IDGL-14

=Ian Davion, Golden Lion=
==Chapter 14 – Secrets==
===Family Meeting===
06/07/3041 - Location: Bluewater - Ariel, Free Worlds League
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A KR-61 flew out of the sky its belly rapidly cooling from cherry hot to dull gray against blue sky with white puffy clouds.  The shuttle landed at a small runway next to a long one throwing up white smoke from the wheels. A parachute billowed out behind being reeled in before it could catch the nearby sea breeze.  Alongside the runway a dark purple AM-700 SUV kicked up gravel as it moved toward the still warm shuttle.
Corrine Marik was first in line as the stairs came down wearing a purple sundress that billowed in the wind.  Giselle Markovic followed her down wearing a similar outfit but more stylistically cut.  “This is going to be awesome.  Thanks for giving me a ride back, with a week long beach vacation.”
Giselle ran her hands through her brown hair, still short enough for a neurohelment and in dire need of a stylist after an extended say on the shuttle.  “Do you have any cute cousins, Corrie?”
“I don't typically visit my mom's extended family so I'm not sure.” The AM-700 stopped, a tanned woman twice their age but still looking fabulous with long black hair stepped out wearing a lavender saree, “Why don't you ask her?”
“That's your mom!?  How did she end up with your dad?  He's not exactly a looker.”
“But he is a Marik.  Though in this generation that is not quite as powerful as it might have been.”
“I'm liking my chances of your having some cute cousins now.”
“You just like looking for trouble Gee.”
Cecelia Marik-Kral stepped toward the pair of young woman kissing her daughter on the cheek and hugging her first.  “Corrine, Its been so long since I've seen you in person.  You must be Giselle nice to meet you.”
“Sorry I don't visit more often, Mom.  Been kind of busy.”
“I know.  Lets get going.  Your luggage will follow.”
The women got into the vehicle and were heading back before two trucks, a small one to carry their luggage and a larger one to offload medical supplies destined for Bluewater's hospital were on the tarmac.
“Thanks for the letters, Dear.  Seems like you had a fun time on Augustine with Kristen.  However, you didn't mention that Ian Davion visited.”
Giselle was suddenly excited, “Wait, Ian Davion was on Augustine when you were there!  You didn't tell me that either.  How did I miss this!?”
“There's not a lot of paparazzi on Augustine, Gee.  It's why Aunt Kristen went there in the first place to have her baby.  You wouldn't have seen it in the celeb e-zines.  It was all very tame.”
“You're a bad liar, Corrie.  What was he like?  He looks super dreamy is he like that for real.  Did you go out on a date or more?” Giselle asked eagerly
“He was there for Kristen we only spent time together while working.  He helped me with upgrading Troubadour.  We spent two days out on maneuvers nothing more.”
Cecelia lifted an eyebrow, she knew Corrine meant more than she was telling, “Maneuvers eh?”
“Not like that, Mom!  I should have known that the wife of the SAFE director would know that Ian was there even if they didn't release press pics yet.”  She crossed her hands and leaned back against the seat, “Nothing happened.”
“Oh its nothing bad, Corrine, you're just the same age I was when I met your father and Ian is almost as old as he was when we married.”
“I am getting out of the Academy and doing my two years before I would even consider such things.”
“Suit yourself, dear, but you would have to really try to do better than a Prince with such promise.”
“We are not talking about it any more. How is Aunt Barb?”
===An Departing Friend===
05/18/3041 - Location: Troy Interplanetary - Augustine, Free Worlds League
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The five story sphere of the the FSDS Valor sat on the tarmac as the sun rose to the east.  Ian Davion was waiting in the terminal a kilometer away ensuring that all of his people were accounted for after the grand farewell dinner that Kristen Marik had planned for them.  He looked over to one of his bodyguards, a solid and stoic Sikh from Islamabad, a world deep in the Federation's Outback.  “Ran have you heard anything from, Bishop?”
“No, Your Highness.”  Something came in over the ear piece and he leaned in, “Seems he's coming up now.”
Major Bishop Sortek walked up in his dress greens and a unusually somber look on his face, “Apologies, Ian.  I had hoped to get here earlier.”
“No harm done friend.  The Valor has not taken off yet.  We still have an hour before takeoff.”
Bishop pulled an envelope out of his carry bag, “..and I won't be on it.”
Ian took the sealed envelope opening it to see Bishop's resignation letter, “Why?  You've spent your whole life in the AFFS.”
Bishop removed the rank tabs from his uniform and offered them to Ranbir, “That's right I have.  Seen sunrises and smelled the wind of dozens of planets.  Been a guest at grand palaces and slept in the dirt under the stars of many battlefields.  Worked with the most amazing people in the universe.
I had given my life in service to the Federated Suns, but I want to live it on my own terms.  Thus I would like you to accept my resignation and release me from your service.”
The Prince of New Avalon listening but still could not understand, Bishop was AFFS born and bred to walk away was...unthinkable. “What will you do?  Where will you go?”
“I will find a place somewhere in the Inner Sphere and keep in touch.”  Bishop put his hand on Ian's shoulder, “You have been a good friend Ian and will be a fine First Prince when your time comes.
Don't forget the little guys in your big towers.  Always face your enemies with honor no matter how dishonorable they may be.”
A small tear came to Ian's eye.  The loss of a trusted friend and planned Prince's Champion was a heavy one, “As a Prince of the Federated Suns I release Major Bishop Sortek from his service in the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns.  Go forth with glory but always remember your oath of service to the Federated Suns.”
Bishop took a step back and bowed slightly, he was now just another citizen of the Federated Suns in the company of his Prince, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Ian handed the letter to Ran in exchange for the blood red tabs of an AFFS Mechwarrior Major, “Are you certain you don't want you tabs.  You earned them.”
Bishop shook his head, “You should keep them, Sir.  You might need them sooner than your think.”
As the man turned his back Ian stopped him, “Bishop of House Sortek, wait.”
Bishop turned around this was against normal protocol but that had never stopped Ian, “How may I be of service, Sir?”
“I would like to grant you a boon for your many years of service to the Federated Suns.”
“I'm honored, but that is quite unnecessary.”
“I think not and as your Prince may do as I please as long as it follows the Laws of Noble Conduct.” Ian opened his commpad and changed the papers for Major Sortek's Penetrator, 'Jumping Jack,' transferring it to the now civilian Bishop Sortek.  “By this Royal decree I transfer the rights to ownership of Penetrator oh oh three and associated equipment as well as a sum of one hundred and fifty eight thousand pounds to thee.”
Bishop received a copy of the decree to his personal comm-pad and another would be sent to New Avalon via HPG later in the day for record keeping.  “Thank you, Sir.  It will be put to good use.”
“I'm certain it will.  Goodbye Bishop of House Sortek,” Ian extended his hand to shake and Bishop accepted it, “until we meet again.”
“Until we meet again, Prince Ian Davion."
Bishop watched as the Valor blasted off into the early morning sky of Augustine, Bishop snapped a slick salute to the departing spheroid, “Godspeed, Ian.  You don't need me anymore. Time for both of us to blaze our own trails.”
A chirp on his Commpad caused him to open it up.  A message tied to all independent Mechwarriors looking for work popped up advertising merc work on Westerhand for all three Liao siblings.  “Not even two hours, they must be desperate.”
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===Historical Interlude 2 (June 3041)===
COMSTAR NEWS NETWORK UPDATE on the Capellan Civil War
Capellan Confederation Chancellor Romano Liao completes moving the capital to Capella as the St Ives Confederation Armed Forces (SICAF pronounced Psy Caf) move within striking distance of Sian along the new Ares-Pallatine Battle Line in their ongoing Civil War.  
Premier Candace Liao speaks out against the latest in a line of brutal combat actions that resulted in the death of her husband and Senior Colonel of the SICAF Justin Allard who was leading the St Ives Lancers against the fearsome Harloc Raiders promising blood for blood.
Romano's on again off again consort Tsen Shang was assassinated on Tikonov while on foreign assignment to Earthworks.  While no parties take responsibility rumors fly placing blame with Justin Allard's father Quintus Allard, retired Minister of Intelligence to the Federated Suns.  If true it would be a massive escalation with the already embattled Federated Suns.
Duke Tormano Liao arrives on Atreus to once more consult with the Free Worlds League that is now facing an increasingly unstable border with the Capellan Confederation.
Dalma Humphries, the new Duchess of Andurian, demands that the League allow her to rebuild the Defenders of Andurian which were decommissioned in the wake of the Andurian Succession crisis resolved less than two years ago or failing that deploy Marik Militia to protect her domain.  
Duke Andel Orloff whose worlds border the Confederation is increasingly outspoken in Parliament about the large quantities of Lyran Commonwealth and Free World's League flagged mercenaries flowing toward Westerhand.  The mercenaries are pursuing lucrative contracts for the embattled Capellan states and have drawn high and low ranked units in equal measure.  Andel is requesting approval to annex/conquer that world which has declared itself neutral.  This is required to better control the flow of arms and men at arms that might become brigands when the bloody war eventually finishes.
COMSTAR contracted mercenaries and ComGuards have deployed to the Federated Suns occupied territories on the Rimward end of the Capellan Confederation.  They are there to hold those worlds in trust to whichever side eventually wins the war in the wake of accusations against AFFS occupying forces.  Accusations that the Martial General of the AFFS denies claiming pirates and rogue CCAF or TDF soldiers were responsible for the atrocities.
Romano Loyalist’s Capital – Capella
Candace's Reformist Capital – St Ives
Federated Suns Occupation Force HQ – Fort Lee, Victoria
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