OBT Forum

Another good update, i'm not sure i'd like to be the Marian Hegemony though.

Now something for the New Year!

Contract Negotiations
Ionus Shipyards, Ionus
Marik-Stewart Commonwealth
3rd February 3086

   The Star League enters negotiations with Ionus Shipyards within the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth for access to their Britannic-class Heavy Transport, a WarShip with more space dedicated to cargo than to weaponry.  As the Star League expands it is becoming clear to many within the higher levels that more HPG sites and Recharge Stations are required to meet the demand required.  The Britannic is seen as a perfect vessel to fill this gap in Star League transport needs and a way for the Star League to further solidify links to the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth.  By mid 3086 the Star League are granted permission to buy several vessels in the future as production catches up with demand.

Near Orbit
Galatea, Isle of Skye
Lyran Commonwealth
8th February 3086

   With Outreach still closed as a mercenary world with only select commands allowed to land on that worlds Galatea was becoming the Mercenary’s Star once more.  However years of neglect in Outreach’s shadow had left the facilities on the world wanting.  In an effort to find a way to attract further interest in the world and help the commands that come to visit Duke David Nowakowski begins to investigate the possibility of building a Space Station in the system.

Interstellar News Network
New York, North America
Terra, Star League Protectorate
10th February 3086

   â€œLadies and Gentlemen welcome to a special edition of INN.  Today the Draconis March of the Federated Suns and many worlds within the Draconis Combine are ablaze with the fires of anger.  For once this is not related to one Succession Lord attacking the other and the ensuing counter attacks instead it has been brought by the revelation of one person’s origin” the broadcaster said quietly as a picture of Ambassador Kitsune Kurita was shown “this is Ambassador Kitsune Kurita, until a few months ago he was seen as a viable other option to Duke Minoru Kurita or Coordinator Vincent Kurita with many nobles within the Draconis Combine supporting him.  He informed everyone he was not interested in leadership instead he pursued the diplomatic approach to help his nation.  Surprisingly he became the first Kurita in many years to travel to New Avalon visiting in private with First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion” the broadcaster paused as a picture of the Federated Suns leader was shown beside Kitsune.

   â€œIt is now clear that this visit was of a more personal nature than a professional one.  It appears that Kitsune Kurita is in fact Victor Steiner-Davion’s illegitimate son born to Duchess Omiko Kurita during the Clan War.  It is a well known fact that Victor and Omiko were involved during the Clan War, a relationship that began on Outreach during the secret meeting with the Wolf’s Dragoons and that continued as Victor helped save Hohiro Kurita and beat back the Clans cumulating in the destruction of Clan Smoke Jaguar.  It appears that Kitsune’s birth and his parentage were hidden from a select for many years, even his father did not know until the meeting on New Avalon.”
   â€œThe news has caused ripples throughout the Draconis Combine and Federated Suns with much anger directed at Victor Steiner-Davion’s cavalier youth and at Coordinator Theodore Kurita and First Prince Hanse Davion who allowed the relationship to go on.  Kitsune has publicly said that he has no interest in leadership of either realm and is happy to serve the Draconis Combine as Ambassador to the Star League.  However, this has not quelled all voices that have come out against him or his father who still rules the Federated Suns from New Avalon.”

   â€œAt this time we are aware of riots taking place on six worlds in the Federated Suns and an unconfirmed amount within the Draconis Combine.  Duke Tarncred Sandoval has ordered for AFFS troops to support local law enforcement forces on three of the six worlds experiencing riots.”  The broadcaster said as the worlds of Robinson, Kentares and Al Na’ir were highlighted on a map of the Federated Suns.  “With Ambassador Kitsune’s statement it is hoped that the troubles on these worlds and others will end and normality will return.  It is understood that the High Commands of the Federated Suns, Draconis Combine and Star League Defence Force are all taking an interest in the situation.”

Dig Site, Allied Aerospace Company
Southern Region, Pollux
Star League Protectorate
18th February 3086

   Sixty-four days into what was the strangest salvage operation in Skibinski’s Salvage Mercenary Command’s history.  The unit had struggled for the last fifteen years to win a single military action but they had become near experts in repairing the near destructible.  Their commander Edward Skibinski had no military training at all but loved technology; he’d been challenged by Gilmour Miltech of Talitha to salvage a military experiment from the radioactive ruins of Allied Aerospace Company on Pollux.

   They had searched the ruins for nearly a week before finding what appeared to be a launch tunnel that went nearly three hundred metres below the ground.  Skibinski’s Salvage worked through the tunnel finding artifacts from the Star League era the tunnel was wide enough for a BattleMech to walk up to the surface.  Skibinski’s Salvage’s IndustrialMechs had dragged more than three thousand tons of rock to the surface but Edward Skibinski wasn't ready to give up just yet, deep scans of the area had shown a hollowed out area at the end of the tunnel.

   Pushing through the last layer of rock the entire entrance to the cavern opened up to reveal a large cavern with various BattleMech cradles and support facilities recessed into the walls.  Most of the cradles were empty, some had BattleMechs and Aerospace Fighters in their bays but these had been crushed over the years by cave ins and collapses.  Only one of the bays had anything that resembled an operational BattleMech standing as tall as most Medium BattleMechs the Mech had a strange almost aerospace fighter shaped cockpit.  Stumpy legs supported a long torso with what appeared to be large enhanced jump jets of some sort on the back.  Over one shoulder it had what looked like a Light Autocannon.  On the other shoulder was a missile launcher of some sort to the untrained eye it looked like a five-tube Long Range Missile weapon.  Finally a laser type weapon appeared on one of the Mech’s arms  Even to the untrained eye Edward Skibinski guessed it was some type of experimental Land Air Mech, Edward Skibinski knew that Allied Aerospace had produced one of the Early LAM designs known as the Shadow Hawk LAM.

   To the trained eye Skibinski’s Salavage had actually found one of the original three Shadow Hawk X1 LAMs the long lost Chassis 002 lost since the fall of the Star League and the destruction of Allied Aerospace.  Gilmour of Talitha reward the mercenary command well for their find while claiming the rights to the Shadow Hawk LAM from the defunct Allied Aerospace Company despite having no real idea how to produce a LAM design.

Medical Facility
New Samarkand, Midway District
Draconis Combine
20th February 3086

   Dressed in the uniform of a DCMS MechWarrior Tami Moto felt like a fraud, what was left of her arm was still heavily bandaged; ot was likely she would never pilot a Mech again.  By the Coordinator’s order she had reported to New Samarkand for treatment.  Arriving at the medical facility she had been taken through various rooms and given various tests.  According to the doctors her arm’s nerve endings were intact and the limb was in very good condition despite the damage done to it already.  They then announced that they would be able to give her a cybernetic enhanced limb in replacement, and with it return her to the battlefield, despite the costs involved they said that with the right treatment she could use the arm as she would her flesh and blood model.  As her treatments began Tami Moto could not help but wonder why she had been singled out for such special treatment.

General Katya Christifori Office
The Fort, SLDF Intelligence, Ecol City
Isle of Skye, Lyran Commonwealth
26th Febryary 3086

   Deep within The Fort at the centre of Ecol City General Katya Christifori was reading over a particularly troublesome intelligence report.  On the periphery world of Astrokazsy Star League Intelligence Agents investigating claims of further caches of weapons and equipment on the world had witnessed two large BattleMechs fighting pirates on the planet.  These Mechs were of the heavy category with large shoulder plates, particle cannons on each arm and further lasers in the torso.  The description and pictures of these Mechs showed them to be nearly identical to the PRF-1 Prefect BattleMech produced by Irian for the Star League Defence Force.  Why such Mechs would be fighting on a periphery world?  And why Irian had sent an incomplete order to the Star League Defence Force raised serious flags towards Irians motives and their allocation of resources.  Katya decided to send additional SLIC resources to Irian to watch the corporation there.

A short April and May

Rim Association Expansion
Former Free Worlds League
21st April 3086

   Several months since their last move against independent worlds of the former Free Worlds League, and with no reaction from any of the major FWL states, the Rim Association moves again against its independent neighbours in a string of assaults led by the Liger Warriors and mercenary commands hired by the Association they take the worlds of Ghaziabad, Karachi, Mankova, Gallchina and Bismark within a single week capping off the month of April with the annexation of Bayindir and Tellman’s Mistake.

        For most of these worlds is it the first time they have been under the heel of a larger power since the fall of the united Free Worlds League giving the Rim Association occupation forces and mercenaries plenty of work to do on these planets.  Fortunately there is little in the way of resistance that is worth sending additional forces to any of the planets.

Grand Council Meeting
Strana Mechty, Kerensky Cluster
Clan Homeworlds
30th April 3086

   â€œThis session is called into order.  There are talks of Abjurnment and Annihalation.  These matters have grave consequences for all the Clans, take caution when discussing them.”  Loremaster Dagmar Lahiri said bringing the Grand Council into session.  The room was nearly half empty every single one of the Inner Sphere and Periphery based Clans choosing to attend via HPG Link from the planet Tukayyid.  The homeworlds based Clans had already raised objections over this but over the last thirty years it had become nearly common place for at least one of the Clans not wholy based in the Homeworlfs to attend virtually.  “Khan Andrews of Clan Steel Viper has the floor.”

   â€œThank you Loremaster.  Clans Snow Raven and and Goliath Scorpion have brought a great loss to these Homeworlds.  The Lum Shipyards is a massive loss to our ability to maintain our spaceborne vessels.”

   â€œClan Goliath Scorpion was merely attempting to stop the Snow Ravens from removing this capability.”  The new Goliath Scorpion leader Khan Colin Yeh said quietly

   â€œIndeed, Clan Steel Viper completely supports the actions of Clan Goliath Scorpion, for the Snow Raven’s to have robbed us of resource goes against everything that supports the Clans.”

        “Those yards were Snow Raven property, crewed by Snow Raven men and women.  It should have been to upto the Snow Raven Clan for how they were used.  Instead Clans Steel Viper and Star Adder conspired against the Ravens launching attacks of each other within days.  The Ravens had no option but to retreat how they did.”  Khan Canin Rosse of Clan Nova Cat pointed out from his position on Tukayyid.

        “And what we have salvaged from Lum is still available for Clan use, our Shipyards in the Quatre Belle system will soon be fully operational capable of servicing vessels of many Clans.”  Lynn McKenna said from her position near Canin Rosse.

        “Half a galaxy away!” Khan Garet Sainze of the depleted Fire Mandrill Clan almost shouted

         â€œAny WarShip or JumpShip can make the journey, our Clan’s do all the time.” New Jade Falcon Khan Diana Pryde pointed out.

         â€œMy fellow Khans I see a stalemate…” Khan Nathan Fetladral of Clan Wolf said smirking as he did “I have been given permission by all the Clans within this room to say we will not support any action against Clan Snow Raven.  And any action taken will result in direction action being taken in defence of Snow Raven assets still in the Homeworlds.  If you want us to return to the Homeworlds in force and cause you all issues to worry about, we will accommodate you we are leading the Clans of Kerensky by example by holding our ground within the Inner Sphere despite the fall of the Smoke Jaguars and the retreat of the Star Adders and Steel Vipers.”  Fetladral said intentionally trying to rile the two snake Clans leaders.

         â€œYou don’t even live here!”  Khan Brett Andrews shouted losing his temper.  "You can't even bring yourselves to turn up to simple council meetings!"

         â€œBut at least I can speak properly” Khan Nathan Fetladral quipped noting Andrews blatant use of a contraction within the Council Chambers.  In the eyes of all but the most liberal of Khans Andrews had just invalidated much of his argument by a simple vocal mistake.

         â€œMy apologies” Andrews said quietly retaking his seat.

         â€œPerhaps other issues” Loremaster Lahiri said quietly “Khan Goliath Scorpion perhaps you could explain what happened to your former Khan?  This chamber was unaware of the change?”

         â€œKilled in action on the world of Huntress yesterday along with two Clusters of Clan Goliath Scorpions finest warriors as we fought to control all of that world.”

         â€œShe was aware of this meeting Quiaff?”

         â€œAff, her unit was already engaged.  Areil Suvanov believed in leading her force from the fore, as a true warrior of Kerensky should.  She died a warrior’s death and led her forces to victory over Clan Star Adder’s Tau Galaxy.”

        “A Galaxy that fought to the last man, we have heard nothing from the unit?”

        “There is nothing left of the unit to hear from Khan Star Adder.  They fought bravely but were overwhelmed.”  Khan Colin Yeh reported, the Star Adder leaders looked angry but knew there was little they could do, few Clans had any assets on Huntress since the fall of Clan Smoke Jaguar seeing little potential for the world other than the SLDF Garrison which remained within its own enclave for almost the entire year round.

Bridge, Starliner One
Matsuida, Matsuida Prefecture
Military District of Midway, Draconis Combine
2nd May 3086

   Jumping from the An Ting system of the Federated Suns into the Matsuida system of the Draconis Combine should have been a straight forward event however as soon as the Starliner One entered the Combine system anti-avoidance alerts activated and other alarms sounded.  Sitting just off the jump point was a triangular shaped vessel the Starliner One’s military grade sensor suite, had fortunately never been removed or cleared since its time as the Blake’s Vengeance, immediately identified the vessel as a Tatsumaki-class Destroyer of the Draconis Combine Admiralty.  Fortunately the five hundred thousand plus WarShip was not moving in on them or attacking straight away instead Captain Conner Kitsch decided a different approach “This is the Starliner One, we have been given clearance to pass through the Combine to New Samarkand as part of our journey.”

   â€œThis is Dedication of Duty, we shall be your escort and will transmit you jump coordinates for your journey.  Do not deviate from the planned course and there will be no problems. This will be your only warning.”  The WarShip commander ordered not even identifying himself, Captain Kitsch had been warned by Duke Richard Brannson X that this journey would be full of interesting developments; he guessed that this was just the newest one.

Commanding-General’s Office
The Fort, Ecol City, Thorin
Isle of Skye, Lyran Commonwealth
10th May 3086

   Noticing a growing discord within the SLDF troops Commanding-General Archer Christifori had come up with a plan to hopefully bind his troops closer together without starting another war.  As Thorin was mostly a Star League world these days, and because of the University Construction Project, the world had two HPGs so as Commanding-General he commandeered one for this important message.  Ordering it Linked to the Solaris VII Primary HPG Archer sat down in his office and looked at the real time image of Lieutenant-General Jerry Wagner commander of the Third Brigade of the First Division “Bolton’s Rangers” the unit had served the Free Worlds League between the fall of the First and the rise of Second Star League but had rejoined very soon after.  It was a Veteran command and Solaris had been very quiet of late which made the unit perfect for rotation.  “Jerry how are you doing?”

   â€œGood sir, the gaming season is wrapping up so mostly police actions for our troops.  But all in all very quiet, I assume this isn’t just a social call?”

   â€œNegative General, I need your unit for a mission”

   â€œThe Rangers are always ready sir.”  Jerry said proudly

   â€œDon’t volunteer for something until you know what the mission is” Archer said smiling “no one ever tell you that?”

   â€œNot an option in my family sir, a mission is received and you carry it out.”  Jerry replied quickly making it clear there was no way his Regiment wouldn’t be completing their mission.

   â€œJerry, recently there was an attempt against the Coordinator of the Combine’s life.  We’ve volunteered our services of two Regiments to help keep order in the area of the attack and investigate for further trouble.”

   â€œSomething my unit can do sir, we’ve had plenty trouble with Isle of Skye Independents on Solaris the last few years.  Draconian ones won’t be that different.”  He said confidently Bolton’s Rangers was a Free Worlds League unit almost as much as an SLDF one despite its storied history.  Archer knew they had dealt with their fair share of insurgencies in the Free Worlds League and in fighting against the Capellan Confederation but the Draconis Combine would be something completely different for them.

   â€œGeneral, I’m sending along with your unit two others the Third Royal BattleMech and its support units and the Seventy-eighth Special Operations Battalion.”

   â€œSir, we’re happy to take the Killer Bees, their previous experience in these operations are well known.”  Jerry began naming the Seventy-eighth by their nickname “but the Fourth they’re a bunch of kids…” He complained but trailed off as he saw Archer’s mood darken slightly.

   â€œLieutenant-General” Archer began reminding him of his full rank “the biggest problem that unit has is lack of experience.  Working with you and the Killer Bees will help it along.  We need to bind the SLDF together not drive it apart.”

   â€œUnderstood sir, we will do our best.”

   â€œI’m sure you will Jerry, I have full confidence in the Rangers.”  He said cutting off the link he needed to break through some of the SLDF’s miss conceptions, if he had to annoy some people doing it he would.

Chemical Extraction Plant
Riverton, Antallos
Raven Alliance, Periphery
12th May 3086

   It had been a quiet night on Antallos, exactly the kind of night each warrior serving the Snow Ravens hated.  Ever since the initial pacification of the world by Clan Snow Raven it had been this way.  Most of the warriors stationed here were long past their prime, Antallos had been a pirate world with little interest from the nearby Draconis Combine when the world fell to their forces.  Ever since the fall of the world the Snow Ravens had begun to clean up of the surface and atmosphere of Antallos which had for centuries been the target of military action.

   The small settlement of Riverton in the northern hemisphere had been selected for the positioning of a Chemical Extraction Plant.  Situated on the Coast of Boogerlong Lake, which itself connected to the Sea of Green, the plant’s sole duty was to clear the water and air of pollutants.  Once the amount of pollutants got to a certain level a DropShip would arrive and remove them from the planet never to trouble the world’s 5 million plus inhabitants.

   MechWarrior Stacy was forty-two years old; by Clan standards she had no bloodname or rank and was going nowhere assigned to the Twelth Garrison Cluster of Gamma Galaxy.  Her Omen BattleMech was brand-new design but it was far from the best Clan Snow Raven could produce, a standard non-OmniMech unit weighing in at eighty-five tons it was armed with a variety of medium ranged laser, autocannon and missile weapons.  Nearby a pair of newly deployed Nuberu Anti-Aircraft Tanks, a pair of Nova Cat manufactured SM1 Tank Destroyers and a couple of points of conventional infantry rounded out the defence force.

   The first strike came in the early hours during her patrol Stacy’s assault Mech had been smashed by an LRM and laser barrage from the air from a Buccaneer-class DropShip that had identified as the weekly supply ship.  Her assault Mech damaged Stacy had turned her guns to the air as had the Nuberu’s throwing barrages of LB-X Autocannon fire into the air.  As they fired into the air a company of BattleMechs charged on the ground, both Nuberus became the target of a Longbow and an Atlas while Stacy became the target of a Victor BattleMech that seemed to be carrying an artillery piece in place of its standard autocannon.  The paired SM1 Tank Destroyers had become target of nearly a lance of BattleMechs, the fifty ton Hovercraft a seen as a serious threat by the enemy force.

   Forging ahead into the enemy’s fire Stacy tried to become a target for all the enemy forces bringing fire from all directions as she tried to defend the vehicles and infantry forces serving beside her.  Despite not being a leader of her Clan or a Bloodnamed warrior MechWarrior Stacy fought like she was possessed by the Founders of Clan Snow Raven firing in multiple directions she broke every Clan dueling rule engaging enemies in multiple directions.  Her efforts were not enough however the Nuberu Anti-Aircraft Tanks were first to be destroyed even with their four autocannons turned on ground targets they were still no match for a BattleMech assault.  Concentrated fire from the two SM1s tore an arm off the Longbow knocking the Support BattleMech to the ground but even that was not enough, the Atlas charging had crushed one under its massive left foot while the second had been crushed by a Heavy Gauss Rifle slug from its torso weapon.

   Stacy turned her lasers into one Mech, her autocannon at another Mech and missiles at a third engaging everyone within her forward arc.  Arms spread wide weapons firing everywhere Stacy stood like a Clan hero of old but even one Clan assault Mech piloted by a driven Clan warrior was not enough to turn the tide of this particular battle.  The return fire from nearly eight BattleMechs tore into the armour of the BattleMech obliterating armour, structure, weapons and engine.  Stacy fought to control her BattleMech but it was too late the Omen had taken too much damage and was falling forward out of control crashing into the ground.  Stacy survived the fall but her Mech was damaged beyond repair the last thing Stacy remembered seeing was a strange looking Mech carrying a massive chain run up towards her Omen and kick the cockpit, the already damaged cockpit crumbled under the impact and the MechWarrior inside was crushed to death.  At least she had received a warrior’s death fighting for her Clan.

   The pirates made short work of the conventional infantry which formed the last line of defence of the extraction plant before connecting massive hoses to the storage tanks.  The Buccaneer-class DropShip was in fact the Red Raider, DropShip of Vance Razek the former ruler of Antallos, the ship had been missing since the fall of the world.  Once loaded the ship blasted away from Antallos chased by Snow Raven aerospace fighters but the DropShip had too much thrust and too much firepower for them to shoot down.  Antallos did not warrant a WarShip in its defence, with the fighters unable to catch them the Red Raider had a clean run all the way to a waiting JumpShip before escaping the system with over one thousand tons of hazardous materials.  As one final insult to the Snow Ravens once they had reoccupied the extraction plant and begun to bring its systems back online an explosive charge detonated within the factory spreading further lethal materials throughout the Riverton enclave causing further problems for the Clan leaders of the world.

Thirteenth Star League Games
Star League Stadium, Solaris VII
Star League Protectorate, Lyran Commonwealth
20th May 3086

   On the world of Solaris VII MechWarrior Tamara Nova Cat felt like a Clan Warrior once more as she battled in the Thirteenth Annual Star League Games.  It was a battle of skill, warrior and machine locked together in combat.  Her Sphinx BattleMech had taken a pounding but somehow the Wild Geese Techs that had accompanied her had kept the seventy-five ton machine standing.  Colonel Sandy Reich had said as long as she brought home the top prize she could extend her leave from the Wild Geese as the Regiment continued its rebuilding efforts from the losses taken during Alisande Faulkner’s revenge raid into the Free Worlds League.

   Twisting and turning through the weapons fire Tamara made the Sphinx dance like it was lighter than the air surrounding it.  Laser blasts crossed the Star League stadium as another opponent fell, across the stadium another Mech was falling to another warrior’s fire.

   With those Mechs destroyed it left only Tamara’s Sphinx and one enemy Mech remaining a heavily modified Grim Reaper BattleMech.  The fifty-five ton Mech was so modified even the enhanced scanners of Tamara’s Clan Mech struggled to identify it as a Grim Reaper.  Tamara knew the pilot of the Mech was a former member of ComStar who went by the name of Einar she also knew the medium Mech carried Clan weapons and additional armour than the chassis was rated for.  Fortunately the Mech was badly battered and its Long Range Missile bays were empty reducing the Mech to two lasers on its right arm.  Tamara’s own Sphinx was badly damaged its left arm and the large laser house there hung useless after taking a shoulder and upper arm hit while half her torso mounted medium lasers had shorted out.  Fortunately she still had one large laser and five medium lasers at her disposal; her Mech was bigger and faster than the Grim Reaper.

   Cutting to the right she blasted with her remaining large laser concentrating on the Grim Reapers right side as the lighter Mech tried to close to bring both its weapons into range.  Tamara almost laughed at the thought, at this range the two Mechs were evenly matched, should the Grim Reaper close the firepower advantage of her torso lasers combined with the arm laser put the odds massively in her favour.

   The Mechs continued to close dancing between the laser blasts, it was like an augmented Clan Trial of Position with the crowd surrounding them screaming for victory.  Despite everything Alisande Faulkner had tried to teach her Tamara still found herself missing that life in so many ways but now she was a Wild Geese pilot and she would do her Regiment proud.  Continuing to close Tamara saw the targeting recticle go green for all the Sphinx’s remaining weapons and pulled the trigger seeing three medium lasers and the large laser all hit their target and the Grim Reaper blossom into fire.

   Excess heat caused by the firing of her lasers sent the temperature in the Sphinx’s cockpit skyrocketing but Tamara hit the override intent on keeping her Mech functional for as long as possible.  She needed not to however over the tannoy she could hear a familiar voice congratulating MechWarrior Tamara on her victory at the Thirteenth Star League Games, she knew the voice it wasn’t any of the normal commentators who had spoken over the last few days instead it was Colonel Sandy Reich commander of the Wild Geese.  Who had traveled all this was to congratulate her, any thoughts of a return to Clan life were banished in nearly a second of hearing the Colonel’s voice, she was already home.

Clan Halls, Wolf City
Arc Royal, Arc Royal Theatre
Donagal Province, Lyran Commonwealth
8th July 3086

   â€œEvan Wolf, you are called before this council” the Clan Loremaster Patrik Fetladral called throughout the Clan Hall, the massive Elemental’s booming voice carrying to all in the room.  Evan Wolf stepped out wearing his Clan leathers.  He was a freeborn warrior who had recently completed his first Trial of Position but had yet to receive his rank nor command.

   â€œI stand called” he said ahead both Khan Phelan Kell and saKhan Ranna Kerensky sat at the head of the council.

   â€œEvan Wolf, you have accomplished something that no freeborn Clan warrior before you has ever accomplished.  Four kills in your first Trial of Position, an impressive feat which should grant you the rank of Star Colonel and command of a Cluster of Wolves.”  He continued Evan stood silently “unfortunately there are no Cluster commands available.  You could challenge any of the current Cluster Commanders but know you would do so with no support.”

   â€œThen what will become of me, I am a Wolf warrior I deserve what I gained though combat this is the Clan way.”  Evan protested.

   â€œEvan Wolf, four kills in a Trial of Position is a rare feat.  The reward you deserve is what the Khan decrees.”  Fetladral continued “our Khan has ordered that you command the Wolf Spider Keshik under saKhan Ranna Kerensky and that you serve as her aide within Beta Galaxy until a Cluster is made available.”

   â€œI protest, I won the right to command a unit of my own, I want combat.”  Evan said, from behind him he could hear support from the Clan’s warriors and he could see the saKhan smile despite her advancing age she was a beautiful woman and a feared warrior within the Clan.

   â€œTrust me young warrior, you will have all the combat you could cater for.  The Wolf Marauders will be our Clan’s reaction force for the next several months you will be involved in as much combat as you could possibly desire.”  Fetladral promised the young warrior “do you accept this charge and duty?”

   â€œI will serve the Wolf.”  Evan promised saluting the Clan leaders

   â€œGood, you have been assigned a Lycurgus OmniMech, young Star Colonel.  Your duties start immediately” saKhan Ranna Kerensky said rising from her chair.

   Around the chambers all the Wolves chanted together “Seyla” in agreement and salute.

Throne Room, Forbidden Palace
Forbidden City, Sian
Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation
11th July 3086

   The tension within the walls of the Forbidden Palace could have been cut with a knife the Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation was in the midst of one of her now famous, or infamous, rages.  An assassination attempt against her son Dao-Shen Centrella had failed on Grand Base former headquarter worlds of the McCarrons Armoured Cavalry.

   â€œHow many people have your men rounded up?”  She asked Hadji Doru who stood to attention within the throne room.

   â€œSupported by elements of the Centrella Black Guards Regiment Jason Zaklan and the Youling Zhanshi have rounded up three thousand and sixty-two people that were in the area.”  Hadji Doru said quetly since his actions on Victoria Jason Zaklan had become a favourite of the Chancellor as had the Youling Zhanshi Lance which appeared to have attached itself him without any real orders.

   â€œGood pass orders to Zaklan, I want them shot.”

   â€œZaklan is a national hero, having him execute our own citizens is perhaps not a good idea.”  Doru protested Zaklan was a warrior not an executioner his reward for service should not be fighting the people he was sworn to protect.

   â€œFine pass it to the Centrella Black Guards commander I want all those we have captured executed.”

   â€œChancellor, in your position as First Lord of the Star League having your own people executed could put you in trouble with members of the Star League Council.”  Doru continued to protest

   â€œThis is an internal matter, I am Chancellor of the Capellan people, I am the Celestial Wisdom.  Pass on my order to the Centrella Black Guards or become one of their victims.”  Naomi ordered her anger rising, Hadji Doru was a brave and honourable man but he was also pushing her patience.  For a moment it appeared that the House Master would oppose her but he simply nodded and left the throne room, the people of the Capellan nation would learn she was not to be challenged or they would pay the ultimate price, she would protect her family whatever the cost.

Interstellar Expeditions Mission,
Deep Periphery Adean Dulcimer (Bug Eye-class Surveillance Vessel)
21st July 3086

   The command deck of the Adean Dulcimer was a compact area settled within the nose of the the ancient Bug Eye-class Surveillance Vessel with enough room for eight crew at various stations keeping control over the tiny ship which was technically a WarShip built around a Sub-Compact KF Core and was easily the smallest WarShip ever created.  The Adean Dulcimer was also quite possibly the last of her type in operation by an Inner Sphere power salvaged from a system in the Deep Periphery many years before.  After spending several years scouting Caesar’s Bow, a collection of new systems beyond the Marian Hegemony, the ship had been assigned to a mission within the Axumite Provence and then to the Union of Samoyedic Colonies neither of which had been very interested in contact with them despite the advanced technology they could offer.

   Travelling to Refueling Base Gamma near Vul Rift the Adean Dulcimer was now heading towards the Chainelane Isles for another mission which promised to be a far more busy one because of increased Clan business in the area.  Jumping into a new unchecked system the Adean Dulcimer’s advanced sensor arrays immediately went active detecting another vessel nearby “Oh my god we’re so dead!”  Analyst Josh Gibb whispered looking at his screens “ war-book identifies as a Sovetskii Soyuz-class Heavy Cruiser, we’ve even got a name Reaver.”  He said quickly

   Project Leader Fredrick Lord glanced from his command chair at the Analyst then at the forward screens which were showing the Heavy Cruiser.  “Reaver, was that one of the ships that left with the SLDF Exodus Fleet or one of the missing ships?”

   â€œOne of the ships that left with the Clans, SLS Reaver ended up with Clan…” Analyst Rebecca “Becka” Forsyth reported “Clan Fire Mandrill.”

   â€œFire Mandrill?  What the hell are they doing here?”  He wondered the Fire Mandrills had never been anywhere near the Inner Sphere.  “Have we got any active sensors off that thing?”  He asked one hit from any of the Heavy Cruiser’s main guns would turn the Adean Dulcimer into dust.  The Bug Eye was built as a scout and intelligence gathering craft; it wasn’t designed to fight off an aerospace fighter let alone a fully armed WarShip.

   â€œNothing at all sir, no sensors, no active engines, no life signs.  She’s dead.”  Josh Gibb reported “the ship is just outside the gravity well but at the rate its orbit is decaying she’ll be in the sun within a year.”  He reported without any active power the gravity of the star was ready to draw the WarShip into a fiery grave.

   â€œFurther contacts!”  Rebecca called “looks like a Carrack-class Transport and a Lola III-class Destroyer, IFF says she’s the SLS Anathema another ship that left on the Exodus.  Both are in close proximity of the fourth planet of this system which is within the system’s Goldilocks Zone.”  She said naming the region of a system that could potentially support a habitable system. “There also both very dead, little to no power off both of them.”  She said as the sensors caught up with the targets.

   â€œDidn’t we have a report of a faction of the Fire Mandrills going AWOL a few years ago?”  Political Analyst and Researcher Malcolm Polson inquired quietly from the back of the bridge.

   â€œCheck that” Fredrick Lord said looking at the screens with a bit of wonder had his people just found a goldmine?

   â€œConfirmed boss, according to SLDF Records Kindraa Payne-Beyl-Grant left Clan Fire Mandrill in 3069 with no confirmed orders.  The group had three WarShips and four Clusters of Ground troops with them, they were believed to be on a secret mission of some sort for the Fire Mandrills but in 3070 the Clan declared them dezgra, rogue.”  Rebecca reported “I think we might have just found them, everything fits so far.”

   â€œBut what the hell happened to them?”  Three WarShips and four Clusters of troops are enough to carve out a small empire out here.”  Fredrick said quietly “send a message to Gamma Base via Black Box have them relay it to Interstellar Expeditions.  Message Reads assistance required, major find, encrypt highest level of security.”  He said looking at the communication analyst “Helm officer bring us up to 1G acceleration, heading for the fourth planet.  Sensors and weapons keep a look out for anything that shouldn’t be in the system, never know another Clan might have wrecked their WarShips but left aerospace fighters or DropShips to defend the survivors.”  He said it was unlikely but looking at the mess that had been made to Reaver they wouldn’t be taking chances.

   As it turned out Fredrick’s caution was unneeded Kindraa Payne-Beyl-Grant was dead, someone had found them and crippled all three WarShips before dropping at least three cobalt bombs onto planet four covering every continent in a thick radioactive cloud.  If the world was pleasant enough before now it was deadly to human life.  The Adean Dulcimer’s advanced sensor arrays and active scanners detected the remains of several DropShips on the planet as well as three ruined settlements all left intact since the attack the aggressors allowing the Cobalt bombs to kill the people with radiation rather than force of arms.  Why these people’s attacker had never returned to try and salvage the WarShips or remove the technology from the planet was unknown only that on the ground nearly twenty thousand people lay dead around a goldmine of Clan technology and information.

   Even with all the resources of Interstellar Expeditions they knew it would be impossible for the company to take everything from the world.  So word of the find was sent to the Star League Defence Force and a deal was struck.  The Star League Defence Force would take possession of all three WarShip wrecks and half of the Clan equipment on the planet along with a share of all the information found about Kindraa Payne-Beyl-Grant.  In return they would provide the First Special Operations Group minus the Killer Bees Battalion.  Making up the four Battalions of the First SOG were units specifically designed to clean up nuclear, biological and chemical spills and a former mercenary command known as the Devil’s Advocates which specialized in securing and making safe zones that had been exposed to dangerous materials.
   
Daycare centre, Robinson City
Robinson, Draconis March
Federated Suns
22nd July 3086

   In an effort to quell continued anger at the revelation that Kirsune Kurita is in fact Victor Steiner-Davion’s illegitimate child the First Prince and his wife Duchess Danai Centrella-Davion had went on a goodwill tour of the Draconis March with the First New Avalon Guards RCT and the FSS Alexander Davion acting as escorts.

   After a brief meet and greet with Duke Tarncred Sandoval Victor had insisted on meeting the people of the Draconis March not just its leadership.  First was a visit to Robinson Standard Battleworks followed by a visit to Valiant Systems, a relatively new company producing Combat Vehicles for the Federated Suns, both these visits went very well with the people happy to see their First Prince and his wife.  They then went onto a daycare centre in downtown Robinson City for their third visit of the day.

   Major Jacob Theron, head of the First Prince’s Bodyguard, had known something was wrong as soon as the First Prince’s convoy had moved up to the centre but hadn’t been able to pinpoint it.  As the Battle Armour and standard infantry fanned out securing the area both Victor and Danai had remained within their heavily armoured Limosuine.  Two streets every direction around the centre was secured by BattleMechs of the First New Avalon Guards while aerospace fighters and VTOLs patrolled the air.  It should have been enough, it wasn’t, almost the moment the Deusenberg Limo’s doors opened and a figure exited the the first of six explosive devices went off at strategic points around the craft causing complete mayhem as people were thrown threw the air and pieces of building were turned to shrapnel flying through the air.  Fortunately the first person to exit the craft was not the First Prince instead it was Major Theron with quick instincts, sharpened fighting the Clans and serving as the First Prince’s bodyguard commander, Theron had pushed Victor back into the craft and hit the door closing button just as the third explosive went off crushing the Major into the side of the Limo.

   The Deusenberg Limo was designed with the duty in mind, a craft designed to carry First Prince Hanse Davion had already saved Duchess Danai Centrella and Victor’s family once before.  It’s military grade armour was designed to shrug off weapons fire from BattleMechs and easily dealt with the Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs) used by these would be assassins.  The Hovercraft was disabled as bricks and supports from the buildings around fell on it pinning it in place but its armour held and the Hovercraft’s independent air supply systems kept its passengers safe and sound as the First New Avalon Guards locked down the area and evacuated the wounded.  In all three hundred civilians and sixty-two members of the AFFS had been killed by the bombs, structural collapse of several buildings had destroyed any evidence of who had triggered the devices which appeared to have been triggered by sensor waiting for a vehicle matching the Deusenberg’s profile to have arrived at a specific point.

   With this obvious attempt against the First Prince’s life the decision is made to cut short Victor’s trip to the Draconis March, with tensions continuing to ride high everyone including Victor Steiner-Davion knows it may be a while before the people of the region completely trust him.  Both the DMI and MIIO assign additional assets to the Robinson Intelligence Division in an attempt to get on top of the events that had transpired and prevent future troubles.

Hope you enjoyed it

No worries DC, we are all looking forwards to the next update.

Rim Association Expansion
Former Free Worlds League
26th August 3086

   For the last two years the Rim Association had pushed into several of the independent systems of the Free Worlds League increasing its influence and strength.  The former Nova Cat warriors of the Liger Warriors, the Association’s best equipped and trained troops, were at the fore of this easily overwhelming the under-equipped and trained Independent world militias.  This system was different to others however; it wasn’t officially an FWL world or at least didn’t appear on any Interstellar map.  The Rim Association scout team had only stumbled onto it when discovering the wreckage of a Monolith-class JumpShip, scouting further they had found an inhabited world with strange characteristics.

   The world was massive three to four times the size of Terra standard, and it was easily 90% covered in land with few open bodies of water.  The Northern and Southern Hemispheres seemed well developed separated by a massive desert that ran the entire circumference of the world.  As they approached the DropShip’s sophisticated sensors could tell there were fusion plants on the world but they were very few, they could also tell the world was well built up with a population in the millions with at least two dozen cities and three Maglev lines linking the North to the south.

   â€œQuite a prize” Major Sandra Rimmer said quietly, she was a Nova Cat by birth but had fully embraced her place as a Rim Association citizen going as far to take the surname of “Rimmer” to show her dedication to their new cause.

   â€œStar… I mean Major; we are detecting a battle on going on the surface.”  One of the crewmen said stumbling over her new Inner Sphere styled rank.

   â€œShow me” she ordered moments later one of the screens changed showing a group of tanks firing on another group either side of a group of trees.  There were infantry formations moving around them and what appeared to be Mechs.  “No fusion signatures?” She noted “IndustrialMechs?”  She wondered thinking of the Arbiter SecurityMechs in her own unit, which were little more than armed IndustrialMechs.  The Clans and Inner Sphere would never use such units but here on the Periphery they made do with what they had.

   â€œPossibly” the crewmen replied, the Mech-type units moved swiftly around the armoured vehicles supporting them, the Mechs looked small but highly mobile.  “We also have a cluster of fusion signatures from this area in the east, looks like we might have a pair of DropShips?”

   â€œLocal Drop Port in a desert” Sandra wondered looking over the ships, even from this distance Sandra could tell the ships were not operations missing parts of their hulls.  “Maybe a junkyard or a military compound, any other signs of DropShips or other space craft?”  Sandra asked frustrated, a Drop Port would be the perfect place to put down.

   â€œNone they seem fully stuck on the planet despite their number of armed units.”

   â€œThey also seem to be stuck in a civil war of some sort.”  Sandra said slightly annoyed, it seemed this planet would be far more of a find than any of them had ever expected.  “All right we are landing here north of this MagLev line and city.  As soon as we land we offload everyone and secure a perimeter, and then we will see where these people stand.  If they come after us, we will strike the MagLev to cut off reinforcement.”  She said watching the monitor again the “battle” they had seen before had tapered off now with the two forces pulling back rapidly, now the real interesting bit would start.

   Moving from the bridge to her Shadow Cat Sandra felt the DropShip change its orientation and then felt the familiar “thud” of the vessel hitting the atmosphere.  The planetary gravity soon began to pull the vessel down and Sandra could feel the real gravity under her feet, it felt like a normal g’ strength.  Reaching the Mechbay she could see her Shadow Cat waiting her, the Mech had been hers from Clan Nova Cat and was of the advanced OmniMech type.  Only five OmniMechs survived under Liger command since they had moved to the Rim Association, the rest had been destroyed or scavenged for parts.  So far the Rim Association’s researchers on Niops had failed to reverse engineer any of the Clan technology they had been given.  Beside the Shadow Cat were the other two true BattleMechs in her formation a medium class Nimravus salvaged from combat against the Federated Suns and a lighter Raven which had been taken during their stay on Herotitus.  Across the bay were eight Arbiter SecurityMechs, more spoils from the Liger Warriors travels, which had been upgrade with Autocannons which replaced their ancient Rifles.

   One deck below Sandra knew there were two Oro Heavy Tanks, two Hachiman Fire Support Tanks and ten Elemental Battle Armour suits all crewed by the same people who had come with her from Clan Nova Cat, it seemed a lifetime ago since those days.  Sometimes Sandra pondered over where her life would have taken her if she had chosen not to betray the Clan who had given her birth… but that was not for today.  “Bridge to Major Rimmer!”  The comm. unit called raising her own personal comm. unit she answered them.

   â€œBridge this is Sandra” she said, she was still getting used to her new “surname” she truly wondered if she ever would.

   â€œMajor, the engines are suffering from heavy turbulence, once we are down I think it will be difficult to launch again.”

   â€œWe could be stranded here?”  She asked her heart sinking could this be why this world had fallen off the interstellar maps because once you landed you never left?  She remembered seeing those broken down DropShips on the ground, could her ship be about to join them?

   â€œI think we will be able to leave again sir, but the stresses on the hull mean that once we land we shouldn’t move again unless we’re trying to leave.”  The crewmen answered his speech slurred by the contractions, right now however Sandra did not care, as long as this was not a single trip.  “Regardless sir, it would be more damaging to try and reverse our course now.”  He added as if reading her mind.

   â€œUnderstood continue landing sequences.  We will come to the problem of leaving after we have resolved the other issues on this world.”  She answered as she removed her jumpsuit revealing just shorts and a t-shirt, the gear of a MechWarrior preparing for combat.  She then quickly began her ascent to the top of her OmniMech.  The DropShip around them continued to shudder heavily as it descended towards the ground; Sandra concentrated on getting her Shadow Cat powered and ready for potential combat.  As the OmniMech came to life she saw the engineers had kept the Mech in her preferred Alpha configuration which mounted a pair of Extended Range Large Lasers and a Streak Short Range Missile (SRM) Launcher.  The greatest asset an OmniMech had over all others were that its weapons, equipment and in some cases jump jets could all be switched between battles giving them more tactical flexibility.  The battles the Ligers had gone through had robbed them of many of their OmniMechs but from what Sandra had heard recently the rebuilding factories and labs on Niops were close to a breakthrough to producing the Rim Association’s first home grown OmniMech.

   As the Mechbay doors opened Sandra stepped her Shadow Cat out of its bay towards the doors, the DropShip was still over two hundred metres in the air but that wasn’t going to stop Sandra “Sierra One, Bridge, I will provide ground cover” she communicated to the bridge before stepping her Shadow Cat out of the doorway, immediately there was a strange sensation as the solid deck disappeared and the forty-five ton Mech began to fall, Sandra fought hard to avoid the temptation to interfere with the Mech’s fall.  Within moments the fall had been slowed considerably as the Jump Jets mounted in the Shadow Cat’s back fired, normally used to provide additional mobility on the battlefield they were perfect for fast insertions.  As her Mech dropped towards the ground Sandra could see seven of the small BattleMechs she’d seen before advancing over the sand dunes that dominated the scenery, she also noticed her comm. array was active.  Flicking the switch to receive she heard the planet’s first words.

   â€œDark Caste force you are not welcome on Twin Sons leave now or be considered a hostile force.”  A male voice declared, Sandra’s mind raced, how could this world cut off from the rest of the Free Worlds League and the greater Inner Sphere know of the Dark Caste?  Or better yet how could they know her force was of the Dark Caste?  She didn’t like to consider herself a member of the Dark Caste but there was little disputing it, even to her parent Clan she’d be considered to be little more than a bandit that needed to be hunted down.

   â€œPeople of the Twin Sons” she started using the same name the enemy had used “this is Major Sandra Rimmer of the Liger Scout Company; we hail from the Rim Association.  We come here to bring this world back into the Free Worlds League which it has been cut off from for so long.”  She said as her Shadow Cat came into a land, the seven Mechs she had seen were still approaching.

   â€œDark Caste, we know your ship and your technology” Leave now and we will not consider you hostile.  Inform Port Arthur that these incursions are an act of war.”  The man repeated, Sandra had no idea what or who Port Arthur was but had quite enough of threats.

   â€œTwin Sons defenders, I am very willing to defend myself, and my people.  I did not come here for war but if you bring it, I will answer.”  She said defiantly swapping communication channels “Sierra One to control, have made contact with natives consider them hostile.  Command Lance deploy to the North-West.  Alpha One through four and all Echo units attack targets of opportunity.  Support Group One and two deploy to North-East and South-West flanks, targets of opportunity but do not pursue any target.  Control try to keep out of this fight, I don’t want the DropShip targeted if we can help it.”  She ordered, she saw a variety of clicks and acknowledgements from her people before turning back to her incoming targets.  “All forces shoot to disable not destroy I want prisoners.”

   The seven defenders could barely be classed as Mech’s; even Sandra’s squat Shadow Cat completely dwarfed the largest of them.  Between them they were about six to eight metres in height according to her advanced Active Probe scanner they weighed between ten and fifteen tons – Ultra-lights.  Also according to her scanners none of the incoming designs had fusion engines which were common in BattleMechs.  As they came into view Sandra saw that the designs were similar but different most had either angular or circular armour plating, an arm mounted cannon and a shoulder mounted missile pack, although they varied in size and Sandra guessed capability.

   Moments of quiet passed as Sandra watched the defenders move from sand-dune to sand-dune then felt the rapid “ting-ting-ting” as her Shadow Cat took its first piece of damage, she glanced at the armour graph on the left of her cockpit some armour damage.  The computer designated the weapon as a machine gun.  She glanced at her target, a six metre design to her left with angular armour plate on one shoulder was a grenade launcher or a mortar on the other a missile pack while carried in the right arm was what looked like a massive infantry machine gun.  Sandra looked at the design for a second time trying to confirm what she’d seen… yes… the main gun was a “carried” weapon.  She had no interest in letting her own curiosity hold back her attack instead twisting her Mech’s turret-like torso she fired off a laser blast from the Shadow Cat’s left arm.

   The green laser blast burned through the air in seconds impacting the small design’s left side almost instantly the entire left torso of the Mech caved in taking the grenade launcher and left arm with is.  Metal fell to the ground as parts flew off the ultra-light before the entire Mech fell to the ground, the enemy Mech wasn’t out of the fight but it was disabled for now.  “Sierra One all units, these guys are ultra-light, conservative firing don’t over tax your cooling systems.”  She ordered feeling more weapons fire this time on her other side, not bothering to move her Mech she twisted the Shadow Cat’s torso and spied two more of the ultra-light machines trying to hide behind a rock as they fired their machine guns.  One was the same as the design she’d just knocked down the other slightly bigger with the same angular plates.  As she looked at them they both fired their shoulder pack missiles at her Shadow Cat.

   As she had barely moved the Shadow Cat was a sitting target and suddenly missiles from both designs were smashing into the armour.  The damage schematic glowed under each hit as armour was blown away by the enemies fire, Sandra could tell by the feel of the impacts these were like short range missiles pelting her OmniMech.  Enough was enough she launched her Mech into the air on its jump jets throwing off their machine gun fire.  In the air she targeted her SRM pack, the Streak technology built into the launcher ensuring her missiles waited until lock before firing, six missiles flew away impacting on the first design, several hit the designs left leg while others hit the torso.  Sandra could see the ultra-light’s leg was crippled as was the missile launcher.  Turning on the other design she fired her other large laser, the green blast tore down on the second machine bathing its head and torso section in light.  Normally a head shot was not a kill shot with a large laser like Sandra’s but this one was the entire cockpit crumbled under the blast.

   As Sandra’s Mech landed she looked at her sensors realizing these designs have quite light head and cockpit armour, the slightest hit was causing a breach.  She watched as the remaining designs began a fighting withdrawal pulling back, they had impressive mobility able to “hop” over small sand dunes and dodge some obstacles which larger Mechs would need Jump Jets to clear.  Looking around she realized her other units were deploying and these people had seen they were far out gunned.  Activating her comms she spoke again “Twin Suns defenders, we do not want war.”  She said it was short and simple hopefully they understood “Echo One secure disabled target designated Tango One.  Echo Six secure disabled target designated Tango Two.  I want their pilots captured alive.”  She ordered her Elemental points, the armoured warriors lept into the air on their own jump jets towards the two heavily damaged targets both of which were struggling to move under their own power.  “Alpha One, secure wreckage Tango Three, maybe we will learn something from it.”  She said ‘other than they are suicide machines?’ she silently wondered to herself.  First contact with a new world shame it hadn’t been peaceful, these people had spirit exactly what the Association needed if it was going to survive.

Rim Association Expansion
Twin Sons, Former Free Worlds League
26th August 3086

   A couple of streets over there was a small bar with seats and tables out facing the street.  Furey sat down on one of the metal chairs; it sagged under his bulk but didn’t cave in.  Sandra sat opposite him “barkeep” Furey bellowed at the staff behind the bar “freebirths” he said smirking looking at Sandra, the waiter came over he couldn’t have been older than eighteen years old with sandy blonde hair.  “Two of my usual” Furey ordered Sandra remained quiet.

   â€œHow does a Clan Bloodnamed warrior become a usual at a place like this?”  Sandra asked without thinking

   â€œWhen your Clan falls and no-one lifts a finger to stop it, you have little option I am afraid” Sandra opened her mouth to speak.  The Nova Cats and Smoke Jaguars were never friends; in fact they were blood enemies for centuries.  She was sure had things been different and the Nova Cats been in a position to help they still wouldn’t have.  “For the past…” he said quietly as the waiter arrived back with their drinks, without ceremony Furey lifted the mug to his lips and drank several large mouthfuls of the drink.  Sandra was more cautious sniffing the glass first before taking a sip of the liquid in her mouth, it was probably the strongest thing she’d ever tasted it nipped her throat all the way to her stomach.  Her reaction must have been noticed because Furey burst into laughter once more.

   â€œSo how does a Smoke Jaguar end up here in a forgotten corner of the Free Worlds League?”  She asked testing the waters, Furey’s face immediately darkened.

   â€œWhen the Smoke Jaguars were struck down I was aboard a troop transport heading to the Inner Sphere along with some garrison units.  I had recently won my bloodname and was rising within the Smoke Jaguars ready for the challenge of the Inner Sphere.”  He began Sandra nodded winning a bloodname was the highlight of ones career in any Clan.  “When news filtered down that the Smoke Jaguars had been forced from the Inner Sphere our commander a Star Colonel Phillip Osis forced the JumpShip captain to take us on a tour of the Periphery.  We raided some Lyran worlds, but rapidly Osis was losing patience with the garrison forces on his DropShips, they were a burden he didn’t want to deal with.”  Furey explained Sandra nodded she knew what Clan officers were like with none MechWarriors and Elementals they didn’t have time for Armour or Conventional Infantry forces.  “We raided some FWL targets, one of the armour stars got bogged down, he left them to die at the hands of some Free Worlds League Legionaries forces.  Ten vehicle crews dead, we jumped here, my captain had already agreed that this system would be his DropShips last with Osis’ JumpShip.  We detached as did two others from the JumpShip Osis never even communicated with us the JumpShip just jumped away.  When we reached the planet we found it was inhabitable but that it was clear there was a break between north and south, we chose to land between them.”

   â€œLike us, do not ally with one until you know the story.”

   â€œExactly!”  Furey exclaimed a little louder than Sandra had expected “two Lions and a single Fortress not exactly front-line Clan ships but all solid vessels.  Then we experienced this worlds atmosphere everything changed, all three ships were old past their retirement age, but the Smoke Jaguars couldn’t replace them.  We came down a few kilometres north-west of this city intact but shaken.”

   â€œWhat did you have?”  Sandra curious about the Smoke Jaguars forces

   â€œA vehicle cluster, a single star of Elementals with Battle Armour and seventy-five further elementals with no armour along with nearly two hundred civilian engineers and scientists we were transporting to the Inner Sphere.”

   â€œThat is way over capacity; you must have been squabbling over each other just to sleep at night, Quiaff?”

   â€œAff” Furey confirmed “on this world even in the baking heat we had a refuge from where to plan our next move.  As Smoke Jaguars we did as we were bread to do, to conquer.  Our technology immediately gave us an advantage and we soon had cut a sizable amount of territory out of the Badlands, which is this region, the Confederated Northern States of Cameron Marik, which dominates the Northern hemisphere, and the Allied States of John Marik to the south.  Unfortunately they banded together, something that has never happened on this forsaken world, and began forcing us back over ourselves, for every piece of territory we took they forced us back.”  He explained.

   â€œCameron and John Marik?” Sandra asked not knowing the names

   â€œBastard twin sons of Captain General Simone Marik, she gifted them this world in 2740 as their personal playground.  They split this world up and created their own nations to play wargames on; limiting the technology to Fuel Cell engines was their way of keeping the violence from getting out of control.  Training Mechs were placed on this world for their games; live-ammunition kills even if it’s on a smaller scale.  As it turned out their choice to limit the size of machine on this world saved my people’s lives, we had no BattleMechs of our own but our tanks out massed even their largest Mechs two to one.  Even as they pushed us back it would take three or four of them to take one of our units down, in the end they got tired of the war their alliance broke and we held onto Port Arthur, the town we landed on.”

   â€œAnd you have been stuck here ever since, amazing.”  Sandra said quietly she saw Furey’s expression darken “not that you have been stuck here but that we would meet.  We are both Clan warriors without a Clan.”  She stated Furey did not reply “but where you have been abandoned by your commander, my commander took his unit to a refuge, the Rim Association.  Our nation is a small member of the former Free Worlds League, but we are growing, we came here scouting out possible worlds for conquest.”

   â€œIt would not be easy to take this world, even with a Mech force.”

   â€œTrue, but how about if we could provide your Elementals with Nighthawk Power Armour suits?”  Sandra asked immediately Furey’s face brightened “we have a Power Armour manufacturing plant on Niops it has survived from the time of the Star League, and is on the verge of producing our first true Battle Armour suit.”  Furey smiled at those words “Smoke Jaguars and Nova Cats together against the Free Worlds League.”

   â€œIt would be glorious.”  Furey said smiling “how can this be done?”

   â€œAn alliance between the Ligers and your people, together we will forge the future of the Rim Association, but first I hope you have something my people desperately need?  My DropShip was crippled when we landed here.”

   â€œOur ship is fully operational but has no fuel, we traded it for supplies to get Port Arthur on its feet, if we could move our parts to your ship or your fuel to ours then we would have a working ship.”

   â€œWill your people agree to my ideas?”  Sandra asked their past could stop the whole thing and leave Sandra’s people stranded here also.

   â€œAff, I believe they can be convinced as long as our territory here is supported and protected.”  Furey warned “our people have built a home here; Port Arthur was nothing before we came.”

   â€œIt can and will be supported, we are not finished with this world.”

   â€œWell bargained and done” Furey stated standing up flipping a coin onto the table, Sandra guessed in payment for their drinks “I know where you landed, I will have people come to you and together we will retake the stars.”  He stated stepping out onto the street, Sandra followed closely banging into Furey as he came to a stop “it seems our friends went and found more support” across the street there were nearly twenty men staring at them all armed with knives and swords “you are ready, Quiaff?”  He asked moving his cloak slightly.

   â€œAff” Sandra said raising her SMG as the first of the men began to charge she fired.  Furey drew a slug-thrower of his own and also began to fire.  The first rank of men fell quickly in a hail of fire but the second rank trampled over them and continued to charge Sandra quickly switched targets and continued to fire as Furey engaged them in hand-to-hand combat.

   Sandra’s SMG finally ran empty with still half a dozen men moving in, Furey was still standing and fighting but even the massive Elemental couldn’t hold them forever.  Sandra steadied herself for hand-to-hand combat and likely her death as the men continued to close, but suddenly the air was full of lead and noise as above several machine guns opened fire as one tearing down into the six men who were approaching.  At least a dozen bystanders were caught in the hail of fire as all six men were gunned down.  As the fire died down she stepped out into the open to see five Elementals standing on the rooftops, they’d tracked her down.  The men fighting Furey ran away as quickly as they could at the sight of the armoured Elementals the former Smoke Jaguar warrior bloodied from a large gash above his eye looked up at the Battle Armour Point and burst into laughter.  “Never thought I’d be happy to see Nova Cat Elementals” he shouted waving up to them.  “The people of Khayr Ad-Din do not like violence outside their arenas.  Come to Port Arthur, we will rise again.”  He said looking around Furey marched off into the crowds, despite his size he was soon lost in the crowds.  Sandra surveyed the scene, the people of this city had been caught in the crossfire, it hadn’t been intentional but the blood of this world was yet again on her hands, perhaps in the future the people who lived here would understand.