Federated Suns IC Roleplaying Thread

[Daemonknight]

Faction Roleplaying Thread

[Daemonknight]

Skies above North Sea
Y's, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
January 1, 3091

Flying across the waves of the dark North Sea, the Cal-Boeing Swifttrain in the livery of the AFFS with the seal of the Prince's Champion on its side sped towards the artificial island of Y's. The VTOL with its four shift engine speed along chopping into the stinging rain.

With the wonder from the first Star League ahead, the VTOL slowed down as it came into sight of a Armed Forces of the Federated Suns Base on the edge of the island. Quickly getting to a landing pad, the VTOL's four engines shifted to a vertical decline. And the pilots landed the aircraft on the correct spot with the undercarriage shifting out.

Bouncing for a moment, the VTOL's  passengers were meet by personal from DMI and base personal. An umbrella was handed to the aging gentleman. "To be forty again," sighed Champion Conrad Davion. His once fiery hair was slowly shifting to grey. And then there was his companion, the new Marshall of the Armies, Cameron Kabriniski. The man was nine feet of muscle with a small pudge now around his middle. Age was creeping on the elemental. However, the tailors had made his dress uniform hide the beginnings of middle age from being totally visible as long as his love of cooking and fine foods didn't become too daily.

"So why are we holding a Privy Council meeting here?" asked Cameron. The start of quaff had begun, but Cameron had gotten better at not using Clan speak. Then again being in the Suns for more than twenty years had kept that from occurring. Conrad shook his head.

"With Yvonne off on Argyle still after that last Fall Court, I decided it best to bring up the issue somewhere secure especially with spies nearly everywhere."

Cameron nodded. He had observed the last Court as it usually went. However, there was a discussion that had also occurred in the High Council as well. And it was a question that struck at the heart of the Suns.

As the sounds and the pricks of the sharp cold rain stopped as the two entered the designated elevator, the two knew that at least some good had come from the Dark. It had caused the AFFS to build other secure facilities on New Avalon in case of an invader taking the Fox's Den. The facility housed a submarine built for the high command to have a mobile facility.

Below Sea Level

Arriving inside the FSS Sea Fox, the Champion and Marshall were meet by a representative of George Hasek, Baron Morgan Hasek, the Duke's youngest child. As well sitting at the secure table was the aging President of the High Council-Horatio DuVall, Lady Irene Harlock-Morrison-a representative of the Outback, Lord Paul Bowman-grandson and heir to the Duke of the Terran (Tikonov) March, Jerome Sandoval- an aide to Duke Tancred Sandoval of the Draconis March, and of course Exchequer Joel Bandcraft Connors.

Sitting down at the head, Conrad nodded to each. As the room became secure as soldiers moved out of the room, Conrad took off his AFFS hat. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I appreciate that you all could arrive. However, what I've asked you all her for is to seek your support for something that has needed to be addressed for awhile."

Conrad looked at them each. "Whether the Star League is good for the Federated Suns."

There was immediately chatter. Irene Harlock-Morrison, daughter of the Duke of Sheerwood and the commander of the Filtvelt Chasseurs, spoke with the major opinion of the average Suns citizen. "We should leave the Star League end of story."

Exchequer Joel Connors-Bandcraft looked at the young petite redheaded woman. "Are you serious, madam? If we leave the Star League that will cause exports to dry up." Paul Bowman then retorted strokking his nearly trimmed black beard gave a deep laugh. "Who's to say that the Suns would lose any exports?"

But it was Baron Morgan Hasek who spoke up first, he shook his head. "It isn't exports that worry me. What if the Capellans use it as a means to get Star League troops to attack our boarders to take our nation?" He then pressed several buttons and a proposal showed the Capellan March being eaten alive. "As much as I liked to have the Suns leave the Star League, it creates a problem that we would be picked apart by it."

Jerome Sandoval stating to show signs of middle age chuttered. "Perhaps you have grown too fat with the economic powerhouse that is New Syrtis, Hasek. The Draconis March is clear that the Star League is a waste of resources that weakens us. All we have to look at is the number of soldiers, men and women, who lost their lives in the Suns to defeat the Dark. How many of them wore the Star League Defense Force Uniform?"

Cameron Kabriniski chuckled. "The Wolves were too busy saving everyone but the Suns." Conrad Davion nodded. "The real issue that eats at everyone at this table are the loss of the benefits that the Star League provides the Suns." Shifting the hologram away from the projection created by Hasek. He showed a chart that listed the benefits of the League and the its costs."

Conrad went on. "So far when we have been invaded by the Capellans and the Combine during the Tikonov War, the Star League itself stood on its hands. Member states did help, but it wasn't sanctioned by the Star League High Council. During the Dark Conflict when our worlds and people were burning, the Star League was more concerned with other states like Taurus and Randis than one world in the Suns even as our troops died on worlds like Morges and Great X for the Star League."

Joel Connors-Bandcarft looked stunned for a moment and then focused on Conrad. "And you would leave the Star League when the last time that occurred we nearly were ostracized from every other nation in the Inner Sphere."

Cameron Kabrinisi spoke up. "Well far from me as Marshall of the Armies to point out, there is a momunment to the Magistracy of Canopus on New Avalon due to that hopeless stand that their warriors did on Panpour. And of course . . .the Hell Horse took out a couple of the Dark warships when our navies were being sacrificed to hold the line here in the Suns and in the Lyran territories." He then added as a joke, "We just have to remember to not allow the Free Worlds League to be in command of operations; it tends to get out ships and men killed."

The Exchequer sighed. "Is there anything that I can say that will get you to see reason that we can't just leave the Star League. Our people are members of it, and I'm sure that any quick exit would leave us open to attack."

Conrad focused on Joel. "You are a good accountant, but we have born witness that our nation and armies are merely tools for ours to avoid those costs, and we are left to blow in the wind if invaded. However, we can always feel out the other nations to see how they would react to our leaving the Star League. Though we can already figure that Kali Liao the Cruel would use it to her advantage."

"And what of Victor?"

Suddenly the sound of metal grinding was heard, and all the heads except for Conrad turned to see Arthur Steiner-Davion, the cyborg, walk into the light. "If we cause pain to my family, we wil solve nothing."

The conversation continued.

**RP written by Lord Harlock**

[Daemonknight]

Corean Enterprises
Jeretha, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
January 15, 3091

"As you can see the expansion of the complex has resulted in the new facilities that have been built underground," said the tour guide for the new management trainees. One of the bright young executives raised his hand, his accent was a bit thick showing a bit of russian, and his background from the Terran March made that understandable. "Comrade, what about the Valkryie line, it appears to be mostly above ground still. It may attract the unsavory sort!"

The main center of the Corean Enterprise industry empire was the Valkyrie light mech line had been built just as the first Star League ended. Though it had a constant output over generations, Valkyries were never the only thing being built at the massive complex on New Avalon. Mechs such as the Centurions which now being built on New Sytris by Johnston Industries after the acquisition of Jalastar Aerospace's mech and aerospace designs after the ravaging of Panpour.

The tour guide laughed as he raised his cane trying shake those dark thought. "We have taken that into account, and we have an emergency line that was built inside the underground facility after the Readiness Preparations of 3069 to keep Valkyries being built on New Avalon in case of an actual invasion."

And then old Robert Douchette smiled at the young lads and lasses as they followed him. If nothing else, he was nearing his end, and what happened to his own son still caused him sorrow. All he had left was his job, and he enjoyed talking to the younger generation to see a bit of the light. "To answer your question fully, Mr. Markevich, Corean has used billions of pounds to ensure that our operations are not threatened incase of martial problems. Though our Stewart Facilities in the Free World League have suffered for that, we feel that our homebase needs to be well protected and ready for any possibility. And we are defiantly doing better than Defiance Industries at the moment."

The young men and women nodded. At one point, Defiance Industries was basically the key to the Lyran industrial complex. At the moment, their primary facility of Hesperus II was under the government of the Free Worlds League, and though the facility had been expanded, worlds like New Avalon, New Syrtis, and Tikonov had become larger producers of mechs.

Tikonov had become a great jewel in the Suns' Empire. General Motors had bought out the facilities on Tikonov owned by Ceres Metals Industries due to several issues including questions from the Economic Trade Commission about certain sales to the Capellans. After expanding the facilities and adding billions of Federated Suns Pounds into it, the new Cobb GM Complex built Royal Battlemasters, the new Warlords, tanks, cars, and anything else that GM built save for their venerable Marauder line which was still built on their homeworld of Kathil. They even built Hellspawns on Tikonov which Douchette considered as a joke and a honor to its greatest defender, Hoban Cobb.

Earthwerks had expanded their facilities as well on Tikonov, but to keep their foreign origins from being a deterrent to AFFS contracts, they gave the facilities to Kallon Industries, a subsidiary of Earthwerks more well regarded in the Suns. It had worked to their advantage since a Templar line had been added to the facilities as well. And Earthwerks still got a cut of the profits.

Douchette decided it was time to give the execs some fun since the tour was nearly over. "Well I think its time to show you the Vault." Raising his cane, the frail old man signaled a van that picked up the party. Quickly the men and women in the favored broad shouldered wear of the Suns got in. Douchette saw the waving flag of the Sunburst as he sat down. It wavered in the breeze with its tricolor and sunburst.

As the van passed a Valkyrie in Corean Enterprise colors escorting a new Fennec mech for a test run, Douchette thought back on the Suns' dropping of the Crucis Plan. Companies had been encouraged by Minister Conrad Davion to start building new facilities in the mid Crucis March and the Outback. Though the Suns was a free market and the government loathed to interfere with internal issues of companies or member planets for the most part, one of the things that Conrad Davion, minister of the Crucis March, did was to encourage lowering of local regulations on certain worlds to encourage business development. And in a lot of cases, he had succeeded. But it came apart quickly.

And as Douchette looked around Corean Enterprises' complex, he saw the reason that it had failed. The various measures for defenses of key industries lingered and had expanded. He could hear the chatter behind him from the children of those days talking about the scarring and ravaging that would have occurred if the Dark had gotten to New Avalon. Like the Dark had done to many worlds in the Outback and to Panpour. The death tolls had been unprecedented. But Panpur had been the point where the AFFS pushed back the Dark after so much sacrifice.

It slightly disgusted him. The Suns should be about the spreading of the light of freedom to those dark places that exist in the universe. However now, the people and possibly the leaders saw their neighbors as merely lost. It was better to defend the Suns from those blighted other realms than to attempt to bring forth a bit of freedom in these other realms. Then again, the Suns unlike the Taurian Concordat had to weather the Dark alone for the most part. The Naval Officer Corp had started a tradition of spitting at image of Smoke Jaguar near their headquarters in Avalon City.

But the real issue as the gate to the Vault opened was not traditions against dead monsters, it was the feeling that the Federated Suns should just stand alone. It came from a feeling of being asked to give every ounce of blood to receive not even a kind word.  The new generation felt no real love for the rest of the Sphere or especially for the Clans. And Robert Douchette could understand that feeling. He got it every time he thought of the Terran Hegemony, and what it cost him personal.

But as the inverted gait of the Fennec fascinated Robert as it disappeared with its escort, he felt the van enter the dark tunnel to the Vault. The darkness surrounded him, and the only light was the red warning lights. The sounds of klaxons blazed, and all Robert could think was the surprises that the kids were about to have. And then as the van slowed down, he wondered if the profits this year would be enough for the Augusta project. Though Corean Enterprises had plentiful operation on New Avalon, there wasn't much space to build onto the facility anymore. The continent of Brunswick's available space was being bought up by Achernar Battlemechs and Lycomb-Davion Introtech. With that in mind, Augusta was optimal for future expansion.

And then they entered the vault. As the van passed Corean Enterprises Security, Robert got ready to jump out. Out of the van, Robert got out with his tour. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the Vault. This is where Corean stores our prototypes and oddities."

Gazing on various mechs from an odd Valkyrie to a odd box like mech, the group gasped in excitment. A olive colored young woman named Zina Peron asked a specific question. "Mr. Douchette, what's that mech?"

Douchette smiled. "That's why we end the tour with the Vault. You young pups always are impressed by it. Thankfully, your security clearances all passed otherwise we'd had to skip the Vault." And then Douchette got a twinkle in his eye. "The AFFS expressed interest in a Centurion with a rotary auto cannon around 3066. However as the project went on, the designers myself included started to switch and alter the idea."

He pointed at the pushed forward box like mech with claw like hand actuators. Douchette then used his cane to point at the mech's one main weapon raising above the cockpit "The AFFS looked over our final product, the Legionaire, but they decided simply that it was a one trick pony. It only has a RAC, but its speed and the target computer made that one weapon deadly."

And then a bit of sadness appeared in the old man. "Personally, I helped out with the design, but it's greatest asset was that it was cheap to make under distressed economic conditions."

Douchette mood brightened a bit. "Perhaps, I . . . no we were little too pessimistic in the design. If we had thought about it, the Dark weren't going to get to New Avalon. So why design a cheap to make mech?"  So Douchette pointed to something else. "As much as the Suns is turning inward, we here at Corean Enterprises have to look outward and think about the future. Look at this little number, and I do say 'little' in jest."

Standing there was a large assault level humanoid mech, its arms ended each in a heavy ppc. One of the execs said that he thought that it had two lasers as well. "But that's a Devestator! It was built by the Lyrans." Indeed, the Devstator had been built by the Lyrans, but its' origins dated back to General Aleksandr Kerensky.

Douchette enjoyed the reaction to that project, and he explained. "Ah but the Devestator was initially brought back by the New Avalon Institute of Science, and it was only through a license from the NAIS Information Network that Norse-Storm got the ability to build that machine."

Douchette smiled at pride at the modified Devastator. "The AFFS wants Devastators, and I'm willing to bet other militaries want some as well. If Corean can go forward with our plans on Augusta, and at the same time get the license for the Devastator, this mech will surely be bought by the FWLM and possibly the new LAAF. Maybe the Federal Trade Commission will allow other sales"

And then he added. "We can never laugh at the chances for sales and think only of getting the AFFS contract." Perhaps Douchette could get them to realize that to survive the Suns needed to shine its light a bit instead of keeping it to themselves.

And then he thought, it will become apparent with time.

**RP written by Lord Harlock**

[Parmenion]

Horse Alliance Embassy

Avalon City, New Avalon

Feb 3091

For a sixtytwo year old, Unther Cooper was an old dog.  Old in that he used the skills and knowledge acquired in over fifty years of combat to routinely defeat opponents a third of his age.  And a dog because some of the skills he had acquired was not out of any known unarmed combat book.  Moving across to where a small table held a jug of water and some glasses, he disdained the use of a glass and instead upended the water jug and quaffed a third of it.  For the rest of it, he walked back over to where one of his guards, a young Elemental named Johan, lay unconscious and slowly poured the cool liquid over his face.

"You could not help yourself, could you?"

At the sound of the woman's voice, Unther turned around, a grin already planted on his face.  "I was only obliging the young ristar.  And you know how I do not like disppointing our colts.  Aff?"

Kymma, no longer Kymma DeLaurel as she had given over her bloodname to a new generation of Horse warriors, laughed and shook her head.  Still a beautiful woman at 53, and a peerless mechwarrior, she looked fondly again at what the Inner Sphere would supposedly call her husband.  Separately, they had been pushed into Eta Galaxy by old Khan Fletcher back in the 3050s and had been together ever since.  First as Galaxy Commander and Star Colonel, and then as 'lovers'.  The word still felt strange after all these years, but it probably summed up the relationship between the two.  Unther moreso, as he had adopted a number of Inner Sphere habits as he had progressed from warrior to diplomat.  Habits which she had more or less had to put up with as time went by.  Then again some 'habits' were easier to assimilate than others as she recalled with warmth the message just in from Onverwacht.  Dante had sent word that he had been nominated for a slot in the upcoming trial for an available DeLaurel bloodname.  And Sasha had just graduated from her sibko as a Star Commander.  Unther was unaware of either as yet, which should prove interesting when she finally told him.

"Aff.  Which is always your excuse.  However you have an appointment at 1400 hours.  The Davion trade delegation will be on time, which you will not be unless you get showered, changed and eaten by then."

Unther raised an eyebrow at that slightly, then changed his grin into a sly smile.  "Eaten?  Depends what is on the menu?" 

Knowing that look, Kymma was already moving towards the exit as she spoke.  "Hurry up, Mr Ambassador."   

[Daemonknight]

Avalon City, New Avalon
February 3091

A lance of heavies was crunching down the main street of Avalon City, lasers and missiles streaking into the hastily constructed barricades manned by brave AFFS infantrymen in their battle armor. Their paltry response of SRMs was largely overpowered by the onslaught of LRMs from the two Archers stalking down a cross street, and the barricade was obliterated in a storm of fire and shrapnel. The two lances were painted a matte black color, without unit or House insignia, and they continued pumping laser fire into the buildings on either side of the street as they advanced.

2 Archers, a Battlemaster, and a Shadow Hawk made up one lance, while a Warhammer, Marauder, Rifleman and Orion made up the other. The buildings shook with the force of their footfalls, and it seemed the lightly manned defenses were falling back in disarray. Arthur smiled, a grim and feral mask of metal and flesh, staring out the view port of his cockpit. He switched to the command frequency and clicked it twice in quick succession. There was no acknowledgment for a few moments, then the high-pitch scream of aerospace fighters could be heard overhead. The black-clad Rifleman's arm-barrels swung up to the sky as it's advanced targeting computer tried to get a bead, and it began streaming explosive death skyward from it's autocannons. There were 4 fighters, all of whom deftly twirled, ducked and otherwise avoided the deadly lines of explosive shells as they slammed their afterburners and dropped low enough to the deck so the Rifleman couldn't draw a bead because of the buildings.

Skimming the very tops of the buildings was dangerous flying, but the pilots under Arthur's command were some of the best in the AFFS, and they proved it when they converged on the enemy lances from 3 directions, all of them releasing their lethal payloads before streaking away before the enemy lances could engage them. Each of the heavy Transgressors had carried 3 Inferno Bombs, turning the wide street into a hellish inferno. Two of the bombs directly impacted the Battlemaster in the chest, knocking the large mech down before releasing fiery hell into the street. For 30 meters in all directions was nothing but fire and smoke, obscuring thermal and optic sensors, but there was little need for them as Arthur's command lance appeared like ghosts from the surrounding streets.

And Awesome 9Q stepped out from behind a broken down apartment building, how Arthur's men had stayed hidden no longer a secret. It opened up with all 4 PPCs, launching man-made lightening into the rear armor of one of the Archers, drilling all the way into the mech's missile storage bays, which combined with the heat from the infernos, caused the mech's entire torso to implode, throwing the second Archer off it's feet, which the Awesome then finished with another round of PPC bolts.

Across the street, a Templar C jumped up onto the top level of a parking structure, which groaned under the weight but held. It used it's height to rain solid rounds from it's LB-X 20 into both the Warhammer and Orion, the heavy slugs ripping huge rents in the big machines, who began trying to move out of the conflagration they suddenly became embroiled in. Their attempted escape was cut off by a hulking Fafnir, which took both mechs down with expert head-shots from it's twin Heavy Gauss Cannons.

The remaining mechs, their armor scorched from the infernos and their heat gauges threatening overload, began trying to retreat but it was then Arthur made his move. He exited what had looked like a blasted out building, which he had backed into only minutes before the enemy lances came down the street. Emerging now in his Archangel Invictus, he eviscerated the Rifleman with a single sweep of his bladed arm, punching through the heat-weakened left torso and causing ruination to it's internal structure. The big mech crumpled in front of Arthur, and he kicked in it's head as he and his lance opened up on the survivors, destroying them without more than scratched paint themselves. He turned his mech as his sensor readout showed a whole company at extreme range, but suddenly he was swamped in darkness and silence.

***********************************************************
Avalon City, New Avalon
NAIS Simulator Room 3
February 14th, 3091

He sat there looking about for a moment until a hiss of hydraulic pressure opened the simulator's top and he climbed out. He looked over and saw the members of his lance doing the same, and he flipped them a silent thumbs up. Wondering what had interrupted the simulation, he searched the simulator room untill he saw a man wearing a Captain's pips looking at him, waiting patiently. Arthur strode over, and the man launched into his report before Arthur could berate him for interrupting the session.

"You told us to inform you of any Clan activity near us Marshal. Its not near us specifically, but it seems the Spirit Cats are launching an attack on Alphard. Our boys on Pompey caught wind of it during a meeting with the planetary lord. No word on numbers or composition yet, but suffice to say, it looks like you were right." Arthur merely nodded and began walking out of the room, indicating for the Captain to follow.

"Get me Kabrinski and Yvonne. Have a message prepared for the HPG net to be sent to my brother." The captain nodded and hurried off in a different angle, as Leftenant-General Gerrin Staenbridge, his XO, walked up and raised an eyebrow in question. "The Clans have decided to attack our erstwhile allies, the Marians. Let us see if the Star League is as inept as ever, or if maybe this time, they'll bother to save one of their members from the Clans. With the FWL involved, I doubt it. So lets get Kabrinski to prepare a list of units we can spare. See to it yourself."

"Yes Precen- I mean, Marshal. It will be done." Like Arthur, Gerrin was once a Manei Domini, but he had been recruited by Arthur, and his loyalty was to the man, not the cause. It had gained Arthur a few enemies to bring others of the occult order with him, but there was little they could do about it, short of discrediting him. And so long as he and Victor or the Clanner saw eye to eye, it was unlikely they would get their chance at that.

His workout for the day over, Arthur made his way to the NAIS locker room. He needed a shower before he met with Kabrinski and his sister. She was harder than he remembered. He supposed she would have to be, to run the Suns when her two older brothers were suddenly back in the picture, but deferred to her. The dynamics of that relationship was something many people would be very interested to see for themselves, though with how little they were together, it was not a likely occurrence.

All Arthur cared about now, was convincing Yvonne it was in the Suns' best interest to assist the Marians. If he was lucky, Victor and Kabrinski would be on board as well.

[Daemonknight]

Fox's Den, New Avalon
February 16th, 3091

Arthur was already looking at star charts and lists of units when Cameron Kabrinski arrived with Yvonne. Arthur stood, giving the Marshal of the Armies a nod of acknolwedgement, but embracing his younger sister, the ghost of a smile on his face. Kabrinski pretended not to notice, walking over to look at the charts Arthur had been perusing. He was somewhat suprised to note another figure in the shadows, silently watching, occasionally growling something into what Kabrinski assumed was a radio, though he couldn't tell. Yvonne finally stepped back from Arthur, happy to see her elder brother.

"So brother, have you devised our grand strategy yet?" She asked in humor, knowing that Arthur knew his place perfectly- he might make  a plan, but he would not execute it without her or Kabrinski's approval. Atleast, thus far he hadn't; nobody was exactly sure what he was upto most of the time.

"I have been going over what I believe we can spare. An operation so far away will require a strong naval contingent, both to keep any Clan scouts from the transports, and also to ensure the supply train is kept on a tight leash. Lot of periphery worlds between us and the Marians, where a few tons of mech components and food would grab a premium." Kabrinski nodded absently, going down the list Arthur had prepared. He nodded thoughtfully, working through the strategic scenario in his head. He noted the units Arthur had chosen aswell as their location and arrived at very accurate guesses for readiness and deployment figures.

"It is certainly doable. The question is, will the Capellans allow such a force to traverse their territory? I know I am the newcomer here, but from what I have been told, and the little I have seen, Kali Liao is not exactly the most stable personality. Dangerous in any warrior, potentially disastrous, for us and them, if she sees an attack on her sovereignty were none is coming." Yvonne pursed her lips, thinking.

"Well, she HAS stated in the Star Leauge that she is committing forces, and would welcome any aid on that mission." Arthur made a sound in his chest, and not a polite one at that. Yvonne spared him a momentary glare, which he chose not to notice, before continuing. "If we can pry an actual treaty from her, even a temporary one, I would be willing to risk it. Ensure there are sufficent forces near to the border, as a precaution, should something should go wrong." Cameron nodded, knowing that Duke Hasek would be overjoyed at the potential for a fight with the Capellans. The man was aching for a fight, and he would not be happy until he got one.

"Very well. I shall issue the nessicary orders. Have you thought of who will be leading this expedition?" Arthur cracked on of his ultra-rare grins, usually not a good sign for someone.

"Oh, I think I'll be leading this one personally. I've already sent orders to the 4th to prepare." He meant the 4th Davion Guards they knew, the unit now commanded by Gerrin Staenbridge, one of the Manei Domini that had pledged themselves to Arthur near the end of the WoB's existence in the Terran Hegemony. Once more Cameron looked into the shadows and saw the phantasmal figure, and he could swear he saw the figure smile at him. Ludicrious, considering he could barely make out the man's outline, but the thought persisted. He looked back to Arthur, whose face was a little too devoid of emotion.

The meeting broke up, but Arthur stayed behind a moment. Gerrin seemed to materialize from the shadows, the Rho agent turned mechwarrior folding his arms. He looked around for a minute before speaking.

"Δεν έχουν ιδέα, το κάνουμε αυτό?" Arthur simply smiled and the two men left the room together, speaking low enough that whatever surveilance might exist couldn't understand them. A lifetime of caution was not easily overwritten.

[Daemonknight]

New Avalon, Federated Suns
Albion Military Academy, Reception Hall
February 23rd, 3091

There wasn't normally any special functions at this time of year at the Albion Military Academy, but between the recent victory over the NAIS:CMS students in one of their annual wargames, aswell as the birthday of one of the First Prince's sons, the Academy's director had decreed it a special one-day holiday for the students, and thrown an impromtu ball. Even more suprising was that Yvonne had accepted the invitation, having decided to celebrate her alma mater(and her son's) victory over the 'hated' NAIS students. That and it gave her a chance to playfull rub her husband's nose in his school's loss, which he took quite gracefully.

The reception hall was packed, several hundred students, professors, graduates, and various dignitaries that seemed to follow Yvonne like a cloud were walking around, enjoying themselves, and gossiping, mostly about the situation out in the Marian Hegemony, some about wether or not the Star Leauge would get it's act together, and a few eve whispered about the odd happenings out in Lyran space. By now it was common knowledge a major offensive had taken place, and it seemed the Lyrans were giving better than they got, however it was never a good idea to listen to the initial reports. Besides, they said the Lyrans were engaging in Clan-style trials, which only played into the hands of the Clanners anyways.

Yvonne was laughing with a few of the professors, joking about certin antics a young woman had pulled during her time at the school, the story swapping that usually occured when old classmates or students and teachers gathered years later. Yvonne couldn't suppress a warm smiled when she felt strong arms encircle her waist from behind, and caught a wiff of the cologne her husband knew she was fond of.

"Professors, might I present my husband, Leftenant-General Mark Allard, of the Davion Assault Guards. Mark, this is Professor Dennis Dufrain, Star Leauge Military History, and Professor Charles Crenshaw, Strategy and Tactics." Mark Allard shook both men's hands, having become quite used to being introduced to persons whom he knew nothing about, but who doubtless knew a good deal about him, either directly from Yvonne, or from the various news agencies that had nearly stalked them the past 20 years, though they had thankfully panwed the vultures off on their children. Mark turned to look at Yvonne with a mischevious grin.

"Your youngest son is making his way through the young ladies in attendance, as usual my dear. I believe he says he as 3 numbers, and 2 room keys, but that was 20 minutes ago, so it could very well have tripled by now." He was rewarded with the exasperated shaking of her head that usually followed an update on the antics of their sons. Harrison was simply socially apathtic, and this usually led to some sort of issue when someone foolish enough to say something, did it within his hearing. And Hanse was usually to be found wherever there was a congregation of pretty girls, causing his father to smile and note that he took after his old man, which usually caused Yvonne no small ammount of amusement.

"Well perhaps you should go save them, my dear?" Yvonne said sweetly, and giving Mark a look that said it was not in any way a sugestion. Chuckling softly as he left, Mark gave her a slightly mocking bow before going off to save the honor of the AMA's female students. Yvonne excused herself from the small group of professors and walked to a large french door that opened into the half-acre gardens. She looked out and could see the campus beyond the hedgerows edging the garden and smiled, remembering her time here. She heard a soft swishing of material behind her, and smiled when Marie and Matilda slid into view. She gave her twin daughters hugs, the three women almost as close as the men in their family, but that more because of distance. She wasn't sure Marie was going to make it, having been given an assignment in Tikonov, and unsure of exactly when she was leaving.

"I'm glad you girls could make it for your brother's birthday party. And to tease your father that we beat him this year." She winked at the two of them, and they grinned back. Only one of the twins had attended the AMA, Marie for battle armor like her mother, with Matilda training as an aerospace pilot at the Armstrong Flight Academy at Galax. Both sons had gone to become mechwarriors like their father, with Harrison attending the NAIS, and Hanse succumbing to his mother's pressure and attending AMA, making it all the sweeter for Yvonne to tease her husband and eldest son that she was right after all(of course, if either pointed out that the past 6 years had seen the NAIS win, she would discount that as fault techincal equipment).


Hanse Quintus Davion-Allard spotted his mother speaking with his two elder sisters by the doors, but was too enthralled with the recently graduated mechwarrior infront of him, a leggy redhead named Vikki Truscott. She was going on about...something. He was only half paying attention, because he had spotted one of his old classmates, Angela Richardson, whom he knew very well, the two of them having parted on sad terms last he knew. If things with Vikki didn't go according to plan(which with women, they usually did), he could always rekindle his relartionship with Angela.

"Is this young man bothering you miss?" Vikki did a little hop, just shy of snapping to attention, when a rueful smiled played across her face.

"No General, I'm pretty sure I can handle him by myself. I'll be right back Quin." She winked at Hanse and walked off towards the restrooms, while Hanse wheeled on his dad who was trying(unsuccessfully) to hide the smile on his face.

"Thanks dad. Thats precisely how I wanted that conversation to end." Mark simply gave his son a sidelong look, and didn't say anything for a minute, before his son sighed. "Okay, so maybe I had a backup plan. But still, that doesn't mean you need to ruin my fun." Mark shook his head laughing, and putting his arm around his son, steered him over towards Yvonne and his sisters.

*********************************

Hours later, Mark and Yvonne were back in their bedroom, Yvonne reading dispatches at a smallish desk where non-urgent reports got heaped while she was busy, so she could waste an hour's sleep on items that rarely actually called her to do anything- she just needed to be aware of them. Mark was standing behind her, his hands slowly kneading her shoulders and she read.

"So, where did they all end up?" Yvonne asked idly as she shuffled through the last 3 pages, and relaxed, hanging her head forewards and enjoying her husband's hands.

"Harrison went back to the spaceport, likely already boosted off. Arthur said he would take good care of him, and for all his faults, Arthur never says anything about family he doesn't mean with absolute conviction." Yvonne nodded absently, knowing that if anyone was likely to look out for her son, it was one of her brothers, especially Arthur. Still, sending Harrison all the way to the Marian Hegemony to fight the Clans gave her chills up her spine. "Marie is staying with some of the girls in a hotel, and they're off tommorow at 0545, so we won't see her. Matilda said she would see us for breakfast, and she is staying with Marie and her friends." Mark dug his thumbs into Yvonne's back, betweent her shoulder blades, causing her to arc her back a bit.

"As for Hanse? Oh, I'm sure there is a planned out sequence of rooms in the girls' dormitories he's already mapped out. Likely with backups factored in. I tell you, if the boy ever graduates, he'll be one hell of a tactician. Even I couldn't juggle more than 3 at a time." He didn't suppress a smile when Yvonne turned around and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Really now? 3 girls? I know you're not going to tell me you were trying to juggle ME, hmm?" Mark chuckled and beat a hasty verbal retreat, which earned him only a murmered 'you better'. Yvonne's duties finished for the night, the two retired for the night.

[Daemonknight]

Davion Peace Park
Avalon City, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns
February 25th, 3091

Yvonne Katrina Allard-Davion looked at a statue. It was a knight stabbing a skeletal large feline that savaged bodies of innocents around it. It was a statue dedicated to the dead from Dark's Incursion. Names of worlds ravaged by the remnants of the Smoke Jaguars lined the base."If only the Star League had moved quicker," she lamented. Yvonne had presided over several victories, but so much had fallen apart from those glory days.

The Star Adders controlled more than half of her mother's realm. The Hell Horse sat on her Federated Suns' boarder. Niops had fallen to history, but according to someone in the New Avalon Catholic Church that was actually good since it may have prevented a greater evil. Regardless, the Inner Sphere was fracturing as the Rasalhague Dominion was becoming stronger along with the Clans. And the Third Star League merely tweeted its thumbs debating while worlds burned.

Perhaps, her leaving the second Star League had been a rash decision. Then again, the Free Worlds League had been run at the time by a populist who merely wanted to fight wars with the Terran Hegemony. So much wasted potential.

"Isn't that always the way, my prince?" said Conrad Davion, Yvonne's Champion and Minister of the Crucis March. "Since the first Star League, it has moved like chilled gelatin always excited but with little actually movement." And then a third voice joined in. "The War of Davion Succession could be clearly seen as reacting too late, but personally more recent examples like Tikonov War, the Dark, and of course the Lyran Disintegration."

Yvonne turned towards her Champion and his colleague from the Lyran Alliance. "Ambassador Teresa Auburn, you know I'm only half Steiner. There isn't a need to quote history to me especially when it involved me. But it is good to see you." Teresa and Yvonne hugged. Though she was actually Teresa Redburn; the Lyran Ambassador had followed a similar path to her brother Thelos Redburn. However, she had done so from the Lyran Alliance and using her mother Misha's family name.

Conrad then interrupted by coughing into his hand. "The Ambassador and I were talking about Archon Robert's current offensive against the Star Adders." As Yvonne shook her head as vague memories of letters from Charlemagne Steiner came to mind, she sighed. "If my cousin could cut the supplies running to the Spirit Cats, it would go a long way towards helping the AFFS and possibly the Star League if they even realize the full threat to another of their member states in the Marian Hegemony."

Teresa smiled. "First Prince, you never have to be reminded to be honest." Yvonne smiled though graced with the youthful looks of the Steiner age was creeping on her with lines starting to form. "Ambassador, you don't have to butter me up. That's what my husband is for."

And then Yvonne's smile shifted to a frown. "However, I am slightly fearful of where the Lyran Alliance is going with these trials. I still care for my mother's people even if they rejected me and my family." Yvonne walked across the square to a statue of her parents holding up the mauled fist across a starbusrt, the symbol of the maligned Federated Commonwealth.

Terrance Auburn nodded seemingly realizing the Prince's issues. "And the Archon and his troops including the Jade Falcons realize that this must be cautious in this war. The speech that the Archon gave merely was encouragement to the troops."

Yvonne nodded. "Hopefully another debacle like Coventry will not occur." Several Federated Suns warships were destroyed in that battle, and now if there were salvaged probably served the Star Adders due to inept planning by the Star League.

Conrad merely shook his head. "It was probably not wise at the time to have wasted those vessels at that battle when they could have been brought back to the Suns fight the Dark." And then the Champion gave a bit of uncharacteristic response lately. "Though other than fighting probably for Free Worlds League aggression, at the least those ships proved that we still wish to see the Lyran people freed from the Star Adders, Ice Hellions, Spirit Cats, Free Worlds League, and  . . .," Conrad cut at that point.

Teresa Auburn laughed. "At least you didn't complete that answer about a valued member of the Lyran Alliance." Conrad shook his head a bit in shame. Yvonne smiled. "My Champion rarely messes up, but he is right. The Federated Suns will do what it can to help my mother's people, but at this moment, we can't offer much in the ways of actually military support." Yvonne then gave a shrewd grin. "Barriers to trade with the Lyran Alliance can be lessened. The loss of Hesperus II and Coventry probably still stings the LAAF. Conrad, could you have a word with the Chairman of the Economic Trade Commission about this proposal?"

Conrad nodded. "It will be done before the end of the day, my Prince. If you excuse me, I will see to it." Yvonne nodded as Confrad left, and then she sighed. "It's the best I can do at the moment. My people and many of my ministers do not want to see more of our units go to their deaths needlessly especially with the Horse Alliance right there on the boarder of the Suns." And then Yvonne smiled at the statue of her long dead parents. "But tell my cousin that I will do what I can to ensure that my parent's dream continues, but how about a little tour."

Avalon One
Isle de Morgrayn, New Avalon
Crucis March, Federated Suns

Flying above the continent of Brunswick, the conquistador class dropship called Avalon One started to descend closer to the ground. Sitting in a special room, Yvonne and Teresa were drinking champagne.

Sitting in a comfy cabin on the underside of the craft, the two women were enjoying their time as a man in a AFFS uniform walked in. "We should be over Achenar's main complex soon," offered the Prince's Consort Mark Allard.

Sitting next to Yvonne, Mark picked up a champagne glass as well. Yvonne smiled as she held her husband's hand as he sat next to her. "I know that Achernar has excess supply. Especially with the newly revamped Hammerhands."

Mark Allard nodded. "Originally, it was resurrected to be an easy replacement for militia mechs, but then the designers at Achenar gave it some more modern weaponry in the HMH-6D. And even the Assault Guards are using them especially with those rotary autocannons."

The cabin had a large window that in case of combat situations was closed with armored doors. As clouds  disappeared, there was the expanded Achernar Battlemech facility. There was mechs walking out of construction scaffolding. Arguses, Enforcers, Hammerhands, Phoenix Hawks, and other battlemechs were being completed as small battlearmor units moved to be transported as well from underground facilities.

"It's not as impressive as the mountains of Hesperus II before the Free Worlds League took it, but it has gotten bigger since the last time I saw it as a girl," offered Auburn. "A lot of their operations have been expanded underground as well. Conrad devised a lot of defenses when the prevailing theory was that New Avalon would be under attack during the Dark Threat."

Yvonne then pointed towards the facility's sides."Since then, the manufacturers on New Avalon expanded on those defenses while expanding on their existing operations. Lycomb-Davion Infotech has created some interesting manufacturing techniques for aerospace fighters."

Auburn realized something. "However, the Suns has issues with its naval element, doesn't it?" Yvonne nodded as Mark explained. "The problem is that a lot of the investment in companies went to building factories and repairing the worlds that the Dark ravaged." And then he added. "Plus most of the shipyard space went to building more jumpships for the civilian markets."

Yvonne got up as the dropship began to climb and put down her glass. "The other issue is that I had no desire to create a recession in the Suns. My Privy Council wants to rebuild the warship fleet, but I wanted my people to be able to repair their lives. The navy is starting to get new ships, but I won't sacrifice my people for the whims of the Star League Council. Already the Council has been responsible for too many of their deaths."

Mark Allard shook his head. "That's not even counting the Lyran Disintegration that the Council truly caused." Sighing, Mark lingered on a thought. "When I was younger and wore my hair like my grandfather Morgan, it would eat me up inside to see what has happened to the Lyran realm, but I have found a home here in my father's nation of his birth. Something should be done to reunite the Lyran people, but I hope this is not another disaster like Rowe's insane invasion of Somerset."

Yvonne sighed but smiled. "I think what my husband is trying to say is the Suns is behind the Lyran Alliance, but God help you if you try and invade Somerset when half the Clans are there."

Teresa Auburn nodded as two Dagger Omnifighter flew in front of the dropship. "Trust me, we have purged that insanity." Yvonne smiled giving a cheesier cat grin. "Well, then we can do great things together."   

**RP written by Lord Harlock**

[Daemonknight]

Duke's Office- Ducal Palace
Undredel, Filtvelt
Perphery March, Federated Suns
August 31, 3091

Eyeing the glowing orb, Matthew Harlock-Morrison, March Lord of the Periphery March, looked at the one thing that stood in the way of finally achieving a clear HPG line to the Tortuga Territories of the Federated Suns. The former worlds of the Tortuga Domains had been conquered after an invasion by them that some attributed to the Dark. With shadows covering the left side of his face, his good eye looked at the world and system known as "Crossbones."

Of all the worlds that he had visited in military and diplomatic Crossbones was a planet that he hated with a passion because he had been stuck there trying to negotiate with several of the governments of that world who all hated one another and caused nothing but headaches. While trying to negotate, he considered just bombarding the planet from orbit especially after the threats.

Over the years, his views on planetary bombardment had shifted from a last ditch offensive weapon to hoping that he never had to see it again. "Randis IV," he mumbled as he felt for the light switch. Finally finding the small lever that controlled the light, the March Lord of the Periphery March shifted  the lights to full illumination while turning off the holoprojector with a press of another button on the control panel on the table. With a hum, he looked in the now reflective surface of the holographic table.

Staring back he saw the eyepatch over his left eye. "Another reminder of that day fifteen years today," he said. Ignoring the grey on the sides of his head, he gently touched the patch that had been part of his face after that day when he lost that eye. Then he heard the patter of feet on the wooden paneling of the office; it was after hours which meant it wasn't an aide or a servant. But it was light tapping which meant an assassin or a child. He turned around to see just such a child. "What do you mean, father?"

In many ways, his youngest was his pride enjoy. Born after the Dark War, the boy Ian Morrison was his heir for the Periphery March. Irene his oldest would rule Tortuga as their Countess. His second daughter Ariel beloved as she was had the issue that she was to kindly to ever be able to grasp the sometimes regrettable iron glove of leadership; he would leave her the Duchy of Sherwood. Perhaps under her, the world of the Duke's birth would gain a bit of its luster back that the Dark took during their invasion of the world. However Ian had understood the importance of being stern when the Author of the Unfinished Book demanded it. To save a friend, he had popped his friend's arm back into place after a riding accident without a grimace of fear before returning to good cheer after the event to help his friend deal with the pain.

"Ian," he said with a bit of joy. "What brings you here so late?" He lead the boy across his office to his desk. The boy automatically sat in a specially crafted high wing-backed chairs with the emblem of the 1st Filtvelt Chasseurs, a skull with a broadsword sticking out . "Father, I was just wondering if you'd tell me today. Ariel says its too gruesome a story, but I'm old enough."

He looked at the red haired you who tried to be as stern as possible looking. He was lanky as often the Duke's line were. And finally he decided to tell it. "Well if you are sure, but I will not hide details."

The boy nodded. "Then I shall detail the story as truthfully as possible: warts and all." Sitting back in his chair, Harlock-Morrison cupped his hands. " It was 3076; the seventh year of the Dark War raged on. Supplies were running low as the Dark had targeted not only military jumpship but also civilian jumpship especially merchant vessels. As well, seven grueling years of fighting had occurred. It would be a yearly event that we would drive the Dark from our territory only for them to come screaming back the next with more freshly built Congree Frigates and troops."

For a moment with his right eye, he eyed the boy. With his brown eyes wide open, the boy was listening to ever word that he said. "Every year, we lost good men and women to the grinder that war had become. However by August 31, 3076, the AFFS was hard pressed in the fighting. Our expeditions to find the location of the Dark's homebase to cut off their supplies had failed . . . we thought at the time." Ian asked the question. "What do you mean?" he asked. Matthew Harlock-Morrison shook his head. "At the moment, the mission that accomplished that task is still highly classified, and it will probably remain that way indefinitely." Ian didn't press the issue.

So the Duke continued. "The troops of the AFFS were demoralized. Betrayed by the Star League who was too concerned with minor details and avoiding getting their heads cut off in sessions. And left to the wind by Coalition of Periphery States in their endless debates who merely defended their own. The Horses made an occasion foray to stop the Dark, but for the most part, we were fighting alone. And we were on the verge of totally collapse."

Coughing into his gloved hand, Matthew then looked up. "The day of August 31, 3076 started out we thought for the best during the 2nd Siege of Filtvelt. The Second Light Combat Team of my then new 1st Filtvelt Chasseurs had routed a cluster of Dark in the South. However, another Cluster had bypassed the planned defenses by avoiding them, and had caught us off guard by marching the full night.

Matthew's tone became worried as memories from that day returned. "The attached aerospace units were in orbit fighting tooth and nail against a Dark Congress that I'm not exactly sure what they called it. A quick strike to off balance the Dark Cluster never materialized. The Third Light Combat Team was protecting the capital. The first Light Combat Team was trying to untangle themselves from the siege defenses that we had planned for a mountain pass. And my command company and attached units was all that stood in the way."

Ian gasped. But Matthew continued with a more gentle tone. "We were cut off and praying hard for a miracle. However, we got one; it just almost came too late. And in some cases, it did."

**RP written by Lord Harlock**

[Daemonknight]

The Second Siege of Filtvelt
August 4, 3076

"Damn them to the lowest region of Hell in Satan's mouth with Brutus, Amrais, and of course Judas!" swore General Matthew Harlock-Morrison. "How do they ignore their flank to just run forward without regard to proper tactics?" Already in his cooling suit after the first sighting of the Dark mechs coming straight for his command headquarters, the General wished that command had sent another unit, but so many worlds were currently under attack that it was impossible to spare any units.

His aide and guard Colonel Ramdas Kastbura shrugged. "If I knew that answer, we would not be fighting this battle again. And Broken Wheel at the moment would not be burning." Shacking his head, the General wondered if God had turned his back on the Federated Suns. Even news of First Prince Yvonne Steiner-Davion giving birth had not given the men hope.

"That's true Ramdas. To think that this unit is all that is really left of the original Broken Wheel Crucis March Militia." Looking over as his command personal, all of them knew that they had to fight this day. The chaplain was getting in a spare Cavalier Battle Armor while the cook cocked a personal gauss rifle. Too many had died in the Dark's Scourge.

Entire world populations had died. The destruction of AFFS units was bad enough, but the genocide against the civilians had baffled Federated Suns Clan Experts. Looking at his friend Ramdas, Matthew felt shame that he had been fighting to avenge his wife, Miyuki, while his aide had an entire world to avenge. And yet the man had a chipper attitude.

Taking a peak at a locket around his neck, the general sighed as Ramdas gave his traditional curse in Hindi from his days with the Islambad Crucis March Militia, the Messengers of Shiva. Finishing Ramdas turned to his commander. "We don't really need Shiva in this fight, General. We have you." Matthew Harlock-Morrison almost felt shame.

"If I could surrender myself to them to spare the rest of the command staff, I would, but as usual, the Dark have kept radio silence." Ramdas laughed. "Says the man that broke  the Dark at 2nd Siege of Broken Wheel; it is unfortunate that we were not able to find transport to save Broken Wheel from the 3rd Siege. Your must always remember your brilliant commands saved your duchy of Sheerwood."

Matthew shook his head. "At the cost of the capital of Lockley, and seventy-five percent of the population. If only we could have gotten there sooner, but . . . it wasn't to be." The discretion of his homeworld had been the hardest on him. It nearly stung as badly as the death of Miyuki. Destroyed graves, mass executions, and the wholesale destruction of the capital had nearly pushed Matthew over the edge to insanity, but somehow he had sprung a trap against the Dark when they tried to destroy the forests of the world.

After capturing the Dark Commander on Sherwood, Matthew had personally after DMI had gotten everything out of them that was possibly with the laconic Dark left him in the forest covered in honey. The chattering teeth of the Deadly Dales, a poisonous rodent native to Sherwood, did the deed for him. The body was left out and exposed. From all reports, the skeleton still had a look of horror on it. The Dark were animals that deserve neither a grave or proper rites. No one in the AFFS gave them anymore. If there was anything done for their death, it was to pee on their limp bodies.

"Unfortunately," Matthew sighed, "I think the Author of the Unfinished Book has closed the page on us, but . . .I'm going to give all we have left. Hopefully, Gregory's Battalion can turn around in time to help us." Colonel Ramdas nodded. "I shall personal rip the Dark Commander's head with my battlearmor's claw. I shall see you after the battle, General."

Giving a crisp salute, Colonel Kastbura went to get suited up. Turning around, General Harlock-Morrison looked up at his mech. "At least in this battle, I finally have you, Rodimus." A final gift from his wife's aunt was the delivery of his family Phoenix Hawk LAM with it repaired and upgraded after Aunt Nabaki had told him that she had lost it. Only it was actually being upgraded, it even had a snub nosed PPC now. How Aunt Nabaki had gotten a hold of it was a question left for a better time?

Climbing up the ladder into the cockpit of the mech currently in airmech mode, the mech was now in the colors of the 1st Filtvelt Chasseurs. Black with yellow highlight and light blue trimming replaced the red and yellow color scheme that Rodimus was traditionally adorned in.

As he closed the canopy, Matthew felt at easy as he remembered how his grandfather Ian had taken him up in the LAM back when he was a child.  The mech's computer then stated. "For Freedom. . .," it stated. Harlock-Morrison gave the rest of the phrase. "I shall fight until I'm merely dust and bones." Then suddenly all systems sprang to life.

Moving the airmech forward on a stream of air, he suddenly got chirping in his ear. "General, I have some bad news." Sighing, he wondered what the worst that it could be. "Tell me Sanchez, could it be worse than the time the Dark set firemechs against the 4th Davion Guards." During the Battle for Ebro, the 4th Davion Guards had routed the Dark Cluster, but a finally charge by the Dark turned out to an empty mech sent on autopilot with an atomic weapon. The survivors of the unit had disappeared after that with little or no acknowledgment from High Command, and it angered Matthew since he had been a member of that unit.

"No, we just detected unknowns that are going to make planetfall near us." The news struck him in the heart. "If only Marsin wasn't on June fighting his own horror story. Sanchez, give the order to run to everyone who isn't in a mech."

Switching channels as he pushed the mech forward. Twelve mechs blinked on in unison. "This is General Matthew Harlock-Morrison. We are now in a 'Edwin May' situation." Edwin May had been the commander of the 42nd Avalon Hussars on Morges when the Ice Hellions had shown up with two galaxies. An 'Edwin May' situation meant that it was a no-win and outnumbered scenario. And he heard an affirmative from all of his lieutenants.

Deciding this was as good as any moment, "Then let us not let the Dark forget what we do today to honor all who have fallen already. We shall not make it easy. For Avalon! For the Suns! For First Prince Yvonne! And for all of those who are yet to come. May the Lord protect the unknown country that we may not see." He pushed his throttle to full, and then the mech pulled its legs and arms into the body. The air mech had switched to fighter  mode. Staying low above his command, he knew he was up against unbelievable odds. It was a Dark Cluster already down by half, but if they had one of their Beasts, it would be even more of a tough fight.

And not a moment too soon, Major Rebecca O'Hare gave a report from her Rifleman. "We've got a Beast, General." And of course, there it was the 100 ton LAM that the Dark had created. When asked what they called the mech that looked slightly like an old Star League mech called a Stone Rhine, the Dark member just laughed, so most just called it the Beast. If he had some aerospace support, it wouldn't be an issue. Like most LAMs, the Beast was easy to kill for aerospace pilots. However, it was highly mobile and armed to the teeth.

Pushing himself into the air, Matthew knew only of one good way to hit the thing, and that was in back. It had horrible rear armor. "O'Hara, you are in charge. Give them the old Albion Roar!"
She acknowledged the order by giving a growl that she had used when she had been Young Lion of Avalon. The odds were stacked against him.

As he climbed, he shot past the Beast hoping they hadn't corrected its turning ability, he shifted the fight into an airmech, and even though the g-forces hurt, he the entire mech around as he transformer. His shot lined up perfect as his cooling suit tried to keep him cool from the wave of heat rolling through the mech. The lighting and three lasers had hit exactly what he wanted.

Hopefully, pools of liquified metal would fall from the mech as it turbine exploded. Maybe it would scold a Dark Elemental? Even as he got incredibly lucky and smoke started to form out of one of the engines of the Beast, he heart stopped for a brief second after hearing a sound that he didn't want to hear. One of his engines had just shorted giving a whirling slowing sound and then scoff.

"Lostech!" he screamed as the LAM suddenly began dropping.

As he spun, he shifted the airmech back to aerofighter mode. He tried to restart the engine as he started to go into a tailspin. Rodimus was dying, and it was all he could do to survive was to risk ejection and risk being murdered by the Dark. He saw an explosion probably from the Dark assault LAM hitting the ground. In his heart, he wanted to stay on board Rodimus to perhaps save it. So much of his family's history was wrapped up in this mech that an ancestor had won during the First Succession War. However as he pulled on the straps of the ejection device, he realized his ancestors would rather want a live scion with a chance rather than a dead one.

He shot out of the cockpit with the rush of air and pounding that he often felt. However, the g-forces had been horrid, and he fell into unconsciousness as the parachute unfolded.


Leftenant Colonel Rebecca O'Hara pushed hard on her Rifleman RFL-7X. The General had promised to get her a new mech after the Battle of Sherwood, but instead, he merely got her an upgrade kit when they last had down time. She knew it was all that he could do to supply issues thanks to the Dark hunting jumpships. Merchants just didn't want to go into the warzone, and military transports were just as liable to be destroyed without heavy defenders.

As she shut out lighting at a point of protomechs that oddly looked less like mythical monsters and more like an oversized spacesuit that command had called the Satry. She saw a Cauldron Born try to rush her. It's PPCs pushed her Rifleman down. Her bosom heaved with the suddenly gravity force only contained by the loosely constricted cooling vest.

"God, I wish I had a miracle. I know I asked for too many at Albion, but this is important." And then as she steadied her mech that had metal superliquified starting to run down her mech, she noticed the Beast LAM come crashing down to the ground. She noticed Salvador's Warlord was still intake along with Randall Burke's Sagittaire. Giving a sweep of her arm through the faceplate of her neurohelmet, she removed the sweat from her brow only to get a bad taste in her mouth.

As she suddenly realized that another LAM just crashed. It was the General's mech. He was dead. And then her mech's sensors went crazy. "Oh My God!" it was two trianiaries of mechs and protomechs trying to surround her. "Leftenant Colonel O'Hara," said an unfamiliar voice.

"This is Field Marshall Steiner-Davion, you are to immediately retreat with any units still in fighting. Reinforcements are inbound. Over!" Rebecca tried to make a request to try and find the General's body. "Field Marshall Steiner-Davion, we need to find the General before the Dark murder him." It was more likely that General Matthew Harlock-Morrison had died in his LAM, but she didn't want to give up on her commander.

As Salvador's mech exploded sending his right arm past her Rifleman, she relented. "Acknowledged Field Marshall." She then gave the order to retreat to Burke and one other unit to retreat. She then prayed as she pushed on her jumpjets to escape.

In the distance, she started to detect a battalion of mechs that were hard for her battle computer to identify. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in Harlock-Morrison's back. "Ah, the General is still alive. He does not deserve that title, truthkin quaff?" said a large laughing ebony skinned man. His head looked like a badly peeled potato though with large swaths of scar tissue between real skin.  Laughs of aff were heard about him as he realized he was surrounded by Dark personal."Though you took down our LAM and your pilots fought valiantly till they ran like the surats that they are, we have won the day. And now, Davion dog you have seen your last day."

The large Elemental who looked as old as any Matthew had ever seen then smiled demonically. "Bring me the rod," he roared. One of his subordinates however asked for caution. "Galaxy Commander Franklin Huff, we have no idea what those blips were that we are picking up. It would be better to just shoot this man."

The elemental old as he may be seemed to become agitated by the request. "Star Captain, it does not matter. It is merely a trick. And our traditions say that any Davion Commander must be given the special treatment as befitting their rank." And that was when he saw the rod. It appeared to be a metal poker with a superheated edge. The Elemental opened his mouth revealing several missing teeth on his scarred head. "With this rod, the Dark gives our gift to this unworthy one of eternal darkness. Receive the insanity of oblivion, and may it be your requiem"

However the Star Captain  was beginning to panic. "Galaxy Commander, we do not have time." He screamed as a lighting bolt melted his body away barley leaving charred dust. "Freebirth, you shall not escape your fate. Hold him down. Howell has ordered that this occur, and it shall."

Two mechwarriors held him down as the Galaxy Commander with his right hand held his head in place. And then he thrust the poker into Matthew's left eye.

The pain nearly made him lose consciousness again when suddenly the Galaxy Commander turned around to see a bird like armor back hand him as a more familiar battle armor with missiles on its back came up. "General!" It was Ramdas. As the mechwarriors ran to attempt to get back to their mech, Harlock-Morrison fell back into unconsciousness as he sled to the ground.  But not before he saw the foot of an oddly Goblin shaped battlemech smash the Galaxy Commander under its foot.

**RP written by Lord Harlock**

[Daemonknight]

4th Davion Guards Field Hospital, Filtvelt
September 1, 3076

When Matthew Harlock-Morrison awoke he only saw half the room. There was a stinging memory of a reason why, but he couldn't think of it right now. All he could think about was the slight itch where his left eye should be. He reached to accomplish this task when a nurse noticed he had awakened.

"General, I wouldn't do that." Turning his head, he noticed that she appeared to be slightly cybernetic. Part of her forehead was covered in clear and well polished metal as something slid over her eye. "Pre . . . Marshall Steiner-Davion will be here to see you in a moment." She walked off to open a door as a man that had once been declared dead walked into the room with no clear signs of injury. "General, it is good  that we got to you when we did. Unfortunately, we couldn't save your eye."

The nurse handed the General a mirror as Arthur Steiner-Davion walked into the room. In the reflection, Harlock-Morrison saw face bandages over his eye, and there was a scar that had appeared over his nose. Arthur continued. "The doctors say that your wound has cauterized, so cybernatic replacement is impossible thanks to the fact that the nerves are useless. Though there are ways to do so if you wish. They would have to replace most of your head to give you sight out of that eye again."

That seemed to be a waste to just restore sight.  He answered as best he could still weary after the battle. "It's not necessary, Marshall. I can live with an eyepatch," said General Harlock-Morrison. Arthur laughed, "Something about a family tradition as I recall in your file on your maternal side. It probably will suit you, but I came to tell you that your unit survived the battle with the arrival of my 4th Davion Guards."

That stirred the General. "The 4th?" he mumbled. Arthur nodded. "My sister rebuilt the RCT around the survivals of the original unit and some of my 'volunteers.'" Matthew thought the way that Arthur said volunteers could only mean that they were former Blakest as well which would probably explain the odd mech. Arthur continued.

"Our first mission was a success; the Dark will not have any more supplies flowing to it Though I wish that the mission had not taken as long as it did to travel there." But Arthur than got to his point. "Your First Filtvelt Chasseurs survived mostly intact. We are going to need you to recover quickly General since we will be moving out soon to capitalize on this victory. This is the beginning of the end of the Dark."


August 4th 3091

His son was an awe. "You were saved by Arthur Steiner-Davion." The father nodded trying to hide his disgust. "And from Filtvelt, we pushed back the Dark from Broken Wheel, Erbo, and then hit them hard at Errant Espoir. And finally with help from forces from the Coaltion of Periphery States and support from the Horse Alliance, we arrived with enough naval forces to destroy the Dark once and for all over Randis IV."

Ian then finished the story. "And the Dark was finally wiped out for good." Matthew didn't correct his son since he hoped that was true. "That's correct. I think that I've given you enough of thi old war stories. Go see if your sister will go over your latin with you before you go to bed." The boy rushed off.

After his son left. Matthew sighed. "I pray that you never find out what I witnessed over Randis IV." The memories of the burning world still haunted him, and the disagreement he had with the other leaders of the course that day.

Observation room onboard the FSS Melissa Davion
In Orbit over Randis IV
June 7, 3077

Harlock-Morrison wanted to punch Arthur Steiner-Davion in the face so badly, but he realized that he'd probably break. His cybernetics were disguised so he appeared perfectly human. Arthur stood there watching as the FSS Melissa Davion continued to fire its guns. The window did not hide what was going on.

"It is 'darkly' beautiful," quipped jokingly Arthur. Super-intense fires burned across the world. This was the final moments of the Dark. In some parts, a black obsidian color reflected back. The world that had been home to the Brotherhood of Randis would now be impossible for any man to use as a home for possibly the rest of time.


Arthur turned to see Harlock-Morrison. "Marshall, I've already been informed that you secured the relics that the New Avalon Catholic Church requested that we try to recover. Everyone of them was in that bunker that the Brotherhood created. The Coaltion and Horses have no idea what you were doing either. Excellent work."

Matthew wanted to spit so badly in Arthur's face. There were things that no man should ever do. And Arthur had been so cavalier about the solution as he convinced all the commanders of it except for Matthew and a Horse Commander. Warheads recovered from the AFFS finding the Dark stocks and several from the seizing of Warlock were fired either by the AR-15 launch tubes on the Avalon or fired by aerospace fighters.

All Harlock-Morrison could think was this was hopefully not the future. "I've already been informed that you are to be named the head of the new Periphery March as soon as we return to New Avalon for a victory parade. There is much work still to do. The Armed Forces of the Federated Suns' officer corps will need a generation to repair, but for now, we have stopped the bleeding."

And all that Harlock-Morrison could think as bolts of naval cannons shot out that this was a bit drastic for any healing a cut. This was not the way of a true warrior. It might be the best solution from a purely ultartarian point of view. However, who knows what it would do to the souls of the men here that day.

"If that is all, Field Marshall. I'll go rejoin my troops on the FSS Ryan's Dream," he said with a salute. Arthur returned his salute. He never detected the General's displeasure with the assualt. Perhaps, the Free Worlds League was right. Perhaps certain cyborgs were inhuman as he walked out of the room. As the doors, shut he did not turn around to see one last glimpse of the burning world.

**RP written by Lord Harlock**
***The above 3 posts are a single lengthy scene, treat them as such when reading***

[Daemonknight]

Combat Information Center, FSS Alexander Davion II
Task Force FIRESTORM, Fleet Flagship
Location: Sector 2433, Pella System, Capellan Confederation
July 30th, 3091; 0015(Terran Standard)

Arthur Steiner-Davion, once Precentor Lucifer of the Master's Shadow Divisions, now Field Marshal Arthur Steiner-Davion of the Federated Suns had a grim look on his face. It was not anger, or sadness, or hate. It wasn't determination or fury. It was simply contempt, pure unfiltered contempt. The noteputer in his hands held the transmission from Chancellor Kali Liao, broadcast not 10 hours ago via HPG. The message had actually been picked up by the FSS Indomitable, which had been aligned with the Pella III HPG facing towards the FWL. It was quite an interesting read, and while Arthur would like nothing more than to get the chance to obliterate a Clan infestation so close to home, he had other...meetings to attend to.

Oddly enough, the CIC of the Alexander Davion II was nearly empty. Normally filled with communications techs, the ship's captain, intelligence analysts and various other naval officers, they had cleared out when the Field Marshal had ordered the room secured. It was here that Arthur convened with his small cabal of loyal retainers. He knew a few of them likened themselves as his Companions, though he personally eschewed any such title for the men himself.

He tossed the noteputer containing the Chancellor's message into the air, where it floated lazilly through the room, ignored by most. When he spoke, it was with the strong, yet soft, voice he was known for.

"While an important turn of events, this is not our primary concern. You all know of the transmission I speak of. You know what he caused, what has happened because of his choices. It must be stopped. It, HE, cannot be allowed to continue. We will find him, and I will slay him myself. In the time being, prepare the fleet. We move out as soon as the jump computers are synched." He produced a new noteputer from a fold in the cloak he wore about his shoulders. One of the more heavily augmented of the group snatched the puter as it neared him, and while he no longer had eyebrows to raise in question, one of the iris shutters on his cybernetic eyes whirred closed a few milimeters.

"My lord, why this destination? Surely we could accomplish more somewhe-"

"No, we follow those coordinates. That is where the last segment of the transmissions was added, thus we investigate who might be hiding there. There is likely to be heavy fighting before we even get close. I do not know what strengths we will face, but I feel we will be sufficent to deal with whatever threats might materialize."

The others nodded, and with that the room unsealed and the normal CIC crew floated back in to make a full battery of system tests. Arthur did not take offense, knowing that any ship's captain in his right mind would undertake the same percautions, likely for many years to come. Arthur stayed behind while the rest of the Companions left to attend their duties. Vice Admiral Katlyn Chevalier was nonplussed by the presence of the Prince. He silently handed her the noteputer with their destination, and though she grunted in suprise at the destination, she immediately called over the naviagtor to begin the preparations.

"When are we to leave my Prince?" A soldier's soldier, Chevalier would not question an order that did not directly conflict with the interests of the Suns, even if that put her vessel and it's charges in harm's way. "Have we the clearance to travese the proposed area?" Arthur simply smiled.

"I think, Vice Admiral, you will find that the confusion that has been sown by our friends, not to mention the nearby hostilities along the border, will see us barely noticed. We shall be fine, now please see that the fleet is prepared to jump soonest." Chevalier nodded and pushed off to issue the nessicary orders.

[Dave Baughman]

Somewhere in the Federated Suns
September 3091

"Sister, it is time for you to carry out the blessed task that you have prepared for so long. I have come to deliver you the instrument of your glorious task; behold Morgaine, blessed by the hand of the Master himself."

The agent opened the large case reverently and examined the sleek black gauss rifle, scoped for precision firing.

"With this, blessed sister, you will change the face of the Inner Sphere."

[Dave Baughman]

Arthur Steiner-Davion's Command Post
Planet Andurien, Free Worlds League
4 September 3091

"There is no doubt about it, Marshal, that Tharkad we saw getting burned down was Testamen Invictus. The fact that she has left Jardine means..."

"...that The Master has his plan back on track," finished Arthur Steiner-Davion, the man who had formerly been known as Precentor Lucifer.

Arthur paused for a moment then continued, "I won't accept this. He had his chance and he backed down, now he needs to stop. I need to speak with him, make him abort the plan."

Arthur's aide, a former Manei Domini himself, slowly nodded, "then we set course for Jardine?"

"No, not Jardine. If the Master hasn't left there yet, he will be gone by the time we arrive. No, we need to set course for..." Arthur considered a moment, "...Regulus."