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Faction roleplaying thread

QuoteFrom: saKhan Bryn Cooper
To: Khan (CDS, CHH, CIH, CJF, CSC, CSA, CSR, CW)
Subject: Naval Rebuild

Greetings and Salutations,

Sudeten has taken from us, and then taken some more. The Terran Fleet will return and return soon. Other ships have been sighted headed to the Pentagon Worlds and the Kerensky Cluster itself. When the fighting ended on sudeten, several Clans had need for facilities to rebuild with and select clans were chosen to hold these facilities in trust so that rebuilding would go faster.

Now, we need a status report of the Clan Fleet. We can not make plans without knowing the situation. Please report back to me aboard the CSRS Snow Raven with the status of your repairs and where you recieved this assistance. There is no time for delay.

Senior Star Admiral
saKhan Bryn Cooper
Clan Snow Raven

The Votings had been short but interesting: Timur Malthus was easily elected as Khan, when Brian Pryde bowed out of it early.

SaKhanship however was much harder contested. Finally Anrea Pershaw came out head to head with Colbert Icaza. And in a short Trial, she came out on top, although Colbert was more unlucky than her dominant. She had the better start and went with it.

New Khan: Timur Malthus
new saKhan: Anrea Pershaw

New Khan Timur Malthus had invited saKhan Bryn Cooper into the Headquarters of the Falcons.
He came straight to the point.

"It has been noted that you seek to move away from Sudeten as soon as you can, but this is a thing I would like to avoid. What is needed to keep you here?"

He answered plainly:
"The same thing we have said to every Khan that has offered us a backwater world. A place to set up a roost in the Inner Sphere, not in the Periphery but at least a few jumps from Terra so that we can hear them coming and prepare our own march."

"But where would you move anyway? To my knowledge there has no one offered you more than we did. I frankly cannot offer you Sudeten."

"Obviously not, and your invasion corridor is dwindling as if they have chosen to make you the new example as they did the Smoke Jaguars."

"They?"

"The denizens of the sphere. You know, the ones that have finally managed to pull their acts together using salvaged technology from our factories, and ancient tech from the leeches on Terra. What a shame they chose to rebuild under the banner of such a disgraceful heritage."

"They cannot and will not succeed! At least some Clans stand united!"
He went calmer after this:
"Now, what world I can give up would be close enough to Terra for you to inhabit?"

Bryn hid a smile, Timur was certain of it:
"Speaking frankly as we are, only one of the worlds we fought for in the Sudeten system will allow us to keep our Shipyards within reach and suffices all of the aforementioned conditions as well."

"Which one?" 'Hell, Raven, just tell me!'

"Blair Atholl would be prefered, if you are offering."

"I will have to talk to my Commanders.. but it sounds.. acceptable. If there are any Trials against this, we will have to wait until their conclusion. Other than that, welcome to Blair Atholl. May this System serve you and us well in our war." 'Finally they stay close.'

"Aff, it seems we will not have to move far to find that Roost we were looking for."

"May it prosper and serve your needs."

Afterwards the tension was moved away as a meal was presented to the Khans. Bryn was invited to take part and talk about his Warship experience.

Low Orbit, Foster
Kerensky Cluster

Star Colonel Brian Pryde had voiced his concern earlier about the orders he had been given. He had no love for the Mandrill, but neither did he believe that simply killing all of them was the correct choice either. He again signaled the saKhan, this time from a mere 3 Mech berths away on the lead dropship, an Overlord-C carrying fully 3/4 of the Falcon Mechs heading to the planet.

"saKhan Pershaw, this is Star Colonel Brian Pryde. Are you sure it is wise to aggitate the Blood Spirits? If they offer the warriors of the Mandrill the ability to test into warrior positions within the Spirit touman, then it can only mean they are trust, and it behooves us to keep as many able-bodied warriors as possib-", he was abruptly cut off as the voice of saKhan Anrea Pershaw ripped across the com-link.

"Star Colonel, you know our missions here. The Mandrills aided the rouge scientist caste in STEALING OUR GENETIC LEGACIES. From Strana Mechty, no less! You would allow the honorless dogs to join another clan, without censure!? Or are you simply a scientist-sympathizer, covering for your traitorous brethren?" The anger in the saKhan's voice was unexpected, however, there could be only one outcome from such an insult.


"saKhan Anrea Pershaw, I, Star Colonel Brian Pryde, challenge you to a Circle of Equals. The orders you have given are not in keeping with the code of Zellbrigen; indeed, no batchall was given, nor bidding pronounced. At the same time, your insults to me are unnecessary and serve no purpose except to prove that in light of recent events, you are unfit to serve as theater commander in Foster. I challenge you to single battlemech combat, at the earliest possible location."

Anrea Pershaw could not quite believe what he was hearing. This dog had challenged him to an honor duel? Over honorless, dezgra, traitorous scum like the Mandrills? He would end this quickly...

"All Jade Falcon dropships currently inbound to Foster. Arrest your descents into holding patterns in orbit. My orders concerning the campaign here on Foster have been challenged by Star Colonel Pryde of the 77th Falcon Assault Cluster. Star Colonel Jenna Drake, of the 12th Talon Cluster has operational command. Star Colonel, you are to do what is necessary to preserve your command, and await further orders from either myself or Star Colonel Pryde. If the Hellions are able to establish a beachhead, you are authorized to land on it and provide security to the landing zone, but are under no circumstances to undertake offensive actions until this challenge is complete, quiaff?

"Aff saKhan, i shall do as you say."

"Star Colonel Pryde, if you would send a signal to the Blood Spirit enclave and inquire the Galaxy Commander about a suitible location within his realm to land the dropship so we may get this over with. I have a feeling he has no wish to speak with me at the moment." saKhan Anrea Pershaw began running final diagnostics on his battlemech, and was gratified to see green across the status boards of his Timber Wolf Prime. Despite being 5 tons lighter than the Star Colonel, he knew he was the more experianced of the two and was confident that he could take the newly Bloodnamed Star Colonel.

In his Warhammer IIC 3 berths over, Star Colonel Brian Pryde also noted the all-green status boards of his battlemech. He took a moment to collect his thoughts as he prepared to open a link to the Blood Spirit Galaxy Commander below...

High Orbit, Planet Dompaire
Turkina's Pride, CJF Flagship

Khan Timur Malthus left the secure comm room next to his quarters. He could not believe the message he had recieved. A call for a vote to remove him as Khan? There were few that would dare. That upstart from Lambda, Galaxy Commander Joel Thastus...but he wouldnt have the support on his own to get it to pass, although he might follow another. Allison Sonoma? She wanted the Khanship, but she was too busy leading Delta Galaxy to have the time to gather support. That left only one person.

ilKhan Diana Pryde. That bitch! She would have the pull with the Clan Council, and the savvy to get enough votes to ensure the legitimacy of the vote. Could she muster the alliances needed to get rid of him though? He consulted the Pride's database: nearly 300 bloodnamed warriors had cast their votes so far, and he saw the alliance that could undue him. Pryde, Helmer, Anu, Sonoma and Thastus, representing the bulk of the higher ranking officers in the assault on Dompaire, had voted against him. Shi-Lu, his own Malthus, the saKhan's Pershaw and various low ranking officers and mechwarriors, more scattered, voted to keep him as Khan, mostly though, they were warriors who bordered on the fanatically Falcon-supremacist, the inner-Clan faction that believed the Falcons didnt need the other clans.

As the voting tally reach twords 475, he was at a distinct disadvantage. The majority of the 2 major factions had voted, and he saw that his own was more strongly opposed than he had originally thought. The balance of power within the clan had definetly shifted recently, most likly thanks to the events around Sudeten, and the Mandrill issue.

The final votes were tallied by the Loremaster: Khan Timur Malthus had been voted from the Office of Khan by the bloodnamed warriors of Clan Jade Falcon.

A channel was opened between all WarShips, JumpShips, and Dropships of the Jade Falcons around Dompaire. The image of ex-Khan Timur Malthus appeared.

"I initiate a Trial of Refusal against the sucessful vote to unseat me as Khan. I bid a single star of Heavy mechs from the Turkina Keshik, including myself. Who will defend the vote against my batchall?"

"I, Allison Sonoma, Galaxy Commander of Delta Galaxy, bid the Gyrfalcon Command, a star of Heavy mechs."

"I, Joel Thastus, Galaxy Commander of Lambda Galaxy, bid myself, unaugmented."

Warriors traded looks. It was definetly not an expected move on Thastus' part. Allison Sonoma's Gyrfalcon Command Star was, barring the Keshik, the best star of Jade Falcon mechwarriors in the system. In bidding himself unaugmented, Joel Thastus had gone under the cutdown of single mech combat, earning him many respectful comments, and serious considering. The voting had yet to begin for the next Khan, waiting instead for the inevitable Trial of Refusal. If Thastus defeated Malthus, it was not so cut and dry that Allison Sonoma would succeed him.

High Orbit, Planet Dompaire
Turkina's Pride, CJF Flagship

On the grav deck, a circle of Bloodnamed warriors watched, awaiting the outcome of the Trial of Refusal started by Khan Malthus. Hopefully it ended quickly, as they had an invasion to begin. Their collective breath hissed in as the Khan landed a powerful right cross just above the eye of Galaxy Commander Joel Thastus.

As Thastus reeled backwards, the Khan surged forwards, hoping to capitalize and retain his rank. But Thastus charged, and smashed his shoulder into the Khan's stomach, driving him to the ground. He gripped his Khan's left wrist, and rolled onto his back, forcing the Khan to his knees. Wrapping his legs around the back of the Khan's neck, he extended his body, using his thighs to clamp onto the Khan's neck, he held the rigid pose for long enough to feel the Khan go limp, before releasing him. The Oathmaster checked the Khan's body, finding him unconscious.

Almost the moment that it was confirmed that Thastus had won the Trial(thus removing Malthus as Khan), the vote was opened to raise a new Khan. It was over shortly. While he had been fighting, Allison Sonoma had been gaining votes, and one promise had gained her huge support.

Loremaster Brian Pryde spoke:
"The votes are registered and counted. The Clan Council has raised Galaxy Commander Allison Sonoma to the position of Khan of Clan Jade Falcon. Also, i have been offered the saKhanship, and i fully intend to accept that position. Galaxy Commander Joel Thastus is hereby raised as Loremaster."

Dompaire City
Jade Falcon Field Headquarters
Khan Allison Sonoma's Suite

The door opened so quietly that if she hadn't been expecting it, she would never have known anyone entered. She looked up from the last batch of dispatches(getting an army to move even a single jump had huge ammounts of paperwork, as she had recently found), and found standing there, a tall, well muscled man of no more than 30 standard years. If one wasnt used to seeing them, they would mistake him for an Elemental(in fact, some that were used to seeing them still did, such was his physique).

"You asked for me, my Khan. How can i be of service?"

Allison Sonoma was a strong woman. She prided herself on knowing her repuatation as a warrior could cow even many Clan mechwarriors. But this man, obviously not a mechwarrior, probably not an Elemental, seemed to barely notice her. She found it unnerving the way he spoke her name and rank, as if it were fleeting while he was eternal.

"I may have something that befits your talents. Of course, no one is to know the operational specifics...myself included. I shall tell you what is required of you, and then you will complete your mission. Your only contact with me will be once you have sucessfully completed your mission objectives. Understood?"

He tilted his head slightly, as if the Khan's instructions were anything less than the usual to him. "Of course my Khan. How much information can you give me? Do i get a list of targets?"

Allison smiled as she spoke, "Thats the beauty of it. Once you deploy on your mission, you, along with your staff, will be choosing your own targets. Within reason of course."

She was finally rewarded by seeing the tiniest flicker of confusion on his face. His ilk was not used to being suprised, as only very strict mission parameters usually required skills such as he possessed. But normally, the targets were determined by 'wiser heads' than his, as the saying went. He was curious about his mission, the first time in his relativly long career(one did not long survive a battlefield without borders or restraints).

"Very well my Khan, you have my attention. What sort of operation are we talking about?"

"One we cannot discuss here Star Colonel. When you return to the Spaceport, goto berth S12, there is a dropship awaiting you, along with a sealed set of orders, mission parameters and the required forces and equipment that you will be requiring. There are also a group of handpicked officers of various disciplines to assist you on your mission. The final orders i have for you, is to read the contents of the sealed orders to the officer core ONLY...and then incinerate them. As usual, there is no record of anything you are about to do. Understood?"

"Perfectly my Khan."

With that, the man left the Khan's suite and followed his orders, to the letter. As always, he never failed in his duty. Even if the orders were like nothing he had ever seen in his career before...

Zenith Jump Point
Warship Name Classified
Shadow System
Bay Designation: CX-10

It had cost a small fortune and a burned out jump drive to get him this far in so short a time. However, his mission was more vital than even the invasion going on around him. In the red low-light of the bay, he and the other members of his team almost silently checked, rechecked and checked again their equipment. The quiet clicking of equipment was the sound of seasoned professionals preparing for a mission that could, and frequently was, their last. Only the knowledge that their death would ensure the continuity of their way of life brought men to this type of lifestyle.

Unusually for a group of elite Clan warriors, there was not a single Bloodnamed warrior in the bay. Nor were there any officers, mechwarriors or Techs. Only 4 of them were Elementals, however none of those 4 were trueborn into a normal Elemental Sibko. This team was also special, in that every single one of them from the same sibko, and the unit had no gained new members in its long and battle scarred career, working for the Jade Falcons, although it had taken many a loss since it was put into duty.

As he looked around at his small group of warriors, the stealthy man was reminded of his meeting with the Khan 2 weeks ago. He had done as ordered, and burned his orders. He had been silent as the Falcon Watch Officer had told the ship's Captain that he was to open the bay for use, an event the Captain had never remembered being asked to do before. He had opened it and left.

His focus snapping back to the present, he remebered to check his personal weapons again: an 'Avenger' auto-shotgun, a Gauss SMG(loaded with Drop/Jumpship safe AET rounds), a pulse laser pistol, and a Clan vibrosword. With similar weaponry being required for the first stage of their mission, their weapons for Phase 2 were stowed in a special drop-case: on a pre-coded command, it would be jettisoned from the bay and course correct twords a micro-burst beacon. It's outer shell was designed to survive re-entry, and still glide to wherever the beacon summoned it. It was one of 10 such capsules currently being loaded by other members of the team into what was essentially a torpedo tube for launching. It was no wired into the warship's firecontrol systems and it's computer was not linked to the main ship's computer. Only the correct codes to a secondary transciever could trigger the launch.

As he checked his chronometer, he noticed they had a little under an hour untill it was Go-Time. As if sensing his thoughts, the members trained as Elementals began suiting up in their modified suits. Although still techniclly Elemental Armor, the suits had been extensivly reworked by the team years ago. As each member was a certified Elemental Tech(and the non-Elemental trained were certified asTechs), they were fully capable of modifying the suits to their own needs. Years ago they had converted the suits to be fully modular, just like an omnimech. For Phase 1, the normal missile launchers and jump packs would be completly useless. Instead, 2 carrier ECM suites and support-grade pulse lasers.The other 2 were equiped with Bearhunter super heavy Autocannons, just in case something went sideways. All 4 of the Elemental suits were equiped with Vibro-claws, essentially the standard Elemental battle-claw upgraded with vibro technology. 4 of the 10 capsules carried extra equipment for the elemental suits, including the usual SRM packs with reloads... Phase 2 could require some very heavy firepower, especially if they had to fight their way out.

He suited up in his combat armor, and donned the Mag-Boots they'd been given. That would give them a distinct advantage in certin parts of their mission, and he fervently hopped they could quickly complete their mission. Time was their enemy on this, as much as others were their enemy. The long it took for them to complete their objective, the greater their chances of failure. And failure meant more of his Clansmen would fall to an unseen foe.

"10 minutes to final weapons, equipment and armor checks. Ensure all equipment capsules are locked and loaded, the guidance program is uploaded, and make sure the SatCom is secured. We can't afford to come back. Our drop gear is on the shuttle. Let us move."
The bay was suddenly filled with the sounds of final combat preparations, but without a single word spoken. The command had been given, and nothing else would need to be said untill their objective was completed...

Zenith Jump Point
Warship Name Classified
Shadow System
Warship CiC

Star Admiral Buhallin surveryed the crew from the armoured nacelle at the rear of the CIC(after the spectacular feat that had named the Miraborg dropship, the Falcons had taken to ensuring nothing like that ever happened to them), making sure his ship, and the other Falcon ships in the formation, were following the battle plan set down by the Ice Hellion Star Admiral. Satisfied that the fleet was indeed forming up correctly to face down the treacherous Mandrill fleet above Shadow, he allowed his eyes to drift to the one person on his bridge he could have done without.

His name was Darrel Pershaw, and like the most recent famous bearer of that Bloodname, Pershaw was an operative of the Jade Falcon Watch. Or so Buhallin surmised, having not been able to engage the man in any type of conversation. After entering his command override to the computer system, it seemed as if the phantom bay had disappeared from the computer's memory banks. The man that had accompanied Pershaw had almost certinly been an Elemental, but why an Elemental and a Watch Operative would have a secret compartment aboard his ship was beyond him. He had not the mind for subterfuge.


Less than 2 meters away, Darrel Pershaw glanced at the Star Admiral from the corner of his eye. He could tell the Admiral was perturbed about the bay he hadnt even known about, but the Watch seldom revealed it's assets to anyone that wasnt using them at the time. And the fascimile that the man had given him, then subsequently burned was quite extraordinary, and warranted such a sudden and abrupt entrance rather than fooling around with Naval etiquette. Pershaw mused that he never had been good at politics. The only reason he was in the Watch at all was because a lucky Lyran SRM had exploded against the cockpit armor of his Hellbringer, sending spears of armorglas into his left shoulder and nearly amputating him in his own cockpit. He might not be able-bodied enough for a Battlemech, but he had almost as keen a mind as his progenitor, the legendary Spymaster himself, Kael Pershaw.

He checked his chronometer, synched with those of the team far below. He knew that they would be doing their last preparations, before boarding thier craft. With any luck, they wouldnt be on the ship much beyond that, one way or another. If Phase 1 proved impractical, they would simply skip it and go directly to Phase 2. It would be unfortunate, but this was war, and as a great general had once said, "No plan survives first contact with the enemy." It was a lesson he knew all to well.

"Star Admiral Buhallin, it has been my honor to visit your bridge. However, I think it would be best if i leave before the battle begins. I would not want to be in the way once the fighting starts."

Buhallin frowned. Now what is the stravag up to, I wonder?
"Very well, er... Warrior Pershaw."

Darrel Pershaw left the bridge through the armored airlock door that was the only entrance. Once out in the passageway, he drifted along untill he came to a rather unremarkable hatch. The stenciled serial number noted it as a small storage bay for garbage from the Starboard-Fore section of the craft's main deck. However, once inside, Pershaw carefully placed his thumbprint on a relativly simple looking datapad on a shelf. The pad chirped quietly, and the back wall disolved as the portable holo-projector went into sleep mode. Pershaw floated into his small cubicle and remotely activated the holofield. It would keep most cursory inspections from ever finding his hidey hole, especially with the sonic disruptor blocking the humming noise of his gear.

His console was the only link to the secondary transciever that had been placed on the ship. It was in an armoured shutter on the outside, made to look like a pulse laser turret. However, it was actually a vital peice of the puzzle that made up the Watch operation that was taking place. His computer was getting live video feeds from each helmet in the strike team's group, including the Elementals. Along with their ECM suites, 2 Elementals also had integrated Active Probes, modified for multi-spectrum optical scans, radar, dopler, EM emissions and radio freq scanners. The armor didnt have the processing capacity to actually analyze the input, but Pershaw's console was purpose built for just such a mission. He would provide them with tactical intelligence in real-time, enhancing their chances of not only sucess, but survival.

High Orbit, Planet Shadow
Warship Name Classified
Bay Designation: CX-10
Mission Clock: -0:02:00

All 10 resupply capsules were secured, loaded, and primed in their launch tubes. Signals analysis had already pinpointed their Phase 2 target coordinates, and Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary DZ and EZs had been established, along with potential emergency EZs. Every possible outcome of the mission had been gone over, in painstaking detail, and the men and women in bay CX-10 knew their objectives, locations, targets and every other piece of operational information by heart. This was what they did, and they were some of the best the Clans had to offer.

"Two minutes, final readiness checks." That meant checking their uplink to their private, secure comlink that had been setup on the hull of their carrier vessel. It also meant making a last check of all straps, zippers, and anything else that could be checked. There was no such thing as 100% ready for a mission like this, but there was also no such thing as to many reviews.

Now all they could do was wait. He checked his chronometer: the MC stood at -0:01:46..45...44..43...

If they were lucky, they'd get the word for Phase 1. If not so lucky, then Phase 2 would go into immediate effect.


Planet Shadow
Grid Location D5
Sub-Grid 34-T1
Mission Clock: -01:11:15

She giggled softly as her companion kissed her neck and ran her hand down her thigh. She always had had a thing for redheads, her own fiery locks coming down just below her shoulders in cascade of curls. The two well-built and very attractive women got alot of attention from the men on base, but most everyone knew they batted for the other team. It didnt stop them from trying of course. But on this evening, the 2 ladies had slipped out 'for dinner' from the compound and come to this slight depression about 1.5km away, far enough that the patrols wouldnt see them, and the dip provided cover from the high-gain IR and Night vision optics the base used for perimiter observation. Security was very tight considering the recently arrived Clan fleet in orbit, but they were confident they could deal the incoming Clans a sufficently bloody nose to send them scurrying back to Strana Mechty.

However, neither of the women currently rolling in the grass cared about the fighting for the moment. More pressing concerns filled their minds. It took little time for their activities to progress from simple kissing to other, more physical pursuits. A lust-filled 15 minutes passed, and both women were panting heavily, laying on their backs watching the dance of navies above them. They could make out high-intesnity laser fire, and see the small puffs of fireballs that signaled a Warship's death throes. It seemed the Clans that came to Shadow were inflicting massive damage on the Mandrill fleet. That meant, of course, it was time to return and prepare for the inevitable onslaught of mech warfare.

"Lisa, I'm scared. What happens if they get this far? What will happen to us?" They began dressing themselves, making sure to remove all traces of lipstick, rumpled hair, and sprayed fragrence to mask the smell of sweating bodies.

"It's alright Samantha. We'll be fine! You heard the transmission from the Falcon saKhan. I heard what happened on Foster. He actually allowed some of the Mandrill warriors there to escape destruction by integrating with the Blood Spirits. And he ordered no civilians like us be harmed. We'll be fine."

Lisa saw that Samantha might cry and took the slightly younger woman in her arms to comfort her. She felt Samantha put her arms around her, her warmth encircling her. She tried to speak soothing words, but found that she couldnt seem to say anything. A sharp pain spread across her lower back, and she had barely enough strength to push the younger woman away. She put her right hand to her back and was horrified to feel something protuding. She pulled it out and found herself holding a blood soaked, needle thin stilleto knife, hollowed to inject something into it's victim.

"Samantha...I...what..?" Samantha's face was impassive, watching her ex-lover slip into unconciousness as the neurotoxin quickly shut down her nervous system within seconds of entering her bloodstream. Sex was an excellent way to increase bloodflow, thereby increase the effectiveness of bloodborn toxins.

Samantha quickly went to her backpack and pulled out a sophisticated disguise kit. Placing it over Lisa's face and triggering it, the thin synthflesh backing moulded itself to Lisa's facial structure, perfectly copying it. The integrated computer compensated for facial hair, wrinkles, the mole over the right edge of her lips, and other imperfections to create a perfect facial copy. As the synthflesh mask cooled, Samantha quickly got to work doing the same thing for fingerprints, and got the retinal scanner ready.

It took about 20 minutes to complete, but once finished, Samantha had the face, fingerprints, hair and retinal biometrics of Lisa perfectly copied, and applied to her self. Her physique was nearly identical anyways, and her hair color was almost spot on to begin with. She straightened it out to match her mark's style, and quickly grabbed Lisa's access card and uniform insignias. Although both women worked on the base, Samantha worked in the archives, while Lisa was a tech for the bases' defense grid. And tonight, Lisa was supposed to be working, while Samantha wasnt, explaining why only one had returned.

The base guards had no idea that when they passed Lisa through the front gate, into the compound's Command Bunker and then into the bunker's CCC(Central Command Center) that they had let slip a Jade Falcon Watch operative. Her mission was one of subtle sabotage. And she was excellent at what she did.

Mandrill Command Bunker Complex
Planet Shadow
Mission Clock: 00:47:06.5
Invasion Clock: T-2:00 to touchdown

"MOVE!" He yelled into the comlink. As his team back down the corridors to clear the space needed, he took stock of his team. 4 were down, 2 killed by the Maurader that was now a burning hulk, the retribution set down by the elite team devestating to behold. After mowing down 2 of his team(including one of the heavily modified Elementals), one of the Elementals had shouldered their ace-in-the-hole for just such an occasion. The capsule he'd been dragging behind him carried the heaviest weapon such a teach could potentially bring to bear: a single shot, BA-portable Arrow IV tube. It took 2 of the Elementals to shoulder and fire the massive artillery-grade missile, but the special warhead was more than enough to achieve their goal. The special Inferno Arrow IV hit the massive Marauder squarely in the chest, just below the cockpit armor. Immediatly, the ultra-combustable Inferno chemicals engulfed the entire mech in super-hot flames, skyrocketing the mech's internal temperature, and obscuring its ability to see anything.

The resulting autocannon blindfire killed another unarmored soldier, before the temperature finally cooked off the large store of ammunition and ripped the mech apart from the inside. Having little time to watch the mighty machine burn, the team made their best pace into the bunker, one of the Elementals ripping through the reinforced blast door with his vibro-claw. The elementals had switched to a heavy-assault load now that they had no constraints on weaponry like on the Warship. Likewise, the unarmored squadmembers were packing enough heat to take down a full company of infantry in no time flat. In addition to a melee weapon, personal sidearm and assault weapon of some kind, all but 3 carried heavy support weapons on special assault harnesses, allowing them to use them un-aided, and without the usual set-up break down time. The last 3 carried 'specials', 15Kg satchels of C-90 HE charges. Able to blast through the armor of a Mad Cat, the charges would be used in the event of a mission sucess, or in dire circumstances.

Rushing down the long corridors, he was trying to catch upto the front 4, one of his Elementals, 1 'Specalist' and 2 of his shooters attempting to force the Command Bunker's CIC. However, he found them pinned down by a crossfire at a 4-way intersection.

"Spec-1, come back."
"Read you Six."
"Sitrep."
"No go. Monkeys in 2 directions, most likly flanking to the 3rd. Advise counter-flank."
He thought for a moment, bringing the layout of the floor up on his faceplate's HUD. They still had to descend 3 Sub-Floors to get to the buried CIC. There was almost nothing that would reach so deep, considering each level's floor was in actuallity about 2meters of solid concrete.
"Toss me a 'special'. We'll show the Monkeys how we deal with traitors." The woman tossed one of her 3 packs twords 'Six', who quickly pulled the primer ring and waited. The 15 second fuse slowly burned down, and it almost seemed like he wasnt going to dispose of it. Once he had counted to 11 seconds, he griped a door frame and flung himself bodily around the corner of the intersection, his arm forcing his throwing arm to arc the satchel down the 20m corridor. He could feel the tendons of his left arm stretching and popping just before he let go of the heavy satchel.
"Fire in the hole!"
Funneled by the concrete and steel corridors, the shockwave buffeted the Falcons right off their feet, even staggering the heavy Elemental to a knee. When they looked back down the corridor, a shaft of light was shining down from the ground floor, a level above them, and a hole in the ground saw a bloody mess in the barracks where soldiers were still getting ready to try and repel the attackers.

"Go, GO! We dont have time!" He hurried, his smaller and smaller command(he noticed 3 more red blips on his HUD, indicating lost life-signs) hurridly droped down the hole in the floor/ceiling of Sub-Floor 3, and made their way around a right hand corner to an armoured shutter than protected an elevator shaft. Again, the vibro-claws of the Elemental pried open access, and he jumped down first. As the sound of the armored suit crashed through the elevator ceiling, the sounds of automatic gunfire and the sizzle of the Elemental's mech-grade Medium Pulse Laser could be heard coming from the floor below. Silence...
"Clear."

Attatching descent rigs from their harnesses, the team quickly repelled down the inside of the shaft, and arrived to see a scene of carnage. The floor was littered with the dead bodies of atleast 4 techs, 3 officers and 8 soldiers. The Elemental was holding his laser up, and the heat rising off it's length was clearly visible for inches around the barrel. The scorch marks around the small reception room almost masked the sign reading "Combat Information Center", but it was legible enough for the team. Calling up the schematics, the door was quite a problem. A door designed to defeat most any assault, and at 6" of Ferro-Fibrous armor thick, it was very good at it's job.

"Entry ideas? The Vibro-claw cant get through that. The blast from a special could kill those inside, and we need them alive."
A staticy report from topside came down, forcing his hand,
"We are pushed back to the 2nd Sub-Floor, they have taken the upper floors. If we lose the external access door here, we are trapped."

Thinking quickly, 'Six' grabbed a satchel and removed all but 3Kg of the C-90, hoping it would be enough without being too much.
"Breach and Clear. Get ready..." he lit the fuse, and the team moved to take cover from the blast. 15 seconds, an eternity, passed slowly. Finally, the resounding 'BAAM' of the high explosives slammed them, but the Elemental lost no time, charging the door and barreling through it into the CIC. 8 technicians were still half dazed from the explosion, along with 2 low-ranking officers. The other side of the door revealed the only officer of note, but even he was simply a Star Captain. The two Star Commanders were defiant, and were both shot. There wasnt time to interrogate them, and it was unlikly they knew much of use anyways.

"Start the download. The files might have something." 'Six' left the room as his team began copying over all tactical and strategic files their hacker programs could find. "30 seconds."
"20 seconds...
...10...
5...
Alright, lets go. Drop a satchel, we wont let them have it".

His team, using the descent rigs as ascent rigs now, climbed back to the 2nd Sub-Floor, and followed the surviving members(now reduced to 3 Elementals and 20 operatives, including 'Six') out through an emergency access-way. But not before leaving behind a small black box, barely smaller than an assault rifle's magazine.

*********************
1km Outside the Mandrill Command Bunker Complex
Planet Shadow

By this point, the multi-Clan task force under saKhan Brian Pryde was crashing through the atmosphere. 'Six' had transmitted the data to the fleet in orbit, and recieved orders about a target of oportunity only 6km distant. It was imperitive they get there, and quickly, before the target could be moved, or worse- used against the attacking ground forces of his Clan. However, he had one last mission requirement to complete.

Triggering his burst transmitter, a single phrase was coded and beamed to a special Jade Falcon reciever, on a specific ship in orbit. It didnt go through the regular comm channel, but went to a specific computer terminal in a cramped, hidden compartment.

It simply said, "No Dawn".

High Orbit, Planet Shadow

The CJF Bunker Hill and Janice Hazen, both Aegis-class Heavy Cruisers broke their orbital formation on the urgent orders of an unknown source, even to the other ships in their respective flotillas, who were told by the 2 ship's Star Admirals(both ships were their respective Star's flagship) to remain on station. They moved away from the interdiction above their ground forces and moved towards the northern region, and took up a geosynchronous orbit. It was clear to all what their intent was, once their ASF CAP was suddenly devoid of planet side patrols. It was clear to all the other ship's captains that the two Jade Falcon warships were preparing to unleash an orbital bombardment on a surface target nobody else was even aware of.

CBSS Morrigan
Nadir Jump Point, Shadow
Kerensky Cluster

The Invader-class JumpShip Morrigan arrived in a burst of energy in the Shadow system, once the exclusive stronghold of Clan Fire Mandrill... and now, a world taken by the coalition of Jade Falcons and Ice Hellions as they brought Annihilation to the Clan that had betrayed them all.  Even now, the coalition's forces still solidified their grip on the planet, as they brought justice and order to the beleaguered masses.

A signal was sent out from the Morrigan as it stabilized and entered into a holding pattern at the jump point, a signal bound for the planet itself... a signal that called for the direct attention of the Falcons' new saKhan, Brian Pryde.  The message, which originated from one Star Captain Emma Schmitt, was tagged at the highest priority level, and for the saKhan's eyes only.   The urgency was implicit.

saKhan Pryde walked into the communications bunker, wonder what could be so important to call him from sleep at 0300. On seeing the request, he ordered the Comtechs to setup the communications channel and then leave the room.

"Welcome to Shadow Star Captain. What is it that requires my attention so urgently?"

The Star Captain, a woman of severe beauty with closely-cropped blonde hair and icy-blue eyes, stepped into the holo-transmitter and allowed it to scan her before she spoke, so that the saKhan would be able to see her as she spoke to him.  After the comm officer indicated to her that the scan was complete and the real-time transmission was being beamcast to the Falcons' communications bunker in their command facilities on Shadow, she nodded once, and began to speak in clear, strident tones.

"Forgive my impertinence in arriving, OvKhan Pryde, but there is a matter in which my Khan feels you must be made aware of immediately.  As you may or may not be aware, she recently canceled the ilChi initiative program and recalled the ilChis back to our homeworld.  I was one of those ilChis, assigned to Clan Ice Hellion when Sellen Cage held the office of Khan."

Taking a breath, she continued.  "A few days before I received the recall order, Khan Raina Montose made an announcement to the entirety of Clan Ice Hellion.  A most disturbing announcement, in fact."  She glanced to the comm officer once more, who nodded to her in silent acknowledgement of her unspoken question.  "I am told that this transmission is secure, but I wish to discuss this manner in person, to insure the utmust discretion.  Surely you would agree that, in these most difficult of times, we cannot exercise too much caution in what we place into our communcations."

Pulling herself up to her full height, she stood at rigid attention.  "I hereby request safcon as we make planetfall on Shadow, so that we might discuss this situation face-to-face, saKhan.  I think you will agree that it is of the highest importance once you hear what I have to say."

saKhan Pryde's eyebrows raised slightly, wonder what kinda of proclamation could be so important that it required a personal audience to discuss. He was also curious to know why it had been brought to his attention, if it were so important. He surmised he would find out soon enough.

"Star Captain, i am transmitting landing coordinates to your vessel. You are granted safcon to the surface, and are welcome to my command complex. Arrangements will be made to house you and whatever honor guard you bring. I look foreward to meeting and discussing whatever it is you have for me. I must admit i am curious to know what is so important. Pryde out."

Landing coordinates for the base aerospace port are transmitted to the Blood Spirit vessel.

Disembarking from the Fortress-class DropShip that had borne her from the Morrigan to the surface of Shadow, Star Captain Emma Schmitt strode down the DropShip's exit ramp, her only escort a pair of Elementals in full armor, their arm-mounted chainguns making silent sweeps of the immediate area in order to ensure the safety of the former ilChi.  On a planet so recently conquered and consumed in the conspiracy infecting the Clans, the Blood Spirits took no chances.

Upon clearing her identity with the Falcon warriors sent to meet her, Star Captain Schmitt was given an escort to the Falcon command complex, an imposing edifice that had undoubtedly once belonged to Clan Fire Mandrill.  She absorbed the details of everything her eyes took in, and her heart reflected no small amount of regret and sadness that the Mandrills had been brought so low by this... this abomination, for lack of a better term.

That sadness still in her heart, she entered into the chamber in which the saKhan awaited her, where she instantly snapped to rigid attention.  Placing her fingers to her thumb, approximating the shape of a teardrop, she thumped her hand to her chest, giving the saKhan the customary Blood Spirit salute.  "You honor me by hearing my request in person, saKhan Pryde.  For this I thank you.  And I bear a gift as well.  From Galaxy Commander Virgil Keller, on Foster."

With that, she lifted the device in her free hand, and placed it on the table before her.  The device was a flat holo-projector, and she switched it on for the saKhan's convenience.  Instantly, a three-dimensional image came to life, an artificial image that was obviously holo-artwork.  The centerpiece was the image of a weak and fearful-looking human male, clad in what appeared to be a simple jumpsuit and a labcoat overlaying it.  However, on either side and above the man's image were two airborne raptors: a jade falcon and a blood kite.

The symbolism, the intent of the gesture, was readily apparent.

saKhan Pryde looked at the hologram with faint amusement in his eyes. He twirled the glass in his hand, filled with a pinkish fluid, with a decanter on the table next to him in the antechamber of his private suite. He was dressed in an unadorned Jade Falcon jumpsuit, with a Galaxy Commander's insignia, and placed the drink down on the table next to the holo-projector. He gave the Blood Spirit officer a salute older than even the Star Leauge, fist clenched over his heart. He the relaxed and picked up his drink, and poured one for his guest.

"Welcome to Shadow Star Captain. There is a set of rooms down the hall where you and your warriors may stay for the duration of your visit. Care for a drink? A Fusionaire, popular among the younger mechwarriors of my Clan. I acquired the taste after my first battle in the Inner Sphere, although I prefer mine a bit stiffer than most." He smiled cordially and took a drink from his tall glass. "I would appreciate if you sent my regards to Galaxy Commander Keller. He was very accomidating when last we met, and i shall use his example as a yardstick, for i have had few personal encounters with the Spirits of late. Now, what can the Jade Falcons do to assist their fellow Clansmen?"

The saKhan's manner was relaxed, with barely a trace of formality that would be expected from one with such a rank. He behaved as if we was simply discussing a past battlefield with an old friend, not an unknown officer of a different Clan bearing what could only be an extremely important message to have arrived in such a manner.

Star Captain Schmitt raised a hand in deference.  "I must refuse your offer to have a drink, saKhan Pryde, as I am on duty and do not participate in such luxuries.  But I will certainly accept your offer of boarding, as I and my people are quite tired of being bound to our acceleration seats."  Her smile was pleasant but formal.  "And I will pass along your regards to Galaxy Commander Keller as well.  He speaks highly of you, which is why the Khan has sent me to you directly.  We wished to honor your conduct on Foster by showing you honor in kind."

Shifting from her rigid attention stance, she produced a data-chip from a pouch on her belt, setting it down on the table between the two of them.  "As I said upon my arrival, before my recall to York, Khan Montose made an announcement to the entirety of Clan Ice Hellion, an announcement that was transmitted to all castes, from warrior to laborer.  An announcement that was rather... unprecedented.  And, to understate matters, rather shocking."

Schmitt glanced away for a moment, and her silence spoke volumes of her reluctance to continue, but duty won out over her own feelings on the matter, as it would for any Blood Spirit warrior.  "You will undoubtedly see this announcement for yourself momentarily, but to spare you the suspense... Khan Montose has abolished her scientist caste.  All former scientists appear to be reassigned to the technician caste, from what I can see.  I was not long enough on Hector to verify much more than this."

At that moment, she met the saKhan's eyes, and her expression became pained.  "This is a violation of our most sacred laws, laws which the Founder himself established in order to provide the order and structure which has allowed us to survive and even thrive where all others have fallen.  And it was a similar move initiated by the Not-Named that eventually led to their Annihilation as well, though even the Not-Named never went so far as to abolish an entire caste!"

saKhan Brian Pryde slowly let the smile slip from his face. He looked down at the datachip the Star Captain had placed on the table between them. He couldn't say he exactly blamed the Hellions. Quite the contrary, it could have solved many problems for them internally, if they thought they were so infested. But to completely abolish an entire caste? The caste system WAS the Clans, it was what set them apart from the Inner Sphere, more than honor, or Trials or technology. If this information were indeed true, it was shocking, to say the least.

He put down his glass and picked up the small datachip. He spoke without looking up from the small device in his hands.
"Thank you Star Captain. I shall look into this myself. Please feel free to make yourself at home in your quarters. They are not lavish, but are no doubt better than the dropship you rode in on." Pryde stood and walked the Star Captain to the doorway. "I must speak to my Khan on this matter. It complicates things, as the Hellions have been one of our closest allies in multiple military conflicts, including here on Shadow and in the Inner Sphere. I must see what my Khan thinks of the matter. Will you be staying on Shadow for very long?" The last saw the Spirit Star Captain standing in the hallway, her Elementals flanked by 4 of the saKhan's own. The door to her apartments were about 10m down the non descript hallway, close to his own, most likly reserved for another high ranking officer during normal occupancy.

Star Captain Schmitt nodded her thanks to the saKhan, and gave a formal, deep bow.  "I thank you for your hospitality, saKhan Pryde, especially during these trying times.  If word that has reached my ears is correct, it would seem that the ilKhan and my own Khan are... not seeing eye-to-eye on matters, to put it kindly."  The ilChi's smile was almost mischievous.  "It is good to see that politics do not reign over honor in Clan Jade Falcon.  That is, after all, what separates us from our enemies in the Inner Sphere, quiaff?"

The lithesome ilChi turned to leave, but stopped momentarily and turned to face the saKhan.  "I will stay on Shadow as long as I can, but the Khan has ordered all ilChis back to York as we work to purge the taint that this conspiracy has spread amongst all of our number.  However, if it would serve the Clans and the interests of stronger relations with a Clan that has thus far remained honorable and intact, I could see fit to petition Khan Schmitt to allow me to stay on at your side as State Messenger to Clan Jade Falcon.  Perhaps my blood-kinswoman would see fit to agree, if she believed that you would find this arrangement to mutual benefit."

saKhan Pryde smiled at Star Captain Schmitt, but the smile was odd, in that there was no real emotion. It was as if the smile was there because it was expected.

"Aff, honor is of course the most important aspect of a warrior's life Star Captain. If Khan Schmitt believes it to be beneficial to have you stay here, then by all means, you are welcome to attatch yourself to my command. However for now i must take my leave to consult with my Khan, and the ilKhan herself." The saKhan's eyes had drifted past the Spirit Star Captain to a Jade Falcon woman in the jumpsuit of a mechwarrior, but without rank or unit insignia. She stood at ease, her arms crossed beneath her breasts, the front of her jumpsuit slightly unzipped to reveal the flesh beneath. She was unsucessfully hiding a coy smile aimed at the saKhan, and shot a withering glare at the Star Captain as she waited for the Blood Spirit officer to leave.

As she noticed the saKhan's gaze, she looked at him and smiled openly, shifting her body slightly, her center of mass moving over her left hip, jutting her upper body off to the side, emphasizing the perfect hourglass figure. She again shifted her gaze to the Blood Spirit woman, running her gaze up and down Star Captain Schmitt with a look of anger and possibly jelousy. The saKhan turned back to Star Captain Schmitt.

"Star Captain, if you will excuse me. I bid you goodnight. We can speak further in the morning. If you need to speak with your Khan, the HPG can be accessed from the communications bunker at the southeast corner of the complex. I will have to ask you not to leave the base itself however, for security purposes. We are still not 100% sure the area is secure, and i would not want any harm to befall you during your stay."

The woman who was waiting mutter something under hear breath about harming the Star Captain, but she said nothing out loud as she walked upto the pair. With a last haughty glance at the Blood Spirit woman, she stood straight, her bust straining against the partially opened fabric of her jumpsuit.

"saKhan Pryde, a priority Alpha communique from Strana Mechty. I was told by Star Colonel Solomon to bring you the message personally." She managed a last smirking glance at the Blood Spirit woman as the saKhan took the profered dataslate. Pryde looked at the dataslate, but realized that he would need to use his personal terminal to bypass the encryption. It must be important. He looked at the woman's lapel, reaching to her collar to move part of her uniform that had folded and obscured her nametag, his hand brushing against the straining fabric. Her cheeks blushed slightly red.

"Star Commander Melissa, will you accompany me inside while I access the message? Thank you." The Star Commander quickly stepped inside past the saKhan, who turned once more to Star Captain Schmitt. "Goodnight Star Captain. Join me for breakfast tommarow? I dislike eating alone when I can help it."

Kerensky Cluster
Ironhold, Jade Falcon Homeworld
Genetics Laboratory 22/sp, 7.25Km NW of Genetic Repository
Sub Basement 2

Star Command Alex was watching the security monitors dilliegently, trying not to listen to the two scientists behind him chatting about their work. Proud of his trueborn heritage, even more proud of his warrior status, being assigned to a laboratory as a common security guard did not seem like a glorious assignment for one of the few of his recently graduated sibko to score more than the minimum 1 'kill' to graduate. There were 2 of his sibkin at the lab on security detail with him, along with 7 other recently graduated warriors, fresh from the Falconer clusters here on Ironhold, along with a regular Trinary of Solohama infantry warriors to defend the facility. From what, Alex was not entirely sure, but when his orders were signed directly from the saKhan on Shadow, he did not question them. Especially when they said the saKhan himself would be by for an inspection within the month.

The scientists walked away, their conversation turning to their current batch. It occured to Alex that he had not heard mention of a bloodname in any of the conversations. Curious that after nearly a month, he still didnt know the genetic heritage of the sibko that was being developed. They were certinly not pilots or mechwarriors; from the way the scientists talked, though, they might not be elementals either. But if they weren't regular warriors, what could the scientists possibly be doing? And with the direct orders of the saKhan?

Star Commander Alex thought it would be wise to do some investigating of his own. It was common knowlage at this point about the widespread scientist conspiracy, and no Clan warrior would ever really trust the high-forehead scientists for quite some time, if ever after the recent events, especially after word about the multiple nuclear attacks had become public knowlage aswell. Could the scientists here have gone rouge? Here on Ironhold, where nobody would even think to look, so close to the Jade Falcon heartlands? He thought about it for a moment: he could expose a conspiracy cell here on Ironhold; Khan Sonoma and saKhan Pryde would commend him, giving him an instant promotion to Star Captain and transfering him to a frontline unit; he would get a bloodname sponsor, a position had even just opened up and the sponsorships were filling quickly; he might even get command of a unit sent to fight the Hegemony, get to take down a Hegemony unit!

He immediatly began typing into his console, checking the files in the lab's databanks: invoices, inqueries, personnel, all the data that he could find. He was finding discrepancies in various places, nothing conclusive, but they were there. And yet still, the most curious of all: there was NO mention of Bloodnamed genedonors. It made no sense, these sibs had to have come from some warrior's genes...

"Star Commander Alex." a voice behind Alex startled him, deep and passionless, devoid of emotion, professional but with an accent uncommon within the Clan homeworlds. The Star Commander turned at the voice, unsure of who had managed to sneak up on him. Granted he had been somewhat engrossed in his search for- 4 hours!? Obsessed was more like the word! He couldn't believe it had been that long!

"Who are you, and what do you want, entering without asking permission like that, scientist?" He assumed the man was a scientist, as he wore the white labcoat, although the man was built a little heavier than most, and he had the hard eyes of a man who had seen more than an electron microscope. The man was leaning up against the door jamb, his arms crossed across his broad chest, his lab coat billowing out from his wide shoulders. Although obviously something of a large man, he didn't seem to be excessivly large, just a normal man, possibly even a trueborn dropout who kept in good physical condition. But something in his eyes put the Star Commander on edge...

"Forgive me Star Commander, how rude to barge in and not introduce myself. My name is Lorgar, and I am a Bondsman of Khan Sonoma sent here to ensure the smooth progression of things within the facility. However when i checked the server logs a few minutes ago, I noticed that several inqueries had been made for information of all different kinds, implying that someone has been looking where they are not supposed to be. Have you see anyone suspicious around the facility lately?"

The Star Commander straighted himself to his full height. He would not allow himself to be intimidated by this man, whoever he was. A simple bondsman held no power over a trueborn warrior of Kerensky, no matter who held his bond, even if it was that freebirth ilKhan herself! "I am the one who was searching, bondsman, not that it is any concern of yours. And i have no need to explain myself to you either, so i would sugest that you..." Star Commander Alex stoped talking when he realized that the gleam he saw was not a trick of the light, but the reflection from the pulse laser pistol that Lorgar held in his right hand, pointed directly at his chest.

"Now, in a facility such as this, you should realize that secrets are important and are to be kept. You were here to keep them, by order of the saKhan. What gave you the right to break those orders? Where i come from, we call that 'treason', and we punish that by death. I see no reason it shouldn't be the same here." Lorgar fired the small pistol, the pulsed beams of coherrant light fusing the chest cavity of what was once Star Commander Alex into a fused mass of flesh and bone.

As the heap fell to the floor, Lorgar stepped over the corpse and accessed the terminal. He went to the search engine, and erased all traces of the searches. He then logged the good Star Commander out, and entered his own Administrator's login credentials, and locked out all accounts except for the admins, and the genetics personnel from accessing the information directly related to the sibkos themselves, including the persons they were descended from. It was an interesting experiment, he had to admit, and although the Clan program to take genes from 2 donars had always fascinated him, the idea of mixing the genes to create men who were less warrior and more intelligence operative was an interesting avenue. They would still be warriors of course, but as they would be the core of the Falcon Watch in the future, it would be important to establish a new set of gene stocks from which to begin.

And that was the big hush-hush secret here at 22/sp: it wasn't that the 2 warriors who created this sibko were something overtly special. It was that this was actually 12 seperate sibkos combined, 24 separate combinations desinged to make warriors who could act as mechwarriors, elementals, aerospace pilots, and yet also have the skills nessicary to allow the Jade Falcon Watch, and to a lesser degree, the InterClan Watch, mesasure up to the Spheroid intelligence community in the future.

Into the office of saKhan Pryde strode Star Captain Emma Schmitt, clad in the dress uniform of Clan Blood Spirit: a skintight blood-red bodysuit, sheathing her from banded neck to glossy, knee-high black boots.  A liquid-like red strip ran from her neck down the left side of the bodysuit, and she even wore the red-and-black reversible half-cape that she was entitled to as a trueborn warrior. 

Her platinum-blonde hair, as always, was worn short and spiky, and her eyes were a pale blue that suggested the cold, windswept Hector landscape to which she had grown accustomed while serving as the ilChi to Clan Ice Hellion.  And when she strode into the office, her every movement was lithesome and graceful, her well-maintained body moving almost sensuously beneath her uniform.

As she beheld the Falcon saKhan, sitting behind his desk apparently squeezing in a bit of early work, she offered him a genial, if somewhat bland, smile.  "I do believe you made an offer of breakfast, saKhan Pryde, and I have decided to collect."

saKhan Pryde made a last notation on his datapad and stood, stretching silently. While no longer the youngest of warriors, he was by no means old, and it was a point of pride for the saKhan that he could still best any warrior under his command in tests of physical strength. His gunmetal grey jumpsuit was accented with emerald green piping along the sleeves, and a stripe of green edged in gold ran the length of his muscled runner's legs. He had forestalled his morning run to finish up the last few details of their work in the north, and he considered querying the Star Captain to join him. First however, he was starving!

"Welcome Star Captain. If you'll just follow me, the mess hall is a floor up, ground level." The saKhan allowed the Star Captain to leave the room first, but kept pace at her right side. He seemed a bit tired, but didn't let it overtly show on his face or his stride. He kept his chin up, even as he attempted to engage the Star Captain in conversation as they reached the elevator.

"So Star Captain, you said that Khan Schmitt has recalled all ilChi. What makes you think she would alllow for you to stay attatched to the Jade Falcons? After all, what has changed since the recall order, aside from the ilKhan deciding she is above answering a Trial of Greiveance, and allowing the Camels to run amok without reproach...Hopefully my motion will carry, and then we shall see if the Camel is strong enough to defend itself against the enemies it's acquired..." He glanced at the Star Captain walking beside him as he spoke, apparently enjoying having someone more exotic around the base.

Stepping into the elevator, Star Captain Schmitt gave the saKhan a surreptitious visual appraisal as she turned on her heel to face the doors, clasping her hands behind her back and assuming an at-ease stance.  A blonde brow shot up in surprise and curiousity as he spoke, drinking in his candid words and giving nothing else back other than that one facial gesture.  Blood Spirit or no, she was still a trained diplomat, such as it was amongst her people, and she knew that she was treading in dangerous waters here.

"Well, saKhan, I did speak with Khan Schmitt briefly last night, using the communications relay aboard my DropShip, and though she is not pleased with the manner that your freebirth ilKhan has been carrying herself in the Grand Council, she wishes for me to make clear to you that she harbors no antipathy towards Clan Jade Falcon itself."  Her lips curved into the smallest semblance of a smile.  "Indeed, she and I both agree that there is a certain amount of irony in that a freebirth has risen so far in the halls of power in your Clan."

With that, the elevator doors opened with a light hiss, and the Star Captain strode out on long, supple legs, with the Falcon saKhan easily keeping pace with her.  "There are very few Clans that can call themselves honorable anymore.  The revelation of the Not-Named, as well as this damnable conspiracy within our own ranks, has seemed to bring out some of the worst in many of our number.  We have the Star Adders and the Ghost Bears giving their lower castes unprecedented freedoms that the Founder never intended.  We have the Hellions eliminating an entire caste, without a single voice being raised about it in the Grand Council!  And we have the Goliath Scorpions, who have unleashed nuclear fire upon us and done absolutely nothing to atone for that dishonor.!"

As the pair entered the mess hall, only a few of the residing Falcon warriors were present to take their meals, as most of them were already at their duty stations or deployed on the uncertain fields of Shadow itself.  "The Khan was correct in her edict to isolate ourselves from the other Clans once more.  Given the wounds inflicted upon us by the Combine and the Scorpions, we can ill-afford to stand with the door open anymore.  But that should not mean that we should turn away a potential ally, an ally that has proven to still possess honor and integrity in a time when these things are in very short supply.  And the Khan agreed with my argument to that fact."

She looked to the saKhan then, studying his face almost impassively, and then her faint smile brightened a few watts.  "Pending your official approval, saKhan Pryde, I am now State Messenger to Clan Jade Falcon."

saKhan Pryde led the Star Captain to a buffet of food, quite an extensive one for a military base, as the civilians on staff here were some of the best chefs on the planet, an eccentricity that the saKhan found somewhat amusing. After helping himself to a plate of eggs, sausage and a glass of ice water, he led her over to a table.

"I admit i am somewhat suprised she allowed it. I was not activly listening to the Council at the time, but from the recording, she seemed quite incensed with the ilKhan. I sometimes wonder if i should be honored or disgusted that i hold not only the same bloodname, but blood legacy as her, albeit mine is superior." He studied the Star Captain to see if she responded to the knowlage that he was a product of the Aiden Pryde genestock. Some within the Falcons had often remarked that it explained his meteoric rise to power within the Clan. "I shall of course approve her appointment. I think it an excellent idea to keep close ties to those Clans that we can rely on in these times. The Ice Hellions are valuable in that their assistance has been readily availible on a number of occasions, and while i personally find the business of abolishing an entire caste shocking, there is little that i think can be done. Considering her stance on other matters, i doubt the ilKhan would allow anything to become of it were it brought to the Grand Council." He paused to take a few bites from his food, thinking while he chewed and swallowed.

He looked at her intently as he spoke further. "What is the Blood Spirit plan on Roche, if you know? While i don't believe these rouge Goliath Scorpions are deserving of Zellbrigen, or anything else except the wrong side of a PPC, simply bombarding them all to nothing will serve nothing beyond the immediate desire to kill them for their nuclear weapons attack. Is there any plan to actually go down and attempt to get prisoners? I feel like something of a jailor these days, but unfortunetly, it's become something of a necessity with these Scientists."

Star Captain Schmitt perused the buffet, finding some amusement as well at the selection.  Her choices, though, were rather spartan: plain eggs, a sausage or two, and water.  Though there was much more than that, she was too disciplined to indulge herself in the luxuries afforded to her now.  After doing so, she joined the saKhan at the table he had selected, and listened to his queries well before answering them.

"Though I will admit that the actions of the Hellions are disturbing, it seems that politics will continue to win out over honor in matters such as these.  I do not blame you or your Clan for this, but the Grand Council at large has become something of a joke, and this situation simply reinforces my own belief that my Khan was correct in her choice to cut Clan Blood Spirit off from the other Clans, more or less.  We cannot afford to allow ourselves to succumb to this brand of self-interested, unlawful behavior.  Someone has to, as I hear is a saying in the Inner Sphere, keep the flame burning brightly.  Perhaps when the times grow even darker, the brightness of our purity might be a beacon to others." 

Taking a few tentative bites of her food, she chewed, swallowed, and washed down with water before she continued.  "On the matter of Roche, I have actually been given a response for you, as Khan Schmitt anticipated your asking about the matter.  Yes, we are destroying their military forces from orbit, a response that they brought upon themselves through their own treachery.  The Khan will be landing once she is reasonably certain that the Scorpions have no more... surprises waiting to be unleashed upon our warriors.  And she is prepared to employ your own resources to assist in the interrogation of any prisoners she takes."

"However," her tone changed as she spoke, and her eyes became iron in their resolve, "the Khan will not tolerate interference in this Trial, and does not wish for assistance in completing it.  An ironic sentiment, perhaps, coming from a Blood Spirit, but she is adamant on this point, and she is adamant that the honor of bringing those traitors on Roche to heel belong to us alone.  It is sickening enough that the other Clans have chosen to turn their backs on us after suffering such grievous losses without calling the Scorpions to answer for their crime there, but the decision is not unexpected.  However, if we must stand alone in that matter, then the honor of taking Roche will be ours and ours alone."

The saKhan decided to ignore the icy response to his question about Roche. There were many things he could have said to the Star Captain, but he knew full well that the only thing that would become of voicing them would be to create a rift between his Clan and the Blood Spirits.

"I assure you that I have no interest in travelling to Roche myself, unless it is required by my Khan, or ordered by the ilKhan. I may not like her methods, and her method of birth may be as repulsive as ever, but she is still the ilKhan. For now, anyways." The gleam of unbridled ambition shone in the saKhan's eyes briefly, before he droped his gaze to finish off his breakfast.

For a long moment, the ilChi simply watched the Falcon saKhan icily as he ate, knowing that his warrior's blood would burn to respond to her aggressive defense of her Clan's policies.  She would be disgusted with him if he didn't long to answer her implied challenge.  But the saKhan was also adept at the fine art of keeping his opinion to himself when the situation warranted it, and for this, a surge of respect welled up in her. 

Many Khans were far too political and self-serving, and could not truly call themselves warriors, as she believed was true of Stanislov N'Buta or Athena Kabrinski, or even the so-called ilKhan herself.  Then there was her own Khan, who eschewed political skill for martial skill... both an asset and a detriment, but still a combination that her Clan needed more than any other.  And there were those who struck a happy medium, as the Falcon who sat before her did.  It boded well for their working relationship... as well as for the future of Clan Jade Falcon itself.

Over the next few minutes, the pair worked solely on finishing their meals, intersparsed with the occasional inconsequential discussion of military doctrine, as well as continuing operations against the conspirators on Shadow.  It wasn't until they had finished their meals that ilChi Schmitt spoke again. 

"There is something I wish for you to ask yourself.  How my Khan reacted in the Grand Council was warranted and right, but it was also colored by anger.  Righteous anger, as it seems the Council is more interested in its own games than in justice.  My Khan knows that she is making no friends through her rhetoric, but in these times, taking a stand for what is right and just in the universe is necessary, lest we lose what it is that makes us Clan.  Far too many compromises have been made already, and while these compromises might ensure the short-term survival of the Clans, what will become of our society as the Founder intended for it to be?"

He pondered her question. As with so many these days, it was not as simple a question as it seemed, and therefore was not so easily answered.

"I believe that Khan Schmitt was acting in the best interests of her honor as a Clan warrior, and there is good in that. However, I also believe that her anger, however correct in this situation, could lead her Clan into isolation. It is one thing to withdraw from the Grand Council because of the actions of it's members, but to STAY in that state of isolation could be dangerous. We are not so numerous that we can afford to ignore our fellow Clans forever. The Smoke Jaguars were alone in the end, and this lead to their doom. I would be saddened to see a similar fate befall the Blood Spirits. That being said, I also believe that the ilKhan's actions stem from a desire to accomplish her mission, no matter the cost. She is not someone who will stop everything to answer a call to honor, because she knows she will never truely win it. And she is mostly correct. With few exceptions do freeborns gain any real status, if any, in the majority of Clans. I was not overly suprised to see her postpone the Trial initiated by your Khan. I just didn't expect it to be essentially canceled out, by saying she would accept when the scientists threat was removed."

saKhan Pryde stopped walking, and turned to face the ilChi. She truly was a beautiful woman, he thought, and he mused that he could definetly enjoy her being around more. However, if their professional relationship was to survive, there could not be a constant sparring between them.

"I do not have a definitive answer for you I suppose. I think that Kerensky's vision of the Clans has already changed with time, and that it is impossible for us to know exactly what he wished. I believe that Khan Schmitt was correct in her anger directed at ilKhan Pryde for suspending the Trial of Greievance. However, I do not believe that the fault for the atrocity on Roche is the sole fault of the ilKhan. I believe that could more readily be laid at the feet of the Scoprions in the Inner Sphere, for not warning us, and at also to the Watches for allowing such a mass conversion to the conspiracy. Also, perhaps if Khan Schmitt had attempted to convince some of the Khans, or myself for example, to join her on Roche, the discovery of the nuclear wepaons could have been made, as it was here, in time to prevent the damage. But it is in the past now, and there is nothing to be done about it, but kill those involved, after we have stripped every last shred of information from their minds."

The ilChi's smile was pleasant enough, if a tad sharp.  "You bring up the Smoke Jaguars, and say that their isolation led to their destruction, but this simply is not true.  The Jaguars did reach out for help when the Spheroids moved against them, and the other Clans turned their backs on them.  In some cases, they used the opportunity to poach their holdings like a flock of vultures.  Apparently the ilKhan has well-founded concerns in this area, hence her ban on Trials... as laughable as that is turning out to be, as it seems just about every Clan is insistent on ignoring that ban to further their own goals.  But from watching those events of years past, my Clan has learned well that asking for help from those who only wish to help themselves is an exercise in futility.  So our state of isolation is not dangerous in the slightest.  If anything, it keeps our people safe from the predation of those whose honor is worth less than their ambitions.  There is, of course, a price to be paid for walking a solitary path, and we have paid that price... but it seems, as the Scorpions still live, that it was all for nothing."

Shifting in her stance somewhat, she regarded the Falcon saKhan evenly.  "The vision of the Founder has not changed.  His laws are clear, his redes are clear.  Even his desires for us to return to the Inner Sphere and restore the true Star League is clear, and your Clan was one of the first to recognize this.  It is not impossible for us to know exactly what he wished, for we have always know what the Founder desired for his people.  But with each passing day, those wishes are eroded further.  Castes being abolished.  Civilians being allowed to choose their castes.  These are the actions of chalcas, and the others stand idly by... and do nothing.  So let me further query you, saKhan Prude: what do you think the Founder would think of what we have become, if he were to be witness to what has happened to us?"

Inclining her head to the saKhan in respect, she turned to take her leave for the day.  "Think on that, saKhan.  Your Clan once stood at our side as the most devout protectors of our traditions.  None could call your honor or your adherence to the will of the Founder into question.  How many of our laws and traditions must be broken before Turkina's ire is raised against those who would foul our way of life?"

And with that, she was gone.

After a terse communication forwarded from the Blood Spirit saKhan on York, Star Captain and ilChi Emma Schmitt promptly gathers her few belongings, reembarks on her DropShip, and departs Shadow with only the shortest acknowledgment forwarded to the Falcon saKhan as well as Shadow Traffic Control.

"So what do we say when we get there Colonel," Regina asks her commanding officer.

"Well we could try challenging them to one of their Trials," he initially answers, "though I seriously doubt they'd go for it. They haven't been real big on accepting them from us dirty spheroids since this whole Not-Named crap started."

"Hell, you think that these Wolverines could've given us some advance warning instead of sitting on their asses for the last 300 years or so, but noooooooooo, they sat back and did nothing while their friends planned on opening a galaxy sized can of whoop ass on the Successor States someday," Colonel Locke says.

"I don't see any reason to keep feeding brave men and women into the meatgrinder just to keep them in the life to which they've become accustomed. And frankly my dear, I no longer give a damn. Clan Jade Turkey and Frosty Seagull may not be the best candidates to ask for help, but their friendly with the Adders, and Charlie's an Adder, and you can be damned sure that if we know about his desire to be Archon, they do too."

"The last few Archons, and that twice cursed Davion Archon-Wench-Regent haven't given a spit about their people, if they had, I'd bet a months pay, if I'd been getting paid, that the plague wouldn't have gotten as bad as it had. Hell, if they had been paying attention, Daphne Rowe wouldn't have been able to seduce Adam and kill off the cream of the LC's armed forces over and on Somerset. At least Khan Nabutta and his folk did something during the plague and didn't ask for jack squat"

Warning klaxons sound, giving the two a minute to strap themselves in for the upcoming jump into Clan held space, during which the Colonel continues his diatribe, "Nope, them Adders asked for nothing, and the way I hear it the Khan even offered more assistance to Yvonne, but she turned him down flat, telling him that the only way he'd get any more Lyran worlds is over its dead body. Almost prophetic now isn't it, and it wouldn't surprise me if she had a hand in all this."

"At least this Charlamagne is a pure Steiner, not mixed with FedRat filth, and Adam doesn't deserve to bear the name anymore. Personally, I hope him and Charlie have a go at each other, with Charlie putting Adam alongside the thousands that died just so he could become this Leonidas prick, followed shortly after by that Angel of Death, Daphne," his voice turns melancholy, "Yep, will be nice to have an honest to God, true blue Steiner back on the throne."

"Amen to that Colonel," is all she gets to say before the 7th Lyran Regular Regiment, the 15th Lyran Guard Regimental Combat Team, and the 1st Coventry Jaegers Regiment depart Pandora and arrive seconds later over their destination.

By hook, crook, favors and plain old strong arming, Colonel Locke got his people off Pandora, and have just taken their first steps on a new path. Whether that leads to their salvation or destruction remains to be determined...



Somewhat similar circumstances are near simultaneously occurring over another ex-Lyran world, Montmarault, though its leaders couldn't decide which claimant to the Lyran Archonship to back, one Unit on world though had made that choice, and fortunately they had their own means by which to join their choice, the Commanding Officer got her people loaded onto their DropShips, boosted off world and Jumped to the closest Clan world. Upon arrival, they knew they'd be on their own, and at the tender mercies of the Clan that calls that world one of its own, that is IF they don't just transform the lot of them into an orbiting thread of debris and corpses seconds after arriving.

The 275th Lyran Independent Aerospace Regiment is yet but one more Unit willing to risk death in order to follow someone they see as more worthy, or at least one who can't be worse than what they're familiar with, of wearing the title of Archon. To many of the men and women of the 275th, the same old-same old no longer works, maybe it is time to try something, and someone, totally new.



Clan Jade Falcon OZ
Sudeten

It wasn't planned, dozens of jump signature erupt over, or is it under, Sudeten, all at the Zenith Jump Point and it was just pure dumb luck that the uncoordinated commands didn't destroy one another. Sudeten C3, despite being on high alert, the threat of a Terran counter-attack all to probable, they weren't quite expecting any incoming Ships...from anyone, let alone so many flashing Lyran IFFs.

Their initial defense forces had launched as soon as the first radiation and tachyon blips were picked up, indicating jump points were forming. Hate 'em or despise 'em, the efficiency of the Clans military still needs to be respected, though the Pilots of the various Ready 5's were very puzzled by the large swaths of the JumpShips painted white...


On the surface of Sudeten, Techs of the Jade Falcon Communications Center receive two distinct radio transmissions, both of which are overheard by the Commandant, who rushed to the Center when she was informed of the arrival of the Lyran forces.


One of the commanders had apparently forgotten that she had the microphone on, as she can be clearly heard asking someone else present a question, "How should I address them?"

"Well, I know that the use of contractions is something of a pet peeve, so it'd be best not to use them I suppose," a male voice answers.

"Right, I knew that," her reply after that is tinged with a note of embarrassment as she realizes that those on the ground just heard, "Ummm, Sudeten Space Command, this is Major Lara Emersen, late of the 275th Lyran Independent Aerospace Regiment. We are not here to fight, though will defend ourselves if needed. I can only hoe you have heard of Charlamagne Steiner of the Clan Star Adders and his proclamation making a bid for the Archonship of the Lyran Commonwealth, or Adder Commonwealth as he called it."

Lara takes a deep breath before continuing, "I guess I am asking for a few things. One, do not open fire; two, safe conduct through your Territory; and three, transport to any world that has also decided to follow him over one of the other claimants. Our ride here is strictly one way, and it would be along walk to where ever Charlamagne is setting up shop. Major Lara Emerson, out."

I pray to all the Gods that they'll think before they shoot, most of these men and women are along only because of me. Bless them for their loyalty and trust, I hope I didn't just get them all killed on a whim of conscience and desire for something better, she thinks as she waits for a reply that doesn't involve high intensity lasrer or naval Grade AutoCannons.


Meanwhile, on another frequency, Colonel Locke is saying much like the worried Major, "Sudeten, I'm a simple man, and to old to be a'changin' much about myself, but I'm taking a leap of faith that y'all won't be trigger happy. The 7th Lyran Regular Regiment, 15th Lyran Guard Regimental Combat Team and 1st Coventry Jaegers Regiment could be using a few favors in my name, Colonel Moses Locke of the 7th Lyran."

"The Lyran Commonwealth of my youth is gone, and the best man I see as hope for the future is one Star Colonel Charlamagne Steiner of Clan Star Adder, and if y'all would be gracious enough to send for some, or provide transport for the thousands of soldiers under my command, it would be a great burden lifted off my old heart to see these men and women given the chance to fight for something new and a man who sound like one who'd be true to his word. One with more honor in his little finger than the whole of the old and new Estates General of the last millennia, and more than one past Lyran Archons added for good measure."

"The JumpShips that brought us here are borrowed or under loan, so my friends located elsewhere would appreciate having their property being allowed to go back home," he adds, "they aint got nothing to offer other than the desire to be left out of all the chaos going on 'cross the border as much as possible."

"On my word of honor, as an officer and common-born man, they don't mean no harm, and don't want none done in return. I await your decision, Colonel Locke, over and out."


Following the two individual transmissions, both Commanders send pertinent information regarding their respective commands.


(ooc: Under Colonel Locke, the 7th Lyran Regulars Regiment (3 Brigades: BattleMech, 14.25 FP; Armor, 20.25 FP; Infantry, 2.75 FP), 15th Lyran Guard RCT (4 Brigades: BattleMech, 23.75 FP; AeroSpace, 6 FP; Armor, 25.25 FP; Infantry, 4.25 FP) and the 1st Coventry Jaegers Regiment (3 Brigades: BattleMech, 12 FP; AeroSpace, 4 FP; Infantry, 22.25 FP), they're also requesting replacement transport to the "Adder Commonwealth" as they don't have any of their own.)

(ooc 2: Under Major Emerson, the 275th Lyran Independent Aerospace Regiment (10 FP) and its own transports of regular/standard JumpShips complete with ASF carrying DropShips. Sadly, they cannot carry any more than what they are, so they can't help Col. Locke and his command.)

(ooc 3 [Attention GMs]: combined the above used a total of 349.5 MPs (provided I entered the data correctly)...yes, I will be tapping Charlie's Perm Pool to pull off quite a few moves in order to get Units to more friendly, at least they hope so, territory.)

Star Captain Perdita thought that 'bemused' was an accurate word to describe the looks on the faces of her command in the Communications room of Sudeten Central Command. At first she wondered if she had correctly heard- 2 regular Lyran mech regiments, an independant Aerospace regiment, and another whole RCT...defecting to the new Adder-sponsored Commonwealth! This was a bit more than what the Star Captain was rated to deal with, and she decided that a dual communique was decidedly in order.

"Technician Markus, priority-alpha transmission, direct to Galaxy Commander Shi-lu and Star Colonel Pryde in the InterClan Watch- he will want to be keeping an eye on this aswell. Get them both the records of the transmissions we have recieved, and also the orders I am about to give. I am not positive what the Galaxy Commander would have me do, but if their intent is non-hostile, I have no intention of blowing away defensless warriors! Hmm...also, prepare a message packet for the HPG station at the Spaceport. The Khan should be informed of this." The tech nodded, and after hitting a few buttons and typing in the correct routing commands, he pointed at the Star Captain to indicate her words were being recorded both for the transmission to the transport fleet above and the Jade Falcon officers who would soon find out what the situation was.

"Attention Lyran defectors: you have shown no hostile intent and and will be considered as non-combatants for as long as it remains so. You are to follow these coordinates," she has the ComTech transmit coordinates to one of the more outlaying group of dropship pads at the Patterson City spaceport, " and are to await further instructions. Your men will disembark their dropships without weapons, mechs, or any other military equipment untill my superior has stated otherwise. Failure to comply with these orders, or to follow the flight path set by the escorting aerospace fighters will be considered a hostile act. To the jumpships that brought you in: you are to remain on station untill ordered otherwise. Again, failure to comply will result in being considered a hostile target." The Star Captain nodded to the ComTech.

"Transmission away Star Captain. ETA is 4 hours to the jump point, about 9 hours at best for a response of either them being inbound, or engaged."

"Good. I shall brief the Galaxy Commander personally." With that, the Star Captain left the room to inform her superiors that a full-fledged Lyran army had just defected to the Adder Commonwealth. They would be pleased indeed.

Thousands of signs of relief resound amongst the two Lyran groups when word is passed that they aren't going to die today, at least not immediately, once the reply from Sudeten reaches them.

Colonel Locke and Major Emersen each compose then send their answers, identical answers, "Affirmative Sudeten. Coordinates received. Prepping for Drop now."


A short time later, scores of DropShips begin their descent, the JumpShips that brought Colonel Locke and his commands aren't happy about having to stay, but considering the alternative, they aren't in a complaining frame of mind.


Aboard the DropShip carrying Major Lara Emersen, she indulges her only hobby, in the form of a thick pad of paper and a pencil, sketching. No one has ever seen any of her sketches, at least not anyone under her command, though everyone is aware of it, this time she seems different, more focused, more intent...perhaps even obsessed. The look on her face, the way her eyebrows are pinched, the manner in which she chews on her lip, and other small things that reveal her determination.

Not that anyone will say anything, as she's alone in her cabin, but if another was present, those are the little signs that would indicate that this time, something is different about her project.

Alpha Star, Aerospace Trinary of the 2nd Falcon Dragoons(Sudeten Garrison) slid around the form of the final jumpship, ensuring there were no waiting suprises: there were no extra dropships, the serial numbers matched their databases, and it seemed from all accounts that there was no foul play afoot, atleast not this time. The fighters quickly burned at top speed away from the jumpships, and made sure they were at the minimum safe distance before reporting to their Carrier dropship that everything was clear.

"Lyran jumpships, this is Sudeten Air Defense: you are cleared for immediate departure back to Lyran space."


On the ground, the scene was quite a bit more hectic. The Galaxy commander had to figure out how he was going to simultaneously contain, feed, and house a thousand soldiers and support personel. Luckily, the quick thinking of the Star Captain in the Com Center had brought them down in an area with plenty of space. Currently, his mechwarriors and techs were checking each dropships as it came down with the men who came with it, taking full inventory of what came down, before allowing any combat material to be brought off, and not more than a company was actually powered up at any given time(and there was atleast a cluster of mechs, and 3 trinaries of aerospace fighters ensuring no funny business ensued, from either side.)

Galaxy Commander Heston Shi-lu saw a man in the braided Lyran uniform of a Colonel, and a woman in the uniform of a Major both begin to approach him. He motioned for his bodyguard Elementals to stop a few paces back and met them.

"Colonel, Major, I am Galaxy Commander Heston Shi-lu, Clan Jade Falcon Mu Galaxy. I am responsible for what happens here on Sudeten, so as you might imagine, your appearance is somewhat unsettling to say the least. Once my warriors have finished inventorying your militay supplies, we can discuss your future. I know from your message that you intent to head to the region that has declared for Charlemagne Steiner, of Clan Star Adder. If this is indeed true, I will not interefere with your journey unduely, anymore than to ensure that it is not a ruse to gain access to Clan worlds. I am expecting word soon from my Khan about transporting your forces on Jade Falcon transports. In the meantime, your men will be bivouacked here, as its the only area in the vicinity with enough space. I must request however, that the two of you follow me, and take up temporary residence within our own military compound here in Patterson City. You must understand my hesitation at allowing you total access to your men, when you clearly outnumber my own garrison forces. You will not be cut off from them by any means- I simply wish to ensure that I am aware of what is said between commander and soldier."

The Galaxy Commander's eyes were hard: he was not going to trust spheroids because they said they meant no harm. However, he might trust a warrior who held their honor above all else.

Quote from: Daemonknight on July 09, 2010, 06:15:25 PM
Alpha Star, Aerospace Trinary of the 2nd Falcon Dragoons(Sudeten Garrison) slid around the form of the final jumpship, ensuring there were no waiting suprises: there were no extra dropships, the serial numbers matched their databases, and it seemed from all accounts that there was no foul play afoot, atleast not this time. The fighters quickly burned at top speed away from the jumpships, and made sure they were at the minimum safe distance before reporting to their Carrier dropship that everything was clear.

"Lyran jumpships, this is Sudeten Air Defense: you are cleared for immediate departure back to Lyran space."

The voice that speaks this time is one considerably younger than the last, more feminine and greatly relieved, "Copy Sudeten Air Defense. So long and thanks for all the stress," she nervously laughs, "Captain Leilaa Frye out and returning home."

Minutes later, the scores of unaligned Lyran JumpShips disappear from Jade Falcon territory.

QuoteOn the ground, the scene was quite a bit more hectic. The Galaxy commander had to figure out how he was going to simultaneously contain, feed, and house a thousand soldiers and support personel. Luckily, the quick thinking of the Star Captain in the Com Center had brought them down in an area with plenty of space. Currently, his mechwarriors and techs were checking each dropships as it came down with the men who came with it, taking full inventory of what came down, before allowing any combat material to be brought off, and not more than a company was actually powered up at any given time(and there was atleast a cluster of mechs, and 3 trinaries of aerospace fighters ensuring no funny business ensued, from either side.)

Galaxy Commander Heston Shi-lu saw a man in the braided Lyran uniform of a Colonel, and a woman in the uniform of a Major both begin to approach him. He motioned for his bodyguard Elementals to stop a few paces back and met them.

"Colonel, Major, I am Galaxy Commander Heston Shi-lu, Clan Jade Falcon Mu Galaxy. I am responsible for what happens here on Sudeten, so as you might imagine, your appearance is somewhat unsettling to say the least. Once my warriors have finished inventorying your militay supplies, we can discuss your future. I know from your message that you intent to head to the region that has declared for Charlemagne Steiner, of Clan Star Adder. If this is indeed true, I will not interefere with your journey unduely, anymore than to ensure that it is not a ruse to gain access to Clan worlds. I am expecting word soon from my Khan about transporting your forces on Jade Falcon transports. In the meantime, your men will be bivouacked here, as its the only area in the vicinity with enough space. I must request however, that the two of you follow me, and take up temporary residence within our own military compound here in Patterson City. You must understand my hesitation at allowing you total access to your men, when you clearly outnumber my own garrison forces. You will not be cut off from them by any means- I simply wish to ensure that I am aware of what is said between commander and soldier."

The Galaxy Commander's eyes were hard: he was not going to trust spheroids because they said they meant no harm. However, he might trust a warrior who held their honor above all else.

Colonel Locke took his own measure of the Falcon Galaxy Commander, instincts honed by decades of military service and an old fashioned sense of right and wrong telling him that he'd likely shoot the Colonel as say hello, or crack a smile, if the Commander thought that Locke planned any treachery. Yep, here be a man I can like, Locke laughs to himself, the irony not lost on him considering the circumstances.

Saluting the Galaxy Commander as he begins speaking, Locke responds, "Understood Galaxy Commander. Likely if the situation was reversed I'd do the same. And though it may matter none, I wish you and and your fellow Clans all the luck in knocking the Terran Hegemony and SLDF down a peg or two. Not only do I wish you the best, but I'll throw in my blessing to boot."

"I'm proud to call myself a Lyran, but the Lyran Commonwealth has been nothing to be proud of lately. First Daphne and her Rim Worms Republic, then Adam Benedict Arnold-Steiner, Mulcahey and Arc-Royal Pains In The Ass, that bastard on Skye, and  whoever blew up Tharkad. May they all rot in hell after Charlamagne and you Clans turn them into so much fertilizer. Though I suppose, considering with how putrid that lot is, nothing worthwhile would grow from the ground where they fall," the Colonel emphasizes his pint by spitting on the ground at his own feet.

"On my word, and previous orders, my men won't be any trouble outside of that caused by our arrival. Should anyone act out of hand, all I ask is that I suffer the consequences instead. They chose to follow me this far, and I won't betray that trust by letting them get injured or killed due to their own stupidity," he concludes, "so lead on Sir, the sooner we start, the sooner we'll be done and out of your hair."

If ever I have met a Sphereoid who could pass for a Clanner...if he learned how to speak properly that is. Galaxy Commander Heston had no intention of saying something so potentially infuriating however. One does not become a Clan Galaxy Commander by starting fights one doesn't need. Instead he merely nodded to the two officers and began leading them off to his waiting hover car. His Elementals maintained a watchful but respectful 50m separation- well within the accurate range of their deadly medium pulse lasers noted the Lyran officers.

There was a burst of radio chatter from the driver's compartment, and over the intercom, "Galaxy Commander, the Khan has given her approval. The exact message is waiting for you at your office, but we have confirmation from multiple flotillas that they are en route for transport duties."

The Shi-lu turned to face the Lyran officers. "It seems that today luck is on your side. Not many requests get the immediate attention of a Khan. You and your men will have Safcon through Jade Falcon territory, and the Khan will ensure that you do not run afoul of the other Clans during your transit. Your men will be allowed outside of the camp by battalion if they wish to entertain themselves before their departure."

The hovercar slewed to a halt just short of the entrance to the Jade Falcon officer's barracks, where the Lyrans would be staying. The Galaxy Commander led them inside.

((OOC: To GMs and Grae, CJF will provide transport to the defecting Lyran units at their own cost(unless Charlie wishes to further make friends with the Falcons and reimburse them in one way or another), so the Adders and the new Lyran-Clanwealth don't need to spend their own MPs on the movement.))

Quote from: Daemonknight on July 15, 2010, 03:06:20 PM
((OOC: To GMs and Grae, CJF will provide transport to the defecting Lyran units at their own cost(unless Charlie wishes to further make friends with the Falcons and reimburse them in one way or another), so the Adders and the new Lyran-Clanwealth don't need to spend their own MPs on the movement.))

(ooc: send an IC notification to Charlie via the Adders (ie, make an IC post in the Adder IC Thread) and he'll come up with something if he can)

((OOC:
Sent it via PM, before I actually saw your message. Repayment is not required, but would be appreciated and accepted gratefully; as you'll see in the message, the Falcons are offering not just transport to the nearest world, but to their final postings if that would be helpful.

However, Grae, could you help me with something? The way you describe the unit breakdown is somewhat confusing:
7th Lyran Regulars Regiment (3 Brigades: BattleMech, 14.25 FP; Armor, 20.25 FP; Infantry, 2.75 FP)
15th Lyran Guard RCT (4 Brigades: BattleMech, 23.75 FP; AeroSpace, 6 FP; Armor, 25.25 FP; Infantry, 4.25 FP)
1st Coventry Jaegers Regiment (3 Brigades: BattleMech, 12 FP; AeroSpace, 4 FP; Infantry, 22.25 FP)
[/quote]

So, the 7th Regulars is a single regiment, the 15th is an RCT, and the 1st is a Regiment...Brigades arn't inside Regiments, Regiments are inside Brigades: an RCT is another name for a Bridage. So for the 7th Regulars, they would have 3 Battalions, not 3 Bridages...otherwise, that would be it's own RCT. Likewise, the 15th, if there is actually multiple regiments of mechs, ASF, armor and infantry, that would be multiple RCTs, not a single... Just trying to clarify in my own mind exactly whats movin through town :)

end OOC))

Quote from: Daemonknight on July 15, 2010, 07:18:15 PM
((OOC:
Sent it via PM, before I actually saw your message. Repayment is not required, but would be appreciated and accepted gratefully; as you'll see in the message, the Falcons are offering not just transport to the nearest world, but to their final postings if that would be helpful.

However, Grae, could you help me with something? The way you describe the unit breakdown is somewhat confusing:
7th Lyran Regulars Regiment (3 Brigades: BattleMech, 14.25 FP; Armor, 20.25 FP; Infantry, 2.75 FP)
15th Lyran Guard RCT (4 Brigades: BattleMech, 23.75 FP; AeroSpace, 6 FP; Armor, 25.25 FP; Infantry, 4.25 FP)
1st Coventry Jaegers Regiment (3 Brigades: BattleMech, 12 FP; AeroSpace, 4 FP; Infantry, 22.25 FP)


So, the 7th Regulars is a single regiment, the 15th is an RCT, and the 1st is a Regiment...Brigades arn't inside Regiments, Regiments are inside Brigades: an RCT is another name for a Bridage. So for the 7th Regulars, they would have 3 Battalions, not 3 Bridages...otherwise, that would be it's own RCT. Likewise, the 15th, if there is actually multiple regiments of mechs, ASF, armor and infantry, that would be multiple RCTs, not a single... Just trying to clarify in my own mind exactly whats movin through town :)

end OOC))

(ooc: I just typed how they were listed and named from the list I received, and I personally have little idea as to how stuff is organized. I am learning though.

The unit's name/designation was listed in bold type, so I presumed that was the parent unit (term Ive been using to keep things straight in my head) with the offspring units in "standard" type, those offspring units being the 1 BattleMech, 1 AeroSpace, 1 Infantry, and 1 Armor "Brigades", again as they were listed.

If I confused you, I apologize, there are still aspects of the Orders that I'm still trying to comprehend.

And I'll get a response to that PM, and others a bit later, I still havent slept and am approaching 16 or 17 hours without sleep, maybe more, Ive lost track, so my brain is nearly at its limit.)

((OOC: I was just trying to make things synch up in my head, and i've only ever heard of brigades being used in CBT as a sub for a multi-regimental formation(like an RCT or their equivlents). Hence the confusion of seeing a parent unit's sub-units being of the same organizational size. No worries though, cept for your sleep deprivation. Should get on that!))

Dompaire, High Orbit
Clan Jade Falcon OZ
CJFS Jade Aerie

Star Admiral Johann Folkner gazed out the view port into the deep black of space. His view was obstructed on the left, but he had long ago come to terms with the injury that ended his aerospace piloting career. Instead he had moved to warships, where eyesight was less important that quick witts and iron resolve. He rather hoped his new mission was made interesting, although his orders expressly ordered him to avoid contact untill the transports had made it to their destination. Only an extremly important commodity could be aboard the jumpships he was to escort, considering the firepower that was being attatched to their safety.

"All hands: prepare for jump. RZ at Sudeten with transport flotillas, then re-calc the next jump." He nodded to himself in satisfaction that his bridge officers jumped to carry out his orders. It might be boring, but it was no doubt important.

Dompaire, Clan Jade Falcon OZ
Dompaire City, Jade Falcon Military Complex
Khan's Briefing Room

There was quite an assembly in the briefing room, although it was of a very different breed than what usually could be found. Instead of Clan warriors, planning their future campaigns, there were video cameras, audio pickups, and a small stampede of men and women with notpads and PDAs talking quietly under the watchfull eyes of a point of Jade Falcon Elementals in the reflective emerald armor of the Turkina Keshik. As the door opened, the largest of the guards steped foreward.

"Silence!" His voice, loud and proud from his time as a Falconer Commander(before being brought to command her personal bodyguard), Star Colonel Justin Roshak made sure that the assembled sphereoids were quite and unmoving before he allowed his Khan to enter.

Dressed as in a simple warrior's jumpsuit, Khan Sonoma none the less presented quite the figure for the cameras. A striking woman in her low-30s, she kept herself in excellent shape by sparring with her Elementals. She had sky blue eyes, and many had commented that her gaze was akin to having a battlemech staring you down. Her raven black hair was glossy and in a simple pony tail, held in place by a clip with the image of the Jade Falcon grasping a sword in it's talons.

"Welcome to Dompaire, and the Jade Falcon Occupation Zone. I had requested your presence, as the news services of the Lyran Commonwealth, to relay a message. Clan Jade Falcon is fully supporting the region of Lyran space that has declared for Star Colonel Steiner of Clan Star Adder. The message I wish for you to relay is this:

Clan Jade Falcon has no wish to see the people of the Lyran Commonwealth brought low by infighting among the nobilty.  To that end, we are fully supporting and endorsing the administration of Star Colonel Steiner. Any LCAF forces who feel that they have been, or are going to be, unfairly thrust into a war of sucession for the Lyran throne, and wish to prevent further needless bloodshed; or those wishing to join Star Colonel Steiner's new realm, are hereby offered safcon to the Jade Falcon OZ, to await redeployment and transport to the only area of the Commonwealth that is still looking out for it's people.

The provisional govornments of the factions are more interested in increasing their own power, and have no business leading the people. Clan Jade Falcon will continue to rid the Inner Sphere of self-serving nobles, including offensive operations against military units who support them. In addition to those who wish to voluntarily leave the Arc-Royal or Skye regions, I issue the following edict, effective immedeiatly:

Any Lyran-affilitated military unit who comes into conflict with Jade Falcon forces, or multi-Clan forces commanded by Jade Falcon officers, will be allowed to choose:
surrender themselves without a fight, and they will be allowed to join Star Colonel Steiner's realm, or to fight untill unable and become bondsmen of the Clan."

Khan Sonoma looked out across the stunned faces of the reporters. There was not a whisper: the assembled reporters couldn't believe the magnitude of what they had just heard.
A Clan had just offered what ammounted to amnesty for all Lyran military units who might come into contact with them. How many regiments would be willing to risk their lives
against the Clan juggernaught, when they offered a chance to continue serving the interest of the people, while remaining free of the political entanglements of the nobility.

Khan Sonoma smiled briefly before leaving. She grinned fiercly when she was no longer under the camera's glare. If it worked, this could be the coupe 'de gra to Lyran resistance. If it worked, and who knew how the various military commands would react. But it was a start to undermining their resolve.

As if Sudeten wasn't busy already....


At a point located rather close to the planet, Jump signatures were picked up, and in typical Clan fashion, Jade Falcon, and possibly a few Snow Raven, forces were quickly dispatched to investigate, while a weak and static laden message was sent groundward, "Sude <static>, Armor Brigade. Repeat, this is the 297th Tamar <static>."

"<static> Char <static> Steiner. Oh God <static>, gets through. The 297th <static> Cavalry Armor <static> declar <static> to Charlamagne <static> Adder. Request <static> immediate approach. <static> Drives are beyond repair <static> permission for <static> release and <static> Jump <static>"


When the Clan ASF's get close enough to view the latest arrivals, they see the floating near-wrecks that were once JumpShips, each still carrying a number of DropShips. Over half have only the shredded remnants of JumpSails, still deployed, dangling from their support struts, or rather what's left of them.

Miracles of all miracles, the Droppers appear to be intact, most of them already in the process of detaching as the Ships that bear them can be seen as in the beginning of uncontrolled descent towards the world around which they orbit.


The Fighters, being closer to the stricken and soon to be doomed vessels, have an easier time receiving the panicked calls, "Sudeten Command, this is the 297th Tamar Cavalry Armor Brigade. We have declared ourselves to Charlamagne Steiner of Clan Star Adder. request permission for immediate and emergency detachment and approach vectors."

"Jump Drives are out and beyond repair. Orbit is decaying. 297th Tamar Cavalry Armor Brigade has declared for Charlamagne Steiner. Requesting emergency approach vectors, several DropShips have already commenced detachment cycle."


A trio of JumpShips can be seen by the pilots twisting along their spines, with apparently one of them being the source of the broadcast as the signal suddenly goes dead. The DropShips from those three JumpShips blowing the emergency release bolts that helped secure them to the dying JumpShips.

Nearly a dozen DropShips have ignited their landing drives, having no choice since their rides are no longer capable of serving in the capacity for which they were built....

Sudeten is once more the recipient of a sizable force of once Lyran defectors that have apparently decided that their future has a better chance of survival with one Clan Warrior, Charlamagne Steiner of Clan Star Adder.


(ooc: A random roll sent via PM to the GMs had the 297th end on Montmarault, instead of where they were listed on Charlie's Unit list. Sudeten happened to be the nearest Clan world of major significance...one that they knew would have a large presence. I left the specific Clan that may send ASF and other units vague on purpose so that in this instance Clan Snow Raven could be part of the whole Lyran Defector issue should they choose.

The 297th Tamar Cavalry Armor Brigade is a 19.5 FP Unit whose rides weren't in great shape when they were "conscripted" by the Unit in order to get the 297th Tamar to Sudeten. Drives were hot-loaded and suffered catastrophic damage and the whole batch misjumped, ending up at a destination not meant for even a pirate point.)

Star Colonel Herrick Visla could feel the vein in his neck bulging against his skin. The image on his console was that of honorable warriors(sphereoids they might be), about to die because of something they had no control over. Despite a lifetime of space combat, it still enraged him to this day.

"Technician Kelswa! Contact the Shipyard: inform them that I want every last tug, PAM rocket, and anything else that could potentially be used to stabalize those vessels. Sphereoid or not, I will not allow them to die needlessly, having just sat here and not tried." The technician immediatly spun his chair and began an animated conversation over the short-wave radio band to the Jade Falcon shipyards orbiting Sudeten. The vessels were falling into the gravity well of the planet, and the time table to resuce the men within those ships was counting down.

"Helm: maximum burn! Sensors: sweep the area for lifeboats coming from the jumpships, and make sure those Snow Raven fighter pilots get the dropships into a pattern for Patterson City." The Star Colonel was an ace pilot with a dropship, in addition to an experianced SAR operator in space. He'd used just about every dropship in the Falcon touman, and not all of them for their intended purpose.

"Star Colonel, we are at 2000 kilometers, and closing fast."
"Retros, now! Get us right up and let the nose touch them. Once we're in contact, increase thrust to try and stop their rotation." An emergency maneuver at best, it was something that could be done if a helmsman had the skill(and ego) to attempt it. When the helmsman hesitated, Herrick overrode the helm controls from his captain's console, and took direct control of his vessel. Nudging foreward, the proximity sensors were constantly igniting. 1500km...1000km...500...400...250...100.

Contact. The nose of the dropship, a modified Leopard that was designed for rescue missions, he slowly increased the power to the main thruster, slowing the jumpship's Y-axis spin.



The rescue mission went on for another 5 hours: all 10 SAR dropships, and the numerous Elephants and tugs from the dockyards were involved. Although unable to save many of the stricken jumpships, there were no casualties among their crews(despite many cases of hypothermia, exposure, radiation sickness, and oxygen deprivation). The jumpships, once it was deemed impossible to save them, were destroyed by fighters, to ensure no large peices hit the atmosphere and made it to the surface intact.

On the ground, the dropships that had transported the 297th Tamar Cavalry regiment was busy undergoing the same inspections as the previous Lyran regiments to escape to Sudeten. Galaxy Commander Heston Shi-lu, along with Colonel Locke and Major Emerson were there to greet them. Also present was the wing commander of the Snow Raven fighter wing that first detected the Lyran jumpships.

The Galaxy Commander gave the arriving Lyrans the same terms as he had to Colonel Locke, and reassured them that they had arrived just in time to be outbound with the main transport flotilla.

Sudeten, Clan Jade Falcon OZ
Olivetti Weaponry Corporate HQ, Patterson City
Secure Parking Structure, 9/d

Despite the Clans taking Sudeten during the invasion, and placing large sanctions and restrictions on Inner Sphere companies, Olivetti had managed to stay its usual powerhouse, actually thriving under the Falcons. With the drastic reduction in illegal activities, and the high educational standards imposed by them, Olivetti had become one of the premiere manufacturing centers within Clan Jade Falcon. Michael Olivetti became a leading member of the Jade Falcons' Merchant Caste, despite every bias and restriction placed upon him.

His sons, Travis and Daniel, likewise had become powerful members of the merchant caste in the inner sphere. CEO and CFO respectively, the Olivetti brothers ran the company like the Clans ran their military: unrelenting, aggressive, and all out. Olivetti produced many of the best mechs the Falcons used, and their R&D department had recently acquired many Scientists from the homeworlds(part of Khan Sonoma's plan to break the clan's scientist caste up, folding the clan's researchers into it's various inner sphere companies.

Travis had been permanently assigned 2 bodyguards, named Trisha and Nicholai, both solahma elementals, still able to achieve Star Commander rank. Under orders to prevent him from harm or capture, they tended to look unkindly on sudden, and uninvited guests. Trisha immedeiatly stepped infront of Travis, while Nicholai drew his pulse laser pistol, the red aiming laser centered on the man's forehead.

"Travis Olivetti, I presume? Your bodyguards are well trained; but then again, so arn't all Elementals." The man had the build of a runner: not overly muscular, but certinly fit and in shape, he carried himself with quiet confidence. He seemed to ignore the aimed pistol, and few Inner Sphere businessmen could stare a Clan warrior and his weapon down without any outward sign of fear. Travis regained his composure quickly.

"Who are you, and what do you want? I should warn you that Star Commander Nicholai takes a very bad view of those that drop in unexpected." Trisha, who had been shielding Travis with her own body, opened her briefcase and quickly snapped the modular riot shotgun together, and began making a small circuit of the area: nobody else seemed to be present. Nicholai took his weapon down, but didn't stop aiming it at the mysterious man.

"My name is Joachim Stueben. I work for certain interests, the kind that often require discreet delivery of messages and information. You may believe me when I say that I mean you no harm. Infact, I am here to inform you of a special, one-time only business deal." Travis cocked an eyebrow at the man.

"A business deal? As you can see, I work for Clan Jade Falcon now. Any deal you are trying to make with me would need to go through them first. And I doubt that the Khan would be agreeable to any kind of deal with the mob." Stueben merely smiled, indicating the correct assumption about his employers. He didn't seem to mind the accusation however.

"Well, you are correct about my employers, although I myself am not a member of the organization. However, this is not a deal that is availible to everyone, and indeed not to anyone else in Clan Jade Falcon. You, personally, are being invited to attend."

"What exactly is the nature of this business deal then, Stueben? I've got a very important dinner tonight, so let's cut the crap and get on with it, shall we?" Stueben smiled and opened his jacket, slowly so the bodyguards could see both hands. He withdrew a small envelope, and held it out, where Nicholai took it from him and placed it within his own suit jacket.

"In the envelope, you'll find a set of coordinates and instructions. Its a special access auction. Head to those coordinates, and you'll be picked up by jumpship and transported to the auction's location. You may, of course, bring whatever bodyguards you feel are nessicary, although I would caution you to limit it to no more than a single squad: no telling how many others will bring their bodyguards, and we don't want to start a war." He grinned slightly, taking a pair of sunglasses from his jacket pocket. He took a few backward steps before turning on his heel and walking away, but stoped after about 10 steps.

"One last thing, Mr. Olivetti. I would ensure that you do not warn the Clan of our little transaction."

"Oh I wouldn't worry about that Stueben. You arn't as stealthy as you like to think you are." The new voice came from further into the parking structure, and all 4 men spun to find the source of the voice. A shadow moved away from among the cars, two red aiming dots appearing on the broad, well muscled chest that walked closer to Joachim. The envoy's eyebrows raised about an inch when the man's face came into view. He barely noticed the other 5 men behind the lead figure, although he vaugley was aware of the slide racking on a number of shotguns and rifles.

"You're dead! I saw it happen, not a mile from here, when the Clans returned! How are you..."

Reinhardt smiled at his old mentor. "Well, thankfully your training, combined with the LIC's did wonders for a man trying to survive in a hostile enviroment. The Clans have seen fit to ensure I have the medical assistance I need to stave off the worst damage." Stueben noticed the slight off color to his old protege's right arm, and the skin around his left eye(which itself seemed slightly odd).

"You need not worry: i'm not here to kill you, or turn you in. However, I am here to inform you that I will be present at this little auction of yours. To make sure that Mr Olivetti here comes home safely...and to acquire the object thats so important, the mafia would risk contacting the head of a Clan's manufacturing center openly."

Stueben swallowed hard. His eyes flitted back and forth between Reinhardt and Olivetti. "I won't say anything. No worries: i've been paid already. Just head to those coordinates: no military or else they'll spook."

Reinhardt nodded and let the mobster leave. He turned to Travis Olivetti, nodding to the two elementals as he passed(both were Watch operatives, although Olivetti wasn't aware of it).

"Mr Olivetti, my name is Reinhardt, and I work for the Clans. My men and I will be accompanying you and your bodyguards. Have no fear: this is an oportunity that we cannot afford to pass up. Whatever the item in question is, it must be of great importance."

Wroclaw, Lyran Commonwealth(Arc-Royal faction)
Asteroid Belt, 950,000 kilometers from Pirate jump point
CJFS Jade Aerie Battlegroup

Star Admiral Johann Folkner surveyed the radar readouts, satisfied the equipment was functioning properly. Considering that they had yet to read a single inbound ship, shuttle or fighter since the fleet had arrived, he considered himself lucky this month. The fleet had spent the past 6 days charging their batteries and jump drives, the distance from the sun(almost 5 AU!) making the job longer than normal. The majority of the fleet had already locked the new jump coordinates into their computers, waiting only for the whole fleet to be charged. Johann decided the transports would charge before the escorts, deeming them more important(and unable to defend themselves).

The ex-Lyran unit, the 275th Independent Aerospace wing, had been pulling patrol duties for the past few days, at the insistence of their pilots. There had been some initial animosity between the Clan's aerospace pilots and the Lyrans, but a series of simulated war games had eased some of the tension. There would always be hostility between them, considering the two groups have been in near constant warfare for the past decade. Soon, they would find themselves on the same side in a fight to liberate an ex-Lyran world from potential aggression.

Folkner smiled. "There was poetry there, quiaff?" he asked himself. An ex-Lyran military force, teaming up with a Clan that had ravaged their nation for a decade, to defend an ex-Lyran world(now Clan), from hostile Inner Sphere militaries. "A damn Terran tragedy" he thought. The Aerie's XO, Star Captain Joshua Visla, was slightly off-put from the odd smile on his commander's face. Generally a serious, humorless bastard, Folkner's smile was seldom seen unless an opponent was about to recieve the killing blow. He decided to brave the potential storm.

"You seem to be in a good mood today, Star Admiral." Despite having served together as CO and XO for the better part of the invasion era, Joshua was always a little formal with his mentor.

"I was just thinking about our mission, Joshua. Lyran and Clan, working together to save a Clan world from the depredations of potential Inner Sphere forces. Seems a bit backwards, does it not?" The XO nodded in agreement, although he wondered what could be wrong. The Star Admiral was not the type to think in such terms often.

"It does seem that our mission has changed recently. Although to be honest, I think it is a good thing. It is the first time ever, for a Clan to take possession of an Inner Sphere world, or sector in this case, without requiring even a single trial. It feels as if maybe the Founder's Dream is finally coming true, at least in places." Folkner's smile dropped a little bit.

"Yes. However, not every battle can be so easy." Now Joshua knew something was wrong. Folkner was the type of warrior who never admitted anything was even the least bit inconvenient. He didn't believe in no-win situations, or lost causes, or anything other than total victory or death. But that last comment, Joshua had for the first time, seen regret in his commander's eyes, heard it in his voice. Before he could ask what the problem was, Star Admiral Folkner turned and walked over to his command pulpit. Joshua followed him, and looked at the message displayed there.

Quote
Priority Alpha Transmission
Destination: CJFS Jade Aerie Battlegroup
Subject: Tamar

Terran Hegemony Fleet evaded Clan coalition navy.

Nuclear attack launched against Clan coalition naval forces.
-Multiple ships lost with all hands.

Ensuing battle vs Clan Wolf-in-Exile navy.
-Raven naval star lost, low salvage rate.
--Attrition rate: ultra-high.

Joshua felt like he did when his Falconer had struck him on his first day on Ironhold. That the Wolves would be so cowardly to use nuclear weapons against another Clan. Had they truly fallen so far? Their integration with the true Clan Wolf would have surely made them capable of anything, but to be so craven as to hide behind nuclear fire was so un-Clanlike that he was barely able to process the information.

"We should have been there, to fight alongside our Raven brothers. We should have been there to avenge their memories on the Wolves." Star Admiral Folkner's face was no longer smiling, no longer thoughtful. It was full of cold fury, the likes of which Star Captain Joshua Visla had never before seen. The scared tissue around his ruined eye was an angry red, his fists clenched to contain himself. The Star Admiral was a calm, cool, methodical man. Now he looked like he would tear apart the Wolf Navy barehanded, if given the chance.

"Circulate the report Star Captain. Make sure the Lyrans know as well, that the SLDF is commanded by such a Wolf. Let them know our fury. Tell our warriors that I expect them to honor the memories of their fellow Clansmen against any opposition we find at Coventry."

Johann Folkner looked at his starmap once the Star Captain had left. He could almost feel bad for any Sphereoid forces at Coventry that might oppose his warriors. They would soon feel the unmitigated devestation that the Jade Falcon's premiere naval battle group could unleash.

News of saKhan Pryde's death was quickly circulated among the Jade Falcons. Some believed he should have accepted bondsref, while some lauded him for not succumbing to the Blood Spirit Khan. In any case, the voting for his now vacant position was quickly taken up. It was almost a foregone conclusion, with one warrior coming out above the rest by a margin of almost 2:1.

However, it was soon revealed that the saKhan had not been killed, but had passed out from wounds sustained when his mech's reactor had exploded. Hours after the battle had finished, he was delivered to the medical building attatched to the Grand Council chambers by Blood Spirit MedTechs. He regained conciousness later that day.

FWLS Guwain Merchant Class Jumpship
Nadir Point, Sudeten System
Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone

"All stations report clear Sir Knight, dozens of large contacts are registering but this is a merchant vessel our Warbook is insufficient to classify contacts sir. We are reading several trinaries worth of fighters and Dropships vectoring our way... Sir Knight what are your orders?"

"...Be at peace Captain ours is a mission of negotiation. The Free Worlds have dealt honorably with the Clans we can be certain that they will hear my challenge. If they attempt to seize this ship I and my men will defend it in a trial...and these are some of the finest Knights the Inner Sphere has ever known. Mere Clan Warriors shall not best us while we yet breathe."

"I have no doubt sir Knight but a Lithium-Ion equipped vessel would have..."

"Now Captain be at peace, we shall soon be dealing with them most closely and your crew shall take its cue's from you. Now if you would be so kind I require a communications channel to Sudeten it is time to begin our discourse with our good Falcon Neighbors."

"Of course, of course, the channel shall be opened now Sir Knight I just hope you and the Captain-General both know what it is that you are doing."


"Greetings, I am General Sir Paul Masters, The Earl of Gibson, Knight-Commander of the Knights of the Inner Sphere, a General of the LCCC and Knight Champion of the Free Worlds League...

I have come at the behest of my Liege Lord Captain-General Thomasl Marik Duke of Atreus & Defender of the Free Worlds to challenge the Clans to honorable contest. Whom among you has the singular honor to treat with me and take up my challenge."

"I am Galaxy Commander Heston Shi-lu, commander of the Jade Falcon garrison of Sudeten. State your business General Masters, it is generally unsafe to appear unannounced at a Clan-held system. What manner of challenge do you bear?"

The FWLS Guwain's sensors are ringing with a bevy of sensor contacts, many stars of CJF fighters and the huge returns of warships further into the system.

"Galaxy Commander I go where the Captain-General sends me and he has sent me to Sudeten to deliver a challenge to all the Clans from the Free Worlds League."

"Being as Sudeten is the capital of the Jade Falcon Clan and being as the IlKhan is Jade Falcon along with our recent attempts to arrange such a far reaching challenge, this seemed the best place to come to issue such a challenge and reach the IlKhan, either through your communications networks or the Senior Falcon Officer on planet."

"To deliver this challenge personally I require the right to land upon your world and to utilize your communications apparatus, and your cooperation to route such a message to the IlKhan."

"As such I ask this be provided to expedite the Larger Trial and I am prepared to come to Sudeten in a unarmed shuttle and leave the same way." 

"I request SafCon for this purpose Galaxy Commander but I am prepared to fight for that singular honor with the my personal Mech on a field of your choosing if that is your desire."

"Your request for SafCon is granted. A star of Jade Falcon aerospace fighters shall escort a lone dropship to a landing pad at the Patterson Aerospace Port. You will then be transported via motorcade to meet with the ilKhan. As it happens, she is present in the flesh, and has agreed to meet with you. You will be allowed 2 retainers or bodyguards, and no weapons. Expect to be searched and scanned before being allowed to see the ilKhan. Coordinates are being transmitted now."

A single star of CJF Scytha Bs form up around the FWL jumpship, and escort the FWL dropship to the aerospace port. Upon landing, the General and his 2 retainers are loaded into blacked out, armored hovercars, and taken to the CJF Military Headquarters Building. After being searched for weapons, and finding none(i would sincerely hope for their sake) by a point of Elementals in black armor, they are lead into a spartan meeting room. Another 2 points of the black armored Elemental suits line the walls, and ilKhan Diana is sitting at the head of the table, idly fingering the old scar from her past visit to the planet. She stands as the General is led into the room.

"Well met General Masters, I am ilKhan Diana Pryde. I am in no mood for pleasantries, so let us cut to the chase, shall we? What exactly is your mission here?"

Jade Falcon Khan Private Chambers
Sudeten, Jade Falcon Occupation Zone


Out of the corner of his left eye, Sir Paul took notice of Sir Joffrey Marshal's ramrod straight and calm demeanor and Dame Janice Rosencratz likewise held her bearing in her dress white's honoring the Order of the Silver Cross with her presence. Neither letting any sign of offense or notice to the hulking jet black Elementals which surrounded them on all sides as their comrades patted them down or any attention to the rather forceful efforts being taken to insure that neither was armed in contravention of the terms of SafCon.


IlKhan Diana Pryde, I am sorry to hear that you do not understand the importance of courtesy in dealing with fellow warriors. Courtesy to ones foes is one of the things that separates true warriors from mere combatants. Civilization from barbarism, those who follow codes of honor from those who live only for mindless slaughter. It is a necessary thing a sign that people care for more then themselves but those around them.


But I am not here to discuss relative social or personal codes of conduct, etiquette, no Khan Pryde I am here at the behest of my rightful Liege Lord Thomas Marik.

It is at his order I have come here to issue you this challenge. It is most fortuitous that you are in fact on Sudeten to receive it.

The Free Worlds League hereby Challenges the Clans to meet us with equal force in a contest of arms on a planet of your choosing, for the purpose of finally bringing to to a point of decision this wasteful war between the Free Worlds and the Clans of Kerensky.

In short Khan Pryde, your war with the Terrans is not our war. It is not our Isle of Skye Comrade's war. If you wish to fight the Terrans we shall give you ample opportunity to do so.

With a truce in place you may seek your trials with the Terrans through the territories not covered by the truce secure that we shall remain on our own side of the border. Or should you by some quirk of lady fortune win, you shall have SafCon through Free Worlds Territory to mount your....trials against the Terran Hegemony.

If fortune should be fickle and smile upon your own martial endeavors then you shall gain SafeCon through Free Worlds League territory with which to  prosecute your....trials against the Terran Hegemony.

If you are amenable to this challenge merely name the size of the trial we are prepared to meet you with equal force be it thirty of our warships or a single Lance, I stand ready to convey your response to the Captain-General at your leisure.

With that Sir Paul smiled,  secure in the knowledge that his Knights would once more sally forth at the bidding of his liege lord to once more bring an end to the needless suffering massive war. Soon the killing shall be over and the Free Worlds shall once more have peace. Soon.


OOC:
non-FWL hex's in addition to Free Worlds League current borders that contstitute the Truce Line

6016
0717
0816
0917
1016
1117
1217
1317
1417
1517
1518
1519
1619
1720
1820
1921
2022
2123
2223
2224
2225

Along the line of these worlds in addition to FWL current borders no additional expansion of Clan Occupation Zone's will be allowed should the FWL succeede in its trial. Worlds currently held by Clan forces on the other side of this line may be trialed for or if lost by the Clans holding them trials may be conducted to retake them.

ilKhan Pryde's eyes narrowed at the mis-use of her old title.

"It has not been 'Khan Pryde' for some time, General. ilKhan is my present title, or ovKhan if you like. However as you said, we are not here to instruct one another in social decorum.

I shall bring you an answer once I have convened with the Grand Council. While I could verywell accept your offer outright, or dismiss it out of hand, I shall see what my fellow Clansmen think of your offer. You shall have our answer soon. Untill then, feel free to enjoy Patterson City. Star Captain: the General and his attendants will not cause trouble, nor require an escort. They are to be treated as a diplomatic envoy from another honorable Clan. See that they are comfortably housed within the City." The ilKhan rose from her seat, and nodded once to the General before leaving, the Elemental bodyguard silently following her out, leaving the 3 Leaugers along in the conference room with a hard edged man in a Mechwarrior's jumpsuit.

"This way, General Masters." He led them back out the way they had come.

Sudeten
3rd January 3070

A quite big IR signature signalled the arrival of a Warship. Seconds later, a burst of information went to Sudeten proper and reached it within 45 minutes. A calm female voice spoke: "Sudeten Command, this is the CIHS Pack Leader. Star Admiral Shelly Tyler in Command. We request a stable point for Repair and Refit. Also we wish for some Ground time for our Crews. Send us coordinates and schedule a short time in the Yard. Since the Sudeten Battle, we have not been damaged, but an inspection is in order nonetheless. Star Admiral Shelly Tyler out."

"Star Admiral Shelly Tyler, this is ODS Neuschwanstein, Sudeten Defense Command. You are authorized to utilize Shipyard Facility Alpha, located on Sudeten-Alpha, currently on the dark side of the planet. Also, space has been cleared at Terminal R4 at Patterson City Aerospace Port for your crews to land.

"Excellent, Neuschwanstein. Preparing to land. And by the way, we wish you a good New Year."

Galaxy Commander Heston Shi-lu could scarely believe the report that his Elemental was giving him.

"The Lyran said WHAT!? Where is he? Is their Trial over? Verywell, I shall inform the Khan immediatly. Such an offense will not go unpunished! STRAVAG!"

The Galaxy Commander immediatly went to the Falcon's HPG room, and informed Khan Sonoma of what was transpiring on the landing pad. Despite being uttered by such a low-ranking warrior as a Lieutenant, it was quite a stupid thing to say to any Clanner, especially one as traditional as a Jade Falcon. They had lost something of their former selves, atleast in the Galaxy Commander's opinion, but the recent moves of the Khan and ilKhan had fired the old firecness that once was the hallmark of the Clan. He also made sure to have a copy of the transmission sent to the ilKhan over at the ICW complex.

If the Arc-Royalers had even the slightest idea of the trouble that one man's comment could cause them, they would be trembling in their Estates General...

saKhan Brian Pryde was seething as he gathered his few belongings together for yet another transit. He had just been informed of the incident at the spaceport, and the subsequent message that had arrived from the Tharkad Martyrs. He had nearly struck the Technician that had given him the message, but stoped himself at the last moment. It was not the Tech's words, not would it do to lose control in such a fashion. It did, however, give him ample oportunity to move forewards with his plans.

He had felt for quite some time, that the Jade Falcons were slowly falling behind some of the other Clans in terms of power and influence. The loss of the Wolves had given rise to the Snow Ravens to eradicate one of the Falcons' usual opponents, something that Brian thought Khan Sonoma should have moved more forcibly against. Now however, an entirly new prospect had arisen. These Tharkad Martyrs, nothing but traitors and rebels to their nation, were exactly the kind of group who Kerensky had been trying to get away from. Not this time however.

The saKhan was wise enough to keep these thoughts to himself while he considered his options. Khan Sonoma would likly make peace with the stravags, ever willing to avoid a fight if she could help it. How such a cowardly woman had gained the Khanship, he would never know. The ilKhan seemed to share some of his sentiments, although he had not run into her more than twice since arriving.

Now however, it was time to leave. He wanted to be on-world before Star Colonel Icaza and his guest arrived, to meet them as they landed. That, and he was very much interested in meeting the Archduchess whom he had read so much about of late.