Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Two: Raids
Victoria, Taurian Concordat, September 1, 3036
"How are our patrols going?" Edward Calderon asked as he sat at his desk across from the current naval commander.
"They're going well, we've currently got four gunships in various flight patterns in the system backed up by a couple of the new Vengeance models that Sharpshooter and TTI are putting out," The Taurian Navy commander replied. "They may have cut down on the ASF bays, but twenty-six fighters and just over 2000 tons of Cargo space mean that they can operate in the void for a good deal of time for the long-ranged patrols."
"That's good to hear," Edward leaned in. "I've got a feeling that something bad may happen over the next couple of weeks and I want us on a higher alert status if at all possible."
"I'll send out the signal governor Calderon," The commodore replied. "Is there anything else you needed from me?"
"Just wanted to touch base and make sure that all of our security measures are in place," Edward said as he paused to look over everything the commodore had just sent over to his slate. "We're finally making real progress on getting the citizens here acclimated to the new system of government." Edward sighed. "And, PPL has finally started production runs off of the factories that they've been researching and restoring, and I want to keep them in business for a long time," Edward leaned in and looked the commodore in the eyes. "These facilities are going to be critical in the next few years, both in our armed forces and in the eyes of the people of Victoria truly becoming citizens of the Concordat. We cannot afford to lose them. So I want any potential attack stopped well before it hits the ground."
"I obviously can't make any promises Governor, you've been in combat before and know that," the naval officer replied. "But me and mine will do the best that we can."
"Then that's all that I can ask for," Edward replied. "Have a pleasant rest of the day Commodore."
The Commodore walked out of the office and left the potential heir to the title of Protector sitting there to finish his paperwork and sweet tea by himself.
"Let's take a look at those specs shall we," Edward smiled to himself as he looked at the specs on the first Taurian Concordat mech that had been designed and manufactured by solely the concordat in generations. The Bison was a bit of an odd duck, but given the fact that it was an assault mech that would be produced by and more importantly for the Taurian Defense forces first was something that he and his father would be pointing at explicitly to make the people who stillbelieved that their alliance had been a bad idea look like fools.
"Let's hope that the reveal will be a good thing," Edward muttered to himself as he began to pack up the things that he would need at home. Then, as he was leaving his office his phone began to ring off of its hook.
"Hello, Governor Calderon speaking," Edward answered the phone. "What do you mean you just destroyed a pirate raid in orbit?! I had no idea that there was even a pirate presence in the system!" Edward took a few breaths to calm himself down and then spoke again. "I'll be right over to the command and control center, goodbye." Edward slammed the phone down on its hook before running out of his office, barely remembering to activate the security procedures on his way out before he jumped into his armored hovercar and sped through the highways.
Bolan, Lyran Commonwealth, September 4, 3036
"Good hits Stag, that dropship is toast!" the Sting's ASF escorts cheered. "I don't know why they thought that Bolan wouldn't be protected, but pirates have no place attacking any worlds in the Lyran Commonwealth."
"Let's have recovery teams make a sweep and then RTB," the gunship's captain responded with a grin in his voice. "We did good work out here people, now let's bring it on home."
Adhara, Magistracy of Canopus, September 5, 3036
"We should have bought those fucking gunships when they were offered at a discount!" The militia commander yelled as pirate aerospace fighters streaked across the skies. "Someone get that Taurian corporate rep on the line!"
"What good will that do commander?" The comms officer asked as she began sorting through the frequencies.
"They hired a short battalion of mercs to protect their interests," the commander replied as she coordinated her forces. "I want to see if we can borrow them for a little while."
"I'll contact them, Commander," the comms officer replied. "But I'm not sure if we'll get a response."
"Give me the damned comms device!" The commander ordered as she stomped her way over to where the comm officer was moving glacially slow. "We do nothave the time to fiddle around, I need to be in contact with them now or we may lose people and resources to a bunch of damned pirates!"
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"Are you sure this is a good idea, Colonel?" The Lone Star Regiment's XO asked as they moved through the flat grassland the pirates had landed their dropships in.
"The Taurians have their own security forces, and they gave us the go-ahead," Colonel Samuel Granger replied as he moved his older Guillotine around a boulder in the middle of the field. "Besides, we get full salvage of anything we take from the pirates, and we're in need of that war material."
"Agreed sir," the XO replied. "I'm just concerned that we may be in breach of our contract is all."
"We're ironclad," Granger replied as they finally saw the four Union class dropships and the Mule that accompanied the pirates onto Adhara. "Now, let's get this salvage train packed up and ready to go people!" He ordered the rest of the short battalion with him. "Be careful and pick your shots, we want to take as much of their gear with us as possible."
"Copy that Colonel, moving to engage."
New Syrtis, Federated Suns, September 10, 3036
"Pirates are officially stupid," Morgan Hasek-Davion said to his mother as they watched the recording of their lone Aegisheavy cruiser and its escorts dismantle the pirates that had tried to jump and raid the system.
"Well, I don't think most pirates actually understand the level of force that a full nation can bring to bear," Marie Davion replied with a shrug. "After all, until recently even the Taurians had a pirate problem to deal with."
"Well, once the Outworlds Alliance front has calmed down I think I'll be taking the 6th Syrtis Fusiliers on a pirate hunting expedition," Morgan grinned at the thought of finally seeing some action. "It's time to eradicate the pests for the time being."
"I'll see if our Taurian allies have any information on local pirate's nests that they haven't gotten around to clearing out yet," Marie said with a sigh. "But I would ask for permission from both Hanse and the Protector before crossing any borders," she cautioned.
"I'll follow all of the proper diplomatic procedures," Morgan replied. "Besides, they are currently our allies and they hate pirates just as much as we do, if not even more just because of the sheer amount of attacks they have had over the years."