Main Content
Archive of Our OwnArchive of Our OwnHi, TheBrimmedHat!PostLog Out
FandomsBrowseSearchAboutWork Search
tip: buffy gen teen AND "no archive warnings apply"
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 31
Notes:
Big thank you to skychan for helping me with the chapter!
Chapter Text
Chapter 31
Utrecht
Rasalhague District, Ghost Bear OZ
April 15th 3051
Khan Bjorn Jorgensson had landed with his Ourse Keshik and the 3rd Bear Guards. The people of this world had agreed to surrender without a fight. The Ghost Bear Khan saw this as wisdom, though others viewed it as cowardice. The world of Utrecht was rich in natural resources, and it was fortunate they could take it without damaging any infrastructure. The lesser castes believed they could produce great quantities of ferro-fibrous armor on the planet.
The unofficial surrender had taken place weeks ago, but the formal signing, conducted with great fanfare, had awaited the arrival of the world's new ruler. He knew that his large size and bearing intimidated the people. Though he was not of Elemental stock, he had always been larger than the rest of his sibko. Khan Jorgensson was pleased to formally accept their surrender. Since Utrecht was on the front lines and within striking distance of Nox, it caused no delay for him. He planned to personally see the traitor, Natasha Kerensky, defeated when the Seventh Wave was launched in May. Her destruction of a partial Cluster was an insult he would avenge.
It was unfortunate, but this next wave would not be as large as he had once hoped. His predecessors had been foolish in their decision not to deploy PGCs. Some ground had been regained, but the Ghost Bears still had fewer PGCs than their peer invading Clans, despite their total numbers surpassing those of Jade Falcon and Smoke Jaguar prior to the invasion.
They do me little good back in our home worlds.
With the Inner Sphere finally finding its will to fight – launching counterattacks in Falcon, Wolf, and now on a Ghost Bear-held world – he could not advance as quickly as he would like. He would not overstretch his forces needlessly, and with the Wolves slowed, it was not as pressing.
Communication soon arrived that nearby Skandia was under attack by Wolf's Dragoons. A short time later, JumpShips were detected at a proximity point, with DropShips burning down toward the planet. A batchall transmission soon followed, which was surprising in itself.
"This is Colonel Neil Parella of the Wolf's Dragoons Gamma Regiment. Who defends this world, and what will you defend it with?"
How many do you believe they are attacking us with?" Bjorn asked.
Star Colonel Hawkins answered, "Based on ComStar intelligence and our own analysis, they will have over 20 Stars of 'Mechs, 4 Stars of vehicle support, and perhaps a pair of Aerospace Stars. Since they came from Clan Wolf originally, they may be using OmniMechs."
Bjorn knew that between his Keshik and the 3rd Bear Guards, he had 12 Stars of 'Mechs, 3 Stars of Aerospace fighters, five Stars of Elementals, and a solitary Star of artillery. They would be outnumbered, but it was also true that most of the Wolf's Dragoons who had departed from Clan Wolf were freeborn and well past their prime.
"Order the Bear's Den to detach a Star of Aerospace and bring them to the planet. I will compose a message; they will know they have not found easy prey this day."
His command staff raced to fulfill his orders while he sent his response.
"I am Khan Bjorn Jorgensson. The battle will take place five kilometers west of Naragajan. The new members of the Ghost Bear Clan will be able to witness the strength of their new kin."
His message was longer and included the units he would use to defend the world. The next transmission arrived, and his opponent sounded less confident in his agreement on the location of the battle. Thanks to the closeness of their jump point, they would be arriving within 20 hours.
You dare to beard the Ghost Bear in his own den? Brave, but foolish. Come, then!
***
Butler System
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
April 15th 3051
The good news was that Hauptmann General Bragg and her 39th Avalon Hussars were proving tenacious. The heavily forested continent of Marlybone was where they had landed. While much of the uninhabited region was covered in forests, it wasn't completely so. Bragg had communicated to me via black box in-system and advised that she had used her 'Mechs to create pathways for her armored units, all the while also splitting up. Her infantry was laying sacrificial ambushes as well as planting mines along several routes. She had sparred with Clan recon Stars and lost some of her own 'Mechs and armor, but so had the enemy.
She's done better than I could have hoped. Losses of less than a company of 'Mechs is good. The loses of near a battalion of armor and a lot of infantry less so, but still well-done overall.
I once again silently thanked Nondi Steiner as I thought of my own units. Her additional Aerospace squadrons brought my total up to 36. Her supply of heavier 'Mechs and vehicles also gave me more punch to go along with the assault-class Marauder IIs and Imps I had received from the Wolf's Dragoons. Combined with the 14 Clan 'Mechs I had – 15 if you counted Colonel Lautner's Atlas – I had a very potent force for potential challenges. The two Awesomes and two Zeus 'Mechs were also assault-class, but with all Inner Sphere tech, they weren't that impressive, even if Leftenant Harris was quite the prodigy in his family's old Zeus.
Should we survive this shitshow, I'll want to get that 'Mech upgraded like Lautner's Atlas.
Bragg had informed me that things had gone sideways after they had dropped in and sent a batchall challenge to the Jade Falcons. The response was not the usual Clan arrogance and adherence to their rules of war; instead, it had been a cryptic reply indicating that the batchall would take place later.
Then the new ships had arrived, and still no batchall. That was when she had sent the message in the black box to me. From there, Bragg had reestablished contact with the Jade Falcons, who stated they were defending with everything in the system – including their Diamond Shark allies – and had chosen the battlefield on the main continent of Smithfield. Having received my instructions, they cut off communication and adjusted their drop trajectory to the untamed continent instead.
The tactical situation was unclear, but based on the number of DropShips sighted by the 39th, there would be just shy of six Clusters if they were at max capacity – a stupefying number, larger even than the assault on Rasalhague. I didn't know much about the Diamond Sharks, and it would have been good if I had brought Drack with me. Too many other important tasks had been on my mind.
It was time to see if I could even the odds through the Clan bidding process. I opened a communication channel and identified myself as Hauptmann General Katherine Steiner-Davion, defender of Blackjack, liberator of Goat Path, Waldorff, Alyina, and Denizli. I requested an honorable combat to minimize waste and asked to speak with whoever led the Diamond Shark Clusters.
Since we had not arrived at the standard jump point, the communications lag was minimal. My enemy replied quickly.
"This is Khan Ian Hawker of the Diamond Sharks. Are you more honorable than your allies on the planet? I am tempted to deny Safcon and clear you from the skies. If you wish a proper fight, tell this Bella individual to show herself."
I thought about a response, and Aiko asked, "What's the play?"
"Ideally, I want to bait him into a smaller combat, but their sense of honor seems to have been offended by the Hussars. Let's see how honor-blind and foolish this Khan is."
I prepared my transmission in response.
"Khan Ian Hawker? I have faced only Star Colonels from both the Wolves and the Jade Falcons. While many have fallen before me, I had not expected to fight a Khan. The Hussars are nothing—a Periphery-assigned unit with little experience fighting the Clans. I, however, am something else, and I would request to see first-hand how well a Khan fights. Instead of a wasteful battle that will bleed your forces, let me challenge you and your personal unit. We can fight Star versus Star or even Trinary versus Trinary."
Aiko and Ainsworth were both giving me pained looks. A Khan's bodyguard unit should be far more dangerous than a Star Colonel's Command Star or an Alpha Trinary.
Hawker responded with a laugh before the rest of the transmission came through: "Khan Crichell requested I not entertain any sort of small-scale battle that would put my Galaxy at risk. I would be willing to face you in a small-scale battle, but not for the stakes of this world or an agreement to grant your units Hegira."
Aiko shook her head. "It seems the Falcons have learned to respect you, Highness. I see no reason we should take this battle if it won't mean victory overall."
"Leftenant Roth, he threatened to deny us Safcon. If our estimates are correct and they have typical Aerospace formations for a Cluster, we would be outnumbered in the air three to one. DropShips are sturdy, especially before we enter the atmosphere, so it would be costly for them, but potentially ruinous for us. If they attack after we hit the atmosphere, the lethality of the battle on both sides goes up dramatically."
Our DropShips were equipped with flak ammo for their autocannons, but crash landings became far more likely when fighting within the atmosphere. It was very easy for a DropShip to lose control. If we did have to drop down under Aerospace assault, I'd prefer to be in my Phoenix Hawk and its jump jets, but the physics involved in a fall if the DropShip was critically damaged were not good.
Hmm, overriding the jump jet safeties to provide enough lift to counteract falling at near terminal velocity – oh, that math is ugly. But theoretically, I could slow my descent to allow my ejection seat and chute to deploy and make the fall survivable. But so much could go wrong with that; it is a last resort. Unfortunately we didn't have any drop pods so an orbital insertion wasn't an option, I generally wasn't a fan of that plan of their use, too many memories of Operation Revolving Door when I was stuck in a damned experimental V1 rocket.
I keyed the transmission again.
"I am honored, Khan Hawker, that you wish to fight. So long as we can come to an agreement on an equitable battle, I have a proposal. Honoring the constraints the Jade Falcons have required of you, I believe we can come to an agreement. In the interest of eliminating waste, I am prepared to surrender my 1st Royal FedCom Guards if you succeed in defeating me. In exchange, I will not require your departure, my own safe departure, or even you handing over any of your ground forces. Instead, for such a monumental savings in resources, I would request the naval assets in the system."
Gregory gave a little laugh. "There's no way they will agree to that."
"It is a test volley to see what they would consider. They have two WarShips in system; one is a massive troop carrier and looks as if they still have DropShips attached. Given the overwhelming force, I can assume these are either empty, contain more Aerospace units, or are supplies possibly destined for other worlds. The other WarShip looks like a destroyer-class."
Aiko was frowning. "But giving up our entire command? That would be the opposite of the First Prince's orders after that debacle where an entire RCT surrendered after trying to duplicate your fight."
I nodded. Aiko was correct. But if I lost my personal fight, it didn't matter. Truly benevolent people are awe-inspiring, but I was not one of their number. I valued hardworking subordinates, I cherished my family, but in the end, it was me that mattered. Granting massive concessions in order to gain massive concessions had also worked out quite well for the Federated Commonwealth, so I had a ready excuse for my actions.
"The difference is that I am not Ostola Stellwar."
Ainsworth rolled her eyes. How unprofessional!
Further discussion was delayed when the response came in.
"Two WarShips and several DropShips? You Spheroid freebirths overestimate your worth. Your inferior 'Mechs are not nearly worth the value of our naval assets. We would defeat your military forces easily with few losses. I can offer you a single Merchant-class JumpShip should you win our little battle, to be delivered to a friendly system of your choice. For even if by some twist of fate you were to defeat me, my Galaxy will ensure you do not leave this world. As for equitable conflict, my Diamond Keshik against any fifteen of your 'Mechs in a limited battlefield is acceptable."
Unsurprising, but let us see how well he can reason and use rhetoric. This is still a wide-beam transmission.
"When considering the matter of equitable stakes, Khan Hawker, one must think about what one has to lose and what one has to gain. You not only see your own 'Mechs remain untarnished, but you also gain assets that would otherwise be scrap after you potentially defeat us. I am uninterested in a mere JumpShip. Your WarShips fascinate me; however, I will sweeten the deal. The DropShips I came in on have immense value. From my sources, your Clan has a strong Merchant Caste who would appreciate having more lift capacity. I also have great influence with the other ground force you have been attempting to hunt down. This not only saves you additional resources, but it also saves you time. I assume you are eager to catch up with the rest of the Clans in terms of worlds taken and honor claimed?"
I paused for a moment before continuing.
"The other consideration is that I alone among all Inner Sphere commanders can claim victories over multiple Star Colonels from multiple Clans. Defeating me would grant your Clan significant standing. You would have done what Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon have not. Share your BattleROM, and the status of both you personally and your Clan will rise."
My subordinates were watching me as I continued to push.
"As for equitable forces, I do have Clan 'Mechs available to me, but not in sufficient quality and quantity to match an illustrious unit like the Diamond Keshik. I intend to use Clan 'Mechs against you, but for each Inner Sphere 'Mech I use, I would request the addition of another Inner Sphere medium 'Mech or, if you prefer, an armored vehicle of any weight. This would make the conflict more even, granting you greater honor. You will still, of course, have your perceived advantage of being a trueborn against mere freeborn warriors."
We waited to see what the Khan would respond with. By playing upon their superiority beliefs, I could stack the deck in the same way I had stacked it with Star Colonel Anu. It didn't matter how superior your 'Mech was—a dual AC/20 Demolisher as an extra combatant would ruin anyone's day.
"You Spheroids always wish for greater numbers, quiaff? You bargain well, but I already know, through some strange fortunate accident of genetics, that you are a worthy opponent. Like a lucky shot to the cockpit, you have emerged into life as a warrior-true, one who uses our captured technology. Adding too many numbers to your cause could make me foolishly bid poorly. I will consent to one additional Point, no greater than medium in tonnage, for each pair of Inner Sphere 'Mechs you bring instead of an acquired Clan 'Mech."
A plan was starting to form, this was good.
"You still overestimate the worth of all this to me. Your people have no WarShips, and you wish me to give you two? Even surrendering both of your commands will not resolve the imbalance. The answer is no."
Time to increase the pressure.
"Khan Hawker, when we began negotiations, I believed you sincere in honoring the spirit of a batchall. I cannot claim to understand all the cultural nuances of your people, but have not all the Clans bid away the use of WarShips in battle for these invasions? The crimes of the Smoke Jaguars were a blight upon the honor of the Clans – this I have been told by bondsmen. This may be a mistaken conclusion due to my misunderstanding of your ways, but it almost appears as if you are being deliberately difficult in order to avoid this duel and instead rely on the superior numbers and technology of your Galaxy to win."
I turned to my people. "The fact that the Jade Falcons are also picking all this up should increase the level of potential shame if he cannot come to an agreement. Let's see how he responds."
"You ARE ignorant and know not the value of a single WarShip. I do not fear you. No, I relish the opportunity. I will not be taunted or baited into an unequal agreement; we can always simply choose an honorable combat without any stakes. Fear you? Never."
Damn, that was a neat riposté.
"Clever, Khan Hawker. You know the ways of the Inner Sphere and how badly our warriors fight when their commander is defeated. You knew I could never accept this challenge without a potential gain for my side. I commend you on how well you've come to know my people. Nonetheless, I must insist on pursuing this. I await your counteroffer. I do not need everything in the system, but my focus is on the WarShips."
I was uncertain on how he would react to the backhanded insult.
"You stumble about in the dark, ignorantly assuming things that are not so. A counteroffer? I will give you a single WarShip within this system in exchange for you sweetening the deal and providing all your Inner Sphere JumpShips as Isorla. It will be delivered to the system of your choice – intact and operable – though the crew will be returned to us."
Gregory took a step back from me. Aiko looked at me with slightly widening eyes, while Ainsworth seemed to stiffen.
What's wrong with them? This is fantastic news; I can feel the grin plastered on my face. If I won, I secure a WarShip!
This was the deal I wanted, but I pushed further cautiously on the details, ensuring I milked every ounce of advantage I could. Despite being able to land within the day, I set the time to allow for a gentler journey down and a rest period before our battle. I also insisted that, after the fight, no hostilities take place for a further two days. This would allow me and my forces time to recover, and then pursue a batchall with a new potential commander of the Diamond Shark forces. Naturally, if the enemy won, there would be no further battle.
Every day's delay allows the 4th Davion Guards to get closer.
The final configuration of our Trinary on Trinay duel was as follows:
The Diamond Sharks would use their Diamond Keshik, fifteen 'Mechs, all but one of which were heavy or assault. All were trueborn warriors, and most were Bloodnamed. I would be using six Clan 'Mechs and treating Lautner's Atlas as a seventh. That gave me eight Inner Sphere 'Mechs, entitling me to four additional Points of medium or less. I had clarified that armored infantry in groups of five also counted as a Point. I had not agreed to Zellbrigen, and we would fight in a small, two-kilometer radius in a heavily forested location. Being the honorable person I was, we would each get to inspect the area to ensure it was free of any prepared ground. The relatively closer range of the circle of equals would allow me to make sure the range advantage was diminished and let me use my customized 'Mech.
If I lost, both my command and the 39th Avalon Hussars would surrender, including all of my JumpShips and DropShips. If I won, I would keep the salvage from the battle, be granted the time to recover before initiating the new batchall, and even gain access to the techs and laborers assigned to the WarShip Titanic. That last bit would also hopefully turbocharge my nation's WarShip project.
As I reviewed my roster, the need to win became clear, and I resolved to pull out all the stops. For the Clan 'Mechs, I would field the Gargoyle, Timber Wolf, all three Summoners, and one Hellbringer, though I would not be piloting the Gargoyle. For the eight Inner Sphere 'Mechs, I would bring the four Imp-3E's the Wolf's Dragoons had given me. The other four were Marauder IIs. The main fifteen would consist of nine 100-ton 'Mechs, one 80-ton, one 75-ton, three 70-ton, and one 65-ton 'Mech.
I would pilot my custom Phoenix Hawk, and another of my MechWarriors would take control of a Centurion. Alongside us would be ten Elementals, led by Ainsworth and Hauptmann Rogers. Leftenant Harris would likely be annoyed he couldn't pilot his family's Zeus, but I needed someone with strong gunnery skills to take over for my Gargoyle. He'd done considerable simulator time with it, making him the best choice.
Bargained well and done indeed. I wonder if these sorts of challenges will be harder after defeating a Khan.
***
Outreach Orbit
Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth
April 16th 3051
Ragnar listened to his father and Generalmajor Foglesong as they discussed the troop deployments.
"The Wolf's Dragoons are assaulting two worlds while Natasha Kerensky completes repairs on Nox. We suspect Nox will fall under attack, but given that we have two full armored regiments on the planet, with Kerensky's help, we have a good chance of holding."
His father nodded. "And with the 8th Deneb taking Thannhausen and the 10th FedCom RCT on Wheel, we have the beginnings of a good battleline. The 4th Arkab Legion from the Draconis Combine is on Altenmarkt. We have four tank regiments on Diosd and two on Galuzzo. I think we should move the Second Kavalleri 'Mech regiment up to Galuzzo to strengthen the front."
Ragnar knew they were very low on 'Mechs but still had tanks and infantry militia regiments. Along with the Second Kavalleri, which was almost exclusively lighter 'Mechs still equipped with technology from the 3010s and older, they had few units. The 3rd Drakøns were at half-strength, though they had heavier 'Mechs, and a few of them were of advanced technology. The Third Hussars was a typical Inner Sphere regiment, skewed toward medium tonnage. The Second Freeman only had two companies of surviving 'Mechs after their clash with the Clans. The Fourth Kavalleri 'Mech regiment, also exclusively older and lighter 'Mechs, rounded out their forces. Those were the only 'Mechs left to the FRR. Well, that and whatever remained on Gunzburg, which wasn't much.
Ragnar interjected, "I think we should preserve what 'Mech forces we have left. We essentially only have four 'Mech regiments remaining. Marik factories will have begun making those refit kits. It would be better if we preserved what we have outside of vital worlds so we can use them."
His father glared. "Boy, do you want to one day rule an even smaller realm? We cannot afford to lose any more worlds."
"That regiment won't stop the Clans. A single Trinary would rip through them! Father, the Wolf's Dragoons taught me much, and as they are now, they will not make a sufficient difference." Ragnar sighed. He knew he was young, and this wasn't his place, but he had some ideas. "We need to lean on the other realms. Within weeks, the 20th Marik Militia Regiment will arrive, and a month after that, the two regiments from the St. Ives Compact. As humbling as it is, we must lean on them until we can stand on our own two feet."
Ragnar stood up. "Father, the Clans rarely strike at JumpShips, and often have not bothered to chase down our retreating units. We have more JumpShips than our realm needs. We should sell portions of our fleet and purchase additional 'Mechs from wherever we can find them – mercenaries looking to retire, Periphery powers. Perhaps we can even cut a deal with nobles from the Great Houses for individual 'Mechs."
His father growled. "We need those JumpShips for when we reclaim our worlds, trade will…"
"What trade?" Ragnar raised his voice. "Why would the other Houses spend even more resources liberating our worlds? If we halt the Clans and then begin to drive them back, our allies will first reclaim their own worlds. And there is by no means a guarantee we will even hold them here. We need to scrape and claw for every possible advantage. Our excessive fleet that helped bring Natasha's Widow Battalion and was a good use of it, but how much more support can we realistically expect?" Ragnar paused, "Or at least consider leasing them, so they can be used to aid the greater conflict against the Clans."
Something seemed to drain out of his father. He looked down. "Perhaps you are right, but it will be difficult to find any 'Mechs for sale as wealthier pockets are being emptied. Your view does hold some merit, and I believe you are ready, my son. You will be given a 'Mech company to command, with a tenured XO to help guide you. On Maule, we won the rights to an OmniMech. I watched with great pride as you piloted that Clan 'Mech in your final training exercise, and while we did not win that sort of monster, we did win a 75-ton Timber Wolf. It is yours."
Ragnar felt a surge of pride and satisfaction flow through him. His very own OmniMech? He saluted his father, then pulled him into a hug. He knew that very soon, like Katherine, Victor, Hohiro, and Kai, he too would fight against the Clans.
I will do my nation proud.
***
Blaire Atholl
Lyran Commonwealth, Jade Falcon OZ
April 16th 3051
Khan Elias Crichell read the report from his Star Colonel heading the PGC on Butler and grimaced.
Even after my warning that damned fool is going through with a small-scale conflict. His Galaxy will still fight afterwards, but who is to say their Galaxy Commander will abide by Hawker's agreement with me after he is killed?
Elias did not know if Hawker would lose, but Katherine Steiner-Davion had proven herself more than once. He had reviewed the ROMs from her duel with Star Colonel Diane Anu, and they showcased a warrior who had melded man and machine more seamlessly than he had ever imagined. The rest of her warriors were not nearly as impressive, and the Diamond Keshik were elite… but still, he could not shake the feeling that his trap would be unraveled by the foolish pride of that idiot.
Despite it being an enormous overcommitment of military might, he was not going to leave anything to chance. He sent his orders to Galaxy Commander Angeline Mattlov, who commanded the strike team of five Clusters. She would jump into an uninhabited system and then proceed to Butler. These distractions would not be allowed to continue.
He gave other orders as well – with ComStar administering the worlds taken, he would pull his garrisons from Steelton, Persistence, Winfield, Bensinger, and Toland. Three PGCs should be sufficient to retake Wotan. At the same time, he could not simply halt forward progress. Marthe Pryde would be tasked with taking her Galaxy, freshly reinforced with three frontline Clusters from those worlds, and capturing Koniz, Benfled, and Montmarault once the Seventh Wave kicked off in May and June.
A planned wave of only three worlds twice in a row is humiliating for our drive forward, but we are stretched too thin. And I cannot strip the home worlds bare either, lest I grow too vulnerable there. I will not have any new reinforcements for over a year. The only new 'Mechs will be those we capture or can produce on Twycross. Once we've dealt with this counterattack, I must encourage the Snow Ravens to make more haste. They have been far too cautious. My only solace is that the other Clans seem to be struggling as well.
Elias cursed the fact that the Star Adders had been correct – four Clans with just three Galaxies were not sufficient. The Inner Sphere fought in a way that sapped their strength. Had he to do it all over again, he would do what the Star Adders intended. The Jade Falcon Watch had some inroads into the Adders and had learned they were moving an exhaustive quantity of material.
They had even taken the step of reactivating mothballed transport ships to enhance their fleet while still depending on Clan Burrock for additional lift capacity. He knew this was because they were not just moving warriors and resupply, but, like the Wolves, they were bringing a large number of the lesser castes –along with massive amounts of industrial equipment and even portions of their home world factories.
For Elias, his plan had simply been to claim Terra and become the ilClan, fulfilling his destiny to become the ilKhan and placing the Falcons in ascendancy for all time. But the Star Adders were not concerned with the race to Terra – they seemed to just want a foothold in the Inner Sphere.
So long as they remain subordinate to the ilClan, they can establish all the manufacturing capabilities they wish. But it does make me wonder – if I succeed in taking Terra, will the other Clans meekly accept their subordinate role? Because I would not.
With his thoughts troubled, he knew he would have to do some serious thinking on the matter. Over the next month, there would be three major thrusts: Butler, Wotan, and additional invasions deeper into the Lyran Commonwealth. If all went well, he would be well on his way to being back in the race, but if even one of them failed, his role as Khan of the Jade Falcons would be in peril..
***
Outreach
Sarna March, Federated Commonwealth
April 16th 3051
Hanse Davion was restless, especially now that all the other Inner Sphere leaders had left. He had been given a clean bill of health but was admonished not to travel for the time being, to be on the safe side. The NAIS oncology team had left with Thomas Marik and his children, and he was well pleased with that. A deep-cover MIIO agent was part of the team, and having an additional agent so close to the inner circle of the Free Worlds League could prove useful.
Justin Allard had started to brief him again. His daughter's counterattack had been a stunning success – several worlds had been liberated, and more Clan salvage and supply caches had been taken. The web of effective resistance fighters for the inevitable counter-counterattack would bleed the Jade Falcons even more.
With the agreement with the Free Worlds League, he was comfortable moving the 11th Lyran Guards RCT and the 12th FedCom RCT from their border. Lift capacity was still strained, but they could arrive in Sudeten by October. Even before that, the 3rd Lyran Regulars, 12th Deneb Light Cavalry, and 5th Donegal Guards from the Draconis March would arrive in August.
The FWL would be sending one of the five regiments to aid his realm, another to the FRR, and the last three to shore up the Draconis Combine. Aside from the new inclusion of the Snow Ravens, things were slowly starting to stabilize. The Wolf's Dragoons were making their presence felt in the FRR, and Theodore Kurita would begin launching his own counterattack as well.
But things could be far more efficient if we dealt with the dagger poised at our back.
"Justin, last April, you said it would take at least a year to be ready to move on ComStar. Where are we now?"
Justin pulled up the data on his noteputer. Dubbed Operation: TERMINUS, it would be a simultaneous strike on nearly every HPG and ComStar base in the Federated Commonwealth.
"There are problems with the plan. Defeating the ComGuards on any important world is nearly a foregone conclusion, though I will say, after having Alexi look through some of the transport data, that some of the numbers we have for their garrison forces may be underestimating their strength."
Hanse frowned. "By how much?"
"Impossible to say, since some of the DropShip space may have been used for HPG equipment, Blakist religious paraphernalia, or even a Precentor wanting a specific type of food or luxury. All we know is that the manifests of several DropShips indicate they were not full. And that is wasteful and unlikely. It has been going on for years."
Hanse was grim, but surely even ComStar couldn't hide extra companies of BattleMechs.
"You said problems, as in plural, what else?"
"Defeating the ComGuards on those worlds is simple enough, but doing so in time to stop them from damaging the HPG system? Anyone's guess. We don't even know how each Precentor and Demi-Precentor will behave." Allard pinched the bridge of his nose. "And I said important worlds. For worlds in the Outback, for example, we might not win. ComStar facilities on Periphery-bordering worlds have far more infantry and tank companies than I am comfortable with."
"Show me the projection of the worlds you think are 95% likely to be taken with the HPG facility intact, then 75%, and finally 50%."
Justin brought it up, and Hanse looked troubled. Nearly a quarter of the worlds had no coloration to them.
"You think the odds on those worlds are less than 50% that we'll be successful? What more do we need to increase those numbers?"
"Time and resources not being devoted to fighting the Clans. There's no way to get this done without some worlds going dark," Justin said grimly.
"So be it then. Ultimately, ComStar must be dealt with. The most important effort will be ensuring we have a bridge of worlds, each no more than 50 LY apart, so that we can send messages within hours from one end of the Inner Sphere to the other without paying a ruinous penalty. No more games. Their organization is working hand in glove with the Clans, has fired upon AFFC soldiers, and is an intelligence asset to the Clans. When can we launch?"
And ComStar had been a massive asset to the Clans, even more than most of his strategic advisers believed. Not only were they providing real-time intelligence on where he had stationed his military units – something the Clans would otherwise have no idea of – but they were also a critical lynchpin in administering the worlds they conquered. Without a ComStar presence, it would be increasingly difficult for the Clans to make use of their conquered territory or even retain it. The ComGuards and ROM knew how insurgencies worked; the Clans likely had little experience. So long as the operation was generally successful, this was a game changer.
Justin took a few moments before replying. "July 1st would be ideal. We'll have propaganda tapes ready to go, including footage of ComGuards attacking AFFC soldiers. Your daughter has already uncovered some of the re-education material on captured worlds, which won't play very well, though distribution will be slow. It won't get disseminated to all worlds, but enough of the major ones."
Hanse nodded. "Good. We'll also issue the edict we were discussing."
"I fear it will push them into a situation where surrender won't be an option," Justin said, his tone a bit disappointed.
Hanse's lips thinned. "Never since Stefan Amaris has a betrayal of the Inner Sphere been so vile. By the time I am done with them, ComStar will be viewed in the same light as he is. Make the preparations ready. Operation: TERMINUS launches in July."
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 OTWMain Content
Archive of Our OwnArchive of Our OwnHi, TheBrimmedHat!PostLog Out
FandomsBrowseSearchAboutWork Search
tip: arthur merlin words>1000 sort:hits
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 32
Notes:
Big thank you to skychan for their help!
Chapter Text
Chapter 32
Butler
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
April 17th 3051
I had reviewed the information on the enemy 'Mechs and pilots. All of them had illustrious histories, and the 'Mechs they were using were dangerous. The Khan himself was piloting a Dire Wolf, and the rest of his Star consisted of Assaults: an Executioner, a Warhawk, a Marauder IIC, and a Gargoyle. The next two Stars included another Gargoyle, a Kingfisher, three Timber Wolves, two Summoners, two Mad Dogs, and a Nova. I wish I knew which variants each was using, but that information was not included among their codex.
This was one of those battles I had an uneasy feeling about. We had a two-'Mech advantage, plus ten Elemental suits, but they had the edge on technology. I felt confident I was better than they were, and in the agreed battlefield location, my custom Phoenix Hawk could be quite distracting. But as good as Lautner, Aiko, Gregory, and Harris were, the Clan pilots were probably better. After Gregory, the drop-off for the rest of my group was immense.
No turning back now.
My 1st Royal FedCom Guards had fully landed and were already linking up with the 39th – under the assumption that I would win, we needed to prepare the ground well. While the continent was heavily forested, not every inch was. Identifying positions where our vehicles could make a meaningful impact would be the difference between success and failure. Their Galaxy outnumbered us in 'Mechs, and theirs were far superior. They seemed a little light on Elementals but had more than enough to give my people headaches.
The comms chirped, and we bridged the channel to make it appear as though I was responding from my Gargoyle, which was currently piloted by Leftenant Harris.
"You have come, and with the appropriate numbers. Some of my warriors felt this would be an ambush. This will be a notable day in Operation: REVIVAL. Are you ready, Katherine?"
"I am Khan Hawker. I look forward to seeing who will be the victor here this day."
"Good. The battle will begin, now!"
I could hear the eagerness in his voice. It was time to see if he would remain so eager when we started combining our fire. The dense woods would partially impair that ability, but it also meant this would be a knife fight – something where our short-range power and greater tonnage could make all the difference.
Ainsworth was riding on one shoulder, and I had strongly advised her to leap to a tree or an enemy 'Mech at the first opportunity. The rapid movements I would be making would make it very difficult for her to hold on and remain effective.
"Highness, please be careful today," Aiko said on a private channel. "The hopes of the Lyran Commonwealth rest with you. Put your safety above all else."
If I could, I would do so. But this battle is too important, and my role could be decisive.
Our sensors picked up the enemy 'Mechs before we had visual contact. Unlike on Blackjack, where I had used magnetized metal, chemical fires, decoy projectors, and a vast array of electronic jamming – here, it was just thick foliage and massive trees.
I sent my Phoenix Hawk forward, with Aiko's Timber Wolf behind me along with three Summoners. We were moving around the right flank, and sure enough, one of the enemy Stars was breaking off toward us. Meanwhile, the other twelve 'Mechs in my formation began slowly reversing course after advancing. I wanted to start my fight first.
Their version of a 'sweep Star' means it appears we are facing some of the lighter elements of this Trinary.
A 75-ton Timber Wolf, two 70-ton Summoners, a 60-ton Mad Dog, and a 50-ton Nova advanced on our position.
"That Nova goes first if it is within range. It packs a tremendous punch, and we should be able to take it down quickly," I advised my group. Two other Elementals, both members of Ainsworth's FCIS team, were with us, along with the 'Mechs. Hauptmann Rogers and the other six members were with the main group.
The enemy came forward in a loose formation, through the trees, and the first exchange of fire was made. An enemy Summoner let loose with a powerful ultra-autocannon, which crashed through massive trees as it peppered Aiko's Timberwolf. The trees absorbed a good half of the fire from the dangerous weapon, and I had little time to see the outcome of the damage as I was rocketing forward and into the enemy formation.
I sent lasers into the Summoner, striking the torso where the autocannon was housed as I moved past it and saw the Nova come around our left flank. I was pleased as my team reoriented and unleashed a devastating barrage on the enemy medium 'Mech. LBX autocannons firing solid slug rounds, backed by ER PPCs, pierced into it.
For my part, I had found prey in the enemy Mad Dog. It had moved forward, but then noticed my movement to its back. It reversed on a diagonal arc, trying to avoid presenting its back to either me or its other opponents.
No chance I'll let you do that.
I dipped between trees and circled while dashing forward. Soon, I was within its rear arc, firing my ER large laser and medium lasers into its weak rear armor. I had struck the gyro, but despite the 'Mech freezing momentarily and teetering, the expert pilot prevented its fall and smoothly began sidestepping and rotating.
Damn, he moves fluidly.
I skittered around one tree and used my horizontal thrust to keep my speed up, maintaining a tight circle. As the 'Mech rotated, it lined up with its laser, and superheated armor poured down the side of my 'Mech's leg. I felt my 'Mech's equilibrium shift as Ainsworth leapt clear and engaged her suit's jump jets. I didn't have a clear line to the rear of the 'Mech, but I had enough heat reserves to fire my medium lasers while continuing my attempt to get behind it.
Ainsworth fired her laser and then darted around one of the major trees. The Mad Dog ignored her, continuing to try to keep me in its forward and side arc – much more successfully than most of my own squad would have managed!
Fighting against quality opponents is frustration!
***
Butler
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
April 17th 3051
Colonel Hans Lautner had been eager to mix it up, but he had his orders. Piloting the newly enhanced Atlas was a thrill, and he wasn't about to let Princess Katherine down. He certainly wasn't about to mess with the battle plan for this engagement. Katherine had a good read on the Clans, and, as expected, when her group split off, they also split off a third of their forces. To give her time to defeat that group and then join into this battle, they started backing up before getting within clear line of sight of the enemy.
They couldn't back up too far, but they would hopefully only need a little time. The enemy didn't seem keen on allowing this and advanced as fast as they could, given the dense forest.
"Here they come, stay sharp, this is our soil, and we will water it with their blood or our own!"
In close range, the 'Mechs came into range. He targeted the first 'Mech he saw: a deadly Timber Wolf. Signaling to the four others in his command group, he launched his attack. His autocannon roared to life, as did all his other weapon systems. Waves of missiles, both LRMs and SRMs, exploded across the body of the enemy 'Mech. His medium pulse lasers unleashed a frenzy of superheated armor destruction. While he was doing that, so too were the others in his lance. ER PPC fire and other pulse lasers further obliterated the trees around the Timber Wolf.
"Tch, not everyone here shares my accuracy; the damn thing is still standing."
The enemy 'Mech retained his feet and fought back with the weapons it had left. Hans saw one of the Imps take a barrage of fire from the Timber Wolf and lose its footing, crashing into, and then tearing through a tree before falling on the ground.
Other 'Mechs fared better and weathered the onslaught, but the powerful Dire Wolf had also entered the battle and was unleashing considerable firepower on the young Leftenant piloting Katherine's Gargoyle. The 100-ton beast moved with a surprising grace that should not be possible for such a gargantuan assault 'Mech.
Lautner triggered the cluster munitions, aiming to damage the exposed internals of the Timber Wolf. That, along with his SRMs, caused a series of catastrophic hits to the engine. The 'Mech's magnetic field grew unstable, and the radiation indicator beeped before the Timber Wolf's engine exploded. It was rare for engine hits to cause such an explosion, but it did happen. A pity that so many shots from his command had already been wasted on the Timber Wolf as it exploded.
'Mechs clashed, and Lautner witnessed acts of bravery and skill. The enemy was relentless, and their accuracy was better than from his Imp and Marauder II pilots. One of the Imp pilots got a lucky hit on the enemy Kingfisher's head with a pulse laser, stripping away a significant portion of the armor. Hauptmann Rogers must have recognized the opportunity immediately. Hans saw Rogers' Elemental suit-equipped infantry leap at the 90-ton 'Mech. Three of them were unfortunately quickly blasted down by pulse fire from their target.
Rogers, though, had managed to cling to the enemy 'Mech's shoulder and fire his laser directly at the cockpit. The pilot thrashed his 'Mech in an attempt to dislodge Rogers. One of the other infantrymen fell off and landed with a painful thud on the ground. Lautner briefly saw the downed Elemental rise again on his jet pack and move behind a tree. Those suits were tough to crack.
Lautner didn't have time to witness the resolution and turned to fire his formidable array of weapons at a Warhawk. Despite the pounding it was receiving, the Warhawk remained laser-focused and finished off a Marauder II. The fighting grew frenetic, with the slugging match seeing a veritable deluge of firepower exchanged.
He immersed himself in the rhythm of battle, ensuring his precise laser fire was complemented by his munition-based weaponry. The Kingfisher pilot lay dead, an Elemental claw having crushed his torso like a tin can.
The princess will be eager to claim another war-prize.
The fighting had grown desperate. Cadet Harris had ejected after the Gargoyle was ripped to shreds by the relentless output of the Dire Wolf. Multiple Imps and Marauder IIs were down, as was the brave Centurion pilot. His own Atlas had sustained only surface damage, and he took a moment to check the tactical feed from Katherine to see if she had finished her battle.
***
Butler
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
April 17th 3051
The damned Mad Dog pilot had used a variant equipped with a Gauss Rifle, and the weapon had gone through a tree, striking me square in the center torso. The velocity and impact force were only marginally reduced by the obstruction.
Another hit like that…
Aside from that, things were going according to plan. His attempts to hit me had exposed his rear once more, and Aiko had pulled away after the Nova went down. Her Timber Wolf unleashed an impressive barrage into the Mad Dog's back, destroying its already exposed gyro and engine. We returned to the fight, and I saw the Nova lying in a destroyed heap on the ground as we passed it.
With two 'Mechs defeated, we continued to focus on taking down the enemy, but our side had taken heavy damage. One Summoner was down, and another had exposed internals. Aiko's 'Mech had taken heavy damage, though fortunately, nothing had breached the outer armor. Our combined fire made quick work of our foes, and my aim remained steady, boiling away armor at already softened spots with deadly efficiency.
Damnit, these Diamond Sharks did not waste any time in engaging Lautner.
Tactical readings were grim. Several 100-ton 'Mechs were down, and as I drew closer, I quickly counted. The Hellbringer had suffered an engine hit, three Imps were inoperable, two Marauder IIs were down, along with the Centurion and my Gargoyle! The only four fighting 'Mechs left were Lautner's Atlas, two Marauder IIs, and one Imp. With me were one heavily damaged Summoner, another Summoner, Aiko's Timber Wolf, and myself.
The enemy still had their Dire Wolf, an Executioner, a Gargoyle, and a Mad Dog. Lautner's Atlas was tearing apart the Gargoyle, while the Dire Wolf was tearing him apart.
I immediately dashed forward, instructing Ainsworth to get ready to jump onto the Mad Dog. As I passed it, I fired my lasers into the heavily damaged and vulnerable left leg of the enemy Executioner. I was rewarded with the 'Mech's knee joint being torn asunder, causing the 'Mech to flounder to the ground. Aiko and the Summoners moved in, stripping more armor from the Gargoyle. Some of the trees in the area were on fire, and I grew worried about the fate of any who had ejected.
The smoke played havoc with visibility, and I rode my jump jets higher, circling around to the Dire Wolf's rear. Lautner used his autocannon's cluster rounds to knock out the gyroscope of the Gargoyle, sending it crashing to the ground as well. My lasers hammered into the Khan's 'Mech, but I couldn't quite breach its internals. Instead of turning toward me, he continued firing into Lautner's Atlas, triggering the ammunition in the 'Mech's right torso. The CASE system did its job, channeling the explosion outward along specific paths instead of ripping the entire 'Mech apart.
Still, the damage was immense, and the sudden loss of almost a third of his 'Mech sent the 100-ton assault 'Mech crashing to the forest floor. The Executioner remained on the ground, firing from there, sending depleted uranium rounds from its Ultra Autocannon into the damaged Summoner, shattering the 'Mech's core.
The Dire Wolf moved fluidly and began turning to face me. This time, instead of trying to circle, I charged forward and jumped just before the weapons aligned to strike me. I sailed over the enemy 'Mech and landed with a thud on the ground, once more behind him. Instantly turning, I triggered my horizontal jets and unleashed three lasers, scorching even more rear armor and exposing the internal structure.
I was in a medium 'Mech – on paper, not much of a threat. I knew the Executioner remained a deadly threat, but surely it would target something easier to hit, something more dangerous. I really should have known better. The Ultra AC/20 spat death, and my 'Mech's left leg snapped clean off. My 'Mech crashed instantly to the ground before I could do a thing. My cockpit screeched as I was violently tossed around. I fired my remaining jump jet immediately, trying to get back on my feet—or rather, on a single foot and leg.
All the while, the enemy ER PPC and laser tracked me. Aiko appeared between us, and the ER PPC and laser made the Timber Wolf shudder as armor buckled, burned, and was torn apart. Her Timber Wolf twisted its torso and fired down at the prone Executioner with everything it had left. I added my bright, armor-melting lasers to the assault. The Clan 'Mech was tough, and despite our combined fire, it remained operational, lining up its Ultra AC/20 again.
"EJECT!" I yelled into the comms.
I knew with the extensive damage her 'Mech had suffered, it couldn't take a short-range beating from that monstrous autocannon.
But she didn't. Instead, she stayed there, ensuring she remained a threat and a target. Her 'Mech cracked in two, tumbling forward with its engine destroyed before she ejected. The angle was no longer fully vertical, and the cockpit spiraled forward, smashing into a tree with a sickening crunch.
I saw red as my 'Mech climbed, now upright on one leg, launching itself into the air, and sent accurate lasers down onto the enemy 'Mech before landing on its cockpit. Despite the uneven terrain, the jarring landing, and having only one leg, I did not fall. Instead, I stood atop the cracked cockpit, knowing it had at best only a thin layer of armor left, and activated my jump jets again, sending superheated waves of burning destruction into the Executioner's cockpit.
The enemy Executioner's MechWarrior was certainly dead, and I felt hot liquid pour down my cheeks. I couldn't even pretend it was sweat anymore. Aiko had been my constant rock, my trusted bodyguard and aide for years. It hurt, and I wanted to vent my anger, but there was nothing to direct it at.
The enemy Khan had been the last 'Mech standing after the Mad Dog went down, and despite losing his torso and crashing to the ground, Lautner wasn't done. Neither were the two Marauder IIs nor the last Summoner. The withering fire from three directions destroyed the 'Mech completely. The Khan couldn't even eject as ER PPCs, nearly a dozen lasers, and multiple autocannons shredded the Dire Wolf, along with the body of Ian Hawker.
With no enemies left standing, I quickly ordered Hauptmann Rogers to gather the survivors. Aiko… Aiko was dead, and Rogers confirmed it. The growing forest fire had been deadly, and two of my MechWarriors had burned to death. Leftenant Harris had been reached in the nick of time, but he had severe burns. Depending on the extent of the nerve damage, he might never be able to pilot a 'Mech again.
What remained standing were Lautner's Atlas, a Summoner, and two of my 100-ton 'Mechs. On the surface, five 'Mechs still standing seemed impressive, but to me, it felt like a failure. We had also lost six of the infantry in Elemental suits, including one of Ainsworth's team members. David had been part of my protective detail for over a decade. A professional who didn't indulge in small talk, his presence would be missed.
Aiko…
I wanted to scream, but the comms channel chirped from the enemy commander.
"Katherine Steiner-Davion, this is Star Colonel Lionel Arlond. You have defeated Khan Ian Hawker. To what system would you like your prize delivered?"
"Blackjack. Deliver it to Blackjack."
"We will bring an escort vessel and take the officers and warriors from the ship after delivery. Do you wish to conduct the batchall for this world now?"
"No, or 'Neg,' as you would say it. Give me a few hours to gather my people, and then I will open a channel for the batchall."
The line went dead.
There was no time for grief. I had to contact Bragg and figure out our battle strategy. Salvage operations needed to begin, bodies secured for proper burial at a later date, and essential repairs needed to be made before the next battle. Post-battle it was easy to contain the fire and allow for the salvage operation to take place. I was grateful that Nick Westfield and some of our captured tech caste bondsmen were with us – they could pull off incredible feats, even when working with just DropShip 'Mech repair bays.
***
Butler
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
April 17th 3051
Kommandant Gregory LeBeau felt a physical weight descend on his shoulders. The princess had put on a brave face, but those who knew her best could sense the tightly coiled tension and the unnatural set of her jaw. In normal interactions, Katherine always wore a slight, bland smile – only when discussing topics of true interest did her mask slip, revealing a genuine expression of happiness or contentment.
That, and the occasional absolutely deranged grin, especially when she thought of winning the WarShip.
Her words were clipped, her expression far more severe, and one could sense an undercurrent of fury. Gregory felt a similar anger at the Clans. He had liked Aiko, more than just a comrade, but also as a friend and someone he enjoyed being around. When they were both Leftenants, he had briefly pursued her romantically, but she had politely rebuffed him.
There was a lot to do. The losses of their greatest Clan assets had been severe. The light Clan 'Mechs they had were all still available, but the heavier 'Mechs had suffered. The Gargoyle was probably a complete loss, as was the Hellbringer and two of the Summoners. One of the destroyed ones could likely be rebuilt with the spare parts from the other, but it would take weeks. The one bright spot was the Kingfisher; that was priority one, as the damage was very minor. There was some armor damage around the 'Mech, and all the armor had been stripped from the head, with the cockpit casing destroyed, but the cockpit itself had not been.
That will be Katherine's new ride. Replacing the leg of her Phoenix Hawk and the custom jump jets on it is a challenge we do not have time for. A 90-ton OmniMech with more firepower than her Gargoyle is going to do more.
The batchall between the princess and the Star Colonel had been an exercise in frustration. The Diamond Sharks were upset and refused to bid anything less than their full galaxy. A lengthy discussion – more argument and debate than anything – had gone on in terms of who was truly the attacker and who was the defender. In the end, the humiliation of losing their Khan and a WarShip had made them intractable, and the result was that the battlefield area would be the entire continent. As soon as the two-day time limit was over, the Diamond Sharks would attack with everything they had. There was no agreement for war prizes or even an exchange of information about the units involved.
The battle with the enemy Galaxy would begin on the 19th, around the same time the 4th Davion Guards RCT arrived. It would be better to have the strength of the 4th with them, but the entire scenario was complex. Their armored regiments were almost exclusively hovercraft, which meant the forested region was not ideal. There remained a real possibility that Safcon would be denied the 4th, but this time it was not quite as dire.
Gregory knew that the 4th had two wings of Aerospace, and so did the 1st Royal FedCom Guards. The Hussars also had an Aerospace wing, bringing the total number of fighters to just shy of a hundred. Ideally, you wanted to hit DropShips as they entered the atmosphere to force them to crash. If they launched to try to intercept within space, things began to grow a bit more complex. Before they reached the atmosphere, their trajectory could be changed. It was virtually impossible to avoid an intercept course, but it forced the would-be attackers to alter their path, allowing time for their own Aerospace assets and DropShips to rise to join the fight.
Alternatively, they don't join the fight and use their Aerospace while fighting the Galaxy, who will have no air support. Katherine predicted the Diamond Sharks would instead look to simply eliminate the ground forces first while the 4th was still deploying, which they fully intended to exploit.
This wasn't Blackjack, but the same principles were going to be used. The use of field guns in prepared locations was going to be a lot more costly for the infantry, but they had a large number of them. Katherine had once mentioned in a staff meeting the use of 'Mech 'shovels' for situations like this, but it had never come to fruition. What had come about was digging equipment, lighter than most tanks but still easily transportable. Earthworks weren't bunkers, but they were something. More importantly, they could also be used to bury explosives, assist with mine laying, and create cover that was harder to pierce than trees.
Katherine had said that the 4th Davion Guards arriving after the battle started helped them in a way, because, combined with their natural urgency to erase the stain upon their honor, they would also be more likely to take additional risks to end the fight more quickly.
Gregory saw Colonel Fischer approach. He saluted.
"Sir, what can I do for you?"
The newly made colonel returned the salute.
"I want to try the experiment we talked about earlier. Two lances of your 'Mechs will be assigned to an artillery company. The 'Mechs will both help transport the Spitfire Cannons and assist in clearing particularly dense sections of trees to allow our transport trucks to pass." Sven pulled out a map. "The goal here is to use the artillery to lure enemy 'Mechs into ambushes in sectors 2080 and 2070. If they ignore the artillery, well, your 'Mechs will be bored, but we'll be hammering them the entire time. The issue is that Clan 'Mechs tend to be very fast, and the damage our artillery can do will be mitigated."
Gregory saw the strengths of the plan and the weaknesses.
"We don't want to let them dictate the field; they could easily overrun sections if we don't get their attention," he remarked. "Colonel, I like this plan, but let's make it pack more punch. Deploy a full battalion of artillery, and I'll take two of my companies to ensure this works out. I know our commander's intent and how it can change based on facts on the ground. I'd rather personally work it out rather than try to communicate it from another location."
Sven hesitated. "The risk is high. If the Diamond Sharks want you badly enough, they can and will blow through. The idea here was to provide the right mixture so that they send some of their 'Mechs, preferably less than two Trinaries, to try to silence the guns without drawing a massive response."
They were trying to thread the needle, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
"Understood, Colonel. I still think I'm the best person for the job. I'll chat with her Highness about it."
He also needed to meet with Leftenant General Withers before he went to liaise with the 39th. The man had a bit more than two regiments of infantry, but within those regiments was quite a bit of firepower. Every platoon either had SRMs or autocannon field guns. Most platoons now had a dedicated sniper, though their quality was nowhere near that of Gustav. The terrain did not favor traditional sniping, but if a sniper exchanged their life for a single Elemental kill, it would be worth it.
Such a grim way of looking at things, but life is cheap and BattleMechs are expensive. Elementals can harm BattleMechs; ergo, a trained sniper taking down an Elemental at the cost of their life is an acceptable trade.
It was a good thing the training schools on Blackjack had exploded in number. So long as they could continue to obtain gear through AFFC High Command and Katherine's connections with gun manufacturers, they had an almost limitless supply of potential shooters. There were seven regiments of infantry still on Blackjack, and within a few more months, that number would likely double, though the gear and lift capacity were still the bottlenecks. Her Highness was willing to expend the lives of the infantry to win a battle, but not without purpose. Infantry with SRMs or field guns could hurt 'Mechs; standard rifles could not, and she had no desire to deploy them until they got the gear needed to create an impact.
***
Blaire Atholl
Lyran Commonwealth, Jade Falcon OZ
April 18th 3051
Khan Elias Critchell took little solace in being correct. Khan Hawker was dead, and soon the Alpha Galaxy of the Diamond Sharks would be embroiled in battle. He held Hawker in contempt, but he had been useful. Now he had to negotiate with the Diamond Shark saKhan, who would almost certainly become the Khan of the Diamond Sharks.
"I understand your confidence in the most elite Galaxy of your touman, but there are unaccounted assets available to Katherine Steiner-Davion. She has been a thorn in my side, and her defeat is my primary objective," Elias explained to saKhan Barbara Sennet.
The reply was near-instantaneous, as they were both on WarShips with HPG capabilities and within fifty light years of each other.
"I do not dispute your agreement with our former Khan, but the current plan for Sudeten is not to my liking. I have every confidence that Alpha Galaxy will be victorious, but I am not so confident that my Gamma Galaxy will be able to take Sudeten without support. If you were to drop in with six Clusters in aid of my Galaxy, we can assure victory."
Impossible. Every indication shows Sudeten to be a killing ground. I simply do not have the resources for this.
"Neg, saKhan Sennet. My Clusters are needed elsewhere. Should your Alpha Galaxy succeed, I will redeploy Galaxy Commander Mattlov to begin retaking the worlds assaulted by Steiner-Davion. It harms your Clan not at all for my strike force to arrive on Butler. Should you have it well in hand, my vessels will recharge and jump to other destinations." Despite his anger, he tried to sound dispassionate and reasonable.
"So be it, but we will not take Sudeten then. Koniz, Benfled, and Montmarault are the planets you have announced your Falcons will take in the Seventh Wave. Khan Hawker had agreed not to bid against you. Gamma Galaxy will take Dustball in May and Graceland in June. I intend to take Pandora, and I expect you not to bid against me for it."
Elias grimaced. The strength of Sudeten needed to be depleted. Even if the Diamond Sharks lost, it would be acceptable because it would weaken many of the massed RCTs there. He had hoped for Sudeten to either fall or for the forces there to be crippled, which would allow his Jade Falcons to push ahead and take Pandora for themselves. The 'Mech factory facilities would be a massive boon to his ability to reinforce his PGCs with the direly needed 'Mechs.
He did not have much of a choice here. The Diamond Sharks could cripple him just like the Steel Vipers had crippled the Wolves. He could not afford to make enemies, but perhaps he could salvage something out of this.
"I eagerly support a healthy working relationship between our two Clans. By not attacking Sudeten, you throw my battle plans askew, but I understand your concerns and your decision-making. In exchange for agreeing to this upheaval and refraining from bidding for Pandora, I request that the 'Mechs of one of your PGC clusters be gifted to my Clan. Your Clan's PGCs won't arrive until October, but it would serve as a token to make amends."
She laughed at him in the next transmission.
"Crichell, I am not Hawker. I will not make one-sided deals with you; I have not yet even won the right to be Khan. Give me Erewhon and Lackhove from your Clan's periphery holdings. Give me the genetic material and the rights to use the Yvonne Hazen bloodline, and we will provide the PGC 'Mechs you seek."
Elias did not like the tone or the laughter, but ultimately, the deal did not bother him overly much. The Hazen genetic legacy might give the Diamond Sharks powerful sibkos in the future, but that was a concern for another time, not relevant for the next two decades. The two worlds in the Periphery were also unimportant and lacked industrial capacity. Erewhon had some natural resources and a population large enough to provide a strong labor pool, but it was paltry compared to some of the Inner Sphere worlds his Clan had already taken.
"We have reached an accord, though the agreement regarding the Hazen genetic material will remain confidential until any of your future Diamond Shark warriors seek the Hazen Bloodname. I look forward to a continued cordial relationship," Elias said diplomatically, though privately, he hoped she would fall in battle.
Many in his Clan would be outraged at the Hazen bloodline being allowed into the Diamond Shark Clan, but if it remained unknown until long after his Clan had become the ilClan, it would matter little.
Actions
↑ Top ← Previous Chapter Next Chapter → Bookmark Comments (5)
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