FSRB Chpt 86

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==The Federated Suns Reborn - Chapter 86==
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February 3068Liberty and Death
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===Carriers & Fleet Expansion Plans===
With the commissioning of the FSS Morgan Hasek-Davion in January the ship is used to officially create the 1st Carrier Battle Group. Left unsaid is the fact that until further ships are commissioned the 1st CBG is in fact only the New Syrtis II aerospace carrier. Given the speed of the carrier Fleet Admiral Buchwald's plan is to add at least 2 Davion III destroyers and an Avalon cruiser to each Carrier Battle Group. The last thing he or the other admirals want is for a carrier to find itself in an unsupported gun battle with a ship designed for actual ship to ship action. The addition of the 3 warships to the group will give the carriers added protection. 
Along with the formation of the much under strength 1st CBG Fleet, Admiral Buchwald also meets with First Prince Victor Davion and Marshal of the Armies Jackson Davion to discuss the future of the Federated Suns Navy and future construction. He begins by making the strong case for a balanced fleet. He knows that the Treasury in particular are pushing for a fleet that mostly consists of Fox corvettes backed up by a strong force of cruisers and destroyers with few heavy ships, but he argues this could leave them facing defeat in detail against enemies with fewer but stronger ships who are able to concentrate them against the lighter ships of the FedSuns Navy. While he wishes to continue production of the versatile Fox II corvettes and upgrade the existing ships to the new standard along within a growing force of cruisers and destroyers he thinks that a large force of battleships and carriers are also needed. The Admiral wishes to continue expanding slips for battleships and carriers as well as a handful of new cruiser, frigate and destroyer slips to continue expanding their numbers. When asked what further he needs beyond that, he informs the First Prince that in his opinion the Federated Sun's Navy requires a battle cruiser or heavy cruiser design to support the building battleships. After some discussions the First Prince agrees that the Federated Suns will approach Clan Sun Jaguar about refitting their Black Lion II class and repairing it. They are already doing this for the Clan Wolves-in-Exile Black Lion, the Implacable. With the experience from these refits and the technical specifications he want's the think tank at Galax to begin designing up upgraded Black Lion III - the new number taking into account the original Black Lion I cruisers of the old Terran Hegemony. Jackson Davion does raise the issue of a second corvette design might be considered; one faster, and more maneuverable than the Fox I & IIs but this potential project is put on hold for now. 
In the meantime, the First Prince commits to a new carrier slip to be built at New Syrtis as well as a fourth battleship slip to be constructed at Kathil. In addition to these 2 capital slips the First Prince also promises a further Avalon slip at Filtvelt. He is concerned that at the current time 7 out of the 8 Avalon construction slips are concentrated at Kathil. He want's to ensure that the signature cruiser of the FedSuns is not able to be halted in production by a single strike. With a single additional slip at Galax he feels that dividing production between 3 widely separated systems will prevent the temptation for such an attack and reduce it's impact if it is launched. 
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===New Sytris March reorganizes its forces===
At the same time, the Duke of New Syrtis George Hasek is undertaking conversations at long distance with the Dukes of Kathil and Tikonov. Having seen the formation of the Draconis March's Tancredi Loyalist LCTs and the New Avalon backed Avalon Borderers LCT unit (along with the rumors that the Chisholm Raiders RCTs might be used to form more LCT style units) he is keen to form a Capellan March equivalent. He approaches both Dukes in the hope they might agree to support a move where the Duke of Kathil's 1st Capellan Dragoons or the Duke of Tikonov' world's 1st Tikonov Cossacks might be used to form the basis for the Capellan March's LCT unit. However neither Duke Petyr VanLees or Duke Paul Ryan-Bowman are keen to see their own or their worlds units "dismembered". Nor do they feel that their units have the combined arms experience to properly fit into the Light Combat Team mold. As such Duke Hasek resolves to form a new LCT unit in the coming year. Looking back through the mists of time he opts to reform the long destroyed 1st Syrtis Hussars as a LCT style formation. The single Syrtis Hussars formation had been something of an aberration within the AFFS compared to the multi-regimental strength of the Syrtis Fusiliers Brigade and after their destruction in the First Succession War were never reformed. Their old colors will be returned to the active roll as a LCT formation the Duke decides. He decides to appoint Major Raul Bethune, his Minister of Finance's husband and current command of the 1st Kittery Reinforced Training Battalion, to lead the unit with a promotion to Colonel. Many will consider this a political appointment, but the future Colonel is a combat veteran with the 1st FSAC and a well known and respected training officer - ideal for a new unit. Better he has experience with the Training Battalions which have been organized as provisional LCTs years ago so has the experience of working with the combined arms approach of the LCT. If anyone considers the officer to be a political appointee more the better, they will underestimate the command. 
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===Developments in Industry===
On Edwards, the New Independence Weaponry plant's second line goes online. Alongside the Victor Assault 'Mech line that had previously entered production a new Atlas facility begins producing the assault battlemech. In a surprise move the AFFS offers half the production of both Battlemechs to the ComGuards. Both designs are in production at Kestrel and Alta Vista and so the AFFS can afford to be generous. 
Michaelson Heavy Industries saw their new plant on June go operational. There are 2 lines each of the Yellow Jacket and Hawk Moth VTOL gunships at the plant. All are immediately purchased for the AFFS. With the sudden influx of gunships from June and Sun Prairie in addition to the existing factory on Ruchbah the VTOL battalions of the AFFS are growing real teeth. The ComGuards approach the AFFS about a subcontract to provide them with more of these hard hitting VTOLs. To meet this need a large scale plant is authorized for the world of Marlette, the production of which will be 4 lines of each design. This plant will go operational in January 3069 and in the meantime the AFFS sell any excess production they don't have an immediate need for to assist the ComGuards. 
On New Avalon Achernar's Dervish Battlemech lines are fully upgraded to produce Dervish-O OmniMechs. A third production line begins construction and is due to produce it's first OmniMech by November 3068. 
The Federated Suns Defense Industries plant on New Damascus see's it's upgraded Locust Light Battlemech line go operational. This now gives the plant a single heavy battlemech line and 4 light Battlemech lines in addition to their civilian truck lines. 
The Blackstone factory on Vandalia saw the Enfield line go online on the 23rd February. While a useful battlemech the increased prestige of the Enforcer III, upgraded Centurions and now Dervish-Os reduce demand for this battlemech from the AFFS. As such few additional orders are placed which allows the plant to begin working on the backlog of previous orders from the AFFS to Blackstone Industries. The Enfields largely end up in the March Militia's and a number are passed on to loyal mercenary forces. 
Maltex Corporation activate their second Thug Assault Battlemech line go operational on Errai. Unlike the previous lines the production of this facility is earmarked for the ComGuards. Maltex by now feels that they have made their point to the ComGuards and are keen to get a share of the large orders being placed with defense firms. It isn't mentioned but New Avalon also put some pressure upon them to offer this production lines output to the ComGuards as a way to help bury the hatchet. In return for this show of good will the Federated Sun's quietly arrange for the Maltex Corporation to receive the specifications for an updated Highlander class Assault Battlemech to be built at their new factory on Brockton. 
The Robinson Standard BattleWorks secondary plant on Woodbine see's a new Battle Hawk line go operational. The rugged light Battlemech is now a staple of the March Militias and Training Battalions not only within both the Draconis March and the Crucis March, with some even being seen as far away as Bromhead!
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===Events elsewhere in the Inner Sphere===
Within the Free Worlds League there is a lull as none of the factions wishes to plunge the entire League into open war. At least not until they are ready. However all of the various Captain-General continue to appeal for the loyalty and support of worlds, regiments and warships... 
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The ComGuards begin rearranging their Fleets. The 1st Fleet has a number of heavier and slower ships concentrated in it as a defensive/heavy battle force. While the 2nd Fleet has the remaining Dante frigates, Suffren & Lola III destroyers concentrated as a raiding and attack force. Both Independent Squadrons remain in commission - with the 1st being damaged ships still requiring repair and the 2nd the new construction, currently 2 Fox corvettes. Comstars few agents within the WOB are reporting that the Titan shipyards are continuing to build Dante, Suffren, and Zechetinu II class warships in increasing numbers. The Precentor Naval Alain Beresick although knowing that his fleets will be expanding with new Fox corvettes and even Suffren being built in the Faslane YardShips also knows that the weight of metal is growing against him. While he can count on the FedSuns and Lyran Alliance Navies to support him he has been assured that doesn't change that his own fleet isn't growing to the same level as the WOB's. He resolves with the Interim Primus Dow to do something about this. He can at least report that with the growing number of fighters (and Vengeance Fighter Carrier Dropships from Salvatore Inc) from the FedSuns his naval forces can at least bring to bare a large number of fighter wings in any future battle. 
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===Chancellor makes his decision===
On Sian the Chancellor is making every effort to have to avoid having to agree to the WOB's deal. He continues to push for further expansions of his naval forces which every report shows are falling further and further behind. He now has in addition to the cruiser slip at Necromo 2 additional cruiser slips at Capella as well as 2 corvette slips producing the "Sian" class corvettes - twins of the Inazuma corvette. He orders the building of 2 additional corvette slips as fast as possible. In desperation he is even having to consider adding warship slips at Sarna despite his distaste for that world. 
When he however receives reports from his agents about the fact that the "Grand Duchy of Andurien" is entering into a military trade deal with the Federated Suns he begins to feel he has little choice. If the Federated Suns can solidify a full military alliance with Andurien and build them up as a counterpoint to the Capellan Confederation they can force him to divide his attention and attack him from both sides. With such a strategic threat he feels he has to strangle the alliance in it's cradle, before it can be formalized. He agrees with St. Jamais to the deal on offered and arranges for Kali Liao to be released and the equipment sent to wherever the WOB wish. In return he requests that the 2 regiments worth of troops be sent to Betelgeuse as are the new battlemechs. He designates the 2 new units the 1st & 2nd Liao Guard and orders them to use the equipment to upgrade local Home Guard units and others he would send to the world to form a 3rd and 4th Liao Guards. These new units and the forces he has already arranged to be built up on the Andurien border will be used to destroy the still forming Grand Duchy. He also contacts his allies the Canopians and suggests dividing the proto-state between the Confederation and Magistracy. The 2 new Sian class corvettes completed in 3067 are also dispatched to give the forces some warship support. This plan has the added bonus of returning the Andurien Commonality to the Confederation. Such a move would certainly help his prestige within the CCAF and wider Confederation which has been shaken of late. 
These forces won't be ready until at least April. Perhaps longer. 
Kali Liao leaves Sian in the company of St. Jamais and heads straight for Highspire to retake the active reigns of leadership of her Death Cult...
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