I think the SLDF are starting to get to the point where a number of House Lords may look to teach them a lesson.
The Succession States ran rampant for four Succession Wars without an SLDF the SLDF's presence for now is holding them back from that for now.
But you're right they can only be pushed so far...
SLDF Mechbay, The Fort
Thorin, Star League Protectorate
7th May 3096 Looking up at the Penetrator always gave him chills he remembered sneaking into the Mechbay while a child just to look at it. He knew every inch of the Mech every battle it had fought in. “Something else for you to miss?†His father Archer Christfori asked stepping up beside him.
“There are plenty Mechs on Terra†Morgan Christifori told his father “but none quite like her†he said his eyes not leaving his father's Penetrator. “Are you taking her to Kittery?â€
“No, if I need my Mech on Kittery then we have no chance of making peace, I think the Covenant should be enough firepower anyway.†He said Morgan couldn't disagree the Cruiser did have significant firepower but there was something so impersonal by it. Morgan had enrolled in the Star League Defence Force as a MechWarrior trainee he was only seventeen years old but with consent from his parents he was being allowed to enroll; as it turned out he'd be eighteen only six months after the start of his classes.
“Shame she's not getting some time out of the hanger it's been a whileâ€
“There will be a time†Archer said with a small smile “Come on we'll go find your mother then I'll give you a lift to Terra†he said guiding his son away from the silent BattleMech.
Weapons accident
Andrey, Tukayyid
Clan Space Inner Sphere
9th May 3096 During a weapons test an unexpected discharge strikes Chin Cooper the Clan Hell's Horse Loremaster of the Clans. The discharge kills the Elemental and three technicians instantly with three others dying the in the days that followed from acute radiation poisoning. Several days later Klaus Harper of the Snow Ravens becomes the new Loremaster of the Clans beating out Nova Cat Oathmaster Klick Lenardon to take the position.
Harper who has felt that the Snow Ravens culture is being lost in the Raven Alliance had already been en-route to Ramsau the new Snow Raven claim within the Wolf Occupation Zone instead headed for Tukayyid. Harper suggests that should the Clans, in general, become engaged in campaigns against the Inner Sphere that elements of the Ebon Keshik be allowed to keep their combat skills up the other Clans agree to the proposals however they stipulate that the Ebon Keshik cannot gain additional territory for Tukayyid and that they will not engage the Inner Sphere alone which Klaus Harper agrees to.
Waypoint Lagrange Point
Waypoint, Rim Collection,
Periphery
13th May 3096 Light Commodore Matthew Davion, of the Victoria Davions, looked out at the small fleet of WarShips and JumpShips that were readying themselves for Operation: Snakehunter against remnants of the Serpents. The FSS Ferdinand, a Robinson II-class Transport, out there supporting the Mandrill/Rim Collection fleet. The FSS Ferdinand, alongside the FSS Zibler, had escorted the RCS Providence to the Rim Collection, carrying the teams of engineers and technicians under Matthew’s command, the Fox's Teeth, Delta Company and a number of Rabid Fox Battle Armoured troopers.
While the FSS Zibler, a Davion III-class Destroyer, would remain only until the Warsaw, which was now a Federated Suns vessel, could safely limp to the Federated Suns, the Ferdinand, his engineers and technicians, and the ground forces were slated to remain for a bit longer, with the Prince's Champion General Damien Redburn as their commanding officer.
While they were sent here to aid the Rim Collection against the Stone Spirits, instead the they were now going to be used against the Serpent remnants that had raided the Rim Collection the past few months. He found it strange that the Mandrills were worried so much about the Serpents, who possessed a force which was estimated at being roughly three or four Cluster clusters in size, a battered destroyer, and two worlds, rather than the Spirits he and the rest of the AFFS forces supplied to the Collection were supposed to be learning about and assisting the Rim Collection in fighting.
In his reportedly non-combat role Matthew commanded the technical units, were here to help to teach the Collection and its pet Mandrills in how to use the equipment on board the RCS Providence, the Fox-III Refit WarShip which the Federated Suns had traded to the Mandrills for the Warsaw. After seeing the condition of the crippled Whirlwind-class Destroyer Matthew did not know how the Mandrills had kept the Warsaw operational, especially without a yard to stop further degradation was beyond his knowledge, though he held onto the theory the Mandrills had to be insane to still be using it, even just as a training vessel. Now the Whirlwind was a Federated Suns vessel and after a brief spell under repair inside the RCS Providence, where critical damage would be repaired, she and her escort the FSS Zibler would head to the Federated Suns for extensive refit and repair at Galax Shipyards.
While most of his technical units were indeed helping with repairing the Warsaw for its journey back to the Federated Suns, Matthew and a detachment of engineers had been allowed onto the Resolute. The vessel was quite possibly the last operational New Syrtis-class Carrier, originally a Davion vessel hundreds of years ago, she had been taken by the SLDF into Exile and eventually been added to the Clan's reserve WarShip pool. The vessel had been dragooned into the Clan Fire Mandrill Navy during the Clan's retreat from the Clan Homeworlds taking heavy damage in the process.
Matthew and his engineers had agreed to help repair some of the Resolute's systems while at the same time they had jumped at the chance to study the WarShip; a vessel of their nation's history. The Federated Suns had little need for a Carrier, with the FSS Black Prince and FSS Pegasus both capable of carrying significant amounts of aerospace fighters, the vessel was of interest to the engineers. Already Matthew could see a modified version of the design becoming useful addition to the FSN possibly as a Battle-cruiser. A report, he knew, the Collection and Mandrills would ultimately see as well; due in large part to having to use the Collection’s HPG grid to send and receive messages from the Federated Suns. This he didn't consider to be too troublesome as the Collection could benefit from seeing what the Federated Suns could do with the Resolute in the long term. Matthew could even imaging New Avalon being willing to trade an Avalon Block II-class Cruiser or a First Prince Block III-class Battleship for the vessel which again could benefit the Collection.
The sound of a door opening caused him to turn around to welcome the visitor. It was President Able’s daughter, Karen. Seeing her, he blushed, as he remembered how he met her while taking a shower after using the on board gym facilities. She had come into the locker room, along with two other women and a male clan warrior of Elemental-stock. Upon seeing him, she had decided used the shower next to his, chatting him up. He was, as a military officer, used to the no gender segregation of facilities however it was still unnerving to him to have a full grown woman showering right next to him. That it was President Able’s own daughter only made him be more on his guard.
“So this is where you have been hiding, Davion,†she spoke to him her use of his family name annoyed Matthew he was so much more than 'Davion' but few ever saw it. “Enjoying eying the fleet,†she asked with a wink.
“Yes, though it surprises me the Collection and its Fire Mandrill allies are putting so much effort into this operation and not against the Spirits. Surely they are more of a threat,†he answered her, ignoring her subtle innuendo. He was hoping to figure out just how much the Fire Mandrills had sway with the Rim Collection, their firepower he guessed was only part of it, and how she answered his question would answer that.
“The Mandrills are angry, that’s all,†she supplied him with a shrug. He knew that of course. What he wanted to know was why. “The people that make up The Serpents were the ones that ultimately forced them out of the Clan Homeworlds. That and something about dezgra Burrocks and traitorous kindraas,†she informed him a moment later Matthew guessed that even she did not fully understand it.
“So its vengeance? You're involving us in a blood feud in our first Op together?†Matthew asked her a little annoyed himself in some ways he was surprised that Damien Redburn had decided to go along with this.
“That and the Serpents are too close to All Dawn for the Mandrills to feel comfortable with. The Collection too for that matter,†she answered him it made tactical sense to eliminate or neutralize the closer threat first even if it sounded a little too personal for Matthew's tastes.
“From the briefing yesterday, it sounded like the Collection didn’t really care about the small raid on Waypoint last month and more that your government is simply using it as pretext to enlarge your nation,†he easily countered Karen’s latter remark.
“True,†she answered him with a beautiful smirk on her face. “Though we rather only have two enemies on our borders rather than three,†she supplied further with another wink. He didn't like how she classed the Lyrans as an enemy the Succession State was not someone that the Rim Collection would want to aggravate; and someone the AFFS troops would not fight against unless they were attacked first.
Well whatever you want from me that isn’t going to happen, he thought getting back to Karen's flirtations. While the Collection was itself friendly and he wouldn’t mind bedding the admittedly nice on the eyes upstart in front of him, there was no way in hell he would allow himself to be used this blatantly to bring the Federated Suns into alliance with them. At least he won’t be the catalyst, he decided to himself. “Fair enough,†he answered himself. “Don’t you have duties here? I mean, not that I don’t mind all the blatant attention from you. But don’t you, I don’t know, have duties somewhere else?â€
She giggled at him. Oh hell. “Not until fourteen hundred hours when I have to be on the bridge, conveniently with you. That means we have, let me see. Four hours to spend with each other,†the last she said as she swung her arms around his neck, making him look down on her beautiful green eyes.
“I am not going to be used for an alliance between the Collection and the Suns.†There that will shut her up and end her looking at him like a tiger would meat, he thought.
“Whoever said I want to make an alliance with the Federated Suns through you, Davion,†she asked him then kissed him softly on the lips. Bloody hell! After she kissed him, she continued. “You are after all only a member of the Victoria Davions and not a Davion of Avalon; and the Federated Suns is so far away.†She whispered leaning close to him the distance Matthew was from home the total opposite to the feeling he had now.
“Why me?†Matthew finally asked her after she gave him another small kiss.
“My father is after me to have children, as if he didn’t have enough grandchildren from my siblings. And while I don’t want to be married, having a child with someone with the right pedigree is something I would definitely not mind,†she admitted and then gave him another kiss. “You having three children, all with different women, while you yourself are unmarried means you don’t mind casual encounters and prefer to stay unmarried, just as I do. Am I wrong?â€
“So is that all I am? Breeding stock for you,†he asked her astonishingly, he didn’t disapprove of the notion, although he didn't like being used for his name once more.
“For now, yes. In the future? Who can say?†she answered him smiling seductively. “Now are you going to continue to stall my advances towards you? Or are you going to join me?†She asked the last, letting him go.
“Definitely joining,†he replied with a grin.
Hours later, both he and Karen were leaning or holding onto handholds on Resolute’s bridge near each other and the Fire Mandrill Khan, as the WarShip and the fleet made the final jump to Harlez. “The fleet all present and counted for, Star Admiral,†reported a Fire Mandrill technician manning a station to their right. “One warship and three JumpShips sporting known Serpent transponders are orbiting the third planet.â€
“Good. Send word to the FSS Ferdinand to match our speed and hold position. The Mandrill Provider will stay to protect the JumpShips,†ordered Star Admiral Malcolm Lynn the Rook, the Mandrill's Sylvester-class Transport had remained behind defending All Dawn. “Under no conditions are we to allow Truscott and his band of Serpents to escape. Quiaff?â€
“Aff, Khan,†yelled out the female Fire Mandrill technician manning the comm station. “The Ferdinand reports it will comply with our orders, Star Admiral,†she reported a moment later.
“Good. Let us see how the Davions fair in war,†the Star Admiral relied to the entire bridge, answered by a few laughs.
“You will find we Davions know war very well, sir,†Matthew Davion answered to defend the slight of honor the Fire Mandrill warrior had likely unknowingly just given to them. He caught Karen smirking at his answer and figured he indeed had answered the Mandrill correctly.
The clan woman manning the comm station piped up. “Khan, Star Admiral, message from the surface. Khan Truscott of the Serpents is demanding to speak with you khan,†she reported.
“Transfer to this station,†Khan Showers ordered.
“Aff, Khan,†replied the young woman, who just as quickly sent the message to the station nearest to the Fire Mandrill Khan. It allowed Matthew to see how the Mandrills treated their lower castes. So far, the Mandrills surprised him, with Warriors being seen by he and his people many times to be helping their lower castes with their assignments, even socializing with them when not on duty and being completely professional with them when they had to give orders, certainly not acting as overlords which he had expected, though he had been informed the Fire Mandrills had a very close bond with their lower castes during the months-long trip to the Collection.
“This is Khan Aemelia Showers, commanding the combined Collection forces in system. Surrender, snake, or be destroyed. Though I prefer you legless lizards fight us,†Khan Showers growled out ferally, eliciting verbal agreement all across the bridge.
“This is Dante Truscott.†The man said identifying himself, he had been the saKhan of the Star Adders once, how the mighty had been caught low Showers thought. “We will defend ourselves with all our might, stravag monkey. Will you fight with honor befitting a clanswoman you once were or will you fight us as the other clans have done? Without honor,†the Serpent Khan answered the older Fire Mandrill Khan. Matthew thought it odd the man responded that way, though he shrugged it off, for he didn't know the full situation concerning the Serpents and other clans; or the Clans in general if he was truly honest this trip would be full of learning experiences and not just ones from Karen Able.
“Do not speak of honor to us! You who defied our show of honor and instead called us dezgra in the Grand Council! Who helped run us out of the Homeworlds, they were OUR HOMEWORDS as well snake!†Matthew heard the Fire Mandrill Khan yell out to the Serpent Khan. Yup, definitely vengeance speaking, Matthew noted to himself the Mandrill leader was furious about how her Clan had been treated by their kin. “To make things worse YOU and your allies could not even remain in control of the worlds you forced us from!†She continued her anger spilling out “YOU allowed yourselves to be driven from our worlds.â€
The Serpent Khan looked as if he was embarrassed by the Mandrill's challenge and anger. Interesting, Matthew thought to himself. “At the time, my Khan and I believed your clan to be too weak to survive,†he admitted “We thought we knew what was best Khan Showers, we were wrong, you have done well Khan Mandrill.†He said more respectfully.
“Thank you, Dante Truscott,†Khan Showers answered more calmly. “We have fought long and hard to be where we are now.â€
“As the Collection’s pet monkeys, quiaff?†The Serpent Khan responded, eliciting angry responses all over the bridge. Matthew himself was warned never to call a Mandrill a monkey and now he was seeing why; for he could see the palpable anger all the Mandrills on the bridge now had.
“We are not the Collection’s pets, legless lizard!†Khan Showers yelled her anger again at boiling point. “They are our partners and allies. They have given us a home, where our kin turned their back on us, and helped us to defend ourselves when our brethren turned against us!†A moment later, she added menacingly, “Which has allowed us to maintain our strength and even made us stronger. Tell me, what have you lost since forcing us from the Homeworlds?â€
Matthew Davion thought Dante Truscott would respond in normal clan fashion, in anger, so when the other leader didn’t, he was shocked. Instead, the Serpent Khan's former defiance had change to defeat. How and why, Matthew could not say. “Everything, Showers. Everything. Our enclaves. Our way of life. Our people. Everything. We lost everything.†A moment passed, all the while Matthew noticed the tension all over the bridge seemed to deflate over something. He guessed it had something to do with the Homeworlds he knew the Mandrills, at their current strength, were still a fraction of the strength they once held. “I will save what I can of my people, as your predecessor, Cassandra Faraday, did with your clan. I alone will fight you and all you lead here, Khan Mandrill. All I ask is you treat my people with respect and give them a new home I could not. Quiaff?â€
Matthew did not know what Dante Truscott meant by that, glancing at Able's daughter he guessed nor did Karen, yet it seemed the atmosphere of the bridge had turned to something akin to sadness, with many of the Mandrills seemingly lost in remembrance of something, at least until Khan Showers finally answered their opponent. “Neg, Serpent. We have lost too much already to the infighting that consumed so many and to the Society. And I will not lose more of my clan to ensure the destruction of yours. I will not see the death of yet another clan, if I can help it.†She paused, and turned to look at Karen, then quickly turned back to the monitor. “I offer this only once. Join the Collection and stand with us. Or I will carry out your wish to absorb your remaining forces into Clan Fire Mandrill. You have four days to decide. Khan Showers out.â€
The second the connection to the planet was cut off, Matthew watched as Karen Able approach the Fire Mandrill Khan. “What in the hell was that!†she demanded angrily.
“Clan business,†the elderly warrior curtly supplied as her only answer. “You would be wise not to interfere.â€
“I get it. I get you want revenge for whatever happened in the Homeworlds! Now is your chance! Yet you turn it down! Why?â€
“I did not turn it down, Star Marshal. I merely offered the Serpents a chance to survive. The same offer your Collection offered my clan,†she answered back from his place on the bridge Matthew knew that Karen Able liked the sound of 'your Collection.'
“It is not your place to decide who can join the Collection!†was Karen’s angry response “it's our nation!â€
“Tell me, Galaxy Marshal. Will your father or his President’s Council, or even the Rim Congress, stand against my decision to allow the Serpents membership, granting our Collection access to another WarShip? One that is the same class and in better condition than the one you have had us trade to the Federated Suns?†She asked glancing at Matthew who shifted nervously he did not want to be drawn into this but Showers wasn't finished. “Not to mention adding three or four more clusters worth of battle-hardened Clan warriors to our defences? Or to the control of the two worlds the captured Serpent warrior told us the Serpents currently occupy? Neg, I did not think so. Nor do I think you will when it is up to you in the future.†Khan Showers seemed to have deflated Karen, Matthew noted, as she silently turned and slowly left the bridge to calm down.
Khan Showers turned to Matthew then. “You may want to go after her. She might need to couple.â€
“What…how…?†he stammered out.
“Or not,†she remarked before setting to push herself for the bridge exit, leaving Matthew confused as to what just happened he'd assumed the Mandrills were the junior partners in the Collection grabbing onto the rapidly growing Periphery nation for survival. Showers display in front of all these Mandrill warriors and who was likely the future leader of the Rim Collection had shown him a far different side of the relationship and one that General Redburn would want to hear about.
McCarron's Armoured Cavalry Raid
Small World, Alya Prefecture
Military District of Dieron, Draconis Combine
25th May 3096 For three days the McCarron's Armoured Cavalry had fought against the Eighth Dieron Regulars Regiment on the planet of Small World. New recruit Leftenant Ariana Steiner had fought with the unit against the Combine. Initially her actions had been restrained however now that they were falling back towards their DropShips she had become more erratic. Colonel Elizabeth McCarron guessed that she was working through the loss of her parents and wished to take it out on someone, something she could understand, she had assigned Ariana to the rear guard as the unit retreated into their DropShips. The AFFS had given them this assignment in search for any POWs who may have still been held by the Draconis Combine following their recent conflict. McCarron's Emperor Assault Mech stood near the DropShip overlooking the evacuation on the perimetre she watched as Steiner's Warhawk OmniMech walked up to a Draconis Combine Shootist the Mech hit the Warhawk with a one-two punch from its arm mounted particle cannons staggering the heavy Mech. The Warhawk stepped into close range with the Shootist taking an autocannon blast to the torso as she fired her particle cannon again beheading the Combine Mech Elizabeth McCarron shook her head there was no need for Ariana to get that close or to take that amount of damage. “Assault Three fall back to the DropShip.â€
“On my way†the pilot replied targeting a Longbow Assault Mech with her weapons as she retreated. The Warhawk sidestepped the Longbow's counter-attack striking out again with its particle cannons causing more damage. Elizabeth watched as Ariana again stepped out of the way of the Longbow's missiles showing that the pilot had no lack of skill in the assault Mech.
“Assault Three, leave it, there will be another time†McCarron ordered as the Warhawk stepped forward firing a flight of long range missiles and a particle cannon at the Longbow knocking it down to the ground. “Assault Three, now!†Elizabeth McCarron snapped finally the warrior seemed to listen and began to retreat towards the DropShips. It took the assault Mech only a few moments to cross the distance between the perimetre and the DropShip.
“Is everyone on board?†Ariana Steiner asked holding at the entrance to the Overlord.
“Get on board, Leftenant, in the future move when I order you the first time.â€
“I blunted their assault†Steiner complained stepping her Mech into the DropShip bay Elizabeth McCarron looked for any threats that were close most Combine Mechs still hovered near the fallen Longbow. Steiner had blunted the assault but the damage her Mech had taken was unnecessary she had shown fighting the Longbow she could take another Mech on without taking the damage she had taken fighting the Shootist. She'd make sure that Ariana would help repair the Warhawk and if any additional parts were required she would pay for them; unfortunately Elizabeth McCarron did not thing the financial hit would get the warrior's attention.
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Topic: Alternate Timeline with Thanks (FULL) (Read 160055 times)