WoWS3 Chpt 19

<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
==Weapons of War Saga: The Final March- Chapter 19 - ==
-----
===The First Battle of Skye, Star League Resurgence===
Skye, Jade Falcon Reaches (Former Republic of the Sphere)
May, 3143
-----
Defenders: 
124th Falcon Striker Cluster
JFS Blue Talon, Aegis Class Heavy Cruiser
Attacking forces:
1st New Lazarus Mechanized Division [reinforced] (Regular/Fanatical)
-2 Regiments manned, 2 regiments automated
-1 Regiment Aerospace
Task Force: Taffy 1
----
In the field of stompy robots, nothing quite stomps like a Battlemech regiment. 1st Division has multiple Battlemech regiments, with two of them being more 'robot' than 'stompy'.
In addition to the more normal designs, Regiment 3 is a mix of quadrupedal machines whose main personnel consists of officer trained humans commanding teams of operators and overseers employing a mix of 40, 60, and 80 ton robot-control-system equipped, networked, ECCM capable, unmanned Battlemechs, supported by suit-sized remote and semi-autonomous combat drones.
To most outside observers it would be easy to come to the conclusion that the Word of Blake was back, in Star League colors with such heavy reliance on remote controlled drones and even fully autonomous robot units, especially once the truth of Task Force Taffy 1 was confirmed and with a vengeance.
For the Jade Falcon defenders, this was the nightmares their predecessors in the Jihad would never have confessed to. Outnumbered, by a force with roughly peer level technology, commanded competently.
The sky over Skye was secured in less than 11 hours, after a month of having supply lines choked brutally and strangled. 
Even couriers to gain reinforcement did not make it to the jump point, or from it. The JFS Blue Talon survived six hours from detection, to capture as Star League Marines supplemented with combat-modified maintenance spiders took the Aegis class cruiser in a deck-by-deck battle while the SLDF's fighter wings, both manned and unmanned, virtually annihilated the warship's support group.
Survivors on the ground even gave testimony that the cloud of air support for the invaders was so pervasive that they fought in the shade. Any time a unit tried to move out from its hidden bunkers or hangers the fighters were on them in moments.
The default reaction of remaining in bunkers lasted, until automated Engineering units either breached those bunkers, or sealed them in with fast-setting ferrocrete-paving, essentially, the most difficult positions into irrelevance and turning fortresses into tombs.
The Jade Falcon forces on Skye were unable to retreat, unable to escape, and unable to prevail.
Many of the more able bodied citizens came out in support and celebration of their liberation from Clan Jade Falcon.
Skye was now free and looked to stay that way for a long time.
----
===Longing for Change===
Redburn’s office
Callison, Republic Remnant>
22nd May, 3143
----
“It is uncanny. You know I must have walked past your portrait in the restored Royal Palace hundreds of times.” Damien Redburn was still in shock.
“One survived?” Helena Cameron sipped her tea.
“Yes. It was saved largely thanks to being smuggled off Terra and floating around the hands of private collectors over the centuries until anonymously donated to the restoration efforts.” Damien collected himself. “But that is not why you arranged this meeting.”
“No.” Helena responded
“Skye really was you wasn’t it?” he asked
“Yes.” Helena acknowledged
“You have no idea how much of a positive morale impact that has had. To know we finally have support and help.” Damien admitted 
“Not my first war.” Helena commented with quiet smile.
“I guess that is true. So what next?” 
“Once I’ve got a garrison force assembled to take over and recover my losses I’m thinking Alphecca is our next point of concentration. Malvina treats interstellar war like ground war. She’ll look at the pocket of worlds that are now isolated and strike there.” Helena told the Paladin.
“Then you’ll do as she fears with your noose complete, collapse the pocket.” Damien commented
“Precisely.” 
“Malvina is clearly driving for Tharkad.” Damien said.
“Yes. She has to because despite what I have done, Alaric is her main opponent in her mind, and plus I suspect news will not reach her about Skye for some time yet with how thorough we were.”
“Yes, Melissa was a fool thinking she could have two pet Clans. No surprise that her hand has been bitten.” Damien remarked/
“Well we’re doing everything we can for them right now.” Helena assured him.
“Indeed.”
----
===Presenting the Groom with a the Bride===
Congress Class Frigate, CWS Rogue
CIC
24th August, 3143
-----
Everything had gone as she had hoped it would. Fate had worked out in such a way that she could not have planned it any better.
“My son. You have accomplished a very important step today on your path to becoming ilKhan. I have a reward for you.” Katrina Steiner told her son.
Out stepped a woman, she was clearly a trueborn but her phenotype was not immediately obvious.
“This is Rebecca. When the time is right she will add the name Cameron. Then she will marry you. Together you will lead the new Star League with a new dynasty.”
Alaric stepped over to his mother and moved as if to embrace her. Katherine Steiner-Davion never saw the knife in his hand.
But it did not remain in his hand.
He carefully passed it to Rebecca on the way.
After Alaric released his hug he kept his eyes locked on his mother.
Thus she made her second error in not noticing something, that Rebecca was now behind her.
“I knew for sometime what you had planned.” Alaric said quietly as Rebecca drove the knife into Katherine’s rib cage.
“I am not some plaything for you to decide my fate for me.” Rebecca whispered as Katherine tried to speak, but instead gurgled up blood.
Alaric held his mother up by her temples. As she tried frantically to grab onto his shirt, but her grip failing her as she tried over and over again.
“This is the fate you earned so long ago. I only regret it took so long to deliver it.” Alaric kissed his dying mother on the forehead as the last of her life spilled onto the deck and then her hands let go.
“Sentiment?” asked Rebecca
“Aff. She may have been a monster, but she was still my mother. Lunch?”
“I find myself with no other duties this day.” answered Rebecca
“Excellent.”
-----
===New Target Acquired===
Aegis Class Heavy Cruiser, CJFS Red Talon
Unspecified System, Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
1st September, 3143
-----
Beckett Malthus was torn. On the one hand he wanted to allow himself a smile, on the inside mind you, that Malvina had been defeated again. Yet what sobered him was that it was coming at the cost of lives that had not chosen to side with Malvina willingly, or had just been caught in the middle.
Tharkad had been the fifth significant loss the Falcons had suffered under Malvina’s leadership. The loss of the irreplaceable Blue Talon at Skye on top of that had placed an even greater strain on the touman to meet her demands.
Only two things had kept things from imploding then and there. Turkina Keshik was away from Skye at the time, securing a series of victories at Corridan IV, Ganshoren, Symington, and Yed Posterior.
Now Alaric had proclaimed himself Khan of Clan Wolf and worse yet, claimed Archonship of the Lyran Commonwealth under the name Alaric Stiener.
A resurgent Kell Hounds and other Mercenaries were supplementing Lyran raids into their vastly under defended OZ.
“They wish to play with us? I want orders dispatched. Galatea. We will make the home of the mercenaries burn for this. Also we shall drive the Republic off Alphecca. A number of our worlds are in danger of getting cut off if we do not secure these two systems.”, Malvina ordered
Cynthy was on the deck by them, sitting, eating some sweet treat, to all observers it would seem as if she was not paying attention.
“And where shall we head, Chingis Khan?”, he asked
“We shall replenish our forces then we shall attack Hesperus. The factories there will do us much good for expanding our forces.”
-----
===How fix Problems===
Somewhere on the southern continent
Sudeten, Jade Falcon Occupation Zone
September, 3143
-----
It's amazing what you can get people to believe if you know the patter and look confident.
Peregrine jogged along the sidewalk in the former suburban industrial area, as she passed one of the guard posts, she waved, and smiled.
One of the Falcon guards smiled and waved back. From one of the guard areas, a man came out in exercise sweats, and started jogging next to her.
"Staying fit?" he asked.
"Only have the one body, Senior Tech sir." she answered. "Must take care of it, to keep my mind clear."
"It is good to see initiative in the younger generation, especially a test-down." he approved.
"I accepted my situation." she replied, "Make the best of it, the most of it, for the Clan."
"We are not being monitored here." he told her, "No reason, really."
"Huh." They followed the curve on the sidewalk, passing another guard post. "Should I scream now?" she asked.
"I'm not going to hurt you, what is your real mission here? Are you with The Watch?"
"Would I tell you if I was?" she asked rhetorically, "That would seem to be poor fieldcraft."
"You know too much to be a test-down tech, Peri." he told her, "You were too well prepared to be new."
She slowed, letting him keep his breath. "Maybe I am just talented?"
"Nobody is that talented, your work is too good." he argued quietly.
"Nobody has ever said that to me before." she told him in total honesty. "You're worried about your position and seeing ghosts, Senior Tech. I do not want your job, YOU have to deal with the overseers from the Warrior caste."
"Mmmh…" sounded as he throught.
"I did some comparisons." she said, "actually, being totally honest, I looked at comparisons YOU did. The legacies show signs of tampering."
"I know. I have been…unsuccessful at reversing it." he confessed.
"For thirty years?"
"My predecessors were also unsuccessful." he confessed.
"Huh." She slowed to a walk. "Etienne's work, I assume?"
"Aff…you are not going to tell them, are you?"
She rolled her eyes, "Not if we can not fix it, present the fix, then define the problem. That is how you deal with…management."
“Aff. Normally they want to know about issues right away, but I think in this case they must already know. So not having a solution would be bad for us.”
-----
===Medical Dilemma ===
Briefing Room
Kolossus Station, Near Outworlds Wastes - Periphery
September, 3143
-----
Vendetta looked at the report from Peregrine's infiltration, it was only a few days old, brought back by relay.
"Oh shit, no wonder..." She was Amanda's compassion. In some ways it had driven her to seek a career as a doctor, and the curiosity made her a medical researcher. "Kolossus, you've reviewed the results from Peregrine's infiltration on Sudeten?"
"Yes." it responded.
"Check me on this, but do some of the codons for mental traits-for brain chemistry development, do they look…wrong to you??" asked Vendetta 
"Yes. Share your conjecture." it said.
"It's a time bomb with the MAOIA sequences, as junk DNA is sloughed, portions governing nerve development in the Hippocampus are altered, the subject loses inhibition and gains aggression. Am I wrong?"
"No. My simulations show the same." Kolossas told her
"Intelligence development also suffers after age twenty five…they become aggressive and stupid-after an initial spark of brilliance in their early twenties to mid thirties-someone built in a damn mental time bomb!!"
“Kolossus also shows a developmental lack in the regions normally associated with empathy and compassion.”
"Concur, no wonder...how did they not catch this??"
“Kolossus can only speculate that this is the result of the lower caste conspiracy known as The Society.”
"Peregrine's asking for a 'fix'." Vendetta said, "Do we give her the information to fix this, or punt it to Helena to make the call? If she fixes it, they could be more dangerous in a couple generations…"
“It is a gamble. Kolossus thinks the danger may be the same in different ways though. If they continue as they are they will continue causing destruction. If fixed they may at least be reasoned with.”
"Volition." Primary leaned in the doorway, "Vendetta, in your medical opinion, can the Falcons with this defect make informed decisions regarding consent?"
"NO." Vendetta told Primary
"That's the answer then, isn't it? By not delivering the fix, you're denying them the ability to make moral decisions-they cannot consent as they are, allowing this is allowing coercion on a mass scale."
“Kolossus concurs.”
"Queue it up in the next data packet through the jump-relay, please, Kolossus. Everything she needs to present the fix." Vendetta said quietly. "How is she going to implement?"
"She'll find a way, she's my daughter." Primary said, "Just like you are…now, I have this terrible ache…"
“Kolossus recommends a medical check up followed by rest. Perhaps a bath and a meal in there somewhere too.”
Vendetta went to Primary and helped her onto the exam table.
Meanwhile, Kolossus sent two copies. One, to Peregrine, by express courier. The other, to Helena as First Lord.
----
===No Easy Solution===
Star League in Exile - Helena’s office
New Lazarus
10th December, 3143
-----
"What is…all this?" Helena asked, "Why did Kolossus mark it urgent and not include a damn cover letter?"
"It's…medical?" Olivia tried to make sense of it.
"Yes, but what does it mean?"
Thus, how Dr. Emilio Cassavares had his long awaited fishing trip interrupted by the noise and chaos of a military small craft from Lazarus Station.
They sent live personnel, so it was doubly frustrating trying to get anyone to tell him why the Director-General needed to interrupt his vacation so urgently.
Only that it was urgent.
"Highness, I waited three years for this time off! Couldn't Doctor Faust handle-"
“I do apologize, but you were recommended. And I needed a specialist who had also been background checked.”
"Who's the patient?" he asked, tucking his floppy hat into one of the cargo pockets on his shorts.
Olivia handed him the ComPad.
He studied it.
Then, he began to quietly swear, beginning in English, moving through Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Mandarin Chinese, then Latin.
The old doctor's ears were flushing dark red. "Who is the monster that did this?" he demanded.
"Did what?" asked Helena
"This is the recipe for a genetic time bomb, this patient will be insane and sociopathic, even psychopathic by the age of thirty, and it was done to them on the genetic level!!"
Helena leaned back in her chair with a grimm expression on her face.
“I wish I knew. No one deserves something like this. I would put that kind of monster in the ground myself.” Helena said quietly after a moment. "What's the treatment?"
"There is none." he said, "Your patient has been turned into someone who must be locked up, under guard, for the rest of their life….who is it? Is it one of the Envoys?"
"No."
“Something about these DNA markers is familiar though. Kolossus… A damn cover letter would have been helpful.” Olivia complained.
Emilio's expression froze, and then, he started paging through the imagery and data again.
"Seen this ….where? Where…"
“The prisoners. The patient, it isn’t just one person. It is Clan Jade Falcon…” Olivia finally realized.
Emiliio's eyes widened, "Yes, the prisoners brought by that maniac!!"
“It also conforms to some of the prisoners we took in our operations, but not all of them. Look.” Olivia brought up another display.
"Artificial Gestation." he confirmed, "The so-called 'True' borns!"
“Yes. But some of the older ones, they seem at the very least less affected.”
"Aren't as bad, yes…madame Director-General, Your Highness…I need to consult my staff, this is a crime and it potentially impacts millions of lives....we need to find a cure or a fix."
“Do it. A lot of the people we took on Skye in particular seem different than the rest. I think we need more thorough workups on all the prisoners. Any support you need I will do my best to provide, Doctor.” Helena looked sour still.
We must do the impossible…well, it might take a bit longer.
"We'll need a baseline for each of these inheritances, to find where the sabotage was inserted, then, we'll need to go over a whole raft of research that has been illegal for centuries." Emilio was muttering half-to-himself.
"What?"
"Illegal. DNA re-sequencing can be done in utero, but once someone is 'born' it's just a slow death sentence." he clarified, "There were experiments in recombinant DNA work in the twenty-first century, but after the Terran Alliance formed, that branch of research was taken over for biowarfare agents in most nations, the best information is probably locked in national security vaults anywhere it's been pursued."
“The reports of retrovirals during the Jihad? Maybe if we can get the Republic to pick up the phone…” Olivia offered.
"It's a place to begin." he nodded, glanced at the data, and muttered "Madre de dios…."
“So my solution may not have been so far off…” Helena muttered to herself.
“Madame-Director?” Emillio asked.
“Not long ago I proclaimed I would make the Jade Falcons past tense. Those that could adapt and be reformed would be welcomed. Those that could not, we would find an untamed but habitable world to settle them on.”
“Barbaric.”
“Perhaps, but from everything I have heard today it may be our last resort.”
"Ah, I understand, 'work faster doctor Cassavares, or we'll have to maroon the lunatics in a quarantine." he nodded, "Yes…the work will go exactly as fast as it can go, and no slower."
“Then I should let you be on your way.”
"I must get to work…pity, the blue-tails were jumping." he shook his head.
Olivia frowned slightly as she looked at Helena, barely taking note of the Doctor’s departure.
Hang in there a bit longer Helena. We’re bringing some more help for you too.
"Olivia?" Helena spoke.
"Yes?"
"I need to hire a new physician." she said, "I think my doctor's going to be busy for…a long time."
“I understand. I’ll start screening candidates right away.” Olivia felt her frown deepen.
It had taken a lot to get Helena to accept a human doctor instead of one of the AIs and here Olivia was having to go through the process all over again.
-----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
19