FSRB Chpt 79

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==The Federated Suns Reborn - Chapter 79==
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September 3067Troop Movement
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===State of the Free Worlds League Civil War===
Even as the Federated Sun's intelligence agencies tries to find out what was going on in the Free Worlds League the situation continued to escalate. There was a second fleet battle over the world of Hamilton in which the cruiser FWLS Troy, who's captain had publicly went on record that he would be loyal to the "memory of the murdered Captain-General Thomas Marik". The captain was taking his ship towards Oriente, when it was intercepted by her sister ship the FWLS Aineas which has pledged it's loyalty to the interim-Government on Atreus. Although few if any knew exactly what that interim-Government was! In a swift and savage battle the two lightly armored heavy cruisers tore each other apart. Although technically the FWLS Troy was the victor, in that the ship was intact at the end of the battle, she was crippled beyond repair with her jump drive trashed and her spine buckled from multiple impacts and over half her crew dead and cold in the ruptured hull. The remaining crew were hastily evacuated by a pro-Oriente jumpship and continued their journey after scuttling the FWLS Troy. 
According to what confused reports were making it out of the League the Duchy of Orloff had also signed on with the pro-Thomas faction of their neighbors the Duchy of Oriente. The bulk of the Marik-Commonwealth seemed to be following or at least waiting for orders from Atreus, while the Sirian Holds and Free Tikonov Province had both declared for the "legitimate government on Atreus". In a move that surprised nobody the WoB run Principality of Gibson had declared for Atreus as well. Although the nearby Principality of Regulus was refusing to join either side and instead had formed a third faction of it's own. Most of the minor provinces and individual worlds seemed to be keeping their own council for now by what the intelligence agencies were gathering. But that could have changed, their news was usually a week or 2 old at best. 
One thing that was verified several times was that there was still fighting on Atreus itself. If not in orbit at least. Judging by half jammed transmissions it appeared that at least some of the 1st Knights of the Inner Sphere had made the ground and joined up with survivors of the 2nd Knights who had been bombarded. These 2 shattered formations had reformed into a single force and were fighting on in the name of their murdered leader. Against who was still up in the air. 
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====Federated Suns assembles Task Forces====
Just in case the AFFS High Command began moving troops towards the worlds of Capella, Nanking, and Zurich. Although Outreach would be another ideal world given it's shattered and still rebuilding economy after an orbital bombardment it was felt that adding a number of additional units to that worlds garrison would be counter productive and might offend the garrisoning Wolf's Dragoons. The 5th Davion Guards RCT, 1st Kestrel Grenadiers RCT, and 4th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT moved down from the Addicks PDZ and took up station on Capella to form ad-hoc Task Force Capella. Meanwhile the 3rd FedSuns Dragoons RCT left Kittery and headed for Nanking, joining the 1st Lexington Combat Guards and the 2nd FSAC regiment to form the temporary Task Force Nanking. The Davion Light Guards RCT was dispatched from New Avalon to form the basis for Task Force Zurich, being joined by the 12th Vegan Rangers' Alpha Regiment and the 1st Revenant Guards RCT. This gives the AFFS 3 temporary task forces each consisting of 3 BattleMech regiments or RCTs with which to intervene if need by in the worlds bordering the Federated Suns and yet hasn't opened up any gaps in their own defenses. 
A fourth task force is being assembled on paper to accompany the First Prince if he informs the High Command he is taking command of the front. Of course the 1st Davion Guards RCT will be the center point of this formation, but in a strange move the 1st Syrtis Fusiliers RCT and 6th Robinson Rangers RCT are also flagged to join this formation. Both are green and newly raised commands but are at full strength and many feel that showing 2 units from the various Marches directly under the First Prince's command will be a good move for insuring that the Marches remember who their loyalty is with. The experienced 1st ,7th FedSuns Dragoons RCTs and the Davion Assault Guards already in the Nanking and Achernar PDZ are also flagged as potential additions to any task force built around the First Prince.
Left unsaid in all of this is that these same units could be equally used to drive into the Liao Commonality in the event that relationships break down between the Capellan Confederation and the Federated Suns. Given that Intel reports from the Liao Commonality have the entire garrison at less than 10 regiments of BattleMechs such a force would easily be able to seize multiple worlds. Particularly if supported by drives into the Commonality from the neighboring Achernar, Valexa and Alcoyne PDZs. 
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===Developments in Industry===
On Chesterton the new Achernar plant completes it's new Argus-O line. Plans are put in place to convert the classic Dervish line there to an OmniMech if the AFFS agrees to purchase the new design, as well as adding a second Dervish-O line in that event. 
Jalastar agrees to begin production of the popular Sparrowhawk aerospace fighter at Batavia and Baxley, beginning preparations to begin construction of a single line at each factory. They are expected to complete between May and July in 3068. 
On June the Lycomb-Davion plant adds a third Stuka line at their factory with the new production being routed to a number of units within the Outback. Plans begin to be put in place to add an Awesome BattleMech line at this plant, but this construction won't be started until November and is expected to complete in December 3068. 
The New Independence Weaponry plant on Alta Vista completes it's Gunslinger line on the 16th of September and the assault battlemech enters production within the Draconis March. With the increasing supply of assault and heavy BattleMechs the Duke of Robinson begins considering forming a new unit on the model of the Davion Assault Guards or other heavy formations. 
Norse Battlemech Works agrees on the 20th of September to build a new secondary site deeper within the Federated Suns. Given that the shareholders had largely lost their income from the plant when it was seized by the Draconis Combine and handed over to new owners. Now returned to their control by the actions of the First Prince the owners saw the wisdom in ensuring that no such event happened again. Having considered their options the CEO and board have decided to begin construction of new plant on Mayetta in the new year. The plans are to build a Griffin and Shadow Hawk line at the new plant to begin with. In a surprise move the Federated Sun's Government announce that they will provide the Sling Battlemech design for construction at this new factory and will help fund the construction of this line. 
With this example in front of them Maltex and Cosara Weaponries step up their consideration of also building a secondary sight. Maltex are considering a site in the Outback, while Cosara at the strong suggestion of the Clan Elders of Northwind are looking for a site on a "Scottish" world. Right now Northfield is the strong favorite, particularly as it is already the site of an existing Battlemech factory so has the infrastructure in place to support the factory. 
The new company of Ranger Battlemechs on Verde completes it's first battlemech line on the 28th of September. The initial company of battlemechs are all scheduled to be sent to the Duke of Verdes's BattleMech force the Vegan Rangers to replace old and worn out Shadow Hawks. The worn out machines will then be returned to Verde where they will be refitted using spare parts from the factory and gifted to the Planetary Defense Force or even the Ducal Guard of the planet to increase protection for the now key factory world. Future production will be sold to the AFFS and AFFS sanctioned mercenary forces to bring in a profit and support further construction. 
On Tikonov, the Koschei redesign is finally completed and is considered glitch free. As such a full company of prototypes are delivered to the AFFS to be tested to see if the design will be purchased in large numbers as a fast heavy cavalry battlemech. Considering the nature of the 1st Tikonov Cossacks, Earthwerks are pushing for it it to become a common design in the locally raised unit. 
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===Actions in Free Worlds League Space===
The High Command isn't the only group who can see that the assembling Davion troops in the region around Zurich could be used to attack the Liao Commonality. The Chancellor calls for additional troops to be sent to the worlds of Aldebaran, Liao and Ningpo. His senior staff begin scrambling for units to rush into position. One of the first units they send orders to are McCarron's Armored Cavalry that their 2nd or 3rd regiment should be sent to Gan Singh. However unfortunately for the Strategios neither of those 2 regiments make any move during September towards the front, staying on Menke. The 5th and 6th Sian Dragoons ranks are filled with Home Guard units to bring them both up to full strength at least in numbers and are sent to Poznan and Shensi respectively. Some discussions are made towards towards withdrawing the troops from "peacekeeping" duties within the Free Worlds League but this is quickly dismissed by the Chancellor who is keen to make gains while he can. Indeed he begins pressing his Magistracy allies for units to help him expand with a second set of "peacekeepers" into Ohren Province and the nearby worlds of Second Chance and Harsefeld. 
The 13th Marik Militia on Zion finds itself in over their heads. By now their 2 attached infantry regiments are deployed in penny pockets to try and keep the peace and a number of isolated garrison postings are almost under constant siege. This unrest is spreading out from Zion into other nearby worlds including the Ohren Province and Ibstock and Park Place. Bernardo, a key factory world with 2 separate battlemech factories on it is also beginning to see early signs of the riots that have already engulfed Zion.
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