Chapter Four
Kyushu River Delta, Albiero
Pesht District, Draconis Combine
19 August 3050
"Konnichi wa!" Hohiro Kurita greeted the incoming Clan dropships in a tone that was almost cheeky. "Hohiro Kurita greets you, Smoke Jaguars. It has been several months since your forces were unable to restrain me upon Turtle Bay. I shall hope for better sport in our next confrontation."
One of the technicians in the command van turned his head. "Tai-sa, we're getting a transmission from them."
"Put it on the speakers, replay from the beginning."
A harsh voice cut through the van's atmosphere. "I am Dieter Osis, commander of the Smoke Jaguar's Beta Galaxy. It will please me greatly for the Mistweavers to make good the shame of Alpha Galaxy's failure. Where do you hide yourself and with what forces will you seek to withstand our hunt?"
Hohiro nodded. "Shin?"
The yakuza MechWarrior looked up from the other bank of displays. "Their warship remains in high orbit. If records are true, it can't effectively fire on the surface unless it descends."
"Hold back the fighters, then." Hohiro took up the microphone. "I am sure that you know Albiero is a valuable world to us, Galaxy Commander. However, its industries and principal cities are upon the more southerly continent so I have deployed my forces near the mouth of the Kyushu River on the equatorial continent, where we can fight without causing wasteful losses. Alas, most of my aerospace assets have been reassigned so I will offer your forces safcon to the surface."
"Our bid to defend Albiero is four BattleMech regiments along with supporting armor battalions and some of the infantry. I understand it is your custom to share military rosters before battle so I have a data packet prepared for you. Three of our infantry regiments remain in the southern cities to maintain order and I propose that should you be victorious, they will withdraw without further contest."
Hohiro paused. "My own question to you, Galaxy Commander, is what you offer me as collateral? I am prepared to offer battle with the most powerful force that any of your Clan have thus far faced in your invasion. Whoever wins, this will be a glorious encounter – but you stand to gain one of the key worlds in this region whereas I have no equivalent prize."
There was a derisive laugh as Dieter Osis took in the temerity of the challenge. "You expect to triumph? I see from your transmission that three of your regiments have never seen action and that the last were disbanded years ago and only recently returned to your roster."
"My warriors are young and ambitious, as yours must be. Yet I must answer to older and sager commanders as well, Galaxy Commander. If I have my forces scatter then it could be weeks or months before you can secure Albiero. What is it worth to you that we settle this swiftly in decisive battle?"
"You bargain well – perhaps you know something of us after all. You have my pledge then that should you somehow defeat my forces, Clan Smoke Jaguar will never again seek to take Albiero from the Draconis Combine. The world will stand as eternal monument to your victory, in the unlikely event that you obtain it."
"A generous offer, Galaxy Commander, but I know that there are several other Clans in your invasion force and we are not so far from the Ghost Bears that they might decide to take advantage if you stumble. I propose something more concrete: if by any chance my Yurei regiments and the Genyosha triumph over your forces then you will surrender your warship. I see that it is a sister ship to the vessel which burned the city of Edo from orbit. My superiors will surely understand that I desire a means to strike back at such a dishonourable vessel."
Osis grunted. "You ask much. Very well, but I shall add my own condition. Upon your defeat I demand that you must surrender yourself and also the infantry regiments still stationed on your southern continent. I will not have you slip away like a troublesome surat a second time, quineg?"
Hohiro felt Shin's hand upon his shoulder and saw the Sho-sa shaking his head. "If I survive such a defeat, Galaxy Commander, then I will meet those terms. If I do not, the commanders of the regiments will have my orders to abide by this bargain."
"Bargained well and done, then."
Hohiro cut the microphone.
"Respectfully, Tai-sa, are you mad? Your father would not approve of making yourself the stakes in this battle. If the Smoke Jaguars have you, it will devastate the morale of our people."
"Well the matter is simple. We must simply be victorious."
Shin's voice dropped to a hiss. "You cannot simply decree victory and make it so, your highness!"
"You are correct. I can, however, order a friend to ensure the Smoke Jaguars do not take me alive. If we are defeated here, Shin, ensure that I can be reported as a martyr."
.o0o.
Kyushu River Delta, Albiero
Pesht District, Draconis Combine
20 August 3050
The skies above the river were lit by the drives of more than a dozen dropships as the Smoke Jaguars made their descent.
"He's throwing in everything he has," reported Shin as he watched them through binoculars. His 'Mech, along with scores of others, was submerged to the neck and had been powered down. Between the heavy cloud cover and the thick foliage of the jungle the river ran through, it would be practically impossible to detect them without stumbling directly into them.
"How many of them do you see?"
"I've counted more than a hundred and fifty of their BattleMechs and they look like they were picked for size – I'd say two-thirds of them are sixty tons or more. And there are at least twice that many of their Elemental battlesuits."
Hohiro's new BattleMech was stationed further back, connected for now by a simple fibre-optic cable to Shin's position. Despite the swampy terrain, there were some areas of the delta that were sound enough for 'Mechs and heavy equipment to deploy onto – Hohiro had even kindly pinpointed several to the Smoke Jaguars as part of the 'safcon' that allowed them to land upon Albiero without interference.
Naturally, this positioned the Smoke Jaguars where the swamps were widest and they'd have most trouble reaching the banks of the river – several kilometres away. Failure to take advantage of every reasonable point that could be won in the bargaining would have been criminally negligent.
Although Hohiro had implied that his aerospace fighters were deployed to other worlds, in fact their 'other assignment' was to reserve airfields where they waited, loaded with every anti-shipping missile Theodore Kurita could arrange on short notice. Only a third of the one hundred and forty-two available fighters had the missiles and no more than twenty-five of the missiles were mounted with nuclear warheads but all the senior officers had agreed that if the Smoke Jaguars did bring their warship into play it would have to be destroyed at any cost.
In a similar vein, the value of Albiero lay in its political significance as a Prefectural capital. The industries of the southern continent were negligible after the loss of the advanced mining technologies used under the Star League. The equatorial continent was equipped with many DCMS training facilities however and both their equipment and their personnel had been available to prepare the battlefield for the oncoming battle.
"Wait until the dropships have lifted again," Hohiro instructed. "We don't want them to be low enough to serve an observational purpose."
Shin confirmed the instruction and then looked left at right at his command. Although he was still Hohiro's aide, he was now doubling as commander of the Twenty-Fourth Yurei's First Battalion. While the DCMS personnel from the training bases dug fighting pits and laid traps through the swamp, the technicians of the 'Mech regiments had worked hard to prepare the 'Mechs. Part of that was applying camouflage suitable to the muddy waters and shadowy trees. Since Shin could see only those 'Mechs whose locations he was already aware of, he was sure it had been done well. Hopefully the other preparations were similarly effective.
As the last Smoke Jaguar dropships ascended he dropped back through the hatch of his Phoenix Hawk and buckled himself in. His 'Mechs wouldn't be the first into action but when the time came, he'd need to be ready.
"I've ordered in the hover battalions. Cutting landlines."
Matching Hohiro's command, the fibre-optic connection went dead. Shin punched the button that would eject the end attached to his 'Mech. Behind him, the cable began to snake back through the trees as winches retracted it for future use. He was sure the Smoke Jaguars would approve of preserving the cable for future use, even if they hated the rest of the strategy.
His 'Mechs had been positioned in relatively narrow channels – the wider ones were reserved for this phase of the battle and now the hover tanks – Saracen, Scimitar and Saladin light tanks with powerful engines and weapons – slashed down them and engaged the enemy.
Soon the Delta was alive with the staccato of autocannon and the roar of missiles. The hover tanks couldn't defeat the Smoke Jaguars – if nothing else, there were only three battalions of them in total, but each was playing their own role in softening up the invaders for the next phase of the battle.
Saladin tanks with their assault-grade autocannon were penetrating the armour of the 'Mechs, putting them at risk of flooding vital internal compartments if they got too deep in the river water. The Saladins and Scimitars, for their part, were firing inferno loads with their missile launchers. It almost didn't matter if they needed to hit – the napalm would burn even in these soggy conditions so either a 'Mech took a hit and increased the already high temperatures or the missiles missed and created a new heat source to further confuse the environment.
None of the tanks could take many hits and – Shin winced as there was a flare of light from ahead – inferno missiles could be as much of a menace to those carrying them as those targeted by them. However, the armour crews pressed the attack for five long moments before backing off, turrets turned to the rear to fire defiant final shots into the Clanners as they retreated.
Shin studied the sky and before long three coloured flares burst to life above and in front of his position. The code was somewhat limited, but could be deployed easily by light artillery to anywhere in the swamp. In this case it was pinpointing the location of an advancing Smoke Jaguar trinary.
Fifteen Clan 'Mechs would very probably be more than a match for his battalion under normal conditions. These weren't normal conditions though and Shin punched the emergency start-up button for his reactor. The Smoke Jaguars might notice but they were about to have other problems on their hands.
There was a whistle of artillery fire arching over his position and this time they weren't firing flares. Explosions lit up the trees ahead and Shin started his Phoenix Hawk forwards at a slow walk. It wasn't possible to manage more than this with so much water resistance, but all he really needed was to avoid being a stationary target.
The first Smoke Jaguar 'Mech to wade through the line of trees and deceptively solid looking networks of tree roots was a Mad Dog. The pilot probably didn't even notice the oncoming Yurei 'Mechs as he suddenly found his 'Mech tumbling into the deeper water where engineers had dredged out a deeper channel. Submerged to his 'Mech's shoulders, the MechWarrior couldn't make effective use of his weapons, but two Panthers from Shin's leftmost company were in much better position and the water around them bubbled as they both fired the torpedo launchers replacing their PPCs.
In theory the PPCs would have worked underwater. However, their effective range would have been greatly reduced. The torpedo launchers, on the other hand, were effective out to over six hundred metres and caused far less heat build-up.
As more 'Mechs added their fire, the Mad Dog pilot fought to hold his 'Mech upright long enough and finally punched out. As the Smoke Jaguar's ejection seat rocketed into the cloudy sky, his 'Mech finally collapsed into the water.
"Tag it for recovery," Shin ordered on a low-frequency band.
A second and third 'Mech came into view, an Ebon Jaguar and a much larger Kingfisher assault 'Mech, the latter still with two Elementals clinging to its side. The larger 'Mech crashed heavily into the water, falling completely beneath the surface. As the Yurei MechWarriors closed in, the Ebon Jaguar braced itself behind the trap and fired everything it had into one of the Panthers. The water soaked up much of the impacts but through skill or good fortune, the gauss rifle in one arm caught the Panther's cockpit and the 'Mech joined its opponents on the bottom of the river.
"I have it," ordered Hohiro's voice and the command group joined the battle. Hohiro's modified Hatamoto and the rest of his lance had been refitted with LRM launchers and they fired a salvo up and over the cover of the island they sheltered behind to tear into the soft ground around the feet of the Ebon Jaguar.
With a splash, the heavy 'Mech crashed forwards on top of the Kingfisher, which was trying to stand. Sensing opportunity, the Twenty-Fourth's 'Mechs moved forwards and Shin had to hold himself back, redirecting lances so that they wouldn't leave some of their frontage uncovered. There were more than enough 'Mechs to finish these but there would be twelve more to deal with.
.o0o.
Tenth Lyran Guards Headquarters, Baker 3
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
20 August 3050
A brass band hadn't particularly featured in Kai's expectations for arriving on Baker 3, but there was one anyway – along with General Kelly Danvers of the Ninth Federated Commonwealth Regimental Combat Team, General Alvin Kimmel of the Tenth Lyran Guards and Major-General James McConnel, representing Combat Command Three of the Fifteenth Deneb Light Cavalry.
"Sorry about all the fuss," Kimmel said once he'd shaken Kai's hand. "We're having to make some sacrifices to prop up civilian morale since it looks like we're getting our asses kicked right now."
"I haven't really been able to keep in touch, sir. How badly have we been hit?"
"We'll fill you in on the details later." Danvers took her turn greeting Kai. "Right now, your company is only the fourth command to have any troops successfully make a retreat to our defensive lines."
"Assuming we stretch a point and call what's left of Hot Springs PDZ a defensive line and not worlds the Falcons bypassed." McConnel looked at the band and then the crowd watching. "Give them a wave, Leutenant. Everyone loves a hero. Oh, and try to look interested when the Planetary Governor makes a rousing speech. If you're good you'll get an Ober-Leutenant's rank pin."
"I'm being promoted, sir?"
Kimmel nodded. "You've singlehandedly caused more damage to the Jade Falcons than anyone else so far. Capturing that dropship left the Cluster they sent to Maxie's World marooned for almost a month. It probably only averages a few days impact on their logistics, but every little helps. If you keep your nose clean and your mouth shut you'll probably get a medal too."
"I'm not sure I deserve a medal, sir."
"That's alright, son. You're a Leutenant – sorry, an Ober-Leutenant. No one expects you to make decisions like that. Now I, on the other hand, am a General and in my expert opinion you deserve a promotion and a medal."
Kai turned and saluted in the direction of the crowd. "Sir, what's going to happen about Sakamoto and his arms shipment?"
"Under normal circumstances we'd throw him in a deep dark hole and I'd be inclined to do so, but on the other hand, right now the DCMS are a useful buffer between the Clans and the Draconis March, so he'll probably be let go with a slap on the wrist. We're not customs inspectors, after all, and it's not as if what's he's shipping is more on par with what Danvers and McConnel's people are packing."
"Your time will come, General," McConnel assured Kimmel cheerfully. "Most of your tanks are upgraded now, aren't they? And there are shipments of brand new 'Mechs on their way from Hesperus II."
"That assumes the Clans give us that long. Right now they're mopping up on worlds only one jump away." Kimmel folded his arms behind his back and fixed a confident look on his face, one at odds with his words. "In all likelihood, they'll hit us within a matter of weeks."
.o0o.
Kyushu River Delta, Albiero
Pesht District, Draconis Combine
20 August 3050
Hohiro had deployed the three regiments of Yurei in a loose arc that had steadily closed in upon the Smoke Jaguar landing zone, forcing them back onto islands at the bottom of the estuary. These tended to be a little larger and drier – better defensive ground for them and more of a problem to push them back from.
"Ammunition loads are beginning to run short," Shin warned. While replacing PPCs and lasers with missile launchers had drastically cut the rate at which 'Mechs overheated, it did leave them unusually dependent on ammunition – and that didn't count the four 'Mechs just in Shin's battalion who had reported losing the use of a limb due to what were probably hastily applied seals breaking. If that ratio held true across the whole force then the Yurei had probably a battalion operating on reduced or no combat effectiveness before even enemy fire was taken into account.
Hohiro stopped his 'Mech behind cover. "Understood, Shin. Hold in place." He brought up his radio to full power and sent the same instructions to the rest of the brigade before switching to another frequency. "Tai-sa Asano. I believe it's time to introduce our guests to the Black Ocean."
There was a short "Hai."
The Genyosha had been moving into position for hours. Ideally they would have been deployed before the Smoke Jaguars landed, but it was impossible to predict exactly where they would end up. So instead they'd made a long, slow and careful trek, guided by transmissions from the Yurei command vans well to the rear.
More than seventy BattleMechs reared up out of the water onto sandbars behind the Smoke Jaguars and opened fire with LRMs and PPCs. Dozens of smaller 'Mechs were even closer, feeding targeting data back to the rest of the regiment while they remained in the shallows.
Surprise was total. Many of the Smoke Jaguar 'Mechs at the rear were already damaged and almost all of them had their backs turned towards the Genyosha. BattleMech after BattleMech fell while the survivors scattered and moved for cover. Almost a dozen were on the ground before any credible return fire began to lash out at the DCMS BattleMechs.
The Smoke Jaguars were finally free to make use of their longer range, but many of them had also expended considerable ammunition already while the Genyosha force included well-armoured designs like Archers, Grand Dragons and Hatamoto-kaze 'Mechs. Even the handful of new Naginata 'Mechs that carried most of the C3 Master computers were well armoured and could afford to take a hit or two before their armour was dangerously thinned.
And then, almost as swiftly as they'd appeared, the Genyosha descended back into the water where their heatsinks and the steady flow of river water against their armour would help bleed off the heat generated by their barrage.
Hohiro studied the results relayed from the Genyosha's sensors. "How many casualties do the analysts believe the Jaguars have taken?"
"Based on reports from all engaged troops, we've confirmed more than fifty 'Mech kills. It's harder to be sure of Elementals – at least as many have been killed but the number could be higher – we don't have good data on the damage done by our artillery."
And for every 'Mech disabled there was probably another with its armour depleted and ammunition expended. If we press this, we can destroy them. But at what cost? "Our own losses?"
"Seventy-one 'Mechs have been destroyed or withdrawn as no longer fit for combat. Forty-four more 'Mechs have taken flooding damage – they can fight but only to a limited extent."
Their losses are fewer than mine, but proportionately worse. Of course, my own MechWarriors are also tired and there is no use asking how many can truly fight at full effectiveness. Still… if my own casualties are painful, how must theirs feel? War is fought by men, not machines and they have never been bled like this.
"Very well. Command, relay my transmission to the enemy on the same channel used previously." Hohiro cleared his throat. "Galaxy Commander Dieter Osis. I am Hohiro Kurita. I salute the courage of your warriors." But not the wit of their commander. "It is my understanding that your culture abhors waste and that for this reason a defeated warrior may retreat, rather than throw away valuable war material when there is no longer a chance of victory." He paused checking the pronunciation of the term – the Davion data had been extensive. "I offer you hegira."
There was a crackling on the frequency and then he heard Dieter Osis' voice. "Truly, you have learned much of our ways, Tai-sa Hohiro. You speak the truth – my warriors have fought bravely. It is my own poor bargaining that leaves the Mistweavers in such an untenable position. I accept your offer."
Hohiro sighed in relief before opening his microphone. "Very well. You may bring in your dropships to lift you off world. We will send a hover truck with those prisoners we have taken, return any captives you have taken on the same truck." He drew back his teeth. "I will also send a dropship to rendezvous with our warship. Do ensure there are no difficulties with the handover."
"As I have pledged, so it will be done." Osis' voice lowered slightly. "We will likely never meet again, Hohiro of the Kuritas. But know you have redoubled your value in our eyes. Wherever you go, the Smoke Jaguars will hunt you."
Triumph flooded through Hohiro. "You are mistaken, Smoke Jaguar. It is I who will hunt your clan."
.o0o.
Tenth Lyran Guards Headquarters, Baker 3
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
22 August 3050
To Kai's relief, the formal celebrations of their arrival were set aside after the first day – there was a battle to prepare for, after all. The next day had involved debriefings and MechWarrior Diana had been handed off to Military Intelligence for detailed questioning.
"Am I being punished for something?" groaned Dave Jewell the next morning as they watched a Lyran Guards Griffin approach their barracks. Whoever had built the base had decided to bury slightly more than company-sized 'Mech hangers (who used fourteen-strong companies?) in well-spaced bunkers and build the living quarters for the MechWarriors and support personnel above them, only slightly offset.
"Perhaps you have a guilty conscience from going out drinking last night." Certainly the way he was shading his eyes and wincing every time the Griffin's foot hit concrete suggested a hangover.
"I only ever feel guilty about that if Katherine is waiting for me at home and she should be two hundred light years away so that's probably not it. Why are we up at the crack of dawn, anyway?"
"Blame the generals."
"I miss the old LCAF where the Generals were too busy getting sauced in the evening to schedule anything before noon."
"You really don't," Helen assured him. "Early mornings were the only time we could get anything done without them turning up and giving two or three contradictory orders. So who are we waiting for?"
"According to the last call I got, it's either our new Hauptmann or the military police."
"Why are you expecting the military police, LT?"
Kai gave Dave a wide-eyed look. "Well, that would depend on what you and Double-O got up to last night."
"Shit! I don't think I did anything out of line. Did you punch someone, Double-O?"
She screwed up her nose. "I don't think so. I don't remember so much after my seventh beer."
"Oh great."
The Griffin came to a halt near, but not blocking, the ramp down into the hanger and the hatch popped open. A neurohelmeted head poked out. "Good morning. Is one of you Ober-Leutenant Allard?"
"That's me!"
"Great, let me get my 'Mech squared away and I'll be right back." Leaving the hatch open, the MechWarrior walked it down the stepped slope and out of view.
"New company commander?"
"Looks like it. Who'd give the MPs a 'Mech, anyway?"
"Depends who they're restraining. Did you see what Diana did to Sakamoto's thug on the dropship? If they were escorting her around, I'd want a lance!"
After a few minutes the Griffin's MechWarrior returned, jumpsuit still unzipped at wrists and ankles. "Ober-Leutenant, good to meet you." He offered his hand to Kai. "Hauptmann Caradoc Trevana."
"Ober-Leutenant Kai Allard. This is Feldwebel Dave Jewell and MechWarrior Helen O'Connell-O'Bannon."
"Pleased to meet you." Trevana fished a document out of the folder he was carrying, checked it and then read from it: "By order of General Alvin Kimmel, on the authority invested in him by the Archon's commission, yadda yadda, the detachment of the Eleventh Lyran Guards under the command of Ober-Leutenant Kai Allard-Liao is hereby reassigned to the Tenth Lyran Guards Regimental Combat Team. Said detachment henceforth designated as Company J open-bracket, Joker, close bracket and command of Company J is hereby assigned to Hauptmann Caradoc Trevana. Signed... Well, that looks like General Kimmel's signature to me." He offered the document to Kai.
"Did he just say 'yadda yadda'?" asked Dave under his breath.
"It's a brave new world in the AFFC," Helen confirmed.
Kai checked the document and confirmed it was all in order, despite Trevana's casual recitation. "Hauptmann, I surrender command." He saluted.
Trevana returned the salute, surprisingly crisply. "Ober-Leutenant, I accept command." He looked up at the sky. "I think we might be in for some rain, let's take this inside. How are the rest of the company?"
Kai walked alongside him into the building, followed by Dave and Helen. "Stabsfeldwebel Mackensen and his lance are working with the techs on repairs to their 'Mechs. They seem to think they should be able to fit new arms to his Zeus, which will bring us up to seven operational 'Mechs, eight counting your Griffin. MechWarrior Edgehill has taken three of the other MechWarriors to collect replacement uniforms and personal kits for everyone – they should be back before lunch, unless the supply department make a fuss."
"Sounds good. How's your mess? We can get by without spare uniforms but food is another matter."
"We're all set up. Mackensen checked all the stores and arrangements yesterday."
Trevana nodded. "Okay. I take it your 'Mech is one of the ones that needs more repairs?"
"Yes sir. Rifleman parts are available but with only so much time, the technicians are prioritising 'Mechs that'll be faster to get back in service."
"Kind of necessary, but I understand it's hard on those of you who are effectively dispossessed." Trevana pulled out another piece of paper. "Have the four 'Mechs that can't be repaired in time prepped for transport. General Kimmel has authorised four replacements out of a shipment we've received all the way from Defiance Industries. The damaged 'Mechs will be held in the base's boneyard and repaired as and when the techs have a chance – chances are we'll have a lot more battlefield repairs to carry out in the future."
Kai winced at handing over Legendkiller. "Some of those 'Mechs are family owned, sir."
"Needs of the service. If all goes well, we'll straighten things out after the Falcons are dealt with. If things don't go well then it probably won't matter much to any of us." Trevana shrugged. "Just how it is. Look on the bright side, the 'Mechs are the new Ausf S types – the Tenth are one of the first Lyran Guards units to start receiving them."
"What's Ausf S?" Dave asked. "I thought the Ausf R gear like the refits on my Wolverine were state of the art – well, except the Clans' stuff."
"Ausf S is next generation technology," Kai explained. "I haven't been formally briefed on it, but it's usually not cost-effective to refit for existing 'Mechs. It's only been cleared for a few units until recently – the Marshals didn't want samples falling into hostile hands until they had a significant quantity."
Trevana nodded. "It's supposed to be comparable to the gear the Clans use."
"We could have done with that on Maxie's Planet," muttered Helen.
"We live in an imperfect universe," Trevana told her. "If it makes you feel better, the Jade Falcons probably don't have any idea what they're going to run into here and on the other worlds that have been reinforced nearby. The Deneb Light Cavalry and Federated Commonwealth RCTs are completely upgraded to Ausf S equipment and they've been training on simulations built around data from battles like yours. This is where we stop them cold."
.o0o.
Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
29 August 3050
"I've already ceded all the old St Ives worlds," Hanse Davion pointed out. "I'm not returning the Sarna March, so you're going to have to live with that."
"You've made some impressive statements regarding bringing the Capellan Confederation into the Federated Commonwealth as an equal, but I'm seeing very little action on your part to back that up." Never in a hundred years would Sun-Tzu have dared to address his mother in such a fashion but Hanse Davion, despite his fearsome reputation, somehow didn't appear to be quite so intimidating. Besides his future rather depended on being a credible negotiator on behalf of his aunt.
The First Prince tugged at his uniform tunic. "I'd be willing to consider some minor border adjustments – the Zilang salient perhaps. And the removal of trade barriers should drastically bolster your economy."
"Removing some of the late Chancellor's… excessive regulations is already underway. However, I believe most Capellans will react poorly to being ruled from Tharkad or New Avalon without even the restraints that exist on the legal authority our Chancellor."
"I don't recall that those restraints had much effect on your mother."
Sun-Tzu restrained a flinch. "I concede that no system is perfect, however your own system is even more vulnerable to absolutism. And I'd add that you've already demanded several Capellan regiments to help fight in defence of your wife's domain. What do we receive from this union?"
"I see why Candace wanted you on her negotiating team." Hanse took another forkful of salad, the discussions being carried out on an informal basis.
Also, as Sun-Tzu gathered, the Prince's eldest daughter was taking medical courses at NAIS and had leveraged this with her mother to enforce a change of diet. If the food was causing him discomfort, that only supported Sun-Tzu's position. He used his own fork to spear a meatball and deliberately chewed on it.
"I won't deny your position has some merit," conceded the older man. "Since territorial gains aren't really practical on the scale you've suggested, do you have an alternative proposal?"
"As it happens." Sun-Tzu reached down and opened his attaché case, producing a slim file. When he looked back at his plate he could have sworn there was a meatball missing and Hanse was chewing vigorously.
"Do you steal candy too?"
Hanse's eyes twinkled dangerously. "I have absolutely no idea what you mean."
"Perhaps I should ask your daughter."
A spoonful of grated carrots was deposited on his plate. "Eat your vegetables, young man. Katherine assures me they're good for you."
How much of this was… eccentricity and how much was the Fox trying to play him. "Is this a convoluted match-making scheme? She isn't precisely 'my type', if you will."
He was gratified to see Hanse colour visibly. "Alright, what exactly is in that file?"
"You might call it a draft."
Hanse accepted the file and leafed through the papers as he finished his salad. "You want me to create a permanent legislative assembly?"
"In theory you already have on in the form of the Federated Suns High Council, although it's remarkably toothless compared to the House of Scions as matters stand – much less the Estates General. Representation from every world in the Federated Commonwealth, chosen by whatever method suits the world, gives everyone a voice and by extension a stake in the future of the Federated-Commonwealth."
"And headed by a board of Prefects from each March, elected by the representatives of each March, one of whom then serves as Chancellor and represents the assembly in the Archon-Prince's cabinet. It seems familiar from somewhere."
"The system has worked, more or less, for over five hundred years." Sun-Tzu tilted his head in thought. "As I recall, the Federated Suns has had to restructure their entire government twice in that time."
"Touché." Hanse reached the end and then flipped back through, checking points of interest. "We'll have to let the lawyers and diplomats look at this, but in principle it seems to have potential. Selling it to the Estates-General will be Melissa's job though and she may co-opt you, so you have fair warning."
"Just for that, restore Monhagen to the Capellan Commonality along with the worlds of the Zilang salient."
The First Prince scowled and scribbled a note on his own documents. "I'll consider it."
There was a knock on the door and Hanse brightened as he saw his nephew. "Ah, reinforcements. Help me Morgan, he keeps trying to talk me out of more Capellan March worlds."
Morgan gave him a look. "It's like an anti-drugs campaign, Hanse. Just say 'no'."
"That doesn't help very much. So what brings you here?"
"The Clans have reached Defence Line Gamma. Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon have landed troops on nine worlds."
Sun-Tzu saw the light-hearted Hanse drop away in an instant, replaced by the warrior prince.
"And?"
Morgan nodded. "They came in the same way they have so far. They don't appear to have suspected a thing."
"Then…" Hanse clenched one hand. "We have them!"
"As the spider said to the fly," murmured Sun-Tzu. "Or like a tiger by the tail?"
.o0o.
New Yukonberg, Skokie
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
3 September 3050
Garth Radick's Dire Wolf brought one foot down on the upper deck of the AFFC hover tank and he deliberately tilted the assault 'Mech to apply its full weight upon a chassis that usually only supported a third of the mass. The tank, a near copy of the SLDF's Lightning hover tank, crumpled under the impact.
Crude brawling in a BattleMech was hardly conduct worth of a Khan, but the defenders of this world hadn't even pretended to respect zellbrigen. Securing the landing zone had cost almost an entire trinary of aerospace fighters – if it weren't for the Smoke Jaguar's disgrace he would have been tempted to call forward a warship to cover the vulnerable dropships but now that was impractical.
And despite this, he had yet to see a single enemy 'Mech.
Hover tanks, like this one, certainly. Artillery scuttling around behind cover and launching missiles that scoured away armour and elementals.
Garth checked his map. "Through the next pass," he reminded his escort. "Our aerospace patrols reported sighting a heavy armoured battalion outside the town."
The MechWarriors growled – like wolves, he thought - and moved back into formation as they headed up the slope, faster Man O'War and Timber Wolf Omni-Mechs ranging forwards behind a Star of five Ice Ferret mediums. His own Dire Wolf was by far the slowest machine in the trinary, but Garth considered that a reasonable trade-off for its awesome firepower.
The pass was thinly wooded along the mountain flanks but a good road followed the easiest slope upwards and the trees near it had been cut down recently and reseeded with saplings not yet even as tall as an Elemental. There wasn't enough cover for an ambush and the Wolves were able to push the pace.
Near the top of the pass there was a sharp change with the trees here older and taller. The pines still offered minimal cover for anything the size of a BattleMech or tank but they were much taller and the gaps between them would allow ready movement by combat units.
"Watch out for more hover tanks," warned Garth.
Nothing came into view though, until the road curved to one side and the pass opened out to reveal their destination. New Yukonberg was a small town, nothing but a dot on the map Garth was using, but the valley around it was terraced for some kind of agriculture and Radick could see a monorail terminus so there must be some economic value to it. If the defenders had brought their tanks here by rail they would find it harder to remove them since air-strikes had severed the line in several places.
"There's a 'Mech down there!" exclaimed one of his MechWarriors.
"Where!"
"It just moved behind the monorail."
Garth's pulse quickened. "Are you sure it wasn't a work-Mech?"
"Definitely not. It moved well and there was a muzzle on the end of one arm."
"Could you make out any markings?"
"Black and red. I didn't see any – there it is again!"
Turning his head, Garth spotted it this time as it moved between two buildings. Lean and aggressively styled, he could almost see the head as wolf-like. The warbook didn't bring up any matches.
"Where there is one there will likely be others," he cautioned them. "If this is a new design, we want to capture it sufficiently intact for analysis. Star Commander Roberto, take your command forward and cut off his retreat. And keep an eye out for the tanks that were reported, quiaff?"
"Aff." Roberto's Ice Ferrets, cut free of maintaining position relative to the other two Stars, surged forwards and quickly left them behind.
Garth loped down towards the town, not rushing the pace. He switched on his external speakers. "This is Khan Garth Radick of Clan Wolf. Who defends this town?"
To his surprise, there was a reply – not from a speaker but transmitted on Clan Wolf's standard tactical frequency. "Garth Radick. I don't recall that name. You must have been whelped after my time."
"Who is this?" he demanded, checking his sensors. "Where are you?"
"I'm the Black Widow," the woman replied. "And you've entered my web, Garth Radick."
"Black Widow? I know of no one by that name. Are you some kind of mercenary?"
She laughed at him.
"And why would you expect to know the name of a Khan..." The pieces fell together in his mind. "You were one of the Wolf Dragoons!"
"I still am." And then her voice sharpened. "I've been waiting a long time for this. Close the jaws!"
A wave of sharp, crisp explosions behind them toppled trees along the top of the pass, turning several hundred pines into an improvised abatis that might not stop a 'Mech but could very likely slow it. Garth had almost no attention to spare for this however as tank after tank surged up and out of the ground, camouflage mats torn aside and in some cases entire faux-buildings collapsing.
"Ambush!" he ordered. "Attack!"
Back would have them cut apart as they tried to negotiate the fallen trees, while tanks – whatever their number – were inherently inferior to BattleMechs.
No one, however, appeared to have informed these tanks of that and as they ground their way across the valley, each poured volley after volley of long-range missiles into his 'Mechs. Inner Sphere LRMs were notoriously ineffectual at ranges below two hundred metres due to their inferior arming mechanisms but this didn't hinder these tanks appreciably – those of the Keshik who closed in were still subjected to the LRMs and also to lasers, SRMs and autocannon.
"This is worse than fighting the Hells Horses!" Garth fired everything he had into what his targeting computer called a Manticore heavy tank.
The tank's armour peeled away and his missiles tore the left track to shreds but the turret still came around and a laser stabbed into the armour of one leg before a mismatched pair of missile launchers launched more than two dozen missiles into him.
The warbook pinged an anomaly – the targeting system for the Manticore's SRM launcher was a Streak type only used by the SLDF and Clan units. Then it pinged again, highlighting the LRM launcher as being too large for the known Manticore capabilities.
Garth lowered one arm to point it directly into the rents he'd caused already and fired all the lasers and autocannon mounted in it. Smoke poured from the tank's hull and then a column of fire erupted out of the turret as ammunition stores detonated.
These tanks have been upgraded, he realised. Their technology is... our own?
"Khan Radick, we must withdraw."
Shaking his head at the foolishness, there was no route to do so, Garth looked downhill towards Star Commander Roberto. "Roberto, see if you can get your 'Mechs out. You should be faster than most of their units."
"They are between us and the route south," reported the young officer. "I count thirty-two 'Mechs. Older types, but they are hitting us with weapons that match our range."
"It appears that the Wolf Dragoons have turned renegade." The Khan pushed his 'Mech into a run, spraying fire across a pair of tanks that tried to move into his path. "Form a wedge, we shall try to punch through and re-join Roberto."
"Yeah, I'm thinking not." The same woman's voice from before and Garth's eyes widened as the 'Mech from before moved into view, accompanied by many more. Most were much larger than the unfamiliar design and his sensors finally identified the source of the transmissions – a Cyclops assault 'Mech, infamous for their advanced tactical computers.
The 'Mech fired and Garth wasn't at all surprised that the lasers in the arms, far from being the anaemic medium lasers the warbook predicted, were fully as powerful as the extended range lasers on his own Dire Wolf.
Normally that wouldn't have made it an even match – the Dire Wolf was larger and carried a weapon payload unparalleled even to the Clans - but he'd already taken damage and Kerensky moved the Cyclops fluidly out of the path of his return fire before snapping off another shot from one laser and adding fire from the autocannon and LRM battery mounted in the sides of her 'Mech's torso.
The gyro of the Dire Wolf fought to keep the large 'Mech upright despite the smashing impacts, the rough ground and the speed Garth was demanding. It took all his skill to avoid a fall and at least one of his Keshik wasn't as successful as a Timber Wolf skidded down the hill, tumbling. The tanks behind them didn't hesitate to hammer ruthlessly at the fallen 'Mech.
He hammered at the Cyclops with his own autocannon, demanding maximum rate of fire from the weapons. If they jammed, they jammed. Right now, he didn't estimate his chances of staying alive long enough to empty the magazines as being particularly high. One stream of shells caught the Cyclops just below the shoulder, leaving a line of craters right below what he now recognised as the baying wolf insignia of their former reconnaissance force.
"What could they have possibly have offered you to defect?" he demanded. "You are a warrior of Clan Wolf! The Founder's own chosen Clan!"
"You probably wouldn't understand." The Cyclops halted and Garth saw the air around it ripple with heat as it unleashed its every weapon directly at him. The arm pod containing all the weapons on his 'Mech's left arm went black on the damage display. Looking out of the cockpit showed that it was still there – some control linkage must have been severed. "Let me put it this way: what do the Clans have to offer me? A place in a Solahma unit or wiping the nose of snot-nosed pups who don't know a 'Mech from a knocking shop?"
She fired again, ignoring the fire that Garth and even the 'Mech next to him – possibly the only other survivor of the Keshik, he wasn't sure – poured into her Cyclops as they closed the distance.
"I'm General Natasha Kerensky of the Wolf Dragoons." She stepped forwards into the charge and with more precision than he'd seen in even some of the best warriors, kicked one leg out from under his Dire Wolf even as one hand latched onto its shoulder and yanked.
The Dire Wolf crashed face first into the ground and Garth Radick tasted blood in his mouth. For a moment he thought he'd bitten his tongue and then he saw that the canopy had broken inwards, shards digging into his chest.
Kerensky's voice still came through his speakers. "I'm the Black Widow of Beta Regiment. And I'm about to kill a Khan of Clan Wolf."
Garth craned his neck around just in time to see the muzzle of Kerensky's autocannon come to bear on what was left of his cockpit.
.o0o.
Medellin Ford, Baker 3
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
6 September 3050
It was an absurd coincidence that the Jade Falcons chasing Joker Company towards the river were from the same Cluster that had fought most of them on Maxie's Planet. At least Hauptmann Trevana had received a heads-up from the RCT's intelligence section that the Ninety-Fourth Striker Cluster had been declared as part of the invasion force. If Kai and the others had encountered them without warning it would have been a nasty shock.
They were also gaining swiftly as the ford came into view around a bend in the road.
Trevana spun his Griffin around. "The river's high," he announced. "Anyone who can't jump, get across now. Those of us with jump-jets will buy some time and then you give us supporting fire as we cross."
As reorganised under Trevana, his command lance included Dave Jewell's Wolverine and both the new Griffins, so they formed the core of the defensive line. Kai pulled aside to join the line along with Welf Vandermeer's Phoenix Hawk while Maria and Helen headed for the ford, neither the Sentinel nor the Hunchback had jump-jets. Abigail Twoflowers' Hatchetman moved around to join Kai, giving him an impromptu and understrength lance to work with.
He was still getting used to the Hatchetman. He'd tried out the earlier models used in the Fourth Succession War in simulators back at the Academy, but this Ausf S version felt entirely different – you could very much feel the larger engine through the seat of your shorts and it was an uncompromising close-combat machine.
The first 'Mech around the corner was a Stormcrow – not the model with the assault autocannon, fortunately – and it bolted to one side as it registered that the Falcon's prey had turned to fight. Lasers spat out at Trevana's lance and they returned fire with PPCs and Jewell's autocannon.
Meanwhile, a pair of Kit Foxes had followed the Stormcrow into them and Kai bounded forwards, cutting heatsinks out of the Hatchetman's coolant system. It was a delicate balancing act – too much and he could seriously damage the 'Mech, too little and he wouldn't trigger the advanced myomers.
A laser slashed into the right chest of his 'Mech from the Kit Fox in front of him. He returned fire with both the left arm lasers and the autocannon, feeling the temperature rise in the cockpit. The lasers stabbed into the Kit Fox's leg while the autocannon tore through the chest armour in a single long stream of depleted uranium penetrators.
On his cockpit displays, the heat gauge hit yellow and the 'Mech surged forwards. The advanced myomers that powered its limbs reached peak performance, well above that of other 'Mechs, only when heated to what would impair other 'Mechs. Fortunately, most Mechs had little difficulty building up heat.
Kai brought the right arm of the Hatchetman down and the axe that gave the 'Mech its name clove through the Kit Fox's right shoulder and deep into the systems buried in the chest. He wrenched it free and then Welf caught up, seizing either side of the massive wound with the hands of his Phoenix Hawk and triggering the lasers and machineguns underslung in the 'Mech's forearms. The Kit Fox crashed to the ground as its gyro was torn apart, almost dragging Welf's 'Mech with it.
Abigail hadn't had the same back-up, or managed to quite handle her heat as precisely. Still, she outweighed the Kit Fox and even without the myomers reaching peak performance, she could match its mobility. The hatchet on her 'Mech had jammed into the barrel of the Kit Fox's main gun and the two 'Mechs were almost wrestling.
That was when the rest of the Jade Falcon Star arrived – a Stormcrow and a Mad Dog.
"Back up to the shore," ordered Trevana. The Stormcrow he'd been firing at was still returning fire but it had lost one arm. He fired his jump-jets and the Griffin bounded backwards, missiles spitting from its launcher and striking the ground between the Stormcrow's feet.
Kai thumbed a switch on his right joystick and his autocannon cycled. "Abigail, hold still." Then he pulled the trigger, hosing the Kit Fox down with cluster ammunition. The armour over the Jade Falcon's right arm shattered, releasing the hatchet.
The delay though, meant that the two of them were the last to withdraw and the Mad Dog walked pulse lasers across Kai's Hatchetman before firing both the missile launchers built into its torso. Advanced myomers or not, the 'Mech couldn't carry any more armour and the missile warheads cracked plates of ferro-fibrous protection all across the front of the Hatchetman.
Caught firing his jump jets, Kai stabbed down with one foot instinctively to rebalance his thrust to counter the shifting weight. Abigail's 'Mech spiralled wildly and he realised one leg was missing below the knee, so she'd lost several jump-jets.
For a moment he thought they were going to collide but then she cut power to jets and her 'Mech crashed down to the ground, short of the river.
The two Stormcrows darted forwards, after her. Kai triggered his autocannon and swept cluster rounds across the one Trevana's lance had been engaging earlier. The cluster rounds tore into the already damaged armour and the 'Mech retreated, limping.
The other speared the fallen Hatchetman with lasers, the beams punching through the left side of the chest. Armoured panels blew out as ammunition detonated, directing the worst of the blast out of the rear of the 'Mech. For a moment Kai thought Abigail had been knocked unconscious by the explosion as her Hatchetman slumped but then both arms pushed at the ground, elevating far enough for the head module to eject, arcing across the river and away from the Clans.
More Jade Falcon 'Mechs moved into view as Trevana's lance concentrated their fire on the Mad Dog. "Back across the river," ordered Trevana.
Kai noted that his 'Mech's temperature had fallen below the myomer threshold and obeyed quickly, firing both lasers in mid-air, scoring through the armour on the Stormcrow that had taken out Abigail's 'Mech.
As they bounded back across the ford, a volley from the 'Mechs on the other side smashed into the Mad Dog and Kai saw the left side missile launcher explode as missiles in the internal magazines detonated. As with Abigail's Mech, the internal structures saved the rest of the 'Mech and it didn't even fall.
"Good work." Trevana's voice was cool – for all his casualness about routine military affairs, he seemed to have a level head in action. "Edgehill, go pick up Twoflowers."
"Can we hold them here?" asked Mackensen. "I'm kind of sick of retreating from these bastards."
"Holding them isn't exactly the plan." Trevana crouched his 'Mech. "Watch your heads."
"What...?"
Well behind the ford, concealed in thick undergrowth, twelve tracked vehicles elevated their turrets and massive missiles blasted forth, the back-blast shredding the vegetation that had concealed them from aerial scouts.
The first thing the Jade Falcons bunched up at the ford knew about this was when the missiles rose above the horizon. And then they descended, masking the battered trinary from Kai's view. The rear-most five 'Mechs had been carrying Elementals and he could have sworn he saw one hurled a hundred feet up in the air.
Then a second salvo of missiles hit the Falcons.
"Nice when these things work out." Trevana straightened his 'Mech. "I always worry the cannoncockers will land the missiles short and shoot up our own positions. To answer your question, Stabsfeldwebel, we aren't going to hold them here." He brought up his PPC and fired into the conflagration. "We're going to annihilate them here."
.o0o.
Reyhavik, Rasalhague
Wolf Occupation Zone
10 September 3050
Ulric Kerensky raised his hand for silence. Not all of the Clan Council were present but with HPG links established through most of the Occupation Zone he could at least assemble a quorum through remote attendees. Even so, a significant number of Bloodnamed were unavailable at the leading edge of the invasion.
"I have assembled the Clan Council to inform you all of recent events. We have encountered what may be the greatest threat to Operation Revival encountered so far."
A hologram of a star map appeared in the centre of the chamber, once used by the Rasalhague Riksdag. "Only days ago we began the fifth wave of attacks into the Inner Sphere. With Rasalhague's Kirchbach Province completely under our control, we were faced with the Radstadt salient, a line of Federated Commonwealth worlds that almost cuts Rasalhague in two. As this gives the Federated Commonwealth access deep inside Rasalhague and even allows them to cross it and strike at the Draconis Combine, it is no surprise that information suggested we would be dealing with powerful defensive works and large, well prepared garrisons. In addition, Tamar is a regional capital of the Federated Commonwealth."
"Five initial targets were bid for and saKhan Garth Radick secured the rights to invade Skokie and Moritz with elements of Beta Galaxy, which was fully committed with the Third Battle Cluster and 341st Assault Cluster striking at Moritz while Khan Radick led the remainder of the Galaxy to land on Skokie. Khan Radick was offered, and declined, the option to bid elements of Epsilon Galaxy alongside Beta Galaxy."
Ulric paused for effect. "Fighting on the other three targeted worlds - Kandis, Stanzach and Radstadt - remains very much in the balance and at this time I am unwilling to draw on our reserves to launch the intended invasion of Tamar until we have secured at least one of these worlds. Beta Galaxy has been driven from Moritz and Skokie with heavy casualties. Khan Radick fell in battle."
He let the angry shouts exhaust echo around the chamber before bringing up another hologram. "This is Galaxy Commander Natasha Kerensky. Almost fifty years ago she was among the officers entrusted to lead the Wolf Dragoons to study the Inner Sphere and report back on the worlds and militaries here. All indications are that she personally killed Khan Radick."
"She is of your Bloodhouse, Ulric!" Conal Ward had not bid his command unit for the fighting on Radstadt and so he was able to attend in person. "Why is she fighting against us?"
"That remains to be determined. Our last contact with Galaxy Commander Kerensky took place in 3019. As most of you will be aware, we have as our guest on Rasalhague Precentor Martial Anastasius Focht, representing ComStar. As their military commander he is familiar with Inner Sphere military leaders and may be able to shed light upon her more recent activities."
"I remember Natasha Kerensky." Cyrilla Ward spoken from the home worlds. As leader of her Bloodhouse her career had spanned decades. More importantly, Conal would not dare directly challenge the head of the Wards in front of the Clan Council. "I would hear what this man has to say about her."
Ulric pressed a control and a moment later the robed Precentor Martial entered the chamber. "Khan Kerensky. I am at your service."
"You are familiar with the Wolf Dragoons?" asked Cyrilla Ward bluntly.
Focht turned to face her. "They have been a subject of interest to ComStar for decades."
"And Natasha Kerensky."
His one eye narrowed. "Yes. I remember Natasha Kerensky… vividly. She has that sort of personality."
Conal leant forwards. "Has Ulric told you that she was part of Clan Wolf?"
"I suspected a connection. However we have not discussed the matter before today."
"We are getting away from the point," Ulric warned. "Precentor Martial, please summarise what you know of her since, shall we say 3019."
The Precentor Martial furrowed his brow in thought. "She commanded a semi-independent raiding force known as the Black Widow Company – directly answerable to Jaime Wolf rather than one of the Dragoon regimental commanders. During the Dragoons' employment by House Steiner and House Kurita she was frequently assigned status equivalent to a senior officer despite her low rank. Following Jaime Wolf's death on Crossing in 3029 she was functionally and later formally in command of the Wolf Dragoons."
"In 3030 she ended the mercenary status of the Dragoons, pledging them to the AFFS. At this time they were significantly reduced in strength and it was rumoured that without Hanse Davion's support they might have been unable to rebuild."
"The Dragoons joined the Federated Commonwealth!?" Conal shouted.
"The Federated Suns, at the time, yes." Focht's voice was mild.
"And later?" asked Ulric.
"She acted as commander in the field for the Dragoons – for most of the 3030s they maintained Alpha Regiment on their home world as a quasi-garrison and training unit while she commanded Beta Regiment in the field. More recently with additional Dragoon regiments reformed the regiments have been on a more equal footing but she remains the Beta Regiment commander in addition to holding the AFFC rank of General. I would expect her to be on Skokie with her regiment at this time."
Ulric nodded. "That is the case, Precentor Martial."
"Why would she side with Davion?"
"That has been a matter of some curiosity for my Order," Focht admitted. "The prevailing theory at the time was that she wished to strike back at the Draconis Combine, which arguably betrayed the Dragoons and certainly inflicted very heavy losses on them. It seemed reasonable that having broken the back of the Capellan Confederation that Hanse Davion would next turn his attention to the Draconis Combine. In that sense they would have a common cause."
"And yet there has been no major war in the Inner Sphere since then."
"Much to everyone's surprise, no."
The Khan folded his hands behind his back. "Very interesting. Does anyone else have questions for the Precentor Martial?"
Star Colonel Mikel Furey rose to his feet. "ComStar provided information to Khan Kerensky to aid in planning our operations. For example, identifying the Fifth Donegal Guards, the Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers and elements of the Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry as being on Stanzach."
"That is true."
"I have reviewed this information as well as the battle reports from Gamma Galaxy clusters engaged on Stanzach. Not once in your data is it mentioned that the combat vehicles used by all three units – and in the case of the Deneb Light Cavalry their 'Mechs as well – are equipped with weapons and armour effectively the equal of our own."
The room went silent. Focht gripped the podium. "Equal to your own?"
"Our technicians salvaged armour and weapons from several disabled tanks. Testing confirmed that they not only match our capabilities, they are completely compatible with our systems. I am assured that this cannot be coincidence – someone has given the Inner Sphere our technology. And you, Focht, you kept this fact from us."
"I can offer you my absolute assurance that no one in my Order was aware of this. I freely confess that our information must have been incomplete but there was no duplicity."
"And how do we know that your Primus is not in collusion with Davion?"
Focht's lips twitched. "Galaxy Commander, when I inform Primus Waterly that Hanse Davion has armed his forces with weapons equal to your own it is entirely possible you will hear her outrage from here without an HPG."
.o0o.
Gamora, Twycross
Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
11 September 3050
"I am sorry to have delayed our meeting." Elias Crichell gestured apologetically towards the hologram of his saKhan 'sat' across the desk from him. "Civilian matters in our enclave here have been pressing."
"It is a rare warrior who prioritises the administration of the Clan over battle." Timur Malthus' words didn't precisely suggest whether that rarity was a good thing... or the reverse.
The older Khan didn't react directly to the implied criticism. Instead he called up a document on the holographic display built into his desk and flicked it. Obediently the computer systems queued it for transfer to Malthus own matching computer, light years away. There was barely a flicker as the added data was transmitted.
"One of the scientists assessing the resources of this prize found a decades old report on Jonah's Reach, one of the outer planets in this system. The spheroids had no idea what they had found but I am assured that its frozen oceans can be exploited as a source of harjel."
Malthus blinked. "That would break the Diamond Shark's monopoly." Harjel, critical in the sealant used in Elemental battle suits and specialised underwater equipment, was absurdly lucrative and there was only one source in the Clan Home worlds.
"Precisely. Let the Wolves boast of taking Rasalhague. This alone will bring great wealth to Clan Jade Falcon, more than enough to support all our operations here so far. It may take as much as a year to develop it but it is well out of the reach of the other Clans. We should have come here decades ago."
"Elizabeth Hazen would have agreed with you." Crichell's predecessor had been a fervent Crusader and had died only a few short years ago. Kael Pershaw limped forwards and into the view of the holo cameras built into the desk. Officially the commander of Sigma Galaxy, his primary responsibility was the Clan Jade Falcon's intelligence gathering service. Pershaw still clung to warrior status - somehow - despite the substitution of cybernetics for almost half his body.
"Pershaw." Malthus turned to glare at him. "What do you have to bring to this conversation?"
"If your report is what I suspect, confirmation that we are not the only Clan to face reversals."
Crichell blinked. "Reversals? What do you mean?"
"It seems the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth have finally gathered in sufficient numbers to put up noticeable resistance," Malthus admitted reluctantly. "All three of our initial targets for this wave are defended by at least two of their BattleMech regiments and far more capable armoured units than we have encountered so far. We have almost exhausted the supplies allocated for the wave in only a week of fighting."
"We were aware that we would be reaching better defended worlds soon. And if their numbers are larger than previously, you set the cutdown for bidding at two Clusters for each of them – how many of the worlds we have taken so far have required so many of our warriors?"
"The commanders on Dell, Parakoila and Baker 3 have both requested and been granted permission to bring in forces equal to more conservative bids. On Zoetermeer, I had to overrule the bidding and send in the Gyrfalcon Solahma Cluster under my authority as Khan to stabilise our position. Replacing the casualties will effectively mean stripping the Gyrfalcon's Eyrie to the point of disbanding it – we will need the equipment anyway."
Crichell slammed one fist against the desk. "You mean all four worlds have yet to fall, quiaff?"
"Aff." Malthus scowled. "Obviously, it now will not be feasible to launch follow-up attacks on the worlds beyond them for now. I have cancelled the rest of the Fifth Wave targets except for Vulcan. Taking those worlds can pass for continued progress and we can explain it as allowing our supply convoys to catch up."
"And who will take Vulcan if all three of our Galaxies are tied down fighting for the initial targets?"
"I have ordered a Cluster detached from each Galaxy and I will command them myself." The saKhan folded his arms. "It is likely that Vulcan is fortified as well as the others but this time we will be aware of it before we land."
"You had better succeed. The ilKhan has ordered a Grand Council meeting before the end of the year and if our Clan is humiliated in front of the other Khans I doubt that the Clan Council will be forgiving."
Pershaw shook his head, light glittering off the lens that replaced one eye. "Neither Khan Kerensky nor Khan Osis will be in position to scorn our battles, Khan Crichell."
"The Wolves are striking at five worlds in this wave when we are in danger of failing to take four, quineg."
"As Khan Malthus has discovered, striking at a world is not the same as taking it. It appears that all of Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon's initial targets for the fifth wave of attacks are part of the same defensive line." Pershaw's lips thinned. "The Wolves have overreached themselves and Khan Radick has paid the price for his failure. My sources have not reported the full extent of their casualties but none of their targets are close to falling. As such, not only will Ulric Kerensky not dare use Khan Malthus' difficulties against us, he will be forced to support us or share whatever censure we might face from the other Khans."
Timur Malthus' eyes blazed as he realised from the phrasing that responsibility for the failures would be vested in him. "I have reported my intentions, Khan Crichell. The preparations for seizing Vulcan in our talons demand my attention so I will leave you to political matters."
Crichell nodded and cancelled the connection, turning to Pershaw. "As unnatural as it seems, for once we may need to ally ourselves with Ulric Kerensky. See if you can find out how he intends to explain this to the Grand Council so that we may position ourselves accordingly."
"The Crusaders among the Wolves are being unusually reticent. It seems likely that Khan Radick will be carrying much of the blame since he is unable to defend himself and as he was an outspoken Crusader his former allies may be caught in the stigma."
"Conal Ward is far too devious to allow Ulric the opportunity to discredit him. He will have a stratagem in mind." The senior Jade Falcon Khan shook his head. "And you mentioned Khan Osis earlier. What news of the Smoke Jaguars?"
Pershaw seemed to sneer. "They have compounded their failure to control Turtle Bay by now failing to take the world of Albiero in the last wave of attacks. They have had to draw on their reserves to launch a second Trial of Possession but that is far from the greatest embarrassment for Lincoln Osis."
"Do not make me pry this out of you, Galaxy Commander."
"Khan Osis has executed Galaxy Commander Dieter Osis for handing over a warship to the Combine."
"...this is a joke, quiaff?" Crichell demanded.
"Neg. The Combine commander demanded an equivalent prize to Albiero if he was victorious and they agreed upon the Smoke Jaguar warship Iowa. It is possible that it will still be over Albiero to be recaptured when the Smoke Jaguars arrive but it seems unlikely that the Combine will be so careless."
.o0o.
Asgard, Tharkad
Donegal March, Lyran Commonwealth
15 September 3050
Like the equivalent facility on New Avalon, the Lyran Commonwealth State Command's headquarters was buried deep under a mountain where it was proof against even nuclear bombardment. First established when the Lyran capital was moved from Arcturus, the defences had been upgraded in the last few years to account for the possibility of an Elemental assault.
Displays took up four walls of the hexagonal chamber at the heart of the complex and bank after bank of operators updated them to provide whatever details might be needed by the commanders at the centre.
Right now, each wall was split into two panels – one panel for each of the eight worlds hit so far by the fifth wave of Clan attacks.
"We weren't able to stop the landings on any of the worlds but we've pinned them down since then," Nondi Steiner informed him, gesturing to the data being displayed. "Kandis is the only place we're still losing ground – we lost almost an entire combat command of the Eleventh Federated Commonwealth RCT when the Wolves managed to pincer them between two clusters. The Crucis Lancers contained the situation but they took significant losses of their own."
"Can we move in reinforcements?" asked Ardan.
"The nearest world with uncommitted regiments is Tamar itself and Duke Kelswa would be displeased if we pulled troops off his capital." The other Marshal scanned the displays and then touched her console. Operators replaced part of the display with a star chart annotated with unit deployments and available jumpships. "Sevren hasn't been attacked and we could have Combat Command Gamma of the Tenth Deneb Light Cavalry on Kandis in perhaps ten days."
"It's an option." He saw her half-turn. "I'm not going to micromanage you, Marshal Steiner. I have no objection to the redeployment but if you think it's too much of a risk then I'll back you whichever decision you make."
"I've given advance notice to them, pending the next report from Minister Allard's agents in the occupation zones. That will be two to four days. The situation on Kandis isn't ideal but unless reserves are thrown in, they Wolves are unlikely to push us off world in the next two weeks."
Ardan nodded.
"The supply situation isn't quite at the worst case scenario but we're still well above the rate of replenishment for our forward stockpiles."
"You have first priority," he promised. "Defiance is working three shifts on the problem and we should be able to start moving shipments through the Terran Corridor by the end of the year."
Nondi nodded. "I wasn't sure about that when it was first proposed but now I'm glad the Archon pushed that through."
Defiance Industries, backed by a massive loan from the Federated Commonwealth treasury, had begun construction of a new set of factories deep inside the Crucis March. Begun only the previous year, when competed the factories would almost double the Federated Commonwealth's production of consumables such as ammunition and replacement armour for Ausf S units. Almost as much of the budget was being spent on security for the sites as was being spent to bring the factories online as fast as possible. When completed, the new Defiance sites would be almost as secure as their legendarily fortified facilities on Hesperus II.
"I admit, it would be preferable in some ways to have the site be closer to the frontlines – the shipments have to travel almost as far as the Clans have to bring their own supplies."
"The denser traffic should cut the time down." Nondi reminded him. "And in the worst case, having the factories out of the Clans reach is more important. The last thing we'd want is for them to capture a site like that. It would drastically simplify their logistics and that's their biggest weakness."
"Speaking of factories that might fall into their hands..."
"Trellshire Heavy Industries are taking apart their tooling as they complete their current production run of heavy tanks. The first shipments will be going out early next month. It means no Demolishers or Sturmfeurs for the AFFC after these though – setting up the new assembly plant will take longer than taking the old one down."
"That doesn't surprise me. At least they're only going to Outreach. It's not as far as the Crucis March. How about Olivetti?"
"The Warhammer line is being broken down but their tank factory has a bad case of 'just one more'. To be fair, are faster to build than eighty ton heavy tanks. I don't think they'll seriously start packing away their facilities until the Clans are inbound on Sudeten."
"And they'll throw a fit if we try pushing them?"
"The trouble they could make with the Estates General, making claims of defeatism and failure to defend Sudeten might outweigh the benefit of having the tanks."
Ardan frowned and leant on the rail overlooking the operators. "If they lose the production lines, they'll be out of business won't they? Maybe we can get their creditors to put pressure on them for us – let them know that the Federated Commonwealth won't guarantee any of Olivetti's liabilities if they declare bankruptcy."
"I can't do that without Melissa's authorisation."
The Marshal of the Armies of the Federated Commonwealth straightened. "You can do so on my authority, Marshal. The Archon and the First Prince both gave me plenipotentiary authority while they're on New Avalon. If it backfires I'll be more than happy to take the blame and resign. But until it does, I've been given this job and I'll be damned if I'll let Olivetti cost us one life more defending their site than we need to."
Nondi nodded and called over one of her officers to dictate the necessary orders.
While that was going on, Ardan took over the console and had the operators bring up a map of the entire invasion zone. Information on the situation inside the Free Rasalhague Republic and Draconis Combine remained somewhat speculative but somehow, Justin Allard's agents managed to provide enough information that it was merely out of date and rarely outright wrong.
"No more news of Albiero?" he asked, noting that the prefecture capital was still blazing the Combine's crimson despite being confirmed as a Smoke Jaguar target for the fourth wave of attacks.
One of the operators ran a search. "One new hit, sir. Not about the planet – a jumpship dock at Chatham has been ordered to clear their schedule for a service and refit of DCS Albiero."
"Doesn't ring a bell."
The operator checked again. "No other hits for that ship name since the Second Succession War," he reported.
"I wonder what that's about." Ardan shrugged and turned his attention to the collapsing Kungsarme positions. If the jumpship Albiero was important, no doubt Justin would send him documentation in his own good time.