NationStates Jolt Archive

It began, strangely, rather simply enough..

Aleaic was in his Office going over new designs with Belldandy, for the new cultural museums about to be constructed in the new colonies, when suddenly, Yurika and Tsutsumi all but raced in.

When Aleaic saw.. "What's up?"

Tsutsumi.. "You are not going to believe this." ..and then Yurika hands him the data Padd.

When he reads it.. "What the hell?"

"That's what I said." ..Yurika quips.

Aleaic read it again..

"....6 warship groups near six of our worlds, out of nowhere?"

Tsutsumi.. "Scroll to the bottom."

Aleaic does so, reads.. and turns white. "That's impossible..........."

----

"~ We are Snow Raven of the Clans..

..our unexpected journey has brought us to your worlds, which we have watched silently for two weeks, your time frame.

Know that I have as a result deemed your people worthy of 'possibly' recieving us as islora. I have deployed all six of my WarShip Stars, along with my Six Galaxies near these six colonized System worlds:

Entwinar I
Hilton Head
Masaki
Rubigen
Angel Sentinel
Kanto Rei

I am Khan Lynn McKenna of House McKenna, and I declare my entire Tourman as my batchtall, to meet you to bid down and prove yourselves worthy of having us in your midst.

Otherwise, we wil take these worlds for our own, precipitating conflict you may not be prepared for.

If you agree to meet for a bid, my command vessel James McKenna around Hilton Head in two days your time frame.

After, we will not be held responsible for our actions. ~

--

Aleaic looked twice more, especially at the date heading, about a quarter day behind.

He looks up with. "Snow Ravens... CLANS!? What the hell is this? Is Washu pulling something again!?"

Yurika replies jittery. "Only if so sire. I sent warships to investigate, after reports came in from commerce JumpShips having been in contact with these Snow Ravens. They were only greeted with the same message waiting for them.

And in fact, we count a total of forty WarShips above those worlds, about 5 per world, except Masaki Prime, which has ten for some reason."

Aleaic looks at the two like Washu 'did' do something to them. He then walks past Belldandy and pulls out a hard bound copy of Battletech - Warden Clans as if he 'knew' what to expect.

He reads the entry quickly and then SLAMS the book shut. "This is a GAME, how the HELL can this be real all of a sudden?!!?"

Tsutsumi.. "I told you games were unhealthy."

Belldandy.. "Beyond that, if this is accurate, and the reports are true."

Aleaic then feels cold. "It... it can't be..

..I just can't..."

"Sire.." Tsutsumi starts.. "...we have to assume it 'is'. There's too much evidence from our own forces."

Aleaic then gulps. "Then we have a 'problem'."

"Sire?" Bell asks..

"..if it's true... and they are a 'real' Clan. Then we 'have' obey. The Clans, if they follow the guidelines in here *waving his book* then they'll play for keeps.

..it'll be a major bloodbath if they act on their threat."

Everyone is silent. Yurkia then.. "Does that mean."

"A real Trial. Real combat. Real everything..."

Aleaic looks at his book, and then Tsutsumi. "Are you dead certain that all this is 'fact'?"

Tsutsumi nods... "Aye milord..."

Aleaic looks at the book again, and then SLAMS it on the nearby desk.

"Activate the whole Tourman, Code Condition Rubicon-One, no drill. Prepare my Flagship. Bring everyone up to speed as required. I will be taking my Command Trinary and meeting this 'Khan' at Hilton Head."

Yurika.. "Are you certain sire? What if.."

Aleaic shakes his head. "Nay.. they won't settle less than for a Trial. If it's real, then we have to face them.

..and I will combat them if needed."

Tsutsumi and Yurika exchange a glance, and then nod to Aleaic and head off. Within minutes, the entire Palace Tree knows..

..in an hour, the System..

..in two, the Republic.

Before, however, Aleaic looks back at Belldandy, more than pensive suddenly.

"Milday.. could you do something for me?"

Bell nods and asks... "What may it be sire?"

"..............pray..........."

--

((OC- Last post for tonight.. and a big one at that.. =^^= ))

OOC: I'm tagging this because it shows signs of being very good.

~ Romandeos.

OOC: tag this looks to be good. Good work with your post as always.

*Hilton Head Prime*

James McKenna orbited high plane over the dusk grey, Class-M world, as a muted command deck watched as their five ship flotilla was shadowed by a growing force of 'enemy' vessels.

However the vessels maintained their current calm, on both sides for the moment.

Khan McKenna looked out at the Gaian Fleet of ten vessels, some of which were designs she never saw before, though the Sovetskii Soyuz amind them was a well recognized sight..

..which made her wonder once more, who 'were' their adversaries.

Then came in her saKhan Klaus Harper, and a couple of warriors from his Star in Beta Galaxy.

The Khan was leaning on the starboard veiwport looking out when Harper came up. She looked up with.. "Any change?"

"Nay.. are you certain we are to take this course of action my Khan? We could just take these worlds easy."

The Khan simply replied with.. "..can we hold them just as easy? Just look at that fleet near us. A fleet that has brings no attempt at ground relief, and warns against the same, portents to a warning we should heed.

..glory would do us no good if we lose our remaning forces as a result."

saKhan Harper looked past at the Gaian Fleet. "I imagine by now, they are wondering who we actually are."

"Imagine need not. I more wonder what this leader of theirs is someone we can deal with."

The saKhan then asks. "Are we still going through with this?"

KcKenna nods. "We can't exist like this anymore. If not the Outworlds Alliance, then here will have to do." She then asks.. "..do we have anything new about what ever the hell it was that got us here?"

saKhan Harper shakes his head. "Got me, and everyone else. We still have no idea.

..nor why the entire fleet and Tourman was grouped together like we wre, when we were all strung out heading out from the homeworlds."

Khan McKenna shakes her head. "Well, if this leader of theirs doesn't show up soon, I'll take out our 'providence' on the planet below.

..and damn that fleet near us as well."

saKhan Harper just nods.

---

*White Diamond; Imperial Palace Tree*

Aleaic was heading out to enter his shuttle, in a simple robe version of his Royal robes, Ryoko and Ifurita waiting on him, when..

"LOVE!!"

Aleaic looks back and regrets it, as Tsunami and Arashi rush up. "What the deal with all this!?" Tsui starts, the two of them all but daggering their eyes at Al. Aleaic though has none of that.. "This isn't a joke. There are real Clan forces around our wrolds, and they aren't going to back down."

"But.. if this is real, and.."

Al only replies back to Arashi. "It was going to happen sooner or later. This all 'was' the point of our forces..

..if not for 'this' matter in mind."

Both women eye each other. "Better keep him out of trouble." Arashi quips to Tsui, who then sighs with a hand wave. "Why do you think I gave him the idea for the military."

Aleaic slits his eyes. "You gonna pull that 'it's my idea, my military' bit again dear?" Tsunami just makes a 'maybe' hum.

Aleaic then turns serious. "Look. I don't know how this happened. But if we don't abide by the message, it'll get bad for our people, real bad.

..at the very least, we can try and keep a fight from even happening. But if it 'is' a real Clan.."

"I know, I know, I read the books too love." Tsui submits with disdain. "..but if it really gets like that, you could get killed!"

Aleaic looks at the two Ladies, and rubs a hand on each cheek. "Yup..

..but we can't avoid things like this. Plus for some reason, I have a hunch about this.

I am not going anywhere."

Tsunami then whacks his chest. "And I'm going with you to make sure of that."

Aleaic suddenly looks pensive. "Uh..."

"'Uh..' nothing dear. You know I can kick anyone's butt in battle."

Aleaic remarks... "Simulated battle.. when's the last time you've killed someone in battle?"

Tsui low key remarks.. "And you?"

Aleaic expected that, replying.. "My point exactly. Even my father is second guessing this."

Everyone goes silent for a moment, as Ifurita walks up. "Sire..." Aleaic nods. "Aye..

..let's go.."

"Same here.." Tsunami quips. As they both start off behind Ifurita, Arashi responds.. "You better come back, this kid of mine wants her father and Sister-Mother." ..she says with a pat to her tummy.

Aleaic smiles. "Count on it."

Moments later, the shuttle then takes off, as Arashi watches..

..her spirits suddenly far less.

---

Meanwhile, CAG Command begins to send available Warships nearby the appropriate worlds, to begin loading up DropShips filled with Clusters from Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Omega, Tau, and Xi Galaxies, with Omicron and Theta designated as reserve. Also, at three Combat Vehicle Clusters were activated as well.

Somehow, the Ravens had chosen six worlds that had rotated out their forces just a day before. Though why exactly was uncertain, as well as how such a lapse occured.

..course can such be anticipated when it 'really' happens ever?

What mattered as the Angel Galaxy Jumped to meet the Raven's James McKenna over Hilton Head Prime, was that everything seemed destined to happen a certain way.

The more that Aleaic read over the 'game' material for the Snow Ravens, the more he began to get ideas.

About three hours later, the CAG Flagship arrived.

The snow raven wastes nothing. A scavenger par excellence, it makes use of materials abandoned by others. It works in harmony with the other beasts and is the perfect companion.

-- ilKhan Nicholas Kerensky, 2810

Clan Snow Raven wastes nothing. They make use of neglected oppritunities, creating advantages where others see none. They believe in working alongside other Clans, using them for their own gain, and they give the appearance of being the perfect ally.

-- ilKhan Ulric Kerensky, 3055

Battletech Sourcebook - Warden Clans

----

By the time they began the final approach to Hilton Head Prime, Aleaic had by then burned the two comments into his mind.

Aleaic already had worrying thoughts as the sight of the Raven Flotilla was announced over Comm.

He and Tsunami got up and looked at the vessels..

Aleaic breathed out his next with shock..

"McKenna Battleship..... Cameron Battlecruiser.... Ageis Heavy Cruiser... Lola III Destroyer.... and a Sovetskii Soyuz Heavy Cruiser...

Damn.. they look like they jumped right out of our books!"

"Okay, I'm convinced. Even the insignias look to dang real." Tsui says, her version of 'french' more on par.

Aleaic takes a step back. "Okay, suddenly I'm not sure about all this at all."

Tsunami simply responds..

"We're the power of angels, and ours is a more noble calling.

We're also better than them. All we have to do it prove it."

Aleaic looks at Tsui with a caring eye. "You better survive all this and prove that right for us."

Tsui leans in and deep kisses Al, as they draw very close....

After a terse series of veiled threats between greetings, along with warnings of consequences of hostile act, the two opposing McKenna Class Battleships commanding their respective forces finally agree to meet on the James McKenna, and a guarded Shuttle with Aleaic, Ifurita and Tsunami are escorted by two Aries Mobile Suits.

The Ravens watching this noted the space borne mecha and began to wonder even more what they stumbled upon. Reports and visible sight were two very seperate things.

When the Excellency's shuttle came aboard the Raven Battleship, and then disembarked, they were greeted to a formation parade of raven warriors, along with a very foreboding atmosphere within the Dock itself

Aleaic and party were accompanied by two Angel Gods, as the gathered Raven warriors were made to come to attention.

When Aleaic reached the deck plating, he saw a woman in snow white colored trousers and jacket. Black chevrons covered the upper torso and back, crossing the flared out shoulders and melding into a full length black cape. Black boots and belt rounded out the sight. An insignia was seen on the right breast, that of the Clan itself. A number of decorations were on the left breast, and the colar had decoration as well.

Next to her was a male dressed similar. In fact the warriors facing him were all dressed the same. However there were noticable differences in detail.

He also noted his kin were being 'studied' as well.

Aleaic then asks.. "I presume this be the vessel I was imposed upon to meet. *Looking* ..and of whom I read the message from."

"Aye.. Standard English as well, interesting." ..the femaile says.

She then steps forward. "I am Khan Lynn McKenna of BloodHouse McKenna, Khan of the Clan that is the Snow Ravens. This is my saKhan Klaus Harper, my second among all warriors.

Whom do I speak to."

"Lord Excellency Aleaic Saloam Kerensky of the Holy Republic of the Gaian Ascendancy. I also command the Clan Angel Galaxy Tourman.

This is my wife Lady Excellency Tsunami Kerensky, and my CAG Tactical Aide Ifurita Mizuhara."

McKenna blinks. "Kerensky? A Wolf Bloodname here!?"

Aleaic cocks an eye. "Nay, it is my own family namesake. But it has formed one of the BloodHouses of 'our' realm."

The Khan looks back at a confused saKhan Harper, then back at Aleaic. "What proof of that do I have of this?"

Aleaic slits his eyes. "Pardon me. But you forget your place as 'guests' in our realm. Maybe you should more focus on why six Galaxies have been deployed among my worlds Khan."

The Khan senses a strong personality in front of her, but does not back down. "Our purposes are our own. As is our intent. We will attack of we must to ensure our survival."

Aleaic though asks.. "Unless we are proven worthy...

..may I ask for what?"

The Khan slits her own eyes, then smirks. "Would you care to discuss this in private. Open word would be ill at the moment."

saKhan Harper stabs a look at McKenna, but Aleaic looks back at Tsunami, then looks at the Khan. "Alright. *..which makes Tsunami suddenly look* I will listen."

McKenna guestures behind her, and Aleaic looks back to his friends with.. "Watch the fort for a bit. This won't take long."

Tsunami looks dryly at Aleaic with... "You better be be safe, or I'll tear this vessel apart." Aleaic just smiles, and then heads off to follow the Khan.

Neither side is happy about this........

While the guests and hosts eyed each other with daggers, Khan McKenna led Lord Kerensky into a meeting room, one with only a single viewport barely looking out into space and a standard looking conference table and seats around the oval piece.

However the Khan only led Aleaic into the chamber and then waited for the slide door to shut behind them before..

"What the hell did you do to us?"

Aleaic blinks and replys cautiously. "Pardon?"

McKenna stabs further. "How the hell does my whole fleet end up clustered together, after being spread apart over hundreds of light-years, and near a foreign empire of all places.

How the heck can an empire that has no contact with the Clans or the Inner Sphere, have access to our technology.

..and how can all this be that your forces match Clan doctrite so precisely?" The Khan then slits her eyes with barely managed anger. "...if you be the Not-Named-Clan..."

Aleaic replies quickly. "Clan Wolverine you refer, or the Minnesota Tribe further.

..either is NOT who we are. Neither do we hold such disregard as they have shown in the tomes. And out technology base is our own.

As for how you got here.. *stepping forward, though the Khan never moves* ...why not tell moi such a tale."

The Khan only replys... "The only thing that was in agreement was that a strange black, starless field was near our vessels when each of them jumped. We agree also that it seems to all have been an artifical energy source, though what exactly we have no idea of." ..that makes Aleaic suspicious himself.

"..as a result, not only my Tourman, but JumpShips filled with my lower castes that escaped our Abjuration, are stuck here.

...have you an explanation for that Lord Excellency?"

Aleaic takes a breath. "I would offer an explanation. But I have honestly no idea what you are intending to do. If you act like an enemy, to tell you anything is ill on my part.

..but I suspect you have an alterior motive for 'not' attacking my worlds outright. Or why even invite me in here." ..he puts with a guesture about him. Khan Lynn only stares for a moment, then nods lightly.

"We... require a new home, one way or another.

When we were trying to reach the Outworlds Alliance, we were to join with them as did the Ghost Bears when they completed the merger with the Rasalhauge Republic to form the Dominion.

..they, Clan Nova Cat and the Exiled Wolves that became the Steel Wolves of the Republic of the Sphere, knew of glory, and the Sea Fox prostitutes that was once the Diamond Sharks knew profits from dealings throughout the Inner Sphere, led 'us' to wish the same.

..we left with attempted secrecy from the Clan worlds, but were discovered as we departed, and were Abjured quickly after, by a hasty Council. We were forced to scatter to try and escape the barely veiled Annihilation, losing even the token force left on Strana Mechty to the vultures of our Clans.

We did all this to seek the better life in the Sphere, and intead, become alien upon foregin stars. And I have no reason not to blame you Lord of the False Clan!" The Khan becomes agitated to say the least.

"...and so in doing, we have to options to us. Three is not allowed to us, for that third is death, and my Clan will NOT die.

..the prefered option is then to conquer your worlds and die fighting for them."

"You'd lose.." Aleaic says bluntly... The Khan somehow senses the Excellency knows and nods again. "Indeed...

..and if that were the case, we'd die. We did not escape the Clan homeworlds for that.

..which leads to the option the other Warden Clans I mentioned before indicated. Join another force. And since your force in fact acts so much like what we left behind, the goal becomes clear to us. We join you."

Aleaic blinks. "Join us.........

...are you saying you will join us? Outright or otherwise........?"

The Khan was impressed. "Other..

..to simply join outright would cause dissention in my ranks, and cause us both.. problems...

..but if it was proven that you were worthy."

Aleaic suddenly adds in. "A Trial of Possession?"

The Khan stops. "You know our ways."

"Aye...... and I will show you why."

Aleaic suddenly produces the tome he had carried with him all the way from White Diamond/Sapphire...

...McKenna looks at it at first with curiosity, and then with a cold white shudder through her whole body. Eventually as she looked over the information about her Clan.

"How in Amaris's scorned name did you get a hold of this?" ..said in a near murderous tone. Aleaic said it simply.

"You are 'not' from around here, or at least you 'shouldn't' be. This... is a book for a 'game'.

..and every part of it is supposed to be fiction.

Now you tell 'me' how I'm supposed to feel? You are alien to a universe you aren't suppsed to exist in. And as a result of my infatuation for this stuff, the powers or actions of something behind have dragged a force in that may endanger many lives unless it's controlled.

..we are now as a result, stuck with this situation, and if you wish to join us, in a fashion that meets Clan honor, then it dictates a Trial of Possession on the highest form.

..and it will be done as bloodlessly as possible." The Khan suddenly sneers at the Excellency. "Have you no stomach for death like I do? I've killed many warriors from both within and external of my Clan. Do you say that to gain my honor, you wish not to endure the same?"

Aleaic bellows back. "I refer to the safety of my people, and if that is violated, no honor will hold us back from retribution. If you wish to engage in a Trial, that one tenet will be adhered to.

..no combat within cities or colony areas, open land only."

The Khan realizes the bid has begun and replies. "I declare my Tourman, all Six Galaxies."

Aleaic replies. "I deploy Six Galaxies myself, with Two in Reserve. However I will bid down all Six Galaxies, down to a Cluster each. I also remove the Reserve Galaxies."

The Khan only replies level. "Four Trinaries each."

Aleaic.. "Two Trinaries, including my own above this world."

The bid was already very low within mere moments. The Khan considered for a moment..

..then she realized that losing warriors at this point, with no possibility of reinforcement, meant she 'had' to play it more conservative. The one in front of her already declared two additional Galaxies, throwing them aside like chaff. Whole Trinaries were also gone, and he could still afford to bid down. His forces were far more different than her's was, and she had no idea what that would mean on the battlefield.

..with that, she also considered the honor of her Clan, to offer enough resistance to satisfy the same. But then Clan Nova Cat had proved that appeasement could be done in various ways. And most could be non-lethal.

But for her, it had to be combat. There could be no alternative.

"My Command Trinary will meet yours on the surface, declare it's makeup."

Aleaic says it from memory.. "From the 12th CAG Command Cluster, I declare the Angel Galaxy Command Battle Trinary. It has the 12th, 16th, and 24th Combat Stars, one Mech, one Mobile Suit, and one Angel God Infantry."

The Khan asks about the latter two, and Aleaic explains quickly. She suddenly has reservations. "How the damnation did you make those things?"

"Other sources Khan McKenna." ..he only replied.

Khan McKenna then declares. "From the Covis Keshik I will command, three Stars, one OmniMech, one Elemental, and one Aerospace. The Aerospace I will replace with a second Mech Star."

Aleaic nods. "Shall we then also agree that one additional Trinary for each side to ensure Clan Honor is abided to?"

Lynn.. "One Trinary from the 9th Raven Striker Cluster."

Aleaic.. "1st Seraphim Wing Trinary."

Khan.. "Declare your field of defense."

Excellency.. "Hilton Head, the southern continent, away from the colony in the northern one. five days time."

The Khan asks.. and Aleaic relpies. "To properly bring in my assets. the same for the other worlds. Two Trinaries each."

McKenna adds. "There will also be a Point on Point WarShip exchange, two vessels apiece to determine the same. Our Aerospace Arm is also at stake. This will occur at the same time as the ground combat, along all six worlds. Same time frame."

Aleaic then asks.. "I will ask anyway. Live fire indeed?"

The Khan leans in and whispers.. "....deadly..

..in five days, you will either absorb us, or your forces, including 'you' will become my isorla."

Aleaic only replies back. "Like hell 'that' will happen."

The Khan then walks past to the hatch with.. "We shall see.."

The two then return to the Dock and the Shuttle soon leaves without incident.

..which is a far cry from five days from that moment to come.

*Two days later*

While WarShips and accompanying JumpShips transported whole Clusters enmasse, essentially a major shift of forces towards the six targeted worlds, the Ascendancy Holy Council was within the Strategic Holo-Suite and Command Center War Room.

Here, the Council, as well as every Galaxy Commander and Cluster Commander from the eight activated Galaxies were present. A ton of warriors were also present, mostly Star Captains and Star Commanders. The Republic StarFleet Admiralty was also present.

The large chamber had at least three hundred souls within, all looking at multiple holo-screens and tactical consoles all about them. The hyper-tech center was abuzz with talk about the battle to come.

Even with one declared Trinary per world apiece, with one in reserve guard apiece as well, the entire Tourman on both sides knew that unknown ground was being trodden..

..usually the type that was totally unstable. Tended to get out of hand, that sort of thing.

Finally, Lord Azusa and Lord Tsutsumi stood, with Lady Yurika following. Galaxy Commander Ryoko Masaki stood as well and BELLOWED the chamber to attention and silence. Even Lord Aleaic did so to do the same as his warriors and friends.

Azusa spoke first, brining up a large holo-screen of the principal areas under threat. This included Snow Raven Fleet dispositions.

"Let us begin.

Currently, and it is all confirmed, six Clan Snow Raven Galaxies, similar to our own, are deployed with forty Clan WarShips around these six worlds. ((*See above* )) As far as we know, they have declared themselves in standard Clan fashion, in a batchtall communiqué.

Our Lord Excellency has answered the call and already determined an agreed amount of forces that will participate in what is being called a Trial of Possession for those six worlds.

However, and this information will NOT leave this room, and if it does I'll personally skin the offenders myself.. that the Clan has also agreed that if we should win enough of the Trials, that they will allow themselves to be absorbed into our own Tourman. However, the same is enacted upon us. Make no mistake, any CAG warrior that falls before them and lives, is subject to being a Snow Raven Bondsman,

..our own leader included."

The chamber ups in sudden disagreed voices, but Tsutsumi SNAPS attention back with a terse bark. Azusa continues.

"Two Trinaries from each Galaxy will be deployed to face Two Snow Raven Trinaries, with only one Trinary being the actual combatants each. The second will be a reserve guard, to act if either side breached Clan honor. And I expect our side to adhere to that honor at every possible moment.

Live fire is expected, including actual casualties. This is their demand, and we must abide, despite our lack of experience.

Also, two CAG WarShips will face two Snow Raven WarShips above each world, but will be conducted with non-lethal means. They agreed that their vessels are too important to lose, and the most 'damaged' vessel recorded electronically, will fall out of each combat.

Battles will take place over a two to three day period, and only will stop if enough assets on one side is damaged to continue effectively as a combat unit. That limit cannot be determined here, but on a case by case basis based on both sides.

If be it so, it will be to the last warrior and/or Mech. Angel God and B-Suit included." The room suddenly feels dead still..

"Battle will proceed as follows. CAG forces will deploy the day before, and take control of an area of the local commander's choice, to defend the area against the Snow Raven forces that come upon them. The objective is simple. Defend or be destroyed or captured. Battle will be well away from inhabited colonies, as well as at least 20 kilometers away from the DropShips that deploy your units.

Snow Raven forces will burn in with Aero escort, and land unopposed at least 15 kilometers away. Any Aero assets they use can be countered by Aero support by our end. However we have agreed to limit artillery support to local Mech equipped units, despite 'my' objections." Azusa adds with Aleaic 'knowing'.

"When battle ends, the end total result will determine of the Snow Ravens become our own forces, or will determine if the worlds they landed upon will become theirs."

Yurika then speaks. "WarShip combat, noted by Lord Azusa, will also determine if the Snow Raven Fleet becomes our own, or if CAG vessels defeated, become Snow Raven vessels. local captures won't do. If we win overall, they have to submit. If they win, then vessels defeated, are theirs."

Lord Tsutsumi then starts. "The following units and vessels will deploy on the following worlds. Pay attention, as this is extremely important.


~ Planet
(Snow Raven v. CAG)
1. Ground Forces
2. WarShips

~ Entwinar I
2 Trinaries - 5th Raven Stoop Cluster v. Evangelon Galaxy Command Trinary ; 304th/B Combat Binary

Mountbatton, Storm Crow v. Conqueror, Agamemnon

~ Hilton Head
Corvis Keshik/1 Trinary - 9th Raven Striker Cluster v. Angel Galaxy Command Trinary ; 1st Seraphim Wing Trinary

James McKenna, Blizzard v. Angel Galaxy, Infinity House

~ Masaki
2 Trinaries - 97th Raven Striker Cluster v. Solar Galaxy Command Trinary ; 305th/A Planetar Trinary

Conqueror, Magpie v. Bronze Coyote, Fungesia

~ Rubigen
2 Trinaries - 2nd Raven Phalanx v. Tiger Angel Galaxy Command Trinary ; 944th Dark Angel SuperNova Trinary

Avalanche, Eternity v. Commonwealth, Davion

~ Angel Sentinel
2 Trinaries - 4th Raven Regulars v. Savior Galaxy Command Trinary ; 353rd/K Combat Trinary

Cold Hunter, Ice Storm v. Unity House, Jutland

~ Kanto Rei
2 Trinaries - 6th Raven Regulars v. Typhoon Feather Galaxy Command Trinary ; Black Facet SuperNova Trinary

Black Beard, Muninn v. Inazuma, Americana Eagle

"Battle will commence in three days time, set to White Diamond Local-System Time."

The three Advisors then look at Aleaic with a nod. Aleaic then stands, facing the screens.

"I will only say this simply.

We win, they are part of us. They win, and we lose a hell of a lot.

Unless you want to spend the rest of your lives under real Clan rule, I suggest that you forget the idea of real combat, and put in one detail.

We are better than them in every way. Our technology is better, our tactics are better, and this is our homes we're fighting for. We will fight with Clan honor, but we also will fight to win."

Aleaic turns around starkly. "We will make these Ravens respect us, and then become a part of us. On our terms. Nothing else matters except getting it through their Raven heads, that this is our territory.

And they will have to live with it."

Aleaic then looks at his Advisors. "Make it happen."

Within moments, the chamber erupts with commanders readying for the coming battle. Aleaic though looks down at Tsunami and Arashi with a hard stare.

"We are coming back. Every dammed one of us."

Tsunami and Arashi, instead of worrying about it, decide to trust his words.

*Masaki ; Raven WarShip Mountbatton..

T- Minus 2:07:32:44 .....and counting......*

In one of the four Raven Overlord DropShips slated to deploy the two Trinaries and support equipment, saKhan Harper was going over the configuration software he had chosen for his Mech, an Executioner Prime. He was also going over the MASC circuitry profile as well, knowing speed was going to be a critical factor in the battle upcoming in two days.

All about him, his Star was also being prepped, a Mist Lynx, Cauldron-Born C, Clint IIC and a Gargoyle Prime; all being checked over constantly for any possible flaw.

The Khan may have agreed to a possibility of an Absorption, but he certainly didn't. He swore to himself that these Gaian whelps would pay dearly for any Mech that they took from the Ravens. He swore his Bloodname on that.

"Sir!" A technician assigned to the Mountbatton suddenly called up. The saKhan looked, as a senior technician climed down and retrieved the waiting message, one from a technician that still wore a bondcord. Star Adder from the color scheme, barely still out of the diapers of being isorla after the Trial of Possession on Bearclaw, just prior to the departure from the homeworlds.

The senior technician clmbs back up, one of his chosen ones to maintain his Mech, and is handed an electronic datapad. "From the Khan sir."

Harper takes a look at the information, and is SHOCKED by the data. "That many APPROVE!?! Is this Clan filled with weak warriors!?

This is NOT the Outworlds Alliance, we should not so easily..."

Harper stopped his tirade, faling back on his patented logic, rather than harbor disruptive thoughts, such the kind his predecessor had before he went too far and had been defeated in a Trial of Refusal after an ill attempt to remove the former Loremaster by conspiracy.

The poor un-Clanlike acts prompted a swift and resolute retrobution against the egomaniac driven fromer saKhan. His name wasn't even spoken of after the Trial, an unmentioned Annihilation in the wake of Harper taking the saKhan post.

But these events even made the usually level minded saKhan wonder about the mental health of his Clan. All but ready to prostrate themselves before a power that acted so much like a Clan, but was far too much more like a bastard Inner Sphere House. That didn't set will with the saKhan.

Harper then shuts off the datapad, and tosses it at a Mech, satisfied when the pad shatters at the leg of the Cauldron-Born next to him.

"Well I don't have to agree. These whelps have to prve themselves to 'me' before I'll cowl to them. And my standards are 'high' right now." He spoke generally. The technician only goes back to finishing configuring the linkage to the LRM rack.

The saKhan only sits in his cockpit, wondering if a Trial of Greviance against his Khan so soon was wise..... or not.

OOC: Tag, oh, sweet tag.

*Kanto Rei ; The Angel Wave mountain valley, Western continent

T- Minus 1:33:10:56*

She steadily walked the Nova Cat down the Union-C DS ramp, while a nearby DS was unloading supplies, along with a Timber Wolf from the Black Facet Trinary.

All about Star Captain Ashia were Mechs from her Trinaries, as well as Mobile Suits and Infantry were disembarking and forming up to head off towards a two part bottle neck in the nearby mountian valley, where the neck would only be 6 and 4 kilometers wide successively.

The reserve Trinary would hole up about 6 kilometers away at the end of the first part of the valley. Behind it was an even longer valley that led to the sea, only 300 kilometers away.

Ashia knew the idea was to bottle up the Clanners in a narrow firing area, and throw their Battlesuits in the midst of theirs, and distract the Ravens from the main line long enough for a coordinated strike to commence.

If all went well, they'd throw the Ravens off balance long enough to close and finish off the main Trinary. Course that was the ideal. Reality would bite them in the arse when the time came, and Ashia was already thinking up a new plan to deal with that.

Once her Mech reached the ground, she walked the Mech towards her Starmates, A pair of Mad Dogs, a Nova, and a Dire Wolf. When she got there, she wasted no time. "Ready to go slugs?'

":: All systems green, were ready sir. ::" The Warrior in the first Mad Dog replied back.

Just then, a Serpent IIC Mobile Suit lands with a good thump into the ground. ":: Sir, Gamma is ready to move out. ::"

Ashia acknowledges, and then flicks on her comm for the Supply Loadmaster. "I want the supplies distributed according to the plan, and hurry with it, we're losing time fast."

The message was directed at the support DropShips about a kilometer off, ones with several Karnov UR Transport VTOLs that would place ammo load pods and crews at distinct spots along the ten kilometer stretch that the CAG units would use to replenish ammo during the battle.

Nothing in Clan doctrine mentioned about rearming during combat, another attempt to distract the Ravens during the battle. A practice that would take place on all worlds. In fact it was a CAG practiced doctrine, if somewhat suicidal in nature to enemy forces. Anyone targeting supply sections within a battlezone, lay themselves open to attack. Unlike regular Clan units, 'all' aspects of the battle, including support, were considered high honor positions.

The Loadmaster replied back. ":: We'll be in position sir. ::"

Ashia looked to her mates. "Kay guys, let's get into position."

As her mates begin to trudge off, Ashia look upward at the sky. Unseen in the overcast dull yellow sky, was another battle about to take place.

Which meant Raven Warships could be tracking their movements.

Ashia though was suddenly torn away from that thought.

":: SIR!! ::"

Ashia about ripped her neurohelmet off from the volume. "WHAT DAMMIT!?!?"

":: The Ravens attacked Seraphim Prime! ::"

Ashia sit still for a moment, as her mates suddenly stopped as well. After a moment.. "Any details?"

What she heard next, really caught her off guard.

Planet: Seraphim Prime
Date: 3137 - 5 March

Reporting Officer: Cluster Commander Shawn Baba -
Tactical Report - Alpha Classification:

We nearly got hoodwhinked on this one sire. Also your warnings about Clan attitudes was on par. They decided to pull one on us.

Apparently, and a full day prior to the start of the official Trial, the Ravens sent two JumpShips with DropShips filled with the 7th Raven Regulars at us as a full Cluster. It's unknown if they were under orders, or acted otherwise, but they apparently threw aside batchtall and attacked enmasse.

Fortunately we had on hand the full of 304th Evangelon Assault Cluster, as well as about 30 combat vehicles, elements of the 2nd/B Combat Support Clusrer, as well as the 312th Goddess Archon Wing.

Star Colonel Fancois Lanknau started the engagement with the following:



We are the 7th Regulars of our glorious Clan. We will not submit to this baseless trial, and will take this planet as our own.

All who oppose us will be expunged.



They didn't even follow the right of allowing us to choose a defense area, choosing to attack the colony directly. We only had three lightly armed JumpShips in the area, commerce class, and fell back as a result when the enemy JumpShip began firing at them. The High-Mobile Rameniro was just outside the System when the attack started and hurried back in time to capture the JumpShip, but well after the DropShips burned towards the third world.

Their Jump apparently was a brilliantly calculated Pirate Point Jump, one that caught our forces off guard. And after, the DropShips with Aero support got into atmospheric combat area with our local OmniFighters. The CAG pilots apparently however took the element of suprise away from the Ravens, by outflying their Raven counterparts. The Raven DropShips however managed to get past the Aero screen despite heavy harrasment.

They landed about twenty-six kilometers away from the Cities of Wing-One and Softwing, where our forces hastily formed up to meet the attack.

The 7th Cluster however when they passed through the Red Angel Plains, ran into the 304th right at the edge of the Spine Green Mountain chain, forcing them to either split their force in the face of our forces, or draw at us.

They took the latter.

The one element that quickly sealed the battle, was the Clan commander's apparent total disregard for our armor assets, and ignored our artillery assets until it was too late. As out forces intergrate every aspect of the CAG doctrine into our Clusters, we had the full and unhindered support of several LRM Carriers and SRM Carriers, and a squadron of Patton and Challenger X MBTs. A Star of Epona's tanks also took each flank. The vehicles formed a support fire unit that the 304th used as a push-off base.

Upon contact, the Raven Cluster acted rather unClan-like, as they attempted to assault the center of our force enmasse, even using multiple targeting of single mechs of our forces. However they had no answer for both the Mobile Suits and their speed, or the same of our Angel Gods, who tore apart the Raven Elementals like chaff.

Still, they refused to back down, or allow us to give them quarter, even sending in remaining Raven Aero Assets to strafe our Mechs and Mobile Suits. We had to respond by sending elements of the 312th Wing to chase off the remaining Raven fighters, and establish air superiority. By this time, two hours had passed, and no let up in sight sire.

By the third, attrition had taken down a third of the Raven Mechs and most of their Infantry, though they managed to bring down at least twelve of our mechs, and even killed eight of our Angel Gods, and wounded six more. However the Cluster was holding it's own, as the ignored CAG combat vehicles tore into the Raven flanks.

At that point, the Ravens fell back for a moment, but then tried to attack on the left of our Flank, taking our vehicles seriously at last. However this was ill, as we responded by simply smashing out center at their exposed openings between Raven Stars, crushing at least one of the center Stars before they finally relented. This happened so fast, the vehicles never recieved the blow that could have removed them from the battle.

Much to their shock, and our most pleasure, news came in that the Raven JumpShip, and on it's heels, their Drop Zone and DSs had been captured by Angel God reserves on a quick strike.

But even this didn't deter Star Colonel Lanknau from outright surrender, and he pressed one more time after a regroup. Again we responded by this time taking our left flank and smashing the center again. As a result, three of the Colonel's Star finally caved, and the Ravens fell back into a defensive retreat. (Where I still have no idea...)

We drove them back into the Red Plains and then outflanked them on the right, forcing a whole Trinary to surrender at once. Star Colonel Lanknau reacted by suddenly challenging me to a single duel Trial of Possession, his Thor verses my Nova Cat. He asked that if he won, the whole Cluster and it's transports would be released to return to Clan areas near our targeted worlds. Our victory would be our taken them all as isorla. I agreed, and made him regret it.

To make the duel short, I simply made his rash actions turn into a broken set of engagements where I constantly outflanked and used my Mech's superior abilites to overwhelm the frazzled Colonel. After about ten minutes, I finally managed a killing shot, by blowing off the left leg hip joint of his Thor, causing it to topple.

I then transmitted to him simply.



I, Cluster Commander Shawn Baba of Clan Angel Galaxy, claim you Star Colonel Fancois Lanknau, and your Cluster, as isorla, Absorbed into our Tourman.

Welcome to the Ascendancy Colonel.



As a result of what is highly suspected as an independent act, we gained the following asets.

1 Monolith Class JumpShip
3 Union-C DropShips
2 Overlord DropShips
27 Raven OmniFighters (13 salvage)

5 Trinaries (75 Mechs, 46 salvage)

102 Warriors and 98 Clan techs and 207 caste members.

We lost the following..

16 Angel Gods dead, 9 injured.
14 Mechwarriors/Mobile Pilots dead, 18 wounded.
2 Combat vehicle crews injured, no dead.
14 Omnifighter pilots dead, 6 injured.

At present, we intend to simply detain them untl after the Trial, but since the battle, they have become remarkably cooperative, if strained by the shocking scale of their defeat.

I offer this as possibility as the thinking of the Raven tactics they will use as of tommorrow. If they fight similar, though with more honor than the 7th Regulars did, we may catch them beyond off guard. I have encoded this report with a Level Diamond-One seal to be seen by Tourman Command only.

I feel we may win out by a far greater margin than anyone anticipates sire.

*End Transmission 06:34:21 Seraphim Prime Local System Time.*

*T-Minus 0:06:35:21

Hilton Head Prime ; Amaddon Hills.*

Aleaic took a look at the report, and wasn't sure if to scream curses at at the Raven's perfididy, or 'thank' them for it. He handed the Padd back to Ifurita.

He then strode to the HQ Vehicle that was parked beside his Eternity Mech. In it was his Trinary Commanders and Advisor Azusa. He stepped in just as they were finishing deployment brefings.

"The 7th just got it's ass kicked."

"Already known sire." Azusa replied, though Aleaic asked. "That better not mean..."

Azusa laughed in response. "Who do you think it was that handed it to Ifurita?"

Aleaic simply.. "Ah... well then.."

Aleaic steps up to the tactical holo-table and gives it a once over. "Okay folks, it's almost time, and we had better get the idea that what happened to the 7th Ravens will happen everywhere.

In fact if Khan McKenna knows what happened, she likely will rip apart the Galaxy Commander that the 7th belonged to.

We're still going with the planned defense grid, and draw them to us here." *Pointing to an area of the Amaddon Hils that are very broken and non-standard for the local terrain* "There we can break up their formations and give them their one on one tactics on our ground of choosing.

After than, we see who's Clan has the better training."

Ifurita perks a bit and asks. "You sound as if our forces 'are' a Clan."

Aleaic glances over. "In more than a manner of speaking. And at least for the duration of the battle, we will act like our enemy."

Ifurita and Azusa trade glances, as Aleaic takes one more look, and then heads back out of the vehicle.

----

*T-Minus 0:04:22:56

Raven WarShip Avalanche ; 2 kilometers away from Rubigen-5*

Warriors rushed out of their bunk areas, as the klaxons blared all around the great vessel. Techs tried as best they could to avoid getting in their way, as the warriors rushed to their Mechs and Battlesuits in the DropShips connected to the WarShips.

Point Warrior Calriz was running in the midst of his Starmates as they answered the battle call. He'd heard with the rest that this moment was when the battle for them would begin.

The Elemental passed through the ladders from the two vessels, to reach his assigned Lion DS, and the Battlesuits there. Calriz passed by so fast, he never saw Star Colonel Robert Shu standing in one of the gangways that led to the Elemental slots.

For the latter, it was pride. The former, blind loyalty.

And for the latter, he was of mixed feelings about the battle to come. Not because of what happened to the 7th, which in fact no one beyond the saKhan knew, but because there was a feeling in his gut that said the wrong thing to him.

Something totally against his Bloodname pride.

Just then Star Admiral Asif Cole called the Colonel's attention.

"Yes Admiral." Shu replied.

"We just got this over subspace comm from her Khanship."

Shu eyed Cole as he took a message tablet from the Admiral. He read it and chuckled. "Her worry seems wisdom."

The Admiral then eyed Shu back. "I imagine she has reason."

"Whatever. These Gaian freeborn scum won't be able to hold us off for long. A whole Trinary probably won't be required." The Admiral only nods, though Cole has no idea Shu is more acting than he should be.

A Point Warrior from Shu's Star then comes up. "Configurations double-checked sir."

Shu then nods to his Starmate and salutes the Admiral old-style before following.

The Admiral turns, but not before wondering to himself, if the act was for a tragedy. And for whom........

*Opan Forest Ridge Line ; Entwinar I

T-Minus 0:00:03:18*

":: Two Stars of the 5th Raven Stoop Cluster coming in from the southwest. One more cutting to the right flank. Eight kilometers and closing. ::"

CAG Star Colonel Whiner Masaki kept her calm, and kept an eye on the Targeting computer. All around and beside her along a broken two kilometer and three kilometer string of lines the Evangelon Command Trinary had taken up at the forest edge, her mates were doing the same.

At about 2 kilometers the LRM portions of their weapons would start gaining target solutions, though she intended to hold off fire until 1.6 kilometers. That way the ER PPCs could jon the first strike.

Already her Mobile Suits in the Trinary were rising up to have a clear shot above the treeline. This exposed them rather greatly, but this also made for a target that would distract the Raven advance. By all accounts, it was Mech on Mech combat. Fifteen on Fifteen was fair..

..until..



:: ~ We are the 2nd of the 5th Raven Stoop.

We also will challenge, but primarily the pitiful reserve before us. Thus was the Khan's will. ~ ::"



Before Masaki could react, her comm frequency was stabbed with.. ":: The second Mech Trinary is moving foward. They're heading northeast to a flanking angle! ::"

Whiner cursed to herself. "Looks like they're far too damn itchy." She then flipped her switch. "All units begin phase Beta action. Repeat, Beta..."

She then decided to move her Vanquisher IIC forward a step, and deploy her C4I System. The other Mechs in the two Trinaries, Evangelon Command, and the 304th/B, quickly replied in kind with their Slaves, branched down through her Star Captains and Commanders down.

That gave her a wide arc targeting solution, as well as give her tactical holo-display a better layout of the closing lines with the broken Raven Trinaries coming in at two seperate points.

"Split their forces, poor form."

She then commanded her Star to focus a LRM strike at a point at the right Raven flank, the part 'connected' to the second Raven Trinary. 1st/5th and 2nd/5th her Tac-Computer displayed for her.

"Alright guys, on my mark." She transmitted. She ignored the bevy of acknowledgements and studied the situation. She saw that the 2nd/5th was closing at full speed to reduce the gap between the two Clan units. She smirked, knowing that by the time the 2nd came in support fire with the 1st, the 1st would be in target range. Then it would be a matter of how well 'their' long range weapons were. Estimates said there was a 100 meter margin of error between Raven and CAG weapons at long range, inside that all gloves were off at medium and short.

Masaki smirked. "If they reach medium range in decent shape, I'll be impressed.

After that, they're toast."

But as the 1st drew within 400 meters of LRM extended range, a new comm distracted her for a moment.

":: Sir.. the Conqueror and Agamemnon have engaged the enemy WarShips. ::"

Masaki looked at the chonometer. "+00.00.01.23"

She smirked. "And it begins."

Just then, the first Raven Mech came within LRM range. She pegged her comm one last time. "Steady shots, and cool heads. If we fall, we fall for the Republic.

..send these Ravens to where even Edgar Allan Poe would dare not think of them to reside."

At that, she waited about 42 seconds, where the suddenly pensive Raven advance barely crossed the PPC marker. When the first target green lights came up on her C4I display.. "Strike with holy wrath!!!"

Racks of LRMs and PPCs staggered discharges suddenly bellowed from the Treeline, and raced with lethal intent towards the 1st/5th right flank. Before the Ravens could react enough, several black, oily fire plumes could be seen in the distance. Her targeting computer calculated that at least one Mech was felled, and another damaged.

Then she held her ground, as the 1st/5th came into range, and unleashed their own fury. Within seconds she saw the black specks of death, joined by a strange glow accompanying them. She hit her comm hard.. "INCOMING!!!"

Almost as soon as she yelled it out, LRMs and PPCs suddenly gouted through the ranks of the CAG line, strafing it in a single strike, hitting more treeline than Mechs, however the Summoner next to her took a hard lick to it's torso. It still stood, but a good amount of Ferro armor was melted off.

The same couldn't be said for a Mad Dog down the line to her west. She saw the flare of the core rupture, as well as the streak of a pilot ejection seat doing it's job properly.

And even gambit. Suddenly she was worried. But she slammed that down with her next order. "Three volleys more and begin to fall to the second line marker!" ..at that, more LRM and PPC fire, now joined by ER Large Pulse Laser fire, lanced out, and got the same in return. In seconds, the fury was complete and the battle was at full viciousness.

The same was true on the other five targeted worlds, as Raven units steaked at defending CAG units with full anger and wrath of battle.

The Trial had begun.

Planet: Angel Sentinel
Date: 3137 - 5 March

Reporting Officer: Cluster Commander Marik Ward -
Tactical Report - Beta Classification:

Units in Combat: 2 Trinaries - 4th Raven Regulars v. Savior Galaxy Command Trinary ; 353rd/K Combat Trinary

Opposing WarShips: Cold Hunter, Ice Storm v. Unity House, Jutland

Tactical summary:

The first of the battles that defined the Trial, it was also quicker and more tactical than the Seraphim Prime incident was. It began as the Raven WarShips came in in a two ship line formation, with the 4th/4th and 5th/4th Trinary DropShips in tow behind with Aero Fighters surounding the Raven force.

CAG vessels responded by rushing the forward Raven vessel Cold Hunter and then feinting as they pounded at it once. Cold Hunter too large numbers of registered hits, though the Unity House took a good 'lick' as it veered off to starboard. The Jutland however suddenly doublebacked and pounded the Ice Storm on it's port side. This also forced the DropShips on that end to veer away fast, leaving only a screen of Raven OmniFighters to vainly fend off the assault.

The Cold Hunter tried to veer towards the Jutland to dissuade it's attack, but the unexpected speed from the Unity House caught the Cold Hunter in a broadside that 'killed' the bridge of the Cold Hunter and forced the Ice Storm into a two on one situation that it soon subcumbed to.

The DropShips however managed again to shake off the Aero screens of Gaian OmniFighters, and land at the Comi Plains. Raven 'honor' was demonstrated then, by deploying both Trinaries to face both CAG Trinaries.

However the Ravens had to cross two seperate terrain obstacles: The Comi Swamp, and then part of the Sentinel Jungle to reach the dug in and waiting Savior Trinary and 353rd/K Combat Trinary. CAG weapon ranges again caught the Ravens off guard, and the 4th Regulars rushed to close range for their own weapons.

For the next two hours, the slug fest became a slog fest, as the Ravens were forced to move through jungle area that was basically an extension of the Comi Swamp. CAG units had previously mapped the area and knew of several 'lsland-chain' sections to place their Mechs, as well as to fall back to, where waiting ammo pods and crews were waiting.

The Ravens only caught wind of the latter part of the CAG defense setup, by stumbling on an ammo crew shooting off in hover J-27s to the next area. When Raven Star Colonel Weston Cooper saw this, he ordered his units to extract from the jungle and regroup at the plains to find a different direction to attack from. He realized the ammo situation favored the Angel's greatly and honor wouldn't be enough here.

However as soon as the 4th units began to pull out, and reentered the Comi Swamp, the 5th/4th Trinary, down half a Star at that point, was suddenly hit in the flank hard by A Star of 353rd/K Mechs that had used the terran 'knobs' to reposition themselves quickly. Three Raven Mechs fell before the CAG Star was driven back. But by then, the Savior Trinary had closed again, with the beleagured flank it's target.

Colonel Cooper responded by pounding at the Command Trinary when it came within range. The CAG units however pulled away in time to suffer only a damaged Aries Mobile Suit.

Cooper again began to pull back, and this time the CAG units let them. However when the Ravens regrouped, and began a heading that would take them wide around the swamp towards a set of partial mountain chains called the Eye Sore Chain.

But only two kilometers into the advance, the entire CAG force suddenly appeared from the Swamp and slammed into the 4th on it's left, and within minutes caused the left to cave. Star Colonel tried to reorient the remains of the 4th/4th and the 5th/4th into the hammerblow, but the 353rd/K was faster and finished the hammer blow. The one on one fighting quickly was settled by the sheer awe of the audacious attack that Cluster Commander Marik Ward conducted.

Moving the unit with enough speed and organization through the jungle to make the flank attack was seen by the Ravens as sheer tactical genius. In fact, the defensive line and ammo station points had been deliberatley left behind, with the Cluster Commander half expecting the Raven reaction to be close to what occured, once they saw the ammo pod dumps. Ward then simply abandoned his line to catch the Ravens off guard when they headed across less saturated ground.

As a result of all this, Star Colonel Cooper recognized the abilities of his opponent, and declared the 4th's surrender even as the Raven Mechs were falling all around him. The fact that Angel God Infantry support was carving up his Stars faster than any Elemental force could, tended to accelerate his actions.

The CAG gained it's first victory of the Trial in only, as well as almost every Mech in the 4th Regulars as either salvage, or shutdown captures after the surrender, as CAG weapons were deadly efficent at severing leg joints rather quickly at close range.

However the Saviors and 353rd/K paied dear enough for the victory. Four Angel Gods died and four more injured variously. Six Mechs were badly damaged, one exploding right as the surrender was announced. The warrior didn't make it out. Two CAG Mobile Suits also were badly mauled, but none were destroyed.

As mentioned, the two Raven WarShips were captured unexpectedly quickly, the battle taking only seventeen minutes over Angel Sentinel. The battle officially ended with Star Admiral Nevris McKenna handing over a naval saber to CAG Fleet Commadore Rendar, the explorer who had found the Ascendant Dysan Sphere.

After the battle, the Ravens were assigned as 'bondsmen' to act as temporary garrison of Angel Sentinel, and the remainder of the Raven's Epsilon Galaxy landed a day later, where interestingly enough, a Raven series of Trails of Refusals from the 7th and 8th Raven Garrison Clusters with watch units from 307th Evangelon and 3058th Planetar was conducted with a pair of baseball matches.

7th Raven vs. 307th Evangelon (2 - 6)
8th Raven vs. 3058th Planetar (1 - 7)

The Absorption of Epsilon Galaxy was complete.

((OC- For myself to keep track of things..

~ Entwinar I
2 Trinaries - 5th Raven Stoop Cluster v. Evangelon Galaxy Command Trinary ; 304th/B Combat Binary

Mountbatton, Storm Crow v. Conqueror, Agamemnon

~ Hilton Head
Corvis Keshik/1 Trinary - 9th Raven Striker Cluster v. Angel Galaxy Command Trinary ; 1st Seraphim Wing Trinary

James McKenna, Blizzard v. Angel Galaxy, Infinity House

~ Masaki
2 Trinaries - 97th Raven Striker Cluster v. Solar Galaxy Command Trinary ; 305th/A Planetar Trinary

Conqueror, Magpie v. Bronze Coyote, Fungesia

~ Rubigen
2 Trinaries - 2nd Raven Phalanx v. Tiger Angel Galaxy Command Trinary ; 944th Dark Angel SuperNova Trinary

Avalanche, Eternity v. Commonwealth, Davion

~ Angel Sentinel
2 Trinaries - 4th Raven Regulars v. Savior Galaxy Command Trinary ; 353rd/K Combat Trinary

Cold Hunter, Ice Storm v. Unity House, Jutland

~ Kanto Rei
2 Trinaries - 6th Raven Regulars v. Typhoon Feather Galaxy Command Trinary ; Black Facet SuperNova Trinary

Black Beard, Muninn v. Inazuma, Americana Eagle

..and here we go.. ))

------

*Kanto Rei ; Angel Wave Mountain Valley

................four hours into the battle*

She kept breathing hard, the warm air and constant exertions of battle straining at her muscles as she moved her Slyph Battlearmor during the battle, surviving so far. Her fuel sections were being recharged quickly, as the 1st/6th Regulars had been pushing and pulling back for most of the battle, trying to draw the false freeborn clanners into a Raven trap.

These Angel types however, she admitted finally, were more wise than they seemed, not having taken one 'bite' of the Raven prods, instead using their superior range to whittle at the Mech Stars, while the Infantry slugged it out in close concert.

Her Point of five Elementals, was down to four, the Captain growling such in her head while the techs around her finished another fuel-up. She was also rearmed. The ten minutes to rearm was quickly used up, as well as her breather. A tech smacked the battlearmor's head plating and Star Commander Rene Harper instictively powered up her suit once more. In seconds, her remaining mates did the same.

She simply spoke, her comm keying in response. "Okay trueborns, let's make them suffer again." In seconds, her jet thrusters roared and shot her back into the sky, her mates in kind.

She smiled. "This time I know what to do to them."

However two minutes into the journey back into the flames, her 'wingman' starmate suddenly yells. "SIR!!"

She barely registers in time, as an Angel God suddenly SLAMS into her in midair, causing her to lose control and fall to the ground seconds later.

She recovers in time, the suit drugs pumping into her automaticaly, to realize.. "We're still three kilometers from the line, what in..."

":: All units! All units alert, the 2nd/6th left flank is broken, repeat, broken! Fall to point two! ::"

Haper cursed her bloodname luck, and then realizes she's not alone. She rights the suit in time to see her mates, as well as two Raven Omnis being hacked at by a CAG trio of Omnis and several Angel Gods. She saw the Angel Loki at the point, slashing at a Raven Clint IIC with utter fury. She also saw the area was a situation the Ravens were suddenly losing quickly.

Then she saw the Angel God in front of her.

A strange sight, a simple looking woman with long, bright green hair, and a staff and combat jumpsuit of simple angelic monicers, and a gaze of a raw warrior. Harper then realizes she was waiting for her to rise.

When she did so, Harper then keyed her external speakers.. "What warrior do I speak to?"

The Angel God says only. "Commander of this element, Day Kerensky."

Harper nods, and responds.. "Star Commander Rene Harper, your opponent it seems."

The Angel God commander nods, and simply waits for Harper to act first. Harper complies by shooting a pulse blast stream at her, missing due to the Angel Gods incredible speed. She then feels a massive whack on her left abdoment plating, feeling a serious bulge on her 'actual' abdomen suddenly.

Harper does not try to locate her enemy, and instead drops her bomblet cluster load where she stood, blowing everything around her for a good ten meters, sending her to a crashing position far to her front, barely missing a Raven Nova Prime's left foot as it retreats.

She instinctively rolls around and finds her quarry charging at her. She quickly points her pulse weapon, and fires, just as the Angel God does.

The Angel God get's shot right through her chest, her dying scream drowned out from the air by the battle around her, and Harper seeing a terrible sight. The Angel God then incinerates in front of her, a blast of light 'other' than from her laser billowing out from her, and her body turning into a gray mass of 'ashing' skin and bone. A moment later, her body drops to the ground, and then crushed under the Nova's foot by poor perchance.

..one that did not give less to Harper, as she felt massive amounts of drugs surging through what was left of her torso and body. She never felt the blast cleave her entire lower body off, armor and all...

..she never even felt the concussion blast that crumpled her into a nearby crater, Star Commander Rene Harper, as she blacks out mercifully.

Planet: Kanto Rei
Date: 3137 - 7 March

Reporting Officer: Cluster Commander Stephanie Kerensky -
Tactical Report - Beta Classification:

Units in Combat: 2 Trinaries - 6th Raven Regulars v. Typhoon Feather Galaxy Command Trinary ; Black Facet SuperNova Trinary

Opposing WarShips: Black Beard, Muninn v. Inazuma, Americana Eagle

The Ravens acted differently at the start of this engagement. The Raven WarShips actively drew half the Areo cover with them and attacked the CAG WarShips head on, one on one, while the remaining Raven OmniFighters escorted the 6th's DropShips.

About the only note of detail concerning the WarShip battle of worth, was that is was an outright hammerblow fest. The Ravens simply drew broadside with their CAG opponents, the Black Beard on the Americana Eagle and the Muninn upon the Inazuma. In between them, Raven and CAG fighters swamred after each other in successive furballs as the four vessels passeed each other three times.

By the end of the third broadside engagement, both sides were badly 'damaged', with an estimate 'half' of all four crews and their Aero support 'dead'. Star Admiral Miklos Roul ordered one last broadside to finish the endeavor. However CAG Fleet Admiral Inaku Mizuhara took a different tact, and with both CAG vessels facing their bow to their opponents, fired their still 'undamaged' Gravity Blast Cannons. The effect 'annihalated' the Raven WarShips outright, and the Raven Admiral surrendered a few moments later.

Meanwhile, the 6th Regulars 1st and 2nd Trinaries, moved onto the planet unopposed. However their Omni escorts were pounced upon by CAG OmniFighters almost as soon as after the Ravens touched down.

Raven Galaxy Commander Patricia Harper deployed her heavy laden Mech forces in a standard left echelon formation, sending her support Star of Elementals and Recon Slyph Battlearmor units to scout the valley the CAG was deplyed in. After a batchtall declaring both Trinaries into the fight, Harper began moving her units forward along a six kilometer line of advance.

However just prior to the 6th coming into contact with the CAG Typhoon Feather and Black Facet Trinaries, the Battlearmor scouts relayed their being attacked by heavy waves of Angel God Infantry, about a kilometer in front of the CAG deployed line. Harper responded by pushing forward to support her infantry. However this took her into the CAG long range weaponry and only a quick order to fall back kept her units from being damaged.

CAG Cluster Commander Stephanie Kerensky responded by simply waiting the Ravens out, using her Infantry to drag the Raven battlearmor into sharp engagements, and shaking the Ravens into trying to support.

Harper responded instead, by moving in alternating waves, the 1st/6th and then the 2nd/6th into range to strike long range at the dug in Angel line. However this led to simply exposing the Ravens to more long range fire, with no depletion in sight after even six pushes to try and draw the Angels toward them. Kerensky was content to wait her equal out, using her ammo pod distribution to great effect, continuously having her forces lay LRM suppression fire, even as the Ravens had to fall back to their DropShips continuously to resupply.

The oppsing infantry meanwhile slashed at each other, the Ravens falling back to rearm when it became clear the Angels were wearing them down with infantry, even more supernatural than theirs was. As the battle continued like this, Harper was calculating that enough of this would dislodge one side or the other to disrupt the situation.

Kerensky however planned on doing just that, waiting till the pattern of the battle had staled the Ravens enough, and wating for movements to indicate the Ravens would try a push, using her Hol-tactical to guess the Raven movements for such a concentration.

At four plus hours, Kerensky's patience and cunning won out, as Harper realized the Angel's seemed unwilling to budge, and her Infantry was being worn down, already losing a Point in the process.

However when the Ravens shifted their line to make a move to the west mountain line and try to break the flank there, Kerensky recognized and threw forth the Black Facet at the exposed 2nd/6th far right flank. Again Angel OmniMech speed carried the moment of the battle, just as the Ravens were beginning their attempt. The Typhoon Feathers then hit the Raven 1st/6th in a cross feint to the west at the same time. This caused the Raven flank to cave in just as the Raven command's center was being harried.

Raven Infantry tried to hold the line as they returned to the battle, but the Angel Gods pinned them down, leaving the Angel Mechs and Mobile Suits to crush the 2nd/6th flank and surround them within ten minutes.

Galaxy Commander Patricia Harper realized the situation and ordered the 1st/6th an orderly retreat to a low ridgeline along the same western mountain line they attempted to attack through. By the time the Ravens were in position though, the Black Fact was upon them, with Typhoon in fire support against remaining Infantry from the 2nd/6th.

Harper did her best for the next three hours to stave off Angel assaults, but the fact she was cut off from her supplies and DropZone, as well as Angel willingess to supply their Mech in the midst of fighting eventually wore down the remaining Ravens. Finally, as the Kanteo Rei yellow suns were dipping into the dusk sky, the tired Ravens attempted a breakout, down to only two Stars of Mechs and barely a Star of Elementals.

However the dusk sky masked a quick Angel God strike to their rear, forcing the Ravens out of position before they were ready. A Black Facet Assault Star finally ended the endeavor by striking down Harper's prized Cougar. The injured Harper begrudingly accepted her unit as Angel isorla.

The battle cost both sides dearly, as both CAG and Raven Infantry losses exceeded 60%. Mech losses on both sides was more glaringly a Raven quotent than an Angel One. Three-fourths of the Raven Mechs were damaged or destroyed, where only 12 CAG Mechs and Mobile Suits were damaged with 4 destroyed beyond repair. The Angel Wave mountain valley was strewn with the blood of the dead.

This battle, coupled by the news of the 7th Regular's actions on Seraphim Prime, cowed the three remaining Kappa Galaxy Clusters into submission, along with the remaining Raven WarShips, filled with Raven caste members that had been cramped up in the vessels for three weeks.

Currently the Kappa Ravens are being tasked as bondsmen to establish a colony for their lower caste members, with the front line assets of CAG Xi Galaxy, all in the same mountain valley area as their base. This will keep them busy for awhile, until CAG Command decides how to use them in the Tourman.

*Hilton Head Prime ; High Orbital plane

Raven Overlord Command DropShip

Two minutes into Drop Burn...*

All she did was keep her mind still, knowing there was little she could do. She knew outside in the inferno of her DropShip's entry coridoor, Raven and Angel OmniFighters were spitting at each other with lethal intent.

If they breached her DropShip, the Khan knew she would be burnt to a cinder before she could realize it. She actually hoped if that happened, it would happen behind her Mech slot, and kill her outright. Being burned alive for more than a few seconds rather than outright death wasn't exactly appealing. She endured however without incident in her Dire Wolf.

Near her to her right, was her saKhan, still sporting a nasty bruise to his temple from a failed Trial of Greviance, dealt a day pror to the beginning of hostilities. He also had to endure piloting only a Warhammer IIC rather than his usual Executioner Prime, the only free Mech available, due to his inability to hold his pride in. Having traveled all the way from Entwinar I in a Scout JumpShip to only lose against her Khan put him as the 'sixth' Starmate of the Command Star.

Harper's only bright point was thefact he was going to face the best the Angel's had to offer on Hilton Head. In fact, he saw it as possible redemption.

Khan Harper meanwhile simply maintained calm as the Corvis Keshik DropShips made their six minute, seventeen second burn in. At about one minute prior, comm burst to life. ":: Sir. We're now over the Amaddon Hill battlezone. ::"

The Khan opened her eyes. She flicked comm open to her units in the Overlord. "You heard the pilot. All units prepare for immediate deployment."

Then she waited as the comm filled with hot voiced check calls and calls of bravery from her Ravens. She then setup her Mech for drop chute deployment.

At about 700 feet, the pilots qeued back that inital chute drop height was achieved, and the Khan keyed back she was ready. Seconds later, the chutes shot open and two Stars of Mechs and a Star of Elementals dropped from the combined ten Raven DropShips. Lynn's Dire Wolf's drop boosters fired and slowed her descent. She saw all around her as Mechs and Units fell in a controlled descent.

She also had a good view of the hills in the area, and suddenly knew why her opponent chose them. Her forces would be slightly slowed as they advanced toward the designated Angel defense lines.

But she could counter that. She key's her comm. "Infantry units will scout for avenues of advance through the hills, and report any forward scouts and contacts of the enemy."

Her Mech in a few seconds after, touches down, breaking off the boosters quickly. She then pilots her Mech near the landing point saKhan Harper's Warhammer IIC ended up. She calls over.. "How's the bruise?"

":: Physical or mental? ::"

McKenna just shakes her head and then turns her attention to her other mates.

Within only a half hour, the two trinaries are formed up into two extended and stacked 'arrow point' formations, and then waits for the first reports from the Elemental scouts. Her Aero attached Star meanwhile tries to recon the Angel front line.

Two minutes after that, reports fly in of the Elementals hitting forward Angel God Points. The Aero units run into CAG air cover as well.

McKenna hears Harper curse on comm, which makes her think harder.

She then decides. "Harper. Take 1st/9th to the west. We'll take east and hit their other flank. Around the hills and on faster ground we should be able to hit them at.

Act independantly and use your head."

Harper keys back. ":: Understood. ::'

At that, the two units begin to seperate out from their original formation and begin to advance.

An hour later, battle is joined in an unexpected way.

OOC: dang dude thats a LOT of writting... mind if I join in? After all we are in the same region.

((OC- It's kinda an internal thing, this one is. All the battles are already decided, just haven't shown 'how' just yet with em all.

..it can be 'reaction' responses as the battles draw down, now that I'm halfway through them.. =^^= ))
----

Planet: Entwinar I
Date: 3137 - 7 March

Reporting Officer: Galaxy Commander / Star Colonel Whiner Masaki -
Tactical Report - Beta Classification:

Units in Combat: 2 Trinaries - 5th Raven Stoop Cluster v. Evangelon Galaxy Command Trinary ; 304th/B Combat Binary

Opposing WarShips: Mountbatton, Storm Crow v. Conqueror, Agamemnon

Another one on one WarShip battle that distracted from the Raven DropShip burn in. This time however, action wasn't due to battle.

Apparently the Storm Crow's Drive Core wasn't running at efficent levels, later discovered due to it's field coils being damaged to 'whatever' brought the vessel near Ascendancy space. Just as the battle commneced, the coils that fed power to the Storm Crow's energizers, and thereby the naval lasers, even set at non-lethal levels, overloaded at several points around the ship.

This led to a 'real' vessel wide series of detonations that blew several hull rips in the side of the vessel along both sides, and one point on the lower bow. The three remaining vessels upon seeing this, ceased action, as the sight of dozens Raven naval personel being ejected into space literally enmasse took any thought of battle away in that instant. Moments later, the battle turned into a rescue mission, as all three vessels, including several others (from both sides) came into assist the stricken vessel.

By the time the rescue mission was completed, the battle was already over, and Raven Star Admiral Lydia Sukhanov on the Mountbatton agreed with no small amount of 'gratitude', to surrender to the Angel fleet.

Later it was learned 72 of the Storm Crow's personnel had been killed.

As for the ground attack, the 5th Stoop, minus their saKhan it was later again learned, began their advance in a echelon formation as well. 1st/5th and 2nd/5th sent their Mechs towards the estimated Angel lines. When they began to close on the wide two thousand five hundred kilometer wide Opan Forest Ridge, they also drew upon a slightly raised ridgeline that the Angels were using to base their defenses.

Star Colonel Lewis Magnus was closing in on the teeline, when at 1.6 kilometers however, they suddenly recieved a gout of concentrated LRM and PPC fire. Magnus saw one Mech explode within seconds, and then ordered to charge through into their own ranges. Seconds later they fired in kind, and a Angel Mech fell.

However the Raven advance slowly drew them too quickly into the effective ranges of the Medium weapons. Despite initally giving as good as they got, the Ravens got too much at about 700 meters and were forced to pull back.

Star Colonel Whiner Masaki hastily decided to try and press the issue, but the Ravens responded with the 2nd/7th Stoop striking the open Angel flank as they charged too fast past the 304th/B Binary. Both sides traded a Mech before pulling back.

For the next few hours, the now open field battle was a series of one on one fights that again, Raven technical capability couldn't match up to. By the time Magnus pulled his units back again, two more Stars were ravaged, verses only one worth on the Angel side.

Then word filtered down concerning the Storm Crow disaster, and even the fighting spirit of both sides muted a great deal. Still Magnus wasn't ready to submit yet, and ordered the 1st/5th Stoop to make a new strike at the Angel Evangelon Command units. However, as soon as Masaki saw this, she chastised the Raven commander brutally over open comm.

..and then demanded a Trial of Refusal against this attack on the spot against Magnus. He responded by impossing that the one on one duel would settle the battle outright, as well as who's force would be Possessed. Masaki agreed and a five kilometer circle of Raven and Angel surviving Mechs formed around the two commander's Mechs.

The duel was unexpectedly swift, and not to any expectation, as both Mechs places brilliant shots at each other's weapon arm pods and legs. At the critical moment only four minutes into the duel, both pilots hit each other's left leg joint 'exactly', and both Mechs tumbled to the ground hard.

That left the field in a state of confusion, no one quite knowing what to do. Masaki then 'walked' towards Magnus simply, and much to his suprise, she extended a hand of respect. She then spoke simply..

"It would do both sides honor to have you a part of our forces, under your own auspices."

Magnus, taken aback, took the offered hand a moment later, understanding at last the feelings of his troops.

"Then we are allied." ..he simply said.

What finally allowed the whole of Raven Beta Galaxy to join the Angels, was when the 14th Raven Battle Cluster challenged the local garrison to a sporting challenge of their choice.

The Entwinar Garrison chose another popular Gaian sport, soccer, being rabid fans of the Gaian national team. That spirit took the Raven challengers aback, and despite solid gameplay, lost 2-2 with penalties against 5-4.

The fact that their saKhan had left them the day before the batte took place though, put a sour taste in the Raven's mouths, one that would haunt the saKhan later on after the Trial.

The Angels lost nine Mechs and Mobile Suits, and the Ravens lost sixteen, including both command Mechs. All were salvageable. The focus was more on the disaster above than the battle below, and a day of mourning for the Raven losses was declared on Entwinar I, and the Ravens were allowed area on Entwinar to both begin a colony, and to create a chambered area to place all the ashes of the fallen, to be later used in creation of sibiko canisters, with the ashes to be mixed in with the canisters when the next new generation of warriors will be created.

The Angels would teach them to use them with their other castes as well down the road.

Planet: Masaki
Date: 3137 - 8 March

Reporting Officer: Galaxy Commander / Advisor Tenchi Masaki -
Tactical Report - Beta Classification:

Units in Combat: 2 Trinaries - 97th Raven Striker Cluster v. Solar Galaxy Command Trinary ; 305th/A Planetar Trinary

Opposing WarShips: Conqueror, Magpie v. Bronze Coyote, Fungesia

This battle turned into a major bloodbath, and nearly saw the death of one of the Council Members. It almost saw the death of the Raven Commanders as well.

The WarShip battle became purely secondary, as CAG capability made the Ravens look like they were the upstarts. It was on the ground that the battle turned deadly.

Angel positions took up an area along a wide, heavily rushing river, that forked in three directions at nearly the same point, seperated in the three places by less than a half kilometer. Worse, two of the breaks dipped below the river banks by at least 50 meters before ending up at down two seperate waterfalls three kilometers away from each breakoff. The entire area was a defenders haven, replete with hills and rocky ridges that could hide troops from attacks. However the area was a touchy area to maneuver in, which was why Commander Masaki chose an area where a outlet led to a hilly plain three kilometers away.

Masaki arrayed 305th/A to guard the flank while Solar Command held the river area. A/97th and B/97th led by Star Colonel Lom Shu landed their DropShips despite heavy OmniFighter combat, twelve kilometers away at the edge of the same plains, advancing in a wedge echelon-left formation. As soon as Shu's sensors found the Angel formations, and then the terrain they chose, he then decided to send both of his Trinaries to strike the Angel river defense line, and draw the 305th/A to them into the mess of the river bed area.

However as soon as the Ravens drew close, their Infantry was fired upon by Angel Infantry, no Angel Gods this time, rather Angel battlesuit armors, while not different than the Ravens had seen, the Angel's fielded Points of several types of armor, in a different kind of combined arms setup. Nonetheless, the Infantry scarred at each other viciously, almost creating a seperate battle in of itself. The Raven Mechs were left to face the Angel Mechs, only five, but also 20 Mobile Suits, or which Masaki redeployed mainly Serpent IICs, HeavyArms IICs, and Tallgeese IIICs Their superior speed and tactical flexibility gave the Angels and advantage the Ravens couldn't match.

Nonetheless, the battle as as said before, very bloody. Raven warriors compensated against the Mobile Suits by forcing them to the ground and then using their honed battlefield skills to snipe them in key areas. The battle was localized by the terrain, reinforced when a Angel Serpent was forced into the river and topled into one of the waterfalls due to it's flight engines being damaged by Raven fire.

But the close quarters turned into an even contest, as both sides fell just about every Mech and Suit within two hours. The fighting also claimed almost every Battlesuit on the field, As the Ravens thrust upon the Angel Infantry in successive waves. The Angel's stubborn defense wore both sides down badly.

Finally after both sides agreed to a end all duel, Masaki with only two Mechs and two Suits, faced Shu's four remaining Mechs. All the remaining Mechs on the field were felled. Of both sides, the Angel Mechs were in slightly better shape.

That was dispelled in mere moments, as the mass duel that followed felled three more Mechs and Suits on both sides within minutes. Masaki's Gladiator took horrendous damage, and Tenchi himself took electrical burns to his chest. But he managed to fell Shu's Kingfisher Prime by hitting a shot that severed several powerlines from the Clan Mech's powercore, to it's systems. The Mech came crashing down, also knocking Colonel Shu completely out.

Only later did he learn as he lay in an Angel Med-Center, that Tenchi had raced to extract him from his Mech, moments before the Mech's core went critical. Despite Masaki's nasty burns to his chest, he had saved an enemy from death.

When Shu relayed that to Tenchi, both laying in the same Med-Center recovery room, Tenchi replied back saying..

"Battle was over after your Mech fell. We need warriors to serve us, not epitaths. Your warriors need you as well, my friend."

Colonel Shu was so taken aback by this, used for so long the restrictive mindset of the Clans, that he couldn't reply for the longest time. When he finally did reply...

"Maybe my Khan is still wise after all..."

A day later, the tally was in, and it was shocking. Both sides lost 8/10ths of their forces, with the Angel's phyrric victory costing them half their warriors dead, the other half wounded, literally. Literally included, the Raven 97th Cluster was all but reduced by two Trinaries. The losses were so shocking, as was the unexpectedly kind Angel response to their captors, that the remainder of Gamma Garrison Galaxy willingly absorbed into the Angel Tourman, convinced the blood on both sides had proven enough.

However Galaxy Commander Tristen Crow did parlay a Trial of Refusal by forcing the Angel's Gamma Excellency Galaxy Commander Masaki into a drinking contest. She learned too late that her opponent, even wounded, had already had the 'benefit' of years of 'experience' in drinking binges. Crow was drunk under the table within three hours.

Ryoko, still in Alpha Excellency Galaxy at the time on Hilton Head, learned later and was proud of her husband. Never mind the liver damage.......

Planet: Rubigen
Date: 3137 - 9 March

Reporting Officer: Galaxy Commander / Advisor Akito Tenkawa -
Tactical Report - Beta Classification:

Units in Combat: 2 Trinaries - 2nd Raven Phalanx v. Tiger Angel Galaxy Command Trinary ; 944th Dark Angel SuperNova Trinary

Opposing WarShips: Avalanche, Eternity v. Commonwealth, Davion

This battle lasted two days, the first to hold out for so long, due to Galaxy Commander Tenkawa's insistence on a running defensive battle, rather than a static one. In this, this was the first of the Trial's two battles that encompassed such a strategy, the other being Hilton Head.

The Raven Delta Galaxy's representatives, the 2nd's Alpha and Beta Phalanx Triads, used a higher percentage of aero support, forcing the Angels to follow suit. Raven Galaxy Commander Morgan Sukhanov ended up taking control of the Alpha Tirad, making Star Colonel Robert Shu take command of Beta Triad. Despite the inital friction due to this decision, it proved a far reaching one, considering the Raven Galaxy was still only second line quality.

The Angel's countered with Tiger Angel Command and the 944th Dark Angels, placed initally amid a series of desert mountins called the Ruby Mountain Desert Expanse. They also calcualted the warm temperatues to play havoc with the less efficent Raven heat sinks. Unlike most of the other battles, this time heat was a serious factor. This was primarily why the battle lasted so long....

Again the WarShip battle was secondary, as the Clan vessels subcumbed once again. By this time, Clan naval ability was simply proven secondary to CAG Fleet capabilities. Even as a series of mock battles, Raven WarShips were not as good as CAG ones.

Ground battles was about the same, but the high temperatures of the chosen battle area all but equated on both sides, as Angel Mechs had to limit their fire, even with Quad Heat Sinks. Raven Mechs were even more limited, but Raven tactics by Sukhanov managed to overcome the Raven difficiency by tactically taking the field away from the Angels at certain points of the battle.

Commander Akito, despite his proven piloting ability, fell less capable of field command, letting his Trinary commanders to coordinate on the field. This caused a three way command focus that lacked the same.

When the Ravens landed, Alpha Triad launched immediately at Tiger Angel Command, as Beta Triad kept the 944th from assisting. As the battle progressed, Mechs and Suits on both sides kept shutting down during battle, at times becoming nearly comical, if not for the dead littering the desert dunes and rock clusters.

It became a series of Angel stands that were forced to fall back due to constant shutdowns, due to Raven attacks that kept the Angels from recovering enough to hold on. However such Raven pushes after they dislodged Angel forces, also shutdown keeping them from taking the field completely. Aero assets were equally as affected, as OmniFighters from both sides were forced back into space to actually cool down. This caused a stalemate in space eventually, losing both sides Aero control of the skies. While this was a norm throughout the Trial for the most part, in this instance, this kept both sides from controlling a fluid battlefield.

Finally, Akito ordered the first Angel retreat of the Trial, but one due to the situation rather than actually caving in to Raven pressue. When the Ravens managed to regroup after this occured, the Ravens controlled the field, but not the enemy. Shukanov decided the Trial was mainly for units, and not territory, and the Trial continued.

This ended up playing into the Angel's favor, for they managed to gain enough of a reprieve to regroup 16 kilometers further northeast near a cluster of oasises. Here they simply cooled down for the remainder of the afternoon, while the Ravens waited the same, still in the same place.

That evening, both sides decided to join battle again, and the RAvens came again. This time however, temperatures were much lower, and Angel weapons proved more devestating than the Raven realized. Shukanov tried to flank the Angels, but the 944th actually counterattacked in the face of an assault, and threw the Beta Triad back with decent losses. This gave Tenkawa a chance to turn fortunes, and bent back the Alpha Triad's opposite flank, forcing Shukanov to finally fall back to their 'captured' zone.

The remainder of the night was quiet, as both sides prepared to finish the battle. Akito however decided to change tactics, learning 'on-the-job' as it were, strategy, by sending the whole Roar Wing Star of Angel Gods, 22 left in all, to circle all night around a featureless desert, under the light of two partial cresent moons, to end up in position about a kilometer and a half away from the Raven positions, resting and waiting long enough for the Ravens to begin advancing again. Akito then waited till morning break, and sent the remainder of his forces to hit head on the advancing Raven Triads.

At about an hour after day break, battle joined again, with the Ravens taken off guard some by the Angel assault. However Shukanov suspected a rearguard action and placed infantry to protect their rear. However the Angel Gods outright crushed their Infantry opposition and slammed into the Raven's rear, just as the battle was again becoming affected by the heat. Despite the Raven's Double Heat Sinks, they fell behind quickly in heat dissipation, which, combined with the Infantry rear assault and Angel frontal push, gave the Ravens no quarter.

Shukanov attempted to break his forces out and stab at the Angel's in response, but Akito sensed the tide had turned, and he crushed Shukanov with it. Despite Shukanov's growing temper at the situation, he was outclassed by it as well, and when his Mech shutdown yet again, Colonel Shu attepted to lead the unit, but was cut down by a Serpent IIC as it advanced on Shu's Mad Dog. Within moments, the Raven's surrendered the battle to the Angels.

Of all the battles, this one proved 'light' in comparisson of casualties, as most of the Mechs and Suits on the field were more felled by heat shutdowns, rather than combat damage. The Raven's choce of this world for one of their 'conquests' became their eternal embarrassment.

It also turned into an Angel controversey as well, since their Mechs were primarily fitted with energy weapons, in consideration of their ammo crews in such hot weather, the only ones that were in the area were at the Oasis Fields, but not in numbers to affect ammo concerns. This led to the Angel choice of the field to be one that was suspect in both side's eyes.

..but later it was also learned, that Akito took the advice of his fellow military minded Council members in the choice of field, 'knowing' Akito's lack of tactical experience, but also knowing Akito was dead set on participating. Given the result, it was 'more' than the Gaias actually expected for themselves.

Delta however wasn't 'convinced' and launched two preemptive Trials of Refusal the next day, choosing the orbital moons as the place of battle. However the 5th Raven Auxiliary and 4th Raven Garrison Cluster hit the far better equipped Omega and Zeta Dark Angel Clusters. Despite being outnumbered by two Trinaries each, the Angel's better equipment, training, and even form, overcame the Ravens within hours.

A day later, Delta Garrison Galaxy and Shukanov submitted to Absorption. By this time, the Trial was all but decided, as all but one Galaxy had fully submitted to Angel control.

However the battle on Hilton Head wasn't decided.

..and here the most strategic fighting occured. As well as the most painful for both sides.

Planet: Hilton Head Prime
Date: 3137 - 11 March

Reporting Officer: Galaxy Commander Ryoko Masaki
In lieu for: ilCommander Aleaic Saloam Kerensky -
Tactical Report - Beta Classification:

Units in Combat: Corvis Keshik/1 Trinary - 9th Raven Striker Cluster v. Angel Galaxy ilCommand Trinary ; 1st Seraphim Wing Trinary

Opposing WarShips: James McKenna, Blizzard v. Angel Galaxy, Infinity House

Khan vs. Excellency.

Of all the battles of the Trial of Possession over each other's Tourmans, and despite the viciousness and brutality of the fighting that encompassed the other five worlds, this battle defined the entire invasion of the Ascendancy by Clan Snow Raven. And here the passions were highest.

As was the end result of suffering endured.

What began five days prior, resulted with the advance of the Clan's Capital vessels, escorting the Two hand-picked Trinaries Khan Lynn McKenna chose, upon DropShips, towards the inferno.

It began with batchtall, and the WarShip 'screen', led by the James McKenna as they barreled down upon the Angel defense line of the CAG FlagShip Angel Galaxy and the Infinity House as it's Point mate. The Raven Blizzard ran a flank screen behind it's own Flagship to protect the DropShips.

As soon as the Raven DropShips were in Hilton Head's atmosphere, the four WarShips hammered at each other, a series of brilliant tactical maneuvers that prevented any outright naval victory. However, CAG 'weapons' were more capable, as were more honed tactics, causing the Raven vessels to finally surrender, six hours later. If not for the mock battle, all four vessels would be gutted.

But then came the assault on Hilton Head itself.

After the DropShips landed, the two Trinaries, the Corvis Keshik, and the 1st/9th Raven Strikers, were sent along separate axises to skirt around the hills and reach the Angel lines presumably upon it's flanks. Infantry and Aero units were sent ahead to scout the Angel positions. However Angel Gods and Angel OmniFighters prevented the Ravens from gaining a clear picture of the CAG defenses. McKenna proceeded forward anyway, intent on reaching the Angels and crushing them.

For three hours the Ravens slowly advanced, trying to probe where the line was amid the Amaddon Hills. However Angel God harassment strikes kept the Ravens from concentrating any further than their immediate area as they advanced. The Khan however wasn't buying the tactic, and ordered both forces to halt, ordering her OmniFighters in to find the CAG line at all costs.

One managed to fight through the Angel furball and find part of the line, six kilometers north of their positions. The Khan then decided to rush in and make a feint probing attack to bring the Angels out.

As soon as they drew within range however, CAG weapons, with their proven longer ranges, pounded into the Raven advance, the Ravens never knowing they were being tracked the entire way by the very same Angel Gods that were harassing them. As soon as the Ravens realized this, they simply charged at the Angels.

..and the Angels retreated in response.

Expecting mines or something ill in like, McKenna ordered a more cautious advance, and both Raven Trinaries linked back up. However they didn’t find a trap, rather terrain that they found difficult to traverse head on. They had to gingerly advance their Mechs through very off angle terrain, to avoid toppling their Mechs. That gave the Angels time to move to their second line. When the Ravens extracted from the troublesome ridge, the Angels were ready once more.

This became the order of the day for the first day, as the Ravens cautiously advanced, and the Angels fired and fell back to avoid a protracted battle on Raven terms. That, as the ilCommander anticipated, agitated not the Khan, but her troops over the long term. As the Khan had to keep bellowing to her troops to keep calm and focused, the Angels threw their Infantry constantly, eventually wearing down the Raven Infantry, forcing the Ravens to fight with far reduced protection for their Mechs.

The Aero battle died by the start of the second day, as both sides wore each other out. The battle had been an Angel retreat for over twenty-six kilometers the previous day, running well into the night. They had drawn close to a mountain chain, ominously called: The Finite Range.

Here the retreat seemed to be over, as Angel forces seemed bottled up in the mountain valley. However the Raven's expectation of this, along with their assaults, ended up finding the Angel's somehow slipping through the range through, what the Ravens found out, were passes just large enough for a Star to pass through. This allowed the Angels to continue their fighting retreat, breaking up the Ravens in their attempt to follow them through. This caused unit cohesion to evaporate utterly as the second day drew to a close.

By the time the Ravens extracted from the Finite Range, the Angels had separated the Trinaries into over seven distinct groups, with disproportionate numbers in areas that took firepower away from Raven capability.

But the Angels still didn't attack in full, drawing back through angry Raven insults and laser fire, to the Soup Bowl Crater. Here, a twenty-seven kilometer wide meteor impact crater, acted as the Angel's 'stadium' to draw the beyond agitated Ravens, who had to wait till the third day to advance again, the Finite Range having wiped out their stamina.

When day three began, the Ravens furiously advanced, expecting more of the same.

The Angels were however waiting in the Crater, no longer retreating. When the Raven forces, still mostly intact minus infantry, saw this, they were filled with a mix of euphoria and jihad in their hearts.

Which the Angels also drew upon with deadly effect. When the Ravens launched their far too emotional assault, the Angels pummeled the advance with very accurate long range fire. When the Ravens drew close enough, Angel Mechs and Suits began to fall as quickly as the Raven ones. But by the time they got that close, six Raven Mechs were scrap. That reduction caused the added 'equal' damage to both sides, become an attrition Khan McKenna realized she couldn't win against.

Then the trap became clear to her. It wasn't the retreat that was the enemy, it was the terrain, their own anger, and hasty assault that led to a long term effect even the Khan didn't anticipate. As the battle progressed, Raven Mechs were drawn heavily into the battle in the crater. Khan McKenna to her, and her units credit, had enough unit cohesion to try and extract from the trap. However ilCommander Kerensky had none of that, and slammed his remaining forces into the Raven remnants. This battle also debuted the Eternity Mech, which despite it’s size, was far more maneuverable than the Ravens expected out of a Mech it’s size. The anti-grav units were working perfectly, as were it’s targeting computer, taking down two Mechs on it’s own in under a minute.

When the level and intensity of the fighting caused the Ravens to realize they were about to be defeated, Khan McKenna finally called for momentary safcon. At this point, less than half her Trinary was fully operational, the rest knocked out. Angel losses were just as staggering, barely a half Star more than the Raven forces had. Excellency Aleaic readily agreed to a one on one duel. saKhan Harper objected but was ‘silenced’ when Aleaic’s wife Tsunami Kerensky, piloting a Timber Wolf Mech in Aleaic’s Star, counter challenged him with an on the spot Trial of Grievance. Khan McKenna was secretly bemused for a moment as Harper was forced to respond.

What happened next was anything but amusing, as the two duels turned vicious, even more than the battle itself had become. McKenna in her Dire Wolf against the equally maneuverable Aleaic in his Eternity. Harper was at a disadvantage in his Warhammer IIC against Tsunami’s Timber Wolf. The four danced about a half kilometer apart, and for the next half hour, pounded at each other with vicious strikes that even the vaunted Eternity Mech felt heavily. The Angel Mechs ended up having the slight advantage in sheer armor protection and unexpectedly again, maneuverability, as the Khan’s Dire Wolf didn’t have the benefit of the Eternity’s anti-grav units.

The duel between saKhan Harper and Lady Excellency Kerensky dragged out even when both Mechs suffered heavy leg damage that essentially made open targets of both of them. Then in a near simultaneous strike, Harper managed to hit Tsunami’s Mech power core, but also at the same moment, she hit Harper’s LRM ammunition store, the damaged CASE around the area and exploded, causing Harper to suffer body wide second and third degree burns as his ejection seat shot him out, with his Mech exploding a moment later. Tsunami’s Mech managed to dump the core, preventing a rupture that would have killed her. However the blast shot plasma arcs that seared her left arm and chest. Still, her Mech was the one that was standing.

Khan McKenna and Excellency Kerensky, lasted a few moments longer, both witnessing the end of the second duel, and both suddenly very angry as a result. The two Mechs then made emotion filled simultaneous Alpha Strikes that ravaged both Mechs completely. Both suffered immensely as a result, with McKenna taking a even larger plasma discharge over half her body, with only her blacking out saving her from further agony. Aleaic however took far worse. The strike hit a power relay near his cockpit, added by an ammo explosion from a nearby SRM rack.

The explosion pierced the Mech cockpit and seared his right hand down to the bone, with the rest of his right arm totally burned as well. Much of his right side was also burned, barely less as badly. Barely...

But also barely, the pain actually made him furious enough to remain awake long enough to use his functioning left hand to fire a dual Medium and Small Pulse laser shot that gutted the Dire Wolf’s right leg knee joint, toppling it even as the Khan was already knocked unconscious. That left the Excellency’s Mech also standing.

After a short, and ‘barely’ audible acknowledgment that Tsunami still lived, and despite the incredible pain his arm (and no hand feeling at all..,) he looked upon the fallen Raven Khans, not knowing if they still lived or not with a simple response over open comm.

“Raven Khan, your Tourman is now mine.”

At that, the Raven units stood down, and managed to reach the Khan’s body. They also found their injured saKhan as well about fifty meters away from the gutted remains of his Warhammer IIC. As for the Angel Excellencies, they had to be pulled out was well, with both sides shocked at how injured the four warriors had become.

When the Raven forces of Alpha Galaxy learned of the results, the two other Mech, and two supporting Aero Clusters submitted to Absorption, only after learning that their Absorption was only to bring the Clan into the fold, allowing them to keep their own structure and most of their ways. Essentially, the Clan was still semi-sovereign, with their own authority.

When the Clan was informed of the one sided defeat of every force that faced the Angels on all six worlds, the lack of respect for their conquerors was utterly removed. Blood was a powerful message that the Clan respected. As a result, the Angel Tourman essentially gained Six full Galaxies, minus the damaged shells of the Trinaries that fought the Trials. In under six months however, the Tourmans of both sides would regain full strength, as more Factories came online in the Colony worlds in that same timeframe.

CAG Command also found a new place to deploy their Angel Gods, by then starting to swell the Angel ranks at the time into every area of society. They were even being deployed as deeply as the Colony Guards and Police Forces in the Republic, at the time of the Trial. A redeployment of Angel God forces afterwards gave the Ravens five full Clusters of Infantry within a month after the Trial. The Clan was then tasked with defending the Kamiki, Tukayyid, Jeweled Nebulae and Pella Theater Command Zones, along with rotations of four CAG Galaxies and base Conventional Tourman and Combat Vehicle Support Galaxies. Eventually the Raven Tourman would grow to match the Angel Tourman, as well as a third Tourman declared after the Trial, named Clan White Tiger, deploying with three Galaxies at the onset.

The Raven Fleet remained their own, and were given exclusive access to two Ascendant Fleet Yards to repair and then add to their fleet. However this was also under Angel Command, and gave the Republic StarFleet forty Raven WarShips, along with sixty JumpShips, vessels that carried the majority of the Raven lower castes, some 25 million in all. Several Potemkin Troop Cruisers carried the majority as space borne colony vessels. They all were distributed evenly along all six targeted worlds to help entrench Gaian interests in the area. They also were given a seventh world as their ‘capital’ named after their eventual name change.

As the Ravens began their incorporation into Gaian society, their leaders were forced out of action for a month. The two Raven Khans were alive, and after Gaian medical treatments, better than even the Clan was used to, they made a full recovery. saKhan Harper however wasn’t fully capable of accepting the Absorption, and would have challenged it, if not for later being hit with no less than ten Trials of Grievances from Beta Galaxy commanders after he returned a month later. Somehow he fought them all off, but suffered more injuries that kept him out of action even further, for another two weeks total. By the end of this string of Trials, he was beginning to accept the mindset of his warriors, and accepted the Absorption more easily.

Khan McKenna also recovered, eventually seeing the melding of the Clan into the Ascendancy, fighting only three trials of Refusal for her actions that led to the Trial itself. She easily fought them off, and then focused her Clan into consolidation of their holdings, utilizing the Gaian Prefab City system to establish eight strong colonies near the sites of the battles. Khan McKenna even took up residence in the crater that she was defeated in. A reminder to her of her Clan’s defeat, and a lesson in humility. She also began to study the Angel system of combined arms, reminding her of Clan Hell’s Horses in tactics, though the scale was at least ten times larger. She also learned, however begrudgingly, that ‘all’ warriors had a place, that even Solahma units were valuable. This gave the Tourman an outlook that revitalized it like none they knew as a regular Clan from their homeworlds.

As for the Kerenskys, they remained at the Med-Center on Hilton Head for about a month, as Tsunami recovered from her plasma burns. Regenerative capabilities of Gaian med-science even removed scars, on her own whims. The Khan kept some of hers as scars of battle. The Excellency himself however took longer.

The damage to his arm was irreparable and had to be amputated. However the arm was then ‘regrown’ from still living cells in the arm, and eventually reattached less than a week later. His right hand was replaced with a hybrid neruo-unit, melded into organic skin. Rather than a mechanical hand, it was more a organic-computer interface, all thanks to Advisor Washu’s forward thinking. Eventually this would help Aleaic better pilot his Mech, as well as other interesting capabilities on his homeworld down the road. However the process made his nerve endings ‘awkward’ in feel, and made further genetic treatments needed to make the body ‘accept’ the arm and hand over the next few years.

At this, the Absorption of Clan Snow Raven was completed, minus one minor decision by the victor of the Trial.

Aleaic imposed only one real change on the Clan, one that took the Khan back some, but was accepted as the only from one she saw as trothkin, or extended clan family.

A month later, and one Trial of Refusal as well, the Clan was renamed from Clan Snow Raven, to Clan Snow Eagle, to give the Clan more of a brighter, prouder outlook in the mind eye of the Angels. Combined with the new White Tigers and established Angel Galaxy, the three Tourmans, along with the secondary forces, and expansive fleets, the newly christened Eagles turned their mindset from the old Clan ways, and to the new ‘clan’ ways of the Ascendancy.

It all became nothing less than mutual growth and prosperity, even in the face of future trials and wars. With the Clan and Inner Sphere mindset and tactics infused into the Angels own, along with encouraged mock Trials to train all CAG, CSE and CWT units, the Tourmans gain a deadly edge and experience that would serve them well.

Even more as the Third Great Expansion began in the wake of external war.

*Epoluge*
-----

*Holy Palace Tree, one month later*

"Who the hell is that?"

Aleaic sat behind his Office chamber desk, with the newly minted Snow Eagle Khans in front of him, along with several Clan warriors, and his own Angels behind him, notably Tsunami, Ryoko and Azusa.

To his right, stood the new Clan White Tiger Khans, Treze and Miliardo, watching the unfolding of the explanation for the events that led to the Trial.

For behind him... "(~ I expected little less. I expect far more reaction to what you learn next. ~"

Behind him, spoke Lord Ackronus.. the same he met on the Ascendant Dysan Sphere. The same that apparently...

Khan McKenna however looks at the highly intellegent Giffion being with outright shock. An alien being TOTALLY outside her senses to experience still stabs at her reasoning.

Aleaic explains instead for her.. "This is Lord Ackronus, the leader of the Aascendant Race, and part of the beings responsible for us having all these lovely gifts and toys, some of which helped defeat you, and now assist your Tourman.

If I recollect correctly, you were..." ..Ackronus finishes..

"(~ Actually, with better accuracy, 12.732 Billion years of your age cycles.

..well do I not look? ~)"

The Eagle Khans just look with astonishment, as Ryoko whistles. "Good vintage."

"But that's impossible. NO being can exist for that long." saKhan Harper snaps back with. Ackronus however replies softly. "(~ There are things yet, young kinseth, that lies outside your mind to understand..

..and yet they still exist nonetheless.

..such as 'how' we transported a different version of yourselves to the one group of people that would understand you better than your own kind. ~)" ..the last part of which makes McKenna stutter..

"..transported? What does that mean?"

Aleaic takes a deep sigh, and then bluntly puts. "That 'black field' you mentioned when you arrived here.

..it was a wormhole of somekind between dimensional realities. It's because of that, that a 'version' of your forces ended up on our doorstep. Apparnetly, it was a version that hadn't seen better days.

..and don't ask me to explain it, I'm still trying to sort it all out."

The Khans would say something, but they react in the same way that the Gaians did once they learned the truth...

..the Ascendants 'setup' the whole thing.

The Khan asks.. "Why? .....just........ why?"

"(~ We wanted to test 'them'.. *indicating the Gaians* ..we wanted to know how dedicated they were to their beliefs, as well as to show them what they 'really' faced in being out here among the stars.

..truly, we brought two polar oppsites together, and witnessed the best and worst of your species. What resulted was better than both, and your new adjoining merits only more strength for your respective ideals in the future.

..we do not appologize, and reserve the right for more tests in the future. For you see..

..we have come expect much from the Representative of the Powers. And that expectation promises even more Eons down the long road to human Ascendance.

..for 'all' humans. None discounted. ~)"

The Avian Lord knows his words, and their effect.

..and the knowledge trust is a commodity among humans that would well use more foundation. Still, his mindset is solid behind his beliefs. Still, if not for his actions, the Trial wouldn't have proven the Gaians worthy on a few fronts.

What wasn't proven to full Ascendant satisfaction yet, was the abilities of the humans to put side war for ideals of far greater magnitudes.

The Gaian's hadn't even seen anything from the dimensions yet.

----

*A short time later...*

They had walked down a hallway from his Office, the Khan and he. There was small talk about the progress of military rebuilding, as well as the progress of Snow Eagle melding of their castes into their new worlds, along side Ascendancy souls.

Some distance later, they reached an overlook, with an expansive view of the City of Jurai'alheim below, poking through the emerald forests, running towards the Sapphire Sea. The Khan despite herself, was enjoying the view.

"You have a paradise that even Terra is lacking."

Aleaic only nods to Lynn's descript, and replies. "Still, Terra it is not. Nor Will I try to remake our into that world. That's no my objective as leader of my people."

"And the objective be?" The Khan queries. Aleaic saysi it smoothly.

"..a land where good is better than any evil. As close to a heaven on the mortal plane as I can help make it. A place for my family to grow and prosper, with a new set of rules and ever more dreams.

..a place where love can't die. Where cynicism cannot have a foothold. Where honor actually has a place in society. Where gains are not measured by greed, but by human progress and a reach they simply wish to extend for.

No matter what that may be." Aleac leans out over the overlook edge. Afar to the west, the blue suns were glinting high into the drifting afternoon of the cool day. The rings of White Diamond shone above in a permanent white and blue rainbow.

"...where everyone is free." Aleaic says with a farsighted voice.

The Khan only replies... "I can't tell if you're a soul with Ghost Bear blood within, or just someone more like a messiah."

Aleaic frowns at the Khan. "No, none of that 'chosen one' crap. The dream I have does not have 'that' in it. No... matter what history has done otherwise."

The Khan nods.. then adds. "I've been a Khan for twenty-one years. For 'all' that time, my mind has been on nothing more than keeping my Clan intact as best as possible, while under the Clan mentality. For all that time, not once have I truly felt safe as a human being, always having to keep the 'Khan' in front of everything else first. Ever since my days as a youth struggling in my sibiko, never have I seen life as anything but death...

..until now." Aleac looks over, realizing he was seeing a Khan of a dictatorial nation bear her soul to someone no one else would be able to see of such.

"For the first time. I feel truly safe. I fell my Clan will survive above all. And for once, I feel like breaking with tradition and the clan way is better for me and my clanmates.

For the first time. I don't mind losing control of my Clan."

The Khan looks over at the Excellency. "I say now, simply..

..I am proud to be a part of your nation. No matter what occured to get us here, I am proud of the result nonetheless.

I will even gladly call my Clan Snow Eagle from now on."

Aleaic nods at the fifty-eight year old Khan, one that's kept her self in fighting shape for years. All that wear and toll for ideals that do not subscribe to life incarnite, and progress the opposite far too often.

He then finishes simply.

"I truly welcome you Khan Lynn McKenna, to the Gaian Ascendancy."

..for the longest time after, they simply leaned on the overlook as the suns set, and the moons glowed unto the rings, only chatting. As does friends do...

...the long road to friendship already begun.

*Fin*

( Very nice i enjoyed reading this. 5 Stars easy.)