InaG Chpt 17

==It's not a Gundam - Chapter 17 -Planning an Atreus Welcome- Book 2 -==
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===Anticipation of Arrival of a potential Ally===
Captain-General's Office, Atreus City
Atreus, Free Worlds League
February 3027
Jano Marik preferred allies over subordinates. He was, unfortunately, a man with few friends. He woke up today with Comstar News announcing that two of his said allies had joined with the third. The Lothian League and Illyrian Palatinate, both periphery states that traded with the Free Worlds League had now signed up with the Junker Cooperative. Their vast ore deposits would feed the growing industries in Guild space rather than Marik foundries.
 
It was inevitable really. The Exarch was building a league of his own and compared to the Great Houses the Cooperative was there to ensure that everyone worked together for the common good; not some vanity project for a wannabe king.
 
"Though the Exarch just may as well be.' Janos mused to himself.
 
He had read Dote's report. The Exarch had a niche for gathering men of uncommon valor and character like Gluck and Cello. Men like the masked man himself. Was he a Cameron? Maybe? Did it matter?
 
Probably not. Janos pondered.
 
Actions spoke louder than words. He already got an earful of the latter every time he tried to wrestle funding and votes from parliament. That was why he increasingly had to do things in-house. Marik men. Marik material. Marik money. Marik mechs as well if the Battlemechs standing guard outside his office said anything.
 
There were few who he considered to be worthy of being First Lord. That list he begrudgingly counted Hanse Davion and didn't include himself. Whoever the Exarch was he earned the Captain-General's respect and that of many men and women.
 
Now if only he and Secelia got married already. Janos grumbled.
 
All of Atreus was preparing for The Exarch's visit as he sat in his seat. Security was tightened, Parliament and SAFE were on their best behavior, and the press for once wasn't hounding him for answers he didn't have.
 
The Exarch would arrive in Atreus City, not as a backwater bumpkin, but as an equal. It would be stupid to think that the Great Houses could treat him as anything less than a peer given his proven capabilities.
 
Now whether he was First Among Equals ... or Son-in-Law... Janos would have to see for himself.
 
He sighed as he sifted through reports and records. He had to dig up old plans by his predecessors. Some existed since the Star League over ways that the FWLM could defeat the SDS network. Others were thought experiments on outlandish scenarios like an invasion of gene-modded techno barbarians, cyborg death cults, the failure of the entire HPG Network, and everything in between.
 
The Exarch signaled the start of stranger, more dangerous times. Circinus had already invigorated both the Pro-Junker and Anti-Junker factions, the formers sought the Exarch's help, and the latter saw him as their enemy.
 
In either case, Janos would not let Atreus, his home, his PEOPLE, burn.
 
Now if only that Gundam on the news was just an elaborate joke. He didn't need to pull his hair out over ANOTHER nation pulling Supermechs out of their ass!
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===Conflicting Views===
Atreus HPG Station
Atreus, Free Worlds League
February 3027
Precentor Pedrigor Aliz had alot to juggle. The Atrean Politics and The Blessed Order's Politics would be enough to drive men to drink. Unfortunately, he was knee-deep in both of them.
 
He had seen the Battle of Circinus, that hellish battle that evoked memories of Kerensky and his battles with the hijacked SDS. He had seen the battle at both ends. Battle ROMs and shakey camera recordings caught it all in vivid detail.
 
From his desk, he glared daggers at one out of three men who were a pain in his ass. Janos protected his pet secretary like he would his daughter, she was the key to his recent success. The Exarch was arriving soon, and all attempts to neutralize him failed due to his loyal men, and his army of robots. For his part, Wells looked back dispassionately.
 
"You dare open Pandora's box." he accused the Demi-Precentor.
 
"I dared do what was necessary." Wells answered back, "Simply stalling technological advancements will not be enough."
 
"Primus Toyama-"
 
"Toyama is long dead." He answered, adamant in his blasphemy, "The world has changed. Either we change with it today or we will not live to see tomorrow."
 
"What purpose is there to live if we pervert The Prophet's wisdom!?" the Precentor growled, "Perhaps your new puppet is the one pulling the strings and not you."
The Niops Association existed in semi-isolation, their technocrats lived in comfort in their luxury bunkers and the Marian raids convinced them to stay within their solar system. Now they were a new, and powerful, piece on the chessboard. Where Comstar focused their free time studying Blake's teachings those cold-hearted academics devoted theirs to research for the sake of research. The drone hordes that nearly overwhelmed The Exarch and his elite guard were just one work of their collaboration.
 
"Precentor you may have forgotten that compared to the Haro and SD-series robots that the Junkers use, the drones devised by Niops are mindless sheep."
 
"I have not forgotten but I will NOT allow us to unleash what Amaris wielded! And you have not answered my question Wells!"
 
Wells stared back, "I will use every asset I can get my hands on Precentor. Even Blessed Blake was forced to take extreme measures to ensure our Order existed in the first place."
 
The ROM Agent stood up and turned to the door.
 
"Remain seated Demi-Precentor." Aliz hissed.
 
"If you have inquiries speak with the Precentor ROM." Wells answered back, "I am just a cog in the machine. As are you."
 
Wells left as the door slammed shut behind him.
 
"...Said the radical," Pedrigor growled.
 
Wells' influence was ascendant. He was on the metaphorical frontlines against the Exarch and his followers. He had been given much latitude before, using the Marians against House Marik and Centrella, and now he was growing stronger than Aliz could tolerate ... or reign in.
 
So many resources were allocated to matching the Exarch that they had neglected other operations. The NAIS still existed. As did the FedCom alliance. Thomas Marik had not been fully indoctrinated. The Agents in Davion Space failed to prevent Mora Keith's invention from falling into the wrong hands, now the First Prince's eyes were on the Gundam.
 
Blake gave and Blake took. He would need to deal with the hand he had. Let Wells dig his own grave, as a member of the First Circuit he would deal with the Exarch himself.
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===Tinkering with the Concept===
A Certain Warehouse
Atreus, Free Worlds League
February 3027
If it wasn't for reading the Word of Blake, Thomas Marik's favorite hobby would have been tinkering and these days there was no end to inspiration.
 
With a Spider in front of him and his brother Paul beside him, they were trying to do the work of an army of scientists and engineers.
A dozen robotic arms moved up and down the Light Mech's frame. Each and every one of them danced in concert to a control computer.
 
Both brothers shared a love of science but while Thomas was groomed to take the mantle of Captain-General, Paul avoided politics and preferred working with data in the Intel Ministry's Computer section.
 
Projects like these helped them keep their bond.
 
"Alright." Thomas stepped back, "Punch it!"
 
Paul pressed a key on his keyboard and the two siblings watched the Spider jerk alive. It raised an arm, flexing fingers in an organic, fluid motion.
...then a hose popped and a hydraulic fluid spilled out like a geyser. With a sigh, Paul flipped the off switch and the Spider went limp once again.
 
"That didn't work..." Paul mumbled.
 
"No." Thomas admitted, "But we are getting there. Last time it couldn't even move its fingers."
 
More than one weapons manufacturer was substituting Inner Sphere parts with Junker-tech. Many 'new' Battlemechs especially had OZ-Series parts to fill in gaps caused by the age of Lostech. The Spider they were working on was among them. Thomas had the bright idea of going beyond what the Spider was originally meant for.
 
The Gundam was the reason why. If Davion could create a beast that could match the Exarch's arsenal then so would Marik.
 
The SDR-MS0 would be the 1st FWL 'Mobile Suit'-type Battlemech. An armored enclosed cockpit using multiple cameras and sensors, preprogrammed adaptive movements, AMBAC capability, the list of changes that Secelia and the Exarch brought applied to a proper Marik mech. And then some. The Fluid Pulse system combined hydraulics and Myomers with electric pulses driving hydraulic fluid through 'muscle'. It was an idea he took studying the Zakos that gave both the strength of Myomers and the precision of hydraulics.
 
...If it only worked.
 
"Look, Tom, I know this is a pet project." Paul pointed out, "But at this point, we need to get others involved."
 
"Which is what I'm worried about. The Panpour raid was too conveniently timed."
 
"Someone wanted the Gundam."
 
"Or to deny it to others."
 
Thomas had suspicions. Rumors passed between Adepts and low-level Demi-Precentors. No proof; frustratingly enough. Just like-minded Blakists like him not like what the Order was doing. Real or imagined; and talked in hushed whispers. There were cracks in Comstar and whether as an Adept or as Captain-General he knew there was a part he had to play in both worlds.
 
"You know how SAFE is." Thomas pointed out, "We need to trust family. It's all we have."
 
Paul slowly nodded, "Speaking of family ... what are you going to do about Secelia?"
 
"Wish her luck." He shrugged, "I talked down father from adopting her, but he wants to tie the Junkers to House Marik."
 
"More than we already are?"
 
"More. The Lyrans got their foot in the door. Canopus knew where the wind blew and many look to the Magestrix to counterbalance the Exarch's influence."
 
"So we're tipping the scales back in his favor then."
 
"Possibly. Or maybe the Captain-General is looking for better allies than the Capellans and Combine."
 
The Kapetyn Accord was an alliance of convenience. Nothing more. More than one operation was done off the books by FWLM special forces in Capellan Space and vice versa by the CCAF.
 
"We can only guess what Dad wants." Paul admitted, "I'm not a fan of politics."
 
"I don't expect you to Paul ... but for the sake of appearances..."
 
"I know. I know." he waved Thomas off, "I'll wear my best suit when our 'Warrior King' shows his face-er.... MASK on Atreus."
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===Meeting Nobility the League===
Allison Memorial Spaceport, Atreus City
Atreus, Free Worlds League
February 3027
Much of the delay for the Exarch's visit was due to the, admittedly, excessive arrangements by third parties. Diplomats from all the Great Houses, liaisons from League industries, and socialites of one form or another who all hoped to see THE man shrouded in myth.
 
He was everything from a Cameron to Kerensky to Blake or even Amaris reincarnated. Some even questioned whether he was human in the first place pointing to his technology.
 
As the Duchess of Andurien Catherine Humphreys had to consider both the ordinary and extraordinary options. Just to be sure. Her own security had to be updated accordingly. Again, just to be sure.
 
What would have been a normal visit by that secretary Janos had brought under his wing had turned into quite a show. The 4th Oriente Hussars stood in freshly painted and polished Battlemechs beside the Atrean Hussars, Janos' old unit. They weren't alone. There were representatives of other Free Worlds League units including some of her own Andurien Defenders.
 
She stood among others of the League's elite and gentry as the familiar and iconic Ptolemaios descended toward Allison Memorial Spaceport. They were flanked by those Taurus LAMs she had seen in footage of the Battle of Circinus. Their Marik escort was comprised of ASFs and Tikbalangs carrying mechs in parade colors. The blue, almost ethereal dropship softly landed on the tarmac and the mechbay doors slid open. Two machines stepped out: The Mercurius and Vayeate.
 
Both yet more wunderwaffen that the Exarch employed. Before the Gundam made its debut on Panpour they were the newest and hottest topic among Battlemech enthusiasts. Catherine frowned: these were different. The itinerary said these 'Suivant' models were upgraded designs but the former had double of those energy shield drones and the latter had two of those beam cannons instead of one.
Double the strength, double the danger. There was more where they came from. There was ALWAYS more.
 
They stood to the left and right of the Ptolemaios and swept their gaze left and right. After the third sweep did the Exarch emerge. Flanked by an honor guard of Guild Soldiers and Zako troopers ... and Secelia Dote on his arm, the Exarch looked like a Conquerer King clad in his royal armor. Soldiers saluted and presented arms. While the press nearly blinded them all with flashing cameras.
To go with the pageantry Janos and the Exarch approached one another. The Captain-General held out his hand and The Exarch took it. As the cameras rolled the Free Worlds League, and by extension, the Inner Sphere, welcomed a man some already joked half-heartedly as First Lord.
 
The Exarch was introduced to a sea of faces. Nobles and Aristocrats from all corners of the Free Worlds League approached to greet him and he shook hands and exchanged words with every last one of them. When it was time for her to say hello to the Exarch, Catherine hid her expression under a mask.
 
All of this for one man. Granted, a very capable, very competent man who had ruined many of her plans unknowingly. She could not rely upon Canopus to help Andurien secede, not with them throwing in with the Guild. A Guild that through Exarch cultivated ties with House Marik, already strengthened by Dote's meddling. So for now she had to play the long game. Catherine knew that time was not on her side. But someday, a Humphrey would see her Andurien free.
 
"Lady Humphrey." The Exarch lowered his head.
 
"Lord Exarch."
 
She held her hand out and the Exarch prepared to kiss her ring as any Gentleman in high society would.
 
"You should come visit Andurien .... we have much to discuss."
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Chapter 17