TOW7

==Chapter 7 - The Other War==
08/16/3059 Location – Justice Annex, Fort Absalom, Truscott City, Sheridan
Loremaster Dagmar Lahiri stood up from his bench and nimbly dismounted it in a way no man nearly sixty should be capable of. He stood about Seth's shoulder height and launched a fierce punch right to his solar plexis that doubled the Mechwarrior over with coughing fits. Look me in the eye Warrior!
Star Captain Irons collected himself taking a step back and leaning slightly to look the smaller Aerofighter Pilot in the eye. Better. I hope you understand the situation that you put me in.
Seth tried to resist the urge to cough or stand tall once more, I do not know that I do Loremaster. Please enlighten me.
You killed two Bloodnamed officers during a routine Trial, while we are at war with the Burrock Underground. That would be treasonous enough. 
Lahiri stalked the room while Seth remained in place, in normal times I would have let the Meytani Reave you without any further consideration. 
However, we are not in normal times and you will be spared only because we need everybody. The Burrocks are proving harder to digest than we projected. I cannot afford to lose more combat hardened officers even rogues like yourself.''
The Loremaster returned to the bench leaning against it and opening up his comm-pad, That Trial even resulted in the death of a Star Commander on the short list for reassignment. The only thing that could have stopped her transfer to Delta was the thing that did.
I was not made aware that there were already plans to move Gabriela to Delta.
Why would you? You are not here commanding officer. GC Turgidston had threatened to Refuse orders to take her away from Kappa but not if she volunteered. She already had a slot lined up and requested to compete as your partner to make it an official Trial. Her service history is not nearly as checkered as your own.
He paused after typing something out the pad, We need more officers like her in the Touman. Smart, Driven...team players. Now I must tell GC Talasko that he is down three more officers! And I cannot send him the fourth he needs due to political reasons lest I have three bloodhouses feuding like a bunch of Kindraa. 
He will have to source replacements and bring in more Mechwarriors from the Provisionals or questionable Burrocks to fill out his Clusters.
Things are about to get much more dangerous here in the homeworlds, because you are right.''
Seth gave the man a confused look, About what?
A verdant world with two continents separated by a shallow green ocean appeared in the holoprojector at the command of the Loremaster's pad. Do you recognize this world Star Captain?
Huntress, quiaff?
Aff. How would you defend it?
How would I defend it? Against whom?
The Inner Sphere. 
A queer sense of deja vu and bad omens filled his mind, I still do not follow, sir.
You have done whole lectures about the threat the Inner Sphere might pose to the Homeworlds. Don't tell me you are left mute now that you have a captive audience of something other than star eyed Sibkin.
Seth passed his hand through the immaterial sphere, It was all theory crafting Loremaster. Wargames, lessons for the Academy Sibko and Kappa. Just like my father taught me.
Now it is real...imagine yourself as ilKhan Lincoln Osis, hulking, stupid but cunning Elemental that he is. How would you defend Huntress?
Does the Inner Sphere have Warships?
Assume they do. How would you stop them?
Huntress claims to have an SDS. It dates to the Mongoose Absorption, has never been used, and is likely moldering and in poor repair. Fighters would be scattered on bases groundside and reserved for destroying dropships. Whatever Warships I have in system would be kept in reserve to check the Spheroid vessels. Using nuclear weapons if I must against their largest vessel to inspire fear if nothing else.
Lahiri imagined such a scenario. No Clan had used nukes since the Not-Named destroyed Dehra Dun and the Snow Raven's genetic repository in their early history. The Smoke Jaguars and Jade Falcons might be the least likely to use them proud as they were. Nuclear weapons were dezgra better to let their clan die gloriously then live with the shame of such a deed. You think Osis might use nukes?
If they have them it would be foolish not to. Though that is not saying much for Lincoln. Regardless I think even the Jaguars would use nukes if truly pressed. It would be a lesser dishonor than losing one's capital to chalcas.
What about on the ground?
How many are there on both sides?
Unknown, presume three Galaxies bid against one of the FedCom's RCTs, and another in kind of Great House military.
They would send some of their best units to ensure it was done right. The Free Worlds League and Capellan Confederation would likely not however, neither were affected by REVIVAL. League politics would prevent it and the Liaos have historically kept their best units close. A tradition which continues according to the Dragoon reports.
You have read all of the Dragoon reports.
My father was a Scientist specializing in military analysis. He could not cut it as a Warrior but kept the interests of one as a Watch Adjutant. I memorized the reports in creche and refreshed myself each rotation through Central.
Now back to the ground.
I cannot predict how that will happen. The Jaguars have too wide a range of Star Colonels and Galaxy Commanders. Some are cautious, others reckless, and their actions will be dictated by the Spheroid attackers unless we can maintain air cover which the Jaguars likely will not be able to accomplish. I suppose the Spheroids would aim for the military factories on world but whether they do so for capture or destruction I cannot tell.
Now to political theory. How could this attack be interpreted by the Grand Council?
As long as the Inner Sphere comes with the clear objective of Annihilating the Jaguar, I think they will do so unmolested in fact there may be enthusiastic support from some clans for their demise. It will not be done without significant cost however a wounded or cornered animal is the most dangerous kind and the Jaguars would be both on Huntress.
Seth turned toward a table hidden away and drained a water bottle, How do you know they are coming?
The Loremaster with a wave caused the globe of Huntress to disappear, We have been cultivating a relationship with their Merchants since the beginning of REVIVAL. They meet their impossible quotas if they are short avoiding punishment, and in return we get information from the Occupation Zone. 
They have told us that there is hushed talk of a general withdrawal and mention of almost completely unguarded Enclaves. Our Watch is looking into both inquiries but we must be prepared for your scenario to come to pass.''
Seth leaned against the bench looking at the digital clock display suspended above them in the holocube it read, 17:58. This has all been very interesting but what is to happen to me.
I am going to give you what you Star Captain. Loremaster Lahiri watched the display change to 17:59, and then take it all away. I can think of no more just punishment than that. Though there will be calls for Grievance because of it.
04/22/3060 Location – Star Adder District, Katayusha City, Strana Mechy
Khan Cassius N'Buta stood before his Keshik most of its Warriors looked haggard and far above their average age of 32. The man was tall and thin with furrowed brows that suited those of an aging Patrician of the late Star League. For fifty-six years he had served his Clan with pride accomplishing much during his thirty year tenure as Khan. 
His brilliant political maneuvering had made the Star Adders the premier power in the homeworlds. The Burrock Absorption had not initially gone to plan but Bandits were once more a low level threat courtesy of the 'reformed' Burrocks that now helped rebuild and expand his Touman. The loose alliance with the Steel Vipers and Cloud Cobras had yet to solidly but that was mostly due to Khans Steiner and Zalman having disagreements and grudges not anything the Adders did. 
The past year had been a massive learning experience for the Snake Alliance and it didn't seem to be slowing down presently. First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion, Princess Danai Centrella, and the other notables of the Spheroid task force were guests of Khan Vladimir Ward. All were presently enjoying a prestigious dinner at the Wolves' Enclave of Golden Mountain. He had called for a Trial of Refusal against OPERATION:REVIVAL itself and in the process would complete the de-facto Annihilation of Clan Smoke Jaguar begun months ago. IlKhan Lincoln Osis had plead his case but failed to convince the Grand Council that the Jaguars were worth saving. His final Binary would face the Prince tomorrow in the Bloody Basin.
Cassius faced his Cluster sized Keshik's Star Commanders and Captains most of them were aged Ristars that his Loremaster promoted for temporary duty. Their predecessors, younger very promising Warriors, had been reassigned to man vacant posts in Alpha and Beta Galaxy while the Provisionals and Burrocks filled out the other three Front line Galaxies. The First Free World Guards have bid a company against the cutdown of a Binary for their portion of the Trial of Refusal. Who seeks this bid?
All raised their hands which was hardly a surprise. Any bids below the cutdown?
Star Captain Seth Irons raised his hand, I bid eight Points. My Nova with only a Triplet of its Elementals using the new Corona suits. 
The other Officers looked at him like he was mad. Clan Omnimechs were quite capable of taking down two to one odds in the open. However, the heavy weight Free World Guards had chosen the marshlands near the Perium Swamp as the Circle of Equals terrain that favored endurance and firepower over range and mobility. The Corona Battle Armor had only just come out of testing and no Warrior Elemental or Mech had used it in a Trial yet, certainly not one of this magnitude.
The Khan was completely calm, Ambitious bid Star Captain very far below the cut-down but not impossible. Is anyone willing to match this bid?
No hands were raised, taking worse than two to one odds in that terrain was reckless.
Star Captain you win the right of commanding this Trial. Make the Star Adders proud tomorrow. 
Keshik Kuraltai dismissed.
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