Main Content
Archive of Our OwnArchive of Our OwnHi, TheBrimmedHat!PostLog Out
FandomsBrowseSearchAboutWork Search
tip: "sherlock (tv)" m/m NOT "sherlock holmes/john watson"
Want to know how your donations support the OTW and its mission? Check out our newest budget update and donate today! We surpassed our goal of 5,000 new members, with US$228,981.15 raised and over 6,004 new members so far!
6,004
×
Actions
Entire Work ← Previous Chapter Next Chapter → Chapter Index Bookmark Mark for Later Comments Hide Creator's Style Share Download
Work Header
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
Language:
English
Stats:
Published:2025-01-17Updated:2026-10-14Words:534,693Chapters:99/?Comments:688Kudos:793Bookmarks:254Hits:69,388
A Young Woman's Defense of the Inner Sphere
Failninjaninja
Chapter 27
Notes:
Big thank you to skychan pulling weekend duty so I could post this!
Chapter Text
Chapter 27
Outreach
Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth
January 21st 3051
My schedule was becoming annoyingly jam-packed. Sleep was necessary for optimal performance, but I found myself cutting hours to accomplish everything I had set out to do. The glories of coffee kept me going, and I was once again grateful for the joys of trade – because Outreach did not grow its own coffee beans.
After 'Mech simulator combat with Clan models, a challenging one with three opponents back-to-back, I attended a meeting with Jaime Wolf and his officers. Our conversation covered several topics, but two stood out.
"Your goal of uniting the Inner Sphere is laudable, and for now, the heirs of the FRR, Draconis Combine, St. Ives Compact, and Federated Commonwealth are playing nice with each other. House Marik has no participants, as Isis lacks both warrior training and any desire to learn, while Sun-Tzu is causing needless friction. This has in general been mirrored by the relationship of the states themselves including the cooperation of the Free Worlds League."
Jaime nodded. "What you say is true. It has been a success, though not an ideal one."
"At this point, put Romano Liao and Tsen Shang's feet to the fire and force them to choose – stand with the Inner Sphere or against it. I've seen no evidence they give a damn about the Clan Invasion; in fact, I believe they see it as an opportunity to reclaim lost worlds for their nation."
"It is our hope that Sun-Tzu will prove more stable than his mother. Our assessment of him is mixed, but despite his actions, we do not believe he possesses the Liao madness. Unfortunately, he does not seem to seek friendship – but it is still early, less than a month in."
I sighed. "He won't change unless forced to. I don't know… maybe dangle something valuable in front of Romano if he performs well enough. Perhaps that kind of incentive will push him to make an effort – examples of Clan technology, certain medicines, or culturally significant items from the world of Liao. I'm sure my father would be willing to compromise to demonstrate his commitment."
Jaime frowned. "Bribery to improve performance is not the Clan way."
"And according to the Jade Falcon warrior on Blackjack, the Clan way includes allowing trainers to order sibko cadre members into sex whenever it suits them. To be blunt, Colonel Wolf, I find the Clan way repugnant in almost every respect. I can't believe I'm saying this, but they might even be worse than Communists."
I held up a hand. "I understand you're trying to help the future leaders grasp how the Clans think, but Sun-Tzu isn't going to get on board without some form of pressure."
MacKenzie clicked his tongue. "He is useful, even if he doesn't get with the program. His irksome traits have fostered a sense of kinship among the rest. Victor and Hohiro aren't friends by any means, but they work well together and respect each other."
That is true, and I've said my piece, they can do what they will.
"The second thing I believe we need to focus on to harden resistance against the Clans is portraying just how horrific their society is. This needs to be shown in the media markets of the Lyran Commonwealth and the Free Rasalhague Republic. The destruction of Edo works as a propaganda tool for citizens far behind the frontlines, but it works against us on worlds that are captured. People fear to resist because of the threat of absolute destruction, so we need to plant the seed early about how awful life is under Clan rule."
The set of Jaime Wolf's jaw told me that he still seemed to have some loyalty to the Clan way of life, but he motioned for me to continue.
"By pointing out how Warrior Caste members can compel sexual or other favors from lower castes or how they practice slavery, we will ensure that we have resistance fighters ready to give their lives to kill Clan warriors. Even Elementals are vulnerable to civilian transports laden with explosives. Occupying Clan units use local labor to prepare their meals, and a hidden gun can kill even the most elite MechWarrior while he sits down to eat. Beyond direct violent action, we need to make sure that collaboration with the Clans is viewed as an unforgivable crime."
My father does not wish to risk tipping off ComStar before we are ready; however, planting the seed of making them public enemy number one for working with and aiding the Clans is another important goal for this effort.
"That is dishonorable! The casualties among the local populace will be immense. This is the opposite of the kind of warfare we want anyone to use," MacKenzie raged.
"That's because you're still thinking of war as a noble pursuit; that's your Clan indoctrination speaking. War is ugly. War is evil. War is a colossal waste of resources. We fight because we need to preserve our culture, our way of life, not because there's any inherent honor in combat."
I took a deep breath. "I'll have my parents handle this regardless, but I want your help, Colonel Wolf. You come from the Clans and are respected throughout the Inner Sphere. If you were to create holovid recordings speaking on some of the most despicable actions the Clans have committed, of the tyranny inherent in their society, it would go a long way toward better achieving our goal of making worlds taken prove to be of little value to the Clans."
Jaime's face grew thoughtful, while the others at the table looked angry.
"You continue to impress," Jaime complimented.
"Father–"
Jaime held up a hand, silencing his son.
"I will not pretend to see eye to eye with your view on the virtues of being a warrior, but I do see in you someone who will stop at nothing to succeed, with a spine of steel that will bear any weight. You wish to speak of the worst moments of Clan history? I can do that. You wish me to speak of the ultimate power the Warrior Caste has over the body and soul of the lesser Castes? I can do that. You will continue to find an ally in me, as long as you continue to fight and do all you can to see your nation victorious over the Clans."
I nodded. "Bargained well and done is the phrase for this. And of course, I will champion a strong defense of the Inner Sphere, but ultimately, it is up to my father and mother to decide where I can best help my nation. I will promise to do all I can to make sure the Clans fail."
The seeds I've planted with my mother regarding how much I value the NAIS and how working on integrating Clan technology is a force multiplier beyond anything else, along with my convincing my father to keep Victor safe for the medium term while rebuilding his command with Clan technology, should bear fruit. If I'm right about their desire for parity, I'll stay here on Outreach with him and then be moved back to sweet, safe New Avalon to focus on research. It's all coming together.
However, not everything was going so perfectly. I discovered another fire I had to put out, this time with House Kurita. My brother is not a complicated man. In everything he does, he is focused. His focus is powerful, and when he sets his mind to something, he almost always succeeds and outperforms others. Unfortunately that focus is nearly impossible to derail once it has been set in motion. And the damn hormonal young man had somehow become obsessed with Hohiro's sister, of all people!
Omiko Kurita was certainly a vision of loveliness and grace, but this had the potential to cause all sorts of problems. Trying to divert Victor directly would only make him dig in his heels; instead, I had to approach the issue from another angle.
I arranged a meeting with Theodore Kurita, without my parents' awareness. Ainsworth was unhappy as well, but it would be national and personal suicide to harm me on Outreach. Ainsworth had spoken of body doubles or quick narco-interrogations to reveal FedCom secrets and blah, blah, blah. Precautions had been arranged, and the meeting would be brief. Ultimately, the Kanrei had far more to lose than to gain by trying something, and on top of that, it would greatly clash with his own personal honor.
A grumpy Ainsworth was a small price to pay to nip Victor's little infatuation in the bud. And so I found myself in the presence of Theodore Kurita and his son, Hohiro Kurita. Two guards, weapons drawn, stayed nearby but likely out of earshot.
I bowed properly and gave a polite greeting to them in Japanese, then continued in their language as we discussed bland topics of no import observing the properties before I reached the purpose of my meeting.
"Your son has warned my brother against speaking with Omiko. This was a mistake."
I saw Hohiro stiffen.
Thedore remained unruffled. "Why?"
"Because telling Victor no is as good as waving a red flag in front of a bull. The very act only pushed him further down that road of infatuation. It is not healthy for either of our realms for even the rumor of any sort of relationship to surface."
"There is no relationship," Hohiro said with restrained anger in his voice, "Omi knows her duty."
I inclined my head. "I do not doubt that, but nonetheless, I believe a course of action should be set that will end Victor's romantic inclinations."
Hohiro was growing angrier. "Has your brother been speaking of my sister this way?"
"No, but I am observant. He has questioned others about her interactions, asked about her role in Combine society, and even inquired of Kuan-Yin, who has spent time with Omiko, what her interests are. He is circumspect and has said nothing untoward, but a sibling knows."
Hohiro settled down marginally and his father took a sip of tea before asking me to explain what I had planned.
"I assume your daughter is obedient to you. Instead of keeping her away from Victor, I would suggest a dinner gathering – one where Omiko is instructed to convincingly say things that will sour my brother's perception of her."
"My sister will not embarrass–" Theodore silenced his son with a look.
"Go on, Princess Katherine. I would hear your suggestion in full," the Kanrei urged.
"There are elements of your culture that you cherish, but those in the Federated Commonwealth view negatively. Omiko should speak on those. For example, an innocent question about why Marshal Adelmana did not commit seppuku after losing Zoetermeer. From there, some additional comments on how she is not surprised that a female warrior would lack enough honor to request it."
Theodore blinked; the strategy I was employing surprised him.
"If you really wanted to seal it, you could have her speak on how Victor should beseech his father to stop me from being a MechWarrior, as it is inappropriate for royalty to do so. Perhaps even some convincing lines that, as a royal son, he should be entitled to make requests merely due to his station. This three-pronged approach focuses on seppuku, denigration of my choice in vocation, and the importance of royalty having privilege. If she plays her part well, any budding amorous feelings, or even those of friendship or respect, will fall away."
I had laid my cards on the table, and Theodore was clearly considering it.
"Omiko will do as I ask, and any relationship between the two is naturally impossible. I believe you worry too much, but I will do as you have requested. In exchange, there will one day be a favor that I request of you. Nothing that would betray your family or nation, but something of significance."
I paused. Ultimately, I valued keeping my word. Predictability with friends, allies, and even neutral parties was the hallmark of civilization.
"I will concede that a favor is owed, but naturally, if we find ourselves at war with each other, such a favor cannot be called upon."
"Naturally. We have an accord."
***
Outreach
Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth
January 24th 3051
"I'm sorry, I think I misheard you, Father." I hadn't, but I needed time to stall. They wanted me to be the commanding officer personally in charge of the counter-offensive? Me?
Hanse chuckled. The room contained a few high-ranking FedCom officers, my mother, Morgan Kell, and Jaime Wolf.
"Don't be modest, Katherine; surely you expected this."
What? No! Why I would expect this?
Morgan nodded in agreement. "While others here have more experience in command, you've fought the current generation of Clan warriors the most and have been successful. You have an intuitive understanding of how they act and react, and with the fast pace of their negotiations at times during the bidding, we need someone like you."
Ardan Sortek, one of my father's oldest and most trustworthy friends, chimed in, "Katherine, we've all seen your talent for organization, strategic thought, and quick wit. We wouldn't joke about something like this. You are being promoted to Hauptmann General and will lead the counteroffensive to break the back of the Jade Falcons."
I kept my face smooth as I glanced toward Jaime Wolf. "It was my understanding that…"
Jaime nodded. "Think nothing of it. You joined with your peers and proved yourself. We were eager to test if our intelligence agents were right about you, and they were."
Fuck! I'm so screwed. I can't not do this, and failure isn't an option either. Shit, shit, shit! These people are insane – who gives such a prestigious command to someone who should still be in the Academy.
"Ah, well, in that case what is our time table and what resources will I have at my disposal?"
The holographic star map flickered to life, and various units appeared on the screen. We began with my own 1st Royal FedCom Guard. Lisa Steiner ran through my roster, pulling up additional details as she went.
Your second batch of freed prisoners will be arriving from Wotan soon. Currently, you have two battalions each of 'Mech, Armor, and Artillery. With the additional personnel manning vehicles from the Dragoons and those already enroute to Blackjack, you'll have a full regiment. Since you've been able to effectively employ the Spitfire Cannons, we're sending you the next available shipment – another two battalions of artillery. As for 'Mechs, we can't do too much for your unit now, but by early 3052, you'll be receiving two companies each of light, medium, and heavy 'Mech designs – all from '47 and newer, to provide replacements. Of course those that the Dragoons have agreed to provide will be going outbound with you."
"3052? When did you wish me to start my offensive?"
Brief hope flared, maybe they would be giving me time to train my people before sending me out.
"March," the First Prince said immediately. "You won't have all the pieces in place by then, but we are going to need to start taking pressure off immediately. You leave here in a week on as close to a full Command Circuit to Blackjack as we can get. And don't worry, the Atlas you brought along will be ready by then."
I was nodding faintly… March.
"It won't be just your unit, of course," Field Marshal Steiner said. "We already have the 39th Avalon Hussars RCT and the Chahar Periphery March Militia in the area holding the worlds of Newtown Square and Chahar. The other planets in the surrounding area don't have anything other than localized militia. Given the line of Jade Falcon advance, we do not think those worlds will be under attack, however you will have operational control in terms of how many resources you wish to hold back to defend those worlds."
I would probably leave most of the infantry behind; the recruitment and training on Blackjack would be swarming with infantry regiments and not enough gear to make use of them all. But I trust them over other planet's forces.
"But wait, there is more," the First Prince smiled.
"Yes, the 2nd Crucis Lancers RCT has been raiding and aiding resistance efforts in the Jade Falcon OZ. They've been given orders to return to Blackjack. They are below half-strength, but you are free to make full use of their talents." Lisa clicked on the noteputer and information on the 1st Kathil Ulhans was pulled up. "As you know Leftenant General Redburn has his unit on Goat Path. Goat Path must be defended or the ComStar facility destroyed if the Clans attack. You are being given operational control of his unit, and you can rearrange the defenses as you see fit."
I hate this but at least I'm being given plenty of resources!
"Finally, the 4th Davion Guards under Marshal Alberta Orsina will also be joining you. They are being re-routed from Sudeten to Blackjack and will arrive before March. While she technically outranks you, you will be receiving top billet for command, and she will be aware of the hierarchy. We at State Command have a lot of faith in her capabilities and we either recommend her or Andrew Reburn to be your 2nd for this task force. Your choice of either of them, or another individual," Lisa concluded.
I blinked. That was near full autonomy. The 4th Davion Guards were an elite unit, though they piloted almost exclusively light and medium 'Mechs. They also came with four armored regiments, primarily hovercraft, but with a couple of heavy companies. Two rock-solid wings of Aerospace as well as five infantry regiments made them one of the premier RCTs in the Federated Suns.
"Mission objectives?"
The First Prince gestured at the star chart again. "Break them. More specifically, we need the pressure pulled off from further invasion. With reinforcements going to the FRR and the 1st New Ivaarsen Chasseurs heading to Tamar to reinforce it, Sudeten is left in a precarious position. With the various units arriving, we will effectively have three RCTs, which should be able to hold – but nothing prevents the Clans from simply focusing their strength and invading just Sudeten in one of their waves instead of ten separate worlds. With this realignment, we will be without further reinforcements for several months."
Field Marshal Steiner looked apologetic. "On that note, the JumpShips that bring you the 4th Davion Guards will not be able to be used for operations. They are needed elsewhere. We will be bringing additional supplies to your theater of operation in June – no new 'Mechs or vehicles, but large quantities of munitions, repair supplies, and fuel for Aerospace and DropShip operations. Beyond that, the next units that arrive to the front won't be until August, and more than likely they will be routed to Morgan Hasek-Davion or distributed to other worlds to shore up their defenses. The earliest you can expect additional forces to join your command beyond the 'Mech replacements will be in 3052."
I nodded. I would be on my own for a bit.
My father leaned forward. "It will be up to you how hard you hit, how fast you hit, whether you stay and defend the worlds recaptured, or simply raid. Information will be moving fast, and we aren't going to look over your shoulder. There are MI6 teams on Alyina, Denizli, Twycross, and Baker 3, all of which have the means to send word out as necessary."
Black boxes, but we are in mixed company.
"They don't have transport off-world, but you have JumpShips and DropShips and could probably sneak them off if you are careful, if you would prefer their deployment elsewhere. There is also a Loki team on Wotan, and on your pass through Tharkad, you will be picking up an additional two cells. Covert channels of communication won't be as available as with MI6."
I did some mental calculation. I would have just shy of a regiment of Mechs under my 1st Royal FedCom Guards, an additional four full-strength Mech regiments, and call it a battalion from the 2nd Crucis Lancers. Over five regiments in total as well as 10-12 armored regiments, around two artillery regiments, and 7ish wings of aerospace fighters. It was a sizeable collection of military power, and I would need to achieve some notable results.
"Very well, I believe I can distract the Falcons and cause some damage, Highness." I looked at Jaime Wolf, "Any chance that new 100-ton Clan Mech your techs have been cooking up will be ready before I leave?"
He shook his head. "No, sorry, it will still be some months. But we have listened to your concerns regarding the enemy using WarShips. Your… thoughts about using nuclear weapons in space not being violations of Ares Conventions are valid, however that sort of escalation could be bad due to the history the Clans have with those devices. My son will be travelling beyond the near Periphery to our resupply base. There," he looked around the room with emphasis, "are mothballed WarShips as well as other Clan technology that was too advanced to put to use when we came originally."
My heart skipped a beat. Parity of power! I knew I shouldn't get ahead of myself, because it was likely that even with the Wolf's Dragoons WarShips, we would be completely outnumbered in a space battle against the black ocean navies of the Clans, but it gave us a chance.
"On his return trip from Deep Periphery, our path won't take him too far from where you will be contesting with the Falcons. Our intent is to gift the Federated Commonwealth one WarShip as well as Aerospace Fighters to defend it. If you are still fighting and alive, we will also grant you your pick of an OmniMech from that cache."
I looked at him steadily, "Not that I'm ungrateful, but why me?"
He looked me dead in the eye, "Because we think you will use it well. We've already shared documentation on the construction of WarShips with the great Houses. The Federated Commonwealth with its shipyards on Galax, Kathil, and Alarion can begin ramping up their shipyards to accommodate their construction, but even with the most herculean efforts, it will take at least half a decade for one to be constructed."
My father cautioned me, "Remember, they won't be back until sometime in 3052, and if we begin using WarShips in planetary warfare the Clans will respond in kind. This is just in case the enemy does begin using them. We have other contingencies than nuclear weapons as well, such as refitting some of our Overlord DropShips to include anti-Capital ship weaponry in place of Mech bays."
"Understood. I will say my goodbyes then and be off. March will be the launch date of a multi-pronged offensive, with the goal of grinding the Jade Falcon invasion to a halt. Thank you for your trust in me."
There is absolutely no way this is a natural occurrence. Being X, that despicable coward who hasn't even shown his face to me in this life is leaning on the scales to force me into the frontlines. Well the joke will be on him when I not only survive, but thrive there! I will stop this damn invasion and I will make the Federated Commonwealth a place of peace and prosperity!
My mind went to a conversation held just a couple of days ago, and I paused. No, maybe this wasn't Being X's fault. I had impressed Jaime Wolf with my ruthlessness and desire to defeat the Clans. That was where this was coming from! He was giving me Clan technology, even dangling a damned WarShip under my nose. The bastard had convinced my parents to have me be their weapon! Now, if I didn't play my part, we wouldn't get the things we needed. Wolf obviously wished to defeat the Clans, but nothing suggested what timetable he was acting on, he could simply leave us to our fate and then build up the Free Worlds League. I had to perform. There was no choice.
***
Outreach
Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth
January 30th 3051
Victor was two parts depressed and one part elated about the news of his sister. He was very distraught that his sister would be leaving and not completing the Clan training the Wolf's Dragoons were putting them through. He was also elated at her promotion and the success she was achieving. Victor was also immensely disappointed he would not likewise be on the frontlines anytime soon. His father told him that the Dragoon Clan training would be at a minimum an additional two months, but may be longer. Furthermore even after that was done, he would be headed to Coventry to help put together his anti-Clan regiment.
Outreach was losing its appeal as time went on. The training was great and he enjoyed every moment he spent with Kai and Galen, but things just looked darker now with his sister leaving. The recent dinner had also reminded him just how alien Combine society was.
My father always dreamed of liberating the Draconis Combine from their honor-obsessed culture. Even the Dragoons legendary feud had to do with the Combine's disgusting practice of forcing subordinates to commit seppuku. Even delicate flowers, having been raised by birth in such a stifling culture, could not help but regurgitate what they had been taught.
His cooling feelings toward the Kurita family had not changed how he performed with Hohiro and Shin, but it had introduced some stiffness in their after-action discussions. Ragnar remained a friendly face and Cassandra's light-heartedness also helped somewhat.
It was also an issue of having more on his plate. His new duties as a Colonel were not fully running his regiment yet, but he was now very driven to make the best possible regiment. Not many of the 10th had joined him, and that left massive holes in his command structure. He would be allowed to aggressively recruit volunteers from other units, as well as from the graduating class in June from the military academies such as NAMA. That did mean more work though as he scanned and rescanned personnel files and academy records.
"How do you feel about being made a Leftenant-Colonel, Galen?"
Galen made a face. "Three rank increases? Just because I know the Archon-Prince Designate? No thank you, Highness."
Victor sighed. "But I trust you, and you've been part of the training here."
"If you want to eventually slot me in as an XO, that's fine, but let's take it one step at a time. A regiment has three battalions and often a Command Company. Make me a Kommandant for a theoretical 4th battalion, but leave it as your bodyguard unit. If you haven't found a good XO from within the Davion Heavy Guards, you can promote me later. But honestly, get someone with experience," Galen advised.
Makes sense.
"I can also make Kai a Hauptmann. He's certainly earned it. I've watched the ROM footage from his 'Mech – absolute precision."
Galen gave him a rueful look. "I promise I'm not trying to shoot down every idea you have, but honestly, no. Kai is a weapon, probably your best weapon. Distracting him with command responsibilities isn't useful. And it isn't as if he would resent not having said rank; he will eventually be the ruler of the St. Ives Compact. Wendy, on the other hand, isn't as skilled in a 'Mech but is a good leader who has deep connections through her family with the rest of the Davion Heavy Guards. She works, and it's good for morale from an internal political perspective."
Victor nodded. He had to start thinking about that sort of thing.
"See, this is why you would make a great XO for the regiment…" Victor pointed out.
"Nice try, but you aren't going to be pawning off all your work on me!"
They shared a laugh and then continued to review dossiers.
***
Dompaire
Tamar March, Federated Commonwealth
February 1st 3051
General Ariana Winston had taken personal command of the defense of Dompaire. With her was Colonel Edwin Amis and his 21st Striker Regiment – two battalions of mostly heavy 'Mechs, backed by a battalion of lighter 'Mechs for recon. The regimental command also included a wing of Aerospace fighters. They provided much-needed reinforcement for the Dompaire Militia, which was not a March Militia. The planetary militia consisted of a regiment of infantry reservists with small arms, a company of very old 'Mechs, and two companies of light vehicles.
Based on intel on how the Clans operated, they had brought with them a mass of mines, field guns that could be easily placed in earthworks for the local militia, and hidden supply caches. On February 1st, the Clans entered the Dompaire System, and Ariana Winston told her people to get ready.
"This is it," Colonel Amis said, his voice grim. "The descendants of the old SLDF who went with Kerensky."
"Aye, but they have betrayed the legacy of their forefathers. You saw the stories of their society – no freedoms, discrimination based on birth, and an absurd honor code that makes the Draconis Combine look normal. If that green mouthy prince can beat them on Twycross, we can beat them here."
Edwin laughed. "He had the Kell Hounds and two RCTs, and it was Daniel Allard who was in command of that battle. But your point is well taken, ma'am. Let's show them the error of their ways."
An hour later they received a transmission from the invaders.
"This is Galaxy Commander Marthe Pryde of the Gyrfalcon Galaxy. The Jade Falcons have come to claim your world. Who dares to defend it? State the forces you intend to use to defend it. We desire an honorable batchall. If you will partake, provide us with the forces and the location where we will fight. Know this: we will not be tricked by your Spheroid ways. The ground you select must be unprepared. You may choose the venue, but you may not set traps and fortifications within it. Refusal to act like proper warriors will see me unleash every asset I have at my disposal to destroy you."
Ariana grimaced. She supposed it was too much to hope for that the Clans would fall for the same type of tricks repeatedly. She now had a difficult choice: did she tell them to take a hike and hunker down, making them root her forces out? Or did she gamble and take their offer for a fair fight, perhaps even win concessions from them?
After brief consultation, she chose to do the latter and sent the message back to the space fleet that had invaded the system. Ultimately, subjecting the planet to a long war filled with potential urban fighting was not conscionable. MechWarriors existed to protect those who wouldn't fight. If the battle could be decided without harm to civilian infrastructure, she had a moral obligation to take it.
"I am General Ariana Winston of the Eridani Light Horse, inheritors of the legacy of the SLDF. We can trace our lineage back to the Star League's 3rd Regimental Combat Team. I have a regiment of 'Mechs, a wing of Aerospace fighters, and am backed by the local militia. There is a rocky region 200 kilometers west of the capital that will serve as our battleground."
She looked at her notes and added, "Since this is a Trial of Possession, we want, in return, a two-year reprieve from further attacks on this planet should we win, and the return of all captured AFFC soldiers from Zoetermeer."
Ariana had to wait for the message to travel at light speed to the enemy ships, then back down to her. Time went by as she worked on sending out orders to get her people to the location needed.
"Your terms are acceptable. I am forwarding you the information on the units that you will be facing. The battle will take place in three days. Bargained well and done."
The commander of the Eridani Light Horse looked over what they would be attacked with. There were three groupings: the Gyrfalcon Galaxy Command Star, which included five 'Mechs; the 2nd Falcon Jaegers Cluster, which included 50 'Mechs, 75 Elementals, and 30 Aerospace Fighters; and the third column, Trinary Beta of the First Falcon Strike Cluster, which included 15 'Mechs.
"So, in total we are facing 70 'Mechs, 75 Elementals, and 30 Aerospace Fighters. How do we stack against that?" Ariana asked her people.
Edwin grimaced. "Not well. Our regiment, including your Command Lance, will put us at 124 'Mechs. The militia being added to that brings us to 136, so just shy of 2:1. We have some good gear, but very few of those 'Mech designs are newer than '48. They have us outmatched in the air, 30 to 20, with better tech. The vehicles and the reservist infantry won't be a match for the Elementals. It isn't impossible, of course; we still have numbers, and on average, my regiment leans heavy. It's gonna be a hell of a fight, though."
Three days later, the battle took place, and Ariana discovered why so few victories were had against the Clans. As she piloted her Cyclops, she saw how even the enemy light 'Mechs had devastating firepower. Her own 'Mechs used the rocky terrain to prevent the enemy from taking full advantage of their longer range, but that opened them up to devastating swarms of Elementals. Even a heavy 'Mech could be torn apart and turned into scrap in less than a minute.
The reservists proved almost completely useless. Despite the use of cover and being equipped with heavy machine guns and SRM launchers, they were torn apart and quickly broke. Despite the mounting casualties, the men and women of the Eridani Light Horse never broke. Not a single one ran; instead, they fought against the grinding assault.
Ariana found herself facing off against a 35-ton 'Mech with a pair of LRM-15s and a medium pulse laser. Despite the close-quarters fighting, the LRMs were able to lock on and shred her 'Mech's armor. Her AC/20 finally managed to rip into its side torso, critically damaging it, and she was able to defeat her first Clan opponent.
It would be the last one she defeated.
Her lance came under assault by the enemy commander. Marthe Pryde issued her challenge and followed it with an ear-piercing shriek as she struck into the already thin portions of Ariana's armor. Ariana was skilled, one of the finest MechWarriors in the Light Horse, and yet she was torn apart by the Clan commander. Her cockpit ejected her as her engine was destroyed.
"You have fought well, but the time for waste has ended. Over 80% of your forces are destroyed. Surrender, and those still in functioning 'Mechs will be allowed Hegira, safe passage off-world."
"And those like me who have ejected or are in downed 'Mechs?"
"Bondsmen to Clan Jade Falcon. The choice is yours General Winston."
Ariana grimaced. She had no desire to be a bondsman, and she would never fight against the Inner Sphere. But if a portion of the 21st could retreat, she would agree.
"I accept those terms. Dompaire is yours."
***
Kowloon, Orbit
Periphery March, Lyran Commonwealth
February 1st 3051
Khan Lynn McKenna of Clan Snow Raven observed the two Star Commanders bidding against each other. The enemy on the planet consisted of barely armed militia and lucrewarriors under the name of the Green Machine. ComStar intelligence had placed them as a battalion-sized unit, but rated as below average in terms of equipment and skill. With such an opponent, not much force would be required. The available force she had at her disposal was sizable. Elementals guarding other WarShips had been slowly transferred, and the three WarShips she had with her now contained a total of 14 Stars of Elementals. Additionally, she had 8 Stars of Aerospace fighters and, of course, the three Stars of 'Mechs that were her bodyguard unit.
The bidding had been won with 2 'Mech Stars, 2 Elemental Stars, and 1 Star of Aerospace. Star Commander Forrest Magnus of Lynn's bodyguard unit was even now descending on a combat drop to the surface. The entire fleet had entered a close-proximity Pirate Point. Desiring first-hand knowledge of how the Inner Sphere behaved, she had an automatic transmission set up from Forrest's 'Mech to her command console onboard her WarShip.
"The Snow Ravens have come to perch on this world and claim it. State what forces you have and where you wish to conclude this Trial of Possession for the world of Kowloon and everything on it."
Despite the near-distance to the planet, a response was long in coming.
"This is Colonel Maxwell Green. No one said shit about us fighting the Clans; pay ain't good enough for that. Just let us leave, and we'll be square."
McKenna heard outrage in her Star Commander's voice.
"You disgust me. Leave your 'Mechs and all your equipment, and you may flee. But you will not be allowed to take anything with you. Should you try to do so, my Aerospace fighters will destroy your DropShip."
A frustrated reply came back. "I'm not joining the ranks of the dispossessed. What the hell is wrong with you people? You want a fight then you've got it."
"State what forces you have available and where you wish to fight."
"Fuck off."
McKenna shook her head. Truly, the barbarians of the Inner Sphere had fallen a long way. The battle had been a brutally one-sided affair. The mercenaries had chosen to huddle in the small city that served as the world's capital. They had no clue how to fight Elementals, and soon they were panicking. From the battle-feed, she saw one Stinger try to flee and run into a building before falling. She saw a heavier 'Mech, a 60-ton Quickdraw, have its short-range missile launcher jam before getting destroyed by Star Commander Magnus's Timber Wolf. Everywhere, she saw 'Mechs in poor condition and pilots with the skill to match going down.
I know this is not a true representation of what the Inner Sphere is capable of, but this is pathetic.
The last vestiges ended up surrendering, but salvage would be quite poor. Despite this, they would be added to her very 'Mech-light forces. Her Clan being given a place within the Inner Sphere had caused some logistical problems – a large portion of her fleet had been contracted out to her peer Khans, and she would be damned if she broke those agreements. A Snow Raven could always be counted on to follow the letter of any contractual obligation they made.
This created a problem for moving Alpha and Beta Galaxy to the Inner Sphere; that would take time unless she stripped the defenses of Lum, and that would never happen. It was a Ristar, an Elemental Star Colonel in Alpha Galaxy, who had come up with a solution. Klaus Harper had suggested shipping extra MechWarriors without their 'Mechs, as well as Solahma vehicle crews from outlying provinces without their vehicles. These warriors would then pilot any salvage taken from the Inner Sphere, and with a superior Tech Caste compared to the backward Inner Sphere technicians, they would quickly be able to put more units in the field.
It was a short-term solution, but Alpha Galaxy would not arrive until June, and Beta Galaxy would need to wait until 3052. One of their Garrison Galaxies would also arrive in 3052 on Ice Hellion transport – something that made McKenna uneasy and had cost her more than what she had contracted for to use her own ships to transport Jade Falcon frontline Clusters. It was poorly bargained, but with all the difficulty the invading Clans were having, she would need to have some garrison units.
Clan Snow Raven didn't have the weakest BattleMech formations among all the Clans, but they were one of the smallest, thanks to their focus on WarShips and Aerospace assets as opposed to more traditional military power.
By the dawn of 3053, more than half of her Clan's military would be in the Inner Sphere. It was a precarious situation, and for that reason, she had ordered a quadrupling of the number of sibkos. Her thought was that with more resources from Inner Sphere worlds, there would be 'Mechs and Aerospace fighters to pilot. Failures washed out would help fill much-needed Labor Caste and Tech Caste roles within the Inner Sphere. This was a longer-term plan, as the Trials of Position for these sibkos would not begin for another eighteen years.
Normally, her Clan had sibkos cadres test at the age of twenty, but that too was changing. Khan McKenna was moving them down to the age of eighteen to bring forward warriors sooner. To ensure she had plentiful warriors, she was also tipping the scales of the Trial of Position. The tonnage of the opposing units would be lower than normal; however, results would be reviewed very carefully, and those who had only barely become MechWarriors would be marked as Inner Sphere 'Mech-piloting warriors. A cut below the normal standard for a Clan MechWarrior, but she would not allow this grand opportunity presented to her to lead her Clan to ruin.
Turning toward more short-term strategic concerns, she examined the next world they would invade. They would be bypassing the world of Winter. An entire Inner Sphere RCT, which, according to intelligence, should require two Clusters to reasonably defeat. The 7th Crucis Lancers RCT had no JumpShips or DropShips available to them, so for now, they could remain in place until Alpha Galaxy arrived. Per ComStar, this portion of Lyran space was virtually completely denuded of JumpShips and military transport.
Instead, she set her sights on Inarcs, a world that was not so heavily defended as Winter. Oddly enough, the world held more value. A nascent BattleMech factory was being constructed, and existing factories for lighter combat vehicles already existed. It was better defended than Kowloon, for certain, but not by much. Depending on the casualties they suffered taking the world, they would next move onto Anembo, which was almost completely undefended but also had very limited value. That timetable would take her until the start of March, at which point she would assess the salvage available to build up her BattleMech force and push closer toward Alarion.
She idly wondered what the careful and strategic Star Adders were doing. Having won the right to invade the Draconis Combine in the trials, so long as they avoided the Invasion Corridors, they had chosen not to invade any worlds until they arrived in force. They had also contracted with Clan Burrock for transport and would be arriving with a massive invasion force – one that would significantly outnumber the eventual three Galaxies that her Snow Ravens would bring. However, they would not arrive until the latter half of 3051.
We are the Snow Ravens; we are quick and seize opportunities with our cunning while maintaining our long-term strategic planning. The Adders do nothing swiftly, but when they strike, it is with a weight rarely equaled among the Clans. Time will tell which approach will prove more effective in the Inner Sphere.
Actions
↑ Top ← Previous Chapter Next Chapter → Bookmark Comments (4)
Kudos
Necron_Lord, Mr_LPer, sapassde, Shell_Blue, NavisX, GamagrimMX, PHXFlyte, ninguem248, Lamalama23, Justapassionatebookworm, Loukane, MagnusD, Skaag, ETHobby, esperstrazza, GoblinThatMeat, bullpen, TerribleVices, Grendel12000, MarquessKhepri, Zetor_Khan, MightyShadow, CF_Azaka, LoveSnaibsel, 3Fallin, MasterXIX, Simpleminds, Ysmir1999, rondal_laquin, tekknotrain, Riverl, smeierkraft, RedRiverScholar, Lerchenlied, Cheshire_777, Folketime, Kravisoas, Chaos341, Dmitry, Elkaziel, allenismo, Deadbeat1050, lasalle1alpha, jng2058, Vat0nage, IntoTheIcySky, RandomFire0, Sif_K, MordredEmiya, IndifferentDreamer, and 324 more users as well as 419 guests left kudos on this work!
Comments
Post Comment
Comment as TheBrimmedHat
Plain text with limited HTML ?
Comment
10000 characters left
Footer
Customize
Default
Low Vision Default
Reversi
Snow Blue
About the Archive
Site Map
Diversity Statement
Terms of Service
Content Policy
Privacy Policy
DMCA & TIDA Policies
Site Status
Contact Us
Policy Questions & Abuse Reports
Technical Support & Feedback
Donate or Volunteer
Development
otwarchive v1.10.0.1
Known Issues
GPL-2.0-or-later by the OTWMain Content
Archive of Our OwnArchive of Our OwnHi, TheBrimmedHat!PostLog Out
FandomsBrowseSearchAboutWork Search
tip: hetalia f/f sort:kudos
Want to know how your donations support the OTW and its mission? Check out our newest budget update and donate today! We surpassed our goal of 5,000 new members, with US$228,981.15 raised and over 6,004 new members so far!
6,004
×
Actions
Entire Work ← Previous Chapter Next Chapter → Chapter Index Bookmark Mark for Later Comments Hide Creator's Style Share Download
Work Header
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
Language:
English
Stats:
Published:2025-01-17Updated:2026-10-14Words:534,693Chapters:99/?Comments:688Kudos:793Bookmarks:254Hits:69,388
A Young Woman's Defense of the Inner Sphere
Failninjaninja
Chapter 28
Notes:
Huge thank you to skychan for all their help with this chapter!
Chapter Text
Chapter 28
Outreach
Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth
February 15th 3051
"You are saying we are getting hit by an additional Clan and possibly a second from another vector?" Hanse took a deep breath as the tension in his neck, back, and chest all ratcheted up another level.
Justin nodded grimly. "Yes. The planet of Kowloon went dark by our estimation over a week ago. We didn't notice at first because not much is sent from them, given how much of a backwater they are. The dummy ComStar information is still being generated, so we know it isn't an HPG failure – it has to be another vector."
Justin clicked on his noteputer and pulled up the world of Maestu. "The planet was attacked by a Clan claiming to be the Steel Vipers. It appears the 'reserve' Clan has been activated, and the 1st Lyran Guards RCT was soundly defeated. Hauptmann-General Jane Craigie is still alive and has managed to keep some elements of her command intact, but aside from being a pest and ensuring the world gets heavily garrisoned, there's no hope of taking it back with what she has remaining."
"Damn it, Justin, this is too much. Every time it feels like we have breathing space, we suffer another suffocating blow. Katherine is still enroute to Blackjack, and now we not only have the Jade Falcons on the doorstep of Sudeten, but we also have these Steel Vipers just a few jumps away!"
"These are desperate times, Highness, but there is reason to hope. The very fact that the Steel Vipers have been activated means we are putting up a stiffer fight than they expected," Justin replied.
"And Kowloon – you suspect it may be the Nova Cats or the Diamond Sharks?"
Justin nodded, though of course, it was all guesswork at this point. They had an RCT on Winter, but the post hadn't been considered important enough to warrant assigning one of the rare black boxes. Worse yet, they had no transport, as theirs had long ago been routed to create Command Circuits and sent closer to the interior of the Lyran Commonwealth.
"What can we do about this new vector?"
Justin set his noteputer down. "Honestly? Nothing until we know where they're headed, and even then, there isn't much we can do. If they move to support the Jade Falcons, it will put Katherine in a difficult situation, but we simply do not have the resources to assist her. If they instead head toward Coventry and Tharkad, we should have time to reinforce them, but that means far fewer reinforcements can be routed to Sudeten and Katherine – not to mention this new Steel Vipers threat alongside the Wolves, who may just bypass it like they did Tamar."
Hanse cracked his neck. "All right. Let's meet with Colonel Wolf. Once we've delivered the 4th Davion, 8th Deneb, and 10th FedCom RCT, those transports will be available. The Dragoons have their own transport, but it will take them at least four months to reach the Sudeten region and a bit longer for Coventry. However, with the transports that get freed up, we can help compress that time by three weeks, and we can reroute their transports toward the Draconis March to pick up the 'Mech elements of the 3rd Lyran Regulars, 12th Deneb Light Cavalry, and 5th Donegal Guards RCT."
Justin pinched his nose. "That… complicates things. They'll end up without their supporting elements for another three months. The bulk of their RCTs, through difficult logistical planning, would only have arrived in August. If we use the Dragoon JumpShips and let them keep ours in exchange, the 'Mech elements won't arrive until September, and the rest of the RCTs could be pushing it into 3052."
Hanse growled. His head of FCIS was correct. It would mean the Dragoons wouldn't arrive where they may be needed until likely July.
"Hah, unless the entire front has collapsed. Then they'll be there in June, since we'll have been pushed back several systems."
It was a grim thought, but the prospect of abandoning Sudeten and falling back to Pandora was an option. At that point, reinforcing Tamar would be out of the question, and two RCTs, plus whatever the Duke of Tamar had already scrounged up, would be all the reinforcements they would ever get. Tactically, though, the shortened lines of supply would simplify things and potentially stretch the enemy's own further.
The old Terran Russian strategy: trade space for time. More time to make use of Clan technology, more time to ship more forces to the front. Hopefully, time to allow for diplomatic efforts and a solid non-aggression pact with Marik, and perhaps even additional military assistance. I'm further hampered because I need to keep the units necessary to overwhelm the Com Guards, who are guarding the HPG networks. This war would be so much easier if we controlled them.
"We'll talk with Wolf. We need to get an agreement inked with Marik, perhaps even Liao, though that is a longshot. At this point, we might need to move more resources from the Capellan March, even if it does invite attack. No more waiting; we simply do not have any more time."
"Yes, Highness, I'll communicate the urgency to Jaime Wolf and get Morgan Kell onboard. We need to know what the future will hold to make the right decisions here. I'll also communicate the urgency to Katherine to begin operations as soon as physically possible."
May God forgive me. I sent my precious daughter into the lion's den, not realizing it was more than just lions that she has to fear.
***
Weingarten System
Wolf Occupation Zone, Free Rasalhague Republic
February 16th 3051
"There is nothing to defend, ilKhan Showers. They completed the Trial of Position and won the right to be warriors of Clan Wolf. The Smoke Jaguars, like many other Clans, do not have their greatest genetic lineages operating combat vehicles," Ulric reasoned. "Either they were worthy of their position, or they were inconsequential in the battle against the Steel Vipers. For Khan Breen to waste the Grand Council's time on this triviality, in a battle her forces won, seems petty."
Laurent had fallen to the Steel Vipers, but according to reports from The Watch, it had been hard-won, and the Cluster that had attacked had suffered heavy casualties. The Vipers had won five of their trials, which was not unexpected, given that most of the time they fought his PGCs. Losing Rasalhague had hurt, however. He was tempted to issue a Trial of Possession to win it back, but the time was not yet ripe. He would let the Vipers bleed against the Inner Sphere, thin their forces out, and only then would he strike.
Different Khans spoke, and to Ulric's surprise, the Jade Falcon saKhan agreed with him.
"Khan Breen is bitter that Khan Kerensky slew her saKhan. This is a personal matter; if Khan Breen wishes to pursue it, she should challenge Kerensky to a Trial of Grievance. I think we would all enjoy seeing that transpire."
A few faces were rocked with surprise, but Ulric had a contemptuous view of those reactions. This was not a realignment where the Falcons partnered with Wolf; this was just the Jade Falcons scoring jabs at another Clan they despised. They would like nothing more than to have either him or Khan Breen killed in battle.
A coin toss as to which they would prefer.
The Snow Raven saKhan, Joseph Crow, who spoke for the Snow Ravens while Khan McKenna was away, made the final comment on the matter.
"I must agree that this is beneath the council's notice. If the Wolf Clan is allowing lesser warriors to pass Trials of Position, it will quickly become apparent when they face mounting losses and fail to achieve any of their objectives. Let us be done with this matter."
Ulric smiled as ilKhan Showers thanked the council for their input and then moved on to another matter.
"Activating the Reserve Clans has been a matter of phases," the ilKhan spoke. "Initially, Clan Ghost Bear sought assistance, and Steel Viper provided. They were not given worlds to control, nor were they given an invasion corridor. Khan Breen endured this fate for several waves before being invited as an equal partner. At this juncture, I would provide Clan Nova Cat and Clan Diamond Shark a similar opportunity."
Things must be incredibly dire on the worlds the Smoke Jaguars hold if he is taking this step. I see the Ghost Bear Khans looked concerned; they do not want to be saddled with another Clan like I am with Steel Viper, and technically they are the closest to Terra.
The oldest living Khan, Severen Leroux of the Nova Cats, began to speak, but Khan Ian Hawker of the Diamond Sharks spoke faster.
"You wish for our help after inviting two non-reserve Clans into the Inner Sphere? You wish for us to do garrison duty for who knows how long while you press on to Terra? You have insulted two Clans who won the Trial of Refusal and now wish to give us scraps, ilKhan. Allow us to participate fully or not at all. If you truly do need us, then perhaps your leadership should be called into question."
Now, this is a proper uproar. Hawker is a Crusader in a nominally Warden Clan, but Showers must have upset him over the inclusion of the Snow Ravens and the Star Adders.
Chaos unfolded as Lincoln Osis, the huge Elemental Khan of the Smoke Jaguars, roared at Khan Hawker and called him a surat coward, no better than a freebirth born to a Merchant Caste of a Clan. Showers had to call for order several times before the Khans stopped shouting at each other.
Your grip slips, Showers.
"We are at war with the Inner Sphere. We are fighting to recreate the Star League and determine the ilClan. Challenges of a personal nature between Khans will not be allowed for the duration. My offer was one of consideration due to your voiced concerns over the Star Adders and Snow Ravens. Let us reconvene after the conclusion of Wave Six and see where everyone stands."
Ulric watched as the Jade Falcon Khan approached the Diamond Shark Khan. Crichell and Hawker were political allies, but so were Crichell and Showers. He wasn't sure what outcome would be best, but the byplay would be noted and examined later. His own progress had been heavily stymied by the Steel Vipers, but he still had every intention of setting foot on Terra first.
Unlike the rest of the Clans, he had brought with him ample supplies and many of the lower castes. He had also taken steps to ensure the conquered populace did not feel too heavy a hand upon them. His efforts had been rewarded with far fewer resistance movements compared to his peer Clans. The Science and Tech Castes, who were gathered on New Oslo, would be expanding the 'Mech factories already there. The existing lines of upgraded Inner Sphere 'Mechs with Clan weaponry would still be produced, but the industrial buildup would include brand new factories for OmniMech and Elemental production.
The Smoke Jaguar strategy is one doomed to failure. They face shortages and resistance every step of the way. As each Clan in turn makes progress, Showers will throw up roadblocks. This is no longer a sprint to Terra, but an endurance march.
***
Outreach
Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth
February 18th 3051
Victor knew his father was stressed, and he understood why. The Steel Vipers had smashed one of their RCTs near Sudeten. They were already losing worlds with each wave of attacks—how much more could they lose and still fight back? The broader strategic picture was one he had not focused on much, not with his own unit and the training exercises taking up so much of his time, but he knew Sudeten was a key strongpoint. If that fell, a whole string of worlds would be lost.
The meeting was smaller than the first grand one, with fewer than thirty people present – national leaders, their offspring, and one or two advisors, like Justin Allard or Generalmajor Beth Foglesong.
His father was speaking, and every eye was on him. He commanded the room, and every word hit like a PPC.
"Four Clans invaded; now we face five, and perhaps more. The time to set aside our differences has come. I call upon House Marik and House Liao to join with the rest of the Inner Sphere, to work in concert, and band together."
Romano Liao laughed. "Ha! Band together? You wish Liao sons and daughters to bleed for your realm even while you conspire to shame my son? You want my warriors to fight? Give me back the worlds you stole from the Capellan Confederation. Perhaps, if you are quick enough, my regiments will keep your precious Katherine alive!"
Victor kept his face composed despite the anger that bubbled in his veins. Why did they even allow Romano into these meetings? She was as petty as she was insane.
"Keep her name out of your mouth, Romano. We are not here to relitigate the Four Succession Wars!" Hanse bit back, an uncustomary ruddiness to his complexion showing.
I should not have mouthed off to Sun-Tzu after he tried to mock Katherine for 'dropping out' of training by telling him she had gone to fight the Clans. That was atrociously stupid, though Mother did share that her promotion to Hauptmann-General was a matter of public record, and anyone could put two and two together that there would have been a purpose for that promotion.
"Perhaps that is the reason for her caution, Prince Davion," Marik spoke, his scarred face giving him the appearance of wisdom rather than deformity. "Save for Prince Magnusson's realm in this last year, no other nation has lost as much territory as the Capellan Confederation. She is wise to fear what comes after we defeat the Clans, if we can."
His father was quick to retort, "I've already given my word, and Archon Steiner has given hers, that we will not touch the Capellan Confederation for twenty years after the last world of the Inner Sphere is liberated from the Clans."
"From the man who launched an invasion at his wedding, your oath is not all that convincing. Nor does it allow the Confederation to rest easy knowing that your heir will most certainly finish what you've stated once that time has come to an end, assuming a casus belli is not conveniently invented prior to that time."
Prince Magnusson shook his head in disgust. "Captain-General, what are you doing here? What will it take for you to help the Inner Sphere?"
An apt question.
Thomas didn't seem bothered by the question, while Victor's father stared intently, beads of perspiration appearing on his forehead.
"Militarily? As I have said, I live in a democracy. This urgency you place upon me is not helpful to consensus building, especially when you have requested communication occur through 'Pony Express' rather than ComStar. I have done what I can to aid your realm, Prince Magnusson, and I am open to the idea of being provided the technology to create retrofits and ship the output to your realm, FedCom, and the Draconis Combine, but I simply cannot move with haste."
His father stood up, shaking with anger. Victor had never seen him like this before. "You are dooming the Inner Sphere! My daughter is heading back into hell with an entirely new Clan on the warfront, and you dither while… while…"
The First Prince of the Federated Suns clutched his chest, hoarse breaths escaping from his mouth. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Father!" Victor cried, and the Dragoons rushed over, calling for medics. Everyone was shocked, including Romano and Sun-Tzu, though both were now grinning. Rage bubbled within Victor, and he swore he would see both dead when he became the Archon Prince.
He was held back as the medics worked. Several minutes of agonizing worry passed. Cassandra and Kai both approached, murmuring words of sympathy. Cassandra gave him a hug, and even Ragnar offered to say a prayer for him.
Jaime Wolf finally provided word. "Prince Hanse Davion suffered a heart attack. My medics have managed to stabilize him, and I expect he will survive, but he will not be able to attend further meetings for the time being. This near-tragic event underscores the importance of deciding sooner rather than later and acting swiftly in response to the threat that could doom us all."
Thomas Marik shook his head. "I will not be browbeaten into taking a course of action that my people will not support." He turned to Victor's mother. "Archon Steiner, I am happy to discuss this more with you when you feel it is best, given the circumstances. To sweeten the deal with my government back home, I will need concessions of technology, resources, perhaps even some worlds to ensure it is palatable to my people. I have never been against cooperation; no, I welcome it, but I live under constraints your nations do not have."
You lying sack of shit. When we drive out the Clans, I will never forget this day and your part in it.
***
Mkuranga Orbit
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
February 27th 3051
I was two jumps, less than eight hours with my ad hoc Command Circuit, from the last leg of my journey back to Blackjack when I got the news of my father's heart attack. Fortunately, it appeared as if he would survive. The specter of losing my father disquieted me more than I thought it would. I shied away from thinking about that too long and considered the political ramifications.
Showing weakness was never good. There would no doubt be concerns over how our military would perform without the Fox at 100%. Morale would also take a hit, and our enemies might attempt to use the uncertainty to test our defenses. Nothing like an outright invasion, but opportunistic pirates on the Periphery, Liao-sponsored mercenary attacks, and other mischief might well be afoot. Then there was the whole issue of two more Clans attacking us.
We had learned through interrogation and bondsmen that the Steel Vipers were the primary Reserve Clan. The presence of Clan Snow Raven over Inarcs, and by logical reasoning Kowloon, was troubling. According to our intelligence, they shouldn't have a large force at their disposal, but they had already taken two worlds. Interrogation was always chancy, and most bondsmen still refused to give us much actionable intelligence.
However, Snow Raven wasn't my problem… yet. They were far enough away from my own theater that I would put them out of my mind until they drew closer, and given the direction of their invasion, it appeared they were not coming to the aid of the Jade Falcons. And so, I turned my attention to my actual planning.
While in transit, I reviewed my forces and had to make some personnel decisions. With the additional artillery, I now had a full regiment's worth. Hauptmann Kommandant Sven Fischer had been my acting XO, but now that I had four battalions of artillery, I went ahead and promoted him to Colonel. He was moving up fast, but not faster than I was, and he was a veteran of 3039, so his age was appropriate. Honestly, I was putting a lot on his plate, but he seemed to be persevering.
I was keenly aware of the Peter Principle, and I hoped I wasn't making a mistake, but I trusted my own people more than transfers. The Peter Principle was a concept from the 1970s in my first life. Dr. Peter's famous quote stated: 'In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to their level of incompetence.' In essence, being good at your current role does not mean you will be good in the role above you. People continue to be promoted until they reach a point where they cannot hack it, and thus, they have risen to the level of their incompetence. I believed in Colonel Fischer, however, and if nothing else, I knew I had his loyalty.
The 1st Royal FedCom Guards had grown beyond being just a single combined-arms regiment. The 'Mech portion of my unique unit was just shy of a full regiment of 'Mechs all on its own, and it was time to treat it as such as part of the larger umbrella of the 1st Royal FedCom Guards.
Kommandant Hans Lautner would be promoted to Colonel. Hauptmann Gregory Lebeau would in turn rise to Kommandant. He was moving up quickly too, but given that both myself and Victor became Kommandants right after the academy, and the fact that Gregory had seen heavy, successful fighting, his rapid rise wouldn't be looked at too skeptically.
Colonel Benjamin Withers had not been shy about speaking up against some of my ideas and decisions. However, by all reports, he had done a remarkable job of getting the volunteer Blackjack infantry units into shape. I had instructed him to put them through hell and only accept the best. With over a million volunteers, we could afford to be picky.
While I didn't have gear for the ten regiments of infantry he had stood up, they were well-trained in infantry maneuvers, could operate Spitfire Cannons, and were now being cross-trained into vehicle crews. I didn't want yes-men, but I did want obedient and effective subordinates. I made him a Leftenant General and put him in charge of the Blackjack infantry units, as well as the returning Wotan infantry.
Speaking of Wotan, I did get several officers that I reviewed and selected to fill the holes in my infantry regiments and armor battalions. Leftenant General Ansel Cabrillo would not be one of them. Some may view it as petty, but their decision-making had not appealed to me, and their once subordinate now holding a higher rank could impact my command. It was cleaner and better this way.
Finally, I also promoted Hauptmann Sebastian Mauer to Kommandant, as he would have multiple Aerospace Squadrons under his command. Then came the decision on who to make my XO for the task force. The two obvious choices my father had suggested were Marshal Alberta Orsina or Leftenant General Andrew Redburn. I didn't know Marshal Orsina at all, and Redburn only a little more. Like Morgan Kell, I owed my existence to Redburn for helping keep my mother alive. His heroics outside of a 'Mech while escorting my mother to New Avalon included engaging the ISF in brutal close quarters fights. Since then, he had continued to impress with victories in the 4th Succession War on St. Andre, Hunan, Algot, Bethel, Kathil, and Sian itself. The raid on the Liao capital extracted the deep cover agents Alexi Mallory and Justin Allard.
I really need to meet Marshal Orsina first, but it feels criminally negligent not to put someone down on paper. But by not making a formal decision, it would default to her anyway, so it is fine for now. If I selected someone else and then changed my mind later it would cause friction.
Then came my battle plans, ones that I would be issuing and begin to carry out without even landing on Blackjack. I had essentially all my pieces in position already, though I did not have transport for everything. To maximize my potential disruption of the Jade Falcons, I would need to have some units pull double duty.
First, I would move the Kathil Uhlans off Goat Path. They would jump with the 39th Avalon Hussars RCT and portions of the Chahar PMM to Beta VII. The rest of the Chahar PMM would reinforce Goat Path. Taking Beta VII would be simple; my embedded forces had already made the Jade Falcon life hell and had forced an additional Trinary to land and bolster the occupation forces, which was all the better, as two 'Mech regiments and three armored regiments would be complete overkill. Likely to save on DropShip fuel, I wouldn't even have them deploy their full strength. From there, they would jump to Wotan. I couldn't be certain what they had there, but I doubted it would be more heavily guarded than Twycross.
Assuming there wasn't a massive buildup, they would take the world and then appear to leave with the majority of my forces, when in truth, most of the DropShips would only be partially full. On the surface, we would be leaving a battalion of 'Mechs and a vehicle battalion with infantry support. In truth, we wouldn't just be leaving one battalion of the Kathil Uhlans, but the full regiment and the Chahar PMM. The goal was to trap another Clan unit when they came to defeat them; no batchall would be answered by the Kommandant. Hiding all this from ComStar while making ComStar once again my patsy was quite amusing.
Half the JumpShips carrying the empty DropShips would return to Blackjack, where the 4th Davion Guards would be awaiting pickup. That would put them on the sidelines until April, but I only had so many transports. The other half would take the 39th Avalon Hussars RCT and strike out to Derf.
In March, I would personally be taking my 1st Royal FedCom Guard to hit Waldorff. That should prove simple, and then I would continue to Alyina, where I would likely face a stiffer challenge, but one in which I had confidence in prevailing. I would pause and determine what the Jade Falcons were doing in response. With agents on Denizli, Twycross, and Baker 3, it wouldn't be too difficult to see how they were reacting.
Based on what the Falcons were doing, I would either cut to Twycross or hit Devin and Baker 3. Twycross was a tough nut to crack. Based on the estimates of the surviving 9th FedCom RCT still hiding out, these were full-strength Clusters. Second-line 'Mechs, but almost 150 'Mechs with heavy Aerospace and Elemental support, was not my idea of a good time. Still, it represented a potential massive blow to the enemy's resources.
If those Clusters moved in response to what I did, then come April, the 4th Davion Guards would join me in retaking Twycross again. Meanwhile, the 2nd Crucis Lancer RCT, which was at less than a third strength, would be liberating Hot Springs and Roadside, and then they could get some R&R. Both worlds should be lightly guarded.
Two jumps later with my plans laid, I was back in the Blackjack system, my DropShip and JumpShip armada at the ready. Some of my key officers in the 1st Royal FedCom RCT joined me aboard a DropShip so we could discuss things in person. One of the foremost of them was the now Colonel Lautner, who was most eager to hear if his Atlas was ready for use.
"It is not only ready, it has some significant upgrades," I said with a pleased grin. I was very happy to have upgraded his Atlas, nothing but the best for my meat shields. "The first thing you'll notice is the improved heat sink capacity. Double Heat Sinks aren't new, but your old Atlas did not have them."
The white-haired Colonel nodded appreciatively.
"The AC/20 is upgraded to a Clan LB-20-X AC. The range on it is increased by a third, and you have the option to use cluster rounds. Be aware the ammunition between Clan and Inner Sphere are not compatible; however, we have thirty tons of it courtesy of the Wolf's Dragoons, who can manufacture Clan munitions, though not in great quantities."
I was pretty sure ten full reloads should be more than enough, especially considering it wasn't a long-range weapon. Even if we fought multiple engagements the ammo should last.
"You still have your LRMs, but your SRMs have been upgraded to Streak versions. The final change is your lasers. You now have Clan-designed medium pulse lasers, which deal 40% more damage than the existing ones, have longer range, and are more accurate. I'm also not a fan of rear-facing lasers. For less graceful MechWarriors who can't turn swiftly and rotate, they serve a purpose, but you are better than that."
"Thank you, Princess Katherine. I cannot wait to use my 'Mech in your service again."
Typical. No doubt he's eager for more combat assignments. And to think, he was fully retired and could have kicked back. Instead, he came back and chose war! Crazy, but damn useful.
***
Maule
Rasalhague District, Free Rasalhague Republic
March 4th 3051
Natasha Kerensky was not impressed with the Sixth and Forty-third Maule Armored Brigades. They were actually battalions, and many of their vehicles were medium. Mostly Vedettes, but they did have some Patton Tanks. Natasha knew they would be little more than a speedbump for powerful Clan OmniMechs or even just Elementals.
The Ghost Bears were always partial to Elementals. Hah, I wonder if that is even true anymore. It has been generations since I was in Clan space.
Överste Jonas Bjarkeland wasn't a MechWarrior, but Natasha did find his blunt and thankful greeting redeeming. She was 'just' a mercenary, and the Rasalhague Republic had not liked mercenaries. Jonas, though, realized she was his only hope of defending against the attack. Natasha longed to openly proclaim herself, and she would, but she had been in the Inner Sphere long enough to know a bit of misdirection was useful. It was known that the Wolf's Dragoons were on planet; it was not known why Natasha had left Outreach.
"If they give a batchall, tell them honestly you have two armored regiments and one reinforced battalion from the Wolf's Dragoons. It will make them eager to confront us, but by not mentioning me personally, I suspect they will underbid."
She had 45 'Mechs with her, while her DropShips also held six Aerospace fighters, whose purpose was to protect said DropShips. A typical battalion was 36 or 40, and a reinforced battalion was 48, which was close enough, and she didn't want to reveal her formation of three Trinaries.
Her Black Widow Battalion was the cream of the crop, many personally trained by her. She knew that more than a few had the skills to win a Bloodname if they were part of the Clans. She had a couple of recon Stars, mostly Wolfhounds, but the battalion leaned toward heavy and assault 'Mechs. Her own Warhammer-7M was an advanced Inner Sphere variant that sported 2 ER PPCs, two medium lasers, an SRM-6, and an anti-missile system. To her annoyance, while the techs had made a breakthrough in mounting Clan weaponry on Inner Sphere designs, it was a custom job for each 'Mech and they had not quite worked out the kinks for her Warhammer, so her weapon systems were still Inner Sphere versions.
In particular, her Alpha Trinary was stacked to the gills with heavy and assault 'Mechs: Marauders, Imps, a Battlemaster, and a pair of Devastators. Unless the Ghost Bears sent in a full Cluster, Natasha had confidence in her people. The batchall came in, and the impromptu headquarters accepted it as Överste Bjarkeland agreed to the challenge.
"I am Star Captain John Bekkar of Clan Ghost Bear, forged in the den of our ancestors. With the Ghost Bear's might, I issue this batchall to the defenders of this Rasalhague world."
Natasha listened in as Jonas replied. "I am Överste Jonas Bjarkeland of the Rasalhague KungsArmé, and I receive your batchall. I personally command the Sixth and Forty-third Maule Armored Brigades, and my Prince has sent me a reinforced battalion of the Wolf's Dragoons, the premier mercenary outfit of all the Inner Sphere. If you wish to fight, we can meet you on Vidarslätt, some distance away from the people I have sworn to protect."
"Good, good. You were honest with the forces you have under your command. Some thought you would try to hide your lucrewarriors. Know that we are wise to your Spheroid tricks. If you wish for honorable combat, you will not seed your fields with stravag mines and other traps. If you abide by those requirements, we will face you honorably and not descend with our full might."
Natasha had already received intelligence from other commanders who had faced similar batchall requirements, so this request was not unexpected.
"Agreed. I will not use my infantry, fortifications, or lay mines or other traps. You will only have to face my vehicles and the Wolf's Dragoons 'Mechs. I do not require all the details of your warriors, but I would request the composition of the forces you will attack with."
Natasha gave him a look, and Jonas quickly continued before sending off the transmission. "And, ah, seeing as this is a Trial of Possession, I demand something of equivalent value: your agreement that the Clans will not touch this world for five years, five of your OmniMechs, and twenty-five of your Elemental body armor."
The responding transmission contained a hearty laugh. "I have no doubt of our victory, but the stakes must be even, quiaff? Your world is unimportant, but we will not allow a base to be used behind our line of advance. I will grant you one OmniMech of your choice from our inventory, and one Elemental suit."
Natasha smiled. "We have some room to negotiate. Tell him you will grant Safcon and ask for two OmniMechs, four Elementals, and his agreement that he will not break the bid. If we are defeated in combat, we will serve as bondsmen if you would have us, and we expect the same from you."
They waited for a response; it took longer than anticipated. "You bargain well for a freebirth. The bid will not be broken, but only if you do not have additional hidden forces you intend to use and follow through on your word that the ground is not prepared. You will face the 72nd Striker Trinary and 433rd Supernova Trinary – thirty 'Mechs, seventy-five Elementals, and ten Aerospace fighters. We will arrive in seventy-eight hours. Bargained well and done."
They bid less aggressively than I thought they would. No doubt their Clan's loss on Gunzburg and our requested prize made this fight harder.
"You did well, Jonas. Your tanks are to focus on the Elemental and Aerospace elements. One of my Trinaries will assist with that task, while my main two duel the enemy. Per our salvage agreement, we will split the gains in half. However, if any Ghost Bears consent to being bondsmen, I want them."
The commander of the Maule Militia nodded in agreement, and in less than three days, they met the Ghost Bears on the lightly snow-covered plains. An urban battle might have negated some of the range advantage, but the Elementals would have been stronger. The decision not to fight within the city also helped the negotiations.
The Ghost Bears came on, and as the advancing Ghost Bears reached twice the distance of their maximum range, Natasha opened an open channel.
"I am Natasha Kerensky, once of Clan Wolf. My genetic legacy combines the genes of the Great Father and the best genetic components of the absorbed Clan Widowmaker. I am the youngest ever to win the Kerensky Bloodname. I am the Black Widow and I will be your end. Come, two of my 'Mech Trinaries against your two 'Mech Trinaries. Let us fight in the Clan way of Zellbrigen. Your non- 'Mech assets can play with my Rasalhague allies and my recon Trinary."
"I am Star Captain John Bekkar. You are a traitor to the Clans and should have long ago been relegated to garrison duty. I will meet you this day and agree to your request."
"I'm garrisoning this world, that is why we have met," Natasha laughed.
"Your language is corrupt as you are. Come face the strength of a Ghost Bear!"
Natasha saw the Star Captain advance, and unlike most of the two Trinaries that advanced with him, he was piloting an assault OmniMech. The rest of his 'Mechs were primarily medium and heavy, but he was piloting a 90-ton Kingfisher. The 'Mech was in its primary configuration, which meant Natasha faced two large and two medium pulse lasers. For missiles, the 'Mech wielded LRM-10s and Streak SRM-6s. It also had an extended-range small laser.
Her own ER PPCs came into range first, sending a concentrated stream of particles into one of the torsos of her foe. Molten slag filled the air in front of the Kingfisher for a moment, and the enemy 'Mech shuddered but kept its balance and forward momentum. LRMs sailed through the air between them, but most were intercepted by her AMS.
Natasha had always been able to read an enemy 'Mech, focusing on how it moved and seeing the micro-adjustments in aim just before the weapons flashed. Moving on a mixture of instinct and careful observation, she leaned her 'Mech's left shoulder back, and was rewarded when a staccato burst of laser fire narrowly missed.
As she waited for her ER PPCs to cycle back to ready, she glanced at the other duels. Every 'Mech had a dance partner. Some were more or less evenly matched, and a few on her side had a distinct disadvantage. The Archer was a great 'Mech, but against a Mad Dog, the disparity in technology overmatched the 10-ton advantage. Though, of course, individual pilot skill still played a key role.
However, other fights were quite lopsided in favor of her Trinaries. A 100-ton Imp against a 50-ton Nova was a bit of an absurdity, but one that benefited her Dragoons.
Her PPCs fired again, once again hammering the torso, while the other shot was a bit off track, hitting lower on the enemy 'Mech's leg. Missiles went out, and the AMS system had multiple variations to target, with bits of armor blasted off several parts of her 'Mech as they began to leak through its protective screen. This time, the pulse lasers were on target, and her Warhammer took damage across the arm and the center torso.
Natasha and her opponent traded different forms of medium laser damage. Her 'Mech's armor was thinning noticeably in the center, but her own slashing beams of destructive light had stripped the outer layer of armor from where her PPCs had struck on the Kingfisher's left side torso, exposing its internals. The Kingfisher swung its body to try to shield its wounded side, and Natasha sent her own missile spread into the enemy 'Mech.
As Star Captain Bekkar turned to shoot, Natasha jammed down the buttons on her weapons and sent a blaze of particles into the now visibly damaged torso. That was enough to tear through the top half of the left torso, causing the arm to hang limp and useless. The blaze of energized particles also splashed into the center torso, further wounding the huge 'Mech.
Their short-range missiles and the two medium pulse lasers are out of the fight.
Her own 'Mech was struggling with heat, but that was fine for the moment. She was used to the inferno of a 'Mech cockpit; it barely even bothered her anymore, even at its most extreme. The Kingfisher remained standing and fought back with its large pulse lasers and LRMs. It even fired the small laser in its head. The damage washed over Natasha's 'Mech, and Bekkar had clearly been trying to core her center torso, but she had moved one of her Warhammer arms in front, absorbing the pulsating discharges of armor-burning heat.
The internals in my arm are exposed.
She kept one ER PPC back due to heat and instead fired her lasers and SRMs into Bekkar, aiming to score a telling blow. Unfortunately, the Kingfisher had a massive amount of armor, and she still had a lot of it to chew through. Her 'Mech practically glided, and when Bekkar moved to fire, she rotated her less-damaged side. As she did, she felt over a ton of armor get scorched away from her other arm and leg.
The two circled each other, both moving to prevent damage to vulnerable locations. Natasha's deadly accuracy tore into the right arm of the Kingfisher, turning it into a fused piece of molten metal. The 'Mech was left with just the LRMs and a small laser. With Natasha's AMS still shooting down many of the missiles, her dance partner had run out of traditional options.
"I would hate to have to kill you Star Captain Bekkar, I would rather make you a bondsman."
Star Captain Bekkar's 'Mech lurched slightly as it tried to steady itself. The once-proud Kingfisher, now battered and nearly crippled, stared down the Black Widow. His voice came through the comms, strained but steady.
"I am not finished yet!"
The Kingfisher advanced directly toward Natasha, attempting to charge into her 'Mech. Some within the Clans took a dim view of physical attacks, viewing them as inelegant and wasteful, as with most physical attacks, both 'Mechs would be wounded. Natasha, though, likely had far more experience with physical attacks than any Clan Warrior. As she fired her lasers into the charging 'Mech, she was already stepping sideways and evaded the frenetic attack. Undeterred, the Kingfisher turned for another pass, but by then Natasha's weapons had cycled back, and this time she finished it with an Alpha Strike. All her weapons connected and burned the last of the armor away from Bekkar's center torso. His ejection seat sent him flying high into the air, and Natasha quickly turned her 'Mech, scanning for opponents.
As her heat came down, she realized she was one of the first few from her Trinaries to win. The Imp had put down the Nova and finished before her but many of the fights were still undecided, and eventually, one of the duels saw a Ghost Bear victory. A Timber Wolf, which was limping badly due to a damaged hip actuator, had put down a Marauder. It wasn't just the leg that was damaged; there were also deep scars in all three torsos.
"I will take this one," the Imp pilot requested, but Natasha wasn't going to hear it. She had been kept on the sidelines for far too long!
Her challenge was met with grim determination by a young Star Commander. Her arms were an obvious target, but the way she stalked forward and then twitched them up at the right moment caused some of the weapons to strike her torso or miss altogether. Her response sent man-made lightning into the leg, destroying it and sending the Timber Wolf to the ground. Not done, she added her SRMs.
The opposing 'Mech had landed poorly and could do little more than roll onto its backside. It was an impressive maneuver in and of itself, but Natasha moved out of the likely angle of the Ghost Bear's weapon arcs and finished it off. There was no third fight, as the few Ghost Bears who won their duels now faced the least damaged Dragoons, who handedly put them down. She had lost less than two Stars, and her eyes moved to the rest of the battle.
Her recon Trinary included light and medium 'Mechs, but that was all that was needed. Her 'Mechs and the militia's vehicles had driven or walked backward as the Elementals, with no 'Mechs to ride upon, chased after them. It had been an ugly and one-sided destruction. The Elementals had engaged their ability to jump, but it was not enough. Their SRMs had destroyed some vehicles, but by and large, they had suffered massive casualties, and only a few of them had been able to even use their laser attachments.
The Aerospace fighters had proven more effective disabling some vehicles, and they had also done some damage to the 'Mechs, even taking down two, but the return fire had been devastating. By the time Natasha had finished dealing with the 'Mechs, there was less than a Star of Elementals remaining, and the skies were clear.
"I was once of the Clans, though no longer part of Clan Wolf. The Wolf's Dragoons still practice many of the Clan traditions. Surrender and end this waste, and become my bondsmen. You will be treated fairly and given an opportunity to serve as warriors again." Her voice took on a grim tone. "Or, you can die here by the hand of the Black Widow."
A few opted for death, but several Points of Elementals surrendered, and over half of the Ghost Bear MechWarriors had survived. Natasha knew that the desire to stay a warrior was the most compelling factor, one that would likely outweigh the fact that she was no longer part of the Clans. What it came down to was that the Clans respected strength. Since she had dealt honorably and followed the conditions of Zellbrigen, she had proven her superiority. There had been no Spheroid tricks or foul play. If she was better and honorable, she had the right to take bondsmen.
This was a good start. It is time to take our prizes, our salvage, and depart for Nox. I'll want to get repairs done before the next battle. The Maule Militia will scatter before the Ghost Bears try again. Perhaps they won't even attack for a time, as it is considered gauche to try a second Trial of Possession quickly. Either way, I wish the people of this planet good fortune.
Actions
↑ Top ← Previous Chapter Next Chapter → Bookmark Comments (2)
Kudos
Necron_Lord, Mr_LPer, sapassde, Shell_Blue, NavisX, GamagrimMX, PHXFlyte, ninguem248, Lamalama23, Justapassionatebookworm, Loukane, MagnusD, Skaag, ETHobby, esperstrazza, GoblinThatMeat, bullpen, TerribleVices, Grendel12000, MarquessKhepri, Zetor_Khan, MightyShadow, CF_Azaka, LoveSnaibsel, 3Fallin, MasterXIX, Simpleminds, Ysmir1999, rondal_laquin, tekknotrain, Riverl, smeierkraft, RedRiverScholar, Lerchenlied, Cheshire_777, Folketime, Kravisoas, Chaos341, Dmitry, Elkaziel, allenismo, Deadbeat1050, lasalle1alpha, jng2058, Vat0nage, IntoTheIcySky, RandomFire0, Sif_K, MordredEmiya, IndifferentDreamer, and 324 more users as well as 419 guests left kudos on this work!
Comments
Post Comment
Comment as TheBrimmedHat
Plain text with limited HTML ?
Comment
10000 characters left
Footer
Customize
Default
Low Vision Default
Reversi
Snow Blue
About the Archive
Site Map
Diversity Statement
Terms of Service
Content Policy
Privacy Policy
DMCA & TIDA Policies
Site Status
Contact Us
Policy Questions & Abuse Reports
Technical Support & Feedback
Donate or Volunteer
Development
otwarchive v1.10.0.1
Known Issues
GPL-2.0-or-later by the OTW