FSRB Chpt 10

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==The Federated Suns RebornChapter 10==
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===3062 - Second Quarter - Aerospace Expansions===
With Victor Davion back on New Avalon and Katherine Steiner-Davion being prepared for transfer to face trial the Federated Suns almost universally breathed a sigh of relief. Both March Lords were firmly behind the First Prince as were the High Command and Government, while industrial expansions were providing a major boom in the economy across the realm. Additionally several new formations of troops were forming to bolster the nations defenses. 
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====April 3062====
The start of April caused something of a stir on the Capellan March border. An unexpected Jumpship jumped into Federated Suns space from the Confederation. This caused the usual scrambling of fighters and readying of defenses but it was soon apparent this was not the prelude to an invasion or even a raid. Instead of enemy troops thirsty for blood the jumpship appeared to be carrying a single passenger, namely Isis Marik. Having been thrown out of the Capellan Confederation by her now former fiancee she had been unable to face going home to Atreus and so had decided to instead take refuge on New Avalon. First Prince Victor immediately ordered the nearby FSS Brest to escort the jumpship and it's valuable passenger to New Avalon. 
While he awaited the arrival of Isis Marik on New Avalon the First Prince kept himself busy. After his discussions with Marshal Terleki jr, Marshal of the Armies Davion and having read intelligence reports from the Taurian Concordat and the after action reports from Necromo he set out a number of goals to increase aerospace fighter production. 
His initial meeting was with the directors of the New Avalon based Lycomb-Davion Introtech. In these he had the significant bonus of not only being their primary customer but also one of their primary shareholders. As such it took almost no effort at all to arrange for a large scale expansion. Not only did the company agree to begin expansions of their plant on New Avalon but they also agreed to begin work on a new plant on the world of June. Initially this was to have 2 lines producing the ever popular Stuka class aerospace fighter but further expansions to add lines for the Hellcat and Lightning were also planned. 
Wangker Aerospace was the next of the realm's aerospace companies on the First Prince's list. Their Corsair fighter was one of the premier fighters of the AFFS and Prince Victor was keep to increase it's availability. The existing plant upon Axton was too close to the Capellan border for comfort as had been proven by the destruction and then rebuilding of the plant in the early Succession Wars, yet the company was extremely keen to avoid the production disruption a move might entail. In a series of meetings between the First Prince, his advisers and the executives an arrangement was finally reached. 
In the short term the First Prince would fund via loans, stock purchases and long term contracts a doubling of the production of the Axton plant. In return Wangker would agree to build a twin facility on the planet of Filtvelt, chosen by the company for the promise of how integrated it would become with the building dropship yards and future JumpShip yards which would keep shipping costs down. This would have the effect that when both the expansion and then new facility was online of quadrupling Corsair production. Additional lines for the Eagle and Thunderbird were planned at the new facility on Filtvelt as well, although it was left open that these lines might be built on a third world to give added redundancy. 
While these discussions were on going Marshal of the Armies Davion in consultation with the First Prince ordered a number of cadets drawn from the Point Barrow, Kilbourne and Filtvelt Academies and the realm's Training Battalions to be sent to the 11th and 12th FedSuns Dragoons RCT. The best of the cadets were concentrated in adding a company to the 12th Dragoons, while the remainder were sent to the 11th. The 11th was the most under strength of any of the front line RCT's of the Federated Suns and also had a surplus of equipment they had brought with them from the Lyran Alliance. This did result in the experience rating for the 11th FedSuns Dragoons dropping to green with the influx of cadets, but it doubled it's strength to 2 full battalions. 
A smaller number of cadets, numbering two companies were divided up between the reforming Mayetta DMM and the under strength Islamabad CrMM. Every effort was taken to try and assemble these companies from natives to those regions, but in a few cases exceptions had to be made. Particularly in the case of the Islamabad CrMM this would leave the new recruits feeling isolated in a foreign environment. Over time these cadets, now seasoned from experience with the unit, would be transferred out to more appropriate commands and their place taken by Islamabad natives.
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====May 3062====
Even as the jumpship carrying Isis Marik was approaching New Avalon First Prince Victor continued to hold meetings with various companies. He also announced a 3 month period to end on the 31st August 3062 for any and all bids for his previously declared bidding process for a new BattleMech production facility. 
His next meeting was with the executives from Jalastar Aerospace. Unlike the others their company was already in what was considered the Outback. This meant that they wouldn't be required to add a new facility. However given their proximity to the Taurian border as well as a long term problem with pirates the company had been struggling. In a meeting which ran for much longer than scheduled and indeed expanding into the period that the First Prince had allowed for welcoming his new guest to New Avalon the First Prince and the executives attempted to find a solution to the problem.
With the expansions of the shipyards at Panpour which were owned by Challenge Systems the system had acquired an urgency for a more permanent and robust garrison than the corporate security and militia's which currently defended it. In return for long term contracts and investments in lostech Jalastar Aerospace (and Challenge System's who were brought into the discussions towards the end) agreed to partially fund the creation of a new Avalon Hussar RCT. The officer corp of this unit was to be drawn from the retired AFFS and AFFC veteran's of the companies security arrangements and appointee's from New Avalon while the remainder would be fleshed out by the pick of Panpour's militia's and newly graduating cadets. This unit would be given a semi-permanent posting within the system and would be augmented with additional aerospace fighter wings, armor regiments and infantry regiments than would expand it from the norm, and these would if the unit was called away remain within the system to protect it. This unit would begin forming in the Fourth Quarter of the year. A Fox class Corvette was also to be home ported within the system and to conduct patrols based there. 
thumb|right|Sparrowhawk Light Fighter
In return for these defensive upgrades Jalastar Aerospace agreed to increase production of it's Sabre and particularly Sparrowhawk fighters, with contracts promised into the late 3070s for both fighters. The AFFS effectively promised to buy any and all Sparrowhawks that Jalastar could build up to an extremely high limit. The AFFS also agreed to increased purchases of the Centurions BattleMech's produced at Jalastar by at least 50% as well as to a lesser extent the Javelins and Grasshopper 'Mechs. A final agreement was made that Jalastar would reintroduce production of the Jabberwocky IndustrialMech at a new custom built plant which would be partially funded by the Federated Suns Government. Vague suggestions of a future Aerospace Academy were also discussed. 
About half way through these discussions the First Prince was called away to greet Isis Marik. Perhaps as a pointed insult to Chancellor Sun-Tzu and indeed some even suggested her remote and distant father the Captain-General he greeted her with a full reception. The 1st Davion Guards RCT and 1st Revenant Guards RCT paraded for her benefit while the New Avalon CrMM was drawn up in serried ranks along the route from the spaceport, through Avalon City and up to the Royal Palace at Mount Davion. Every effort was made to show of the grandeur and power of the AFFS for not only Isis Marik but also the watching holo-vid cameras which were transmitting throughout the Inner Sphere. Of particular note was the entire regiment of over 1000 Battle Armored troopers drawn up along the driveway of the palace itself - although it wasn't mentioned that these were drawn from all 3 front line commands on New Avalon as well as a few of the cadets of the local academies. 
Quite what Isis Marik made of it all wasn't commented upon, although she was very publicly granted "asylum" here on New Avalon for as long as she wished under the personal protection of First Prince Davion, House Davion and the AFFS. The wording of the invitation to stay again raised eyebrows throughout the Sphere. In the FWL Parliament questions were raised as to why a daughter of House Marik might flee to the Davion's rather than return to her own father. Questions which went unanswered. Tensions on not only the Davion-Liao border but also the Marik-Liao border escalated. 
Welcoming Isis Marik to the Federated Suns would take up much of the First Princes's time for the remainder of the month and what little time was left over was taken up with finishing the discussions with Jalastar Aerospae and lately Challenge Systems. 
In response to these escalating tensions Chancellor Liao ordered work on expanding the Capella system's shipyards intensified. Even the ruinous cost of accelerating these expansions were signed off without a second thought. Trapped between two foes who individually had a superior navy to the Capellan Confederation necessitated an increase its navy as quickly as possible. 
Therefore when Protector Shraplen's envoys arrived on Sian to discuss naval cooperation they found a receptive audience. The only stipulation that Sun-Tzu insisted on was drawing the Canopian's into the deal. 
Achernar BattleMechs and Robinson Standard BattleWorks also debuted the Argus BattleMech and put it into production. Contracts were signed for the new BattleMech that would ensure production until the end of the decade. The first of these mechs would find their way to the Robinson Rangers brigade and to the expanding Avalon Hussars brigade. 
By the end of May the new Avalon Hussars RCTs and the existing 42nd Avalon Hussars RCT had taken up their postings within the Outback and had began to make anti-pirate patrols from their bases. They were often aided in this by the local academies training units and local March Militias.
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====June 3062====
As June began the First Prince returned to his stated goal of expanding Aerospace production within the Federated Suns. His efforts were largely concentrated on the Capellan March at the current time. George Hasek was given the go ahead to announce the impending construction of Star Lord jumpships at New Sytris and in continued discussions with his Prince was assured that warship contracts were almost a certainty as long as the production of the Star Lords went well. Although teething problems were to be expected and discounted. 
The Warrior's Hall on New Syrtis was also announced receive upgrades to add a naval training (initially consisting of jumpship and dropship crews) facility and aerospace pilot facilities. In return at his own expense Duke Hasek would fund the equipping and formation of a reinforced Training Battalion for the academy to bring it in line with the other academies within the realm. 
In addition to the training battalion the Duke was also to use his influence on the prominent Johnston family regarding Dagger-O production. The new OmniFighter was being debuted that year and the pre-production models and first runs had already been assigned and met universal acclaim fro the pilots who were flying them. Taking a gamble the First Prince wanted to not only look at expanded production at the two existing plants but also to add more plants. After bringing the Duke of Robinson into the discussions it was agreed that Duke George would put to the Johnston's that the Federated Suns would help in expanding the existing plants on New Syrtis and Addicks and in return they would expand their component's factory on Benet III to full production and add a new plant on Novaya Zemlya. The plants on Benet III and Novaya Zemlya would be part funded by the dukes of the respective Marches as well as New Avalon. 
From the current production of 2 lines on New Syrtis and 1 on Addicks the Dagger-O's production would increase to 3 lines on New Syrtis, 2 on Addicks, 1 on Benet III and another on 2 Novaya Zemlya. It was however noted that none of the production lines would be based within the Crucis March. This was something that First Prince Victor wished to see changed. He was content for now however. 
Given these huge increases in aerospace production the First Prince met with Fleet Admiral Buchwald and Marshal Jon Davion and explained that including within their plans for expansions of the various academies he would require a large scale increase in the number of aerospace pilots and technicians graduating. His initial thoughts were for the current Armstrong Flight Academy to be expanded upon, but he wished two smaller new academies to be considered although these plans were less defined. His initial thoughts were to place the new facilities on either Filtvelt, Panpour, or Novaya Zemlya. The last one seemed something of a strange option to the assembled officers, but they agreed to look into all three potential venues. 
While they were there he discussed with them the proposed Morgan Hasek-Davion Martial Academy as well as an expansion of Filtvelt to producing an entire regiment of cadets rather than it's current 5 companies. 
Diplomatically feelers were put out during this time period towards the Wolf's Dragoons on Outreach to see if they would consider rejoining the Federated Suns, but these were rebuffed quickly. Discussions did however continue regarding a mutual defensive pact should the WOB turn hostile. 
While most of these discussions were done behind closed doors, the mere fact that the First Prince was spending so much time in discussions with various Aerospace firms was not possible to be hidden. In response to these the museum ship the DCS Togura was prepared for a move to Midway. The ancient warship was reinforced as best was possible by engineers in preparation for the move. Privately many of them thought the Coordinator mad if he thought the borderline wreck could be returned to active service. 
Along with the work on the DCS Togura the Coordinator passed orders for the various Aerospace manufacturers within his realm to increase production. Wakazashi Enterprise in particular was instructed to massively increase it's output. Already dominating the market with nearly 70% of all aerospace production the company would soon see that figure climb to nearly 85% as more and more government funds poured into their expansions. Skilled workers were press ganged from nearby systems and moved in troop transports to Dover to help expand production again and then again. 
Within the FWL Parliament agreed to the WOB's offer to purchase a full dozen Zechetinu II Corvettes. The profits from this sale would then be used to expand production of the Corvette for the FWL's own navy. The WOB immediately transferred large sums of cash and industrial goods from Terra to the FWL to fund the expansion Illium Shipyards over Ionus and also sent a large number of technical advisers to help. They also at this time made inquiries about further purchases of Venturer class Light Cruisers. 
On Sian the Chancellor, faced with the reports pouring in of massive planned increases in fighter production within the Federated Suns also ordered his own fighter production increase. To bolster this he also made generous offers to both the Taurian Concordat and the Magistracy of Canopus to buy aerospace fighters from them, offering in partial payment industrial upgrades with new technology. As a particular incentive to the Canopians to join he and the Taurian's proposed warship plans he offered to fully fund a new industrial facility to restart production of an updated Dragonfly aerospace fighter on Canopus. The Taurian's immedietly accepted his proposal and the Canopians were only a week behind them. 
At the end of June, the FSS Alexander Davion and it's escorts left the New Avalon System with it's prisoner safely aboard to begin the journey to the Star League Courts. Faced with the prospect of either having to travel through the Lyran Alliance or the Draconis Combine it had reluctantly been agreed to request passage through the realm of House Kurita. This request had after some discussions been granted. 
Also near the end of June, Tancred Sandoval contacted the First Prince to discuss the growing relationship between himself and Victor's sister Yvonne. The two old friends both found the conversation awkward.
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