Shark Supremacy IC Roleplaying Thread

[Holt]

The drop port outside Fort McCarron was a buzz with the new arrivals as they descended on the world of Menke. Only one of the dropships had any markings an Overlord with a  fearsome shark highlighted with green on its side, the other one of the new fearsome Tiamat-class Pocket Warships barely even had its primer on.

Workers stood in fear on what might come out of them, knowing their liege lord had not accepted the new government at Sian and they knew it was only a matter of time until they reacted. As the doors of the massive Overlord opened and several assault ominmechs walked down the ramp some ran, while others were stunned into shock, but if they had paid any attention, these omnimechs had no weapon pods on them. Once 36 of the biggest war machines stood in front of the ship a single car exited and moved towards the main communication center.

Two men exited the car, one clearly a clan warrior and the other a Capellan quickly strode into the comm center and asked to speak with the Lord of Menke and Commander of McCarron's Armored Calvary. 

[Dave Baughman]

Rhamses McCarron met the two men in a tastefully decorated conference room.

"Gentlemen, xià wǔ hǎo," the middle-aged commander of the MAC greeted his guests, "what brings you to my humble landhold?"

Rhamses seemed to chuckled to himself for a moment before adding, "Not mind for much longer I suppose. Just as well, for this land to return to the people though. Even a blind man can see that times are changing and the old ways cannot persist."

[Holt]

"Well Lord McCarron that is something we have come to discuss, my name is Secretary Wu head of mercenary affairs for the transitional government and this is my clan counterpart Merchant David."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Lord Rhamses," the clanner said curtly.

"You brought up a new good point Lord McCarron, this land does belong to the people as you yourself have pledged yourself for the people, and over half a century ago your father pledged himself and his people to the protection of both. He did not pledge himself to the throne on Sian or the person sitting on it, but to the people."

"Lord McCarron the people still need your protection not only those located on Sian or the periphery border, but those of people who carry the genes of your fore fathers, who will protect them after you are gone?"

"We are here to try to convince you not to leave the Capellan people to predation of others, be they enemies of the state or a foreign army. We know you have many reservations to the new government headed by the Clan Diamond Shark, but i can tell you Capellan citizens like me have not been taken out and shot; rather we have remained at our posts and continue to help the people."

"You may ask how I can continue to serve in a government headed by evil clanners? Well it's simple, I serve the people not the people above me, as long as their goals mean the bettering of the people I will continue to serve."

[Dave Baughman]

"I believe you misjudge me, Minister Wu. While perhaps their methods are... cunning, I do not believe the new rulers of this state are evil. They are, however, not the rulers my father swore to serve, and their ways are alien to those I have followed my entire life. Given the choice between resistance, collaboration, or departure, I chose to follow the example General Kerensky set and to remove my forces from the Confederation so they could do no harm."

"However, I must confess that I am not Kerensky, and I could not emulate him in totality. The Cavalry will not be going into exile, but instead returning to the mercenary trade. I was not taken to believe that the Confederation's new Clan masters had truck with that profession, but if I am in error perhaps we can... redefine our relationship in a mutually acceptable fashion."

[Holt]

"I believe I can answer some of those questions Lord McCarron," said Merchant David.


"My clan understands that we cannot rule the Capellan people with the Capellan people taking an active roll, that is why all Government Secretaries, Ministers and Officials will consist of a Capellan and Clan representative, like Mr. Wu and I. Our ways are alien to most Capellans and it is why we will not take over the government fully."

"We hope to take the best of both our people and create a new hybrid system that will the envy of the Inner Sphere and Clan Homeworlds, but we cannot accomplish it without the best of both, something your Armored Calvary is."

"We hope to reorganize the Capellan military into the best military it can be, through bringing the best training and technology available to both our people. We have both seen the state of the military slowly slide back to before the fourth succession war and we both know what happened then. As bad as the ground forces are becoming the state of the Capellan naval forces is even worst and it is why the new government has determined it will be addressed first."

"As far as this concerns your Calvary, though Clan warriors cannot stand money warriors, it is not uncommon to reward those who do well in the fields of combat and it is in that spirit that the Shark Supremacy gift a battalion of new assault omnimechs to you for your commitment to the capellan people."

[Dave Baughman]

Rhamses considered the Shark man's words for a moment before responding. Clearly, he thought, this merchant has much to learn about the fine art of soliciting a mercenary and a nobleman to his service... but at least he is making the effort and it would not do to cause him to lose face before Wu.

"It sounds, Merchant David, that your Clan is making a genuine effort to avoid the mistakes your fellows made when they conquered worlds in the Sphere, and your personal generousity does you great honor. I regret, however, that I have received several other offers for my warriors' services, and it would be a sign of profound disrespect to those other bidders if I were to ignore their offers. Perhaps we can arrange a more formal meeting for your Merchant Caste representatives to confer with our MRBC liaison to submit a formal competitive bid."

"Of course," Rhamses added pleasantly, "I would be honored to regard your generous gift as a signing bonus on any such proposal."

[Holt]

"Lord Rhamses," said Secretary Wu.

"You must know that for the last 50 years the Armored Calvary has not in fact been in the employ of the former Capellan Confederation, you and your troops have been line units, part of the actual military. Your wages, materials, supplies and war machines have been paid for by the state and property of that state. For you to pick up and leave the armed forces of the state it is akin to mutiny and theft. The CAAF is still in place thought its name and command structure has changed it is still the same entity."

"Let me ask you Lord Rhamses if one of your commanders was to say they were leaving your direct command and leaving for another state, what would you do?"

"Before you think of this as more a conversation my colleague and I spoke before and we both agreed that because of your service to the Capellan people, no violence will be brought upon you at this time, but we would like for your troops to gather at Menke until a decision on this matter is made."

"The Shark Supremacy government will bring a complaint with the MRBC concerning the Shin Legion, 15th Dracon and your Calvary concerning mutiny and theft of government property."

[Dave Baughman]

Rhamses eyebrow twitched slightly, "Minister Wu, I fear you may have been misinformed about the nature of my relationship with the Capellan Confederation and have thus - by no fault of your own - drawn a false analogy."

"My father, Marcus Baxter, swore an oath of fealty to his Celestial Majesty Liao Sun-Tzu and all the heirs of his body that would succeed his custody of the celestial throne. That relationship terminated when Liao Kali was murdered by her corrupt military leaders and her line usurped by Clan invaders. The Capellan Confederation Armed Forces are not in fact the same entity they once were: before, they were..."

McCarron paused, and looked at Wu with a thoughtful expression, "but of course, what remains of the CCAF are the same entity, aren't they? Are you perhaps, Minister Wu, trying to show me that you are just as cunning as your Shark masters? If so, then it is I who has sorely misjudged you and I beg your forgiveness."

[Holt]

"Lord McCarron not everyone is as eager to leave the Supremacy as you, many of us see this change as an opportunity to rid ourselves of past failures and purges to start over, as you know for every one Sun-Tzu their have been many more Romanos. The CCAF has not been dismantled and most commands have in way or another acknowledged the change of top leadership, because they also see that their duty is to the people; not the person sitting on the throne."

"On August 8th, 3060 McCarron's Armored Calvary turned from a mercenary unit to a CCAF line unit, from that moment on you because part of the people, part of the CCAF; not part of Sun-Tzu's private army. Tell me Lord McCarron did your adopted father Lord Baxter keep the MAC in the rolls of the MRBC? Did he keep paying their dues and acting like a mercenary command? Or did they fully give up mercenary life, adopted a capellan rank structure and only saw their place as a unit in the CCAF?"

[Dave Baughman]

McCarron deliberately suppressed the desire to glower at Wu, "Alas, it seems my initial judgement was correct. I would ask that you not bring my adoptive father into this discussion, as the way you attempt to twist his intentions to your purposes are shameful. Purposes, I must say, you have made abundantly clear. If you wish the continued services of McCarron's Armored Cavalry, contact my agent on Outreach. Otherwise, I believe our business here is concluded."

Rising, McCarron looked to Merchant David and bowed respectfully, "Please forgive this regretful outburst, Merchant David. Over the course of this brief meeting, you have shown yourself to be a man of honesty and generousity. I hope that in the future as you try to build your new society, you are watchful for those who would undermine it in order to exploit the... opportunities... it presents them."

[Holt]

(it was Marcus Baxter who brought the MAC into the CCAF, archibal mccarron was already dead)

OOC: I edited the earlier post to correct that oversight

[Holt]

Merchant David also stood up to meet the gaze of Rhamses McCarron, "It is regretful that things must come to this and if their is no other way. Lord Rhamses McCarron from this day forth you are no longer Lord of Menke and a citizen of this realm, I ask that you bring your units to the world of Menke until such time as the MRBC reviews the Sharks Supremacy's grievance is heard and judged upon. On my word no clan trained troops will land on Menke or enter its space, but for this I ask that your Calvary do not stray from my above rules."

[Dave Baughman]

McCarron nodded in a businesslike manner, "Your requests are most understandable and reasonable, Merchant David. In fact, I had anticipated them from the day we announced our intention to return to the mercenary trade. I can offer you something of a compromise; I will grant you your first demand, but not your second. I sincerely hope your superiors will not react with any foolish and precipitous moves. Of course, if I am in error and this decision is unjustified, I am sure the MRBC will confiscate our assets and return them to you in due course."