OBT Forum

This is a work in progress about Ian and Amanda that Tak and I were talking about.  I'm also co-opting it to capture a scene from Takiro's History of the Terran Republic.


Director-General’s Temporary Living Quarters
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, Terra
Terran Hegemony
10 March, 2784

Amanda Cameron’s diary…
…still I'm glad I kept Sarah back at the new Capitol when I went to Vancouver for Aleksandr’s meeting.  I swear I thought Bruce was going to pull the trigger.  [Sigh] Few other people I know can piss me off so much and yet be so much like an older brother.  It did take an edge off the meeting I had with Aleks earlier.  My mind was still disgusted with some of Kenyon Marik’s posturing the week before.  Our conversations, few as they were, in the days after the fall were almost hopeful.  Now, back home and safe he was back at his old tricks…but enough of that buzzard.

The insanity of it all had gotten to me.  Aleks just fed off of that.  His idea of a Star League in exile, consisting of those who’d fought to preserve it was seductive…really really seductive.  That the SLDF almost went to war with itself in that cold warehouse put a shadow of doubt in my mind though.  Some things Dawn and I spoke about later made me think too.

She never even considered that I might leave.  That surprised me, that and her choice words about Aleks, even Jon looked shocked at her language. [Laughter] But it was Ian who sealed the deal.  He must have worked quickly, getting so many troops and notables together in a parade the likes of which dwarfed even the SLDF’s march through Unity.  But what came after…

A week earlier…
Thousands of people lined Park Avenue.  Parades always draw a crowd and New Yorkers hardly are ones to pass up a spectacle.  Cheers rose for the ranks of Earth’s finest, infantry and armor in their parade colors more than two dozen units.  Units such as the Sinclair Fusiliers and the elite marines of 42nd CAAN marched to stand in front of the ancient stately façade of the Waldorf-Astoria.  A huge roar from the crowd as the black ‘mechs of the 90th Heavy Assault took their places.

Standing on her balcony Amanda stared in shock as on a podium erected in the center of the avenue a group of people stood looking up at her.  Michael York and Congressman Bryan Nellas stood side by side with Arnold Collins and Dawn McCormack.  Ian and Sarah stepped up next to her as Arnold began to speak.

The words spoken by the group were similar not prepared remarks vetted by professional speech writers, although Bryan Nellas certainly was.  These were words spoke from the heart.  Dawn McCormack summed it all up…

“…Come what may, no matter what Amanda we will stand by your side, we know the challenges will be great, but with you leading us I know we will triumph.  We have faith in you and ask only that you have faith in us.”

With that, the last of the speeches, the assembled troops saluted, ‘Mechs clasped fists to their breasts or in the case of Bruce’s Hussy bowed and spread their arms.  Armored vehicles raised their gun tubes in salute even as thousands of civilians went on one knee.

A growing rumble of thunder hit a crescendo as a full wing of dart shaped Spads roared overhead.

Eyes wide she stepped up to the balcony’s railing and the microphones there.  Composing herself she began to speak.