TBntG-3 Chpt 61

=The Bull and the Genie=
==Chapter 61 - Book III - The Clan Invasion==
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==But with a Whimper...==
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===Dynamic Changes===
With the trial for Unity City completed, the next step was a staged withdrawal from the Clan OZ within the Federated Commonwealth. 
 
For many worlds, it was simply a note left on the desk of the Clan security office by the major spaceport—Frederick had long ignored demands to put boots on the ground where it wouldn't do any good. So for most worlds, the Clan withdrawal was a story in the newspaper, read by people who had not seen the clans in person—unless they took the trip to see the tourist attraction by the spaceport.
 
The primary worlds were a bit more complex. Because of the agreement, even those who fought for the Clans were allowed to stay, or withdraw with the occupiers, usually to the new Clan domains in the Inner Sphere. Comstar was on site for the hand off, which involved a complex formula of withdrawing security forces while Federated Commonwealth and UMC forces took over to provide a seamless transition of power without any disorder.
 
In addition, with so many cameras on site it was difficult for any of the dispossessed nobility, should they so be tempted, to make trouble. 
 
In some places, there were changes in leadership. Melissa Steiner-Davion stripped the nobles of Arluna of their titles and land as the world was reorganized along the lines of a somewhat rambunctious democracy, while Kowloon, which had been chosen by Frederick to maintain civilian shipping, found itself becoming immensely prosperous as its shipyards had been building civilian JumpShips throughout the conflict. 
 
Most importantly, the Clan forces agreed with the terms regarding factories, and left them in place, in many cases with a substantial portion of their Inner Sphere workforces in place, and a number of scientist caste Clan members found their way to Federated Commonwealth universities, wooed by a world where your priorities were not defined by what the warriors wanted. 
 
In many cases, they did have to take remedial courses on scientific ethics. 
 
Ultimately, it left Federated Commonwealth economists with the somewhat odd experience of having to report that the greatest invasion in the history of the Lyran Commonwealth…
 
Actually ended up being a net economic plus, in contrast to the ruin of the Combine. 
But all things come to an end:
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===Message Traffic===
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From: Somerset Transitional Command
Kommandant-General: Sheila Jackson
To: Archon Melissa Steiner. 
 
Re: Change of command.
 
It is my honor to report that after the change of command ceremony, and the banquet following, the last Clan dropship left Somerset spaceport at 0900 today, and the charging station was handed over to naval forces at 0930.
 
As per the agreement, the Clan forces will meet their civilian jumpships and withdraw from Federated Commonwealth space. 
 
At this point, Clan forces have withdrawn from all formerly occupied Federated Commonwealth worlds. 
 
All hostilities are concluded. 
 
The war is over. 
 
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From: CINC Mary Cheng
To: BuPers
 
RE: Transfers and demobilization orders. 
The current state of the former Draconis Combine does not require heavy forces, but it does require trained and properly equipped units to maintain civil order until a successor government can take over those duties. Because the skills for a war are not the skills for occupation, I am issuing orders that the following categories of soldiers are to be granted preferential treatment in transfers or demobilization orders:
 
1. Soldiers who have been injured and later returned to duty.
 
2. Soldiers who have lost a family member in the conflict. Sole survivors are to be automatically demobilized or transferred to a non-combat posting, depending on their request. 
 
3. Soldiers, who in their superior's opinion, would not be emotionally suited to peacekeeping and policing operations. 
 
4. Soldiers who have spent more than two years (total) in high intensity combat operations. 
 
All commands are to be reminded that while under occupation, the former worlds of the Combine are not to be considered subjugated. It is our goal to maintain civil order until such a time as the individual populations may establish a government responsive to their desires and respectful of their civil liberties. As such, while remnants of the old government will not be allowed to have a role in their future, we must work in partnership with the population in assisting them with forming a new government. 
 
Gen. Mary Cheng.
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===Reflection of Events===
The War Is Over…
We've seen the celebrations, and some of us are still suffering from the hangover. But is it? Shooting has stopped, but we still have nations, many of which that have reasons to not like each other. You can say the Federated Commonwealth and UMC are mightier than any other power, but then, so was the Star League, and we know how that turned out.The remains of the Draconis Combine, especially the parts held by the Black Dragons, are a bleeding wound. Clan states exist in parts of the former Combine and on the borders of the Federated Commonwealth and Free Worlds league, and if they are more… friendly, they are still a warrior culture, only with vastly more resources. Yes, our more optimistic editorials mention how they're better than the Marians and Dracs…But that's not a high bar, is it? They certainly have the potential to be more dangerous than the Marians. Here in Samantha, the editorials are running fast and furious. Time to turn our backs on the Inner Sphere. The Periphery is more prosperous than ever before, at peace, and it's time to tend to our own…I'd remind readers that we tried that once before, and it didn't play out well. Like it or not, the Inner Sphere and the near Periphery are linked, and if we do not take up some part in molding our future, others will do it for us.I'm sorry, I know, the fireworks show is barely over, the hangovers are just getting started, and here I am, being a buzzkill, so I'll shut up after one last thought.There is no "end of history". History keeps moving, whether we like it or not, and every great fall in humanity's history has been preceded by a bunch of people deciding that "yeah, history's over." Maybe it's Rome will always exist, or the Star League has perfected humanity, but it always ends up with future historians shaking their heads about how stupid those people were—right before they turn around and write about how their generation has conquered history.If we are to secure peace—not a pause in fighting, but peace—for our children, we have to ask these questions. We have to remind ourselves that everything didn't stop when the last Clanner ship left Somerset. Because whether we accept it or not, history is still moving. 
War's Over, Now What?
Samantha DailyGuest editorial by Protector Edward Calderon.
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