns, target the cruiser, she’s the threat, have our escorts engage their DropShips and fighters. That Kirghiz Star’s a priority target.”

The ships fighters were all brand new, the Admiralty wanted to put their best in combat and test them, and a mixture of Corsair 12D’s and Cutlasses formed her air group, but still it was 32 fighters against 50.

A dozen affirmatives rang out before the Jackson Davion shuddered slightly as her guns and missiles began their firing sequences.  Guided by the Naval C3 her guns were tracking the Clan cruiser as it lumbered forwards behind its escorts.  It seems the Clanners knew about the C3 on the Suns warships, they were all moving forwards, even the cruiser was at a full 1.5g burn her gauss rifles spitting in the dark.  But at this range and with C3’s inherent advantages the Federated Suns cruiser scored the first hits as a pair of NAC rounds detonated on impact with the Clanner’s hull.  The Avalon’s missiles were having a harder time though, only one got through the barrage of AMS fire and her flak belt as the Clan cruisers shorter ranged guns also engaged the inbound missiles.

“Enemy forces are continuing to close Sir.”

“Good, Helm! Bring us to Red 119, down 15. Guns fire as you bare!”

As the Jackson Davion began her turn to Starboard the CHH Nightmare’s Edge kept on charging forwards.  The Halcyon was taking hits but her thick armour was absorbing them for now whilst giving back as best she could against her bigger and faster opponent.

CHH Nightmare's Edge

Gripping the arms of his chair as the Edge rocked from another hit, this one further along her dorsal hull, Star Commodore Karina Dwelley grinned “Release the hounds! Have Stalker flight follow them in!”

On the holo-display the fighter brawl was a confused tangle of signals as the fighters threw themselves into the battle against their opposite numbers.  The Arcadia Gravewalker was the biggest return amongst the melee, her commander Star Captain Tara Bolt throwing the assault ship around with all the skill and grace she and her crew were renowned for.  Still it was a tough fight, the three Federated Suns assault ships were big and shockingly well-armed.  They were also feeding data to the cruiser and she was taking full advantage of that and her gunners knew their business.  Still her surprise should stop that.  The Pelican’s surged forwards, ECM’s going live in an overlapping barrier of howling and more importantly concentrated electronic noise, thrusters blazing as they opened the throttle and charged.  Not all of the shuttles were carrying Elementals, most were down on the world below but still the 75 on-board the Nightmare’s Edge were more than willing to attempt a boarding action. 

FSS Jackson Davion

“Sir! We’re being jammed!”

“What? What the hell’s going on!”

“Not our systems but the C3’s lousy with interference.  Attempting to re-establish links now Sir!”

“Assault shuttles inbound!”

“Sir! It’s those shuttles!  They are jamming the link between us and our escorts.”

“Helm! Continue the turn, increase thrust. All hands stand by for heavy thrust. Helm put our stern to them, Guns! Target those damn shuttles with the missiles.”

On the holo-display the Clan ship was starting a turn even as one of her Outposts burst apart, gutted by the guns of the Stalwart, but the Clanner fighters were everywhere, his Air group was holding its own but they were outnumbered and unable to break off, when they did, more Clanner’s jumped onto them after waiting and with a wedge of assault shuttles charging on in with the risk of up to 750 Elementals being carried it was just a risk that could not be born.  The Jackson Davion’s engines flared to life as she slewed to her new course, pulling ahead of the slower Nightmare’s Edge.  She was fast.  The Pelicans were faster.

Even as their WarShip ‘mother’ was embattled the Suns cruiser’s escort group were finally overcoming their foes.  The Arondight class was built for this kind of battle, a freewheeling brawl and their cannons were spitting as fast as they reloaded, heavy armour taking fire despite repeated attack runs from the Horse fighters.  With one Outpost down and the other bleeding air from a 20-meter crater in her side from an internal explosion the Federated Suns Pocket Warships turned their guns on the flank of the Nightmare’s Edge even as the Clan ship fired into the Jackson Davion’s stern.

Not every Pelican carried Elementals, and the Jackson’s anti-fighter defences were filling space around the cruiser with a blizzard of Gauss shards, missiles and pulses of laser light, swatting them from space in short lived puffs of flame and spinning debris.  But enough got close to deposit their cargo across the upper hull of the Federated Suns cruiser.  Of course such a manoeuvre was not without risk, disembark too quick and the suits mag boots might not grip and you’d be sent spinning away from the rapidly maneuvering cruiser with no hope of rescue.  This happened to eight Elementals, whilst another two didn’t even leave the hull, one hit too hard and shattered his knees and was immediately WIA, the other got hopelessly wedged as he bounced along the hull between the main hull and a radiator vane.  The sixty-five surviving Elementals had been spread liberally over the dorsal section of the Jackson Davion the assault far from coordinated.  This made things easier for the Jackson’s defending Marines but the Clanners were ALL in Gnome battle armour which despite its age was still a deeply formidable design.

With the Suns cruiser turning to bring her vulnerable stern out of the fire the Nightmare’s Edge was pouring into it the two cruisers were getting into a more traditional broadside battle, hammering one another with every weapon at their disposal.  It was as much a battle of wills as a battle of endurance.  But with her hull battered and air bleeding from a dozen gashes in her flank and spine the Nightmare started to turn away first, cutting thrust, letting the Davion ship pull ahead, the range opening rapidly.

“Stalkers! This is Stalker lead, anyone still with me?”

“Aff, Stalkers seven, eight and two!”

“Good!  The Edge cannot take much more, we will attack the cruiser’s stern.  If we can damage her engines then the Edge will be able to withdraw.”

All four remaining Kirghiz were in a bad way, but they were still armed and flying, their Tyre escorts having suffered heavily trying to cover them from the faster and very agile Davion fighters.  The alert receiver on Hawker’s fighter blared as the Jackson Davion’s gunners locked onto the new threat even as the Pelican's wheeled overhead, strafing ineffectually at her hull with their missiles. 

The four assault fighters bore in, their pilots jinking and throwing their 100 tonne craft around, jammers trying to throw off the cruisers gunners even as they were fired upon.

Stalker Eight erupted into a fireball as a Barracuda missile slammed into its belly; Two was bisected by a concentrated blast of laser fire before they got through the main flak belt.  Near wingtip to wingtip the two Kirghiz opened fire as one.  Hawker’s HAG-40’s spraying clouds of hyper-velocity slugs over the Jackson’s stern. 

FSS Jackson Davion

“Sir! The jamming’s gone! Link re-established!”

“Finish that Clanner bastard off now!” Hard a port!”

There was a flash as something was hit.  White vapour started pouring from a breech on the Jackson’s stern.  Hawker spotted it, but so too did the cruiser’s engineering detachment.  It was fuel, the cruiser’s semi-modular fuel tanks had taken a hit and it was leaving a trail of rapidly expanding frozen hydrogen slush behind them.  The leaking tank was jettisoned a moment later and it was already several hundred meters astern and under the Jackson when the inevitable happened.  A particle bolt passed through the Hydrogen and it ignited in what could be called a deflagration.  The difference between a deflagration and explosion is that the former is a rapid burn.  In this case along the trail left by the fuel tank, following it to its source.

Even as the Nightmare’s Edge finally succumbed to the relentless pounding of the Jackson’s guns the Federated Suns ship was suddenly ‘kicked’ from behind as a tank with nearly 800 tonnes of fuel in it exploded just behind her.  The blast threw the ships stern up and her bow down, one engine smashed by the sudden blast, its vents wrecked whilst the blast was still close enough to act like a sub-kiloton explosion melting and burning parts of the hull, the energy of the explosion also sending a heavy shock through the cruisers hull which threw crew against the hull and knocked systems out of alignment.

Further astern the Nightmare’s Edge was tumbling to port, bleeding air as her thrusters fired to try keep her upright whilst her crew abandoned ship.  Her back was broken, her armour punctured whilst internal fires raged along her starboard hull section.  Of her fighter group, eighteen would survive to pull back, leaving no Davion survivors.  The crippled Arcadia Gravewalker was barely active, held together by the efforts of her crew and what little armour remained along her hull.  Only the Bon Homme Richard was undamaged, the Titan hanging back the entire time, only moving forwards now to pick up escape pods and lifeboats. 
Aboard the Jackson Davion her crew began the serious task of saving the ship.  With one primary thruster down and with shock damage across the ship as well as having a badly battered hull the cruiser was in a serious way, if not at risk of being lost.  The Clan borders had been met and there was still fighting along the upper hull.  Some Elemental’s had forced their way inside and caused considerable damage before being contained and eliminated.  Only when the Nightmare’s Edge erupted in a ball of light as her fires finally reached her magazines did the survivors finally surrender and accept being made Bondsmen. 

Space belonged to the Allied forces but it had come at a heavy cost.  All thirty-four fighters were gone, although eighteen pilots had managed to eject safely and were recovered.  The Arondight class dropship Fire and the Flame was so badly damaged that she had to be abandoned and scuttled, whilst the other two were mauled and could barely dock for repairs themselves.  The Jackson Davion herself had taken moderate damage but her engines had taken a heavy amount of damage and the shock damage had in the words of her chief engineer “Utterly frakked the jump drive.  At least for a while anyhow.”  Until it was repaired and precision calibration carried out, the Jackson Davion was going nowhere.
 
Ground Battle
Grunwald, Hell’s Horses Occupation Zone
30th December 3105

   From space to the ground the First Commonwealth Guards Regiment dropped through the sky towards the ground.  The regiment was actually more like a reinforced combined-arms force with five battalions of forces between their combined units.  The Lyran forces despite having the upper hand in space knew that they would be facing a tough ground battle and immediately this became clear as capital missiles rose from the surface striking towards their DropShips.  The Lyrans defence systems activated but they were not enough to stop the incoming missiles and several DropShips took heavy damage as they came into land.  Fortunately the Lyrans had been ready for this attack and the crews had prepared their vessels for heavy combat taking every precaution.  As the Lyran DropShips landed Lyran BattleMechs charged from the DropShips firing on the Horses who were arrayed against them between Lyran BattleMechs and vehicles were others carrying Clan Mountain Wolf’s insignia carrying on the same trend used against the Hell’s Horses in space.

   Surrounding the Lyran Commonwealth landing zones were warriors of Clan Hell’s Horses who filled the air with weapons fire tearing into the Inner Sphere forces while artillery missiles slammed into their BattleMechs and DropShips.  From above Lyran and Mountain Wolf aerospace forces now dominated the skies but on the ground the fast moving Hell’s Horses forces were continuing to fight hard causing casualties in the Commonwealth Guards.

   With continous aerospace fighter attacks and as more Lyrans and Mountain Wolves deployed into the warzone the Hell’s Horses were slowly overwhelmed by the firepower being brought onto them.  Lyran aerospace fighter attacks also quickly located and neutralized the Hell’s Horses DropShips crippling their ability to maintain their units and eliminating their ability to withdraw from the planet.  Within hours the Horde Cluster’s ability to fight had been diminished by lack of ammunition and supplies forcing the Horses to withdraw across the planet while being constantly harried by aerospace fighters and fast moving BattleMech forces.  By the end of the third day the remaining two trinaries of the First Horde Cluster surrendered to the Mountain Wolf commander the remaining warriors taken as bondsmen to that Clan while the salvage was split evenly between the Lyrans and Wolves.

With the FSS Jackson Davion crippled in the system victory on the ground goes a long way towards justifying the FSN’s presence in the system.  With the FSS Zibler under orders to return to the Federated Suns for extensive repairs the FSS Intrepid, a repair ship, and the FSS New Avalon, a Whirlwind II-class Destroyer are ordered to rendezvous in the Tikonov and then head to the Lyran Commonwealth to support the remaining units.

Water Treatment Plant
Saffel, Alya Prefecture
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
14th February 3106

“Everything’s set” the trooper said watching the complex ahead of them his sneak suit completely devoid of markings.

“All workers out?” Another asked he was wearing an identical sneak suit and stood off to the side watching the plant ahead.

“Yes, sir, we triggered the fire alarm they won’t be able to say for sure if there is a fire or not…” a third trooper said as people began to evacuate the Water Treatment Plant below “and there they go.”

“Three give them a couple of minutes to evacuate then blow it” the second trooper replied continuing to watch the plant.  Below the workers evacuated the facility onto the snow covered car parks.  “Go” he ordered moments later the charges detonated leveling the facility its destruction would cause water shortages and riots further destabilizing the planet which was still reeling from the death of their planetary governor.

“Strike team withdraw full stealth egress” the commander said glancing around “remember if the Combine close down the spaceport you stow your gear and turn up to work in the morning.”  He said they had been on Saffel for three weeks already working jobs in the capital city “you keep a low profile and ride out any of the troubles then evac when you can.”  He said “now move out and may the Peace of Blake be with you.”

Elsewhere on in the capital an explosion destroyed the generator that served the Hyper Pulse Generator disabling it cutting off Saffel from the rest of the Inner Sphere.  With water shortages across Saffel and without communications beyond the system riots grow in severity across the globe leading to the Sixteenth Dieron Regulars Regiment cracking down heavily on the local population resulting in increasing civilian casualties.

Raid
Acidalia, Taurian Concordat
Periphery
16th February 3106

   The Nova Cat Vanguard-class DropShip had landed unopposed on Taurian Concordat world of Acidalia.  The world had recently been occupied by the Taurians and the defenders didn’t have the firepower to oppose the seventeen thousand-four hundred ton DropShip.  From the DropShip nine BattleMechs, a single Nova Cat II OmniMech and several points of ProtoMechs had deployed creating a perimeter which held the Taurian Concordat defenders back while vehicles deployed from inside the heart of the vessel including several SM-1 and Snow Tiger Tank Destroyers.

In among the vehicles were a pair of recently developed Stealth Arrow Hovertanks the vehicles modified versions of the Snow Tiger OmniVehicle E configuration, which merged an Arrow IV Artillery Missile Launcher with the chassis, the Steath Arrow took the design a step further by adding reverse engineered Capellan Stealth Armour to create a far more deadly beast.  The Nova Cats also test new variants of the Solace, Joust and Shoden during the eight days that they test Taurian defences.  It is obvious to the Taurian defenders that the Nova Cats could overwhelm the defenders at anytime but that they have no interest in taking the planet or causing collateral damage instead using the entire encounter as a test for their new vehicles before pulling out of the system.

Meeting Room, Gravity Deck 4
Galatea Station, Galatea
Isle of Skye, Lyran Commonwealth
23rd February 3106

The Subtlety’s arrival at the Galatea Station had not been unexpected nor had it been a surprise when a request came from Captain William Leroy-Dietrich for a party to come on board the station but what had been surprising was when the Captain had requested to speak with the command staff of the station instead of the MRBC reprentatives on the station.

“I do not plan on hiring my WarShip to the highest bidder” Leroy-Dietrich explained “the Subtlety was not designed as a true weapon of war she comes from an era where people could afford to turn a Battleship into a tool for teaching and training.  I wish to continue the mission that the original Star League Defence Force set out for the ship and train those who need it.”  He said walking around the room looking ‘out’ at what surrounded them it would have been impossible for there to be actual port holes instead the walls were covered in massive screens that displayed images of the space around the station which changed as the gravity deck rotated around the station’s hull.

“Then, with respect, why didn’t you turn it back to the Star League Defence Force?”  Lt Commander Claudia Christian the station’s Executive Officer asked.

“I am a mercenary by trade I have been for most of my career but as I’ve gotten older I’ve begun to realize that money isn’t everything.”  He half joked “I could have sold the Subtlety back to the Star League Defence Force or to any of the other nations we have passed through but I have a feeling that she would be turned into a weapon of war and sent to the front lines.  This ship was not made for that…”

“I think it was” Commander Christian said interrupting but Commander O’Hare spoke up before she could cause too much of a problem Christian was quick to defend the Galatea Station from any number of problems.

“Captain, what is it that you want from us?  Galatea is an open system and the MRBC are based here you could register with them and operate your ship as you wish.”  He suggested remaining seated at the desk.

“I do not intend for the Subtlety to be hired from one state to the next.” Leroy-Dietrich said “I want a home for my people and with your support I would like to make our home here.”  He said turning back towards the station’s personnel “the Subtlety will support the defence of this station and this system and we will continue to train anyone who wishes our services.  In exchange we would like free travel onto the station for our civilians and assistance with the continued repairs and maintenance for the Subtlety.”

“That’s a lot of ship to repair” Christian said quietly.

“It’s also a lot of resources that this station and system could use as an ally.”  O’Hare said rising from his chair “your ship and its resources will be a welcome addition to this system’s defence.  I would ask that my pilots are allowed to train alongside yours without additional charge in exchange for your continued presence in this system.  As far as repairs and maintenance I am sure that you will be able to find people passing through this system who will help you with that… for the right price.”

“They would be welcome to join my fighters and our training classes some of the mercenaries I am sure would benefit from multiple viewpoints of aerospace fighter training.”  Leroy-Dietrich agreed extending his hand which O’Hare shook.

Border skirmish
Illyria, Lothian League
Periphery
27th February 3106

   On the world of Illyria the Free Worlds League’s Sixth Tamarind Militia Regiment and the Group W Mercenary Command, under Lyran Commonwealth contract, battle for command of the system.  The Illyrian population do not support either side instead the planetary defence force martial their IndustrialMechs and combat vehicles to defend the planet’s civilian population moving them out of the combat zones.

   For nearly six days a three way battle rages across Illyria with the population taking heavy collateral damage.  Eventually Group W’s experience wins through against the Tamarind Militia forcing them off the planet.  For nearly three weeks Group W remain on the planet but word arrives that the Lyran Commonwealth would not be dispatching further unit’s to the planet as Illyria was too remote to keep supplied.  Following the casualties taken on Illyria the commander of the Group W, Colonel Andrew Bethke, decides to activate an escape clause in the unit’s contract with the Lyran Commonwealth.  Unable to leave Illyria immediately the command accepts a temporary contract with the Illyrian Government helping the defenders improve the defences of Illyria while assisting in defending the planet from future Lyran Commonwealth and Free Worlds League attacks.

You really do like killing off Khans, don't you?

Next step - thank's to marauder648 for the first section and the little discovery

Command Bridge, Scipio (Merchant-class JumpShip)
Periphery, Unclaimed sytem
3rd April 3106
   
The Scipio was an old ship, in service for centuries to the Marian Hegemony as a troop carrier before being displaced by newer and more capable ships.  The Merchant class JumpShip was instead consigned to ‘resource discovery’ patrols.  Long and boring loops to the ‘south’ and ‘west’ of the Hegemony’s holdings, scouting systems, asteroid belts and comets for resources.  Her two attached DropShips the Marcus and Aggripa were also very long in the tooth, both Buccaneer class, converted to act as mobile mining and surveying ships and bases had already undocked and they and a small swarm of shuttles were off inspecting the wonderfully exciting system of NA/42/D.

The system was in a word dull, dim brown dwarf and shoals of asteroids that would probably take weeks of scanning and checking. If something was found then it would be logged and reported back when the ship returned after her four-month journey finished.

“Sir, shuttle 41 is reporting a faint echo on their LIDAR, from their bearing at green 232 distances… roughly two million miles.”

Captain Marc Behar snorted, putting his bulb of coffee down.  “41? That’s Diego’s team right?  If they have got more glitches with their sensors...”

“Negative Sir, they are routing the data to us and it’s definitely something.”

“An Asteroid?”

“No sir, too much metal unless it’s a lump of solid metal drifting out there.”

“Fine, have them go investigate and report back.” Marc leaned in, looking at the sensor reports “Could it be someone trying to sneak around unnoticed?”

“Possibly Sir…I mean it’s over three million clicks from our location, and there are no jump points out there so it’s a bloody odd place to hide.”

“Have 41 check it out, and spin up the jump drive just in case.”

“And the DropShips?”

“Lets hope their engines are running properly, they are less valuable than this ship.”

“Aye, aye Sir.”

Aboard the Oxen class shuttle there were a few groans from the four man crew.  “That’s a three hour trip there and back for fraks sake!”

“Fuel will be cutting it fine too.”

“Quit your bloody grumbling, it’s an order so we obey, sure its bloody miserable but would you rather be outside in your vac-suits?”  Pilot First Class Diego Pegg had once been a fighter pilot, but shrapnel from an air raid on his base had ended his fighter jock days, down-rated to fly shuttles he’d been with the Scipio for two years now.

“No boss.”

“Exactly, now lay in a course and someone get me a tea.”

Two hours later.

Half the crew of the shuttle were dozing when the LIDAR return receiver started its insistent chirping.  “Report.”

“Big return, solid metal mass, nothing on thermals or radar.”

“Anything on visual?”

“Zilch, too far away.”

“Alright..lets do what we’re paid to do. Co-pilot keep your hand on the throttle, if we get a sensor lock I want you to open the taps and help me turn this big beast.”

“You got it boss.”  The Oxen was a big shuttle, 200 tonnes to be precise, and was in service pretty much everywhere often under different names.  In Marian service they kept the original name, stripping out their machine guns in favour of a little bit more stowage space for the four crew and any passengers.  But even under the best circumstances they turned like a horse before the plough and accelerated about as fast as one too.

“Frak me…”

“What you got Kathrin?”

“Visual… on… a ship… dunno what she is, never seen that design in my life.”

The young radar operator was fresh out of the academy, and this was in essence training for her, she was known to be a ‘spotter’ damn good at IDing military kit visually, and to hear her flummoxed was something new.

On the small screen the image was grainy; the long range cameras were using star light and thermal optics to resolve the image in a whitish green.  The ship was a curious design.  Over four hundred meters long, its bow dominated by a large bridge section that looked like a sledgehammer head.  A narrow ‘neck’ went back to a simply massive rotating section that was easily two hundred meters in diameter, sticking out of the fairly narrow hull of the ship and running back for over a hundred meters before the thin hull emerged once more towards the blocky engine section. 

“Any IFF?”

“Nothing sir, no thermals, not even an erg of power is leaking off her, hull temperature is way down too. She’s dead, no power at all.”

“Moving in closer, are we feeding this back to the Scipio?”

“Yes boss, data links open, just a few seconds lag due to the distance.”

“Great… make sure the audio’s off eh?”

They all chuckled at that as the shuttle’s engines rumbled, driving them closer to the strange looking ship.

“Ho-lee-hell! Look at that!”

Now only a few hundred kilometres away they could see what had seemingly killed the ship.  Her port side, from bow to stern was blackened as if the metal had been heated and scored.  A few radar masts and sensor dishes were warped and looked melted and an amber light lit up  as the shuttle moved in.

“Jesus, look at those rads on the outer hull.  It’s not lethal but I’m not going on that things surface for anything more than a few hours.”

“Life pods are still in place, I can see the ports for them and the lifeboats too.”

“Well at least she’s bloody human…”

“Yeah but with radiation scarring like that on her hull?”

“You read too much sci-fi; little green men or giant birds are not out there waiting to zap us.”

“Sir! I can see her name! The… SLS… C. Sagan.”

MHS Scipio (Merchant-class JumpShip)

“Found her! She is an Endeavour class science vessel.  They only built four of them the Hawkins, Einstein, Averroes and the Sagan.  They launched from the Titan shipyards twenty years before the Amaris Civil War on an exploration mission to the Deep Periphery.”
“So what the hell is she doing out here? And what the hell happened to her?  Get Shuttle 41 to dock if they can and investigate.”

Shuttle 41

“Oh frak that…”

“Shut up! She’s a League ship so she’ll have a universal docking port. We can run a power cable into the airlock and jump start it, running it off our own reactor and get in that way.  How high are the rads?”

“High enough, I’d say we could take four hours on-board, I’m not sure about her hull plating and what it absorbed but I suggest we all have rad counters on-board and try staying away from the port side.”

“Roger that… and speaking of which… Roger… get suited up and get ready to go outside. She’s got a big ass docking collar on her neck so we’ll lock on there. Get that air lock open and then get your grumbling butt inside.”

“Aye boss.”

With the airlock active after a somewhat worrying twenty minutes of attempted docking the shuttles crew, bar one went into the dark hull of the C. Sagan

“If you say ‘lets split up…’ boss I’ll kill you.”

“Yeah… Let’s stay together, don’t touch anything.”

“Temperature is 104 below.  No oxygen, she’s a void, someone purged the atmosphere.”

“Where’s the crew?”

The walkway from the docking collar was full of free floating objects, paper, books, a few data pads and somewhat alarmingly a boot.

“Liberate tu te me…”

“Enough of that Kathrin. Just keep calm people, she’s a derelict, lets find her crew and see if we can get the logs and get the hell out of here.”

“Hey boss…I just had a thought.”

“Oh this ought to be good…”

“Oh it is… two words. Salvage rights.”

With the prospect of money and reward in mind the three Marians continued into the cold and silent hulk, fortunately everything was marked in English and they found their way to the medical bay in part of the huge grav deck.  “Sir… I’ve found the crew.”

Behind a sealed door was a room that was full of body bags, free floating in zero-g, over two hundred white bags in the sealed chamber.

“Check your rad dosage people…lets find the crew quarters and look for the Captain’s cabin.

“You got it boss…”

MHS Scipio
Periphery
4th April 3106

“I want to commend you on a job well done Pilot, we’ll have to see about salvage rights but I’m sure that the Caesar will be happy with this find.” Captain Behar said as he looked at the reports.  The survey mission was now quite forgotten and both DropShips were now slowly towing the C. Sagan towards the Scipio and the jump point. Partial power had been restored with portable generators, enough to kick-start the computers or at least those that still worked.  It was enough to download the ships logs and those of the Captain and it was the log that now came onto the screen in Captain Behar’s quarters.

They’d found the Captain’s body in his quarters, a dissociated and frozen corpse that looked more like a mummy than something that had decomposed. Quite fortunate really.

“Captains Log May 29th 2758.  The science boys love all of this, the GY/42 system is a young and active one, the accretion disk is slowly forming planets before our eyes and we’re able to watch a young star and its attendant planets form.  Dr Killinger and her team are more than happy with the data we’re getting and the crew are performing well.

“Captains Log April 9th 2758.  We’ve moved into the nadir jump point of the system and are able to look ‘down’ at the accretion disk.  Probes sent in are recording hugely high temperatures, it’s really dangerous but at the same time beautiful.  We’ll be jumping tomorrow with AR/3/B as our next system for exploration; a blue giant should give us a lot of data.”
The next image showed the Captain, clearly under stress, the rooms emergency lighting was on casting a lurid red glow across his face.

“Captains log… frak it… we was hit this morning by what Mr Killinger called a ‘bow wave’ from the star as it formed.  A mix of radiation and gaseous particles hitting us bloody fast.  Damage was minimal but the radiation surge… over half the crew received a lethal dose in the few seconds we were hit, the rest of us… I’ve ordered the sick to be taken to the least contaminated parts of the ship, and we’re setting a course for Marik space.  If we can get there we can get help.”

There was one more log on the file, dated a week later.  The man, Captain Tobias Garrant was gaunt, his hair missing in places; he was pale and looked exhausted.

“Well…this is it… we’ve come as far as we can… but with the crew dead or dying and with only eight of us able to still function… I know we can’t go on.  I’ve ordered the computer to slowly bleed the air out.  Not an instant decompression, we’ll just go to sleep.  There’s not enough crew to run the reactor or any of the systems… so it’s time to end it.  If anyone finds this log, know that we stayed true to our oaths, and discipline aboard ship never wavered. “

Caesar’s Quarters
Alphard, Marian Hegemony
Periphery
6th April 3106

“Caesar this vessel is of great value to the Hegemony!  We can refit her and reactivate her as a warship.” The Minister of Defence said, looking at the reports from the Scipio.  It had taken a month to get the ship back to Marian space and she was now held under the strictest of security in the outer reaches of the system. 

“With what are we going to refit her?  My noble friend forgets that such a refit would cost a great deal of money and consume resources we just don’t have!  We have no active shipyard and our one yard has been in mothballs for years, we’ve also lost a lot of technical expertise with many of the people who knew how to run the yard being either too old to work or drafted aboard our JumpShips and DropShips.”

“We have been able to keep the Hanse operational with minimal support.” The Minister of Foreign Affairs piped up.

“Which has resulted in a barely operational WarShip that can move between Alphard and the jump point and little else” countered the Minister of Industry.  “Not that the public or our neighbours know this but my Honourable friend in Defence will support me here, the Hanse needs an major overhaul, and it is not one we are capable of doing with the resources we have.”  She said “and now with this vessel, the initial study shows we’d need to remove most of the hull plating on the port side as well as carry out extensive decontamination protocols on the interior, this would take at least a year, the computers would then need to be replaced as most of them were fried by the radiation surge in truth it’s a miracle they were able to jump her as far as they could towards our space.  And then it’s a case of fitting weapons.  Weapons we do not have and would have to import at great cost or attempt to steal which against an organised defence we do not have the resources.”  She said feeling deflated by the issues ahead of the Marians.  “This is initially estimated to take at least three years if not more and my Honourable friends, my Caesar, we simply do not have the resources or money for such a grand endeavour without utterly bankrupting our nation.”

“So what do you suggest?”

“Simple, sell her or scrap her, she’s a millstone round our necks and I think…”

The discussion fell silent as Caesar Aleksandr Ward raised his hand and sat forwards the twenty-six year old was one of the youngest people in the room but the only one that had the authority to make a real decision. “I believe that the sale of this vessel would be of more value than retaining her, but who to?  The Marik’s and those of that region?  To the Lyrans?  Or the Wolves?”

“My Caesar, if I may, there is a group who might be willing to aid us and remove the vessel and in return assist us.”  Sister Cassandra, the Caesar’s personal assistant and advisor, said quietly stepping forward she was always with the Caesar.  She was older than the Caesar but her true age was hidden by the cloak around her shoulders and her carefully arranged hair.

“Speak.”  Caesar Aleksandr commanded

“I have an… associate in Interstellar Explorations, whilst they are what they say they are, they have a broad reach and deep pockets as well as the resources and knowledge to reactivate the C. Sagan.  She is an exploration vessel after all and they could use her for her intended role.”

“And what would you ask of them in return?”

“Assistance with our shipyards bringing them operational and up to a spec where we could use them in construction and maintenance of JumpShips and possibly future examples of the Galley-class.  And assistance in acquiring the parts and resources we would require to repair the Hanse.”

“And they would do this?”  Caesar Aleksandr asked looking at the woman who smiled briefly when meeting his gaze.

“I would have to speak with them my Caesar, but I feel that our prize would be incentive enough and our asking price agreeable.”  She said bowing for a moment stepping backwards out of the gaze of the others.

Caesar Aleksandr looked at his others advisers, he wasn’t as brutal as some of the leaders of the past but more even handed as his mother had been nevertheless those who failed or displeased him often didn’t live long.  Even then there were few who would believe that Aleksandr would take his range out on Sister Cassandra she had a pull over him that few others did although few believed that there was anything physical between them.  “Very well, speak with your associate but do not agree to anything unless you speak to me first.”  The unsaid ‘or else…’ hung in the air before Aleksandr stood and his guards moved around him as he left the audience room.

Border skirmish
District of Gibraltar, Free Worlds League
11th April 3106

   The Seventh, Eleventh and recently raised Twelfth Commonwealth Guards Regiment’s of the Lyran Commonwealth cross the Free Worlds League border onto the planets of Nockalunga and Bella I.  Each of the commands had been reinforced with an entire battalion of recently constructed Thantos BattleMechs.  This new variant of the heavy BattleMech was known as the TNS-4E and had been updated with two Clan tech nine-tube Advanced Tactical Missile Launchers which replaced the standard Thantos’ Medium Range Missile Launchers.  Although these new BattleMechs appear to move slower than previous models the increased firepower and their massed numbers are enough to turn the tide against the defending District of Gibraltar forces.  After eight days of heavy fighting on Nockalunga, Bella II, Trellisane and Alula Borealis the Free Worlds League units agree to surrender the systems to the Lyran Commonwealth.  For a ransom of the best units in each command the Lyrans allow the Gibraltain forces to withdraw instead of putting them in prison camps.

Company Merger
Talitha, Star League Protectorate
21st April 3106

   In a merger that surprises no-one Gilmour MilTech in the Star League Protectorate and LexaTech Industries in the Draconis Combine announce that they have formally merged their resources and finances to form a single company to serve both of their nations.  While both nations approve of the merger they both demand that the companies continue to serve the contracts they have already agreed to.  Gilmour/Lexa Tech announces that change will come in time and that they will continue with business as normal following the merger with one exception – the introduction of a new product being sold by both halves of the company the fifty-five ton Waneta Land-Air Mech.  This new design is one of the largest LAM designs ever produced and makes extensive use of clan technology to provide it with impressive firepower this coupled with the mobility of a LAM promises to make it a welcome addition to its customer’s armies.  Surprisingly the Waneta features none of the newly developed technology for Land-Air Mechs instead relying on the same components used since LAMs were first used.  Analysis predict that this Waneta is a proof of concept design with Gilmour/Lexa Tech planning on producing a second variant that takes advantage of the unique technology available to the company.

Reinforcement
District of Oriente, Free Worlds League
30th April 3106

   As the fighting continues on along the Free Worlds League and Capellan Confederation border combat elements from other Free Worlds League states enter the fray finally supporting the District of Oriente.  The primary contributor to Oriente’s reinforcement is the District of Regulus but their assistance comes at a price.  While pushing to assist Oriente in throwing off the Capellan Confederation attackers the District of Regulus moves to secure administrative control over nine systems previously controlled by Oriente.  The military units assigned to the defence of these worlds do not resist the civilian change instead the local commanders see it as an opportunity spreading out to Oriente’s borders to engage Capellan and Magistracy forces fighting on the borders.

You'll be glad to hear that marauder648 has agreed to write a bit more about the C. Sagan's story - I for one look forward to it.

Now for a small update but perhaps one of the most important ones for a while... all good things must come to an end...

Border Conflict
Fanet, Contested Space
Periphery
7th May 3106

After being missing from the Inner Sphere for seven years the Undead Lance reappears fighting on the contested world of Fanet in the middle of the contested space between the Marian Hegemony, Magistracy of Canopus and Free Worlds League.  The Undead Lance’s elite skills and advanced BattleMechs turns the tide for the Magistracy forces on the planet in a series of conflicts that sees their opposing forces fall back out of the system.  The fall of Fanet puts a distinct Magistracy mark on the contested space between the three nations and is quickly followed by Tarol IV and Draco III which fall into the Magistracy’s open arms.

Black Dragon Stronghold
Saffel, Military District of Dieron
Draconis Combine
19th May 3106

   Chu-i Dante Cage breathed heavily as his squad of Kishi Battle Armour troopers moved forward through the darkness another four squads of Kishi armoured troopers moved alongside Cage’s troopers as bullets filled the air around them as they charged towards the Black Dragon stronghold.

   â€œLeave none of these terrorists alive” he ordered triggering his suit’s mechanical jump booster sending his suit over the perimeter wall.  This operation was taking place despite the recent riots and the arrival of Star League Defence Force troops on the planet.  Even from the top of his jump Dante was firing on the enemy below with his suit’s heavy machine gun.  The suit’s came down to land in the darkened stronghold their machine guns continuing to blaze.

   Neither the machine gun nor the jumping capabilities were the Kishi’s main strength however landing on the other side of the wall Dante’s squad began to run.  Each suit charging at their enemy the Kishi design was capable of more than sixty-four kilometres per hour in open terrain but for now in close quarters they made the Kishi’s nearly impossible to hit by regular infantry troopers.  Charging at enemies Dante’s people fired their machine guns and struck our with their heavy vibro battle claws tearing the defenders to pieces one person at a time.

   In the space of forty minutes the twenty Kishi troopers killed all one hundred-and-twenty men and women inside the facility with not a single loss among their own numbers.  Withdrawing quickly from the burning facility there was no evidence they had ever been there when the SLDF investigators arrived the next morning.

Following a brief investigation the Star League Defence Force’s High Command condems the Draconis Combine for their military operation during a time of planetary crisis on Saffel claiming that the Draconis Combine no longer served the best needs of the people of Saffel and instead the world’s future depended on support and defence from the Star League Defence Force bringing the world into the Star League Protectorate.  Commanding-General Victor Focht orders all DCMS forces to withdraw from the planet landing an entire battalion of elite battle armour equipped SAS troops on planet as insurance against Draconis Combine Special Forces.  The “fall” of Saffel further isolate’s Dieron and further strains the “Small World sailent” one of the Draconis Combine’s few inroads into Davion held terrioty.

Throne Room, Davion Palace
Avalon City, Albion
Crucis March, Federated Suns
24th May 3106

The trip back from the Capellan front had been an uneventful one Prince Burton Davion had expected to return to his unit but instead he had been called to the Throne Room of the Avalon Palace along with a request to attend in full dress uniform.  Of all the things Burton hated being called up in full dress uniform by his father but he did what he was asked.  Entering the throne room Burton realized that this was not a normal call to the throne room inside there was a full crowd of people from nobles to citizens from the street nearly one thousand people were arrayed in the room.  Around the vast room each wall was lined by troopers dressed in Infiltrator III Battle Armour painted in the dress colours of the First Davion Guards RCT.  On the throne were his father First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion sat waiting while beside him Burton’s mother Duchess Danai Centrella-Davion sat one an identical throne and then off further to the right stood Burton’s wife Duchess Sterling McKenna-Davion, with baby Christopher in her arms, and their children Luther and Leah stood waiting.  Walking through the ranks of people Burton noted that the heads of the Draconis, Crucis and Capellan March were all present as were the heads of the DMI, MIIO, Quartermasters and Navy.  As he stepped past them Burton received several nods and saw many come to attention showing their respect to him.

“Prince Burton Davion stand to attention!”  Victor Steiner-Davion called out standing up from his throne “for the last fifty-four years it has been my great honour to lead the Federated Suns as First among its Princes of our great nation.”  He said loud enough so his voice carried throughout the chamber.  “I have lived and led this nation, I have known its sorrow and its pain, I have found love and experienced the greatest joy” he said as Duchess Danai Centrella-Davion rose to stand beside him showing the union the could held was still as strong as ever.  “I have seen my family grow I have celebrated their triumphs and I have berated them for the failings.”  He said Burton felt warmth under his cheeks knowing fine that he had been the source of at least some of those failings his artificial left arm a testimony to that. “However today” Victor said his voice as level as always “today is a special day today it is the scene of my greatest accomplishment” he said looking down at his eldest son. “Unlike many of my predecessors today I Victor Ian Steiner-Davion have the greatest honour to pass leadership to Prince Burton Jackson Davion.”  He announced shocking the assembled guests and his son “I have no desire to abandon my service to this nation but it is the right time for a change.”  He explained Burton raising his eyes to look at his father’s approving eye.  “Prince Luther Davion step forward” Victor called out the eleven year old prince stepped forward his brown hair was swept to the side he wore a black suite jacket, a white shirt, a green tie with red clip and white chinos in his hands he held the most recent addition of the Unfinished Book: The Remembrance.  Seeing the book the Prince flashed his father a rye smile as he realized that his father knew that Burton followed the same beliefs and teachings as Victor’s own father Hanse Davion.  “Place your right hand on the Unfinished Book, raise your left hand and repeat after me.”  Victor said issuing his last command as First Prince of the Federated Suns.

Nearly ten minutes later they finished swearing in Burton Davion as the new First Prince of the Federated Suns “you’ve got the keys son treat her well” Victor said stepping to the side Danai Centrella-Davion also stepped to the side allowing Burton, Sterling and their three children access to the thrones.

“All hail First Prince Burton Davion!”  A non-commissioned officer off to the side of the thrones shouted out and the room responded with a “HAIL!”

“All hail Duchess Sterling McKenna-Davion!” he then shouted and another “HAIL!” came in response followed by separate “HAIL!” calls for Luther, Leah and Christopher.  Surprisingly three month old Christopher remained calm and didn’t cry out at the cheering crowds.

Finally the non-commissioned officer shouted out one more time “Long Live First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion and Duchess Danai Centrella-Davion!”  He called out and to both Victor and Danai’s surprise the crowd erupted louder than they had so far despite his stepping aside from the position Victor would still be referred to as the First Prince he had served the Federated Suns too long to be forgotten so quickly.  Victor knew it would add extra pressure on Burton if he was in the limelight too much, and already he had made plans to enjoy his retirement, he’d help his son if he needed it but the plan was for him and Danai to slip into the background quietly and perhaps make up for some of the years they had lost due to the various wars and travel they had to attend to.

Meeting of Khans
Nova Cat Compound, Farstar
Periphery
9th June 3106

   The Clan Snow Raven WarShip Snow Raven had arrived in the Farstar system four standard days before and the new Khan of Clan Snow Raven Vir Sukhanov had requested safcon to the planet’s surface.  Now the saKhan of Clan Nova Cat Katrine Devalis stood waiting for the Snow Raven leader in the compound that her clan had constructed since taking ownership of Farstar.

   The doors to the conference room opened and in entered Khan Vir Sukhanov of Clan Snow Raven he was tall for someone born from the aerospace bloodline looking at him Katrine Devalis believed he could match a MechWarrior for physical strength, meaning he was a threat to her.  “Welcome to Farstar and the territory of Clan Nova Cat.”  She said welcoming him ignoring her fears for a moment.

   â€œThank you saKhan Katrine Devalis?”  He asked hesitantly for a moment.

   â€œAff, how can I be of service to Clan Snow Raven?”  She asked

   â€œPerhaps you could explain the Nova Cats motive in the periphery?”  He asked looking at the saKhan “you attacked and killed a Snow Raven Khan and then have claimed a further four systems in the Periphery near this system.”

   â€œYour Khan was a dishonourable one, the space around us is a chaotic place we have brought peace to it.”  Katrine Devalis said simply looking back at the Snow Raven leader.

   â€œOur Khan made a mistake he was not capable of navigating the political unrest in our Clan and” Sukhanov admitted “tried to appease the civilians of the Raven Alliance by keeping our military under control but he also had to appease our warrior castes leading to the agreement with the Draconis…”

   â€œDo I look like I care?”  Katrine Devalis demanded “a Raven’s dishonour is the last thing I care for.”

   â€œOf course” Khan Vir Sukhanov said “I wish to ensure Clan Snow Raven’s return to honour and to do this I need to make sure there is nothing further between our Clans.”

   â€œThere is only the trouble that continues between all of the Clans do not screw with my Clan and I will not see the destruction of yours.”  Katrine Devalis said stepping away walking around the room now trusting that Khan Vir Sukhanov would not strike her turned back.

   â€œI understand” Vir Sukhanov said bowing respectfully for a moment remaining standing where he was Katrine Devalis saw the opportunity and made her move.

   â€œHowever the other Clans may not see it the same way.”  She said turning back towards the Snow Raven Khan “your Clan has colluded with an Inner Sphere state.  Helped train them and worked with the worlds you occupy.”

   â€œPah!  The Rasalhague Dominion is a combination of a Clan and Inner Sphere population.  The Sea Foxes trade openly with the Inner Sphere states and your own Nova Cats have traded and worked with the Federated Suns.  The current Clans do not care who works with who as long as victory is achieved you are living in the past Khan Devalis.”  The Nova Cat in front of her actually smiled “you find this amusing Quineg?”

   â€œNeg, however, I believe the other Clans would find it amusing” she said the Snow Raven Khan was about to speak but Katrine Devalis raised her hand to stop him “think about it Khan Sukhanov.  You Clan lost Sterling McKenna to a betrayal, you lost Jacob Seigel to my guns and you have failed to win a victory on the battlefield.”  She said taunting the Snow Raven leader knowing she was gaining ground with him.  “But there is a way… a way you could prove to your Clan and to the others that the Ravens have the strength and honour that matches any of them.”  She said continuing to entice him with her words “the Nova Cats believe in visions.  Before I came to this part of space I experienced a vision of a cat and a bird… working in unison against their enemies.”  She said knowing it wasn’t completely the truth but it was enough for the Raven leader she could see she was getting to him.  “Together we will strike down the Draconis Combine and show everyone that our Clans can maintain their position with all of the other Clans.”  She said receiving a nod of agreement from the Raven Khan she hoped that with the Nova Cats and Snow Ravens together she could fulfill the last part of her vision or die trying.

Border Conflict
Son Hou Theatre, Alarion Province
Lyran Commonwealth
19th June 3106

   Across the Inner Sphere units from various realms and factions fought in the Star League Games on Defiance for competition and glory however elsewhere the fighting continued for the petty conflicts of war.  Units from the Free Worlds League’s District of Trafalgar raided the worlds of Sierra, Cerillos and Galisteo attempting to bring these worlds under the control of the united Free Worlds League.  Each of these raids are unsuccessful in winning the Free Worlds League territory but they gain each of the units experience and salvage from the Lyran Commonwealth and mercenary defenders.

   Elsewhere in the Free Worlds League the District of Regulus threatens the foundation of the united Free Worlds League by forcefully landing troops on the District of Oriente worlds of Lungdo, Abadan, Avellaneda, Hamilton, Holt and Sorunda.  On the world of Hamilton fighting erupts between the Seventh Oriente Fusiliers and the Third Cameron-Jones House Guard Regiments as the Regulus unit attempts to land on Hamilton.  After nearly two weeks of fighting on Hamilton the Third Marik Guards Regiment of the District of Marik arrives commanded by Captain-General Joseph Marik himself intent on ending the fighting on Hamilton.  The Captain-General calls for both sides to end the conflict before it tears the Free Worlds League to pieces.
By the end of 3106 Joseph Marik negotiates Hamilton’s position into the District of Regulus in exchange for free passage of combat units out of the worlds taken by the Regulus troops and the transfer of weapons and equipment from Regulus factories to District of Oriente combat units fighting the Capellan Confederation.  Neither Oriente or Regulus are happy with the compromise negotiated by the Captain-General but they both agree that there will be no further territory traded between the two nations.  The territory exchanged between the two nations turns the District of Regulus into one of the largest in the Free Worlds League with internal borders stretching from the border with the Star League Protectorate to the border of the Magistracy of Canopus and Capellan Confederation with Regulus secure behind layers of defences and an expanding Regulan military many citizens of the Free Worlds League begin to question if it is time for Regulus to lead their nation.

With the troops freed up from the worlds garrisoned by those worlds now controlled by Regulus the District of Oriente send additional troops to the world of Sarna pushing the last of the Capellan Confederation forces off of the Commonality capital.  With Sarna falling to Oriente troops the worlds of Zaurak, Menkib and Matsu, lacking support or command from Sarna, fall to the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns following a series of opportunistic strikes by units of the AFFS and mercenary forces.

Twelfth Martial Olympiad, Star League Grounds
Defiance, Crucis March
Federated Suns
24th June 3106

   Unlike the Star League Games on Solaris the Martial Olympiad competition was not dominated by one faction throughout the latter half of June units from across the Inner Sphere and periphery fight in a series of wargames that test their individual and unit skills.  As the month slowly moves towards a close the Free Worlds League’s First Free Worlds Guards pulls ahead of the other units on the ground while the Nova Cat’s Silent Verdict, a Liger-class Strike Cruiser, excels in space.  Both sides continue to maintain their advantage over the other commands on Defiance until the end of the competition with Colonel Michael Franklin accepting the ground trophy while Star Commodore Zach Leroux accepts the reward for the naval victory.

Criminal Investigation
Devil’s Rock, Star League Protectorate
27th June 3106

Several members of the Star League Defence Force Intelligence Department stood around a table watching the tri-vid footage.  “That’s the son-of-a-bitch” Carlton Stuart said looking at the tri-vid “Bobby Winchester how the hell did he get here?”

“He’s slipped through the back channels paying for transport on various civilian and mercenary transports” Stephen Grant said looking back at his colleague.  “We haven’t seen the Huron Warrior yet but if he’s here then I bet the Mech is here too.”

“And they are both protected by the gangs” Stuart said his native Northwind accent showing through in his anger.  “Even with the considerable SLDF assets on this planet we will struggle to extract him.”

“All we can do is issue the warrants” Grant said “as you say we have significant military and police units on this world if the opportunity strikes we should capture or strike him down.”  He proposed “if we can bring Winchester to justice the Combine might feel better towards the Star League’s position on Saffel.”

“Our people know what they need to do either we will capture or destroy him.”  Carlton Stewart said replaying the image of the murderer walking casually through the crowd of gang members in the settlement of Devil’s Chance an image they had captured by chance.  In the years since the SLDF had gained possession of Devil’s Rock they had monitored the various criminal houses that controlled the majority of the planet’s business and work stopping the worse of their activities and they had tried to bring a better standard of living to all of the population of Devil’s Rock.

The first part of this update comes from James Tanaga I hope you enjoy it and the rest of the update.

Fire Mandrill Compound, Kelly Springs
Tukayyid
Clan Territory, Inner Sphere
2nd August, 3106

Natasha Faraday sat in her office, idly studying a recent Trial of Possession displayed on the holo-monitor, as she kept her subordinate waiting. The Trial of Possession in question was a small boon to her Clan, for it netted the Fire Mandrills production schematics for the Black Lanner OmniMech from the Falcons. In any other situation, she supposed she would have been impressed. Instead, she was furious.

On the holo-monitor, she watched as a point of her Clan’s new Cheyenne aerospace fighters unload two points of ProtoMechs onto the battlefield and then staying on station until a Fortress-class DropShip arrived. She shook her head; annoyed at seeing a supernova containing new updated versions of the Kanga and Svantovit Infantry Fighting Vehicle unload from the DropShip.

The Trial of Possession was only the first of the Trials of Possession by the Mandrills here at Tukayyid and all undertaken by the same subordinate she kept waiting outside. Star Captain Mary Fire Mandrill, a seventeen-year old Elemental-phenotype Warrior, could go far, very far, Natasha had decided, but only if she learnt patience.

The other Clans barely tolerated her Mandrills, the young Khan knew, and she wisely had ordered her Mandrills to keep within their small enclave on the planet, keen to keep her Clan from being entangled in the affairs of other Clans and the Ebon Guard. And the other Clans, excepting the Sea Foxes, accepted it. Only by a mere technicality was her Clan even considered Clan, reviled even by certain Clans more than the exiled Mountain Wolves.

It was not yet time for her Mandrills to come out of their dens, she had decided. Yet now they had no other option, for she knew the other Clans would not take the Mandrills recent incursions, even if they were unauthorized, lying down. The comm unit buzzed.

“Khan, Star Captain Mary-,” Natasha cut Jennifer, the female Laborer that served as her secretary off.

“I know,” the young Khan bit out. “Send her in.”

“Aff, Khan,” was the other Clan woman’s simple answer before closing the link. Soon the large, burly Warrior came in.

“Star Captain Mary Fire Mandrill reporting as ordered, Khan,” the younger Warrior growled out as she stood at attention, her hands going behind her back, feet apart. Natasha nodded approving.

Standing up, she herself soon copied the younger Warrior, even while she looked up into the mismatching green and grey eyes. A genetic oddity only seen in the woman’s and certain other sibko’s, she knew.

“You know why I have brought you here, quiaff,” she asked the younger Warrior, causing her to snort and roll her eyes.

“Aff,” the other woman simply replied.

“Humor me then, Star Captain. Were my orders too generalized? Or perhaps you did not understand them,” she asked the taller woman as she walked around her. “Or perhaps you were even goaded and too enraged to realize them?”

“Neg” she answered simply refusing to fabricate an answer, that alone was something to respect of the warrior Natasha decided. “I saw opportunities for our Clan, Khan, and exploited them,” Mary answered. “And by doing so, I have made our Clan stronger” she said proudly a trait that was unbecoming someone so young.

Natasha sighed. Ever since she refused to become the leader of the Rim Collection, she had lost much of her Warriors respect they believed that she should have seized control and turned the Rim Collection into the Fire Mandrill Occupation Zone making everyone take her Clan seriously. Mary was but one of those Warriors, she judged privately to herself. “Did it not occur to you our Clan is not yet in position to do just that, Star Captain?”

“If we had a stronger Khan, then perhaps I might have, Khan,” was her cold reply, confirming Natasha’s prior thoughts, causing Natasha to turn her back to the younger, taller Warrior despite her open hostility Natasha knew that Mary was too proud, too honourable, to strike her back.

“Then know this. Khan Teresia Cooper of the Horses has declared a Trial of Possession for production schematics of our new Vajra and Vijaya variants this morning,” she informed Mary.

“My supernova and I will meet them on the battlefield then, Khan,” was her answer.

“Neg,” she rebutted her subordinate.

“Neg?!”

“Neg,” Natasha confirmed her back still to the younger Mandrill Warrior intentionally trying to provoke Mary and keep any defences she had down the angrier she was the more it played into Natasha’s hands. “I and the Horse Khan agreed one of our Clan’s secondline Elemental points will face a point belonging to her own Keshik. Publically, I am scorning her and her Clan.”
“And privately you let her Clan have the advantage!” Natasha heard Mary rage.

“Perhaps,” the Mandrill Khan conceded. “Yet the point in question is entirely solahma. They do have the experience. Perhaps they will be victorious. Perhaps not.” She conceded it was something she had accepted as soon as the decision was made.  “But in the end, our little scrap with the Horses will likely be forgotten by our Clans.”

“If you think I will take this lying down-“ the other Warrior spat out.

“You will, Star Captain.”  Natasha said turning on Mary the Khan’s own gaze full of the authority of not a mear warrior speaking to another but a Khan talking to a subordinate. “For if you do not, I will declare your entire supernova dezgra and I will see you caste out to join the Dark or dead on the battlefield.” She gave her ultimatum to the younger Warrior. Moments passed as the younger, much taller Fire Mandrill Warrior sieved.

“You have done well, Star Captain. Soon, our Clan will begin producing Black Lanners, an old but worthy design, and license the Zephyros to Rim Motors as soon as we get back home,” she announced a moment later. “You are dismissed. Go out and celebrate your victories here on Tukayyid. We leave for home in two local days time.”

The other Warrior did not entertain Khan Faraday with an answer, merely cursing under her breath loudly, before leaving the room. Natasha sighed. She hated the fact she was forced to threaten her subordinate, but to safeguard her Clan’s very vulnerable position here on Tukayyid, she would follow through with her threat to her fellow Warrior. And then, she promised herself, she would commit seppuku.

“Khan,” Jennifer’s voice broke her from her thoughts. Turning to face the door, she saw the small, older Laborer holding the door for Khan Clarke of the Sea Foxes. Before long, both Khans were in talks on the Mandrills potentially providing the Sea Foxes with their newly won OmniMech.  The Foxes in turn were ready to trade equally with the Mandrills knowing they would each get a fair deal.

Clan Council, Snow Raven Hall
Alpheratz, Raven Alliance
Periphery
7th August 3106

   Communicating with the Clan Council via Hyper Pulse Generator from the WarShip Snow Raven Khan Vir Sukhanov appeared as a large hologram in front of the assembled bloodnamed warriors of the Snow Raven Clan.  This was not how he would have preferred to communicate with the senior members of his Clan but it was necessary.  “My fellow Ravens the other Clans see us as a joke living in the periphery at the beck-and-call of the Outworlds Alliance.”  He said deciding to go with the shock factor to gain support from the other Ravens.  “One of our Khans left to join the Inner Sphere abandoning her responsibilities” he said putting Sterling McKenna’s still strong supporters in their place “while another decided that working with the Draconis Combine was better than acting like a true Clan.”  He said before anyone stood up for Jacob Siegel.  “Clan Nova Cat gives us an opportunity”

   â€œAn opportunity to be taken as fools” Galaxy Commander Duncan Cooper said interrupting his Khan.  Duncan was ten years older than Vir and had narrowly been beaten by the younger man to the position of Khan.  When Vir had passed over him for the position of saKhan it had further angered the Elemental.  “Since your little trip to the Nova Cat’s new holdings and then onto Tukayyid Clan Nova Cat have taken a further three periphery system” he said as a map to the side of Vir’s hologram highlighted Opia, Banton IV and Ghazen all as Nova Cat systems “we are helping them create another realm.  Our arracks on the Draconis Combine will only serve to help them gain more territory while turning the Draconis Combine against us.  A nation that could overwhelm us with the number of units they can bring against us.”

   â€œAre you scared Duncan Cooper?  We are members of Clan Snow Raven the only thing we should be scared of is being grounded.”  Vir taunted the older man “I know the Nova Cats want to use us as a distraction and as a source of additional firepower to use against the Draconis Combine.  I also know that we have dispatched units to these systems.”  He said highlighting four other systems in the Periphery.  “This will benefit us as well as benefit Clan Nova Cat.  We will gain fighting experience which many of our units currently lack, we will gain resources which we can put towards new WarShip construction which given what I have seen of the new Arbitration-class is something we need to look at and more importantly we will regain some of the respect we have lost to the other Clans.  After all of these years in the sidelines it is time for the Raven to soar.”

The Raven Khan’s impassioned speech won enough support for the Ravens to authorize the attacks on the Combine by the end of the month the Ravens had taken six Periphery planets and struck at the Draconis Combine world of Pentrine X while the Nova Cats had finished capturing the periphery planets and struck at Nowhere and Gravenhage capturing both and destroying elements of the DCMS’ Seventh Ghost Regiment which along with several other Ghost Regiments had recently been sent to the region following intelligence suggesting the Ravens were up to something.

Naval Launch, McKenna Shipyards
Kathil, Kathil PDZ
Capellan Marc, Federated Suns
13th August 3106

   At the McKenna Shipyards above Kathil the former Clan Mountain Wolf vessel Killing Blow is relaunched as the FSS Killing Blow.  After a period of refit the vessel has been modified from the Vincent Mk 42-class Corvette that the ship was into what the Kathil Shipworks call the Vincent Davion-class Destroyer and it is intended on being a competitor to the established Davion III-class Destroyer built by Galax.  Launching alongside the Killing Blow is the FSS Vincent Davion a newly built vessel of the same class within hours both vessels are sold to the Federated Suns Admiralty with the Federated Suns Quartermasters confirming they are interested in further WarShips.  The FSS Killing Blow is sent to be tested joining Fifth Battle Group in the Star League Protectorate.

Arrest Warrant
Prochnow Settlement, Devil’s Rock
Star League Protectorate
22nd August 3106

   Standing behind the law enforcement officers encased in a Nighthawk XXI Power Armour suit all Captain Morgan Christifori could think about was this was not why he joined the SLDF alongside him another member of his company stood in his Nighthawk suit waiting for the answer from the gang members.

   â€œWe are here to issue an arrest warrant for Bobby Winchester who is wanted for crimes committed on Saffel including the murder of the Duke of Saffel and the theft of the Duke’s BattleMech.”  One officer said to the doorman “we don’t want any trouble” he said as the man looked up at the two Nighthawk suits standing silently behind them.  On most planets the presence of two Battle Armour suits would be considered overkill but not on Devil’s Rock this entire region was dominated by people loyal to the Pronchnow family with Devil’s Rock a distant second and the SLDF as close to an enemy as there could be this was hostile territory despite the way the media tried to spin it.

   â€œHe isn’t available”

   â€œThen make him available” the enforcement officer demanded Morgan glanced at his sensors and saw there was at least four movement markers behind the doors.  For the umpteenth time he checked his rifle.  He’d originally wanted to take a BattleMech lance down the street but command on Devil’s Rock had deemed that too provocative.

   â€œI mean he isn’t here left three days ago is heading for Marik space” he said looking between the two enforcement officers and the Battle Armour.

   â€œCan we enter to check for ourselves?”

   â€œOnly with a warrant” the man said laughing as he slammed the door closed.  The enforcement officer was about to tap the door again but Morgan leaned forward and pulled the man back.

   â€œDark One to Barkeep” he said cursing whoever chose the call-signs for this mission according to Alex they were ‘completely random.’

   â€œGo ahead Timbiqui” Alex replied Morgan could see the smile on her face.

   â€œDark One and Two are pulling out with Bottle-caps.  Repeat we are pulling out keep eyes on area.”

   â€œUnderstood unforeseen issues?”  She asked

   â€œYeah something about a warrant”

   â€œCheers to that Timbiqui Barkeep out” she replied Alex and the rest of their unit were on the perimeter running the operation from a distance.  Morgan had wanted his command closer but the Governor of Devil’s Rock had vetoed the move.

   â€œWe’re going now, this job just became more difficult,” he said to the enforcement officers “this isn’t something we can win today.  Get in and go we’ll keep up.”  He commanded “Two we’re running out” he said to the other trooper their Jump Jets would let them cover the transport from different angles if needed but they both knew that their Mech Support was five-ten minutes out at best.  They moved out of the area quickly and were not attacked back at their SLDF Encampment Morgan’s greatest fear had been confirmed since the SLDF could not for one hundred percent confirm that Bobby Winchester was in the compound and that the stolen Huron Warrior was present Mech Support was not authorized nor was a breach of the Prochnow estate until they were sure.  In effect their “Active” mission had been downgraded to “Observation.”  He was going to be stuck on Devil’s Rock a bit longer.


There was a second part to James Tanaga's update which was awesome but I've decided to hold onto it as it will be the first pebbles of what could become an land slide...