AndrewCrisp
Sergeant
Reged: 11/22/02
Posts: 176
Loc: MilCom Centre, Outpost One, No...
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War of Reunification: Prelude
#63274 - 06/08/03 07:11 PM (156.34.220.70)
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"Where was he found?"
The soldier, a young recruit with Private's insignia on his uniform, said, "We found the aircraft wreckage in sector six. There were at least four people aboard, two of them were kids. The pilot was the only survivor though."
Andrew Crisp grimaced. "And you're certain the New Fredericton coat of arms was on the side?"
"There was no mistaking, sir." The private cleared his throat. "We took the pilot to the clinic as soon as we could, but his injuries were severe. The doctor doesn't think he'll survive the day."
"Take me to him." Andrew stood up and walked toward the door.
***
The Tanaka Memorial Clinic had a small crowd around it when Andrew arrived there. Word had gotten out.
"Everyone, please! Make room!" The private cleared a path to the door and Andrew hurried inside.
A doctor saw the Chief Councillor enter the clinic. "Sir?"
"Where is he?"
The doctor pointed towards a room. "The patient is currently stable but we'll have to operate soon if we're going to have any chance of saving him..."
"I want to talk to him." Andrew pushed past the doctor and into the room, where a nurse was administering an injection to the man on the bed.
One look at the injured pilot was enough to tell Andrew how bad he was hurt. The left eye was swollen shut, blood seeping from a bandage applied hastily above the eyebrow. Other bandages, some freshly applied, others already soaked with blood, were applied along the neck and arms. The bedcovers masked whatever injuries the man had below the chest. His breathing was ragged, and flecks of blood spattered the translucent oxygen mask set over his mouth and nose.
"Is he conscious?" Andrew asked the nurse, who nodded. "Give me a moment. Doctor, how soon can you begin surgery?"
"We're readying the OR now."
Andrew nodded, and sat down, looking straight into the man's good eye. The man coughed, and started to speak.
"... my... family...?"
Andrew shook his head. The man closed his eye, and a tear ran down the cheek.
"Dead... after all... we... went through... " Each word was agony for the man, but he kept on. "But... I... found you. That... is what... matters. I... found..." He started coughing again.
Andrew laid a hand on the man's shoulder. "Easy now. We're going to get you in to surgery. Just rest for a bit and we can talk later."
"No... I'm... not going... to make it. But... I found... you... after... you... left us... at their... mercy."
Andrew stiffened at the words. "What?"
"... left us... when they came... and... took... our... homes. The mayors fled... took some... staff, but... left us..."
Andrew shook his head. "We had no choice... the warlords had hired mercenaries and were tearing us up with mechs. We couldn't fight back effectively.
"But... the plans I made should have gotten all of you out. What happened? What about the forces that remained? They were supposed to get everyone out."
The man looked at him, surprise replacing the pain in his face for only a second. "They... betrayed us... turned around... joined with the... invaders." He paused for breath. "You... mean... you didn't... know?"
"No."
"Some of us... wanted... to find... you... hope you... hadn't betrayed... us like... the others. Hope... you can... get... troops... save us... save..." The eye closed and the man lapsed into unconsciousness.
The doctor stepped in. "Sir, the OR is ready, we need to get him prepped for surgery."
Andrew nodded and stood up. "Do what you have to, doctor."
***
For the next few hours, Andrew sat in his office, brooding.
Once more, he thought, the human element had destroyed the best laid plans. He had thought that the mayors of the five cities of the old Union would have done their best to safeguard the people under their care, rather than escape and leave their citizens to fend for themselves.
He had thought that the soldiers of the old RNFAF would have done their best to buy time for the fleeing refugees, rather than betray their training and side with the victors.
And for those miscaculations almost five thousand people were enslaved.
By the time he recieved word that the injured man had died from complications in surgery, he had come to a decision.
***
Lt. Robert Norden entered the office and saluted. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
"Yes," Andrew said. "Sit down, Lieutenant. I understand your lance has come back from training exercises. How capable would you say they are?"
"I think we can handle just about any job given us, sir... provided we have the right equipment."
Andrew nodded. "It has come to my attention that the old Union of New Fredericton has been consumed whole by the warlords that forced us to flee it. I've decided that this is a state of affairs that I can't allow to continue.
"I've spoken with the Council and it will still take us a few months to prepare the necessary capital and equipment. But once we're ready, we'll be going to war. And we won't stop until we've taken back every city.
"One way or another, New Fredericton will be reunited under the Mycros banner."
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"Why is that we always break up our history by the .. the wars, not the years of peace?... Because it's exciting, and because on some level people like to see something big fall apart and explode from the inside out. And right now, John, we're that something."
- Micheal Garibaldi
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Khan_E_F
Captain
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 865
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Re: War of Reunification: Prelude
#63478 - 06/09/03 10:58 PM (203.56.233.9)
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mmm, very good start to a legendary story... But just wondering...why would mayors side with mercanaries? But anyways, great start to a story.
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Glory To The Clans!
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coldwave
Sergeant
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 192
Loc: Alaska, USA
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Re: War of Reunification: Prelude
#63606 - 06/10/03 09:51 AM (209.112.151.41)
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Woohooo! a clinic is named after me!!!! 
Very good story, and I hope you continue it.
- Tanaka
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Tenshi
Sergeant Major
Reged: 05/27/03
Posts: 259
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Re: War of Reunification: Prelude
#63668 - 06/10/03 03:25 PM (172.137.238.236)
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Dunno if I've voiced this yet, but the RP aspect of Neveron is likely my favorite part of it. Excellent stuff, and very exciting for me. Can't wait to see more than the prelude, yaknow?
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It's when you start wishing you had a cool sig that you come up with something this bad...
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AndrewCrisp
Sergeant
Reged: 11/22/02
Posts: 176
Loc: MilCom Centre, Outpost One, No...
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Re: War of Reunification: Prelude
#64185 - 06/13/03 12:06 AM (156.34.212.185)
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Prelude - Part 2
"Enemy target, seven o'clock!"
Lt. Robert Norden grunted as he twisted the Savannah Master around to face the new target. The targetting system locked on to the target. "Target 300 meters, Jeep-SRM. I'm reading an enemy missile lock. Laser locked and ready."
"Take it out, Norden."
Norden squeezed the trigger and was rewarded with a loud hum from above his head and the sharp smell of ozone. On the screen in front of him, the jeep exploded as the laser cut through its magazine. He grinned. "Target destro-" he began, then grimaced as the INCOMING FIRE warning flashed on the screen.
Dammit! The jeep had got off a shot.
Norden gritted his teeth... he'd already lost some armour in the last engagement. No chance to evade. Impact in 3...
2...
1...
All his screens flashed red and the voice in his headset said, "That last shot punched through your armour and exploded right inside the cockpit. You're dead, Lieutenant."
"Damn." Norden hit a key which reset the Savannah Master's systems.
"You were too slow acquiring the target, and you lost precious time by asking permission to fire."
"I followed standard procedure."
"We're training for war, here, Lieutenant. In combat, standard procedure can get you killed. Let's try this again, from the top..."
***
While Norden continued with his training exercises, the Governing Council was convened for an emergency meeting.
Chief Councillor Andrew Crisp waited until the other six councillors were seated, then spoke to the technician. "Okay, put him through."
A screen at the far end of the room came to life, showing a man in shadow.
"Greetings," Andrew began. "Before we begin, perhaps you can identify yourself? I prefer we know who we are dealing with."
The voice that came out of the speaker was distorted, mechanical. "As my message indicated, I remain anonymous. It is how I have survived for so long." A pause. "And please inform your technicians trying to track this transmission that if they do not cease their efforts this conversation will end and your nation will not recieve my assistance."
Andrew nodded and waved away the technician at the far corner of the room. "All right. The tracking has stopped."
"Very good... now, it has come to my attention you wish to reclaim certain lands that once belonged to you. I believe I can be of some help in your efforts."
"That's right."
"I am prepared to give a substanstial amount of assistance... if, that is, you are sincere in your plans."
"We've had to set aside a number of development plans for this. The matter is of some urgency; the people in New Fredericton..."
"Spare me your humanitarian platitudes. I personally do not care whether you plan to liberate a million starving children or grind them under your heel. Are you serious about this war?"
Andrew glanced around at the other councillors. "We are."
"Excellent. In that case I believe I can help you. I am prepared to transfer over twelve million Nevdollars to your nation's treasury to underwrite the effort."
Andrew raised an eyebrow in appreciation.
"And," continued the voice, "I am prepared to release files on all the technologies needed for you to build a basic repair facility and to upgrade your construction efforts. Wars depend on infrastructure and logistics more than weaponry. These technologies will go a long way towards improving yours."
"That's... impressive." It would have taken years to develop the needed technologies beforehand, Andrew thought. "However, before we accept this... help... what are you asking for in return."
"Just that your war goes ahead."
"That's it?"
"That is all that matters on this planet."
Andrew paused. This was a very tempting offer, but... we need to discuss this for a moment."
"You have five minutes." The screen went black.
Andrew looked around at the council members. "Opinions?"
"I'm not sure I like this man's ethics. He seems too eager for warfare," said once councillor.
A second councillor added, "We don't know whether or not this man doesn't have a hidden agenda... such as gaining leverage within this council... or issuing demands later on."
"Still... if we refuse this, we might not be able to go ahead with reunification. How many people in New Fredericton will suffer while we wait?" said a third councillor.
Andrew said. "I agree that our mystery benefactor has some questionable ethics. But I'm not sure we really have a choice. Those people need our help now, not in a couple of years time.
"Time for a vote. All those in favour of accepting this benefactor's help?"
Three hands were raised. "Those opposed?"
Three more hands raised.
"Three for, three against. Chief Councillor votes in favour."
At that moment the screen turned back on. "Have you reached a decision."
"We have," Andrew said. "We accept your assistance... with the provisio that this will be the last time we hear from you. We have some concerns about your ethics and motives."
"The files and funds will be transmitted within the hour."
***
(OOC: my donation was processed! Four more days before the fun begins...)
Andrew
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"Why is that we always break up our history by the .. the wars, not the years of peace?... Because it's exciting, and because on some level people like to see something big fall apart and explode from the inside out. And right now, John, we're that something."
- Micheal Garibaldi
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AndrewCrisp
Sergeant
Reged: 11/22/02
Posts: 176
Loc: MilCom Centre, Outpost One, No...
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Re: War of Reunification: Prelude
#64705 - 06/16/03 09:48 PM (156.34.217.174)
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Prelude - Part 3
I-Day minus 10...
Sargeant Peter Levanov entered the briefing room. The circular room had a ring of chairs around the wall, and a holoprojector in the center. Three of the chairs were already occupied.
Levanov blinked when he saw the insignia on the shoulders and collars of the other three. Two wore the gold six-sided ring of lieutenant, where the third had the gold hexagon and four red dots of captain.
Feeling out of place, Levanov saluted the officers and took a seat. He was sure he got his orders right. Why had an enlisted man been called to an officer's briefing?
No sooner had he sat down, then the door opened and two men walked in. One was someone in foreign civilian garb, but the other...
The officers stood and saluted, and Levanov followed their example. That was the Chief Councillor up there.
So the rumours around the barracks were true. Something big was about to happen.
Chief Councillor Andrew Crisp returned the salute. "As you were." The collected soldiers sat down, as did the foriegner.
"This briefing is classified," Andrew said. "Nothing that is said here is to be repeated to anyone without proper security clearance.
"First I want to confirm the rumours. Mycros is going to retake the lands and settlements of our former home, the Union of New Fredericton, from the warlords that stole them from us nine months ago. You four command the units and lances that will be going in as the primary attack force."
Levanov sucked in his breath, felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. They were going to war. He was going to war.
"You'll be recieving some help from a nation that established itself in some of the lands next to our once and future home. To give you a strategic understanding of the coming conflict, I'll turn this briefing over to the special envoy from the Empire of the Two Moons, Kayane Wildfire."
The foreign envoy stood up. "Hello," he said. "We've been compiling our intelligence reports on activities within the former Union territory." He touched a control and a map appeared over the projector.
"After they conquered your territory, the warlords set about dividing up the spoils amongst themselves, setting up fiefs in the five cities they conquered. They used much of the plunder from the nation's treasuries to pay off the mercenaries that aided them, and to bribe members of the old Union military to join their ranks. Those that didn't join were killed and their vehicles seized.
"The unity of purpose the warlords possessed has largely vanished in the past few months. The fiefs are almost independant states, and raiding and assasination attempts are regular occurances. There currently is no unifying force or great leader among the various warlords.
"What's more there appears to be a growing resistance movement within some of the cities. Meridian and New Fredericton are known to have some resistance cells that are providing both our nations with intelligence. We can count on their help to provide assistance when the time comes to retake those cities, and they will be instrumental in restoring order."
Andrew took over from there. "Because the enemy is divided amongst themselves, our best strategy is to insure the enemy does not get the chance to band together. While Emperor Dracronis' forces strike in from the southwest, our forces will drop in from the north and move to isolate the various cities from each other. Once we've secured the rural areas, and immobilized the enemy, we'll move in on the cities themselves."
Captain Robert Norden raised a hand. "What about Gardner Colony and North Gardner?" They're less than three kilometers apart - not much chance of isolation there."
"North Gardner does not have a considerable military presence... so we will probably take that settlement first, keeping Gardner Colony from reinforceing that position. After that, Meridian will be the next city to liberate and we'll handle the remaining three as time goes by."
"What about overall enemy resistance. Intelligence suggests there could be as many as fifty enemy vehicles and four laser towers in the area... even with the units isolated from each other that's a lot for thirteen units to handle."
Andrew nodded. "We'll be getting reinforcements for you as soon as we can, and pacing the campaign to insure that each city is secured before moving to the next city. Plus we'll be building a repair facility in the lands north of Meridian to provide local repair and resupply capacity." He looked over at Kayane. "Sorry but my people tell me that your forces won't be able to access the facility."
"We'll manage," Kayane replied.
Levanov raised a hand.
"You have a question, Sargeant?"
"Yes sir," Levanov replied. "I am wondering what my platoon's role is in all of this."
"The most important role of all," Andrew replied. He touched a zone on the map. "We have no overland route to Union territory, so our forces need to have a drop zone. Your jump troops will secure that zone for a landcruiser to drop off Norden's company. While we don't anticipate any resistance, it goes without saying that you and your men should be prepared for anything."
Levanov almost gasped. "You mean my platoon will have the honour of first strike?"
"That's right. Think your men are up to the task?"
"Yes, SIR!"
"Then that concludes our briefing. You board the landcruisers on the 11th. Dismissed... and good luck."
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"Why is that we always break up our history by the .. the wars, not the years of peace?... Because it's exciting, and because on some level people like to see something big fall apart and explode from the inside out. And right now, John, we're that something."
- Micheal Garibaldi
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Tenshi
Sergeant Major
Reged: 05/27/03
Posts: 259
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Re: War of Reunification: Prelude
#64737 - 06/17/03 04:50 AM (172.152.48.33)
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Excellent, excellent writing. Kanaye in his first semi-starring role! Well, at least he's starring for the Empire of the Two Moons. The fame probably won't go to his head, but you never know.  Awesome story-line, making Neveron my main addiction now. No complaints here. 
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It's when you start wishing you had a cool sig that you come up with something this bad...
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Tenshi
Sergeant Major
Reged: 05/27/03
Posts: 259
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Re: War of Reunification: Prelude
#64741 - 06/17/03 05:04 AM (172.152.48.33)
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[I thought about making this in it's own topic, but it wouldn't really stand alone very well. This is set probably either at the end of the day or the evening of the next day after the briefing with Andrew, where Kanaye was the envoy.]
As the sun set on Neveron's horizon, Kanaye found himself lost in thought, staring at a grey and blue computer screen. The LCD screen hummed with idle power, and the rest of the small computer worked on decrypting incoming data from quite some distance away.
Hope all went well with the briefing, looking forward to the all-clear and confirmation on the southwestern attack. Already, we've set up a basic strategy for clearing the warlords from the southwest. Purchased a Swiftwind geared for range, hoping to out-radar them. LRMs can't do much if they can't see. All we have to do is be sure we kill them first. More activity near the border, still only light skirmishes. Caught a couple Stillettos fighting a Hetzer, pretty funny when the Stillettos got off a lucky shot and stuck the Hetzer's turret. That's about all, though we've fixed the building crews problem by hiring more workers, and it seems to be working. Less complaints about long construction times at least... Stars Guide, Kanaye.
~Commander Draconis Chastine~
~04/06/3229~
Sending reports had never been Draco's strong point, and a personal letter was actually something he hadn't been expecting. It meant that David and Alyx both were on duty, guarding the perimeter, leaving Draco back in the capitol with his advisors. Kanaye couldn't help but grin at the thought of their none-too-charismatic leader trying to deal with the half dozen or so advisors that brought in various reports. The grin soon turned into a small chuckle, before he began to write back.
Glad to hear the building crews are back on schedule, the discrepancies were getting bad. The fix won't last forever, but few do. As I write this to you, we are a definite Go on Operation: Unity. Without going into detail as to the Mycros plan of attack, it's safe to say they're thinking of just about everything. One thing I was surprised was mentioned was a repair facility. Though I know we have some of the best freelance mechanics we know of living within our borders, it may still be best to research the facilities a bit more. Until then we'll just have to make do with the mechanic fees, I suppose. Also, I've confirmed with the Chief Councillor when the operation is to start. Currently, we're aiming for a launch date of about the 11th. I'll probably catch a ride with one of them, if there's room. If not I'll be heading back on civilian transport whenever I get the opportunity. Stars Guide, Commander Draconis.
~Sergeant Kanaye Wildfire~
~04/07/3229~
Kanaye leaned back in the chair, reaching to his now-cold coffee. One of the mysteries of the universe, to him, how throughout endless warfare, loss of entire planets, and the invasion of the most ruthless force of mechwarriors seen to date, they still had the good ol' coffee plant. Then again, he was only assuming it was a plant, he didn't actually know. With a shrug, he drank the cold liquid.
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It's when you start wishing you had a cool sig that you come up with something this bad...
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slaine202
Sergeant Major
Reged: 01/24/03
Posts: 271
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Re: War of Reunification: Prelude
#64750 - 06/17/03 05:35 AM (134.146.0.6)
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I don't usually post in here but, this story is great...
I actually care how this turns out!
I'm gonna try to avoid the war logs so I can read here what happens. Excellent!
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Tigre
Lieutenant Colonel
Reged: 02/10/03
Posts: 1833
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Re: War of Reunification: Prelude
#64781 - 06/17/03 07:58 AM (12.47.79.2)
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Hmm, small correction Ryuu, Hetzers don't have turrets.
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- Tigre
Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est
- Francis Bacon
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Tenshi
Sergeant Major
Reged: 05/27/03
Posts: 259
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Re: War of Reunification: Prelude
#64843 - 06/17/03 04:39 PM (172.202.53.89)
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Sorry about the Hetzer thing, I only glanced at the market page to find an unlikely match-up. Guess I should've done a bit more research on it, tho'.
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It's when you start wishing you had a cool sig that you come up with something this bad...
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