In response to all those Ranma/Battletech notions out there, all I can is why limit yourself? For example: --- 3022: A New Beginning A Ranma/Battletech Fusion By Kagami --- 'We live in uncertain times. War, poverty, disease, hunger - all these ills are commonplace afflictions upon our poor citizens today, where once, beneath the aegis of the Star League, they had apparently been banished for all time. As I sit upon the throne of the Lyran Commonwealth, the cries for relief and succor from the citizens of this great nation echo in my ears. I must agree with their stand - war is wasteful, war is meaningless, war neglects all that is worth saving. What worth is a title to a throne three hundred years dead? What worth is the title of First Lord when there is no Star League? None, I say to you. Let our eyes fix upon the untold future, rather than meandering uselessly amongst the mistakes of the past. To this end, I hold out my hand in friendship to any who will take it. Let us achieve a new harmony and a new compact as befits humanity among the stars.' - From the Peace Proposal of Archon Kasumi Steiner, 3020. --- Ranma Davion stared morosely out the dropship window at the vibrant whites and blues that formed the icy cold atmosphere of Tharkad, capital of the Lyran Commonwealth. The reason for his cheerless mood stood beside him, blissfully oblivious to his only son's unenthusiastic attitude. Genma 'The Panda' Davion, Prince of the Federated Suns, wasn't the most perceptive of men at the best of times. If not for the wisdom and good sense of Nodoka Davion, the Federated Suns would definitely be in far worse shape than it was at the moment. His father had neglected most of the affairs of state to devote all of his time and ability to train him as a mechwarrior. Pops hadn't been satisfied with adequate: no, his son had to be the best of the best. All right, that was reasonable enough - after all, Ranma liked being the best of the best. But what had possessed him to attack Jusenkyo with the Davion Guards anyway? Just because Wolf's Dragoons had been rumoured to be on the planet and back in service to Liao. An excellent training mission opportunity, Ranma my boy! The Dragoons are the best in the mercenary business. With luck, we might be able to face Ryoga Wolf and Ukyo Kerensky in battle! And so they had, for all the good it had done them. Ranma rubbed his right arm in remembrance of the pain which had overwhelmed him after that damned Vindicator's PPC blast had shattered the cockpit of his Phoenix Hawk. Wolf's Dragoons had indeed been on planet, but only because Colonel Wolf had gotten his troops lost again. Their presence had drawn the response of a Liao unit, and the battle had turned into a three-way nightmare. He counted himself lucky to have made it offplanet with most of the Guard intact. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to avoid that fiasco at Jusendo Springs. Liao Shan Puu, I wonder who she was? Probably one of the old spider's many offspring. He'd have to ask MIIO when they got home. A good warrior, nevertheless. I hope she survived. Ranma stared down at Tharkad again. Why were they here? The Lyrans were neither friends nor enemies to the Davion family. Both their star nations had little contact apart from business dealings. At which the Lyrans were notoriously good, he acknowledged. Perhaps his father was here to negotiate a trade agreement? "Say, Pops, why are we here at the Lyran capital, anyway?" A happy grunt answered him, and he squirted a zero-gee flask of hot water in response. "Ouch! It needn't be quite that hot, boy!" Freaks. That's what they were now. Utter freaks. No wonder his family had never seriously tried to conquer the Capellan Confederation before. If all their planets were like Jusenkyo, he didn't want to touch them with an AC/20. "You didn't answer me, Pops." "Oh, nothing much. Just here to see an old friend and wrap up a few things. Don't concern yourself, boy," Genma said with a smile. "Just relax and enjoy the sights while I talk with Archon Kasumi." Somehow, that smile didn't reassure him at all. --- "Waaaah! They're here!" Archon Emeritus Soun Steiner wasn't the most coherent of men at the best of times. His wife's death had gradually eroded his ability to govern until, in 3020, his eldest daughter had taken over the reins of power with his blessing. Archon Kasumi Steiner looked to be a great ruler in her own right. Her famous Peace Proposal of 3020 had been a stunning offer to the rest of the Inner Sphere. While House Kurita had sent no reply apart from seriously raiding several border worlds, and Houses Liao and Marik had attempted to wrangle benefits without offering concessions, the Proposal had drawn a response from House Davion and led to secret talks between the two nations, culminating in this face-to-face meeting on Tharkad. The alliance between the two nations looked set to change the entire Inner Sphere. Soun Steiner rushed into the informal office of his daughter. To the eternal despair of the palace servants, Archon Kasumi delighted in cooking for family and friends. Thus, her office was usually the palace kitchen. Delectable aromas filled the large area as Kasumi directed the efforts of nearly fifty cooks and assistants as well as seeing to a dish of her own. Despite her preoccupation, she glanced up with a smile as her father entered her domain. "Hello, father. Have they arrived, then?" Tears streaked readily down his cheeks as he nodded in reply. "Where are the others, Kasumi?" "Oh, Nabiki's probably dealing with the Davion trade negotiators, while Akane would be at her normal practice, father." Kasumi smiled indulgently as Soun rushed off, before turning her attention back to the simmering pot in front of her. The arrival of the Prince of the Federated Suns and his heir warranted the excellence that only she could prepare. --- Akane Steiner smiled happily as the target exploded under the fire of her twin PPCs. The cockpit of her Marauder boiled with heat, and even though she was currently wearing only briefs and a cooling vest, she dripped with sweat. It didn't bother her though. There was nothing like blasting apart a half-a-dozen mechs on the target range to work off the tension. That thought brought the tension back all at once, and she had to fight sighing despondently. How could her family just engage her like a piece of meat? And to a Davion as well. Well, it was probably better than Tatewaki Kurita, who was rumoured to have a infatuated obsession for her, or that idiotic pervert, Mikado Marik! But who was this Ranma Davion and what was he like? She had his intelligence report from the LIC, but it didn't mention anything she wanted to know. And Nabiki wouldn't tell her anything at all. She moodily triggered another burst of PPC fire and watched another target vehicle explode in a shower of computer-generated light. Well, it wouldn't be long now. As if her thoughts had evoked it, the comm channel burst into life. "Akane." Her father's voice came peremptorily over the channel. "Our guests are here. Please be ready at 1600 hours." "Right, daddy," she said automatically, toggling the comm switch to transmit. Bah, guests indeed. He'd better be a nice guy, or I'll show him what I can do in a mech. The next pair of azure beams cored through a Phoenix Hawk's center torso and it vanished in a boiling cloud of flame, making her feel somewhat better. --- Tatewaki Kurita turned his head in surprise as his sister entered the room and flung a missive at him. The outrage on her face clearly revealed the state of her agitation. "What is this, dear sister?" "Read it and see, brother," Kodachi Kurita said, her voice trembling with anger. Shrugging, he unfolded the sheet of paper and started reading. It was short, but instantly infuriating. 'Comstar Transmission X729-111-483: Tharkad - Luthien. Regards the arrival of Ranma Davion and his father to Tharkad. I have unveiled the true purpose of their visit. It is not for the trade negotiations as has been previously touted, but rather to seal an alliance between the two Houses with an engagement between Ranma Davion and Akane Steiner. I will endeavour to learn further details. H. Gosunkugi, OBR.' He carefully set the paper down on the table, hands shaking in rage. "Your Order of the Black Rose operatives are to be commended for reporting this news, sister. I shall inquire as to why the ISF has failed the Combine yet again." "Do you see it, brother? The threat that this alliance proposes to the Dragon?" Kodachi asked. "Of course, I do. This farce must be stopped immediately! I shall petition our father for the use of the Second Sword of Light regiment and a DEST team for a strike into the Commonwealth." Tatewaki stood up and walked over to the stand that held his daisho. He slid both the katana and wakizashi into his waistband, and spun round to face his sister once more. "Tell me, sister, where this mockery of an engagement is being held." "The festivities will be held on Chara III, at the Lyran Summer Palace. Do you propose to strike at them?" Kodachi asked eagerly. "Certainly, dear sister." "Good. Show these Lyrans that not even an alliance with Davion will save them from the Dragon's anger." Kodachi's eyes flashed fire as she remembered the losses suffered by her operatives at the hands of the skilled Lyran Intelligence Corps. Nabiki Steiner was no mean foe when it came to deadly information games. But, now her brother would show the Lyrans their weakness: their inadequacy upon the battlefield. "Of course, sister. I shall rescue Akane Steiner from the foul grasp of Davion and return with her to Luthien. Then, we shall have a wedding to eclipse all others!" The ominous crack of thunder that shot through the murky atmosphere of Black Luthien was surely a harbinger of victory. --- And so on. There you are: a Ranma/Battletech fusion that meshes fairly well, IMO, without even bringing in the Clans (bleh). Phil.