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“This is Captain Abasi Birech. I’ve been ordered by the Emergency Council to provide you with data to circumvent the minefield. While the detonators are currently deactivated the AM mines remain dangerous because of their payload. Please divert via the following jumps to avoid the most dangerous regions.”

The captain broadcasts the necessary data. Your navigators look over what’s being sent and check if it’s legit.
“It’s a lengthy detour sir. Setting up a logistics chain back to the Erid territories is going to be a nightmare.”

“Good thing that new carrier has plenty of capacity.” you say to your staff.

Admiral Tama wonders if it might be safer to have the carrier remain behind at the border station.
“I’m worried if it takes any hits from mines it might just fly apart.”

"That’s what escorts are for." you reply. "Make sure there are battleships or medium cruisers in position to help cover it and detonate the mines prematurely."

Next you turn your attention back to Captain Birech and resume the channel.
"Why wasn't the Count informed of the minefields before our approach?"

"Not my department. Maybe someone was worried about a sneak attack on the capital?"

There are only so many routes between the Erid territories and the J-D homeworlds. It wouldn't be that hard to mine most of them.

"Be aware we might find it necessary to open fire on any mines that threaten our ships if you can't guarantee our safety." you advise them.

"Acknowledged. With their detonators disarmed the rest of the mines shouldn't react to PD fire."

That's good news at least. As the fleet gets underway you consider deploying additional countermeasures should things go more sideways than they already have. Quietly readying minesweeper units to clear a path for logistics might be a good idea. Then again if things remain quiet it might be better to force the rebels to clear out the mines later. That may not be very safe, especially dealing with the Antimatter mines.

[ ] Prep a mine sweeping operation
[ ] The Rebels will be removing them

>>3133793
>The Rebels will be removing them
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION
CHRISTMAS EDITION

>>3133793
>[ ] Prep a mine sweeping operation

For House and Dominion! Home Approach!

>>3133790
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION
christmas hat edition

>>3133793
>[ ] Prep a mine sweeping operation

>>3133793
[X] Prep a mine sweeping operation

I had an odd thought. We had a legal precedent to bill the rebel houses for things like hiring some of their surrendered engineering crew to assist with S&R operations on that mobile fort, right?

Could we possibly attempt to bankrupt members of the Emergency Council by billing them for Rioja Fleet's combat pay and/or hazard pay for minesweeping forces, once the threat of more shooting is over? (unless terms of surrender specify protections, of course)

>>3133835
>right?
Yes.

>Could we possibly attempt to bankrupt members of the Emergency Council by billing them for Rioja Fleet's combat pay and/or hazard pay for minesweeping forces
Attempts will be made on the mine sweeping for sure. Fleet billing will be more complicated but could be tried.

For now you order the preparation of a mine sweeping operation which will be readied using the reserves. They'll soon be standing by and awaiting orders to begin work.

After briefly discussing the situation with Caius the fleet presses on following the new navigation data. He's certain that his deals struck with the Emergency Council will hold for the time being. Or at least reasonably so.
As a precaution ships with additional shield generators are moved up to help act as mine poppers. If they can soak off some of the mines that would cut down on the amount of point defense ammunition used to shoot them down.

A series of jumps bring the fleet closer to Dreminth. One jump takes the fleet past a small outpost station guarded by two wings of assault corvettes. The unit is dwarfed by the hundreds of ships in your and Alex's combined fleet.

"Why are they dragging things out with this long ass route?" complains Lorraine Day.

Baron Saputo responds. "Probably taking a census of our fleet strength in case either side change their minds about remaining friendly."

"For their sake there'd best not be any more surprises." says Alex.

The fleet jumps into the system a safe distance from Dreminth's orbital defenses. Baron L'ak Tenni's fleet has done much the same, approaching from the direction of Loran. A number of warships with the Emergency Council's IFF have formed up in a lower orbit. A respectable force but even with Tenni on their side it wouldn't give them anything approaching numerical parity. With the planet's orbital defenses thrown into the mix that could change.

"How are things looking?" you ask Maybourne.
"Orbital defense platforms are in low power mode. No energy readings that match weapon fast charge systems being active. They're either down for real of they've spent a lot of money shielding them against our sensors."

>Cont.

As the fleets approach the planet signals intelligence gets to work. Despite their help smuggling Caius off world House intel's position remains compromised. Better to build up reports using your own people now that they're in range. From what they can gather there seems to be a good deal of division among the rebels regarding the agreement between the Council and the Count. Enough that it's even managing to make it into the media in subdued forms.

"Elements of the reformers, noble opportunists and the civilians that helped take up arms have begun to factionalize." Vanderwal summarises.

"Will they hold to the Count's agreement?" you ask.

"Those that support it still control the key areas of many major cities. Most on the Emergency Council now have the most to lose if things break down. If things deteriorate further they may end up looking for Caius to save them from their disaffected followers."

As funny as that might be you need to get the treaty signed in the capital before that happens. Without that in place it might lead to large scale desertion or even conflict with the rebel fleet. Having an entire House fleet leaving and going mercenary would be less than ideal.

Caius opens a conference call with you and the Barons.
"I need to get to the capital in one piece to sign the treaty with the Emergency Council. With that I can officially assume control of the House. Our troops and ships are cleared to land on Dreminth and I'm sure there are plenty of empty army bases at the moment you could commandeer.
Devise a plan to get me down there without getting killed."


>Your orders?

>>3133879

Sweep and clear?

Get troops to those bases. Have them start securing whatever is left in them. Make sure they aren't somehow rigged to blow. Have special operatives begin looking for our family and other family members of our forces who might still be on Dreminth and in trouble. Have Mike get in touch with whoever he has on planet to work with Vanderwall and plot a secure means to get the Caius to the surface. Ensure nothing short of several LSTs are deployed as escorts.

The last thing we need is some opportunist who thinks they can take out Caius or any of the Counts.

Get people who are pissed with these rebels to start moving among the populace and get ready to have them support the removal or death of these bastards.

>>3133879
Can Caius use any of the armor that we have?

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This should give a rough layout of the capital city.

>>3133889
>Can Caius use any of the armor that we have?
Should be able to use a number of them. He has his own suit of power cell armor. I think it's a modified Commando suit.

>>3133879

The Royal House agreed to act as a neutral party and provide their embassy as neutral ground, right?

Can we get a RH shuttle/pilot/diplomat to fly up, board an LST and fly a RH Diplomatic IFF, and land at the embassy for the signing?

Make similar arrangements for transport of Emergency Council members needed for the signing.

Request that the Ruling House either deputize a J-D commander to act with top authority to deal with anyone stupid enough to fire on a RH IFF?

Assuming that Sonia was said deputy and we maintained it as a hidden play, it could be a massive SHTF backup plan to basically say "Anyone that fires upon my team is officially in rebellion against the ruling house".

>>3133904
>The Royal House agreed to act as a neutral party and provide their embassy as neutral ground, right?
Yes. Their embassy would be in the capital district.

I'm falling asleep. resuming tomorrow.

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>>3133879
>Our troops and ships are cleared to land on Dreminth
>Devise a plan to get me down there without getting killed
1) Put count on planetary occupation platform.
2) Park said platform over the capital.
3) Let down a rope ladder or something?

>>3133879
Land a Medium on the outskirts?
Rapid drop-pod descent?
Squeeze the Count into Sonia's artifact armor and drop him from orbit?

>>3133884

I agree that we need to get forces down to those bases, preferably an armored force with at least a few PD frigates and HAGs/Dantes.

PD-heavy frigates to shield any necessary armor/infantry assault to break out Caius if things go bad & pop fighters, HAGs to destroy planetary shield generators (or entire city blocks) if needed for escape or additional landing forces, and whatever Dantes are available as slightly more surgical 'kill everything' options in the urban environment.

I'd think the best bet would be a RH flagged LST taking Caius to the meeting, under escort (LSTs from the sphere expedition?), and maybe deploying a shuttle under extended shields?

I'm not sure if we should deploy some of our commando teams with camo systems into the city to act as spotters/counter-snipers, since it would risk causing an incident.


Maybe we need to contact the rebel fleet commander and try to feel them out on this? See if they are hostile/nervous or maybe if they've served with/under us at some point. Hopefully they're not a crazy and we can present some level of unity at least in space.

>>3133790

Seriously this is my favorite gift I've received yet, thanks for running TSTG!

>Maybe we need to contact the rebel fleet commander and try to feel them out on this?

Once the fleets settle into orbit you contact the commander of the EC fleet. Hopefully you can get a read on them and work out the drop operations, ensuring they won't interfere. You've surprised when Admiral Graham appears on screen.

"Graham? The hell are you doing here? I expected you to be with the invasion forces attacking the Empire."

"I was transferred to training units a few years ago. Someone needed to teach the younger officers how to provide fire support without hitting our own ships. I was reassigned to the Torun fleet earlier this year."

"Graham you fucking traitor!" you catch Saputo exclaim over the Baron's command frequency. Well, that's the angriest you've heard him in... ever.

"Why are you on their side exactly? I know appearances can be deceiving and all but you don't strike me as a reformer." you ask him.

The Admiral frowns. "My children were either at the academy or the training bases and joined the forces of the Emergency Council. That didn't leave me many options for trying to find ways to keep them alive."

>What say?

>>3134234

"We may find ourselves on opposite sides here. But I am glad someone knowledgeable and reliable is in charge and not someone who has something to prove."

A father trying to stay good to his children and ensure they live. I feel we're going to encounter a lot of people like this who were forced to side with them because their family were in a position of danger.

Speaking of family, what is the status of our house in the woods? Is our family still there?

>>3134234
What a sad situation they've put the House in.

>>3134234
"While I cannot claim I'm happy you ended up on their side of this revolution, I must admit I am glad to know they have somebody sensible in charge of their fleet who isn't planning to throw lives away to prove something. I can understand your reasons perfectly well, though."

>>3134246
No, they left at some point. Although Sonia doesn't know that.

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"While I cannot claim I'm happy you ended up on their side of this revolution, I am glad someone knowledgeable and reliable is in charge, and not someone who has something to prove. I understand your reasons. Still, your old boss is kinda mad."

"I'm glad he was allowed off world."

"Let's get to business. We're going to be landing troops to ensure the new Count remains alive long enough to sign the treaty and end all of this. I'd rather do it in such a way that your fleet doesn't try to intercept them or cause an incident."

"My orders are not to contest your landings. I recommend you stick to the spaceports or people on the ground might panic."

Panic. Right. Maybe bringing the planetary occupation platform in over the capital is not the best idea?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm4XMF1apD4
It would certainly guarantee more protection for the Count but might spark additional upheaval among the rebel factions that are beginning to splinter. Then again maybe you want that?

Performing a conventional drop would be slower. After landing at the bases and spaceports the army units would have to advance to the city and create a secure route to the capital and the palace.

>1) Drop operations
1A) Conventional drop, bases & spaceports
1B) Conventional drop + Occupation platform outside city
1C) Show of force, Occupation platform secures airspace above capital

>2) Transporting the Count
2A) LST's with protection from Ruling House ambassador/ IFF
2B) On the ground via secure approaches
2C) LST's under heavy escort once ground is secure

>3) Where will the treaty be signed?
3A) Sign the treaty at the Ruling House Embassy (Safer)
3B) Sign in the J-D palace (Morale bonus)

>>3134349
>1C) Show of force, Occupation platform secures airspace above capital
>2A) LST's with protection from Ruling House ambassador/ IFF
>3B) Sign in the J-D palace (Morale bonus)

>>3134356
+1

>>3134349
1C) Show of force, Occupation platform secures airspace above capital
2C) LST's under heavy escort once ground is secure
3A) Sign the treaty at the Ruling House Embassy (Safer)

>>3134349

1B) Conventional drop + Occupation platform outside city
Inform the generals to treat the bases as former enemy bases and scour them of traps and what not until they are secure.

>2A) LST's with protection from Ruling House ambassador/ IFF

>3B) Sign in the J-D palace (Morale bonus)

>>3134349
>1B) Conventional drop + Occupation platform outside city
>2B) On the ground via secure approaches
>3B) Sign in the J-D palace (Morale bonus)

>Then again maybe you want that?
I wish I had kept my stupid mouth shut about that thing.
The last thing we need is to have people starting shit while we're trying to get the treaty signed.

>>3134349

>1C) Show of force, Occupation platform secures airspace above capital
>2A) LST's with protection from Ruling House ambassador/ IFF
>3B) Sign in the J-D palace (Morale bonus)


Are civilians currently under orders to get to their shelters, in the event that SHTF? Plan for the worst, hope for the best and all.

Talking to the Count and the Barons you recommend making a show of force with the drop operations. The planetary occupation platform will enter the atmosphere along with escorting craft. They'll take up a position over the capital itself locking down the airspace. That should be distracting enough to draw attention away from the conventional forces landing at the other bases and ports.

Before the landing itself begins the Ruling House Embassy is contacted and asked to send up a shuttle with an authorized representative and IFF codes. They'll be tasked with providing protection to the Count by a neutral party.

While signing the treaty at their embassy might be the safest option you and the Count feel it would be best to do so in the palace. If that can be done it should greatly improve morale among the House and give the impression of a legitimate succession.

As the transports and their escorts begin to form up you get a secure message from the surface. The unit assigned to look for your family has already confirmed that they're not at the lodge. It was clearly searched by hostile forces that managed to trigger some of the automated defenses. The subbasement levels were not breached and there are no other signs of damage. The Reynard family and their bodyguard clearly departed before the arrival of search teams.

They are continuing their search.

Maybourne approaches you with a datapad. She lowers her voice before speaking.
"Sir we have a secure intel transmission that has been tight beamed to the fleet. It's using an intel ID reserved for house personnel from South Reach. They're requesting immediate extraction."

[ ] Send a shuttle down now
[ ] Have one split off when the landings begin
[ ] Send one of your people already on the ground
[ ] Ignore it for now
[ ] It's a trap. Hit it with a stealth mass driver round

>>3134468
>[ ] Have one split off when the landings begin

It could be someone we know or someone with dirt on the rebels or it could be some ass hole. If they need cover/ excuse we could just have them say they are looking for Sonia's family or family members of the Barons.

>>3134468
>[x] Send one of your people already on the ground
>[x] Send a shuttle down now
If they didn't require immediate help, they wouldn't be broadcasting until we've made planetfall.

>>3134468
>Ignore it for now
I'm naturally paranoid of this but I'd rather not send a mass projectile round until we're entirely sure.

>>3134501
what if it's a trap

>>3134503
Then sombody will get the chance to shoot at one of our shuttles. Seems worth the risk, considering it might be somebody running from the Terrans. Or maybe it is one of the Terrans, better check.

>>3134507
fair point +1 then

>>3134468
[X] Send a shuttle down now

Send the commando team that we had restricted to quarters? At least one of them supposedly was affiliated with EC and can hopefully name drop if they need to bluff. They can also be a deniable asset, and we have records of their squad being confined to quarters.

And tightbeam Graham's command ship. Perhaps we can get a secure communication going and ensure that shuttle at least makes it to the planet to use the camo system?

>>3134468
>[ ] Ignore it for now
If it smells like a trap it's probably a trap

>>3134501
Supporting this

The risk if it’s a trap is one shuttle, low stakes in my opinion

>>3134655
As long as we make sure the extraction team is aware of all the shenanigans they might encounter, it should be relatively safe. You know, Terrans, Krath, or random terrorists trying to cause trouble at the last minute. However, I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't a random noble who bought the code off a random intel guy to get off the planet asap.

"Send a shuttle down now to check it out. Minimal communications. If the Governor wants to know what they're doing fabricate a story."

"On it."

A few minutes later the main drop operation begins. The occupation platform starts its descent, point defense batteries standing by. Half a dozen of the newer assault transports flank it, along with supporting Frigates.

"Hold off on any starfighter launch." Admiral Tama directs them. "We dont have any reason to have them out, so dont give anyone a reason to shoot."

"The Rebel fleet already have starfighter squadrons deployed." points out Alex.

"Not their full force." Tama counters. "Most of those are based on the defense platforms. EBON doesn't have any fighters out yet."

"Maybe EBON doesn't have any fighters to launch?" you suggest.

Tama seems certain it does based on the ship's positioning.
"Keep an eye on it then." you suggest. "Alex look for other places they may be hiding more fighters."
"Copy that."

The descending forces enter the atmosphere, decelerating while descending towards the bay area near the capital. Once the group has reduced their speed to subsonic velocities they change course and head inland. Meanwhile the older HLV's begin to drop, aiming for the bases on the outskirts of the cities.

"Activity from the rebel fleet!" reports sensors, highlighting movement among their assault corvette squadrons.
It would seem that the occasional ship is moving into lower orbit. They're trying to delay the landings by the looks of things.

"Reynard to transports, remain on course, but otherwise dont do anything to provoke them."

Coms monitors increased traffic between the wayward ships and the command vessel. It seems Graham is trying to reign in the rookies and hotheads.

As the occupation platform settles into position a few thousand meters above the capital they begin to report increasing activity among the ground forces below. Traffic both military and civilian begins to crowd streets while others empty. It isn't long before civil defense channels are advising people to move to the emergency shelters.

"On the bright side, we shouldn't have to worry about any noncombatants still being on the surface by the time the army arrives."
Maybourne helpfully points out.

General Rna soon reports that the HLV's have landed at the nearest bases. More are setting down at facilities closer to the other cities. Commanders of the minimal base garrisons are ordered to turn over control of their facilities once enough troops have been offloaded from the ships. While the base commandants are largely cooperative they're refusing orders that they and their troops are to surrender their arms.

>Cont.

Forces that have landed at the city spaceport are seeing a similar response. Until the treaty is signed they still consider themselves the lawful military of the emergency council. In the city center towards the palace there are reports of groups of irregulars and militia still being present on the surface. Despite this a few of the assault transports are able to drop vehicles and personnel to secure key intersections without incident.

Vanderwal sends a report to your station. It shows localised instances of small arms fire in the northern parts of the city. The nearest ones are still outside the capital districts but only just.
"I think a few people are having a difference of opinion when it comes to the terms our new Count has laid out."

"Do you think they'll try and disrupt the signing?"
The old spymaster isn't certain but it looks as though they won't be able to.

One of the ground controllers speaks up.
"Sir! We're getting reports of small arms fire from the capital district targeting the occupation platform."
You sigh in annoyance while Vanderwal curses, heading off to look into matters.

"HAG's are standing by to return fire sir."

Before you can properly consider the order General Rna broadcasts on the command frequency for the airborne forces to hold fire.
"It's a few idiots with hand guns. Ignore them and proceed into the city as planned."

Farther south the shuttle sent down to investigate the intel signal reports mission accomplished.
"Target acquired but we have intel on another priority asset. Do you want us to divert or return to the fleet?"

[ ] Return, send nearest ground team
[ ] Divert, there's no time to lose
[ ] Risk signals intercept and ask what it is

>>3134694

[x] Divert, there's no time to lose

Get another shuttle to link up with them and extract the assets, in the event that a 3rd asset is discovered?

>>3134703
>>3134694

Actually, wait. Are they asking to return to the fleet in orbit, or to one of the landing zones/occupation barge for a drop off?

>>3134694
>[ ] Return, send nearest ground team
>write in
If we send another shuttle to rendezvous with them, we should be able to get them in the field sooner than they would if we have them drop off whoever they picked up first.

Are we back up?

>>3134707
They'd be returning to the fleet since the nearest LZ is a few hundred km away. And may be surrounded by potential hostiles.

>>3134710
Which would mean meeting halfway for the rendezvous so it'd actually be doing it more slowly than if another shuttle was sent down. Unless you were hoping to keep the classified info with just that one shuttle crew. That would make more sense.

>>3134727
The idea was that they'd be able to tell the next team what to expect without risking a singlas intercept.

>>3134694
>[ ] Return, send nearest ground team

>>3134694
Let the soldiers decide. They have all information and they are highly trained professionals. They have a much better chance to make a good decision than Sonia who is more or less guessing what's best with the very limited infornation she has.

"Recall the shuttle. Send the nearest ground team."

It doesn't take long for the shuttle to return to orbit. Not even long enough for the army units deploying from the outer bases to reach the city limits.

When Rna's supporting forces do enter the city they quickly link up with the strong points the airborne forces have established. Enough of the area outside the palace is secure enough that the Generals believe it safe enough for the Count to descend to the surface. The command ship Caius commandeered moves into a lower orbit along with his escort before the LST's launch. Several of them now have Ruling House IFF's, though most of the escort does not.

With all of that going on you're surprised when Valeri hands you a hand written note updating you on the status of the shuttle. It reads;
Duncan and someone else are now onboard. I think he has the item with him. He's in disguise.

"Why does this have to happen right now?" you ask of no one in particular.

As if that wasn't enough the ground team soon reaches the location of the other asset. They're only on station for a minute before sending the confirmation signal that they've located your family.

>What's your priority?

[ ] See Duncan ASAP
[ ] Focus on your family's recovery
[ ] Keep your attention on the fleet and drop operation

>>3134858
>[ ] See Duncan ASAP

>>3134858
>[ ] Keep your attention on the fleet and drop operation
We don't need to micromanage either of the other situations immediately. Once the House is safe, we can focus on the details if needed.

>Family
Do any of Troy's friends or relatives need rescuing?

Btw. Warhammer Mechanicus is surprisingly fun for a budget xcom clone.

>>3134858

First inform Rna and Tama that it's going to be up to them for a little while to keep the Count safe while we deal with an issue. It seems like the drop operation is doing fine, maybe our fighters should deploy in an obviously defensive formation.

So hard to choose between SP tech and family but I think if Duncan made it this far he can hold out a little longer. Gotta go with family on this one, not to mention the PTSD points we'd rack up if something happened due to inattention.

>[X] Focus on your family's recovery

>>3134858
>[ ] See Duncan ASAP

>>3134872
>Do any of Troy's friends or relatives need rescuing?
Not yet that you know of.

>>3134858

>[ ] See Duncan ASAP

Hopefully if he still has it that means neither the Terrans or rebels have it.

>>3134858
[X] Keep your attention on the fleet and drop operation

"Admiral Tama, you and the General will be in charge of Rioja's forces for the time being. Coordinate with Alex. If anything comes up that you can't handle defer to him."

"Sir?" questions Tama.

"You have your orders." you tell him, rising from your chair.

Leaving the Outer Heaven's command center you instruct Valeri to have Rufaro and your personal guard recover your family from the surface at any cost. You'll see to the other matter personally.

Once you reach the side room near the launch bays where the two visitors have been secured you call for Ruiz. Your younger bodyguard materialises out of thin air once she deactivates her suit camo.
"Sir?"
"If my suspicions are right we cant leave any record of these two being aboard. No sensor scans of them or anything they might be carrying. That goes for your suit recordings or any ocular implants as well."

"Is there anything I should be keeping an eye out for?"
"I can't even tell you. Wipe it all. Make sure the mission recorders from the marines suits are hit as well."
"Aye sir."

Stepping into the office you find Duncan wearing an absolutely terrible disguise, but one you're certain would obscure his true identity. Also here is a woman that you're not familiar with. She's wearing civilian clothing reminiscent of the lower classes in the cities near your home town. That plus the hair dye helps give the impression of someone who should be ignored by the upper classes.

"Are you with intel?" you ask her.
"I'm one of the staff working for Baron Kharbos at the Expeditionary Fleet Social Club. I caught him looking around." she gestures to Duncan.

"Okay." you turn your attention to the actual intel officer. "What's with that getup? Are you hiding in plain sight?"
"It was the best I could do on short notice. By the way I think I figured out where your mother is hiding. I passed the info along to the Marines."

"It's being looked into." you tell him, then gesture to the woman. "Now, how much does she know?"

"Not enough to be too damaging? Probably? Just that I was running from some people from out of town that are trying to kill me."

"Hmm..."

[ ] Shoot her
[ ] Pay her to keep quiet
[ ] Memory wipe of events
[ ] She doesn't know anything, no special security precautions
[ ] Offer her a job

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>>3135037
>[ ] Shoot her
>[ ] Pay her to keep quiet
Hmmm....
What does he suggest? Sonia's not exactly a specialist in that area.

>>3135037
[X] Memory wipe of events

If she is memory wiped, it should prevent the possibility that she and her family are targets in the future.

>>3135037

"Duncan, you've placed this woman into a precarious position."

Give her three options, memory wipe, offer her a job or of course bullet to the face.

>>3135037
>Shoot her
Sorry

>>3135041
>>3135037
I checked the Bery side quests and they were offered:
>"We have access to doctors that can remove your memory of the events that took place. Only a handful of your people would need to have this done.
>There are non disclosure contracts that you could sign instead, though we would need some form of collateral in case you broke the contract without our permission."
>"There is also the option we would like to avoid." Says the Rovinar.

>"We're not counting that one. Lastly is the option of a different form of contract. You would work for us. We could fake your death or concoct a likely cover story."
If Duncan hasn't any suggestions, making the same offer seems sensible.

>>3134913
Aw Yiss it's back.

>>3135072
>>3135037
This seems best.

Working for us will still mean being isolated from her old life entirely until she can be thoroughly vetted though. Regrettably she is still a civilian and has to be vetted.

We should also point out the regardless of her choice, we will reward her well.

>>3135045
This - if it’s possible.

We also shouldn’t be discussing this in front of her...

>>3135037

Even if she starts working for us, at the very least I think a full memory wipe of recent events is appropriate. This is something with the power to cause interfactional warfare, I would honestly support having them permanently taken care of if I thought other anons would agree.

"Duncan, you've placed this woman in a precarious position."

"I have?! I, she- uh... okay yeah maybe. I didn't expect things to go they way they did. I haven't been shot at in a long time. It just seemed wrong to leave her back there if people came looking for me."

"What would you normally suggest for this sort of situation? Civilian that knows too much."
If she wasn't looking nervous before the other woman is looking very nervous now.

Duncan shrugs. "I'm a tech guy not human resources."

"Fine." You turn your attention to the woman, you dont even want to know her name right now.
"I'm giving you three options. A new job working for intelligence, a short term memory wipe, or the option that we're all going to regret."

You belatedly notice that she's been staring at your hand which you've subconsciously been keeping on your pistol, ready to draw. All the stress of the situation apparently gets to her because she suddenly collapses to the floor unconscious. Duncan immediately rushes over to her.
"She fainted."

"You have got to be kidding me." you mutter. "Now I just feel bad about it."
Probably shouldn’t have been discussing this in front of her.

"I think she'll be okay." the former marine pronounces.

"You sure rushed over there in a hurry." you point out.

Duncan grimaces. "Alright, alright. Maybe we don't have to kill her?"

"We can't have her knowing anything. It's too dangerous, even for her."

[ ] Job offer
[ ] Memory wipe
[ ] Memory wipe + Job offer

>>3135146
Well we could make it seem like her choice.

Offer her the option regardless, but point out that the knowledge will severely limit her options in life since it's an inter-faction affair involving Terrans.

And they found a legit safe house for our best operatives. True, maybe just because of the rebellion, but they're poised to pounce on ANY slip up.

Like going back to her life is right out if she keeps the memories. No contact with family, have to take her death etc. She doesn't have any of the background set up to be able to maintain that life.

>>3135182
> [ ] Memory wipe + Job offer

Also cash money reward.

>>3135182
>[ ] Memory wipe + Job offer

>>3135182
>"You sure rushed over there in a hurry." you point out.
D'awwwwwww

>[ ] Memory wipe + Job offer
I'm sure he'll be grateful nobody will ever know about that thing with the vacuum.

>>3135182

>[X] Memory wipe + Job offer

Secure Duncan and the data and let's get an update on the Count's position and the family operation.

"We'll have to wipe her memory of the last few days but I dont see why we can't make her a job offer."

Calling for a medic you have the young woman taken to a nearby med station. Once the two of you are alone you grill Duncan for information.

"Now what happened down there?"

"The Terrans came looking for the data. They busted into my lab and I barely escaped with our copy. If it wasn't for all the protesters outside I might not have made it. Then again they might have used all of the riots to mask their approach. Maybe they figured the government had fallen and now was a good time to see if we really did have some of their toys?"

If the House had collapsed into a civil war the last thing anyone would want is SP torpedo production data floating around amid that.

"So they know for sure we have it?" you ask.
Duncan shakes his head.
"No. If they do they need proof to act on it, and this is the only piece of hard evidence. It might be best to destroy it now and save us from more trouble."

With the data copied and sent to the Ruling House destroying your copy wouldn't mean a total end to all of this. It should be enough to protect your House from possible attacks in the near term though.

[ ] Destroy the data
[ ] Keep hiding it

>>3135340
>[ ] Keep hiding it

Alternatively, offer to sell it back to the Terrans.

>>3135357

That would give them concrete proof that we have it.

>>3135340

>[X] Keep hiding it

Move it to the most secure location we can think of whether that be the occupation platform or a super mega secret hiding spot we have on one of our ships.

>>3135340

[x] Keep hiding it

Give it to Svidur to hide in a Neeran vault.

>>3135340
>[ ] Keep hiding it

We've held on to it this long. Might as well hold on to it longer. In case someone incompetent in the RH somehow loses their copy of it.

>>3135340
>[ ] Keep hiding it
cloaked container, with automated defences and self-destruct system - in the dark space between two of our star systems in the Run

>>3135357
Don’t think that’s a good idea.

>>3135406
>>3135366

They already had enough proof to make a strike on the location we had it in.

Just saying, it doesn't have to be money we trade it for. We could develop a closer working relationship with the Terrans instead and get paid in materiel and support, as well as progressing with joint technological development.

IE we would steal as much from each other as possible, but with less volatile technology and they'd be in a place to observe for any reach towards SP torps, getting them off our backs but also we would make a lot of profitable progress research wise.

Same as how any foreign national scientific collaboration works.

We can just get the rights to produce Dominion SP torps from the RH after they get it, anyways.

>>3135429
Also it might be a bit traitorish, but it would also let them know just how much info we gave to the RH as well.

Gotta time the sale right, though, right after the RH gets the SP torps from the Neerans.

>>3135432

The Terrans will just knock us off as soon as we admit we have it to them. That or make life harder for us.

>>3135429
>>3135432

The Terrans would probably just murder Sonia and orchestrate the destruction of J-D's expeditionary fleets and then the House itself at the confirmation that we even touched SP torp data.

And they would be fools to aid a Dominion House in technological development when they survive by being the techiest faction and everyone is looking forward to Faction War 3 after the Neeran Empire.

>a bit traitorish
The Terrans would love it, because they could leak that information to our political rivals and they wouldn't even have to murder Sonia themselves to escape all deals made with her, the Ruling House would have the entire Dominion looking to murder her as a traitor.

Going with will keep hiding it.

Writing in circles here and not making much progress so I'll resume tomorrow evening after work.

>>3135484
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

>>3135484

Thanks for running!

>>3135340
>The Terrans came looking for the data. They busted into my lab and I barely escaped with our copy. If it wasn't for all the protesters outside I might not have made it.
"Most importantly, you made it out alive. It's wonderful you managed to secure the data despite not having kept up with your physial training and kept out of harms way afterwards. Having an eyewitness for their involvement might allow us to get additional protection from the Ruling House. Aside from that, you've clearly gone above and beyond what is expected of somebody in your rank in that situation, so you better start thinking about what kind of reward you'd like."

>[x] Destroy the data

You know, thinking about it, Sonia hasn't been subtle about her potential knowledge of SP weapons.

>Investing in artificial Drive Plate material production facility
>Firing molten Drive material from a plasma cannon
>SP Decoy torpedo research

Not to mention the Veckron marble salvage mission.

>>3136345
>Investing in artificial Drive Plate material production facility
That one makes sense as an emergency measure because smol J-D didn't have the worlds, knowledge, or infrastructure to produce them by traditional means at that time.

>Firing molten Drive material from a plasma cannon
FTL ammo would be awesome and could have worked.

>SP Decoy torpedo research
I think that one just reproduces the sensor reading of an SP torpedo. We let the Terrans check and things didn't start exploding afterwards, so I'd think they accepted that one as an eleborate decoy that had nothing to do with actual SP torps.

>>3136365
> would be awesome and could have worked.

Pretty much the most common reason for science.

"We're going to keep hiding it." you decide. "Find a deep dark hole to bury this in for the time being. Right now I have work to do. We're in the middle of trying to install a new government and a new Count."

"Sounds complicated. Good luck!" Duncan gives you a thumbs up before you depart.

Returning to the ship's command center you look to Maybourne for an update on what's been happening.
"Status?"

"The Count's ship has landed and he's being escorted into the Palace Basilica. Knights from Rioja and Alaior are covering him."

Knights in various models of power armor flanked by men at arms in power cell armor are advancing steadily. Caius should be somewhere in the middle. A number of Knights are transmitting sensor feeds from their suits, letting you and the others keep an eye on things.

Inside the assembled emergency council is waiting in full dress uniform with plenty of their own guards at the ready. There is a tense standoff leading to the Council asking Caius to remove his helmet so that they can be sure it's him. Once certain he's the one facing them both sides stand down.

There is a lengthy discussion, after which the Count and one of the Knights examine treaty documents. Two of their counterparts do much the same.

Despite there being upwards of one hundred armed soldiers in the room the next hour is incredibly dull. Caius is determined to have the treaty done up correctly. Twice the existing document is edited and sent to be reprinted. The half dozen scribes permitted within the chamber are kept very busy.

At last both sides are satisfied with the document. Leaders sign on, recognizing the new decrees along with the new Count's authority. The Ruling House ambassador acts as a witness to the signing.

As the temporary council steps down from their positions flanking the empty throne Caius approaches it cautiously. A Knight sweeps it with a sensor before nodding to him. As he takes his seat an old Dro'all from the Dremine council is shown in. With him he brings a circlet bearing the markings with the House and that of its Count. Caius and the old councilor exchange words briefly before the circlet is placed upon his head.

Stepping back the old man shouts.
"The Count is dead, long live the Count!"

"Long live the Count!" Echo the others present.
You can hear a few Knights and officers over the command frequencies repeat the words as well.

>>3137141
This is the part where the actual count shows up, everybody present dabs on junior and emotionally scars him for life, right?

>>3137141
>Despite there being upwards of one hundred armed soldiers in the room the next hour is incredibly dull.
lmao this is what I love about the setting. Incredibly advanced weaponry, space ships, sci fi, all in a type of society and government that was already archaic thousands of years ago.

>>3137141
>”Long live the Count!”
We should say it to over the comm frequencies

I wonder what we’ll get for helping the House through this time of transition. Our was our reward helping craft the treaty, thereby adding our 2 cents to the future of the House

Also, we need an update on the search for our family.

>>3137192
>we should say it over the comm frequencies

Maintain communications discipline. We aren't out of the woods until the rebel fleet and the various defensive stations are secured.

And we really need to make sure that our people secure Graham before Saputo can do something stupid. Protective custody, ho!

>>3137141

>"The Count is dead, long live the Count!"

Well that is taken care of. For now now Ciaus has the hard task of proving he's worthy of being the Count to the Barons. And I am betting when the new Council comes in he's going to be making deals with them to ensure he can stay as the Count for good rather then being a temporary one. Which I don't blame him, he's got a really big boots to fill. Just so long as he doesn't start throwing the Barons under the bus to secure his position. So long as he can show he has a good head on his shoulders as a military leader and make smart decisions for the military without compromising the civilian side of things and vice versa. He should do well.

I do not envy the guy his position though. Sonia would have gone full gray hair down there acting as temporary Count with her paranoia running full steam. I wish him the best.

And with that done, lets go see our family. They should be on the ship by now, right?

>>3137141
We've actually ended up in an excellent position. The revolutionary forces are basically screwed: any leader that won the elections will side with Caius to protect themselves and their new power, and revolutionary who feels betrayed by this will be forced underground, probably lose the support of the masses, and waste most of their political and military power struggling against the politicians that they think sold out.

In a few years outright insurrection will be crushed, most people will be generally happy as long as they keep the minor reforms that they've won, and we'll be able to keep an extremely close eye on any former supporters of the Emergency council.

It would be worthwhile to infiltrate a few armed, underground elements and get them to assassinate elected politicians and their supporters every once in a while to make sure that the split between the radical and moderate wings never heals.

>>3137179
Have you never heard of Space Opera before? Well, if you like this google the term and you're for a right treat for the grey matter. So much media to consume!

"As my first official act I will uphold the terms of the treaty. The charge of treason against the members of the Reformist Coalition is hereby commuted."

Even among the small number of people present there is an uneasy murmuring.

"As agreed upon the populace of Dreminth and Torun will maintain new rights to vote and assembly. Even Loran which voted against the new system will enjoy greater rights. An appeals and impeachment system for the populace to reign in their Governor's excesses will be created. It is intended that this appeals system will be put in place on every world of the House eventually.

As an assurance that these reforms are being adhered to one member of the emergency council will be provided a seat on the new House Council. Three new Councilors will also be added for our distant territories in South Reach, the Run and the Kalino sectors. It is hoped that these new posts will help the leaders in those regions more easily voice their concerns to the rest of the House."

You look to the rest of your officers. "I don't remember there being anything about one of them keeping their job."
Pulling up a com channel you contact Fadila who seems to also be in a conference call with Daska.

"What did he do to my treaty stipulations?" you demand to know.
"He can't be serious about this." Daska adds, in a more controlled though no less unenthusiastic manner.

"Apparently he told them they could submit two names and neither Keegan Fox or Latha Dun'eth could be among them. He gets to choose which one. I believe he was hoping it would cause additional infighting among their leadership.
Now that Caius has been made Count many of the rebels wont risk fighting against him with these reforms in place. If they do they risk losing everything."

[ ] Let him play his games
[ ] Perhaps we should help him out with Terran speculation

Couldn't decide on the next bit so you get a vote for things.

>>3137493
>[ ] Let him play his games
It's an evaluation period for the new count, let him handle things his way/

>>3137493
>[X] Perhaps we should help him out with Terran speculation

Terran Black Ops and Democracy coup? SUSPICIOUS!

>>3137493

>Letting any one of the rebellious fucks keep the position they stole.

And like that he is fucking up.

Those ass holes need to be made into pariahs and banned from all social circles within the house for what they've done. Their lives need to be made miserable and difficult until they leave J-D and go to some other house if not out right experiencing some sort of accident.

Gah, did he even get anything for us out of this mess? Or did he just waste this opportunity?

And here I was hoping he was going to get to work proving he is a good leader. And already he's fucking up. If this is what we have to look forward to with him, then Archivald cannot get back soon enough.

>[ ]Other, get plans in place to remove Caius if he continues to give the rebels more bones then they deserve.

>>3137508

>did he even get anything for us out of this mess?
He got the crisis resolved with minimal further bloodshed. The House is preserved intact, for the time being.

>other, get plans in place...

We've had an attempted oldguard coup against Count Jerik, a Dominion Civil War, a separate AI/Rebel attack on the Dominion Capital, and now another Coup that saw Count Jerik murdered in the past... several years?

We're not going to plot a fresh round of treasonous coup when we need to keep the House together. Make our displeasure known? Sure. But we've lost enough Counts for the remainder of the Neeran War, at least.

>>3137493
> [ ] Perhaps we should help him out with Terran speculation

Dude has to be brought up to speed on this.

>>3137493
>[x] Let him play his games

>>3137527
It's the same RIP 'N TEAR squad as always.

Look at the write in they made. I mean, I'm greedy and would have loved to have sold the Terrans SP info back to them, but at least I realized it was probably not worth the risk.

>>3137529
Supporting

Not all the details, just enough that he knows the general scope of the field

>>3137527

I was not thinking of another coup or assassination, more along the lines of ensuring we have a means to remove him should he prove to be an incapable leader by the time the fleet returns. Though those would be easiest, they are not optimal.

>>3137545
We do, then? That's why he's a Provisional Count.

That was dealt with a while ago.

>>3137550

We've only so far put words on paper. Nothing actually put in place. I may be over reacting, but having something in place for when the question of should we keep him comes up. Should be there, unless I've forgotten exactly what was agreed on beyond the idea that he will step down if enough Barons are displeased with him as a Provisional Count for him to remain the actual Count.

Just displeased in general with how he decided to start off his rule of being the Count.

Hey, maybe the rebels really are that fractured and will eat their own for the position. Leaving the rest who only barely managed to escape charges of treason, to be incapable of doing anything else. And prevent those knights who helped start this to no longer be eligible of promotion beyond their current ranks for the rest of their careers.

>>3137508
Fuck it I'll back this. These reformists are the worst people. They took advantage of the fleets being away to kill the Count and they get rewarded for it?

>>3137493
>[ ] Let him play his games

>Get our own black ops to plan an assassination or framing of the EC guy. Terrible shame but accidents happen.

If this does create a schism in their faction it has to be blown up and made public so that whatever happens can be blamed on infighting.

>>3137493
>[ ] Let him play his games

>>3137529

This. Please nothing drastic, it's not even that bad. He gets to choose and we can have Vanderwal and our super hacker girl search the candidates for possible Terran influence.

>>3137575
Their political power is based on the fact that they militarily control two and a half planets, a non-negligible fleet, and a lot of ground soldiers.

This treaty represents the reality that our side believes that allowing these concessions to be made will be less painful to our interests than smashing their fleets, massacreing their supporters, and devastating the core of the house.

>>3137834
There's also the issue that we'd have to assault two of the most densely populated planet the House has, which means civilian casualties even if we pull off a perfect attack. I don't want Sonia to be the one who has to explain why their relatives are dead to the soldiers returning from the Neeran campaign.

>>3137493
What we need to do now is lock up the people who actually attacked or even killed their fellow soldiers during the revolt. The guys responsible for destroying Knight Dayton's come to mind.

>>3133835
If we bankrupt them I suggest that we graciously allow them to work of their debt as groundside grunts for our terraforming company in terran space. They should thank us with tears in their eyes, for coming so close to the people they wish to emulate.

>>3137959
We should start an exchange programme with Veritas. Considering how often their civilian government collapses, it might be a valuable lesson of these people.

Nuke the Count, House Reynard now

>>3137834
>>3137929
>>3137959
>>3137960

This is why I asked about hitting EC members with bills for mine removal and possibly danger pay. If we can burn them financially, we may be able to force them to sell off at least portions of their assets and weaken their power base by reducing their income.

Things I think we might be able to hit them for:
- Destroyed RTS assets
- Death benefit for KIA RTS employees? (over & above company stuff, all to the families? A big stretch, but possibly one of those things that a civil court might be sympathetic to the families over)
- Mine clearance fees & hazard pay + associated damages
- their attempts to hire mercs vs Rioja?
- make the EC leadership pay all EC forces combat pay for the duration of their 'reign' (Why should the House pay rebel military forces for their time committing treason, even if sentence commuted? Possible stretch, definite New Count support needed?)
- All processing fees related to standing down EC forces? (salaries for involved clerks doing inventories, soldiers securing EC weapons, etc)
- Damages to House property during coup (damaged/destroyed ships, stations, training facilities, bases)

They got their pardon for treason, which confirms that they committed treason, but we should push to have them take responsibility for their act of treason, by footing the bill for everything we can possibly bill them for.

>>3137989
I think we need to inestigate who is responsible for what exactly before we start attempts to ruin them. People like admiral Graham ended up on the revolutionaries' side for reasons I consider legitimate, so I would hate ruining decent people like him.
We also need to hand out rewards to loyalists like Windsor while the memory is still fresh. I think he seems like a person who would enjoy running a casino station, as long as you keep him from placing it in a duel.

>>3138006

I'm specifically referring to the 'Emergency Council' that declared themselves as such after seizing power, which should be the core leadership of the actual coup.

Admiral Graham and others that joined them after the initial coup due to duress/kids joining from captured academies would fall under 'EC forces', in my opinion.

That said, I don't see someone like Admiral Graham just being allowed to go back to work commanding J-D soldiers after this. Despite his reasons being very good ones, plenty of others will likely never trust them after this. Forced retirement?

>>3137989
>>3138022
I think the financial attacks are a good idea, but we can't be too aggressive right now. Overtly attacking the moderate wing is dangerous, because that might cause them to reunite with the insurrectionaries, or at least convince them that it's good to have an armed force around just in case the struggle becomes an armed conflict again. If we let them snipe at each other for a few decades, it's possible that the armed element will be gradually destroyed, and then the moderate element will be toothless and we can go after them.

>>3138141

Wouldn't the majority of the 'armed element' be the leadership that led this coup to begin with? (And thus the people I'd like to bankrupt?)

The moderates would appear to be Knight Shanta Filippi and her yet-unnamed local allies, whom took no part in this mess. If we want to strengthen the moderates, we should strengthen the moderates like herself, not hold back on damaging the radicals that killed the Count.

>>3138165
When I talk about moderates vs radicals, I'm talking about divisions within the movement that brought the Emergency Council into power. The movement, from what I've seen, seems like a pretty broad cross section of JD society - you have the Young Upstarts who represent the young nobility that are frustrated by the old guards monopoly of power, what seems like a pretty wide swathe of the middle and lower classes who have a fundamental opposition to being ruled by an aristocracy and were galvanized into action when the extent of the corruption on these planets became clear, some segments of the population that are sympathetic to a Terran type of government, and some more established members of the nobility (Alex's siblings, for example) who are willing to play along with the elections to increase their power.

During the initial days of the protests, the alliance between these different groups was based on a common enemy - the existing power structure on Dremine and Torun, and the JD military forces that enforced that power structure. The elections kept their alliance alive presumably by electing representatives from these different groups to speak for their interests and settle their differences where possible.

As soon as they succeeded in taking power, the alliance was doomed to eventually fall apart. The contradiction between those who want to improve their position within the existing hierarchy and those who want to destroy that hierarchy entirely is simply too great for the two tendencies to cooperate forever. This doesn't mean the Emergency Council movement would just fall apart if left to its own devices - one side or the other would probably crush the other and lead the revolution in their direction.

Caius becoming Count has accelerated the split. The social climbers of the movement need to cooperate with Caius as much as they can to protect their new position, and the radicals now need to oppose their previous allies because they've bought into the power structure.

A lot of this is speculation, but this is my analysis of the situation. When I talk about conflict between moderates and radicals, that's what I mean.

>>3138141
They need to pay damages to everyone who was forcibly recruited under duress too. Pay for the psychological and mental issues they've caused and for unlawfully holding family members hostage. I'm sure there are many more points we could stick on them.

You know, I have to admit one thing. Every time you people cared more about managing finances and fucking around with boring corporate shit, nickel and diming every poor bastard or company that crossed our way, I was ready to quit reading the quest. When you founded RTS and spent months balancing excel sheets I wanted to strangle you all. But right now when you're using all those shenanigans to utterly destroy people that we don't like, yeah right now I'm glad you guys are here and that you created Sonia's financial empire that we can actually do these things.

>>3138022
>Forced retirement?
I just wouldn't deploy him on interior duties any more. He's a skilled commander who puts his family first, if we let him do his stuff in Neeran space he should still be able to work for the good of the house without ending up in this kind of situation again.

File: Burning the agreement.jpg (37 KB, 849x494)

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>Count removal prep (+2 votes?)

As Fadila reminds you there is a legally binding contract signed between the Barons and the new Count. (Sonia too.) For him to arbitrarily cast it aside would be unwise at best and political suicide at worst. If a House can't maintain its treaties between its leader and its Barons, most other Houses would think it unwise to continue dealing with them.

There is one other item in your favour. As Caius was not a Baron before being made Count he does not have a standing fleet and army of his own. At least not yet. He is entirely reliant upon the forces of Barons and other leaders loyal to him. His father faced similar issues, and even at the height of his power the former Count had only a small personal force of his own.

"If you want to be prepared to remove the new Count, preventing him from building his own fleet and army would be the wisest course." Fadila suggests.

You trade glances with Daska's hologram. "What about the rebel fleet?"
"And their army!" Daska finishes.

Fadila gives the both of you a rather exasperated look then points to the ongoing transcript of the Count's decrees regarding the treaty.

While you've been talking to Fadila the Count has been continuing with the agreed upon terms. Calling up a transcript you quickly catch up. It looks like many of those in the fleet and army who took part in the uprising will be getting some extra time on the front lines fighting the Neeran. That or corporal punishment and an option of exile.

All officers and nobles to have played a role will be placed under temporary house arrest while the death of Count Gernot Sigurd Jerik is investigated. Their financial holdings and assets will be left intact -for now- though they may need to pay some reparations. Removing the minefields is one thing that comes to mind. Those cleared of direct involvement in the Count's death will be offered similar terms to the enlisted. The front lines or exile.
There may be additional penalties levied against nobles choosing exile.

While this is a step in the right direction it might still be a good idea to keep military assets out of the Count's hands for the time being. Making sure all the Rebel warships will be assigned to the front line units would be one way to prevent it.

>Does this change things?
[ ] Give him the benefit of the doubt for now
[ ] Keep war materiel out of the Counts hands
[ ] Contact PR about the "Terran connection"

>>3138827
>[X] Keep war materiel out of the Counts hands
>[X] Contact PR about the "Terran connection"

Still for Terran speculation. Now paranoid that we just failed to Shadowrun hard enough to understand that Caius was the Young Upstart all along.

>>3138827
>[x] Give him the benefit of the doubt for now
He has a year to prove himself. Even if he spent all captial he can on building up a fleet, he will still be unable to stand up to the combined forces of the barons once the fleets return home.
In addition to that, if we don't let him show us how he's planning to rule in the year he's been give, we won't be able to make a just judgement when the time comes to decide if we should replace him with somebody else or not.
Let him do his thing but keep an eye on him.

>>3138855
supporting

>>3138827
>[X] Give him the benefit of the doubt for now
Basically for the reasons >>3138855 laid out.

>>3138827

I have a nagging doubt about him. If his ploy to pit the rebel’s leadership even more against each other fails. Then he is well on his way to showing himself out the door. If he does not have the murders of Count Jerik executed. He may as well be a lost cause. I want to see those bastards who killed our Count be shown the same fate he received.

Hopefully I am just jumping the gun and his plan to weaken the rebels does actually work.

But so long as we can crush/ ruin these rebellious knights and nobles, financially, politically and in their careers. For what they've done I'll be happy. But Caius is not putting himself in a good position to start from.

>[ ] Give him the benefit of the doubt for now

>>3138827
>[ ] Give him the benefit of the doubt for now

>[ ] Contact PR about the "Terran connection"

Since he got the job, he's calling the shots. I don't like it but I also don't want us to be the evil vizier already plotting his downfall as if this is some kind of soap opera. Doesn't mean we can't keep fucking with the traitors

>>3138827
>>Does this change things?
>[X] Give him the benefit of the doubt for now
Its just a single seat in the House Council and he might be playing the long game.

>>3138827
>[ ] Keep war materiel out of the Counts hands

>>3138827
> [ ] Give him the benefit of the doubt for now

File: Dreminth Capital region2.gif (17 KB, 742x536)

17 KB GIF

"We'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now, but that doesn't mean we won't be keeping an eye on him."

Daska asks you to have your people keep her in the loop on events.
"If necessary I'll bring my fleet up from South Reach once the other Barons return."

"If it gets to the point where that's necessary then we're in big trouble. Glad you have my back though."

With the Count having publicly acknowledged his intention to hold to the tenets of the treaty, next comes the difficulties of enforcing them. Those who may not have been aware of what was being signed in their name are not likely to enjoy all of its provisions. Even before the signing there were reports of fighting in sections of the capital.

It doesn't take long for those divisions among the rebels to become more pronounced. The Emergency Council, though now officially disbanded, is forced into the unenviable position of having to deal with the dissent within their own ranks. Failure to do so might be taken as them failing to uphold their side of the treaty.

Even in a best case scenario it's going to take several days to return the troops to their barracks. Only when that's accomplished will it be possible to put all the officers under house arrest. For now they're needed to help bring their former brothers in arms under control.

General Rna reports that the army is expanding their control of the city but they're reluctant to push into regions where there is active fighting taking place.

The Count wishes to know if it would be prudent to formally declare martial law to assist the army in locking down the population centers. Also if it would be wise to intervene in some of the street battles.

"It's good that this blowup is giving the revolutionaries a black eye in terms of relations with the civilians. I am growing concerned about property damage though. Especially if we could have prevented it."

Your troops have the firepower to quickly resolve most situations if they get involved. Alternatively their armor might stand more of a chance of surviving weapons fire while they try to talk down those resisting. Or you could leave the remaining trouble makers to the EC's troops.

1A) Intervention
1B) Try to disarm the situation
1C) Let them fight

>2) General Rna wants to know if he should focus occupation efforts on the capital district and surrounding area, or try to secure the whole city as soon as possible? Some of the disagreements are taking place closer to the borders of the capital district than he would like.

2A) Capital district and immediate area
2B) Secure the whole city

>>3139137
>1B)
Drown them in stun grenades if they refuse to comply. We should have more than enough of them and I see little reason to let any kind of violence escalate.
>2
He's the expert. If he thinks it's best to secure the whole city, I'm willing to trust his judgement.

>>3139137

>1C) Let them fight
>2A) Capital district and immediate area

Let them sort out their own mistakes, and respond with overwhelming, deadly force if they make the mistake of firing upon our forces.

That said, we could certainly reach out to the former EC leadership and see if they would like to request assistance. If they have something to offer that might be worth putting our forces at risk.

They pulled stupid shit, now they can pay the Dominion's mercenary mindset tax if they need help.

>>3139150
>>3139137
>1B) Try to disarm the situation
By that I mean try to talk them down. Though yeah, stun grenades as a backup sure.

>He's the expert. If he thinks it's best to secure the whole city, I'm willing to trust his judgement.
Normally he would just go for the whole city, but some of the fighting is closer to the palace than he's comfortable with right now.

Then again, you do have that occupation platform hovering above it.

>>3139137

Nah, let the EC Troops deal with the mess they’ve made. They made their bed they sleep in it. Sonia is not cleaning up the mess they’ve made after the shit they’ve pulled. Of course as I say this, if someone is in life threatening danger and in need of aid. Yes, help them. But not at the cost of our troops lives.

Unless they start begging us to help them and learn how much they have done fucked up. The EC forces should ideally get 0 help from us. They should learn that those mobs and troops they riled up to their cause aren’t going to listen to them and now that “peace” is neigh, not all those mobs/ troops are gonna be happy. This is why *BARONS* not *KNIGHTS* are allowed to build standing armies and navies. Because if every knight had their private army we may as well be fucking pirates. Or worse, Terrans.

> 1C) Let them fight, only intervene if it looks like there’s going to be high civilian casualties.

> 2A) Capital district and immediate area

Secure the capital district and move outwards towards the bases. Bringing in the occupational platform as needed. Coordinate with Alex’s generals to have them move inwards while RNA moves outwards.

>>3139137
C

B

>>3139137
>The Emergency Council, though now officially disbanded, is forced into the unenviable position of having to deal with the dissent within their own ranks.
This is perfect.

I'll go with 1b and 2a. If anyone says we let the violence go on without doing anything, we can tell them we didn't want to be heavy handed so soon after reunification.

>>3139201
>>3139198
Gonna switch to 1c actually, this guy makes a good case

>>3139137
> 1B) Try to disarm the situation

Combination of targeting areas already in open conflict and "pacifying" them with overwhelming force, and then offering "restructuring" loans to affected businesses - which will include not only rebuilding and investing in their local communities, but will come along with the security of a light security detail for the duration of reconstruction.

Set ourselves up as a de facto private police force. It's not extortion because we're simply protecting our own assets, and we aren't the ones threatening them.

But we can make it clear that due to the recent difficulties, we are held back from using our forces freely to police the area due to the risk of possible misunderstandings.

> 2B) Secure the whole city

And beyond!

TL;DR Blame Rebels for the damages. Offer investment in damaged communities, plus "protection" from further conflicts for the areas that accept our protection. Make it clear that you can't have one without the other, and that they're strictly defensive / reactive forces who won't get involved with communities or groups other than our clients.

This way we can a) calm shit down and keep riots and such from escalating, b) establish an accepted presence throughout the Homeworld raising our profile and being visibly in charge to the common person c) block the new Count from using the residual conflict as an excuse for the need to build up his own personal forces, d) make it look like the Rebels weren't prepared or capable of governing if the had "won" and taken over, e) acquire a large amount of equity currently at a below market price, f) establish connections and create relationships between the House of Reynard and the commoners directly so that we can intervene earlier in possible future insurrections as well as trying their support to us *personally* instead of "The House Jerek-Dramine" or idealistic concepts like Terran Democracy, and finally g) we'll normalize the sight of our troops acting openly, providing a certain amount of cover and support for any possible clandestine actions.

>>3139198
>>3139201
>>3139137
Whoops I forgot the PR boost of having our troops be visibly productive with rebuilding (financed by us), as well as that we could probably write of a significant portion of the costs as tax-exempt charitable aid and support provided to the House.

>>3139217
>>3139137
I forgot to mention, letting fighting occur and then arriving to pacify the situation would also give us an excuse for holding EVERYONE involved, since we can't be expected to know which sides are which.

Lots of opportunity to "disappear" inconvenient people, return Nobles children and heirs involved with the rebellion and keeping their names off the official records as being involved in any position responsibility as a favour to their families etc.

>>3139137
Whoops! Also forgot that we have both the Clone Troops and the RH authority to use them, so that gives us an edge over letting other Barons, like Tenni, from horning in.

Since they're clones, and under special dispensation, they're "safe" politically.

>>3139137

>1C) Let them fight, only intervene if it looks like there’s going to be high civilian casualties.

>2A) Capital district and immediate area

Personally I don’t realky trust the new Count.

We should ensure that we use our influence to place some of our loyal people within his new personal guard. That way we have an easy way of acting if he needs to be removed in the future...

Also, we need an update as to the whereabouts of our family ASAP

>>3139257
>That way we have an easy way of acting if he needs to be removed in the future...
I don't think setting things in place to assassinate the Count is productive. If he shits the bed a little in the next year he'll be out when Archivald gets here. If he shits the bed extremely hard, it'll be obvious to the rest of the Barons and we'll be able to remove him legally. Just assassinating him would alienate us among the Barons, who have basically just become the absolute most important factor in House politics.

I say that because the Count is new to the throne, and we've basically got legal precedent to remove him if the Barons decide to. Additionally, making the Governors an electable position will probably result in the powers of the governor position being stripped away gradually by the nobility in order to keep power out of the hands of the non-noble population. On top of that, the Barons just came together and selected a new Count without a majority of the Council present, and nobody can put that genie back in the bottle. The legal/political ramifications of the past month or so are going to cause some pretty major changes in the political landscape of the House, and my guess is that the Barons will come out ahead.

>>3139257
>Also, we need an update as to the whereabouts of our family ASAP
Right!

The ground team managed to extract Sonia's family members before the arrival of a group of hostiles apparently intent on finding them. It's not known if they were with the council or a group that has now gone rogue. In either event Sonia's mother and brother are now aboard a stealth LST parked in an out of the way area on the surface of Dreminth.

Predictably mom refuses to be moved off planet and threatened to shoot out the windows if anyone tries. Your personal guard is requesting permission to perform another sweep of the Lodge and then relocate them there for the time being.

Not getting enough sleep on this shift. I'll resume tomorrow night.

>>3139336

>Predictably mom refuses to be moved off planet and threatened to shoot out the windows if anyone tries. Your personal guard is requesting permission to perform another sweep of the Lodge and then relocate them there for the time being.

Now that we're in orbit. We can have more of our guard down to meet them and secure the mansion. Can we just have sleeping gas pumped into the manor to knock her out and put mom into stasis so we could secret her off to Rioja?

>>3139342
Bad idea, i doubt she would forgive Sonia for a long time if that were to happen stasis or not, you know crippling phobia of space travel after a traumatic experience as a kid and all that.

>>3139726
Better than possibly getting into danger with another coup at the capitol or kidnapping at this point.

>>3139751
I mean at that point we could just stasis the whole family and bury them for a month, I bet we could make a pretty fucking stealthy bunker if it didn't need life support systems.

>>3139726
We don't need to wake her from stasis until she's back on Dremine clay

>>3139726

Waking her on another planet might be a bad idea, but better then having her be used against us and then us committing war crimes to get her back.

I kinda figure she's more the hook to keep us invested in the well being of Dremine.

>>3139342
I' can certainly see Sonia giving her mother a hug and either injecting her with a sedative or putting a stun blast into her. Then awkward grumbling as the act is rationalized.

>>3139971
I know it is cliche since I've been one of the original 'herp derp rip and tear' folks from the start, but I've always been prepared to sacrifice Sonia's mother if it was for a greater good, though I'd first point out the stupidity of someone threatening to harm or kill our mother and losing the only card preventing us from killing them with a HAG or say murdering them slowly by hand

>>3140144
You could convince me of a lot of things if you tried, but that shit would never fly. It's so out of character that I don't understand why you even believe it to be an option

>>3140587

+1

You recommend that the army focus first on making certain the capital district is locked down and secure. The last thing anyone wants is for a rebel group to make a run at the palace.

Caius is not entirely convinced. "We have a medium Cruiser hovering over the city. Is it really necessary to focus more troops here?"

"Yes." you reply. "They can't see or detect everything. Many of the lower yield weapons also require line of sight. People can use buildings for cover, or even underground service tunnels. Until the factional fighting is resolved your position is vulnerable."

"Speaking of which, what of those currently fighting?"

"Let the EC forces handle them for now, but keep an eye on them. If necessary we can always reposition some of our troops to prevent the fighting from spreading."

Caius nods in agreement. "I will of course call for the fighting to cease, but I'm not about to change the terms. What is the situation in orbit?"

Being somewhat distracted by the conversation with Fadila and Daska earlier you defer to Barons Alex and Saputo.

Several ships have tried to desert and flee the system. Graham has chased down many of them while Alex and Tama had Mike intercept the rest. Two have managed to escape with assault corvettes and are being pursued by one of Mike's smaller detached units. You can only guess what things are like in the other systems.

It may be best to split off sections of the fleet to set up blockades of Torun, Loran and other major bases. Graham has a few ships available with crews he trusts to accompany your fleets. With their aid there is a reduced chance the rebels will turn violent when you try to bring them in.

How large of a force did you want to split off? 1 Baron to guard each world? Or would you rather the Barons stayed at the capital

[ ] 1 Baron to each location (Sonia stays put)
[ ] Barons stay at capital, send smaller fleets
[ ] Minimal deployments (multiple small patrol groups)
Or would you prefer a different force composition?

>>3141338

>[X] 1 Baron to each location (Sonia stays put)

The only thing I can think of to deviate from this would be to notify neighboring Houses that they can treat any J-D deserters fleeing into their holdings as pirates? And get a hotline going to feed intercept intel to neighbors, if possible, sort of like the anti-raider/pirate operations we did vs the Bonrah raiders?

If getting caught fleeing is worse than just accepting your punishment, it will hopefully cut down on it.

>>3141338
>Or would you prefer a different force composition?
We could send the second in command of each fleet? It might help if actual fellow soldiers or knights and not barons try to bring in the various rebel groups.

>>3141338
>[ ] 1 Baron to each location (Sonia stays put)

>>3141338

>[ ] 1 Baron to each location (Sonia stays put)

I am with this anon >>3141387 Let our neighbors and allies know if there are any deserters. They can treat them as pirates and such. Make them learn they cannot escape retribution for their actions. If they cannot accept responsibility for their actions or the outcome of this signing then their only going to be further nuisance to the Dominion and everyone else.

Hm, actually, make it so deserters have a choice. Be labeled as pirates or surrender their ships and join the alliance as their means of banishment/ exile.

>>3141338

>[X] 1 Baron to each location (Sonia stays put)

>>3139839
This is rather genius really.

>>3142928
It's also a great way to wake up to find yourself in an episode of Stargate

You get on the command frequency to the Barons, Admirals and the Count.
"We need to redeploy the fleet to prevent, or at least intercept, anyone trying to desert with House starships. I'm keeping my fleet here at the capital. One Baron each should take care of Torun, Loran and the training bases."

Alex quickly calls dibs on Loran, not wanting to go anywhere near the minefields.

"I'll return to Torun." says Saputo. "Best to get that over and done with. I'd like a few additional units to reinforce my fleet."
You transfer a couple attack wings including a few afterburner equipped attack cruiser squadrons.

That leaves the training bases to Tenni. You're not sure how to feel about that given her loyalties but it's unlikely she'll try to do anything that will screw with the treaty now.

As the fleets begin to break orbit you make sure the Wing Commanders are aware of the situation.
"If they want to go into exile? Fine that's their choice, but the starships belong to our House. They stay here. If any of the deserters make it across the border then they have officially become pirates and starship thieves. They are to be treated as such. Their ships will be flagged and information sent to our allies anti-piracy database."

Hera Boosalis contacts you on a private channel.
"Sir, some Knights have private warships. Does it still count if they fleet the House in those?"

You believe the Count wanted to levy fines against those choosing exile. What are your orders regarding privately owned warships?

>>3143443

>"Sir, some Knights have private warships. Does it still count if they fleet the House in those?"

If they own private ships. Then the ships are their property. But any troops or crew members who do not want to be labeled pirates and thieves. They best drop them off at the nearest boarder station unless they also want to be hit with charges of kidnapping.

As for the Count wanting to hit them with charges for exile. Their bank accounts are here in J-D and I am pretty sure a bank would be more than willing to cooperate with a new Count then to take a standing hit with the house for siding with possible rouge elements of the Dominion.

Sound good enough to other anons?

>>3143443

If Knights choose exile and they take their own property with them, I don't see where we can justify slapping them with fines.

If I'm remembering correctly, the late Count Jerik (RIP) once discouraged us from Knighting too many subordinates due to an excess at the time. If that remains the case then maybe it's even a good thing to purge the Knight's ranks of the least loyal - they are the least valuable Knights anyway. I'm not sure how much that policy may have changed over time, but I am confident that with the Neeran War in full swing we will have plenty of candidates for Knighthood to replace those we lose now. I say let em go to make make room for capable and ambitious replacements.

>>3143485
>>3143443

I agree with this anon's point about the crews for those ships. JD crews remain JD. Those Knights can find civilian or mercenary crews if they want to leave.

>>3143443
What >>3143485 said.

>>3143485
That sounds fair.

>>3143443

>privately owned starships

Flag them all as pirates until it can be verified that a crew isn't holding the owner and/or their family hostage in order to escape. (Which of course will require detention and an investigation)

They may also be stealing House military munitions, equipment, or harboring murder suspects.

>>3143560
Oh, of course. You're right. They need to be impounded and all cargo, crew and munitions need to be checked and confirmed to be their personal property.

Or maybe we want to wait and stick them with arrest warrants by next week and accuse them of theft of military property? Put bounties on them.

If they turn out to be innocent, well that's just great for everybody involved

>>3143443

Wait a second. What about if J-D revokes the private starship's registry, making it an unflagged vessel?

Wouldn't that legally prevent the vessel from 'sailing', and give neighboring Houses carte blanche to impound/seize the unflagged vessel?

iirc, this is basically what Italy pressured Panama into doing with one of those migrant rescue vessels, forcing it to sit in some port to avoid violating laws

>>3143638
>Wouldn't that legally prevent the vessel from 'sailing', and give neighboring Houses carte blanche to impound/seize the unflagged vessel?
It would certainly make things difficult for them, but far from impossible.

>>3143638
While funny, that kind of stunt is terrible PR and will not reflect well on us if we do it.

You give Hera's question some thought. Ultimately privately owned ships do belong to the person in question. If you left the House that'd probably be how you would operate. There's no way to be certain about the crew aboard such ships though. They may unwittingly be finding themselves brought along against their will.

With that in mind you send out a priority update to the fleet. Privately owned ships will be permitted to leave House space but they'll need to stop at border outposts to check if the crew isn't being kidnapped. Any ship that refuses will have to have their entire crew disembarked. Inspection teams should also check for stolen House property and munitions.

You'll have to send a few battleships with extra marines to help out with boarding actions of course. Fortunately there are plenty of those to spare right now.

Baron Xisoth is alerted and sends ships to the border regions of the outer colonies to help keep watch for anyone headed his way. Rebels thinking your main fleets won't dare pursue through the minefields are in for a surprise.

It isn't long before the fleets sent to take up blockade and border patrol duties begin to capture ships. Saputo has his hands full with Torun. More than a few people seem to think he'll take revenge on them and as a result try to get off world. Alex has a comparatively easy time with Loran thanks to the truce between the orbital workers unions and the Governor. Those trying to escape with House owned ships had difficulties getting their docking clamps disengaged.

Tenni reports having a bit more difficulty due to some ships being out on patrol but has largely locked down the main training bases. She also reports that work was being done on Majestic to refit her missing engines but was still far from completion.

With everything going on down on the surface it's a few hours before the Count contacts you about your solution.
"I applaud your quick thinking Viscount, though I might have preferred they were further delayed leaving House space. I had hoped to talk to nobles choosing exile to ensure any land they left behind was legally turned over to the House. That way they couldn't launch some damn fool crusade to reclaim their lands at a later time. Leaving them with any sort of legal claim could come back to bite us later."

Right. Wouldn't want a House Medel situation happening with some of these people later.

"We do control their banks now right? That should give you a few options."
"In most cases yes, that can work. I just hope you'll consider talking to me about such political decisions that affect the House."

You consider the Count's words. "Do you want me to modify the orders?"
"No, don't change it now or it will look like we're backpedaling. I'll make it work."

With the capital district largely secured General Rna reports a potential problem brewing. The civilian militias that have formed are not causing any problems for the army, but they are making it clear that they are not controlled by the council. Many are already (or perhaps still) encamped in the city park and surrounding buildings. Barricades and improvised fortifications prevent easy access by ground cars and even some repulsor vehicles.

Maybourne looks through some of the sensor data on the park.
"Looks like they even got hold of some anti-repulsor mines. They even have a few odd launchers. A bit like oversized mortars."

Kaz identifies them as a cheap mine launcher meant to help deploy minefields more quickly.
"All they have are anti-repulsor mines though, so they're probably using them as an improvised AA weapon."

"I wouldn't risk sending shuttles or fighters over that park."

You sigh and resume the channel with the General. "They had their election and the Count agreed to honor it. What more do they want?"

"Many of them want to stay until they're certain Dreminth's democratic reforms are going to stay in place. With Martial law and factional fighting in the streets they're worried the reforms will disappear once the Emergency Council's fleet and army does."

[ ] Make plans to expel them from the park
[ ] Wait until the situation in the city improves
[ ] Find their leader, get them to the Count

>>3143805

Would it be to far a stretch to have a special ops mission, deploy a bomb in that park and wipe it out. And make it look like the militia was getting sloppy and improperly storing munitions. Thus endangering peoples lives needlessly?

More sensible route. Wait them out, or rather. Starve them out. They don't want to disband? No food/ water/ electricity and such to their area. Redirect aid to places that have complied. Anyone wants to leave these militia's behind can, those that don't want to leave can stay. They just don't get any aid or basic living from the city or J-D.

>>3143805
Just wait. Camping for weeks isn't particularly fun.

>>3143805

I'm assuming that this violates at least several laws, correct?

Have police forces quarantine the parks due to the mine hazard.

Bill the EC leadership for police overtime and the resulting cleanup & repair costs for the munitions/parks.

Send in the Mobile Oppression Kilo & military forces if they fire upon police forces.

>>3143833
>Would it be to far a stretch to have a special ops mission, deploy a bomb in that park and wipe it out. And make it look like the militia was getting sloppy and improperly storing munitions. Thus endangering peoples lives needlessly?
I guess it would be possible to pull off? It'd then be a question of how many civilians you wanted to die in the explosion.

>>3143805
Cut them off, blockade and starve them. Let's see how long they want to stay with no water and shitting in the bushes.

Advise them of the laws they are breaking, trespassing, unlawful assembly, occupation of a public space etc etc and that they WILL be charged for these crimes if they do not disperse.

The fuck do they even intend to do if they don't get their way? Shoot up their own city?

>>3143805
>Wait until the situation in the city improves

>>3143850
>I'm assuming that this violates at least several laws, correct?
They were sort of expected to stand down with everybody else, so kinda yes. Then again the whole uprising against the Governor and overthrow of the government violated a few laws too.

>Have police forces quarantine the parks due to the mine hazard.
Anti-repulsor mines are fairly harmless to pedestrians under most circumstances. (Not to be confused with repulsor triggered mines.) There is little risking of setting them off accidentally until armed. Even then they'll only react to repulsor fields and act to nullify them in a sudden bust. Usually powerful enough to crash the vehicle, though the mine will often be destroyed as a result of the energy released to do so.

It's possible to convert the mine's pulse generator into a more conventional explosive, or use it in the core of a fragmentation mine. If disassembled or stored improperly it's certainly possible for a stockpile of them to be set off by one of them detonating. Almost never happens among professional militaries but with civilians involved its plausible.

>Bill the EC leadership for police overtime and the resulting cleanup & repair costs for the munitions/parks.
Could be done.

>>3143381
You keep making it sound better.

>>3143967
>Bill the EC leadership for police overtime and the resulting cleanup & repair costs for the munitions/parks.

100% support

>Have police forces quarantine the parks due to the mine hazard.

Instead just put up warning signs detailing how the mines could be dangerous to civilians. Then set up checkpoints exiting the park to make sure no dangerous materials get out. Make it super inconvenient.

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>>3143911
>The fuck do they even intend to do if they don't get their way? Shoot up their own city?
The park is technically within the boundaries of the capital district which means they could disrupt some governmental functions. If any of them were working right now.


[ ] Wait them out
[ ] Blockade or checkpoints
[ ] Bombing / False flag
[ ] Remove them by force

Resuming tomorrow afternoon. Or earlier if possible, but that rarely works out.

>>3144024
[ ] Blockade or checkpoints

I am not worried. We just make them the ECs problem to fix for all this to work out while we make this uncomfortable for the militia. And cost them money and time at that. Got to drain those cash accounts.

>>3144024
Honestly not sure about this one, I'd like to go heavy but that might cause a greater reaction. I'd say don't go in unless there's evidence of them doing actively violent shit, maybe send in some infiltrators/provocateurs to get some violent shit going to give us the pretext.

I know thats not really a helpful vote, but I'm of two minds.

>>3144024
>[ ] Wait them out
>[ ] Blockade or checkpoints
>Other
Be as annoying as we can possibly do to them without pushing them to go all out and start shooting everything nearby down. Also play the most annoying thing we can think of at high powered speakers pointing into the the park.

Also have a good New Year everyone! Unlike Sonia and co here right now of course.

>>3144024
>[ ] Wait them out
>[ ] Blockade or checkpoints

>>3143805
Hey, you know how hand-held Phase Weapons have a stun setting, do the big phase guns on the Planetary Occupation Platform have a stun setting too? That would be great if we could fry whole streets from above.

>>3144024
>[X] Blockade or checkpoints

If I understand the treaty correctly, inform them that if they are rejecting the EC as their leadership, the EC's treaty doesn't protect them from their acts of armed rebellion and treason. If anyone in that park wishes to reconsider their stance, they have a limited window (24 hours?) to comply with the treaty.

Good faith and all that. I fully admit I could be off on the treaty not protecting them, but I doubt their increased freedoms include armed occupation and threats of insurrection, and the treaty at the very least shouldn't protect post-enforcement acts

>>3144024
> [ ] Blockade or checkpoints

Plus fines. We could inform the EC after that of they disavow them they won't be responsible for said fines.

The best part about civil charges is we can fine them for not complying with previous fines. I bet they didn't get any permits or anything. After all, they're preventing use of the park.

We can publicly state the fines will be used for reconstruction work.

And since we're billing the EC, there shouldn't be any problems with going making sure we take every precaution. Does it count as bribery if we hire neutral forces to man the blockades? Say those RH guys who came to help out with the negotiations? Too bad they won't come cheap being RH forces and all, but it's not like we could put mercenaries into the situation as it is, not ask other Houses.

>>3144045
Actually if the EC is on the hook for the costs, we should draw this out. Make sure they get food and water, and basic shelter.

After all, they're still citizens and just because they refuse to do their duty doesn't mean we'll shirk ours.

Make them the EC's headache.

>>3144126
The more we can establish them as being part of the EC, the more it discredits the EC.

Meanwhile if we publicly ask the EC to renounce them, it'll weaken their role as an authority since they'll be doing what we ask. Alternatively it'll alienate the moderate majority of they don't.

We can refuse to take direct action to avoid "further testing this peaceful resolution negotiated the Barons" and refusing to allow the EC to use their forces to contain it "ddue to the risk of individual sympathizers removing the weapons to elsewhere".

>>3144024
>[x] Wait them out

You decide to implement a blockade of the park to prevent the squatters from gaining entrance to the capital district via the park. General Rna establishes an exit corridor on the south side of the park. Anyone may leave at any time via this corridor but they won't be able to get back in.
The General's reasoning being that if all avenues of escape are cut off the crowds might panic and assault the blockade. This way if they do riot they'll have a clear means of exit and it will be easier to funnel them.

Announcements are made via the local public address system asking for everyone to return to their homes. Reminders of exit being to the south and recordings of the Count stating that the planet will keep it's new elected system are added after a few hours.

It isn't long before a slow trickle of civilians begin to leave the park. At the current rate it will take longer than a week for it to empty. Most leave any weapons behind with those that are staying, though a few attempt to leave while still armed with phase rifles and older projectile weapons. These people are told to surrender their arms or turn back. So far there haven't been any fire incidents but there have been close calls with ones that refuse before being forced back.

The General wants to know if ground troops should continue this policy, allow through those with older small arms, or get them beyond the blockade before arresting anyone still armed.

[ ] Keep turning back anyone armed
[ ] Allow some through
[ ] Arrest them once out of sight

>>3145148
>[ ] Keep turning back anyone armed

If they cannot produce a valid license for owning said fire arms. Turn them back. No armed populace, less threats of idiots threatening the peace.

>>3145161
+1

>>3145148
>[x] Keep turning back anyone armed
If they can actually prove they own the weapons but don't have a license, they're welcome to reclaim them from the nearest police station once they've got their permit. But yeah, nobody is leaving with a working gun they don't have permission to own.

"If they can prove they have a valid license for the weapons they can keep them otherwise turn them back or confiscate."

Ground forces acknowledge your order and respond appropriately. Somewhat predictably few if any have licenses or permits for the weapons. Those that do are among the exceedingly small number of mercenaries, nobles or retainers that decided to join the protests. Within a few hours protests near the exit points have started, denouncing continued preferential treatment of the nobility.

By nightfall some of the better equipped militia members have arrived on the south side of the park. Everyone is ready for them to launch an attack on the army units stationed there but instead they convince the protesters to stop making a scene. Within an hour the more gradual flow of those leaving has resumed.

Reports of activity begin to come in from the army's jump jet snipers overlooking the park. It seems that members of the militia are organising, or gathering leadership. A few are positively ID'd as lawyers or middle class civil rights advocates. Many are middle class workers that had retired from the military. After a lengthy meeting three of them depart the center of the park and make their way towards the blockade in the direction of the Palace. They're lead by a positively ancient looking Dro'all that's wearing the remains of a Knights duty uniform.

Soldiers from the blockade forces soon report in that they're been approached by representatives requesting an audience with the Count.
"Their leader has identified themselves as retired Knight Devante Cu'paher."

You get the impression you've heard that name before long ago. Maybe not since you were a kid.
"Who is he?" you ask Maybourne."

"He commanded the 1st Dreminth Highlanders about 40 years ago. Fought a number of ground campaigns with minimal armor or air support."

"That was my father's unit." you realise.

"He resigned in protest over House policies and mismanagement of the armed forces. Several of the Earl's more prominent political allies at the time withdrew their support as a result."

You'd never heard about that before. As Maybourne continues to search classified files it seems most of that was kept out of the media and public record. Whether a result of related problems the House continued a downward spiral until Earl Jerik came to power with the aid of several Barons and Governors.

"Sounds like he's been out of the loop for awhile." you tell Maybourne.
Things in the House have changed quite a bit since he was last in the field. Armor, weapons. With luck any combat experience he has is badly out of date.

[ ] Ignore their request
[ ] Inform them nobles are bound by the EC's treaty
[ ] Talk to them yourself
[ ] Pass request on to the Count
[ ] Agree to get them an audience

>>3145332
>[X] Talk to them yourself

We owe Cu'paher at least that much respect.

That said, I'm for maintaining "Inform them nobles are bound by the EC's treaty" as our stance.

>>3145332
>[x] Talk to them yourself
If he presents a decent case to Sonia, she'll petition the Count for an audience on Cu'paher's behalf. Does that sound fair? He kept Sonia'sdad from getting killed despite the shape the House was in back them, I feel we owe him some respect.

>>3145332
>Within a few hours protests near the exit points have started, denouncing continued preferential treatment of the nobility.

They got a problem with how we are doing things? We're ensuring the continued peace of J-D, it's not our fault they decided to throw in with the rebels and the EC who neglected to tell them they cant keep those guns they have no legal right to nor gave them any licenses to own those weapons. They want to complain to someone? They can complain to those who decided to give them guns and not tell them they cant keep them.

We've had one coup and assassination. Not going to let a bunch of militia's/ civilians who finally got a chance to hold a gun finally keep them.

But if our guard and general can ensure our safety. Give the old knight his due and hear him out before deciding whether or not to let him speak to the Caius.

>>3145332

Definitely

>[X] Talk to them yourself

Recon PA with holographics set to Duty Uniform.

Oh hey Outsider managed another update before the end of the year.

>>3145355
Supporting

>>3145332
>[ ] Talk to them yourself
>[ ] Pass request on to the Count

But the request is for us to talk to them ourselves due to Cu'paher being in our fathers regiment.

Gotta remember the Count is our Boss now, if we keep usurping his authority he'll have to smack us down to maintain his position.

>>3145385
Technically we're just acting as the Count's secretary and screening his calls unless we negotiate on his behalf.

>>3145365
I want an RE: Monster EX Quest update ;_;

Checking on the rest of your family's status again you find that they're still good. Currently in the command bunker of a base the Rioja army has locked down.

"Reynard to Rufaro."
"Go ahead sir."
"How much of my personal guard is available for deployment off the Outer Heaven?"
"About one hundred fifty. Why?"

Surveying the scans of the surface you decide on your course of action.
"I'm going down the surface to talk to someone. Prep LST's, shuttles and gunships for support. I want at least fifty people suited up ready to provide backup."
"On it."

With command delegated once more you suit up and board one of the waiting landing ships heading planet side. Setting down nearby isn't easy. The capital district isn't meant to handle incoming aircraft except those cleared to land behind the palace itself. Fortunately nearly all of the LST's have been upgraded with drop chutes.

Slowing to a hover above an intersection you and your bodyguards drop from the underside, hurtling towards the surface. At a safe distance from the ground the repulsors begin to increasingly arrest your momentum. You're pulling a couple G's when you hit pavement but that's nothing in power armor.

The back hatch of a nearby heavy tank opens allowing your squad to board. Others hitch a ride on other vehicles and head towards the blockade. By the time you disembark you've switched the camo on your Recon suit to that of your duty uniform.

Your soldiers make an opening and allow through the old Knight and his two associates.
"Knight Devante Cu'paher."

"Retired." The old man rumbles out. "That makes me just another Lord now."

As you approach he seems surprisingly fit for someone who looks like they may turn to dust and blow away from a light breeze. Not overweight like most older Dro'all, or emaciated like those near death.

"I'm Viscount Sonia Reynard. I understand you commanded the 1st Dreminth Highlanders. My father was in that unit."

"Command is a bit of a stretch. I merely passed on a series of bullshit orders and asked people to reinterpret them. A division fully trained with mountain warfare experience and they sent us to fight in a plains region. Against Heavy Walkers no less! Bunch of idiots."

Yeah this guy was definitely there.

"But reminiscing will have to wait for another time. I'm hoping to be granted an audience with the new Count. The Emergency Council made or promised many reforms, all supposedly in the name of the people. What they didn't do was bother to ask anyone what they wanted before pressing ahead. The elections were a good start but that's as far as they were prepared to go and hoped it would convince everyone else to just go along with them.
None of them bothered to consult the populace about their negotiations with the rest of the House either."

"Admittedly there was a timetable. We needed to install a new Count immediately." you point out.

"And it's a good thing you did. New governor or not, a lot of people on this planet feel like they weren't heard. A few of us have offered to help represent the more vocal of their number."

Considering his words you point out one of the hazards he might personally be facing.
"You are aware that all nobles to have taken part in the uprising are bound by the EC's treaty aren't you?"

"I wasn't part of the uprising. Some former soldiers and friends from my old command asked for my help rallying the militia a few days ago. They wanted to be ready if necessary to face off against either the Emergency Council or your forces. Whatever was needed."

You gesture to either side where there are plenty of modern tanks, armored vehicles and no shortage of troops.
"Do you really think they're ready to take on my army?"

"If any fighting happens here both sides lose. I just made sure they wouldn't lose quite as quickly. Now, are you going to pass on my message to the Count or are we going to wait around until some idiot accidentally shoots someone and all hell breaks lose?"

>Your orders?

>>3145701
>Your orders?
Well, it is a chance for the count to step on the EC's toes, I guess. If they didn't actually take part in the murder of the count, I'm more than willing to get them a chance to be heard. If he's willing to share more stories after this is over I think we should
>Petition the count for an audience on Devante Cu'paher's behalf

Can we take a photo with him? I'm sure we could surprise Sonia's father with that.

>>3145701

"So long as you and the other two leaders of your militia are willing to leave behind your weapons. And submit to a quick scan and check. I'll see what I can do to get you in touch with the Count."

Ah, how the people have been played by the EC. We should have this passed to Fadila and the PR team and have it spread among the news groups that the EC in their haste to rebellion. Didn't take into account the people and just riled the populace up without taking everything into consideration. And generally further discrediting any noble/ knight who was a part of that idiot group.

>>3145701
"Then let us speak of these demands, and see if they might find other supporters."

And I have to step out for the new years thing.

Happy New Years!

>>3145792
Supporting this

We need to know what his demands are before we advocate for an audience with the Count

>>3145701
>"The EC didn't think anything through. Take one step back and anyone can see that they are charlatans, pulling the same stunts they they pretend to denounce. They've only gotten people killed."

Though I dunno if I want him to speak with the count, nor do I know if it's our right to deny him? The count is bad at warfare and need advisors, so what's this guy going to do? Call people who bossed him around 40 years ago idiots? That's not going to help anything, they're probably dead or retired. If he's going to go on about civil rights and stuff is that not going against what we are trying to do? Our aim has been to prevent changes to avoid a stability hit and to not rock the boat until everyone gets back. If he actually convinces the Duke with his talking points haven't we failed?

>>3145701
> are we going to wait around until some idiot accidentally shoots someone and all hell breaks lose?"

Maybe? Is he willing to take the gains they've made, or does he want to risk them in a blaze of glory? Does he want to put those men's blood into the history books just so he can have one last Sally Forth? Quick or slow, they WILL lose.

Maybe he really ie more a Lord and less a soldier if he's willing to spill as much blood as needed, on both sides, just to prove his point.

How fucking dare he talk about this and the orders that sent those men to die on the plains in the same goddamn breath.

We've tried so hard to minimize casualties, and here he is throwing that in our face . Goddamned old men lying to younger generations just so they can die with their pride.

>>3145701
So, this dude has guaranteed that MORE JD soldiers will die fighting each other? Are we sure he's a soldier and not a politician?

We can pass his message along to the Count, but he has to be a leader to guarantee that he can keep control here while we negotiate.

Otherwise . . . Well, we didn't start this tragic situation, but one way or another we will end it.

And he said it himself, he didn't make sure they would win, only that losing would take longer.

But he should keep in mind that at this point, it might be best to keep what gains they have made and work on the rest later. Slower. Without destroying the House in the process.

> Grant him an audience with the Count.

Also we should recommend that he think on what he can offer the Count in exchange other than threatening violence. The Count can't be extorted, not with the situation now. In a sense it would even benefit him if isolated pockets keep resisting violently since that would give him an excuse to drop the hammer down and blame the collateral damage on the EC not being truly representative of the revolt.

>>3145737
>>3146088
>>3145701
TL;DR supporting both these with a little bit of "I'm not just angry, but also disappointed" from >>3146337

"So long as you and the other two leaders of your militia are willing to leave behind your weapons. And submit to a quick scan and check. I'll see what I can do to get you in touch with the Count."
You fold your arms.
"But before that lets speak of these demands."

"People want assurances mostly. Nobody knows if they can trust this new Count yet. These people only trusted the Emergency Council as far as their weapons they gave the militia would shoot. They want to be sure that this Count isn't going to turn around and disregard the reforms in another six or eight months."


"Well why dont I ask about some assurances of my own before you see anyone. I'm not impressed by you talking about orders that sent those men to die on the plains in the same breath as guaranteeing more J-D soldiers will die here."

The old Lord jerks a thumb over his shoulder.
"Those people, which would have included your father if he were still on planet, asked for my help. They don't want a fight, but if there is going to be one they at least deserved a chance to make a good showing of it. I owed them that much for what happened those years ago, even if I'm not fully onboard with their cause.
That's why I'm here talking to you. Because odds are the Barons are more likely to listen to me than a bunch of middle class retired soldiers. WAY more likely than they are to listen to PDF that deserted."

[ ] Pass the message on to the Count
[ ] Pass along if they pull their weapons back to the park center

Or did you want to ask anything else?

I'm picturing Cu'paher's voice as somewhere between Wrex and John Wayne.

>>3146876
>[ ] Pass along if they pull their weapons back to the park center

>>3146876
"You speak of trust but there is precious little of that to go around right now considering you are following murderers and traitors who threaten to undo the entire House because they where impatient."

[ ] Pass along if they pull their weapons back to the park center

"You are the ones that can not be trusted at this point in time. You are the ones that need to show good faith."

>>3146876
>[x] Pass the message on to the Count
Have both sides pull backed most armed people from the checkpoint. That should minimize the chance of something stupid escalating to a full scale confrontation.

>>3146896
>"You speak of trust but there is precious little of that to go around right now considering you are following murderers and traitors who threaten to undo the entire House because they where impatient."
They are not part of the EC.

>>3146876
>[X] Sponsor and Support if they pull their weapons back to the park center

I know it is a stretch, but could we possibly get more of a 'stand down' while they still occupy the park, while our people hold barriace/siege positions? A concession to show that murdering the Count isn't necessary to request changes and get them.


While I dislike the idea of someone telling Sonia that her father would possibly be in this park, I can't bring myself to disagree with them.

Best course of action I can see here is to try and support this group, and hopefully gain some of their support in return. We might be able to later work it into damaging the former EC, but for now we need to avoid further deaths and possibly prove to the Moderate Young Upstarts that we are good for our words earlier - these changes can be discussed and implemented for the better, rather than forced at gunpoint.

>>3146899
>They are not part of the EC.
Well they have supported them and I see that as basically the same thing.

>>3146971
>Well they have supported them
They haven't done that either.
>my old command asked for my help rallying the militia a few days ago. They wanted to be ready if necessary to face off against either the Emergency Council or your forces. Whatever was needed

I'm feeling like we should be wearing the Artifact armour when we're out in public. It's good optics being in a perfectly shiny piece like that. Sonia here to save the day.

>>3146876

"I'll pass along the message to the Count. But I'll ask that you have your militia step away from the checkpoint. For the same reasons neither of us wants someone to think they aren't being listened to. Remove some tension from the checkpoint and show that your militia is willing to listen."

"I'll make sure the Count get's your request. In return I want your people to pull their weapons back to the park center. As long as both sides keep facing off a gun point the greater the risk of an accident like you said."

"Fine, we'll be back."

With the three representitives heaving back to the barricades you place the call to the Count and tell him about the milita situation.
"As if we didn't have enough going on." Caius sighs in annoyance. "Make it clear to them that while I will talk to them that's all it's going to be, talk. I will not make any promises. We've given enough already."

You second that.

"We'll see them first thing in the morning. Let them spend another night behind their barricades. I want you or one of the other Barons present."

"Aye sir."

After signing off you pass along the message to Cu'paher. He doesn't seem thrilled with the delay but otherwise doesn't say anything.

"Are you in a hurry?" you ask him.

Considering his words he eventually answers.
"I'm dying, I need to get back to my medical suite. I wasn't born from a Dro'all noble family. With it I might last a year. Two at most. Without it I'll be dead inside a week."

1A) "Good thing the meeting is tomorrow."
1B) Offer medical assistance
1C) Inform Count, suggest delay

2) Is Sonia attending the meeting or will she ask one of the other Barons?

>>3147132
>1B) Offer medical assistance
Maybe the palace has one of these suites available for visitors? Would the system we bought from the Ruling House help him?

>2) Is Sonia attending the meeting or will she ask one of the other Barons?
Which of the Barons are currently present in the system?

>>3147132

>1B) Offer medical assistance

It wont look good if we let one of them die if we could have prevented it. Of course if he turns it down and then dies. It's not our fault.

>2) Is Sonia attending the meeting or will she ask one of the other Barons?
I thought that all the other Barons had left to other parts of the house. Sonia should go, just to see how Caius works.

>>3147139
>Maybe the palace has one of these suites available for visitors?
It probably has very good medical.
>Would the system we bought from the Ruling House help him?
Yes.


>Which of the Barons are currently present in the system?
>>3147144
>I thought that all the other Barons had left to other parts of the house.

None due to the fleets being deployed to intercept anyone deserting with starships. Though by morning that situation is likely to have improved to the point where they could leave the rest up to their subordinates.

File: writersblockC&H.jpg (123 KB, 500x482)

123 KB JPG

Sorry for the slower rate of posts so far today.

>>3147145
In that case, suggest he gets treated at the palace tonight and then offer him a stay at the spa once the whole situation has calmed down a bit?

>None due to the fleets being deployed to intercept anyone deserting with starships.
Unless sombody really wants to, let's have Sonia attend. She's at least sympathetic to Dro'all himself.

>>3147132
1A) "Good thing the meeting is tomorrow."
2) Yes, may as well see this through

>>3147132

1B) Offer Medical Assistance

2) Sonia Attends

We're not letting Sonia's father's commander die over this.

>>3147163
Supporting

>>3147132
1B) Offer medical assistance

2) Sonia attends.

>>3147132

>1B) Offer medical assistance

I'd rather be dealing with this guy than the upstart who could take his place. Also good PR if other anons agree that we could use this to our advantage in that way.

>2)

Sonia attends! We have been leading the reunion of the House so far, might as well stay in the loop as directly as possible.

"As you'll be needed in the Palace in the morning I'm sure it would be possible to arrange for use of the medical suites there."

Agreeing to this Cu'paher and his associates are checked for weapons and then catch a lift to the Palace in the back of an APC. With them away you check in on the status of the fleet and the situation throughout House space. The other fleets have continued to intercept the majority of stolen warships and only a few incidents have happened with privately owned craft.

The Army has secured most of the capital aside from areas where fighting is taking place between factions. Your people have only had to return fire in a few instances. Troops have entered nearly every city on this side of the planet, and half of those on the other side. It's a good thing Alex didn't need to take much of his army to Loran with him.

The situation on Torun remains chaotic. Army units loyal to Saputo are rearming at bases that have surrendered as part of the treaty. Some are taking a bit longer to put down arms but that's less of an immediate issue. More pressing is that nearly half of Torun's best equipment was shipped off world to Dreminth and Loran. That plus lack of transport is slowing the Army from gathering their strength. They'll need 48 hours minimum before they're anywhere near operational.

You manage to catch a few hours sleep before arriving at the palace at daybreak. There's still the occasional pop and crack of weapons fire in the distance but its much farther away. The occupation platform has begun to operate in a patrol pattern with the newer assault transports covering anywhere it isn't.

After being welcomed inside it's suggested you keep your armor on, minus the helmet. Most of those in the Palace are still similarly equipped including the Count. He's thrown a dress overcoat with epaulets and a cape over his suit to try and keep things semi-formal.

Lord Cu'paher is shown in and given a chance to explain that much of the middle class remain wary of the new government. Especially in light of the Emergency Council's tendency to act in the name of people they never bothered to talk to or consult.

"All of us admit that you've offered a lot. More than anyone before has. We want to be sure it's going to stay that way and not change back when it becomes more politically convenient."

"My word and the treaty aren't enough?"
"I'd like to take you at your word, but you don't have much history, good or bad. As for the treaty, the moment the fleets return from the war you and the Barons can overturn it with impunity. That's why elements of the middle class are suggesting the militia disperse, but some of them will keep their weapons."

"We're already allowing those who legally own their weapons to leave. That should be enough." you point out.

"I'm inclined to agree." says Caius. "I'm going to respect your right to vote for Governor. However any illegal weapons or those handed out by the Emergency Council have to go."

>Cont.