Mikhail log 2303

We've done it again. The Storm Vanguards have now taken the edge of the Tamarind State. It is thanks to Janis Osiers, as usual, who has spearheaded the attack. I am again taken aback by the efficiency she manages to keep. A handful of old battlemechs and high-quality armor, and she manages to break through an entire battalion and steal it up for salvage. It wasn't even necessary to spring for reinforcements with her in command. All of them, turned from vile Blake worshippers to loyal Vanguards. Another piece of substantial proof that it is incentive that drives mankind, not divine intervention.

This Janis must have had a beef with Comstar long before she met me, for she has never given any question to my orders, although it may be that I am a lenient man. She is the silver lining of the cloud that has befallen our other front.

Turning to that front, the Turin Defense Initiative, a splinter faction of Comstar, has just captured our sole personal battlemech factory on Hesperus II. They won't make very much out of it, however, considering that the base is rigged to self-destruct in one day to ensure maximum casualties and minimum productivity until then. Davion has of course taken note of this, and, as expected, refused to build us another one, which means that we no longer have a source of redeeming support. We'll have to make do with what we've got, what we salvage and what we are offered directly.

Mikhail log 2304

Finally, I've an updated, exact inventory for the Storm Vanguard 3rd battalion.

Pre Belsen: 1 Shadow Cat medium Clan-tech Omnimech 2 Wolfhound light SL-era battlemechs 2 Hatchetman medium SL-era battlemechs 1 Vulcan medium vintage model battlemech 2 Blackjack medium SL-era battlemechs 1 Commando light SL-era battlemech 2 Champion SL-era heavy battlemechs 1 Blackjack medium IS-tech Omnimech 1 Cyclops SL-era command mech

2 Condor medium hover tanks 4 Vedette medium battle tanks 3 Brutus Assault heavy battle tanks 1 Short-range missile carrier 2 Maxim heavy hover transports 4 Patton heavy battle tanks 2 Marksman mobile Sniper artillery batteries 4 Thor mobile Thumper artillery batteries 3 Demon medium combat cars 2 Typhoon Urban Assault combat cars 1 Fury command tank

14 Standard IS battle armor 4 Gnome IS battle armor

13 battlemech pilots 144 maintenance workers 322 infantry

Lost: 2 Wolfhound light SL-era battlemechs 1 Blackjack medium SL-era battlemech

1 Vedette medium battle tank 1 Condor medium hover tank 1 Brutus Assault heavy battle tank 2 Patton heavy battle tanks 1 Maxim heavy hover transport 1 Thor mobile Thumper artillery battery

3 maintenance workers 31 infantry

Salvage: 1 Hunchback SL-era medium battlemech

3 PO heavy battle tanks 5 Bulldog heavy battle tanks 2 Badger tracked transports

56 venerable POW's

This battalion, though certainly not my trump card, is the only one in the area besides the air battalion, which doesn't count as far as siege ability goes. It's strictly for support, since I never bomb pre-emptive. I may have to change this tradition with the squeeze for fresh units shortly in the future. If the Storm Vanguards are to ever get back on their feet, then we'll need to capture, or if need be, establish, a base in this region. That might tip Davion into building us another factory.

Mikhail log 2305

Well, it's been a royal pain, managing every exact, piddly detail for my 3rd battalion. I may simply decide to fuse it with my 7th, or, if worse comes to worst, disband one of my four regiments for extra supplies. But I should only have to stoop to these measures if the Storm Vanguards take heavy losses in the near future.

This is a rude possibility, what with the horrible discovery that the Turin Defense Initiative is settling in the westernmost regions of Tamarind, a good way away from Belsen. I've a two-front war on my hands yet again.

Comstar paying little attention to the Com Guard's loss is very good. They have, as always, overlooked diplomatic importance in favor of searching for raw material. Of course, no large stockpiles or key infrastructure points lay inside of Belsen. But I'm certain that the people's already shaky morale is beginning to shift. Blake may have a strong influence, but it doesn't go beyond religious belief. We'll see what the good citizens of Belsen think when the Storm Vanguards vastly improve their society and how hard it will be if they ever try to recapture.

With thus my own influence ingrained, I will remove most of my 3rd battalion from Belsen at once to pursue more lucrative interests. Victor Davion himself told me that I should always concentrate on the little things before moving on to the more important stuff, but compared to the annihilation of an arm of Comstar, this is a little thing. I'm in doubt of the Turin Defense Initiative's ability to handle a mass tactical assault upon the freshly fortified rut they've dug themselves into. Hopefully, the genius of George Helmut and Janis Osiers will bring forth a mission well- done and hefty salvage to boot.