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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)
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Hanse DavionVictor Steiner-DavionKai Allard-LiaoKatherineTanya von Degurechaff
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Federated CommonwealthMelissa Steiner - FreeformCrossoverMechwarrior - FreeformUlric Kerensky - Freeform
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English
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Published:2025-01-17Updated:2026-10-14Words:534,693Chapters:99/?Comments:686Kudos:790Bookmarks:254Hits:68,908
A Young Woman's Defense of the Inner Sphere
Failninjaninja
Chapter 13
Chapter Text
Chapter 13
WarShip Dire Wolf, Assault Orbit, New Caledonia
Rasalhague District, Free Rasalhague Republic
April 21st 3050
"That was all the information Star Colonel Kerensky provided?" Ulric asked his saKhan.
His second in command, Garth Radick, was on the shorter side, but built stoutly. His face was always a bland mask of pleasantness that prevented any observer from knowing his true thoughts.
"Aff, my Khan. Before she was slain, Jera Carns reported that the Spheroid barbarians used quite despicable tactics. They would call down artillery on their own 'Mech and armor units, ruthlessly focus on individual targets with whole Binaries at a time, and made extensive use of artillery. The final battle Jera fought did not have any survivors that we know of, and when the Spheroids left Icar, they took everything they could and destroyed the rest. No copies of their battle recordings survived."
Ulric felt a momentary pang for the loss of his lover. Within the Clans, lovers came and went, but she had been Ulric's favorite. Beyond that, she was a trusted member of Alpha Galaxy and a talented subordinate. Her codex had been filled with success after success until Icar.
"Do you think the intelligence reports from ComStar were accurate?"
"Aff. The fault lies with us for underestimating the depths they would sink to and for not properly identifying that the Spheroids would have some sort of bodyguard unit for an important figure in their barbarous ruling system," Radick replied in an even tone.
"Katherine Steiner-Davion, head of the Science Caste unit? You suspect that perhaps some of their more elite warriors were independently assigned to protect her specifically. Perhaps even unbeknownst to our new allies, quiaff?"
"Aff. You have asked us to study these people. I have watched broadcasts of their 'media,' and this person is an important part of their society. Their Merchant and Labor Caste turn to her for advice on the personal products used to enhance their looks or for the beverages they consume."
I will speak to Phelan about this. Radick's explanation is logical, but is missing something. They treat the children of their leaders like we would treat Bloodnamed warriors. The actions of one Bloodnamed warrior echo and reflect on all those who hold that Bloodname.
"We will need to prevent a second occurrence. The 4th Wolf Guards are under half-strength now, and we must be on guard for future trouble. I am pulling Verthandi, or Norn on some star charts, from Wave 2 and moving it to Wave 3," Ulric stated.
"Surely you are not worried about failure, quineg?" he asked the question without a change in his expression.
"Neg, but losses could mount, and the intelligence from ComStar indicates two elite units are on that planet. The Kell Hounds, lucrewarriors though they may be, are impressive in comparison to other Spheroid units. We will move more ponderously for now, and will ensure no other failures occur before beginning the true hunt," Ulric concluded.
"I will see to it that orders are adjusted, my Khan."
Ulric had Phelan brought to him.
"Phelan, I would like your help in understanding the importance of royalty in the Inner Sphere. Would it be expected for the sons and daughters of your Successor States to have dedicated bodyguard units?"
Phelan was caught off guard by the question, but then answered. "Sure, why wouldn't they?"
"Careful with your language, bondsman."
"Sorry," Phelan said though he didn't sound contrite. "Yes, they would, though it depends on how far down the line they are and if they have a combat role."
"Would one of your Science Caste have a dedicated unit?"
Phelan shook his head. "No, but we do not have a caste system. An important research installation might be well defended, but no single scientist who would warrant 'Mech protection. I also can't... ah, cannot think of a royal who would be considered a scientist."
"The person in question is Kommandant Katherine Steiner-Davion. She was in command of a 'Research Battalion' and is also seen on Inner Sphere broadcasts advising your people of personal products to purchase."
Phelan grinned. "I have seen those ads too; despite her age, she's already a looker. I've had to knock someone's teeth out for saying something inappropriate once. I did not... did not realize she would be assigned to such a unit. I had heard she was doing well and was talented, especially for her age. She only got a battalion command due to her status as royal though."
"You believe she is unworthy?"
Phelan shrugged. "You must be good to make it through NAMA. I fought with her for a few seconds when we were younger, she has warrior instincts. We normally do not assign battalion commands to people fresh out of the academy. As for it being a Research Battalion, it might be structured like Team Banzai on New Avalon, and they are elite as they come. Hell, if she does have protection, it might have come from Team Banzai." Phelan paused, swallowed, and then asked, "Why? Is she on one of the worlds you are targeting?"
"No, Phelan, but she was." Seeing his worried face, Ulric added, "She survived the battle of Icar and fled off-world. However, she was part of the defense that successfully held Icar against the initial assault." He waved his hand dismissively. "For the future, who can say, but we are not targeting any Lyran Commonwealth worlds in the next wave."
Phelan's smile returned. "I told you; she is a natural warrior. A lot better than her brother, that's for sure!"
"You have fought this Victor Steiner-Davion?"
"Yes, kicked his ass too. That was a while ago, I hear he is a hot-shot 'Mech pilot, at least in the simulators. But I would put my C-Bills on Katherine any day of the week."
"Thank you, Phelan. This is good information, but not something I need to share with the Jade Falcons. If they encounter her, they can learn for themselves what sort of warrior she is."
***
Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
April 28th 3050
Prince Hanse Davion sat with his wife, Melissa Steiner, as they stared at the holographic map of the Lyran Commonwealth. Worlds that had been taken were marked in dark red, those where they still had active guerrilla operations of effective size were in red, and those currently believed to be under assault were in orange. He squeezed his wife's hand as Justin Allard went over specific details.
"Most of our intelligence is coming from Princess Katherine. She managed to take a captive and has provided us with valuable information. She's also given us exceptional hard numbers on weapon capabilities. At any range, they outclass even our most advanced 'Mechs, but at long range, we are particularly disadvantaged."
Hanse nodded. "She's been cagey about her unit and the 12th Star Guards' 3rd Regiment that was evacuated. Any idea how shot up they are?"
"Yes, she was sneaky and embedded a message to one of the covert agents Ainsworth is familiar with through a Charlie-Level Priority message to Butler. Her battalion suffered significant casualties but remains above half-strength. As for the 3rd Regiment… almost a total loss. Less than one battalion made it off-world, along with only about a battalion from the 3rd Icar Armored Brigade. The only reason they managed to escape was that there was extra space due to the high number of casualties."
Melissa shook her head forlornly. "So much death… what do these invaders want?"
"Unclear, but Ostin, the captured member of Clan Wolf, has been turned over to a Loki cell on Wotan. Through a combination of drugs, physiological monitoring, and enhanced interrogation techniques, we'll soon learn more military details about our attackers. If I had to guess, they have returned to the Inner Sphere to conquer it all."
Hanse grunted. "Good. In the meantime, are our neighbors also experiencing attacks?"
Justin nodded and gestured toward Alex Mallory, his deputy.
Mallory cleared his throat. "I've analyzed ComStar data trends. A regular amount of traffic flows from worlds all over the Inner Sphere—commodity prices, personal correspondences, diplomatic messages, and more. If that suddenly stopped or changed when the Clans hit a world, it would be obvious. ComStar is dummying data, but they got sloppy. They didn't vary their algorithm enough, making it clear which worlds were hit. The Draconis Combine hasn't been struck as hard, but one of the worlds targeted was Turtle Bay. Rasalhague, however, has been hammered."
Melissa, the Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth, arched a brow. "They struck Icar, Trell, and Turtle Bay. Does anyone else find it odd that the worlds hit were all ones where the potential heirs to the heads of state were present?"
Hanse blinked, then cursed. "ComStar. They must be feeding them information." He turned to Justin. "We need to respond to this invasion, but we'll also need to set aside a number of units to assault ComStar facilities when the time is right. NAIS believes they can operate the HPGs if we gain full access. The biggest risk is ComStar destroying them as we break in, so it will have to be done quickly and simultaneously across all targeted planets."
Justin looked uneasy. "That will be difficult, and we'll need time to coordinate. If even one slip-up occurs and someone leaks it to ComStar, we lose the element of surprise. JumpShip word of mouth and in-person only. We'll need at least a year to set up that kind of operation with any chance of success, and some worlds will go dark, as we can't guarantee success everywhere."
Alex drew their attention again. "We have confirmation that Theodore Kurita is exercising his authority as Gunji no Kanrei and is shifting troops away from the Dieron Military District. We estimate upwards of twenty crack regiments are being rotated to the front to fight these invaders."
He pressed a key on the noteputer, and lines and icons of units began to shift, slowed by the necessity of using JumpShips, which had to recharge for around seven days after every jump.
"How did we get this information?" Hanse asked.
Justin leaned forward. "Half of it came through agents we have in various bases within the Combine, including agents we believe are compromised."
Hanse slowly nodded. "Then you think Theodore may have leaked this information about his own weakness to us?"
"Yes, Highness, I do." Justin pointed to the icons. "He is letting us know that he believes the invaders are a greater threat to the Draconis Combine than we are."
Hanse drummed his fingers on the table, and turned to his wife. "What do you think?"
"It strikes me, beloved, that Theodore must be concerned about his son's fate, as we are for our children. If we were to strike, the Combine could not handle a war on two fronts, but for now, the Combine serves as a buffer between the Federated Suns and the Clans. If we could move some of the troops we have assigned to the Combine border rimward, they could be used to hold back the invaders."
Hanse gave her a smile. "I agree." He looked to Justin. "Do you concur? Do we move our troops from the Isle of Skye to face the invaders?"
The head of the FCIS nodded. "Our JumpShip assets are in position to move quickly. We can move troops to the rim faster than the Combine can. Orders have already gone out to mercenaries with their own JumpShips to start heading that way. Hopefully, we can form a firebreak and slow the invaders."
They talked for a time about various mercenary units. Of most interest and importance were the Eridani Light Horse, Kell Hounds, Wolf's Dragoons, and Northwind Highlanders. They were still awaiting a response from the Light Horse, but the Kell Hounds were already on the way. They blamed the invaders for Phelan Kell's death out in the Periphery. He had been the son of the unit's commander and staunch Steiner loyalist, Morgan Kell. No word had returned from the Wolf's Dragoons, but they had recalled two of their regiments serving House Marik on garrison duty and were in transit to the Wolf's Dragoons' permanent base of operations on Outreach. The Northwind Highlanders had demurred and wished to remain defending their own home world and the surrounding potentially volatile region.
"Wolf's calling his people home. Let them know we are ready to pay double their price if they are willing to fight these Clans. They are the best mercenary regiment in the Inner Sphere, and five elite regiments, especially ones with their own JumpShips, would be a mighty boon." Hanse took a deep breath. "Issue orders for the first Kathil Uhlans and all the Deneb, Arcturan Guard, Lyran Guard, Royal Guard, and F-C Regiments from Skye March to depart for Sudeten. Let Morgan know he's in charge of this army group and route Victor to Sudeten. We'll also move troops from the Crucis March up to reinforce the Terran corridor and Skye."
Justin keyed notes into his datapad and then looked up. "Field Marshal Nondi Steiner won't be pleased to have him on 'her' side of the Federated Commonwealth."
Hanse snorted. "I'm sure, but I have bigger worries than salving her wounded ego. She herself said over a decade ago it was time for her to retire. I won't push it now, not when the full scale of the invasion is known by the Lyran Commonwealth. Morale and fear will already be in the toilet, and the thought of stripping one of their heroes of her command in the middle of it would not go over well."
His wife stirred. "Victor to Sudeten, which will be a staging area for a counterattack. Katherine on Wotan, which is within their line of advance. We should pull one of them back to Tharkad or New Avalon."
Hanse sighed. "They are both doing their duty, but I will give orders to Lieutenant General Cabrillo to evacuate Katherine at the first sign of trouble. She's probably utterly pleased being there on-site as her NAIS partners are uncovering the secrets of the LosTech in those enemy 'Mechs. I won't take her from it until it is necessary. The March Militia isn't up to RCT standards, but it will be far more defensible than Icar. It is also the rallying point for the units that made it off-world in nearby systems."
Melissa looked as if she wanted to speak further, but then demurred.
Justin took his leave to carry out his orders, and Hanse remained staring at the map of the Inner Sphere, looking for anything else he could do to save his realm.
***
Kirkeøy Continent, Wotan
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
May 2nd 3050
I listened as Nick Westfield gave me the good news about our salvage. I was really starting to like the unassuming brilliant NAIS researcher. If he kept it up, I'd get my father to give him a Sunburst medal, one of the few awards that could be given to civilians. The overall martial nature of Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth meant that almost every national level accolade had to do with frontline combat service.
"The Gargoyle – the proper name we learned from Oston – is being called the Man 'O War by other units. It might be too late to change the designation in people's minds, but more importantly, we've got it up and running with a replacement cockpit. It took some tinkering, but we managed to fit cockpit components from one of the Naga 'Mechs Leftenant LeBeau's squad took out. It isn't a perfect fit, and there are some sensor glitches, but the link between the neurohelmet and gyroscope is synced perfectly."
I smiled. "Excellent news. Then, is it ready for me to test it out?"
"It is. We've also managed to put a set of replacement legs from a Marauder on the Timber Wolf – again, some are calling it something else, a Mad Cat – and we've got it working too. New legs makes it much more difficult to pilot, and pushing it to its max speed is asking for trouble, but as a weapons platform, it works," Nick said confidently.
"I'll have Leftenant Roth practice piloting with it."
A strategy had formed in my mind if I had to fight the Clans again personally. Through Oston, we had learned that what the Clans were doing each time they invaded was a Trial of Possession for a planet. They would begin with a batchall, and the defender would declare their units and even provide the unit's history to the attacking party. The defender would then be allowed to choose the battlefield. Armed with the knowledge of the defender's force, the attacker would then internally bid, and individual sub-commanders would seek to prove their skill and honor in the competitive bidding process. The defender could also ask for something of equal or lesser value than the target of the Trial of Possession, though that was not always requested.
I had asked Oston why any defender would ever not do so, and he explained some of the thought behind it. For one, the defender could request, but it was always up to the attacker and their honor whether to accept. This could be negotiated, and sometimes those discussions became quite creative. For example, the attacker could counter and suggest that they limit the battle to just 'Mech forces without the use of Aerospace if they did not want to deal with those factors. Secondly, if there was a chance of further loss outside of just having their own force destroyed, the bidding would be less competitive as the risk was greater. From a defender's perspective, their odds of victory grew slimmer when they asked for something of value if they won.
With superior 'Mechs and their built-in belief that their trueborn genetics made them superior; the Clans were unlikely to bid one-to-one when attacking the Inner Sphere. They should feel confident with odds of one-to-two, meaning that if a defender had a 'Mech battalion of 36 'Mechs, a Clan leader would anticipate victory with 18 'Mechs, and through a competitive bidding process, possibly even going down to just 15. If the defender asked for something of value, the bidding might only drop to 20 'Mechs. It depended on many factors.
I idly wondered how impactful their genetic breeding was compared to their selection process. In one sense, certain physical traits such as build and reflexes could be inherited. The Clans themselves, for their Warrior Caste, did not have natural births; instead, they used 'iron wombs' to create whole groups from the same genetic material. The Science Caste carefully made minor adjustments on the genetic level, then raised different groups and monitored their successes and failures. According to Oston, who was likely biased to a high degree, it obviously was better, and trueborn warriors – at least on average – were better than freeborn ones.
In some sense, he could be right, though I didn't have the data to validate it. Elementals – what we had called 'Toads' – were clearly selected for height and the ability to put on muscle mass. Aerospace fighters were bred to be smaller but with larger heads, and MechWarriors had certain genes selected for Neurohelmet compatibility and superior reflexes. However, there were some rather stark confounding variables. Most of the groups of children born of the iron wombs did not go on to be warriors. In Oston's own 'sibko,' only four out of twenty-five joined the Warrior Caste after completing their testing.
Secondly, with superior technology, including better Neurohelmets as well as lifelong training and a singular focus on just being a warrior, one would expect any group of MechWarriors to be better on average than those raised in a normal environment. It remained unclear whether the superior fighting prowess of the Clan warriors was due to genetics, technology, heightened standards, or the learning environment. In any event, the point is that they naturally assumed they would win anything approaching an even fight or even a one-on-two fight.
I was no ordinary warrior. Gifted with my 'mage brain' conditioned reflexes from my second life, I was a cut above nearly everyone else. It wasn't supernatural, but given the total range of all human reflexes, I was almost certainly in the top .001% of humanity in that department. The folks I had trained were also fantastic warriors, especially Aiko and Gregory. And now, with two top-tier Clan 'Mechs, we could meet on more-or-less equal ground with our foes, who would still be viewing combat odds completely differently. If I could force bidding to a small engagement, and even win something from the Clans in return, that would be ideal.
I had submitted a proposal to Leftenant General Cabrillo and had been rejected outright. I didn't like going over people's heads; it was generally a bad idea in the military. But this plan could work if we were invaded on Wotan. At the same time, I didn't want to send communication via ComStar and run the risk they shared what I wanted to attempt to do. Instead, I used my black box and sent the details of how I would use the batchall process against a Clan opponent.
And Cabrillo was not happy, because, of course, he received that message first, since he has a black box as well.
I didn't have to face him in person, not that it would have been that big of an issue, but I could tell he was peeved. HQ for the Wotan March Militia was Borealtown on the continent of Stord, whereas I was currently stationed at the BattleMech repair facility on the continent of Kirkeøy. Originally a 'Mech factory from the Star League era, some of its critical components had been damaged during the wars. Instead of producing 'Mechs, it was put to use repairing them. It still produced 'Mech armor, so it was pulling a bit of double duty, though the armor it was creating wasn't the more advanced Ferro-fibrous that was becoming more popular in 'Mech designs.
Returning to the matter at hand, I asked Nick about reverse-engineering the technology.
"There, I have less good news. I've got some ideas, but testing them will require better facilities than this. The building blocks of these 'Mechs, their weapon systems – literally everything – is a bit of a mystery. It is like they've uncovered some new substance that is lighter and more durable; however, at the atomic level, it isn't. We've been struggling to figure out why, but we've also just begun. We are still learning new things from the Helm memory core, so it may be decades before we unlock the secrets of how the Clans produce such potent 'Mechs."
Unfortunate, but realistic.
"What about the battle armor suits, these Elementals?"
Nick shrugged. "Not exactly our specialty, but the same material issues are present. On the bright side, the damage to three of them was incredibly minimal, thanks to your sniper's precise shooting. The suits can be adjusted for sizing. While they probably won't be as optimal for regular-sized humans, we've proven they can work. Two of your protective detail have already tested them, and I think they want to keep them."
Hmm, now there's a thought.
"What about the damaged ones? Can we get those working again?"
He nodded. "Some of them. They weren't a top priority because of the damage done to the 'Mechs and vehicles. But we recovered pieces of over sixty suits from the three battles on Icar. I estimate we can get ten or so working and fully functional, with another five or so working but with greatly diminished combat capacity."
My mind raced at the possibilities. I could outfit the survivors of Leftenant Roger's platoon with Elemental armor, or I could give it to some of my artillery companies, providing an alternative way to carry and move my Spitfire Cannons. An artillery crew that could jump through mountainous terrain, set up the artillery using our proprietary magnetic interlocks, and defend themselves if light 'Mechs or VTOLs came to stop them?
Okay, calm down. That would be great for my unit, but not exactly something other units could easily replicate.
"Let's make that a priority. Good work, Nick. I know things got hot on Icar, but I want you on my team for the foreseeable future. I won't say there's no limit to the funding I can get you for any personal projects you want to work on, but it will be close. Are you good with working for me for the rest of your career?"
He grinned. "Princess Katherine, I'm now on the very bleeding edge of research. As a scientist, this has been an incredible opportunity, and I'm more than game."
Perfect.
After meeting with Nick, I met with Hauptmann Sven Fischer. I had worked closely with my XO during our journey through space and the descent to Wotan. Casualties had been high, and I wanted to personally correspond with the families of the fallen. They were entitled to life insurance funds, which would be paid out, but in addition, if they had children, I provided funds for scholarships. We also put in for posthumous medals for those who had gone above and beyond the call of duty.
I also submitted requests for medals for my living soldiers. The whole situation with the AFFC unification made things awkward. I had troops from both the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth. Despite being part of the AFFC now, the Lyran military and the Federated Suns military still used their old medal systems just as often as the new one. This was a result of a compromise between tradition and unification, but the balance was frankly terrible and very inefficient. Regardless, I wanted to ensure my people got what they earned, so I put in requests for all three and would let high command figure it out.
After saluting, he sat down and reported on the details of the refit. Our units were getting top priority, but we still had gaps in our roster, both in terms of equipment and personnel.
"Kommandant, we're in a better position with personnel than we are with equipment, as not all destroyed vehicles come with fully killed crews. The same goes for our artillery pieces. We weren't expecting any replacements for the Spitfire Cannons, so we'll have to make do with only eight for now. However, Lyran State Command recently placed an order, and I'll see if we can route some of those to us. We also have an opportunity to expand, if you can get approval."
I arched an eyebrow; we were already listed as a reinforced battalion on paper. Growing any larger would put us in an even more unique role.
"The Third Armor Icar Brigade had artillery elements. They were nearly destroyed by the counter-battery fire and the attack on the spaceport. I'll be honest, they're rough around the edges and not as well trained, but they want to avenge their world. With as many worlds as have fallen, it won't be anytime soon that Icar is retaken. They want to join you."
"Me?" I asked, a bit shocked. "I lost almost half my command."
"And the Brigade lost 80% of its people. The 12th Star Guards lost over 70% of its command." Sven stroked the thin beard he had been growing since the battles on Icar. "You also took charge in a nearly hopeless situation. We had to run, but we defeated them at Cuanger and secured valuable salvage for our researchers."
I paused to think. I wasn't sure if I wanted to be saddled with soldiers who hadn't gone through my training. I was told the Icar Armored Brigade was better than most armored units on Periphery worlds, but they were a far cry from the standards of the more important planets. On the other hand, I could probably delay integration and training, which would preclude me from being included in any counteroffensive actions…
Yes, this might be just the thing I need to avoid the frontlines!
"I like this idea. Get me a headcount of any artillery personnel who wish to join… hell, since their operational integrity is destroyed, get me a headcount for anyone who wishes to join, from tank crews down to techs. In the meantime, I'll see if I can get permission. Ugh, this will be a headache. My chain of command goes up through Wotan Command, but the genesis of this unit was dreamt up in NAIS. All right, not your issue, and you have work to do."
Sven nodded easily. "Yes ma'am!"
How far could I push this? The more disparate groups that join, the more elongated my 'training and integration' period could be. Could I even offer the 12th Star Guards an opportunity to become line soldiers of the AFFC? Would they even be interested?
The other worry was Wotan itself being targeted. Hopefully, the Clans would need some time to digest their gains, and more than likely, they would need to hit Apollo and Somerset first. Getting a shipment of more artillery in the event they did hit us… well, that could only be for the better.
Time to see if my connections to my great-aunt can pay off…
***
Nadir Point, Baker 3 System
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
May 8th 3050
Victor was so engrossed in the holovid screen showing the 'Mech battle on Trell that he didn't notice Galen until he loudly cleared his throat. Victor had pulled the combat data from the 'Mechs and had them forwarded to his terminal on the DropShip. He didn't have a lot to work with as the ship only carried four 'Mechs, but he had studied them over and over again in the weeks since the battle as he journeyed toward Sudeten.
"Kommandant," Galen said as he saluted. "Do you really think there's anything more you can glean from those vids?"
Victor gave an irritated glance at Hauptmann Cox. The swing he took wasn't personal – he knew that. Galen had been following orders, but still, it stung. They had worked glove and fist together, shaping the battalion. They may have been crushed by the invader, but thanks to their hard work, they had performed better than many other battalions against them.
"I don't have anything better to do. I've made a list of notes and figured out the optimal ranges we should try to stay in when fighting each specific 'Mech design. I've also calculated how long each of our own 'Mechs can stand up to their punishment by type. I've cross-referenced…"
Galen folded his arms and Victor petered off.
"Kommandant, you were forwarded the casualty lists. Have you done anything with them?"
"Damn it, Galen, do you think I don't mourn? I'm trying to figure out what to do next time so this doesn't happen again!"
Galen shook his head. "It isn't about mourning. I know you care. It's about taking your responsibilities seriously as a commanding officer! You were taught at the best academy in the Lyran Commonwealth. What is a battalion commander's responsibility to fallen soldiers and their families?"
Victor felt heat rise to his cheeks. "I… I don't know what to say. What can I say to the families of the soldiers who trusted me? Every time I think of something, I wonder how it will sound to someone who could be their son's or daughter's age!"
"So you ignore your duty? Look, with all the 'ComStar technical difficulties,' you haven't really stepped in it, but you do need to get them done. I'll help you if you want. You also need to think about whether anyone deserves to be honored specifically for valor. I've seen the memorial services. I've seen the pride on our citizens' faces when they hear the roll of honor and it's their child being celebrated."
Victor closed his eyes. He was screwing up. If Galen hadn't been here, he would have done nothing until someone else – maybe even Morgan – chewed him out for it. He owed it to his men who had fought and died for him. Leading was more than just being good at strategy and individual piloting skills. He knew that; he had taken the courses.
"You're right, Galen. Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you these past several months."
Galen gave him a grin. "Probably would have been shot up in that canyon and either dead or in a prison camp."
Victor chuckled, and then winced. "Damn, I hope my sister has someone like you on her command staff."
Galen patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sure she does, Victor. Given her youth, I can't imagine High Command didn't set up someone experienced to fill that role."
"And she's not as prickly as me, so probably welcomed the help immediately."
Galen nodded. "Don't beat yourself up over it too much. There's a reason officers start out just commanding a lance. You've proven you can train, organize, strategize, and fight. You can give a decent speech too. You're already ahead of the ballgame more than you might realize. But mistakes will happen, and as your XO, I'm going to be in your ear reminding you of them. That's my job, and I appreciate you letting me do it."
Victor stretched, then pulled up a document to begin drafting the letters. He owed it to his unit, and he owed it to their families. With each one he completed, the drive to throw back the invaders and avenge the losses grew stronger in his chest.
***
Tharkad City, Tharkad
District of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth
May 10th 3050
Nondi Steiner downed another antacid, then rubbed the back of her neck, trying to ease the tight tension in her muscles. At sixty-nine, she felt every year. Since the Clan invasion, it seemed like every ache she'd accumulated had multiplied. But Nondi wouldn't give in to age, infirmity, or anything else. Her people were under attack, and she would deal with it.
But with what?
JumpShips had been shifted to help bring Isle of Skye units to the front on Hanse's orders. They weren't bad orders – Nondi would have almost certainly done the same – but the additional JumpShips called in to hasten the process had stripped her of nearly all tactical flexibility. She needed to keep some JumpShips in reserve in case a rapid redeployment of elite units was required. Who knew if the Draconis Combine or the Free Worlds League would strike while brave Lyrans died fighting the Clans?
The Archon had said a plan was being formed and that Morgan Hasek-Davion would be coordinating efforts on Sudeten when he arrived. How that enraged her— the thought of one of the most Davion of Davions deciding which Lyran worlds would be well-defended and which would be left to fend for themselves was a grave insult. He didn't know their history, he didn't know their people— he was a stranger to them.
Her next meeting was at hand when Marshal Robert Bryant and Hauptmann General Abigail Burne-Jones entered her office. They oversaw Wotan command but spent most of their time on Tharkad. Bryant had a rather sparse military career, but had powerful patrons and a strong reputation within Lyran State Command. Abigail had risen through the ranks after graduating from the Nagelring and had a sharp mind for logistics.
Bryant saluted. "General, it's good to see you again."
Nondi smiled at the use of her prior rank, before the accursed union of the two militaries. Being a fierce Steiner loyalist, Bryant too longed for the old days.
"It's always good to see you, Robert, but sadly, these are not good times for any of us. Wotan command seems to be all but shattered."
"Three worlds still stand, and we are making things extraordinarily difficult for Winfield and Here, for the invaders," Bryant replied smoothly.
"God grant Frederic's soul some rest. His loss is felt quite heavily," Nondi sighed. Hauptmann General Frederic Anderson had been in charge of the 8th Arcturan Guard RCT and the highest-ranking officer physically within the Wotan Command region. A fine leader, and the invaders had butchered him like he was yesterday's garbage.
"Amen," the two other officers said, their voices solemn.
"Will those three worlds hold if the invaders come?" Nondi asked pointedly after a brief moment of silence.
"Somerset cannot. Apollo has the Grave Walkers and the Apollo Militia, but if a whole RCT cannot hold, what hope do they have? Wotan is heavily defended. Cabrillo has combat experience from '39 and knows what he's about. It's defended by the Wotan Tamar March Militia, which is less powerful than our RCTs, but he does have reinforcements. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Regiments of the 12th Star Guards, those who made it off the planets that fell, have arrived. They amount to less than a single regiment, but they have faced the enemy and survived. That must count for something."
Abigail chimed in as well. "Princess Katherine also brings what's left of her NAIS Artillery Battalion and the remnants of the Third Icar Armored Brigade. All combined, we think they can hold, but reinforcements would be ideal."
Nondi sighed. That was the problem – what could she send, and how quickly?
"I can't pull any troops from worlds within one jump of the enemy. We only have local militia units on Beta VII and Malibu. They've pushed all the way into Trell, leaving several worlds within just one jump. Looking further out, places like Waldorff don't even have that."
Bryant frowned. "Perhaps some elements of the 41st Avalon Hussars RCT? They're stationed on Planting, but if they transit to Seiduts, then on to Twycross, Butler, Derf, and finally Wotan, they could arrive before the end of June."
Nondi shook her head. "That's a border unit, and given how fast the Free Rasalhague Republic is falling apart, they'll be needed to defend Planting."
"Surely there's something we can do. We can't just let my whole region fall," Bryant said, a slight note of panic in his voice. An idea clearly popped into his head as he leaned forward suddenly.
"We must hold Wotan. Princess Katherine is on the world, surely, we can spare something to keep her safe."
"She will be evacuated if Wotan is attacked. She will not be risked again. She is our future. She's young yet, still inexperienced, but she does have some ideas on how to defend Wotan. Katherine believes Leftenant General Cabrillo is not keeping an open mind about attempting to beat the invaders at their own game."
Nondi had her own reservations about Katherine's strategy. She didn't trust the enemy to honor any agreements, so why should they plan their strategies around it? Still, Nondi wanted those responsible for Wotan Command to review the idea and give it a fair shake.
Bryant shook his head. "If you order it, General, we'll try it, but I think it would be a mistake. Revealing our hand and what units we have would be foolhardy." Abigail hesitated for a long moment. She looked at her CO and then at Nondi.
"We can't know if it will work until it's tried. We haven't had any victories. Perhaps it should be attempted?"
Bryant chuckled. "We haven't tried painting our 'Mechs in neon colors as a distraction, either. We can't know if it will work until it's tried, yes?" His tone was mostly jovial, but there was an undercurrent of disdain.
Abigail flushed. "You're right, sir. Just an idle thought."
"I trust your judgment, Robert. There's something else she suggested. She has more artillery officers than pieces and has requested reinforcements with the new Spitfire Cannons. In her field-testing report, she mentioned that they're simple to operate and that, as long as a senior artillery officer is overseeing them, she believes motorized infantry can be quickly trained to use them. We do have extra battalions of the new pieces rolling off the line. I can send a battalion's worth stacked in a single Union DropShip. It won't do much, but while she's on planet, she could have her artillery companies train one of Wotan's TMM infantry regiments in their use."
Bryant let a flash of annoyance cross his face, but it quickly disappeared. "We'll take any help we can get, General."
I know you wanted more, but I don't have it. However I can appease Katherine.
After dismissing the two high-ranking officers, Nondi reviewed the message from Katherine sent via ComStar. It was Katherine's request to use her Research Battalion's experience to train more units in the use of the Spitfire Cannon. With Nondi's approval, she would start with the March Militia and potentially move on from there.
Katherine had also requested Aerospace support, noting that when she was on Icar, it had been used against her. The only reason her command hadn't suffered far worse was the foolishness of the enemy commander.
With the Spitfire Cannon being so light and easy to transport, they could fit thirty-six of them into a single Union. And that included a generous helping of ammo, replacement parts, and space for a pair of VTOLs that TharHes Industries recommended for use in spotting. Based on normal artillery standards, that was a battalion, though according to the Spitfire Cannon's specifications, it should really be sixteen per company to maintain the same firepower. Nondi had decided to deploy them at twelve per battery, saving the difference for more worthwhile pursuits while keeping the artillery numbers the same in their RCTs and March Militias.
We'll call it two companies for the sake of getting her more.
Along with being able to stack thirty-six Spitfire Cannons in one Union, there were still Aerospace bays available for two fighters. Nondi intended to send three Union DropShips, giving Katherine a full squadron of six fighters. Those six fighters would be commanded by a Hauptmann from the 2nd Royal Guards RCT. The odds of any strike on Tharkad were near zero, and six Aerospace assets wouldn't change the course of a battle so large if the unthinkable were to happen. Nondi was providing Katherine with the best protection possible in the unlikely event she was forced into a fight.
Looking at the proposed unit roster, Nondi was pleased. The 1st NAIS Research Battalion would now be expanded to two battalions. In essence, she would have one 'Mech company, one armored company, one aerospace-equivalent company, and four companies of artillery based on her existing artillery and the new Spitfire Cannons. The additional thirty-six Spitfire Cannons would remain on Wotan when Katherine eventually left, forming a second artillery battalion for the March Militia stationed there.
Assuming the Clans give us time.
That still left one Union DropShip for additional support. But now that Nondi was thinking about it, she could replace that with an Intruder-class DropShip that could also carry two Aerospace fighters. Having that in the 1st NAIS Research Battle Group would give Katherine access to a powerful DropShip, one that had more weaponry on its hulls than a Union. It also had a state-of-the-art medical bay including a trauma surgery unit in the event something truly awful happened.
Nondi personally was not a fan of the DropShip because it couldn't carry 'Mechs, however Katherine's unit had suffered casualties and the cargo bay could carry 850 tons.
More than enough for a few tank and Thumper replacements as well as some other miscellaneous restock requests she wished for. I'll even send her a company of infantry for additional security. The after-action report indicated some of these armored infantry soldiers breeched the base perimeter and caused a lot of casualties.
Normally, it would be a three-month journey, but Nondi had some excess capacity and could create an abridged Command Circuit for a formation of three dropships, enough of the common Invader JumpShip with its 3 docking collars were already near enough in position to arrange several partial chains. It would save only four systems of recharge time, but that would bring the additional reinforcements to Wotan by late July. With Katherine leading two battalions, Nondi decided to resurrect the Hauptmann-Kommandant rank.
It should never have been removed.
When the AFFC had been formed, certain ranks were deemed unnecessary. Nondi felt a bit of glee at the spiteful gesture. Once the rank was approved and announced through the media and the AFFC military communications, what could Hanse and Morgan do? Demote the Archon's daughter?
The rank Nondi was giving Katherine was the one the Lyran Commonwealth bestowed upon the senior-most battalion commander in a regiment. It allowed for clear delineation of who should take command if both the CO and XO of a regiment fell in battle. It also placed Katherine above her brother in rank, something that pleased Nondi immensely.
It was time for another meeting, this one with Marshal Herbert Chandrasekar and his second, Hauptmann General James Cherenkov, who oversaw Twycross Command, the six-world region adjacent to Wotan Command. James had been a delight at last year's charity gala, but this would not be a warm conversation. They had lost Chateau and Trell, and would no doubt be hounding her for reinforcements she didn't have.
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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)
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Hanse DavionVictor Steiner-DavionKai Allard-LiaoKatherineTanya von Degurechaff
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Published:2025-01-17Updated:2026-10-14Words:534,693Chapters:99/?Comments:686Kudos:790Bookmarks:254Hits:68,908
A Young Woman's Defense of the Inner Sphere
Failninjaninja
Chapter 14
Notes:
Thank you to skychan for helping out with the chapter! Been really awesome bouncing ideas off their noggin!
Chapter Text
Chapter 14
Kirkeøy Continent, Wotan
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
May 12th 3050
Patricia Ainsworth had handed over Oston to the LIC side of FCIS, specifically to Loki agents. There was wary respect between the two groups, now under one umbrella organization. Oston would not be in for a pleasant time. She knew that torture was possibly one of the tactics they would use, but certainly not the only one. One of their favored tactics was questioning under a memory blocker. They would ask questions, steer the conversation, and look for ways to phrase things to get the subject to speak. When it failed, they would simply try again in a few hours, the prisoner never knowing he had already gone through the same thing. They asked the same set of questions but would detour once they reached the uncooperative stage, trying a different approach.
She didn't envy the man's fate, but she also couldn't find any pity in her heart for him. He had invaded her nation and tried to kill her charge. She had wondered if Katherine would object to him being handed off; Ainsworth feared she would try to do something foolish, like letting him become a Warrior again.
I needn't have worried; she held their culture and mindset in contempt. Her view was that the Clan invasion was an existential threat, and without more knowledge of the enemy, we would be fighting blind.
Today, she would once again be using the Elemental armor. It was a marvel of technology, and she enjoyed being within its confines. With it, she could lift 500 kilograms over her head, and the immense pressure of the claw on one side of the suit could rip off armored plating from 'Mechs. She could run faster and jump twice as high, even before using the suit's jump jets.
She also knew that her vitals were connected to the suit, allowing it to administer clotting agents and pain relievers when it detected wounds. This particular suit had a laser attachment, while some of the others had machine guns instead. The SRM launcher was not currently attached, and only a few suits still had working ones.
Ainsworth would be testing the suit's jump capabilities as well as conducting target practice. She moved with fluidity, and aside from a tree branch collapsing under her total weight, there were no issues.
Now the question is… do I push to accompany Ice into battle? The rule for FCIS protective details covering MechWarrior VIPs is that we don't have a place on that kind of battlefield. We watch for physical threats in the 99% of their lives when they aren't in 'Mechs. But should that change? We aren't nearly as fast as 'Mechs moving at full speed, so we could get left behind, but the desire to protect her 100% of the time compels me to join her on the battlefield.
With the casualties Leftenant Rogers had suffered, they had enough Elemental suits for thirteen soldiers to be fully effective, not counting the SRM launchers. Gustav would probably decline a suit since he couldn't use one while fulfilling his role as Overwatch.
"My team will take this one and two more to arm all of us, except for Gustav, which will leave ten for Rogers' group. Since they handle more of the perimeter defense, they could make good use of them."
Her accuracy with the arm laser needed improvement, but that would come with time. When not on active duty protecting Katherine, she would practice with the suit. As she acknowledged that to herself, she realized she had made her decision. She would push to be present on the battlefield with Katherine, serving as another layer of defense against threats to the princess's life.
I will always do my duty, but this one is different. In her, I can see the strength of the Fox made manifest. I will die before I let her fall.
***
Kirkeøy Continent, Wotan
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
June 1st 3050
I was appreciative of what my great-aunt was doing, but I was also frustrated. Her announcement of my promotion made it clear she was playing games, likely out of frustration with Morgan Hasek-Davion encroaching on her domain. The merging of the two militaries had led to some… odd changes in the rank structure. The rank of Hauptmann-Kommandant had been removed, which had displeased some in the Lyran State Command. This little tit-for-tat between Nondi and Morgan was something I had no desire to get caught up in.
On the plus side, I was getting even more than I had hoped for. I'd be receiving thirty-six new Spitfire Cannons for myself and would be responsible for training with the other thirty-six. I would also be getting six aerospace fighters, an additional JumpShip, and extra DropShips assigned to my unit. On top of that, I'd have the authority to promote one of my Hauptmanns to Kommandant. It was too early for Christmas!
Hauptmann Fischer had my additional artillery officers from the Icar Armored Brigade. Now, we just needed to wait for the artillery pieces to arrive, which would take a while and was the fly in my ointment. Based on my conversations with Oston and what I had observed, I didn't think the Clans would be slow in their conquest. I hoped Wotan wouldn't be targeted next, but it was a very real possibility. In the interim, even without their equipment being here, they could still be cross-trained on the Spitfire Cannons we still had left.
However, Sven had done more than just bring the artillery officers on board – nearly 90% of the tank and support crews wanted to join as well. I now had nearly an entire additional battalion of armor wishing to join my command. A Hauptmann-Kommandant wasn't supposed to command a regiment!
If I overstacked my companies and assigned five per battalion, could I get away with just two battalions and avoid having a regimental commander looking over my shoulder? My TOE was going to look ridiculous, and the amount of supplies I could requisition was based on my command size – just like my budget… Ugh. More headaches!
I was seventeen. It was one thing to be a Kommandant, but quite another to be a Leftenant-General.
Why the hell did they even do away with the Colonel and Leftenant Colonel ranks again? Honestly, Morgan had only just taken over as Marshal of the Armies. With Nondi making her play, maybe I could talk to him about adjusting the rank structure to something more rational. But even then, being seventeen and a Colonel was just as ridiculous. I'm sure no one in the AFFC wanted to see that.
My worries about my unit structure were quickly forgotten as enemy JumpShips arrived in-system. Leftenant General Cabrillo had not taken my advice and did not respond to the batchall in the Clan fashion. Based on the number of DropShips, we were looking at a significantly larger force than what had attacked Icar.
My soldiers were already up and preparing as soon as word was announced. I had my own unit, which wasn't at full strength – just over two companies of the 12th Regiment, most of which were repaired – and a battalion of armor. The Wotan Tamar March Militia had an infantry regiment and an armored battalion stationed on Kirkeøy as well. While on the main continent and centered around the capital, they had a 'Mech regiment, a vehicle regiment, four additional infantry regiments, and their Aerospace assets.
As the highest-ranking 'Mech commander, the defense would fall to me; however, it looked as though I would be evacuated. I was in communication with the Leftenant General, who advised me that a Union and a Leopard would be escorted to my position to pick me up.
"Sir, that won't be enough to take all my units. I brought DropShips with me, and…"
"Hauptmann-Kommandant, I will need those assets to help defend this world. Everything you can fit on those two DropShips; you can take with you."
"But sir…"
"I do not have time; they will be there within five hours."
Bastard.
The capital city of Borealtown had the only spaceport on the planet. My DropShips had unloaded my units here on Kirkeøy, but they had then gone to the other continent to refuel and perform regular maintenance.
Like on Icar, the enemy – identified this time as Jade Falcons – had appeared at the Pirate Point and were coming in hot. The DropShips sent to pick me up would have gotten here in time… had they not been destroyed by enemy aerospace fighters an hour out from the 'Mech repair facility.
Damn you Being X!
Sensors were relaying information on what was dropping on this continent: two Overlord-class DropShips, though they massed larger than standard Overlords.
If a normal Overlord can carry thirty-six – let's call it forty – I could be looking at eighty 'Mechs or 'Mech equivalents. That would smash us like a bug. We have a defensive position and are dug in with artillery, but their 'Mechs are just too fast, too armored, too heat-efficient, and too strong. And they have aerospace support.
Cabrillo was back on the line. "Princess, I don't think we can afford to send another DropShip until battle has joined and their aerospace fighters are distracted. Try to slow down the enemy and retreat if you have to. I will not have you fall on this world."
"Sir, I'm going to attempt to contact the enemy commander when they enter the field. If I can narrow the amount of force used, I believe I can win. If nothing else, it will buy us some time."
"Fine, try to slow them down with negotiations, but do not risk yourself. I have orders from High Command that this world's top priority is to keep you safe."
Normally, this would be music to my ears, but I couldn't trust anyone else to fight this battle—if I could get the limited battle I desired.
"Understood. Good luck out there."
The communication link cut off, and I hoped that what Oston had shared with me would help. It was our only hope.
Why had they sent so much to this world? The March Militia represented a stronger force than what was on Icar, but not by that much. From the battle reports on other worlds, they hadn't used nearly as much when fighting full-blown RCTs! This must be the work of Being X.
***
Kirkeøy Continent, Wotan
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
June 2nd 3050
Star Colonel Diane Anu was surprised to receive a communication from the enemy commander regarding the facility she had been assigned to capture.
"I am Hauptmann-Kommandant Katherine Steiner-Davion. My commanding officer has refused the batchall for this world. However, I would be honored to accept a batchall for this 'Mech facility, the surrounding industries, and the entirety of this continent. It would be wasteful to risk damaging what you have come to claim."
Interesting. She knows of our ways.
Star Captain Nedra spoke in their command channel, "This is the daughter of the ruler of the Lyran Commonwealth. This is one of the prime targets. If we can take her alive, it will bring us much honor after the Falcon Guards failed to capture her brother."
Diane looked forward to the honor of a proper fight – not that they expected to get one – but the chance now existed.
"Very well, I am Star Colonel Diane Anu, proud commander of the 5th Battle Cluster. I am Jade Falcon and claim this continent for my own. What forces do you dare defend it with?"
"Thank you, Star Colonel. My answer depends, for my forces are still in disrepair. I would prefer to defend with a small force of BattleMechs only, as I have learned that your people find artillery shameful. I have eight BattleMechs repaired and battle-ready, weighing a total of 375 tons together. If you would consent to having a smaller-scale conflict, this will guarantee the infrastructure we are fighting for will be undamaged."
Amused, Diane considered the request. Her warriors would be upset at not being able to fight this day, but the call to honorable combat compelled her to accept.
"I will agree to use an appropriate force and not the full might of my Cluster."
"Excellent, and as this is a Trial of Possession, I would demand something of equal value for my victory. For if I were to lose, you would have this continent nearly completely unscathed. My own soldiers will lay down their arms and may claim their 'Mechs, armored vehicles, and support equipment as Isorla."
Curious but on guard, Diane mulled it over. "What are you requesting as your prize?"
"Three things, Star Colonel. Considering the 'Mechs, armored vehicles, and artillery you would claim as your prize, I would expect equal value. I am led to believe every 'Mech of yours is equal to two of mine in battle, and that you rate armored vehicles at half that. Based on that ratio, I would like at least two companies of frontline 'Mechs or five Stars' worth. You may substitute one Star of 'Mechs for Elemental suits."
Diane scoffed, but the enemy commander continued.
"The second thing that I would ask is that, in exchange for the 'Mech repair facility you might win, I and all the units who serve or are allied with me on this world be allowed to leave without interference within a week's time at our discretion. I wish to be honest with you, Star Colonel; I do not believe my commanding officer can beat your forces at the capital."
Ridiculous.
"And finally, I would request ten of the Tech Caste who currently work on the 'Mechs I intend to win be given to me as bondsmen. This is in exchange for the industry in the surrounding area that will not be damaged thanks to our smaller battle. What say you, Star Colonel?"
"Your requests border on insulting. You are ignorant, but at least you are trying to be better than others of your ilk." Her tone was condescending, but she also spoke the truth. The Inner Sphere barbarians attempting to follow the Honor Road was worthy.
"It is my understanding that the batchall process is a matter of negotiation, quiaff?"
Shock struck her. "Aff," came her immediate, almost instinctual response.
"Then what is your counteroffer? I am reasonable. If you win, you have the whole of my command and have taken territory that has value for your continued conquest. This facility will be damaged or destroyed in a conventional battle. Artillery will shamefully rain down on your heads, and while you may still prove victorious, there will be losses, and that abhorrent waste should be beneath the both of us."
That was true; the Clans hated waste. And the thought of a warrior dying to shells fired from kilometers away twisted her stomach.
"You may have one 'Mech, one of our Tech Caste, and I will allow any of your eight participants in the Trial of Possession safe passage, should you win."
Silence from the other end of the line. "You will have to do better than that, Star Colonel. I am giving you the opportunity to fight a full and proper batchall-based Trial of Possession with an Inner Sphere unit. This may be the very first of its kind; perhaps this historic occasion may be worthy enough to be given lines in the Remembrance."
How does she know about that?
"How do you know about the Remembrance?"
"Agree to my terms and I will tell you immediately," she replied.
That was tempting.
"No, for one, I cannot grant passage to those fighting at the capital. That is not under my purview; only this continent is. For two, you ask for far too much. I will be willing to grant you one Star of 'Mechs and one Tech and allow the defenders of this continent to leave should you win."
More silence. Diane wondered if she was speaking it over with someone else. Based on the ComStar report, she was very young for her command. Like a freshly made warrior who won their Trial of Position by slaying three foes, only the Spheroids did not have proper trials, so it was not the same.
"It is my understanding that you will bid for the right to fight this Trial after I have sent over the information on who will be defending. My final bid in this negotiation, Star Colonel Diane Anu: give me a pristine copy of each 'Mech you use in the battle and five additional Elemental suits. Provide me two members of your Tech Caste as bondmen, one of which must be an experienced and skilled one. I will consent to only having those defenders on this continent be given safe passage, but I must insist on the use of any and all DropShips that are currently at the spaceport to be used as my transport. In exchange, I will reveal the source of my information, and I will fight honorably under the rules of Zellbrigen. We will not focus our fire on one target; instead, it will be a proper series of one-on-one duels. Any extra combatants will wait their turn. Here, I am sending you my unit information now. What say you?"
Nedra laughed. "She bargains well. We should accept and put the cutdown at no less than four points to ensure success."
Diane hesitated. This was within her rights as a Star Colonel and trusted member of the Galaxy. Losing was such a far-fetched possibility, there seemed little reason not to accept. She read through the data.
Not as complete as what we use in the Clans, but there is interesting information. Half her pilots are recently made warriors with only one lost battle to their name. She included her class ranking, but this information means nothing to me. The other, more seasoned warriors have few battles in their record – mostly just fights against pirates and bandits, tasks unworthy of frontline warriors. Katherine wishes to fight in the Trial herself; I will honor this, but I will make sure this battle is won.
"Agreed, Katherine Steiner-Davion. I will send you the history of the unit you will fight once we have concluded the bidding. Where will the battle take place?"
"Ten kilometers to the north. I will set out once I have your participants' information. As for how I know about your ways? Do you think my father does not have an intelligence apparatus that has infiltrated ComStar? Between our infiltrators and the capture of warriors from other Clans, we have learned much of your people. I leave you to your bidding. Bargained well and done."
"Bargained well and done," came her automatic reply.
If she lost here this would be a horrendous blow.
I can take no chances.
"There will be no bidding. I intend to take my Command Star and deal with this personally," she told her Cluster.
"Neg!" Star Captain Nedra objected. "You would deny us the chance for honor, and you would deny yourself the same. The most elite Star in the Cluster against this rabble? Every member of this Clan is better than two of theirs. By weight or numbers, you are making a mockery of this!"
Diane grew angry over those words. "Do you want to meet in the Circle of Equals over this, Star Captain? Her capture was made a priority by the Khan himself. Letting so many of them flee will disgrace me. I refuse to put my position at risk because a too-bold bid leads us to failure."
Diane knew Nedra would back down. The leader of Trinary Alpha was good, but not as good as she was.
"I have made my objection known. When you handily obliterate these Spheroids, I doubt there will be any lines in the Remembrance over this massacre," Nedra replied sullenly.
***
Kirkeøy Continent, Wotan
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
June 2nd 3050
It was a testament to my relationship with Patricia that she didn't try to dissuade me from taking part in the battle. I knew she would have preferred that I sit it out and let other MechWarriors handle it, but this was too critical.
Careful thought had gone into choosing who would fight alongside me. I would be piloting the Gargoyle, and its weaponry was impressive. Two Extended Range PPCs were backed by a large pulse laser. All three weapons had incredible long-range punch and were terrifyingly powerful. Leftenant Roth would be piloting the other salvaged 'Mech, the Timber Wolf. Both machines would allow us to fight on even footing with our opponents.
When considering my strategy, Leftenant LeBeau would be piloting his Wolfhound. The two other pilots best suited for this fight were Hauptmann Able Daniels from the 12th Star Guards, piloting a Shadow Hawk, and Leftenant Hope Rivera, also from the same regiment. They piloted the heaviest fully functional mediums left in the Star Guards. I was hopeful that if the enemy used a full Star, they would be in lighter 'Mechs. Given Oston's statements on how the Clans believed they were literally twice as good as us, I gave it good odds we would only face 200 tons or less.
Based on that ratio, I didn't add more medium 'Mechs to my force but instead selected additional light 'Mechs. Leftenant Roth's Wolfhound, borrowed by one of our better pilots, along with a Commando and a Stinger. If we faced five 'Mechs, the three lightest pilots would hold back until one of my own went down. I suspected that was most likely to happen with our mercenary allies, as they hadn't been trained by me, and the Centurion and Shadow Hawk were far inferior to Clan-designed 'Mechs. When one fell, we would send in the Wolfhound, then the Commando, and finally the Stinger.
Hopefully, I can deal with my foe before anyone on my side goes down. If my tonnage estimates are correct, I should be able to defeat a 50-ton or 40-ton 'Mech without much trouble. If they decide to go heavier, fielding something like two 80-ton 'Mechs and a 40-ton one, we'll have five alternates, but they will give Aiko and me some trouble.
"Remember, people, under no circumstances are you to fire on anyone you aren't dueling. Hail the enemy 'Mech in descending order of tonnage. If things get heated, remember that you can eject – it doesn't mean we'll lose. I want all of you alive by the end of this!"
"Yes, Kommandant!"
A private comm came in from Aiko.
"That goes for you too, Katherine."
"Of course," I replied.
The world was rather arid and just a bit under standard Earth—Terra—gravity. It was also slightly warmer, but the continent we were on had a more temperate climate. The terrain I had selected lay in a valley amid otherwise rocky surroundings. Grass grew here, and the idyllic valley would almost certainly be transformed by the time we were done with it.
I had been keeping track of the broader battle, and it was not looking good. The amount of Aerospace support the enemy had was troubling – it dwarfed what the Wotan TMM had on hand. The number of 'Mechs they had dropped on the main continent was staggering. Nearly two regiments of 'Mechs was overkill. Had there been no bidding at all?
The remnants of the 12th Star Guards' 1st and 2nd regiments were conducting a series of harassment efforts that slowed the enemy, but I couldn't see it amounting to much. Their inexorable advance on Borealtown would be completed in short order.
As we neared the site of our Trial of Possession battle, I spotted a DropShip approaching, and a nervous tickle crept into my mind. What if Oston had been feeding us a load of crap? What if they were about to disgorge an entire company of 'Mechs from that vessel?
I breathed a sigh of relief as five 'Mechs stepped out, their pilots soon opening their cockpits and disembarking with the aid of ladders. Then five more emerged, and I carefully counted their number and size.
Damn, this is not a two-on-one fight. According to the onboard computer's information, we're facing a full Star, not half our tonnage. I do appreciate that their onboard computer system lets me see Clan designations for each 'Mech, along with their standard loadouts.
I did some quick math: 70-tons for the Summoner, 65-tons for the Hellbringer, 45-tons for the Ice Ferret, and 30-tons each for the Kit Foxes. My original plan had me facing off against the Summoner, whom I out-massed by ten tons. Aiko had a similar advantage, but her movement would be impaired due to our only partially successful regrafting of an alternative set of legs.
My real worries were for the other fights. The Ice Ferret weighed less but probably had more firepower, armor, and speed than the Shadow Hawk. The Kit Fox might make for an even fight against the Centurion, but I doubted it. I trusted Gregory against the other Kit Fox. The enemy light 'Mech would have higher levels of tech, but Gregory had five tons over it, and I had personally trained him. The ratio was more 3-2 than 2-1. Would the ratio have been lower if I hadn't bargained so hard? This was something to think about for future battles – if I had future battles.
My comms chirped, and a connection was made with my opponent.
"I congratulate you on your cleverness. Using our own 'Mechs will give you needed strength. It will not help in the end. It is not just our technology that allows us to surpass you. I hope you survive this battle, Katherine, for you will make for a clever bondswoman."
I hated having to fight. I truly hated it; war was such a monstrous waste of human resources. Despite my unequivocal contempt for it, I couldn't help but grin as adrenaline flowed through my body. A giddy surge of excitement that made my hands twitch with eagerness was just my desire to see a well-laid plan executed.
***
Davion Heavy Guards HQ, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
June 2nd 3050
Wendy and Kai had been married earlier in the year, and it had been the happiest day of her life. Some had suggested they wait until they were older, but Wendy knew what she wanted. It was Kai—sweet, humble, and brilliant Kai. His fears were still there, but she had steadily chipped away at them. She had been so proud when he had asked Marshal Adelmana, the commander of the Davion Heavy Guards, to pilot his father's 'Mech. He had been declined, but he had been bold in the asking and had accepted it. He was in the Davion Heavy Guards, and he would pilot his brand-new Caesar next to her own.
She and Kai were some of the very best marksmen in a 'Mech in the whole regiment. The powerful Gauss Rifle and ER PPC gave the Caesar an incredible punch at range. The four medium pulse lasers were there for when the enemy got close. She loved her new 'Mech, though Kai had said their mutual friend, Princess Katherine, had sniffed her nose at the choice of medium pulse lasers by the designers.
Kai had been pinged to take a message and he returned to the room looking grim.
"Is everything ok?"
"My father informed me that Golandrinas and Derf were hit. Based on their analysis of the invader's movement, they will almost certainly be striking Wotan. When he sent an Alpha Priority message to warn the commander there, there was no response, and it's been over six hours. It can only mean the Clans are attacking, and Katherine is on that world."
Wendy's heart went out to her husband. Kai had a good relationship with his family and, of course, with her, but he had few close friends. Victor and Katherine were it. Though a few members of the Heavy Guards were warming up to him, it wasn't anything like with Victor and Katherine.
She hugged him; his compact and lean muscles could be felt under his casual wear. His own embrace was tighter than normal, and they held the position for a long time.
"I feel guilty that I'm not out there with them. Victor and Katherine are fighting the deadliest of opponents, and I am here, safe and sound."
"That is just the luck of the draw. No one knew the Lyran Commonwealth would be attacked this way. Didn't you tell me that Victor was angry for a week over being deployed so far from any likely trouble?"
A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. "Yes, he needed an outlet, and his message to me shared just how frustrated he was with his parents over it."
She nodded and gave him a kiss. "Katherine survived them once, and now she's prepared. You know how dangerous a prepared Katherine is, right?"
Kai's head bobbed in agreement. "She's formidable, I'll give you that. Both are, but she's going up against foes with vastly superior technology. Nothing bothers my father; he's a rock! And yet I can feel the stress radiate from him, and I've seen the bags under his eyes. This is something different."
Wendy didn't have the words to ease his worries, so she chose a path that she bet her former roommate would approve of.
"It sounds like our previous best won't be enough. Is that what I am hearing you say, Kai?"
"I don't want to be defeatist, but yes."
"Well, then the solution is to get better. Get your father to give you detailed specs of the enemy 'Mechs and let's get some of the simulator programmers to outfit these Clan 'Mechs. We can take turns being them versus our Caesar. If your father is right about the threat they are, we will one day need to fight them. Either at Victor and Katherine's side, or to avenge them. Either way, we have a duty to improve."
Kai's head shot up. "You're right. Here I am moping when I should be preparing."
They embraced again, and Wendy felt that familiar comforting warmth in her heart radiate outward. Her husband needed someone to help him channel his thoughts and concerns productively. She was more than happy to help him do that and find his peace.
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