Chapter Ninety-Eight: Dragon? All I See is an Overweight Lizard
New Avalon, September 1st, 3019
"We're leaving David here with you." I told Hanse and Dana. "I left all of the schoolwork he has here, and some tips on helping ensure he's too busy to get into trouble."
"We got this." Hanse told me with a chuckle. "I'll have MIIO keep an eye on Corean too." He gave me a smile. "If they see any hint of the Sarissa showing up in what's left of the FWL we'll bring the hammer down on them quickly."
"I take it NAIS has been waiting to take apart the automated factory to see how it works?" I asked with a smile.
"Their Valkyrie plant and every single one of the automated factories that we recovered from Versailles." Hanse chuckled. "Have Sharpshooter ready, because if Corea steps out of line, you may need to fund another company in purchasing them outright."
"Yeah, we've got our hands full right now as is." I shrugged, "What with trying to salvage and relocate the New Rhodes Shipyards."
"Those are able to be restored?" Hanse asked incredulously. "We never had anyone go survey them for that purpose because they always seemed too destroyed."
"Turns out, the damage is repairable, it's just going to be a money sink for five years to a decade until they are back up and running again." I told the surprised Davion spare. "In return, I'm building another Crockett line there, and will see about purchasing a Marauder license to build another couple of lines for that 'mech as well."
"So you're just going to be spending money like water?" Hanse asked, "Where are the funds for all of this coming from?"
"Hanse, I'm not sure if you know this, but we have the Sting on backorder for the next twenty years, and we've added two lines for them at Layover. We also just bought the Centurion aerospace lines that were mothballed by Jalastar, and are getting an Ironsides factory up and running, that along with Mithril and Stinglicenses mean that we currently have more money than we know what to do with." I shrugged, "We've also got some jumpship yards at Alarion that we repaired and are up and running, and are part owners in a couple of factories on Loxley and Solaris currently."
"I can see why you're trying to get more done." Hanse said with a shrug. "Plan on breaking into the civilian market at all?"
"Nothing except for Dropships and Jumpships probably." I responded. "Unless you count the Hospitals and learning centers that we're building in the periphery and outback."
"Those don't count." Hase agreed, "I heard that you were planning on donating some of the "Slates" that I've seen all of your people use to NAIS."
"Yes actually, we're starting a nonprofit called White Dwarf to distribute them properly in conjunction with our learning centers." I told him.
"Well, I think that's your cue to board Mark." Hanse pulled me in for a hug. "Come back alive you hear." He patted me on the back and then watched as I boarded the Messenger.
Kentares Jump point, October 30th, 3019
"We got your courier." Packer's voice sounded through the comms systems on the Messenger. "Sheppard's taking over the 2nd Kentares to make sure that we're covered should anyone try and attack while we're gone, and Stone departed with the 2nd Marksman about three weeks ago."
"Is Peterson ready?" I asked Packer. "Because we've got one hell of a job to do this time."
"Everyone should be at the jump point in a couple of days." Packer responded. "I hope you plan on bringing the Defender along on this crazy scheme of yours."
"I'm bringing the Defender and a half dozen Sting's with us." I told him. "We should be ready to rock and roll here as soon as we can move on to Galedon."
"Yes sir." A delay finally introduced itself. "We're combat ready."
Galedon, Draconis Combine Regional Capital, January 30th, 3020
"Send someone to the HPG, we must alert the coordinator to this attack." Tai-SaRichard Ahrmram told one of his staff officers before turning to Colonel Andrew McGee of Mcgee's Cutthroats. "We must prepare our forces for this incoming invasion."
"Yeah, I guess we should." Mcgee replied. "Why weren't we warned about this beforehand though?" He asked the critical question. "Shouldn't a force trying to get here have been noticed before this though?"
"I have been getting reports that the entire border with the Davions has been hit with either raids or invasion forces." Tai-SaAhrmram informed Mcgee. "But I received orders to remain here, and so I shall, and it is possible that they used dead systems wherever possible in order to get here unseen."
"Well, I got your back in whatever the contract specifies that we do." Mcgee said. "Me and my boys and girls are ready."
"Alright people," Packer told the entire 1st Kentares Guard. "We are dropping on the world of Galedon V, our intel tells us that we are up against the 3rd Proserpina Hussars and a mercenary unit called McGee's Cutthroats." Packer inhaled. "We are up against two regiments of 'mechs, and whatever there is to support them."
"We're assuming that they have a lot of aerospace assets available." Packer briefed the officer teams. "So we're sending Sting's ahead of the group loaded with Infantry and escorted by the squadrons that Strider is in charge of. It will be their job to draw out any aerospace assets and to secure a Landing Zone for us."
"The Ducal Guard will be operating as an independent battalion." I stepped up. "It's the 1st Kentares Guard's job to make sure that this invasion goes well, it's mine and the Ducal Guard's job to make sure that we leave them guessing and unable to predict what any of our plans are."
"Any questions?" Packer asked the assembled officers.
"Just one sir." Romano Liao said. "Where do you want my company?"
"You'll be rolling with the Infantry we brought with us, and the Mithril suits that you've been training in are yours to keep."
"Copy that sir." She responded.
"Anyone else?" I asked. "Good, then let's go kick a Dragon's nose." I said after no one asked any further questions.
Author's note: Quite a bit of Exposition in the first bit of this chapter, but I'm not sure it could be avoided. Anyway, I'll be splitting the next chapter into three to four parts, with each part dealing with a separate section of the conflict. One section will involve Stone hitting the Stewart worlds, one section with Peterson and his looting, one with Hull and the Kentares Guard, and probably a chapter detailing the entire offensive that Ian just launched across the entire border.