TBntG-2 Chpt 11

=The Bull and the Genie=
==Chapter 11 - Book II - The Ninety-five Theses==
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==A bad Day For the Confederation==
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===The Arrival of Polite Invaders===
Egress, Capellan Confederation
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The first sign the defenders of the system had that something was wrong was the appearance of two Tramp class ships, military transports of the TDF. There was little warning, as they appeared at a pirate point, and as the six dropships were deployed, a swarm of fighters arose from the system even as the Egress defense units scrambled. 
 
But the small fleet did not attempt to land, and the intercepting fighters were forced to engage at the very limit of their endurance, as two of the big ships, some form of modified Overlord class dropship, started launching capital ship missiles on a ballistic course, not for cities, but for outlying military bases, punching into shelters and repair facilities. The Liao attacks were desperate and by the end, no less than eight Taurian fighters had been destroyed—in return for the loss of nearly the entire Liao air defense network, save for atmospheric fighters. There would have been more, but they were off fighting the Davions. 
 
Meanwhile, a third Tramp had jumped in by the recharging station, and it deployed small craft and two modified assault unions, taking advantage of the unified hull and engine. One was heavily damaged, but in return, the Taurians claimed no less than six JumpShips. 
Government ships were taken as a prize of war, while the three civilian ships were "temporarily impressed," their befuddled crews being handed receipts by the boarding officers. 
 
It was only then that the commander broadcast her intentions to the system:
 
To the inhabitants of the Egress system. We have incontrovertible evidence that your Chancellor was directly responsible for the atrocity in Samantha. Because of that, a State of War exists between our two states. However, as we have no interest in making war on civilians, we shall restrict ourselves to military targets. Furthermore, as a measure to secure our operational security, we will either destroy, seize, or disable all dropships, both military and civilian. Civilian owners may submit a claim for damages.
 
After a warning, the bombardment of dropships began, save for several civilian ships that boosted into orbit and submitted to boarding. The few remaining military DropShips were either destroyed on the ground, or met their Valhalla when they attempted to boost into orbit to defeat the invaders. 
 
Three days later, the little fleet, accompanied by its new prizes, boosted for the outer system, joining the contingent that had hit the recharge station.
The station itself had not been damaged, save for some rather impolite art by the troops. 
 
The TDF weren't savages.
 
And they were using the lessons the SLDF had taught them, long ago in the Reunification War. 
 
It didn't matter how many islands a nation ruled—if it could not control the sea.
 
Lastly, there had been no attempt to prevent the HPG Station from operating. That would violate Comstar's neutrality. 
 
So if the panicked reports spoke of the Third Squadron of the Second Fleet, well, it wasn't the TCN's fault if people drew the wrong conclusions. As they prepared for their next move, repairing damage and restocking, the crews got busy with new hull insignia and transponder settings—after all, the First Squadron of the Fourth Fleet deserved some glory too, didn't it?
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===Lurking between the inhabited Stars===
MCC-012 Star System, within the Capellan Confederation
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The red dwarf had no planets, nor even an asteroid belt. But it had satellites now. Several cargo pods, formed into a prefabbed space base, recharging gear set up. Extra Aerospace Fighters, Battlemechs and supplies ensured that the invading forces could not have to return to their lines to supply.
And most importantly, to any outside observer, it would seem like the Taurians had far more ships that they could afford to rotate out entire flotillas for resupply in the Concordat.
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===A Fatal Decision===
Throne room of the Chancellor, Forbidden City - Sian, Capellan Confederation
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"We must stop the Taurians!" Maximilian Liao snarled. "Barbarians, thugs! How are they winning?!!"
 
"They're not fighting us, Celestial Wisdom. They have landed on only a few worlds. Other than that they keep to space like cowards." The admiral was sweating, because the obvious question would bring up the fact that enemies in space were his responsibility. "But our assault ships, the majority of our fighter strength is fighting the Davions. And the Maskirovka seems to have missed the fact that the Taurians have fleets."
 
"Misinformation," Chandra Ling muttered. 
 
"Really? Then how are they hitting so many systems? We have no evidence that they're returning to the Concordat, nor are they using our systems. The time stamps, the transponder codes? It is naval intelligence estimates that they have as many as one hundred combat dropships in action." The admiral called up a grainy image of a cylindrical Dropship. "Including new classes! At least 18,000 tons, carrying capital ship missiles and enough lighter weapons to make anything other than an overwhelming fighter strike suicidal! And they don't land! They just bombard military bases, or dual use facilities, and go away. If we try to hit them, they have the range advantage."
"And civilian casualties?" Justin Xiang-Allard asked, ignoring the glare from his superior, Chandra Ling. 
 
"Light. Fortunately." The admiral shook his head. "They've avoided bombarding military bases colocated with major cities, and there hasn't been any combat on the ground. This money had to come from somewhere, so I expect they've hollowed out their ground forces to afford these ships."
 
"Which does not help us."
 
"No, Celestial Wisdom, it does not."
 
Maximilian frowned. "What about our special weapons? Even a single fighter could defeat their forces."
 
"At the risk of seeing them use their own weapons, Celestial Wisdom." Xiang shook his head. "As you have said, they are barbarians. Should we risk them unleashing such fire on our worlds?"
 
"No…" Maximilian shook his head. "You are correct. We cannot fight their fleet, not yet, not due to the failings of our own fleet. We cannot risk more Jumpships. Start withdrawing them from the at risk regions."
 
"Celestial Wisdom, that will cripple—" the admiral fell silent at Maximilian's shout. 
 
"Worse than losing the JumpShips will? Idiot! Go carry out my orders." Maximilian leaned back. "We must knock the Federated Suns out before we can deal with the upstarts from the Periphery. Kathil. Once Kathil is destroyed, we will have the initiative."
 
"Of course, Celestial Wisdom," Justin said.
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===Thankful for bad Decisions===
Fox's Den - New Avalon, Federated Suns
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Thank you Max, Hanse Davion thought as he stared at the briefing. 
 
"We really don't know what the Taurians are doing, or how they got that much firepower. Clearly, they've been investing." Quintus shrugged. "Our Lyran counterparts have a bit more information on their economic work, and well, we can't explain this by just investment. Those ships represent a radical increase in their technological capabilities."
 
"Another Halstead Station cache?"
 
"Possibly, or maybe a data cache from the Reunification War—we know they feared that the Star League might completely genocide them. It wouldn't take much to assume they found a lost cache."
 
"Regardless, what does this mean for the war?"
 
"The damage they've done to the Liao spacelift capability has neutralized more than a few of their local units. They were sticking close to their worlds, but now there's no possibility that they can be moved. We can focus more on offense."
 
"Good." Hanse nodded. "And information on where the Taurians are going to strike next?"
 
"No idea, Sire. The fact is, I'm not certain if they have as many ships as they claim."
 
"Oh?"
 
"They're hitting very fast, but what confirmed information we have never has all those fleets hitting different worlds at the same time. Granted it could be that they're cycling forces, or it could be a deception operation. But it is sowing all kinds of chaos behind their lines. I have reports from at least three worlds that had a panic because the Taurian armada was paying them a visit, when no such armada was anywhere around. There's some evidence that the Taurian's may be paying people to panic…"
 
"Smart of Edward." Hanse shook his head. "This has his fingerprints on it."
 
"The focus on commerce raiding, and avoiding major ground operations."
 
"Neutralize your enemy without destroying them—or leaving them with a generational grudge." Hanse nodded. "The Laios launched an atrocity that would have some nations salting the earth their cities were on, and the Taurians are punishing the government, but leaving the people alone. Edward, from what I've seen, has always been a bit of an idealist." He glanced at Quintus. "After this, Michael is no longer going to be an issue. Draw me up a list of people who will be replacing his own people. I want no firebrands on that border. We may not ever be friends, but we don't have to be enemies." He chuckled. "Besides, from what the Lyrans have said, Taurian businessmen are nearly as cutthroat as they are."
"Sire?"
 
"If we can ease up tensions, then well, who am I to say no to businessmen willing to invest in our Outback?" Hanse shook his head. "Thought for another day. Right now, let's focus on winning the war."
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