Cp45;
When Hanse announced the GALAHAD 3028, Thomas again start to say that this time is the time Davion is going to invade the Concordat. This time, many people thing that enough is enough and a quiet, bloodless coup remove Thomas and replaced him with Edward, that many consider much more stable. Grover Shraplen is out out, suffering from the same problems like Thomas and too much a friend of Thomas to stay.
With that, several changes in Concordat policy are established – more funds to development and colonization instead to defense and careful overtures to the Federated Suns.
Because is a close friend and confident of Edward, Jean-Luc has now much more influence in the government – even if refused any cargo, citing that already has is hands full ruling Althea's and managing is regiment.
Thomas as refused to send anyone to Terra to the marriage of Hanse and Melissa, as expected. The Magistracy and the Outworlds Alliance send representations, even if small ones. The Reach is too small to be invited or support the expense.
To alleviate the stress on the TDF – already reclaiming about the budget cuts - the second battalion of the Revenants is permanently placed in Cyrton, Organo and Celentaro – one mech company on each, with adequate mechanized and air support - 12 mechs, 4 Bulldog's, 4 LRM carriers, 4 Manticore, 4 Stryker (Laser) and 2 ASF (Sabre) on each planet.
Note..: Normal equipment, none of the SLDF / advanced is moved outside of Althea's. To support Edward, Jean-Luc send a part of his forces to help defending the near Concordat planets, reducing the cry from the TDF of "need resources to defend the frontier!"
At first, the initial attack on the Capellan Confederation make many thinking that Thomas after all is right and Davion is going to attack then, but after a few weeks without any incursion on the Concordat, the moods calm down.
In December 3028, several jumpships departed Althea's transporting a substantial force of the Revenants, destiny unknown.
Departed force – 3 Unions, 1 Leopard, 1 Triumph, 2 Mules, 2 Jumbos, loaded in 3 Invaders.
Cp46:
15 February 3029
An unidentified Star Lord appear in a pirate point near Althea's. Soon six dropships detach and move in the direction of the planet.
Attacking force – 2 Overlords, 3 Unions, 1 Union-CV with 30 ASF in escort (Corsair's and a few Stuka's)
The defending ASF force raise to intercept (mostly Thunderbird's, Spad's and Lightning's) while frantic preparations for defense occur at ground side.
While the lighter ASF maintain the escort force occupied, the Thunderbird's loaded for the first time with the AShM variant of the Arrow IV (2 each) made a pass at the Overlords.
The superior agility of the Spad's – almost all in the hands of experienced Outworld pilots – combined with is Stealth technology is a nasty surprise to the invaders, that have also to deal with the Lightning's and his nasty AC/20.
One Overlord lost power and the other severely damaged but that don't stop the invaders to continue they advance.
To destroy the orbital factory one of the dropships (the Union CV that is empty right now) needed to change trajectory, and after that, with the damage increasing and with many ASF attacking, in a final act of insanity ram the second Snowden (in construction nearby) destroying both in the collision.
And to the surprise of Jean-Luc – and all defenders – the Overlord drop a battalion worth of jump-capable mechs and a company of jump infantry inside the base and after that land inside the base, starting firing on all targets, while the Unions land just outside and start to unload another battalion of mechs. By this time the invaders ASF's are all destroyed.
Note..: Yes, I know an Overlord is not supposed to carry infantry, but if you don't dispense the technicians and other support personnel, you can carry about (my guess) about a company of jump capable commandos. If is a one-way trip, like this one. Or utterly fanatics – like these.
By this time something very important start to show – the invaders are much less competent than the well trained Revenants – they are mostly green pilots, even if fanatic's.
And everything start to go very wrong to the attackers…
Waiting for then inside the base are 60 (!!!) Alacorn VI heavy tanks, or put it another way – 180 Gauss rifles. And a battalion of very infuriated mechwarriors driving SLDF mechs, with plenty of support.
The Overlord survived less than a minute – so many Gauss rounds and Arrow IV hits – the 12 Chaparral also fired they initial salvo against the dropship - completely destroyed the massive dropship in one single volley.
And unlike common thinking (cult of Mechwarrior, duh), most killings are not done by battlemechs – Partisan's (6), Ontos (4), SRM carriers (8) and Demolisher's (6) – extracted a terrible price on the enemy mechs while they are still dropping.
The enemy commandos are dealt by a superior number of very well equipped infantry units and light vehicles (Goblins, Skulkers and Stryker APC and SRM). The few that come near the entrances for the underground installations are confronted by heavy machine gun fire from small bunkers. None penetrate the base.
Meanwhile, the forces that are still disembarking outside of the base are busy dealing with the defense turrets that can fire in that area. And said turrets have a surprising quantity of heavy weapons.
Note..: In late 3028 / early 3029 several turrets (heavy ones) have been upgraded with PPC's, 2×LRM-20 or with Arrow IV (only two, the production of launcher systems started in late October 3028).
Note 2.: The Arrow IV system is a 'normal' launcher (nothing special about it) and a big rocket with a very big warhead. The only difficult / advanced component is the guidance system. By now Althea's industries produce everything except said guidance component, the Revenants use the unguided version of the weapon. The AShM variant have a big booster for improved performance against fast moving big targets (dropships and in the future warships, is useless against ASF) and an even bigger warhead. Plans to create a guided system for that one also exist, but even with the blueprints of the guidance system of the normal Arrow, they can't (yet) produce the complex electronics component.
At same time, the militia is doing they damned best to arrive in time to help.
Another advantage for the Revenants is that the mechs that dropped inside are mostly lights and some mediums, the bigger ones (mediums and heavies), lacking jump-jets, are in the force outside of the walls, while most of the Revenants SLDF mechs present are heavy (12 Flashman, 6 Black Knights) or assault (6 Longbow, 2 Highlander, 2 Cyclops, 1 Thug, 1 Nightstar).
Note..: The Revenants are one of very few regiments that have more mechs than mechwarriors. On top of that, they officially deploy 3 mech battalions, but in reality have 133 mechs and 124 mechwarriors. On top of that, less than half a dozen mechs are private ones, and the mechwarriors are encouraged to cross mech training / be proficient in more than one (at least in one SLDF and in one 'normal', for example Jean-Luc also pilot a Marauder), given an added flexibility to the regiment.
Just after the outside forces finalize forming and start to advance on the base, the gates open and a force of heavy and assault mechs exit the installations, followed by dozens of heavy vehicles, and big explosions start to occur between the invading lines.
Inside the base, the Chaparral's are busy firing on the enemy mechs, while the arty units, just exiting the underground bunkers, start to take aim to the grounded dropships.
The mechs move to the sides, leaving the center clean for the Alacorn behind to have a clean line of fire. The tremendous imbalance in range and volume of fire extract a price on the invader force, reducing then by more than a third by the time they are in range and can return fire.
By then, the Chaparral's switch fire to the dropships, because they are not precise enough to continue fire on the mechs with the Revenants so close.
Earth, Hilton Head
Some days later
"Protector, I believe the forces that attacked us are not a legit Davion House unit. The real 2nd New Ivaarsen Chasseurs are an experienced force and colonel Reginald Stephenson is an able military commander. In no way they execute such stupid plan, and they forces are not the suicidal, fanatic, green type we saw here. On top of that, Hanse Davion is not going to order an attack in another nation, while is already very busy invading the Capellan Confederation and defending against the Draconis Combine. The men is too much competent for that. This is a false flag operation executed by someone that want the Concordat involved in that war. I firmly recommend that we stay out of that at any costs."
The transmission end in static.
'So, Myndo, after we all see the baron report to his liege, what can you say to justify this very expensive clusterfuck? The good baron don't fall for your ruse, and the cost is very high.'
'That infidel is lying! We know from the Divine Truth report that they lost at minimum the orbital factory, the Snowden in construction and that they base is trashed. Yes, is an expensive failure, but also a needed lesson – that show us that the Com Guards are not ready, and the difference in power between the forces that the Guards normally use and the ones of the Scavenger States.'
'Maybe, but for now, no more expensive adventures. The Concordat is suspicious, and we can't afford they start to look for who is real behind this failure.'
Althea's Choice
'Our loses are very light, if you not count the orbital factory and the Snowden. The base is mostly repaired by now, they only damaged the upper structures, and anything of importance is underground.
From the various dropships salvage we maybe can rebuild a Union and repair the Overlord that lose power, if TTI give us a lot of support. Mech side, we ended with about a new battalion, thanks to the ones inside the Overlord and plenty of salvage in the battlefield.'
47:
New Avalon
Hanse Davion work office
'My prince, I have a series of news from the Concordat that I find disturbing.'
'I don't like the sound of that Quintus.'
'First, an unknown forces masquerading of the 2nd New Ivaarsen Chasseurs attacked Althea's Choice.'
'What? Just what we need, a retaliation in force from the Concordat, just after the new Protector started to open to us.'
'The good part is that the defenders destroyed the raiders, the strange part is that one of my agents is 'invited' to a reunion with the local ruler, a Baron Darlan, and he personally said to our agent he knows that the attack is not ours, reported that to the Protector, and not plan to retaliate against us. Ended asking for a formal diplomatic delegation to be established in Althea's – with the approval of the Protector of course.'
'A Concordat noble, with authorization from the Protector, asking for diplomatic relations? That is really new.'
'Is going better – you remember the force that raided Victoria, that our agents in the Confederation reported? The probability for that to be the missing battalion of the Revenants is high.'
'You are saying to me that the dear baron Darlan, take advantage of our war with the Capellans to execute a raid in one of they recently found star league research facilities, and in passage take a big part of the local mech factory?'
'Yes, my prince, everything we have, point in that direction.'
'That baron is definitively a player worth our attention.'
48:
By this time all the Concordat and Magistracy weapon factories are busy researching how to produce SL type weapons, from the blueprints / examples that the Revenants provided. So far, none have yet presented one, but the race is on.
In Althea's, the excavations in the location of the new mech factory that use the 'liberated' components obtained in the Victoria raid are almost finish. Like many strategic locations in Althea's, the new factory is to be underground, and with powerful defenses on the surface.
The first experimental Naval Laser 35 is tested with success. Is a purpose built (not industrial series) copy of the blueprints of one of the many models they have in the New Dallas data-core.
The plans for the Battlesat series of orbital defenses are already finished and they are going to be implemented soon. The next attacker is going to get a rude surprise.
Note..: Based on the recollections of what the SI remembers of the Battlesat introduced by Kurita in 3056. With a NL35 and SHS for the first ones, instead of NL55 and DHS. You already have NL35 in 2305 (in the Dart Light Cruiser), so not very complex to do, by naval weapons type). This is an older version, bigger, needs more energy and releases more heat, but is also easier to manufacture.
By late 3029, the first locally produced DHS is delivered, for now the production series is low.
In January 3030, the Nissan 200 fusion engine also started production. Production of the missing / extra components for the underground mech factory are in good rhythm, is planned to be operational by 3032. This very advanced automated factory (one of the latest created in the SL time, in a research facility, no less) can be programmed to produce almost any mech, unlike others that are much more limited / need complete retooling to change designs – the disadvantage is that the output is slow.
The design of a pocket warship variant of the Leopard is advancing slowly. The projected dropship remove the mech and ASF bays and the LRM armament. In place use a spinal mount NL35, two missile bays – each can carry 5 AShM variants of the Arrow IV or 2 Alamo (also in development) and a rack of SHS to help deal with the excess heat. To be later replaced with DHS.
Plans to ground build the necessary factories / infrastructure to produce the complete series (normal, CV and PW) of Leopards in Althea's exist, but for now, resources (and money) don't exist – they are already fully taxed with the actual programs.
During this time a big and expensive effort as been made to repair / rebuild the Concordat Aerospace Limited shipyards in the Taurus system. The security measures around the area are paranoid level to put it mildly.
TMM is also very busy duplicating the Althea's infrastructure / industrial complex inside the Hyades Cluster that permit build new Snowden – in collaboration with DII.
In the same day that Comstar announced that the Federated Suns have been Interdicted because they attack on the Sarna HPG (a thing that Jean-Luc knows is false pretext), the Concordat-Magistracy research team tested successfully they home made HPG.
Note..: Both nations have a SLDF HPG (Star League military version) for about 8 years (the Magistracy for about 9) and the user and maintenance manuals to play with. The combined effort bear fruit in late 3029.
49;
In late 3029 Jean-Luc has several problems to solve.
He knows about the near Magistracy and Andurien war against the Capellan Confederation – one that not go well to is allies, unless more forces are provided.
The development of Althea's need more funds than the ones available.
He also knows that for the IS to have a chance against the Clans, the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth need access to the Helm data-core, but is politically impossible to sell it to the Davions for now.
And need to re-direct the Comstar / ROM attacks and sabotages to somewhere else.
The solution to all of these problems is easy in theory, but one that Edward (and the Concordat government, if they ever know about it) is not going to like at all.
And without revealing too much about how Jean-Luc knows about these future crisis, very difficult to explain in a credible way.
In the end, decided to go with the 'is easier to ask for forgiveness than for authorization', and to be fair, is the Revenants (with the SI info) that found the Helm data-core, not the Concordat government.
In 19 December, 3029, after a long research on interstellar transit schedules, Jean-Luc take one of the Revenants Mule, and with a crew and security force of is confidence, departs for a long voyage, after letting instructions for what to do in the next months to the people that stay behind.
50:
Tharkad, 4 April 3030
Royal Palace, Private Office of the Archon
'Well Baron Darlan, you have indeed a very interesting product to sell, but I think you ask too much for it.'
'With respect Archon Katrina, I beg to differ. What I'm offering you you can't get from any other source, benefit your realm – and your ally – immensely, and frankly, the price is peanuts for the economic capabilities of your Realm.'
'Two jumpships, 6 dropships, 100 battlemechs, 60 ASF and 2 billion kroner is not peanuts for me Baron. Yes, a Star League data-core with exabytes of scientific data is very valuable, and all the samples you provided are fully validated by my people, but even so you ask too much.'
'Well, in that case, I can sweet the deal a bit – an extra core with plenty of practical data in HPG technology – including user and maintenance manuals and detailed info on working SL military version of functional HPG's. And on top of that the location of a working condition, fully automated, mech factory inside your Realm that nobody knows'.
'You are joking right? And how you know about that and nobody have ever found it?'
'Not joking Archon. The factory is located in one of the older Rim Worlds Republic, and well hidden. I know about it the same way I get this data-core, my SLDF forces and the info on the HPG's – I get that info from the computer banks of an SLDF dropship derelict in the Periphery.'
'That Colossus?'
'No comment. And I can point to you that the offering of my world to be a commercial hub to both the Concordat and the Magistracy, for your business, give you two new markets, that until now are mostly closed to you.'
'That also gives you a lot of coin in the long term.'
'True, but I need that to help developing my world. And I need forces to help defending it.'
'So, why me and my realm? Not that I not appreciate the offer, mind you.'
'Well, the Capellans are too crazy and too weak right now, the FWL too unstable to my taste, the Fed Rats impossible with the kind of relations between then and the Concordat even with the slow warming right now. Rest you and the Combine, and frankly, your Realm is richer and is easier to negotiate with you. I also know that sooner or later you are going to share this with the Suns, so the price is a bit of two-in-one.'
'Alright, Baron. You get a deal.'
51:
Before leaving Tharkad, Jean-Luc send several priority messages (yes expensive, but right now can easily pay for that) to Althea's and to the Revenants office in Galatea.
The ones to Althea's is to put one battalion of the Revenants available to the Magistracy in the case they ask – preparing for the near future Andurien Crisis – and to report part of the deal (via one time pad encryption, like all messages Jean-Luc send when is away).
The others to Galatea are to step up recruitment in seasoned mechwarriors and ASF pilots – preferably dispossessed, not too difficult after the ending of the 4SW(with the Lyran deal and the salvages from the attack on Althea's, the Revenants need 141 mechwarriors and 60 ASF pilots just to man all the hardware, not counting to have some extra in case of necessity).
Note..: While Jean-Luc can arrive relatively fast to Althea's – via Galatea – because the dropship can swap ready jumpships, thanks to good planning / premium prices paid, the hardware obtained in Tharkad need between a year and two to arrive to Althea's.
Galatea, September 25, 3030
Finally arriving to the Mercenary Star, been delayed by one helium leak in one of the jumpships that force then to wait two weeks, and an unsuccessfully attack by commandos – that Jean-Luc think are SAFE operatives (they try to obtain the data-core, not destroy the dropship) – they go directly to the Concordat embassy, the place where the Revenants office is located.
After reviewing the prospective contract of mechwarriors and ASF pilots, Jean-Luc also place offers for two regiments of combined arms that have they transport, or at minimum partial.
One of the units that accepted is the Barrett's Fusiliers (OTL they go for the FWL), thanks to the better offer from the Concordat Baron, and the help / advance money to grow the unit to regiment size.
The other is the Gray Death Legion, fresh from they service in the FWL area and looking for a new job.
Note..: In this universe, because the Helm event goes much different they are not betrayed by Rachan / FWL. They are also not so infamous, but gained a solid reputation in combined arms / unconventional operations.
When is almost ready to resume the voyage to Althea's, Jean-Luc receive an unexpected visit.
'Good afternoon, Baron Darlan. My name is Tomoe Sakade and I'm an envoy from the Combine. We want to negotiate with you the delivery of your Star League database to the Combine.'
'My, my, the wife of Theodore Kurita… you are a serious player indeed.'
'How you know that? It appears that you not only have SL data, you are also a well informed player, indeed.'
'Please, lady Sakade. You are also a member of O5P, a good mechwarrior and an expert operative. Is only natural that I get a decent dossier on you.'
'Lets cut the chase then. What is your price to deliver the database to the combine? We already know that you have shared it with the Steiner's – that are going to sell it to the Davions. The Dragon must have a copy, name your price.'
'Mmmmm. Indeed is better for the Dragon to also have one copy, it helps stabilizing the Inner Sphere. But I don't know if you and your husband can pay it. After all, He is not the coordinator.'
'Name it, and let us deal with the problems.'
'So be it. Lets put it at 2 Monolith, 2 Star Lord, 4 Triumph, 2 Intruder, 2 Excalibur and 2 Behemoth.'
'You ask too much! Is not possible to pay that price!'
'Well, that is your problem, not mine. Everything I asked is produced inside the Combine, and unlike the Steiner's, I don't asked for military hardware, not much after all. But, if you can't pay my price….'
'I need to talk to my husband.'
'Take you time, but remember, Comstar don't like this kind of business, and I depart to Althea's in two days.'
'And if I can get your bloody price?'
'You can send a fleet with that to Althea's – as soon as my people is satisfied that they are in good condition and without any surprises, you get a copy of the data-core. I bet your husband Yakusa contacts have no problem in navigating Davion space with these ships.'
'Indeed you know too much.'
52:
3032, 12 Mars, New Avalon
Hanse Davion work office
'So, Quintus what news you have from that conflict of the Liaos against the Periphery powers?'
'Some disturbing news, my Prince. While the Magistracy and Andurien forces are on projected levels of equipment and capability, the Concordat show a marked improvement in quality, and a never suspected number of SLDF equipment.'
'So our dear Baron Darlan is not the only one with nice toys around?'
'No my Prince – the Taurian Guards show more than a hundred mechs of SLDF origin, and used then to destroy one of the McCarron Regiments. The Second Regiment is no more and Marcus Baxter is confirmed killed in action.'
'Edwards is showing off – the Guards almost never leave the Cluster, and using then that way – and with so many advanced hardware is clearly sending a message. And Darlan forces?'
'The Baron deployed two mech battalions and contracted two combined arms regiments – the Barrett's Fusiliers and the Gray Death Legion – all forces so far performed very well, conquering Jacson, Yuris and Zanzibar with light casualties. So, far, none of the mechs that he obtained from Katrina is deployed – the ones already received are still in Althea's. And we have confirmation that a Combine fleet appear in that system. Of the 5 jumpships, only one return – two Monolith and two Star Lord stay.'
'Any bets that our dear Baron also sell the data-core to the Kuritas?'
'Only a foll take that bet my Prince. The good news is that because of increased recruitment effort by the Baron, we placed one, maybe two agents on is forces.'
Note..: The equipment that the Concordat received from Helm (about two hundred mechs, several vehicles and spares) as been attributed to the Taurian Guards, and not show – until now.
The McCarron regiments are still in phase of rebuilding after the trashing they get in the 4SW, and the Taurian Guards with advanced equipment are deadly for the second regiment.
The Canopian / Andurien front goes almost like OTL – this time the Canopians have a slightly better equipment and training, but not enough to change the outcome in that front. The Andurien exhausted they forces against the Capellans, and just after that the FWL attack and re-absorb then.
Because of the Taurian intervention (and Darlan with is extra mercenary forces) the Capellan lost the south side of they realm – they lost everything below the line Principia – Yuris. They also lost several regiments. For the Taurian, is a much needed combat experience, and they grab several world with a relatively, small cost.
For a while Edward and Kyalla are furious with Jean-Luc, until he correctly pointed that sooner or later the big powers get a copy of the data-core. This way, some benefits are obtained by that sell, and after all, is a discovery made by Jean-Luc, not him selling state secrets. In the end, Jean-Luc stay in power in Althea's, but lost much of is good will with both nations rulers.
At the end of the war the contracts with the Barrett's Fusiliers and the Gray Death Legion are not renovated, and both mercenary units departed to the Is in search of new jobs.
By 3035, the Taurian-Andurien-Canopian-Capellan war ended with Liao losing everything south of Principia-Yuris. By this time FWL start the re-capture of Andurien that by now is too exhausted to put a capable defense. Canopus is in no condition to help they ally, and Taurus, frankly is not interested, busy digesting is news conquests.
53:
Many things changed in Althea's from 3030 to 3035.
By 3035 4 Snowden are busy in the asteroid field, and the construction of the first model to 'export' with K-Boom is on curse.
They have two Battlesat- defense satellite in orbit (1 NL35 and SHS) and the first Battlesat-1 is scheduled to early 3036 (1NL55 and DHS).
The production of the Vulcan VLC-7C started in 3033.
The Monolith (2), Star Lord (2), Mammoth (1), Behemoth (2), Mule (3) and Jumbo (2) are used all around the Concordat, Reach and Magistracy in commercial services, earning a lot of money to DII (Darlan Investments and Industries). The remaining jumpships and dropships are reserved for military duties.
Taking full use of the advanced mech factory and all of the SLDF technology, the first mech produced in Althea's is the SPR-4F Spector. The first exit the factory in 3035.
The period from 3030 to 3035 is not a good one for Jean-Luc.
Not only the backlash from the Concordat and Magistracy governments reduced it's political influence substantially, but his lover, Janine Silver died during the war, her mech hit in the head by a PPC fired by a Capellan Marauder, in the last days of the conflict. Jean-Luc did not escaped unscathed - he lost his left arm, when his mech is severely damaged, and needs months of recovery time and later therapy to adapt to the artificial one.
54:
On the other side, the relations of DII / Althea's with the industrial side of the Concordat, Magistracy, Reach and Outworlds is very good.
For many years DII helped they repair / rebuild old factories and have been instrumental in decoding / replacing the 'black boxes' that are damaged or destroyed.
By 3035 Althea's produce – even if in small quantities – all the weapons, and electronics used in mechs and ASF' by the time of the Star League.
During a time, they are busy upgrading all the mechs in the two Revenants regiments, but soon Jean-Luc realized that in the actual political climate, that need to expand is forces greatly.
In the following years the expansion of production lines advance continuously but also very discretely.
In 3036 the first dropship produced in Althea's – a pocket warship variant of the Leopard start tests. Unlike the initial plans, is equipped with a NL55 and DHS. The 'normal' and CV variants appear in 3037 and 3039 respectively.
By 3037 the Colossus dropship has been refitted to the full 2760 variant + DHS.
By that time Althea's also produce guided (Artemis IV) LRM and SRM, guided Arrow IV (normal) and a modified anti-ship with a 'primitive' but much more capable guidance system, and the Streak SRM variant. Ferro-Fibrous and Ferro-Aluminum (but not Heavy Ferro-Aluminum) are both produced in (relatively) small quantities.
Note..: the launchers have also available in the guided variants.
None of the upgraded missiles is provided to other units, by 3037 – first choice is fully upgrading the Revenants regiments.
By 3035 all engines produced in Althea's – unless are part of foreign orders not yet satisfied – are equipped with internal DHS.
In late October 3037, a massive turret equipped with a pair of NL55 is turned operational inside the Revenants base – first part of ground to orbit defenses. Several more are planned in strategic locations all around Althea's. The first batch of Alamo missiles is also delivered.
The second battlemech produced in Althea's is the Highlander HGN-732b, that, like the Spector, only for the use of the Revenants regiments – the first mechwarrior to receive one is Jessica "Glitch" Chernovskaya, now a captain in the second battalion, first regiment.
Note..: While DII sell vehicles, spares and ammo for mechs and ASF's – and upgrade kits for the Concordat and Magistracy – the mechs and ASF's produced in Althea are (for now, with the actual frosty relations of the Houses against the planetary ruler) only for the local forces.
The bad relations between Taurus and Althea's don't stop Edward to continue to employ the Revenants to defend Cyrton, Organo and Celentaro – in reality the forces present have been reinforced with 4 ASF (now 6) and several vehicles (including arty) on each planet – but no more mechs. Predictably, all Jean-Luc companies are expelled from any research and rebuild programs in both the Concordat and Magistracy if they are secret. That not stopped the continuation of equivalent ones in Althea's, these just have much less funds and researchers, but on the other side, have access to the New Dallas core, that is never shared – and so far as Jean-Luc knows, no one outside of Althea's know that exist.
55:
Earth, Hilton Head
November, 12 3037
'And all tentative s to stop the dissemination of the so called Darlan data-core resulted in failure. While ROM destroyed and even captured several copies, the scavenge lords learned something from the early Holly Shroud I and II, and they have many backups and plenty of security. On top of that, is now confirmed that Kurita sold copies to both the FWL and CC, obtaining a good profit over the rumored price they pay to the trice damned baron.'
'Ha, the noble samurais, can be good merchants if they want. And the good baron?'
'Is confirmed that as lost all is political influence, and at least three attempts to end if life have been detected. One by ROM, using P12 Hurricanes, also gone wrong, the baron security is that good.'
'How they defeated the Hurricanes?'
'Unknown so far. The night they are used, the support group report a lot of jamming and several loud explosion in the target area. The commandos never returned and the next day the baron is still alive and apparently unarmed. I have to ask why, continue to try to kill him? After all, he as already lost all is political influence, and the damage is done.'
'You are right – we need these operatives doing more useful work against the Federated Commonwealth. Any news on their HPG program?'
'We have sabotaged they research, but is a very time and resource game, Primus. Hanse Davion as pulled all the stops on that project after the interdiction of 3029.'
'Use any means necessary, they can't get a functional HPG, you hear me?'
Note..: P12 Hurricanes, also know as P12 Tornado (in WoB hands) is the Comstar version (lower grade) of the SL Mk. XXI Nighthawk.
The security team, between other weapons, have V-LAW rockets, that can do a number on the Hurricane armor.
While losing all political connections hurt, Jean-Luc by late 3037 has build a comprehensive industrial and mercenary network. Thanks to the knowledge of his team to rebuild / reactivate older (SL era) factories, is technicians are much in need all around the Sphere. With the exception of the CC and FWL, they are busy everywhere (and getting good bonus and contacts).
Thanks to the capability of the Althea's factories to produce advanced electronics and weapons, the mercenary market is open to him, and after careful selection, Althea's is doing business with the best of the mercenary world.
A big effort to upgrade / expand the industries in Althea's is a top priority, and a great emphasis is placed in expanding the dropship / Snowden production.
With the deterioration of the relations with the Concordat political power, the local number of Snowden that initially is to be four, is expanded to twelve. While still producing Snowden for TMM, a new series of local owned (and the cheaper, without K-Boom variant) is ordered.
In early 3038, production of several variants of the Mule dropship start - 'normal cargo', liquid / liquefied gas, heavy lifter (up to 7500 tons pieces from ground to orbit), heavy tug – with reinforced frame, powered arms and grapples and two extra engines (a la Mammoth), and for last, Pocket Warship (SL variant).
Mule Pocket Warship
32 tons armor (heavy ferrous-aluminum)
3 White Shark launchers (39 reloads)
3 Barracuda launchers (39 reloads)
1 AC/5
2 SRM6
3 Large Lasers
8 Medium Lasers
2 Small Lasers
6 ASF
First to be delivered by early 3040.
In early 3038 production of heavy ferrous-aluminum, White Shark and Barracuda missiles start in Althea's. Like all very high tech products, for now only for the local defense forces.
The production of the Vulcan VLC-7C is replaced by the more capable 8C, with XL engine, DHS, ferrous-aluminum armor and Gauss rifles in place of the AC/10's
56:
By mid / late 303x, the Concordat and in a minor grade the Magistracy, are more focused in revive long lost colonies – the ones that are lost because losing water purification technology, for example, and rebuild the shipyards in they capital systems than in enlarging / upgrading they armed forces.
The Reach also have not yet recovered from their civil war, and the majority of the efforts go in that direction.
The only force in the area busy expanding and upgrading is military capabilities is Althea's.
Note..: a substantial part of the Concordat military budget is sunk in the long time project of rebuilding the warships in the secret base (using the recovered dockyard).
Also both nations are producing components for they future HPG network – for now they are just storing said parts.
Jean-Luc companies are out of both operations, obviously.
The efforts of rebuilding / upgrading military factories in the Outworlds Alliance – that by now is a junior partner in the Concordat / Magistracy / Alliance (and the Reach as a client state) by DII, greatly improve the output of Mountain Wolf Battlemechs and Unit Outworlders Corporation. The pay for DII is that production lines of the Lightning (LTN-G15b variant) ASF and Night Hawk (NTK-2Q and NTK-2S) battlemech be created in Althea's.
Also, a modified variant of the Spad ASF is entering production by late 3038.
SPD-505C Spad
GM 150XL
10 DHS
Ferrous-Aluminum armor (8.5 tons)
1 Guardian ECM
1 ERPPC (nose)
2xMedium Laser (one in each wing)
Thanks to the SL data-core and contacts with Magistracy companies, Althea's have some of the most advanced – in all human territory – hospitals and pharmaceutical industries.
The reason that DII is not operating in CC and FWL is because Jean-Luc want to help FC and DC to combat the Clans in the future, and both these realms are unstable and unfriendly neighbors of both the Concordat and Magistracy. Comparatively, the FS is much less a threat than any of these, from Jean-Luc point of view.
57:
The force sent to investigate Camelot Command finally return to Althea's, after almost two years away.
They get several dozens of Mk.39 Voidseeker drones the 004 (Interceptor) and 007 (Striker) variants, and enough spares to maintain these operational for a long time, and the automated maintenance systems that take care of these, but other than that, nothing more is useful in the base – the rest is in a state of disrepair and turned junk with the passing years.
While many of the parts are possible to replicate, the computerized AI's have anti-tampering protections that defeat all attempts – the only result is damaged chips beyond repair.
In the end, a base is created in Althea's moon to operate said drones, and if is not possible to produce more – no blueprints nor analysis of AI's – producing other parts and the already stock of spares guarantee many years of use for the ones salvaged / discovered.
The expedition returned with 43 Interceptor and 27 Striker Mk.39 drones.
Note..: No one successfully defeated said anti-tampering systems, and because of that not even WoB produced new ones. Any data on SDS drones is destroyed by Kerensky, so good luck obtaining blueprints of these.
The War of 3039 is similar to the one OTL. While both sides have more advanced equipment, instead of a few prototypes, that show how capable they are against the 'standard' ones, the number of deployed units is determined by the number of available jumpships – and that is almost the same.
Like OTL, Theodore have more units than Hanse knows, and his new model army is a nasty surprise. Both take notice of how more efficient the new hardware his, and priority to produce more increased.
Note..: 'Thanks' to the covert war against ROM, MIIO, DMI and LIC operated a bellow capability against the Combine, like OTL, and pay the price of don't detecting the much improved and enlarged DCMS.
At 200 tons, The Flanker is a replacement for the Tigress. An enlarged, much more advanced one.
Using the latest technologies, its armed with 3 ERPPC in the nose, 1 Gauss Rifle on each wing, with 2 tons of ammo each, 2 rear facing Medium Lasers and 1 AMS with 2 tons of ammo.
Is also equipped with a Beagle Active Probe and a Guardian ECM. Armor is 20.5 tons of Ferro-Aluminum, and have 18 DHS. Can carry externally, under the wings, 6 Arrow IV AShM or 2 Alamo's.
Production start in mid 3040 – is another of Althea's only units, normally placed in the zenith and nadir jump points.
Note..: Designed with MegamekLab.