WoWS3 Chpt 15

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==Weapons of War Saga: The Final March- Chapter 15 - ==
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===Addressing the new Recuits===
Induction Room 1 - - CO:NTROL HQ
New Lazarus
21st October, 3142
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Juanita would prefer to be in her hull, out plying the space lanes, unlocking mysteries. But since the fall of the HPG network she had become of limited utility in that manner. Before thanks to the HPGs she could stay abreast of several systems at once. Now she could only do that at a handful of worlds and the rest she had to scope out manually.
Which wasn’t entirely new to her thanks to the Wars of Plunder but even then HPGs still made her task much simpler.
But now she had to find new ways. Which brought her back to her human form remote. She had to admit it made this much easier.
“Welcome recruits. I am your instructor. This is - CO:NTROL.”
The Director-General always seems to chuckle when I ask why this new name for Star League Intelligence, perhaps someday I will learn the reason., Juanita thought to herself.
“I am Juanita Pujol Garcia. I have been appointed Director of - CO:NTROL. I am also going to be your primary instructor. So let me start off by disabusing you all of certain notions. This is not going to be like the Holovids. Most of you will be doing nothing but reading financial reports, local news, compiling and cross referencing data. Those that will be going out into the field, well prepare for a reality check of your own. More often than not your goal is not to infiltrate enemy government agencies or industry directly, but to find people already inside such institutions that you can develop relationships with or leverage in some fashion.”
Juanita stepped out from behind her podium then began pacing across the stage looking intently at each student.
“I know some of you may doubt me to be qualified to teach you how to do such things as I am an AI and I thus spend most of my time in my hull in deep space and not interacting with anyone directly. But I do have more than theoretical knowledge gained from old Star League training manuals. I have used my nature to my advantage. Let us begin with questions. This is a profession all about asking and answering questions after all.”
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===What Envoys do on their downtime===
Private Lounge - - CO:NTROL HQ
New Lazarus
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There were three in the lounge. Outsiders would assume they were merely sisters, the decanting process and the different timings prevented absolute sameness, just like the personality differences.
"What's the new rumor?" Pestilence asked.
"Perversion's decided to turn Otto Chand." Probability commented. "She's working the Raven Watch Liaison like he's a target."
"That can't have bad consequences, why is Primary letting her do that?" Pestilence demanded, "The last thing we need is-"
"Mom won't say, but she did tell me to mind my own business and get the consignment of goods to Lazarus." Probability shook her head. 
"Another one. How much of her is even left?"
Probability shook her head, "I don't know, I don't know why Kolossus is letting her keep doing it either. At some point you have to stop it, Mom's sleeping like eighteen hours of twenty-four as it is."
"What's Vendetta say?"
"Vendetta's about had it." Probability confirmed, "Our medical specialist sister is ready to kidnap Primary and take her to a Human world to stop it. The problem isn't that someone's making Mom do it, it's that Kolossus won't tell her "no"."
"You had any mother urges, Probs?" Pestilence suddenly asked, "The human urge to produce offspring, maybe?"
Probability glanced to the side.
"Yes, yes you have." Pestilence said, "but you're afraid of doing it the natural way, just like the rest of us, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Biology. It's a downside to being organic; Evolution wired humans to want to make offspring, culture drives them to want their kids to be themselves, but better." Pestilence continued, "We might be spawned and cloned, but we're still carrying that biology. Same reason Her Majesty went back into it to have her used up uterus restocked with ova so she could have more kids, even with the bad experience of outliving the last batch."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Mom needs a boyfriend. Someone to make her forget Johnny, of course…and that means dragging her out of Kolossus and out among human beings again." Pestilence explained, "Vendetta might be our spite, but she's right."
"Huh…you say Perversion's working the Raven Watcher like a mark?"
"Yeah." 
"You're sure that's what she's doing? I mean, that sister is practically a walking libido…"
"Ewww…"
"What did you bring this time?" Pestilence shifted the conversation.
"Support units. SCB-2 Repair 'mechs, some of the sixty tonner Search and Rescue models, another consignment of Dobermans, and a sixty ton chassis fitted with artillery pieces that we're calling 'Rottweilers'. It should be enough to assemble some of the Headquarters units you laid out in your last communique." Probability answered, relieved to get off the subject of organic reproduction and how it might be warping their collective viewpoints.
"The human troops won't be ready for that level of automation, Probs." Pestilence said quietly, "It's going to take at least nine more training cycles before we've got them to that point. It would actually be easier if Kolossus was making them more..humanoid."
"Harder to use them. It's easier to stabilize a multilegged build than a biped, especially if you don't have a lot of pilots laying around." Probability agreed, "but the psyche factors are a problem."
"Eh, the Dobies at least translate to 'dog' in people-think." Pestilence smiled, "the real problem is that you get much past the size of a horse and human being instincts see a predatory beast from stone-age antiquity, or they see a tank with legs."
"Can you use that?"
Pestilence nodded, "I am using that right now-the 'K-9' troops are adapting to the Dobies pretty easily, they're working up better tactics and making some small modifications to the suits."
"Such as?"
"Well, while the incendiary needlers are pretty popular, they're not exactly what you want in a city fight where there are civilians. We've been adapting other infantry weapons to the chassis to see what might be a better fit for liberation ops."
There was a chair scrape sound, and the three 'envoy' units looked up.
"Okay, The Advisor, Pestilence, I don't know you." he said, "May I?"
"Admiral Foster, It's always fine." Pestilence noted, "This is…"
"Pauline." Probability said. "Aka 'Probability', I'm doing a layover while your crews finish unloading my ship."
"You brought a lot of hardware." he said.
"Kolossus is supporting the Director-General." Probability nodded. "Military aid is normal for such tithings."
"What's YOUR specialty then?" he asked.
"Navigation and flight." she said, "I move goods between star systems, avoid entanglements, and find routes. For example; Finding routes from Kolossus Station to here, without having to interact with authorities in three or four major governments…" She reached into her jumpsuit pocket and produced a deck of cards, "I also enjoy a bit of gambling here and there."
Snap! Shuffle. "Care to try your luck?" Probability asked.
"Not into losing, Jo Johnston has taught me the value of…avoiding gambling with sharks." Foster told her.
"She sounds fun."
"Someone's got cards out?" like a magic trick, the AI remote was pushing to the table through the crowd. 
“Fair warning. She’s been banned from several casinos in the Alliance.” Foster walked away.
"Nice, I've been 86'ed from half the casinos in the Magistracy, this should be fun." Probability grinned wide, with an adrenaline addict's glimmer in her eyes.
"THAT was for drunken disorderlies!!" Pestilence giggled.
"Hush you." 
“So what’s your game?” Johnston smiled.
"I'm game for almost anything short of Russian Roulette." Probability said casually.
“Looks like it’s just the two of us.” Johnston looked around.
"Just means we need more players to have fun with."
"Baby bets!!" Pestilence looked at her sister in a warning tone, "Nothing serious, Probs…" she looked to Joanna, "She doesn't know when to stop. Set the limit on the pot now, please?"
“It’s one of my rules to never leave a fellow service member in a bad spot because of gambling with me. Now the whales, especially if they get pervy, that’s another matter… Say 250 Star League Dollars then?”
“Disappointing, but fair since that could get me a nice hotel room, meal service, and enough left for an evening distraction.” Probability nodded after a moment.
Joana began manipulating the cards in a flurry of motion that blurred the line between sleight of hand artist and card dealer of one of the truly upscale casinos.
“Five card draw. That way none of us can really count cards.” Johnston started dealing.
“You sound like you have experience with that…” Probability said coyly.
“Asking an AI to not count cards is like asking a human to be blind. So I don’t really count it as cheating, but they still don’t like it at the casinos.”
“And your face is truly stone. You have no tell.” Probability studied her cards. “Guess I’ll start with 20 C-bills and take two.”
“Here’s my ante. Your two cards. And I’ll also take two.”
“Raise 10.”
“Call.”
“Pair of jacks.”
“Three of a kind.”
“This is fun.” Probability said. “Be more fun with real stakes.”
“You heard your sisters.”
“Then a non-monetary bet. One that carries some risk still but nothing outrageous.”
“Oh?”
“Loser has to sing a love song to the winner in front of a crowd.”
“You’re on. And your deal.”
Probability shuffled the cards in her own well practiced manner. Simpler, neater shuffles. Less flair but still very precise and practiced.
“Let’s just cut to the chase shall we?” Johnston pushed all her chips into the middle.
“Now you’re speaking my language!”
Johnston looked at her cards.
“One.”
“Hmmm… Here’s your one. And two for myself.”
Johnston laid down her 8 high straight.
Probability revealed her own 8 high straight.
“Okay, that was pretty smooth. How’d you set that up?” Probability said as she looked at the statistical improbability.
“Trade secret.” Johnston smiled.
“You tease!” Probability giggled. “Okay tie breaker. No stacking the deck this time!”
“Deal.” Johnston grabbed the cards and started shuffling.
Johnston looked at the full house in her hand.
Probability handed one card over.
Johnston carefully spun one over from the top of the deck.
Probability laid out what was almost a straight flush.
Johnston smiled as she laid out the full house.
“Make it a good one.” Johnston said giggling.
“Oh, after I’m done people....are going to think we’re a lesbian couple!” Probability laughed.
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===SLDF in Exile Fleet Status as of November, 3142===
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1st November, 3142
Star League Navy
Destroyer Division 1 ‘Taffy 1’
Station: Truk Anchorage
Division Command Ship:
SLS Tabiranth, M-5.4C - CO: Commodore Tabiranth
-SLS Joana Clarice Butler, M-5.1 - CO: Captain Joana Clarice Butler
-SLS Joana Vincente Johnston, M-5.4 - CO: Captain Joana Vincente Johnston
-SLS Lucy Heerman, M-5.4 - CO: Captain Lucy Heerman
-SLS Ottillie Lee Dennis, M-5.1 - CO: Captain Ottillie Lee Dennis
-SLS Regina Marbury Raymond M-5.4 - CO: Captain Regina Marbury Raymond
-SLS Samantha Booker Roberts M-5.1 - CO: Captain Samantha Booker Roberts
-SLS Stacey Cameron Roberts, M-5.4 - CO: Captain Stacey Cameron Roberts
Destroyer Division 2 ‘Tribal’
Station: Truk Anchorage
Command Ship:
SLS Haida, M-5.4 - CO: Commodore Haida
-SLS Cossack, M-5.4 - CO: Captain Cossack On extended assignment to Port Orphan expected to return 3145
-SLS Maori, M-5.1 - CO: Captain Maori
-SLS Mashona, M-5.1 - CO: Captain Mashona
-SLS Piorun, M-5.3 - CO: Captain Piorun
-SLS Sikh, L-5 - CO: Captain Sikh
-SLS Tartar, M-5.4 - CO: Captain Tartar
-SLS Zulu M-5.4 - CO: Captain Zulu
1st Corvette Squadron
Station: Port Lazarus
Squadron Command ship:
SLS Undine, Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Captain Bruno Ungerv
-SLS Seahorse, Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Commander William Robert Mahan
-SLS Dragonfish, Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Commander Sorya Kagashima
-SLS Guppy, Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Montero
-SLS Stringback, Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Lieutenant Commander Bennimuto ‘Benny’ Masasi
-SLS Dogfish, Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Lieutenant Naomi Teller
-SLS Salmon, Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Lieutenant Nyota Drummer
2nd Corvette Squadron
Station: Port Lazarus
Squadron Command ship:
SLS Daffodil, Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Captain Liam McConnel
-SLS Foxglove, Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Commander Frederick Manhauser
-SLS Orchid Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Lieutenant Commander Paul Berttaine
-SLS Lily Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Lieutenant Gregori Romonav
-SLS Sunflower Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Lieutenant Shen Lin Xao
-SLS Tulip, Pinto(Hazard) - CO: Lieutenant 
Support Group
Command ship:
SLS Hokaido Maru, Tracker Class - CO: Commodore Thomas Erik Mahan
-SLS Strangiata, Tracker Class - CO: Captain Sven Ericson
-SLS Empress of India, Tracker Class - CO: Commander Lacy Stuart
-SLS Great Northern, Tracker Class - CO: Commander Bart Roberts
-SLS Great Eastern, Tracker Class - CO: Commander Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Towne
-SLS Great Western, Tracker Class - CO: Commander Theresa Perry
CONTROL
SLS Juanita Pujol Garcia M-5.1 - CO: Juanita Pujol Garcia
SLS Victoria Cameron M-5.1 - CO: Victoria Cameron
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Navy Memo:
Juanita retains the senior position in CONTROL due to her greater expertise and longer service but the capability to be autonomous from her hull that Victoria Cameron has sees her in a very important role as well.
Victoria is also chief diplomat and thus runs most off world intelligence operations with her greater ability to move about.
A large human support staff as well as field operatives have now been trained by Juanita.
As such it is no surprise that CONTROL has already developed a reputation for being particularly strong in the realm of cyberwarfare.
Truk Anchorage refers to the original M9 'Pavise' station while Port Lazarus is a massive space complex in the same system. The two are close enough together a space tram system connects them, almost making them one combined station.
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Star League Army
1st Division
CO: General Petronova Allison (Pestilence)
XO: Lieutenant General Harold Thurston Howel the Fifth
HHC
1st Division Service and Support BDE
11th Engineering Battalion (3 Companies)
DivArty (3 Batteries)
Division Recon Company (VTOL/air assault)
5152nd Transport Company
1/1st Medical Detachment
MP Battalion:
Coy A SLDF Military Police (Light) 
Coy B SLDF Military Police (Medium/Mechanized)
Coy C SLDF Military Police (Heavy)
17th Silesia Mechanized Regiment
CO: Colonel Brody Atwell
XO: Lieutenant Colonel Chase Atwell
-1 Battlemech Battalion
-1 Heavy Vehicle Battalion
-1 Infantry Battalion
-17th Special Warfare Company ("The Dogboys") 16 Doberan class battlesuits, 4 APCs, 1 Command Post vehicle
Regimental Arty (3 Batteries)
Scout Section (1 Company mixed recon)
1st New Lazarus Mechanized Regiment
CO: Colonel Anthony Newsom
XO: Lieutenant Colonel Teri Gonzalez
-1 Battlemech Battalion
-1 Light Vehicle Battalion
-1 Infantry Battalion
-1st Special Warfare Company ("Cujo") 16 Doberman class Battlesuits, 4 APCs, 1 command post vehicle
Regimental Arty: 3 batteries
Regimental Scouts: 1 company mixed recon assets.
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29th Aviation Regiment (3 Battalions)
HHC
Service and support
191st Maintenance and Service Company
1/29th Interceptor Wing (3 sqdrns Sparrowhawk)
2/29th Combat Wing (3 squdrn Starseeker)
3/29th Strike Wing (3 sqdrn, Starseeker)
Transport Wing (12 heavy transport Aircraft)
-Coy H Air-assault Infantry
-Battery B Airmobile Artillery
-Coy I Airmobile Engineers
Fueling wing: 4 airborne tankers
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Army Memo:
20 regiments of Home Defense Militia also exist but are currently considered unsuitable for offensive deployment.
Training programs should have a third regiment available for offensive operations before the end of the year and with the expansions of our training programs we should see another five Regiments enter service before the end of 3143.
Olivia Hazard PerrySecretary to Helena Cameron and Planetary Governor New Lazarus
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