Snippets from the Inner Sphere
„A new century is just a couple hours away, celebrations are going on thousands of worlds across settled space. Considering how wartorn the ending century was, hope is there that the new one will be less bloody. But whatever the disaster was, be it war, natural causes, piracy, invasions, backstabbing madness, we endured. I am damn proud, yes damn and massively proud, of the 793 worlds weathering this storm. Whatever Fate decided to throw at us, the people of the Combine and the Commonwealth endured and overcame. We overcame, we live and look forward towards the Future. AND WE CELEBRATE LIFE AND OUR WAY TO LIVE!"
Archon Harald Steiner during a speech at Sylvester 3099
„They are developing fine, along the norms for this early stage... I think congratulations are in order, your Highness!"
„How...but how?"
Dr. Bertrams voice carried obvious humour and warmth. „Katrina, we are both grown-ups and know the ways of life. You clearly thought being a survivor of such aggressive cancer, the „factory" was closed.
But the new therapy we used years ago did nothing of that sort. You are still fertile as we can see right now." He became earnest. „If you want or need to, we can do something about it. But I say you should think this through in all needed quiet."
„No, I will not terminate this pregnancy. When Artur died, I thought Melissa would stay a single child. This", the Archon pointed to her tummy, „happened after the successful conclusion to Operation Todesengel, when we celebrated our victory..."
„I take it the topic of the father is ‚delicate', right? Going be the way this pregnancy started..."
Katrina Steiner sighed. „Yes and no. Our citizens know that even Archons are not made of wood. There was always speculation about my love life and if I might be remarry. That is not the real problem. The political ramifications though..." She sighed again. „The political situation will be impacted not just a bit by this. If the father would have been a minor noble or a common citizen that were less problematic... at least he is not married. No need for homewrecking. Gallowshumour, I know, but how to handle this will be very interesting. I will need to talk with Harri, he is one of my oldest friends, I am sure he will help. But first I have to tell Melissa that shell be a big sister in couple months."
From a medical consultation in the Archons palace 3043
Kai Davion-Liao, younger brother (by 4 minutes) of Victor, the designated heir of the Federated Suns, enjoyed this international feast quite a lot. Such meetings of all States of the Inner Sphere happened rarely. They normally were a mixture of posturing, diplomacy and networking, but you could meet delegates from worlds you seldom saw or worked with.
Currently Kai wanted to see what his brother was up to, being the heir he had to mingle and connect with others far more than Kai needed to do. He carried two Mizar Madcap cocktails to where he had seen Victor last.
When Kai siddled up to him, he noticed that Victor had „the look" he always got when he found a woman really attractive. It was not common knowledge, only few could read the Prince-Designate so well.
Victor Davion-Liao was a good looking young man, if on the short side. He never grew taller than 1.6 meters, something he resented, but did not let impact him much. The propaganda from the enemies of the Federated Suns took „care" of that aspect though. Kobito, Hobbit-designate or Zwerg were just some of the „nicknames" Victor got assigned.
Victor was a capable Mechwarrior even if he admitted without hesitation that Kai was even better. As the designated heir to the throne on Avalon he also needed a wife, but so far he never met the right one. He had girlfriends and relationships, but up to now these ran their course and ended amiably, not more.
Kai followed Victors eyeline to see the girl who had caught his attention. When he saw her, Kai swallowed, used a pretence to walk by the young woman to see if he was right. When he returned he saw that the talk Victor was in had ended and now prepared himself to go talk with the girl he fancied.
Kai stopped him with pulling Victor into a talk between brothers. „Brother dear, I hate to tell you that you are barking up the wrong tree with her", indicating the mystery girl with a move of his head.
„What do you mean, Kai?" Victor looked at her again. She was rather tall, like Kai and Victor with Eurasian features and a beauty. If her personality matched her outer shell, she would be a great choice for the heir of the Federated Suns.
„Dont you read the magazines and news?"
„You know what I think of the yellow press and their fairytales. I have enough to do with helping father against Michael Hasek and together keeping Suns and the Concord running. And while I prefer being me and loath to use my status so blatantly, my position as heir of the throne might help getting an inroad to this wonderful girl."
„Bro, you know I wish you only the best, but youd be better off forgetting her. I know who she is and you being the future First Prince will not help here. On the contrary, she is one of the women this will backfire spectacularly.
Going by the colour of the dress she is wearing which is the main difference to her twin, this is Omiko Steiner-Kurita. One of the Archons little sisters."
From a talk between Victor and Kai Davion-Liao 3063
Log Entry for 3rd December 3068: Todays Jump successful, the fleet reemerged without problems. Sails out, recharging batteries in progress. Tomorrow we will hold a small feast in recognition of the fact that we are now without doubt in an area of Space no one was before us. It is the most distant incursion into Deep Space in this area of the Milky Way.
No major stellar phenomena, nothing like the Gum supernova. Prelim scouting shows no intelligent life, but several planets with rich flora and fauna, also minerals and raw problem is the distance to the Inner Sphere. Possible locations for colonisation in the far future.
From the log of the 71th Adlerauge mission
Sometimes changing events with massive impact come on silent soles. One of these was in the early 3080s during the reign of First Prince Michael Hasek-Davion. The elderly Prince silently step by step turned around parts of the Federated Suns foreign policy.
Once fully committed to the Inner Sphere and the clash with the other Great Houses ,additionally the Clans in later times, now the eyes of the Suns turned majorly to the Periphery.
From the book "Federated Suns foreign policy 2950-3150 - Changing back and forth"
Von Knobelsdorff Barracks, Finsterwalde
Alarion Province, Lyran Commonwealth
4. June 3039
"Runter!"(Down) screamed a voice over the Helmet-Comsystem.
The 13 soldiers did so, just before the beams of the low-powered exercise Lasers filled the area, with the company soon firing back with their small lasers. Then all rose, some more, some less elegant and ran down the slope, firing both their main weapons and the secondary Anti-Personnel ones, "cutting down" the opposing Infantry.
"Gut, aber noch nicht gut genug!" (Good, but still not good enough!) came a voice through the speakers. Hauptmann Hassel from the First Royal Guards and Captain ter Stappe from the Wolfs Dragoons were the instructors for the new Battle Armor recruits. While most of them were not fresh recruits, but already seasoned infantry of veteran or better level, as befitting for troops for the Royal Guards, fighting with the new weapon system of course was different from the standard infantry combat.
When the Dragoons introduced the Steiners and Kuritas to Battle Armor in 3034, it logically had to be build up from the ground. The Inner Sphere did not possess them in the first place and so naturally there was no infrastructure and soldiers trained for it. Worse even, the Clan Design was so sophisticated that a 1:1 replica was not doable.
But knowing their troops to be outnumbered by their accumulated enemies from within and beyond the Inner Sphere, both Archon Katrina Steiner and Coordinator Takashi Kurita saw in this new weapon system the quality and combat power multiplier between win and loss. And so they decided a very ambitious plan to have at least half of the Infantry units changed to Battle Armor troops by the turn of the century.
Both knew it to be stony road. One full of surprises as well. The first one was that the first accepted Prototype came not from the big weapon forges like Defiance Industries or Luthien Armour Works, but was designed by the renowned, still rather small sized Armour specialist firms Deisenroth and Durallex in cooperation.
(Due to the having access to Clan BA since 3034, designed by Armour specialists and the realms being still at relative peace, the AU Steiner/Kurita "Standard BA" introduced in early 3038 works like the canon "IS Standard" but has 10 Armour points and looks less clunky. It is named Raiden by the DCMS and Gefechtsrüstung 1 by the LCAF.)
Parallel to the design process, licenses for major weapon producers were agreed on and the Dragoons drilled the future Battle Armor drill teams for the House Armies. Lacking Elementals, the two Successor States had to handle a biological problem. Using Battle Armor for peak performances did not only need stamina, but despite the myomer bundles help, sometimes quite some muscle strength. Unlike the designed Elementals, potential Inner Sphere users included quite a lot of normal women and thin or haggard men.
Ironically it was one of the few competent Social Generals, who came up with a solution. "We do not have the designer babies those wannabe Star Leaguers have. So why should we try for a perfect copy of those Battle Suits? I am not the strongest one in the room, far from it, but I want to be able to use one. We should use our non-bulkiness to our advantage. Take more or other myomer and it should be good."
Deisenroth and Durallex thought this idea to be simple, but not bad. And so a beta-variant of the first Inner Sphere Suit was made, especially for willowy persons. The myomer distribution was slightly different, negating the penalties lacking muscle mass would normally insure.
Unfortunately, the effects were not strong enough to give muscular persons a significant boost, but Deisenroth and Durallex, as well as the other design teams charged with Battle Suit construction, said that maybe in the future a "Triple Strength Myomer" for Battle Armor was possible.
This Beta-variant, which would soon become the real standard, opened the door for mass distribution in the future, if the Clans, Comstar and the other Houses did not fully attack for some time to come, giving Commonwealth and Combine the time to produce more than just a few.
In 3038 series production started on Finsterwalde and Ebensburg, where two sizeable Battle Armor factories had been constructed. Major corporations like Defiance or LAW would soon follow with licensed production, but the two main production sites had been chosen with care. Both Systems were well industrialised, but since their production had always been focused on civilian stuff, they had fared rather well during the Succession Wars and were not known for major military industries. And more, in addition to their relative obscurity as industrial hubs, Finsterwalde and Ebensburg were well away from the most probable invasion corridors.
And for security reasons, near the factories barracks had been erected, where at first elite and veteran infantry would be trained and equipped, later others and new recruits as well. If going well, Tharkad and Luthien had vague plans to eventually build military academies there.
"OK, guys, enough for today! Go change and be back here suited up tomorrow at 7:30." Hassel and ter Stappe dismissed the group, both going over the results of the day and preparing scenarios for the coming exercise day.
Melissa Steiner, Archon-designate of the Lyran realm, sighed with joy as she finally stepped out of her Battle Suit. It was a hard, harsh training regime, but she held up well. Both the instructors and the trainees had been shocked, when on the first day of training Battle Armor soldiers the Crown Princess had shown up and requested a slot among the 72 men and women of the first "batch".
"Your Excellence, you dont need..." Kommandant Borgin, the chief instructor on Finsterwalde had started only to be politely, but resolutely cut off.
"Kommandant, in that you are wrong, I need to do this. I do not have my mothers talent for Mechpiloting, but during my initial service ten years ago, it was found out that I have a knack for infantry combat.
I know that considering the brutality of normal infantry fights, my mother would never send me out with a unit, not even the infantry attachment of the First Royal Guards, the risk of injury or worse deemed too high. But with the advent of these," Melissa petted the showpiece suit in the office, "infantry combat will change.
I am talented for it, so I want to learn the intricacies of the new combat styles. The Commonwealth has a right to an Archon who can go out onto the field, if need be. And I want to be able to look our soldiers, especially the First Royal Guards as the unit of the Archons, as an equal in knowing about the duties they have and the sacrifices they are prepared for. I will never be better than average at the controls of a Mech, but General Regis told me that I could become one of the best infantry leaders with more training.
One day I will follow mother on the throne of the Commonwealth, by that time I want his prediction to be right. Not for my self-image, but for the realm and to show our Combine allies, that we are good at what we Lyrans do.
I might still never get onto the battlefield, but I want to have the option to change things, if I do. This new weapon system gives our infantry the option to make themselves more known and change the tide of a battle. So I have to and want to learn it."
Borgin stood, saluted and said. "I see your point, your Highness. You know it wont be a picknick, good. I will attach you to an existing company, the second, earmarked for the 1. Royals, as an officer-in-training. Now get your ass to the quartermasters office to get you settled in, Cadet Steiner."
So Melissa started her training and in the year that followed, she really showed great talent. Her company was always among the two best and she was fully accepted by the warriors. Now the coming Archon opened her long, braided hair and walked into the shower to refresh herself, before going to a late strategy lesson for officers training.
During the shower she chatted with Adele Winter, a company mate she became friends with soon after she started here. One of the topics was the upcoming holidays and where they would go to during that time.
"Adele, how about you come with me to Tharkad? We gather Karl and Markus as well and I show you my home planet."
"Mel, you mean meeting the Archon and the rest of your family? My God, we are just groundpounders, not material for the High Society-"
"First, dont sell yourself short and second my mother looks out for the best of ALL Lyrans, no matter their standing. You will see, we are just a normal family like others, it is only we stand more in the spotlight. Say yes, we four will have fun!"
"Ok, Ok, I know you wont throw us into the hot water, but I have never moved in such circles all my life."
"Adele, this will all be no problem. I know who Karl, Markus and you are inside and the others at home will see it too. You will be welcome."
Chess Cafe "Tsar and Tsarina", Smolnik
Alarion Province, Lyran Commonwealth
12. October 3039
Smolnik, the Timber Planet, had been settled by Russian settlers mostly. And they brought their love of Chess with them into Space. So a lot of Cafes had been opened with Chess in mind, where the people and tourists of Smolnik could play.
The Tsar and Tsarina in Smolniks capital was the most famous of all. From the greenest Rooks to the Grandmasters, players of every calibre could be found there. On the walls were pictures from the great players throughout history. the Frenchs Philidor and Saint-Armand, the Germans Emanuel Lasker, Siegbert Tarrasch, Adolph Anderssen and Ekaterina Jussupow, the Americans Paul Murphy and Bobby Fischer, the Hungarian Judith Polgar, the Russians Anatoli Karpow, Michail Botwinnik, Alexander Aljechin ... up to the newest Lyran Grandmasters. As at most times, on that 12. October the Cafe was heavily populated. Players, spectators, normal guests and tourists filed the rooms.
So nobody recognized the two persons playing in a less filled alcove. The man, playing with white pieces, was not particular tall, but his slender body gave him more optical height. His black hair, worn in a ponytail, was streaked with white and on his left cheek a faded battle scar could be seen. The man's German was heavily accented, but correct, would someone have listened to them.
The woman, playing the improved Tarrasch Defence with her black pieces, was actually displayed on one of the pictures on the walls. Katrina Steiner, wearing a stylish teal coloured dress, played Chess on Grandmaster level proficiency, which had earned her a picture on the walls of this famous Cafe. But the game itself was not important at the moment for both the Archon and her ranking guest, Duke Michael Hasek-Davion.
Politics had to be made and meeting in the open, on a middleclass planet, playing Chess, was something few prying eyes would think of.
"...So, Michael, while I have my theories, pros and cons about why I should help you, explain it to me in your own words."
Michael Hasek-Davion, one of the three most powerful persons in the Federated Suns, wanted even more power. But unlike Aldo Lestrade for example, he did not want to make his March Capella independent. In Micheals eyes, the Davion main branch had made serious mistakes over the times and it should be the Haseks time to rule all of the FedSuns.
While not really recognising his own thirst for power, Hasek-Davion was not totally wrong in his assumption. Over the run of the Succession Wars, his family and him had ruled the March Capella really well. His March nearly rivalled the importance of the Crucis March, a big step up from the time centuries earlier when the first Haseks began to spread out from their capital system New Syrtis.
Michael knew about the Archons faible for research of LosTech and intensive development of the systems under her rule, something he shared to a lesser degree. So he did not even have to really lie for his answer.
"In my opinion, the current leadership of the Federated Suns has brought us needlessly into conflict. I do not bore you with trying to gloss over the fact, that the idea was not bad, but far too risky or lie that I would never thought about something along such lines. We are both leaders, so trying to get the best has to be our goal."
Katrina nodded, while pushing her a-line pawn one field forward. Michael answered with knight to d4 and continued.
"But considering your realm, I have a different point of view than those on New Avalon. It might be that New Syrtis is farer away than our capital, so I am not as gripped in dogma as others. But whatever it is, I see the stupidity that was made with the attack against you. Due to that lost gamble, the Suns and my March in special since we are one of the production centers of our nation, lost a lot of trade with you. Yes, we still trade on a large scale, but some difficult to get imports we do not get from you anymore.
My nation is hurt and this has to stop. I admit that Hanse is a good leader with flashy strategies that work more often than not, but since it works often enough, he does not see where the Suns are headed. We always were at odds with the Snakes and the Liaos, but now we have an enmity with the Commonwealth too. You might say that we are now allied with the Liaos and the Mariks, Katrina, but we both know that this does not really compensate everything.
Just look at the Free Worlds now. Only the fear of an offensive from you and the Combine keeps one the two sides there in the Concord of Oriente. As much as I loathe the Cappies, I think the alliance with us will hold, Candace is one of the few of them with the head sitting on correctly. But they are not the Lyran Commonwealth and its industry.
Now why should you help me? I will not insult your intelligence by saying with me at the helm the Suns will never attack you, but it will be far more seldom than what is now. Neither will I try to get you Lyrans to abandon the alliance with the Snakes. For better or worse, your peace advance back in 3020 ended the time of singular Houses and brought alliances to the Inner Sphere again. And anyway, I do not know how you do it, but somehow you get the Dracs to play by the rules.
It would be wonderful if we could dismantle the Snakes together, but while one can dream, I know that you will never do such a turnaround."
"This is good to hear, that you know the limits better than other leaders, but please tell me what I can expect from a Federated Suns under your command. In which direction do you want to expand? Unlike my population, which is only moderately into expansion, yours is very interested in expansion of the reach of the Suns. And if you do not attack the Commonwealth, as you told me, then the Combine is off limits as well due to our alliance. You are halfway okay with the state marriage with the Liaos, so nothing there too. This means a lot less options..."
"I know how it must sound. But there are other ways to expand I am far more interested in, like the Taurus Concordat, but to be truthful, since if we want to get a negotiation result we both can live with... I would prefer to do something like you Lyrans like to operate: Building up what we already have. One of the biggest flaws the Suns have and it is no secret, is the big difference between the Upper Class Worlds and the Skid Row, which is higher than in any other Successor State.
My forebears and I spent a lot of time and resources on the systems of our March, which enabled us to become the second-most important region after the Crucis March Core. I want to make the Suns proud not only for the prowess of the AFFS, but the living conditions too."
Michael Hasek-Davion hoped he had hit the right tone, put one of his bishops on b5 and continued.
"I do not give a damn about the Mariks, far too instable. So if you someday want to liberate worlds from them, a Prince Michael Hasek-Davion would not react."
"Interesting. But how do you know that one day the Coordinator and I will not take you down after we took care of the Free Worlds?"
"There is always a risk, but you are not the type to break a treaty we would make just for fun. And truthfully I do not see you conquering the whole FWL even with help from the Snakes. I do not know why, but the Mariks hate you more than the Liaos. Must be because you are such a rival in economy. So it will be a long slow advance, cause they would fight quite viciously.
Besides, without a strong setback, Hanse is too entrenched on New Avalon. I need discontent to make my move. As long as you nibble only in the Draconis March, it is good for me. And rest assured, I have contingencies planed if you and the Dragon decide to turn on the FedSuns under me. Do we have a deal?"
Katrina Steiner moved her queen to f3 and nodded.
"Yes, if you make your move in the future, the Lyran Commonwealth will recognize you as the First Prince and give assistance if needed. I think I can convince the Coordinator to that point of view as well. Lets see what comes out of it."
Jumpship "Kupferberg", Nadir Jump Point Clipperton
Principality of Gibson, Free Worlds League
14. October 3039
The Lyran Invader-class Jumpship hung in Space, fully charged, Sail already pulled in, but one of its docking collars was still empty. The Kurita Mule Dropship "Shimatsu" and fellow Lyran "McDiarmids Park", a Mule-class as well, were snugly secured, but the Union Dropship "Sierra del Adalante" from Buena was 3 hours late.
When Captain Olaf Hansen had talked with the Dropship Captain via comlink earlier, he got an answer from a really pissed off person.
"Those ouzo-sucking Idiots! You know about the problems one gets with trade in the FWL, how annoying it is to buy an exception permit for direct trade and delivery into the League, right? And then these customs heroes delay you with red tape they should know is already out of the way. Bah! Please stay until 17:20 oclock, we will be at the Jump Point by then!"
Which amounted to a further 2 hours wait, 3 hours in total. Since every jump preparation had been made, Captain Hansen being bored looked at the other Jumpships coming, recharging and going. There were 6 there at the moment. 4 from the League, a Liao Starlord and a Comstar Merchant. Hansen liked space travel, he would not have become a Spacer if he didnt, but after 40 minutes looking into the endless dark, he turned on some music and made some paperwork on his noteputer. Only looking out sporadically. On one such occasion, the Comstar ship fired its thrusters for a course correction, compensating the drift during recharging, something Olaf had seen hundreds of times. But somehow one of the aft thrusters kept him observing. While obviously well within normal functionality range, that thruster showed a stuttering pulse when fired. Easily fixed with a calibration, but as often in space travel after the Succession Wars, if it did not impair proper use and security, such characteristics were not repaired before normal yard time and would stay with the ship for years. With the renaissance of Tech going on, such things might change again in some decades.
But what kept Olafs concentration was the fact that he had seen that stutter before.
"That stutter-pulse... I recognise it, but from where?" A thought came to him, a memory of a tearful time - Tok Do in 3033.
"No, this cannot be. It is a Jumpship from the Robes, but I am sure that stutter... I saw on one of the marauders Jumpships!"
Now Olafs curiosity was peaked. since it was still some time before the Sierre del Adalante would dock, he went and began to look through the sensor logs and SensorROMs. Most Jumpships had archives of those for 2 or three decades back.
When he found the recording, Captain Hansen was stunned, it matched his observation. To be sure, he also compared the emergence signature. "No, this is impossible. It is a Comstar ship. The Cogheads are weird, but doing something like that mass murder on Tok Do?... Heinz!"
"Yes, Captain?" answered the sensor specialist on Kupferberg.
"I want you to look at that data. One is from years back and this is just a hour old. What do you see?"
"Hmm... They match! This is from the same Jumpship. But why do you look like that, Cap?"
Olaf felt ill. "Heinz, I hoped that I saw some sensor illusion or so, because this old data is the sensor recording from one of the marauders which invaded Tok Do in 3033... And that recording is from the Comstar Jumpship over there!"
Both men were totally stupefied. How could that be? As most Lyrans, they did not see Comstar in the same awe as some other House populations, but even then the Orders reputation was well enough. Not one which would lay near such reprehensible actions as those on Tok Do and several other planets.
The political dimension of this was breathtaking and way above their pay grade. "Heinz, the moment we reach Home Space, we inform the government and in all secrecy we can do. I do not feel safe anymore before we do this. Whoever in Comstar is responsible for the heinous crimes which took place in the last years, is surely unscrupulous enough to shoot down a poor private Jumpship, no matter the ban on that.
I give copies of our findings to the Captains of the Shimatsu and McDiarmids Park to be sure that this reaches Tharkad and Luthien, even if something happens to us. Whoever you pray to, Heinz, do it. We are not safe before we are home."
Summer Palace of the Liao family, Liao
Tikonov Commonality, Capellan Confederation
30. November 3039
It was a very hot day even for Liaos Summer and so the meeting commenced, highly impromptu, in the Pool area of the palace. Since it had been an official Concord invitation, Duggan and Thomas Marik were both in attendance, despite their still ongoing, but slow Civil War. But not only the two Mariks, battling for sole Captain-Generalcy over the Free Worlds League, heeded the invitation, Chancellor Candace Liao-Davion and Prince Hanse Davion, her husband and main ally, had invited the other high-ranking leaders of the 3 rim ward Houses as well. As a special consideration, a Comstar representative was here too.
Ever since Comstar contacted the Concord in early 3036 with the offer to help in secret against Houses Steiner, Kurita and the illusive Marauders, which had attacked WallisRonin Mechfactory only months earlier, their 14th victim in 3 years, the Tech Renaissance in the three Houses went very well.
While some, like Michael Hasek-Davion or Dame Catherine Humphreys, had only been invited because of the importance of the decisions to be made, others like Aaron Sandoval, his son James or Christopher Halas were regarded as friends or close allies, too.
Gossip magazines from across the Sphere would have given their last breath for images from the meeting, since the sweltering heat led to all persons wearing bathing clothes. And among the convening leaders were some of the most sought-after bachelorettes and bachelors in the five Great Houses.
It was Duke Halas, who opened up the meeting. "Chancellor Candace, Prince Hanse, while I like some of the sights seen her very much, I doubt that you two invited us just for a cool drink and some rows in this great pool landscape?"
Some chuckling could be heard among the assembly. Candace and Hanse were among the amused as well, as could be seen in their faces. It was Candace Liao-Davion who answered the dukes question.
"And what if we did?...But joking aside, a decade is ending and it was a highly eventful one. I doubt that anyone of us had thought about such occurrences in our youths. Here we are, allied against the Commonwealth and the Combine, getting help for our technical renaissance by Comstar, help the other Houses do not get.
Now the reason we are all here is information SAFE, the MIIO and the Maskirovka unearthed. Tharkad and Luthien seem to get a little lazy and complacent. According to reliable sources, in the last months both Steiner and Kurita have reshuffled some of their units. A sizeable number of those aimed at us seem to be on the move deeper into their realms."
Murmurs began to stir.
"Exactly! At the moment we outnumber the forces DCMS and LCAF have defending their borders with us. It is a chance fallen into our lap, but I want to remark that taking it would revive the Succession Wars."
"Why are they doing that? Do they believe us this weak? It makes no sense to weaken their border defences needlessly." came a reply from Thomas Marik.
It was James Sandovals reply, which sparked an interesting discussion. "When it comes to the Elsies and the Snakes, a lot of their decisions make few or no sense at all. But it is to be expected, coming from idiots."
Candace Liao-Davion was not really amused. Despite fate had made them enemies in the late 3020s, the CapCon still had the most amiable relations with both Commonwealth and Combine of the other Successor States. And this made itself known in trade as well. A War with them had to be really well-thought through, because the Confederation could loose much.
"If they are idiots will be seen. I just want to caution against some hasty steps we cannot reverse."
"If I may say in the name of my Order, that I applaud your common sense, Chancellor." injected Precentor Alain Beresick, the Comstar representative. "But I think that is possible to reach a favourable plan to bring down Houses Steiner and Kurita. Comstar is willing to safeguard key systems behind your lines and we will step up help for your research efforts."
"You are rather dedicated to stop the Elsies and Dracs."
"Their expansionism and the lack of faith has to be curbed, Madame Chancellor."
A majority of the people in attendance nodded to that answer, but it was more interesting which persons did not. Only a small minority, but among them were Duggan Marik, Hanse Davion, Michael Hasek-Davion, his son Morgan and Candace Liao-Davion.
James Sandoval once again took the lead.
"We are really thankful that your Order has seen the necessity to stop especially the Snakes, And your help in recovering Tech is a big boon to us and the fight for Freedom in the Galaxy. Chancellor, you are too cautious. The Dracs do not have a hidden agenda, they just want to bring the Inner Sphere under their heels and crush the freedoms the Federated Suns guarantee our citizens.
Over time again and again the Snakes showed their tenuous grip on reality - really, who in his or her right mind will follow a wholly outdated codex? And when it comes to military matters, the Elsies are simply inept.
We now have the chance to to hit them where it really hurts. Madame Chancellor, I fear your outlook on interstellar trade hinders you to see it."
To the surprise of many with knowledge of the inner workings of the FedSuns, Michael Hasek-Davion supported the Chancellor. "Your hate blinds you, young Sandoval. Just because the actions of the Steiners and Kuritas make no sense to you, does not mean they are senseless, as you believe.
The Lyrans and as it seems the Combine in the last years, see the worth of building up the basics of a state, that does not make them stupid. Far from it.
But then again, since you are from the Draconis March, I doubt you would recognise an efficient government even if it would step on your toes."
"Tall words from a guy who does not know loyalty."
"We Haseks never had to rip off the citizens of New Syrtis to buy the world, how was it on Robinson, hmm?"
"Gentlemen! We are here to discuss the demise of the two enemy Houses by force of arms, not trying to outdo each other in snipping!"
Hanse interjected, before this feud could become critical. Morgan already tried to keep his father from riling up the Sandoval heir further, while in a turnaround Aaron Sandoval, the old Duke and his long-time friend, tried to reign in his son.
Michael, what is your plan? Since some time ago and much more in the last year, you butted heads with the coming ruler of the Draconis March, something you never did with Aaron, on the contrary. Well, James can really grate on ones nerves with his stubborn opinions, but one thing is clear. You are actively prohibiting yourself what you want the most: My Prince title. Without the approval of the Draconis March, which you alienate at every corner right now, you can never become Prince. One has to choose personal feuds well, if wanting to become First Prince.
At least you try to keep your relations with Candace amiable. Can it be, that you have given up at last? It seems so, but I cannot believe it.
"We have already the 'Yes to War' votes from the Captain-Generals and myself. This is a politeness, informing you and let you have the input your station demands, but in the end, the Captain-Generals, the First Prince and the Chancellor decide.
So to shorten the process and stop this unnecessary feud, James, Michael, so you support the war against Steiner and Kurita?"
"Gladly, destroying the snakes once and for all is always welcome."
"The March Capella has always stood true to the Suns."
It was Candace Liao-Davion, who spoke now. "I see it, Hanse, that all are in favour of attacking the Lyrans and Kuritans. I still have some misgivings about that, but we are an alliance and this opportunity might be fleeting soon. So I give my 'Yes' to the war now, as long as we have this advantage."
Alain Beresick bowed slightly, after receiving an urgent call on his noteputer. "Madame Chancellor, important Order-related business forces me to leave early, but I already pledged our support to this endeavour. You are making the right choice. sometimes one must jump over his own shadow. i hope to see you all again soon. It was a pleasure to meet you!"
Comstar Compound Liao, 2 hours later
"Alain, how was the meeting?" came the voice from the speakers.
"As you wished for, Prima. Our support convinced even those against the war, even if in the chancellors case other reasons played a role."
"Good, very good! The reasons why some of the 'Doves' now are for war, are not important. Important is only that now all five Houses will wear each other down again. And with our help, we are well-liked by the comng it is a pity that they will not see until we take over rule of the Sphere from them, how easily power-hungry persons can be played."