WoWS3 Chpt 2

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==Weapons of War Saga: The Final March- Chapter 2 - ==
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===Interstellar Players' Chessboard of the Inner Sphere===
Guest Lounge
Kolossus System, Kolossus Station
September 24th, 3137
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Helena’s perspective
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“So what is it that brings Actual-Helena to Kolossus this day?”
“Something of a math problem really. With the HPGs down I know if I’m going to go back to Terra I need to do it soon. No more than two decades absolute latest. So I must face my past, I need to go openly as Actual-Helena Cameron.”
“Kolossus is not sure how Kolossus can help with that.”
“If Devlin Stone hasn’t already setup a transfer of power to me despite his disappearance I’d be rather surprised. Honestly, I think I need to accept it if he has. If he has not, well there are still hostile forces driving for Terra and doing some terrible things and if I’m going to look myself in the mirror after everything I’ve done I need to try and help.”
“Hence the math problem Actual-Helena has.”
“Yeah. I know what my AIs are capable of, but I know how many I have and how many enemies are driving for Terra. Depending on order and amount of time between attacks I am always just going to come up short but how long before that point will depend on the aforementioned variables. And above all else I just lack the ground forces for the counter attacks I would have to launch.”
“So Actual-Helena asks Kolossus for assistance.”
“Murakami too next time she swings by, but she seems to be difficult to pin down. I’d love to get production going for those AI controlled LAMs she has. But I will need AI ground combat units of as many types as possible. For compensation and consideration I am sharing the mineral and industrial outputs of the two systems under my current control.”
“Kolossus would be happy to tailor some industrial modules for Helena’s use. It will still take some time.”
“I intend to be a part of my children’s lives for a while longer yet. I know their lives are here while mine will inevitably draw me back to Terra but for a while yet I just want to be with them and Leon. And yes I still need to help where I can around here for a while longer. A lot of worlds are still hurting from the war and with the HPGs down there’s a lot of work to be done.”
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===Family Dinner===
Roberts's Family House Hold
Sevon V, Raven Alliance 
June 12th, 3141
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Helena’s perspective
“Mom. It’s time and you know it. We’re all eighteen now and about to start our own lives. but we can see how it’s eating at you not doing anything about the insanity consuming humanity again.” Lori said abruptly.
“All of you feel that way?” Helena asked.
“Yes, Mom. You’ve ducked, dodged, and excused as much as we’re going to let you. We know you love us and you don’t want to lose touch with us like you did Stacey but this time it’s just life.” David nodded.
“Yeah. We’re not running away, we’re all just going our own way. Sure the HPGs being down make it harder for us to keep in touch but that’s all the more reason for you to go, you can’t find out or fix it from here or you would have by now.” Nathan added.
“I’ll be okay, mom. I know being in the service right now is dangerous but so is just living with all this chaos. This way I can maybe help people. But you’ve got to go help too. And we know that means going back to Lazarus and then eventually Terra.” Sally smiled.
“Leon?”, Helena turns to her husband.
“Our children are correct. You have delayed as long as you can. Now is the time for you to be true to yourself. I know it will pain us both but I will remain here to continue to watch over our children as best I can because I know that will give you the peace of mind you need to go do what needs to be done.” Leon held his wife’s hand.
“I don’t know what to say…”, Helena struggled.
“Say ‘Thank you, I needed the kick in the ass’.” Leon smiled.
“I really have no choice do I?” Helena looked at her husband and children.
“Not without forsaking everything you profess to believe in. You just needed our permission. So we’re giving it to you.” David hugged his mom.
Next was Nathan, then Lori, and finally Sally.
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===Meeting with old Friends===
Star League in Exile HQ
New Lazarus, within Republic of the Sphere
November 18th, 3132
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“Finally back here again.” Helena sat at her desk.
It had been nearly three decades since she sat at this desk but the feel of the surface was just as familiar to her now as it had been the last time she sat at it.
“About time. I was starting to wonder how long I’d have to wait for you.” Dave Foster entered her office followed by Olivia Hazard Perry.
“Truk been driving you crazy, Dave?” Helena smiled at her long time friend.
“More the boredom. I rather expected to find a system hip deep in strife or even civil war with what you told me of the fanatical worship of you and your AIs among these people but somehow they kept it together.”
“Equal parts I leveled with them about what I was going to do, telling them if I found problems waiting for me when I did return there’d be hell to pay, and luck.” Helena smiled.
“Well the industrial modules supplied by Kolossus and Murakami have been an immense help in getting everything ready. Combined with everything you already managed to build up we’ve got pretty solid production of a fair amount of stuff now, not quite enough to build new hulls ourselves yet. But repairing battle damage and replacing drone ASFs should pose little trouble for us.” Davie sat down across from Helena.
“Sorry, Olivia.” Helena looked at the AI remote.
“It is what it is. I just have to trust I will have a hull again at some point. For now I serve in whatever capacity you wish.”, Olivia told her Lord.
“You’re way too forgiving of me, Olivia.”
“So Lady Cameron, what’s today’s order of business?” David Foster spoke up.
“Fleet training and integration status?”
“The Pintos and the crews supplied by your sister have had the expected trouble cases but well within projections and are integrating as well as can be expected.” Foster answered.
“Good. Then it’s time to start putting them to work. With HPGs down we need a lot of scouting, couriers, and we should even start setting up forward supply points in unoccupied systems around the perimeter of the Fortress Wall.”
“So when do we go on the offensive?” Foster asked.
“As soon as we can get a hold of the idiot who put up the Wall and start coordinating with them. The Republic is the one ally we have to have in this fight.”
“Fortunately there seem to be several HPGs within range of Terra that still work. So it is not out of the question that we can send a message.” Foster nodded.
“Stone’s MIA, Victor, and Lear are dead. I don’t think Levin was ever a part of the delegations so we never met. So we’ll have to start working the diplomatic office.” Helena sighed.
“Starting to regret turning yourself into a legend again?” Foster probed.
“Another reminder that others have to pay for my selfishness. If I hadn’t I might at least still have diplomatic inroads that I now have to basically build up from scratch again.” Helena sighed.
“Or you could use it.” Olivia offered.
“Explain.” Foster grunted.
“Well, instead of approaching them directly as Helena Cameron, maybe go ahead and use your legend as the Eternal Princess. Begin something of a grassroots campaign. Plant the seed and let it grow. With how divided the Republic is right now it could give the various sides of the internal conflicts some common ground to focus upon.” Olivia answered.
“It’d take a while.” Foster grumbled.
“Until we can get the Republic onside, all we can do is stall the inevitable and we don’t have the industry or manpower to sustain that. Not even with Murakami and Kolossus’ help. Not yet anyway.”
“Won’t stop the multi-sided civil war going on in the Republic anytime soon. Frankly, you’re going to have to decide who to support and who to go against.” Foster advised.
“All the more reason we need up to date information. Juanita, I want you to start putting together mission proposals. I’ll have to trust you and Victoria to run those missions. I want to know more about any skeletons in closets and dirty laundry of the major players of each faction in this civil war. The ones we can stomach we’ll then start approaching.” Helena nodded.
“So what are you going to do about Daoshen?” Dave Foster probed.
“He still going on about returning the Mandate of Heaven to Terra and reclaiming worlds stolen by the Republic?” Helena asked.
“Yes.” Juanita’s voice joined them.
“I doubt he’ll accept but then I shall invite him to tea.” Helena answered.
“You can not be serious.” Dave Foster growled.
“Something more is going on with Daoshen. I need to find out but I’m not silly enough to go to him. I can only hope he remembers I kept my promises at Port Orphan during the conference there and is finally ready to answer my calls.” Helena countered.
“But inviting him here? Are you insane?”
“Hmmm, that is a good point. A neutral space would be best. Freedom Station. That should work."
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