Chapter XI
Date: August 3, 2857
Location: New Valencia, Federated Suns
"Your opponent, Tai-Sa," the grinning skull of an Atlas glowed red with the light of a laser. "Is me. You will do no more harm to the Federated Suns; the horrors of the Second Sword of Light and Kentares are avenged on this day."
"We shall see, Marshal. We shall see."
This was not a duel between two warriors. This was a duel for the Federated Suns, proof that they would prevail even against the darkness of the Inner Sphere. The Marshal’s Atlas stumbled as PPC fire and medium lasers carved away at the assault ‘mech. Then Peter Davion returned fire. His autocannon and medium lasers shattered the Catapult’s left PPC, the ‘arm’ dangling and limp as the linkage separated.
The two circled each other, the Tai-Sa confident and assured in his victory, even over a ‘Mech that nearly outmassed and outgunned him twice over, even as what remained of his Regiment fell around him.
“You are not leaving this world, Tai-Sa,” Peter stated, driving forward.
“I was commanded to take and hold this world,” Suzuki replied with a grin as the adrenaline pumped through him. “Or to die in the process. If I fall in battle today, honor will be granted to my house. Can you say the same of yours?”
With a burst of speed, the Catapult’s jump jets ignited, the heavy ‘mech ‘falling’ down towards the Atlas’s cockpit.
Peter maneuvered, but it wasn’t enough, and as his autocannon shattered the gyro and tore the enemy’s reactor shielding to pieces, he scrambled for the eject handle. But it was too late. As the rockets propelled him up and out of the ‘eye’ of the Atlas, the Tai-Sa’s ‘mech erupted into a fireball that consumed both men, leaving nothing but the blackened husks of exoskeletons in the aftermath.
But it was too late for the Second Sword of Light, and soldiers began to cheer when the Second Sword of Light’s colors and unit banner were found in the regiment’s Daiymo mobile HQ.
This was a victory for the Federated Suns. But what did it cost in the end?
Date: August 30, 2857
Location: New Avalon, Federated Suns
“Just… Give me the butcher’s bill straight,” Michael looked at his daughter, the acting Prime Marshal of the Federated Suns.
“It’s not good,” Melissa grimaced, a wave of her hand bringing up a readout and display of the Federated Suns on the holotable. “While we managed to push the Dracs back past Rochester, we spent many more machines and lives than we should have. The Dracs paid for it, and we have a moral victory, but we will feel the pain for a while.”
The view shifted to New Valencia, and the world’s color turned from Combine red to the golden hue of the Federated Suns.
“We exterminated the second Sword of Light to the man, and we managed to eliminate over twenty regiments across the fighting as we retook our captive worlds,” The map slowly shifted to show the new gains that the Fedsuns had made across the Draconis March. “But we have over thirty regiments that will need to be rebuilt up from battalion strength or less. And we didn’t manage to prevent several units from escaping back to the Combine, where they’ll eventually be rebuilt,” The redhead sighed and knuckled her brow. “With Salvage, we’ll be able to rebuild some of the less destroyed units, but I’m going to have to fold units together with the hopes of rebuilding them later to preserve operational readiness in some of them.”
Melissa blew a stray hair that had fallen out of her bun out of her face and continued.
“We’ve discussed my goals for the AFFS previously, but now we don’t have any other choice. We either enact the combined arms policies that I’ve proven work with the Heavy Guards, or we potentially lose more than we ever have before.”
“You have carte blanch,” Michael sat down in a nearby chair, his face hitting his palm. “Do what you can to prepare the realm for the future. I will make one last overture at peace now that we have a victory to use. And then, if nothing comes of it, I will step down into retirement and allow you to reign.”
The next few months were odd to the Inner Sphere and Periphery. There were no great offensives or taxing raids that ended in massive loss of life or equipment. An unofficial and overarching armistice had been declared, and each of the Successor Lords slowly exchanged communications on where to send representatives.
From October of 2857 through February of 2858, there was a debate on where to hold a meeting, eventually culminating in them agreeing on Northwind being the planet to meet.
However, none of the Inner Sphere or Periphery representatives expected what would happen when they met in January 2859.
Date: October 10, 2858
Location: Bolthole, Terran Hegemony
“You’re certain that this is the course of action you wish to take?” Hanni asked Elizabeth.
“Yes,” The Director-General locked eyes with her commanding general. “I want you to take all of our forces and retake Terra. I will have Colonel Hazen and the Black Watch to protect me on Northwind while you ensure our homeworld is secure.”
The older woman seemed to search Elizabeth’s eyes for something before nodding firmly.
“Terra will be ours before Comstar or any defenders are aware of what happened,” Hanni stated. “You just need to ensure that the rest of the Inner Sphere understands that the Hegemony is not dead. We’re still here and ready to fight for what is ours.”
“I’m going to need Bradley,” Elizabeth grinned. “I have some ideas on how to do this. It'll take a bit of shock and awe. But we’ll need to coordinate things properly.”
“It won’t be easy,” Hanni reminded the young woman. “Just remember that this is going to be hard. Politics is a version of warfare, but there’s more night fighting than I’m comfortable with.”
“If it were easy,” Elizabeth locked eyes with the one leader of the Black Watch.
“Then it wouldn’t be the Goddamned Black Watch.”
