004. Comstar, Contolist, and Davion musings

March 21, 2990, Diboll, Federated Suns, Edgeward Combat Theatre, Draconis March

Precentor Atreus, looked about the room.

Well, not exactly the room per-se, but rather the holographic image displaying the full 9 members of the First Circuit. Not just the usual 5 from the House Advocate seats. Primus Takami's reform had added the House Capital world seats beyond the traditional seats of New Earth, Barnard, Alpha C, Bryant, and Procyon. The seats of the Star League's SLCOMNET.

Usually, they would have simply… not shown up, their voices increasingly marginalised in the First Circuit. After all, they didn't have the strength of a House full of HPGs to back them. Tiepolo himself was here because of this reform, Atreus representing the HPGs inside of the Free Worlds League.

But, all were here now.

"You have all reviewed the information that we intercepted on priority dispatch from Diboll. As per protocol, all priority messages are being reviewed for further analysis." Primus Takami spoke, looking tired to Julian's eye.

After the Tirpitz Affair and the destruction of a Black Lion Warship, preventing its deployment in the Inner Sphere, Takami had ridden this success into ignoble failure. Holy Shroud v2 had… at best… middling results. Their agents were discovered even, the results of which were unknown. Was ROM exposed? They hadn't managed to kill the scientists or industrialists. What had happened? Just… overall failure.

It was with this that Primus Takami had coasted during the last few years. The First Circuit were not showing him deterrence and his increasing reformation attempts to bring back strength to the seat of the Primus were blocked from all angles.

Yet, when a priority alert came for a meeting of the First Circuit, all responded. Julian hadn't been present the first time this had happened, with the Tirpitz, but he knew better than to ignore such a message. What if a similar threat was present?

And… now that he had read the report and the analysis passed through to New Avalon? He was wishing he had remained asleep. Here on Atreus, he was enjoying the balmy weather and relaxing his tired body. 

This? This was not conducive to that relaxation at all.

"Due to a lack of… knowledge of the deeper mysteries of the universe, I think it is safe to say that MIIO do not comprehend an alternate scenario to that which they have proposed." Precentor Barnard spoke.

"Yes, was it not Primus Sims who was driven insane by her visions of a threat from beyond the Inner Sphere? One made up of beasts who would turn all to ash? From the available documentation… it is clear we have identified the threat. The one the Explorer Corps was created to uncover the location of." Tiepolo spoke, always mild, always showing to all a placid nature. The moderate who did not fall into extremist Blakist tendencies, nor was he a monetarist. The one centrist who others would turn to if they wished to negotiate with the other half of the First Circuit. While he was young (compared to the decrepit ones on the First Circuit now), an image was something that took years to build.

The other heads nodded. The live service having been covered for as a planned outage for emergency maintenance. How else was he running a message all the way from Terra, in real time?

"Yes, visions. Holy Blake came to Primus Sims, and we thought her mad. Yet, has he not reached out and touched this Huu Theburge? The detail is too great, the increased cast of characters over time… he is receiving new information. MIIO, for all they are lesser than ROM, could not identify any contact for this information. I suspect our agents, when they arrive on Diboll will not have better luck." Precentor ROM, Takami's creature, said simply. 

The words continued to spill out from the different Precentors, their fervour rising. Blake had granted them a vision of the future, his ghost was still guiding Comstar from beyond the grave. Was there ever any doubt? 

All of them eventually agreeing on two points. That there had indeed been a defector of some kind, one that had shown information so traumatising it, altered the mind of one Huu Theburge permanently. The other being that without a contact, the only way he could be receiving new information was through visions. It explained neatly his sheer, utter focus on his cult, even from a young age. Something… or rather, someone was guiding him. And in Tiepolo's personal opinion, Contolism wasn't impossible to reconcile with the Word of Blake.

Yet, the question remained. What to do about the Earth Federation, this debasement of Kerensky's vision. For they had the recordings of his discussions with the Blessed Blake. What could this Federation and Zeon be, but corruptions of that dream?

"The Explorer Corps must be expanded, we must find these threats before they come to us, to conquer Terra for their… Federation." One called out. Precentor Alpha C, his voice measured.

"And what? You've seen the documentation on this Operation British. The continued use of megaton scale nuclear weaponry, biological, and chemical weapons without a thought. The use of a colony sized solar laser to wipe out all life on their so-called Earth. These people have abandoned any kind of rationality. Should we find them now, how can we hope to discuss matters rationally with them?" Precentor Dieron, this time, more urgently than his peer. After all, for though this situation had originated from the Federated Suns… it had originally been the Draconis Combine that the 331st had struck. It was also from where Kerensky's exodus had left the Inner Sphere.

"Or their warships and Mobile Suits. The Successors have focused almost entirely on ground conflicts in the last centuries. These… Federation armies can simply push aside the aerospace defences and drop asteroids on worlds until they are purged of life! What recourse do the Scavenger Lords… our shields have?" Ah, Precentor Tharkad, for the Commonwealth was next door to the Combine … stellarly speaking.

"That's extreme, why would they do that? They aren't aliens. They cannot be entities devoid of empathy, they did sign their Antarctica Treaty, did they not?" Alpha C this time.

"How many people do they have? Kerensky's fleet was large, yes. But we must ask ourselves… after their wars of annihilation against themselves, something I fully expect to have continued past this… how many are left… and how willing will they be to undertake genocide to make up for their numerical weakness?" The Primus finally said. Looking exhausted.

The room fell into silence… he had an extremely strong point. After centuries apart, fighting their own apocalyptic wars… what rationality was left, could they trust in it?

"This report is about the time they call U.C 79. Perhaps it is when they first established their colonies? Hundreds of years have passed then, what is their technology like now without Comstar to ensure the survival of mankind?" Tiepolo spoke up, his voice calm… measured.

Again, appalled silence. What if there had been no Holy Shroud? What horrors would they have gotten up to? 

"We need a course of action. But it cannot be rushed. We have, I see, two options. Attempt to find them ourselves and seek diplomatic options. Or to alert the other Successor States of this problem so that they might begin preparations in the event this Earth Federation does return." Takami's voice was defeated, and for good reason. Had he not spearheaded the Tirpitz Affair, Holy Shroud 2? Now, with the threat of the Federation… would his actions be now… self defeat instead of triumphant victory? His botched Holy Shroud, the providence of Blake?

Would they now need to release technology to the Inner Sphere, to allow their scientists to develop? Defeating all they had done in the last century? 

Yes, Takami would be a broken Primus by the end of this. Julian would need to find a new benefactor if he wished to rise further… to the seat of Primus even.

Precentor Sian finally added his two C-Bills to the conversation. "Brothers, Sisters. If we are to think about this rationally, we must consider the facts as we have them, and discuss this rationally. I have been in discussion with Precentor ROM, Precentor New Avalon, and Barnard regarding the information. We have come to several conclusions that should be able to guide our path going forward." Julian listened intently, Sian was the biggest threat to his future position. The man was… in simple terms, moderate. Like Julian himself. There could only be one Primus and Sian was his biggest rival for the seat. 

Interjecting now with his conclusions, after the others had wasted time panicking? What a way to endear yourself to the First Circuit, Julian thought with agitation. Why hadn't he done the same?

"First, the worlds that Kerensky decided to settle in are planet-poor. This can be the only explanation as to why the SLDF decided to break with Star League Doctrine and instead of colonising planets for future use, decided instead to build resource intensive zero-gravity installations. Much like those the Belters in the Terran System use. They must have only been used as a last resort measure." The other first circuit Precentors nodded at this. 

"Second, this split was not an amicable one. These references to the Republic of Zeon and then the Principality of Zeon are contrasted to the Earth Federation. These two are always mentioned in opposition, the latter as the oppressor of the former. Until, that is, we switch to the Principality of Zeon and the Principality becomes the aggressor in the conflict. Suffice to say, we believe it likely that the SLDF splintered following settlement and re-enacted the Reunification Wars. The stronger, perhaps more influential units settled worlds, while the rest were forced to build orbital colonies and were used to mine resources. This resentment led to a rebellion, and then an invasion." Again they nodded.

This was indeed something of a concern… if the Federation and Zeon were reenacting the past again and again, what did that say about the lengths they would go to for victory? It was a problem that needed to be investigated.

"Third, the move of the battlefield from planetside to space infrastructure has led to the construction of these Mobile Suits to fit the new combat situation. Specifically, in a warship rich environment, standard armour is not considered useful when naval weapons can destroy a Battlemech or ASF is a single strike. The SLDF over time have clearly solved the issue of Naval weaponry being less than capable of targeting small craft under 200 tons. Abandoning the Battlemech/ASF paradigm, Zeon and then the Federation developed Mobile Suits which combines the acceleration and agility of an ASF in space, with the articulation of a Battlemech. While slower than an ASF, and mounts less weaponry and armour than a Battlemech. It is capable of dodging inbound weapons fire, and carrying its own naval-grade weapons to engage and destroy warships. This is a new paradigm of warfare that we are singularly oblivious to. Warship combat has not been a concern in the Inner Sphere for centuries, after all." Julian felt his brows crease almost unconsciously. Yes, it may be possible to release technology to the scavenger states… but would it be enough in the unknown time they had left? Would they be able to innovate themselves out of this trap?

"Fourth, the existence of Huu Theburge indicates that there are those from the Federation or Zeon that remember the Inner sphere and have been exiling themselves or being exiled. These individuals have a singularly unique perspective that can be of assistance to use in the Holy Order… and the Successor States if we choose to provide their locations once uncovered. It should be our top priority to locate them to aid our preparations against the Federation or Zeon, or their own successors. The existence of the Minnesota tribe, is proof enough that there are groups being forced out, groups we can make contact with… possibly discuss mutual cooperation against the SLDF threat." 

Ah yes, yet further destruction of Blake's vision. Yet… what options did they have in this rapidly changing situation? Could they stay true to Blake's vision and defeat this SLDF?

"Fifth, given the timeline given UC 79, the technological progression from what we can identify as the Zaku 1 to the Zeong, a difference of 17.5 metres tall to 35 metres tall, with vastly different capabilities. While this vastly accelerated pace of development is likely to be out of the norm, the constant conflicts we project as normal have likely led to the development of machines that far outpace those we are currently capable of identifying. Our projected defensive plans must take this technological progression into account. Dropship scale Battlemechs as an example. The Comguard must be trained to meet this new threat." A shiver ran through all the Precentors. While there had been no actual footage, the illustration of what the Zeong could do… coring 5 warships from each of its fingers at the same time… well, that worried them all greatly.

"Sixth, the existence of Newtypes as preached by Huu Theburge have been, if we believe the writings and illustrations, confirmed as fact. The Elmeth and Zeong have been identified by Theburge as containing Newtype pilots. In the time since, there must have been an increase in the Newtype population and represents a grave threat to the Order. We must identify our own from amongst the Belter populations or other space-faring human peoples to recruit our own Newtypes. Should a telepathic, as Huu identifies them, enters a HPG, they could learn all our secrets without us even knowing of it." The horror of revelation after revelation had bitten deep. Julian was barely holding back the sensation of drowning as Sian stepped in front of him. One more roadblock to his path forward.

"Seventh, and finally, the fact that Primus Sims' visions were confirmed as fact should be our largest priority. Identifying similarly predisposed individuals should be our largest concern. They will prove to be our biggest advantage over the Federation or Zeon should they arrive. Being able to identify their material advantages and building a counter should be our largest focus going forward." Which would go over extremely well, Julian could tell. The laymen of the order were already incredibly excited by Primus Sim's visions, that the Order was attempting to find more like her? It would be like setting the hens in the hen house on fire, so great would their excitement be.

"As a sidenote, Precentor ROM has made it a priority to protect Huu Theburge. He is our one line to the corrupted SLDF. We must protect him from the Successor States. While the First Circuit decides on a course of action regarding these revelations."

…

While the room was quiet, costing millions in C-Bills for every second the live transmission ran. Precentor New Earth added one final comment. "This Contolism. It may sway many of the faithful… and the Belters with its message. We should be prepared for this."

A loud sigh echoed.

"How many bloody problems can one person cause? It is not his fault of course, we should be glad that this information has been made available. We must deliberate independently... before coming together to discuss our path going forward." Said Primus Takami, before issuing the closing statement. All would be travelling to Terra for an in-depth discussion, it seemed.

Galaxy shaking discussions should be had in-person.

Tiepolo, after 2 hours of sleep, dragged his hand down his face. He just needed some damned sleep.

+Break+

March 29, 2990, Diboll, Federated Suns, Edgeward Combat Theatre, Draconis March

"Let us begin the meeting, the Word of Zeon for today comes from Daily Recordings of the Prophet; blessed are those who's souls are free from gravity. For they shall know eternal life."

The room was quiet. 

12 individuals were stood inside, each a member of the Contolist inner circle. They came from all walks of life here on Diboll and beyond. Of different class, of origin, of employment… of… national employer. All were unified by their belief in the prophet. Or so was the hope.

"I have spoken to the prophet about a defence force to protect Diboll, but most importantly, himself from those that would seek to harm him, or kidnap him for their own ends. He has tentatively agreed, if and only if the rules of engagement prohibit the firing of the first shot." Henriette spoke to the gathered group as they sat in their ring of chairs. Faces blank, to not give anything away.

"Ah, you spoke to the reincarnator. It is a good thing that you did. I uncovered his old publications for what he calls the RB-79 Ball. An industrial space craft that can also be converted into a weapons platform." Tommy Tukio, owner of an ICE car manufacturing plant here on Diboll. 

Another of the Inner Circle, and in the opinion of Henriette, utterly pants on head stupid. The Prophet was just that, a prophet. Reincarnator? Clearly he had been dropped on his head as a child. He was likely a creature that was here because Contolism offered him an opportunity to grow his business into Mobile suits. His focus on production, not, when they had not even left the planet yet? Disgusting. Did he even believe, or was this some kind of ploy to make more money? 

"Your dedication to research of the great transmigrator is admirable, Tommy. Have you considered, however… the fact that we do not, in fact, have orbital infrastructure? Contolism speaks of a need to reach for the stars. Did not the great transmigrator say "living on a planet is a weight upon the soul" on Haynesville in 2988? Yet, for this to happen, the great transmigrator also said, "our path to the stars must be taken one step at a time. To do otherwise is a waste, and waste is a sin," in Discourse of Space Colonies and Evolution. Before we begin the process of constructing these hypothetical vehicles, it would be more appropriate for us to reach the stars to begin with." Ahmad Bruce, another idiot who believed that the great prophet was a transmigrator. Always reading his words, always quoting them as if that were the only thing worth saying. Did he not understand that the prophet was a living being? One whos doctrine would change over time, not remain static, not remaining in a singular place like a dead book.

What an idiot, but he was supporting her against the stupid, and thus was acceptable… for now.

"Yes, we can't build orbital equipment yet. We currently do not have the funding. Remember, the prophet emphasises that to reach the stars, we must use our own hands. We cannot be reliant on the charity of others, for it may be removed at any time." Henriette pointed out, making sure that Tommy could see her warning.

He grumbled for a moment, before to her right a fourth voice added its opinion.

Aiden Gordon, Precentor Diboll, in charge of the HPG on planet, was an early convert. The one who had gathered them in the first place, actually. Looking on the online forums, checking those who were the most receptive to the words of Contolism, and bringing them together for their first meeting in 2985, on Bryceland. Five years ago now, the first meeting of the Contolist believers society.

Five years on and their numbers had expanded, all were here because they believed in the prophet, in Contolism, and were willing to do anything they could to expand its reach. 

"While I am not in a position to speak on the situation of orbital assets, I do have news of aid to the Contolist cause. The First Circuit has identified the value of the great seer. ROM agents are being dispatched to ensure the safety of the seer. Assets are also being dispatched to ensure agents outside of Diboll cannot harm the great Seer." Her great ally in these meetings once again saved the meeting from descending into an argument by her intellectual lessers. 

"That is good news. We should consider further issues going forward. Specifically, the fact that the first step of Contolism has been reached. With the new fusion reactors. We are now able to take the first steps to establish our own independent orbital infrastructure. The Prophet has shown me plans for future technological development, he has opened our path to the stars!" Henriette said, a wide grin on her face. For was this not what the prophet had said would happen? His words were coming true! The words of the prophet always contained a grain of truth, of foreknowledge, or past knowledge. One merely needed to be able to interpret it. 

"Indeed, we are moving into the stars above. And soon, we shall become Newtypes ourselves. Able to transcend our mortal forms and join the Blessed Jerome Blake in the holy land. I shall marshal the resources that I can to ensure the process is as smooth as possible. The negotiations for materials needed from off-world are proceeding without concern. A steady supply should be arriving within the week, until it becomes independent." Gordon continued to speak in his role as both Precentor and believer. Henriette held her tongue regarding his mixing of Blakism and Contolism. There was mild incompatibility with the two beliefs… and yet, she couldn't help but consider it blasphemous.

"On the opposing side of this discussion, I have not been able to keep MIIO and DMI from the situation. I don't know how they became aware of the reincarnator, but I can no longer influence off-world investigations. We will need to deal with MIIO investigators onsite, worse, they are infiltrating the wider cult. Our meetings must now be hidden, lest we come to official attention." Countess Lucrezia Markworth-Davion added her own two cents and Henrietta resisted the urge to glare. Closer to the prophet's age than herself, the snake had been trying to get closer to the prophet. Disgusting. To think, she even thought of him as a reincarnator. Filthy creature, daring to even attempt to sully his presence with her… existence. 

Worse. It was likely she never even truly believed in Contolism. Rather, Contolism was a way for her to increase Diboll's and thus, her influence. After all, the Countess ruled Diboll and colonies meant an expansion of people, infrastructure, and industry. What a cold hearted creature, one who was not a true believer. Why else was she afraid of MIIO attention? She, herself? No, she welcomed MIIO with open arms, for what did she have to hide?

Yet… they needed Lucrezia if they wished to develop in this system without official complications. Henriette hated that she could not just… excommunicate this creature before her eyes.

"I am pleased to note that the HPG station is open for future meetings. I have convinced the First Circuit I am a mole, infiltrating the cult that the individual they are interested in created. Our meetings, thus, even with ROM's agents arriving, will continue to be confidential. This, I can assure you." Aiden smiled, full of confidence. 

"As the transmigrator has written. 'The path forward will be treacherous, but we have the light of Contolism to guide us.' page 92, Contolism and our neighbours. Difficulty lies ahead, but our success is assured." Ahmad added his two C-Bills. A librarian by trade, his private library, passed down through generation, after generation, was the largest on Diboll. Having had it moved from Tancredi IV to be closer to the prophet. 

Also, uselessly adding words in to prove he had read the prophet's works. What a waste of their time.

As the meeting continued, Henriette ensured her thoughts never reached her face. While these non-believers and fools were threats to the prophet… they were necessary to ensure his dream reached fruition.

Yet… she would be watching. 

She did not trust them at all.

+Break+

April 29, 2990, New Avalon, Federated Suns, Coreward Combat Theatre, Crucis March

Andrew Davion, First Prince of the Federated Suns, studied the plans before him. 

At their side was a series of written papers detailing the metallurgical processes required to produce the machine, to the computers that were necessary, to the coding that went into these new computers. It was, in short, a complete written process to design an Industrial… Mobile Suit from scratch. One that could be adapted to multiple different roles in short order. Especially given all of its specifications and processes were being published. 

While Huu Theburge held the rights to the design, and all resulting designs based on his process… it wasn't comprehensive enough to prevent further creations, based on said design, from being made. It was as if he wanted this design spread far and wide.

As an example. He could link the publications, and Norse BattleMech Works could make their own if they so desired. 

It was joined, with further schematics for a… dropship. 

While many called dropships eggs, this very well could be such a vessel. A fusion reactor, thrusters, a crew compartment, and storage bay. No consideration at all for long term travel, instead it was designed to get things into space quickly. A shuttle would be a more appropriate term for it. Armour so thin that simple autocannon fire would penetrate and destroy it. Fragile beyond all belief.

The young man, still a militia recruit at that, was laying the groundwork for a truly comprehensive industrial expansion. No base was uncovered, save, perhaps, for bodies to crew all of this. Further, it was firmly a civilian expansion. Did he truly hate war so much? If so, why had he volunteered for militia service?

He had put in a truly enormous amount of work, hadn't he? The Federated Sun's little genius was going to change the Inner Sphere. In doing so, he would provide the means by which the Davions could break the back of the Mech Cabals once and for all. And for that… he was willing to provide all the support this Huu Theburge needed. 

Service to the realm deserved rewards commensurate with their worth, after all. 

Yet… why Diboll of all places? It was within raiding distance, next to the Outworlds Alliance… and within pirate range. Why was he there, when he could be anywhere else? The question needed to be asked.

"My Prince. What should we do about the research papers that Theburge has submitted for publication?" Ah, yes. 

As the First Prince, he was also head of MIIO, and the DMI, and the AFFS. In simple terms, the glory of the realm were his glories, the failures of the realm were his failures. All responsibility started and ended with him. And for realm shaking decisions such as this… well, the decision would be passed up to him for review and to sign off upon.

MIIO was recommending allowing the old submissions to be published, the new ones to be kept confidential. As it was, his older submissions were in review… waiting for his go ahead lest they be slapped with a classified label. The public musings on social media, however, were for all to see, and the other Houses were interested in what was available. If the papers weren't published, they ran the very real risk that the other houses would be unsatisfied with what was available and… take extreme measures.

DMI, focused on external threats, had warned of greatly increased attention by other agencies and thus their House Lords. MI2 recommending the papers be published in the public domain, lest agents from the other houses attempt to kill or kidnap their egg laying golden goose. If they were public, all would be invested in keeping their goose alive. Keeping others from harming him, a Star League in one person, you could say.

Yet if he did that, then the other houses would gain access to this technology. This industry, this expansion.

Could he afford to do that? What about Huu? How would he feel about all this? 

He was vexed and so turned to his trusted advisor in matters of deadlock. 

"Hanse. Say someone has written some really powerful stories. And they want people to read them. But the stories can hurt people if everyone can read them. Should I stop people from reading the stories?" He asked his son, still a child, still innocent of the ways of the world. 

"Yes. Bad stories make people hurt, stopping the stories is best…" The boy paused, as if thinking. 

Andrew didn't say anything, just waited. He would speak in his own time.

"But if I'm the writer… I would be really angry." 

Ah. Rubbing Hanse' hair, Andrew thought that the words of babes indeed cut into the heart of the matter. 

It would be for the good of the realm, yes. But it would anger their cult leader dramatically if the submissions were blocked, wouldn't it? After all, this was not merely a scientist he could convince to keep quiet for the good of the realm… this was a cult leader, one who wanted his message spread. And really, cutting off the relationship this early, when he hadn't even begun to go deep into the technological rabbit hole that was the SLDF exiles. 

It would be best to… placate him until he delivered those technological innovations that were required to drive back the maddened exiles. To think they had fallen so low. The Lone Star cult… religion will be feeling particularly disappointed once they find out. 

"Allow the publication to go ahead. Tell MIIO that it is necessary unless we want to station 5 Regiments on Diboll to ward off assassins." 

The aide saluted and strode out, Andrew leaning back on his chair.

Yes, the First Prince has a great deal of power… but that power came with administrative work in spades. No Davion Prince had ever died old, and he was feeling that now.