FSRB Chpt 33

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==The Federated Suns Reborn - Chapter 33==
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May 3064The Tour continues
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===Touring Capellan March===
As May began the First Prince took a tour of the New Syrtis yards and made a point to visit the construction site for the latest slip being built for the new Davion III destroyers. Alongside him are officers of the Medusan's mercenary group and Duke Hasek himself. While viewing the still barely started slip the First Prince assures his cousin that if the Davion III design works out that he will expand production here in New Syrtis as quickly as funds allow, making the yards here the primary supplier of destroyers for the Federated Suns Navy. Although given that he has authorised construction of 2 destroyer slips at Galax it is clear that New Syrtis will not be the exclusive supplier for the design. 
After leaving the March capital he heads "upwards" through the Capellan March, making stops at Talon, Kathil, Novoya Zemyla (where he tours the just completed Cavalier battle armor plant) and Axton amongst others. Various units and soldiers receive decorations directly from the hands of their prince during this tour as he heads into the Achernar PDZ. He also meets with the officers and troops of the 1st and 2nd Cunningham Commando's and 12th Vegan Rangers and extends to them his offer personally. After only a brief meeting with the various staffs and a HPG message to and from the command's patron the Duke of Verde, General Tom Stancel of the Alpha Regiment very politely declines the offer. He expresses his pride that the First Prince thought so highly of his command and assures him that the Rangers remain committed to their long term contracts with the Federated Suns but explains that they wish to remain in mercenary service. The First Prince assures the General this is not a problem and that whatever the terms of their service are he and his realm are grateful for the dedicated and valiant service of the famed 12th Vegan Rangers. 
===Luring the Merceries into House Service Continues===
Within the Cunningham Commandos brigade however, the offer polarizes opinions. Many of the members of the command had long considered themselves almost a line regiment of the AFFS anyway, complete with prestigious postings such as to the Combat Training Center at Novoya Zemyla and high profile assignments and were keen to take the First Prince up on his offer. A few traditionalists within the units however wished to retain their mercenary roots and were opposed to "losing" their heritage. Finally however a compromise was reached. Those wishing to retain their status as Davion affiliated mercenaries would be transferred into the 1st Commando's while those wishing to take the First Prince up on his offer would be transferred into the 2nd Commandos. The 2nd would then be "sold" to the AFFS and directly integrated into the regular army. The funds from this sale would be then used to massively upgrade the existing 1st Commando's beyond their already impressive level. After further debate those who would be taking the First Princes's offer agreed to petition to be folded into the FedSuns Dragoons Brigade as the 2nd FedSuns Dragoons RCT, "The Commandos". On the 30th of May this request would be granted by New Avalon, with the reorganisation and transition taking place during June and July. The 2nd FedSuns Dragoons would keep strong ties to their former parent regiment the 1st Cunningham Commandos and this would even be encouraged by the AFFS. 
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Even as the First Prince is continuing his tour the Marshal of Armies Jackson Davion approaches the 1st New Avalon Cavaliers command staff. Given that many of these men and women are actually reserve AFFS officers or staff at the NAIS who he has known from most of his life the meeting is a friendly one. He basically explains the First Princes's recent offers to various mercenary commands and makes his own pitch to the Dr. John Parker the CO of the regiment and his officers. He doesn't want to break what isn't broken, in that the 1st New Avalon Cavaliers is ideally suited for a defensive formation for New Avalon itself given it's members heavy involvement with the R&D community on New Avalon and the training establishments here. However he points out to the officers that had for instance Archon Katherine been successful in her coup they would have found themselves unable to fully form up and been forced underground. He suggests that the Cavaliers formally join the AFFS but with a permanent garrison posting on New Avalon that would allow it's members to perform their current duties as well. 
He also points out that the former Team Banzai, the previous incarceration of their unit had fallen of the active rolls due to having not seen any real action for a number of years. This can be rectified if the New Avalon Cavaliers join the AFFS with an idea he has had. The over strength unit will be split into 2 commands. The 1st will be officially and permanently garrisoned on New Avalon, while the 2nd will be deployed as and where it is needed to try new designs, technology, etc in battlefield conditions while gaining combat experience for it's members. Who will be transferred back to the 1st on a rotation schedule that will allow all of the Cavaliers to get modern combat experience while also providing their vital services and protection for New Avalon itself. 
All of the various officers present agree that the idea has merit, but many point out that they cannot simply just leave the planet on a whim to be deployed elsewhere. They have duties. Jackson Davion agrees wholeheartedly but points out that many of their officers and troops are reservists who could be used to make up the bulk of the 2nd unit and only such officers as were able to be freed up could be rotated. While also given vital field testing for the R&D departments. In time other suitably skilled troops and officers could be identified and used to expand the force to allow more feasible rotations. During peacetime the 2nd unit could even be garrisoned on New Avalon or another world nearby where it's members could continue their vital work. Galax, Torrence and El Dorado are all mentioned as possibilities for this. He does explain that in his idea any officers and scientists can apply to be permanently posted to the 1st regiment if they require this for their work. Subject to the approval of the commanding officers of the Cavaliers of course. 
The 1st New Avalon Cavaliers officers are intrigued by the Marshal's idea and agree to talk it over amongst themselves. This process of debates and discussions will go on into July before the unit makes up it's mind. 
Of the units which the First Prince had spoken to directly the Arcadians, Federated Freemen, and the Lexington Combat Group are still debating the offer. However the Illician Lancers and Vanguard Legion have made their decisions. 
The Illician Lancers brigade take up the First Princes's offer of an island landhold on the world of Lackland. They ask to send a small delegation from all of their regiments to identify the island that would be ideal and begin construction of their new base. They intended to make it a replica of their long lost halls upon Terra. 
The Vanguard Legion decides to take the First Prince and Duke Hasek up on the offer of joining the Syrtis Fusiliers. Many of those less kindly inclined to Chad Dean are heard to mutter that the chance of promotion to Leftenant General and a landhold and minor title are what has swung the Colonel in favour of the proposal. Still whatever his motives Colonel Dean is able to carry with him the vast majority of his regiment. He even makes the suggestion that his unit be used to reform the 4th Syrtis Fusiliers which during the 2nd Succession War absorbed the mercenary force the Bloody Sons as their 3rd battalion "Ross's Fusiliers". As such it would be a unit with a "mercenary pedigree" as it were. When this was accepted by Duke Hasek on the 23rd May he spoke out in favour of the fact that Leftenant General Chad Dean, who was standing beside him in the uniform of the AFFS, had clearly researched his new brigades history and tradition and was seeking to respect them. In keeping with this following of traditions of the Syrtis Fusiliers Brigade, he too will do so and he announces the formation of the 3rd Syrtis Fusiliers at the same time. The two units of the 3rd and 4th Fusiliers had been initially formed together and had always been twin units often training and deploying together and never deployed more than 4 jumps from each other. 
This joint announcement is extremely popular within the Capellan March. However on New Avalon most of the High Command cynically feel that it is unlikely that Chad Dean came up with the history of the 4th Syrtis Fusiliers all on his own. Instead many think that Duke Hasek guided him to this request so that he could then announce the formation of 2 units instead of 1 and blackmail New Avalon into supporting the formation as a matter of "tradition" and risk offending the entire Fusiliers Brigade while also undermining the First Princes' offers. Given the way it has already been publicly announced however there is little the High Command can do but grit their teeth and smile. 
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The two mercenary commands the Regulators and the Wilson's Hussars both accept the AFFS contracts at this time. The Wilson's Hussars just before they enter the contract (and with letting slip that it is pending) manage to bring their strength up to a full battalion of battlemechs by absorbing a number of down on their luck smaller commands. Having hired the unit the AFFS finds itself the proud employer of a battalion of battlemechs which are in many cases in desperate need for repairs and some entire rebuilds. As such they make the one time offer of sending the Hussars to the refit centre on Bell in lieu of some of their wages. An offer that is accepted. 
The Dismal Disinherited refuse the offer of employment, despite having no current employer. The Hampton's Hessens explain they are considering the offer and make a number of suggested increases in the terms to persuade them to sign the contracts... 
The High Command also begin discussing removing the 3 Borderer regiments from the Independent Commands and setting up a specific Borderer Brigade with it's own command staff. While practically it would have little difference for the units in question as they are almost exclusively tied to their own world, it would make the administration of the units easier. It might even offer opportunities for officer exchanges to improve the newer Mitchel Borderer's experience levels and efficiency. The various officers in charge of the Borderers are contacted to obtain their thoughts on the matter. 
On Robinson the news of the expansion of the Syrtis Fusiliers Brigade to no less than 6 RCTs causes Duke Sandoval to call for increased funding for his own March's defences. He requests that the Duke of Galtor attend Robinson when the First Prince arrives in order to better make the case for more Ranger units to defend the Draconis March from any future Combine aggression's. He also sends out unofficial feelers to the Narhal's Raiders in the Combine about a long term contract when their time serving the Dragon is over. Assuring them that he and his people will welcome them back with open arms. 
===Rebuilding former Tortuga Dominions===
Within the former Tortuga Dominions the work of rebuilding a functional society continues. A number of lynchings and frenzied assaults take place as old scores are settled, but the 34th and the attached conventional brigades manage to keep things mostly under control. There is even some efforts made to form a self sustaining planetary militia on Tortuga Prime and Morgan's Holdfast. In a surprising move there is even a start to some basic industrial production - for instance the long abandoned project of the HM-49 Uranium mine on Tortuga Prime is revisited and Achernar Heavy Industries and Basantapur Metals agree to jointly oversee the opening of the long defunct and partially completed mine. Cerulean Waters also announce a large scale investment in water purifiers to help the water poor worlds, heavily subsidised by the government. There is also already small scale migration to the worlds from the Federated Suns, most of them engineers and civil servants and their families. Most by now are firmly of the view that the Tortuga worlds will be annexed to the Federated Suns in due course. 
===Expanding the military in the Free Worlds League===
Within the Free Worlds League the Captain-General begins sitting down with various leaders to attempt to get more funding to expand on the military. In particular he is keen to increase the number of federal regiments within the FWLM. In a suprise move he involves Dame Humphreys of Andurian in these discussions. 
===Troubles in the Galtor Thumb===
Within the Galtor Thumb the ISF operatives make contact with a number of Kurita loyalists (particularly in the transported populations of Galtor itself). As soon as they do they begin to train them in guerrilla warfare techniques, with a small number of DEST as cadre. 
===Fighting in the Chaos March===
On Caph the Wolf's Dragoons Delta Regiment begins hammering the pro-Capellan and pro-WOB forces, although they leave the Duke and his remaining Grenadiers alone for the time being as well as the Combine loyal forces. Things go well for the Delta's efforts and they pushed the WOB forces back with heavy losses. At the end of May in a surprising move the Dragoons are joined by the 2nd Kearny Highlanders who make common cause with them against the WOB forces. 
===McCarron's Armored Cavalry returns home===
The returning warriors of the McCarron's Armored Cavalry are dropped off on Menke at the end of the month. Ignoring the orders from Sian that they should travel for debriefing to Grand Base they are used to reform the 5th McCarron's Armored Cavalry regiment at roughly battalion strength. A handful of machines from the StarCorp plant trickle in allowing a 5th company to be added to the 1st regiment. This brings the total forces of the brigade on Menke to a regiment and a half, with another 7 companies still on Ares.
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