With a lever big enough I can move the world{BattleTech CYOA]

Can someone explain to me why there's different formatting glitches between SB and QQ? Or is this life's great mystery...​

With a lever big enough I can move the world

A Battletech FanFiction

By

Andrew “MageOhki” Norris.
​

Readers: Those of you more familiar with the HBS game setting (Battletech), or have acquired the House Aranao Sourcebook for Battletech, realize I will be taking severe liberties with the source material. You have two choices: 1. Accept that House Aranao and other material that contradict what I have written wasn’t in my hands at the time, and pre-readers and kibitzers did not note the mistake til it was too late and accept this is a slightly altered universe. (Writer’s note: I find the information of the Coalition’s status in 3026 laughable. Are you trying to tell me they’re weaker than the frigging MARIANS?) Or 2: Be a purist and stop reading. I honestly doubt if you’ve made it this far, if you’re a purist, so my apologies in advance.

Chapter 6

Life is full of ups and downs. Operation Medea, after the easy recovery of the Argo,
was three disappointments after another. No jumpships, a battle that had reminded me of the cost of war, for the first time in this universe, and then a station that we couldn’t really salvage except for an item we already had, and a long term project to destroy Comstar. When we had bet on what Castle Watchtower would be, Case was the optimist.

The Lesson I learned at Castle Watchtower. Yes, being a cynic or a pessimist means all your surprises are pleasant. And that I owed Case 200 c-bills. Which I was very happy to pay.

As I’ve said before, this is a not so nice universe. I got reminded of that, at Artu. The saddest bit, wasn’t so much the destruction, which even the locals admitted was well above historical norms, but outside the scope of the raid, how routine it was for both sides, in a lot of ways. Piracy is a heinous crime. Yet… these people in primus had grown so used to it, it was like the weather to them. Remember, I did say this wasn’t a nice universe. Artu truly made that point. And … made me question truly what I did on Spencer. Was it any different, admittedly in at least wanton violence, than what the pirates did to Artu, just because it was state sanctioned? I still don’t have a good answer.

From the journals and notes of Kikyo Onishi, New Avalon Press, 3291 AD, as part of the “Century of Chaos: The Movers and Shakers.” series.

See Chapter 1 for disclaimers and other information
I would like to thank Drakensis for kibitzing and Editing, JG/Joe Gunnarson (Of Whateley fame) for the same, Valles, Case/Fosfor, Minako/Scratx for kibitizing. Y'all made this go a LOT faster than the first two, thank you. Psyckosama deserves a special shoutout for helping reinspire, some basic visualization and idea throwing.

Bridge of Xanadu, unnamed system, early afternoon, New Avalon Time, August 27th.

“Transmission of Codes, complete.” A pause from Helldog 1, the lead Hellcat 213, with Beagle active probe, an ideal recon bird for the mission we had, was broken by his next response. “Wow. A big cavern just lit up and it seems to lead deep into this rock, Dancer.”

Dancer, or Commodore Micte Messana, my senior fighter pilot, responded. “Permission to proceed, one lance, then another when you’re breaking up on the relay, granted, Helldog.”

“Copy that, Dancer. One meter per second.” His reporting in, updating us on the status and the look of the cavern inside the asteroid quickly became background.

I leaned over to Mitcte, looking at her salt and pepper curly hair. “Dancer? Never asked.”

She answered distractedly. “Took ballet as a girl. It stuck.” I nodded, and looked around the bridge of my home. Kikyo-original had planned it to be her home, and a home for Aiko, as the rent on a dropship pad was cheaper, even with the flagging taxes needed for Xanadu, than buying a big house.

Kath leaned over. “Read the script you’re writing. I severely doubt Hanse’s censors are ever going to release it.”

“Eventually, and Rohan will get the fame she deserves, she helped loosen a religious cult’s grip on the universe.” I responded quietly.

“Oh, no question. Just saying.” Her response was in my ear as she leaned back. It really did help knowing the young pilot hadn’t died in vain.

Ran floated over, quirking an eyebrow. “Discussing call signs? Mine’s Beaver as you know. Got it because I do lumbering as an off time activity.”

I stared at the monocled man. “I’m having problems seeing you in flannel.” I finally responded.

“Oh, it’s quite pleasant, on a cold winter’s day,” he responded, a grin gracing his lips, as we bantered, being joined by others about call signs we had and the worst we knew. As this went on, Asha remained quiet, looking at the feed from the Hellcats, looking over her superior’s shoulder.

Before we could get too ribad, a shout broke through on the HellDog’s channel. “CONTACT, MANY CONTACTS.” A pause, as the feed updated. “Oh… my… god.”

As we all looked Micte with a shaking hand, tossed the Hellcat’s data feed to the Holotank.

After a long long long moment which no one even breathed… Katheryn finally spoke.
“Oi… vey.”

“Bloody hell.” Ran’s voice was awed.

Micte summed up what we were seeing. “So, Boss Ferret. Which planet are you going to ask for?”

I weakly responded. “New Avalon?” It was meant as a joke, but Uri commented.

“He does need a duchess, and it’d save him paying for all this, yes.” The tone was a bit shellshocked.

Kath read off the list in the Holotank as the fighters finally made it to the back of the cavern. “Nine warships, a Newgrange, a Belknap, “ her tone had risen on the last in disbelief. So had mine. None of the Star League's mobile factory ships, designed to set up industrial bases of any nature had made it through the Amaris Civil war, much less left the Inner sphere with Kerensky, but some Newgranges had, and even though they were aimed at ship repair and building, they could do the same job, just slower. Before anyone would interrupt, she continued on.

“Six Monoliths, ten Star Lords, fourteen Invaders, fifteen Merchants, and last but not least four Scouts. While the data’s saying there’s dropships and other things, what has my eye is the damage to the warships, but the jumpships look solid.”

“As long as their cores and those two…” Ran’s voice was hushed. “Fabrication ships factories are intact, we will stay til we can get them out. My god.”

Everyone nodded. Micte wasn’t kidding, when she said Hanse just might marry me the moment I got back to New Avalon, the Belknap was beyond priceless if she had her fabrication capabilities online. Not only could she build anything the Star League could, she could easily build the factories to do so. A Newgrange as noted, was a giant yard ship, able to do what the Belknaps could, but was much better at shipbuilding, and often used to set up shipyards as well.

Case coasted over, a cigar stolen from somewhere, though if I had to bet, it was one of Morgans. “Soo… about that bet?”

“... okay.” I had to admit. Case won. Again.

Castle Watchtower Control Room, midmorning, New Avalon tome, August 29th.

We had run ourselves to dropping and then picked ourselves up to do it again, seeing everything and verifying everything inside the asteroid, and had managed to tug *very* carefully our jumpships into it. It also helped that when the station had been mothballed, it was done so very carefully and only needed food and Oxygen to be brought back online. The senior command staff was gathered for a preliminary briefing from Ahmad, who had taken over the shipwright’s part of the operation, and was de facto head.

“Thanks to Miss Cunningham, we have a summary of the events here.” Cummin ran his hand though his thinning hair. “First, this is basically a pair of Hughes class stations, the Star League's assemble-on-the-spot space stations?” He looked at us, seeing us all nod. Those were the Star Leauge’s semi-portable space stations to do shipyard and repair work on their vast fleets, and were developed before the Newgrange class was designed and built.

“Kerensky took most of the surviving ones with him, if I remember right.” Kath’s tone was idle, but I could tell the strain of her not saying ‘Great Father’ instead of Kerensky. Case simply grinned at her.

Cummin’s nod answered her. “There’s indications a few more of these are around, though, so…” He shrugged. “Anyways, they put these in place about the same time they finished Quatre Belle, as a reserve backup, call it 2725, if well…” He shrugged, as Asha picked up.

“The exploited nations of the Periphery rose up to cast off the Star League’s benevolent rule?” Her tone was acidic.

Ran turned at looked at both of the spacers. “We can discuss politics later, gentlemen and ladies. I understand and can empathize with both sides of that debate, but this is not the time, nor the place.” He looked around, and received nods. “Continue, Admiral.”

Cummin nodded and did so. “Well, there was a full crew here all along, the SLDF never really hurted for manpower in those years, and well, a lot of CIA, SLDF Intelligence and Navy ships who didn’t want to be seen came through here for refit and repair. However… These ships came from the fleets involved in the Uprising, all ate at least a nuke close enough to be annoying, or so their logs say.”

Ran’s face shut down at that, that could mean the ships were going to be a lot more hassle than he had hoped. Cummin however smiled.

“While Kerenksy was ripping the Rim Worlds apart, and then bulldozing his way to Terra, the roughly three people were left here to keep an eye on them, decided to fix them and decomm them. These Jumpships didn’t take a nuke close enough to kill them, but just close enough to pick up enough nasty radiation in the hulls and crew areas. Must have been just far enough away from the warships as the Perp navies fought the SLN.” He shrugged. “None of the ships now have any radiation, mind you, and all the Jumpships should be in working order. Warships are in varying states of repair, though core surveys were done, and that’s why they weren’t scrapped at all. It appears that some of the jumpships and better off Warships were repaired and sent off with parts they picked off these warships, but there was no need for the jumpships.”

Cummin noted the disbeliving looks at his last statement, and expanded on it. “After the uprising, and during the Civil War, Kernseky’s issue wasn’t jumpships, hell, not even warships, in fact, However, there’s some notes that several were sold outright by him, and the station had delivered them to the buyers. He was short on money and people. Trained combat spacers don’t grow on trees, and while the SLN’s jumpship crews weren’t of the quality of the warship crews, they still were trained to the same standard.”

“I see. He took these ship’s crews, and used them elsewhere, and what ships the caretakers could fix, were sold off?” Ran’s eyes brightened however at what truly interested him.. “So the cores themselves are intact? And all the ships aren’t radioactive?”

Cummin nodded. “And at least according to logs, they finally finished testing and fixing all the fabrication and factory parts on the Newgrange and the Belknap. But given their damage, they were loath to take them out. The Jumpships themselves were repaired fully, then mothballed completely. ”

Katheryn broke in. “So, why were they left here?” Kath was interested too, clearly as she leaned forward.

Cummin shrugged. “Based on the last log entry, before the station itself was shut down, Kerensky sent his recall and assembly order for the Exodus. By this point, all the remaining shipyard crew were fully qualified to crew the Jumpships, and a few warships, which they took with them.” He turned and looked around. “This is what they didn’t have crew for when they left. As for why Kerensky didn’t send crews for the rest?” He shrugged. “No idea.”

Ran smiled. “And you say this is a pair of Hughes, did you not?”

“Attached and semi buried inside the Asteroid, yes.” Cummin’s tone was wary. “You do realize we’re going to have to investigate every ship, and at the least, refill their tanks? The Helium to keep the ship’s cores cold, is never stored while not active, because it’d have boiled off by now? And any hydrogen left, which you don’t do during mothballing, or major repairs, is also pretty much gone from them, same reason.”

Ran sighed. “And how much fuel is left on the station, Admiral?”

Cummin winced.

“That bad?” I finally broke in.

“Helium is all but gone, 200 years and it’d boil off and leak, of course.” He shrugged. “There’s enough maybe to keep one core cool. Of a Scout.” He noted the winces at that. “It is what it is. As for Hydrogen, even with us putting half of the Aqueducts remaining in, it’s needed for the station, and if we run more than we are, might last six months of half operation.”

“Still.” Ran smiled. “Hydrogen isn’t a problem, annoying, yes, but not a problem. Helium, bit trickier, but I’m sure the Prince will make it happen.”

I couldn’t resist. “Even if he has to squeaky voice all the way here for us?”

Katheryn, Case and even Ran laughed. “Indeed.” The Marshal removed his glass as he wiped his eye. “I could see him doing exactly that, for these prizes.”

Cummin shook his head. “Ain’t that easy, Marshal. Assuming everyone of our task force is a fully trained shipyard worker, which we aren’t, and trained in this hardware, which we sure as hell aren’t, you’re still looking at just to reactivate the jumpships, call it…” He thought for a moment. “Based on how we got the Cav’s… forty-one days with triple shifts, and trained crews. Per jumpship. Warship, damned if I know. You’d be able to make a good of a guess as I, since we’re going to need to fix hulls, drives and other components. As for getting the station out of the rock?” His shrug said it all. “Personally, if we get it all done in five years, with what we have here, I’d say we were dammed lucky. Even with extra personnel, it’d be a question if we can do it in two. My bet, some of us will still be here when the next decade starts, in 3021. If not the decade after that.”

Katheryn Sandoval tilted her head. “Surely, for this, The Prince would send a lot of people. You’re being a pessimist.”

I, and surprisingly Ahmad shook our heads. I gave the floor to the most experienced spacer I knew. “Ma’am. There aren’t enough people. To use this stuff, you’re looking at the few from Kathil, Delavan and Galax. And they’re needed there.”

I picked up. “Not to mention how much you want to bet that ISF, Maskirovka, LIC, SAFE, hell, Comstar itself watches them like hawks?’

Katheryn blinked. “Well, outside Comstar, I don’t want your money. But why would they?”

I shook my head. Ran cleared his throat. “Comstar is interested in the flow of economies, and if we suddenly took a fair bit of shipyard crew, they’d wonder what and where are we placing those highly trained, and high paid professionals. That’s one reason, the others we suspect, you aren’t cleared for, Colonel.” His tone is reproving.

I nodded. “I wonder how Hanse managed to hide the 100 or so we have.” I looked at Ran, who shrugged.

“Not our problem. MIIO and DMI are very good at what they do, so…” He shrugged. “They likely played a shell game to do it.” He turned to Cummin. “So, to get any ships up and running, you say, we need hydrogen and helium.” Cummin nodded. “Yeah, and call it 100 days per ship, with the crew we have that can mothballed ships. We might get it down to 50, but…” He shrugged. “That’s the jumpships. Dropships here, will be easier, warships?” He sighed. “Figure we’ll have to fix them on site. I have no idea, except as noted, I don’t think we will be leaving this rock anytime soon.”

Ran shook his head. “Katheryn, I’ll take the Admiral's word for it. And… honestly, this changes everything.” He looked around. “I wonder how I’ll look with a Duke’s title as my new name.” He shook himself. “That was a joke.”

Sandoval snorted, her curls bouncing. “It might be your idea of a Joke, Sir. But ten gets you my entire pension, at least one of us, it won’t be a joke.”

Ahmed snorted. “I’ll not take your pension, Colonel. I’d put hard odds on you, me, pretty much any flag being offered exactly that.”

Felsner paused for a moment, then nodded. “I don’t believe I’ll give you money, Admiral, you are well paid as it is. And likely to be even more so. I have seen the contract for this mission.”

Ahmed’s teeth glittered in response, harkening back to his ancestor's desert warrior days, and looking at a fat caravan. “I know. I’d pity the boss’s bank balance. But considering what it’ll look like…”

I deadpanned. “Har. Har. Har.” Pausing, I nodded. “I take it, outside a wing of fighters, and well, the shipwrights, plus a few support personnel, we’re departing to Artu?”

Ran *smiled*. “I do think the Prince would want this news as soon as possible, I do. So, yes. We go.” He looked around. “Let’s be about this, people.”

Dropship Xanadu, Artu System, Nadir jump point. Sept 14th, 3015.

I blinked away the jump nausea and after effects that almost everyone gets, but in my case weren’t very severe, while I saw Case snoring away, and Asha simply shrugging as she released the handhold she grabbed for the jump.

“Ma’am.” Xanadu’s captain turned to me. Melissa nodded once. “All ships accounted for, and all have reported in. However… the Admiral reports fading jump signatures, at least two, from here, about an hour old, he thinks.

I turned to look at Asha, who’s eyes closed. “Pirates.” she answered softly.

“And now us. Oh, blessed spirits…” I sighed. I felt Xanadu detach from Indiana, and slowly maneuver into place with the rest of the dropships. The workup took about an hour, but shortly we were in formation and thrusting in system.

Ran’s voice came over all bridges. “We are sending a communique, going with the ruse that Brigadier Blackhand and General Onishi started on Spencer. We’ll see if it works, which I have no great hope for, but if it doesn’t, really, no harm done.” He smiled over the video. “If it does, well. A slight dig at the Taurian and Lyran friendship isn’t a bad thing.”

He sobered up at the laughter. “Assuming they wish to offer us resistance, and given the reports of the jumpship signatures, and the sparse news broadcasts, I severely doubt they wish that, we shall take the steps needed only, and only to secure our objective, protect our forces, and most importantly, keep as many of these people alive. They’ve been through enough, and we’re not here to hurt them at all. In fact, if we can, I’d prefer arranging assistance, instead of battle. We’ll play that angle. General Onishi’s ships are well equipped to do such.”

I nodded, and Asha’s eyes closed in relief. “Marshal. Make sure they understand that we have the capability to treat wounded and help other ways. If we need to, staying a month or more would be fine, and it’d leave a good impression at least, when they see through our ruse.”

Ran’s smile was a bit winterly. “I agree. A month won’t do much, but if nothing else…”

He sighed. Every Davion officer, well most Albion and NAMA graduates, at the least, spent some time in the Outback. Worn down by neglect, the pressures of the main fronts, and pirates, calling them Skid Row worlds, in reference to old Earth’s bad areas in First world cities was apt. Ran, Katheryn, every Davion officer in the task force knew as well as we would shortly, how this would go and what condition we’d find. We could only hope the pirates didn’t take a lot of slaves… or, as cold as it was, that they targeted the young nubile and studly looking teeangers, instead of the educated population. Too many pirates wanted those who knew how to fix things, teach, treat injuries, over sex slaves. And not many worlds out in the edges of settled space had them to spare. Which explained why the pirates wanted them, they didn’t have enough either.

We waited, as Ran had me record a message and send it. Basically, playing Ditzy McLyran again, and saying how her guards told her there had been a pirate raid, and how we could help. None of us really thought it’d be taken seriously. We were too big, too massive to be anything short of a major invasion, and realistically? Here? It was the Taurians, who’d be hard pressed to mount this force, all the pirates of the area, or all the Domain’s fleet, or well… what we were. Davions. And Artu was an ex-Taurian world, even with its alignment into the new, by galactic standards, Aurigan Coalition.

Finally, a day after the message was sent, we got a reply. Cautious, but it opened the lines of communication, and as playing the ditz, I was able to let Ran play off the “Lyran Mercenary” officer in charge of my safety, as I was funding a historical investigation.

The reply we got back about three hours, made it clear they didn’t really believe the Ditzy McLyran bit, but in their current situation there wasn’t fuckall they could do to us, and if we really meant to help out, could we check out this area? We didn’t even have to ask for where we really wanted to go, as the Castle was close to the center of it. Also, would we be willing to put up some replacement com sats that they had managed to not get stolen this time?

Marshal Felsner quickly agreed, pointing out that we did have medical ships, and well, if they knew some areas that could use them… By the time we after six days of hard acceleration and deceleration, we had arrived in orbit. We arranged the personnel transfers, so two of our Comfort subclass Monarchs could go do their medical duties, with some engineers on the other side of the planet, plus an empty Mule to lift the sats for them, as well as both of our Aqueducts, as the planet was rich in water, and we needed the hydrogen.

We actually followed their guidance and control, which made the locals tell us that the Coalition would be sending troops and aid and they should arrive well, within the next couple of weeks. Ran thanked them, and said that our basic exploration would be more than done by then. With that… soon air began to whistle across our hulls as we approached the end point of the joint force’s mission.

Command Center, Dropship Xanadu, Artu, midday local time, Sept 22nd, 3015.

After we had found the hidden entrance and gained entry via Kath and Morgan, and a quick survey had been done to find the main command post, we had assembled the computer teams. Looking around, I settled on the leader of them, a stunning brunette with tossed hair.

I looked Alt Cunningham and the other computer techs dead in the eye. “I repeat, again. If you find an air gapped computer or databank, use a computer that isn’t linked, transmitting or networked to any other, and won’t be until a complete and total scrub at NAIS is done on it. I’m not kidding, I will shoot you myself, if you break these orders.”

Alt rolled her eyes for the other techs. “You’ve said that three times, now. Why?”

I blinked. I didn’t tell them? Well… oops. They must be thinking my death threats were drama. Time to correct that.

“Dr. Cunningham? It’s simple, Intelligence,” such a useful word, that. “States that
this is one of the locations where Kerensky began research on anti CASPER software. A highly adaptive and lethal virus.” Kath nodded behind me to back my point up.

One of the techs gulped. A virus meant to take out the Star League's ultimate expression of computer capability? Sentient warships, fighters, stations? Yeah, the computers of today would die screaming horribly to it. They got the point, as their nods indicated.

Alt had looked upwards in thought. “Would explain why they didn’t use it, I suppose. They couldn’t control it, given what we know about the CASPER network. Right, I thought you were just being… well, dramatic. If there’s even a chance…” She shuddered, with Case patting her on the shoulder.

“As much as I’d like to say the sexpot’s overreacting, this time? Nope.” He nodded. “We’ll get it done, and the rest of the people will begin the hardcore survey. We know we’re on a clock, and gutting the Aurigans like we gutted Spencer ain’t on the plans, y’hear?” His tone was cold at that.

“Agreed. Be about it.” I grinned at the last statement, then turned to the on duty techs who were supervising aerial operations.

I scanned the main displays, which showed the areas, and were filling out with data. Artu’s surviving leadership had been helpful after the first Comfort had gotten to work, and had given us their last accurate survey map of the planet, and we were keeping them filled with updated information. Depressing information, as this area had been very lightly settled, mostly ranchers, some farmers, some miners, and a dropship port for cargo transfers to the larger continent.

Given the pirate’s behavior, even towards the end of their raiding, we hadn’t found anything living within fifty kilometers of the main LZ, just burnt out farms, slaughtered herds, and a razed town or two. My eyes narrowed as one of our Cynaros flashed the color of an incoming message.

“This is Smoky Eyes Two, to Harem Control. Got a town that isn’t a burnt out wreck, guys… besides what looks like a Union’s landing spot, I see a few … whoof. Confirmed kill on an assault type Frankenmech, how, I’d like to know, given intel said there were no friendly combat mechs on this side… oh, pit trap, nice…” He paused. “And… it looks like two militarized industrial mechs, call them old Jabbers, joined the abomination in death. Nice, nice. Oh, and yeah, looks like some pirate infantry didn’t leave either. Good.”

I leaned forward, at Uri’s bemused look. “Eyes Two, this is Ferret, guess on how?”

“Eh… wait a second. Hey, Sultry Angels, go see over there, I think I see a ‘Mech. Bug, for sure, maybe a Locust. Looks to be about twenty klicks out.” My recon elements all got names somewhat associated with the harem theme that my command unit seemed to be going with for the jokes. Smokey Eyes was the name that the Cyrano helicopters had adopted, while Sultry Angels were the recon hovercrafts. Rolling Brothels was the handle of the reconnaissance Packrats, while the Prowlers we had, were called Kirk Beds. I watched as icons indicated the eight hovercrafts, four of the very small Gabriels went darting towards the unknown contact at speeds hitting nearly 150 kilometers per hour, while their larger cousins trailed behind at a more sedate speed.

I watched the screens to see what the now confirmed Locust would do, as my people were hailing it, trying to tell the pilot who they were.

It was a few minutes before any reaction was gotten, but the sudden, startled “What the SHIT!” over the comms lines got everyone’s attention. “Heads up, this Locust isn’t standard, she just moves and she’s fast, clocking over 150 KPH, circling around the combat area!”

Morgan leaned forward, raising his voice. “You’re faster, Sultries, Smokies. Get it.” He left to board one of our Cobra helicopters, taking a squad with him.

“She’s not firing, looks like we startled the bug. She’s up to 165, and holding, she’s got some battle damage. Four MGs. Laser on the front like normal. Roll cage over the cockpit when she rotates to look at us. I think we found the source of some of the carnage here.” The commander of the recon element was calm, and collected reporting, despite the odd nature of the mech. “The bug has SLDF Marker tags and IFF just like the gear we picked up. Someone found our cache.”

I looked at the tech. “Negative, Smokey 2. The place was sealed.” I paused for a moment. “Doesn’t mean the League didn’t put smaller castles or installations on the planet, though, they tended to build outrider ones, after all.”

“Huh, didn’t know that, damm, this bug is moving erratically.” The pilot responded.

“Smoky two watch out!” The lead hovercraft called. “You’re too low and this bug is moving like a greenie with the throttle wide open, do not encroach or she will fire, Command this bug’s guns are converging, they are not doing the normal move to lock thing and I am getting no lock warning.”

I quirked my eyebrow, then narrowed. Battletech weapons, those on mounts like Kath’s Marauder’s autocannon, those on arms like my medium lasers on Bun Bun, or others of a similar location tended to use computer assisted movements based on the pilot getting a lock with his eyes and computer sensors on the enemy. Note I said and. The mech needed both to get that lock on, and without the sensors, it’d not work. This was how I, Case and Kath theorized Phantom mech worked, by breaking the computer lock somehow, some form of cyberpathy, was our bullshit best guess.

You could override the computer, Kath had actually praised what Uri and Gry had thought of as a bad idea, and manually move it with your joysticks, but it wasn’t really recommended, nor was it really easy to do. Iron sight shooting was not approved of, and for all the holovideos and dramas that used it, every actual teacher of Mech Combat would hit you, and I do mean that literally if you tried it in real life. Except Kath. Case was neutral on it, Uri bemoaned bad habits, but couldn’t argue with a Dragoon doing and approving of it.

“Sultry 3, pilot may be trying manual targeting, stay out of range, per doctrine.” I spoke into the mic. “Keep pursuit, try to keep the bug corralled until Solo and company arrive.”

“Break, Sultry this is Caveman, She’s on comms but she’s on the civilian bands. I don’t think she knows what she’s doing. Patching the audio.” Caveman was the Sigint Commander responsible for monitoring traffic near operations and breaking enemy comms encryption.

“... Last warning, assholes, ID up, back off or get stomped on!” the voice tried to sound ferocious and failing, with the lilting local drawl of a teenage girl, but with an actual undercurrent of intent. Crazily enough, none of the combat veterans could say the warning was anything but genuine intent.

I cut my mic into the same circuit, and responded for my recon elements, my voice slightly amused. “I’d prefer it if you don’t try, and note that word, try to stomp my fancy League hovercrafts and their highly paid drivers.” I made a snap decision, abandoning the Ditzy McLyran routine, I decided in this case, this girl gets the truth. “I am General Kikyo Onishi, and if you have any clue about the movies, yes, that Onishi from the Federated Suns. I inherited a merc unit, and we’re here, following up some rumors of Lostech, for the Federated Suns, while providing some relief for your world. Now, if you don’t mind, who are you? And where did you get the Locust?” My other comm techs had told the recon boys the score, and they had slightly backed off, more circling her, and staying well out of her weapons or sprint range. They too didn’t want to get stepped on.

“Fun, have your boys back off a bit, they’re making me nervous. I thought your dropship was the fucktards coming back. Ain’t anyone else here alive but me, Onishi. Just burned farms and me.” The voice was bitter, and controlled, angry. Any normal woman or teenager should be just this side of hysterics. Most men for that matter.

“We noticed.” I paused, and signaled for my recon boys to back off a bit more. While she wasn’t in the grips of hysterics, she wasn’t that far away from it. “And no, I doubt any pirate has Colossus class dropships. Nor the mechs to fill them. Much less all up heavy and assault battalions. Why don’t you come on in, and see for yourself. If I wanted you dead, you would be. It’d take me less than a half dozen minutes to have my BARCAP drop by and say hi. With cluster bombs.”

“Where the fuck did you get an SLDF Brigade transpo…” She stopped and took a breath. “BARCAP? What, did you raid a history book for terminology? And where you at?”

I looked at the map, and made a snap decision. “Vector 227, about 60 kilometers, from where you’re at roughly. The drop-port you all used, was actually the SLDF’s for the Castle Brian, Nautilus they called it, on Artu.” I shrugged. “And no, while I do use USN terms for naval operations, it’s only fitting, I’m pretty sure some relatives of mine would rise from the grave if I didn’t. I might be willing to tell you where I learned it from, if you come in. Do lead the way for my boys, they haven’t learned the creed of proper recon experts.” I grinned at the last.

The Comms were silent for a long moment, and only a grumble that sounded suspiciously like “Semper Gumby” was barely audible. The Recon elements acknowledged the abrupt turn, and reported the Locust was maintaining a steady max speed of 165.9 KPH, a good thirty-three over a normal locust. “If you meet me with a company of mechs and missiles I’m going to be horrifically disappointed in you.”

I grinned. “The missiles I can assure you, Faithful, aren’t happening. Company of mechs? Ehh…” I looked at the monitor looking outside. “Sorry, can’t say there isn’t a few more than just a company on the tarmac.”

“Peachy,” came the dry reply as two Aerospace fighters reported on station. “Is this a merc unit or an invasion force?”

“Eh… I did say we’re on Suns business, didn’t I?” I shrugged. “The Prince insisted his troops hitch a ride with mine to do a bit of touring on lostech. He doesn’t get that I lead the way of my own accord. He didn’t need keepers.” I snort, giggling at the message, that I had patched to Kath and Case. “But, no, we’re not an invasion force. I’ll admit we have the weight to roll over half the Coalition, no question, but not the First Prince’s style. At least to this area or the Taurians.” I shrugged, uncaring it couldn’t be seen. “I told you the truth the first time, Lostech.”

The bugs were fast, but it was hard to appreciate speed until you saw it. Bucking the normal trend of Locusts to be skittish, the Red-on-White bugmech rather brazenly rolled past the outer sentries, the upper torso locking and tracking each mech like a laser until it was clear they weren’t aiming down at her, then continuing on. The Locust slowed down when it saw non-mech vehicles, and began picking it’s way through the area, torso angled down, with greater care than one might expect. It was a thing rookies tended to do when they were unsure of the flow of a work area.

The Locust finally came to a halt below Bun-Bun, barely coming up past the waist of the bigger mech. I was able to clearly see the sign emblazoned on the top and back of the Locust: “If you can read this… DON’T STEP ON ME!”

I waved down at the roll barred cockpit, my barely contained breasts jiggling a bit. It *was* warm here, and a pleasant day. Too pleasant for what lay outside the drop port, really. “Hello there, I’m Onishi. This is my Archer, Bun Bun. Don’t annoy him, he won’t step on you, he’ll stab you.” I shouted through a megaphone. “Why don’t you come out?” I hooked one hand’s thumb though my short short’s belt loop.

The cockpit of the Locust was small, and had a roll cage. The figure inside could be seen flipping switches, pausing, reaching for one, then going for a different one. It became painfully obvious that she was not the most experienced when she pulled out a clipboard, looked at it, flipped five control switches and the angry, red, wounded little bug powered down, finally. I could see quad machineguns where normally there would only be two. This was an intriguing, little upgunned monstrosity. It also didn’t bear the telltales of a mech that had been modified by amateurs, or half-competent techs. She looked like she had been built this way.

The pilot finally popped the hatch and climbed out, sans neural helmet. Far from the sane and sensible minimalist clothing, what came out was a girl who couldn’t be more than sixteen or seventeen tops, long, unkempt, dark red hair with a body that looked like it was built to be dragged into a hayloft at the earliest opportunity. Her Daddy probably owned many shotguns, and she wasn’t much bigger than I was, if at all. She was dressed in a purple and red flannel, with a white tank top, tight blue jeans and boots.

I cringed. If I didn't have a combat suit from the SLDF, I’d be wearing less than I was now, and that was very little as is. I’d have ditched the shorts at the very least. And purple? Goddess bless, I felt my inner fashionista cry. “Well.” I spoke after a moment, putting on my helm, and guiding Bun Bun’s arm to act as a ramp for me. After I took off my neurohelmet, I walked over to the shoulder, slid down the arm in my white shorts and green bikini, though I was wearing sensible combat boots with a dagger stuck into one, and had my dark wine red hair in a braid. Hopping over to the Locust, I looked up at the Farmer’s daughter. “Purple. Really. If I didn’t know you were a Marine, crayon eater, I’d know it just from the lack of color taste. At least my favorite color goes with my hair.”

She looked me over critically. “Guessin’ that favorite color would be ‘nothing’ from the looks of you.” the girl smirked. “And this is the Outback, We don’t have such fancy snacks ‘round here.”

“Eh, nah, I adore Green. Union Blue isn’t bad either, though. As for the fancy snacks… Yeah, jarhead. Did you punch out those three pirate ‘mechs my boys spotted, in your Trollcust?

“Frankenfatty downtown, Two loaders with lasers, there’s something resembling a wasp and an urbanmech somewhere around here face-down and the lake about ten clicks east had a Rifleman mostly intact just standing there. I caught the pilot out taking a piss. You may need a couple good sponges.”

I quirked my eyebrows, noting that for later recovery. “So, you said you’d like to know how I knew old American Naval terminology. I’d like to know the same about you. As you say, this is the Periphery…” I spread my hands. “No offense, it’s not like this world was Canopus or Samantha, or even Alphertaz, before … well.” I alluded to recent events.

“Auriga’s Auriga. Aurigans are gonna Auriga. King’s not long for the world, and the Princess is about due for coronation. I happen to enjoy history, my specialty is Circa 1980 through 2020.”

“Mostly by having the memories of someone who lived through it, I’d not suppose?” My tone, as I hooked my thumbs through belt loops, was dry. “I’d say the same on my end, though I do recall getting too many sheepskins for that subject, though mostly the Second World war.”

“Memories from there? You’d have to be dumber than a Ranger to believe that.”

I smiled. “So, Marine, then? Let’s cut the play out. We don’t have the time, nor the reason. You know why I’m here, and I made sure my geeks aren’t going to unleash the Locura.” I sighed. “Also, It’s a Scarlet gathering, girl.”

“If you know about the Locura you also know what’s gonna happen here in about a year, three tops. Gonna bork that timeline.”

“Case has already made that point. And more importantly, I didn’t play the game, nor did I think what the Princess did was in any shape, way or form, acceptable. The loss of the Data core was a goddamned bonehead move on her part, helping the toaster worshippers.” I shrugged. “But, Case wants them helped out, and we’ll make it happen, somehow. If nothing else, I’ll drop my divison on their fucking heads.” I smiled. “So, who were you? Some call me Cabbit.”

“Of course, the magpie gets every fucking shiny piece in sight.” the girl rolled her eyes. “You’re still not allowed to touch my fucking guns without adult supervision.”

I smile. “Not so long of a time, here, but good to see you, Marine. We have a Lunar, and oddly enough a Pole. Haven’t seen the insanity maker, or the Brit, though.” My hand is out, with a relieved smile.

“Yeah nice to finally meet you in person.” She looked over. “Last memory was a firefight on a cold day. Just out of nowhere. Woke up to a sweet sixteen birthday, found a diary in an inheritance I was supposed to get then, and found my Great grandpa, many times removed’s, cache. Spent a few months on and off teaching myself to drive the Bridge-stalker here while everyone was asleep. The other mech wasn’t sealed correctly, so she’s a bit fucked up, otherwise I’d have rolled HER out to mash faces.”

“Pirates roasted everyone. Just burned the fucking town because an old, retired soldier shot one of their looters.”

I winced, even in the best storage, an unsealed Battlemech would require some serious love before it could see the battlefield again. As for the pirate’s actions... “I doubt it was because they got shot at, they’ve done it too many other times, and on the other side of this world, too. Artu got hammered. But… C’mon, I’ll get Kath, aka Lunar, and Case, our Pole. We even have a Siddie. The Pole and the Siddie can empathize, they grew up around the Space Amish. Kath? Shee. She’ll not be too thrilled to hear this, but she has her own nightmare fuel.” I tilted my head, sadly. “Imagine growing up and remembering the 20th century in a Cloud Cobra sibko.”

“Hey I always wanted to have a suicide ideation fantasy, thanks for that.” the snarky redhead replied. Her ice-blue eyes rolled. “You’re a fucking convergence of unlikely events.”

“I Blame ROB.” I shrug. “Unlike Case, or Kath, I woke up on the first of the year, Kikyo, now my birthday. Twentieth. My biological father had kicked the bucket and sent an inheritance. Long story short, Hanse wanted it, I didn’t want to give it to him. And lo, here we are. Part of me thinks it was one of Kikyo’s parties out of control… but a dream with said asshole Omnipotent.. Well.” I shrug again. “Who knows, what I do know, is I’m here. If the bastard was right, a pretty girl with the full knowledge of a fusion degree of this time, is in my old body.”

“So what’s the play? You do realize that the odds your techs will be able to isolate psychotic sentient computer virus is minimal.” She looked about. “And that core? I’m not sure we want to give that thing to anyone. Because inevitably that one’s going to have some potentially dangerous tech.”

I shook my head. “The easiest way to not release Skynet, the Star League variant, is to, well, honor air gapping.” I roll my eyes. “They kept it air gapped here, after all.” I look upwards. “The play is very simple. NAIS gets the core. We take the loot from here, and leave. Couple years, we make Arano very happy, by deposing the coupers, and Case can shut up. Helm’s on our list, but not sure when.”

“No, they were developing a virus to kill CASPERS. That means that the Core has specifications and likely fully realized CASPER AI in it for them to turn the virus loose on.” She gave a long look.

I shot the girl a look. “And I told them not to connect any computer to the cores, and treat this as exactly that.” I shrugged. “They’re not idiots, they’re the best Hanse Davion can find.”

I sighed. “And as for what the core has…” I shrugged. “It’s not like there’s not things coming, and being able to crush Comstar has its appeal, doesn’t it?” I paused for a moment. “Okay, what is your name here. I’m Kikyo Onishi.”

“Evangeline Kessler. Call me Evie.” She sighed. “I need to pull my shit. You got a spot open? This place is fucking dead to me.”

“For a friend? And a sister, now, not brother? Did you think the answer was no?” I smile sadly. “There’s always room for my friends. No matter why.”

“Tell you what, I keep my Grandpa’s gear, all of it, and I’ll bring it aboard. I’ve got a machine shop and setup for maintaining the trollcust and my other mech. I’ll see if I can coax her to the dropship.”

I shrug. “I can see what we can do, it’ll depend on what we have here, really, and what we’ll leave for the Aranos.” I shrug. “It really depends on who they send. Part of me is tempted to leave a warkit behind, and some factory bits, but another part…” I pause and nod once. “Also, we might have more dropships than we need, depending on the other hidden location we found. Let’s go find Kath and Case, and I’ll tell you en route.” I slip under the taller girl’s arm. “Let’s go down the rabbit hole, shall we?”

“Sure, why the hell not?” Evangeline grinned. “Besides, you’re gonna want me to rebuild the other mech and get her running.”

As I guided Evie, a Marine from my other self’s time, now a farmer’s daughter, as hot as I was, into the Castle Brian, I went… “Oh… tell me more…”

Little did I realize, she would not disappoint.

Command Center, Castle Nautilus, Artu, Late Afternoon

I looked at the Main screen and blinked. It was a complete map, and on one side, various information about what was where. Evie, Case and Kath were with Asha, discussing the situation, but I had been called into the main command node of the Castle.

“My Lady.” Ran Felsner, ever the gentleman, bent and kissed my hand. “Our prize is beyond belief, and we have established the command chain, to Castle Watchtower as planned.” He smiled. “I won’t steal Dr. Cunningham’s thunder, but intelligence was slightly wrong, I’m afraid” His smile was broad and pleased.

Alt rolled her eyes, pulling a stylus out from her hair. Extending it, she tapped a screen in front of her, which lit up one spot, and lit the same spot up on the main display.

“Okay, your intel wasn’t wrong.” She shrugged. “It was incomplete.” She shook her hair, and smiled. “While within a week of figuring out what happened on Terra, they shifted to an anti-CASPER virus, that’s not what they were on. This is the place that NCC and SLDF Royal command was working on CASPER III. At least the software end, anyways.”

I blinked in confusion but before I could ask, Ran smiled and asked. “Why don’t you explain, Doctor?”

“Sure. Next generation software and hardware for the space defenses of the Terran Hegemony, and well, if I read the logs right, ground combat drones.”

“... What.” I paused. Images of Skynet and well, Cylons flashed though my head, in horror. “What the hell, Camerons?”

“Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.” the genius computer scientist popped her P, as Dr. Banzai broke in.

“Which means…” He studied the Computer scientist slightly, then shrugged. “The virus is actually what they called an corrupted and insane AI. While there are complete notes and copies of the CASPER software, and some hardware, the fighter drones, and the M-3’s computer systems, for example, they’re all stored in a separate datacore, and there’s an advanced computer, where the third generation AI is stored.” He shrugged. “And there’s separate datastores of course for the other programs that were being designed for the third generation.”

“I am thinking…” I paused. “I am thinking the Camerons were completely insane, and some of the people working for them were beyond crazy. While under orders, we have to copy that datastores, my thoughts are copy it once, wipe it here, and tell the Prince what they are, but make sure he gets rid of them.” I shook my head. “I’m not against automated drones, but there’s a point, gentlemen and ladies. And I think that the Terrans were going well past it.”

“I tend to agree, m’lady.” Ran’s tone was mild. “I suppose your suggestion is the best, though. Make it happen, Doctors.” His tone brooked no disobedience.

“Yes, sir.” “Yes, sir.” responded from the two doctors.

Ran nodded, turning to his second, who I had for some reason never remembered her name. “Lizelle. As you’re in charge of the evaluation, and loading. The plan is simple. The moment we have a Mule loaded, spare parts first, mobile equipment second, the bays third, the Mule goes to one of the waiting Behemoths. It loads, comes back. Moment the Behemoth’s full, it goes to the waiting Merchant, and when there’s both of them, it goes. Then we do the Mules, and hopefully by that time, there will be some luck on their end.”

“Sir, yes, sir.” The forgettable woman saluted, and departed.

Ran nodded at a smaller screen next to the main one. “As you see, General, there are outlying forts, which Katherine’s codes should open. I’ll be sending people to each one, but preliminary information shows that a small amount of equipment was left in each one.”

I thought for a moment and nodded. “Sir, may I have a moment of your time, privately?” Ran blinked, then nodded. Gesturing, we went into a slightly dusty office.

“Say what you want.” Ran’s eyebrow was raised.

“My advice, after I get lesser but still valid codes from Katherine, is we give those to the Aranos personally, as payment for this.”

Ran’s eyebrows narrowed. “You think the High Lord would personally lead a mission?”

“Or send his daughter, perchance.” I shrugged. “And perhaps leave some other things behind.”

Ran leaned back, thinking. “...I am unsure of this, Baroness, explain your logic, please.”

I nodded once. “Having a friendly Aurigan power next to the Taurians, for one, as well as a possible base to launch strikes against the Confederation, as well.”

“...A long term ploy, but from what we have already recovered and what the manifests say…” He thought about it. “As you say, they do deserve payment. I like the idea of the outrider castles being left for them. Capital idea, now that I think about it. Even if they don’t become friends, we can honestly say to the First Prince, we tried. And if nothing else… who knows, it just might work.”

“Yes, sir, that was my thought.” I smiled. I was going to help a bit, now, though the the future Arano lady wasn't’ my favorite person, safe to say as she blew up the Castle Brian and it’s precious, precious, precious datastores. “I would however say that the Star League purged all data, before departing to take the Rim.”

“... I see your point, and I can play it up. Your intelligence has been remarkably good, I may say. I’d hope you will tell the First Prince and MIIO where you got it from.” Felsner leaned back. “More victories like these.. .and well, I can see a Davion taking Terra’s throne.” His grin was savage.

“Perhaps, sir, or he already has all that I know. But I agree with you.” I didn’t say I knew of another way for him to make that play for Terra. And one that he was already primed to accept.

Upper Gate, Castle Nautilus, Late Evening

I shivered as we reviewed the message that I was taking to Comstar’s outpost in Artu’s Capital city of First Landing, reviewing the subtle coding of my hands and head position, so my sister could read the message, and confirm it. Clapping my hands together. “That’s it.”

Case yawned. “Yeah, it’ll work. We’ll add the static, you drop it off at Comstar’s fort, give it... three to five days, and Hanse will have one hell of a spit take. You did make sure to ask Aiko to get a photo, right?” I grinned at his comment.

“Of course, it’s the little things that make this worthwhile.” I paused. “Are we sure Comstar won’t catch us pulling a Clancy?” I was referring to embedding the actual message to the First Prince inside a set of random seeming static on the recording medium, and playing the Ditz to get it though. We had done this before with a different type of noise in the background for the first message, but this was a bit more obvious than I liked. Even with that, we had encoded the static in a cypher, and used a substitution code before that.

“When we asked MIIO about it, they blinked. I think it never occurred to them, or if it did, they didn’t bother. It does take some hefty processing at both ends. You rigged Xanadu for all up top end editing and video, plus the computers that can do serious CGI, so… they can also encode quite well.” He shrugged. “Comstar won’t see it coming, those toaster humpers.”

“Good. Very very good.” I smiled. Hopefully they wouldn’t see it coming, not for a good while.


Hanse’s Office, Castle Avalon, Midday, October 3rd, 3015

Hanse snickered, as the video ended. Kikyo was a wonderfully good actress, though he suspected she was laughing at this whole masquerade. Turning to his two guests. “Well, Major, Aiko?”

Ichigo sighed. “Sire? Can’t tell. I think she’s actually excited, but… Joining the AFFS put a bit of a crimp on seeing her personality develop.” Aiko snorted and rolled her eyes.

“She really is, and using family body speak to say “Jaaackpot.”” Aiko snickered. “Whatever it is, it’s bigger than she thought.”

Hanse nodded, noting Yvonne and Justin, acting as her junior aide this month, walking in, both faces stunned. “Sword rules, Major, Lady Aiko. And don’t you have a hideously expensive physics tutor to pester, m’lady?” His smile took any sting out of the words, as Aiko eepd, and quickly walked out. Ichigo saluted, and followed, clearly planning to return to his barracks.

“Hanse?” Yvonne’s voice was hushed and still. “This is the only copy of the information she transmitted to us, and we have over 95% confidence it’s as accurate as she transmitted. My… god, if true…” Hanse’s eyebrows went up as he took the file.

Hanse read through the message once. Twice. A third time. He looked up, and a fire was in his eyes, as his smile showed teeth and a savage satisfaction. “Right.”

“Sire?” Justin had to ask.

“We need to get as many people as we can, without disrupting anything else, without them being security risks, and we need to start building a command chain to meet hers. You know what we’ll need, correct Yvonne?” Hanse had immediately moved to “solve this awesome crisis” mode.

“I do, but we won’t have many people we can spare. I assume the priority is the Belknap and the Newgrange?” Yvonne’s eyebrow rose.

“After the datacores, yes.” Hanse sighed. “I know, but it’s still more than possible. Her idea of running out a command chain from this… Castle Watchtower is a smart one.” He thought for a moment, then nodded. “It’s… what? Eighteen total links?”

Justin responded for his superior. “Actually, nineteen total, counting both ends. I am amused by her plans to stay on Artu for relief efforts, until she speaks to the senior officer of the relief force, at least. Are you … irritated at her idea of ..” Hanse held up his hand.

“We’re at the point of an embarrassment of riches, Justin. Leaving behind one hundred mechs and another one hundred combat vehicles as payment, is not a problem.” He paused. “Who knows, maybe it will work out as she has planned.” He nodded. “As I understand it, the Heavy Cav has some jumpships still here, they can help expand the chain on our end.” He rubbed his forehead. “Assuming Ran makes the schedule, hmm…” Hanse thought for a moment.

“And if we fill out the chain from our end, call it eight to ten weeks before we’re back in contact. I’d expect eleven.” Yvonne stated reprovingling.

“So… December.” Hanse looked at the calendar, and a smile entered his eyes. “Let’s plan on me being at Castle Watchtower for the 15th… and back to New Avalon by the 24th.. Doable?” Yvonne’s wince indicated her dislike of hte idea.

Justin looked at a Calendar. “It’d be tight, but we could likely have you out a bit earlier, and back earlier. Perhaps bringing home the New Avalon Training Battalion and the Heavy Guards?”

“Capital.” He grinned, then turned serious. “Regarding that other project, Aphrodite, Justin?”

“It is going quite well, Sire.” Justin’s smile reassured Hanse.

“It might be the only thing keeping me from begging on the streets to pay the debt we owe now.” Hanse’s grin was wry.

Yvonne huffed. “I do have that suggestion about Challenger, Hanse, if we got a ah, competent CEO, plus well.. Certain assurances?”

Hanse nodded. “That’s more than on the table, we can start planning that.” He looked, and nodded once. “So, the deal with Janos?”

“Going well. The Monolith has arrived in our space, he’s buying fifty mechs a month at our official price, plus another twenty at what the market would bear. The Invader is finishing up, and a few of our people are there, we expect no problems. The Lyrans are slightly ahead of him on purchasing, but not by too much, and Katrina’s offer of a Star Lord, to help defray her greed… useful, and she’s arrived in our space as well.” Yvonne smiled slightly amused.

“Of course now we don’t need them as badly. Amazing how that works.” Hanse snorted. “But we’d have excess production, and better in their hands, than say, Takashi’s?”

“Oh, yes, Hanse. That I agree with.” Yvonne smiled. “And the fact it allowed us to add another eighty mechs a month to our own forces… well, it’s looking like by the end of the year, all our regiments, and even our major mercenary commands will be at full strength for once. We can take risks.”

“I have some ideas, Tell me… what do you think of…” Hanse pulled out a folder and passed it to her, and they began discussing the merits of the various operations, as Justin fetched coffee and paperwork. The candles burned long in Castle Davion that night.


Dropport Artu, Artu, Early evening, October 28th, 3015

We had made significant progress on removing Castle Nautilus' items. Oddly enough, Hanse had gotten one message through to us, approving of the attempt and saying ‘See if you can make it better’. We had thought, looking at everything the Castle had, and deciding that with a bit of rework, it could make some mechs, aerospace fighters and Dropships. The maintenance bays that were inside could assemble easily enough, and there was some part fabrication ability. Leaving that, and the service files plus ‘how to’ guides on how to do it, would give the Coalition a heavy industry. It’d be their problem to keep it from the Taurians, however.

Ran adjusted his half-breastplate of his uniform, as he eyed the opening dropship. “Four Dropship bays, twelve mech bays, twelve each vee bays, and twelve aerospace bays. By what Dr. Banzai estimated, that’d be… what? Two to three dropships a year, plus repairs, and twelve combat vehicles, six mechs and six aerospace fighters a month?” He smiled. “With all the instructions on how to do it, just about. Will give the Taurians a bit to worry about, wouldn’t it?”

I nodded. Add the fact that we, agents of the Federated Suns (and we had abandoned the Ditzy McLyran, it had ran its course, just about, plus if hostile intelligence agents couldn’t count Colossus class dropships, I’d be shocked.), didn’t take it, left it virtually turn key for the Aurigans, against my better judgement, plus roughly 100 mechs and same in combat vehicles? Well. Thomas would be having sleepless nights, Ran hoped.

My black uniform, with its actual real gold piping, contrasted against Sandoval’s and Felsner’s dark blue and massive gold displays. At least I had a cape and black gloves to look formal… as well as a katana at my hip. Yes, I know, it’s a Kuritan weapon, but it was the blade Kikyo got from her mother, and that’d be an insult to the woman’s memory not to wear it. It didn’t hurt I knew how to use it.

“It will be interesting to see how the two react.” I finally spoke, as honor guards, though in practical uniforms of the House Arano format, calmly marched down the Overlord’s ramp. One of two the Coalition boasted, both modified for combined arms, like the Faceless Soldier single one that had joined my fleet.

Katherine Steiner, in the same uniform as mine, but a saber at her hip, quietly mentioned. “Espinosa is expected to be aggressive and demand we hand it all over.” She shrugged. “Between me pulling a full set of information from Wolfnet, and of course the MIIO’s…” I paused. She had told me and Case, then Asha what the deal was there, and I was amazed. Jamie got off his ass and did shit. Even before being ordered. But, mentioning she still had access to Wolfnet in front of two Davion Officers?

Ran’s eyes narrowed, meaning he caught it. “Quite so, Colonel. The profiles you and the few intelligence analysis that the General has put together…” He shrugged, the light glinting, as we saw the High Lord and Council Lord step out.

I very carefully didn’t nod. “Tamati will good cop, Santiago Espinosa will demand it all. Considering what we are planning to leave, and what we have?” I shook my head. “High Lord Arano will be happy with what he has, and terrified at the threat now that the Taurians provide. Santiago won’t see that risk.”

“Or he might not care.” Katheryn said sotto voice. “They did bring along an combined arms brigade, similar to yours or the Outworld’s pattern, short on fighters, mind you, but they are unloading conventional air to cover. Plus a second mech regiment.”

Kathrine and Felsner snorted in unison. Case’s quiet comment behind them. “Be the dumbest thing they can do. We’d tear them apart. They didn’t bring along any assault dropships, and if worse comes to worse, we can fall back to the Castle, and wait for the Prince to dump a pair of full up RCT’s on their head.”

I nodded. “We actually surpass them in mechs, combat vehicles, aerospace fighters, infantry, and our quality is equal or better. They didn’t bring along artillery, orbital support or even heavy command and control capabilities. I don’t think it’d be easy…” Dr. Banzai snorted at that. “But it’d be the ruin of their nation if they tried.”

“Let’s make sure they understand that.” Felsner said. “As agreed, you are the face, so be about it, General.”

I walked forward, as Tamati Arano, and Santiago Espinosa reached the bottom of the ramp. Shortly the party I was leading was at the two Aurigan nobles, and I saluted. “Welcome to Artu, I wish we could be meeting for better reasons, High Lord, Lord Espinosa.”

Tamati Arano, with his greying hair nodded, and clasped my hand as I brought down my salute. “Baroness Winterfell, while I will admit it is a pleasure to see you, your pictures don’t do you justice, I will agree that the reason is not the best. Though, I must thank you and your people, as well as the Marshal’s and Colonel’s for the assistance they have provided Artu in relief from such an atrocity.” The High lord was referring to roughly ten percent of the planet’s population taken as slaves or otherwise killed, and literally a quarter to a third of the world’s easily uprooted infrastructure taken, and about half of the more fixed infrastructure such as roads, dams, communication networks, destroyed.

The task force’s infantry, engineers and a fair bit of the techs we had, had done yeomans’ work trying to put it all back together. The only saving grace to this disaster, was that a fair bit of the food from harvest had already been brought in, and the pirates didn’t get to the main storage, and the areas that had the most infrastructure damage, were, sadly the areas that had lost the most people.

“It was the least we could do, High Lord.” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror if I didn’t try to help.”

Santiago’s face which had been tightening during the conversation, finally couldn’t contain his words. “When you have come to loot yourself, a legacy that is ours, not yours…” He was cut off by Tamati placing a hand on him.

“Peace, brother. We can discuss that privately. Artu’s citizens don’t care why she’s here, nor what she’s taking, if it isn’t something they claimed, to begin with.” Tamati’s smile was a bit strained. “I do understand my brother in law’s frustration, Baroness. That castle… and what is in it…”

I smiled slightly. “Better to say what was.” I shook my head. “While I will agree that there was a lot of useful war material, and to be fair, items that would help any industrialization, or even more, the prize we had hoped to find, wasn’t.” I sighed in a bit of disappointment. “Rest assured, the First Prince would have traded everything inside Artu, much less what we have taken out, for what we had believed could be there. An SLDF field library, for their long term personnel.” I raised an eyebrow, receiving the nods in response. Most people didn’t realize it, but these two did. Militaries, especially those on long duration posts, sat out to improve their people, by self study.

Ran’s face had carefully tightened, not in anger, but annoyance. Katheryn’s went stone face, and Kath slightly nodded. We had discussed this to hammer home that fact we wanted them to believe and pass along. While it wasn’t what Helm had, nor was it complete, a SLDF field library, combined with what Hanse had acquired at Halstead would go a long way to replacing what was lost in the Succession wars, knowledge wise. And we had two. One more suited for the Navy and space operations and shipyard work, one more for the Army and computer aspects.

“... that is a shame.” Tamati’s face was a bit of a study. While he wanted the same thing we did, at least in regards to the core… he had to admit, that the Cappelians, Taurians, Canopians, the Davions, would move heaven and earth for a copy. By raining battlemechs if need be.

“Perhaps we can discuss Castle Nautilus inside Xanadu? Once your people clear it?” I suggested.

The swarthy man, Espinosa started to speak, only to be once again, cut off. Tamati looked at him. “If they wanted to kill us, or otherwise threaten us, they just have to point at their Battlemechs, their tanks, their Achilles, and the fact that even if by some miracle, we won that battle, we’d lose.” He was referring to the fact that by rough calculations, our firepower edge was at least two to one, before you factored in the Castle itself… which we controlled fully.

Any battle would cost them too much to win, much less lose. And given that we likely would destroy the dropships for both sides in the process, the Aurigans would be out nearly three fourths of their strategic lift. I finally responded to that. “I prefer talking. I do not want a repeat of Spencer, nor do I like the thought of leaving your nation vulnerable for … this…” I implied what happened to Artu. “On all your worlds. While I do have my orders and instructions, I prefer to find a way we both can if not be happy, at least realize this was the best we could do without trying to kill each other.” I shook my head. “We are all realists. Hanse Davion could have sent and arguably should have, the entire Guards, or at least two commands of it. Instead he chose a somewhat lighter touch.” I titled my head. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking that means we will simply roll over. As I’ve said, we control the Castle Fully.” Tamati nodded at that.

“As you say, we are all realists. At least from what you imply, the Prince is more than willing to leave some of the prize behind?” Tamati’s tone shifted, as we walked towards Xanadu’s waiting ramp.

“Quite so.” Felsner spoke. “While we had a more… covert method planned, we have generally abandoned it, thanks to the situation here.” He shrugged. “The Prince feels, I think, if you can look after yourselves, as well as strengthen yourselves, you will be a thorn in the Cappelian’s and Taurian’s sides. Nations we have… issues with.” Felsner shrugged. “Not to mention his personal dislike of piracy, mind you, and his wish all could live in comfort and safety.”

As we walked into my ship and home, I could feel Espinosa’s seething anger, even against my own natural ki, trying to boost my charisma and words. Case called it the ‘Listen to me! Notice me!’ effect, but against someone a bit more than determined, it didn’t help.

Tamati’s eyes glanced around. “I must admit, while tasteful and well apportioned, Xanadu seems a bit sparse, and not fully a pleasure ship, as she has been listed.”

I smiled. “Honesty compels me to admit I like living in comfort when I can arrange it, but the height of excess the Star League allowed, is a bit too much comfort, and wasn’t all needed.” I pointed out a change in the Princess’ normal layout. “As you can see as we walk to the lift, we fitted in space for a lance of Battlemechs. You’ll see my Bun Bun, along with my lance mate’s Redline, Stormbringer and Kath’s poor nameless Marauder.” I had pointed each one out.

“I suspect there’s other military equipment on board, besides just a token security force, as well as refitted command and control electronics, and better weapons for defense.” Tamati’s voice was mild.

“That would be an accurate suspicion, m’lord. I don’t see the thrill in risks that can be ameliorated, you understand.” I smiled, as I gestured into the meeting room where Kelia waited.

The two men settled in the fine seats, as their guards peeled off to join mine, and two inside across from my two guards. Kelia was efficient in making sure both gentleman had coffee or water, as their preference, while Tamati accepted the coffee, with a smile and a slightly wider one after his first sip, Espinosa refused both curtly.

Santiago spoke first. “Don’t think your self serving ‘good’ deeds buy you one iota of anything! Artu is our system, what is in it is ours, and you are no better than a pirate yourself. Spencer has unfond views of you! We know how to treat your kind, and we will regain what is ours.” Tamati had looked at the darker man, a bit annoyed, but didn’t say anything.

I sipped my own coffee for a moment, and let his glare slide off me, as Felsner and Sandoval didn’t look impressed. Nor did Steiner, and Case’s low chuckle from near the guards showed his impression. “I could argue, and point out that Lady Death, the ruler of the Domains, is what a pirate is.” I sip again. “As she was the one to personally lead the raid.” Tamati’s eyes closed.

“We did not know this.” I slide over a thick folder, gathered from cameras and other sources on planet to him.

“This is all from ELINT on planet, and a few survivors’ descriptions of them. One of which, was lucky and found a mech and, to our surprise, was able to at least extract some vengeance.” I slightly smiled, though it was very Russian. “She’s agreed to join us, and we’ve more than allowed her to bring her two mechs and other personal belongings with her as hers.”

“We would like to speak to her, if possible.” Tamati’s expression was neutral.

“Of course.” I returned to staring at Espinosa. “I could argue we took nothing that was in the possession of the government of this planet, or the people living on it. I could argue we did not harm a single person, and in fact, our doctors and other personnel have been working themselves into exhaustion to try to fix some of the damage, both to the bodies and to the souls of Artu’s people.” I tilted my head, and smiled.

“But we are all realists, I believe I said before. The Coalition only survives because it’s not rich enough to be targeted by the Capellans, in their risk and reward calculation, same with the Taurians. The Canopians likewise feel the amount of effort needed, to bring you to them, verus the risk is too high. Generally the Davions wouldn’t even see a point.” I tilted my head.

Santiago’s face darkened, but before he could argue, Tamati’s hand once again rested on his arm. “Peace, again, brother, she is answering your point.”

“We could even argue who legally owns Castle Natitus and the material associated with it.” I shrug. “But let us be cold. You cannot withstand a great house, you cannot withstand an assault by the Taurians. Fighting us, even as noted, if successful, would make the Cappleian assault, or a Taurian assault all but assured. For when nation-states send objective raids to attack or acquire material, none dare call it piracy. And the Heavy Cavalry is under bonded contract. Any battle would gain you very little, as allow me to explain the status of the Castle.”

Espinosa’s face was fit to explode, but he managed to master himself, as Tamati nodded.

“First and foremost, the spaceport aspects of the Castle, both internal, and external have been surveyed, and basic maintenance performed on them. The hydrogen cracking systems are fully functional, plus both ports are in fine shape.” I smiled. “The Star League even included automated repair bays for dropships up to twenty thousand tons, besides ones for vehicles up to two hundred tons, one hundred tons, fifty tons, mechs, small craft, and even aerospace bays.” I waited til the blinks finished.

“As you might be aware, those can also with parts assemble just about anything, if the right programs are loaded.” Kath spoke up. She shrugged.

Feslner’s wintery smile added to the conversation. “As you can guess, they are quite useful and quite wanted to fix elements of our, “ He was referring to the Federated Suns, “industry, all of them.” He smiled slightly. “It wasn’t a trivial task to start disassembling and packing them for shipping, but it wasn’t difficult.”

“How dare you take” Santiago leapt up only to have Case’s ‘tsk tsk’ and half pulled gun bring him to his senses.

“We dare because we need it to defend our people, against the Capellans, who our actions benefit yours, as they stay too worried about us, and of course against the Snakes.” Katheryn’s voice hissed the last.

I picked up from there. “Not to mention, a strong Federated Suns, keeps the Taurians focused on us.”

Tamati paused, then nodded once. “And of course, none dare call it piracy, eh?” He shook his head, not expecting a response. “Understandable. But I sense there’s still room, and while not difficult, as the Marshal says, I still suspect time consuming.”

“Of course.” Dr. Banzi responded. “But our task was eased thanks to a stroke of luck.”

Santiago was still seething, so Arano picked up that thread. “Oh?”

“Yes, our computer experts were able to find and restore the complete system files for the Castle Brian, including all modes of operation of those bays.” Dr. Banzai shrugged. “As well as all systems, which we have checked out.”

Espinosa’s face curdled. He choked out shocked. “You don’t mean…”

Ran’s voice was cold. “Yes, we do mean the weapons, Council Lord. So, if you feel inclined, the Baroness is fond of a saying. Molon Labe.”

The expression on Santiago’s face was a study, while Tamati’s bark of laughter broke the spell.

“Come and take them, eh?” He shook his head. “Fond of history, are you, Baroness?”

I smiled. “Just a tad. Just a tad. We are more than willing to leave it behind, with all files, mind you, including all fixed weapons.” I look upwards. “It would provide an annoyance I believe to the Taurians, if they became aggressive. And in fact, like many Castle complexes, they built small outrider forts, and according to what we have discovered, left setups for maintenance of military equipment, as well as even some mechs and combat vehicles. Our rough guess is about a hundred mechs and a hundred combat vehicles.” I shrugged. “It would be difficult, I suppose to get them while we fight wouldn’t it?”

Tamati saw the deal on the table, but as any politician, and one who practiced compromise with his fellows, he reached for more. “All fine and good, and admittedly a fine token, but surely you recognize the problems. Those bays and the fabricators for parts, well, would be needed to sustain those units.”

“Of course, but a lot of them have already been packed up, mind you, and are already gone.” I smile. “We’ve had nearly forty days to canvass, after all, even with putting the majority of our people helping yours…”

Espinosa went purple with rage. “You couldn’t have! My advisors assured me…”

Dr. Banzai’s tone was cold. “Your advisors are wrong. I command Team Banzai, and every one of my mechwarriors, pilots, infantry, even the newest tanker, is at least a certified basic tech, and most are experts in at least one field. We brought along two regiments of personnel experienced in Star Leauge hardware… and the best that House Davion has at that.”

“And let’s be honest, if you haven't figured out our Behemoths have already made at least one round trip to a hidden location, with a fair bit of load… I wonder how much you talk to the local government.”

“Yes, we have. Two trips I understand, with at least one more departing shortly.” Tamati’s voice indicated the time for soft pressure was over. He turned to look at his brother in law. “Brother, I agree with what you want, at heart for our people. But I don’t agree with you on the ways, but I do listen to you. This time, I cannot. Not only will we not gain the prizes you think we can, but as she pointed out… even if we don’t, too many would come thinking we did.” He paused. “And we would be ill able to defeat them.” He shook his head. “But, like your Prince, Marshal, Baroness, Colonels, or at least before the stresses of the Succession Wars, I answer to a Council myself. Lay it out, please. And don’t pretend you haven’t made off with the Argo, either, it’s the only reason I can think of why you were over there.”

I winced. Katheryn sighed, while Felsner nodded simply. He spoke for us all. “While the Baroness is of course overall responsible for this, and I won’t insult you High lord, by lying to you, we have to ask, what does House Davion get out of this, besides non-wrecked units, and not having to send additional units to relieve us?” He shook his head. “That is only a short term problem, realistically.”

Tamati tilted his head. “What is on the table, first?”

“Well, we haven’t disassembled at all four of the Dropship bays. Nor twelve each of the superheavy, heavy, and light vehicle bays, nor six small craft and six fighter bays.” I look at Dr. Banzai. “As noted, we have the programs needed to run them, as well, fully, and we’ve only disassembled half the fabricators and ammo plants.” I shrugged as though unconcerned with the inevitable outcome. “And of course, the fixed systems and installations, are still fully there, as well as the full control system.” I turned to Dr. Banzai.

He adjusted his tie slightly, “As I’ve stated, we were lucky in finding the deep backups for the site, and it even by some miracle included the installations complete training manuals, as well as the full technical details on the various parts.” He smiled. “Quite useful, we have a copy, of course.”

Tamati’s tone was wry. “Of course.” He looked at Espinosa who had seemed to calm down slightly, realizing a deal was about to be made. “And as you noted, recovering the outlying equipment… well, we could make it a tad difficult, one hundred each you said? What about what was stored inside the Castle?”

I sigh. “Alas, as you can guess, Marshal Felsner was most insistent that the ready to use military equipment and the vast majority of spare parts had to be loaded and gone. I estimate there’s only about ten thousand tons of spare parts left, really.” I shook my head sadly. “A shame.”

Tamati looked at me, with a slight grin. “And what would I have to offer for you to stop disassembling? And leave the remaining spare parts?”

I look upwards. “Well, a stronger Aurigan Coalition is a threat to the Taurians, I’ll admit, as well as the Capellians, didn’t you say so, Marshal?”

“I did.” His slight smile. “And the Prince has always thought we should recognize you, of course, as a proper nation, but…”

“He does have an charge d'affaires, he does.” Tamati nodded. “But the view of both of us, is why taunt the Taurians?”

“But with…” Felsner teased.

“It is a consideration.” Tamati looked at Santiago who was simply sighing, the fight went out of him, and a bit of consideration.

Ran nodded. “One to be expanded on. Now, if we weren’t distrubed in finishing, well, there isn’t much besides the spare parts, really, and those remaining bays that aren’t packed… figure at most, two days to load what we have packed…”

“And what you haven’t?” Tamati grinned.

I smiled back. “A bit longer, though at this point, it is a law of diminishing returns, I’ll admit.”

Espinosa and Tamati looked at each other, then put their heads together for a hushed, but intense short conversation. The darker skinned man stood up, nodded sharply, and spoke.

“My apologies for my temper, m’lady, Marshal, Colonels. I am driven as you are, it sometimes…”

“No apologies needed.” Katheryn soothed. “I’m an Sandoval. You can imagine what I’d do to defend my people from the Snakes.”

The man’s brief smile changed his face, and he nodded. “WIth, again, my apologies, I will go and see to the handover? As well as helping you to depart?” Ran and I both simply nodded.

“There will be a farewell banquet, I do think.” Tamati spoke softly. “We’ll say many things there.”

I nodded. “I do believe we both have things to do, and should be about them, High Lord.”

“As you say, M’lady.” I really was getting used to being a noble, I mused as I watched him stand, then leave after a nod of his head.

Ran grinned. “Are you sure you don’t want diplomatic service, M’lady? That was well played on your end.”

I sagged in relief. “Can I strangle you? I was less stressed in Bun Bun on Spencer.”

Laughter was my only response

Main Convention Hall, First Landing, Artu, Evening of October 30th, 3015.

“Well, my dear.” Espinosa had successfully cornered me for a conversation, “While I’m still not happy with the situation, I must admit, your engineers and techs at least put this world back on recovery, and your First Prince’s agreement to when possible.” He sighed at the last word. “Explain to the so called Lady Death how much of a mistake she made by her actions, at least soothes some of my ill feeling.” He gestured around the ballroom with chatting, happy people, in the formal outfits of the Artuians, the dress uniforms of the AFFS and OHC, and other such accoutrements.

“It does my heart good to see them at least putting aside the pain they feel.” I smiled, hiding the slight unease I felt at his oily smile. Any man who’d kill his own niece for power… Well, I did give Case and Morgan explicit orders to kill him, if he even started to pull a weapon, or came within a hundred meters of Evie, who didn’t need her memories of here reopened. Case had hit me for spreading the as he so crudely put it. ‘Fuck me, please’ smell during the negotiations, which I hadn’t realized I was doing. I apologized to Ran, Kath, Katheryn and Dr. Banzai, who had laughed, and said he built nose filters and gave them to everyone but Case and the Aurigans. I promptly asked for a set for myself, since by the end of the conversation, I was also aroused as hell.

“Well said, well said, m’dear.” He took my arm, and steered our walking towards an area, though I managed to shift him slightly towards the Hors d'oeuvre waiting on a table.

“I must admit, your computer experts are far better than any we have, they were even able to restore some plans.” He shook his head in apparent amazement. “The Spad, the Samurai and the Rapier. All basic versions, but still. Seven airframes a month?” He smiled. “And of fine equipment at that. I could complain about the ‘Mechs, but?” He shook his head. “Urbanmech, Locust, Hunchback and even the Marauder.” He tilted his head. “Doesn’t your clone of the Archon -” He smiled at the wittism that I politely laughed at, “- pilot one?”

“She does, as my lancemate and aide, Lt. Winter pilot the Hunchback. Perhaps not the most glamorous machines… but effective. Even the Urbanmech, used properly will make pirates tremble.”

His smile indicated he wasn’t interested in that detail. “That they would, and the plans for the Danais, Union and Overlord are quite helpful as well.”

“You’ll still need to provide a fair bit of the parts, you realize.” I cautioned. “I would say at best, the setup can only provide for maybe a quarter of the weapons and armor needed.”

He smiled. “You would be surprised at what our technicians can do, m’lady.” He bowed slightly, his eyes drifting down, as I wore a simple seeming dress calculated to impress, instead of my blacks, which I was preferring, but I was acting per Hanse’s orders, as ambassador. “It’d not surprise me if with a bit of work, we can at least replace the weapon factories you claimed. Dare I ask?”

“Oh, I was acting as a mercenary, so that’s a fair question, I believe it will either be sold to a corporation, or I may claim it as my share.” I smiled winningly. “After of course NAIS tears them apart and reassembles them.”

“Of course, of course, even here, we have heard of your prince’s great project. Ambitious, is he not afraid that someone will strike at it?” Santiago’s eyes were indicating actual interest. “In fact, my brother is sending Kamea with you to attend, I believe.”

“The negotiations are well underway, yes.” I agreed. That was a surprising deal reached by Hanse. A hundred Aurigan students, including Tamati’s heir? At the Prince’s cost? Tamati leapt on it, of course. “If I do claim a part of the industrial spoils, I’m thinking of building Vulcans, though since we have the plans as well…”

“If you do, I suspect even if the Davions don’t buy them, you would find eager markets in the Periphery. While my and my brother’s family was fonder of the Star League than most ouside the Great Houses… even I must admit, seeing them fly again, was a stirring sight.” I nodded at his honest praise.

“They are good birds for their role. It’s a shame and a crying one they became associated with a butchery greater than anything since the days of Old Terra.” I agreed with him.

“Well said. May I ask what you think of your Prince?” He smiled. “Apparently, he’s been dating you since February of this year.” I blinked. What? His eyebrow rose slightly in response. “The theory I have, is given your known ties to a noted treasure hunter, when he sent your unit off with the others, he wanted to provide cover that it really wasn’t a lostech expedition, and well, you have to admit…”

“I do own a mirror.” I said dryly. “Reasonable, though I wasn’t told about it.” I paused, then shrugged. “Hanse does what Hanse does, he is the First Prince.”

“One I admire, at least so far. He seems to be decisive and well, at least using the power his family has consolidated, for the best of his people.” Santiago’s tone was honest admiration. “I have suggested a more centralized rule, in that vein, or Taurus, or Canopus’ own, I suppose, to my brother, though he has resisted somewhat.” He sighed. “The good a strong hand can do for a nation, well, your nation has beat back and even expanded on those who dared harm her.”

I didn’t blink, but nodded along apparently in agreement. “It does, however, require nobility and the backbone of the nation, the common man, to buy in… and without that?” I shake my head.

“But we are crying out for such. And with this prize we now have, if my brother listens to me, which he will, I suspect, and of course, his daughter, when she attains the throne, with the fine education and example on New Avalon, we can finally not only just halt or slow down the spiral we are in, but grow out of it, and take our place, wouldn’t you say?” His eyes gleam with that future. “Our people are a nation of choice, m’lady, and we are only asking to be recognized as such, but in this fallen universe…”

“One could argue a strong hand is needed to make that happen, yes.” I pretended to agree. It wasn’t quite that way in the Suns. While I would concede that Hanse Davion, like most First Princes since the middle or late First Succession War, pretty much had a High Council whose task was to get a rubber stamp, stamp it to everything he did the previous year, then drink like maniacs on his tab, it was at the federal level Hanse’s power was near absolute, and even then, he could have court decisions overrule him, or modify his decisions, there were traditions on what he could do, and absolute freedoms that the Suns enshrined. Even with those checks, there was the threat of ambitious, or motivated nobles, and just plain people going “What are you doing?”, much less something like the Warrior’s Cabal.

Santiago noticed my pause. “M’lady?” He stated as he swapped out my glass for another of champagne, as tonight was the night I signed for Hanse the documents ratifying the agreements, until he could.

“I was just thinking that while your statement had some salient points, and yes, Hanse’s power is quite immense, it’s not quite that simple.” He raised an eyebrow. “First, it came out of the crises of the First and Second Succession Wars, and is generally only at the federal level, he can’t, nor will he tell a local baroness who’s acting within the law, say, that she has to chop down those trees, instead of the ones she wants to.” Espinosa laughed at that. “And in the end, he’s only one man, like the First Princes before him, if enough people don’t want to go along with him…”

Espinosa blinked. “You say they’d depose him?” I laughed.

“I suggest you read up on how his father inherited the throne, for an example of a change that was resisted. While in the end, it all worked out…” I smiled ruefully. “Not that I say Tamati would do such a thing.” I looked at his liege who was chatting with Kath, and Case. Both of which had orders to carefully broach certain subjects with certain people.

“Are you saying his method is better? Look at our nation, compare it to yours!” Espinosa was beginning to get angry again.

“I am not saying that, M’lord.” He blinked. “I’m just saying that being a dictator only lasts as long as you don’t push the people too far. Change is incremental. Your nation is young, and growing, and has a chance to grow stronger than believed.” I tilted my head at him. “While I would agree a firm hand is needed, sometimes the hand that guides is better than the hand that pulls. But at times, I have to admit, a hand that pulls, is sometimes more needed.” I waved my unoccupied hand. “It’s striking the balance that’s the key, I believe. As the gift for Lady Kamea indicated, sometimes you do need a fist.” I was referring, of course, to the Atlas II we had left for her. Tamati was impressed, and accepted my point he couldn’t just give her his ‘Mech for schooling on New Avalon.

He laughed at that, and nodded, then thought about the rest for a moment, then shrugged. “As you say, we are young, and I would use old Earth examples, Chile, the Republic of Korea, even Taiwan, perchance, or the city State of Singapore?”

I blinked. “I… see your point, but from what I recall, Picholet and Park were executed. Two of four indicates not a pleasant trend.”

“Yet, Jiang died in bed, and many kings also.” I conceded the point.

“As you say, and more importantly, that is a debate you should have with your brother and others, not me. I’m a New Avalon girl. We have different views.” I smile.

He accepted the attempt to end that thread. “I understand New Avalon itself is a vibrant city, and the world a lovely place, untouched by the horrors of the Succession wars.” He smiled.

I thought about it. “Depends what you mean untouched. By direct violence? I would agree… but the loss of so much.” My smile was a bit sad. “There are wonders on New Avalon, we cannot duplicate. I am sure you would marvel at them as I have.”

“I would enjoy showing you the wonders of my castle, we have a few ourselves, or you showing me New Avalon’s wonders.” He smiled trying to be charming, and if I didn’t know this man was a kinslayer in the future . “Even this capital, perhaps you could delay a bit? I would so insist, and it would strengthen ties between our realms?” He paused… “Or perhaps… I wonder, your unit didn’t leave New Avalon officially ‘til February, did it not?”

I wondered where he was going, so I played along, trying to think of a way out of this. “Yes, that’s right, we lifted late February first.” My tone indicated it was a question.

“The news reported your prince had dates with you in January, and he is trusting you with this task… perhaps the dates that have been circulating past then aren’t just cover for a lostech mission?” His smile was a bit sharp. I wasn’t sure what Espinosa was implying, but I answered.

“Yes, we had a couple of dates, he wanted to ask about acting and some other things, and well, he had a captive to question.” I smiled. “Not that I mean it in that way, of course, but he tries to do many things, and operates off if you’re not busy living, you’re busy dying, and he has no plans for the latter, and part of living, is learning.”

Sangatio nodded. “A fine point there, but I wonder if he has more than just interest in what you know and own…” He trailed off suggestively, then added. “Forgive me, but you must admit, you have a slight reputation, though to be honest, no one would accuse you of wantonness, at least publically, but you have to admit, before those dates, you were often seen on many a young noble’s arm.”

I laughed. “A pretty young actress who can flatter and knows a bit about mechwarrioring, will never lack for an escort to take her to the balls of New Avalon, and since I lacked a title then…” He nodded, smiling at that. “As for what you’re implying, I doubt it. He had a fiancee…” I trailed off and shook my head. “Not the first, nor sadly, dare I say, the last time a Davion has suffered or will suffer loss at the snake’s hand.”

“All things pass, m’lady. Perhaps he’s thinking toward the future.” I laughed again at that.

“As you say, I have a bit of a reputation, and the age difference… while not insurmountable, well. Davions marry for love, more often than not, and I doubt two dates and meetings would stir such.” I shook my head. “Let’s be honest, while I’ll be honest, and admit, any girl of the Suns would be honored to catch his attention, I doubt I am that one. And it would be a bit of a pickle. I still have things that I wish to do, that being his spouse would make… difficult at the least.”

“Perhaps.” He thought about it for a moment, but before he could expand, Case broke in.

“Ma’am? I need you for a moment.” Mr Scruffy, the Case of Kikyo’s strays, had cleaned up and looked every inch a professional and well mannered. Even his youth had somehow added to it, instead of distracting from the image.

“Of course, Lieutenant.” I turned away from Case, and turned to the Lord. “If you would excuse me?”

He nodded, and waved me away.

“Okay, besides me thanking you for getting away from a man who gave off subtle clues he wanted to have some ah… fun.” I paused. “And I suspect not the fun I’d enjoy the most.” Case snorted at that. “What’s the problem?”

“Kath kept an eye on the situation, cabbit, and you’re too nice to not make an easy getaway. Yeah, maybe not anyone else detected it, but I noted your hand every so often reaching for your blade.” Ooops crossed my mind. Case picked up on that. “Nah. No one else did, it looked natural as you resting it. But…”

“Right, you’re Outworlder, and they adore the arts, as their national sport.” We both shared a grin at that. “And you knew swordsmen before.”

“Ayup.” He led me near the signing table. “It didn’t hurt that Tamati seems to be flagging a bit, and I figured we needed to get this done.”

I nodded, as Kath steered the High Lord. “Any luck?”

“We’ll see. I’m not sure this is a good or bad thing overall, but we’ll see.” Case was serious for once. “Still holding you to your word.”

“If I can, I will, not a question.” I shook my head. We could kill the man now, but I vetoed that. As much as I hated to admit it, a patriot Espinosa was. Just… he hadn’t crossed the line yet, to being a demon, and… who knew if he would now. I couldn’t kill a man for crimes he might not commit, could I?

Castle Watchtower, Late Evening, November 15th, 3015.

Ran blinked at the head shipwright, and acting head of Watchtower Shipyards. “What do you mean, we’re already out of helium?” His voice was calm.

Richard Lutens grimaced. “As per instructions we were to focus on the Dropships and Jumpships, correct?” I and Felsner nodded.

“That doesn't’ explain why you’re short helium already.” I pointed out sweetly. “We drained Artu dry of it, nearly 3,500 tons of it.” I tilted my head. “Plus what you could likely savagle from here.”

“Near enough to four thousand tons, all total, yes.” He looked upwards, and nodded once. “The problem comes from something else.” He looked outside the main window, in the office we were using. “There’s only enough slips able to handle Jumpships to do two at a time, that we can use. We had enough people to also do two dropships, so… The Argo is still in one, but she’ll be ready to leave by the first of the year. She was remarkably less damaged than we feared. But it was a bit tricky resetting all the internals, now we’re just fabricating new drive nozzles, and replacing members and armor plate.” Ran nodded, his eyes narrowing.

“Yet, you have three jumpship slips working, or so I inferred from the report.” His tone was confused.

“Yes. The slip the Newgrange was in.” He looked at his paper. “We hit a stroke of luck there. When they shut down, she was actually undergoing repairs, all her armor removed, a replacement drive assembly fabricated, but not installed. Full armor replacement. They had gotten as far as fixing and certifying everything but the transit drive and repair bay.”

“And?” This was the Marshal again, and he was annoyed.

“Well, while we had enough people all told to run the four yards we were, we had enough extra people with a decent clue, and with supervision to actually run a single shift on the slip the Newgrange was in.” We nodded.

“Makes sense, she’s honestly the one ship we need as good as possible, since she can fix everyone else.” I responded absently. “And speeding up her repairs means we can leave faster, and if she had a new transit drive waiting for her… why not?”

“Capital. How long before she’s ready?” The Marshal realized the same thing I did. Getting SLS Newport News out would be a major victory. Inside her repair bay we could stuff countless boxes and parts, plus even full dropships, upwards of two point three million tons worth of cargo, in fact.

“And that’s why we’re out of Helium already.” The shipyard worker sighed. “Since she’s less than three months out by computer projections, though I’d say closer to five, given our crews…” Everyone nodded at that. “The main computers refuse to release the helium she needs. Take out that 2,300 tons or so, a reserve hundred or so, and that leaves only 1,600 tons. Which the first Monolith ate a fourth of, and the one we’re working on and getting ready to take out, ate another quarter.”

“Well… shit.” I spun at the Marshal’s statement. “That’s unpleasant. I was hoping that we could get more of the command chain with nine total dropship rings, so we could get more of the troops home for Christmas.” We had sent the Monolith Indiana, as well as the SLS Hal ahead, and the pair were going to be anchors, as we tried for a nine ring chain to the Suns. I rubbed my forehead, thinking.

“Okay, look. We are three weeks into building the chain.” Ran and Lutens looked at me, the harried balding black man going “Yes…” with his expression.

“We’ll send out as many of my jumpships to link up, and keep building the chain…” I looked at my map on the tablet I was using to keep track of the chain. “If I’m reading this right…” I sigh. “Using all my jumpships, and sending them out now, we’ll still make the Dec 1st timeline. Risk is of course, us who stay here, are stuck here, until the chain’s complete.” I look at Ran. “That means my aerospace regiment, marines, the independents we have…” I was referring to of course the independent regiments of ASF and the battalion of Marines we had gotten from the FSN.

The Marshal shrugged. “Needs must. Make it happen, though all the troops stay behind, and with a bit of luck, we can get a third Monolith online, before that deadline as well as a Star Lord and a Merchant, and then we just have to hope the First Prince realizes we need helium.”

I shivered. “I hope so. Five months til SLS Newport News can leave, you say, Lutens?”

“Yes ma’am.” He tilted his head at my expression.

“Let’s try for four.” I nodded at the Marshal’s sharp nod of agreement.

Felsner looked around. “I’ll schedule the extra personnel, I’m sure we’ll find enough extra people. And I suggest you comb your people, General.”

I saluted, at the same time Lutens sighed, but strengthened. “With your permission?”

“Granted.”

Kikyo’s office, Dropship Xanadu, Castle Watchtower, Morning, Dec 9th, 3015.

Almost a year since I arrived in this universe and merged with this body, and had thought: At least I don’t have to deal with this paperwork, wonder how my other self will…

Silly me. I had more paperwork than I really dreamed possible, and that was saying something. The only pleasant news, was the chain had connected with one Hanse had managed to… well, hopefully quietly piece together for us, and a pair of Danais dropships had brought 6,000 tons of Helium. This allowed us to obey our orders, and build a Chain to Coromodir as requested. My hatch opened, and I didn’t look up. “Unless you’re here to report that an Aqueduct showed up full of helium, plus enough crew to jump the rest of the ships, please leave…” I sighed, looking at my paperwork.

A laugh that I recognized caused my eyes to shoot up, to Hanse Davion’s grinning face.

“Well, I could report both, and both would be true, but I didn’t think that was my job. Arranging for such, now, well.” His grin just made me chuckle ruefully.

“I apologize for being so rude, Your Highness…” I started, before Hanse’s laugh cut me off.

“This reminds me of my office the week before Royal Court and the High Council arrive.” He looks around. “Well, if I kept it on a dropship, at least.” He tilted his head. “I daresay I have more, though.”

I nodded at that. “I’ll give you that, but well, since Katheryn took the first batch of personnel down the chain, I’m doing her paperwork for what remains, reviewing Gry’s and Stig’s actions and approving them, and…”

He held up a hand. “None of which are critical at this moment. As for Major General Sandoval’s paperwork, she has an executive officer who should be doing it, or someone she left behind. Have your aide - Lt. Winters, I believe? - find said person and dump it on him.”

I raised my eyebrow. “And?”

“I require a tour! I am the First Prince, and your contract holder! My whims are law to you!” He sniffed, broken only by my laugh, and sigh at the paperwork.

“Okay.” I pushed out of my desk, after clamping the pile I was working on to the desk, as well as the tablet I was using. “Better than looking at the nineteenth duplication of a hiring statement anyways.”

Hanse’s eyebrow quirked. “You’re running a brigade plus formation, if you think the Acting General of the Light Horse, Colonel Wolf, or others in your position review each one…” He took my arm, as we headed out of my office. “You are sadly mistaken. It does explain some comments I got, however.” He shook his head.

“Oh?” My tone asked the question.

“More competent than reasonably hoped for, thinks big, knows the basics of combat, and some areas very well… and is fit to run a battalion in any military they can think of. Needs experience for more. Can operate on a strategic field as an independent commander, with a basic objective or mission and not much more.” He shrugged. “It’s almost like you did run a battalion, or at least was fully trained in that regard.”

I thought on how to reply. “Perhaps I’ll explain.”

I felt the chuckle. “Another secret you’re waiting to expose?”

“.. You could say that.” I finally answered. “You could easily say that.” His bemused laughter rang, as we walked to the waiting shuttle to show him the glories of the Star League.

Main control Room, Castle Watchtower, Late Afternoon, Dec 9th, 3015.

“Now that we have had our third date…” Hanse trailed off…

“First, I’ve heard about the little escapades on New Avalon now…” Hanse shrugs, indicating he’d explain later. “Second, that’s not quite a date, no little black dress, no meal…” I shake my head tsk, tsk, tsking.

“That can be arranged…” Hanse trails off again, teasingly.

I shake my head. “Briefing, you need this.” He sighs.

“Business before pleasure, always the bane of dutiful people. Then again, a briefing like this…” He smiles, and gestures me into the meeting room.

I take my seat, as he moves to the head of the table. Ran to his left, I to his right, Banzai to my right, all the way til Lutens at the base. He looks around at everyone and nods. I had my strays as they were being called, and my command staff, Evie, Morgan, Evie Jr as she was being nicknamed, Kath, Case all here.

“First and foremost. I know most of you are surprised to see me here, and I’ll just say I had to see the prizes you have won for the Federated Suns... “ He pauses, bows his head slightly, then sweeps the room with his eyes. “No, humanity. With a bit of luck, and time, we can finally break the cycle of spiraling into worse and worse technology, and begin to return our people, no, again, humanity, to its peak, and then beyond it. Humanity owes you all a great debt, the Federated Suns owes you a great debt, and I owe you that debt.”

Before any of us could respond, Case, ever scruffy, leaning against a wall snarked out. “Well, you could be paying that debt by getting your ass back to New Avalon, and doing your job, you know, being the Prince of the Federated Suns?” He paused. “No offense, Johnny adored Prince Ian, but it got him killed, and it’ll get you killed, if you don’t behave, and be safe. Everyone knows you got balls, you’ve proven that, and no one calls a Davion a coward.”

Hanse blinked. Ran shot Case a glare, who looked over his sunglasses, unimpressed, while Kath just facepalmed.

“You know… I think Yvonne was more polite about it, but she’d applaud you.” He shook his head. “And yes, I know, but… at times, being Prince means I must lead. At times I must see the answer to prayers long prayed.” He looks Case in the eyes. “When I started seeing exactly what we had from Halstead station, I realized even with the NAIS I was starting, it would be my grandchildren’s… no my great grandchildren’ lifetime before we restored in any measure the lifestyle the common man enjoyed in the Late Star League. And now?” His hand waved at the outside. “You have cut that time by an immeasurable fraction, and perhaps with the other objectives we have, I will live to see it for them.”

Case shrugged. “You’ll only do that if you be a good First Prince.” He leaned back again, smirking.

I sigh. “We thank you for your praise, but I do believe we’re getting paid for this.”

Dr. Banzai picked up. “Sire, about what I sent you that message?” Hanse looked at Banzai and nodded. The Doctor turned, and looked at the non-Cav in the room, and then at us. “I should not need to say this, but all this is Sword-One level information, and treated as such. Any, and I mean any reveal of it, will have you executed.” Hanse nods, and Lutens pushes back.

“Too high for my blood, something even more so than this? I’ll wait around the corner, if you don’t mind, Sire.” Hanse looks at the man, and nods.

“I appreciate a man who recognizes his limits. We will call for you. Anyone else?”

Lutens left after that, with Case stopping Alt. Only Morgan, Rios, Justin and Felsner remained who weren’t in the know, besides Dr. Banazi. Evie Cook snorted.

“This should be good.” the older redhead snorted, and Dr. Banzai slightly smiled.

“I would not say good, but I would say interesting.” His slight shrug conveyed a wealth of information. “I have examined and gotten limited permission to discuss the following medical information with you all.” He thought about how to approach this, and then dived in.

“In summary, General Onishi, Lt. Winters were the first I examined with very unusual neurological formations, then Colonel Steiner, then Commander Blackwing and finally, now, Recruit Kessler show the same basic formations.” He looked, tossing up a picture I recognized of my brain.

“I further have seen very unusual behavior, based on previous information on all patients, as well as highly atypical behavior to the stress of combat, on their part. I believe others have commented on similar indicators.” Felsner nodded in response to that, as Hanse waved the ‘get on with it.’

Dr. Banzai rubbed his bridge slightly as he stated simply. “I want… no, I need confirmation.” He looked at us. “Are you reincarnates who recall your last lives?” He paused, thinking for a second. “No, that wouldn’t explain some other indicators. But… Reincarnation would answer so much, but if not that, What?”

I look at Case, and pull out a ten pound note. “Why do I feel that you’re padding your paycheck with mine?”

“Because I am.” Case snarks. He looks at Kath who shrugs, then me, and I sigh.

“My shout, Strays.” I look around and shrug. “None of you are going to believe this… but, in short… we remember another world, 20th and 21st Century Terra, where the Sovs didn’t reclaim power… and Hanse Davion was a fictional character.” I launched into a detailed speech I had mentally practiced, leaving out specifics, but covering the gist.

After a fair thirty minutes, with the rest kibitzing, and interjecting, finally I wound down. I hadn’t gone over the ‘future’ history of this universe’s future at all, but gave enough to know we were operating off that.

Felsner thought for a moment, and then spoke, before Hanse could, and stopped at Rios collecting a twenty pound note from Morgan. “Major?”

“I bet it was something along this. Morgan agreed it was close enough.”

Case stared for a moment, as Alt facepalmed. Case’s laughter rang out finally, then he got himself under control.

“If that’s all…” Ran’s dry tone interjected, and Case waved in agreement. “You were an officer of a military, were you not, General?” I tilted my head. His wintry smile answered that. “Too many clues, I would suspect a Western Military, more than likely the American.” I blushed.

“As for the young Miss Kessler, I would expect military training as well, too.” Dr. Banzai hummed “I would suspect enlisted, and some elite, possibly American Marines, British Para, or similar forces.”

“This is my rifle and this is my gun… one is for killing and one is for fun!” Evie Jr caroled out.

Hanse interjected. “Full Metal Jacket… Wait, American Marines actually sang that?”

I shrugged. “Army, here, Evie?” Evie’s grin and nod answered it.

Hanse looked hard at us. “From what you’ve all implied, you knew what you would find, you knew what was at stake, and what would be. While I understand some of you just gained that knowledge, or were not in a position to use it… “ He turned to Kath and blinked. “Err..” He paused… “Damn, you really are a clone of Katrina Steiner aren’t you?”

She shook her head. “No, not even a clone at all, or even in vitro and tube birthed, just a natural.” She grinned. “Proud of it!” She sobered. “You want to know why, if I’m in general agreement what’s upcoming is bad, the Suns don’t deserve it, nor do the Lyrans, hell, I’ll go as far as the Mariks don’t either… And none of the everyday civilians do, that’s for sure…”

He nodded. Kath sighed. “That’s for a later story, but suffice it to say I was making preparations for when I could move without severe risk of bringing hell on all our heads, and I had a worst case plan if I bit it.”

Hanse leaned back and looked at all the Strays. “Strays. Strays from another universe brought to ours. For … what?”

I looked at the others, but I stood up and started. “To move worlds, Sire. Because evil triumphs when good men stand by and do nothing. Even Case, as cynical and as amoral as he claims, is still a good man.”

Asha picked up. “We can’t stand by and do nothing. If nothing else, at least on our tombstones, it would read ‘Tell the world We tried.’ What we can do, we must.”

Case snorted. “Speak for yourself. I wanna get hot bondswomen, kill snakes, and get a planet. And.. um, SCIENCE!” Kath didn’t look at him as she thwapped him with a backhand.

“Where I came from sucks. Where I came from before that wasn’t perfect but I loved my home. I didn’t recognize home there, but I do here.” Kath stated, her composite ceramic rosary in hand. “I am here but for the Grace of God and I’ll be damned if I don’t act to make things better.” Evie finally sighed and joined in.

“I got nothing here, now, except a few friends. My family, my past? All gone… But one thing, my honor as a Marine, my friends here, and the fact is, I am angry. And there’s a lot of targets to take it out on. Better those who deserve it, than innocents, eh? And I know my friends have my back, I got theirs.” She looked at me. “Sexpot over there, shouldn’t be allowed around guns, wrenches, anything useful without adult supervision, but hey, she’s an officer, that’s expected.” Hanse stifled a guffaw at that. “She does the high faulting thinking and makes the long term calls. I trust her to get that as right as she can, as she trusts me to nail the targets here and now. I trust Case to not screw us over, just everyone else. Flygirl there? She can watch us from above, as we clear the ground.” A crooked grin. “I even trust blondie to know about good times, and where to find them.” Kath snickered. “That’s all we need. We’re the lever that will move worlds.”

 

Becasue people have asked:

Ships:
(to FSN)
SLS Newport News, Newgrange class
SLS Detroit, Belknap Class
1 S. Soyez Class (current status: LFB fried, 1/2 speed, 1/2 weapons and armor)
2 Lola III's, as the Soyez
2 Essex, as the Soyez
2 Vincent Mk 39's, simliar state as above
1 Volga, with half the dropship rings thrashed, as the cruiser
Monoliths: 3, Star Lords: 5, Invader 7, Merchant 8, Scout 2, 3 Snowden Space Stations
Behemoth 6, Mammoth 1, Aqueduct 1, Mule 5, Union 4, Overlord 3, Lee 2, 4 Avengers, 2 Fortresses, 2 Achilles, 2 Titans, 2 Colossus

to OHC
1 Carrack, OCS Golden Lady, 1 ring damaged, 5-% armor, half of the weapons (one side) gone. (Kikyo gets her)
Monoliths: 3 Star Lords: 5 Invaders 7 Merchants 7 Scouts: 2, 4 Snowden Space Stations
Behemoth: 5, Mammoth 2, Colossus 2, Vengeance 2, Titan 1, 4 Elephants, 1 Aqueduct, 6 Mules, 3 Unions, 2 Overlords, 3 Avengers, 2 Fortresses, 2 Achilles

Castle Watchtower had the complete needed setup for the following (weapons, etal, all of it)
Slips:
1 2.5mt with core extruder, 1 2.5mt without (ie, biggest)
2 2mt with core, 2 without, 4 1mt with and 2 without, 4 600kt with, 2 without, 4 450kt with, 2 without, 4 300kt with, 2 without, 4 160kt with, 2 without, 4 120kt with, 2 without
4 100kt without, 8 60kt without, 16 20kt without

There was additional stuff, too, but that's the shipyard.
Hanse picked up an addtional 41 Royal ASF, 90 late SLDF Line ASF, 30 ROyal Mechs, 140 late SLDF Line (including 16 more LAMS), 25 Royal AFV, 100 Line, 60 Maxims, 60 Goblins, 60 Royal Command Heavy APC of each type, 24 Vail
a shitton of VTOL and support vees.


The BIG Prize however is PROJECT STAR.
Powered armored Space Marine Suits. And it was just about complete.

AND the factory module to build it.

This isn't counting the fabs/etal in the Argo (Kikyo's), or from the Castle Brian.
This is just the stuff. Weep Liao, WEEP.

 

And becasue I can... Chapter 7. Chapter 9 is 2-4 scenes from being done. Very annoying. Expect slowdowns, however, as I'll be starting a unfun month or so.

With a lever big enough I can move the world

A Battletech FanFiction

By

Andrew “MageOhki” Norris.​

War is often theorized to be diplomacy by violent means, and politics by non-verbal expressions, as thinkers have theorized. I prefer Sun Tzu’s theory, that supreme excellence in battle comes from winning without said battle. Anyone who has actually been in combat, and isn’t a complete murderer does. The trick is pulling it off. Sometimes you do. And you’ll never realize it.

One thing about politics, diplomacy and in essence, human interaction on a societal scale, is it is a massively complex system. An old Terran movie, once had the main character comment: “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’ll get.” Any action at that level, meant to shape that level… is often like that. You never do know what you’ll get, though you can often predict… but often, your actions will blindside you. The real trick, in the end, is it for the better?

From the journals and notes of Kikyo Onishi, New Avalon Press, 3291 AD, as part of the “Century of Chaos: The Movers and Shakers.” series.

See Chapter 1 for disclaimers and other information
I would like to thank Drakensis for kibitzing and Editing, JG/Joe Gunnarson (Of Whateley fame) for the same, Valles, Case/Fosfor, Minako/Scratx for kibitizing. Y'all made this go a LOT faster than the first two, thank you. Psyckosama deserves a special shoutout for helping reinspire, some basic visualization and idea throwing.

Main Control Room, Castle Watchtower, Morning, Dec 10th, 3015.

Hanse’s eyes swept all of us, as he ended last night’s meeting then and there, for all to as he put it, ‘consider’ the ramifications. He then called us back together the next morning.

“Thank you all for coming.” He looked at Lutens, and nodded once. “You were wise to remain out of the meeting, Mr. Lutens, and I applaud you.” The man nodded.

“Thank you, Sire.” He tilted his head. “By any chance, did you read the information I sent?”

Hanse sighed. “I did not, please summarize for me. Last evening’s meeting was a bit distracting.” I couldn’t hold a snort back, and Case’s soft chuckle indicated he agreed with me. I dreaded to think what Evie was up to, but she wasn’t here.

“Newport News,” the head shipwright was referring to the Newgrange, “has all internals except her transit drive fully certified, though the acid test…” Hanse nodded in understanding. “We are placing armor on all but the rear as we speak, and that part should be done roughly by the fifteenth. We are ahead of schedule, and it looks like no later than by the first of February, she’ll be ready to slip her moorings and test her drives.”

Hanse smiled. “Excellent.” He nodded once. “And I brought along enough crew to at least nurse her to a hidden system close to New Avalon, so that problem isn’t yours.”

“Thank you, sire. We are doing two jumpships at a time, and have already activated five, with now three in process, I estimate about another sixteen months, though it’s possible I can cut that down to twelve, if we’re allowed to keep the Newgrange here, while we fix the Detroit.” He smiled at that. The Detroit was the Belknap ship, which was designed to build factories, as Kerensky aptly proved in the Rim after conquering it. Amaris Empire Forces during the early states of the Liberation campaign had struck at the class without mercy, and given the losses in the Uprising, it was no surprise that only one had made it to Terra, and she was unaccounted for, as Kath had confirmed that Cologne hadn’t gone with the Exodus.

Hanse’s eyes narrowed, but he waved the shipwright to continue. The man did. “All the spare parts, that we haven’t earmarked for Detroit, or the jumpships, are loaded on the Behemoths, ready to go, as those are activated, and I’d say honestly, by the time we release Detroit and Newport News, all of them are able to go as well. The other easily portable equipment? Phaf. Colonel Steiner’s report says enough.”

“Outstanding. Do please focus on the warships enough to jump them, and then of course the Monoliths, Star Lords, and Invaders.” He received a nod. “We can afford…” He paused, wondering at his words, then shook himself with a smile. “As I was saying, we can afford to lose the Merchants and Scouts. What we cannot lose is Detroit and Newport News.” He fixed the man with a steely stare. “Which is why I am very concerned about keeping Newport News here.”

The man looked solidly at his prince, and responded. “Two, no three reasons, Sire.” Hanse nodded, impressed at the man’s steel. “First, we are fabricating Detroit’s replacement drive with the tooling here. As well as her armor plate and other parts she needs. Second, even compared to Newport News, this station is far ahead of her ability to repair. While the Newgranges live up to their reputation, make no mistake, Sire, they are slower than a proper shipyard, which this Hughes is.” Hanse nodded, signaling he understood. “Finally, Sire, it was actually not my initial idea, but Colonel Steiner’s.”

Hanse turned to the blonde.

“When we get Detroit ready to go, sir, we can move out the ultra large components, the main Newgrange class core extruder, and those bays associated with her. While they’re jumpable, they need warships to do so. And they’ll fit compacted or attached to Detroit and Newport News. And we can load other components, dropships, and raw metals, as well into and on the ships.”

Hanse thought about it a moment. “Agreed. Approved. It just means the roughly four aerospace regiments I have here aren’t going anywhere.” He shrugged. “I was hoping to bring two home, but what is, is.” He nodded once. “When Detroit is certified to leave, and come to New Avalon, one regiment comes home, second does when the last Warship is ready, and the last two come when the jumpships are leaving, with the last station modules. Regarding those, Richard, “ He was referring to the shipwright, who reacted in pleasure, “How hard will it be to remove them?”

“Not very. Not very at all, in fact.” He shrugged. “Putting aside that while they buried them in an asteroid, to begin with, it is fairly clear part of the time they spent prepping the station to be moved. Outside power runs, and tunnels, and some other quarters and a few small factories, which we will pack up, realistically, we can unlock and have ready to start heading to New Avalon, each station part in a day. Two at most.”

“Outstanding.” Hanse’s smile was savage. “Richard, I promise you, when you return home, your grandchildren will be amazed at what you bring them. I’m thinking of at least a County.”

Lutens began to protest, only to have his monarch raise a hand.

Hanse grinned. “To those who do great deeds, and beyond any reasonable expectations, come great rewards. Our best case was twenty-four months from now. You’re telling me seventeen months. Even if it slips by a month, or even two?” He shook his head. “You’ve earned it. No argument.”

“Sire, it’d not have been possible without the Baroness’ people.” He protested. “I’m not sure…”

Hanse tsked. “And if you think I don’t have plans about that, Richard, you’re mistaken. Don’t worry, it’s all being prepared.” I started to feel a sandbag falling. I shook it off, I’d figure a way out of it.

“Well.” The shipwright thought for a moment, then stood up. “I’d like to make it twelve, so if I could…”

“With not only my permission, but my sincere gratitude and pleasure.” Hanse grinned.

Hanse waited til only Ran, Kath, Case, Justin and I were still in the room. “Well.”

Justin actually picked up the conversation for his prince. “You all do realize we’re going to want more details about the … how did you put it, Colonel? The Future that was?”

Kath snickered. “Yes, and I suspect narco interrogation is planned.”

Hanse snorted. “I’d not say no if you agreed, since it also includes memory enhances, as Justin explained to me last night, but in this case, not required.” He looked at Justin. “And if certain people suggest it, they will be looking for work immediately. If I don’t have them shot.”

My blink was met by Hanse’s eyes. “I’d have to say…” He cut off my statement.

“What you have done, and what you’ve put on the table is more than enough to earn you any consideration my realm can give you. Even if it’s not in the Realm’s best interest. Or so I think. And my thoughts are what matters.”

Case shrugged. “Meh, I expected it, plus it’s been a while since I’ve last read the shit, at least a year for Kikyo, even if she wrote what she remembered down, and might have wrongly, as for the rest?” He snickered. “I want the video tape. I need blackmail!”

Hanse snickered at that. “You realize they’ll have blackmail on you, do you not?”

Case’s grin was amusing. “What’s blackmail between friends?” Hanse’s laugh answered him. Case sloppily saluted and nodded once. “I’m going to go play with SCIENCE!”

“As amusing as that may be, permission will be sought.” He nodded. Turning to Ran, he nodded once. “As I’ve noted, Kathryn and half her unit have already left, and honestly should be on New Avalon, I understand you’ve sent some of yours, as well as Kikyo sending some of hers?” Case had slipped out after that.

“Yes Sire.” Ran collected his thoughts for a moment then nodded once. “We sent by and large, all the foot infantry, and in fact, all the ground vehicles, and by this time, all reconnaissance elements. We’ve also sent at least a company each of ‘Mechs back.” Hanse’s eyebrow indicated he wanted the Marshall to expand.

“The ground vehicles and their crews really didn’t add much to either our combat ability or our capability to well, acquire this asset.” Hanse nodded. “Same with the Foot infantry, and the reconnaissance elements, plus their need to keep in training. The Jump infantry at least has some ability and understanding about space infantry combat, and of course the Marines. We sent back the least capable mechwarriors, as well, for the same reason. I believe we’re sending along another company each, just about when the chain’s charged, plus the rest of the ground vehicles, plus the support personnel least suited for this.” He looked at me.

I nodded. “That is more or less what we’re planning. And as we start disassembling the station, more of the support personnel will go back. Less here, less questions about exactly what we found, no?”

Hanse nodded. “And the Marines and Aerospace elements stay as long as needed?”

Kath picked up that. “Actually, yes. We really want the Marines, in consideration, considering that for the year before the Uprising, it appears that the SLN was testing a Nighthawk variant here.” Hanse’s eyebrow rose.

“They removed several of the reconnaissance aspects, but kept the stealth armor, to fit in space operation capability, including the needed thrusters. It’s in essence, powered armored marine infantry.”

Hanse blinked. Blinked again, and then took a deep breath. “Please tell me the specifications for Nighthawk is here? I’ve looked at what the cores have… and while it didn’t say…”

“No, they don’t. We likely could develop an ersatz Nighthawk from this, no question, or quite possibly the real one once we reverse engineer their electronics, but only what appears to be the actual full field testing version of what I’m calling the Devil Dog.” She tilted her head. “I’m lead on that aspect, since I uncovered it while trying to figure out why the Commanding General didn’t take the station.” Kath paused and Hanse interjected

“Any luck there?” Hanse was very interested.

Kath shrugged. “Nothing I can say for sure is accurate, but some station personal logs make it clear, that Kerensky was short personnel, and didn’t want to send people here, instead of along the exodus route. As his only reply put it… ‘If Amaris and the Great Houses haven’t found you yet, it’s unlikely they will over time, and I need you, not your equipment. I already have two full Hughes.’”

“So… a combination of a lack of people to crew the ships and move the station, and well, a lack of need?” Hanse tilted his head. “That doesn’t quite…”

“I’m not sure, but it’s quite possible he was hoping that some things would remain and eventually be found after well, you all got finished blowing each other to bits.” Katherine didn’t mention it was also possible he didn't want to bring more warfighting along with him. His actions on arriving in the Pentagon, plus along his route, showed he was disarming, not preparing for a new campaign.

“Possible, doubtful but possible.” Hanse shrugged. “In the end does it really matter why?”

“No, Your Highness, it doesn’t.” Katherine Steiner, Freeborn Bloodnamed of Cloud Cobra and Clan Wolf agreed with a Scavenger Lord. “It just means you can rebuild now.”

“That it does.” Hanse’s eyes grew distant. “That it does. This time, gods, I hope, for the better.”

Dining Lounge, Dropship Xanadu, Castle Watchtower, Evening

One thing that wasn’t mentioned in the books, though hinted at, is Hanse can be and usually is a gentleman, and treats the ladies in his life as such. There’s hints that other Davion males generally did so as well. Explains why they seemed to have decent married lives, at least.

I was reminded of this, simply by a private dinner for two, Hanse was a perfect gentleman, doing everything that the classics would do while dining with a lady. Hold your chair, wait til you’re seated before sitting, you name it. Even with said lady in a little black dress, all he did was the appreciative and slightly lingering enough to indicate to the lady in question, that yes, he noticed, and yes, m’lady, you look like a million C-bills, and yes I do appreciate it, without going over the line into drooling or open perversion. In my and the original Kikyo’s experiences, that’s a hard trick to pull off.

I couldn’t resist. “I’m afraid I have to ask, do you have tutors for being a perfect gentleman? The books didn’t say nor state how good you are at being such.” Hanse blinked, then grinned.

“Of course I did. But I found watching Jimmy Stewart, Bogart, and Errol Flynn much better examples.” He nodded seriously, though the twinkle in his eye indicated he wasn’t being that serious.

I broke out into laughter. “I’m sure that Grant and Wayne would be so disappointed to have missed out on being legend for behavior, though based on what I know of General Stewart, I believe he’d be pleased.”

Hanse snickered. “Was he really a general? That was a thousand years ago, and while I’m not saying history’s been edited…” He paused for a moment. “And considering America’s so called stars of a similar age twenty to thirty years later… bit hard to see it.”

I nodded. “Bit before my memories go, but yes, an Air Force General. Had to scheme, from what I knew to get his twenty-fiftieth mission as a bomber pilot over Germany.” I shrugged slightly. “Best way to put it, was, and I guess I can be an authority on this, even though I didn’t live through it, I studied it as a historian, last life…” Hanse’s eyes narrowed at that, but I wondered why. “Was the era of 1946-1970, in a lot of ways, the Baby Boomer era, more or less, rapid upheaval, and rapid shock at America assuming the world leadership role.” I shrugged. “Another theory, and my view, was the kids reacted to their parents cloying influences, and well, reacted.”

“Ah.” He shrugged. “We’ll get back to that, I think… but first, business, before the food comes out.” He looked slightly sheepishly. “I have some ideas on how the split should really go.” He pushed over a small folder, and I opened it, while sipping at water. My eyebrows rose slightly, as I leafed through it all. “Are you sure you can get away with this, without the courts or your champion knifing you in the back?”

Hanse sighed. “Yvonne is not in the best of situations with me at this moment. I had Truxon and Allard do a full review of some actions, and some situations in Supply and other aspects. Let’s say this, some of Michael’s and the Dragoon’s complaints previously, are well warranted, and I know why.” He shook his head.

“Michael is a snake, and I’m not sure if he’s a cocksucker yet, but he will be!” I shot back, a bit rattled. “I am the first to admit, I’m not fond of your champion, and seeing her a bit restrained, well.” I shrugged, calming down. “But I fully agree with her on your brother in law.”

Hanse blinked, both on the strong language and the curse I used on his brother in law. “...Normally you’re restrained in your language, so I must ask. ‘Cocksucker?’” His tone was amused.

I blinked. “I picked it up from my memories of technothrillers. Supposedly FBI slang for a traitor, a person who spies on his home nation for another power, etc.” Hanse’s eyes narrowed for a moment, then he nodded.

“Ah, the Federal Bureau of Investigations. And I have to admit, that’s a fair term. Better than I’ve heard in some ways, worse in others.” He shrugged. “I don’t disagree with the thoughts. What I disagree with is what it endangers.” His eyebrow rose.

I thought for a moment. “Putting aside personnel and even equi.. Oh, hell. Yvonne blew it, if she wanted to screw the weasel, didn’t she?”

Hanse smiled. “If he’s a - as you so bluntly put it - cocksucker, one thing he’d do before moving to openly visit glory holes.” I sputtered at how Hanse put it, unable to hold back giggles, to his roguish smile. “Rhett Butler is such a cad, isn’t he?” I laughed outright at that. “Anyways… he’d be sure of his troops and march. Yvonne playing silly buggers with supplies just helps him.” He nodded at that. “Most miss that.”

“Yes.” I sighed. “However, a Carrack?” I tiled my head, “That’d make the the fourth strongest power in the Inner Sphere, at least warship wise.”

Hanse’s eyebrows furrowed. “Me, I can see, who else?”

“Comstar, you, Dragoons, me.” His eyebrows shot up, as his eyes widened, then narrowed.

“Wolf’s mothballed them, hasn’t he? And he’s a SLDF-in-Exile?” Hanse’s tones were decisive, indicating he didn’t think he needed the answer.

“Yes, in basic, to both, though the second is far more complex. And no, Katherine Steiner didn’t say boo, we strays already knew it.” I smiled slightly. “She’s not into betraying them, for one, and generally, I’ll be honest, they’re not bad people.”

“I see.” Hanse thought about it, and then shrugged. “I wondered why Wolf stated he couldn’t accept my apology, for what went down on his first contract with us, but he appreciated that I honestly meant it, and that I would see to admends.”

“Now you know. I won’t go into details, and those elements are the one area Kath doesn’t want to talk about at all. What the SLDF-in-Exile is right now, sure. The Dragoons specifically?”

Hanse nodded, “I have some ideas.already, mind you, and none good, but you’re implying that it’s possible they’re not quite accurate.”

I shrugged. “This is a pleasant dinner, not full on debriefing, none of it’s critical now.” I shook my hair, the curls along my jaw trailing. “Something to discuss…”

Hanse’s roguish grin answered. “But when it’s time for it. And that’s not now.” He nodded at the folder. “So?”

“At a first glance, it seems generous to us, at a second…” I shrugged. “If Helm pays out along with New Dallas…”

“It’d be hard pressed to say you aren’t owed more, yes.” He shrugged. “I daresay Sandoval would have sharp words now, in fact…” He smiled. “Which I’ve already taken into account, this is just a modification of the agreed upon contract, in a way that benefits everyone.” I nodded.

“You want to stick my parts of the station at Panpour to fix Challenge, and what better way?” I tilted my head. It was a neat solution. The AFFS gets out of the notes they held on Challenge Systems that they couldn’t collect, and the Federated Suns out of the notes, both real and implied, that I and my people were owed that arguably the Suns couldn’t pay, while getting a small shipyard (and hopefully a bigger one, a bit later) where one already had existed. Win-win, except...

Hanse nodded. “That’s the idea. I thought it was quite neat.”

I tilted my head and smiled slightly. On some things, Kikyo original, and I’ll admit, the 20th century person I was, was quite willing to be lead on. Several areas I wasn’t, and Hanse decided that he’d step on those lines. Hanse’s expression indicated he knew something was amiss, but couldn’t figure out what.

I knew, because it was an out of context problem. While it was more later, that it was obvious, that Hanse Davion was a control freak in his own way, he was also a master of delegation, and a lot of his initial and mid-range choices, remarkably like Elizabeth the Great, come to think of it, were very good at what they were picked for. But, as military, and in primus, being a Davion absolute federal ruler… not to mention an astute student of history, himself, he was programmed pretty much to be a control freak. 3025 and later didn’t help. He was very much used to self confidence, in himself, and trust in his judgement.

The longer he lived, the more he was generally proved if not right, at least not wrong, the more this built. It’d not surprise me that by the end of his life, Ardan, his right hand, his moral lodestone, was the only person who’d challenge him on any idea, or at least out of those who he trusted, as 3025 put a dent in that ability. I doubted Melissa Steiner would be a voice in military areas, Justin Allard… Good man, good agent, I just didn’t really think he was the best at running an agency.

“I can tell you’re missing why I’m smiling.”

Hanse nodded.

“You, to be fair, like me, have the vices of your virtutes, mind and training.” I kept smiling. “While I am quite willing to accept direction, and to be even more fair, have no interest in running a corporation, I’m not that Lyran…”

He laughed at that.

And I let the smile flicker away for an instant. “I do not appreciate being told who’ll run my assets, without even a ‘with your permission’.”

Hanse blinked. He blinked again. It was clear he didn’t really understand. “Richard Samethal is if not the best businessman in terms of raw profit, is one of the best managers currently alive and not already a major CEO somewhere.” He tilted his head. “He’s MIIO vetted, and undergoing it again, in fact, and was my shortlist to take over salvaging Challenge before you came along.” He started to expand on this to only stop at my nodding, which hinted to him, it wasn’t the problem.

“I can believe that. I can even believe he’s the perfect man, who understands deferred profits, that workers are as important as machinery, and honestly less replaceable, and that he’s so ethical and moral, it’d make St. Loyola look and nod at him in respect.” I smiled sharply now. “It’s that I have had one conservator and manager of my assets that was all that. I can’t quite figure out a way to sue her yet, but I’m working on it. That’s not going to happen again, not on my watch. Or would you like a regent appointed for you at fifteen you had no say in? When we talk about me effectively becoming a major shipbuilder, by taking over a distressed company, I will want to be sure that the people I appoint, or have appointed to be in charge can do the job the way I want it done.”

He blinked. I had the lovely experience of seeing Hanse Davion, completely, utterly, and totally taken off balance, to the point he simply facepalmed at himself.

“Well… huh.” He thought for a moment. “Huh.” Shaking himself. “Okay. I see that now.” He smiled ruefully. “I’m not sure I agree there, but I’m sure we can come to a compromise, on that, and I’d like to suggest him as the first to interview.”

I thought for a moment. “That’s fine. I don’t mind having a potential best choice pointed out. But …”

“Locking you in without a hey do you think?” He tilted his head. “I guess I assumed as an actress, you’d be more willing…”

I shook my head, amused. “I’ll say this, once I could voice a preference in directors, I made sure I got them.” I tilted my head. “Some are easy to work with, but bad at it, some are hard to work with, but they are masters, some are the rarest of them all, good to work with, and masters at their craft.” I shrugged. “Guess which I always shot for?”

He laughed, agreeing. “And I suspect, you’d default to hard to work with, but knowing what they were doing, over easy.”

“Art isn’t, agreed.” I shrugged doing interesting things to my bust line, which his eyes flickered to, just briefly. “But, if this is a suggestion, pending review, and evaluation, without it being..”

“Oh, agreed.” Hanse sighed. “I didn’t think.” His grin was a bit sheepish. “I read the update as-of-before-I-left-New-Avalon profile, I thought I thought through the implications of what you said yesterday…” He trailed off.

I smiled normally, and let him off the hook. “But this…” I tapped on the folder “Was such a great idea, and neatly solved all the current problems, and older ones, how could anyone but agree?”

Hanse snickered. “Add in the fact, that well…”

“JAWOHL, MY PRINCE!” I barked out, snickering afterwards to Hanse’s blinking, then guffaws.

He finally calmed down. “And… that, yes.” He couldn’t help but shake his head. “Well, outside that, and another piece of business… those were the main issues that were of a not personal nature, though I will admit, I’ve learned a few things.” He thought for a moment. “Some unpleasant things I thought I had under control. Annoying.”

I smiled with a bit of empathy. “Difficult things, about ourselves, to control and keep in check aren’t easy, and when we think…” I simply sighed. “Annoying. Understatement.”

Hanse nodded simply at that. “Second is more an idea, that is being worked on. Didn’t bring it with me, because it’s still an outline.” My eyebrow rose in question.

“Operation IDES.” I blinked.

“And I assume you want to use the Heavy Cavalry?” I tilted my head.

His nod answered me. “The go date is roughly July 1st, though not solid yet, and will involve all the Dragoons, your first Brigade, the Heavy Guards, and several other units. We’re actually ahead of where our best hopes were in terms of equipment, though we’re not at a point where we can begin raising new units.” He sighed. “One thing Detroit, your station, and well, a fair bit of the other industrial related equipment will be going is to establishing new component lines. Then more lines, but focusing on vehicles. Your Vedette variants look promising, as well as the Partisan ones.”

I nodded. Battlemech factories were more assembly points, often with frames, armor and some items assembled there, but weapons, electronics, engines, often shipped to them in interstellar freight. Putting aside the need to ship them, there were limits, and those factories too had slowed down and needed repair and replacement parts.

“Make sure this time we don’t repeat the Cameron’s intentional setup? Please keep components on the same world as the main factory?” I pleaded.

“That, m’dear, you can be sure of.” He nodded seriously. “But, back to the operation, in primus, I want Epsilon Eridani.” He smiled. “Not only does the map of the Argo that Colonel Steiner so nicely opened for us, confirm your statement nearly a year ago, I’ve seen your rebuilt Brutuses run around. Militia tanks my ass.” He nodded. “Better that factory and its output be in the hands of those who appreciate a good tank, wouldn’t you say?”

I snickered at that. “That was also something that happened in the future that would be, though much later.” I conceded. “So… basically Ronel, Small world, Epsilon Indi, Bryant and of course Erandi?” His grin indicated I figured out his intent.

“By and large, yes. Stretch goals depending on factors would be Outreach, Sirius and Keid.” He shrugged. “Carver V would also be on the list. But I’m pondering telling Janos, and seeing what he does, tempting.”

I thought for a moment. “Heavy Guards, the 1st Brigade…” I tilted my head. “You want Sirius as an apology gift.” I nodded sharply. “That’s roughly six jumps from Helm, and we could be there, with a bit of work within weeks after wrapping up Eridani.”

He grinned. “Nicely caught. Good mind there, and you’re missing a play. I might go ahead and give some of the weapons we found here, as well.” He was referring to the five thousand nuclear weapons we found in Castle Watchtower. All needed their hydrogen replaced, but in other regards, they were ready to go. The Star League had built to last, and had made the weapons pure hydrogen based, cutting out the need for fission triggers.

He shrugged. “Maybe even some of the equipment, while selling some to Katrina.” He waggled his hand. “Both Katrina and Janos have interests in common with the Federated Suns, Katrina is wise enough to know I will need to mend fences with Janos, but can’t neglect her.” He nodded. “The alliance temptation is still there, mind you. And I think we can bring Janos in.”

I thought for a moment and shrugged. “All I can say was he rejected it in 3020. Then again, it could quite simply be on who offered it, and his suspicions on why.” Which ironically to some degree matched mine. Hanse’s eyebrow rose, demanding an explanation. “I’d say that he was noting she was building more equipment than he was, and wasn’t as in deep of a hole. The peace would benefit her the most, allowing her to restore the LCAF faster than he could rebuild the Free World’s forces, and could disrupt his control over the nation.” A slight shrug. “Which, honestly considering things? Might have been her objective all along. Buy time.”

He pondered for a moment, nodding. “Makes sense. And a valid reason but… you implied I changed her calculations?”

“Correct.” I thought for a moment, then added, reluctantly. “It didn’t hurt that you were the only one not to reject it rudely, nor completely out of hand, indicating that at this time you didn’t think it was viable, and all things equal…” I toyed with one of my curls for a moment in thought. “The AFFS was the strongest and best it had ever been, and you were kicking everyone’s ass.”

“Why stop?” Hanse nodded. “Not when peace, even a short one would at best be a draw for the Sun in benefit, I see. And if only I had responded as a leader and gentleman should… There’s another way to build a military worthy of the name and fix problems. Gold gets you good soldiers.”

I thought about it, and nodded. “I’m sure that wasn’t her only calculation, nor even her main one… but I can’t disagree. I do think being a mother, and seeing the risks to Melissa, put finding a way to change the paradigm of the Succession wars, on the top of her list of things to do, after all.”

“Well said, and nicely thought of.” Hanse agreed. “But, she was raised with an eye to sit on the Archon’s throne, unlike me, to some extent, and she is very good at what she does. If the Lyrans can’t do it themselves, buy who can.” He said calmly. “And until you, I will admit, Lyran money is very tempting.”

I shifted tone. “Back to the Operation, in primus, I agree, will want more details, and I have an idea or two on how to deal with the Highlanders, and some suggestions on how to distract the other main reaction force.”

Hanse nodded. “And I’d want to hear them, but I just wanted you thinking. It’s quite possible you’d have a second brigade ready to go, too. Won’t be rejected at all.” He smiled. “The more you use…”

“The less you lose.” It was a hilarious concept of war. The concept of elite, highly trained personnel was the truth of warfare, and the losses in them were grievous. But when you could focus numbers of them, gaining not just a quality superiority, but a quantity superiority in the battle, the less both in absolute and in relative numbers did you lose. Or as Murphy's laws of combat, still worshipped here and now would say. “Buddies are important. It gives the enemy more to shoot at.”

“Some things never change.” Hanse’s tone was somber. “But… that’s all for business.” He pressed a button, and a steward, my bet an highly trained AFFS officer, came in and refilled our wine glasses. “If it is at all possible…”

“Of course, Sir, Madam.” He bowed slightly. “It will be ten minutes, once I inform the chef. Please excuse me.”

“Of course.” “With great eagerness.” Was the steward’s response, with a slight smile playing on his lips, as he departed.

“At least he’s amused.” I tilted my head. “A Captain?”

Hanse snickered. “For something this important? Sergeant Major, of course.”

I paused and snicker. “True, officers aren’t allowed to tie their own shoes, generally.”

“Oh, well said. All enlisted would so agree.” He had to laugh at that statement. We shared a chuckle and a smile.

“Well.” He leaned forward, eyes intense. “I’d like to ask some personal… well, what could be considered personal questions. Some might be offensive or painful, and neither is intended, but … I have reasons, which at least I think are good, to know, or at least try to get answers to.”

I raised my eyebrows. “With the caveat, I retain the lady’s right…”

He smiled at that. “Ah, quite. On these questions… while I feel they are important, I’d concede the Suns don’t need the answer. But I’d want the answer. Agreed. Want does not mean I get.” His smile widened, then he added. “As I just got reminded sharply.”

I snickered and leaned back, sipping at the refilled wine.

He took that as permission. For a moment he studied his wineglass, and thought. Finally, he spoke. “How?” I didn’t quite get it, and I must have shown that. “How do you keep going, who are you?”

The last was answered first, immediately and pointedly. “Kikyo Onishi, daughter of Miya Onishi, younger sister to Ichigo Onishi, who needs more slaps, apparently, older sister to Aiko Onishi, who will do awesome things with the right backing.” I shrugged. “Who I was in a past life, or another life, is immaterial.”

He blinked at that. “I… see.” His tone didn’t quite say he did, though, so I answered the first question.

“I dealt with a drug induced dream, or an ultra powerful being, who wasn’t incarnate, by simply deciding that I had to be who I am. Figuring that out is a lifetime, anyways, and I suspect by my own views one of the reasons we are here.” I shrugged helplessly, not sure what he was asking. “But, I got myself together, first by just keeping too busy, then when I felt I could, by accepting what is, is, and moving on. I’ll be the first to admit, Aiko in her own way, by existing, was a great help, it gave me something to focus on, and care for, the twin sets of memories, both blessing and curse.” I paused, nodding once. “And those who’ve already dealt with it, also helped. Kath just shrugged, and reminded me in both lives I was raised with heavy Buddist and Shinto views. Case… well. He pointed out that at least I didn’t have to remember going through childhood twice, anyways, personally.”

Hanse blinked at that. He had to shake his head. “...I never thought of that. I’m imagining that would be… unpleasant.”

“He’s implied it was, and that his parents held to the more… typical Outworlders, yes.” I tilted my head, amused. “Let’s just say I’m not surprised where he is, and what he’s done.”

“Ha.” He nodded at that. He paused and nodded again, speaking. “Given what I know about Shinto and Buddists, it’d have been a help, yes, I suppose. But the better question…” He thought and then nodded. “One set of your memories, I suppose, as you put it, left behind a life, suddenly. It’d not surprise me if you had a family and ones you loved back then.” He shook his head. “Some of the questions I’d want to ask, I don’t suspect, I know, you’d deflect, now.” He grinned at that. “So, how?”

I nodded, it didn’t surprise me he’d ask that question. “I answered.” I grin suddenly, and start to sing. “I get by with a little help…” Hanse blinked. I stopped the tune, and picked up. “By having things to focus on. By my friends. By my family here and now. By accepting what was, was, what is, is, what will be, will be, and I will do my best to make the will be, the best I can. I can’t change the past, I can’t go back, I can only deal with here and now. I said goodbye and my hopes for them months ago. None of them would want me to linger.”

He leaned back. “... I see.” It sounded like he meant something different. Before I could inquire, he shook himself. “No. I think I do see. And I admire that strength.”

I shook my head. “More like screaming heebie jeebies at the future that would have been.”

“You could have fled.” He returned to the intense stare.

“No. I didn’t join the United States Army in ‘89, because I was a coward. I didn't join for just the GI bill and other bonuses. I believe that good men, and good women cannot stand idly by.”

Hanse breathed. “All it takes for evil to triumph.” A Sharp nod.

I sipped my wine, and with a smile. “Quite. I confront my fears, I don’t take their counsel.”

Hanse thought for a moment, then smiled. “Well, then. While I had other questions, those are the ones I most needed. Thank you.” He was very sincere.

“You are welcome.” I smile back, playing with my hair. This was after all the third date, and Kikyo-original and now me, had very specific tastes for ideal. And I was looking at a very yummy dish.

Before he could say more, the meal came out. Very tasty, but simple. Steak, fine potatoes, steamed broccoli, and shrimp we had kept alive, all from Artu. I had a pleased smile.

“I’m afraid I’m guilty of presumption and control here… again.” Hanse semi apologized.

I waved my hand with a slight smile. “Actually, this is the one time gentlemen not only get away with such presumption, they’re expected to do so. Secret:” I grinned at him. “We ladies use it as a test to see how much you’ve learned.”

Hanse blinked. Then just shook his head. “That… explains some things.” He raises an eyebrow as the steward was patiently waiting. I shook my head.

“That will be all, Sergeant Major, you have our thanks and when we’re ready for dessert, and after meal, I’ll call, do please leave the wine?” He was polite and considerate.

“As you will, Sir.” The Sergeant Major was getting a kick out of doing this, I could tell. The stories he’d be able to tell.

We waited and sampled the food. Simple, but done perfectly. Not easy to do on a dropship, even one set up like Xanadu, or Camelot, Hanse’s own dropship, and I nodded in appreciation. The steak was actually to my preference, the seasonings were about as close to perfect as was possible, and the wine was a perfect compliment to the food.

“I see you used MIIO.” I couldn’t resist snarking. “Good choice.”

He grinned. “They were amused, yes.” He waved his fork. “I’ll admit, Chef Roberts has outdone herself.” He tilted his head to my sudden pause. “No, no kidnapping her for your own. She’s convinced I’d starve or eat junk food if I didn’t have her.”

I pause. “Drat.”

“I know, I know. Don’t feel too bad, you’re not the first to have acquisitive thoughts about her.” He grinned to take the sting out. “I do suggest we pay her the highest compliment, though.”

With that, we set to doing so. Some light discussion on differences between military rations (I agreed that the quality of military food hadn’t changed, or at least the bitching about it, but I did point out I was a spoiled Actress from an early age.). To be honest, I thought military food had improved somewhat.

Soon enough, the dessert, and I would kill cheerfully to know how she got the mousse perfect, on a dropship, of all things, was devoured, and the wine and us moved to an nook near my cabin, with very plush seating, with lovely plants and a pleasant and fragrant perfume to enhance it’s comfort.

Hanse smiled. “Princesses, even ones modified like your lady, are sinful.” I smiled in response, my mind already plotting the distance to the cabin. “I’m sure you’re curious on why I had an MIIO agent portray you as my girlfriend.” I actually wasn’t, I thought I had the reasons nailed.

“No, not really, I assumed it was a shell game. ‘Oh, hey, look, she can’t be lostech hunting if she’s here, no?’ As well as a smokescreen to find anyone who’d be interested in making sure you didn’t have a heir, as well as arm candy to keep greedy gold diggers off you.”

He blinked. “First and third, yes. Easily. Second… I will ask Yvonne, all things considered if that was part of the plan, or at least did she and the agent use it for that.”

“I see.” I shrugged. “Two out of three isn’t bad.” He grinned at that. I was sipping at my wine, when he smiled with a slightly devilish look in his eyes.

“Now, it won’t be just a decoy. I think you’d make an ideal one, since I had a third reason you missed. Well, besides of course, the fact that I’ve been wondering exactly what you’re wearing under that little black dress.” He had cleverly leaned slightly to his right, as my spit take had sprayed my mouthful of very expensive wine into the plant behind him.

After I had finished coughing for a second, I shot him a glare. “You’ll have to explain that logic. The first part. Second, that was the idea. Now, I’m beginning to rethink that.”

Hanse blinked, then hurried to explain. “It’s very simple. You intrigue me. Beauty isn’t everything, as we’re both aware, for various reasons, nor should it be. Our second meeting, “ He was referring to Bun Bun’s cockpit. “The situation was different than I expected, and that attracted my thoughts. All other issues aside, and I took care of one possible issue, tonight, you caught my attention by not being 99% of the Federated Suns population. I know why, now, admittedly, but…”

I thought about that for a moment. “... Well, you’re Hanse fucking Davion, badass and one of the biggest trolls in the Galaxy, I’d say.” Pause. “And for this time and age, one of the best. The setting pumped you up to be well, James Kirk of Battletech. You don’t need groveling or ego stroking or respect because you got a title, you get respect because you damn well are worth it, all flaws, bad actions, bad choices put aside. That’s what I see, at least.”

He laughed at that. “I’d hope I didn’t emulate some of his other behaviors.” He put that aside. “And that’s what got me. I was extremely lucky, and to the point, I didn’t think I’d be that lucky again, with Dana.” He sighed, showing the wound was still there. “But you said it best, she’d kick my ass if I didn’t move on. She didn’t want to be a Duchess, she didn’t want to be Princess-consort. But she accepted that, and kicked my ass when I needed it. You’d be surprised on how rare that is.”

“...actually, no, I wouldn’t, sadly.” I shook my head. “Let me say this, I know more or less when you’re slated to die and from what… and yes, it’s on the list of things to change.” He laughed at that. “But by that point, if you had two people on a regular basis that’d kick your ass when you needed it, I’d be shocked. Your wife …” I shook my hand slightly. “Not to speak ill of her. She isn’t at all bad, and grows into her own, I do hope, but… the books and lore get quirky.”

“I see, something to cover later. But… I think if I seize the moment, I can be lucky twice.” I didn’t quite catch what he was implying, after all, I knew who his wife was to be, and he was right. He did get lucky, and the match had ended up a love match.

“Eh, you did.” I shrugged. “3028 you marry her.”

His intense stare unsettled me. “I disagree. You said she’d not yank my chain, at least in general, and I’d rather not wait thirteen years.”

What.

My blank look, from the video Hanse had managed to get set up, I learned later, had really amused Hanse, who didn’t show it. “It’s simple. It’s clear that while you’re still not quite used to yanking my chain, you show no fear in doing so. Dana did. I have a chance to get what I need, to be the best man I can. You’ve clearly implied you know who I ended up married, and I’m seeing a hint, she was second best, or a compromise, or at best, me doing my duty to the Suns. I don’t want that. I was the product of that. Ian was. Our father loved us, and cared for our mother, but… she wasn't his heart. I think you can be. I’m not comparing you to Dana. That would be a disservice to you both. But, I think she’d approve of you, in basic. Some things…” He waved his hand.

I was skittering on ice. What have I done.

“Uh…” I floundered for a second. “Wait, you have a wife for you, one that you will have children with, and a healthy partnership.”

He raised his eyebrow. “I’m not thinking that from what little I’ve heard. And I note you don’t speak of my children with her. Who, out of curiosity.”

“... Melissa.” His flat stare was indicating that he really wanted the last name not to be what he feared it was. “Steiner, yes.”

“Oh… fuck no.” He snapped. “Now I see why you aren’t Katrina’s fan.” He shook his head. “She’s twenty-five years younger than me. What the hell?”

“Um…”

“Why not Morgan?” Hanse’s mind had snapped into calculation mode. “Oh, Michael.”

I nodded. Hanse lived up to his reputation from the novels and lore.

“Right, no. Seven to eight, at most nine year difference is much more tolerable than twenty-five years. No matter how much you’re implying it wasn’t a marriage of hate or at least pure politics.”

What.

I repeat myself, once again. Silly me. I thought I was in control of how the new future would turn out. Ladies and Gentlemen, see how silly I was?

Hanse leaned forward. “I want to see where we can go. I think you want what I want. Not the glory, but at the end I want people to be safe, happy, and better off. I think you’re the one that can make that happen. If not directly, by my side… if needed, yanking my leash.” I had the hilarious mental image of Hanse in a gimp suit, which I squished.

“... uh…” I cast aside for a reason to escape this. He had already implied he was going to pursue what he wanted. Me.

“If you’re wondering about your reputation, meh, most of the noble girls and those who associate have similar, early on. Ran even has a lady he hasn’t married yet, who’s a Countess.” Hanse grinned roguishly. “If you want a practical reason … You’ve implied I’m a great man, and did many things to improve the Future that Would have been.” He paused. “I like that phrase…” He shook himself. “But you’re clear that I wasn’t perfect, I made mistakes, avoidable ones in your eyes, and that I could have done better.” He was intense.

I couldn’t speak, feeling like a mouse trapped in front of a hungry viper.

“I will be honest, I understand the saying behind every great man…” He shook his head. “Let’s just say, you want to stop evil? Here’s your chance. You’ll have the biggest lever of them all over a major figure.” His roguish grin returned. “The couch.”

Breakfast nook, Dropship Xanadu, Late Morning, Dec 11th, 3015

I came into the nook where the Strays tended to assemble, slightly sore, and very satisfied. No, I’m not going to tell you how easily Hanse could carry me less than 50 steps, nor will I tell you what he found under the little black dress, or how he talked me into showing him after he completely trolled and blindsided me. Man was good, and a perfect gentleman in all senses. I could have likely killed Hanse’s interest by being a dead fish, but first, I’m not that good of an actress with my body being the way it is, and second, remember what I said about him being a perfect gentleman? It applied everywhere. And he very much enjoyed what was under the little black dress, and the return that a lady does to a perfect gentleman.

“All hail the cougar!” Evie snarked. I blushed slightly.

“Not that old!”

Asha’s dry tones “Maybe physically…” She shrugged. “I have to admit, I think I’m going to have that poleaxed look framed. Might be the only time we see a real one from you, gods… I hope so.”

What?

Case drily commented. “We got the video up to when he picked you up.” What?

Kath shrugged. “That’s one way to avoid the FedCom civil war. I seriously doubt you’d allow Victor to keep head in ass.”

I blinked, blinked again. Say what?

Evie laughed. “Dammit, and we don’t have our own video cameras!”

I finally rebooted. “He mentioned the greatest lever. Couch. He just might find out quicker than he thought.”

A toast with a cup of coffee was Case’s response, with a dry laugh. “Sounds like you’re taking his proposal seriously.” He paused. “You realize that’ll mean you can’t do shit we need done. Don’t you?”

I shake my head. “Not all of it, no.” I sighed, looking at Asha. “And in your story, you weren’t allowed to be a carefree merc either. I should have seen this coming.”

Kath’s response was to the point. “Could have, should have, would have. Whatever. Now what’s next?” She looked around. “Yeah, Kikyo wanted to bone the Troll, who cares. She has and Hanse is in the mood to get more sweet and sour.”

“Oi!” I shot back, unamused of the Germanic blonde’s snark.

Evie was too busy laughing, and Case snickering. “Isn’t that sushi?” was his response.

I could throttle the Pole. “No comment. I don’t kiss and tell.”

“Uh-huh.” He shot back, a reluctant grin on his face. “Downside. I was actually hoping we could keep that on track, Sexpot. But nooo… someone had to wag her shapely ass in front of his nose.” He sighed.

Kath shot back, responding. “Upside, no FedCom civil War. For the same reasons.”

“We could have avoided it!” Case finally admitted to the truth, he was fully on board and not an asshole, not only in it for money, women and booze. “But noooo.”

I shook my head. “To be honest, I don’t know if we could have avoided wrecking it.” I look at all of them. “You did see his reaction to her name, didn’t you?”

Case sighed. “Yeah, I should have figured that, myself, and told you to keep your mouth shut.” I looked at him. “Fuck, yeah, I know, I’d have ranted about the Bitch, too.” He shook his head. Kath shuddered as her mind briefly thought about that woman and then mercilessly crushed those very thoughts.

“Yeah. If his instant reaction, and our babbling about Morgan’s trustworthiness, “ I was referring to Morgan Hasek-Davion, Hanse’s heir at this point, though his father was the aforementioned cocksucker… “Victor and Katherine would have nuked it.”

“Correct.” Kath nodded. “And he has a solution he thinks will work. And he wants.” She suddenly grinned. “You’re a match in that. See, want, have. Very clanlike, if I dare say so.” She was hissed at by four people, but undeterred, finished her trolling. “He likes that, add in our view of well, royalty for royalty sake, which we all have? You pretty much set yourself up to be taken. Repeatedly. Was it at least enjoyable?”

“Kath!” I sputtered. “I’m not that bad.” Four flat stares answered me.

“Shiny. You want, you get. Pleaaaase.” Case shot back. “Bloody magpie.”

Kath snickered, then responded as Evie was proving the truth about teenagers, and reminding me to thank the spirits I brought food in bulk. Reminds me. Need to order crayons in bulk too. I shook my head of the idle thought as Kath spoke.

“First and foremost, we’ve derailed, no matter how, the Hanse and Melissa marriage. I dunno if it’s good or bad…”

“Neither.” Asha’s soft voice broke in. “The odds of Victor and Kathrine…” She shot a smile and an apology look at Kath’s shudder, “Existing in our new timeline as it stood, were… low.” She shrugged. “Which pleased our resident Pole, I suspect.”

Case looked at her dryly. “Try all of us, and you know it, girl. I know you derailed it in your story, so drop the act.”

“It was a bit distasteful, admittedly.” She sighed. “And to Hanse’s credit, and my annoyance, the cabbit was right.” I couldn’t help but preen. “And I suspect that he went into it like his father did, for the good of the Suns.”

I winced at that. “That’s not good… at least he got beyond it.”

“In the future that would have been…” Kath shot back, looking. “Here? Once he started looking at Kikyo here seriously?”

“Fuck.” I summed up.

Case nodded. “When you fuck up by the numbers, you don’t do it halfway, do you?”

“I didn’t set …” Evie looked up from her latest pile of pancakes.

“Didn’t, couldn’t, wouldn’t, doesn't matter. Drive on, deal with here and now. He’s got one point, and one good one.”

We all looked at the girl with no ability to color coordinate, and apparently a black hole for a reactor. “And what’s that, besides… don’t you want crayons?” I couldn’t help but snark.

“That’s a treat, and he’s right. None of us are going to hesitate to yank his chain in private if he gets too far off the reservation. Not us. We’re already dead once, we know it, we know what comes next, so, yeah, No fear. And we’re faithful. Grow up, be glad he wants you back, and take him. Remind him who really is in charge. Repeatedly. You’re nicer laid.”

I spat out my coffee and Kath wiped her face. Afterwards, as I was trying to catch my breath, the blonde clanner turned to the younger redhead. “You, Evie, are despicable.”

The bright grin that answered her was all the proof we needed to know Evie would fit right in for sure. And was recovering from the trauma of all the things she had experienced. Still… I didn’t know if I really wanted this lever.

Briefing Room, Dropship Camelot, Evening.

Hanse flipped through the report, as he looked at Justin. “So…” He shrugged. “Summarize.”

“They didn’t take the simulation seriously.” Justin sounded upset about that. “I’ll admit that General Onishi tried, but honestly, Sire… they treated it in general as a video game, and even the Baroness did, though she tried hard to not.”

Hanse shook his head, amused. “I treat sims as a video game, Justin, so does Ardan, so does your father. I’m not interested in their performance, I’m, like the profilers, interested in how they interacted. They played to win, mind you.”

“Yes, Sire.” Justin clearly thought on how to say it. “As the Champion’s junior aide, I didn’t think I’d be doing this… but my view, is they have a general view of what each other is capable of, and I’d point out that outside of immediate tactics, they referred to Colonel Steiner or the Baroness.” He paused, thinking on how to say this. “While I would say the General, aside from Kessler, is the least trained or experienced mechwarrior, she and the Colonel are the most experienced in tactical and operational thinking. As you say, they played to win. They also played to have fun at yours and a few Heavy Guard’s expenses.”

Hanse quirked a smile. “As they should, sometimes being a troll is useful.”

Justin nodded. “It was clear that while they all referred to Onishi, or if she pointed at Steiner, her, they all had their points and views, and it was a free flow of thought and communication. I won’t say hive mind, but they do know each other very well, and were just nudging, and well, their behavior indicated they weren’t taking it seriously, unlike the BattleROMs we have from all their mechs.”

“As in they were friends who knew how each other thought. And didn’t stand on pride, formality or well, what most would consider good behavior?” Hanse pressed.

“Exactly.” Justin paused and nodded once. “Baseline reactions and new profiles are in there, but… we are still using enhanced interviewing techniques, are we not?”

“I would prefer not to.” Hanse quietly stated. “And do you think it’s really needed, Justin? I know your father didn’t not tell you about his work.”

“You misunderstand, Sire. I suspect why they’re all willing, with caveats in Colonel’s Steiner’s case involving the Dragoons, understandable, that, I would be…” He paused, and shook himself. “Forgive me. I was just trying to…”

Hanse smiled. “Place yourself in their shoes. Good trait, Justin, and an excellent one. It turns enemies into friends if you use it right.” Justin nodded.

“I hope so, and as I was saying…” He thought for a moment. “I understand your reluctance, they are proving to if not be loyal to the Suns or you personally, at least honest fellow travelers for your goals, which honestly, I would feel…”

“Well said.” Hanse smiled. “There’s other traits I value as well, but consider thinking on those, as lessons for your future service.” Justin didn’t quite understand, but nodded anyways.

“The reason I think, and our profilers agree, is they want to maximize what they have.” Justin finished.

Hanse’s eyebrows furrowed. Kikyo had admitted she had forgotten stuff she read from her sources to him during some discussion last night, as she amused him with some tall tales that she had read. Or had a hand in writing. “... Which is why you used interview, instead of interrogation, is it not. You’re trying to imply debriefing.”

“Yes, Sire.” Justin didn’t sigh, but Hanse noted he’d need to work on body language anyways.

“The drugs include memory enhancers, as well as a more free flow thought, as well as disinhibition and several other traits, or so I was told.” Hanse finally finished. “You’re thinking of the first two options.”

Justin nodded. “That is exactly the reason. Colonel Steiner and Leftenant Winter are at least fifteen years past when they last were in a position to examine the Future that would have been.”

Justin’s lips twitched upwards, to Hanse’s own, and the shared amusement of those in the know. “And Corporal Kessler, General Onishi and Commander Blackwing have admitted that their memories aren’t perfect.”

He paused. Hanse thought about it for a moment. Then another. Finally, he sighed. “I don’t like it. And I’ll want certain questions explicitly off limits, and the debriefers to understand, if information comes up related directly to those topics, they are to forget it. And it never existed.”

Justin nodded. “I can think of several ones that are… as the lady said, immaterial, now.” Hanse grinned, his accomplice in trolling was learning.

“And it’s to wait til New Avalon. I think your father would be ideal to supervise.” Hanse relaxed, and stood up. “Now, I go face the music.”

“You don’t have to worry about the couch… yet.” Justin smiled.

“Justin, you are young. I can tell you this. Maybe not tonight. Maybe not this month. But I will be on the couch, hopefully if my goals work out, for last night. I promise you that.” Hanse grinned. “And it’d have been worth it.”

Justin’s eyebrows furrowed. “Are you sure that a lady that’d remember that far, and take vengeance patiently…”

“That’s the best quality in a lady worth any man’s time. The trick is convincing them it’s not worth it, or that you’ve apologized… okay, groveled enough. I need to get to work on that, now…” Hanse smiled as he clapped the younger man on the back, and walked off, whistling off key a tune only a few historians would recognize… and two redheaded females, one of which would grin, the other would facepalm.

Castle Cormorant, Coromodir VI , Late Evening, Dec 15th, 3015.

Wearing what wasn’t considered high court fashion on New Avalon or Comorodor, but was a classy, to me at least form fitting, silver laced, backless and sleeveless black evening gown, with a slight train, that framed my ah, assets perfectly, made me stand out, as if being on Prince Davion’s arm and announced as his plus one didn’t. Hanse had made his view of my choice of fashion quite clear.

The Strays following behind, along with Marshal Felser didn’t attract as much attention, since the Marshal was escorting Kath, and Case, once again proving he was almost as good of an actor as I was, was looking properly attired and dare I say, Bondish? He’d have given Pierce Brosnan or Sean Connery a bit of a run, I’d say. He decided a cleaned up and properly attired Evie Kessler would work as his plus one, and her struggles to not be properly dressed amused Kath and I.

Shortly we were circulating, greeting the lesser nobles and political players of the Realm, as a fair bit of their children of age would be going with us, plus sixty of the Reach’s most promising. Those were the real payoff to House Arano. They would return with arguably the best education anyone could buy, of a level if not equal to what could be had on Terra, just below. And in areas the Reach - no, the Inner Sphere - desperately needed. The nobility and other shining lights would form a well trained professional core to build a military around. Forty College of Military Science officers, spread out over the areas, would translate into down the road, a hard core of military professionals, with the accumulated knowledge of 5,000 or more years of warfare, pounded into their heads by experienced professionals who knew what worked and didn’t.

Give the Augirans a pair of decades after both sets of students returned, and their successors, and the Reach would have a shot at being a player strong enough that no one would challenge them, lest they get challenged in return. Right now, they only survived as a viable nation state because no one wanted what they had enough to risk a possible invasion by their enemies, though I’d say all three of their major threats could take them fast enough that the risk wasn’t as high as they believed.

Their new asset on Arutu would require careful handling to keep that status, however, and one of the prizes they had won, while not a full treaty of alliance, was a ‘Treaty of recognition and Friendship’ with the Federated Suns. Just the recognition of their existence officially by the Federated Suns was a prize, and the ‘friendship’ bit added to the implicit threat that the Suns were watching. But it’d not be enough, if the Capellians or Taruians really wanted them. Though if I read Hanse’s mind right, the Capellians wouldn’t be an issue much longer, as he ‘approved’ of some of my ah, suggestions that I made late last night on Xanadu.

After a bit, and discussing certain things, Hanse went to talk to Lord Arano and his brother in law, while I had the duty of entertaining the heir and Espinosa’s daughter.

“Baroness, isn’t that cold?” Was the first words out of Victoria’s mouth, while Kamea just looked a bit shocked.

I smiled at the pair. “No, it’s not, though I do have a fur coat. Silver Ice Weasel, a mammal that lives in my barony, and is quite popular.” I looked around. “With the climate controls you have, I’d say most of you would be too warm.”

Kamea thought for a moment, then firmly stated. “Father thought that since New Avalon, both the city and the world, are a mild climate, the winter desert nights would be a bit unfair to his guests.”

I shrugged slightly. “New Avalon does have some winter areas, New Scotland, for example has some wicked winters, and fine skiing. There’s a reason Winterfell has her name, after all.” I smile, as if to share a joke. “But, I’d say after being on dropships for the fair amount of a year, any winter would be a bit much.” I admitted.

Victoria thought at that and nodded, not understanding, but accepting it was an adult thing. Kamea on the other hand, had her eyes narrow. “And Spencer wasn’t too out of sorts for you?”

My eyebrow didn’t raise at that, but the way she had phrased it… “When a major nation state wishes to acquire items, M’lady, they will, by and large. I will point out that while we tried to do it without violence, and in fact were not the first to start firing… I was explicitly under orders to do what we did. Maybe not in those words, ‘Go get the lostech on Spencer’, but was quite clear what my mission was, and as a mercenary commander, obedience to legal orders by the rules of interstellar states, is required, if you want to stay in business and keep your people fed.” I shrugged. “Is it nice? No. Is it right?” I paused for a moment, thinking.

Before I could, Victoria broke in. “She had to do it, because Prince Davion told her, and if he didn’t, he’d be failing his realm. As a Prince, he has to do whatever it takes for the Suns.” She turned an admiring eye on him, and my hackles rose, though settled when I realized it wasn’t lust, but of what the person was, or thought to be.

“And how she treated the Spencer militia, and the world? What about her duty to them, as well?” Kamea’s response was immediate, showing an on going debate between them.

“Ladies.” I paused. “There is that. And I’d point out we did leave some material behind, which from what I understand, Janos has brokered a deal with them, with two of his corporations supplying the funds.” That was information we had received today, and Hanse’s smile indicated he had pulled off a tasty henhouse raid. As far as I was concerned, extra Stalkers and aerospace I could buy wasn’t a bad thing.

“For war material. Not items that improve their people’s lives.” Kamea replied softly. “And what did you take from them that might have changed that?”

I thought long and hard. Taking a sip of the wine I had snagged during Kamea’s statement, I responded afterwards. “While classified, Lady Kamea, I can assure you, outside one item, and I’d suspect they’d have traded that for more war material as you so aptly pointed out, the other items, honestly? Were not worth much, to anyone, except as items to fill in gaps or historical curiosities. And most likely, MIM or SAFE would have stolen them, if the Maskirovka did not.” I shrugged. It was a lie, but it was one that both girls seemed to buy, and their ill concealed pleasure at being brought into a secret, made them not question why I was doing it.

“Your Prince could have offered them something similar to what my father negotiated with you…” Kamea finally spoke. I nodded. “That would have been an option, at least before the shooting started. And I will concede that it would have been my preference.” I shrugged slightly, amused by the two’s slight glaze at my words. “But orders are orders, and Spencer was a mission discovered after those orders. And I’ll be even more fair, those orders didn’t change until Artru’s situation was clear.”

Victoria’s face grew pinched, while Kamea’s was a bit sad at those words. “My father had thanked you for your aid, and I need to do so as well. You didn’t have to…” I raised my hand to stop her flow of words.

“That was being a decent human being. While one could argue it was a contract breach, at that point.. I am Suns born, Suns raised, and I happen to know the Prince’s mind. Plus once we deployed that many ships, we honestly didn’t expect the ruse to stand much longer, anyways.”

“How many mercenaries would be that decent?” Victoria asked. “I mean, honestly, most are just in it for the money. No better than pirates, just official.”

I sipped again at my wine. “Lady Victoria, I’d say you’d be surprised.” I thought about how to put it, then nodded. “There are units with reputations for decency, famous ones. Does the Fifteenth Dracon mean anything?” I paused. “Several other units, while not as noted for their work of that nature do go out of their way to help, and most, agreed on not all, most are at least conscious of decent relations… and there is a fine line between objective raids to recover nationally important assets, and just taking every dish a normal civilian owns. Or Slavery.” I shot back. Victoria blinked at that. “And I can tell you, there are those who put Honor. Duty. Humanity… first, over contract.” I tilted my head.

“You must remember, you can divide about eighty-five percent of your mercs into two broad categories: Those who got kicked out or left their national militaries for being, well unsuited for that service, to put it mildly, and find the mercenary trade to their liking, or those who grew up in it, and that’s all they know. I’ll concede the remaining fifteen percent aren’t, but I’d point out that’s where the fair amount of problems come from.”

Kamea thought for a moment. “You’re saying most mercenaries are just like anyone else?”

I nodded, as Victoria clearly wasn’t sure about that. “By and large, yes. We practice a more violent trade, but it’s a trade. Outside your regimental-sized formations, most of our work is anti-piracy or protection, when the main militaries are away.” I smiled. “I’d point out that Colonel Wolf smacked the Domains pretty hard a while back.” Both girls nodded at that.

“Ladies.” Hanse and their fathers appeared, while we were talking. Hanse had broken in, amused. “While I’m sure an interesting discussion, it’s time to sign the treaties, and General Onishi is my witness, so if you would be…” Both young ladies nodded, as Hanse slipped my arm into his.

After the ceremonies and speeches, Hanse once again claimed me, and we began what he admitted he hated, the circulation routine. Once finished with that, we had a few moments to ourselves. Hanse broke the quiet moment. “Espinosa worries me. He’s too much of a patriot and a strong man.” My eyebrow raised at the last, and he ruefully grinned. “Perhaps it takes one…” He trailed off

“You'll want to talk to Case and the others more, what dealt with the Reach, was a game, and they played it, I didn’t.” I shrugged slightly, while speaking quietly. “But yes, he’s got the potential for being the worst type of…” with this I grinned wickedly. “Cocksucker, shall we say?”

“I… see. Worse than Michael?” His eyebrow raised at the last, curious to what I’d say.

“Yes. As much as I’d be loathe to admit it, Michael didn’t cross that last, fatal line that would damn him as much as Amaris or even Anton. It’s one reason why I argued for having their jumpship fleet refitted and refurbished at preferential rates. Can’t be sure, but best to remove one possibility.”

“I… see, then Kamea?” Hanse’s tone was light, his words were dark.

I nodded. “She’s got a good heart. I disliked some of her choices, but her heart is closer to where it should be. Maybe too much so, she thought we should have bought Spencer off.”

Hanse barked a laugh at that. “If they weren’t willing to stay bought, or at least try for a deal with a Lyran noble, I doubt they’d have tried to deal straight with us.” He shook his head.

“There is that.” I smiled as another noble started towards us, and once again, we began the gladhanding. You’d think being a noble meant you’d not have to deal with gladhanding or other such political activities. I wish I could be doing something more fun, and Hanse clearly agreed after politely fawning over one middle aged lady. His twintle indicated he had an idea or two, a very enjoyable idea or two for later. But duty called first. And this was only the first of these nights, which would be a long stretch, if I agreed to what Hanse wanted, or at least thought he did.

Kikyo’s stateroom, Dropship Xanadu, Puta System (Dead), Moring, New Avalon time, Dec 19th, 3015

Hanse looked at his tablet, as he leaned back against the pillows piled up against the bed’s headrest. While he hadn’t moved into my dropship, he made the preference for sleeping arrangements clear. As he put it, the pillows were better. The fact he could say this with a straight face, impressed us all. His eyebrows rose and he clearly wanted to pitch his tablet into the wall. Sadly, he was wearing a loose sweatshirt with NAMA on it, hiding his chest.

I rolled over and rested my cheek in my hand, as the sheets slipped slightly, distracting him and changing his mood. “So, exactly why do you want to dent my bulkhead?” I asked teasingly, the slight laughter causing the sheets to slip a bit more.

While his eyes roamed at the view, he sighed. “Duke New Syrtis is ‘hooking’” he quoted with air quotes, as the tablet was clipped to the nightstand. Even though we were under spin for simulated gravity, otherwise I’d have the sheets locked to the bed, so we’d not float off, habits died hard. It only took the first floating tablet… okay, two, for you to learn to secure everything. Just in case. I was distracted as Hanse countined. “To the chain at New Damasus.” I tilted my head, outside the one system in the Reach, Guldra, we were in the black until New Damasus.

“I see.” I thought for a moment, then shrugged. “That is where we first actually appear in the Suns, actually, so…” I thought for a moment. “Why do I think you have given orders no one not cleared by you or Yvonne are allowed on any of the Medusa ships?” Hanse grinned at that.

“I suspect however,” Hanse being a bit more serious as he fully looked at me, “He’s heard enough rumors to start ah… requesting shares, and when stonewalled by the Den, he’s coming to make his case personally. And see if there’s any truth to the rumors about well.”

“Us.” I shrugged, giving him more to look at. Which he appreciated. “If that’s the truth, would your sister be with him as well?” He nodded at that.

“Would not surprise me. Court ended somewhat early this year, and this way she can spend Christmas on New Avalon.” He sighed. “Which we will be in time for. Too much time, in fact.” I winced, noting what he was implying.

“And instead of being a guest, and able to play the game, I’ll be the hostess on your arm, and focus for the game.” I shot back.

“And of course rivals sizing you up for a knife in the back, Michael if what you’ve implied is true, figuring out how to make you a non-problem…” Hanse listed. One thing I’d credit him with, was even though he wanted me, and was seriously considering long term, he didn’t sugarcoat what that’d mean. Well, he hadn’t come out and say my days of driving Bun Bun around the battlefields were over, but looking over some of his plans for the upcoming operation, lead me to realize that was on his list of things to do. As if.

“I really rather not have him near anything important.” Hanse finally admitted. “Putting aside the suspicions you’ve raised, which to be honest, you share with Yvonne… I don’t trust him, I don’t think he’d use them for the betterment of the entire Suns, and I don’t think he thinks long enough term to realize what they mean.” He shook his head. “As per your suggestion, the idea of a double blind attack, focusing on Ares for the second prong, to draw the Big MAC into that battle… has merit. I think I’ll present that plus a slight twist.” My eyebrows went up.

“Oh?” He nodded at my curious tone, his hands beginning to wander.

“Yes, I’ll hint that the deployment of the forces assigned to the actual thrust, is a cover for Tikonov. If he leaks it to Max, it’s buyable, if he doesn’t, nothing lost.” Hanse smiled as he started to distract me.

I gasped in a slightly breathy tone, “Ah…” I paused, debating to bat his hands away, but decided to finish my thoughts and let my hands wander. “And if the Big MAC is waiting at Ares…”

“I have… plans…” Hanse leaned forward, and started to execute one. It didn’t take much for me to be helpless to resist his assault…


Briefing Room, Dropship Camelot, Puta System (Dead), Mid Afternoon, New Avalon time, Dec 19th, 3015

As the dropship we were running the sim on was being winded back to the jumpship, Kath’s bright grin indicated someone had fun in the sims, as she maglocked herself to the deck. I, on the other hand was wrung out, exhausted, and was keeping my head on the table. Evie had joined me, while Asha was floating, with a loose grip on a handhold. Hanse, while looking like he was put through a wringer, had a relaxed smile, and Case was just belted into his seat, chilling out, completely loose.

“First, I would like to thank Prince Davion for letting us use Camelot’s computers, since only Xanadu has a similar setup, and we couldn’t connect her to the other dropships. Hopefully that’ll be fixed soon, once Argo is up and running.”

Hanse nodded. “I was curious what sims you wanted to run. Thank you for running me though one.”

Kath waved her hand. “Not a problem, thank you for subbing in for me, in the Lance, though a Battlemaster was a bit annoying.”

I muttered under my breath. “And what would have been more than a bit…”

Kath pretended to not hear, though Asha snickered, and Case guffawed, while Evie just flipped a finger at the blonde.

“Well, I’ll summarize this quick. You all ran the sims that we… err.” Kath paused and shook herself. “Well, okay, the Dragoons did. It’s a graded sim, and seventy is the minimum we require to be active. For your information, Prince Davion, the Davion Guards ran this sim yesterday, and while only a few excelled, none failed.”

Hanse grinned. “That’s pleasant to know.”

Case whistled. “Dare I ask if the hot redhead that was your boss got a 100?”

Kath smiled. “When she does, we recalibrate. This is the fourth version.”

Case just nodded, smiling. Asha sighed.

“As you all should have figured out, it’s set to filter out natural talents, so we don’t use it on brand new recruits, but I have a baseline on all of you. Only thing that gives it fits, is Phantom, Asha, so I disabled that for you, until I figure it out. Then you really will suffer.”

“I see.” Asha’s neutral tone indicated that she understood the upcoming fun for her.

Kath looked around. “First, ..” She was broken off by a clang, as Camelot docked. The thirty minute to jump warning sounded, and she smiled. “Okay, let’s get this quick. Tactical and lance group score. Eighty-three. Not too bad. Could be better, but working in Prince Davion, and well… Yes.” her smile turned evil. “Scores from best to worst, individual average of the two sets of sims. First was your individual dueling and fighting along, second was how you did in the group.” She received nods from everyone, with Case snickering still.

“Case! Ninety-nine first run, ninety-eight second run. You are one crazy motherfucker, and I will never tell ‘Tasha, otherwise she’d do her best to kidnap you for Red Black.” Kath was serious on the last.

“Ha. I’d show her what she’s missing, and show her who the real mechwarrior is.” Case waggled his eyebrows, as he just grinned back.

Kath paused for a long moment. “... I’m tempted to tell her now.” She shook herself. “Asha, Air ops, eighty-seven tactical, eighty-four first, eighty-nine second. If you get tired of Kikyo’s service, I’m sure most units would take one look at your ability and scoop you up. Remember, this doesn’t include your knack.” Asha nodded.

“It was… challenging. And… I thought nothing was as bad as that last fight in the Combine.” The dark haired asian woman admitted, somewhat haunted.

“It’s meant to push you to the limit and beyond. Harder you sweat, less everyone bleeds.” Kath was however sympathetic to Asha’s distress.

She then turned to Hanse. “Eighty-five, eighty-one, if you weren’t concentrating on a certain shapely rear, you’d have been higher.” Hanse nodded.

“I figured she needed the help.” He admitted.

Blonde locks shook in weightness, as Kath shook her head. “Sim is meant to counteract that, and well, yeah. Wasn’t the best idea.”

Turning to the other two redheads, the blonde grinned. “I’m sure you know what I’m about to say, but when we get back to New Avalon, expect pain. I’m saying neither of you should be near a battlefield.” I winced, without raising my head. Evie just flipped her off again. “And yes, the sim can handle and did your trick of iron shooting. I do it, precisely so assholes like Morgan Kell or well, ladies, like our own Asha… don’t screw me.”

Hanse looked interested at that, but didn’t say anything. Kath nodded, and went on.

“Evie, Trollcust, fifty-tow. King Crab, forty-three. Second sim, in your trollcust, fifty-nine. You do work well with a team, you just need to get better.” Evie made a sound that sounded like agreement. I sighed, not raising my head.

“Kikyo! First, fifty-two. You really need to remember you are not a infantryman. And Infantry are very squishy. And you need to learn you are a commander, and you are piloting a fire support mech.” She shook her head, as Case nodded.

“Absolutely RIGHT. I could have 100’ed if I wasn’t busy bailing your ass out, Cabbit!” Case snarked.

“Actually, that was factored into your score. Second was fifty-five, like Evie you do better with others, but really, you need to break habits and also get better being a mechwarrior.” She sighed. “I know Hanse won’t get this, but both of you would be eaten alive by my old sibko before graduation tests, much less after. You should not be on the battlefield.”

I just made a noise of disgust.

Kath softened the blow, as she sat down and strapped herself in. “Well, at least right now. You both have the ability to be good, not a Case, not me, but well within Hanse’s range, or hell, most elite formations. But you have a long way to go. And if that battle where Bun Bun’s cockpit windshield had to be replaced didn’t tell you that, maybe this will.” I didn’t notice Hanse’s narrowed eyes, and a sense he was making notes, and thinking about this.

“Fifty-two on a Dragoon sim without ever having an actual trainer when I was expecting a Twenty-Two. I’ll take it.” Evie snarked. “King Crab’s still offline and waiting for some parts that are hard to get ahold of or I need to co-opt a machine shop to make so I’ll stick to the Trollcust for now.”

Kath smiled evilly. “As I said… I got confirmation that Gry built a version of the Gauntlet at Winterfell.” Her smile grew wider, as the one minute alarm blared. “I’m sure you both will enjoy it.”

I simply looked at the demon with blond hair. I hated losing, but I had to wonder if getting a friend back was worth the demon I let into my life, and who seemed to want to make me her clone… in a week. Before I could bring up a response, I felt reality dissolve and twist around me, and I began losing my lunch.

Kikyo’s Office, Dropship Xanadu, New Damasus Nadir Point, Late Evening, New Avalon time, Dec 19th, 3015

I looked up as Kath came in the door, looking just a bit annoyed. “Yes?” I was curious what pissed off our resident clanner.

“First, why did I have to fish Evie out of the Trash disposal on the Park and Pool deck?” Kath’s tone indicated that she was mildly curious.

“She made a crack that I was pregnant.” I sniff. “Sorry, I am very much protected from that.” I didn’t catch the sudden flash of something in the blonde’s eyes, but caught her deep breath.

“Second. Kikyo, dear, what the hell are you thinking?” She threw up her hands, and a tablet slipped out, and slammed against the upper deck, dislodging the chip that was in it.

“Uh… what?” I was puzzled.

“I looked over the adjusted contract and agreement to divide the spoils. In basic, fine, and the rest of the council sent basic approval, yes. But, we need to talk.” Kath put her tablet back with the data chip she had, and thwapped it to fix the screen.

“Okaaaay…” I was puzzled. Seriously, what was the problem?

“Oh, gods, I can see you can’t tell the problem.” Kath’s sigh was obvious. “You’re too frigging generous.” I blinked. “You cannot keep giving out bonuses of this size. I concede that some are owed that, but to the unit as a whole? I’ll be honest, they’ll rather want the money to go to long term investments to keep us fed and in basic pay.”

I blinked. I blinked again. Before I could counter…

“And remember, while Hanse is paying some of the costs of Challenge and us taking it over, we’ll still need money over and beyond that! We have factories to build, people to hire, security to run… Great Father!” She threw up her hand, and the poor tablet hit the wall, this time breaking into three parts.

“Uh…” I thought on how to put this. Kikyo before her twentieth birthday ironically for someone money grubbing was strangely free with it, and really didn’t wonder where her next meal was coming from. The twentieth century person, was similar.

“Never mind. Sign this.” She looked at her tablet. “Okay, scratch that. I’ll get a new one, and a verigraphed copy, you’ll sign that!”

I paused. “What am I signing?”

“Me, in charge of the finances and contracts for the Unit, and your business manager. Kerensky only knows you need one. And Rayanne already is worshipping my feet, for some reason. I’m wondering if your conservator didn’t have some good reason.”

I almost rose, forgetting I was belted in, then sat back down. “You’re saying I’m going though money too fast, and need to hold a lot more back.”

“Yes. We’ll need it to expand Challenge, to keep the unit running so we can be picky about contracts, and other such things. You just thought the people were doing well, and should have a share in the windfall. Not long term about keeping them employed, or their pensions, or their death benefits.” She finished her spiel.

I really wished I could let my head fall to the desk, but… “Fine. Get it.” It came out petulant, and frankly, I wasn’t sure I was happy with this, but I saw her point. I forgot I had no nation state to back me up, and even with the agreements and contracts that Challenge would get it’d be a fair long term project before it became the money printer it should be.

“Good.” Kath spun on her heel, the mag lock whining. She could have at least picked up the tablet bits!


Park Deck Lounge, Dropship Xanadu, New Damasus Nadir Point, Night, New Avalon time, Dec 19th, 3015

We were sitting in the nook, as Katherine Steiner brought us all up to date in short, pithy statements, to what had happened on the various fronts. While generally butterflies hadn’t flapped that hard, a slightly higher than the ‘Future that Was’ tempo of operations on the Draconis front had indicated that the AFFS was feeling its oats as ‘Mechs began to flow to units. As far as she could guess, it had inflicted more losses as well as the surprise fall of Tancredi, after Brion’s Legion had surrendered Tancredi II to the well supplied Davion units.

That had happened about a month ago, and operational tempo had fallen significantly, but from what Kath had picked up from Wolfnet and what DMI and MIIO were giving her, in primus, the Snakes had been hammered, though it had cost the AFFS in numbers, if not every single new mech and ASF, but enough that Sandoval had pretty much ordered a operational pause, since in effect, the AFFS in his March was more or less the same as it was at the start of the year, in strength, and much more battered and exhausted. But Tancredi IV, one of the founding worlds of the Federated Suns… was back.

Oddly enough, even with supply issues being dealt with by Hanse for the Capellian march, no operations had changed, and it seemed that the tempo was about the same. Kath’s theory was that Hasek Davion was stockpiling in preparation for a coup, and if nothing else to keep the myth of New Avalon’s neglect up. I’d ask Hanse later if there was more.

The big change from what we remembered was the Anton Marik situation. In primus, Anton had actually accelerated the demand to surrender effective command and control of the Dragoons and penny packet them, by nearly two weeks. Two months later, the Dragoons were on New Valencia and Hanse had snapped them up on a short term garrison and then normal contract. I raised my eyebrows, but Kath shrugged.

With the decampment of the Dragoons from Anton and they claimed Marik service due to a contract breach (Jamie had recorded it, and presented it and the contract to the MRB and others, and with that, C*, gritting their teeth upheld the Dragoon’s decampment.) Anton’s troops collapsed, with the vast majority surrendering, when Janos promised no junior officer or enlisted would be executed or tainted for treason, only Majors and above, and even those if they surrendered right now, could escape the noose… except for his son and Anton, of course. While the vast majority took him up on that offer, roughly a battalion and a half of the Ducal guard had fled to Sian with Anton and Gerald in tow.

Katrina hadn’t done anything unexpected, actually, so in a lot of ways, outside the collapse of Anton earlier, and his escape, and the celebrations over the return of Tancredi IV being nearly seven years before it was supposed to happen. We already knew about the increased production of the Suns, though Blackwell’s increase again surprised all but Kath.

“So, wait, the Snakes gave up Tancredi?” Case demanded. “Seriously?”

“Not really, Pole.” Kath shook her head. “It’s more that Robinson was more or less feeding the roughly twenty to twenty-five new mechs a month he was getting into taking that world back. We have reserves finally convinced the Dragon, that holding Tancredi wasn’t going to be possible, so as a ‘temporary’ measure, saved what they could.” She snickered. “It really didn’t help that Robinson was launching raids up and down the border.”

Case smiled a bit coldly. “Well, damm. Sucks to be them. One world down, several more to go. I so hope we can be there when Hanse retakes Mara.”

Kath snorted. “I have serious doubts that we, as in the command task force will ever see action on the Combine front.” She looked at me. “He might be willing to bend on the Capellian front, but on that? No. He’s not going to risk that hurt again.” She snorted at Case’s groan.

“No, you had to give into the shiny and get the shiniest prize of them all! Now we can’t go kill snakes, dammit!” Case threw up his empty hand, as the other had a bottle of Timbuktu dark in it. “I knew that’d come back and bite me.”

Kath soothed. “It’s not like she’ll always be with us, it’s quite possible that I’ll be tasked to take over the command TF, on occasion.”

Case suddenly looked up, starry eyed. “Really? And then we go kill Snakes?” He paused. “I’d even serve under you in that case!” His tone implied more than just service in battle, mind you.
“Perv.” She shook her head. “Too young, back to the fish pond with you.”

Case sighed. “Dammit, the ladies old enough for me, won’t touch me unless they’re hard core cougars and those scare me… and those who will, are way too young.”

“Sucks to be a teenager again, don’t it!” Evie chirped. Her attempt to paintball me for the trash incident, met an odd fate, when she realized she had hit a dummy I was using to spar on, instead of me, as I had moved just at the same time she fired. I had then spent an hour chasing her around Xanadu.

“Uh, huh.” I sighed, looking upwards. “And you are one too, get used to it.”

The other redhead flopped across from me, in that boneless way that teenagers often seemed able to do. “Meh, rather not. So, when are we gonna get to killing things?’

I shrugged. “I doubt Kath is going to let us near the battlefield.”

Before the blond could speak, Case burped from a pull on his bottle. “ANd if she lost her mind, I’d beat what the US Army should have beat into your pretty little head. Stars do not fight. You of all fucking people, in this time, should frigging know this.”

I sighed. He was right. “Look, pole, I never commanded a battalion, much less higher. So yeah. While I was taught it, I never did it.” I nodded. “I’ll need to be reminded of that.”

Two voices, one female, one male, answered as one. “Oh, count on it.”

Hilton Head, Terra, Morning Local Time, Dec 20th, 3019

Tojo Jarlath, the new official Precentor ROM, head of Comstar’s Intelligence, walked into his superior’s office, and the Primus was enjoying a fine cup of Blue Mountain coffee.

“Ah, Tojo, would you like a cup?” Julian Tiepolo was in a fine mood. “We finally got the exact blend of how the American presidents had their coffee during the last period of that so called Cold War of theirs. Quite excellent.”

Tojo noted it’d not only be rude to refuse, but as he was a coffee connoisseur, an insult to his hobby. Softly, he answered. “I would be delighted, sir.”

“Excellent!” Julian bustled, serving his subordinate personally, a rare gesture, and shortly both me were sipping the beverage the most powerful man on Terra once drank. Julian’s smile indicated he knew the irony of the drink, and how much more powerful he was.

Alas, all good things come to an end, thought Tojo, who reluctantly didn’t ask for a second cup. “As you know, you placed a tasking on ROM, Primus, it’s complete.”

Julian tilted his head. “Did I not… oh, you wished to be complete, I presume.”

“As well as some more recent information has come in, from one of one of our Adepts, nominally part of Rho, but really a ComGuard Mechwarrior we tapped for a mission. One Erin Larkin. I’m actually quite pleased with her performance, all things considered, even though I must admit I wished we had given her full training in Rho.”

Julian’s eyebrow rose as he sipped at a second cup, then he snorted. “Don’t be that way, Tojo, pour yourself a second cup, it’s Christmas, and unless you report Hanse has Prometheus, nothing can spoil this week.”

Tojo obeyed with a rare thin smile. “Thank you. As I was saying, Adept Larkin was assigned to join Baron Naka, the younger son of the Count of New Osaka?” Julian nodded following along.

“I presume to see if he was left anything, and any locations?”

“I would not be so gauche to say you are wrong, and you are of course correct in any manner.” Tojo responded.

“No, you wouldn’t, as if you had one vice and weakness, it would be a new coffee blend. I already have your gift this year, thankfully.” Julian smiled, and Tojo returned it.

“She was able to give some information, then the young baron fell out of contact.” Tojo gave a shrug. “She recently reported in, and is arriving on Terra for a debrief shortly, but in essence, the Baron was left enough to form a so-called mercenary band that did not register with us, then a location. Illyria.”

“He was in command of that?” Julian was disturbed. “If the young adept took part in that, I will be… most disappointed. Make sure that’s found out.” Tojo nodded in response. Illyira had been sacked brutally by a combined arms regiment that hammered it flat. Only pictures were a purported mercenary command, and a death warrant issued by Katrina Steiner for the Baron, after his attainment.

“I don’t believe she did, and even if she did, it could be argued it was needed for the mission we gave her, Sir.” Tojo reminded his superior.

“... Find out, however, which it was if at all.” Julian sighed. “So. He did. What?”

“The field library that Illyria had. Including its hardware research into Project SHIELD, or what Adept Black called CASPER III. The next generation of SDS systems, I believe.” Tojo winced, at the look of fury on Julian’s face.

“Sir. She got a copy, and we have it. She thinks she may have been able to corrupt elements, focusing on those specifically and HPG research in the core, but she’s not sure.”

Julian’s tirade was held just to hear that, then a slight smile crossed his face. “Just the recovery of the data for ourselves, is a not so minor coup, I apologize, and a wonderful gift the young adept brought us, and as if you say, she has done a well done.”

Tojo nodded. “She also attempted to destroy the jumpships and dropships, but that wasn’t successful.”

“Truly a shame that.” Julian shrugged. “But, as you say, she is really ComGuard, not Rho, so what she did, was exceptional on it’s own, I wager.”

“As I said, I wish we had her trained in Rho, and if possible, I would like her.” Julian’s eyebrow rose. That was high praise.

“Let’s give her some time to recover, then offer her the choice, shall we, my friend?” Julian shook his head. “As I remember right, those in Rho don’t just have to be good at what they do, but like it to some extent?”

Tojo nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“So… do we know where the young ex-Baron is going? And with what?” Julian raised his eyebrow.

“Two automated last generation Star League Defense Force dropship bays, about the equivalent of two dozen mech bays of the same nature, a few odds and ends, including one ground drone. And Adept Larkin believes, the Combine.”

Julian’s eyebrows furrowed. “Remind me again, about the automated bays you refer to?”

Tojo paused for a moment, then spoke. “As you know, part of the CASPER system was the Automated Repair Bay Systems, used to repair and rearm various craft.”

“Yes, I do.” Julian wasn’t upset, he understood that the man wanted to be clear.

Tojo nodded, and continued on. “The Star League sometime in 2750 apparently developed a variant that was used normally on Royal Command and other units, including some Outpost Castles. I’ve done some research, and we knew about them, just that we thought they were all destroyed.”

The Primus tilted his head. “I take that wasn’t the case.”

“No, sir. They also use the same computers and similar tooling as most late generation factories, such as Wagknar’s or Corean’s.”

“I… see. Miss Onishi, no Baroness WinterFell, now, her dropships had these.” Julian nodded. One question answered, and a wry smile crossed his face. “Well, that answered how Hanse increased his production.”

Tojo nodded. “And presents us with a unique possibility.” Julian tilted his head.

“Pray tell.”

“We send technicians to help the Combine install these in a few factories, increasing their mech production by a small amount, say twenty to thirty a month… and as our price, acquire some for ourselves, which we will sell to the Confederation. We are helping with the project they have going, after all…” Tojo trailed off, to Julian’s thoughtful hum.

“I like it. I really do, Make it happen, Tojo, and I assume that our technicians will be trying to see what data was recovered?” He received a nod.

“Well, then. We’ll keep having them find a clutch of buried Battlemechs in reserve, then, since once your agents disable Hanse’s recent windfall…”

“Quite so, though the cost of taking Tancredi IV back, pretty much expended the increased production the AFFS assigned to the Draconic Front, and Hasek Davion is playing games with his.” Tojo spread his hands. “The mission to infiltrate the production factories and the NAIS is still ongoing.”

“And Miss Onishi’s little activities recently?” Julian asked idly.

“We don’t believe she recovered a datacore, at least not yet. Hanse Davion would be crowing about it, I believe. Though given what she and he left the Reach, it’s fair to say they regained some more components for factories.” Tojo sighed. “We don’t know how much, and it may be needed to - instead of ‘Mechs - have the Combine and Confederation find some of their own automated bays, to fix their factories, since we now know how to build them, or shortly will.”

“We’ll keep that in reserve, Jarleth.” Julian shook his head. “I can imagine the screaming at the young Adept’s ‘failure’.” The Primus snorted. “As you said, she didn’t have the training. What she attempted and did successfully do, was more than we could reasonably expect, no? She at least tried to deny the Scavenger Lords the ability to increase their warmaking potential. At great risk and cost.”

“I thank you for that consideration. She seems to have a talent.” Julian smiled at Tojo. Who continued on, finishing his report. “In summary, we think the upcoming operation is aimed at weakening the Confederation, but won’t go for a year or more. It’s possible, we presume it could go as early as March, but our views of the Heavy Cavalry and Dragoons, which we expect to play a role in the battle, is that they’re not yet ready for the roles. Both units are still integrating new personnel, and while large, not at where they want to be, or so we think.”

Julian took another sip of his coffee, thinking for a moment. “At this time, I don’t think we want to derail that. Let Maximilian learn his place.” Julian smiled cruelly. “He will need us more, and so will Takashi. Hanse will do Blake’s will… then they will.”

“And the young baroness?” Tojo’s question seemed innocent, but was one he had asked before.

“I think now, yes, Tojo, if you could be so kind.” Julian greenlit the request. “And as for her sister, and brother? They too. And let us make sure that she didn’t leave anything behind for others to find.”

“Pointing at…” Tojo trailed off.

Julian Tiepolo, the Primus of Comstar, and one of the most powerful people in the Inner Sphere… “Marik. Hanse is getting too close to them. Failing that, his attempts to woo Katrina annoy me. Loki makes a good foil.”

“Blake’s will will be done, Sir.”

 

And as a bouns, for those of you who are BT heads:

Collection of Star League Support Vees found in Lever:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1YW1szigmFmfpRHua9rKY6Myt4Wdze9Sc