FSRB Chpt 101

==The Federated Suns Reborn - Chapter 101==
 Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter
----
November 3068General Update
-----
===New Commands for new Combat Region===
Following upon from the planning in October the High Command on New Avalon began beginning the practical preparations for the new commands they intended to form. Stockpiles of battlemechs, tanks, aerospace fighters and other equipment were built up at the mustering sites of the new units - always somewhere that was already protected by an existing unit or other strong garrison so as to avoid any "temptation" for someone to attempt to raid the mustering point. Although some of the equipment set aside for the new formations were cast offs from other regiments the High Command made sure to send at least some newly built front line equipment even to the new Broken Wheel CrMM - which was now possible given the huge expansion of the military industrial production within the FedSuns. As well as the various Regular Army formations the formation of the various new training commands also had to be supported not only with equipment but also with hand picked officers and NCOs who would be best placed to continue the military education of the various cadets.
-----
===Routing out Corruption===
The High Command also finalized the issues with the Islamabad CrMM. Leftenant General Carrie Zetso's career with the Islamabad CrMM was effectively over. However, a number of voices had been raised to attempt to salvage what they could of this well respected officers career, particularly given how forthcoming she has been in disclosing the full scope of the crimes committed. As such she was given the option of retirement or transfer to command one of the new Avalon Borderers LCTs. Although she would remain at her current rank the smaller size of her prospective command was an obvious demotion, but the General accepted with almost embarrassing gratitude, having assumed her military career was over. She was however warned that she had a great deal to do to redeem herself and she would be carefully watched. Duke Pravin Singh however had no such mercy given to him. He was stripped of his titles and sent to jail for the crime of blackmailing a serving officer within the AFFS for his own political and economic gain. Count Kirsh Larouque was immediately informed that he was the new Duke of Panpour and informed this was subject to him rooting out any remaining corruption on his new fief. 
----
===Exile Duchess meets with the House Davion===
The evacuated Duchess of Andurien also meets with Conrad Davion on behalf of his cousin Victor Davion. Also present is Duchess Isis Marik, the First Prince's consort. Both promise her continued support not only for herself and her government in exile but also the flood of refugees who are mostly housed within the Capellan March. Conrad Davion promises that the Federated Sun's will attempt to retake the Grand Duchy, but admits that given the distance between the front lines and Andurien this will be difficult. In the meantime however and as a sign of good will the First Prince will gift a newly discovered and habitable world on the Periphery border of his realm to the Duchess and to the people of Andurien. New Andurien will be a protectorate of the Federated Suns and will be happily aid in the movement of the exiles from the current refugee camps to the world. Additionaly, the FedSuns government would help set up a functioning colony for them. The handful of surviving Defenders of Andurien will be reequipped and set up as the planetary garrison. While the exiled Duchess is unhappy, that the FedSuns refuses to commit to a full on crusade of liberation of her homeworld she is practical enough to realize that this was never likely and accepts with pained grace the offer of a new homeworld for those of her people who have fled into exile with her. Although she promises both Conrad Davion and Isis Marik-Davion that she fully intends to reclaim her lost homeland no matter the cost.
----
===Developments in Industry===
On Outreach the Wolf's Dragoons see their industrial company Blackwell open a new line for a Clantech Gallowglass class Heavy Battlemech. While the AFFS strongly suggest they round out their production with a medium weight battlemech, the Wolf's Dragoons are eager to restart production of their iconic Marauder II Assault battlemech. This leads to some delay as the 2 sides argue over which is the best option for pushing ahead. 
The new Maltex facility on Brockton finishes construction of the Wyvern class medium battlemech line. The Highlander line continues to be built and is scheduled to begin producing the assault class battlemech in May 3069. 
On Filtvelt, the Cattlemaster Agromech line enters production and is soon shipping the popular mech across the Outback and beyond within the Federated Suns. While Outback FarmMechs are most proud of their 3 battlemech lines their agricultural industrialmechs are a major seller for them. 
The Yeffter’s Weapons plant in orbit over Gulkana begins work on it's first of the huge new NAC-30s that it has been commissioned to provide for the growing Federated Suns Navy. These huge naval autocannon are to form the backbone of the firepower of many of the ship classes currently either planned or under construction and the new plant is to help meet the demand. 
The Corean Enterprise industrial facility producing Musketeer Hover Tanks on June upgrades from semi-automated to fully automated in November, increasing production of the popular medium tank to meet demand. This brings the number of fully automated facilities producing this tank to 3 throughout the Federated Suns and even with this massive production the demand is barely being met. 
The New Independence Weaponry plant on Kestrel has it's new Marauder II Assault 'Mech production line go online on the 23rd of November. This expansion is just another reason for the AFFS pushing the Wolf's Dragoons to produce a Clantech medium battlemech rather than a Marauder IIC variant. 
Kallon Industries Kirklin plant also watched it's new Thunderbolt line go operation in November, bringing the total number of battlemech lines at this facility to 4. The Thunderbolt line is producing the NAIS variant of the battlemech under license. 
On New Avalon Achernar's production facilities are expanded with a third Dervish-O line going operational. Even as the first omnimechs are marching of the production facility they are swiftly being allocated to some of the new commands. 
The New Earth Trading Company facility on Kentares see's their Von Luckner tank production line begin construction, although a few hiccups with the turret assembly facility will result in a backlog of semi completed tanks that will only be caught up with by Christmas. Further expansions are under active consideration. 
----
===Capellan-Grand Duchy Invasion===
====Andurien Falls====
The front lines on Andurien finally collapse and the last of the 1st Defenders are wiped out in their last stand at the Ducal Palace by a combination of orbital strikes and artillery barrages. A handful of infantry hold out in the cellars of the palace until the 4th of November, but they are finally burned out by specially outfitted battle armored troopers. On the 5th of November the new self styled Duke Baxter announces the formal formation of the Andurien Commonality of the Capellan Confederation with himself at it's head. Sian remains silent on the matter but doesn't formally endorse his new title. 
----
====Reconstruction under Duke Baxter====
The new Duke's first order of business is to begin rebuilding work. Priorities are given for industrial sites, his Ducal Palace and the training facilities on the planet. While these are underway he meets with the commanding officers of the Shin Legion, 15th Dracon, and 4th Tau Ceti Rangers. He formally offers each of their commanding officers titles and fiefs within the new Andurien Commonality and commensurate lesser titles and lands for their subordinates. He also promises to support them against any recall orders from Sian making the point that if they follow said orders they will only be thrown into the meat grinder of the Federated Suns Front. All three officers accept. Alongside his own units this will give him more than enough firepower to hold onto his position - indeed he begins sending feelers to the garrison formations on the Capellan conquered League worlds such as Shuen Wan and Cronulla which aren't formally part of his Commonality. Or at least not yet. More worrying for the government on Sian similar feelers are sent to worlds such as Sigma Mare and Shiba... 
----
====Making Deals with the Devil====
On Sian, the disloyalty of Duke Baxter would normally be a major concern, however compared to the news from the front it's a minor matter. Chancellor Sun-Tzu enters into negotiations with the Word of Blake in desperation for troops to bolster his shattered lines, however even his "friends" within the WOB are cold to his entreaties. 
----
===Plans for Secret Meetings===
Coordinator Theodore Kurita makes a major play on the 26th of November when he "invites" First Prince Davion to a secret meeting face to face to discuss the current crisis. The language in the invitation ruffles more than a few feathers with the AFFS officers and FedSuns' diplomatic staff who see it, but the First Prince agrees almost instantly. He suggests meeting in the Northwind system. However, this is immediately refused and instead the Coordinator suggests the dead system of Lockdale, once a thriving Terran Hegemony regional capital world, as a neutral meeting site. Reluctantly the First Prince agrees, but with the condition that he can bring a strong escort which is accepted...
-----
 Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter
0101, Chapter