Chapter 7-3
Jump Ship
Dire Wolf, New Bergren system
27 May 3050
At last the day came when Nikula would see the Clans’ justice. Seeing Sender punished would give her no satisfaction, but she intended to argue that Clan Wolf’s claim on St. John was illegal because her surrender was subject to illegal duress. She had been interrogated on several occasions, but only as to the facts surrounding the alleged cease-fire and the helo strike that followed.
One of the Smoke Jaguars’ giant warriors brought her and Ibori into a large hall and directed her to a seat near the back. At the front, a malevolent looking man sat at a podium marked with a grey wildcat – a smoke jaguar, it would seem. He was flanked by over a dozen individuals with their own animal insignias. They stood in turn for some kind of roll call: Ice Hellion, Nova Cat, Snow Raven, Wolf ….
Are these all seperate Clans? There are so many! They must be attacking across the entire coreward front. Once the preliminaries were done, a pale, lanky man stood to address the Clan representatives. “Clan Wolf has laid forth an ambitious proposal for the next wave of Operation Revival. Though they claimed to oppose our invasion, they now imagine they are uniquely capable of carrying it out. As you can see, the Wolves intend to target twice as many worlds as any other Clan. Their newfound ambition knows no bounds as they even expect to take a capital world.”
Does he mean Rasalhague? Nikula’s blood ran cold. The speaker continued, “The ilKhan would like nothing more than to leave each Clan to its own plans, but we have recently learned troubling news that calls into question the wisdom of this approach.”
The lanky man spoke in smooth and measured tones. “Unfortunately, Clan Wolf has proven itself incapable of managing such a sweeping offensive, They have already brought disgrace upon us all. Please review the ilKahn’s counter-proposal. The twelve worlds Clan Wolf seeks will be divided between the third and fourth wave. This will allow necessary and proper oversight. Before I demonstrate the necessity of this approach, is there anything the Wolves wish to say in defense of their excessive ambitions?”
The man behind the wolf head insignia stood. He was over fifty, older than most of the representatives. “It is unbelievable that the Smoke Jaguars make accusations against us after their own barbarity on Turtle Bay. The use of an inquisitor in this matter is irregular and inappropriate. I have already dealt with the unfortunate events on St. John. This proposal is rooted in jealousy and designed solely to hamstring our efforts. We have an ambitious schedule, so I hope this farce will not keep us long.”
“Thank you, Khan Kerensky for demonstrating the very impatience I wish to address. As expected, the Wolf Clan attempts to deflect attention away from their own conduct. But where they see persecution, the ilKhan has only concern. The Wolf Clan has failed to maintain discipline in these early stages and requires a firm guiding hand.”
The inquisitor called forth Ramon Sender. Sender stood facing the Clan representatives while the inquisitor interrogated him. “Star Colonel Ramon, have you been briefed in preparation for this hearing?”
“Neg.” Sender’s voice dripped with resentment.
“You were the Star Colonel assigned to capture St. John, quiaff?”
“Aff.”
“Did you succeed?”
“Aff.”
“Then why were you reprimanded?”
Sender mustered as much dignity as he was able. “Khan Kerensky saw my ultimatum threatening civilians as dishonorable, even in face of the defender’s own tactics.”
“The ultimatum, but not the actual act, quineg?”
“The Khan acknowledged that once the enemy violated their own cease-fire, the consequences must be enforced even though I was wrong to threaten them. The Khan has also opened my command to a Trial of Possession, which would already be determined if I had not been summoned here.”
“Before issuing this ultimatum, had you defeated the forces declared against you?”
Sender clenched a fist as he answered, “Neg.”
The inquisitor’s voice now carried a mocking undertone. “So you used this threat as an alternative to victory on the battlefield, quiaff?” As Sender began to stammer, the inquisitor interrupted him and turned to the Clan council. “On Turtle Bay, the Smoke Jaguar warriors first defeated the legitimate defenders and turned on civilians only in response to criminal insurgents. I trust all but Khan Kerensky will recognize the distinction.”
The inquisitor returned his attention to Sender. “Your opposition must have been strong to resist the mighty Wolves, quiaff? Tell us, how many battlemechs did you face?”
A shudder of rage ran through Sender. “None.”
“None?” asked the inquisitor in mock disbelief. “How many aerospace fighters?”
“None.”
“We have heard that Rasalhague possesses powerful fusion vehicles. Perhaps it was these that resisted your invasion, quineg?”
“Neg.”
Khan Kerensky stood to speak. “What is the purpose of these questions? It is disgraceful to shame a mechwarrior in this way.”
The inquisitor ignored him and continued to press Sender. “You were defeated by primitive vehicles supported by simple infantry, quiaff?”
“Neg. I was not defeated.”
“Of course,” said the inquisitor indulgently. “How many omnimechs did your Cluster lose in this victory?”
“Five.”
“An entire star from Beta Galaxy … and that’s not counting your Elemental losses, nor your second line forces that you failed to support. I understand mechwarrior Lanfen and her entire command died in battle.”
“Lanfen defied my orders!”
“Yet she fought with honor.” A couple members of the Clan counsel reacted with disgust, as if the unspoken implication was too grave an insult. The inquisitor changed tack. “Why did you issue your ultimatum?”
Sender took a moment to collect himself, then said, “The defenders consistently refused to fight honorably as they had agreed to. They showed no regard for civilian lives.”
“So you wanted to reduce yourself to the dishonorable methods of the enemy, quiaff?”
“I believed it was necessary to compel them to honor their initial agreement, though I accept that I was a mistaken.”
“You said killing civilians was a necessary reprisal for violating the cease-fire agreed by Colonel Meyer, quiaff.”
“Aff.”
“If your enemy had simply refused to surrender, would you have carried out your threat?”
“I … not in the same way. I would have targeted military forces but with less regard for civilian casualties.”
“But their defiance made you angry, quiaff?”
“Their treachery made harsh reprisal necessary.”
Several on the council nodded sympathetically.
Does this inquisitor know what he’s doing? “What treachery? Who violated the cease-fire with Colonel Meyer?” he asked sharply. “Specifically.”
“It was a helicopter force. They were elements of the Huskarl’s Fourth Battalion.”
“Under whose command? Come on, you must know.”
“Colonel Wahlgren.” As Sender answered the Wolf Khan leaned in and, for the first time, looked genuinely concerned.
“Did he also agree to a cease-fire?”
“No, but he was subordinate to Colonel Meyer.”
“Was he? Who told you that?” The inquisitor waited a moment. “And that brings us to the issue of ultimate authority. Who had ultimate authority for the defense of St. John?
Sender shifted his weight and his answer came reluctantly. “Colonel Meyer was the senior military leader.”
“Who accepted your batchall?”
“A political representative, Attaché Laura Nikula.”
“When you lodged official complaints against St. John’s defenders, to whom did you address them and who responded?”
“Attaché Laura.”
“When you accepted the surrender of St. John, who signed first for Rasalhague?” The inquisitor had adopted an exaggerated rhythmic cadence.
I guess amateurish rhetoric cuts across culture.“Attaché Laura.”
“Again, who had ultimate authority for the defense of St. John?”
“Attaché Laura.”
“Did Attaché Laura offer you a cease-fire?”
Nikula noted that Sender’s rigid posture began to slump. He said, “She requested time to consider the ultimatum. She must have delegated that responsibility to Colonel Meyer since he requested the cease-fire immediately afterward.”
“That is an interesting theory. Did she inform you that she had authorized Colonel Meyer to negotiate on her behalf?”
“Neg.”
“Did Colonel Meyer claim to speak on her behalf?”
“Neg.”
“Before lashing out, did you request to speak with Attaché Laura to determine who was bound by Colonel Meyer’s agreement? ...neg? Attaché Laura is prepared to testify that Colonels Meyer and Wahlgren held separate commands, and she personally authorized Wahlgren to make the attack of 30 March 3050. Do you have any reason to doubt her?”
“Neg.”
“Did you speak with Colonel Wahlgren to determine if he was bound by Colonel Meyer’s cease-fire?”
“Colonel Wahlgren fled the planet rather than take responsibility for his actions.”
“You mean he escaped while you punished the innocent, quiaff? You are a Star Colonel. You were expected to take responsibility. Instead you acted rashly based on false assumptions.”
The inquisitor turned away from Sender to face the Clan representatives. “But we are not here to judge Star Colonel Ramon. Khan Kerensky, tells us he has already done so. And now, allow me to answer his earlier question: ‘What is the purpose of shaming Star Colonel Ramon?’ To reveal Clan Wolf's failure to do it themselves. To show the kind of warrior they see fit to lead an invasion and their failure to learn the truth. By contrast, Galaxy Commander Perez paid for his error with his life.”
“Now I make a special appeal to the Warden Clans. I fear that we have made a great error in trusting your honor to the Wolf Clan. Ask yourselves, is this the Warden way? Indiscriminant bombing because you are frustrated by your own failures. If the Warden philosophy stands for anything, you must agree that Clan Wolf requires closer scrutiny. That is why the Khan’s proposal gives you special authority to oversee and investigate your fellow Warden.”
“And that is our purpose here. To determine ultimate authority. We do not seek to punish Clan Wolf, but the ilKhan must take responsibility for Operation Revival where the Wolf Khan has failed. We expect no more and no less of them than the other Clans. That is why the counter-proposal restricts Clan Wolf to conquering six worlds in the next wave, just as the Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars will. Naturally, Clan Wolf will prioritize attacking the Federated Commonwealth, due to its greater strength. If they fear the growing might of Rasalhague …” The inquisitor paused to allow sporadic snickering. “… the ilKhan is prepared to activate Clan Steel Viper to assist in that corridor.”
Have I unleashed a whole new foe upon us? What if Ibori was right and the Wolves are the least of our concerns? I hope that intended only as an insult.Khan Kerensky addressed the assembly. “I came here with the intent to resist any attempt to sabotage our invasion, but what troubles me now is that I see I have lost the confidence of my fellow Wardens. Though painful, I will take this opportunity to redouble my commitment to the Warden path. Therefore, I will accept Warden oversight unconditionally. Furthermore, I will accept the ilKhan’s proposal for wave three, on one condition. If each of the Warden Clans agree that we have honorably conquered our assigned worlds in the third wave. (insofar as Operation Revival is an honorable project), then henceforth, we shall be free to prosecute the invasion within our corridor at our own pace.”
So that is it. The Wolves need the political support of the Warden faction, and the Wolf Khan hopes to win them over with minimal concessions to the Crusaders.The ilKhan was taken aback by the Wolf response, but he quickly recomposed himself. He looked displeased as he scanned the faces of the Clan representatives. “As Khan Kerensky has said, we all have much work ahead. I do not wish to drag out this sordid affair, so I will restore Clan Wolf to its former autonomy if they can meet the conditions they have set for themselves. But I do not surrender any rights as leader of this invasion, and Khan Kerensky should remember that he represents all the Clans, not only the Wardens.” The ilKhan remained standing, as if unwilling to let the matter go. “I must also say that seeing this lack of discipline from front-line clusters only increases my reservations about allowing Provisional Garrison Clusters to participate in the invasion. I will now meet with Khan Kerensky and the Warden representatives privately.”
Everyone stood at once and turned for the doors. Nikula was shocked that such an important meeting would end so abruptly. “Wait. I demand the right to speak,” she said. “You have spoken on my behalf –” Before she could complete her sentence, her chaperone reached over two seats and hoisted her by the collar. The warrior turned to Ibori and told him he was free to go. Nikula, obviously, was not.
I will submit to this indignity, and whatever else fate subjects me to, but I will resist your invasion. I have hurt you today Clan Wolf, haven’t I?