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Chapter 13 - A Long Journey[]
13 February 2785
Mackolla (Federated Suns)
"Temporary housing only for now people. We do not have permission for permanent structures yet, but I will work something out real soon. For now, stretch your legs, enjoy the gravity and get some sun because most of us are as pale as the walking dead." Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell said to the gathered officers who then moved off to inform their respective commands.
"We are really going to have to figure out the payroll situation real soon or we are going to start losing people, and that could end in a shooting match. They are soldiers and soldiers without weapons are no good to anyone." Colonel Colin Blaine said
"I know, I did some serious rough math last night and I came up to roughly 32 Million dollars a month just in payroll. Since no one has been paid since we left the convoy, hell really in a decade, I figured the troops are owed roughly 288 Million since August of last year." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied
Colonel Colin Blaine whistled at the figure and then said "Geez, cuz, that is a ton of cash. Where the hell are you going to get that kind of money?"
"Not a damned clue. About the only thing I can come up with is selling off some Jumpships, but then Tricia is gonna have to agree to that part because they belong to her. Since we arrived, I linked into the planetary library and did some research, a Star Lord could fetch around a Billion dollars. That would at least cover payroll for 3 years, 2 years if I pay them all the backpay at once. But we are damn sure gonna have to figure out some sort of income stream to make payroll and buy anything we need. You get any ideas you bring them my way. But we are not going mercenary and I damn sure do not want to join the AFFS as regular troops and get fed into a meat grinder. I am going to need all the idea's we can come up with." Lieutenant General Mitchell said
"I don't think farming is going to go over too well with our people nor generate enough money to sustain us. Until our status is official and we know where we stand, our options are pretty limited." Colonel Blaine replied
"All we can do is wait, so we kick back and enjoy a little rest and relaxation until we have to go back to work." Lieutenant General Mitchell said
17 February 2785
New Avalon (Federated Suns)
"How on gods green earth did a force that size manage to travel across my entire nation without me knowing about it?" First Prince John Davion asked after reading the message from Mackolla asking for guidance.
"They followed every law we have in place. They filed flight plans per both our own and SLDF regulations. We even asked the SLDF headquarters on New Earth for clarification but still have not heard back from them. Stopping a SLDF movement has never been done, even with communication delays, at least not in my service time of thirty years. Now the Free Worlds and Combine always play those games, hampering SLDF moves, but never us." Fleet Admiral Jonathon Kincaid replied
"What was the unit the Capellans recruited?" First Prince John Davion asked
"The 360th Battlemech Division, the entire Division, Highness." Marshal Thomas Worth replied
"That's the one, they created six new regiments from that recruitment and this message says there are TWO Divisions with this group. Get me a command circuit in place, I want to handle this recruitment personally." First Prince John Davion ordered
6 March 2785
Mackolla (Federated Suns)
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Davion II Class Destroyer
The arrival a week ago of two Davion II Class Destroyers and a single Robinson II Class Transport at the Zenith Jump Point did not cause much concern for Commodore Patricia Mitchell onboard SLS Second Chance, Vigilant Class Corvette. When the Invader Jumpship materialized and shortly afterwards the Federated Suns warships began heading for the planet, that did raise the hair on the back of her neck. But she could only watch for now from a distance.
"Nav, plot a in-system jump to the planet. Just in case this goes south." Commodore Mitchell said, while silently praying nothing went south for her Vigilant would not last long against the Federated Suns warships.
11 March 2785
Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell was waiting at the space port as First Prince John Davion exited the Overlord Dropship he had been on while two other Overlord Dropships disembarked Battlemechs from the Davion Heavy Guards. He moved to meet First Prince John Davion.
"Your Highness, Lieutenant General Samuel Mitchell at your service." He said with a slight bow of his head before coming to attention and saluting.
First Prince John Davion acknowledged the salute and said "Your a long way from home, General Mitchell."
"Actually, sir, I am standing on my home. I was raised on Mackolla. I have returned. I am a citizen of the Federated Suns." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied
"Didn't you have to swear allegiance to the Star League on joining? I do believe that was a requirement." First Prince John Davion said
"Yes, sir, but the Star League is no more. I believe you were at that meeting when you dissolved the High Council." Lieutenant General Mitchell said with a little too much anger.
"You harbor some ill-will to that decision?" First Prince John Davion asked as they walked to the cleared conference room.
"A little, your Highness. I apologize for my tone." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied
"No offense taken, General Mitchell. That is the past, I am here to talk about the present and future. What exactly are your intentions here?" First Prince John Davion asked
"We are tired. This is my home, my people want to make it home too." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied
"So, you want to join the AFFS. That can be arranged." First Prince John Davion said as an aide held the door open and they entered the building.
"No, sir. We do not wish to join the AFFS. Not as regular troops, to be stationed far from home. We are willing to patrol and protect Mackolla and surrounding systems from any hostile actions as a condition to calling Mackolla home. We are willing to even defend the Federated Suns from invasion if that were to happen. But we do not wish to be offensive troops against someone else, outside of pirates, those types we will gladly locate and chase down, wherever they decide to hide. I have spent almost my entire career in the SLDF at war, I wish to try a peacetime career now. Beating on pirates, protecting instead of attacking. Building instead of destroying." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied
"So, part of the Crucis March Militias? I do not see how I can have a dozen new Battlemech Regiments added to the CMM rolls." First Prince John Davion stated
"A dozen Battlemech Regiments? Your Highness has been misinformed. I have a single Battlemech Regiment, but I have almost two Divisions of troops with their equipment. My official command was the 322nd Armored Division at 100% strength with another two Brigades of mixed armor and infantry and supporting artillery. A reinforced Wing of Aerospace plus a Vigilant Corvette that my sister's commands." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied
"Yes, I have been greatly misinformed, General or maybe I just jumped to that conclusion. That changes things, a great deal actually." First Prince John Davion said as he leaned back in his chair
"We have no problem answering any call for aid within our reach from any Federated Suns system. We can also help provide maintenance and repairs to the Federated Suns Navy in the region, for a fair price. Probably cheaper than taking the ship back to a major shipyard for routine maintenance. My Division was designed for garrisoning large areas or multiple systems to delay an enemy until the cavalry arrives. I know for a fact that we can safely garrison four systems around us and act as our own cavalry. This allows you to redeploy some commands to other areas. You have no capital expense for this, we already have all of our equipment and my troops are highly trained and combat veterans. The only real thing we need is some sort of payroll, that is going to become a real issue for me real fast." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied
First Prince John Davion thought about this for a few minutes in silence before speaking, "How much payroll?"
"My rough math is 32 Million a month, but they are owed back pay of roughly 288 Million since we entered Federated Suns space." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied
"You laid out some decent upsides and payroll is the only downside. The Federated Suns will cover your backpay and 1/4 of your monthly payroll expenses, pay a fair price for any maintenance needs." First Prince John Davion said
"There is no downside to this, your Highness, cover the backpay and 3/4 monthly payroll. The maintenance pay will be fair as is, but it is also outside of my expertise." Lieutenant General Mitchell countered
"Backpay and 1/2 of monthly payroll and that is my final offer, General Mitchell." First Prince John Davion said
"Then we have a deal, Your Highness. Our official status?" Lieutenant General Mitchell agreed
"Officially you will be listed as planetary garrisons for the region, that will be coordinated with the local command. Coming up with official unit names will be up to my High Command. You will all have to swear allegiance to the Federated Suns, be granted citizenship with all the rights that entails. Now, as to your warship, that is going to be a problem." First Prince John Davion said
"It stays with us, Your Highness. It is our cavalry if it gets really ugly out here. I will have it scuttled before I turn it over. Our equipment remains ours. To help ease the sting, I will offer you a few cache locations that I know are still untapped by the SLDF. You can have all the stuff you find in them, but I have no idea what they contain." Lieutenant General Mitchell replied
"Okay, General Mitchell, I will sign the orders that all your equipment is your commands, not to be toyed with, even the warship. You have no idea what are in those particular caches?" First Prince John Davion said
"No, your Highness, not a clue, only that they remain unmolested as of June 2784. Could be anything and now that I think about it, maybe I should have checked them first and sold the contents to the Federated Suns." Lieutenant General Mitchell said
"Maybe you should have, but too late now. How about you take me over and show me what you brought." First Prince John Davion said as he stood and offered his hand.
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World of Mackolla
Mackolla System
Star Type - M2V (Recharge Time 176 hours)
Recharge Station - Zenith
Planet Type - Terrestrial
Diameter - 13,200 KM
Position in System - 1
Time to Jump Point - 2.85 days
Year Length - .9 years
Day Length - 21 Hours
Surface Gravity - 1.09g
Atmosphere - Breathable
Atmosphere Press - Standard
Atmosphere Comp - Nitrogen and Oxygen, plus trace gases
Equatorial Temp - 32C
Surface Water - 58%
Highest Native Life - Birds
Landmasses (Capital) - Judea and Samaria Area (New Custonaci), El Maouna Prime, Minami's Hole, Peel
Population - 49,182,520
Socio-Industrial Levels -
- B: Advanced World
- D: Low Industrial 20th century level
- A: Fully self-sufficient raw material
- C: Limited Industrial output
- B: Agriculturally Abundant
HPG Class Type - B rated HPG
System Information
1: Mackolla (2.85 days)
2: Parker (Dwarf Terrestrial) (2.89 days) (vacuum)
3: San Nicandro Garganico (Dwarf Terrestrial) (2.94 days) (vacuum) (1 moon)
4: Parker (Gas Giant) (3.09 days) (Toxic) (12 moon, dust ring)
5: Mahmud (Giant Terrestrial) (4.34 days) (Toxic) (3 moon)
6: Lithgow (Gas Giant) (5.8 days) (Toxic) (18 moon)
7: LF1 Belt (8.04 days)
8: LF2 Belt (15.52 days)
Major industries - Farming, Fishing, Limited ranching, Logging, Minor Mining operations supporting local growth, minor metal smelting and manufacture
Exports - Food
Adult Workforce - 22,540,000 est
Estimated GDP - 405,720,000,000
Tax Rate - 26%
Planetary Tax Amount - 105,487,200,000
Federated Suns Tax - 60%
Federated Suns Tax Amount - 63,292,320,000
Planetary Funds Left - 42,194,880,000
- Note from the Author
- Though 42 Billion sounds like a lot, take into account that a bunch of stuff has to be imported, that gets expensive quick. On a global scale, 42 Billion will not go far at all and most would be dedicated to large scale infrastructure projects over many years. The tax rates are already very high, with 60% of the planetary government taxes going up the food chain to the Fed Suns purse. I set the working population at an avg income of 18,000 a year which includes the exports income. This is FASAnomics at it's finest.