Duchess Olivia Fenlon Returns

New Avalon, Crucis March, Federated Suns

Minister of Foreign Relations Olivia Fenlon has returned from a trip to the Lyran Commonwealth. She traveled to Tharkad to discuss Archon Katrina Steiner's Peace Proposal. The Duchess was in good spirits on her arrival at the capital of the Federated Suns.

"It's good to be back," she said to reporters. "Tharkad is lovely at this time of year but it's too cold compared to New Avalon. The discussions with the Lyrans went well. We have many common interests and goals. I think that an alliance between our two nations would benefit both greatly."

Concordat Forces Dig In

Larsha, Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation

With the systems of Ward, Hurik, Larsha, and Rollis conquered, the Taurian Concordat forces are now digging in and preparing fortifications on each world. Taurian engineers are building fortresses and turning each planet into massive hedgehogs. Whole countrysides are filled with pits, mines, and other assorted traps. Each city is ringed with prepared defenses. Agents on each planet say that the fortifications are extensive but mostly unfinished.

The Taurian government has claimed these systems as a buffer against Capellan aggression. Davion forces in the Edgeward Capellan March have been put on alert. Although Taurian government officials say they have no aggressive intentions on Federated Suns worlds, some reserve regiments are being shifted to the Federated-Concordat border.

Cammal Terrapins Win Capellan March Championship

Cammal, Capellan March, Federated Suns

The University of Cammal Terrapins defeated the New Syrtis University Vipers to win the Capellan March BattleMech Simulator Championships. The Terrapins were undefeated in 32 matches and are only the third team to go undefeated since the fall of the Star League. The Terrapins will go on and compete in the Federated Suns championship tournament next month.

"It's an honor to represent the Capellan March," said Terrapins captain Mai Nguyen. "We will do our best to win the FS championship for all of the Capellan March. I would also like to salute the Vipers for a well played match. Perhaps they will do be able to beat us next year."

Ranks of the AFFS

The following ranks are currently used by the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns. The ranks are descended from the Code of Ranks of the Star League Regular Army and the British military before that. In number of ranks only the Lyran Commonwealth uses more.

• Private: Recruits and volunteers start out at this rank. Each private attends boot camp and then goes on to specialized training. After instruction most privates are assigned to the local march militia.
• Corporal: Most privates are promoted to corporal in less than a year.
• Sergeant: Sergeant usually act as vehicle commanders or infantry platoon seconds.
• Sergeant-Major: The highest enlisted rank. Sergeant-Majors are responsible for all of the enlisted men in a regiment.
• Cadet/Subaltern: Graduates from the military academies start out at this rank. This is a six-month probationary rank at the end of which a cadet is promoted to leftenant.
• Leftenant: Leftenants command 'Mech/Aerospace lances or vehicle/infantry platoons.
• Captain: Captains command companies.
• Major: A Major usually commands a battalion.
• Leftenant Colonel: A Leftenant Colonel usually serves as the executive officer of a regiment.
• Colonel: A Colonel commands a regiment or department within the AFFS bureaucracy.
• Leftenant General: Leftenant Generals are a new rank introduced in 2953. The purpose of this rank is to train high-level officers in the administrative skills needed to coordinate multiple regiments.
• Major General: A Major General serves as excutive officer of a March Militia. March Militias are composed of several regiments spread over several worlds.
• General: A General commands a March Militia or is executive officer of a front-line Regimental Combat Team.
• Marshal: A Marshal commands a Regimental Combat Team. RCTs are composed of a 'Mech regiment with up to a dozen or so supporting conventional regiments.
• Field Marshal: Field Marshals command the seven Combat Theatres of the Federated Suns.
• Marshal of the AFFS: The position held by the First Prince of the Federated Suns.