Part 83: Political Vote 4 Results and Combat Theater Vote 4

Political Vote 4 Results and Combat Theater Vote 5:

“Set a course for Helm. I’ve heard rumors that the Free Worlds League discovered a Castle Brian there; it’s possible they haven’t looted everything yet.”

Morgan nodded, his expression thoughtful. “It’s a longshot,” he replied, “but it is worth investigating. The Free Worlders will take notice of the Red Corsair’s return.”

Melissa smiled as the jump warning sounded. “With most of their forces deployed against the Capellans, this should be a piece of cake.”



**********



Charles Seneca, Precentor ROM, was rarely seen by members of the first circuit. It wasn’t that the small, unassuming man lacked the will or desire to vote; he simply lacked the time. Primus Julian Tiepolo leaned forward, his gaunt, aquiline features betraying none of his surprise at seeing his chief intelligence gatherer at such a routine meeting.

The assembled Precentors Tharkad, New Avalon, Atreus, Sian, and Dieron Pro Tem quieted as Seneca coughed to gain their attention.

“Precentor ROM,” Tiepolo spoke softly, “this is unexpected.”

Charles nodded quietly and, with a bluntness that was truly unusual, announced, “The Clans have struck Tharkad.”

His announcement was met with only silence.

“I just,” he paused, turning to leave “thought you would like to know.”

“Wait,” Tiepolo called. He stood quietly, “has Tharkad fallen?”

“As soon as I find out, you will be the first to know. Excuse me, Primus.”

Tiepolo nodded his assent, he frowned as he gazed at the first circle. Uthar Everston, Precentor Tharkad, stood. “Primus… something must be done. The Word of Blake—”

“—was very clear, should Kerensky return—”

“We are to let him bludgeon himself senseless fighting the Great Houses, yes.” Uthar leaned forward. “Blake was a brilliant man, Primus, but he did not anticipate Kerensky’s people could improve on the Star League’s technology. He didn’t expect they’d stay away for so long—and that’s assuming these Clans really are Kerensky’s people, and not some alien invaders—”

“Preposterous, Precentor Tharkad,” Villius Tejh, Precentor Sian, interrupted; his voice dripping with false sincerity. “Do you really suggest these Clans may be aliens? Idiocy. It is mankind’s manifest destiny to control the stars.”

“With ComStar at the helm,” Tiepolo agreed quietly, raising his hands and silencing the impending argument.

“—Regardless, the Inner Sphere doesn’t stand a chance; and if these Clans unite humanity, what then Primus? Everything we’ve worked for could be lost in an instant. The Inner Sphere needs weapons—which means perhaps it is time to give up some of our knowledge—”

“No!” Pedregor Aliz boomed, his fist shaking the round table at which they all sat. “We cannot give to one and not expect the others to gain it also—and I cannot conscience giving technology to the Free World’s League. They are already nearly unmanageable; and Duncan Marik is a rabid dog. I suspect he will need to be put down, or replaced—”

“—Because that worked so well the last time you tried it,” Tejh hissed.

“Perhaps,” Sharilar Mori, Precentor Deiron (Pro Tem), said in soft yet powerful tones which carried throughout the chamber simply because she did not raise them in anger, “a compromise is in order. We return one ‘recently discovered’ weapon to the Great Houses—something which House Marik will not be able to easily field… and perhaps a discount on military and non-military communications to and from units on the front lines with the Clans; with copies sent here for analysis?”

Tiepolo blinked, and appraised Mori with an icy gaze. Over seventy, Tiepolo was thin and spindly—while Mori, Waterley’s ‘apprentice’, was the youngest person on the council; yet her words echoed a course of action he had been about to suggest himself.

“The Gauss Rifle?” he asked her quietly.

She nodded. “The only ‘Mech that can field it is the Cyclops—”

“—Conveniently produced only by the Draconis Combine, the Lyran Commonwealth, and ourselves.” Tejh interrupted, thoughtfully stroking his moustache. Uthar looked about to argue, then calmed—apparently satisfied by the concession.

“Interesting,” Aliz analyzed. “House Marik is ill-equipped to field such a weapon. Better, Duncan Marik is likely to forbid his people to even construct a prototype if we phrase our ‘gift’ in the proper way.”

“He distrusts us too much,” Mori smiled, “use that; Precentor Atreus, and you may have the Free Worlds League fighting itself over the design—”

“—with a faction more… grateful to ComStar’s benevolence perhaps taking power,” Aliz nodded.

“What news of Helm?” Tiepolo asked quietly; drawing a hush over those assembled.

“Duncan Marik has found nothing. There is no trace of a Castle Brian on the world—believe me, Primus. Precentor Rachan has found nothing after years of searching on those same flimsy clues. If there was anything there, Emilo would have—”

“—trouble finding his ass with both hands and a map,” Tejh spat under his breath. “Primus—perhaps ROM should be dispatched, covertly.”

“What do you suggest?” Tiepolo asked quietly.

“A discreet force. A Level III—”

“—is hardly discrete,” Mori pointed out.

“Ah,” Tejh countered, “that is true. The ComGuards would be noticed—but a pirate band? Perhaps it’s time for the Red Corsair to make her triumphant return to Marik space.”

“It risks much,” Mori replied quietly.

“It could gain more,” Tejh replied.

“I will think on it,” Tiepolo conceded, turning to regard Mori again. “What news of Waterley?”

“I have assembled a force to investigate her last position. I fear we are already too late, but—”

“The goal is not to rescue her,” Tiepolo rebuked, sharply. “We must know if the Clans can use our captured HPGs. Our forces are disabling them as planned, but it does not seem to be slowing them any.”

“The ComGuads should make planetfall in a few hours. I allocated a single dropship to investigate the Nadir Point. It’s possible the Precentor is still there.”

“Who leads that force?” Uthar asked.

Mori smiled, “It’s—”



Combat Theater Vote 5

ComGuards
Precentor Deiron Pro Tem Sharilar Mori has dispatched the assembled ComGuards under her control for an assault deep behind the Hell’s Horses lines. Their target, the planet Richmond, the last known location of Precentor Myndo Waterly.

8th Scorpion Uhlans
A small force of elite DEST operatives, backed by a lance of Mercenary battlemechs, has misjumped into a system held by Clan Goliath Scorpion. Can the few Scorpion forces remaining on the world crush this threat before it can go to ground and become a thorn in their sides? (This mission was planned with the assistance of Bobbin Threadbare); total votes for this mission will be cut in half until at least one other engagement against the Clans has been fought.

Marik Militia
A surprise visit from elements of the Free Worlds League Guards has a company of the Marik Militia struggling to muster enough of their poorly trained and ill-equipped forces back to base in time to honor the Guards’ unexpected arrival.




(Edit: The map has been updated to show the true scope of the Clan invasion)

Combat Theater Vote 5:
A) ComGuards
B) 8th Scorpion Uhlans
C) Marik Militia