MBMSFS Chpt I5

==Manufacturing a Blueprint for a More Stable Federated Suns‎‎ - Interlude: Happenings Behind the Scenes Pt. 3 - ==
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===Waiting for change of occupation===
[Agent Paper]
[Enroute to Tharkad]
Summer System; Lyran Commonwealth
[October 28th, 3027]
It was a novel thing to use the same cover identity twice in a row, a rarity in their line of work, but since all signs pointed to their cover remaining intact that meant that Paper, Rock, and Scissors were able to keep their covers as freelance Jumpship crewmembers and travel across the Inner Sphere without so much as a second glance from most of the intelligence agencies. Jumpships were the lifeblood of the Inner Sphere, and the crews that were willing to staff them were almost as sacred as the vessels themselves; only pirates and other sorts of brigands didn't care about such things, but for those that did harass the crews of the Jumpships was normally a quick way to have word spread.
 
Unless you made sure that the crew was silenced permanently. However, as Jumpships were almost as dynastic and family-based as the Great Houses were- with multiple families scrimping and saving to purchase the next Jumpship for their family's fleet- even if you killed all of the crewmembers eventually someone would come across a Jumpship that had long since gone dark and realize that the people crewing it weren't the ones who owned the vessel. After that? Word spread as fast as Jumpships could travel.
 
Unfortunately for Paper's cover, he had a medical check-up on New Avalon that delivered to him the unfortunate news of his impotency; a short but nasty exposure to an improperly shielded communication array rendered his swimmers dead in the water. His 'wife' had been so torn up about it that she filed for a quick, but nasty divorce that left him with his finances intact, but without the woman he'd so happily spent the last three years of his life with. She had really wanted to have children of her own someday, naturally, and his inability to give her those children she so desperately craved meant that cut sling-load on him the moment she could.
 
It was shallow, but people divorced all of the time in the Inner Sphere for far more banal reasons, and it gave him the perfect cover to be distant and moody compared to his 'half-brother' who was played by Agent Scissors. Agent Rock, true to her cover, played the role of Scissor's wife, and they made for an interesting but not too interesting trio of Freelance Spacers; they stayed in their lane and kept to their small sphere when compared to the rest of the tight-knit family crews of the Jumpships they traveled with toward Tharkad to deliver their latest message along with the more important 'package' that the First Prince entrusted to them.
 
Agent Paper was in charge of this operation, and he had to admit that while it was freeing to be the Lead Agent for once, Agent Game's experience and natural skill, when it came to running clandestine missions, had been a rather nice safety blanket. 
 
Though playing messenger was hardly one of the most difficult tasks.
 
Helm? That, however, had been a career capper, one that would be a very nice feather in his cap when it came time for him to ascend the ranks of MIIO.
 
Lounging in one of the break rooms not on the grav deck, as Paper's cover preferred his solitude after his divorce, the red-haired man was strapped to a well-worn chair with a safety belt around his lap while a water packet floated in front of his face- the stem clenched between his teeth. The door to the break room hissed slightly as it swung open, and he caught sight of the smiling face of Agent Rock, the brunette's mousey appearance allowing her to fit right in amongst the many other faces on the crew. 
 
As she shut the door slightly the woman spoke, "Andy, it's your turn on the sensors. After that the Boss wants you to take a look at the Life Support on Deck 3."
 
"Again?" He grunted plaintively as he unbuckled himself from his seat and began drifting toward her, "I looked at it once already and told him he just needed to get the filters exchanged if he didn't want the smell. That and an Atmo Exchange wouldn't hurt either."
 
All space-faring vessels carried tanks that held purified air that would be used to restore pressure to the entire vessel in case there was a hull breach. Most Jumpships would connect with Dropships at certain Jump Points and board so that they could cycle their supplies from one of the local garden worlds. This was usually done once a quarter, but the Captain of this particular vessel hadn't done that in over a year, hence the slightly industrial tang in the air. Given the somewhat rattier-than-usual state of disrepair this ship was in the Captain had decided to cut back on some of the quality-of-life niceties in exchange for more important repair expenditures.
 
Rock playfully rolled her eyes before shaking her head, "He's hoping that you can jury-rig a solution that would last him the rest of the quarter before he has to bring it in for the ten-year service at Ioto."
 
"Well, I am many things, but a miracle worker isn't one of them," He drifted past her and pulled the pressure door open, "And anyone who says they can is lying. A new filter, a proper service, and an Atmo Exchange are the only ways he's going to not make it smell like musty socks."
 
"Well, you tell him that, honey. I for one am going to enjoy my break. The latest issue of 'Courtly Trends' has just been downloaded and I can't wait to see what is 'In' this year for the Capellan Court's Winter Fashion scene!"
 
He scoffed wordlessly as he sealed the bulkhead behind him and drifted his way toward the bridge of the Merchant class Jumpship; the Sensor station needed to be manned at all times, but the Life Support system could wait.
 
Though halfway to the command bridge he cursed and changed his priorities, instead using one of the hard-lined phones to notify the bridge crew on duty to have someone cover for him while he checked on the Life Support once more. Skimping on checks for critical components like that ended up with people dead, and since he was on board the ship as well it behooved him to be as meticulous as possible; even if nothing had changed since he last looked at it four days ago, that doesn't mean that something couldn't have gotten fucked up in that time. 
 
Truly, he couldn't wait for this tub to get to Skye so he and his team could take the Command Line that was waiting for them to Tharkad; whatever package the First Prince wished to hand off to the Archon was something that needed to be handled quickly and discreetly.
 
However, he was well and truly done with playing the part of a Jumpship crewman.
----
===Gathering of Attendies===
====Volunteering for Representation====
[Aleksandr McCorkendale]
[Galax, Federated Suns]
[October 17th, 3027]
 
Three shots of espresso and two cigarettes later, Duke Aleksandr McCorkendale of Galax was feeling far more awake, the man looming over the conference room table as he stared at Doctor Gerald Beauford, who was one of Federated-Boeing's Senior Aerospace engineers. Gerald was an old friend of Aleksandr's and in his personal opinion, the sole reason why Federated-Boeing's sole Jumpship orbital yard was still up and operational, "And Mister Corean is calling for an 'All Hands' meeting of the manufacturing giants?"
 
Off to Aleksandr's left Oleg Fumizuki sniffed, the man stroking at his mustache, "The nerve of that young man. To think that he can just snap his fingers and we'll all come running."
 
"Indeed," Ibrahim Muhammed, Federated-Boeing's Head of Finance scoffed, "I would have thought his father would have taught him some manners."
 
"Gentlemen, please," The rotund Senior engineer raised a kerchief to his forehead and dabbed at the sweat on his brow as he gave the Board a disarming smile, "Arthur Corean is indeed young, but he has a mind so bright that I don't think I've ever encountered anyone more brilliant. It was he who created the Andosteel samples that I brought back with me, and it was he who created the three aircraft designs we were not too long ago singing the praises of."
 
"We said that they were well designed, but lacking their final payloads their designs are just that- designs," Gustaf Heinrich, the Chief Engineer, replied as he shook his head, "Besides, I'm fairly certain I remember you telling us that he had a great deal of help in creating them- you and your team were what put him on the right track."
 
"True enough, but-" Doctor Beauford nodded, "-but, he has no previous background in aerospace engineering, Mister Heinrich. All of his knowledge came from what he picked up while perusing some aerospace engineering textbooks, and he's sent me a few personal messages to tell me that he has been enjoying his time in the Aerospace Engineering courses at NAIS. He has more Doctoral certifications than any four of our Senior Engineering employees combined, and he has the intellect to seamlessly integrate them all together. When you called me to discuss Arthur Corean as the Federated-Boeing employee with the most experience being around him... it is my recommendation that we attend and see what he has to say."
 
Aleksandr hummed, drawing the attention of the rest of the board back to him, "And you genuinely believe that?"
 
"I believe that if we do not engage with Mister Corean now... then in a decade's time we'll find ourselves directly competing against him in all realms of the markets we once held supremacy in." Doctor Gerald Beauford gave him a guileless smile as he pulled his glasses off of his face and began to clean them with a cloth before slipping them back on his nose, "And I'm not certain that we will have the ability to win; he's just that good. A mind like a steel trap, a keen sense of business, and the willpower and focus to see through important projects to the very end. A most lethal combination in our sphere."
 
The CEO of Federated-Boeing and the Duke of Galax nodded, "Well then, say no more, Gerald. I trust that you'd be more than happy to be our representative at this conference?"
 
The good Doctor clapped his hands once, "I would be delighted, Mister McCorkendale."
----
====Informal CEO Meeting====
[Rodina Archernar]
[New Avalon, Federated Suns]
[October 17th, 3027]
Countess Rodina Archernar smiled as she sipped at her evening tea, the woman now trying to relax as she was now divested of her formal 'business dress' and safely cocooned in her flannel pajamas, "So how goes the redesigns the First Prince asked for?"
 
The woman had been rather giddy when the First Prince himself swung by her offices and had a wonderful brunch with her and her senior-level employees. They discussed the possibility of 'revamping' their venerable Enforcer Battlemech with some new weapons systems that their neighbor on the other side of the city came up with; how shocking it was to learn that young Arthur Corean was already starting to put out new products despite having barely taken over the reigns. 
 
Even though she was a happily married woman there was no denying that the Fox's rakish grin had this delightful way of making her belly tingle, and that he was discussing one of Archernar's pride and joys just made it all the more fun; it hadn't felt like a working meal at all!
 
"The design team believes that they have come up with a suitable refit that can function without having to modify the Enforcer-4R's existing line, My Lady."
 
Selena Arrapado, a choice little woman with sun-kissed tanned skin who had a penchant for men's business dress, was her right-hand woman, and while stern and professional she had this cute side to her when Rodina teased her.
 
Rodina had been trying to get Selena to marry her son, Randal, for years now, if only because the Countess believed that her Secretary had the moxy needed to become the next CEO of Archernar. While Randal had little love for the family business, he had taken to managing their family's lands with aplomb, and with Selena taking the Archernar name then Rodina would feel much more confident in the safety of her holdings whenever it came time for the Good Lord to take her from this earthly realm.
 
Stephan, her youngest son, was a fine lad, but he was a hothead who rarely ever thought about the consequences of his actions. While there was certainly a niche for such risk-takers in any venture... she did not wish to see him at the helm of Archernar Battlemechs. Only greatness or ruin would follow with him as the CEO, and what Archernar needed at this time was further stability with a fresh young perspective to keep innovating in small ways.
 
Selena slid a noteputer across the coffee table for Rodina to pick up, and the older woman gave her a faux scoff, "Please, Selena. Call me 'Mother'. Don't think I haven't noticed you and Randal slipping off to that cute little coffee shop whenever you both have some free time."
 
Tanned cheeks grew dark as the Right Hand of Rodina Archernar averted her gaze, "I have only opened myself to the possibility of seeing Randal because you have insisted..."
 
However, her eyes slipped down to seemingly admire the grain of the hardwood table, and Rodina tutted, "Now, now. You being an orphan has nothing to do with this, Selena. You truly shouldn't concern yourself with the nattering of the knaves; I have approved of you and Randal, and that's all of the approval you need. Besides, I haven't seen Randal smile this much since Reiner passed away three years ago, so it's obvious that you have been very good for him."
 
Her late husband's unexpected heart attack had caught them all by surprise- the man had been as fit as a fiddle and strong as an ox- even at fifty-one years of age, he had been able to deadlift a Small Laser. As healthy as can be but still laid low; it had been a tragedy that shook the family greatly. However, the people of their County and the employees of Archernar needed their leadership strong, so they grieved as best they could, stiffened their upper lips, and put themselves back to work to show the people who depended on them that they were still in good hands.
 
Moping never solved anything, and once the tears were spilled it was time to dry one's eyes and get back to business. She even managed to find love once more, a rarity for women north of 50, even within the nobility.
 
When the young woman's lips tilted up into a smile Rodina nodded; she needed more confidence in herself- she was stunning and intelligent! No one like her should go through her life with her eyes downcast and voice demure!
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Enforcer, ENF-4X
Remove: 17.5t
- A/C-10 12t
- Large Laser 5t
- Small Laser 0.5t
 
Add: 17.5t
-LiteMetal A/C-10 8t (1 Heat)
-1x Blue-Lite Large Laser 4t (8 Heat)
-1x Red-Lite Small Laser 0.25t (1 Heat)
-1x Buzzsaw LMG Pod 0.25t
-1x Single Heatsink 1.0t
-1x Jump Jet 0.5t
-1.0t of Ammunition
-1.0t Prototype CASE
-1.5t of Armor (1.0t to front and arms, 0.5t to rear)
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"To think that Henry's boy would be able to come up with such things," Rodina sniffed playfully as she held the noteputer with one hand and sipped at her tea with the other, "Why, with these weapons alone this solves most of the problems that we've had with the Enforcer. Better range, more ammunition, a CASE to protect it, an additional heatsink, and another jump jet!"
 
"And an additional ton and a half of armor, My Lady," Hazel eyes danced in the waning light of the New Avalon sun.
 
"I approve of these improvements. Though I'm tempted to see that ton shifted to the rear armor... yes. Have them allocate that ton of armor to the rear side and center torsos and put the remainder on the arms and right torso to protect the new weapons and ammunition better," Rodina's tea cup clinked lightly against the saucer as she sat it down, "I'd like for the foes of the Federated Suns to try and target these Enforcer's from the rear and expect an easy kill!"
 
The thin rear armor had always been a bane for the Enforcer line, but stripping out the Small Laser in favor of a half-ton of armor didn't lead to any appreciable improvements in performance. Of course, this was also attempted at the same time as the engineers tried to shift the Federated Autocannon's ten-round cassette magazine over to the left torso, which necessitated a complex ammunition feed system that routed the rounds along the still thin back armor. Hardly a 'winning' move. Thankfully that never got fully off the ground.
 
"The engineers are leery about utilizing Corean's proposal, My Lady." Selena winced slightly.
 
Rodina shook her head, "Tell them they can take their fears and shove them where the sun doesn't shine. The twenty-round rotary magazine system that Arthur's people have provided for us are bulletproof, the Prince has assured me that the AFFS has already been putting them through its paces. That it will be protected by CASE but still accessible for quick rear-entry loading is more than good enough for me."
 
The Countess ran the tip of her finger around the rim of the teacup, "That is unless they have a better idea?"
 
"Mhmm... no." The raven black tresses that frame the younger woman's face swung as she shook her head.
 
"Then it's settled. Done and done. Henry's boy, God rest his soul, is someone that the First Prince has lauded as one of the brightest minds the Federated Suns has seen since its founding. No easy feat to be certain, but if Hanse Davion is convinced then so am I," Rodina's lips pulled into a smile as she remembered the sheer passion with which their ruler spoke of his friend's brilliance, "Besides, it doesn't cost Archernar Battlemechs anything to do. If Arthur Corean's technology doesn't perform as well as it should, then we cannot be held liable for an experimental refit at the behest of the AFFS and the First Prince. Corean Enterprises will bear the sole blame for whatever cock-up happens."
 
"As you say, My Lady," Selena nodded stoically, and Rodina had to resist the temptation to reach over the table and toy with her cheeks.
 
The Countess rubbed her hands together, "Now then, what is next on the agenda before I turn in for the evening?"
 
"Arthur Corean has extended an invitation for Archernar to participate in a closed-doors 'summit'," The woman reached into her black suit jacket and produced a simple envelope before handing it over to Rodina.
 
Rodina hummed as she ran her fingers along the envelope and then pulled out the invitation itself. It was rather plain with little embellishments outside of House Corean's Coat of Arms and Corean Enterprises' logo in the top and left-hand corners respectively, but the cardstock was of the highest quality, and the invitation appeared to be handwritten in elegant, flowing script, "It seems that while Arthur Corean does indeed eschew certain luxuries and pomp he still has fine tastes; spartan but not unserviceable. He must have used a McCarverson pen and ink to get these lines as fine as he did. Superb penmanship."
 
The woman did not know, however, that Arthur had tinkered in his spare time with an industrial waldo and written a program copy to his handwriting; it even introduced some random variables here and there to prevent the letters of the script from being too similar. 
 
"December 15th?" She asked no one in particular as she tilted her head to the side, "If he's set the date so far away that means that we're far from the only people he's inviting to this little soiree."
 
"Add this to my schedule if you would please, Selena; I will attend personally," Rodina Achernar nodded as she folded the invitation back up and slipped it into the envelope, "I had been curious to meet Arthur Corean for myself when he rose up to replace his father, but the man seems to have an allergy to social gatherings. I had been worried that the boy thought he didn't need the help of his peers, that he- and by extension Corean Enterprises- could 'go it alone'. I'm pleased to see that the boy does indeed have some sense after all. Now, tell me what the egg heads have cooking up for the Prince's competition, hmm? I am expecting good things!"
 
"Well, My Lady, as you may know, the competition is for a pair of 40-ton Battlemechs that are simple, rugged, and easy to maintain-"
----
====Business and Pleasure====
[Henrietta Ursala]
[Delavan, Federated Suns]
[October 17th, 3027]
"This sounds quite interesting," Duchess Henrietta Ursala smiled as she swirled the wine in her glass around, the woman looking over at her Husband and Mistress as they lounged side-by-side on a sloped lounge chair by the fireplace in her estate's home office, "What say you, Xuelan? Ken-kun?"
 
It had been quite the scandal when she scooped up a man and woman ten years her junior. They were a Baron and a Dame from the neighboring system of Odell, a pair of lovers liaising in secret because of the Baron's potentially arranged Marriage to a neighboring Baroness. When Henrietta stumbled upon them at a rather high-profile gathering, perhaps with one too many glasses of wine in her system, she couldn't stop herself from joining in on the fun. After their rendevous, the Duchess had floated the idea of taking the pair of them for herself, to use her status as a shield, which they readily agreed; despite having been thinking with her nethers all of those years ago she couldn't bring herself to feel too broken up about it. She knew full well that she would always be second in his heart, but that meant there was still plenty for her as well; better to pick her husband rather than let someone else pick for her.
 
That Henrietta's Grandmother almost had a heart attack when she heard the news of her betrothal was just the icing on top of the cake.
 
Dame Xulean McCaffery was a Mechwarrior of some repute within the AFFS, while Kentaro- or Ken-kun as she liked to call him when they were alone- Rostonova was an administrative genius who turned his father's barely functional lands into something that all of Odell envied. 
 
Xuelan now commanded her Ducal Guard admirably while Ken-kun administrated her lands with a deft hand, leaving her to wholly focus her mind on her family's company- Universal Air. Given the sensitive and complex nature of orbital manufacturing, she needed to give it her full attention at all times lest some unsavory elements attempt to penetrate it and steal her family's secrets.
 
The pair stopped feeding each other grapes in an overly romantic fashion, something that amused Henrietta to no end; they were almost forty, and yet it was as though they were a pair of amorous teenagers! 
 
"Corean Enterprises has sent out a tentative catalog of new weapons systems that they have begun full production on," Xuelan the Mechwarrior had come out to play, "I don't think I need to say that Ducal Guard and Militias could benefit greatly from those weapon systems alone. We need to secure a contract, Love."
 
"That is if these weapons are all he claims them to be," Ken-kun scoffed lightly as he rolled off of the side of the lounge and tossed another log into the fireplace before stoking it.
 
"The AFFS seems to be convinced of their quality if the First Prince's near monopoly of their purchases is anything to go by," Xuelan crossed her arms underneath her still pert breasts as she shook her head, her straw blonde hair coming undone from the loose bun she kept it up in, "A half-ton Medium Laser, Ken. If we just switched to those alone we could free up tonnage in our 'Mechs and vehicles for more armor and heatsinks. More ammunition too."
 
"What? You want a larger munitions budget too?" Ken huffed with a laugh as he put the poker back on the stand and turned to regard his lover with his fists on his hips, "You might as well as for another Company of Battlemechs while you're at it, Xuelan."
 
"We could offset the costs by selling half of the Medium Lasers we pull off," The Mechwarrior and Commanding General of the Delavan Ducal Guard sniffed, "Martell is a fine brand; if we put those up for sale someone will buy them."
 
Kentaro turned his attention to Henrietta with that look in his eyes that still made her nethers moist to this day, "I would be much happier to see Corean open up a plant here on Delavan to supply our needs directly. Even if their New Avalon plant is only a single jump away, not having to pay the shipping fees would be very nice; we have plenty of raw materials that we could use to feed the plant. We could entice him with a low tax bracket- say 20%. That should be more than enough to get him to open up a branch here for Corean's munitions and weaponry."
 
Xuelan sniffed, "I don't know. I want their weapons, but I have a feeling that this might be a bit bigger than what we think it might be. They've begun a complete redesign of their facilities on New Avalon- spending beaucoup Pounds on brand new buildings. While I don't have any official figures, and won't until the company's public financial briefings, I'm guessing it's easily north of £15 Billion."
 
"And here I thought crunching numbers was my job," Kentaro chuckled as he swooped around the desk to bend over and plant a kiss on Henrietta's lips, much to her delight.
 
"Oh, I don't know, I like it a lot when you both do the things you do~," The Duchess reached up and pulled him back down for another kiss, though this one was more chaste, "Even if it's a little unorthodox."
 
"Well, then why don't we pencil it into your schedule to attend?" Her Ken-kun gave her a sultry smile, "And then we can retire for the evening for a little unorthodox fun?"
----
====Dealing with Upstarts and Disgruntled Relatives====
[Elanore Wright]
[Kathil III, Kathil System, Federated Suns]
[October 17th, 3027]
While it was practically unanimous among those who were invited, as it barely cost them a thing to see what the young CEO of Corean Enterprises wished to discuss, it was not all well.
 
"Absolutely not."
 
Elanore Wright was the mother-in-law of the previous CEO, Martin Cobb, and when he passed away the duty of leading the company fell to her as her granddaughter, Kitty, was still in her swaddling. For the last twenty-two years she held the helm, steady as she goes, and while she had always held a calm mind and demeanor for some strange reason Arthur Corean had always managed to get under her skin the few times they met in the past.
 
"Grandmother-" Kitty began, the dark-skinned young woman of Nubian descent, retied her kerchief over her waterfall of braids.
 
"No. I refuse. I will not sit there idly while that boy makes a mockery of me and General Motors," Coal black eyes were dismissive of her granddaughter.
 
"Grandmother, please-"
 
"I should have known that the spawn of Henry Corean would do nothing but give me ulcers-"
 
"Miss Wright," A man in a finely pressed business suit tugged at his necktie in discomfort, "I don't think that snubbing this invitation will look well for General Motors, not when our competitors are likely to attend."
 
"Yes, Grandmother, please, listen to Mister Hawkins."
 
"You would have me sit in the same room as that boy? Even after he went around us and purchased the Marauder license from Gibson?" Weathered dark features scrunched up in abject surprise, "Do you not know what he said to me the first day we met? He said that the 'Marauder was the greatest Battlemech ever created'."
 
While Mister Hawkins looked like he was about to get up and leave the office, the man likely having heard this tale a hundred times before, and Kitty simply smiled brittly as her Grandmother once more told the tale with venom leaking from his lips with every word.
 
"And then? Then he asked if he could one day purchase the rights to manufacture the machine so that he could 'make it better'!" The old woman hissed, "General Motors pride and joy, reduced to something that one young man believed that he alone could improve upon when our best and brightest could not! The termity! The gall on that boy! No! I won't have it! To hell with Henry Corean and the spawn he beget upon the Inner Sphere- General Motors won't do any business with Corean Enterprises, not while he is at the helm! Not if I have anything to say about it!"
 
Seeing that they would make no further headway, Mister Hawkins and Kitty Cobb quietly left the office to let Elanore Wright stew.
 
"I will call the Board," Mister Hawkins adjusted his glasses, "We'll hold a vote next Friday."
 
"I agree," The young woman felt her heart flutter within her chest at what was to come.
 
"Are you certain you wish to step in? You've only just left school..."
 
"Yes, I am certain," Kitty nodded her head as the pair strode down the long hallway, "I love my Grandmother dearly, as does everyone at General Motors. She held us together during the turbulent times following the deaths of my parents, but now it is time for me to 'step up to the plate' as it were... and chart a new course for our company."
 
Their corporate spies hadn't had nearly enough time to compile a list of who would be attending this little gathering of industrial giants, but Kitty had a feeling that the breakneck pace at which Corean Enterprises was restructuring and expanding there was something there- something her Grandmother didn't want to acknowledge. 
 
Kitty firmly believed that if General Motors didn't have a hand on the wheel when the bus left the station then they might very well get left behind.
 
----
===Organizing a Conference===
[Aisha Montague]
[Oriana City, Capital of the Aguilar Continent]
[Augusta IV, Augusta System, Federated Suns]
[October 31st, 3027]
 
"Thank you all for convening with me on such short notice," Yeathers Corean's gentle voice carried over the hushed whispers that filled the meeting hall where the Heads of the 43 Families were all seated, "I know that this is rather abrupt, but my dearest brother has brought to my attention that there will be a number of radical shifts in how we will be conducting business going forward. Ones that both he and I believe will be for the benefit of all involved here."
"Please, no need for such kind words," Muhammed bin Moreaux shook his head slightly as he tugged at the keffiyeh on his head to ensure that it was settled properly on his shoulders, "The Corean family has long since been the patrons of our enclave; when you call, we answer. That is the long and short of it."
 
Aisha Montague nodded her head in assent as the various heads of the 43 Families or their proxies agreed with Mister Moreaux's sentiments.
 
Corean Shipping was the logistical arm of the Corean family, a wholly private corporation unlike Corean Enterprises, solely owned by the seated Count or Countess of House Corean. The 173 Jumpships and 289 Dropships that Corean Shipping owned were operated by the 43 families in attendance at the pleasure of House Corean, and thanks to the generous pay, lands for their family complexes, and the generous percentage of profits from freelance shipping, the 43 families had a fierce loyalty toward House Corean.
 
How could they not when their ancestors were once lowly Dropship and Jumpship crewmembers who had been graced with the opportunity to run their own Dropships and Jumpships?
 
Aisha felt her lips pull up into a warm smile as Yeathers, a young girl that she had watched grow up into the stunning beauty she was today, flushed at the loyalty of her family's faithful retainers on display.
 
"Be that as it may, my brother has informed me of a great many things," The young woman began slowly, "A great many things that will lead to a better and brighter future for us all."
 
"However, everything that I am disclosing to you is not known to Inner Sphere at large, and he trusts in your discretion," The Countess' cool blue eyes slid over them each in turn as her voice turned frosty, "Seeing as only a small handful in the upper echelons of Corean know of these plans in full, the largest chance of there being any leaks will be from here. So please, do not let it be our lips that sink any proverbial ships."
 
Ophelia Kumodate tapped her weathered fingers on the table to gather everyone's attention to her, "We will be more than discreet, dearie. Until such time that young Arthur feels the time is right, we will all take what is spoken here with us to our graves."
 
The Kumodate Clan were the newest to join the ranks of the Enclave, a once large and powerful shipping magnate within Combine space, they ran afoul of the Snake's Yakuza lapdogs and paid the price; of their thirty Jumpship fleet, only seven managed to escape to the Federated Suns intact where they found safe harbor with House Corean. While they had only been within their ranks for two generations, the fact that most of their families that hadn't escaped were put to the sword and their vessels handed off to their bitter rivals meant that the chances of them being the source of any leak would be slim to none.
 
"Your assurances truly warm my heart. Now onto why I have called you all here," The red-head slid a hand through her hair as she activated the holotank in the center of the conference room's large table, bringing up a wireframe of the Augusta system, particularly of Augusta IV, "My dear brother has it on good authority that the orbital facilities that Corean Enterprises has in orbit above us will one day soon be restored to their full operational capacity. The same can be said for those above New Avalon."
 
Aisha felt her eyebrows shoot to her hairline and the hushed murmurs of excitement that suddenly flooded the room.
 
Yeathers Corean nodded, "Mhmmm... I am certain that everyone here has a very good idea as to what might be coming back online soon."
 
Endosteel was the only proper conclusion, a vital product that had stopped being produced at the tail end of the 2nd Succession War as they lost the capacity to maintain the orbital foundries.
 
"Additionally, he plans to start dialogues with Federated-Boeing and Universal Air with the intent of opening not one, not two, but three new Jumpship yards. One over New Avalon, the second within the Petrolia System for his new Duchy, and the third... as I am sure you have surmised, here in the Augusta system," The hushed whispers had grown to almost a dull roar as the various families turned and immediately began theorizing the possibilities. 
 
In the meanwhile, the holotank shifted its focus to Augusta V, a mineral-rich world that sat just outside of the Augusta system's habitable zone. It was certainly a wealthy world given its small population, primarily operated by various local mining concerns, "Augusta V will be where our local shipyard will be located given its generous reserves of Germanium. My brother wishes for me to fund a few more exploratory expeditions to more thoroughly survey the world to see if there aren't more Germanium veins that we can exploit to supply Petrolia's future consumption."
 
The system map was replaced by a bulletized list, "Our shipyard will have its primary customer be ourselves. New Avalon's shipyard will cater solely to the AFFS and its needs, and Petrolia's shipyard will handle everyone else. As for the reasons this is all being brought up it is because my brother plans to delve heavily into research to create newer, more efficient Jumpship designs once he has finished his schooling in the necessary areas of study."
 
Aisha felt a small chuckle leave her lips as she leaned forward, "Has your little brother decided to go back to school again, Yeathers?"
 
"While simultaneously running Corean Enterprises and establishing his new Duchy, yes, he has, Miss Montague."
 
"Well, the young man has never dreamed of small things, that is for certain," A raspy voice a few seats to Aisha's right spoke out, Lester Killington's drawl was unmistakable, "If there is anyone who can make it happen then it's that boy. Smarter than a whip on a Kuritan labor convict's back, he is!"
 
She was surprised that the old coot was still alive despite his smoking habit- the man was old enough to be her father, and she was enjoying her retirement by changing the diapers on her great-grandchildren! Yet at one hundred and seventeen years old the Killington man was still going strong... even if he had to get around with the assistance of a motorized scooter.
 
Arthur Corean was a great many things to many people. For those of the Conclaves, he was both a hero and a bane; the families that had enjoyed working the FWL trade routes for centuries were more than a little frustrated to have to sell their holdings and leave, but ultimately Aisha and the others thought it was for the best. There was plenty of land for them to build new homes on Augusta, and given that Janos Marik revealed his true colors with his hamfisted assassination attempt on Arthur that quickly silenced the dissenters; if merely not wishing to do business was enough to warrant such a drastic action, then what might have happened if they hadn't heeded their scion's words and returned post-haste?
 
Yet for those like Aisha, the young boy had been an inspiration and an example of good things to come- a child of exceptional brilliance, focus, and dedication to the Corean family and all of those who supported it. 
 
A young man worth aspiring to be.
 
"Please keep in mind that these plans are a decade or more into the future, but it behooves us to start laying the foundations now," Yeathers Corean looked around the room, "That means further training and education for our children and grandchildren. That means picking up choice drifters and freelancers to tie them into our families. Even if he cannot create a brand-new design in the timeframe he wishes, then at the very least we will be seeing new Invaders and Star Lords for our people to crew and make their own. Which brings me to our next topic of discussion-"
 
The hologram shifted to show a breakdown of the Dropships and Jumpships as owned by each family, "My brother has posited the idea to me, and I am in firm agreement with this, that the decades and centuries of loyal service to House Corean should be richly rewarded. His plan to see this come to pass is thus: All new Jumpships and Dropships that are to be allocated to the Enclave are going to have a clause attached to them. For each year of service, the family operating that vessel will gain a 1% share of its ownership, up to a maximum of 49%."
 
That sent the younger amongst their number to their feet, and Aisha felt herself smile broadly as she reached to her left and right and grabbed hands.
 
It always felt good to have faith and loyalty rewarded.
 
"Of this, each family with the new ship will instead sign a ten-year contract, of which a certain percentage of days equivalent to their stake in the vessel, will be permitted to seek out their family's personal trading endeavors," The young woman ran a hand through her fiery red hair, "While it might not be you who gets to pick up one of those choice Lyran circuits, it very well be your children or children's children who get to spend some time plying the trade on the more lucrative lanes."
 
The old woman looked around to see the eldest of their number smiling broadly while nodding whenever their eyes met. While most would be interested in their personal benefit, Spacers and their families were of a different sort; everything was for the family. Out there in the cold dark void, it was only your family that you could truly rely on to see each other through each Jump or Drop.
 
And Aisha was glad to be a part of the larger Corean family.
 
Besides, with a brand new Jumpship on the way, it was now time for her oldest grandson, Wilber, to get up off the pot and find himself a wife; his children just might get to grow up slinging themselves up and down the halls of their very own Star Lord!
 
"Guess I'll have to give up smoking if I want to live to see it then," Lester Killington let out a wheezing drawl, "My sight is already starting to fail me now, but as long as someone paints for me a pretty picture as the first new Jumper slides out of its berthings I think I can be satisfied with that! Ehehehehe!"
 
Yes, Aisha Montague was more than happy to be a part of the Corean family; she wouldn't have it any other way.
----
===Missed Oppurtunity, Alternate Plans are Needed===
[Julian Tiepolo]
[Hilton Head Island, North America Continent]
[Terra, Sol System - Former Terran Hegemony]
[October 31st, 3027]
"Alright then, give it to me straight, Tojo."
 
"It appears that Arthur Corean has found someone," A holo still on the tank switched to an image of Athur Corean holding hands with a woman dressed as a Secretary.
 
Julian cursed. 
 
It appears as though seduction and then assassination was off the table.
 
"I suppose plain ole assassination will have to do." The Primus of ComStar nodded, "Put a team of your best on it, Tojo. I'm authorizing Tornado deployment. Wait for him to return to his Duchy- that's when he'll be at his most vulnerable. Who do we have on Petrolia's HPG?"
 
"That would be..." Precentor ROM's voice trailed off for a moment as he typed away at the terminal in his office, "Victoria Sutherland. The daughter of a minor noble from Sylvester."
 
"Since it is a Class B station I doubt that she's been read in?" 
 
'Read in on the true depths of ComStar and their most holy mission' was left unsaid.
 
Tojo Jarlath shook his head, "No, she has not. However, Precentor New Avalon notes in her profile that she is a true believer in Blessed Blake's word. He believes that if massaged properly she could be brought into the fold."
 
Julian sucked at his teeth as he considered the options for a few moments before shaking his head, "No. The fewer jaws left the flap about this the better. Keep her in the dark unless she has a need to know. I'll trust you to handle the particulars, Tojo; nobody does wet work like you do."
 
The aging Precentor ROM smiled softly, the man genuinely touched, "Thank you, Julian." 
 
The Primus smiled in return- good throat-slitters were always so hard to find.
 
"Alright, on to our next order of business. What happened to the Star League cache on Helm? Why did it blow the fuck up?"
 
Tojo winced, "Given the pirate raid on Helm and the destruction of its Class B-"
 
Julian grimaced. Repairing an HPG was one thing, but wholesale replacing one? That was a painful expense, one that ComStar could easily absorb, but every C-Bill not spent pitting the Houses against one another was loss for all mankind.
 
"- he was set back more than a few months in his search. According to his report, one of his surveillance drone operators had decided to follow a group of backpackers as they traversed the wilderness of Helm on a lark. Given the fact that the operator was slacking off the man decided to conceal the footage from the drone deep within the servers of the facility. It was only when the new staff and construction crews from Terra arrived to rebuild the station that he was able to once more resume his search. It had appeared that the young drone operator wished to try and get a 'free show' from the young couples traveling, but upon further review of the footage Precentor Rachan managed to identify some of the hallmarks of a Star League Castle Brian. So with snow covering the mountain and valley he grabbed the replacement search team, loaded them up into a hovercraft, and traveled to the site. They did indeed find it, and it took a considerable amount of time to crack in despite our relic codes, but once inside?"
 
Tojo shrugged, "Given the perfectly preserved tire tracks it appears as though Kerensky did pilfer the stash prior to his Exodus from the Inner Sphere."
 
Julian sighed, "That is a shame. We could have had a powerful bargaining chip with the Free Worlds League if we had found the cache intact."
 
Precentor ROM nodded his head as he scrolled further down the report, "As of his last check-in, Precentor Rachane had found that there was a complete Library Core within the cache's computer banks, and as per the protocols, he stated that he was going to have the core deleted."
 
"Good. That's good. We cannot allow the Inner Sphere to recover such data..." Julian's voice trailed off as he connected the dots and he damn near broke his neck, "The explosion of the Castle Brian was linked to the Library Core... wasn't it?"
 
With a pained look Tojo nodded in assent, "Yes. As far as well can tell, the detonation of the Nagayan Complex's fusion reactor took place not much after the Precentor's last transmission."
 
"Blake damnit all!" Julian hissed as he slammed his palms on top of the holotank, "Who else knows?"
 
"As of the last priority message from Helm? No one. The fresh employees at the Helm HPG are just as befuddled as everyone else," Tojo leaned forward, "However, inevitably people on the ground are going to notice and remember that Precentor Emiliano Rachan disappeared into the same mountain range where the explosion occurred. With a team of technical experts. Given that those who aren't deaf, blind, and dumb already know that Rachan was your LosTech Retrieval expert... we're going to need to find a way to get out ahead of this story before something unfortunate happens."
 
"Blake damnit all!" The ComStar Primus hissed once more as he felt his blood pressure start to skyrocket.
 
Why did this have to happen during his tenure?
----
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I5