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nice update!

Now for a special month.  Other than the fighting between the Combine and Ravens and a couple of edits from me this month is all James Tanaga.  I personally think its a great piece of work.

Conference Room, LCS Adam Steiner
Alarion, Alarion Province
Lyran Commonwealth, Inner Sphere
9th December 3106

Admiral Patrick Doyle sat at the head of the conference table on board the LCS Adam Steiner, studying the holo-screen as he waited for his subordinates to arrive. The renegade Stone Spirits had continued their push, taking the worlds of Kelang, Sappir, and Triesting while covering their flank at Etiler and Virtue. It all meant one thing.

The Spirits were coming for Alarion.

The automatic door slid open, and his subordinates began piling into the room, taking seats to either side of him after he returned their salutes. The top of the screen showed four officers that couldn’t make it in person, but were televising via HPG or standard communications.
“I don’t believe I need to say it but the regs require it of me. Anything leaks from this room; it’s on your heads. Verstanden?” He ignored their dutiful agreement to his words. He noted a few looked nervous, especially the youngest and most junior of them, Kommandant Varnay from somewhere in the Stone Spirits Occupation Zone.

“Ten days ago, the Spirits struck these three worlds.” Pausing, he clicked the buttons near him, so the holo-screen could show the Inner Sphere topography map. Zooming in, it showed the highlighted worlds of Kelang, Sappir, and Triesting. He ignored the sucking of breath from a few of his subordinates and the comments from a couple of others the Stone Spirits appeared to not care about holding their territory instead they wanted to hurt the Commonwealth.

“Four days later, the Spirits conducted attacks into Etiler and Virtue,” he paused for the briefest of moments, allowing the news to hit as he meant it to before moving on. “The LCS William Steiner faced off against two of the Spirits antiquated destroyers and that Vincent of theirs before being forced to withdraw. She suffered heavy damage and won’t be available for our operation against the Spirits.”

“Meanwhile, the Stone Spirits’ Second Stone Guards and Eleventh Assault Clusters conducted a raid in force on Virtue, destroying one battalion and mauling another from the Tenth Commonwealth Guards,” Kathy Parks took over from her place directly to his right. He nodded to the elderly woman, who nodded back, before turning to address the table. “These two raids effectively secured their borders. Yesterday, the Estates General used its Emergency Powers and removed Robert Johnson as the Lyran Intelligence Commands Director. Henrietta Bradford of the Marik Oversight Office will be replacing him.”

Admiral Doyle noted many in the room didn’t like that decision but it was one that needed to happen Intellgence should have seen this attack and should have prepared for it. He also knew they won’t like what was coming next, as he once again took control of the room. “General of Armies Aiden Grey has decided to cede control of this front due to currently being out place on Tharkad.”  He noticed nearly all in the room were upset at the news. Aiden Grey was well-liked with the Lyran military. Even those who were political rivals of his respected him.  Doyle had been one of the voices that had said the General of Armies should be replaced but it was a failure of Intelligence not military command.

“Sir, with respect, who will replace him, there needs to be a chain of command?” asked Colonel Spencer Hutchinson of the Seventeenth Lyran Regulars.

Patrick noted Kathy looked as uncomfortable as he. “The General of Armies retains control over the Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf fronts.  Generals Artur Von Danzuch of Kaumberg, Kimberly Page of Skye, and myself will coordinate the fight against the Stone Spirits.”

Many within the room nodded, but he noted they still didn’t like it. “Hauptmann-General Kathy Parks,” he nodded in Kathy’s direction, “of the Third Royal Guards RCT will command our ground forces during our counter-assault into Triesting,” he began the actual briefing.

Two hours later, as the other officers left the room, he glanced at Kathy. Only when they were alone did he speak. “Do you think we can trust her,” he asked.

Hauptmann-General Kathy Parks nodded to him. “I believe so. She led her militia battalion in taking off from Champadanga just as reinforcements from Kaumberg arrived in system. Even now, they’re in the middle the Spirits Occupation Zone at Krung Thep. If Kelly Varnay was anything like her father, why would she put herself in her current position? Sir,” she answered him.

“She acted contrary to her orders, Kathy,” he replied.

“Her battalion is the new militia prototype, sir,” the older officer replied. “They don’t hold onto territory. They help support other combat units,” she reminded him. “She is only doing what is expected of her new unit, I believe, she’s trying to hurt the Stone Spirits we need her hurting them.”

Patrick visibly sighed. “She gets a pass then,” he gruffly acknowledged before turning to the matter at hand. “What about the three Light Combat Teams Loxley, Lancaster, and York are providing for this op?”

“I believe they are hoping to gain political prestige, and funding, in the Estates General, sir, but that isn’t my call. And quite frankly, sir, we need those three units, what with the Seventeenth Lyran Regulars remaining here while my Third Royal Guards RCT is being deployed?”

Patrick nodded to himself, having thought much the same thing, what with the recent arrival of the First LCT at Baryshevo. “What about General Maria Marik-Johns and the task-force she has gathered on Baryshevo?”

He noted Kathy was deep in thought. “The Dismal Disinherited lost a third of its combat forces in the Stone Spirits first wave. The Obsidian Lancers Brigade been deployed there since their mishandling of Lost as a result they’ve maintained much of their strength. The other units on planet, excepting the First LCT from Loxley, all were forced to retreat from the Stone Spirit advance. General Marik-Johns reported all the forces she gathered at Baryshevo are looking to take the fight to the Spirits. I say we trust her.”

“Trusting the word of a merc beyond their contract isn’t something the Lyran Commonwealth should do,” he admonished her.

“Then don’t, sir,” she replied back. “But at the end of the day, we need those mercs she has gathered at Baryshevo. You and I both know this, sir.”

“I know, Kathy. I know,” he gruffly answered her. Both knew the forces the Dismal Disinherited had gathered around them at Baryshevo were realistically the only forces the Lyrans had remaining as a reserve that could realistically take the fight to the renegade Spirits.

Battle-line, Second Genyosha Regiment
Kazanka, Raven Alliance
Periphery
14th December 3106

   Despite the Ravens and Nova Cats pushing the Draconis Combine Mustered Society to breaking point the ISF had identified a weakness in the Raven lines a pocket of eight worlds that had the lightest of defences.  With several support regiments the Second Genyosha was leading the attack targeting the most significant Battle formation the elite One Hundredth Raven Battle Cluster on Kazanka.  Chu-sa Asima Marphissa turned her eighty ton Hatamoto-Suma BattleMech as the Ravens approached her position “the Ravens will fight us until they fall.  They know that we have identified a weak spot in their defences.  Our navy will take care of the space above us.  Our duty is here where it has always been taking the ground and holding it.”  She said lining up an incoming Snow Raven Pouncer OmniMech pulling her main trigger she fired a gauss rifle slot which surprisingly went wide of the enemy Mech as it kept running in engaging her with paired particle cannons.  “You should have stayed back my friend” she said watching the range tick down as the particle cannons hit her Mech for a second time “my turn” she said pulling the second trigger sending forty medium range missiles, a medium laser and the gauss rifle into the incoming OmniMech.  This time the gauss slug connected with the Pouncer’s left shoulder moments before the forty missiles coated the enemy OmniMech in firey explosions.  The massive armour loss knocked the Pouncer to the ground where it was vulnerable to a second salvo of weapons from her BattleMech.

   Across the battle-line Asima could see her regiment was fully engaged with the One Hundredth Battle Cluster “push them back!”  She commanded switching her focus to a pair of fast moving Cizin Hovercraft which were trying to engage her Mech with their turreted lasers.  As they approached Asima laid down another barrage of forty medium range missiles coating the area with fire.  One of the Cizin’s took several hits from the missiles but continued forwards firing its lasers and short range missiles into Asima’s BattleMech.  As armour was burned and blasted from the eighty ton chassis Asima continued to step backwards firing the gauss rifle and missiles as quickly as they would reload.  One of the gauss slugs went straight through the cockpit of one of the hovercraft finishing off the vehicle while a leaping Black Hawk KU came crashing down on the second crushing it under the sixty ton BattleMech.  “You have my thanks Command Four” she said deciding not to hold the warriors unrequested assistance against him as a wave of missiles bombarded the area.  “Forward” she commanded moving her assault Mech forwards along side her Mech the Black Hawk KU, an Orion, Dragon and Mauler all moved forward against the Snow Raven forces.

Along their lines vehicles and BattleMechs of the Genyosha supported by Battle Armour and infantry continued to push the Snow Ravens back metre-by-metre.  While from above aerospace fighters dived through the atmosphere and began launching straffing and bombing attacks on their targets as word was passed along that the Snow Raven’s WarShip had been destroyed by DCMS naval forces and that they now had air superiority.  Within six days the planet was held by the Genyosha along with Zlatousi, Milligan’s World, Quantraine, Bad News, Rashaven, Brasha, Coraines and Cerberus as Outworlds Alliance militia and second-line Snow Raven forces fell to the Draconis Combine’s advance.

Bridge, LCS Adam Steiner
Triesting, Alarion Province
Lyran Commonwealth, Inner Sphere
21st December, 3106

Patrick Doyle gripped the arm rests of his chair as the LCS Adam Steiner shook violently as it was again hit by Naval Autocannon rounds from the tag team of the two Stone Spirit destroyers. They had finally taken out the Vincent a few minutes earlier with a broadside, seemingly crippling the ship that now sat at their bow. Further in the system, he knew the Coventry-class corvette LCS Storm Watch was being hounded by Stone Spirit DropShips and aerospace fighters.

The plan was working. When the LCS Adam Steiner and LCS Storm Watch entered the system, they were met with a surprising sight of Starliner One in orbit. The nearly unarmed Sovetskii Soyuz, which had been missing for years after a suspected miss-jump and its four DropShips immediately, began to run, and he allowed the LCS Adam Steiner and LCS Storm Watch to give chase.

And then the Spirits warship star from Etiler had arrived. They had sprung his trap and now they only had to hold until the LCS Fleet Admiral Lyn Hood’s arrival.  Unfortunately, he had not expected the Spirits having much aerospace support and his two warships were now in the fight for their lives while they awaited their sister ship to arrive in some ways Admiral Doyle wished he’d been able to free up one of the Mjolnir-class Battle-cruisers for this mission.

“Radiation spike!” called out the female ensign from behind him manning the tactical terminal. “IFF confirms. It is the LCS Fleet Admiral Lyn Hood, Admiral.”

“Good!” he called out as his ship shook. Now they only had to wait until the Hood could get into position.

“Enemy aerospace fighters have changed their attack vectors!” the ensign from earlier replied confused.

Change their attack vectors, why in the hell- The thought died as he looked down at his command screen. Typing a few buttons, he paled. “Full power to the engines! Start barrel rolling!” he yelled out to the pilot. “Guns! I need flak yesterday!”

Moments later, he felt the Hyperion underneath him began to roll, but he knew it was too little too late, as the Spirit aerospace fighters began their concentrated attack on the bridge and engines of the LCS Adam Steiner, all while the Bloodhorn, the crippled Vincent, began lighting its engines as it charged the Hyperion-class heavy cruiser.

“Pilot! Change course to minus seven three now!” Patrick yelled out.

“I can’t heavy damage to forward maneuvering thrusters!” was the pilot’s panicked answer.

“Damnit!” Patrick replied before hitting a button on his command screen. “All hands, brace for impact! I repeat! All hands brace for impact!” he announced over the intercom, panic in his voice.  “Don’t jump, don’t jump” he whispered as the other ship closed if either ship activated their jump drives now the two ships would be instantly destroyed.  As he waited what felt like an eternity he thought of his wife Jessica Steiner and their children and prayed they had a long, beautiful life.

Moments later, the bridge was rocked, as the LCS Adam Steiner barreled into the Bloodhorn. The once proud Lyran warship immediately began tumbling, as Patrick felt the ship lose power, becoming pitch black.

“We’re alive…” he whispered his thanks trying to look around in the micro-gravity. “Headcount people!” Patrick yelled out. Slowly, but surely, his bridge crew began calling in. Within moments, many had flash flights. Within minutes, they finally had established radio connection with much of the crew the emergency bulkheads had closed at the forward areas of the ship saving them all from explosive decompression unfortunately almost half of the crew had been killed in the battle and subsequent collision.

Even as they tried to bring the Adam Steiner under control, which kept his mind occupied, it scared him to be out of the fight not knowing what was going on outside the WarShip.  Three full days in near total blackness later, with only life support working, an Overlord-class DropShip finally docked with the LCS Adam Steiner connecting to the WarShip’s primary cargo bay.
The Spirits had cut their losses and ran from the system, leaving behind the near-wrecked LCS Adam Steiner and the heavily-damaged LCS Storm Watch with the recently arrived LCS Fleet Admiral Lyn Hood.

Arcturus
Donegal Province
Lyran Commonwealth
25th December 3106

All across Lyran space and deep into the Inner Sphere, the haggard image of Patrick Doyle is sent out, relaying the hard-fought victory at Triesting and the beginning of Operation: Christmas Present, as the Lyrans launch a concerted counterattack to force back the Stone Spirits. Hauptmann-General Kathy Parks leads the Third Royal Guards RCT against the two Stone Spirit clusters now stuck on Triesting, while the Second and Fifth LCT’s hit Kelang. The Third LCT, assisted by a battalion from both the Eleventh Commonwealth Guards and the Fifteenth Lyran Guards RCT, removes two Stone Siprit clusters from Etiler.

Meanwhile, General Maria Marik-Johns of the Dismal Disinherited leads the Dismal Disinherited and the First LCT to Sappir attacking two Stone Spirits clusters there, defeating both, but further mauling her own command. On Krung Thep, the Obsidian Lancers Brigade, supported by smaller mercenary units, link up with the Kaumberg Militia Rapid Response Unit, liberating the world from an over-strengthened second-line Stone Spirit cluster.

The Lyran Commonwealth had weathered the Stone Spirit blitz, but at great cost. One warship lost, another adrift but salvageable, and another three needing extensive yard time. On the ground, the cost is further compounded by heavy losses to both their own units and supporting mercenary forces. While only three theatre militia combat teams were lost in the fighting, many Lyran units were nearly destroyed. It will be a long while before they are rebuilt.

Oporto, Stone Spirit Occupation Zone
Periphery
31st December 3106

Star Admiral Malcolm Lynn groggily woke up, finding himself looking up at the blackened ceiling of the RCS Resolute’s bridge. Smoke invaded his nostrils.  Coughing, he forced himself up and immediately regretted it. His right arm and shoulder burnt from second and third degree burns and he was fairly sure he had multiple broken bones. Looking across the bridge, he could see some of the bridge crew rouse themselves to help others or assume their standard positions.
“Report,” he growled out as he was helped up by a female Technician, who herself had been injured, juding by the blood on her head and how she kept her left hand close to her.

“We took a kamikaze strike by a DropShip an Overlord-C I think, Star Admiral,” she responded.
He was shocked they were all still alive, though careful not to show it. He nodded to her before looking to where another Technician had pushed himself over to man the tactical console. David, the Warrior manning it before the explosion, floated nearby, dead. The Technician took a moment to study what he was looking at, taking a few seconds longer then what Malcolm would have liked, but it was acceptable under the circumstances, for the man was not a trained Warrior.

“The Stone Spirit warships are making their escape under heavy fire from our Titans and fighters,” he supplied at last. “The RCS Rook is nowhere on the screen, I don't think they jumped, while the RCS Mandrill Provider is dead in the water.”

“Damn stravag dogs!” Malcolm cursed out loud before turning to the Technician manning damage control. “Tom, how soon can we get back in the fight?”

“Doubtful, Star Admiral,” the aerospace phenotype Technician reported. “Multiple decks are reporting severe heavy damage and Engineering reports massive power failures across nearly all our starboard weaponry.”

Malcolm sighed. The attack was meant to damage or destroy the Stone Spirits remaining heavy warships. They had failed, all courtesy of a well-placed kamikaze strike.

“Order our Titans to end their pursuit and begin recovery operations,” he ordered. “Comms, advise all units we failed in neutralizing the Stone Spirits heavy warships and to be on the lookout.”

“Aff, Star Admiral,” the young Collection freeborn manning the comm station answered back.

“Star Admiral,” Tom caught Malcolm’s attention. “I think you need to see this.”

Malcolm glanced at him confusedly, before pushing over to Tom’s station. He growled as he brushed his injured arm against Tom, but looked down at the screen, only to see something that would haunt him to the rest of his days.

“How are we not dead?” Malcolm hissed at Tom, who could only shrug. The Stone Spirit DropShip had crashed directly into the RCS Resolute’s cargo bay holding the vessel’s L-F battery and most of its reserve ballistics and missiles.

His fellow Clan member could only shake his head, as both continued to eye the unbelievable damage the RCS Resolute had survived.

While the Rim Collection’s attempt to capture or destroy the Stone Spirit’s two heavy warships at Oporto ended in failure, their aggressive attack into former Lyran space was not. In the next couple days, the Collection successfully takes the worlds of Oporto, Edmine and Brank from the Stone Spirits, yet they take heavy losses in doing so. With heavy damage done to the Stone Spirits by the Lyrans at Triesting, the renegade clan forces choose to withdraw from the system when the RCS Firestorm arrives. The former Starliner One, unable to retreat so due to battle damage, surrenders itself and the Stone Spirit cluster it is carrying. With no hope to escape, the Stone Spirit cluster on the ground also elects to surrender, hoping to remain Warriors within the Collection. By January 4th, the New Year’s Eve Offensive, as the Collection calls it, final comes to an end.

More from me, marauder648 (Raven) and James Tanaga (Mandrill).  Both marauder and James Tanaga your contributions are as always most appreciated and add much to this AU.

I'll post the DropShip Cradle stats sometime soon possibly alone with the Behemoth variants

Skirmish
Prochnow Settlement, Devil’s Rock
Star League Protectorate
3rd February 3107

After weeks of observation things on Devil’s Rock had gone from bad to worse rapidly near the Prochnow Settlement for the SLDF observation teams.  It had started early in the morning of the second when the Prochnow family supporting Bobby Winchester had come out firing.  All at once they had opened fire on three of the SLDF’s observation posts and begun to move.  Morgan Christifori’s unit had not been on duty when it had all kicked off but now they were in the thick of it with Morgan’s Penetrator standing in the centre of the SLDF line as they advanced towards the Prochnow family’s position.  “Okay people if they are able to push through they will fall back to their settlements in the mountains and we’ll be stuck with them holed up there for the next few years.”  Morgan said briefing the others under his command “High Command does not want a PR fiasco or a drawn out conflict so we are it…”

“No PR fiasco!  What do you call thirteen dead and double that injured?”  Ralph asked angrily his ninety ton Mauler taking several steps forward it was the heaviest Mech they had.

“They don’t want to make things worse” Alex said his four Mechs and two other BattleMech lances were the immediate forces available while the First Devil’s Rock Regiment were holding the perimeter.  The problem with the First was they didn’t know exactly which pilots still held loyalties to the criminal families of Devil’s Rock.

“What’s our orders boss?”  Alex asked so far they had been held back from the action her light Cougar OmniMech was the smallest they had but it was built with Clan technology which gave it that little extra punch.

“Contain them and hopefully talk them down.  Bobby Winchester surrenders today or we attack and force the surrender of the compound.”

“Boss, we’ve seen over two hundred individuals go in and out of that settlement there could be a lot of collateral damage if we attack.”  Adam warned his Barghest was a little lighter than Morgan’s Penetrator and was built on a quad chassis.

“We are not going to let that happen” Morgan said moving his BattleMech forward towards the Prochnow family’s position.  The other three BattleMechs of the lance moved with him towards the criminal family on his sensors Morgan could see six BattleMechs of medium size or smaller and several armoured vehicles arrayed together surrounding several transports which probably carried the Prochnow civilians and valuables.  “Alex when we get close I want you to probe the transports find out which one has people in it and which one has equipment.”

“They will all have people in them” she point out thinking of the drivers.

“I know” Morgan admitted as they closed he switched communications channels “this is Captain Morgan Christifori of the Star League Defence Force you are ordered to surrender your munitions and Bobby Winchester to us immediately or face the consequences.”

“Captain Christifori my name is Ruskova Prochnow I cannot and will not surrender all of our weapons if I did that my family would be vulnerable to a take over from other families.  Mr Winchester is under contract as a hired gun with my family to turn him over would breach our contract with him making it an expensive proposition.”  She said Morgan shook his head watching the Prochnow BattleMechs moving around in their formation they both knew that the Prochnow family had other “assets” in the mountains which would protect them.  He saw a message flash up in the Penetrator’s cockpit from Alex identifying the transport which appeared to have the least living beings in the formation.

“The more trouble you cause the more it will cost you.”  Morgan said switching channels “get read!”  He commanded twisting the Pentrator’s torso towards the vehicle Alex had indicated triggering all six medium pulse lasers breaching the vehicle’s armour in multiple locations turning the vehicle into a fireball.  Morgan detected several targeting systems on his BattleMech but he kept his large lasers down and off target and no further weapons were fired “Ruskova Prochnow” he called out on the general frequency.

“What kind of negotiation is this?” Prochnow shouted down the channel at Morgan he saw a Bushwacker BattleMech take several steps towards his Penetrator.

“I knew that vehicle had the least people in it” Morgan answered noticing on his display that Alex had indicated another he twisted the BattleMech’s torso to the right ignoring the closing Bushwacker “I know that this vehicle has few people in it as well.”

“You will die before it can fall Christifori” another voice, this one male, said speaking up Morgan saw the Huron Warrior had leveled its weapons on his BattleMech.

“Shut up Winchester!” Prochnow called out “Christifori do not fire”

“Surrender the weapons and…” he began just as Bobby Winchester opened fire on the Penetrator as the Silver Bullet Gauss Rifle and Pulse laser flared to life cutting into the Penetrator’s armour savaging the right hand side of Morgan’s Mech.  Christifori twisted the torso of the Penetrator towards the Huron Warrior and saw that the other Prochnow BattleMechs had not fired “guys hold fire cover Prochnow” he commanded “I have Winchester” he said firing both extended-range large lasers one connecting with the Huron Warrior’s left arm the other going wide.  The renegade MechWarrior Winchester suddenly accelerated his BattleMech forward trying to escape.

“Boss, I’m faster” Alex called out her Mech was also fifteen tons lighter than Winchester’s but Morgan already had ideas scanning the buildings around him.

“And I have options” he said launching the Penetrator into the air jumping up onto a nearby building.  The Penetrator’s legs flexing as the jump jets cut out and the seventy-five ton BattleMech came to rest on top of a nearby building.  Immediately Morgan sighted Winchester’s BattleMech and triggered both large lasers targeting the back of the Huron Warrior’s left leg one laser burned into the armour while the other blew out the Mech’s knee actuator.  The fifty ton BattleMech stumbled and fell forwards.  Morgan jumped his BattleMech off the building towards the fallen medium Mech marching forwards keeping his guns on the Huron Warrior as it tried to regain its footing.  “Stay down” Morgan ordered firing his lasers over the downed Mech instead of trying to stand the warrior forced the Mech into a roll turning it onto its back Morgan knew from experience that it wasn’t a good thing to do to a Mech as armour plate grated against the ground.  Moments later the Huron Warriors two arm mounted weapons opened up on Morgan’s BattleMech the large pulse laser burning over the heavy Mech’s torso while the Silver Bullet Gauss slugs flew over the Penetrators right shoulder.  Morgan continued to walk towards the downed BattleMech as a second salvo of pulse laser blasts and another cluster shot of silver bullet shots flew into his BattleMech this time enough was enough and Morgan retaliated targeting the right arm with both large lasers burning through the arm at the shoulder.  Taking several steps closer he twisted the BattleMech’s torso and fired both lasers again this time into the left arm damaging several of the actuators in the arm. “Enough is enough” he said looking down at the now disabled BattleMech “Adam move up dismount and take Winchester into custody.”  He commanded as the Barghest moved forwards almost at the same time the Prochnow family moved as one charging off to the right.

“We’ve got a breach” Ralph reported watching the Prochnow forces moving away from the two SLDF Mechs but holding their fire.

“Don’t fire” Morgan commanded “we are too spread out to contain them ourselves.  Charlie One to Delta and Echo units Prochnow family units heading east.  We have Winchester in custody.”  He said “Ralph, Alex shadow them if Charlie and Echo units move in you are cleared to support their actions but don’t try and secure yourselves.”  He said from both sides SLDF lances were moving in each with a mix of medium and heavy units with the firepower of eight BattleMechs in front of them and two BattleMechs following the Prochnow family agreed to surrender their remaining forces to the SLDF.

Over the next couple of days charges were placed against several of the members of the Prochnow family for the deaths at the observation posts.  Bobby Winchester and his Huron Warrior were taken into custody by the SLDF with Winchester himself being extradited to Saffel to face charges for Duke Dean Singer’s murder.  With a little but of convincing their commanders allowed the unit to keep Winchester’s BattleMech which replaced Alex’s Cougar and brought her Mech in line with the rest of the lance with a Clan laser and the electronics from the Cougar replacing the large pulse laser on the Huron Warrior.

Trial of Possession
Tukayyid System
Clan Space Inner Sphere
11th February 3107

Warrior Faridah Fire Mandrill kept her Parthia-Prime OmniFighter on the tail of her opponent, a Jade Falcon Scytha, continuing to keep up the fire from the Extended-Range Medium Lasers in her fighter’s nose and wings.  The Parthia, like the forty-five ton Sarmatia and one hundred ton Hun OmniFighters her Clan was deploying in this Trial of Possession were designed to keep Fire Mandrill aerospace assets up to date.  One thing the Fire Mandrills were trying to keep under wraps was that the fighters involved in this trial made up the majority of the produced OmniFighters they made a nice show and appeared to be quite effective. And so far, Faridah could see all three designs were doing just that. One on one, the three newer OmniFighters was showing themselves superior to their Jade Falcon opponents.

Yet to be a part of this trial, Star Captain Eduard Wirth had been forced to bid only Alpha and Beta stars of their trinary against the full Jade Falcon trinary they were battling against. Three against two were unfavorable odds at the best of times. Against the Jade Falcons, it made the Trial of Possession for the newly built York in Tukayyid’s orbit had become far more difficult.

Yet she smiled ferally as her opponent’s Scytha OmniFighter lose control and then quickly exploded as she arched portside, allowing her to miss the Scytha’s wreckage. As she awaited her next opponent, she took a glance at her radar and quickly whistled. From her vantage point, she could see only one of the four Sarmatia’s still running, badly damaged at that. Yet only three of the ten Parthia OmniFighters her Clan fielded in the fight had so far been lost and while all the rest, her own included, suffering some damage, only two she knew were combat ineffective. What impressed her most was the fact the four one hundred ton Hun OmniFighters her Clan brought to the Trial of Possession were effectively taking on all comers from Clan Jade Falcon. All four were badly damaged, but continuing to destroy anything in their way.

“Beta 4-2, redeploy with Point Beta-2 and follower Beta 2-1’s orders, quiaff?” the voice of Star Commander Louis Fire Mandrill erupted into her radio.

“Aff,” she radioed back as she arced her Parthia to starboard, intent through the black space battlefield to where Beta 2’s two Parthia OmniFighters flew. A few moments later, as she joined the formation, she saw both 70-ton OmniFighters were badly damaged and grimaced. It meant she would have to pick up the slack for them should fighting continue.
Slowly but surely the other duels slowly ended and the Fire Mandrills slowly coalesced around Beta 2 Faridah could see they had lost two further Parthia OmniFighters and one of the 100-ton Huns. Of the eleven remaining OmniFighters the Mandrills still fielded, she knew only four were only moderately damaged, her own included.

They didn’t wait long, as the third and final Jade Falcon star finally arrived onto the battlefield. Faridah noted absently more and more aerospace assets belonging to other Clans had formed around the outside of the assigned battlefield. “Let them watch” the voice of Point Commander Alec came into her speakers. “Soon enough, victory will be ours.”
She nodded, agreeing with the slightly older pilot. “Aff,” she radioed back as both the Jade Falcons and her clan began to dance in space. Soon, her next opponent became clear.

A new, voice came into her radio, as a pristine Visigoth belonging to her Jade Falcon opponent came upon her wing. “Warrior Clara Jade Falcon to Fire Mandrill Beta 4-2. You are to be my opponent.”

“And you mine,” Faridah agreed in her radio. “Let us take our duel to the sidelines, less we initiate a brawl between our two Clans, quiaff?” she radioed back a moment later.

“Aff,” she heard Clara radio to her. A moment later, both fighters broke off from the main battle and sprinted to the invisible ventral sideline that marked the boundary of where the battle was located. Fardidah idly noted the other duels were doing the same and nodded. Ever since her Clan was welcomed to Tukayyid and again accepted as an Inner Sphere Clan, the Fire Mandrills had slowly become known to the others for matching their fellow Clan’s zellbrigen and so while their Trials were as intense as any other, brawls were uncommon. The fact the Mandrills were ordered to keep from being seen as the initiator by their Khans less the entire Clan become dezgra helped, for what true Warrior, nay Clansmen, would put their Clan at risk?

Just as they reached the ventral boundary, she noted her Jade Falcon opponent break from her port side and begin a long circle. After turning her own Parthia around to face her opponent and recheck her equipment she piped into her radio. “Let our duel begin. Seyla!”

“Seyla!” Clara announced over her radio and soon both OmniFighters begin to charge against one another.
Faridah noted indicators showing her Parthia had been painted with a missile lock. “Amateur,” she growled out, as she saw missiles coming from her opponent. Just as they were about to hit her Parthia, she slammed the thrust control down as she pivoted to the ventral side and was slammed back into her seat, as her OmniFighter pushed itself to just a hair over 5.5 G’s of thrust, its maximum speed. Though she felt her fighter get hit twice, she calmly noted most of the missiles had missed.

All too soon, she felt laser fire begin to hit her Parthia and noted Clara was matching her step by step. When she would pivot to the port, her opponent would as well. To the starboard, she would be on her tail starboard. She tried breaking and was surprised her opponent met her break with her own. She started to panic as she finally realized her opponent was well versed in dog fighting. “Not an amateur, monkey,” her opponent snarled back over the radio.

Faridah was too busy fighting for her life now, as the Parthia’s controls became non-responsive. Suddenly, she felt the ejector seat launch herself into space.

“Well fought, monkey. If you perhaps live, I will gladly take you as my bondswoman,” she heard her opponent over the radio as she watched the undamaged Visigoth launch itself back into the battlefield. Soon, an Ebon Guard shuttle had arrived, finding her from her homing beacon and snatched her up from the black space.

Within the shuttle she was gladdened to see many of her fellow Mandrills, but disheartened as well, for it meant the battle was not going well for her Clan. Three hours later, she learnt of the fate of the Trial of Possession, courtesy of the Ebon Guard pilot piloting the shuttle. Her Clan had won, but at a heavy price. Only two Parthias and a Hun had survived to the end of the Trial. The Falcons even less, a single Visigoth. And while the Mandrills suffered primarily in the loss of seventeen new OmniFighters, only one pilot was killed. The Falcons lost nearly an entire trinary of OmniFighters and Warriors.

It gnarled at her the day after the Trial when she finally met the pilot of the lone surviving Jade Falcon Visigoth. It was Clara, her opponent from the Trial of Possession. And what made it worst? She was her new Point Commander. Terrific, Faridah Fire Mandrill thought sarcastically to herself as she and her trinary began to study the Trial of Possession they had won the day earlier.

Meeting Room, Subtlety (McKenna MOD)
Galatea System, Isle of Skye
Lyran Commonwealth
16th February 3107

   Captain William Leroy-Deitrich had only returned to the Subtlety a few days before and already he his ship had been approached by four DropShip commanders.  “Welcome onboard the Subtlety” he said looking at the four DropShip commanders sat around the table beside him inside one of the gravity decks.  One the wall a large screen mimicked a viewport showing the massive Galatea Station off the Subtlety’s port bow.

   â€œThank you Captain a very impressive ship you have here.”

   â€œYes it is” Leroy-Deitrich said “you requested this meeting?”

   â€œAffirmative, I am Liam Pearson” one of the DropShip captains said speaking up he was the oldest of the four captains and appeared to be the one in charge. “We four” he said indicating to himself and the two others “have formed what we believe is a unique Mercenary Command.  As you may be aware we have two Behemoths, a single Mule and a single Octopus-class Tug we specialize in salvage and repair work.”

   â€œAn admirable task” Leroy-Dietrich admitted “but how does it concern my ship?  We work to improve naval and aerospace fighter combat.”

   â€œYes but your ship is not at one hundred percent” another of the captains said “you have several compartments exposed to space, parts of your vessel you cannot use, we believe we can help you with that.”

   â€œThe compartments we cannot access are minor” Leroy-Dietrich said trying to pass off that the damage did not restrict the Subtlety’s capabilities.  In fact in some ways they did there were several power and data lines that had to be routed around the vessel to avoid damaged areas because putting them through the exposed sections would make minor repairs a major undertaking.

   â€œEven then the damage does not look good” Pearson said speaking up “although you have stated your intention is for your vessel to remain in this system if you did ever decide to move the damage already done to this craft shows that it can be damaged.  That there are weakened sections in its armour plating” he pointed out “we can repair that.  We could also assist you in bringing back online some of the weapons that are currently offline or adding additional capabilities that this ship lacks such as missile defence systems.”  He suggested again it was an interesting proposal but of course it all came down to cost.

   â€œHow much?”  He decided to ask the captains straight out “we are a school we cannot afford massive rates for repairs.”  He admitted it was one of the reasons that he hadn’t booked a private berth in one of the Inner Sphere’s shipyards to make the repairs everything Subtlety made went back into its school improving their capabilities for the next years classes.

   â€œWe can come up with a reasonable arrangement” Pearson said glancing at the others who nodded “we have no interest in bankrupting your school Captain.  Instead we would be content with you covering the costs of the parts needed to repair your vessel, access to the facilities on board your ship during our crews downtime and a public announcement from the Subtlety Training College that you were placing the repairs of your ship in the hands of our crew.”

   â€œNot too much then” Leroy-Dietrich joked in all honesty it was not a huge cost the parts would be reasonably priced if they went to the right people.  Access to the Subtlety’s facilities could be controlled by the ship’s on board security complement and these people did deserve credit for their work.  “And who should I say is conducting these repairs?”

   â€œWe are The Repair Group” Pearson said simply Leroy-Dietrich suppressed a smile for he guessed that it wouldn’t be as simple a job as the group’s name.  The next day Captain William Dietrich hired time on the Galatea Station’s HPG and broadcast a message on the Interstellar Network stating that the Subtlety would be remaining in business while repairs were done to the ship by The Repair Group who had accepted a contract to enhance the WarShip’s capabilities.  At the same time The Repair Group’s DropShips had already begun to move into position.  According to Captain Pearson the two Behemoths had been modified with what the group called a “DropShip Cradle” which was essentially an extendable repair lattice like that seen on a larger YardShip.  One Behemoth, known as Ratchet, approached from the port side the DropShip cradle opened like a massive mouth with a framework extending along the sides of the McKenna while the DropShip itself clamped onto the WarShip.  On the starboard side the other Behemoth-class vessel, known as Driver, did the same providing a framework for the workers to use while they repaired the vessel.  With the two Behemoth’s attached the Octopus-class Tug, named Spanner, was able to move along the hull assisting engineers and providing them with the heavy lift gear needed to move some of the pieces into position and removing pieces that were not required.  The vessel of the quartet of DropShips was the Mule-class vessel, known as Foreman, it served in two purposes firstly it was where the three repair DropShips coordinated their work through, secondly it acted as The Repair Groups cargo runner with the ship often leaving to get more supplies then returning them to other ships.  During this repair operation the Subtlety was unable to use its engines and was moved entirely by the Octopus-class Tug however it was receiving much needed maintenance and the Galatea system was a friendly one so Captain Leroy-Dietrich did not make a big fuss about it.  With their teams doing such public work The Repair Group was getting some much needed publicity.

Snow Raven (Snow Raven Battleship)
Jump Point, Kazanka
Raven Alliance
23rd February 3107

The DCS Aurora Lance was burning, listing and down by the bow, her RCS thrusters firing to prevent her from rolling fully as her two remaining engines pulsed and burbled brief flashes of fusion fire in answer to jumbled commands from the ships computer.

Her once pristine passageways were now darkened, lit only by the flashes of the emergency and alert lights that pulsed amber and crimson. 

“My Khan the vessel is secure, the Combine sailors fought hard but we have secured the magazines, engine room and bridge.”

“Very well.  Open the ships outer cargo bays and open all hatches, purge the air and any survivors.”

“Aff my Khan!”  The warrior replied without hesitation despite the brutality of the order.

Aboard the CSR Snow Raven Khan Vir Sukhanov looked out of the battleship’s bridge at the crippled cruiser that had fallen to the boarding action launched by his ship.  In the distance there was a slowly expanding ball of debris and chunks of metal that had once been the DCS Makinami, the destroyer had been obliterated in the opening moments of the engagement as the Raven’s Fleet Command Star had jumped in on top of them. 

Of course their real prize was not here, the DCS Shiro Kurita and her escorts had withdrawn into Combine space to refuel and replenish their aerospace arm after taking heavy casualties taking Alliance worlds. 

This operation was supposed to have netted or destroyed an Omi Kurita class Carrier, but instead they had to settle for a heavy cruiser that had refused to surrender.  Even when her hull and interior was crawling with Elementals and Mech’s from the Snow Raven and her hull pierced by gunfire she kept firing.  The CSR Hunter had paid for that defiance the destroyer’s armour had been breached in several locations and it was all but lost the Khan had already ordered the vessel stripped of equipment which would be used to repair its heavily damaged sister ship the Bloody Talon.

That the ground forces, especially the Spheroids had fought so well had been surprising to say the least.  It seemed that the Outworlders did have a spine when it came to defending their homes.  Even the Freebirth MechWarriors and Solhama troops had fought harder than expected and the Combine was being made to bleed for the worlds they were taking. 

“Navigation.”

“Aff My Khan!”

“Bring us to low orbit. Communications!”  He bellowed turning towards another station.

“Aye Sir!”

“Signal the fleet to conform to the Flagships maneuvers, order our assault DropShip to return to the fleet save those evacuating Hunter.  I want the Kirishima secured and ready to jump within 72 hours.”  He said ensuring they kept their prize ship.

“Aff Sir!”

The assault on the Combine could be viewed as a success, the warrior’s who were growing restless had bloodied themselves, worlds had been claimed and honours earned.   It had also been a test of the Alliance’s political and military unity.  Many Trueborn had doubted that the Alliance had the will to fight, and whilst getting the support to take their troops into worlds of the Combine had been difficult, when tasked fight fighting the Spheroids had ‘stood up in the trenches’ and fought well, for Spheroids of course. 

The fleet was now fully deployed, but for the moment at least both the Combine and Ravens seemed to be avoiding a full fleet action, the planned capture of the DCS Shiro Kurita by the Fleet Command Star was to have been the largest action of the war thus far but the Combine had pulled their ships out just a day before the attack, which of course could not be accounted for.

Polite overtures were also being made on Tukkayid with the Dominions representatives but thus far their reception to a potential attack against the distracted Combine had been lukewarm at best.  As always the Bear’s seemed to want to move with leaden feet when speed was of the urgency here.  Of course the Bears were watching the Combine border but they seemed disinclined to step over it and the Combine was seemingly going out of its way to NOT provoke the Dominion, lest they be at the centre of a three Clan feeding frenzy.

There were also the reports that the SLDF was deploying WarShips and ground forces to help the Combine. Perhaps it would be best if the offensive was called to a halt now.  Honours were roughly even and the Alliance had shown it was not to be trifled with.  And if the SLDF and Combine forces then turned on the Nova Cats and their occupied worlds, such a pity.

RCS Providence
All Dawn, Rim Collection
Periphery
24th February 3107

Khan Natasha Faraday looked out from the observation deck of the RCS Providence on at the battered and cripple husk of what was once the Spirit of York, now the RCS Wildfire. Her Mandrills were busy repairing and reconfiguring the ancient Dart-class light cruiser to a more modern and useful configuration, but she knew it would take months for it to be completed. She barely kept herself from sighing.

The last two months were hard on the Rim Collection Naval Touman. Two warships lost, another nearly crippled, and the crippling of the Mandrill’s primary capital ship, the RCS Resolute. The New Syrtis-class carrier was beyond lucky to have survived. If Laborer Michelle had not sacrificed herself and vented the entire cargo bay into space as the Overlord-C DropShip was beginning its final run to ram the RCS Resolute, the carrier would have been lost. For her sacrifice, the Mandrills had posthumously given the Laborer Warrior status and her Bloodhouse, Bloodhouse Jannik, had allowed her genes to become part of the Mandrills genetics program. She knew the other Clans would shake their heads at this, but for the Mandrills, it was long something the Mandrills have done. Not nearly so public though, she conceded.

She nodded to herself as she continued her gaze upon the warship below. Though the crippling of the RCS Resolute and the loss of both the RCS Elysium and RCS Rook was unfortunate, already the Mandrills and the Collection were both moving forward.

She came out of her thoughts when she heard someone stepping up to her and noted pleasantly it was Damien Redburn. A few moments passed by as both looked down upon the ongoing work to repair the RCS Wildfire. “You wished to speak to me personally, quiaff?” he asked, using the Clan term in respect for her.

“Aff. The other Clans were very impressed with the capabilities of our new OmniFighters,” she informed the Rim Collection president. “Impressed enough a few have declared Trials of Possession for production schematics for them.”

“I assume they are still unaware that the fighters we deployed are the only examples we currently field?” He asked the Khan nodded their Watch had done well by the Clan so far hiding what the Mandrills were able to deploy “which Clans and for which designs?”

“So far, the Sarmatia has only gained some side-interest from Ravens and Falcons, but that is to be expected at this time,” she informed her nominal leader. She caught him nodding in thought at that.

“I studied the after action reports. The light OmniFighters are too armored for the other Clans liking, quiaff?” he queried her.

Natasha nodded back. “Aff.”

“We could possibly trade the design to Clan Mountain Wolf, I guess,” he propositioned out loud, making Natasha wince. “Or just give the design outright to Clan Sea Fox. It isn’t like we could produce the OmniFighter ourselves anyways, a good proof of concept design.” Though designed by the Fire Mandrills, both knew Clan Sea Fox was the actual supplier of the craft, what with the Collection not having a supplier of their own for the 360 estralight fusion engines the light OmniFighter required. That didn’t mean either liked that fact though. Another moment passed as each stared out the observatory window.

“What of the Parthia?” Damien asked her, breaking the silence.

“All the Clans have an interest in that design,” she informed him. “Though so far, only the Falcons and Horses have engaged in Trials of Possession for the design.”

“Did we lose the design to either of them?” he queried back to her.

“Only to the Hell’s Horses barely, though the Falcons deployed a new OmniMech of their own in their Trial. We took one from the Trial and another was rebuilt using salvage. Some kind of advanced Summoner design,” she answered back. “I plan on issuing a Trial of Possession for the design once two stars of Kirghiz-G OmniMechs arrive at Tukayyid.  If we fail we may attempt to trade the Parthia for it.”

“What of the Hun?” he queried her finally.

“Clan Nova Cat is planning to issue a Trial of Possession for the design in the coming weeks,” she informed him. “Meanwhile, all the other Clans are interested in it. The Rasalhague Dominion and the Ravens are especially interested though I believe they are planning on waiting until they see how the Nova Cats do.”

“I see,” he commented back before another moment of silence passed between the two. “I noticed the Sea Fox Khanates seem to be quiet about the designs. A bit too quiet.”

An awkward silence came over the two as Khan Natasha Faraday debated whether to answer him, but in the end decided to. “Khan Evangeline Clarke and I are in negotiations to trade the RCS Mandrill Provider and one, possibly both OmniFighter designs, in return for a new Hakaze-class destroyer her Clan is building in the Chainelane Isles.”

Damien Redburn nodded. “It makes sense, I supposed. The RCS Providence can only repair one ship at a time and our own warship fleet is too disparate in terms of designs and parts to quickly repair them usually. Though, if the Trial of Possession for that Summoner design is successful, we could trade that instead. Next time, though, just warn me,” he lightly chided her.

She nodded, expecting his answer. Unlike Jerry Able, President Damien Redburn had no interest in forcing the Rim Collection as the superior of the two and instead worked to integrate both the Collection and her Mandrills as one party. Something she too strives for, even if many other Mandrills did not. “Aff.”

“That does bring up something I wished to discuss with you though Khan,” he commented. “We have no shipyards of our own and the RCS Providence, while a respectable refit ship, is limited to repairing only one WarShip or JumpShip at a time. Nor can it fully repair the damage done to the RCS Resolute.”

Natasha nodded to him. “Khan Clarke and I discussed that as well. She does not mind having her Clan’s shipyard in the Chainelane Isles repairing ad upgrading the RCS Resolute to a fully modern configuration should we turn over Starliner One to her Khanate.”

“I guess it works with the proposal Archon Jessica Steiner laid out to me,” Damien conceded. He elaborated when he saw the young Khan’s questioning look in her eyes as she turned to glance at him. “Once the RCS Providence is done with the RCS Wildfire, it will head to Triesting, where it will assist with the repair of the engines to the LCS Adam Steiner and allow it to return to Alarion.”

He waved his hand placating the now angered Fire Mandrill Khan. “In return we get safe passage for all our ships, either JumpShips or WarShips, and an end to nearly all trade and economic embargoes the Lyran Commonwealth has against the Rim Collection.”

The younger Khan deflated and turned to once more watch the ongoing repairs out the window. “I guess it works out, quiaff?” she surmised openly.

“It does,” Daimen agreed.

“Khan Clarke may have an idea to solve our bigger problem,” she spoke up after another moment of silence. Soon both were deep in conversation that lasted for hours.

As the month of February ends, a large JumpShip fleet carrying a large number of Fire Mandrill warriors surround the RCS Resolute, the RCS Mandrill Provider, and Starliner One as they begin their journey out of the Rim Collection to the Chainelane Isles. On board the fleet is Khan Natasha Faraday and Brienne Redburn, daughter of President Damien Redburn, who is accompanying the Mandrills to represent the interests of the Rim Collection in the Chainelane Isles.

Now a bit more from me and some more from the Fire Mandrills from James Tanaga

As always feel free to comment, speculate and ask questions.  I'll try to answer without giving away what's coming up.

Trial of Possession
Vantaa, Hell’s Horses Territory
Clan Occupation Zone
2nd April 3107

   For the first time since taking over Clan Wolf’s territory Clan Coyote move on five systems bordering their territory.  In the early hours of the 2nd April Coyote forces enter the Vantaa and Ridderkerk systems declaring Trials of Possession.  Both the Horses and Coyotes fight within the rules of Zellbrigen with Ridderkerk falling to the Coyotes while the Horses continue to hold Vantaa. 

Several hours later Coyote forces arrive in the Hohenhems, Kufstein and Kandis systems of the Rasalhague Dominion declaring further Trials of Possession over the Hohenhems and Kufstein systems and over a production run of new BattleMechs in the Kandis system.  The Bears successfully hold onto Kufstein system while Hohenhems is taken by the Coyotes.  In the Kandis system the Coyote and Horses forces fight each other to a draw the Bears agree to transfer half of the production run to the Coyotes.

Planetary Raid
Milos, Kittery Prefecture
Star League Protectorate
12th April 3107

   With their main defensive unit reassigned to the Draconis Combine border Milos is subjected to a heavy raid by a double battalion of BattleMechs and vehicles supported by infantry.  The raiders cause damage to several facilities on the planet before the First Milos Planetary Guard unit rally to turn back their enemy.

   Two days following the attack on Milos Protector-General Devlin Stone stood in front of a press conference facing the reporters on Kittery.  For someone of his rank Stone was a young man with dark brown hair and piercing eyes.  “Ladies and Gentlemen I would like to confirm that unknown raiding forces assaulted Milos and damaged several industrial targets south of the planetary capital forty-two citizens of Milos were killed in the attack.”  He said announcing the causalties on the planet “the Milos Planetary Guard contained the raiders before they could cause further damage and drove them into retreat.  We currently do not know the origin of the raiders.”  He said the reporters suddenly began asking a dozen questions all at the same time before Stone raised his hands to quieten the reporters “I know you have questions.”  He said “the Second Kittery Regimental Brigade who were based on Milos have successfully landed on and liberated Enif from Clan Snow Raven along with the Northwind Renegades Brigade and the SLS Invincible.  During the battle for the system the Snow Raven WarShip Valdore was destroyed by the SLS Invincible and its escorts.”  He announced the reporters began asking a dozen more questions this time Stone point to one of the reporters a young woman with highlighted brown/blonde hair wearing a blue suit.

   â€œProtector-General Stone, Kimberly Grissom Milos Gazette, while we all agree we should congratulate the Second Kittery and the Renegades on their victory do you blame Commanding-General Focht reassigning Milos’ primary defenders and not assigning additional support to the Planetary Guard?”

   â€œI do not” Stone said looking at the young woman who shifted in her chair slightly under his gaze “the Milos Planetary Guard have my full support and I would challenge any unit to react quicker than they did.  The Star League Defence Force wears many hats in its responsibility to defend the Star League Protectorate, the Kittery Prefecture and the nation states of the Star League.  To facilitate this we will be forming the Fifth Kittery Regimental Brigade over the next two years is formation will enhance the defences of the Prefecture and of other Star League holdings.”  He said adding to more questions towards Stone many regarding the Regiment’s “name” if it would follow the other units that had been formed in the Prefecture.  “For now the unit has no name I welcome the input of the people of the Prefecture to submit names for consideration.  I have also been authorized by Commanding-General Victor Focht that a new Light Horse Division will be formed with the Eridani Light Horse forming the core of this new Division and each of their Regiments expanded to a full Brigade with General Ralph Cumberland, of the Eridani, taking command of the Division.”  He said breaking the news that the Star League Defence Force was growing in size and strength despite the setbacks of today.

Failure, Battleline
Addicks, Addicks PDZ
Draconis March, Federated Suns
15th April 3107

   Off to the right of the Green Marauder the lances Phoenix Hawk exploded in a fireball under the concentrated fire by the Proserpina Draconis March Militia.  The Bounty Hunter and his team had been called in to eliminate a suspected pirate band “The 7” who was hiding on the planet.  The initial part of the operation had gone well but now things were falling to pieces the militia were supposed to be on the other side of the planet but instead they were all over his unit and “7” were falling back out of range.  “Ranya, Mark, Gunther fall back the operation is scrubbed” the Bounty Hunter commanded “Kafka check our rear area we need a clear path to fall back through.  Sam lay down some heat.”

   â€œWe are retreating?” The female VTOL pilot asked angrily her aircraft turning towards their rear area.

   â€œYes we are not here to take on the whole militia” he said engaging the incoming enemies with his Marauder’s weapons alongside him Gunther Dudsen, Ranya and Mark continued to fire as they fell back.  Over their position Sam continuously fired Arrow IV artillery missiles over their position.  “Continue the retreat” he commanded backtracking his BattleMech taking out an enemy Sentinel but they couldn’t continue to get lucky Mark’s Shadow Hawk took a massive amount of damage from an LRM volley and fell to one knee.  Gunther Dunsen stepped forward covering the fallen Shadow Hawk.  “Gunther retreat I will cover” the Bounty Hunter said drilling down through an enemy Enforcer BattleMech.

   â€œNo I will kill these Fedrats it is time.” He said his thick Germanic accent coming through clearly over the communications as the ninety ton modified Mauler stepped forwards firing its both of his BattleMech’s hyper velocity autocannons and missile launchers as he charged forwards.  Gunther Dunsen was a serial killer he made his money by hunting down people and killing them now he did the same with a BattleMech and he was very good at the job.  As he stepped forwards a series of missile and autocannon hits struck Mark’s downed Shadow Hawk decapitating the kneeling BattleMech.

   â€œThis won’t happen again” the Bounty Hunter promised as he watched the Mauler charge towards its enemies firing constantly as it closed on the Addicks Militia units.  “Continue retreat” he said pulling back “Sam switch to mines aim for the gaps in our fields.”  He commanded during their approach on the pirates position they had laid some mines as a fall back encase something went wrong.

   â€œWe need to do something about this it is costing us money.” Kafka said diving her VTOL over the militia lines opening fire with the craft’s rotary autocannon damaging several vehicles.

   â€œWe will reveal a truth or two the record will be set” the Bounty Hunter promised he knew why the AFFS were hunting them down he ha pulled the trigger but what the AFFS didn’t know was that the Bounty Hunter had kept the information that set the gun up.  Several hours later the Bounty Hunter and the remains of his team escaped onto their DropShip escaping the planet and then the system setting a course for Robinson.

RCDS Snarling Mandrill (Overlord C-class DropShip)
Uninhabited Periphery System
18th April 3107

Khan Natasha Faraday held herself on the ceiling of the RCDS Snarling Mandrill cargo bay as she watched her fellow Clansmen enjoy a game of microgravity dodge ball. She was sweating and wore only a tank top and light shorts, with a red armband on her right arm. She was but one of eight Mandrills, Warrior and otherwise, that were already knocked out of the round.

She smiled, as she watched Brienne, President Damien Redburn’s daughter, catching a ball thrown her way before throwing it into another incoming ball, ricocheting the two away from her. The game was a popular training and exercise tool among the Mandrills when travelling in space, with both Warriors and non-Warriors taking part in it. The fact it was fun didn’t hurt either.  She had initially resisted Brienne’s involvement in this mission but Damien Redburn had said it was important for her to learn how to work with the Mandrills and vice versa.  So far he couldn’t argue with what she had seen.

Natasha cocked an eyebrow as Brienne moved her body to kick an incoming ball, sending it flying into an Elemental’s head. Using her momentum, she grabbed a teammate out of the way of another ball and then swung him around her before letting him go, quickly throwing him past the last two defenders and the designated finishing line. Impressive she thought watching the game come to an end.

A whistle blew. “Red team wins this round,” yelled out the aerospace Scientist that was acting as one of the referees. Pushing herself forward, she met Brienne half-way, softly colliding with her.

“You have good spatial awareness and teamwork skills,” she remarked to the President’s daughter as the younger woman finally caught her breath, causing her to blush at the praise.

“Thanks, my Khan” the other woman answered back taking in the praise from other members of her team Natasha realized that while Brienne was taking in her teams praise the two’s eyes met often and for extended periods.
‘Maybe she wants to couple,’ Natasha thought to herself it was normal for Clan warriors to seek companionship with other warriors whether they were male or female.  Before Natasha could query the younger woman, she heard the comlink on her codex spring to life, a short, rapid series of bleeps alerting her she was needed at her convenience.
Turning to the Aerospace phenotype female Technician next to her, she caught the smaller woman’s attention. “Sue, let everyone know I am needed” she commanded “and continue having fun, quiaff?”

“Aff, Khan,” the Technician responded as she grabbed, then hurled, Natasha in the direction of the door. As she flew through the nearly empty cargo bay, Natasha swung her body around and noticed Brienne looking at her.  As their eyes met Natasha bowed her head intentionally at Brienne causing the younger woman to blush even more.

Turning around, she allowed her momentum to carry her all the way to the bay door, where four more Mandrills and a Collection Freeborn sat, playing a card game. She shook her head as the taller of the two Elementals reached out his hand and caught her before setting her down, all while continuing the card game. It confirmed her thoughts they were using magnetic strips to hold the chairs and table, as well as cards and chips, from floating away.  The downtime her people were currently enjoying would not last; soon they would have a fight on their hands.

Only after she left the bay did she answer her comlink “Khan Faraday here.”

“Khan, Star Colonel Lester Jannik of our Mandrill Honor Guard Cluster on Tukayyid requests an HPG meeting with you at your earliest convenience, though stressed it to be sooner rather than later,” the voice of a female Mandrill reported over Natasha’s comlink. “Our HPG is currently active” she reported letting Natasha know that she could reply now if she wished.

“Good,” Natasha answered back. “Shift the HPG conference to terminal K-31 outside Cargo Bay 4, quiaff?”

“Aff, Khan,” she other Mandrill replied over the comlink as Natasha turned to the holo-terminal and flicked it on.
A few seconds later, she was met with the image of the silver-haired Star Colonel. “Khan, a situation between our Clan and Clan Jade Falcon has just flared up here on Tukayyid.”

“What is the situation with the chickens?” she queried the solahma warrior.

The older man sighed. “During the bidding process, Star Captain Jorge Fire Mandrill bid his binary supernova against two stars of Grand Summoners and an Elemental star.”

Natasha nodded. “I sent him ahead for that reason Star Colonel. What is the problem?” she demanded from the older man surely he was not complaining about her Clan’s move.

“This,” the solahma Warrior answered before a new box on Natasha’s screen popped up and the video began to play.
It only lasted for twenty-eight seconds, but it was more than enough. “Seems the Chickens believe our Kirghiz-G’s are OmniFighters, quiaff?”  She said looking at the Falcon bid they had bid two stars of Grand Summoners and a Battle Armour star they would be outweighed and easily beaten by the Mandrill’s assault units she didn’t care how good the new Falcon Summoner was.  To give the Mandrill’s an easy victory would diminish their achievement.

“Aff, Khan,” Lester answered her. “I plan to send this video to Loremaster Thomas Ward. With your permission of course,” the older warrior added ferally. “Would be a shame for the Falcons to lose their new OmniMechs due to misunderstanding the bid, quiaff?”

“Aff allow them to revise their bid” she said still confident of her Clan’s victory over the Falcons she knew that the forces she had sent to Tukayyid could outfight anything the Falcons had there and she wanted it to be convincing for her Mandrills. “The fleet will arrive at Tukayyid in three weeks time. We are still recharging our batteries in the Periphery.” She informed the other Warrior. “I expect the chickens to be crying when we arrive, quiaff?” she challenged the man.

“Aff,” was the man’s simple reply. Both shared feral smiles before the HPG connection was disconnected.

“To be a fly on the wall when this goes down in the Grand Council chambers,” she spoke out loud to the empty hallway.

Planetary Zoo
Algate, Qandahar Prefecture
Pesht Military District, Draconis Combine
28th April 3107

   The fighting on Algate had gone predictably, short and brutal, the Nova Cat units on the planet proving simply too much for the militia and the Eleventh Pesht Regulars.  With no transport to escape off the planet the superior tech and experience of the Nova Cats resulted in the destruction of the remaining warriors of the Draconis Combine defenders.  With the planet secured saKhan Katrine Devalis sought out the civilian leader of Algate with her Elementals reporting securing him at the planetary zoo of all places.  Moving through the visitor enclosures the saKhan found Governor Martin Balios standing observing the animals.  Katrine paid no attention instead turned on the Governor “I am saKhan Katrine Devalis of Clan Nova Cat your world is now ours” Katrine said but the Governor did not look at her “you will submit your authority to my Clan and answer to my warriors.  You will help us keep the population under control.”

   â€œDo you know why I am here?”  He asked still looking out into the enclosure.  “These animals are a source of strength for my people.”  He said “your Clans take great strength from your totem animals yes?”  He asked

   â€œAff we do” Katrine said deciding to look at the animals seeing several large cats with growths mid-way along is back.  “What are they?”  She asked watching as one of the cats began to climb a tree another opened the growths stretching out a pair of large wings.  Immediately Katrine’s vision flashed into her mind watching as the cat continued to stretch while the one that had been climbing jumped from the tree taking to the air on its wings.

   â€œThey were developed during the Succession Wars as a hunter for local serpents.  The Governor at the time was infatuated with a mythical creature that was the mount of the ancient Gods.  He started with a Terran Leopard and enlarged it before crossing its genes with that of the Terran Eagle creating what is officially known as the Leopard Eagle.”  He said as another animal launched itself into the air gliding over them.  “Unofficially our people have grown used to calling them the Gryphons.”

   â€œThey hobbled the Leopard with the wings she cannot on her own.”  Katrine Devalis said still watching the animals.

   â€œThe destruction of the Succession Wars cut off the supplies and money for supporting the research work.  They were forced to release them as they were one hundred Leopard Eagles released into the wild against hundreds of serpents who had terrorized the people of this planet.”  He said telling the history of the animal “within fifty years the serpents numbers were controlled and reduced by the cats they became a symbol of strength, unity and perseverance for our people.”  He explained “we do not fear your Nova Cats, saKhan Devalis, you have overcome the Dragon treat our people well, and you will have our respect and our cooperation.”  He promised the saKhan as she once again looked at the Leopard Eagles, the Gryphons, wondering if they were what her vision had for told.  Until now she had believed the Nova Cat absorption of Clan Snow Raven was her vision realized but now perhaps there was another option.

   Beyond Algate DCMS forces launch follow up attacks on Abagnar, Hongor, Land’s End, Pentrine X and Vega Lianna shattering two clusters of Snow Raven forces while losing two full Regimental Teams themselves in each case the DCMS find the Raven WarShips completely missing.  Unlike the previous attack on Abagner this time the Draconis Combine liberation forces are successful in driving off the Raven defenders.  Elsewhere the reason behind the Snow Raven forces folding in front of the DCMS becomes apparent as the Ravens land forces on Bad News and Brasha with full WarShip support tightening the noose around the units that had pushed into the Draconis Combine.

My thanks to James Tanaga for the start of the Mandrill Bear scene although it's changed a little since the original

Royal Birth, Royal Argyle Hospital
Argyle, New Avalon Operating Area
Crucis March, Federated Suns
2nd May 3107

   In the heart of the Federated Suns Duke Fredrick Davion the younger brother of the First Prince becomes a father for the third time as his third daughter is born on Argyle.  Duke Fredrick and his wife Nikki name the child Cresta.  A week later on 9th May the hospital is the site of another birth into the Davion family with Julian Davion, grandson of the late Jackson Davion, is born bringing much publicity to the sleepy vacation world of Argyle.

Command Deck, LCS Iron Fist (Mjolnir-class Battle-cruiser)
Nadir Point, Tharkad System
Donegal Province, Lyran Commonwealth
12th May 3107

   Just off the Nadir Point to the Tharkad system the LCS Iron First and her sister ship the LCS Typhoon sat waiting using virtually no thrust.  On board the ship Archon Jessica Steiner expertly moved through the micro-gravity entering the Iron Fist’s Command Centre.  “What is our status Admiral?”  She asked looking at the vessel’s commander Admiral Mateusz Ziółko.

   â€œWe are holding position as commanded Archon.  Our sensors have detected three large radiation surges at the Nadir Point our visitors are arriving.”

   â€œHow long?”  Jessica asked looking over the readouts in the command centre using her trained eye.

   â€œAny moment” the ship’s commander said as the first one point eight million tonne WarShip entered the system the Archon looked at the Admiral “right now mam.” He deadpanned as the ship lit its engines and moved out of position.  “Warbook can’t identify what we can identify she’s a nasty customer.”  He said looking over the sensor data opposite the Mjolnir-class Battle-cruiser the vessel wearing the insignia of the Federated Suns moved gracefully away from the Nadir Point.  “FSS Indefatigable…”

   â€œI did not realize that the Federated Suns would be taking their own ship with them.”  Archon Jessica Steiner said as a second vessel of the same class entered the system this one painted in the colours of the Lyran Commonwealth.
   â€œTireless” he said “not exactly a name we would give one of our vessels.”  He said as the ship began to move clear off point while a third ship, another vessel painted in Lyran colours, identifying as the Diligence.

   â€œWe can rename her” the Archon said “I was thinking the LCS Peter Steiner-Davion” she said naming the vessel for her late father.  The Admiral looked at the Archon and nodded his agreement.

   â€œCommunication from the Tireless, sir, a Duchess Sarah Davion on board the vessel is awaiting the Archon’s presence for handover of the vessel.”  The communication’s officer reported.

   â€œI will be on board presently, Admiral have our crews shuttled over to both vessels we will take over from the Federated Suns naval personnel.”  She directed

   Nearly an hour later the Archon was moving through another vessel which now felt quite crowded as the AFFS and LCAF Naval personnel transferred command of the vessel.  In the command centre the Archon met with Duchess Sarah Davion, younger sister of First Prince Burton Davion, Jessica Steiner knew little about the woman only that she was not a warrior instead she served in the Federated Suns government.  As she approached Jessica looked at the woman she was in her thirties and despite having no martial history was a powerful and elegant looking woman if she were Lyran the aura she had could have been mistaken for that of Archon Katrine Steiner.  “Duchess Davion I did not realize the First Prince had dispatched a member of his family to escort our new Battleships, or that your own vessel would be accompanying you.”

   â€œOperational requirement the FSS Indefatigable is carrying four Monarch type DropShips together with the Indefatigable we will be able to transfer the crews home without issue.  I have also been authorized to negotiate with you over the transfer of control of the Arondight type DropShips docked to your two Battleships as both WarShips carry the Naval variant of the C3 computer the First Prince believed the Lyran Commonwealth could use DropShips that can be used with this system.

   â€œWe appreciate the offer but as you are already carrying DropShips exactly how will you get them home if I do not purchase?”

   â€œThe Fifth Battle Group will carry the DropShips as our time supplying naval forces to guard your border is coming to an end.”  Duchess Sarah Davion explained Jessica had dreaded today.

   â€œThe peace with the Falcons will soon end we could use your naval units.”

   â€œYes and the Federated Suns also needs its sons and daughters home.  You have had time to shore up your defences and with the Tireless…”  She said before the Archon spoke up.

   â€œPeter Steiner-Davion” Jessica corrected the Davion noblewoman who smiled at hearing the name of her uncle.

   â€œThe Peter Steiner-Davion and Diligence will give you a starting block to produce further vessels of her class.  Your engineers and our own brought the class to life the First Prince has authorized me to release all data concerning the class and the SLDF’s WarShip grade Anti-Missile System to your use.”  She explained

   â€œHow does the Star League feel about this?”

   â€œIt was something that needed to be done.”  Sarah Davion explained the technology was now being shared with the other member states as well as the SLDF attempted to make the system a staple of future WarShip design allowing the capital ships of the Inner Sphere to coordinate their defences.

   â€œIndeed it was and they are a welcome addition to our naval forces.”  Archon Jessica Steiner said “you must stay with us on Tharkad to negotiate over the DropShips.”  She suggested

“I have always desired to see the Triad” Sarah admitted “my son and husband are onboard the FSS Indefatigable if they are also invited then I accept.”

“Of course they are” Jessica said smiling “our families will always be linked by blood our fathers tried to keep our links alive despite the end of the Federated Commonwealth.”  She explained “I do not believe that these are links that we should allow to die in our generation.”

“I agree and so does my brother” Duchess Sarah Davion agreed.  Over the next three weeks Duchess Sarah Davion and her family were treated as honoured guests on Tharkad during this time the trade of the eight DropShips on the two WarShips was completed between the two nations.  Then with their visit complete the family on board the FSS Indefatigable left the Tharkad system heading for the Jade Falcon border and the Fifth Battle Group including the three heavily damaged vessels of the task force.  It would take the better part of six months but the vessels would rendezvous with the other AFFS WarShips on the Clan Wolf border before returning to the Federated Suns in early 3108.

Khan’s meeting, Rasalhague Dominion Hall
Andrey, Tukayyid
Clan Territory Inner Sphere
22nd May 3107

Natasha Faraday of the Fire Mandrills moved her pawn forward on the board, threatening Ragnar’s knight. She nodded as Ragnar was forced to move the knight back inside his territory and followed through by moving another pawn to cover the first. Though the game was purely recreational, both Khans were playing competitively.

“You likely made an enemy of the Falcons for the rest of your days last night, you know?” the Ghost Bear Khan and military leader of the Rasalhague Dominion queried her quietly.

“You are trying to distract me,” she accused him, causing the far older man to chuckle. “Besides, the chickens should have read the fine print we have always been enemies one way or another.”

“Oh I know,” the older man acknowledged as he moved his bishop to threaten Natasha’s rook, forcing her to move a pawn forward, less the rook be taken. In response, the aging Ghost Bear took an undefended pawn on the other side of the board, threatening her own knight.

“Not many have managed to force them to initiate a brawl on their own and breaking zellbrigen,” he responded a few moments later. “And it was all in front of Ebon Guard members. I must say it was quite artistically done.”  Minutes passed as both continued the game. Natasha could see she had lost the chess game, but she continued on, for another game between the two Khans continued.

“You wish for your forces safe passage through the Rasalhague Dominion, quiaff?” he asked as he took a bishop.
Natasha nodded as she looked across the board. “Aff, our intelligence predicts now is the best time for you and the Dominion to strike at the Dragons, what with the Cats and Ravens heading deeper into the Dragon’s territory you could make significant headway on your border.” She moved her knight.

“Perhaps,” he conceded to her. “Yet, that would mean weakening my Clan. You understand why I am loath to do so, quiaff?” He brought his queen to the centre of the board, finally gaining firm control over the centre, typical Bear fashion moving its most powerful pieces into positions of control and prominence.

“Aff,” she acknowledged. “Your relationship with the Horses never allows for a peaceful border and they are smarting after being driven off by the Lyrans. Should you attack, they and the Coyotes would take advantage of you. The latter like the jackals they are.”

The Ghost Bear nodded to her. “They are survivors, just as your own Clan is Khan; the Coyotes are finally showing themselves to still be a Clan capable of moving on its own.  Their recent trials have proven that they are ready for heavier combat.”  He said the recent Coyote victories had won them Ridderkerk from the Hell’s Horses and Hohenhems from his own Dominion.  The Dominion counter attacks had won his Clan Kobe, Kranston and Hyperion while two further attacks had failed to gain further territory.

“You need not remind me, Khan Magnusson,” she bit out. “But at least my Clan survived on its own and has made its own territorial moves.”

“Yet you are hobbled by the Collection you now serve and the Coyotes are not,” he spoke openly to her as she moved a rook deep into his territory, out of the way of Ragnar’s queen.

“Careful, Khan,” Natasha warned him lightly. “Those are fighting words.”

“You mean if I was any other Khan, quiaff?” he joked back, causing her to crack a smile. It faded a moment later as the Ghost Bear Khan moved his knight, checkmating Natasha’s king and ending the game.

She sighed. “I prefer Go myself,” Natasha muttered as she waved a hand to the board.

The older Clan Warrior nodded to her. “A sound strategic game,” he volunteered.

Natasha nodded to the older Warrior’s answer. “What is your price for safe passage through your territory?” she asked directly after a moment of silence between the two.

The other Khan rested his chin in his hand as he thought. “How long do you predict to be fighting the Draconis Combine? I doubt you are attempting to establish an occupation zone here on my border, quineg?”

Natasha shook her head. “Neg, merely a resources raid the likes of which has not yet been seen in the Inner Sphere, we have identified a target in the Draconis Combine and we wish to exploit it.”

“Depends on the target and what you are grabbing?” the aging Freeborn Khan of the Rasalhague Dominion responded after a moment.

“The JumpShip repair yards at Schuyler,” she answered back. "Likely to be done within three months but will settle for six."

Ragnar Magnusson was taken aback. “The JumpShip yards why they are incapable of construction?” he queried her in shock, causing Natasha to sit back and nod.

“We have our reasons…”  She teased not wishing to give too much away.

“You are certainly daring, Khan Faraday,” he remarked a moment later. “Explains why your two new WarShips are here, though,” he acknowledged. “What did you have to trade for the Hakaze, if I may ask?”

“The Collection surrendered two badly damaged warships to Khan Clarke’s Khanate in return for immediate yard time in the Chainelane Isles for the RCS Resolute and the immediate turnover of the RCS Firebrand to my Clan,” she informed him.

Ragnar Magnusson nodded at her answer. “The production specs for your new OmniFghters and Kirghiz-G OmniMech, as well as complete salvage rights would be a start,” the Ghost Bear Khan informed her a long moment later.  “No games Khan Faraday you cannot play this as if your troops are my own.  If you were to there would be grave consequences.”
She winced, as the Ghost Bear Khan continued “Aff, Khan Magnesson my Mandrills will fight as Mandrills we will take our objective from the Combine and withdraw in good order you have my word.”

HPG Transmission, Imperial Palace
New Samarkand, Tabayama Prefecture
Midway Military District, Draconis Combine
25th May 3107

   Seventy-six year old Warlord Minoru Kurita looked at the Tri-vid image being transmitted by the Khan of the Snow Raven Clan Vir Sukhanov stared back at him the younger Khan was apparently on board a WarShip in the contested Pondicherry system “Khan Sukhanov you have already lost two WarShips in the Tabayama system and almost six clusters attempting to take Pondicherry and Tabayama perhaps it is time that the Ravens gave up on their quest to battle the Dragon?”

   â€œYour Second Genyosha has been destroyed and the First Sword of Light will soon follow them.  My forces are a single jump from the planet that you are standing on.  I could decapitate your nation with one strike.”  He said taunting the older man.

   â€œI could do the same to you” Minoru stated “my forces could strike at Dante causing you equal or greater damage.”  He knew the importance of Dante to the Snow Raven Clan and what was based there recent successes on Brasha, Bad News and Morthac had not only bought their forces some much needed breathing room but also threatened the Snow Raven capital.

   â€œPerhaps that is a risk I am willing to take.”

   â€œPerhaps it is but is it a risk you Clan can survive?  You were sucked into this war by the Nova Cats who had not hit a single new target in nearly three weeks.  Why is it your Clan is doing all the heavy lifting of this conflict?”  Minoru challenged the younger man

   â€œThe Nova Cats have their own objectives as does my Clan” he answered carefully “what is the point to this call Warlord?”  Khan Sukhanov asked sounding bored

   â€œWith respect I propose an end to this conflict Khan Sukhanov” Minoru said “if not then two things are likely to happen next in our conflict.  You will invade New Samarkand and likely cripple this world’s shipyards and production, you may even kill me, but you will be driven off.  I will call in resources from across the Draconis Combine to be used against you.  At the same time I will command my military to strike at Dante and flatten your facilities there with orbital bombardment if I need to but I promise you Khan Sukhanov your Clan will be broken.”

   â€œYou believe you can threaten your way out of this conflict!”  He snapped angrily

   â€œNo, I believe I can make you see reason Khan Sukhanov, I believe I can make you see that for this conflict to continue will see the Draconis Combine crippled and the Snow Ravens dead and that is something that neither of us desires.”  He said appealing to the man’s sense of reason he would actually love to see the Snow Raven and every other Clan dead but not at the expense of the Draconis Combine.  “I propose that we each retain the worlds that have changed hands in this conflict and the warriors captured by both sides are released from their bonds.”  He suggested the Draconis Combine had more than two clusters of warriors interned in the Draconis Combine while the Snow Ravens had shattered several regiments and were currently still fighting with the Sword of Light on Pondicherry.  The Draconis Combine could do with those soldiers back.  There was a lengthy pause as neither leader spoke thinking over their next move.

   â€œWe live to fight another day.”  Sukhanov said speaking the words “I agree Warlord” he said finally “I will allow your warriors to leave the systems we have taken and we are retaining this contested system.”  He said making it clear to the Warlord what the price was for their peace agreement.

   â€œAnd we will be retaining those around Dante.”  Kurita said maintaining his threat against the Ravens.

   â€œThey were won in battle Warlord your people fought well.”  Sukhanov finally said shutting off the communications grid.  Over the next several weeks the Draconis Combine and Snow Ravens exchanged the warriors captured on either side and settled into a more secure border.

New WarShip-class on sensors

Indefatigable-class Battleship including the original I based it on

http://www.ourbattletech.com/forum/techlab/indefatigable-class-battleship-(au-with-thanks)/

Trade Station
Kessel, Kessel Prefecture
Dieron Military District, Draconis Combine
7th July 3107

   For nearly two weeks terrorists had held the Kessel Trade Outpost and nearly forty hostages including a Star League Defence Force trade delegation.  Negotiations were going nowhere and the DEST had their orders.  Explosions and smoke rocked the Trade Outpost as sixteen Battle Armoured DEST troopers each dressed in Kishi Battle Armour suits smashed through the roof.  The whirl of the suits support machine guns filled the air followed by the roar as the weapons opened fire on the conventionally armoured terrorists.  The small arms fire from the terrorists was no match for the heavy weapons fire however neither was the trade outpost which suffered significant damage during the ten minute assault.

   Following the brief battle all of the terrorists are confirmed to be dead each of them torn to pieces by the heavy Kishi fire however over half of the hostages are also found to be dead including all but one of the SLDF trade delegation.  While it is clear the situation needed to be resolved the Star League questions why the DEST troopers made use of a new front-line Battle Armour suit with strong anti-armour capabilities which would likely cause high collateral damage instead of a known quantity like the Kage which could have made a precision strike and minimized the losses to the hostages.  The DCMS rebukes the SLDF comments stating that while the losses among the hostages were regrettable the DCMS had intelligence that the hostages were equipped with weapons capable of damaging Battle Armour which made the use of Kage suits a risk to the success to the operation which was unacceptable.

DropShip Rubicon
Independent Colony, Fasa City
Fasa, Deep Periphery
14th July 3107

   Following Operation Klondlike the original colony of Fasa taken over by the new Clans its people distributed moved to Strana Mechty and inducted into Clan society while the colony itself had been completely dismantled and the colony world abandoned.  Over the course of the Clan withdrawal from the Clan Homeworlds people fleeing the Society had fallen back to Fasa re-establishing the colony.  Now after all these years the colony had swelled to almost seventy-five thousand men women and children who wanted to live free of the Society and surprisingly the Society left the system be.

   On board an ancient Overlord-class DropShip that had been built into the colony years before Star Colonel Alex fought with another member of the Clan in one of the converted Mechbays on board the ship the two attacking and countering each other.  Off to the side an female in late forties, wearing a black and red jumpsuit entered and watched the two warriors spar.  After a moment Alex became aware of the observer and fought harder against his opponent knocking the other man to the ground.  The other warrior came back to his feet and bowed his surrender to Alex before turning and moving away.  Alex moved over to a grey metal bench picking up a towel before moving over towards the woman “Galaxy Commander Schmitt I did not realize you were on planet.”  He said greeting her

   â€œCongratulations on your victory yesterday, Star Colonel, I see your wounds have healed.”  She said glancing at the scar on his chest.

   â€œI pulled the stitches a couple of times but I am ready for duty and to take the fight to the Society.”

   â€œVery good” she said looking at him “grab your top there is something I need to show you.”  She said heading back out the door.  Alex quickly grabbed his jacket and followed the Galaxy Commander through the DropShip and outside onto the snow covered street it seemed whatever planet he was on at the moment was in its winter cycle.  “Do you know why Fasa works as a colony?”

   â€œBecause there is nothing strategic here neither out Clan or the Society has attempted to gain dominance here these people do not care to fight for the Kerensky Cluster and the Society do not see them as a threat.”

   â€œBut they have weapons” she pointed out the Rifleman IIC BattleMech standing at the end of the street was testimony to that.  “They also have territory and JumpShips so why do we not fight over this world?”

   â€œI do not know Galaxy Commander” Alex said it felt strange mingling with the people of Fasa and feeling like he was a hundred light years from a threat there was no war.  Since the conflict with the Society began there had been no war here.

   â€œOf course you do not few of us know the full truth of Fasa” Schmitt admitted “today you join a small group that know the truth.”  She said stopping in the middle of the street “look over there and tell me what you see.”  She said indicating towards the restaurant which had been cut out of the side of another DropShip with a fabric canopy covering most of the seating area.  Alex studied the seating area for several moments before seeing something, he looked a second time, he reached for his weapon before being stopped by Schmitt her hold on his arm strong and secure.  “I see you realize what this place’s secret is?”

   â€œThat is Scientist General Gibson the head of the Society’s Research and Development.  He is responsible for the deaths of millions of citizens of the Kerensky Cluster.”  Alex said his lock still firm on the weapon but Schmitt’s grip not lessening.

   â€œAff, he is a monster” she admitted “he is our enemy and we will not give up until he is dead and all of his kind are dead as well.”  She said Alex could hear the anger in her voice.  The young warrior felt a cold shiver pass over him as the Scientist General looked in their direction their eyes seemed to meet for a moment but Alex was sure he was actually looking directly at Karen Schmitt beside him.  “We have an unspoken agreement with the Society, Alex, we do not bring war to Fasa and nor will they.  We both need this world for trade and intelligence we learn things about the Society here and they learn things about our Clan here.”

   â€œHow can we accept that?”  He demanded the Clan had taken great lengths to keep their current base of operations a closely held secret even Alex who would soon command a Cluster would not know where the homeworld was.

   â€œBecause this place is a necessary evil” Schmitt admitted “every war has things that people will not agree with.  They do not break any laws and are not morally wrong but there is always something that will not sit well with you.”  She explained “this Compromise on Fasa is something that both us and the Society have to accept.  It is not a choice do you understand Alex?  If you come here representing our Clan and with your people there can be no retribution taken on the Society here.  The people here are innocent of the war and it is to remain that way.”

   â€œAs long as the Society keeps to their end of it” Alex said his grip loosening on his sidearm but his eyes not leaving Scientist General Gibson.

   â€œThey will until the bitter end” Schmitt said “now come, we need to eat but we won’t be eating with that bastard how about something from Circe?” She said keeping her grip on Alex’s arm drawing him away from their standoff with Gibson and into the main street of the bustling capital city of Fasa a world in the middle of a war but completely removed from it.

Briefing Room, Lyran High Command
Tharkad City, Tharkad
Donegal Province, Lyran Commonwealth
30th July 3107

   Kelly Varnay nervously brushed at her dress uniform trying to clean off yet another speck of dirt off it.  She had been summoned to Tharkad almost as soon as her unit had been pulled off the front-lines and back to Kaumberg while the rest of the unit had continued home she and her company commanders had been ordered to report to the High Command as soon as they arrived on Tharkad.  Once they had arrived she had been escorted here to this briefing room where she waited.  For the last thirty-four years she had done everything she had been expected to everything a Varnay would not do ever since her mother and uncle had smuggled her away from her father in the Federated Suns and into the Lyran Commonwealth.  She knew her mother had tried to take her older sister Terra with them but she had refused to come scared of being uncovered they had run.  Yet after all her efforts she was here, pacing the room Kelly looked around but took little of the room in, she was angry she had fought off the Stone Spirits and taken the initiative with actions that the generals could not take yet here she was.  The doors opened and in entered General of Armies Aiden Grey who had re-established his full command of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces following the Stone Spirit crisis Kommandant Kelly Varnay instantly came to attention.  The General closed the door behind him and looked her over for a moment “at east Kommandant” he ordered with a disarming smile “welcome to Tharkad.”

   â€œThank you, sir, sir if I could speak for my actions that have led me to this point…”  She began as Grey began to sit but the General raised his hand silencing her then turned it towards a chair opposite his indicating for her to sit

   â€œI want to thank you Kommandant” he said as she sat Kelly Varnay looked stunned and remained silent.  “The Rapid Response units were laughed at by the High Command when I first cleared their formation but your successes proved my faith in the concept so much so it has been decided that we will be raising further commands.”  He said leaning back in his chair taking in the stunned silence from the younger woman opposite him.  “I assume this is not how you expected today to go?”  He asked all she did was nod “you are not your father” he said quietly realizing where at least some of this was coming from “I do not know how you feel about House Davion but you are a loyal daughter of the Lyran Commonwealth I can see that as can the Archon.”  He said placing a small box on the table between them pushing it towards them “so as of this date you are a Leutenant-Colonel in the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces.  You will retain command of the First Fesnyng” he announced seeing her surprise “when you put the name on your official reports you have to expect it to catch on.”

   â€œYes sir” she said wondering if he knew if the name referred to a number of ferrets together… but remained quiet she liked the name it described what her unit was a group that worked closely together and could fill each other’s rolls if required they worked as a tightly knit team.

   â€œYour unit is rotating to York there it will train with further Fesnyng units and bring new flexibility to the LCAF.”  He said finally surprising her as far as she was aware her unit had been rotated back to Kaumberg.

   â€œWhat about the Kaumberg militia?  They will be short staffed if my unit is not being reintegrated.”

   â€œWe will take care of Kaumberg” he promised her.  He said “I’d also like to show you this” he said pressing a control on the table activating the holo projector.  This is a new DropShip design that was submitted to the LCAF for consideration.”  He said the blue holographic image displayed an aerodyne type DropShip that was roughly oval in shape as it turned in front of her.  Unlike most DropShips the ship appeared to have three distinct hull sections with the two wings spreading out from the nose and reconnecting at the rear of the ship leaving open space between the wings and the primary hull which appeared to be streamlined with multiple decks.  At the rear of the ship there was a massive engine section.  “We hope to develop this basic design into the Fesnyng-class DropShip specifically built to transport your new rapid response units combined with a single JumpShip we hope to make your units completely mobile able to respond to threats across our Commonwealth.”  He said Kelly felt embarrassed she had thought she was coming to Tharkad to be disciplined for disobeying orders and taking the fight to the enemy but instead they had opened up so many opportunities for her and her people.

   â€œThank you for the opportunity sir” she finally said “we won’t let you down.”

   â€œI know you won’t” Aiden Grey said standing up as Kelly did the General of Armies extended his hand and they shook “you have our full support, Colonel, now go out and give the Commonwealth a new weapon.”