AATiPDC Chpt 37

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==Chapter 37 - An American Tanker in Prince Davion's Court==
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===The Road that will take me Home===
The Fox’ Den, New Avalon
September 10th, 3050
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They say there's a place, where dreams have all gone
They never said where, but I think I know
Its miles through the night just over the dawn
On the road that will take me home
I know in my bones, I've been here before
The ground feels the same, though the land's been torn
I've a long way to go, the stars tell me so
On this road that will take me home.
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Once the business on Harvest was concluded, the several contingents of the AEF disperse and return to their respective realms. For Field Marshal Hodges’ part, he returns home to Bristol for a joyous reunion with the res of his family. For the next two months after coming home, Hodges spend much of his time visiting his wounded troops during their recovery. For those troops who were killed in action, he writes personal letters to the families of those who fell. By his order, the next-of-kin are to receive the decedent’s pay as if he or she had completed 20 years of service. Additionally, their mortgages (if any) are paid off and their children are guaranteed a college education at the expense of the State.
In mid-August, Field Marshall Hodges receives a message from his direct superior Field Marshal Yvonne Davion; the substance of the message is that he is to come to New Avalon for a meeting with the First Prince. Always one to put duty first, Hodges departs aboard his flagship SLS William Halsey. One week into the journey, the ship’s AI manifests its holographic avatar (which appears as a tall woman wearing the dress uniform of a Fleet Admiral in the U.S Navy during World War II) in the in the ready room and says {“Field Marshal, the last order I had from SLDF High Command concerned the disposition of the copy of the Prometheus database with which I had been entrusted.“}
“I’ve heard of that database, Admiral; it makes the contents of the memory cores from Helm, New Dallas, and elsewhere look like single paragraphs from out of a book.”
{“You are correct, sir. The substance of the order was that I was to exercise my own discretion as to when and to whom I would hand over the database. I have reviewed all available records regarding your service to the Federated Commonwealth and I find that you are worthy enough to receive it.”}
“Thank you, Admiral; I’m honored by your trust in me.”
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On September 2nd, SLS William Halsey arrives at the New Avalon system’s jump point. From here, Field Marshal Hodges boards his personal dropshuttle; eight days later on September 10th, he arrives at New Avalon’s spaceport.
Within half an hour after landing, Hodges is standing before the First Prince in his office; also present are a number of other officers (including Field Marshal Yvonne Davion, Archon-Prince designate Victor Steiner-Davion and his wife Melissa). To his great surprise, Archon Katrina Steiner is there also.
Hodges snaps off his customary salute and says “reporting as ordered, your highness.”
“Please be seated, Field Marshal; thank you for coming on such short notice.”
“Of course, sir. After coming back home to Bristol, I spent some quality time with my wife and children then got down to the business of seeing to my injured troops and the families of the fallen; I made it a point to write their families and loved ones a personal letter expressing my thanks for their service.”
“A noble sentiment, Field Marshal; one that’s in the finest traditions of the military service. In case you were wondering I called you here because I wished to acknowledge your service to the Federated Commonwealth. My son Victor has given me a full report of what happened on Harvest; I must say that your campaign against the Clans was as fine a piece of soldiering as I have ever seen. I’ve consulted with Archon Katrina, and she concurs with me that your service has to be recognized accordingly. ATTENTION TO ORDERS…” Upon hearing this, Hodges snaps to attention in front of the First Prince’s desk.
“Field Marshal, as First Prince and one of the joint lords of the Federated Commonwealth, I (with Archon Steiner’s concurrence) have decided to increase your fief because of your great and continuing services to the realm and the Inner Sphere. To wit; the Duke of Manteno recently died and, as he had no issue, the Manteno system escheated back to the Throne. I now grant that territory to you, to have and hold in perpetuity. In likewise manner, I grant you the nearby systems of Amiga, McHenry, Flushing, Barstow, Wroxeter and Batavia.”
“Thank you, your highness; I’m honored that you think me worthy of such recognition.”
“The honor is all mine, Field Marshal; now, to the other business at hand….”
A pause, then “The threat of the Clans has been eliminated and the Inner Sphere finds itself at peace. I think that now’s the time to decide how to proceed from this day forward; to this end, I have called for a conference to be held among the Great Houses at a neutral site. The objective of the conference will be to decide what course our collective futures will take. Have you any suggestions as to the location?” 
“Yes, sir. As I am still the planetary administrator of Terra, what would you say to holding the conference in Washington, D.C in the East Room of the White House? I can’t imagine a more historic setting than that. As to the agenda, the conference will more than likely be discussing the re-establishment of the Star League; with this in mind, I’ve got something that will sweeten the deal, if it comes down to that…”
“What might that be?”
“I had an interesting discussion with SLS William Halsey’s holographic avatar while on the way to New Avalon. She told me that the high command of the SLDF had entrusted her with a full copy of the Prometheus Database, and that it was her discretion on when and to whom to hand it over. Admiral Halsey told me that she had examined my service records and on that basis, chose me to give the database to.”
“Oh, dear lord!! You mean to tell me that you have a copy of the Prometheus datacore in your possession? That thing is the very stuff from which legends are made; all copies were said to have been destroyed during the Amaris Coup between 2766 and 2780.”
“Yes I do, your highness. The copy aboard SLS William Halsey was placed there by the SLDF High Command as a failsafe backup, in case something should happen to the main system (which, of course, it did). If we compare the datacores from Helm, New Dallas, Grauss, and elsewhere to Prometheus, they’d be nothing more than single paragraphs on a single page out of an entire encyclopedia.”
“Indeed.”
“Your highness, I respectfully suggest that you tell no one outside of this room what we’ve got; let it be a surprise for the meeting on Terra.”
Hanse Davion exchanges a glance with Katrina Steiner, who responds with a nod of approval.
“Very well, let it be as you say. The current date is September 10th, 3050; it will take time to set up the conference; let’s use December 7th as a working date. In the meantime, I am ordering that copies of Prometheus be made and handed over to the New Avalon Institute of Science and Tharkad University; Dr. Banzai will be more than thrilled to see it…”
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