OBT Forum

Joanna.  When you absolutely, positively have to abuse every last mother ****** in the room.

Maps showing forces for all the states and Clans.

Victor did not hand the Sirian worlds to the Free Worlds.  See the timeline below.

Sep-57   Operation Guerro Begins. Lyran Alliance forms
Oct-57   LAAF forces clash with DCMS in Lyons Thumb.  AFFC sends in troops from Chaos March to shore up defences
Nov-57   
Dec-57   Operation Guerro Ends
Jan-58   
Feb-58   Word of Blak attacks Terra
Mar-58   
Apr-58   Lambrecht and Moore lost in Lyons Thumb, but AFFC takes and holds Skondia and Alphecca
May-58   Terra becomes a blood bath as C* and hidden WoB forces battle to death
Jun-58   Skye hails AFFC assitance as "saving Skye"
Jul-58   
Aug-58   
Sep-58   Operation SPARTACUS launched from FWL against LC and Chaos March
Oct-58   Katrina Steiner decalres war on FWL, but LAAF driven back from 11 worlds
Nov-58   CCAF drives forward on heals of SPARTACUS, taking more worlds in Op CANTON
Dec-58   AFFC strikes into Chaos March in strength through Operation AVALON
Jan-59   Operation SPARTACUS ends successfully after Siain and Saiph worlds taken.
Feb-59   Wolf's Dragoons work with AFFC to pacifiy Chaos March
Mar-59   Campaign for Terra ends. WoB destroyed and ComStar has only 24 Div and 18 WS
Apr-59   
May-59   Operation AVALON ends with Terran Corridor just held open
Jun-59   ComStar "cleanses" Gibson of WoB.
Jul-59   Due to the brutality of both sides in AVALON and CANTON Candace Liao offs Sun Tzu and claims the Chancellorship and rejoins the Confederation with St.Ives
Aug-59   Candace Liao proclaimed Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation
Sep-59   
Oct-59   FWLN Operation STARLING strike Terra in large naval battle. 8 C* vessels lost before FLWN withdraws

Interesting. It still "feels" like Victor handed the Sirian worlds over, especially after the FWL's abortive strike against Terra. That would have been a good opportunity to nibble a world or two away from the League in the Terran Corridor. It would have benefited from a distracted League and ComStar's blessing.

I didn't see this answered, but if the militant arm of the WoB was destroyed on Terra a Gibson, what happened to control of the HPG network in the FWL and CC? If ComStar retook control of both regions, then the FWL's move against Terra was just plain DUMB. Given that the League did attack Terra, my guess is that some neutered vestige of the WoB still retains control of the network, albeit without the capacity to do any more damage? Otherwise, I would have expected a limited interdiction of the FWL during/after the Terran attack to allow the FedCom or even the CC to "punish" Thomas.

Speaking of which, is Thomas still running the FWL? I'm surprised his attack on Terra didn't force ComStar to "out" him to the rest of the Inner Sphere.

What of the Sirian Lancers? Did the massacres in the Sirian Holds take place? Or was their conquest not placed on by Thomas? Otherwise I could see the Lancers joining the AFFC.

What of Northwind? Independent still? Conquered by the AFFC? Or did the DCMS move in and declare it a Protectorate?

Morgan Hasek-Davion, Marshal of the Armies of the Federated Commonwealth (again), Duke of New Syrtis, watched the Archon-Prince closely as the other members of the AFFS High Command, and many other Generals, filed into the room and took their seats.  Though not the High Command’s usual place of meeting on Pandora, the banquet hall of the Duke of Pandora’s Summer Palace would serve well, if a little ostentatiously.  Lyrans and glitter, thought Morgan, though not derogatively.  The Lyran frame of mind took some getting used to, but he had long since learned that though they might be a little flighty and prone to ostentation, the citizens of the Lyran Commonwealth could be relied upon. 

The Marshal was watching Victor in the way he often did these days, with a well-concealed mixture of pride and disappointment.  He was proud at what Victor had accomplished, in reuniting the Federated Commonwealth and rising to challenge of his father’s legacy.  However, necessary though it had been, Morgan was disappointed that Victor had forced himself to let go of some of his high ideals.  He was so sure for so long, that honour and truth would carry the day and at times he made the rest of us believe it.  Katherine knocked that out of him, along with the mess in the Sarna March.  Morgan still thought of that region by its old name, not its new one.

The Terran March had been formed around the parts of the Sarna March that the AFFC held when fighting died down in that region, which did not include the former March Capital of Sarna.  The Capellan and Free Worlds assaults had managed to take over forty systems, but Victor had rallied his forces and fought back.  The Terran Corridor remained open through Victor’s efforts and with it the hope of reuniting the realm.  That is where you started to change.  Curatius’s information on who had killed your mother and that Kali inspired atrocity on New Aragon got to you.  After that, the League and Confederation were lucky to hold what they had and Katherine’s days were numbered.  Still, the public hanging was something you would never have even considered before then.

Katherine Steiner-Davion was now dead two years, taken down partly due to her own mistakes and partly due to Victor’s decisiveness.  Ah, Katherine, you thought that by changing your name and smiling, the masses would rally to you, but you forgot the need to protect them comes first.  Victor understood that and he made you look weak, firstly with the Steel Vipers, then with the Combine and the League.  Victor had planned and led the assault into the disintegrating Jade Falcon Occupation Zone and then gifted what he took back to the Lyran state.  By then facing down the DCMS in the Lyons Thumb and protecting Skye, he made valuable allies, all whilst saving the Sarna March from decending into complete chaos and re-establishing order there.  He then stood back and watched as Katherine mishandled relations with the Free Worlds League at lost eleven border systems.  By that stage, the Lyran people were looking to Victor as the rightful ruler and the military and many border land nobles were doing the same.  Then Operation GALAHAD II was initiated.  Four RCT’s and several additional regiments took the route less travelled to Tharkad and Victor brought Blitzkrieg to the Lyran Capital world. Katherine could have made a go of it, but she made the wrong choice in deciding to flee to fight again.  The battle was over in a day and Katherine was arrested, publically tried and executed, all within a week.

What surprised Morgan about all of what Victor had done in those years was his focus and new ruthlessness.  He still had the instincts he had always possessed, but added to that now was an ability to do what was necessary to get the job done well and done fast.  That is what worried the Marshall about today; Victor had called the meeting on Pandora for symbolic reasons and Morgan thought that Victor might be planning the next stage of his war on the Clans, launching from this world soon.  We can probably do it, but we need more information on Phelan and his dammed Wolves before we move.  They are too dangerous to treat in the way we would treat the Steel Vipers.  Still, it is best to wait a while and fully gather our strength before striking again.

Victor stood, his small size making him still appear like a boy amongst his seniors and waved the assembled Marshals, Generals and Admirals to their seats.  “Ladies and Gentlemen, I know you all have far too little time for gas bagging with each other socially and like to use these occasions to spread malicious rumours and gossip, but if you could all be seated, we can begin.”

Chuckles and smiles met Victor’s pronouncement.

“We were only spreading vicious rumours about our Archon-Prince my lord.”  The voice was deadpan and came from Hauptmann-General Michael Leece, the commander of the recently formed Terran Brigade.  The man took little seriously, but his efforts in the Terran Corridor were herculean and it would not be long before, if Morgan had his way, he promoted Leece to Marshall and command of the entire March.

Victor laughed and responded, “And that my good General, is why you are stuck holding the Terran Corridor open whilst the rest of us enjoy our time in rank.”

The good-natured General nodded as he sat, “Fair point there sir.”

Victor got straight to business, as was his want.  “I must apologise for the nature of our accommodations,” Victor indicated to the plushly appointed room, ornate table and gilt chairs, “but as the Command Centre is still under construction, this will have to do for now.  That and Duke Desmond was rather insistent that we use his palace.”  Victor made a rueful smile and slightly shook his head before continuing.  “I have brought you all together here on Pandora, to send a message to our people that we do not fear the Clans, despite the threat they pose, however, the real reason is to have an open discussion regarding our plans for the next five years, leading up to the end of the Truce of Tukayyid.”

Victor paused and as he did, a voice spoke up.  Morgan could not see the woman, as she was on his side of the table, several chairs down with the other Admirals, however, he could tell the voice of Fleet Admiral Lyn Hood anywhere, hard and gravelly and brooking no nonsense.  “If I may Sir?”

Victor cocked his head to the right and looked to his left, where halfway down the table, Fleet Admiral Hood waited for his response.  “By all means Admiral.”

“Sir, my view on the next five years, which is shared by all members of the Fleet, “nods of agreement came from the other Admirals present,” is that we should shelter behind the Fleet and build our strength up, whilst adding new and better hulls.  I don’t care how many Clusters those vat grown lunatics have, they won’t mean a dam thing if my ships can vaporise them before they reach the ground.”

“Here, here.” Said a voice, but Morgan could not tell who it was.

Marshal Sharon Bryan, commander of the Lyran Periphery March and someone, despite Morgan’s best efforts, he was unable to get rid of, spoke up.  “More funds lost on those white elephants you play with.  That’s a joke Admiral, we need more OmniMechs, not more megaton paper weights!”  The Marshall had accented every second word by jamming her finger into the table.

“All Assault weight too I’d half expect!” retorted the Admiral.

No love lost there thought Morgan.  He looked to his right at Victor, who nodded to him as other voices joined in and started a rising din.

“Ladies and Gentlemen!” Morgan said loudly and the voices died down.  “The Archon-Prince was not asking for a cadet room argument, he was asking for ideas.  Though I do see the merit of Marshal Bryan’s suggestion that we build more OmniMechs, and OmniFighters for that matter, regular BattleMechs, support forces, Battle Armour and WarShips will all play a role.  However, I am inclined to support Admiral Hood’s recommendation that we build more WarShips.  We lag behind in both numbers and heavy combatants compared to most major navies and that situation leaves us in a dangerous position.”

“Thankyou Morgan,” said Victor, “Field Marshal Aleixandre, what do you and the Quartermaster’s Department think of such material demands?”

The General in question, plain and unassuming, straightened in his seat before answering, whilst absentmindedly playing with the papers in front of him.  “We can do it all Sire, but at grand cost.  I would recommend that we increase Omni-production gradually, as we just don’t have the personnel to service and maintain many more at present, though that will change over time.  Regular Mech, fighter and armour production will grow whether we want it to or not, as the various corporations are having a field day meeting demand and all are trying to grow their share of the market.  As to WarShips, they might cost fair penny, but if we have the yards, we can keep cranking them out.  Though as Admiral Hood suggested, it is high time we build better ships.  I have Admiral Hood’s proposal here sir and it is in your notes.  “Various hands along the table began fishing out the sheets in question.  “I would suggest that we end production of the current Fox-class Corvette after 24 hulls and keep up production of the Mjolnir, Avalon and Durendal, the last of which is only now entering series production.  We have three proposals for a successor to the Fox, the Fox-II, a resurrected Mako and the Corvette Mk.2 from the New Syrtis yards.  From my end Sire, the Fox-II makes the most sense.  The Admiral also wants to restart production of the New Syrtis carrier and Robinson Transport, based off old plans once the Fox run ends and we have a spare yard to build the Avalon in.”  He paused, “Oh, and the new slip at Gibbs has started production on the first of the Emden-class Light Cruisers.

“Emden-class?”  One of the General’s asked.

Victor answered before Field Marshal Aleixandre could.  “It is a little toy that Katherine’s people thought up to fill the gap between the Mjolnir and Fox and though the Avalon is good, the Emden fills an entirely different role and will be able to take on the Aegis-class ships the Clans seem so fond of.”

Morgan chimed in, “It is a powerful ship, but don’t get your hopes up Admiral, the last note I saw said it would not be in service before the start of 3065.”

“Power does come at a price.”  Admiral Hood shrugged as she answered.

“Very well, I want us moving forward on your general plans Field Marshal Aleixandre, and I would like a full report on what that will entail over the coming five and ten years by the end of the week.”  The Field Marshall nodded whilst making notes and Victor moved the conversation on.  “So, let us deal with the elephant in the room.  What do we do over the next five years?  My own inclination is to go on the attack now, drive home our advantage over the Vipers and hit the Wolves before they get their feet back under themselves properly.”

Morgan spoke first, as was expected in such situations.  Here is hoping I can dissuade him.  “Respectively sire, I must disagree.”  Victor nodded and indicated that he continue, “I understand our positions differ on this Sire, but I think a more cautious route will bring more in the long run.”

Morgan paused to gather his thoughts, “The AFFC now commands 97 regiments and 86 RCT’s, which compares very well with our pre-Clan War strength 178 regiments and 75 RCT’s, with much of the reduction in strength coming from the loss of mercenary units.  This puts the AFFC at effectively 80% of what we had in 3050.  With the way our factories and academies are pumping out material and soldiers, we can cover this gap within the next five years, without hiring any more mercenaries and lay in significant stores or add more regiments to the rolls.  Time is out ally here – we have the industry and numbers to win and as long as we are given the time, we can prevail over the Clans, even if the Hell’s Horses and Ice Hellions intervene.” 

Morgan finished and leaned back in his chair.  “Thankyou Marshal, as always you see to the heart of the matter, though I would see those same materials and soldiers you speak of supporting an ongoing campaign.”  Victor looked along the table, “Any other thoughts?”

“Attack now, you do have the right of it sire and I mean no disrespect to the Marshal of the Armies.  The Vipers are stretched and the Wolves have not yet recovered.”  So spoke General Rudolph Chapman, commander of the elite 1st Federated Suns Armoured Cavalry.

“I would hold and build myself.”  That from the Lyran State Commander, Field Marshall Roman Steiner.  “You can’t match good old Lyran industry.  Add that to a bit of Davion sweat and the Clans will hit a steel wall come 3067.  After that, we can deal with the other Houses.”

Murmurs of agreement, especially at the Field Marshall’s last point, greeted his thoughts and at least a dozen voices were raised in agreement.

Victor slowly stood, placed his arms behind his back a prepared to speak.  Victor, listen to you generals.  You have had a grand run of lock these last few years, don’t push it now. 

“It seems as though my own views may well be in the minority, however, I can see reason when it is presented.”  Victor looked along the length of the table, “Are there any others who believe in striking now as our best course of action?”  Only two other General’s raised their hands.  “Very well, for now, the AFFC will remain on the defensive, but I want every March to have a reserve of forces ready for immediate counter-attack should any realm or Clans strike at us.  Additionally, I want the Coventry and Donegal Reserves hard up on the Tamar border, ready to use there if needed.”

“What about the Hell’s Horses Sire?”  Marshall Mark Kostic, commander of the Coventry March asked.

“You will get extra transport assets to make sure the reserve can respond to either threat.”

“Thankyou Sire.”

Victor, though not showing any signs to the High Command over their lack of support for his desire for action, had been aback.  However, Morgan could see it. You can’t win them all boy and by stepping back and compromising, you earned more respect from them than you could have if you took Sudeten tomorrow.  Besides, with your reserves, you’ll get your wish for a fight at some stage.  Or were you planning this all along and just capitulated for show?  If the latter is the case then you are growing faster than I originally thought.

Victor resumed his seat and looked to the General on the far end of the table on the side opposite to Morgan.  General Trevena, if you could be so good as to provide and update on the other realms?”

The tall man stood and bowed slightly in Victor’s direction, “Of course Sire.”  He then directed his attention to the larger gathering.  “Sirs, the following briefing is, well, brief, but your packages contain all the additional data and I am available for individual briefing as required all week.  My role here is to provide you all with an overview of the other nations positions as they currently stand.”

General Trevena picked up a remote and turned on a holographic projector, which brought up a map of the Inner Sphere and Clan Occupation Zones.  “Beginning with the Clans, it would appear that both the Hell’s Horses and Ice Hellions have not expanded their forces in the Inner Sphere as yet.  Though they pose a threat, our forces in place are sufficient to deal with them.  Clan Steel Viper, though spread more thinly than before the Refusal War, has managed to expand its forces, we think by around half a dozen Clusters, but our information is not entirely clear on that.   Clan Wolf has apparently stopped forming new Clusters, but our people on Tamar tell us that huge convoys have arrived over the past months and deposited vast quantities of industrial machinery on the world.  From what those industrial facilities have now begun producing, we surmise that this material comes from Jade Falcon sources in the Homeworlds.”

“How can you be so sure?”  Asked one of the other Admirals present.

“We can’t be sir.  But the designs being produced are traditionally deployed by Falcon and not Wolf forces.”  General Trevena paused to see if another question would be forthcoming and then continued, “Clan Ghost Bear has been settling in after completing it move from the Homeworlds and seems to be making a play for the hearts and minds of Rasalhague, which won’t play well with the Wolves.  The Nova Cats and Smoke Jaguars are quiet since the battles of Avon and Caripare and we don’t expect much activity there for a while.”

“You’re wrong there general.” Said Victor.

“How so Sire?”

“I received a communication from Hohiro Kurita shortly before this meeting.  It seems the Nova Cats are attacking the Jaguars on numerous worlds, though the results of the fighting are not clear at the moment.”  Victor paused, “There was also this note, from the hand of Hohiro himself, the most recent ISF analysis of the Clans and an official demand for the Federated Commonwealth to return Alphecca, Dromini VI and the Lyons Thumb to the Combine.”

Victor reached into his tunic and withdrew a small piece of paper that had been folded once, opened it and began to read.

“Clansmen fear your wrath
Duty bows the strongest backs
Old foes do not change.”

General Steiner looked at the Archon-Prince quizzically, “I don’t see what it means.”

Victor smiled wanly and his refolded the paper and placed it back inside his tunic.  “It means General, that the Draconis Combine will continue to work with the Federated Commonwealth against the Clans, but in all other matters, the old status quo remains.  Would you not agree General Trevena?”

“Yes Sire, all indications point to a steady change in the top ranks of the Combine against working with the Federated Commonwealth.  Alphecca and Dromini got the ball rolling, but it seems that some of his actions towards you weakened the Coordinator’s position.  Had the realm remained divided, he may have been able to work more closely with you, but the threat of the reunited FC and the fighting near Lyons has seen the hardliners force his hand.”

Victor nodded slowly, “It was bound to happen anyway.  What of the other realms?”

The General picked up where he had left of.  “The DCMS has apparently had some extra WarShip facilities, like the League, only this time under the nose of the Clans on Chatham.  Their new Yamato-class Battleship is a fine ship and the other new class, the Kaga, is just a reworking of the old Samarkand II design.”

He paused, lifted a glass of water from the table, sipped, replaced the glass and then returned to his briefing.  “The Free Worlds has been quiet, but that won’t last and Thomas and Candace Liao have reached some sort of accommodation.  Though Isis is no use to anyone with Kai off on Solaris VII chasing Grey Noton’s record, both the Captain-General and the Chancellor are focused on us right now.  Both have raised several new regiments and neither has much force on their mutual border.  The Periphery is generally quiet, but the Magistracy and Taurians have been aggressively colonising the space between their realms, jointly and seemingly in an effort to limit Capellan ambitions there.  Both realms are not happy with the way in which their forces were used by the CCAF and the Trinity Alliance seems to be dead in the water, which suits us perfectly.  However, I can’t verify this, but there is a report that a WarShip was sighted in the Hyades Cluster.  If that is so, the Concordat bears close watching."

The meeting dragged on, much of it not heard by Morgan, whose mind raced through dozens of future scenarios and plans. 

Don't worry, crazy will be back in vogue soon enough.