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Rating:
Mature
Archive Warnings:
Graphic Depictions Of ViolenceMajor Character Death
Fandoms:
幼女戦記 | Youjo Senki | Saga of Tanya the Evil - Carlo Zen (Light Novels)Classic Battletech (Tabletop RPG)幼女戦記 | Youjo Senki | Saga of Tanya the Evil (Anime)
Characters:
Hanse DavionVictor Steiner-DavionKai Allard-LiaoKatherineTanya von Degurechaff
Additional Tags:
Federated CommonwealthMelissa Steiner - FreeformCrossoverMechwarrior - FreeformUlric Kerensky - Freeform
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English
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Published:2025-01-17Updated:2026-10-12Words:525,530Chapters:97/?Comments:674Kudos:781Bookmarks:250Hits:68,209
A Young Woman's Defense of the Inner Sphere
Failninjaninja
Chapter 9
Chapter Text
Chapter 9
Twelfth Star Guards Headquarters, Icar
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
August 13th 3049
Colonel Hannah Caitlin had been in the 12th Star Guards her entire life. She had taken over the 3rd Regiment from her father seven years prior and only now was feeling comfortable with the enormous responsibility. Fortunately, things were relatively quiet on Icar. They faced Periphery bandits, looking to raid for precious minerals and salvage, but the last three attempts in as many years were easily rebuffed. They had even secured an additional two 'Mechs!
As the old saying went, life was cheap, but BattleMechs were expensive. Having two in reserve in case anyone lost their 'Mech and joined the ranks of the dispossessed did a lot for morale. Their pay was decent enough, but it did little more than cover their cost of living, covered resupply and repairs, and allowed them to enjoy life a bit. Certainly not enough to replace 'Mechs wholesale.
As a mercenary, the nice part about this gig was their employer was never short on funds, so their agreed-upon pay was always met, and Hannah had full operational control. Her partner in defending the world from any threats was Leftenant-General Matt Thompson. An older man, a few years past retirement age, he graciously let his younger counterpart oversee their joint defense responsibilities.
I oversee a 'Mech regiment, and him only a brigade of armored vehicles. He knows which is the greater force.
Hannah knew that Thompson knew his stuff. While his men were a bit lax, they were still sharper than most planetary garrisons. The annual surprise drill revealed them to be a bit sluggish to get going, but once out there, their units moved well and their equipment was maintained properly. Hannah had been on other worlds where half the equipment of the local garrison was in disrepair. Most leaders, including herself, didn't think much of the combat capability of vehicles versus 'Mechs, so they were frequently the last to get adequate supplies. For the most part, they stayed out of each other's hair and met weekly at one of the nicer diners.
Sleepy Icar was about to change soon—royalty was coming. It hadn't been announced widely for general operational security concerns, but the Duke and Hannah had been informed. She had told her XO, Lt. Col. Jerad Rell, as well. Hannah didn't know what to think of the news or the unit that was wholly unnecessary to the world's defense, which would be joining them. The 1st NAIS Research Battalion, a reinforced artillery battalion with 'Mech and vehicle support? Hannah could only shake her head, wondering who could have possibly thought that was a good idea.
As for the princess herself, she had seen some of the holovids featuring her. She was a stunning teen beauty, but that didn't mean a damn thing when it came to leading a unit. She was supposed to have graduated from a bigshot academy on New Avalon, but that didn't mean much to her either. Thompson considered it a great honor, but Hannah didn't like complications.
It doesn't matter if she is competent or not anyhow; it isn't like we couldn't handle any banditry out here with what we already have. I just hope she doesn't try to get in the way.
The information coming from Lyran State Command made it clear that Hannah was still in full operational control. The NAIS unit would be under her orders in the event the planet came under attack, but outside of that, she was to let them be since they would be testing some fancy new artillery weapon.
It was nearing time for her first meeting, and Hannah had Jerry and Thompson with her. They had already met some of the FCIS agents who had combed over the area before her highness arrived. The cold-eyed spooks were polite and professional, but they still gave her the willies.
Two military vehicles pulled up as they stood awaiting the arrival of the princess. Out stepped a woman in a suit. Her hair was cropped short, and her eyes scanned the area relentlessly.
Another spook.
A few moments later she said something and then others exited the vehicle. The first was a young oriental woman of average height. Her AFFC uniform was perfectly smooth without any rumples, and Hannah could see the rank insignia indicating that she was a Leftenant. The next person to step out was a tall man with short dark hair wearing the rank of Hauptmann. Finally, Princess Katherine Steiner-Davion appeared, also pristine in her uniform.
The first thing Hannah noticed was her height. Katherine was not the tallest person on Icar, but she was the tallest woman Hannah had encountered on Icar. The holovids made her look thinner, but in person, she appeared more toned. She walked confidently into speaking distance and snapped a crisp salute.
"Col. Caitlin, I am Kommandant Steiner-Davion, reporting for duty."
Hannah returned a rough salute. One of the oddities of being within Lyran State Command and also being a mercenary. She wasn't a member of the AFFC, but in certain respects, she was supposed to ape their conduct.
That's what happens when you are contracted with the same nation for over a decade.
Thompson saluted properly; he was still part of the AFFC after all. They exchanged greetings, and Hannah introduced her XO and the Leftenant General. Katherine, in turn, introduced Hauptmann Sven Fischer, her XO and in command of the 2nd Artillery Company. She also introduced Leftenant Aiko Roth, one of her 'Mech lance commander and Agent Patricia Ainsworth as the head spook of her protective detail.
"We are glad to have you aboard, Kommandant," Hannah began. "The Periphery has been quiet, so you might be a little bored out here. Most of us are stationed at Cuanger, and places have been arranged for your battalion. It has a few restaurants near the spaceport, a cinema, and we have a few spots for drinking, singing, and dancing. Most of the miners are out near Fraserburg, 30 klicks away. If you want to visit the Duke or other high-society types, they're on the other continent. There are some civilian aircraft that can take you if you are interested."
The princess shook her head. "I will be quite busy precluding any such unnecessary side trips. Tell me, Col. Caitlin, how are your 'Mech simulators?"
She winced. "We have a lance of them, but they're ancient."
"I personally requisitioned a dozen of the 3039 NAIS series. I'll set up a schedule for when my company will be utilizing them – your regiment is more than welcome to make use of them when they are not occupied."
Wow, well, that will be a morale booster for sure. Boredom is the biggest problem here. JumpShips arrive from the AFFC to restock supplies for the armored brigade every six months. Civilian JumpShips arrive quarterly to haul off the mined ore as well as bring down consumer medicines and goods. With this rather spartan spaceport and limited entertainment options, discipline can sometimes be an issue. Using some fancy simulators will help ease some of that and make my troops sharper. Must be nice being royalty.
"Thank you, they will appreciate that." Hannah paused for a moment. "No disrespect intended, but do you view yourself first as a Kommandant or as a princess?"
"Princess," came the reply without hesitation. "That shouldn't change, within reason, how you treat me. I intend to work my people hard and stay out of your way. In the event of a bandit raid, I do wish for my battalion to participate. We have a new artillery system and a few new 'Mech designs and combat data would be invaluable. Barring that, I don't intend to interfere with how you run things here on Icar."
Hannah's esteem of Katherine was raised slightly; she was direct and laid her cards on the table. She wasn't going to expect bowing and scraping, and unless something went terribly wrong in the next two years, things were looking up.
***
Twelfth Donegal Guards Headquarters, Trell I
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
August 19th 3049
Victor was a Kommandant now, one of the more highly ranked officers in the Donegal Guards RCT on Trell. He glanced at the two pictures on his desk. One had the entire family, save for Katherine. Victor, his father, and his hulking brother Peter stood in the back row. Despite being younger, his brother had outstripped him in height. His mother sat in front of his father, with little Yvonne on her right and Arthur on her left. The second picture was of him and Katherine the day they beat his father in the simulator duel.
Do these pictures stir resentment? Renny and the other graduates from Nagelring received Leftenant commands, but because of who I am, I get a Kommandant posting at the age of nineteen. Most officers will never reach battalion-level command, let alone before turning twenty.
He was resentful of being posted in the back-end of nowhere. His father had said Theodore Kurita had stationed his son, Hohiro Kurita, the future Coordinator of the Draconis Combine, far from the border as well. He was on Turtle Bay, and in his father's eyes, this was a signal from the Kanrei that no imminent hostilities would occur between their two nations. Instead, he intended to leave their future conflict to their sons. Hanse Davion, the ruler of the Federated Suns, did not wish for conflict at this time and had reciprocated the gesture, much to Victor's annoyance. His father had explained his reasoning, and Victor had agreed with it. It was still frustrating.
A knock on his door revealed a slender, sandy-haired man who saluted. "Hauptmann Galen Cox reporting, sir."
Victor returned the salute, shook hands with the man, and then gestured toward one of the chairs for him to sit.
"Is there something I can do for you, Hauptmann?"
"I'm reporting for duty, Kommandant. I am your aide."
Victor kept his face smooth. He had already told Leftenant-General Hawksworth that he only needed a clerk, just like the other Kommandants. He didn't want any further special treatment setting him apart. He had even refused Secretary Allard's protective detail, insisting it wasn't necessary given military security. Victor had eventually won that battle, but he suspected FCIS agents were undercover somewhere on base, regardless of his wishes.
Galen Cox was having none of that. He explained politely, but firmly, that the regiment was concerned about such a young officer having that sort of responsibility. While Trell was relatively quiet, being so close to the Periphery and the FRR, action did occur. A baby-faced Leftenant might get jitters during their first taste of combat and screw things up for a lance, but the problem would be even worse at the battalion level of command. They didn't know if Victor would freeze, ignore the objectives, flee, give contradictory orders, or what. And so, Galen had volunteered to essentially nursemaid Victor.
This is insulting, but I can't blame them. I'll just have to prove them all wrong.
"Very well, Galen. Since I'm stuck with you, let's make sure we work together well. I want to ensure this unit is in tip-top shape," Victor promised.
"A fine idea, but my advice is to go easy at first. You don't want to come across as if you have something to prove, as it might breed resentment."
Victor sighed. "I suppose not everyone will be like my sister."
Galen raised a curious eyebrow at the remark.
"My sister, Katherine, is a fantastic 'Mech pilot. When we trained back home, she was always eager to improve. Not only did she tolerate my brotherly advice, but she actively sought it out. To be honest, helping her fix her flaws made me examine my own and made me better. Given that we might all be called to risk our lives, why wouldn't we want to be the absolute best we could be?" Victor grinned. "Those were her words, but they resonated with me. But morale is also key to ensuring our unit fights well, so I won't ignore your advice. We'll ease into it first."
His new aide smiled back at him as he rose from his chair. "I've read your file, Kommandant. No one's ever posted scores like you at the Nagelring. If you fight on the field like you do in the simulator, I doubt any of us will be able to keep up with you."
As the Hauptmann left his office, Victor wondered how Katherine was doing in her command role. Her command was more independent than a battalion within an RCT, but she was two-and-a-half years younger than he was, making her only sixteen. He hoped her unit wouldn't give her too hard of a time or think they could override her orders. Katherine could be insistent, but she also disliked conflict, and he worried they would take advantage of her good nature and desire to please. If they just gave her a chance to truly lead, he knew she would do great.
Next year, I'll get some leave. Trell isn't that far from Icar. I wonder if we could see each other in person? Hmm, I hate using my birth to pull strings, and setting up a short command circuit just to see my sister feels like a ridiculous act of privilege, but the thought is tempting.
***
Icar
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
August 30th 3049
Corporal Aaron Keegan wanted to die. Icar had a higher gravity than his last duty station and on top of that the Princess from Hell was trying to kill them all with a death march. He operated comms and radar as part of a Partisan Heavy Tank crew! Why was he helping lug a several hundred pound component part for an artillery tube through this mountainous terrain? Over a dozen of the armored company had hands on it, but one slip up and he could break a leg.
Not to mention the exhaustion after carrying it for over five miles with only two short hydration breaks.
"What did we do? Why does she hate us?" moaned another member of the company.
"Shut… up… she's close, she'll hear you."
Aaron almost didn't care anymore. This was torture, and for what? He sat in a vehicle, looked at information, and operated sophisticated equipment. He wasn't the fucking infantry. The last month had been an absurd whirlwind of PT, small arms training, continuing education bullshit, and not a spare moment to do anything. Now he was out in the middle of nowhere, hounded to march faster and warned about dangerous wildlife. Despite being arms certified, they weren't even given real weapons to defend themselves—just a damned trainee laser pistol that wouldn't do shit but cause mild irritation. What the fuck?
He stumbled, and the weight shifted to the others. They nearly toppled over the tube component, which could have caused serious injury. Fortunately, his crewmates managed the heavier load, and he struggled to his feet.
"Taking a break, are we?"
The Kommandant's voice pierced the air like a whipcrack, making the team almost instinctively attempt to salute – only to realize they couldn't with the load on their shoulders.
"No Kommandant!" he shouted quickly.
"I won't have shirkers in my unit, Corporal Keegan. When you decide to take a nap, the rest of your unit has to pick up your slack."
"It was an accident, Kommandant. I will watch my step in the future."
"See that you do. Carry on. You'll need to pick up the pace if you're going to make it to the designated campsite. If you don't arrive within the next two hours, there will be no rations this evening. Now, march!"
Aaron wanted to scream at the blond-haired bitch. This was not what he had signed up for when he joined the 23rd Arcturan Guards. Being sent to the edge of nowhere to suffer was not fair. It just wasn't. Despite his inner monologue, he exhorted his comrades to push harder. He would be damned if he was going to go to bed hungry tonight after all this effort!
Somehow, they pushed through and made it in time. As dusk began to set in, the Kommandant picked up a speaker and amplified her voice across the camp. "In 30 seconds, you will come under attack. If you are struck by a laser, fall to the ground, and remain there until the exercise is over."
Aaron grabbed his trainee laser and sought cover. He saw others milling around and called to them. Aching, weary limbs slowed them down, and then the attackers came – a deadly crossfire of lightly burning shots caught the fatigued soldiers of the 1st Armored Company. Aaron managed to tag two before being brought down, but when the final count was established, the company had only managed to take down five of the attackers.
That led to another speech about what a pathetic excuse for a soldier the company was. Hauptmann Arianna Wright, the leader of the company, stood stone-faced as she listened to the exercise.
One of the other crew members shouted, "This is not what we were trained for! I'd like to see you do better."
"Who said that?" Hauptmann Wright cried out in fury.
The Kommandant grinned. It was a horrifying visage of pure malevolence. "Oh, it doesn't matter who. They're all thinking it. You want to see the brass get their hands dirty, eh? Fine, but there are consequences. We'll do the same exercise, and your crew will be the attackers after we've marched the same equipment, the same distance. We'll camp, and you'll give us the same 30-second warning before you attack. You can choose whenever in the night to act." Her grin turned malevolent, making Aaron physically take a step back. "But if you lose, you'll be doubling your PT and range time, and your R&R will be cancelled for the quarter. What will it be?"
Aaron couldn't help himself. "What do we get if we win?"
"Corporal Keegan," his CO started to growl.
"No, no, that's a great question. Stakes must be fair, after all. If your side wins, you won't have to do any more of these marches with the Spitfire Cannon parts for the next six months. You'll also all get a bonus to your pay." She stepped forward, eyes locked on his. "What will it be?"
Aaron looked around, and almost everyone agreed – they would take that chance.
It will be worth it to see the damn officers try to lug this shit around!
In hindsight, they should have never taken the deal. Not only did the Kommandant, her Hauptmanns, and Lieutenants make it look almost easy to carry the component, but they also trounced them – even when attacking in the wee hours of the morning. It had been a massacre.
The mood was sour, but there was now a level of respect for the Kommandant. She had gotten her hands dirty, carrying the weight along with her subordinates the entire time. Her accuracy with the laser pistol was frightening. This was no pampered princess, but a tough-as-nails bitch who would gut anyone standing in her way.
She may not be liked, but she is respected and feared.
After the hellish ordeal was completed, things got better. They were used to marching and carrying heavy loads. All of them were now certified in small arms and rifles. The top shots of each lance would also receive a bonus each quarter, something that really got the competitive juices flowing. Some luxuries arrived as well – chocolates, premium coffee, and more. The only requirement to partake was to pass the required training times, accuracy levels, and job competency components.
Aaron also received a commendation for speaking up the way he had, which was added to his file. The battalion was very different from what he had thought it would be, but all in all, maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
***
Twelfth Star Guards Headquarters, Icar
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
November 3rd 3049
I was pleased with how the battalion was coming along. They were by no means equivalent to the Imperial 203rd Mage Battalion, but they were improving. Discipline had tightened, competition to improve performance had been achieved, and their core efficiency had improved remarkably. The NAIS and machinists from TharHes had arrived, and the testing of the Spitfire Cannons had turned out well. They already had a list of changes to make at the factory, and the NAIS researchers were excited about applying the quick-assembly technology to larger field pieces.
They were still quartered in the large collection of buildings that made up the 12th Star Guards HQ, but there was plenty of room. Colonel Caitlin had stayed out of my way and was thrilled with the simulator time. She had challenged us to a friendly duel, and I watched with pride as Leftenant Roth and LeBeau obliterated Hannah's command lance. Part of the reason was that Roth and LeBeau piloted prototype WLF-2 Wolfhounds. TharHes held the rights to the 'Mech design but had contracted Eire MechWorks of Arc-Royal for the actual production. The two in her company were the Alpha designs, and some flaws had been discovered.
Thankfully, we had some experienced techs and very intelligent NAIS researchers with us. The faulty Double Heat Sink cooling was fixed, as was the alignment on the ER Large Laser. We passed along the design notes to our friends on Arc-Royal, and they were going to make the necessary adjustments prior to mass production. When those 'Mechs started rolling out in 3052, I was sure almost every light lance would want as many as they could get their grubby hands on.
Meanwhile, the Star Guards had a variety of old 'Mechs, none of which had the recent improvements. Colonel Caitlin piloted an aging Wolverine that was twenty tons heavier than the Wolfhound, but the Wolfhound boasted more firepower. The Star Guards had a few other medium 'Mechs at that weight, but only a handful. The vast majority of their regiment consisted of lighter mediums and light 'Mechs – not a single heavy or assault-class among them.
As for my 'Mech, I may not have asked for an assault-class, but it was still plenty expensive, especially after I had them redesign the weapon loadout and reposition the jump jets. The base model was a PHX-3D, but I replaced the two medium pulse lasers with medium lasers, freeing up some tonnage for additional armor and the improved jump jets.
The PHX-3DK was probably a 'Mech that only I could pilot. Well, others could if they were very skilled, but they would still have to re-learn how to utilize its jump capabilities. Jump jets tend to be rather uniform, designed to allow a 'Mech to jump. They carry enough thrust to lift my nearly fifty-ton 'Mech into the air and then land safely. That sort of power was incredible – and yet no one had thought to use it for horizontal movement!
Now, there were reasons why. The Neurohelmet and Gyroscope worked full-time to keep a 'Mech upright. Running at a 'Mech's top speed had caused more than one novice MechWarrior to fall. Applying horizontal thrust while running? Incredibly difficult! As was designing the switch that allowed them to transition from horizontal to vertical without losing effective power.
The NAIS design team was convinced I was mad, but after many hours of practice and programming a simulator to adequately demonstrate how it would work, I was able to show them I could pilot something like that. This didn't allow me to zip around the battlefield like an Imperial Mage, hah, I wished, but it did make me far more maneuverable than your average medium 'Mech. I could increase my max speed significantly for a short duration or, if I feathered my jump jets, sustain a 10% prolonged increase in distance. The best part was my ability to move my 'Mech in unexpected ways to avoid fire. Aiko was my most frequent training partner, and it took her some time to get the hang of targeting me when I cut in a different direction.
My weapons were all distributed on the left side of my 'Mech. This setup allowed me to use my right arm for physical attacks without risking the integrity of my weapon systems. It also meant I could freely expose my right side, confident that I wouldn't lose any weapon systems if I took critical damage.
Today, I had gathered my officers for a staff meeting.
"Hauptmann Halstead, report your unit readiness status."
"We are at 97% effectiveness. Two of my men have a stomach bug, and one of the Spitfire Cannons has bore damage to the barrel, which is proving tricky for the techs. It will still fire, but its deviating over 80 meters off from the rest. If we can't fix it soon we'll just replace it completely, we have the parts."
"Hauptmann Fischer?"
"All green, Kommandant. We don't have those new contraptions. The ole Thumper is a tried-and-true, battle-tested piece of craftsmanship."
I gave him a brisk nod. He was in love with that old piece of technology, something that would hopefully be replaced by my Spitfire Cannons.
"Hauptmann Wright?"
"Personnel-wise, we are good. One of the treads on a Scorpion Light Tank is fouled and will take a few days to repair. We're good on ammo with the last shipment, and our stockpile is more than we could probably use in a month-long campaign."
I confirmed that my own 'Mech company had no issues before moving on to Leftenant Rogers, who was tasked with protecting our base of operations.
"Kommandant, we got some mild pushback over the ocular scans for entry. Some of the 12th Star Guards find it 'creepy' and didn't want to cooperate. Col. Caitlin cleared that up. We now have access across the entire compound. We've put cameras around here, the spaceport, and redirected one of the media satellites to monitor our location. A seismic sensor array has been added as well, and we've started drilling with Leftenant-General Thompson's MPs."
"Good work," I reply. "I understand you wish to requisition machine gun turrets? I'm not sure they'll provide any real value. If bandits come with 'Mechs, they'll just be glorified pillbox targets to be taken out at range."
I had to be mindful of the budget. Even though it was generous, I couldn't go obscenely overboard and still claim my unit's performance was an honest assessment of how other artillery battalions would function.
Zach replied, "That's a valid point, Kommandant. That said, my platoon is here for physical security against potential threats that aren't 'Mechs. Those turrets could be useful for taking down VTOLs carrying DEST commandos, for instance."
Hauptmann Halstead grimaced. "Why do you have to put that sort of bad juju on us, Leftenant? That's a foul ball, trying to bring up the Kommandant's family being attacked like that in '39."
I appreciated the defense, but it was unnecessary, as were those turrets. Still, leadership was a give and take.
"I'm not convinced, and I've rejected the request for eight. Our budget can afford two, and I'll leave it up to you where they should be placed. When we ship out in '51, we'll have left this installation in a slightly better defensive situation, which will earn us some appreciation and justify the cost."
As unlikely as it was that the good opinion of the 12th Star Guards or the Third Icar Armored Brigade would ever matter, it didn't hurt to cultivate strong professional working relationships. A good reputation for being a team player was never a bad thing.
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Ainsworth, any updates?"
"No specific threats to watch for. The media's picked up that you and your unit are on Icar. However, we've planted false sightings of you on nearby worlds and spread rumors that you were visiting your brother on Trell." Ainsworth's eyes sparkled with amusement. "And, not the FCIS's doing, but some media outlets believe you're in the FRR, having a clandestine relationship with Prince Ragnar Magnusson."
Aiko and Gregory began laughing while I felt my eyelid twitch.
"How? Why?" I asked, exasperation clear in my voice.
"We're on the border with the FRR, and he gave a recent interview where he mentioned how nice you were and how you always gave him good advice. The FRR media outlets liked the story and ran with it. Wotan Command knows it's false, of course, and it hasn't really been picked up by the Lyran media, who think Prince Ragnar is a bit of a pauper prince and not really suitable."
"He's also only fourteen – a child!" I said, clearly annoyed.
"You're only sixteen," Aiko oh so helpfully pointed out. Judging by the surprised looks on my other officer's faces, I think they forgot my actual age.
"I turn seventeen this month," I said, giving her a pointed look. "It's irrelevant anyway; I correspond with him regularly, that's all."
Ainsworth had the idea of ensuring foreign powers couldn't pinpoint my location with my deployment. She was being paranoid, but that was her job, so it was fine. A few false sightings and bogus rumors didn't cause any real issues. My chain of command knew I wouldn't go AWOL or pull rank, so as long as that was clear, everything was good.
I turned to Nick Westfield, one of the NAIS scientists who had helped design the Spitfire Cannon.
"Field reports are all solid. We're ready to launch a second version for testing. It will be about a year before we get a new supply. We've proven that the Spitfire Cannon assembly time works in the field. Components can be carried by infantry, motorized infantry, VTOLs, ordinance transport, and we've even tested your 'Mech dragging them in the field. Another avenue is civilian air transport, and I'd like to test how functional parachuting them into already fixed positions could be."
Some interesting ideas. Making use of non-military assets in an emergency is the kind of out-of-the-box thinking I like to hear.
"Excellent. Please continue forwarding the data to me. This deployment has been a success so far; let's make sure it stays that way."
The Spitfire Cannon was doing well, and Lyran State Command had ordered more. Kai had convinced his mother to hear out my proposal, and the St. Ives Compact had ordered two battalions of them as well. Not a large order, but they weren't a large economy. Morgan Kell of the Kell Hounds had ordered a solitary company of Spitfire Cannons, which was nice of him. They were primarily a 'Mech outfit, but perhaps they wanted to beef up their base on Summer.
Either that or he's just being friendly. The Kells are rich enough; regardless, it is good for business.
I had already hit the first stretch target and was hopeful for the rest in time. The big barrier was the lack of data from actual combat. I was one who always valued peace, but I almost wished something would happen out here on Icar just so I could give a battle report with the Spitfire Cannon performance. That was the only reason I would ever want a conflict to happen on a world I was on.
I noticed Hauptmann Sven Fischer hanging back as the rest left.
"Can I help you Hauptmann Fischer?"
"Please don't think I'm just sucking up, Kommandant," he began, "but I just wanted to say I had some initial doubts about you. When you came in and pushed everyone to the limit, I thought we'd be near mutiny, but you clearly knew what you were doing."
I leaned back and steepled my hands. "One can learn much from history." Recalling past lessons, I paraphrased, "It was once said that a wise leader must balance severity and clemency, knowing it is better to start tough and, as people grow accustomed to order, adopt leniency when it is earned. By making it clear that I would accept nothing less than the best, they had a choice – rise to the occasion or end their careers. Once they passed muster, rewards for loyal service followed – bonuses, greater amenities, and future career progression."
Sven thought about that for a second before responding. "I can understand that philosophy, but it does run some risks."
"Agreed, but nothing ventured, nothing gained."
We chatted about a few minor issues before he departed. I was pleased to have won over the people under my command. They were doing good work and swiftly proving themselves as exceptional meat shields.
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Rating:
Mature
Archive Warnings:
Graphic Depictions Of ViolenceMajor Character Death
Fandoms:
幼女戦記 | Youjo Senki | Saga of Tanya the Evil - Carlo Zen (Light Novels)Classic Battletech (Tabletop RPG)幼女戦記 | Youjo Senki | Saga of Tanya the Evil (Anime)
Characters:
Hanse DavionVictor Steiner-DavionKai Allard-LiaoKatherineTanya von Degurechaff
Additional Tags:
Federated CommonwealthMelissa Steiner - FreeformCrossoverMechwarrior - FreeformUlric Kerensky - Freeform
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English
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Published:2025-01-17Updated:2026-10-12Words:525,530Chapters:97/?Comments:674Kudos:781Bookmarks:250Hits:68,209
A Young Woman's Defense of the Inner Sphere
Failninjaninja
Chapter 10
Chapter Text
Chapter 10
Twelfth Star Guards Headquarters, Icar
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
March 20th 3050
Hannah's life on Icar had improved since the arrival of the princess. However, getting her ass handed to her by two green-as-grass lieutenants in simulator combat was quickly getting old. It wasn't just the fancy new 'Mechs they were piloting – they were both extraordinarily skilled. Her mercenary group was solid and typically disciplined, but this NAIS Research Battalion was something else. Katherine ran a tight ship, and any thought that she would be soft due to her age or royal status had been thoroughly dispelled.
Not all the changes were great. The additional security and scanner checks were a pain, but they were understood – and hardly a high price to pay for some quality simulator time. The fidelity between simulator and 'Mech piloting was something else. Hannah had never dreamed technology could advance that far.
As the months trickled by, there was no activity from the Periphery. She knew the princess was getting annoyed—she wanted to try out her new artillery pieces. Hannah didn't mind, though; conflict was always a risk, and dealing with repair and salvage was a headache.
An incessant alarm brought Hannah fully conscious.
"HQ to Col. Caitlin, we have unidentified JumpShips in-system at Pirate Points. DropShips are coming in on a high-speed burn."
I guess she finally got her wish.
She dressed hastily and headed to Ops Control to see what was incoming, when she arrived there was an air of panic.
"Colonel, I cannot identify or pinpoint where they are going to land, but they will be landing soon. Their burn is over 4G!"
"Send word to Leftenant-General Thompson and Kommandant Steiner-Davion to ready their forces. Pinpoint where they are going to be landing!"
"Ma'am, this is crazy even for pirates. At their speeds I'm not sure they can decelerate fast enough to avoid crashing."
"That just saves us the trouble," Hannah quipped.
"Colonel, it isn't that simple, the damage a Union DropShip could do if it crashed into Fraserburg or Cuanger would be catastrophic."
"Shit… fucking pirates. Do we know where they are going?"
Another coms officer shouted, "I show multiple DropShips, I repeat, multiple DropShips. One's dropping toward Athena Magna, the others are coming down either here or Fraserburg."
Kommandant Steiner-Davion walked in. She didn't wear her dress uniform since she already had her cooling vest on. If her bared flesh discomforted her, it wasn't noticeable. At her side was the head spook herself, Ainsworth.
"DropShip is attempting to link communication with us," one of the nervous comms officers declared.
"Play it."
"Who is this?" Hannah asked when the link was established, and the Ops Control room quieted down.
A strangely accented and formal voice came on the line. "I am Star Colonel Jera Carns of the Fourth Wolf Guards. What forces defend this world?"
"I, Col. Hannah Caitlin, commander of the Third Regiment of the Twelfth Star Guards, command here and stand ready to repulse any invaders. I demand you further identify yourself. I am not familiar with a mercenary unit called the Wolf Guards. Which House do you–"
At the other end of the communication link came an angry voice. "We are not honorless mercenaries, nor are we in the employ of any of your corrupt Houses. Our identity is stated. You will either inform me immediately of the composition of your forces, or I will be forced to attack without the honor of the batchall and with all the forces at my disposal. You have one minute."
Hannah was deeply confused by the response; she was at a loss.
Katherine's voice filled the void. "What is a 'batchall' and why would we give you vital intel? What is your purpose here?"
There was a moment of silence. "Has this world truly descended into utter barbarity? You are worse than the Bandit Caste. We have come for your world, declare your assets or not."
Hannah angrily replied. "You'll find out soon enough!"
The line went dead.
The coms officer advised, "DropShips are slowing, trajectory shows they are going to drop down near or on Fraserburg."
"Numbers?" Hannah demanded.
"Uhh, not sure. These DropShips look modified. And one I've never seen before. But probably not more than a reinforced battalion."
Hannah felt a little better. Her 2nd battalion, along with two armored battalions of the armored brigade, were stationed at Fraserburg. Assuming her people got their shit together and got into their 'Mechs and vehicles, they should be able to hold.
"Orders for my unit, Colonel Caitlin?" Kommandant Steiner-Davion asked.
"Make sure they are up and ready for deployment. We don't know if they will assault Fraserburg directly or not. The words on the comms could have been a bluff. If they are trying to raid some of the outlying mines, we'll need to root them out. We'll know more soon."
The princess saluted and turned to go, "No, you can wait here Kommandant, I'm sure your people are already rearing to go, but you can wait here for confirmation." Hannah ordered.
They didn't have to wait long, for contact from Fraserburg.
"HQ, we have 'Mechs of alien design. My computer first thought it was some modified Catapult, but… HOLY SHIT, how did they hit us from that range?"
Hannah frowned in irritation; she needed information.
"How many?"
"HQ, HQ, HQ! We have armored jump infantry attacking us. No, God no, they are tearing into my 'Mech! Get them off. Get these devils off me!"
"What is happening?" Hannah's voice cracked a bit from stress.
Incoherent screaming and screeching metal could be heard over the comms.
"Get me 2nd battalion 'Mech condition report from their onboard data-relays!"
The Ops Control team went to work and a display showed the 36 'Mechs of the 2nd battalion. Five looked as if they hadn't been powered up, and twenty were already destroyed. Though perhaps the five that had never been powered up had instead been destroyed before they could, without the link being established by the 'Mech powering on, there was no way to know.
"Mother of God…" Hannah began, quite shaken by the swift destruction of over half of the battalion. "All right, I give up. Just who the hell are these guys?"
"I suspect some Periphery nation-state or even a large band of pirates have somehow found their way to a hidden Star League Defense Force cache," Kommandant Steiner-Davion replied. "Possibly even decades upon decades ago. The speech was Inner Sphere standard, but accented in a way I can't place. Based on the limited information we received from the battalion and the absurd speed they vanquished them, I would guess they are using technology that rivals that of the height of the Star League. We may outnumber them, but their 'Mechs will be far deadlier."
Hannah thought for a moment, Katherine's clear and steady voice chasing away the edges of panic she had been facing.
"If that's the case, we are going to need to hit them hard and overwhelm them. Suit up, people. I want the regiment ready to move out in five. Keep an open line and let me know their position every minute."
The last of the second battalion 'Mechs winked out as she raced for her Wolverine.
***
12th Star Guards Headquarters, Icar
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
March 20th 3050
My life had been going far too well. I knew it couldn't last. Being X would never let me rest. I mean, seriously, how much more blatant can he make it that his treacherous hand is on the scale? Some lost enclave out in the Periphery finds Star League-era tech, and they choose the world I am on to attack? Out of all the worlds in the Inner Sphere? You'd think he would at least try to be subtle.
Even with Star League-era technology, our numbers and artillery could swing the difference. The enemy was clearly intending conquests rather than a raid because they didn't stick around long in Fraserburg and were instead heading straight for us and the spaceport. I attached my neurohelmet and gave the command code to begin the startup sequence.
"There's no such thing as a free lunch."
The computer dinged in acceptance, and I eased my 'Mech out of the storage bay. Fresh orders came through. The plan was simple enough – stop them at a place called Pofadder's Gully. Runoff from heavy mining had carved out an artificial gully stretching for tens of kilometers, though its sides weren't very steep. Taking a 'Mech uphill under fire was a difficult task. Colonel Caitlin's goal was to get her people in position and hit the enemy as they tried to ascend.
We moved out quickly enough, but we didn't have the two regiments of armored support we should have. Instead, we got about four battalions' worth, while the other two were still getting their act together.
Pathetic. Every single one of my 'Mechs, artillery, and armored vehicles are ready to go.
We would have to move fast to establish our artillery batteries. Based on the incoming trajectory, it would be a turkey shoot. There was literally no variance in the enemy's movement – they were taking the most direct path from Point A to Point B. We had drilled for this, so we would make it.
The majority of the brigade's armor consisted of light tanks and hovercraft, but the 24 LRM carriers in Cuanger would be a huge help, as would Leftenant-General Thompson's heavy command company of Patton tanks, at least the portions that would make it to the battle.
My upgraded battle computer was primarily linked to my own battalion, but I requested a feed to HQ that was back at the space sport. They did so and also beamed me the data for the 12th Star Guards as well. The Icar Armored Brigade didn't have access to that information, but I gathered intel from high-flying VTOLs. The Ferret Light Scout 5-ton VTOL normally carried a machine gun, but I had it removed and replaced with a more powerful lens and computer. Instead of flying within combat range, I kept those VTOLs over two kilometers above, solely relaying data.
I reminded HQ to ensure they relayed any reply from ComStar regarding the high-priority message sent to Tharkad and New Avalon about the invaders. The black box was in my cockpit, but I didn't think I needed to use it just yet. Once I did, I'd be stuck with that message until it arrived.
My artillery units deployed in a staggered formation since they had slightly different ranges. Hauptmann Wright would position her tanks to shield the artillery in case anyone broke through. The Partisan Heavy Tanks carried flak ammo, but the J27 Ordinance Transport had regular AC/5 shells. You could use flak against 'Mechs, but the damage dropped off significantly.
"Kommandant Steiner-Davion, let's not risk your company if we don't have to. Keep about two klicks back and west of our position. You can help chase down stragglers after we've broken these guys, okay?"
"Copy, will hang back. Be advised, they'll be on your position in three minutes. The armored brigade is a bit strung out, so you won't have their full firepower," I replied.
"Damn, it'll have to do. We have a company of LRM carriers. Let's see them eat hundreds of missiles while going uphill."
I settled in to wait and frowned. My VTOL pilots were telling me that only two companies were heading our way. They were also feeding me information showing the estimated weight classes, and they were moving far faster than 'Mechs of that size typically move.
Even without all our armor arriving in time, we still have over a hundred tanks, and Col. Caitlin has over 70 'Mechs. My artillery should hopefully thin them out further, but I'm nervous about the possibility of a third company wandering around using some sort of Star League ECM camouflage.
"Begin firing patterns. Make sure you don't hit our own," I ordered, and the booms of artillery echoed.
"Here they come. You may fire at will when in range," Col. Caitlin announced through our all-in Icar military band.
Explosions could be heard, and someone on the open channel cursed. "They took out four of our tanks even though they are outside of LRM range!"
"Cut the chatter, hold the line. Don't let them up these slopes!" Col. Caitlin ordered.
My artillery units delivered their payload. I was waiting for VTOL confirmation of clean strikes when the live feed flickered on one of my other screens.
Shit they took out half our LRM carriers before they could even fire? Their range is absurd.
Sitting still waiting for high damage, low armor units to get blown to shreds was not something I could let happen.
"Icar Armored Brigade, heavy tanks hold position, but LRM carriers, back up. Wait for them to crest the slope. You're sitting ducks up there!"
"Belay that order, hold fast," Col. Caitlan ordered.
"Colonel, with all due respect, those are our most damaging units, and they're getting chewed up before they can even fire," I sent over a two-way communicant signal between her and me.
"They won't make it up the slope if we hold here, and your artillery is going to force them to try."
I ground my teeth as the live images showed every one of our LRM carriers going up in smoke, with only one managing to fire a set of missiles before being torn apart by lasers, PPC blasts, and Gauss Rifles. On the plus side, my artillery had been dead on target. A zoomed in feed from the scout cameras showed a few broken bodies of armored infantry amidst tons of shattered armor.
They must have been clinging to the 'Mechs.
That's where the good news ended. Instead of a kill zone where the invaders would struggle up the hill, they charged right up it, showing no hesitation in piloting their 'Mechs through both incoming fire and steep terrain. Not a one faltered.
"I need support!" a frantic call came from one of the company commanders in the armored brigade. "They're peeling me open like a tin can, I need…"
Bedlam filled the airwaves, and the poor comms discipline made me twitch. Switching over to my battalion band, I gave instructions.
"We've seen no sign of aerospace assets, Hauptmann Wright. Switch ammunition to normal autocannon rounds and join up when finished. First and Second Company, start calculating new target areas. I'm sending you over likely coordinates. There are only a few ways this fight is going to go, so I'm sending you three firing patterns. I will want inbound hot and fast when I give the order."
At the same time, I ordered my 'Mechs to advance at top speed.
"When we get close, lance commanders call out targets, and focus your fire."
We raced forward as I pinged the Colonel of our intended arrival.
"No, get out of here. We're getting torn up. Their armored infantry is swarming us."
"If we lose the bulk of this force here and now, this planet is done. We're almost there. If we can stabilize, my artillery can thin them out further," I countered.
My emergency comms lit up. "Ainsworth here. We've got infiltrators breaching the spaceport. We picked them up on surveillance – armored infantry of some sort."
Oh fuck me. The dropships.
"Get Leftenant Rogers to secure our rides in case we need them. All my techs have laser pistols, though I don't know how well they'll do against these little monsters ripping apart 'Mechs."
"Overwatch is moving into position. I'll be escorting the DropShip crew to power up. The Unions have some weaponry that can be pointed at a ground attack. We've got a bunch of MPs here as well from the 3rd Armored Brigade. Focus on your battle, just giving you the sitrep."
I flipped the channel and came across our first opponent. A solitary 'Mech was coming in on the flank, laying down a blistering barrage of LRM fire. I opened with my ER large lasers as the enemy came into range. The bulky Catapult-looking 'Mech took a hit in the side torso right as it lashed out with 40 LRMs at a Blackjack. I winced as the 12th Star Guards' 'Mech buckled under those missiles. The MechWarrior didn't have the skill to keep his 'Mech upright, and it toppled onto its side, causing further damage.
Both of my Leftenants also fired their ER large lasers at my target. One struck the leg, the other the arm. The rest of our company didn't have weapons with range to join our fire. Three Stingers, three Spiders, and three Commandos couldn't provide much extra firepower – all of theirs was short-ranged. The 'Mech we hit started to turn toward us. In the dawning light of the new day, I could see moderate to heavy damage across much of its chassis.
As the lead 'Mech locked onto me, I zigzagged ahead, feathering my jump jets for extra speed. Two lasers streaked toward me – one struck my 'Mech's leg, peeling off nearly half of its outer armor; the other missed. The computer warned me of a missile lock, and I readied myself.
The LRMs came streaking down at me at hundreds of kilometers per hour. I jabbed my controls hard, jumped sideways, and barely dodged a cluster of them, but the remaining missiles wreathed my 'Mech in explosions. Nothing breached my internals, but my armor suffered severe degradation. I hit the ground with nearly zero control of my 'Mech, and it took every ounce of my 'mage brain'-given reflexes and coordination to keep my 'Mech stumbling and upright. A final laser pulsed out at me but missed.
Our turn.
Once again, our aim remained true, and four more lasers from my company lanced into the enemy 'Mech, sending a ton of armor sloughing off. I targeted the weakened side with my two medium lasers, cutting into it and triggering a hit on the engine. The heat signature spiked in the enemy 'Mech. My company finished closing the range, and we poured more laser and SRM fire into the 'Mech. Remarkably – and terrifyingly – it still didn't go down.
The LRM bays opened, and before they could lock on again, I was charging straight into the enemy 'Mech's face. The enemy pilot fired laser after laser at me. The barrage from my company, combined with my erratic, unexpected movement, meant I emerged nearly unscathed, only losing a little more armor to the staccato of rapid-fire lasers. One more volley from my entire company, and the 'Mech finally went down.
We had struck the flank, and now I quickly caught myself up with the chaos of the battle. The bulk of the enemy 'Mechs were advancing in a line, an inexorable wave of death. This 'Mech had tried to flank but paid the price, picked off by my company. My 'Mechs pushed in and found absolute chaos among our friendly formations. Those armored infantry were tearing through armored vehicles, ripping into 'Mech cockpits, firing lasers, and even missiles. I struck one with a laser, and to my astonishment, the damn thing rose again!
Undeterred, I charged in and kicked the damn thing. Unless physics suddenly stopped working inside that suit, it should be dead. I spotted Col. Caitlin's Wolverine swarmed by four of them. I rushed in to help, yanking one off with my 'Mech's right hand. I squeezed, feeling the carapace crack under my grip as black slime oozed out, and the heavily armored infantryman went still.
My company was missing too many shots at the hard-to-hit targets. Unacceptable.
"Use physicals on them. Pick them up, squeeze, kick, stomp, or even do this!" I shouted, slapping one down hard as it tried to jump at my cockpit.
"These bastards jump like toads," one of the MechWarriors said over the open channel, and soon others were calling them that as well.
My company must have cleared at least two dozen of the Toads out, freeing up my allies to face the enemy 'Mechs. The rest of the battle continued to go poorly. And then salvation appeared, Leftenant-General Thompson had formed up his command company of twelve Patton tanks in a solid knot of armored power.
I sent a message to command: "We need to pin them down and attrite them. I know I'm asking a lot, but I'm calling artillery basically on top of us. If we keep retreating, by the time the shells land, most of us will be out of the blast zone."
"Do what you need to, Highness," Thompson replied, and I relayed the orders. Sadly, those were his last words, as a single enemy 'Mech unleashed four PPCs, ripping straight through the 65-ton armored vehicle.
The general had been well-respected by his men, and instead of breaking, they not only held the line but charged into the enemy advance. My artillery was already firing, and I could only shake my head at their suicidal bravery. Not a single Patton tank survived, but they pinned the enemy in place while dealing with them, meaning the enemy 'Mechs were ground zero for eight Thumpers and sixteen Spitfire Cannons, raining down death. When the smoke cleared, the enemy was falling back, and my artillery reoriented its fire, trying to take them down. But now they were evading properly, no longer advancing in straight lines.
I was waiting for the order to either fall back or pursue when I realized Col. Caitlin hadn't responded to comms in some time.
***
Fraserburg, Icar
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
March 20th 3050
Star Colonel Jera Carns seethed with frustration. The Inner Sphere surats were even more dishonorable than she had predicted. Violations of Zellbrigen were too numerous to count. They ganged up on single opponents with multiple BattleMechs and even resorted to stravag artillery. They even rained down artillery on their own people just to damage her forces!
Most importantly was her failure to win regardless. She had lost over two Stars of 'Mechs, and almost two full Stars of Elementals. Yes, they have destroyed over a hundred vehicles at dozens of 'Mechs, but losing ten 'Mechs and almost fifty elementals was a heavy blow. The armor on her remaining 'Mechs had been nearly completed stripped, and some of her warriors had lost whole limbs from their BattleMechs.
The three Points of Elementals she had sent to seize the enemy DropShips were slain, and she doubted she could achieve victory with her current bid. She had three options. The first was to call down forces matching Star Colonel Erik Kerensky's bid. That would bring ten fresh BattleMechs—but even that might not be enough.
The second was to seek Erik's permission to revert to her original bid, which included a Star of artillery 'Mechs – five disgusting Nagas – and a Star of aerospace fighters. Ten aerospace fighters could hunt down the freebirth artillery and eliminate it, restoring the battle's honor. But the cost would be steep – her honor tarnished, and Kerensky would claim the spoils: bondsmen, salvage, and perhaps even future favors. And if she refused his demands, he would deny her outright.
The greatest dishonor of all would be retreating off-world entirely. Such a retreat would grant Erik the right to deploy his entire Cluster, as it would be deemed a fresh battle – one she could not even bid against him for. He would likely hold back some forces to preserve his own honor, but after her failure, she doubted he would show much restraint. Khan Ulric would not relegate her to a Solahma unit, but the disgrace of failure – so early in the invasion – would be nearly unbearable.
Gritting her teeth, she chose the second option. Victory would be hers. She keyed her 'Mech's controls to open a channel to the JumpShips where Erik awaited. A slight delay was inevitable over the distance, but the link remained stable.
"Star Colonel Kerensky. It seems I have bid poorly. I request your approval to bring in my initial bid."
"That is surprising to hear Jera. Was not this world merely defended by barbarous lucrewarriors, militia and some abomination of a Science Caste unit?" his voice responded after the several second delay.
"Aff, but I underestimated just how filthy their tactics would be. I will use our own foul artillery 'Mechs and our honorable aerospace fighters to hunt down their artillery and then finish the remaining foes," she replied steadily.
"But only if I agree." He let the silence last for an uncomfortable minute. "I want all bondsmen taken, you may keep the salvage, but I also wish for Star Commander Royal Kerensky and his Star to be transferred to my Cluster. In exchange you will take Star Commander Lurline and her Star."
Damn you, you wish for my Cluster to lose a Bloodnamed warrior and a Ristar at that? But I have no choice if I am to retain my honor.
"Agreed," she said, taking pains to keep the anger from her voice.
He laughed at the other end of the line. "Bargained well and done."
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