I'll be honest the final to "Old Habits" went several ways. This one works best for my overall AU I'm not entirely sure if it works best for this character... but it does set things on a familiar, if different, path. There are many more changes ahead that may be familiar in some ways but also different.
Anyway for everyone who has read this story and my regular AU please enjoy the ending to Old Habits
Medical Ward, New Bealton
Odessa, Donegal Province
Lyran Commonwealth
14th May 3111 In a sterile room in the main medical facility on Odessa Victor Steiner-Davion, the former First Prince of the Federated Suns, lay comatose where he had laid since his battle with Khan Jana Pryde only a few kilometres from where he now was. When he had been found Victor was close to bleeding out his chest penetrated by branches in two places and with several broken bones. The medics had rushed him to a medical facility but with a lung, kidney and heart damage all they could do was link him to several medical machines to keep him alive in a medically induced coma.
Beside his bed his wife Duchess Danai Centrella-Davion sat in the same chair she had for the last since his injuries waiting for him to come back to her. During time here she’d been reminded almost daily about how much she loved him and needed him, how much he had changed her life. Born a Canopian Princess she had become a respected warrior, fought the Clans found love and created her own life.
As one of the medical technicians checked the medical equipment Danai shifted in her chair enough to bump the bed. “Careful dear” a weak voice said a moment or two as Victor’s eyes flicked open.
“Victor!” She said leaning in to kiss him “Victor!” She said again kissing him again.
“Easy, I still hurt a lot” he said as she leaned back he glanced up at the medical tech “wonders of medical technology eh Doc?”
“You certainly are OvKhan” the man said nodding downwards slightly the man wore Lyran medical briefs but wore a Clan Wolf insignia. It took him several moments to think about what he had said remembering the words meant ‘honoured superior’ and that there were still Wolves in the Lyran Commonwealth.
“What happened?” He asked as the tech raised the headboard of the chair so Victor could sit up which was agony for him but better than being unable to see her. It felt strange for Victor to feel so tired but he guessed that was what happened when you were so badly hurt.
“You have been in a medically induced coma for the last four months since your fight with Jana Pryde.” Danai said quietly “you had severe injuries following your ejection.” She explained as he tried to move “stay still” she commanded “the only way for you to recover was for the doctors to put you into a coma. Archon Steiner contacted the remaining Wolves on Gallery who agreed to attend and assist.”
“And the rest is history?”
“You’ve had a few close calls OvKhan Steiner-Davion” the technician said “your new heart has caused the most problems” he explained “it took us some time to get it to to work with your body.”
“What happened with the Falcons?”
“Victor Focht joined his forces with the Lyrans and assisted in liberating Alma Alta and Cameron from the Jade Falcons.” Danai said “unfortunately the Falcons have reinforced their position by capturing several clusters from the Hell’s Horses.” She said glancing down “and you received a message from Bannister Cameron.” She said handing a remote to him “there’s a Tri-vid player in the corner I’ve seen it, I’ll come back in when you are ready.” She said rising from her chair she ushered the technician out. Victor reached for the play button and pressed it.
The message began as a hologram of Bannister Cameron appeared in the corner of the room he looked much like he had when Victor had last seen him on Terra. “This message is for Victor Ian Steiner-Davion if he has past then please destroy this message as it will be of no concern to you.” He said a moment later the message flicked slightly and then Bannister continued “Victor, I hope that this message finds you well, if you are seeing this message then I am dead and I have yet to appoint a successor.” He said if this was a joke it was the worst one that Victor had ever seen “I am recording this message on the 12th November 3110.” He said pausing to smile “I know you are probably thinking that you have not long left Terra and that I mentioned none of this.” He said “Victor, the reason that I did not mention this is because it was your choice to go against your instincts and take the mission against the Falcons.” He said glancing away from the tri-vid camera.
“You have told me many times over the last couple of years that your old habits were going to get you killed I think that it is your old habits that are keeping you alive.” He said “and I need you to keep something else alive, the Star League Protectorate and the Star League Defence Force.” He said “the Protectorate needs strong leadership and I want that leadership to be yours.” He said Victor paused the message and glanced at Bannister and then the door before playing the message “I know your argument you’ve retired, you wish to enjoy life, but I also know you also still feel a sense of duty I saw that when you served as First Lord and feel you still have much to give.”
“I have sent to the Star League Protectorate’s Council that you are my nomination to replace me as leader of Liberty and of the Star League Protectorate.” He said stunning Victor “my friend do me this one last favour serve as the Protectorate’s first Exarch and make the Protectorate and the Star League endure until the next generation can enjoy its successes.” He said
The message then ended and Victor was treated with a news report that showed that Bannister Cameron had been assassinated on New Canton on the 26th February 3111. A week later Victor had been nominated and confirmed as Bannister’s replacement despite his status of being in a coma. In practice the day to day running of the Protectorate was run by the Council while Victor was a figurehead even House Liao supported it stating it was nice to see that Victor succeeded where his father failed even if the end result was the same. With Bannister officially also holding the title of the First Lord as well the member states decided that until the Council decided on a leader the Protectorate Council would also hold the First Lordship which technically meant that Victor was once again also the First Lord.
Ignoring Bannister’s offer and the pain he was in he called for two doctors one from the Lyran Commonwealth and one from the Wolves of Gallery. Both agreed that while he would live for many years to come the Commonwealth doctor was sure that he would be in pain and need further treatment for the rest of his days while the Wolf doctor was convinced that the newly grown organs that were now in his body would make him as healthy as he had been twenty years before. While he preferred the Wolf’s prognosis the great unknown bothered him. Instead of dwelling on their findings he then called for a hospital orderly and asked for transport to the Mechbay.
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Nearly three hours later Victor was sat on a wheelchair looking up at the repaired Dire Wolf OmniMech Prometheus its Lyran Guard paint scheme had been reapplied to the replacement armour which had been fitted to the OmniMech. “Couldn’t stay away from her?” The voice of Danai Centrella-Davion said as she walked up to him.
“I just wanted to see the thing that almost killed me, I thought it might help make sense of everything.” He said trying to explain his motives on being here.
“That didn’t almost kill you, a crazy Clan ***** almost killed you.” She said angrily he knew she was annoyed that he had come here before calling for her as well.
“Yes, but I was stupid enough to think I could still fight like I was thirty years younger.” Victor admitted “it was like the first time I piloted her I thought that there was nothing I couldn’t do.” He said looking from the OmniMech to Danai “I’ll never pilot her again.”
“The doctors said you will make a full recovery.”
“Yes, I know, and I’ll never pilot her again” he said being surer of the words this time “I will not put you through this again.” He said raising his arms to his side despite the pain. “I will keep that Mech I will keep up the appearance of being the warrior prince when I need to be but I won’t take her into battle that is for the past.”
“Your future battlegrounds will be more up here” she said touching his forehead Victor closed his eyes enjoying her touch “Exarch Steiner-Davion.”
“Where on earth did Bannister come up with that?”
“It was the Council not Bannister and I believe they took it from Ancient Terra’s European District during the rule of one of the first major empires.” She explained when she’d heard the title she’d immediately began reading about it. “Bannister Cameron turned his back on the title claiming that should a Cameron take on a fancy name for his role then many would see it as the first step towards reborn Hegemony.”
“The Protectorate is that in all but name already all it lacks is its own military wing separate from the Star League Defence Force and from what I’ve ready many believe that it is only time before that happens.” Victor said looking up at Prometheus again “when people have weapons of war it is only a matter of time before they want the power that goes with them. It was the same with the bow and arrow, the first firearm, main battle tank, BattleMech, WarShip it doesn’t matter the type of weapon each of them brings man closer to conflict over resource and power.”
“Which Bannister wants you to keep a lid on for a little longer” she said prodding him back to the important conversation instead of chasing the reasons man made war against other man.
“I retired” he said looking back at her “and what’s to stop the member states beginning to treat the Protectorate as a new Terran March? Linking the Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth this could start a new Succession War.”
“Only if you gave preferential treatment to those states and worked against the others you’ve shown in the past a fair hand while serving as First Lord. It does mean you’ll have to be firm with Burton and the Federated Suns but if you are able to handily that then it shouldn’t be a problem? The Star League is fragile it has been since the Capellans withdrew and now with the Combine lowering their support these are testing times but it is not over. And if the Star League does fall the Protectorate worlds could use a leader who knows how to win a conflict at its helm.”
“I retired” he repeated again looking back at Prometheus.
“Old habits die hard, Exarch” she said leaning over him wrapping her arm around his shoulders showing her support for his new position.
Authour Note: before anyone worries my AU won't be becoming
PeaceTech following these developments.
