CYTM48

=Chapter 48=
==Can you tell me where can we start over?==
Jesenice, Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
October 22nd, 3064
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The fight here had been significantly harder than it should have been.  Omicron triumphed, but the fighting had been a whole new species of brutal getting here.
Henry Ngo examined the wrecked fighter up close.
"Every time we defeat them, it gets harder."  Phillip commented, "I think they are learning, quiaff?"
"Aff."  the Tech crew finished rigging the lifting straps, and using a workmech, rolled it over.
"SB-27, sample is mostly complete."  Henry noted in an idle tone that barely masked the feelings.  
"Markings consistent with contact encounters on Chahar, Melissia, Chapultepec, Mogyrod, and Clermont." he said, "They're Kowloon's."  
"You are certain, quineg? someone else could-"  
"Kowloonese." he said, "This one is mostly intact, caught on the ground..." he climbed up to the open canopy.  "Instruments are marked in Vietnamese." he turned to Phillip.  "That, and the use of Sampans cutters should be enough.  My little sister has been very busy resurrecting ghosts...and they are getting 'better at it'."  
"They still had to rely on the local militia for their Battlemech support, and," Phillip spat on the ground, "Mercenaries."
The Mercs had been the clearest, simplest part of the fighting.    
"The Galaxy Commander wants to deploy a PGC to look for hold-outs." Phillip told him.
"We should do that." Henry said, "I doubt they lifted with everyone when this unit retreated.  Among other factors, this garrison was caught flat-footed...relatively flat footed.  Fighters on the ground, but not in hardened shelters..."  he dropped off the wrecked aerospace craft, and dusted his hands together, then pointed, "At least one dropship caught on the ground as well."  
"You have orders?" asked Phil  
"Our next target is Hood IV." Henry stated, "The rest of the offensive is going to adjust to deal with the Lyran counterattack, but Omicron and the Red Tails have a specific objective and the Khans decline to alter it."
''
"What is that?" asked Phil  
"Claiming my home world, Phil."  Henry stated, "Taking Kowloon. It is Symbolic, given my little sister's speech and the public ruckus from six years ago and her continued 'fireside chats' in the region. Her propaganda has been causing disorder in liberated territories...and I am supposed to fix that."  
A few minutes later, Shelby arrived with a PGC unit in tow.  
"I brought the lawyer." she said.  
"Nathan Roshak's Plan, your plan, or the Khan's plan?" Phillip asked.  
"Nathan proposed it, I researched it a bit, Marthe Pryde bought off on it." Henry noted.  "we are not merely launching an invasion this time, we are going to file a lawsuit first."  
"A Lawsuit??"  
"In Lyran and Kowloonese courts." Henry stated, "Salic Law applies, and I am the senior heir to our father...and we have proof that David Ngo died at the hands of a Clan other than Clan Jade Falcon, so she can not even claim that."  
"A lawsuit!! That is so ridiculous."  
Henry grinned, "I know.  It is absurd, but it has to do with legitimacy-I can claim a legitimate status as David Ngo's inheritor, and Elizabeth already acknowledged the Clans as the Legitimate Heirs of the Star League Defense Force, and there are documents on Kowloon, assurances made...that the Star League Defense Force would guarantee Kowloon's Sovereignty as an independent state...we can rightfully claim that we are, in fact, acting to honor those commitments."  
Shelby snorted, "Hank..."  
"I think the approach is stupid too." Henry said, "However, it has the benefit of being something they will not expect."
The Solahma guards brought out Jesenice's former prosecutor, Dashiell Reid.
"Mister Reid, nice of you to still be here, and still alive.  I need to make use of your expertise as a Lawyer..."  
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