IDGL-3

=Ian Davion, Golden Lion=
==Chapter 3 – Playboy==
===Prince Arrives on Gallery===
06/11/3039 - Location – Union Mark V-Class DropShip FSS Valor en route to Gallery, Lyran Commonwealth
----
Ian Davion walked through the dropship's cavernous Mech bay currently filled with 8 battlemechs around a central staging port although there were only five active Mechwarriors aboard and three young teens (The Kell-Allard Trio; Mark, Tempest, and Harrison).  The heaters in this area were on the fritz so the space was incredibly cold, the Techs said they could fix it on Gallery and Ian and everyone else had to put on their heavy red jackets, watch caps, and gloves while doing the daily maintenance for the Mechs.  He climbed the access ladder and walked out onto the platform toward his Red and Gold Marauder, the “Golden Lion”. A Battlemech once operated by his Grandfather Andrew Davion.  
The man used it last during his campaign to eliminate the Mechwarrior Cabals and avenge the murder of his father (Ian's Great Grandfather Paul) before swearing to never take the field again.  The guilt of having shed the blood of so many of his fellow nobles even if for the good of the Suns still clung to him till his death.  It was still used as a cautionary tale for those that would seek to corrupt the ideals of the Federated Suns for their own selfish gain.  It didn't stop his uncle Michael from trying to take over the Suns by betraying his Father to the Capellan Confederation however.  
To be privileged with his Grandfather's Battlemech made Ian immensely proud it was a dream to pilot.  He climbed the access latter to check with his personal Tech dressed in his own red and gold heavy uniform playing with his portable diagnostic tool. “Morning Vance, what's on the schedule?”  
“We're actually pretty well caught up, I don't have anything for you today.”
“Well what am I going to do then?”
Vance smiled at him before tossing him a rag and pointing toward a can of wax, “Well you can wax it, those Lyrans are going to go crazy for this paint job. I'm glad I had the Dragoon's shop when we fixed your mech up after they shot you up.  This is good stuff,” he put his hand just over the gleaming paint around the Marauder's cockpit, “way better than the paint used by the AFFS.” 
He activated a portable light unit mounted on the overheads, “Look at that gloss!"  
"I don't want you to get it shot up before I can bring a local round and, you know, engage in some international relations.” 
The man turned and was about to head out, “Catch ya later kid, I'm gonna see who's on the local net boards.  Maybe I can get a meeting lined up with a hot blonde tomorrow as well.”
Ian took the rag and stopped to admire the two Wolf's Dragoons heads painted under the cockpit representing the two kills he got on Outreach before his mech was legged.  Bishop got all three of his opponents much to the surprise of Natasha and her trainers.  Ian was a little jealous but Bishop had actually fought on the front line and his mech was tougher and unfamiliar to the Wolves.  His mech was painted Red and Gold as well although he was not a fan of it preferring the regular Tricolor Parade scheme.
The Prince finished up with the Marauder wanting it to shine for a different reason than Vance before heading back to the room he shared with Bishop who wasn't there as normal.  The Valor's captain had insisted that he take the Captain's Cabin but Ian had refused although it was much more spacious.  First Princes had for centuries put up with the cramped space of a shared drop-ship cabin he could do it as well.   He didn't even have that many things anyway but he stashed his heavy uniform in the storage locker that was beneath the hinged bed.  
With plenty of time he headed toward the small but comparably large rec room to see Patrick and Bishop engaged in a vigorous game of holo-chess while Megan and Dan watched.  Ian squeezed into one of the couches opposite them.  Military transports weren't built with creature comforts in mind first even ones that carried Princes, however this Union was among the nicest ones due to the slightly reduced combat crew and enlarged cargo bay.  Megan started, “Hey, Ian. I thought you were on maintenance duty right now.”
“I was, Vance let me go early.  I just had to wax my Mech to help him be a lady killer.”
The Allards laughed at that but Bishop and Patrick were still intensely focused on their match.  
Her cheeks showed the barest blush, “Like he needs the help, I see him working out in the Tech Bay shirtless sometimes when he's supposed to be working.  I sometimes stop him and ask for him to look at my Phoenix Hawk, especially if he has to bend over.”
Dan looked at her incredulous, “What!  You're not supposed to look at other guys.”
Megan gave him a look and put her tan hand so unlike the other Kells playfully through his black hair, “and you're supposed to be a rugged, handsome, Mercenary Mechwarrior but you've gone soft being an academy training liaison.  My dad isn't even going to recognize you when we get back to Arc-Royal.  You're going to have to start doing martial arts with the boys again.”
“I'll restart their lessons tomorrow, Megan.”  He caressed her hands, “I have another way of working out though.  Sorry Ian but we're going to head out now.  Tell us who wins.  And distract our kids a little bit would you?”
Megan and Dan departed toward their Cabin, their departure hardly registering on the two chess players.  “Checkmate!”
Bishop slammed his fist on the arm of his chair, “So close!  Another move and I would have had you, Patrick.”
Patrick leaned back content with his victory, “Haha, I know, I've more experience at this game then you do though Major, Morgan tried to use that gambit all the time but it never worked on me.”
The two of them powered down the holotable, then they realized that Ian was here and that the other two left.  “Hello, Ian.”
“Patrick, Bishop good game it seems.” Ian told them.
“Yes, I'm glad we picked this dropship to come home on.  Your normally need a Monarch passenger ship to get a holographic gaming table this nice.  Bishop is quite crafty I'm certain he's learned a lot about gaming over the past couple of weeks so I'm sure he will pass it along.  Just be prepared to lose for a while till you become unstoppable Ian, its a good skill to learn unfortunately.”
“Patrick, I heard that your brother will be giving away Melissa during her wedding.”
“Aye, we've always been very close.  Morgan was humbled by the offer, he loved Arthur and loves Melissa as much as Katrina.  I actually just heard that she has requested you to be her escort.”
Ian had a blank look on his face and choked a little bit, “I hadn't heard that.”
“Well now you have.  She sent the message to me a couple hours ago.  I figured we would see each other before tomorrow, small dropship and all.”
“But I haven't even met her yet.”
“It's not like she asked for you to be her date for a fling in the supply locker. Poor woman is just clinging to life out of sheer stubbornness as it is.  It seemed appropriate to have a Suns Prince escort the Archon Emeritus to Tharkad however and she agreed.”
Ian looked around this was a brand new dropship but it was nowhere near presentable for a major head of state, “She's going to be on my dropship?  Please tell me that's not the case."
"No you will be on her dropship as a guest along with Bishop, its very nice, the Valor will follow behind.  We're going to catch the next charter to Arc-Royal so you won't see us until the wedding."
"So about the meet tomorrow, I would like to go over the proper protocol with you again.”
“Certainly I don't think Bishop will give me another game today.”
Bishop looked at him with grim displeasure at losing so many times to the Kell and politely excused himself.
“We're going to do a simple meet and greet at first nothing ostentatious Gallery is hardly a formal world despite it's privileged position in the Commonwealth.  Now when we get to Tharkad the rules change but we have a few weeks before that happens.  We're going to need to get you a better uniform though.“
"But a uniform is...uniform." said Ian
"In the Lyran Commonwealth, there are uniforms, and then there are uniforms.  You won't make much of an impression if you show up with one of the former.  I'm sure Jack (Nondi Steiner's husband) can set you up with his man on Tharkad.  That man knows how to wear a suit.  We'll even get a little purple pocket square in order to catch the eye of the League's ambassador."
Ian was surprised his potential arranged marriage to Corrine wasn't supposed to be known to Patrick, Dan and Megan had sworn they wouldn't tell him, "What?  Why would I want that?"
"I know about your little Marik side-quest.  I don't hate them but I don't like or trust them either.  You might end up in trouble because of a huge family feud or a Steiner power struggle.  There are three other Steiner lines and even though it's Melissa's primary concern they might try to use you to advance their own claim.  It's happened before."
"Did you tell anyone else?"
"No, my lips are sealed.  The Kell Hounds try to stay out of the feudal politics of the Successor States.  I just wanted you to know that people will ask about all of your motivations here in many different ways then you are used to so you have to be very observant.  The ball room is just as dangerous as the dueling field or battlefield in the Commonwealth.  Don't trust anyone and especially watch out for Ryan, he's a snake as vicious as any in the Combine and he hates the Free Worlds League.  You already know to be cautious around Tormano that man is affable sure but he's cold blooded as well and he has it out for the Suns now."
----
===Meeting the Steiners===
06/12/3039 07:14 Location – Alistair Steiner Memorial Starport, New Stockholm, Gallery, Lyran Commonwealth
----
Gallery’s Starport is an engineering masterpiece, an example of the capabilities of Lyran engineering.  Dropships land on a heavily reinforced pad their blast forces being deflected toward the ocean beyond creating a constant eerie steaming mist to add to the persistent drizzle that covers the rocky barren surface.  Normal guidance lights were unreliable in the haze so everything was radio directed from the large masts surrounding the perimeter fence far away from the incredibly hot exhaust.  
The Union-Class FSS Valor set down on Pad Six and the dropship was gradually lowered the forty feet underground atop a massive hydraulic pad till it was clear of the Ferrocrete cover that would roll into place in order to protect the sprawling underground facility.  
Ian stepped off the ramp and was immediately assaulted by the controlled chaos that surrounded him.  Five other vessels were here, an Overlord, Mule, and three of the small egg shaped K-1 Shuttles used mostly for short orbital hops.  The Overlord was painted in the Blue and White of the 10th Lyran Guards as were the two assault BattleMechs, a Banshee and Zeus standing outside.  
Tracked combat vehicles painted in several different patterns were heading toward the Mule.  The smell of their ICE exhaust surprising faint due to the massive ventilation shafts that ringed this area.  Larger crawler transports were carrying shipping containers with unassembled parts to be kit built by lesser manufacturers or units that didn’t want to pay Quickscell to assemble them.  Their bulk carried aboard one of the many lengthy underground train tracks that ran beneath Gallery.
Ian looked up as the ferrocrete completely closed with a thud, “That’s a big door.”
Patrick Kell was following him, buttoning his black coat against the damp chill air the cyber-hand surprisingly dexterous, “Yeah amazing tech they have here.  All six doors can open completely within five minutes and allegedly could withstand Warship fire.  Back when those were a thing, at least the only ones with those now are the Dragoons and maybe COMSTAR and as far as I know they don’t have it out for us.  If it jams they have Uni Workmechs pull it closed until it’s fixed, don’t want plasma exhaust in this closed space.”
The Kells and Davions descended the ramp toward and down the rising walkway, “Ian, Nondi will be nice but she’s not a huge fan of your AFFS officers changing ‘Her LCAF’ she’s very old school and I dare say arrogant.  She won’t do anything to upset Katrina though especially while she’s here so you should be safe for now.  Nondi is on the verge of retirement anyhow so her kind are bound to leave us eventually." 
"There are others that are more receptive to change and improving relations with the Federated Suns, whom many in the Commonwealth consider a lesser realm or at worst just as bad as the Combine but further away.  Edward Regis, the current General of the Armies is also unfortunately on his way out. He has long been one of Katrina’s strongest supporters and a solid champion for the Alliance but feels the need to allow new blood into the command structure with a new Archon in charge.” 
The party boarded a small open transport with their baggage and headed toward the terminal hub, the wheels gliding silently across the well-worn ferrocrete rows that kept it out of harm’s way.  “I’ve heard that Caesar or Roman Steiner are on the Melissa’s short list to be the new General of Armies.  With any luck it will be Roman, he is much more focused on the Combine than the League threat and open to using RCT style formations with some changes to suit Lyran sensibilities.  If anyone can bring the LCAF into the new era it would be him."
"His nephews Andrew and Adam are bright lads too, they’ve visited the Hounds before.  Both are still young but Adam in particular has a lot of promise according to what I’ve heard, the Somerset Steiners are on the ascent so you want them on your side.”
Mark Allard, the oldest son of Dan and Megan, now nearly sixteen, “I like Adam but he’s always so serious and I hate that he beats me at MechCommander, I think he cheats.”
Megan chastised the teenager, “Just because you lose sometimes doesn’t mean the other boy cheated.”
Dan added his own take, “All is fair in love and War.  He probably does cheat though, no one beats my boy if he’s honest.”
His siblings Tempest and Harrison laughed at that, “We beat him all the time.”
Bishop spoke up from the side, “Must mean he’s a good teacher than.”
Patrick looked over at the boy, “Yeah that’s got to be it, Dan.”  
The transport stopped at a small terminal, “Anyway we’re here so this is where we part.”
Everyone got out and separated Tempest looked up, “Uncle Patrick can we see Katrina too? We never see her and she always gives us something.”
He patted the girl on the head with his cybernetic arm, “I promise you’ll see her sometime later today.  Ian and Bishop haven’t met her yet though and they have business so they get to go first.  You need to go with your mother, father, and brothers.”
The girl looked down at her boots and kicked an imaginary rock, “Fine I guess.  She’s more fun than my brothers though.”
“She’s also very sick right now so I don’t think she will be up for much playing.  Now go along,, Tempest.”
The little girl scampered away to join the rest of her family, Patrick looked at the two of them with an eye tuned toward Commonwealth sensibilities. “Alright you two look presentable enough.  Let’s meet the Steiners.”
----
Ian, Bishop, and Patrick walked through the door to the reception by Archon Emeritus Katrina and Duchess Nondi Steiner dressed in blue and silver, the dapper elder tycoon Jack Milby in a well made dark blue suit, their daughter Lisa Steiner II in her blue and white LCAF formal uniform, and a host of other aides.  Katrina was looking shaky even using a cane and Nondi stood nearby, ready to provide support to her sister if needed. Both women looked haggard and far older than they truly were, a wheelchair was manned a short distance behind Katrina.  
Nondi attempted to whisper, “Katrina, sit down.” but it was easily overheard.  Katrina’s response was forceful, "I will not greet Hanse Davion’s son in my wheelchair.  I am not an invalid!”  A hacking cough threatened to knock her over, “at least not yet.”  Greetings were exchanged and some of the aides departed to prepare for later.
“Patrick good to see you again.  Ian, Bishop, a pleasure to meet you both.” Katrina Steiner greeted them
Patrick took a step back allowing Ian and Bishop to be at the fore front, “Good to see you as well, Katrina. You look awful, I’m greatly concerned for your health.”
“So is the entire Lyran Commonwealth.  It only took me being at death’s door to finally get my daughter to the wedding altar.  She’s just as headstrong as her mother I’m afraid.  I should have locked her in a closet with Thomas years ago.  I would be on my fifth grandchild by now if I had.  Now I’ll be lucky to live past their honeymoon.”
Katrina carefully maneuvered herself to face Ian, “Apologies, Little Fox.  I am no longer the spirited young woman I once was nor am I still the Iron Lady of Tharkad that you've heard about.  The burden of leadership is a heavy one that I regrettably had to pass on before I believed the bearer ready, if there is such a time.  I am honored that you have decided to visit during such an eventful time in our history and to see me first.”
Ian and Bishop both stepped forward toward the ailing woman and her still strong sister who gave them an annoyed look.  
“You are truly your father’s son,” Katrina brushed her hand across Ian’s face patting it gently, “and a handsome one at that.  Pity that we couldn’t arrange a wedding between you and my Melissa, the political will was not something I could muster in the Estates General despite our common interests.  You will make some other woman happy and every other one jealous one day I’m sure.”
The compliment was flattering and Ian let it be seen, “Thank you for your kind words, Katrina.  You are an inspiration in the Federated Suns and a beacon of hope to our people that we might finally live in the peace that has eluded for centuries.  My sister and mother both look up at you with high esteem and wished to come, but we all have our own duty to attend to first.  They send their well wishes and regrets.”
Her eyes lit up, her mind still burning with drive even as her body was failing her, he could see small tears forming under the bright lights of the corridor, “Thank you, Ian, that means more than you know.  Please tell your family that I appreciate their continued support while we try to build a lasting peace.  I apologize but I must sit down now.”
Katrina sat back down wiping her face and holding her cane in front of her while seated.  The man behind the wheelchair wrapped a woolen blanket over her shoulders.  “Walk with me, we shall go to Blacktree and then continue our conversation.  I do actually want to spend some time with the children during their time here so I hope you don’t think it’s rude.  You will have an uninterrupted audience in me when they depart.  There's a train waiting for us right now and you will stay there for the few weeks before we finally head to Tharkad.  Perhaps for my last time.  Though I wish it weren’t so.”
The wheelchair starting moving and Ian followed easily, “Thank you once more for your generosity.  I don’t think it’s rude at all, in fact I could use a break from them.  I already had to spend a month on a drop-ship with them.  A week of alone time might just be what I need to recharge and adjust to being so far from home for perhaps quite a long time.”
Ian looked back for Patrick but he must have slipped out while he was talking with Katrina to join his sister’s family at the train.
The group walked through the terminal until they found the five car matte gray electric train with a bright blue stripe running along it.  “Gallery One” written in a bold Gothic font in English and German, the other aides were just finishing loading up their luggage and the Hounds and their pups were no where to be found.  The techs and drop-ship crew would remain with their ship but would be given vouchers to cover their lodging, food, and drink in New Stockholm planetary script and allowed to do as they wished as long as the Valor could take off in three hours.
A richly attired conductor walked the platform ensuring all luggage and passengers were accounted for, “All Aboard, next stop Blacktree Estate.  Departing in...Ten minutes.” The man checked the precision crafted retro pocket watch he used because Jack enjoyed the romance of rail travel so much.  The man had even installed a real steam whistle even though on an electric train, an extravagant expense for a whistle that also made tea.
===The Train Ride===
The train Gallery One rolled along the charged railways built under the planet over the previous centuries of occupancy.  The surface was so dismal most of the time that it required the immense talent of genetic engineers to render the planet habitable initially during humanity’s Golden Age and the current skill and might of Lyran industry to keep it so.  
The inhabitants went underground utilizing old mining tunnels and massive caverns made by ancient machines during the Star League era.  None of these beasts that had once pulled thousands of metric tons of ore from the dull gray stone and processed it in order to feed the growing industries on Tharkad and Hesperus II still operated. Each had long since been cannibalized for parts until there was nothing of value left, their power plants became the hearts of new cities, their structures the bones of new settlements on a subterranean world where everything was made by man in defiance of nature.
Since everything was underground Gallery One’s cars had no windows instead the wall was occupied by a few pieces of abstract art that Ian was looking at absentmindedly, grateful for some alone time.  That was interrupted when Patrick walked in and settled on one of the other leather chairs in this cabin, “Hey kid, needed a break from the children so decided to stop by.  You look unnerved.”
“No windows.  I would like some sunshine.”
“You’re not likely to get any on this planet, I recommend Tatyana on Tharkad if you can get there but watch out there are more than a few aspiring actresses and models there that would love to become the next Duchess Davion."
"Just like there were plenty that wanted to be a Countess Kell during my time, that’s why I don’t go there anymore.  Young man’s game, I don’t have the heart for it anymore. 
"I still managed to sweet talk and more with a few of them.  You ever seen Melanie Quest?”
MQ, as she was more well-known was a prolific holofilm actress with more than a sixty blockbuster credits to her name as leading lady.  She also currently owned her own production company and magazine both of which were nearly as prolific as the largest Commonwealth ones. She or her companies had been in multiple spreads in every type of magazine for years.  “Has anyone not seen her?”
“I hit that, multiple times in fact, fairly certain her first son is mine but I wasn’t the only one,” Pat breathed out deeply, “that woman is a machine.  I try to keep a record of my extracurricular activity for later claims but that was probably my most high profile one.”
Patrick put his regular arm under his chin clearly lost in an interesting memory, “Maybe I’ll give her a call after the wedding just for old times’ sake.” 
He stood up and walked toward the wall, “Anyway there is nothing to see out here just more gray stone so they didn’t include windows.  By the way where did your pal Bishop go?”
“Rack time, Dan and Megan were otherwise engaged last night so we had to face the full energy of their kids.  Mark wore him out.”
Patrick nodded, “He’s a good kid.  He will make a great Kell Hound one day.  You will get to see my nephew Phelan during the wedding and experience what kind of nuisance he is in comparison.  It’s a standard trait for anyone with Kell blood I’m afraid."
"Ian, would you like some coffee?”
“Certainly, although I’m not sure where to get it from.”
The Hound waked up to one of the artworks and lifted a recessed latch exposing a small hollow with some buttons and a dial on it.  “Jack spent a lot of Kroner to retrofit a steam whistle on this train.  A nice side effect of that is that we can get hot drinks almost instantly.  The kids love it.”
He grabbed two of the cups from their holder and tapped the button twice.  Before returning to his chair he passed one to Ian.  “Thank You Patrick, I will miss our times together.”
“As will I.  I have watched you mature a lot in the past couple of years.  You have a brave heart, sharp mind, and good judgement, you do your House proud now and will continue to do so into the future.  You just need to do is make sure you don’t get in over your head.  I unfortunately can’t teach you to respect your limits.  I certainly never have so I don’t even know where to start.  Try to avoid fighting too many Dragons though.”
He put his heavily scarred and cybernetic arm out, “They tend to leave nasty scars.”
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