CS3056-34

=Chapter 34= 
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==Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War==
Prologue, Book 2, The Hammer Falls
====Duke receives a Guest====
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Palace of Spreading Harmony
Coventry, Coventry Providence 
Federated Commonwealth
March, 3057
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Duke Thomas Bradford smiled as he rose from behind his desk to greet his guest. "Colonel Marik! Welcome to Coventry! I hope the trip in system was not too unpleasant?"
The handsome woman in her late fifties bowed, then took his offered hand. "Thank you, your Grace: No, we had no need to push our engines, and proceeded at a leisurely single gravity." He offered a chair, which she gratefully took. "Ah, thank you again ... my bones aren't as spry as they once were."
"I know how you feel ... fortunately, my own days of burning hard towards enemy planets are over: my greater concern is rallying the nobility of this planet to all pull in generally the same direction."
"Somehow, your Grace, I think I have the better situation." the League-born mercenary winced, obviously thinking of her own nation's recalcitrant parliament.
"Please, Colonel: enough with the 'your Grace's'. I might feel forced to style you 'Her Grace, the Duchess of Augustine.'"
Kristen blanched. "Heaven, forefend. I've put a great deal of work into avoiding that little planet. It does quite well enough without me being reminded I'm supposed to run the bloody place. A regiment is far easier to command, and less likely to result in backchat and whining."
Bradford smiled. "There are some perks." he offered, as a servant brought in two frosty bottles of beer marked with the Coventry kangaroo, and she took one with relish. They sampled their brews, and sighed in satisfaction. Then the duke grew serious. "Pardon me, Colonel, but I wished to take a moment to extend my most sincere condolences for the situation in the League. Is there any word on your brother? Your niece?"
She sighed. "Nothing on Thomas or Isis, I'm afraid cousin Corrine is keeping a firm lid on things. Relations with Sian is not exactly conducive to correspondence. Joshua, thank God is on New Avalon surrounded by the best doctors and guards available." She took another sip. "The Archon-Princess sent her own best wishes, and I know her people are working on learning more." Kristen shrugged. "It seems that civil war remains the Free World's League's nation passtime. All I can do is focus on doing my job ... which, today, is getting my boys and girls ready to defend this little mudball of yours."
"I'm actually quite fond of this little mudball." Bradford rejoined in mock offense, but smiled. "Actually, I have also received a letter from Katherine Steiner Davion, and it was ... quite interesting. It seems that she is interested in activating a clause in your contract, and transferring your employment at a significant markup."
"Oh?" Kristin asked
"Yes of course, it's your decision, but it will pay far better than your current commitment. Either way, Coventry will be delighted to house and protect your dependents as though they were our own." He pulled a data chip from his desk, and offered it to her. "It is a combat assignment, and will involve venturing into Periphery space as part of a multi-regimental task force to liberate five worlds from the Jade Falcons ..."
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===Meanwhile on Sudeten===
"With all due respect, my lady." offered Kommandant Ryan Cooper, as he cut his steak, "And, if I may, after the Island, that's a heck of a lot, whatever the newsies say ... I'm not sure if I or any of my boys and girls would be interested in joining the Legion." He paused to take a sip of wine, then continued. "I mean, sure our enlistments are up, and we're all thinking about whether or not to re-up, but the Legion has something of a reputation ... and not everyone agrees with me that it's overblown."
"Perfectly understandable." agreed Juliette von Strang as a server reloaded her scotch. The private room in a Sudeten hotel that until recently had been used as a Falcon administration center had held up fairly well after years of occupation and misuse, with mercenaries now recuperating in various rooms and halls, while the kitchens and restaurants worked overtime to feed them. Fortunately, rank had it's privileges. "And to be honest in return, I do not think that your troops would fit with the Legion style of warfare: our aggressive tactics have a tendency to be ... costly, despite our best efforts. We are already recruiting heavily for the Forsaken, our conventional branch, to bring them up to full regimental strength, we have something else in mind for your troops.
"Essentially." she sipped at her liquor, "we envision you forming a mercenary command of your own, and I, as Baroness of Strang and ... well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. As Baroness, I can hire your troops, and you remain independent of the Legion. After the campaign, we can revisit the matter, and you can either remain mercenaries - in which case we will likely at least keep some of you on - or you can sign on with whatever national defense force we form. Your missions will likely be crowd control, security and some urban combat, door knocking and rooting out stubborn Falcon holdouts, the Legion and heavier units will handle field combat."
"So, you basically want regime support forces." Juliette surmised the Kommandant statement 
"Essentially. I'm not expecting you to liquidate neighborhoods that disagree with me. Kommandant, but as you know it takes more than landing a few dozen 'Mechs on a planet to claim it as yours. You can drive over it, bomb it, fly over it, but you can't claim it as yours -" Cooper continued go on.
"Unless you've got a scared eighteen year old with a rifle and bayonet standing on top of it." chimed in Cooper, scooping up some peas. "If I agree, I intend to run my command as though I still served the Commonwealth: that means regular discipline, training, protocols and ethics. If I receive orders that violate those ethics, I won't follow them."
"I'm sure we can have that written into your contract, Kommandant." smiled Juliette.
"Equipment needs to be decent. I'm not sending my troops into the fight without proper gear." Ryan told her
"I have an agreement with the AFFC. You will draw your weapons, armor and equipment from their quartermaster. I envision a mix of foot and motorized infantry, although the precise details will likely become more clear after future discussions. I have here a list." she touched a small data chip, "Of other officers and NCOs the AFFC has recommended, for your perusal. Some you have served with before, others you may have heard of. Once you have a core, you can recruit from there."
He looked thoughtfully at the young mercenary. "You seem to have thought this through pretty well. How many troops, exactly, are you imagining I could organize?"
She lifted a bite of steak to her mouth. "I'm thinking three or four regiments, with appropriate artillery and VTOL support, medical teams and administration." As he blinked in shock, she reached into a pocket and pulled out a small golden pin. "I imagine a promotion is in order ... Brigadier Cooper."
;Chapter by Gladius
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