WoWS3 Chpt 22

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==Weapons of War Saga: The Final March- Chapter 22 - ==
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===Opening relations with the Commonwealth===
Throne Room
Tharkad, Lyran Commonwealth
25th December, 3143
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“Madame Archon, may I present Lori Jennifer Cameron, special diplomatic envoy and heir to the title of First Lord of the Star League and Director-General of the Terran Hegemony in Exile.” Major Ezekial Snow Raven introduced his charge.
“So should I call you First Princess?” Trillian Steiner-Davion asked as she studied the young woman in a simple black formal suit with a white blouse visible under the top.
“For formalities Ambassador is acceptable, Madame Archon. My government recognized there is a contentious history surrounding the Star League and title of First Lord and thus does not wish to be overly antagonistic by demanding recognition of such titles or claims at this time.”
“A wise move. If nothing else it seems I owe you a debt. If not for your strikes at Summer, Alkalurops, Nusakan, Skye, and from what I hear, your defenses at Alphecca and Galatea my situation might be much more dire.”, Archon told Lori.
“We are glad to be starting relations on a positive note.”, she commented
“Then you will not mind me asking what it is you want in exchange? I have learned there is no such thing as a free ride. Someone somewhere has to pay for it.”, Trillian added.
“A simple military alliance, opening of trade, and we do also grant there is the issue of post conflict disposition of systems to consider.”, she told Archon.
“You wish us to return what few worlds we took from the Republic, nay the Hegemony we still control?”, Archon inquired.
“Only if that is what the inhabitants truly want. Indeed we intend to offer the choice to all worlds who they wish to be under for administration.”
“Idealist. Something for us to talk about in future discussions.” Trillian said cautiously 
“Indeed. For now perhaps we could talk to someone about setting up an embassy?”
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A ruin in Tharkad City
A few hours later
“Look at this place.” Alice lamented.
“They took us to the cleaners. I dare say this building was destroyed in the Jihad and never rebuilt.” Ezekiel suggested.
“No matter. I expected as much and this is why we brought along the Engineers.” Lori shook her head. “I would have preferred to pour some coin into the local coffers but this way we won’t have to worry about as many listening devices. I imagine they will find a way to plant a few despite our best efforts.”
She rolled out a blueprint. Securing each corner on the ground with a piece of debris.
“Big brother Nathan’s idea of the ideal urban embassy fortress. He drew this up in his freshman year in college. We’ll have to adjust it a little to fit in the property lines we just bought but it should work.”
“I like it.” Ezekiel nodded.
“A big yard for Maximus! Yay!” Alice squealed in joy.
“BARK!”
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Back at the Royal Palace
“What do you think, Roderick? Is it really a long lost Cameron? Some plot?” Trillian asked exhausted.
“Not a plot, unless the plot is to hand you everything you needed on a silver platter to settle a lot of the opposition you’ve been facing lately. People are not going to like how you set up Hesperus, but I can handle that, especially with what they just offered.”, commented General of Armies, Roderick Steiner
“I suppose it is true. It doesn’t really matter if they are really Camerons or not. They are clearly allies during a time when such things are in such short supply. I must do better than Melissa in handling them.”, Trillian commented
“If Hesperus goes as we have predicted and they really have a Navy we can borrow, we should have little trouble rolling back Falcon gains in a very rapid fashion.”
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===Challenges and Betrayal===
Field of Battle
Hesperus II, Lyran Commonwealth
10th January, 3144
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The jump schedules had all gone horribly wrong. What was supposed to be a coordinated attack to give her enemies as little time as possible to react had instead become a strung out affair.
The Merchants tried to claim it was because someone was interdicting their shipping at a frightening rate.
Chingis Khan Malvina Hazen was convinced it was just more gutless turncoats or shirkers who had lost faith. But either way the results were the same.
Word had already reached her about how much of a disaster Alphecca had been. The Jade Aerie narrowly escaped the system thanks to it’s Captain having an escape jump point plotted using the moon planet jump point as their exit, even so it suffered damage that would be difficult to repair.
Likewise the Turkina’s Pride was hounded the entire time it made for a jump point, doing very little damage to the enemy in return.
But the loss of four now next to impossible to replace clusters… There was no hope of rescuing them, if any of them were even still alive to be rescued. All she could hope for was that they had landed with enough strength to make their enemies on the ground pay dearly.
<<“Malvina. There you are.”>> radio transmission came in.
“Alaric. I should have known you would show up.” she radioed. 
<<“I have come to challenge you for what remains of your now disgraced Clan.”>> Khan Alaric Ward challenged her.
“I would rather see them burned to ashes than accept such a trial.” she cooly responded.
<<“Come now. You know you have no real choice but to accept. Your star versus mine. Winner takes all. Refuse and you lose the support of far too many of your Clan to stay in power.”>> Alaric challenged her.
“Fine. Meet me here…”, she conceded to the Wolf
<<“Acceptable.”>>
(*click*)
“We shall face him with as much of the full Keshik as can be mustered. He does not deserve the honor of zellbrigen, he is the foul creation of a mad woman and a man with no honor using the genes of a hated enemy. We shall treat these Wolves as Dark Caste. Only fit for execution. No dueling, no bidding. Just slaughter.” Malvina briefed over her Keshik’s tacchannel.
As the rest of the Keshik moved on Malvina straggled a moment to destroy a Light Horse hovertank.
It was not much but it was enough to cause her star to separate from the rest of the Keshik by a small margin.
As they approached the battlesite, Malvina had chosen Beckett Malthus saw what he had expected. Alaric was no fool and had deployed his own Keshik as well.
<<“You are too predictable these days, Malvina.”>> Alaric’s voice came over the open feed.
Alaric’s command star was on them.
Alaric and Malvina immediately paired off without hesitation.
Beckett saw this as his perfect chance. It was now or never.
He leveled his guns at the rear of Malvina’s mech and squeezed the triggers.
“All units. This is saKhan Beckett Malthus. I am issuing orders for a full retreat from Hesperus at once. Clan Jade Falcon has suffered defeat here this day due to the poor leadership of Malvina Hazen.”
What followed became a chaotic swirl of events. Beckett lost count of how many times his 'mech came under fire, either by Wolves or by the witnesses that saw what he did and then eventually other supporters of Malvina.
But somehow in that maelstrom he managed to get his 'mech to a Dropship, one crewed by like-minded Falcons and he was away.
For the rest of his life Beckett Malthus would always wonder exactly how he got away, never being able to recall the fine details of what could have been anywhere from hours to even possibly days.
He was in far too much of a fugue state due to the relief of finally having the courage to be free of Malvina.
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Medical room
Dropship Ward’s Arrival
Cynthy looked at Malvina. She was still alive but barely moving.
She walked up to the bed.
Studying the woman that had taken her in all those years ago.
Cynthy produced a knife. Not just any random knife, Malvina’s favorite that she thought she lost long ago.
Malvina’s eyes showed a glimmer of recognition. Then she simply nodded.
Cynthy drove the knife into Malvina’s jugular with all her might.
She then wiped the blood off her hands and pulled out a piece of chocolate and began eating it as she just sat down on the floor mindlessly humming a tune.
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===Outcome of Betrayal===
Little Richie’s Time Out bin
Moon over Old Lazarus
Lazarus System
22nd January, 3144
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“It is confirmed, Director-General. We estimate about thirty total Clusters of the Falcon Touman have fully gone over to Clan Wolf, along with their entire Warship fleet. Of the remaining 20 or so 16 have broken off into their own little petty bandit kingdoms. Infighting reduced the others down to the two that showed up at Skye to surrender. Their leader is in here.” Juanita gestured to an interview room.
Helena simply nodded as she entered the room.
“Come to gloat before you execute me?” Beckett Malthus said quietly.
“Why should I execute you?” Helena Cameron asked.
“For what I allowed to take root and infect Clan Jade Falcon. Now it will worm its way into Clan Wolf. How can it not? I deserve to perish for my cowardice and compliance. I am every bit as guilty as her.” he admitted.
“Tough shit, Beckett Malthus. Dying is the easy way out. I have something much more difficult in mind for you. You’re going to become my instrument to roll up the last of the Falcon OZ. You will spread the lessons you learned. Teach the next generation of Falcons that there are consequences and what the true meaning of justice and honor are. Sure in a few generations you’ll be little more than a quirky ethnic group in the Commonwealth, swallowed up by the sea that is coming for you but nothing can stop that now. So the only thing you can do is get the rest of your people to listen and be prepared for it. You’re joining a civilization based on the rule of law. No amount of might can hold back the forces of liberty and justice forever. That is your punishment Beckett Malthus. When you accomplish that then you have my permission to die if that is what you still desire when that time comes.”
“You’re really her aren’t you? The Eternal Princess? Helena Cameron. You really survived the Usurper didn’t you?” he asked.
“Yes and I did. Now, I’m finally doing what I should have done so long ago and bringing an end to all this madness.” she said with vindication.
“Then I will do as you have commanded. First Lord.” he acknowledged.
“Good.”
Helena left the room.
She was met by her newest traveling companion.
Asagira Reimu. She was now Helena’s personal Secretary since Olivia could not travel with her like this and came highly recommended.
“Butcher’s bill between Galatea and Alphecca?” Helena asked.
“Mashona took some damage that will need repairing. Two Dropships were lost outright and a third heavily damaged. Fighter losses were in the low dozens. 12 pilots KIA, 4 MIA, and 2 being discharged from service due to battle injuries. Ground forces, we will need to rebuild most of the 17th Silesia. The Falcons seemed to focus quite heavily on them for some reason on Galatea. On Alphecca we lost about two battalions of primarily SI units, a company or so of piloted units was chewed up but no solid numbers on them until we can get them relieved.”
“Considering how green our troops are, that is not bad. Go ahead and send a note to Truk to start the conversion process on Mashona since she needs yard time anyway. Time to go home so we can start planning our next moves.” Helena nodded.
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===New Assignment===
Little Richie’s Time Out bin
Detention Area
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She Looked like a Hazen, even in the uniform of Helena's forces. "When were you bonded?" Beckett asked from his bunk.
"I wasn't. Hi, I'm Allison Hazen, Colonel." she entered the cell and sat on an empty cot facing him. "Or at least, that's the only name you need to know."
This made him sit up and examine her more thoroughly.
"Not one of us." he finally concluded.
"Bingo, hole in one, free throw is all net, aka you are correct." she told him, "Her Majesty isn't inclined to throw you into the blender, Malthus." she explained, "You're not going to be rammed into a 'mech and sent on a suicide mission-that's not the job, and as such, you'll be needing assets and support."
"Support? For what?" he asked
"There are half a dozen or so pockets of Jade Falcons who didn't defect to the Wolves and haven't been conquered by vengeful Lyrans. They need leadership, and lo and behold, here you are, a man ready to face his sins, and make restitution. I'm here to help you do that second bit. Interested?" she asked.
"I want to die." he told her.
"Everyone dies, Beckett, Her Majesty would prefer it if you chose to live first, dead is, after all, the default everyone reaches sooner or later-but you can expiate your crimes and regain your honour first."
He stared at her in confusion. "Hazen? Really?"
"Not really. The DNA ladder's right, but no, I am not one of those Hazens." she confirmed, "I am, however, close enough to one that when you meet with, and get organized the others. They will…not question it, much."
"So you are to be what, my control?"
"No, I am to be your facilitator, assistant, and, if necessary a meat shield and bodyguard. Her Majesty wants you to succeed in restoring your honor, Beckett-the honor you will have as a Star League Officer fulfilling his DUTY."
"Where do you come from then?" he asked.
"Kolossus made me." she told him, "I was born there, raised there, educated there…and in other places, and I'm as much on probation as you are."
"What crimes?" Beckett asked.
"I broke the minds of captured enemy combatants, including Clan officers." she explained, "I have been…chastised for that, and I must prove myself safe. If anyone is to be said to be the 'control officer' it is likely to be you."
"Chastised? How?"
"Ever die before, Beckett?" she asked.
"Neg."
"It hurts." she deflected, "There's no such thing as a painless death. Evolution did not make choices leading to comfortable endings. There is no such thing as a painless death, I can verify that personally."
"So now what?" he asked.
"You tell me. How do we begin?" she offered
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