Resurgence - Cataclysm Third Transfer
Terra, 3153
A holovid plays in an apartment in Geneva. A destroyed warship lays in the distance, burning furiously on the other side of the city. Numerous buildings collapsed, windows are blown out even as far as she is from it. The red emblems of Clan Wolf and a Daggerstar on the hull stare up into the sky as the flames close in around them. A woman watches, trembling from the one channel that has taken over all of the holovid waves.
“For far too long the Inner Sphere has waged war against itself.” Pausing for effect Precentor Martial Domiclus looks at the holovid camera. His eyes glow red, with a red glow emerging from his forehead as well. “For far too long the people of the Inner Sphere have slaughtered themselves at the behest of petty House Lords, Ladies, and Khans.” Domiclus begins walking as the camera follows him closely… Arcturus, 3153
Arcturus, 3153
“The HPG turned on dad!” a little boy runs inside shouting. “I saw it move! I saw it! I saw it!”
“Good eye, son! It has been years since the HPG channels did anything, let’s see what they have going on. With so much data, this could be very interesting and funny to watch!” The dad picks up his son and sets him on his lap while his wife brings each of them some water and snacks then joins them.
The multiple HPG channels only show one feed of a man walking, “Hmmm, must be a general announcement now that those things are working again, let’s see.” The dad says as his wife snuggles up against his shoulder on the couch.
Domiclus walks to the edge of what appears to be a hangar that is flooded by sunlight. He looks into the light and takes a deep breath as the camera pans around him. It moves down the ramp so that it is looking up at the man dressed in pure white robes. He begins walking toward the camera, down the ramp. “I am here on behalf of the Inner Sphere, the people, the future… you. Blake’s light will finally break through the insanity of endless war.” He says this with an impassioned look on his face, his arms and hands outstretched like a father looking to his children…
Styx, 3153
“Hey! Barkeep, I just got an alert that the HPG turned back on, let’s see what it’s showin’ from twenty years ago!”
“Right on Tommy!” The older man picks up the remote and lifts his head to look down through his bifocals and finds the ‘HPG’ channel button. “Here goes!” he says. He clicks the button and a man in a white robe comes on screen. Again, using his bifocals, the older man finds the volume and starts turning it up.
“Today I get to make the long-awaited announcement that our order has always dreamt of. This is something that has been decades and centuries in the making. While someone was certainly trying,” the man pauses to smile and looks down as he reaches the bottom of the ramp, then waves his hand as though he is waving off a thought and recomposes himself. “While someone tried, it failed, then another self-proclaimed leader failed again, today. Devlin Stone, Blake curse him, tried to force the Inner Sphere to do as he said. Then a wolf pup killed him for it.” He pauses and nods off camera.
Capella, 3153
Two Maskirovka agents walk through the CCAF base exchange as they are going to the uniform shop. As they are moving through the other servicemembers and their dependents the red eyes of a man on a screen inside a tech store catch their own. One motions inside and the other rolls his eyes and follows.
They go inside and find a number of other patrons listening to the voice on the holovid.
The feed cuts from a man with red, glowing eyes nodding off camera and into a hospital suite. His voice continues as the video plays. “Now, we have long been watching and occasionally needed to spur things along.” The hospital suite shows Devlin Stone in a hospital bed with Alaric Ward and Chance Vickers standing over him. “However, sometimes Blake blesses us with just what we need, when we need it. The Manei Domini reach deep and far and when a leader like the one that defeated our ancestors is in a vulnerable position, well…” Domiclus trails off for effect.
The video continues and shows Chance Vickers suffocate the elderly man in his own hospital bed while the supposed ‘ilKhan’ does nothing to stop it, nothing to preserve his already tainted honor. The feed returns to Domiclus. Rasalhague, 3153
Rasalhague, 3153
Dalia Bekker got a call to turn on the holovid after the HPG suddenly started moving on its own, “I am getting too old to be jumping up to see things.” She mumbles in the privacy of her own quarters. Making the usual, relaxing groan that anyone over thirty makes when they sit in a comfortable chair, she takes a deep breathe then flips on her holovid. She sees the man talking and it sends shivers up her spine.
“Now, I come home to visit and the wolf pup isn’t even here!” Domiclus exaggerates and throws his hands like he is bummed out. The camera turns around him so that the sunlight is hitting the left side of his face. The screen remains zoomed in on him but beside his head it looks like past him is glimpses of some stone structure and some mechanical items. “You see, how can a man whose entire culture is built on honor, betray that very honor to try to rule not just his own people but, all of the Inner Sphere? How will the Clans accept this ‘ilKhan’ knowing that in his greatest hour he could not perform without violating his own honor.”
Domiclus purses his lips and shakes his head as another recording begins to play. Marik, 3153
Marik, 3153
“David, get in the living room now!”
“What is it hun? Another one of those damn insects get in here and bite the dog?” David comes walking in to find his daughter crying in the arms of his wife.
“Who the hell is this creep? He is on all the HPG channels. I thought I would give them a go after seeing the HPG rotating.” David’s wife expresses concerningly.
“I don’t recognize him from our military or government, I’ll see what he says if you want to go play with Samantha in the other room.”
“Ok, sweetie, thanks.” She kisses David on the cheek, then moves to another room with their daughter.”
David watches and listens as the man with the red eyes just stares toward the ground as the audio clips play.
“Khan Ward,” came a deep voice— old and defiant. “I have been waiting for you to contact us. I am surprised you have not yet offered a batchall for Terra. I presume one is forthcoming.”*
“Devlin Stone. I was surprised to learn you are still alive— welcome back to the realm of the living. As it turns out…” Alaric paused, savoring it. “A batchall was not necessary for Terra. I presumed you would defend it with all you have, and I intend to come at it with all I have. If I were to bid, it would be Clan Wolf. My entire Clan.”*
Alarics voice begins to play:
“My message to Galaxy Commander Chistu stated that we invited you here with the understanding that you came to fight the Republic of the Sphere first. If you violate that understanding, you will sacrifice your honor and pay dearly for such a betrayal. Many Clan warriors would refuse to follow anyone who would trample on honor so carelessly.”*
(*Blaine Lee Pardoe. BattleTech: Hour of the Wolf.)
McKenna’s Pride, 3153
ilKhan Alaric Ward’s eyes see red as he watches his ilClan, his Star League collapsing before his very own eyes on a live HPG feed from Terra.
“Those citizens of the Inner Sphere who do not know me yet, I am Precentor Martial Domiclus of the Word of Blake. Once again, we stand on Terra.” He spreads his arms wide and the camera backs up showing an Omega on his right and an Archangel on his left.
In front of the Omega is a pile of dead Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon Battlemechs. A Warwolf and Mad Cat Mk II lay on their sides strewn about with a Gyrfalcon and Shrike. The Cameraman backs up even further, the holovid now showing a wider view in front of Alaric’s rebuilt Stellar Court.
Alaric is unsure how to respond. Chance sits beside him, her hand over her mouth. “I left more than enough Naval forces to slaughter anyone that might figure out the Fortress Wall’s secrets! All of our planning! All of my work! They cannot have it!” he shouts.
Domiclus begins speaking again as he walks, the camera panning and following him. “You are watching me now as we have fully reactivated the HPG network for the Inner Sphere after one of the Republic’s Exarchs shut it down. Our allies in Clan Sea Fox have been working to restore damaged hyperpulse generators. However, the only solution to Clarion Call is the counter-protocol, Discordant Mantle. In truth, Clarion Call was one of my predecessor’s ideas as was the Fortress Wall. However, only the most desperate situation would call for them to be used.”
“It is clear to me that the Exarch that activated Clarion Call simply did not know how to use it. Likewise, the Fortress Wall was so poorly handled that it guaranteed the Republic’s defeat.” He takes a few more steps and he arrives before the Cameron tomb.
Alaric glares in rage at the holovid.
Behind the Precentor Martial stands a pair of Demon series Battle Armor, two Gauss Nephilim. At their feet are two dead Clan Wolf Elemental Battle Armor, laying in pools of blood. “At last, we have returned home. On this wonderous day, in this wonderous year, the Third Transfer has finally been completed. I am now First Lord, Precentor Martial Domiclus. My emissaries will be reaching out to all worlds around the Inner Sphere.”
“We welcome into the Star League any nation that wishes for peace and prosperity. No more succession wars, no more invasions, no more jihads, no more dark ages. Just a return to the golden age of trade and diplomacy. Praise be to Blake, Praise be to the Star League!” The video cuts off and the channel turns to static and confused imagery as the backlog of data from Gray Monday feeds through the system.
Alaric Ward, Khan of Clan Wolf screams in a bloody rage aboard the McKenna’s Pride.
