Draconis Combine, Prefecture Al Na´ir
21. June 3022
While the LIC and the ISF had been right that no other Successor State knew out about Arcturus and Dieron, at least the deeper parts of it, they did not know that there was one "faction" that had found out.
The Wolf Dragoons. But then again neither of the two Secret Services knew that the Dragoons were the front of the Clans "sniffing" around how the situation in the Inner Sphere was.
Jamie Wolf had the most important remaining command level warriors in his command already invited at the Jump point to come down on his Overlord Dropship. Natasha Kerensky, the Black Widow, was the most famous of the 5 people sharing the meeting room with Wolf.
"I have to say that the 2 and a half years under the Steiners were the most easy we had so far. Some Pirate hunting and watching for an incursion of the Mariks and Kuritas, neither came. I believed that the Archon would use us against the Kuritas, especially since there was a definite spin in that direction during the hiring talks. Why in the hell did they hire us? Hunting that Surats in the Periphery, they could have gotten that cheaper by lower class Mercs or their House troops?" Johnny Clavell opened the conversation until Jamie Wolf would tell them what they came for onto the ship.
"Yes, Johnny, with the Combine hiring us, I´d say we see more combat for sure, I am quite sure we will soon be ordered to the Davion Front."
Colonel Jamie Wolf answered right away, something that took most by surprise. Normally Wolf would let his subordinates converse for a time, just to get to know how the unit fared ad what was going on.
"That is the reason why I called you here. I thought after 17 years in the Inner Sphere, there would be nothing that could surprise me in the big picture. While the Successor States are in slightly better shape than the Council estimated before we arrived, they were and are still fighting the same Wars that led our ancestors to go into exile.
Not even the general political fault lines changed much in all the time since the SLDF left the Inner Sphere.
But now, there is some movement on the political landscape."
"Yes, the cease-fire between the Elsies and the Dracs. But what is so different beside that our new employer for the first time in over, was it 200 years or so, made a political treaty with another House? We have seen more than enough how far the Inner Sphere fell, even the Kuritas must be exhausted. And we know, how long or short such cease-fires can be between long-time enemies."
Natasha Kerensky, the Black Widow, was genuinely interested what their "Data-Snoops" as Johnny nicknamed them, found so interesting. She kept a personal information vigil herself, but had found not much, why that cease-fire was so extraordinary. The only obvious thing was, that this treaty upset the routine of the Succession Wars, in which the Inner Sphere seemed suspended in.
"One the first or even second look, yes, this is nothing overly dramatic for all sides. Actually, were we not actively searching for every scrap of useful information and a mercenary unit, I doubt, we or anybody else would see it."
"Why a Mercenary unit?"
"Because the last piece in the mosaic shaping, was a package of freight papers from the Mercenary liaison offices. It is the picture which takes shape after a lot of seemingly disunited information shifted through, which is so interesting.
As said and to make all not too boring, the dates of some events and movements we all read, seen or heard about, do not add up fully, very easily overlooked. And our specialists are sure that the result is clear. This declaration some days ago is for the wider public, behind the curtain the negotiations between Steiners and Kuritas have to be much more advanced."
"And how were these freight papers responsible for this 'insight'?"
"Well, I overlooked it myself as well, but the list recognition by the liaison office was signed a day before we took the Combine offer. Nothing that sticks out for itself, could be evaded as a simple mistake, only in combination with other bits of information and rumours it clicks.
We had good offers from both sides, but somehow the Lyrans knew we would go to the Combine. It could have been a hunch by an official, possible, but our specialists have shown me other hints and I believe it and them.
The Lyran proposal for a continuation of the contract was very good, it shows clearly why they are the premier manufacturers and traders in the Sphere. Actually, the Lyrans could have topped the Combine´s offer easily, but chose not too.
The Kuritas informed the Lyrans that we would accept their latest offer and the Lyrans did nothing. Why would they do that? The only explanation is that the Commonwealth and the Combine are scheming at a deeper level and are together in this in secret."
"This makes sense to me. I had a feeling the last few months, when I read the news, but could not really put my finger on it. This confirms my hunch. The tone when reporting about the Combine in the Lyran media is more conciliatory and positive than back in the "Tens", equally sneaked in over time.
But Jamie, this all hints towards a shrewd alliance, as impossible as it might seem on the outside. This has the potential to influence not only the balance of power in the Sphere, but the decisions back home on Strana Mechty as well."
"Yes, Tasha, indeed. We have to watch this as closely as we can, if this alliance of desparation, exhaustion or pragmatism holds, it can be positive or negative for our real mission.. We have to act accordingly."
This is a teaser chapter for later events of the story
CSR Warship "James McKenna", Romulus, Zenith Jump point
Clan Wolf Occupation Zone
(redacted)
The two Khans physical differences in the suite on board the Snow Raven Flagship were highlighted by their common traits. Both were white haired, but Wolf Khan Ulric Kerensky was tall, if not particularly so, still he towered over the small form of Raven Khan Lynn McKenna.
But their bodies were home to two of the Clans most cunning and intelligent minds leading their respective Clans. The Snow Ravens made massive profits with their large fleet transporting supplies, warriors and other things for several invading Clans as far as Kennard in some cases.
The Wolves, despite their lackluster motivation for Operation Revival, came to the Inner Sphere with one of the best attack plans.
But this day´s meeting had not Clan business as reason, instead their common enemies, the Great Houses were the talking point. Many Clans viciously guarded every bit of information they learned during the Invasion, conducting independent operations on the frontlines.
While the Ravens and the Wolves were not that different from their brethren, both considered sharing some information necessary for their operations.
The two Khans had already spoken over an hour, when a topic came up both leaders were very interested in.
The olive-brown dressed Ulric was unconsciously playing with a tuft of his short-cut beard.
"Well Lynn, we all were going into this Operation with faulty intelligence. It is true that the Periphery and a lot of House Mech Regiments have truly outdated equipment, on pre-Exodus level. That was what we expected everywhere. It is nice and bringing glory that not all units of the Inner Sphere are in such a sorry state, but it bites some of the - more self assured - of our warriors in the ass at times.
The Steiner and Kurita units we meet at this front section now, have Mechs and equipment roughly of the tech level during the time our ancestors left the Inner Sphere. But it does not end here, their elite and veteran formations have shown enhanced or new equipment."
Lynn McKenna, in the typical white Snow Raven dress uniform with the black chevrons on it, had taken a cup of coffee and answered the Wolf Khan."We hear the same things from other Clans and their fronts, but this seems to be individual developments by the various Houses, nothing shared spherewide. Up to now, we Ravens never heard about completely equal advances anywhere. As far as I know the Sharks neither."
"I can tell you some things we encountered. For instance, the LB-X autocannons we took from the battlefields are virtual copies of the old Luballin design. The Combine and Commonwealth engineers made some changes, but that is mainly cosmetic. Nothing close to the improvements we Clans made to the LB-X designs.
We have fought Mechs with old-style ER-PPCs, the Defiance 1001 is practically unchanged from the version they produced in the last days of the Star League. But their top units like Sword of Light or Royal Guards for example, field ER-PPCs with more punch."
"What? Are they really this fast with distributing our guns they took isorla or so quick with re-engineering?"
"No and that is one reason it is infuriating that until today we never found one without disabling damage to the PPC. Our Techs and scientists are impressed with what they could gleam from the wreckage though.
Steiner and Kurita do not follow our way to better PPC characteristics, they took another road. The differences are so obvious it is even clear to me and I do not know how a PPC is put together.
They have completely redesigned the air intakes and vents, the charging chamber, the plasma bottle and the barrel including the magnet geometry. That is one reason for this spectacular looking helix when they are fired, which has been noted upon several times by our warriors.
It is probable they changed other parts as well, but as I said, we only have damaged examples. Still, our scientists are adamant in their opinion, that the changes done to the design of the ER-PPC are so extensive that it cannot be a development from having access to isorla Clan-PPCs. They would be closer to our blueprints.
The shape of this new plasma bottle alone is evidence enough. You could reach such a form only if you developed it from a different starting point. The Spheroids must have started this project before we came back!"
"Hmm, without any weighting, this is an interesting situation, quiaff? How good is this new weapon, Ulric?"
"Since we lack a working example, our techs extrapolated from BattleROMs, observed damage and theory. The Steiners and Kuritas get about a fifth more damage output from their new ER-PPC than the standard PPC, with comparable weight and size. Seeing our 50% increase in power, plus Clan-made ER-PPCs weight less and are more compact, this might not seem much.
But our experts tell me that this is a surprisingly sophisticated design already. It´s potential might be superior to our own PPC development line somewhere in the far future, but one thing the corrupt House Lords and retainers cannot do much about is size and weight. Weight savings and gains through high-tech materials nearly negate each other and I doubt the Spheroids will find a way to make this new ER-PPC more compact anytime soon.
And this new PPC version might be the standout weapon we saw in the hands of LCAF and DCMS, but they have further useful technology and equipment we had no knowledge of."
"Well, Ulric, your Clan is not alone in making new discoveries about the Inner Sphere Forces. The AFFS might not field new PPC versions outside of what they call regained 'Lostech', but the Davions seem to have focused some of their weapon research efforts on autocannons. We heard that they have a dizzying array of old-style and new variants, complete with special ammunitions. According to our information, the Mariks field comparable cannons. Pound for pound these ACs are not on the same level as our counterparts, but many systems are new and have further potential. Besides, a true hit by one of these, one example the tentatively dubbed light autocannons, guns can kill you as well as a hit by an Ultra can do.
I see and I think you too, a slightly worrying trend. The Inner Sphere has stopped their centuries-long downslide. This might have been only a couple of years ago from what we can observe, but it will not make our goals easier. On the contrary, conquering the Sphere and rebuilding the Star League will become a tougher task. I doubt many of our bother and sister Clans recognise it."
FS Dropship "Running Fox", Oriente (transit to Jump point)
Duchy of Oriente, Free Worlds League
2. December 3022
Colonel Ardan Sortek was one of Hanse Davion´s best friends and knew the "Fox" like few other people. It was obvious to him that despite the very successful negotiations with House Marik the Prince was in no mood for celebrations, unlike many of the persons on the Federated Suns Flag Dropship. Indeed, there was a festivity celebrating the creation of the "Concord of Oriente" Alliance going on in the main lounge of the ship.
"Tell me Hanse, is this mood because you stood up on the wrong foot in the morning or because something else?", half-joked, inquired Sortek.
The ruler of the Federated Suns snorted in a way he allowed himself only in the company of old friends.
"Just musing on the less nice aspects of being the First Prince, like the Privy Council. Invaluable for the functioning of the Suns, but I cannot ignore them often without consequences."
"Hanse, I know you were less than eager to conduct Alliance negotiations with the Mariks and the Council more or less forced you to do it under the impression of the starting peace negotiations of the Elsies and Snakes and their current offensives.
And remember the Privy Council is now singing praises again about your ingenuity at treaty negotiations to any news outlet which wants to hear it. Janos Marik and you are lauded for concluding the first alliance in centuries."
"That is right, Ardan, but it is a treaty with more baggage than worth in my opinion. Yes, the FWL is a major economic power and their remarkable Jumpship production capacities will be helpful in calming our hurting shortage of Jumpships.
But I know the core problems of our beloved FS sometimes far too well. Our Jump network is insufficient and the number of jump-capable vessels low, too low for our needs. While the media covers it up nicely, we are cash-strapped and no other Great House has such a discrepancy in development between their Core and Skid Row worlds-"
"Hanse, don´t go down that road. I know you and how intensely you work at rectifying problems we have."
The First Prince smiled a heartfelt smile for his friend. "Thank you for your vote of confidence, Ardan, but the problems we face I doubt will be gone during my lifetime. Or the lifetime of the next First Prince, be it a child of mine or a cousin.
And the angsty reaction of the Privy Council which forced me to create the 'Concord of Oriente' assured that some problems stay constant.
I wanted a peace and later alliance with House Steiner for more than them proposing such an idea and low antipathy between our realms. The League might be the top economy among the rimward nations, but the Lyrans are the Number One economy in settled space!
Their resources and riches could have been the fuel to jumpstart the Federated Suns´economy and later on paving the way to massive victories over the Liaos and the Snakes. The Free Worlds League simply cannot give us as much as the Lyrans could, even if they wanted to.
Mark my words, Ardan, there will come a time where the Privy Council will regret forcing my hands. Despite explaining them the political situation in detail, out of fear they told me to create an alliance with the Mariks.
Yes, now in the eyes of the public we are the first nations to close an alliance after centuries and it looks good on paper. On Paper! The League has never been known for being stable and we have only a small corridor towards each other. Something we will have to fortify with expenses better used elsewhere.
We cannot even reshuffle our forces much, since both FS and FWL border Mad Max´realm. The idea of the Council that we coordinate with Atreus an unstoppable offensive against Sian is a pipe dream. That only way that will happen, is if Kurita and Steiner stay put during the time we crush the Capellans. And why would they? To smash Liao we need forces stationed at their borders with us. I doubt Tharkad or Luthien would let pass by such an invitation.
Besides, with the current combat situation in the March Draconis and along the FWL-Lyran border, we have to first stop their forces fighting there at the moment.
But the worst thing is with the Concord of Oriente we bury our last chance to restart peace negotiations with Tharkad and more we become a big, fat reason for Katrina and Takashi to conclude their peace negotiations in a positive way.
We are forcing their hands with this premature alliance. The Concord has potential, but not today or tomorrow. How about a bet, Ardan? It will take Katrina Steiner and Takashi Kurita no more than two years, despite their realms deep, old enmity, to conclude a peace. And I am of the opinion that we will hear about that far sooner than two years.
At least in one thing about that we luck out. The Leaders of 'Free Skye' have contacted us already for help. The Lyran Commonwealth is in for interesting times, I intend to use this opening to the fullest."
I remember that conversation quite clearly, how Hanse predicted or theorised a lot of things which would come to pass. The "Peace of Arcturus" between Houses Kurita and Steiner and later the Arcturus Pact. The Glory and Woes of the "Concord of Oriente", an alliance which still exists today. The "Great Shadow War" with terrorist and secret service groups of the various Great Houses and Comstar. The Fourth Succession War.
Things like the damned Blake Knights Hanse would foresee at later dates. The "Drums´ Rest" of the Inner Sphere, well most of it, when the Clans attacked us. The next Marik Civil War. The Age of Lostech regained and worse developments.
Ardan Sortek in his memoirs "Friends together"