DE Chpt 20

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==Chapter 20 - Danger Everywhere==
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3 October 3050
Icar System (Clan Wolf)
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<Br>
Star Captain Branden had performed an in system jump to the same pirate point the day after the arrival of SG Guardian, Invader Jumpship. This would cut down the departure travel to only two days and both Jumpships would be fully charged and ready to jump from the system when the Dropships returned.
On the surface, loading was completed, and the Dropships were performing their launch procedures. Everyone was packed in like sardines. The freed prisoners numbered just over 1300 personnel, almost double what they could normally carry. The previous day had been a chaotic one, but semi-organized. The new Clan Aerospace fighters had been hoisted into the awaiting Overlords launch bays. Battlemechs had been stowed. The recovered vehicles were packed and stowed as cargo while tech teams had swarmed the mass of salvaged battlefield wreckage, pulling parts to repair all their currently damaged Battlemechs. When they had the time to actually perform the repairs. They had also pulled in and stowed a further 8 Battlemechs that they felt could be repaired with enough time. There just was not enough time or space to fully recover everything, not with Major Mitchell looking at his watch every ten minutes.
At noon local time the three Overlords of the 2nd Guards, packed as tight as they could boosted for the pirate point for the return to Star's End.
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9 October 3050
Star's End
Their arrival in Star's End had been uneventful and the Overlord Dropships had landed on the surface without difficulties. Now came the more difficult task of repairing what they could and working out a new force structure incorporating those freed prisoners who wished to join them. The majority had come from the 12th Star Guard and local militia personnel captured by Clan Wolf. The AFFC personnel were still under contract to the AFFC so recruitment was minimal from them. Major William Mitchell looked at his new personnel counts as he tried to work out how to best use them.
2nd Guards Personnel
Mechwarriors - 44 (41 IS, 3 Clan)
Aerospace Pilot - 19 (7 IS, 12 Clan)
Infantry - 462 (IS)
Elemental - 30 (Clan)
Armor Crew - 351 (IS)
Mech Tech - 61 (56 IS, 5 Clan)
Aero Tech - 21 (11 IS, 10 Clan)
BA Tech - 7 (Clan)
Mechanic - 62 (IS)
Medic - 16 (IS)
Doctor - 2 (IS)
Astech/Labor - 263 (203 IS, 60 Clan)
The crew of SG Guardian, Invader Jumpship along with the 12th Star Guards' Leopard CV Fighter Carrier had also elected to join the 2nd Guards. But all the former 12th Star Guards had also come with a condition, they all wanted to make an effort to free their former comrades. While he was not totally opposed to the idea and had agreed, it was going to be very dangerous to actually accomplish. He set aside the personnel list and picked up their equipment list next and tried to mentally work out how to make use of it. While also trying to mentally track what still needed to be repaired, this complicated his task, even on paper.
2nd Guards Equipment
Aerospace Support Group
Excellence, Invader Jumpship
Guardian, Invader Jumpship
Archangel, Leopard CV
Danger Close, Overlord Dropship (Standard)
Bandit's Bane, Overlord Dropship (24BM, 6AS, 12Inf)
Evil Dies, Overlord Dropship (24BM, 6AS, 12Inf)
Juniper, Mule Cargo Dropship
1 Mark VIIC Shuttle
1 K-1C Dropshuttle
Aerospace Fighters
4 Corsair, CSR-V12
2 Sabre, SB-27 
1 Rapier, RPR-100b (Modified with Clan Weapons)
3 Rapier RPR-100b
2 Hammerhead, HMR-HDb
2 Zero, ZRO-116b
2 Hellcat II, HCT-213C
BattleMechs
1 Thug (Modified with Clan Weapons)
1 Wyvern, WVE-5N
1 Kintaro, KTO-19b
1 Hussar, HSR-200-Db
1 Thorn, THE-Nb
2 Archer, ARC-2R (1 week to complete repairs)
1 Archer, ARC-2K
1 Victor, VTR-9S (1 week to complete repairs)
2 Charger, CGR-1A5 (1 week for 1st, 3 weeks for 2nd w/mod to Clan)
2 Rifleman, RFL-3N (1 week to complete repairs)
4 Shadow Hawk, SHD-2H (1 week to complete repairs, 3 weeks for Clan mods to another)
3 Warhammer, WHM-6D
2 Merlin, MLN-1A
1 Catapult, CPLT-C1
5 Panther, PNT-9R
1 Wolfhound, WLF-1B
3 Firestarter, FSS-H
2 Trebuchet, TBT-5N
1 Awesome, AWS-8T
2 Zeus, ZEU-6S
1 Thunderbolt, TDR-5S
9 Locust, LCT-1V (1 week to complete repairs)
4 Jenner, JR7-D
6 Stinger, STG-3R
4 Phoenix Hawk, PHX-1
4 Griffin, GRF-1N
2 Wolverine, WVR-6M
Combat Vehicles
28 Patton Main Battle Tanks
12 Pegasus Hover Tank (Missile)
12 Pegasus Hover Tank (Unarmed)
16 Heavy Hover APC (MG)
9 Heavy Track APC (MG)
18 Trucks Cargo
Battle Armor
35 Elemental Battle Armor
He took some time to study the proposed modifications to several of the units Battlemechs to make use of some of the Clan weapons in place of destroyed weapon systems. He had yet to actually see or use the weapons but speaking with some of the former prisoners who had, they all agreed that it was worth the effort. Former Clan Wolf tech Ursula was leading the modification teams installing the Clan weapons. One of the Chargers and one of the Shadow Hawks were having Clan weapons installed since their primary weapons had been destroyed with no viable replacements located among the salvage.
The Charger was being fitted with one of the Clan ER PPC and two of the Streak SRM/6 systems. Twenty-two heats sinks and two medium lasers rounded out the armaments. He had been told that it was a fairly easy upgrade. But at least the poor Charger would have some long-range reach instead of a big gun but have to close with the enemy.Modified Charger Assault 'Mech - Record Sheet
The Shadow Hawk was being fitted with one of the Clan Large Pulse Lasers instead of the AC/5. Its heat sinks were being boosted to 15 to handle the extra heat. While they had located quite a few AC/5 in the salvage, it seems Clan Wolf had destroyed all the ammunition or hauled it off for some reason and they only had a few tons anyway.*Modified Shadow Hawk Medium 'Mech - Record Sheet
He started sketching out his idea for his proposed reorganization to make the best use of what they could actually field. To keep his promise to the former Star Guard troops, he had decided that Steelton would be the next target. This would have them facing Clan Jade Falcon, who were rivals of Clan Wolf, so he had been informed. He had been told that Clan Jade Falcon would not use deception but fight. So, he did his best to work out a structure to give them the best chance at a win. He started putting his thoughts on paper.
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2nd Guards 
Command Company
1 Thug, Mod (Major Mitchell)
1 Charger, Mod (former Clan Warrior)
1 Shadow, Hawk Mod (former Clan Warrior)
1 Hussar HSR-200-Db (former Clan Warrior)
25 Elementals Battle Armor (Star)
2 Squads Infantry
1 Heavy Track APC (MG)
1st Battalion 
1 Awesome, AWS-8T
2 Zeus, ZEU-6S
1 Thunderbolt, TDR-5S
3 Warhammer WHM-6D
1 Archer, ARC-2K
2 Archer, ARC-2R
1 Victor, VTR-9S
1 Charger, CGR-1A5
24 Patton Main Battle Tanks
8 Infantry Platoons
8 Heavy Track APC (MG)
2nd Battalion
8 Locust, LCT-1V
4 Jenner, JR7-D
4 Phoenix Hawk, PHX-1
4 Griffin, GRF-1N
2 Wolverine, WVR-6M
2 Trebuchet, TBT-5N
12 Pegasus Hover Tanks (Missile)
4 Infantry Platoons
4 Heavy Hover APC (APC)
It was far from perfect, but in his opinion, it gave him a fairly fast strike force in his 2nd Battalion for recon work with a heavy fist in his 1st Battalion. He still was not sure how to make the best use of the Elementals, but for now he would keep them in his Command Company. He did know they were quite a force multiplier. But he was still not fully trusting of them out of his direct control, no matter what Star Captain Branden and Point Commander Trishia said. Not yet anyway. All of their tanks and APCs would have to be secured as cargo which would slow their deployment. But it could not be helped right now. He placed Captain Lisa Green, former Star Guard, in command of his 1st Battalion. While she was a tanker, she had been in the 12th Star Guards for over 12 years and had experience working with Mechs. His own Company Commanders did not have that sort of experience. 
It damn sure did not leave them room for freed prisoners though. So, he planned to pack the Mule as full as possible with people for the short hop back here to Star's End until he could figure out exactly how to get them back to FedCom space. His only bright spot was Major Duboise had volunteered to use his AFFC personnel to secure the former pirate bases as a safe haven. To aid in this he would also leave behind a small force. While not particularly strong, it was deemed strong enough to protect the units temporary base here on Star's End. 
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Base Garrison
2 Merlin, MLN-1A
1 Catapult, CPLT-C1
4 Patton Main Battle Tanks
4 Infantry Platoons
4 Heavy Track APC (MG)
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This was not going to be home, not if he could help it, but it was a safe harbor for now. One jump from Steelton, so he did not have to worry too much about cramming the Mule full of people for a long trip. Not right away anyway. 
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