IS: Chapter 71

The HPG Network in New Ålborg had largely been enhanced with the use of QF-One-Seventy-Two Fifty-ton Hyperpulse Relay Satellites. These allowed the B-Class HPG on Oberon Six to send signals through the Relay Satellites to places all across New Ålborg, so that I could effectively use FTL Comms anywhere in the Grand Duchy. Of course, the whole system relied on daisy chains of Relay Satellites that were vulnerable to enemy attack, but that was the reason that I had my Patrol Flotilla of the Aerospace Force, to ensure that the system was protected from Pirates, Raiders, and Enemy Action. Was it a perfect solution? Absolutely not. But it was good enough for my purposes and allowed me a communications advantage that no other state in the known sphere had.

What this effectively meant was that when I began negotiations with the Archon's designated representative regarding the Apollo Inheritance in the wake of my announced engagement with Katrina, I did it from the Comms Room of the Palace on New Ålborg, instead of having to travel to Oberon Six or make my way to Apollo to do so. That was a rather large advantage, as it allowed me to negotiate from my own home. That was something that normally only happened to the various successor states, or possibly one of the larger and more established Periphery realms, such as the Taurian Concordat or the Magistracy of Canopus, both of which had similar setups to those found in the Inner Sphere Successor States when it came to HPG usage.

Speaking of the Taurians and Canopians, as I waited for the meeting to start, I read up on the progress of negotiations with the Government of Fronc in that same section of the Rimward Periphery. Milton Trondel, the leader of the Parliament of Fronc, was hesitant to agree to anything permanent, as both the Taurians and Canopians were already vying for influence in the region and sending him offers to join their own planned carveouts of the area. He had been busily playing the Taurians and Canopians off one another, and was trying to do the same with us. Minister Kowalski had been having much more success with systems in the North and East of the region. Detroit, Appian, Polybius, Rockwellawan, Bellerophon, Sacromonte, Highwater, Independence, Tiverton, and Mathraka had all agreed to band together under a single federated system for various reasons.

Many of those systems merely wanted infrastructural investments, especially places like Highwater and Tiverton, which required critical infrastructural aid. In Highwater's case, the large amount of Germanium ore had made it an attractive mining colony, but it was also devoid of potable water in a lot of areas. Water Purifiers for the aquifers that were tainted by exposure to Germanium Deposits and Moisture Farming Technology, which could condense potable water out of the moisture in the air, were needed to truly help the population there thrive. Meanwhile, Tiverton had a different problem. Tiverton was an ocean world that was highly geologically active. That had presented difficulties for the settlers. Investing in geothermal energy and desalination technology would help there.

Meanwhile, Bellerophon, Sacrimonte, and Polybius had been having issues with spillover from the Aurigan Civil War, and various mercenary units from both sides tended to raid those worlds when their pay was late, something that their paymasters in the Aurigan Directorate seemed to turn a blind eye to. It wasn't the permanent presence I recalled from the dreams of that other timeline, the different way the Aurigan Civil War was going seemed to have butterflied that, but it was still a problem. Their militias could not handle the repeated attacks by more hardened, better-equipped, mercenary forces. General Jorgenson had advised that we deploy some of the newer regiments to those worlds to train the planetary militias and stiffen the defenses against such raids, and Minister Kowalski had offered that as well. Those three worlds had gladly taken them up on the offer, and now the Sixteenth, Seventeenth, and Eighteenth Guards divisions were headed for the Coreward Periphery.

Meanwhile, Detroit, Independence, Appian, and Rockwellawan had all wanted industrial aid. Detroit wanted a Shipyard to add to their mechworks, while Rockwellawan wanted aid with their mining industry, and Independence wanted aid building various other factories for Aerospace Fighters and Combat Vehicles, these were things that we could largely run through Buccaneer Arms, GKT Enterpises, and other such Corporations, who would take partnerships, and associated cuts of various profits, gladly. Appian likewise wanted industrial help, though they wanted aid in producing electronic components, a partnership that could help the flagging fortunes of Amau Electronics turn around faster.

Lastly, there was Manthraka. They agreed to our suggestions thanks to a large payment of C-Bills we had sent to the Duke of Mathraka for the purchase of the now-defunct colony world of Contrilla. Contrilla would largely be our main outpost in the area, allowing us to speak to our allies in the newly emerging Rimward Federative Council. We had dispatched ships to begin creating a Naval Base and colony on Contrilla, even as the Duke of Manthraka agreed to be a part of the Rimward Federative Council.

According to the briefing, Minister Kowalski was apparently stating that at this point, we hardly needed Fronc, even though it was the most industrially built-up Independent World in the unclaimed region of the Rimward Periphery. With time and effort, the Rimward Federative Council would outpace it entirely. He was going to take a new approach with Fronc, that of take it or leave it, accordingly.

Just as I finished reading the briefing on the situation there, the Comms Screen lit up, receiving a transmission from the B-Class HPG on Oberon Six. It was time for the meeting with the Archon's Representative to start.

I would be pleasantly surprised to find out that the Archon had sent my future father-in-law to negotiate. . .

XXXX

"I don't know if the Archon would go for just that arrangement, Jozef. After all, the Commonwealth would be losing nine worlds, even if only temporarily, thanks to the inheritance of the Duchy." Frowned Duke Michael Watson.

My future father-in-law had a few more lines on his face than he'd had the last time we spoke, the pressures of his position aging him further. Of course, he still looked fantastic for his age and position, a testament to the sort of medical treatment he had access to thanks to his position and wealth. Even before I had come onto the scene with Star League Era Medical Technologies recovered from Project: Redoubt caches and reverse engineered by my technicians, the Duke of Apollo had the wealth and influence necessary to purchase medical treatments from the Magistracy of Canopus, who had previously been the uncontested masters of medical technology in the Sphere.

"What would you suggest, then?" I questioned.

Duke Michael Watson frowned at that, as if in thought. I had just floated him the plan I had worked out, whereby Katrina and I would spin the Duchy of Apollo off into a Cadet Branch headed by our second child that would hold the worlds as a Lyran Vassal after our deaths. No doubt that went a long way toward getting the Archon's Blessing, but it seemed it was still missing something. I think I knew what it was missing, and indeed, as Duke Watson spoke, he confirmed it for me.

"The Archon might require a sweetener. What would you be willing to give that we could take to her that would allow her to approve the marriage?" Queried Duke Watson.

"Is our continued and successful alliance not enough, then?" I asked.

"In normal times, it might be, but you aren't the only one building empires in the Periphery. Her cousin Frederick is currently in the middle of consolidating his control over the former territories of the Circinius Federation, Lothian League, and Illyrian Palitanate. Territories that put him in a position to flank the Commonwealth should he decide to attack." Pointed out Duke Watson.

"The Archon is worried that her cousin has thrown in with the Tristars?" I questioned.

"He's been seen meeting with Janos Marik, and seems to have been bankrolled in his conquests at least partly by the Free Worlds League. Surely that warrants such caution?" Queried Duke Watson.

"I see. In that case, would the Archon agree to a one-time donation of technical schematics?" I asked.

"You mean licenses to produce Mechs and other such things? I do not think that would wow her quite so much as you might think." Frowned Duke Watson.

"That, and something more. I understand my Father controls a twenty-seven-percent stake in the Otisburg Mech Factory?" I questioned.

"You would divest yourself of those shares?" Queried Duke Watson.

"With my own factories producing so many mechs and making so many C-bills, I hardly need those shares anymore. It would help solidify Lyran Economic Control of that area. I would also agree to recognize an area from the Lyran Border at New India and Viborg, west to Otisburg, and North to Janina in the Aquila Rift as within the Lyran Sphere of Influence, which should likewise help solidify Lyran Control of the Ten Worlds in Question." I offered.

"You must really want to marry my daughter." Mused Duke Watson.

"Katrina and I are in love. I would expect any man to do the same to be with the Woman he loves." I pointed out.

"So you should. What licenses would you be willing to add for the production of equipment?" Asked Duke Watson.

"Our Varulv Power Armor, Mauser Nine-Sixty Infantry Rifle, Improved Jump Pack, and Sneaksuit Designs. You would be able to put together some of the finest infantry forces in the Sphere this way." I answered.

"Plus the aforementioned shares of the Otisburg Mech Plant and diplomatic recognition of our Economic Sphere in the Periphery. I think that would allow the Archon to override some of the objections she has been getting to the Marriage. Aldo Lestrade, especially, as his objections were largely couched in the loss of potential industrial and economic power." Nodded Duke Watson.

"Lestrade's group has been objecting to this?" I questioned.

"Lestrade's group has been objecting to a lot of things. This, plus the Marriage of the Archon Designate to Edward Calderon, and many other things. He's been a major obstructionist, but the Archon can't arrest the Duke of Skye for that. After all, it isn't treason, exactly." Sighed Duke Watson.

For a few moments, I considered telling my future father-in-law all about Aldo Lestrade, his masterminding of the Free Skye Movement, his association with Frederick Steiner, and the coup that was potentially still in the works even in this altered timeline. Then I realized that, without proof, that wasn't something actionable, and the Archon wouldn't be able to do anything based on it. It would be seen as arresting the Duke of Skye on mere supposition by most of the Court, and it might even possibly touch off a revolt.

"So I see. What's his objection to the Calderon Marriage?" I queried.

"That it would bring us into unnecessary conflict with the Federated Suns, based largely on Thomas Calderon's sabre rattling." Responded Duke Watson.

"Well, I can't say that's not an unwarranted concern, especially since things in the Rimward Periphery seem to be heating up between the Taurians and Canopians." I sighed.

"They are? I hadn't heard. What's happened?" Asked Duke Watson.

"The Taurians and Canopians seem to be vying for influence over the various independent worlds in the area. From what I've heard, the Taurians have already added Paf, Spitz, and Pyrrhus to their holdings and have significant influence in Herotitus, Lyreton, and Mandalas. Meanwhile, the Canopians have added Casilda, Bonavista, and Taygete to their holdings and have significant influence on Hastur and Cygnus. Both powers are waging a war of diplomacy, influence, and incentives to get Fronc, Cygnus, Spencer, and Ur Cruinne to join." I informed.

"I see. You think a war will break out between them?" Questioned Duke Watson.

"Not before something else happens." I refuted.

"What do you mean?" Queried Duke Watson.

"I have actionable intelligence that the Tristars are bankrolling the Aurigan Directorate. In fact, the Aurigan Civil War may be entirely their doing, and if it doesn't end in their favor in a timely manner, it's possible they might just decide to throw away all pretenses and invade Aurigan Space outright." I answered.

"Which would in turn result in declarations of war from the other powers of the Rimward Periphery." Nodded Duke Watson.

"Exactly, and that would trigger a new round of Successor Wars in the Inner Sphere." I affirmed.

"In which case, you believe that we would be on the same side as the Federated Suns?" Asked Duke Watson.

"Through dynastic alliances, yes. There is nothing that will get smaller powers who are squabbling with each other to unite faster than a larger power interfering in their area of influence, after all." I pointed out.

"I see. Well, I will take your proposal and your intelligence to the Archon, though you can expect a request to see the reports your Ministry of the Interior has on the situation in the Rimward Periphery to arrive along with the Archon's consent to the marriage between you and my Daughter." Warned Duke Watson.

"I would expect no less." I opined.

And with that, the negotiations were finished. I would receive that confirmation that the Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth consented to my marriage with Katrina, and thus the proposal over the Apollo Inheritance, within the next two weeks, just as I was leaving for an interview with a newspaper from Tharkad about my upcoming nuptials. The request to see my intelligence on the situation with the Tristars and Aurigans came along with it, and I gladly acceded to the request. It seemed that the Rimward Periphery was definitely going to be the flashpoint for the next successor war. However, I didn't have the luxury of doing more than sharing intel right now.

After all, I had a wedding coming up. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, here's the next chapter. We see how things are progressing with the attempt to get a new power in the Rimward Periphery that can help safeguard trade and generally act as an intermediary between Jozef and the Rimward Periphery States. We also see the negotiation between the Archon's designated representative, Duke Michael Watson, and Jozef about the Marriage and the Matter of the Apollo Inheritance.

We just have a bit more to go before the end of the first part of this fic. I largely have this fic planned to run in three different eras. The first Era largely being the Establishment of Jozef's realms in New Ålborg and Rasalhague, along with the groundwork for the second era, which will cover the Fourth Successor War, plus some other things. The last era will be the events of the Alternate Clan Invasion. The end of the First Era is coming up soon, and I'm thinking of making a sequel fic to cover the Second and Third Eras, which would allow me more time to write for my other fics for a bit.

At any rate, the next chapter will be the start of the Wedding between Jozef and Katrina. It will be held on Rasalhague and involve guests from various powers of the Sphere.

Stay tuned. . .