InaG Chpt 23-1

==It's not a Gundam - Chapter 23 - Part 1: Nina III- Book 2 -==
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===Twins Variant of the FedCom===
NAIS Proving Grounds, New Avalon Institute of Science
New Avalon, Federated Suns
July 3027
The GM-FS was the twin of the GM-LC. While the Lyran variant was focused upon defense, the Davion variant was offense.
 
It was also based off her father's Battlemech.
In a sense, the fusion of Medium Mechs.
 
A Griffin's arms to beat a man to death.
 
A Phoenix Hawk's legs to get in his face.
 
A Wolverine's jumpjets to land on top of him.
 
A pair of Hunchback shoulder guns to shoot him if he runs.
 
And underneath that was a Shadow Hawk torso. Somewhere.
 
With the NAIS and UC-DB they found out Chuck Keith decided to make an artillery/fire support mech into a frontline brawler.
 
'Speaking with experience' her father said to her, 'the best way to avoid getting kissed by an axe is to shoot them in the face first.'
 
As to what battle he referred to Nina didn't know. He passed away long before the Axe-wielding Hatchetman was produced.
 
The fact that it looked so ... clean ... for a Frankenmech was a testament to her parent's mechanical skills. Doctor Banzai described the machine as being able to charge into any brawl but provide fire support.
 
Together with it's GM-LC sibling and the Battlemechs of the Davion Brigade of Guards they went through maneuvers; against an equal number of NAIS personally modified OZ Mechs.
 
The fact that the First Prince asked that they be made as close in performance, and appearance, to Serpents as possible hinted some concerning things.
 
She, Hanse, and his council all looked from the stands as the wargame continued with earnest.
 
"Don't worry." Melissa Steiner tried to soothe her, "it's just a precaution."
 
The Archon-Designate saw her face, and the concern stretched on it.
 
"A war between Steiner-Davion and Cameron will leave no winners."
 
"It's the worse case scenario." The Steiner admitted, "Hanse and I agree that we can have peace in our time with Lord Cameron. But I can't trust our children or his children will get along."
 
Simulated munitions flew left and right and the hits were tallied in realtime. Fake-Mercurius Copies absorbed hits from GM-FS cannons. GM-LC shields took the blast of Fake-Vayeates.
 
In the middle of leading the 'Davion' side was an even bulkier version of the GM-FS. In place of it's twin shoulder guns was a single massive cannon. It was according to the records a beam cannon as opposed to the beam rifle that most would associate with a PPC. With the added bulk of the cannon came it's large communication/sensor tower on it's back that allowed it to both command companies and battalions ... but also use them to provide targeting data.
The GM-FS 'White-Coral'-variant existed for the killing blow that it's brethren provided. Over the course of the wargame that proved to be the case. GM-LCs provided cover for Assaults and Heavies while they and their GM-LC Thunderbolt variants embedded themselves among the Light and Medium battlemechs providing them cover against the hail of Aries fire from above. The GM-FS models meanwhile led the charge. While their shields were not as bulky they made excellent bludgeons. Fake-Serpents were bashed aside. Only the fact that the cockpits were reinforced and the weapons blunted or cushioned made the carnage bloodless.
 
She watched from the sidelines as the White Coral lined up it's shot, painting target after target with searing light. Artillery mechs disabled, Command mechs downed, Scouts and Skirmishers were picked off even before they were manhandled by the GMs.
 
"This all for show." She muttered to himself.
 
It was not Melissa that weighed in, it was the First Prince.
 
"Partly." Hanse sighed, "The public is happy to have a Cameron back on the throne. Most of them. I have Federated Suns patriots who don't want an alliance with the Lyrans. The Archon has folks who want to keep Steiner 'pure', whatever that means. They make up roughly half of those who see the Guild as a rival at best, a threat at worse."
 
"What about the other half?"
 
"Pro-FedCom. I count many of our closest supporters among them."
 
"I don't know him personally....but Lord Cameron sounded like he didn't want to become First Lord."
 
Melissa gave a mirthless chuckle, "I don't think they'll care."
 
"Who? The Junkers? The Guild-skeptics?"
 
"All of them really." Hanse mused, "The legacy SLDF units among the AFFS have been banging on the door to relive their nostalgia."
 
That was on the news. That speech cemented Exarch as a Cameron. Whether he was actually one or not.
 
A Cameron called. The Inner Sphere. And the Periphery. answered.
 
"You should see the Eridani Light Horse." Melissa added.
 
"I did, Melissa." Hanse answered, "it's an open secret that the whole of the Inner Sphere is acting to bring down the MDs ... and their creators."
 
Both the First Prince and future Archon frowned; they knew more but it was not Nina's place to look into clearly confidential information.
 
"Is there anything I can do?" Nina asked.
 
"Unfortunately yes." the Prince said somewhat ashamed, "we will need to involve you in politics again. The Exarch is expected to get to Tharkad soon. He expects a Davion representative ... and would like to meet with you as well."
 
"M-me!?"
 
"I don't know why." He admitted, "With him asking for you it made sense that Yvonne will represent us."
 
"Tharkad is as friendly territory as it can get for Davions." Melissa explained, "But the current situation is dangerous enough Simon," referring to the Lyran Spymaster, "And Mr. Allard will speak with you."
 
"That is if you agree to it." Hanse reasoned.
 
Both of them looked at her expectantly. She still had her choice; technically.
 
"...I am ready."
 
She was not.
----
===Every journey started with the first step===
NAIS Campus
New Avalon, Federated Suns
July 3027
Gundam was unlike any Battlemech she knew of. While others felt either like enlarged infantry or simply walking tanks Gundam gave a primal, an almost subdued savage air to him.
 
Somewhere in her heart she knew that HE knew.
 
"I'm leaving." she spoke to him, "The Command Circuit is in place. I'll be there in a week. Maybe less."
 
"..."
 
"I have to leave you here. You are too important for me to just take you everywhere I go."
 
"..."
 
"I-i'll be back." she whispered, "...I promise..."
 
She turned away and toward an awaiting van as Gundam's eyes bored into the back of her head.
 
With her bags latched to her wheelchair she rolled down the hallways of the NAIS. Ever since the Mobile Dolls began appearing not even the Capitals of the Successor Houses were safe. Only the constant vigilance of New Avalon's defenders, kept the Capitol of the Federated Suns free of Drone raids. But sabotage? For the NAIS they were used to spies and saboteurs trying to penetrate their security; trying to access or destroy their vital work.
 
"Ms. Keith." said a voice.
 
She stopped and turned to hear a familiar voice.
 
"Adept Jerry!"
 
"In the flesh." the Comstar member adjusted his glasses, "Somewhat."
 
"I'm happy to know you survived. I thought you were-"
 
"I thank you for your concern, Ms. Keith. Though Mr. Alec and I have made peace with our mortality decades ago."
 
The pirates were brazen. The Panpour HPG Station was struck and even now it was only operating on half capacity. Only by Guild and Davion stimulus of a vital FedSun industrial world kept the local economy from collapse.
 
"Why are you here?" She asked.
 
"To see if you are well." He explained, "Security here is tight enough that they would rather we hand deliver the mail rather than electronically wiring it. Fate would have it I was reassigned to New Avalon."
 
"Congratulations."
 
"On the contrary a downgrade. Too Davion for my tastes." He looked over and to the bag attached behind her, "On your way to Tharkad I presume?"
 
Nina paused, "How did you know?"
 
"Why I delivered it of course. They may not be the SDS, but the MDs are a threat to everyone, The Order included."
 
"So Comstar wants me to do it also..."
 
"...Ms. Keith?"
 
"Nothing."
 
"I disagree." Jerry frowned, "Much of the Inner Sphere's problems come from men imposing their choices on another."
 
"That's all human history."
 
"So it seems." The Adept admitted, "What is your goal in life, Ms. Keith?"
 
"I... I..."
 
"It's not always an answer that can be given with the snap of a finger. I reason there is no definitive answer. For you or anyone. Otherwise the First Lord, not the First Circuit would be sitting on Terra by now. I have doubts the Exarch is following some divine plan."
 
"..."
 
"Take your time, Ms. Keith. As long as you choose you are equal to any Primus, Successor Lord, or Khan in my eyes."
 
The Comstar Adept bade to leave and left Nina alone with her bags and Haro on her lap.
 
"...As long as I choose..." she muttered.
 
Every journey started with the first step. Or push of the wheels in her case.
 
"Today, Haro I'm going to choose to go to Tharkad and meet the Exarch." she declared, "What do you think, Haro?"
 
The Haro beeped.
 
For the first time in a long time, Nina allowed herself a small smile, "I thought so to."
 
She didn't know what was going to happen next. But today at least she wasn't letting herself be swept up in the waves. As she rolled up into the van though, one question still bounced around in her head: What was a Khan?
----
===Ambush on the star filled road to the Triad===
Aboard the Silver Eagle
Near Tharkad, Lyran Commonwealth Space
July 3027
The Silver Eagle was poised to finish it's return trip from New Avalon and back to Tharkad.
 
The Suivant-Lance, a Lance made of those upgraded Mercurius and Vayeate mechs remained the primary defenders of it's attached Jumpships. True to Guild partnerships and investments the New Avalon/Tharkad Command Circuit would be vital to FedCom and if it wasn't Guild mobile suits then the ASFs of the AFFS and LCAF would be willing to defend the route. Outside Guild Mobile Suits stood up on the hills watching for activity while FedSun Sparrowhawks and Sabres patrolled around them. It only took one workerpod or shuttle to ruin the day.
"Are you busy staring out into space?" Yvonne mused.
 
"There is nothing else to do, Mrs. Yvonne." She explained.
 
"We're only two jumps away. A year ago that meant weeks of travel. Now? It's short trip. Still there's plenty of time to work through your thoughts Nina. What's on your mind right now?"
 
"My future." She admitted, "After all THIS I don't know what to do. Jalastar wants me to work with them, picking up where my mother left off. I could stay at the NAIS and analyze the UC-DB."
 
"Saying this as women getting on in the years: cross the bridge when you get there Ms. Keith. Whoever says they know the future doesn't."
 
Finally the time for the jump came. Mechs and ASFs entered their hangers, passengers to their seats. The Silver Eagle and it's fellow AFFS and Guild Dropships braced as time and space unraveled.
 
The ship entered a new system, an empty system, left fallow by the Lyrans due to lack of habitat environments or resources to be worth investing in. For the Guild and local partners they made perfect pitstops. There was plenty of room for infrastructure. Repair yards, supply depots, charging and refueling stations as well. It also helped to deny it's use by pirates and criminals.
 
She expected to see it when they arrived back into real space.
 
Instead she saw wreckage. Dead men adrift. And the burning husks of ships leaking atmosphere.
 
Yvonne cursed and jumped to action almost immediately. The alarm was raised as ASFs and Mobile Suits scrambled out to action.
 
"Ms. Yvonne-"
 
"Stay." Her mentor ordered, "Please."
 
Nina saw her talking with her peers in the Guild and AFFS. An emergency jump was already underway. Without Junkertech the fastest charging time would be 16 hours if luck was with them. The Junkers could half that safely.
 
If they survived that long.
 
"Look!" One of the passengers shouted.
 
The man pointed out of the window. In the distance a dozen specks of light moved in synchronized formation: Mobile Dolls.
 
The Mercurius pilots imposed themselves in front of the Jumpship and their electromagnetic barrier flashed to life. The Vayeate Mechs formed a gunline as their generators spooled and hummed with power.
 
Haro beeped. The little robot falling off her lap and rolled away. It stopped midway down the hallway and turned to her.
 
Nina looked around her at soldiers and spacers preparing to defend their ship while the civilians were scrambling to put on emergency spacesuits.
 
She swallowed and gripped her wheelchair. As long as she chose.
 
While everyone else was distracted she made her way out of the passenger compartment and to the cargo hold. The Guild Zakos who had been animate keeping the Silver Eagle in shape were now working on a Battlemech somehow tucked in the back.
 
"Why are you here?" She asked.
 
Gundam, as always, never answered back. The only response she got was a post it note attached on it's leg:
 
You may need him - Alec
----
===Prelude to Battle===
Atop the Silver Eagle
Near Tharkad, Lyran Commonwealth Space
July 3027
Yvonne was not in her usual mech. Her current one was a Valkyrie, freshly built for the Mobile Suit era.
 
It was not a machine of any significance but in the hands of an elder warrior it could carve a bloody path.
 
Her mentor did not comment when Gundam stepped out of the airlock and stood beside her. But Nina believed she had her approval.
 
"I never finished the Mech Space Combat training." Nina grimaced.
 
"Neither did I." Yvonne muttered, "But the battlefield is the place for hard lessons."
 
Student and mentor braced as a veritable swarm of Balls and Oggos streamed toward them.
...then the shooting started.
----
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Chapter 23-1