Chapter One Hundred and Nine: Reaction

Chapter One Hundred and Nine: Reaction

Terra, January 31st, 3026

"Oversight Committee," Thomas Marik, Primus of Comstar greeted the committee that was made up of people from the individual nations of Terra that were still intact along with several precentors from periphery states that had no clue the Holy Shroud had existed.

"I am here to request oversight on my decision to interdict all of the Capellan Confederation worlds until Chancellor Maximilian Liao is no longer chancellor, or the Capellan Confederation is destroyed!" Thomas's voice thundered with rage.

"We are all in agreement." Myndo Waterly responded with force in her voice. "Start the Interdiction, and do not lift it until either Chancellor Liao is gone, or the Confdederation is, they have crossed the line with nuclear weapons on a civilian populace, much less one of our HPG's."

"I already have the staff primed to begin." Thomas growled out. "I'll send out the message now."

New Avalon, January 30th, 3026

"I should have sent Hanse with more troops!" Ian growled out angrily as he reviewed the battle of Northwind. "Mad Max just set off a powder keg."

"Indeed," Yvonne said with sad tones to her voice. "I already have some of the Highlanders Regiments that were stationed off world beating down my doors to get authorization to relocate back to Northwind."

"GIve it." Ian said angrily "And tell Sharpshooter that we're holding off on the federal unit tax to begin getting the Highlanders back into fighting shape."

"I'm adding it to the docket now, and sending out a warning to any units that might come across MASK cells on worlds to exterminate them with extreme prejudice, we can't allow them to do that to anymore of our worlds." Yvonne said, "The Capellans have crossed the line for the last time, and it's time to erase them from history."

"We're going to have to start raising more garrison units then ever before." Ian agreed. "And we're going to need MIIO and DMI on their toes the entire time, they'll need to be keeping track of any potential nukes that might go off."

"Are we authorizing tactical nukes or orbital bombardment from our Warships?" Yvonne asked.

"No, we can't afford to retaliate in that way or we'll have set a precedent for other enemies like the Dracs attempting to do so." Ian said with a deep sigh. "Despite how much satisfaction I would get from pounding Sian into dust from orbit, we're going to be seizing the planets with everything as intact as possible."

"We can't tell the Capellan people we're here to help bring them into a free society if we're going to destroy the things that are valuable to them." Yvonne agreed. "But we might need to give Hanse Authorization for the orbital bombardment on Sian, it might save more peoples lives that way, both ours and the Madmans own."

Taurus, February 1st, 3026

"Dammit." Thomas said angrily. "We always have nukes ready to be used against an invasion force, but we would have never used them on a damned population center!"

I know sweetheart." Katherine Calderon said as she sat on the sofa in his office. "I'm angry too."

"Three to ten Million people dead because Max is a damned Madman!" Thomas raged. "I might be a touch paranoid, but I've never thought I should just nuke a Davion population center.

"He's insane Thomas," Katherine said after a moment. "You can't predict what a madman will do."

"We're going to need to send couriers to Zarantha and Edward, they need to be notified, and Costar won't be able to lift the interdiction unless we can proven we've seized the worlds we conquer." Thomas said,

"Do I need to notify someone?" Katherine asked.

"Have the secretary summon one of Hull's people, I'm pretty sure Sharpshooter has a Jumpship at the jump point they'll let us use." Thomas said as he began to hurriedly pace the floor. "

Tikonov, January 31st 3026

"How many did we lose?" I asked Packer via the Mobile HPG on the Messenger.

"We lost most of the infantry from Godbolt's unit, and about a quarter of her tanks and 'mechs." He reported. "But most of the pilots and crews survived."

"So a good half of the 2nd Kentares RCT is just gone?" I asked for clarification.

"Yes sir, and Godbolt is taking this really hard, and she feels responsible for what happened." Packer said in response.

"Alright," I responded. "I'll handle it when we're back on Kentares, we don't have much longer to talk before we start wearing the components on the HPG out."

"Aye sir, don't do anything reckless." Packer Advised.

"No promises Packer, no promises." I responded.

Capella, January 30th, 3026

"These Grenadiers are a slippery bunch." Peterson said to himself. "If we were any other unit we'd have been destroyed by the sheer amount of LRMs being thrown our way."

"Indeed." Major Hathaway responded. "We have finally whittled them down to a couple of companies."

"We've been able to salvage most of their gear as well." Peterson said. "Some Catapults and Thunderbolts are exactly what we needed to flesh out our 'mech units."

"Sir, we're receiving a transmission from the Grenadiers." The comms officer spoke up from her station.

"Put it through." Peterson tapped his earpiece. "This is Colonel Peterson of the 1st Marksman. What do you want?"

"To surrender." Colonel Richard De Salvo stated. "Comstar just announced an interdiction on any Capellan worlds until Maximillion Liao is no longer Chancellor, and given the fact he just used nukes for the first time in a couple hundred years, we're not very inclined to die for him right now."

"I'll accept your surrender only if it includes the planet as a part of it." Peterson said. "I don't want to have to kill anymore militia units then necessary, and I want your sworn word that you'll help the population acclimate to Davion rule."

"You have my word." De Salvo responded. "I can't answer for any potential MASK units though."

"I wouldn't expect you to." Peterson replied. "Just do the best you can."

"I'll arrange the meeting tomorrow after we've communicated with the local militia units." De Salvo said. "De Salvo out."

"Well, looks like we're here until we can get some people to come relieve us." Peterson grumbled. "I wanted to hit Sian."

"You probably still can." Hathaway pointed out. "We've taken minimal casualties aside from some wounded, and we're restoring the enemy 'mechs and tanks that we took, so we'll be going in overstrength."

"Fair, but we'll have to wait for more garrison units to arrive before we can move out." Peterson said. "But the Capellan Confederation falls soon."

February 5th, 3026

"Pack it up people, I want us moving and ready to hit St. Ives yesterday." I helped pick up some supplies and moved them into the dropship.

"We're moving as fast as we can sir." The Senior Chief responded. "We've got a lot of gear to load up after all."

"That's why everyone is here pitching in Senior Chief." I said with a chuckle. "Even the 'mech pilots." I pointed out the sheer amount of bodies helping to load up the spare parts and everything else.

"You left us with extra 'mechs to load up sir." The Senior Chief said with a groan. "Maybe next time don't take so much salvage."

"No promises, Senior Chief," I said as I helped move some small arms crates onto the dropship. "No promises."

Author's note: This is the only chapter I'll be putting out today. I'm taking a break for the rest of the day.