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Chapter 49[]
Can you tell me where can we start over?[]
Spider Moon Coast Guard Base
Kowloon, Lyran Alliance
October 22nd, 3064
Omicron Galaxy hit Hood IV like a vengeful god, overwhelming the Hood Militia and MEU 3/15 in a flurry of combat that began with a resisted approach to the planet.
In general terms, putting a corvette or even four corvettes up against a Cruiser will leave a number of wrecks and a slightly dented cruiser.
Commander Nicole Minh's cutters which are smaller than corvettes, accounted for six out of eleven dropships, a Lola III class destroyer, and significant hull damage to the JFS Emerald Eagle, before being forced to a defensive position covering the evacuation of Lyran government officials in the face of a full Clan Galaxy landing on the planet. Whose only defense, aside from a company of 'mechs, was provided by a short battalion of Kowloonese Marines that the Jade Falcon commander kindly and generously announced "Could accept hegira and return to your homes, or die here.
Short of using the blue pills (Nukes) Nicole judged Hood IV to be a losing proposition, and sounded the withdrawal after the planetary governor and his family told her to kindly ****** off. They were going to surrender, rather than risking the lives of their citizens on a running battle that was sure to do nasty things to the water purification plants and other local infrastructure.
Nicole sat in the hearing room on Spider Moon now, to face an inquest.
Duchess Elizabeth herself came limping into the room.
"This inquest is called to order." she said, "I'm going to keep it brief. Commander Minh, you lost Cutter 3/12 in combat with Clan forces, yes or no?"
"I did, ma'am."
"You extracted ninety five percent of the personnel assigned to you, and seven hundred civilians and military dependents from Hood IV, basically everyone who would come, yes or no?"
"Ma'am, it's in my logs...Yes."
The Duchess turned to Commodore Li. "What do you think?"
"She did her job."
"I think so too." The Duchess limped her way down the dais, and approached the witness box.
"Did they identify who was commanding that force?"
"Ma'am, yes-Galaxy Commander Nathan Roshak is the commanding officer of the Omicron Galaxy. He mentioned his ground commanders in his battle-challenge transmission that offered Hegira to all defending units in the system."
"Any of them stand out?" she asked.
Nicole sighed, "One Star Colonel Henry Ngo, Ma'am."
The duchess reached up and laid a gloved hand on her cheek. "Good on you. My brother's a right bastard in a fight. Good job." and then, the Duchess reached into her jacket, and brought out a small velvet box. "Hold still, I'm a little shaky...Captain. After we're done here, you're to report to, and take command of the Third Cutter Division...I swear, Li, she's the youngest one yet!"
"Yes'm."
"You'll get your deployment orders from the Commodore directly...but..." Liz bit her tongue a little as she applied the rank appliques to Minh's skinsuit..."But, congratulations on not getting your command shot to shit for no reason. You're one of our Jailbirds, right?"
"Shipjacker, Ma'am." Nicole confessed.
"Good on you. I expect great things from you, like using that common sense and not fighting fights you don't have to when you can't win. There isn't enough of that in the world."
Status of forces, 3065...
1 Division, Kowloon Coast Guard
11 Squadron (rimward/Anti-spinward)
1 MEU (1/11) 4 Cutters, 1 Invader class Tender, 3 Dropships, 200 Infantry, 12 light vehicles.
2 MEU (2/11) 4 Cutters, 1 Invader class Tender, 3 Dropships, 200 Infantry, 12 light vehicles.
3 MEU (3/11) 4 Cutters, 1 Invader class Tender, 3 Dropships, 200 Infantry, 12 light vehicles.
4 Independent Cutter Patrol (4 Cutters, 1 Star Lord, 6 Dropships)
KCGS Dinh Diep (Landmark class Heavy Destroyer)
12 Squadron (Coreward/Spinward)
5 MEU 4 Cutters, 1 Invader class Tender, 3 Dropships, 200 Infantry, 12 light vehicles.
6 MEU 4 Cutters, 1 Invader class Tender, 3 Dropships, 200 Infantry, 12 light vehicles.
7 MEU 4 Cutters, 1 Invader class Tender, 3 Dropships, 200 Infantry, 12 light vehicles.
8 Independent Patrol (4 Cutters, 1 Star Lord, 6 Dropships)
KCGS Ia Drang (Landmark Class Heavy Destroyer)
14 Squadron (Home Guard)
9 MEU 4 Cutters, 1 Invader class Tender, 3 Dropships, 200 Infantry, 12 light vehicles.
10 MEU (under construction)
11 MEU (Planned)
12 Independent Patrol (Planned)
KCGS Landmark (Landmark Class Heavy Destroyer) (in refit)
Division Headquarters: Spider Moon CGNAS, Boojum 3
Ia Drang Coast Guard station: 12 Cayman class Hydrofoils, 24 VTOLs, 2 Submarines, 2 Monohull gunboats, 1 artillery ship, 2000 personnel
Giap Island Submarine Pens: 4 U-series ballistic missile submarines (U-one through U-4), 12 Cayman class hydrofoil patrol boats, 13th Coast Guard Marine Air Wing (24 fighters)
Kiribati Naval Station 12 open-ocean patrol vessels, 8 WIGE type fast deployment SAR vehicles, 24 VTOL craft, 48 Aerofighters. Drapland south polar airbase: 48 Aerospace fighters.
Ballzoff North arctic airbase: 48 Aerospace fighters
Kien Orbital Coast Guard Station: Kien (Kowloon's moon). 48 Aerospace fighters, 12 Small Craft, 4 Dropships.
Patrol sectors (outer system) 1-15: Various reserve vessels and short-hop transport jumpships, 12 thousand personnel active duty.
Ground Force Militia:
171st Brigade Volunteers: 1 Battalion 'mech, 3 Battalions armor, 3 battalions mixed infantry/fighting vehicle, 1 battalion airborne infantry 90th Brigade: Funded (under review)
Training establishments:
Spider Moon CGA
Giap Island Surface Warfare Center Bin-Hoa Battlemech Training Center/ground forces practice region
Strategic summary:
Kowloon's local forces are larger than some periphery states. While the bulk of ground force units classify as green to regular, specific units have a high percentage of AFFC, LCAF, and LAAF veteran personnel leavened with Immigrants of Mercenary background rescued from bad situations in the last two years.
Greatest probable weakness is a distinct weakness in the Battlemech field with a subsequent heavy reliance on conventional and aerospace assets, where Kowloon appears to have a higher than average veterancy rate based on past encounters over the last 12 months. Wreckage examination at Jesenice, Melissia, and Hood IV indicate high probability of thermonuclear anti-shipping capability. Known presence of submarine platforms for firing capital missiles suggests potential for nuclear response to a surprise attack.
Recommended approach is traditional 'approach and verify' Batchall issuance, at least until presence and willingness to use nuclear weapons is either confirmed, or removed by negotiation. Under no circumstances should bids be broken when engaged in per psychographic examination of Duchess Elizabeth Ngo and examinations of captured Coast Guard files.
These people will react with excessive force if they feel they are being treated dishonorably.
Mission Objectives may be scaled back and commander's discretion is allowed in reducing demands but the Clan Council and the Khans are in agreement that this mad dog can not be allowed to keep running off of a leash. Political analysis indicates that simply arranging a constant presence will work to reduce instances of 'Lyran Patriotism' and influence Kowloonese toward assimilation and acceptance of Clan Governance in the long term.
This one is a kid-gloves situation. These people have a history that make the Clan Blood Spirits look reasonable.