WoWS3 Chpt 65

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==Weapons of War Saga: The Final March- Chapter 65 - Epilogue ==
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===Final Cruise===
Mettis Station
Sol System, Solar Outer Planets Collective
June 7th, 3145
Olivia Hazard Perry had come to Thomas Eric Mahan’s room in the hospital.
“It’s time.” He said simply.
His health had been declining rapidly in his old age, especially since the incident with his Grandson.
But now the end was near, he could feel it and between Admiral David Foster and Helena’s AIs he would get his wish. He would die on the deck of a ship, out in the black on one last cruise.
Olivia kissed him gently on the forehead as she wheeled his chair out of the room and through the corridors.
Mettis was not well known to them but Thomas had insisting on staying there, with the Sol Belters until it was all over.
All of Helena’s AIs were lined up in the dock. As he came to each one they leaned down to either hug him or kiss him.
Despite everything he recognized the ship at the dock.
SLS Larry Nichols , the RAF paint and commissioning had been undone and the ship was a little battered from the fighting but otherwise as he remembered it.
He was secured in CiC.
The Fleet was in formation, waiting for him.
“Take us out.” Thomas said weakly.
The tug of the thrusters was barely noticeable as the ship broke away from the station. Then the main drives came on.
Even though it was only a display screen, somehow Thomas felt the heat of Sol on his face.
That was the last thing he saw before his heart finally stopped.
Solemnly he was taken down to the hanger bay. A simple Spacer’s coffin had been prepared for this occasion. His body was laid down into it, and sealed.
Once more all the AIs human remotes were gathered.
“We commit the body of Thomas Erik Mahan back to the stars and ask their light to shine on him and to allow his light to join theirs to shine on us.” William Maher gave the traditional Golden Hind prayer as the coffin was launched into space, where it would eventually find its way to Sol.
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===Passing of the Guard===
Unity City
Terra, Republic of the Sphere
June 10th, 3145
Helena walked past the gathered attendees on her way to the throne.
She unexpectedly grabbed the hand of Lori Cameron and gave a clear signal that Lori was supposed to follow her.
This is not what had been rehearsed but despite the confusion in the crowd no one wanted to object.
Lori and Helena came up to the throne.
“Sit.” Helena commanded.
“Mom?”
“Do it.”
Lori sat in the throne.
Victoria placed the crown of the First Lord and Director-General of the Star League on Lori’s head.
“By my authority and in the presence of all who are here I proclaim Lori Jenifer Cameron First Lord and Director-General of the Star League reborn.” Helena declared.
“But mom…”
“It is done. It is all yours now. Don’t worry. I’ll be around to help you, but you’ve already learned so much from so many people. You’ll do fine.” Helena smiled.
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The murmurs from the crowd began almost immediately. Helena did not wait. She retired to what used to be her room growing up.
Victoria followed her.
“You’re sure about this?” Victoria said.
“Yes.”
With that Victoria placed a different sort of crown on Helena’s head.
Helena’s vision went black and she felt herself fall into nothingness.
When she opened her eyes she was in a peaceful green garden.
“You are truly one of us now.” Juanita hugged her.
One by one all her AIs appeared and hugged her.
“You are now truly the Eternal Princess.” Victoria said as she hugged Helena last.
“Yes I am. My remote?”
“Ready when you are. Alabaster and Kolossus did a wonderful job on it. Somehow I think they both knew you were going to do this.” Zulu said.
“I’m sure they did. Really it was obvious to predict. Alabaster had the core all ready for me.”
"Well, mostly ready." the virtuality was marred by a marker. Persistence. "Three flaws in the original build, but we fixed them."
“Thanks. Now I’m ready to stand with the rest of you as I should as the bulwark against the darkness. For that is the price of freedom, eternal vigilance.” Helena said."I think you might find you live to regret it." a young man said, resolving. "Persistence, heads up, Mom's coming."
"What? How?"
“We are making an awful lot of chatter on the fleet comms.” Haida offered.
"Somebody gave the Cappies a ship or two. Pattern matches up with Avalon class, we need to clear bandwidth, Mom's on her way." he said.
“Right oh. Seems we’ve got work to do.” Haida said as she disconnected.
“The work is never done, so yes it is possible I may regret doing this but it is the only way I know how to make sure I do my fair share. See you all in the real world.” Helena told them.
The environment rippled.
"Signal forwarded. Oh, damn, you're new?" he said, "I don't recognize your prefix…"
“Call me Helena and you are?”
"Obedience." he said, "um…'Oswald’ when I get my flesh next year…shit, are you THE Helena?""
“I am.” she told him.
"Mom's gonna be pissed about that. Sorry…Primary gets…angry still, when she, ah…when, that is…damn. I hope she didn't pick up any stray off this."
“I know. That will be my burden to bear when she eventually learns about this.” Helena told her.
"They give you a ship yet?" Obedience asked.
“There did happen to be one available.” Helena said with smile.
"Then maybe we'll run together some day, I'm the AI for Short Conversation, it's a Cruiser for the Kolossus 2nd Privateer fleet out of Lazarus."
“I’m sure we will someday. I’ve been given the SLS Larry Nichols.” Helena said with smile.
"Sa-WeeT!! Okay, I gotta drop out, they're assigning crew and Mom's signals have been forwarded."
“Good hunting. I may as well get the next hard part over with now.” Helena felt strange as her consciousness returned to physical reality.
He de-rezzed.
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===Truth behind Change===
Helena stood up and looked at her form in the mirror. The body was perfect. She could feel, smell, and even taste.
She would have autonomy from her hull but she knew what was about to happen.
Lori was waiting for her in the throne room.
“Really? This too?” Lori scolded.
“I’m sorry for springing it on you like this.” she told her daughter.
“Well, it is a good thing that I know this means. I’ll always have a part of my mom with me.”
“That’s true. I’m no longer Helena Cameron in a very metaphysical sense. I should choose a new name.” Helena said thoughtfully.
“Astoria. Astoria Cameron. Still keep the family name as a reminder of who you come from.” Lori suggested.
“You know what I like it. How about I find Amanda and get my tongue lashing from her, then dinner after?” Astoria suggested
“Sounds like a plan.” Lori told her.
"You'll need a few months." Priss said from the doorway. "Mom's at Kolossus getting re-sorted after being blown to bits, Majesty. We just got confirmation and kolossus has already read her signal. Daoshen's got a fleet, they've been backing the Marians and the Magistracy against the Free Worlders."
“Well, Admiral of the Fleet, I’d say you have your work to get to.” Lori smirked at Astoria Cameron.
"I'm not the Admiral of the Fleet, Ma'am. I'm just a Commodore of Privateers-when I'm not acting as your Highness's Secretary of the Interior…unless you're promoting me past several senior officers in the wrong service. For Admiral of the Fleet, you need to pick up your commlink and tell Sterling McKenna the bad news."
Helena eyed Priss carefully, then, "Your ship, the Legalistic Document-who's the AI?"
"Uh…" Priss began to stall.
"Tell her, Prissy." Lori ordered.
"That's Outrage, uh…'Orville' when he's got a body." Priss said, "It's why he doesn't talk a whole lot…how did you know?"
"I met his brother Oswald." Astoria said.
"Oh, yeah…Mom made those before she went to New Lazarus I swear!!" Priss in panic explained.
“We know. It’s okay.”
"In other news…" Priss handed Lori a ComPad, "...need your chop for one of Petra's mad science projects. She thinks she can crack up into super-jump ranges, but she needs approval for funding the research ship."
“That girl is going to drive the Finance Committee insane. But science needs to get done and done right, which means not cheap.” Lori stated as she read the Pad.
"Hey, it's not her weirdest idea…there's this Belta who moved in out by Callisto after the war-a Rokkahjakkah who Petra thinks is sharp, crazy lady thinks she might have a working electrogravitation theory. Petra thinks she might be right, but the price for that facility is a budget crusher."
"How Crushing?" Lori ask with concern in her voice.
"Seven hundred fifty billion Star League Dollars, or three Trillion Kroner, or Seventy seven point five Trillion Escudos…" Priss explained
“Get someone out there to get a second opinion on it, I want to make sure it is the real deal before I fight the committee for that much money.” Lori said.
"What costs that much?" Astoria mused.
"A supercooled collider reinforced with Whytium." Priss said, "You know, that stable transuranic that they discovered while you were kicking the dogsnot out of Clan Wolf. The stuff is expensive to find, and process…and it's rare. Even Kolossus balked at this one."
“Well, if it is the real deal it’ll be worth it. If it isn’t, it shouldn’t be hard to figure out.” Lori nodded.
“Any other pending disasters, Priss?” Lori asked.
"Well, Highness, your husband's pending coronation in the Lyran Commonwealth, CONTROL picked up three assassination plots and a possible move for a palace coup, Juanita wants to turn Famine loose on them, so I think it might be real."
“Okay. Have Juanita pass on what we know too, quietly. Also tell Roderick I’ll be there to visit him and our son Adam before the Coronation.” Lori nodded.
"Oh, and Dr. Vendetta wants to get you in the stirrups for an Ob/Gyn exam, you missed your last three appointments with your physician and he elevated it to your Health Minister."
“Fine. I hate having to do this.” Lori shook her head.
“I expect more grandkids from you, Lori. Sally’s already given me three.” Astoria chuckled.
Priss waited, as she paged to the next item. "There's the matter of seven meetings with the combined legislature for the Terran Hegemony, seems that there's a dispute over claims in the outer Centauri system, the Ross Association and the Outer Planets are each accusing the other of claim-jumping and it's elevated to your level, there's also the question from the Diplomatic Corps over what you're going to send to Dane Avellar's coronation next month, and whether you'll be making a trip out to visit him now that Old Christien is dead, the Federated Suns and the Combine are stalling over their peace talks again…"
“THIS is why you did what you did…” Lori addressed her mom.
“Yup. The work never stops. I’ll handle the Belters for you. You’re one First Lord and there’s a lot of fires.” Astoria said with a smile.
“Thanks. Okay, if my schedule works with the coronation of Roderick and getting to Alpheratz. I’ll do both but, if I have to choose one over the other I have to side with my husband.” Lori answered.
“Also, Ottilie Lee Dennis needs maternity leave. Seems her organic remote’s plumbing was fully functional and no one explained that to her.”
“Bloody hell.” Lori face palmed.
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===State of the Star League===
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The Star League as of 3155;
Member States:
The Republic of the Sphere
The Free Worlds League
The Lyran Commonwealth
The Outworlds Alliance/Raven Alliance (Pre-Reunification war borders to the edge of the Thazi Confederacy)
The Kolossus Operation (Thazi Republic, Murakami Station, former Sons of Plunder worlds)
The Outer Planets Association of Sol (19 Belter factions spread from Saturn to the outer Kuiper belt)
The New Lazarus State (aka Terran Hegemony)
The Wolf Empire
Provisional members: (membership delayed by various factors)
The Draconis Combine (stubborn pride)
The Federated Suns (stubborn pride)
The Taurian Concordat (topic resulted in fist fight in Parliament)
Ghost Bear/Rasalhague Dominion(caught up in committee debate)
Hostile states:
The Capellan Confederation {outward expansion to Tortuga}
The Magistracy of Canopus
The Duchy of Andurien
The Marian Hegemony
The Clan Homeworlds
Neutrals:
Clan Sea Fox
Clan Goliath Scorpion
The Jarnfolk Affiliation
Clan Hell's Horses
Note: While several major states are members, membership in the Star League includes some of the smallest by population states and statelets in the Inner Sphere and near periphery. Each member state except the Wolf Empire is obligated to devote 20% of their native military strength to the SLDF, The Wolf Empire's Warrior Caste is required to devote over fifty percent as an ongoing punishment for their wars against the Republic and Lyran Commonwealth.
The Capellan annexation of the Tortuga Dominions is proof positive of Daoshen, and later Danai, Liao's diplomatic skill and willingness to use covert means to secure an outcome. While the CapCon is not a contiguous state, it is growing outward from both 'anchors' to fill the empty space between Tortuga and the Capellan border, this has resulted in numerous clashes with neighboring powers, and one such clash, near the Filtvelt border, cost the life of Amanda Roberts along with the lives of her entire crew aboard Amusing Anecdote in 3155.
Danai Centrella-Liao's agents have been creating links with other powers hostile to the Star League, including the Marian Hegemony and conducting vigorous diplomacy with the Duchy of Andurien, with the apparent goal to create a 'pure human' counterbalance to the Star League.
Thus far, the Capellan Solution has avoided direct confrontation with Star League Member States, instead waging a sort of 'cold war' to influence non-members, provisional members, and Neutrals.
To even the playing field a new division of Star League Intelligence has been formalized, called KAOS. These agents are more empowered to utilize assassination, sabotage, and other more forceful means to achieve their objectives where CONTROL operatives are more about information gathering and working local contacts. They are headed up by Victoria Cameron but many pure human teams of handler and fixer exist now. The most experienced and respected are still Victoria and Famine but even during the conflict against the Falcons what were becoming known as the ‘Specters’ had began making their marks as well.
Appendix 2: Technology of the New Star League
State of Helena’s AIs:
As research into cores small enough to install in human form remotes continue, many of Helena’s AIs have opted for the organic/mostly human remote as a temporary substitute. This has freed them from their hulls but is still seen as an imperfect solution.
There have been some growing pains with perfecting the technology of the organic/mostly human forms. A notable one was many of the AIs never really questioned just how fully functional they were. A few maternity cases forced that issue to be solved quickly.
KF Research efforts have created a new class of jump drive, this with a standard range of 45 light years in standard operations, and up to 60 light years if you don't mind burning it out in a single go. While this technology is currently exclusive to SLDF Royal Fleet units and vessels built at Kolossus, it is maturing and the promise of faster interstellar travel for trade and commerce is considered 'just around the corner'.
The Star League's HPG systems got a major refit during the Wolf/Republic conflict, but nothing compared to what's come with the release by Kolossus of the engineering designs for an improved Hyperpulse Generator for civil/planetary use. (even the Cappies are building them now!) While this caused much consternation in the Star League Council, member Kolossus, in a rare personal appearance via datalink, asserted treaty rights to "Release Knowledge to whomever will learn it." A review of the specific treaty binding Kolossus to the Star League revealed that the super-station entity's membership was based upon the right to consent, or refuse, any transaction it chooses.
Moves to remove that right have stalled in committee.
The integration of Clan technology, especially Iron womb technology has caused some social issues to have to be addressed. Having a greater ability to screen for certain birth defects has caused unforeseen ethical debates, particularly about who gets access to this technology.
The discovery of Whytium added a new bloc to the periodic table of elements, as the first, and so far, only stable transuranic. Whytium is incredibly rare, and shows potential to be insanely useful as an industrial material for applications related to Hyperspace travel and communication. This has become the 'new gold rush' in the Outworlds and other polities in the coreward region.
It is believed, but not proven, that Whytium may be the result of antimatter interaction with supernovae, and that it may be more plentiful closer to the Galactic Core.
As of this writing, only 700 million tons of the material are known and confirmed to exist.
Kolossus has, as of this time, refused requests to share Rebirth technology outside of the Star League Royal Household, and the current count of active 'Envoys' of Kolossus remains steady at eighteen known individuals.
To quote the Kolossus entity: "Mankind is neither culturally, nor psychologically ready for immortality."
When that is has yet to be stated. That the technology is available to certain individuals has caused some unrest and debate.
To placate opponents the Star League charter was modified to prohibit First Lords who have undergone the procedures for life extension, becoming AI, or otherwise making use of Rebirth technologies.
What is notable, is that House Liao has invested heavily into bio research into human life extension projects in joint cooperation with the Magistracy of Canopus. The results are not yet there, but they're trying…very hard.
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence continues to show no concrete results. If they're out there, they're not talking to us. Notably, a Lyran Commonwealth family is investing heavily into any exploration initiative that might change that status. The Hogarth family of Hesperus II have poured enough money to finance the construction of four ships whose stated goal, is deep range exploration along a path outward from the Lyran Commonwealth, with the explicit stated goal of seeking out "New Life, and New Civilizations".
This is tolerated due to the jobs generated at Gibbs Shipyard and other industrial centers, as well as the widely-recognized fact that they aren't going to find anything. Kolossus is monitoring.
Appendix 3: The importance of shipping in the new Star League
While prior to the Republic War, the greater Glory was accrued by Battlemechs in ground warfare, the breaking of Clan Wolf at Terra was a Naval action that saw relatively little formal combat on the ground by Battlemech forces. 
This is a situation that would seem strange, even discordant, by the standards of a generation or two before. The primary reason can be traced to the fact that Alaric Ward's forces were on an extended, deep penetration that relied heavily on bringing supplies forward from stockpiles in the Wolf Empire, and the lack, upon arrival, of either easily accessible stockpiles, or friendly manufacturing to make up for losses.
Essentially, Clan Wolf (and their allies) had to rely on importing consumables such as ammunition, medical supplies, spare parts, and even food. These, in turn, were being schlepped by cargo-capable Jumpship and some Wolf fleet units. Initially it was felt that these could be moved using normal Jumpship routing, however the scale of the requirements immediately changed this to a convoy system, in order to meet the sheer scale of need, particularly as the magnitude of the task became obvious-Clan Wolf would have to both win the ground war, and be able to hold what they took until factories could be placed back into production, or erected on or near the captured ground for producing war materiel.
To his credit, Alaric Ward recognized this problem as early as 3142, before he even made Khan. Much of what was needed to make the Terran campaign happen, had to be done using contracted shipping, which in turn, brought up the need for routes and route security efforts not previously considered a priority by either Clan, or Inner Sphere operators in prior eras.
The potential for losses due to accident, incompetence, or malfeasance expanded geometrically in the months prior to the Wolf Campaign to take Terra, and the solution worked out, was a convoy system.
This necessitated Convoy routes, convoy formations, and convoy guards. For the most part, this latter duty was assigned to combat dropships or warships, but the loss of capacity (each combat dropship is taking up a collar that could be used for hauling supplies, plus drawing on the supplies being hauled) in turn, forced a re-evaluation of Clan Wolf's fleet assets, and this in turn, created a need for dedicated escort vessels that would not draw from the cargo ships they were there to protect.
Bolan yards pushed out the first new Fredasa class corvettes in 3144, initially as a test run to verify the shipyard was, in fact, operational. Clan Sea Fox in turn began assembling new Fredasas for Wolf Contract at their Star's End facility the same year, though production problems would lead to a rapid termination of the Sea Fox programme by late 3144 as the cost was seen to be nearly prohibitive given the lack of ready raw materials and the sole customer.
Bolan built Fredasas are simplified vessels, roughly similar to their Clan Homeworlds origin predecessors, but with a few features deleted and somewhat less impressive armor layouts, they're still quite sufficient to do the job for which they were commissioned. By early 3145, there were three in service with a projected twelve more possible from the Bolan yard.
The need to protect those convoys became apparent in the early months of the Solar invasion, as several Clan Wolf convoys were located, intercepted, and destroyed, their Dropship escorts being incapable of defending them despite being 'Pocket Warships'.
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Fleet of the Star League as of 3145
1st Cruiser Squadron
Station: Truk Anchorage
CA-001 SLS Gremlin, Arcadia-Export Class - CO: Rear Admiral Amanda Roberts
CA-002 SLS Ghoul, Arcadia-Export Class - CO: Captain Sarah Goldsmith
CA-003 SLS Ghast, Arcadia-Export Class - CO: Unspecified
CA-004 SLS Ghost, Arcadia-Export Class - CO: Captain Paul Berttaine
CA-005 SLS Goblin, Arcadia-Export Class - CO: Unspecified
CD-002 SLS Specter, Class Arcadia-Alpha, Captain Trinh Vu Dao
CD-003 SLS Revenant, Class Arcadia-Alpha, Captain Olivia Hazard Perry
Destroyer Division 1 ‘Taffy 1’
Station: Truk Anchorage
Command Ship:
SLS Tabiranth, M-5.4C Class - CO: Commodore Tabiranth
-SLS Joana Clarice Butler, M-5.1 Class - CO: Captain Joana Clarice Butler
-SLS Joana Vincente Johnston, M-5.4 Class - CO Captain Joana Vincente Johnston
-SLS Lucy Heerman, M-5.4 Class - CO: Captain Lucy Heerman
-SLS Ottillie Lee Dennis, M-5.1 Class - CO Captain Ottillie Lee Dennis
-SLS Regina Marbury Raymond, M-5.4 Class - CO: Captain Regina Marbury Raymond
-SLS Samantha Booker Roberts, M-5.1 Class - CO: Captain Samantha Booker Roberts
-SLS Stacey Cameron Roberts, M-5.4 Class - CO: Captain Stacey Cameron Roberts
Destroyer Division 2 ‘Tribal’
Station: Truk Anchorage
Command Ship:
SLS Haida, M-5.4 Class - CO Commodore Haida
-SLS Cossack, M-5.4 Class - CO: Captain Cossack
-SLS Maori, M-5.1 Class - CO: Captain Maori
-SLS Mashona, M-5.4 Class - CO: Captain Mashona
-SLS Piorun, M-5.3 Class - CO: Captain Piorun
-SLS Sikh, L-5 Class - CO Captain Sikh
-SLS Tartar, M-5.4 Class - CO: Captain Tartar
-SLS Zulu, M-5.4 Class - CO: Captain Zulu
1st Corvette Squadron
Station: Port Lazarus
Command ship:
SLS Undine, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO Captain Bruno Unger
-SLS Seahorse, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Commander William Robert Mahan
-SLS Dragonfish, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Commander Sorya Kagashima
-SLS Guppy, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Lieutenant Commander Gabriel Montero
-SLS Stringback, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Lieutenant Commander Bennimuto ‘Benny’ Masasi
-SLS Dogfish, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Lieutenant Naomi Teller
-SLS Salmon, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Lieutenant Nyota Drummer
2nd Corvette Squadron
Station: Port Lazarus
Command ship:
SLS Daffodil, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO Captain Liam McConnel
-SLS Foxglove, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Commander Frederick Manhauser
-SLS Orchid, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Lieutenant Commander Anh Cu’ong-Fowler
-SLS Lily, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Lieutenant Gregori Romonav
-SLS Sunflower, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Lieutenant Shen Lin Xao
-SLS Tulip, Hazard (Pinto) Class - CO: Lieutenant Brighton
3rd Corvette Squadron
Station: Port Lazarus
KX-101 SLS Rose, Flower Class
KX-102 SLS Columbine, Flower Class
KX-103 SLS Daisy, Flower Class
KX-104 SLS Dragonsnap, Flower Class
KX-105 SLS Pansy, Flower Class
4th Corvette Squadron
Station: Port Lazarus
KX-201 SLS Crocus, Flower Class
KX-202 SLS Sunflower, Flower Class
KX-203 SLS Lavender, Flower Class
KX-204 SLS Buttercup, Flower Class
KX-205 SLS Hydrangea, Flower Class
5th Corvette Squadron
Station: Port Lazarus
KX-301 SLS Peony, Flower Class
KX-302 SLS Chrysanthemum
KX-303 SLS Dahlia, Flower Class
KX-304 SLS Iris, Flower Class
KX-305 SLS Periwinkle, Flower Class
6th Corvette Squadron
Station: Port Lazarus
KX-401 SLS Azalea, Flower Class
KX-402 SLS Calla Lily, Flower Class
KX-403 SLS Carnation, Flower Class
KX-404 SLS Marigold, Flower Class
KX-405 SLS Violet, Flower Class
Support Group
Command ship:
SLS Hokaido Maru Tracker Class - CO: Commodore Sven Ericson
-SLS Strangiata, Tracker Class - CO: Captain Lacy Stuart
-SLS Empress of India, Tracker Class - CO: Commander Garret Ellison
-SLS Great Northern, Tracker Class - CO: Commander Bart Roberts
-SLS Great Eastern, Tracker Class - CO: Commander Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Towne
-SLS Great Western, Tracker Class - CO: Commander Theresa Perry
CONTROL
SLS Juanita Pujol Garcia, M-5.1 Class Destroyer - CO: Juanita Pujol Garcia
SLS Victoria Cameron, M-5.1 Class Destroyer - CO: Victoria Cameron
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Finish
*;Words from the Author : And there we go. That's it. It is all posted. Every last bit.Big thanks to Cannonshop for all the heavy lifting he did when I hit a block or wound up having to devote too much time to research.Also thanks to Daryk for editing where he could.There's no way I could have done an epic saga like this on my own without all the help. It's just not my style.
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