TBntG-3 Chpt 30

=The Bull and the Genie=
==Chapter 30 - Book III - The Clan Invasion==
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==Yalta==
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===Deep Space Summit===
Deep space
New Dallas System
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The New Dallas primary was barely visible, but that was the point. Invisible Truth waited, and not long later, a McKenna jumped in, formerly the SLN Nimitz. 
In between them was the station that had been brought, and detached for just this purpose. A meeting place. Neutral ground. 
It couldn't be on Terra, because the Clan's would freak and her own people had threatened to shoot her in a non-fatal place if she went to Clan controlled territory. 
 
Intelligence had found her name on a list of people the Clan's wanted for their DNA. 
 
If they want it I could give it to them, given that everyone got screened for DNA damage and Mary had some of her eggs in storage against the problem of radiation, but evidently, like everything, the Clans had some damned weird customs about what you could and could not do. 
 
Regardless, the two warships and their escorts, as well as the little flotillas that were politely beyond sensor, but not jump range, were stalking around like some cats that had just met in an alleyway. 
 
The flight over didn't take very long, and Mary used it to review her information. This was important. Going to war against the Combine (our technical allies) with the Clans (our enemies) Might not be the weirdest thing they'd done in this war, but it was up there. 
 
Not that Mary minded. The confirmed—confirmed, not projected—death toll in the Combine already outmatched every civilian death in the years of conflict against the Clans to an obscene degree.
 
He's officially a Star Captain right now, because of Clan politics or some such bullshit. The file on him was big and getting bigger, since generally, when Frederick or any of his people were on the scene the UMC forces had a very hard time of it indeed. 
 
Fortunately, the Eridani don't seem to hold many grudges. And the Clans had agreed that they would be the security detachment for the UMC. 
 
The shuttle docked, the creaks and groans you got from any ship echoing through the hull. Then it was opened and Mary and her staff walked in. 
 
Some wit had evidently gone to the Primus' school of humor nobody else saw, because they'd scrawled "Yalta Station" on the bulkhead. 
 
"Ha. Ha." Mary shook her head and headed in, her staff behind her. Five people. Including Victor Steiner-Davion and Hohiro Kurita. One of Victor's sleeves was empty. He had a prosthetic, but training took time, and he didn't want to accidentally slug someone. 
 
Technically part of the UMC, but actually representatives of the House Lords. 
 
They walked to the airlock to the meeting room, and the guard's checked their watches, nodding as the doors opened to let both delegations enter at once.
 
Mary stared at Frederick. He towered over the others, but was… young. She knew the age, intelligence wasn't that bad, but looking at him… A full front commander in the UMC would be in their late forties or fifties, he wasn't even out of his thirties. Mary was getting ready to say goodbye to her forties in the next few years, but…
 
Jesus, it really hammers home how fucked the Clan way is that they consider this guy over the top. 
 
Too bad they didn't manage to put him out to pasture, because it would have made Mary's job much, much easier. 
 
"Guy to his right is Vlad Ward," her intelligence officer murmured. "He's here to represent the High Council's interests."
 
"Combat record?"
 
"Tactically smart, operationally so-so, better than most of front line Clanners." 
 
Right.
 
The others were known to them. Frederick had sent info on four of his people. 
 
Which indicates that he didn't know who the fifth was going to be. Guess the stories about him and the Council are true.
 
One merchant caste member, detached from the Diamond Sharks, a Clan Watch member and… 
 
Former General Marsdon, commander of the Apollo Militia. Officially, that was part of the Commonwealth, but there had been, for many years, prejudice against former Rim Worlds planets, due to the blame for ending the Star League. They'd fought, but Frederick had offered… generous terms of surrender, including an immense degree of autonomy. 
 
Intelligence couldn't be certain, but there were persistent rumors that promises regarding the Rim Worlds Republic had been made. 
 
Mary didn't think so, but it was a nice bugaboo to use as an Earworm for Hanse and Melissa. Either Frederick had thought of that, or someone on his staff had. 
 
Lastly, Sheila Brookes, head of the Brookes Conglomerate, which was actually a periphery based business, with ties in the Commonwealth. 
 
The person who advised Frederick regarding commercial affairs, and if intelligence was to be believed, also helped run the civilian intelligence end of things… And someone he listened to.
 
Which is why running his units out of ammunition never works. 
 
They stopped, and the Comstar Acolyte who was presiding nodded. "I call this working meeting to order."
 
And with that, Mary and the others sat down, and even sitting down, Frederick still towered over her, dammit.
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===The Meeting between the Leaders of War===
Definitely as small as the pics show. The General would never have made it out of a Sibko, failing the physicals before she'd even be tested. 
 
Which said something about their way of evaluating worthiness. Her intelligence officer sat to her right, A legal officer to her left, and Hohiro and Victor together, further to the side, probably to show that they were not purely subordinate to the general. 
 
Clever soldiers. Victor had extracted his force from a trap that should have worked, and Hohiro was a master of tactical combat. 
 
And yet he is now a ruler without a nation. So why is he here? To observe, or to represent the interests of a government that no longer has any sway over the Combine?
 
Frederick's intelligence was clear. What was left of the loyal government was hiding or fleeing. The first panicked tide of refugees had been choked off, mainly because the remaining JumpShips were under Black Dragons' control.
 
"I would like to first state, for the record," General Cheng said. "That the Unified Military Command, and any allied forces have not, at any point, used nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons against Clan forces or civilians under Clan occupation."
 
Frederick leaned back. "And yet the forces that have done so, bear the emblem of the Draconis Combine."
 
"Any such forces are bandits." Hohiro said. "Dezgra as you call them. The true government of the Draconis Combine will take no offense—no matter what method you choose to use against such monsters."
 
"Ah." Frederick commented.
 
And there is the first offer. Vlad was leaning forward. Unsurprisingly, some of the first attacks with WMD's had caught the frontline forces off guard. 
 
"But," Frederick said. "If we are to successfully eliminate the Black Dragon Society, we must have… a truce. At the very least along the line of confrontation." 
 
Now Mary looked disgruntled. Frederick tried not to chuckle. Finally ready to launch the offensive I'd been dreading and now this intervenes. 
 
But it would not be wise to be too happy. After all, the production forecasts in his office made it all to plain—General Cheng could always launch another offensive. 
 
And with that, the meat of the meeting began.
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==Marching Orders due to the Conference==
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===Coalition standards on POW treatment===
From: Office of the CINC
 
To: All commands
 
The following orders are to be followed in regards to all Combine POWs and civilian detainees. :1. All individuals, regardless of status are to be held in humane conditions, as laid out in FM 2205. 2. It is to be emphasized that no collective punishments are to be carried out. Civilians may be detained and searched for security purposes, but no hostage taking or punishments are to be levied against those who have not carried out direct attacks. 3. Draconis Combine military officials are to be classified according to the following list. 
 
;Class A : Black Dragon political officers, civilian security forces and Covert operations officers. 
 
;Class B : Draconis Combine officers who swore an oath of allegiance to the BDS, or carried out their orders previous to the coup. 
 
;Class C : Draconis Combine officers who carried out atrocities (see list) independently or under the command of BDS officers.
 
;Class D : DCMS officers who are not currently accused of engaging in direct atrocities, and who swore their oath of allegiance after the coup. 
 
;Class E: Enlisted men and women. Although they may have taken part in atrocities, the degree of culpability will be determined later, as due to BDS discipline, the question of their willingness remains open. 
 
;Class F: Civilian leaders who continued to manage their businesses and or agencies under BDS command. 
 
;Class A, B, and, C : These are not to be considered legitimate soldiers and are not protected by the laws of War. Any captives will be turned over to the UMC Judge Advocates office and will be transported to segregated facilities for later trial in civilian court as civilian criminals. They are under no circumstances to be permitted interaction with any other categories of POWs or detainees due to the danger of intimidating their fellows. Furthermore, due to incidents of suicide bombing in the past, they are to be taken prisoner if, and only if, such an action will not impact the safety of any officers or men in the UMC detachments. 
 
;Class D: Officers are to be granted the courtesy's of POW status, however, they remain "under suspicion" until their status can be verified. Officers who are verified by higher authority as not having participated in atrocities may be domiciled with Class E POWs and serve as their representatives, under the observation of the JAG. 
 
;Class E: Prisoners are to be evaluated on a case by case basis. While following orders is not an excuse for atrocities, the consistent use of the death penalty for actual or perceived disobedience throughout the history of the DCMS must be taken into account. Prisoners who are found to be suspected of atrocities will be held and tried at a later date, in courts set up for that purposes. 
 
;Class F: Civilians may be allowed to remain in thief positions if they satisfy the following criteria:1. Vital to the operation and health of the civilian population.2. Were not a member of the BDS before the coup. 3. Did not engage in BDS atrocities, or participate in internal security operations.4. Cooperate with UMC forces in rooting out BDS supporters. (this last measure should be only when more than one source can corroborate their testimony.)Class F categories will only remain in their position until it is possible for new leaders to be chosen by the freely expressed will of the people in their region. 
 
At all points, the conduct of UMC soldiers in occupied zones will be in accordance with the standards put out in FM 2204, Occupational Policies and Discipline. Soldiers and officers who fail to conduct themselves, will be subject to penalties, up to and including General Court Martials.
 
---General Mary Cheng 
 
From: Planning for Victory: The UMC and the Largest Occupation in Human History. New Avalon Press, 3130.
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===Frederick Ghost Bears' POW orders===
From: Star Captain Frederick (brevet commander)
 
To: All Units in OPERATION PURIFICATION 
 
RE: DCMS captives. 
 
1. Officers and political officers of the BDS are to be terminated. They have tainted themselves beyond recovery. 
 
2. Enlisted and NCOs may, if they have not engaged in atrocities be offered Bondsman status , if their performance merits it. However, those who refuse will be transferred to POW camps without prejudice. All offered Bondsman status are to be informed that Bondsref does not mandate suicide.*
 
3. Civilian officials are to be allowed to continue in their duties so long as they have not actively participated in BDS atrocities. 
 
4. The BDS, showing their Dezgra nature, have conscripted many civilians into combat operations. In such cases, any POWs are to be repatriated as quickly as possible. However, any officers and NCOs with these units are to be terminated. 
 
5. When interacting with civilians, remember that the Great Father was always their protector. Conduct yourselves with honor, and do not be hasty to take offense at statements or actions that may be made in ignorance. For example, among Spheroids talking about family is often seen as a way to make casual talk, and should not be considered an insult by any trueborn. 
 
*Those of you who are newly transferred from the Homeworlds, understand: The Inner Sphere does not see Bondsmen in the same way we do. If you have not already, remember that you are ordered to read Clan and Inner Sphere customs: A primer, which will allow you to better understand the Inner Sphere. It has been written by both Clan and Spheroid individuals and will greatly assist you in working with Inner Sphere citizens.
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