Lyran Alliance IC Roleplaying Thread

[Daemonknight]

Faction Roleplaying Thread(this includes Clan Jade Falcon)

[Daemonknight]

Tharkad, Lyran Alliance
Mt. Asgard Military Complex, Secure Briefing Room 2
1530, December 29th, 3090

Robert's eyebrows rose slowly as he read the roster of units on the page before him, even let out an exasperated sigh as he fliped another page. Reinhardt Steiner, General of the Armies, stood motionless before his Archon, also his cousin. He was confident in his plan, even if Robert was balking. Finally, the Archon looked up.

"You realize what you are asking, don't you cousin?" Reinhardt nodded firmly.

"I do Robert. The largest military action since the pacification of Arc Royal. Likely some time before that as well."

"Well before it. Between you and Marcus, I don't know whose worse. At least his plan doesn't involve getting our best units shot up." Reinhardt thought about pointing out that 'getting shot up' was exactly the purpose of putting together elite units, but he knew Robert would not appreciate the rebuke, private though it might be. The strain of his position is finally getting to him. He didn't have so many gray hairs 10 years ago, Reinhardt thought to himself. Robert was back to looking at the list and grumbling about 'reserves', but Reinhardt was confident he would okay the plan.

In actuality, Robert knew he had run out of excuses. He had put off the operation for quite some time, stating both a need to solidify the relationship with the Clans, and also to bulk up the LAAF. Of course, that meant that every time Reinhardt came back, it was with a bigger mission profile, but he couldn't fault him. He was a Steiner after all, 'bigger is better' was in their blood. Robert let out a defeated sigh, and flipping to the last page of the report, signed his name.

"ARCHANGEL approved. Give 'em hell, cousin." Reinhardt merely smiled.

"When I am through with them, Hell will seem like R&R."
************************************************************

Tharkad, Lyran Alliance
Olympus 'Military Retreat', Codename: TIGERLAND
1645, December 29th, 3090

"AGAIN! Murcheson, WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM!? I don't care if your leg is UP YOUR ASS SIDEWAYS, you will run this course, THE WHOLE COURSE, in the allotted time, or I will PT you untill you fucking DIE! Do you get me soldier? Then MOVE IT!" The yelling of instructors was a common enough sound around Tigerland, but Senior Sergent Major Tejan M'burst was legendary, both in the training camps, and among the operators themselves.

M'burst was responsible for getting teams ready for the most difficult of missions, having served among Loki's most elite teams for the past 35 years. He had resisted every attempt to get him behind a desk, and only failed to remain active after a CLP IED blew out the front compartment of his hover truck on Tharkad 4 years ago, costing him an eye, a lung, and 20% of his skin. He'd done everything from infiltrating Free Skye, to running assassination teams, and 'apprehending domestic criminals', to piloting a battlemech on the front lines against the Clans, and had even gained his VTOL proficiency on most of the LAAF's motor pool. He had even trained Jeremy Reinhardt, now Kommandant-General of the LIW, and even he walked warily around M'Burst.

It was no suprise to anyone when Reinhardt ordered M'burst to take command of the Tigerland facility's 'prep course'. Designed to get outgoing special forces groups ready for deployments to just about any possible locale, Tigerland was one of the largest, most well staffed training camps in the Alliance. In addition to the numerous Enviro-Hangars, multi-thousand square meter bunkers designed to simulate different ecologies, there was a live-fire infantry range, vehicular combat school, 'insurgency camp' where the men learned to make and disarm all forms of IEDs, and various other classified facilities even the Archon knew only the vaguest details about.

M'burst's 'students' were actually a fully trained and deployment-ready team from the LIW, but he treated everyone who came under his care like a raw private, fresh from boot camp, his clothing still smelling of detergent. Officers or privates, gangers or nobility, nobody was safe from his scathing commentary on their performance. As a result, many of the men who passed through had a seething hatred of the man, and did anything possible to prove their worth- a futile gesture, as M'burst's scorn was that of a professional, not personal nature, though he'd never admit it.

Today however, he wasn't even sure what he was training men for. There was a crew in the 'insurgent camp', 2 running through the Enviro-Hangs(1 an arboreal forest, another a frozen tundra), and yet another team was getting ready to space for a low-orbit insertion. If he didn't know better, he'd say the plan he drew up 2 years ago in conjunction with the General of the Armies was finally being realized. That was when he noticed the two men walking towards him, both in official LAAF uniforms. He read the rank pins, and snapped to attention, barking out, 'ATTENTION', and was rewarded with the sound of 12 pairs of boots slamming down in unison.

"Kommandant-General, pleasure to see you sir." M'Burst wasn't lying, as the last time he'd seen Jeremy Reinhardt, he'd been pulled from the Retirement Office, and sent here to do real work again. He wouldn't be disappointed this time.

"Good to see you M'Burst, but we haven't the time for pleasantries. Pack your bags, your heading to Asgard to brief the Archon. Oh, and you'll need these. Can't have a Senior Sergent Major leading our boys." Jeremy tossed him a small box, and when M'Burst opened it, the silver diamond shape sparkled in the sunlight.

[Daemonknight]

Sudeten, Falcon's Eyrie, Lyran Alliance
Falcon's Nest, Patterson City
0935, December 30th, 3090

Whomever thought up let sleeping dogs lie, was a fool, and never knew a Wolf. Jeremiah Icaza was a mountain of a man, the Clan eugenics program having built him using the best genetic coding availible, to construct the ultimate battle armored infantryman. In addition to the rank of saKhan, he was also one of the best elementals in the touman, and now had proved that included the recent influx of Wolf personnel. Selena Sradac was lying on the ground, her left arm twisted into an unnatrual angle above the elbow, attempt to lift herself up from the stabalized earth ground. Blood dripped from her mouth, and several large bruises covered the exposed parts of her skin. Jeremiah stood only a meter away, hands relaxed at his side, but watching for any sudden charge.

"It is no dishonor to admit defeat, Wolf, even to a Falcon. Do not force me to injure you further."

"You surrat, you called us honorless strays! I will see you dead!" The Falcon saKhan shook his head.

"And perhaps you are right, or one of your other Clansmen will accomplish the task. However, with a broken arm, fractured ribs, and who knows how many bruises, you can barely lift yourself off the ground. I do not think you would wish to fight me in anything but perfect condition, quiaff?" This was not the first time one of the Wolves had issued a Trial over a verbal slight against them. On occasion they had even won, though none yet had beaten Jeremiah, and none had been so foolish to challenge Brian. Selena considered her condition, and spat blood in the saKhan's general direction.

"Verywell. I accept my defeat, this time." Jeremiah nodded to a group of medical techs, who immediately rushed over to the fallen warrior, and began treating her more obvious wounds. He was content to simply watch for a minute, untill they finally got her to stand, though it was obvious she had further internal injuries from the way she grimaced as she stood. She glared red hot hatred at Jeremiah, which he answered with a thin smile. Good, I want her angry. I want them so angry they shall tear through the first assignment we give them. We will unleash them, the Dogs of War, as the ancient Terran saying goes.

"Before you leave Star Colonel, I have something to tell you." Jeremiah walked over, and noted that as he got closer, she tensed, though he was unafraid of her striking him. These Wolves had become even more honorbound since their integration to the Falcons, as if trying to prove their moral superiority somehow. He didn't know what to make of it, but decided it could be useful when the time came. "When you are released from the medical bay, you are to report to me at once to take command of your new unit." Her eyes flew open, and he actually feared she might strike him again this time.

"My what? You're taking me from my cluster? And doing what, putting me in charge of snivelling Falcon brats? Is this what you call honor?" Jeremiah half expected her to be frothing at the mouth, rabid as a dog. However, her anger was held in check by the physical pain she suffered, though only just. She seemed ready to pull free of the two techs holding her steady, and Jeremiah resisted the urge to take a half-step back.

"Yes, I am taking you from the 2 star formation you call a Cluster. The Khan believes you to be too headstrong to lead your own Cluster, and I intend to agree. However, on the advice of your own leaders, we have decided a test is in order." She looked at him suspiciously, but said nothing. "You are to be given command of the Wolfkin Keshik, under Galaxy Commander Samir Kerensky. This is an adequate posting, quiaff?" He smiled at the shocked look on her face. Selena was 31 years old, not young by any means. She had still been in training when part of the Wolf clan had splintered and come to the Lyran Alliance, not knowing at the time they would be forced to become Jade Falcons. However, she had not expected to ever be in command of one of the 3 Keshiks the Wolves had. The only more prestigious unit among the Wolves was the Golden Keshik, headed by Samir himself.

"Aff, saKhan." She responded a bit meekly, considering her previous anger. She was unsure how to feel, unsure if this was a test of her skills, or a test of her ability to follow orders. Likely both, as the Falcons seemingly didn't trust the Wolves yet, but that distrust lessened every day. It had only been 6 years ago that the bloodnamed Wolves had been told their own Warrior Council was being dissolved, and that a single Council would run the Clan. It was disheartening that the Wolves no longer stood on their own, but atleast they were once again masters of their own fates.

[Daemonknight]

Tharkad, Lyran Alliance
Triad City, Gedenkstätte Regierung Mitte
December 31st, 3090
1500 hours

The new government building was a vast construction of white marble, the sculpted columns reminiscent of the ancient Roman ruins on Terra itself. The massive complex sprawled several acres, and was 15 stories high. It was shaped like a giant 'C', the mid point of it's curve 30 stories tall, the Grand Hall of the Estates General, with the top 3 floors being the offices and various work rooms required by the Archon himself, including a small but sumptuous apartment for him and various other important staff members who had to work the extreme hours sometimes called for. Built for equal parts form and function, it was one of many structures across the Alliance that signified the new age of prosperity Robert had called for once he reunited the core sectors of the realm.

One of the functional aspects of the complex itself was the central courtyard. The area within the curvature of the building itself was over 3 square kilometers, and was split between beautiful gardens and lush, soft green grass, with walkways paved in white flagstones, veined with blue and green mineral deposits, imported from a nameless backwater near Furillo. Statues of famous Archons and various heroes of the Commonwealth spotted the area, known as the Triad Commons. Artfully concealed was an amazingly simple speaker system. Combined with the acoustic properties of the main government building, the whole area served as an expansive amphitheater, with a single speaker able to address thousands of listeners. It had been used in such a capacity twice before: once in 3072 when Robert had returned to liberate Tharkad from the shattered remnants of the CLP, and again in 3079 when he announced the signing of the Alliance Treaty with Clan Jade Falcon. Both times, the Commons had been filled with the citizens of Tharkad, and both had resulted in rabid cheering.

This time however, the Commons was filled beyond capacity, citizens spilling out into the streets beyond the complex itself. The Archon was to give a speech of such import, it would shake the Alliance's very foundations, or so his press secretary had stated. It was also the first time his words would be broadcast across the breadth of the realm, even into the Eyrie, and the Apollo Province. The citizens were curious, but there was an edge of excitement: the last two times the Archon had used the Commons instead of simply electronic means, life for the common Lyran citizen had changed drastically first. They wondered what new wonders their Archon would share. Of course, some wondered what the buffoon wanted now, as not everyone was pleased with the way things were. Many felt that Robert had given up far to much in his deals with the FWL, and that nothing short of a war of reclamation would right the wrongs that had been committed. Many others felt it was high time the Clans, the Falcons included, were given the boot from their territories, that far to many Lyran worlds fell under the boots of Clan totalitarianism.

However, right on schedule at 1515, Robert appeared on the front steps of the Commons. There was a small podium, made of the same veined white stone as the flagstones of the Commons' walkways, rigged with the single microphone that would project his voice to thousands, with the addition of INN, AFP, and BTE news agencies, who would relay his words to tens of billions across the Alliance, and beyond. Some cheered his name when he appeared, some cheered 'Alliance', while many others stayed silent, wondering what new shift in their lives would occur here.

Robert raised his hands for silence. There were several news cameras in the front row, looking up at him. Other cameras were not for the news, but were projecting his image against large screens that had been erected so all in the Commons could see their Archon. He was dressed in the dress uniform of the 1st Lyran Royal Guards, unadorned with rank or citations. An extra bit of gold braid on his shoulders, and a sash of emerald green accented his outfit beyond the normal Lyran lavishness, but that was all. His beard was neatly trimmed, and showed only the barest hints of graying, though his close cropped hair showed the signs more clearly. However, he wore them like a badge of honor, and looked every inch the warrior and statesmen the people had come to view him as.

"My friends. We have come a long ways, you and I. We live in troubled times, as troubled as any who have lived before us. The Clans continue their pressure on our northern border. The Free Worlds League has engorged itself on our south. Fully one third of the nation was swept up in the depraved lies of a foul Star Adder warrior. The Terran Hegemony used us as a speed bump in their war against the Clans, the Word of Blake's personal vendetta against them fought on our lands. The CLP engulfed the nation in a civil war, when the Clans were still pressing their attack on us. But throughout all of this, we have persevered.

I will not lie to you, and say the worst is over, and it is smooth sailing from here. We have been through too much together, for me to baby you with such talk. You and I, we see the universe for what it really is. The old adage, 'Only the strong survive' is appropriate in the Clan way of life, but we know it is not that simple. Sometimes, the one who appears the strongest, is the one who survives. For decades, the Lyran Commonwealth was weakened. First, by ComStar's drive to see all scientific knowledge kept for itself. Then against our neighbors for land, and technology. Then against the Clans, for their unfathomable desire to see Terra felled by their war machine. And then by our own internal bickering, while our adversaries drooled on themselves, as they decided how best to incorporate the jewels of the Commonwealth into their holdings. We seemed weak, and so we were attacked. No other nation could endure what we have these past 30 years. No other nation has the strength to stand against what we stood against." Robert leaned foreward over the podium, gripping it's edges tightly.

"We have absorbed unimaginable punishment over the years, suffering military defeats, and internal implosions. We have lost more than any other nation of the Inner Sphere could ever stand to lose. And yet, we remain. The strength of the Lyran state, is it's people. We now stand on a cornerstone of history. When our descendants look back at us now, they will say, 'Those are our ancestors. They did not go quietly into the night, they fought back. They did not allow others to feed on them anymore.' We WILL fight back. We possess in ourselves, the greatest weapon in history, more powerful than any warship, more swift than any aerospace fighter, more imposing than the largest battlemech. Never again will a rival House take advantage of our weakness. Our weakness has been burned away in the fires of civil war. Never again will a Clan look upon us as the easy prey, a highway to Terra. We are the predators now, and they simply prey in our fields." Cheering had caused Robert to stop momentarily, giving the assembly a few moments of their revelry, before raising his hands for quiet once more. It took only seconds, before he placed his hands once more on the podium and resumed his speech.

"The time for playing by the rules has ended. No more will the Lyran people stand by and watch our homes engulfed in the flames of war. No more will we sit back and fight the battles of others. Right now, the Star League council is debating whether or not to allow us back into their presence. Right now, the other nations are deciding OUR fate. NO MORE!" Robert yelled the last to words, his voice carrying across the Commons, even without the electronic assistance. He was less fatherly, more stern now. There was a fiery gleam in his eyes, his words impassioned. He swept the crowd with his right hand, and each present felt as if he had picked them out individually from the crowd.

"You are the only one who decides your fate. We will not let others dictate our lives, or our destiny for us. The other Houses believe us weak, broken even, by our struggles. We shall show them that we have emerged from the fires of war, stronger than the toughest armor. We shall show our enemies and our friends alike, that the Lyran people are not done, that we are prepared to go as far as necessary to preserve ourselves. The Clans respect strength, and strength is exactly what we shall show them. The Star Adders thought they could simply walk into the Commonwealth and take what they wished without a fight. We are no longer the Commonwealth that will sit idly by, and allow our lands to languish under the care of such sniveling weaklings. We are the Alliance that will crush any threat to our sovereignty. We are the Alliance that will decimate any foe foolish enough to arouse our ire." There was an angry growl emanating from the crowd, not directed at Robert, but feeding on his emotions. The crowd could always feel the anger of his words, and their outrage at the usurpation of fully 1/3 of the Commonwealth came boiling back as if it had just happened yesterday. Robert grinned, knowing that his words would reach deep into the hearts of the Lyran people and stir the emotions that had sat dormant for nearly 20 years. Suddenly, Robert stands straight upright, tilting his head slightly to still be able to look at the crow, but keeping his body ramrod straight.  He gazes out across the sea of expectant faces for a few heartbeats, before, in a very solemn, emotionless voice, he continues.

"Citizens of the Lyran Alliance, Clansmen of Clan Jade Falcon, unto you I swear this oath: the Alliance will not rest until every Lyran world has been reclaimed from the clutches of the Star Adders. I will not rest until Charlemange Steiner, warrior of Clan Star Adder, has been brought before the people of the Alliance, and made to answer for his crimes. For debasing and perverting Salic Law, for claiming to be of noble birth, and for claiming the surname of Steiner, I, Archon Robert Kelswa-Steiner, sentence warrior Charlemange Steiner of Clan Star Adder, to death. Let it be known from this day forth, that any clansmen of Clan Star Adder is to be denied all honors, titles, ranks, or trappings of power and privilege. All Star Adder personnel are to be deported immediately from all Lyran lands, and their warships sunk on sight. The Star Adders are hereby deemed Enemies of the State. A 10 million C-bill bounty is placed on the head of Charlemange Steiner, if brought to the authorities alive and relatively unharmed." The stunned silence that greeted Robert suited him just fine. The gravity of the situation was beyond what many thought even possible. He smiled slightly to himself and thought, If they think that was big, wait until they hear this.

"Furthermore, standing orders for the LAAF are to treat Star Adder combatants as dishonorable foes, to be dealt with as bandits. No quarter will be given, and the rules of Zellbrigen will not be extended to even a single Star Adder warrior, until such a time as they have been removed from Lyran territory, or prove their honor in combat against us. If the Adders think themselves strong enough to hold our lands, let them prove it." With that, Robert gave a last wave to the crowd, which erupted in noise, much as it had the past few times. However, this time was different. Before, it had been the happy cheering of seeing life returning to normal. This however, was the bellicose roar of a enraged animal, ready to strike out against the first thing that dared cross it's path. Robert rather liked that line of reasoning. The Adders had picked the wrong beast to anger, and after 20 years of lying dormant, the raging beast that was the Lyran Alliance had come awake, and was ready for a fight. Robert could almost pity the Star Adder warriors when they faced off against his LAAF soldiers, and their Jade Falcon allies. Almost.

[Daemonknight]

Sudeten, Jade Falcon Aerie
Raptor Hall, Patterson City
February 23rd, 3091

Brian Pryde walked down the long hallway that served as the entrance to the Warrior Council room. The Hall was the center, both spiritually and geometriclly, of the Jade Falcon's miniature city within Patterson City itself, just as Sudeten was the spiritual center of the Falcons' power in the Inner Sphere. Few foes would consider attacking Sudeten, and if they did, it was not a planet to be underestimated in it's defenses. Likewise, Raptor Hall, a massive construction that served both as the ceremonial centerpiece of the Clan on Sudeten, housed the Khan's personal quarters and offices, the Watch's offices, aswell as the meeting place for the Warrior Council.

A smaller, but otherwise similar building to the southwest known as the Den, was where the Wolves gathered and handled their affairs. For the most part, Brian allowed them their autonomy, although they did not offically give themselves a Khan or saKhan, nor their own Watch, Brian knew they would be happier the less the Falcons were seen to be their superiors. Infact, the Wolves had shown a quiet determination to prove they were just as good as the Falcons, when the opportunity presented itself.

This time however, Brian was not alone. He was flanked both by Jeremiah Icaza, the Falcon's saKhan, Galaxy Commander Samir Kerensky, the unofficial leader of the Wolves, and Katya Kerensky, serving as their Loremaster, though she was offically titled as a Star Colonel, and wasn't referred to as anything more when anyone other than Brian or Jeremiah was around.

The Warrior Council room was a large amphitheatre, an enlarged replica of the Grand Council room on Strana Mechty, as it was designed to house a much greater number of warriors. Almost all of the Clan's bloodnamed warriors were here in person, excepting of course those in the homeworlds, and the warriors who were participating in the Khan's punishment of the Adders. He had called for this council because of the events of the Grand Council. It unnerved some that the Khan had so forcefully confronted the Hellion Khan, but then most of the assembled warriors had little to say about the Hellions. They were not as reviled as the Adders, but not as esteemed as the Ravens or Bears.

Many of the warriors present were slightly upset that the Kerenskies were present, but that was institutional dislike as opposed to personal experiance- the Wolves had proved their worth multiple times, and none of the assembled warriors needed to see it proved again. Brian stepped out into the middle of the open circular space in the center of the room.

"Fellow warriors. We are faced with a decision today. The Ice Hellions have tipped their hand to us, and they have issued insults that can not be forgiven. Their Khan has attempted to minimize the damage caused to his Clan for his stupidity, by bidding down to only himself in his mech. I have decided what my counterbid shall be, and I think perhaps some of you will find it fitting. However, we have another matter to discuss- the current status of the Hellions and Adders, and also the deal for Lyran worlds, are on the table. My fellow Falcons, for the first time, the Wolves will be weighing into this vote, as their home of Arc Royal borders both Clans' holdings. It is their right to help decide their fates. Let the votes be tallied."

Over the course of the next 3 hours, debate and voting took place. First, and shortest, was the status of the Star Adders. Then came the decision over the Hellions, which was longer and more intense, but still largely agreed upon. The final vote, on the deal between the Hellions and Lyrans/Adders, took quite a bit longer. The Wolves mostly argued against the deal-namely because it cut into 'their' territory, and also opened up Arc Royal to potential attack, should the Hellions decide to join the Adders, which was a concern shared by many. Others thought the Hellions had not done anything so bad as to more or less completely cut off all ties.

In the end, the votes came in, and Brian made his way to the HPG bunker to contact the Grand Council.

[Dave Baughman]

Clan Jade Falcon Warrior Council
Planet Sudeten
15 August 3091

The still holo projected in the air showed a warrior (if the term could really be used) carrying an anti-'Mech missile launcher. The man was enormous, easily two and a half meters tall, but unlike an Elemental he was not naturally proportioned. His body was strangely deformed, with limbs the wrong size and giant muscles bluging in unnatural locations. Even his skin was wrong, a horny, keratinous hide rather than proper flesh.

"Trothkin, attend this vile image. This is the true face of Clan Ice Hellion. Not only did they attack us, not only did they fight without honor, but they create - hand in hand with the Science Caste - bloodfoul abominations to defy true warriors in their duty."

"Already, the purification of Malibu has begun, but we must now undertake a greater task. The Ice Hellions must be driven to extinction. No Hellion warrior may be allowed to live, and their civilians must all be killed or sterilized. It is of Annihilation that I speak, and I put to this council that the Jade Falcons are the only Clan with the will to conduct such a trial."

A Star Colonel, represented in holo from his command post at the front spoke, "What of the Grand Council? To wake a Trial of Annihilation against another Clan, the Council must approve. Such is our ancient law."

A shake of the head dismissed the concern, "The Grand Council is weak, filled with the likes of the Ghost Bears and the Hell's Horses. They, whose cowardice lead them into defiance of the Founder's own command regarding the not-named filth, will never approve this course," he paused and then said wryly, "no doubt, they will say that the Science Caste rebels are just an alternate culture that we must embrace as equals."

Derisive laughter filled the hall.

"So I put it to you, trothkin, do you have the strength to do what is right? If so, vote with me, and vote to annihilate the entire Ice Hellion clan."

[Dave Baughman]

"Seyla! Seyla!"

The howls of blood lust filled the Jade Falcon warrior council. To the Falcons, this was the consumation of their revenge against their neighbors who had mocked their relationship with their Lyran pets for too long; this was the ultimate way to prove that they were still Clan and still strong. To the rest of the galaxy, how this frightening new development would be perceived was yet to be seen.

For the first time in the history of Nicholas Kerensky's utopian civilization, a Clan had declared its intent to annihilate another Clan without seeking the approval of the Grand Council.

One thing there was no doubt about, August 15th 3091 was a date the history books would record.

[Daemonknight]

Tharkad, Lyrans Alliance Capital
Archon's Retreat, Mount Rhine

Several generals were present for this meeting. Many of them the top commands of the LCAF, and a few of the higher ranking naval officers had sent their XOs, or were present via HPG RT-Link. A handful of the Dukes, and 2 Grand Dukes were also present. Robert Kelswa-Steiner was the last to arrive.

"Gentlemen, ladies. We have disturbing news from the Eyrie. It seems that the Hellions are attempting to abjure and annihilate the Falcons. We will obviously not let them stand alone. However, we should use this as a way to accomplish objectives the Falcons have blocked us at."

Several of the officers exchanged feral grins. There were a number of territorial issues that the Admiralty and General Staff had chafed at for a long time. It would be good to see those issues resolved finally.