Chapter One Hundred and Fifty: Press Release
New Avalon, June 12th, 3033
"So, we established some of this." I said to Hanse, Sandoval and Morgan. "But I'm still going to have to get things set up in order to hold court on Kentares IV. My current facilities are only enough to handle the small number of nobles that I have as is."
"We're going to assist with the transition of power." Hanse said bluntly. "That's a large part of why I had both Morgan and Aaron present when I revealed my plans for the future."
"Well, I'm going to need a lot of help, as well as an expansion of trustworthy staff." I responded. "I can handle the rebuilding and establishment of the Terran March Militia units, but I'm not sure I even want to hold court."
"Even if it's only once every couple of years, it needs to be done." Hanse said and Sandoval and Morgan nodded. "All of us here would rather be on the frontlines as well, but we understand the necessity of politicking."
"Diplomacy is just warfare by other means." I quoted with a sigh. "Let's go over the worlds that are going to be a part of the Terran March once again." I said, "I need to know what should be focused on before I start making waves."
"Why not just ease into it?" Morgan asked me bluntly. "Surely that would come across better?"
"It might, but they're already going to be shocked by the reinstatement anyway and I'll be able to push through some of the things that I want done while they're still distracted."
"I see." Morgan leaned back while he thought for a moment. "But why not take your time? It's not like there are many enemies left for us to face at the moment."
"There's always another enemy." I replied. "There's the Clans, assuming that they manage to get their act together enough to aggressively push into the Inner Sphere again, there's always rumors of an RWR remnant, some of them might be true." I shrugged. "Always push and make sure that you are prepared for any potential enemy."
"Also," Hanse spoke up. "There is much to be done in the Terran March considering that it suffered a large portion of the infrastructure damage during the Succession Wars. If Mark here wants to ensure the people's loyalty he needs to ensure that the rebuilding takes place."
"We've already gotten a lot of goodwill because Sharpshooter cleans up a large portion of the NBC weapons that were used, but we don't do a lot of the rebuilding because we don't want to damage the local economies." I said as I pulled up the data on the worlds that we were assisting in that regard. "But now, I'll be able to funnel some governmental funds into the rebuilding, not many, but enough to restart local production on each world."
"Tax breaks?" Sandoval asked.
"Tax breaks." I agreed. "Or even tax free if they contribute enough to the rebuilding efforts."
"That would definitely help in boosting the local economies of each world, but what incentives do you plan on offering the nobility?" Sandoval asked.
"First choice of a custom Royal-Grade 'mech." I said. "I can afford to drop the cost of a Royal Machine if they'll focus on getting their own planets up to the level that they were at in the Star League Era."
"I'm not going to just bow down and do as they suggest though." I said after a moment. "Sharpshooter already has the data on what it would take to rebuild most of those worlds due to us having considered expansion. We'll need to let some other people come up into the market though, competition will only benefit us."
"Sound thinking." Hanse said. "The local economies of the various worlds need to recover on their own, not through a bigger company coming in and clearing everything out."
"Well, I'll subsidize the ones who are willing to go into multiple areas, but for now I think that I should have them focus on industrialmechs and the other industries that will help with getting everything built back up." I then brought up a document on my slate. "I already bought the license to the Tiger and are rolling out a Fusion engine variant, I plan on sending the data on it to virtually all of the planets in the Terran March."
"Mind if I have some of my people take a look at the specs?" Sandoval asked. "We may want to buy the improved variant off of you."
"I'll be handing the plans out." I replied with a shrug. "They can be built fairly easy, and the only advanced tech that they have are the new ER medium Lasers and the missile tech that we have all started using en masse." I sent the specs to the other three men.
" 'Tis an effective militia tank." Hanse said after a moment. "But we can focus on that later, for now we're working on how you're going to be holding court, where you're going to be holding court etc…"
Kentares IV, June 13th, 3033
"Elsa!" David stood up and greeted the young woman. "I didn't know that you were on Kentares IV."
"That's because it was supposed to be kept a secret." The slightly younger blond smiled. "Besides, I'm being assigned as your Steiner Liaison for the near future."
"It's just an excuse for us to spend more time together before we get married isn't it?" David asked with a slight frown.
"Yes and no." Elsa replied as she sat down. "Yes, it is partially an excuse for us to spend more time together seeing as we're betrothed, no because mother believes that closer cooperation will benefit us while we bring the Worlds that we took from the Combine back into the fold."
"Good point." David said as he finished the last of his paperwork. "We can discuss the rest of this over dinner somewhere, there's a great diner not far from here, and they have the best steaks I've ever had."
New Avalon, June 15th, 3033
"Great service is to be rewarded, and as such, we are rewarding two incredible individuals today." Hanse said before the assembled nobles and press.
"Sir Ran Felsner, you and your family have provided us with loyal service for an incredible amount of time, often going above and beyond in your duties in order to accomplish the tasks set before our nation. In light of this loyal service, I hereby raise you to Duke of the Federated suns and make you Lord of the new Periphery March. There is much to be done there, but we have faith that you can accomplish it and more."
"Now there is one other that must be rewarded, and all of you know of him for the meteoric rise that he has had over the past three decades, going from a mercenary commander to one of the most feared military and industrial leaders in the Inner Sphere. Mark Hull, please step forward." I stepped forward out of the crowd. "There are many in our realm that give great and loyal service. But none so far have been as brazen as to go directly to the Dragon's lair and slay the dragon within." Hanse's voice rang out. "Duke Hull has refused rewards for many years, despite his deserving of more than he has currently. With this in mind, I consulted with my current March Lords and the members of both the Privy Council, and the High Council. We found that there was only one reward that could be offered. Duke Hull, you are hereby charged with holding and administering the reformed Terran March. We have the utmost faith that you will repay us with loyalty." Hanse finished his speech with a note of finality and then raised me up and embraced me.
"Duke Hull of the Terran March is a loyal friend, and we believe that he and his family will be the best choice for leading the Terran March for the years to come."