LUU Chpt 1-18

==Let Us Unite - Chapter 18 -==
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
----
===Fiery Entry===
Date: January 24th, 2863Location: Altair jump point, Draconis Combine
As the dropships moved towards the edge of Altair's atmosphere, groups of aerospace fighters]] rose to meet them, the dropships and Titan carriers releasing their own fighters in response. 
 
Fighters streaked past the dropships as they dropped through the atmosphere, the smaller shapes darting in and around as the furball intensified. Then they were through, the danger of burning up if damaged on entry had passed and what was left of both sides fighters broke off. 
 
"All dropships give status reports." McFadden ordered. 
 
(("This is Captain Tointigh, we've taken minor damage, we should still be able to land, but bay doors two and three are jammed. It'll take some time to offload once we're on the ground."))
 
<("The Abyss is down engine one, we're going to lithobrake and use the other three engines to get safely on the ground.")>
 
"We'll land first and get offloaded to cover you while you offload," Colleen McFadden barked into the comms of her Highlander. "Black Watch, I don't want the Dracs to move a single meter closer than the line we establish, am I clear?" 
There was a roar of approval and the dropship shook for a moment before coming to a halt, the bay doors sliding open and the clamps that held their battalion releasing them.
 
Suarez's Guillotine was the first 'Mech out of the doors, her heavy 'Mech pushing out along with a lance of mediums to secure the area. 
 
"LZ's warm," the Lieutenant reported, the lance moving out as an extension of her will. "We've got enemy recon moving in. Dealing with them now."
 
Her paired ER large lasers cut two VTOLs in half and her mediums began to bracket fire at the handful of hovercraft that had edged too close.
 
The rest of the battalion then filed out and began to move to cover zones of fire while the other troops began disembarking. 
 
"We're working on the doors now, we're estimating an hour to fix bay one's doors, and three to four to fix bay two's."
 
"Copy that, begin offloading using bay three, we'll pull security until you're finished."
 
As the last transmission crackled, the final dropship coasted in for a landing, the Mammoth easing down and beginning to offload cargo and supplies in rapid time as soldiers began to set up anti-air emplacements alongside others that were digging basic trenches.
 
"Get fortifications up," Bryn Capell's Highlander moved next to hers, her XO acting as he was supposed to. "Alpha Company, I want your light 'Mechs to scout out Nav Point Charlie. Bravo, Start spreading out and remove anyone that's trying to scout us out."
 
"Bryn, get back in the Overlord, you're still in charge of our intelligence operations," Colleen communicated on a private channel. "I've got plenty of Mechwarriors. I need you coordinating everything so we can smash the Dracs and get to rebuilding and fortifying."
 
"Yes, Ma'am," Brym replied. "Consider it done."
----
"Come," Franklin Kurita climbed into the cockpit of his Awesome. "We shall see if the skill of our foes match their resolve."
 
----
===Shifting Priorities===
Location: New Avalon, Federated Suns
"We must continue repairing and building up," Melissa Davion looked at the March Lords that surrounded the map in front of them. "In front of you are the reports and details of what forces we have available to us."
 
"Shit," David Sandoval swore. "We've fallen that low?"
 
"We were heavily pressed by the Dracs, and the offensives that led to the peace deal with the Capellans took up quite a bit of tonnage as well."
 
"And that's before we get to the Mercenaries that joined the Hegemony," Orlando grimaced. "We can't even fault them for abandoning their contracts given the MRB is now defunct." 
 
"So, we're not going on any major offensives," Melissa tapped the table. "Now that we have control of our own HPGs, we can coordinate our QRFs better between worlds. But we can't rely on that forever. We can repair HPGs if something is broken, but we had to strip the Periphery for those parts."
 
"Which means that we're going to face a lot more pirates," the Field Marshal that was in charge of that region of space looked defeated. "I really hope you've got a plan for that, ma'am. Because we're going to run into a lot of issues."
 
"Given we're going to be in a state of preparation and rebuilding, we're going to be distributing militia forces differently," Melissa sent data to each terminal. "You'll see the preliminary plans now. Our job is to make this plan as perfect as possible. The Federated Suns needs to be an impenetrable fortress for the next five to ten years. After that," she shrugged. "Then we can retake anything that's still in the hands of the enemy."
 
"Right," David cracked his neck and began looking at the plan. "Let's get to work then, shall we?"
----
===What do Need?===
Location: The Triad - Tharkad, Lyran Commonwealth
"Duke Brewer," Archon Elizabeth Steiner inclined her head as the Duke of Hesperus II entered her office. "Thank you for coming so quickly." 
 
"I was already moving to Tharkad," the Duke took a seat as the Archon gestured. "Now, I believe that you had something critical to speak to me about?"
 
Elizabeth nodded at her guards who quickly went over the room for bugs and then inspected the halls before giving confirmation.
 
"I have already set in motion things that will see to it that our military is no longer controlled by the pests that have lingered for far too long. The LIC has uncovered information that it is due to corruption that Hesperus II suffered the last attack that also resulted in the loss of our last great deterrence."
 
"You want my assistance in clearing out the dead wood from the Estates General," Brewer arrived at the conclusion. "Given how much of my hardware ends up in the hands of our enemies… I would like to see that done as well. But I will need some assurances."
 
"Name your price."
 
"I have no need of monetary gain," the Duke of Hesperus II leaned back against the small sofa. "What I need, is intelligence, data. I've been digging through some of the family records since the resurgence of the Hegemony, and I would like the LIC to assist in uncovering some of the things that had been hidden away. If I succeed, then both my house, and the Commonwealth will benefit. But I will need the assistance first."
 
"Get me Smith," Elizabeth ordered one of the guards.
 
"Smith?" Brewer raised an eyebrow. "That's original."
 
"Current tradition," Elizabeth responded. "We will assign you a detail and grant you more contacts than you previously had access to."
 
She opened a drawer and uncorked a bottle of whiskey that cost more than a company of Battlemechs. "May you find what you're looking for." she raised a glass in a toast to the Duke.
 
"And may the Commonwealth see prosperity," Brewer responded, taking a sip. "Now, let's start discussing exactly what I can offer in regards to the Estates General…"
----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
Chapter 1-18