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Author Topic: Dying Embers  (Read 21001 times)

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Dread Moores

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Dying Embers
« on: April 12, 2011, 02:41:34 AM »

So I'm working on a very rough idea for an AU. I haven't worked on one in a while, and also haven't worked on one with any real potential for support. Previously, I'm generally just abandoned them mid-project, when the workload gets too overwhelming. So we'll see how this goes.

I have five core points of change from canon material in mind, so let's cover those.

1. Richard Cameron's daughter, Amanda, did not die in the throne room massacre. Following up on the idea from Interstellar Players, his twins (son Ian and daughter Amanda, both age two in 2766) were saved by the actions directly by the hand of Major Ian Macintosh and indirectly by Colonel Hanni Schmitt of the Royal Black Watch. More details on that later, though the twins did not leave Terra and were eventually separated.
2. Jerome Blake was not quite the simple minded technician as portrayed in the ComStar book. His team, by necessity, had a number of SAS troopers working with him to ensure the team's safety as they did their work on the ground. Over the years of his service during the Amaris Crisis, he picked up a few more skills than a simple communications technician would normally possess.
3. The Star League, during its golden age, undertook a number of long-range exploration and scouting missions for future colonization. One of these missions discovered what would later become the Pentagon worlds and the Kerensky Cluster at the very end of a near five year tour of the Deep Dark. Whether or not these worlds are as lackluster as portrayed in canon is still up for debate.
4. In June 2779, the 15 year old twins met for the first time since the death of their father. The twins subsequently met with Jerome Blake, General Kerensky, and other senior SLDF staff in late September 2779. The meeting was highly secretive, but a desperate plan was suggested by the twins. Weeks of planning were hashed out amongst a very select group of trusted personnel. The existence of the Cameron heirs was still kept hidden.
5. The Exodus occurred as written, with one major difference. Both Blake and Kerensky knew of their target destination. Additionally, long term plans for back channels of communication and supply lines were created. While it would take decades (or longer) for the plans to come to fruition, these ideas would drastically change the face of the SLDF-in-exile and ComStar.

That's all for the moment, as I'm going to give this some more thought and try to work up a real outline soon.
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Blacknova

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2011, 04:17:50 AM »

Sounds interesting and will sideline old Nick, unless you plan him to be the dark one of the story.
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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2011, 07:47:01 AM »

A rough endgame will likely help you flesh your story line out as well, but I like the point you've stopped at - certainly a good nexus for branching out into the unknown. I look forward to reading more of this.
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Gabriel

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2011, 07:49:39 AM »

Interesting Very Interesting
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Dread Moores

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2011, 10:27:15 AM »

No Nick isn't the dark one per se in this story. He gets moderated a bit, as Aleksandr remains alive longer and Andery will probably play a more important role. I have doubts that Pentagon worlds will have the issues they had in canon. First, they have a potential strong lifeline, though not immediately. The worlds may not be quite as lacking in resources, as they were scouted in advance and very specifically chosen. Most importantly, there's a leader. There's a strong Cameron, someone to give them purpose and keep unity in focus. The Clans will not likely exist as anything more than honor societies, but more on that later.

As for endgame? I have to be honest, this is all really backstory. I don't plan to focus a huge amount of time on ComStar's development or the SLDF-in-exile. Sure, enough to cover everything and make everything hang together. But the idea isn't about them at that time, it's about when they return. One of the things that was suggested by Maelwys (a partner in crime and idea board for a lot of my work) which led me to this, was the idea of ComStar having worked to colonize within the Houses. Lost and forgotten worlds, seeded as ComStar colonies. Perhaps even the great disappearance of all those Rim Worlds citizens meant something far more sinister. A nearer Deep Periphery base of operations for a returning force, perhaps? What happens to the Inner Sphere when the foe returns from beyond, has a ready ally working from the inside, and has a base of operations set up for them? What happens when they return with a very specific plan, not looking for honor but to build something lasting, no matter the costs? When the enemy doesn't have hidebound rules, but practices total warfare of the SLDF era...who really wins?
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Dragon Cat

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2011, 12:12:50 PM »

Sounds good

however sounds bad if the IS falls into a Succession War phase and ComStar becomes techno crazy ComStar could see the Star League as the threat instead of the later Clans.

At the same time you could have covert ops against each other in an uber long range Cold War between ComStar and the SL if things go wrong.

I like the idea of the Pentagon Worlds being the same as Canon

the SL (in-Exile) having the numbers but not the resources to build a huge army

While ComStar has the resources but not the numbers (at least initially)

The twins are a nice take too
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Really, as long as there is an unbroken line of people calling themselves "Clan Nova Cat," it doesn't really matter to me if they're still using Iron Wombs or not. They may be dead as a faction, but as a people they still exist. It's not uncommon in the real world, after all.

Dread Moores

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2011, 03:28:53 PM »

Oh, there's great drama possibility between the two Cameron lines. Say maybe a Terran Cameron line and a Pentagon Kerensky-Cameron line? Sure, they all want to work together, so they can come back, make the Houses hurt and get their worlds back. But what happens then? Which Cameron line is the "right" one?  ;D
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Ice Hellion

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2011, 03:51:28 PM »

Which Cameron line is the "right" one?  ;D

Both.  ;D
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Knightmare

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #8 on: April 13, 2011, 10:18:54 AM »

Oh, there's great drama possibility between the two Cameron lines. Say maybe a Terran Cameron line and a Pentagon Kerensky-Cameron line? Sure, they all want to work together, so they can come back, make the Houses hurt and get their worlds back. But what happens then? Which Cameron line is the "right" one?  ;D

Internal familial dissent is always a fun literary device to play with.
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Gabriel

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2011, 09:11:24 AM »

Never ever boring that is true. You just have to keep the blade from ever finding a nice spot on your back!!
« Last Edit: April 17, 2011, 09:29:23 AM by Gabriel »
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Ice Hellion

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2011, 01:28:26 PM »

Internal familial dissent is always a fun literary device to play with.

Just reread a lot of classical books and myths.  :P
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Dread Moores

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #11 on: April 18, 2011, 12:58:13 PM »

Haven't made as much progress as I hoped on the outline, but I'll post up what I have so far. I spent most of the last week working on some other non-BT gaming projects and unpleasantly discovering an allergy to shellfish. I also spent the time doing mostly research through Op Klondike, ComStar, Star League books, and the Handbooks to get a grasp on what pieces of that history will need to be changed. The outline is very basic, but I do have at least a little work to show as I worked up how the tech trees will look for the various factions as of the starting point of 3040 (where the timeline/backstory will end and the invasion begins). Outline is listed below, and each of these sections will likely end up being rather short. I don't intend to focus a great deal of time on what is primarily the backstory, as it will serve mostly to set the stage for 3040. The tech tree spreadsheet is attached.

Basic Outline and Checklist

 I. General Introductory Section
   A. Core idea behind AU
   B. Starting point
   C. Major changes
 II. The Cameron line survives (2764 - 2779)
   A. Birth and early life of the twins
   B. Surviving the Amaris Coup and Empire
   C. First Contact
 III. Reconstruction and Future Plans (2779 - 2784)
   A. Reclaiming the Cameron Heritage
   B. Blake and Kerensky
   C. The Exodus Plan
   D. Operation Silver Shield
 IV. SLDF-in-exile Early Years
   A. Exodus Road
   B. Prinz Eugen Revolt
   C. A New Home
   D. Burning Embers
   E. Revolt/Cameron Returns
   F. Hidden Hope Doctrine/Passing of the Torch
 V. ComStar Early Years
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Gabriel

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #12 on: April 19, 2011, 12:18:05 AM »

Interesting and cool
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Dread Moores

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #13 on: May 08, 2011, 04:09:06 PM »

Finally started work on a detailed timeline, so I figured I would post up a slight teaser. This timeline will only cover events that differ from canon material. That means anything not listed here should be assumed to occur as it is found in canon.

2764   June 12
Cameron twins (Amanda and Ian) born, and Elsie (mother) convinces Richard (father) that they should be raised in secret, removed from the threats found in the Cameron court. The couple's first daughter (Simone) was still raised in court and as the visible heir. A great subterfuge is undertaken to show that Elsie lost both children due to complications during child birth. Considering how little the couple would see their parents in the future, Elsie's grief did not need much embellishment.

2766   December 27
Amaris Coupe begins. Richard Cameron is killed. The twins survived due to the actions of Colonel Schmitt and Major Macintosh of the Royal Black Regiment. Unfortunately, the twins were not able to escape Terra and Macintosh began the long process of keeping them alive on occupied Terra.

2766   December 29
Simone is killed in the throne room massacre, along with the known Cameron line. She organized a suicide charge at Amaris, ensuring that the few members of the Cameron clan who knew of the twins would take the secret to their graves.

2769   July 21
After three long years surviving and hiding, Major Macintosh realizes that the twins are at too great of a risk together. Aware of the existence of General Kerensky's family in Moscow, he arrives in the city and takes Katya Kerensky into his confidence. Amanda is left with her, ideally increasing the chances of one of the twins surviving the Amaris Empire.

2776   November 14
At 12 years of age, Ian Cameron (and his surrogate father, Major Ian Macintosh) begin actively working with guerrilla fighters and SLDF remnants. He participates in his first successful operation on this date, killing an Amaris Dragoon officer outside of Istanbul. Most of his formative years are spent in a military training style, particularly focused on irregular operations and guerrilla warfare.

2778   March 3
Nicholas Kerensky assaults a gang of Amaris militia soldiers, intent on harming his “sister” (Amanda Cameron). Two soldiers are killed, forcing the Kerensky family to flee even deeper into the Moscow underground. This is the first flicker of interest between the two teens from different Terran dynasties, a fascination that grows as the two explore their interest in philosophy and politics.

2779   May 17
Dechavilier receives welcome news that General Kerensky's family is safe and under SLDF protection. He also finds an unexplained message, verified with codes from the Royal Black Watch personnel, that “a lost member of the flock is waiting to be heard.” Instructions for continued contact are provided, and the General files this away until operations in North America can be completed.

2779   September 29
Emperor Stephen Amaris surrenders to Kerensky and his forces.

2780   June 29
The Cameron twins are reunited for the first time in 11 years, while waiting for their chance to meet with Kerensky. By this time, Nicholas Kerensky and Amanda Cameron have become romantically involved. Ian Cameron has become quite a skilled rebel cell leader and irregular operations soldier. The twins spend the next several days on an isolated retreat, with only Major Macintosh as security. They never reveal where they went to, and reappear with little notice.

2780   July 4
The meeting between Kerensky and the twins is finally arranged. Per the unusual requests, Dechavilier only allows a few key staff members to be present and brings Jerome Blake at the request of the mysterious Black Watch operative. After the shocking announcement of their heritage, the twins agree to table their plans to allow for independent verification of their claims. Several days are spent organizing and verifying the information provided by Major Macintosh and a battery of medical tests are performed on the twins.

2780   July 8
The twins present their ideas to the still shell-shocked Kerensky and top staff. Though quite radical, their plan for Operation Holy Shroud and Operation Exodus are both ambitious and terrifying. After just finally freeing the Hegemony, most of the staff refuse to believe that they must give up on it to ensure its survival. All assume that the House Lords will come to their senses, and the twins can take their proper place in the Hegemony's leadership in the future. The two Cameron teens do manage to convince the staff that their identities must still be hidden, and that no decisions will be made until they see the results of the Council Lords meeting in October.

2780   October 10
The first meeting of the Council Lords takes place. Little agreement is found amongst the feuding dictators, but they do manage to appoint Jerome Blake as Minister of Communications. Within less than two weeks, the High Council had only managed to agree to Kerensky's terms for treating the captured Republican soldiers well, strip him of his title of Protector of the Star League, and order him to demilitarize Terra and disperse SLDF units to their non-wartime locations. Public unrest was high, and demonstrations against the “corrupt House Lords” grew daily.

2781   August 12
After many more meetings of the High Council (and many more clandestine meetings with Ian and Amanda Cameron), the SLDF command staff knew that the inevitable would soon occur. That very day, the House Lord disbanded the Star League. Less than three hours later, the cabal of the Kerensky's staff, the two Cameron heirs, and Jerome Blake made their decision to proceed with Operations Exodus and Holy Shroud.
« Last Edit: May 08, 2011, 04:09:33 PM by Dread Moores »
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Shadow_Wraith

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Re: Dying Embers
« Reply #14 on: May 08, 2011, 04:44:37 PM »

The reading so far sound like a cool AU!  Hope you keep it up!
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