Federated Suns RP Thread

[Daemonknight]

Public RP Thread for the Federated Suns

[Ian Sharpe]

1 January 3040
New Avalon, Federated Suns

It was a quiet passing of the torch, and the sole reason it was public knowledge was that theSuns had no real reason to hide it.  Quintus Allard, long Hanse Davion's intelligence advisor, was stepping down in favour of his son Justin.  It was not nepotism, as he had been doing intel work in an analyst's capacity for over ten years.  No, he was the most qualified, and Quintus was tired, and feeling his age had led to at least some of the mistakes of 3039. 

He hadn't wanted to change his office, but his father's was simply a larger, better set up for running  everything compared to his old one.  He had barely settled into his chair, when more reports started coming in.  Justin sighed and wondered why he had stopped piloting his mech, thinking that had been at least easier than this. 

He did, though, send out a request to the AFFC, to have Delta Company from the Light Guards seconded over to DMI for an indefinite period of time.  He maybe had something special for them, and he knew they were always up for that.  Redburn was long gone, off with the Kathil Uhlans, but he had met their new CO and felt confident this assignment would be appreciated.  That request made, he put his mind back to the drudge work.   He filtered everything, showed Hanse what was of immediate importance, what could wait, and some things never went past his desk at all, as he would continue waging the quiet war that Quintus had managed so well. 

[Hugin]

2 January 3040
01:34 AM
New Avalon, Federated Suns

Justin sighed.
He was working all night, digging through various reports and trying to get a full grip on his fathers work.
He was done, and he was tired.
Stretching his arms, leaning back in his chair a new icon appeared on his screen.
It was the Icon of an incomming HPG message from the C* compound.
Rocking forward he clicked the icon, saw that it was from Candace and smiled. He grabed his cup of green tea and opened the message...

[Daemonknight]

January 1st, 3040
New Avalon, Federated Suns
NAIS Teaching Hospital, D Ward(Oncology)

It was perhaps, the most sparse room outside of a dropship cabin she'd seen of late. The walls were a pure clean white, same as the shades and the bed she lay on. There was a window overlooking a nice little park outside, the lush emerald of the evergreen trees capped with soft white snow, colorful caps of patients and families walking around. It was quite peaceful, likely by design, she thought. The only color in the room was the multicolored lights of the medical instruments keeping track of her vital signs: heart rate, blood pressure, O2 saturation, flow rate. The last was newly arrived, only 3 days ago. A bag hung from a tall hanger bar, a yellowish-clear liquid slowly flowing from the bag, into the pump, and then into the IV needle that entered her skin just above her heart. The liquid(she forgot the name, some silly 7 syllable affair, the unpronounceable type that doctors seemed to relish as their power over the non-medically trained) was some type of experimental 'miracle' agent. She shook her head slightly. Miracles were seldom what they seemed, although considering her improved condition, she allowed that this one might be what it was claimed to be.

She heard the elevator ding from the hallway, and the stamp of military-style boots on the clean white tile floor. She wondered who it could be. Her current state left her weak for normal pastimes, so she amused herself by trying to guess who a potential visitor was by the size of their escort. Whomever this was must be quite important, she counted no less than 4 escorts. But there was something else, something less like boots and more like soft soled shoes, and the speed at which they moved was far to fast and erratic for military guards. She heard the guards outside her door snap to attention, but before they could address whomever it was that was calling on her, the door burst open.

"Grandma Katrina!" Victor Steiner-Davion, only 10 years old, burst into the room like an Atlas charging through a lance of Locusts. He immediately rushed over to her bed and took a pale hand in his. His eyes were worried but his face beamed at the obvious improvement his grandmother had made in such a short time. She still looked quite frail, but some color had returned to her pale skin, and her eyes had more focus than mere days before.

Unlike her older brother, Katherine Steiner-Davion entered like a regal lady. She too though made haste for her grandmother's bed. She looked worried aswell, but shot her elder brother a glare.

"Victor, you're shouting. They can hear you clear on Tharkad." Victor grinned for a moment before doing his best to hug his grandmother on the bed when she put an arm around his shoulders.

She was quite happy to see them, and was rewarded further when Hanse Davion walked into the room, carrying 5 year old Peter Steiner-Davion in one arm, while managing to simultaneously lose an arm wrestling match with him at the same time, much to young Peter's delight. Hanse was amazed at the change in his mother-in-law. She still looked quite seriously ill, and she rarely spoke, but she no longer looked on death's doorstep.

Another man followed Hanse into the room, this one in a white lab coat, obviously a doctor. In fact, he was the head of Oncology at the NAIS, and as such was personally in charge of Katrina Steiner's treatment team. He was explaining to Hanse as they entered the room.

"Its quite a change, First Prince. The treatment is experimental, and it is having a more pronounced effect than we hoped for. We have noticed several tumors shrink by at least 2cm, and a few smaller ones are gone completely. If this keeps up, she might go into recession in as little as two weeks. She will still be weak of course, but she could make a full recovery at this rate!" The doctor was quite beside himself with the outcome of the experimental treatment. It wasn't unheard of for new treatment modalities to yield results, but very rare on this scale.

Hanse seem quite pleased with the doctor's report, and upon seeing Katrina's slightly raised arms and the smile on her face, he settled little Peter down next to Katrina on the bed. It was perhaps the happiest he had seen the Archon-Emeritus in quite some time.

[Ian Sharpe]

6 Jan 3040
New Avalaon, Federated Suns


It wasn't often in the last few years that he had heard 'no' and the other party had stood by it.  But Riffenberg had stuck by his guns, and denied Justin the 'new' Delta Company.  And despite his less than stellar performance on New Mendham, no one could actually fault him for his caution on a world that had repeatedly resisted all attempts to successfully subdue it.  That, along with the fact that he no longer held any military rank aside from being a retired major, meant that the general was within his rights.  It wasn't worth bad blood between his office and the Light Guards, but nor were they the only source of experienced, innovative  tacticians around. 

One of the nicer things about being Hanse Davion's intelligence chief was the sheer volume of information at his disposal.  If Riffenberg would not give him Delta Company, he would create a new one.  But that meant staffing it, and more importantly, a leader for it.  As good as he had once been, maybe still was, Allard knew his days of jockeying a Mech were over; Yen-Lo-Wang sat deep in underground, waiting for him to start her up.  But even if he still felt like he could go out there, the fact was that he had become somewhat difficult to replace in the last few years.

But here on New Avalon, there were plenty of veterans, instructors, active duty, misfits, ex-mercs, and all sorts of other expendable jocks.  And this candidate looked promising.  Point Barrow Academy, passing marks for his education, but excellent in the mech.  Damned good outside of it as well, at least hand-to-hand.  First action in 4th Succession War, saw more in 3039, one of the handful of survivors of the First Chisholm Raiders.  He was seen as unlucky, the First suffering horrendous losses in both wars, and so he'd been sent as an instructor for the NAIS. 

He hit the intercom, giving his aide a single sentence of instruction.  "Tell Major Van Damme that I want to see about getting him back under a neurohelmet." 

[Daemonknight]

March 7th, 3040
New Avalon, Federated Suns
NAIS Teaching Hospital, D Ward(Oncology)

Reinhardt was wearing what he considered the singularly most detestable garment in the entire illustrious history of the human race: a fitted suit. Tailored to his body measurements, there only so much room to cache what he considered a sub-minimum of weapons: a single-shot needle pistol, a mono-wire garrote, and a small vibro-dagger in the top of his boot. He grumbled to himself the entire way up the elevator to D Ward that he was practically unarmed. The fact that he was also a master of unarmed combat didn't register in his mind as a 'weapon', but even if it had, a single assassin with the most basic or archaic of firearms could lay waste to the whole Ward.

As the doors of the elevator opened, he resigned himself to the fact that perhaps his lack of weaponry wasn't such a horrible idea after all. There was an armed AFFS infantryman in the corridor just to the left of the elevator. Of course, just because he LOOKED like an infantryman, didn't mean he actually was. He could be a Rabid Fox(and very likely was, when Reinhardt thought about it), or any sort of MIIO or DMI agent. The two uniformed guards outside Katrina Steiner's room were also unlikely to be your average AFFS infantryman plucked out of whatever regiments happened to be stationed on New Avalon at the moment. Quite possibly they were from Hanse's own protection detail.

Reinhardt did not immediately head to Katrina's room however. He headed in the exact opposite direction, sparing barely a miniscule glance at the room(unbeknownst to him, he fooled none of the guards with his lack of interest- EVERYONE stared at that room upon first arrival to the floor). Business first: he was meeting with one of his agents on the floor.

Less than a moment later, he and his agent were alone in a bathroom, where the LIC operative gave Reinhardt the quick 'all clear' report, before he nonchalantly slipped back to his duties. Reinhardt, saving satisfied his sense of professionalism, headed to Katrina's room. He rather hoped that her grandchildren were present- it was good to see the retired Archon's face light up, considering how dire her situation had been only a few short months ago.

The guards recognized him when he approached the doorway, but still didn't budge until he showed them his ID badge from the embassy. They smirked at his feigned annoyance at the hold up, but let him in without undue delay. Reinhardt entered the room and took in the scene. He was greeted with a warm smile by Katrina, something that never failed to bring a smile to his face as well. Especially as the children were all present. Young Peter, sitting next to his grandmother as she read him a story, while Katherine and Victor were playing chess. He did a quick appraisal of the chess board and determined that, unless his sister's psychological attack was successful, Victor had checkmate in 4 moves. Her suspicious glare told him that her mind games were perhaps winning and he was not to interfere as he had accidentally once before.

Reinhardt shook his head and walked over to the bedside of Katrina Steiner, who had resumed reading to Peter, who happily waved at Reinhardt. He sat down and took out a small stack of reports(not for his department, but what else was one to do to kill time?) as Katrina continued her reading, wondering if the person he had actually come to see would indeed make an appearance.

[Ian Sharpe]

7 March, 3040
New Avalon, Federated Suns
NAIS Teaching Hospital, D Ward(Oncology)

Major(ret.) Justin Allard(he rarely used the Xiang on New Avalon) walked tiredly into the hospital.  His bodyguards waited outside; given the presence of Katrina STeiner and the visits of the Steiner-Davion children, few places were more protected in the Inner Sphere.  Despite him being relatively well-known, he didn't quite pass for the Champion of Solaris fifteen years after the fact.  The gray hair, in particular, was irksome.  Somehow his father had left out just how quickly the onset would be.  His ID was checked thoroughly, although he recognized at least one of the 'infantrymen' present.  Unlike the man he would meet, he was unarmed, save for the laser pistol built into his left arm.  At forty-three, he could no longer realistically consider himself a weapon, tai chi or no.  Also in contrast was the that black trousers and tunic he wore.  The black metallic hand gave him the look of wearing a glove as well. 

Ostensibly he was here to meet the Archon.  Melissa Steiner-Davion he knew rather well, after all, from years of working around the Prince, but her mother, he had never met.  But Justin also knew that Katrina Steiner would not waste his time.  If she had asked to be introduced to her son-in-law's intelligence adviser, she had an ulterior motive.  So he was not quite surprised to see someone who looked dangerously out of place in his his clothes.  "Archon."  He let the pleasantries play out, both knowing they were required for propriety's sake, and he certainly understand that.  After a solid 20 minutes, time in which he was asked about Candace, Kai and Cassandra, and various other topics, finally they were able to get down to business. 

"You needed to see me, Herr...?"  Names weren't all that important, and he expected an alias, but he needed some designation for the LIC agent.  He assumed it was high priority, as normal turf wars did not normally require Justin himself to intervene. 

[Daemonknight]

7 March, 3040
New Avalon, Federated Suns
NAIS Teaching Hospital, D Ward(Oncology)

"Reinhardt. Joachim Reinhardt. A pleasure to meet you." There only the slightest trace of a German accent in Reinhardt's English. "Perhaps we could step outside. I would not like to intrude on our hosts' time with her grandchildren." When Justin nodded, and with a warm smile for Katrina, Reinhardt strode out of the room, being careful to keep his hands in plain sight. He didn't exactly expect suspicion and hostility from Justin, but one did not long survive the intelligence world by taking foolish risks.

The two men walked to a nearby empty cafeteria room.
"The reason I asked you here is because we have uncovered some information that might be of interest to the Suns. Here, this is what we have." Reinhardt handed Justin a small noteputer, an analysis of an interrogation session, althought it was lacking any information about source or method of interrogation.

Reinhardt waited a moment while Justin read the report.
"Seeing as the location mentioned is closer to your territory than ours, we are asking permission to dispatch an exploratory mission to the area. I've been instructed to request Command Circuit access for the mission, aswell as if the AFFS has any units on Stand-By in the area, in case we need to extract our team."

[Ian Sharpe]

7 March, 3040
New Avalon, Federated Suns
NAIS Teaching Hospital, D Ward(Oncology)

Allard could sense a vague uneasiness from Reinhardt, but not exactly why.  if he had known it was the suit, he would have told him to spend more time in one, sleeping in it if necessary, but not knowing, he chalked it up to hospital uneasiness.  Justin himself had no fond memories of NAIS, where his mechanical hand had been fitted.  Not the most advanced type V, but the type IV was in many ways more practical even if it did mark him out. 

The noteputer he scanned quickly, discerningly.  "How reliable do you consider this?  Your gut feeling."  He knew Reinhardt would likely trust his fellow LIC agents implicitly, so no sense in asking if he trusted their methods.  "A command circuit?  Doable, but pricey.  Full disclosure and a similar favor, should something come up?"  Technically the Federated Commonwealth was a single political entity, but in practice it would be decades, if not a full century, for things to really operate the way they needed to.  He had the utmost respect for the LIC, and he was sure they felt the same about DMI and MIIO, but that didn't mean they were always on the same page.  "Boots on the ground, I'm sure I can find somebody willing to back you up.  We'll use the command circuit to get your team there, then shift it over for them."  He said it confidently, this was all the more grounds for him having a few smaller commands under his direct authority.  Soon enough, he thought.  Line units were useful but lacked the discretion and security clearances that he would have preferred for this, at least in general.  Still, they would have to make do.  "You looking to go with them, Mr. Reinhardt?" 

[Daemonknight]

7 March, 3040
New Avalon, Federated Suns
NAIS Teaching Hospital, D Ward(Oncology)

Reinhardt considered Justin's question for a moment. He had read the full interrogation report, including method and source. It was unusual, but he trusted the information, if only because the man who gave it had absolutely nothing to gain by lying, and had no black marks on his background checks(none that mattered anyways. Everyone had some, and only spies, inexperienced ones, had none).

"I trust the information. Enough to head out an meet our exploratory team in person at any rate. If you'd prefer to have a DMI or MIIO agent along for the ride to ensure full disclosure, thats fine with me. And I think the Archon will indeed remember the favor. I will personally as well, if not the LIC in general." Reinhardt was fairly confident his superiors would scoff at the notion they wouldn't remember. Favors and personal relationships were the currency of espionage, and nothing would ever get done the first time someone reneged on returning a favor.

[Arvanna]

New Avalon, Federated Suns
June 3rd 3040

Office of Marshal Tobias Green-Davion Department of Mercenary Relations.
 
Tobias remained seated behind his desk glaring at the report and it's contents that amounted to no one having a clue how Candace Liao how managed to hire all five of the Wolf Dragoon regiments without anyone having heard so much as a rumor about it? Course no one had forseen her suddenly reconciling with her insane sister and returning to the Confederation and immediately helping them attack the Suns either.

He imagined there was rather a lot of hell being caught over in MI2 as well as MIIO and the Foreign Ministry. There had been a scare that Duchess Fenlon had nearly had a heart attack at the news if the gossip going around in the last months was to be believed? Speaking of blindsided by this he sure as Hell wouldn't have wanted to be her husband  trying to explain how he missed that one to the Prince and the Archon.

Still no sense in crying over spilled milk so setting down the report he buzzed his aide to come in. The young Captain came in  less then a minute later "You needed me Sir?" he asked coming to attention.

He waved for him to relax "Yes I did Andrew, any word on how the negotiations are going on Outreach and Galeta yet?" for a second he almost felt bad about pestering the young man about this, but with the higher ups screaming for more troops to both shore up the defensive line in the Sarna region, let alone counter attack they needed all the mercenary units he could lay his hands on and quick.

Andrew shuck his head "I'm afraid not yet Sir, but then we haven't gotten the latest message download yet aside from confirmation that that we do have another liaison officer in route to Galeta so assuming we got anyone to accept the offered contracts we'll have a someone available."

"Well that is something of a relief, who is it?" the Marshal asked sounding somewhat less sour now and leaned back, rubbing his temples lightly.

"Captain Robert Townshed-Davion." Andrews replied not even needing to consult his data pad at his side.

The name got a surprised look from his commander at first "I thought he was still on leave to see his wife and that new baby of theirs back on Numenor?" Then even as he asked that his eyes fell on the file on his desk again and he nodded in understanding "Let me guess he cut his leave short and requested orders for Galeta? That's just like my Dear cousin..at least he got some time with them..anyways let me know as soon as anything new develops. We're going to need all the mercenaries we can get if we're going to beat the Capellans back." mentally he added "And teach the Duchess of St. Ives the cost of betraying the Suns."

[Ian Sharpe]

The Capellan attacks had caught DMI and MIIO flat-footed, and Justin Allard, along with Alex Mallory, was working long into the night. 

"Reminds me a bit of Sian, before and during the War."  Alex didn't need to say what war.  They had both been there, deep cover, neither knowing the other was a Federated Suns plant.  "A bit more desperate back then, though." 

"Just so.  Plus, there were other distractions..."  Candace Liao, who had run off with him.  Now she had left, keeping their children.  It had been as big a trauma as when he had been publicly made a nonperson and exiled from the Suns.  Not to mention, this little war had put off his plans with Major Van Damme's unit.  The Capellan attack was not a convenient training ground for a new unit.  Maybe some raiding later on...

Not to mention the wary looks across the border at the Combine.  It was easy, all too easy sometimes, to forget about them, but the Dragon would never be satisfied, was always looking to expand.  Maybe 3039 had been too near run a thing for Teddy Kurita, but Justin wouldn't have bet on it. 

He stood up, yawning, stretching.  "C'mon, Alex.  Go home.  Get a few hours of sleep."  Of course, neither of them was going anywhere.  Justin would sleep on the couch in his office again, and he knew that Mallory would do the same, despite the trouble it would give him the next day.  "Back at 0500?  That's three hours."  That would give them a few more hours before they would brief the Prince.  Not trusting an alarm, he always had an orderly come in to wake him, and told the infantryman outside that he had to be awake.  He kicked off his shoes after Alex left, and lay down on the couch.  Exhaustion claimed him immediately. 

[Arvanna]

Federated Suns Consulate Alpheratz
September 1st

Desal stood at the head of the conference room and watched his staff as he finished reading the copy of the message that had been forwarded from New Avalon. Things there had been hectic to say the least since the announcement about the absorption of the Alliance into the Combine first with preparing to evacuate the place and warn all Sun's citizens to return home, then calming down and simply issuing a travel advisory regarding the areas where the Combine troops would be stationed.

"Alright ladies and gentlemen we have a bit of a quandary on our hands." he began looking from one face to another "We have the assurances from President Avellar that nothing much has really changed and we have this message here that..well seems to cast some doubts on what's been presented to everyone. New Avalon wants to know what the real situation here is and we're going to find out. I want a careful examination of every source of public media and what's being said on the street what do the people think of this deal their leaders have made. And not just here on Alpheratz but the rest of the Alliance worlds, now I know this is going to be a lot of work but I have faith in your ability so get to it and lets get to the truth."

[Hugin]

New Avalon
7th October 3040
07:46

“Andrea?”
“Yes First Prince?”
“Steak”
“Pardon Me?”
“I'm having steak today. Get me a table in Flatchers. 8:30 PM. Non smokers. And please ask Mr. Allard if he wants to join me, yes?”
“Yes Mylord.”

Hanse stetched. He had been in his office sinc 6 AM with two short breaks to see his kids and grab some food.
It had been a busy day at the office with the Capellans waging their first war with territorial gains in centuries and the like.
He had to leave for Terra the coming day and he wanted to make it a short day at the office so he could have a nice dinner and actually see Victor before he went to bed today.

He rose and left his office, taking the elevator to the garage and towards his cars.
“Hello Mathew.”
“Mylord?”
“We are having dinner at Flatchers. Fetch me the porsh, will you?”
“Mylord is driving himself?”
“Yes. Inform the Foxes. Fox actual will leave in the porsh in fifteen minutes. Destination: Flatchers. Drinks and Steaks on me.”
He was safe on New Avalon, he knew that, but security had to be kept tight. He knew that as well.
The Foxes were one of the best teams in the Inner Sphere. He knew that and he called each and every one of them a friend.
Most had served with him over the years, the years where he had not had any family yet and where the Fox was only second to the throne.
He had a sad look on his face when he had to think of his brother and how he died all those years ago.
His brother died fighting the Draconians, as many others had as well. The bane of their existance, the red flood.
He almost had the combine... just some short years ago.
He and his analysts were convinced that their front would break and that they could push towards Luthien.
And then the Combine showed new regiments with long thought extinct mechs.
It was almost as if they had been given them by god, would they believe in god, that was.
They then fought his army to a stalemate and finally fighting died down.

And now this! The Wolfs Dragoons fighting for the capellans in a frenzy that seemed nigh unstoppable at the moment. Were it not for the Lyran forces in the theater, holding a line would have been difficult.
But now the tide was destined to turn and this time he surely would not stop. This time it would be Sian or bust!
“Sian or Bust!” He yelled when he started his porsh and speeded out of the underground carpark into the nightsky.

Fifteen minutes later he had reached the Flatchers. It was easily the best Steak place in the capitol and people waited for months to get a table for two, let alone multiple tables or, god forbade, a table for six or ten people.
Well they always kept one empty for him. And his security detail usually also got assigned several tables around him.
The Flatchers owner knew very well that having the First Prince in ones house on a regular basis was good for business, and free advertising.

Justin was already waiting at their table when he arrived.
They exchanged some kind words, shook hands and spent some minutes talking small talk.
Hanse made sure to evade the topic of children as this was a hard time for Justin with his Ex-Wife now leading the sworn enemy nation alongsinde her sister. She had taken the kids with her... and this was hard for him.
“I'll take Sian for you Hanse, and my kids for myself!” that was what he kept saying.

They ordered steak and beers and slowly the topic was switching to business as suddenly one of the guests got up, taking a step or two towards the Davion.
His men suddenly went active on radio
“Fox Actual possibly compromised, taking action!”
In that second hell broke loose around the two men:
Like a well oiled machine men rose from all over the restaurant drawing their weapons and targeting random civillians.
That was what it looked alike but in reality they targeted the men of the Foxes team, killing some and wounding many.
One of the security detail managed to draw his laser pistol and shot two assaliants through chest and head before he got gutted by a shotgun at point blank range, another one was decapitated by a thrown tablet.
Two more got engaged in a fire fight and wounded badly.
The whole restaurant quickly became a battlefield with the whole lot of the Fox team now engaging the enemy specops team. They put up a valiant fight but their position and their plan had been compromised.
Then, when the first assailants went to the ground, dead, the full extent of the attack became visible: Every body killed exploded in a cloud of tissue, flesh, bones and marrow, piercing the remaining survivors in the restaurant with their remains. It looked as if it was a gore driven chain reaction with exploding bodies left, right and centre.
Hanse got hit in the hip by a laser shot, blood and bones all over his uniform while Justin tried to cover him as good as possible with the little he had with him.
Justin had obviously been a wild card in the engagement. They had no apparent answer for him and he was, in multiple occasions the little weight that kept the scales in Hanses favor.

In the end it did not matter. Justin got knocked out by a severed foot that flew off a man- explosion and hit him over the eye, knocking him unconscious.
Hanse reloaded his pistol and peeked over the armoured table that had given him cover over the last minute.
Hell was all that was to be behold out there with most of the restaurant covered in gore.
A woman, dressed in an elegant white dress came towards his position, the assault rifle at the ready, almost looking casual.
“Surrender now First Prince and you might see your kids one more time.” she muttered with a strange accent.
He was surprised, he did not know where to put it but his thoughts were interrupted when another hail of bullets were fired onto his cover.
It were not the bullets, it was not the gory explosions, it was not even the fact that his team had been anihilated. It was the grenade that he saw all too late. It had been rolling besides the table under the cover of all the noise of several dozen bullets ricocheting off his table.

He smiled.
He would see his brother again soon!

[Arvanna]

April 1st 3041
Kir Zorban system ARAR

  Within the old SLDF base's assembly yard lights sprang alight along the massive shadows length as it came to life once more after over 300 years. Aboard General Yuu stood behind and stayed out of the way as the naval personnel manning the bridge stations went about their tasks with quiet efficiency. In the command chair Commodore Helena Roberts continued thru the final check lists tapping away at her own console while looking up at each section in turn "All stations report status?" her clear, aristocratic voice doing a good job of masking the excitement they all felt.

"Engineering here, the drive board is green and power distribution is green Skipper."

"Environmental Green Ma'am"

"Tactical reporting all stations manned and showing green Skipper."

"Helm and navigation are ready, all maneuvering thrusters show green, we're ready for a test drive when you give the word Skipper?"

  She swung her chair about towards the General , wearing a smile worthy of the Chesire Cat "Permission to take her around the block Sir?"

  Yuu could only chuckle as he nodded "Go have your fun, I have to go see how our guests are doing now that they've seen our little fixer upper here and I need to get packing, we have a date with those robed bastards, run your checks then come back so we can load up." and with another chuckle he turned and started making his way to the boarding tube.

[Arvanna]

April 20th 3041
New Avalon, Federated Suns

The throne room, it looked far larger then he recalled as the silver haired, man looked about the place and at the other assorted Nobles and dignitaries that stood around him. He hadn't been here in over a decade, shortly before his retirement from the AFFS to assume his deceased, father's title and lands. Glancing towards the throne he couldn't shake the feeling that this had to be a joke and that when he looked Hanse wound be there where he belonged wearing that damnable grin of his when he had just pulled some joke over on someone.

Around him the members of the Privy Council hovered in attendance, he'd met with them immediately upon his arrival on world in response to the urgent summons they'd sent him on Numenor. The trip while rushed was at least relatively short, and thankfully his now 1 year old granddaughter had dealt with her first trip into space quite well, which both he and his daughter-in-law were grateful for. Still he hadn't a clue why they had wanted to see him, once he did, well he would readily admit to a moment of panic, but saying no hadn't been an option. He owed his nation any service he could perform and he had a family to protect thru that service.

Noting that it was time to proceed and get this over with William Townshed-Davion III, Duke of Numenor, strode across the floor, past the onlookers to stand before the throne , where the Pope of  the New Avalon Catholic Church awaited him to administer the oath of Regency of the Suns half of the Fed Com. The ceremony was kept, blissfully short due to the dire circumstance that the realm found it's self in, not that William had any complaint, he'd always hated the usual pomp and circumstance of court affairs truth be told.

Two hours and a short press statement later he found himself in one of the residence's small studies with his fellow Regent, having poured them both a cup of tea he walked over to hand one of them to Katrina Steiner. "Thank you your Grace." the elder stateswoman said sounding as well as one could expect considering the stress she had to be under with everything going on "I had a little chat with your daughter-in-law before you arrived, that grand daughter of yours is adorable I must say." she said as she took the cup and blew softly over it.

"Oh she is that, indeed Archon Steiner." he started to reply them stopped as he expression hardened slightly.

"Melissa is Archon now, and seeing how we both got roped into this regent business let's dispense with the titles and  just address each other like normal folks?" Katrina said, her voice and face softening.

Nodding, a smile slowly growing "As you wish Katrina, and please call me William, but not Willy unless you want to see me cringing every time you use it?". Taking a chair next to her he sipped his own tea "But yes Morganna is quite the lovely , little lady and thankfully seems to see this as one big adventure so far from how much she's been smiling and laughing the whole way. I know Beth likely trying to get her to settle down for a nap as we speak so she can get settled in and check in properly with the Ministry..speaking of which."

Reaching over to a nearby by table the Duke hit the small comm pad "I need someone to ask Duchess Fenlon to join us and contact the Comstar facility and politely of course, inform them that we need to speak to Precentor New Avalon, or whoever is in charge if he's not on planet.. in person......immediately."

[Daemonknight]

Precentor New Avalon was an older woman by the name of Veronique Beauvais. She was in her early 70s, and had held her post for a good number of years, hailing from the Davion Outback(if there is canon that counters this lemme know...i found zero info on Precentor New Avalon). She walked with a cane in her left hand, and she was a regular at the NAIS Medical Hospital(ironically she had the same orthopedic surgeon as oversaw Katrina Steiner's case). She entered the room with a small coeterie of robed attendants, the man helping her obviously a bodyguard: he stood easily over 6' tall and look like a slab of pure muscle. Behind here were a few more commonplace Adepts, trailing papers and notepads, looking very much uncertain of their surroundings.

She approached the newly appointed Regent, and bowed her head respectfully.
"Greetings Duke. I proffer my congratulations on your appointment, and my deepest sympathies for the reason behind it. I wager I know why I have been summoned, but perhaps you would care to say it aloud for me?"

[Arvanna]

  William was seated at the desk, hands steepled before him atop of it, flanked on both sides by members of the Davion Guard, Infantry Regiment in full gear in addition to the very visible squad of their fellows out in the hallway. Looking up as the entered he stood "Ahhh thank you for coming so quickly Precentor, and thank you though I would rather be back on Numenor dotting on my grandchild, but things being as they are here I am." motions gracefully to a seat in front of his desk "But first please have a seat, I'm not so rude as to insist upon you standing there leaning on that cane.

  He waits for her to take the offered seat taking a moment to study the rest of her group before returning to her as he retakes his own seat "I suppose I should begin with asking first what are you lot up to with these attacks upon our Realm as well as the Combine, followed by what have you done with the Archon and Duke Morgan, not to forget Ardan Sortek and our folks on Terra...and please spare me the feeble cover story of terrorist attacks and blaming them on the Dragoons, the timing of your attacks on Outreach by that rather huge Comguard Army and Fleet and those mercenaries you preposition-ed there within a hours of said terrorist bombing is frankly insulting. Where are our people and what does the Primus want I believe sums things up?" the whole time his voice remains quite conversational in tone

[Daemonknight]

Veronique nodded her head sadly and looked down, shaking her head almost imperceptibly.

"I am afraid that the answer I give you will not be to your satisfaction. I was not informed of the events of which you speak beforehand, though of course I am aware of them now. I have consulted several of my colleagues, both within and without the Federated Suns half of the Federated Commonwealth. People I trust, you understand, Precentors with long service to their respective worlds and nations. None were informed, though a few seemed to be somewhat less than surprised.

From what I can gather from my own sources, and the few ROM personnel who have spoken to me...the action was very much a secret from the great majority of the Order. And i doubt it is...what is that term...", she turned to look at her bodyguard for a moment, standing idly behind her chair with a hand on the back.

"Operational security, ma'am." She nodded her thanks and returned her gaze to William.

"Yes, operational security. I have been told from a few retired ComGuards, that even if that was the Primus' goal, this is too secretive, that the whole of the First Circuit would need to be informed. I have concluded that Primus Waterly's goals are not openly known to the majority of the Order. And unfortunetly, I do not have any information about the whereabouts of your people." She slumped in her chair slightly. She was known to be a very kind woman, and she despised giving bad news.

[Arvanna]

He listened attentively to her as she spoke "Operation security indeed...I've heard of the left hand not knowing what the right's doing now and then but this takes things to a rather ridiculous extreme Precentor. Your Primus has crossed a number of dangerous lines with just not these attacks at former Hegemony worlds." emphasizing that as he replied "but in the deliberate attack on jump ships. diplomatic and civilian ships as well as the fact that this conference of her's on Terra appears to have been little more then a trap for the House leaders who didn't happen to get assassinated by her prior to it. She's playing with a fire and whoever she has advising her is risking the very continued existence of your Order with this game of theirs and the IS existed for quite a long time before there were HPGs , some may say we can again if need be. I would rather not, I like the convenience myself."

Leaning back a bit he let out a small sigh "I'm not by the way trying to make any threats here Precentor. Unlike the Primus...I have experienced war, the real thing, not pushing little toys around on a map light years away from where the dieing is going on and right now I'm up to my eyes in it, bad enough with Capellans and their allies backing them up, I certainly don't need Waterly following Candace Liao off the deep end we have enough crazy as it is. So I suppose I'm asking you to contact the Primus and try and find out what she's afte? Tthough just looking at a map gives me a pretty good idea already."

[Daemonknight]

"I can tell you for certain, Regent, that the initial conference on Terra was NOT designed as a trap. I and the First Circuit approved the conference, and I know of the details of that conference. I am of the personal belief that the threat is real, if perhaps not imminent as she believes. No, the conference was not a trap, or at least that was not it's true purpose. I suspect a different hand at work behind the events there." She grew quiet, and gave her bodyguard a look laden with meaning. He simply nodded and stood, and spoke to the other ComStar personnel.

"Laissez-nous, ce qui doit être dit n'est pas pour vos oreilles." They hesitated for a moment. "Allez maintenant , alors que vous pouvez encore prétendre ignorer, imbéciles!" His outburst caught them by surprise, and they quickly backed their way out of the room. Once the ComStar personnel had left, he turned back, placing his hand once more on the Precentor's chair, but now instead of relaxed and calm, he seemed tense, ready to jump into action, like a coiled spring. Veronique looked at the guardsmen around the room quietly, and then set her gaze on the Regent. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper, and even the Duke had trouble hearing her.

"What I am about to say, is not safe to be said. And if you wish to hear it, you alone will hear it, and know it was heard." She sat back in her chair and waited to see the Duke's reaction.

[Arvanna]

William just nodded and with a short hand, motion sent the guards out of the room. They marched out to join their fellows out in the Hall, closing the door behind them and not looking at all pleased. The Duke however his demeanor hadn't changed a wit as he settled back in his chair, hands now in his lap as he regarded her "Alright Precentor now that the children are out of the room you had something to tell me?"

[Daemonknight]

She leaned forward in her seat slightly.

"There is a group within the Order. They call themselves 'the Blood', and are descendants of these Clans the Primus spoke of on Terra. I suspect that her actions are guided by this...cabal if you will, though I have no proof. The members of the Blood are not centralized: some are Precentors scattered throughout the Sphere and Periphery, some are ROM agents. Some are likely within the ComGuards, and the Fleet. Some could easily be here on New Avalon, with no way of finding out. Their membership is not held in any database: they alone know their members.

The rumors I have heard, are that they harbor a hatred for their kin greater than anything the Houses have experienced before. Your realm's distaste for the Dragon and the Confederation are like old friendships compared to their view of the Clans. And if they cannot defeat their bretheren, they will settle for taking away that which they prize most. However, I do not know what that 'prize' might be.

What I do know: the Primus is an ambitious woman. Her goals and the Blood might align for some time, but it is unlikely that will stay true. You would do well to deal with THEM before they deal with HER...because if that happens, you will not recognize what is left of the Sphere when they are through." She leaned back in her chair, suddenly seeming older, as if giving voice to the idea weighed heavily upon her.

[Arvanna]

"Yes....Clan Wolverine I believe is who they were." William said a trace of weariness in his own voice "That is before they ran afoul of the...Ilkhan I believe was the term I read in the report." pausing for a moment he managed a small smile at her "You know that iss the truly sad thing about this...these Clans do present a danger to us, and this is based on far more..recent inside information then this Blood's centuries old memories Precentor, but they and the Primus have allowed their apparent thirst for power to likely be paving the way for our collective subjugation down the road and not by whatever fantasy they hold of a renewed Terran Hegemony lording over a 2nd Star League."

He got up from his seat and moved to the window and looked out over the city from it, and shuck his head "We will do what we can..what we must Precentor, I'm afraid one way or another there will be a great deal of fall out for you and your fellows who are not party to this madness across the Inner Sphere, lost trust that will not be won back easily...or if at all." frowning at that he turns around to look back at her "speaking of which I have a message to send to Sian , which should also provide sufficient reasoning for our chatting in private I believe."

[Daemonknight]

She offered a simple weary smile.

"You may of course send your message, Duke. I would suggest you wait untill tomorrow. I have a feeling that there will be a new Precentor New Avalon by then. Some things are simply never safe to speak aloud. I suggest your guards stay close to you." She got up slowly, and slowly began making her way to the door. "I bid you farewell Duke, and godspeed."

She slowly made her way to the door.

[Arvanna]

Being a few decades younger then her he made it to the door first and opened it for her "Thank you for your time Precentor , do have a safe trip." William said bidding her farewell with his best somber smile then watched as she and her party departed down the hallway. Once they had left he returned to his desk and commed his secretary "Janet, please get Minister Allard for me right away, we need to have a chat."

<Right away Your Grace.> the voice on the other end replied before closing the line leaving the Regent with his thoughts about what he had just been told.

[Daemonknight]

The Precentor and her small group made their way to the armoured staff car that had borne them to the meeting. Veronique was not surprised in the slightest when, upon having the door opened, a janitor from the HPG compound was within, a stern look on his face. She merely closed her eyes, but her bodyguard, aswell as a Davion infantryman behind her who saw the vest of explosives, attempted to draw their sidearms.

They did not draw in time.

[Arvanna]

New Avalon
April 28, 3041

Location:NAMA Training Grounds, Live Fire Range.

It was shortly after 2 PM  and the usual security around the training grounds was visibly stepped up by the presence of a full combined arms battalion of the 1st Davion Guards in addition to the NAMA security guards and staff. Mechs and tanks prowled the perimeter while over head several flights of Corsairs circled on the look out for anything entering the now restricted area. On the live fire range a single battlemech strode along one of the lanes picking apart targets as they appeared.

At 85 tons the Battlemaster is a mid-weight amongst assault class mechs, as fast as most heavies but far more armored. Wearing the colors of the Guards this one bore the seal of the First Prince and today was the first time it had been seen in operation since before Hanse's murder. Inside of the recently expanded cockpit William piloted the machine with the practiced ease of a veteran, but also a huge grin that matched the one worn by is 11 year old nephew in the rear seat.

He'd promised Victor a ride and after all this was now to be his battlemech once he was old enough to enter which ever Academy he chose to enter. The refit of the cockpit had delayed the gift, not that young Victor had minded, he , like his sister had a lot on their minds and as family William wanted to help preserve this connection to Victor's father. Besides it would be some time before his  Grandmother was well enough to take him for a ride in her old mech and William was having too much fun back at the controls himself.

This was their third run along the course and this time he had let the young Prince take a turn at the weapons while he focused on navigating their way thru the simulated wasteland. Up in a nearby control tower the range staff activated a set of controls and the camo netting around a old husk of a Manticore, heavy tank came down off to their left. 

In the cockpit their HUDs blinked as the newly designated target appeared "Tank, 300 meters, 30 degrees left." the Duke called out as he turned the 85 ton machine towards the contact. Behind him this gunner worked the controls, bringing up the machines right arm as he aimed the huge Donal PPC at the now highlighted tank hulk. The targeting reticle now covered the target and he called out he was taking the shot and a cerulean bolt of lighting leapt out and shaves a quarter of what was the turret in a shower of sparks and molten armor.

Both Uncle and Nephew let out a cheer "Good shot there Victor, good shot indeed." William commended him "A few more runs and we can try this at run." The lad certainly had a talent for for gunnery  and was thinking about letting him try a full simulator when their communications panel started buzzing. As he opened his =mike the Duke also noted the time and cringed "Oh Dear.....I assume you have a message from my , lovely Wife to relay Colonel?"

Behind him Victor locked away the weapon controls "Ohhhh...we're running late aren't we Uncle?" asking even as he checked the time himself.

Over the radio the somewhat amused voice of the Range Master replied <Affirmative that Your Grace. She said tell that Old Fart to park that over grown Agro-mech and get back to the palace or they won't leave any ice cream or cake for either of you.> You could easily imagine the fellow trying to say that with a straight face while everyone else in the tower was snickering under their breath. Upon hearing that his gunner sagely for a 11 year old advised him they'd best redeploy to the rear before the women folk carried thru on that threat.

He certainly wasn't going to argue with that, after all he knew his wife all too well and he had lost track of the time so he turned the mech around and announced they were done for the day then beat a hasty retreat back to the Royal Hangar bays. Today was his grand daughter was one year old and they were having a party for her and neither his wife or daughter-in-law was going to let them miss it.

The party was also just as much for his niece and nephew who were now without a father or mother, though he still held onto hope that even that lunatic Waterly wouldn't be that stupid as to have had her killed once she'd managed to capture her. Course she'd had an assassination attempt made already on Melissa so who could be sure of what? So now he was filling in as more then a Regent, and that made some decisions rather more difficult as these crazies had not just attacked his country, they'd directly attacked his family and by God he was going to see that they paid for that. Speaking of which he needed to speak with Justin about finding those mercenaries who had been with the late but not missed Waco on Outreach.

[Arvanna]

(Continuation from last post)

In the main living room of the residence Lady Anna T-Davion and her daughter-in-law Rosanna sat before the large fire place drinking their tea as they watched 8 year old Katherine walk slowly around the room with her infant cousin. The now 1 year old Morgana was being held up by her cousin  on who's feet she was standing atop of and giggling none stop as they moved about the floor under the careful watch of the two women.

Young Katherine had taken an instant liking to the baby girl upon her arrival much to the adults relief as it had lifted her from the dark depression that had settled over her since the murder of her Father and her Mother's apparent capture on Outreach.  Anna attributed much of it though just to the joy of having another girl around and not being outnumbered by her brothers even if Morgy was just an infant.

"So have you looked at that message from Robert that arrived Rose?" Anna asked setting her empty glass aside "Or saving that for later?" she'd been a touch upset with her son for cutting his leave short to return to duty, course that was when it was just the Capellans compared to now. A retired AFFS aerospace pilot, Anna was all too familiar with missing family events due to the demands of duty. It didn't make it any less irritating but she was determined that Robert miss as little as possible , thus explaining the rather out if place looking NAMA cadet following the two girls around with a hand help holocamera.

Rose chuckled over her own tea as she watched them as well "I'll watch it with her later, so the Ministry finally got around to sending me some stuff to work with in my spare time. My friend Angela , you remember her she was my bride's maid?"

"Of course I do, lovely young lady and so quick on her feet." smiling, impishly at the memory "How she so deftly side stepped that bouquet which you I believe lobbed right at her, must be quite the dancer and determinately single still I assume?"

Nodding Rose didn't try to deny that implication "That's her, she thinks she may be finally talking to someone for the first time since the League ambassador left her and the MOC hanging over that border incident."

The mention of the Periphery makes Anna roll her eyes "Good luck with that, if she's talking to the Bulls all she'll be hearing is give back the Pleiades Cluster just to talk, mind you they are the only folks still going on about that, cause the people who actually live there aren't screaming in the streets demanding it."


Several floors down in the mech bay William and Victor had just emerged from the locker room, showered and dressed when they and their escort were met by the Chamberlain who informed them that a messenger from the Coordinator had just arrived and was asking to speak with him. "Victor you go ahead and  tell them I'll be along in a few, matter of state." then leaning down he whispered conspiratorially "Save me some of the cake." then sent him and his guards on.

From there William went to his study and sent the Chamberlain off to go bring him their Combine guest.

[Arvanna]

A short time later once their sudden guest and company had been shown out and to their quarters William found himself joined by Justin. For a fellow who had almost died beside his Prince the Minister had driven himself thru recovery  at a pace few could have matched. He had to be carrying more scars now then some spec op teams , William mussed to himself while he waited for him to close the door.

"I assume you heard most of that?" the Duke asked off handily, and Justin nodded "Alright then we need to move on this immediately Justin I want a priority Fax message sent to the good Marshal his eyes only. I trust him to do this following the directions I'm surer you have already committed to memory  Justine." Coming out from behind his desk he patted the other man on the shoulder in passing "Once you see to that, you really should come up to the residence for a bit, I tasked Victor with securing some of the food for us late comers. My daughter-in-law is quite the baker and considering how she went to the trouble we may as well partake shouldn't we?"

Justin assured him he'd be along asap, Williams arrival was quite fortuitous as he walked in just in the nick of time to witness the birthday girl's first unaided steps.

[Arvanna]

In his study William turned off the monitor at his desk once the INN feed was done "If only all of the Primus's rats would squeak so conveniently when provoked? It would make cleaning the vermin out so much easier , but still one more for the list." he said to himself as he got up and went to check on his family before retiring for the night himself.

[Arvanna]

September 1st, New Avalon

12:30 am Royal Residence

  The Duke's reply was not what Lady Anna had been hoping for "Absolutely not." he replied without hesitation as he looked up at her from the reports she had just delivered from the Foreign Ministry.

  Going with her most diplomatic tone she opted to not simply give up on the subject "But Your Grace, we need to have someone attend this meeting on St. Ives and not simply the nearest AFFC Officer we can toss onto a ship to get there. There are a number of diplomatic issues that will need to be addressed, just from the reappearance of the Camerons for starters and a simply military representative will be poorly equipped to deal with them."

   Setting down the file William leaned back into his chair as he regarded her, forcing himself to not dismiss what she was saying , even if that was his immediate , gut reaction. Damned it all if she wasn't making sense, course she was a diplomat and damned good at talking you into agreeing with her. "The alleged Cameron's!!" he said finally "First I'm not simply going to take word of that...woman alone. Even assuming this isn't yet another of her deceptions, they have no nation to support them and frankly they're going to cause us more troubles with the Taurians then we already appear to have Anna."

  "Now you are right about us needing someone from your side of the street for this, so I want you to get with your Boss and find someone we can send who can actually get there in time. Even if I ordered them to set up a command circuit you wouldn't get there in time. Besides, you have a daughter to look after and considering that no one has returned that we have sent to the last two diplomatic meeting like this , I will be damned if your going and that my dear is final!"

[Daemonknight]

October 2nd, 3041
St. Ives, Capellan Confederation
Federated Commonwealth Embassy

It was still a few days before the big meeting between the bigwigs of the various IS houses met to discuss the situation against ComStar. However, one smaller meeting was already underway within confines of the FedCom embassy. A man in the non-descript uniform of a mercenary mechwarrior sat in an interrogation room, sipping at a tea he had been brought. Despite his outfit, he was actually a Demi-Precentor in the ComGuards detatchment assigned to the St. Ives HPG compound. Having been posted out here, he was uninterested in the politics of the Primus and the First Circuit, but he had no wish to see further bloodshed spread in the name of ComStar. The young DMI officer sat across the table flipping through some preliminary notes.

"So, Demi-Precentor you said you had some information to share with us. What might that be exactly?" The Demi-Precentor took a last sip of his tea and leaned forward.

"You'll understand I cannot give names. But i have many friends throughout the ComGuards, men I have served with in prior units and such. What happened on Lyons got spread around, despite Terra's attempts to quash the disemination of the incident. A ComGuards line unit going rouge on them...not good for morale you know. I've got word from some friends that they believe other units might be interested in taking up a similar offer. But it won't be easy. Chances are the Precentor-Martial knows which units arn't reliable either. They'll be stationed on worlds that have other Divisions nearby, which'll be plenty to discourage anyone from leaving." The DMI officer nodded and jotted all this down.

"Is there anything more specific you could give us? Unit names, locations, the names of officers who you think would be willing to see reason and join us?" That got a cold stare from the Comstar officer.

"Lets get something straight, FedRat. Just because some of us disagree with the way the Primus is doing things, doesn't mean we're on your side. Infact, most of us, even the ones who're not on board with the Primus, we still think your nobles deserve to be taken down a few pegs. Your propoganda machines arn't as good as you think they are. Sure, you convinced the other nations the ComGuards on Outreach killed little Arthur. But the ComGuards know it didn't happen that way, kid is probably still alive with the Combine spook. And it wasn't ComGuards, it was that psycho Waco. And he got put down quick by Miller's Marauders, didn't he?

I'm sitting here telling you this to help my friends, not YOU. They wont fight against their brothers in the ComGuards under your officers. They don't trust your nobility, nor should they. Its the damn nobles who fuck everything up in the first place. But they might just sit things out on the sidelines, or join up with the ISDF someday. Some stuff is going down, and you just find yourselves a bit of luck with that outfit. Thats all I have to say." He picked up and downed the last of his tea.

"Can I get back to my unit now?"

[Parmenion]

March 3042
Avalon Hussars Command
New Avalon

"What is the latest Kaija?"

Jackson Davion sat in one of the more luxurious chairs residing in his younger sister's headquarters.  Although Kaija had no direct command over the regiments making up the Avalon Hussars, it was her responsibility to ensure all logistic, personnel, and command and control requirements those regiments required, were met.  As such, she had channels of communications to those same regiments which ran independent from what came out of Theatre headquarters.

"Everything is on track, Jackson.  They, and the other commands should be departing for the rendezvous point within the next few days.  Missing out on the last op against the Crappies chaffed them, but the units are all at 100% effective strength, so are looking forward to getting stuck in now."

"Good.  A lot is riding on this, not the least the political capital we will make out of this when we are successful."

 

[Arvanna]

September 20th 3042
Location: undisclosed nadir jump point
FCS Hotspur (jump ship)


  Aboard the Overlord attached to the Hotspur , the communications rating numbly handed a just decrypted message to their Captain. The CO a grizzled , old AFFS veteran read the message and bit back a curse, then calming himself left the bridge to give the message to His Grace.

  The Duke was in his cabin chatting with the Marshal when he found him. Noting the emotions roiling from the spacer William started to rise "What is is Captain?"

  The Captain motioned for him to stop "You may wish to sit down Your Grace, we've received a communication from the Combine concerning..." he hesitated as he struggled to keep his voice level "The .....robes..delivered our people to the Dracs on Dieron." walking stiffly he approached the Regent and handed him the communication pad "There are..only three survivors Your Grace."

  Williams felt his whole body go numb, he barely heard Ann's gasp of shock, his hand seemingly of it's own accord reached up and took the pad from the man. The next few minutes seemed to last forever as he read the ghastly tale, despite the clinical terminology used, of what was left of three of the strongest, best people he had known.

  He didn't even recall handing the pad to the Marshal, only that  he wanted all of those robed, vermin fed to Numerian Eel Sharks, them and every merc who had taken their money to help them on Outreach. William didn't even notice the Captain edge back from him at the wrath blazing in his eyes, then in a blink it was swept away , replaced by a grave, yet more sane expression "Thank you very much Captain, if you and the Marshal would let be alone for a bit I have some thinking to do and some messages to prepare, that is all."

[Hugin]

September 25th 3042
New Avalon

It was a nice day on New Avalon. People were minding their business, stroling in the parks, picknicking and do other leisure things.
Noone minded the Man in a dark green uniform, not showing any unit or rank marks who was carrying a strange looking box in his hands.
He was walking slowly looking at the masses having fun while himself being completely detached from his surroundings.

The man directly walked towards the Davion palace, crossing the city by foot and really taking his time for this endeavour.

It was close to sunset when he finally reached his destination and the sun was in a bright golden with some brass mixed into it, hanging right above the palace.
He looked up, smiled and walked to the guard.
"Dear Warrent Officer. Would you be so kind and deliver this box to either Justin Allard or Duke and Regent William (dunno the name right now) - Davion? This is an ordered item delivered by the order-code BH-351/e3#3042|A."

The guard looked puzzled

"Look up the code in your system. You will be directly forwarded to at least Mr. Allard. Anyhow. I did all I had to do. Thank you gentleman. And if you will, resist the urge to look into the box. The content is rather... gory."

With that he tipped his hat, turned, and walked off.

The guard looked up the code and whistled when he saw the note 'do bring directly to Justin Allard'....


OOC: Inside the box is one head of Grissom Miller and a 'mission completed' note as well as a bank account number

[Arvanna]

Due to the Duke being off world the package was taken to Minister Allard, who was looking at the box sitting on his desk when Lady  Anna Townshed-Davion entered. Justin immediately began to get up from his chair but she waved at him to sit back down as she crossed the room, eyes on the box "That is the package my husband ordered isn't it Justin?"

That she knew was a bit of a shock to him, but he recovered quickly "Yes Milady it is."

Anna simply nodded , her expression dark and cold "I doubt he suffered enough before the end, not after what was done to our people." Referring to the message that had arrived from the Combine Ambassador on the state of the three survivors. He knew she hadn't given the children the full details of their mother's condition yet, how do you tell them that she had been tortured and maimed like that?

Justin felt his own hate rising , and mirrored in the normally kind hearted, noblewoman before him he simply nodded "No Milady, I don't imagine so."
course not, he hadn't killed the man with his own hands he thought to himself.

"I'll take care of the payment, just make sure this is properly preserved for when William returns, oh and I imagine the blacklisting of the mercenaries  Comstar used won't cut it anymore with him. Find them Justin, they haven't begun to pay for this, now if you'll excuse me I have to return to planning  Ardan's funeral, and we need to start looking at candidates for Champion as well."

"I'll get started right away Milady."

[Arvanna]

October 1, 3042
New Avalon and Thakard

In another sign of the continuing integration of the AFFS and LCAF, the Lyran and Sun's state command PR departments announced that all military space craft will now be under the authority of the newly formed Federated Commonwealth Naval Command. Therefor all such vessels would be have their designations would be changed from FSN or LCS to for example FCS Invincible, or FCS Fearless.

[Parmenion]

December 3042


Regimental Headquarters
Knights of St Cameron
Outreach 3042

“Ma’am.  We have another one.”

Lieutenant Skye McIntosh was on her fourth straight day of Duty Officer for the Regiment, courtesy of an infraction in a recent field exercise that had caught the Adjutants eye.  With only three days to go until one of her cohorts took over, she welcomed the news over the insufferable pile of forms that still waited her action.

“Who and where from this time, Corporal?”

“A mechjock Ma’am.  Young guy. From Group W.  Claims to be a Rutger Becker.  Shot out of his ‘Mech early on in the piece, and before being overrun by Waco and his pirates, was whisked away by a couple of locals who headed up into the hills.  Probably just as well, as it looks as though he had a broken leg so he wasn’t go to get very far on his lonesome.”

“I see.  Have you checked the database?”

“Yes Ma’am.  And there is a record of a Mechwarrior Rutger Becker in Group W’s second battalion.  And a bit more.  The kid is supposed to be some sort of relative of the CO.”

At that last bit of news, McIntosh’s eyebrow raised ever so slightly.  They had had exactly three survivors of the units that had fought under the command of the Archon come in to report since the regiment landed on Outreach.  She had heard that the Dragoons had recovered several, but since they had combat dropped several months ago, she was not surprised.  Still, the pitiful number of survivors was extremely low, confirming the slaughter inflicted on the defending force by Comstar.  Either during the battle or following, as Comstar executed those it found.

The Colonel would need to know this as well as the AFFC Liaison Officer.  With tests done to obviously determine whether or not the young man waiting outside was indeed who he was.

[Altrak]

1.March.3043
New Avalon

Half a year after large areas of the Periphery and the whole Capellan Confederation went online, about a thousand new JADE Enterprise stations began powering up. Doubling the Black Box Network size in known space by more than 100%

[Parmenion]

New Syrtis Algonquin Military Area
Capellan March
Apr 3043

"In summary Sir, we have the Syrtis Fusiliers here for another nine days before they rotate out, then a week after that the Light Guards arrive for a three week training mission."

"And in May and June?" responded Colonel Marco Tchapko, CO of the AMA, to his aide.  Tchapko was ultimately responsible for ensuring the Area was available and fully active to receive the next unit rotating in to use it, a task made considerably more difficult given the turmoil in the deep periphery and the extra training directives coming from Planetary Command.  He himself had never seen as many units of the AFFS on one world in his thirty year career.

"The Guards exercise will overlap into May of course, but only for the first ten days.  The rest of the month is currently free, and we have informed HQ that we will need that time to refurbish a number of the firing ranges following heavy usage, as well as a number of other activities.  They have given tacit approval to this, but has warned that come June, we should expect a fresh unit."

"Mmmmm.  And what about money?   Have we received the extra funding we've asked for?" One of Tchapko's major headaches was that the funding given to him to maintain the AMA had been based on a semi-peacetime operational level.  It cost money to replace targets, refurbish areas dispoiled by 80 ton Mechs churning up the place, and the myriad of electronic training aids needed constant maintenance.  His budget for the year was just about exhausted, and despite a number of submissions to HQ asking for a supplementary amount, nothing had been forthcoming.

"Nothing confirmed yet, Sir.  However I spoke with Captain LaFoyle this morning and she told me that there is a finance meeting tomorrow afternoon.  She owed me a favour, so our submission will definitely be one of the points raised."

"Good.  Stay on her case and inform me as soon as you hear something.  Without that funding we are screwed.  HQ knows it just as much as us, so if they want this extra training done, especially in this Clan style, they need to cough up the cash."

 

 

[Parmenion]

Addicks PDZ Headquarters
Addicks
Jul 3043

"Sir."

Brigadier Hans Gneisenau stopped reading the latest report on his screen and looked up as his aide, one Captain Isabelle Giovanni, entered his office.  A rather opulent office, considering his position as Chief of Staff to Marshal Vanessa Bisla, Addicks Command CO.  He personally preferred something a little more spartan, but given his current job, and the need to speak to some fairly high ranking visitors on occasion, he had to put up with it.

"Yes Isabelle."

"We have just received word from Formalhaut, Sir.  The world is ours again, with the robes putting up no resistance.  Nothing at all apparently."

"I see.  Ensure Colonel Durnford is informed then that his own operation is now on.  We won't wait to get the final go ahead from the Marshal, as she has already notified me that New Avalon, and Tharkad for that matter, has sponsored this.  Which no doubt is why the good Colonel also has charge of a couple of hundred civilian specialists as well!"


 

[Altrak]

Follow up: http://intelser.org/forums/index.php/topic,18957.0.html

10th July 3043
New Avalon

A formal letter reached New Avalon.

" Regent William Townshed-Davion,
the Draconis Combine is dissapointed to hear from your latest decission on clan-politic concerning the Capellan World of Weekapaug.

Signed,
Ambassador Wakahisa"

It was more a short notification than anything else, but its overall duty was only to inform, not solve.

[Parmenion]

A few days after the presentation of this letter Ambassador Wakahisa is invited to meet with Minister Allard.  Passed straight through the myriad of security, Justin meet the Kuritan Ambassador in the corridor before walking with him into his office.

"I must admit Ambassador, your letter took us by surprise.  Yes, your assumptions in regards Clan Star Adder are at least partly correct in that they approached us through an intermediary several months ago at roughly the same time they first made their presence known in the periphery.  The gist of that and the follow up meeting was about what every Clan wants.  To get to Terra first, defeat Comstar and therefore be declared the ilClan.  Given they made no demands on Federated Commonwealth territory, at least at this time, we have agreed to allow them transit.  From what we know, and we were informed of, we were expecting their fleet and accompanying ground force to continue on towards Terra."

[Altrak]

" Minister Allard,

let me say, that we were the ones that were surprised... but this is not about the approaches of Clan Star Adder and Clan Hells Horses towards you.
It is also not about that you allow them to move past your realm to reach Terra,
the Coordinator has made more or less, a quite simillar offer.

Yet this is about our concern about the integrity off your nation.

Let me say, that if any khan would have taken our offer of free transit towards Terra, we would have never allowed them to strike through our territory another nation, even if it was our most dire enemy, a position we would have thought the Federated Suns in only a few years ago... but this is past, right?"

he made a short pause...

" We do acknowledge that the Federated Commonwealth has seen dire conflicts and great losses in the past years and for the stability of this Inner-Sphere, we moved great amounts to show a good will... be it by the project you have with the ARAR, your lords we rescued, the Amaris conflict, the ComStar conflict in which we were partners... Yet we do see you continiouly torpeding this efforts... If the Federated Commonwealth does not change it's course, so sadly we will have to. "

" We see your support for the clan, invading our ally as disrespect of everything we have offered you. This is not about them moving towards Terra... otherwise your men, would not stand on the bridge with khan Zakary Truscott, which are..."
he seemed to begin to search on the next side of his notes....

"Not mentioned with their names because of..."

" oh... well because of the intelligience embargo... I will come later to that... Let me continue..."

 " You use the Star Adders merely to solve your conflict with the Confederation. I admit, we do not know the details of your... agreement... but disappointed we are at your choice. "

"Therefore, the Realm of the Dragon, will withdraw all forces readied for your support, from your realm or your borders. Furthermore there will be restriction on trade-agreements for warships, space stations, military infrastructure and of course, military equipment. Also we can not share any intelligience with you anymore, since we must fear that it reaches enemies ears... Lastly, and just mentioned so you are aware of it... tenno Theodore Kurita has allowed the ARAR to finish their current deal with you, but afterwards there will be no more until this embargo is lifted. I guess the planned finish is at the end of this year? "

He sighed...

" We would be glad to see a move of the Federated Commonwealth towards peace and not another conflict, but with the move of clan Star Adder, we just see and fear the repeat of the last conflict between Federated Suns and the capellan Confederation, worsened once more bei foreign troops, just that this time, it are clanners and not warriors of the not any more existing, Lyran Commonwealth..."

" I ask at this point, that the Federated Commonwealth does not see this as a rise in conflict, but rather concern... I will give you that the capellan Confederation has seen simillar restriction, due to their continued use of the HPG-Netowrk and therefore their collaboration with ComStar. But we would have asked of you, if the ComStar conflict is truly the reason you allowed the Star Adders to move through, that you have spoken to us first, you would have been introduced to at least two plans, that I also don't know NOW because of this embargo, that would have solved this, peacefully... "

[Parmenion]

"And yet, Mr Ambassador, the Combine does not ask of the Federated Commonwealth the obvious question."

Minister paused for a moment, his fingers slowly thrumming on top of the desk.

"The position of the Draconis Combine is disappointing however I wish you the joy of the day Sir.  My Chief of Staff would be honoured to escort you on your return to your Embassy."

[Altrak]

"You are mistaken when you think that I enjoy this whole situation. But every action has a reaction. I have merely the duty to be the bearer of bad news this time and apparently, have to work with the little information I have. Right now, this embargo has no real effect on your nation and you are aware of it, if you have not used the clan Star Adder as a cheap tactic to strike the Cappellan Confederation and truly have just a transfer agreement towards Terra with them, I ask that your Regent makes a official statement about it yet, not a puplic one... because this would most surely warn ComStar. If however, our fears are true and this is a plan to strike the Confederation, we await at least a proper declaration of war. The situation can be solved quite easily and we can return to normal relationships in no time, yet this has to be done by the Federated Commonwealth. My duty is to talk to you, bring to you the words of the Coordinator and his advisors, but I also have the duty to bring him your words... So if there is anything I should know or inform him about before I am being escorted back, this is the chance to tell it to me. "