P19 Orbit — Leu Station — Council Chambers
The council chamber was quiet other than the low whispers between the saKhans.
• Zesh — Warrior Division
• Amelia — Civil & Economic Division
• Dr. Kael Armin — Science Division
• Toren Vale — Engineering Division
• Lira Voss — Naval Division
• Serin Malvek — Intelligence Division
• Elaina Rhys — Education Division
Each had attained their rank through merit, competition, and the will of their divisions.
Each had authority.
Each had weight.
Now they gathered at the wheel of their Khan.
Silas stood at the center of the circular table.
He made a slow circle around it before activating the central projector.
A star map flickered to life.
Deep Periphery.
P19 marked in bright gold.
Then the surrounding systems.
Then the nearest periphery state.
The Marian Hegemony.
Then a second overlay — the Inner Sphere, as updated as the stolen merchant vessel's data had allowed.
Outdated, but sufficient.
Silence lingered.
Silas let it.
Then he spoke.
Silas: My saKhans. We are gathered here today to decide how our Clan will operate going forward.
No interruptions.
Silas: We have rebuilt ourselves since the Pirate Coalition War. We have become strong again.
He looked around the table.
Silas: But strength without growth becomes stagnation.
A few nods.
Silas: Our greatest bottleneck is population. Twenty-five million on P19 is not enough to sustain expansion at the rate we require.
He shifted the projection.
Marian worlds highlighted in red.
Silas: To remedy this, I propose we begin targeted strikes and raids against the Marian Hegemony.
A pause.
Silas: The objective will be the extraction of population centers. We will abduct as many as we can reasonably secure and relocate them to Clan-controlled worlds. They will be educated. Integrated. Converted into productive members of Clan Wolverine.
The word abduct hung heavy in the air.
Zesh leaned forward immediately.
Zesh: About time. We strike. We test our young blood. We free slaves and break Dezgra.
She was already halfway to approving the first strike plan.
Amelia folded her hands.
Amelia: Let us not romanticize this.
Her eyes stayed on Silas.
Amelia: You are not proposing liberation. You are proposing relocation of millions.
Silas did not flinch.
Silas: Correct.
Elaina Rhys spoke next.
Elaina: Integration of that scale will strain my division. We can re-educate. We can restructure identity. But the question remains—
She met Silas' eyes.
Elaina: What do we do with those who resist?
There it was.
Silence returned.
Silas did not answer immediately.
He walked slowly around the table again.
Silas: Those who resist reeducation will be offered second-class citizen status.
A few eyebrows lifted.
Silas: They will still contribute. They will still work. They will not hold authority.
He paused.
Silas: The diehards. The irreconcilable.
Now his voice hardened.
Silas: They will be reassigned to the Science Division as live research subjects.
No one reacted dramatically.
They were Clan.
But the weight of it was real.
Silas: It is cruel. Yes. But we will not use our own people for invasive testing. We need subjects for advanced medical and cybernetic development. If they refuse integration, they will still serve the Clan.
Dr. Kael Armin's lips curled faintly.
Kael: My request is finally approved.
He tapped his pad.
Kael: We have long required controlled live testing. I have no desire to dissect our own citizens.
Silas' gaze lingered on him just a second too long.
A reminder.
Kael understood.
Lira Voss leaned back.
Lira: The fleet requires real deployment experience. Archangel-class vessels are ready for operational stress testing. Our new naval crews need blooding.
She smirked slightly.
Lira: Marian border systems will provide that.
Zesh nodded once.
Zesh: Our young warriors are ready. Sibko graduation cycles align within two years.
Amelia exhaled slowly.
Amelia: We must be efficient. No pointless slaughter. Population extraction only.
Silas nodded.
Silas: Correct. We do not conquer worlds. We do not occupy. We strike, extract, withdraw.
Malvek finally spoke.
Serin Malvek: Intelligence indicates twenty-seven systems between P19 and the Marian frontier. Limited patrol coverage. Weak border cohesion. We can operate with plausible deniability.
Silas looked around the table.
No one objected.
No moral outrage.
No hesitation.
They all understood the numbers.
Even with the Newtype Warrior Program.
Even with accelerated growth.
Even with artificial wombs and genetic scaling.
Population growth internally would take decades.
This was faster.
Silas placed both hands on the table.
Silas: Then it is decided.
He shut down the projection.
Silas: Operation Snatcher is approved.
The name felt cold.
Elaina nodded once.
Elaina: The cadets graduating within two years will be prepared for deployment.
Zesh's eyes gleamed.
Zesh: Let them earn their Bronze.
Amelia simply nodded.
No celebration.
No applause.
Just decision.
The Clan had chosen expansion.
—///—
Engineering Division HQ
HRUNTING / YGGDRASIL Mark I ADS
Rows upon rows of the Mark I ADS units filled the massive engineering bay.
Nearly one hundred and fifty of them.
Each unit towered over conventional infantry, titanium alloy plating layered over a reinforced internal frame of nanocomposite titanium fibers. Compact fusion reactors hummed at idle test levels inside their armored torsos.
Weapon systems were mounted and locked:
• T261 Lucifer Arm-Mounted Gatling Gun
• LAU-1810 / SGM-151 Missile Tubes (5)
• M149 Magellan Recoilless Rifle
• Type-18 Claymores (6)
Crew: 1 operator.
Toren Vale stood proudly in front of the formation, hands clasped behind his back.
Toren Vale: As you can see, my Khan, we have been developing the HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL program for over two years. There were complications with stabilization and recoil compensation in early prototypes, but those issues are resolved.
He gestured toward the line of machines.
Toren Vale: The Mark I is complete. With additional materials and funding, we are confident we can field the Mark II within the next few years. Improved armor density, enhanced targeting suite, and partial neural assist integration.
Silas stepped forward, inspecting one of the units up close.
The scale was perfect.
Smaller than a 'Mech.
Large enough to threaten one.
Silas: This is good, Vale.
He tapped the armored leg plating.
Silas: Our infantry detachments need real firepower. Something capable of dealing with vehicles, fortified positions… and lighter 'Mechs without committing a full lance.
He looked down the long line of ADS units.
Silas: These give us flexibility. Urban warfare. Boarding actions. Planetary assault.
Toren allowed himself a small smile.
Toren Vale: That was the intention, my Khan.
Silas: Once production stabilizes, I want dedicated ADS companies assigned to every major ground formation. Train mixed doctrine — MechWarriors working alongside ADS units.
Toren nodded sharply.
Toren Vale: Understood.
Silas paused for a moment.
Silas: If my schedule allows, I'll come down here personally and assist your division. There are improvements we can explore. Reactor efficiency scaling. Shield projection experiments. Possibly even limited atmospheric thruster packs.
Toren's expression shifted — genuine excitement.
Toren Vale: That would be an honor, my Khan. The division would welcome your insight.
Silas gave one last look at the 150 war machines lined up in formation.
Before further discussions could be had about the next model of mobile suit, there was a crack in the ceiling.
With a loud bang, three bodies fell from the ceiling , three young girls all wearing cadet uniforms, Tanya, Zelary and Azula all three of them, the top of their classes, and all three of them within restricted areas not allowed for cadets.
Silas: well…. Girls…. I hope you have a good explanation for being in a restricted zone.
His tone was calm direct but because of the three girls being new types, they can sense disappointment from him.
—///—