Chapter 4

New Avalon Institute of Science, New Avalon

Crucis March, Federated Suns

February 25th 3046

I wished it were under better circumstances that I got to spend a prolonged amount of time with one of my few correspondence partners. Kai Allard-Liao was a youth of fifteen years, and his mother was fighting breast cancer. The NAIS housed the most advanced medical facilities in the Inner Sphere, so it only made sense that such an important figure as the Prime Minister of the St. Ives Compact would seek treatment there.

The NAIS was likely even more secure than the heart of Avalon City and its palace. Two battalions provided constant watch over the critical facility, which was built in and around the New Avalon Military Academy. Only one road led to it, reserved strictly for military traffic and supplies. For individuals, arrival was possible only by flying on a VTOL or aircraft and landing at the university's spaceport. Alternatively, one could use the heavily guarded underground subway running beneath the heart of Avalon City.

I typically took the subway with Agent Ainsworth. This was one of the few places where I didn't need to wear a disguise, as biometric scans were required both to board and upon arrival. Given the number of highly classified projects and technological advancements NAIS was responsible for, such measures made perfect sense.

Given Kai's regular and faithful correspondence, I felt a social obligation to be there with him as he fretted over his mother.

"Ah, Princess Katherine, you didn't have to come," he said, glancing down.

"I chose to come because we share a bond. I always look forward to your letters," I said to him.

"You do?" He looked nervous and shy, why?

"Of course. Do you know how often I send a letter and don't get a response for months, forcing me to send a second one? It's sent through ComStar, so I know they received it. It's just rude. But you aren't like that," I explained succinctly.

Amusingly enough, we were often in the same city, though we had only crossed paths at formal functions where others were speaking. Like me shuttling between Tharkad and New Avalon, Kai divided his time between New Avalon and St. Ives – though I supposed he would now be spending more time on New Avalon.

"Oh, right. My parents taught me to be polite. Ignoring your letters would have been rude." He suddenly flushed. "But that's not the only reason I responded – I also enjoyed receiving them."

"Of course, how is your mother doing?"

His lip trembled, and for one horrified moment, I thought he might cry. Fortunately for both of us, he composed himself and replied without any emotional outburst.

"The doctors said it's a highly aggressive form of cancer, but they think she has a shot. They're going to do surgery and replace some of the tissue and muscle with an artificial substance so the cancer can't return. She'll have to undergo additional treatment, which will make her very sick."

A thousand years later, and cancer was still taking its toll. It wasn't an interesting subject to me, but I had read up on the treatments, and they weren't all that different from those I'd heard about in my first life. They seemed better at surgeries and rehabilitation, but still relied on the vitality-draining and immune-compromising chemotherapies of Earth – or Terra, as they called it now.

The NAIS survival rate was significantly higher than that of other medical institutions, and by all accounts, Candace Liao had strength and good physical health before this diagnosis.

"She is in the best hands possible, Kai. Can I do anything for you?"

Kai looked at me, and his slightly gold-tinged skin reddened again. "I… no, well, I just think now isn't a good time."

That worked for me. I don't like being around overly emotional people, my mother – who kept them in check – being the lone exception. Kai's letters had always sounded very rational, so I attributed his current emotional state solely to his mother's perilous condition.

I looked him in the eye and patted his arm, thankful that I was his height, despite the two-year difference in our ages. For once, I wasn't short! I was quite tall for my age, so I matched Kai and had more than a couple of centimeters over my poor older brother, who had been afflicted with a diminutive stature.

"If you change your mind, let me know, Kai. Best wishes again for your mother's swift recovery."

While I was at the NAIS, I figured I'd make time to visit someone. Evelyn Durand had been a wonderful help and was now a full-fledged instructor in the College of Finance. We had kept in touch, and she had introduced me to Professor Marcus Groves. Though in his 60s, the Engineering School professor was still solidly built. I sent a message via datapad and met him in his office.

"Princess Katherine, an honor to see you again, my dear. I've heard of your interest in attending NAMA, but have you considered joining the College of Engineering instead? With a mind like yours, you'd be wasted on a battlefield."

I gave him a smile. "I've never been one to settle, Doctor Groves. Why not both?"

He looked taken aback. "The course load would be impossible, I'm afraid. They run their recruits ragged, especially in the first year, where they try to weed out those who aren't cut out for it. I dare say, we can be just as challenging, but no 3:00 AM surprise wake-up calls to do PT in the rain on our side!"

I shrugged. "They do push their cadets hard, but I believe I'm up for the challenge. I also see no reason to limit myself, especially since I've already completed the core curriculum and passed my Certified Precision Systems Designer test."

The good professor gave me a side-eye. "I'm not as adept at navigating youthful humor, but you can't even take the test until you have an Engineering degree."

"True, but transcripts are easily forged, and I'm tall for my age."

"FCIS agents turned into it a training exercise," Agent Ainsworth helpfully added.

The poor man looked flabbergasted. "But why do you even need to attend this institution, then?"

"For one," I held up a finger, "I want official credentials. For two," I raised my second finger, "I want to work with you and others on the research aspect of your work." I held his gaze for a moment. "The BattleMech is the pinnacle of modern warfare. But how many ace MechWarriors have ever helped design a 'Mech? How many engineering specialists have ever utilized the very work they've directed their minds and wills toward?"

He looked taken aback for a moment, and then his thoughts appeared to race.

"I must say, the idea has a certain appeal. And of course, as a loyal and patriotic citizen, if the First Prince has no objections to placing such a workload on you, who am I to gainsay him? I will see you in three years or so."

My smile broadened a bit. "Three years? Oh no, it will be sooner than that. I'll be here for classes in six months. My parents have me on the same educational track as my brother. But in the meantime, I'd like some feedback on a little design I've been brainstorming…"

***

Tharkad City, Tharkad

District of Donegal, Lyran Commonwealth

May 6th 3046

Victor grinned as he maneuvered his Victor through the abandoned 'Mech factory. He was in a 'Mech simulator, going up against his sister once again. They'd been at it for two years now, and despite his early lead in training, it was all he could do to maintain a positive win/loss ratio against her.

She's good, but in a Victor-on-Victor battle, I'm certain I'll be the victor.

One area where Katherine excelled over him was in 'Mech variety. Victor had mastered, more or less, a 'Mech from each weight class. He used a Javelin for light 'Mechs, a Centurion for medium, a Warhammer for heavy, and, of course, his favorite, the Victor, in the assault class.

Katherine had her favorites too, but she could effectively use over a dozen 'Mechs.

She has a style she prefers, nearly all of the 'Mechs she learns are equipped with jump jets.

Victor was the better shot, his accuracy impeccable. He credited Katherine for part of his skill, as she was the clear winner when it came to maneuvering a 'Mech. Her use of jump jets to evade missiles was uncanny. When dodging wasn't an option, she often used an arm without critical weapon systems to shield her 'Mech's core, redirecting damage to less vital parts.

Warning claxons blared as Katherine's Victor rose up behind him. Victor activated his own jump jets just as the autocannon/20 began shredding the armor on his back. His computer display highlighted the damage as shards of armor tore away from his right torso and right leg. He managed to leap behind a wall of half-formed 'Mechs. Pushing forward on the controls, he rounded the corner, and the two exchanged fire.

Despite being in a simulator and knowing all of this was computer-generated, a surge of adrenaline coursed through him all the same.

His medium lasers ripped into her left torso, while his autocannon/20 slammed into her center torso. The computer simulated the roaring thunder and the jarring shake of the depleted uranium slugs firing. Four Short-Range Missiles launched from his SRM-4, peppering her left leg and arm. At the same time, she fired back with her own lasers. The heat of her beams bored into his simulated armor, while two of her missiles found their mark – striking his cockpit. Her autocannon boomed, stitching damage across his right torso.

The simulator's shake from the strike to his cockpit disoriented him for a moment – but only a moment. He ignited his jump jets a second time and launched himself backward, quickly lining up his autocannon again. Conscious of the heat buildup, he held back on his lasers and let loose with his autocannon and missiles. Katherine slightly turned her 'Mech, twisting its torso so only the left side was exposed. The autocannon ripped nearly all the armor from her left arm, while the missiles tore into her leg armor, stripping more away.

Her torso whipped back to center, and her autocannon unleashed a spray of death. However, the sudden turn had caused half of the ballistic rounds to miss.

You'll have to do better than that!

She was still coming on, so he lashed out with a full alpha strike, unleashing all his weapons. The lasers melted more of her armor over the chest, while the autocannon tore off her left arm entirely. At the last moment, missiles locked on and shredded more of her torso. As she picked up speed, Victor braced for a charging attack, but instead, she took to the air once more, raining down destruction with her missiles and autocannon.

Shit!

Victor lifted his 'Mech's arms above his head, protecting the already paper-thin cockpit armor from the autocannon's strafing. Katherine's missiles tore through more armor. Had her lasers not been disabled with her 'Mech's severed arm, she might have inflicted critical damage to one of his weapon systems.

Her Victor landed right behind him, and he turned to face her. He fired his full complement of weapons, feeling the flash of heat as the 'Mech simulator simulated the intense roasting heat of an overheating cockpit, cranking the temperature to unbearable levels. Warnings of potential internal system damage blared, but he dismissed them, his eyes fixed on the damage he'd inflicted.

His autocannon struck center-mass, breaching the internals of her 'Mech. His lasers melted away half a ton of armor from her right torso, while Victor's missiles struck true, damaging her gyroscope. Her Victor began to keel over, but she fired her jump jets and launched herself diagonally into the air, even as her 'Mech teetered on the brink of collapse.

You've got to be kidding me.

She must have somehow compensated for the damaged gyroscope, because she managed to land and unleash her autocannon with a roar, a move Victor hadn't thought possible. He felt more armor strip off his legs, but this duel was his. He let loose one final barrage, and with that, he cored her 'Mech.

Pleased with his victory, he stepped out of the simulator.

"I told you, you're not going to win a mirror match against my Victor!"

Unlike him, drenched in sweat, she still seemed perfectly composed.

"How the hell does she keep her hair looking perfect, even while connected to the simulator's neurohelmet?"

"Congratulations, brother. I almost had you. Had you not shielded your head, I would have taken the match." Katherine wore a satisfied smile, one Victor couldn't quite understand—she had lost.

"Yup, I have to pull out all the stops against you. I really can't believe we aren't going to the same academy. I get why, but it's annoying," he groused. He didn't think Nagelring would present much of a challenge, not after regular duels against his father, Justin – Champion of Solaris – Allard, and Katherine.

"Thank you. During the battle, what do you think I should have done differently?"

"Hmm," he paused, giving himself time to think. Looking at it from the other side of the battlefield required him to examine his own potential weaknesses.

She sometimes did that, looking for pointers on what to do next time. Being the wise older brother he was, he always had something to offer, even if it meant she would be an even tougher challenge the next time. The nice thing about Katherine was that, even if she disagreed with his analysis, she never got mad or frustrated. Other MechWarriors tended to be vain about their skills, but she was always eager to learn.

We may be going to different academies, but that just means we both get to take the number one spot.

***

Avalon City, New Avalon

Crucis March, Federated Suns

July 2nd 3046

I managed to arrange a meeting with Morgan Hasek-Davion, the likely successor to Ran Felsner as Marshal of the Armies and head of the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth. Morgan, a war hero and my first cousin once removed, could provide valuable insights into the current prevailing views on the use of artillery.

"Katherine, your father mentioned that you had some questions for me about military theory before you enter NAMA."

The New Avalon Military Academy would be where I was attending, and it, along with the NAIS, was joined at the hip. Some attending NAMA even referred to it as the NAIS when speaking with others. Technically, that wasn't true for anyone but me, as I was dual enrolled. Victor had been upset, but my parents were keen on us attending different academies for political reasons. There was already talk of an exchange program for the second year, which might complicate matters for me, given what I planned to do within the College of Engineering.

"I do, and thank you for seeing me, Morgan." I had debated internally whether to use his military rank, but since I wasn't a member of the AFFS and there was a familial connection, I opted for a more personal address. I could have also used his noble title as Duke of New Syrtis, but again, I chose a less formal tone for the conversation.

He smiled and gestured for me to continue.

"Our current Regimental Combat Teams consist of one regiment of BattleMechs, three regiments of armored units and support vehicles, five regiments of infantry, a battalion of engineers, and two aerospace fighter wings. Yet, we have only a battalion of artillery. My question is, why so little artillery compared to over 100 'Mechs, 300-plus tanks and VTOLs, around 40 aerospace fighters, and roughly 5,000 infantry soldiers? The artillery battalion typically only has 20 to 36 artillery pieces, and while some of the armored regiments and motorized and mechanized infantry have additional artillery support, it represents only a fraction of the firepower that a RCT uses.

Morgan leaned back in his chair. "That's a good question. However, I want to make it clear that many RCTs deviate from the templated standard. For instance, some lack the aerospace fighters we'd ideally like to see. Others may have fewer infantry, but those they do have are more elite and better equipped. RCTs are often assembled piecemeal, pulling in multiple elements as they become available. So, don't think of these formations as static or unchanging."

I nodded, already familiar with most of that. Aerospace fighters were expensive and designed for zero-gravity environments. While they could operate in atmospheres to support ground operations, doing so added risks. Their vulnerability to anti-air ground fire could lead to catastrophic losses, particularly in terms of C-Bill value.

"Artillery is useful on the battlefield, but it is vulnerable," Morgan said, gesturing with his hand. "That means your artillery needs to be defended, which ties up other units that could be focused on fighting. It also matters who we're fighting and how we're using the RCT. Artillery is most effective against infantry and vehicles, units that are either slow or limited as to what terrain they can traverse through. While our enemies are still primarily using 'Mechs to assault worlds, and planetary defense forces and militias are used to hold them. What does that tell you?"

This was basic to me, but Morgan had no way of knowing that, so I appreciated the semi-Socratic method of our conversation.

"Artillery likely works best in a defensive situation. Artillery officers are accustomed to firing solutions based on standard atmospheric conditions and the planet's gravity. When assaulting another world, however, they would be unfamiliar with those new conditions and would need to find suitable ground to fire from. This makes artillery more suited for defense, but in such situations, they would likely be facing 'Mechs. While artillery can be effective against them, they would be far more effective against vehicles and infantry regiments, which they would prefer to decimate."

Morgan nodded enthusiastically. "A fantastic answer, Katherine. You'll do well at NAMA. Artillery is indeed an important part of our RCTs, but the current numbers align well with our needs."

"The doctrine for assaulting and defending worlds differs, but if we knew a particular world's forces wouldn't be used offensively, wouldn't it make sense to fortify defensively?" I ask, continuing before he can answer. "Artillery excels against non-'Mech units, but even against 'Mechs, it can still wreak havoc. A salvo of Long Toms, Thumpers, and other pieces at the regimental level could tear apart any light 'Mechs caught in it, while shredding the armor of others and weakening them for the ensuing battle."

"I don't disagree, but it isn't always that simple. 'Mechs possess unique maneuverability, capable of crossing rivers, forests, mountains, and more. While large formations often group by lance and company, they maintain enough distance to avoid multiple 'Mechs being hit by the blast radius of a single artillery piece. Once rounds start falling, they'll usually alter their course. And since artillery must be pre-set on coordinates before firing, it's unlikely you'll hit the same unit with more than two or three rounds," Morgan explained, his tone free of irritation or condescension despite the challenge.

"That's true, but I wonder if certain predictions could be factored in. The defender controls the ground and can make an educated guess as to where the enemy will scatter... Hmm, speaking of which, you mentioned needing units to guard the artillery – why not capitalize on that concern by mining the most logical approach to the artillery positions?"

Morgan grinned. "I like the way you think, Katherine. Mines are used, but there are caveats. For one, if they aren't strictly necessary, it's preferable not to use them. Post-battle, they're hazardous to clear, and every few years, some tragic story surfaces about one detonating decades after the battle. Secondly, laying mines effectively takes time. Most conflicts aren't full-on planetary conquests. Raids are more common, and 'Mechs can be redeployed quickly, while mines and artillery remain stuck in place once they're set."

What he was saying was correct, but I did challenge him on his riposté.

"RCT worlds regularly face Periphery bandits and mercenary raids?" I asked wryly.

"No," he said, his eyes twinkling in amusement, "but it isn't unheard of. Often, RCTs are deployed to important worlds with critical industries. That deters a lot of raiders, but even our most vital worlds can still be subject to raids."

"Like Kathil in '39," I commented.

Kathil was home to one of the few facilities that could produce JumpShips and DropShips. It also had growing mech and vehicle production centers.

"Excellent example. Despite a heavy defense presence, Liao managed to make off with quite a bit of material. To be frank, I don't believe you'll have any difficulty at NAMA, despite your youth. From this brief conversation, it's clear you already have a solid grasp of history and tactics."

Ah, I see, he thinks I'm nervous about attending. Hmm, to reinforce that or clarify?

"You praise me too highly; I know I have my work cut out for me," I said, pressing on. "What if artillery could be made more useful by reducing the costs of its construction?"

Morgan rubbed his chin. "It would make it more feasible to include a second battalion, but the strategic challenges would remain the same. A more likely scenario, if we could reduce artillery production costs, would be to funnel those savings into strengthening the March Militias to transform them into true RCTs."

We spoke for a while longer, and I pointed to various historical 'Mech battles where artillery had played a crucial role in turning the tide. I didn't convince him, but I planted a seed. My push for artillery stemmed from two significant reasons. First, Being X was still going to fuck with me at some point. A fifth Succession War? ComStar shedding its faux neutrality and openly allying with Marik, Kurita, and Liao to bring down the Federated Commonwealth? That was the most likely threat, though not the only one. Lyran nationalists still opposed the idea of the Federated Commonwealth, and while the Federated Suns portion was quite pleased with it, there were still rumblings in the Draconis March that the Lyran half had ultimately cost them the war of 3039 and that they would become a drag on their military power.

Being prepared for these sorts of potential conflicts would be critical.

Secondly, my father still sought to unite the Inner Sphere under his rule. He knew he wasn't in a position to do so now—not with ComStar poised to strike us with an Interdiction should we initiate another full-scale war. But if the K-series continued to improve and eventually replaced the HPG network as the primary means of quick communication, he would almost certainly spark a conflict. Hanse Davion had learned from the lessons of 3039, and the greater technological and industrial base of the Federated Commonwealth would only serve to widen the gap between our nations as time went on.

However, if our RCTs began investing more heavily in artillery, we would become better at holding worlds than taking them. As the premier military force in the galaxy, other nations looked to us as a model when seeking to improve their own military strength. If they, too, invested more in artillery… well, that would skew the cost-benefit analysis of going to war. Peace through superior defensive firepower was the game I aimed to play.

All in all, this had been a worthwhile use of my time. I planned to have the same conversation with my great-aunt, Field Marshal Nondi Steiner, and possibly a few others – relatives in one way or another – who held high positions within the AFFC.

***

Avalon City, New Avalon

Crucis March, Federated Suns

August 10th 3046

Hanse held his wife's hand, a gesture both steadying and intimate. He had pursued their union with the ambition of uniting the Inner Sphere, never imagining that a profound and enduring love would take root. Yet it had, and he now counted himself fortunate—blessed beyond measure. His wife, still radiant after all these years, wore a worried expression that stirred his heart with equal parts concern and affection.

"Hanse, are you certain this is the right course?" Melissa asked, her voice tinged with unease. "She's so young, and I'm still not convinced she's fully recovered after the incident."

The Incident, that is what they had called the event from four years ago. At just nine years old, Katherine had fought for her life, killing a dozen hardened criminals in the process. Fortunately, ROM had relied primarily on local criminal muscle for their brazen attack on Agent Ainsworth and dozens of other MIIO assets across New Avalon.

Counseling had already been arranged for her after witnessing an assassination attempt with so many fatalities. However, when it was discovered that she had participated herself, an entire team of cognitive specialists was assigned to help her cope with the horrors of that day.

Only, by all accounts, there were no behavioral changes from pre- to post-combat. Aside from her concern for Ainsworth and some pointed questions directed at Justin Allard for failing to uncover the attack, nothing changed. That had greatly alarmed his wife.

"My love, she is a warrior, like your grandmother and me. Like so many of our ancestors before us. It is in her blood." Hanse exhaled slowly before continuing, "Combat often changes people, but not always. Some grow hardened by it; some grow brittle. Some completely fall apart, some lust for it, and others are unaffected. The human mind has an infinite number of configurations and variations. Our neuro team says her reactions fall far outside statistical norms, but that has been true for her entire life. Is it so unlikely that our statistical outlier of a daughter would remain an outlier in all that she does?"

Melissa shot him a warning look. "Please do not ever refer to any of our children as a 'statistical outlier' again."

Hanse easily agreed to that.

"Besides, you know how much mischief she gets into when left to her own devices. Her desire for dual enrollment will keep her from pursuing her more… potentially embarrassing endeavors."

"It's fraud, Hanse. You Davions focus on war and the mechanics of industry, but Lyrans understand trade. Her manipulations mostly have legal cover, but it's shaky. The sharks in the media industry would eat her alive if they uncovered the pattern of her trades—especially after what she did with Alarion Beauty-Corp."

Hanse chuckled. He had greatly enjoyed reading Justin's report on that affair. An executive had pushed the media campaign into other off-world markets, which was a technical violation of the contract – an issue because his daughter had contracts with a variety of companies on multiple worlds. By encroaching on a competitor's space, which was also working with Katherine, they hurt profits for the other company. Damages would be limited by the terms of the contract, so they made a tactical decision to blatantly violate it. Their market position rose, and Katherine's initial investment also increased in value.

However, the principle had been violated, and it could impact her future business dealings, so she struck. She taped an interview with a media outlet on Tharkad, stating that she would no longer be working with the company due to an unfortunate skin issue from using the products she had helped launch. Immediately before that, she sold her shares. The rapid drop in the stock price and the negative news decimated sales and eviscerated the value of equities in the company.

Naturally, the company was incensed, but what were they going to do? Attempt to appeal to the courts against the daughter of the Archon? Trapped between a rock and a hard place, they reached out to Katherine to try to fix the issue. Katherine met with their CEO and demanded the firing of those responsible for pushing the marketing campaign off-world. In return, she would tape a second interview stating that it turned out her doctor's initial diagnosis was incorrect. With no choice, they capitulated.

Using her forged identity, she purchased a significant percentage of the available shares on the open market just before the second interview hit Alarion. From a financial perspective, she made a substantial amount of money, while many other shareholders suffered.

Hanse had been quick to point out that Lyran law included caveats for scenarios where someone wished to withdraw from an investment due to 'ethical' concerns. If her false identities ever came to light, Katherine could always claim she was duty-bound to withdraw from supporting a company whose product could cause medical conditions.

Ironically, her furtive trading was a better-kept secret than most military ones in the Federated Commonwealth. Quite literally, fewer than a dozen individuals knew of it. The K-series black boxes were of far more importance, and literally thousands of people – between the researchers at the NAIS and RCT commanders – knew of them. The potential for Katherine to be identified was vanishingly rare, and the little devil could always fall back on, 'I'm just a child; I was ignorant of the law.' Not that she would ever be prosecuted, even if everything came to light – rank hath its privileges, after all. It still wouldn't be good for her reputation, which was currently nearing his wife's popularity.

"Hanse! Stop smiling, and stop being proud of her for engaging in that sort of activity. She doesn't even need wealth; she has everything she could ever need as our daughter."

Melissa had initially wanted her disciplined and for it to be explained that what she did was wrong. However, Justin had helped convince her that it was best to give Katherine a long leash. Justin, concerned about the future, wanted to see what the dangerously intelligent Katherine would do. He harbored doubts that Katherine and her odd ways might not end up being loyal to Victor. Hanse thought it paranoid, but his spymaster ought to be paranoid, so he didn't mind. Not that Justin used that argument when convincing Melissa. For his part, Hanse wanted to see just how much she could achieve with a relatively small, at least on the scale of nations, starting capital.

He shrugged. "I can't help it. In one fell swoop, she made it clear to her industry partners that trying to take advantage of her would be met with a brutal response, all the while increasing her capital. After we pass the reins to Victor as the first-ever Archon-Prince, he will need others to act in his stead on New Avalon and Tharkad when he's operating out of the other capital. When that time comes, Katherine will be more than ready and capable to play that role on Tharkad."

Melissa indicated her agreement with a quick nod of her head. "I agree, and I suppose you're right. Keeping her busy with a double helping of schooling will slow down her modern-day market piracy. I just worry that she truly isn't all right, and that the scars of that day are deep-seated wounds, hidden from our sight, they will one day erupt."

"She's strong, you'll see. Everything will be fine, Melissa."