FSRB Chpt 129

==The Federated Suns Reborn - Chapter 129==
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November 3069The Combine goes Dark
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===Large Scale Personal Transfers===
With the plans in place and approved by not only the Marshal of Armies but the First Prince as well the AFFS's Department of Education and the Quartermaster's Office goes into full operation. Large scale movements of both personnel and equipment begin to make sure that the new units to be formed will be ready, while large scale transfers take place to bring various units up to strength and at the same time the graduating cadets from the academies prepare to move to the training units.
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===Warning from Friends===
At the same time the Khan of Clan Sun Jaguar travels to New Avalon to meet the First Prince. Star Colonel Inamma of the 1st Fidelis Jaguar Mystics has informed her that she has been contacted by several close friends and sibmates within Clan Nova Cat - all of them carefully informing her that they wish her all the best in the upcoming trials that are sure to take place and hoping that they don't find themselves on opposite sides of said trials. The warning is clear - Clan Nova Cat believes that they will soon be engaged in active combat operations against the Federated Suns and their Sun Jaguar allies. When combined with intelligence reports of troop movements there is little down that the Dragon is stirring for war. Worse some reports are stating that Clan Snow Raven has sent emissaries to Luthien to discuss a potential alliance. While the Federated Suns Navy has a comfortable lead over to the Draconis Combine Admiralty, if the Nova Cat and Snow Raven fleets deploy en-mass then this could be swiftly overturned.
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===Urgent Redeployments===
The the naval units in the Draconis March and the 5th Corvette Flotilla in particular are swiftly ordered to a war footing. The Flotilla is ordered to deploy to dead systems near the Outworlds Alliance in case the Ravens attempt a preemptive strike. Meanwhile, the AFFS moves large numbers of aerospace wings and regiments along with combat dropship squadrons to all critical systems. Woodbine in particular see's no less than 3 aerospace regiments (mostly consisting of a mix of Stuka, Corsair, and Sparrowhawk class AeroSpace Fighters) shifted quickly to bolster the garrisoning 14th Avalon Hussars RCT along with 2 additional squadrons of combat dropships. The orders sent with these units are clear - they are to take every opportunity to bleed any Snow Raven naval invasion force in each system. While they are unlikely to destroy many ships the damage will swiftly mount up and with only the decrepit yards at Quatre Belle to rely on for repairs the Snow Ravens will hopefully have to break off their attack - leaving the Federated Suns warship fleet to then counterattack once the Combine has been dealt with.
After some discussion with Khan Nevversan in particular, the First Prince Davion approves the rushing of Star Colonel Inamma and her unit from their garrison post to the Combine border. Although reluctant he agrees to allow the Star Colonel to cross the border to meet with her former Clan and attempt to convince them not to take part in this invasion. Prince's Champion Ardan Sortek personally accompanies her at the First Prince's representative. In the meantime his role is filled by his nominated successor Galen Cox.
Although knowing that things are beginning to spiral out of control the First Prince does make a final effort to preserve the peace. He sends a personal message not only to the Coordinator but also to the Khan of the Snow Ravens, suggesting that war is in nobodies interests. Unknown to the other 2 recipients he also sends a third message with his Champion to be given to the Khans of the Nova Cats.
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===Developments in Industry===
On Menke the new SunCorp facilities declares their intent to add a Longbow Assault 'Mech production line to the plant there. This move proceeds to lead to a slight decrease in the amount of resentment from the former StarCorp employees of the plant. After all an increase in production facilities means more jobs, promotions and greater job security!
On newly conquered Victoria, the first of the rebuild production lines enters service. The lightest of the designs being put into service there, the Sling light Battlemech, saw it's production line go operational with the other lines not far behind.
GM's Point Barrow facility, the Blackjack-O line go online. After this construction has completed the facilities battle armor production lines are pushed for expansion at an ever increasing pace to keep up with demand.
Mujika-Wangker's plant on St. Ives finally finishes retooling to produce the Tomahawk class light aerospace fighter. These are offered for sale both to the AFFS and ComGuards, whom snapped them up instantly.
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===Atreus's Captain-General receives reinforcements for her Military Action===
Within the Free Worlds League, the Atreus Captain-General continued to prepare to counter attack against the Lyrans. She received a huge boost when the WOB offer her no less than 12 Zechetinu II class corvettes to help with the counter attack. Against the Federated Suns Navy these ships probably wouldn't be a major factor, but against the massively under strength Lyran Navy these ships give the Free Worlds Navy loyal to the Atreus Government a major boost in strength.
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===Raid in Dieron System===
Over Dieron, the WOB's first convoy carrying Battlemech's arrives - and is immediately ambushed at the zenith jump point by ComGuard naval ships. The escorting WoBS Herald of Retribution and 2 Suffren Class destroyers were attacked by CSV Blake's Strength, CSV Righteous Fury, and CSV Swift Justice and 4 Fox class corvettes. The Black Lion and 1 of the Comstar Aegis cruisers hammer volleys into the WOB Aegis cruiser while the other Comstar Aegis cruiser maneuvered to hold off the two Suffren destroyers. While the heavier warships fought it out the 4 Foxes and their escorting dropships & fighters closed with the jumpships and dropships carrying the equipment. Rather than attempting to capture them the ComGuards ships simply fired full broadsides into the transport dropships and jumpships to deny the equipment to the WOB and their allies.
With the destruction of the target the ComGuard's warships fell back and jumped out as quickly as they came. All 3 heavy ships had taken moderate damage and a number of dropships and fighters had been lost but all the ComGuard's warships jumped out. The Word of Blake ships had all taken heavy damage, with the WoBS Herald of Retribution almost an air bleeding wreck. The DCA warships on guard duty had little to no chance to engage the ComGuards ships - and given that they were unsure as the the current state of affairs between the Dragon and Comstar were unlikely to have done so even if they had the opportunity. More worrying even than the loss of the convoy for the WOB was the fact that the detailed shipping plan had clearly been leaked to Comstar - they had known the dates, times and jump point the convoy was intending to use... Worse Hohiro Kurita who was still on Terra informed them that since the shipment had never been received by the DCMS they would be expected to make up the losses...
===In the Cover of Darkness===
Following this battle, the various ComGuards units and personnel within the Combine began to evacuate. Shutting down HPGs and sabotaging them as they went. Slowly at first but with growing rapidity entire sectors of the Draconis Combine suffered communication blackouts as the WOB rushed into the realm to take over the HPG network. Often then having to send for replacement parts for the sabotaged generators. A number of brief and brutal firefights erupted between ComGuard troops evacuating the planets and either DCMS forces attempting to prevent them shutting down the HPG or WOB forces rushing in... Most of the Dieron District and large chunks of the Benjamin District remained online, but the Galedon and Pesht Districts both suffered major communication disruption.
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