A warning to the Inner Sphere (Detroit Interlude: HPG Call)
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Imperator Pax
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A warning to the Inner Sphere (Detroit Interlude: HPG Call)
The arrival in system had been a marked difference than when they had previously visited... which really underscored how things had changed with the volume of traffic. The precentor Detroit, head of the Comstar mission on the planet, had been thrilled at their arrival. The portion of House Alavi's guards stationed to protect the Azami merchant prince's operations were a deterrent not anywhere capable in numbers to show off a full blown invasion by Neo Amaris forces if it came to that. You didn't need to be a professional soldier to know that.
"Welcome Commander Shepherd, please make yourself comfortable," A lesser robe maybe six or seven years his biological senior remarked. Her accent was free worlds league english but one of the common ones... she nodded smiled made some comment about prayers and what not and the HPGs. "The representatives of the Great Houses," And their periphery counterparts for the canopians and Taurians, "are still arriving, but it shouldn't be much longer." The liasons, envoys, whatever formal diplomatic title they held were trickling in most having been watching as the Highlanders of the Schiltron tactical group deployed in defense of the Comstar enclave of Rock City.
What she hadn't done, Gene had noted was pay much attention to the wheel chair bound man. The Combine officer had kept mum beside the requisite pleasantries besides. That didn't make this any less of a risky maneuver, but they had the advantage that the precentor Detroit was a known variable. It made more sense to use this HPG station than try and jump somewhere the company hadn't served previously.
That allowed them also to get a better picture of things further afield. Lady Centrella, the Canopian diplomatic envoy / liaison, had sent a brief update of conditions detailing what mercenary forces were currently operating where along the rimward periphery. It wasn't much but it was something at least.
He knew this was risky. He just hoped no one actually came out and said it. He hadn't noticed last time but the gothic trappings the vaulted archways and banners reminded him of Elidere. Except instead of explicitly star league they were emblems of piety of the 'Blessed Blake' and the faith of the order. Maybe it was because the robes were much more, conspicuously so, more religious this time. Incense wafted heavily from many sticks.
There was a nervousness in the air, and Gene was cognizant of the time. Aware too of the data chit even though it was negligible in real mass. Its contents had been carefully reviewed. "Commander." The precentor of Detroit bobbed his head coming forward. The man looked dead on his feet... but he'd looked that way when he'd called them as they'd been on approach to the planet. "I apologize for the delay of course, but are nearly ready I assure you."
He handed the chit over. He wasn't sure they'd be able to successfully conceal the hunt for the Dobrev... or knowledge of the Narukami class but they were going to try. They'd mention the Vincent in the nebula. That was more about the probability that Bauman would go after it for Amaris. They had to mention the Pinto, and the Leviathan. They could support those claims with footage from both the Combine's salvage people, and Bauman's footage. "I need Precentor New Avalon, and Field Marshal Yvonne Davion both." He told the man, "There is a chance," ... well there was a chance that the prince's champion wouldn't even be on New Avalon.
MacINtyre cleared his throat. "We could try Northwind if she's not there."
"Then Dieron," He agreed, whoever is ranking available fed suns officer can take it." which wasn't really the issue...because calling Dieron meant the Fortress Dieron AI could be informed.
The precentor didn't even complain, "Of course I will do my best to contact both New Avalon and Dieron before the conference," He made a further comment about the matter, that almost seemed to imply the precentor had forgotten Dieron had changed hands before correcting himself. "Please follow me into the broadcast chamber. We have made the accommodations slightly more amenable given," he seemed to be a little embarrassed as he trailed off before making the observation they were doing more of these calls than in his predecessors time.
They were joined a few minutes later by Yamaguchi and an ojou-sama from the pillar of jade... the latter of whom wasted entirely too long trying to deny her 05P credentials until the connection to New Avalon's HPG station linked. "Colonel, its good to see you my boy." Vandal remarked, "I've already requested the Field Marshal join us." He was smiling but his body language suggested he knew things weren't good.
The other liaisons filed in in between which they managed through a series of archaic protocols retained from a bygone age to reach Florimel Kurita. A conversation in formal language of staid introductions followed that very few spoke. Gene turned his head to the wheel chair bound naval officer, and nodded.
The man introduced himself stiffly, and explained the findings of Tsubaki salvage works and what had happened as a result. The representatives of the Free Worlds League, Capellan Confederation and Lyran Commonwealth cycled through stony silence, existential dread, and suspicion. They were people he didn't know. Functionaries who were far below Kurita or Davion in place of power, they'd have to run this up to their own superiors... lucky them.
Gene watched the data chit play back to support the identification of the warships. He looked at the images. This was a risk. A lot of risk, but the warship threat was too grave and his own officers wanted Lady Florimel to know how bad things were who much worse they were poised to get. He stepped forward drawing the attention back from the images, "My immediate lead is Bauman. Kelly demanded he join up with him, and I'm hoping to run both to ground with my task force." He wasn't about to discuss the company's deployment arrangement on a conference call regardless of how stupefied even the Taurian liaison looked at the moment. "However you can understand the nature of the crisis we're looking at down here."
The centrella and Liao women ... and their home space counterparts were waiting for the others to ask questions. It looked like Yvonne and Florimel were weighing whether they could outwait the other and gain information without being the one to ask for it. It was ultimately the precentor new avalon who spoke up. Huthrin Vandal nodded, drawing himself up, "Thank you colonel. Your commitment to duty is impeccable. Rest assured," His look was to the Precentor Detroit who looked deathly pale, and was sweating profusely. "I will make sure you have the full support of the order. That it is behind you in hunting down these enemies of mankind and putting an end to this threat." It was bombastic language... but warships had disappeared during the second succession war's early days.
The dam broke with Vandals statement. Perhaps because it seemed to signal an end to the call and everyone on the other ends rushed to try and say something something all at once the most anxious and the loudest coming through first.
Florimel's voice and its archaic Japanese cut through them, and gene wondered if telling the combine had been the right call given the expression... and the surety that he definitely had the Order of Five Pillar's attention.
--
Notes: we're going ahead and posting this it is just an interlude
The arrival in system had been a marked difference than when they had previously visited... which really underscored how things had changed with the volume of traffic. The precentor Detroit, head of the Comstar mission on the planet, had been thrilled at their arrival. The portion of House Alavi's guards stationed to protect the Azami merchant prince's operations were a deterrent not anywhere capable in numbers to show off a full blown invasion by Neo Amaris forces if it came to that. You didn't need to be a professional soldier to know that.
"Welcome Commander Shepherd, please make yourself comfortable," A lesser robe maybe six or seven years his biological senior remarked. Her accent was free worlds league english but one of the common ones... she nodded smiled made some comment about prayers and what not and the HPGs. "The representatives of the Great Houses," And their periphery counterparts for the canopians and Taurians, "are still arriving, but it shouldn't be much longer." The liasons, envoys, whatever formal diplomatic title they held were trickling in most having been watching as the Highlanders of the Schiltron tactical group deployed in defense of the Comstar enclave of Rock City.
What she hadn't done, Gene had noted was pay much attention to the wheel chair bound man. The Combine officer had kept mum beside the requisite pleasantries besides. That didn't make this any less of a risky maneuver, but they had the advantage that the precentor Detroit was a known variable. It made more sense to use this HPG station than try and jump somewhere the company hadn't served previously.
That allowed them also to get a better picture of things further afield. Lady Centrella, the Canopian diplomatic envoy / liaison, had sent a brief update of conditions detailing what mercenary forces were currently operating where along the rimward periphery. It wasn't much but it was something at least.
He knew this was risky. He just hoped no one actually came out and said it. He hadn't noticed last time but the gothic trappings the vaulted archways and banners reminded him of Elidere. Except instead of explicitly star league they were emblems of piety of the 'Blessed Blake' and the faith of the order. Maybe it was because the robes were much more, conspicuously so, more religious this time. Incense wafted heavily from many sticks.
There was a nervousness in the air, and Gene was cognizant of the time. Aware too of the data chit even though it was negligible in real mass. Its contents had been carefully reviewed. "Commander." The precentor of Detroit bobbed his head coming forward. The man looked dead on his feet... but he'd looked that way when he'd called them as they'd been on approach to the planet. "I apologize for the delay of course, but are nearly ready I assure you."
He handed the chit over. He wasn't sure they'd be able to successfully conceal the hunt for the Dobrev... or knowledge of the Narukami class but they were going to try. They'd mention the Vincent in the nebula. That was more about the probability that Bauman would go after it for Amaris. They had to mention the Pinto, and the Leviathan. They could support those claims with footage from both the Combine's salvage people, and Bauman's footage. "I need Precentor New Avalon, and Field Marshal Yvonne Davion both." He told the man, "There is a chance," ... well there was a chance that the prince's champion wouldn't even be on New Avalon.
MacINtyre cleared his throat. "We could try Northwind if she's not there."
"Then Dieron," He agreed, whoever is ranking available fed suns officer can take it." which wasn't really the issue...because calling Dieron meant the Fortress Dieron AI could be informed.
The precentor didn't even complain, "Of course I will do my best to contact both New Avalon and Dieron before the conference," He made a further comment about the matter, that almost seemed to imply the precentor had forgotten Dieron had changed hands before correcting himself. "Please follow me into the broadcast chamber. We have made the accommodations slightly more amenable given," he seemed to be a little embarrassed as he trailed off before making the observation they were doing more of these calls than in his predecessors time.
They were joined a few minutes later by Yamaguchi and an ojou-sama from the pillar of jade... the latter of whom wasted entirely too long trying to deny her 05P credentials until the connection to New Avalon's HPG station linked. "Colonel, its good to see you my boy." Vandal remarked, "I've already requested the Field Marshal join us." He was smiling but his body language suggested he knew things weren't good.
The other liaisons filed in in between which they managed through a series of archaic protocols retained from a bygone age to reach Florimel Kurita. A conversation in formal language of staid introductions followed that very few spoke. Gene turned his head to the wheel chair bound naval officer, and nodded.
The man introduced himself stiffly, and explained the findings of Tsubaki salvage works and what had happened as a result. The representatives of the Free Worlds League, Capellan Confederation and Lyran Commonwealth cycled through stony silence, existential dread, and suspicion. They were people he didn't know. Functionaries who were far below Kurita or Davion in place of power, they'd have to run this up to their own superiors... lucky them.
Gene watched the data chit play back to support the identification of the warships. He looked at the images. This was a risk. A lot of risk, but the warship threat was too grave and his own officers wanted Lady Florimel to know how bad things were who much worse they were poised to get. He stepped forward drawing the attention back from the images, "My immediate lead is Bauman. Kelly demanded he join up with him, and I'm hoping to run both to ground with my task force." He wasn't about to discuss the company's deployment arrangement on a conference call regardless of how stupefied even the Taurian liaison looked at the moment. "However you can understand the nature of the crisis we're looking at down here."
The centrella and Liao women ... and their home space counterparts were waiting for the others to ask questions. It looked like Yvonne and Florimel were weighing whether they could outwait the other and gain information without being the one to ask for it. It was ultimately the precentor new avalon who spoke up. Huthrin Vandal nodded, drawing himself up, "Thank you colonel. Your commitment to duty is impeccable. Rest assured," His look was to the Precentor Detroit who looked deathly pale, and was sweating profusely. "I will make sure you have the full support of the order. That it is behind you in hunting down these enemies of mankind and putting an end to this threat." It was bombastic language... but warships had disappeared during the second succession war's early days.
The dam broke with Vandals statement. Perhaps because it seemed to signal an end to the call and everyone on the other ends rushed to try and say something something all at once the most anxious and the loudest coming through first.
Florimel's voice and its archaic Japanese cut through them, and gene wondered if telling the combine had been the right call given the expression... and the surety that he definitely had the Order of Five Pillar's attention.
--
Notes: we're going ahead and posting this it is just an interlude