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Grasslands
Babylon, Pentagon Worlds
Clan Homeworlds, Clan Space
8th September 3062

   After searching for days Camilla had found the place she wanted to hold her Rite of Vision Camilla and Zane had built a small fire and sat on opposite sides looking at each other and the fire.  “What should I do?”

   â€œDo what feels right at the time, allow the emotion to run over your body and wait.  There may be no vision or you might see the smallest thing.”  Zane said quietly.  One by one Camilla retrieved her vineers from the pouch.  The first was a small bracelet with a small clasp attached.

   â€œI found this after my first battle in the Inner Sphere as a Smoke Jaguar, I thought it was pretty so I kept it.”  She said casting it into the fire, there was a small glow to the fire as the bracelet entered but little else.  “My bond-cord, the symbol of my greatest failure and the beginning of a new path.”  She said dropping the next item into the fire, the bond-cord was still severed in the same place it had been when Zane had severed it.  The third and final Vineer was a chocolate bar “I got this soon after arriving on New Barcella.” She whispered quietly, “I realised I was happy where I was and that I was home.”  She said casting the chocolate into the fire the bar immediately melted filling the air with a pleasant sweet smell.  Nothing seemed to be happening but then Camilla noticed something “do you see that?”  She whispered as the image began to grow.

   â€œYes” Zane whispered seeing the image grow with his own eyes.  The image was of a charging smoke jaguar, the beast was a female of the species, ran with reckless abandon until a smaller but stronger nova cat pinned and captured the animal.  The smoke jaguar was covered by a nova cat skin and the two nova cats moved together working together against many foes including a solitary wolf.  They then encountered a coyote leading several hell’s horses and ice hellions against the cloud cobras who protected a group of men in white atop a mesa.  The two nova cats waded into the fight however as the fight wore on the smoke jaguar broke loose of the nova cat concealing it but continued to fight with the nova cat taking down many enemies until a hell’s horse knocked it down.  As the battle wore down the nova cat defended the smoke jaguar until its death.  Camilla shot to her feet and the image disappeared Zane stood “Camilla…”  he began but could not form the words, she had just witnessed what could only be her death.

   â€œThis is happening now.”  Camilla said “we need to go.”

   â€œWait!” Zane shouted leaping the fire grabbing her “you cannot go, we just saw your death…”

   â€œYou cannot fight destiny, Zane.”

   â€œBut visions allow us to change our destinies, make them better…”

   â€œI’ll watch out for the Hell’s Horse with my bullet and try to avoid him.  Let’s go.”  She said her voice was ragged but she broke free of Canin’s grip and before he could say a thing was running to her Owens.

First Babylon Diet
Babylon, Pentagon Worlds
Clan Homeworlds, Clan Space
9th September 3062

   Following several days of quiet grumbling over the presence of Inner Sphere citizens on one of the Pentagon worlds Clan Coyote Loremaster Calarissa Jerricho led elements of Clan Coyote’s Omicron Galaxy and elements of Clan Hell’s Horses and Clan Ice Hellion against the First Babylon Diet.  Clans Cloud Cobra and Diamond Shark defended strongly on all fronts however one of the defence forces guarding one of the three access ramps to the mesa was beginning to break when two Nova Cat light Mechs arrived, an Arctic Cheetah and an Owens.  The Cloud Cobras recognised them as friendly and Mechs that had left days before and watched as the two light Mechs tore into attacker after attacker.  Two light Mechs alone would not normally cause a large force like this trouble however Zane had an idea on their travel here considering the disparate nature of the attackers the enemy force would have no co-ordination and it would be unlikely that they would be working fully together so they would play on that fact and sow as much trouble as possible.  Approaching they noticed that Clan duelling rules were not being honoured and it was a free-for-all.  Cloud Cobra lines were beginning to break.  “What plan boss?”  Camilla asked firing her Mech’s shoulder mounted Extended-Range PPC killing a Coyote thirty-five ton Jenner IIC with a cockpit hit, at this extreme range was extremely impressive.

   â€œWolf Pack, we get in hit them and sow as much trouble as we can.  We keep moving whatever happens.  Constantly shift targets, it will take down our kills but give us a better chance” he said triggering his own Extended-Range Large Laser hitting damaging a Hell’s Horses tank “a better chance of surviving this.  Do not challenge anyone and keep moving…” he said triggering the laser again, the Arctic Cheetah’s heat jumped but Zane ignored it “…stay away from the Hell’s Horses” he said remembering the vision.

   â€œYes mum” Camilla said charging into the fight nearly constantly firing her PPC, when she got close enough she triggered the PPC the four machine guns her customised Owens mounted when she got to point blank range to vehicles she lashed out with kick and punch attacks.  The Clans generally disdained physical combat on Mech scale but Canin remembered the Smoke Jaguars often lost control in combat and sometimes lashed out physically at each other and vehicles.  Zane was constantly firing his Arctic Cheetah’s single large laser and three heavy lasers, one medium and two small.  The Arctic Cheetah’s heat scale was constantly raising but he continued to slap the override and keep fighting, every now and then he would trigger the Mech’s six jump jets and take a look at the battle on a larger scale but for the most part he concentrated on damaging as many aggressor Mechs as possible.

   It seemed that no-one could touch his Mech or Camilla’s Owens today, neither of them had been struck by a single weapon the entire fight until Zane’s Arctic Cheetah was rammed in the back by a suicidal Hell’s Horses hovercraft.  The thirty ton Mech went down under the impact and Camilla moved to cover Zane’s recovery gunning down the hovercraft remains with a hail of machine gun fire killing the crew.  Zane regained his feet and turned ready to give Camilla into trouble for wasting ammo and lives for no reason, to disable the craft would have been enough, when a Hell’s Horses Ares Medium Tank struck out at them with a hail of Long Range Missiles.  One of the missiles struck the Owens head and the thirty-five ton machine went down in a heap, Zane had no time to check on Camilla launching into the air with his Mech’s Jump Jets he brought the Mech down on the Ares in a classic Death-From-Above attack, a manoeuvre the clans hated but Zane did not care, this was a day for the Clans to forget.

   For the next twenty minutes Zane warded the downed Owens without thinking about anything but protecting his downed sub-ordinate, starmate and friend.  Zane constantly checked the downed Mech but it made no movement after going down.  After the battle was long over Zane still stood in his Mech watching the Owens as Cloud Cobra med-techs removed Camilla’s broken body from the OmniMech’s cockpit.  Later they had said she had died immediately but Zane remembered the vision well, Camilla had known she would die and still returned to fight.  After informing Jal Steiner of what he had witnessed the Oathmaster promised that Camilla although lost to the Clan’s genetic records, because she lacked a Bloodname, would receive a passage in the Nova Cat remembrance for her actions on the field that day and would live eternally in the written word of their Clan.  Zane promised himself and Camilla’s memory that he would never forget the Smoke Jaguar who became a Nova Cat when its Clan died only to return to the Smoke Jaguars when it died, to guide the Smoke Jaguar’s lost souls with its new found wisdom.  Zane also realised that he had begun to believe in an afterlife, perhaps the Diet had been worthwhile after all.

Time for some 'combat'

Open Ground, Near Firebase
New Scotland, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
10th October 3062

   â€œBy the numbers people, we do not want these folks thinking we are here to cause trouble but we do want to drop in the usual way.  DropShip commander over to you” Canin said as the Nova Cat DropShips entered the atmosphere over New Scotland, New Avalon’s most northerly and least populated continent.  Canin’s Watch Cluster was the first Nova Cat unit to enter the Federated Suns and the WarShip assigned to the unit, the Congress-class True Vision had secretly slipped into the Galax system two days before while the Nova Cat JumpShips had continued to New Avalon and released the ten DropShips of the Watch Cluster.

   Over the last six months the Watch Cluster had developed a new way of dropping onto the ground, while the aerospace fighters from the unit’s Carrier, along with the Carrier itself, maintained a high Combat-Air-Patrol (CAP).  The rest of the DropShips would orbit low over the landing zone while two DropShips would drop in release their cargo then take off, the sequence would continue until all nine Broadswords had released their Cargo then the ground forces would secure the Landing Zone (LZ) for all ten DropShips and the fighters to land.  Although it was in line with the Nova Cat High Risk Insertion Techniques it was experimental much like the make up of the Watch Cluster.

   â€œDrop Zone is hot” the DropShip commander said into the entire unit’s communication frequency, the hot part of the landing zone was the BattleMechs and vehicles of the Tenth Lyran Guards, although they would not fire real weapons at the Nova Cats and their DropShips they would engage the Canin’s people with simulated weapons fire.

   As the DropShips reached their insertion level a wing of Tenth Lyran fighters attempted to interdict them however the massed firepower of nine Broadsword A1-class DropShip, the official classification of the Watch DropShips because of their modified weapons and cargo capacity, the massed simulated firepower brought down ten of the twenty Tenth Lyran Fighters forcing the others into a massed retreat.  “Insertion Secure.  Lervoux and Bavros, you are clear for grounding.”  The overall DropShip commander Star Commodore Eric Bavros said naming the first two DropShips, all the Watch Cluster DropShip were named for the Nova Cat Bloodname Houses.

   From several hundred metres away Victor Steiner-Davion watched as two Nova Cat Broadswords dived down over the area Lyran and Davion units reported heavy simulated damage as the two DropShips fired constantly on their drop.  In all his fighting during the Clan War Victor had only ever encountered the Clans using their DropShips to secure a landing zone twice and on both occasions the Inner Sphere force had received heavy damage.  As the first two DropShips landed more DropShips appeared in the lower atmosphere diving quickly on the battlefield, they looked like huge aerospace fighters conducting strafing runs an extremely dangerous move.

   â€œWhat on earth?”  Marshal of Armies Jackson Davion exclaimed as the new DropShips strafed the ground one of the vessels, nearly identical to the landing vessels, soared over their position, all of Victor’s command group reported damage then as the DropShips were raising Victor’s own Dire Wolf, Prometheus, rocked heavily as a flight of missiles slammed into the Mech’s back forcing Victor to fight the controls just to keep the one hundred ton monster still standing.  On the ground the first Nova Cats led by an unknown type of Mech was approaching the assembled troops.

   â€œLet’s introduce ourselves.”  Victor said “Reinhart your company on me, Arden if you want to come you are welcome.  Jackson hold back and join the First Davion.”  Victor said throttling his one hundred ton OmniMech forward.  Beside him Danai Centrella’s seventy-five ton Falconer and Arden Sortek’s Atlas were keeping pace with him.  Further along the line General Reinhart Steiner’s Warhawk led a company of the Tenth Lyran Guard’s most experienced troopers stood providing long range sniper and support fire as they closed.  Behind them stood a company from the First Davion Guards, their commander Marshal Bishop Sortek and Jackson Davion and beside them were the Fox’s Teeth Company, newly outfitted in the latest OmniMechs, under the command of Major Ross McKinnon.  In the surrounding hills were the majority of the Tenth Lyran Guards RCT and a large portion of the First Davion Guards, these forces were partially there to ensure no New Avalon citizens wandered onto the field but also were there in case the Nova Cats decided they wanted to cause some trouble all the support forces were armed with live weapons just in-case the clan force did cause real unscheduled trouble.

   â€œDamn” Reinhart muttered.

   â€œWhat is it Reinhart?”  Victor asked, the General had fought with Victor throughout the Clan War and was his distant cousin on the Lyran half of the family.

   â€œAdmiral Richards informed me that the Nova Cats have deployed fighters in the upper atmosphere and the DropShips are using massed long range weapons to keep her other fighters at bay.  We will be doing this without any aero-support.”  He said Rear Admiral Lisa Mae Richards commanded the RCT’s four Aerospace wings, for this fight two wings had been deployed and now Reinhart had informed him that all forty fighters had been intercepted, not a good start to the battle.

   â€œWell hopefully the Nova Cat fighters will decide not to interfere, we are having enough fun with their DropShips” Arden Sortek said his Atlas firing lasers and LRMs at the DropShips in a vain attempt to keep the strafing Broadswords at bay.  Unfortunately they had no idea how many DropShips the Nova Cats had as all the Broadswords were painted identically, because of the set up of the exercise Victor had said he didn’t want to know how many Nova Cat DropShips were inbound, on top of that thick cloud cover over New Scotland was limiting visual identification.  For all its beauty Arden hated this continent because of the weather, apparently it was almost exactly the same here as the original Scotland on Terra.

   On the ground clear of the DropShips Star Colonel Canin Rosse looked at the situation, fifteen Mechs were inbound mostly with Tenth Lyran Guards markings and most in the Heavy or assault category.  The Mech’s class and the muddy ground was slowing them considerably however Canin noticed that the Lyran Mechs were constantly looking to the air in anticipation of a DropShip attack.  Canin keyed in his comm. channel to the DropShip commanders “remember low over those troops keep their heads down.”  He said as the Elementals and vehicles of his star arrayed around him.  From the other DropShip Jennifer’s star made up of similar units to his were arriving.  “We hold this landing zone.”  He said as the two DropShips took off one headed straight for the incoming Lyran company while the other circled once then hit the company on the hillside before ascending to a higher altitude.  Just as the DropShips disappeared another two were coming into land and another two were beginning strafing runs.

   â€œDamn them” Victor muttered the Nova Cat ground forces were holding station and laying out heavy fire despite their small number, combined with the constant overpasses by the DropShips was making closing on the slow going.  As the second pair of DropShips landed doubling the Nova Cats number Victor activated his comm. channel “Jackson, we are going to need you.  Have the Fox‘s Teeth go around and try to flank them.”  He said as more Nova Cats began joining the firing line, Victor only saw a total of four Mechs but there was four times as well as vehicles and ten times as many Elementals giving them a lot of firepower.  Walking forward he triggered all four of his Extended-Range Large Lasers missing the intended Unknown class of Mech and hitting one of the taking off DropShip.

   Canin saw the laser blast at the last moment and stepped out of the way, two blasts struck the ground while another two slammed into the DropShip behind him.  Spinning around he could see the aggressor the charging Dire Wolf, lead Mech of the Lyran Guards “Capture a Clan Mech and think you can fight like a Clan Warrior?”  Canin muttered quietly, before the fight he had told his warriors not to issue challenges to the Davion troops time to break that rule.  Accelerating forward Canin activated the Dragon Cat’s wide spectrum communications system allowing everyone in the area to hear him.  “Dire Wolf pilot, this is Star Colonel Canin Rosse, Watch Cluster, Clan Nova Cat.  I challenge you to a circle of equals may no other enter.”

   Watching as this strange Mech approach the Lyran Guards alone Victor held his fire, mainly because the Dire Wolf was badly overheated, then he was shocked that the Nova Cat commander and he wanted to fight a one-on-one fight, momentarily forgetting it was the Clans he was fighting.  “Star Colonel Canin Rosse, this is First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion, welcome to New Avalon and the Federated Suns.  I will accept your challenge, if you tell us what class of BattleMech you are piloting.”

   â€œThis Mech is a Dragon Cat it is an OmniMech not a BattleMech.  May no other enter.”  Canin answered quickly finishing the ritual, he realized that he had picked the perfect target taking out the First Prince would certainly make an impression on the Federated Suns Military.

   â€œMay no other enter” the Prince repeated, Victor had fought the Clans often enough to know the Clan Warrior would not accept his challenge if he did not say on an open channel that no-other warrior would break their so-called circle of equals.

   â€œSeyla” Canin said then after a slight pause the Dragon Cat accelerated to eighty-four kilometres per hour suggesting the Mech was a heavy design.  Victor held his fire and tried to track the Mech and line up his shot but Canin did not wait.  Triggering the Dragon Cat’s arm mounted large pulse laser and two medium pulse lasers first tearing into Victor’s Dire Wolf’s left arm armour.  Then the Clan Star Colonel followed up with its missile launchers on the other arm, the Dire Wolf’s computers registered twelve high-explosive missile impacts also on the left arm disabling one of the large lasers.  Victor returned fire with the assault-class ultra autocannon, the Dragon Cat was moving too fast and only the first shells slammed into the OmniMech tearing up armour high on the torso causing heavy simulated damage.  Rosse’s Dragon Cat  did not pause to count damage and returned fire almost immediately with two pearl coloured heavy medium lasers slicing into the Dire Wolf’s torso, the two powerful weapons pierced the armour and damaged the Dire Wolf’s fusion core.  The cockpit temperature inside Victor’s Mech raised several degrees.

   Returning fire with the twenty-tube LRM launcher Victor watched as the Clan MechWarrior turned his Mech violently causing most of the missiles to go wide so only five missiles flew towards the Dragon Cat only to be cut down by the Dragon Cat’s central mounted anti-missile system ‘this guy is good’ Victor thought as the Dragon Cat lashed out again with its pulse lasers, missiles and then heavy lasers.  The pulse lasers again damaged the left arm knocking out another one of Victor’s large lasers, the twelve missiles did more damage than SRMs of Victor assumed they were the Clans new Advanced Tactical Missiles (ATMs) and the heavy lasers did twice the damage of normal weapons cutting deep holes in the left leg‘s simulated armour the computers registered all the damage as real and Victor was once again fighting for control.

   Triggering both remaining lasers Victor caught the Dragon Cat square in the chest with his fire however the Clan OmniMech shrugged it off showing it had strong armour as well as speed and hitting power.  The Clan warrior did not stop his assaults opening up with its missiles and heavy lasers this time cutting into the Mech’s left leg, the battle computers registered a damaged knee actuator and a damaged foot actuator, the Dire Wolf stumbled to one knee Victor barely kept the Mech upright as he used both arms to stabilise and pick up the Mech.  The computers registered the left leg was destroyed and he was barely keeping the one hundred ton Dire Wolf standing.  Victor twisted the assault OmniMech’s torso left tracking the Dragon Cat which once again was travelling at speed Victor fired the LRMs and the assault-class autocannon, the LRMs went horribly wide but the autocannon tore into the left arm disabling the limb and the weapons there.  The Dragon Cat pilot controlled the Mech trough the hit and twisted his own Mech to bring the ATM launcher into play the computers registered nine missile hits each tore into Victor’s autocannon disabling it.  Canin then followed it up with both heavy lasers more armour was registered as gone, a real hit would have boiled off over a ton of armour off the Dire Wolf‘s right torso the computer also registered another hit to the assault Mech‘s fusion engine again, the Dire Wolf stumbled even more as Victor began struggling with a heavily damaged fusion engine and damaged legs.

   Returning fire Victor tied the two remaining large lasers, LRM launcher and four torso mounted medium pulse lasers into a single trigger the lasers hit the Dragon Cat’s left arm again unfortunately the computers registered the limb as gone and the lasers did no damage, the LRMs all headed towards the torso the Dragon Cat’s anti-missile system cut down over half of the missiles so only six of the missiles struck the Dragon Cat causing little damage.  The pulse lasers struck the Dragon Cat’s torso causing the heavy OmniMech damage all over the Mech and two armour breaches.  Finally the autocannon struck the Dragon Cat as well finally finishing the Mech’s fight as the shells tore into the central armour and disabled the fusion engine, however Victor’s assault Mech was in no condition to continue the fight, it could barely move so the rest of the fight would continue without either commander.

   For the next hour and a half the Nova Cats continued to struggle along without their commander with near constant DropShip attacks keeping the Federated Suns troops and at a safe distance but eventually the combined Lyran and Davion Guard force charged the Nova Cat lines, at the same time the Fox’s Teeth attacked from behind mobbing the Nova Cat landing zone forcing the Clan force to surrender.  The damage simulation computers released the Mechs from their damaged state returning them to full combat effectiveness and the Nova Cats were allowed into the nearby firebase.

Main Dining Hall, Davion Royal Palace
Davion Royal Palace, Avalon Island
New Avalon, Crucis March, Federated Suns
10th October 3062

   The Federated Suns had gone to every effort to ensure Canin was welcomed by everyone important he may encounter in the Federated Suns baring the most important people of all, the Regimental Commanders.  Instead of them there was the Sandovals of Robinson, the Haseks of New Syrtis and the Sorteks of New Avalon.  Victor’s younger brother a cadet with the AFFS had been recalled to meet him and there was various Brigade and regimental commanders, luckily for Canin there was enough military personnel in the room to keep him sane and Yvonne Steiner-Davion had attached herself to his arm which was a pleasant and welcome distraction anytime, anywhere.  He was also pleased to see Ross and Rachel had been invited as had a good portion of their personnel.

   â€œSo Star Colonel, how do you find New Avalon?  Better than what you may be used to I guess?”  Arthur Steiner-Davion asked as they ate, Canin cleared his mouth before speaking his manners shocking everyone he was sure.

   â€œAff, New Avalon is a beautiful planet it reminds me of Barcella in the Kerensky Cluster during summer.  I do prefer the simpler battlefield of war, however, leave politics to leaders and wars to the rest of us.  War is easier to get around and you know who your enemies are, this is beautiful”  He said raising his arms slightly and glancing at Yvonne beside him “but it is complicated and not what I would describe as…”  He paused looking for the words “normal” he finished brining a could of giggles from around the table, including one from Yvonne, Canin could see Victor, Tarncred Sandoval, Arden Sortek, Jackson Davion, Reinhart Steiner and Bishop Sortek all nodding or smiling approving of his choice, he wasn’t really surprised House Davion had always been the most militaristic of the Succession States with the Davion Family had always been involved throughout the military this was possibly one of the unseen reasons the Nova Cats had chosen to talk instead of invade, respect between warriors went a long way for any of the Clans and House Davion was a warrior culture to the bone.

   â€œI thought we were all friends here.”  Arthur continued “you are here to assist us?”  He said obnoxiously Canin’s expression went a little sour at his attitude.  Canin did not like Arthur’s thought that the Nova Cats were nothing more than hired help the Nova Cats had more than enough power to fight off the Federated Suns if need be and although it would likely destroy the Nova Cat Touman it would also decimate the AFFS and probably dozens of worlds leaving the Federated Suns wide open for assault by its neighbours.

   â€œWe are allies, that does not mean we are friends.  Because the Field Marshals…” he said indicating to James Sandoval, George Hasek and Arden Sortek, “…control areas of the Federated Suns would you say they are your best friends, First Prince Victor?”  Victor looked to them all in turn knowing he‘d successfully found a chink in the Federated Suns armour, politics.  Canin could tell that Victor’s brother and perhaps another couple of people around the table would be a problem.

   â€œWe do our best, but not always.”  Victor said smiling as he agreed with Canin who nodded his thanks “people could be allies and not friends.  But I prefer to think that we will be allies and friends.”  Victor said nodding slightly to Canin remained impassive for a moment then mainly out of politeness he also nodded ‘keep them happy and ignore the little brat’ he thought silently seeing the look on Victor‘s face, the First Prince understood diplomacy Arthur didn‘t that was for sure.

   â€œThat was an interesting insertion method this morning Star Colonel, is that standard among the Watch?”  Reinhart asked changing the subject to things more recent and more tangible Canin noticed Arthur was angry but Victor was happy with the switch in topic and was ready for his answer.

   â€œNeg, if I am honest the entire idea of a Watch Cluster is not standard either.  The Nova Cats are the only Clan, as far as I know, that has an armed force permanently attached to the Watch.  Most if the other Clans treat the Watch with complete disdain and assign old warriors to the task, the Watch gets little new technology and is left to do a job most of the Clans care little about.  I was the only Bloodnamed warrior to volunteer for duties within the Watch.  Khan West was impressed by the Special Forces of the Inner Sphere, mainly the Draconis Elite Strike Teams, of the Draconis Combine, and your own Rabid Fox troops, he wanted a force of his own so the unit was formed just before your Fox’s Teeth arrived” he said looking to Ross and Rachel. “If we had not been present then they would have faced a regular Battle Cluster and a whole different problem.  The insertion technique we used was something completely new, our pilots were only assigned the Broadsword A1 very recently so they were a little rusty.  They will improve as they get more practice.”  Canin noticed the Federated Suns senior military commanders around the table look slightly surprised and worried at that thought and suppressed his smile he didn‘t need to worry them he needed to gain their trust.

   â€œWell if you could please pass onto them, from me and the Tenth Lyran, that it was impressive.”  Reinhart said Canin nodded his thanks, the insertion method like the unit was completely new and untested in battle Canin was pleased to receive a plaudit from a successful military commander like the Lyran commander, the Tenth‘s Clan War exploits were well known among the Clans.

   â€œI will second that, and if I may the First Davion Guards Aerospace Forces and DropShip commanders may borrow some of your pilots for a spell?” Bishop Sortek asked to get such an ask from the Davion Family’s Elite House Guard was a major step forward.

   â€œMy pilots would be happy to pass on what they know and how it could be adapted to your DropShips and units.”  Canin said having the Watch pilots train with the pilots of the AFFS could never be a bad thing, this was a major step whatever happened.  The rest of the meal went relatively quietly there was a couple of questions about the Nova Cat Clan and life as a Clansmen all of which Canin was able to answer easily.  Barring one from Tarncred Sandoval who had been watching him and Yvonne carefully all night.

   â€œSo Star Colonel are you involved with anyone at present?”  Tarncred asked Canin noticed Arthur smirk Canin took that to mean romantically involved with someone, which officially he wasn’t.

   â€œIf you are asking am I having sex with someone on a regular basis” Canin said bluntly a couple of people coughed or choked with surprise at his bluntness not something someone would normally say at this sort of gathering, ‘good‘ Canin thought smiling it was time to show what he truly was and see if they would accept a Clan Warrior being a Clan Warrior in his truest form not some sort of diplomat. “The answer is no” he noticed the people gathered that had not dealt with Clan personnel looked shocked including Yvonne. “We approach relationships differently than you do, in the Clans our military Toumans do not grow naturally most of our warriors are born in Iron Wombs, using genetic engineering.” Several of the people around the table knew this of course they had fought the Clans and Victor’s head of security Tigret was a former Smoke Jaguar Warrior captured during the destruction of that Clan.  “This has made relationships redundant among our front-line warriors, some warriors are looked down on with disdain for forming lasting relationships and within other Clans a warrior could even face adjournment because of a romantic involvement.  The Nova Cats are not so strict but relationships are just as uncommon within my Clan as others many wonder what is the point as their children, if it was even possible, would be looked down on by other members of the Clan for not being Trueborn.  The genetic life of our clan is very important to the Nova Cats as it is with all the clans.”

   â€œSo your single for your whole life, I can see a bonus in that, especially in my class!” Arthur said Tarncred, Victor and the senior Sandoval Duke James Sandoval all gave Arthur ’you idiot’ looks but it was Yvonne who spoke up.

   â€œYou’re sick Arthur, this is not something to discuss on the dinner table with the leaders of any Succession State, more like on the battlefield between drunken warrior of the lower-class or in a Capellan hoar-house.”  She said storming out Danai Centrella left the room moments later as did a couple of the other women.  Arthur did not look bothered in the slightest but Victor looked like he was going to beat Arthur into a pulp, Canin‘s thoughts mirrored Victor‘s but he made sure he kept his thoughts buried under the surface, no weakness no emotion would be showed.

   â€œDamn Star Colonel, you made quite an impression” Ross whispered leaning in close Canin nodded, he didn’t really care what kind of impression he made on a social level, he cared about making an impact on the martial level.  Looking at the door in which Yvonne had left through he did feel some regret, maybe he had been a bit too blunt.  The rest of the night went smoothly and Canin was soon standing on the side of the palace on one of the many VTOL landing pads waiting for the aircraft to arrive.

   â€œYou’re going to be waiting a while I’m afraid the last ride of the night doesn‘t arrive for a while.” Yvonne said walking out the glass doors her appearance brought a smile to his lips then he noticed the jacket he had given her on Tortuga was in her hands “I’m returning this” she said holding it out to him.

   â€œIt is yours, Yvonne” Canin said refusing to touch the jacket, he would not accept it back, he had given it to her.

   â€œStar Colonel, I do not want to be just another notch on your bedpost.”  She said Canin didn’t really get what she was meaning but took a step closer she took a step back towards the building doors.

   â€œYvonne” he noticed her flinch “listen to me, what we shared was something to be cherished by both of us.  I have never felt like that about anyone I have ever been with.  I don’t know how you felt but I really enjoyed being with you the whole time we were together and tonight when we were together.  I would like to perhaps explore it further”  he said his voice drifting off as the VTOL started to land Yvonne looked at the aircraft and Canin moved in closer, this time she did not retreat “whatever you feel about me, keep the jacket, you look better in it than I ever will.”  He said kissing her on the cheek before turning away and moving to the landed aircraft.  With one last look at her then at the surrounding palace he climbed aboard the VTOL and within seconds the aircraft was airborne whisking him away.

   The combination of the VTOL rotors and the cold midnight air made Yvonne feel cold so without thinking she pulled on the Nova Cat uniform jacket and zipped up the front it felt warm and smelled of Canin even though he had not worn it in months.  Walking back inside she headed to her quarters still wearing the jacket Yvonne saw the Sandovals moving up one of the staircases towards the guest quarters, Victor had invited them, George Hasek and the Sorteks to remain for a couple of days while the Nova Cats moved through Albion training ranges.  Tarncred Sandoval noticed her and hesitated for a moment waiting for her then noticed the jacket, so far Yvonne had told no-one of the Star Colonel’s gift, although it had no Nova Cat insignia on it the jacket was of the same design as the one Canin had worn tonight even down to the three pins on the left collar.  This was the first time she had worn it since returning to the Federated Suns and now that it was on there was no-way she was removing it just because Tarncred had seen her wear it the Baron nodded and then followed his father up the stairs silently, they had a budding relationship before she had met Canin, when the Nova Cats turned over the Fox‘s Teeth and the Thunderchild, she had drifted away from him and now he knew why.  Yvonne did not like the idea of being just another one of Canin’s conquests as Arthur had made it sound but she did not think that was what was going on with the Star Colonel, only time would tell.
 
Mech Piloting Training Range, Albion Academy
South Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
11th October 3062

   After watching the cadets go through the obstacle course the Nova Cats were ready for their turn.  Canin’s Command Trinary were here today and he was up first.  For this he had the Nova Cat techs reconfigure the OmniMech’s weapons to the Alpha configuration, which gave him a massive Gauss Rifle, three Heavy Medium lasers, a six-shooter SRM rack and a TAG laser, one of the vehicles in his command star also carried Arrow IV Artillery Missiles and the TAG was aligned to its frequency.  The Dragon Cat Alpha also had five jump jets giving Canin unparallel manoeuvrability compared to the standard design, it was time to show off.  For today’s exercise the Dragon Cat and the whole command Trinary had been repainted in the Watch Parade colours an all-black base coat with silver highlights on the knee, elbow and head assemblies and blue marking the weapon ports.

   â€œTime to see just how our Star Colonel handles himself” Victor said looking at the assembled gathering “Arthur your lance went through here earlier what was your time?”

   â€œFour Minutes, twenty-three seconds” Arthur said proudly “I was within the top two percent of cadets this morning and beat all but two of the instructors in the medium weight class.”  He said continuing to boast, Arthur had recently been given his first permanent BattleMech, a gift from Duke James Sandoval, a brand-new fifty ton Enforcer III.

   â€œWell let’s see if the Star Colonel…” Victor said drifting off as Danai and Yvonne both entered, he noticed Yvonne wore a black jacket similar to the one Canin had worn the night before where she had got it was a mystery to Victor, but one he would investigate. “…let’s see if the Nova Cat Commander can do any better.”

   â€œUnlikely” Arthur whispered Victor could not wait until Arthur was gone, his time on New Avalon had not been productive.

   â€œEspecially unlikely since the Star Colonel ordered the range techs to set the artificial targeting systems to their hardest settings.  I think the Star Colonel will be lucky to walk his Mech clear of the range.”  The range Commandant said Victor saw Arthur smile but thought that the Star Colonel was more likely to do something a little more impressive than lose to a computer program.

   â€œStar Colonel Rosse, you may begin when ready” Victor said into the comm.

   â€œAff” Canin replied, the Dragon Cat shot forward towards the first obstacle a tunnel with a laser turret at the far end.  Crossing the mouth of the entrance the laser fired but missed the seventy ton OmniMech, crossing a second time Canin fired a blast of heavy laser fire into the tunnel the three opal coloured laser beams vaporised the turret in an instant.  Still in the entrance way Canin ducked the Mech to avoid the dying breath laser blast from the turret and charged down the entrance way, as he exited the tunnel Canin stomped down on the Mechs floor pedals and launched the Dragon Cat skyward the laser trap set outside the tunnel fired but missed the flying OmniMech burning the walls of the tunnel instead.  Twisting the Mech in mid-air Canin launched a gauss slug at one turret and a flight of SRMs at the other.  The gauss slug destroyed its target while the SRMs disabled the turret mechanism shutting down the weapon.  Showing he was an expert pilot Canin twisted the Mech in mid-air again completing a full 360ï‚° turn before bringing the Mech into a controlled landing and running on.

   â€œWow!” Arthur exclaimed watching the Nova Cat Star Colonel control his Mech, Victor smiled perhaps now his younger brother would understand why the Nova Cats were here.  The Dragon Cat continued on blasting three more turrets in quick succession before reaching the last area.  Four turrets arranged in a semi circle right in front of the observation windows “there is no-way he will get past this without a fight, two turrets cover the sky and one cover each entrance, we all took damage doing this part.”  Arthur said, his own Enforcer III had lost its Ultra-class autocannon in this fight but the large pulse laser had brought him through the fight.

   The Dragon Cat appeared at the entrance and then dodged out of the way narrowly missed by a autocannon blast.  The second time he launched over the small gap using the Dragon Cat’s jump jets twisting the OmniMech’s torso he cut off a gauss rifle slug destroying the closest turret as a pair of PPC blasts and an LRM salvo flew past.  Now with the gap clear Canin stepped into the breach as the three turrets attempted to track his Mech a laser blast destroyed the laser turret, an SRM salvo destroyed the PPC turret and then Canin began running around the LRM turret, the Inner Sphere-tech LRMs unable to track the fast moving OmniMech “what’s he doing?  It has over ten tons of ammo.  He’s wasting time!”  Arthur said as the Dragon Cat twisted its torso still running at full speed “finally!”  Arthur exclaimed expecting Canin to fire, instead the Dragon Cat launched skyward way from the turret turning in mid-air “Fire!”  Arthur shouted, Victor felt slightly embarrassed by his brother Arthur was like a kid watching the display but Victor realised was barely stopping himself screaming the exact same thing.

   â€œCom’on Canin” Yvonne whispered just as the turret was hit by a missile from directly above, the turret was engulfed in a massive explosion just as the Dragon Cat landed its arms spread wide.

   â€œTime” the range supervisor said as the Dragon Cat with arms spread wide appeared to take a bow Victor often marvelled at how lifelike the Clan Neurohelmets could make Clan OmniMechs look even with all these years with his Prometheus the technology still surprised him.  “Three minutes, fifty-eight seconds a new course record for the heavy class.”

   â€œAnd within the top percent of the medium times” Victor said looking at the display “you see why the Nova Cats are here? Arthur”

   â€œThe last shot was not from the Mech” Arthur said, “he broke the rules of the course” he had to find some sort of fault with an excellent performance although Victor was curious to hear where the weapon had come from himself.

   â€œWe will hear from the Star Colonel when he arrives” Victor said as two Nova Cat Elementals and a small vehicle arrived at the Dragon Cat’s feet.  The Elementals remained guarding the Mech while the vehicles took Canin up to the observation deck.  Canin entered the deck wearing a black jumpsuit, his face and short hair was covered in sweat a towel was around his neck and shoulders.  “Well done Star Colonel, a very impressive score I’m sure it will take a while for our cadets and perhaps even the instructors to beat that time.”

   â€œThank you, First Prince Davion, it was quite an impressive course and challenges many aspects of Mech piloting with plenty of gunnery challenges to keep things interesting.  However there are a couple of changes I would suggest starting with…”  Canin began but Arthur interrupted.

   â€œHold it Colonel, how did you destroy the last target?  It looked a lot bigger than one of your SRMs.”  Arthur said accusingly.

   â€œArthur…”  Victor whispered, he wanted his brother to drop it, this wasn’t the time, if there ever was a time for this not now.

   â€œIt is alright First Prince Davion, Duke Davion” Canin said addressing Arthur with his title the young man seemed to like that further lowering him in Canin’s ratings “before the exercise began I checked with the course supervisor on the rules of the course.  He said that during the exercise they wanted to see MechWarriors fully utilising their Mechs and their personal abilities.”

   â€œThat doesn’t explain why you called in artillery support” Arthur said looking at the data, the explosion could only have come from an Arrow IV Artillery Missile even Victor looking at the information had to agree with his brother, Canin had cheated which left him with a slightly sour taste in his mouth.

   â€œI am afraid you are wrong, Duke, you see the Dragon Cat carries a Light Targeting Accusation (TAG) Laser specifically tied to Arrow IV Missiles, one of the Epona Pursuit Tanks in my Star has an Arrow IV System currently fitted.  I simply used my OmniMech’s capabilities and my Star Mates capabilities, as any good commander does.  Now if there is nothing else I could suggest some improvements…”  Canin said Arthur remained silent as both Victor and the Commandant Major General Fredrick Hastings both slowly nodded their approval to the unorthodox tactic Canin walked off with Victor and the Commandant .  Across the College training grounds for the rest of the day Nova Cat warriors set records on every course they stepped on.  Arthur was on his DropShip a couple of hours later heading back to Robinson with one clear message ‘The Nova Cats are way better than us.’  It wasn’t a defeatist thought but more of a task Arthur would take on, before the Nova Cats left the Federated Suns he would beat them.

ProtoMech Trial of Possession
Huntress, Kerensky Cluster
Clan Homeworlds, Clan Space
2nd November 3062

   During a Trial of Possession for ProtoMech technology and a group of former-Smoke Jaguar scientists who worked on the project Clan Coyote Khan Sullivan Koga is killed during combat with Clan Star Adder.  Although the Coyotes are able to secure ProtoMech Technology and the scientists they have lost one of their most brilliant minds, following the loss of their Loremaster during the ill-fated attack on the Babylon Diet the Coyotes withdraw to their holdings as they lick their wounds.  Five days late after fighting off trials from several senior Galaxy Commanders saKhan Silas Kufahl becomes the new Khan of Clan Coyote.
 
Sirius
Sirian Concordance Worlds
Free Worlds League
6th November 3062

   Tensions between the Sirian Lancers and the Free Worlds League Militia had been high since 3061 when the Lancers broke all ties from the FWLM and travelled home.  To the  Sirian Concordance, first liberating the remaining two worlds of the Concordance and setting their leader, General Helen Thrall, as Primus of the Concordance.  The three Lancer Regiments had began cashiering out or transferring non-Sirian born warriors against FWLM regulations.  The FWLM under direct orders of Captain-General Thomas Marik had deployed the Fourth Marik Legionaries and the Thirty-seventh Marik Militia to the worlds in an effort to bring the Lancers to heal and being humanitarian aid to the population of the ravaged worlds.

   On the third November a brawl in a bar sparked the beginning of a fight that would eventually encompass all four worlds of the Concordance and break a relationship.  A Sirian MechWarrior had been in a bar following a long patrol and two Marik Legionaries along with two more cashiered Lancers had entered and assaulted the warrior, putting the MechWarrior in a coma and near death.  The Sirian bar staff and punters had taken offence to one of their own being attacked by the ‘outsiders’ and attacked the Legionaries and the cashiered warriors which resulted in the death of two men and the kidnapping of the other two.  General Adiss Sullivan had ordered her troops to lock down all Sirius towns and block all off-world travel including humanitarian efforts until her men were released.

   On the Fifth the two kidnapped men were found executed with the words ‘Independent Sirius Now’ burned onto their chests.  On the Sixth the three Sirian Lancer Regiments deployed with the Fourth Legionaries and Thirty-seventh Marik Militia on all four worlds as they began a hunt for the perpetrators and a total lockdown including widespread arrests.  The Sirian Lancers under direct orders from General Helen Thrall lined up with the two FWLM regiments but never went a step further, at almost the same time on all four worlds the Sirian Lancers attacked the FWLM units and General Helen Thrall sent a message to Atreus, the Free Worlds League capital, ‘Sirian Concordance declares independence, you are no-longer welcome here.’

   In a whirlwind campaign that lasted six days the Sirian Lancers destroyed the two FWLM Regiments, at the cost of the Third Sirian Lancers the least experienced or desirable Lancer Regiment.  In total they captured nearly one thousand prisoners.  To ensure there was no immediate retribution for these action General Helen Thrall sent a message to Northwind contracting the Stirling’s Fusiliers Regiment of the Northwind Highlanders for additional firepower and sent a message to New Canton requesting SLDF Humanitarian Aid and Protectorate Status saving them from retribution from the Free Worlds League.

   Lieutenant General Harry Sanders of the SLDF on New Canton immediately deploys the Fourth and Fifth Battalions of the First Battle Armour Corps to the Sirian Worlds without authorisation from the First Lord or Commanding-General.  The SLDF troops begin humanitarian aid as soon as they arrive.

Disputed Territory
Schuyler, Pesht Military District
Draconis Combine/Ghost Bear War Front
23rd November 3062

   During the battle for this world the Warlord of the Pesht Military District Tai-Shu Teyasu Ashona fell in battle battling Ghost Bear saKhan Aletha Kabrinski.  Twp days later Tai-sho Tomoe Sakade, the low-born wife of the old Draconis Combine Coordinator Theodore Kurita was elevated to the position by Theodore’s son Hohiro, the current Coordinator.  Although no regiment had fallen, other than those of the stricken Alshain Avenger Regiments, all DCMS troops on the Ghost Bear lines were now taking heavy damage at the hands of the enraged Ghost Bear forces.  Six worlds Maulang, Yamarovaka, Kanowit, Kiesen, Schuyler and Luzerne had all fallen to the Ghost Bears with another ten worlds under attack.  The Star Adders who still controlled three worlds of the occupation zone they once held with Clan Smoke Jaguar had also claimed Turtle Bay for their own however they appeared to be turning against the Ghost Bears instead of the Draconis Combine.

Constance
Ghost Bear Dominion
25th November 3062

   Following a successful trial against the Draconis Combine for ownership of the world of Turtle Bay, a world made infamous by the Smoke Jaguars for their Orbital Bombardment tactic, the Star Adders decided to leave the Draconis Combine to the Ghost Bears instead turning back on the Ghost Bears striking Jarett, Constance and Thule in quick succession.  This move took the Ghost Bears by complete surprise however the Ghost Bear rage soon turns on the Star Adders as they enter other systems the Star Adders find far stronger resistance including the WarShip Bear’s Den, a Black Lion-class Battle-cruiser, in the Pinnacle system.

   After vaporising the Eleventh Armoured Cavalry Squadron (Cluster) of the Star Adder’s Alpha Galaxy with a barrage of Naval Autocannons while the ground troops were still in their DropShips the Bear’s Den brutalises the Exodus Ranger, a York-class Destroyer.  The Ghost Bears claim the WarShip as their own and return it to Alshain for repair and refit.  Following this display the Star Adders hold their assaults into Ghost Bear territory and attempt to fortify their positions content with the new territory they have gained.  The Bears return their anger to the Draconis Combine, the Star Adders will wait for now, the Bears will to continue fighting the Draconis Combine is beginning to diminish.

One comment I'll make before posting the next bit, I know Clan Nova Cat and the Federated Suns get a lot of coverage in these early years.  There's big reasons:

number 1) I needed to build up a few characters within these two realms, Danai Centrella, Yvonne Steiner-Davion, my own character's Canin Rosse and Zane Carns (who is based off the canon character Zane from Path of Glory) and surprisingly Victor Steiner-Davion and Morgan Hasek-Davion, the first who is now cast as a working First Prince instead of the wandering warrior and the second who survives Serpent to become the first SLDF Commanding-General

The establishment of these characters in their differing roles from Canon I saw as important markers in where the story was going

number 2) the rest of the factions have a quiet time around now rebuilding mostly, and they get plenty play in the future, I realized myself that they had less development in the story than I intended (they are fully developed in my notes but less so in the posted stories.

Enough of that, hope you enjoy and back to the story

Very interesting DC, I gotta go back over this one again.

Glad you like it, I've always written the timeline out like this, just always thought it was too big for the Forums :S so plenty more to come

Into the next year...

3063

Robinson (Federated Suns)
Ghost Bear Front (Draconis Combine)
1st January 3063

   On Robinson hearing of Arthur’s death in combat and the success of the strike in general Duke James Sandoval calls for further assaults but Victor orders the troops to hold their ground in the captured territory and begin efforts to integrate the worlds into the Federated Suns Draconis March.

   On the Draconis Combine leader Hohiro Kurita, fighting the Ghost Bears, agrees that he has lost the worlds to the Federated Suns and for now he cannot recapture them refuelling the Black Dragon Society Movement within his realm.  He asks for Star League Observers and Star League troops to be sent to the region to ensure that Draconis Combine citizens and officials and any prisoners of war are allowed to return to the Draconis Combine.

Draconis March Militia Base
Bennet III, Draconis March
Federated Suns
8th January 3063

   An unknown reinforced Battalion of BattleMech and Battle Armour forces with heavy aerospace support assault the Federated Suns world of Bennet III presumably for the Federated Suns annexing of Proserpina months before.  During the fighting the enemy forces destroy everything in their path destroying large portions of the spaceport and the March Militia.

   Leftenant Jean Graves a skilled MechWarrior, graduate of the demanding and controversial Point Barrow Academy and a graduate of Officer Candidate School lead her company, The Graves’ Dancers, through the fighting against orders to a Union-class DropShip forcing the vessel’s commander to take off and get them off the world.  Although Jean says she does not remember what happened ever member of the unit tells the same story that Jean Graves knew exactly where every single shell was going to land during the chaos and saves ever single one of them from joining the rest of the militia in their deaths that night.  Their commandeered DropShip burns to the jump-point where they commandeer a Merchant-class JumpShip and force its commander to take them out of the system. 

   Following the end of the battle and the enemy forces retreat from Bennet III the AFFS Draconis March Command on Robinson declare Jean Graves and her unit a threat to national security and charge them with Disobeying a superior’s orders, being Absent Without Leave, Damage to National Property, Theft of Property Belonging to House Davion, Damage to Property Belonging to House Davion and kidnapping of the DropShip and JumpShip crews placing a One million bounty on Jean Graves head.

Star League High Command
Kittery, Capellan March
Federated Suns
15th January 3063

   SLDF Commanding-General Morgan Hasek Davion recalls the Third Brigade of the SLDF, the Twenty-eight Hussar Regiment plus attached units, to Kittery.  Attaching the Second Battle Armour Battalion, formerly attached to Second Brigade and the Second BattleMech Regiment, Morgan sends the Third Brigade to the captured worlds to ensure an orderly transferral of power.  The SLDF contract Group W Mercenary Regiment to assist in operations in the St Ives Compact following the end of their current Lyran contract on Solaris IV.

   Morgan Hasek-Davion sends a message to New Avalon and Robinson informing Victor Steiner-Davion and Duke Sandoval of the move, Victor announces approval for the inclusion of SLDF Peacekeepers while James Sandoval is not amused that the Draconis Combine do not believe his son Tarncred would not treat prisoners properly and lodges a formal complaint but allows the move.

   On Robinson Arthur Steiner-Davion’s body arrives, following approval from Victor his brother will lie in state on Robinson for a period of two months before being buried in the Robinson Royal Cemetery as per his wishes.  The Draconis March see this as a great honour and his body is visited by over one million inhabitants of the March.  Victor travels to Robinson with his sister Yvonne Steiner-Davion and in a private ceremony they say goodbye to their brother.  Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion is invited to say goodbye to her brother but refuses to enter the Federated Suns and Peter is unreachable on Zaniah.

Illyrian Palatinate/Marian Hegemony
Periphery
19th January 3063

   On the orders of his father Caesar Sean O’Reilly his son and heir to the thrown Julius O’Reilly leads a quarter of the Marian Hegemony Legions to the Illyrian Palatinate conquering the tiny group of worlds in just six months of heavy fighting.  Surrender June 30th 3063.  Although the more and more unstable Caesar had hoped this might get his son killed it actually rallied more support to Julius than he already had.

Zi-jin Cheng, Forbidden City
Sian, Capellan Confederation
25th January 3063

   The Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation was not pleased the Death Commandos, his ‘elite’ guard had failed to secure one person from the clutches of the Federated Suns and his nemesis Victor Steiner-Davion.  To make matters the St Ives Compact was still holding out even with the Trinity Alliance support and the Capellan WarShip fleet.

   For now it was damage control looking at the Tri-Vid recorder he nodded and the tech switched on the recorder “In response for the accusations levelled at the Capellan Confederation that Death Commando troops invaded the Federated Suns, and even the capital system of that planet New Avalon, I prove to you this is a lie.”  He said stepping over to four guards all in Death Commando uniform “this is Jiang-jun Michael Hyung-Tsei commander of the Death Commandos” he said at the first man, who looked nothing like the Death Commando commander but then Death Commando identities were kept secret.  “As you can see he is here with three of his men defending the Forbidden City from Davion spies and would-be assassins.  This evidence the Federated Suns claim to have is obviously fabricated and I welcome Star League Observers to Sian to see the Death Commandos in their splendour.”  He said as the Tri-Vid recorder cut our, the Red Lancer Regiment was at this very moment repainting its equipment down stairs.  “Package that and post it following the Davion claims of the Death Commando raid.”  Sun-Tzu said glaring  the tech nodded and took the recorder away “get out!”  Sun-Tzu shouted suddenly at the four Red Lancers dressed like Death Commandos.  “Zahn!”  he shouted at the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces field commander.

   â€œYes, excellency!”  Talon Zahn said stepping from behind the throne.

   â€œStrike the Death Commandos from the rolls permanently.  Burn all reference to them and form a new guard.”

   â€œWhat shall this new guard be called?”

   â€œThe Anti-Victor Steiner-Davion Squad” Sun-Tzu said Talon didn’t question the name as he walked towards the exit, the Capellan Chancellor would change it when he saw fit, for now the name would be a state secret.  “On second thought” Sun-Tzu said “call it the Centrella Black Guards.”  Sun-Tzu said as Naomi Centrella entered in a beautiful silver dress.

   â€œWhat’s this?”  The Magistracy of Canopus leader asked hearing her family name, she knew nothing of the Death Commando raid.

   â€œThe new name of my Death Commandos, the Centrella Black Guards” Sun-Tzu said walking up to her wrapping his arms around her waist “you like?”  He asked.

   â€œYes” she said as he kissed her “Talon, you can leave” Naomi said it wasn’t a question Talon Zahn nodded and left, he didn’t like getting bossed about by the Periphery leader but had decided months before that there was no point in fighting the inevitable, Naomi Centrella and Sun-Tzu would marry and Naomi would become his boss, at least she would be more sane than Sun-Tzu sometimes was, then again recently Naomi had shown she had her own sadistic streak Talon stopped for a moment thinking about Naomi as worse than Sun-Tzu a shudder ran down his spine as he began hurrying along, that was a scary thought.  Sun-Tzu’s denial of Death Commando attack launched two days later when Victor Steiner-Davion complains to SLDF and increases Federated Suns presence in St Ives Compact to five Regiments increasing the resistance given to the Invading Capellan Forces.

SLS Covenant, Bridge
Nadir Jump Point
Sirius, Sirian Concordance
28th January 3063

   Morgan Hasek-Davion could feel he was getting too old for this constant travelling between planets, no sooner had he arrived on Proserpina with the Twenty-eighth Hussar Regiment and Third Brigade had a message caught up with him requesting his presence in the newly christened Sirian Concordance, a breakaway state of the Free Worlds League.  The Sirians were requesting immediate aid from the SLDF and in return they were willing to allow SLDF troops to be garrisoned on the Sirian Concordance worlds permanently.  This was an opportunity that Morgan could not allow to slip through his grasp so he had begun travelling to Sirius.

   En route he had been joined by the SLS Covenant, the Star League’s newest WarShip, the former Kirishima was now modified to Star League needs and Morgan had named it Covenant just before he had left Kittery.  The ship modified at New Syrtis shipyards and was near completion when Morgan had been asked to deploy forces to the Draconis Combine/Federated Suns border.  The ship’s new commander Commodore Anders Hellenic had put the ship into service and they had followed Morgan’s JumpShip, when Morgan had gotten detoured they had changed course and intercepted now he would arrive in the Sirius system in style.

   Now on the final leg of the journey the Covenant entered the Sirius system only to be confronted by a Free Worlds League Agamemnon-class Heavy Cruiser.  As alert sirens sounded throughout the ship Morgan moved to the bridge, despite his journey to and from the Clan Homeworlds he was still uncomfortable moving in zero-gravity.  Reaching the Covenant’s bridge Morgan took quick stock of the status screens and at the holo-tank which gave them a full three dimensional view of the surrounding space with the Covenant dead centre.  “Visitors, have they hailed us?”  He asked moving to the holo-tank.

   â€œNegative, as soon as we dropped in system they deployed all four of their DropShip, all Assault craft, and a squadron of fighters.  No sensor screens or weapon lock-ons.  I have DropShips ready and pilots in their fighters but nothing launched.”  Anders Hellenic said, Morgan could see the Commodore’s hand hovering over the comm. frequency one word from Morgan would launch everything the Covenant had and then they would be in a real stand-off.  Looking back to the holo-tank there was four medium-sized blips near the Agamemnon representing the DropShips and six smaller aircraft moving around in a large circular pattern.

   â€œOkay so they want us to play the first ball.”  Morgan said from what he could remember of the Agamemnon’s firepower it outgunned the lighter Covenant, had more DropShips and the same amount of fighters but lacked armour to survive drawn out combat and lacked speed to keep up with an opponent.  “They want us to hover here in a stand-off, there are people on Sirius that need our help.  All ahead full.”

   â€œAye, sir.  Weapons status and fighter status.”

   â€œWe are not here to make war Commodore.  All weapons stand-by, as soon as we reach flank speed stand-down your fighters and the DropShip crews.”  Morgan said Anders did not look convinced but gave the orders and the Covenant’s massive drive engines roared into life quickly accelerating past 1G, 2G reaching 2.5G its safe cruising flank speed if need be the Covenant could accelerate up to 4G however that kind of speed could stress the engines and was very uncomfortable for crew and passengers.

   As the vessel was passing the Free Worlds League Heavy Cruiser at under five hundred metres the crew held a collective breath if the Agamemnon wanted to attack now would be the time.  The Covenant accelerated past the vessel the Free Worlds League WarShip Skipper unwilling to start an interstellar incident held fire and the Covenant continued to accelerate.  Within the hour the Covenant was deep in the system and the Agamemnon was leaving the system, the Free Worlds League would have to rethink their strategy with the Sirius Concordance.

Primus Helen Thrall’s Office
Lost Hope, Sirius
Sirian Concordance, Chaos March
30th January 3063

   Three days later the Covenant established orbit over Sirius IV and Morgan Hasek-Davion’s DropShip dropped down on the battered world of Sirius IV-a, the moon of the planet.  Of the three settlements in the system Sirius IV-a was the most habitable and most populous and the location of system and Concordance government.  Landing Morgan could see that the moon colony was in bad shape and before he had even reached the government buildings he had decided that this would be a protectorate.

   Entering the building Morgan heard the door pressurise behind him before he, his bodyguard and two clerks were allowed in the main building, even with the breathable atmosphere the buildings were still pressurised due to the low pressure outside.  Looking at the living condition and standard of life reports on the system Morgan had wondered why anyone would want to live there then read deeper into the report although the system had nearly no heavy industries it made more gross national profit (GNP) than some of the Succession Lords major planets.  This was due to the massive natural resources the planets of the system had.  Because life was so harsh in the system its full potential had never been tapped out like so many other core worlds of the Inner Sphere.

   Clearing the airlock Morgan saw General Helen Thrall standing there waiting for them since the liberation of the Sirian Concordance worlds she had been holding political office however she remained in her military uniform effectively forming a military dictatorship.  “Welcome to Sirius Four Alpha, Commanding-General.  I hope our shadow did not interfere with your entrance” she said obviously referring to the WarShip.  As Morgan entered she indicated for them to walk.

   â€œThey did not interfere, I think they realised who we were and what was going on, and thankfully they did not have orders to interfere with a Star League vessel.”

   â€œI am glad, perhaps you will be able to stay and see exactly what our needs are, and this is only the Sirius system.”

   â€œI will be here for as long is necessary.  On board the Covenant we have supplies that the DropShips will begin to bring down and the Battle Armour Battalions can distribute.”  He said Lieutenant-General Harry Sanders had deployed two Battalions of Battle Armour to the Sirian Concordance for humanitarian and security.  So far from reading reports Morgan feared that the entire SLDF could be based here and still it would take decades to sort out.  “On top of that I want to officially make the Sirian Concordance a Star League Protectorate and declare an immediate state of emergency.  As soon as possible I will call for the Advisory Council to direct full SLDF support to these worlds.”  He said as they entered an office.

   â€œWe have not even begun negotiating yet” Helen Thrall said surprised sitting down behind the desk which was covered in reports.

   â€œYou asked Lieutenant-General Harry Sanders for Protectorate Status I have confirmed it, now the SLDF troops based here are legally based here the Free Worlds League cannot say we have over-stepped our boundaries.  Now we can begin to negotiate.”

   â€œWhat should we negotiate over?  I wanted protectorate status and you have given it to me, I wanted Star League support and you have given that to us as well.  What more could I want?”  Helen Thrall said, she was obviously happy Morgan was giving her everything for nothing and now was looking for a catch.

   â€œHow about membership in the reborn Star League?”  Morgan said getting straight to the point.

   â€œMembership?  The Concordance is far to small, too new a nation for such a move.”  She said the Concordance was four worlds, at present the smallest Star League nation was the St Ives Compact with seventeen worlds.”

   â€œIt would not be full membership, you or any leader of the Concordance could not be First Lord.  However your military would be eligible for inclusion in the Star League.  The Star League would be forced to garrison your worlds and maintain your troops.”  Morgan said, he was looking to gain the three Sirian Lancer Regiments in the Concordance for his SLDF.  They would not be combat capable for another decade but it would increase the size, strength and prestige of the Star League making it a bigger force in the Inner Sphere and would allow him to concentrate forces making bigger better impacts in Inner Sphere politics.

   â€œMy troops are fiercely loyal to their homes, they would not make good international organisations.”

   â€œI have not heard one bad report about them working with my Battle Armour Battalions.”  Morgan pointed out, the reports actually said that the Sirian Lancer Regiments were going out of their way to accommodate the SLDF troops.  “And there would be provisions for your regiments.  They would not be deployed away from the Sirian Concordance until all are brought up to full strength a process I am told will take a minimum of six years.  Even when they are deployed away from the Concordance one Regimental Brigade will always be left in the Concordance.  The Sirian Division will be commanded by a Sirian Concordance born where possible.  And if the Sirian Lancer regiments do not want someone in their unit, that person will be transferred into another unit with no question asked and no posting on that persons SLDF Record.”

   â€œYou have obviously thought about this for a while Commanding-General” Helen Thrall said quietly thinking.

   â€œAllow me to take your troops off the wage bill and resource drain and you can put your full attention to rebuilding your worlds and if the Free Worlds League or anyone else decides to cause trouble the Star League can put its full force behind defending you.”  He said the argument was promising and two days later the Sirian Lancers and the Sirian Concordance as a whole accepted Star League membership.  Morgan Hasek-Davion made the announcement to the entire Inner Sphere of the step forward the Inner Sphere had taken today and welcomed the Sirian Lancer Regiments into the SLDF placing all three Regiments in a separate Division from the other SLDF Units Morgan’s first act was to announce General Helen Thrall as commander of the Division.  His second act was to warn the Free Worlds League and any other nation to stay away from the Sirian Concordance unless they were delivering humanitarian supplies and he calls for the Star League Council to immediately offer aid to the Concordance worlds.