(no subject)

[hominilupusinexilio]

[1]

Resnick is in the library, poring over the footage from So Long, Buddy the battle with the Beastmen and Waco's Rangers. He's not paying attention to the Beastmen though. He knows what their deal is, or at least thinks he does. He's trying to puzzle out instead why Waco's Rangers were disguised as clanners. Although he has a deep feeling in his gut that the Rangers are up to something deeply dishonorable (to be fair, he has that feeling about a lot of people), he can't figure out what exactly it is. The holo-projection catches a 'Summoner' (clearly not actually a Clan mech, but a Spheroid one thinly disguised) taking a shot to the shoulder. The 'missile rack' (here revealed as a giant painted log) falls off and.

"Freeze frame."

Yes, it's an Orion after all.

"Those savashri mercenaries dare to use The Great Father's own mech! But for what..."

He is unaware that the Orion is actually pretty common in the service of the Free Worlds League, that nation not being in the path of the Clan juggernaut.

[2]

It's holo-news time in the common room and he's about to get the answer to his questions. The news jingle plays and the newscasters shuffle their papers and make frowny faces.

"In our top story today, several military bases and cities were attacked by mobile suits only seen in the Earth Sphere once before. These mobile suits claimed to be from 'Clan Wolf'. Popularly known as the 'Dog Tribe', these are the same mobile suits that fought the 'Jade Falcons' three months ago. They did not discriminate between combatants and noncombatants. The death toll, of both civilians and soldiers, is in the thousands. Here is live footage of one such attack. We warn you that this footage depicts graphic violence and is not suited for children or those sensitive."

The broadcast cuts to a home recording, showing a huge mech looming over a crumbling, slummy neighborhood. Painted prominently on its side is the snarling wolf's head symbol of that Clan. At first it appears to be a Timber Wolf, one of the top frontline Clan ominimechs. Yet careful inspection will show that the arms don't articulate. It's actually a disguised Catapult, not that the broadcasters seem able to tell. Nor the terrified civilians, for that matter, as they boil out of their houses just before flights of LRMs slam into them and they collapse as if they were made of no more than cards. The torso mounted lasers flash out, incinerating many of those who tried to flee. There are constant screams, people praying and wetting themselves. It's not a pretty picture.

The external speakers of the mech cut on with a squeal. The voice that comes out is a passable imitation of the haughty clanner accent, though if you're familiar with English dialects and very observant you might notice that its culturally Texan origins aren't entirely covered up.

"Such is the justice of Kerensky we have visited upon the barbarians of the Earth Sphere!"

The footage then cuts off, showing a world map with several flashing red dots. The newscaster continues in voice-over.

"These are the sites where the attacks took place. The numbers next to them indicate the estimated number of casualties, where they are known. Phelan Kell, who claims to be the 'Khan', or warrior-chief of Clan Wolf has denied that these mobile suits belong to him and released the following statement to the press..."

Resnick looks like he's about to blow a gasket.

[OOC: If you want your home nation's cities or bases to have been attacked, feel free. Kors, feel free to NPC Phelan's press statement as well.]

Comments

[2]

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew stares at the news report.

He quivers.

Then–

"...WACCCCOOOOOO!!!!!"

[Richard!!! Gato!!! Arthrun!!! Khan!!!!! Stella!!!!...]

KANEEEEEEDAAAAAAAAA!

[hominilupusinexilio]

Like two wires connected to the same power source, Resnick shakes with rage too. Then he punches a wall, and despite bloodying his knuckles and possibly breaking one of them, immediately feels better.

"So the only question now is who does the freebirth work for?"

Re: KANEEEEEEDAAAAAAAAA!

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Scum." Matthew breathes out, having not yet worked out his rage issues. "Scum that shall be ground to dust!"

[hominilupusinexilio]

There's a trace of amusement.

"That does not narrow it down very much, quineg?"

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"....Neg." Matthew admits, seething.

Then, as his head cools down a little bit.

"But how did those dezgra merc surats get into the Earth Sphere without us noticing?"

[hominilupusinexilio]

"I do not know. However only one other Spheroid faction has managed to make it here, and they have used this tactic before..."

He pulls out his own noteputer and brings up the battle ROM from the fight in New York...

2

[saikyocivrobo]

What. The. Hell.

[hominilupusinexilio]

It takes him a minute to calm down but eventually he manages it.

"Someone...is trying to turn others against us."

[saikyocivrobo]

I know. I might not be a specialist on your robots...

[Werter points his hand at the 'mech on the TV.]

But I can tell this is not one of them. And what are they doing for that purpose? Killing unarmed civilians!

[hominilupusinexilio]

"Aff. However it is a mech used in the Inner Sphere. Yesterday we encountered a company of Waco's Rangers, an Inner Sphere mercenary-" Naturally he says 'mercenary' as if it were a curse, despite the Chalice's quasi-merc nature. "-unit disguised in the same way. Someone must have hired them for this purpose."

[saikyocivrobo]

We need to find out who did it. What's going on here is a freakin' war crime. These guys don't deserve mercy.

In the meantime, though, we need to make sure this won't happen again. White Chalice is only one ship, but...

[hominilupusinexilio]

"These tactics are familiar to you. How would you find them if you were in my place?" It was a bit of a backhanded compliment, though he hadn't meant to phrase it that way: you're a freeborn barbarian, regale me with your expertise on dishonorable tactics.

2)

[lastfeather]

False Flag tactics.

[Ryou was just cleared to leave the infirmary and just finished his first therapy session. He wasn't cleared for combat duty though.]

Not the first time I've seen 'em happening. The Corporations back in Layered used them all the time to sway popular opinion their way. Civilian deaths were always a useful tool to make their rivals look worse.

I guess things aren't that different on the surface after all.

[hominilupusinexilio]

Resnick gradually calms down, enough to respond to Ryou. Good thing he still hasn't realized he's a merc too.

"So someone is attempting to turn the lower castes of the Earth Sphere against us, quiaff?"

[lastfeather]

Not just the 'lower castes'.

How many people would want the chance and an excuse to take your technology and territories for themselves?

[He's scratching his chin curiously.]

They're trying to get an excuse to have people bring a war on you. It'd be open season on the job market for Mercenaries, a bloodbath for soldiers and and the worst time to be around for non-combatants.

Even if it doesn't come to duking it out with the Surface Powers, you won't have a lot of friends unless you can clear your names. You'll be isolated. And if anyone wants to launch a strike on you, nobody would pay them any mind.

Pretty devious if I have to say...

[hominilupusinexilio]

"It is true that Clan technology does inspire envy...Still, if they wish to attack us, let them come."

Of course he couldn't let on that this actually gave him pause. Time was on the side of the big regiments, not small elite forces like the Clan Warrior caste. Especially with those Siberian domepoli needing protection...

"Still, such dezgra tactics can be quite irksome..."

[lastfeather]

Especially when its a straight up fight you want right? Cloak and dagger just isn't your style?

[Spoken like someone who knows the feeling.]

I can do stealth when I have to... but having an enemy in front of you keeps things simple.

[hominilupusinexilio]

"Aff. Such tactics are anathema to a true clansman."

Don't make him like you, Ryou. It'll only make the heartbreak worse later.

"How would you respond if you were in my situation?"

He rubs his chin thoughtfully.

2)

[wardeninexile]

Ranna watches with her arms fold, her face grim as the view cuts cuts to a room in which Phelan is standing.

"Clan Wolf does not cordone, and is not responsible for such heinous acts of slaughtering civilians.

I am aware an appeal to emotion is of little weight when the actions were so terrible, so I will appeal to your intellect instead.

We have sent data packets to your civilian authorities and media outlets that contain non-classified data on our mechs and the ones that were most likely used to imitate us.

Clan Wolf will be doing its utmost to hunt down those responsible for this."

Short and to the point, it seems. The news now shows wire-frame schematics of the Timberwolf and the Catapult, placing them side by side as the voiceover by the newscaster takes over.

"Our residential military experts have taken a preliminary look at the data provided, and they feel that while it is too early to accept Phelan Kell's claims, those claims cannot be outright denied either.

Here is what our experts have to say..."

Re: 2)

[hominilupusinexilio]

Resnick punches a bulkhead, bloodying and possibly breaking his knuckles but feeling better in the process.

"Their experts could not tell a Mackie from a Turkina!"

Perhaps a bit harsh. Their analysis is competent but hampered by a lack of information. The Clans have only been publicly revealed three months ago. And the mercenaries did a good job of it, aping Clan organization, even speaking like clanners on the comms. Copies of The Remembrance were dropped at certain sites, open to its most violent and self righteous verses. Even if Phelan placates every world leader, conspiracy theorists will eat it up. The damage has been done.

2

[emorangerpink]

...I don't imagine the Clans have much experience in public relations.

It might be an idea to contact some friends. People like Miki, or President Wilson...

Re: 2

[hominilupusinexilio]

Resnick rubs his chin, thoughtfully.

"...Aff, someone who knows how to navigate these waters. Miki Hoshii is an entertainer though, quiaff?"

[emorangerpink]

Which means she has media contacts. News and entertainment are closer than you'd think in the Earth Sphere. And her family are politicians, I think.

What you need isn't just allies among politicians. You need the people telling the world what's going on around them to be saying good things about you. As it is, something sensational like this is like throwing them raw meat.

[hominilupusinexilio]

"Do they not have information broadcasts that will correct their misconceptions?"

Oh, the poor naive thing.

[emorangerpink]

Not... reliable ones. I mean, some people do. Lots of places don't, or they have reliable and unreliable ones, and more people watch the unreliable ones because they're more interesting.

And even the serious, official stuff isn't totally accurate all the time. There's a lot of stuff about the colonies that gets reported in Britannia that'd never show up in the Federation, for example.