FSRB Chpt 47

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==The Federated Suns Reborn - Chapter 47==
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June 3065An engagement announced
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===Blessing to the future Royal Couple===
On the 1st of June the Duchess Yvonne Steiner-Davion and Baron Tancred Sandoval arrived back on Robinson. The Duchess had left the world in a medical evacuation dropship after being injured in the attack upon the March capital by rogue elements of the DCMS and had required extensive surgery and myomer reconstruction of her leg, yet her bravery in the face of her injuries and demands that others engaged in the same attack receive the same level of care as herself had won her the hearts of the people of Robinson. On top of this there was the now open secret that she and the heir to the Duke of Robinson were "secretly" engaged. As such she was greeted to an almost rapturous welcome upon the streets of Beuller as her and the baron's cavalcade passed. A full military parade consisting of her future father-in-laws personal regiment the 1st Robinson Rangers, her future husband's personal regiment the 2nd Robinson Rangers and element's of her brothers regiment the 3rd Robinson Rangers were also joined by a combined arms battalion of her families own personal regiment the 1st Davion Guards which had been rushed with the Princes's Champion to Robinson ahead of her arrival to join in the full parade offered by James Sandoval. As the element's of no less than 4 battlemech regiments which she had personal ties to marched with her the streets were lined with element's of the Robinson DMM to control the welcoming crowds. 
At the steps of the Ducal Palace the happy couple was greeted by the three figures of Duke James Sandoval, Prince's Champion Ardan Sortek and newly promoted Lt. Colonel Arthur Steiner-Davion. Led into the palace to the cheering of the crowds they 5 leaders soon retired to a small private reception area after greeting a number of important well wishers and the James Sandoval formally gave his blessing to the match between his son and Yvonne Steiner-Davion. Adding his voice to this Ardan Sortek explained that he was here standing in for the First Prince who duties of state kept tied to New Avalon to give his own blessings and if he could be so bold he also felt he was standing in for Yvonne's father and mother his two oldest friends. Arthur also was here not only in his own right, but representing their brother to give their joint blessings on the marriage. 
With all the various parties in full and heartfelt agreement a formal announcement was released from the Ducal Palace that evening. By the next morning the news had been flashed across the HPG network. Along with notification and various invites to the wedding at the Grand Temple on Robinson which would take place on the 1st of December that year. 
===Hussas Brigade & FedSuns Fleet Expands===
The First Prince meets with Marshal Roger William Waters to discuss further expansions of the Avalon Hussars in the upcoming year. However this time their discussions mostly involve expanding existing units rather than forming new ones. While the 1st, 2nd, 22nd and 39th Hussars are all approaching 100% strength and could be used to provide the seed for a new Hussar regiment it is decided that the only unit that will do this is to be the 2nd which is a reinforced regiment. Instead the 1st, 22nd and 39th will be upgraded to reinforced regiments themselves and will continue to build up to that strength in the coming years. Given the nature of the 2nd Avalon Hussars however it is agreed that any new unit that is formed from it's ranks should at least initially be deployed within the former worlds of the United Hindu Collective. Stopping short of increasing the active numbers of commands as previous expansions have done this does mean that the number of reinforced regiments within the Brigade will rise from 5 to 8. 
The new Training Battalion begins to form on Tortuga. The support elements are easily assembled from local militia forces and begin to receive upgrades while candidates for the actual battalion are carefully selected. Most of them are either young former slaves or serfs of the pirates or their children, although 3 members turn out to be former pirates children. While this will cause some resentment with the ranks it is pointed out at almost every weekly briefing that they are all now Federated Suns citizens regardless of parentage. No former pirates will themselves be allowed to join unit. 
The Federated Suns Navy see's 3 new Fox corvettes commissioned in June, the FSS El Dorado, FSS Warren, and FSS Benet III all slip from the shipyards and enter commission. The FSS El Dorado is assigned to the Outback Squadron while the FSS Warren is dispatched to join the Draconis Squadron and the FSS Benet III is sent to join the Capellan Squadron. With a further slip finishing building the FSS Dahar, FSS Edwards, FSS Galax, and FSS Kittery begin construction. Even as the new slip is finished work begins on expanding the shipyard again. 
In orbit of Kathil, a further Avalon cruiser slip finishes construction and immediately lays down another of the now iconic warships. This will bring the total of Avalons under construction to 6, with a further 10 Fox Corvettes currently either starting or under construction along with 3 Davion III and 2 Congress-D II. Meanwhile work is continuing on a number of new slips to add naval capacity to the Federated Suns, particularly 3 larger slips clearly designed for a major combatant. The actual warships in commission now number 23 Fox class corvettes, 1 Covenant class cruiser, and 7 Avalon class cruisers. Given the growing number of Fox corvettes in particular some discussion is given to providing a repair facility for at least corvettes in each of the 3 march's. Verde is the obvious choice within the Draconis March but there is a great deal of discussion as to which of the several shipyards should be picked for this role within the Crucis and Capellan Marchs given that the previous repair and refit facility was eventually upgraded to full production! Fleet Admiral Buchwald has a number of his naval staff begin reports for the First Prince on the various merits and demerits of each location.
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===Black Thorns return home===
On Northwind, the first of the recalled Highlanders return. A handful arrive in ones and twos but the largest single formation is the Black Thorns. Captain Jeremiah Rose is surprised to immediately be offered a commission within the Northwind Hussars as a full major. His Thorns will become the core of his new battalion the Black Thorn Battalion which will replace the disgraced Jaffray's Own. Even more surprising is the fact that his father, Corneilus Rose is one of those strongly pushing for him to take the appointment. In a heart to heart meeting with his father and still crippled sister the three surviving Rose's meet at the family home and reconcile. Helping this reconciliation was the senior Rose's informing his children that he had arranged via the newly reformed ties between Northwind and the Federated Sun's for Rianna to attend the NAIS for treatment. 
The day after this meeting Jeremiah Rose formally accepts the posting and merges his command into the Northwind Hussars as the units 1st Battalion, the Black Thorns. With various odds and ends that are diverted to the regiment the Northwind Hussars is now the strongest Highlander regiment and while un-contracted to the Federated Suns begins seeking contracts to bring in c-bills to help rebuild Northwind and keep their experience levels up. 
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===Developments in Industry===
Also on Northwind the AFFS places a large initial order for 8 companies of the King Crab "Clanbuster" 001 variant and a further order of 6 companies of the 27b model of the Crab BattleMech. This order will have the Clan Elders considering ordering an expansion of both lines. 
On El Dorado, the new battlemech production facility goes online with it's first active production line. Battlemaster class assault battlemechs begin to walk from the production line and are almost instantly readied for shipment to the various units of the AFFS. Although the Duke of El Dorado does request that he be allowed to retain some of the production from the new plant to help equip a planetary defence force to an adequate level. The First Prince considers this request and makes enquiries with his distant cousin about what he considers an "adequate" level. 
GM's new battle armor plant to produce the Grenadier design on Point Barrow goes active this month. A huge and sprawling annex to the existing battlemech factory it is to exclusively build Grenadier class suits and the company is clearly banking on massive initial orders and long term contracts. A faith that seems to be entirely well placed due to the fact that the plant is soon running at full capacity and the AFFS is snapping up every suit it can build! The expansions to the dedicated Talcott battle armour plant are immedietly increased and stepped up in light of this. 
On Robinson the new Black Knight line enters production and units immedietly begin being sent to the various Robinson Rangers units in particular as command mechs. Comstar however contacts the Duke of Robinson and offers to buy the entire production run on a long term contract but the patriotic Duke refuses. He does however offer to build a 2nd line of the well regarded battlemech and sell that production line's output to the ComGuards... If Comstar funds the expansion 100%. He is actually surprised when Comstar almost immedietly accepts the offer and begins arranging the funds to be put in place. . 
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===Former Friends garrisons across one another===
Within the Capellan Confederation the newly minted Jaffray's Own regiment of the Capellan Brigade arrives at it's posting on Footfall. Despite assurances that an adequate new base and supplies would be waiting for them almost none of the equipment or facilities is evident upon arrival. Instead the unit is houses in a disused Home Guard base and finds it's supply situation little better than that same level of formation. Moving quickly to prevent dissent Colonel Jaffray begins planning a raid with his command to net them the supplies they require. Conveniently House Davion's new refit center is just across the border! 
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===League Ground forces arrive at Caph===
On Caph that last of the various refugees lift of the planet and head for their respective destinations. A few days later the 2nd Knights and 5th Free Worlds Guards also leave the planet and head for rendezvous with the FWLN warships that escorted them here. Despite expectations that the 3rd Free Worlds Guards would also be lifting off the commanding officer informs the others officers that his unit requires some time to reload their dropships due to a mistake in the loading schedule and that they will follow. Despite this assurance the 3rd hasn't left Caph by the end of the month. 
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===Sun Jaguar Expendition to Wayside V===
At the end of the month the saKhan of Clan Sun Jaguar arrives at Wayside V and begins to discuss the future of the survivors of the Smoke Jaguars with the leaders there. This meeting will be tense and on occasion will hover on the edge of violence and will head into July and August.
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