Chapter 2-1
St. John
4 March 3050
This isn’t about oversight. You are after influence, Tobiassen, as always. At first, Nikula resented being sent to follow up on the Fourth Huskarl’s retraining efforts, but on arrival she had received sealed orders to “evaluate the regiment's devotion to the crown, and identify any competing interests.”
Didn’t I warn you, my Prince? At least the mechwarriors know whom they serve.Demerci’s report to the Riksdag had been just the kind of puff piece she would expect from a Tobiassen flunky, but he kept coming up clean. A week of digging gave her nothing.
He just doesn’t seem the type. Either Demerci is more cunning than I can imagine, or Tobiassen is just looking out for the public good, which is even less likely, or … what? Or … Tobiassen doesn’t need Demerci because he already owns the Fourth! You won’t get your hooks in the KungsArmé, you upjumped yokel.“Mikhail, dig into Colonel Wahlgren and his family. Look for connections to parliament’s proxies, especially recent business deals. Do the same for the other seniors. Keep it quiet.”
“Yes ma’am,” Mikhail said. “Remember there is a priority message from Colonel Meyer sent this morning.” Nikula and her secretary worked from a private cottage on the outskirts of Joplin, where the Fourth Huskarl was now based, but she would need to use the military comm channel to see what the planetary militia leader thought was worth her attention.
“Very well, prep the car. Anyway, I’d like to look Wahlgren in the eye.”
Nikula arrived at the regimental HQ half an hour later, but found Wahlgren was away conducting training exercises. His staff reluctantly agreed to allow her to use his office to receive the confidential message.
A shield-shaped tapestry hung behind the desk. It featured the silhouette of a rearing black stallion on a red and white background. It looked suspiciously like a coat-of-arms, but they were reserved for mech regiments.
Some people just don’t know their place, or rather won’t accept it.Meyer’s message was a bombshell. The key phrases were: “probable dropship fleet” and “assumed hostile.”
Damn it, they should have sent for me immediately.Nikula stormed back into the command area. “Has Colonel Wahlgren received word from Colonel Meyer today?”
“Yes. I am authorized to tell you he put our forces on high alert and cancelled all leave. A detachment of helos will be transferring north to support the militia.”
“Put me on one of those helos. I need to see Meyer ASAP.”
“I can’t do that without authorization, and Colonel Wahlgren won’t be available –”
“You sure as hell can if you serve the Prince,” Nikula said.
She arrived at the St. John Free Brigades HQ feeling sore and shaken. Even a combat transport offered a better ride than wedging into the corner of a Warrior cockpit. From what she could gather, there were multiple drop ships capable of landing in 16 hours, and they were not responding.
“Does this look like a pirate raid?” she asked Colonel Meyer.
He frowned. “Honestly it must be a hell of a raid. I don’t know what they would be after on St. John to justify over a half dozen dropships.”
A half dozen now? Who do you think I am that you can sideline me? “Have you gotten hold of Colonel Wahlgren?”
“No, but I’m told he is receiving updates,” Meyer said.
“You two better get on the same page. I’m not convinced he’s taking this seriously enough. And get me some food and a pain killer before I become irritable.” Nikula felt only marginally better when they received an incoming message from the unidentified fleet. Meyer seemed surprised when she followed him into his office to hear the transmission, but he said nothing.
The holo projector showed a striking man in an unfamiliar military uniform. He said, “This is Star Colonel Ramon Sender of the 341st Assault Cluster, Beta Galaxy. The Wolves of Kerensky have claimed this world for their own. What tame dogs defend it?" The man faded from the projector, but he left an unnerving presence.
“He’s got a lot of balls,” said Meyer. “Who the hell are the Wolves of Kerensky? Any pirate outfit that can muster that kind of fleet has to be in the database. Get me their file. And prep the transmitter, he won’t wait long for my reply.”
Something is off. He has a true soldier’s posture and a sense of purpose. Did he say “claim this world?” He’s no pirate. This is a political threat. Suddenly, Nikula felt the spark of … was it divine inspiration? She stood forcefully, and everyone looked to her.
“Belay that order. I am assuming authority over these discussions in the name of the Prince.” She wondered when she had decided that, but her actions betrayed no reluctance. Before Meyer could respond she added, “These pirates have clearly come from outside your system Colonel. That gives the crown jurisdiction. As Attaché, I speak for the Prince in this matter. Now prep the transmitter for my reply.”
There was a stunned silence, then Meyer turned to his staff and said, “Do it.”
“Pirate captain, this is Attaché Laura Nikula, I speak for Prince Magnussen who rules this world. You are in violation of sovereign space. You will stand down immediately and surrender your vessels or face the wrath of the Free Rasalhague Republic.”
Nikula cut the transmission and stepped away. “Do we have anything that can contest those drop ships?”
Meyer laughed. “I couldn’t even accept their surrender if they offered it."
"I suspect we will be spared that embarrassment," Nikula said.
Suddenly Meyer stood at full attention. "Attaché, I must clarify, if … now that the crown has assumed jurisdiction here, are you placing the KungsArmé Colonel in overall command?”
Wahlgren? I think not. “No,” Nikula said. “You will retain command and responsibility for this world’s defense.”
Several minutes later another transmission came. “Attaché Nikula, I will forgive your insolence but once. I am Ramon Sender of Clan Wolf and I have come to conquer this world under the rite of batchall. I have at my command the 341st Assault Cluster which consists of 50 battlemechs, 10 aerospace fighters, and 100 elementals. I ask again, what forces would defend this world against me?”
The second transmission was more disconcerting than the first. Sender was not merely foreign, he seemed almost alien. His inflection was all wrong. There was something haunting and archaic about him.
He has a mechwarrior’s superiority but with more discipline. He exudes resolute devotion, but to what?“He’s bluffing and hoping for some kind of concessions,” Colonel Meyer said. “Does he think we are going to disclose our strength to him?”
“Is he bluffing?” There was no response as Nikula pondered the question. She walked back to the transmitter.
“Star Colonel Ramon Sender, I am unfamiliar with your batchall, and I see no reason to disclose our strength to you, but I assure you that your forces are inadequate to conquer this world. Leave now and your transgression shall be forgiven.”
Meyer’s staff scurried about in the brief time while the signals travelled through space. Meyer gave her a studious look before joining them. Nikula replayed the incoming messages several times. Then word from Sender arrived.
“Attaché Nikula, by accepting the terms of batchall, we agree to honorable combat. If you are true warriors who wish to meet us in glorious battle, you will accept. Additionally, if you disclose your forces with candor, I will submit a reasonable bid against them. If you wish to provide additional terms, you may do so now.”
I don’t know what game you are playing, but I sense you sincerely want to play by some kind of rules. Nikula turned to Meyer, “Colonel, how many regiments will you have ready by the time that fleet arrives.”
“You can’t seriously be thinking about giving in to that bullying?” Meyer met Nikula’s eyes for a few seconds, then he said, “I will have four brigades Attaché. They will need a little time to form up though. Attaché, we don’t have to respond right away. If this guy’s for real, he just made you an offer, he’ll wait an extra hour for your reply. Let’s stop and think this trough.”
“No. The iron is hot. I can sense his impatience with what he sees as inevitable. He is looking right through us, to some greater objective. He doesn’t see us as a threat. We will not disturb his delusions just yet. Put me through.”
God I hope I’m right.“Star Colonel Ramon Sender. We agree to honorable combat. The St. John Free Brigades are the militia of this world. We send four brigades against you. We have no battlemechs or fighters, but the hearts of our people are resilient. Also there is most of a conventional tank regiment currently refitting. As additional terms, I demand 48 hours in which to assemble our forces. And I demand a written memorandum of our agreement with all terms clearly defined.”
Nikula walked back into the command center feeling slightly dazed. Colonel Meyer asked her, “What was that?”
She answered, “I’m not sure. Prepare for an all-out assault. I need to send a high priority HPG.”
After she returned, another message from Sender arrived. “I decline your request for reprieve. My word is my bond as your word is yours; there will be no writing. You have requested no other terms. I shall send against you Supernovas Command and Second as well as Trinary Battle. Well bargained and done.”