TOW68

Chapter 68 - The Other War
HPG Interstellar Communication Conference
Strana Mechty Star System
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Space
April 4th, 3063
Aftermath and a New Age
----
[Proceedings of the Grand Council of Clans....]
Holoimages of city in ruins surrounded by raging wildfires and matchstick trees still aflame appeared before those assembled within the Hall of Khans. Another collection of images marked as from the Battleship CGB Ursa Major showed a pair of Thera Carrier battlegroups and swarms of Free Worlds League fighters proudly flying the eagle and 2nd SLDF insignia engaging the Valkyrie Cluster. Following that was a BattleROM image of a heavily damaged OD 2SLDF Anvil with 'UV IV' and stars on its shoulders painted in purple while hip firing an omni-pod loaded with missiles mid-jump. 
Loremaster of the Clans Kael Pershaw stood before the lights his grotesque form partially shadowed from his dais. “This is the latest feeds from my All Clan Watch. Over the past few months Archon-Princess Regent Katherine Steiner-Davion has deployed the Mjolnir Class battlecruiser Yggdrasil against her own people and reunited the Federated Commonwealth through a cleverly executed campaign.” 
The cyborg looked toward the holobust of Khan Bjorn Jorgensson, “And Commanding General Photon Brett-Marik's intervention under the 2SLDF stalled the Ghost Bear assault against the Abjured.”
“We could have used more forces, but the point was made. Clan Ghost Bear will suffer no future attacks from the Draconis Combine or its vassals.”
Steel Viper Khan Perigald Zalman leaned forward, “You say this to assuage yourself of this failure. I have seen the casualty count and after-action report. Your Expeditionary Force was almost wiped out by these Spheroids and now the Second Star League has one of these Thera Battle Groups forward deployed to Wolcott within striking distance of your Dominion. 
Thus, it seems they were not cowed Bjorn. This victory will beget another, just like Tukayyid.”
A few moments passed while the HPGs transmitted the message a thousand light years to and back from the Inner Sphere. Since the Ghost Bear's relocation most of the Invader Clans and Diamond Sharks Leadership had been split between two Spheres. Vladimir Ward and Marthe Pryde now spent almost all their time aboard their Clan's Flagship with many others always in transit.
Wolf SaKhan Marialle Raddick stepped forward, “You talk big Perigald, but your Clan cannot back it up. Your Warriors barely fight off Mandrills within two jumps of your own capital and have been shown on multiple occasions to be lacking in everything but fury. If Colonel Irons did not intervene with his 'freeborn' Star Adder reinforcements Marshall would have been lost.
Sit back and let the big boys and girls talk about these issues.”
“Your Wolves have no place here any longer, Marialle. Go run off to the Inner Sphere with your tail between your legs. We will stay and fight for our Great Father’s legacy.”
“Not yet. I enjoy the show.” She looked toward Coyote Khan Sullivan Koga, Goliath Scorpion Khan Ariel Suvorov, and Hell's Horse's SaKhan Tanya DeLaurel. “and friendly company.”
Khan Lynn McKenna stepped forward, “We still have space dominance. These Spheroid dabblers are little threat to Clan crews.”
Viper SaKhan Andrews played a news clip from the Archon-Princess' post Regent War news conference. Platinum blonde Katherine Steiner-Davion looked oddly martial in a FedCom combat uniform on Galax. “Today I announce my One Hundred Ships by Thirty-One Hundred Initiative giving our Fleet unparalleled ability to withstand attack; and strike back at any foe foreign or domestic. This will ensure the Federated Commonwealth maintains its place at top of the pack among the Successor States in all ways.”
“Not for much longer old crow, but of course you know that since this clip was obtained by the Viper Watch from the Snow Ravens themselves. When were you going to inform the rest of the Council?”
“Never or maybe we leaked it to your man before spacing him so you could. A lot of things can happen in thirty-seven years little snake. The Spheroids are only just relearning the art of Warship construction of which we are maestros. I expect this Princess will fall short of her ambitions as her ancestors have.”
Cassius N'Buta joined the conversation, the patrician looked around him at the faces of the Clan Leadership. “My Fellow Khans, I think we should treat these revelations as a major emergency and call to action. 
It is only a matter of time before the Second Star League has the gall to put more than the token garrison on Huntress and Strana Mechty they have now. Their Gunslingers and the Eridani Light Horse are an annoyance but have proven informative of our enemy’s capabilities. We have already begun to adjust Kappa Galaxy’s tactics. 
I introduce a motion to appoint an ilKhan to oversee the reactivation of our mothballed Warships to combat this potential threat. Particularly the Circe Ghost Fleet which has gone unclaimed in the aftermath of the Great Refusal.
Our all vessels will need to be made ready for combat. I may not be here when it does, but it would be foolish to leave my successor shorthanded and in a such a vulnerable position.”
Goliath Scorpion Khan Ariel Suvorov seconded the motion just before the Cloud Cobra's Din Steiner. Sullivan and Tanya nominated Ariel while Perigald and Din nominated Cassius. The vote is dead even for ilKhan. 
All eyes were on Loremaster of the Clans Kael Pershaw who had the power to issue a tie breaker. “I will not choose our future when it is so deadlocked. Without consensus we are doomed to continue this failed path.”
The fiery Steel Viper Loremaster Arthur Stoklas, “You coward! This is your sacred duty as caretaker of this Covenant. Where is your normal controlling attitude?”
“You wish to take my place, Arthur?”
“I would.”
“Then I will second the motion and call for a vote.” Kael said.
Jade Falcon Khan Marthe Pryde cast the deciding vote returning Kael to the post of Falcon Loremaster that had been kept in holding by his apprentice. The mellowed and mature Star Colonel Natalie Breen, former Steel Viper Khan and Zalman's adviser, is appointed Loremaster to fill the now vacant slot of the Triad.
Arthur Stoklas now on the LoC's dais claimed the Circe Ghost Fleet for the Clans as whole to be dispersed in a series of trials to be scheduled shortly. A survey was to be conducted to access their viability overseen by a group of Technicians. The motion was met with mild acceptance as the Khans digested recent events and begun formulating plans.
----
Circe Star System
Pentagon Worlds, Clan Space
June 5th, 3063
Tusker Station floated around the Lagrange point near Circe IV docked nose to nose with an Elephant tug. The Painkiller repairs required difficult to fabricate components and had fallen behind in the timetable while the EcKhan was seeking fortune with the Hellions and Mandrills. Once more Newts were pulling spares from dead ships around the empty planet for their own use. Derek Regnar once more conned the station although it was much diminished from the heights. “Captain we have confirmed the Grand Council has laid claim to the Ghost Fleet and are due to send a survey team.”
He looked over the latest survey of vessels and their condition, “We should remind them that this is called the ghost fleet and such things are prone to disappearing.”
“Would the EcKhan approve of that? We are talking the destruction of dozens of warships and more jump vessels.”
“You would rather our enemies once more come into possession of our ancestor’s legacy? I think not though it pains me to give the order.”
“I understand sir. Please allow me to give the order to scuttle the vessels rather than let them fall into the enemy's hands.”
“Permission granted. I will inform the EcKhan during our next transmission.”
----
Strana Mechty Star System
Kerensky Cluster, Clan Space
June 22nd, 3063
Loremaster of the Clans Arthur Stoklas sat at his desk within the former Widowmaker’s Wing of the Hall of Khans. His face was red and livid as the reports downlinked and displayed that the Circe Ghost Fleet had been destroyed or were trapped in decaying orbits soon to fall into Circe IV. “Sabotage!”
He sent a personal report to Nathalie Breen asking her to activate the Pit Vipers of Shandrake Massif, microgravity commandoes trained and equipped to deal with Warships and terrorize rogue colonies. “It is time we bring the black back into the fold.”
A holoimage of the Astarte Super-battleship appeared above the desk, “By whatever means necessary.”
----------
Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter
Category:The Other War Chapters
Category:Works by AlphaMirage