FSRB Chpt 21

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==The Federated Suns RebornChapter 21==
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June 3063New Beginnings
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On the 2nd of June, Judith Hotchkiss announces to the Trans-Federation Stock and Commodities Exchange headquarter on Torrance that New Independence Weaponry will be forming up within the Federated Suns as of the 1st of July with an initial stock option of 40% of the company being sold to investors. The remaining 60% will be split into 20% for herself, 20% for House Davion and 20% for House Cunningham. As soon as the company is offered up for investments on the Exchange the ground will be cut on a new BattleMech production facility on Kestrel. Three lines are initially planned, namely an Atlas, Gunslinger, and Victor assault 'Mech designs. Further expansions to add a Marauder II, Marauder, and Jagermech III production line will be considered after the initial construction is completed. The new facility will she admits specialize in producing high end, high quality assault machines for the AFFS and associated mercenary commands. She hints that a more lightweight production facility may be considered later on a different planet. 
As expected in the patriotic fervor of the reborn Federated Suns the announcement of an entirely new (or as some traditionalists claim reborn) Davion BattleMech producing company is met with a great deal of favor. The number of notes of interest and unofficial pre-release options being bought on the companies stocks is a heavy indication of a positive result to the stock floating on the 1st of July. In fact the early signs are so good that Judith Hotchkiss in consultation with her two main partners agree to a further stock release on the 1st of August 3063 which if it is fully taken up will be used to fund at the very least the Jagermech line and potentially both of the other 2nd wave expansion plans. She also takes this opportunity to petition Victor Davion to release the Battlemaster design to New Independence Weaponry, although this wasn't granted. 
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On the 11th of June, the First Prince invited Marquess Helen Trempeleau to New Avalon to discuss his ongoing work to integrate and revitalize the Outback's economy with the rest of the Federated Suns. An invitation she accepts, although she doesn't travel alone but instead gathers a large group of her activist friends and advisers to bring with her. The Marquess has been pleasantly surprised by the First Prince's investments within the Outback, but wishes to address the fact that they have largely been expansions of the military industrial complex rather than the civilian economy. She is particularly concerned to get further increases in education spending for the Outback. 
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With the peace treaty signed Baron Tancred rushes through the Draconis and Crucis Marchs via Jumpship relays and arrives on New Avalon on the 25th of June. After briefly meeting with the First Prince, he then spends most of his time at the NAIS medical center that Yvonne Steiner-Davion is being treated in. This begins to break through the depression which had set into the young princess. 
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With the knowledge that 3 regiments of the famed McCarron's Armored Cavalry are loose somewhere the First Prince, Marshal of Armies and Minister of the Capellan March begin ordering alerts and patrols stepped up. The last thing they need right now is a major attack. The Field Marshal in charge of the Department of Military Intelligence Stephanie Day also alerts the First Prince and the rest of the High Command that shipping has increased around Highspire and her officers believe large military shipments have taken place. Many wonder whether the 3 missing Capellan mercenary units have relocated there to use it as a base for raiding. Just in case the FSS Murmansk is ordered to the area. 
The FSS Kathil and FSS Bryceland, both Fox corvettes finish construction at the Galax shipyards at this time. Assigned together they are ordered to begin a shakedown cruise in the Outback and ordered to support the newly formed Avalon Hussar RCTs in that region in their pirate hunting. The next two ships to begin construction will be named the FSS Marduk and FSS Filvelt. The FSS Galtor and FSS Kentares were already under construction. Initially, there had been plans to name the later two ships after famous Davion Admirals, however it is felt that continuing to name them for worlds will best motivate the people behind the naval building program. A fifth corvette slip is being built and Fleet Admiral Buchwald pushes for funding for a sixth slip to begin construction. 
The FSS Robert Davion, an Avalon class cruiser also slips loose from the shipyard during this time. It will move down towards the Capellan-FedSuns-Taurian border and be home ported at New Syrtis. With the new ship being laid down in the newly vacated slip that birthed the FSS Robert Davion the FedSuns has three Avalon cruisers under construction and a fourth slip being built. While the FSS Melissa Davion during June arrives at New Syrtis to begin repairs to the light battle damage she has suffered. She will have finished this repair by January 3064 at which time her place will be taken be the FSS Lucien Davion which was rushed into commission and is requiring a refit. When it is finished the similarly afflicted FSS Simon Davion will be due a refit. 
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At Firgrove, the first Excalibur class dropship is approaching completion. It and it's two sister ships have been suffering numerous delays and teething problems and the AFFS's Naval Transport Division is more than aware that the 3 ships will no doubt have a number of "bugs" when they do enter service. Given the new nature of construction at Firgrove they are prepared to work with the shipyard to fix these and in fact are relying on Clyde Shipyards to be extremely proficient at this due to their long history of refits and repairs for the AFFS. 
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Challenge System's second warship slip is just about completed and will begin construction of a Congress-D by the end of the month. The shipyard has already been informed to expect a few design changes and refits of the design, but given the very early stage of construction and the famed ease of maintenance of the design the shipyards see little problem with this, but do note any changes may delay construction. 
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On 22nd of June, First Prince Victor invites Precentor Martial Focht to New Avalon to "discuss the situation regarding the accused Traitor's escape". Many expect that the First Prince is effectively calling the Precentor Martial to New Avalon to properly express his extreme displeasure. While that is of course true, Victor has several other matters he wishes to discuss with the Precentor Martial in private. 
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On Broken Wheel, the first new Clint walks of the production line and is immedietly assigned to the Filtvel Academy Training Battalion. While on Point Barrow the new GM plant begins construction.
First Prince Victor also meets with the CEO of Lycomb-Davion during June to discuss further expansions. While he is more than happy with the prospect of the influx of new Stuka Heavy Aerospace Fighters he asks them to consider whether or not the company would be prepared to restart production of their former BattleMech products the Awesome and Guillotine. Neither design is currently constructed within the Federated Suns and the First Prince in particular is looking at the mobility of the Guillotine and the impressive firepower of the Aweseome to add to his regiments. 
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Within the Lyran Alliance, the Kell Hounds arrive on Tharkad with Peter Steiner-Davion. Duke Morgan Kell, Acting General of the Armies Adam Steiner, and Peter Steiner-Davion along with various members of the Estates General and some key Dukes are soon engaged in lengthy discussions as to how to move forward with the "escape" of the former Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion. 
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On Tamar, the Khan of the Wolf Clan and the Archon-in-Exile Katrina Steiner have a long and by all accounts fractious discussion of her position moving forward. Officially, she is made his bondswoman, but in practise becomes a key adviser and ally for him. She also begins military training under his personal supervision. A new Galaxy is formed, the Tamar Galaxy, with two Clusters consisting entirely of Spheroid freebirths. The 1st and 5th Alliance Guard Clusters are built around survivors of the 5th Alliance Guards RCT and a number of bondsmen taking during raids and some even from back in the Clan Invasion along with a handful of Lyran officers and men "escaping" to the Wolf Occupation Zone. A very limited "trial of position" confirms their status as warriors and they begin to be outfitted with Clan second line 'Mechs and captured inner sphere equipment. Plans are put in place to add a 1st Tamar Marines Cluster and a 1st Steiner Battle Cluster as soon as enough warriors are sourced and pass their trials. 
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Within the Free World League, Parliament the newest delegation from the Free Tikonov province petitions the Captain-General to approve funds to begin expanding Sitwell Corporation on Saiph to produce BattleMechs. Stressing that a local supplier would greatly support the continued maintenance of the four Free Tikonov Republican Guard units. Given their position on the border this is a hard sell, but it doesn't escape Thomas Marik's notice that many of those MP's supporting them are those strongly aligned with the WOB. He agrees to look at the proposal but makes no strong commitment.
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