OBT Forum

Interesting, sadly there isn't a lot I can add as the first page of this thread contains all of the information I have on the DSC. The first two things (DSC and the Terran Outer Colonies) I'll put down here are "canon" versions which fit seamlessly into mainstream BT.

Deep Space Cavalry (DSC)

Following the Reunification War all of known space became the sole dominion of the Star League. At its fringes laid the vast unsettled Periphery with countless unexplored star systems. This immense area held the promise of new homeworlds for humanity filled with untapped resources and pristine landscape. For all the possibilities these endless territories were filled with innumerable hidden dangers. These ranged from pirates who hated the League, to undiscovered biological diseases, or just the plain fact that you were hundreds of light years from the nearest help.

The Terran Hegemony looked to these far off lands with perhaps the greatest hope. Since its creation almost three centuries prior outward expansion had been confined to military conquest, complex terraforming, or joint colonization with one of the five surrounding nations of the InnerSphere. The subjugation of the Periphery now presented the Hegemony with a new avenue of expansion. Many Terran citizens decided to give this new frontier a try during the Golden Age of Humanity. Most chose to settle in the relative safety of a friendly Periphery realm like the Rim Worlds Republic or the Outworlds Alliance. However, there were some who wanted to go further.

Settling close to the InnerSphere was not an option for a Hegemony colony. After all the Great Houses had their own colonial programs during the Star League era and they also sought to expand into the Periphery. This meant Terran colonies had to keep their distance from the nations of the InnerSphere. Likewise certain Periphery realms that could do without “Terran carpetbaggers” deterred any interloping settlers. That suited many Terran colonists who truly wished to start a new just fine.

This left the Deep Periphery as the only area where the Hegemony could colonize without territorial concerns. While any territory beyond the farthest Periphery state is usually called the Deep Periphery the true dividing line for the Star League was approximately 550-600 light years from Terra depending on the time period. The Hegemony usually spared no expense for its outer colonies that provided it with ample raw materials. Unlike other worlds in the Periphery these Terran colonies had every tool they needed to remain self sufficient and survive if the need arose. Given their distance from home and ideal living conditions these Terran colonies soon became perfect targets for pirates and rebels. The need to provide a suitable defense for these distant settlements was apparent to all.

At first the SLDF was used to provide security for the outer colonies but this soon became a problem. Often preoccupied with keeping the peace in the InnerSphere and the Periphery calls for assistance from distant colonists were often given low priority. Even when needed it took a long time to assemble a complete taskforce of Army and Naval assets to journey into the great beyond in search of a rag tag bunch of hooligans. The threat once found was almost always outmatched by the SLDF. One League soldier put it “It was like using a BattleMech to squash a fly”. The Star League military was in truth a lumbering colossus when it came to performing small tasks like policing the outer colonies. A dedicated unit would be necessary to accomplish this mission.

The SLDF carefully deliberated the creation of a new force tasked with patrolling the Deep Periphery and keeping the Terran Outer Colonies safe. The High Command had many concerns based on historical precedents and didn’t want to create an occupation force like the Terran Alliance Colonial Marines. Rather the group decided they needed a highly mobile force that could operate as one and in sections. The unit would constantly patrol the depths of space and as such be self sufficient. This meant they would use proven equipment utilizing as little ammunition and requiring only the slightest maintenance.

Ultimately the Star League High Command chose to base their new force on the old United States Cavalry who roamed the Wild American West keeping the peace and dispensing frontier justice. Using personnel drawn exclusively from Royal units the High Command assembled twelve regiments for what they called, Deep Space Cavalry (or DSC for short). Featuring both ground as well as naval units each regiment had four jumpships to transport individual battalions called squadrons. The flagship was usually an old Star League Navy Destroyer with its own appropriate supporting force (fighters and marines). A Cavalry Squadron was composed of four BattleMech Troops (a Troop is the Cavalry’s name for a Company), two Aerospace Troops, and one Conventional Support Troop (a mix of Vehicles and Infantry).

On February 6, 2626 the SLDF declared the Deep Space Cavalry fully operational and from that day on they patrolled the Periphery from their base worlds. These planets were usually the largest colonies within a DSC patrol zone and always had an Outpost Castle on world capable of sheltering colonists as well as the regiment in times of dire emergency. Operating outside the normal Star League Combat Regions the Cavalry developed its own military theaters called Patrol Zones. These were based on a “Clock of the InnerSphere” that divided the Deep Periphery into twelve different regions of responsibility, one for each regiment. Thankfully the sizes of these immense patrol zones were limited due to the official Star League colonization policy which set the maximum distance of 750 light years from Terra for all legal settlements which included the Terran Outer Colonies.

For nearly a century the Cavalry performed its duties admirably but never really received any credit in the InnerSphere. In fact they were virtually unheard of outside the Periphery were they were hailed as either heroes in the Terran Outer Colonies or oppressive villains in the Periphery states. This lack of recognition can be attributed to the fact that they were officially considered a Special Operations command which wasn’t found on the Regular Army’s TO&E. The Cavalry even began recruiting many of its members directly from the Terran Outer Colonies which further added to its already low profile. During the height of the Star League there was even little reason for them to call on assistance from the SLDF because no threat was too big for them to handle.

This all changed after 2722 as the Star League issued the infamous Council Directive 41. This decree designed by House Marik and House Liao theoretically gave the Territorial States of the Star League greater sovereignty. In reality this underhanded measure opened the Periphery nations up to rampant exploitation by massive interstellar corporations.  From this point on the situation grew steadily worse for the Deep Space Cavalry. Pirate activity and rebel attacks increased every year until the outbreak of the Periphery Uprising. Despite their best efforts the Cavalry could not stem the tide of total war coming their way.

Unfortunately the already beleaguered Cavalry became the first target of the Periphery BattleMech Divisions. As the end came many units bunkered down on their baseworlds desperately calling for aid that would never come from the SLDF. What happened to the regiments of the Deep Space Cavalry may never truly be known. Communications became one of the first causalities of the war so official reports are non existent. Some survivors reportedly joined General Kerensky but these few individuals were perhaps only a fraction of the Cavalry’s total makeup. Did they beat all odds and manage to survive somewhere in the Deep Periphery till this day? Or were they completely wiped out ending an interesting chapter in human colonization of the stars? Sadly, we may never know.

Terran Outer Colonies
Besides the Core Worlds listed below no other colonies had a million person populations, in the thousands
47 million on the hub worlds as of 2766
50 million Terrans total in the Deep Periphery as of 2766
After 2720s these colonizes became more centralized
Prior much more spread out among many worlds
New arrivals from the InnerSphere dropped after 2720s as well

New Terra
Overview:
The capital of the Terran Outer Colonies
First colony established by the Terran Hegemony
Founded just after the Star League’s formation
Headquarters of the 1st Colonial Sector
Very similar to Earth, four continents one moon
Largest Population as of 2766 at its height was 12 million

Prosperity
Overview:
Headquarters of the 2nd Colonial Sector
Population as of 2766 at its height was 3 million
Colonized for its wealth and fairly habitable environment
Native resources like gold and gems
Trade world based on these valuable commodities
Perhaps the worst atmosphere for one of these worlds
Easily terraformed during the early years

Colonia
Overview:
Headquarters of the 3rd Colonial Sector
Population as of 2766 at its height was 1 million
Atmosphere is close to Earth’s but it is a High-G world
Its stout inhabitants are an extremely hardy folk
Mining is the chief industry of the colony

Sibir
Overview:
Headquarters of the 4th Colonial Sector
Population as of 2766 at its height was 3 million
Polar world with cold temperate bans at the equator
Massive uninhabitable ice packs on the poles
Extremely mineral rich but difficult to exploit thanks to the environment
Prisons placed on world for hard labor and impossibility of escape

Hegemonia
Overview:
Headquarters of the 5th Colonial Sector
Third largest population as of 2766 at its height was 5 million
The rimward capital of the Terran Outer Colonies
Extremely nationalistic and conservative
Very Earth like

Oceania
Overview:
Headquarters of the 6th Colonial Sector
Population as of 2766 at its height was 2 million
Island continents dot the world with a single massive ocean
Beautiful climate which is warm temperate at the equator
The oldest population thanks to people choosing to retire there
Big tourist destination even from part of the InnerSphere and Periphery

Nuevo Tejas
Overview:
Headquarters of the 7th Colonial Sector
Population as of 2766 at its height was 2 million
One of the largest habitable planets ever found
Lot of land with some water (70-30) may make this largest land mass in the universe

Freestar
Overview:
Headquarters of the 8th Colonial Sector
Freedom and liberty held in high regard by inhabitants
Population as of 2766 at its height was 2 million
Vast woodland frontiers have lead to a huge logging industry
Trade world based on these valuable commodities

St. Cameron
Overview:
Headquarters of the 9th Colonial Sector
Second largest population as of 2766 at its height was 7 million
The anti-spinward capital of the Terran Outer Colonies
Very devoted to the Camerons and highly religious
Very Earth like

Neuland
Overview:
Headquarters of the 10th Colonial Sector
Excellent climate but poor resources lead to many imports
Even farming proved more difficult than expected
Native planets tend to stunt or kill off new competitors
Huge drain on the colonial program called the Boondoggle Planet
Large investment by the Hegemony produced a large industrial base
This helped offset the worlds drain eventually
Became the industrial giant of the Outer Colonies rivaling New Terra
Population as of 2766 at its height was 2 million

Sumer
Overview:
Headquarters of the 11th Colonial Sector
Population as of 2766 at its height was 4 million
Warm world with super tropical climate at the equator
A young world with developing planet life
One Pangaea type continent
Erosion has yet to knock down large mountain ranges
Sporadic mining efforts as mineral resources are not really developed
Even larger desert basins thanks to the arid environment of the planet
Irrigated fields in the valleys of the rivers running down from the mountains allow for a thriving agriculture

Vinland
Overview:
Headquarters of the 12th Colonial Sector
So named for its native grape vines which produce excellent wines
This valuable commodity is sought in the InnerSphere
Site for Rasalhague escapees
Population as of 2766 at its height was 4 million

The final item on the DSC was written up by Techwarrior who was also interested in the unit. Had to post in two separate posts. Enjoy!

2nd Deep Space Cavalry
Planet Prosperity, Deep Periphery

February 6, 2626 was a momentous day; the dawn of the Deep Space Cavalry had arrived. Five years in planning, two years in building, the Deep Space Cavalry is now declared officially operational. Tens of thousands of men and women have trained and waited for this day. Twelve Cavalry Units will deploy into deep space to guard, and explore the unknown reaches of the periphery and beyond.
In the tradition of the U.S. Cavalry stationed on the western frontier during the late 1800s, each unit would have a fort as a base with an area that was exclusive to their mandate. Resupply was minimal at best as the population was generally low and had little influence in Washington D.C. Only after gold and other natural resources were found did the government take notice. History shows that distance involved, lack of knowledge of the people, terrain, necessary supplies and manpower that limited the cavalry in its ability to control their areas of responsibility.
Governments have never learned this lesson. The Cavalry, Foreign Legion, or what ever the current government wishes to call these units, are merely a stopgap measure to a larger issue the government is not willing to expend their resources upon. Hence once again the cavalry has returned to duty outside the norm of the regular military. Once again the burden of bringing civilization and order to distant reaches has fallen on the few.
Welcome to the Deep Space Cavalry.

The 2nd DSC had been on station for more than two years prior to this formal declaration but all official festivities were adhered to as required. The official opening of the Outpost Castle, the raising of the Star League and Deep Space Cavalry Colors, inspections, and speeches. Finally the first dispatch orders given to A Troop Striker and H Troop Light Horse to board their Dropships and prepare to disembark on the first official patrol of the 2nd Cavalry.
With the band playing, flags and pennants flying A Troop Lieutenant Liam Zeke and H Troop Lieutenant Miles McCrohan march forward to accept their disc pads containing their troops first official orders, both salute Captain William Brown, turn and order their men to their Dropships. The Troops turn in unison and march off in good order to the cheers of military personnel and civilians that were present for this momentous occasion. As their heavy equipment had been previously stowed aboard the Dropships they marched a short distance then up the ramps into the waiting Dropships.
Captain Brown had returned to the stage where all the dignitaries were assembled, saluted Colonel Mark Jennings Commander of the 2nd DSC; reported that A Troop and H Troop would disembark in one hour. The Colonel returned his salute then advised everyone present that they all should move off the landing field and up to the observation area to watch this momentous occasion.
At the 10:00 hrs local the Dropships powered up their engines for lift off. This would be a special show as the two Troops had been assigned two Union and one Leopard Dropship. The Leopard would make a normal runway take off and the Unions being Spheroid Dropships would lift straight into the morning sky.
It was picture perfect of course, as the Unions lifted into the air on great waves of fire trailing to the ground, the Leopard on the runway lifted into the air with its own tongue of fire behind it. Standing in the observation area witnessing this event with civilian and military cameras rolling (yes that term is still used) the Colonel nodded in satisfaction. Many people commented on the precision and beauty of the take offs. The civilian vids of course were live on the planetary satellite feeds. For this one occasion live broadcasting was allowed, it would not under normal circumstances. At this moment the Deep Space Cavalry was advertising that they were here to stay.
After the Dropships had passed out of sight, a tour of the facilities was in order, which took several hours. The local news service made a show of being disappointed when told to shut off the vid cameras just before they entered the Outpost Castle. After a short tour of the Castle the guests had to be fed with more speeches following. As the day came to an end the civilians were escorted with some flourish off the base to transports that would take them back to the city or local villages where a majority of the base civilian contractors lived.

Colonel Jennings walked into his command center glancing at the monitors built into the walls. There were dozens of monitors on each wall with one large screen across the situation room from his office that would show the disposition of his Dropships, any Naval Ships, planets, basically anything that could be shown on one of the smaller screens could be shown on the larger screen. Currently it was showing the passage of the three Dropships that had left during the morning to meet with a Jumpship and its escort. The Jumpship was the Quasar Wind an Invader Class its escort on this mission would be a new Congress Frigate the Unicorn. They would be making three jumps to a planet that had been discovered. The satellite that had been dropped by the Unicorn as it passed threw the system nearly a year ago had sent information that the planet was habitable for humans. It showed great forests and grasslands both north and south of its equator on the two landmasses that nearly circled the globe. Both landmasses are long and thin in comparison to the amount of water on planet neither continent connected at any point. They are similar in size approximately two thousand miles wide at any given point with great natural harbors along the coasts and huge lakes on the interior.
The Colonel sat back in his chair thinking of the mission he had sent his people on. If the aquatic species were edible this would be a great boon to everyone in this area of space as Prosperity had little in edible marine life. No Prosperity was a mining colony more than an agricultural planet. Enough food can be grown for six times the amount of people on planet, after that they would have to import foodstuffs. Also variety of foods was minimal as arable land was somewhat at a premium on the smaller continents.
He returned to thoughts of were he had sent his troops. Reviewing the vid of the satellite feeds he once again confirmed his choice to send two troops. The issue was the buildings along a short portion of one coast in the southern hemisphere. No cities were detected just a dozen small villages with a paved multilane highway and rail line connecting them all together. Also a runway that looked to be hastily camouflaged, that could only mean it was military. Whoever was there had the technology to spot the satellite but they did nothing about it. Diplomatic signals had been sent from the program built into the satellite just for such circumstances but no reply was forth coming.
The Cavalry had intercepted enough local transmissions to be able to make a few determinations. First the planets name was Manitoba. Second the population on the planet was not more than a thousand people with more domesticated animals then people. Also due to the rotation around the sun winter with freezing winds and snow were common nine of their months a year, they were worried that we would steal their harvest. The satellite was able to capture images of many people on boats and walking in numerous areas. The universal translator was functioning perfectly, no either they couldn’t communicate with the satellite, which was highly unlikely, or they choose to ignore the transmission.
Colonel Jennings believed it to be the latter. Four diplomats, two civilians from Prosperity and two military from the DSC also went on this mission. This would become standard procedure if all went well.
Sitting back reflecting on all that had been accomplished to this point he decided with one more look at his desk monitor that everything was normal in the 2nd Colonial Sector, his area of space to patrol, protect and explore. Almost two years it took the engineers to build this base, while making friends with these inhabitants who had been here nearly a hundred years. Learning why these people had come and built new lives while forging relationships with the people and their government. This planet was not the most habitable planet he had walked, but it also was far from the worst he had the pleasure of setting foot on during his career.
That this planet was picked to be terraformed was a mystery to him, yes it had good forests that grew rare trees that once matured would bring high market value in the Inner Sphere but that would not be enough to send a ship the distance necessary. Mining had uncovered unusual amounts of nickel, silver, and a little gold but it still not enough. What had been found was more than enough for the people of this planet but far from being enough for trade with the distances involved. No if this was to be the hub of this area of space than it would need something special besides having the largest self-sustaining population. Much more.
It would be another six hours until the Dropships docked with the Quasar Wind then another two hours before the ships made their first jump on their journey, He notified his adjutant Major De Vega “He was to be notified an hour before the ships left.” Colonel Jennings was guaranteed by the major that it would be taken care of. With that he decided to get a little rest, it had been a long day.
Major De Vega also informed him “The last of the Star League terraforming ships had left early this morning. They had finished their final inspections of the planets that had been seeded over the years. Their report would be available within a few hours.”
Six planets had been seeded fifty years ago in this portion of space they had come to see the results. Colonel Jennings already knew the answer about one of the planets. It was a swamp, every square inch of the planet except the two small poles. No real landmass to speak of, one great ocean of salt water mixed in with this great swamp. If it ever became stable land it would not be in his lifetime or his great-grandsons. As he entered his private quarters he looked at the ceiling and hoped they had accomplished better results on the other planets.

It was the day before they would receive word from A and H Troops expedition that the Albatross another Invader Class Jumpship that had B Troop assigned to it reported that they had found a large exploration or trader ship that had crash landed on a moon in the system they were investigating. It had been determined it was a Combine design but until they were able to land and investigate they could not ascertain its origin exactly.
Colonel Jennings ordered them to investigate the assigned planet first, they would look into the ships purpose for being there once they had established whether the colony that was placed there some years ago was still a viable concern or if they had been eliminated either by a natural phenomenon or some other means as there had been no contact in months.
The Albatross confirmed and said it would report in within the next two hours, as they would be in orbit and better able to give a preliminary report.
It was a little over two hours before the report was received, but it was good news. They had found the colonists on the planet; the Albatross had sent a probe to the planet to test the atmosphere, as was standard procedure, in the mean time they were in contact with the people on the planet.
Colonel Jennings was thinking about dinner when the next report came in from the Albatross. The people on the ground stated that only a little over a hundred people had survived and made it to this planet from the vessel that had been found. This was not true according to the Leopards sensors that had entered the planets upper atmosphere and had just returned from its sensor sweep of the planet. What the Leopards had found was that almost a thousand people had survived and were on planet. For some reason most were hiding in caves or in the forests nearby the established village. When asked about these other people they were told that their sensors must have picked up some of the ape populations on planet. The lieutenant of the Albatross knew this to be untrue and asked for orders.
Rear Admiral Jennifer Isha aboard the Destroyer Davis had been monitoring these messages. She notified Colonel Jennings “I could be in that system within seventy-two hours and would take charge of this situation with your permission.”
The admiral didn’t really need to ask permission but generally allowed Colonel Jennings to run the show while she was aboard ship. He would have more resources and a better understanding with up to date information at his disposal while on Prosperity compared to her on board her destroyer until she arrived in system.
Colonel Jennings replied, “I agreed a senior officer on site would be advisable under the circumstances. Especially that within a few hours I should be receiving another first contact.”
Admiral Isha, “Agreed, I will contact you upon my arrival in system.”

Colonel Jennings was beginning to worry when the senior com tech notified him of contact with A Troop. He walked out of his office to the main floor speaking into his head set, “Put it on the main screen please.”
It was the Unicorn under the command of Captain Adam Tinn that made contact first. “The inhabitants of the planet had contacted him as soon as they entered system. They had actually challenged his forces with destruction unless they surrendered their vessels. There are two aerospace fighters, Sparrowhawk AF-1s currently stationed on planet that were launched in defense of the planet. As regulations required the DSC Naval forces had launched its fighters to intercept while the Unicorn had placed itself between the Jumpship and the enemy fighters while scanning for any other possible threat. The pilots of the Sparrowhawks decided not to engage either the Unicorn or its fighter cover and returned to their base on planet.”
“Currently the diplomats have taken over first contact with the local inhabitants. Dropships and fighters are currently deployed while both Unicorn and Quasar Wind deploy their sails to recharge. Unicorn will inform headquarters of any further developments. Unless there are any further orders or directions?”
Colonel Jennings had been waiting and sent a burst priority signal of developments in relation to B Troop, and the Admirals decision, while listing to Captain Tinn. “No, I believe as a first contact your mission is moving along well. Let the diplomats sort this out. Unless you have further developments that need my approval I will expect contact again within forty-eight hours. Headquarters signing off.”
He walked back to his desk mentally reviewing this last transmission reflecting if he had missed anything. He saw Major De Vega glace towards his office and he waved him to join him, De Vega nodded holding up two fingers Jennings nodded in return.
He was reviewing the last transmission when the Major with a pre functionary knock on the door entered. Jennings waved him to a seat, “Well what did you think of Capt. Tinns report?”
De Vega settled into to his chair “I believe he responded as he always does. Swiftly, concisely, and with authority; he knows his business. You couldn’t ask for a better Captain especially in first contact situations.”
Jennings looked up from the monitor on his desk, “I agree, he has previous first contact experience before joining the Cavalry. We are fortunate to have him in the 2nd. His previous experience is why he was chosen for this mission. You are up to speed on B Troops mission correct?”
De Vega nodded, “Yes sir, just awaiting the Admirals update of the situation. Also I have put D Troop on alert in the event they are needed in either theater of operations. Also the Jumpship Blue Streak should be arriving in system with the last of our new recruits for F Troop, also with three lances of the new MON-66 Mongoose BattleMechs. Also we will receive enough of the new Mauser 960 Assault Systems to finish outfitting all of the infantry.”
Jennings got up and walked to a wall monitor where he had brought up the current F Troop TO&E. “I was thinking of transferring the people and Mechs to C Troop in an exchange of men and equipment between the two troops, but I believe we will just leave things as they are. Leave the new troops and the Mechs with F Troop. F Troop in any unit has always had the stigma of bad luck or lets try and break that fallacy.”
De Vega walked over to the monitor studying it, then turned to the Colonel. “Sir, I have heard this since joining the cavalry, and believe I have discovered part of the reason for this myth. F Troop is normally the last troop to be assigned to a unit, on occasions during a major war there are other troops assigned but generally F Troop is the last. As the last troop it is assigned the worst areas to patrol with last pick of equipment assigned to the unit. Oldest weapons, oldest transportation, assigned personnel that the other troops would care to be rid of, etc.”
“Yes, I understand this tradition.” Colonel Jennings agreed pointing at the list of incoming personnel and equipment. “That is one of the reasons F Troop will receive the new Mongoose. I have looked over the files on the new personnel; these are not rejects from other units. These are the last of the cadets that were trained specifically for Cavalry duty. I don’t suppose we will see many more of those as the training center has been closed with their graduation. Also I am thinking of making F Troop a Light Horse troop; lets team them up with Lieutenant Sanders Chaparrals. We are allowed one more troop fully mechanized. Which means they will be temporarily stationed on Prosperity.”
De Vega looked up from the pad he was currently reviewing, “That would mean that nearly all the new incoming equipment would be assigned to F Troop.” He suddenly grinned, “Lt. Yong won’t know how to act with that much new equipment much less with what he would regard as the honor of being based here.”
“Admiral Isha and I have been discussing the disposition of the Troops and we have agreed that as we will disperse the troops in a similar manner as the Star League has, Prosperity will be the center of the clock or pie in this case. Each Troop will be assigned a slice of the pie. As our area space is further explored and populated the Troops that are currently stationed on Prosperity will cover a larger portion of the center of the pie. Currently the thought is to keep C Troop Striker, E Troop Engineers, F Troop Light Horse and H Troop Heavy Horse on planet as an action reserve. G Troop will be permanent party at the Castle. Their VTOLs, Chaparrals, and Thor Artillery will only deploy off planet in emergencies. ”
De Vega nodded in agreement. “Then the Admiral is planning on using those exploration ships hovering above us to start exploring the local space around Prosperity first then expand the coverage as time goes on?”
“To a point.” Jennings turned his monitor so De Vega can observe the information on the screen. “As Troops are assigned planets, they each will be assigned Naval assets that are to be assigned to the same area. A portion of these assets will be one or two exploration ship’s. Currently we have one ship per Troop available at this time. We also have formed an agreement with the local tractor manufacture to add more people and start to build the Chaparral Battle Tanks and replacement parts. We will pay to have the new facility built, the local government will supply the power, and Wilmington Corporation will supply the machinery and labor. Once production is in place it is believed that with the resources on planet being almost solely used to produce this tank the economy will grow and we will have a local supplier of parts and systems for one of our major pieces of equipment.”
Major De Vegas face suddenly turned red. “Sir, my apologize, but with everything happening this morning I neglected to inform you that the Miller Gun Works in the village of Justice has put in a viable bid to supply us with the Mauser 960 Assault Rifle replacement parts. As they are currently the only major manufacture of laser weaponry on planet they were offered the option. They believe that if given the contract they will be able to supply all of our needs including supplemental equipment for the 960 systems within the next year. When questioned how they could manage such a feat of manufacturing, they explained with proof of their inventory that they have produced as many civilian style weapons that could possibly be sold over the next few years. As such they would have to find another outlet for their weapons, which is highly unlikely, or find a new source of income. They look to us as that possible source of income. They will have what they term the civilian model of the 960 systems here for testing later today. Twenty weapons have been built for testing.”
“That would be a major asset to us if we could have a local manufacture for light weapons.” The colonel nodded, “ We have a co-op of farmers and a cannery here that have agreed to supply us with food stuffs to our specifications for the next five years and a textile plant that has agreed to produce uniforms during their slow season. Yes all in all we are in pretty good shape. Let us hope we can keep up this level cooperation in the future.”

Three days later in a meeting in the Colonels office.
Major De Vegas put his hand to his ear, “Sir we have an incoming live vid from the Admiral.”
“Excellent have it put threw to my desk monitor we will receive it here in case privacy is needed.”
With a few words the Major had it transferred.
When the Admiral appeared on the monitor, Colonel Jennings spoke first. “Admiral we have had good news on the home front, I hope what you are about to tell us is also good news.”
Admiral Isha stared at him for a moment, “Rarely have I observed you in such high spirits Colonel things must be well indeed at home. Yes I do have promising information for you. As it turns out there was a discrimination issue on planet that has been resolved upon our arrival. It would seem that the survivors of the ship that crashed had escape pods and where able to land on Sinclair the planet below us. Unfortunately differences of opinion caused a major division between the survivors and the indigenous people of the planet. The crash survivors were sent packing into the wild to survive or perish. As this is against Star League Law and enforceable; I took action to remedy the situation. There was a language barrier that stood in the way of negotiations. I have eliminated this issue with a spare translator, while also offering our services to recover any salvageable equipment from the downed spacecraft.”
“After a preliminary investigation it would seem that the captain of the ship and part of his crew had lost their nerve this deep in space and wished to return to the Inner Sphere where his passengers did not wish to return. I will send a complete report when I have concluded my investigation of the incident. Initially we have found that these people discovered the existence of Sinclair and wanted to immigrate there. The captain informed them that he had contacted the planet and they had refused to allow them entrance to the planet. The people on board did not believe him and revolted. During the ensuing battle the captain lost control of the ship and crash landed on the planet closest to Sinclair. Just before the ship crashed many people made it to the escape pods and the one shuttle on board. They eventually landed on Sinclair only to find that the only people that could speak basic had not survived not did they have a portable translator.”
Colonel Jennings interrupted. “Sir are you in need of any assistance? The engineer battalion is only a few days out on their way home but I’m sure they would return under the circumstances to assist.”
The Admiral looked thoughtful for a moment. “No, let them go home. We may as well start fending for ourselves. I believe my presence will not be needed here after another day or two. I have started preliminary negotiations to build a fort on Sinclair. If negotiations go as planned, my thought is to leave B Troop here as their permanent base. The distance is proper and in accordance with our currant procedure manual. While still close enough to support in an emergency; they would be able to start their operations within a year.”
Jennings looked at Major De Vegas who nodded his agreement. “I agree Admiral this would be a very good start to our deployments. Have you ascertained how many colonists are now on planet? Also what is their technology level?”
The Admiral smiled at this, “ Currently the civilian population is thirty-eight hundred not including the almost four hundred survivors that will join them. The technology level is a mix of twentieth century to present day. From what we have been able to ascertain these people are really quite ingenious. They use solar power, wind power, and even have a small hydroelectric dam built. Sinclair is an earth style planet, gravity is a little lighter, and oxygen is a little thinner. As we are told no animals have been found on the planet at this point that are bigger than a full grown horse or cow. Carnivores on planet are mainly feline with a few canine species. There are no jungles on the planet to speak of only large forests and huge grassland tracks of land separating the forests. We are also informed the oceans are teaming with life that are edible for human consumption, but you take your life in your hands as some of the ocean life will attack your boat when threatened, some times in mass. I am told small ships and boats have been sunk on occasions with loss of all on board.”
“Interesting Sir, Major De Vegas has passed me a note that is of relevance, may I suggest that Professor Meyers and his group be sent to this planet to investigate and catalogue what they find for future use? Also he has just been informed that one of the engineering ships is in need of our assistance. Their sail has been holed by a meteorite and they have an unknown ship staying currently on the edge of the screens.”
The Admiral looked troubled for a moment, “My navigator has received the coordinates that you have sent, as we are the closest ship we will respond immediately. I will inform you when we arrive. We are moving to our nadir jump point. You will have another three hours to contact us with any further developments. Admiral Isha out.”
Colonel Jennings turned to the major, “Contact the engineers and inform them that help is on the way, extrapolate the estimated time of arrival and put that in the transmission. Get C Troop mounted up and at the jump point ASAP. No use taking any chances.”
He could hear De Vegas giving orders as he moved out of the office. Then in a distance he could hear the alert horn start to sound. That would be C Troop being alerted, in minutes he could see on the monitors troops mounted on the backs of carriers crossing the field toward their Dropships. Heat signatures of the Dropships displayed they had gone to emergence preliminary engine warm up. Within thirty minutes of the alert horns in the Castle waves of fire came from under the Dropships as they launched. Everyone left behind watched, as his or her comrade’s set out to go in harms way.

Colonel Jennings was awakened by the emergence com on his nightstand. “Colonel Jennings.”
“Major De Vegas sir, we have a report from the engineers, the ship they have been intermittently tracking is becoming braver. They still cannot get a description on it but they believe it is of the raider class. They believe they are in no immediate danger and have their only armed Dropship deployed.”
Colonel Jennings was up now and getting dressed. “Deploy C Troop to support the engineers. They will be there only a few hours ahead of the Admiral but that maybe all that is needed. Have F Troop load up and deploy to their Jumpships. If this escalates we do not want to be caught flat-footed. Put the Castle on Red Alert in case this is a deception to draw away our forces for an attack here.”
Yes sir, I took the liberty of having C Troop Jumpships line up for departure when we received the transmission then notified you. I am passing the order for them to jump as we speak. F Troop being notified of deployment. Castle going to Red Alert. See you soon sir. De Vega out.”
Colonel Jennings decided to have a quick cup of coffee in his quarters to contemplate his actions and those that had been reported to him. He could hear the Red Alert sirens in the Castle outside his door, he also knew that four men and women would be waiting for him to step outside that door and would be his escort as long as the Castle was under Red Alert. He grabbed his coffee and went to his desk. He had several monitors that were built into the desk that showed the current deployment of all the Troops on and off the base. He turned on the wall monitor that showed specifically Castle deployments. He was pleased to note that all weapons were manned and operational throughout the Castle by the time he sat down with his coffee.
He had decided long ago that if this occasion were to arise he would test the major’s ability to cope without him being present in the war room. The admiral had concurred on this testing of the major only if the Castle was not under attack of course. Neither of them could have planned this better, it would be an excellent test and so far De Vegas was passing with flying colors. Real pressure was always the true test of ones metal. The only way this could have been better was if he was off planet, well one couldn’t have everything. He had just finished his coffee when his wrist com notified him De Vegas wanted to speak with him.
“Yes major, new developments?”
“No sir, all your orders have been carried out the Castle is secure. Two squadrons of aerofighters have been deployed one lance from each squadron on ready alert. F Troop will lift in ten minutes, fighters will cover as they lift, aerospace fighters will cover them as they deploy to the Jumpship. All Jumpships have been put on Red Alert and are maneuvering to their emergence jump points.”
“Will you be joining us soon or should I arrange to have something sent to your quarters?”
Colonel Jennings smiled to himself. “Very good major I will be up to inspect what you have accomplished and what needs improvement shortly. I will eat later but coffee would be welcome.” No use letting him think he has it all in hand. No there is always room for improvement.

Jumpship Paul Bunyon was sitting in space with a broken mast, it would take days to repair under normal circumstances but with a ship out there of unknown origins Captain Diana Wilson was not about to send a crew out for repairs then find she had to maneuver or go into battle with fifty or a hundred engineers outside on the hull. No she would wait for assistance. Not that Captain Wilson was one to have premonitions; in this case she had a real bad feeling about the situation. She had attempted to contact the distant ship with no success. What was happening here reminded her of vids she had seen of sharks circling just before an attack. She hadn’t been able to identify if there was one ship or multiple ships out there.
The Paul Bunyon was not helpless; she was 500,000 tons of pure mean if it came down to it. Six docking rings currently held one Overlord, with one Overlord deployed currently, four Unions, six Spad SPD-502 aerospace fighters. Ship batteries contained two turrets with two PPC’s in each, four Large Laser turrets, and eight Medium Laser turrets. If someone wanted easy pickings they should go elsewhere. Star League engineering ships were no longer the clay pigeons of space. No now they came with teeth. This was all good and well unless that was a destroyer or two out there anything smaller wouldn’t come near unless invited.
It was 84 hours after Captain Wilson put out the call for assistance when one of her com techs called, “Captain, jump point opening.’ After a moment she turned to her captain again. “I never thought I would say this sir. The cavalry has arrived. One Jumpship C Troop sends felicitations they are hot deploying the Dropships. Two Unions are on the heading of the last contact with our shadow. Jumpship has launched their fighters. One lance IRN-SD1s, the other are SPD-502s.”
Captain Wilson sat back smiling, leave it to the Cavalry. They had practiced these maneuvers for years, now they finally deploy for real. One could almost hear the bugles in the distance. “Give the Cavalry my compliments and set up a private channel when they are ready, in the mean time send them what little new information we have on our friend out there.” Her X.O. sat down next to her watching the monitor in the middle of the floor.
“Impressive, they deployed perfectly.” Lieutenant Jon Smith pointed at the Dropships moving at high Gs toward the perimeter where the last sighting of a ship was recorded. Just as they reached the half waypoint the fighters overtook them and went to take the lead. As they passed the Dropships they fanned out in two lines abreast one a little higher than the other, searching.
Captain Wilson called to her techs, “Lets listen to the fighters.”
“Live on number two sir, they aren’t saying anything but they are there. Dropships on number three, they aren’t talking either.” The tech looked across at another com tech that held his hand out with a thumb up to signify that she was correct. No one wanted to say anything, they all wanted to be first to hear if anything happened.
Wilson leaned over to her XO, “If you think this is an entrance wait until the Admiral arrives. Should be within the next few minutes.”
“Alpha, Striker One has contact. Striker lance form up on me. Sending coordinates, will investigate.”… “He’s running, have good visual. It’s a Firefly, firing warning salvo. Another Firefly coming to its assistance, wait one make that two more Firefly’s on an intercept course with us.”
Captain Wilson was now on her feet. The com officer called, “Captain, jump point opening. Sir, the Davis has arrived, deploying fighters, the Admiral sends her compliments and is asking for an update. I have sent a current update. Admiral Isha on view screen at your chair.”
Captain Wilson sat down again looking to her monitor she could see a very serious Admiral looking back at her. “Captain Wilson deploy your forces in the pattern I am sending you, C Troop will be your outer defense as they are currently in the process of attaining. I will move to support the elements that are about to engage the Firefly’s; this will not take long one way or another. Davis out.”
Everyone watched as the Davis picked up speed moving in what one could describe as a lazy arc towards the upcoming battle. The Firefly’s saw the Davis coming for them and knew they could not get away. If they fought it would be over in minutes they had nothing to fight a ship of the line. Just as the Davis reached maximum firing range all three of the Firefly’s shut their engines down and announced their offer of surrender.
Admiral Isha called Striker Lance leader on a private channel telling him to accept this offer of surrender and to guide these prisoners to a certain set of coordinates that were well within the reach of any of the Cavalry’s Dropships weapons.
As the fighters guided the Firefly’s into the box of Cavalry and Engineer Dropships now waiting, the Davis matched speed with all of them but out of range of any weapons that the Firefly’s would have on board.
The Paul Bunyon had been on maneuvers with much larger ships of the line, but at this moment the Davis looked to be the meanest dog on the block and Captain Wilson was happy it was on their side.
After the Firefly’s put their engines in standby shuttles arrived with Cavalry infantry to take charge. There was no resistance by the crews as the infantry entered. The officers were gathered and brought to the Davis.

The pirate officers were left in separate rooms for a few hours while the Admiral held a conference with the captains of all the ships present. She also had an update sent to Colonel Jennings. A message was returned almost instantly that F Troop was deployed to their Jumpships and available if needed.
During the conference several officers noted that the only shots fired had been by the Cavalry lance firing their warning shots. Several voiced that if these were pirates they doubted this would have ended as it had, pirates knew that the Cavalry was not disposed to leniency where pirates were concerned; especially the 2nd Cavalry. They had made several examples on their trip out to the 2nd Colonial Sector.
Admiral Isha was inclined to agree with their assessment. She decided to have their captives debriefed separately to see if any information could be gained before meeting them herself.
It was decided that a little rest and food was in order as the Davis and C Troop had pushed to get here. A little down time was called for; let their prisoners sweat a little after their debriefing. In the mean time the engineers could start their repairs.


Their story was exactly the same; they were a mix of refugees and ex-mercenaries with their families. They had passed threw the Outworlds Alliance due to their affinity to mercenaries and their backwards ideas of technology. They had kept moving away from the Inner Sphere and its Great Houses.
The interrogating officers did not believe the story they were being told. The Firefly’s were not capable of traveling this distance and even if they could the people on board would have died of old age.
It was at that point all the prisoners stopped talking even after mild physical techniques of persuasion were attempted. Admiral Isha decided to speak with the captains before a more forceful use of persuasion would be necessary. She could not allow unknown possibly dangerous factions to exist anywhere within her sector or anyone else’s for that matter. She met with all the captains in the messhall of her destroyer, as this was the only area that would seat everyone.
After everyone was seated she came directly to the point. “I am Admiral Isha of the 2nd Deep Space Cavalry, we patrol what is now recognized by the Star League as the 2nd Colonial Sector. Technically I or any other senior officer is now judge and jury of any infraction of Star League Law and believe me when I tell you all that piracy is not the same as being a mercenary.” She paused for effect. “The only reason you and your crews are alive is that you did not fire your weapons or attack any of the vessels in this area. If you had we would not be having this conversation. Now how did you transit to this area of space and where are your people located? Also why were you here?”
One of the captains looked to be about to retort in an unfavorable manner; the captain next to him laid a hand on his arm and shook his head negatively. “Admiral my name is Hans Lester, I am captain of the Green Firefly, that would be the Firefly that was in the lead trying to get away. All of our ships are named after colors with the ship designation second…. We have a Jumpship that is how we were able to transit to this area of space, which of course you already knew.”
“We were passing threw this area exploring when we detected a Jump point open. You cannot imagine our surprise when we saw what had arrived. It looked like an invasion to us. We stayed as far way from the fleet as possible; we know approximately how long it takes for large Jumpships to recharge. We returned after a sufficient amount of time had elapsed. We found a Jumpship still present, which did not bode well to us. We tried to scan the Jumpship to see if it was damaged or what ships it was deploying. Unfortunately the Jumpship became aware of us and their scanners are better than ours, we have the ability to know if we are being scanned. Needless to say we tried to get close enough from many different tangents to get a look; but nothing worked and then all of you show up. You know the rest.”
Admiral Isha was about to speak when a Lieutenant entered and handed her a data pad. She looked questionably at the Lieutenant “Give me the short of it.”
“We have been able to download all the information in their ships computers. They are telling the truth as to their backgrounds and their roundabout trip to this sector. There are two more Firefly’s that are not present locally they went in a different direction to explore a different more promising area of space. They are looking for a more habitable planet then the one they are currently living on. They’re Jumpship is in need of repair and cannot make Jumps to unknown coordinates as there is a malfunction in the guidance system. It can jump to points that are stored previously in its system. None of these ships have a designation or name for the Jumpship listed. It took a bit more of analyzation to determine that the Jumpship in question has to be stolen. No known mercenary unit or civilian refugees are listed as possibly attaining a Jumpship as large as we believe they currently possess.”
Admiral Isha looked at the Lieutenant with curiosity and a little trepidation. “What are we talking about, surely not a warship.”
“No sir, we believe it is the first Potemkin or at least a proto type that is not on record. This one is approximately 578,000 tons with eight docking rings weapons are unknown. As there was never a record of a vessel of this type or design being built except the Potemkin, which was three times this ships size; we believe it is a proto type or someone copied the idea. Either way we do not believe these people ever had the financial backing to purchase a ship of this size.”
Admiral Isha looked at all three of the captains in some amazement. Could this band of what ever they were really have purchased or may the one forbid; have had the brains and power to steal a ship like this? It just didn’t add up, not with what she had seen of the caliber of personnel so far. Then she had a thought what if these were not the captains? She had never heard of any group of ships outside of combat being given designations of colors. No ships had names, real names not colors. She looked over to Captain Wientrub head of her security, “Go find the real captains of those ships and bring them here. Put these three in the brig and make sure they speak to no one…. and Captain… do not fail me again.”
Captain Wientrub turned beet red. “Yes sir it will not happen again. I will correct this shortly of that you can be rest assured. Security detail you heard the Admiral, take them to the brig.” Raising a hand communicator up, “First Sergeant Feng meet me in the detention area immediately.” With that he was out the door not waiting for a response.
A little over an hour later there were three new slightly bruised captains sitting across from the Admiral. With Captain Wientrub and First Sergeant Feng sitting behind the new captains with looks on their faces saying; please act up, even a little.
Admiral Isha looked at the three, I have heard one story so far that does not add up. Now let us see how you do in giving answers, let me be very clear, if I do not find out what I want to know. I will do everything in my power to find the rest of your people and they will be treated as pirates. There will be no discussions, no offers of amnesty, we will find them take what we think is usable and hang everyone we find in possession of stolen property, which means everyone if the Jumpship is present. Now it is your choice talk or accept the consequences. No more games.”
It was the captain on her right that spoke up, “I am Captain Mikhail Zandroff of the Fires Light Firefly. All three of the ships you have captured are mine; we were smugglers that worked between the Federated Suns and a group of what you would call militants on the planet Praxton and a few other worlds in the Outworlds Alliance. They do not believe in the current administration on Alpheratz. In fact in that part of the Alliance there is a lot of talk of succession and becoming their own Confederation of Planets.”
He looked the Admiral in the eye at this point. “We are not and have never been pirates, nor have we stolen anything. Some of what we have purchased may have been on the illegal side of the table but we still paid for it and when possible have receipts.”
Isha leaned forward on the table. “What about this Jumpship? How did a group of people like you afford such a ship, most planets can’t afford a ship like this; you expect us to believe that Riga Interstellar Shipyards sold you this ship?”
Zandroff smiled at the last part. “People like us? What do you know of us? Nothing, if you hadn’t stumbled onto us you still wouldn’t know we are here and most likely would never know.”
That gained him a trip to the floor from the First Sergeant. “You will show respect or I will teach you. Now sit in your chair and speak civilly to the Admiral.”
Zandroff climbed back into his chair looking questioningly at the Admiral. “I have dealt with the SLDF before and they never acted in this manner. Who are you and who gave you such authority? We have done nothing to be treated like this.”
The Admiral held up her hand to the First Sergeant. “We are the 2nd Deep Space Cavalry. We now patrol and regulate this area of space under the directive of the Star League. The SLDF does not have the time to run all over space after miscreants, pirates, raiders, or what ever you care to call yourselves. We are the law and explorers at the same time. Part of are proviso is to make contact with other explorers and assist if possible, or if we find lawbreakers as we normally do we administer the law. We have no prisons. Now you will tell me were you are based, how many of you are there, if you are on more than one planetary body, and where the rest of your ships are presently.”
Captain Zandroff sat quietly thinking for a moment. “We have one Jumpship, you are correct that it was a proto type of the Potemkin, no I did not purchase it. At least not how you would consider a purchase. Bill Ryan one of the people now with us, and really the one that made it all possible came to me with a proposal. He knew that I had a Jumpship Captain in my crew. He had permission to hire a crew to man the Niagara I, which is what it had been named, I still don’t know why that name. Anyway he needed a crew to test the new engine and several other improvements that had been completed. I asked him why he didn’t use a company crew, as that was normal procedure, I mean sometimes they will hire a few specialists outside the company but I had never heard of a full crew being hired. Mr. Hirsh Ryan, Bills father, gave me a letter of introduction from the company that this testing was to be outside the normal channels and would take up to a year of testing to complete. The pay was high, higher than normal by far and I could take the Firefly’s; they would be modified with a new style collar at no charge.”
“Well this was to good to pass up once I saw that the testing was to be completed in the unknown part of space between the Outworlds Alliance and the Taurian Concordat. Basically our old stomping grounds, I had a couple of ideas of how to really test this ship if the opportunity allowed itself.” He sighed then and shook his head looking at the table. “Instead we find a large group of refugees, believe it or not one group from the Federated Suns, the other from the Taurian Concordat, both on this little planet living together in basically a agricultural harmony. They had tools and minor manufacturing to build farming equipment, a small quarry with machinery that they used for building homes, roads, and dams. The rest they were trading with a couple of Captains like me that really just wanted somewhere to rest and recoup from time to time. After a while they either brought their families or married into the population forming even stronger bonds. But once we discovered them they wanted to move further out to a planet that they had coordinates of beyond the Alliance. After scouting this planet it was decided that they would pay to move there. We have been there eight years and have recovered just about everything that was left behind. What they didn’t tell us was there were roads and buildings already built before we arrived, they…we still do not know who built them. There are no graves, paintings, art, not anything to tell us who they were except they had to be humanoid from the type of buildings and roads that were built.”
Admiral Isha looked around at her attending officers. “This is exactly why we were originally sent out here. To discover colonies that are currently unknown to the Star League, find out how they accomplished their transference and determine their rate of growth.” Looking at the three captains sitting across from her. “We did not set out to be solely law enforcement. It is only of late that we have found a few new colonies that are not hideaways for pirates or raiders. If you are telling the truth and are willing to show us your colony we will add you to the short list we have started to chart of populated worlds in this sector. If necessary, with your approval we may even station a small garrison on your planet, but as I stated that would only be with the planetary governments approval in writing.”
Captain Zandroff looked at his fellow captains then held out his hand. “I’m taking a chance here, my own people might turn me out when you show up.”
The Admiral shook hands, “If they do we know of a couple of other planets that would most likely be over joyed if you would join them.” As she started to leave she turned around, “Oh and if they do decided to turn you out you will leave with everything that is yours and we will transport you to one of the planets just mentioned.”

The planet was as Captain Zandroff had stated and more. After introductions, and signed agreements the planet Bothnia invited the Admiral to visit. She stayed for two weeks keeping in constant contact with Prosperity. These were not the type of people she had come to expect to find. There were a few minor scientists with basic equipment for testing anything from soil and water samples to handling the diagnosis of viruses and bacteria. There were musicians, masons, electricians, mechanics, farmers, doctors, miners, pilots, fishermen all with at least some basic and in some cases advanced equipment. Eighty-four hundred adults and children live here. They had cattle, dairy cows, and chickens they had brought with them. The ground was fertile enough to support ten times their number and local game that looked similar to reindeer were in abundance to supplement their diet.
The Niagara I arrived in system a day after the Cavalry arrived, with two mule Dropships that had light arms, a few armed hovercraft, and twelve fighters all with spare parts. The people of Bothnia had decided to arm themselves in case of trouble. The Cavalry did not try to dissuade this practice on any planet. In fact once a non-aggression agreement had been signed the Admiral had the Cavalry techs go over all their equipment including their four Sparrows on the Niagara I. Star charts were exchanged which gave the Cavalry several new jump points in nearby constellations and gave the people of Bothnia the location of Prosperity, Manitoba, Sinclair and Usen.
Until a few days before the Niagara I had arrived. Usen had been the unknown populated planet. The satellites didn’t pick up the indigenous people at first due to their lack of using technology. It was eventually determined there was limited technology on the planet, they just didn’t care to use it unless it was really necessary. Such as planting passive radar units on all the planets in the system to warn them of when someone arrived in system. They did have one command base that was built using a huge network of caves and equipment from the Jumpship they once had, now they only had four aerospace fighters left, all in desperate need of repair. They did have light and heavy hand held weapons in abundance, and one company of light and medium armor all with either ballistic or laser technology. Everyone on the planet must serve six years in the active defense force after that you were always in the reserve and served a refresher course once every two years in your particular area of expertise.
The people wanted to live off the land as their ancestors had before them, only this time they would use technology to defend themselves. Almost seventy-five hundred North American Indians of several different tribes had been offered this planet nearly forty years ago, and for twenty-five years they had lived in peace on the planet. Slowly the population had grown, out of choice of the colonists.
They eventually agreed to a garrison of one troop with limited aerospace support, but not on their side of the planet. Also the Cavalry would be allowed to farm or raise livestock if they choose and also trade with the people of Usen.
It was decided A Troop Strikers would garrison the planet. Temporarily H Troop Light Horse that was currently patrolling with them would assist in building the garrison. Their Jumpship returned to Prosperity to pick up the E Troop Engineers.

It wasn’t until 2670 that another colony was found in the 2nd Colonial Sector. The planets name was Sirius a giant gaseous planet where a colony had started a fairly high tech manufacturing facility. After questioning the governor it was found that this planet had been terra formed during the first experimentation of terra forming. As such an automated Jumpship that had flown to several systems throughout the Periphery launching terra-forming rockets at designated planets. As the trip was considered to long and possibly hazardous for human’s automation was decided as the alternative.
The records of the Jumpships travels had been damaged due to the massive explosion of the old NASA facility on Terra. Not all records were lost, the Star League was finally able to recover a portion of the flight plan of the Explorer III. They were also able to recover a signal that was being sent from what was termed a celestial satellite that had been planted outside the system to record what after affects the terra forming had accomplished. It was only with assistance of the Ministry of Planetary Review that anything had been accomplished at all. It was they that had been able to decipher the signal sent back to Terra, and it was the Ministry that had arranged for the ships and equipment to be sent here. The liquid and vapor gases found on this planet were rare in the Inner Sphere and as such extremely valuable. The processes of manufacturing took time. Extraction, refining, and processing took time and then had to be transported.
The general population that supported Sirius lived on Heaven in the next system, which had a yellow sun with six planets orbiting it. When not living and working on Sirius they lived on Heaven. Until twenty years ago a small contingent of SLDF troops had been stationed on Heaven they had left after informing the population of the DSC that would shortly come and take their place. The DSC had not come as expected but the supply Jumpships did, leaving supplies then taking on the gases to be sent back to Terra.
Upon investigation of Heaven it was found the planet was only marginally livable for humans and only along the equator of the planet was life possible. The rest was either desert or ice wastelands. Only along the border of the equator a few hundred miles wide ten thousand miles long was a strip of habitable land. The air was heavier do to the ice on the planet was constantly evaporating due to volcanoes under the ice fields. Oxygen on planet felt heavier than found on most planets, which the DSC contributed to the weather and height of the land, mass on which the people lived. It was years later that it was discovered they were taking oxygen from Heaven to Sirius so they could keep manufacturing; it was the death of everyone on both planets. In 2700 the ship transporting oxygen exploded over Sirius causing the planet to ignite then implode sending a shock wave that was off the scale of the satellite monitoring Sirius. Unfortunately the shockwave destroyed both of their Jumpship and the resupply Jumpship. As they did not have an HPG or had agreed to a DSC garrison on planet no one new of their dilemma. Without the Jumpship from Terra to resupply them of certain essentials such as medicines the colony was doomed.
The DSC found fifteen survivors on Heaven when they arrived to check on them due to no contact. They were transferred to Prosperity with what could be salvaged over the next few months. The Cavalry had a ship check on the arrival of the Star League Jumpship that was to arrive two years later. The Jumpship never arrived.

2700 wasn’t all bad news. C Troop had found a water world that was dotted with islands, though fresh water was not in abundance, water purifiers were not in short supply. Aquatic life proved to be safe for human consumption. It also discovered that not all the aquatic life were fish, some were mammals that ranked in intelligence slightly lower than dolphins of Terra. After the other known planets populations had been notified of this discovery a few hundred people immigrated to the planet and built a cannery while naming the planet aptly Waterworld.
Also a dark planet without an active sun was discovered, Nightshade looked to be another failed terra-forming venture until a closer look was taken. An abundance of minerals, such as gold and silver was found to ooze in large liquid flows from the interior of the planet. At times forming small volcanoes that would launch liquid gold or silver high into the atmosphere. As the planet was to volatile to land on it was determined that using a scene that had been used on Sirius to trap certain gases, towed behind a slow moving tug could gather the gold and silver from the rings of metal particles that now circled the planet. A spare that was being repaired had been recovered on Heaven when the survivors had been recovered.

The major discovery was the planet Steel; this planet was not a terra formed planet. It was a great ball of metal floating on the outer edge of a solar system with a white star at its center.
Steel was made up of ores as the DSC equipment could ascertain. The planet was nearly solid steel there is no liquids present nothing that would bind the minerals together it is almost as if some giant had formed a giant snow ball except this one was made of steel deposits. Raw forms of Titanium, Monel, Hastelloy, and Aluminum were in abundance. The planet was stable and in a stable orbit, for the right company this would mean wealth on a magnitude unheard of.
A signal was immediately sent to Ministry of Planetary Review. No answer was forthcoming for many years and then it was only an acknowledgment with a mention of possible usage in the future.

It was 2710 when the Deep Space Cavalry had their first real battle. A planet was discovered that was smaller than Terra but basically ecologically identical. It was eight jumps outside of the Outworlds Alliance planet Baliggora in the 2nd Colonial Sector.
The Cavalry Jumpship Whirlwind returning from a supply run was recharging in a nearby system intercepted signals of an unknown origin. They were able ascertain where the signals were originating. The Whirlwind after recharging and notifying headquarters jumped into the system of where the signals had originated. After less than an hour they determined they were not welcome as two sets of aerofighters launched from the planet emanating the signals, both groups arguing about who’s Jumpship it would be when they captured it. They were under the assumption that the Whirlwind would need to recharge, a misconception on their part. The Whirlwind jumped in short order just before the fighters could reach her. One must remember you do not just turn a Jumpship around and fly, these are huge vessels that normally under the best conditions need hours to prepare for a jump and normally any aerofighter could catch one in normal space.
When the Whirlwind returned to Prosperity and gave a full report, it was determined that pirates had moved into the 2nd Cavalry patrol area. The Cavalry stepped up patrols in the general area gathering information in preparation of an assault on the pirates. It was soon determined that this was not one band but three fairly large bands. Each had a Jumpship, Dropships, Aerofighters, BattleMechs, Armor and Infantry.
They were well organized with one band always stationed on planet. They had built housing and warehouses using slave labor. Currently they were in the process of building small Dropship landing pads spread out in a star pattern with one large building to be in the center.
The largest of the three bands called itself Black Death; Prince Iran Kamran was the leader, Prince Hennery Jimenez led the White Vipers that were currently off planet raiding somewhere in the Draconis Combine. The last group was the smallest but most well equipped, commanded by Prince Hal Richter his band was the Evil Eye. The Cavalry had determined the Evil Eye pirates would be the group that would have to be taken care of before they left the planet. They were extremely well armed for pirates; equipped with mixture of SLDF and Federated Suns weaponry. Prince Richter had three lances of BattleMechs on planet and the only band to have functional repair bays. The Black Death had the most aerofighters with almost a complete squadron on planet when their Jumpship was on station near the planet.
These were a new style of pirate; they had manpower, weapons, techs, transportation, and worst of all they cooperated with one another. Each had a third of the continent to do with as they pleased, slave labor in abundance to do manual labor such as farming.
Mid December 2710 the Deep Space Cavalry struck. The destroyer Davis led the attack with the frigate Unicorn in attendance both had temporary aerospace fighter rings attached on the bottom of the ships. Rogues and Ironsides launched to make their interdiction runs on anything that was launched from the planet. Shortly after the Albatross and the Quasar Wind arrived launching their Dropships as soon as their speed reduced, even then the Cavalry always launched early if the area was declared clear. Almost in unison all the Dropships launched their Spad escort fighters. As the Spad’s adjusted to escort the Dropships the Rogues and Ironsides started their strafing runs on the planet.
During this time the frigate Unicorn had placed itself between the pirates Jumpships giving orders for them to take no action or be destroyed. The Jumpship Captains understood that the 2nd Cavalry did not tell you twice and decided to comply and immediately attempted to plea bargain for their lives.
As the Cavalry Dropships started to make their final runs to the planet missiles were launched at them from undetected underground silos. Admiral Jerald Yong now commanding the Davis decided to give the pirates a real taste of Cavalry justice and started a space bombardment of the planet on selected targets. That did not make the pirates surrender they knew what was going to happen if they were captured; everyone in the Periphery understood the Deep Space Cavalry had no prisons.
The battle lasted nine days; not due to the pirates’ expertise in fighting, it took that long to dig them all out after the main battle that lasted just under six hours. It was during the battle with the last of the Evil Eye who were in temporary fortifications that the 2nd Cavalry F Troop Light Mechanized and H Troop Light Horse would make history.

Thank you this will help greatly.   

I do have a very primitive map Gabriel let me see if I can find it and upload it.

Here is that old map Gabriel

Looking forward to it

Have been reading thru this and like the idea.   One Question What type of units are B Troop and D troop.  They are units mentioned  but not really given a designation.  Infantry or Mech not sure so I thought I would ask.  Thanks for the help.