Parliament Approves Military Appropriations

Atreus, Marik Commonwealth, Free Worlds League

Parliament passed this year's military appropriations bill by a vote of 267 to 233. Captain-General Janos Marik originally asked for 3.76 Billion M-Bills. Parliament refused and eventually Marik had to settle for 3.22 Billion M-Bills to run the FWL Military. The FWL Military consists of 22 'Mech regiments plus 300 ancilliary regiments. This is less than half of the total military forces in the Free Worlds League as most armed forces belong to various regional governments.

Andurien Invokes Home Defense Act

Andurien, Duchy of Andurien, Free Worlds League

Dame Catherine Humphreys, on behalf of the Duchy of Andurien, invoked the Home Defense Act of 2906 for the 8th straight year. This means that once again, Captain-General Janos Marik will not be allowed to take more than 25% of the Andurien forces out of the Duchy. Dame Humphreys continues to distance the Duchy from the rest of the Free Worlds League. She has become the leader of the anti-Marik coalition of Parliament.

Rioting on Marcus

Marcus, Silver Hawks, Free Worlds League

Extensive rioting has been reported on the world of Marcus near the Lyran border. Marcus is suffering severe food shortages due to constant Lyran raids that have destroyed most of the farmlands. The Silver Hawks are relatively poor and they have not been able to relieve the famine. The local government has called on the Free Worlds League for emergency aid which has been slow to arrive. Meanwhile, Marcus has been placed under martial law with local garrison forces patrolling the streets.

Ewan's Diplomacy

One incident I'll never forget occurred when Marik, unable to arrive at a Star League meeting due to a mechanical malfunction, accepted a lift in a Davion JumpShip. Richard Cameron, the four other House leaders, and I were there to greet him. I remember his remarks on his arrival.

"Well, 'First Lord', you and your puppet Kerensky will be pleased that I had a miserable time on that Davion tub coming here. They're as badly serviced as a Kurita brothel and as ugly as a Capellan whore, eh, gentlemen? Oh, but of course Lady Steiner [Michael Steiner] wouldn't know about such things."

In three sentences, Ewan Marik managed to insult each of the other four House leaders, plus the First Lord and myself, without even having removed his jacket.

-- From Twilight of Courage: The Memoirs of General Aleksandr Kerensky, ComStar Archives (event circa 2755)