31

Returning victorious to Coromodir in January 3028, I had a 'mixed' reception. On the one hand, Kamea was pleased that a danger (pirates and ex-Directorate forces) to her weakened nation was eliminated and pleased with the addition to her forces (9 'Mechs in total (2 Shadow Hawk, 2 Griffin, 2 Wasp, 2 Locust, and 1 Panther) plus a varied group of vehicles) but on the other hand, the fact that the JumpShips and DropShips so needed by her nation were only for me, did obviously not please her.

Vasseur had also done a good work, eliminating all the encountered threats (more than I did) without losing any 'Mechs, (even if the "destroyed" Toro was salvageable since VMI produced enough spare parts to supply me with a new head) something I had expected as his unit was packing 75% of our Royal 'Mechs and had better 'MechWarriors (and he was better trained in warfare than I was). Apart from 18 'Mechs and several tanks and support units, he had also captured 1 Tramp, 1 Invader, 1 Union, 1 Mule, and 2 Leopards.

Thanks to everything we got our hands-on, the Revenants would be able (after the much-needed repairs for the captured hardware) to field a third combined-arms battalion and after the payment in Griffins, perhaps a fourth one.

The problem at this stage for me was going to be hiring enough 'MechWarriors. Despite our good relations with the TDF and the Taurian militias, a large part of the Taurians who wanted to become mercenaries would still prefer to go to the Inner Sphere, reducing the number of Taurians available. Similarly, even some of the Dispossessed in Galatea and other recruiting places twisted their noses at the idea of working for a force that only operated in Periphery. And most of those that accepted, didn't pass the scrutiny of my security forces. I needed to talk with Kamea about the possibility of hiring people from her realm.

After 'tough' negotiations with Kamea (who would have thought that she was a fan of 'pillow negotiations'? I thought the Canopians were the masters of that technique), we came to an agreement: I would create a transport company that would operate in Aurigan Restoration space with 2 JumpShips and 2 DropShips and I would also lend one of the Leopards to the Royal Guard. In return, I would receive significant tax advantages and exemptions, including for companies I owned or was a shareholder in and a noble title. Given Thomas' instructions to increase Concordat's influence in the region and my personal interest in Kamea, I thought it was a good deal.

Meanwhile and much to Kamea's delight, the arrival of two repaired Griffins companies meant her 'Mech forces were given a major boost. That was the good ones, the bad one was that these were the easiest to repair, meaning the other four companies would take substantially longer to deliver.

Among the messages I received while in Coromodir were several interesting ones. The first Snowden L (lite) had just been built and started activity in one of New Vandenberg asteroid belts in the middle of January. The first major orbital station had also been completed thanks to the good services of the Star-Lifters. It was partly a base for ASFs, partly a training center for space operators but also and in the greatest secrecy I could; the first Endo Steel factory built in Concordat since…. Even using the simplest model to produce from the New Dallas database, about half the components for the production units were custom-built. But the final results was that it would be able to produce small amounts of Endo Steel for the Royal 'Mechs used by the Taurian Guards and the Revenants and also if enough were in stocks, it would allow me to produce new 'Mechs Since business was going well and looking at the sheet of available funds, I gave the order to begin the construction of the SB-27 Sabre ASF line.

The news that caused me the most shock was linked to an old flag I had put on the MRB news. The Gray Death Legion having accepted a contract with the FWL, had just captured Sirius V.

Damn, my time was running out if I wanted to do something about Helm and THAT data-core.

With a quick farewell to Kamea, I hadn't given her too many explanations, something she clearly did not like, I set off with my forces for Helm on the fastest possible route.

Before leaving, I called Pascal Allais, the leader of my intelligence team and sent him and his forces on the hunt for Notker Baumann. Their mission was to get as much information as possible about advanced hardware and to confiscate as much as he could. Vasseur and the first battalion were to be available to help him should he need some back-up.