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Interlude: Cut and Thrust[]
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04/03/3052 | The Old Triad - Arcturus, Lyran Commonwealth
LCAF General of the Armies Roman Steiner looked upon the once desolate city of Malcheema from the ramparts of The Old Triad. A warm wind blew through the once abandoned acropolis Roman had moved much of his Tharkad staff not split with Duke Bradford and his Bannermen on Coventry to the old Arcturan Guards Headquarters.
Thomas Bradford, as the Archon’s husband, was the only other man with enough pull among the nobility to cajole them into action but even he could not work miracles. COMSTAR’s Phi Branch halting the financial chicanery being undertaken by the nobles to divest themselves of their Kroner as the Stock Market collapsed and move to Sian gave them some motivation. They were however far too unwilling to extend themselves or their money during this golden opportunity while Precentor Martial Brett-Marik drained incredible amounts of the Clan’s combat potential around Pandora.
The ancient capital of the Lyran Commonwealth below him was once more vibrant as ‘Roman’s Columns’ moved in from across the Commonwealth, including a Brigade of Rasalhague Borderers from the Treaty Zone. Duke Michael Fyhne made whatever he could available, proud to serve the Archon and House Steiner as his ancestors had during the Succession Wars. In the distance dozens of dropships along with thousands of cargo containers and other pieces of war materiel occupied its vast Starport. Formerly the launch point for many raids into the Draconis Combine, Arcturus would now be the origin of Tamar’s Liberation.
Once Tamar was liberated, the rest of the Rasalhague border would follow, fighting as long and hard as his support and manpower could endure.
Then his homeworld, because the Clans had made a terrible mistake when they decided to attack his home planet.
If he could rescue Sarah and his son-in-law he would, but he would definite
A String of Perils Intro[]
04/10/3052
A stinger plays as “Inside Access” appears on the letterboard before quickly disappearing.
Two blonde women in designer attire stand in front of a large green screen showing video snippets from the latest video from occupied territory featuring Adam Steiner and ilKhan Leo Showers. The taller one spoke first, “Welcome to Inside Access, with Erika Valen and me Marissa Dahl. Bringing you the latest in celebrity and political news within the Lyran Commonwealth, courtesy of the Tharkad Media Associates.”
“That’s right, Marissa, we have breaking news, a video distributed by the One Star Faith has gone viral throughout the Lyran Commonwealth showing what life is like behind the lines, or rather what the Clans want to show us.”
“You’ve probably seen it, but we are going to show it to you again and update you on the latest waves running through the Triad in its wake.”
The video screen runs through highlights, ilKhan Leo Showers’ arrival on Somerset and the grand gathering of Clan Warriors that welcomed him. “No formal uniform for the ilKhan, looks like his armored vest has seen some conflict over the years, but he has great hair.”
ilKhan Showers and ‘Lord Commandant’ Adam Steiner in Star Adder dress uniform saluting and shaking hands with him. “What a tall drink of water he is, the uniform looks sharp even if its on the wrong side.”
“Makes me wonder who Anette’s mysterious lover was.”
Various feats of incredible Mech maneuverability as the Somerset Strikers put on a show worthy of the Noisiel Summer Games and Solaris Winter Championships by first executing a hot drop to a soundtrack of hard rock. Later, it included a silent drill team of Goshawk Battlemechs where the jettisonable laser is popped off, tossed to another mech, who then attached it before doing the same. “I didn’t think Mechs could move that way, gives me ideas.”
This is followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new railyard near Somerport with the Merchant Factor. The video ends with Adam Steiner hosting the ilKhan and his retinue within his mother’s mansion outside Taunton, and a speech where he discusses the value that working with the Clans have given Somerset. It faded away to display the word ‘REVIVAL’ emblazoned over the center of a red Clan Daggerstar.
“This video has caused incredible unrest among the Estates General where they very closely passed a motion to censor Anette Steiner, Duchess of Somerset, and its temporary Estates General Representative whose term is supposed to end this summer when Lord Bren returns from his cancer treatments in the Magistracy of Canopus.”
“I suppose he would resume his post although Somerset’s region that he represents is under occupation. The Archon has not clarified what the representatives of occupied worlds would do if the Clans cannot be defeated by LCAF Roman Steiner and COMSTAR Precentor Martial Photon Brett-Marik and the region return to Tharkad’s control.”
“Anette has been removed from her committee assignments and there is discussion of accusing her of treason. These accusations have set off a firestorm of scathing editorial reviews drudging up her history and intimate relationship with Walther Gustavson. The Rasalhague Rebel and their shared works which could be interpreted as satirical and critical of Commonwealth Elites.”
The video screen behind them turned to an older resolution before cameras improved along with everything else courtesy of the Helm Memory Core showing Carmilla and Anette through the ages starting with Carmilla attending Rewland College of Fine Arts at 16 in 2988, the 3rd Millenium Party at Alessandro Steiner’s Court for the debut of her 5 year old daughter, then moving on to her exile to Somerset by Archon Katrina, and the almost 6 years of humbling the most eligible bachelors in the Lyran Commonwealth that resulted after that.
“Inside Access was built on Anette and her mother Carmilla’s actions. Both were media darlings for the longest time and provided our predecessors with lots of copy even after Carmilla’s tragic suicide, Anette’s exile to Somerset, and Roman’s expulsion from Nagelring.”
“You are right Marissa; the bosses should have been paying them all this time.
All we can do now is wait for the Triad which has been very silent on the matter considering Archon Melissa’s close relationship with Anette and the ongoing Clan Invasion.”
“Rest assured though we will keep all our loyal fans updated on the latest events on Tharkad.”