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Fate Can Be Cruel
Chapter 9 - Years 2826-2830[]
May 2826[]
13th May, 2826
Drachenfeld (Periphery)
The SLS Rampant, Aegis-Class Transport, dropped out of the slip stream almost giving the crew of Tramp Jumpship , SLS Star Gazer, a heart attack. However, more shocked were the Hegemony personnel aboard the Bastion Station located at the Zenith Jump Point. Though they had been warned to expect the arrivals, the lack of any warning caused a few moments of jitters. On the surface, on the continent of Budenheim B, landing beacons were turned on to guide the expected flood of Dropships.
Sarah McEverdy was aboard the Overlord C Dropship that led the fourteen other Dropships towards the surface. She had brought the 331st Battle Cluster and 1069th Cluster to provide immediate security. They had barely gotten undocked and on their way before another Aegis Transport, the SLS Black Templar, Adropped from the slip stream and began releasing its fifteen Dropships. However, these were not carrying Wolverine personnel, but 600,000 tons of prefabricated housing, farming equipment, seed stock, construction mechs, water filtration, power plants and even livestock to assist the newest planned members of the Hegemony.
The trip from Columbus Station had taken an astounding 23 days in total, counting the transfer at Thazi to new ships for the final leg of the journey. Sarah McEverdy could not believe it, 23 days to make a journey almost the same distance that her people had taken a year and half to make from Circe to the Inner Sphere. Crammed aboard her Dropships were just over 52,000 of her lower caste, civilians, she self-corrected herself. At Thazi, she had been informed that another supply ship had already landed fifteen Dropships along with two Hegemony Engineer Regiments 2 weeks prior to begin work but also to assist her people in getting back onto their feet quicker. This continent was currently uninhabited but only a short distance from Drachenfelds inhabited continent. It had been decided that they would settle here and gradually make contact with the local inhabitants, as her people grew used to being away from their previous home.
The local leader, Kelly Sampson-Suong, had not even raised a protest when she was asked her opinion on accepting the new arrivals. Her only comment was "If the Hegemony leadership thinks it is what is best, then who am I to question it." Many years ago, Hegemony forces, who her husband was a part of, although no longer active, had rescued many of the local's from pirates. The Hegemony had also seen to upgrading their only hospital, provided any additional medical assistance while also seeing to fairly regular supply schedule of goods for the people of Drachenfeld. Though she had been warned that the newcomers would not be what she was used to dealing with, she had planned accordingly and had several thousand tons of fresh vegetables and fruits stored awaiting their arrival. She planned to help keep them fed until their own crops could be planted and harvested. The Hegemony had also made sure that her people had gotten 4 actual ships to sail the oceans, allowing fishing on a much larger scale to take place. She planned to give the newcomers a few weeks to get settled before she went over for a visit.
25th May 2826
Sarah McEverdy could not help but smile at the rapid progress being made. Their "capital" was once again named Great Hope and was rapidly taking shape. The prefabricated buildings provided by the Hegemony had been found easy to assemble and quite comfortable. Currently, one of the Hegemony Engineer Regiments was clearing a large area for a spaceport. Already a single runway had been poured along with enough hangers to hold her 2 Binary's of Aerospace Fighters that had come in on follow on transports. To keep from "destroying" the fertile ground that would be needed for their crops, she had ordered the Dropships to land, unload and then they would all be landed on the last continent on the planet, Budenheim C, a rocky desert continent. Only a few Dropships would remain here once the spaceport was completed. She had detailed her own people to travel over to Budenheim C and make sure they had enough cleared area to land the hundreds of Dropships.
Her own people were working side by side with the Hegemony Engineers in setting up the prefabricated buildings, grading roads and gathering needed construction material. Though everyone knew the Hegemony Engineers were military, she had forbade her own warriors from questioning any order they were given by the Hegemony Engineers. There had already been one fight between one of her warriors and a burly Engineer, which had ended with both in the small clinic. The commander of the Engineers had chewed out his soldier while Sarah McEverdy had chewd out her warrior. A few days later, the warrior and engineer had been seen drinking and eating together several times. Sarah took it as a good sign of things to come.
The next transport was due in a week so as to not overload the construction crews. This transport should be the one with their Battlemech Factory along with their Endo Steel orbital factory. She was not sure if she would break them out of their Dropships just yet.
January 2830[]
1st January, 2830
Drachenfeld (Periphery)
The Wolverine fleet had taken almost 2 years to make it to Drachenfeld. Numerous breakdowns had plagued the Wolverine fleet. So much so that the Hegemony had actually assigned a Newgrange-Class Yardship and a Builder-Class Yardship along with two Essex III-Class Destroyers to escort the Wolverine fleet to Drachenfeld. They had spent the last 2 years servicing the Wolverine warships and merchant fleets. Even with the 2 years of service work, the Hegemony Yardship engineers had suggested that it would be cheaper to scrap most of the fleet and start fresh. The Texas Class Battleship, SLS Bismark, absolutely reeked inside. It had been bad when they took control of it from the Boneyard, but now, being assigned to it was almost a form of punishment. It was as though the smell had actually embedded itself in the very metal of the ship. Many of the ships had started to develop micro cracks in their jump cores. The only fix for that was a complete rebuild of their jump cores. A problem that the Wolverines could not fix themselves, nor did they have an easy way to pay for the repairs. With Franklin Hallis now on Drachenfeld, Sarah McEverdy could afford to make a trip to Thazi herself. Her transport would arrive in March.
The Wolverine population had experienced an explosion over the last 4 years with their population now at 682,812. With 101,104 being under the age of 16. They had established 3 smaller towns on the continent with each under 20,000 people. One was a mining community while the other 2 focused on farming and raising livestock. The damage done during the hasty removal of their Battlemech factory had hampered it's reassembly, but it was expected to come back online by 2832. They finished assembly of their Endo Steel orbital factory in 2829. That same year, Sarah McEverdy had assigned begun re-organizing her forces. In expectation of her commitment to the Hegemony, she began forming them back into a more standard configuration. Using the 2 oldest Sibko of the 8 they had brought and opening recruitment to those that had failed their previous Trial's, she was able to begin the process of rebuilding.
331st Royal Battlemech Division
3311th Brigade
Battlemech Regiment - 3 Battalions
Battlemech Regiment - 3 Battalions
Battlemech Regiment - 1 Battalion
3313th Brigade
Infantry Regiment - 3 Battalions (9 Platoons)
Infantry Regiment - 3 Battalions (9 Platoons)
Armor Regiment - 2 Battalions
Aerospace Wing
Aerospace Group - 20 Fighters
Aerospace Group - 20 Fighters
This year also marked the first real interaction with the Hegemony Armed Forces when Sarah McEverdy working with the commander of the Bastion Station and began rotating a Aerospace Group normally assigned to the Warships onto the Bastion Station to assist with patrols. Her Warships also controlled another three Aerospace Groups. Interactions with the local population was still sporadic and low key, but the interactions that did take place were peaceful and pleasant. She had even sent some of her Wolverine doctors to work at the main hospital run by the locals. Her scientists, she had working on 3 stolen Iron Wombs. Though she had not put them into operation, she had ordered one of them dismantled so that they could be duplicated. She just wanted an ace up her sleeve.
Thazi (Hegemony)
Ever since Commanding General (Ret) Rita Mitchell from Columbus Station in 2826, she had become a vocal advocate for the new Slip Stream technology. This had forced a redesign of the Essex III Destroyer, Riga III Destroyer, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser, Texas Battleship, Volga Transport, Potemkin Transport and Newgrange Yardship. Though the additional LF Batteries and "AMBER" computer systems cut into every ships cargo, it was deemed a fair trade off with the maximum trips now measured in days instead of months. The Volga Transports had been selected to provide Fleet supply duties on extended deployments.
The massive upgrade of the Hegemony Fleet took 4 years to complete but it allowed the Hegemony Fleet to respond to any threat both within it's borders and beyond within 6 days of detection of a threat from the Livingston Naval Base at Zetang. The massive cost of a new build with the new technology almost guaranteed that no new ships would be built using the new technology. With the Hegemony Naval Expansion almost complete, the Hegemony Navy was currently undergoing a complete re-organization.
March 2830[]
18th March, 2830
Thazi (Hegemony)
Sarah McEverdy and Trish Ebon were led into the large office where they finally met Director General Amanda Cameron. Also in the room were Commanding General (Ret) Rita Mitchell, Fleet Admiral (Ret) Tanisha Tanaka, Commanding General Olivia Daniels and Fleet Admiral Paul Stanson.
"Sarah McEverdy, Star Colonel Trish Ebon, this is Director-General Amanda Cameron." General (Ret) Rita Mitchell said and quickly introduced the others in the room.
"I have heard much about you and your people from Aunt Rita. I am told that your people are settling in nicely and making great progress." Director-General Amanda Cameron said.
"We are doing quite well, Director-General Cameron. I would like to personally thank you for all the aid that the Hegemony has provided to us since our arrival." Sarah McEverdy replied.
"It was the right thing to do. I hope that one day, you and your people will become active members of the Hegemony." Director General Cameron said.
"It is one of the reasons I am here today. I promised that within 5 years we would begin exchanging officers and troops with the Hegemony Armed Forces. I am proud to announce that we have already begun working with Commodore Derek Gordan at Drachenfeld on shared patrols of the system. I have also re-organized my forces into SLDF formations and am filling out the 331st Royal Battlemech Division. One day, I hope to be able to report that it is at 100% strength and ready for deployment. We have also begun using old SLDF ranks. Colonel Trish Ebon will be our first officer assigned to begin a tour with the Hegemony Armed Forces. She will hopefully learn your ways and bring them back to us so that we may better train our forces to work within the Hegemony Armed Forces. She will be staying here when I return to Drachenfeld.
I am actually here on a more pressing matter. Though I am very thankful for the Hegemony Yardships that accompanied my ships to Drachenfeld and the time and effort put into giving them a good overhaul, I am afraid that many ships have developed extensive issues with their jump cores. The Hegemony has provided us with much aid and has asked for nothing in return from us. But I would like to have my ships fixed and need to know what the cost to us will be." Sarah McEverdy said.
"I am happy to hear that you are ahead of our agreed time frame, Sarah. I think we can work out a fair trade for the needed work on your ships. Besides, in 6 years your expected to start working with the Hegemony Navy with your warships. Myself, Admiral Tanaka and Admiral Stanson have discussed the best way to integrate your ships into our force structure. We three, have agreed that the best way will be to form a dedicated Squadron using your ships, with some additions and subtractions. First, we want you to turn over the SLS Bismarck to us. In exchange, we will provide you with SLS Manila. She is a Farragut-Class Battleship, which has been fully upgraded and while we will refit your SLS Michigan to her design.
We want both Aegis Cruisers turned over, we will replace them with Luxor II-Class Heavy Cruisers. We will refit and upgrade SLS Saratoga to our standard. SLS Weasel and SLS Badger will also be turned over to us and we will replace them with new Essex III Destroyers. SLS Yukon and SLS Pomelroy will also be replaced with new Essex III Destroyers. We will upgrade both Volga Transports for you. Your Carrack Transports will also undergo a refit, but those one day will join our own Carrack Transports for use within our borders. To help maintain the Wolverine Squadron, we will provide you with a Builder-Class Yardship. It can maintain 1M tons and below, your Battleships and Potemkin will have to be serviced by either a Newgrange or here inside the Hegemony. We can adjust things down the road as needs are discovered. But within 3 years, your entire warship squadron will be fully upgraded and modernized." General (Ret) Rita Mitchell said
Sarah McEverdy was silent in thought for several minutes and then said "What of the new travel technology? Will my ships be equipped with it?"
"Not at this time. Sorry, but we have a long ways to go before we allow that technology to be equipped on your ships." General (Ret) Rita Mitchell replied with a shake of her head.
"What is all of this going to cost my people?" Sarah McEverdy asked.
"We know that you have many more ships than your people can crew, many were operating on barely a skeleton crew. We ran the numbers several times. Between the new Warships and your current Jumpship count you just don't have enough people. Give up your Invader and Merchant Jumpships and half of your Star Lord Jumpships. In exchange, we will bring all your existing ships to like new status. We will also provide you with 12 new Liberty II Jumpships. This will help offset your lack of crew and the huge maintenance expenses. In addition, we would like access to your ER Large Laser design and PPC design. Don't look shocked Sarah, we have seen your troops using them on your ranges. It's not like I am asking for inspections of your Battlemech Factory, even though some of those design are interesting. Or placing limits on your production. I will even sweeten the pot for you, we will assist you in equipping your 331st Royal Battelemech Division. I am told your maintenance issues must be a massive pain because you use so many different designs. Same for your Aerospace fighters. Also for your Tank formations, you lack transport for your Infantry, no VTOL's at all, and you only have a few Wayland Mobile Repair Bases. We can help fix that for you Sarah. Might as well do it now, because when you actually begin working with the Hegemony Armed Forces, your going to be forced to streamline your units to conform without support structure." General (Ret) Rita Mitchell said
"You drive some hard bargains General Rita Mitchell. Is there any other items you want?" Sarah McEverdy asked.
"Nope. I think we have a good bargain all ready to go. Now, the 331st Royal Battlemech Division will be added to the Hegemony Armed Forces rolls, but they will remain in a permanent garrison posting to Drachenfeld. For now anyway. They are commanded by General Sarah McEverdy and she has full control to promote her officers as she fits until such time as the 331st Royal Battlemech Division is fully integrated into the Hegemony Armed Forces, to be determined at a later date. Now everything is all legal and you may request equipment and supplies from our storehouses and manufacturers as you see fit, Sarah." General (Ret) Rita Mitchell said with a smile
"That simple?" Now General Sarah McEverdy asked.
"I told you, I still, even in retirement, hold quite a bit of sway with how things are done. Though we do not use the term often, your part of the Forgotten Corps now. We take care of our own. Always." General (Ret) Rita Mitchell said with a smile.
9th November, 2830
Livingston Naval Base (Hegemony)
Chief Engineer Farley Blendan took a breath of air on the SLS Bismark, Texas Battleship and exclaimed "DEAR GOD, the stench in here is the worst I have ever smelled. Who the hell said it was safe to enter without a pressure suit on and fully on internal oxygen?" He looked at the officer from the Wolverines, who was turning the ship over. "Sorry sir, but good god, ever thought of venting this entire ship to vacuum?"
"We have tried many times. Nothing works. May I ask what you plan to do with her?" Admiral Harvey Sinese asked.
"Well, I was going to conduct a full evaluation on her and give them my determination. I think I made up my mind already though. SLS Bismark entered service in 2634 and has seen heavy action in her career. She is almost 200 years old, I think she is do for a full recycle. We grind down her jump core, recast a new one and strip her down. Just build a new SLS Bismark II, but enough about this ship, let's go look at your new ship." Chief Blendan said
An hour later, Chief Blendan led Admiral Sinese and he crew aboard Farragut-Class Battleship, SLS Manila. Though she had been mothballed for 20 years, she had been maintained lovingly and Chief Blendan had his crews working on her reactivation for over 4 months. "SLS Manila has been fully upgraded. Basically she is original, but we installed 4,000 double heat sinks, she now has LF Batteries, a Mobile HPG, 6,000 tons of fuel and 3,192 tons of Lamellor-Ferro Carbide Armor. We also increased the number of doors for the on board Aerospace Fighters to increase their launch rate. We were told before we put her into mothball to give her the barest of upgrades that would bring her into the modern age."
"You plan to refit SLS Michigan to the same standard?" Admiral Sinese asked.
"Those are the plans. Probably take us a year, kind of depends on what kind of shape she is in overall." Chief Blendan replied "Mitchell Vehicles is already building your Luxor II-Class Heavy Cruisers and Essex III-Class Destroyers. I am told that the transfer will occur in a few months."
"Yes, that is the information I have gotten. She is a fine ship, Chief Blendan, I commend you and your personnel for their diligence." Admiral Sinese said.
"Thank you sir. I will pass it on to my people. We might be assigned to the Reserve Fleet, but we take pride in making sure our ships are ready to return to service with the minimum of effort." Chief Blendan said
Boulsi (Hegemony)
Colonel Trish Ebon could not believe she had been defeated 3 times in a row by the Hegemony soldier walking towards her. She had scoffed at the idea of undergoing the Hegemony's Gunslinger program, saying that she was quite capable of defeating any other pilot. That had been met with a broad smile and challenge from the very soldier who was almost to her.
"You’re good, Colonel Ebon, but not quite up to my level. You really should take the course; you could be one of the best." Captain Robert Mitchell said holding out his hand.
Colonel Trish Ebon bit back the urge to slug the smiling officer "I will take that under advisement, Captain Mitchell. I must ask, are you related to..." She never got to finish the question before he responded.
"Yes, she is my grandmother. She was a Gunslinger also, taught me all kinds of tricks before her age caught up to her. She could make her Pillager literally dance, it was almost an extension of her own body." Captain Robert Mitchell replied.
"I have only met her a few times. She has a hard edge about her, but it seems well meaning. It is confusing." Colonel Trish Ebon said as they walked towards the Gunslinger Ready Room to change into regular uniforms.
"She is literally a living legend inside our borders. I am not saying that because she is my grandmother either. You will come to find that almost all of the original Forgotten Corps are mostly retired, but those still alive, well you never really retire. A bunch teach at the Command and Staff School on Thazi. All are highly regarded and would be hard pressed to pay for anything, anywhere themselves. That is one reason most eat in the mess facilities on whatever base is near them. Take Grandma, even though she is retired, she could suggest something, it would be like an order, and folks would fall over themselves making it happen.
The safety of the Hegemony is her primary concern, first and always. She will tolerate no threat to the Hegemony. Years ago, we had a single pirate raid kill a bunch of civilians, it took her a year to hunt them down personally and destroy them. I have heard the stories of the old days, during the Amaris Coup, how she pulled together SLDF troops from all over into a functional combat ready Corps. She got a reputation for forgiving past sins, but god help you if you crossed her. I don't get too many of the old timer gatherings as I used to when growing up, but the stories they told, well they were pretty awesome." Captain Robert Mitchell said as he began removing his SLDF issue body coolant suit.
"She has some harsh views on the SLDF that left with, General Kerensky." Colonel Trish Ebon replied.
"That she does. Most of the old timers feel the same way. However, the most vocal, those ones that fought inside the old Hegemony. They can get downright vile in their hatred for them. Look Colonel Ebon, I know who you are and where your people came from. It is going to take some time for everyone to forgive. You all are just going to have to prove yourselves to everyone that you really are serious about protecting the Hegemony. Until that day comes, you’re just going to have to get used to some harsh looks and sometimes words." Captain Robert Mitchell said.
November 2830[]
21st November, 2830
Terra (Comstar)
Primus Conrad Toyama smiled grimly as he studied the major reviews he had ordered. He had always wondered why it had taken so many years for Comstar to actually be profitable and now he knew. Jerome Blake had been a wily one, he had never let on that Comstar still controlled a large warship fleet that Director General Amanda Cameron had left him before her death. Though Jerome had never fully confided in him, he had never been sure if Amanda Cameron had really died or not. Comstar had spent almost 200 Billion repairing the warship fleet before placing them in mothball. Another 800 Billion had gone to purchase Jumpships and Dropships, making Comstar the largest freight hauler in the Inner Sphere. They spent 100 Billion over 30 years searching for the Hegemony Fleet that had just simply vanished when they jumped from Terra's jump points. Vast amounts, almost 5 Trillion had been spent repairing and establishing HPG stations across the Inner Sphere. More money had been spent repairing the many military factories on Terra and the shipyards in the Terran system before they too had been placed in mothballs. The Trillion C-Bills a year that Jerome had been paying had simply vanished without a trace. The most detailed search of the HPG records could find no record of the transfers at all. It was as though the money simply vanished.
War was once again breaking out across the Inner Sphere. The Houses had not grown tired of beating themselves to a pulp. Though it was still fairly low key fighting, it was growing more violent by the day it seemed. Good, let them finish the job so that they come crawling to Comstar begging us to save them from themselves, he thought.
While Conrad Toyama was in his office reading various reports, Precentor Calvin Newsome, ROM Internal Security, was also reading a mountain of reports. Many were from various agents from around the Inner Sphere. Hoever, the ones he focused on the most were about the nonstop effort to ferret out possible enemy agents and security leaks. He made notes on many files as he read them, providing his own guidance for the next moves into various investigations. He had held the post for 7 years now and he took his duty seriously, both to protect his agents but also his ROM personnel. He was the 3rd head of ROM Internal Security, having been handpicked to take over from the previous, as he had been handpicked by his previous commander. However, Precentor Calvin Newsome worked twice as hard as the other Precentor's of ROM, for he also controlled and protected all the Hegemony Security agents buried throughout ROM and Comstar itself. His office performed the background checks on every individual before they were allowed to join Comstar, this made inserting agents fairly easy for Hegemony Security.
Thazi (Hegemony)
Commanding General (Ret) Rita Mitchell stood at attention as the coffin was lowered into the grave. General Brian Calloway had passed away in his sleep a week ago. Another of the old guard is gone, when will it be my time to go and have I done everything that I could to ensure the survival of the Hegemony, she thought silently. She saluted with all the others and then said a silent goodbye to a trusted friend and confidant, before turning and slowly walking away. She sensed more than anything the person suddenly beside her. She did not stop walking but said, "You must be, Christina Evanshire, Brian's replacement. He told me before he passed that he was thinking about moving you up and retiring. We have never met; Brian always did my briefings in person, though I have read your work and heard his praises."
"Yes, ma'am. Our paths never crossed directly. Brian had talked to me a month or so ago and told me that it was time for me to start getting to know those I will be dealing with. We actually had an appointment to see you next week. I will be honest, I told Brian in the past that I thought it was lax security to keep you so up to date on everything since you’re now retired." Christina Evanshire said.
"I know, Brian told me. You will get used to things quickly. Someday, I will also die, but there will always be a group of senior retired officers that are almost always in the loop on everything. One day you will retire, and I will expect your replacement to keep you in the loop on everything. Brian knew what to tell me and what not to tell me. I want mainly the big picture; I do not need to know the names of agents or even how we get the information. I just need to know what I need to know. Your will slowly grow to know what to tell me and others Brian used to brief on an almost daily basis. Like right now I want to know if we have figured out what Comstar is doing on Versailles, or Taussen as they have taken to calling it?" General (Ret) Rita Mitchell asked.
"Only that they are keeping the system extremely isolated. We did get a couple of agents inserted when ROM Internal Security was finally dispatched to ensure no enemy agents were on the planet. We were unable to get any Black Boxes inserted with them, security is just too tight. When they rotated off world, they reported mainly indoctrination efforts with the population." Christina Evanshire said.
"Damn that Conrad Toyama, what the hell is he up to. Keep prying, but not at the risk of any agents. They are up to something and I would love to find out what it is before I go." General (Ret) Rita Mitchell said.
December 2830[]
1st December, 2830
Thazi (Hegemony)
Fleet Admiral Paul Stanson, working with Fleet Admiral (Ret) Tanisha Tanaka had formally submitted their new Hegemony Navy organizational chart. They had put a lot of work into balancing the Fleet. Over the last decade, the Boulsi Fleet Aerospace Academy had finally gotten to where they graduated a steady 600 Aerospace pilots per year, this helped cover the needs of the Fleet but also the various Independent Aerospace Fighter Wings deployed across the Hegemony. Fleet Admiral (Ret) Tanisha Tanaka had been forced to admit that she had miscalculated the Hegemony Army's Transport needs and until she could convince Director General Amanda Cameron of the need, if they had to move both Corps, the Navy would have to dedicate collars on their warships to hauling the ground troops.
[]
1st Fleet
1st Battle Squadron
11th Line Division (960LY Max)
SLS Nebraska II, Texas Battleship (SS) (Flagship)
SLS Phoenix, Texas Battleship (SS)
SLS Sandy Hardee, Texas Battleship (SS)
SLS Paul Driscle, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Oslo II, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Ruby II, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-180 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
12th Cruiser Division (480LY Max)
SLS Carl Sommers, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Terrance LaMont, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Hector Zapata, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Vance Brown, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Buccaneer II, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Shimotsuki II, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-72 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
13th Destroyer Division (960LY Max)
SLS Midway, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Victory, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Cape Bon II, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Cartagena II, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Solomon II, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Sierra II, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-120 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
2nd Battle Squadron
21st Line Division (960LY Max)
SLS Iris Carmen, Texas Battleship (SS) (Flagship)
SLS Hegemony Pride, Texas Battleship (SS)
SLS Oleg Petrov, Texas Battleship (SS)
SLS Ozario, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Patty Dale, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Jess Parker, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-180 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
22nd Cruiser Division (480LY Max)
SLS Conroy, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Shield, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Gateway, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Cromwell, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Henri Spatell, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Chris Buntz, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-144 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
23rd Destroyer Division (960LY Max)
SLS Vengeance, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Advantage, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Killion Matsu, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Edgar Spree, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Reggie Truman, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Wallace Hylar, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
120 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
3rd Pursuit Squadron
31st Cruiser Division (480LY Max)
SLS Rhodon, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS) (Flagship)
SLS Common Good, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Tammy Handyline, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Winged Death, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Zolman Ustes, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Helmond, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-96 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
32nd Cruiser Division (480LY Max)
SLS Danger Close, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Platitude, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Desmond Valtin, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Ralph Butler, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Jacob Cantrell, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Malina Lomax, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-132 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
33rd Destroyer Division (960LY Max)
SLS Ducane, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Golden Falcon, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Jane Gulldare, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Alfred Newman, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Ally Haverdy, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Zuni Albertson, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-120 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
4th Pursuit Squadron
41st Cruiser Division (480LY Max)
SLS Holloman, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS) (Flagship)
SLS Mountain Home, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Randolph, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Hidden Doom, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Felicia Gomez, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Nicholas Crumb, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-132 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
42nd Cruiser Division (480LY Max)
SLS Striker, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Newberry, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Primordial, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Sun Struck, Riga II Destroyer (SS)
SLS Edwin Carter, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Trent Lockwood, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-96 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
43rd Destroyer Division (480LY Max)
SLS Void Reaper, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Davis Cochran, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Fergie Samuel, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Pedro Martinez, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Kristoff Lumanz, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Winston Coleman, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-84 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
1st Support Squadron
11th Supply Division (960LY Max)
SLS Rebecca Bellhoff, Essex III Destroyer (SS) (Flagship)
SLS Borneo, Volga Transport (SS)
SLS Mount Saint Helens, Volga Transport (SS)
SLS Mount Ranier, Volga Transport (SS)
SLS Krakatow, Volga Transport (SS)
SLS Vesuvius, Volga Transport (SS)
72 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
12th Supply Division (960LY Max)
SLS Avenger, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Sacramento, Volga Transport (SS)
SLS Austin, Volga Transport (SS)
SLS Miami, Volga Transport (SS)
SLS Genevosa, Volga Transport (SS)
SLS Frankfurt, Volga Transport (SS)
-72 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
13th Repair Division (960LY Max)
SLS Valley Forge, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Salvation, Newgrange Yardship (SS)
SLS John Glenn Newgrange Yardship (SS)
SLS Detroit, Newgrange Yardship (SS)
SLS Arctic, Newgrange Yardship (SS)
SLS Buccaneer, Aegis Transport (SS) (undergoing refit)
-40 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
First Fleet was the Hegemony Navy's primary strike force. Every ship was slip stream capable with a maximum all around range of 480LY on a single full charge. Though some ships were capable of a much further jump, the rating for First Fleet was 480LY. The new intent was for First Fleet to remain intact as a massive strike capability. Hegemony Security was confident that First Fleet alone could defeat all of the Great Houses warship fleet's combined.
2nd Fleet
3rd Battle Squadron
31st Line Division (960LY Max)
SLS Cameron, Texas Battleship (SS) (Flagship)
SLS Mitchell, Texas Battleship (SS)
SLS Bismark II, Texas Battleship (SS) (under construction)
SLS Evangeline, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Everclear, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
SLS Ever Ready, Essex III Destroyer (SS)
-156 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
32nd Carrier Division (480LY Max)
SLS Independence, Samarkand Carrier (SS)
SLS Flying Demon, Samarkand Carrier (SS)
SLS Gridley, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Craven, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS McCall, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Maury, Brandt Corvette (SS)
-168 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
33rd Carrier Division (480LY Max)
SLS Ivory, Samarkand Carrier (SS)
SLS Wasp, Samarkand Carrier (SS)
SLS Aylwin, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Parker, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Benham, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Balch, Brandt Corvette (SS)
-168 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
5th Pursuit Squadron
51st Cruiser Division (480LY Max)
SLS Kilroy, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS) (Flagship)
SLS Demonic Strike, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Hell Bound, Luxor II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS O'Brien, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Nicholson, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Winslow, Brandt Corvette (SS)
-54 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
52nd Cruiser Division (480LY Max)
SLS Dillon Fuentes, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Pascal Willheim, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Floyd Cevella, Avatar II Heavy Cruiser (SS)
SLS Rowan, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Allen, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Wilkes, Brandt Corvette (SS)
-90 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
53rd Carrier Division (480LY Max)
SLS Lexington, Samarkand Carrier (SS)
SLS Concord, Samarkand Carrier (SS)
SLS Shaw, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Davis, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Manley, Brandt Corvette (SS)
SLS Stockton, Brandt Corvette (SS)
-168 Aerospace Fighters Normal Load
Second Fleet is tasked with the protection of the Hegemony itself. While smaller than First Fleet, Second Fleet is bolstered by several Independent Squadrons that patrol the Hegemony itself. From the Livingston Naval Base, Second Fleet can respond to any point within the Hegemony borders within 2 days maximum. Since Second Fleet operates from the massive Livingston Naval Base, no supply or repair ships are assigned.
Hegemony Training Division
SLS Rebellion - Narukami II Destroyer
SLS Retribution - Narukami II Destroyer
SLS Contraband - League II Destroyer
SLS Raptor - League II Destroyer
SLS Bighorn - League II Destroyer
SLS Mahone - Vincent Corvette
The Hegemony Training Division supports the various schools in the Hegemony. Normally they are found in the Boulsi or Thazi systems conducting training for ships crew, dropship crew, marines or aerospace pilots in training.
Hegemony Navy Reserve Fleet (Mothball)
SLS Windego - Whirlwind LF Destroyer
SLS Durango - Whirlwind Destroyer
SLS Weasel - Whirlwind Destroyer (Former Wolverine)
SLS Badger - Vincent Corvette (Former Wolverine)
SLS Hatchet - Kimagure LF Pursuit Cruiser
SLS Dark Brawler - Dart Light LF Cruiser
SLS Thazi - Dart Light LF Cruiser
SLS Shark Strike - Dart Light LF Cruiser
SLS Thunderer - Monsoon LF Battleship
SLS Kongo - Monsoon LF Battleship
SLS Kathy Hamile - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Sam Kingston - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Halthom - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Trinity River - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Yangtze River - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Nile River - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Brazos River - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Onverwacht - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Dominator - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Pulverizer - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Punisher - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Cally Westin - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Ben Schwab - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Inglesmond - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Connaught - Vincent Destroyer
SLS M. Langley - Vincent Destroyer
SLS George Wellington - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Janet McFadden - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Lightning - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Lookout - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Loyal - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Laforey - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Never Quit - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Always Ready - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Nerissa - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Nizam - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Black Widow - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Tarantula - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Mississippi Queen - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Never End - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Ghost Strike - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Sledge - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Wraith - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Slammer - Vincent Destroyer
SLS Crawfish - Vincent Destroyer
The Hegemony Mothball Fleet is located at Livingston Naval Base in the Zetang System. Carefully stored, they are cared for by a dedicated team of skilled engineers and ships crew that are nearing retirement from the Hegemony Navy. They strive to make sure the ships under their care can be returned to duty 100% ready within 60 days of notification. In addition to the listed ships, the Hegemony Navy also controls a large fleet of standard Jumpships and Dropship.
Monolith Jumpship - 30
Star Lord Jumpship - 60
Tramp Jumpship - 60
The Hegemony Navy also controls the ever growing HAF Marine Regiments. Though most HAF Marines are deployed aboard the various Warships, they are also deployed aboard the many orbital stations within the Hegemony, but also have a force of actual Regiments ready to be deployed as needed.
7th Royal CAAN Marine Regiment
9th Royal CAAN Marine Regiment
10th Royal CAAN Marine Regiment
12th Royal CAAN Marine Regiment
9917th Marine Regiment
9918th Marine Regiment
9919th Marine Regiment
9920th Marine Regiment
9921st Marine Regiment
9922nd Marine Regiment
9923rd Marine Regiment
1st Marine Air Wing (4 Groups)
2nd Marine Air Wing (4 Groups)
3rd Marine Air Wing (4 Groups)
4th Marine Air Wing (4 Groups)
Wolverine Squadron
SLS Michigan - Farragut Battleship (Flagship) (undergoing refit)
SLS Manila - Farragut Battleship
SLS Saratoga - Potemkin Transport (undergoing refit)
SLS Circe - Luxor Heavy Cruiser (9 January 2831)
SLS Great Hope - Luxor Heavy Cruiser (9 January 2831)
SLS Kosh - Essex III Destroyer (9 January 2831)
SLS Bostick - Essex III Destroyer (9 January 2831)
SLS Gao - Essex III Destroyer (9 January 2831)
SLS Frater - Essex III Destroyer (9 January 2831)
SLS Maverick - Volga Transport (undergoing refit)
SLS Dogie - Volga Transport (undergoing refit)
SLS Bishop - Carrack Transport
SLS Cardinal - Carrack Transport
SLS Wren - Carrack Transport
SLS Swallow - Carrack Transport
SLS Hawk - Carrack Transport
SLS Rodeo - Builder Yardship (5 January 2831)
The Wolverine Squadron while not under direct control of the Hegemony Navy, they are starting to coordinate with local Hegemony forces on patrols around Drachenfeld. It is hoped that they will continue working closely with the Hegemony Navy. Most of the ships of the Wolverine Squadron will not arrive back at Drachenfeld until mid 2831.
Armed Forces Note from the Author[]
The Hegemony has 74 systems. 75 if you count Columbus Station. Each world has a Conventional RCT on it. That is 3 Mech Inf Regiments and a Armor Regiment, with Artillery Battalion attached.
When not deployed, and none are, the Hegemony Army has IIRC, 27 Divisions and 12 Ind Regiments. They do have "home" worlds. They also back up system garrisons within a single jump from their "home" system. I am going to go ahead and drop a tidbit to stave off some of this.
There will be a massive demobilization of the Hegemony Armed Forces, but not for some time yet. Then later, there will be a massive mobilization and rearming. Step back and think how big the Com Guard got, well the HAF is pretty big now, much bigger than what stayed with Comstar. How small they go, well I am not sure yet, but pretty sure you will see many Divisions go down to a more RCT sized unit. The Conventional RCT will probably stay on as garrison, infantry and armor is pretty cheap, especially if there is no major threat.
Their equipment will be stockpiled, much like Comstar did. Exactly when they do this, well I sort of know the answer, the demobilization that is. I know exactly when the rearming will start though. Well, as of now, idea's still pop into my head which causes me to alter my timeline events. I have a major one that I still have not pinned down a time frame for yet.