AATiPDC Chpt 41

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==Chapter 41 - An American Tanker in Prince Davion's Court==
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===Pirate Hunt===
Alphard System
In Orbit of Alphard
September 20th, 3051
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After the action in the Marian Hegemony was concluded, Field Marshal Hodges calls a meeting of the AEF's command staff and says "gentlemen, it's now time t remove tge pirates of the Periphery from the playing field. They have plagued the Inner Sphere ever since the fall of the first Star League and, by their activities, have proven themselves to be 'Hostis Humanii Generis'; the common enemies of all mankind. Among this bunch are several individuals who are worthy of special attention; to better-familiarize AEF personnel with these people, I have prepared decks of playing cards with their images on them; the suit of the card and its number are commensurate with the status of the individual being sought. For example, the person on the 'Queen of Spades' card is none other than Paula Trevaline, aka 'Lady Death'. This gangrenous boil on the ass of society is notorious for the cruel and inhuman ways she treats her captives; Trevaline will stoop as low as necessary to achive her goals, and has resorted to the use of poison fingernail polish in the past."
Among those present at this meeting are Gunji-no-kanrei Theodore Kurita who is serving as Field Marshal Hodges' executive officer and the leaders of the several house contingents attached to Task Force Grant; Victor Steiner-Davion, Hohiro Kurita and Isis Marik are also present, serving as Field Marshal Hodges' junior military aides. Major Richard Hodges is serving on his father's staff as his aide-de-camp and, after listening to the current narration, he speaks up and says "sir, what is Trevaline's current status and location?"
"As of the present date, Trevaline is the monarch of the Tortuga Dominons. She acceded to the position in 3015 by the simple expedient of killing the then monarch Kalvin Bar Dyness in a sword duel. After Dyness' death, she gave herself the title of Dame Murderess Extraordinaire; this gives you an idea of truly 'off' this individual is. Upon taking power, she had eight of Dyness' loyalists killed, then poled their heads above the city gate of Raider's Roost; the chief city on Tortuga Prime; thereafter, Trevaline brought the several pirate groups under her control and consolidated them. Since then, the pirates of Tortuga have raided and pillaged systems all throughout the nearby regions of the Federated Suns."
"I understand. Who's next on the hit parade?"
"That woud be Redjack Ryan, the so-called Pirate King of Butte Hold (located some 473 light-years coreward of Terra). For Ryan's depredations, he's on the 'Ace of Spades' card. Following Redjack Ryan, there's Hendrik Grimm (the 'Ace of Clubs;); the self-styled ruller of the Oberon Confederation (located coreward of the Lyran Commonwealth near the border with the Draconis Combine); it's of interest to know that Redjack Ryan was once a lieutenant in one of Grimm's mercenary units. Another pirate with connections to both Hendrik Grimm III and Redjack Ryan is Maria Morgraine (the 'Queen of Hearts'); who recently founded Morgraine's Valkyrate. Should Trevaline, Ryan, Grimm or any of the others be captured alive, I'm not going to have them flogged-round-the-fleet or tossed out an airlock without a space suit. Instead, they'll be held for trial on Terra; should this bunch be convicted, they'll face public justice for their crimes."
Next to speak is Theodore Kurita, who says "Hodges-sama, what is the plan of operations for the campaign against the pirates?"
"Kurita-san, I believe that the resources of Task Force Grant would be most efficiently used if we were to divide our forces and attack the several targets independently of one another. For example, I'll go after the Tortuga Dominions and Paula Trevaline; you'll go after the Oberon Confederation and the other contingents will proceed as appropriate. Upon arriving in the target systems, the assets tasked will establish space superiority by taking control of the zenith and nadir jump points; a reserve force will be assigned the task of monitoring the target planet's pirate jump points." A pause, then "ladies and gentlemen, I want it clearly understood that Trevaline, Ryan, Grimm and the others are to be taken alive if at all possible."
"I and the other officers understand, Hodges-sama."
"Very well. Ladies and gentlemen, please return to your commands and pass the word; we're moving out in 24 hours; may the fortunes of war smile upon us all."
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===Political Assessment===
Office of the Star Lord
Sol System, Terra
August, 3051
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While the campaign against the Martian Hegemony is ongoing, First Lord Thomas Calderon is integrating the planetary systems granted to the new Terran Hegemony under the terms of the founding accord of the Second Star League. There are 83 such systems, listed as follows:
System Distance from Terra in light-years
Rigel Kentarus 3.8
Sirius 8.3
Keid 10.6
Procyon 12.2
Tau Ceti 12.8
Caph 12.9
Killbourn 14.1
New Home 14.6
Altair 16.3
Bryant 18.7
Dieron 19.3
Carver 21.4
Fomalhaut 21.6
Yorii 22.6
New Stevens 23.2
Xi Ursae Majoris 24.8
Thorin 24.8
Graham 25.7
Asta 25.9
Epsilon Eridani 28.1
Saffel 28.2
Rocky 29.8
Chara 29.9
Brownsville 30.5
Hechnar 31.0
Muphrid 31.3
Zavijava 31.8
Oliver 32.6
Epsilon Indi 33.1
Imbros 34.1
Northwind 34.2 (independent planet)
Lipton 34.5
Zollikofen 34.8
Outreach 34.8
Pollux 35.2
Athenry 35.6
Styx 36.3
Denebola 37.9
Devil's Rock 39.3
Nirasaki 39.4
Lockdale 40.4
Terra Firma 40.5
Dyev 41.2
Capolla 42.2
Tabit 43.6
Castor 43.7
Pike 44.1
Menkent 44.6
Lyons 45.0
Sheratan 46.2
Haddings 46.2
Hall 46.4
Ko 47.5
Quentin 47.6
New Britain 48.0
Deneb Algedi 48.7
Talitha 48.7
Chaville 50.1
Lone Star 50.6
Chisholm 51.0
Zosma 51.2
Afleir 51.4
Summer 51.5
Small World 52.2
Fletcher 52.4
Errai 52.6
Ingress 53.0
Van Diemen 53.0
Atria 54.1
Hsien 54.6
Acamar 55.2
Nusakan 55.5
Bex 56.2
Nanking 56.5
Mandal 56.7
Kervil 57.2
Woodstock 57.5
Alkalurops 57.7
Wasat 58.1
Nashira 58.3
Mizar 58.3
Helen 58.3
Sabik 58.5
Lambrecht 59.1
In total, the population base of the Terran Hegemony amounts to 133,893,577,583. Going forward, the Hegemony's yearly tax revenue will be 636,610,456,881,800 Star League dollars; of this amount, the defense budget amounts to 16% (or 101,857,673,101,088 SLD); among First Lord Thomas Calderon's several priorities are building up the Hegemony's military capacity and rebuilding the economy of the Sol System, which activities being funded by the fortune formerly held by House Cameron.
Calderon's first official act upon assuming the role of First Lord was to issue an executive order setting up a new cabinet department, the Interstellar Communications Commission; the purpose of this department being to maintain and facilitate communications among the several member states of the Second Star League. The ICC will be directed by five commissioners appointed by the First Lord (with the advice and consent of the Senate); with one of the five nominated to serve as chairman.
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