Wotan
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
May 1st 3051
Leftenant General Andrew Redburn felt good about the victory, even though the cost had been high. The decision that he and Leftenant General Alicia Mason had made to use the Wotan repair facilities as the battleground had been a deliberate one. By using those facilities, they ensured the enemy would move cautiously in their attack, fearing damage to the most valuable part – at least to the Clans – of Wotan.
While the enemy slowly pushed in against a battalion of 'Mechs and armor to try to root them out, Andrew and Alicia's five battalions of 'Mechs and three battalions of armor charged out, seeking to encircle them. The attacking force had been sizable, but it was one they could handle, though not without losses.
Two hundred 'Mechs, 150 combat vehicles, a regiment of mechanized infantry, artillery, and some Aerospace support against 140 'Mechs and perhaps 50 Elementals made for a brutal experience. The enemy 'Mechs were superior to theirs, though not with the vast disparity seen in frontline units. Moreover, the enemy lacked coordination. The squadrons of the Chahar PMM were able to strafe the distracted 'Mechs dueling with the Kathil Uhlans multiple times, with devastating effect.
Andrew knew he should temper his pride at how his Uhlans had fought, as these were PGCs and not frontline Clusters. The difference lay in three key areas. First, the 'Mechs they were using. Second, the MechWarriors – while still fantastically skilled, there was apparently a noticeable drop in ability according to those few units that had fought both types of Clan warriors. Third, their PGCs tended to be consistently undermanned. While three frontline Clusters would typically add up to 45 Stars, here they had faced only 30 Stars.
Despite all that, the losses had been severe: over a third of his 'Mechs were down, two-thirds of the Chahar PMM's armor destroyed along with half of their 'Mechs. When he heard about Princess Katherine's dual victories on Butler via black box, he could only shake his head in wonder. New orders had arrived to organize their salvage, with transport scheduled to arrive by the end of the month to bring them off-world.
Hopefully, the Falcons won't try to hit us again. According to the princess, if they've resorted to using Garrison Clusters to retake the world, it means they're running low on troops.
Andrew felt compassion for this world, and it was unfortunate that they wouldn't be holding it in strength. Broadcasts showed people cheering and dancing in the streets as news of their victory spread. A few ComStar personnel had even faced deadly retribution. It had soon been revealed that some of the Adepts and Acolytes had abused several of the more attractive women in the capital during their administration of the world. The fact that the school system's new textbooks glorified Jerome Blake was another piece of ugliness.
I cannot wait until ComStar get what they so richly deserve. It is a pity that these newly retaken worlds will not be a part of Operation: TERMINUS. I understand the reasoning of not leaving units out here unsupported in case of further Clan counterattacks, but it does gall me.
***
Tamar System
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
May 6th 3051
Ulric knew the amount of materiel being used on the planet of Tamar was excessive. He did not care, for the moment, as the FedCom tactical doctrine was now to use Dezgra tactics. That gave him the freedom to use them in kind. The Nova Cats had agreed with his approach, and their own Aerospace fighters had joined his and were bombing Tamar City. The challenge had been made: if they wished to have a proper fight without the use of prepared ground, they could come out of their city and face the Beta Galaxy of the Wolves and the Alpha and Delta Galaxies of the Nova Cats. With only two RCTs and some extra militia units, it seemed quite unlikely they would dare.
So far, they had not, but Ulric had plenty of bombs and absolute air superiority. Destroying an entire city was not to his liking – it was wasteful – but so too would be losing potentially hundreds of 'Mechs. Bombs were easy to produce and ship; he already had factories in the Inner Sphere making those munitions. Gamma Galaxy of his Wolves would be taking the worlds of Thun and Galuzzo from the FRR. His own Alpha Galaxy would be taking Bessarabia from the Federated Commonwealth. It was a lackluster wave, but he preferred to husband his resources, especially with the Inner Sphere beginning to counterattack. There was no telling how long it would take for Tamar forces to give up holding the city. If they stubbornly held out for more than six weeks of daily bombardment, he would order the Galaxies to attack. By that time, there should not be many defensive positions left.
He had no qualms about allowing the Nova Cats' Beta Galaxy to retake Thannhausen from the 8th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT and keep it under Nova Cat rule. The fewer RCT formations running about in his corridor, the better.
The Jade Falcons were in trouble, and he was glad of it. They had lost a lot of territory, and their lackey Diamond Sharks had lost an entire Galaxy and their Khan. It was the greatest defeat the Clans had experienced since the beginning of the invasion of the Inner Sphere. Despite those setbacks, the foolish Falcons were soldiering on and still intended to invade the worlds of Koniz, Montmarault, and Benfled of the Federated Commonwealth.
The Steel Vipers were slowly beginning to digest the worlds they had taken and were hoping to add Gunzburg – the planet that held the Iron Jarl, who had successfully beaten back the Ghost Bears – to their holdings. Additionally, they sought the worlds of Biota, Wheel, and Shaula. Wheel was an FRR world, but the FedCom had reinforced it with one of their RCTs.
The Ghost Bears were suffering. They had lost the world of Skandia, thanks to the Wolf's Dragoons. Khan Jorgensson had seen his Keshik savaged. The fighting had been so fierce on Utrecht that it was said fewer than two Stars had survived between the Keshik and a frontline Cluster. However, the Khan had won, and Utrecht was still in the hands of the Ghost Bears. They now had three defeats – two from the Dragoons and one from the Iron Jarl. The Watch reported that, despite Jorgensson ordering his MechWarriors to use mostly energy weapons, their ammunition woes continued. Based on The Watch's assessment and Ulric's understanding of the Ghost Bear doctrine, either they had gotten extensively lucky or Khan Jorgensson was exceptionally skilled in more than just combat.
The anemic attack plans shared with the Grand Council included the Ghost Bears targeting three Draconis Combine worlds in this wave and the Smoke Jaguars targeting four. Luthien would be a great prize for ilKhan Showers, but his three frontline Galaxies were too weakened to even dare attempt it.
Ulric had already set several plans in motion to ensure his Wolves had all the resources they needed. His next step would draw ire from the more conservative faction within his Clan, but it would help alleviate the warrior shortage and aid in integrating vehicles into his touman. The Ghost Bears allowed a would-be warrior who failed their Trial of Position to attempt another Trial for a different branch. Khan Jorgensson, for example, had failed his warrior Trial of Position but had succeeded as an Aerospace pilot.
What Ulric intended to do was allow failed MechWarriors to attempt a Trial of Position for vehicles or unarmored infantry. The Hell's Horses already practiced using conventional infantry as part of their touman. A Point of non-Elemental infantry typically consisted of twenty-five warriors. In the future, any Wolf worlds attacked by the Inner Sphere would face far greater challenges than just the standard PGC assigned to them. Offensively, those warriors would likely never see battle, but using mostly on-planet resources to increase their staying power while also serving as an effective anti-insurgency force made perfect sense. It would take some time to implement, but it was fast becoming clear that the war would take longer than the initially planned three years.
The improvements to the New Oslo 'Mech factories were well underway, but Ulric was also pushing his Science and Tech Castes to focus on other worlds. Csesztreg had a vast expanse of heavy metals but had never developed into a true industrial world. The Spheroids had instead exported the resources, but Ulric considered it far more efficient to use those metals on the planet itself. The foundations of new factories had already been laid, and in time, they would produce 'Mechs, vehicles, and armaments.
On the world of Dell, the remnants of an Aerospace manufacturing site, destroyed during the Succession Wars, still lingered. Ulric saw no reason why the planet could not once again become a productive contributor to his Clan's resources. On other worlds without existing facilities – or even the ruins of them – he instructed his lower castes to focus instead on producing munitions, fuel, and the raw materials necessary to support the industries of more productive planets.
The invasion was not going well for the other Clans, and the ilKhan was summoning yet another Grand Kurultai. He would not even wait until the current Wave ended and had requested that all the Clans send at least one Khan to attend on June 15th.
Ulric had spoken with the Khans of Clan Coyote, Goliath Scorpion, and Cloud Cobra. They would all vote with him, but he wondered what move he should make next. If Leo Showers was brought down, who would replace him? It would not be Elias Crichell – not after losing so many worlds. A Reserve Clan like the Steel Vipers might want the title, but they would not win it. No, the only logical choice would be Khan Jorgensson.
He has more foresight than Showers. While he would spend less time attempting to sabotage my Clan, despite the recent differences, he would undoubtedly pursue the war more competently. The Ghost Bears are often allied with the Snow Ravens. I find myself in the unenviable position where keeping Showers as ilKhan may be what is best for my Clan.
Then there was always the possibility that, if Showers fell, the Clans might consider erasing the plan Showers and Crichell had devised. They might even remove the entire concept of a limited number of Clans and specific invasion corridors. There was too much uncertainty in a change of leadership.
You will fall sooner or later, for now, later it is.
***
Blackjack
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
May 25th 3051
Was it odd that I considered Blackjack 'home' these days? It felt like coming home. I was tired, yet there was always more to do. Ainsworth shrinking my productive hours by forcing me to rest was irritating, but rationally, I knew that sleep was a force multiplier, so I complied.
The JumpShips should be picking up the Kathil Uhlans and the Chahar PMM from Wotan soon. Our counterattack had been impressive, and in total, we had retaken Hot Springs, Roadside, Beta VII, Wotan, Derf, Malibu, Butler, Waldorff, Alyina, and Denizli. What was surprising was that no attempt had been made by the Jade Falcons to retake any of those worlds. Morgan Hasek-Davion had even used some of his forces on Sudeten to launch an attack on Colmar.
The Jade Falcons were not completely idle, nor were the Diamond Sharks; each had taken a world from my nation – Koniz and Dustball, respectively. I was fed information via black box, and what I was hearing was very concerning. Tamar was almost certain to fall, and soon. The Steel Vipers were also attacking, and now the last of the Reserve Clans, the Nova Cats, had been activated.
As soon as we knock one down, two more spring up! This is bullshit.
Fortunately, reinforcements were incoming. The Wolf's Dragoons Delta and Epsilon Regiments would have arrived on Sudeten in July; however, they were being rerouted to Pandora. That was one of the key worlds that simply could not fall. With the aid of additional JumpShips from the FRR, they would make it there by the end of June instead of July.
Additionally, three more RCTs would be arriving on the front in August: the 3rd Lyran Regulars, the 12th Deneb Light Cavalry, and the 5th Donegal Guards. My father, Morgan, Nondi, and others were debating how to best use those elements. Sudeten was now cut off. Travel through uninhabited systems was possible but risky. There was strong pressure to reinforce the region around Sudeten so resupply lines could remain uninterrupted.
In October, Morgan Hasek-Davion would have two RCTs from the Marik border: the 11th Lyran Guards and the 12th FedCom RCT. All of this was planned, but with Operation: TERMINUS launching in July, nothing was certain. My father's plan was an audacious one, and although I agreed with it in principle, I found the timing… frustrating. All remaining units across the Federated Commonwealth were essentially pinned down and would be used to conduct lightning assaults on the ComStar HPG terminals. There was a real risk that some worlds would be cut off from the HPG network for a long time, and other worlds might even be held by the Com Guards, especially those worlds that did not have proper regiments stationed on them.
There was also the risk of ComStar military reprisals, both from whatever forces they had on Terra and from hired mercenaries. Many mercenaries refused to take contracts to fight the Clans; it was just too risky, given the juggernaut the Clans had seemed to be. With FedCom, FRR, and the Draconis Combine not needing mercenaries to fight against each other, it was hard to find work. ComStar had deep pockets, and it would be trivial for them to hire regiments of mercenaries to suddenly work for them and attack our worlds.
As for my own forces, my task force had suffered greatly. The 4th Davion Guards were at 25% strength, and the 39th Avalon Hussars even less. The Kathil Uhlans were at 66% strength, while the Chahar PMM was at 40%. The 2nd Crucis Lancers RCT had already been quite understrength and was now at a similar level to the 39th Avalon Hussars.
For my 1st Royal FedCom Guards, it was a mixed bag. My Aerospace was at 50%, my armor at 25%, my 'Mechs at 25%, and my artillery at 66%. Those fucking bombers had been a menace, though it could have been significantly worse if the Spitfire Cannons hadn't been so easy to disassemble. However, we did have a significant amount of salvage.
Our own Inner Sphere 'Mechs that were destroyed could be salvaged at a rate of about 20%. This would be key to bringing back some of our units to more fighting strength. Clan 'Mechs were, sadly, not nearly so salvageable, both because we had some limits on what replacements existed and because of my extensive use of artillery. A 10% salvage rate was doable, given the number of common 'Mechs. It would take some time, but we had over 300 destroyed enemy 'Mechs from Butler, and Leftenant General Redburn had 140 second-line Clan 'Mechs on Wotan. That was going to give me 30 OmniMechs and almost 20 second-line 'Mechs.
The allocation of that salvage was important. While I wanted to keep it all for my 1st Royal FedCom Guards, there were other considerations to take into account. In the end, I gave each of the unit commanders their pick of a pair of 'Mechs for their units and kept 20 OmniMechs for myself. I retained the captured Elemental Suits, and once again, I had to hand it to my sniper teams. They did a marvelous job, and we ended up with more than we lost. The lighter 'Mechs from the Clan second-line stock we took would go to the 4th Davion Guards, while the heavies would be sent to Tharkad and eventually to my brother's Davion Heavy Guards.
The infantry losses were higher, but with my Blackjack volunteers, I could easily make their infantry components whole again. The real sticking point was the armor; I would be drastically short on combat vehicles, especially for the 4th Davion Guards, since hovercraft were not easy to repair, nor did many parts survive after they were destroyed. Since I would not be getting reinforcements for some time, they would be very light in that department. The recaptured combat vehicles on Wotan would go toward making the Chahar PMM whole first, rather than radically altering the intended operational modifications for the armored regiments within the 4th Davion Guards.
Other losses haunted me. Aiko Roth had been one of the few people I was close to. Her value to me was greater than anyone but my father, mother, Victor, and Ainsworth. It felt odd to admit, but I had been closer to her than even my younger siblings. It was like losing Visha. It bothered me how much it bothered me. She had done what she had signed up to do: protect me.
What I wouldn't give to hear you quip about my age again…
She would be posthumously awarded the Federated Commonwealth Medal of Honor. But that wasn't sufficient for me. No, not sufficient at all. The battle she helped win gave the Inner Sphere its very first WarShip. It would no longer be the Titanic; it would be the Aiko Roth. The WarShip was on its way to Tharkad so design teams, engineers, and scientists could pick it apart. They wouldn't dismantle it – no, that would be foolish – but they would learn what they could. I envisioned it being used primarily as secure transport for a vast set of DropShips, but also as a potential counter to enemy WarShip action.
With 25 DropShip collars, it could effectively carry an absurd amount of Aerospace fighters. In a straight-up fight against other WarShips, it wouldn't be ideal on its own, but with dedicated Aerospace regiments and DropShips refitted with capital weapons, it stood a chance. Its primary purpose now was what we could learn from it. It would bear the name Aiko Roth and serve as a fitting tribute to a great friend.
***
Coventry
Donegal March, Lyran Commonwealth
May 30th 3051
Victor grinned as he exited the simulator. It was not often he was happy when losing, but the moves his friend had shown had been breathtaking. Kai was a beast with the simulated version of his new Caesar. The combination of TSM, Triple Strength Myomer, and the damned hatchet was ridiculous. Up close and personal, not even his Dire Wolf could handle it. He wasn't alone in his suffering; Wendy fared no better, either.
"New plan for dealing with the Clans: just send in Kai and my sister!" Victor laughed; he could laugh about that now because he knew his sister was currently safe, back on Blackjack.
When word got back about her exploits, he had been elated, but also terrified, because Katherine never knew when enough was enough. World after world taken promised some sort of retribution, and the Clans had done their best to deliver. The sheer concept of a galaxy attacking a world was staggering. Early in the war, a single Cluster – one-fifth of a Galaxy – had been enough to rout entire RCTs. Now that RCT commanders knew how the Clans fought, an RCT should be able to win against a Cluster, and perhaps against two. But not even the 1st Davion Guards or the Davion Assault Guards could handle three.
Kai looked mildly embarrassed but took it in stride. Wendy gave him a kiss, letting him know there were no hard feelings for having crushed her 'Mech's cockpit. Wendy was not on Victor or Kai's level, but she was an elite MechWarrior, and with the Dire Wolf, she was getting better and better.
The Davion Heavy Guards had been mulched on Zoetermeer, and it was Victor's job to get them back on their feet and ready to take the fight to the Clans. He had recruited heavily and was now awaiting the 'Mechs. Loxley, Tharkad, and Hesperus all had 'Mech factories that were going to deliver brand new 'Mechs to Coventry to fill out the Davion Heavy Guards.
Not soon enough. I am antsy to get out there again.
Many of the High Command believed the Jade Falcons did not have much left in the
tank. Victor's worry, though, was the new Clans: Steel Viper, Nova Cats, Snow Ravens. The Snow Ravens, in particular, were worryingly close to Coventry and Loxley, for that matter. The Seventeenth Donegal Guards RCT was on Loxley, and Coventry had the Coventry Donegal March Militia. If the Snow Ravens grew closer, there would be problems. There just were not enough reinforcements available with all the other threats going on.
Would we go so far as to strip Tharkad of one of the two RCTs stationed there? It would be a dangerous risk, but we would have few options.
Galen socked him in the arm.
"Wake up, Highness. You are zoning out again."
Victor scowled at his aide.
"I was thinking about the strategic situation and where we might end up being deployed."
Wendy shook her head in exasperation. "Victor, you need to relax a bit. Why do you think we dragged you from your room for extra simulator training? You are obsessing again."
How can I not? How can I do less than what Katherine is doing?
"It matters for how we finalize the rest of the regiment. I'm not going to leave anything to chance."
"Understandable, Victor, but with how fast things are moving, when it is time to move, the situation may have completely changed," Kai said calmly. "We are part of an RCT, and Marshal Adelmana will be the one to decide what our next assignment is: an independent 'Mech command or as part of the full deployment of the Davion Heavy Guards RCT. We don't even know if we will be fighting Falcons, Wolves, Vipers, Sharks, or Ravens."
"A whole damn zoo," Galen muttered.
Victor took a deep breath and exhaled. "I hear you, and I get it. It just feels as if I'm not doing everything I can."
Galen shook his head empathetically. "Colonel Steiner-Davion, you are putting in fourteen hours a day of work. You re-review reports, triple-check inventories, scan industrial orders and JumpShip routes, plan tactical exercises, memorize details about potential worlds we may fight on… I could keep listing it out. Take a break so you don't burn out. Part of rest and refit includes resting."
"Agh, fine. Since you are all against me, I'll take it easy for the next couple of days," Victor said with slight exasperation.
These are good people. I'm not sure what I would do without them.
***
Sevren System
Tamar March, Wolf OZ
June 4th 3051
Khan Elias Crichell knew defeat. Now, the only thing left to do was determine how to recover from it. The Jade Falcon Clan Council was going to remove him from the position of Khan; the only reason they had not already done so was that Crichell was on his way to the Grand Kurultai. He did not have any true hope of retaining his title as Khan, but there were ways he could position himself for the future.
The newly promoted Galaxy Commander, Vandervahn Chistu, was frowning.
"You wish to resign as Khan and intend to force Timur Malthus to do the same. But why?"
"It will be better to resign than to have the Clan Council remove me. Ian Hawker is dead, and if I am successful in the Kurultai, ilKhan Showers will be removed. I will place much of the blame for the invasion and the strategy on the shoulders of the Smoke Jaguar but will act for the good of the Clan and resign as well for following his lead."
Chistu was nodding. "And then your supports will vote for me as Khan as there are no other good contenders. Marthe Pryde has covered herself in glory, but many dislike her and the shame of being a part of the same Galaxy that lost Blackjack still lingers. After which, you wish me to appoint you as saKhan, quiaff?"
"Aff. We will continue to work together, though it will be your vision guiding the Clan forward."
Until you are removed, once my reputation is rehabilitated.
Crichell knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he would never survive being forcefully removed as Khan. Being placed under saKhan rule would lead to howling, but it could be argued by Chistu that Crichell seeks continuity and the continued use of one who had been negotiating with other Khans.
"And without your support, you could throw the vote for the new Khan to Marthe Pryde, Mar Helmer, or even a dark horse candidate like Adrian Malthus. Quiaff?"
"Aff. We understand each other."
Chistu nodded. "Do you think you will be successful in removing the ilKhan?"
Crichell did not know. His attempts to gather support were not going well. The Hell's Horses Khans had listened with interest but were noncommittal. The Snow Ravens had tried to persuade him not to take that action but had promised their vote. Many Khans had ignored him, and his communication transmissions were answered by mere Star Captains. It was obvious that he was being insulted.
"I do not know – it depends on what the ilKhan will attempt to do. Either way, the future of our Clan is in peril. I've ordered PGCs to gather on Twycross, leaving more worlds nearly undefended. At this point, leaving a single PGC on a world is useless and only bleeds our strength. I will also be attempting to spark a delay in the invasion, as word has reached me through the Watch that the Smoke Jaguars are now facing a counter-offensive. A delay to hold Bloodname Trials and time to secure holdings will be presented as necessary."
Chistu paused to consider that for a moment. "Yes, a reasonable plan, you can proceed."
You are not Khan yet!
Crichell kept his face smooth despite his inner rage, a skill he found that most warriors in the Clans either could not master or never attempted.
They spoke at length about the organization of the remaining Galaxies. Crichell blamed Galaxy Commander Mattlov for Butler. After reviewing the battle data, he realized Aidan Pryde had been correct, and someone like that would be valuable, though politically a disaster. Chistu was temporarily in command of the Peregrine Galaxy, but someone would need to replace him.
A saKhan can command a Galaxy, and I will need victories to my name to rehabilitate my image. Aidan Pryde will help me secure them.
To achieve that, Aidan Pryde would retain his rank and be moved to the Peregrine Galaxy as a Star Colonel, but Crichell intended for him to lead it when it came to operations. Crichell still remembered Pryde's victory in the Trial of Refusal; outnumbered three-to-one, he defeated some of the Clan Council's best Bloodnamed warriors.
The Jade Falcon Galaxy would continue to be commanded by Timur Malthus. If nothing else, the man had proven his loyalty and had not resisted the order to resign at the upcoming Clan Council gathering. He was a skilled commander, but his Galaxy would soon see far fewer supplies and replacement 'Mechs, as those would be diverted to the Peregrine Galaxy.
Such few replacements 'Mech that we have…
Marthe Pryde would retain command of Gyrfalcon Galaxy. Each Galaxy was understrength, both in size and in the quality of equipment. It was an intolerable state of affairs, and despite all his maneuvering and scheming, he did not see a way for his Falcons to ascend. His best hope was that by pulling back and only making slight gains in future Waves, the Federated Commonwealth would choose to unleash their best commander on some other Clan. It didn't matter to him if it was the Snow Ravens, Diamond Sharks, Wolves, or Steel Vipers – so long as it stopped being his Clan!
***
Blackjack
Tamar March, Lyran Commonwealth
June 5th 3051
Cadet Estelle Harris had been given temporary leave from the Blackjack School of Conflict to spend time with her brother. Her brother, Leftenant Mark Harris, inducted into the Order of Steiner-Davion, was leaving Blackjack soon. His injuries were not life-threatening, but the burns on his face and most of one leg and arm included severe nerve damage. As he was, he would not be able to pilot a BattleMech.
Princess Katherine did not want her brother to give up on his dream. He would be riding along with pieces of salvage headed for NAIS. It was not a full Command Circuit, but he would arrive in New Avalon far sooner than it would normally take. NAIS had the best medical team in the Federated Commonwealth, and if anyone could get him back into a 'Mech, it would be them.
Just like Justin Allard! I remember doing a history report on him. When he lost his hand and part of his arm, they first thought he would never pilot a 'Mech again. Then he went on to become the Champion of Solaris!
"And I want you to train in the Zeus as well," he told her firmly.
"Why? You'll be piloting it when you get back!"
"I hope you are right, but I am going to be gone a long time. Just promise me that you won't just focus on the Commando. If I am not back and ready to pilot when you are called, please use my Zeus," he said in a steady voice, despite the pained expression.
Estelle nodded solemnly. She would do that.
Her brother's scared face broke into a grin. "And please don't take any advice from Colonel Lautner on piloting it! The guns on our family's 'Mech are for shooting things, not being used as a club!"
She laughed. They had been given the BattleROM afterwards of Colonel Lautner using the 'Mech's weaponry in close quarters. The old man had been apologetic about ruining the weapon, but since the Zeus was in line for upgrades anyway, there was nothing to apologize for.
She hugged her brother, and they held each other for several minutes before it was time for Mark to head out to the waiting DropShip.