"Throughout history," said Prince Zander from his position at the head of the People's Forum on Tikonov, "mercenaries have been a vital part of human warfare. Men and women who fight for money have been instrumental in the defense of nations since the beginning of history on Terra. In more recent history, mercenaries have been even more vital—the Kell Hounds saved Melissa Steiner-Davion from the Draconis Combine, at great cost to themselves, and without the help of Wolf's Dragoons, the Inner Sphere surely would have fallen to the Clans. Though they have long been reviled as loyal to only money, the truth is, most mercenaries have loyalties just as strong as regular military forces.
"We are gathered here today to honor mercenaries of that esteemed caliber. Colonel Rain Jeffers and many of her officers were present on Tikonov during the opening days of the war. Despite the treachery of Charlemagne Kerensky-Liao, who left the First Vanguards Company to die in a mere diversion, Jeffers stayed with the Principality. It was her hard work that led to the reforming of the First Vanguards and the Lonesome Devils into the unit we know today, the Lonesome Vanguards. It was the efforts of the Lonesome Vanguards that liberated Liao and Kurragin from the iron grasp of the Capellan Confederation. Today, we will bestow upon Jeffers and her unit the highest commendation the Tikonov Principality has to offer—the Star of Tikonov."
The audience of over a thousand invited guests—nobles, military officers, civilian leaders, and (of course) the corporate executives of Earthwerks and MegaMech—erupted in applause. Zander waited for the noise to die down, reveling in his success. Though he enjoyed great popularity with the Principality's citizenry, it wasn't often that he encountered such vocal sentiment.
"Please, please," the Prince said finally, "to wait any longer to award this honor would be criminal. Colonel Rain Jeffers," he said, glancing at where Jeffers was seated with the Vanguard officers, "please step forward, to receive this honor."
She looked quite surprised as she approached the podium. Despite himself, Zander smiled with anticipation as he imagined what she would be thinking in a few moments. Quickly regaining his composure, he turned to an orderly to take the shining Star of Tikonov into his hands.
"It gives me great pride," he said, "to award the first Star of Tikonov to Colonel Rain Jeffers—my fiancé."
FSS Glorious, Tarazed System
Clan Nova Cat Territory
October 2, 3219
Tyrone Utterman, captain of the Glorious, rotated his acceleration chair to face Admiral Ver Burg. "Sir," he said, "we've got four Nova Cat WarShips on the scopes. The sensors identify them as the Future Triumph, Anna Rosse, Perilous Vision, and the Blade. All part of the Transcendent Naval Star. A very good unit."
"Only four?" Ver Burg muttered to himself. He was a bit disappointed—Glorious herself could take on those four WarShips alone. With her sisterships, it would be a slaughter.
"Transmit orders to the captains of the Victory and the Anderson," Ver Burg said. "Remind them that our goal is to cripple and capture, not to destroy. Victory will take the Future Triumph, and Anderson Davion can have the Anna Rosse. We'll take the other two."
"Aye, aye, sir."
Ver Burg started to give a command to the helmsman, but bit his lip. As much as he would love to control Glorious during the upcoming battle, he was technically just a guest aboard her. He nodded to Captain Utterman.
"You have the con, skipper."
Utterman returned the nod thankfully, and swiveled back to get a full view of the holographic tactical plot. "Helm," he said, "come left three degrees, sound alert for all personnel to acceleration chairs."
"Left three degrees aye, sir; acceleration alert aye." The ship was filled with the triple bleat of the acceleration alert, informing the crew that anyone caught out of an acceleration chair in a few minutes would be visiting the infirmary for a very long time.
"Sir, all stations report secured for acceleration," the communications officer said.
"Thank you, Comm. Helm, increase acceleration to three gravities. Sensors, I want a weapons solution as soon as they're in range." He glanced at the chronometer. "Deck Officer, I want the Mantises launched at 22:15."
"Aye, sir. Commander Reese reports ready for action."
There was a brief moment of silence as the WarShips hurtled toward each other across the system. The Nova Cats were eager to oblige the task force, splitting their forces to engage each FedSuns WarShip individually. Flying in their wake was a pair of Clan Overlord-Cs, ships that would be mere afterthoughts in the upcoming battle of titans.
With a heavy chunk, the three Mantis DropShips attached to Glorious's back released their locks. They quickly accelerated away, falling into a preplanned defensive position around the Glorious.
"Firing solution locked in and ready," announced Weapons. "Range in two seconds."
"You may fire when ready," Utterman said.
A scant heartbeat later, the four naval-grade gauss cannons in Glorious's prow fired. The heavy slugs traveled across the space between Glorious and the Cat WarShip Blade in the blink of an eye, impacting just forward of the drive assembly. The Blade was quick in responding, lancing out with its heavy lasers. The beams hit Glorious in the nose, tracing a black line of discolored armor twenty meters along its hull.
"Damage report?" Utterman asked.
"Damage is minimal, sir. Minor reduction of efficiency of the forward armor. No serious damage to the ship, and no reported casualties."
"Amazing," Ver Burg said. Utterman nodded.
"Yes, sir. And now they're going to find out just how amazing. Weapons, hit 'em with everything you have."
"Aye, sir."
The forward mounted missile launchers began spitting Killer Whales into space, and all twelve naval autocannons began firing. A second later, the WarShip's lasers joined the onslaught of fire heading toward Blade's aft section.
"Captain Utterman, Blade is dead in space. They're running on power reserves, and their weapons are offline."
Just then, the Perilous Vision fired a broadside of autocannons and missiles, pounding Glorious's side. Ver Burg felt the ship shudder from the impact, but Utterman didn't let it faze him, continuing to snap out orders to his crew.
The Perilous Vision soared past the Glorious's after section, firing back at it. The Mantises were on it immediately, falling into a loose orbit around the WarShip and firing their weapons into its rear. Ver Burg was fascinated as the combat DropShips picked the Cat WarShip to pieces, leaving its engines nearly severed from the main body.
"Sir," said Comm, "we're receiving a transmission from the Perilous Vision. They've surrendered unconditionally." He paused a moment, listening to the voices in his earbug. "Anderson signals that the Anna Rosse has surrendered. The Future Triumph has yet to surrender, but the ship is dead in space, and the Victory has her under its guns."
"Very good, people," Utterman said. "Admiral Ver Burg, the enemy is neutralized."
Ver Burg glanced at the chronometer. The entire engagement had lasted eight minutes. "Captain, you and your crew performed superbly. Once the Future Triumph has seen reason, you may secure from battle stations."
"Thank you, sir."
Ver Burg smiled. "You're welcome, Captain Utterman."
Star League Capitol, TukayyidComStar Administration Zone
Rasalhague Dominion
October 4, 3219
Donavan Steiner, now acting in his capacity as First Lord of the Star League, looked around the Council chambers. This was a meeting of the Defense Committee, headed by Khan Kerensky of the Wolves, and thus included only four of the Star Lords—Elijah Kerensky, Coordinator Kurita, and First Prince Davion. Khan LeFabre of the Star Adders would have been there, but as his Clan had declared neutrality in the war (and had voted against the freedom of the Tikonov Principality), he had declined to attend, citing a conflicting interest. Donavan regularly attended the meetings of the various committees, and, as Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Precentor Martial Nicholas Kurita-Davion was allowed to sit in on the Defense Committee.
"This meeting of the Defense Committee will now come to order," said Khan Elijah. The Wolf Clan MechWarrior was a tall, proud man. Though his long black hair and thick goatee had long since gone salt-and-pepper, he still carried himself with a youth that beguiled his age. At sixty, he was practically ancient by Clan standards, even in the relaxed society that had developed after the Clan Wars. He was one of the most powerful khans of the Wolf Clan since Ulric Kerensky had led the invasion of the Inner Sphere, and also held the position of ilKhan of the Clans.
"Today," Elijah continued, "we will hear the presentation of the Precentor Martial, who will inform us on the status of the war. This will be a general meeting; any issues proposed today will be voted on tomorrow at the follow-up. If there are no questions, I invite the Precentor Martial to begin."
Nicholas waited a moment to allow any questions to be aired, and then stepped forward when the room was silent.
"Thank you, Khan, gathered Lords." He activated the holoprojector behind him, displaying a map of the Capellan Confederation. A dozen worlds were highlighted in gold, and one of them, Capella, blinked red. "This is a map of Task Force Aleph's progress. Between Aleph and the TPAF, the Star League now controls a dozen Capellan worlds, including Liao and, most recently, Kurragin. Also, six worlds have revolted against the Confederation. On Gan Singh, there was no fighting, just a peaceful transition to local control. Gan Singh has since applied for annexation by the Tikonov Principality. However," he said, "on Second Try, Yunnah, Palos, St. Andre, and, believe it or not, Masterson, fighting has broken out between Capellan garrison forces and local militias.
"Task Force Aleph is currently embattled on Capella, fighting against the Third Sian Regulars in Capella City. General Davion has reported that fighting is beginning to die down, and anticipates that the Third Sian will be defeated in no longer than ten days. However, he warns that the First Confederation Heavy Cavalry, under command of General Miriam Sinclair, has been virtually untouched by the fighting, and that fighting on Capella will continue for several more months, at least."
"General Davion still expects to take Sian by January 3220, quiaff?" Kerensky asked.
Nicholas nodded. "In a manner of speaking. The details are still being hammered out, but Davion intends to assault Sian with a regimental combat team, secure Chancellor Liao, and force him to surrender the planet."
"A single RCT?" Kerensky balked. Shane Davion shifted uncomfortably.
It was Ichiro Kurita who came to Edward Davion's defense.
"If I may speak, Khan Kerensky, I believe that General Davion's plan has a very good chance of success," he said. "I assume he intends to drop almost directly on the Celestial Palace. In such proximity, the only military unit that will be able to stand against him is Chong-lo's Celestial Guard Regiment. The CGR is hardly a crack unit—they train more for parades than anything else—and while their equipment is new, ah, intelligence reports indicate that they have low reserves of ammunition, and that most of their 'Mechs and vehicles are stored in a single building. If that building could be destroyed by an airstrike, General Davion's attack would be unchallenged. No one will be able to react in time to stop him from capturing Liao and, ah, convincing him to surrender."
"That is, I believe, General Davion's plan," Nicholas said.
"And they'll never expect it," the First Prince said. "It will not be the first time that 'impossible' matters have been accomplished in the Inner Sphere."
Donavan nodded. Like Tharkad, he thought.
"Aff," said Kerensky. "Please, Precentor Martial, if you could continue."
"Of course, Khan." Nicholas hit a button on his remote control. The map displayed now was one of the Free Worlds Republic. A dagger of golden worlds pointed directly at its heart, a planet entitled "Marik."
"Under command of the Gunji-no-Kanrei, Task Force Beta is making great progress in the Free Worlds Republic. They've been able to take more worlds because the Kanrei isn't operating under the same sort of deadline that General Davion is. He expects that Marik will be taken by January 31." Nicholas walked around the map. "However, Captain-General Corrigan has been contacting the Kanrei's command, attempting to open negotiations for a lasting peace. It is my formal suggestion, as Deputy Commander-in-Chief and in my capacity as Precentor Martial of ComStar, that negotiations be opened with House Corrigan. The Captain-General has already offered to return Tharkad and to pay the full costs of damages incurred during the battle for that world, and to withdraw his troops from any other nation's worlds."
"And what does he ask in return, Precentor Martial?" Kerensky asked.
"He hasn't made any requests of yet—after all, negotiations haven't formally begun. He has hinted that he would expect Free Worlds sovereignty to be respected, and readmission of the Republic into the Star League."
"Corrigan challenges us, sides with a war criminal, and then begs for forgiveness when his armies are defeated!" scoffed Kerensky. "He expects this from us, quineg?"
"Actually, Khan, I think he does," Nicholas said.
"Why?" Shane asked.
"Because he knows that forgiving and forgetting will help the whole Star League to get over this war. Khan Kerensky, how many warriors has your Clan lost against the Jade Falcons? And how many warriors have been lost by the Ghost Bears? And First Prince, how many soldiers have died for the Federated Suns? How many have died for the Dragon?" He grimaced. "Six hundred and eight. That is the number of confirmed deaths among the Com Guards. There are three times that many wounded. Those numbers pale in comparison to the loses your nations have endured, and the losses endured by the Capellans, the Free Worlders, the Nova Cats, and even the Jade Falcons. Accepting the FWR back into the Star League will show that we're willing to put the killing behind us, and move forward toward a brighter future." He shrugged. "Otherwise, we could end up kicking off the Fifth Succession War."
The room was silent for a moment.
"Thank you, Precentor Martial," Kerensky said. "I believe that, given the presentation today, we have a very important vote coming, one that should be made in full Council, not just in committee. First Lord, that is your arena, not mine. As far as I am concerned, the Defense Committee is adjourned."